Voice of America, 3 June 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[03] BOSNIA/ ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA SERBS BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[05] EUROPE/TESTICULAR CANCER (S - ONLY-RERUN) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

[06] NATO MINISTERS UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BERLIN)

[07] NEMEA GAMES BY JAN SLUIZER (NEMEA)

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

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS GREETS U-S NEWSPAPERS READERS IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS OF MONDAY'S PAPERS AS THE NATION BEGINS THE FIRST FULL WORK WEEK OF JUNE. TOPICS INCLUDE: THE ISRAELI ELECTION; THE COMMUNIST RESURGENCE IN RUSSIA; A PROPOSED U-S ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM; WORLD CUP FOOTBALL [SOCCER] IN ASIA, AND BOSNIA'S FORTHCOMING ELECTION. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE ISRAELI ELECTION OF A NEW PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU -- WHO IS CONSIDERED A HARDLINER COMPARED WITH HIS PREDECESSOR, SHIMON PERES -- CONTINUES TO DRAW CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IN U-S PRESS COMMENTARIES. TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR POSES A KEY QUESTION WITH THE HEADLINE: "WHERE WILL BIBI LEAD?", AND GOES ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "FIVE ISRAELI-ARAB WARS, SCORES OF BITTER CLASHES, TWO OIL BOYCOTTS, AND A RELATED WAR OVER OIL IN HALF A CENTURY ARE FAR MORE THAN ENOUGH. SO WE JOIN JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN AND THE MODERATE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS IN TRUSTING THAT ISRAEL'S NEW LEADER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF PRAGMATISM... IT NOW FALLS TO [HIM] TO HELP DESIGN THE FUTURE FOR PEOPLES WHO, LIKE IT OR NOT, MUST BE NEIGHBORS. NOW HE MUST USE ... THE POWER HE LONG SOUGHT ... TO BRING HIS PEOPLE NOT A SIXTH WAR AND ENDLESS CONFRONTATION, BUT SAFETY AND COMMERCE WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES IS CRITICAL OF WHAT IT CONSIDERS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ALL TOO OBVIOUS SUPPORT FOR THE LOSER, SHIMON PERES.

VOICE: "... BILL CLINTON ... AFTER ENDORSING MR. PERES FOR PRIME MINISTER AND INSINUATING THAT ONLY HE [PERES] COULD CONTINUE THE PEACE PROCESS, HAS NOW HAD TO EAT HUMBLE PIE AND WELCOME MR. NETANYAHU AS THE NEW LEADER OF THE JEWISH STATE... MR. NETANYAHU'S VICTORY CLEARLY INDICATES THAT EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CANNOT TELL CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES HOW TO VOTE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE MAY WANT TO."

TEXT: USA TODAY NOTES THAT U-S MEDIA SHOCK OVER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S VICTORY IS NOT UNLIKE THE GLOOMY U-S PRESS REACTION TO THE LIKUD PARTY VICTORY OF PRIME MINISTER MEHACHEM BEGIN IN 1977, AND SUGGESTS THAT OBSERVERS MAY BE WRONG AGAIN.

VOICE: "[PRIME MINISTER] BEGIN THEN, LIKE [MR.] NETANYAHU NOW, SCARED PALESTINIANS, ISRAEL'S ARAB NEIGHBORS AND PEACE ADVOCATES WITH HIS MILITANT HISTORY AND HAWKISH POLITICS... THEN, JUST ONE YEAR LATER, [MR.] BEGIN MET EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT ANWAR SADAT AT CAMP DAVID AND RECOGNIZED PALESTINIAN RIGHTS TO 'SELF-DETERMINATION' IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP, AS WELL AS EGYPT'S RIGHT TO RECLAIM THE SINAI PENINSULA. WHAT NO ONE, EXCEPT PERHAPS [MR.] NETANYAHU, KNOWS AT THIS JUNCTURE IS IF HE WILL FOLLOW [MR.] BEGIN'S CONVERSION FROM MILITANT POLITICIAN TO PRAGMATIC STATESMAN."

TEXT: TURNING TO RUSSIAN POLITICS, THE NEW YORK TIMES WORRIES THAT SOME RUSSIANS APPARENTLY WANT TO RETURN TO THE STATE-MANAGED ECONOMY OF COMMUNISM, BUT CONCEDES:

VOICE: "AFTER FIVE YEARS OF BADLY MANAGED ECONOMIC REFORM, MANY RUSSIANS WOULD WELCOME SOME RELIEF FROM THE VICISSITUDES OF A FREE MARKET... ELDERLY CITIZENS ESPECIALLY MISS THE STABLE PRICES, RELIABLE PENSIONS AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING OF THE COMMUNIST ERA. BUT THE ANSWER TO THESE PROBLEMS IS A MORE HONEST GOVERNMENT, MORE GENEROUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS AND A BETTER REGULATED MARKET ECONOMY, NOT THE REVIVAL OF A STATE-CONTROLLED ECONOMY. [OPT] IT WOULD BE A CRUEL MISTAKE TO DISMANTLE RUSSIA'S IMPERFECT BUT VIGOROUS FREE MARKET JUST AS IT SEEMS READY TO DELIVER REAL BENEFITS TO MISSIONS OF RUSSIANS." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES CONSIDERS IT ILL ADVISED THAT CONGRESS IS STILL CONSIDERING FUNDING A SCALED-DOWN STAR WARS ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, SUGGESTING IT COULD KILL THE SECOND STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION TREATY (START TWO).

VOICE: "THE PROPOSAL, DUBBED THE DEFEND AMERICA ACT, IS NOW BEING DOWNSIZED [AFTER BEING WITHDRAWN BY ITS REPUBLICAN BACKERS DUE TO HIGH COSTS, APPROXIMATELY 60-BILLION DOLLARS] AND IS EXPECTED TO BE BROUGHT BACK SOON. SMALLER, HOWEVER, WON'T NECESSARILY PROVE TO BE BETTER... ANTI-MISSILE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SHOULD OF COURSE CONTINUE, BUT ON A SCHEDULE THAT WOULD NOT MANDATE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF WHAT COULD QUICKLY PROVE TO BE OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY. AND IT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITHOUT VIOLATING THE A-B-M TREATY."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN IS APPLAUDING THE WORLD FOOTBALL [SOCCER] ASSOCIATION -- FIFA -- FOR ITS DECISION TO JOINTLY AWARD THE TWO-THOUSAND-TWO (2002) WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, INSTEAD TO EITHER ONE OF THE RIVAL ASIAN NATIONS. SAYS THE SUN:

VOICE: "ITS IS A TERRIFIC PRECEDENT FOR SUCH EXTRAVAGANZAS, EACH MORE SUPER THAN THE LAST. WORLD CUP TWO-THOUSAND-TWO EXPECTS 40 BILLION TELEVISION VIEWINGS. THERE'S ENOUGH PREPARING FOR TWO OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST MIDDLE-SIZED COUNTRIES TO DO TOGETHER. THEN THEY MIGHT GET ON IN OTHER MATTERS."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE EXPRESSES CERTAIN ANGER TOWARDS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR WHAT IT CALL'S THE GOVERNMENT'S "INCHOATE" FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD AFRICA, AS THE WORLD WATCHES LIBERIA DISINTEGRATE.

VOICE: "WASHINGTON'S FECKLESS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CONTINUING DISINTEGRATION OF LIBERIA IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE [OF ITS INCHOATE POLICY TOWARD AFRICA]. THE U-S GOVERNMENT HELPED DELIVER LIBERIA'S HORROR BY FUNNELING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE MURDEROUS REGIME OF SAMUEL DOE IN THE 1980S. NOW IT FINDS SOLACE IN A HAND-WRINGING RESIGNATION. THE PROSPECT OF A MILLION GENOCIDAL DEATHS LOOMS IN BURUNDI... [AND IN] NIGERIA, GENERAL SANI ABACHA AND HIS COTERIE OF THUGS HAVE CONVINCED THE WORLD OF THEIR GANGSTERISM. YET THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS ABDICATED ANY LEADERSHIP IN IMPOSING SERIOUS SANCTIONS, SAYING EUROPEANS MUST LEAD THE WAY... THE UNITED STATES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AFRICA. IT NEED ONLY DEMONSTRATE THE WILL."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ABOUT THE PENDING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, NEWSDAY ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND NOTES:

VOICE: "A GROUNDSWELL IS BUILDING TO POSTPONE BOSNIA'S SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS. THE OPPOSITION TO THE VOTE, A KEY PROVISION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD, COMES FROM CREDIBLE QUARTERS, AND THE ARGUMENTS FOR POSTPONING IT UNTIL BETTER CONDITIONS ARE SOUND. BUT THEY ARE NOT COMPELLING ENOUGH. WHY RISK TAKING RASH ACTIONS TO FULFILL IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR A BOSNIAN VOTE WHEN THOSE ACTS [THEMSELVES] MIGHT ULTIMATELY JEOPARDIZE THE FRAGILE BALKAN PEACE?"

TEXT: WE ARE LEFT TO PONDER THAT RHETORICAL QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF EUROPE'S THORNIEST PROBLEMS AS WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS. "
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03-Jun-96 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CLAIMED VICTORY IN THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING IN THE COUNTRY'S DISPUTED GENERAL ELECTION. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS MOST OPPOSITION PARTIES BOYCOTTED THE VOTING, AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO MONITOR IT.

TEXT: PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAYS IT WON SIX OF THE NINE PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AT STAKE IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION ON SUNDAY.

WITH THEIR OVERWHELMING VICTORY IN THE FIRST ROUND, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GAINED 101 OF THE 140 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. WITH MORE THAN A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, THE RULING PARTY COULD APPROVE A NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD INCREASE PRESIDENT BERISHA'S POWER. BUT, THE OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PARTY OF FORMER COMMUNISTS AND OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES BOYCOTTED THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING AFTER DECLARING THE FIRST ROUND WAS RIGGED AGAINST THEM.

ONLY ABOUT ONE-HALF OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS ON SUNDAY, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 85 PERCENT DURING THE FIRST ROUND.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE DID NOT EVEN BOTH TO MONITOR THE RUNOFF VOTE. THE O-S-C-E CHAIRMAN CALLED EARLIER FOR ELECTIONS TO BE REPEATED IN THOSE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION'S MONITORS REPORTED SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES IN THE INITIAL BALLOTING.

PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS DENIED THE ELECTION WAS MANIPULATED AND DENIED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OR RULING PARTY INITIMIDATED VOTERS AND OPPOSITION CANDIDATES.

SOME OPPOSITION CANDIDATES HAVE ENDED A HUNGER STRIKE. BUT, THE OPPOSITION PARTIES, APPARENTLY, STILL INTEND TO BOYCOTT PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS UNLESS THE ELECTION IS REPEATED AND THEY ARE CONFIDENT THE RESULTS ARE FAIR.

THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION IN TIRANA HAS OFFERED TO REPEAT THE VOTING IN A FEW CONSTITUENCIES. THE RULING PARTY IS OFFERING TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE OPPOSITION TO TRY TO AGREE ON THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE ELECTION SHOULD BE RERUN.

THE TWO-STAGE BALLOTING WAS ALBANIA'S THIRD GENERAL ELECTION SINCE COMMUNIST RULE OF THE COUNTRY ENDED IN 1990.

ALBANIA HAS CLEARLY BEGUN TO RECOVER FROM DECADES OF COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP BECAUSE OF WESTERN ORIENTED ECONOMIC REFORMS. BUT, OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE WARNED OF WHAT THEY CALL A NEW DICTATORSHIP, AND THE UNCERTAIN POLITICAL SITUATION IN ALBANIA IS CLEARLY OF CONCERN TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TO THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-96 9:47 AM EDT (1347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/ ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA SAYS HE EXPECTS THE POLLING TO GO AHEAD DESPITE WHAT HE CALLS "MONUMENTAL PROBLEMS." DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS SENIOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THAT HOLDING WHAT THEY CALL SHAM ELECTIONS WILL BE WORSE THAN NO ELECTIONS AT ALL.

TEXT: THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA TO BE HELD BEFORE MID-SEPTEMBER IS STRUGGLING AGAINST THE HARD-LINE NATIONALIST PARTIES ON ALL SIDES HERE IN BOSNIA.

AMBASSADOR ROBERT FROWICK, HEAD OF THE TEAM FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, O-S-C-E, SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT WHAT HE CALLS IDYLLIC RESULTS FROM THE ELECTIONS. THERE HAS BEEN ONLY MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, ASSOCIATION AND EXPRESSION. BUT HE SAYS THE POLLING CANNOT WAIT FOR A FULLY DEMOCRATIC ENVIRONMENT.

IF THERE IS A GROSS, SERIOUS, MANIFEST DETERIORATION OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE EVEN HAVE NOW, IN PARTICULAR IF THERE IS A RESUMPTION OF COMBAT, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT COULD DERAIL IT.

AMBASSADOR FROWICK ADMITS THE ELECTIONS, A KEY PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, ARE BEING RUSHED. HE SAYS HE WISHES HE HAD SEVERAL YEARS, INSTEAD OF SEVERAL MONTHS. BUT HE SAYS THE NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA, KNOWN AS I-FOR, WILL NOT STAY LONG BEYOND THEIR DECEMBER PULL-OUT DATE.

I-FOR IS NOT GOING TO STAY HERE IN THIS STRENGTH FOR VERY LONG. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. NEITHER IS O-S-C-E OR ANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, AT THE LEVELS THAT WE HAVE NOW.

AT THE BALKAN SUMMIT HELD IN GENEVA DURING THE WEEKEND, AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND BALKAN LEADERS SUPPORTED HOLDING THE ELECTIONS BY MID-SEPTEMBER. BUT THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT REACHED ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT, RADOVAN KARADZIC.

AMBASSADOR FROWICK SAID HE BELIEVES THE REMOVAL OF MR. KARADZIC, WHO IS UNDER INDICTMENT FOR WAR CRIMES, IS CRUCIAL.

IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IF HE COULD BE EXPUNGED. ALL I CAN DO IS TO SPEAK FOR O-S-C-E WITH RESPECT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SOMETHING BEING DONE THAT'S DEFINITIVE -- THAT REMOVES HIM FROM PUBLIC LIFE.

BUT BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH ELECTIONS IF THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY DO NOT IMPROVE BY ELECTION DAY.

WITHOUT CHANGES, THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT, ALIA IZETBEGOVIC, SAYS THE ELECTIONS WILL LEAD TO THE DISSOLUTION OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA "FOR SURE." BOSNIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MUHAMED SACIRBEY, SAYS WHAT HE CALLS SHAM ELECTIONS ARE WORSE THAN NO ELECTIONS AT ALL, AND HE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-96 2:21 PM EDT (1821 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA SERBS BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: IT HAS NOW BEEN NEARLY THREE MONTHS SINCE THE CITY OF SARAJEVO WAS REUNITED AND BOSNIA'S MUSLIM DOMINATED GOVERNMENT TOOK CONTROL OF THE DISTRICTS THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY SERBS DURING THE BLOODY 43 MONTH WAR. ALTHOUGH MOST SERBS FLED THE FIVE SUBURBS SHORTLY BEFORE THE TAKEOVER, SOME HAVE STAYED BEHIND. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, LIFE HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

TEXT: UNLIKE THE TWO MILLION PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, 45-YEAR OLD DUSAN SEHOVAC AND HIS FAMILY STILL LIVE IN THE PLEASANT THREE STORY HOUSE HE BUILT IN THE SARAJEVO SUBURB OF ILDZA.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE WORST FIGHTING IN THE WAR TOOK PLACE ALONG THE FRONT LINES NEAR HIS 20 YEAR OLD HOME, THE QUIET SUBURBAN STREET IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNT IGMAN WAS LARGELY LEFT UNDAMAGED.

BUT FOR MODERATE SERBS LIKE MR. SEHOVAC, WHO BELIEVE IN THE DAYTON AGREEMENT'S PROMISE OF A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY, THE DECISION TO REMAIN IN SARAJEVO AFTER THE WAR HAS BROUGHT A DEEP SENSE OF PESSIMISM.

THE INSECURITY FELT BY MR. SEHOVAC AND OTHER SERBS IN SARAJEVO HAS BEEN FUELED BY AN INCREASE IN CASES OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION THAT ARE BEING REPORTED BY INTERNATIONAL POLICE.

IN ONE CASE, POLICE SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER IVANKO SAYS A 95 YEAR OLD SERB WAS SAVAGELY BEATEN IN THE SARAJEVO SUBURB OF GBERVICA.

HE WAS TAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE MONITORS TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, WHERE AFTER EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED HE WAS SUFFERING FROM FOUR BROKEN RIBS AND FRACTURS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT JAW.

IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE RECENT ATTACKS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY MUSLIMS BENT ON REVENGE FOR THE SERB SIEGE OF THE CITY OR SERB EXTREMISTS OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY.

BUT FOR SERBS WHO WANT TO LIVE PEACEFULLY AMONG THE MUSLIM MAJORITY, THE UNWELCOME MESSAGE IS CLEAR. THE INSECURITY ALSO ADDS FUEL TO THE SEPARATIST MESSAGE THAT IS STILL PREACHED BY MOST OF THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP.

MR. SEHOVAC, WHO GREW UP IN SARAJEVO AND WANTS TO STAY IN HIS HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, SAYS MANY OF HIS FORMER NEIGHBORS ARE AFRAID TO COME BACK BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION.

MR. SEHOVAC BLAMES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HIS PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE. IN THE WAKE OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, HE SAYS, OFFICIALS BUILT UP THE HOPES OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE BY PROMISING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND LIVE IN PEACE.

[05] EUROPE/TESTICULAR CANCER (S - ONLY-RERUN) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SWEDISH RESEARCHERS REPORT THAT MODERN EUROPEAN MEN HAVE AS MUCH AS 11 TIMES MORE RISK FOR CANCER OF THE TESTICLES THAN THEIR GRANDFATHERS HAD. AS V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY TELLS US, THE INVESTIGATORS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND THE RISE.

TEXT: SCIENTISTS AT SWEDEN'S UPPSALA UNIVERSITY HAVE FOUND THE INCIDENCE OF TESTICULAR CANCER HAS RISEN SHARPLY SINCE 1920 IN DENMARK, FINLAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN, POLAND, AND THE FORMER EAST GERMANY.

BY ANALYZING TRENDS AMONG 31-THOUSAND CASES OF THE DISEASE IN THOSE SIX COUNTRIES BETWEEN 1945 AND 1989, THE SWEDISH RESEARCHERS FOUND THE INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE HAS RISEN AT RATES RANGING FROM NEARLY TWO-AND-A-HALF PERCENT A YEAR IN SWEDEN TO MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT IN EASTERN GERMANY.

SWEDISH MEN BORN IN 1965 HAD FOUR TIMES THE TESTICULAR CANCER RISK OF MEN BORN 60 YEARS EARLIER. THEIR EAST GERMAN COUNTERPARTS HAD 11 TIMES THE RISK.

THE STUDY -- PUBLISHED IN THE JUNE FIFTH ISSUE OF "THE JOURNAL OF THE [U-S] NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE" -- IS NOT MEANT TO IMPLY THAT TESTICULAR CANCER HAS INCREASED ONLY IN THE SIX COUNTRIES THE SWEDISH RESEARCHERS FOCUSED ON. THEY NOTE THERE IS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TO SHOW IT HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN ALL WESTERN NATIONS STUDIED IN THE PAST.

THEY SAY FUTURE STUDIES SHOULD TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE INCREASE AND WHY IT HAS VARIED AMONG THE COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
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[06] NATO MINISTERS UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BERLIN)

INTRO: NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BERLIN HAVE AGREED TO ESTABLISH A NEW MILITARY COMMAND STRUCTURE THAT WILL GIVE EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE A MORE VISIBLE ROLE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BERLIN NATO IS PREPARING FOR A NEW ERA.

TEXT: MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BERLIN, A SYMBOL OF THE COLD WAR, NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW MILITARY COMMAND STRUCTURE THEY HOPE WILL GIVE THE ALLIANCE A NEW POST-WAR IDENITY. EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF NATO NOW WILL BE ABLE TO FORM THEIR OWN OPERATIONS WITHOUT NECESSARILY INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES. THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO NATO ASSETS INCLUDING AMERICAN EQUIPMENT.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER TOLD REPORTERS THE GREATER EUROPEAN IDENTITY OF NATO SATISFIES THE UNITED STATES.

THIS PROVIDES FOR A STRONGER NATO, A MORE FLEXIBLE NATO AND GIVES THE EUROPEAN ALLIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERTAKE GREATER RESPONSIBILTY, THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT CHANGES.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS MAKE CLEAR THE UNITED STATES WILL STILL HAVE CONTINUED CONTROL IN NATO OVER WHICH OPERATIONS WILL BE APPROVED BY THE ALLIANCE WITH THE OPTION TO STAY HOME WHEN ITS INTERESTS ARE NOT INVOLVED. THE ADDED BENEFIT FOR THE UNITED STATES IS THAT FRANCE WILL FULLY RE-JOIN NATO'S INTEGRATED MILITARY STRUCTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS. THE FRENCH HAD PUSHED FOR A MORE VISIBLE EUROPEAN ROLE IN NATO DECISION MAKING AS THE PRICE FOR TAKING THAT STEP. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-96 2:38 PM EDT (1838 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] NEMEA GAMES BY JAN SLUIZER (NEMEA)

INTRO: IN 1974 ARCHEOLOGY PROFESSOR STEVE MILLER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC) AT BERKELEY BEGAN EXCAVATING ONE OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL SITES FOR PAN-HELLENIC GAMES. THOSE OLYMPICS EVENTS WERE STARTED MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND YEARS AGO (CIRCA 300BC) TO UNIFY IN FRIENDLY ATHLETIC COMPETITION THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE LAND NOW KNOWN AS GREECE. NEMEA WAS ONE OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL SITES ALONG WITH DELPHI, ISTHMIA, AND OLYMPIA. AFTER 22 YEARS OF ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION, MR. MILLER ORGANIZED A REVIVAL OF THE NEMEAN GAMES ON JUNE 1ST. JAN SLUZER WAS THERE AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: ARCHEOLOGY PROFESSOR STEVE MILLER SAYS STAGING THE REVIVAL OF THE NEMEAN GAMES AFTER HE SPENT 22 YEARS EXCAVATING THE SITE WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.

TO SEE THE STADIUM COME BACK TO LIFE AFTER SO MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND TO KNOW THAT THE STONES THAT ARE BEING USED TODAY AFTER SO MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS, WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY ME -- I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ALONG WITH THE LOCAL WORKMEN TO SEE THOSE STONES -- IT WAS A GREAT THRILL. IT CAN ONLY BE CHARACTERIZED AS A THRILL -- SOMETHING, I GUESS, LIKE GIVING BIRTH IN A WAY -- A REBIRTH, IT'S WONDERFUL.

MILLER TRIED TO REVIVE THE GAMES AT NEMEA AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE PAN-HELLENIC GAMES AS HELD HERE 23-HUNDRED YEARS AGO. IN THE LOCKER ROOM SLAVES WEARING YELLOW TUNICS HELPED THE ATHLETES GET READY. MOST PARTICIPANTS WORE WHITE TUNICS. THEN, BEFORE THE ATHLETES PASSED THROUGH THE RECENTLY EXCAVATED TUNNEL TO THE STADIUM, A JUDGE IN A BLACK TUNIC, WEARING A WREATH OF FIG LEAVES ADMINISTERED AN OATH.

DO YOU SWEAR TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THE NEMEAN GAMES AND TO DO NOTHING THAT WOULD BRING SHAME TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY OR THE SPIRIT OF THE ANCIENT GAMES? (ATHLETES:) I DO. (JUDGE:) NOW GO FORWARD INTO THE STADIUM AND BE WORTHY OF VICTORY. (TRUMPET)

A HERALD WEARING A NAVY BLUE TUNIC ANNOUNCED THE RUNNERS AS THEY CAME OUT OF THE TUNNEL, WHILE ANOTHER HERALD READ THE NAMES OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PARTICULAR RACE.

A JUDGE THEN ASKED THE RUNNERS TO CHOOSE MARBLE LOTS FROM A BRASS HELMET TO DETERMINE LANE ASSIGNMENTS. THE ATHLETES POSITIONED THEMSELVES IN THE STONE GROOVES OF THE ANCIENT STARTING MECHANISM. WAITED FOR THE CORDS TO DROP AND THEN TOOK OFF.

PROFESSOR MILLER INSISTED THAT THE ATHLETES RUN BAREFOOT IN THE STADIUM SO THAT THE SOLES OF THEIR FEET MINGLED WITH THE SAME DUST THAT THE OLYMPIANS RAN ON 23-HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

WE WANT THEM TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ANTIQUITY, IMMEDIATELY, DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANTIQUITY THROUGH THE BOTTOMS OF THEIR FEET. ANOTHER REASON IS IN ANTIQUITY ATHLETES RAN NAKED. WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO FORCE PEOPLE TO DO THAT ALTHOUGH WE DON'T DISCOURAGE IT IF THEY WANT TO RUN NAKED. WE DO, AT LEAST, WANT TO HAVE THAT SYMBOLIC ASPECT OF THE FEATURE PRACTICE.

RACES WERE HELD ALL DAY AT THE REVIVAL OF THE NEMEAN GAMES. WINNERS OF RACES WERE GIVEN A PALM BRANCH. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-96 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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