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DATE=4/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247882
TITLE=AFGHAN TALKS (S/L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE TALEBAN LEADERSHIP IN AFGHANISTAN HAS RULED OUT THE 
POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER TALKS WITH THEIR OPPOSITION, DEALING A 
BLOW TO HOPES FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTRY'S LONG 
CIVIL WAR. ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: THE TALEBAN SUPREME LEADER, MULLAH MOHAMMAD OMAR, SAYS 
THERE IS LITTLE HOPE OF MORE PEACE TALKS WITH AFGHAN OPPOSITION 
GROUPS, DESPITE ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF PROGRESS AT THE LAST ROUND 
OF TALKS HELD IN TURKMENISTAN.
AT THOSE TALKS, HELD UNDER UNITED NATIONS MEDIATION LAST MONTH IN
THE TURKMEN CAPITAL, ASHGABAT, THE AFGHAN GROUPS HAD APPEARED TO 
BE IN TENTATIVE AGREEMENT OVER A POWER-SHARING FORMULA.
BUT MULLAH OMAR TELLS THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) (SATURDAY)
THAT STATEMENTS BY THE TALEBAN'S OPPONENTS AFTER THE TALKS 
INDICATE THEY ARE NOT AGREEABLE TO WHAT THE TALEBAN CONSIDER 
"BASIC CONDITIONS" FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE CIVIL WAR.
THE TALEBAN INSIST THE OPPOSITION MUST ACCEPT THEIR GOVERNMENT 
AND ISLAMIC POLICIES. MULLAH OMAR TELLS A-I-P THAT A UNIFIED 
GOVERNMENT IS THE ONLY GUARANTEE OF PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN, AND 
SUCH A GOVERNMENT CANNOT INCLUDE MEMBERS WHO HAVE LOOTED THE 
COUNTRY IN THE PAST -- AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO SOME ELEMENTS OF 
THE OPPOSITION, WHICH INSISTS THAT THE TALEBAN MUST BE WILLING TO
SHARE POWER IN A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG CR ///
THE TALEBAN LEADER'S STATEMENT COMES TWO DAYS AFTER THE 
TURKMENISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID A NEXT ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN 
THE WARRING AFGHAN FACTIONS WAS EXPECTED IN THE TURKMEN CAPITAL, 
ASHGABAT, AS EARLY AS MONDAY.
THE TALEBAN SAY THEY HAVE BEEN COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED 
NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI IN HIS EFFORTS TO MEDIATE 
PEACE. BUT A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN SAYS HIS SIDE HAD NOT AGREED TO 
ANY FURTHER MEETINGS, AND IS NOT LIKELY TO.
THE TALEBAN CONTROL ABOUT NINETY PERCENT OF AFGHANISTAN, BUT 
THEIR GOVERNMENT IS RECOGNIZED BY ONLY THREE COUNTRIES. 
OPPOSITION FORCES OF COMMANDER AHMED SHAH MASOOD MAINTAIN A 
TENUOUS GRIP ON A SMALL REGION. 
NUMEROUS INITIATIVES TO BRING THE WARRING FACTIONS TO THE 
NEGOTIATING TABLE HAVE ALREADY ENDED IN FAILURE. NOW THE ONSET OF
WARM WEATHER IN AFGHANISTAN HAS RAISED FEARS OF FRESH MILITARY 
CAMPAIGNS BY BOTH SIDES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/GE
10-Apr-99 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.