D'AMATO NEWS RELEASE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00135R000500930024-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 2008
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: May 7, 1983
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2008/02/01 : CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000500930024-0
OEXA/LLD
INCOMING
STAT
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 001
TOR: 071948Z MAY 83
00 RUEAIIB
ZNR UUUUU ZOC STATE ZZH
00 RUEHC RUEHDM
DE RUEHC #7521 1271945
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
0 071853Z MAY 83
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 6227
BT
UNCLAS STATE 127521
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: EAID, SY
SUBJECT: D'AMATO NEWS RELEASE
1. NEWS RELEASE FROM SENt ,.IATOR,.D'AMATO'S OFFICE, MAY 3,
1983.
BEGIN TEXT: THIS MORNING'S HEARING CALLED BY THE FOREIGN
OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE. APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE FULL EXTENT OF UNITED STATES AID
TO SYRIA WAS ABRUPTLY CANCELLED AFTER THE ADMINISTRATOR
OF THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, M. PETER
MCPHERSON, INFORMED THE PANEL THAT HE WOULD NOT ATTEND.
SENATOR ALFONSE M. D'AMATO, WHO REQUESTED THE HEARING,
ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS INFORMED LATE LAST NIGHT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATOR WAS UNWILLING TO TESTIFY ON THIS MATTER. I
FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE CONFERRED WITH
THE CHAIRMAN, SENATOR ROBERT KASTEN, AND WE BOTH AGREE
THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, AND THE
HEARINGS WILL BE RESCHEDULED AND STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO
INSURE THAT MR. MCPHERSON IS PRESENT TO EXPLAIN WHY THERE
IS NEARLY $300 MILLION IN THE PIPELINE FOR AID TO SYRIA.
I AM MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
THIS MATTER. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE
HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THESE FUNDS ARE TO BE USED
FOR. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MATTER MANDATES THAT THIS BE
DISCUSSED WITH THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THESE MATTERS. MR. MCPHERSON IS THE ADMINISTRATOR, AND
IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT HE TESTIFY BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, AND NOT SOMEONE ELSE." END TEXT.
2. COPY OF WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE, 5/4/83, ENTITLED
QUOTE ADMINISTRATION BALKS SYRIA HEARING UNQUOTE BEING
SENT BY POUCH. NOTE: WP ARTICLE QUOTED A MUCH MORE
ACCURATE AMOUNT IN PIPELINE THAN DID D'AMATO. DAM
END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/02/01 : CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000500930024-0