BELGIUM: BRUSSELS: NATO CHIEF WILLY CLAES BRIBERY SCANDAL

Описание: (5 Apr 1995) English/Nat

NATO chief Willy Claes has ended weeks of silence over claims he's linked to a Belgian bribery scandal.

Mr Claes says he's innocent and has rejected calls for his resignation from the western military alliance.

Although the alliance's governments have stood by the NATO Secretary-General, political opponents and newspaper editorials have demanded he step down after his Socialist Party slid into a corruption scandal in his native Belgium.

The case centres on allegations that an Italian aircraft maker, Agusta, paid bribes in return for a 12 (b) billion franc (330 (m) million dollars) contract to supply 48 helicopters to the Belgian army in 1988, when Claes was economics minister.

In February, prosecutors arrested three former Socialist officials. One of them, Etienne Mange, told investigators Agusta paid 50 (m) million francs (1.5 (m) million dollars) to the party after it got the contract.

Claes' former chief of staff also was arrested and his close political associate, Belgian foreign minister Frank Vandenbrouke, has resigned.

In his first public appearance for weeks at NATO headquarters Wednesday, Claes told reporters he was willing to meet prosecutors at any time to discuss the case.

SOUNDBITE:
"(Question: If you were interrogated, if there would be a request, would you be able to tell them anything new, or have you told them everything you know already in previous meetings with the Belgian judicial authorities. That is my question?)
(Answer: "I do not know, I think that I have told everything, but you never know that there are other questions which can be developed. One thing is clear, I am glad that the law was voted so that there is not any obstacle between ministers, former ministers, in order to give explanations and in order to eventual re-confrontations. So I have a feeling that I have given all what I knew. But I am at the disposal of the judicial government.."
SUPER CAPTION: Willy Claes, NATO Secretary-General

Allied governments have mostly stood by Claes but concern is growing that uncertainty over Claes' position could weaken the western military alliance.

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