From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:AFRICA: Carter sees greater engagement by Clinton in Africa
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:43:26 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Latin America
Title: AFRICA: Carter sees greater engagement by Clinton in Africa


washington, nov 13 (ips/jim lobe) -- the administration of
president-elect bill clinton will provide more support to sub-
saharan africa than his two republican predecessors, former
president jimmy carter said friday.

speaking on nbc television's 'today' programme, carter said the
republican policy towards the region which has prevailed since he
lost power in 1981 was ''disastrous'', but he also complained that
the continent played virtually no role in this year's presidential
campaign.

''there's no doubt in my mind,'' carter said, ''that there'll
be a much greater focus on african affairs under a clinton
administration than we've seen in a long time, because of his
natural commitment to peace''.

he predicted that the new administration will be more active in
peacemaking, in promoting democracy, human rights and humanitarian
concerns, and in providing aid.

''i think there's no doubt that these kinds of things will be
high focal points for a clinton administration,'' he said.

''and what little influence i have with bill clinton will
ensure the accuracy of my prediction, because i will not let him
or the state department forget about africa in the future,'' said
carter, who met with clinton in little rock, arkansas the day
after the nov. 3 election.

carter's remarks came at a time of mounting speculation over
who will get the top diplomatic appointments in the new clinton
administration. these will include senior africa policy officials
at the state department and the national security council (nsc).

traditionally, the secretary of state chooses his or her
assistant secretary for african affairs -- the most important
africa policy-making position.

clinton's advisers on africa include anthony lake, who headed
the state department's policy planning division under carter from
1977 until 1981, michael clough, a nsc staffer under former
president ronald reagan and currently head of the world policy
institute in new york, pauline baker of the carnegie endowment for
international peace, and vivian lowery derryck, director of the
african-american institute (aai) also in new york.

officials at the state department and in the clinton campaign
have told ips they expected the person named as secretary of state
to choose an african-american for the position. (more/ips)

africa: carter sees greater engagement by clinton in africa(2-e)

united states: carters sees (2)

if true, that could make derryck, who has reportedly campaigned
for the position, a prime candidate.  other possibilities include
carter's u.n. ambassador donald mchenry, randall robinson of the
washington-based transafrica lobby organisation, and several black
congressmen.

on the nbc television programme friday, robinson, a staunch
anti-apartheid campaigner who has also criticised authoritarian
governments in zaire and kenya, deplored the lack of discussion
about africa policy during the campaign.

he recalled that clinton had been asked during one debate
about both somalia and yugoslavia.  recalling that ''about 200
more people have been dying each day in somalia than in
yugoslavia,'' robinson noted that clinton had only addressed the
latter in his answer.  ''he said nothing abut somalia, (and) the
oversight was stinging,'' robinson complained.

but derryck insisted africa will become an integral part of
u.s. foreign policy under clinton.  ''it will no longer be
marginalised,'' she said -- a conclusion shared by cartr.

another washington source, whose name is also being circulated
as a possible assistant secretary, told ips friday that he expects
clinton to pursue a policy of ''strong engagement'' with africa.

the source, who asked not to be identified, noted that the
number of black lawmakers elected to the new congress increased by
50 percent -- from 26 to 39 members in the house of
representatives.  ''they now make up almost 10 percent of the
house and they are very concerned about africa policy,'' he said.

''congress was already unhappy with the low priority accorded
africa'' during the administrations of reagan and president george
bush, he added. he said he expected clinton to get far more
involved in peace efforts in somalia ad liberia.  ''there was
always a tendency in the bush administration to wish that somalia
and liberia would just go away,'' he said.

largely at the initiative of congress in recent years, african
nations receive about 800 million dollars each ear in u.s.
bilateral economic and development aid.  many analysts believe
that wll rise to one billion dollars next year.

sources also predict that clinton will be tougher than bush in
dealing with south african president f.w. de klerk, kenyan
president daniel arap moi, malawi's president hastings banda, and
zairean presient mobutu sese seko.

just before the election, bush's top africa official, herman
cohen, predicted clinton will also recognise the mpla government
in angola and repudiate jonas savimbi, leader of the national
union for the total independence of angola (unita).
(end/ips/jl/yjc/92)