Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 6, 1993                   TAG: 9305060296
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A15   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From The Associated Press and Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

U.S. TRIES TO STOP EX-COLONEL FROM LEADING ESTONIAN FORCES

Spokesman Joe Snyder also said that the secretary of the Army approved of Col. Aleksander Einseln's taking the post.

However, as a retired military officer, Einseln needed approval from both the Pentagon and the State Department - and Secretary of State Warren Christopher rejected his request.

Einseln, a 61-year-old U.S. citizen, was born in Estonia. He accepted that nation's appointment, which was approved Tuesday by its parliament.

"I've made the decision," Einseln said. "If they wish to play hardball with me, they can do it. . . . I have no choice. I'm the only one qualified to do this. How can I say no?"

Snyder said Christopher rejected the request because "we have to take into account the sensitivities of other countries in the region."

When asked if Russia had objected, Snyder replied, "I don't know."

Paul Goble, a former State Department official with close ties to Estonian officials, said Einseln's request was denied because of concerns about the Russian reaction.

He said officials in Moscow expressed concern about an American's taking command of the armed forces of a Russian neighbor.

Einseln has said his goal is to strengthen the Estonian armed forces, which have about 2,000 members.

Goble said Einseln first sought permission to accept the post during the Bush administration. Then too, the Pentagon approved but the State Department said no.

Estonian President Lennart Meri renewed the request in a personal letter to President Clinton. But, once again, it ran into State Department objections.

"There are a number of grounds for losing one's citizenship," said Snyder. "One of them is taking a position with a foreign government, unrelated to the fact of whether he was an officer in the military.

"There are several legal steps the U.S. government could explore in response to Col. Einseln's acceptance of the position without appropriate approval," Snyder said. "No decision has been made as to whether any action will be taken against Col. Einseln."

Einseln's family fled Estonia in 1944 as the Red Army occupied the country. They emigrated to the United States in 1949, and in 1950 Einseln joined the Army.

He rose to the rank of colonel and served as an aide to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served in combat in the Korea and Vietnam wars.