Voice of America, 98-05-15

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON/BLAIR-IRELAND (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (BIRMINGHAM,ENGLAND)

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

[03] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[04] IRELAND-ONE WEEK TO GO (L-ONLY) CQ BY GIL BUTLER (DUBLIN)

[05] KOSOVO TALKS (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

[07] NATO / WARGAMES (L ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BALATON MENESE)

[08] SUMMIT: DEBT BY BARRY WOOD (BIRMINGHAM)

[01] CLINTON/BLAIR-IRELAND (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (BIRMINGHAM,ENGLAND)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAVE GIVEN A RENEWED ENDORSEMENT OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AGREEMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY 22ND REFERENDUM IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM BIRMINGHAM, SITE OF THE SUMMIT OF THE INDUSTRIAL POWERS AND RUSSIA.

TEXT: THE UNUSUAL JOINT STATEMENT UNDERSCORED THE COMMITMENT OF BOTH LEADERS TO THE BELFAST AGREEMENT, REACHED WITH U-S MEDIATION. IT CAME AMID POLLS SHOWING AN EROSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEAL AMONG NORTHERN IRELAND PROTESTANTS. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY THE AGREEMENT MUST NOT BE SQUANDERED:

TO ME, AS A FRIEND FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT APPEARS TO BE THE CHANCE OF A GENERATION FOR PEACE. WE WILL STAND WITH THOSE WITH WHO STAND FOR PEACE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT EQUALLY CLEAR THAT ANYONE WHO REVERTS TO VIOLENCE -- FROM WHATEVER SIDE AND WHATEVER FACTION -- WILL HAVE NO FRIENDS IN AMERICA.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAID ABANDONING VIOLENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL IS AT THE HEART OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH HE CALLED THE WAY FORWARD FOR NORTHERN IRELAND. THE POLLS SUGGEST THE AGREEMENT IS STILL LIKELY TO WIN HANDILY IN BOTH JURISDICTIONS DESPITE THE SLIPPAGE IN PROTESTANT SUPPORT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PLM
15-May-98 2:09 PM EDT (1809 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN INDONESIA AND ABOUT U-S INTEREST RATES -- AND THE MARKET RESULTS REFLECTED THE UNCERTAINTY. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 31 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL 22 POINTS, ALSO ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT.

BUT IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 40 POINTS, THREE-QUARTERS PERCENT.

THE MARKET UNCERTAINTY LED TO A RISE IN GOLD PRICES, WHICH CLOSED IN LONDON UP THREE-DOLLARS AN OUNCE AT 301 DOLLARS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND GERMAN MARK, BUT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/PLM
15-May-98 1:59 PM EDT (1759 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE RIOTING IN INDONESIA WHICH ESCALATED AS THE WEEK PROGRESSED HAS BROUGHT A NEW WAVE OF EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS CALLING ON GENERAL SUHARTO TO STEP DOWN. ANOTHER POPULAR TOPIC IS THE FALLOUT -- POLITICAL RATHER THAN RADIOACTIVE -- FROM INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR BOMB TESTS.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION AS THE WORK WEEK ENDED INCLUDE PRESIDENT CLINTON HONORING THE BERLIN AIRLIFT; A THREAT TO THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT; AND A FOND FAREWELL TO A FAMED EVERGLADES SUPPORTERS. NOW, WE WELCOME _____________________ WHO HAS A CLOSER LOOK FOR US IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SURVEYING THE INCREASINGLY CHAOTIC SCENE IN THE ISLAND NATION OF INDONESIA, THE WORLD'S FOURTH MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THERE ARE NO "MAGICAL ANSWERS" FOR THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TURMOIL. BUT IT IS PROBABLY "SUNSET FOR PRESIDENT SUHARTO."

VOICE: LIKE THE SHAH OF IRAN TWO DECADES AGO, AND FERDINAND MARCOS IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1986, MR. SUHARTO FACES A POPULAR REBELLION AND CAN RETAIN POWER ONLY THROUGH THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST HIS COUNTRYMEN. EVENTUALLY, EVEN THE ARMY MAY TURN AGAINST HIM TO END THE BLOODSHED. HE CAN SPARE INDONESIA FURTHER TURMOIL BY YIELDING OFFICE TO A GOVERNMENT THAT QUICKLY SETS A DATE FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. //// OPT /// ..... THERE IS A DANGER THAT ONE OF HIS OBEDIENT ASSOCIATES WILL TRY TO HOLD POWER IF MR. SUHARTO STEPS ASIDE OR THAT THE ARMY WILL TRY TO RUN THE COUNTRY. THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THAT IS TO MOVE SWIFTLY TO ELECTIONS. ......

TEXT: PUTTING IT MORE BLUNTLY IN AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE, THE LARGEST PAPER IN THE WEST, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS: "[MR.] SUHARTO SHOULD STEP DOWN."

VOICE: THE COLLAPSE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE LIKE THAT WHICH DOOMED [PRESIDENT] SUKARNO .... 32 YEARS AGO ..... NOW ENGULFS HIS SUCCESSOR AND HIS RAPACIOUSLY WEALTHY FAMILY. ..... HIS [MR. SUHARTO'S] CRONY GOVERNMENT BUILT MODERN INDONESIA BUT CLEARLY IS UNABLE TO INSTITUTE BADLY NEEDED REFORMS, PARTICULARLY IN THE REALMS OF INDUSTRY AND FINANCE, WHICH ARE LARGELY CONTROLLED BY PRESIDENTIAL FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY. ..... THE INEQUITY HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED IN THE STREETS, WHICH NOW HAVE BEEN SPATTERED WITH BLOOD. THE STAIN IS ON [GENERAL] SUHARTO'S HANDS.

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ALSO SEES CHANGE AS INEVITABLE, BUT WORRIES ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.

VOICE: THE SMOKE RISING FROM JAKARTA IS A SIGNAL THAT SOME KIND OF TRANSITION HAS ALREADY BEGUN. THE ONLY THING TO BE DETERMINED IS WHAT INDONESIA WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS COMPLETE; /// OPT /// WHETHER THERE WILL BE STACKS OF CORPSES AFTER MONTHS OF VIOLENCE, OR A SHORTER PERIOD OF MANAGED CHAOS THAT LEAVES ENOUGH OF THE COUNTRY'S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC INTACT FOR IT TO STAGGER FORWARD.

TEXT: STILL IN ASIA, THE WEEK'S OTHER BIG STORY, THE TESTING OF FIVE NUCLEAR BOMBS BY INDIA, CONTINUES TO PRODUCE EDITORIAL FALLOUT, SUCH AS THIS LEAD EDITORIAL ABOUT PAKISTAN'S INEVITABLE RESPONSE IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: IN THE RACE TO KEEP PAKISTAN FROM FOLLOWING INDIA INTO NUCLEAR TESTING, THE UNITED STATES HAS THREE OPTIONS THAT NEED TO BE BOUND INTO A COHERENT POLICY. THE FIRST IS TO CONTAIN THE DAMAGE. BY WHATEVER PERSUASION AND ARM-TWISTING IT TAKES, AMERICAN OFFICIALS SHOULD TRY TO ENSURE THAT NEW TESTING DOES NOT LEAD ON TO DEPLOYMENT. ..... THEN, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS MUST REFOCUS ON THE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS OF PAKISTAN. THE INDIAN TESTS HAVE MADE THE PAKISTANIS, ALREADY FEELING VULNERABLE, FEEL DOUBLY SO. ..... FINALLY, THE WHOLE DISARMAMENT CAUSE MUST BE REVIVED IN PACE AND SCOPE TO MATCH THE NEWLY DEMONSTRATED URGENCY. THE DECLARED NUCLEAR COUNTRIES HAVE FAR TO GO TO BE ABLE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE RATHER THAN BY EXHORTATION.

TEXT: IN THE U-S PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THERE IS MORE FRUSTRATION ON THE PART OF "THE OREGONIAN" AS REGARDS THE FAILURE OF THE LATEST U-S PUSH IN THE MIDEAST PEACE TALKS.

VOICE: TO SOME PEOPLE, IT LOOKED LIKE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAD CALLED BILL CLINTON'S BLUFF. [MR.] CLINTON HAD INSISTED ON AN ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM ANOTHER 13 PERCENT OF THE WEST BANK AS A TICKET TO A TOP-LEVEL WHITE HOUSE MEDIATION SESSION. [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU REFUSED, CANCELLING THE SESSION, AND A SERIES OF TALKS WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS NOW ENDED WITHOUT AGREEMENT. BUT IT WILL BE A BLUFF ONLY IF [MR.] CLINTON NOW BACKS DOWN - - WHICH HE SHOULDN'T. /// OPT /// THE ISRAELIS SHOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATED INTO ANY AGREEMENT, BUT NEITHER SHOULD THEY DISMISS THE CONSEQUENCES OF ABANDONING ONE. ///OPT

TEXT: FINALLY, THE PASSING OF MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS, A HISTORIC FIGURE AND LONG-TIME FRIEND AND ADVOCATE FOR THE HUGE SWAMP IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA KNOWN AS THE EVERGLADES FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD." THE PAPER SAYS OF MS. DOUGLAS, WHO DIED AT ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHT WEDNESDAY IN MIAMI:

VOICE: HERS WAS NOT THE REMOTE PERSONA, FEEDING OFF PAST TRIUMPHS AND THE CAREFUL WORDS OF AN ADMIRING, NARROW CLAQUE. SHE **LIVED** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY IN THE WORLD OF REAL PEOPLE AND IMPORTANT CAUSES. .... HER 1947 BOOK **THE EVERGLADES: RIVER OF GRASS** [ITALICS FOR PUBLICATION TITLE] IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSIC ..... O FLORIDA, YOU HAVE LOST A TOWERING SPIRIT. SHE'S GONE INTO THE LIGHT, WHICH TOOK HER KINDLY AND WAS MADE MORE RADIANT BY HER LIFE AND EXAMPLE.

TEXT: WITH THAT NOTABLE PASSING OF A HEROIC FIGURE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/JO
15-May-98 11:47 AM EDT (1547 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] IRELAND-ONE WEEK TO GO (L-ONLY) CQ BY GIL BUTLER (DUBLIN)

INTRO: IN ONE WEEK (EDS: OR LESS THAN A WEEK SINCE REFERENDUM IS NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 22) VOTERS BOTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND WILL SAY "YES" OR "NO" TO A PEACE AGREEMENT THAT COULD END DECADES OF BLOODSHED. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN DUBLIN, WHERE SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT APPEARS VERY STRONG.

TEXT: /// DUBLIN STREET SOUNDS UP, THEN UNDER ///

IN BOOMING DUBLIN, THE STREETS ARE CROWDED AND THE RARE EXPERIENCE OF A SUNNY, WARM DAY IN MAY HAS THIS NORMALLY SOGGY CAPITAL LOOKING A BIT LIKE A MEDITERRANEAN CITY.

THROUGHOUT DUBLIN, GREEN SIGNS ON LAMP POSTS AND PUBLIC BUSES PICTURE THE PRIME MINISTER -- OR TAOISEACH (PRON: TEE-SHOCK) -- BERTIE AHERN URGING A "YES" VOTE. AND THAT APPEARS TO BE THE SENTIMENT HERE IN THE IRISH CAPITAL.

BUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- AMONG THE PRO-BRITISH, LARGELY PROTESTANT UNIONISTS -- SUPPORT FOR THE PEACE ACCORD HAS DROPPED FROM MORE THAN 80 PERCENT TO 55 PER CENT. SOME OBSERVERS ATTRIBUTE THE DECLINE TO UNIONIST DISTRESS OVER THE HERO'S WELCOME ACCORDED SEVERAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY MEN TEMPORARILY RELEASED FROM PRISON TO TAKE PART IN A MEETING OF THEIR POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN. THAT MEETING MEETING OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE PEACE AGREEMENT. /// OPT /// ON THURSDAY, A CONVICTED PROTESTANT UNIONIST KILLER WAS TEMPORARILY RELEASED TO TAKE PART IN A UNIONIST MEETING. HE ALSO ENDORSED THE AGREEMENT. /// END OPT ///

PEOPLE HERE IN DUBLIN BELIEVE THE UNIONISTS' WILL VOTE FOR THE AGREEMENT NEXT FRIDAY. BUT FOR ONE MAN, THE TEST WILL COME IN JULY WHEN TRADITIONALLY, UNIONISTS HOLD PARADES IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO CELEBRATE A CENTURIES OLD MILITARY VICTORY OVER THE IRISH CATHOLICS.

THE REAL PRACTICAL QUESTION WILL BE POSED ON THE 12TH OF JULY WHEN THE MARCHING SEASON COMES ALONG AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE REACTION IS ON THE GROUND. THAT'S REALLY THE WAY I SEE THINGS GOING. I WOULD IGNORE SOUNDINGS OR NOISES FROM THE UNIONISTS AT THE MOMENT. IT IS HOW THE ORDINARY PEOPLE REACT TO THE SITUATION. AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE QUITE A PEACEFUL PROCESS.

THE CAMPAIGNING FOR AND AGAINST THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS HAMMERED OUT LAST MONTH IN MARATHON BARGAINING SESSIONS WILL CONTINUE DOWN TO THE VOTE ON THE 22ND. HERE IN THE IRISH CAPITAL, THERE IS CONFIDENCE IT WILL BE APPROVED. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PCF/JO
15-May-98 3:01 PM EDT (1901 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO TALKS (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS MEETING ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. BUT AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES -- WHO IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE -- THERE ARE MODEST EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS MEETING.

TEXT: AT BEST, THIS MEETING MIGHT LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE BEGINNINGS OF LONG AND DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS ON KOSOVO.

A MEMBER OF MR. RUGOVA'S TEAM, (EDS: KOHA DITORE NEWSPAPER EDITOR) VETON SURROI, SAID THE TWO LEADERS WOULD HAVE POLITICAL TALKS, BUT NOT NEGOTIATIONS.

UNDER THE DEAL BROKERED BY U-S MEDIATORS, THIS MEETING IS TO BE FOLLOWED BY WEEKLY TALKS BETWEEN NEGOTIATORS REPRESENTING SERBIA AND KOSOVO'S 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY.

THE ALBANIANS WANT INDEPENDENCE. BELGRADE INSISTS THE PROVINCE MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA. THURSDAY, TWO MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS' DELEGATION RESIGNED IN PROTEST. THEY OBJECT TO THE ABSENCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR, AND THE ONGOING DEPLOYMENT OF BELGRADE'S ARMY AND SPECIAL FORCES IN KOSOVO.

THE SEARCH FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT COMES AMID CONTINUING VIOLENCE BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND GUERRILLAS OF THE SEPARATIST "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY." (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF
15-May-98 6:28 AM EDT (1028 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) AS TRADERS TURNED CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF A U-S CENTRAL BANK MEETING. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 96, DOWN 76 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 41 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 11 HUNDRED EIGHT, DOWN EIGHT POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF NEXT TUESDAY'S MEETING OF U-S CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A MAJORITY VIEW, SOME ANALYSTS ARE SPECULATING THE CENTRAL BANK MAY RAISE SHORT TERM INTEREST RATES IN A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST INFLATION.

U-S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION ROSE BY A MODEST ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT IN APRIL, DOWN FROM A THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT GAIN IN MARCH. ANALYSTS SAY THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS DOES SEEM TO BE AFFECTING THE U-S MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

THE STOCK OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY FELL FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT DAY AFTER A SECOND MAJOR INVESTMENT COMPANY (MERRILL LYNCH) DOWNGRADED DISNEY STOCK.

THE STOCK OF THE J-C PENNEY DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN ROSE AFTER THE COMPANY REPORTED BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS.

THE STOCK OF THE ERGO SCIENCE CORPORATION FELL MORE THAN 60 PERCENT AFTER A U-S GOVERNMENT ADVISORY PANEL RECOMMENDED AGAINST APPROVING ERGO'S NEW DIABETES TREATMENT.

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING ALL 10 THOUSAND NEW BEETLE AUTOS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THERE IS A DANGER OF ELECTRICAL FIRES. THE REVIVED BEETLE MODEL HAS BEEN SO POPULAR THE COMPANY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO MEET DEMAND.

PHILIP MORRIS, THE LARGEST U-S TOBACCO COMPANY, SAYS IT WILL TAKE A CHARGE OF ALMOST 800 MILLION DOLLARS TO COVER THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF LAST WEEK'S TOBACCO INDUSTRY SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THE COMPANIES AGREED TO PAY MINNESOTA ALMOST SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS OVER 25 YEARS TO COVER THE COSTS OF SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES.

THE NATION'S TOP SECURITIES REGULATOR IS URGING AMERICAN MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES TO WARN INVESTORS ABOUT THE RISKS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS. ARTHUR LEVITT SAYS THE U-S STOCK MARKET BOOM HAS LED MANY UNSOPHISTICATED AMERICANS TO INVEST LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY IN MUTUAL FUNDS ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT STOCK PRICES CAN ONLY GO UP.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PLM
15-May-98 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] NATO / WARGAMES (L ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BALATON MENESE)

INTRO: MILITARY FORCES FROM NATO AND SEVERAL FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS ARE TAKING PART IN JOINT TRAINING NEAR LAKE BALATON IN HUNGARY. THE FORCES WERE LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TROOPS FROM THE THREE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS THAT HOPE TO JOIN NATO -- THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND POLAND. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM THE TRAINING AREA.

TEXT:

FORCES FROM THE 19 COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN SEVERAL SIMULATED INCIDENTS. IN THIS ONE, HELICOPTERS CARRY RELIEF SUPPLIES TO A MAKE-BELIEVE REFUGEE CAMP. MILITARY FORCES ACCOMPANY THE SHIPMENT TO MAKE SURE THE SUPPLIES ARRIVE SAFELY. BUT THEN, PROBLEMS ARISE

AN ANGRY CROWD MADE UP OF HUNGRY CIVILIANS ATTACK THE CONVOY, DEMANDING FOOD FROM THE SOLDIERS. TROOPS SCRAMBLE TO PROTECT THE SHIPMENTS, AND ADDITIONAL FORCES ARE QUICKLY SENT TO THE SCENE.

THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL SIMULATED EVENTS IN THE MILITARY TRAINING. TROOPS FROM THE 19 COUNTRIES ARE HOPING THE PRACTICE WILL HELP PREPARE THEM FOR ANY FUTURE COOPERATIVE PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS -- SIMILAR TO THE PRESENT PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN BOSNIA.

DURING THE EXERCISE, AMERICAN AND OTHER NATO OFFICERS CLOSELY MONITORED THE PERFORMANCE OF TROOPS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND POLAND, THE THREE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS WHO WANT TO JOIN NATO NEXT YEAR.

ONE HUNGARIAN OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL LASZLO KISFALVI, SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING AMERICANS CAN LEARN FROM THE MORE POORLY-EQUIPPED HUNGARIAN ARMY -- IMPROVISATION.

A VERY SIMPLE EXAMPLE -- AMERICAN DRIVERS ARE VERY GOOD DRIVERS, BUT (THEY) CANNOT REPAIR THEIR CARS. AND THE HUNGARIAN GUYS, THEY HAVE TO REPAIR THE CAR, BECAUSE OF THE ARMY BUDGET. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH OUR CARS AND IF WE WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO REPAIR THE CAR.

SOME ANTI-NATO GROUPS IN HUNGARY SAY THE EXERCISE IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND ONLY A HOBBY OF A FEW ADULT MEN AND WOMEN WHO LIKE TO PLAY WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

BUT THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY, PETER TUFO, WHO ATTENDED THE EXERCISE, STRONGLY DISAGREES.

A COUPLE OF HUNDRED-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN BOSNIA. WE ARE SPENDING CLOSE TO TWO-BILLION DOLLARS TO KEEP PEACE THERE. YOU CANNOT MAKE PEACE WITHOUT PRACTICE. IT IS NOT SILLY AT ALL

HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT ARPAD GONCZ ALSO PRAISED THE JOINT TRAINING PROGRAM. AND HE URGED ALL THE 19 PARTICIPATING NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A MORE PEACEFUL, LESS DIVIDED EUROPE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
15-May-98 12:09 PM EDT (1609 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] SUMMIT: DEBT BY BARRY WOOD (BIRMINGHAM)

INTRO: ECONOMIC OFFICIALS AT THE BIRMINGHAM ECONOMIC SUMMIT FRIDAY DISCUSSED PROPOSALS FOR FAR REACHING FOREIGN DEBT RELIEF FOR THE WORLD'S POOREST COUNTRIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE IN AFRICA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT MORE GENEROUS DEBT RELIEF IS LIKELY TO BE ENDORSED AT THIS YEAR'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT OF THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES AND RUSSIA.

TEXT: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IS PUSHING THE IDEA OF DEBT RELIEF, WHICH ON A SMALLER SCALE, HAS BEEN CALLED FOR AT PREVIOUS ECONOMIC SUMMITS. MR. BLAIR SAYS IT IS TIME FOR WORLD LEADERS, IN HIS WORDS, TO GIVE AFRICA A FUTURE. IN SEVERAL CASES, AFRICAN COUNTRIES ARE PAYING A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR EXPORT EARNINGS TO DEBT SERVICE. THE DEBTS ARE OWED MOSTLY TO INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES LIKE THE WORLD BANK AND WESTERN DONOR GOVERNMENTS.

JOHN KIRTON, AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR IN TORONTO AND A MEMBER OF A CANADIAN GROUP ANALYZING SUMMIT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CREDITS PRIME MINISTER BLAIR WITH WORKING TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE DEBT RELIEF.

I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT MR. BLAIR, LARGELY DUE TO THE DECISIVE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES AT A CRITICAL MOMENT, WILL ACCOMPLISH THE BRITISH OBJECTIVE AND A BROADLY SHARED OBJECTIVE, CERTAINLY THE FRENCH AND CANADIANS SUPPORT IT, OF PUTTING IN PLACE BY THE YEAR 2000 A PROCESS THAT WILL RELIEVE THE DEBT OF THE 20 POOREST COUNTRIES IN A WAY THAT RENDERS THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT PERMANENT BY HAVING THEM UNDERTAKE THE POLICY REFORMS WITHIN THEIR COUNTRIES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN SUCCESS.

LESS GENEROUS DEBT RELIEF WAS INITIATED TWO YEARS AGO. UNDER THAT WORLD BANK LED INITIATIVE 10 OF THE WORLD'S POOREST COUNTRIES ARE HAVING THEIR ECONOMIES MONITORED TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR DEBT RELIEF. SIX COUNTRIES, BOLIVIA, BURKINA FASO, IVORY COAST, GUYANA, UGANDA AND MOZAMBIQUE HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED. THEIR DEBTS ARE BEING REDUCED BY THREE BILLION DOLLARS. UNDER THE EXPANDED INITIATIVE DEBTS WORTH ABOUT TWICE THAT AMOUNT COULD BE REDUCED FOR 20 COUNTRIES. THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THE AIM OF THE NEW INITIATIVE IS TO REDUCE THE DEBT SERVICE BURDEN OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES TO 10 PERCENT OF ECONOMIC OUTPUT. UNDER THE 1996 INITIATIVE DEBT SERVICE WAS TO HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO ONLY 25 PERCENT OF OUTPUT. AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN PARTICULAR HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FOREIGN DEBT WHICH MANY BANKERS REGARD AS UNCOLLECTIBLE. MR. BLAIR'S IDEA IS TO PROMISE GENEROUS DEBT RELIEF ON THE CONDITION THAT DEMOCRACY AND MARKET BASED REFORMS ARE STRENGTHENED. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/WDC/WJK
15-May-98 2:11 PM EDT (1811 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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