DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246713
TITLE=AFGHAN AGREEMENT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NO CEASE-FIRE HAS BEEN AGREED TO AND NOTHING HAS BEEN
SIGNED, BUT THE UNITED NATIONS REMAINS UPBEAT ABOUT A
POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT AIMED AT BRINGING PEACE TO AFGHANISTAN.
AS VOA'S SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, PAST AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE WARRING
FACTIONS HAVE ENDED IN FAILURE.
TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS HAS CALLED SUNDAY'S AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT AND OPPOSITION GROUPS TO FORM A BROAD-BASED
GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN, A POSITIVE FIRST STEP TOWARD PEACE.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF TALKS IN TURKMENISTAN, BOTH PARTIES ANNOUNCED
A PLAN TO SHARE JUDICIAL, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF A
NEW GOVERNMENT.
BUT IN AN INTERVIEW BROADCAST IN AFGHANISTAN, THE TALEBAN'S CHIEF
NEGOTIATOR SAYS THE PLAN DOES NOT MEAN THERE WOULD BE A
COALITION GOVERNMENT.
IN ADDITION, NEITHER SIDE AGREED TO LAY DOWN ITS ARMS, FUELING
FEARS THAT FIGHTING COULD RESUME AT ANY TIME.
PROFESSOR RASUL RAIS FROM QUAID-I-AZAM UNIVERSITY IN ISLAMABAD,
SAYS ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN A STRING OF BROKEN PEACE PLANS IN
THE PAST, THIS TIME BOTH SIDES ARE IN A POSITION TO WORK TOWARD A
LASTING SOLUTION.
/// RAIS ACT ///
IF WE GO BY THE PAST PATTERNS OF FAILURES, THEN I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE VERY OPTIMISTIC. BUT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
///END ACT///
THE TALEBAN HAVE TRIED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO EARN
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. MR. RAIS SAYS THEIR NEED TO BE
RECOGNIZED HAS BROUGHT THEM TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. BUT HE
DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS A LEGITIMATE
GOVERNMENT UNTIL SOME CHANGES ARE MADE.
///RAIS ACT TWO///
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET INTERNATIONAL
ACCEPTANCE AND INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR REBUILDING
AFGHANISTAN UNTIL THEY ESTABLISH A BROAD-BASED
GOVERNMENT AND MODERATE THEIR POLICIES CONCERNING WOMEN,
MINORITIES AND ISLAM.
///END ACT///
PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS HAVE FAILED OVER THE QUESTION OF
REPRESENTATION OF THE DIFFERENT AFGHAN ETHNIC GROUPS IN A
GOVERNMENT. PROFESSOR RAIS SAYS, IN THE PAST, THE PREDOMINANTLY
PASHTUN TALEBAN HAVE NOT WANTED TO COMPROMISE ON THE
REPRESENTATION OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS WOULD HAVE IN THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT.
/// RAIS ACT THREE ///
THE PASHTUN ETHNIC DOMINATED TALEBAN HAVE BEEN RESISTANT
TO THE DEMAND OF 50 PERCENT OR EVEN 35 PERCENT
(REPRESENTATION OF ETHNIC GROUPS). IT REALLY DEPENDS ON
THE DETAIL THAT THEY AGREE LATER ON...AND THAT WILL
REALLY DEFINE THE FUTURE COURSE OF RECONCILIATION IN
AFGHANISTAN.
///END ACT///
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN PAKISTAN, THE U-N'S NEGOTIATOR IN THE
TALKS, ANDREW TESORIERE, DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
REPRESENTATION. HE SAYS THAT IT IS UP THE TWO SIDES TO WORK OUT
THE DETAILS OF ANY PEACE SETTLEMENT.
///TESORIERE ACT///
THE UNITED NATIONS IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO GETTING THE PARTIES TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS, TO BUILD ON IT,
CONSOLIDATE IT. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT COMMITMENTS THEY HAVE
AGREED UPON, AND WE NEED TO RESPECT THE WAY THEY TAKE THE PROCESS
FORWARD.
///END ACT///
THE TALEBAN AND OPPOSITION HAVE AGREED TO MEET INSIDE AFGHANISTAN
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO DATE HAS BEEN SET. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/KL
16-Mar-99 2:20 PM EST (1920 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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