Voice of America, 27 May 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] MONDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[04] CZECH POL (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[01] MONDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS IS MEMORIAL DAY IN THE UNITED STATES, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY HONORING ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN BATTLE FOR THIS COUNTRY. SEVERAL PAPERS DO NOT PUBLISH ON THE HOLIDAY, BUT IN THOSE THAT ARE IN PRINT TODAY, EDITORIALS INCLUDE THE PEACEKEEPING PRESENCE IN HAITI; THE GASOLINE TAX REPEAL; CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOR; HINDU-MUSLIM RELATIONS IN INDIA; BOB DOLE'S ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM DEFEAT IN CONGRESS, AND, OF COURSE, SOME THOUGHTS ON MEMORIAL DAY. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH A QUOTE OR TWO AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE STABILITY OF HAITI AFTER THE U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION LEAVES, AND SUGGESTS THE WITHDRAWAL OUGHT TO BE POSTPONED BEYOND THE JUNE 30TH TARGET DATE.

VOICE: "THE SECURITY COUNCIL OUGHT TO EXTEND THE MANDATE WITHOUT HESITATION. SO FAR, THE MISSION IN HAITI REPRESENTS ONE OF THE WORLD BODY'S PEACEKEEPING SUCCESSES. A SPECIAL U-N ENVOY TO HAITI RECENTLY RECOMMENDED EXTENDING THE MANDATE. THE SECURITY COUNCIL OUGHT TO HEED HIS RECOMMENDATION. HAITI'S NEW NATIONAL POLICE [H-N-P] ARE STILL TOO INEXPERIENCED TO ASSUME COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURITY. THAT WOULD BE A DAUNTING JOB EVEN FOR A SEASONED LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION. ..... IF THE UNITED NATIONS NEGLECTS TO EXTEND THE UNMIN'S MANDATE, IT LEAVES HAITI -- AND ITS GREEN (INEXPERIENCED) POLICE FORCE -- ILL-PREPARED TO PROVIDE HAITI WITH THE SECURITY NEEDED TO NURTURE ITS DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: TURNING TO A CONTROVERSIAL DOMESTIC ISSUE, THE REPEAL OF THE ONE-POINT-THIRTEEN-CENT-A-LITER GASOLINE TAX, TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES COMMENTS:

VOICE: "..... THE TAX RELIEF, IF IT EVER COMES, WILL BE TRIVIAL -- AND WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY. IT IS, IN SHORT, SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL FRAUD. .....THE TAX SURCHARGE DID NOT CAUSE THE RECENT PRICE SPIKE. SUSPENDING OR REPEALING THE TAX WILL NOT BRING PRICES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS, SEDUCTIVE LOWS THAT HAVE ACCELERATED DRIVER DEMAND. .....IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT ENERGY, NOT TO MENTION THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE BUDGET DEFICIT, SUSPENDING THE 1993 GASOLINE TAX INCREASE .... IS EXACTLY THE WRONG WAY TO GO."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST FOCUSES ON WHAT IT CONSIDERS CHINA'S RECENT TRANSGRESSIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN AN EDITORIAL TITLED "GUN RUNNING, MISSILE RUNNING." IT DEALS WITH THE RECENT CHINESE BID TO BUY NUCLEAR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY FROM RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, AND THE CONFISCATION OF TWO-THOUSAND AK-47 FULLY AUTOMATIC RIFLES ON THE WEST COAST, PRESUMABLY SHIPPED HERE ILLEGALLY, WITH CHINESE GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE, IF NOT APPROVAL.

VOICE: "CHINA OFTEN PROFESSES TO FEEL ABUSED AND PUT UPON BY THE UNITED STATES, AS THOUGH AMERICAN COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS POLICIES SERVED SOME GRAND HIDDEN PURPOSE TO UNDERMINE CHINESE POWER. BUT THE LATEST TWO MATTERS OF CHINESE CONDUCT TO STIR AMERICAN CONCERN CAN IN NO WAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ANYTHING BUT A NECESSARY EFFORT TO CONTROL DANGEROUS WEAPONS ON TWO FRONTS. ...... SMUGGLING ILLEGAL WEAPONS? PROWLING FOR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY? THESE FROM A GOVERNMENT LOOKING NOW FOR A RENEWAL OF ITS AMERICAN TRADING PRIVILEGES? CHINA IS MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING OFFICIAL TIES."

TEXT: IN AN EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BY STEVEN WEISMAN, THERE IS A DISCUSSION OF HINDU-MUSLIM RELATIONS IN INDIA AND WHERE THEY MAY BE HEADED, IN LIGHT OF THE NEW, IF TEMPORARY, HINDU NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT THERE. SPECIFICALLY, THE TIMES' MR. WEISMAN PONDERS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT FORCING MUSLIMS TO OBEY INDIA'S SECULAR LAWS INSTEAD OF MUSLIM LAW IN SOME MATTERS.

VOICE: "... IT IS AMAZING HOW PASSIONATE INDIANS CAN BE ON THE SUBJECT. ..... ..... UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A HINDU RIGHTIST COALITION WERE TO TRY TO THROW OUT THE MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW AS IT APPLIES TO MUSLIMS. MUSLIMS WOULD RISE UP IN PROTEST ...... AND THE HINDU RIGHTIST GANGS THAT SUPPORT THE HINDU PARTIES WOULD WAGE WAR AGAINST THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ..... THOSE STIRRED BY INDIA'S LOFTY IDEAS ARE OFTEN HEARTBROKEN BY INDIA'S FAILURE TO LIVE UP TO THEM. BUT THE REASON WE CARE IS THAT INDIA IS STRUGGLING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WHILE RESPECTING DIVERSITY."

TEXT: TURNING BACK TO U.S. NATIONAL POLITICS, THE BALTIMORE SUN NOTES THAT RECENT ESTIMATES BY THE RESPECTED CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE [CBO] FOR A REPUBLICAN PROPOSED NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE NETWORK RANGE AS HIGH AS 60-BILLION DOLLARS -- FIVE TIMES MORE THAN REPUBLICANS PREDICTED. THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: "THE CBO FIGURE FORCED HOUSE GOP LEADERS TO PULL BACK THEIR LEGISLATION AS PRESIDENT CLINTON GLEEFULLY EXPLOITED THEIR EMBARRASSMENT. ASSERTING THAT ANY MISSILE THREAT FROM 'ROGUE' STATES IS 'MORE THAN A DECADE AWAY,' THE DEMOCRATIC CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAID THE GOP PLAN WOULD WEAKEN U-S DEFENSE BY TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM PENTAGON PROGRAMS NEEDED RIGHT NOW. ..... AS FOR SENATOR DOLE, THE CBO REPORT COSTS HIM MOMENTUM IN HIS ATTACK ON CLINTON FOREIGN POLICY. AND IT EXPOSES FISSURES WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY ON MISSILE DEFENSE THAT GO BACK A QUARTER OF A CENTURY."

TEXT: FINALLY, ON THE TOPIC OF TODAY'S MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, THE MIAMI HERALD SAYS, IN PART: VOICE "NOBODY SHOULD BEGRUDGE FAMILIES THEIR ENJOYMENT OF SUMMER AND ITS HOLIDAYS. YOUNG AMERICANS, IN PARTICULAR, MAY BE FORGIVEN IF THEY WONDER WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. AFTER ALL, THE LAST MAJOR WAR -- VIETNAM -- ENDED BEFORE MOST OF TODAY'S COLLEGE SENIORS WERE BORN. [OPT] ...YET NONE OF THE HOSTILITIES SINCE VIETNAM CAN COMPARE IN SCALE OR SCOPE WITH THOSE EARLIER WARS IN WHICH THE NATION'S VERY SURVIVAL WAS AT RISK. THOSE ARE THE WARS THAT HAVE PRODUCED THE GRAYING LEGIONS OBSERVING THIS MEMORIAL DAY WITH SPECIAL INTEREST. THESE ARE THE VETERANS FOR WHOM PEARL HARBOR AND NORMANDY AND HEARTBREAK RIDGE MAY WELL BE PAINFUL MEMORIES, NOT JUST WORDS IN A HISTORY BOOK. [END OPT] ..... ON A HOLIDAY OFTEN DEFINED BY SUMMERTIME'S EXQUISITE PLEASURES OF FAMILY AND FELLOWSHIP, IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING WHAT 'THE FUSS' IS ALL ABOUT: THE HARD WON FREEDOM TO ENJOY THESE THINGS."

TEXT: WITH THAT NOTE ABOUT OUR HOLIDAY HONORING THE NATION'S WAR DEAD, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THE NATION'S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
27-May-96 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL MONITORS HAVE DISPUTE CLAIMS BY OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ALBANIA THAT THE COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY WAS NOT FREE AND FAIR. WHILE THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY CLAIMS VICTORY, THE OPPOSITION IS CALLING FOR DEMONSTRATIONS IN TIRANA IN FAVOR OF A NEW ELECTION. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: A MONITORING TEAM FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAYS OFFICIALS AT POLLING STATIONS GENERALLY PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES PROPERLY.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE O-S-C-E TEAM SAYS IT OBSERVED A NUMBER OF IRREGULARITIES AND TECHNICAL SHORT COMINGS WHICH IT WILL DISCUSS IN A FINAL REPORT AFTER A SECOND ROUND OF VOTING IS HELD (JUNE 2ND).

THE O-S-C-E MONITORS APPEALED TO ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES AND TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO ENSURE THAT THE SECOND ROUND TAKES PLACE IN A CALM ATMOSPHERE SO EVERYONE CAN VOTE FREELY.

IN THE MONITORS WORDS, A SUCCESSFUL SECOND ROUND WOULD BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FURTHER CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY AND STABILITY IN ALBANIA. SO, THE MONITORS ARE NOT FULLY BACKING OPPOSITION PARTIES CLAIMS THAT THE FIRST ROUND OF THE GENERAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY WAS MANIPULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE RESULTS SHOULD BE CANCELLED.

THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF FORMER COMMUNISTS AND OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE CALLED ON THEIR SUPPORTERS TO TAKE TO THE STREETS OF TIRANA ON TUESDAY TO DEMAND A CLEAN AND FAIR ELECTION.

THAT CALL WAS MADE EVEN BEFORE ANY OFFICIAL RESULT OF THE SUNDAY BALLOTING WERE ANNOUNCED. ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAYS THE OPPOSITION SIMPLY KNOWS IT LOST THE ELECTION.

THE PRESIDENT'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY PREDICTS IT WILL WIN ABOUT 65 PERCENT OF THE VOTES, COMPARED TO ABOUT 20 PERCENT FOR THE SOCIALIST.

AS FOR THE OPPOSITION DEMANDS FOR A NEW ELECTION, MR. BERISHA SAYS THE IDEA IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND ABSURD.

HE SAYS THE ALBANINA PEOPLE HAVE DECISIVELY REJECTED COMMUNISM IN FAVOR OF HIS PARTY'S ECONOMIC REFORMS AND HIS POLICY OF ORIENTING ALBANIA TOWARD THE WEST.

DECADES OF RIGID COMMUNIST RULE ENDED IN ALBANIA IN 1990. ALTHOUGH IT IS PERHAPS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN EUROPE, ALBANIA NOW HAS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES ON THE CONTINENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/WC/CB-T/PT
27-May-96 5:05 PM EDT (2105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO IS PROTESTING ANOTHER MAJOR SERB VIOLATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS A NATO SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO SAYS THE SERBS AGAIN PREVENTED MUSLIMS FROM ENTERING THEIR TERRITORY AND THEN ATTACKED NATO SOLDIERS.

TEXT: THE BOSNIAN SERBS REFUSED TO LET A BUSLOAD OF MUSLIM WOMEN PLANT A TREE AS A SYMBOL OF PEACE IN SERB TERRITORY IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

SERB CIVILIANS THREW STONES AT THE BUS AND SMASHED BUS WINDOWS WITH CLUBS. TWO WOMEN INSIDE WERE SLIGHTLY HURT.

CANADIAN SOLDIERS OF THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA MANAGED TO GET THE BUS AWAY FROM THE SERBS. BUT, THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SERBS THREW STONES AT A CANADIAN ARMORED VEHICLE AND ATTACKED A NATO OBSERVATION POST. THE OBSERVATION POST WAS QUICKLY ABANDONED.

THE SERBS ARE ALSO SAID TO HAVE VIOLATED THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT BY REFUSING TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL POLICEMEN INTO THE POLICE STATION IN THE TOWN OF PRIJEDOR TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED SUNDAY.

NATO HAS SHOWN RESTRAINT IN REACTING TO THE SERB ATTACKS AGAINST MUSLIM WOMEN AND AGAINST PEACE-KEEPERS, AND TO THE SERBS' REPEATED DENIAL OF FREE MOVEMENT TO MUSLIMS IN THE PRIJEDOR AREA.

THE LACK OF FREE MOVEMENT FOR ALL ETHNIC GROUPS THROUGHOUT BOSNIA IS A MAJOR REASON WHY INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIALS FEAR IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO HOLD REASONABLY FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY IN SEPTEMBER AS PLANNED.

THE UNITED STATES IS PRESSING FOR THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON SCHEDULE, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT MEET WESTERN DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS. THE U-S GOVERNMENT FEARS A DELAY IN THE ELECTIONS COULD MEAN A DELAY IN WITHDRAWING AMERICAN TROOPS FROM BOSNIA LATER THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE IN SARAJEVO, A PLAQUE HAS BEEN UNVEILED TO VICTIMS OF A MORTAR ATTACK, BLAMED ON THE SERBS, IN 1992. SEVENTEEN PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO BUY BREAD WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN 100 WERE INJURED IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

AN INSCRIPTION ON THE PLAQUE SAYS, "MAY THERE BE REST FOR THE SOULS OF THE DEAD. SAY A PRAYER, REMEMBER, AND WARN."

A SOBBING WOMAN AT THE UNVEILING CEREMONY SAID THE PLAQUE IS FOR HER BROTHER AND FOR ALL INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED DURING THE SERB SIEGE OF SARAJEVO.

IT WAS ONLY AFTER SEVERAL OTHER BLOODY ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN BOSNIA THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DECIDED MILITARY FORCE HAD TO BE USED TO PREVENT SUCH MASSACRES. (SIGNED)
NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
27-May-96 10:35 AM EDT (1435 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CZECH POL (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FINAL CAMPAIGNING IS UNDERWAY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN ADVANCE OF THE COUNTRY'S FIRST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN FOUR YEARS ON FRIDAY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: CAMPAIGNING WILL END AT MIDDAY WEDNESDAY WITH VOTING TAKING PLACE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY MORNING. FIRST RESULTS ARE EXPECTED BY SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE FINAL OPINION SURVEYS SHOW THE GOVERNING THREE PARTY CENTER-RIGHT COALITION IS LIKELY TO BE RETURNED TO POWER, BUT WITH A REDUCED MAJORITY IN THE 200 SEAT PARLIAMENT.

ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT POLLING ORGANIZATION, STEM, THE RULING O-D-S OR CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS IS SET TO RECEIVE NEARLY 28 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, WITH THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS GETTING ABOUT 22 PERCENT. THE COMMUNISTS ARE THE THIRD MOST POPULAR PARTY WITH 11 PERCENT. THE ULTRA-RIGHT REPUBLICAN PARTY IS EXPECTED TO GET NINE PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

THE LARGEST OF THE TWO SMALLER PARTIES IN THE RULING COALITION IS THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS, WHOSE SUPPORT HAS RISEN TO ABOUT TEN PERCENT. // OPT // INDUSTRY MINISTER VLADIMIR DLOUHY IS A LEADER OF THE OTHER COALITION PARTNER, THE CIVIC DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE, WHICH CLAIMS TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE PRIME MINISTER'S O-D-S.

O-D-S IS A PARTNER WHO IS LIVING IN THE VERY SAME CITY AS WE DO, BUT IN ANOTHER HOUSE. AND IN THIS CITY WE DRIVE ON THE RIGHT AND GO ON THE GREEN LIGHT. WHILE THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY) LIVE IN SOME OTHER CITY AND THEY DRIVE ON THE LEFT AND PROBABLY GO ON THE RED LIGHT.

THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IS THE PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

STEEL WORKERS FROM A TROUBLED FACTORY NEAR PRAGUE PLAN TO DEMONSTRATE TUESDAY IN THE CITY CENTER, DEMANDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST THE CONTROVERSIAL ENTREPRENEUR WHO PURCHASED THE KLADNO STEEL MILL WHEN IT WAS PRIVATIZED. INDUSTRY MINISTER DLOUHY VISITED KLADNO OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT WAS HECKLED OFF THE STAGE BY ANGRY WORKERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
27-May-96 11:43 AM EDT (1543 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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