DATE=3/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247021
TITLE=AFGHAN U-N (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N SPECIAL ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI IS MEETING WITH
OPPOSITION LEADERS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN. AS SARAH HORNER
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE ENVOY IS TRYING TO SAVE A PEACE
ACCORD MEDIATED LAST WEEK.
TEXT: AN OFFICIAL FROM THE U-N POLITICAL MISSION TELLS V-O-A
SPECIAL ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI MET (TUESDAY) WITH REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE. THE OFFICIAL WOULD NOT SPECIFY WHICH
PART OF NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN MR. BRAHIMI IS VISITING, NOR WOULD
HE GIVE DETAILS OF WHAT WAS TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE OFFICIAL SAYS MR. BRAHIMI IS TO RETURN (LATE TUESDAY) TO THE
PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD AND SPEND THE FOLLOWING TWO-DAYS
THERE BEFORE LEAVING THE REGION FRIDAY.
MR. BRAHIMI IS MAKING AN UNSCHEDULED VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN AFTER U-N SPONSORED PEACE TALKS HELD LAST WEEK IN THE
TURKMEN CAPITAL, ASHGABAD.
DURING THE TALKS, THE TALEBAN, WHICH CONTROLS 90-PERCENT OF
AFGHANISTAN, SIGNED A PEACE AGREEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITION
NORTHERN ALLIANCE. BUT DAYS LATER, FIGHTING RESUMED BETWEEN THE
TWO SIDES NORTH OF THE CAPITAL, KABUL, AND IN CENTRAL
AFGHANISTAN.
SPECIAL ENVOY BRAHIMI SAYS HE IS UNDETERRED BY THE RENEWED
CONFLICT AND SAYS THE TALEBAN AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE ARE
COMMITTED TO THE PEACE PROCESS.
MR. BRAHIMI TOLD REPORTERS SUNDAY IN KABUL HE HOPES THE DATE OF
THE NEXT ROUND OF PEACE TALKS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON. HE SAID
THE TALKS WILL PROBABLY BE HELD IN AFGHANISTAN.
/// OPT /// FACE-TO-FACE TALKS BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND THE
NORTHERN ALLIANCE WERE HELD IN PAKISTAN ALMOST ONE-YEAR AGO. THE
DISCUSSIONS ENDED IN FAILURE AND FIGHTING RESUMED ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY. /// END OPT ///
THE TALKS ARE PART OF THE U-N STRATEGY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE
DECADE-OLD AFGHAN CIVIL WAR. U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN
HAS ALSO CALLED FOR REGIONAL POWERS TO STOP INTERFERING IN
LAND-LOCKED AFGHANISTAN.
MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS IS SPONSORING A FORUM CALLED THE
SIX-PLUS-TWO GROUP -- COMPRISED OF AFGHANISTAN'S NEIGHBORS ALONG
WITH RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES. SPECIAL ENVOY BRAHIMI IS
TRYING TO ARRANGE A MEETING OF THE GROUP IN THE UZBEK CAPITAL,
TASHKENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/RAE
23-Mar-99 8:41 AM EST (1341 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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