By Terence Hunt

AP White House Correspondent

From: World Tibet Network News, Monday, September 4, 1995

TUMON BAY, Guam (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton today struck back at conservative critics of an international women's conference in Beijing, saying that its primary goal is to improve the lives of women, children and families around the world.

"It is important that America play a leadership role at this conference," the first lady said. "Issues of concern to women are crucial not only to the economic and social progress of our nation, but of every other nation."

Conservatives have portrayed the conference as a radical, anti-family event that will endorse liberal stands on issues such as abortion. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., seeking the GOP presidential nomination, has deemed it "misguided" and a "genuine waste of the taxpayers' money."

The women's conference has become enmeshed in a broader political debate over the best approach to promote family values, a particularly popular theme in presidential politics.

Mrs. Clinton, in a newspaper column released Sunday, said she was saddened that "a small but vocal band of critics (is) trying to spread the notion that the U.N. gathering is really the work of radicals and atheists bent on destroying our families."

She said the U.S. delegation was "a broad-based, family-oriented group committed to the mainstream agenda of the conference."

Renewing that theme today during a refueling stop en route to China, Mrs. Clinton said the delegation is comprised of Democrats and Republicans, liberal and conservatives who speak with one voice in trying to advance the causes of women.

"The main goal of the United States' delegation ... will be to promote policies around the world -- including in our own country -- that improve the status of women, children and family and enable all women to fulfill their God-given potential by making the choices that are right for them.

"There is no preordained choice," she said.

Meanwhile, the White House chastised China for its harassment of delegates to a parallel meeting of women's advocacy groups.

"We very much regret the restrictions on free expressions and association which have been occurring in Beijing," said White House press secretary Mike McCurry. "We believe those are wrong and they are counterproductive to the work of a very important international conference."

McCurry said it was the responsibility of China and the United Nations, the sponsor of the women's conference, to clear up the problem.

"We've been making clear to Chinese officials for some time that there should not be limits on freedom of expression and association during the course of the international women's conference," McCurry said.

Women have complained of Chinese security guards shadowing and photographing delegates, harassing Tibetans and human rights campaigners, confiscating video tapes and breaking up meetings.

McCurry said U.S. officials have been talking to Chinese and U.N. officials about the problems. "And the first lady, especially, hopes that those matters will be cleared up prior to her arrival," he said.

The first lady is expected to argue on women's behalf for adequate health care, political rights and economic opportunity.

"The women's conference is about making the world a better place by helping women live up to their God-given potential at home, in school, on the job, in their communities and as mothers, wives, learners, workers and citizens," she said.

After addressing the U.N. conference, Mrs. Clinton is to speak to a gathering of women's advocacy groups on Wednesday in Huairou, about 30 miles north of Beijing. Later that day, she may visit the Great Wall.

Before returning home, Mrs. Clinton will fly to Mongolia on Thursday for an overnight stay. Officials said the visit is intended to nurture the fledgling democracy in the nation, sandwiched between Russia and China.