DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43811
TITLE=U-S / TALEBAN SANCTIONS
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPT.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST
AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN, ACCUSING THE GROUP OF SUPPORT FOR OSAMA 
BIN LADEN -- THE SAUDI MAN WHO THE UNITED STATES SAYS WAS BEHIND 
LAST YEAR'S BOMBINGS OF TWO U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA.  V-O-A'S GIL
BUTLER TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DECISION.

TEXT:  THE SANCTIONS FORBID ANY DIRECT U-S BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS 
OR TRADE WITH THE TALEBAN.  THERE IS CURRENTLY ONLY ABOUT 
24-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN TRADE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN CONTROLLED BY THE TALEBAN -- THE COUNTRY'S 
DOMINANT POLITICAL AND MILITARY FACTION.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS WHILE THE AMOUNT OF 
TRADE MAY  NOT  BE GREAT, THE DECISION TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS 
AGAINST THE TALEBAN IS IMPORTANT.

                        /// FOLEY ACT ///

         WHATEVER THE CONCRETE IMPACT, THIS SENDS AN UNAMBIGUOUS 
         MESSAGE OF THE COMMITMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE 
         ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO SHELTER INTERNATIONAL 
         TERRORISTS LIKE BIN LADEN AND (IT) WILL HELP TO FURTHER 
         ISOLATE THE TALEBAN INTERNATIONALLY.

                         /// END ACT ///

PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK THE ACTION ON GROUNDS THAT BY HARBORING 
OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE TALEBAN CONSTITUTES A THREAT TO THE NATIONAL
SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE BIN LADEN ORGANIZATION IS 
STILL INSIDE TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT 
SAYS OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS 
OF AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN TANZANIA AND KENYA LAST YEAR THAT KILLED
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE -- AND THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN PLOTTING 
FURTHER EMBASSY ATTACKS.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY, IN ADDITION TO GIVING SAFE
HAVEN TO A TERRORIST GROUP, THE TALEBAN FACTION CONTINUES TO 
ABUSE HUMAN RIGHTS -- ESPECIALLY IN ITS TREATMENT OF WOMEN AND 
GIRLS -- AND THAT IT IS INVOLVED IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING.

SPOKESMAN FOLEY SAYS THE TALEBAN HAS PLACED ITSELF OUTSIDE 
INTERNATIONAL NORMS OF BEHAVIOR.

                        /// FOLEY ACT ///

         THIS IS A GROUP THAT ASPIRES TO INTERNATIONAL 
         LEGITIMACY, TO  ACCEPTANCE, TO PLAYING A RECOGNIZED, 
         LEGITIMATE PART IN AFGANISTAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE.  AND 
         WE ARE STATING HERE VERY CLEARLY TODAY THAT, BASED ON 
         THEIR ACTIONS SO FAR, THEY ARE BEYOND THE PALE (BEYOND 
         ACCEPTED STANDARDS) THEY ARE NOT ACTING IN A WAY THAT 
         ALLOWS THEM TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT INTERNATIONALLY.

                         /// END ACT ///

/// OPT /// ONE OF THE EXAMPLES STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS GIVE 
OF HOW INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION IS AFFECTING THE GROUP IS THE 
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE TALEBAN'S EFFORTS TO TAKE OVER 
AFGHANISTAN'S UNITED NATIONS SEAT. /// END OPT ///

THE SANCTIONS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TUESDAY DO NOT 
EXTEND TO HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS OR THE CLEARING OF LAND MINES.

THE SANCTIONS, HOWEVER, DO AFFECT PLANNED BUSINESS CONTRACTS, 
SUCH AS TELEPHONE SYSTEMS AND PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH TALEBAN 
REPRESENTATIVES.

BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT PUT THE ISSUE FACING THE TALEBAN FACTION
IN PLAIN, "EITHER / OR" TERMS:  IT CAN HARBOR OSAMA BIN LADEN AND
LIVE WITH THE U-S SANCTIONS -- OR IT CAN STOP HARBORING HIM AND 
SEE THE SANCTIONS REVERSED. (SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/RRM

06-Jul-99 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.