Voice of America, 97-12-17

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / BOSNIA ONITER (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] CLINTON/TURKEY-GREECE (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[03] E-U / TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[05] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[06] U-S / SERB AID (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[07] UN / BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] CLINTON / BOSNIA ONITER (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER TODAY (THURSDAY) IS TO ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION -- IN PRINCIPLE -- TO KEEP U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AFTER THE CURRENT NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION THERE ENDS IN JUNE. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON WILL EXPRESS HIS COMMITMENT TO KEEPING AN AMERICAN PRESENCE IN BOSNIA IF NATO ALLIES DECIDE THAT A FOLLOW-ON (MILITARY) FORCE IS NECESSARY AFTER THE MANDATE FOR THE CURRENT PEACEKEEPING MISSION EXPIRES.

BUT AIDES SAY THEY HAVE YET TO WORK OUT THE DURATION OF THE U-S PRESENCE AFTER JUNE 1998 OR THE NUMBER OF TROOPS REQUIRED.

THE PRESIDENT'S PLANNED ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS NATO MEMBERS ARE STUDYING OPTIONS FOR A CONTINUED MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA, AND THREE DAYS BEFORE HE PLANS A BRIEF VISIT TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO, AND TO TUZLA, THE MAJOR BASE FOR U-S TROOPS SERVING IN BOSNIA.

IT ALSO COMES AMID SOME OPPOSITION IN THE REPUBLICAN-LED (U-S) CONGRESS TO KEEPING AMERICAN TROOPS THERE.

SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER OF PENNSYLVANIA IS NOT SURE WHAT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY KEEPING U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA.

I HAVE REAL RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHAT AN EXTENSION OF TIME WILL DO. WE'VE BEEN IN BOSNIA A LONG TIME. I WAS RELUCTANT TO GO THERE TO START WITH, AND THE INTELLIGENCE I GET, WHEN WE LEAVE IT'S (FIGHTING AMONG THE FACTIONS) GOING TO BE ABOUT AS BAD AS WHEN WE GOT THERE. IF WE CAN REALLY DO SOMETHING BY AN EXTENDED STAY, I AM PREPARED TO LISTEN.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY TOOK ISSUE WITH CONGRESSIONAL CRITICS WHO SAY THERE IS NO CLEAR MISSION OR EXIT STRATEGY FOR THE TROOPS IN BOSNIA.

THAT DOES A DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BRAVELY SERVING THERE UNDER SUPERB MILITARY COMAND, UNDER THE PRECISE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION, AND DOES DISSERVICE TO AN ALLIANCE THAT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR AND PRECISE ON THE MISSIONS OF THE CURRENT STABILIZATION FORCE.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA, ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING PRESENCE.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A SMALLER AMERICAN CONTINGENT IF NATO DECIDES TO CONTINUE ITS MILITARY PRESENCE AFTER NEXT JUNE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RRM
17-Dec-97 6:42 PM EST (2342 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON/TURKEY-GREECE (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO MEETS TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY, IS STRESSING THE NEED TO KEEP TURKEY CLOSELY TIED WITH THE WEST. HIS REMARKS FOLLOWED THE EUROPEAN UNION'S DECISION LAST WEEKEND TO AGAIN REJECT TURKEY'S APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON DID NOT DIRECTLY CRITICIZED THE EUROPEAN UNION BUT HE APPEARED TO HAVE THE E-U'S DECISION IN MIND WHEN, AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE (TUESDAY) HE STRESSED TURKEY'S STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE -- AND THE NEED TO PRESERVE ITS PRO-WESTERN ORIENTATION:

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING REASONABLE TO ANCHOR TURKEY TO THE WEST. THEY ARE A SECULAR ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE ALLY IN NATO. THEY HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED A LOT OF OUR OPERATIONS IN AND AROUND IRAQ SINCE THE GULF WAR. AND THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD ALLY OF OURS. I THINK THAT IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE COUNTRY, IF YOU LOOK AT ITS GEOSTRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE, WHERE IT IS, WHAT IT CAN BLOCK AND WHAT IT CAN OPEN THE DOORS TO, IT IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN STRESSING TURKEY AS A POTENTIAL OUTLET TO THE WEST FOR THE VAST OIL SUPPLIES BEING DEVELOPED IN THE CASPIAN BASIN. AND ENERGY PROJECTS INVOLVING ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA FOR MR. YILMAZ' WHITE HOUSE VISIT, AS WELL AS EFFORTS TO RESOLVE TURKEY'S LONG RUNNING DISPUTE WITH GREECE. MR. CLINTON SAID THAT PROBLEM AND THE RELATED CYPRUS ISSUE ARE HOLDING BACK BOTH COUNTRIES:

THEY ARE DEEPLY HELD, HISTORIC, AND I'M CONVINCED AT BOTTOM, ULTIMATELY IRRATIONAL. TO ALLOW THE POTENTIAL THAT GREECE AND TURKEY BOTH HAVE FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COOPERATION, FOR POLITICAL COOPERATION, FOR SECURITY COOPERATION TO BE BROKEN ON THE ROCKS OF THEIR DIFFERENCES OVER CYPRUS AND OTHER TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE AEGEAN IS IN MY VIEW A GRAVE ERROR.

THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WANTS A RESOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE VERY BADLY, AS EVIDENCED BY HIS APPOINTMENT OF SENIOR U-S DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS ON BOSNIA -- AS A SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS.

THE PRESIDENT, WHO SAID HE WILL TAKE UP CYPRUS WITH PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, URGED BOTH TURKEY AND GREECE TO, IN HIS WORDS, "TAKE OF THEIR BLINDERS ABOUT EACH OTHER" AND TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE REGION IN THE COMING CENTURY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PT
16-Dec-97 8:03 PM EST (0103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: TURKEY HAS THREATENED TO WITHDRAW ITS BID FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AFTER E-U SUMMIT LEADERS ANGERED ANKARA BY SAYING IT WILL BE DECADES BEFORE TURKEY CAN QUALIFY TO ENTER THE CLUB. BUT THE EUROPEAN UNION DID OFFER TO OPEN AN ENHANCED DIALOGUE WITH THE TURKS. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS AGREED TO LAUNCH NEGOTIATIONS WITH SIX APPLICANTS -- CYPRUS AND FIVE NATIONS FROM THE FORMER COMMUNIST BLOC. A FURTHER FIVE EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES WILL BE GIVEN AID AND ADVICE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY REFORMS SO THEY CAN BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR E-U MEMBERSHIP BEFORE TOO LONG.

TURKEY IS JUDGED TO BE BEHIND ALL THESE 11 NATIONS IN THE RACE, BECAUSE OF ITS RELATIVELY BACKWARD ECONOMY AND ITS POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, AND THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF IT JOINING THE E-U IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT WAS OFFERED AN OLIVE BRANCH BY THE SUMMIT LEADERS -- WITH AN INVITATION TO BE PART OF A NEW STANDING CONFERENCE. THIS WILL INVOLVE ANNUAL SUMMITS, BRINGING THE E-U'S LEADERS TOGETHER WITH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT FROM THOSE STATES WHO HOPE TO JOIN.

THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM TURKEY WAS A HOSTILE ONE, AND NOW THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER -- MESUT YILMAZ -- SAYS THAT TURKEY WILL WITHDRAW ITS MEMBERSHIP BID IN JUNE, UNLESS THE E-U LEADERS AGREE AT THEIR SUMMIT THAT MONTH TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN BRUSSELS, EN ROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER CHARGED THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO TURN THE E-U INTO A CLUB OF CHRISTIAN NATIONS HAVE WON -- ALTHOUGH EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS SAY THAT WAS NEVER THEIR INTENTION. THEY SAY TURKEY IS NOT READY FOR MEMBERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, AND BECAUSE OF ITS HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS, NOT BECAUSE OF THE RELIGION OF ITS CITIZENS.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS ALSO APPEALED TO TURKEY TO BE MORE POSITIVE TOWARDS GREECE, WHICH IS AN E-U MEMBER. AND THERE HAVE BEEN APPEALS TO HELP FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE DIVISION OF CYPRUS.

E-U COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT OUTRAGEOUS TO ASK AN APPLICANT COUNTRY TO BE PLEASANT TO AN EXISTING MEMBER OF THE CLUB. AND HE CONTENDS THE OFFER ALREADY MADE TO THE TURKS IS CLEAR AND SUBSTANTIAL. MEANWHILE, LUXEMBOURG'S PRIME MINISTER -- JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER -- WHO CHAIRED THE LATEST E-U SUMMIT, SAID THAT TURKEY IS A GREAT EUROPEAN NATION, WITH A PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN FAMILY. HE ADDED THAT THE TURKS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MEET THE RULES -- NOT BECAUSE THE E-U IS A CLUB OF CHRISTIANS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF
17-Dec-97 12:26 PM EST (1726 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED MIXED WEDNESDAY. FOR THE CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE IS EDITOR PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: AFTER THE SUBSTANTIAL JUMP TUESDAY, THE MARKETS WEDNESDAY TRAVELLED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AS INVESTORS TOOK POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CUES FROM ECONOMIC REPORTS. IN LONDON, A WEAKER DOLLAR, ALONG WITH DISAPPOINTING RETAIL AND EMPLOYMENT FIGURES COMBINED TO PUT THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX IN THE NEGATIVE COLUMN BY 13-POINTS. THE WEAKER DOLLAR WAS CITED AS A KEY FACTOR IN DRIVING THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX DOWN 19-POINTS. BUT FRANKFURT'S "DAX 30" INDEX REFLECTED LINGERING MARKET CONFIDENCE FROM TUESDAY. IT CLOSED UP 75-POINTS.

THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED DOWN A PFENNIG AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND DOWN ALMOST TWO-CENTS AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD GAINED VALUE, CLOSING IN LONDON AT 287-DOLLARS-85 CENTS -- UP TWO-DOLLARS-30 CENTS AN OUNCE FROM TUESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
17-Dec-97 1:53 PM EST (1853 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED MIXED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE MAJOR AVERAGES DOWN SLIGHTLY. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE WIDELY-FOLLOWED DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 19 POINTS AT 79-HUNDRED-57 WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 CLOSED DOWN TWO POINTS AT 966. THERE WERE MORE STOCKS THAT ADVANCED IN PRICE THAN DECLINED.

THE STOCK MARKET WAS UP AND DOWN THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN HEAVY TRADING. THE MARKET MOVED SHARPLY UPWARDS IN EARLY TRADING, WITH THE DOW-JONES INDUSTRIALS PASSING THROUGH THE EIGHT-THOUSAND LEVEL, AS WALL STREET REACTED POSITIVELY TO JAPAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TAX CUT.

BUT A WARNING FROM THE MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT ITS EARNINGS WOULD FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS BY ABOUT 10 PERCENT DRAGGED THE MARKET BACK DOWN. THE COMPANY, KNOWN AS THREE-M, SAYS PROFITS ARE BEING HURT BY THE STRONG DOLLAR AND THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN ASIA AND BRAZIL.

THREE-M -- ONE OF THE 30 COMPANIES IN THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGES -- FELL IN PRICE BY ABOUT SEVEN PERCENT, AND ANALYSTS SAY THAT DRAGGED THE INDUSTRIALS DOWN.

ANALYSTS SAY TECHNOLOGY STOCKS CONTINUED TO DO WELL FOR ANOTHER DAY IN A REVERSAL OF LAST WEEK'S SELLOFF OF THESE STOCKS. ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS CONTINUED TO ADJUST THEIR STRATEGY, IN PART BECAUSE OF YEAR END STOCK TRADING PATTERNS BUT ALSO TO FIT EMERGING VIEWS ABOUT THE ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

DOUG WILDE, AN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIST WITH THE MERRILL LYNCH COMPANY, SAYS HE EXPECTS THE ASIAN FINANCIAL PROBLEMS TO HELP PUSH U-S INTEREST RATES DOWN AND BOND PRICES UP. AS A RESULT, MR. WILDE SAYS, MERRILL LYNCH IS PUSHING MORE INVESTMENTS INTO THE BOND MARKET AND OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WHAT HE TERMS "INTEREST RATE SENSITIVE" STOCKS.

YOU KNOW THE DEFLATION STORY THAT HAS UNFOLDED IN ASIA IS LIKELY TO FIND ITS WAY INTO OUR BOND MARKET AND PRESS YIELDS DOWN AND PUSH BONDS UP. THAT'S OUR BASE CASE SCENARIO. WE'RE OVERWEIGHT BONDS, UNDERWEIGHT EQUITIES BUT WITHIN THE EQUITY MARKET WE LIKE INTEREST RATE SENSITIVES.

MERRILL LYNCH ANALYST DOUG WILDE SAYS INTEREST RATE SENSITIVE STOCKS, SUCH AS INSURANCE COMPANIES AND REAL ESTATE TRUSTS, MOVE UP OR DOWN IN PRICE WITH INTEREST RATES, NOT THE REST OF THE STOCK MARKET. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
NEB/NY/JMC/LSF
17-Dec-97 5:12 PM EST (2212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / SERB AID (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED IT PLANS TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL AID FOR THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC, DESPITE CONCERNS THE REGION IS HARBORING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS BACKING A 17-MILLION DOLLAR RECONSTRUCTION LOAN FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, WHICH THE WORLD BANK IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE NEXT TUESDAY. THE MONEY WOULD BE USED TO REPAIR THE REGION'S BATTERED HOUSING, WATER AND POWER SYSTEMS AND TO HELP FARMERS. UNTIL NOW, THE WORLD COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN RELATIVELY LITTLE TO THE SERB-CONTROLLED REGION BECAUSE ITS HARD-LINE LEADERS REFUSED TO (FULLY) CARRY OUT THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE EQUATION HAS CHANGED WITH THE RISE OF PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC, WHO HAS TAKEN A MORE MODERATE STANCE.

WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING NOW IS TO TARGET ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT DAYTON. AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS VITAL THAT COOPERATION OF THIS SORT BE REWARDED.

IN A LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY THE TOWNS MAY HARBOR UP TO A DOZEN SERBS WHO ARE WANTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE. THE LAWMAKERS SAY NO AMERICAN MONEY SHOULD GO TO THOSE WHO PROTECT THE SUSPECTS, UNTIL THE INDICTED ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE RAISED SIMILAR CONCERNS. HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES IS EXPECTED TO VOTE FOR THE LOAN AT THE WORLD BANK NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RRM
17-Dec-97 3:59 PM EST (2059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] UN / BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: DELEGATES ATTENDING A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING HOSTED BY THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, THE U-N-H-C-R, HAVE APPROVED A PLAN FOR THE REPATRIATION AND RETURN OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN BOSNIA. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE PLAN FOCUSES ON RETURNING ETHNIC MINORITIES TO WHAT AUTHORITIES CALL "OPEN CITIES."

TEXT: MORE THAN ONE-MILLION PEOPLE FLED THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THIS YEAR, 110-THOUSAND REFUGEES RETURNED. MOST WENT BACK TO AREAS WHERE THEIR ETHNIC GROUP IS IN THE MAJORITY. BUT MUSLIM, CROAT AND SERB REFUGEES HAVE NOT BEEN WELCOMED BACK TO FORMER HOMES THAT ARE NOW LOCATED IN CITIES CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUP.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HOPES TO TURN THIS AROUND BY PROMOTING WHAT IT CALLS ITS "OPEN CITIES" CONCEPT. SPECIAL U-N ENVOY TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, CARROL FAUBERT, SAYS MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE ACCEPTED AS OPEN CITIES HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN CRITERIA AND HAVE TO SHOW SOME VISIBLE SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN ALLOWING MINORITIES TO RETURN.

... LIKE THE WAY MUNICIPALITIES TREAT EXISTING MINORITIES. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETURNED ALREADY OR WHO HAVE NEVER LEFT, THE ACCESS THEY HAVE TO SERVICES, THE FACT THAT THERE IS OR ISN'T A WILLINGNESS TO ESTABLISH A MULTI-ETHNIC POLICE. AND, GENERALLY, SOME HUMAN RIGHTS CRITERIA.

THOSE CITIES THAT FULFILL THE CRITERIA WILL BE REWARDED WITH INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. THOSE THAT BREAK THEIR AGREEMENT WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE PROGRAM.

THE UNITED NATIONS HOPES TO REPATRIATE ABOUT 200-THOUSAND REFUGEES NEXT YEAR. THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS THE AGENCY WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE A BREAKTHROUGH ON MINORITY RETURNS.

HOW WILL WE DEFINE SUCH A BREAKTHROUGH? OUR GOAL WILL BE 50-THOUSAND PERSONS RETURNING BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE; THEY MUST BE COMPLETE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, NOT ONLY THE ELDERLY; AND THERE MUST BE SUSTAINABLE RETURNS TO ALL THREE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

ONLY SEVEN OF 145 BOSNIAN MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BECOME OPEN CITIES. THE U-N AGENCY RECOGNIZES THIS IS NOT VERY MANY. BUT IT CALLS ITS PLAN PART OF A PROCESS AND HOPES THAT THE CONCEPT WILL GAIN MOMENTUM.

THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS PLANS ARE AFOOT (BEING DEVELOPED) TO TURN THE IMPORTANT MUSLIM-CROAT CITIES OF SARAJEVO AND TUZLA AND THE SERB-CONTROLLED CITY OF BANJA LUKA INTO OPEN CITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
17-Dec-97 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS ARE DISCUSSING ORGANIC FOOD GUIDELINES; MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN; U-S AND EUROPEAN POLICY TOWARD THE MIDDLE EAST; THE OPPOSITION MOVES AHEAD IN TAIWAN; AND MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IN AFRICA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IS _____________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ON WHAT CONSTITUTES "ORGANIC FOOD" DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: NOT UNTIL AGRICULTURE SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN RELEASED THE NATION'S FIRST [NATIONAL;] REGULATIONS FOR ORGANIC FOODS THIS WEEK HAS THERE BEEN HOPE THAT CONSUMERS OF ORGANIC FOODS COULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE BUYING. THE NEW REGULATIONS -- TO BE IMPLEMENTED AFTER A 90-DAY PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT -- WILL OVERRIDE THE CHAOTIC PATCHWORK OF LABELING LAWS IN THE STATES. THE CONFUSION, HOWEVER, IS NOT ENTIRELY OVER, FOR // OPT // RATHER THAN ACCEPTING THE CAREFULLY DELIBERATED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD,

TEXT: STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF FOOD, TODAY'S "OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND WORRIES ABOUT MALNUTRITION, WHICH THE PAPER SAYS -- CONTINUES TO ROB [THE] WORLD'S CHILDREN OF PRODUCTIVE LIVES, AND LIFE ITSELF.

VOICE: WHY, IN 1997, IS UNICEF [THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND] STILL REPORTING THAT MALNUTRITION HELPS KILL MORE THAN SIX MILLION CHILDREN WORLDWIDE EVERY YEAR? ... THE ANSWERS ARE MANY AND COMPLICATED, RANGING FROM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. BUT PERHAPS RISING FRUSTRATION FUELED BY REPORTS SUCH AS UNICEF'S STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN WILL HELP NATIONS AND COMMUNITIES DO MORE TO CHANGE THEIR PRIORITIES.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY TURKEY AND IRAN HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TREATED, IN ORDER, BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE U-S GOVERNMENT. AND THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD'S THIRST FOR CRUDE OIL, SAYS "THE MONITOR" IS THE CULPRIT. FIRST, ON TURKEY'S REJECTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR MEMBERSHIP:

VOICE: EUROPE HAS ONLY ADDED TO THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS BUILDING A GATED CHRISTIAN CLUB -- MANY OF WHOSE MEMBERS ARE JUST AS SECULAR IN EVERYDAY LIFE AS TURKEY IS. ... MEANWHILE, WASHINGTON HAS HANDLING A DIRECT OVERTURE FROM IRAN'S NEW, MORE MODERATE GOVERNMENT WITH HESITANT AMBIGUITY. ... TEHRAN'S ... POPULAR PRESIDENT KHATAMI SAID HE WANTED TO START A DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE U-S. THAT WAS THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION'S EQUIVALENT OF PING-PONG DIPLOMACY. PRESIDENT CLINTON REPLIED IN KIND. BUT THERE THE ACTION SEEMED TO STOP. .... LOGICAL AS THE PATHS OF THE E-U AND THE U-S MAY BE, THEIR RESPONSES THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE.

TEXT: STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF IRAN'S OVERTURE, "THE LOS ANGLES TIMES" SUGGESTS IT IS -- AN OFFER WORTH EXPLORING -- BUT ADDS -- [THE] U-S SHOULD WELCOME IRAN'S INITIATIVE BUT REMAIN CAUTIOUS.

VOICE: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT DEPENDS ALMOST ENTIRELY ON HOW IRAN'S POWERFUL AMERICAN-HATING AYATOLLAHS REACT. IF THEY DENOUNCE [PRESIDENT] KHATAMI'S INITIATIVE, THAT WILL BE THE END OF IT. IF THEY SAY NOTHING, IT COULD SIGNAL THEIR TACIT APPROVAL OR IT COULD MEAN THAT THE MODERATE PRESIDENT'S ENEMIES ARE SIMPLY WAITING UNTIL HE COMMITS HIMSELF FURTHER BEFORE FORCING HIM TO RETREAT IN HUMILIATION. IF THE CHANCE FOR A REAL DIALOGUE DOES EMERGE, WASHINGTON SHOULD MOVE CAUTIOUSLY ...

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST" LOOKING TOWARD ASIA, NOTES THAT ONE NATION IS HANDLING THE REGION'S FINANCIAL CRISIS QUITE WELL, AND IS ALSO MOVING AHEAD TO STRENGTHEN ITS DEMOCRACY.

VOICE: WHILE ECONOMIC MELTDOWN IN MUCH OF ASIA HAS HELD THE WORLD'S ATTENTION, A MORE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN ONE CORNER OF THE CONTINENT WAS LESS NOTICED. THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN -- OF ASIA'S ECONOMIC TIGERS ...HAS WITHSTOOD THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS VERY NICELY -- [AND] HELD AN ELECTION TWO WEEKS AGO, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME AN OPPOSITION PARTY EMERGED WITH MOST VOTES. IT IS TRUE THAT ONLY LOCAL POSTS WERE AT STAKE, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE RELATIVE YOUTH OF TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY, THIS RESULT REPRESENTS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. /// OPT ///

AFTER ALL, IT WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS AGO THAT HSU HSING-LIANG WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON, WHERE HE HAD BEEN HELD AS AN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ON CHARGES OF SEDITION; TODAY HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE VICTORIOUS DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY. ... /// END OPT ///

TAIWAN'S RECENT MILESTONE IN DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT ONLY DEEPENS ITS CLAIM ON OTHER NATIONS' RESPECT.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS LAMENTING WHAT IT CONSIDERS IRAQ'S VICTORY IN THE RECENT STANDOFF WITH THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: THERE CAN NO LONGER BE ANY DOUBT THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN CAME OUT AHEAD AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE UNITED NATIONS ACCEPTED THE RUSSIAN-BROKERED DEAL THAT APPEARED TO END THE WEAPONS INSPECTION CRISIS OF LAST MONTH. ...WITHOUT FREE ACCESS FOR INSPECTORS, SADDAM WILL REMAIN FREE TO CONTINUE HIS BLACK PROJECTS, THE MOST FRIGHTENING BEING BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE PENTAGON HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INOCULATE ONE-POINT-FIVE MILLION MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AGAINST ANTHRAX, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST DISEASES KNOWN TO MAN. ... SINCE IT IS KNOWN THAT SADDAM IS DEVELOPING AND STOCKPILING ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, THE NOVEMBER COMPROMISE CAN NOW BE SEEN AS A BACKDOWN BY THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: LASTLY, A LES THAN ENTHUSIASTIC APPRAISAL OF SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT'S CURRENT TRIP TO AFRICA FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH CALLS IT -- AWKWARD.

VOICE: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS USUALLY A MASTER OF THEATRICAL DIPLOMACY, BUT SHE WAS RUDELY PUT OFF BALANCE A FEW DAYS AGO BY PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA OF CONGO. WITH MS. ALBRIGHT AT HIS SIDE, MR. KABILA BRUSQUELY DISMISSED A QUESTION ABOUT A MAN JAILED FOR CIRCULATING OPPOSITION LITERATURE. UNHAPPILY, THE INCIDENT CAPTURED THE TONE OF MS. ALBRIGHT'S UNEVEN VISIT TO SEVEN COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. THOUGH THE JOURNEY DEMONSTRATED AMERICAN INTEREST IN THE REGION ...MS. ALBRIGHT ... TOO OFTEN GLOSSED OVER THE ABUSIVE PRACTICES OF LEADERS SHE MET, MOST NOTABLY MR. KABILA.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
17-Dec-97 10:56 AM EST (1556 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article