CONGRESSMAN WANTS TO HELP AFGHANS (VOA, JAN 21)

DATE=1/21/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-225621 TITLE=CONGRESS-AFGHAN AID (L ONLY) BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL CONTENT= VOICED AT:

INTRO: A U-S CONGRESSMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS IGNITED A BIT OF A CONTROVERSY HERE IN WASHINGTON WITH HIS PLAN TO SEND A SHIPMENT OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES TO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN. REPUBLICAN DANA ROHRABACHER SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO BLOCK THE AID EFFORT. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, A TOP STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SEES THE ISSUE VERY DIFFERENTLY.

TEXT: KARL INDEFURTH SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO SEE FOOD AND MEDICINE GET TO THOSE IN NEED. BUT HE SAYS AFGHANISTAN IS A COUNTRY IN CONFLICT. AND THE BEST WAY TO HELP IS TO GO THROUGH ESTABLISHED CHANNELS, LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND THE UNITED NATIONS.

HE SAYS THE LATEST U-N REPORT FROM THE REGION SHOWS THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN -- THE AREA TARGETED BY MR. ROHRABACHER'S AID EFFORT -- IS VERY SERIOUS. IT IS ALSO VERY COMPLEX.

///INDEFURTH ACT///

CURRENTLY ACCORDING TO THE U-N'S ASSESSMENT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FOOD IN BAMIYAN TO COVER THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF BAMIYAN ITSELF. THE REAL NEEDS APPEAR TO BE IN THE OUTLYING AREAS WEST OF BAMIYAN, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW INACCESSIBLE DUE TO BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

///END ACT///

MR. INDEFURTH SAYS AS SOON AS THERE IS A BREAK IN THE WEATHER, THE U-N WILL MOVE STOCKPILES OF FOOD AND MEDICINE INTO NEEDY AREAS. BUT HE STRESSES THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING AID WORKERS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TALEBAN BLOCKADE OF THE REGION -- INCLUDING ATTACKS ON THE BAMIYAN AIRFIELD.

///INDEFURTH ACT///

WE HAVE CALLED ON THAT TO CEASE. WE HAVE ALSO ASKED PAKISTAN TO HELP US PRESS THE TALEBAN TO REVERSE ITS POSITION. SO THESE ARE HUMANITARIAN ISSUES FOREMOST. BUT THEY HAVE POLITICAL CAUSES AND WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE AS WELL.

///END ACT///

CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER, HOWEVER IS NOT SO SURE. HE SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS REFUSING TO TRANSPORT HIS SHIPMENT OF AID TO THE UZBEK-AFGHAN BORDER IN A MILITARY PLANE. AND HE ACCUSES THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF BIAS.

///ROHRABACHER ACT///

UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WHILE CLAIMING TO BE AGAINST THE TALEBAN, SEEMS TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE BLOCKADE AGAINST THE TALEBAN'S ENEMIES.

///END ACT///

ASSISTANT SECRETARY INDEFURTH STRONGLY DISAGREES. HE SAYS BY WORKING THROUGH ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL AID NETWORKS THE UNITED STATES IS MAKING SURE THAT AID GETS TO NEEDY CIVILIANS -- NOT SOLDIERS -- IN ALL PARTS OF AFGHANISTAN. AT THE SAME TIME, HE CONCEDES THE SIGHT OF A U-S MILITARY PLANE FERRYING AID TO ONE REGION OF THE COUNTRY CONTROLLED BY ONE FACTION COULD SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL.

///INDEFURTH ACT///

WE ARE NOT FAVORING THE TALEBAN. WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WE CONSIDER THE TALEBAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IMMEDIATE CRISIS IN TERMS OF ITS BLOCKADE. HAVING SAID THAT, THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINS A POSITION OF NEUTRALITY AMONG THE VARIOUS FACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. WE BELIEVE IN LIGHT OF THAT POLICY THAT ASSISTANCE THAT IS INTENDED FOR AFGHAN CIVILIANS MUST BE PROVIDED IN A NEUTRAL FASHION.

///END ACT///

MR. INDEFURTH SAYS HE HOPES SOME WAY CAN BE FOUND TO HELP CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER GET HIS AID SHIPMENT TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. HE SAYS DANA ROHRABACHER'S INTENTIONS ARE GOOD, AND HIS INTEREST IN AFGHANISTAN IS REAL. AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE PREDICTS THEY WILL FIND SOME WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. (SIGNED)