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DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246617
TITLE=AFGHAN AGREEMENT / L
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   HOPE IS BEING EXPRESSED THAT SUNDAY'S PRELIMINARY 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT AND OPPOSITION GROUPS IN 
AFGHANISTAN MAY LEAD TO A LASTING PEACE.  V-O-A'S SCOTT ANGER 
REPORTS.
TEXT:  AFTER YEARS OF FAILED AGREEMENTS, HOPES ARE HIGH THE PACT 
SIGNED BY THE TALEBAN AND OPPOSITION IN ASHGABAD SUNDAY, MAY BE 
THE FIRST STEP TOWARD BRING PEACE TO THE WAR-RAVAGED NATION.
ACTING HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL MISSION FOR AFGHANISTAN
ANDREW TESORIERE -- WHO MEDIATED THE TALKS -- SAYS BOTH SIDES 
HAVE AGREED TO TAKE IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD FORMING A JOINT 
GOVERNMENT.
            ///TESORIERE ACTUALITY///
         BOTH SIDES AGREE TO RELEASE 20 PRISONERS EACH AS SOON AS
         POSSIBLE THROUGH THE RED CROSS.  BOTH SIDES AGREE TO 
         FORM A SHARED EXECUTIVE, A SHARED LEGISLATURE AND A 
         SHARED JUDICIARY.
            ///END ACTUALITY///
THE BREAKTHROUGH -- WHICH HAS COME AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF 
TALKS MEDIATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS -- HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY 
AFGHANISTAN'S, NEIGHBORS:  IRAN AND PAKISTAN.
PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SARTJ AZIZ HAS CALLED THE AGREEMENT 
SUBSTANTIAL AND A GOOD START FOR FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE BLOODY
TEN-YEAR CIVIL WAR.
            ///AZIZ ACTUALITY///
         THEY HAVE ALSO AGREED TO MEET AGAIN VERY SOON, IN 
         AFGHANISTAN THIS TIME, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN POSSIBLE.  
         SO THIS ALSO MEANS SOME RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE.  IN 
         THAT SENSE, IT IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD RESTORING PEACE IN
         AFGHANISTAN.
            ///END ACTUALITY///
IN IRAN, FOREIGN MINISTER HAMID REZA ASEFI IS QUOTED BY THE 
OFFICIAL (I-R-N-A) NEWS AGENCY SAYING HE WELCOMES THE AGREEMENTS 
REACHED BETWEEN THE WARRING FACTIONS.
IRAN AND PAKISTAN HAVE SUPPORTED OPPOSITE GROUPS IN THE AFGHAN 
CONFLICT.   THE IRANIAN-BACKED OPPOSITION HAS ACCUSED PAKISTAN OF
PROVIDING MILITARY SUPPORT TO THE TALEBAN ISLAMIC MOVEMENT.  BOTH
COUNTRIES DENY ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CIVIL WAR.
FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND OPPOSITION GROUPS CONTINUED 
RELENTLESSLY, SINCE 1994, WHEN THE TALEBAN LAUNCHED A STRICT 
ISLAMIC MOVEMENT AIMED AT CONTROLLING AFGHANISTAN.  THE TALEBAN 
MOVEMENT CURRENTLY MAINTAINS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY.  IT
HAS FAILED TO DISLODGE THE OPPOSITION FORCES IN THE NORTHERN 
PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
            ///REST OPTIONAL///
MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS RETURNED ITS INTERNATIONAL 
STAFF TO AFGHANISTAN.  THE WORLD BODY PULLED ITS STAFF OUT LAST 
AUGUST FOLLOWING, THE MURDER OF AN ITALIAN WORKER IN THE CAPITAL,
KABUL.   THE U-N WORKER WAS KILLED IN AN APPARENT RETALIATION FOR
AN ATTACK BY THE UNITED STATES ON SUSPECTED TERRORIST CAMPS RUN 
BY SAUDI DISSIDENT OSAMA BIN LADEN.   (SIGNED)
NEB / SA / WD / WD
15-Mar-99 3:35 AM EST (0835 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.