FAMILY PLANNING ADVOCATES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND 
RUSSIA HAVE TAKEN THEIR COOPERATION TO A NEW LEVEL.  THEY 
LAUNCHED A JOINT LOBBYING CAMPAIGN ON WASHINGTON'S CAPITOL HILL, 
AS CONGRESS PREPARES TO DECIDE WHETHER TO RELEASE FUNDING FOR 
INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROGRAMS.  

 FAMILY PLANNING ADVOCATES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND 
RUSSIA GATHERED TUESDAY IN THE BASEMENT OF THE U-S CAPITAL TO 
FIRE ONE OF THE LAST SALVOS IN THEIR LONG BATTLE. 

AT STAKE ARE 385-MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATED FOR INTERNATIONAL 
PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROGRAMS LAST YEAR, BUT DELAYED FOR 
DISBURSEMENT.  THURSDAY, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED
TO VOTE ON A RESOLUTION RELEASING THESE FUNDS.  

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA, 
GLORIA FELDT, ISSUED A STRONG APPEAL IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.


         FAMILY PLANNING HELPS BUILD HEALTHY FAMILIES AND STABLE 
         ECONOMIES IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.  IT ALSO FOSTERS 
         ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THOSE NATIONS, WHO 
         OTHERWISE WOULD LOOK TO THE UNITED STATES FOR A BETTER 
         LIFE.  ULTIMATELY, FAMILY PLANNING ABROAD SAVES U-S 
         TAXPAYERS MONEY BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE NEED FOR OTHER 
         FORMS OF FOREIGN AID. 

BUT MS. FELDT SAYS SHE IS FAR FROM CERTAIN OF THE OUTCOME OF THE 
VOTE.  THIS IS BECAUSE THE MEASURE IS OPPOSED BY CONSERVATIVE 
LAWMAKERS, MANY OF WHOM BELIEVE FAMILY PLANNING IS USED BY SOME 
OF ITS ADVOCATES TO CAMOUFLAGE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE ABORTION.

MEANWHILE, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH, A   *REPUBLICAN*   FROM
NEW JERSEY, OPPOSED THE FAMILY PLANNING ACTIVISTS.  

         THEY HAVE MADE IT THEIR MANDATE TO PROMOTE ABORTION, 
         ESPECIALLY IN THESE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHERE THE LAW,
         OR THE CONSTITUTION, OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 
         PROTECTS THE UNBORN. 

THAT IS WHERE U-S FAMILY PLANNING ACTIVISTS BRING RUSSIA INTO 
PLAY.  THEY URGE THOSE SUSPICIOUS OF THEIR PROGRAMS TO CONSIDER 
THE EXAMPLE OF THAT COUNTRY, WHERE ABORTION IS THE PRIMARY METHOD
OF BIRTH CONTROL. 

THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE RUSSIAN FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, 
INGA GREBESHEVA, SAYS THE AVERAGE RUSSIAN WOMAN UNDERGOES EIGHT 
TO 10 ABORTIONS DURING HER LIFETIME.  ABOUT FIVE-MILLION 
ABORTIONS WERE ANNUALLY PERFORMED IN THE COUNTRY 10-YEARS AGO.

MS. GREBESHEVA'S SAYS THIS THIS NUMBER IS FALLING DUE PRIMARILY 
TO A FAMILY PLANNING CAMPAIGN PROMOTING OTHER BIRTH CONTROL
METHODS.  SHE MADE CLEAR THAT IN RUSSIA, WITHDRAWAL OF 
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT WILL BOOMERANG (BOUNCE BACK) AGAINST U-S 
ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS. 

         ANY REDUCTION IN FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS FORCES A WOMAN
         TO USE ABORTION AS A METHOD (OF BIRTH CONTROL). 

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAYS FAMILY PLANNING IS NEEDED 
TO CONTROL WORLD POPULATION, WHICH IS APPROACHING SIX-BILLION 
PEOPLE.  EXPERTS SAY OVER-POPULATION IS STRAINING THE RESOURCES 
OF MANY COUNTRIES, BREEDING POVERTY AND INSTABILITY.  BUT U-S LAW
EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS USING FOREIGN AID FUNDS TO PROMOTE ABORTION.

11-Feb-97
Source: Voice of America

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