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Negotiator: Money not main objective in tobacco talks
April 20, 1997
Web posted at: 3:05 p.m. EDT (1905 GMT)
CHICAGO (CNN) -- Closed-door bargaining to settle tobacco industry lawsuits continued here on Sunday, but the lead negotiator for states suing the tobacco companies said it will probably be tough to reach a completely satisfactory agreement.
"We have a lot of demands, and I'm not sure if they're going to adhere to the demands that we've asked them for," said Mississippi Attorney General Michael Moore on ABC's "This Week." He said the main objective of the talks is not really about money, but an effort to get tobacco companies to change the way they do business and "to tell the truth about their product."
The talks between cigarette makers and anti-smoking forces began more than three weeks ago. Published reports have said the industry might pay as much as $300 billion over 25 years into a compensation fund for smokers who fall sick with lung cancer and other diseases. In return, the tobacco industry would be sheltered from some lawsuits.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- RJR Nabisco Shareholder--Direct - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company information
- Brooke Group, Ltd. Home Page - Brooke Group is a holding company which owns Liggett Group Inc.
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