DATE=1/26/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-225841 TITLE=E-U ALGERIA (L-ONLY) BYLINE=JOHN FRASER DATELINE=BRUSSELS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE DISCUSSED THE CRISIS IN ALGERIA, AND HAVE CALLED ON THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE OPEN ABOUT THE TERRORIST ATTACKS THERE WHICH HAVE LED TO THOUSANDS OF DEATHS. THE MINISTERS MET ON MONDAY AT E-U HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS, WHERE JOHN FRASER REPORTS: TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE HEARD A REPORT FROM A BRITISH-LED DIPLOMATIC MISSION WHICH VISITED ALGERIA LAST WEEK, TO ASSESS THE SITUATION THERE, AND TO SEE WHAT EUROPE CAN DO TO TRY TO HELP BRING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE. THE 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE AGREED TO A DECLARATION EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN OVER THE SITUATION IN ALGERIA AND STRONG SYMPATHY FOR THE SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE THERE. THEY STRONGLY CONDEMN ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM AND INDISCRIMINATE VIOLENCE, AND REITERATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELP WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO HELP END THE VIOLENCE. THE DECLARATION ALSO EXPRESSES REGRET THAT THE ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE TURNED DOWN AN OFFER OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. IT ALSO DEMANDS GREATER OPENNESS FROM THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, IN WHICH TERRORIST GROUPS ARE COMMITTING WHAT THE E-U MINISTERS DESCRIBED AS COWARDLY AND BRUTAL ATTACKS ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS. THE E-U STATEMENT CALLS ON THE ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MEDIA. AND THE EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE CALLED ON THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT A VISIT FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THERE WAS ALSO A CALL FOR MORE CONTACTS BETWEEN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND THEIR ALGERIAN COUNTERPARTS, AND A GENERAL WELCOME FOR THE NEWS THAT THE ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IS EXPECTED TO VISIT LONDON SOON. BRITAIN CURRENTLY HOLDS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE E-U AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COORDINATION OF E-U FOREIGN POLICY. OFFICIALS SAY THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES THEMSELVES MAY BE BACKING SOME OF THE GROUPS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMMITTING MASSACRES. BUT THEY SAID FOREIGN MINISTERS CONCLUDED THAT THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR THE SITUATION. //REST OPT// THERE WAS A FEELING AMONG THE E-U MINISTERS THAT IT IS STILL EARLY DAYS, AND THAT IT WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE EXPECTATIONS WHICH WERE RAISED BY THE E-U MISSION TO ALGERIA WILL PRODUCE CONCRETE RESULTS. (SIGNED) NEB/JF/PCF 26-Jan-98 8:47 AM EST (1347 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
