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DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHANISTAN-U-N (L-O)
NUMBER=2-260390
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations special envoy to 
Afghanistan, Francesc (fran-sesk) Vendrell, says there 
are signs that a major military offensive may be 
impending in that country.  Correspondent Larry Freund 
reports Mr. Vendrell met privately in New York today 
(Monday) with the United Nations Security Council, 
where the outlook is pessimistic. 
TEXT: Mr. Vendrell emerged from the closed Security 
Council meeting to say there is a general feeling of 
pessimism among council members - as well as himself - 
that fighting will break out between Afghanistan's 
ruling Taleban and the northern opposition alliance. 
Asked by reporters which side would be responsible for 
such a development, the U-N diplomat said "both."
            /// VENDRELL ACTUALITY ///
      I think both sides have probably some interest 
      in a spring offensive, the Taleban because it 
      may hope to achieve a final military victory and 
      the Northern Alliance because it might wish to 
      improve its military positions and be in a 
      better position to negotiate later on.
            /// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Vendrell says reports he has received suggest a 
military buildup in Afghanistan. This month's 
president of the Security Council, Anwarul Karim 
Chowdhury of Bangladesh, says the council members 
strongly advised against the outbreak of hostilities.
            /// CHOWDHURY ACTUALITY ///
      The message to the parties in the situation in 
      Afghanistan came out very strongly from the 
      council members against any outbreak of 
      hostilities. Particularly it was mentioned that 
      there may be a possibility of a spring offensive 
      and the council will watch the situation 
      closely.  And we will take appropriate action if 
      any breach of peace takes place in Afghanistan.
            /// END ACTUALITY ///
The U-N Security Council also received a briefing from 
the head of the U-N drug control program, Pino 
Arlacchi, who said there was a bumper crop of opium in 
Afghanistan last year with production of opium poppies 
doubling to a record level of 46-hundred tons. Mr. 
Arlacchi is proposing a five-year program - at 25- 
million dollars a year - to end opium production in 
the country. (signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/JO
20-Mar-2000 15:25 PM EDT (20-Mar-2000 2025 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.