Voice of America, 97-11-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] BALKAN SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (CRETE)

[02] BALKAN SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (CRETE)

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

[04] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[05] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] BALKAN SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (CRETE)

INTRO: LEADERS OF BALKAN NATIONS HAVE ENDED THEIR FIRST SUMMIT, PLEDGING TO WORK WITH, RATHER THAN AGAINST, EACH OTHER TO FURTHER FINANCIAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE REGION. BUT DESPITE THE AGREEMENT, LONG-STANDING RIVALS GREECE AND TURKEY APPARENTLY FAILED TO MAKE PROGRESS IN SOLVING DIFFERENCES. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM THE GREEK ISLAND OF CRETE WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME, BALKAN LEADERS AGREED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THEIR FRACTIOUS PAST AND INSTEAD WORK TOGETHER FOR A MORE STABLE, PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

IN A JOINT DECLARATION ENDING THEIR TWO-DAY SUMMIT, THE SEVEN BALKAN LEADERS SAID THEY SUPPORT THE RULE OF LAW AND RESPECT EACH OTHERS FRONTIERS, AND THEY PLEDGED TO FIGHT DRUGS, CRIME, AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TROUBLING THE REGION.

EVEN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC PUT ON WHAT ANALYSTS CALLED A CONSTRUCTIVE FACE, AGREEING TO MEET WITH ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO. IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH HIGH-LEVEL MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN 50-YEARS.

ANALYSTS AND DIPLOMATS SAID OTHER MEETINGS BETWEEN RIVAL HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ALSO PROVED MORE SHOW THAN SUBSTANCE. ONE SUCH MEETING WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ.

BOTH MEN SAID THEY SIMPLY AGREED THEY DISAGREED ON A HOST OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE AGGRAVATED THEIR RELATIONS FOR YEARS. THEY CALLED THEIR MEETING A MODERATE STEP FORWARD, AS IT HELPED CLEAR THE AIR OF INCREASED TENSION TRIGGERED IN RECENT WEEKS BY A STRING OF WAR GAMES, ALLEGED AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS, AND INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS.

GREECE AND TURKEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS FOR YEARS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, RANGING FROM AIRSPACE AND TERRITORIAL RIGHTS TO THE 23-YEAR DIVISION OF CYPRUS.

GREEK AND TURKISH OFFICIALS SAID THEY DOUBT THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN RELATIONS IN NEAR FUTURE. BUT THEY SAID THE CRETE SUMMIT HAS OPENED CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND A PROCESS OF DIALOGUE CONSIDERED UNTHINKABLE JUST SIX-MONTHS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/JWH/RAE
04-Nov-97 11:46 AM EST (1646 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BALKAN SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (CRETE)

INTRO: LEADERS OF BALKAN NATIONS HAVE ENDED THEIR FIRST SUMMIT, PLEDGING TO WORK WITH, RATHER THAN AGAINST, EACH OTHER TO FURTHER FINANCIAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE REGION. BUT DESPITE THE AGREEMENT, LONG-STANDING RIVALS GREECE AND TURKEY APPARENTLY FAILED TO MAKE PROGRESS IN SOLVING DIFFERENCES. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM THE GREEK ISLAND OF CRETE WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME, BALKAN LEADERS AGREED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THEIR FRACTIOUS PAST AND INSTEAD WORK TOGETHER FOR A MORE STABLE, PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

IN A JOINT DECLARATION ENDING THEIR TWO-DAY SUMMIT, THE SEVEN BALKAN LEADERS SAID THEY SUPPORT THE RULE OF LAW AND RESPECT EACH OTHERS FRONTIERS, AND THEY PLEDGED TO FIGHT DRUGS, CRIME, AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TROUBLING THE REGION.

EVEN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC PUT ON WHAT ANALYSTS CALLED A CONSTRUCTIVE FACE, AGREEING TO MEET WITH ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO. IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH HIGH-LEVEL MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN 50-YEARS.

ANALYSTS AND DIPLOMATS SAID OTHER MEETINGS BETWEEN RIVAL HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ALSO PROVED MORE SHOW THAN SUBSTANCE. ONE SUCH MEETING WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ.

BOTH MEN SAID THEY SIMPLY AGREED THEY DISAGREED ON A HOST OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE AGGRAVATED THEIR RELATIONS FOR YEARS. THEY CALLED THEIR MEETING A MODERATE STEP FORWARD, AS IT HELPED CLEAR THE AIR OF INCREASED TENSION TRIGGERED IN RECENT WEEKS BY A STRING OF WAR GAMES, ALLEGED AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS, AND INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS.

GREECE AND TURKEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS FOR YEARS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, RANGING FROM AIRSPACE AND TERRITORIAL RIGHTS TO THE 23-YEAR DIVISION OF CYPRUS.

GREEK AND TURKISH OFFICIALS SAID THEY DOUBT THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN RELATIONS IN NEAR FUTURE. BUT THEY SAID THE CRETE SUMMIT HAS OPENED CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND A PROCESS OF DIALOGUE CONSIDERED UNTHINKABLE JUST SIX-MONTHS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/JWH/RAE
04-Nov-97 11:49 AM EST (1649 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE TUESDAY LOST VALUE -- BUT NOT BY MUCH. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE FIGURES FROM OUR LONDON BUREAU.

TEXT: THE DECLINES ON THE MAJOR BOURSES WERE ALL ABOUT ONE PERCENT OR LESS FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY, AS INVESTORS CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF MARKET DIRECTION FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S STEEP DECLINES.

FRANKFURT'S "DAX 30" STOCK INDEX TUESDAY CLOSED OFF 42 POINTS. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" INDEX WAS DOWN 13. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 LIST OF BRITISH STOCKS LOST NINE POINTS WHEN TRADING CONCLUDED.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR DECLINED ABOUT A HALF-PFENNIG AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD WAS SELLING FOR ABOUT A DOLLAR MORE THAN ON MONDAY, CLOSING IN LONDON AT 315-AND-A-HALF DOLLARS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
04-Nov-97 1:34 PM EST (1834 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED UP SLIGHTLY TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A LACKLUSTER TRADING DAY. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP 15 POINTS WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE S-AND-P 500 WAS UP NEARLY TWO POINTS.

THE MARKET WAS DOWN MOST OF THE DAY, BUT BARGAIN HUNTERS DROVE PRICES UP IN THE LAST HOUR. THE MARKET HAS MADE UP MOST OF ITS LOSSES FROM ITS "BLUE MONDAY" LAST WEEK BUT IS STILL WELL OFF ITS RECORD HIGHS.. ANALYST STUART FREEMAN SAYS THE STOCK PRICE CORRECTION OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS WAS OVERDUE.

IT'S A MARKET THAT WAS COLLAPSING, TO SOME EXTENT, UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. IT WAS TIME FOR A CORRECTION AND EASTERN ASIA WAS A GOOD EXCUSE TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE (PROFITS) AND TO BUILD A LITTLE FEAR. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN EASTERN ASIA, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IRAQ RIGHT NOW OR THE CONCERNS ABOUT LATIN BANKS THAT ARE IN THE NEWS RIGHT NOW.

DESPITE THE PRICE DECLINE, ANALYSTS BELIEVE WALL STREET HAS LARGELY SHAKEN OFF THE EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEMS IN ASIAN MARKETS.

SOME ANALYSTS SEE SOME POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM THE CAUTIOUS REACTION OF U-S TRADERS TO ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. STUART FREEMAN SAYS THE STOCK MARKET'S DECLINE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS MAY HELP KEEP A LID ON INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANY SLOWDOWN THAT MIGHT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THE MARKET DECLINE AND OF BUSINESS IN THE EAST ASIAN PORTION OF THE WORLD REDUCES THE RISK OF INFLATION HERE, OF TOO MUCH GROWTH HERE AND AN INTEREST RATE INCREASE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT EXPECTING ONE.

THE U-S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW AT A STRONG, STEADY PACE. THAT SHOULD CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, ACCORDING TO A WIDELY FOLLOWED SURVEY OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS ISSUED BY THE CONFERENCE BOARD BUSINESS RESEARCH ORGANIZATION. THE BOARD SAYS ITS STUDIES SHOW AN INCREASE IN THESE ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR A FIFTH STRAIGHT MONTH. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/EH
04-Nov-97 4:40 PM EST (2140 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS IS ELECTION DAY IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER, AND SO MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS ARE FILLED WITH LAST MINUTE ENDORSEMENTS OF CANDIDATES AND ISSUES. HOWEVER THE PREVAILING EDITORIAL TOPIC IS THE GROWING CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ OVER THE PRESENCE OF AMERICANS ON THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM THERE.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: [OPT] A CONTROVERSY OVER A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENT; THE SENATE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ENDS; [END OPT] THE BATTLE OVER FAST TRACK TRADE AUTHORITY; AND A UNIQUE, MULTI-RACIAL RETELLING OF "CINDERELLA" THE CHILD'S FAIRYTALE. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IS _______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS AND WRITERS ARE DISCUSSING WHAT TO DO ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS REFUSAL TO ALLOW U-S WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO CONTINUE THEIR JOB WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TEAM KEEPING AN EYE ON IRAQ'S MILITARY BUILDUP. "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND HAS A CLEAR IDEA OF HOW TO PROCEED.

VOICE: "GRANTED, THIS GETS TIRESOME. JUST WHEN THE WORLD THINKS IT HAS HOUSE-BROKEN SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE BAD BOY OF BAGHDAD MAKES ANOTHER MESS, AND THE WORLD NEEDS TO ADMINISTER THE ONLY KIND OF INSTRUCTION SADDAM SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND: A GOOD BOMBING. REGRETTABLY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THEIR PRESIDENT ISN'T A MAN OF GREAT SUBTLETY AND DIPLOMACY. THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULDN'T BE EITHER. .... WE HOPE FOR THE SAKE OF SADDAM'S OWN PEOPLE THAT HE BACKS DOWN. IF HE DOESN'T .... AND QUICKLY ... THE U-N FORCES SHOULD LIGHT UP THE IRAQI SKIES AGAIN UNTIL HE DOES."

TEXT: BAD IDEA, COUNTERS "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER."

VOICE: "... ANY UNILATERAL MILITARY ACTION BY AMERICA WILL PLAY RIGHT INTO THE WILY IRAQI LEADER'S HANDS. HIS LATEST GAMBIT IS PART OF A CLEVER CALCULATION THAT HE CAN DRIVE A FURTHER WEDGE INTO THE U-S EUROPEAN AND ARAB COALITION THAT FOUGHT THE GULF WAR, AND NOW SEEMS CLOSE TO FALLING APART. .... A UNILATERAL U-S BOMBING STRIKE THAT DESTROYS A FEW IRAQI MILITARY SITES WOULD PLEASE SADDAM HUSSEIN GREATLY, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST HIM LITTLE. IT WOULDN'T WEAKEN HIS HOLD ON POWER."

TEXT: "THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE" SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO EXPLAINING W H Y AND HOW SADDAM HUSSEIN PRECIPITATED THIS LATEST CRISIS, THE U-S HAS MOSTLY ITSELF TO BLAME. THE MINNESOTA PAPER CITES OUR MUCH- DISLIKED, UNILATERAL, HELMS-BURTON ACT ON CUBAN BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT, AND THIS NATION'S FAILURE TO PAY ITS BACK U-N DUES.

VOICE: "WHILE [MR.] HUSSEIN OVERPLAYED HIS HAND BY BARRING U-N INSPECTORS WHO ARE AMERICANS, HE ASTUTELY SAW A CRACK IN SECURITY COUNCIL UNITY AND SOUGHT TO WIDEN IT. THAT CRACK OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO FRENCH AND RUSSIAN OIL LUST, CERTAINLY, BUT OTHER FACTORS COMBINE TO GIVE A PATINA [COVERING OR "A LOOK OF"] OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THAT DESIRE. THE FIRST IS A STRONG INTERNATIONAL CONCERN THAT THE EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQ IS KILLING IRAQI CHILDREN BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS AND NEEDS MODIFICATION SO THAT MORE MEDICINE AND FOOD REACH THEM. AMERICAN RESISTANCE TO MODIFYING THE EMBARGO SIMPLY REINFORCED WIDESPREAD RESENTMENT OF OTHER HIGHHANDED U-S INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOR ESPECIALLY AS REGARDS THE UNITED NATIONS. ..... PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER ARE THE SAME IN THEIR CONTEMPT FOR BULLIES, AND WHEN THEY CAN SAFELY DO SO, THEY WILL PAY THE BULLY BACK. PAYBACK THIS TIME IS THE HUMILIATION THE UNITED STATES HAS SUFFERED WITH SECURITY COUNCIL REJECTION OF ITS LEADERSHIP ON IRAQ."

TEXT: BACK ON THE WEST COAST, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS "FORCE IS [THE] ONLY PROPER OPTION IF IRAQ REFUSES TO BUDGE," ADDING:

VOICE: "U-N OFFICIALS ARE CONVINCED IRAQ IS HIDING GERM WEAPONS CAPABLE OF KILLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. THE VITAL TASK OF THE INSPECTION TEAMS IS TO FIND AND DESTROY THESE TERROR WEAPONS. UNLESS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO, THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS NO CHOICE - - IF ITS CREDIBILITY IS TO STAND - - BUT TO APPROVE WHATEVER MEASURES MAY BE REQUIRED, INCLUDING MILITARY OPTIONS, TO FORCE COMPLIANCE WITH ITS RESOLUTIONS."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN THOUGHT HE COULD WIDEN THE DIVISIONS ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL ABOUT DEALING WITH HIM, BUT HIS LATEST MOVE PROVED A MISCALCULATION, ONLY DRAWING THE POWERS CLOSER TOGETHER.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO EXPLOIT BAGHDAD'S MISCALCULATION. ... ACHIEVING THAT OBJECTIVE WILL REQUIRE A CAREFUL BALANCE BETWEEN DIPLOMACY AND CREDIBLE THREATS OF FORCE."

TEXT: A GROWING CONTROVERSY OVER A CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER BILL LANN LEE, THE CLINTON CHOICE TO HEAD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION CONTINUES TO GENERATE INTEREST. SEVERAL PAPERS ARE MENTIONING MR. LEE IN THEIR COMMENTS ON THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION MONDAY TO LET STAND A LOWER COURT RULING THAT STRIKES DOWN USING RACE AND GENDER TO GIVE MINORITIES PREFERENCE IN COLLEGE SELECTION. THE WASHINGTON TIMES COMMENTS:

VOICE: "THE ADVOCATES OF RACIAL PREFERENCE SCHEMES SUFFERED A DEVASTATING BLOW YESTERDAY WHEN THE SUPREME COURT - - WITHOUT COMMENT, WITHOUT DISSENT - - TURNED AWAY A CHALLENGE TO THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE. PASSED LAST NOVEMBER BY THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA, THE LAW DOES AWAY WITH THE STATE'S RACE AND SEX PREFERENCES. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED IN COURT BY A RAFT OF LIBERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH DECLARED THAT COLORBLINDNESS IS SOMEHOW UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ..... ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCATES OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DISAPPOINTED BY MONDAY'S COURT ACTION WAS BILL LANN LEE, THE MAN PRESIDENT CLINTON NOMINATED TO RUN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. .... BUT IN A STRANGE POLITICAL TWIST, MR. LEE HAS REASON TO REJOICE IN THE COURT'S REJECTION OF HIS PET AGENDA. MR. LEE'S OPPOSITION TO THE [LAW] ... IS THE FOCAL POINT OF SENATE OPPOSITION TO HIS NOMINATION; MR. LEE'S SUPPORTERS CLAIM THAT .... WITH THE COURT HAVING BLESSED [THE LAW] ....MR. LEE'S STANCE IS A MOOT POINT."

TEXT: STILL IN DOMESTIC HAPPENINGS, TENNESSEE SENATOR FRED THOMPSON'S DECISION TO END HIS INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS INTO THE ALLEGED CAMPAIGN FINANCE ABUSES OF LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, FOCUSED MAINLY ON THE CLINTON-GORE TICKET, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM THE SUN IN BALTIMORE.

VOICE: ".... SENATOR ... THOMPSON ... FAILED TO RAISE HIS POLITICAL STATURE AMONG REPUBLICANS DURING 32 DAYS OF OFTEN DULL HEARINGS THAT NEVER FOUND A 'SMOKING GUN' [IN THIS CASE:A PIECE OF CLEAR EVIDENCE LINKING THE CLINTON-GORE CAMPAIGN TO ILLEGAL SOLICITATION OF MONEY] A LA WATERGATE AND NEVER PROVED HIS ASSERTIONS THAT THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN WAS SELLING INFLUENCE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. .... BUT THESE SESSIONS SERVED AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE. THEY SPOTLIGHTED FOR VOTERS THE TERRIBLE PRACTICES, BY BOTH PARTIES, AIMED AT GAINING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCESS. THIS DREW ENOUGH PUBLIC ATTENTION TO SHAME SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERS INTO PLEDGING VOTES ON REFORM BILLS NEXT SPRING."

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" COMES OUT IN FAVOR OF CONGRESS GIVING PRESIDENT CLINTON FAST TRACK AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE NEW TRADE DEALS, ESPECIALLY WITH LATIN AMERICA.

VOICE: "WHEN THE U-S HOUSE VOTES LATER THIS WEEK ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REQUEST FOR RENEWING FAST TRACK TRADE NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY, IT WILL SERVE AMERICA'S LONG-TERM INTEREST BY SETTING ASIDE SHORT-TERM MISGIVINGS AND PASSING THE MEASURE. .... WERE CONGRESS NOT TO GRANT EXTENSION, IT WOULD PROJECT ITSELF INTO THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS, PROPOSING ALTERATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT OR HANGING VARIOUS CONDITIONS ONTO IT THAT MIGHT INVOLVE QUESTIONS QUITE OUTSIDE ITS SCOPE. THAT, IN TURN, WOULD PROMPT REJECTION OF FREER TRADE BY OTHER COUNTRIES, TO THE DETRIMENT OF AMERICAN INTERESTS."

TEXT: ON AN EXISTING TRADE PACT, THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, "THE MANCHESTER [NEW HAMPSHIRE] UNION LEADER" SAYS THAT DEAL IS "... PUMPING DRUGS INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE."

VOICE: "MEXICO MAY APPEAR TO BE A LONG WAY FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE, YET SINCE NAFTA WENT INTO EFFECT IN 1993, MEXICO HAS BECOME THE CHIEF SOURCE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS POURING INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE METHAMPHETAMINE THAT HAS REAPPEARED ON THE STREETS AND IN THE SCHOOLS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ALMOST CERTAINLY CAME FROM MEXICO. .... ALONG THE BORDER WITH MEXICO THE WAR ON DRUGS ISN'T EVEN A SKIRMISH. AS A RESULT OF NAFTA WE HAVE ALL BUT LOST CONTROL OF OUR SOUTHERN BORDER."

TEXT: LASTLY, "NEWSDAY" COMMENTS ON A RECENT RE-TELLING OF THE CHILD'S FAIRY TALE CINDERELLA WHICH FEATURED A CAST OF FAMED BLACK AND WHITE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES IN THIS TRADITIONALLY ALL-WHITE EPIC OF A POOR PRINCESS WHO WINS THE AFFECTION OF A HANDSOME PRINCE, DESPITE HER EVIL SISTERS.

VOICE: "IF IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE'RE MAKING A BIG DEAL [FOCUSING ON] ABOUT RACIAL CATEGORIES, THAT'S BECAUSE THE TV MOVIE DIDN'T. EVERYONE SEEMED TRULY COLOR-BLIND [IN THIS CONTEXT, TOTALLY DISREGARDING A PERSON'S SKIN COLOR OR RACE, AND INSTEAD PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PERSON'S CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY] AS GOOD CONTENDED WITH EVIL AND LOVE TRIUMPHED IN THE END. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? MAYBE, BUT ART IMITATES LIFE, AND LIFE IN AMERICA IS BECOMING EVER MORE MULTIETHNIC. .... TO BE SURE, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN RACE RELATIONS. BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE A POSITIVE SIGN OF PROGRESS, EVEN IF IT IS JUST A FAIRY TALE."

TEXT: ON THAT CULTURAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/EH
04-Nov-97 10:34 AM EST (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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