DATE=10/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - AFGHANISTAN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255381
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council is once
again expressing its serious concern about the
situation in Afghanistan. In a statement issued today
(Friday), the Security Council also strongly condemned
Afghanistan's Taleban movement for launching a
military offensive in July against an alliance of
opposition groups. Correspondent Larry Freund reports
from New York.
TEXT: The Security Council's strongly-worded statement
says the offensive by the Taleban - which controls
most of Afghanistan - has undermined international
efforts to restore peace in the country and has led to
enormous suffering for civilians. The Taleban, says
the Security Council, has a primary responsibility for
this.
The Security Council statement says outside
interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan
should end immediately. It expresses deep distress
over reports that thousands of non-Afghan nationals -
mostly from religious schools, some under the age of
14 - have been involved in the fighting in Afghanistan
on the side of the Taleban.
The Security Council's president this month, Russian
Ambassador Sergey Lavrov, read the council's
statement. Speaking through an interpreter, he said
the council deplores the failure of the Taleban
leadership to comply with earlier council demands.
/// Lavrov interpreter Act ///
. especially to conclude a cease-fire and to
resume negotiations and in this context
reaffirms its readiness to consider the
imposition of measures in accordance with its
responsibility under the charter of the United
Nations, with the aim of achieving the full
implementation of its relevant resolutions.
/// End Act ///
The Security Council's statement follows by a week the
council's adoption of a resolution threatening
sanctions against the Taleban unless it hands over the
alleged terrorist Usama bin Laden for trial on charges
that he plotted to bomb U-S embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania.
And earlier this week, the U-N special envoy for
Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, announced that he is
withdrawing from active involvement in the peace
efforts because there has been no progress. (signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/JP
22-Oct-1999 14:32 PM EDT (22-Oct-1999 1832 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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