Students to talk with foreign affairs expert

Students from six Iowa high schools will get the chance to talk with a mantoday who’s considered an expert in international relations, the Balkans andin the drug war. Former Deputy U-S Ambassador Herbert Okun is now VicePresident of the International Narcotics Board. Organizers of today’smeeting via the Iowa Communications Network say he’s a distinguished leader.Richard Murphy is spokesman for the Heartland Area Education Agency 11 andis coordinating today’s 10:30 a-m linkup between students and Okun, who willbe in Johnston. Okun mediated the dispute between Greece & Macedoniabetween 1993 and ’97 and served as an advisor to NATO’s commander forSouthern Europe. Murphy says Okun will also be able to talk with studentsabout the ‘big picture’ of the drug problem:Even though the drug problem is one of international proportions, Murphy saysIowa high school students can still make a difference.Okun will be meeting via the I-C-N today with students in: Panora, Pella,Des Moines, West Des Moines and Adair-Casey.