Voice of America, 97-08-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] ATHENS 97 - DAY FOUR WRAP (L) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS, GREECE)

[02] ATHENS '97 / DAY FIVE PREVIEW (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)

[03] GERMANY / UNEMPLOYMENT (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[05] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[01] ATHENS 97 - DAY FOUR WRAP (L) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS, GREECE)

INTRO: THE COMPETITION HAS ENDED ON THE FOURTH DAY OF THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHENS, GREECE, WITH GOLD MEDALS AWARDED IN THREE MEN'S AND TWO WOMEN'S EVENTS. AS STEVE SCHY REPORTS FROM OLYMPIC STADIUM, THE MEN'S 400 METERS WAS THE MARQUEE EVENT TUESDAY NIGHT.

TEXT: AMERICAN MICHAEL JOHNSON WAS THE FASTEST OUT OF THE BLOCKS, AND DESPITE GETTING A CRAMP WITH 150-METERS TO GO, MANAGED A GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE IN THE MEN'S 400 METERS. JOHNSON, RUNNING IN HIS DISTINCTIVE STRAIGHT-UP STYLE, WON GOING AWAY IN 44-POINT-ONE-TWO SECONDS.

TODAY'S RACE I EXPECTED TO RUN A LOT FASTER THAN I DID, BUT A VICTORY IS A VICTORY AND I'M HAPPY I WAS ABLE TO DEFEND MY CHAMPIONSHIP.

JOHNSON MISSED THE CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE U-S NATIONALS BECAUSE OF INJURIES AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEFEND HIS CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT A WILD CARD INVITATION TO ATHENS '97.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE WHAT WAS DONE BECAUSE IT DID HELP ME, BUT THIS DECISION IS SOMETHING I FELT WAY BEFORE THIS YEAR SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE TO ENSURE THAT YOU'VE GOT THE DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPION- SHIP WINNER IN THE RACE.

DAVIS KOMOGA OF UGANDA TOOK THE SILVER MEDAL (44.37) AND TYREE WASHINGTON OF THE UNITED STATES WON THE BRONZE (44.39).

IN OTHER MEN'S RESULTS, CUBAN IVAN PEDROSO EDGED AMERICAN ERICK WALDER BY FOUR CENTIMETERS TO WIN THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE MEN'S LONG JUMP (8.42), WHILE IN THE JAVELIN THROW, SOUTH AFRICAN MARIUS CORBETT WAS THE SURPRISE GOLD MEDAL WINNER (88.40).

IN WOMEN'S EVENTS, KENYAN TEENAGER SALLY BARSOSIO TOOK HOME THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE 10-THOUSAND METERS (31:32:92), WHILE FERNANDA RIBEIRO OF PORTUGAL CLAIMED THE SILVER AND JAPAN'S MASAKO CHIBA WON THE BRONZE. IN THE 15-HUNDRED METERS, CARLA SACRAMENTO OF PORTUGAL WAS THE GOLD MEDALIST (4:04.24).

I AM HAPPY FOR MY RACE, I DON'T EXPECT (IT) BECAUSE THE OTHER ATHLETES ARE VERY STRONG TOO - REGINA AND O' SULLIVAN, BUT I DO MY BEST.

AMERICAN REGINA JACOBS FINISHED MORE THAN HALF A SECOND BACK TO PICK UP THE SILVER MEDAL, WHILE ANITA WEYERMANN OF SWITZERLAND TOOK THE BRONZE.

THE UNITED STATES REMAINS ATOP THE MEDALS TABLE WITH A TOTAL OF 10, INCLUDING THREE GOLD. UKRAINE HAS FOUR MEDALS AND GERMANY AND RUSSIA HAVE THREE APIECE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SS/LWM
05-Aug-97 7:36 PM EDT (2336 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ATHENS '97 / DAY FIVE PREVIEW (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)

INTRO: THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHENS HAVE REACHED THE HALF-WAY POINT. AS V-O-A'S STEVE SCHY REPORTS FROM OLYMPIC STADIUM, THE MEN WILL BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE FINALS IN FOUR EVENTS.

TEXT: THE MEN WILL BE COMPETING FOR GOLD MEDALS IN THE HIGH JUMP, THREE-THOUSAND METER STEEPLECHASE, 10-THOUSAND METERS AND 15-HUNDRED METERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME INTERESTING QUALIFYING RACES ON THE SCHEDULE. IN THE MEN'S 110-METER HURDLES, MARK CREAR OF THE UNITED STATES HAD THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME -- 13-POINT-ONE-FIVE SECONDS -- HEADING INTO THE SEMI-FINALS. BUT HE'S EXPECTED TO FACE STIFF COMPETITION FROM FELLOW AMERICAN ALLEN JOHNSON, SLOVAK IGOR KOVAC, AND COLIN JACKSON AND ANTHONY JARRETT RUNNING FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS WEDNESDAY NIGHT INCLUDE THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE MEN'S 800-METERS, AND SECOND ROUND ACTION IN THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S 200-METERS. (SIGNED) NEB/S/KL
06-Aug-97 9:16 AM EDT (1316 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY / UNEMPLOYMENT (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE SUMMER VACATION SEASON IN GERMANY HAS HELPED PUSH THE NATION'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP AGAIN. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: THE LATEST FIGURES FROM GERMANY'S FEDERAL LABOR OFFICE SHOW AN ADDITIONAL 132-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE OUT OF WORK IN JULY, PUSHING THE JOBLESS RATE TO 11-POINT-FOUR PERCENT.

OFFICIALS SAY THE INCREASE IS MAINLY DUE TO THE SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON, WHEN EUROPEANS TYPICALLY TAKE LONG VACATIONS AND MANY SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSE DOWN.

ALTHOUGH MORE THAN FOUR-POINT-THREE MILLION PEOPLE REMAIN OUT OF WORK IN GERMANY, OFFICIALS SAY THE SITUATION IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY MAY HAVE STABILIZED.

HOWEVER IN THE NEW EASTERN GERMAN STATES, WHERE THE JOBLESS RATE IS NOW MORE THAN 18 PERCENT, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF A TURNAROUND.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE EXPECTING A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE OVERALL JOBLESS RATE, BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EAST AND WEST IS GROWING. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/EH
06-Aug-97 8:14 AM EDT (1214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH MAJOR INDEXES CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 82-HUNDRED-59, UP 71 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 960, UP ALMOST EIGHT POINTS. BOTH INDEXES ARE AT RECORD HIGHS.

ANALYSTS SAY STOCKS FOLLOWED THE BOND MARKET HIGHER AND THERE WAS RENEWED OPTIMISM AFTER THE U-S CENTRAL BANK RELEASED A REPORT (BEIGE BOOK), WHICH SAYS THERE ARE FEW SIGNS OF ANY INFLATIONARY PRESSURES IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

THE STOCK OF THE STRUGGLING APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY SOARED BY 30 PERCENT AFTER APPLE ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY. MICROSOFT WILL INVEST 150-MILLION DOLLARS IN APPLE. ANALYSTS WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED BY FOUR NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE APPLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PEOPLE THE ANALYSTS BELIEVE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP IMPROVE THE COMPANY'S PERFORMANCE.

THE HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION IS INCREASING THE PRESSURE ON THE I-T-T COMPANY. HILTON HAS RAISED, FROM 55 TO 70 DOLLARS A SHARE, ITS HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FOR I-T-T, A MAJOR RIVAL IN THE HOTEL AND CASINO INDUSTRY. A SPOKESMAN FOR I-T-T SAID ONLY THAT THE COMPANY'S DIRECTORS WILL EXAMINE THE REVISED BID WHICH WOULD BE WORTH A TOTAL OF ABOUT EIGHT POINT THREE BILLION DOLLARS.

PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS AGAIN REFUSED TO INTERVENE TO END THE THREE-DAY STRIKE AT THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, THE LARGEST PACKAGE DELIVERY COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT, UNDER THE LAW, HE CAN INTERVENE ONLY IF THERE IS '"SEVERE DAMAGE" TO THE U-S ECONOMY. SOME CATALOG RETAIL FIRMS SAY IF THE STRIKE CONTINUES MUCH LONGER IT WILL "SEVERELY DAMAGE" THEIR BUSINESSES.

U-S TOBACCO COMPANIES HAVE OBEYED A COURT ORDER TO RELEASE EIGHT CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS. LAWYERS WHO ARE SUING THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY SAY THE DOCUMENTS SHOW THE COMPANIES ATTEMPTED TO COVER UP THE HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING. ATTORNEYS WHO REPRESENTS THE COMPANIES SAY THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC FACT IN THE DOCUMENTS WHICH IS NOT ALREADY PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
06-Aug-97 5:01 PM EDT (2101 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A U-S DELEGATION ARRIVES IN THE BALKANS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO TRY GET THE THREE MAJOR PARTIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE MISSION IS VIEWED AS CRITICAL BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AS THE DEADLINE NEXT JUNE APPROACHES FOR A WITHDRAWAL OF NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES:

TEXT: THE DELEGATION, HEADED BY SPECIAL ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD, WILL INCLUDE FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT HOLBROOKE, THE ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THE DELEGATION HOLDS TALKS LATER TODAY WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, THE MUSLIM CHAIRMAN OF THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY. THURSDAY, THE TEAM HEADS TO SARAJEVO FOR A MEETING WITH BOSNIAN OFFICIALS AND, THEN, BANJA LUKA FOR TALKS WITH BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC. FRIDAY, MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED IN BELGRADE WITH SERB PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SAYS MR. HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO ASK THE SERB LEADER TO TAKE ACTION TO REMOVE INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL AND FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC AND TURN HIM OVER THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AUTHORITIES.

THE U-S OFFICIAL SAYS WASHINGTON BELIEVES MR. MILOSEVIC MAY BE INDUCED BY INCENTIVES FOR THE COUNTRY'S AILING ECONOMY. HE ALSO SAID THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD MAKE LIFE MORE MISERABLE FOR SERBIA.

THE ENVOYS WILL ALSO LOOK TO MR. MILOSEVIC FOR PROGRESS IN PERSUADING MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, THE BOSNIAN SERB MEMBER OF THE JOINT PRESIDENCY, TO COOPERATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/LWM
05-Aug-97 10:19 PM EDT (0219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE DEALING WITH A HOST OF TOPICS THIS WEDNESDAY, INCLUDING THE THREAT OF GLOBAL WARMING; THE NEWLY SIGNED BUDGET LEGISLATION; NIGERIA'S ILLUSORY DEMOCRACY; THE THWARTED TERRORIST ATTACK IN NEW YORK AND THE PASSING OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST RESIDENT.

NOW, HERE WITH A QUOTE OR TWO AND A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ON-GOING DEBATE OVER THE VALIDITY OF GLOBAL WARMING WARNINGS AS THE KYOTO, JAPAN, CONFERENCE ON THE THREAT APPROACHES IN DECEMBER. THE PAPER BELIEVES THEM, SAYING IN ITS HEADLINE "GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL ..... THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING, BUT TOO MANY STUBBORN MINDS ARE NOT."

VOICE: "IN DECEMBER, WORLD LEADERS WILL CONGREGATE IN KYOTO, JAPAN, TO MAKE COMMITMENTS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING. THAT GIVES PRESIDENT CLINTON BARELY FOUR MONTHS TO BUILD A CASE FOR ACTION BY THE UNITED STATES. UNFORTUNATELY, [MR.] CLINTON IS STARTING ALMOST FROM SCRATCH [FROM THE BEGINNING].PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF THE GLOBAL WARMING PROBLEM IS MEAGER AT BEST - - IN PART BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAS FAILED UNTIL NOW TO MAKE THE ISSUE A PRIORITY. [OPT] ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS, WE HUMANS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DRAMATICALLY CHANGING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE BY ADDING SIX BILLION TONS OF CARBON A YEAR INTO THE AIR, PRIMARILY BY BURNING COAL, OIL AND NATURAL GAS AS FUEL. [END OPT] ..... IF THE RISK OF GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL, AND IF ITS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE SERIOUS, HOW DO WE BEST ADDRESS THE PROBLEM? GIVEN THE STATE OF SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT ON GLOBAL WARMING, WE SHOULD BE PAST THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS BY NOW AND FOCUSED ON THE THIRD. BUT A POWERFUL LOBBY OF INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS GROUPS HAS SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER GLOBAL WARMING EVEN EXISTS ....."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

VOICE: "AT THE END OF JULY, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE PUBLIC WERE BRIEFED BY SEVEN SCIENTISTS, THREE OF THEM NOBELISTS, AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE RESEARCH. IN CAUTIOUS WORDS THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS FOR REAL. ...... WE ARE CONVINCED THAT BOTH - - ONE - - MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND - - TWO - - THE SPREAD OF HUMAN PROSPERITY ARE POSSIBLE. FOR THAT REASON WE BELIEVE FUTURE GENERATIONS CANNOT HELP BUT BENEFIT FROM THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION NOW BEGINNING TO GROW AMONG INDUSTRIES, GOVERNMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS."

TEXT: HERE AT HOME, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF DEBATE OVER THE BALANCED BUDGET BILL SIGNED INTO LAW THIS WEEK BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. THE ORLANDO SENTINEL SAYS THAT NO ADDITIONAL TAX CUTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME.

VOICE: "WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SIGNING OF A HISTORIC BUDGET-BALANCING COMPROMISE TUESDAY, THERE WAS MUCH FOR AMERICANS TO CELEBRATE. .... FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS NO LONGER A PROMISE, BUT A COMMITMENT. ....[HOWEVER] BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY ON THE .... PLAN, THOUGH, SOME LAWMAKERS GOT CARRIED AWAY. ..... REPRESENT BILL ARCHER, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ... SAID, 'WE'RE JUST WARMING UP. THERE ARE MORE TAXES TO BE CUT.'

HOW CAN HE OR ANYONE ELSE EVEN THINK OF ADDITIONAL TAX CUTS WHEN THE EFFECT OF WHAT CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE JUST DECIDED HASN'T BEEN DEMONSTRATED? ..... AND THERE'S THE NOT-SO-LITTLE MATTER OF THE FEDERAL DEBT. .... CUTTING THE FEDERAL DEBT DOWN TO SIZE DURING THE LONG TERM SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRIORITY, NOT MORE TAX CUTS."

TEXT: TURNING TO AFRICA, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN NIGERIA, WHICH HAS ASSUMED A WIDER ROLE AS PEACEKEEPER IN WEST AFRICA.

VOICE: "WITH THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE LOSING INTEREST IN MILITARY AND POLITICAL INTERVENTION IN AFRICA, LOCAL POWERS ARE TAKING THEIR PLACE. SOUTH AFRICA, UGANDA AND RWANDA, AMONG OTHERS, HAVE ALL PLUNGED INTO THEIR NEIGHBORS' CONFLICTS, WITH MOTIVES RANGING FROM NOBLE TO MURDEROUS. THE PRIZE FOR HYPOCRISY, HOWEVER, MUST GO TO NIGERIA, WHICH IS OSTENSIBLY DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA WHILE STILL CRUSHING IT AT HOME. [OPT] FOR ALL HIS BRUTALITY, NIGERIA'S LEADER, GENERAL SANI ABACHA, SHOWS GREAT SOPHISTICATION IN CLINGING TO POWER. ..... MR. ABACHA HAS BEEN .... SHREWD IN MANIPULATING ELECTORAL ISSUES. ..... IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE OCCURRED TO [HIM] ... THAT NIGERIA ... HAS AN ELECTED PRESIDENT. MOSHOOD ABIOLA WAS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE WINNER OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN 1993, WHICH THE MILITARY THEN ANNULLED. HE HAS BEEN IMPRISONED FOR TREASON SINCE TRYING TO CLAIM HIS PRESIDENCY IN 1994. [END OPT] AFTER PEACKEEPING IN CHAOTIC LIBERIA, NIGERIA'S MILITARY WILL FIND IT EASY TO CONTRIBUTE TO DEMOCRACY AT HOME. IT NEED ONLY GO BACK TO ITS BARRACKS."

TEXT: SEVERAL NEW YORK PAPERS CONTINUE TO WONDER HOW THE ALLEGED TERRORISTS ARRESTED LAST WEEK AS THEY WERE APPARENTLY PREPARING TO BOMB A NEW YORK SUBWAY TRAIN, WERE ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTRY. ASKS NEWSDAY:

VOICE: "PRECISELY HOW DID GAZI IBRAHIM ABU MAIZAR, A PALESTINIAN, WIND UP IN A BROOKLYN APARTMENT, ALLEGEDLY MAKING PIPE BOMBS DESIGNED FOR DETONATION INSIDE THE SUBWAY AND LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD STATION UNDER ATLANTIC AVENUE? SENATOR ALFONSE D'AMATO (REPUBLICAN - NEW YORK) AND MAYOR RUDOLPH GUILANI WANT SOME ANSWERS FROM THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE - - AND SO DO WE. .... [MR.] MAIZAR WAS DETAINED FOR DEPORTATION AND THE I-N-S [IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE] ASKED FOR 15-THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL - - AN AMOUNT CONSIDERABLY ABOVE THE NORM FOR ALIENS TRYING TO SNEAK INTO THE COUNTRY. AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE WHACKED IT [REDUCED IT] TO FIVE-THOUSAND AND [MR.] MAIZAR WAS FREED. .... DID THE JUDGE MAKE A FOOLISH JUDGMENT CALL? NEW YORKERS DESERVE AN EXPLANATION."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF RE-ARMING LATIN AMERICA, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES OBJECTS. VOICE' "FOR 20 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES WISELY BANNED SALES OF SOPHISTICATED U-S WEAPONRY TO LATIN AMERICA. BUT WITH THEIR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS SHRINKING, U-S MILITARY CONTRACTORS INEVITABLY LOOKED SOUTH AND SAW WILLING CUSTOMERS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, CAVING IN UNDER THEIR PRESSURE, REVERSED THE BAN LAST WEEK. THAT MISTAKE COULD HAVE DREADFUL CONSEQUENCES. ..... EVERY MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR TANK, MISSILE OF F-16 FIGHTER JET WILL BE PURCHASED AT THE EXPENSE OF LEGIONS OF POOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN HEALTHY AND OUT OF DESPERATE NEED. .... THE REGION NEEDS ROADS AND SCHOOLS AND JOBS, NOT DEADLY TOYS FOR ITS GENERALS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, A FOND FAREWELL FROM THE OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND TO THE WORLD'S OLDEST RESIDENT, THE FRENCH WOMAN JEANNE LOUSIE CALMENT WHO DIED THIS WEEK AT AGE 122.

VOICE: "IT WASN'T JUST THAT JEANNE LOUISE CALMET LIVED SO LONG - - LONGER IN FACT THAN ANYBODY ELSE WHOSE LIFE-SPAN CAN BE AUTHENTICATED BY OFFICIALS RECORDS - - IT'S THAT SHE SEEMED TO HANDLE HER DISTINCTION WITH SUCH FLAIR. 'IT'S NOT IMPRESSIVE AT ALL,' SHE COMMENTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON HER 120TH BIRTHDAY. 'IT'S NATURAL TO GROW OLD.' .... ASTOUNDING, TOO, IS THE CHANGE [MS.] CALMENT ..... [HAS] SEEN ..... [SHE] ... SAW THE EIFFEL TOWER BEING BUILT AND REMEMBERED THE PAINTER VINCENT VAN GOGH. SHE WAS A YEAR OLD WHEN THE TELEPHONE WAS INVENTED, .... AND 28 WHEN THE FIRST AIRPLANE FLEW. CARS, RADIO, TELEVISION AND, OF COURSE, COMPUTERS REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD AS SHE WENT ON."

TEXT: AND WITH THOSE THOUGHTS ON THE WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON, WE COME TO THE END OF THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF WEDNESDAY'S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/EH
06-Aug-97 10:16 AM EDT (1416 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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