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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1994)
By The Associated Press Edited by Kristine Long Net>raskan Friday, February 4,1994 Clinton lifts Vietnamese trade ban WASHINGTON — Moving to ease an emotional legacy from a divisive war, President Clinton on Thursday lifted the 19-year U.S. trade embargo against Vietnam. Clinton said he was taking the first step toward getting a full ac counting of the Americans missing in Vietnam. “We would lose leverage if there were no forward movement,” Clinton said. In recent months, he said, there had been much progress in accounting for 2,238 American MI As and POWs in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest growing markets and nearly all other Western countries that had once joined in the embargo have re established commercial ties with the communist nation. American businesses have pressed for an end to the embargo. “I want to be clear. These ac tions do not constitute a normaliza tion of our relationship. We must have more progress, more coopera tion, and more answers,” Clinton said. Clinton made the announcement after meeting with representatives of the famil ies of soldiers still miss ing in action. Many veterans groups preferred that he keep the embargo in place to encourage continued Vietnamese cooperation account ing for missing servicemen. “I am absolutely convinced it offers the best way to resolve the fate of those who remain missing and about those about whom we are not sure,” Clinton said. Clinton’s efforts to avoid mili tary service during the Vietnam War made his decision all the more sensitive. The decision to lift the embargo, Cl in ton said, was guided by progress in four key areas: • Recovery of remains of Ameri can soldiers in Vietnam. Since last July, remains of 39 American ser vicemen had been recovered. • Resolution of “discrepancy cases” in which there was reason to believe people could have survived. Since July, the number of such cases had been reduced from 135 to 73. • Further assistance from Viet nam and Laos in conducting searches along their common bor der. The first such investigation took place in December and located new remains and crash sites, Clinton said. • Release of any documents from Vietnam that could shed light on the fate of those still missing. Since July, Clinton said, important docu ments had been released from the Vietnamese archives. A strong suspicion exists among MIA family members and veterans groups that some of the missing are still alive, but the administration has said there is no credible evi dence of that. As a student a generation ago, Clinton marched against the war and also avoided the draft. Last summer, Clinton promised to keep the embargo until Vietnam provided a full accounting of the missing Americans. His decision to soften that stance was made easier by a non-binding 62-38 vote in the Senate last Thurs day favoring an end to the em bargo. Some veterans and family groups maintain that Vietnam has recovered the remains of hundreds of MIA’s but refuses to turn them over to U.S. authorities. Administration officials say Vietnam may have stored remains at one point but no longer does so. Missing Americans in Indochina President Clinton has made the lifting of the trade embargo contingent on Vietnam's cooperation and progress in the fullest possible accounting of America's Ml As. 2,238 Americans 1,647 Americans Indochina I Vietnam The American Legion, the largest veterans' group in the United States, said in a letter to President Clinton that if he lifts the embargo, he would betray millions of veterans and tneir families. To Mayhew, the British-Irish dec laration offered the IRA-Sinn Fein leadership the only concession itneeds — a seat at a talks table in exchange for an end to violence. Mayhew told The Financial Times he wants to see a continuation of the 1991 -92 tal ks process, wh ich included all of Northern Ireland’s major par ties except Sinn Fein. He said he would present those parties with his ideas on a new local parliament for Northern Ireland—an idea embraced by the province’s pro British, Protestant majority, less en thusiastically by John Hume’s Social Democratic and Labor Party, which represents most Catholics. Mayhew said he also wants to push for cross-border bodies to oversee ar eas of common i nterest between North em Ireland and the Irish Republic. Hume’s party, which wants Ireland united but opposes the IRA, supports this part of the package. To Adams peace means detailed concessions and assurances from Brit ain that he can sell to IRA command ers. After landing Thursday in Dublin, Ireland, Adams said his U.S. visit had been to promote peace, not “to bring back weapons.” Hesaid the trip helped the peace process. “Certainly no harm has been done," he said. He wouldn’t say whether he would try to persuade the IRA to stop killing. IRA leader’s visit angers Britain LONDON — Relations between Britain and the United States have undeniably soured because of Gerry Adams’ headline-grabbing visit to New York, but the British are aiming most of their fire at the Sinn Fein leader rather than Washington. Moving Thursday to seize back the public-relations spotlight,Britain lik ened Adams, head of the IRA’s main political allies, to Hitler’s chief pro pagandist. It also suggested it would push ahead with reforms in Northern Ireland. Sir Patrick Mayhew, Britain’s top official in the province, said he would introduce within two weeksan outline plan aimed at bringing peace to North ern Ireland. “Progress in Northern Ireland can not and will not wait for Sinn Fein,” Prime Minister John Major told Par liament. In New York this week, Adams portrayed himself as Northern Ireland’s chief peace-maker. He re fused to say whether he would per suade the IRA to lay down its arms. In a Dec. 15 declaration, the Brit ish and Irish governments offered to allow Sinn Fein into peace talks if the Irish Republican Army ended its 23 year campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland. The British worked hard behind the scenes to prevent Adams’ U.S. trip, but they want to keep private their anger with President Clinton and those U.S. politicians who suc cessfully argued for his special 48 hour visa. Adams h ad been den ied a visa e igh t times because Sinn Fein, though a legal party, is 1 inked to the IRA and its violent campaign against British rule. The U.S. ambassador to Britain, Raymond Seitz, was summoned to Major’s official residence Tuesday. He acknowledged Wednesday the visa debate had caused “a big tussle” in the Clinton administration. U.S. government spokesmen de fended tne president’s decision by saying the visa could serve as a “car rot” for Adams to seek peace. British officials say it will encour age Adams not to compromise. A senior official in Britain’s For eign Office said Major wan ted to avoid a “public row” with America. But he added that the visa effectively let Adams “play the democrat” while the IRA went on with its violent cam paign. Sir Robin Renwick, Britain’s am bassador to the United States, said Thursday on CNN that Adams’ “ex traordinary propaganda line” re minded him of Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels. “The line is, ‘I want peace,”’ Renwick said. The Adams visit has left the pro tagonists talking, in effect, about two different peace initiatives. To Mayhew, the British-Irish dec laration offered the IRA-Sinn Fein leadership theonly concession itneeds — a seat at a talks table in exchange for an end to violence. Mayhew told The Financial Times he wants to see a continuation of the 1991 -92 talks process, which included all of Northern Ireland’s major par ties except Sinn Fein. He said he would present those parties with his ideas on a new local parliament for Northern Ireland—an idea embraced by the province’s pro British, Protestant majority, less en thusiastically by John Hume’s Social Democratic and Labor Party, which represents most Catholics. Mayhew said he also wan ts to push for cross-border bodies to oversee ar eas of common interest between North ern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Hume’s party, which wants Ireland united but opposes the IRA, supports this part of the package. To Adams peace means detailed concessions and assurances from Brit ain that he can sell to IRA command ers. After landing Thursday in Dublin, Ireland, Adams saidhis U.S. visit had been to promote peace, not “to bring back weapons.” He said the trip helped the peace process. “Certainly no harm has been done,” he said. He wouldn’ t say whether he would try to persuade the IRA to stop killing. | IULLC.V3C. UUHJ | THE 5QIDAL gown omcr The Bridal Gown Outlet is a'Wearhouse'of brand new designer gowns. We know what you need, the quality you need and the prices you want • Designer Name Brand Goiuns • All Dresses $400 or less •Rentals on Gowns & Slips • Veils, Headpieces •Hosiery 6 Jewelry •Layaway Available So visil Lincoln's finest Bridal Gown Outlet Store to find a dress you will adore at a price you will love Bridal Gown Outlet 56th & O' Street, Suite 1 464-5541 //tort to Elegant Occasions 'Jr Wadding Shop) Netim&kan Editor Assoc Managing Edilor )C. News t< Editors Editorial Pans Editor Wire Editor Copy Desk Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports EdHor Aris A Entertain ment Edilor Photo Chief Jersnr^ttzpetrtck Adeena Lefdn Jeff Zajsrry Stars SisSti Reinbow Rowed Kristine Long Todd Cooper Jeff Orfeech Serah Duey Sled McKee FAX NUMBER 472-1761 The Daily NebraskanfUSPS 144-060) is published by the UNL Publications Board. Nebraska Union 34.1400 R St, Lincoln, Nt 68588 0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Doug Fiedler, 436-6287. Subscription price la $50 tor one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St.,Lincoln,NE 68588 0448 Second-class postage paid at Lincoln. NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT -It* DAILY NEBRASKAN bpeedskaters not distracted by Harding case LILLEHAMMER, Norway — They aren ’ t even here yet, and already Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan are having an impact at the Winter Olympics. The first batch of U.S. athletes checking into the Olympic Village Wednesday said the attention fo cused on the fig ure-skating rivals and Harding’s possible links to the attack on Kerrigan Jan. 6 would allow other stars on the team to prepare without undue pressure. Eighteen athletes and coaches from the men’s and women’s speedskating squad landed in Oslo and trekked to Hamar, Norway, where they will com pete for Olympic gold. The figure skating competition is in Hamar, too, but the speedskaters doubted the pres - It’s already In the media spotlight, everything’s Tonya and Nancy, and It will probably stay that way. —Mills Olympic speedskater ence of Harding and Kerrigan would affect them too much. “Once you’re in the village, it’s hard to be distracted,” said Nathaniel Mills, a member of the men’s speedskating team for the second straight Winter Games. The U.S. speedskaters include two out-and-out superstars — Bonnie Blair, trying to become the wimt ingest U.S. woman in Olympic history, and Dan Jansen, trying to win his first Olympic medal to go with a slew of world records and titles. Personable, articulate and well known, these athletes normally would be at the center of the Olympic spot lighl But their teammatesand coaches feel the Harding-Kerrigan saga will save Blair and Jansen some of the usual stress. “I think this thing is the best thing that can happen to Bonnie and Dan,” Mills said, ‘it’s already in the media spotlight, everything’s Tonya and Nancy, and it will probably stay that way.” Peter Mueucr, me specasnaung team’s coach, agreed. “We don’t talk much about it, but it does take the pressure off Dan,” Mueller said. oUIllC pwupiv uavw 9aiu uv u iivm charismatic, that we need a charis matic secretary of defense. I disagree,” Levin said. “We need somebody who has the experience to change the cul ture there.” “We must manage our budget a lot better,” Levin said. “We can do that with Dr. Perry.” Armed Services Chairman Sam Nunn, D-Ga., said of Perry’s testi mony in his confirmation hearing Wednesday, “it was impressive and it was straightforward.” Perry leaves Friday for a confer ence in Munich on defense issues. And next week he returns to Capitol Hill to present the administration’s $264 billion defense spending plan. The administration had hoped Perry could make those appearances as the fully confirmed secretary. Republicans charge that the administration’s regulations on ho mosexuals in the military do not faith fully follow a law passed last year by Congress aimed at keeping a gay ban in place Under questioning Wednesday, Perry assured senators their concerns were being taken into account. Perry rises from deputy defense secretary to the Pentagon’s top job at a time when the military budget con tinues to decline from the Reagan-era peak during the mid-1980s. The 66-year-old Stanford Univer sity engineering professor helped forge defense policy for the past year under Aspin and directed defense research under President Carter. He made his reputation in defense circles as the leading promoter of radar-evading stealth technology. He also became a millionaire as the founder of and con sultant to defense contractors. “We must manage our budget a lot better,” Levin said. ‘We can do that with Dr. Perry.” Armed Services Chairman Sam Nunn, D-Ga., said of Perry’s testi mony in his confirmation hearing Wednesday, “it was impressive and it was straightforward.” Perry leaves Friday for a confer ence in Munich on defense issues. And next week he returns to Capitol Hill to present the administration’s $264 billion defense spending plan. The administration had hoped Peny could make those appearances as the fully confirmed secretary. Republicans charge that the administration’s regulations on ho mosexuals in the military do not faith fully follow a law passed last year by Congress aimed at keeping a gay ban in place Under questioning Wednesday, Perry assured senators their concerns were being taken into account. Perry rises from deputy defense secretary to the Pentagon’s top job at a time when the military budget con tinues to decline from the Reagan-era peak during the mid-1980s. The 66-year-old Stanford Univer sity engineering professor helped forge defense policy for the past year under Aspin and directed defense research under President Carter. He made his reputation in defense circles as the leading promoter of radar-evading stealth technology. He also became a millionaire as the founder of and con sultant to defense contractors.