Voice of America, 5 April 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A LEADING TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS GOOD FRIDAY IS THE ARREST OF A MAN WHOM THE F-B-I BELIEVES IS THE SO-CALLED "UNABOMBER," WHO HAS BEEN HUNTED FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES. OTHER EDITORIALS DEAL WITH THE DEATH OF COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN; THE DURATION OF THE BOSNIA PEACKEEPING OPERATIONS, AND THE FATE OF MANY NICARAGUAN REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A SAMPLING OF THOSE OPINIONS IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MANY PAPERS ARE REACTING TO THE ARREST OF A RECLUSIVE FORMER COLLEGE PROFESSOR, THEODORE KACZYNSKI, IN THE MONTANA MOUNTAINS, A MAN THE F-B-I BELIEVES IS THE NORTORIOUS UNABOMBER. DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES THE BOMBER HAS KILLED THREE PEOPLE AND INJURED MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHERS WITH SOPHISTICATED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES SENT THE VICTIMS THROUGH THE MAIL. IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, "USA TODAY" WRITES:

VOICE: "AS A WEAPON OF TERROR, THE BOMB INSPIRES SPECIAL DREAD. WITHIN THE RANGE OF ITS DETONATION, IT CANNOT BE AIMED. ITS FORCE IS INDISCRIMINATE AND BRUTAL -- MUCH LIKE THE LUNATICS WHO USE THEM. THIS IS ONE REASON IT'S SUCH A RELIEF TO HEAR THAT AUTHORITIES HAVE APPREHENDED A SUSPECT IN THE UNABOMBER CASE. [OPT] ... IN THE END, THE UNABOMBER KILLED THREE AND INJURED 23 IN 16 BOMBINGS IN 17 YEARS. COMPARED TO THE 169 [PEOPLE] WHO DIED IN OKLAHOMA CITY LAST YEAR, THAT'S A MERCIFULLY LOW SCORE. BUT ALONG WITH THE CRUEL METHOD OF HIS CALCULATING MADNESS, THE UNABOMBER'S LONGEVITY HAS MADE HIM ADDITIONALLY CAPTIVATING, ADDITIONALLY OMINOUS." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" COMMENTS:

VOICE: "MR. KACZYNSKI IS INNOCENT UNTIL 'PROVEN' [ITALICS] GUILTY. MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN TO BE ANSWERED, INCLUDING: WHY? AND HOW? WHY SOMEONE SO WELL EDUCATED AND PRESUMABLY EQUIPPED TO COPE WITH CHANGING SOCIETY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T? AND HOW COULD ANYONE REMAIN SO ALIENATED SO LONG SO ANONYMOUSLY?

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN" EXPRESSES RELIEF THAT THE UNABOMBER MIGHT FINALLY BE IN CUSTODY:

VOICE: "THE NATION BREATHES EASIER WITH THE HOPE THAT THE F-B-I HAS THE RIGHT SUSPECT IN THE 18-YEAR REIGN OF SELECTIVE TERROR ASCRIBED TO A SHADOWY, VENGEFUL FIGURE KNOWN ONLY AS UNABOMBER. MANY PEOPLE IN MANY WALKS OF LIFE HAD BEEN MADE AFRAID. [OPT] FEDERAL AUTHORITIES CREATED AN EXPENSIVE, SOPHISTICATED UNIT JUST TO RUN THIS SOLE BOMBER TO THE GROUND, WITH NOTHING TO SHOW... UNABOMBER HAS SHOWN WHAT ONE SKILLED, MURDEROUS, DELUDED PERSONALITY CAN DO. THAT GENIE IS OUT OF THE BOTTLE. BUT [END OPT] IF THE PERPETRATOR ... HAS INDEED BEEN STOPPED, THE AMERICAN BODY POLITIC IS, AT LEAST, EXORCISED OF ONE SPECTACULAR DEMON."

TEXT: REMEMBRANCES OF COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN, KILLED IN A CROATIAN PLANE CRASH WEDNESDAY, APPEAR TODAY IN SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER":

VOICE: "RON BROWN'S LAST MISSION SOWED HOPE IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA, WHERE FOLKS KNOW THEY WON'T RECOVER FROM FOUR YEARS OF WAR WITHOUT AID AND TRADE. SO THIS TRIP BY THE IRREPRESSIBLE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, WITH A PLANELOAD OF EXECUTIVES AND OFFICIALS IN TOW, [ALONG] COULD HAVE BEEN A MORALE-BUILDING BOON. WHEN THE PLANE WENT DOWN IN A STORM NEAR DUBROVNIK, THOSE ON BOARD BECAME, IN EFFECT, THE LATEST VICTIMS OF A WAR THAT HAS CLAIMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENTS. [OPT] GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND CORPORATE EXECS [EXECUTIVES] ALIKE, THEY LOST THEIR LIVES ON A MISSION THAT SERVED THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND THE WORK OF PEACE... THE NATION OWES A DEBT TO HIM AND THOSE WHO WENT WITH HIM TO THE BALKANS." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE "WASHINGTON POST" SAYS THERE ARE LINGERING DOUBTS ABOUT HOW LONG THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WILL NEED TO BE THERE.

VOICE: "THE QUESTION CONTINUES TO BE AGITATED WHETHER NATO FORCES MIGHT STAY IN BOSNIA BEYOND DECEMBER, WHEN THEIR ALLOTTED YEAR IS UP. BUT IT IS NOT A MATTER THAT CAN BE USEFULLY ADDRESSED BEFORE THE FALL. ONLY THEN WILL IT BE EVIDENT WHETHER THE SITUATION ON THE BOSNIAN GROUND REQUIRES A SECOND LOOK AND WHETHER THE WASHINGTON POLITICAL CLIMATE PERMITS IT."

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" IS CALLING FOR FAIR TREATMENT OF THOUSANDS OF NICARAGUANS NOW LIVING IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHO FACE DEPORTATION BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RESOLVED THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. "THE HERALD" COMPARES THEIR PLIGHT WITH THE SOULS CONDEMNED TO PURGATORY IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

VOICE: "... THESE NICARAGUANS ARE IN LIMBO BECAUSE THEY LACK A DEFINED IMMIGRATION STATUS WHILE THEY APPEAL THEIR POLITICAL ASYLUM APPLICATIONS... PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD HEED THEM AND ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER GRANTING LEGAL RESIDENCY TO NICARAGUANS WHO HAVE PLAYED BY THE RULES..., [FREEING] THOUSANDS OF DECENT FOLK FROM A LIMBO ... THEY DIDN'T CREATE."

TEXT' WITH REGARDS TO INTELLIGENCE REPORTS THAT LIBYA IS BUILDING A HUGE CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT INSIDE A MOUNTAIN, "NEWSDAY" SAYS TOUGH ACTION IS WARRANTED.

VOICE: "[SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM] PERRY DELIVERED A TIMELY AND NEEDED WARNING TO [LIBYAN PRESIDENT MUAMMAR] GADDAFI THAT THE UNITED STATES IS DETERMINED TO PUT A STOP TO THE FACTORY'S CONSTRUCTION, EVEN IF IT MEANS USING FORCE. NEITHER [MR.] GADDAFI NOR HIS SYMPATHIZERS IN THE MIDEAST SHOULD SEE THIS AS AN EMPTY THREAT."

TEXT: ON BRITAIN'S "MAD COW" DISEASE PROBLEM, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS, IN PART.

VOICE: "BRITAIN HAS BEEN TAUGHT A COSTLY LESSON ON THE NEED TO WEIGH NEW METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR PRODUCING FOOD FOR THEIR POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IS CRUCIAL... THE FUROR OVER BRITISH BEEF IS A CAUTION FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TOO."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE F-B-I SIEGE OF A MONTANA FARMHOUSE WHERE SEVERAL ANTI-GOVERNMENT EXTREMISTS ARE HOLED UP, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "HAPPILY, THE F-B-I SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN TO HEART THE LESSONS OF WACO AND RUBY RIDGE, [TWO RECENT AND SOMEWHAT SIMILAR SIEGES,] WHERE MANY LIVES WERE NEEDLESSLY LOST, BOTH AMONG FEDERAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND THE BESIEGED... THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF GROUPS SUCH AS THE FREEMEN CANNOT BE TOLERATED. THE F-B-I SHOULD STAY THIS COURSE AND DO ALL IT CAN TO GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED THAT WOULD ONLY CREATE MORE MARTYRS."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE NATION'S EDITORIALS FOR THIS GOOD FRIDAY, THE 5TH OF APRIL. NEB/ANG/PCH

05-Apr-96 11:05 AM EST (1605 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BROWN / CROATIA (L) CORRECTED BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ALL 35 BODIES HAVE NOW BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IN CROATIA. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE BODIES OF THE AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FLOWN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES THIS WEEKEND.

TEXT: HELICOPTERS REMOVED THE LAST TWO BODIES FROM THE CRASH SITE ON A WIND-SWEPT RIDGE NEAR THE CROATIAN ADRIATIC PORT CITY OF DUBROVNIK.

THE BODIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A TEMPORARY MORGUE WHERE THEY JOINED OTHERS REMOVED SINCE AMERICAN COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN'S PLANE CRASHED ON WEDNESDAY.

U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS, INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH AND RECOVERY OPERATION, SAY A SHORT AND DIGNIFIED CEREMONY WILL BE HELD TO HONOR THOSE WHO DIED. THEN, THE OFFICIALS SAY, THE BODIES OF THE AMERICANS WILL BE FLOWN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEGUN TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHY MR. BROWN'S PLANE WAS OFF COURSE AND WAS FLYING TOO LOW ON ITS APPROACH TO THE DUBROVNIK AIRPORT.

STRONG WINDS AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY IN THE AREA AT THE TIME APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. INVESTIGATORS WILL ALSO LOOK AT POSSIBLE PILOT ERROR, A TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION, OR POSSIBLY, OTHER FACTORS.

MR. BROWN'S PLANE, A MILITARY VERSION OF THE RELIABLE BOEING 737, HAD AN EXPERIENCED CREW AND EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE ENABLED IT TO LAND SAFELY IN DUBROVNIK. BUT, U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY IT CARRIED NO VOICE OR FLIGHT DATA RECORDERS. THAT COULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WENT WRONG.

THE COMMERCE SECRETARY WAS KILLED AS HE WAS BEGINNING A VISIT TO CROATIA TO PROMOTE AMERICAN INVESTMENT AND POST-WAR ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE GOVERNMENTS OF CROATIA AND OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE SENT MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE TO THE UNITED STATES OVER MR. BROWN'S DEATH. CROATIA OBSERVED FRIDAY AS A DAY OF MOURNING.

A MAJOR MEETING OF DONOR NATIONS IS TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK TO RAISE SOME OF THE MONEY FOR POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION IN THE BALKANS. BUT, THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA HAVE BEEN WARNED THE MEETING MAY BE DELAYED OR CANCELLED IF THEY STILL REFUSE TO FREE THEIR LAST WAR PRISONERS.

THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA REQUIRED ALL WAR PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED BY JANUARY 19TH. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS SAYS ABOUT 88 PRISONERS ARE STILL HELD. MEANWHILE, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WILL LEGALLY ENABLE THE COUNTRY TO EXTRADITE CITIZENS, SUSPECTED OF OR WAR CRIMES, TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

UNDER THE LEGISLATION, JUSTICE MINISTER MIROSLAV SEPAROVIC SAYS CROATIA WILL TRANSFER SOME OF ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS TO THE TRIBUNAL. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/JWH/JM/JM 05-Apr-96 11:01 AM EST (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] CLINTON-BOSNIA-TERRORISM(S &L) BY DAVE BORGIDA (OKLAHOMA CITY)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, TO MARK THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING OF THE CITY'S FEDERAL BUILDING. ONE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-NINE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE BLAST. TWO MEN GO ON TRIAL FOR THE ATTACK LATER THIS YEAR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA IS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

TEXT:

ON A CHILLY GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, PRESIDENT CLINTON, ACCOMPANIED BY FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, PLACED A WREATH AT THE SITE WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE.

HE CAME HERE TO BOLSTER THE SPIRITS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY, WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK TO REBUILD DESTROYED BUILDINGS.

I KNOW THERE'S NOTHING THAT ANYONE CAN DO TO BRING BACK THE CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN FROM US, NOTHING WE CAN DO TO SWEEP AWAY THE FRIGHTENING MEMORIES STILL LINGERING IN THE CHILDREN WHO SURVIVED EXCEPT TO CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL THEY FINALLY GO AWAY. BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS TO SHOW OUR CHILDREN THAT IN THE WAKE OF EVIL, GOODNESS CAN SURROUND THEM AND LIFT THEM UP.

THE PRESIDENT WAS LAST HERE IN THE DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK.

BEFORE LEAVING WASHINGTON FOR OKLAHOMA CITY, THE PRESIDENT'S THOUGHTS WERE ON ANOTHER TRAGEDY. HE PLANTED A TREE ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN IN HONOR OF RON BROWN, HIS COMMERCE SECRETARY WHO DIED THIS WEEK IN THE CRASH OF HIS PLANE EN ROUTE TO DUBROVNIK, CROATIA.

NEB/BORG/MMK
05-Apr-96 2:14 PM EST (1914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] HUNGARY JOINS OECD

VOICE:

HUNGARY RECENTLY BECAME THE SECOND EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRY TO JOIN THE ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, OR O-E-C-D. THE CZECH REPUBLIC WAS ADMITTED IN FEBRUARY. AND POLAND, WITH EUROPE'S FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY, IS EXPECTED TO BE INVITED LATER THIS YEAR.

THE O-E-C-D IS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE AGENCY THAT DISTRIBUTED U.S. MARSHALL PLAN ASSISTANCE TO EUROPE IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE PARIS-BASED ORGANIZATION IS A MULTILATERAL FORUM IN WHICH MEMBER COUNTRIES SEEK TO DEVELOP POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON A RANGE OF ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES. IT AIMS TO PROMOTE POLICIES DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT, AND STANDARD OF LIVING. THE O-E-C-D ALSO PROMOTES SOUND ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE EXPANSION OF WORLD TRADE.

ABOUT A DOZEN POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES ARE COOPERATING WITH THE O-E-C-D. MANY ARE SEEKING MEMBERSHIP. INITIALLY ONLY THE U.S., CANADA AND WESTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS WERE MEMBERS. LATER, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND JOINED. TWO YEARS AGO, MEXICO BECAME A MEMBER.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE OECD REPRESENTS A MILESTONE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE INTO THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRATIC FREE-MARKET NATIONS. THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN IMPRESSIVE EFFORT TO LIBERALIZE THEIR ECONOMIES. THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THEM AS NEW MEMBERS OF THE O-E-C-D. ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR. 05-Apr-96 11:31 AM EST (1631 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S/BOSNIA ARMS (S-ONLY) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS REFUSING TO CONFIRM OR DENY A PUBLISHED REPORT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE GAVE TACIT APPROVAL TO IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S MUSLIM GOVERNMENT. MORE FROM V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE.

TEXT: IT WAS NO SECRET TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, DESPITE A UNITED NATIONS EMBARGO, SHIPMENTS OF IRANIAN ARMS WERE GETTING THROUGH TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS DURING THE BALKAN WAR.

BUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, IN ITS WORDS, GAVE A GREEN LIGHT (EDS: OR ITS APPROVAL) TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ARMS PIPELINE FROM IRAN THROUGH CROATIA, AN OPERATION THE NEWSPAPER SAYS CONTINUED UNTIL JANUARY.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED BY SAYING IT UPHELD THE LETTER OF THE LAW AS WELL AS THE TERMS OF THE U-N EMBARGO EVEN THOUGH THE WHITE HOUSE OPPOSED THE BAN. BUT NEITHER THE WHITE HOUSE NOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE DENIED THE REPORT OUTRIGHT AND BOTH REFUSE TO BE DRAWN ON THE ISSUE FURTHER.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOTED FRIDAY THAT CONGRESS HAD MADE IT ILLEGAL TO STOP SHIPMENTS TO THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FROM THIRD COUNTRIES.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER BOB DOLE -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PRESUMED OPPONENT IN NOVEMBER'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- IS CALLING FOR A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED ARMS SHIPMENTS, SAYING THE REPORT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER U-S LAWS WERE BROKEN AND A COVERT OPERATION CONDUCTED. (SIGNED)

NEB/NJS/SKH
05-Apr-96 6:49 PM EST (2349 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America