SENATE NIXES AID TO UNITA, APPROVES STOPGAP FUND BILL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150014-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: December 11, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150014-5
AX TCLE APPEARED
ON PAGE
WASHINGTON TIMES
11 December 1985
Senate nixes aid to UNITA,
approves stopi!aD fund bill
Rita M ' ' rns
TH N TIMES
The Senate last night rejected a
barrage of special-interest
amendments - including aid to anti-
communist rebels in Angola - and
approved a $489 billion stopgap bill
to fund the government another year.
Divisive amendments from both
sides of the aisle were staved off as
the leadership kept reminding sen-
ators, who adjourned in time to at-
tend a White House Christmas party,
that the government would run out
of money at midnight tomorrow if
they did not act.
The House already has passed its
$480 billion version of the measure
that covers funding for a majority of
the government's agencies. Differ-
ences must be worked out in a con-
ference committee.
The president had warned con-
gressional leaders yesterday that he
would veto the measure "if there is
excessive spending in any area" of
the omnibus spending bill. Mr. Rea-
gan consistently has said that
spending for domestic programs is
too high.
The omnibus bill has been bogged
down for two days with amendments
that ranged from money to preserve
Colorado's wilderness to reform for
the U.S. military assistance pro-
grams.
Among measures lawmakers
failed to attach to the bill was an
amendment by Sen. Malcolm Wal-
lop, Wyoming Republican, that
would have given $50 million to anti-
communist Angolan guerrillas, the
National Union for the Tbtal Inde-
pendence of Angola (UNITA). The
Senate, in a 56-39 vote, decided the
amendment was not germane to the
spending bill. But Majority Leader
Robert Dole, Kansas Republican,
promised a free-standing vote on the
issue before the end of the year.
In a related development yester-
day, a senior State Department of-
ficial, who spoke amid reports of an
administration decision to aid Ango-
lan rebels, said that after months of
deadlock both the South African and
Angolan governments "are showing
some interest in the negotiating ta-
ble."
The official, who spoke on the con-
dition he not be identified, said
South Africa and Angola have finally
responded to proposals made by
would-be U.S. mediators early this
year. The three countries will be con-
tinuing ' their diplomatic contacts
this month, he said.
The Reagan administration re-
wrtedly has decided to as on-
gress for $15 million in "covert" mili-
ta aid for rebels fighting An ola's
Marxist government. The az re-
quest is expected to be presented to
the House and Senate Intelligence
committees ter this month.
The administration decision to aid
UNITA is, in part, a reaction to con-
gressional proposals that would pro-
vide either humanitarian or outright
military assistance to the group.
Any aid to UNITA could make it'
difficult for the United States to play
the role of mediator in seeking an
agreement between Angola and
South Africa, critics of the aid say.
In other Senate action yesterday
on the continuing resolution, the
Senate, on a 64-32 vote, also agreed
that an amendment by Sen. John
Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat,
that would have prevented testing of
nuclear devices in the president's
proposed Strategic Defense Initia-
tive program, did not belong on the
bill.
On a 49-45, the Senate agreed that
the chair had correctly ruled that it
was inappropriate to attach an
amendment to create a special panel
to investigate whether the govern-
ment is properly handling political
asylum cases. That amendment was
offered by Sen. Gordon Humphrey,
New Hampshire Republican, who
said he would try again to get Senate
approval for the panel.
The biggest amendment ap-
proved on the bill is one that may halt
the sale of nuclear technology to
China if the president does not cer-
tify that the communist nation will
allow outside verification that it is
using the materials for peaceful pur-
poses only.
Staff writer Jay Mallin contri-
buted to this report.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150014-5