Voice of America, 97-03-28

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / FORCE (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[02] ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN/ RUSSIAN MILITARY BY ABOLFAZL PASHA OGHLU (WASHINGTON)

[03] EGYPT / CHRISTIANS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

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

[05] TURKEY / RESORT (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (BODRUM)

[06] U-N/TORTURE (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

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

[01] ALBANIA / FORCE (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ITALY IS PROPOSING A MULTI-NATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE OF ABOUT 25-HUNDRED PEOPLE FROM SEVERAL EUROPEAN NATIONS TO BE SENT TO HELP RESTORE ORDER IN ALBANIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS SEVERAL EUROPEAN NATIONS HAVE INDICATED THEY MIGHT TAKE PART IN THE FORCE.

TEXT: THE ITALIANS ARE SUGGESTING THAT A FORCE OF FIVE-THOUSAND BE ESTABLISHED, HALF OF WHICH WOULD BE HELD IN RESERVE. THE FORCE WOULD PROTECT HUMANITARIAN AID SHIPMENTS AND PROVIDE TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO THE ALBANIAN POLICE.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, THE O-S-C-E, HAS ALREADY GIVEN ITS APPROVAL TO A PROTECTION FORCE. AN O-S-C-E RESOLUTION (APPROVED THURSDAY NIGHT) CALLS FOR COUNTRIES WILLING TO PARTICIPATE TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER AND O-S-C-E PRINCIPLES.

SEVERAL COUNTRIES AT THE O-S-C-E MEETING IN VIENNA SPOKE IN FAVOR OF PARTICIPATING. THEY INCLUDE AUSTRIA, ITALY, GREECE, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL. ROMANIA AND TURKEY ALSO INDICATED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE. ON FRIDAY, ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAID AGAIN THAT HE SUPPORTS INTERVENTION FROM A MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE. HE MET IN TIRANA WITH THE DUTCH ENVOY WHO IS REPRESENTING THE EUROPEAN UNION. E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS TWO WEEKS AGO REJECTED AN O-S-C-E PROPOSAL THAT THEY SEND TROOPS TO ALBANIA. NATO ALSO REJECTED TROOP DEPLOYMENT IN ALBANIA.

ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO, AN OPPONENT OF PRESIDENT BERISHA, ENDORSES THE PRESIDENT'S APPEAL FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE PRAGUE OFFICE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR EAST WEST STUDIES, STEPHEN HEINTZ, SAYS THE ALBANIAN CRISIS SHOWS THAT EUROPEAN NATIONS ARE SEEKING INFORMAL STRUCTURES OUTSIDE OF NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.

WHAT'S FASCINATING IS THAT YOU MAY SEE THROUGH THE LARGER STRUCTURES A KIND OF DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY TO AN HOC GROUPINGS OR SUB-REGIONAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE MORE ABLE TO RESPOND AND MORE WILLING TO RESPOND.

THE E-U MISSION IN ALBANIA SAYS THE COUNTRY IS IN NEED OF TEN-THOUSAND TONS OF FLOUR FOR BREAD AND 10-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MEDICINES AND EQUIPMENT FOR HOSPITALS. WHILE ORDER HAS BEEN SLOWLY RETURNING TO ALBANIA AFTER WEEKS OF ANARCHY, PARTS OF THE SOUTH STILL REMAIN OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH
28-Mar-97 12:00 PM EST (1700 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN/ RUSSIAN MILITARY BY ABOLFAZL PASHA OGHLU (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN SOME REPUBLICS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, A CONTINUED RUSSIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IS CONSIDERED A PROTECTION AGAINST HOSTILE NEIGHBORS. IN THE CASE OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN, WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN THE OLDEST ETHNIC CONFLICT IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES, THE CONTINUED RUSSIAN PRESENCE IS WELCOMED BY ARMENIA AND OPPOSED BY AZERBAIJAN. VOA'S ABOLFAZL PASHA OGHLU HAS PREPARED THIS REPORT ON A CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26) THAT DISCUSSED PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH, THE PREDOMINANTLY ARMENIAN REGION IN AZERBAIJAN THAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN.

TEXT: "CAUCASUS: CHOOSING CONCILIATION OVER CONFRONTATION" WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE RECENTLY FORMED U-S-AZERBAIJAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WHILE THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN AZERBAIJAN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONFERENCE WAS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO END THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT.

THOUGH THE TERRITORY IS IN AZERBAIJAN, ITS POPULATION IS PREDOMINANTLY ARMENIAN AND IT HAS LONG SOUGHT INDEPENDENCE FROM AZERBAIJAN. IN RECENT YEARS, ETHNIC ARMENIAN FORCES HAVE OCCUPIED ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF AZERBAIJAN. THOUGH A FRAGILE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN PLACE, THE REGION IS FAR FROM STABLE. MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES AND ARE NOW LIVING UNDER TERRIBLE CONDITIONS IN REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS, AND AZERBAIJAN HAS IMPOSED TRADE AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA, ACCUSING IT OF SUPPORTING THE ETHNIC ARMENIANS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH.

ONE OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE CONFERENCE, FORMER U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CEASEFIRE HAS HELD FOR THREE YEARS, THE WHOLE REGION REMAINS EXTREMELY VOLATILE, IN PART BECAUSE SO MANY COUNTRIES HAVE A STAKE IN THE REGION:

IF RUSSIA AND IRAN WERE TO COMBINE IN JOINT PRESSURE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN, AZERBAIJAN'S INDEPENDENCE WOULD BE SEVERELY THREATENED AND WITHOUT A DOUBT AZERBAIJAN IS VULNERABLE TO SUCH PRESSURES. IF RUSSIA WERE TO CONTINUE TO EXPLOIT THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, NOT ONLY WOULD THE VIABILITY OF AZERBAIJAN BE AFFECTED BUT THE EXTENT OF THE TRUE INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA WILL BE LIMITED AND ARMENIA THUS, WILL BECOME EVENTUALLY MORE VULNERABLE.

MR. BRZEZINSKI SAID HE FAVORED A COMPROMISE SOLUTION TO THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE BY OUTSIDE MEDIATORS. ANY MEDIATION EFFORT, HE SAID, SHOULD GO BEYOND THE BASIC ISSUES OF ENDING THE FIGHTING AND PROPOSE WAYS TO DEVELOP THE REGION'S RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY ITS ABUNDANT OIL RESERVES.

MR. BRZEZINSKI PROPOSED ACCESS TO THE REGION THROUGH A VARIETY OF PIPELINES THAT SPAN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND LINK THEM IN A COOPERATIVE ECONOMIC ARRANGEMENT. THE FORMER U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR THEN SUGGESTED A GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF IRAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. IF IRAN, A REGIONAL POWER, ISN'T GRANTED GREATER ACCESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY, HE SAID, IT WOULD SEEK THAT ACCESS ON ITS OWN, AS IT IS STARTING TO DO WITH TURKEY:

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CREATE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR AN EVOLVING TURKISH-IRANIAN RELATIONSHIP, TO THE EXTENT THAT IF IRAN IS TOTALLY ISOLATED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND LINKS, FOR EXAMPLE BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAN, ARE OPPOSED, IT WOULD CREATE GREATER INCENTIVES FOR IRAN TO ENGAGE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA THAT COULD BE THREATENING TO THE VIABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE REGION.

BUT THE ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONFERENCE, JIRAIR LIBARIDIAN, WHO IS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA, MADE CLEAR THAT HIS COUNTRY CONSIDERS RUSSIA A SOURCE OF STABILITY IN THE REGION. HE EMPHASIZED THAT RUSSIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE CAUCASUS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ARMENIAN SECURITY, LIKENING IT TO THE NATO'S PRESENCE IN TURKEY:

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY SMALL COUNTRIES, CAN BUY, IN ANY WAY, SECURITY HUNDRED PERCENT. BUT PRESENCE OF A RUSSIAN BASE IN ARMENIA DOES PROVIDE A DEGREE OF SECURITY FOR ARMENIA. ITS GOVERNMENT THINKS SO. ITS PEOPLE HAVE NO PROBLEM AND IT IS ITS SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO DECIDE. JUST AS TURKEY (ALLOWS) U-S BASES IN TURKEY, RIGHT? DOES TURKEY BELIEVE THAT ITS SECURITY IS ADDED WITH THOSE BASES? YES. DO YOU RAISE THAT QUESTION? NO. IS IT THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT OF TURKEY TO DECIDE? YES. IT IS ALSO THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT OF ARMENIA TO DECIDE.

IN CONTRAST, AZERBAIJAN, THE ONLY MEMBER OF CIS WITH NO RUSSIAN MILITARY ON ITS SOIL, FEELS THREATENED BY THE RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN ARMENIA. VAFA GULIZADEH, FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN (HAYDER ALIEV), LINKS ANY RUSSIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REGION WITH THE RETURN OF SOVIET HEGEMONY. BUT HE HELD OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HELP FROM RUSSIA:

I HOPE THAT NOW WE WILL HAVE MORE COOPERATION FROM RUSSIA. BECAUSE IT IS MY PERSONAL ANALYSIS THAT THERE ARE SOME CIRCLES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUATION OF THIS CONFLICT, DREAMING ABOUT REARRANGING OR REESTABLISHMENT OF A SOVIET UNION ONCE AGAIN. BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTEMPTS ABOUT COMMON DEFENSE OF BORDERS OF CIS AND ABOUT INSTALLATION OF MILITARY BASES IN AZERBAIJAN. NOW WE DON'T HAVE IT. NOW WE HAVE GOOD COOPERATION. LISBON SUMMIT WAS A VERY GOOD EVIDENCE. RUSSIA COOPERATED, SUPPORTED THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO ACCEPT THE LISBON SUMMIT PRINCIPLES.

THE LISBON SUMMIT AGREED ON THREE PRINCIPLES FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT: 1) ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN AS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY, 2) SELF RULE FOR THE ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH, AND 3) A GUARANTEE FOR THE SECURITY OF BOTH ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE REGION.

THOUGH THE AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SUMMIT, THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DIDN'T ACCEPT ALL OF THEM, BRINGING AN END TO THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH. JIRAIR LIBARIDIAN, THE ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVE AT THE CONFERENCE, EXPLAINED HIS COUNTRY'S POSITION:

BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE FIRST POINT MEANS; TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER TWO POINTS MEAN. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SELF RULE MEANS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SECURITY MEANS. YOU EITHER NEGOTIATE SOMETHING OR YOU IMPOSE SOMETHING. LISBON WAS AN ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE (THESE PRINCIPLES ON ARMENIA). WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE.

THOUGH FIGHTING HAS STOPPED IN THE REGION, IN ITS PLACE HAS COME A COLD WAR BETWEEN THE TWO TINY CAUCASIAN REPUBLICS. THE RUSSIAN DUMA HAS STARTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL SALES OF ARMS TO ARMENIA BY RUSSIA VIA IRAN, AND THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA (LEVON TER PETROSIAN) HAS APPOINTED THE PRESIDENT OF SELF-DECLARED REPUBLIC OF KARABAKH (ROBERT KOCHARIAN) AS THE NEW ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER.

BUT THERE THERE IS ALSO SOME HOPEFUL NEWS: ARMENIA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL UNILATERALLY RELEASE AZERBAIJANI PRISONERS OF WAR HELD IN ARMENIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/APO/KL
28-Mar-97 12:10 PM EST (1710 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] EGYPT / CHRISTIANS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: AS MANY CHRISTIANS BEGIN THEIR EASTER WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A LOOK AT EGYPT'S COPTIC CHRISTIAN MINORITY AND THEIR GROWING ANXIETIES AFTER ISLAMIC RADICALS LAUNCHED NEW ATTACKS AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN SOUTHERN EGYPT.

TEXT: SEVERAL ATTACKS AGAINST COPTS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE MINORITY IS ONCE AGAIN BEING TARGETED.

FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, ISLAMIC RADICALS HAVE AIMED THEIR WRATH AT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SECURITY FORCES, TOURISTS, AND CHRISTIANS AS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT AND REPLACE IT WITH A PURE ISLAMIC STATE.

IN SOUTHERN EGYPT, THE RADICALS OFTEN TARGET WEALTHY CHRISTIAN SHOPKEEPERS, DEMANDING SPECIAL TAXES OR ROBBING THEIR STORES TO FINANCE THEIR OPERATIONS.

COPTIC POPE SHENOUDA DESCRIBES HIS STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING THE COPTIC MINORITY AS TWO-FOLD -- MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT, AND KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

THE COPTIC POPE'S CRITICS SAY HE SHOULD TAKE A MORE OUTSPOKEN STAND ON THE ISSUE. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MARLYN TADROS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, TOO.

YOU SEE, WE'VE BEEN FOR YEARS SAYING THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN UPPER EGYPT. FOR YEARS WE'VE BEEN SAYING THERE ARE SOMETIMES PROBLEMS IN CAIRO, AND THE GOVERNMENT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SOME ANALYSTS DESCRIBE THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE AS BENIGN NEGLECT. THE CHRISTIAN ERA IN EGYPT, WHICH SPANNED SEVEN CENTURIES, IS GLOSSED OVER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS. A CENTURY-OLD MINISTERIAL DECREE REQUIRES PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR EVEN REPAIR OF CHURCHES. A LIMITED NUMBER OF COPTS ARE APPOINTED TO PARLIAMENT. VERY FEW HOLD HIGH GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.

MRS. TADROS SAYS THE TIMING OF A RECENT GOVERNMENT DECISION TO REPAIR THE WORLD-FAMOUS HANGING CHURCH IN CAIRO APPEARED TO BE A POLITICAL GESTURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE RECENT ATTACKS.

IT IS A VERY POLITICAL MOVE BECAUSE IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN NINE COPTS HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN UPPER EGYPT. YES, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO TYPICALLY POLISH ITS IMAGE IN FRONT OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD WITH SUCH A FAMOUS CHRISTIAN MONUMENT.

A CONSERVATIVE TREND THAT IS SWEEPING THE ISLAMIC WORLD IS ALSO AFFECTING THE CHRISTIAN MINORITY. CHRISTIAN SCHOLARS SEE A PARALLEL MOVEMENT AMONG EGYPT'S EIGHT-MILLION COPTS.

CHURCH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING A REVIVAL OF COPTIC TRADITIONS AND MORE PARTICIPATION BY CHRISTIAN YOUTH IN CHURCH SERVICES AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES.

MRS. TADROS WELCOMES THE EFFORT, BUT SAYS IT IS IS ALSO WIDENING THE GAP WITH THE MUSLIM SOCIETY AROUND THEM.

THEY THEMSELVES HAVE REACTED TO THIS IN BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE THEMSELVES. COPTIC CHRISTIANS ARE ALSO FUNDAMENTALIST IN THEIR OWN WAY -- NOT VIOLENT. THEY HAVE BECOME PEOPLE WHO ASSOCIATE ONLY WITH THEMSELVES, SOCIAL LIFE ONLY WITH THEMSELVES, AND WHO ARE ADOPTING MORE CONSERVATIVE INTERPRETATIONS AND STANCES IN GENERAL.

MRS. TADROS SAYS POPE SHENOUDA IS TRYING TO SHOULDER TOO MUCH OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTING HIS COMMUNITY. SHE AND OTHER ACTIVISTS ARGUE THAT MORE COPTS NEED TO GET INVOLVED --- TO SPEAK OUT AND TO PROMOTE THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN IT.

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE ALL RECORDED STRONG GAINS THIS PAST WEEK.. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS -- LONDON, FRANKFURT, AND PARIS -- ALL ADVANCED THIS WEEK. BUT ALL THREE ENDED ON A DOWNWARD TREND, WELL BELOW THEIR HIGHS FOR THE WEEK.

THE BIGGEST ADVANCE WAS RECORDED IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ROSE ALMOST 131 POINTS FOR THE WEEK -- ALMOST FOUR PERCENT.

THE PARIS MARKET ALSO WAS UP SHARPLY. THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 69 POINTS DURING THE WEEK, UP TWO AND SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, STOCKS WERE UP FOR THE WEEK, WITH THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX RISING 58 POINTS, ONE-AND THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

EUROPEAN MARKETS WERE CLOSED FRIDAY FOR THE EASTER WEEKEND HOLIDAY. EUROPEAN TRADING RESUMES ON TUESDAY.
NEB/JWH/KL
28-Mar-97 1:34 PM EST (1834 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / RESORT (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (BODRUM)

INTRO: AS TURKEY PREPARES FOR A NEW TOURIST SEASON, THE COUNTRY'S ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED NEW MEASURES THAT MANY TOURISM OFFICIALS VIEW AS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY. FROM THE AEGEAN SEASIDE RESORT OF BODRUM, AMBERIN ZAMAN FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: /// DISCO MUSIC -- FADE UNDER ///

THIS IS THE "YETTIGARI" BAR, ONE OF MANY BARS LINING THE NARROW STREETS OF THIS POPULAR SEASIDE RESORT ON THE AEGEAN.

THE MOOD IS LESS FESTIVE THAN USUAL, FOR THE BAR'S CLIENTS HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE TURKISH CULTURE MINISTER'S DECISION TO BAN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT BODRUM CASTLE, ONE OF THE MAJOR HISTORICAL SITES HERE AND A MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTION BECAUSE OF ITS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY.

OFFICIALS AT THE BODRUM CASTLE MUSEUM, WHO REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED ON TAPE BY VOA BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS, SAID THE CULTURE MINISTRY HAD OFFERED NO EXPLANATION FOR THE BAN -- WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED AT ANY TURKISH TOURIST SITE.

AT THE SAME TIME, ISMAIL KAHRAMAN -- THE CULTURE MINISTER FROM THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY WING OF TURKEY'S RULING COALITION -- HAS REVEALED PLANS TO CONVERT A SMALL BYZANTINE CHAPEL IN THE CASTLE INTO A MOSQUE. CONSTRUCTION OF A MINARET TO THE SIDE OF THE CHAPEL BUILT BY THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN IN THE 15TH CENTURY HAS ALREADY STARTED.

THE MAIN WORRY FOR MUSEUM OFFICIALS NOW IS THAT THE CHAPEL, WHICH HOUSES A RECONSTRUCTED EAST ROMAN SHIP DATING FROM THE SEVENTH CENTURY, WILL BE OPENED FOR WORSHIP ONCE THE MINARET IS COMPLETED. THIS WOULD MEAN THE EXHIBITION, WHICH TOOK YEARS TO PUT TOGETHER BY A TEAM OF TURKISH AND AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS, WOULD HAVE TO BE DISMANTLED.

MR. SEREMETLI BELIEVES IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE ISLAMISTS SINGLED OUT BODRUM, WHICH IS WELL-KNOWN FOR THE HEDONISTIC LIFESTYLE EMBRACED BY ITS INHABITANTS, WHO INCLUDE A SIZEABLE GAY COMMUNITY. //END OPT//

BUT BACK AT THE YETTIGARI BAR, NECMI ERMIS, WHO IS THE MANAGER HERE, SAYS HE'S NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THE ISLAMISTS.

HE SAYS IF THE WELFARE PARTY, IN HIS WORDS, "GOES TOO FAR," THE TURKISH MILITARY WILL STEP IN AND ENSURE THAT THE SECULAR PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN BY THE FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY, KEMAL ATATURK, ARE RESPECTED. THESE, MR. ERMIS SAYS RAISING HIS BEER MUG, INCLUDE THE FREEDOM TO DRINK ALCOHOL -- IF ONE SO CHOOSES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/KL
28-Mar-97 9:26 AM EST (1426 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N/TORTURE (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: A U-N INVESTIGATOR HAS CONCLUDED THAT TORTURE AND OTHER FORMS OF CRUEL AND INHUMAN TREATMENT BY GOVERNMENT AGENTS REMAIN A SOURCE OF CONCERN IN MANY COUNTRIES. AS V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS, THE INVESTIGATOR, NIGEL RODLEY OF BRITAIN, DELIVERED HIS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN GENEVA THIS WEEK.

TEXT: MR. RODLEY AMASSED HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF TORTURE WORLDWIDE. A TOTAL OF 78 COUNTRIES ARE MENTIONED IN THIS YEAR'S REPORT TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS HE IS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT 29 OF THOSE STATES.

ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE YEAR, OR OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, THERE IS A REASONABLY EXTENSIVE PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I THINK IN ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES THAT TORTURE IS NECESSARILY SYSTEMATIC. BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION ONE HAS, IT IS MORE THAN JUST AN ISOLATED OR SPORADIC INCIDENT THAT ONE CAN FIND ANYWHERE.

SOME OF THE WORST OFFENDERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

MR. RODLEY NOTES THAT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS LONG BEEN ACCUSED OF CONDONING -- EVEN ENCOURAGING -- CRUEL TORTURE AND GROSS MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS, AND HE SAYS THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THAT PATTERN HAS BEEN ALTERED.

TORTURE AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OF PRISONERS BY THE ARMY AND SECURITY FORCES IN SUDAN, HE SAYS, HAVE BECOME ROUTINE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE STATE SECURITY SERVICES IN ALGERIA, BAHRAIN AND EGYPT ARE ALSO FREQUENTLY ACCUSED OF USING TORTURE TO PUNISH DETAINEES SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALIST GROUPS.

MR. RODLEY SAYS ISRAELI AGENTS ROUTINELY MISTREAT PALESTINIAN DETAINEES IN A BID TO EXTRACT CONFESSIONS OR BREAK THEIR WILL. THE ISRAELI METHODS, INCLUDING SLEEP DEPRIVATION, HOODING AND VIOLENT SHAKING OF PRISONERS, AMOUNT TO WHAT IS LEGALLY DEFINED AS INHUMANE TREATMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS RATIFIED THE 1987 CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE.

THIS YEAR'S REPORT INCLUDES SUBSTANTIAL ALLEGATIONS OF TORTURE BY POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES IN KENYA, NIGERIA AND ZAIRE.

IT SAYS TORTURE IS WIDESPREAD AND ROUTINE IN TURKEY'S PRISONS AND POLICE STATIONS. AND IT SAYS THE POLICE IN ARMENIA, BULGARIA AND RUSSIA ARE FREQUENTLY ACCUSED OF BEATING AND OTHERWISE MISTREATING DETAINEES SOON AFTER ARREST.

MR. RODLEY SAYS TORTURE AND MISTREATMENT OF BOTH COMMON CRIMINALS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS IN CHINA CONTINUES TO BE WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC. AND HE SAYS TORTURE IS ENDEMIC IN POLICE STATIONS AND DETENTION CENTERS IN TIBET. BURMA, INDONESIA, IRAN, INDIA, PAKISTAN AND GUATEMALA ARE AMONG THE OTHER STATES SINGLED OUT IN THIS YEAR'S U-N REPORT.

BUT MR. RODLEY STRESSES THAT THE LIST IS NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN, INCIDENTALLY, THAT IT (TORTURE) IS NOT HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES. IT MAY WELL BE HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, BECAUSE I AM UTTERLY DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION, MAINLY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THE U-N ENVOY PAID VISITS TO PAKISTAN AND VENEZUELA IN THE COURSE OF PREPARING THIS YEAR'S REPORT. HE HAS ALSO SOUGHT INVITATIONS TO A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES, INCLUDING BOTH CHINA AND INDIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF/MMK
28-Mar-97 8:21 AM EST (1321 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MASS SUICIDE OF 39 PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY HAS RIVETED THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION'S PRESS, AND MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS HAVE REACTIONS TO IT. OTHER EVENTS UNDER SCRUTINY INCLUDE VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S VISIT TO ASIA; HILLARY CLINTON'S AFRICA TOUR; THE TROUBLED MIDDLE EAST; THE UPCOMING BRITISH ELECTION AND THE ON-GOING DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE DEATH PENALTY. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS ____________________WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE 39 PEOPLE WHO KILLED THEMSELVES WERE MEMBERS OF A RELIGIOUS CULT WHO BELIEVED THAT BY SUICIDE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH A SPACE SHIP THEY BELIEVED WAS FOLLOWING COMET HALE-BOPP. THE BIZARRE DEATHS HAVE PROMPTED A GOOD DEAL OF REFLECTION, SUCH AS THIS FROM THE OREGONIAN, IN PORTLAND.

VOICE: "...WHY IS IT THAT THE NEWS OUT OF RANCHO SANTA FE SEEMS TO OFFEND SOMETHING WRITTEN DEEP WITHIN THE HUMAN HEART? WHY IS IT THAT, EVEN IN AN AGE THAT GLORIFIES INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY, SO MANY OF US WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MEET THE COMPUTER CULT'S MASS SUICIDE WITH MORAL INDIFFERENCE? WHY, WITH ALL THE TOLERANCE FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S BELIEFS, DO WE THINK THEIR TRUST IN THEIR SUICIDE-CULT LEADER SO MISGUIDED, THEIR ACTIONS SO TRAGICALLY WRONG, THEIR BELIEFS YET MORE EVIDENCE OF CULTS' SOMETIMES-FATAL HOLD ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE? 'WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE?' BE DAMNED. THE RANCHO SANTA FE CARNAGE STRIKES US HERE AS AN UTTER WASTE OF HUMANITY.

TEXT: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NATION, THE BOSTON GLOBE WRITES, UNDER THE HEADLINE "APOCALYPTIC VISIONS:"

VOICE: " [OPT] WORD IS THAT THE 39 WERE MEMBERS OF A CULT CALLED HIGHER SOURCE. THEIR IMAGINATIONS SEEM TO HAVE BECOME CAGES. THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT THE COMET HALE-BOPP TOLLED THE HOUR OF THEIR DEATH. OR MAYBE ALIENS WERE HIDDEN BEHIND THE COMET AND SUICIDE ...... WOULD DELIVER THEM TO THE SHIP OF THIS EXTRATERRESTRIAL CREW. [END OPT] PART OF WHAT MAY HAVE DRIVEN HIGHER SOURCE WAS THE SEDUCTIVE DESIRE TO MASTER THE UNIVERSE, TO UNDERSTAND ITS INFINITE LACE OF LIFE, MATHEMATICS, COLD, AND DARKNESS. A NOBLE QUEST, BUT ONE IN WHICH MEN AND WOMEN MUST ADMIT TO BEING AMATERUS."

TEXT: AND FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WHICH CALLS IT A "FLIGHT FROM REALITY" IN ITS HEADLINE, THESE OBSERVATIONS.

VOICE: "SO WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE? THAT THIS WAS INSANITY, GROUP PSYCHOSIS? MANY OF THE DEAD HAD BEEN COMPUTER WONKS [SINGLE-MINDED, SOMEWHAT BORING EXPERTS]. PERHAPS THERE'S A MESSAGE HERE ABOUT DETACHMENT FROM LIFE. WE MAY LEARN FROM THIS; FOR NOW THERE IS ONLY SHOCK. BUT WE SHOULD KNOW THIS: THOSE OF US WHO INHABIT THIS [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] PLANET, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT OUR LIVES MIGHT BECOME, RARELY ARRIVE AT SUCH A POINT. IF HOPE DOES FAIL, WE SHOULD REACH OUT. THERE ARE HANDS TO PULL US BACK."

TEXT: ON TO REACTION ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S VISIT TO ASIA THAT INCLUDED TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS IN CHINA. THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "THE UNITED STATES SEEKS THE ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC ADVANTAGES OF COOPERATION WITH CHINA, A COUNTRY THAT BIDS TO BECOME THE MOST POWERFUL IN ITS REGION. BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS SENSIBLE DIPLOMATIC AMBITION CAN BE CONSUMMATED WITH A GOVERNMENT AS INSISTENT ON ITS OWN WAYS AT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. MEANWHILE, BILL CLINTON COMES UNDER INCREASINGLY HEAVY SCRUTINY AT HOME TO ENSURE THAT HE GOES ABOUT IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. THE EFFORT WAS NOT NOTABLY ADVANCED THIS WEEK IN BEIJING. ..... NO SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE CUTS CLOSER THAN WHETHER THE UNITED STATES IS PURSUING TRADE AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. HERE MR. GORE SUDDENLY FOUND HIMSELF REQUIRED TO DECIDE QUICKLY AND PUBLICLY WHETHER AND WITH HOW MUCH ENTHUSIASM TO TOAST THE SIGNING OF A COUPLE OF BUSINESS DEALS. HIS EMBARRASSMENT REFLECTED THE DIFFICULTY THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD IN CONVEYING THAT RIGHTS, INCLUDING HONG KONG AND TIBET, COUNT."

TEXT: ON THE SAME TOPIC, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, UNDER A HEADLINE READING; U-S -CHINA RELATIONSHIP: WHERE'S THE TRUST?, ADDS:

VOICE: "THE FACTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE WAKE OF THE GORE VISIT DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY. SHARP AND FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES REMAIN, OVER POLICIES - - CHINA'S TRADE RESTRICTIONS AND ARMS SALES, FOR EXAMPLE - - AND VALUES, MOST NOTABLY IN REGARD TO HOW A STATE SHOULD TREAT ITS CITIZENS. ..... CONTINUED U-S - CHINA ENGAGEMENT, AS WE NOTED, CAN BE PRODUCTIVE. BUT ENGAGEMENT THAT LACKS THE ENERGIZING FORCE OF TRUST ISN'T GOING TO ACHIEVE VERY MUCH."

TEXT: HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, WITH DAUGHTER CHELSEA, IS TRAVELING THROUGHOUT AFRICA, AND TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS THE "FIRST LADY HELPS BUILD A CONSTITUENCY FOR AFRICA."

VOICE: "AFRICA, THE FORGOTTEN CONTINENT, ALSO MAY BE THE RICHEST CONTINENT - - RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES, RICH IN HUMAN CAPITAL, RICH IN OPPORTUNITY. THE TWO-WEEK, SIX NATION VISIT THERE BY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AND HER DAUGHTER .... MAY ASSURE THAT AFRICA IS REMEMBERED ANEW. .....DEVELOPING A CONSTITUENCY FOR AFRICA IS ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES TODAY. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO AFRICANS BUT TO AMERICANS SEEKING BUSINESS MARKETS OVERSEAS. ....AFRICA NEEDS ADVOCATES SUCH AS HILLARY CLINTON. SHE SHOULD CONTINUE HER ADVOCACY ON HER RETURN ON SUNDAY."

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, WHICH SPECIAL ENVOY DENNIS ROSS OF THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO REVIVE, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "MR. ROSS WILL ENCOUNTER AT LEAST TWO PROMISING NEW IDEAS ON HIS TRIP. ONE IS AN ISRAELI PROPOSAL FOR SPEEDING UP THE PEACE TALKS IN THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING A FINAL SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THE OTHER IS TALK OF A NEW ISRAELI COALITION GOVERNMENT LED BY PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU BUT ALSO INCLUDING LABOR PARTY FIGURES LIKE FORMER PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES. SOME VARIANT OR COMBINATION OF THESE TWO PROPOSALS MIGHT PROVIDE A WAY OUT OF THE PRESENT IMPASSE. .....THE KEY TO REVIVING THE PEACE MAY NOT LIE WITH EITHER OF THESE NEW APPROACHES. BUT ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, WITH AMERICAN HELP, NEED TO BEGIN THINKING MORE IMAGINATIVELY. THE ALTERNATIVE IS DIPLOMATIC DEADLOCK AND ESCALATING VIOLENCE."

TEXT: THE FORTHCOMING BRITISH ELECTIONS, SCHEDULED FOR MAY FIRST, DRAW THIS COMMENT FROM THE WASHINGTON POST, WHICH COMPARES THE CONTEST TO THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 1992, BOTH IN CANDIDATES AND IN THE BLURRING OF TRADITIONAL PARTY PHILOSOPHIES.

VOICE: "LIKE PRESIDENT BUSH IN 1992, PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR IS DEFENDING A LONG CONSERVATIVE INCUMBENCY; HIS TORIES HAVE BEEN IN POWER FOR 18 YEARS. LIKE MR. BUSH, THE AMIABLE MR. MAJOR SUCCEEDED A STRONG AND IDEOLOGICAL LEADER [MARGARET THATCHER] AND IS PERCEIVED, BY COMPARISON, AS WEAK AND INDECISIVE. ..... HIS OPPONENT, LABOR LEADER TONY BLAIR, IS TELEGENIC AND WELL-SPOKEN AND HAS CONSCIOUSLY MODELED MUCH OF HIS APPROACH ON PRESIDENT CLINTON. HE HAS MOVED TO THE CENTER - - IT IS 'NEW LABOR,' NOW - - SHEDDING OLD DOGMA AND CUTTING TIES TO TRADITIONAL CONSTITUENCIES (IN LABOR'S CASE, THE INDUSTRIAL UNIONS)."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, A PARTICULARLY GRUESOME DEATH IN FLORIDA'S ELECTRIC CHAIR, IN WHICH FLAMES SHOT FROM THE PRISONER'S FACE MASK AND HEAD, HAS RENEWED CALLS LIKE THIS ONE IN THE BOSTON GLOBE, FOR AN END TO THE DEATH PENALTY.

VOICE: "BUT EVEN MORE APPALLING WAS THE REACTION OF FLORIDA OFFICIALS TO THE FIERY MISTAKE. INSTEAD OF OFFERING REASSURANCES THAT THE EXTRA JOLT OF CRUELTY ADMINISTERED TO RON MEDINA, 39, WAS AN AWFUL ABERRATION, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL BOB BUTTERWORTH'S RESPONSE WAS ONE OF BARELY CONTAINED GLEE. 'PEOPLE WHO WISH TO COMMIT MURDER, THEY BETTER NOT DO IT IN ..... FLORIDA, BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR ELECTRIC CHAIR,' HE SAID. ....A CUBAN IMMIGRANT, [MR.] MEDINA .....MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SANE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL. .... THE VICTIM'S OWN DAUGHTER TESTIFIED AT MEDINA'S POSTCONVICTION HEARING, SAYING SHE WAS NOT CONVINCED HE WAS THE KILLER. .... THIS IS ... THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE STATE MAY PUT INNOCENT PERSONS TO DEATH IS A HORROR, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY GO GENTLY OR SAVAGELY INTO THE GRAVE."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NES
28-Mar-97 11:33 AM EST (1633 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article