Read the New Military Service Law (Hellenic MOD Mirror on HR-Net) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Monday, 23 December 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Voice of America, 98-09-30

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

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] ALBANIA POL (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)
  • [02] BOSNIA/CONTACT GROUP BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (WASHINGTON)
  • [03] KOSOVO MASSACRE (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (GOLUBOVAC, KOSOVO)
  • [04] KOSOVO SITREP (DEBRIEFER) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)
  • [05] U-N / KOSOVO (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)
  • [06] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)
  • [07] U-S/KOSOVO (L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)
  • [08] U-S/KOSOVO, ALTERNATE (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)
  • [09] POPE / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)
  • [10] ROMANIA'S ROMANI (GYPSY) MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)
  • [11] E-U / LOME (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)
  • [12] EDITORIAL: GERMANS VOTE FOR CHANGE
  • [13] FRANCE / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)
  • [14] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

  • [01] ALBANIA POL (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239486
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: ALBANIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE PANDELI MAJKO HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS WITH COALITION PARTIES AS HE WORKS TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

    TEXT: THE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE FACES MAJOR CHALLENGES IN RESTORING ORDER IN ALBANIA, AND IMPROVING THE ECONOMY IN EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY. HE IS A 30-YEAR OLD FORMER STUDENT ACTIVIST WITH NO MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE, BUT WITH A REPUTATION AS A CONCILIATOR WHO COULD BE A MODERATING FACTOR IN ALBANIAN POLITICS.

    BUT SHARP POLITICAL DIVISIONS PERSIST IN TIRANA. THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLED FOR A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT UNTIL NEW ELECTIONS COULD BE HELD.

    MR. MAJKO WOULD BE ALBANIA'S FIRST POST-COMMUNIST PRIME MINISTER WITHOUT TIES TO THE FORMER GOVERNMENT. BOTH OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO AND OPPOSITION LEADER SALI BERISHA -- WHO LED ALBANIA AS PRESIDENT UNTIL LAST YEAR -- HAD BEEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

    MR. NANO STEPPED DOWN MONDAY, TWO WEEKS AFTER SUPPORTERS OF MR. BERISHA RIOTED IN THE CAPITAL, COMMANDEERING TANKS AND SETTING FIRE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE. AUTHORITIES RESTORED ORDER, BUT REPEATED STREET DEMONSTRATIONS ADDED TO THE PRESSURE ON MR. NANO TO RESIGN.

    THIS MONTH'S UNREST WAS THE WORST VIOLENCE SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT SCHEMES, WHEN MANY ALBANIANS LOST THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. THE ANGRY INVESTORS RIOTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, LOOTING GOVERNMENT ARMORIES. MANY OF THOSE WEAPONS REMAIN IN PRIVATE HANDS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/ART/JWH/PLM
    30-Sep-98 12:02 PM EDT (1602 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [02] BOSNIA/CONTACT GROUP BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
    NUMBER=5-41491
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA ARE MEETING IN LONDON THIS WEEK (EDS: THURSDAY) TO ASSESS THE RESULTS OF THE BOSNIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS, AND TO PLOT FUTURE STRATEGY IN EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS INITIAL DISCOURAGEMENT OVER THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTING HAS GIVEN WAY TO A NEW SENSE OF OPTIMISM AMONG U-S AND OTHER WESTERN OFFICIALS.

    TEXT: COMPLETE AND FINAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION HAVE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED. BUT THE INITIAL RETURNS WERE NOT ENCOURAGING. HEADLINES FOCUSSED ON THE DEFEAT OF BILJIANA PLAVSIC, THE SERB MODERATE WHO BROKE RANKS WITH WAR-TIME LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND BEGAN TO STEER BOSNIA'S SERB ENTITY TOWARD COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD.

    MRS. PLAVSIC'S DEFEAT PROMPTED SOME ANALYSTS TO QUESTION WHETHER THERE WAS ANY POINT IN MAINTAINING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT TO BOSNIA.

    BUT AS MORE COMPLETE RETURNS BECAME AVAILABLE, THE PICTURE BEGAN TO CHANGE. MRS. PLAVSIC'S MODERATE SUPPORTERS GAINED STRENGTH IN THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF HARDLINERS. AND MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, THE HARDLINE CANDIDATE FOR THE SERB SEAT ON BOSNIA'S THREE MEMBER PRESIDENCY, WAS SOUNDLY BEATEN.

    ROBERT GELBARD, THE TOP U-S ENVOY TO BOSNIA, SAYS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MR. KRAJISNIK'S DEFEAT CANNOT BE OVERESTIMATED.

    ///GELBARD ACT///

    THIS MAN, WITH HIS PARTY IN THE PARLIAMENT, BLOCKED ANY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE JOINT INSTITUTIONS, SO WE CONSIDER THIS (KRAJISNIK'S DEFEAT) TO BE OF EXTRAORDINARY IMPORTANCE.

    ///END ACT///

    MR. GELBARD SAYS HE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE MEDIA PORTRAYAL OF THE ELECTION AS A VICTORY FOR THE HARDLINE NATIONALISTS IN ALL THREE OF BOSNIA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

    THE RESULTS DEMONSTRATE JUST THE OPPOSITE, HE SAYS, WITH SERB, MUSLIM AND CROAT NATIONALISTS LOSING GROUND. /// OPT /// AND THAT, HE ADDS, AUGURS WELL FOR EFFORTS TO COMPLETE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD.

    ///GELBARD ACT///

    NOW WE SEE AN EXTRAORDINARILY POSITIVE SET OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO MAKE SERIOUS PROGRESS ON THE FUTURE OF THE STATE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

    ///END ACT////// END OPT ///

    MR. GELBARD SAYS THE CONTACT GROUP'S TOP PRIORITY IN THE WAKE OF THE VOTING IS THE RETURN OF BOSNIA'S REFUGEES -- ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FLED AREAS THAT ARE NOT NOW CONTROLLED BY THEIR OWN ETHNIC GROUP.

    THE PACE OF THESE SO-CALLED MINORITY RETURNS HAS BEEN SLOW IN BOTH THE SERB ENTITY AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.

    DURING THE WAR, MORE THAN 700-THOUSAND MUSLIMS AND CROATS WERE EXPELLED FROM WHAT IS NOW THE SERB REPUBLIC. FEWER THAN 12-HUNDRED HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RETURN SINCE THE DAYTON ACCORD WAS SIGNED.

    CHRISTOPHER BENNETT, WHO MONITORS BOSNIAN DEVELOPMENTS FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP, SAYS WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS NEW LEGISLATION TO REVERSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

    ///BENNETT ACT///

    THE PROPERTY LEGISLATION WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR EFFECTIVELY EXPROPRIATED THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMES. NOW ALL OF THESE LAWS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, ABANDONED PROPERTY NEED TO BE REFORMED, NEED TO ACTUALLY BE STRUCK FROM THE LAWS OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA (SERB REPUBLIC) AND REPLACED WITH SOMETHING WHICH ENABLES RETURNEES TO CLAIM BACK THEIR PROPERTY.

    ///END ACT///

    /// OPT ///

    MR. BENNETT BELIEVES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE -- AS HE PUTS IT -- TO MICRO-MANAGE (FULLY CONTROL) DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DAYTON ACCORD. BUT HE BELIEVES THIS WILL ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY RIDING ROUGHSHOD OVER (COMPELLING) BOSNIA'S DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED LEADERS. /// END OPT ///

    THE ULTRA-NATIONALISTS MAY HAVE BEEN WEAKENED AS A RESULT OF SEPTEMBER'S ELECTION, BUT MR. BENNETT AND OTHER ANALYSTS SAY BOSNIA'S WAR-TIME LEADERS CLEARLY RETAIN THEIR GRIP ON POWER.

    MR. BENNETT BELIEVES THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION LIES IN FUNDAMENTAL REFORM OF BOSNIA'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT NO POLITICAL CANDIDATE CAN COUNT ON VICTORY SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF SUPPORT FROM HIS OWN ETHNIC GROUP.

    BOSNIA'S PROVISIONAL ELECTION COMMISSION HAS BEEN DISCUSSING SEVERAL COMPLEX REFORM PLANS. AND THE PACE OF THAT DEBATE IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE IN THE MONTHS TO COME. (SIGNED)
    NEB/DBR/GE
    30-Sep-98 1:21 PM EDT (1721 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [03] KOSOVO MASSACRE (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (GOLUBOVAC, KOSOVO)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239493
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: ONLY ONE DAY AFTER WESTERN NEWS REPORTERS CARRIED STORIES OF OVER A DOZEN MASSACRED ETHNIC ALBANIAN CIVILIANS IN CENTRAL KOSOVO, VILLAGERS IN A NEARBY TOWN SAID WEDNESDAY THAT 13 MORE MEN WERE SUMMARILY EXECUTED -- ALL SHOT-DEAD ALONG A WOODEN FENCE. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM THE SCENE IN THE VILLAGE OF GOLUBOVAC (EDS: GO-'LEW-BOW-VATS).

    TEXT: ON A HILL OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE, ANGRY ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES SAID THAT SERB SECURITY FORCES SURROUNDED THEM ON SATURDAY MORNING.

    IN A COURTYARD IN THE VILLAGE CENTER, SOME OLDER ALBANIAN MEN POINTED TO SEVERAL BLOOD STAINS WHERE -- THEY SAID -- 13 MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 50 WERE LINED UP AND SHOT DEAD ON SATURDAY EVENING.

    A YOUNG MAN WHO SAYS HE IS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN LIVING NEAR THE VILLAGE AS A REFUGEE, SAYS HE FLED TO A NEARBY RIDGE EARLY SATURDAY AND WATCHED AS SERB POLICE AND MILITARY UNITS MOVED IN AND SURROUNDED A GROUP OF SEVERAL HUNDRED ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

    THE STUDENT EXPLAINS HOW THE SERB FORCES ORDERED THE MEN AND WOMEN TO LINE UP IN SEPARATE GROUPS ON THE HILL.

    ///STUDENT ACT -- IN ENGLISH ///

    THEY SAID COME WITH YOUR FAMILY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO YOU -- AND THEY LIED TO THEM -- THEY PUT THE WOMEN AND THE GIRLS AND THE CHILDREN ON ONE SIDE, AND THEN THEY TOOK THEM AND KILLED THEM IN THE VILLAGE. THERE WERE 13.

    //END ACT//

    THE AFTERMATH OF WHAT VILLAGERS SAID WAS AN EXECUTION-STYLE KILLING IN GOLUBOVAC LOOKED SIMILAR TO THE SCENE DISCOVERED IN THE NEARBY VILLAGE GORNJE OBRINJE ONLY A DAY EARLIER.

    IN THAT KILLING, 16 BODIES WERE FOUND, MANY OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED AT CLOSE RANGE.

    ETHNIC ALBANIANS ALLEGED MASSACRES WERE COMMITTED BY SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES. REPORTS OF THE KILLINGS HAVE SPARKED NEW THREATS FROM WESTERN GOVERNMENTS TO USE NATO AIR POWER -- PERHAPS BY EARLY NEXT WEEK -- TO STOP THE SERBIAN ACTION AGAINST THE ALBANIANS.

    //REST OPT//

    HERE IN GOLUBOVAC, VILLAGERS SAY THAT AT LEAST 30 SERB TROOPS MARCHED THE REFUGEES DOWN A HILL SATURDAY, TELLING THEM THAT THEY WERE BEING RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES.

    VILLAGERS SAID THE TROOPERS LATER BEGAN TORTURING THEIR VICTIMS AT ABOUT 10 IN THE MORNING, SHOOTING 13 OF THEM AT ABOUT FIVE (O'CLOCK) IN THE AFTERNOON. (SIGNED)
    NEB/PS/PCF/PLM
    30-Sep-98 1:20 PM EDT (1720 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] KOSOVO SITREP (DEBRIEFER) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239483
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: VOA LONDON EDITOR PAUL FRANCUCH HAS JUST TALKED BY PHONE WITH OUR REPORTER IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF PRISTINA, KOSOVO REGARDING THE LATEST ALLEGATION OF MASS KILLINGS. HERE'S SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION (OPT AS NEEDED). FRANCUCH: OUR REPORTER IN PRISTINA, PHILIP SMUCKER, IS ON THE LINE. PHILIP, TODAY, WEDNESDAY YOU WENT TO ANOTHER TOWN WHERE APPARENTLY THERE WAS A MASSACRE REPORT AND YOU SAW THE SITUATION. THE TOWN IS GOLUBAVAC, ABOUT 30 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF PRISTINA. WHAT DID YOU FIND? SMUCKER: WELL ON A HILL THERE WERE A LOT OF REFUGEES RECONGREGATING UNDER PLASTIC TENTS. THEY HAD BEEN ROUNDED-UP ON SATURDAY, THEY SAID. THEY SAID THE MEN WERE SEPARATED FROM THE WOMEN. ONE YOUNG MAN ... WHO STOOD IN A TREE LINE NOT FAR SAID HE SAW ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. HE SPOKE IN ENGLISH AS HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SERB SECURITY FORCES SAID NO ONE WOULD BE INJURED, THERE WOULD BE NO RETRIBUTION, THEY WERE JUST DIVIDING THE MEN FROM THE WOMEN, PRESUMABLY JUST TO DO A CHECK ON THEIR IDENTITY. (THIS MAN SAID) THEN THE MEN WERE TAKEN DOWN THE HILL AND 13 OF THEM WERE TAKEN (AND PUT) AGAINST A WOODEN FENCE AND SHOT IN A ... SUMMARY EXECUTION-STYLE KILLING. NOW THERE WERE APPARENTLY NO SURVIVORS ... THERE WERE POOLS OF BLOOD, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE BURNED IN THE WOODS. WE SAW BODIES BEING BURIED TODAY ON A HILLSIDE GRAVE SITE, WHERE THE REFUGEES HAVE RECONGREGATED. FRANCUCH: THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE 13? SMUCKER: YES. THERE WERE SOME ... STRAY BODIES FROM THE WOODS THAT THEY WERE COLLECTING. SOME THEY SAID HAD BEEN SKINNED OR TORTURED WITH KNIVES AND THEN BURNED WITH PETROL. OTHERS HAD BEEN KILLED -- OLD MEN TRYING TO FLEE -- BY SNIPERS, FLYING BULLETS. SO THOSE PEOPLE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN IN THE LINE-UP (WITH THE 13). BUT THEY DID SHOW EVIDENCE OF 13 GRAVES OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE LINE-UP. AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS ABOUT, "WELL, WHAT ARE PEOPLE MAKING UP IN TRYING TO EXPLAIN HERE AND TELL THE WORLD?" THE PEOPLE DID OFFER TO EXHUME THE BODIES AND WE SAID IT'S BETTER TO LEAVE THE DEAD TO REST IN PEACE. BUT THEY DID OFFER TO EXHUME THE BODIES FROM THE GRAVES. FRANCUCH: SO YOU DID NOT SEE THE 13? YOU JUST SAW THE 13 GRAVES? SMUCKER: WE SAW ONE CHARRED BODY OF ONE MAN THEY SAID HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LINE-UP. NOW IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT MAN HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO THE WOODS SUBSEQUENTLY AND TORCHED. THERE WERE VARYING STORIES ABOUT WHETHER THIS MAN WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THAT LINE-UP, OR HE WAS A SEPARATE CASE. WE (ALSO) SAW TWO OTHER BODIES -- ONE OF AN OLD MAN WHO HAD BEEN SHOT WHILE RUNNING UP THE HILL AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER BODY -- BUT THEY WERE BRINGING ANOTHER BODY TO THE LOCATION ON A STRETCHER, BUT IT NEVER GOT THERE. FRANCUCH: ON TUESDAY, YOU SAW THE AFTERMATH OF THIS SLAUGHTER IN OBRINJE WHERE THERE WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AMONG THE BODIES. TODAY, SERBIAN POLICE ARE SAYING THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLING OF THESE VILLAGERS. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THIS FINDING YESTERDAY, WHICH IS GETTING AN AWFUL LOT OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION? SMUCKER: IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE BOZIDAR FILIC, WHO IS THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SERBIAN POLICE HERE IN KOSOVO, STOOD UP TODAY AND HE GAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESS CONFERENCE. HE DIDN'T ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS. HE STARTED IT BY SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE AN INVESTIGATION. AND THEN HIS LINE CHANGED A BIT BECAUSE HE SAID THAT HE WAS SURE THAT NONE OF THE SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES WERE IN THE AREA OR PARTICIPATED IN THE KILLING OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO IT WAS A LITTLE UNCLEAR REALLY WHAT'S THE LINE THE SERBS ARE TAKING, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF AN ATROCITY HERE AND THEY DON'T SEEM TERRIBLY DILIGENT AT THE MOMENT ABOUT FINDING OUT WHAT SECURITY FORCES WERE IN THE AREA AND THEN CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION WITH THE SERB SECURITY FORCES. ONE THING YOU HEAR FROM ALBANIANS AND SERBS IS THAT IT WAS PRETTY UNLIKELY THAT ANY ALBANIANS HAD KILLED THEIR OWN CHILDREN. FRANCUCH: YOU ALSO TALKED WITH SOMEBODY IN BELGRADE IN THE YUGOSLAV INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DO RELATING TO THESE MASSACRE CHARGES? SMUCKER: THE YUGOSLAV MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SAID THEY HEARD ABOUT THOSE REPORTS IN THE MEDIA AND NOW THEY WANT TO HEAR THEM AS DIRECT REPORTS FROM SOMEBODY IN THE FIELD, EITHER I GUESS FROM THE ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO ARE STILL SURROUNDED BY THE POLICE, OR BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ARE YET PUSHING FOR A PROSECUTION IN THIS CASE. IT'S A TRICKY BUSINESS AND IT STRIKES OF BECOMING EMBROILED IN AN INTERNAL CONFLICT THAT THE WEST DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN. FRANCUCH: NOW THESE VICTIMS WERE ALSO VIEWED BY MEMBERS OF WHAT WAS IT? THE CONTACT GROUP? SMUCKER: ACTUALLY, THERE'S A WESTERN OBSERVER TEAM HERE COMPRISED OF AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS. THE AMERICANS HAD ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE SPOT THE DAY BEFORE AND SEEN THE BODIES AND WRITTEN A REPORT THAT WAS PRETTY DETAILED IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY SAW, HOW THE HEADS WERE BLOWN-OUT, HOW THEY THOUGHT THE KILLING TOOK PLACE AT CLOSE RANGE. NECESSARILY, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH THAT. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY SAW IT FIRST AND THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF SLAUGHTER OF WOMEN OF CHILDREN, WHICH TAKES THE KILLING HERE TO ANOTHER LEVEL. (ENDS) NEB/PS/PCF/
    30-Sep-98 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [05] U-N / KOSOVO (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239498
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DENOUNCED THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, BLAMING IT FOR BRUTAL KILLINGS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

    TEXT: A STATEMENT FROM U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE IS OUTRAGED BY EYEWITNESS REPORTS OF ATROCITIES CARRIED OUT BY YUGOSLAV SECURITY FORCES IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE STATEMENT, READ ALOUD TO REPORTERS BY U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD, BLAMES THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT -- THE F-R-Y -- FOR THE KILLINGS.

    /// ECKHARD ACT ///

    THESE REPORTS ARE PARTICULARLY SHOCKING TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN LIGHT OF DENIALS RECEIVED FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE F-R-Y, WHOM HE MET YESTERDAY [TUESDAY], THAT SUCH ACTIONS WERE TAKING PLACE.

    /// END ACT ///

    MR. ANNAN JOINS A WIDE RANGE OF LEADERS IN CONDEMNING THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT FOR ITS CRACKDOWN ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE TROUBLED PROVINCE.

    /// REST OPTIONAL ///

    YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS DENY THERE HAS BEEN ANY CRACKDOWN. THEY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN ERADICATING SEPARATIST TERRORISTS IN THE PROVINCE. MR. ANNAN, IN HIS STATEMENT, SAYS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER AND DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST PROVOCATIVE ACTS BY EXTREMISTS. BUT HE SAYS THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR WHAT HE CALLS THE PATTERN OF TERROR, INCLUDING THE BURNING OF HOUSES, LOOTING, KILLING OF LIVESTOCK AND WANTON MURDER THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS. HE SAYS SUCH ACTIONS ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

    THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR AN END TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO, PLACING MOST OF THE BLAME FOR THE CONFLICT ON YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN SOON TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR
    30-Sep-98 2:53 PM EDT (1853 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [06] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239473
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, SADAKO OGATA, WARNS OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, IF TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO RETURN HOME BEFORE THE APPROACHING ONSET OF WINTER. MS. OGATA, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED TO GENEVA FROM A FIVE-DAY VISIT TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND ALBANIA, GAVE A GLOOMY ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVAILING SITUATION IN KOSOVO. REPORTER LISA SCHLEIN HAS MORE.

    TEXT: U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS PEOPLE'S LIVES WILL BE AT RISK IF THEY DO NOT FIND PROPER SHELTER BEFORE WINTER BEGINS. SHE SAYS THE PEOPLE SHE TALKED TO WANT TO RETURN HOME. BUT SHE ADDS THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED AND PARALYZED BY FEAR.

    /// OGATA ACT ///

    I CAN SAY VERY CLEARLY THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS DISPLACEMENT IS FEAR ... FEAR CAUSED BY ARRIVAL OF POLICE, HARASSMENT, SHELLING AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE THE VILLAGES, BURNING AND LOOTING, ETC.

    /// END ACT ///

    MS. OGATA SAYS SHE TOLD THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC, THAT KOSOVO'S DISPLACED ETHNIC ALBANIANS WOULD NOT RETURN HOME UNLESS THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AND VIOLENCE BY YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS AND POLICE STOPPED. SHE SAYS MR. MILOSOVIC AGREED THE REFUGEES SHOULD GO BACK HOME BEFORE THE ONSET OF WINTER. BUT MS. OGATA SAYS SHE AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAD, WHAT SHE CALLS -- DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION."

    // OPT //

    THE U-N ESTIMATES AROUND 300-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE FLED THE WAR IN KOSOVO. ABOUT 50-THOUSAND ARE BELIEVED TO BE LIVING OUT IN THE OPEN IN THE HILLS AND FORESTS. MS. OGATA SAYS HER AGENCY HAS EXPANDED ITS HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES IN KOSOVO.

    /// SECOND OGATA ACT ///

    AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT HUMANITARIAN ACTION CANNOT RESOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS BECAUSE THE CRISIS IS THE RESULT OF UNSETTLED POLITICAL PROBLEMS. AND, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SEVERAL THINGS QUICKLY -- GENUINE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, FOLLOWED BY A JUST POLITICAL SETTLEMENT, FOLLOWED BY A LONG PERIOD OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING IN THE COUNTRY.

    /// END ACT // END OPT //

    U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SADAKO OGATA SAYS SHE DOES NOT ADVOCATE THE USE OF FORCE BY NATO TO END THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. BUT SHE ADDS THAT IF FORCE IS USED, IT WILL HAVE TO BE LINKED TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION -- SOMETHING SHE SAYS WILL BE A LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LS/PCF/RAE
    30-Sep-98 8:04 AM EDT (1204 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [07] U-S/KOSOVO (L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239504
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS VOICED SUPPORT FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE LATEST ATROCITY AGAINST CIVILIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. REPORTS SAY AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE--INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN-- WERE KILLED AND SOME MUTILATED AFTER SERB FORCES ENTERED THEIR VILLAGE. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS MILITARY ACTION IS A REAL PROSPECT IF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC DOES NOT STOP THE OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO.

    TEXT: IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A WEEK SINCE THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DEMANDING A CEASE FIRE IN KOSOVO--WHERE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS BY THE FIGHTING. SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST SEPARATIST ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND THAT HAS CREATED HUGE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED CIVILIANS.

    WITH WINTER APPROACHING, MANY ARE WITHOUT SHELTER AND OFFICIALS SAY A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN THE HEART OF EUROPE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY.

    NATO PLANNING FOR SOME SORT OF MILITARY RESPONSE TO THE SERB REFUSAL TO HALT THE OFFENSIVE IS REPORTED TO BE COMPLETE AND ONLY A POLITICAL DECISION REMAINS. ACCORDING TO STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY, U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS TO REPORT TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK ON MR. MILOSEVIC'S COMPLIANCE OR NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION DEMANDING A CEASE FIRE.

    MR. FOLEY SAYS SO FAR THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SERB FORCES HAVE BEEN REDUCED IN KOSOVO.

    /// FOLEY ACT ///

    I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN REPORTS, INCLUDING ON TELEVISION, THAT SOME UNITS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, BUT OUR INFORMATION IS THAT WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE; AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER UNITS ARE ROTATING INTO KOSOVO. WE CERTAINLY HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF A NET DRAW-DOWN OF FORCES AND EQUALLY TO THE POINT, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE REPORTS OF FIGHTING. BOTH SMALL ARMS FIRE AND ARTILLERY FIRE WERE REPORTED TODAY IN THE SUVA-REKA PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN KOSOVO.

    /// END ACT ///

    MR. FOLEY REFUSED TO GIVE A TIMETABLE OF WHEN NATO MIGHT USE FORCE,BUT --IN HIS WORDS --THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD FOR MR. MILOSEVIC.

    /// FOLEY ACT ///

    CLEARLY, MILOSEVIC HAS BEGUN TO GET THE MESSAGE THAT MILITARY ACTIONIS A LIVE AND REAL PROSPECT IF HE DOESN'T REVERSE COURSE.

    /// END ACT ///

    ON THE LATEST MASSACRES OF VILLAGERS IN KOSOVO, MR. FOLEY SAID IT SHOWS THE NEED FOR OVERALL ACCESS OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND HE CALLED ON THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLINGS.(SIGNED)
    NEB/MGB/PT
    30-Sep-98 4:32 PM EDT (2032 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [08] U-S/KOSOVO, ALTERNATE (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239502
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CONDEMNING THE LATEST ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO AND WARNING BELGRADE AUTHORITIES TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR A RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS SHORT OF NATO INTERVENTION. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

    TEXT: ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE INFORMATION THAT AT LEAST PARTIALLY CORROBORATES REPORTS OF ONGOING ATTACKS ON KOSOVO CIVILIANS BY SERB SECURITY FORCES.

    THEY ARE WARNING THAT PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN AMONG THE NATO ALLIES FOR BELGRADE AUTHORITIES TO COMPLY WITH LAST WEEK'S U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION FOR A CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS, AND THE REMOVAL OF SERB PARAMILITARY UNITS BEING BLAMED FOR ATROCITIES.

    AT A BRIEFING, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID INTERNATIONAL FORENSIC EXPERTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN TO INVESTIGATE THE APPARENT MASSACRES OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO IN RECENT DAYS -- GRAPHIC PHOTOS OF WHICH ARE BEING CARRIED IN THE U-S MEDIA. MR. MCCURRY SAYS IT UNDERSCORES WHAT HE CALLED THE UGLINESS AND BRUTALITY OF THE SERB PRESENCE ON KOSOVO:

    ///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///

    THESE ATROCITIES ARE PART AND PARCEL OF THE HORROR THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY IN THE BALKANS FOR YEARS, AND IN KOSOVO SINCE SERB AUTHORITIES MOVED IN A VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY OUTRAGEOUS WAY AGAINST THOSE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET SOME FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WITH RESPECT TO THEIR OWN POLITICAL RIGHTS.

    ///END ACT///

    MILITARY PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED BY NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO COMPLY WITH THE U-N RESOLUTION. MR. MCCURRY SAYS IF THERE IS NOT A SUFFICIENT RESPONSE BY BELGRADE AND DIPLOMACY IS EXHAUSTED, ADDITIONAL MEASURES WOULD, IN HIS WORDS, CERTAINLY BE IN THE OFFING.

    OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS BY SERB FORCES -- WHICH BELGRADE SAYS ARE AIMED AGAINST THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS, HAVE DRIVEN A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES AND RAISED FEARS OF A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER THIS COMING WINTER. (SIGNED)
    NEB/DAG/WDC/GE
    30-Sep-98 3:50 PM EDT (1950 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [09] POPE / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239475
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND WILL TRAVEL FRIDAY TO CROATIA HIS SECOND VISIT TO THE BALKAN NATION. SABINA CASTELFRANCO IN ROME REPORTS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE POPE'S WEEKEND TRIP IS EXPECTED TO BE THE BEATIFICATION OF A CONTROVERSIAL ROMAN CATHOLIC CARDINAL.

    TEXT: ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE OF CROATIA ARE CATHOLIC. AND POPE JOHN PAUL IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME FOR THIS SECOND VISIT TO THE COUNTRY DURING HIS NEARLY 20 YEARS AS HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

    THE HEAD OF THE COMMITTEE ORGANIZING THE POPE'S VISIT, MONSIGNOR VLADIMIR STANKOVIC, SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIP IS TWOFOLD.

    /// STANKOVIC ACT ///

    FIRSTLY, AND THIS IS THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF HIS VISIT, THE BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD ARCHBISHOP ALOJZIJE STEPINAC. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY MARIJA BISTRICA ON THIRD OCTOBER. SECONDLY, A VISIT TO THE CITY OF SPLIT, IN DALMATIA, A CITY WHICH IS CELEBRATING 17-HUNDRED YEARS OF EXISTENCE OF THE CITY.

    /// END ACT ///

    THE POPE WILL MEET WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND WITH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL LEADERS. HE WILL VISIT THREE CROATIAN CITIES -- ZAGREB, SOLIN, AND SPLIT.

    THE FOCAL POINT OF HIS TRIP WILL BE THE BEATIFICATION CEREMONY OF A CONTROVERSIAL CROATIAN ARCHBISHOP WHICH WILL GO AHEAD DESPITE REQUESTS BY AN ANTI-NAZI ORGANIZATION THAT IT BE POSTPONED. MONSIGNOR STANKOVIC EXPLAINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARCHBISHOP.

    /// STANKOVIC ACT ///

    CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OF ZAGREB ALOJZIJE STEPINAC -- HE IS A SYMBOL, AS ONE EXAMPLE AMONG MANY MARTYRS FOR THE FAITH PERSECUTED BY THE COMMUNIST REGIMES IN THE EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

    /// END ACT ///

    AN ANTI-NAZI GROUP, THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER, RECENTLY CONDEMNED THE BEATIFICATION OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC, SAYING THE CARDINAL WAS A NAZI SYMAPTHIZER WHO DID NOT OPENLY OPPOSE THE GERMAN-INSTALLED GOVERNMENT IN CROATIA DURING WORLD WAR TWO.

    BUT MONSIGNOR STANKOVIC SAID THE BEATIFICATION OF CARDINAL STEPINAC IS -- IN HIS WORDS -- "A CLEAR RECOGNITION BY THE VATICAN FOR THE VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM." (SIGNED)
    NEB/SC/JWH
    30-Sep-98 8:21 AM EDT (1221 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [10] ROMANIA'S ROMANI (GYPSY) MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS FEATURE
    NUMBER=7-30584
    TELEPHONE=619-3464
    EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST
    CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES)

    INTRO: THE ROMA, OR "GYPSIES," REPRESENT ROMANIA'S SECOND LARGEST MINORITY GROUP. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THE ROMA ARE THE MOST DISADVANTAGED OF ROMANIA'S 18 NATIONAL

    AND ETHNIC MINORITIES. VOA'S JUDITH LATHAM HAS A REPORT

    ABOUT THE SITUATION OF THE ROMANI MINORITY IN ROMANIA. HERE'S ______.

    TEXT: ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER OF ROMA, OR GYPSIES, LIVING IN ROMANIA DIFFER. ACCORDING TO GYORGY TOKAJ [ZJORZJ TOH-KYE], MINISTER OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORITIES, THERE ARE ABOUT ONE MILLION ROMA. AND, HE ADDS, THEY HAVE REMAINED THE MOST DISADVANTAGED MINORITY, DESPITE CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL NATIONAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- TOKAJ (ESTABLISH ROMANIAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT ONE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:22) "IN THIS COMPETITIVE SOCIETY, THE LACK OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING CAUSES THEM MORE PROBLEMS THAN THE MAJORITY. THERE ARE ISSUES CONCERNING EDUCATION, SOCIOLOGY, EVEN HEALTH CARE, AND MANY OTHERS, BUT IN ALL THOSE AREAS THIS MINORITY IS DEEPLY DISADVANTAGED, A SITUATION THAT WE CANNOT TOLERATE."

    TEXT: DAN OPRESCU [OH-PRES-KOO], FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY PROGRAM AT THE SOROS FOUNDATION IN BUCHAREST, HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH ROMANIAN ROMA, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION. MR. OPRESCU NOW HEADS THE ROMA OFFICE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES. ALTHOUGH THE LAST OFFICIAL CENSUS PLACES THE NUMBER OF ROMA AT ABOUT 500 THOUSAND, HE SAYS, MANY SCHOLARS BELIEVE THERE ARE IN FACT BETWEEN ONE-AND-A-HALF AND TWO MILLION ROMA IN ROMANIA. IF SO, ADDS MR. OPRESCU, THERE ARE NEARLY AS MANY ROMA AS ETHNIC HUNGARIANS, BUT THE SITUATION OF THE ROMA IS FAR WORSE. TAPE B: CUT TWO -- OPRESCU (0:48) "BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND BECAUSE OF CERTAIN TRADITIONS, THE ROMANI PEOPLE ARE DISADVANTAGED, SO WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION. ONE OF THE PREJUDICES AGAINST ROMA IN ROMANIA IS THAT THEY'RE GUILTY UNTIL PROVED INNOCENT. SO, FIRST ARREST [THEM], FIRST BEAT [THEM], FIRST INTERROGATE [THEM], AND THEN MAYBE THEY WILL BE RELEASED. MAYBE. I KNOW THAT THE POLICE KEEP THE ROMANI PEOPLE SEPARATELY WITH PHOTOS AND FILES AND SO ON. IT IS A REALITY. AND THE MAJORITY IS QUITE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THAT A LOT OF ROMANI PEOPLE ARE NOT WORKING, THEY ARE STEALING. IT'S NOT ABOUT BIG CRIMES, IT'S ABOUT STEALING FROM POCKETS."

    TEXT: ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON "VIOLENCE AGAINST ROMA IN ROMANIA" PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTER IN BUDAPEST, ROMA ARE "SYSTEMATICALLY SUBJECTED TO POLICE HARRASSMENT." THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE PATTERN OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AGAINST ROMA IN THE EARLY 1990'S "HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A NEW PATTERN OF POLICE RAIDS CONDUCTED IN ROMANI COMMUNITIES." BUT, ELENA CRUCERU [EH-LAY-NAH KROO-CHAIR-OO] OF THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS IN BUCHAREST SAYS THE SITUATION OF THE ROMA IN ROMANIA IS BEGINNING TO IMPROVE. IN FACT, THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS -- A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY -- HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEEN INVOLVED IN MEDIATIATING CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE ROMA AND OFFICIALS IN ROMANIA AND THER EAST-CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. TAPE B: CUT THREE -- CRUCERU (1:20) "THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS, AND BETWEEN OFFICIALS LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE IMPROVED. AND I THINK THIS IS LARGELY A RESULT OF OUR WORK IN PREVENTING MOB VIOLENCE. THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL MINORITIES HAS A SPECIAL BRANCH, A ROMA OFFICE, AND THEY ARE REALLY WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ROMA COMMUNITY. (OPT) BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT MAKE THIS ACTIVITY DIFFICULT. ONE OF THEM COMES FROM THE ROMANI COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A COMMON STRATEGY, AND THEY HAVE MANY PARTIES, AND THEY'RE NOT ORGANIZED YET, SO THE ROMA OFFICE HAS TO DEAL WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS. (END OPT) THE PROBLEMS OF THE ROMANI COMMUNITY ARE MOSTLY SOCIAL PROBLEMS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER 1989, THEIR PROBLEMS HAD MORE OF AN ETHNIC CHARACTER. THE PROBLEMS OF THE ROMA COMMUNITY [TODAY] ARE CONNECTED WITH EDUCATION, JOBS, SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTH."

    TEXT: IMPROVING THE EDUCATION OF ROMA WILL IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS; HOWEVER, MS. CRUCERU SAYS VERY FEW ROMANI YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FINISH SECONDARY SCHOOL. TAPE B: CUT FOUR -- CRUCERU (0:22) "UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH LAST YEAR THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TRIED TO HAVE SPECIAL PLACES AT THE UNIVERSITY FOR ROMANI STUDENTS, THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL -- FIRST OF ALL BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY POOR, AND THEY PREFER TO WORK INSTEAD OF GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL."

    TEXT: ELENA CRUCERU SAYS THAT ONLY ONE IN A THOUSAND ROMA IN ROMANIA HAS A UNIVERSITY DEGREE, AND THE ROMA CURRENTLY HAVE ONLY ONE REPRESENTATIVE IN PARLIAMENT. ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT OF THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS, OR P-E-R [PURR], ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM FOR ROMA IS THEIR "NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL" IN THE MASS MEDIA. LAST YEAR P-E-R HELD AN INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP IN ROMANIA ON MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE ROMA. ACCORDING TO P-E-R, ROMA ARE LOOKED UPON AS "FOREIGNERS" IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, AND THEY ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS "DARK-SKINNED" AND ARE SAID TO HAVE "INHERENT DEVIANT BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS." THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS SAYS ONE OF THE MAJOR GOALS OF THE ROMA IN ROMANIA IS TO ENHANCE THE IMAGE OF THEIR COMMUNITY FROM BEING CONSIDERED AS "GYPSIES," OR "TSIGAN" [SEE-GAHN], A WORD ORIGINALLY MEANING "SLAVE," TO ROMA WHO HAVE EQUAL STATUS AS CITIZENS IN A STATE GOVERNED BY THE RULE OF LAW.
    30-Sep-98 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [11] E-U / LOME (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239496
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS OPENED NEW TRADE TALKS WITH A 71-NATION GROUP OF COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND THE PACIFIC, KNOWN AS LOME CONVENTION NATIONS. THE TALKS ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP FREE TRADE AREAS BY THE YEAR 2005. BUT V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE OPENING STATEMENTS SHOW SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES BY THE TWO SIDES.

    TEXT: THE NEGOTIATIONS LAUNCHED HERE ARE DESIGNED TO UPDATE THE 23-YEAR-OLD AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIAL NATIONS OF EUROPE AND THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTH THAT ARE PART OF THE LOME CONVENTION.

    THE EUROPEAN UNION WANTS TO REPLACE TRADE PREFERENCES GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPING NATIONS WITH FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH BETTER OFF REGIONAL GROUPINGS OR INDIVIDUAL NATIONS.

    THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS, SPEAKING FOR THE 71 NATION GROUP, POINTS OUT THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION SPENDS MORE TO SUBSIDIZE COWS WITH ITS LIVESTOCK SUBSIDY THAN IT SPENDS TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE LOME CONVENTION COUNTRIES..

    THE MINISTER, BILLIE MILLER,T ELLS THE EUROPEAN NATIONS THAT HER GROUP STILL NEEDS TRADE PREFERENCES. SHE WARNS FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WILL NOT MEET THE POORER COUNTRIES' NEEDS.

    /// MILLER ACT ///

    DISCUSSION OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION FREQUENTLY TENDS TO IGNORE THE FACT THAT IN REALITY WHILST REMOVAL OF TRADE BARRIERS MAY BE DESIRABLE AS AN ULTIMATE GOAL, THAT IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO THE EXPANSION OF TRADE. IN FACT, EVEN AS TRADE BARRIERS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN, NON-TRADE BARRIERS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS HAVE BECOME MORE PREVALENT.

    /// END ACT ///

    THE BARBADOS MINISTER ALSO EXPRESSES CONCERN THAT EXPANSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE WILL DIVERT THE UNION'S ATTENTION FROM THE NEEDS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTH.

    FOR ITS PART, THE EUROPEAN UNION WANTS TO GIVE A MORE POLITICAL DIMENSION TO A NEW TRADE AGREEMENT WITH LOME CONVENTION COUNTRIES. FOR INSTANCE, THE UNION WANTS TO START A DIALOGUE ABOUT AREAS OF INSTABILITY SUCH AS THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA. AND IT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND ELIMINATING CORRUPTION. DEVELOPING NATIONS SEE THIS APPROACH AS A MEANS OF SPLITTING THEIR UNITY.

    MINISTER MILLER SAYS THE EXISTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SHOULD BE (EXTENDED) AND DISCUSSION ABOUT FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE LONGER THAN THE FIVE YEARS ENVISIONED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION.

    HANGING OVER DISCUSSION OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS IS THE CURRENT DEADLOCK BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SOUTH AFRICA. THEIR FREE TRADE TALKS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES OVER WINE AND FISHING RIGHTS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/RDP/JWH
    30-Sep-98 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [12] EDITORIAL: GERMANS VOTE FOR CHANGE

    DATE= OCTOBER 1, 1998
    TYPE= EDITORIAL
    NUMBER= 0-07985
    CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
    OCTOBER 1, 1998.

    ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

    VOICE:

    THIS WEEK, GERMAN VOTERS CHOSE A NEW GOVERNMENT. AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS AS CHANCELLOR, HELMUT KOHL WILL BE REPLACED BY GERHARD SCHROEDER. MR. SCHROEDER WAS THE CANDIDATE OF THE LIBERAL SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH WON THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT. HE SAID HE WOULD SEEK TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH THE GREENS, AN ENVIRONMENTALIST PARTY. MR. KOHL HEADED THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ALLIANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION AND ITS SISTER PARTY, THE CHRISTIAN SOCIAL UNION OF BAVARIA.

    IN A MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH MR. SCHROEDER. PRESIDENT CLINTON ALSO PRAISED MR. KOHL FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO GERMAN REUNIFICATION AND TO "THE STRENGTH OF [THE] EURO-ATLANTIC COMMUNITY AND PEACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."

    HELMUT KOHL FIRST BECAME CHANCELLOR OF WHAT WAS THEN WEST GERMANY IN 1982. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST NATO'S DEPLOYMENT OF MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES IN GERMANY AND OTHER WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. CHANCELLOR KOHL JOINED SUCH LEADERS AS PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER AND FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS MITTERRAND IN ARGUING THAT THE DEPLOYMENT WAS NECESSARY TO COUNTER THE SOVIET UNION'S MISSILE BUILDUP. NATO'S FIRM STAND WAS EVENTUALLY VINDICATED AS THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE BECAME FREE OF SOVIET DOMINATION AND THE SOVIET UNION ITSELF BROKE UP. WHEN THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN IN NOVEMBER 1989, CHANCELLOR KOHL WAS DETERMINED TO BRING EAST AND WEST GERMANY BACK TOGETHER. WITH STRONG BACKING FROM THE U.S., THIS GOAL WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN A YEAR, ON OCTOBER 3RD, 1990. TODAY, GERMANY FACES NEW CHALLENGES. IT IS A KEY PLAYER IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE GLOBAL STABILITY. IT ALSO HAS A MAJOR ROLE IN NATO ENLARGEMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. AS PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSED, GERMANY IS ONE OF AMERICA'S CLOSEST ALLIES. THE U.S. LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT.

    ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
    30-Sep-98 3:37 PM EDT (1937 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [13] FRANCE / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

    DATE=9/30/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-239492
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: GERMANY'S INCOMING CHANCELLOR, GERHARD SCHROEDER, VISITED FRANCE WEDNESDAY ON HIS FIRST TRIP TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY SINCE WINNING OFFICE ON SUNDAY. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE AIM OF MR. SCHROEDER'S VISIT WAS TO REASSURE FRENCH OFFICIALS THAT HE WILL MAINTAIN PRIVILEGED TIES WITH PARIS.

    TEXT: FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, FRANCE AND GERMANY HAVE REGARDED THEIR CLOSE POST-SECOND WORLD WAR ALLIANCE AS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EUROPEAN UNITY.

    BUT EVERY TIME THERE IS A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP IN ONE OR OTHER COUNTRY, THERE IS A PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY WITH FEARS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP MIGHT WEAKEN.

    THIS WAS NOTABLY THE CASE THREE YEARS AGO, JUST AFTER THE ELECTION OF THE CONSERVATIVE JACQUES CHIRAC TO THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY. THEN IT WAS GERMANY'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL WHO APPARENTLY WAS WORRIED THAT MR. CHIRAC MIGHT LEAN MORE TOWARD BRITAIN THAN GERMANY. THIS WEEK, WITH GERHARD SCHROEDER'S ELECTION VICTORY OVER MR. KOHL, IT HAS BEEN FRANCE'S TURN TO SHOW ANXIETY.

    THIS WAS PARTLY BECAUSE MR. SCHROEDER HAS MADE MUCH OF HIS CLOSE RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR. IN ADDITION, MR. BLAIR'S LABOUR PARTY SENT ADVISORS TO GERMANY TO HELP MR. SCHROEDER'S CAMPAIGN WHILE FRANCE CAREFULLY STAYED OUT OF ITS NEIGHBOR'S ELECTION BATTLE. AND IT WAS ALSO MR. BLAIR WHO WAS THE FIRST FOREIGN LEADER TO CALL MR. SCHROEDER TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS VICTORY.

    MR. CHIRAC, HOWEVER, WAS CLOSE BEHIND AND IMMEDIATELY INVITED MR. SCHROEDER TO VISIT FRANCE THIS WEEK. WHEN MR. SCHROEDER ARRIVED, HE WAS GRANTED THE FULL MILITARY HONORS NORMALLY RESERVED FOR A HEAD OF GOVERNMENT ALTHOUGH HE HAS NOT YET FORMED HIS CABINET.

    THE FRENCH CONSERVATIVE DAILY LE FIGARO SAID THE UNUSUAL FLURRY WAS A DIRECT REACTION TO FEARS THAT BRITAIN MIGHT REPLACE FRANCE AS GERMANY'S MAIN PARTNER.

    IN THE EVENT, HOWEVER, FRANCE WAS QUICK TO REMIND MR. SCHROEDER THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES' COOPERATION HAS BEEN VITAL TO EUROPEAN CONSTRUCTION IN THE PAST. THIS IS NOW EVEN MORE CRUCIAL AS THE FINAL STEPS TOWARD THE CREATION OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY ARE UNDER WAY.

    TO ENSURE THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO COORDINATE THEIR EUROPEAN POLICES, MR. SCHROEDER ACCEPTED A FRENCH INITIATIVE TO SET UP JOINT WORKING GROUPS ON THE REFORM OF EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND ON FINANCING EUROPEAN CONSTRUCTION.

    ANNOUNCING THIS DECISION, PRESIDENT CHIRAC SAID THAT HE AND HIS NEW GERMAN PARTNER HAD FOUND THAT THEY WERE IN WHAT HE CALLED "COMPLETE AGREEMENT" ON THEIR FUTURE APPROACH TO EUROPE. (SIGNED)
    NEB/JWN/JWH
    30-Sep-98 1:10 PM EDT (1710 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=09/30/98
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-10935
    TELEPHONE=619-3335
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
    CONTENT=

    //// EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E - D - T ! ! ////

    INTRO: THE ACTION BY THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, TO CUT INTEREST RATES BY A QUARTER OF A PERCENT IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION FROM THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS THIS WEDNESDAY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS; THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IN CONGRESS; THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS; AND CONCERNS THAT ALL IS NOT WELL WITH THE C-I-A. NOW, JOINING US AT THE MICROPHONE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

    TEXT: THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S MOVE TO CUT ONE OF THE KEY LENDING RATES IN ORDER TO BOLSTER THE U-S ECONOMY IN THE FACE OF A WORLD-WIDE RECESSION IS BEING ANALYZED IN SEVERAL EDITORIAL COLUMNS. "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS CALLING IT "A NUDGE FROM THE FED."

    VOICE: /// OPT /// BUSINESSES, UNIONS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN PRESSURING FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN FOR SOME MONTHS NOW TO EASE MONETARY POLICY. /// END OPT /// GIVEN HIS STEADY RECORD AT THE FED, WE THOUGHT MR. GREENSPAN DESERVED THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT WHILE HE CAUTIOUSLY RESISTED THE PRESSURE. NOW THAT HE HAS JUST AS CAUTIOUSLY LOWERED A KEY INTEREST RATE BY A QUARTER OF A PERCENTAGE POINT, HIS DECISION CARRIES CREDIBILITY. WITHOUT SPOOKING [FRIGHTENING] MARKETS OR UNDULY RISKING INFLATION, THE FED'S ACTION SHOULD HELP THE U-S ECONOMY AVOID TUMBLING INTO RECESSION .....

    TEXT: FOR ITS PART, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT "A CAUTIOUS RATE CUT" ADDING:

    VOICE: BY CHOOSING TO LOWER INTEREST RATES BY ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT, THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS OPTED FOR A GRADUAL AND MEASURED RESPONSE TO THE GROWING PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE WORLD ECONOMY. THE MOVE .... WAS WELCOME. BUT FINANCIAL MARKETS WERE NONETHELESS DISAPPOINTED,

    /// OPT ///

    BOTH BY THE AMOUNT OF THE CUT AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANKS WILL JOIN IN THE EFFORT TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE FACE OF THE DEFLATIONARY AND RECESSIONARY WINDS BLOWING FROM ASIA AND RUSSIA. /// END OPT /// ..... THE FED'S CAUTION MAY PROVE TO HAVE BEEN TOO GREAT, BUT THE CENTRAL BANK NONETHELESS IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR ACTING AT ALL.

    TEXT: THE DAY'S OTHER MAJOR AREA OF COMMENT IS ON THE RENEWED MIDDLE EAST PEACE EFFORT. THERE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS AFTER A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE EARLIER IN THE WEEK BETWEEN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN LEADER ARAFAT. SAYS "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND:

    VOICE: ... THE MEETING SET THE STAGE FOR A SUBSTANTIVE AGREEMENT ON KEY ISSUES LEADING TO FINAL-STATUS TALKS WHEN THE TWO MIDEAST LEADERS MEET AGAIN IN MID-OCTOBER AT CAMP DAVID - - A VENUE NO DOUBT CHOSEN IN HOPEFUL RECOLLECTION OF THE PEACE PACT ISRAEL AND EGYPT NEGOTIATED THERE TWO DECADES AGO. [MR.] ARAFAT AND [MR.] NETANYAHU HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO THE CENTERPIECE OF AN INTERIM AGREEMENT, THE U-S PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE ISRAEL WITHDRAW FROM 13 PERCENT OF THE WEST BANK, GIVING PALESTINIANS CONTROL OF MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF THAT TERRITORY. THE PULLOUT WOULD INCLUDE A PIECE OF LAND ..... TO BE MAINTAINED AS A DESERT NATURE PRESERVE ... ON WHICH NO PALESTINIAN SETTLEMENTS COULD BE BUILT.

    TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS ALSO PLEASED, NOTING:

    VOICE: /// OPT /// IT'S NOT MUCH TO CHEER, BUT AFTER 18 MONTHS OF ACRIMONY AND STALEMATE, THE TENTATIVE STEPS AGREED TO THIS WEEK BY ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT ARE ENCOURAGING. /// END OPT /// ..... CREDIT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS STEADY HAND, PERSISTENT CAJOLING, AND QUIET DIPLOMACY. IF NOTHING ELSE, IT AT LEAST HAS KEPT ALIVE HOPE FOR PEACE EVEN AS ACTS OF TERRORISM, POLITICAL BLUNDERS, AND WARRING EGOS DROVE MR. NETANYAHU AND MR. ARAFAT FURTHER APART. .... NOW COMES THE REAL TEST - - FORGING A DEAL AND MAKING IT STICK.

    TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" PRAISES THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR THE PROCEDURE IT IS GOING TO USE IN EXAMINING EVIDENCE RELATED TO THE SCANDAL OVER MR. CLINTON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN.

    VOICE: THE DECISIONS BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, HENRY HYDE, TO INSURE GREATER FAIRNESS AND OPENNESS IN THE EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY AFFAIR ARE SOUND ON THE MERITS. BUT THEY HAVE A LARGER IMPORTANCE AS ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THE DEBATE OVER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FUTURE CAN BE KEPT MOVING TOWARD SOME REASONABLY PROMPT RESOLUTION. "TIME" MAGAZINE FOUND THAT 35 PERCENT OF ITS POLLING SAMPLE WANTED MR. CLINTON OUT OF OFFICE, 29 PERCENT FAVORED CENSURE AND 34 PERCENT FAVORED NO PUNISHMENT. YOU DO NOT NEED A POLL, HOWEVER, TO SENSE THAT CITIZENS DO NOT WANT THIS TO DRAG OUT INDEFINITELY. BARRING THE EMERGENCE OF EXPLOSIVE NEW EVIDENCE, THERE IS NO REASON THAT IT SHOULD.

    TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS DUE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THE NATION'S FIRST BUDGET SURPLUS IN ABOUT 30 YEARS. THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO SPEND THAT SURPLUS IS HEATING UP. REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION CALLING FOR A TAX CUT. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS A "TAX CUT [IS] NO SOLUTION."

    VOICE: THE 80-BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT APPROVED BY THE G-O-P-LED HOUSE IS A JOKE - - AND THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. IF THE LEGISLATION WERE SERIOUS, AMERICANS WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT. ... THE MEASURE IS MERELY A BIT OF POLITICAL THEATER INTENDED TO GIVE INCUMBENTS HELP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THE BILL HAS NO REAL CHANCE OF PASSAGE IN THE SENATE. EVEN IF IT DID, PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD VETO IT. SO WHAT IS THE POINT OF DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL? BECAUSE IT REVEALS THE WEAKNESS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE LACK OF VISION AMONG DEMOCRATS AND THE BRUTAL CYNICISM OF REPUBLICANS. ..... IF THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS REALLY WANTED TO HELP THE COUNTRY, THEY WOULD ... START DOING REAL WORK ON THE BUDGET AND SOCIAL SECURITY. THE PRIORITIES NEED TO BE: ONE: PUT SOCIAL SECURITY ON THE PATH TO BEING SOLVENT FOR THE NEXT CENTURY; TWO: SET UP A SCHEDULE FOR PAYING DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT; THREE: FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE TAX CODE FAIRER AND SIMPLER SO THAT FUTURE TAX CUTS COULD BE ENJOYED BY ALL.... NOT JUST THE WEALTHY.

    TEXT: FINALLY, THE MIAMI HERALD EXPRESSES CONCERN THAT THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY MAY BE IN TROUBLE:

    VOICE: THE COLD WAR HAS ENDED, BUT THE WORLD IS STILL A DANGEROUS PLACE. .... SO AMERICA'S NEED FOR RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE REMAINS. ..... THE REWARDS OF GOOD INTELLIGENCE WERE DEMONSTRATED ANEW LAST WEEK. A PLOT TO BLOW UP THE U-S EMBASSY IN UGANDA WAS FOILED. YET THIS WELCOME GOOD NEWS CAME ON THE HEELS OF A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT: NOT ONLY DID U-S INTELLIGENCE FAIL TO PREVENT AUGUST'S DEVASTATING ATTACKS ON TWO OTHER U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA, BUT PART OF AMERICA'S MILITARY RETALIATION - - THE ATTACK ON A PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY IN THE SUDAN - - NOW APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BASED ON FAULTY INTELLIGENCE. .... AS FOR THINGS NUCLEAR, U-S INTELLIGENCE EVIDENTLY WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD THIS SPRING WHEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TESTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS. DO OTHER UNPLEASANT SURPRISES AWAIT? MAYBE. WRITING IN THE WASHINGTON POST, THE C-I-A'S DEPARTING INSPECTOR GENERAL, FREDERICK HITZ, WARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE AGENCY'S SPY OPERATIONS ARE LOSING THEIR BEST PEOPLE AND NOT REPLACING THEM. .... NEEDED NOW IS [A CONGRESSIONAL] INVESTIGATION INTO DEFICIENCIES THAT COULD HOBBLE THE C-I-A'S ABILITY TO DO ITS JOB WELL IN A DANGEROUS WORLD.

    TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF TOPICS FROM SOME OF WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS.
    NEB/ANG/KL
    30-Sep-98 11:46 AM EDT (1546 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    voa2html v2.03a run on Thursday, 1 October 1998 - 11:29:05 UTC