Voice of America, 28 March 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SENATOR BOB DOLE'S CLINCHING OF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT IS A POPULAR TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION IN THURSDAY'S U-S EDITORIALS. ONE DAILY DISCUSSES BOB DOLE'S POLICY TOWARD BOSNIA. THERE IS ALSO COMMENTARY ON WHAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO ABOUT CHINA; ABOUT INDIA'S NUCLEAR THREAT; THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN IN CHECHNYA AND THE BRITISH BEEF CRISIS. ______________ HAS A SAMPLING OF THOSE COMMENTS IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS IT "GOOD NEWS" THAT AMERICA'S POLITICAL MAINSTREAM IS STILL HOLDING THE POWER AFTER SENATOR BOB DOLE'S LANDSLIDE ELECTION IN THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, OVER RIGHT-WING RIVAL PAT BUCHANAN. HOWEVER, "THE TIMES" WARNS THE DOLE CAMP ITS FUTURE LIES IN APPEALING NOT TO MR. BUCHANAN'S RIGHT-WING VOTERS, BUT RATHER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

VOICE: "[MR.] BUCHANAN PROMISES TO TAKE HIS LOSING BATTLE TO THE CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO IN AUGUST. CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS THAT A SHOWDOWN WOULD FORCE [SENATOR] DOLE TO CATER TO THE PARTY'S RIGHT WING; BUT A TIMES EXIT POLL TAKEN TUESDAY SHOULD PUSH THE DOLE CAMP TO RETHINK THAT ASSUMPTION. [SENATOR] DOLE COULD FACE REJECTION BY MODERATE REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER IF HE DOESN'T ARTICULATE A MORE BALANCED MESSAGE, THE [L-A TIMES EXIT] POLL RESULTS SUGGEST. HIS STRONG PRIMARY SHOWING NOTWITHSTANDING, [SENATOR] DOLE CAN'T WIN [THE PRESIDENCY] WITHOUT MODERATE REPUBLICANS -- OR CALIFORNIA'S 54 ELECTORAL VOTES."

TEXT: IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SEES A SIMILAR STRATEGY IF THE SENATOR HOPES TO BECOME PRESIDENT.

VOICE: "THE TRICK [CHALLENGE] FOR (BOB DOLE) NOW WILL BE TO SHIFT GEARS, AS IT ALWAYS IS FOR SUCCESSFUL NOMINEES OF EITHER PARTY. HE MOVES ONTO A DIFFERENT STAGE. IT MAY NOT BE AS HARD FOR HIM AS IT HAS SOMETIMES BEEN FOR OTHERS... HE HAS TO APPEAL TO THE CENTER OF THE ELECTORATE WHILE NEITHER NEGLECTING NOR ALIENATING THE HIGHLY ENERGIZED RIGHT WING OF HIS PARTY. ALL KINDS OF STRADDLES ARE INVOLVED IN THAT; BILL CLINTON ON HIS SIDE IS HAVING TO DO THE SAME."

TEXT: BOB DOLE IS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF AN EDITORIAL NOT RELATED TO HIS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS. TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" CRITICIZES THE SENATOR FOR HIS RELUCTANCE TO APPROVE 200-MILLION DOLLARS IN RECONSTRUCTION AID FOR WAR-RAVAGED BOSNIZ-HERZEGOVINA.

VOICE: "THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WANTS TO WITHHOLD ... THE AMOUNT WASHINGTON PLEDGED TO CONTRIBUTE THIS YEAR TO A CIVILIAN RECOVERY EFFORT -- UNTIL THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT EXPELS THE DOZENS OF IRANIAN FIGHTERS LINGERING IN BOSNIA. THE IRANIANS DO REPRESENT A THREAT TO AMERICAN PEACE-KEEPERS AND TO THE FRAGILE BALKAN PEACE. BUT THE AMENDMENT [MR.] DOLE ATTACHED TO THE SENATE VERSION OF AN OMNIBUS CONTINUING RESOLUTION MEANT TO FUND ... AGENCIES WOULD DO MORE TO ENDANGER THAN TO PROTECT U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA. FOR THE DAYTON ACCORDS TO WORK, THE PEOPLES OF BOSNIA MUST BEGIN TO SEE TANGIBLE SIGNS OF RECONSTRUCTION."

TEXT: NOW THAT THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS LOOKING TO WHAT IT CALLS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NEXT DIFFICULT DECISION ON CHINA: WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE SALE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY TO PAKISTAN:

VOICE: "THE OUTLINE OF A FIRM BUT FAIR RESPONSE IS NOW VISIBLE. WASHINGTON SHOULD SHARPLY REGISTER ITS DISAPPROVAL WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND PENALIZE THE CHINESE ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALE, WHILE SPARING UNRELATED AMERICAN COMMERCE WITH CHINA FROM DAMAGING SANCTIONS. [OPT] ... THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS TO FIND CHINA IN VIOLATION, WAIVE THE SLEDGEHAMMER [HEAVY] PENALTIES AND INSTEAD WITHHOLD SOME 700-MILLION IN PENDING EXPORT-IMPORT BANK LOAN GUARANTEES FOR AMERICAN BUSINESS DEALS WITH THE CHINA NATIONAL NUCLEAR CORPORATION AND RELATED COMPANIES. [END OPT] MR. CLINTON'S HANDLING OF CHINA AS TENSIONS MOUNTED OVER TAIWAN WAS A SKILLFUL MIX OF DIPLOMACY AND STRENGTH... IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO KICK AWAY THOSE GAINS NOW BY WINKING AT CHINA'S NUCLEAR DEALINGS WITH PAKISTAN."

TEXT: IN A RELATED COMMENTARY, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE GROWING NUCLEAR COMPETITION IN SOUTH ASIA, AND HOW THE UNITED STATES SHOULD REACT:

VOICE: "THERE REMAINS A DAUNTING ASIAN PROBLEM TO BE DEALT WITH SOONER RATHER THAN LATER: INDIAN AND PAKISTANI NUCLEAR-MISSILE PROGRAMS... IN TERSE SUMMARY: INDIA HAS LONG SINCE TESTED NUCLEAR-WARHEAD DEVICES... CHINA HAS RECENTLY SUPPLIED MISSILES TO PAKISTAN... THE TWO NATIONS HAVE FOUGHT THREE CONVENTIONAL WARS IN THE HALF CENTURY SINCE INDEPENDENCE... WASHINGTON NOW IS DECIDING WHETHER TO RELEASE A LONG-DELAYED SHIPMENT OF JET FIGHTERS SOLD TO PAKISTAN. THE U-S SHOULD NOT RELEASE THE ARMS SHIPMENT TO PAKISTAN BEFORE INDIA'S NATIONAL ELECTION ENDS IN MAY. TO DO SO WOULD ONLY BOLSTER MILITANTS DEMANDING TOUGHNESS ON PAKISTAN AND FASTER NUCLEAR ARMING."

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER OVERSEAS TROUBLESPOT -- THE SPRING OFFENSIVE BY RUSSIAN FORCES IN THE REBELLIOUS CAUCUSES REGION OF CHECHNYA:

VOICE: "FEW QUESTION RUSSIA'S RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND KEEP FROM BREAKING APART... BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO DEFEND THE SCORCHED-EARTH TACTICS THAT MR. YELTSIN'S TROOPS HAVE ADOPTED, SEEMINGLY IN DESPERATION AT THEIR INABILITY TO SQUELCH THE CHECHEN GUERRILLAS AFTER 15 MONTHS OF WAR... THE DANGER OF THE WAR SPREADING, MEANWHILE, GROWS WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE CAMPAIGN."

TEXT: IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, TODAY'S "DENVER POST" SUGGESTS THAT BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS "ARE CAUGHT IN THE SAME VISE" AFTER THEIR RECENT, COSTLY STRIKE.

VOICE: "THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION TOOK ON G-M OVER THE ISSUE OF 'OUTSOURCING' -- THE COMMON, ALBEIT UNGRAMMATICAL, PRACTICE OF BUYING PARTS FROM OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, WHO ARE OFTEN NON-UNION. THE RESULT WAS BASICALLY A STANDOFF... BUT THE SIMPLE FACT REMAINS THAT G-M ALREADY MAKES MORE OF ITS PARTS IN-HOUSE THAN EITHER OF ITS MAJOR DOMESTIC COMPETITORS. [OPT] THAT FACT ALSO HELPS EXPLAIN WHY G-M'S UNIT COSTS ARE HIGHER THAN EITHER FORD'S OR CHRYSLER'S. [END OPT] ... BUT IF IT [THE UNION] SUCCEEDS IN PROTECTING ITS JOBS AT THE BIG THREE BY RESTRICTING OUTSOURCING, THE U-A-W MIGHT END UP SPURRING SALES OF FOREIGN LABEL COMPETITORS AT THE EXPENSE OF G-M, FORD AND CHRYSLER ALIKE."

TEXT: TODAY'S FINAL COMMENT CONCERNS THE SO-CALLED MAD COW DISEASE SWEEPING THE BRITISH BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY, AND "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE FEELS COMPASSION, NOTING:

VOICE: "THE DESTRUCTION OF CONFIDENCE IN ITS BEEF IS A TRAGEDY FOR BRITAIN... BRITAIN'S SIX-BILLION-DOLLAR BEEF INDUSTRY, THE HERD OF ELEVEN MILLION CATTLE, THE LAND THAT RAISES FEED AND THE FARMERS WHO CARE FOR THEM ARE ENDANGERED. SO ARE THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR, ACCUSED ANEW OF INDECISION, AND THE BRITISH PLACE IN EUROPE."

TEXT: AND ON THAT AGRICULTURAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.

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28-Mar-96 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BRITAIN / E-U SUMMIT BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR WILL JOIN 14 OTHER LEADERS FRIDAY IN THE ITALIAN CITY OF TURIN TO LAUNCH A CONFERENCE REVIEWING THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FUTURE. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE EUROPEAN POLICIES FAVORED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: THE CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN WITH NEW DEMANDS FROM MANY OF THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES FOR CLOSER TIES -- AND NEW PRONOUNCEMENTS FROM BRITAIN TO RESIST THEM.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S VISION OF A FUTURE EUROPE WAS SET OUT IN A SPECIAL POLICY PAPER IN ADVANCE OF THE TURIN SUMMIT. THE PAPER BREAKS NO NEW GROUND, REPEATING LONDON'S WELL-KNOWN POSITIONS. IT TALKS OF EUROPE BEING A PARTNERSHIP OF NATIONS WHICH IS OUTWARD-LOOKING, FREE-TRADING, AND DEMOCRATIC. IT REJECTS THE NOTION OF A EUROPEAN SUPER STATE, SAYING BRITAIN IS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO A MONOLITHIC, CENTRALIZED, FEDERAL EUROPE.

IN A RECENT STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND SAID BRITAIN IS COMMITTED TO EUROPEAN COOPERATION -- BUT HE WENT ON TO SAY, THAT COOPERATION HAS LIMITS.

IT SHOULD NOT MEAN AN EVER-CLOSER POLITICAL UNION IN THE SENSE OF AN INEXORABLE DRIFT OF POWER TOWARDS SUPRA-NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE EROSION OF THE POWERS OF THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS OR THE GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF A UNITED STATES OF EUROPE. THE GOVERNMENT REJECTS THAT CONCEPTION OF EUROPE'S FUTURE.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ALSO OPPOSES ANY ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE THE POWER OF EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE STRASBOURG-BASED PARLIAMENT. BRITAIN ALSO WANTS CURBS ON THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE. BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY ITS JUDGMENTS GO FAR BEYOND WHAT THE MEMBER STATES ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR RECENTLY TOLD PARLIAMENT A EUROPEAN COURT DECISION SETTING A 48-HOUR LIMIT ON THE WORKING WEEK IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE COURT'S OVERSTEPPING ITS BOUNDS.

IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS AND STUPIDITIES LIKE THIS THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION IS BECOMING UNCOMPETITIVE AND LOSING JOBS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. IT IS A COMPLETE NONSENSE AND IT IS TIME THAT PEOPLE BEGAN TO STAND UP AND SAY SO.

WHILE EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS ARE TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE SHAPE OF EUROPE, MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE SUMMIT MAY BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE CRISIS SURROUNDING BRITISH BEEF. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS IMPOSED A BAN ON BRITISH BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS -- A BAN WHICH BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL FIGHT.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE -- DAVID HOWELL -- SAYS THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE WHOLE OF EUROPE.

THE UNDERLINING ISSUES ABOUT HANDLING PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND CONFIDENCE IN BEEF AND MEAT PRODUCTION GENERALLY IS A EUROPE-WIDE ISSUE AND EVERYONE NEEDS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS BUSINESS. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A BAN IMPOSED BY BRUSSELS TEMPORARILY ON BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS UNTIL MATTERS ARE CLEARED UP. BUT ACTUALLY THIS NEEDS TO BE TACKLED BY ALL THE PARTNERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION TOGETHER AND IT IS IN ALL OF THEIR INTERESTS -- ALL FARMERS THROUGHOUT EUROPE - THAT THE WHOLE MATTER IS CLEARED UP VERY QUICKLY.

AFTER THE END OF THE SUMMIT, THE HARD BARGAINING AND REAL NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEGIN. THE 15 E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CLOSE CONTACT EVERY WEEK. THE FULL REVIEW CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO GO WELL INTO 1997.

IF THE MINISTERS ARE PREPARED FOR THE LONG HAUL, MOST E-U CITIZENS ARE NOT EVEN AWARE A REVIEW CONFERENCE IS UNDERWAY. A RECENT PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY INDICATED 85-PERCENT OF THOSE QUERIED HAD NO IDEA EUROPEAN LEADERS WERE TO LAUNCH A NEW SET OF NEGOTIATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/JWH/RAE
28-Mar-96 9:04 AM EST (1404 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BRITAIN / MAD COW (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: LEADERS OF THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION MEET FRIDAY IN TURIN, ITALY, TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL BRING UP THE ISSUE OF THE E-U BAN ON THE EXPORT OF BRITISH BEEF.

TEXT: THE AGENDA AT THE TURIN SUMMIT INCLUDES SUCH ISSUES AS CLOSER COOPERATION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS EXPANSION TO INCLUDE FORMER EAST EUROPEAN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES.

BUT BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR TOLD PARLIAMENT HE WILL BRING UP THE ISSUE OF THE E-U BAN ON BRITISH BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS -- A BAN WHICH HE TOLD LAWMAKERS IS TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT DECISIONS OF THIS SORT ARE TAKEN BY MEMBER STATES ON THE BASIS OF RATIONAL JUDGMENTS, ON THE BASIS OF SCIENCE, AND NOT ON ANY OTHER BASIS, AS I BELIEVE THEM TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION.

MR. MAJOR SAID IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CONVINCE CONSUMERS AND BRITAIN'S EUROPEAN PARTNERS EATING BRITISH BEEF IS SAFE. BUT HE DID NOT PROPOSE ANY NEW MEASURES IN ORDER TO RESTORE MARKET AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES AND FARMERS GROUPS HAVE CALLED FOR A SELECTIVE SLAUGHTER OF OLDER CATTLE. MR. MAJOR SAID DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO END THE CRISIS -- AND HE SAID AS SOON AS THE GOVERNMENT COMES UP WITH COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSALS, HE WILL PRESENT THEM TO LAWMAKERS. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/JWH/RAE
28-Mar-96 11:47 AM EST (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] CZECH / NATO (L ONLY-CORRECTION) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL SAYS WESTERN HESITANCY IN ADMITTING NEW MEMBERS TO NATO HAS ENCOURAGED RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: MR. HAVEL SAYS THE WEST MUST BE FIRM IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN OBJECTIONS TO NATO EXPANSION.

SPEAKING TO THE FINANCIAL TIMES NEWSPAPER, PRESIDENT HAVEL CALLED UPON NATO TO CHART A TIMETABLE FOR ENLARGEMENT AT ITS MEETING NEXT DECEMBER. HE SAID HE HOPED THE CZECH REPUBLIC WOULD BE AMONG THE FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS TO JOIN THE WESTERN DEFENSE ALLIANCE.

MR. HAVEL WAS SPEAKING ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER VISITED PRAGUE AND SAID NATO EXPANSION WAS ON TRACK AND THAT CANDIDATE MEMBERS WILL NOT BE KEPT WAITING INDEFINITELY.

MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID EXPANSION WOULD NATURALLY BEGIN WITH THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES -- CURRENTLY THOUGHT TO BE THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND -- BUT THAT THE GOAL WAS NOT TO LET THESE NATIONS ESCAPE FROM EASTERN EUROPE AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. MR. HAVEL SAID THE FIRST ENTRANTS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THEIR MEMBERSHIP KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN FOR OTHERS.

THE CZECH PRESIDENT SAID NATO NEEDS TO BE REDEFINED NOW THAT THE THREAT OF COMMUNIST EXPANSION IS GONE. HE SAID THAT WHILE PROCEEDING WITH A SPEEDY EXPANSION, THE WEST SHOULD WORK TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA.

SECURITY AND NATO MEMBERSHIP IS ALSO A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE THREE BALTIC COUNTRIES, WHOSE FOREIGN MINISTERS MET WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER IN PRAGUE. THE LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THIS WEEK THAT HIS COUNTRY WOULD FEEL BETRAYED IF IT IS LEFT OUT OF THE ALLIANCE. THE MINISTER (POVILAS GYLYS) SAID NATO MEMBERSHIP IS THE ONLY GUARANTEE OF REGIONAL SECURITY AND THAT NATO SHOULD TREAT ALL THREE BALTIC COUNTRIES AS A SINGLE UNIT WHEN CONSIDERING EXPANSION. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/CF
28-Mar-96 12:50 PM EST (1750 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] E-U SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER ( BRUSSELS )

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ARE GATHERING IN TURIN, ITALY, IN ADVANCE OF A SPECIAL SUMMIT FRIDAY ON THE REFORM OF THE 15-NATION BLOC. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A NEWS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS ARE LAUNCHING WHAT IS KNOWN AS AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE. IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, AND WILL TACKLE THE INSTITUTIONAL FAILINGS WHICH ARE HOLDING BACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE 15 GOVERNMENTS WILL LOOK AT DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURES, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE MADE MORE DIFFICULT, OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE, FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES TO BLOCK AGREEMENTS. THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF E-U COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AND OF THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSION AND PARLIAMENT. THERE WILL ALSO BE A DEBATE ON THE REFORMS NEEDED IN E-U FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY, WITH A DISCUSSION OF WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A FIGURE -- A MR. OR MRS. EUROPE -- TO BE THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE WORLD STAGE. THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR REFORM, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF DIVISION OVER WHAT FORM THAT REFORM SHOULD TAKE. BRITAIN AND DENMARK, FOR INSTANCE, WILL JEALOUSLY GUARD THEIR NATION'S RIGHTS TO VETO E-U DECISIONS WITH WHICH THEY DO NOT AGREE. OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE BELGIUM AND ITALY, WILL ARGUE UNLESS SUCH VETOES ARE ABOLISHED, IT WILL NEVER BE POSSIBLE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY. THE NEED FOR REFORM IS URGENT, AS MORE THAN 10 COUNTRIES FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, AS WELL AS MALTA AND CYPRUS, ARE LINING UP TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. IF DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN EFFICIENTLY WITH 15-MEMBERS, FEW BELIEVE MANY DECISIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT ALL IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 20-MEMBERS -- EACH WITH PRECIOUS NATIONAL INTERESTS TO GUARD. THERE WILL ALSO BE A DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE EUROPEAN UNION SHOULD TAKE A STRONGER CENTRAL ROLE IN AREAS SUCH AS POLICE COOPERATION, IMMIGRATION AND VISA POLICY. CRITICS OF SUCH A PLAN SAY THESE MATTERS ARE BEST HANDLED BY SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS, WITHOUT EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLAYING A PART. THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE WILL BE SEEKING AN ACCORD, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT. MOST E-U MEMBERS SAY NO GOVERNMENT CAN OR SHOULD BE FORCED ALONG A PATH IT IS UNWILLING TO FOLLOW, NOR SHOULD ANY INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL GROUP OF GOVERNMENTS BE ALLOWED TO HOLD BACK THEIR EUROPEAN PARTNERS. THE AIM OF THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE IS TO ACHIEVE A CONSENSUS ON THE NECESSARY REFORMS. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THE EUROPEAN UNION GOVERNMENTS MAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, BE FORCED TO AGREE TO DISAGREE. (SIGNED)

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28-Mar-96 11:25 AM EST (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] EUROPE-BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY GARY THOMAS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: OFFICIALS OF THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION -- THE W-E-U -- WERE IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY, THE FINAL DAY OF THEIR VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES FOR TALKS WITH U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS. THE W-E-U IS THE DEFENSE ARM OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. AS V-O-A'S GARY THOMAS REPORTS, THE TOPIC OF BOSNIA -- AND THE DEADLINE FOR U-S PARTICIPATION OF PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS THERE -- WAS HIGH ON THE AGENDA.

TEXT: AT A MEETING WITH REPORTERS, THREE MEMBERS OF THE W-E-U'S DEFENSE COMMITTTEE MADE CLEAR THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE ONE-YEAR LIMIT SET BY PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR U-S FORCES TO BE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

DUDLEY SMITH OF BRITAIN SAID THEY HAD RAISED THE ISSUE WITH U-S OFFICIALS AND HAD NOT, AS HE PUT IT, GOTTEN A VERY SPECIFIC ANSWER. BUT HE SAID A U-S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN DECEMBER COULD IMPERIL A FRAGILE PEACE, AND START THE WAR ANEW.

THERE IS UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO BE A VACUUM WHEN THE AMERICANS PULL OUT. I PERSONALLY WOULD FAVOR THEM STAYING ON. BUT THERE MAY BE ELECTORAL (POLITICAL) REASONS, ALL KINDS OF DIFFICULTIES, WHY THAT CAN'T TAKE PLACE.

THE THREE MEN SAID THEY REALIZE THAT EXTENDING THE COMMITMENT FOR AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA IN AN ELECTION YEAR IS A POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON.

JAN-DIRK BLAAUW OF THE NETHERLANDS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF THE UNITED STATES WITHDRAWS, SO WILL HIS COUNTRY. HE SAID DUTCH TROOPS HAD A BITTER EXPERIENCE AS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT PRECEEDED THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE -- AND THE NETHERLANDS HAS NO WISH TO REPEAT IT. HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS CANNOT DO THE JOB.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WE HAVE TIED OUR PRESENCE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE UNITED STATES TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. I'M NOT SAYING WE WILL STAY ONLY IF ALL THE AMERICAN TROOPS STAY; THERE IS SOME LEEWAY, OF COURSE. BUT WE ARE NOT CONVINCED IT CAN BE A PROPER OPERATION WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION, AT THE MOMENT, OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CASE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY PEACEKEEPING OPERATION SHOULD HAVE PARTICIPATION OF EFFECTIVE AMERICAN, UINITED STATES, TROOPS. BUT IN THE CASE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WE HAD A FIERCE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT THAT, AND THERE IS NO ENTRY WITH OUT EXIT. AND WE WILL LEAVE WHEN THE UNITED STATES IS LEAVING.

THE OFFICIALS SAID THE W-E-U IS WRESTLING WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO IF THE UNITED STATES DOES WITHDRAW ON SCHEDULE. JACQUES BAUMEL OF FRANCE SAID AN INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE WOULD BE TOTALLY INADEQUATE. HE SAID THERE MIGHT BE A COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE SET UP OF EUROPEAN FORCES BACKED BY U-S LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. BUT, AS MR. BLAUUW POINTED OUT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE WARRING PARTIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE WILLING TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO ANOTHER PEACE ACCORD. (SIGNED)

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28-Mar-96 1:01 PM EST (1801 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] GERMANY / E-U SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: WHEN THE EUROPEAN UNION REFORM CONFERENCE OPENS IN TURIN, ITALY, FRIDAY, ANALYSTS SAY GERMANY WILL BE QUIETLY BUT PRAGMATICALLY PUSHING FOR GREATER EUROPEAN INTEGRATION. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS MADE THE CAUSE ONE OF THE CENTRAL GOALS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

TEXT: FOR CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, EUROPEAN UNITY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DECISIVE ISSUES OF OUR TIME.

IN A RECENT SPEECH, MR. KOHL CALLED FURTHER EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AN ISSUE OF WAR AND PEACE. IF THE E-U FAILED TO REFORM ITS SOMETIMES CUMBERSOME DECISION MAKING PROCEDURES HE SAID, EUROPE RISKED SLIDING BACK INTO NATIONALIST COMPETITION.

ANALYSTS LIKE ANDREAS MAURER, OF THE INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN POLITICS, SAY THE GERMAN LEADER HOPES TO MAKE A FURTHER MARK IN HISTORY BY CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE OF EUROPEAN UNITY.

YES, BECAUSE HE HIMSELF LINKED IN A SPEECH BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, HIS POLITICAL DESTINY TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

CHANCELLOR KOHL, WHO ALREADY HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH CREDIT FOR THE PEACEFUL RE-UNIFICATION OF GERMANY, IS HOPING THAT THE REFORM OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL OPEN THE WAY FOR MORE MEMBERS TO JOIN.

ANDREAS MAURER SAYS A KEY ISSUE WILL BE THE TIMING.

I THINK IT'S QUITE UNLIKELY TO IMAGINE THAT THIS INSTITUTIONAL REFORM WILL NOT HAPPEN. THE QUESTION IS MORE HOW DEEP THEY ARE GOING.

ASIDE FROM THE QUESTION OF E-U REFORMS, CHANCELLOR KOHL HAS ALSO BEEN A KEY ADVOCATE OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY, WHICH DESPITE GROWING DOUBTS ABOUT THE TIMING, IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED BY 1999.

BUT SOME ANALYSTS, LIKE PHILIP VON WALDERDORF OF THE GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SAY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CURRENCY WILL REQUIRE SOME DELICATE BALANCING BY THE CHANCELLOR.

WHEN I SEE THE GERMAN PSYCHOLOGY, GERMANS ARE READY TO CHANGE THE D-MARK INTO THE EURO, BUT THEY WANT ONLY TO CHANGE IT WHEN THEY ARE REALLY SURE THAT THE EURO IS AS STRONG AS THE MARK. OTHERWISE, I THINK EVERY GOVERNMENT IN GERMANY WOULD BE OUT OF POWER, WHEN THEY WOULD ACCEPT SOMETHING OTHER.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY CHANCELLOR KOHL WILL CONTINUE PUSHING THE ISSUE ON HIS TERMS, BECAUSE HE IS CONVINCED THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FROM THE CAUSE OF GREATER INTEGRATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
28-Mar-96 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] HILLARY / TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WIFE, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, COMPLETED A THREE-DAY VISIT TO TURKEY (THURSDAY) WITH A TOUR OF HISTORICAL SITES AND A MEETING WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN ISTANBUL. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE FIRST LADY'S VISIT RECEIVED WIDE ATTENTION FROM THE TURKISH MEDIA.

TEXT: PICTURES OF MRS. CLINTON AND HER DAUGHTER, CHELSEA, CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE FRONT PAGES OF MOST OF THE MAINSTREAM DAILY NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY.

MRS CLINTON'S PLEDGE TO BRING THE PRESIDENT ALONG WITH HER NEXT TIME SHE VISITED TURKEY AND HER PRAISE FOR THE FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY, KEMAL ATATURK, DREW SPECIAL ATTENTION.

MRS. CLINTON'S LAST DAY IN TURKEY WHICH SHE IS VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME INCLUDED A STOP AT THE TOPKAPI PALACE -- HOME TO THE OTTOMAN SULTANS FOR OVER FOUR CENTURIES. SHE ALSO TOURED THE BLUE MOSQUE AND THE AYA SOFIA MUSUEM, THE WORLD-FAMOUS CHURCH BUILT BY THE ROMAN EMPEROR JUSTINIAN IN THE SIXTH CENTURY.

MRS. CLINTON'S SIGHTSEEING TOUR FOLLOWED A HALF-HOUR MEETING WITH TANSU CILLER, TURKEY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER, WHO LEFT OFFICE LAST MONTH. THE TWO WOMEN MET AT AT MRS. CILLER WATERFRONT RESIDENCE ON THE BOSPHORUS.

THE FIRST LADY ENDED HER VISIT TO TURKEY WITH A MEETING WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS INCLUDING THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH, BARTHOLOMEUS.

MRS. CLINTON'S NEXT STOP IS ATHENS, GREECE, WHERE SHE IS PLANNING TO TAKE PART IN VARIOUS CEREMONIAL EVENTS. THESE WILL INCLUDE AN OLYMPIC FLAME LIGHTING RITUAL TO MARK THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE SUMMER GAMES WHICH ARE TO BEGIN IN ATLANTA GEORGIA IN JULY. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/JWH/MMK
28-Mar-96 11:30 AM EST (1630 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America