Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING19404
2006-09-13 09:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

DAS CHRISTENSEN'S MEETINGS WITH AFM HE YAFEI AND

Tags:  PREL PHUM CH KN 
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VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #9404 2560930
ZNY SSSSS ZZH ZUI RUEWCSE8347 2560928
O 130930Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
S E C R E T BEIJING 019404 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: DAS CHRISTENSEN'S MEETINGS WITH AFM HE YAFEI AND
NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS DG LIU JIEYI

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL SHIELDS.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

S E C R E T BEIJING 019404

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: DAS CHRISTENSEN'S MEETINGS WITH AFM HE YAFEI AND
NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS DG LIU JIEYI

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL SHIELDS.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER HE YAFEI
EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER PRESS REPORTS THE USG MAY SELL TAIWAN
F-16S AND OVER THE POSSIBILITY THAT CHEN SHUI-BIAN MAY SEEK
TO CREATE A CROSS-STRAIT CRISIS WHEN AFM HE MET EAP DAS
CHRISTENSEN. DAS CHRISTENSEN SAID U.S. POLICY ON TAIWAN,
INCLUDING WITH REGARD TO ARMS SALES, REMAINS UNCHANGED. AFM
HE SAID HE PLANS TO VISIT WASHINGTON OCTOBER 12-13. MFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS LIU JIEYI, IN A
SEPARATE MEETING WITH DAS CHRISTENSEN, EMPHASIZED THE STRONG
PROGRESS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS. DAS CHRISTENSEN CITED
RECENT COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON NORTH KOREA AND
LEBANON AS SIGNS OF COMMON INTEREST AND URGED BEIJING'S
SUPPORT ON SUDAN, BURMA AND IRAN. DG LIU REQUESTED U.S.
SUPPORT FOR MARGARET CHAN'S CANDIDACY TO LEAD THE WHO, URGED
THAT USG OFFICIALS NOT MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON HONG KONG'S
DEMOCRACY, URGED THAT CONGRESS NOT GRANT A MEDAL TO THE DALAI
LAMA AND SUGGESTED THAT FALUN GONG ACTIVIST WANG WENYI HAD
VIOLENT PLANS. DAS CHRISTENSEN RAISED HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.
END SUMMARY.

MEETING WITH AFM HE YAFEI
--------------


2. (C) RECENT TAIWAN NEWS REPORTS THAT THE USG WILL SELL
TAIWAN F-16S ARE "ALARMING," ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER HE
YAFEI SAID IN A SEPTEMBER 12 MEETING WITH EAP DEPUTY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY THOMAS CHRISTENSEN. AFM HE URGED THE USG
NOT TO SELL ADVANCED WEAPONS TO TAIWAN. CALLING TAIWAN
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS "CHAOTIC" AND A POTENTIAL THREAT TO
PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT
CHEN SHUI-BIAN, IN THE "GREATEST TROUBLE OF HIS POLITICAL
CAREER," MIGHT MAKE MOVES ON CROSS-STRAITS ISSUES IN AN
ATTEMPT TO CREATE A CRISIS.


3. (C) DAS CHRISTENSEN EMPHASIZED THAT U.S. POLICY ON TAIWAN
HAS NOT CHANGED. THE UNITED STATES FROM TIME TO TIME SELLS
ARMS TO HELP TAIWAN MEET ITS DEFENSIVE NEEDS, CONSISTENT WITH
THE U.S. ONE CHINA POLICY BASED ON THE THREE COMMUNIQUES AND
THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT. THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT SUPPORT
TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE AND OPPOSES EFFORTS BY EITHER SIDE TO
UNILATERALLY CHANGE THE STATUS QUO. PEOPLE IN TAIWAN CLEARLY

UNDERSTAND U.S POLICY. AS FOR POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS, THE
UNITED STATES IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THEM AS LONG AS THEY
REMAIN PEACEFUL, HE NOTED.


4. (C) AFM HE SAID HE PLANS TO VISIT WASHINGTON OCTOBER
12-13, THEN PROCEED TO CANADA. DAS CHRISTENSEN WELCOMED THE
VISIT.

MEETING WITH DG LIU JIEYI
--------------


5. (C) MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS LIU
JIEYI, IN A SEPARATE MEETING WITH DAS CHRISTENSEN ON
SEPTEMBER 12, EMPHASIZED THE STRONG PROGRESS IN BILATERAL
RELATIONS. BEIJING AND WASHINGTON HAVE A SOLID BASIS FOR
COOPERATION, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE RECENT VISITS TO THE UNITED
STATES OF CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION VICE CHAIRMAN GENERAL
GUO BOXIONG AND MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY ZHOU YONGKANG,
AND THE VISITS TO CHINA OF CODEL STEVENS, U.S. TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWAB AND WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON. BEIJING HOPES
THAT PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT HU WILL MEET AGAIN ON THE
MARGINS OF THE APEC LEADERS MEETING IN HANOI. CHINA LOOKS
FORWARD TO THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENTS REPRESENTATIVE
SECRETARY PAULSON FOR THE STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DIALOGUE. STATE

SIPDIS
COUNCILOR CHEN ZHILI WILL BE VISITING NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
AT THE INVITATION OF THE FIRST LADY, LIU SAID. DAS
CHRISTENSEN SAID HE HOPES CHINA WILL WELCOME A VISIT BY UNDER
SECRETARY BURNS TO CONTINUE THE SENIOR DIALOGUE. LIU

SIPDIS
RESPONDED POSITIVELY, RECOGNIZING U/S BURNS,S POSITION AS
THE SECOND HIGHEST RANKING OFFICIAL IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
LIU SAID SECRETARY RICE AND FM LI SPEAK OFTEN BY TELEPHONE
AND ARE EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN AT THE UNGA ON SEPTEMBER 18.
CHRISTENSEN THANKED LIU FOR CHINA'S SUPPORT FOR UNSC
RESOLUTIONS ON NORTH KOREA AND LEBANON, STATING THAT
RESOLUTIONS LIKE UNSCR 1695 ON NORTH KOREA SHOW THE BENEFITS
OF U.S.-CHINA COOPERATION.

NUCLEAR HOTSPOTS: IRAN AND NORTH KOREA
--------------


6. (S) THE UNITED STATES IS FRUSTRATED, HOWEVER, BY NORTH
KOREA'S REFUSAL TO RETURN TO THE SIX-PARTY TALKS, CHRISTENSEN
SAID, NOTING THERE ARE OPPORTUNITY COSTS FOR ALL PARTIES
INVOLVED IF THIS MULTI-LATERAL APPROACH TO REGIONAL SECURITY
FAILS. RESPONDING TO LIU'S COMMENT THAT U.S. FINANCIAL
MEASURES AGAINST THE DPRK COULD IMPEDE RESUMPTION OF TALKS,
CHRISTENSEN SAID PYONGYANG'S OBJECTIONS ARE JUST EXCUSES, A
CONTINUATION OF THE DPRKS REFUSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE SEPTEMBER
2005 JOINT STATEMENT. THAT REFUSAL PREDATED THE FINANCIAL
MEASURES. LIFTING CURRENT FINANCIAL MEASURES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO ENFORCE U.S. LAWS WOULD BE REWARDING PYONGYANG
FOR RECENT BAD BEHAVIOR AND WOULD SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE.
THE USG WOULD VIEW ANY FUTURE MISSILE OR NUCLEAR TESTS AS
EXTREME PROVOCATION. BEIJING SHOULD MAKE ALL EFFORTS TO
PERSUADE PYONGYANG TO RETURN TO THE SIX-PARTY NEGOTIATING
TABLE, CHRISTENSEN SAID. LIU SAID BEIJING HAS BEEN WORKING
VERY HARD TO PERSUADE PYONGYANG TO RETURN TO THE SIX-PARTY
TALKS.


7. (C) CHRISTENSEN SAID IRAN'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE
P5-PLUS-1 PACKAGE IS ALSO FRUSTRATING. EXPRESSING
APPRECIATION FOR PREMIER WEN JIABAO'S STATEMENT THAT THE
PACKAGE IS REASONABLE AND PRESENTS THE BEST WAY FORWARD, THE
DAS SAID WASHINGTON HOPES CHINA WILL SUPPORT A NEW, TOUGHER
RESOLUTION ON IRAN THAT INCLUDES CHAPTER 7 SANCTIONS. LIU
SAID IRAN WAS UNHAPPY OVER THE TOUGH CHINESE MESSAGE AFM CUI
TIANKAI BROUGHT TO TEHRAN. LIU SAID CHINA BELIEVES IT IS
IMPORTANT TO IMPLEMENT ALL UNSC RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING THE
LATEST RESOLUTION ON IRAN.

HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------


8. (C) THE UNITED STATES IS INTERESTED IN RE-STARTING A
HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH BEIJING, CHRISTENSEN TOLD LIU, BUT
THIS REQUIRES CHINESE PROGRESS ON PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS
CASES. CHINA'S RECENT ACTIONS AGAINST ACTIVISTS AND
JOURNALISTS NOT ONLY CONTRAVENE INTERNATIONAL NORMS, BUT SEEM
TO CONFLICT WITH CHINA'S OWN LAWS.

--REBIYA KADEER'S FAMILY MEMBERS: CHRISTENSEN SAID THE
DETENTION OF MS. KADEER'S SONS FOR TAX EVASION APPEARED TO BE
RETRIBUTION FOR THEIR MOTHER'S POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. LIU
RESPONDED THAT THE ARRESTS ARE RELATED TO ECONOMIC CRIMES AND
ARE NOT RELATED TO MS. KADEER'S ACTIVITIES.

--ZHAO YAN PRISON SENTENCE: CHRISTENSEN CRITICIZED THE
SENTENCING OF THIS NEW YORK TIMES EMPLOYEE ON A MINOR FRAUD
CHARGE, DESPITE THE COURT'S DECISION TO CLEAR HIM OF LEAKING
"STATE SECRETS." LIU CITED THE CASE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
RULE OF LAW WORKS WELL IN CHINA, NOTING THAT, ALTHOUGH ZHAO
"DID COMMIT" ALL CRIMES HE IS ACCUSED OF, THE COURT FOUND
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF THE "MAJOR CHARGES" AND DISMISSED
THEM.
--CHING CHEONG: AS WITH ZHAO YAN, THE SENTENCING OF THIS
REPORTER RAISED CONCERNS IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT CHINA'S
COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, CHRISTENSEN SAID.

--CHEN GUANGCHENG: CHRISTENSEN SAID THAT AMERICANS FIND HARD
TO BELIEVE THE CHARGES OF DISTURBING PUBLIC ORDER LEVELED AT
A BLIND ACTIVIST WITH NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. LIU SAID THAT
THE CRIMES CHEN WAS CONVICTED OF INVOLVE DEEDS, NOT JUST
WORDS, AND ARE NOT A FREE SPEECH CONCERN.

TAIWAN: BEWARE OF CHEN SHUI-BIAN
--------------


9. (C) CALLING CHEN SHUI-BIAN "UNTRUSTWORTHY," LIU SAID CHEN
WOULD TRY TO DAMAGE CROSS-STRAITS RELATIONS IN ORDER TO SAVE
HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE. LIU COMPLAINED THAT ALLOWING CHEN
TO TRANSIT THE UNITED STATES AND SELLING TAIWAN ADVANCED
WEAPONRY SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL TO BOTH TAIWAN AND CHINA. HE
URGED WASHINGTON TO CONSIDER THE DANGERS OF THESE ACTIONS.
CHEN IS USING THESE ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES TO IMPLY
U.S. SUPPORT FOR CHEN'S INDEPENDENCE AGENDA, ACCORDING TO
LIU. CHEN WILL "GRAB ANYTHING AND TWIST EVERYTHING" TO SUIT
HIS OWN AGENDA, LIU SAID.


10. (C) THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CLEAR AND CONSISTENT IN
ITS ONE CHINA POLICY, SAID DAS CHRISTENSEN. CHEN'S TRANSIT
AND THE U.S. SALES OF DEFENSIVE WEAPONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH
U.S. POLICY, INCLUDING THE THREE COMMUNIQUES AND THE TAIWAN

RELATIONS ACT. PRESIDENT BUSH HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THE
UNITED STATES DOES NOT SUPPORT TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE. THE
UNITED STATES OPPOSES EFFORTS TO UNILATERALLY CHANGE THE
STATUS QUO FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE STRAIT. AS LONG AS THE
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM PROCESS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SUCH A
CHANGE IN THE STATUS QUO, THE UNITED STATES TAKES NO POSITION
ON WHETHER TAIWAN SHOULD UNDERTAKE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS.
DAS CHRISTENSEN NOTED THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR
SUCH REFORMS WITHIN ALL SECTORS OF TAIWAN SOCIETY.

SUDAN
--------------


11. (C) CHRISTENSEN EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT BEIJING
DID NOT SUPPORT UNSCR 1706 ON SUDAN, SAID CHRISTENSEN. LIU
SAID HE WOULD PASS ALONG CHRISTENSEN'S REQUEST FOR A BRIEFING
ON THE VISIT TO CHINA OF PRESIDENT BASHIR,S AIDE. LIU SAID
WHILE BEIJING IS IN FAVOR OF THE UN TAKING OVER FROM THE
AFRICAN UNION, WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE SUDANESE
GOVERNMENT ANY PEACEKEEPING MISSION WILL NOT ACHIEVE UN
OBJECTIVES AND WILL SET A BAD PRECEDENT. THE DAS REPLIED
THAT TAKING NO ACTION AT ALL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN A HUGE
HUMANITARIAN COST. HE ENCOURAGED BEIJING TO REVISIT THIS
URGENT, SERIOUS ISSUE.

BURMA
--------------


12. (C) LIU SAID THAT WHILE WASHINGTON AND BEIJING HAVE THE
SAME OBJECTIVES FOR BURMA, CHINA CONSIDERS BURMA'S PROBLEMS
AN INTERNAL BURMESE ISSUE NOT WARRANTING A UNSC RESOLUTION.
MANY ASEAN COUNTRIES AGREE WITH CHINA. BEIJING WANTS TO MAKE
IT EASIER TO ACHIEVE PEACE IN BURMA AND BELIEVES CONTINUED
OUTSIDE PRESSURE WILL MAKE IT HARDER. AS BURMA'S CLOSE
NEIGHBOR, CHINA IS CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL CHAOS IF THE
CURRENT GOVERNMENT IN RANGOON FEELS COMPELLED TO TAKE EXTREME
ACTION. CHRISTENSEN, POINTING TO NARCOTICS AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, SAID THAT BURMA'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST INTERNAL
BUT AFFECT REGIONAL STABILITY. WASHINGTON HOPES CHINA WILL
SUPPORT, OR AT LEAST NOT OBSTRUCT, EFFORTS TO PUT BURMA ON
THE UNSC AGENDA AND PASS A BURMA RESOLUTION, CHRISTENSEN
EMPHASIZED.

MARGARET CHAN, THE WHO AND HONG KONG
--------------


13. (C) LIU ASKED FOR U.S. SUPPORT OF MARGARET CHAN'S
CANDIDACY TO LEAD THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. CHRISTENSEN
NOTED THAT CHAN'S RECENT VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL. WASHINGTON HAS A POSITIVE VIEW OF CHAN, BUT THIS
IS A CONTESTED RACE AMONG SEVERAL EXCELLENT CANDIDATES.


14. (C) LIU CRITICIZED A RECENT SPEECH OF THE U.S. CONSUL
GENERAL IN HONG KONG, SAYING THAT HE HAD MADE INAPPROPRIATE
COMMENTS THAT COULD HARM THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY THE
UNITED STATES AND CHINA BOTH WANT FOR HONG KONG. CHRISTENSEN
REPLIED THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE CONSUL
GENERAL'S PRO-DEMOCRACY REMARKS. THE CONSUL GENERAL IS
SIMPLY DOING HIS JOB. THE UNITED STATES FIRMLY BELIEVES AND
HISTORY SHOWS THAT CREATING AND SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY IS THE
SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROMOTE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY,
CHRISTENSEN EMPHASIZED.

DALAI LAMA AND FALUN GONG
--------------


15. (C) LIU URGED THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO PERSUADE CONGRESS
NOT TO AWARD THE DALAI LAMA A MEDAL DURING HIS UPCOMING VISIT
TO THE UNITED STATES. CHRISTENSEN RESPONDED THAT THE DALAI
LAMA IS WELL RESPECTED IN AMERICA AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER.
MOREOVER, THE UNITED STATES EXECUTIVE BRANCH CANNOT AND DOES
NOT ATTEMPT TO TELL THE CO-EQUAL LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO WHOM
IT CAN OR CANNOT AWARD A MEDAL.


16. (C) LIU CLAIMED THAT NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED THAT FALUN
GONG ACTIVIST WANG WENYI, WHO HECKLED PRESIDENT HU JINTAO ON
THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE DURING HIS APRIL VISIT, IS
WORKING WITH OTHER ACTIVISTS TO TAKE "VIOLENT ACTION." LIU
URGED THE U.S. TO PUNISH HER APPROPRIATELY. CHRISTENSEN
ASKED THAT CHINA PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT ITS ALLEGATION.

ENHANCED ECONOMIC AND TRADE COOPERATION
--------------

17. (C) LIU, NOTING THAT U.S. EXPORTS TO CHINA WERE UP BY 25
PERCENT FROM JANUARY TO JUNE THIS YEAR, SAID CHINA WANTS MORE
BALANCE IN ITS TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES. TO
ENHANCE COOPERATION, DG LIU URGED FEWER U.S. RESTRICTIONS ON
HIGH-TECH EXPORTS TO CHINA AND NO CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON THE
VALUE OF THE RENMINBI. CHRISTENSEN URGED CHINA TO INTENSIFY
ITS EFFORTS TO INCREASE IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

MIL-MIL COOPERATION
--------------


18. (C) THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE FRUITFUL AND
INCREASING MILITARY-TO-MILITARY COOPERATION, AS EVIDENCED BY
THE UPCOMING VISIT OF PLA NAVAL SHIPS TO SAN DIEGO, SAID DG
LIU. DAS CHRISTENSEN SAID HE HAD PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE
JUST-CONCLUDED PORT VISIT OF CHINESE SHIPS IN HAWAII AND WAS
PLEASED TO SEE CHINESE SAILORS ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF
HONOLULU.

COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION AND NONPROLIFERATION
-------------- --------------


19. (C) LIU URGED THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE SERIOUSLY
BEIJING'S REQUESTS TO RELEASE TO CHINESE CUSTODY CHINESE
CITIZENS HELD AT GUANTANAMO AND TO SUPPORT INCLUSION OF THE
EAST TURKISTAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (ETLO/SHAT)
ORGANIZATION ON THE UN LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.
CHRISTENSEN REPLIED THAT IF BEIJING HAS ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT ETLO/SHAT, THE UNITED STATES STANDS READY
TO REVIEW IT.


20. (S) IN RESPONSE TO LIUS REQUEST NOT TO SANCTION CHINESE
COMPANIES THE UNITED STATES DEEMS TO BE PROLIFERATORS BUT TO
LET THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH SUCH COMPANIES,
CHRISTENSEN EMPHASIZED THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSIDERS THE
COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN SANCTIONED TO BE SERIOUS VIOLATORS
OF EXPORT CONTROL RULES AND DOES ALL IT CAN TO PROVIDE CHINA
WITH SPECIFIC AND TIMELY INFORMATION BEFORE TAKING ACTION.

ENERGY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
--------------


21. (C) LIU SAID CHINA WOULD WELCOME UNITED STATES
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROPOSED FIVE-COUNTRY (U.S., CHINA,
JAPAN, ROK, INDIA) ENERGY MINISTERS MEETING TO BE HELD IN
CHINA. CHINA WILL HOST THE 12TH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY JOINT
COMMISSION AND THE FIRST SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY FORUM.
CHINA LOOKS FORWARD TO THE VISIT OF NASA ADMINISTRATOR
GRIFFIN AND THE 2007 VISIT OF STUDENTS PRESIDENT HU INVITED
TO CHINA DURING HIS APRIL SPEECH HE GAVE AT YALE UNIVERSITY.


22. (U) DAS CHRISTENSEN CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.
RANDT