Voice of America, 97-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] AZERBAIJAN/NAGORNO-KARABAKH (S ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[02] BOSNIA / AID BY ART CHIMES (BANJA LUKA)

[03] BOSNIAN REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[05] LANDMINES TREATY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[06] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

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

[08] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[09] U-S-BOSNIA RADIO (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] AZERBAIJAN/NAGORNO-KARABAKH (S ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: ETHNIC ARMENIANS IN THE DISPUTED ENCLAVE OF NAGORNO- KARABAKH HAVE ELECTED A NEW PRESIDENT. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE ELECTION IS AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR BID FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM AZERBAIJAN.

TEXT: FORTY-YEAR-OLD ARKADY GUKASYAN WAS DECLARED WINNER OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TUESDAY. OFFICIALS SAY MR. GUKASYAN, WHO CURRENTLY HOLDS THE TITLE OF FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE BREAKAWAY REGION, CAPTURED 90-PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

AZERBAIJAN, WHICH LOST A SIX-YEAR WAR FOR CONTROL OF THE ARMENIAN ENCLAVE, CALLED THE VOTE INVALID. RUSSIA EXPRESSED ITS OPPOSITION, AND SAID ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN SHOULD NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH QUESTION.

BUT MR. GUKASYAN TOLD REPORTERS THE DISPUTE WOULD BE SETTLED ONLY BY THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH. HE REJECTED FOREIGN MEDIATION EFFORTS, SAYING "IT IS SENSELESS TO TALK ABOUT THE REGION AS PART OF AZERBAIJAN."

MR. GUKASYAN WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING HE WOULD STRENGTHEN NAGORNO-KARABAKH'S MILITARY FORCES, BECAUSE TALKS WITH AZERI OFFICIALS HAD REACHED A STALEMATE. (SIGNED)
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02-Sep-97 10:31 AM EDT (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / AID BY ART CHIMES (BANJA LUKA)

INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN AID AGENCY IS OFFERING BUSINESS LOANS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO SPUR THE ECONOMY, PROMOTE EXPORTS, AND CREATE JOBS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC REPORTS THE PROGRAM ALSO IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: BOSNIA'S POST-WAR ECONOMY HAS BEEN SLOW IN RE-STARTING. FEW OF THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR FACTORIES, MILLS, AND OTHER LARGE ENTERPRISES ARE OPERATING AT ANYTHING NEAR CAPACITY. UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS HIGH, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE EITHER UNDER-EMPLOYED OR WORK IN THE BLACK MARKET OR OTHER INFORMAL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

NORMALIZATION HAS BEEN SLOW IN COMING TO BOSNIA WHICH, DESPITE THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, REMAINS DIVIDED INTO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SERB REPUBLIC. THE TWO ENTITIES USE DIFFERENT CURRENCIES, DRIVE CARS WITH DIFFERENT LICENSE PLATES, AND GENERALLY ACT LIKE SEPARATE COUNTRIES. IT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAN THE DAYTON AGREEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO CREATE.

IN AN EFFORT TO ADVANCE BOTH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL GOALS, THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM CALLED "BUSINESS FINANCE", IN WHICH LOCAL BANKS WILL MAKE AMERICAN-SUPPORTED LOANS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. APPLICANTS HAVE TO AGREE TO SUPPORT DAYTON, AS WILL THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS, BEFORE A LOAN WILL BE GRANTED.

IN THE BOSNIAN-SERB CITY OF BANJA LUKA RECENTLY, MORE THAN 100 BUSINESS PEOPLE CROWDED INTO THE SMOKY RESTAURANT OF THE HOTEL BOSNIA TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM. AT THE SEMINAR, AMERICAN OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE PROGRAM AND GAVE THE WOULD-BE BORROWERS A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

THE PROGRAM ALSO ATTEMPTS TO REVITALIZE BOSNIA'S RUDIMENTARY POSTWAR BANKING SYSTEM BY GIVING BANKS A ROLE IN REVIEWING AND PROCESSING THE LOANS, AND THEY GET A FEE FOR THEIR SERVICES. THE UNITED STATES WILL, HOWEVER, ASSUME THE RISKS OF DEFAULT.

THE PROGRAM'S CO-ORDINATOR, JOHN HEARD, SAYS THE PROGRAM IS TECHNICALLY FUNDED AT 250-MILLION DOLLARS, BUT IN PRACTICE EVEN MORE MONEY IS AVAILABLE.

THE ONLY REAL LIMIT IS THE CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY ABSORB THOSE RESOURCES AND OUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER. EACH LOAN REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF WORK IN TERMS OF CREDIT AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS, AND AS THESE LOANS ARE IMPLEMENTED THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE, SO THAT'S THE LIMITING FACTOR. MONEY IS NOT THE LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW.

MR. HEARD AND OTHER AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO CREATE JOBS, SO BUSINESSMAN CEDO SILJEGOVIC PROBABLY HAS A GOOD CHANCE. HE OWNS A GROCERY STORE WITH EIGHT EMPLOYEES AND WANTS TO BORROW 400-THOUSAND GERMAN MARKS TO BUY SOME KIND OF MACHINE. HE IS PRETTY SECRETIVE ABOUT JUST WHAT KIND OF MACHINE, BUT IT APPARENTLY INVOLVES FOOD PROCESSING OF SOME SORT, AND HE EMPHASIZES THAT IT WILL CREATE JOBS.

I THINK IF WE HAVE GOOD [ASSISTANCE FROM] EXPERT PEOPLE WE CAN [CREATE] GOOD JOBS. WITH [THIS NEW] MACHINE I HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT PLACE FOR [PEOPLE TO] WORK AND [THIS WOULD BE] GOOD BUSINESS.

IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT IMPACT THIS PROGRAM -- OR ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT EFFORT -- WILL HAVE ON THE BOSNIAN ECONOMY. IT IS EVEN HARDER TO ASSESS WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

JOHN HEARD, THE U-S A-I-D OFFICIAL, PUT IT THIS WAY:

I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE ARE PUT BACK TO WORK AND HAVE A STAKE IN THE ECONOMY AND IN THE STABILITY OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THAT POLITICAL GOAL, I THINK.

IN AN EFFORT TO EXTEND THE POLITICAL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM, IT WAS RECENTLY EXPANDED TO INCLUDED THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC. BUT BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT AND IN AREAS WHERE LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUPPORT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, U-S OFFICIALS ADMIT THE PROGRAM CAN BE INTERPRETED AS A GESTURE OF SUPPORT FOR BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC IN HER RIVALRY WITH HARDLINE LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC. (SIGNED)
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02-Sep-97 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIAN REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY (U-N-H-C-R) SAYS ITS PROGRAM OF RETURNING MINORITY REFUGEES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS RUN INTO TROUBLE AGAIN. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE AGENCY REPORTS A MOB OF CROATS PREVENTED A BUSLOAD OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FROM VISITING THE CROAT-CONTROLLED TOWN OF STOLAC (ON MONDAY).

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT FEARS THE VIOLENT ACTIONS OF THE CROAT MOB AGAINST THE VISITING MUSLIMS MIGHT MAKE BOSNIAN REFUGEES RELUCTANT TO GO BACK TO THEIR FORMER HOMES.

TWENTY-TWO BOSNIAN FAMILIES WERE DUE TO RETURN TO STOLAC WEDNESDAY AS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT, U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN PAM O'TOOLE SAYS THE PLANNED RETURN MAY NOT GO AHEAD IF THE SITUATION DOES NOT CALM DOWN.

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS ABOUT 40 BOSNIAN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, WHO WERE REBUILDING HOUSES FOR THE REFUGEES ALSO CAME UNDER ATTACK MONDAY AND HAD TO BE ESCORTED OUT OF STOLAC BY SOLDIERS OF THE PEACEKEEPING STABILIZATION FORCE.

TODAY, WHEN THEY TRIED TO RE-ENTER THE CITY, THEIR BUS WAS STONED. WINDOWS ON THEIR BUS WERE BROKEN, A COUPLE OF THE WORKERS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED. SO, THEY'VE AGAIN BEEN FORCED TO ABANDON THEIR WORK. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THERE WAS A SIMILAR INCIDENT BACK IN MID-AUGUST. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S EXTREMELY WORRYING.

THE BUSLOAD OF BOSNIANS WENT TO STOLAC AS PART OF A PROJECT AIMED AT ENCOURAGING MUSLIM AND CROAT REFUGEES TO RETURN TO HOMES THEY ABANDONED DURING THE WAR. HOWEVER, THE REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS STOLAC IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF CROATS WHO APPARENTLY DO NOT WANT THE MINORITY MUSLIMS TO COME BACK.

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS THE REFUGEE AGENCY STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED AGREEMENT FROM THE CROAT AUTHORITIES IN STOLAC TO ALLOW ANOTHER GROUP OF 37 FAMILIES TO RETURN.

STOLAC IS ONE OF FOUR CITIES WHICH WAS CHOSEN AS PART OF A PILOT PROJECT TO RETURN MINORITIES. THE PROJECT WAS SET UP TO DEMONSTRATE THE COMMITMENT OF BOTH MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION TO INTEGRATE ETHNIC MINORITIES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS STOLAC IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR CITIES WHICH HAS NOT COMPLETED ITS PROJECT. (SIGNED)
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02-Sep-97 8:13 AM EDT (1213 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ON THE MAJOR MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE SOARED TUESDAY, RECOVERING MUCH OF THE LOSSES OF RECENT WEEKS. FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE NUMBERS WERE STUNNING, ESPECIALLY IN PARIS, WHERE THE "CAC 40" INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED UP MORE THAN 115 POINTS -- A FOUR-PERCENT GAIN IN VALUE FOR THAT INDEX, LED BY A WAVE OF PURCHASES OF HIGH-QUALITY OR "BLUE CHIP" STOCKS. IN FRANKFURT, THE GERMAN "DAX 30" INDEX GAINED MORE THAN 57 POINTS IN THE WAKE OF THE SOARING DOLLAR. THE DAX INCREASE EQUALED ABOUT THREE PERCENT OF THAT MARKET'S VALUE. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CAUGHT THE SPIRIT OF THE OTHER MARKETS AND ROARED AHEAD TO CLOSE 82 POINTS HIGHER.

THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED ANOTHER TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE MARK AND TWO CENTS AGAINST THE POUND.

GOLD LOST VALUE IN THE LONDON CLOSING FIX, DOWN TWO DOLLARS-10 CENTS AN OUNCE TO SELL AT 322-DOLLARS-45 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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02-Sep-97 2:36 PM EDT (1836 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] LANDMINES TREATY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: DELEGATES FROM MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES ARE IN OSLO, NORWAY WORKING ON A TREATY TO OUTLAW ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE TO ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT THE CONFERENCE'S ISSUES AND GOALS.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN 110 MILLION LANDMINES OF VARIOUS TYPES -- PLUS MILLIONS MORE UNEXPLODED BOMBS, SHELLS AND GRENADES -- HIDDEN IN AT LEAST 68 COUNTRIES.

A U-N REPORT PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR SAID 85 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S LANDMINE CASUALTIES ARE FOUND IN JUST THREE COUNTRIES -- AFGHANISTAN, ANGOLA AND CAMBODIA. EVERY YEAR, ABOUT 26-THOUSAND CIVILIAN CASUALTIES OCCUR AS A RESULT OF LANDMINE ACCIDENTS.

TIM CARSTAIRS IS AN OFFICIAL WITH A LEADING MINE-CLEARING AGENCY BRITAIN'S "MINE ADVISORY GROUP." HE SAYS THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF LANDMINES GOES FAR BEYOND THE LOSS OF LIFE AND LIMB.

LANDMINES ARE ALL ABOUT LAND AND ALTHOUGH MANY OF US IN THE NORTH (DEVELOPED WORLD) SEEM TO UNDERSTAND FOOD IN TERMS OF SUPERMARKETS, FOR MOST PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, LAND IS A SOURCE OF SURVIVAL. THEY NEED IT TO SUBSIST, AND OUR EXPERIENCE AGAIN SHOWS THAT WHEN LANDMINES ARE USED -- IN HOWEVER GREAT NUMBERS -- THEY DENY VAST TRACTS OF LAND, WHICH ARE THEN NOT USED FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMING OR FOR PASTURE AND SO ON. AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY CREATING AN ENORMOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON MANY, MANY COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

MR. CARSTAIRS WAS SPEAKING FROM OSLO, NORWAY, WHERE DELEGATES FROM MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES ARE TRYING TO COMPLETE A TREATY BANNING THE PRODUCTION, SALE AND USE OF ALL ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES. HE IS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE AS AN OBSERVER, REPRESENTING THE BRITISH HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION.

MR. CARSTAIRS BELIEVES THE FINAL TREATY -- WHICH HE SAYS HOPEFULLY WILL BE READY FOR SIGNATURE IN DECEMBER -- MUST GO FAR BEYOND JUST BANNING THE USE AND SALE OF LANDMINES.

AFTER THIS TREATY IS SIGNED, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. A BAN IS ONLY A PART OF THE WHOLE STORY WHICH INCLUDES, OBVIOUSLY, MINE CLEARANCE AND MORE RESOURCES FOR THAT, FROM GOVERNMENTS, FROM INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS AND SO ON. BUT ALSO VICTIM ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THE THOUSANDS AND PERHAPS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT YEARS WHO WILL -- WHETHER WE HAVE A BAN TREATY OR NOT -- FALL VICTIM TO LANDMINES.

WHEN THE CONFERENCE OPENED MONDAY, DELEGATES OBSERVED A MINUTE OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, WHO CAMPAIGNED VIGOROUSLY TO BAN LANDMINES. //OPT// MR. CARSTAIRS SAYS HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANTI-LANDMINES CRUSADE WAS INVALUABLE.

SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC PERSON, AND BY GOING TO ANGOLA, BOSNIA, BY TAKING PART IN A NUMBER OF SEMINARS WHICH WE ORGANIZED WITH HER, SHE WITNESSED THE DEATHS AND MISERY THAT LANDMINES CAUSE. AND IN HER OWN INIMITABLE WAY, SHE WAS ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO THE HIGH STREET (TO THE COMMON MAN). I THINK PROBABLY NOW, AFTER ALL THE WORK SHE HAD CONTRIBUTED TO, PROBABLY ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT LANDMINES -- WHICH IS REALLY AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.

THE HEAD OF THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE -- JACQUES LANG -- SAID ANY FUTURE ACCORD BANNING LANDMINES SHOULD BE NAMED "THE PRINCESS DIANA TREATY." (SIGNED)
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02-Sep-97 10:35 AM EDT (1435 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES SOARED TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE MARKING AN HISTORIC GAIN. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78 HUNDRED 79, UP 257 POINTS OR THREE PERCENT. IT WAS THE LARGEST POINT GAIN EVER IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE BEATING THE OLD RECORD SET ON OCTOBER 21ST OF 1987 WHEN THE INDEX GAINED 186 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED TUESDAY AT 927, UP 28 POINTS.

THE DAY AFTER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES TRADITIONALLY MEANS THE END OF THE SUMMER VACATION SEASON AND, ON WALL STREET, A FOCUS ON THE REST OF THE YEAR. SOME STOCK TRADERS, SUCH AS MIKE DISCROLL OF THE HAMBURG AND QUIST INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAY TUESDAY'S TRADING WAS A GOOD OMEN.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE LITTLE BIT OF WEAKNESS IN AUGUST IS STILL AROUND AND I THINK THAT, THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A REAL SOLID MARKET.

OTHER ANALYSTS SAY MANY STOCK TRADERS ARE NOW CONVINCED THAT THE INFLATION FEARS OF AUGUST WERE UNFOUNDED.

A HUGE CONSOLIDATION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED WITH THE TWO POINT TWO BILLION DOLLAR TAKEOVER OF THE PROMUS HOTEL COMPANY BY THE DOUBLETREE CORPORATION. THE COMBINED FIRM WILL OPERATE MORE THAN 11 HUNDRED HOTELS IN THE UNITED STATES, ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA.

AIRBUS INDUSTRIES, THE EUROPEAN AIRCRAFT MAKER, HAS RECEIVED AN ORDER FOR 65 JETLINERS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION. THE DEAL IS WORTH ALMOST FOUR BILLION DOLLARS. INTERNATIONAL LEASE SAYS IT FORESEES INCREASING DEMAND FOR NEW AIRLINERS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE ATLANTIC RICHFIELD ENERGY COMPANY SAYS IT HAS DISCOVERED A HUGE NATURAL GAS FIELD IN INDONESIA AND PLANS TO SPEND UP TO THREE BILLION DOLLARS TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
02-Sep-97 5:01 PM EDT (2101 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS, AS THE NATION RETURNS TO WORK AFTER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.

OTHER SUBJECTS RECEIVING COMMENTS INCLUDE THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA; LACK OF PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRACY IN THE CONGO; THE DEBATE OVER FOREIGN AID AND THE RETURN OF CONGRESS FROM ITS LATE SUMMER RECESS.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIALS DIGEST.

TEXT: DUE TO THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, EDITORIALS ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES WERE DELAYED IN SOME PAPERS AND THERE ARE MANY AT THE TOP OF EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY. THE BOSTON GLOBE WRITES THAT SHE WAS "A MODERN PRINCESS."

VOICE: "PRINCESS DIANA WAS A MODERN WOMAN, INSOFAR AS THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE WHO CHOOSES TO MARRY INTO ROYALTY. ..... FAR MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR, SHE TOUCHED PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONALITIES, ALL CLASSES AND ALL AGES. ..... EVEN PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN IN BY THE SUPERHEATED CELEBRITY OF HER LIFE HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES AFFECTED DEEPLY BY HER DEATH."

TEXT: TO EXPRESS ITS GRIEF, NEWSDAY CHOOSES A BOTANICAL ANALOGY.

VOICE: "IF ALL THE ROSEBUSHES IN THE WORLD WERE SUDDENLY WIPED OUT BY A DEADLY PEST, EVERYONE, NOT JUST ROMANTICS AND BOTANISTS, WOULD FEEL THE LOSS. EVERYONE WOULD REALIZE IN THE ABSENCE OF ROSES HOW THE PRESENCE OF SUCH BEAUTY HAD ONCE ADDED RICHNESS TO LIFE. AND SO IT IS WITH THE DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA ..... DIANA'S PRESENCE ON THE PLANET WAS A GRACE NOTE."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN USES A CELESTIAL COMPARISON.

VOICE: "SHE CROSSED THE SKY AS A METEOR, BURNING NOT FOR 15 MINUTES OF FAME BUT 16 YEARS. HERS WAS A LIFE WITH MORE TO LIVE, A STORY WITH MORE TWISTS TO TAKE, WHEN THE METEOR FLAMED OUT ..... IN THE CITY OF LIGHT. .... SHE WAS MORE ROYAL THAN ANY CELEBRITY, MORE CELEBRATED THAN ANY ROYAL. IN THE MEDIA THAT MADE HER AND THAT SHE MADE, SHE WILL LIVE ETERNALLY, AGE 20 TO 36."

TEXT: AND FROM BOSTON, AND THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, A LITERARY ANALOGY.

VOICE: "SHAKESPEARE WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD INSTINCTIVELY ALL THE COMPLEXITIES OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES. SHE STITCHED INTO ONE PERSONALITY THE INNOCENT FLIRTATIOUSNESS OF HENRY THE FIFTH'S 'FAIR KATHERINE,' THE VULNERABILITY OF OPHELIA, AND THE COMMON TOUCH OF HENRY HIMSELF. SHE MOVED IN AN ALL TOO BRIEF INCANDESCENT ARC FROM DIFFIDENCE TO SELF-CENTEREDNESS TO SELFLESSNESS. LIKE THE BARD'S KING HARRY BEFORE AGINCOURT SHE CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF THE FOOTSOLDIERS OF A NATION, WANDERING AMONG HER FELLOW BRITONS AND L I S T E N I N G [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS]. [OPT] .... NELSON MANDELA SAID IT WELL: '"WHEN SHE WALKED INTO A ROOM, SHE WAS SO REAL AND ALIVE.' THERE NOW SEEMS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE SWEET-SAD FAIRY TALE OF THIS VERY REAL PRINCESS WILL BE FROZEN IN TIME IN JUST THAT WAY. DIANA WALKS INTO THE ROOMS OF HISTORY AS A PRINCESS VERY REAL AND ALIVE." [END OPT]

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS OF THE DAY, THE RIVAL SERB VERSUS SERB SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS DRAWING COMMENT, SUCH AS THIS FROM THE MIAMI HERALD, WHICH ASKS:

VOICE: "WHAT TO DO ABOUT RADOVAN KARADZIC? THE QUESTION CROPS UP REPEATEDLY, AND THE ANSWER IS CLEAR. THE BOSNIAN SERB STRONGMAN, INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, MUST BE ARRESTED AND SENT TO THE HAGUE FOR TRIAL. HOW TO DO THAT IS UNCLEAR. WHILE NATO FORCES DITHER, MR. KARADZIC AND HIS BODYGUARDS ARE HOLED UP IN PALE, FEUDING WITH THE NEW SERB REPUBLIC'S ELECTED PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC, AND TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SABOTAGE THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. .... CLEARLY, THE RISK THAT AMERICAN SOLDIERS MAY BE CAUGHT IN THE CROSS-FIRE IS RISING .... BUT [THAT IS] NO REASON FOR THE UNITED STATES TO 'CUT AND RUN' AS IT DID IN SOMALIA. THE STAKES ARE HIGHER AND THE PRINCIPLES CLEARER IN BOSNIA. ..... U-S TROOPS .... SHOULD STAY AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO STABILIZE THE COUNTRY."

TEXT: TUESDAY'S NEW YORK TIMES IS UPSET AT THE WAY LAURENT KABILA'S GOVERNMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO IS OBSTRUCTING INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGED CRIMES DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND SAYS:

VOICE: "THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST NOW MAKE CLEAR THAT IT HAS RUN OUT OF PATIENCE WITH HIS OBSTRUCTIONS. IF THAT FAILS TO INSPIRE BETTER COOPERATION, WASHINGTON SHOULD SUSPEND ITS PLANS TO PROVIDE GENEROUS AID TO RECONSTRUCT THE CONGOLESE ECONOMY."

TEXT: QUOTING SOME OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST BIRTH RATES, THE BOSTON GLOBE TALKS TODAY ABOUT THE FALLACY OF CUTTING U-S FOREIGN AID AT A TIME WHEN POPULATION CONTROL IS CRITICAL TO AVERTING FUTURE PROBLEMS.

VOICE: "[OPT] INDIA CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY EARLIER THIS MONTH, BUT WITH 55-THOUSAND BIRTHS A DAY IT MAY SOON ECLIPSE CHINA AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST NATION OVERALL. [END OPT] IN LIBERIA, GUINEA, AND MUCH OF AFRICA, WELL OVER 20 PERCENT OF GIRLS HAVE BABIES BY THE TIME THEY ARE 19, FIVE TIMES THE RATE IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. THIS KIND OF POPULATION GROWTH IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS WITH PERSISTENT POVERTY, ILLITERACY, AND DISEASE. WHEN IT RETURNS FROM ITS SUMMER RECESS THIS WEEK, CONGRESS MUST GET BACK ON TRACK WITH A FOREIGN AID POLICY THAT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FREEDOM TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE WORLD. [OPT] ..... WHILE THE POLITICIANS DITHER, THE PLANET GROANS WITH MILLIONS MORE UNPLANNED, UNWANTED BIRTHS. ..... IF THE RESTRICTIONS BEING CONTEMPLATED IN CONGRESS ARE ADOPTED, U-S FOREIGN AID WILL NOT BE AID AT ALL [,] BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM."

TEXT: AND SPEAKING OF CONGRESS, THAT GRAND LEGISLATIVE BODY IS RETURNING THIS WEEK FROM ITS LATE SUMMER RECESS, DRAWING THIS NOTICE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "YOU HAVE TO FEEL A LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS. THEY FINALLY PASS AND GET THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID FOR YEARS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THEIR AGENDA, A BALANCED-BUDGET BILL AND TAX CUT. THEIR REWARD IS TO BE SUBJECTED TO A CROSS-COUNTRY IDEOLOGICAL FLOGGING BY AN ASSORTMENT OF PARTY PURISTS, POSERS AND WANNA-BE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR HAVING SOLD OUT IN THAT THE LEGISLATION DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH, IS DEFECTIVE ON THIS DOCTRINAL POINT OR THAT, CONTAINS - - AS IF THIS WERE A NOVELTY - - COMPROMISES, ETC. MEANWHILE, THE LEADERS ARE DOUBLY STRANDED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT - - WHERE TO LEAD, WHAT LEGISLATION TO PUSH AS CONGRESS RECONVENES THIS WEEK. .... WHAT CONGRESS ... S H O U L D [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] DO IS PASS A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TUESDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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02-Sep-97 10:43 AM EDT (1443 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SITE OF A CONTESTED TELEVISION TRANSMITTER IN BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY IN NORTHEAST BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS QUIET AFTER NATO TROOPS MONDAY WERE PELTED WITH STONES BY ABOUT 300 CIVILIANS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE SECOND VIOLENT INCIDENT INVOLVING BOSNIAN SERBS AND NATO PEACEKEEPERS IN A BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF BOSNIAN SERB TELEVISION A KEY MEDIUM FOR NEWS:

TEXT: U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN LT. COLONEL STEVE CAMPBELL SAYS NATO STABILIZATION FORCE, OR S-FOR, TROOPS HAVE SECURED CONTROL OF THE TRANSMITTER SITE AT UDRIGOVO NEAR THE TOWN OF BILJELJINA. THE TROOPS WERE DEPLOYED TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE BY THOSE LOYAL TO BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC OR FORMER LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC:

S-FOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY ACCESS TO ANY INDIVIDUAL GROUP IT DEEMS LIKELY TO INCREASE THE THREAT OF CONFLICT.

LT. COL. CAMPBELL SAYS A CROWD OF ABOUT 300 GATHERED AT THE TRANSMITTER SITE ABOUT MID-DAY MONDAY, MOSTLY MEN, AND BEGAN THROWING ROCKS AT THE SOLDIERS:

PART OF THE CROWD APPEARED TO BE BUSED IN FROM THE WEST OF THE HILL AND THE ACTIVITIES WERE CLEARLY BEING COORDINATED BY PEOPLE MOVING ABOUT THE CROWD CARRYING HAND-HELD RADIOS.

KARADZIC LOYALISTS HAVE PLEDGED TO FIGHT S-FOR TO KEEP CONTROL OF TRANSMITTERS AND POLICE STATIONS. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
01-Sep-97 8:10 PM EDT (0010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S-BOSNIA RADIO (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS GIVEN ITS APPROVAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL DEAL TO RETURN CONTROL OF A RADIO TRANSMITTER IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA TO HARDLINE OPPONENTS OF BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SKEPTICALLY SUPPORTS NATO'S MOVE, BECAUSE THE DEAL WILL STOP THE BOSNIAN SERB HARDLINERS FROM BROADCASTING INVECTIVE AGAINST NATO TROOPS AND WILL GIVE PRESIDENT PLAVSIC A PLATFORM TO BROADCAST HER OWN VIEWS WITH A ONE HOUR PROGRAM.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE CONCESSIONS, NATO TROOPS LET HARDLINE OPPONENTS OF PRESIDENT PLAVSIC RETAIN CONTROL OF THE RADIO TRANSMITTER AT UDRIGOVA IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE OF A STRONGER NATO ROLE.

WE THINK THEY ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE. THEY'VE MADE SOME COMMITMENTS. WE'RE DUBIOUS ABOUT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO MEET THOSE COMMITMENTS, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY KNOW THAT S-FOR HAS AUTHORIZATION TO ACT AND WILL ACT SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THEM VERY CLOSELY IN THE DAYS TO COME.

THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING NEGOTIATOR ROBERT GELBARD TO WESTERN EUROPE THIS WEEK TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY TOWARD BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/TMD/MMK
02-Sep-97 2:55 PM EDT (1855 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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