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DATE=10/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - AFGHANISTAN - BRAHIMI (L - ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255296
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The United Nations is stepping up pressure on 
Afghanistan's Taleban to stop military aggression 
against its opponents and seek a political settlement 
to the country's civil war.  The latest move to 
achieve that goal comes from U-N Special Envoy Lakhdar 
Brahimi, who says he is withdrawing from active 
involvement in peace efforts.  More from our U-N 
correspondent Max Ruston.
TEXT:  Mr. Brahimi says he is temporarily withdrawing 
from active involvement in Afghanistan because there 
has been no progress in efforts to achieve peace.  The 
former Algerian Foreign Minister has been working for 
two years to arrange a political settlement between 
the Taleban - which controls most of Afghanistan - and 
an alliance of Northern opposition groups.
Mr. Brahimi says the lack of progress is due in part 
to neighboring countries, which have been supplying 
weapons and soldiers to the warring parties.  But he 
says most of the blame falls on the Taleban.
            /// BRAHIMI ACT ///
      The thing is in Afghanistan the Taleban, like 
      everybody else . the strong party at any given 
      moment think they can win militarily and 
      therefore they do not want to talk.  Yesterday 
      [before] it was [Ahmad Shah] Masood.  The day 
      before yesterday [before that] it was 
      [Gulbuddin] Hekmatyar.  Today [now] it is the 
      Taleban.  They think that they can take over the 
      country, so why should they negotiate with their 
      enemies?  Why should they give to their enemies 
      what they can take very soon?  This is the big 
      hurdle we face.  As we tell them: you can win 
      territory, but winning territory does not mean
      achieving peace.
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Brahimi says there are already signs of rebellion 
and resistance against the Taleban in many parts of 
the country.  Even if it succeeds in defeating the 
northern opposition groups, he says, neighboring 
countries will lend support to new opponents, ensuring 
there is no lasting peace.  He says if there are new 
signs that the parties in the conflict are willing to 
work towards peace, he will immediately resume his 
role as a mediator.
Mr. Brahimi's statement appears to have been timed to 
coincide with a resolution approved last week by the 
U-N Security Council, which also places new pressure 
on the Taleban.  That resolution warns that sanctions 
will go into force against the Taleban in November 
unless it surrenders alleged terrorist Usama bin 
Laden.  Afghanistan has been giving shelter to Usama 
bin Laden despite calls for him to face trial on 
charges of plotting the bombings of U-S embassies in 
Tanzania and Kenya last year.  (Signed)
NEB/MPR/LSF/TVM/gm
20-Oct-1999 15:31 PM EDT (20-Oct-1999 1931 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.