Browse through our Interesting Nodes on the Balkan Peninsula Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Monday, 23 December 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Voice of America, 98-06-26

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

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] KOSOVO - HOLBROOKE UPDATE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)
  • [02] NATO-KOSOVO-OPTIONS (LO) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)
  • [03] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)
  • [04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)
  • [05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)
  • [06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)
  • [07] YUGO RETURNS BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

  • [01] KOSOVO - HOLBROOKE UPDATE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234607
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS WARNED ABOUT ESCALATION IN THE VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE LIMITS OF HIS DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO END THE FIGHTING. HIS COMMENTS CAME AFTER TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS TODAY (FRIDAY) ON THE LAST LEG OF HIS MISSION TO YUGOSLAVIA'S SERBIAN REPUBLIC. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR EAST EUROPEAN NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

    TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE SAID HE HAS NO MAGIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE. HE SAID THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS AND HIS IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO PREVENT THE VIOLENCE FROM GETTING ANY WORSE.

    HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE UPSURGE IN VIOLENCE WAS TRIGGERED BY A SERBIAN CRACKDOWN IN MARCH. MANY OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ALBANIAN BORDER.

    MR. HOLBROOKE WARNED OF A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AROUND KIJEVO, ON THE MAIN ROAD WEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, WHERE FIGHTING HAS RAGED BETWEEN SERBIAN FORCES AND GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. CONTROL OF THAT ROAD IS CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT MEASURE OF THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE GUERRILLAS AND THE SERB FORCES.

    ON HIS LAST DAY IN YUGOSLAVIA MR. HOLBROOKE MET WITH TWO LEADING ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- IBRAHIM RUGOVA, WHO HAS FAVORED A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CRISIS, AND ADEM DEMACI, A LONG-TIME ADVOCATE FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE WHO IS MORE WILLING TO ACCEPT AN ARMED STRUGGLE. EARLIER, MR. HOLBROOKE MET WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

    NOTHING CONCRETE HAS EMERGED FROM HIS TALKS EITHER WITH THE ALBANIANS, WHO WANT AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO, OR THE SERBS WHO INSIST THAT KOSOVO MUST REMAIN PART OF SERBIA.

    //OPT//

    MR. HOLBROOKE IS CREDITED WITH BROKERING THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN THAT ENDED THE BOSNIA FIGHTING, AND WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE NEXT AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS. // END OPT//

    BEFORE LEAVING KOSOVO, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID DOZENS OF DIPLOMATS BASED IN BELGRADE WOULD SOON ARRIVE TO TRY TO CALM THE SITUATION. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS DEMANDED YUGOSLAVIA PULL BACK ITS FORCES FROM KOSOVO; THE SERBS SAY THEIR FORCES ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE SERB MINORITY THERE. (SIGNED)
    NEB/ART/KL/JO
    26-Jun-98 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [02] NATO-KOSOVO-OPTIONS (LO) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234617
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    /// RE-RUNNING W/CHANGE ONE WORD IN 10TH GRAPH ///

    /// EDITORS: THIS STORY WILL HOLD UP WELL FOR WEEKEND USE ///

    INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY NATO IS ACCELERATING ITS PLANNING -- SHOULD IT BE CALLED ON TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO STOP FIGHTING IN KOSOVO. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS NATO PLANS INCLUDE BOTH AIR 'OPTIONS' AND GROUND TROOPS. BUT AS V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET TO ACTUALLY USE FORCE.

    TEXT: IF NATO FORCE WERE TO BE USED IN KOSOVO, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS IT WOULD VERY LIKELY COME FROM THE AIR.

    /// NAT SOUND OF COCKPIT ///

    STANDING BY FOR TARGET DIRECTORY. Y'ALL RUNNING? SIXTEEN MILES. LASING. I'M OUT RIGHT LOOKING. DON'T LET ME MASK. CLOUDS.

    // END ACT ///

    THESE ARE COCKPIT CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PILOTS AND WEAPONS OFFICERS AS THEY AIM LASER-GUIDED BOMBS.

    /// NAT SOUND OF COCKPIT ///

    JUST KEEP IT THERE BUDDY, I CAN SEE IT TOO.

    BOOM! YEAH BUBBA! NICE SHOT! LASER SAFE

    /// END ACT ///

    A 1995 NATO PRECISION BOMBING CAMPAIGN DAMAGED BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY TARGETS AND HELPED PERSUADE THE SERBS TO SIGN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. NATO PLANNERS ARE KEEPING THIS LESSON IN MIND AS THEY SEEK WAYS TO STOP THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO.

    KOSOVO IS A PROVINCE OF SERBIA, AND SERBIA IS ONE OF YUGOSLAVIA'S TWO REMAINING REPUBLICS. AT LEAST 50-THOUSAND MEMBERS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S ARMY AND SPECIAL POLICE ARE IN KOSOVO, SHELLING AND BURNING VILLAGES. SOME EXPERTS SAY THE NUMBER OF YUGOSLAV TROOPS IS STILL GROWING.

    NINETY-PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN KOSOVO ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, MOSTLY MUSLIMS. BUT THE SERBIAN CHRISTIAN MINORITY RUNS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SECURITY FORCES. YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAYS HIS FORCES ARE SIMPLY RESPONDING TO ATTACKS BY SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. BUT NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS AND OTHERS SAY THE YUGOSLAV FORCES ARE REPEATING 'ETHNIC CLEANSING' TACTICS USED IN THE BOSNIAN WAR.

    // OPT //

    MANY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ARE DEMANDING THE SERBS STOP DRIVING KOSOVARS OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND ACROSS THE BORDER INTO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. // END OPT //

    TO HELP PERSUADE THE SERBS TO MODERATE THEIR ACTIONS, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS NATO'S LEADERSHIP IS CONSIDERING BOTH AIR POWER AND GROUND FORCES.

    /// BACON ACT ///

    THERE IS ACTUALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, A TWO-TRACK PROCESS. THE TRACK OF PUTTING PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENTS INTO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA BEGAN PRIOR TO LOOKING AT A MORE ROBUST LIST OF OPTIONS WHICH INCLUDED SOME AIR OPTIONS.

    /// END ACT ///

    NATO PLANNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF 'PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENTS' FOR WEEKS. SUCH DEPLOYMENTS WOULD PUT TROOPS PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF THEM -- ON THE GROUND IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, WHICH BORDER THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.

    THAT FORCE C/O/U/L/D BE ORDERED TO KEEP THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, KNOWN AS THE K-L-A, FROM SMUGGLING ARMS AND FIGHTERS INTO KOSOVO. IT COULD ALSO KEEP THE YUGOSLAV ARMY FROM STRIKING ACROSS THE BORDER IN PURSUIT OF K-L-A GUERRILLAS OPERATING IN NEIGHBORING NATIONS.

    MR. BACON MADE IT CLEAR THAT PLANNING IS WELL UNDERWAY FOR AN AIR CAMPAIGN AS WELL. HE SAID SUCH A CAMPAIGN WOULD START BY SUPPRESSING YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSES TO PROTECT NATO PILOTS AND AIRCRAFT.

    HE ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT NATO IS CONSIDERING A CAMPAIGN OF GRADUALLY INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV ARMED FORCES. MR. BACON SAYS IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK, AND LIKELY LONGER, TO FILL IN THE COMPLEX DETAILS OF THESE PLANS. (SIGNED).
    NEB/JR/JO
    26-Jun-98 3:29 PM EDT (1929 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234594
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:
    /// EDS: RESULTS FROM SOME CONSTITUENCIES ARE EXPECTED BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WITH FINAL RESULTS SOMETIME SATURDAY ///

    INTRO: BALLOTS ARE BEING COUNTED IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S ELECTION FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY AS PROVIDED FOR BY APRIL'S POLITICAL AGREEMENT. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

    TEXT: THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS WHICH OF THE TWO MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES WILL GAIN THE MOST SEATS IN THE NEW 108-MEMBER ASSEMBLY -- THE PRO-BRITISH "ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY," THE LARGEST POLITICAL ENTITY IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE, OR THE PRO-IRISH "SOCIAL, DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY," THE PARTY THAT SPEAKS FOR MOST CATHOLICS IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

    SIX CANDIDATES FROM EACH OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S 18 ELECTION DISTRICTS WILL BE SENT TO THE NEW ASSEMBLY. THEY ARE ELECTED IN A COMPLICATED PROCEDURE WHERE VOTERS ARE ASKED TO NUMBER CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE. THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS VOTES TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE CANDIDATE TO ANOTHER.

    TRADITIONALLY, VOTERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE CAST BALLOTS STRICTLY ALONG SECTARIAN LINES. THOSE FAVORING CONTINUED TIES WITH BRITAIN HAVE VOTED FOR UNIONIST CANDIDATES. THOSE FAVORING CLOSER TIES WITH IRELAND CAST BALLOTS FOR NATIONALIST POLITICIANS.

    BUT IN THIS ELECTION, THERE APPEARS TO BE THE START OF A SUBTLE SHIFT IN NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTION TRENDS -- A SHIFT THAT COULD HAVE PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROVINCE'S POLITICAL FUTURE.

    THE SUBTLE SHIFT IS MAINLY DUE TO LAST MONTH'S REFERENDUM IN WHICH VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE POLITICAL ACCORD ESTABLISHING THE NEW NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY. SEVERAL UNIONIST PARTIES OPPOSED THE AGREEMENT AND HAVE FIELDED CANDIDATES FOR THIS NEW ASSEMBLY. IF ELECTED, THEY HOPE TO BLOCK THE BODY'S WORK.

    THIS POSES A DILEMMA FOR THOSE UNIONIST VOTERS WHO WANT THE ASSEMBLY TO SUCCEED. AND THIS IS WHERE -- ACCORDING TO JOHN ALDERDICE, LEADER OF THE NON-SECTARIAN "ALLIANCE" PARTY -- THE SHIFT IN ELECTION PATTERNS IS BEGINNING TO OCCUR.

    /// ALDERDICE ACT ///

    NOW WHAT WE HAVE BEGUN TO SEE ON THE DOORSTEPS -- AND INDEED IT HAS BECOME CLEAR EVEN AT THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP LEVEL -- THOSE WHO VOTED 'YES' ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO TRANSFER (THEIR VOTE) TO OTHERS, OTHER CANDIDATES AND OTHER PARTIES WHO ALSO VOTED 'YES.' IN OTHER WORDS, INSTEAD OF UNIONISTS VOTING FOR UNIONISTS WHO ARE ANTI-AGREEMENT BUT ARE STILL UNIONISTS, WHAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO DO IS VOTE FOR OTHER PARTIES THAT ARE PRO-AGREEMENT, EVEN IF -- LIKE MY OWN PARTY -- THEY ARE NOT STRICTLY SPEAKING UNIONIST PARTIES AT ALL. THERE IS A KIND OF COMING TOGETHER OF THE 'YES' PARTIES RATHER THAN A BREAKDOWN ENTIRELY ON THE OLD SECTARIAN GROUNDS.

    /// END ACT ///

    MR. ALDERDICE SEES THIS AS AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN A STILL VERY DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETY. IT IS WHAT OTHER POLITICIANS HAVE DESCRIBED AS "A CHANGE IN POLITICAL MINDSETS."

    JOHN ALDERDICE SAYS THE EFFECT OF THIS SHIFT MAY NOT BE FULLY APPRECIATED THIS TIME AROUND. BUT HE HOPES THIS TREND TO NON-SECTARIAN POLITICS WILL BE A PART OF NORTHERN IRELAND WHEN THE ELECTION FOR THE NEXT ASSEMBLY COMES AROUND IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/ADEN/JWH
    26-Jun-98 8:15 AM EDT (1215 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234624
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS CLOSED MIXED ON FRIDAY, IN A DAY OF RELATIVELY QUIET TRADING MARKED BY CONCERNS ABOUT THE JAPANESE ECONOMY. FROM LONDON, VOA'S KEVIN LYNCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM EUROPE.

    TEXT: WORRIES OVER JAPAN'S TROUBLED BANKING SYSTEM CAUSED THE MARKETS IN EUROPE TO WORRY FRIDAY, AND NO HELP CAME FROM WALL STREET, WHICH ALSO STARTED QUIETLY. IN ADDITION, LONDON'S MARKET IS GROWING ANXIOUS OVER FEARS OF A BRITISH INTEREST RATE RISE IN JULY.

    HERE ARE THE CLOSING FIGURES. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES 100-SHARE INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP 18 AND-ONE-HALF POINTS, A GAIN OF POINT THREE PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS UP 12 POINTS, AN INCREASE OF POINT THREE PERCENT. FRANKFURT WAS THE ONE MARKET THAT ENDED ON THE MINUS SIDE, DROPPING 16 POINTS, A LOSS OF POINT THREE PERCENT.

    THE PRICE OF GOLD CLOSED UNCHANGED IN LONDON, AT 293 DOLLARS AN OUNCE.

    THE U-S DOLLAR CLOSED HIGHER AGAINST EUROPE'S MAJOR CURRENCIES. (SIGNED)
    NEB/KL/GE
    26-Jun-98 1:47 PM EDT (1747 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234627
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE END OF A VERY POSITIVE WEEK FOR THE STOCK MARKET. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

    TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 43, UP EIGHT POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 231 POINTS OR ABOUT TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST FOUR POINTS FRIDAY AT A RECORD HIGH 11 HUNDRED 33.

    ALTHOUGH STOCK PRICES DID REBOUND STRONGLY IN THE PAST WEEK, THERE IS STILL CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS AND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA.

    ///BEGIN OPT///

    PATRICK MURPHY OF THE R-P-M INVESTMENT COMPANY SAYS HE WORRIES THAT THE U-S MAY AGAIN HAVE TO SUPPORT THE VALUE OF THE JAPANESE YEN AND WONDERS IF PLANNED REFORMS OF THE JAPANESE BANKING SYSTEM WILL WORK.

    ///MURPHY ACT///

    IF WE (THE UNITED STATES) HAVE TO GO IN AND SUPPORT THE YEN BY BUYING IT WITH DOLLARS. AND, RIGHT NOW THE JAPANESE ARE TALKING ABOUT BANK MERGER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WILL FIX THEIR PROBLEMS.
    /// END ACT --END OPT
    ///

    AMERICAN CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO FUEL U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS CONSUMER SPENDING IN MAY JUMPED SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

    /// REST OPT FOR LONG
    ///

    THE ACER COMPUTER COMPANY OF TAIWAN IS FORMING AN ALLIANCE WITH I-B-M TO PRODUCE WHAT ARE CALLED LOGIC INTEGRATED SEMICONDUCTORS. YAHOO, THE COMPUTER INTERNET DIRECTORY AND INFORMATION COMPANY, HAS LAUNCHED A NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE GUIDE TO THE INTERNET'S WORLD WIDE WEB. YAHOO SAYS THE NUMBER OF SPANISH SPEAKERS USING THE INTERNET IS EXPECTED TO RISE FROM ABOUT NINE MILLION TO 37 MILLION WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

    THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT TO THE LABOR PROBLEMS AT GENERAL MOTORS. STRIKES AT TWO PARTS PLANTS HAVE SHUT DOWN ALMOST ALL OF G-M'S NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE OPERATIONS. THE STRIKERS SEE THEMSELVES AS FIGHTING FOR THEIR JOBS WHILE G-M MANAGEMENT SEEMS DETERMINED TO CUT ITS COSTS, THE HIGHEST IN THE U-S AUTO INDUSTRY.

    A FINAL AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE PLANNED MERGER OF THE NASDAQ (NAS-DAK) MARKET AND THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE. THE COMBINED STOCK MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SO-CALLED "'AUCTION MARKET" TRADING ON THE EXCHANGE FLOOR ALONG WITH NASDAQ'S COMPUTERIZED MARKET. IN ADDITION, NASDAQ WILL GAIN ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN EXCHANGE'S LARGE MARKET IN STOCK OPTIONS CONTRACTS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
    26-Jun-98 5:34 PM EDT (2134 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=06/26/98
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-10783
    TELEPHONE=619-3335
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
    CONTENT=

    (UNEDITED)

    ////

    EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-S-T ! !

    ////

    INTRO: THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF SOME U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE TOP HEAVY THIS FRIDAY WITH DOMESTIC ISSUES, INCLUDING COMMENT ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ANNOUNCED THURSDAY. LEADING THIS GROUP, IS THE FINDING THAT THE LINE ITEM VETO IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

    OTHER TOPICS GETTING ATTENTION AS THE NATION HEADS INTO ITS FIRST WEEKEND OF THE SUMMER INCLUDE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO CHINA AND RELATED TOPICS; THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA; SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST LIE REGARDING HIS CHEMICAL WEAPONS ACTIVITY; THE PROBLEM OF EXPANDING JERUSALEM'S BORDERS AND A HUGE COMMUNICATIONS MERGER. NOW, WE WELCOME _______________WHO HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE COMMENTARIES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

    VOICE: A SPATE OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS HAS PUSHED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHINA TRIP OUT OF THE TOP SPOT IN MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS. THE COURT RULED THURSDAY THAT A LAW ALLOWING A U-S PRESIDENT TO REMOVE SPECIFIC ITEMS FROM THE FEDERAL BUDGET, WITHOUT KILLING AN ENTIRE BUDGET ITEM, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IN GEORGIA, THE COURT'S RULING DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION"

    TEXT: VIRTUALLY EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE ULYSSES S. GRANT HAS SOUGHT THE POWER TO STRIKE OUT SPECIFIC TAX OR SPENDING ITEMS HE DIDN'T LIKE IN BUDGETS PASSED BY CONGRESS. THE PRESIDENTS HAVE ARGUED THAT HAVING A 'LINE-ITEM VETO' WOULD HELP THEM FIGHT THE PORK-BARREL PROJECTS [ITEMS, USUALLY INVOLVING CONSTRUCTION OF SOMETHING CONSIDERED BY THE PRESS AS UNNECESSARY, INSERTED INTO THE BUDGET BY POWERFUL CONGRESSMEN STRICTLY TO BENEFIT THEIR OWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS] THAT BLOAT THE BUDGET. BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH GIVING THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO VETO SPECIFIC ITEMS. THOUGH IT MIGHT SAVE SOME MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS, IT WOULD VIOLATE THE U-S CONSTITUTION [BECAUSE] ....... THE FOUNDING FATHERS DIDN'T WANT THE PRESIDENT TO ACT AS A SUPERLEGISLATOR WHO COULD OVERRULE CONGRESS. .... FORTUNATELY, THE SUPREME COURT HAS ENDED THE DEBATE

    /// OPT ///

    ..... [MAKING] IT CLEAR THAT MAINTAINING THE BALANCE OF POWERS IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY SHORT-TERM GAINS THAT MIGHT COME FROM KILLING PORK.

    TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS THAT "THE ... COURT DID THE COUNTRY A FAVOR IN STRIKING DOWN THE LINE-ITEM VETO AUTHORITY ....." WHILE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS THE RULING WAS"..... A SOUND AND MUCH-NEEDED DECISION."

    VOICE: ....... THE SIX-TO-THREE DECISION, WRITTEN BY JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS, FIRMLY CAST ASIDE GOVERNMENT ARGUMENTS THAT IN CANCELING SPECIFIC LINES OF THE BUDGET THE PRESIDENT WAS MERELY EXERCISING AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO HIM BY CONGRESS. INSTEAD THE COURT FOUND THAT THE LINE ITEM VETO VIOLATES THE 'PRESENTMENT CLAUSE' OF [THE CONSTITUTION]. ..... IN CONTRAST ..... THE COURT VEERED OFF COURSE WITH A DANGEROUS EIGHT TO-ONE RULING THAT FOUND NO FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION IN CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. ..... IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THIS RULING WILL SIMPLY EMBOLDEN ENEMIES OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE ARTS.

    /// END OPT ///

    TEXT: TURNING TO WHAT COMMENT THERE IS ON THE CHINA TRIP, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" WORRIES THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY BE SUBLIMATING THE NATION'S CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AS HE PRESSES FORWARD FOR BETTER TRADE RELATIONS.

    VOICE: MR. CLINTON'S GENERAL POLICY OF 'ENGAGEMENT' WITH CHINA MAKES SENSE. BUT ITS CRITICS UNDERSTANDABLY WORRY THAT HE IS BURNING AMERICA'S TRADITIONAL CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE ALTAR OF U-S COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. IN THE INTERESTS OF A BIPARTISAN CHINA POLICY THAT CAN COMMAND WIDESPREAD SUPPORT, MR. CLINTON MUST PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE CONCERNS. ......... TOO OFTEN, MR. CLINTON HAS APPEARED TO GIVE IN NEEDLESSLY TO CHINESE WISHES IN PLANNING HIS VISIT. ..... BUT TIANANMEN REMAINS AN OPEN WOUND, AS EVIDENCED BY THE STUNNING LETTER JUST SENT TO CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS BY ZHAO ZIYANG, THE PARTY CHIEF OUSTED AFTER THE CRACKDOWN IN 1989. MR. ZHAO, UNDER HOUSE ARREST SINCE THEN, HAS URGED THE PARTY TO ADMIT ... THE MASSACRE WAS AN ERROR.

    TEXT: THE EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS OF THE AIDS PROBLEM IN AFRICA DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF FRIDAY'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WHICH, COMMENTING ON A RECENT U-N HEALTH REPORT, CALLS IT "A FEROCIOUS PLAGUE."

    VOICE: WHEN DELEGATES TO THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE GATHER SUNDAY IN GENEVA, THEY WILL CONFRONT THE MOST DEADLY STATISTICS ABOUT AIDS COMPILED IN THE 17-YEAR HISTORY OF THE DISEASE. NOWHERE ARE THOSE STATISTICS MORE OMINOUS THAN IN AFRICA, WHERE AIDS SPREADS RAPIDLY, ITS GROWTH ENCOURAGED BY POVERTY AND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ...... AFRICA'S FIERY EPIDEMIC CONTRASTS WITH A WORLDWIDE RATE OF HIV INFECTION NOW AT ONE PERCENT AMONG ADULTS. THE UNITED STATES ..... HAS REDUCED ITS RATE TO ZERO-POINT-SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT. AFRICAN NATIONS SUCH AS SENEGAL, TANZANIA AND UGANDA HAVE DONE LIKEWISE. THE CHALLENGE NOW IS TO SPREAD THAT ATTACK ACROSS AFRICA WITH A SPEED CAPABLE OF CATCHING, AND CONTAINING, THE DISEASE.

    TEXT: IN MIDDLE EAST ISSUES, THERE IS MORE ANGER AT THE LATEST LIES ATTRIBUTED TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRAN, REGARDING ITS USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE" WHICH SAYS IRAQ'S LEADERSHIP LIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT EVERY TURN. [OPPORTUNITY]

    VOICE: ..... THE LYING HAS BECOME SO BLATANT THAT EVEN SADDAM'S NUMBER ONE SHILL IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, SAID OF BAGHDAD'S EFFORTS TO GO ON DENYING THE EXISTENCE OF WARHEADS ARMED WITH VX: 'I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE FOR BAGHDAD TO DENY IT.' THE WARHEADS, HE SAID, 'SHOULD BE DESTROYED.' /// OPT /// ... THE SECOND CRUCIAL LESSON .....CONCERNS THE CONTENT OF THE LIES SADDAM HAS TOLD. AS THE CHIEF U-N INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL LAST MONTH, BAGHDAD RETAINS TWO-THIRDS OF ITS OPERATIONAL MISSILE FORCE, MORE THAN HALF ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND ALL ITS PROSCRIBED BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. THE DANGER FROM SUCH AN ARSENAL ..... IS NOT ABSTRACT. /// END OPT ///

    TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF JERUSALEM, BECAUSE OF WHAT THAT WILL DO TO RELATIONS WITH THE PALESTINIANS.

    VOICE: ANNEXING LAND IN THE JUDEAN DESERT TO THE CITY OF JERUSALEM TO ACCOMMODATE ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IS, ON THE FACE OF IT, HARMFUL TO THE PEACE PROCESS. /// OPT ///

    ..... IT IS TIME FOR THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT'S PEACE GESTURE TO THE PALESTINIANS TO BE MADE. WITHOUT IT, SUCH HOSTILE UNILATERAL MOVES AS REDRAWING THE MAP OF JERUSALEM LOOK WORSE AND WORSE./// END ///

    TEXT: LASTLY, "USA TODAY" APPLAUDS THE MERGER ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK BETWEEN THE GIANT U-S TELEPHONE COMPANY A-T & T, [THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY], AND THE CABLE TELEVISION GIANT, TELE-COMMUNICATIONS OR T-C-I, SAYS:

    VOICE: CONSUMERS FINALLY MAY HAVE A TELECOMMUNICATIONS MERGER THAT WILL DO SOMETHING FOR THEM, RATHER THAN JUST FOR COMPANIES' BOTTOM LINES [PROFITS]. /// OPT /// THE 32-BILLION-DOLLAR MERGER OF A-T&T WITH CABLE GIANT TELE-COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED PROMISES TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF COMMUNICATIONS. IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG IN COMING. /// END OPT /// ..... IT SHOULD HELP SPREAD NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN MAKE THE CABLE LINE INTO A PERSON'S HOME A CONDUIT FOR HIGH-SPEED DATA DELIVERY - - BE IT VOICE, VISUAL OR BITS AND BYTES OF OTHER INFORMATION - - AND IN A HOST OF COMBINATIONS. ....... THIS DEAL MAY OPEN AN ERA OF REAL COMPETITION FOR A NEW COMMUNICATIONS AGE. IT'S ABOUT TIME.

    TEXT: ON THAT HIGH TECHNOLOGY NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS. NEB/ANG/
    26-Jun-98 10:29 AM EDT (1429 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [07] YUGO RETURNS BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

    DATE=6/26/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-234618
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY (U-N-H-C-R), SADAKO OGATA, WARNS THERE WILL BE NO LASTING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGIONS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WITHOUT THE RETURN OF NEARLY TWO MILLION REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE. AT A DAY-LONG MEETING IN GENEVA, MS. OGATA PRESENTED A PLAN WHICH STRESSES A REGIONAL APPROACH FOR ENDING THE REFUGEE CRISIS. LISA SCHLEIN SAYS THE MEETING WAS HEAVILY ATTENDED BY OFFICIALS FROM THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DONOR COUNTRIES AND AID AGENCIES.

    TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ADMITS ITS EFFORTS TO REPATRIATE NEARLY TWO MILLION REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE TO THE COUNTRIES THAT WERE ONCE PART OF YUGOSLAVIA HAVE LARGELY FAILED. THE WORST PROBLEM OF DISPLACEMENT IS FOUND IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, FOLLOWED BY CROATIA.

    THE AGENCY HAD HOPED TO BRING BACK 50,000 REFUGEES TO BOSNIA DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. IT ONLY MANAGED TO REPATRIATE AN ESTIMATED 10,000. THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS ETHNIC MINORITIES HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM GOING BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES BECAUSE OF POLITICAL PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY. SHE SAYS PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS HAVE ALSO PLAYED A PART IN DISCOURAGING MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS FROM RETURNING TO HOMES IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE IN THE MINORITY.

    /// OGATA ACT ///

    PEOPLE TRYING TO GO BACK FIND THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE VERY COOL (UNFRIENDLY) AND THAT THEY CANNOT REALLY FACE THIS COOLNESS IN THEIR PLACES OF ORIGIN. THAT KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. THEY'RE QUITE REAL AND THEY DO LEAD TO ALL SORTS OF HARASSMENT.

    /// END ACT ///

    THE U-N AGENCY WARNS NEW DISPLACEMENTS IN THE REGION ARE ADDING TO THE EXISTING PROBLEMS. IT SAYS IN THE EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION OF CROATIA, CROATIAN SERBS ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT FROM THE MAJORITY CROATS. AND, MOST ALARMINGLY, THE AGENCY OBSERVES THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO HAS DRIVEN AT LEAST 77,000 ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THEIR HOMES.

    SPECIAL ENVOY FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, NICOLAS MORRIS, SAYS THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO LOOKS DISTRESSINGLY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN BOSNIA.

    /// MORRIS ACT ///

    THERE IS A LOT OF DESTRUCTION OF HOUSES AND THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE, COME THE WINTER THERE, IT'S EXTREMELY COLD. AND THERE'S NOT JUST A WINTERIZATION PROBLEM IF THERE ARE STILL REFUGEES IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. BUT, SIMPLY WITHIN KOSOVO, PEOPLES' OWN HOUSES, MAKING THEM FIT TO WITHSTAND THE WINTER.

    ///END ACT///

    THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER DISPLACEMENTS -- TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER BOSNIA'S DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED -- IS NOT A VERY OPTIMISTIC OR HAPPY PROSPECT. SHE BELIEVES THESE ISSUES ONLY CAN BE SOLVED THROUGH A REGIONAL APPROACH BECAUSE, AS SHE SAYS, ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE LOCKED TOGETHER LIKE PIECES OF A JIG-SAW PUZZLE. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LS/KL
    26-Jun-98 1:27 PM EDT (1727 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    voa2html v2.03a run on Saturday, 27 June 1998 - 3:37:49 UTC