EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE                                 2 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD
                                             PURCHASE, NY 057XXXXX


               Media Contacts:              Analyst Contacts:
               ---------------              -----------------
               Jack Cox                     Carol Tutundgy
               (914) 397-1952               (914) 397-1632
                                            Mary Winn Settino
                                            (914) 397-1623


                        SAMIR G. GIBARA ELECTED TO
                 INTERNATIONAL PAPER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
             
MARCH 9, 1999

PURCHASE, N.Y. --John T. Dillon, chairman and chief executive officer of 
International Paper, announced the election of Samir G. Gibara to the 
company's Board of Directors.

      Mr. Gibara is chairman of the board of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber 
Company, a position he has held since July 1, 1996. He was named president 
and chief executive officer on January 1, 1996, and has been a member of the 
board since April, 1995. Prior to his election, Gibara had been president and 
chief operating officer since 1995, and previously had been executive vice 
president with responsibility for Goodyear's North American tire operations 
since May, 1994. Mr. Gibara first became a corporate officer of Goodyear in 
October, 1992, when he was elected vice president of strategic planning and 
business development, and given additional responsibility as acting vice 
president of finance.

      Mr. Gibara was born in Cairo, Egypt, April 23, 1939, where he received 
his early education. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration 
from Cairo University in 1960. Four years later he received a master's degree 
in international business and finance from Harvard University.



Samir G. Gibara, Page 2.

      Since moving to the U.S., Mr. Gibara has served on the executive 
committee of the Rubber Manufacturers Association and on the board of 
trustees of Summa Health Systems, a major health care provider in the Akron, 
Ohio area. He is a member of the Joint Automotive Supplier Governmental 
Action Council, the Business Roundtable and the Business Council.

      International Paper (www.internationalpaper.com) is a worldwide 
producer of printing paper, packaging and forest products. The company also 
operates specialty businesses in global markets as well as a broadly based 
distribution network. Headquartered in the United States at Purchase, N.Y., 
the company has operations in 31 countries, employs more than 80,000 people 
and exports its products to more than 130 nations.

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