Voice of America, 98-08-12

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] YUGOSLAV ECONOMY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

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

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

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

[01] HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE PRISTINA-BASED CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN REPORTED LAST WEEK THAT MORE THAN 300,000 KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED, THAT IS, REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS SAY TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE NO SHELTER, AND MANY HAVE NO FRESH DRINKING WATER AND LITTLE OR NO FOOD. ACCORDING TO MERCY CORPS INTERNATIONAL, A PRIVATE U-S AID ORGANIZATION WITH MORE EXPERIENCE IN KOSOVO THAN ANY OTHER SUCH GROUP, THE SITUATION THERE CONSTITUTES A

TEXT: MERCY CORPS INTERNATIONAL, WHICH IS IS HEADQUARTERED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, IS A HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS IN COUNTRIES WITH "TRANSITIONING ECONOMIES" THAT ARE EITHER IN CONFLICT OR ARE EMERGING FROM CONFLICT. ITS VICE-PRESIDENT, NANCY LINDBORG, IS HEAD OF MERCY CORPS' WASHINGTON, D-C, OFFICE. MS. LINDBORG SAYS MERCY CORPS HAS BEEN WORKING IN KOSOVO SINCE JUNE 1993. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE U-S OFFICE OF FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE, MERCY CORPS HAS BEEN DELIVERING FOOD, FLOUR, AGRICULTURAL AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO KOSOVO FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- LINDBORG (0:23) "YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT BEFORE THIS CONFLICT ERUPTED IN MARCH, THERE WERE MANY YEARS OF DEPRIVATION IN KOSOVO. PEOPLE WERE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHT TO WORK AND DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO [PUBLIC] EDUCATION AND TO [PUBLIC] HEALTH CARE IN KOSOVO, AND THERE WAS 70 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT. SO, ALL OF THIS CONFLICT IS COMING ON A BASE OF A COMMUNITY THAT WAS ALREADY IN VERY BAD SHAPE."

TEXT: MS. LINDBORG SAYS THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR IN KOSOVO IS KEEPING UP WITH A POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN DISPLACED, AND THEN DISPLACED AGAIN, AND THAT IS NOW "SHIFTING AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE."

TAPE: CUT TWO -- LINDBORG (0:19) "IT'S A PROBLEM OF HAVING ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM, GETTING THE RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THE FOOD AND THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND THE SLEEPING PADS, AND THE WARM CLOTHING THAT WE NEED, SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER THEM, AND THEN ORGANIZING THE LOGISTICS TO GET IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN ONE VILLAGE TODAY AND IN ANOTHER VILLAGE TOMORROW."

TEXT: MS. LINDBORG SAYS MERCY CORPS RELIES ON A BROAD NETWORK OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN KOSOVO TO ORGANIZE CONVOYS THAT DELIVER HUMANITARIAN GOODS. BUT RELIEF WORKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES IN GAINING ACCESS TO NEEDY COMMUNITIES AND SOMETIMES THEIR SUPPLIES ARE EVEN CONFISCATED BY SERBIAN MILITARY FORCES. THERE ARE NO REFUGEE CAMPS IN KOSOVO, WHICH MEANS THOSE WHO WHO FLED THEIR HOMES INITIALLY FOUND SHELTER WITH RELATIVES OR WITH STRANGERS. KIM MAYNARD, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES AT MERCY CORPS' WASHINGTON OFFICE, HAS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM KOSOVO. SHE SAYS IN THE PAST MONTH, AS MORE HOMES AND VILLAGES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN HIDING IN THE FORESTS OR LIVING IN THE OPEN.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- MAYNARD (0:44) "NOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE GOING INTO THE WOODS WITH NO ACCESS TO FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, NO MATTRESSES, NOTHING. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUMMER NOW, BUT WINTER IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING. AND THEN YOU HAVE ALSO THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A REGION THAT DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FOOD OR THE ABILITY TO SUPPLY ITSELF FOR QUITE A WHILE BEFOREHAND, SO ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE DISPLACED PERSONS, NOBODY FARMING, AND A WELFARE STATE ON TOP OF A WELFARE STATE. SO, THOSE WHO WERE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE ARE NOW HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ALSO WERE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE JOBS, AND ON TOP OF ALL THE CONFLICT, MANY OF THOSE WHO DID ARE NOW UNEMPLOYED."

TEXT: MS. MAYNARD SAYS MANY TOWNS AND HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN EMPTIED AND THOSE STILL IN OPERATION LACK BASIC SUPPLIES SUCH AS NEEDLES AND GLOVES. AND, OUTSIDE THE TOWNS, IT'S OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MEDICAL KITS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM, SHE SAYS.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- MAYNARD (0:35) "WHAT CAN ONE DO WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN MASSIVE MOVEMENT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO NEXT? ONE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT KOSOVO IS A VERY SMALL AREA, AND LITERAL ACCESS, WERE ONE TO DRIVE AROUND, WOULD BE EASY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKADES, WE CAN'T ACCESS SO MANY PARTS OF THE POPULATION. THE OTHER THING IS THAT A LOT OF THE POPULATION IS IN THE HILLS AND HIDING OUT, SO THEY'RE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE MEDICAL FACILITIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE, THE ALBANIAN POPULATION CAN'T GET TO. [OPT] SO, IT'S PRETTY MUCH A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION AT THIS POINT." [END OPT]

TEXT: KIM MAYNARD SAYS CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD IS URGENTLY NEEDED, BECAUSE THE HARSH BALKAN WINTER WILL ONLY INTENSIFY WHAT IS ALREADY A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. THE LESSONS OF BOSNIA, SHE ADDS, NEED TO BE APPLIED TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- MAYNARD (0:39) "WITHOUT ANY CLEAR END TO THE POLITICAL PROBLEM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS, AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. WE'RE STUCK IN A QUAGMIRE OF NOBODY REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO ON THE POLITICAL FRONT. HOWEVER, ON THE HUMANITARIAN FRONT, IT'S CLEAR WE, AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, HAVE AN OBLIGATION, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR OBLIGATION. I THINK THE U-N IN PARTICULAR NEEDS TO STEP FORWARD, TAKE THIS ON. LET'S ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. LET'S NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES WE HAVE IN THE PAST. WE KNOW BETTER. 'NEVER AGAIN,' THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING. SO LET'S NOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN HERE."

TEXT: AID OFFICIALS SAY THAT FEW CIVILIANS ARE LIKELY TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT A CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT AND SECURITY GUARANTEES. BUT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE NOT YET BEGUN, AND THEY COULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE. KIM MAYNARD OF MERCY CORPS INTERNATIONAL SAYS, FOR THE DISPLACED PEOPLE IN KOSOVO, WINTER IS LIKELY TO BE A "DISASTER."
12-Aug-98 11:22 AM EDT (1522 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] YUGOSLAV ECONOMY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S TREASURY WEDNESDAY COMPLETED A STUDY OF THE YUGOSLAV ECONOMY AND FOUND THAT THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY AS LONG AS FIGHTING IN ITS KOSOVO PROVINCE CONTINUES. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT: THE TREASURY ANALYSIS ESTIMATES THAT FIGHTING IN KOSOVO IS COSTING THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS PER DAY. A TREASURY OFFICIAL SAYS SERBIA HAS ENTERED A PERIOD OF ECONOMIC STAGNATION WITH NO PROSPECTS OF IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT AN END TO THE KOSOVO CONFLICT AND VIGOROUS IMPLEMENTATION OF FREE MARKET REFORMS. THE OFFICIAL SAYS THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S HARD CURRENCY RESERVES HAVE FALLEN TO 200 MILLION DOLLARS, ENOUGH TO PAY FOR ONLY TWO WEEKS OF IMPORTS.

WHILE THE REPORT FINDS THAT CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, THERE IS A SLIGHTLY IMPROVED SITUATION IN MONTENEGRO -- THE SECOND REPUBLIC THAT COMPRISES THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. THE OFFICIAL VOICES PRAISE FOR MONTENEGRO'S PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM AND EFFORTS TO PUT THE ECONOMY ON A SOUNDER FOOTING. BUT HE WARNS THAT SINCE MONTENEGRO ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY SIX PERCENT OF YUGOSLAV OUTPUT, IT ALONE CAN'T HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON YUGOSLAVIA AS A WHOLE.

THE TREASURY ANALYSIS SAYS THAT THE YUGOSLAV ECONOMY IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED BECAUSE OF SERBIA'S FAILURE TO PURSUE SUSTAINED ECONOMIC REFORMS. MOST SERBIAN INDUSTRY REMAINS UNDER STATE CONTROL. INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS HAVE CUT YUGOSLAVIA OFF FROM GLOBAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK. THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT RESISTS LARGE SCALE PRIVATIZATION, AND COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD -- LIKE A 49 PERCENT SHARE OF THE PHONE COMPANY -- HAVE BEEN SOLD AT LOW PRICES. THERE IS LITTLE FOREIGN INVESTMENT. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT AN ALREADY DEPRESSED ECONOMY SUFFERS FROM THE ABSENCE OF INVESTMENT AS STATE MONEY IS BEING USED INSTEAD TO SUPPORT THE POLICE ACTION IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JO
12-Aug-98 5:58 PM EDT (2158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: EUROPEAN MARKETS REGAINED MORE THAN HALF OF TUESDAY'S HEAVY LOSSES. BUT THE REBOUND STALLED AFTER A WEAK START ON WALL STREET AND CONTINUED WORRIES ABOUT ASIA'S ECONOMY. AND THE MAJOR EUROPEAN EXCHANGES FINISHED DOWN FROM THE HIGHS REACHED EARLIER IN THE DAY.

THE BIGGEST GAIN WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 100 POINTS, TWO-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX RECOVERED FROM TUESDAY'S THREE-MONTH LOW, RISING 101 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED UP 29 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT.

PRICES ALSO ROSE ON MOST OF EUROPE'S SMALLER MARKETS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE A BIT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/KL
12-Aug-98 2:17 PM EDT (1817 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 REBOUNDED STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AFTER TUESDAY'S BIG SELL-OFF. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 52, UP 90 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT AND REGAINING MOST OF TUESDAY'S 112 POINT LOSS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 84, UP 15 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY BARGAIN HUNTERS WERE OUT IN FORCE AND MAJOR INDEXES WERE UP ALL DAY. BUT THERE IS STILL A SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS MOOD ON WALL STREET.

ALTHOUGH MOST STOCKS WERE UP, SOME COMPANIES DID ISSUE WARNINGS ABOUT FUTURE EARNINGS, AND THEIR STOCKS PAID THE PRICE. THE STOCK OF ADOBE SYSTEMS FELL SHARPLY AFTER THE SOFTWARE MAKER SAID ITS THIRD QUARTER PROFITS WILL FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS. THE STOCKS OF CHECK FREE, AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEMS COMPANY AND FINLAY ENTERPRISES, A JEWELRY FIRM, ALSO DROPPED AFTER THE COMPANIES ISSUED SIMILAR WARNINGS.

THE HEAD OF BRITISH PETROLEUM SAYS SIX THOUSAND JOBS WILL BE ELIMINATED WHEN HIS COMPANY MERGES WITH AMOCO OIL OF THE UNITED STATES. JOHN BROWN ALSO SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE JOBS TO BE CUT WILL BE IN U-S REFINING AND MARKETING OPERATIONS OF THE TWO COMPANIES.

THE CAL ENERGY CORPORATION WILL PAY FOUR BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH TO ACQUIRE THE MID-AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL PROVIDE ELECTRICITY AND GAS SERVICE DIRECTLY TO USERS AND TO OTHER UTILITIES. SEAGRAM, THE CANADIAN-BASED BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, REPORTS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 324 MILLION DOLLARS. MOST OF THE IMPROVEMENT WAS THE RESULT OF A STRONG SHOWING BY SEAGRAM'S UNIVERSAL FILM AND THEME PARK DIVISION. KEEBLER, THE SECOND LARGEST COOKIE AND CRACKER MAKER IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS ROSE 38 PERCENT DUE LARGELY TO THE SUCCESS OF SOME NEW PRODUCTS.

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED THAT JOURNALISTS MAY BE PRESENT WHEN MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN BILL GATES IS QUESTIONED BY LAWYERS REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SOFTWARE COMPANY. MICROSOFT HAS ASKED THAT THE FORMAL DEPOSITIONS OF MR. GATES AND OTHER COMPANY OFFICIALS BE CLOSED TO THE NEWS MEDIA.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
12-Aug-98 5:02 PM EDT (2102 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE TWO AFRICAN EMBASSY BOMBINGS GETTING INTO THE TEDIOUS WORK OF SIFTING EVERY CENTIMETER OF DEBRIS, AND WITH VERY LITTLE HOPE OF NEW SURVIVORS, EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS HAVE LARGELY MOVED ON TO OTHER TOPICS OF THE MOMENT. BUT THERE ARE STILL EDITORIALS ON INCREASING SECURITY AT OTHER U-S FACILITIES ABROAD.

THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS AFFECTS ON WORLD MARKETS COMES IN FOR SOME ATTENTION, AS DOES A NEW POLICY TOWARD IRAQ. IN CALIFORNIA,"THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS APPALLED AT THE LATEST MURDER OF A CHILD BY ANOTHER CHILD, AT SEVEN, PERHAPS THE YOUNGEST MURDER SUSPECT IN U-S HISTORY. THERE ARE ALSO COMMENTARIES ON A DECADES-OLD WAR IN LATIN AMERICA; AND THE RAVAGED ENVIRONMENT IN EUROPE, BEHIND WHAT WAS THE IRON CURTAIN. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH MORE SPECIFICS AND SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A FEW U-S DAILIES CONTINUE TO CALL FOR INCREASED SECURITY AT U-S EMBASSIES AND OTHER FACILITIES ABROAD, AND THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO CARRY IT OUT. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS IT IS TIME TO "INVEST IN DIPLOMATS' SAFETY," NOTING:

VOICE: IF YOU PORE OVER THE TRIBUTES TO THE AMERICANS KILLED IN THE NAIROBI EMBASSY BOMBING, YOU WILL BE STRUCK BY THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THE UNITED STATES SELECTS TO BE ITS REPRESENTATIVES ABROAD. ... ALL OF THOSE KILLED WERE MODELS OF SKILL, DEDICATION AND IDEALISM. THEY DESERVED TO BE BETTER PROTECTED THAN THEY WERE. ... BLAME FOR STRUCTURAL SHORTCOMINGS CAN BE SPREAD OVER A SUCCESSION OF ADMINISTRATIONS, CONGRESS AND EVEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. ... IT IS SMALL SOLACE, BUT THE TWO EAST AFRICAN TRAGEDIES HAVE SPURRED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT AN ACCELERATED PROGRAM TO GUARD OUR EMBASSIES AND PERSONNEL.

TEXT: ADD TO THOSE SENTIMENTS THESE COMMENTS FROM "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND:

VOICE: AS THE NATION TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OF THE TERROR BOMBINGS ... TWO THINGS HAVE BECOME PAINFULLY CLEAR, AND AT LEAST ONE CONCLUSION IS INESCAPABLE. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT ... SECURITY OF AT LEAST SOME EMBASSIES IS INADEQUATE; IT'S EQUALLY EVIDENT THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CAN NOT ADEQUATELY MONITOR TERRORIST NETWORKS. AND WHAT IS INESCAPABLE IS THE NECESSITY TO PUNISH IN THE MOST SEVERE AND VISIBLE WAY POSSIBLE THE GROUP OR NATION BEHIND THE BOMBINGS, WHEN AND IF IT IS DEFINITIVELY IDENTIFIED.

TEXT: MOVING ON TO THE WORLD'S WORSENING ECONOMIC SITUATION, ACCELERATED BY THE INEFFECTUAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MOVES TO REVERSE THE SITUATION THERE, WE QUOTE "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WHICH SAYS IT IS -- TIME FOR COMPROMISE IN JAPAN.

VOICE: WHILE JAPAN'S NEW GOVERNMENT TRIES TO GET THE PARLIAMENT TO FOCUS ON BADLY NEEDED BANK REFORM THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH POLITICS AND DEMANDS FOR NEW ELECTIONS. TOKYO FIDDLES, THE YEN SINKS, TO AN EIGHT-YEAR LOW AND MARKETS JITTER AROUND THE WORLD. PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI HOLDS THE KEY. HE MUST USE HIS CONSENSUS-BUILDING MAGIC TO PERSUADE THE OPPOSITION TO MOVE QUICKLY ON HIS REFORM PACKAGE. /// OPT /// ... THE DEMOCRATS, STRONGEST OF THE OPPOSITION FORCES, HAVE DISMISSED THE L-D-P'S PROPOSED BANK REFORM AND ARE DEMANDING FAR TOUGHER MEASURES. [MR.] OBUCHI IS NOW ESPOUSING A WILLINGNESS TO DEAL, AND HE SHOULD. COMPROMISE WOULD RESULT IN BETTER BANK REFORM. ... THESE AGREEMENTS MUST BE STRUCK -- AND SOON. JAPAN'S CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTING THE DRAMATIC FALL OF THE MOSCOE STOCK EXCHANGE TUESDAY, WHERE TRADING WAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED, SARCASTICALLY TALKS OF THE RECENT INTERNATIONAL BAIL OUT OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY, ASKING:

VOICE: SO WHAT DOES 22-POINT-SIX BILLION-DOLLARS GET YOU? IN RUSSIA, THE ANSWER IS: ABOUT THREE-WEEKS OF RELATIVELY CALM MARKETS. THREE-WEEKS INTO THE FAMOUS I-M-F BAILOUT, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE 'RESCUE' IS NOT DOING THE JOB. /// OPT /// ... RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC WOES CAN NOT BE BOILED DOWN, AS THE I-M-F WOULD HAVE IT, TO POOR TAX COLLECTION. THIS IS AN ECONOMY WHERE MOST PAYMENTS BETWEEN ENTERPRISES ARE IN BARTER, IF THEY ARE MADE AT ALL, AND WHERE WAGES AND TAXES ARE ASSESSED BUT NOT PAID. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, A COMPANY'S CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE HELD DOWN BY DEBT AND CASH SHORTAGES. /// END OPT /// ... IT IS STRIKING HOW FAST YOU CAN BURN THROUGH 22-BILLION DOLLARS THESE DAYS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS UPSET AT WHAT IT SEES AS A DRIFT TOWARD A NEW AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.

VOICE: THESE FIRST DAYS OF AUGUST HAVE BROUGHT A DISQUIETING RETREAT BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON IRAQ. WITHOUT SAYING AS MUCH, THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS ON THE VERGE OF ALTERING SEVEN YEARS OF AMERICAN POLICY BY LETTING SADDAM HUSSEIN SLIP FREE OF THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO PREVENT HIM FROM DEVELOPING A NEW ARSENAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THAT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE. ... WITHOUT A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON THAT IT IS PREPARED TO ENFORCE THE INSPECTION SYSTEM, IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS CANNOT BE RELIABLY CONTAINED.

TEXT: THE MURDER OF A LITTLE GIRL IN CHICAGO ALLEGEDLY BY TWO BOYS, ONE ONLY SEVEN-YEARS-OLD, IN ORDER TO STEAL HER BICYCLE, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: /// OPT /// MONDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT POLICE HAD CHARGED TWO CHICAGO BOYS, SEVEN AND EIGHT, WITH MURDERING AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND TUESDAY'S SENTENCING OF 12 AND 14 YEAR-OLD BOYS FOR KILLING FIVE PEOPLE IN A JONESBORO, ARKANSAS SCHOOLYARD HAVE LEFT MANY AMERICANS WONDERING /// END OPT /// WHATEVER BECAME OF CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE [?]. ... THE RISE IN VIOLENT JUVENILE CRIME UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF INTERVENING EARLY IN THE LIVES OF TROUBLED CHILDREN IN AN EFFORT TO HEAD OFF VIOLENCE.

TEXT: TURNING BACK OVERSEAS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS EFFORTS TO COMPARE GERHARD SCHRODER, THE MAIN CHALLENGER TO CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL IN THE PENDING GERMAN ELECTIONS, TO BILL CLINTON, AS A REFORMER WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC CENTER, IS MISLEADING.

VOICE: GERMANY HAS REJECTED THE KINDS OF ECONOMIC REFORMS NOW TAKEN AS GOSPEL IN BRITAIN [UNDER PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, ANOTHER LEADER COMPARED TO MR. CLINTON] AND AMERICA. THE GENEROSITY OF THE GERMAN WELFARE STATE SOMETIMES VERGES ON PARODY. BUT GERMANS STRONGLY BELIEVE SOCIETY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL ITS MEMBERS. ... AT 54, MR. SCHRODER MAY BE RELATIVELY YOUNG AND ENERGETIC, BUT HE IS UNLIKELY TO DEPART FROM THE GERMAN CONSENSUS.

TEXT: IT APPEARS THAT PERU AND ECUADOR ARE AGAIN RATTLING SABERS OVER THEIR DECADES-LONG BORDER DISPUTE, DRAWING THIS REBUKE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WHICH CALLS IT:"A DUMBER-THAN-AVERAGE WAR." AND OF ECUADOR'S NEW PRESIDENT, JAMIL MAHUAD, THE FORMER COMPETENT MAYOR OF QUITO, THE PAPER SAYS:

VOICE: ... HE NEEDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO HELP THE WORKING POOR, WHOSE PAY AVERAGES JUST 20-DOLLARS A MONTH. FOR THESE AND OTHER REASONS, [MR.] MAHUAD HAS TO WONDER WHY HIS COUNTRY AND PERU CONTINUE THEIR ENDLESS WAR. BUT WHEN DID WAR EVER MAKE SENSE?

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," UPSET AT THE RELUCTANCE OF THE WEST TO FURTHER INTERVENE IN THE NEW WAVE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING SERBIAN FORCES ARE PERPETRATING ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE, WARNS:

VOICE: THE WEST AND NATO MAY HAVE TO DISPLAY A FRESH WILLINGNESS TO APPLY FORCE BEFORE THE SERBIAN STRONGMAN [SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC] COMES TO THE TABLE WITH ANYTHING LIKE GOOD FAITH.

TEXT: LASTLY, ABOUT THE SORRY STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN MUCH OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE, AFTER THE FALL OF COMMUNISM, "THE MIAMI HERALD" NOTES:

VOICE: ALTHOUGH AMERICANS MAY FIND IT HARD TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD, THE NEWS CONSTANTLY PROVIDES REMINDERS OF WHAT A SMALL PLANET THE EARTH IS. SO EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE'S ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION CAN HAVE A FAR-REACHING IMPACT. THAT IS WHY U-S SUPPORT FOR THE CLEANUP EFFORTS THERE IS APPROPRIATE -- AND FOR AMERICANS' OWN GOOD.

TEXT: ON THAT ENVIRONMENTAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
12-Aug-98 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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