DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233611
TITLE=U-N / AFGHANISTAN / DRUGS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  OUSTED AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI IS BLAMING 
THE ISLAMIC TALEBAN MOVEMENT FOR HIS COUNTRY'S DRUG PROBLEMS.  
MR. RABBANI TALKED TO REPORTERS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT A SPECIAL 
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM.  V-O-A'S 
UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  FORMER PRESIDENT RABBANI SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD 
FIND BETTER WAYS TO FIGHT DRUG PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN THAN BY 
ESTABLISHING COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS WITH THE TALEBAN.  SPEAKING 
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE TOLD REPORTERS THE TALEBAN MILITIA IS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR AN INCREASE IN DRUG PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN AND
USES THE PROCEEDS TO FINANCE ITS WAR AGAINST OPPOSITION GROUPS IN
THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.

                 /// RABBANI INTERPRETER ACT ///

         IF I WAS ASKED, I WOULD DEFINITELY TELL THEM THAT THERE 
         ARE OTHER MECHANISMS AND WAYS TO HELP THE SOUTHERN PART 
         OF AFGHANISTAN AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC HELP IS CONCERNED 
         TO PREVENT NARCOTICS IN THE COUNTRY, RATHER THAN THE 
         TALEBAN CHANNEL WHICH WOULD BE INDEED HELPING THE WAR 
         MACHINERY.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES MR. RABANNI AS PRESIDENT OF 
AFGHANISTAN DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TALEBAN CONTROLS ABOUT 
TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNTRY.

ON MONDAY, MR. RABBANI TOLD THE U-N CONFERENCE ON DRUGS THAT 
THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE IN DRUG
PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE RISE IN POWER OF THE TALEBAN.

THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DRUG CONTROL HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS
WITH THE TALEBAN AIMED AT REDUCING THE PRODUCTION OF ILLICIT 
DRUGS.  IT SAYS THOSE TALKS HAVE PRODUCED ENCOURAGING RESULTS SO 
FAR, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE TALEBAN DESTROYED TWO TONS OF 
OPIUM EARLIER THIS MONTH.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UIN/MPR/LSF/PT

09-Jun-98 5:05 PM EDT (2105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.