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Voice of America, 00-02-11Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] UNHCR / KOSOVO REPORT (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259056 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: An independent team of experts has criticized the United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R, for the slow way it handled the Kosovo refugee emergency last year. Lisa Schlein in Geneva explains that the U-N-H- C-R commissioned the team to evaluate the agency's preparedness and response to the situation. TEXT: The report examines the 11-week period from late March until mid-June 1999 when NATO's bombing campaign ended and the Kosovo refugees began going home. During that time, more than 850-thousand ethnic Albanians fled Kosovo into neighboring Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. The report notes this refugee movement was unusually large and swift. Despite that, it says the refugees from Kosovo generally received adequate assistance. However, the report criticizes the agency for not having anticipated the size and speed of the exodus and for not providing immediate assistance. It says the agency was slow in deploying staff and that it lacked enough senior, experienced people to do the job properly. U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the agency agrees with the bulk of the findings. But, he says it disagrees with the contention that the U-N-H-C-R could have predicted the extent of the emergency and should have made preparations in advance. /// REDMOND ACT ////// END ACT ////// 2ND REDMOND ACT ////// END ACT ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [02] CROATIA / TRIBUNAL RELATIONS (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259044 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Croatia's new President-elect, Stipe Mesic, has promised to integrate his country with the rest of the European Community, saying he will push to become part of the European Union and NATO. But one thing Mr. Mesic will have to do to gain acceptance is improve his country's cooperation with the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. It is a relationship that his predecessor, Franjo Tudjman, brought to new lows in the months before his death (eds: in December 1999). But as Lauren Comiteau reports from The Hague, many people inside the Tribunal think he can succeed. TEXT: Croatian President-elect Stipe Mesic is defining himself as much by who he is as by who he is not: namely the late President Franjo Tudjman. Unlike the often stiff and formal Mr. Tudjman, Mr. Mesic is casual and accessible. Whereas Mr. Tudjman was autocratic and nationalistic, Mr. Mesic says he will be democratic and European. And while Mr. Tudjman increasingly refused to cooperate with the War Crimes Tribunal, President-elect Mesic not only says he agrees with the Tribunal's work, but he has personally supported it in the past - as a witness. //ACT COURT ANNOUNCEMENT, FADE UNDER//////END ACT//////ACT BLEWITT//////END ACT//////ACT LOYEN AND POPOVIC//////END ACT///NEB/LC/GE/PLM 11-Feb-2000 05:46 AM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1046 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [03] SERBIA CLEANUP (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259043 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///EDS: THIS REPORT IS DESIGNED FOR WEEKEND USE///INTRO: A United Nations team of scientists arrives Sunday in Belgrade to study what is needed to clean up areas that were badly damaged environmentally last year during the Kosovo war. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the scientists will concentrate on four so- called "hot spots" in Serbia. TEXT: A United Nations report last year identified four areas in Serbia which were particularly hard-hit by NATO bombing and suffered severe environmental damage. The scientists said pollution at the so-called environmental "hot spots" poses a threat to human health. They now want to decide the specific steps needed to make the areas environmentally clean and safe. The head of the U-N Balkans Task Force, Pekka Haavisto, says the problems vary. He says urgent action is needed to clean up the heavily contaminated wastewater canal which flows into the Danube river at Pancevo. /// HAAVISTO ACT ONE ////// END ACT ////// HAAVISTO ACT TWO ////// END ACT ///NEB/LS/JWH/PLM 11-Feb-2000 05:23 AM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1023 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [04] DEUTSCHE BANK AUSTRIA (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259075 INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The chief economist at Europe's biggest commercial bank said Friday that Austria's new center- far right government is likely to pursue needed reforms that will open up Austria's state-directed economy. V-O-A's Barry Wood reports that Deutsche Bank economist Norbert Walter spoke at a conference in Washington. TEXT: Mr. Walter says Austrian Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider is one of Europe's most intelligent politicians. But he added he is also a dangerous demagogue whose actions must be closely monitored. Despite these reservations, Mr. Walter is impressed with the caliber and independence of the people Mr. Haider nominated to serve in the cabinet. /// Walter Act ////// End Act ////// Walter Act////// End Act ///NEB/BDW/JP 11-Feb-2000 16:48 PM EDT (11-Feb-2000 2148 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [05] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259049 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Nine weeks after transferring home rule powers to Belfast, Britain's Parliament is poised to take back direct control of Northern Ireland. But before it does, officials in London and Dublin are carrying out a last-minute effort to convince the IRA to issue a forthright statement on surrendering weapons. V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from London. TEXT: Britain's top official for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, says he has no choice but suspension of the assembly if the Irish Republican Army (I-R-A) does not make a concrete gesture now toward disarming. /// MANDELSON ACT ////// END ACT ///// McGUINNESS ACT ////// END ACT ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [06] CLINTON - N-IRELAND (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259060 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: President Clinton says there is still a chance that a suspension of Northern Ireland's new power- sharing government can be avoided, and that the troubled peace process can be salvaged. The issue is of utmost concern to Mr. Clinton, who has made peace in Northern Ireland a top foreign policy goal. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House. Text: Britain is poised to impose direct rule over Northern Ireland if the Irish Republican Army does not make a clear pledge by the end of the day Friday to disarm. But Mr. Clinton - in an appearance before reporters - says he believes suspension of the province's new government can be put off. /// Clinton Act ////// End Act ///NEB/DAT/JP 11-Feb-2000 12:15 PM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1715 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [07] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-259077 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S stock prices were sharply lower today (Friday), as investors locked in gains from the recent run-up in the technology sector. VOA correspondent Elaine Johanson reports from New York: TEXT: The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 218 points, two percent, closing at 10-thousand-425. The Industrials are down nearly five percent for the week. The Standard and Poor's 500 index also slid two percent, as did the Nasdaq composite. Technology stocks dragged down the broader market, as investors took profits from the Nasdaq's huge gains this week. ///BEGIN OPT for long //////DAVIS ACT//////END ACT//////END OPT//////REST OPT for long ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [08] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=2/11/2000TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11678 TELEPHONE=619-3335 CONTENT= INTRO: The unprecedented attack on commercial Internet computer web sites this week continues to rate first place among editorial topics in U-S newspapers. Another domestic story, the withdrawal from the Republican presidential primary of Steve Forbes, is commented on in several papers. International issues under scrutiny include: the forthcoming elections in Iran; reassessing NATO's fighting capability; the Russian victory in Chechnya; and second thoughts on the threat posed by Austria's new coalition government. Now, here is _____ with a closer look in today's U-S Editorial Digest. TEXT: Computer vandals, known as hackers, electronically invaded more than half a dozen commercial web sites on the Internet this week, disrupting millions of dollars of business and causing a drop on the New York Stock exchange. The F-B-I is investigating, and Attorney General Janet Reno says the vandals will be seriously punished if they can be found. Meanwhile, there is plenty of comment in the press, such as this from Portland's Oregonian. VOICE: Regardless of who turns out to be behind them, this week's attacks on Internet businesses offer a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of the world's electronic communications web. The hackers ...may be seekers of a perverse sort of fame, or foreign intelligence agents bent on undermining the American economy - - or anything in between. ... American agencies ... already monitor and attempt to counter such threats. ... But it's also clear that government efforts can go only so far. Businesses must also be more aware of electronic security issues. TEXT: In the eastern United States, the New York Daily News is outraged as well. VOICE: Maybe they think it's ... funny... Whatever the reason, cyberthugs managed to disable several of the World Wide Web's most popular sites this week. ... Deliberately corrupting a computer network is a felony. The maximum penalty for a first-time offender is five years in prison and a 250-thousand dollar fine, plus damages. Perhaps it's time to get serious and increase the sentence. TEXT: In Charleston, South Carolina, the Post and Courier calls the vandals: "Dangerous cyber hooligans," adding: No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks or made any economic or political demands, so the motive remains unknown. ... But it is clear that the same technique could be used to affect Internet stock prices or for extortion. So it is essential that ... federal authorities find those responsible as quickly as possible. TEXT: Millionaire magazine publisher Steve Forbes has dropped out of the race for president after spending more than 60-million dollars of his own money during the past five years. The Philadelphia Inquirer says:"[Mr.] Forbes learns that it's not all about money. It's about experience, connecting with voters." VOICE: Money Can't Buy You Love. ...In the last ten years, we've seen two millionaires buy entry into serious consideration for the presidency. Mr. Forbes had no discernible charisma and no credentials that set him above the next 47 guys, but his money bought him a podium on the debate stage... /// OPT ///TEXT: In Hawaii, the Honolulu Star Bulletin, noting the Republican race between Texas Governor George Bush and Arizona Senator John McCain says: VOICE: Republicans may have produced a front-runner before the end of this month, but the two-man race is likely to continue through March. As votes cast so far have indicated and [Mr.] Forbes' defeat confirmed, the size of a candidate's campaign chest may not be the determining factor. /// END OPT ///TEXT: As for the heavy media attention on the campaign of Senator McCain, especially after his big win in New Hampshire, the [Bergen County, New Jersey] Record wonders: "will the Republican senator's luster last?" VOICE: The most compelling story of this presidential primary season thus far is the emergence of Senator ... McCain ... who has defied the prevailing wisdom and bucked the Republican establishment to mount a serious challenge to once-prohibitive favorite George W. Bush. ... The more Mr. McCain is attacked from the right, ... his natural constituency, the greater his appeal to independents and to liberals. ... Up to now, the Arizona Republican has led something of a charmed campaign. His rise has been so swift that most voters and the media have not looked very closely yet. The question is: Will this be true love or a passing fancy? TEXT: Overseas, the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran come in for attention from today's Washington Post. VOICE: A few months ago, the reformist forces of President Mohammed Khatemi seemed well positioned to prevail in Iran's February 18th parliamentary elections. Now they are much less so, though not because their popularity has waned. Mr. Khatemi's conservative rivals have maneuvered to bar many reformist candidates from the ballot. These clerical forces still control ... the judicial system, which has tried and jailed three leading reformers who were expected to be top vote-getters .. TEXT: Fort Worth's Star-Telegram in Texas is worried about the faltering Middle East peace process, with Israel and the Hezbollah Islamic extremists trading attacks over the Lebanese border. VOICE: The best chance for Middle East peace in years is stalled at a dangerous crossroads. ... The Hezbollah attacks in southern Lebanon that killed five Israelis and triggered retaliatory air strikes from Israel ... would not have [happened] ... without Syria's consent. [They] ... demonstrate the perils that lie in wait if a way is not found to get the peace negotiations between Israel and Syria back on track. Those talks have been suspended for more than a month. TEXT: Turning to the siege of Grozny, the Chechen capital, by the Russian military, the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette says, "Having won, Russia should now rebuild Chechnya." /// OPT ///VOICE: While both sides in the conflict behaved brutally, the West should quietly accept Russia's right to exert its sovereignty over Chechnya. Nor should the fate of that region dictate the agenda or the tenor of U-S-Russian relations. ... This isn't to minimize the human tragedy. Grozny is a heap of smoldering ruins reminiscent of a 1945 urban landscape. Still, as a symbol, Mr. [Vladimr Putin, Russia's acting president and prime minister] Putin couldn't have asked for a more resplendent trophy. ... [It] all but seals [his] ... prospects in next month's presidential election ... TEXT: Turning to South America, Newsday, on New York's Long Island says today that giving "one-point- six billion dollars to Colombia is not the best way to fight a war on drugs. /// OPT ///VOICE: Attacking the supply of illegal narcotics abroad - - rather than reducing demand in the United States - - has proved to be the least effective battle tactic in the war on drugs. And now President ... Clinton has asked for one-point-six-billion dollars to help Colombia fight its 40-year-old drug- financed leftist insurgency. ... Not only is it unlikely to prove effective in interdicting drugs, but it may embroil the United States in a vicious civil war where it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. /// END OPT ///TEXT: And finally, regarding European affairs, the Augusta [Georgia] Chronicle says, "Don't panic on Austria." It is a reference to the inclusion in the country's new coalition government of several members of a right-wing Austrian party accused of pro-Nazi sentiments. VOICE: The newest European media demon is Austria's provincial governor Joerg Haider. His populist, right-wing Freedom Party is participating in a coalition government headed by highly respected Wolfgang Schuessel of the People's Party. Haider isn't even part of the government, though the party he heads was awarded five cabinet posts for winning 27 percent of the vote. ...So why are the European Union and the Clinton administration imposing diplomatic sanctions on tiny Austria, population about eight- point-two-million? It's not [Mr.] Haider's "Nazi rhetoric' ... as much as it is his message of free enterprise, deep tax cuts, immigration caps and erosion of Austrian sovereignty vis-a-vis the European Union. These are all valid issues that ... have nothing to do with Nazism or Hitler... /// END OPT ///TEXT: On that note, we conclude this sample of
editorial comment from Friday's U-S press.
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