Military

DATE=11/3/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN TALKS (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-268815

BYLINE=LARRY FREUND

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United Nations announced Friday that the two sides in the Afghan conflict, the Taleban and the opposition Northern Alliance, have agreed in writing to a process of dialogue aimed at an end to the conflict through political means. V-O-A Correspondent Larry Freund reports from New York.

TEXT: The U-N special envoy for Afghanistan, Fransesc Vendrell, says the two sides have agreed to a process involving direct meetings between their negotiators or indirect talks through U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan or his representative. Mr. Vendrell emphasized to reporters that both sides have agreed to participate in the dialogue with serious intent, and not to abandon the process unilaterally but to continue it until they agree on a negotiating agenda.

Mr. Vendrell says the process begins next week and he expects to either shuttle between the two sides in their cities or in the same location. But he does not anticipate a face-to-face meeting until conditions are right. The U-N diplomat believes something may happen in the talks, but he remains cautious.

/// VENDRELL ACT ///

Skepticism is warranted because in the last few years there have been attempts at talks and they have not produced results. The difference, I repeat, this time is that it is a written commitment, it is to a process of negotiations to achieve a settlement by political means and there is a commitment not to abandon the process. Now, the process will be at best very difficult and very hard, there isn't the slightest doubt.

/// END ACT ///

Both sides in the Afghan conflict, Mr. Vendrell says, will have to overcome a deep mistrust. Mr. Vendrell adds that if a meeting in the same city would not be as he puts it - too harmful, it might be held before the end of this month.

/// REST OPT ///

He says that a cease-fire should be part of an agenda for peace talks. But, he adds, he is not sure whether the two sides are interested in a cease-fire and it may have to wait until it is clear the two sides are committed to one. Mr. Vendrell says that while the Taleban and Northern Alliance opposition have promised to conclude the dialogue process in the shortest possible time, he warns that if it is to achieve results, it is going to be long - certainly not a matter of weeks, he says, although he hopes not years.

The U-N envoy for Afghanistan discussed the new agreement privately with the U-N Security Council. He says tougher sanctions against the Taleban were not the subject of the meeting. But, he adds, there were hints from some Council members the sanctions might still be necessary. (Signed)

NEB/NY/LSF/JWH