DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251815
TITLE=TERROR-COHEN  (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=SHANNON, IRELAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS HE THINKS EXILED 
SAUDI MILLIONAIRE OSAMA BIN LADEN MAY LAUNCH FURTHER TERRORIST 
ATTACKS ON U-S TARGETS.  MR COHEN'S COMMENTS FOLLOW REPORTS THAT 
MR. BIN LADEN'S ORGANIZATION IS NEARLY READY TO ATTACK AMERICANS.
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE IS TRAVELING WITH THE DEFENSE SECRETARY AND 
REPORTS FROM SHANNON, IRELAND.

TEXT:  MR. COHEN WOULD  NOT  CONFIRM THE REPORT THAT AN ATTACK 
WAS IMMINENT, BUT TOLD REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM THAT U-S 
FORCES TRACK MR. BIN LADEN AND HIS SHADOWY INTERNATIONAL NETWORK 
OF OPERATIVES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.  

MR. COHEN SAYS HE HAS  NO  REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MR. BIN LADEN 
HAS ABANDONED HIS THREATS TO ATTACK U-S MILITARY, GOVERNMENT AND 
EVEN CIVILIAN INSTALLATIONS AND PERSONNEL WORLD-WIDE.

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS MEMBER OF A VERY WEALTH SAUDI FAMILY, AND IS 
BLAMED BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR A SERIES OF DEADLY TERRORIST 
BOMBINGS THAT HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING U-S 
SOLDIERS AND DIPLOMATS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND AFRICA.

MR. BIN LADEN TRAVELED TO AFGHANISTAN IN THE 1980'S TO FIGHT 
AGAINST THE SOVIET OCCUPATION OF THAT MUSLIM NATION, AND HE BUILT
A TRAINING CAMP FOR HIS FOLLOWERS IN A REMOTE AREA. 

MR. COHEN IS FINISHING A WEEK-LONG SERIES OF CONSULTATIONS WITH 
DEFENSE MINISTERS ACROSS EUROPE, WHERE HE DISCUSSED PEACEKEEPING 
AND RECONSTRUCTION IN KOSOVO, AND IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH 
RUSSIA.  

/// REST OPT ///

THE RECENT NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB TARGETS ACROSS 
YUGOSLAVIA ANGERED MOSCOW, A TRADITIONAL ALLY OF YUGOSLAVIA.  MR.
COHEN SAYS HE WILL TRAVEL TO MOSCOW FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIA'S 
DEFENSE MINISTER IN EARLY AUGUST, THOUGH DATES AND DETAILS ARE 
STILL BEING WORKED OUT.  

PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY MR. COHEN WILL ALSO HOLD TALKS IN JAPAN 
AND KOREA ABOUT DEFENSES AGAINST BALLISTIC MISSILES AND APPARENT 
NORTH KOREAN PLANS TO TEST LAUNCH A LONG RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE 
SOON.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/KL

15-Jul-99 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.