Topic: voa
Subject: CLAES / SCANDAL (L-ONLY) by JOHN FRASER/BRUSSELS
From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
Topic: voa

DATE=4/5/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176613
TITLE=CLAES / SCANDAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN FRASER
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES HAS BROKEN A 
MONTH-LONG SILENCE ABOUT CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION BECAUSE OF AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO A BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION SCANDAL DATING BACK 
TO WHEN HE WAS BELGIUM'S FINANCE MINISTER.  JOHN FRASER IN 
BRUSSELS REPORTS MR. CLAES SAYS HE IS INNOCENT AND THEREFORE SEES
NO  REASON TO RESIGN.  

TEXT:  MR. CLAES TOLD JOURNALISTS FROM SIX SELECTED NEWSPAPERS 
THAT HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE, THAT HE CAN LOOK EVERYONE IN THE 
EYE.  HE SAYS HE IS INNOCENT, AND TO RESIGN WOULD BE AN ADMISSION
OF GUILT.

HE SAYS HE CONTINUES TO ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE 16-NATO 
GOVERNMENTS.

THE SCANDAL INVOLVES A BELGIAN GOVERNMENT DEFENSE ORDER IN 1988 
FOR 46 HELICOPTERS FROM THE ITALIAN AGUSTA COMPANY.  IT IS 
ALLEGED THAT AGUSTA PAID A BRIBE OF MORE THAN ONE-MILLION DOLLARS
TO MR. CLAES'S FLEMISH SOCIALIST PARTY TO WIN THE ORDER.

MR. CLAES SAYS THE DECISION TO CHOOSE THE AGUSTA CONTRACT WAS A 
MILITARY ONE, AND HE SAYS HE HAD  NOT  HEARD ABOUT THE BRIBE 
OFFER UNTIL AFTER HE HAD GIVEN HIS SUPPORT TO THE CONTRACT. 

HE SAYS THAT AT THE TIME, HE GAVE FIRM INSTRUCTIONS TO THE 
TREASURER OF HIS PARTY, ETIENNE MANGE,  NOT  TO ACCEPT THE BRIBE.

MR. CLAES SAYS HE WILL BE HAPPY TO COOPERATE WITH BELGIAN 
JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES WHO ARE CONTINUING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS.

                       ///  CLAES ACT  ///

         I HAVE THE FEELING THAT I HAVE GIVEN ALL THAT I KNEW (TO
         AUTHORITIES) BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.  I AM AT THE DISPOSAL 
         OF THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. CLAES ADDS THAT HE HAS A WHOLE SERIES OF URGENT ISSUES TO 
DEAL WITH AT NATO.  THESE INCLUDE RELATIONS BETWEEN NATO AND 
RUSSIA, TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS
EUROPEAN ALLIES, AND CONTINUING FEUDS BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY.

MR. CLAES MADE THE COMMENTS TO REPORTERS AS HE WAS MEETING WITH 
THE POLISH PRIME MINISTER, JOZEF OLEKSY, WHO WANTS HIS COUNTRY TO
JOIN NATO WITHIN TWO YEARS.  MR. CLAES DECLINED COMMENT ON A 
TIMEFRAME, BUT HE DID MAKE IT CLEAR THAT RUSSIA WILL  NOT  HAVE A
VETO OVER POLISH MEMBERSHIP IN NATO.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/SKHJWH

05-Apr-95 8:39 AM EDT (1239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America