10 August 1998

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT OFFERS REWARD FOR EMBASSY BOMBERS

(Assures staff of efforts to track killers) (850)

By Jim Fisher-Thompson

USIA Staff Writer



WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on August 10
announced a $2 million reward for information leading to the capture
and conviction of the perpetrators behind the bombings of two U.S.
Embassies in East Africa that killed at least 12 Americans and some
200 Africans while wounding thousands of others, including U.S.
Ambassador Prudence Bushnell in Kenya.


Albright told Foreign Service officers and civil servants assembled
here at the State Department that "we must find and punish the cowards
who committed this act." In the Nairobi bombing, Ambassador Bushnell
sustained minor wounds, including bruises, abrasions, and a cut lip
when she was thrown to the floor during the blast.


Backing her words with action, Albright announced a major "reward of
up to $2 million for information that leads to the arrest and
conviction of those responsible" for the car bomb attacks in Nairobi
and Dar es Salaam on the morning of August 7.


Albright put the killers on notice, saying: "President [Bill] Clinton
has made it absolutely clear that we will not rest until that
[punishment] happens, and it will happen -- for our nation's memory is
long and our reach is far."


As for government employees, the secretary said: "Once again, the
worst of tragedies has brought out the best in all of you. I know the
coming days will be hard for many of our colleagues, and we need to
help each other getting our jobs done" in representing United States
interests abroad.


Nor will the injuries and sacrifices of Africans in the bombings be
forgotten, Albright stressed, pointing out that the U.S. government
will be "consulting with representatives of the people of Tanzania and
Kenya to determine appropriate ways to support them at this time of
loss."


Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service and Director of Personnel
Edward Gnehm Jr. also noted that five Kenyan embassy workers were
seriously wounded in the Nairobi bombing and have been flown to a U.S.
Army hospital in Germany for specialized treatment of their wounds,
and "we may be sending seven more as we evaluate their conditions."


In addition, Gnehm said, "we've established a task force in our FSN
area to deal with all the problems" that arise from the bombings. "I
would remind you all that we have a fund for FSNs," which the State
Department will augment sometime soon, he said. (FSN -- Foreign
Service National -- is a category of host country citizens employed by
the embassy.)


Finally, said Gnehm, "we are a family...and you would be very proud of
the way people have reacted over the last few days. Rest assured that
we are going to do everything that is right for our people."


"President Clinton and I will also do all we can to protect our
citizens and employees abroad as well as the citizens of our host
countries," Albright emphasized. To that end, she said, "we're working
with the administration and Congress to prepare a budget request that
will allow us to rebuild and continue our presence in Kenya and
Tanzania and that will provide essential security for posts around the
world that may have additional needs for such things as armored
vehicles, metal detectors, barricades, and communication links."


Clinton referred to the terrorist acts in Africa before giving a
speech in Kentucky, declaring that the struggle against "this kind of
conduct" is essential "to building a civilized, open world for the
21st century."


There were no Americans killed in Dar es Salaam. The 12 Americans
killed in Nairobi are Consul General Julian Bartley and his son, Jay
Bartley; Molly Hardy of the Administrative Office; Prabhi Kavaler and
Michelle O'Connor, both of the General Services Office; Tom Shah, of
the Political Section; Jean Dalizu and Army Sergeant Kenneth Hobson
II, both of the Defense Attache's Office; Arlene Kirk and Air Force
Senior Master Sergeant Sherry Lynn Olds, both of the Military
Assistance Office; Marine Sergeant Jesse N. Aliganga of the Marine
Security Guard detachment; and Louise Martin, of the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.


Albright told her audience that "we have another responsibility today
that is equally fundamental to those who died, to those who lived, and
to all Americans. These United States, this principled, purposeful
nation, will not be intimidated. We will redouble our efforts to build
peace and to fight intolerance. We will meet our responsibility to
stay engaged in the world, to keep standing up for the values that the
peacemakers cherish and for the future that the bomb throwers fear.


"For although terror can turn buildings to rubble and laughter to
tears, it can never, will never, deter America from its purpose and
presence around the globe. That is the best answer we can give to the
despicable cowards who did this. That is the best thing we can do to
honor the service of the men and women who lost their lives in this
tragedy."

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