DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251503
TITLE=CLINTON/TALEBAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IMPOSING U-S FINANCIAL SANCTIONS 
AGAINST AFGHANISTAN'S DOMINANT TALEBAN MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF ITS 
SUPPORT FOR ALLEGED INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN. 
VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST IS TRAVELING WITH MR. CLINTON IN CLARKSDALE, 
MISSISSIPPI.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES HAS MINIMAL TRADE WITH AFGHANISTAN -- 
LITTLE MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.  SO THE MEASURES, 
INCLUDING A FREEZE ON TALEBAN ASSETS AND A BAN ON U-S TRADE AND 
INVESTMENT AND SALES IN AREAS IT CONTROLS, ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE 
LITTLE PRACTICAL EFFECT.

BUT OFFICIALS TRAVELING WITH MR. CLINTON SAY THE SANCTIONS 
IMPOSED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE PRESIDENT SEND A CLEAR 
MESSAGE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL  NOT  TOLERATE TERRORISTS OR 
THOSE WHO SHELTER THEM.

MR. BIN LADEN, A SAUDI EXILE, IS ACCUSED BY U-S OFFICIALS OF 
MASTERMINDING NUMEROUS TERRORIST ACTS, INCLUDING THE BOMBINGS OF 
THE U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA LAST YEAR THAT KILLED 
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED THOUSANDS.

THOUGH TALEBAN LEADERS INSIST THEY DO  NOT  KNOW WHERE MR. BIN 
LADEN IS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS BELIEVE HE IS STILL IN 
AFGHANISTAN, WHERE THEY SAY HAS BEEN BASED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID MR. BIN LADEN AND 
HIS NETWORK CONTINUE TO PLAN NEW ATTACKS ON AMERICANS WITHOUT 
REGARD FOR THE INNOCENCE OF THE INTENDED VICTIMS, OR FOR 
NON-AMERICANS WHO MIGHT GET CAUGHT IN UP IN THE OPERATIONS

HE SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY REBUFFED IN THE 
DIRECT AND THIRD-PARTY APPEALS TO THE TALEBAN TO STOP GIVING MR. 
BIN LADEN SAFE-HAVEN, AND SEND HIM TO THE UNITED STATES OR A 
THIRD COUNTRY TO FACE JUSTICE.

MR. CLINTON ALSO SAID THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS  NOT  AIMED AGAINST 
THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN AND THAT THE SANCTIONS DO  NOT  APPLY 
TO HUMANITARIAN AID, FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR CIVILIAN USE.

THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION LAST MONTH PUT MR. BIN 
LADEN ON ITS LIST OF "MOST WANTED" FUGITIVES AND POSTED A FIVE 
MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTD/KL

06-Jul-99 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.