Voice of America, 97-12-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[04] SERBIA / KOSOVO (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[06] WORLD POPULATON (L - ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

[01] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ROSE IN TRADING TUESDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: MOST EUROPEAN MARKETS ADVANCED, BUT TRADERS SAY VOLUME WAS LOW -- EXAGGERATING THE UPWARD PRICE MOVEMENT BECAUSE EVEN A SMALL PURCHASE OR SALE HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE INDEX. SEVERAL SMALLER EUROPEAN MARKETS -- MADRID, LISBON, ZURICH, MILAN, AND COPENHAGEN -- SET NEW RECORD HIGHS.

AMONG THE MAJOR MARKETS, IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE 20-POINTS, ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ADVANCED 36 POINTS, ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY UP 52-POINTS, ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT, BUT IT THEN DROPPED ONE-PERCENT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
30-Dec-97 1:30 PM EST (1830 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A CONTINUATION OF YESTERDAY'S (MONDAY'S) STRONG RALLY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79-HUNDRED-15, UP 123 POINTS. ON TOP OF MONDAY'S 113-POINT RISE, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAS GAINED MORE THAN THREE PERCENT IN THE PAST TWO DAYS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED TUESDAY AT 970, UP 17 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADING REFLECTED CONTINUED OPTIMISM THAT THE DECISION BY MAJOR BANKS TO EXTEND CREDIT TO SOUTH KOREA WILL HELP RESOLVE THAT NATION'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, MANY INVESTMENT MANAGERS WERE SAID TO BE BUYING STOCKS TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCES OF THEIR PORTFOLIOS JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

A MONTHLY SURVEY OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES IS AT A 28-YEAR HIGH. THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY THE CONFERENCE BOARD BUSINESS RESEARCH GROUP, INDICATES AMERICANS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CURRENT AND FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS.

STOCKHOLDERS OF THE TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY HAVE APPROVED THE FIRM'S PROPOSED 440-MILLION-DOLLAR ACQUISITION OF THE BOZELL ADVERTISING AGENCY. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE THE SIXTH LARGEST ADVERTISING FIRM IN THE WORLD.

TOYOTA MOTORS OF JAPAN SAYS IT WILL START PRODUCING HIGH-PRICED LUXURY CARS IN THE UNITED STATES, STARTING IN THE YEAR 2000. TOYOTA SAYS IT WILL EXPAND CAPACITY AT ITS EXISTING U-S ASSEMBLY PLANT IN THE MIDWESTERN STATE OF INDIANA.

SUBSCRIBERS TO THE AMERICA ONLINE COMPUTER SERVICE -- A-O-L -- WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO GO OFF-LINE TO EAT. A-O-L SAYS IT HAS REACHED AGREEMENT WITH A COMPANY NAMED "CYBERMEALS" THAT WILL MATCH A-O-L CUSTOMERS WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT PROVIDE DELIVERY SERVICE.

THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN SAYS IT WILL INVEST 140-MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS IN BRITAIN NEXT YEAR. MCDONALD'S SAYS IT PLANS TO OPEN 100 NEW LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT BRITAIN. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
30-Dec-97 4:43 PM EST (2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND WAS THE SCENE TUESDAY OF TWO FUNERALS AS TWO VICTIMS OF RECENT TERRORIST VIOLENCE WERE BURIED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: TENSIONS WERE HIGH AND SECURITY FORCES ON FULL ALERT THROUGHOUT NORTHERN IRELAND AS PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES BURIED THE LATEST VICTIMS OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.

THE TOWN OF PORTADOWN CAME TO A VIRTUAL STANDSTILL AS THE LEADER OF A SPLINTER LOYALIST PARAMILITARY GROUP -- BILLY WRIGHT -- WAS LAID TO REST. SHOPS WERE CLOSED AFTER THEIR OWNERS RECEIVED VEILED THREATS FROM WRIGHT'S SUPPORTERS WHO URGED BUSINESSES TO SHUT DOWN AS A SIGN OF RESPECT FOR THE DEAD PARAMILITARY LEADER.

WRIGHT WAS KILLED SATURDAY INSIDE BELFAST'S MAZE PRISON BY SEVERAL GUNMEN BELONGING TO A SPLINTER REPUBLICAN PARAMILITARY GROUP. TUESDAY, THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS FOLLOWED WRIGHT'S COFFIN WHICH WAS FLANKED BY SEVERAL MEN IN PARAMILITARY UNIFORMS. EARLIER, 30 KILOMETERS TO THE NORTH, IN THE SMALL TOWN OF COALISLAND, SEVERAL THOUSAND CATHOLIC MOURNERS ATTENDED THE FUNERAL OF SEAMUS DILLON, A 45-YEAR-OLD, FATHER OF THREE. HE WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN SATURDAY IN RETALIATION FOR THE MURDER OF WRIGHT.

ALTHOUGH DILLON WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE I-R-A, THERE WERE NO PARAMILITARY TRAPPINGS AT HIS FUNERAL.

IN HIS HOMILY, FATHER SEAMUS RICE URGED AN END TO THE REVENGE KILLINGS AND APPEALED FOR CALM.

WE GET NOWHERE BY REFUSING TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER. AND WHEN WE START TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, WE START TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL ARE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL BELIEFS AND DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. EVERYBODY MUST RECOGNIZE OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO BELIEVE AND HOLD THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS AND THEIR RELIGIOUS VIEWS.

THERE IS A FEAR AMONG MANY PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT THE TIT-FOR-TAT KILLINGS MAY CONTINUE AND THUS PLUNGE THE BRITISH PROVINCE INTO ANOTHER CYCLE OF VIOLENCE. MEANWHILE, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS NAMED THE COUNTRY'S INSPECTOR OF PRISONS TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDER OF LOYALIST LEADER WRIGHT IN BELFAST'S MAZE PRISON.

HOWEVER DAVID TRIMBLE -- THE LEADER OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S LARGEST PARTY, THE "ULSTER UNIONISTS" -- SAYS THE MOVE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE. AFTER MEETING SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS IN BELFAST, HE TOLD REPORTERS A FULL REVIEW OF THE MAZE'S SECURITY PROCEDURES MUST BE UNDERTAKEN TO INVESTIGATE SERIOUS BREACHES.

I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WELCOME THE FACT THAT HER MAJESTY'S INSPECTOR OF PRISONS HAS BEEN ASKED TO DO AN INSPECTION OF THE MAZE. BUT THAT IS NOT AN INQUIRY AND THE INSPECTOR WILL NOT BE MAKING AN INQUIRY INTO RECENT EVENTS, INTO THE ESCAPE, INTO THE MURDER, AND IN THE WAY IN WHICH THE PRISON WAS BEING CONDUCTED. AND THAT, I THINK, IS A MISTAKE.

[04] SERBIA / KOSOVO (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: SERBIAN POLICE IN THE VOLATILE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO HAVE DISPERSED HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN STUDENTS WHO HAD GATHERED TO DEMAND GREATER AUTONOMY FROM SERBIA. V-O-A EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN STUDENTS WERE TRYING TO MARCH INTO THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN PRISTINA, THE CAPITAL OF KOSOVO, WHEN POLICE WADED INTO THE CROWD WIELDING RIOT CLUBS.

EYEWITNESSES SAY SEVERAL STUDENTS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED BY POLICE WHO HAD WARNED PROTESTERS THE MARCH WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED.

THE STUDENTS, WHO SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS, ARE CALLING FOR ALBANIAN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN UNIVERSITIES AND GREATER AUTONOMY FROM SERB AUTHORITIES.

TENSIONS IN KOSOVO HAVE BEEN RUNNING HIGH THIS YEAR IN THE WAKE OF DOZENS OF ATTACKS ON POLICE AND SERB AUTHORITIES WHO ABOLISHED THE PROVINCE'S BROAD AUTONOMY IN 1989.

ETHNIC ALBANIANS MAKE UP ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO. SERB AUTHORITIES CONSIDER KOSOVO A KEY PART OF THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE AND HAVE VOWED TO CRACK DOWN ON WHAT THEY CALL TERRORISM IN THE PROVINCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH
30-Dec-97 7:47 AM EST (1247 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NEW VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND THREATENING THAT REGION'S CEASE FIRE; THE SO-CALLED "BIRD FLU" IN HONG KONG AND THE MURDER LAST WEEK OF INDIAN PEASANTS IN MEXICO ARE ALL DRAWING COMMENTS IN TUESDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE [OPT] A VICTORY FOR EGYPTIAN WOMEN; [END OPT] THE KOREAN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE UNABOMBER TRIAL TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IS _________________, AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE MONTH-LONG CEASE FIRE BETWEEN THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY AND THE VARIOUS PROTESTANT MILITIAS IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAY COME UNDONE. THERE HAS BEEN SOME VIOLENCE SINCE A NOTED PROTESTANT GUNMAN WAS KILLED BY ROMAN CATHOLICS WITH SMUGGLED GUNS, INSIDE A TOP SECURITY PRISON. SAYS "THE BOSTON GLOBE:"

VOICE: THE MURDER OF BILLY WRIGHT AND THE RETALIATORY KILLING THAT FOLLOWED CAST A SHADOW OVER PEACE NEGOTIATIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. RECURRING EPISODES OF VIOLENCE MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR NEGOTIATORS TO DEAL WITH THE TWO ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF AN AGREEMENT ... THE INTERNAL GOVERNANCE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE LINKS BETWEEN THIS NEW PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NEIGHBORING IRISH REPUBLIC. ... [MR.] WRIGHT, A HARD-LINE UNIONIST WANTED TO SCUTTLE THE TALKS, AS DID THE IRISH NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, THE ORGANIZATION THAT KILLED HIM. COMPROMISE IS ANATHEMA TO BOTH, FOR THEY OWE THEIR POWER TO THE CONTINUING THREAT OF VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH. // OPT // NEGOTIATORS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THOSE LIKE [MR.] WRIGHT AND THE ULTRANATIONALIST GUNMEN TO THE FAR FRINGES OF SOCIETY WHERE THEY BELONG. // END OPT //

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SEES SOME HOPE IN THAT THE PRISON KILLING, AND ONE OUTSIDE IN RETALIATION, HAVE NOT LED, AT LEAST SO FAR, TO MORE VIOLENCE.

VOICE: THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE VIOLENT ACTS OF THESE TWO FRINGE GROUPS HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY JUST ABOUT EVERYONE CONNECTED WITH THE PEACE TALKS. ... STILL, THE SHOOTING OF KING RAT [MR. WRIGHT'S NICK NAME] IS UNSETTLING. THE PEACE TALKS, PUSHED FORWARD WITH GREAT DETERMINATION BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, ARE GENERATING MUCH MISTRUST AMONG NORTHERN IRISH PROTESTANTS WHO FEAR CONCESSIONS TO THE IRA AND SINN FEIN. ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE, EVEN BY A CATHOLIC FRINGE GROUP CAN INFLAME THESE FEARS AND UNDERCUT THE TALKS.

TEXT: ANOTHER PROMINENT TOPIC IS THE SO-CALLED BIRD FLU WHICH HAS CAUSED SEVERAL HUMAN DEATHS IN HONG KONG, AND SICKENED OTHER PEOPLE, GIVING WORLD HEALTH EXPERTS A SCARE. TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: INFLUENZA VIRUSES HAVE WON MORE BATTLES THAN HISTORY'S BEST MILITARY COMMANDERS. ... JUST AFTER WORLD WAR ONE, A FLU VIRUS GIRDLED THE GLOBE, CLAIMING FAR MORE AMERICAN LIVES THAN THE CONFLICT ITSELF. NOW, AN ESPECIALLY VIRULENT STRAIN OF FLU VIRUS -- NAMED H5N-ONE ...IS SUSPECTED OF JUMPING FROM CHICKENS TO HUMANS IN HONG KONG ... H5N-ONE IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOE. ...THE VIRUS CURRENTLY POSES NO THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT ITS APPEARANCE SHOULD ENCOURAGE CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE NATION'S OWN PROTECTIONS AGAINST LIVESTOCK-BORNE DISEASE. THEY ARE FAR FROM ADEQUATE.

TEXT: USA TODAY TRIES TO REASSURE READERS, WHILE TRYING NOT TO MINIMIZE THE DANGER TO HUMANS CLOSEST TO THE OUTBREAK.

VOICE: THE RISK OF A FULL-BLOWN PANDEMIC IS SLIGHT. THERE'S NO PROOF THE VIRUS CAN JUMP BETWEEN HUMANS, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IF IT IS TO BECOME WIDESPREAD. BUT PRECAUTIONS ARE WISE NONETHELESS. WHEN THE FLU SEASON STARTS IN HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY, AN UNSTOPPED VIRUS COULD GROW MORE VIRULENT.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE MURDER OF UNARMED INDIAN PEASANTS IN MEXICO A WEEK AGO, WE HEAR MORE OUTRAGE FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WHICH SAYS "MEXICO'S DEMOCRACY IS ON TRIAL IN CHIAPAS."

VOICE: THE CHRISTMAS WEEK MASSACRE OF 45 INNOCENTS IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO'S SOUTHERNMOST STATE, RAISES EMBARRASSING QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTRY'S LATE-EMERGING DEMOCRACY. // OPT // WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY IS IT THAT CAN'T PROTECT ITS OWN PEOPLE? HOW IS IT THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY CAN'T CONTROL ITS SUPPORTERS IN OUTLYING AREAS SUCH AS CHIAPAS? HOW CAN THE RULE OF LAW BE SO EASILY FLOUTED THAT SUCH AN ATROCITY COULD OCCUR, AND THEN VIGILANTE ACTION COULD REPLACE WHAT SHOULD BE POLICE PROTECTION OF THE ACCUSED? // END OPT // IF LOCAL POLICE CAN NOT ENFORCE THE LAW AND PROTECT ALL CHIAPAS RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE VULNERABLE MAYAN INDIAN POPULATION, PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO SHOULD PLACE THE STATE UNDER FEDERAL PROTECTION. ... THIS COULD BE THE GREATEST TEST YET OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND OF MEXICO'S COMMITMENT, BY ALL PARTIES, TO DEMOCRACY.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS THE TRAGEDY GOES FAR BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE MAYAN INDIANS OF CHIAPAS, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: 'CHIAPAS' STANDS FOR THE NATION-DEFINING SPLIT BETWEEN MEXICO'S IMPOVERISHED AND NEGLECTED INDIGENOUS POPULATION AND ITS FAVORED MODERNIZING ELITE. THIS SPLIT UNDER LIES THE COUNTRY'S WHOLE STRUGGLE TO BECOME A MODERN DEMOCRATIC NATION. ...THE INSTANT REQUIREMENT IS TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MASSACRE. ... BEYOND THAT, THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES MUST HEARKEN TO PLENTIFUL AND SENSIBLE APPEALS FOR A LARGE ROLLING NATIONAL NEGOTIATION THAT OFFERS ROLES TO THE DISAFFECTED PEOPLES, NEGLECTED REGIONS AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE NEW POLITICAL OPPOSITION SPAWNED BY EARLIER ZEDILLO REFORMS.

TEXT: TURNING TO A SOCIAL ISSUE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE RITUAL GENITAL MUTILATION OF WOMEN, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PRAISING A COURT DECISION ON THE SUBJECT IN EGYPT.

VOICE: EGYPTIAN WOMEN WON A HEARTENING VICTORY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PERSONAL FREEDOM THIS WEEK WHEN "EGYPT'S HIGHEST COURT FOUND THAT THE RITUAL CUTTING OFF OF THE CLITORIS AND OTHER PARTS OF YOUNG WOMEN'S GENITALIA WAS N O T AN ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICE AUTHORIZED BY THE KORAN. THE RULING REMOVED THE LAST LEGAL BARRIER TO ENFORCING THE EGYPTIAN HEALTH MINISTRY'S 1996 PROHIBITION OF THIS EXCRUCIATING AND LIFE-THREATENING PROCEDURE, WHICH HAS BEEN INFLICTED ON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EGYPTIAN WOMEN EVERY YEAR, COPTIC CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM ALIKE. ... THE INTENDED PURPOSE IS TO DENY WOMEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL PLEASURE, AND HENCE DISCOURAGE SEXUAL FREEDOM. THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OFTEN INCLUDE INFECTION, HEMORRHAGING, INFERTILITY AND DEATH. ... THIS IS MORE THAN A LOCAL STRUGGLE. IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT ... WHICH CAN ONLY BE ENERGIZED BY THIS WEEK'S RULING.

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS PLEASED THAT AFTER SOME DEBATE, SOUTH KOREA'S LEADERS ARE READY TO ACCEPT THE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS IMPOSED UPON THEM BY INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AID DONORS.

VOICE: SWALLOWING THE BITTER PILLS, SOUTH KOREA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY YESTERDAY ENACTED THE STRINGENT FINANCIAL REFORMS THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT KIM DAE JUNG OPPOSED BEFORE HIS DECEMBER 18TH ELECTION AND NOW CONCEDES TO BE NECESSARY. AS A RESULT, A SINGLE REGULATORY AGENCY WILL POLICE [REGULATE] BANKS, BROKERAGES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. ... PASSAGE OF THE ... PROGRAM FREED PAYMENTS TO SHORE UP DEBT PROMISED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) 57-BILLION DOLLAR RESCUE PACKAGE. ... SOUTH KOREA'S CRISIS ENABLED THE I-M-F TO DICTATE REFORMS DIPLOMACY COULD NOT ACHIEVE.

TEXT: LASTLY, A DOMESTIC MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, THE TRIAL OF THE SO-CALLED "UNABOMBER" THE MAN WHO SENT DOZENS OF BOMBS TO PEOPLE THROUGH THE MAIL DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES, KILLING TWO MEN AND INJURING TWO OTHERS. NOW IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SUSPECT, THEODORE KACZYNSKI HAD AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY, BUT THE GOVERNMENT REFUSED HIS OFFER. SAYS "THE NEW YORK TIMES:"

VOICE: THE DECISION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO'S OFFICE TO REJECT AN OFFER BY THEODORE KACZYNSKI TO PLEAD GUILTY IN EXCHANGE FOR AVOIDING THE DEATH PENALTY DOES NOT SERVE THE CAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR EFFICIENT AND HUMANE JUSTICE. ...THE DECISION TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY COULD MEAN YEARS OF APPEALS. ... HAD THEY AGREED TO A GUILTY PLEA, THE PROSECUTORS COULD HAVE INSURED THAT A SICK, VIOLENT MAN WHO IS ACCUSED OF INFLICTING ARBITRARY TERROR AND DEATH WOULD BE LOCKED UP FOREVER.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
30-Dec-97 11:06 AM EST (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] WORLD POPULATON (L - ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A PRIVATE POPULATION POLICY ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE SLOWING OF WORLD POPULATION GROWTH IS NO REASON TO REJOICE YET. THE POPULATION INSTITUTE SAYS THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL GROWING RAPIDLY IN THE POOREST COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD, EVEN THOUGH FEWER ARE ADDED EACH YEAR. V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS.

TEXT: THE POPULATION INSTITUTE SAYS RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IN DEVELOPING NATIONS REMAINS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS -- AND THOSE NATIONS ARE LEAST ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF RUNAWAY GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, AND ECONOMIC STAGNATION. THEY ARE ALREADY HOME TO 80 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S PEOPLE, A PROPORTION THAT WILL GET HIGHER BECAUSE 98 PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL GROWTH OCCURS IN THEM.

INSTITUTE PRESIDENT WERNER FORNOS ['FOR-NOOS] SAYS THE GROWTH RATE IS SLOWING, BUT IS STILL TOO HIGH IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THE DECLINE IN GROWTH IS FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED BECAUSE OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF FAMILY PLANNING, DELAYS IN MARRIAGE AND AN INCREASE IN DEATH RATES, ESPECIALLY IN PARASITIC AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. THE SLOWER RISE IN POPULATION, HOWEVER, CAN BE COMPARED TO A TIDAL WAVE SURGING TOWARD ONE OF OUR COASTAL CITIES. WHETHER THE TIDAL WAVE IS 80 FEET [25 METERS] OR 100 FEET [30 METERS] HIGH, THE IMPACT WILL BE SIMILAR.

IN ITS WORLD POPULATION OVERVIEW FOR 1997, THE POPULATION INSTITUTE NOTES THAT 74 COUNTRIES ARE ON A COURSE TO DOUBLE THEIR INHABITANTS IN 30 YEARS OR LESS.

ALTHOUGH MANY COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA HAVE RECORDED SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN PER MOTHER, THE REPORT ASSERTS THAT 132 MILLION BABIES WILL BE BORN EACH YEAR FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. MR. FORNOS ATTRIBUTES THIS TO THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ALREADY HAVE A LARGE POPULATION BASE AND A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN ENTERING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE YEARS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME THREE BILLION YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMING GENERATION ENTERING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE YEARS, WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE WHOLE WORLD POPULATION AS SHORT A TIME AGO AS 1960. IF THOSE NET INCREASES OF 600 MILLION COUPLES PRODUCE AT THE CURRENT FERTILITY RATE OF ABOUT THREE CHILDREN PER FAMILY, THEN YOU'D BE ADDING -- JUST OUT OF THAT GROUP -- ONE-BILLION-EIGHT-HUNDRED MILLION MORE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA'S OVERALL FERTILITY RATE IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE WORLD AVERAGE THREE CHILDREN PER WOMAN. SOME PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ASIA REGISTER EQUALLY HIGH RATES. YET IMPROVEMENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE 1985 EVEN IN SOME OF THOSE REGIONS' COUNTRIES. FOR EXAMPLE, FERTILITY DROPPED FROM ABOUT SIX TO FOUR CHILDREN PER WOMAN IN BANGLADESH; FROM SIX-AND-A-HALF TO FIVE IN PAKISTAN; FROM SEVEN-AND-A-HALF TO SIX IN SYRIA; AND FROM SEVEN-AND-A-HALF TO FOUR-AND-A-HALF IN KENYA.

OTHER NATIONS THE POPULATION INSTITUTE CITES FOR GOOD PROGRESS IN FERTILITY DECLINES ARE MEXICO, MOROCCO, TURKEY, INDONESIA, BRAZIL, THE PHILIPPINES, AND EGYPT. THOSE COUNTRIES HAD SHARP INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF COUPLES USING MODERN FORMS OF CONTRACEPTION IN THE PAST 25 YEARS.

MR. FORNOS CALLS THESE NATIONS PROOF THAT FAMILY PLANNING WORKS AND CRITICIZES THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR GIVING UP ITS LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THIS AREA. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE OPPOSITION MAJORITY REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE FORCED THE UNITED STATES TO DRASTICALLY CUT ITS FOREIGN FAMILY PLANNING AID OUT OF FEAR THAT THE MONEY WILL BE USED FOR ABORTIONS.

BUT MR. FORNOS SAYS THE LACK OF ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS IS THE MAIN REASON MORE THAN HALF A BILLION WOMEN DIE EACH YEAR FROM CAUSES RELATED TO PREGNANCY, NEARLY ONE BILLION PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY, AND ONE-POINT-THREE BILLION LIVE IN ABJECT POVERTY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/MMK
30-Dec-97 2:09 PM EST (1909 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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