Word: agt
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...uncertainty of some of the smaller members of NATO, notably The Netherlands and Belgium. The opposition socialist parties in The Netherlands managed to collect enough support to put the Dutch Parliament on record as opposing the missile plan. Caught in a domestic political dilemma, Premier Andreas van Agt dashed off to Washington, Rome, London and Bonn in search of a compromise...
...Soviet campaign against the nuclear-force improvement got a lift last week. The Dutch parliament adopted a motion forbidding Premier Andries van Agt's government to approve the NATO plan. Joined by top officials from Norway and Denmark, which also have misgivings, Van Agt flew to Washington. He sought a delay in the NATO decision and a U.S. commitment to negotiate with the Warsaw Pact countries on reduction of nuclear arms in Europe. American officials gave assurances that the U.S. wanted to discuss a cutback of nuclear missiles with the Soviets, but insisted that the NATO partners should approve...
There was little rejoicing by the Dutch government. Looking somber and tired, Prime Minister Joop den Uyl appeared on television to explain that "violence proved necessary to put an end to the hostage seizure" because weeks of negotiations with the hijackers had reached an impasse. Justice Minister Andreas van Agt, who with the prime Minister headed the crisis team dealing with the terrorists, made his own appeal for understanding of the difficult decision. "I beseech you to believe there was no other way," he said at a press conference. "We tried everything-every path of dialogue that there might...
...Punt on May 23, while five others seized the primary school at Bovensmilde, where there were 105 children and five teachers. There was no doubt that the Moluccans intended to terrify the country. The children were forced to the windows to chant to the waiting troops and parents, "Van Agt, we want to live!" On several occasions hostages were displayed outside the train with ropes around their necks. But after an influenza-type epidemic broke out at the school, the terrorists freed all the children as well as one ailing teacher...
Until the children were released, Van Agt announced, the government would not consider Moluccan demands, which included freedom for 21 comrades imprisoned for earlier plots and a 747 jet to take them all to safety. The Moluccans warned of "many deaths" if their demands were not met within two days, but that deadline passed without murder. At one point, however, terrified children were herded to schoolroom windows at gunpoint and forced to chant "Van Agt, we want to live...