Voice of America, 96-10-23

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA VOTE (L) BY JENNIFER GLASS (SARAJEVO)

[03] BOSNIA'S ARIZONA MARKET)CQ) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[04] E-U/CUBA (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[06] MAD COW DISEASE / HUMANS (S - ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

[07] NATO / CLINTON (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[08] NATO REACT (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[09] RUSSIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[10] U-S/E-U/MIDEAST (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WON A RE-ELECTION ENDORSEMENT FROM ANOTHER MAJOR REGIONAL NEWSPAPER, AND THAT IS AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S SURVEY OF U-S EDITORIALS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE ELECTION RESULTS IN NICARAGUA AND JAPAN; THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSAL FOR EXPANDING NATO. NOW, HERE IS ____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPERS IN THE U-S SOUTH, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, IS CALLING FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF BILL CLINTON. IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL, THE GEORGIA DAILY SAYS THAT, UNLIKE PRESIDENT CLINTON, REPUBLICAN BOB DOLE DOES NOT FULLY BELIEVE IN HIS CENTRAL CAMPAIGN THEME -- THE PROMISE OF A 15 PERCENT TAX CUT.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON DOES BELIEVE IN HIS MESSAGE. IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT OUT OF THE CRUCIBLE OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS HE HAS CRAFTED A RECORD AND A POLITICAL PROGRAM THAT FITS HIM COMFORTABLY AS A CHILD OF THE SOUTH, AS A PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR OF 12 YEARS' EXPERIENCE, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE POST WAR GENERATION NOW FULLY INVOLVED AND CONFIDENT IN ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS PARENTS AND CITIZENS. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE NUMEROUS... THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO A FLAWED HUMAN BEING, AS WE ALL ARE. HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED CAUSING PROBLEMS IN HIS MARRIAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT UNLIKE MANY OF HIS CRITICS, HE HAS MADE THAT MARRIAGE WORK. HE HAS STUCK IT OUT... THAT COUNTS FOR A LOT."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE RESULTS OF NICARAGUA'S WEEKEND ELECTION, TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD CHOOSES TO LEAD ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THESE COMMENTS.

VOICE: "AS ARNOLDO ALEMAN CLAIMED VICTORY IN NICARAGUA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, HE PRAYED FOR THE 'WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND THE ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY' THAT HE IS SHOULDERING. HE WILL NEED THAT WISDOM... WHEN HE TAKES OFFICE ON JANUARY TENTH, HE WILL INHERIT A POOR, IMPATIENT, AND DIVIDED COUNTRY; A SICKLY ECONOMY; AND THE DOGGED OPPOSITION OF DANIEL ORTEGA, [OPT] THE NOW TWICE-DEFEATED SANDINISTA WHO EVEN YESTERDAY WAS REFUSING TO ACCEPT MR. ALEMAN'S IMPRESSIVE, 48-39 PERCENT VICTORY MARGIN IN SUNDAY'S BALLOTING."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE OFFERS THESE THOUGHTS ABOUT MR. ALEMAN:

VOICE: "THE FORMER MAYOR OF MANAGUA, [MR.] ALEMAN IS A RIGHTIST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROPERTIED CLASSES IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS BECOME THE SECOND-POOREST IN THIS HEMISPHERE AFTER HAITI. HIS MISSION -- ONE THAT [MR.] ORTEGA CAN CHOOSE TO ABET -- WILL BE TO BEGIN THE DAUNTING WORK OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT NICARAGUANS DESPERATELY NEED. IT IS A MISSION THAT WASHINGTON OUGHT TO ASSIST IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE."

TEXT: FROM TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES, SOME ADVICE ON ROLE MODELS FOR THE NEW NICARAGUAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE, WHO, THE TIMES NOTES, COMES FROM THE SAME PARTY THAT ONCE WAS RULED BY THE SOMOZA DICTATORSHIP.

VOICE: "FOR MODELS, MR. ALEMAN CAN LOOK TO THE MODERNIZING RIGHTISTS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. FORMER PRESIDENT ALFREDO CRISTIANI IN EL SALVADOR AND PRESIDENT ALVARO ARZU IN GUATEMALA HAVE MADE PEACE WITH GUERRILLAS AND WORKED TO REDUCE THE DOMINATION OF THE RURAL LANDOWNERS. MR. ALEMAN, TOO, HAS THE CHANCE TO MAKE REFORMS THAT LESS CONSERVATIVE LEADERS MIGHT FIND IMPOSSIBLE."

TEXT: REGARDING SUNDAY'S ELECTION IN JAPAN, THAT RETURNED THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS TO POWER, TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS:

VOICE: "RYUTARO HASHIMOTO SHOULD NOT SQUANDER THE VICTORY HIS LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WON IN SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS... THE PRIME MINISTER HAD PROMISED CHANGE, AND THAT IS WHAT HE SHOULD PRODUCE .... FOR THE SAKE OF HIS COUNTRY, HIS PARTY AND HIS OWN CREDIBILITY."

TEXT: SOUTH AFRICA'S EMOTIONAL QUEST FOR JUSTICE FROM APARTHEID-ERA CRIMES DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: "THE RECENT ACQUITTAL OF A FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER AND OTHER APARTHEID-ERA OFFICIALS BY A SOUTH AFRICAN JUDGE MAY HAVE SEEMED A STEP BACKWARD FROM RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF THE PAST... BUT THE JUDICIAL RULING CAN BE SEEN IN ANOTHER, MORE POSITIVE LIGHT. DUE PROCESS OF LAW IS WORKING IN SOUTH AFRICA, UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE EMOTION AND POLITICAL TENSIONS COULD EASILY DISRUPT IT... THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE COURTS AND THE [TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION] ... ALONG THE WAY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE IDEALS OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE, BUT THE FACT THEY'RE BEING MADE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF REASON AND RELATIVE GOODWILL IS ENCOURAGING."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK POST TAKES NOTE OF WHAT THE PAPER CONSIDERS THE INEVITABLE ARRIVAL OF LAWYERS INTO THE T-W-A FLIGHT 800 POST-CRASH SCENE.

VOICE: "IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TORT BAR [DAMAGE CLAIMS LAWYERS] INSINUATED ITSELF INTO THE T-W-A 800 TRAGEDY. NOW, ANY HOPE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE JULY 17TH CRASH WOULD BE ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE FIRST LAWSUITS WERE FILED HAS BEEN LAID TO REST... IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, OF COURSE, THAT ACTUAL NEGLIGENCE 'SHOULD' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] PRODUCE COMPENSATION. ANY NEGLIGENCE MAY YET BE DEMONSTRATED IN THE T-W-A CRASH ... BUT WHAT ACTUALLY 'CAUSED' [ITALICS] THE EXPLOSION THAT TOOK 230 LIVES? ... COMMON DECENCY WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE TORT LAWYERS HOLD THEIR PEACE [WAIT] UNTIL ITS [THE INVESTIGATION'S] RESULTS ARE IN. BUT SELF-RESTRAINT ISN'T EXACTLY THEIR STRONG SUIT [TENDENCY.]"

TEXT: TURNING TO THE POTENTIAL EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO, WHICH PRESIDENT CLINTON TALKED ABOUT IN A CAMPAIGN SPEECH IN DETROIT, THE BALTIMORE SUN SAYS:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS NOW MADE IT EXPLICIT. WHEN NATO EXPANDS EASTWARD -- HIS TARGET DATE IS 1999, THE LAST YEAR OF HIS PRESUMED SECOND TERM -- THE UNITED STATES WILL EXTEND TO NEW MEMBER NATIONS ITS 'MOST SOLEMN SECURITY GUARANTEE' THAT AN ATTACK AGAINST ANY ALLIANCE PARTNER IS AN ATTACK AGAIN ALL. HIS APPEAL TO VOTERS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN EXTRACTION IN THE UPPER MIDWEST LEFT HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT, BOB DOLE, IN THE COMPRESSED POSITION OF DEMANDING NATO ENLARGEMENT JUST ONE YEAR EARLIER... AMERICANS HAVE YET TO PONDER DEEPLY WHETHER THEY ARE REALLY PREPARED TO GO TO WAR TO DEFEND POLAND AND HUNGARY. OR EVEN BELARUS AND UKRAINE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST TAKES NOTE OF THE BELATED INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN POLICY MATTERS TO THE CAMPAIGN, AND SAYS:

VOICE: "FOR THOSE WHO WISHED FOR MORE ATTENTION TO FOREIGN POLICY IN THIS CAMPAIGN, IT WOULD BE CHURLISH NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A CO-MINGLING OF POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. AS ON MOST OF THESE ISSUES, IN FACT, MR. CLINTON AND BOB DOLE DO NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER ON NATO EXPANSION -- WHICH IS SHORTHAND FOR THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF WHETHER TO EXTEND U-S AND WESTERN MILITARY GUARANTEES TO THE FORMERLY COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE."

TEXT: FINALLY, BACK TO DOMESTIC POLITICS, FLORIDA'S ORLANDO SENTINEL IS UPSET THAT NOT ENOUGH SPECIFICS HAS COME FROM EITHER PRESIDENT CLINTON OR BOB DOLE ON HOW THEY WOULD BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET. NOW, SAYS THE SENTINEL:

VOICE: "... THEY MUST BE FORTHCOMING IN THEIR STRATEGIES FOR ACCOMPLISHING THAT... BOTH MR. CLINTON AND BOB DOLE SHOULD EXPLAIN -- IN MORE DETAIL -- HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL. AMERICANS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL CLIMBING DEFICITS CAUSE ANOTHER CRISIS BEFORE HEARING STRATEGIES."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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23-Oct-96 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA VOTE (L) BY JENNIFER GLASS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WHICH WERE ALREADY POSTPONED ONCE BECAUSE OF BALLAD MANIPULATION ARE BEING DELAYED AGAIN THIS TIME BECAUSE OF POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES. THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS TO ADMINISTERED NEXT MONTH'S VOTE SAYS THE ELECTIONS THAT WERE A BIG HOPE FOR INTEGRATION IN BOSNIA COULD TAKE PLACE NEXT SPRING. JENNIFER GLASS REPORTS FOR V-O-A FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE THE O-S-C-E THAT IS IN CHARGE OF RUNNING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS SAYS BOSNIA'S LOCAL VOTE MUST BE DELAYED. U-S AMBASSADOR ROBERT FROWICK SAYS THE PARTIES THAT SIGNED THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT SHOULD ALLOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HOLD THE ELECTIONS NEXT SPRING EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT MANDATED IN THE DAYTON PLAN.

I WOULD URGE THAT THESE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN 1997. AND I WOULD EMPHASIZE THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF THEIR BEING PREPARED AND CONDUCTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION BY O-S-C-E.

IN ORDER FOR THE O-S-C-E TO CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR THE PARTY TO DAYTON MUST FIRST AGREE TO EXTEND THE O-S-C-E'S MANDATE THAT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. AMBASSADOR FROWICK SAYS NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY TO ALLOW THE O-S-C-E TO REMAIN IN BOSNIA UNTIL THE END OF 1997. BUT IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH LEVERAGE THE O-S-C-E AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE TO INFLUENCE THE PARTY TO EXTEND THE O-S-C-E'S TERM HERE.

BOTH THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND SERBS HAVE SAID THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE O-S-C-E HANDLED LAST MONTH'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS. BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SAID THEY COULD HOLD LOCAL ELECTIONS THEMSELVES. THE O-S-C-E THEY SAID WERE WELCOME TO OBSERVE.

AS AMBASSADOR FROWICK MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO DELAY LOCAL ELECTIONS WHICH THE O-S-C-E HEADS CALLED A CRUCIAL PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. ACROSS THE STREET THERE WAS PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE RESULTS OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS HELD LAST MONTH. THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT PRESIDENCY MET FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE BEING ELECTED. THE THREE PRESIDENTS A SERB, A MUSLIM, AND CROAT AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET BOSNIA'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEETING ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY ALSO AGREED ON A TIME AND PLACES THAT THEY THEMSELVES WOULD MEET. THE ARRANGEMENTS MAY SEEM LIKE FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS FOR ANY GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION. HERE IN BOSNIA, IT SEEMS THAT ANY AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTY IS A STEP FORWARD. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/GKT/LWM
22-Oct-96 9:12 PM EDT (0112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA'S ARIZONA MARKET)CQ) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE SERBS, CROATS AND MUSLIMS MEET AND WORK TOGETHER IN BOSNIA IS ALONG A NATO CHECKPOINT MANNED BY AMERICAN TROOPS KNOWN AS "ARIZONA MARKET." PEOPLE FROM ALL THREE ETHNIC GROUPS HAVE SET UP TENTS, STALLS AND TABLES INSIDE THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN BOSNIA'S SERB ENTITY AND THE CROAT-MUSLIM FEDERATION. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR RECENTLY (SEPTEMBER) VISITED THE BOOMING ARIZONA MARKET AND GIVES US HER IMPRESSIONS:

TEXT: THE BUSTLING, BOOMING MARKET IS NAMED AFTER ROUTE ARIZONA, THE LABEL APPLIED TO THE POTHOLE MARRED ROAD BY U-S FORCES OF THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (IFOR). ROUTE ARIZONA RUNS FROM BRCKO AT THE NARROWEST POINT OF THE ZONE OF SEPARATION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SARAJEVO.

TRAVELERS FIRST ENCOUNTER GEAR GRINDING VEHICLE CONGESTION THEN A GIGANTIC FLEA MARKET SPRAWLING ACROSS A MUDDY FIELD. SOME SEE ARIZONA MARKET AS A LAWLESS, MAFIA CONTROLLED BUSINESS RUN AMOK. OTHERS SAY IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA CAN ACHIEVE WHEN LEFT ALONE.

IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME, THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR THIS TO BE A KIND OF MODEL OF A WAY TO RECOUNCILE THE DIFFERENCES AMONG THE ETHNIC GROUPS BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY ALL SHARE ECONOMIC INTERESTS.

COLONEL GREG FONTENOT, THE COMMANDER OF THE U-S ARMORED UNIT IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION, SAYS ARIZONA MARKET WAS GENERATED BY THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES, ALL HIS FORCES DO IS KEEP THEM OFF THE ROAD SO TRAFFIC CAN MOVE.

IT BEGAN WITH PEOPLE (ASKING) "DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY COUSIN SLOBODAN IS? I'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK IF YOU SEE HIM, TELL HIM TO MEET ME." IT STARTED THAT WAY BUT WHEN A SERB GENTLEMAN PULLED IN A LITTLE CARAVAN (TRAILER) SELLING CEVAPCI (SANDWICHES) AND COFFEE, IT TOOK OVER WITHIN DAYS OF THAT AND SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO COMMERCE AND IT IS FREQUENTED BY PEOPLE FROM ALL ETHNIC GROUPS OF BOSNIA.

COL. FONTENOT SAYS PEOPLE INITIALLY CAME INTO THE ZONE OF SEPARATION IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAFEST PART OF THE COUNTRY. BUT IT WASN'T HE SAYS BEFORE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE TRANSFORMED THE AREA:

BY MAY IT WAS RUNNING ABOUT 15 HUNDRED ON WEEKENDS, 300 OR 400 ON REGULAR DAYS. IT'S NOW UP TO ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE ON WEEKENDS AND SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT ON WEEKDAYS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STAYING OVERNIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SMALL BUILDINGS BUILT. THERE'S A RESTAURANT CALLED BUFFET ARIZONA AND SEVERAL COFFEE HOUSES. THEY SELL EVERYTHING FROM LEVIS 501'S (DENIM JEANS) TO CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, LIVESTOCK, PEPPERS, TOMATOES, WATERMELONS, ET CETERA.

COL. FONTENOT SAYS LAST MONTH HIS SOLDIERS COUNTED A TOTAL OF 128 THOUSAND VEHICLES WITH LOCAL LICENSE PLATES DRIVING NORTH AND SOUTH ALONG ROUTE ARIZONA. IT IS AN AREA CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST POTENTIALLY VOLATILE IN BOSNIA:

COL. FONTENOT PREDICTS THAT SHARED ECONOMIC INTERESTS WILL ULTIMATELY BRIDGE THE ARTIFICIAL ETHNIC GAP CREATED BY FOUR YEARS OF WAR.

WE BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A SPECIAL SPIRIT IN THE POSSAVINA (CORRIDOR). THE POSSAVINA INCLUDES MEMBERS OF ALL THREE ETHNIC GROUPS. SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING WAS HERE. BUT THEY HAVE A COMMON VIEW OF THE RIVER VALLEY OF THE POSSAVINA AND THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR WAYS, THEIR CUSTOMS ARE THE SAME. WHAT SEPARATES THEM HAS BEEN SOME LEADERSHIP ISSSUES. BUT WHAT JOINS THEM IS THEIR COMMON TRADITIONS AND THE COMMON SENSE THAT, IN FACT, THEY ARE TIED TOGETHER AND THE ECONOMIC TIES ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BIND THEM MORE CLOSELY IN THE BEGINING BUT ULTIMATELY THE CULTURAL TIES WILL BRING THEM IN (TOGETHER).

THE ATMOSPHERE OF MARKET ARIZONA HAS BEEN COMPARED TO THAT OF AN EARLY AMERICAN MINING TOWN. IT CONTRASTS WITH A SIMILAR MEETING POINT IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN BANJA LUKA AND SANKSI MOST IN WESTERN BOSNIA RUN BY THE BRITISH NATO TROOPS. THE BRITISH CROSSING POINT IS CALLED "WHITE FANG" AND THE TROOPS THERE SAY THE THOUSANDS WHO CONVENE THERE EACH SUNDAY ARE NOT SHOPPING BUT SIMPLY LOOKING FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THE BRITISH DECRY THE WILD WEST ATMOSPHERE OF MARKET ARIZONA, SAYING IT ONLY ENCOURAGES MAFIA TYPE ACTIVITY. BUT COL. FONTENOT REMINDS THAT PRESENT DAY AMERICA GREW OUT OF THOSE WILD WEST DAYS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/CF
23-Oct-96 12:51 PM EDT (1651 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] E-U/CUBA (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JACQUES SANTER, ATTACKED DENMARK WEDNESDAY FOR REFUSING TO AGREE TO NEW LEGISLATION WHICH ASSIST EUROPEAN COMPANIES VIOLATING A RECENTLY-PASSED AMERICAN LAW, KNOWN AS THE "HELMS-BURTON ACT". THE LAW ALLOWS NATURALIZED AMERICANS TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION IN U-S COURTS AGAINST COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF GAINING FROM PROPERTY CONFISCATED BY THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT. FROM BRUSSELS, JOHN FRASER HAS MORE.

TEXT: THE DANES SAY THEY SUPPORT EUROPEAN ACTION TO STAND UP TO WASHINGTON, AND THEY AGREE WITH THEIR E-U PARTNERS IT IS WRONG FOR AMERICA TO ATTACK ITS ENEMY CUBA BY PUNISHING ITS FRIENDS IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE. BUT, THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED IT FEARS THE FORMULA DEVISED BY E-U OFFICIALS TO SHIELD EUROPEAN FIRMS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN LAW WILL INVOLVE AN IMPORTANT TRANSFER OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY TO THE EUROPEAN UNION, SO IT IS UN-ACCEPTABLE.

E-U OFFICIALS REJECT THIS ARGUMENT.

THEY ARGUE IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY, BUT OF ORGANIZING EXISTING POWERS IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY, SO THAT EUROPEAN FIRMS CAN BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT, WHICH ATTACKS DENMARK'S STANCE. HE SAYS THE ISSUE OF HOW TO DEAL WITH WASHINGTON HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED -- AS HE SEES IT FOR INDIVIDUAL E-U MEMBER NATIONS, OR GROUPS OF NATIONS, TO BE STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHT TO VETO THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY.

MR. SANTER CLAIMS THE CURRENT CRISIS OVER CUBA IS ONE OF THE MOST CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FAILURE TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE FOREIGN POLICY. HE HAS CALLED, ON MANY OCCASIONS, FOR E-U MINISTERS TO AGREE TO SURRENDER THEIR VETOES ON BOTH FOREIGN POLICY, AND ON MOVES TO GIVE EUROPE A NEW DEFENSE ROLE.

MR. SANTER RECENTLY WARNED UNLESS EUROPE IS ABLE TO ACT SPEEDILY AND EFFECTIVELY ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, IT WILL REMAIN AS IMPRESSIVE AS A BAND OF BOY SCOUTS. HE IS SEEKING CHANGES TO THE RULES FOR DECIDING EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN A NEGOTIATING FORUM KNOWN AS THE "INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE".

MR. SANTER TOLD THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT THIS CONFERENCE MUST AGREE TO AMBITIOUS CHANGES. HE WANTS A NEW E-U TREATY SIGNED IN AMSTERDAM NEXT JUNE THAT WILL ENABLE THE EUROPEAN UNION NOT ONLY TO EFFECTIVELY CHALLENGE U-S LEGISLATION ABOUT CUBA, BUT ALSO TO TO BECOME AS IMPORTANT AS THE UNITED STATES ON THE WORLD STAGE, DEALING WITH BOSNIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND OTHER TROUBLE SPOTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF/RAE
23-Oct-96 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED DOWN AGAIN IN TRADING ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: TRADING ON THE MAJOR MARKETS WAS GENERALLY SLOW, WITH INVESTORS SELLING TO CASH IN ON THE PROFITS THEY EARNED DURING THE RUN TO RECORD MARKET HIGHS LAST WEEK. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS DOWN ALMOST 29-POINTS -- ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT -- TO JUST ABOVE FOUR-THOUSAND-28.

IN FRANKFURT, THE GERMAN MARKET'S DAX-30 INDEX ALSO WAS DOWN ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT. AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED THE DAY DOWN ABOUT ONE-AND-ONE-QUARTER PERCENT.

THE GERMAN MARK GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE U-S DOLLAR AND THE JAPANESE YEN, AFTER THE GERMAN CENTRAL BANK'S CHIEF ECONOMIST SAID THERE IS NO REASON TO EXPECT MORE CUTS IN KEY GERMAN INTEREST RATES. THE DOLLAR ALSO LOST VALUE AGAINST ALL OTHER MAJOR EUROPEAN CURRENCIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
23-Oct-96 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MAD COW DISEASE / HUMANS (S - ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: BRITISH RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THE FIRST DIRECT BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE PEOPLE CAN GET A HUMAN VERSION OF MAD COW DISEASE FROM EATING TAINTED BEEF. SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY TELLS US THE FINDING MAY HELP EXPLAIN THE INCREASE IN THE HUMAN DISORDER IN RECENT YEARS.

TEXT: SCIENTISTS AT THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN LONDON REPORT IN THE JOURNAL "NATURE" THEY HAVE LINKED MAD COW DISEASE TO A NEW FORM OF THE FATAL HUMAN BRAIN DISORDER CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE.

BOTH ARE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY OF DEADLY AILMENTS THAT CAUSE NERVE DAMAGE IN THE BRAINS OF PEOPLE AND ANIMALS THAT GET THEM.

THE NEW CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB VARIANT -- IDENTIFIED IN BRITAIN EARLIER THIS YEAR -- HAS BEEN THOUGHT TO BE A CONSEQUENCE OF THE COUNTRY'S MAD COW EPIDEMIC BECAUSE OF THE RISING INCIDENCE OF THE TWO DISEASES DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THIS FEAR HAS BEEN BEHIND THE MAD COW SCARE IN BRITAIN, LEADING THE GOVERNMENT TO KILL THOUSANDS OF INFECTED CATTLE.

THE NEW RESEARCH STRENGTHENS THE LINK. THE SCIENTISTS ANALYZED A PROTEIN BELIEVED TO CAUSE MAD COW DISEASE AND COMPARED IT TO ONE TAKEN FROM VICTIMS OF THE NEW FORM OF CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE. THE BIOCHEMICAL STRUCTURES MATCHED.

THE NEW TEST USED IN THE ANALYSIS IS BEING DEVELOPED INTO A TOOL TO RAPIDLY DIAGNOSE THESE ILLNESSES, WHICH NOW CAN BE DIAGNOSED ONLY BY BRAIN AUTOPSY. (SIGNED)
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[07] NATO / CLINTON (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS WELCOMED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL FOR THE FIRST GROUP OF NEW MEMBERS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE ALLIANCE BY THE END OF THIS DECADE. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: IT HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED BY NATO LEADERS THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER -- BUT WHEN -- FORMER COMMUNIST EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE 16-NATION TRANS-ATLANTIC ORGANIZATION ALREADY HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SOME TIME. BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REMARKS HAVE RE-ASSERTED AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ON THE ISSUE AND HAVE INJECTED NEW MOMENTUM INTO THE PROCESS.

BY SETTING A TARGET DATE OF 1999 FOR THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE MILITARY ALLIANCE, THE PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN FRESH IMPETUS TO THE ISSUE.

ALLIANCE SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA WELCOMED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S INITIATIVE AND SAID HE WANTS A DECISION TO BE TAKEN AT A SPECIAL SUMMIT OF NATO LEADERS NEXT YEAR. HE BELIEVES NEW MEMBERS CAN -- AND SHOULD -- BE ADMITTED TO NATO BEFORE THE END OF THE CENTURY.

ALLIANCE OFFICIAL NOTE THAT 1999 WILL BE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATO, AND SAY IT WOULD BE SYMBOLIC FOR 1999 TO BE THE YEAR IN WHICH FORMER COLD-WAR ENEMIES ARE ADMITTED INTO NATO.

MR SOLANA HAS, HOWEVER, STRESSED THAT THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO MUST RUN PARALLEL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW AND TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA.

THE QUESTION OF ADMITTING NEW MEMBERS INTO NATO, AND OF STRIKING A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIANS, WILL DOMINATE THE NEXT MEETING OF ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTERS IN BRUSSELS IN DECEMBER.

OFFICIALS POINT OUT THAT ONCE NEW COUNTRIES JOIN THE ALLIANCE, THE EXISTING MEMBERS OF NATO WILL BE OBLIGED TO COME TO THEIR DEFENSE IF THEY FACE ATTACK. AND THEY SAY THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT NO NATION SHOULD ENTER INTO WITHOUT CAREFUL THOUGHT AND ANALYSIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH/RRM
23-Oct-96 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NATO REACT (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE WHICH SEEK TO JOIN THE WESTERN DEFENSE ALLIANCE HAVE REACTED POSITIVELY TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMITMENT TO EXPAND NATO MEMBERSHIP BY THE YEAR 1999. FROM PRAGUE, V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS THIS ROUNDUP OF REACTION.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATEMENT ON NATO EXPANSION IS BEING PRAISED IN EAST EUROPEAN CAPITALS.

POLISH PRESIDENT ALEXANDER KWASNIEWSKI SAID HE IS GREATLY SATISFIED WITH MR. CLINTON'S WORDS, WHICH CONFORM TO POLISH EXPECTATIONS. THE POLISH LEADER -- A FORMER COMMUNIST -- SAID HE SHARED MR. CLINTON'S VIEW THAT NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION IS NOT AIMED AGAINST ANY NATION AND WOULD STRENGTHEN EUROPEAN SECURITY.

THE CZECH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON SAID MR. CLINTON'S TIMETABLE ON NATO EXPANSION IS IN LINE WITH PRAGUE'S EXPECTATIONS AND PLANNING. THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND AND HUNGARY ARE IN LINE TO BE THE FIRST FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO.

IN BUCHAREST, ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU PRAISED MR. CLINTON'S REMARKS, SAYING HIS COUNTRY WAS EAGER FOR ASSURANCES THAT NATO'S PLANNED EASTWARD EXPANSION WOULD OCCUR. MR. ILIESCU, IN THE MIDST OF A TOUGH RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, SAID ROMANIA WANTS TO BE AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES ADMITTED TO NATO.

IN LJUBLJANA, THE SLOVENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAID HE WAS HAPPY MR. CLINTON SET THE AGENDA FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT. HE SAID SLOVENIA IS A FRONT-RUNNER TO BE AMONG THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS. // OPT // SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER JANEZ DRNOVSEK SAID UPON HIS RETURN FROM A VISIT TO WASHINGTON LAST MONTH THAT THE SMALLEST AND RICHEST OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS, WITHOUT DOUBT, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST WAVE. // END OPT //

WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPEECH HAS ACCELERATED THE SCRAMBLE AMONG EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO BE THE FIRST TO JOIN NATO. YET DESPITE THEIR GOVERNMENTS' DESIRE TO JOIN, MEMBERSHIP IN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IS NOT UNIVERSALLY POPULAR WITH CITIZENS IN THE REGION.

[09] RUSSIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S INITIAL RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON NATO EXPANSION HAS BEEN COOL, BUT MEASURED. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMUNITY IS VIEWING MR. CLINTON'S REMARKS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

TEXT: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV (WEDNESDAY) SAID HE HAD NO SPECIFIC REACTION TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DETROIT SPEECH. HIS ONLY COMMENT WAS TO RE-STATE THE KREMLIN'S GENERAL OPPOSITION TO NATO'S PLANNED EASTWARD EXPANSION. WHEN REPORTERS PRESSED FOR MORE DETAILS, MR. PRIMAKOV REPLIED -- LET US WAIT AND SEE.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S IMPROMPTU REMARKS WERE TYPICAL OF THE LOW-KEY RESPONSE IN MOSCOW. THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL MINISTRY STATEMENT, AND THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH RECEIVED LITTLE MEDIA COVERAGE.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE CALM REACTION IS DUE TO A BELIEF IN RUSSIAN POLITICAL CIRCLES MR. CLINTON'S REMARKS WERE MOSTLY FOR DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONSUMPTION.

DMITRI TRENIN OF THE MOSCOW CARNEGIE CENTER SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS CLEARLY TRYING TO WIN VOTES IN DETROIT AND CHICAGO, WHERE MANY FAMILIES HAVE TIES TO POLAND AND OTHER PROSPECTIVE NATO MEMBERS.

I DO NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE AN UNFRIENDLY ACT. NO. I THINK THE SETTING WAS RATHER SPECIFIC, THE TIMING WAS RATHER SPECIFIC. SO IT IS NORMAL FOR THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT TO SAY WHAT MR. CLINTON DID SAY, WHERE HE SAID IT.

MR. TRENIN SAID ANOTHER REASON RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC AND DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE TAKEN MR. CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT CALMLY IS THEY HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THE INEVITABILITY OF POLAND'S NATO MEMBERSHIP. HE PREDICTS A MUCH GREATER KREMLIN UPROAR WHEN NATO CONSIDERS APPLICATIONS FROM THE BALTIC STATES.

EVEN THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA HAS RECONCILED TO THE FACT THAT POLAND WILL BE A MEMBER OF NATO PRETTY SOON. BUT WHAT IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE TO THEM IS THE BALTIC STATES. IF A SECOND WAVE COMES SOON, AND IF THE BALTIC STATES ARE NAMED AMONG THE PRIME CANDIDATES, THAT COULD BE REALLY VERY VERY BAD NEWS.

ANALYSTS SAY RUSSIA HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO CAMPAIGN ACTIVELY TO LIMIT NATO EXPANSION TO A FEW COUNTRIES, EXCLUDING THE BALTICS. THEY SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1999 TARGET DATE FOR ADMITTING NEW ALLIANCE MEMBERS GIVES THE KREMLIN TIME TO ARGUE ITS CASE THAT, AS ONE RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT PUT IT, CENTRAL EUROPE'S TRADITIONAL SECURITY PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTS. (SIGNED)
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23-Oct-96 1:48 PM EDT (1748 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S/E-U/MIDEAST (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WHILE WELCOMING A POSITIVE AND ACTIVE EUROPEAN ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, THE UNITED STATES SAYS THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS HAVE DECIDED TO RELY ON U-S MEDIATION IN THEIR CURRENT DISPUTE OVER AN ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WEST BANK TOWN OF HEBRON. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A U-S SPOKESMAN, HOWEVER, CAUTIONS AGAINST CREATING -- IN HIS WORDS -- A MINI-UNITED NATIONS AT THE MIDEAST NEGOTIATING TABLE:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE EUROPEANS HAVE AN INTEGRAL ROLE TO PLAY. HE NOTES THEIR PAST PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACE PROCESS AND THEIR EXTENSIVE INVESTMENT EFFORTS IN THE PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE AREAS. HOWEVER, MR. BURNS SAYS IT IS THE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS WHO HAVE DECIDED U-S MEDIATION ALONE IS REQUIRED IN THEIR TALKS:

THEY HAVE MADE THAT DECISION, AND WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THEIR DECISION. THEY HAVEN'T ASKED ANYBODY TO SIT WITH THEM AT THE TALKS. AND, FRANKLY, IT PROBABLY STANDS TO REASON, YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE A MINI-UNITED NATIONS IN TABA (EGYPT) AND EILAT (ISRAEL). YOU WANT TO HAVE THE TWO PARTIES AND THE ONE INDISPENSABLE COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 25, 30 YEARS.

MR. BURNS' COMMENT COMES IN THE MIDST OF A VISIT TO THE REGION BY FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, PRECEDING A VISIT BY BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND. THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER HAS ALSO RECENTLY VISITED CAIRO.

THE U-S SPOKESMAN SAYS SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS BEEN IN TOUCH BY LETTER WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS INCLUDING IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER DICK SPRING, THE CURRENT EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT. HE DECLINED TO REVEAL THE CONTENT OF THOSE LETTERS EXCEPT TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN EUROPEAN PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

HIS STATEMENT FOLLOWS FRENCH CRITICISM OF SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER'S RECENT TRIP TO AFRICA, HIS FIRST IN FOUR YEARS AS SECRETARY. (SIGNED).
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22-Oct-96 11:04 PM EDT (0304 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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