Voice of America, 96-11-01

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] EDITORIAL: U.S.-SLOVAK RELATIONS

[03] EAST EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

[05] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[06] U-S-BOSNIA-ARMS (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS ADDRESS A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS IN FRIDAY'S EDITIONS, BUT COMMON CONCERNS FOR MANY OF THEM ARE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FUNDRAISING ISSUE AND OTHER ELECTION MATTERS; THE CRISIS IN ZAIRE, AND POPE JOHN PAUL'S PENDING MISSION TO CUBA. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE: THE JAILING OF A DISSIDENT IN CHINA, AND MORE REVELATIONS ABOUT LAX GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF U-S AIR SAFETY RULES. NOW, HERE IS _____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FRIDAY'S NEW YORK TIMES TALKS DEVOTES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TO RECENTLY-DISMISSED DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONAL FUNDRAISER JOHN HUANG, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SOLICITING ILLEGAL DONATIONS FOR THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. THE TIMES SAYS ITS TIME FOR MR. CLINTON TO EXPLAIN.

VOICE: "IT HAS BEEN HARD FOR VOTERS AND REPORTERS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT WHAT JOHN HUANG ... DID AND WHEN HE DID IT... THE WHITE HOUSE HAS REVISED UPWARD FROM THREE TO AT LEAST 65 THE NUMBER OF TIMES MR. HUANG WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE THIS YEAR... HE WAS THERE "BOTH IN HIS CAPACITY AS AN ADMINISTRATION STAFFER AND A D-N-C FUNDRAISER," ACCORDING TO THE LATEST WHITE HOUSE UPDATE ON MR. HUANG'S ACTIVITIES WHILE SERVING FIRST AS A COMMERCE OFFICIAL AND THEN AS A D-N-C VICE CHARIMAN. THE EVASIONS OF HIS MINIONS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON IN HIS SPEECH TODAY ON CAMPAIGN FINANCING. MR. CLINTON HAS ACCESS TO RECORDS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DECLINED TO RELEASE... THAT INFORMATION, IN TURN, COULD LEAD TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HELP MR. CLINTON ANSWER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF MR. HUANG'S ACTIVITIES."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF REPUBLICAN BOB DOLE, IS CRITICAL OF HOW THE PARTY HAS RUN HIS CAMPAIGN AND TRIES TO HEARTEN THE REPUBLICAN FAITHFUL WITH THE NOTION THAT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR HOPE:

VOICE: "REPUBLICANS INTIMIDATED BY PUBLIC OPINION POLLS [SHOWING MR. CLINTON WITH A LARGE LEAD) MIGHT ALSO REMEMBER THE MORE RECENT ELECTIONS OF (REPUBLICAN) GOVERNORS CHRISTIE WHITMAN, GEORGE PATAKI AND JOHN ENGLER. LAST-MINUTE DECISIONS AND COME-FROM-BEHIND POLLS HAVE BECOME ALMOST A FIXTURE OF OUR POLITICS. EVEN NOW, WHETHER A CLINTON LEAD LOOKS INSURMOUNTABLE DEPENDS ON THE METHODOLOGY OF THE POLL ... "

TEXT: BACK TO THE ISSUE OF QUESTIONABLE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, THE WASHINGTON TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "THE [CLINTON] ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO PRETEND THAT IT HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH D-N-C OPERATIONS AND DECISION-MAKING -- AT LEAST WHEN DISAPPROBATION IS HITTING THE FAN [CRITICISM IS MOUNTING]. BUT THE EVIDENCE BUILDS DAILY THAT THE D-N-C IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF CLINTON INC. [OPT] ... MR. CLINTON'S PERMANENT CAMPAIGN HAS TURNED EVERY INSTITUTION AT HIS DISPOSAL INTO A VEHICLE FOR HIS REELECTION AMBITIONS. GONE ARE THE FIREWALLS [IN THIS CONTEXT:"ETHICAL BARRIERS"] THAT WERE TO HAVE SEPARATED POLITICS FROM GOVERNANCE, POLICY FROM FUNDRAISING."

TEXT: ON THE VOLATILE AND PERENNIAL ELECTION ISSUE CONCERNING THE NATION'S BROADCASTING NETWORKS ANNOUNCING EASTERN STATE VOTE RESULTS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE IN THE FAR WEST, THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS SAYS:

VOICE: "BECAUSE THE TELEVISION NETWORKS ARE IN A RACE TO CALL [ANNOUNCE THE FINAL OUTCOME OF] THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, AMERICA MAY KNOW WHETHER THE WINNER IS BILL CLINTON OR BOB DOLE BY ABOUT NINE P-M TUESDAY, EASTERN TIME. ONE PROBLEM: MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ON THE WEST COAST WILL STILL HAVE TWO HOURS TO CAST THEIR VOTES. MANY MAY NOT BECAUSE THEY'LL CONCLUDE THEIR VOTES DON'T MATTER. THAT PROSPECT SHOULD BE FRIGHTENING ENOUGH TO SCARE SOME COMMON SENSE -- AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY -- INTO THE NETWORKS SACHEMS. THAT IT HASN'T IS SHOCKING."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE GROWING BORDER CRISIS IN ZAIRE, INVOLVING TUTSI REBELS AND, POSSIBLY, THE NEIGHBORING ARMIES OF RWANDA AND BURUNDI, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS:

VOICE: "THE BEST HOPE FOR PEACE IS BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ZAIRE AND RWANDA, CALLED FOR BY THE E-U [EUROPEAN UNION] AND THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL. THE U-S SHOULD PUT ITS FULL WEIGHT BEHIND SUCH TALKS, HELPING TO PERSUADE ZAIRE TO END EFFORTS TO EXPEL TUTSIS WHOSE ROOTS THERE GO BACK TWO CENTURIES. "

TEXT: IN RELATED NEWS, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IDEA OF AN AFRICAN CRISIS RESPONSE FORCE, LOGISTICALLY BACKED BY THE WEST, COULD BE USED IN EASTERN ZAIRE NOW WITH GOOD EFFECT NOW, IF IT EXISTED. HOWEVER, THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: "BUT WASHINGTON'S SOMEWHAT ABRUPT PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSAL, WHICH CAME LAST MONTH DURING WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S FIRST TRIP TO AFRICA IN HIS FOUR YEARS AS SECRETARY OF STATE, HAS ROUSED RESENTMENT AMONG PROSPECTIVE AFRICAN PARTNERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT ... MANDELA OF SOUTH AFRICA [THOUGH] ... FEW DISPUTE THE NEED FOR SUCH A FORCE."

TEXT: THE ORLANDO SENTINEL ALSO SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL FOR AN AFRICAN FORCE, AND CHIDES THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WHAT THE PAPER CALLS, ITS "POLICY OF AFTERTHOUGHT."

VOICE: "IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE UP FOR HAVING DROPPED THE BALL [FAILED PREVIOUSLY], THE CLINTON TEAM IS SCRAMBLING TO MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES MADE EARLIER TO LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA. ITS RESPONSE WAS TO SEND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ON HIGHLY PUBLICIZED TRIPS TO THOSE CONTINENTS... BOTH REGIONS ARE OF SUCH IMPORTANCE TO LARGE SWATHS OF AMERICANS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE'S FOCUSED INTEREST SHOULD HAVE COME SOONER."

TEXT: ABOUT THE PENDING VISIT OF POPE JOHN PAUL TO CUBA, TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE OBSERVES, IN SUPPORT:

VOICE: "THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WOULD CAUTION AGAINST THE VISIT, COUNSELING THAT SUCH A GESTURE BY THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE SEEN AS A PAPAL BLESSING ON FIDEL CASTRO AND ALL HIS WORKS. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH... A PAPAL VISIT TO CUBA, FAR FROM BLESSING [MR.] CASTRO, COULD GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE EMBATTLED CHURCH THAT HAS SUFFERED SO ON THAT BENIGHTED ISLAND. [OPT] ... IT WOULD HASTEN THE INEVITABLE DAY WHEN [PREMIER] CASTRO'S POWER DISSOLVES." [END OPT]

TEXT: MOVING TO THE CASE OF CHINESE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST WANG DAN, SENTENCED THIS WEEK TO ELEVEN YEARS IN PRISON AFTER A MOCK TRIAL, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THE SENTENCE TAKES OUT OF ACTION THE LAST BIG NAME OF CHINESE DISSIDENCE TO HAVE SURVIVED THE DEMOCRACY WALL MOVEMENT OF 1979 AND THE TIANANMEN MASSACRE OF ...1989... IN THAT SENSE, THIS LATEST TRIAL IS A SUCCESS FOR BEIJING. [OPT] IT HAS ADVERTISED ITS EXTRAORDINARY FEAR OF THE MUTUALLY REINFORCING POLITICAL CHEMISTRY -- BETWEEN HOMEGROWN DISSIDENTS AND THEIR FOREIGN ENCOURAGERS -- THAT HELPED BRING DOWN THE OLD SOVIET-BLOC COMMUNIST REGIMES. BUT IT HAS ALSO DIMINISHED FOR A WHILE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT CHEMISTRY TO WORK... [END OPT] BUT THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE UNITED STATES TO CONDONE THIS ..."

TEXT: LASTLY, USA TODAY CONTINUES ITS CALL FOR IMPROVED GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF U-S AIRLINES TO PROMOTE SAFETY, CITING A NEW REPORT ON THE TAKEOFF CRASH IN NEW YORK LAST YEAR OF A TOWER AIR 747 JETLINER.

VOICE: "THE TOP TWO FEDERAL SAFETY INSPECTORS ASSIGNED TO TOWER SAY THEY LACKED TIME FOR EVEN ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE OF THE RAPID-GROWTH, NEW YORK-BASED AIRLINE. INSTEAD, THEY RELIED ON INSPECTORS IN FAR-FLUNG FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OFFICES TO FEED INSPECTION REPORTS INTO A [COMPUTER] DATABASE [FILE]. THAT MIGHT HAVE WORKED -- HAD THE CHIEF INSPECTOR READ THEM. BUT HE SAYS HE HAD SO MUCH OTHER WORK ... THAT HE DIDN'T REVIEW THE REPORTS FOR SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT... THE NTSB'S [NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S] REPORT LEAVES REASON TO WONDER IF THE LESSONS TAUGHT BY VALUJET [WHOSE PLANE CRASHED INTO THE EVERGLADES MONTHS AGO] ARE BEING APPLIED ANYWHERE ELSE."

TEXT: WITH THAT CRITICAL COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF TODAY'S MAJOR DAILIES.
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01-Nov-96 11:25 AM EST (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: U.S.-SLOVAK RELATIONS

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

EXTRAORDINARY CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN CENTRAL EUROPE SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM. BUT THE ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THE U.S. NATIONAL INTEREST IN THIS REGION. AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SLOVAKIA RALPH JOHNSON RECENTLY SAID, THE U.S. REMAINS COMMITTED TO A SECURE, INTEGRATED DEMOCRATIC EUROPE. THAT'S WHY THE U.S. STRONGLY SUPPORTS A DEMOCRATIC SLOVAKIA'S INTEGRATION INTO WESTERN ORGANIZATIONS. IT WILL ENHANCE SLOVAKIA'S SECURITY, STRENGTHEN ITS ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SLOVAKIA TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN EUROPE.

U.S. RELATIONS WITH SLOVAKIA ARE STRONG. SINCE 1993, THE U.S. HAS DEVOTED ABOUT TWO-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORTING SLOVAKIA'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORM. U.S. AID HAS HELPED ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISES AND A MORE COMPETITIVE PRIVATE FINANCIAL SECTOR. THE U.S. HAS ALSO INCREASED ITS MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO SLOVAKIA OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS TO HELP INTEGRATE THE COUNTRY INTO WESTERN SECURITY STRUCTURES.

THE U.S. BELIEVES THAT IN ORDER FOR NATO TO ACCEPT SLOVAKIA AS A NEW MEMBER, SLOVAKIA MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS DEMOCRATIC NOT ONLY IN ITS ELECTORAL PROCESS, BUT ALSO IN ITS LAWS AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION. THAT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CREATE AN OPEN POLITICAL PROCESS IN WHICH OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE FREE TO EXPRESS CONFLICTING OPINIONS AND PARTICIPATE SUBSTANTIVELY IN KEY STATE FUNCTIONS. THE PRESS SHOULD ALSO BE FREE TO PRESENT A BROAD RANGE OF POLITICAL VIEWS WITHOUT CENSORSHIP OR HARASSMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND NEW LEGISLATION SHOULD NOT EXPAND THE POWER OF THE STATE AT THE EXPENSE OF INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THE U.S. STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE INTEGRATION OF SLOVAKIA INTO WESTERN EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC ORGANIZATIONS. BUT AS AMBASSADOR JOHNSON SAID, "SLOVAKS MUST DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WISH TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ENTER THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AND WHETHER THEY WISH TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP."

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.
01-Nov-96 12:23 PM EST (1723 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EAST EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE DOWN IN MOST OF THE EAST EUROPEAN MARKETS THIS WEEK, WITH ONLY BUDAPEST SHOWING AN ADVANCE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES HEADED STRAIGHT DOWN IN PRAGUE THIS WEEK AS INVESTORS CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE MARKET. THEY SAY, ALONE AMONG THE MAJOR EAST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES, THERE IS NOT GOOD REGULATION IN PRAGUE, THAT MANY TRADES ARE DONE OUTSIDE THE MARKET, AND THERE IS LITTLE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT TRADING THERE IS. THE P-X 50 INDEX FELL ANOTHER THREE PERCENT THIS WEEK TO 504, A 17-POINT LOSS. WARSAW, REGARDED AS THE BEST REGULATED MARKET IN EASTERN EUROPE, WAS LITTLE CHANGED. THE WIG INDEX LOST ONE POINT TO 13-THOUSAND-498. BUDAPEST, THE BEST PERFORMER ANYWHERE IN EUROPE THIS YEAR, ROSE 68 POINTS, OR TWO PERCENT, TO 36-HUNDRED-14.

ON THE SMALLER EXCHANGES SLOVAKIA FOLLOWED THE CZECH REPUBLIC LOWER. THERE WAS ACTIVITY BUT LITTLE CHANGE IN PRICES IN BUCHAREST, ALMOST NO ACTIVITY IN SOFIA, AND LUJUBLJANA AND ZAGREB WERE LOWER. (SIGNED)
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01-Nov-96 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE MOSTLY DOWN IN TRADING FRIDAY ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY DOWN MORE THAN 30 POINTS -- ABOUT EIGHT-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT AT JUST ABOVE THREE-THOUSAND-948. EXPERTS SAID TRADERS IN LONDON -- EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET -- WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BRITAIN'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE WHICH REGISTERED AN 18-MONTH HIGH IN OCTOBER.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX WAS UP ALMOST ONE PERCENT AFTER FLOOR TRADING. BUT LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING MOVED THE GERMAN INDEX INTO THE MINUS COLUMN. IN PARIS, THE MARKET WAS CLOSED FOR THE ALL-SAINTS DAY HOLIDAY.

ON EUROPEAN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE A LITTLE IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. BUT THE DOLLAR LOST VALUE AGAINST THE BOTH THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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01-Nov-96 1:47 PM EST (1847 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS STEPS UP DIPLOMACY TO END ETHNIC FIGHTING IN ZAIRE; A LANDMARK CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY IS NOW READY TO ENTER FORCE NEXT APRIL; U-N AGENCIES APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ, AS AID FLOWS FALL FAR BELOW REQUIREMENTS. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST AT THE MOMENT IN SENDING A U-N FORCE INTO ZAIRE TO SEPARATE THE BATTLING TUTSI REBELS AND THE ZAIREAN ARMY. BUT IT APPROVED A PROPOSAL BY SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI TO BOOST DIPLOMACY IN THE REGION.

THE U-N ALREADY HAS A SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AREA. BUT MR. BOUTROS-GHALI APPOINTED CANADIAN DIPLOMAT RAYMOND CHRETIEN TO FOCUS INTENSIVELY ON GETTING A CEASEFIRE AND ROUNDING UP SUPPORT FOR A REGIONAL CONFERENCE THAT WOULD INCLUDE ZAIRE, RWANDA AND BURUNDI.

MR. CHRETIEN WAS AT U-N HEADQUARTERS THIS PAST WEEK GETTING HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND LAID OUT FOR REPORTERS HIS TOP PRIORITY:

I WILL BE CLEARLY FOCUSING ON THE FIRST PART OF MY MANDATE, WHICH IS TO TRY TO PROVOKE A CCESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. ONLY THEN IS IT POSSIBLE TO ENVISAGE A SERIOUS TACKLING OF THE NUMEROUS HUMANITARIAN ISSUES THERE.

MR. CHRETIEN IS CANADA'S AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON. U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, HAS EXPRESSED VIRTUALLY EVERY DIPLOMAT'S HOPE THAT MR. CHRETIEN'S EFFORTS WILL TURN THE SITUATION AROUND:

WE IN THE UNITED STATES KNOW AMBASSADOR CHRETIEN VERY WELL IN WASHINGTON AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR HIS ABILITIES. AND WE DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. WE ARE ALL DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE SITUATION IN EASTERN ZAIRE AND RWANDA AND BURUNDI AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIS REPORT.

ON HIS WAY TO ZAIRE NEXT WEEK, MR. CHRETIEN PLANS TO STOP IN FRANCE TO CONSULT WITH ZAIRE'S AILING PRESIDENT, MOBUTU SESE SEKO, WHO IS SEEN AS A KEY FIGURE IN PUTTING A STOP TO THE CHAOS ENGULFING HIS COUNTRY.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI HAS WARNED THAT THE FIGHTING SHOWS SIGNS OF DEVELOPING INTO A REGIONAL WAR. ALREADY, RWANDAN TROOPS ARE REPORTED FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE TUTSI REBELS IN ZAIRE A CHARGE THE RWANDA GOVERNMENT STILL DENIES. MEANWHILE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES, MAINLY FROM RWANDA, ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE CRISIS.

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A CONVENTION BANNING THE PRODUCTION, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WILL ENTER INTO FORCE ON APRIL 29TH, 1997, AFTER HUNGARY BECAME THE REQUIRED 65TH COUNTRY TO RATIFY THE TREATY.

THE TREATY IS CONSIDERED A LANDMARK BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST ONE NEGOTIATED IN A MULTINATIONAL FORUM THAT ELIMINATES AN ENTIRE CATEGORY OF WEAPONS. TREATY MEMBERS ARE OBLIGED TO DESTROY THEIR EXISTING STOCKPILES AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES WITHIN 10 YEARS. 160 COUNTRIES HAVE SIGNED THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS BAN SINCE IT WAS OPENED FOR SIGNATURE IN 1993 -- INCLUDING ALL FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. BUT ONLY BRITAIN AND FRANCE HAVE RATIFIED IT.

THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA ARE SAID TO HAVE THE LARGEST ARSENALS OF POISON GAS. SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI AND THE HEAD OF THE COMMISSION THAT WILL OVERSEE THE TREATY CALLED ON THE TWO COUNTRIES TO RATIFY IT WITHOUT DELAY.

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U-N AGENCIES ARE REPORTING A SEVERE SHORTFALL IN VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND HEALTH PROBLEMS IN IRAQ. THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN UNDER A U-N TRADE EMBARGO SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990 THAT BANS THE SALE OF WHAT HAD BEEN IRAQ'S MAIN SOURCE OF CASH -- OIL.

THE U-N CHILDREN'S FUND SAYS AS MANY AS FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED CHILDREN MAY BE DYING IN IRAQ EVERY MONTH. U-N OFFICIALS SUGGEST GOVERNMENTS HAVE WITHHELD THEIR DONATIONS BECAUSE THEY ANTICIPATED THAT A U-N DEAL ALLOWING IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL WOULD BECOME OPERATIONAL SOON.

BUT THAT DEAL IS BEING HELD UP SINCE IRAQI TROOPS ENTERED IRAQ'S NORTHERN KURDISH REGION LATE AUGUST TO HELP ONE OF TWO BATTLING KURDISH FACTIONS. THE U-N HAS POSTPONED -- FOR SECURITY REASONS THE DEPLOYMENT OF MONITORS IN IRAQ.

VARIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE SINCE ARISEN BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BAGHDAD OVER THE TERMS OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL. DIPLOMATS SAY IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE THE ISSUES ARE WORKED OUT. (SIGNED)
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01-Nov-96 4:00 PM EST (2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S-BOSNIA-ARMS (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE PUBLIC WITH ITS DEMAND THAT BOSNIA DISMISS A DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER, HASAN CENGIC, AS A CONDITION FOR RECEIVING 100 MILLION WORTH OF AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES ASKED FOR MR. CENGIC TO BE DISMISSED LAST WEEK BUT REFRAINED FROM PUBLICLY NAMING HIM BECAUSE IT STILL HOPE DDIPLOMACY WOULD FORCE PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC TO TAKE THE STEP QUIETLY.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED AND THE UNITED STATES HAS RESPONDED BY NOT DELIVERING MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION ARMY. THE UNITED STATES FEELS MR. CENGIC, A LONG TIME FRIEND OF MR.IZETBEGOVIC, MAINTAINS CLOSE TIES TO IRAN.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. CENGIC ALSO OBSTRUCTED DEVELOPMENT OF A WESTERN-ORIENTED DEFENSE STRUCTURE OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY. MR.BURNS TOLD REPORTERS WHY THE STATE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO GO PUBLIC WITH HIS NAME.

THE FACT THAT THIS QUESTION HAS GONE ON FOR FAR TOO LONG. PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC WAS INFORMED OF OUR CONCERNS PERSONALLY MORE THAN A WEEK AGO AND WE WERE ASSURED THAT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AND IT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ASKED FOR A ANOTHER DEFENSE OFFICIAL VLADIMIR SOLJIC, A BOSNIAN CROAT, BE DISMISSED BECAUSE OF HIS OPPOSITION TO UNIFYING MUSLIM AND CROAT ARMIES IN THE FEDERATION BUT THE SPOKESMAN DID NOT CHOOSE TO MAKE HIS NAME PUBLIC. (SIGNED)
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01-Nov-96 4:52 PM EST (2152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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