DATE=4/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229072
TITLE=CLINTON / PEACEKEEPING (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=DAKAR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS OUTLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF 
PEACEKEEPING IN AFRICA TO PREVENT THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE ON THE
CONTINENT.  MR. CLINTON -- IN SENEGAL -- HIGHLIGHTED U-S PLANS 
FOR AN ALL-AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE AFTER OBSERVING A TRAINING 
EXERCISE WITH U-S AND SENEGALESE TROOPS.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE 
REPORTS.

TEXT:          // MUSIC ACTUALITY //

SCORES OF TROOPS IN CAMOUFLAGE WATCHED AS MR. CLINTON -- 
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SENEGALESE COUNTERPART PRESIDENT ABDOU DIOUF 
-- OBSERVED U-S SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING SENEGALESE TROOPS AT A 
DRY AND DUSTY MILITARY BASE AT THIES, 70 KILOMETERS EAST OF 
DAKAR.

// OPT // A U-S SOLDIER DEMONSTRATED HOW A SENEGALESE SOLDIER 
WOULD INSPECT A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND ITS DRIVER -- MAKING CLEAR
THAT THE DRIVER WOULD BE TREATED 'WITH RESPECT' DURING THE 
SEARCH. // END OPT //

IT IS ALL PART OF WHAT MR. CLINTON ENVISIONS AS AN ALL-AFRICAN 
PEACEKEEPING FORCE, DUBBED THE 'AFRICAN CRISIS RESPONSE 
INITIATIVE'. 

THE PRESIDENT HOPES IT WILL PREVENT THE KIND OF GENOCIDE THAT 
OCCURRED IN RWANDA IN 1994.          

                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

         TO MEET THE THREATS TO PEACE AND FREEDOM WE WILL FACE IN
         THE 21ST CENTURY, WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE IN THE 
         FACE OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE.  WE MUST TELL THE 
         AGGRESSORS AND THOSE WHO TEAR SOCIETIES APART 'YOU WILL 
         NOT PREVAIL'.  WE MUST PROVE THAT THE PEACEMAKERS ARE 
         GETTING STRONGER, AND ABOVE ALL WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT
         THE PEACEMAKERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

                          // END ACT //

BUT THE INITIATIVE HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM SOME WHO SEE IT 
AS  AN EXCUSE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO AVOID BECOMING ENGAGED IN 
PROLONGED BLOODY CONFLICTS IN AFRICA.  

SOUTH AFRICA, MEANWHILE, HAS SAID IT WOULD OPPOSE SUCH A FORCE IF
IT IS NOT LED BY AN AFRICAN.

MR. CLINTON RESPONDED TO THE CRITICS.

                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

         OUR PURPOSE IS NOT TO DOMINATE SECURITY MATTERS IN 
         AFRICA OR TO  ABANDON AMERICA'S ROLE IN AFRICA'S 
         SECURITY, BUT INSTEAD TO BUILD ON  EXISTING EFFORTS, 
         INCLUDING THOSE OF AFRICAN NATIONS, THE  ORGANIZATION OF
         AFRICAN UNITY, THE UNITED NATIONS, FRANCE, BRITAIN AND 
         OTHERS TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY FOR PRESERVING PEACE 
         HERE.

                          // END ACT //

THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO ESTABLISH AN AFRICAN 
CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES THAT WOULD OFFER PROGRAMS ON DEFENSE 
POLICY PLANNING AND THE ROLE OF MILITARIES IN DEMOCRATIC 
SOCIETIES.

MR. CLINTON PRAISED THE LEADING ROLE SENEGAL PLAYS IN 
PEACEKEEPING AROUND THE WORLD, AND NOTED IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 
AFRICAN NATIONS TO EMBRACE THE U-S PLAN FOR AN ALL-AFRICAN 
PEACEKEEPING FORCE.

THE INITIATIVE ALSO HAS THE SUPPORT OF UGANDA, MALAWI, MALI AND 
GHANA.

PRESIDENT DIOUF, IN TURN, THANKED MR. CLINTON FOR HIS ROLE IN 
ASSISTING AFRICAN NATIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION. 
(SIGNED

NEB/DAT/PLM

01-Apr-98 1:02 PM EST (1802 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.