Military

DATE=10/29/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=E-U / AFGHANISTAN (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-282414

BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN

DATELINE=LUXEMBOURG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: European Union foreign ministers are focusing diplomatic efforts on the future of Afghanistan, as U-S air-strikes against terrorist targets there go into a fourth week. Douglas Bakshian reports from a ministers' meeting Luxembourg city.

TEXT: Belgian Foreign Minster Louis Michel, whose country holds the rotating Presidency of the E-U, will hold talks with Central Asian leaders about the post-Taliban era and about new channels for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Michel says he will leave Tuesday for Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and

Tajikistan -- nations that have supported the U-S-led military effort against

Osama bin Laden and his al Qaida network, the prime suspects in the

September 11th attacks on U-S cities.

Javier Solana, the E-U's chief of foreign and security policy, briefed the 15

foreign ministers on the situation in Central Asia, outlining areas in which

the E-U could help, including fighting drug trafficking and beefing up

border controls as part of the war against terrorism.

He acknowledged that E-U interests are relatively small, be he said the organization will examine ways to help these countries economically, because terrorism can find fertile ground in poverty.

As the military campaign against targets in Afghanistan enters its fourth

week, Portuguese foreign minister Jaime Gama says both humanitarian and political fronts are important as well.

/// GAMA ACT ///

It seems to me that there is the need for military results, also the need

of political results and a need for effectiveness regarding humanitarian

support. But it has been forecast since the starting that it would not be a

short type of operation.

/// END ACT ///

E-U leaders have declared total solidarity with the United States but

diplomats say there is some unease about civilian deaths and the worsening humanitarian situation.

/// REST OPT ///

The E-U foreign ministers also reviewed the situation in the Balkans, where

they are supporting reconstruction and aid and signed a stabilization and

association accord with Croatia.

The E-U has allocated more than 50 million dollars this year in financial

assistance for Croatia. Another 170 million dollars is planned for the

period from 2002 to 2004. This is the second stabilization pact between the

E-U and a Balkans nation. The first was signed with Macedonia earlier this

year. (Signed)

NEB/DB/kbk