*EPF201 03/07/00
White House Report, Tuesday, March 7, 2000
(Pakistan, Colombia, Taiwan, oil prices, IMF head, Iran) (1170)

CLINTON TO INCLUDE PAKISTAN ON HIS SOUTH ASIA TRIP

President Clinton has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan as part of his upcoming visit to South Asia, the White House announced March 7.

"The President expects to address a number of issues of common concern with Pakistan's leaders," the statement said. "These include a return to civilian, democratic rule, the need to fight terrorism, and measures to avoid a nuclear and missile arms race and prevent conflict in the region.

"The President's decision reflects the importance of making efforts to continue dialogue with an important nation of the region, despite our serious concern about the lack of an elected government there," the statement said.

The United States, the statement added, is "working with the Government of Pakistan regarding particulars of the President's visit."

Clinton also will visit India and Bangladesh on his trip, which begins the week of March 20.

CLINTON PREDICTS AID TO COLOMBIA PACKAGE WILL PASS CONGRESS

In response to a question, Clinton said he still believes the administration's proposed aid package for Colombia will be approved by Congress, even though members are questionning the proposal in a number of hearings.

In response to Colombian President Andres Pastrana's "Plan Colombia," a comprehensive Colombian strategy to address its interrelated problems, President Clinton has proposed an increase of $1.27 billion in U.S. aid over the next two years. The package includes increased support for counternarcotics equipment and training for the police and military to combat expanding coca production in southern Colombia and elsewhere.

The package also requests increased assistance for alternative development, human rights, judicial reform, and internally displaced persons, and additional support for successful counternarcotics programs in Peru, Bolivia and elsewhere.

"I still believe the package will pass," Clinton said. "I think the questions which are being asked are legitimate questions and should be asked. I mean, if I were a member of Congress and I just heard that the administration wanted to give this amount of money to Colombia, and it was generally going to be used to fight drugs and do some other things, I would ask the same questions.

"But all I can tell you is that it's not like Vietnam, in the sense that we are not making a commitment to train soldiers in a way that we will then be called upon to come in and replace them, to fight with them, or work with them...to deal with the guerrilla war, which is what happened in Vietnam.

"In this case, we will be using some of the funds to train soldiers to support police officers who will be doing anti-narcotics work.

"And the units that will be involved in this will have to be particularly vetted to make sure that they don't have the pattern of abuse that you referred to. So we have worked as hard as we could to do this.

"Now, can I tell you that there will never be a dollar of this that would be spent in a way that I wouldn't want? Nobody can say that.

"But I can say this; I think that we are a lot better off trying to help stabilize Colombia and save democracy there, and help them fight narcotics there and keep more drugs out of this country, than if we walk away from it. And I think the consequences, if we walk away, are pretty clear. And if we help them, we just might make it and turn the situation around. That's what I think we ought to do."

CLINTON ON TAIWAN REQUEST FOR NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS

Asked when the administration plans to act on a request by Taiwan for new weapons systems, and whether granting such a request could help with China trade legislation in the U.S. Congress, and whether Taiwan deserved the weapons because of China's recent provocative statements, Clinton said:

"I think my answer to the first question will answer the next two. I don't know, because I have not sat down and looked at the facts. Any decision I make has to be made consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and with our general policy in the area. And I will do what I think the right thing to do is. But I literally have not had a meeting on it. We haven't like discussed timing or anything. I have had no meetings."

CLINTON SAYS OIL PRICES NOW TOO HIGH

Asked about reports that oil prices in the United States are going to rise even higher than they currently are, Clinton said: "I think everybody recognizes that they're too high.

"There's a reason they're too high now: because we're producing 73 million barrels a day and consuming 75 million. Therefore the price is continuing to rise, because demand exceeds supply. And demand exceeds supply because of, in effect, artificial decisions made by the producers," he said.

"I want oil prices to go down some. But the producing countries should want them to go down some, too," he said.

"Now, on the other hand, Americans should not want them to drop to $12 or $10 a barrel again, because that, you know, puts you in this roller coaster environment which is very destabilizing to the producing countries and not particularly good for our economy and takes our mind off our business, which should be alternative fuels, energy conservation, reducing the impact of all this on global warming. But we need stable prices at a lower level, and that's what we're working for, and I hope that's what the producing countries will see is clearly in their best interest, because it is."

U.S. WORKING WITH EUROPEANS TO IDENTIFY A EUROPEAN CANDIDATE TO HEAD IMF

The United States is "working with the Germans and the Europeans generally to identify a European candidate" to head the International Monetary Fund, Assistant Press Secretary Jake Siewart told reporters at an early morning session with them March 7.

The candidate should be someone "who can command broad support and has the stature to lead them," he said.

Asked if he had a reaction to the new German candidate for the IMF, Siewart answered, "No, I don't have anything particular to say on any particular candidate."

U.S. LOOKING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH IRAN

Asked if the Clinton administration was considering lifting some sanctions against Iran, as was reported in the Daily Times newspaper March 7, Assistant Press Secretary David Leavy said: "We are looking to have a constructive dialogue with Iran, one that encompasses all issues key to us, including terrorism.

"It's still a little bit early in terms of the ongoing electoral process there but Iran is very aware of our position and we will continue to be looking to Tehran to see if we can again engage in a constructive dialogue."

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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