Voice of America, 97-04-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] ITALY / ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

[03] ALBANIA FORCES (CQ) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[04] TORTURE IN TURKEY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[05] TURKEY/ISRAEL (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[06] SERBIA/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[07] FRANCE RUSSIA NATO (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[08] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND CONFLICT IN MOLDOVA BY JOAN BEECHER (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[01] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT HOPES AN ITALIAN-LED INTERNATIONAL AID MISSION WILL BE DEPLOYED NEXT WEEK IN ALBANIA AS SCHEDULED. HOWEVER, AS V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, THE FATE OF THE MISSION AND THE 11-MONTH OLD CENTER-LEFT GOVERNMENT OF ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI MAY HINGE ON A VOTE IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT LATER TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES HOPES THE SIX-THOUSAND STRONG MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE TO BE LED BY ITALY WILL BE FULLY DEPLOYED BY APRIL 14TH. THE FORCE IS TO SECURE CHANNELS FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AID TO ALBANIA.

THE BALKAN COUNTRY IS TRYING TO RECOVER FROM WEEKS OF VIOLENCE BROUGHT ON BY UNREST STEMMING FROM THE COLLAPSE OF HIGH-RISK INVESTMENT SCHEMES. A CLOUD HOVERS OVER ITALY'S ROLE BY AN ITALIAN DIPLOMAT WHO SAID ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA MUST RESIGN. ALBANIA CALLS THE REMARK IRRESPONSIBLE. ITALY SAYS IT DOES NOT REFLECT OFFICIAL POLICY.

U-S SPOKESMAN BURNS SAYS MR. BERISHA IS NOT THE OBSTACLE TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN ALBANIA:

THE OBSTACLE TO STABILITY AND PEACE ARE THE ARMED INSURGENTS WHO SEEM TO THINK THEY'RE ABOVE THE LAW IN ALBANIA.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE KEY TO PEACE AND STABILITY IS POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY:

ALL ALBANIANS NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE GOVERNMENT IS A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT THAT INCLUDES ALL THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES INCLUDING THE OPPOSITION.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE PUBLIC SHOULD VIEW THE INSURGENTS IN THE STREETS AS THE OBSTACLE TO STABILITY. (SIGNED)
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08-Apr-97 10:33 PM EDT (0233 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ITALY / ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

INTRO: THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT HAS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO ITALY'S LEADERSHIP OF A MILITARY MISSION TO ALBANIA. AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS, PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI PUSHED THE MEASURE THROUGH AT THE RISK OF A GOVERNMENT CRISIS.

TEXT: WHEN IT CAME TO THE FINAL VOTE IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, THE CENTER-LEFT PRODI GOVERNMENT WON BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF 503 TO 85.

UNDER A MANDATE FROM THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, ITALY WILL NOW LEAD A MILITARY MISSION AIMED AT SECURING PORTS AND THE TIRANA AIRPORT FOR THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE BALKAN COUNTRY WHERE ARMED INSURRECTION BROKE OUT LAST MONTH.

THE PRIME MINISTER NEEDED THE VOTES OF THE REFOUNDED COMMUNIST PARTY, BUT THE PARTY OPPOSED THE INTERVENTION ON GROUNDS THAT SENDING ITALIAN TROOPS TO ALBANIA -- WHICH ITALIAN FASCISTS INVADED JUST 58 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK -- WAS A RISKY MOVE THAT SMACKED OF NEOCOLONIALISM.

THE PRIME MINISTER CARRIED THE VOTE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CENTER- RIGHT OPPOSITION -- BUT AT A COST. HE HAS BEEN FORCED TO ADMIT THAT HIS GOVERNMENT NO LONGER HAS A SECURE MAJORITY.

THE PRIME MINISTER WELCOMED THE "BROAD CONSENSUS" IN FAVOR OF THE MISSION AND PLEDGED THAT -- IN HIS WORDS -- "NO INTERFERENCE IN ALBANIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS WILL BE TOLERATED." (REST OPT) FRANCE, SPAIN, ROMANIA, GREECE, AUSTRIA, DENMARK AND TURKEY ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TROOPS TO THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE, WHICH WILL BE DEPLOYED IN ALBANIA NEXT WEEK. IN ORDER TO WIN THE OPPOSITION'S VOTES, MR. PRODI PROMISED TO LET PRESIDENT OSCAR LUIGI SCALFARO DECIDE THE FATE OF HIS 11-MONTH-OLD GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS UNLIKELY THE GOVERNMENT WILL FALL BECAUSE THE COMMUNISTS PROMISED THEIR SUPPORT ON A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE -- AS LONG AS IT DID NOT INVOLVE ALBANIA.

BUT THE PRIME MINISTER IS NOW ON SHAKY GROUND FOR THE BATTLE AHEAD OVER CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AND CUTS IN PENSIONS NEEDED IF ITALY IS TO QUALIFY FOR ENTRY IN THE EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION. (SIGNED)
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09-Apr-97 3:58 PM EDT (1958 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA FORCES (CQ) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: STRIFE-TORN, DISORGANIZED ALBANIA AWAITS THE ARRIVAL OF UP TO SIX-THOUSAND TROOPS AS PART OF A MULTI-LATERAL FORCE BEING ORGANIZED BY ITALY, CHARGED WITH SAFEGUARDING AID SUPPLIES AND HELPING TO RESTORE ORDER IN THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE ON THE SITUATION IN ALBANIA.

TEXT: THE OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS WEDNESDAY ENDED THE BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT THEY BEGAN NEARLY A YEAR AGO AFTER FLAWED ELECTIONS. THE SOCIALISTS HAVE 10 OF THE 140-SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. NEW ELECTIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL AUSPICES ARE SLATED BY THE END OF JUNE. THE SOCIALIST LEADER SAYS HIS PARTY IS COMMITTED TO RESOLVING ALBANIA'S POLITICAL CRISIS AND HE HOPES THAT TAKING PART IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE WILL GIVE HOPE TO ALBANIA'S PEOPLE.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE OPENLY CALL FOR THE OUSTER OF EMBATTLED PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA, WHO REMAINS DEFIANT, THOUGH ISOLATED POLITICALLY. HE RECENTLY TOLD AN AUSTRIAN NEWS MAGAZINE THAT HE WILL NOT STEP DOWN UNTIL THE PEOPLE VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE. BUT HE ALSO TOLD THE MAGAZINE HE'S CONFIDENT THE MULTILATERAL FORCE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER, SENDING WHAT HE CALLED "A POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE." MR. BERISHA SAID HIS BIGGEST MISTAKE IN FIVE YEARS OF OFFICE WAS FAILING TO CRACK DOWN ON THE NOW NOTORIOUS "PYRAMID" INVESTMENT SCHEMES, WHOSE COLLAPSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR SPARKED THE UNREST THAT QUICKLY ENGULFED THE COUNTRY. //OPT// MR. BERISHA CONTINUES TO INSIST THAT THE SOCIALISTS ARE TO BLAME FOR THE CHAOS IN ALBANIA. HE SAID THE FORMER COMMUNISTS SPREAD HATRED AND EXCLUDED THEMSELVES FROM POLITICAL LIFE CREATING A MOOD OF INTOLERANCE THAT LED TO THE SOCIAL EXPLOSION. //END OPT// SLOWLY, TENSION IS EASING IN ALBANIA, EVEN IN SOUTHERN REGIONS OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL. SOME OPPOSITION NEWSPAPERS ARE BEGINNING TO BE PRINTED AGAIN AND VIOLENCE SEEMS TO BE RECEDING. COMMERCIAL AIRLINE SERVICE HAS BEEN RESUMED AND MILITARY EXPERTS PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE MULTILATERAL FORCE ARE IN ALBANIA INSPECTING FACILITIES.

DESPITE POLITICAL TURMOIL IN ROME, ITALY SAYS THE FORCE WILL BEGIN ARRIVING ON SCHEDULE AS EARLY AS NEXT MONDAY. FRENCH FORCES HAVE ALREADY LEFT FOR ALBANIA BY SEA. GREECE, SPAIN, ROMANIA AND TURKEY ARE OTHER COUNTRIES PLANNING TO PARTICIPATE.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT DESPITE THE LAWLESSNESS, ALBANIA IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAS PULLED BACK FROM THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR. WHILE THOUSANDS OF WEAPONS REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF LOOTERS, WIDESPREAD ARMED CONFLICT HAS BEEN AVOIDED. DESPITE THE UNREST, THE ALBANIAN CURRENCY REMAINS RELATIVELY STABLE AND MANY BUSINESSES ARE OPEN AGAIN. (SIGNED)
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09-Apr-97 4:04 PM EDT (2004 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TORTURE IN TURKEY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TORTURE AND OTHER MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS REMAIN A PROBLEM IN TURKEY, ACCORDING TO A BRIEFING THIS WEEK (TUES.) BY THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (CSCE). WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROGRESS TURKEY HAS MADE IN ESTABLISHING AN OPEN, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, PARTICIPANTS SAID ANTI-TERROR POLICE TOO OFTEN VIOLATE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THE CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING, ALONG WITH SOME REFLECTIONS BY A LEADING AMERICAN AUTHORITY ON TURKEY.

TEXT: TURKEY ENJOYS A FREE PRESS, AN ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY, HOTLY CONTESTED ELECTIONS AND A REFORM-MINDED BUSINESS COMMUNITY. HOLLY CARTNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, TOLD A BRIEFING ON TURKEY THIS WEEK THOSE ARE THE POSITIVE POINTS.

SHE WENT ON TO SAY THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE MARRED BY SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, ESPECIALLY TORTURE BY THE POLICE:

TURKEY'S ANTI-TERROR POLICE HAVE BECOME QUITE INFAMOUS BECAUSE OF THEIR WIDESPREAD USE OF SOPHISTICATED TORTURE METHODS, WHICH THEY CONSISTENTLY ATTEMPT TO PERFECT TO INFLICT PAIN WITHOUT LEAVING THE TRACES OF THEIR ABUSE. THIS UNIT HAS METHODICALLY INCORPORATED TORTURE AND ABUSE INTO ITS DAILY OPERATIONS, UTILIZING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING SPECIAL STRAPS, HIGH PRESSURE HOSES, RACKS FOR SUSPENDING SUSPECTS BY THEIR ARMS AND A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS TO APPLY ELECTRIC SHOCKS.

HOLLY CARTNER DESCRIBED THE ANTI-TERROR BRANCH OF THE INTERIOR MINISTRY AS A STATE WITHIN A STATE. SHE SAID THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED SOME REMEDIES SO FAR TO LITTLE AVAIL. TORTURE IS LARGELY INFLICTED ON KURDISH INSURGENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST, A CONFLICT, HOWEVER, THAT IS ON THE WANE.

ERIK HOLST IS PRESIDENT OF THE REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR TORTURE VICTIMS. HE SAID TURKEY, AS A NATION CONSIDERING ITSELF PART OF EUROPE, SHOULD ADHERE TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS:

I WANT TO STRESS THAT CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, NOT LEAST FROM TURKEY'S BEST FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD, AMONG WHOM I CERTAINLY INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES, IS NECESSARY TO CONVINCE TURKISH AUTHORITIES THAT THE WORLD CANNOT TOLERATE OR EXCUSE THE USE OF TORTURE FOR ANY REASON BY LAW ENFORCING AGENCIES IN A MEMBER COUNTRY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND A MEMBER COUNTRY OF NATO.

FRED HAYNES, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL, SAID HE DEPLORED TORTURE. HE SAID HIS ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO FOCUSED ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TURKEY AND FOUND THAT UNLIKE MANY OTHER NATIONS WHERE SUCH ABUSES OCCUR, TURKEY IS OPEN TO INSPECTION:

TURKEY IS A MUCH MORE OPEN SOCIETY THAN MANY PEOPLE KNOW. IT IS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO OBTAIN MATERIAL OF ANY TYPE -- WHETHER IT IS GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT -- IN THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. PEOPLE CAN GET TO PLACES AND SEE THINGS AND QUESTION INDIVIDUALS AND FIND OUT WHAT IS, IN FACT, GOING ON.

MR. HAYNES SAYS THE TURKISH PEOPLE ARE JUST AS CONCERNED AS OUTSIDERS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THEIR COUNTRY AND WILL IN TIME EXERT THE NECESSARY PRESSURE TO END THEM. (SIGNED)
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08-Apr-97 11:42 PM EDT (0342 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/ISRAEL (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO-DAY VISIT BY ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID LEVY TO TURKEY WHICH BEGAN TUESDAY CONSTITUTES A MILESTONE IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, OFFICIALS FROM BOTH SIDES SAY RELATIONS ARE NO LONGER HOSTAGE TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, AND ARE NOW DICTATED BY COMMON INTEREST.

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM BOTH SIDES STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FACT THAT MR. LEVY WAS RECEIVED BY TURKEY'S FIRST-EVER ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER TUESDAY, DESPITE WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND ACROSS THE ISLAMIC WORLD TO THE ISRAELI GOVERMENT'S HANDLING OF THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE AND OF JERUSALEM IN PARTICULAR. INDEED, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN TOLD MR. LEVY IN FRONT OF HORDES OF JOURNALISTS LATE TUESDAY THAT JERUSALEM WAS THE RELIGIOUS CAPITAL FOR JEWS, MUSLIMS, AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE, TO WHICH THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDED JERUSALEM WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN SO. MR. ERBAKAN ALSO CALLED ON ISRAEL TO HALT THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM AND TO WITHDRAW FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

ANALYSTS SAY BOTH MEN WERE PLAYING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DOMESTIC AUDIENCES. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, TURKISH OFFICIALS CONFIRM TALKS TOOK PLACE IN A VERY FRIENDLY AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS CONFIRM ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK MORDECHAI IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT MONTH TO DISCUSS JOINT DEFENSE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE SALE OF ISRAELI-MADE EQUIPMENT TO TURKEY.

OFFICIALS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES SAY THERE IS MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO CEMENT TIES, WHICH HAVE SO FAR CENTERED ON MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC COOPERATION, WITH EXPANDED TRADE.

IT IS WITH THAT OBJECTIVE IN MIND THAT THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER FLEW TO TURKEY'S BUSINESS CAPITAL ISTANBUL WEDNESDAY TO MEET WITH TURKISH BUSINESSMEN BEFORE RETURNING HOME. (SIGNED)
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09-Apr-97 9:32 AM EDT (1332 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] SERBIA/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS FROM THE AREA OF SERBIA KNOWN AS KOSOVO AND SERBIAN OFFICIALS CONCLUDED THREE DAYS OF DISCUSSIONS TODAY IN NEW YORK. AS V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS THE TALKS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT BUT AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TOWARD RESOLVING DIFFERENCES.

TEXT: PARTICIPANTS FROM BOTH SERBIA AND KOSOVO SAY THEY NEVER INTENDED TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES DURING THE THREE DAY ROUNDTABLE, BUT BOTH SIDES PRESENTED THEIR POSITIONS. THEY ALSO AGREED TO MORE SUCH MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE.

ALLEN KASSOF IS PRESIDENT OF THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION, ONE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS SPONSORING THE TALKS. HE TOLD REPORTERS AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO PROBLEM WILL BE DIFFICULT AND SLOW.

IT WAS NOT AN EASY MEETING. THE RIFT IS VERY DEEP. WE ALL KNOW THAT. BUT A DISCUSSION HAS BEGUN. THERE IS NOW A COMMITMENT TO A DIALOGUE WHICH DID NOT EXIST BEFORE AND THAT SEEMS TO ME TO REPRESENT A VERY MAJOR STEP FORWARD. NO ONE HAS ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT EASY SOLUTIONS HERE. BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE MADE A PROMISING BEGINNING.

MEMBERS OF BOTH DELEGATIONS SAY THEY REGETTED THE ABSENCE OF THE RULING SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA, BUT HOPE IT WILL PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE MEETINGS.

AT A ROUNDTABLE IN BELGRADE TWO YEARS AGO, THE SERBIAN SOCIALIST PARTY PROPOSED THE START OF SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN SERBIA AND ALBANIA. KOSOVO IS AN IMPORTANT NATIONAL SYMBOL TO SERBIA WHICH LOST A BATTLE TO A TURKISH ARMY THERE IN 1389. LEADERS OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMUNITY SAY MOST KOSOVO RESIDENTS ARE ALBANIANS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE UNDER REPRESSIVE REGIMES IMPOSED BY NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

MARK KRASNIQI, PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF KOSOVO, PRESENTED A PAPER DETAILING ALBANIAN GRIEVANCES. IN THE PAPER, LATER DISTRIBUTED TO REPORTERS, MR. KRASNIQI ACCUSES SERBIA OF EXPELLING ALBANIANS FROM AREAS IN KOSOVO WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED FOR CENTURIES. HE SAID SERBIA IS SEEKING TO IMPOSE A "GREATER SERBIA" IN THE REGION THROUGH ETHNIC CLEANSING.

BUT MR. KRASNIQI EMPHASIZED HE BELIEVES ETHNIC CONFLICTS, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT, CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH GOOD WILL AND COMPROMISE. SERBIAN REPRESENTATIVES AGREED AND SAY THE TWO SIDES MUST NORMALIZE RELATIONS AND OPEN A DOOR TO THE FUTURE.

THE TWO SIDES ISSUED A JOINT PAPER SAYING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HELP IS NEEDED. THEY ALSO AGREED THERE MUST BE NO PRECONDITIONS -- SUCH AS INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO --IF TALKS ARE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE PAPER SAYS THERE HAS TO BE MUTUAL RESPECT AND THAT ANY AGREEMENT SHOULD PROVIDE FOR DEMOCRATIZATION AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REGION. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
09-Apr-97 5:42 PM EDT (2142 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] FRANCE RUSSIA NATO (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV SAID DURING A VISIT TO PARIS WEDNESDAY THAT MOSCOW HOPES TO SIGN A DOCUMENT ON ITS FUTURE RELATIONS WITH NATO AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH. THIS SHOULD END A TENSE STANDOFF OVER THE ALLIANCE'S PLANS TO ADMIT FORMER WARSAW PACT MEMBERS, AS JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV SAID AFTER TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC THAT PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HOPES TO VISIT PARIS TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT DEFINING RUSSIA'S RELATIONS WITH NATO ON MAY 27TH.

MR. PRIMAKOV, WHO HAS HELD SEVERAL SESSIONS OF TALKS WITH FRENCH LEADERS DURING A TWO-DAY VISIT TO FRANCE, SAID HE HAD MR. YELTSIN'S PERSONAL AUTHORIZATION TO ANNOUNCE THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S PRESENCE AT A SIGNING CEREMONY NEXT MONTH -- PROVIDING THAT THE FINAL DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT CAN BE WORKED OUT IN TIME.

THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THE MOST SENSITIVE ONE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO. THE RUSSIAN MILITARY HIGH COMMAND, BROUGHT UP ON AN ANTI-NATO DIET UNDER COMMUNISM, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUSPICIOUS OF AN EXPANSION THAT WILL BRING NATO RIGHT UP TO RUSSIA'S WESTERN FRONTIERS.

THE NEW AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM OF CONSULTATION AND CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES. ITS PURPOSE IS TO CONVINCE MOSCOW THAT THE EXPANDED ALLIANCE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO RUSSIAN SECURITY. ONCE IT IS SIGNED, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE FORMER SOVIET-LED WARSAW PACT TO JOIN NATO.

ALTHOUGH THE TONE OF MR. PRIMAKOV'S REMARKS WAS GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC, THE RUSSIAN MINISTER SAID THERE WERE STILL SOME OBSTACLES. BUT HE DID NOT ELABORATE. MR. PRIMAKOV SAID HE HOPES FRANCE WILL PLAY A GREATER ROLE TO OVERCOME THEM. FRENCH OFFICIALS SAID THEIR COUNTRY WILL IMMEDIATELY CONSULT WITH OTHER NATO MEMBERS TO EXPLAIN RUSSIA'S THINKING ON THE ACCORD.

[08] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND CONFLICT IN MOLDOVA BY JOAN BEECHER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV IS VISTING MOLDOVA THIS WEEK. AMONG THE TOP ITEMS ON HIS AGENDA WILL BE JUMP-STARTING THE STALLED NEGOTIATIONS ON SETTLING THE EIGHT-YEAR-LONG CONFLICT BETWEEN MOLDOVA AND THE BREAKAWAY TRANSDNIESTER REGION. ALTHOUGH A TRUCE IN 1992 ENDED THE FIGHTING, A POLITICAL RESOLUTION IS NO CLOSER. AS VOA'S JOAN BEECHER REPORTS, THE MAJOR ROLE IN MEDIATING THE TALKS HAS BEEN PLAYED BY RUSSIA, A SMALLER ROLE BY MOLDOVA'S NEIGHBOR UKRAINE, AND A GROWING ROLE BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

TEXT: THE MAJOR ROLE HAS BEEN PLAYED BY RUSSIA LARGELY BECAUSE IT HAS TROOPS IN TRANSDNIESTER -- THE 14TH ARMY, NOW DOWNGRADED TO AN "OPERATIONAL GROUP OF FORCES." THE PRESENCE OF THOSE TROOPS HAS GIVEN MOSCOW A NEGOTIATING WEAPON WITH WHICH TO EXTRACT CONCESSIONS FROM MOLDOVA.

MOLDOVA, FOR ITS PART, HAS TRIED TO BROADEN THE RANGE OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE PEACE PROCESS. IN OCTOBER, 1993, THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE WAS BROUGHT IN, AT MOLDOVA'S REQUEST. THE MANDATE OF THE O-S-C-E MISSION TO MOLDOVA IS TO "FACILITATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A LASTING, COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT."

FROM THE OUTSET, THE O-S-C-E MADE IT CLEAR THAT IN ITS VIEW A LASTING SETTLEMENT DEPENDED ON TWO THINGS -- THE SPEEDY WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN TROOPS, AND THE PRESERVATION OF MOLDOVA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

AS VLADIMIR SOCOR, SENIOR ANALYST WITH THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION, POINTS OUT, THE PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IS VERY POPULAR WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOW, JUST AS THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION WAS POPULAR IN EARLIER ERAS. BUT IN MOLDOVA, HE SAYS, THE TWO PRINCIPLES AREN'T EVEN IN CONFLICT.

TAPE: CUT #1 SOCOR "THE TRANSDNIESTER REGION IS A MULTI-ETHNIC, MULTI-LINGUAL AREA, THE SINGLE LARGEST ELEMENT OF WHICH CONSISTS OF ETHNIC MOLDOVANS. RUSSIANS MAKE UP 25 POINT 5 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, THE THIRD LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP, BEHIND [AFTER] UKRAINIANS. HOWEVER, THE LOCAL RUSSIAN ELEMENT IS IN CONTROL. IT IS IN FACT, IN PRACTICE, A MINORITY REGIME IN POWER THERE. THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT IN THE PRESENCE OF A CASE OF SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLES."

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE OSCE MISSION AND THE TRANSDNIESTER AUTHORITIES HAVE GENERALLY BEEN STRAINED. THE MISSION HAS NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH TRANSDNIESTER'S RECORD ON HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, OR WITH ITS OBSTRUCTIONISM, WHICH HAS PREVENTED THE MISSION FROM COLLECTING NECESSARY INFORMATION. LAST MONTH, MATTERS PROCEEDED TO A FULL RUPTURE, WHEN THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES BARRED THE MEMBERS OF THE MISSION FROM ENTERING TRANSDNIESTER AT ALL, EVEN TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE JOINT CONTROL COMMISSION, SET UP TO OBSERVE THE 1992 TRUCE.

THIS WAS IN RETALIATION FOR MISSION CHIEF DONALD JOHNSON'S FEBRUARY REPORT TO THE O-S-C-E IN VIENNA. IN HIS REPORT, THE MISSION CHIEF ADVISED AGAINST ANYONE SIGNING A MEMORANDUM WORKED OUT IN MOSCOW LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXPLICITLY PROVIDE FOR MOLDOVA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

THE MEMORANDUM IN QUESTION WAS ORIGINALLY HAILED AS A BREAK-THROUGH IN THE LONG-STALLED NEGOTIATIONS. IT DOES SPECIFY THAT THE SIDES WILL BUILD A "COMMON STATE WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA." BUT THAT LANGUAGE IS MISLEADING, ACCORDING TO VLADIMIR SOCOR OF THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION.

TAPE: CUT #2 SOCOR "IN FACT, THIS PROVISION REFLECTS THE ATTEMPT BY RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY -- WHICH IS IN EVIDENCE NOT ONLY IN MOLDOVA, BUT ALSO IN THE GEORGIA-ABKHAZ CONFLICT, FOR EXAMPLE -- TO SQUARE THE CIRCLE, AS IT WERE. IN OTHER WORDS, TO SEEM TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECOGNIZED STATE'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY BY TALKING ABOUT ITS 'OUTER BORDERS.' THAT IS THE OPERATIVE TERM -- RECOGNIZING THE 'OUTER BORDERS.' BUT AT THE SAME TIME MOSCOW'S POLICY SEEKS TO CREATE AN ASSOCIATION OF TWO [SEPARATE] STATES, WHICH WOULD IMPLY DRAWING AN INTERNAL BORDER BETWEEN THE SECESSIONIST REGIME AND THE RUMP OF THE SOVEREIGN AND RECOGNIZED STATE."

TEXT: PUT YET ANOTHER WAY, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT MOSCOW ENDORSES THE TRANSDNIESTRIAN INSISTENCE ON A CONFEDERATION OF TWO STATES, WHILE THE OSCE MISSION FAVORS THE MOLDOVAN PROPOSAL FOR GRANTING TRANSDNIESTER A "SPECIAL STATUS" -- THAT IS, WIDE AUTONOMY -- WITHIN A MOLDOVAN STATE.

YET RUSSIA APPARENTLY WILL RAISE NO OBJECTION TO ADDING A CLAUSE TO THE MEMORANDUM SPECIFICALLY GUARANTEEING MOLDOVA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. JUST THE OTHER DAY, RUSSIA'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS, YURY KARLOV, JOINED WITH UKRAINE'S REPRESENTATIVE AND WITH O-S-C-E MISSION CHIEF DONALD JOHNSON IN ANNOUNCING THAT JUST AS SOON AS THE REVISED MEMORANDUM IS SIGNED, WORK ON DEVELOPING A FINAL SETTLEMENT CAN BEGIN. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, HOWEVER, WHETHER THE TRANSDNIESTRIAN AUTHORITIES CAN BE INDUCED TO SIGN SUCH A MEMORANDUM -- AND TO LET THE O-S-C-E MISSION BACK IN TO CONTINUE ITS WORK.

MEANWHILE, MOLDOVA'S NEW PRESIDENT, PETRU LUCINSCHI [PRONOUNCED LOO-CHIN'-SKI], IS PLACING HIGH HOPES ON A NEW MULTI-LATERAL INITIATIVE, THIS ONE WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES.

AT THEIR SUMMIT LAST MONTH, THE C-I-S LEADERS AGREED TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE ON CONFLICT SITUATIONS. MR. LUCINSCHI CALLED THIS THE MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SUMMIT, AND SAID IT SHOULD HELP EXPEDITE A SOLUTION OF THE TRANSDNIESTER PROBLEM. BUT AS VLADIMIR SOCOR POINTS OUT, PRESIDENT LUCINSCHI DIFFERS FROM MOSCOW ON JUST WHAT THE MANDATE AND POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE.

TAPE: CUT #3 SOCOR "REGARDING THE MANDATE AND THE POWER, THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS ALREADY COME OUT WITH AN IDEA. THE COMMITTEE SHOULD EXERCISE FORMAL AUTHORITY OVER C-I-S PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.....C-I-S PEACEKEEPING TROOPS ARE IN FACT RUSSIAN TROOPS, USING THE C-I-S LABEL FOR PURPOSES OF POLITICAL LEGITIMACY....THE OPPOSITE VIEW HAPPENED TO BE EXPRESSED JUST BY MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT LUCINSCHI, WHO RETURNING TO KISHINEV [CHISINAU] AFTER THE C-I-S SUMMIT, SAID THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE A PURELY CONSULTATIVE AND ADVISORY ORGAN -- NO QUESTION OF ITS HAVING TROOPS AT ITS DISPOSAL. IT SHOULD BE ESSENTIALLY A FACT-FINDING BODY, WHICH WILL WORK OUT PROPOSALS FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENTS OF CONFLICTS."

TEXT: PRESIDENT LUCINSCHI'S VIEW, ACCORDING TO MR. SOCOR, SHOULD SUIT RECOGNIZED STATES, LIKE MOLDOVA ITSELF, THAT FACE REAL SECESSIONIST MOVEMENTS ON THEIR TERRITORY, AS WELL AS STATES, LIKE KAZAKHSTAN, THAT MAY FACE THEM IN THE FUTURE. THEY KNOW THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY STRONGLY UPHOLDS THE PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY -- AND ARE CONFIDENT, MR. SOCOR SAYS, THAT MOSCOW WILL BE COMPELLED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT TOO. [SIGNED] NEB/JB/NES*
09-Apr-97 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: HIGHER PRICES THIS WEEK ON WALL STREET AND THE STRENGTH OF THE U-S DOLLAR HELPED PROPEL STOCK PRICES ON MAJOR WESTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS ON WEDNESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM OUR OFFICE IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE DOLLAR SOARED IN CURRENCY TRADING HERE IN EUROPE, HITTING ITS HIGHEST EXCHANGE RATE AGAINST THE MARK IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS AND HITTING A 56-MONTH HIGH AGAINST THE YEN. STERLING GAINED VALUE ALONG WITH THE DOLLAR.

THE STRONG U-S CURRENCY -- WHICH SIGNALS CONFIDENCE FOR EXPORT-MINDED EUROPEAN INVESTORS -- SENT STOCK MARKETS ON AN UPWARD SWING. THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30" INDEX GAINED 30 POINTS WEDNESDAY AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" ADDED 38-AND-A-HALF POINTS IN VALUE. IN APPARENT CONTRADICTION TO THE STRONG CURRENCY THEORY, BRITAIN WITH ITS STRONG POUND ENJOYED A 23 POINT GAIN ON LONDON'S "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX.

GOLD FELL 50 CENTS AN OUNCE IN LONDON TRADING, CLOSING AT 347-DOLLARS-95 CENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
09-Apr-97 2:08 PM EDT (1808 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MONDAY'S WHITE HOUSE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE RIFT IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS WAS ONE OF THE LEADING SUBJECTS FOR COMMENT IN THE AMERICAN PRESS.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM; SAFETY AND THE SPACE SHUTTLE; HOW PEOPLE IN PANAMA FEEL ABOUT THE PLANS TO REDUCE THE U-S PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY; THE RECORD OF THE 105TH CONGRESS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BALTIC NATIONS WHICH WANT TO JOIN NATO.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE PAPERS THAT ARE DISCUSSING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S MONDAY SESSION WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WERE CLEARLY CRITICAL. WITH FRONT PAGE HEADLINES ON MOST WEDNESDAY PAPERS DETAILNG THE LATEST KILLINGS DURING PALESTINIAN RIOTS AT HEBRON, HERE'S SOME OF WHAT NEWSDAY SAYS:

VOICE: "AN AIR OF TENSE HELPLESSNESS SURROUNDS THE HIGH-LEVEL MANEUVERS INTENDED TO PREVENT A COMPLETE DERAILMENT OF THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. NO PERCEPTIBLE PROGRESS RESULTED FROM THE MEETING IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. .....THE BREAK IN NEGOTIATIONS IS NO LONGER JUST AN IMPASSE. IT'S BECOMING A TRUE CRISIS, A TURNING POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE PERSISTED UNTIL NOW THROUGH ALL SORTS OF ADVERSITIES."

TEXT: ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS LEADING ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH COMMENTS ON THE MEETING IS THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WHICH SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "THE UNITED STATES IS WORKING URGENTLY TO SHORE UP [SUPPORT] THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE HEADED INEXORABLY TOWARD COLLAPSE. BUT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS LARGELY AT A LOSS FOR EFFECTIVE IDEAS TO GET THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TALKING AGAIN. ..... WASHINGTON HAS ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT CAN ONLY FACILITATE STEPS TOWARD PEACE,NOT IMPOSE A FINAL SETTLEMENT. BUT NEITHER CAN WASHINGTON AFFORD TO LET THE PEACE PROCESS GO UNDER [FAIL] WITHOUT A RESOLUTE AND ASSERTIVE EFFORT TO RESCUE IT ......"

TEXT: BACK EAST, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS, FRANKLY:

VOICE: "[PRESIDENT] CLINTON SHOULD PULL THE U-S OUT OF THE MEDIATING ROLE IN THE MIDEAST UNTIL BOTH SIDES GET SERIOUS. HE SHOULD THEN EXPLAIN TO THE U-S PUBLIC WHO IS TO BLAME. AND AMERICA SHOULD STOP VETOING RESOLUTIONS ON HAR HOMA IN THE UNITED NATIONS ...."

TEXT: WHILE IN NEW YORK, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS IT'S A MATTER OF TRUST, ADDING:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT CANNOT MAGICALLY PRODUCE TRUST BETWEEN MR. NETANYAHU AND MR. ARAFAT, OR IMPOSE AN AGREEMENT IN ITS ABSENCE. BUT WASHINGTON HAS GREAT INFLUENCE WITH BOTH LEADERS THAT IT HAS NOT FULLY EXERCISED. MR. NETANYAHU CAN BE COMBATIVE AND DIFFICULT, AS HE MADE CLEAR AT A TESTY [SOMEWHAT UNPLEASANT OR TENSE] NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK. IT CANNOT BE EASY FOR MR. CLINTON TO JOG [PUSH] HIM, BUT HE MUST KEEP PRESSING THE ISRAELI LEADER .... MR. ARAFAT ..... COULD USE A FIRM REMINDER FROM MR. CLINTON THAT VIOLENCE WILL DESTROY THE PEACE AND ANYTHING SHORT OF A SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TERRORISM IS INSUFFICIENT."

TEXT: LASTLY, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE PUTS IT SUCCINCTLY, AND IN AMERICAN SLANG.

VOICE: "MAYBE [MR.] NETANYAHU .... NEEDS TO FISH OR CUT BAIT ["TO ACT DECISIVELY, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER."] IF HE IS AGAINST THE PEACE AGREEMENT, ADMIT IT; IF HE IS FOR IT, FORM A UNITY GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT IT. HIS POLICY OF SAYING HE SUPPORTS THE AGREEMENT BUT ACTING OTHERWISE ISN'T WORKING. HIS TIGHTROPE IS SHAKING BADLY."

TEXT: MOVING ON TO OTHER TOPICS, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND CBS NEWS HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF A NEW POLL MEASURING THE FEELINGS OF AMERICANS CONCERNING THE REPORTED EXCESSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING. AND, SAYS THE TIMES, POLITICIANS' BELIEFS THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS NOT TRUE.

VOICE: "IT [THE POLL RESULTS] OFFERED A STARTLING PORTRAYAL OF A NATION THAT, FAR FROM BEING INDIFFERENT, YEARS FOR ABOLITION OF A SYSTEM CLEARLY VIEWED AS CORRUPT. BY IGNORING SUCH WARNINGS, CONGRESS DEEPENS THE PUBLIC'S ALREADY CONSIDERABLE DISGUST AND CYNICISM."

TEXT: TODAY'S ORLANDO SENTINEL IS CONCERNED WITH NASA'S RECORD OF RECENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLES. YESTERDAY [4/8] THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA LANDED TWO WEEKS EARLY AFTER ANOTHER MECHANICALLY-ABORTED MISSION.

VOICE: "TOO MANY PROBLEMS HAVE CROPPED UP IN THE SPACE PROGRAM LATELY FOR OFFICIALS TO TAKE A BUSINESS-AS-USUAL ATTITUDE. ....THE ASTRONAUTS' SAFETY IS, OF COURSE, THE MAJOR CONCERN. BUT THERE'S ALSO THE MATTER OF MORE THAN HALF-A-BILLION DOLLARS DOWN THE TUBES [WASTED] - - ALL BECAUSE OF A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR FUEL CELL THAT MALFUNCTIONED. ..... NASA OFFICIALS NOW ADMIT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE TO SEND COLUMBIA INTO SPACE AFTER DISCOVERING THE FUEL-CELL PROBLEM. [OPT] NASA SHOULD ANSWER SOME HARD QUESTIONS [INCLUDING] ... IS THE SPACE AGENCY CUTTING CORNERS [MAKING ECONOMY MOVES] THAT COULD LEAD TO SAFETY AND QUALITY-CONTROL LAPSES, AS RECENT EVENTS APPEAR TO SUGGEST? [END OPT]

TEXT: IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NEW POLL RESULTS SHOW THAT, AFTER ALL THE ACRIMONIOUS WORDS SOME YEARS BACK, THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE WOULD LIKE U-S TROOPS TO STAY WHEN THEIR CANAL DUTIES COME TO AN OFFICIAL END IN THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND. THAT DREW THIS RESPONSE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "THIS MAY SURPRISE MANY WHO RECALL THE CONVULSIVE POLITICAL BATTLE OF THE 1970S THAT ENDED IN A U-S AGREEMENT TO TURN OVER THE CANAL, WHOSE BUILDING IS AN AMERICAN LEGEND, TO PANAMA AND TO EVACUATE THE AMERICAN BASES. ..... THIS POSES TO THE UNITED STATES THE IRONIC AND AWKWARD QUESTION, ONE THAT EVERYONE HAD THOUGHT SETTLED 20 YEARS AGO, OF WHETHER THE TROOPS SHOULD GO OR STAY."

TEXT: TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN COMMENTS ON THE RECORD OF THE 105TH CONGRESS, AS IT ASKS IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "CONGRESS: WHY COME BACK?" SAYS THE SUN:

VOICE: "WHY EVEN COME BACK [FROM THE EASTER HOLIDAY] TO AN AGENDA THAT IS PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT AND A WORK SCHEDULE LIMITED TO ONE AND [A] HALF DAYS A WEEK? .....IN THE CRAZY CHEMISTRY OF A WORKING DEMOCRACY, A DO-NOTHING CONGRESS MAY REFLECT THE WISHES OF CITIZENS WHOSE GREATER FEAR IS THAT IT MAY DO SOMETHING."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, TO THE BALTICS WHERE ESTONIA, LATVIA AND LITHUANIA, ALL INDEPENDENT AFTER YEARS OF SOVIET CONTROL, NOW WANT TO JOIN NATO. ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THE WASHINGTON TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "PRUDENCE MUST ALWAYS BE A FACTOR IN CONSIDERATIONS OF PRINCIPLE, HOWEVER. [OPT] IN THE CONTEXT OF NATO, THE ULTIMATE SECURITY GUARANTEE IS THE U-S NUCLEAR UMBRELLA, WHICH UNDERSTANDABLY THE BALTIC NATIONS DEARLY DESIRE, AND WITHOUT WHICH NATO MEMBERSHIP WOULD HAVE NO MEANING FOR THEM. [END OPT] ..... THE BOTTOM LINE OUGHT TO BE THAT THE DOOR OF NATO REMAIN OPEN AFTER THE MADRID SUMMIT [ON EXPANDING NATO] AND THE FIRST ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT, NOT ONLY TO THE BALTIC COUNTRIES BUT TO OTHER ASPIRING NATIONS AS WELL."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
09-Apr-97 11:30 AM EDT (1530 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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