Voice of America, 97-12-03

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA LAWSUIT (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

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

[03] GERMANY / NEO-NAZI (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

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

[01] BOSNIA LAWSUIT (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: A U-S JUDGE HAS GIVEN HIS APPROVAL FOR A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT TO PROCEED IN THE UNITED STATES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK, THE RULING OPENS THE WAY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO PRESS CHARGES IN AN AMERICAN COURT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER.

TEXT: A LAWYER FOR THE PLAINTIFFS SAYS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COULD EVENTUALLY JOIN THE SUIT, WHICH CHARGES THAT RADOVAN KARADZIC PERSONALLY PLANNED AND ORDERED MURDER, RAPE, FORCED IMPREGNATION AND OTHER ABUSES AGAINST BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

LAWYER PAUL DUBINSKY SAYS HE IS EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE RULING. HE SAYS IT WILL ALLOW ALLEGED VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES, MOST OF WHOM DO NOT HAVE MEANS FOR TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES, TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES IN PRESSING CHARGES AGAINST RADOVAN KARADIZIC. HE SAYS THE MAIN PRECEDENT FOR REQUESTING CLASS ACTION STATUS WAS A SIMILAR CASE BROUGHT AGAINST FORMER PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS IN HAWAII IN THE 1980'S.

THE CASE IS BEING PURSUED IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER A 200 YEAR OLD LAW THAT GIVES AMERICAN COURTS JURISDICTION OVER CIVIL ACTIONS BY FOREIGN NATIONALS COMMITTED IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. ONE OF THE KEYS TO PROSECUTING THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER IN A U-S COURT WAS TO SERVE HIM WITH LEGAL PAPERS -- TO INFORM HIM OF THE PROSECUTION AGAINST HIM -- WHILE HE WAS ON U-S SOIL. THIS WAS DONE IN FEBRUARY, 1993, AS HE WALKED THROUGH THE LOBBY OF A NEW YORK HOTEL, ON HIS WAY TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

MR. DUBINSKY SAYS THE PLAINTIFFS WILL NOW ASK A U-S DISTRICT JUDGE TO ALLOW THEM TO PRESENT THEIR CASE IN COURT. THEY ARE SEEKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/MMK
03-Dec-97 12:14 PM EST (1714 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING WEDNESDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE CLOSED MOSTLY WITH LOSSES AFTER A SHAKY START ON WALL STREET.

THE ONLY GAIN FOR THE DAY WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING SESSION UP ALMOST 10-POINTS, MORE THAN TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. BUT THEN, IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE FRANKFURT MARKET HEADED DOWN -- CLOSING OFF ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT.

PRICES WERE DOWN IN LONDON AFTER TWO DAYS OF GAINS. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL SEVEN POINTS, LESS THAN TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED DOWN ALMOST 11-POINTS, ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED SLIGHTLY IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK. BUT IT WAS DOWN A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/RAE
03-Dec-97 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY / NEO-NAZI (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES HAVE SUSPENDED SIX SOLDIERS FROM DUTY, FOLLOWING REPORTS THEY DECORATED A ROOM WITH BANNED NEO-NAZI PARAPHERNALIA DURING A 1993 DRINKING PARTY. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN BARRED FROM WEARING THEIR UNIFORMS OR PARTICIPATING IN MILITARY EXERCISES WHILE THE CASE IS BEING INVESTIGATED.

NEWS OF THE LATEST NEO-NAZI SCANDAL TO HIT THE GERMAN ARMY FIRST APPEARED IN THE NEWSPAPER "BILD," WHICH SHOWED PICTURES OF THE SOLDIERS SURROUNDED BY NAZI FLAGS AND PICTURES OF ADOLF HITLER.

ARMY OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE NEWSPAPER'S ACCOUNT OF THE 1993 INCIDENT, SAYING THEY INTEND TO PURSUE THE MATTER WITH VIGOR.

THE INCIDENT FOLLOWS THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF A TWO YEAR OLD VIDEO TAPE SHOWING GERMAN SOLDIERS SHOUTING ANTI-SEMITIC SLOGANS AND GIVING THE BANNED HITLER SALUTE.

ARMY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONVINCED THE CASES ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS. BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEPARATE INCIDENTS HAVE DAMAGED THE REPUTATION OF THE GERMAN ARMY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH
03-Dec-97 7:19 AM EST (1219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES ENDED THE DAY HIGHER, BOOSTED BY CONTINUED SIGNS OF U-S ECONOMIC STABILITY. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON HAS THE LATEST FINANCIAL NEWS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: AFTER SPENDING MUCH OF THE DAY WELL BELOW ITS OPENING MARK, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE REBOUNDED IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING, CLOSING UP 13 POINTS AT EIGHT-THOUSAND-32. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX WAS UP FIVE POINTS, CLOSING AT 977.

THE RALLY WAS FUELED BY A REPORT ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FROM THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD. THE REPORT, KNOWN AS THE "BEIGE BOOK," SHOWS CONTINUED MODERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER WITH LITTLE THREAT OF INFLATION DESPITE TIGHT LABOR MARKETS.

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS WERE SHARPLY LOWER IN EARLY TRADING ON REPORTS OF POOR EARNINGS PROSPECTS, BUT MANAGED TO END THE DAY SLIGHTLY HIGHER.

STOCKS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS FIRM A-T-AND-T ROSE ON REPORTS OF A RESTRUCTURING PLAN THAT INCLUDES COST CUTTING AND A FOCUS ON LOCAL PHONE, INTERNET AND GLOBAL SERVICES.

THE PRICE OF THE FOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY H-J HEINZ STOCK WAS BOOSTED BY REPORTS THAT ITS FLAMBOYANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ANTHONY O'REILLY, WILL STEP DOWN IN APRIL. HE HAS FACED HARSH CRITICISM FROM SOME SHAREHOLDERS FOR GIVING HIMSELF A HEFTY PAY PACKAGE WHILE ALLOWING THE COMPANY'S EARNINGS TO FALL BEHIND THE OVERALL STOCK MARKET. AND, IN REMARKS TO THE ECONOMIC CLUB OF NEW YORK, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, ALAN GREENSPAN, SPOKE OPTIMISTICALLY ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY, BUT URGED ASIAN NATIONS TO CARRY OUT FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC REFORMS.

ASSISTANCE WITHOUT FURTHER REFORM OF FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC POLICIES WOULD BE WORSE THAN USELESS SINCE IT WOULD FOSTER EXPECTATIONS OF BEING PERPETUALLY BAILED OUT.

MR. GREENSPAN SAID ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ASIAN MARKETS MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR A TIME, BUT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO STRONGER AND MORE ROBUST ECONOMIES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/RRM
03-Dec-97 4:55 PM EST (2155 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED CAMPAIGN FINANCE ILLEGALITIES DURING LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TOOK ANOTHER, BUT NOT UNEXPECTED TURN, YESTERDAY, WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO DECIDED NOT TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE. TODAY, THE U-S PRESS IS FULL OF REACTION. IN OTHER EDITORIALS, THE PAPERS ARE DISCUSSING THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS; THE MOVE TO IRRADIATE MEAT TO MAKE IT SAFER; THE ECONOMIC BAILOUT OF SOUTH KOREA; AND THE GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE IN JAPAN. NOW, HERE IS ________________WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, "[MS.] RENO'S ACTION LEAVES MANY QUESTIONS OPEN," AND GOES ON:

VOICE: MANY WILL DISAGREE WITH THOSE DECISIONS [NOT TO INVOKE THE SPECIAL COUNSEL LAW]. ONE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL WHO DOES SO OPENLY IS F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH. HE NOTED IN A MEMO TO [MS.] RENO THAT THE QUESTIONS ARE SERIOUS AND INVOLVE TOP-LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WHICH ARE THE CRITERIA LISTED BY THE LAW FOR DESIGNATING AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.... [MS.] RENO'S DECISIONS UNFORTUNATELY ... LEAVE MANY SERIOUS MATTERS UNADDRESSED.... [HER] ABRUPT HALT TO THIS PARTICULAR PROBE WAS UNWISE. AMERICANS WANT AND DESERVE ANSWERS TO THESE SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

TEXT: IN THE SOUTH, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" CALLS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S NARROW DECISION "CORRECT" BUT SUGGESTS IN ITS HEADLINE, THAT AN "INDEPENDENT COUNSEL [IS] INEVITABLE" BECAUSE THE ISSUE GOES WELL BEYOND THE SOLICITATION PHONE CALLS COVERED BY TUESDAY'S DECISION.

VOICE: THERE IS A LARGER ISSUE AT STAKE.... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE THAT IS UNDER [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S CONTROL, HAVE BOTH BEEN IMPLICATED IN A FAR MORE SERIOUS AND WIDE-RANGING FUND-RAISING SCANDAL OF REAL CONSEQUENCE. [OPT] IN ITS VARIOUS ASPECTS, THE SCANDAL INVOLVES MONEY ALLEGEDLY LAUNDERED FROM OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTIONS, MONEY LAUNDERED ILLEGALLY THROUGH THE TEAMSTERS UNION AND MONEY SUPPOSEDLY USED TO INFLUENCE THE GRANTING OF FEDERAL GAMBLING LICENSES TO VARIOUS INDIAN TRIBES. [END OPT] .... [MS.] RENO HAS TAKEN ... A CONSERVATIVE POSITION.... BUT ... IT DELAYS THE INEVITABLE. THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ... WILL EVENTUALLY BE NECESSARY TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES PRAISES THE DECISION, SAYING [MS] "RENO REFUSES TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT," WHICH THE PAPER GOES ON TO SAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SEEK THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, AND THEREBY REMOVE THE POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM HERSELF AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE OTHER FINANCE-RELATED CHARGES.

VOICE: REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS MUST SEIZE ON THIS PRINCIPLED DEFECTION FROM THE RENO BLOCKING STRATEGY TO FORCE APPOINTMENT OF A COUNSEL. A LOGICAL FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO SUMMON MR. FREEH TO TESTIFY IN PUBLIC ON HIS MEMO [OF DISSENT] TO MS. RENO.... FOR MR. CLINTON, A SMART MOVE WOULD BE TO ADOPT MR. FREEH'S VIEW AS HIS OWN AND SIMPLY ORDER MS. RENO TO APPOINT A COUNSEL WITH THE AUTHORITY TO EXAMINE ALL ASPECTS OF THE '96 CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING THE CHINESE CONNECTION AND .... SPENDING BY BOTH PARTIES.

TEXT: THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS IS NEVER FAR FROM THE FOREFRONT OF EDITORIALS, AND TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION, AS "THE BOSTON GLOBE" MAKES "THE CASE AGAINST [MR.] NETANYAHU."

VOICE: ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, HAS SUBSTITUTED CHRONIC CRISIS MANAGEMENT FOR DECISIVE LEADERSHIP.... RIGHT-WING ULTRAS CARICATURE HIM IN ARAB HEADDRESS AND ACCUSE HIM OF BETRAYAL WHILE LESS EXTREME ELEMENTS THREATEN TO BRING HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE HAS ACTED THE DICTATOR WITHIN HIS LIKUD PARTY OR BECAUSE HIS DITHERING ON THE WORLD STAGE HAS FRITTERED AWAY INHERITED ADVANTAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. IN FAIRNESS ... [MR.] NETANYAHU HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO POWERFUL PRESSURES EXERTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.... [HOWEVER] A LEADER WHO DEFINED HIS VISION CLEARLY AND PURSUED HIS AIMS RESOLUTELY WOULD NOT BE IN THE POSITION OF ANGERING OR DISAPPOINTING ALL SIDES AT ONCE..... [THE] COUNTRY HAS SELDOM, IF EVER, BEEN LESS WELL-SERVED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADER.

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" CONTINUES TO WORRY ABOUT THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF IRAQ BEING DENIED AID FROM THE U-N-ALLOWED CRUDE OIL SALES, BECAUSE SADDAM HUSSEIN IS DIVERTING THE PROFITS TO HIS ARMS BUILD-UP.

VOICE: SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NEVER LIKED THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ASSUMES LONG-TERM OIL SANCTIONS AND BECAUSE HE CONSIDERS THE MONITORING PROVISIONS TO BE AN AFFRONT TO IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY. BUT HE HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN USING IRAQ'S FINANCIAL RESERVES, NOT TO MENTIONS MILLIONS HE HAS PERSONALLY SALTED AWAY [STORED] IN FOREIGN BANKS, TO BUY FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR HIS PEOPLE. AS A RESULT, MANY IRAQI CHILDREN ARE UNDERNOURISHED AND IN NEED OF MEDICAL CARE AND PHARMACEUTICALS. INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THESE HARDSHIPS, SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS POURED GOVERNMENT FUNDS INTO BUILDING BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND CONSTRUCTING OPULENT PALACES FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS INCLUDING USA TODAY ARE HAILING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DECISION TO BEGIN ALLOWING IRRADIATION OF MEAT TO KILL BACTERIA AND OTHER ORGANISMS AND MAKE IT SAFER TO EAT.

VOICE: THE GOOD NEWS: PRODUCERS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO YET ANOTHER WEAPON AGAINST BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS IN LAMB, PORK AND BEEF. RADIATION CAN KILL BACTERIA IN HAMBURGER AND NEMATODES IN HAM WITHOUT HARMING EITHER MEAT OR MEAT EATER. THE BAD NEWS: YEARS WILL PASS BEFORE THE TECHNOLOGY IS WIDESPREAD AND BEFORE CONSUMERS FEEL COMFORTABLE BUYING IRRADIATED MEATS.

TEXT: THE ASIAN ECONOMIC SITUATION, AND SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTH KOREAN BAILOUT, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES IS RIGHT TO BACK [SUPPORT] A FINANCIAL RESCUE PLAN FOR SOUTH KOREA BUT ALSO RIGHT TO INSIST ON TOUGH CONDITIONS -- WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON TERMED A 'STRONG AGREEMENT' WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.... SUCH ASSISTANCE ONLY MAKES SENSE IF SOUTH KOREA IMPLEMENTS THE TOUGH ECONOMIC REFORMS IT NEEDS TO HELP ITSELF.... BANKS AND COMPANIES THAT ARE EFFECTIVELY BANKRUPT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FAIL; REGULATION SHOULD BE CONSISTENT AND CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC.

TEXT: RESPONDING TO THE SHOOTING OF EIGHT TEENAGERS AT A KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL BY ANOTHER STUDENT MONDAY, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" PRAISES BEN STRONG, THE STUDENT WHO STEPPED FORWARD AND CONVINCED THE GUNWIELDER TO PUT DOWN HIS WEAPON. SAYS "THE TIMES:"

VOICE: AS OTHERS UNDERSTANDABLY RAN FOR THEIR LIVES, BEN, THE SON OF A MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE PRAYER MEETING THAT WAS THE OBJECT OF THE ATTACK, WALKED RIGHT UP TO THE ATTACKER, BEGGED HIM TO STOP AND GRABBED HIS ARMS. MR. STRONG FURTHER SHOWED HIS METTLE WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE SCENE THE VERY NEXT MORNING TO LEAD ANOTHER PRAYER MEETING ... THIS ONE DEDICATED TO PRAYERS FOR THE FRIENDS KILLED AND INJURED IN THE ATTACK.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN KYOTO, JAPAN, WHERE THE U-S AND OTHER NATIONS POSITIONS ON REDUCING GREEN HOUSE GASES ARE VERY FAR APART, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE NOTES:

VOICE: DEVELOPING NATIONS ... WANT TO BE EXCLUDED FROM REFORMS, WHICH THEY DENOUNCE AS 'ENVIRONMENTAL COLONIALISM.' THE U-S SENATE, HOWEVER, RESOLVED TO REJECT ANY TREATY THAT IS NOT BINDING ON ALL NATIONS.... IF SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING, A TREATY THE SENATE WOULD RATIFY BINDING ALL NATIONS IS PREFERABLE TO ONE WITH HIGHER STANDARDS THAT THE U-S AND OTHER NATIONS WOULD SPURN.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM WEDNESDAY U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
03-Dec-97 10:41 AM EST (1541 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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