DATE=5/28/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249944
TITLE=U-N / KASHMIR TENSION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS (FRIDAY)
HE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATEST HOSTILITIES BETWEEN INDIA
AND PAKISTAN. BUT, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON, THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT MR. ANNAN PLANS TO ACT AS
A MEDIATOR IN THE CONFLICT.
TEXT: MR. ANNAN'S REACTION TO THE LATEST INCREASE IN TENSION
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN CAME IN A STATEMENT READ BY U-N
SPOKESMAN MANOEL DE ALMEIDA E SILVA:
/// ALMEIDA E SILVA ACT ///
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
HOSTILITIES NEAR THE LINE OF CONTROL NEAR KARGIL. HE IS
ENCOURAGED BY DIRECT CONTACTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE
BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF INDIA
AND PAKISTAN, AND BY THEIR CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO
PURSUE THEIR DIALOGUE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING
KASHMIR.
/// END ACT ///
THE U-N SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. ANNAN, NOW TRAVELING IN EUROPE, IS IN
CONTACT WITH BOTH SIDES IN THE HOSTILITIES AND IS FOLLOWING
DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PAKISTANI PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF REQUESTING U-N INTERVENTION. BUT HE SAYS
THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON THAT ISSUE FROM THE U-N CHIEF.
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS MAINTAINED A MILITARY OBSERVER GROUP IN
KASHMIR SINCE 1949 TO WATCH OVER THE CEASE-FIRE LINE IN THE
TERRITORY. MR. ANNAN HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT
RISING TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, AND HAS OFFERED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE IN EFFORTS
TO REDUCE HOSTILITIES. BUT THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO
SUBSTANTIAL U-N EFFORT TO MEDIATE OR INTERVENE BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
28-May-99 2:20 PM EDT (1820 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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