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BFN Tehran, June 20, IRNA -- The terrorist Mojahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) has once again committed a heinous crime, this time at the mausoleum of Imam Reza (A.S.) [peace be upon him]. Since June 20, 1981, the people of Iran have been victimized by this terrorist outfit that has always underestimated the resolve and the indomitable spirit of the people of Iran, a spirit that will not allow the MKO to reach its unholy aims. The formation of the so called Liberation Army in Iraq on the part of the MKO at a time when parts of Islamic Iran was occupied by Ba'thist forces was another vain attempt by MKO to get out of the impasse in which they found themselves. Repeated setbacks, including their notorious failure in Mersad operations, caused many of MKO rank and file to be disenchanted with the leadership. Most political observers believe that by targeting the people as they did today they are stepping on the same path as Saddam's regime that victimized the Iranian civilian populace instead of facing the valiant Iranian forces at the front. As a matter of fact the post-revolution history of MKO testifies to the fact that they have preferred to target the innocent people. Just recently, a failed attempt by MKO on the life of Hojjatoleslam Abaie, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, was meant to create the same sense of insecurity here in this city. Today's crime in the mausoleum of Imam Reza was a terrorist act for which the MKO is directly held responsible. In addition to the terrorist MKO, their supporters such as Saddam's regime, the U.S., Britain and some European countries who have spared no efforts in supporting the terrorist outfit have to answer to the people of Iran why the innocent people were so butchered today at a mausoleum whose sanctity for centuries no one had dared to violate, a place wherein up to today no one had dared to shed anyone's blood.

BFN [Commentary by News Research and Commentary Group] In the name of God. The terroristic and shattering incident which resulted from the Monafeqin [hypocrites--pejorative term for Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, MKO] planting a bomb in the holy shrine of the eighth imam, peace be upon him, which has resulted in over 100 martyred and injured, has greatly wounded the religious and human sensitivities of the Iranian people and the Muslims of the world. It has generated a wave of abhorrence among the people and the officials and is being condemned at home and abroad. The question that arises here is: What was the objective behind this unprecedented crime? Why did the cold-hearted Monafeqin choose a holy site such as the hallowed shrine of Imam Reza--peace be upon him--for this crime and why violate its sanctity? According to political observers, the firm bond between the people and the Islamic system is the most important objective that the criminals have targeted in this latest atrocity. Right from the onset of the [Iranian] sixties decade, when the misanthropic visage of the Monafeqin was revealed, the bond between the devout Muslim people of Iran and the Islamic system has constantly been the target of their attacks. However, due to the popular bias of the Islamic system which is endowed with an extensive popular base as well, all the plots of the Monafeqin against this system were foiled. Following the demise of Imam Khomeyni, the great leader of the Islamic Revolution--may God's peace be upon him--the powers of world arrogance have sought to drive a wedge between the people and the Islamic system by resuming their plots. The grand ceremonies on the anniversary of the demise of the imam a few weeks ago and the extensive support and allegiance of the people for the lofty status of the Velayat-e Faqih [supreme jurisconsult], once again inflicted defeat on the powers of world arrogance. Failure to undermine or change the course of the Islamic Revolution has aroused the ire of the powers of world arrogance and its hypocrite agents to the extent that on the anniversary of Husayn's 'Ashura [tenth day of Moharram, when Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Husayn, was martyred], they attacked a group of mourning people of Iran in the holiest site in our country. This atrocity, however distasteful, has been endured with Husayn-like revolutionary fortitude by the Muslim people of Iran. Similar crimes by the blind-hearted [kurdel] Monafeqin, which include their attacks on worshipers at Friday congregations, the martyring of some Friday imams and people, have not been able to disrupt the bond between the people and the system. On the contrary, these crimes have served to further consolidate this bond and thus to disgrace the enemies of the people and Islam, more than ever.

BFN The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization [MKO] vehemently condemned the bomb explosion on Monday morning in Mashhad and announced: The Khomeyni regime's linking this criminal act to the Mojahedin and the Iranian Resistance is an absolute lie. The MKO office in Paris issued a statement declaring this stance, saying: An MKO spokesman vehemently condemned the explosion at the shrine of Imam Reza, peace be upon him, in the holy city of Mashhad and has said that the Khomeyni regime's linking such a criminal act to the Mojahedin and the Iranian Resistance is an absolute lie and its objective is merely to tarnish the image of the just and extensive resistance of the people of Iran against the religious and terrorist dictatorship of the clerics. This spokesman added: The Iranian Resistance would never resort to such criminal actions which would desecrate the sanctity of the infallible imams, and would cause such an extensive loss of life and [word indistinct] among the innocent people. This filthy and criminal action is only in the interest of the clerical regime. On numerous occasions in the past, the regime has planted bombs and resorted to such acts, including hurling a grenade at the French Embassy and the Air France office in Tehran, ascribing these acts to the MKO. We now draw your attention to the interview by the leader of the Iranian Resistance, brother mojahed Mas'ud Rajavi, on the atrocity perpetrated on Monday by the misanthropic clerics in the hallowed precincts of the shrine of Imam Reza, peace be upon him. Mas'ud Rajavi, leader of the Iranian Resistance, condemned the heinous atrocity of an explosion in the sacred precincts of Imam Reza's shrine in Mashhad by the terrorist dictatorship of the clerics on 'Ashura [tenth day of Moharram] which resulted in martyring and wounding a large number of innocent pilgrims and damage to the tomb of Imam Reza, peace be upon him, and he conveyed his condolences to the people of Iran. He described it as a profane, antihuman, and anti-Islamic crime on the part of the ruling tyrannical Yazidi [Yazid was Umayyad Caliph in Damascus, and considered a heretic] clerics. The leader of the Iranian Resistance stressed that the objective of the Khomeyni regime in staging the explosion in the holy precincts of the Imam Reza shrine, linking it to the MKO, is nothing but a precursor to a series of terrorist acts in the future against the Iranian Resistance which in the past have included the aerial attack on the National Liberation Army bases, explosions in offices and bases of the Iranian Resistance, and the assassinations of Resistance activists abroad. Some days ago, the Khomeyni regime disseminated consummate lies, claiming that the MKO had launched an attack on the Ilam border, western Iran, in which some persons had been killed and wounded. Rajavi added: The criminal clerics are entrenched in a deep political and economic crisis and are unable to combat the proliferating dissatisfaction and increasing resistance by the Iranian people. They do not find any recourse but to embark on such inauspicious and bestial crimes and in the holy precincts of the Imam Reza shrine at that. This is an unprecedented crime which no other dictator has resorted to before. Rajavi stressed: The cruel clerics have--since the heroic uprising by the people of Mashhad--[words indistinct] continued to seek revenge and harassed the people of Khorasan Province and the pilgrims to the shrine of Imam Reza. He continued: The Khomeyni regime is seeking to justify its next crime and thus to arouse the religious sentiments of the people and to tarnish the face of the MKO, who--because of their deep devotion to Islam, the religion of mercy and liberation--enjoy greater credibility among the Iranian people. They therefore chose the day of 'Ashura, the site of the holy shrine of Imam Reza, and the anniversary of 30 Khordad--the day when the MKO uprising against the regime was initiated--for perpetrating this crime. The statement issued immediately by Khamene'i, the leader of the clerical regime, linking this explosion to the MKO, and the threatening propaganda by the regime, based on vengeance against the MKO, are part of this previously formulated scenario. While recalling the setting on fire of the Rex Theater in Abadan, and the killing of innocent people in the last few months of the shah's rule, the setting ablaze [as heard] of the precincts of the Holy Ka'bah by agents of the Khomeyni regime in 1366 [year beginning 21 March 1987] Rajavi emphasized that the clerical regime--despite its claims to being a protector of Islam--has gone a step further and has massacred innocent pilgrims in the Imam Reza shrine, the most hallowed site in all of Iran. The unprecedented crime is an indication of the incurable crises in Iran, and the abject impotence of the clerics before the resistance of the Iranian people. He added: In addition, the vestiges of the Khomeyni regime--in view of the lack of participation on the part of the people in the anniversary ceremonies for Khomeyni--are seeking to damage the Imam Reza shrine and by violating its sanctity, they wish to replace it with the temple of idols in which Khomeyni is interred. Rajavi called on the United Nations, Islamic Conference Organization, the Islamic governments, international organizations that are defenders of human rights to condemn this appalling atrocity and to send a team to Iran to investigate this crime. In order to thwart any deceitful actions by the clerical regime, the Iranian Resistance deems the presence of its representatives necessary in an international delegation to investigate this incident. This is the insistent demand of the people and the Resistance of Iran to the international community who should not permit the criminal clerics to escape unscathed after committing such an unprecedented crime. [Signed] The Secretariat of the National Resistance Council of Iran

BFN Tehran, June 21, IRNA -- The Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles) in an announcement Monday strongly condemned the criminal act by the Mojahedin-e Terrorist Organization (MKO) in bombing the mausoleum of Imam Reza (A.S.) [peace be upon him] and said that the crime has added to the record of subservience of the MKO grouplet to the global arrogance. The announcement further added that the dreadful incident has not only injured the feelings of Iranians but those of other Muslims throughout the world. The bomb went off in one of the crowded prayer halls of the mausoleum Monday afternoon, killing 25 and injuring 70 pilgrims who were mourning Ashura, martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hoseyn, third member of the household of the Prophet (pbuh) [peace be upon him]. Agents of global arrogance have committed many crimes in the post-revolution era, the announcement said adding that such a sacrilege act was another black page of the record of the traitor MKOs. Condemning the terrorist act, the announcement condoled the leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah 'Ali Khamene'i and bereaved families of the martyrs. In another development, head of the Islamic Propagation Organization (IPO), Hojjat ol-Eslam Mahmud Mohamadi 'Araqi sent a message to the leader of the Islamic revolution, expressing condolence over the incident. The official also called on the security, law-enforcement and judiciary forces to take speedy measures for the arrest of the culprits.

BFN [Excerpts] Latest reports received from Mashhad indicate that the holy shrine of Imam 'Ali Bin Musa al-Reza, peace be upon him, was opened this morning to the pilgrims eager to pay their respects. Our colleague has dispatched the following report: In the wake of the bloody tragedy of Mashhad and the massacre inside the holy shrine of Imam Reza, the shrine opened at 1130 today to the enthusiastic pilgrims. [passage omitted] Funeral ceremonies for the Ashura day martyrs in Mashhad will be staged in the city tomorrow morning.

BFN President Hashemi-Rafsanjani, while expressing condolences on the innocent martyrdom of the pilgrims of the Haram-e Imam Reza, may peace be upon him, in the hands of anti-revolutionary and savage people, stated that this bitter incident on Ashura day, when the Iranian people's attentions were focused on Karbala, showed more clearly the nasty nature of the enemy of Islam and Monafeqin [Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, MKO] and caused great shame to their supporters who have given them safety and provided them with propaganda means and possibilities; and backs them. Our country's president who was speaking this morning at a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Housing Foundation, added that the Muslim nation of Iran has experienced such difficult and bitter incidents before, however, this shocking crime of such magnitude, and in a holy place next to the sacred tomb of Imam Reza, may peace be upon him, created a new situation of bitterness among our people. Hashemi-Rafsanjani stressed that this shows the foolishness and height of their evilness to slaughter the pilgrims of Imam Reza who had come with great difficulties from various villages and cities to visit the holy shrine and were engaged in performing their prayers. This action will further increase the awareness and loyalty of the people and is proof of the rightfulness of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At this meeting, which was held on the occasion of the anniversary of the earthquake that occurred in Gaylan and Zanjan, the president said that planting a bomb and killing innocent people in a place where there has never been security obstacles does not require guerrilla power and bravery, and proves only their lack of goal and savagery.

BFN [Interview with Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati by unidentified correspondent; place and date not given -- recorded] [Correspondent] What is the major problem in the way of peace in Tajikistan? [Velayati] In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful [preceding phrase in Arabic]. The main problem is the lack of mutual understanding, which has been available since the very beginning of negotiations. But this problem needs time to be solved. I mean, if we want to solve this problem we need more time. If you take a look at the result of the talks that they had in Moscow and also the preliminary statement that they had in ceremonial session, you will see that may be there are some progress. As I said in my interview, at the beginning they were not ready to talk together. And both of them used to be very angry against another one. Now the nature of their presence is a positive step which has been taken by them. So we can say that cautiously we are optimistic and we do hope that after few days of talks they can reach some more positive points. This is the national desire of the people of Tajikistan. They want to put an end to these internal conflict because they have lost many lives and they are facing, the people of Tajikistan are facing a national disaster. They have difficulties even for providing the raw material for their very simple life. Lack of sanitation, lack of food, lack of transportation, continuation of killing and slaughters and assassination have made the people of Tajikistan frustrated. People are very disappointed. That is the national desire that now the time is ripe for a national reconciliation. [Correspondent] It seems no specific plan for restoring peace in Tajikistan has been offered. Do you think a clear peace plan will come under discussion in the current round of negotiations in Tehran? [Velayati] Of course, this is the task of the special envoy of the secretary general of the United Nations. But as far as we could understand of what he has said he has tried to make a cease-fire at the beginning as a fist step; because the establishment of the cease-fire will give opportunity to both sides for continuation of talks and decreasing of tension; while the continuation of assassination and killing and slaughters will increase tension. And if tension is increased or is being increased they cannot stop the hostility. So, the cease-fire is the first step that should be established unconditionally, without any precondition. That is what we could understand from the special envoy of the secretary general of the United Nations.

BFN [Excerpt] His Majesty King Husayn on Monday [20 June] held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and said he was very pleased with the progress achieved in the Jordanian-Israeli tracks of negotiations and expressed hope that the other tracks in the Arab-Israeli peace process would also achieve similar progress. The King, speaking at the State Department, also paid tribute to the U.S. efforts that went to advancing the negotiations. "We are indeed optimistic as far as the future is concerned in our quest for a just, durable and comprehensive peace," the King told reporters. "We are very happy indeed that on the Jordanian-Israeli track we are about to begin to address the problems that were part of the agenda worked out earlier and beginning with border demarcation, delineation. "We appreciate certainly the role of our friends in supporting us and our effort to arrive at this point." The King was asked whether Jordan would sign a peace accord with Israel without waiting for Syria. The King replied, "We hope to see better support. But regarding us, we follow the Jordanian dimensions of the problems which we have started together from the same point... and as our brethren in Syria are negotiating, we are negotiating at the same time." Asked if Jordan would sign a peae treaty with Israel if the Kingdom and the Jewish state could reach one before Syria and Lebanon did, the King said: "It is a difficult question, and I would like to say that Jordan is practising its sovereignty and is dealing with its causes and the way to finding a solution to them. I hope that progress would take place on all other tracks to achieve comprehensive peace." Asked whether he had recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin in London as suggested in some reports, the King said: "I do not confirm or deny such news." At another point the King said, "I've never been afraid of daylight" and "the opportunity will come sometime soon for a meeting between Israeli and Jordanian officials." [passage omitted]

BFN [Report on news conference by King Husayn and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher with unidentified correspondents; place and date not given -- in English] [Excerpts] His Majesty King Husayn has started an official visit to the United States. Observers and political analysts described the visit as extremely important and said it will be a new turning point in Jordanian-U.S. relations. His majesty the king began his visit by meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who received his majesty outside the State Department in Washington. The latest developments of the peace talks, particularly on the Jordanian-Israeli track and the recent Middle East developments, in addition to bilateral relations, are expected to be discussed. [passage omitted] [Begin recording] [Correspondent] Your Highness: When will you finally meet Israeli leaders face to face in open broad daylight? When will you pray in Jerusalem? Do you accept the Israelis' position that Jerusalem is open religiously, but closed politically? I am [words indistinct]. Thank you. [King Husayn] I've never been afraid of daylight, sir. In fact, I've always thrived living in daylight and I hope that the opportunity will come sometime soon for meetings at the highest possible levels between Jordanians and Israeli officials and I hope that the beginning that we will see in the very coming future will enable us to progress to the point where such a meeting will be held. [Correspondent] What about peace in Syria? Nothing seems to be happening. The Syrians are saying they are waiting for answers from you and the Americans are still waiting for answers from the Syrians. What's going on? Is there any hope for real progress this summer? [Christopher] Yes, I think there is hope for progress because the leaders of both countries seem to be very, very serious about negotiations and I'll expect that before the summer is out we will see some progress is made. There are very difficult questions on that track as there are on all the tracks, but when the leaders are seriously engaged, when they're wrestling with the hardest underlined problems, the threshold issues, I think it's natural that it would take some time and that's what we're experiencing at the present time. But I am not at all discouraged about the fact that we can make some progress, and I agree with the king that it's necessary to see this in a comprehensive sense and expect all the tracks to be moving forward, not perhaps exactly at the same pace, but nevertheless making comprehensive progress. [Correspondent] You mentioned Jordan's role in the Middle East peace process and also in previous statements you described it as central. So, what do you mean by central and what is the United States willing to do to lift the physical and the mental siege that (?goes around us during) the past four years? [Christopher] I think the best thing the United States can do is to play its role as one of the cosponsors of the peace process and to encourage the parties to make progress. There are still obviously the enemies of peace in the region. We see tragic episodes take place, but nevertheless, in an overall sense, I do see progress has been made and the role of the United States will be to facilitate the negotiations between the parties to try to serve the role that we have served from the very beginning. [end recording] [passage omitted]

BFN [Report by 'Ali Hamati from Washington] [Excerpts] His Majesty King Husayn has said Jordan's assumption of its basic and effective role in the peace process should be based on a strong Jordan and a solid economic base that gives all members of the one large Jordanian family an equal opportunity to lead a dignified, secure, and stable life. His majesty made these statements during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher at the U.S. State Department in Washington. His majesty stressed that Jordan adheres to a just, durable, and comprehensive peace in the region, indicating that progress on the Jordanian track should be an incentive for progress on the other tracks. For his part, Warren Christopher showed a clear understanding of the Jordanian role in the peace process and of the social and economic difficulties caused by this role. He said Washington will extend all possible assistance, whose details, he said, will be discussed by the joint Jordanian-U.S. committee, which will hold its first meeting at the State Department on Wednesday [22 June]. His majesty and Secretary Christopher then held an expanded session of talks, interrupted by a working luncheon. [passage omitted] Later, his majesty the king received U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown at his place of residence in Washington . Bilateral trade relations were discussed during the meeting. His Majesty King Husayn had earlier expressed optimism about progress in the Middle East peace process. Speaking to reporters at the State Department, he hoped the Jordanian-Israeli talks under U.S. sponsorship will lead to the demarcation of borders in the near future. Asked when his majesty will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin, his majesty said he has never been afraid of working in daylight. He hoped the opportunity will come soon for a meeting between Jordanian and Israeli officials at the highest level. He also hoped that the near future will witness further progress in the peace process. [passage omitted] His majesty the king will hold a news conference later today to brief local and world press correspondents on the latest developments of the peace process and other important issues. In another development, the Jordanian and U.S. experts held a meeting at the Jordanian delegation's place of residence in Washington at dawn today, Amman time. During this preliminary meeting, bilateral relations and the burdens of the peace process on Jordan were discussed. The Jordanian side explained these burdens.

BFN Taysir al-Himsi, secretary of the Supreme Command of the Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th Party, yesterday held a press conference at his party's headquarters to announce the resolutions of the party's second congress, which was held recently, and the outcome of the elections to the party's leadership. Al-Himsi stressed that the congress discussed a number of important issues on the local, Arab, and international levels and determined its view over these issues in accordance with the party's pan-Arab principles and firm position on the central causes of the Arab nation. The party, he said, emphasized the need for pan-Arab solutions to any regional issue since solutions to any regional political or economic issues will be incomplete if not discussed and addressed within the framework of the comprehensive Arab solution. Al-Himsi said the congress urged all Arab and world organizations and parliaments to act to lift the unjust blockade imposed on Iraq and stop the bloodshed in fraternal Yemen on the basis of preserving its unity and fighting any secessionist trend regardless of any motives and reasons. He added that the congress also reviewed the settlement plans proposed to liquidate the Palestine question, including the Gaza-Jericho First plan, the Majdal Shams First plan, and the Jordanian-Israeli agenda. The congress reaffirmed the party's rejection of the capitulationist trend represented in the Madrid and Oslo process and underlined the Ba'th Party's position, which states that the Palestine question is the Arabs' central cause and no one has the right to a unilateral decision over it. The congress further noted that the proposed liquidationist plans target the Arab identity and serve as an instrument for the attainment of the Zionist dreams. He said the congress also stressed the importance of activating and entrenching the democracy process in Jordan as an irrevocable alternative and the need to allow all political forums -- including parties, organizations, and professional associations -- the opportunity to participate in the decisionmaking in order to activate and entrench popular participation. The congress also stressed the need to provide opportunities for others to express their opinion in order to strengthen the concept of pluralism and freedom. This, the congress says, requires the provision of further freedoms for the party newspapers since they represent the views of the opposition political forces whose presence provides a safety valve in any multi-party democratic march. At the conclusion of his press conference, al-Himsi declared the names of the members of the party's supreme command who were elected by the congress, These are: Taysir al-Himsi, Adam al-'Abdallat, Ahmad al-Mitliq, Jamal al-Rahaminah, 'Abd-al-Majid al-Qarari'ah, Sulayman Abu-'Adilah, 'Ayid 'Amayirah, Ahmad Irshayd, Akram al- Himsi, Muhammad al-Dakhlallah, and Akram al-Nimri. Three reserve members were also elected. These are: Samu'il Fakhuri, Khalid al-'Arif, and Faruq al-Za'n.

BFN Amman -- The deputies of the Jordanian Islamic Action Front [IAF] today denounced the Jordanian-Israeli agreements signed recently, considering them a clear recognition of the Zionist entity and its usurpation of security, stability, and waters in the region. In a statement in Amman today, the deputies said: We think that these agreements represent a Jordanian retreat from the constant principles reiterated repeatedly by the officials, mainly, rejecting unilateral peace, adhering to the Islamic and Arab character of Jerusalem, and the right of the refugees to return to their usurped country. The Jordanian IAF deputies stressed their condemnation and rejection of this approach that is being pursued by the Jordanian government, contrary to the attitudes of the Jordanian people who reject all these concessions, noting that the opinion of the Jordanian people and their representatives was not sought on these negotiations that target their land, destiny, and future. Also, the Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front Party has asserted that Syria represents the strong spirit of the Arabs in the face of the enemies of the Arab nation and their supporters. In a statement today, the party said: At a time when we were expecting to consolidate and expand cooperation and coordination between Jordan and fraternal Syria to overcome this serious, decisive stage of the peace talks, the new Jordanian position to resume the Jordanian-Israeli negotiations in Washington came as a destructive turning point for the Arab position in its stronger Damascus-Amman-Beirut front. The statement went on: Our Jordanian people were surprised by this serious turning point which was peddled by diverting the attention of the people by what preceded the recent cabinet reshuffle and the statements about more coordination and cohesion between Syria and Jordan. The Jordanian officials themselves said that coordination enhances the Arab negotiating position to a level that can force the occupiers to submit to the resolutions of international legitimacy by withdrawing from all the occupied Arab territories. The statement added that the new position of the Jordanian government, whose head had led the negotiations before he assumed the premiership, constitutes an imminent danger to Jordan and the Palestinian cause and is an offense to the requirements of coordination and cooperation between the Arab brothers in Syria and Lebanon. It added that all that Syria is facing is on account of its adherence to Arab rights, embodied in the constant principles of the nation, noting that Syria is standing like a solid wall in the face of all international pressures and Arab deviations. The statement concluded: The new policy of the Jordanian government will lead us to an inevitable national disaster. Jordan -- land and people -- does not stand to gain from turning its back on its brothers. Its interest lies in harmonizing its steps and policies with the steps of its Arab brothers. Tujan Faysal, member of the Jordanian House of Representatives, said the Jordanian government has shown reservations over the question of comprehensive coordination among Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. In an interview with the Lebanese newspaper AL-HAYAH, the Jordanian deputy added: I am against this position. I believe that if I am looking for solutions to the economic problems, then I should coordinate my cooperation with any Arab party so that we can achieve what is better and more useful for both of us. Answering another question, Deputy Tujan Faysal said the opposition deputies at the Jordanian parliament have felt that the Jordanian government opposes Syrian proposals because it thinks these proposals aim at something wider than what we want. Mrs. Tujan asked: Is this reasonable and logical? How can it be in our interest to coordinate with Israel and the PLO leadership and ignore coordination with the Arabs, such as Syria and Lebanon? Answering another question, Mrs. Tujan said: The popular forces that stood with Iraq during the Gulf war today want to coordinate with Syria. This stems from our feeling that we are facing a common enemy and that Syria still refuses to make concessions to this enemy. So is it in our interest to leave Syria and adopt a unilateral stance in the face of this enemy? She added: If we cite the pretext that we are doing this because we are a small, weak nation and our economy is suffering from difficulties, then we can reply to this by saying that it is in our interest to cooperate and coordinate more closely with Syria, since it is a big country that has a strong economy. This will be more secure for us than dealing with Israel, which only thinks about how to swallow us and devour our rights after dealing with us individually. She added: The Jordanian people demand coordination with Syria while the government insists on heading west toward Israel. It was no coincidence that the Jordanian information minister's statements about the details of the agreement with Israel came in the wake of increasing promises that the people will see economic boom and prosperity.

BFN In the Kashmir Valley, a well-known scholar and mirwaiz [religious leader] of south Kashmir, Qazi Nissar Ahmad, has been shot dead by militants. His body was found at Dayalgam in Anantnag District this morning. Qazi Nissar Ahmad was kidnapped from his residence last evening. One of the killers has been identified as Fayaz Ahmad Mir, alias Abu Bakr, who according to official sources belongs to the militant outfit Hizbul Mojahedin. Over 50,000 people took out a procession in Anantnag town in protest against the killing and demanded immediate arrest of the killers. The funeral procession raised anti-Hizbul Mojahedin and anti-Pakistan slogans. The prime minister has expressed shock and grief at the tragic death of Qazi Nissar. Condemning the killing, the state governor, General K.V. Krishna Rao, said it clearly indicates that the militants have no respect for religion or human rights. The BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] and the CPI-M [Communist Party of India-Marxist] have also condemned the killing. The BJP general secretary, Mr. K.L. Sharma, asked the government to take firm measures against the militants, while the CPI-M said it showed that the struggle in the Kashmir valley is not on communal lines, but between the patriotic and antinational forces. Four left parties and the Janata Dal have called for revival of the political process in Jammu and Kashmir. In a joint statement in New Delhi, the CPI-M, CPI [Communist Party of India], Forward Bloc, RSP [Revolutionary Socialist Party], and the Janata Dal urged the center to deal firmly with militancy in the valley and districts like Doda. They alleged that the BJP has chosen to utilize the current events in the state to deepen the communal polarization. The union civil aviation minister, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, has said the migrants in the Doda District in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to return home very soon. He was speaking to newsmen after a two-day tour of the bordering villages in Himachal Pradesh.

BFN In the Kashmir Valley, a near total bundh [strike] is being observed today as a mark of protest against the killing by militants of the religious scholar and mirwaiz [religious leader] of South Kashmir, Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmad. Shops and business establishments are closed and traffic is off the roads. In Anantnag, thousands of people are visiting the idgah [place of worship] to pay their last homage to Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmad. Dr. Ahmad's body was brought there this morning for burial in the afternoon. Spontaneous protest demonstrations by people against militants of the Hizbul Mojahedin and their mentors in Pakistan have been held at several places in the Kashmir valley since yesterday. About one lakh persons participated in Qazi Nissar's funeral procession from Dayalgam to Anantnag yesterday. In Srinagar, a building of school run by the Jamaat-i-Islami was burnt down by an irate mob yesterday. Reports say the militants of the Hizbul Mojahedin and workers of Jamaat-i-Islami have fled from their homes in several areas fearing the people's wrath. The police have identified one of the killers of Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmad as a self-styled platoon commander of the militant outfit. The Indian Union Muslim League [IUML] has asked the union government to take urgent steps to apprehend the culprits behind Dr. Nissar Ahmad's killing. In a statement in Trivandrum, the IUML secretary, Mr. E. Ahmad, MP, deplored the killing.

BFN Indirect evidence now available seems to suggest that India has `zero bombs in the basement'. This runs counter to inferences of nuclear experts of the West, who have claimed that India may have anything from 6 to 20 weapons. In fact, the general belief that India is only "days or weeks away from fabricating a nuclear weapon" also appears to be false. While it is likely that India does have a stockpile of weapons material in the form of plutonium (Pu-239) -- western analysts give a figure of about 200-300 kg -- India is far away from being able to put together an efficient and deliverable weapon at short notice. If this is indeed true, the likelihood of which is high, the bubble of India's nuclear ambiguity stands completely blown. In short, India is `nuclear naked'. In this context, the Prime Minister, Mr P V Narasimha Rao's statement in his concluding address at the Delhi session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Saturday, that India will keep its nuclear option open as long as there is universal nuclear disarmament, begs the following question. Can India exercise the nuclear option if it wants to at a short notice? The nuclear test by China on Friday is only likely to heighten the demands of the likes of the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] that India should go nuclear forthwith. Mr L K Advani has reiterated his call at the Baroda session of the BJP's national council meeting. The bare critical mass required to sustain an explosive chain reaction in a bomb configuration, a sphere of weapons grade plutonium (which has about 6 per cent Pu-240 in addition to Pu-239), is about 15-17 kg of Pu-240, a weapons poison because it spontaneously emits neutrons, causing the bomb to "pre-detonate" or fizzle out. Reactor-grade material, however, contains about 20 per cent Pu-240. Therefore, usually, plutonium from research reactors, where material can be drawn before the higher isotopes, like Pu-240, form over time in the core, is used for weapons purposes. To maximise the explosive yield of a weapon, bare material is never used. The fissile core in a weapon is surrounded by a thick blanket of a reflector material, which scatters the neutrons emitted during fission back into the core so that they are not lost out into the environment but cause more number of plutonium atoms to fission and increase the energy yield. A suitable reflector material is that which scatters neutrons much more than it absorbs them and, at the same time, is light so that it does not add greatly to the weight of the weapon. Beryllium metal (density 1.85 gm/cc) fits the bill admirably. So, all nuclear weapon designs incorporate a thick beryllium shell around the weapon core. For an efficient weapon, and not a crude "fizzle" variety, a beryllium (Be) reflector is a necessity. With a Be reflector, the critical mass comes down to about 4.5-5 kg. Data on Be production in the country over the years, and its off- take by the department of atomic energy (DAE), has been recently given by this year's report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on scientific departments. It is from this that one is able to conclude that no proper weapon could have been fabricated in all these years after the Pokharan experiment in 1974. That is, to know whether the emperor who is not seen in public has clothes or not, you look at the royal tailors' orders. The Pokharan device perhaps used Be imported long ago because, at that time, the country had no beryllium production facility. Establishing such a facility became essential for various strategic needs of the country in the areas of defence (for light weight components), space (for light weight gyros), atomic energy (for various nuclear applications) and electronics (in the form of copper beryllium alloy products), because export of beryllium has been embargoed since then by the key Beryllium producing countries of the world. Fortunately, India has one of the largest deposits of beryllium ore in the world and the idea of such a facility was a feasible one. Based on feasibility studies done by the DAE in 1977, a beryllium pilot plant (BPP), with a facility for producing vacuum hot pressed (VHP) blocks was commissioned in the year 1982 in Vashi near Bombay. Its originally envisaged annual capacity was 250 kg of VHP blocks and 10 tonne of copper-beryllium (Cu-Be) alloy (for electronics applications). Later, this was revised to 200 kg of metal and 8 tonnes of Cu-Be. An memorandum of understanding signed among the DAE and its principal users, namely, the department of space (DoS) and the department of electronics (DoE), required that the DAE would set up the plant and operate it while the DOS and the DOE would share the capital costs and running expenses according to a formula. As per this MoU, the DoE would lift the entire produce of Cu-Be and 50 per cent of Be metal while the other 50 per cent would be lifted by the DoS. Herein lies the curious element. If there had been a post- Pokharan policy to produce weapons, the DAE would have been slated to lift a certain fraction of the Be produced, but it was not. Indeed, according DoS sources, after the plant was commissioned, the DAE seemed to have lost its interest in beryllium. There is only one interpretation for this. That the DAE did not need the metal for want of a directive from the government on the weapons front. Further, even though, according to the DAE, technical and operational viability of the plant had been demonstrated by continuous production and supply, the total quantity of metal and alloy produced from 1982 to 1993 was 5.87 per cent and 5.33 per cent, respectively, of the envisaged capacities. The cost of production was also very high. The CAG has given figures of production and off-take for a 11- year period from 1982. Of a total installed capacity for this period of 2,200 kg of Be metal, only 129.17 kg had been produced. Of this, the DoS lifted a total of 101.43 kg while the DAE lifted only 10.05 kg. The total stock of Be in balance in BPP, till 1993, was 17.69 kg. During 1982-89, as per the MoU, DAE's off-take was supposed to be zero. But, when in 1989 the DoE pulled out of the MoU for envisaged electronics demand for Be not materialising, the DAE lifted 8.04 kg. During 1989-93, however, DAE's requirement was projected at 12.63 kg but it has finally lifted only 2.01 kg, thus totalling its off-take over 11 years to 10.05 kg. The other important use of Be is in its use as beryllium-oxide blocks in research reactors like Purnima-I, II and III. The metal is also used in the fabrication of neutron sources for nuclear research and technology. The DAE, in recent years, has started fabricating such sources and a substantial amount of Be metal is likely to be used there. Even 10.05 kg is not sufficient material for one weapon. So, if we account for all these uses, fabricating a deliverable weapon with what would be left with the DAE out of the 10.05 kg is out of the question. A rough estimate for the amount of Be required, even for a not too good a reflector, for a critical mass of, say, 8 kg of plutonium would be about 20 kg in the least. Even if the DAE commandeers all the stocks of Be that is in the plant's stocks, it may be just enough for fabricating one efficient weapon. So, the scenario that the above analysis indicates is that there is no bomb in the Indian basement, unless, of course, the figures of production provided to the CAG are not the actual ones. Whether this policy of nuclear restraint in the post-Pokharan phase is deliberate or is willy-nilly a result of inefficient beryllium production at BPP, only the DAE knows.

BFN China has expressed its willingness to support entry of India into the Asia-Pacific Economic Caucus, APEC. This was conveyed by the Chinese minister for foreign trade and economic cooperation, Ms. Wu Yi, when she called on the prime minister, Mr. Narasimha Rao, in New Delhi today. During the meeting, the two leaders felt that there is enormous potential for bilateral trade between the two countries. They appreciated the complementary qualities between India and China and said that there is a rich potential for establishing joint ventures for third-country markets. It was also emphasized that both countries should work for increasing direct bilateral trade and to avoid as far as possible the reexport trade.

BFN A delegation of the Indo-China Joint Economic Group under the leadership of Chinese Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Ms. Wu Yi held a meeting with the minister of state for steel, Mr. Santosh Mohan Dev, in New Delhi today. At the meeting, Ms. Yi said China will support India's entry into the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum. Both the leaders felt that there is tremendous scope for enlarging trade between the two countries.

BFN Fresh trade worth $20 million has been contracted between India and China during the current visit of the Chinese minister for foreign trade and economic cooperation, Ms Wu Yi, to India. This was disclosed by Ms Wu while addressing a meeting organised jointly by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) under the aegis of the Joint Business Council (JBC) here on Wednesday. The trade contract envisages an import of $5 million worth of raw silk and $7.5 million worth of pig iron from China and an export of $7.5 million worth of iron ore to China, she said. She said the Indian government and China were striving for a direct trade link to do away with the intermediaries. She said both the governments were already seized of the issue. Exuding optimism about the two-way trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, she said there would be more exchange of business delegations and also economic cooperation in areas like science and technology between the two countries. Later, addressing a press conference, she said the Chinese government was very strict about anti-dumping regulations, and said penal legislation would be brought out shortly for those exporters who were indulging in export of products at artificially low prices, and also indicated that the international trade licence of these exporters would be cancelled if warnings on dumping are not heeded. Earlier, at a meeting between Chinese businessmen and members of Ficci and Assocham, a senior official of the external affairs ministry disclosed that a double taxation avoidance treaty would be signed shortly between the two countries. Other steps being taken to establish direct trade links between the two include setting up of bank branches in each others' country to circumvent the problems being faced in opening letters of credits and establishing direct shipping lines and air services. Officials of the external affairs ministry present during the meeting informed that the Reserve Bank of India and the Peoples Bank of China would shortly sign an agreement for setting up branches in each others' country. They said the State Bank of India was ready to set up a branch in Shanghai soon. In his address, the Assocham president, Mr G H Singhania, said that taking advantage of the recent spurt in Sino-Indian bilateral trade, which presently hovered around $600 million, the JBC should set a target of $3 billion in the next three years.

BFN Baghdad, 20 Jun (INA) -- Official talks between the Iraqi National Assembly and the Yemeni House of Representatives began here today. The Iraqi side to the talks was led by Safa' Salih al-'Umar, chairman of the Arab and International Relations Committee, whereas the Yemeni side was led by House Member Muhammad 'Abdallah al-Kibsi. The heads of the two sides reviewed Arab and international developments, particularly the situation in fraternal Yemen in light of the continued imperialist-Zionist conspiracy that is targeting Yemen's unity. Talks also dealt with ways to coordinate cooperation between the Iraqi National Assembly and the Yemeni House of Representatives in the parliamentary and political fields in a way that will serve both fraternal peoples and benefit the Arab nation in various fields.

BFN Brother Jalal Talabani, secretary general of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, has received an important message from French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppe. Juppe stressed France's determination to support the Kurdish people in their fair struggle for democracy and legitimate rights within the framework of Iraqi national unity and implementing Security Council Resolution 688, which was originally proposed by France. He also noted that he now has better understanding of the Kurdish cause after reading the documents that Talabani submitted to him during their meeting in Paris in April.

BFN Baghdad, June 16 (INA) [dateline as received] -- Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Tariq 'Aziz today received Pascal Jaquino, director of the French Strategic Diplomatic Institute, and the delegation accompanying him. The meeting was attended by director of the External Relations Office at the Arab Ba'th Socialist Party. The delegation was also received today by Mr. Sa'di Mahdi Salih, speaker of the National Assembly, who briefed the delegation members on the passive impacts of the ongoing economic embargo in violation of international laws and charters. Mr. Jaquino is accompanied by a delegation from the Sorbonne to get familiarized with the negative impact of the embargo imposed on the Iraqi people. [At 1045 GMT on 17 June Baghdad INA in English carried the following related report: Mr. Pascal Jaquino, director of the French Strategic Institute, expressed optimism over resuming cultural relations between Iraq and France. Mr. Jaquino, now on a visit to Iraq, told INA the visit is after getting acquainted with impacts of the embargo on the people of Iraq and convey that to the French public opinion which is misled by false Western media propaganda and reports. He added the reconstruction process confirmed the Iraqi people's resolve to surmount crises and maintain a march toward the future.]

BFN Baghdad, 17 Jun (INA) -- Foreign Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf today received Mr. Pascal Jaquino, director of the French Strategic Diplomatic Institute, and his delegation. They discussed relations between Iraq and France and France's potential contribution to lifting the sanctions. Mr. Jaquino said Iraq deserved support and called for the facts of its positions to be explained. They also considered possible cooperation between the Institute of Foreign Service at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and the French Strategic Diplomatic Institute.

BFN Baghdad, 20 Jun (INA) -- A delegation of French businessmen arrived in Baghdad today on a four-day visit to Iraq. The delegation, representing 28 French trade and industrial firms, will hold meetings with Iraqi officials on ways to promote Iraqi-French cooperation and relations in the economic and trade fields. It is worth noting that the national union of French employers held an expanded meeting in Paris late last month to discuss Iraqi-French trade and economic relations as well as the need to activate and promote them in a way that will serve the interest of both peoples.

BFN Baghdad, 20 Jun (INA) -- Dr. 'Abd-al-Razzaq al-Hashimi, head of the Foreign Relations Office in the Iraq Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party and head of the Iraqi-French Friendship Society, today met with the delegation of French businessmen currently visiting Iraq. Al-Hashimi reviewed Iraqi-French relations and the need to return them to normal in a way that will serve the peoples of both friendly countries. He also pointed to the repercussions of the continued unfair blockade imposed on the Iraqi people. This blockade, he added, is a flagrant breach and a blatant violation of all international laws, charters, and norms. Al-Hashimi urged the French firms to make an effective move in order to end the Iraqi people's suffering and promote bilateral economic and trade relations. The French delegation asserted that its visit to Iraq aims to discuss the Iraqi-French trade and economic relations and promote them by all means.

BFN Baghdad, 20 Jun (INA) -- 'Amir Muhammad Rashid, director of the Military Industrialization Organization [MIO], today met with a delegation of French businessmen representing 28 French firms dealing with various industrial, oil, transport, communications, and health fields. During the meeting, they reviewed Iraqi-French relations with a view to activating civil industries. The French firms showed readiness to seriously contribute to enhancing bilateral relations and to effectively participate in various developmental projects and technical industries, including the pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as the manufacture of cars and agricultural equipment and machines, and petrochemical industries, in addition to the iron, steel, and aluminum industries and other industries in a way that will enhance the friendly relations and bolster the common interests of both Iraq and the French firms. The delegation's visit is part of a French move under the current circumstances designed to bolster these firms' contributions to the Iraqi civil industries. The under secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals attended the meeting.

BFN Baghdad, 18 Jun (INA) -- Today, Planning Minister Samal Majid Faraj met with Milord Unkovic, minister of external economic relations and the head of the Yugoslav side on the Joint Economic Iraqi-Yugoslav Committee, and his delegation. The two sides discussed the scope of economic and developmental cooperation and ways to invigorate the joint committee in the best interests of the two countries. The meeting was attended by Yugoslavia's charge d'affaires in Baghdad and a number of Yugoslav company managers. Dr. Unkovic also met with Dr. Ahmad Murtada Ahmad, minister of transport and communications. They discussed cooperation in transportation and communications, with a special emphasis on the areas of railroads and the telephone. The Yugoslav delegates condemned the sanctions. They said they are prepared to join in development ventures in Iraq.

BFN [Excerpt] Baghdad, 18 Jun (TANJUG) -- Taha Yasin Ramadan, vice president and deputy prime minister of Iraq, held talks in Baghdad today with Milorad Unkovic, minister for economic relations and chairman of the Yugoslav side of the Yugoslav-Iraqi mixed committee for economic and technical cooperation. Ramadan and Unkovic devoted special attention to the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement, stressing that the movement is still active in the new international conditions, but that it must return to its original principles. [passage omitted]

BFN Baghdad, 18 Jun (TANJUG) -- Milorad Unkovic, the federal Yugoslav minister for economic relations and president of part of the Yugoslav-Iraqi joint committee, today held talks with Ahmad Murtada Ahmad Khalil, the Iraqi minister of transport and communications. They described their cooperation in positive terms, and both sides expressed readiness for further talks on the building of transport infrastructure in Iraq. They also discussed the imports of Yugoslav equipment, material, and spare parts in the sphere of transport and telecommunications when the UN embargoes, currently imposed on both countries, are lifted.

BFN Baghdad, 20 Jun (INA) -- Finance Minister Ahmad Husayn Khudayyir met today with Milorad Unkovic, Yugoslav federal minister for economic relations with foreign countries and representative of the Yugoslav side to the joint Iraqi-Yugoslav committee. During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in economic fields.

BFN ["Text" of Revolution Command Council, RCC, Decree No. 67 issued on 13 June 1994] In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. The Republic of Iraq The Revolution Command Council [RCC] Decree No. 67 Dated 4 Muharram 1415 Hegira, corresponding to 13 June 1994 Decree: In accordance with the provisions enshrined in Paragraph A of Article 42 of the Constitution, the RCC has decided the following: 1. Former ministers and former officials enjoying the rank of a minister shall be banned from performing the following activities until further notice: A. The launching of mixed, joint-stock, or private firms. B. Engaging in business and trade. C. The launching of all kinds of consulting bureaus. D. Working as chairmen or members of the boards of directors of the aforementioned firms. E. Working as authorized directors of the aforementioned firms. 2. Former officials enjoying special grades, former directors general, as well as former Armed Forces and Internal Security officers shall be banned from performing the activities enshrined in this decree for five years as of the date they abandon their official posts. 3. This decree shall be published in the official gazette. The concerned agencies shall see to its implementation. [Signed] Saddam Husayn, RCC chairman

BFN Baghdad, 13 Jun (INA)--President Saddam Husayn today chaired a Cabinet meeting to discuss the general economic policy and the specific trade and economic issues that were discussed in the meeting which the president had this morning with a number of ministers and specialists in trade and industry affairs. Following a lengthy discussion, the Cabinet took the necessary measures in terms of legislation and execution. Leader President Saddam Husayn ordered an increase in the purchase price of wheat and barley for the current season, retroactively. The price for one tonne of first-class wheat will be increased from 15,000 dinars per tonne to 35,000 dinars, and the price for barley will be increased from 7,500 dinars per tonne to 20,000 dinars. Discussion of other subjects will continue in future meetings.

BFN [Excerpts] Finance Minister Ahmad Husayn has said that the noble gesture of leader President Saddam Husayn, may God preserve him, to improve the state employees' standard of living is part of a series of noble gestures with which the leader of the people and inciter of their potential has accustomed us. [passage omitted] He explained: To let figures speak for themselves, this noble gesture, at its minimum, will grant the bachelor state employee 450 dinars per month if he works in Baghdad or the provincial capitals, and 550 dinars if he works outside Baghdad and the provincial capitals. At its maximum, this gesture will provide a married state employee with five children an income increase of 750 dinars if he works in Baghdad or the provincial capitals, and 850 dinars if he works outside Baghdad and the provincial capitals. Between these two limits, the income increases for those covered by the noble gesture depends on the number of dependent children. The minister noted: If we take into consideration the nature of the Iraqi family, which is often an extended family, this may result in having more than one family member covered by the gesture. Supposing that a family consists of a husband, a wife, and three children all of whom are state employees covered by the leader president's gesture, this family will have a monthly income increase of 2,300 dinars if they work in Baghdad or the provincial capitals, and 2,800 dinars if they work outside Baghdad and the provincial capitals. [passage omitted] The finance minister explained that the leader president's generous gesture will add to the state treasury a monthly financial obligation of 1.25 billion dinars, or an annual obligation of 15 billion dinars. Therefore, he noted, this gesture expresses the leader president's determination to achieve prosperity and happiness for the people under the existing hard economic circumstances. Naturally, he added, in view of their absolute confidence in the leader president's command of the march of jihad and reconstruction under the blockade and in his generous gestures which aim at improving the general living standards of the entire population, those covered by the gesture should rise to national responsibility and improve their performance in all fields of work. They should double their efforts to increase production and provide the best services for citizens to ease the burdens of the unfair blockade.

BFN Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres has welcomed King Husayn's statements regarding his hopes to meet publicly with Israeli leaders in the near future. In a speech before the United Jewish Appeal in Jerusalem, the foreign minister said that the differences between Jordan and Israel were not of the kind that could not be resolved quickly. [Tel Aviv IDF Radio in Hebrew at 0830 GMT on 21 June reports that "Foreign Minister Peres said that Jordan would have to sever its linkage with Syria in the negotiations with Israel. This linkage was damaging to both parties, he noted."] As for Yasir 'Arafat's impending visit to the territories, Foreign Minister Peres said that it was up to the PLO chairman to decide the date of his visit, noting that 'Arafat could arrive whenever he chose. This was reported by our correspondent Steve Linde.

BFN Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin says the gap between the positions of Israel and Syria is very large. But, speaking to reporters at an army camp on the Golan Heights this morning, Rabin called on Damascus to open direct, high-level negotiations with Israel. [Begin recording] [Rabin] The time has arrived that Syria will start to realize that the best way to negotiate peace with Israel is to sit face to face on higher levels than it was done till now, and to talk in a serious way how to reach peace between our two countries. [Unidentified correspondent] When do you expect the peace talks to resume with Syria face to face? [Rabin] As you know, at this stage it is conducted through the visits of the secretary of state. We are ready to continue in the way that the United States serves as go-between, hopefully to create a basis that will bring about meetings on higher levels between Syria and Israel. I cannot see how a real agreement or peace treaty can be reached without a certain stage of meetings on the higher levels than it is today. [Correspondent] Mr. Rabin, Mr. Christopher is not coming to the Middle East at this time. What could bring the sides back to the table? [Rabin] I cannot speak in the name of the secretary of state but I believe that he will come. If it is not going to happen in June, it will happen in July. [end recording]

BFN [Report by Hagay Huberman] Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin has pushed the peace issue down low in his order of priorities and he is now focusing much more on social issues, a senior government official close to the prime minister told HATZOFE. That is why the prime minister decided to put himself in charge of the small team negotiating with Ramon's Ram faction in the Histadrut, together with 'Uzi Bar'am and Hayim Haberfeld. According to the same source, Rabin feels that by evacuating the Gaza Strip -- which in practice is not in our hands despite the erroneous "autonomy" title -- he has won the most points he can gain in public support on that issue -- and he must now slow down on peace if he does not want to lose the "points" he has won. "Rabin is starting to tire of the exhausting negotiations with the PLO and has decided at this stage to hold up the process until the situation in Jericho and Gaza stabilizes. Rabin's current agenda is devoted to dealing with issues like the Histadrut and its sick fund; the economic situation; the cost-of-living index; housing, and other social issues." According to the same source, Rabin apparently fears that poor handling of those issues will lose the next elections for Labor even if he can point to political successes, therefore his day is mainly devoted to social issues. The Prime Minister's Office feels that due to 'Arafat's pronouncements, public support for an ongoing political move, including the transfer of all the areas of Judaea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians, is much lower than for leaving the Gaza Strip, which most Israelis, even those identified with the right wing, supported.

BFN Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin and Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres have instructed their bureau officials and aides to cease all working contacts with Dr. Ahmad al-Tibi, who is described as PLO Chairman Yasir 'Arafat's adviser. The instructions came in the wake of a legal opinion regarding al-Tibi's status as an Israeli citizen. This was reported by our political correspondent Shlomo Raz.

BFN Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres has acknowledged it was Israel's objection that led senior PLO official Nabil Sha'th to put off his visit to Jerusalem. Appearing before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Peres said Israel would not negotiate with the Palestinians on the next stage until it was sure that the Gaza-Jericho arrangement is working. As David Ze'ev reports from the Knesset, the meeting was dominated by a bitter verbal clash between the foreign minister and the Likud's Beni Begin. [Begin recording] [Ze'ev] The talk at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee was not infighting within Labor, but a bitter confrontation between Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres and Likud committee member Beni Begin. On the heels of the recent disclosure of the letter written by the foreign minister on Palestinian rights in East Jerusalem, Begin said it was not the only time Peres had hidden the facts, and the Likud Knesset member accused the foreign minister of purposely deceiving the Knesset. Peres retorted: First you carry out terrorism in the Knesset plenum, now you want to do it in the committee. Begin called Peres a big talker. Peres later called Begin a professional slanderer. And so the personal insults went on and on. A Knesset official at the closed meeting who relayed the dialogue said most committee members were in a state of shock and that Foreign Minister Peres commented at the end of the meeting that he was shocked, saying this kind of meeting is unprecedented. On more mundane affairs, Peres acknowledged to reporters later that Israel's objection was the reason senior PLO official Nabil Sha'th was not visiting Jerusalem though Peres would not elaborate on whether Israel would stop Chairman Yasir 'Arafat from coming to the city. [Peres] I am content with the decision of Nabil Sha'th. We were not approached by 'Arafat, so there is no need to take any steps. [Ze'ev] Peres confirmed that Israel wants to ensure that the Gaza-Jericho arrangement with the Palestinians is working first before negotiations start on the next stage. On Syria, the foreign minister said the delay of the trip to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher did not mean that the negotiations have stopped or failed. [Peres] I think that the secretary feels that he should have more meat in his basket from the Syrian side before he makes the next move, so it takes another few weeks, but by no means can one conclude that the negotiations have stopped or failed. [Ze'ev] They go on, he said. In every negotiation you have the ups and downs, and even interruptions. [end recording]

BFN Israel will permit the Palestinian policemen who are slated to serve on the Allenby Bridge and at the Rafah border terminals to assume their posts as early as next week if they are prepared. Major General Dani Rothschild, the coordinator of activities in the territories, made this statement this morning during a visit to the Allenby Bridge. Rothschild's deputy Arye Ramot clarified, however, that several more weeks are necessary for to complete the technical arrangements for the joint work with the Palestinian representatives at the border terminals. Among other things involved is the installation of sophisticated electronic equipment to examine travelers' luggage. This work will be completed in mid-July. Our correspondent Ron Nesi'el notes that today, Transportation Minister Yisra'el Qeysar visited the Allenby Bridge, which will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Israel Airports Authority in approximately four months. Qeysar announced that his ministry will invest approximately 30 million shekels in the Allenby and Rafah terminals in order to make them more modern and efficient. [Tel Aviv IDF Radio in Hebrew at 1000 GMT on 20 June carries a report by Avi Lifshitz on Qeysar's visit to the Allenby Bridge, adding that "Minister Qeysar said Jordan wants Israel to allow its planes to fly across Israeli airspace to Europe. Minister Qeysar said that as soon as such an official request arrives, Israel will give it favorable consideration and will probably accept it."]

BFN The Army says 1,300 Palestinian prisoners will remain in Israeli jails because they would not sign a declaration renouncing violence and terrorism. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] spokesman said Israel has released about 3,400 prisoners, adding that a further 100 Palestinian criminals chose to stay in Israeli prisons rather than be transferred to jails in the Gaza Strip.

BFN Israel is willing to release Hamas [Islamic Resistance Movement] leader Ahmad Yasin from prison if he signs the standard statement saying that he knows that he is being released in the framework of the Israel-PLO agreement and that he undertakes to refrain from any acts of terrorism. The paralyzed and blind Yasin, however, refuses to sign this statement and will consequently remain incarcerated in Israel. Our military affairs correspondent Yariv Ben-Yehuda reports: [Begin Ben-Yehuda recording] The issue of Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin's release was reviewed once more several weeks ago, and again it was decided not to release him. Israel is making Yasin's release conditional on his signing the statement all released Palestinian prisoners must sign on refraining from acts of or support for terrorism. This was divulged by a security source. So far, Yasin has refused to sign such a statement. Several Palestinian elements, some of them official, recently submitted requests for the release of Yasin, who has been imprisoned in Israel since 1988. All the requests were reviewed, but as long as Yasin refuses to sign the statement, he will remain imprisoned. The security source said Israel does not want Yasin to die in an Israeli prison, because this could have an impact on Hamas activity and could result in a wave of violence by other organizations as well. The state of Yasin's health, however, has not changed. As a result of a childhood disease, he is paralyzed throughout almost all of his body, but there has been no serious deterioration in his condition. [end recording]

BFN Reacting to the escalation of fighting in south Lebanon, Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres called on all parties, including Syria, to try and stabilize the situation. He was speaking to No'omi Segal at a reception in Jerusalem. [Begin Peres recording] Well, it happened before we started the negotiations. From time to time there were confrontations in Lebanon. It is not an entirely new phenomenon. But I hope that the responsible parties will act properly, including the Syrian party, to stop it. [end recording]

BFN [Telephone interview with Uri Lubrani, the coordinator of government activities in Lebanon, by Ya'el Dan and Ya'aqov Eylon on 21 June; place not given -- recorded] [Dan] Earlier this morning, we spoke with Uri Lubrani, the coordinator of government activities in Lebanon. In our first question we noted that ever since Mustafa al-Dirani's abduction [on 21 May], tension and anxiety have prevailed throughout Israel's northern settlements. Despite fear of a Hizballah retaliation or terrorist attack, things had been relatively quiet. We asked Lubrani whether yesterday's attack was the reprisal everyone had feared. [Lubrani] I think this operation should be viewed as part of our ongoing struggle in the security zone. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers often travel in convoys. Although this was an especially serious attack it definitely falls within the framework of regular occurrences. Regrettably, however, we paid a heavy price this time. [Eylon] How would you define this routine, Mr. Lubrani? Prime Minister Rabin also said yesterday that there had been no exacerbation along the northern border. What are the parameters? [Lubrani] There are no clear lines. Sometimes, there is a steep rise in activity while other periods are more quiet. As you just mentioned, we recently experienced a quiet period but nothing lasts forever, there is constant activity and something happens every night. Some incidents are so low-level that they are not worth reporting, but something happens every night. [Dan] Does such a painful attack demand a retaliation on our part? [Lubrani] That is something else entirely which involves considerations unrelated to the scope of yesterday's incident. One must definitely consider taking steps following such an attack. However, as I said earlier such convoys are commonplace and often exposed to attack. This could happen again today. To my regret, this particular attack must be seen within the context of daily activity. [Dan] It appears that by using the somewhat outdated sagger missiles, the terrorists save themselves the trouble of confronting our soldiers head on. Do we have a suitable riposte for these missiles? [Lubrani] We have responded by changing our tactics in the north; however, the sagger missiles undoubtedly constitute a deadly weapon. [Dan] Mr. Lubrani, will we have to accept this kind of status quo in the near future? [Lubrani] Yes, that is my impression. It is part of our continuing struggle until conditions are ripe for reaching security arrangements with Lebanon. [Dan] Thank you, Uri Lubrani.

BFN [Excerpts] The parents of the three MIA's from the al-Sultan Ya'qub battle in Lebanon in 1982 claim that their sons are alive and held by Lebanese elements in the Lebanese al-Biqa'. They say they are basing their claim on new information they received from eyewitnesses. [passage omitted] Following the al-Sultan Ya'qub battle, a U.S. television team photographed a Syrian tank carrying what seemed to be three Israeli soldiers. Today the parents disclose that both they and the Israeli Government possess information that their sons are safe and sound. [passage omitted] Security elements reemphasized today that the Israeli Government does not spare any effort to obtain new information about IDF [Israel Defense Forces] MIA.

BFN Four Iraqi citizens who over a month ago infiltrated from Jordan to Israel and asked for political asylum, were sent off by IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers into Lebanese territory this afternoon. UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon] Spokesman Timor Goksel told our correspondent in the north Yo'av Aviv that the IDF soldiers brought the four Iraqis, whose hands were tied, up to the border, untied them, and the four marched northward to a UNIFIL post. They have been held in prison since they crossed the border into Israel, and have now been handed over to Lebanon.

BFN Israel has become the first country to officially lift its arms embargo against South Africa. This follows the United Nations Security Council's resolution last month to cancel the military embargo and other restrictions it had imposed in the past. There had been speculation that the two countries were cooperating on nuclear weapons and ballistic missile research until Israel stopped signing arms contracts with South Africa in 1987.

BFN [Interview with Shim'on Sheves, director general of the Prime Minister's Office, by Dalya Shehori; place and date not given] [Shehori] People say you tried to fashion the prime minister's bureau after the White House team model. [Sheves] I would not call it "the White House team model," but I have definitely been trying to create a structure that will fit the direct election of the prime minister and the modus operandi of a prime minister elected in such elections. I have learned a lot from my meetings, talks, and friendships with people in the White House and the State Department. Once a year I meet U.S. administration officials, and next month I will be meeting the President's advisers and State Department officials. What I am particularly interested in learning from them is how to implement the platform the President presented in the election campaign. [Shehori] Some structures have not been successful, such as the follow-up team which collapsed. [Sheves] Not only did it not collapse, but it became stronger and its standing with the government ministries is steadfast. It consists of two branches: One follows up on the prime minister's decisions, which means working with the ministries on preeminent issues, such as monitoring the budgetary expenditures of each ministry. This work is done by one person, who once a month submits a report to the prime minister on the activities of all the ministries. A second team monitors how budgets are spent on interministerial activities. All in all we are talking about four employees. The second branch deals with the implementation of administrative decisions and the removal of red tape on issues such as road paving, construction, housing, land marketing, and the use of budgets in the Arab, Bedouin, and Druze sectors. There is yet another team, the national projects team headed by Yehezqel Har- Melekh, which deals with the transfer of industrial plants from the center of the country to development areas, the reclassification of settlement areas, and localized treatment of problematic areas. [Shehori] Is your goal to make the Prime Minister's Office a super ministry? [Sheves] I have never talked about a super ministry, but about an office liaising between all the government ministries. One of my sorriest conclusions is that the government ministries are a confederation of offices which require coordination on almost every subject. [Shehori] Do you enjoy the full cooperation of all the ministries? [Sheves] Most of them. From the Finance Ministry I only get partial cooperation. [Shehori] Why? [Sheves] Because the finance minister and I have different personalities and we have different views about many issues. [Shehori] If there is one common denominator to the departure of several officials from the prime minister's bureau, this seems to be their frustration over the compartmentalization and the lack of access to sources of information. [Sheves] Give me one example. [Shehori] Elyaqim Rubinstein, who was not let in on the Oslo process. [Sheves] So what? He was not the only one who did not know. Many cabinet ministers did not know either. Rabin and Peres wanted only a minimum number of people to know the details so that the negotiations could end successfully. I think it was the right decision. Gad Ben-Ari did a good job and for the most part people were satisfied with it. After two years he decided to move to another job -- head of the Jewish Agency delegation in the United States -- which suited him and his family better. Eli Rubinstein sees his future in the legal field and decided to pursue a purely legal career as the legal adviser of the defense establishment, but at the same time he continues to head the delegation to the talks with Jordan and is doing an excellent political job. Jacques Neriya reached the conclusion that it would be best for him, both financially and in terms of promoting his personal career, if he became the head of the Histadrut labor federation's international affairs department. His was one of the most successful appointments in this office in the last two years. [Shehori] Are there plans to fill the job left vacant by Hayim Asad as strategic adviser to the prime minister? [Sheves] No. He had also been supposed to head the national security team, but this did not come about. He never dealt with this issue. His is the only appointment I feel was a failure. Hayim Asad was not the right man for the job, neither in terms of his qualifications nor on the personal level. [Shehori] You have had confrontations with Ministers Ya'aqov Tzur, Avraham "Beiga" Shohat, and Binyamin "Fu'ad" Ben-Eli'ezer. [Sheves] I have had no confrontations with Tzur and Fu'ad. Tzur promised to appoint a friend of ours, Bentzi Weiner, as director general of the Agriculture Ministry but he did not keep his promise. Tzur does not deny that he made such a promise, and I am no longer angry with him. I got angry in the way friends do, but our dispute ended in September 1992. We work closely together. With Fu'ad I have had two professional, not personal, arguments. One was two years ago over the issue of highways and junctions and it all ended well, in a friendly and matter-of-fact manner. Our second argument was over the fact that I submitted a serious, authoritative, responsible, and learned study about the rise in the price of apartments in Israel in the past six months. He did not appreciate this fact very much, and I understand him. At the same time, there is cooperation between us and together we worked out the draft resolution submitted to the cabinet. As for Beiga Shohat, the issue runs much deeper. I have a serious argument with him about priorities. I greatly appreciate the macro achievements in the Israeli economy. The problem is with the micro-strategic issues, such as tackling the problem of housing in a timely and firm manner. [Shehori] Did you expect the prime minister to appoint you as a minister when Ramon quit? [Sheves] I did not expect it and I do not think he could. [Shehori] You had expectations in the political sphere, but in the end you have been left out of it. [Sheves] I have not been neutralized at all in the political sphere, the prime minister includes me in everything. I do not play a functional role in the negotiations because I am not a member of any delegation. I have never wanted to be a member or head of any delegation. I know I am not qualified for such a job because I have no experience in this field and this is a very professional area. However, I have assisted and I continue to assist on many issues in the political sphere. [Shehori] What are your aspirations? [Sheves] I will not run in the primaries, I have no plans to be a politician, I do not want to be either a member of the Knesset or a cabinet minister. I want to serve Rabin as director general of the Prime Minister's Office and to be successful in my job. I will take it from here; I do not plan anything in advance. I never planned to be the director general of the Prime Minister's Office.

BFN [Article by Dalya Shehori: "I Like Being Director General; I Want To Serve Rabin"] As far as Shim'on Sheves is concerned, he is realizing the dreams and plans he brought to the prime minister's bureau when he became its director general, and he is pleased with a job well done. Others -- ministers and public figures who maintain close ties with the prime minister's bureau -- paint a different picture. Sheves established a team to monitor the implementation of the prime minister's and government's decisions, including the way budgets are used by the various ministries. According to him, the team has been operating, coordinating, and discharging its duties. Others say the follow-up team collapsed several months after its establishment. There is a considerable disparity between the versions. While media descriptions have portrayed Sheves as a very strong man, whose proximity to Yitzhaq Rabin has put him in control of extensive information and of the fate of ministers and officials, it now transpires that ministers who had a falling-out with Sheves lost nothing of the access to or good ties with Rabin. Agriculture Minister Ya'aqov Tzur, Construction and Housing Minister Binyamin Ben-Eli'ezer, and Finance Minister Avraham Shohat enter the prime minister's bureau daily and meet with him whenever necessary. When Shohat presented the cabinet the Finance Ministry's plan dealing with unemployment, while an alternative plan drafted by strategic adviser Hayim Asa -- who has meanwhile been fired -- was submitted on behalf of Sheves, the cabinet endorsed Shohat's plan. A cabinet minister said off the record: "I do not think he is powerful. He did not manage to really harm Beiga [Avraham] Shohat, perhaps just to smear him, and even that is too strong an expression. The bottom line is that Beiga sees Rabin and talks to him, while Sheves has been forced to withdraw his ideas. It was very obvious at a housing discussion (where Sheves proposed reverting to public construction and greater government involvement -- DS)." Officials close to Shohat say the finance minister sees his conflict with Sheves and Sheves' ability to harm him as some force majeure with which he has to live. Shohat finds solace in the fact that Rabin never comes out against him and in the prime minister's loyalty to him. A man conversant with affairs at Rabin's bureau says that when Sheves arrived there, he had many grand schemes to establish a structure similar to that of the White House team, with himself at the top. "All doors leading to the bureau were repainted, many new signs were put up, a project follow-up team was set up, as were other bodies. But Sheves, a pugnacious man who suited Rabin's needs in the primaries and the election campaign, was unable to take charge of such a complex system. Every system he established collapsed, and decent members of the bureau staff admitted there was nothing for them to do there. What remains today is Rabin's skeleton headquarters: Military Secretary Dani Yatom, who liaises with the Mosad and the Shin Bet and arranges the prime minister's flights and receipt of cables; bureau chief Eytan Haber, who writes the prime minister's speeches and is on intimate terms with Rabin. Sheves is nonexistent. He still plays a political role, and as a man with street savvy, he understands the trends in the street, but he does not participate in security and political consultations." Time has proven that 42-year-old Sheves often engages in power contests, in which he is defeated. In the words of one of the ministers: "He draws all his strength from Rabin. If he is separated from him, he will not be able to survive." When Sheves put his strength to a test by promoting Yuval Frenkel's candidacy for Labor party secretary general, the job was won by Nisim Zvili. Ya'aqov Tzur refused to accept Sheves' dictums regarding appointments, but this never hurt his standing. Binyamin Ben-Eli'ezer did tell the government that the Construction Ministry's housing plan is coordinated with the prime minister's bureau, but for Ben-Eli'ezer this was apparently a one-time concession. Shohat has not deviated from his economic doctrine, and he continues to back Treasury officials. It seems that Sheves' tests of power ultimately tarnished his image. He once said in a press interview that he must be believed when he says that he does not appoint people, but only recommends appointments to the prime minister occasionally. Then we thought he was acting humble, but today we can believe him. The revolution Sheves brought about in the Prime Minister's Office and bureau -- cutting down the number of advisers to the prime minister; making all other advisers administratively subordinate to the director general; creating new departments and liaison mechanisms between government ministers; improving services to the citizen -- may have been ahead of its time. It would have been more suitable for a time when the prime minister is chosen in direct elections and his powers resemble those of the U.S. President. At the moment, the system does not work well, and only a handful of ministers come to the bureau to coordinate issues with Sheves. For his part, he concentrates his efforts on socioeconomic issues, including the reclassification of development areas and localized treatment of backward or problematic areas (including in the Arab sector), and gets praised for it. Rabin did not interfere with the innovations Sheves made in the Prime Minister's Office. He does not need advisers any way, and except for substantive issues, what happens in the bureau does not interest him. Gradually the bureau began emptying of people and goals. Advisers and key officials, such as Cabinet Secretary Elyaqim Rubinstein, media adviser Gad Ben-Ari, and political adviser Jacques Neriya, quit recently. On the face of it, each of them quit for his own reasons. But, according to knowledgeable sources, most of these departures could have been avoided if these officials had had better access to information. They had no problem accessing the prime minister, but information in various areas was blocked to them and this hindered their work and led to compartmentalization and frustration. Haber and Sheves are seen as the guilty party. The prime minister's bureau is having a hard time filling the vacated jobs. Interviewed by Qol Yisra'el, Sheves said that "many people would like to be cabinet secretaries and the prime minister's spokesman." He said he was talking about dozens of people, "all of them good," and noted that the prime minister would soon make up his mind. However, other bureau staffers would only say that the job of cabinet secretary became vacated on 1 April, that Rubinstein was asked to stay on until May, and that no replacement had been found to overlap with him. Although the fact that the prime minister's media adviser would be quitting had been known for a few months, Ben-Ari left and his job has not yet been filled. One could say that the prime minister is the best government spokesman, and that he makes statements to the media quite often. However, the job of spokesman includes regular contacts with journalists, and while Israeli journalists can obtain information from other sources in the prime minister's bureau, foreign journalists have nobody to turn to. People who know Sheves' working ability praise his performance and even his tendency to iron out differences and cut corners. "Sheves is a very good can-do man," said Justice Minister David Liba'i, the only minister who was prepared to speak for the record. "Myself, I have had very little contact with him, but his attitude has always been businesslike and matter-of-fact." He is regarded as a sharp and intelligent man, but not as a methodic and theoretical thinker. People note his integrity and his disposition to speak up his mind anywhere, even to Rabin. According to various testimonies, Sheves does not recoil from confronting Rabin when this is necessary. A person who witnessed such a confrontation says that Sheves insisted on his position even when Rabin hollered at him. The same person added that Rabin hates obsequiousness and appreciates men who stand up for their views. People say that with Sheves, a sensitive and direct man, you know exactly where you stand and note that he is a good friend. Other people, however, say that he can also be crass and rude.

BFN [Interview with Dr. Nabil Sha'th, 'Arafat's political adviser, by Mahmud Abu-'Ubayd; place and date not given] [Excerpts] [Abu-'Ubayd] Dr. Sha'th, what are your feelings on the first day of your assuming the duties of your post? [Sha'th] I am very happy and optimistic, especially as I see a readiness for the building stage in the eyes of my people and colleagues, and I hope we will succeed in building our state with Jerusalem as its capital. [Abu-'Ubayd] You talk about Jerusalem before you have reached it, and Israel continues to make statements confirming that the [Palestinian] Authority will not go beyond the boundaries of self-rule or reach Jerusalem. Besides, Jerusalem is not included in the self-rule budget. [Sha'th] The new authority will develop and reach Jerusalem. Israel can say whatever it likes, but the reality of the negotiations is another thing. They [Israelis] will not be able to impose their will on us. The National Authority's institutions are being set up in Gaza and Jericho. But the other institutions have to be in Jerusalem. In other words, the National Authority's ministries will be based in Gaza and Jericho, while the other economic and social institutions will be based in Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem is the capital of our state. This is the accurate implementation of the agreement, which stresses the need to implement it within the framework of international Resolution No. 242. I would like also to point out that the new authority will devote great attention to Jerusalem, especially with regard to its building and reconstruction. Incidentally, this was part of the agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which stressed its willingness to contribute to bolstering Jerusalem. We will do our utmost to build houses, public facilities, and institutions in Arab Jerusalem. [Abu-'Ubayd] What is the nature of the financial crisis facing the new Palestinian Authority? [Sha'th] There is no crisis now. At the donor states meeting in Paris we managed to agree on covering the deficit in current expenditures. And we will try to collect taxes to avoid an increase in the deficit. We expect to face some difficulties in collecting these taxes within the coming four months. This is why the donor states will cover this deficit. The donor states decided to grant us $42 million in cash, and they have indeed given us this sum, which I have brought with me to the [Gaza] Strip. [passage omitted] [Abu-'Ubayd] Has the Palestinian position on the Arab boycott [of Israel] changed? [Sha'th] We will comply with the economic agreement signed with Israel. We will not continue the boycott, by virtue of the existence of an economic agreement signed between us and them. However, this agreement does not mean ending the Arab boycott. There is nothing to compel the Arab states to import from Israel. On the contrary, the economic agreement signed with Israel does not allow us to reexport products from Israel. The first and second tables in the economic agreement allow us only to import what is required to meet local needs. The agreement does not allow us to reexport Israeli goods. Relations to be established between the Arab states and Israel will not be conducted via the Palestinians. We will not be a bridge before a full peace has been achieved, nor will we agree to play a broker's role.

BFN Nabil Sha'th will not come to East Jerusalem today. Qol Yisra'el's reporter, quoting authoritative sources, says he will not come because his current work load prevents him from doing so. Senior Israeli officials were informed of the PLO official's decision. Last night, Sha'th met with several members of the Palestinian Authority. A Qol Yisra'el reporter says they discussed Sha'th's talks with Deputy Chief of Staff Amnon Shahaq on early empowerment and preparations for the upcoming visit of Yasir 'Arafat. General Shahaq and Nabil Sha'th are to resume negotiations next Monday. Speaking to reporters in Jericho last night, Sha'th outlined the main items on the agenda: [Begin Sha'th recording] First item on the negotiations will be the continued release of the prisoners and those prisoners who are here in Jericho, and the second item, of course, will be the immediate negotiations on early empowerment of the full spread of the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian police in the West Bank, and then, of course, also continuing to finish the unfinished matters from the Gaza and Jericho. [end recording] Sha'th also explained why he had come to Jericho at this stage: [Begin Sha'th recording] I want to make sure that Jericho has all the help and support and protection that Gaza now has from its Palestinian police and Palestinian Authority, but also I am very happy to be here. I have not been here since 1948. [end recording]

BFN This evening Foreign Minister 'Amr Musa met with a Yemeni delegation from Sanaa led by 'Ali Mansur Rashid, member of the General Committee of the General People's Congress. Rashid said that they discussed the developments in Yemen. He praised the efforts being made by Egypt and President Husni Mubarak to stop the bloodshed in Yemen and to reach a cease-fire. On the failure of the UN envoy's mission, Rashid said that the UN envoy had made good efforts and put forward certain proposals. Rashid noted that had they been adopted by the United Nations and the rest of the Arab countries, they would have helped to stop the bloodshed in Yemen and bring about a cease-fire. He said that he and the UN envoy discussed quick ways to form a military committee, which previously supervised the armed forces' movements. He said they also discussed expanding the committee by adding certain Arab parties to it. Rashid noted that the fighting in Yemen hinges on the continuation of the rebellion against the constitutional legitimacy, this group's submission to the legitimacy, and ending the rebellion. He said: Despite this, we are ready for a cease-fire and will contribute to forming a committee to monitor it. Responding to a question that unity cannot be imposed by force, Rashid said that the unity was not imposed by force, but was established peacefully and democratically, and two referendums were held on the unity. He pointed out that what is now taking place in Yemen is an attempt to impose secession by force and we are defending and safeguarding this unity. He said that he asked 'Amr Musa for Egypt to continue its important and good role in limiting the Yemeni people's suffering and pain.

BFN Mohamed Abdelaziz, secretary general of the Polisario Front, held a news conference at the 27 February national school, attended by the national and Spanish media accompanying a visiting Spanish delegation. The brother president said that the Western Sahara issue is an issue of special interest and was the subject of deep concern for the presidents of the African states who attended the 30th OAU summit. The brother president pointed out that the latest proposal put forward by the Polisario Front, calling for the convening of an international conference for giving a boost to the UN peace plan on Western Sahara, is considered by the organization as a constructive initiative and was approved in a report by the OAU secretary general. With regard to a question related to Morocco's stance, which rejects OAU participation, the brother president said that Morocco has constantly used all forms of maneuvering and procrastination and today it rejects the OAU participation in the identification process and this is a blatant violation of the text and spirit of the UN-OAU peace plan based on African resolution 104. The brother president added: Through our contacts with the various African heads of states, we made a full denunciation of the Moroccan stance which calls basically for blowing up the UN-OAU peace plan, stipulating the organization of a free, just, and unbiased referendum for the Saharan people. He highlighted that this Moroccan stance is dangerous and would put Morocco in a clear and open conflict with the UN, the OAU and international legality. [passage indistinct]. The brother president said that the Saharan people are preparing for all possibilities and will continue to give serious and full cooperation to the UN and the OAU [passage indistinct].

BFN Israeli military aircraft launched two air raids on Hizballah positions in western al-Biqa' and in the south today, but there were no casualties. In the meantime, the resistance launched an attack in retaliation. Agent Lahd militia [South Lebanese Army] admitted that three Israeli soldiers were killed in a resistance attack on an Israeli patrol shortly after the Israeli air raid. Sources said that the other Israeli soldiers in the patrol were critically wounded and an Israeli personnel carrier was destroyed in the attack near al-Shaqif castle. Our correspondent in the south 'Ali Dawud reports: [Begin Dawud recording] Israeli artillery bombarded several villages in the al-Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas today, injuring two people in Kafr Tibnit, damaging several homes, and burning crops. The resistance retaliated by attacking Israeli and agent positions in al-Burj, 'Ali al-Tahir, al-Shaqif castle, and the al-Khardali bridge road. The Israeli aircraft launched an air raid on Jabal al-Rafi' area in Iqlim al-Tuffah at 1455 today, firing two air-to-surface missiles. In the meantime, Israeli aircraft flew over al-Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah. According to eyewitnesses, the Israeli military aircraft raided the al-Qatranah area, but the Islamic Resistance sources affirmed that the raid targeted its positions in al-Luwayzah hills. At 1530, the Israeli forces expanded the scope of their aggression, and Israeli artillery in al-Zaffatah bombarded the Iqlim al-Tuffah hills and heights, focusing on Mlita, al-Luwayzah, and Jabal Safi. The sporadic bombardment continued for one hour. At 1545, the Israeli barrage reached the villages of Kafr Tibnit, Yuhmur, Arnun, Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, the outskirts of al-Nabatiyah al-Fawqa, Shukin, and Mayfadun. The bombardment was accompanied by bursts of heavy machine-gun fire to these areas. The shelling of Kafr Tibnit injured Khadijah Bushr, 66, who was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her wounds. Qasim Siblin was injured in his foot and was taken to the government hospital in al-Nabatiyah. The bombardment of Kafr Tibnit by incendiary shells set fire to the crops, particularly the cornfields. The shelling of Kafr Tibnit and the Arnun-Yuhmur highway continued at 1700. The Lebanese civil defense teams rushed to fight the fires in Kafr Tibnit but were met with difficulties because of the sniper fire on the area. The civil defense sources said that they sent several fire-fighting vehicles to extinguish the fires that had spread to crops. They managed to put out a fire in Kafr Tibnit but failed to put out a fire near the Arnun road and al-Shaqif castle. These sources said that Lebanese army units assisted the civil defense teams and other volunteers in the area to extinguish the fires. Tension prevails in the villages in the al-Nabatiyah area adjacent to the contacts lines with the occupied border strip. Meanwhile Israeli helicopters flew over the area from al-Shaqif castle up the al-Burj and 'Ali al-Tahir at 1745 today and raked the al-Khardali bridge area. The Islamic Boy Scouts room of operation took part in fighting the fires and they sent ambulances to take the wounded to the hospitals. They also secured vehicles to move families from the eastern part of Kafr Tibnit to al-Nabatiyah and other safe areas. The Islamic Resistance issued initial information on several operations they launched this afternoon against Israeli and agent patrols inside the occupied strip. It said that its groups attacked an enemy convoy composed of 30 soldiers on the al-Khardali road this afternoon, completely destroying a Reo vehicle, a jeep, a personnel carrier, and damaging other vehicles. It said that all members of the patrol were killed or injured. [end recording]

BFN [Excerpts] Kuwait, 18 Jun (KUNA) -- Admiral Jacques Lanxade, chief of the general staff of the French Armed Forces, and an accompanying delegation met here today with Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah, amir of the State of Kuwait. [passage omitted] Lanxade had arrived in Kuwait yesterday on an official visit that is to last a few days. [Kuwait KUNA in Arabic at 1003 GMT on 18 June reports that Shaykh Sa'd al-'Abdallah, heir apparent and Kuwaiti prime minister, also received Admiral Lanxade and the accompanying delegation.]

BFN [Excerpts] Kuwait, 18 Jun (KUNA) -- Admiral Jacques Lanxade, the French chief of general staff said today that his meetings with Kuwaiti officials focused on looking into means of bilateral military cooperation and reviewing the overall situation in the Gulf region. In a statement to the Kuwaiti news agency he said: Military cooperation between France and Kuwait goes a long time back, we now have teams working on helicopters and aircraft. We are also in the process of discussing joint projects in connection with other aspects of the armed forces. He added that he had discussed with Kuwaiti officials a project on patrol boats. These boats are being manufactured by a French company that supplies the French Armed Forces with boats. Oman also has purchased a number of boats from this company. The French admiral, who is on a two-day visit to Kuwait said that France is concerned with the security of the Gulf region. Admiral Lanxade said: France clearly supports the need for Iraq to implement all the UN Security Council resolutions and recognize Kuwait's sovereignty. He went on to say that he had told Kuwaiti officials France could supply Kuwait with radar equipment and air defense rockets. France is making considerable efforts in the field of defense because we realize that the world is currently unstable and we have a role to play as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, he said. Admiral Lanxade added: We have elements working now in Saudi Arabia and Turkey to follow up the monitoring of Iraqi air space and we took part in the embargo on the Jordanian port of al-'Aqabah. He said that the current exercises between the Kuwaitis and the French are aimed at stressing that there is military cooperation between the two countries. Admiral Lanxade said: These exercises are a message to the neighborhood and are a means of developing the operational aspects of relations between our forces. They are also a means that would enable us to work together if the need rises. [passage omitted] Lanxade stressed: The importance of the military deals between France and Kuwait are not of mere commercial importance. In fact the existence of a joint project between the Armed Forces of the two countries provides a real opportunity for joint operations, an element that is more important than the commercial interests. Regarding the situation in Yemen he said: We believe the situation is serious in Yemen and wish for the hostilities to be stopped. He added that the French naval forces had evacuated a number of people out of Yemen including foreign nationals more than French citizens. The Yemeni issue is serious because it affects the security of the Arab peninsular, he said. Lanxade said that France had 10 warships opposite Djibouti, about 4,000 French troops stationed there, forces in the south of the Indian Ocean, and 150 soldiers of the French Air Force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BFN [Unattributed report: "Algeria: Tripartite Committee To Topple Sifi's Government"] Algeria -- Reliable Algerian sources have told AL-HAYAH that the group of Boubakr Belkaid (former interior minister), Selim Saadi (former interior minister), and General Mohamed Touati (adviser to the defense minister and member of the Dialogue Committee) has been making intensive contacts for weeks with the Algerian opposition parties, and circles of political movements and societies in Tunisia, Morocco, and France to undermine Mokdad Sifi's government, accusing it of "political impotence against the Islamic Salvation Front [FIS], economic failure against a background of deteriorating social conditions, and failure to take a firm stand against terrorism." That group, the sources said, offers itself as an alternative "to the current political line and is preparing to topple the present government." They quoted people close to Sifi's government as saying that "behind that move, there are judicial files against Selim Saadi who formed a number of companies in Tunisia in the names of his relatives when he was agriculture minister and then interior minister, as well as large files against Boubakr Belkaid and one of his in-laws since Boukaid was construction minister, then higher education minister, then information minister, and finally interior minister." They added that it is not unlikely that "the political activities of the trio opposed to dialogue and reconciliation with the Islamists are just a reaction to protect their political and financial interests." The sources believe that these figures "are trying to use the card of [the anniversary of] the late President Mohamed Boudiaf (former chairman of the Higher State Council) to support Saeed Saadi, leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy, in a move to stage a procession on 29 June despite Saadi's denial that he was exploiting Boudiaf's assassination anniversary to stage the procession." Media sources in Algeria say that Selim Saadi, interior minister under Redha Malek, "had seen himself as the successor to Ali Kafi (Higher State Council chairman) because of the support he was and still is getting from his ally Gen. Mohamed Touati and his group. That was clearly evident in the meetings Saadi held with local officials in Algerian provinces. It was noticed then that he was speaking not in his capacity as interior minister but rather more like a head of state, a matter which created extreme sensitivity between him and Ali Kafi and then between him and the current President Liamine Zeroual who dismissed Redha Malek's government because of the attitude of Saadi who exceeded his limits to the point of speaking on behalf of the military establishment." While the "trio" is planning to topple the government, the latter is proceeding with its plan to define its policies, solve new problems such as those related to the official certificate examinations, and introduce central administrative changes at Algiers University and some institutes.

BFN Khartoum, 20 Jun (MENA)--Sudanese security forces today arrested al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, former prime minister and leader of the dissolved Ummah Party, along with a large group of prominent members in the Ummah Party on charges of involvement in a conspiratorial organization. Sudanese Television said this evening that the detainees are: Dr. Hammad 'Umar Baqadi, member of the Ummah Party Political Bureau; Brigadier General Ma'ash 'Abd-al-Rahman Farah, former adviser to the Sudanese security department; and Sayf-al-Din Sa'id, member of the secretariat of security and information in the Ummah Party. The television said that the detention took place after the officials had set the hour for the arrests. A security source stated that based on monitored information and movements of the detainees, al-Mahdi was arrested after investigations proved his complicity in a conspiracy. He stressed that the competent agencies would inform the public of any new details or developments.

BFN Mashhad, June 20, IRNA -- A bomb went off this afternoon here in one of the crowded prayer halls in the mausoleum of the Imam Reza (as) [peace be upon him], killing and injuring tens of people who had gathered there to commemorate 'Ashura. Over 60 injured people have been transferred to the hospitals here. Most of the people who have been injured had come from different cities all over the country to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Imam Husayn today which is known as 'Ashura. As a rule every year on this day, mourners flock to Imam Reza's mausoleum to observe the mourning ceremonies for Imam Husayn. Imam Reza is the eighth imam and Imam Husayn is the third imam of the infallible household of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) [expansion unknown]. Both imams were martyred by the tyrannical rulers of their times.

BFN [Report by Murid Hammad in Washington; from the "News at Ten" program] His Majesty the king began his official visit to Washington with a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Today's talks are expected to have covered the Middle East peace process, particularly the Jordanian-Israeli track, in addition to developments in the Middle East and bilateral ties. [Begin recording] [Christopher] Good morning. I'm very honored today to welcome to the State Department King Husayn, who is an old friend in so many different ways. We're at an important moment, I think, in the history of the Middle East. The recent bilateral discussions here between Israel and Jordan, with the participation of the United States, indicate that there is room for very real progress in the Middle East, and I've congratulated the king on that progress and urged that we would do everything we could to try to assist in that situation. Jordan has stood for progress in the Middle East peace situation and their bilateral track, I think, is one on which there are great opportunities for the two countries to work together. So, as always, it's a great pleasure to welcome the king here. We have many items to discuss -- their defense needs, the economic situation in Jordan, the path for democratization in Jordan. We have many items on which we have common interest, and, of course, many items on which we admire the king's leadership. So, Your Majesty, it's a great honor to have you here in the State Department. [Husayn] Thank you very much indeed, Mr. Secretary. Thank you very very much indeed for your kind words of welcome, and I'm very pleased with the opportunity to meet with you today, sir, and hopefully in the next two days to meet with the President as well, and many of our friends here in Washington. We are indeed optimistic as far as the future is concerned in our quest for a just, durable, comprehensive peace in the region. And we are very happy indeed that on the Jordanian-Israeli track we are about to begin to address the problems that were a part of the agenda worked out earlier on. And beginning with border demarcation, delineation, we hope this will take place on the ground there, and we appreciate certainly the role of our friends in supporting us and our efforts to arrive at this point. [end recording] Today's talks were followed by a working lunch attended by the prime minister, the chief of the Royal Court, his majesty's political adviser, Prince Talal Bin-Muhammad, minister of state for prime ministry affairs, the minister of information, the minister of finance, and Jordan's ambassador in Washington. On the U.S. side, it was attended by high-level delegation from the Departments of State and Defense, as well as President Clinton's national security adviser. Sources from the Jordanian delegation told the News at Ten that today's meeting was fruitful and very successful. Later tonight his majesty the king will meet U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown for talks that will center on trade relations between the two countries.

BFN Vienna, June 18 (INA) -- Iraq's Oil Minister, Dr. Safa' Hadi Jawad, has reiterated Iraq's rejection of new conditions or changes on the Iraqi-Turkish accord to reoperate the Iraqi oil pipeline crossing the Turkish territories for cleaning and repairing it. In a press statement here on Friday [17 June], Dr. Jawad said that this topic was directly pertaining to the Iraqi and Turkish sides. Therefore, Turkey should begin implementing the accord without taking permission from the Security Council. The minister pointed out that both Iraq and Turkey had agreed to use the revenues to settle part of Iraq's debts to Turkey and the other part to purchase foodstuffs, baby milk and medicine from Turkey.

BFN Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin said that during yesterday's attack in the security zone, Hizballah fighters fired 12 Sagger missiles at an IDF [Israel Defense Forces] convoy, a missile volley unprecedented in the history of the clashes with the Hizballah. The prime minister added that on average, five clashes occur every week in south Lebanon; however, since these incidents generally result in no casualties they are not reported. Prime Minister Rabin said he would be happy to meet Jordan's King Husayn and Jordanian officials anytime, anywhere. Our political correspondent Shlomo Raz reports that the prime minister was responding to King Husayn's assertion that the time for a public meeting between himself and Israeli leaders was drawing near. King Husayn is currently visiting the United States and will meet President Clinton on 23 June to discuss the promotion of the peace process. [Tel Aviv MA'ARIV in Hebrew on 21 June in a pool report on pages 1, 2 notes that "officials at the prime minister's bureau yesterday clarified that the exchange of declarations between King Husayn and Prime Minister Rabin was not a smokescreen to conceal contacts already under way to hold a meeting in the near future. Nevertheless, political sources expressed the assessment that the declarations may lead to a process similar to the one which accompanied Egyptian President al-Sadat's trip to Jerusalem in 1977 and resulted in the first public meeting between Israeli and Jordanian officials -- including Husayn and Rabin -- in the near future. "Meanwhile, political sources in Jerusalem yesterday reported that Jordan was signalling its readiness to permit limited numbers of Israeli tourists to enter Jordan soon." MA'ARIV adds that "Officials in Jerusalem yesterday asserted that Jordan had not been frightened by Syria's anger over Amman's progress in the negotiations with Israel, and apparently intended to implement various aspects of normalization with Israel over the coming months."] The prime minister met with the Labor Knesset faction yesterday and discussed the government's achievements over the past two years. At the meeting, the prime minister said that the state of calm in the Gaza Strip and the drop in terrorism influenced the national mood more than any debate at the Labor party's Central Committee. Rabin described the implementation of the agreement with the Palestinians as not bad. Commenting on the difficulties in the negotiations with the Syrians, the prime minister stressed that he was not pessimistic and noted that meetings with Jordanian officials would take place next month along the border. These political developments, Rabin said, calms the security situation. The prime minister asserted that the Labor party's rule would be judged in three fields: infrastructure, education, and the scope of unemployment. As for Hayim Ramon and his associates, Yitzhaq Rabin said that it was inconceivable for them to hold two passports. Although they were not members of the party they remained members of its Knesset faction. At the same time, the prime minister was not proposing to expel them from the Knesset faction. Our correspondent Yo'el Nir reports that the atmosphere at the meeting was relaxed and many of the faction members said that following last week's uproar, the party should start putting its house in order. The debate on the party's condition was put off until tomorrow.

BFN [Editorial report] The following is a comprehensive review of all items in the 14 June issue of the Arabic-language newspaper Cairo AL-SHA'B that pertain to political Islamic issues. CONTENTS: 1. Chief Editor on Islamic Awakening In Turkey 2. Chief Editor Notes Destruction of Liberties 3. Lawyers Moderation, National Unity Underlined 4. Writer Views Middle Eastern Market From Islamic Standpoint 5. Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Guide Preaches Islamic Values 6. Columnist Highlights Situation of Muslims in Africa CHIEF EDITOR ON ISLAMIC AWAKENING IN TURKEY Chief Editor Majdi Ahmad Husayn publishes on page 2 a 2,500-word article in which he reviews Turkey's history before and after Kamal Ataturk and just what led to its secularism. The writer then explains how Islamic awakening started slowly after Ataturk's death and concludes: "The Arab and Islamic world is witnessing a common intricate process to retrieve its Islamic identity. The clever rulers -- if they do exist -- must not uselessly burden the nation with conflicts and shocks. While Turkey seeks to include the Islamic movement in its democratic process, the very clever rulers of Egypt still think that they can liquidate the Islamic movement, thus making us suffer from internal attrition for a while longer and making sure that Islamic victory is born only through pain, suffering, and bleeding." CHIEF EDITOR NOTES DESTRUCTION OF LIBERTIES Page 2 also features a 1,000-word article by Chief Editor Majdi Ahmad Husayn in which he draws attention to the erosion of the democratic system in Egypt. He notes that at the beginning of "our lame democratic experiment" the regime applied democracy little-by-little because the Egyptian people were not advanced and could not adapt to democracy all at once, the situation has worsened since the president's third term. The regime has moved to "exclude liberties from the democratic system little-by-little." The writer also criticizes the government's mishandling of the case of the millionaire Ishaq Hakim who swindled the banks and individuals of tens of millions of pounds. LAWYERS MODERATION, NATIONAL UNITY UNDERLINED A 1,500-word article by Qutb al-'Arabi on page 3 discusses the lawyers' crisis. The writer says that despite the heated debate that took place during the meeting of the general lawyers syndicate council and the branch syndicates last Wednesday evening, the final resolutions were moderate, aimed at finding a "peaceful solution to the crisis." The resolutions called for sending a letter in the name of the branch syndicates to the president of the republic and forming a delegation of the syndicate council to meet with the prime minister to demand an immediate investigation of the death of lawyer 'Abd-al-Harith Madani and the quick release of the detainees. The writer adds that while the lawyers syndicate displayed a measure of flexibility in dealing with the crisis and gave the government a chance to solve the crisis peacefully, the government did not show any flexibility and escalated its measures against the lawyers by continuing to detain the lawyers' leaders, including some members of the syndicate council, and maintaining the media campaign against the syndicate. A 500-word unattributed article on the same page notes that the lawyers' crisis has enhanced national unity among the lawyers. The article says "the recent lawyers' syndicate crisis has highlighted the genuine unity among the lawyers, despite differences in their political and religious affiliations." During the lawyers demonstration, Sayf-al-Islam al-Banna (Muslim Brotherhood) stood next to the Nasirist Samih 'Ashur, the Wafdist 'Abd-al-Halim Mandhur, and the communist Nabil al-Hilali. Three Copts were among the lawyers and citizens arrested by the police. Coptic lawyers also took part in defending their arrested brothers. WRITER VIEWS MIDDLE EASTERN MARKET FROM ISLAMIC STANDPOINT AL-SHA'B publishes an 500-word article by Dr. Husayn Shahatah on page 5 in which he views the proposed Middle Eastern common market from an Islamic economic standpoint. He notes that the purpose of the Islamic economy is to develop the land to achieve a good and dignified life for the people to worship to God. Economy in Islam is linked to moral and religious values. God has prohibited monopoly, fraud, and exploitation. But, the writer continues, the proposed Middle Eastern market will not be like that. It will be a crusader, Zionist market dominated by the Jews. "A study and analysis of everything that has been published about the purpose and objectives of this market reveals that the aim is to control the resources of the Arab Islamic nation and bring it under the hegemony of the Jews (Israel), the United States, and the West." This is economic exploitation. They want to subordinate the Arab Islamic states to non-Muslims to "control their political, educational, social, and economic decisions." MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD DEPUTY GUIDE PREACHES ISLAMIC VALUES Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Guide Mustafa Mashhur publishes an 1,800 word article on page 5 in which he attempts to promote Islam. He begins by citing passages from a book by Imam al-Banna, founder of the Islamic Brotherhood movement, entitled "The Brothers Under the Banner of the Koran," in which he explains the purity, honesty, and universality of the Islamic faith. Mashhur notes that the prophet began his mission alone. He faced great difficulties. But God's light descended on him and dispelled the darkness of ignorance within a few years, clearing the Arabian Peninsula of idols and infidels. He then explains how the invasion of materialistic cultures left their effect on the Islamic countries, prompting the Muslims to deviate from the essence of their religion. He quotes the following passage from Imam al-Banna's book: "Our duty is to face this wave of materialistic culture until it recedes and our nation becomes free of its afflictions. We must not stop there, but pursue it in its own country until the entire world shouts the name of the prophet, may God's prayers and peace be upon him, and the canopy of Islam spread over the earth." Mashhur adds: "All Muslims have a responsibility before God to spread this true religion and to save humanity from the darkness of materialism, its tyranny and oppression, and to bring humanity to the light of Islam, its justice, security, and peace." Islam, he says, is a complete and comprehensive religion, because it is from God, who is complete. Mashhur then moves on to refute the claim of some "defeated writers that the Islamists want to establish a religious government with divine authority as in the middle ages. He also refutes the claim that the Islamists are "seeking to overthrow the present regime." He says this is a false claim, refuted by reality and facts. "We believe in pluralism and democracy that adheres to the teachings of Islam, which is the official religion of the state. We do not believe in violence or anything of that sort. We do not seek power for ourselves." Those who work for Islam, he concludes, will not relax or weaken as their reward will be with God. COLUMNIST HIGHLIGHTS SITUATION OF MUSLIMS IN AFRICA In his 200-word regular column "This is Our Religion" on page 12, Muhammad al-Ghazali brings attention to the situation of the Muslims in Africa. He notes how European colonialism partitioned Africa in such a way as to deprive the Muslims of an independent state. He concludes that the "Muslims south of Egypt and Sudan, and around the Horn of Africa are facing strife and loss. Plans are being implemented to liquidate them and their religion. Zionism and the crusaders are behind this new offensive. An unjust and treacherous threat is facing the Muslims in this area, and those of us in the Nile Valley and the Arabian Peninsula must be aware of what is happening and probe its dimensions. If it does not hit us today, it will not miss us tomorrow."

BFN Gaza, 22 Jun (MENA) -- Furayh Abu-Middayn, minister of justice in the Palestinian National Authority [PNA], has stated that it is important to have legal control over the Palestinian streets and enforce the sovereignty of the law in all spheres, including traffic regulations, respect for private property, and other affairs. He pointed out that this is necessary after the past four years, during which there was a clear lack of control. In an exclusive interview with MENA in Gaza, Abu-Middayn said that this control has actually begun and that after the Palestinian police arrived, carrying weapons in public has disappeared, apart from those who possess licensed arms. He explained that another new phenomenon has been the holding of the Egyptian-curriculum general secondary education examination in a legal manner without cheating and other irregularities that had plagued past examinations. Concerning education in the Gaza Strip, Abu-Middayn said it has always been linked with Egypt. He pointed out that the golden age of Gaza education was in the 1950's and 1960's when Palestinian graduates of Egyptian universities spread in the world bearing their degrees. He said 1,500 Palestinians graduated annually from those universities. He asserted that Egypt has always remained committed to the maintenance of high standards of education in Gaza and the curricula taught were Egyptian curricula. He explained that with regard to the general secondary education examination, Egypt handles the entire supervisory process and corrects the examination papers. Abu-Middayn said that this educational link with Egypt has strengthened the bond with that fraternal country, a sentiment that is clearly felt in Gaza's streets. He noted that this cultural link strengthened Palestinian steadfastness during the years of occupation. Abu-Middayn told MENA that during this week's general education examination in Gaza, the Palestinian police oversaw the examination committees in an outsider supervisory capacity and this ended the cheating that used to take place in the past few years. Asked what laws were being used in Gaza now, the PNA justice minister said that the central law now used is the Constitution of 1962, which separates the executive, judicial, and legislative powers and lays down the legal provisions of these powers. He noted that the Constitution also details the provisions of individual liberties. He explained that this Constitution, which was drawn up during the late President Jamal 'Abd-al-Nasir's tenure, is still in force. He also said there are Palestinian laws dating back to Ottoman times but the major part of the laws were enacted during the British mandate. Furayh Abu-Middayn said that during the Egyptian administration of the Gaza Strip these laws were amended to meet the wishes of the Palestinians. The legislation was based upon the desires of the Palestinians. He clarified that the effort exerted during the 18 years of Palestinian administration was destroyed completely during the past 27 years because Israel passed 1,200 military orders that govern all aspects of daily life, from security restrictions down to educational controls. These orders included all aspects of daily life, which was "the most dangerous issue confronting us." The minister of justice in the PNA said that the Palestinian-Israeli agreement did not in fact cancel all these orders. He noted that there are texts stipulating, for example, that if there are any differences regarding certain issues, they will be referred to legislators of the highest order, and so on. Mr. Furayh Abu-Middayn said: We will not abide by the military orders except as they benefit the Palestinian people because there are trade and material dealings that have taken place during the past 27 years which we cannot erase with the stroke of a pen. To illustrate this point, he gave the example of the securities and traffic law which was being applied in the Gaza Strip. He pointed out that these progressive laws could be reformulated and made use of once again. He said that the laws we will respect, as stipulated by the agreement, are those laws dealing with external security and the security of the settlements. He clarified that these are things they will not interfere in. However, contrary to this point, we will cancel all laws that go against the wishes of our people, in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the occupier of a land from enforcing any laws except for those dealing with security only. He gave the example of the value added tax Israel enforced on the Gazans amounting to 17 percent on all goods. He affirmed that the PNA will cancel any laws violating the Geneva Convention and going against the interests of our people. Mr. Furayh Abu-Middayn said: We are also reorganizing the judiciary so that it would become an independent and sovereign entity that does not submit to any organization because this is the only guarantee that could safeguard us against deviations. The Palestinian justice minister added in his interview with MENA: We are also reorganizing and arranging the general prosecution and adding new branches to it. He said: We might turn to legal experts from sisterly Egypt for help in this task because until 5 June 1967 the prosecutor general was from Egypt. The Palestinian official said: We will also try to avoid the state security and military court. But there have been cases of spying. We are not talking about agents who have stopped their activities, but about those who opt to continue cooperating with the Israelis. We will not allow that at all. He said there are those who are putting pressure on us to form a military court. But President 'Arafat and I personally prefer to refer such cases to a civilian court. He clarified that this is a sensitive topic that we will address with wisdom. However, we consider the continuation of cases of spying for Israel a violation of the peace agreements. He affirmed that we will condemn any individual who causes the death of a Palestinian citizen, because such an individual will be working for a third party. Continuing his remarks in the interview, PNA Minister of Justice Furayh Abu-Middayn said: We will begin from scratch. We need narcotics laboratories to analyze drugs so that all criminals will be brought to justice. We also need to conduct post-mortem examinations in homicides cases. We still do not have archives for fingerprints and criminal evidence. We need a lot of things. Abu-Middayn added: We have enough Palestinian qualifications, but we are still short of capabilities and material prerequisites. We are still just beginning and we are short of everything. We have been completely linked to Israel during its 27 years of occupation. There is no infrastructure in Gaza and we must be self-sufficient or we will remain tied down by the occupation. Europe and the United States must help us to face the circumstances. In his interview, Abu-Middayn said that Europe was rebuilt after World War II with the Marshall Plan. The West established Israel here. When [Egyptian President] 'Abd-al-Nasir nationalized the Suez Canal [in 1956], the French supplied Israel with atomic capabilities. But we are only demanding bread. Abu-Middayn asserted that the Europeans must understand that the Palestinian people are determined to make the Middle East peace a success. He added: However, we do not need peace on paper or artificial security. We need genuine peace. The new Middle East cannot be built at the expense of our rights. The world must help the Palestinians so that peace will be achieved in the region. We want to close the file on this cause. Abu-Middayn added: We are trying to tell the Israelis to leave the Palestinians alone so that new relations can be set up. We have offered 65,000 martyrs over the past 45 years. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria also offered thousands of martyrs. This file must be closed. Abu-Middayn pointed out that the Israeli-Palestinian agreement is not the dream of the Palestinian people. It is also unfair. But it is the best that we can get. As regards the agents collaborating with Israel, the Palestinian official noted that those who ceased their cooperation with Israel after the signing of the agreement in Washington on 13 September will not be sought. He denied that there are 22,000 agents. We know all the agents, he added. Abu-Middayn said that anyone who kills Palestinians will be hanged. He was referring to the operation in which six Palestinians were killed on 25 April. Concluding his interview with MENA, Abu-Middayn said that Israel's agents will not enter Gaza. Israel will not be able to carry out operations with the aim of driving a wedge between the organizations because communications continue among them.

BFN Muhammad Zuhdi al-Nashashibi, the person in charge of economic affairs in the autonomy, said upon arriving in Jericho that he is opposed to the economic agreement signed with Israel since, in his opinion, this entire agreement works in Israel's favor and lacks the basic conditions for the realization of the Palestinians' rights. Our correspondent Moti Amir reports that in a talk with correspondents al-Nashashibi said he would base the Palestinian budget and daily expenditures on the collection of taxes. In a few days he intends to establish the nucleus for the Palestinian Finance Ministry in Jericho, and later he will recruit employees and experts who will work in this ministry's offices in Jericho and the Gaza Strip. Our correspondent adds that Dr. Sa'ib 'Urayqat leveled harsh criticism at IDF [Israel Defense Forces] officers in the Jericho area, saying the IDF still behaves like an occupying Army, blocking the town and barring tourists from entering, although it is clear that tourism is an important economic branch for the regional residents. According to 'Urayqat, one of the IDF officers said at the joint security committee that Jericho can be reoccupied within five minutes, and such a statement only proves the Israeli Army's aggressiveness.

BFN [Telephone Interview with Dr. Sa'ib 'Urayqat, member of the Palestinian National Authority, in Jerusalem, by Fawzi al-Jundi, in Cairo; date not given; from the "Dialogue From Afar" -- recorded] [Al-Jundi] Dr. 'Urayqat, welcome to our program. ['Urayqat] Thank you. [Al-Jundi] Concerning the Palestinian detainees that Israel pledged to release in accordance with the Cairo agreement, what is the latest news? ['Urayqat] The Cairo agreement clearly states that during the five weeks following the signing of the agreement the Israeli Government would release 5,000 detainees. Some of these detainees, the political detainees, were supposed to be freed with no strings attached and allowed to go to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza. Others were to be handed over to the Palestinian Authority until their sentences ended. In our understanding, the latter detainees are those held on criminal charges. However, currently the Israeli Government is releasing political detainees and dumping them at the checkpoints around Jericho, practically forcing us to keep them in Jericho and preventing them from leaving. The Israelis freed 280 detainees this way and plan to do the same with another 1,000. This procedure contravenes the fourth Geneva Convention, which states that the authorities who release a prisoner are responsible for his safe transport to his home town. It also contravenes the Cairo agreement and places the Palestinian Authority in a very delicate position; it knows that the Jericho area cannot absorb such great numbers because it lacks the necessary infrastructure. [Al-Jundi] Dr. 'Urayqat, do you think that Israel, through such measures, means to disrupt the work of the Palestinian National Authority? ['Urayqat] There is another matter. For the past eight days, Israeli authorities have prevented tourists from coming to Jericho. Jericho, as you may know, is a tourist area that normally receives about 1,000 tourists per day. Tourism provides the main income for most people, workers as well as hotel and restaurant owners. For the past eight days, Israel has prevented tourists from coming to Jericho, claiming that it is unsafe. In doing so, Israel is fully aware of the devastation it is causing to a major economic activity in this area. Furthermore, Palestinians face harassment at Israeli checkpoints. The Israeli Government is still thinking of itself as an occupier. It has not, for one moment, tried to think of itself as a peace-maker or a neighbor. It hastens to seal off Gaza and Jericho as soon as any incident occurs. In my opinion, such acts mean that the agreement is not being given a chance and the Israeli Government alone is to blame. Israel has left us this area in economic shambles. Israel, which has occupied this area for the past 27 years, must be aware of the burning need to create a reliable infrastructure in it. We have begun to build this infrastructure with our own resources, but these resources, and the Israeli Government knows this, are negligible. Israel knows that during the past month we have begun operating more than 30 departments. If Israel continues to pursue its current policies, this area will be left with a bleak future. If Rabin's aim is to undermine the current effort, he, in my opinion, is about to succeed. [Al-Jundi] Has a specific date been set for the arrival of Palestinian president Yasir 'Arafat to the self-rule areas? ['Urayqat] This issue has nothing to do with the arrival of President Abu-'Ammar [Yasir 'Arafat]. It is related to requirements that must be met so he may travel to the self-rule area. In other words, the donor countries have not yet implemented any of the projects they promised. The people judge peace, and trust it according to the tangible changes they see on the ground. They do not care for clauses, figures, or words. The countries that agreed to implement projects have not done so. The Palestinians have done all that they were required, on all levels. We exerted great efforts to activate all departments, and preparations are under way to establish other essential departments. However, the issue is that before president Abu-'Ammar arrives, basic requirements must be available that up to now have been nonexistent. After 27 years of occupation the infrastructure is destroyed. The Jericho hospital in 1967 was much better than it is now. The same goes for the irrigation system, water, electricity, roads, and all other utilities. We maintain that 2,600 projects were approved for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The donor nations agreed to implement these projects at their own expense and the necessary funds were specified. The question posed now is why these projects are not being implemented. I believe that the Palestinian National Authority, no matter what its capabilities, will begin its work 27 years late; that is, the natural development in this area stopped 27 years ago. No matter how hard or fast we work, for years we will lag behind. In other words, the longer the donor countries take to implement these projects, the more problems we will face. Therefore, these projects must be implemented, so the Palestinian National Authority may do its duty. [Al-Jundi] The Palestinian effort is the main factor in development along with the foreign aid? ['Urayqat] Certainly. All I want to say is that we are extremely poor people, particularly in Gaza, Jericho, and the rest of the West Bank. So we cannot deliver with our own resources. We have succeeded in activating 30 departments where we process documents and papers. We have processed more than 1,000 documents in less than three weeks; but we need resources to work out new systems and establish other departments. We have done this with our own resources. The sons of our people contributed time and effort to this. What we reached in Paris was an agreement approving payment of salaries from now until August. This is good, but what I mean is that the requirements of the infrastructure and securing these requirements, are necessary to turn the wheel of the Palestinian economy. We need essential infrastructure projects to turn the wheel of the economy. We need resources to create jobs, to encourage private investments, and to create an integrated economic atmosphere so that the wheel of the economy may turn. As I said, no matter how fast or hard we work we will be lagging behind for many years. [Al-Jundi] Thank you Dr. Sa'ib 'Urayqat. ['Urayqat] Thank you.

BFN The appointed Palestinian Housing Minister, Zakariya al-Agha, said that the ministry is planning to establish Palestinian housing neighborhoods in the Jewish settlements in Gaza that he is assured will be evacuated in three years time, according to the agreement with Israel. He pointed out that the plans being prepared aim to find an urgent solution to the problem of lack of land in Gaza for constructing houses. Al-Agha said that the Palestinians are in need of 250,000 housing units, 110,000 of them are needed in Gaza and he refuses to build skyscrapers of more than eight storeys each. "We want to keep the general character of Gaza." Al-Agha revealed that the headquarters of his ministry will be in Gaza, and indicated that the reason behind this decision is that his ministry will be needed there as most of its work will be focused in Gaza, while branches of the ministry in other parts will be in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He expects that these projects will absorb most of the labor force in construction. "The implementation of this plan will need 150,000 laborers," he added. Al-Agha said that his ministry will coordinate with the Higher Palestinian Council and will try to enroll the council with the ministry responsibilities.

BFN Palestinian leader Faysal al-Husayni says preparations are underway for the elections in the territories. He told reporter Jack Katzenell the proportional system will be used to give the opposition parties fair representation. [Begin recording] [Al-Husayni] I believe that elections will be on 15 October. [Katzenell] Do you know if the Palestinian opposition parties have agreed to take part in the elections? [Al-Husayni] We hope that they will, especially if they will have a list, and we hope that everyone will be there, even if they will be with a small percentage or a bigger percentage, he will be represented there. This is what we are aiming at. [end recording]

BFN Reliable information from Fatah sources indicates that Khalid al-Hasan, considered one of Fatah's historic leaders and the most prominent member of Fatah's founding Central Committee, is currently thinking of emerging from the isolation that he imposed on himself following the signing of the Oslo accord and is planning to launch an opposition political party. It is common knowledge that al-Hasan enjoys the support of sectors in Fatah as he was the first to broach the issue of a political settlement with Israel. However, he opposed the current peace process and the agreements stemming from it because they do not respond to the Palestinian people's minimum national rights, as he viewed and continues to view them in his theory for a settlement.

BFN [Interview with Dr. Mahmud al-Zahhar, "one of the most prominent Islamic trend leaders in Gaza" by Sophia 'Amarah in Gaza; date not given; from "The Event" program -- recorded] ['Amarah] Dr. al-Zahhar, what formula does Hamas [Islamic Resistance Movement] set for dealing with the Palestinian National Authority [PNA]? [Al-Zahhar] Certain yardsticks and principles govern Hamas' dealing with the PNA. The first point is that we welcome the return of every Palestinian who has lived in the diaspora. This does not mean we approve of the autonomy or that we agree to participate in it. The second point is that we are against internecine fighting and against shedding Palestinian blood at the hands of Palestinians, no matter the causes or motives. The third point is that we do not participate in the PNA. However, as sons of this homeland, we will participate in all elections that will serve the people, whether municipal, rural council, chambers of commerce, or trade union and student elections. The fourth point is that we support the freedom of action of any person who works to serve this homeland. We believe every Palestinian, after the protracted period of occupation, has the right to have his own means of dealing with the public through the establishment of party and media institutions. Every person has the right to demonstrate and to express his opinion. ['Amarah] Dr. Mahmud al-Zahhar, some problems emerged between Hamas and the Palestinian police at the beginning. Are there still any problems? What is Hamas' real position on the issue of security in the autonomy areas? [Al-Zahhar] We regret to say that the stand of the police was unjustified. While the police force had not yet completed its organization, the agents did their best to fabricate sedition to kill Fatah and Hamas leaders and to set the occupied territories on fire. They made confessions to this effect. While the Palestinian force had not completed its organization, it was necessary to end this sedition and put out this fire. The Palestinian police made several statements that were unacceptable to the ordinary Palestinian, and to Hamas. Matters remained as they are. We hope that in the not too distant future, these differences will be settled and that a balanced formula can be forged for dealings between the PNA and all the forces which have a presence in the occupied territories, particularly the opposition forces. ['Amarah] Where does the movement stand on the residual Israeli military presence in the Gaza strip? [Al-Zahhar] As far as we are concerned, it is not a residual presence. Occupation is present. What happened was a redeployment of occupation forces. Israel left some sections of Gaza for other sections of Gaza. If anything, Israel has stepped up its presence. It is in control of crossings and the main roads that link the Gaza strip and its villages. It is in control of livelihoods and everything. So, for us it is rationed occupation and it is unacceptable. Palestinians are entitled to defend themselves against occupation, from which they have suffered a great deal. ['Amarah] Will Hamas [word indistinct] continue the armed struggle against occupation in the occupied territory of the West Bank? [Al-Zahhar] That is what Hamas said in its latest leaflet, emphasizing its continuing jihad line. The leaflet that was issued on 15 June emphasized Hamas' and other Palestinian factions' right to defend themselves against the Israeli presence in the occupied land, whether that takes the form of soldiers or settlers. ['Amarah] Preparation has begun for [words indistinct] Palestinian elections. Are you prepared to run in these elections alongside the Palestinian Authority? [Al-Zahhar] The Islamic side, Hamas in particular, will not contest the self-rule elections. As for elections that are unconnected with the self-rule authority, as I have said, these will be contested, as has been our practice during occupation. ['Amarah] Israel recently levelled accusations that Hamas has been receiving aid [word indistinct] from Saudi Arabia and Iran, [word indistinct] the chances for a peace settlement. [Al-Zahhar] There is nothing wrong with Hamas or the other factions receiving assistance from brother Arabs or Muslims. However, Hamas has not received a single piaster from the Saudi government. An ordinary Muslim, whether in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, contributes zakat [alms tax], which comes to 2.5 percent [of a Muslim's income] annually, and this is given to known categories in Islam -- the poor, those who handle the zakat and for those engaged in the zakat raising effort and the effort to get slaves freed and for needy strangers. As you know, the Palestinian people are going through exceptional circumstances -- poverty, [word indistinct], displacement, and deportation, and consequently, they qualify for zakat. A Saudi, Gulf, or Egyptian Muslim or any other Muslim, even in Europe and America, collects zakat so the money can be spent on Palestinians who fill the conditions of zakat. But, thus far, Hamas has not received a single piaster from the Saudi government. ['Amarah] One last question. The Palestinian opposition wants to form a broad national front to abort the settlement between Israel and the PLO. Has Hamas and the other Palestinian factions worked out an agreement? Are you truly prepared to enter into effective participation in such a front? [Al-Zahhar] [Words indistinct] the 10 factions outside [words indistinct]. I personally support the call to form a broad national Islamic front to tackle the inadequacies of self-rule, especially those with a negative impact on the national cause and Islamic sanctities and on the (?homeland) in general, provided that the formula is well-defined and not (?inconsistent) with our national cause or our religious creed and (?helps) the Palestinian street for the sake of the interests of the Palestinian people [words indistinct] and government in line with the rules I already pointed out.

BFN The Palestinian police released brothers 'Amr and Raja' Abu-Sittah, two members of the Fatah Hawks who are suspected in the murder over a year ago of Uri Megidish from the settlement of Gan Or. The two were arrested this morning and interrogated.

BFN [Report by Army affairs correspondent Roni Daniyel] Sami Abu-Samahdanah, a leading Fatah official in the Gaza Strip, was arrested and later released for blocking the Netzarim junction because -- so he claimed -- shots were fired at him from the settlement of Netzarim. His takeover of the junction was recorded on film, Israel lodged a complaint, and Abu-Samahdanah was arrested by the Palestinian police. However, there is a follow-up to this story. Our Army affairs correspondent Roni Daniyel reports: [Begin Daniyel recording] Sami Abu-Samahdanah, a leading Fatah official in the Gaza Strip, wanted to make a show of muscle. He summoned television crews to the Netzarim junction to show everybody that he could take over the junction. The embarrassment was mutual, both for the Israelis and the Palestinian policemen. Abu-Samahdanah and his followers pulled out guns, said they were there to stay, and that they would not allow Jews to cross. Nine of his followers were arrested yesterday, and last night Abu-Samahdanah himself was summoned to the Khan Yunus police station. It would seem, however, that the friendly attitude of the Palestinian policemen during the dispersal of the demonstration continued there as well. Abu-Samahdanah was released. Moreover, he was recruited to Muhammad Dahlan's security apparatus, his followers were stationed in a training camp, and the Abu-Sittah brothers -- who were arrested on suspicion of having murdered the late Uri Magidish -- will serve in the unarmed police. A Gaza-style solution. [end recording]

BFN Most of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have ended the hunger strike they called to protest the fact that the PLO leaders have neglected their cause. Our correspondent Aviv Bushinsky has learned from Prison Service sources that 600 prisoners in Junayd Prison in Samaria continue with their hunger strike.

BFN It has been learned from reliable sources that three Palestinian businessmen, together with Bassam Abu-Sharif, President Yasir Arafat's adviser, are currently studying a joint project for to set up a private television station in the autonomy area. Visitors from Amman say that the four held a meeting last week at Queen 'Aliya Airport and agreed on the broad outlines of their project, including the fact that the project will be managed by Abu-Sharif. They also agreed to hold another meeting soon in order to put the final touches on the project.

BFN Foreign Minister Shim'on Peres has said that Israel is not prepared to accept Syria's proposal to first cede the Golan Heights and uproot settlements there and only then to enter negotiations. Minister Peres noted that Israel is conducting talks with the Syrians on three levels: territory, the nature of peace, and security arrangements. The foreign minister stressed that had the Syrian president signed a peace treaty with Israel together with President al-Sadat, he would have received everything the Egyptian president did. Our correspondent Meron Tzur reports that Mr. Peres was speaking in a rally of Army veterans in Tel Aviv.

BFN Itamar Rabinovich, Israel's ambassador in the United States, said that a date and level has so far not been set for meetings between Israeli and Jordanian representatives. Responding to King Husayn's remarks that there would soon be overt meetings between the two countries, Ambassador Rabinovich said that although important progress has been made in the negotiations with Jordan, issues have to be defined precisely prior to overt meetings. The ambassador added that U.S. Secretary of State Christopher is planning to visit the region in July. Ambassador Rabinovich said the focus in the Israeli-Syrian negotiations must be a direct dialogue between the sides. The ambassador remarks to our correspondent Ya'el Eylon at a meeting of Jewish leaders at the president's residence in Jerusalem.

BFN [Telephone interview with Foreign Ministry Director General Uri Savir by Mikha Friedman and Ya'el Dan, on 22 June; place not given -- recorded] [Friedman] In view of our close acquaintance with King Husayn, and the general view that for every step forward he makes, he immediately makes two steps back, would you suggest that Yitzhaq Rabin have a new suit made up for a meeting with Husayn in October? [Savir] This government and its prime minister had their peace suits made up a long time ago. I disagree with you and think that what we see in almost all the tracks is two steps forward and one step back. There are those who are too influenced by the steps back. I think there has been a development in the Jordanian position, and it should be welcomed. [Friedman] Nevertheless, Israeli journalists were not allowed into the monarch's Washington news conference yesterday. That is not something indicating an imminent breakthrough in relations between the two states. [Savir] That is precisely the step backward. I watched the news conference where the king referred to anticipated meetings at a high level and Jordan's independence. I think that despite all the caution, we should see it as a positive development. What is interesting is that each time we see progress in a certain track -- this time it was again in the Palestinian track, that is implementation of the Gaza-Jericho agreement -- we later see progress in the other tracks. If previously in the peace process the lowest common denominator pulled everything down, now the highest common denominator pulls everybody forward. The train has left the station, and King Husayn does not want to miss it. [Dan] Do you not see any impact from the Jordanian track on the negotiations with Syria? Do you believe the Syrian president is really being indulgent? [Savir] I would not count on it. I think Husayn looks in the Palestinian direction and observes the fact that an economic agreement has been signed. The moves should be seen against the background of the economies in the region. I think that due to the Israeli-Palestinian economic accord, there is a Jordanian desire to join the various agreements, in order to make sure it is not being left out. The monarch apparently feels that al-Asad is progressing and is not necessarily asking for his opinion. 'Arafat also acted that way. If the king waits for others all the time, he will come out the loser on all sides. [Friedman] We discussed Syria, and yesterday we read that Israel's Foreign Ministry has finally been brought into the negotiations with Syria after being exclusively the hands of the prime minister for months. [Savir] That is incorrect because the foreign minister and his ministry were full partners to that issue as well, and I do not think there has been a change because there was no need for one. [Dan] Please help us to understand the Ahmad al-Tibi issue. Why does it crop up now? [Savir] I think it is coincidental. It cropped up a long time ago. At the outset when the PLO issue was new, we might have been mixed up, but the moment the contacts with the PLO became established, it was clear that Israel cannot conduct political negotiations via Israeli citizens as receivers of messages from the Arab side. Nobody has anything personal against al-Tibi. [Dan] But he has been a partner to the contacts for a long time, therefore he says the whole thing is the outcome of a power struggle between the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry. [Savir] I regret to disappoint al-Tibi, but the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry worked together throughout the Oslo talks, not with al-Tibi but with the PLO. It is true that later on he transferred a number of messages, and I can to a some extent understand his frustration, but I do not understand why as an Israeli citizen he takes it so much to heart. An Israeli citizen, whether Jew or Arab, cannot be an adviser to Yasir 'Arafat, but nobody plans to boycott him. Political contacts with the PLO are conducted with PLO officials. [Friedman] Nevertheless, Yo'el Singer's legal opinion was issued on 17 October, 1993 -- eight months ago -- and last month Shim'on Peres met with al-Tibi twice in his office and at his home. [Dan] The timing is strange. [Savir] I do not know what happened last month. It is true al-Tibi came with certain messages, and I think that due to the novelty of that track it is possible that it should not have happened in the past and that is no reason why it should happen in the future. I think that at present we have a clear partner on the Palestinian issue and it is also clear to us who is a PLO official and who is an Israeli.

BFN [Excerpt] [passage omitted] Dr. Ahmad al-Tibi has denied that he is not a representative of the PLO or of its institutions. Al-Tibi told Qol Yisra'el that his activity was part of a mission to bring the Palestinian and Israeli peoples closer together. I have done so in the past, and will continue to do so in the future, he said.

BFN Israeli sources now say that PLO leader Yasir 'Arafat will arrive in Jericho during the first week of July. The sources said 'Arafat will probably ask to meet with Prime Minister Rabin, but it is not clear whether such a meeting will take place. The security forces have decided to plan for 'Arafat's upcoming visit. Among proposals are the closing off of all roads in the Jordan Valley during the visit.

BFN [Report by political correspondent 'Imanu'el Rosen] [Excerpt] Israel will propose that the PLO to extend the civilian activity of the Palestinian police force to the entire West Bank as part of the early empowerment to be discussed soon. A recommendation in this spirit is included in a study conducted by Major General Dani Rothschild. Our political correspondent 'Imanu'el Rosen reports: [Begin recording] [Rosen] The next stage of the negotiations with the PLO will begin soon, and its highlight will be the early empowerment of Palestinians in the West Bank in five civilian spheres. The PLO has not yet made up its mind what and how much it wants from Israel. Nabil Sha'th spoke in very general terms about this issue in his meeting with Amnon Shahaq two days ago. The staff work in anticipation of the negotiations is coordinated by Maj. Gen. Rothschild, the coordinator of activities in the territories. We have learned that the staff work, conducted in conjunction with the General Staff's Planning Branch, includes a recommendation to enable a Palestinian police or another Palestinian policing force to operate in the entire West Bank. Knesset Member Ori Or today confirmed the existence of such a recommendation. [Or] I do not want to go into too much detail, but we are talking about one of the five main issues which will be transferred to the Palestinians, which is taxation. Although there is yet nothing definite, when we talk about taxation that means that somebody must enforce it. I think it is also in our best interest to agree that the body dealing with taxation should possess the tools and the ability to collect the money. This body will need a police force -- we shall call it that for the sake of this argument -- to enforce taxation. [Rosen] The staff work, which will soon be submitted to the prime minister, includes several suggestions for cooperation between this police force and the Israel Police and security forces. [passage omitted] [end recording]

BFN [Report by Gabi Brunn, Arye Kiesel, Roni Shaqed, and Yuval Peleg] [Excerpts] Israel is negotiating the PLO demand to release 20 Israeli Arabs sentenced to life terms for terrorism. Among these prisoners are the murderers of the three soldiers killed in an IDF [Israel Defense Forces] encampment near Kibbutz Gil'ad in the attack later called "the night of the pitchforks." [passage omitted] Also on the list of candidates for release is Muhammad Sarawi, a resident of the village of Ibtin near Haifa, who in 1987 hurled a grenade in Haifa's Nordau pedestrian mall, wounding 25 people, including the child Dan Me'ir, whose leg was amputated. PLO representatives to talks with Israel are basing themselves on the precedent of the "Jibril deal" in 1985, when Israeli Arabs involved in terrorism were also freed. Senior politicians in Jerusalem tend to accept the demand to free the Israeli Arabs. Among them is at least one cabinet minister, as well as Foreign Ministry officials. As far as is known, Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin has still not made up his mind on the issue. Knesset Member David Mena' yesterday cabled Rabin warning against releasing Israeli Arabs who murdered for nationalist motives. The Shin Bet is also opposed to the release of Israeli Arabs sentenced to life terms. This opposition was forcefully expressed in discussions held at the defense establishment and at government forums. Defense sources said that such a release would cause a sharp deterioration in the security situation and create a dangerous precedent. YEDI'OT AHARONOT has nevertheless learned that parallel to the tendency to respond partially to the PLO demand on Israeli Arabs, the possibility of recommending pardoning Jews who murdered for nationalist reasons and who have already spent many years in prison has also been raised. The names of David Ben-Shimol and Yona Avrushmi have come up in this context.

BFN [Excerpt] Today, for the first time ever, a group of Jordanian citizens who are not of Palestinian origin was allowed to cross into Israel. In coordination with the International Red Cross, the Jordanians crossed the border over the Allenby Bridge where they were given special entry visas for three days only. They came here to visit Jordanian relatives held in Israeli prisons. One of the visitors came to visit his cousin who is serving a 25-year sentence for his role in the terrorist attack on the Israeli Embassy in Singapore. [passage omitted]

BFN Terje Larsen, the UN secretary general's special envoy, visited Jericho today and met with Sa'ib 'Urayqat and Brigadier General Isma'il al-Hajj. Larsen also spoke with a group of released prisoners in Jericho and heard their complaints about the problems they were encountering in the town. Our correspondent Moti Amir reports that a special envoy of French President Mitterrand also arrived in Jericho today. He invited Palestinian policemen to a seminar in France on criminal identification, forensic science, and drug interdiction. The French envoy promised that Paris would allocate $50,000 for the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel. The envoy noted that Holland had contributed $25,000 to the same end.

BFN [Report by On Levi] "I can foresee the possibility of a joint intelligence early warning system for us and the Arab states," Deputy Defense Minister Mordekhay Gur said in an interview with the Defense Ministry employees' bulletin. He said there is a possibility that satellites will provide us and the Arabs with an early warning capability. "We suppose the Arabs have also learned a lesson from the Gulf war in all matters pertaining to defense on the home front," Gur said. According to Gur, "the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will have to show us how to be a modern, professional, and thrifty army, and at the same time remain a people's army." He said defense needs and the numbers in recent drafts have not permitted the Army to call up all candidates for military service. Some will be sent for national service and will not be recruited to the Army. Gur said that "if we learn that the PLO leadership is incapable of controlling most of the population and leading it to real coexistence, the basic question will crop up about the justification for the autonomy." In reference to Iraq, Gur -- a former chief of staff -- said that despite the fact that the Iraqi Army was seriously beaten in the Gulf war, it still has over 30 army divisions and 400 aircraft. "Iraq also constitutes a serious nonconventional threat. There is no certainty that even after all the investigations inside Iraq we know about all they have," Gur said. He also said that the Home Front Command is prepared to transfer allocation of gas masks to a civilian firm. He said "we are now organizing for continued allocation of the masks and if it becomes possible we will do it via a civilian business firm."

BFN A firebomb was hurled a short time ago at an Israeli vehicle near the entrance to the Jewish settlement of Alfey Menashe. It exploded on the road, and there were no casualties or damage. Seven Nabulus residents were shot and wounded by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] when riots were dispersed. Our correspondent Moti Amir reports that hundreds of residents demonstrated in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike in the Janin jail. The IDF called on them to disperse and when disturbances started, the soldiers used force to disband them.

BFN [Commentary by Meron Benvenisti: "Jericho Is No Substitute"] The right-wing agitation and the government's stammering have diverted the controversy over the Jerusalem issue to marginal matters. The establishment of a command aiming to stop 'Arafat, the calls for his assassination, the Jerusalem Municipality tax collectors' move against Orient House, as well as Shim'on Peres' stuttering, legislative initiatives aimed to curb PLO activities, and the invitation extended to King Husayn to pray on the Temple Mount -- all these have served to divert attention from the main problem: The traditional Israeli stand on the Jerusalem issue does not correspond with the political reality that took root after the Declaration of Principles [DOP] was signed and the PLO was recognized. In this sense, right-wing spokesmen are right in assailing the government for permitting the peace process to lead to concessions on the issue of Jerusalem, and the government cannot justify its stance by hiding behind hallowed formulas on the status of Israel's indivisible and nonnegotiable capital. No matter how frequently government spokesmen declare their allegiance to the traditional stands, once the Palestinian national community was acknowledged and willingness to negotiate the implementation of its national objectives was voiced, that community and its collective link to Jerusalem became legitimate. The approximately 200,000 Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem (but are not Israeli citizens) have the right to feel an integral part of the Palestinian collective, and after the DOP, their right to organize their community life and to rally around their national symbols and authoritative institutions can no longer be denied. Indeed, the traditional Israeli stand concerning the residents of East Jerusalem has been that the demarcation of the annexation borders severed the city's Arabs from the other West Bank residents, making them an inseparable part of the State of Israel. And yet, with the exception of Central Bureau of Statistics releases, in which East Jerusalem residents feature among the totals for Israeli Arabs (designated as "non-Jewish"), no one has ever considered East Jerusalem residents Israelis. Israel annexed the territory of East Jerusalem but not its residents. They have remained aliens, deprived of basic civil rights, devoid of municipal services, and exposed to every kind of discrimination. Even the attempts to cultivate a minimum of coexistence expired with the onset of the intifadah, and Israeli Governments learned to accept the fact that East Jerusalemites cannot be separated from the great body of the West Bank population and that they must not cling to the illusion that East Jerusalem can be wrenched away from its province and made into some sort of new "mini-Triangle." It was the intifadah that established Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem -- most notably Orient House -- and every Israeli Government put up with their existence. The DOP imbued these institutions with a new significance, and it is that with which the Rabin government is trying to deal. The government decided to differentiate between "governing institutions" and "voluntary institutions" dealing with social and community activities. This distinction, which is equal to the illusion of cutting East Jerusalem off from West Jerusalem, is only a fantasy and is unbecoming of people who grew up in Israel's pioneer days and know how voluntary institutions -- such as the Histadrut labor federation -- can become the cornerstone of the "nascent state's" voluntary governing system. The truth is that the continued existence of Jewish voluntary institutions with "governing characteristics" is responsible for the legal experts' inability to propose legislation restricting the activity of the Palestinian institutions. As long as the Jewish National Fund is situated in the western part of the city, its Palestinian parallel can hardly be banned without risking an appeal to the High Court of Justice that will discuss the petition on the basis of Israeli legislation and basic laws. The attempts to harass the East Jerusalem Palestinian institutions will be as successful as the closure, which supposedly cut the city off from its surroundings, although it is no secret that anyone can enter it. Nonetheless, the government is tackling the institutions exactly as it did the closure: It would like to keep up appearances in order to discourage public debate. It may be able to prevent Yasir 'Arafat from coming to Jerusalem, but it cannot move Arab Jerusalem to Jericho. Israelis who believe in the unity of Jerusalem will also have to accept the continued existence of central Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem. They would do well to remember the postannexation years, when the Government of Israel made every possible effort -- all of which failed -- to move the Palestinian institutions to Ramallah. East Jerusalem is the West Bank's economic, political, and social center, and it is the hub of the Palestinians' religious and national life. This fact can be neither obfuscated nor forcibly changed. The sooner the Israelis accept this, the faster will the root of the problem be discussed. The debate will then focus on the search for new formulas to resolve the Jerusalem issue -- formulas that will correspond to the new political situation and will not be based on illusions and wishful thinking.

BFN [Commentary by Ze'ev Schiff: "The Israeli Aspect of the Korean Crisis"] In his testimony to Congress, the deputy director of the CIA warned that if North Korea comes out of the confrontation over the development of nuclear weapons with the upper hand, it would pose a threat to Israel and Europe. But this crisis has an Israeli angle no matter what happens. Even if we assume that a solution would be found to the crisis, and Pyongyang renounces nuclear weapons and meets the terms for outside supervision, for Israel it would mean that the time is approaching when the international community would insist that it join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The club of states suspected of developing nuclear weapons will be reduced, and it is only natural that there will be an effort to cut it back even further prior to the treaty's renewal in 1995. Israel is unlike North Korea in every way, but on that issue it might look like an obstacle to an improved world order, and that would make it more difficult for Israel to explain why the time has still not come to join the treaty when it is renewed next year. The Korean crisis must teach Israel one other thing: That small states cannot cut themselves off from the NPT as they please even if they have good reasons for doing so. The current treaty says that each signatory state has the right to pull out after giving three-months notice of its intention, which is what North Korea did. Yet North Korea found that it had joined a club that includes ties to a Catholic marriage, which does not recognize divorce. An attempt to withdraw from the treaty for any reason could bring sanctions and even a military confrontation with the international community. There is a difference between somebody suspected of possessing nuclear weapons, but is not a signatory to the treaty, and somebody suspected of violating the treaty, the policy toward the latter being much tougher. A North Korean victory in the current struggle would complicate matters greatly for the international community, but for Israel it could end with a direct threat. The threat does not come directly from North Korea. The immediate circle affected would be the Far East. North Korea's neighbors would find it hard to go on with normal business while its radical neighbor arms itself with nuclear weapons. In Japan, which has large quantities of plutonium, the demand to develop nuclear weapons despite its troubled past would swell. The same is true for South Korea and Taiwan. Regional stability would be undermined, something China also fears. The second circle to be affected is made up of states like Iran and Iraq, and perhaps also Algeria in the future. If Washington fails in its stand off with Pyongyang, why should Tehran be put off developing nuclear weapons, and why should Saddam Husayn not go back to his old plan after sanctions are lifted on Iraq? It is only natural that Tehran and Baghdad have a direct interest in what is currently happening in the Korean peninsula. Washington therefore views the conflict as a confrontation over world order and not only as an attempt to restrain the North Korean regime. The danger to Israel also derives from the possibility of Korean aid to others developing nuclear weapons and the sale of vital components. There can always be a negative precedent, especially when so much money is involved. There is no need to sell a nuclear bomb, it is sufficient merely to accelerate the development stage, and there is surely somebody prepared to pay huge amounts for that. North Korea has already made a major breakthrough in the field of surface-to-surface missiles (in Syria, Iran, and previously in Egypt) and we should not rule out the possibility that could also take place in the nuclear field. There is an impression that none of the players, direct or indirect, in the Korean crisis want war. They all want to achieve their aims without using force, and this includes North Korea. South Korea is in a very sensitive position. If war breaks out it would be conducted on its soil. The capital Seoul is located some 32 km from the border. Some 16 million South Koreans live in the northern part of the country and if North Korean divisions invade there would be huge damage, and from their viewpoint, it does not matter if the North is finally defeated. Japan and China also do not want a military solution to the crisis. South Korean intelligence says that the Pyongyang regime is expected to collapse sooner or later due to the economic crisis and the north's isolation from the international community. The Americans respond by saying: What would happen if North Korea manages to produce nuclear weapons before the downfall of its ruler? Will it then be possible to return the nuclear genie back into the bottle? It seems that U.S. intelligence nevertheless lacks complete information on what the North Koreans have already achieved. What they have is the report that the north has a certain quantity of plutonium and that tests have already been conducted on detonators for nuclear weapons. From Washington's point of view, it is a race against time and its tactics toward the crisis are largely derived from that. The goal is to achieve the aims as soon as possible without sparking a general conflagration. It is clear that North Korea is trying to gain time thereby increasing the suspicion that it wants to be armed with nuclear weapons should war break out; or, it hopes to manage to satisfactorily hide such weapons before it is forced to sign the NPT and accept international supervision.

BFN [Article by Yiftah Shafir, a nonconventional weapons proliferation expert at Tel Aviv University's Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies: "A Chinese Slap in the Face of the Clinton Administration"] Ten days ago the PRC conducted a nuclear test at the Lop Nor testing facility in northwest China. This was the second test conducted by the PRC in less than a year. The Chinese test was a slap in the face of President Clinton, who only recently retracted his resolute demands from the Chinese leaders with regard to arms exports and human rights. The slap in the face is particularly stinging at this point in time when the United States is worried about North Korea developing a bomb, seeing that without the PRC's agreement and assistance it will be impossible to enforce any sanctions against North Korea and that nobody knows how to pressure North Korea to terminate its nuclear program except through sanctions. The Chinese test is particularly hurtful because preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons is a cornerstone of the Clinton Administration's foreign policy. An integral part of this policy is the moratorium on nuclear tests and the efforts to bring about the signing of an international pact banning such tests in 1996. The moratorium began back in November 1992, when the U.S. Congress forced a nine-month ban on nuclear tests on President Bush's administration. After those nine months, Congress permitted only 15 such tests to be conducted until 1996 and banned nuclear tests altogether afterward. It was President Bush who signed the ban, known as the "Hatfield Amendment." In January 1993, the ball was passed to Clinton, who initially extended it until September 1994. The moratorium on nuclear testing was accompanied by a poignant argument between Congress and the U.S. military establishment. The argument used by advocates of nuclear testing was the need to maintain the high level of expertise for laboratory workers and arms developers. As for the tests themselves, it was decided to conduct three tests to check the reliability of the weapons and nine tests to increase the safety of existing weapons. Another proposal was a compromise to satisfy all sides and limited the tests to "small bombs" not exceeding one kiloton. However, the opponents ultimately had the upper hand. They saw the ban as a trump card in the struggle to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. What the opponents saw was "deranged" countries, which at present include Iran and North Korea, with Pakistan, India, and Israel as potential candidates. Another reason for the ban was the ratification of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) scheduled to expire in 1995, at which point the countries will meet to discuss its extension and perhaps even to change some of its clauses. Tests would put the "nuclear" countries in an awkward position when urging other countries to evince restraint. However, for the ban to have the desired effect all the nuclear countries have to maintain a united front. Such a front existed until the Chinese test last October. With Russia the problem is negligible: what could not be achieved in the days of the Soviet Union, can easily be attained from Yeltsin, who desperately needs all the U.S. support he can get. With Britain the problem is even easier. Although the British nuclear establishment wants to go on with the tests and the Tory government supports it, the British have a "tiny" technical problem: they test their bombs in Nevada, and without U.S. permission they can hold no tests. Hence, a problem remains with the two "enfants terribles": France and China. France has for some time adopted an independent policy, inconsiderate of its allies' opinion (not to mention public opinion). In spite of all the threats, the Chinese test last October did not upset the moratorium and Russia and France did not hold any further tests. However, there is no certainty that what happened eight months ago will recur today. The global moratorium remains a house of cards built on the principle of "not-the-first-to-test." Back when the moratorium was extended, Clinton ordered the labs "to maintain the ability to resume the testing." Yeltsin also ordered his labs to prepare two to four nuclear tests, and in recent months Russia has been leaning toward an independent policy unconnected to the United States. In France, Mitterrand will have a harder time resisting the pressure of the Army and the right-wing government to resume the tests. The ball is now in Clinton's court. Adherence to the moratorium will enable him to come to the NPT deliberations next year with a clean record. Pressure on Russia may make Yeltsin rein in his nuclear establishment despite his indebtedness to the Army and his desperate need to keep employed those nuclear scientists who have not yet emigrated, and may also help keep France in line. Permission to resume the tests will undoubtedly enable the British to test their bombs. France will waste no time joining the party, and the price will be paid by the whole world in 1995.

BFN Head of State Liamine Zeroual today received Yahia Husayn al-Arshi, who conveyed to him a message from the Yemeni president, 'Ali 'Abdallah Salih. The meeting was evaluated by Mihoub Mihoub, the presidency's official spokesman: [Begin Mihoubi recording] His Excellency Liamine Zeroual, head of state, today received the Yemeni envoy and told him of Algeria's great concern over the development of the situation in fraternal Yemen. The head of state also told him that he is following the situation and reiterated to him our concern to work and exert concerted efforts to stop the fratricide and create suitable conditions to proceed with the dialogue in order to resolve pending problems through peaceful means. [end recording] After his meeting with the head of state the Yemeni envoy made the following statement: [Begin Arshi recording] I was happy to meet his excellency the head of state: I conveyed to him a message from His Excellency Lieutenant General 'Ali 'Abdallah Salih, president of the Republic of Yemen. Undoubtedly the meeting was a good opportunity [as heard]. I would like to reiterate my thanks and appreciation to his excellency the head of state for Algeria's principled and firm stance supporting Yemeni unity and the Yemeni internal situation. I have noticed the full support for the Yemeni people, and that the Algerian people are following the development of the situation in Yemen. I would like to reassure our brothers in Algeria, who have supported the Yemeni revolution and everything else in the interests of the Yemeni and pan-Arab causes, that events in Yemen, which are regrettable, are within the framework of protecting Yemeni unity and the Yemeni people's national gains. The Yemeni people are determined to endure any sacrifice to protect unity and achieve victory, and are determined to respond positively to any effort which falls within the framework of the sacrosanct national principles of the Yemeni people. [end recording]

BFN On the security level, a statement from the security services today said that ten terrorists had been eliminated in various operations in the east and west of the country in the last two days. The communique adds that two other terrorists had been arrested during these operations during which two men of the security forces had been injured, while a third died of his injuries in the hospital.

BFN Bangladesh and Thailand have decided to further enlarge the areas of cooperation in different fields to the mutual benefits of the two friendly countries. The agreement came at the fifth session of the joint commission for cooperation between the two countries held in Dhaka yesterday. The two sides expressed satisfaction (?over) the level of cooperation and agreed to expand (?further) the bilateral ties. Foreign ministers of the two countries signed an agreed minutes on the outcome of the joint commission meeting. Foreign Minister Mustafizur Rahman led the Bangladesh side at the meeting while the Thai delegation was headed by the visiting foreign minister, Prasong Sunsiri. Both sides also discussed the (?overall) global political and economic situation and agreed to work in concert for the benefits of the developing countries. In the economic field, Bangladesh stressed the need for reducing the trade imbalance which is now in favor of Thailand. Prime Minister of Bangladesh has offered [words indistinct] imports. Bangladesh has also urged Thailand to invest in this country since the investment climate has already improved after several decisions taken by the government. The Thai side agreed that better investment climate now exists in Bangladesh and said it will explore it. The two sides also took up the visa matter and pointed out that certain limitations imposed recently on Bangladeshi travellers has a negative impact on business between Bangladesh Biman and Thai Airlines. The Thai foreign minister said they will consider this problem in due course. Mr. Sunsiri leaves Dhaka for home today at the end of his official visit to Bangladesh.

BFN Foreign Minister of Thailand Prasong Sunsiri has said the discussions he had during his stay in Dhaka will further strengthen the close ties between his country and Bangladesh. Talking to newsmen prior to his departure for home yesterday, the Thai foreign minister said the talks went on very well and the discussion at the Joint Commission for Cooperation took a number of decisions to expand economic and other cooperation. Mr. Sunsiri said talks under the aegis of the joint commission covered wide areas of mutual interest. He also expressed the hope that economic and other cooperation between the two friendly countries would be enlarged in the future. The Bangladesh foreign minister, who led his country's side at the meeting of the commission, (?sharing the views) of his Thai counterpart said all actions [words indistinct] covered in the talks and [words indistinct] decision taken at the meeting. Foreign minister O.S.M. Mustafizur Rahman saw his Thai counterpart off at the airport.

BFN Dhaka, June 21 (AFP) -- A bomb attack early Tuesday [21 June] at the home of a Bangladeshi magazine editor was the latest strike in a campaign by Muslim fundamentalists, media sources said. Three powerful homemade bombs exploded at the gate of the Dhaka home of Shafik Rehman, editor of the popular Bengali language weekly JAI JAI DIN, or PASSING DAYS. No one was hurt in the blast. Rehman faces a blasphemy charge for publishing a column by fugitive feminist doctor-turned-writer Taslima Nasreen, in hiding since religious charges were laid against her, and death threats made, for criticisms of the Koran. Rehman told AFP in a telephone interview Tuesday that he felt insecure and held the fundamentalist Jagrata Towhidi Janata, or Rising Faithfuls, responsible because the group had threatened in a letter to take "appropriate steps" unless his magazine stopped publishing Nasreen's column. "These groups are making non-issues an issue because our writings are hurting their bread and butter," he said. Nasreen's regular column stopped appearing soon after she went into hiding early this month, and Rehman said he would not publish them if the opportunity arose because it would be "illegal now." Police are still searching for Nasreen, 32, who faces charges of offending Muslim religious sentiment in an interview with an Indian newspaper. Nasreen denies suggesting rewriting the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Rehman said the attack was triggered by a report in the pro-Islamic Daily INQILAB newspaper that a warrant for his arrest for blasphemy was issued Sunday was the reason for the attack. The court ordered his arrest after he failed to answer several summons and set a hearing for July 17, the Inqilab said. Government officials were not available for comment because of a national holiday. Local resident Hafiz Abdul Alim charged that Rehman insulted religious feeling by comparing two Arabic letters to human genitals in his column Day after Day in November 1993. Rehman refuted the allegation, saying that the two letters were not only used in Urdu and Persian languages, but he used them in a joke about international politics without refering to Islam, religion or the Koran. JAI JAI DIN was banned by former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad's government and Rehman returned from self-exile in London after the dictatorial regime's fall in December, 1990. In recent weeks, fundamentalists have attacked other newspapers critical of them. Editors have warned Prime Minister Khaleda Zia about rising fundamentalism in the predominantly Moslem country. Three editors of the mass circulation Bengali daily JANAKANTHA newspaper were arrested recently for alleged blasphemy. Two were released on bail. Journalist union officials said 24 newspapers have been attacked in the past three years. Rehman said he held a "a section of the government" responsible for the rise in fundamentalism because it had not taken any action against the issuers of the death threats on Nasreen.

BFN Bangladesh has termed as baseless and without any foundation a report by the Voice of America [VOA] that Bangladesh is planning to establish diplomatic relations with Israel ahead of other Muslim countries. Expressing Bangladesh's surprise, the Foreign Office spokesman said the news item broadcast by VOA is not true. He said Bangladesh is committed toward a lasting peace in the Middle East and [word indistinct] it works on positive developments in the region.

BFN [Editorial: "A Longer View"] The Russians have reportedly offered India an improved Sukhoy fighter bomber aircraft, an earlier version of which -- Su-27 -- has already been supplied to China. The Su-30 or Su-35 is an advanced version with air-to-air refuelling capability with impressive performance characteristics. India has had a satisfying experience with Russian aircraft and it is therefore natural for Russia, now anxious to earn foreign exchange, to offer its latest product to the Indian Air Force [IAF]. In the past, the lAF's approach to acquisitions of new aircraft have been rather ad hoc; decisions taken to produce some categories of aircraft under licence have not resulted in actual production and plans for doing so have been abandoned. In some other cases, the acquisitions have been in driblets with the result that the country has not got the best possible terms that could have been obtained if the entire purchase had been negotiated in one lot. Therefore, there is a good case now to work out a long-term plan for the future composition of the IAF over the next 25 years and examine whether the Russian Sukhoy offer fits into that scheme. Unlike at the time when the Mirage 2000 was purchased, we are not under any immediate threat from new acquisitions by Pakistan, which might disturb the balance of air power in the sub-continent. No doubt there is the possibility of the US sale of F-16s to Pakistan. But that alone cannot be allowed to determine the choice of the next generation of high performance aircraft into the IAF. It is obvious that new Soviet aircraft will not be available on easy terms of credit as earlier. Since India has to pay in hard currency there has to be a rigorous cost-benefit evaluation of various options and the technology transfer and countertrade arrangements that could be available. Some may argue that Indian purchases of aircraft will provide a justification to the Americans to release F-16s to Pakistan. That argument can be turned around. Since there is the threat of a possible US sale of F-16s to Pakistan, India should explore all avenues and be ready to rectify any imbalance that may be caused by the F-16 transfer. Arms transfers are highly visible symbols of political relationship. In the post-Gorbachev era, Indo-Russian ties do not enjoy the same degree of closeness they once did. The Sukhoy offer would have to be influenced by the manner in which Russia agrees to solve the problem of supply of spares for equipment bought in the past. Russia will now have to prove that it is a reliable and dependable source of supply of armaments in the future.

BFN The home minister, Mr. S.B. Chavan, has said that the Bodoland accord should be implemented in letter and spirit without adversely affecting the interest of any other section. Talking to newspersons last night at Guwahati, Mr. Chavan hoped that the state government will be able to sort out the differences relating to the demarcation of the boundary of the Bodoland Autonomous Council. The home minister said there has been distinct improvement in the law and order situation in Assam. The three-member team of union ministers headed by Mr. Chavan met a number of delegations representing various ethnic groups of Assam and heard their problems. Mr. Chavan earlier said that Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence, the ISI, had increased its activities in the northeast by operating through various militant organizations. He said much of it is controlled from ISI's Bangladesh bases. He hoped that with the agreement being reached with Bangladesh coordinated actions would be taken soon to end ISI activities. As reported, Bangladesh had agreed to cooperate in halting ISI activities in India. The home minister has since arrived in Arunachal Pradesh's capital Itanagar on a two day visit to the state. He is accompanied by the minister of state for labor, Mr. P.A. Sangma, and the minister of state for personnel, Mrs. Margaret Alwa. The three-member team currently on a four-day visit to some of the northeastern states will meet the state governor, Mr. Prasad; the chief minister, Gegong Apong; and his cabinet colleagues and discuss various issues concerning the state.

BFN The Janata Dal has split again with 14 members of the Lok Sabha deciding to form a new group. They all met the speaker in New Delhi today and made a formal request to allot them separate seats. The members include, Mr. Rabi Ray, Mr. George Fernandes, Mr. Chandrajit Yadav, Mr. Nitish Kumar, Mr. Abdul Gafoor, Mr. Harikishore Singh and Syed Shahabuddin. Ten of them are from Bihar. At a joint news conference, the MP's claim to represent the real Janata Dal. They said following the refusal of Mr. V.P. Singh to assume the leadership, the Janata Dal has been without a sense of direction. He said there is no option but to split in order to revive the party. Leaders of the split group have decided to hold a national convention in August to formulate their future course of action. Mr. Rabi Ray claimed the support of majority of the Janata Dal parliamentary party and its state units. He firmly ruled out any of its member joining the Congress-I. This is the second split in the Janata Dal after 1991 general elections. In 1992, 20 MP's led by Mr. Ajit Singh broke away from the party. Later, 17 of them joined the Congress-I in two stages. The rest of the group led by Mr. Rashid Masood merged with the Samajwadi Party. The Janata Dal leader and former prime minister, Mr. V.P. Singh, has described the split as a logical conclusion. He expressed the hope that the new party will unite the forces of social justice.

BFN [News conference by King Husayn with unidentified correspondents in Washington on 21 June -- recorded] [Husayn] Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to be with you today, and to see many old, and dear and familiar faces. I hope that I'll have the chance in the next few minutes to respond to any of your questions, and of course to have once again a frank, and open dialogue. On behalf of Nur and the Jordanian group with me, we would like also to express our delight at seeing you all at this hour. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, perhaps we could begin by, first of all, thanking you for spending the time with us, and as [words indistinct] a sense of, if you think now that there is enough progress made for Jordan to move forward, forging a peace treaty with Israel? [Husayn] I believe in response [?to your comments] that we are on the verge of beginning the serious negotiations that, hopefully, will lead to the establishment of peace between us. As you will recall, we ratified the agenda following the great event that took place here in Washington on the Palestinian-Israeli track, and we have been waiting to commence serious negotiations on all aspects of the problems between us and Israel, and on all the subjects, topics mentioned in that agenda. I believe that a major step was taken when the meetings were held here (?last), and I believe it is a very constructive moment in the sense that we have decided to move to the area, and to commence negotiations there. I would like to say, once again, that we were fully convinced that nothing meaningful could have been achieved, or could be achieved unless it was preceded by serious [words indistinct] of all problems, and that the final achievement of all these efforts [words indistinct]. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, would you tell us about your talks in Washington, and your expected meeting with the President tomorrow. What you have achieved, what do you have to achieve, actually, from your dialogue with the American administration? [Husayn] As you would probably realize, I am here in the United States, in Washington in particular, following my visit to Rochester and to the Mayo clinic where I am pleased to say that I was given a clean bill of health. There was no evidence of cancer after two years from surgery and, therefore, hopefully my visits to Mayo will be on an annual basis from now on. But, I could not have been in the United States, and not be here in Washington, particularly at such an important and exciting time regarding developments in our region. So, I have had talks with the secretary of state yesterday, and I look forward to my meeting with the President, tomorrow, and in the meantime, there are other meetings scheduled. And whenever we meet, we meet to discuss all aspects of our bilateral relations and regional matters, and the cooperation that we hope will grow in the times ahead between our two countries. [Correspondent] This is a question about coordination between the Arab parties to the peace process. You visited President al-Asad recently. Shortly after, there was progress on the Jordan-Israel track. But, there has been some criticism, (?of course) from Syria that Jordan is moving too fast. Could you say something about the coordination with Syria, and how the timing of the progress can go forward, how fast can Jordan move If Syria is not moving, and also on the question of Palestinian-Jordanian cooperation, when I was recently in Amman, I heard a word used often, frequently, even from Palestinians living on the East Bank, that I hadn't heard in a while, and the word was federation, and I heard it used quite frequently. I wonder if you could say something about when the issue of the future relationship between the Palestinians and the Jordanians has to be addressed again? [Husayn] Well, to begin with, I think I'll address the second part of our question regarding the future relationship between Jordan and our Palestinian brothers on Palestinian soil. I believe that it is premature to speculate as to what form it will take. I am sure it will be a very close relationship, and I am sure that, in time when conditions are ripe, people under conditions of total freedom can work together to define that relationship. This hasn't happened so far. So, it is premature to really define the way these relations will be formulated. But, as far as your question regarding the peace process, we started at the same point in time, and, I believe that as far as Amman and Damascus are concerned, we have always been in touch, and in terms of matters relating to policy, this has been discussed time and again between me and the president of Syria, President al-Asad. So, my visit there was, naturally, within that context, and we were negotiating, they were negotiating there. I hope that, eventually, all these tracks will see active movement toward the objective of having a comprehensive peace in the region. But, as far as we are concerned, we will be as fast, or as slow as we are able to achieve real progress in resolving all the problems that are there on the agenda, and between us and Israel, and I hope that they will approach the coming negotiations with a constructive serious [word indistinct] for we will move rapidly. I can't set a time or.. I really don't know. But, I really hope that we will see rapid progress in that regard. [Correspondent] Your Majesty on this question. You said that you discussed this matter with Mr. al-Asad. Does this mean that you discussed the agreement that you had with the Americans [word indistinct] and why are serious [words indistinct] Jordanians left them alone? [Husayn] Well, I think that it seems to happen, we seem to find every now and then that someone complains about another leaving him alone, but this hasn't happened at the very level I was discussing. I believe that President al-Asad and I understand each other very very well. I know of his concern to see Syria move towards achieving the kind of peace that it can live with, and that he knows that we are doing the same. So, in the area of coordination I'd like to say there has never been the kind of coordination that will enable us to know exactly where any track is at any given movement. We have our own peculiar set of circumstances and problems that we try to address, and the Syrians have the same, as do the Lebanese, our brethren. Therefore, movement as far as we concerned is a question of a sovereign matter regarding Jordan itself and there is nothing to do nor is it tied to movement on other track. We hope that they will catch us, and may be they will overtake us in time if they so desire, but that is something which we can't control. Its something that they can control. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, [words indistinct] trip, was reported that you and President al-Asad suggested [word indistinct] unity Jordan and Syria. Will [words indistinct] Syrian idea [words indistinct] [Husayn] No sir, we have always worked for complementarity and the closest possible cooperation between Jordan and Syria, and Lebanon, hopefully, and certainly with Egypt, and there was a meeting of a prime ministerial commission with Egypt that was revived again just a short while ago, and in the same context, there was going to be a meeting with Syria. So, this was postponed, but essentially this would have dealt with issues other than the political ones that usually are dealt with between me and my brother President al-Asad. [Correspondent] Your highness, on your talks with the Americans. Did you make any headway on the request to resell [words indistinct] and also your request to purchase additional American military equipment, and lastly finalizing the arrangements for the land-based inspection system [words indistinct] naval blockade the Gulf of Aqaba? [Husayn] I haven't had the chance to cover all these points with any detail, but we are, as Jordan is concerned looking at the moment that the present situation and the future, in terms of, hopefully, reorganization of our armed forces to meet the challenges and the demands of the coming period, both in terms of the defense of Jordan and also in terms of the role that we play on the international arena, particularly in the area of troops that are with the United Nations, and have beeen over a period of time. So we have ideas and plans, and we hope that we will be able discuss them with our friends to modernize and reorganize our armed forces in times ahead. [Correspondent] So this time you'll be discussing mainly [words indistinct]? [Husayn] I am not discussing anything in particular. I am just giving you an idea of where we are at the moment. We haven't formulated our plans totally, but obviously we discuss our requirements with our friends from time to time. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, [words indistinct]. [Husayn] This is not something that is one of [word indistinct] replace in the future, then we'll have to see what we replace them with and what we do with them. But this is something that I am not prepared to answer at this stage. It is something that we will be discussing with our friends in the times ahead. [Correspondent] Your Majesty [word indistinct] the peace process. At this stage, do you think it is reversible, particularly in terms of circumstances, such as, for example, the Likud taking over the Israeli government. In such circumstances, do you think it could, the clock, be turned back to where the Middle East was three years ago? [Husayn] I certainly hope not, and I believe that the process is irreversible and we are certainly committed to moving ahead towards the establishment of a just, comprehensive peace in that region. This is something that we feel we are close to, but it's [word indistinct] to require the best efforts of all concerned. We are looking forward to seeing some rapid progress on the Jordanian-Israeli track and we hope that this will be the case with the other tracks as well. [Correspondent] [Words indistinct] that the Americans could be doing right now to further the peace process? [Husayn] They have been involved with the process. They have sponsored the process. They have, I am sure, helped us very, very much indeed to get to this point and I hope that their involvement will continue in the times ahead. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, how do you foresee Jordan's relations with Israel after an agreement is signed? Do you think it will be [word indistinct] for Jordanians in terms of economic and [word indistinct]? [Husayn] As far as that goes, I believe, obviously, that if we arrive at a state of peace, it would be a change of everything that we've had to live with and endure over many, many years. It will be to the benefit of people in both Jordan and in Israel and in the whole region, particularly if the circle is enlarged to include all involved in the conflict so far. As far as we're concerned, these coming negotiations, and why in place there are, as you know, within the areas of grave concern for us are territorial rights. [sentence as heard] The border between us and Israel is not clearly settled yet, in terms of an issue that is very, very important to us to regain our sovereignty over the areas that are occupied by Israel in southern Jordan at this stage. So the question of border demarcation and delineation is very, very important, not to create a new barrier, but in the context of movement towards peace. We hope that the Rift Valley, the valley itself, will become the valley of peace, the valley of opportunities for cooperation in many fields and many areas. Another area, of course, is of importance to us, and that is the question of water and our rights and our share in that. Plus the environment, plus all the other subjects that have to be discussed. So what we are trying to do right now is hopefully approach a serious phase of negotiations to resolve all these problems. [Words indistinct] the quality of life of people, affect them in terms of their hopes and aspirations and the opportunities that will be the resultant fact of all these efforts which have been ongoing so far. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, you mentioned moving quickly between Jordan and Israel, and that there is no link between the Jordanian track and the other tracks. When you finish the negotiations on the agenda, would you be ready to sign, even if the other tracks are not progressing? [Husayn] Our position on that is not linked to anything that may or may not happen on any other track. What I am saying is that what we are searching for is a comprehensive peace, and therefore one would obviously stress the need for progress on all tracks so that we achieve this comprehensive peace. For example, in regard to Jordanian-Palestinian relations in times ahead, we in Jordan will continue to respond to any demand for help in any particular area, but, let us say we take the area of economic dimensions, the economy as between us and our Palestinian brethren and Israel. If coordination has not achieved very much, then obviously we have to negotiate this subject as Jordan, together with the Palestinians, and the Israelis in the times ahead. In other words there are bilateral negotiations and trilateral negotiations, and there are going to be quadrilateral negotiations with regard to Egypt, for example, in terms of the return of Palestinians to the occupied territories. You can't resolve the question of water without, hopefully, seeing progress everywhere. But, the point is our wishes for progress to be achieved on all tracks. However, we are a sovereign country, we are dealing with our own problems, we started at the same point and we are trying to see what we can achieve. Whether we will or not does not depend on any other factor, other than Israel's coming through with the same kind of spirit and our mutually reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the differences between us as settling all the items of the agenda. [Correspondent] Will we see a peace treaty this year, Your Majesty? [Husayn] I can't tell you that, I can't tell you that. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, you were quoted yesterday as saying that you would agree to talk to Israeli leaders, as you have indicated in the past. Today, they are responding, saying they would like to meet with you. Do you foresee that this peace process, the talks beginning next month, would lead to or conclude in some, finally, a public meeting between you and Israeli leaders? [Husayn] Whenever the time is ripe, whenever there is a need to, I welcome that, there is no problem with that at all. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, can you confirm for us whether you saw the Israeli leadership, please? [Husayn] I am not going to comment on press speculation in that regard, or media speculation, one way or the other. I think you have had their answer, so this is my answer, too. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, [words indistinct] concerning the Syrian criticism, directly or indirectly, after ... [Husayn, interrupting] Let me ask a question myself, to all of you: Is Jordan expected to be the last to ratify a peace treaty? [Correspondent] I thought everybody would sign it within the same timeframe? [Husayn] Inshallah, inshallah, that is what we hope will happen. But to get there we have to begin negotiating and this is precisely what we are doing. So I hope that these serious negotiations will achieve some results. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, will you explain please, and shed some light, what made you feel that this was the right moment to go forward on the road that eventually will end in a peace? [Husayn] That was not our doing. But, I think [word indistinct] suggested since the outset that we have to translate the items on the agenda into realities by negotiating over them, and that a peace treaty is a crowning achievement of resolving all the problems. So we have been waiting, but when the Israelis were ready to begin I think we have seen some progress. It was not anything that was a result of our hesitation or an attempt to avoid the issue. [Correspondent] I mean, were there any historical moments you thought that this is the right moment to go for? [Husayn] Not at all, sir. We weren't playing tactics. We were waiting and ready, and the moment has arrived, so we were beginning to (?work out). [Correspondent] Your Majesty: You mentioned something about the water rights which the Israelis have been denying, refusing to discuss water rights before, and finally they did this Washington [word indistinct]. Did this Washington [words indistinct] contribute to making progress on the Jordanian track? You went back to the beginning of the establishment of Israel. From 1948 to 1951, Israel received 600,000 immigrants and this caused a serious water shortage in Israel. As a result, Israel started to divert Jordan River in the whole sequence of events that (?led to the) June 1967 War. Are you concerned now about the wave of immigration coming from Russia, that [word indistinct] more than 430,000 already arrived on the ground in Israel? This is, apparently, causing a serious threat and shortage of water in Israel itself. Are you concerned that you'll be... [pauses] do you see that this one is one of the reasons for, maybe, the Israeli moves toward peace, and do you see a new threat on the Arab waters because of the new immigration? [Husayn] I hope that the question of water resources available in the region will be resolved to the satisfaction of all. But, on the other hand, I would like to say that it's my feeling that before too long even all these resources that are available will not be enough to meet the demands and the needs of all. So, water is a very, very important subject, an important need for everyone in the region. And, that again is a reason for us to move ahead, because amongst the many reasons, we have to resolve this problem that could be very explosive unless resolved, and cannot be resolved except in the context of peace. [Correspondent] The Israelis, Your Majesty, are suggesting that as the [word indistinct] under the Johnston Plan, I think, they have indeed received more water than they were allotted to, or that they've stolen, if you want to use the word, more water. Has that been communicated to you, that there is going to be an arrangement under which large quantities of water are restored to Jordan? [Husayn] I certainly hope that we will receive our share and that this will be defined in the coming negotiations, sir. [Correspondent] But, sir, If I can just ask you another question. I know you can't speak for the Syrian leadership. But from your talks in Damascus, do you have any sense of what the major problem is now for the Syrians. There seems to be, as you know, Secretary Christopher has put off his trip to the region because he was not convinced that it will produce progress on the Syrian- Israeli track. Do you have any thoughts about what may be required either from the Israelis or from the Syrians to try to produce progress? [Husayn] My impression is that progress was made, and that certainly, reflects my impression of the Syrian position that they would like to get on with it as rapidly as possible and arrive at a satisfactory conclusion to these talks. I think that positions were set out, and they probably are starting positions at this stage, but I hope that on both sides there will be an effort to achieve progress, and I hope that we will see that happening in the time ahead. It is not for me to comment on when the secretary will visit, but I think that further progress is expected before too long. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, on the question of Jerusalem, it seems no one is talking about Jerusalem any more. Is Jerusalem going to be just a Palestinian-Israeli issue, especially that the Palestinians will not have any leverage on....? [Husayn, interrupting] Not in the least, not in the least. The agenda [words indistinct] that. I don't know, maybe you have not been hearing us. I think that we've been talking about Jerusalem continuously and our feelings for Jerusalem have never changed, will never change. And, again, the idea that we are trying to put across is that we should, somehow, find a way by which we can address the problem in terms of the holy sites, holy to the followers of the three great monotheistic religions, the three great Ibrahmic religions, to remove those away from the realm of politics and politicking. And we recognize no sovereignty over these holy places except to God. We hope that in a state of peace, these places will come to symbolize peace between the followers of the three great religions. And, as far as the rest is concerned, I believe 242 applies to that side of the equation, and I am sure that future negotiations, we understand, will deal with them. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, permit me to ask about Yemen, mainly. It is another subject, but still you have a position and your position is very well known concerning Yemen. Now we have reached this phase of problem where there is actually war and there is no cease-fire. What is the Jordanian position, what is your position, Your Majesty, on this problem? [Husayn] Sir, our position is one of deep regret over seeing the situation in Yemen develop to the point of war and military action. We regret the losses, those who have been lost in terms of the ongoing struggle and those who have suffered and those who continue to face a threat within Yemen. We had tried our utmost to help all Yemenis achieve an understanding of how the state of Yemen will be formulated in the future. And they have reached an agreement, which they ratified, representatives of all schools of political thought and representatives of all the people of Yemen, in Amman. Unfortunately, it did not last long and the situation has erupted. Naturally, it would be our wish and hope that the unity of Yemen could be maintained. But I am very concerned and very, very worried that even that might be in jeopardy at this stage. I hope, somehow, that the situation will improve and that what is in the interest of Yemen will be in the forefront of the thoughts of all concerned. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, you've said that, getting back to the face-to-face meeting with the Israeli leadership, you've said that [word indistinct] must wait [words indistinct] until the time is right. The Israeli leadership has been using similar language. What is the sequence of provisional agreements, on various issues, that must be achieved before time is right for a face-to-face meeting, or is it necessary to wait until all agreements are (?agreed)...? [Husayn, interrupting] Sir, let's put it in another way. I think that it's fair to describe the situation in the following way. We are negotiating. Negotiations are taking place. Negotiations are going to take place. So, whether they are at my level and the prime minister, or at the level of our representatives at this stage, one and the same thing. The question of exactly when we will meet, hopefully, we'll see some progress before that happens. But the fact that we haven't met publicly does not mean that the efforts of our colleagues and those who represent both countries are not a reflection of the spirit and the desire to negotiate between the two, as is happening. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, regarding the venue for such a conference, such a meeting within the area, will it also be in the region [words indistinct]? [Husayn] It could be. Why not? [Correspondent] It could be in the region? [Husayn] It could be, I suppose. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, just to clear up one thing. Are you drawing a distinction between the starting of negotiations with the Israelis and the signing of the agreement, because sometimes we are putting them together? [Husayn] I think, sir, that this is a problem in the minds of many. I mean, obviously, it is a very important moment and we are starting serious negotiations at this stage. Hopefully with good will and with a determination to achieve progress and resolve all problems. That doesn't mean we have ratified peace yet. But when we reach satisfaction on all the problems, when we've resolved all these problems, then, obviously, we will be at the state where the crowning achievement, as I've said time and again, is a peace treaty. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, have you detected any flexibility in the American position on sanctions on Iraq? Is there any change in the American position? [Husayn] I do not care to comment on that, sir. I haven't... [pauses] anything that I would say would be out of place, I think. [Correspondent] Could I just follow that up, Your Majesty, on Iraq. There is an agreement between Jordan, an economic agreement between Jordan and the PLO to provide oil to the Gaza and Jericho, the self-rule areas. Jordan gets about 60,000 barrels a day of oil from Iraq. Presumably, if Jordan is going to provide oil to those areas, it is going to be Iraqi oil, and it is going to come from the oil that you need for your country. Doesn't that create an incentive for you, and indeed for the West in general, to relook at the sanctions, and perhaps provide some relief for the Iraqis to, at least, provide some oil, or greater quantities of oil. [Jordanian Prime Minister al-Majali, whispering to King Husayn, in Arabic, after Husayn queries him] There is an agreement between Israel and Egypt, and we have nothing to do with that. [Husayn] We have not yet concluded an agreement, sir, with our Palestinian brethren to provide oil from Jordan. And as you do suggest, I was just asking if there is anything new that has happened while I was away. But, I don't think that anything has, in that regard. But, regarding Iraq, I continue to feel very, very strongly with the people of Iraq. And I hope that the rest of the world will share with us these feelings that the impact, the suffering of the people of Iraq is really out of proportion to all (?reason). Regardless of who is responsible, regardless of who caused it, and regardless of [as heard], we are interested obviously in the humanitarian dimension; and Iraq is an important element in our region. So, let us hope that this nightmare somehow comes to an end before too long. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, (?could you say something about) the demarcation of borders between you and Israel? [Words indistinct] does Jordan want this to be the first thing on the agenda? Do you think it will be a problem with the Israelis, because they always reject... [Husayn, interrupting] I hope that it will not be a problem. And I hope that... [pauses] I think that we are going to meet face to face. I am sure the Americans will be present and most welcome at this stage. And as far as we are concerned, obviously the question of sovereignty over our territories is one that has to be resolved. And as I have said earlier, by that, I don't mean that we should create a new barrier between us. But, we have to recover our territory, we have to recover our water rights. Let me put it another way. To those who ask so many questions about Jordan and Jordan's actions and why, I think no country in the Arab world has done more for the Palestinian cause, or identified more with the suffering of the Palestinian people, or their hopes and aspirations of regaining their rights on their soil. No Arab country has done more for Arab unity, and cooperation, and coordination. We paid a very heavy price in 1967, because we lived up to our commitments as members of the Arab League, and we respected our agreements in terms of the joint defense dimension within the Arab world. We knew fully well what the results might be. Yet, we lived up to our commitments, and we endured all the results, as hard as they have been. Later, we saw Egypt move on its own, too -- and it was our leader, obviously, in that period, in the 1967 period -- and achieve a peace treaty with Israel, and a situation of peace with Israel. We have done our best to move the Palestinian dimension forward. And suddenly, we saw our Palestinian brethren move, and they are the people most immediately concerned, and (?our concern) and achieve progress there. In this situation, we feel that nobody has the right to ask us what to do, and we have a responsibility toward ourselves, toward our country, toward our lands, toward our rights, to do whatever we can to move and safeguard our interests; and that is what we are doing, precisely. So, I hope that we will see progress on every other track, and we will see eventually the coming together of the comprehensive peace in the region. But, we are aware of our responsibilities towards our people, and we are carrying them out. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, can I ask you to step back from the daily news events, to look at the broader issue of democracy in the Middle East. Your kingdom has taken strides, but in most of the Arab world there is little or no movement, and in other places where it has been tried, there are breakdowns, in Yemen and Algeria. Could you reflect, for us, for a minute, on the prospects for democracy in the Arab world and the challenges that lie ahead? [Husayn] As far as I am concerned, and many may or may not agree with me, democracy, pluralism, respect for human rights is the only way, is the best way. I hope that we have demonstrated that in Jordan that we will continue to do so in the times ahead and there is nothing more important than for people to feel that they are something, that they mean something, that they have rights to share in shaping their future. And I hope that Jordan will be a good example to others in that regard and in that respect. I believe when institutions are established, they are also a guarantee for continuity, for stability in the entire region. So we cannot claim to have the right to speak for others or advise others what to do, but as far as we are concerned, democracy, pluralism, respect for human rights, is a part of our very existence, and will continue to be always. [Correspondent] [Words indistinct] experiments in Algeria and Yemen have been so unsuccessful so far, very discouraging to people who would like to support democracy in the Arab world? [Husayn] Well, regarding Yemen, unfortunately, again, I didn't cover the answer in any great detail, but when one sees this ongoing struggle one is really puzzled because the unity was not created by force. The unity came as a result of the people of Yemen electing to have that unity come to be. There was a plebiscite, there was a formation of unity within the country, there was an election for a parliament, there was an election of a president, there was creation of something new, and suddenly we see it falling apart. Obviously what is in my heart is a wish that if there is any meaning to all these terrible losses that have occurred, that at least that is preserved somehow, and that dialogue will result in a solution to these problems. We have been involved in the problem to the best of our ability. We have tried to create bridges and a solid foundation for progress but that, in terms of the realities of the matter, required a political will at the very highest levels that maybe was not always there, and therefore it has failed. And I hope that somehow the Yemenis can pull it together, so that it is not a question of north and south but union for those who are opposed to it, and those who are opposed to it, I hope, will be a minority. But who can tell? I really can't tell what will happen. [Correspondent] Concerning the confrontation, Your Excellency, the confrontation countries which are supposed to be meeting before any resumption of talks, has this formula ended now forever; that Jordan, Syria, PLO, and Lebanon meet with each other? Has it ended? [Husayn] It hasn't necessarily ended, but here again, let me remind you that we were the people who are pushing for that more than any, and for coordination more than any. But the realities of the matter are that, maybe, we haven't all risen to the level that is needed to create the kind of coordination that could have been. Nonetheless, we are in touch and we hope that the results of our continued efforts, all of us, will enable us to achieve greater harmony and help each other in the times ahead. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, could you clarify one thing I am still a little confused about. You said at one point that a meeting with the Israeli leadership, and presumably Prime Minister Rabin, would be the natural outgrowth of negotiations with Israel that are about to resume in a week; that the negotiations could take place at any level, foreign minister, any level. At another point you said that a peace treaty was the crowning, will be, the crowning achievement of these negotiations. Is it possible that a meeting between yourself and Prime Minister Rabin may take place before a peace treaty is signed? [Husayn] It is a very possible, anything is possible, sir. (?I am) quite flexible in that regard. But at the moment, there is a mechanism for negotiations and they are ongoing, and if and when there is a reason perceived by us, or by the Israelis, or jointly, for us to meet, then we will meet. It is not a taboo. There is nothing that will prevent that. And I hope it will come before too long. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, on boycott, how can Jordan implement all [words indistinct]? [Husayn] Anyway, this is something that has to be discussed as well and resolved in the negotiations that will come. [Correspondent] With Israel, not within the Arab world? [Husayn] Within the Arab world! Do you think there is any boycott left? [Correspondent] I mean the direct boycott. [Husayn, amid laughter] (?No, no, no.) [Correspondent] Since the announcement was made of the rapprochement between you and Israel last week, have you been in contact with any of the Gulf Arab countries, specifically Saudi Arabia, and shall we hope for a warming of the relationship between these two countries? [Husayn] I haven't been in touch with any, apart from the normal contacts that we have with some of our brethren there. No, nothing else has happened. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, is there a better world understanding of Jordan's position during the Gulf War than before? And how will that help in enhancing Jordan's relations with the world? [Husayn] I believe here there is a better understanding, yes, of Jordan's position during the Gulf War, and in the rest of the world that is also a fact. And I hope that our position will be understood for what it really was and what it really has been throughout that very dark moment, and it will always be. We have our own positions that we adopt as a result of what we believe is in the best interest of all. And our concerns for the region were real. And I think that they have been justified. We tried to prevent a war, we tried to reverse occupation peacefully. There was nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, the problem is with some of our brethren who still believe that we knew that Kuwait was going to be attacked, that we were a party to a plan, allegedly, to create that eruption in that area, and this is totally false. And I wish to God that somebody will be able to come out and talk to us about it in any detail. We know where we are. We know where we were. So, somehow this problem has got to be addressed. It hasn't been, so far. We haven't been able to deal with it satisfactorily. And it would be in the interest of all to come out with [words indistinct] and find exactly what happened, who was responsible for concocting such an idea, to avoid falling into such pitfalls in the future. We have done everything on our side. We've indicated time and again that any step toward us will be met by two from us. But beyond that, we can't do more. So, we'll have to wait and see and in time, I hope that, things will move in the right direction. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, have there been any contacts with Egypt also regarding the progress as far as peace is concerned with Israel, any contacts with Cairo? [Husayn] No contacts. In the sense of what context? [Correspondent] I mean to apprise them of what is happening, just as Israel does, just as the Palestinians do, in that sense. [Husayn] This happens normally, sir, it happens normally, but, have I talked to President Mubarak in the last period? This hasn't happened. I talked to him a while ago, around the 'Id time [21 May] but nothing (?came of it). [Correspondent] Your Majesty, you said you meet, as you said, you meet frequently with President al-Asad, and you said, if I understood you correctly, that you understand each other's positions. Does that mean that should you meet with Prime Minister Rabin in the course of negotiations, when you thought the time was ripe, that you would assume that President al-Asad would understand that and there would not be any worsening of relations between... [Husayn, interrupting] I don't think that there is any reason for the worsening of relations. There is every reason for the improvement of relations, and I hope that this will be a fact. I haven't heard from President al-Asad anything to the contrary. So, whatever has been said in that regard, I do not really consider to be all that important. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, would you describe the state of the Jordanian economy? [Husayn] It is passing through a difficult phase. I think we have done a lot in the recent past, but we are carrying a very, very heavy burden, and I hope somehow that all the efforts will result in some improvement in terms of the Jordanian economy in the future, that all the opportunities that will be there would enable us to move ahead so that they will bring about a change in the quality of life of our people and meet their demands and needs and expectations regarding the future. [Correspondent] What would a peace do [words indistinct]? [Husayn] I think it will enhance these possibilities, but obviously we are passing through a moment where we hope that we will get support from a lot of friends throughout the world, including our friends here in the United States. [Correspondent] Your Majesty, there were so many reports about invitations for you to visit Jerusalem. Do you think you will visit Jerusalem even before the final status and negotiations are over, if you sign a treaty with Israel? [Husayn] I think that there is a lot of speculation that is way ahead of what is realistic. So I can't say anything in that regard. It is obviously my hope as a Hashemite and a Muslim Arab, and as a Jordanian, that conditions will permit me to visit the holy places in Jerusalem when it is possible for me and for others, in a context of peace, where these holy places are respected by all of us and there are sacred to all of us and were [pauses]... sovereignty is that of the almighty God on all of them. I hope that I will be able to visit Jerusalem, yes. I hope it will not be long before that happens. [Correspondent] Yes, may I ask, with Syria and Lebanon, like did you exchange any information after the agreement with Israel, and what is really (?it), because we cannot define exactly Syria and Lebanese positions at this stage? [Husayn] I don't know, but I can tell you one thing. We have never, so far as I am concerned, up to this moment, been able to sit together with any of our Arab brethren and discuss everything in detail. They have their own problems, and we don't know about them until after the fact, and we have our own problems which we deal with. But in terms of a direction for peace, this is something that is (?universal) in terms of our determination to achieve it and I hope we will see progress to arrive at [sentence incomplete]

BFN [Report by Randah Habib from Amman] [Excerpt] An official meeting -- the first of its kind -- between Jordan's King Husayn and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhaq Rabin may be convened when the two sides sign a border demarcation agreement, expected to be wrapped up by 1 October, 1994. King Husayn has often said that any official sessions with Israeli leaders should not be a media show, but must be the result of political forward movement. Hence, King Husayn's rejection in January of an American proposal for a meeting with Rabin at the White House before the peace negotiations achieved a breakthrough. However, the progress achieved in Washington 7 June when Jordan secured Israel's approval of a joint experts committee -- set to meet next month in the region to delineate joint borders -- broke the deadlock and paved the way for Jordanian-Israeli talks at the highest levels. [passage omitted]

BFN [Article by Nabil 'Amr] [Excerpts] A senior Palestinian official has told AL-DUSTUR that Palestinian President Yasir 'Arafat will visit Jordan at the end of this month, prior to his return to Palestine. During 'Arafat's visit, the Palestinian official said, Jordanian-Palestinian meetings will be held on the highest level, and the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement will be signed. The signing of the agreement has been postponed several times. The official, who requested anonymity, said that the next Jordanian-Palestinian meetings will be extremely important, as conferees will discuss a Jordanian-Palestinian mechanism of action that is much more exhaustive than coordination. The official added that the Palestinian self-rule authority, which is the first Palestinian experience of its kind, needs an Arab effort to strengthen it and to protect it from the Israeli side, which is superior in terms of its economy, scientific knowledge, and technology. [passage omitted] Meanwhile, the same Palestinian official revealed a Palestinian's wish to reassess the Palestinian-Israeli agreement. He indicated that this agreement has only been initialed, and that the Palestinian side is not committed to implementing it if it harms the Palestinian people or will harm Jordanian-Palestinian economic relations, which are viewed by the Palestinians of the West Bank as the core of their Arab-Islamic extension. He said that all the agreements that have been signed with Israel are temporary, since there are Palestinian rights that must be addressed and numerous topics of negotiations that must raised with Israel prior to the final peace accord. He said that this requires everyone to be careful when raising issues of a pan-Arab dimension and that Jordanian-Palestinian efforts should be united to safeguard these issues, chiefly the issue of Jerusalem, which should be the focus of Arab and Islamic efforts, rather than Jordanian and Palestinian efforts only.

BFN [Report by Mustafa 'Abduh in Bani Suwayf] The security organs in Bani Suwayf have arrested 'Ali Yahya Ahmad Abu-al-Hana, one of the prominent members of al-Jihad organization. Reports have come in to Major General Muhammad Fahmi 'Azab, deputy of the Security Department, that the accused prepared a number of leaflets stirring the public to move. The leaflets were to be distributed to the residents of Ihnasiyah. Brigadier General al-Siba'i Abu-al-Layl arrested the defendant carrying a locally-made gun and 17 bullets. He was referred to the prosecution and Prosecution Chief 'Imad Sami ordered that he be jailed for 15 days pending interrogation.

BFN Athens, June 21, IRNA -- The Ikhwan al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood), the Arab world's strongest Islamic movement, has denounced the Mashhad bomb attack as a "criminal act" and expressed its grief over the large number of pilgrims who fell martyrs to the cowardly and inhuman act. "This is a criminal act. We are deeply distressed. We severely denounce it and express our condolences to the Iranian leadership and to the Iranian people," Ikhwan spokesman Ma'mun al-Hudaybi told IRNA speaking by phone from Cairo Tuesday [21 June]. "We pray to allah to protect the Islamic lands from criminal acts and to bestow on them peace and security," he added. At least 25 people were martyred and scores of others, including children, were injured in a terrorist bomb blast which ripped through the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) in Mashhad Monday.