DATE=9/30/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-203921
TITLE=U-S/AFGHAN (S ONLY)
BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SENDING U-S DIPLOMATS TO KABUL TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEW TALEBAN ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAS CONTROL OF MOST OF AFGHANISTAN. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS WASHINGTON VIEWS THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE SOUTH ASIAN NATION AS MURKY AND QUESTIONS WHETHER THE TALEBAN CAN ESTABLISH A WORKING GOVERNMENT:
TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS ALTHOUGH THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT HAD AN EMBASSY IN KABUL SINCE 1989 OR AN AMBASSADOR SINCE 1979, IT HAS MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH TALEBAN. HE SAYS ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBIN RAPHEL HAS MET WITH TALEBAN REPRESENTATIVES TWICE THIS YEAR.
MR. BURNS SAYS U-S DIPLOMATS HAVE RAISED ISSUES OF CONCERN INCLUDING TERRORISM, HUMAN RIGHTS, NARCOTICS AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES UNAPOLOGETICALLY SUPPORTS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. HE ALSO DENOUNCES LAST WEEK'S SUMMARY EXECUTIONS OF FORMER COMMUNIST RULER NAJIBULLAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES.
MR. BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY REGARDING THE FIGHTING WITH OUSTED GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THE NORTH AND WHAT GOVERNMENT IS FORMED AND POLICIES PURSUED IN KABUL:
"WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO MAINTAIN THOSE CONTACTS. IT'S IN OUR INTEREST TO CONTINUE TALKING TO THE TALEBAN AND WE WILL DO SO. I DON'T BELEIVE WE HAVE ANY AMERICAN DIPLOMATS IN KABUL RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE'D LIKE TO HAVE DIPLOMATS TRAVEL THERE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TALEBAN."
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THE UNITED STATES, WHICH VIEWS AFGHANISTAN AS A PIVOTAL COUNTRY, WILL TAKE DEVELOPMENTS THERE STEP-BY-STEP. (SIGNED)
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30-Sep-96 10:46 PM EDT (0246 UTC)
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