October 15, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                   October 15, 1999


                        STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

     I applaud the U.N. Security Council for taking a strong stand against
international terrorism today and demanding that the Taliban stop harboring
Usama bin Ladin. The Security Council?s resolution, which passed by a
unanimous vote, will result in economic sanctions being placed on the
Taliban if they do not deliver bin Ladin within 30 days to a country where
he can be brought to justice.

     The Security Council?s action demonstrates the international
community?s understanding of the threat posed by bin Ladin and his network
of terrorists.  Despite the condemnation of scores of countries after the
1998 bombing of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the Taliban has
continued to allow bin Ladin and his network to operate training camps,
make threats against the United States and others and plan terrorist
operations from their bases in Afghanistan.  Now the international
community has spoken with one voice.  The sanctions the U.N. has chosen
parallel the unilateral ones that the United States placed on the Taliban
in July and will result in the restriction of landing rights of airlines
owned, leased or operated by or on behalf of the Taliban, the freezing of
Taliban accounts around the world and the prohibition of investment in any
undertaking owned or controlled by the Taliban.

     The international community has sent a clear message.  The choice
between cooperation and isolation lies with the Taliban.

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