Voice of America, 96-09-03

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] HUNGARY / ROMANIA (L) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

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

INTRO: THE WEEKEND'S IRAQI INVASION OF A KURDISH-CONTROLLED CITY WITHIN THE ALLIED "NO-FLY" ZONE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ IS A PRIME CONCERN FOR EDITORIAL WRITERS RETURNING AFTER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND. OTHER TOPICS IN TUESDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS INCLUDE THE SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA; U-S WELFARE REFORM; THE BAN ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND THE STRUGGLE TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR A NUCLEAR-TEST BAN TREATY. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ____________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES RETALIATORY MISSILE ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY TARGETS EARLY TUESDAY CAME TOO LATE FOR NEWSPAPER EDITORS TO REACT IN TODAY'S EDITIONS. BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF COMMENT ON THE IRQI INVASION OR THE NORTHERN CITY OF IRBIL BY BETWEEN 30 AND 40-THOUSAND OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S BEST TROOPS. IRBIL IS NORTH OF THE 36TH PARALLEL, WHICH IS THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE "NO-FLY" ZONE, AND SO-CALLED SAFE HAVEN FOR THE KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE IRAQI FORCES INVADED IRBIL TO HELP A PRO-SADDAM KURDISH FACTION WREST CONTROL OF THE CITY FROM AN OPPOSING FACTION IT HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR CONTROL OF THE REGION. THE SITUATION DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM USA TODAY.

VOICE: "ADDING INSULT TO BUTCHERY, THE IRAQI PRESIDENT ORDERED THE ATTACK 'AFTER' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] THE UNITED STATES WARNED HIM, THROUGH IRAQ'S U-N MISSION, NOT TO MAKE THE MOVE. OUTRAGEOUS BUT NOT SURPRISING. EVER SINCE IRAQ'S ASTONISHING INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990, SADDAM HAS DEMONSTRATED AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT HIS ONLY PREDICTABLE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR ARE DEFIANCE AND BRUTALITY... THE MESSAGE HERE IS PLAIN. SADDAM PERCEIVES COMPROMISE AS WEAKNESS. IF HIS ATTACKS ON THE KURDS ARE IGNORED, HE WILL TEST HIS LIMITS ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING KUWAIT, UNTIL HE GETS A RESPONSE."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN, SEEMINGLY ANTICIPATING A U-S MILITARY RESPONSE TO THE IRAQI INVASION, WARNED AGAINST ANYTHING MORE THAN A MISSILE ATTACK AT THIS TIME.

VOICE: "A MILITARY RESPONSE ... IS THE EASY PART. FAR MORE DUBIOUS WOULD BE ANY U-S ACTION TO RESTORE THE SITUATION TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE IRAQI PRESIDENT SENT HIS TROOPS INTO THE BALTIMORE-SIZED CITY OF ERBIL AND COMMENCED THE SLAUGHTER OF KURDS ALIGNED WITH IRAN."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REFERS TO WHAT IT CALLS "THE MESS IN IRAQ" IN CRITICIZING U-S POLICY IN THE REGION GOING BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION OF GEORGE BUSH.

VOICE: "U-S POLICY IN THE REGION HAS CONSISTED OF A SERIES OF HALF-MEASURES. FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH REFUSED TO FINISH OFF SADDAM FOR FEAR OF 'DESTABILIZING' THE REGION. THEN MR. BUSH CALLED ON THE IRAQI MILITARY, IRAQI KURDS AND IRAQI SHIITES TO OVERTHROW THE DICTATOR. WHEN THE KURDS DID RISE UP, THE ENSUING SLAUGHTER IN NORTHERN IRAQ PROMPTED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE THE NO-FLY ZONE AND TAKE OTHER MEASURES ON BEHALF OF 'STABILIZATION.' THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN TO SHOW A PROFOUND LACK OF INTEREST IN THE AREA -- NEGLECTING EVEN A VITAL ALLY, TURKEY -- CREATING THE POWER VACUUM THAT HAS PULLED ALL THE PARTIES INTO THE CURRENT MAELSTROM."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER INTERNAITONAL CONCERN, THE NORTH KOREA FOOD SHORTAGE CRISIS, AND THE RECENT OBSERVATIONS OF OHIO CONGRESSMAN TONY HALL, WHO TOURED THE AREA, THE NEW YORK POST EXPRESSES LITTLE SYMPATHY.

VOICE: "NORTH KOREA, IN A NUTSHELL, HAS ITS PRIORITIES ASKEW. ALREADY ARGUABLY THE MOST MILITARIZED NATION ON EARTH, ... PYONGYANG ACTUALLY IS 'INCREASING' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ITS INVESTMENT IN WEAPONRY -- AND NOT ONLY FOR EXPORT... THAT PYONGYANG CHOOSES TO CONCENTRATE ON MILITARY STRENGTH AT THE EXPENSE OF FEEDING ITS PEOPLE PROPERLY IS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, ENTIRELY ITS OWN BUSINESS. NEVERTHELESS, WE SUSPECT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN FINDING A BIT TIRESOME THE RECURRING TALES OF MALNUTRITION NORTH OF THE 38TH PARALLEL."

TEXT: TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW NATIONAL WELFARE REFORM LAW WHICH DICTATES THAT AID RECIPIENTS MUST EVENTUALLY GET JOBS. THE MONITOR WONDERS HOW UNTRAINED WELFARE RECIPIENTS CAN ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

VOICE: "THESE ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE WITH LITTLE OR NO WORK EXPERIENCE AND MINIMAL EDUCATION... THE COMING WELFARE OVERHAUL, TO MEET ITS GOALS, WILL NEED THE WIDEST POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION BY ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY."

TEXT: TODAY'S SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE IS CALLING FOR THE U-S CONGRESS TO FINALLY RATIFY THE INTERNAITONAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY.

VOICE: "THE PENTAGON TOOK A BIG STEP TOWARD A SAFER WORLD WHEN IT BEGAN INCINERATING AMERICA'S VAST STOCKPILE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT A UTAH DISPOSAL SITE TWO WEEKS AGO. THIS MONTH, WHEN LEGISLATORS RETURN TO WASHINGTON FOR THE MOP-UP SESSION OF THE 104TH CONGRESS, THEY CAN TAKE AN EVEN GREATER STEP BY FINALLY RATIFYING THE INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, WHICH TOTALLY BANS CHEMICAL WEAPONS. [OPT] ... THOUGH [SENATOR JESSE HELMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE,] HAS FINALLY PERMITTED THE TREATY TO COME UP FOR A ... RATIFICATION VOTE, ... HE HAS LED A CHARACTERISTICALLY DISHONEST CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE ITS DEFEAT. HE MUST NOT SUCCEED."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO SUPPORTS THE TREATY, NOTING:

VOICE: "BY VOTING TO RATIFY, SENATORS CAN MAKE IT HARDER FOR A FUTURE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO ENDANGER AMERICAN TROOPS WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND HARDER FOR FUTURE TERRORISTS TO UNLEASH LETHAL GASES ON SUBWAY COMMUTERS, AS HAPPENED IN TOKYO LAST YEAR."

TEXT: CONCERNING ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL TREATY, THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN PACT NEARING A VOTE IN THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ALTHOUGH INDIA CONTINUES TO HOLD OUT AGAINST IT, NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND REMARKS:

VOICE: "INDIA DESERVES PLENTY OF HEAT [CRITICISM] FOR SABOTAGING A NUCLEAR TEST-BAN TREATY AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA. BUT INDIA ISN'T THE ONLY NUCLEAR WANNABE ON ITS SUBCONTINENT: PAKISTAN IS ALSO A 'THRESHHOLD' NUCLEAR POWER, AND IT'S APPARENTLY GETTING HELP FROM CHINA IN DEVELOPING NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILES. WITH NUCLEAR-EAGER PAKISTAN ON ONE BORDER AND NUCLEAR-MIGHTY CHINA ON ANOTHER, IT'S NO WONDER INDIA IS RELUCTANT TO RENOUNCE NUCLEAR TESTING OR ITS OWN MISSILE PROGRAMS."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM A SELECTION OF LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS FIRST TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER.
NEB/ANG/PCH
03-Sep-96 11:50 AM EDT (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] HUNGARY / ROMANIA (L) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: ROMANIA'S SOCIAL DEMOCRACY PARTY THREW THE ULTRANATIONALIST NATIONAL UNITY PARTY OUT OF THE GOVERNING COALITION MONDAY FOR ATTACKING PRESIDENT ION ILLIESCU OVER A HISTORIC TREATY WITH NEIGHBORING HUNGARY. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST THE OUSTER CAME ON THE EVE OF A DEBATE IN HUNGARY ABOUT THE TREATY IN WHICH BOTH COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE THEIR MUTUAL BORDERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN SEVENTY YEARS

TEXT: THE RULING SOCIAL DEMOCRACY PARTY ON MONDAY INSTRUCTED ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER NICOLAE VACAROIU TO FORCE THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY, P-U-N-R, TO LEAVE THE COALITION IMMEDIATELY. P-U-N-R, A NATIONALIST ANTI-HUNGARIAN GROUP, HELD FOUR POSTS IN THE COALITION -- JUSTICE, AGRICULTURE, COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT.

MR. VACAROIU'S GOVERNMENT SACKED THREE OF THE P-U-N-R MINISTERS THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE, AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS. IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TRANSPORT MINISTER WHO ANNOUNCED HE WOULD RESIGN FROM P-U-N-R TO STAY IN THE GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAID THE SACKINGS WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE SENIOR NATIONAL UNITY PARTY MEMBERS HAD SHOWN NO WILLINGNESS TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM STATEMENTS MADE BY THEIR LEADER, GEORGHE FUNAR.

MR. FUNAR LAST WEEK CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ILLIESCU FOR AGREEING TO A MUCH DELAYED BASIC TREATY WITH HUNGARY.

IN THE TREATY, BOTH COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE THEIR CURRENT BORDERS AFTER MORE THAN SEVENTY YEARS OF DISPUTES WHICH WERE IGNORED DURING THE COMMUNIST EREA THAT FOLLOWED WORLD WAR TWO.

HUNGARY LOST TWO-THIRDS OF ITS TERRITORY TO BORDERING COUNTRIES SUCH AS ROMANIA AFTER WORLD WAR ONE. THE LOSS LED TO MANY PERIODS OF TENSION BETWEEN ROMANIA AND HUNGARY.

THE PROBLEMS WERE HIGHLIGHTED RECENTLY WHEN ROMANIA ADOPTED LAWS LIMITING MINORITY EDUCATION AND BANNING THE HOISTING OF FOREIGN FLAGS.

THE HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT WILL DEBATE THE BASIC TREATY TUESDAY, AND HUNGRIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE LIKELY TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT WITHIN WEEKS.

THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE HUNGARIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, GABOR AZENT IVANYI, SAYS HUNGARY AND ROMANIA WERE MORE OR LESS PRESSURED TO AGREE TO THE TREATY BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BOTH COUNTRIES WANT TO JOIN.

THESE COUNTRIES ARE ON THE ROAD TO GETTING INTEGRATED INTO DIFFERENT EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A PRE-CONDITION, IT WAS QUITE OFTEN MENTIONED BY E-U AND NATO LEADERS AND MEMBER STATES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY WOULD NOT LIKE TO IMPORT TENSIONS.

HUNGARY AND ROMANIA AGREED ON THE TEXT OF THE TREATY ONLY AFTER BUDAPEST DROPPED EARLIER DEMANDS FOR MORE AUTONOMY FOR THE ESTIMATED TWO MILLION HUNGARIANS LIVING IN ROMANIA.

BUT HUNGARIAN REFORM BISHOP LASLO TOKES OF ROMANIA, WHO WAS A SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE DURING AND BEFORE THE ROMANIAN REVOLUTION, TELLS V-O-A HUNGARIANS IN ROMANIA MUST BE ALLOWED SOME DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.

WE CAN IMPROVE OUR SITUATION OR PRESERVE OUR IDENTITY ONLY IF WE BECOME A COLLECTIVE SUBJECT. IF WE CAN DECIDE UPON QUESTIONS REGARDING US AND ONLY US, SUCH AS THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

MR. TOKES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN ROMANIA TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CONVICE HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER GYULA HORN EITHER NOT TO SIGN THE TREATY OR AT LEAST TO CHANGE ITS TEXT.

BUT HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY SETTLING THE BORDER ISSUE WITH ROMANIA IS A STEP NECESSARY TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF HISTORY, ALTHOUGH THEY ADMIT THE TREATY MAY NOT BE THE PROPER MEDICINE FOR ALL NATIONALISTIC PROBLEMS IN THE TROUBLED REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/KL
02-Sep-96 8:40 PM EDT (0040 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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