P122 MTV3 p122 .Ma 06 Hel 2141:31 1/3 U.S. FOREIGN AID BUDGET CALLED LEADERSHIP TEST WASHINGTON, FEB 6 (REUTER) - PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BUDGET PLAN FOR 1996 EFFECTIVELY MAINTAINS FOREIGN AID SPENDING AT CURRENT LEVELS AND "IS THE ROCKBOTTOM MINIMUM" NEEDED TO DEFEND U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID MONDAY. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS WHICH SWEPT REPUBLICANS INTO CONTROL OF CONGRESS "WERE NOT A LICENSE TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR GLOBAL INTERESTS" AND HE DESCRIBED THE $21.29 BILLION PROPOSED SPENDING FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS A "TEST OF OUR COMMITMENT TO LEAD." THE SPENDING ... <121 123>

P122 MTV3 p122 .Ma 06 Hel 2149:48 2/3 U.S. FOREIGN AID BUDGET CALLED LEADERSHIP TEST ... BLUEPRINT'S LARGEST INCREASE -- $436 MILLION -- GOES FOR THE MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. BUT IT ALSO CONTAINS INCREASES FOR NON-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS, EX-COMMUNIST STATES (INCLUDING RUSSIA) AND COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION -- HAITI, CAMBODIA AND ANGOLA. THE CONTROVERSIAL ACCOUNT FOR PEACEKEEPING ON PAPER REFLECTS A HUGE DECREASE. BUT OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY MAY NEED TO ASK CONGRESS FOR MORE MONEY LATER, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE ... <121 123>

P122 MTV3 p122 .Ma 06 Hel 2147:12 3/3 U.S. FOREIGN AID BUDGET CALLED LEADERSHIP TEST ... BUDGET AS PROPOSED ONLY FUNDQ THE U.S. SHARE OF PEACEKEEPING IN BOSNIA FOR SIX MONTHS. THE BUDGET PRESUMES ONE STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU AND 15 FOREIGN MISSIONS WILL BE CLOSED. OFFICIALS DECLINED TO BE SPECIFIC. THEY SAID FUNDING FOR ISRAEL AND EGYPT, THE TWO LARGEST U.S. AID RECIPIENTS, WILL REMAIN THE SAME BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON AID FOR SPECIFIC OTHER COUNTRIES UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK. <121 123>