Voice of America, 97-09-17

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] WELSH VOTE (S-O'NITER) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

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

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

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

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

[06] ECON OUTLOOK (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (HONG KONG)

[07] BOSNIA CRASH (S-CQ) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[08] BOSNIA CRASH (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[09] BOSNIA CRASH (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[10] BOSNIA CRASH (S / 2ND UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[11] BOSNIA CRASH (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

[12] BOSNIA / CRASH (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[01] WELSH VOTE (S-O'NITER) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: VOTERS IN WALES WILL CAST BALLOTS TODAY (THURSDAY) ON A PROPOSAL TO GIVE THEM MORE SAY IN RUNNING THEIR AFFAIRS. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: WELSH VOTERS ARE DECIDING WHETHER TO ESTABLISH AN ASSEMBLY OR PARLIAMENT -- WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM A DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FROM LONDON.

THE PROPOSAL IS SUPPORTED BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AS PART OF HIS LABOR PARTY'S COMMITMENT TO MODERNIZE THE COUNTRY'S INSTITUTIONS AS BRITAIN ENTERS THE 21ST CENTURY. LAST WEEK, VOTERS IN SCOTLAND OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE IDEA OF A SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WITH TAX-LEVYING POWERS. THE ASSEMBLY PROPOSED FOR WALES WOULD BE DIFFERENT; IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SAY IN TAX MATTERS.

THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ASSEMBLY SAY IT IS BETTER TO HAVE SOME LOCAL REPRESENTATION THAN NONE.

THE WELSH ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE 60 MEMBERS, CONTROL A BUDGET OF ABOUT 11-BILLION DOLLARS, AND HAVE A SAY OVER SUCH ISSUES AS HEALTH, HOUSING AND EDUCATION.

THE MAIN OPPOSITION CONSERVATIVE PARTY ARGUES A VOTE FOR A WELSH ASSEMBLY WILL LEAD TO THE EVENTUAL BREAKUP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM THE SAME ARGUMENT IT USED IN OPPOSING A SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH/RRM
17-Sep-97 1:51 PM EDT (1751 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF TWO VERY POPULAR DIET DRUGS THIS WEDNESDAY, AND WONDERING WHAT OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO NOW THAT THIS EASY REDUCTION METHOD HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE BATTLE BETWEEN SENATOR JESSE HELMS AND FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD OVER MR. WELD'S NOMINATION -- NOW WITHDRAWN -- TO BE AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO. THE IRISH PEACE TALKS GET MORE ATTENTION, AS DOES FIGHTING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ABROAD AND SCOTLAND'S VOTE FOR ITS OWN PARLIAMENT.

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

TEXT: THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION IN TAKING TWO POWERFUL DIET DRUGS -- PART OF A COMBINATION POPULARLY KNOWN AS FEN-PHEN -- OFF THE MARKET, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO HEART PROBLEMS, IS DRAWING QUICK REACTION FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "THE WITHDRAWAL OF TWO POPULAR DIET DRUGS FROM THE MARKET THIS WEEK IS A USEFUL REMINDER THAT IT IS ALWAYS RISKY TO POP PILLS FOR LONG PERIODS EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BY FEDERAL REGULATORS. IN THIS CASE, THE DRUGS HAD BEEN APPROVED ... ONLY FOR THE MOST OBESE PATIENTS. YET RECKLESS DOCTORS AND DIET CLINICS DISPENSED THEM TO MILLIONS OF PUDGY AMERICANS WHO DEMANDED ACCESS TO THE LATEST WEAPON IN THE ENDLESS BATTLE AGAINST OVERWEIGHT. ONLY LATER DID IT BECOME CLEAR THAT THIS SUPPOSEDLY MIRACULOUS MAGIC BULLET WAS CAPABLE OF MISFIRING AND DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES AGREES THAT REMOVING THE DRUGS WAS A GOOD IDEA.

VOICE: "THERE WERE, AFTER ALL, VERY GOOD MEDICAL REASONS TO REMOVE THE DRUGS FROM PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. THE REASON THE FDA ASKED MANUFACTURERS TO STOP SELLING THE DRUGS ... WAS BECAUSE THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THEY CAUSE HEART-VALVE PROBLEMS.... THE DEPRESSING TRUTH IS THAT FOR ALL PEOPLE LOOKING TO LOSE WEIGHT, A RESTRICTED DIET OF SOME KIND AND STRENUOUS EXERCISE OF SOME KIND ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, DRUGS OR NO DRUGS."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, THE WASHINGTON POST IS SUPPORTING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S RESERVATIONS TO THE LAND MINE TREATY BEING WORKED OUT AT THE OSLO CONFERENCE.

VOICE: "EVERY GOVERNMENT SIGNING AND EMBRACING THIS TREATY EXPRESSES A HOPE THAT IT WILL REDUCE THE TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF LEFTOVER MINES ON CIVILIAN POPULATIONS.... THERE EXIST, HOWEVER, SITUATIONS WHERE THE USE OF ANTIPERSONNEL MINES IN A MILITARY CONTEXT IS STILL JUSTIFIED. ONE SUCH USE IS IN KOREA, WHERE FOR DECADES THESE MINES HAVE BEEN PART OF A DEFENSE LINE COMMISSIONED AND APPROVED BY INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS AND MANNED BY, AMONG OTHERS, 37-THOUSAND AMERICAN TROOPS. A CONCERN FOR THIS SECURITY OBLIGATION IN SOUTH KOREA AND FOR THESE SOLDIERS IS WHAT HAS LED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO CARVE OUT A KOREAN EXEMPTION AT THE TREATY TALKS."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST, ON THE OTHER HAND, FEELS THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT BEING TOUGH ENOUGH IN OSLO.

VOICE: "IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE GRAPHIC EXAMPLE OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S FUNDAMENTAL SHALLOWNESS THAN ITS WEEKEND FLIP-FLOP ON LAND MINES. LATE LAST WEEK, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS HANGING TOUGH [MAINTAINING ITS POSITION] AGAINST BANNING THEM OUTRIGHT. IT WAS DEMANDING SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS IN THE TREATY.... BY MONDAY, IT HAD ALL BUT CAPITULATED -- ASKING ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF FIG-LEAF [MEANINGLESS, FOR SHOW ONLY] EXEMPTIONS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF MINES ALONG THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE..... WHAT ... HAPPENED BETWEEN THE TIME ... THE ADMINISTRATION FIRST ARTICULATED ITS POLICY ... AND ITS SURRENDER ON THE ISSUE? WHY, PRINCESS DIANA DIED."

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD IS ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS STILL COMMENTING ON THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN SENATOR JESSE HELMS AND FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD OVER MR. WELD'S NOMINATION, NOW WITHDRAWN, TO BE AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO. SAYS THE PORTLAND PAPER, THE LOSER IN THIS CONFRONTATION WILL PROBABLY BE BACK.

VOICE: "IN PURSUING HIS LONG-SHOT BID TO BECOME AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO OVER [SENATOR] HELMS' OBJECTIONS, MAYBE [GOVERNOR] WELD WANTED TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS THE NATION'S BEST-KNOWN MODERATE REPUBLICAN. IF SO, THEN [MR.] WELD HAS SUCCEEDED. WHETHER IT WAS WORTH GIVING UP HIS JOB AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS, HOWEVER, IS QUESTIONABLE..... WILLIAM WELD WILL BE BACK, AND IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH."

TEXT: NEWSDAY DEPLORES THE LATEST BOMBING IN NORTHERN IRELAND, A BLAST AT A POLICE STATION THAT, WHILE INJURING NO ONE, AGAIN PUT THE PEACE TALKS IN DOUBT.

VOICE: "ANOTHER TERROR BOMB ..... ANOTHER ROUND OF ACCUSATIONS WRECKING THE PEACE TALKS AFTER MONTHS OF CAREFUL PREPARATIONS. WHAT IS THERE TO SAY? ANYONE WISHING FOR PEACE IN THAT TORTURED LAND MUST WISH TO TELL BOTH SIDES TO STOP THIS MURDEROUS NONSENSE ...... BUT THE SAME COULD BE SAID TODAY ABOUT THE MIDEAST, TO EQUALLY FUTILE EFFECT."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS COMMENTING ON A CURRENT MOVE IN CONGRESS, SUPPORTED BY THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT, TO FIGHT RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ABROAD. BUT THE PAPER SAYS THE MOVE IS FLAWED.

VOICE: "ONE EXAMPLE IS A BILL THAT PURPORTS TO FIGHT RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, BUT IS SO POORLY DESIGNED IT WOULD DO LITTLE TO HELP RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ABROAD. THE LEGISLATION ... WOULD SET UP A NEW WHITE HOUSE OFFICE TO MONITOR AND ... INVESTIGATE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS AND A FEW OTHER MINORITIES IN COMMUNIST AND MANY ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION WOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION...... SUCH AN UNBALANCED MANDATE IS OFFENSIVE TO MUSLIMS, JEWS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ABUSE.... CONGRESS MUST REWRITE AND BROADEN IT TO COVER ALL MANNER OF PERSECUTION AND ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS EQUALLY."

TEXT: LAST WEEK'S HISTORIC VOTE BY SCOTTISH CITIZENS FOR THEIR OWN PARLIAMENT IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL MOVES RE-SHAPING BRITAIN, AND CAUSING THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR TO EXCLAIM:

VOICE: "[BRITISH] PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR'S GOVERNMENT IS ON THE WAY TO SPINNING OFF LOCAL POWERS TO SCOTLAND. IT WILL SOON BE DOING A LESSER VARIATION FOR WALES ... [AND] ... IT IS PROBING MORE URGENTLY THAN EVER TO GET THE MAJORITY PROTESTANTS AND MINORITY [ROMAN] CATHOLICS OF NORTHERN IRELAND TO SIT TOGETHER AND, HOWEVER GRUDGINGLY, AGREE TO A BLUEPRINT FOR A FUTURE TOGETHER.... IN BUSINESS CONGLOMERATE TERMS, LONDON IS PARTIALLY SPINNING OFF [DIVESTING ITSELF OF] SUBSIDIARIES, TRYING TO NUDGE A TROUBLESOME OFFSHORE UNIT, AND EYING A TRANSNATIONAL STRATEGIC MERGER [JOINING THE EU'S COMMON CURRENCY MOVE] MORE OR LESS ALL AT ONCE."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S RANDOM SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM AROUND THE U-S EDITORIAL PAGES.
NEB/ANG/MMK
17-Sep-97 10:27 AM EDT (1427 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- THE ULSTER UNIONISTS -- HAS DECIDED TO ENTER TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF OF THE BRITISH PROVINCE. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE PARTY IS READY TO SIT FACE-TO-FACE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY.

TEXT: FOR WEEKS, THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY HAS BEEN DEBATING WHETHER TO ENTER THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH BEGAN MONDAY NEAR BELFAST. ITS LEADERS QUESTION THE SINCERITY OF SINN FEIN WHEN IT SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO EXCLUSIVELY PEACEFUL MEANS. BASED ON THAT STATEMENT AND ON AN I-R-A CEASEFIRE IN PLACE SINCE JULY, SINN FEIN GAINED ACCESS TO THE TALKS. WEDNESDAY, SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY DECIDED IT WAS BETTER TO BE "IN" THE NEGOTIATIONS THAN "OUT". JUST BEFORE ENTERING THE BUILDING WHERE THE TALKS ARE BEING HELD, ULSTER UNIONIST LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE HAD THIS STRONG MESSAGE FOR SINN FEIN.

WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF SINN FEIN. WE HAVE NOT INVITED THEM TO THE TALKS -- BUT WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF THEM AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY. WE ARE NOT HERE TO NEGOTIATE WITH SINN FEIN BUT TO CONFRONT THEM AND TO EXPOSE THEIR FASCIST CHARACTER.

MR. TRIMBLE WAS FLANKED BY THE LEADERS OF TWO SMALL PARTIES HAVING STRONG LINKS TO LOYALIST -- OR PRO-BRITISH -- PARAMILITARY GROUPS. THESE TWO PARTIES ALSO DECIDED TO TAKE PART IN THE TALKS AND DAVID ERVINE, LEADER OF THE PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST PARTY -- LOOKED TO THE FUTURE.

WE ARE NOW TRYING TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE INTEND TO DO THAT AND IN BEING BRIEF, I SAY MERELY -- LET THE DEBATE BEGIN. WE ARE READY.

THE ULSTER UNIONISTS -- AND THE TWO SMALLER PARTIES -- ARE NOW IN THE SAME BUILDING AS SINN FEIN BUT NOT IN THE SAME ROOM. FOR THE TIME BEING, THEY WILL HOLD BILATERAL TALKS WITH OTHER PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS -- BUT WILL NOT TALK DIRECTLY TO SINN FEIN. ULSTER UNIONIST OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY HAPPEN -- BUT THEY ARE NOT SAYING WHEN.

THE SENIOR BRITISH MINISTER IN CHARGE OF NORTHERN IRELAND -- MO MOWLAN -- TOLD REPORTERS THE FACT THE MAIN ACTORS ARE IN THE SAME BUILDING IS A VERY POSITIVE STEP FOR THE PEACE PROCESS.

THE WHOLE POINT OF WHAT WE WERE DOING YESTERDAY AND WHAT WE WILL DO IN THE DAYS AHEAD IS INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO TRY AND GET EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE, IN THE SAME ROOM, TO GET THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE DISCUSSIONS FORWARD. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING FOR -- NO ONE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY. TODAY IS A GOOD NEWS MORNING BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN THE BUILDING BUT WE WILL HAVE DIFFICULT DAYS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD -- WE ALL KNOW THAT.

THE ULSTER UNIONISTS ENTERED THE TALKS A DAY AFTER A MASSIVE BOMB DESTROYED THE CENTER OF MARKETHILL -- A SMALL VILLAGE 60-KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BELFAST. NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, BUT THE ULSTER UNIONISTS BELIEVE IT IS THE WORK OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, DESPITE THE FACT THE GROUP HAS DENIED INVOLVEMENT. THE ULSTER UNIONISTS HAVE OFFICIALLY ASKED FOR THE EXPULSION OF SINN FEIN FROM THE TALKS BASED ON ITS CLOSE TIES TO THE I-R-A. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH/RAE
17-Sep-97 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN SOME MODEST PROFIT TAKING AFTER TUESDAY'S BIG RALLY. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78 HUNDRED 86, DOWN NINE POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 943, DOWN TWO AND ONE-HALF POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR NEWS TO MOVE STOCK PRICES IN GENERAL AND THAT THERE WAS SOME PROFIT TAKING AFTER TUESDAY'S HUGE 174 POINT GAIN IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE U-S HOUSING BOOM MAY BE SLOWING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES LAST MONTH AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL THIS YEAR. ANALYSTS SAY THE REPORT RAISES CHANCES THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES AT ITS NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.

PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLED FOR SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN THE PROPOSED 368 BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY. THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WANTS MAJOR PENALTIES AGAINST THE INDUSTRY IF SMOKING BY TEENAGERS IS NOT DRASTICALLY REDUCED. THE INITIAL REACTION FROM THE INDUSTRY IS THAT IT IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SMOKING BY TEENAGERS.

ANOTHER MAJOR AMERICAN BANK IS BUYING AN INVESTMENT FIRM. THE FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, BASED IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, WILL PAY ONE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLARS FOR QUICK AND REILLY, THE NATION'S THIRD-LARGEST DISCOUNT COMMISSION INVESTMENT FIRM.

THE INTEL MICROPROCESSOR COMPANY HAS INTRODUCED A NEW "FLASH" MEMORY CHIP WHICH ESSENTIALLY DOUBLES THE AMOUNT OF DATA WHICH CAN BE STORED ON A SINGLE CHIP. THE COMPANY EXPECTS THE NEW PRODUCT TO HAVE WIDE APPLICATIONS IN COMPUTERS, CELLULAR TELEPHONES AND DIGITAL CAMERAS. NASDAQ, THE ELECTRONIC STOCK MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES, WILL LAUNCH A 10 AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLAR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE BRITISH INVESTORS AWARE THAT MANY LARGE U-S COMPANIES ARE TRADED ON THE NASDAQ SYSTEM INSTEAD OF THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LWM
17-Sep-97 5:11 PM EDT (2111 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: WEDNESDAY WAS ANOTHER "UP" DAY FOR STOCKS ON THE MAJOR EXCHANGES OF WESTERN EUROPE. PAUL FRANCUCH IS IN LONDON AND HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES.

TEXT: THOSE FIGURES WERE QUITE SPECTACULAR AT THE START OF TRADING, BUT PRICES ON EXCHANGES FELL BACK SOMEWHAT BY THE TIME TRADING CLOSED.

THE BIGGEST GAINS WERE POSTED ON THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30," WHICH ADDED MORE THAN 111 POINTS, DRIVEN IN PART BY SPECULATION ON BANK MERGERS AND TAKEOVERS. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" STARTED STRONG, BUT RETREATED AS PRICES FELL LATER IN THE DAY IN NEW YORK. THE PARIS INDEX POSTED A GAIN OF NEARLY THREE-AND-A-HALF POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX STAYED IN POSITIVE TERRITORY -- AS IT HAS ALL WEEK -- CLOSING UP ALMOST 37 POINTS.

THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED ABOUT A PFENNIG HIGHER AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, AND ABOUT A HALF CENT LOWER AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD PRICES FELL AGAIN, WITH THE PRECIOUS METAL DOWN 80 CENTS IN THE LONDON CLOSING FIX, WHICH STANDS AT 320-DOLLARS-65 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/MMK
17-Sep-97 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] ECON OUTLOOK (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (HONG KONG)

INTRO: AS THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND GETS UNDER WAY IN HONG KONG, THE I-M-F HAS RELEASED (WEDNESDAY) A VERY UPBEAT ECONOMIC FORECAST. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM HONG KONG.

TEXT: THE I-M-F SAYS THE WORLD ECONOMY IS GROWING AT ITS FASTEST PACE IN 10 YEARS AND THAT THE OUTLOOK INTO THE NEXT CENTURY IS GOOD. I-M- F ECONOMISTS FORESEE OVER FOUR PERCENT GROWTH IN THE WORLD ECONOMY THIS YEAR AND NEXT. CURRENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA ARE SEEN AS BEING TEMPORARY AND HAVING LITTLE EFFECT ON THE WORLD ECONOMY.

MICHAEL MUSSA IS THE I-M-F CHIEF ECONOMIST AND PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK. MR. MUSSA DOESN'T MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE GROWTH SLOWDOWN IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, BUT HE BELIEVES THE PROBLEMS IN THAILAND ARE BEING SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED.

THE MARKETS SEEM TO HAVE THIS TENDENCY TO PUSH AN ECONOMY UP PERHAPS THROUGH EXCESSIVE OPTIMISM AND FAILURE TO MAYBE RECOGNIZE WHAT THE RISKS MAY BE AND THEN WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE DISAPPOINTED TO CRASH IT DOWN TOO MUCH. IT IS PART OF THE TASK OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STAND FORWARD WHEN A COUNTRY GETS INTO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE ECONOMIC FORECAST SEES CONTINUING STRENGTH IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE GROWTH IS HIGH AND INFLATION LOW. CHINA CONTINUES TO DO WELL. AND FOR 1997, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM, THERE WILL BE GROWTH IN RUSSIA. AFRICA IS ALSO GROWING, AT NEARLY FOUR PERCENT ANNUALLY, WITH BOTSWANA, MALAWI AND UGANDA DOING PARTICULARLY WELL.

CONCERNING EUROPE, THE I-M-F IS MORE CAUTIOUS. WHILE APPLAUDING THE MOVES TOWARDS MONETARY UNION, I-M-F ECONOMIST FLEMMING LARSEN BELIEVES THE EUROPEAN UNION ECONOMIES WON'T GROW QUICKLYUNTIL THEY REFORM THEIR COSTLY SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEMS.

WE ARE A LOT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE MICRO-ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS -- THE EFFICIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY OF EUROPEAN LABOR MARKETS, WHICH OVER THE YEARS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A GRADUAL RATCHETING UP OF THE STRUCTURAL RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE I-M-F ECONOMIC FORECAST IS REGARDED AMONG BUSINESSES AND

ANALYSTS AS THE BEST SURVEY OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THE I-M-F SAYS IT IS ENCOURAGED THAT FREE MARKET REFORMS ARE TAKING HOLD IN VIRTUALLY ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/FC/EH
17-Sep-97 4:45 AM EDT (0845 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] BOSNIA CRASH (S-CQ) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY A U-N HELICOPTER CARRYING 16 PEOPLE HAS CRASHED IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN SHORTLY AFTER IT TOOK OFF ON A FLIGHT FROM THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

EARLIER UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAID GERMAN DIPLOMAT GERD WAGNER, THE SECOND RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA, WAS ON BOARD THE HELICOPTER. BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAID THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON THE PASSENGER LIST AT THIS TIME.

A U-N SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER AS A UKRAINIAN CRAFT ASSIGNED TO THE UNITED NATIONS. HE SAID IT WAS CARRYING A CREW OF FOUR AND 12 PASSENGERS.

NATO AND UNITED NATIONS RESCUE CREWS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO THE CRASH SITE, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS MOUNTAINOUS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/KL
17-Sep-97 9:34 AM EDT (1334 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] BOSNIA CRASH (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY A U-N HELICOPTER CARRYING 16 PEOPLE HAS CRASHED IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN SHORTLY AFTER IT TOOK OFF ON A FLIGHT FROM THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

EARLIER UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAID GERMAN DIPLOMAT GERD WAGNER, THE SECOND RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA, WAS ON BOARD THE HELICOPTER. BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAID THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON THE PASSENGER LIST AT THIS TIME.

A U-N SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER AS A UKRAINIAN CRAFT ASSIGNED TO THE UNITED NATIONS. HE SAID IT WAS CARRYING A CREW OF FOUR AND 12 PASSENGERS.

NATO AND UNITED NATIONS RESCUE CREWS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO THE CRASH SITE, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS MOUNTAINOUS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/KL
17-Sep-97 8:57 AM EDT (1257 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] BOSNIA CRASH (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A U-N HELICOPTER CARRYING THE SECOND RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA HAS CRASHED NEAR SARAJEVO KILLING 11 PEOPLE. V-O-A'S KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THE HELICOPTER WAS CARRYING 16 PEOPLE WHEN IT WENT DOWN IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA NEAR THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

U-N SPOKESMAN LIAM MCDOWELL SAYS RESCUE CREWS ARE NOW AIRLIFTING THE INJURED FROM THE CRASH SITE.

OUR INFORMATION RIGHT NOW IS THAT 11 OF THE 16 PEOPLE ON THE CHOPPER WERE KILLED AND FIVE OTHERS WERE INJURED.

WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY GERMAN DIPLOMAT GERT WAGNER, THE DEPUTY TO THE INTERNATIONAL HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA WAS AMONG THE FATALITIES. BUT U-N OFFICIALS REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE NAMES OF THE DEAD UNTIL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOTIFIED.

OFFICIALS SAY THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED BY A UKRAINIAN CREW AND WAS HEADED TO THE TOWN OF BRCKO WHEN IT CRASHED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/KL
17-Sep-97 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] BOSNIA CRASH (S / 2ND UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A HELICOPTER CRASH IN BOSNIA HAS KILLED 12 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE SECOND-HIGHEST RANKING INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN THAT COUNTRY. V-O-A'S KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE HELICOPTER WAS CARRYING A FOUR MAN CREW AND 12 PASSENGERS, WHEN IT WENT DOWN IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA NEAR THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAYS 12 PEOPLE DIED IN THE CRASH, INCLUDING GERMAN DIPLOMAT GERT WAGNER, THE DEPUTY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA.

THE ONLY SURVIVORS APPEAR TO BE THE FOUR-MEMBER UKRAINIAN CREW, WHICH WAS FLYING THE GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS TO BRCKO.

SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BONN, MR. KINKEL SAID FIVE OF THOSE KILLED WERE GERMANS, FIVE WERE AMERICANS, ONE WAS BRITISH, AND ONE WAS FROM POLAND.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WHEN THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM SARAJEVO. BUT IT MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED DENSE FOG IN THE HILLY AREA WHERE IT CRASHED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
17-Sep-97 12:49 PM EDT (1649 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] BOSNIA CRASH (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAINSIDE IN CENTRAL BOSNIA TODAY (WEDNESDAY) KILLING ALL 12 PASSENGERS, INCLUDING A TOP U-N OFFICIAL. PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO:

TEXT: THE CRASH OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM SARAJEVO FOR THE CONTESTED TOWN OF BRCKO IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. ON BOARD WERE SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE NUMBER THREE MAN AT THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR BOSNIA, GERT WAGNER. AMONG THE DEAD WERE FIVE U-S CITIZENS, FIVE GERMANS, ONE BRITISH AND ONE POLISH CITIZEN.

THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL IN BOSNIA, KAIEIDE [KYE EYE-DEH] SAID THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WHEN THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM SARAJEVO BUT THAT THE FOUR-MAN UKRAINIAN CREW SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED FOG:

AFTER AROUND 20 MINUTES OF FLYING THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED DENSE FOG WHILE PASSING THROUGH A VALLEY TO THE WEST OF FONICA WHEN THE VISIBILITY WAS THEN CUT TO A MINIMUM. THE PILOTS ATTEMPTED TO ASCEND BUT BEFORE THEY REACHED A SAFE ALTITUDE, THE HELICOPTER HIT A MOUNTAINSIDE.

MR. EIDE SAID THE CREW WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE BY EJECTING SHORTLY AFTER THE NOSE CONE BROKE OFF. THEY ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST THE PASSENGERS BUT ALL EXCEPT ONE APPARANTLY DIED ON IMPACT. THE TWELFTH DIED LATER AT A HOSPITAL.

THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, CARLOS WESTENDORP SAID RECEIVING THE NEWS OF THE CRASH WAS ONE OF THE SADDEST MOMENTS A PERSON CAN LIVE:

THE DEATH OF SUCH DEDICATED AND SELFLESS SERVANTS OF THE PEACE PROCESS SERVES TO REMIND US ALL OF THE COUNTLESS SACRIFICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY SO MANY FOREIGNERS TO HELP THIS TROUBLED COUNTRY.

MR. WESTENDORF'S MISSION AS HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IS TO OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BOSNIANS BOTH ARE IN MOURNING, THEY ARE ALL DETERMINED THERE WILL BE NO DISRUPTION TO THE PEACE PROCESS.

MR. WESTENDORF'S DEPUTY, GERT WAGNER, IS THE THIRD HIGH LEVEL OFFICIAL TO DIE TRAGICALLY AND ACCIDENTALLY IN BOSNIA. IN 1995, AN AIDE TO RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD, WAS KILLED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WHEN HIS CAR VEERED OFF AN ICY ROAD INTO A RAVINE. IN 1996, U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN WAS KILLED WHEN A PLANE CARRYING HIM CRASHED INTO THE HILLS AROUND THE CROATIAN CITY OF DUBROVNIK. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/LWM
17-Sep-97 6:09 PM EDT (2209 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] BOSNIA / CRASH (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A HELICOPTER CRASH IN BOSNIA HAS KILLED 11 PEOPLE, INCLUDING A TOP DIPLOMAT DISPATCHED TO THE COUNTRY. VOA'S KYLE KING HAS DETAILS IN THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE HELICOPTER WAS CARRYING A FOUR MAN CREW AND 12 PASSENGERS, INCLUDING SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS, WHEN IT WENT DOWN IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA NEAR THE CENTRAL BOSNIAN TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

A UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN SAYS 11 PEOPLE DIED IN THE CRASH. FIVE OTHERS WERE INJURED.

WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY GERMAN DIPLOMAT GERT WAGNER, THE DEPUTY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, WAS AMONG THE FATALITIES.

U-N SPOKESMAN LIAM MCDOWELL SAYS MR. WAGNER WAS ON THE AIRCRAFT, BUT MR. MCDOWELL SAYS THE NAMES OF THE OTHERS KILLED ARE NOT BEING RELEASED AT THIS TIME.

OUR MAIN FOCUS IS PROVIDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SURVIVORS AND NOTIFYING THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE EITHER FATALITIES OR CASUALTIES. ONCE THAT IS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED TO OUR SATISFACTION, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.

OFFICIALS SAY THE RUSSIAN-MADE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY A UKRAINIAN CREW AND WAS BEING LEASED TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

THERE IS STILL NO WORD ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CRASH.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WHEN THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM SARAJEVO THIS MORNING, BUT IT MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED FOG IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHERE IT CRASHED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/KL
17-Sep-97 11:55 AM EDT (1555 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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