Washington (DPA, AFP -NT) - U.S. President Bill Clinton used his annual State of the Union address Tuesday to challenge the Congress and the American people to work together to strengthen community, education and the environment, as well as the U.S. leadership role abroad. In his annual televised speech to both houses of Congress and major Washington dignitaries, Clinton also named a new chief of drug control policy and announced a new initiative against illegal immigration. The emphasis on community and cooperation contrasted starkly with the politically charged atmosphere of recent weeks as Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress wrangled over the federal budget. A third partial government shutdown loomed Friday if Clinton and the Republicans fail to reach agreement on extending a temporary spending law that expires January 26. "The state of our union is strong," Clinton said. He cited low unemployment and inflation, and growing numbers of jobs in manufacturing. On foreign affairs, Clinton said the country should not forsake its leadership role in the post-Cold War era. He cited his administration's initiatives and successes in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, North Korea and Haiti. He also noted efforts to limit the potential spread of nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union dissolved and to expand overseas markets for U.S. exports. Republican leader Bob Dole on Tuesday rebuffed President Bill Clinton's appeal for common ground on the budget, saying he sought "more government, bigger government and more meddlesome government." The Senate Majority Leader, in a televised response to the president's annual State of the Union address, warned Americans to expect further battles over the balanced budget and the president's social programs. "President Clinton says our differences are few, the budget numbers are close, and that we should try to find common ground," said Dole. " We have tried again and again, but such a place appears to be elusive." "President Clinton shares a view of America held by our country's elites, a nation of special interest groups united only by a dependence on government, competing with each other for handouts and held back by outdated values. "Now, for those who hold this view, there is only one answer for our problems: more government, bigger government and more meddlesome government. And if you listened closely tonight, that's what President Clinton talked about." AFP /AA1234/240408 GMT JAN 96 /AA1234/240327 Jan 96 nnnn

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