Voice of America, 98-01-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON/BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

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

[03] GERMANY / BOSNIANS (L-O) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

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

[06] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[01] CLINTON/BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON PERSONALLY AUTHORIZED THURSDAY'S ARREST IN BOSNIA BY U-S LED NATO TROOPS OF A LEADING BOSNIAN-SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECT. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THE PRESIDENT GAVE THE GO-AHEAD FOR THE ARREST MORE THAN A WEEK AGO, AND WAS AWAKENED HERE BEFORE DAWN BY NATIONAL SECURITY AIDES TO BE GIVEN WHAT WAS TERMED THE GOOD NEWS OF THE APPREHENSION OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECT GORAN JELISIC.

MR. JELISIC HAD BEEN INDICTED ON 77 COUNTS GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY FOR THE KILLINGS OF MUSLIM PRISONERS IN 1992 AT A DETENTION CAMP IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA.

HIS ARREST WAS THE THIRD OF ITS KIND IN RECENT MONTHS BY MEMBERS OF THE NATO-LED STABILIZATION FORCE. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID IT IS EVIDENCE OF THE DETERMINATION OF S-FOR TROOPS, ACTING WITHIN THEIR ESTABLISHED RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, TO BRING WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE.

THAT DETERMINATION, HE SAID EXTENDS TO ALL THOSE INDICTED, CITING IN PARTICULAR, BOSNIAN SERB FIGURES RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC WHO ARE STILL AT LARGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/KL
22-Jan-98 1:45 PM EST (1845 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: PRICES WERE DOWN IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN STOCK EXCHANGES, FOLLOWING MORE MARKET TURMOIL IN ASIA AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. BUT THE EUROPEAN MARKETS CUT THEIR LOSSES LATE IN THE DAY AS WALL STREET RECOVERED FROM ITS EARLY SHARP LOSSES.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY DOWN MORE THAN 62 POINTS, ALMOST ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT. BUT THE SELL-OFF EASED IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 19 POINTS, FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF ALMOST 10 POINTS, THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR FELL AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
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22-Jan-98 1:37 PM EST (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY / BOSNIANS (L-O) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: OFFICIALS IN ONE OF GERMANY'S SOUTHERN STATES SAY THEY PLAN TO ASK ALL BOSNIAN REFUGEES TO LEAVE IN THE COMING MONTHS, BECAUSE CONDITIONS IN BOSNIA HAVE BECOME STABLE ENOUGH FOR THEIR RETURN. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: OFFICIALS IN THE SOUTHERN GERMAN STATE OF BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG, WHICH IS HOME TO MORE THAN 34-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES, SAY THEY WILL TELL THE REFUGEES IN APRIL THEY MUST RETURN HOME.

OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE ESTIMATED 260-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES STILL LIVING IN GERMANY ARE MUSLIMS FROM REGIONS NOW HELD BY THE SERBS. AID WORKERS, LIKE SENAD SARENKAPA, SAY THE PERSISTENT INFLUENCE OF HARD-LINE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERS HAS MADE MANY REFUGEES FEARFUL OF GOING BACK.

THE MAIN REASON THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK IS THE SECURITY FACTOR.

BUT THE GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF MODERATE BOSNIAN SERBS, HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF GERMAN OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE BEEN ANXIOUS TO SEND THE REFUGEES HOME.

DURING THE BOSNIAN WAR, GERMANY TOOK IN MORE THAN 400-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES. WITH THE WAR OVER AND THE COST OF CARING FOR THE REFUGEES ESTIMATED AT ABOUT EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS, GERMAN HOSPITALITY HAS BEGUN TO WEAR THIN.

THE POLICY ON SENDING THE REFUGEES BACK VARIES FROM STATE TO STATE. SEVERAL REGIONS BEGAN FORCING SOME REFUGEES TO LEAVE LAST YEAR, AND MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND DID SO VOLUNTARILY.

MR. SARENKAPA SAYS MOST OF THE REFUGEES KNOW THEY HAVE TO GO BACK.

AND THIS FACT IS PRESSURE IS ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE HERE.

DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES STILL EXISTING IN BOSNIA, MR. SARENKAPA SAYS MANY REFUGEES ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES OF RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES, EVEN MUSLIMS WHO WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO SERB-DOMINATED REGIONS. AND HE SAYS THAT AS LONG AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY STAYS INVOLVED, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO START OVER. BUT HE ADDS IT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE EASY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH
22-Jan-98 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A SENIOR NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE OFFICER SAYS HE IS SURE A MAJOR PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARY GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE EIGHT SECTARIAN KILLINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE SINCE THE NEW YEAR. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, IF THAT STATEMENT PROVES TO BE CORRECT, IT WILL HAVE MAJOR REPERCUSSIONS ON THE POLITICAL TALKS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

TEXT: FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, NORTHERN IRELAND HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF A NEW WAVE OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AS CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS FELL VICTIM TO THE BULLETS OF ANONYMOUS GUNMEN.

SINCE THE LATEST CYCLE OF TIT-FOR-TAT KILLINGS BEGAN EARLIER THIS MONTH, MANY SECURITY EXPERTS BELIEVED THE MURDERS WERE THE WORK OF SPLINTER TERRORIST GROUPS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE MAJOR PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH ARE ABIDING BY THEIR RESPECTIVE CEASEFIRES.

HOWEVER NORTHERN IRELAND'S SENIOR POLICE CHIEF -- RONNIE FLANAGAN TOLD BRITISH RADIO HE BELIEVES THREE OF THE RECENT KILLINGS CAN BE LINKED TO ONE OF THE MAJOR PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, "THE ULSTER FREEDOM FIGHTERS" -- OR "U-F-F."

THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY A NUMBER OF LOYALIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE RECENT ATROCITIES AND I HAVE NO DOUBT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE "U-F-F" HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF THE RECENT MURDERS. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY WE ARE PURSUING A DEFINITE LINE OF INVESTIGATION THAT LEADS US TO THAT SORT OF BELIEF AT THIS STAGE.

FOR ITS PART, THE "IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY" -- WHICH ADVOCATES RETURNING CONTROL OF NORTHERN IRELAND TO DUBLIN -- HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN A TRUCE SINCE LAST JULY, THUS ALLOWING ITS POLITICAL WING, "SINN FEIN," TO TAKE PART IN THE TALKS.

ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND NEGOTIATIONS HAVE SIGNED UP TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES DRAWN UP BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TALKS, FORMER U-S SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL. ONE OF THOSE PRINCIPLES REQUIRES PARTIES TO RENOUNCE THE USE OF VIOLENCE. IF THEY DO NOT, THEY MAY BE EXPELLED FROM THE TALKS.

IF IT IS THE CASE THAT LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES CAN CONTINUE TO MURDER PEOPLE THE WAY THEY HAVE DONE, STRIKING TERROR INTO CATHOLIC PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, THEN WHAT IS TO STOP THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY EMBARKING ON A TERRORIST CAMPAIGN AGAIN AND SINN FEIN (THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING) STAYING AT THE TABLE? AND THAT IS WHERE THE WHOLE THING REALLY DOES DESCEND INTO CHAOS. SO THIS MATTER HAS TO BE DEALT WITH ON THE LOYALIST SIDE, JUST AS IT WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH ON THE REPUBLICAN (I-R-A) SIDE -- BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT, IT IS A DISASTER.

MR. ALDERDICE SAYS THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS NOW UNDERWAY. BUT HE SAYS THESE TALKS MUST NOT BECOME HOSTAGE TO THE MEN OF VIOLENCE WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. (SIGNED)
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22-Jan-98 1:22 PM EST (1822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED LOWER TODAY (THURSDAY) BY LESS THAN ONE PERCENT, WITH INVESTORS CONTINUING TO BE UNCERTAIN ABOUT U-S CORPORATE EARNINGS AND ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE WIDELY FOLLOWED DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 64 POINTS AT 77-HUNDRED-30 WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 WAS OFF EIGHT POINTS AT 963.

ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS ARE "NERVOUS" ABOUT MIXED EARNINGS RESULTS FOR U-S CORPORATIONS AND THE EFFECT OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN ASIA. SOME ANALYSTS ALSO SAY THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN WASHINGTON MAY BE ENCOURAGING INVESTORS TO BE CAUTIOUS.

TRADING WAS ERRATIC. GENERAL ELECTRIC, THE WORLD'S LARGEST CORPORATION AND ONE OF 30 STOCKS IN THE DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, WAS OFF MORE THAN ONE PERCENT DESPITE SLIGHTLY EXCEEDING EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS.

OIL COMPANIES, INCLUDING CHEVRON AND EXXON, BOTH COMPONENTS OF THE DOW-JONES INDUSTRIALS, WERE GENERALLY LOWER. ANOTHER DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL STOCK, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES, MOVED UP BRISKLY ON A GOOD EARNINGS REPORT. BOEING ALSO MOVED UP DESPITE REPORTING ITS FIRST ANNUAL LOSS IN THE PAST HALF CENTURY.

SOME COMPANIES WHICH MET OR EXCEEDED 1997 EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS CAUTIONED THAT THEIR EARNINGS COULD SUFFER IN 1998 FROM ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. STUART FREEMAN, A SENIOR ANALYST WITH THE A-G EDWARDS SECURITIES FIRM, SAYS ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WILL CUT U-S GROWTH SLIGHTLY, BUT PREDICTS GROWTH OF THE U-S ECONOMY WILL STILL BE HEALTHY.

WE STILL THINK THAT IT'S A TWO AND ONE HALF PERCENT G-D-P (GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT) GROWTH YEAR FOR 1998 AND THE FIRST HALF BEING STRONGER THAN THE SECOND HALF. I THINK THE BIG SURPRISE FOR THIS YEAR, OR WHAT'S SNEAKING UP ON US, IS THAT EUROPE IS GETTING STRONGER. YOU'RE STARTING TO HEAR MORE AND MORE OF THAT FROM COMPANIES AS THEY REPORT EARNINGS, IS THAT PORTION OF THEIR BUSINESS IS BETTER.

MICROSOFT REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING CONTEMPT CHARGES TIED TO ACCUSATIONS THE GIANT SOFTWARE COMPANY ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL PRACTICES. MICROSOFT STOCK, WHICH IS TRADED ON THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE, MOVED UP ON BETTER THAN EXPECTED EARNINGS DESPITE ITS WARNING OF PROBLEMS FROM ASIAN MARKETS IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

A WIDELY-FOLLOWED SURVEY BY THE PRIVATE CONFERENCE BOARD SAYS BUSINESS CONFIDENCE AMONG U-S CHIEF EXECUTIVES CONTINUES TO DECLINE. THE CONFERENCE BOARD SAYS ITS MEASURE OF BUSINESS CONFIDENCE, BASED ON A SURVEY OF 150 CHIEF EXECUTIVES, IS JUST BARELY IN POSITIVE TERRITORY. ONLY 13 PERCENT OF THE C-E-O'S SURVEYED BELIEVE BUSINESS CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
22-Jan-98 5:15 PM EST (2215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THERE IS NO QUESTION THIS THURSDAY ABOUT THE CHIEF EDITORIAL TOPIC IN THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS. IT IS COMMENT ON THE ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND THEN ASKED HER TO LIE ABOUT IT TO INVESTIGATORS. THE STORY HAS TAKEN THE COUNTRY BY STORM, AND OCCUPIES MUCH OF THE FRONT PAGE OF MANY NEWSPAPERS, AS WELL AS A PROMINENT PLACE IN EDITORIAL COLUMNS.

OTHER TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED INCLUDE: THE UNEASY HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT'S ABORTION DECISION, WHICH WAS MADE ON THIS DATE 25 YEARS AGO; THE POPE IN CUBA; THE MIDEAST PEACE TALKS IN WASHINGTON AND THE CARNAGE IN ALGERIA. NOW, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO IS _________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE LATEST ALLEGATIONS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S EXTRAMARITAL SEX LIFE ARE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS IN THURSDAY'S PAPERS. "NEWSDAY," A NEWSPAPER LOCATED ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE: "ALLEGATIONS OF A WHITE HOUSE AFFAIR AND FALSE TESTIMONY DEMAND FULL INVESTIGATION."

VOICE: IF THIS PRESIDENT WAS IN FACT CARRYING ON AN ADULTEROUS LIAISON IN THE WHITE HOUSE ..... HIS CONDUCT UNAVOIDABLY RAISES GRAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS JUDGMENT, AS WELL AS HIS MORALS AND HIS SELF-CONTROL."

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" ALSO CONSIDERS THESE LATEST ALLEGATIONS VERY SERIOUS INDEED, NOTING:

VOICE: THESE ... ALLEGATIONS .... GO BEYOND THE ISSUE OF BEDROOM MORALS TO THAT OF CONSTITUTIONAL FITNESS TO SERVE. ..... AMERICANS -- AND EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD WHO DEPENDS ON AMERICA TO EXERCISE ITS UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SUPERPOWER -- DESERVE THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE MATTERS. ** IF, ** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] SORROWFULLY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE, SUBORNED PERJURY OR COMMITTED PERJURY, HE SHOULD RESIGN.

TEXT: AS FOR "THE NEW YORK POST," IT AGREES WITH "THE INQUIRER" ABOUT THE ULTIMATE COURSE OF ACTION IF THE ALLEGATIONS PROVE TRUE.

VOICE: THE LATEST ASSERTIONS .... INVOLVE WHITE HOUSE MISCONDUCT ON THE PRESIDENT'S PART THAT, IF CREDIBLE, ARE CERTAIN TO SPARK SERIOUS TALK OF IMPEACHMENT. THE FUNDAMENTAL SLEAZINESS OF AN AFFAIR WITH AN INTERN ASIDE, SUBORNATION OF PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE ARE THE VERY CRIMES THAT BEGAN TO UNRAVEL THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, MORE OF THE SAME FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: IF MR. CLINTON TOLD FORMER [WHITE HOUSE] AIDE MONICA LEWINSKY TO LIE, ... HE HAS CROSSED A CLEAR, INVIOLABLE LINE. ..... DETERMINING IF A SITTING PRESIDENT COMMITTED A CRIME IS A DAUNTING TASK. IT DEMANDS THAT [INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH] MR. STARR PROCEED WITH CAUTION, CARE, AND CIRCUMSPECTION. MOST IMPORTANT, THOUGH, IT DEMANDS THAT THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL CONDUCT THIS PROBE WITH THE UTMOST IMPARTIALITY.

TEXT: IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR MIGHT BE ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC AND FROM WHAT LEVEL OF PUBLIC OFFICIAL, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ADDS THIS:

VOICE: THE WRIT FOR SELF-INDULGENCE THAT MIGHT COVER A CANDIDATE OR THE GOVERNOR OF A SMALL STATE IS NOT LIKELY TO COVER A SITTING PRESIDENT. IF MR. CLINTON'S DENIALS DO NOT HOLD UP, HIS PRESIDENCY WILL BE THROWN INTO A DISABLING POLITICAL CRISIS. THERE IS, THEREFORE, A PATRIOTIC IMPULSE TO HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICANS' CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT REMAIN AS PREMATURE UPON FULL INVESTIGATION AS THEY SOUNDED YESTERDAY ON THE BREAKING OF THE NEWS .....

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER MATTERS, THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION LEGALIZING ABORTION DRAWS A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT, INCLUDING THIS FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE."

VOICE: TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY THE U-S SUPREME COURT LEGALIZED ABORTION, AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS STILL DEEPLY DIVIDED. THE NATION AS A WHOLE SURELY DOES NOT THINK WITH ONE MIND ON THE SUBJECT, AND INDIVIDUALS ARE CONFLICTED WITHIN THEMSELVES. ..... THIS IS NOT AS PARADOXICAL AS IT SOUNDS. .... NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON THE MOMENT WHEN LIFE BEGINS OR THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PREGNANCY MIGHT BE UNTENABLE. BUT THE PUBLIC POLICY QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER ABORTION ..... IS IMMORAL. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. ..... THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE SHOULD NOT BE ABRIDGED UNTIL THE ANGUISH OF UNWANTED PREGNANCIES IS ELIMINATED.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" ADDS, IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, THAT: "A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICE TO HAVE AN ABORTION IS THE LAW AND MUST BE PROTECTED." AND IN NEW YORK, "THE TIMES" SUMS UP ITS FEELINGS THIS WAY.

VOICE: THE WISDOM OF ROE [VERSUS WADE, THE NAME OF THE ABORTION RIGHTS DECISION] IS THAT IT PLACED THE ABORTION DECISION IN THE HANDS OF WOMEN AND THEIR DOCTORS BEFORE VIABILITY. THAT REMAINS A PRINCIPLE AROUND WHICH MOST AMERICANS CAN RALLY. THE CHALLENGE NOW IS TO DEFEND THAT PRINCIPLE AS A NEW GENERATION COMES OF AGE THAT IS TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER A TIME WHEN WOMEN DIED OR WERE MAIMED AS A RESULT OF ILLEGAL ABORTIONS.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE CARIBBEAN, "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS THESE THOUGHTS ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO CUBA.

VOICE: THE POPE REPRESENTS AN IDEOLOGY OF FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY, VALUES IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE IDEOLOGY OF POWER RESTING ON ONE-PARTY RULE REPRESENTED BY CUBA'S PRESIDENT. THIS IS WHAT THE COLD WAR WAS CENTRALLY ABOUT. MR. CASTRO'S RECEPTION OF HIS GUEST IS FINALLY AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF COMMUNISM IN ONE OF ITS LAST LINGERING REDOUBTS [STRONGHOLDS]. .... /// OPT /// THE POPE'S VISIT IS BOUND TO HASTEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF A COUNTRY MOST OF WHOSE CITIZENS SURELY STRIVE TO JOIN THE LARGER FREE WORLD OUTSIDE CUBA. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON TO THE OTHER IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON, THE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS OVER RESTARTING THE MORIBUND PEACE PROCESS, DRAWS THIS RETORT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: MR. CLINTON PUT FORTH A REASONABLE COMPROMISE FORMULA TO BRIDGE THE DIFFERENCES ON TERRITORY AND SECURITY THAT HAVE BLOCKED NEGOTIATING PROGRESS BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS FOR MOST OF THE PAST YEAR. /// OPT /// ..... MR. NETANYAHU HAS NOT YET COMMITTED HIMSELF TO THE AMERICAN APPROACH AND WANTS ANY NEW WITHDRAWAL TO BE LINKED TO A QUICK START TO NEGOTIATIONS ON A FINAL PEACE SETTLEMENT. BUT HE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO MR. CLINTON

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE ONGOING CARNAGE BEING CARRIED OUT BY ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST TERRORISTS IN ALGERIA AND THE VISIT OF A EUROPEAN TEAM TRYING TO OFFER OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS:

VOICE: ALL SIDES IN ALGERIA UNDERSTAND THAT THE VISITING EUROPEAN DELEGATION HAS NO POWER TO CALL OFF THE ARMED ISLAMICIST GROUPS AND LITTLE CLOUT TO INFLUENCE THE MILITARY-CONTROLLED REGIME, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE EUROPEANS' WORST FEAR IS AN ISLAMIC TAKEOVER IN ALGERIA. ....... ALGERIANS NEED HELP, AND THEY NEED A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THEIR NIGHTMARE. BUT OUTSIDERS CAN DO LITTLE UNTIL THE ANTAGONISTS ARE READY TO END THEIR WAR OF ALL AGAINST ALL.

TEXT: AND IN ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SEES ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.

VOICE: .... THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT A LITTLE-NOTICED DEVELOPMENT IN THE SERBIAN PORTION OF BOSNIA LAST SATURDAY REPRESENTS, AT THE LEAST, A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE DIFFICULT PROCESS OF RESTORING PEACE AND BUILDING A NEW NATION OUT OF THE WRECKAGE OF THE POST-YUGOSLAVIA WAR. THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, AS IT IS KNOWN, CHOSE AS PRIME MINISTER MILORAD DODIK .... WHO SUPPORTS DEMOCRATIZATION, THE DAYTON ACCORDS AND INTEGRATION WITH THE CROAT AND MUSLIM INSTITUTIONS OF THE TRIPARTITE STATE. HIS ELECTION .... DELIVERS A BLOW TO THE SERB NATIONALIST FORCES CONTROLLED BY RADOVAN KARADZIC THAT HAVE BEEN THE SINGLE BIGGEST ..... OBSTACLE TO ... PEACE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE NATION'S EDITORIALS PAGES.
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22-Jan-98 11:10 AM EST (1610 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: A BOSNIAN SERB ARRESTED BY NATO TROOPS EARLY THURSDAY IN BOSNIA (IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE) (HAS ARRIVED) IN THE HAGUE TO ANSWER GENOCIDE CHARGES AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE SUSPECT GORAN JELISIC -- IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING MUSLIM PRISONERS WHEN HE WAS COMMANDER OF A PRISON CAMP NEAR BRCKO. GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: THE SUSPECT, 29-YEAR-OLD GORAN JELISIC, IS ONE OF ONLY NINE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE, THE TRIBUNAL'S MOST SERIOUS CHARGE. AND A TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN DESCRIBES HIM AS A "FAIRLY BIG CATCH."

PROSECUTORS ALLEGE MR. JELISIC WAS COMMANDER OF THE NOTORIOUS LUKA PRISON CAMP, NEAR BRCKO IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THEY SAY HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO PRISONERS AS THE "SERB ADOLF," TELLING THEM HE HAD COME TO KILL MUSLIMS. THE CHARGES ALLEGE HE KILLED "COUNTLESS DETAINEES" WHOSE IDENTITIES REMAIN UNKNOWN, BUT SPECIFICALLY ACCUSE HIM OF THE MURDER OF 16 PRISONERS -- MOST OF THEM SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE OR BEATEN.

PROSECUTORS SAY MANY OF THE PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO LIE ON A GRATING OVER A DRAIN TO A RIVER, SO THERE WOULD BE LESS CLEANING UP TO DO AFTER THE SHOOTINGS. THEY SAY BODIES USUALLY WERE LOADED ON TRUCKS AND TRANSPORTED TO NEARBY MASS GRAVES.

AS TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN CHRISTIAN CHARTIER NOTES, THIS IS THE THIRD ARREST OPERATION CARRIED OUT BY NATO SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR.

THEY'VE DONE IT THREE TIMES NOW, AND WE ARE SURE THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THAT ALSO SIGNALS TO ALL THE REMAINING INDICTEES STILL AT LARGE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT THINK THAT THE PROTECTION THAT IS GIVEN TO THEM BY THEIR GOVERNMENTS IS A SOLID PROTECTION. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ESCAPE. THEY ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SO SURRENDER YOURSELF, THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY, AND CEASE ATTEMPTING TO DISTURB THE COURSE OF JUSTICE. YOU'RE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE TRIBUNAL IS AFTER YOU AND NATO IS WITH THE TRIBUNAL AFTER YOU.

FIFTY-FOUR WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS -- MOST OF THEM BOSNIAN SERB -- ARE STILL FREE.

MR. JELESIC IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT EARLY NEXT WEEK TO ENTER A PLEA TO THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH
22-Jan-98 10:34 AM EST (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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