DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / CIVILIAN POLICE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259534
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  President Clinton has ordered the State 
Department to establish a new program that would train 
civilian police for international peacekeeping 
missions around the world.  From the State Department, 
V-O-A's Kyle King reports.

TEXT:  The president's directive calls on the State 
Department to be the lead agency in the training of 
police for duty in places such as Kosovo and East 
Timor.

The administration has asked Congress for 10-million 
dollars to fund the effort, which will bring together 
several U-S Government agencies.

The United States currently has about 700 civilian 
police officers taking part in U-N peacekeeping 
operations.

Under the new plan, that number would be about two-
thousand and the police would be trained ahead of time 
so they could be deployed quickly to trouble spots.

Secretary of State Albright says U-N civilian police 
can provide a sense of security and perform tasks that 
heavily armed troops are not well trained to handle.

            /// Albright Act ///

      The international community needs to identify 
      and train units that are able to control crowds, 
      deter vigilante actions, prevent looting and 
      disarm civilian agitators, while at the same 
      time winning the trust of the communities where 
      they are deployed.

            /// End Act ///

In addition to encouraging other countries to develop 
similar programs, U-S officials are hoping for greater 
coordination with the United Nations.

Officials say the goal is to develop training programs 
that will get local police and criminal justice 
systems functioning once stability has been restored 
by peacekeeping forces. (Signed)

NEB/KBK/ENE/JP




24-Feb-2000 16:29 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 2129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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