Voice of America, 96-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] KURDS FUTURE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SALAHUDDIN)

[02] U-N / IRAN / IRAQ (S & L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

[03] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[04] RUSSIA/YELTSIN HEALTH (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[05] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KURDS FUTURE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SALAHUDDIN)

INTRO: THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OR THE "K-D-P," NOW CONTROLS THE KURDISH "SAFE HAVEN" AREA IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AFTER OUSTING ITS RIVAL FACTION -- THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN OR "P-U-K" -- FROM ITS STRONGHOLDS. BUT A MIXTURE OF GUARDED HOPES AND FEARS STILL DOMINATE KURDISH EMOTIONS AMID QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE STABILITY AND SECURITY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN WAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND SUMS UP THE CHALLENGES.

TEXT: AN INTERNATIONAL RELIEF WORKER WHO HAS LIVED IN NORTHERN IRAQ FOR SEVERAL YEARS DESCRIBES THE NEXT PHASE OF KURDISH POLITICS AS A GRAY AREA OF UNCERTAINTY, FILLED WITH QUESTIONS. THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CONSOLIDATED ITS CONTROL OVER THE NORTH BY OUSTING ITS RIVAL FACTION FROM ITS STRONGHOLDS.

BUT AT WHAT PRICE?

K-D-P LEADER MASSOUD BARZANI'S TEMPORARY MILITARY ALLIANCE WITH BAGHDAD HAS U-S AND ALLIED GOVERNMENTS WORRIED IT MAY HAVE CHANGED THE POLITICAL EQUATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ. A TOP U-S OFFICIAL HAS WARNED MR. BARZANI TO SEVER HIS TIES WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN AND RENEW HIS RELATIONS WITH RIVAL KURDISH LEADER JALAL TALABANI.

THE KURDISH LEADER DEFENSIVELY ARGUES THAT THERE ARE NO DEALS WITH BAGHDAD. THE ONLY AGREEMENT MR. BARZANI WANTS IS A FEDERATION TO GIVE THE KURDS AUTONOMY WITHIN THE IRAQI STATE. AND HE WANTS TO KEEP ALL OPTIONS OPEN UNTIL THEN, INCLUDING CONTINUED UNITED STATES AND ALLIED PROTECTION.

MR. BARZANI SAYS THE KURDS ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THEY HAVE SUFFERED UNDER SADDAM HUSSEIN BUT CANNOT IGNORE THE POWER OF BAGHDAD. HE SPOKE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.

THIS IS ALSO SURPRISING TO EXPECT US TO LIVE IN IRAQ AND BE ENEMIES OF IRAQ. AND ALSO, WHEN WE FACE ATTACKS THERE IS NOBODY TO SUPPORT US. ISN'T IT ALSO THE RIGHT OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE TO ASK WHERE THEY ARE LEADING TO? SO EITHER WE SHOULD HAVE AN ENTITY AND BE PROTECTED, OR TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE THE TRAGEDY REPEAT ITSELF.

BEFORE THE KURDS CAN NEGOTIATE FOR A FEDERATION THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR OWN POLITICAL HOUSE IN ORDER. K-D-P OFFICIAL FADEL MIRANI IS BLUNT ABOUT THE NEED FOR A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT, EVEN THOUGH HIS FACTION IS NOW IN CONTROL.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A NATIONAL UNITY BECAUSE K-D-P AS A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION DOES NOT AND WILL NOT WANT TO HAVE A ROLE OF DICTATOR OR THE ONLY POWER ORGANIZATION IN THE AREA.

A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT WILL SET THE GROUND RULES FOR NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN SOUNDS CONFIDENT THE P-U-K POLITICIANS WILL PARTICIPATE. BUT AFTER A LONG HISTORY OF FACTIONAL FEUDS, THE KURDS ASK HOW LONG WILL THE CALM LAST THIS TIME?

ANOTHER PRESSING PROBLEM IS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AFTER THE EXODUS OF U-S AID AGENCIES AND MORE THAN 500 OF THEIR KURDISH WORKERS. THE EVACUATION OF THE COMMAND CENTER FOR "OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT" HAS DEALT A PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW AS WELL. MR BARZANI WARNS THAT ITS ABSENCE COULD ENCOURAGE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO RETURN.

THE COMMAND POST WAS THE TANGIBLE SYMBOL OF THE ALLIED MISSION TO PROTECT THE KURDS FROM SADDAM HUSSEIN'S WRATH. ONE AID OFFICIAL DESCRIBES OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT NOW AS SIMPLY AN ILLUSION.

THE KURDS ALSO WANT PROTECTION FROM TURKEY AND IRAN. BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE SENT TROOPS ACROSS THE BORDER TO PURSUE KURDISH REBELS. BUT ANALYSTS TALK OF THE CONTRADICTORY GOALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORING IRAN, SYRIA AND TURKEY. THEY SAY THE NEIGHBORS MAY WANT A STABLE KURDISH SAFE HAVEN IN IRAQ, BUT NOT ONE STABLE ENOUGH FOR A SEPARATE ENTITY. THAT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEIR OWN KURDISH COMMUNITIES TO DO THE SAME.

KURDS IN TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF NORTHERN IRAQ EXPRESS A LACK OF CONFIDENCE NOW, BOTH IN THEIR LEADERS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THEY REMEMBER THE LAST ATTEMPT AT SELF-GOVERNMENT DISINTEGRATED INTO FACTIONAL FEUDS.

[02] U-N / IRAN / IRAQ (S & L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS ARE ASKING IRAN TO RE-LOCATE A LARGE GROUP OF IRAQI KURDISH REFUGEES, WHOSE CAMP CAME UNDER FIRE DURING AN ARTILLERY EXCHANGE BETWEEN IRAQI AND IRANIAN FORCES EARLIER THIS WEEK. OFFICIALS OF THE GENEVA-BASED U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES BRIEFED REPORTERS ON THE INCIDENT FRIDAY, AND WE HAVE DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS.

TEXT: SPOKESWOMAN CHRISTIANE BERTHIAUME SAYS 11 IRAQI KURDISH REFUGEES WERE KILLED AND 35 WERE WOUNDED DURING WEDNESDAY'S SHELLING AT THE SIRANBAND CAMP LOCATED JUST INSIDE IRANIAN TERRITORY.

THE CAMP IS ON THE BORDER. FIGHTING STARTED ON THE IRAQI SIDE OF THE BORDER, VERY NEAR THE BORDER. AND AFTER THAT, THERE WAS SOME SHELLING INSIDE IRAN. AND IRAN RETALIATED. AND THE CAMP WAS JUST CAUGHT IN-BETWEEN.

MS. BERTHIAUME COULD PROVIDE NO OTHER DETAILS OF WEDNESDAY'S INCIDENT, AND THE U-N AGENCY COULD NOT CONFIRM REPORTS OF A SECOND ATTACK ON THE CAMP THURSDAY.

BUT THE SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS IS ASKING IRANIAN OFFICIALS TO RE-LOCATE THE 18-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO ANOTHER SITE AT LEAST 150 KILOMETERS FROM THE BORDER.

IRANIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE REGISTERED NEARLY 66-THOUSAND IRAQI KURDISH REFUGEES AT FIVE SEPARATE CAMPS IN IRAN.

THEY ARE RECEIVING AID FROM THE IRANIAN RED CRESCENT SOCIETY, WITH SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENEVA-BASED INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS.

BUT U-N OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN IRAQ REPORT MANY OF THE KURDS WHO FLED THIS MONTH'S FIGHTING IN THE REGION ARE NOW RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES.

THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS TENSIONS ARE EASING AND THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS HAS RESUMED BETWEEN THE KURDISH AREAS AND THE REST OF IRAQ. THIS, THEY SAY, HAS RESULTED IN A DROP IN FUEL PRICES IN THE NORTHERN KURDISH TOWNS.

BUT SPOKESWOMAN MADELAINE MOULIN-ACEVEDO SAYS THERE IS STILL A CONSIDERABLE NEED FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. LAST JUNE, THE UNITED NATIONS ISSUED AN APPEAL FOR MORE THAN 80-MILLION DOLLARS IN AID. BUT SO FAR, THE APPEAL HAS BROUGHT IN ONLY ABOUT 13-MILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
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20-Sep-96 9:35 AM EDT (1335 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE 51ST ANNUAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS ON A NOTE OF REFORM AND FINANCIAL CONCERN; THE UNITED STATES AGAIN REAFFIRMS ITS OPPOSITION TO A SECOND TERM FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI; AND TAIWAN AGAIN IS DENIED A HEARING ON U-N MEMBERSHIP. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENED WITHOUT FANFARE -- LAST YEAR'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION A DISTANT MEMORY. THE ASSEMBLY'S PRESIDENT -- VETERAN DIPLOMAT ISMAIL RAZALI OF MALAYSIA -- NOTED THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY. HE SAID THE U-N IS BEING CRITICIZED FOR ITS INABILITY TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO INTERNATIONAL CRISES AND URGED THE WORLD COMMUNITY NOT TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL:

CLEARLY WHAT WE PRODUCE FROM OUR DELIBERATIONS MUST MATTER, MUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE OCCASIONS OF LONG DELAYS AND LONG LUNCHES WHICH LEAD TO MORE DELAYS AT ENORMOUS COST ARE OVER. SO TOO I TRUST THE TORTURE OF LONG, UNFOCUSED SPEECHES IN THE COMMITTEES.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS PUT OVER 150 ITEMS ON ITS AGENDA -- THE USUAL ISSUES IT TAKES UP EVERY YEAR. THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED ITEM DURING THIS YEAR'S SESSION IS THE ELECTION OF A SECRETARY-GENERAL. BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI'S TERM IS UP IN DECEMBER. THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO VETO HIS RE-ELECTION. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SELECTS A SECRETARY-GENERAL UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT THIS PAST WEEK STRESSED THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND ABOUT LOOKING FOR NEW LEADERSHIP. SHE SAID MR. BOUTROS-GHALI IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY REFORM-MINDED FOR HIS CRITICS IN WASHINGTON -- ESPECIALLY IN THE U-S CONGRESS:

WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT -- THAT IS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS FROM CONGRESS AND IT IS BASED IN PART ON THE ABILITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO REFORM ITSELF. AND IT IS THE JOB OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO REFORM THE UNITED NATIONS.

WASHINGTON'S FAILURE TO PAY ITS MANDATORY U-N DUES IN FULL OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS HAS PRECIPITATED A CHRONIC FINANCIAL CRISIS FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI, ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING THIS PAST WEEK, DISPLAYED DARK HUMOR ABOUT SOME OF THE CHARGES LEVELED AT HIM -- BY U-S MILITIA GROUPS AND RIGHT-WING POLITICIANS:

IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK FROM VACATION. FRANKLY, I GET BORED ON VACATION. IT IS MUCH MORE FUN AT WORK HERE -- BLOCKING REFORM, FLYING MY BLACK HELICOPTERS, IMPOSING GLOBAL TAXES, DE-MORALIZING MY STAFF...

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FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR, TAIWAN LOST ITS BID FOR U-N MEMBERSHIP. A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE DURING THE CURRENT ASSEMBLY SESSION DIED IN COMMITTEE. CHINA WARNED GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN WOULD AMOUNT TO INTERFERENCE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

CHINA CONSIDERS TAIWAN A RENEGADE PROVINCE AND TOOK OVER ITS U-N SEAT IN 1971.

TAIWAN WAS BACKED BY A HANDFUL OF MOSTLY AFRICAN , CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS. CHINA SAID THEY WERE SWAYED BY ECONOMICS. TAIWAN HAS A FLOURISHING TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH SCORES OF COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
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20-Sep-96 5:58 PM EDT (2158 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA/YELTSIN HEALTH (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S CURRENT HOSPITAL STAY HAS BEEN EXTENDED A THIRD TIME, AS DOCTORS PREPARE FOR HIS HEART SURGERY. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. YELTSIN HAS DRAFTED A SERIES OF DECREES OUTLINING THE TRANSFER OF POWER DURING THE OPERATION.

TEXT: CHIEF KREMLIN PHYSICIAN SERGEI MIRONOV SAID FRIDAY THE 65-YEAR-OLD RUSSIAN LEADER IS FACING WHAT HE CALLED A 'BIG AND SERIOUS OPERATION.'

DR. MIRONOV SAID THERE IS SOME RISK, SO THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES BALANCED AND SERIOUS PREPARATION. HE TOLD REPORTERS PRESIDENT YELTSIN WOULD REMAIN HOSPITALIZED FOR ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR DAYS FOR MORE TESTS.

WHEN MR. YELTSIN WAS ADMITTED A WEEK AGO, KREMLIN OFFICIALS SAID HIS STAY WOULD BE FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS. REPEATED EXTENSIONS HAVE GIVEN RISE TO SPECULATION THAT MR. YELTSIN MAY BE SUFFERING FROM OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS.

WHEN ASKED SPECIFICALLY FRIDAY ABOUT REPORTS THE PRESIDENT IS SUFFERING FROM LIVER TROUBLE, DR. MIRONOV WAS VAGUE. HE SAID EVERYONE DEVELOPS ORGAN PROBLEMS AS THEY AGE, ADDING -- AS HE PUT IT -- 'UNFORTUNATELY BORIS YELTSIN ALSO HAS THEM.'

THE KREMLIN PHYSICIAN WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO DENY RUMORS THE SURGERY WOULD BE PERFORMED BY FOREIGN DOCTORS, INCLUDING FAMED AMERICAN SURGEON MICHAEL DEBAKEY.

DR. MIRONOV SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THE OPERATION WOULD BE DONE BY RUSSIAN DOCTORS, USING THE LATEST TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY. HE SAID RUSSIA'S TOP HEART SURGEON, RENAT AKCHURIN, WOULD HEAD THE TEAM OF SPECIALISTS.

DR. DEBAKEY, WHO IS DUE IN MOSCOW NEXT WEEK, IS TO PARTICIPATE IN A DOCTORS' STRATEGY SESSION SET FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY, AT WHICH TIME THE EXACT DATE OF MR. YELTSIN'S SURGERY WILL BE DECIDED. BUT DR. MIRONOV SAID THE AMERICAN DOCTOR WILL NOT BE PART OF THE SURGICAL TEAM.

NEWS AGENCIES FRIDAY SAID MR. YELTSIN HAD PREPARED THREE DECREES COVERING THE TRANSFER OF POWER TO PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WHILE MR. YELTSIN IS UNDERGOING SURGERY. THE INTERFAX NEW AGENCY SAYS THE DECREES ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE PRESIDENT RETAINS AUTHORITY UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MINUTE -- AND RESUMES CONTROL THE MOMENT HE REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS.

COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV, THE LOSER IN JULY'S PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF VOTE, FRIDAY ACCUSED KREMLIN AIDES OF CONCEALING MR. YELTSIN'S HEALTH PROBLEMS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

MR. ZYUGANOV SAID AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT HE CONSIDERS IT IMMORAL TO SPECULATE ABOUT POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS AS LONG AS THE INCUMBENT IS ALIVE. BUT HE SAID HE SEES HIMSELF AS THE FRONT-RUNNER IN ANY FUTURE CONTEST FOR POWER IN THE KREMLIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/PH/PCF/RRM
20-Sep-96 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ELECTION RESULTS IN BOSNIA CONTINUE TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF MANY AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, AND GOVERNMENT APPROVAL THIS WEEK, IN THE UNITED STATES, OF A CONTROVERSIAL ABORTION PILL. NOW, FOR A CLOSER LOOK, HERE IS __________________ WITH FRIDAY'S'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, TODAY, THE BALTIMORE SUN NOTES THAT THE PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA, AS CONFIRMED BY THE RECENT U.S. SPONSORED ELECTIONS, IS A MUSLIM. THE MOVE, SAYS THE NEWSPAPER, IS A FAVORABLE ONE.

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] LIKE THE SERB AND CROAT LEADERS WHO SHARE A CUMBERSOME TRIPARTITE PRESIDENCY, ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC FAVORS THE KIND OF FERVENT NATIONALISM THAT PLUNGED THE BALKAN NATION INTO 3-1/2 YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. BUT UNLIKE HIS COUNTERPARTS, HE SAW SELF-INTEREST IN A UNIFIED COUNTRY DOMINATED BY ITS MUSLIM MAJORITY. THE SERBS AND CROAT MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE PRESIDENCY CAMPAIGNED IN FAVOR OF PARTITION AND EVENTUAL UNION WITH 'MOTHER SERBIA' AND 'MOTHER CROATIA'. [END OPT] THE RESULTS FROM SATURDAY'S FATEFUL ELECTION INDICATE THAT MR. IZETBEGOVIC'S MUSLIM FOLLOWERS VOTED SMART. THEY PILED UP THE VOTE IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT SECTOR OF BOSNIA WHILE SENDING THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS INTO THE SERB SECTOR TO VOTE FOR SERB MODERATES WHO WHITTLED AWAY AT THE MARGIN FOR BREAKAWAY NATIONALISTS."

TEXT: AND, THE PORTLAND (MAINE) PRESS HERALD, TELLS READERS THAT AS THE TOP WINNER, MR. IZETBEGOVIC WILL CHAIR THE PRESIDENCY OF BOSNIA, AND THAT SAYS THE NEWSPAPER WILL BOOST THE COUNTRY'S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] ALONE AMONG THE WINNING CANDIDATES, [MR.] IZETBEGOVIC HAS STRIVED FROM THE BEGINNING FOR A SINGLE INDEPENDENT BOSNIA EXISTING WITHIN ITS PREWAR BORDERS. AS SYMBOLIC HEAD OF STATE, IT IS HE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL DEAL WITH, AND HE WHO WILL PRESENT BOSNIA'S FACE TO THE WORLD.... [END OPT] THOUGH THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY'S MUSLIMS, [MR.] IZETBEGOVIC IS MORE THAN THAT. HIS COUNTERPARTS, [MR.] KRAJISNIK AND [MR.] ZUBAK, CAN BE FAIRLY CALLED SERBIAN AND CROATIAN NATIONALISTS, RESPECTIVELY, BUT [MR.] IZETBEGOVIC IS A BOSNIAN NATIONALIST. IN THE CAUSE OF BOSNIAN NATIONHOOD, IT'S A DISTINCTION THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] BUT, THE NEW YORK TIMES OFFERS THE VIEW THAT "BOSNIA'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS LAST WEEKEND WERE ONLY A FIRST, FLAWED STEP TOWARD CREATING NEW DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN THAT WAR-TORN COUNTRY." THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL ADDS:

VOICE: "NUMEROUS PROBLEMS COULD STILL DISRUPT THE LAUNCHING OF A NEWLY ELECTED PARLIAMENT AND THREE-MAN PRESIDENCY, PARTICULARLY A TURN TOWARD SECESSION BY THE VICTORIOUS SERBIAN AND CROATIAN NATIONALIST PARTIES. TO DEAL WITH THESE DANGERS, THE UNITED STATES AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES WILL NEED A MIX OF PERSISTENT DIPLOMACY AND SANCTION THREATS. IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE NOW TO SURRENDER THE OPTION OF RENEWED ECONOMIC PENALTIES AGAINST SERBIA AND CROATIA SHOULD THEY ENCOURAGE SEPARATISM OR OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT." [END OPT]

TEXT: FRIDAY'S WASHINGTON POST DISCUSSES THE SITUATION IN IRAQ. THE NEWSPAPER INFORMS READERS THAT "A STUNNED CLINTON ADMINISTRATION LET SADDAM HUSSEIN STRIKE POLITICALLY AND THEN MILITARILY INTO THE IRAQI KURDISH HEARTLAND, AND LET SLIP THE BEST -- THE IMMEDIATE -- MOMENT FOR A TOUGH MILITARY RESPONSE."

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] IT NO LONGER SERVES TO DEAL WITH THE KURDS BY EVASION AND IMPROVISATION. THEIR NEGLECT IS NOT ONLY UNJUST BUT COSTLY. NO GOVERNMENTS ARE READY TO MOVE OVER AND MAKE A NEW SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR A KURDISH NATION. THE EXTENSION OF HUMANE TREATMENT, CONSULTATION AND, POSSIBLY, AUTONOMY WITHIN EXISTING NATIONS IS ANOTHER MATTER. [END OPT] IF THE NECESSARY COHERENCE IS NOT YET EVIDENT, THERE IS NOT THE SCANTEST DOUBT ABOUT WHAT MUST BE THE AMERICAN PRIORITY. IT IS TO SAVE BY PHYSICAL REMOVAL AND RESETTLEMENT THE SEVERAL THOUSAND KURDS AND OTHER IRAQIS IN THE NORTH WHO BET THEIR LIVES ON AMERICAN PROTECTION....AT STAKE ARE WHAT SHREDS OF AMERICAN HONOR REMAIN IN THE AMERICAN PROMISED 'SAFE-HAVEN'."

TEXT: THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARGUES THAT AMERICAN REACTION TO IRAQ'S CRACKDOWN ON THE KURDS IS DRIVEN -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS -- "BY POLL RESULTS MORE THAN NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS."

VOICE: "IF [PRESIDENT] CLINTON CAN BE BLAMED FOR EXAGGERATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONFRONTATION AND FAILING TO EXPLAIN HIS ACTIONS, MAYBE BLAME MUST BE SHARED BY MUCH OF THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS, WHICH SPENT FAR MORE TIME ANALYZING THE IMPACT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN THAN THE NATURE OF THE KURDISH DISPUTE THAT WAS MANIPULATED BY [PRESIDENT] HUSSEIN.... [BEGIN OPT] AN OFTEN OVER-LOOKED TRUTH REMAINS: U.S. INTERESTS ARE NOT SERVED BY TOPPLING [PRESIDENT] HUSSEIN, FOR THE PUBLIC HAS NO STOMACH TO TAKE ON IRAQ AS A FULL-TIME WARD OF U.S. TROOPS. LIKE HIM OR NOT, [PRESIDENT] HUSSEIN IS A BALANCE TO IRANIAN EXTREMISM NEXT DOOR. SO LONG AS HE STAYS IN HIS BOX, AMERICA WILL LET HIM STAY IN HIS BOX."

TEXT: "BAD WEEK FOR BAD KOREA" IS THE HEADLINE OF AN EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL.

VOICE: "A MORE NORMAL COUNTRY WOULD BE REELING FROM THE KINDS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS BLOWS RAINING DOWN ON NORTH KOREA THESE DAYS. AT THE HEIGHT OF A NEW EFFORT TO REACH OUT FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT, PYONGYANG FINDS ITSELF IN FRESH TROUBLE WITH SEOUL OVER WORLDWIDE TV FOOTAGE OF A BEACHED NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BOTCHED EFFORT TO INFILTRATE SPIES OR SABOTEURS INTO THE SOUTH. AND AMERICAN POLICY MAKERS EAGER TO REACH OUT TO PYONGYANG HAVE JUST HAD THEIR WINGS CLIPPED BY SENSATIONAL REPORTING ABOUT AMERICAN POWS (PRISONERS OF WAR) LEFT BEHIND AND POSSIBLY SUBJECTED TO GRUESOME COMMUNIST MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS AT THE END OF THE KOREAN WAR. MOSCOW, ONCE NORTH KOREA'S MOST GENEROUS FRIEND, JUST CLOSED ITS TRADE OFFICE IN PYONGYANG AND THE NEWLY APPOINTED RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN COOLING HIS HEELS AT HOME. ALL THIS ON TOP OF CONTINUING BAD NEWS ABOUT FOOD SHORTAGES AND INCIPIENT FAMINE.... NORTH KOREA AS WE KNOW IT IS NOT JUST FRIENDLESS. IN EVERY WAY THAT COUNTS, IT IS ALSO CLUELESS."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THIS WEEK, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION GRANTED CONDITIONAL APPROVAL FOR THE RU-486 ABORTION PILL. IN THE UNITED STATES, REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE THAT IT BE PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN AND ADMINISTERED IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE OVER A TWO DAY PERIOD. RU-486, FIRST USED IN EUROPE, IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY HOPES THAT THE DRUG CAN PUT PRIVACY BACK INTO ABORTION.

VOICE: "PERHAPS IT IS TOO MUCH TO HOPE THAT THE ANTIABORTION ACTIVISTS WHO BULLY, THREATEN -- AND IN SOME INSTANCES, EVEN MURDER -- DOCTORS AND PATIENTS AT ABORTION CLINICS WILL NOW GIVE UP THEIR PURSUIT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM. BUT IF MOST U.S. GYNECOLOGISTS MAKE THE RU-486 REGIMEN AVAILABLE, ALONG WITH THE USUAL RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO WOMEN, THE FANATICS WILL HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHOM TO TARGET. WHAT A RELIEF IF THEY BACK OFF. WOMEN DESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR REPRODUCTIVE DECISIONS WITHOUT PRESSURE FROM HOSTILE STRANGERS."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS THE NEWS ABOUT RU-486 "A MILESTONE IN ABORTION RIGHTS EFFORTS."

VOICE: "FAR FROM MAKING ABORTION AVAILABLE 'ON DEMAND', AS ABORTION FOES HAVE LONG FEARED, THE NEW DRUG COULD INSTEAD MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICE TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY WHAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS SAID IT SHOULD BE: A DEEPLY PERSONAL DECISION BY A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR." [END OPT]

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM FRIDAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES, WE

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