Voice of America, 96-10-17

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] EAST GERMANY NOSTALGIA BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] RUSSIA/POLITICS (L-UPDATE) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER READERS ARE GETTING SEVERAL COMMENTARIES ON LAST NIGHT'S FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN THEIR MORNING PAPERS, ALONG WITH DISCUSSIONS OF SEVERAL OTHER TOPICS.

THOSE INCLUDE: ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER INDONESIAN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON; THIS WEEKEND'S ELECTION IN NICARAGUA; AMERICA'S HUNGRY CHILDREN; AND THE GROWING POWER OF THE COUNTRY'S LATINOS. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PAPERS ON THE WEST COAST WERE ABLE TO COMMENT AFTER LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE, AND IN THE EAST, THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITES THIS EDITORIAL IN ITS FINAL EDITION, ONLY, ENTITLED: "THE ATTACK THAT FIZZLED."

VOICE: ".... ALL MR. DOLE COULD DELIVER LAST NIGHT, ONCE IN THE RING, WAS A SERIES OF PAWING JABS AND RHETORICAL ASIDES OF THE SORT THAT WORK IN THE SENATE'S COZY QUARTERS BUT NOT IN A TWO-PERSON DEBATE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. MR. DOLE GAVE THE PUBLIC A LOOK AT HIS WIT, AT HIS LONGSTANDING REJECTION OF BIGOTRY AND HIS HIGH-MINDED REFUSAL TO TURN DELICATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROBLEMS INTO CAMPAIGN ISSUES. THE ONLY THING HE FAILED TO DO WAS DELIVER THE GALVANIZING ATTACK THAT HIS STRATEGISTS SAY HE NEEDED TO TURN THE CAMPAIGN AROUND."

TEXT: IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE DEBATE TOOK PLACE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ADDS THIS ASSESSMENT:

VOICE: "DESPITE A FAR MORE AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE BY [MR.] DOLE, WHO USED HUMOR DRYLY AND SKILLFULLY, ONE MEMBER OF THE LIVE TOWN HALL-STYLE AUDIENCE WAS CAUGHT YAWNING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. IT COULD HAVE JUST BEEN WEARINESS WITH A CAMPAIGN THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GONE ON TOO LONG. ..... THIS WAS A DEBATE FULL OF IDEAS, AND THAT'S GREAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF THE ECONOMY ... AND .... AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND GAY RIGHTS ... THE TWO CANDIDATES SIMPLY DO NOT DIFFER DEEPLY ON MOST TOPICS."

TEXT: IN TEXAS, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE WAS PLEASED WITH THE FORMAT, ALLOWING ORGINARY CITIZENS TO ASK QUESTIONS.

VOICE: "OFTEN CRITICIZED ..... THE TOWN HALL OR TALK SHOW FORMAT FOR PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES DOES ALLOW AMERICANS TO VIEW THE CANDIDATES FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. [MR.] DOLE WAS CHARACTERISTICALLY FORMAL AND STERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN QUESTIONING THE PRESIDENT'S ETHICS, BUT HIS GOOD-HUMORED WIT WAS OFTEN VISIBLE. [MR.] CLINTON'S GLIBNESS AND EFFECTIVE STAGE MOVEMENTS ARE TAILOR-MADE [TOTALLY ADAPTABLE TO] FOR THIS FORMAT, AND HE USED THEM TO HIS ADVANTAGE ...."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE IS CONCERNED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN HAS RECEIVED ILLEGAL DONATIONS OF MONEY FROM AN INDONESIAN BUSINESSMAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES.

VOICE: "BOB DOLE HAS BEGUN TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF PRESIDENTIAL ETHICS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, AND HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER HAS CIRCULATED A PRESS RELEASE SUGGESTING THAT INDONESIAN AND SOUTH KOREAN INTERESTS WERE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON AND UNDUE INFLUENCE OVER U-S FOREIGN POLICY IN RETURN FOR QUESTIONABLE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE FOR {MR.] DOLE TO RAISE. .... BUT IF [HE] IS TO CHALLENGE ANYTHING BEYOND THE MERE APPEARANCE OF FAVOR BUYING, HE WILL HAVE TO PROVE THAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON PERMITTED THE NATIONS'S POLICY TOWARD INDONESIA OR SOUTH KOREA TO BE INFLECTED IN RETURN FOR CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED. NO EVIDENCE OF SUCH FOREIGN INFLUENCE HAS YET COME TO LIGHT."

TEXT: THE U-S IS NOT THE ONLY NATION IN THE GRIP OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THIS WEEKEND VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS IN NICARAGUA. THE SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS OF THAT CONTEST:

VOICE: "NICARAGUA'S FRAGILE DEMOCRACY IS LOSING ITS POLITICAL CENTER AS PRESIDENT VIOLETA CHAMORRO'S SIX-YEAR TERM DRAWS TO AN END. IN SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS, THE ONLY TWO VIABLE CANDIDATES ARE FORMER SANDINISTA LEADER DANIEL ORTEGA ON THE FAR LEFT AND FORMER CONTRA SYMPATHIZER ARNOLDO ALEMAN ON THE FAR RIGHT. [OPT].... DURING HER TENURE, ..... [MRS. CHAMORRO] HAD TO DEAL WITH REBELS OF BOTH SANDINISTA AND CONTRA ORIGIN, A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY INTENT ON EVISCERATING PRESIDENTIAL POWERS, A GOVERNMENT COALITION IN CONSTANT DISSOLUTION AND EVEN DESTRUCTIVE VOLCANOES AND TIDAL WAVES. YET MRS. CHAMORRO HELD ON. .... AND SHE DID SO IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF COMPARATIVE PEACE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. [END OPT] .....IT WOULD BE SAD, INDEED, IF HER SUCCESSOR PROMOTES AN IDEOLOGICAL POLARIZATION THAT MIGHT FLING THAT POOR LITTLE COUNTRY BACK INTO CIVIL WAR."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE GROWING POLITICAL POWER OF LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES, AS EXPRESSED RECENTLY IN THEIR MASS DEMONSTRATION HERE IN WASHINGTON, THE SUN SAYS:

VOICE: "SOMETIME IN THE NEXT CENTURY, BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES WILL BE ACTIVELY COURTING THE LATINO VOTE. CENSUS FIGURES TELL THE STORY. ..... BY [THE YEAR] 2050, [THE U-S POPULATION] ... WILL BE 52-POINT-EIGHT PERCENT WHITE, 24-POINT-FIVE PERCENT LATINO AND 13-POINT-SIX PERCENT BLACK. PERSONS OF HISPANIC ORIGIN ARE BY FAR THE FASTEST GROWING MINORITY IN AMERICA, ADDING 900-THOUSAND A YEAR, ONE THIRD THROUGH IMMIGRATION."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS FOCUSING ATTENTION ON A REPORT FROM A GROUP CALLED BREAD FOR THE WORLD, WHICH SAYS AMERICA HAS HUNGRY CHILDREN BUT DOES LITTLE TO HELP THEM. IT WRITES:

VOICE: "AMERICA HAS MORE POOR, HUNGRY CHILDREN THAN OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS - - AND ... DOES LESS TO HELP THEM. THAT'S THE UNSETTLING CONCLUSION OF THE LATEST ANNUAL REPORT ON WORLD HUNGER BY BREAD FOR THE WORLD, A CITIZENS LOBBY GROUP ON HUNGER ISSUES. THE REPORT PROVIDES AMPLE REASON FOR POLITICIANS IN BOTH MAJOR PARTIES TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION."

TEXT: TURNING TO OVERSEAS TOPICS, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT GROWING ECONOMIC INSTABILITY IN RUSSIA, CAUSING MILLIONS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO MISS SEVERAL PAYCHECKS, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T COLLECTING TAXES PROPERLY.

VOICE: "REASONABLE ESTIMATE SHOW ... THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DUE 150-TRILLION RUBLES, THE EQUIVALENT OF 28-BILLION DOLLARS. TAX INCOME IS RUNNING LESS THAN HALF WHAT IT WOULD BE IF THE COUNTRY'S TAX LAWS WERE VIGOROUSLY ENFORCED. ..... RUSSIANS ARE A STOIC PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE ENDURED WORSE THAN A FEW MONTHS WITHOUT PAY. BUT EVEN THEIR PATIENCE CAN BE EXHAUSTED. MR. YELTSIN AND HIS GOVERNMENT WILL TEST THE LIMIT IF THEY FAIL TO PUT THE RUSSIAN TAX SYSTEM IN ORDER."

TEXT: TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION IS ANGRY THAT CORPORATE WHITE COLLAR CRIMINALS IN THIS COUNTRY OFTEN GET AWAY WITHOUT JAIL PENALTIES, WHILE SHAREHOLDERS ARE LEFT TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT'S FINES.

VOICE: ".....ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY ....THIS WEEK ... AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMINAL CHARGES AND PAY 100-MILLION IN PENALTIES FOR RIPPING OFF [STEALING FROM] CUSTOMERS. .... BUT EVEN IF THE DIRECTORS OF THE GLOBAL GRAIN-MILLING COMPANY AGREE TO A CHANGE IN TOP MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL AGENTS SHOULD NOT LET THE A-D-M STORY END THERE. IF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SHOW THAT CORPORATE CORRUPTION IS A GRAVE MATTER, IT MUST INDICT ADM EXECUTIVES AND HOLD THEM PERSONALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED. ..... THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE CRIMINALS ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S RECENT TRIP TO AFRICA, NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND NOTED:

VOICE: "..... HIS PLODDING TOUR OF AFRICAN NATIONS WAS A BIT LIKE A TRAVELING SALESMAN TOUTING [DISPLAYING] HIS WARES TO UNRECEPTIVE PROSPECTS WITH NO MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO BACK HIM UP: HE DIDN'T RING UP A SINGLE SALE. AND THAT'S TOO BAD, BECAUSE ONE OF HIS PROPOSALS - - PRESIDENT ... CLINTON'S PLAN FOR A 10-THOUSAND-STRONG AFRICAN CRISIS RESPONSE FORCE ..... IS A GOOD IDEA. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT AFRICAN LEADERS SAW HIS TOUR, CORRECTLY, AS A EFFORT TO DRUM UP [CREATE] SUPPORT FOR AN AFRICAN CANDIDATE - - ANY [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] AFRICAN CANDIDATE - - AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, WHOSE RE-ELECTION [MR.] CLINTON OPPOSES."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
17-Oct-96 12:33 PM EDT (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EAST GERMANY NOSTALGIA BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

INTRO: FEW EAST GERMANS WOULD WANT A RETURN OF THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT THAT RAN THEIR COUNTRY WITH AN IRON FIST UNTIL 1989. BUT THE STUNNING CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE UNIFICATION, HAVE LEFT MANY PEOPLE LOOKING BACK FONDLY AT PARTS OF THEIR PAST. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM DRESDEN NOSTALGIA FOR THE OLD EAST GERMANY HAS BECOME THE "IN" THING (ACCEPTABLE).

TEXT: // ESTABLISH MUSIC, THEME TO T-V SHOW "ALL IN THE FAMILY," FADE AFTER LYRICS, "THOSE WERE THE DAYS ..." //

NOSTALGIA FOR THE PAST IS NOTHING NEW, BUT WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SIX YEARS AGO, THAT EAST GERMANS WOULD BE LOOKING BACK FONDLY BACK AT ANYTHING FROM THE OLD STALINIST REGIME?

THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE TILO SCHULTZ ARE NOW DOING AT PARTIES AND CLUBS THAT CELEBRATE THE BEST OF THEIR PAST.

... BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT. ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE OLD RECORDS OR TAPES AT A PARTY AND WE PLAY THE OLD TAPES IT'S KIND OF A REVIVAL. YOU HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR YOUTH. // OPT // WE WOULD GO TO DISCOS OR PAID FOR MOVIES TWO MARKS AND 10 PFENNIGS -- 10 WAS A SOLIDARITY PAYMENT TO GET SOMETHING, AND IT WAS ALWAYS FUN. // END OPT // I DON'T WANT TO FORGET IT, BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF HISTORY AND IF YOU LOSE THIS HISTORY YOU LOSE A PART OF YOURSELF.

THE BIRTH OF NOSTALGIA FOR OLD EAST GERMAN WAYS AND THINGS, HAS EVEN GIVEN RISE TO A NEW WORD -- "OSTALGIE." IT HAS ALSO CREATED THE THEME FOR SCORES OF PARTIES WHERE PEOPLE BRING THEIR OLD GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC I-D CARDS AND WEAR THE BLUE SHIRTS OF THE NOW-EXTINCT COMMUNIST YOUTH GROUP.

TILO SCHULZ SAY THE PARTIES ARE OFTEN MORE FUN FOR WEST GERMANS, WHO SEEM A BIT PUZZLED BY THE CRAZE.

IT'S NICE, SOMETIMES, TO SHOW THEM. IN MOST CASES IF WE (HAVE) A PARTY THE PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER SIDE, FROM WEST GERMANY, HAVE MUCH MORE FUN WHEN WE DO IT BECAUSE FOR THEM IT'S CRAZY, ALL THE BLUE SHIRTS AND THE MUSIC.

WESTERN GERMANS, LIKE LAW STUDENT MAGGIE SIMMER, AGREE THE PARTIES ARE FUN. SHE SAYS PEOPLE IN EASTERN GERMANY SEEM LESS INHIBITED THAN THEIR WESTERN COUSINS.

IF YOU GO TO A PARTY IN EASTERN GERMANY, EVERYBODY WILL BE DANCING AND LAUGHING AND SINGING ... REALLY BADLY, BUT IT'S FUNNY, THEY CAN BE SO HAPPY AND THEY HAVE GOOD PARTIES.

SOME ENTERPRISING ENTREPRENEURS HAVE OPENED SPECIAL BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS THAT TRY TO BRING BACK THE SO-CALLED "GOOD OLD DAYS," BEFORE THE BERLIN WALL FELL AND JOB SECURITY DISAPPEARED.

NOSTALGIA IS A GOOD THING IF YOU ONLY DO IT IN A SMALL WAY LIKE A PARTY, BUT IF YOU BRING IT BACK IN YOUR MIND, LIKE EAST GERMANY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST SYSTEM OR SOMETHING, THAT'S BAD, I THINK, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO CHANGE, I THINK, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHILE MANY OLDER PEOPLE MAY MISS THE SECURITY OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM, FOR THE YOUNG, IT SEEMS, THE PAST REMAINS THE PAST -- UNLESS, OF COURSE, IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT AT A NOSTALGIA PARTY IN EASTERN GERMANY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/CF
17-Oct-96 11:32 AM EDT (1532 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: HIGHER PRICES WERE THE RULE ON MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE THURSDAY. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE GAINS REGISTERED AT MARKETS IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS RANGED FROM NEGLIGIBLE TO NOTEWORTHY. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX OF 30 LEADING GERMAN SHARES WAS NEGLIGIBLE. SHARES CLOSED UP ONE-POINT-36. INVESTORS IN THE PARIS "CAC-40" INDEX SAW SHARE VALUES JUMP ALMOST SEVEN POINTS, BRINGING THE CLOSE NEAR THE YEAR-HIGH VALUES SET EARLIER IN THE WEEK. MEANWHILE, HERE IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES "FOOTSIE" 100 REBOUNDED NICELY FROM WEDNESDAY'S TRADING AND CLOSED THE DAY UP ALMOST 18 POINTS.

THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED GROUND ON MOST EUROPEAN CURRENCIES THURSDAY. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THEY THINK THE FIRING OF RUSSIAN SECURITY CHIEF ALEXANDER LEBED CAUSED INVESTORS TO SEEK REFUGE IN THE AMERICAN CURRENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
17-Oct-96 2:20 PM EDT (1820 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA/POLITICS (L-UPDATE) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: HE HAD BEEN NAMED THE MOST TRUSTED POLITICIAN IN RUSSIA,NOW, HE IS WITHOUT A JOB. CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL ALEXANDER LEBED HAS BEEN FIRED AS THE NATION'S SECURITY CHIEF, THE CULMINATION OF WEEKS OF BITTER KREMLIN FEUDING. V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: IN A STUNNING REJECTION OF THE MAN WHO HELPED HIM WIN A SECOND TERM IN OFFICE, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TOOK TO THE AIR WAVES TO PUBLICLY FIRE HIS ONCE CLOSE ALLY.

HE CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH EVERYBODY, MR. YELTSIN SAID, EVEN WITH THE PRESIDENT. I CAN TOLERATE THE SITUATION NO MORE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS WEEKS OF INFIGHTING BETWEEN GENERAL LEBED AND OTHER KREMLIN OFFICIALS, PEAKING WEDNESDAY WITH CHARGES THE SECURITY CHIEF WAS PLANNING TO STAGE A COUP. GENERAL LEBED CALLED THE ALLEGATIONS SLANDEROUS. BUT HE APPEARED TO TAKE HIS DISMISSAL IN STRIDE. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE SHORTLY AFTER MR. YELTSIN'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THE OUSTED SECURITY CHIEF SAID HE DID NOT MIND LOSING HIS KREMLIN POSITIONS, ADDING HE'S NOT SUITED TO BEING SERVILE.

YET GENERAL LEBED SAID HE REGRETS HIS LOSS OF INFLUENCE IN CHECHNYA AND WARNED THE SITUATION THERE COULD GET WORSE. GENERAL LEBED WAS PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S ENVOY TO THE WAR-TORN REPUBLIC AND DESPITE ALL ODDS, MANAGED TO BROKER A PEACE DEAL WITH THE REBELS.

MANY OBSERVERS SAY HIS SUCCESS IN CHECHNYA -- AND THE ADDED-POPULARITY IT GARNERED HIM IN RUSSIA -- WORRIED LONG TIME KREMLIN INSIDERS. LEBED OPPONENTS RANGED FROM RIVAL SECURITY MINISTERS TO THE PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF.

VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, SPEAKING A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE DISMISSAL,SUGGESTED GENERAL LEBED HAD THE SAME OVERBLOWN AMBITION AS NINETEENTH CENTURY FRENCH CONQUEROR NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. YET IT WAS THE FORMER PARATROOPER'S REPUTATION FOR HONESTY AND TOUGHNESS THAT LED TO HIS METEORIC RISE IN POLITICS. AFTER THE GENERAL'S STRONG SHOWING IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN JUNE, MR. YELTSIN ASKED HIM TO JOIN HIS TEAM,THEREBY SOLIDIFYING THE PRESIDENT'S LEAD. BUT IN HIS ADDRESS, MR. YELTSIN ACCUSED GENERAL LEBED OF USING HIS POSITION TO TRY TO BECOME PRESIDENT HIMSELF, SOMETHING GENERAL LEBED HAS NOT DENIED.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS IMMEDIATE PLANS, THE GRAVELLY VOICED GENERAL FIRST SAID HE WAS GOING TO CATCH UP ON HIS SLEEP, THEN PREPARE FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

WHILE GENERAL LEBED IN THE PAST HAS PREDICTED HE WILL BEPRESIDENT BEFORE THE END OF MR. YELTSIN'S SCHEDULED TERM,THURSDAY HE HELD BACK IN HIS CRITICISM OF THE RUSSIAN LEADER,SAYING IT IS NOT PROPER TO SPEAK HARSHLY OF THOSE WHO ARE ILL. MR. YELTSIN HAS BEEN OUT OF THE KREMLIN PREPARING FOR HEART SURGERY AND WHILE HE SPOKE FORCEFULLY, EVEN ANGRILY, DURING HIS ADDRESS, HIS EYES WERE GLAZED, HIS FACE HAGGARD AND HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION LOOKED CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN IN RECENT DAYS.

EVEN IF PRESIDENT YELTSIN REMAINS PARTIALLY IN CONTROL,OBSERVERS BELIEVE THE LEBED DISMISSAL WILL ONLY PROMPT FURTHER HAVOC. THE FORMER SECURITY CHIEF IS EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONG OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS. IN A RECENT SURVEY, 40 PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED NAMED HIM AS THE POLITICIAN THEY TRUST THE MOST -- ALLSIGNS HE IS POISED FOR A CAREER AS HEAD OF THE OPPOSITION.(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
17-Oct-96 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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