From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgFri Sep  1 09:59:31 1995
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 1995 07:55:00 +0100
From: Debra Guzman <DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org>
Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org
To: beijing95-l@netcom.com, beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org
Subject: CLINTON-CHINA_CONFERENCE_ 26.8

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DATE=8/26/95
TITLE=CLINTON/CHINA CONFERENCE  (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=JACKSON HOLE, WY.

INTRO:  PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON HAVE USED THE OCCASION OF
WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IN THE UNITED STATES TO DISCUSS THE
FIRST LADY'S CONTROVERSIAL TRIP TO CHINA NEXT MONTH TO
ATTEND A U-N CONFERENCE. MR. CLINTON TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND TO CRITICS OF MRS. CLINTON'S PARTICIPATION IN THE
FORUM AS HE MARKED THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH GIVES WOMEN THE RIGHT
TO VOTE.  V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE
REPORTS.

TEXT:  PRESIDENT CLINTON IS DISMISSING CRITICISM FROM SOME
CONSERVATIVES WHO SAY THE U-N CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IS
'ANTI-FAMILY'.

                           // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

HOWEVER ANY ONE MIGHT TRY TO PAINT THIS CONFERENCE, THE
TRUTH IS, IT  IS 'TRUE-BLUE' TO FAMILIES, TO SUPPORTING
THEM, TO CONSERVING THEM, TO VALUING THEM.

                                      // END ACT //

MR. CLINTON ALSO REJECTED CLAIMS BY SOME CRITICS THAT THE
U-S DELEGATION TO THE CONFERENCE INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES
FROM EXTREME LIBERAL GROUPS.

BUT THE CONFERENCE HAS ALSO COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM SOME
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.  THEY SAY THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
NOT BE REPRESENTED AT A FORUM ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN A COUNTRY THAT
PRACTICES INFANTICIDE AND ENFORCES BIRTH CONTROL POLICIES
THROUGH MANDATORY ABORTION AND STERILIZATION.

THE PRESIDENT -- IN A VEILED REFERENCE TO CHINA -- SAYS
THERE ARE COUNTRIES WHERE THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN CAN BE
IMPROVED, 75 YEARS AFTER THE UNITED STATES GAVE ITS WOMEN
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

                          // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

THERE ARE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT HAVE A HUGE
IMBALANCE IN THE NUMBER OF MALES AND FEMALES BECAUSE LITTLE
GIRLS ARE KILLED AT BIRTH BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THOUGHT TO
HAVE SUFFICIENT VALUE.  THERE ARE STILL COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD THAT TRY TO FORCE WOMEN NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN. THAT IS
SOMETHING WE CAN'T IMAGINE IN THIS COUNTRY, WHERE THAT IS
THE MOST PROFOUND RIGHT THAT WOMEN HAVE IN THE FAMILY.

                              // END ACT //

MR. CLINTON SUGGESTED THE CONFERENCE COULD PROVIDE A UNITED
FRONT FOR TREATING WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH DIGNITY AND
RESPECT. HE SAYS THE FORUM WILL ADDRESS WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.

OR HER PART, MRS. CLINTON SAYS ISSUES OF CONCERN TO WOMEN
SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.

                          // HILLARY ACTUALITY //

IF WOMEN AND GIRLS DON'T FLOUORISH, FAMILIES WON'T FLOURISH.
AND IF FAMILIES DON'T FLOURISH, COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS
WON'T FLOURISH.

                                   // END ACT //

THE FIRST LADY'S PARTICIPATION AT THE CONFERENCE WAS
ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, A DAY AFTER CHINA EXPELLED AMERICAN HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU.

SHE WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER FIFTH AND SIXTH,
AND IS IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THE FORUM AS HONORARY CHAIR OF
THE U-S DELEGATION.    (SIGNED)

NEB/SD





26-Aug-95 5:38 PM EDT (2138 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America