Some of us were concerned that Clinton hadn't been helping the countries
of South Central Asia enough, with their humanitarian and human rights
concerns.     Let us fear not.      He may even step in shortly to help
Kashmir gain it's self-determination, which many Leftists are deeply
concerned about, just like they were about Kosovar self-determination.

Tony Abdo
________________________________      Defence ties to figure in
Clinton-Hasina talks
By Ershadul Huq

DHAKA: Defence ties and the possibility of military purchases by Dhaka
from Washington are issues that will figure prominently during talks
between visiting U.S. President Bill Clinton and Bangladeshi Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on March 20.

A report on Humanitarian Assistance Need Assessment (HANA) and the
related Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which Bangladesh rejected
following massive protests on the ground that it would allow American
troops to enter the country without checks, will also be discussed, said
Foreign Ministry sources.
Washington says SOFA is meant to mobilise troops fast for humanitarian
assistance, for instance after natural disasters, but many political
parties in Bangladesh said it would threaten the country's sovereignty.

Discussions between Clinton and Hasina will also focus on the training
programmes for the Bangladesh military and joint military exercises by
the two countries.
The U.S. side is expected to insist on Bangladesh purchasing more
military hardware from Washington. There has been considerable concern
in the U.S. over Dhaka's rejection of SOFA and its purchase of military
equipment from Russia and China. There has also been a considerable
increase in defence equipment purchase from India in recent times, the
sources pointed out.
Though there is just a week left for Clinton's visit, the itinerary for
the trip is yet to be finalised.

Hossain Kamal, the Director General of External Publicity, faced a
barrage of questions about Clinton's visit from journalists, with some
asking if the Foreign Ministry was trying to keep it low-profile as no
substantive briefing on the trip had yet been held.

"The agenda of bilateral talks, the possible itinerary and thrust of the
visit to Bangladesh have still not been finalised by the officials of
the ministry, who are avoiding the media," complained a reporter of a
leading daily.

Kamal said a U.S. advance team had inspected all the sites that Clinton
might visit and would meet Bangladeshi officials soon to "crystallise
the itinerary".
Some reporters wanted to know if it was true that many visitors were
coming with Clinton without visas. Sources alleged that a huge volume of
equipment was being brought into the country, but no inventory was being
provided to the government agencies concerned. (India Abroad News
Service)