DATE=4/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230058
TITLE=ARABS / TERROR (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF PERIODIC NEGOTIATIONS, ARAB
GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONCLUDED A LANDMARK TREATY, PLEDGING JOINT
EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS
IN CAIRO REPORTS THE ACCORD TARGETS GROUPS DEDICATED TO
OVERTHROWING ARAB GOVERNMENTS, BUT EXEMPTS THOSE AIMING TO
LIBERATE ISRAELI OCCUPIED TERRITORY.
TEXT: THE TREATY WAS SIGNED HERE WEDNESDAY BY JUSTICE AND
INTERIOR MINISTERS REPRESENTING THE 22 MEMBERS OF THE ARAB
LEAGUE.
THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE LEAGUE'S NILE-SIDE HEADQUARTERS,
JUST A FEW METERS FROM THE SCENE OF A TERRORIST ATTACK LAST
SEPTEMBER THAT LEFT NINE GERMAN TOURISTS AND THEIR EGYPTIAN BUS
DRIVER DEAD.
THE EGYPTIAN AND ALGERIAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN AMONG THE
STRONGEST BACKERS OF THE NEW PACT. BOTH ARE FACING INSURGENCIES
BY ISLAMIST MILITANT GROUPS THAT HAVE LEFT THOUSANDS DEAD DURING
THE PAST SIX YEARS.
THE 42-POINT TREATY COMMITS ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO COORDINATED
EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.
IT CALLS ON THOSE GOVERNMENTS TO DENY SUPPORT OR REFUGE TO
TERRORIST GROUPS THAT TARGET OTHER ARAB STATES. IT SAYS NO
ARAB GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED FOR PLANNING
OR LAUNCHING TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST OTHER ARAB NATIONS.
IT ALSO SETS OUT GUIDELINES FOR THE ARREST, PROSECUTION, AND
EXTRADITION OF TERRORISTS. AND IT ESTABLISHES A MECHANISM FOR
REGULAR EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION AMONG ARAB GOVERNMENTS ABOUT
KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.
THE TREATY IS TO GO INTO EFFECT WITHIN 30 DAYS, ONCE IT HAS BEEN
RATIFIED BY AT LEAST SEVEN ARAB STATES.
ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL ESMAT ABDEL MEGUID SAID THE PACT
WILL HELP BOLSTER COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
BETWEEN ARAB AND WESTERN NATIONS.
THE EGYPTIAN AND ALGERIAN GOVERNMENTS FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN THAT
KNOWN TERRORISTS ARE ALLOWED TO RAISE FUNDS AND PLAN ATTACKS FROM
EXILE IN WEST EUROPEAN CAPITALS AND ELSEWHERE.
THE ISSUE WAS A MAJOR TALKING POINT AT JUST CONCLUDED TALKS AMONG
A GROUP OF ARAB AND EUROPEAN NATIONS THAT BORDER THE
MEDITERRANEAN.
THE CAIRO ACCORD EXCLUDES FROM ITS DEFINITION OF TERRORISTS
GROUPS ENGAGED IN WHAT ARE DESCRIBED AS STRUGGLES FOR LIBERATION
OR SELF-DETERMINATION.
THE SYRIAN AND LEBANESE GOVERNMENTS INSISTED ON THE EXEMPTION FOR
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE LEBANON'S HIZBOLLAH, WHICH IS ENGAGED IN
WHAT VIRTUALLY ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS CONSIDER A LEGITIMATE
STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH
22-Apr-98 11:15 AM EDT (1515 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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