DATE=  11/4/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222173

TITLE=U-S-SUDAN SANCTIONS (L)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS IMPOSED COMPREHENSIVE NEW AMERICAN 

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN. RON PEMSTEIN 

REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE PRESIDENT ACTED BEFORE THE

U-S CONGRESS PASSED SIMILAR LEGISLATION.



TEXT:  CONGRESS WAS READY TO PUNISH SUDAN WITH ITS OWN SANCTIONS 

LEGISLATION, BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON DECIDED TO ACT FIRST TO BLOCK 

SUDAN'S ASSETS IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO END 70 MILLION DOLLARS 

WORTH OF TRADE AND MOST FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH THE 

GOVERNMENT IN KHARTOUM.



SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ACCUSES SUDAN OF SPONSORING

INTERNATIONAL TERROR, OF TRYING TO DE-STABILIZE ITS NEIGHBORS AND

OF VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.  THE

UNITED STATES ALREADY HAD RESTRICTED SOME EXPORTS TO SUDAN AND 

LIMITED VISAS TO SUDANESE OFFICIALS.



THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS MORE COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS ARE 

NEEDED.



                       ///ALBRIGHT ACT///



         WE TAKE THESE STEPS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN HAS 

         FAILED TO RESPOND TO REPEATED EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN, OR

         TO THE IMPOSITION OF LESSER SANCTIONS. INSTEAD, IT HAS 

         EARNED INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION BY PERSISTING IN ITS 

         OBJECTIONABLE POLICIES, CAUSING US TO CONCLUDE THAT MORE

         DRAMATIC ACTION IS REQUIRED.



                          //END ACT///



A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC 

SANCTIONS ARE A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE AMERICAN EFFORT TO 

INCREASE PRESSURE ON SUDAN. IN 1993, SUDAN WAS PLACED ON THE 

STATE DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. IN 1995, THE 

UNITED STATES JOINED EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA IN ASKING FOR SANCTIONS 

IN THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE SUDAN HARBORED FUGITIVES FROM THE 

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK.



HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES FAILED TO GAIN WIDER INTERNATIONAL 

SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS AGAINST SUDAN, SO PRESIDENT 

CLINTON HAS IMPOSED UNILATERAL AMERICAN MEASURES.  THE UNITED 

STATES WILL MAINTAIN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUDAN. THAT HAS 

AMOUNTED TO 650 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE 1988.



THE ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED THE CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO LEGISLATE 

SANCTIONS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GIVE THE PRESIDENT A CHANCE TO 

ISSUE WAIVERS.  SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE 

ADMINISTRATION IS STOPPING AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN SUDAN, BUT NOT

ALL TRADE, IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.



                       ///ALBRIGHT ACT///



         THE PURPOSE OF THE SANCTIONS IS TO DEPRIVE THE REGIME IN

         KHARTOUM OF THE FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL BENEFITS OF U-S 

         TRADE AND INVESTMENT, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN SUDAN'S 

         PETROLEUM SECTOR. TO ENSURE FLEXIBILITY THE 

         ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSIDER ISSUING LISENSES ON A CASE 

         BY CASE BASIS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IN THE U-S 

         INTEREST.



                          ///END ACT///



THE STATE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES TO BE GUM 

ARABIC, 80 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN SUPPLY COMES FROM SUDAN. THE 

PRODUCT IS USED IN SOFT DRINKS, MEDICINE AND CANDY.  THAT 

ACCOUNTS FOR NINE MILLION OF THE 20 MILLION DOLLARS THE UNITED 

STATES IMPORTED FROM SUDAN BEFORE THE SANCTIONS.  (SIGNED) 



NEB/RP/GKT/EH



04-Nov-97 4:22 PM EST (2122 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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