Voice of America, 96-09-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] U.S./TRADE TECHNOLOGY (L ONLY) (CQ) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] EUROPEANS/ARAFAT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] BOSNIA / PROPERTY ISSUES BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[04] BOSNIA PRESIDENCY (S-ONLY) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

[05] BOSNIA MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS (L-O) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

[06] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] SOROS / IMMIGRANTS (S-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

[08] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] U.S./TRADE TECHNOLOGY (L ONLY) (CQ) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) HAVE AGREED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS THIS WEEK ON A GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT -- OR I-T-A. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE SEEKING AN AGREEMENT TO END TARIFFS ON A RANGE OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS BY THE YEAR 2000. NEGOTIATIORS ALSO PLEDGED TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MOVE TOWARD A GLOBAL ACCORD ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

TEXT: THE ACTING U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, CHARLENE BARSHEVSKY, SAYS THE I-T-A IS A MARKET ACCESS AGREEMENT WORTH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BARGAINING COUNTRIES MET LAST WEEK IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

MS. BARSHEVSKY'S SPOKESMAN, JAY ZIEGLER, SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WILL COVER COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT:

IT IS OF STRIKING IMPORTANCE IN TERMS OF GLOBAL ECONOMICS FOR THE LONG RUN. IN THE SHORT RUN, IT IS SYMBOLICALLY IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) CAN BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE IN CONTINUING TO OPEN LANES OF TRADE AND MARKETS GLOBALLY.

THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS NEARLY TWO-YEARS OLD, REPLACED THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE -- OR GATT -- AND IS ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP A CREDIBLE FORUM FOR TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.

MR. ZIEGLER SAYS HE HOPES ASIAN COUNTRIES WILL BECOME PART OF A GLOBAL CONSENSUS SOUGHT DURING THE PREPARATIONS FOR A MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION IN SINGAPORE IN DECEMBER.

MR. ZIEGLER, HOWEVER, SAYS THE E-U MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS COMMITMENT TO DISCUSS WAYS TO ELIMINATE THE HIGH TARIFFS ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPORTS.

THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL HAVE TO LOWER ITS TARIFFS IMMEDIATELY IN THE AREA OF SEMI-CONDUCTORS AND CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL OF THE PRODUCT LINES THAT WILL BE COVERED UNDER AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT.

MR. ZIEGLER SAYS WASHINGTON AND JAPAN WILL POSTPONE UNTIL MARCH THEIR PLANS TO HOLD A MEETING OF THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN SEMI-CONDUCTOR GROUP TO ALLOW TIME FOR AGREEMENT ON THE WIDER TECHNOLOGY PACT. E-U TRADE OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN A U-S / JAPAN PACT WOULD BLOCK EUROPEAN ACCESS TO JAPAN'S COMPUTER CHIP MARKET.

NEGOTIATORS IN SEATTLE ALSO PLEDGED TO DISCUSS WAYS TO ACHIEVE A GLOBAL DEAL TO OPEN TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS. PROPOSALS ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED IN SINGAPORE AND THERE IS HOPE FOR AGREEMENT BY FEBRUARY 15TH.

NEGOTIATORS ALSO AGREED TO CONSIDER AN INITIATIVE TO REDUCE TARIFFS ON PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS TO ZERO AND TO SEEK A RESUMPTION OF STALLED GLOBAL NEGOTIATIONS ON FINANCIAL SERVICES EARLY NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
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30-Sep-96 1:18 AM EDT (0518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EUROPEANS/ARAFAT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: A DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAS AGREED TO MEET (MONDAY NIGHT LOCAL TIME) IN LUXEMBOURG WITH PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION LEADER YASSER ARAFAT. JOHN FRASER REPORTS THE MEETING WITH IRISH, DUTCH, AND ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WAS SCHEDULED AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND ANNOUNCED IN BRUSSELS AT MIDDAY.

TEXT: THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF IRELAND, HOLLAND, AND ITALY FORM WHAT IS KNOWN AS A "TROIKA," REPRESENTING THE LAST, CURRENT AND NEXT COUNTRIES TO HOLD THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNION. THE TROIKA INCLUDES THREE EUROPEAN MINISTERS, BUT ACTS ON BEHALF OF ALL 15.

MR. ARAFAT WILL MEET THE TROIKA IN LUXEMBOURG, ON THE EVE OF TUESDAY'S FULL MEETING OF EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS.

AFTER HIS TALKS WITH THE "TROIKA," MR. ARAFAT IS EXPECTED TO FLY TO WASHINGTON FOR SUMMIT TALKS WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND WITH OTHER ARAB LEADERS.

OFFICIALS SAY THE INVITATION TO MR. ARAFAT TO MEET THE EUROPEAN MINISTERS REFLECTS FRUSTRATION IN EUROPE BECAUSE PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SEIZED THE INITIATIVE IN CALLING THE PLANNED WASHINGTON SUMMIT. THEY ADD THE EUROPEAN UNION HAD EXPECTED TO ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THE WASHINGTON TALKS, AND EUROPEAN ALLIES WERE ANGRY TO BE OVERLOOKED BY MR. CLINTON.

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY HOLDS THE E-U PRESIDENCY, AND IRISH OFFICIALS CLAIM THE INVITATION TO PRESIDENT ARAFAT HAD BEEN ISSUED BEFORE THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT WAS ANNOUNCED. BUT, DIPLOMATS SAY THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FRANTIC DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS IN THE WAKE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT, TO ENSURE THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ALSO GIVEN INPUT TO THE PEACE PROCESS.

[03] BOSNIA / PROPERTY ISSUES BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS PROPERTY CLAIMS -- HOW TO EFFECTIVELY GUARANTEE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES. A SPECIAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN SET UP TO REVIEW THOSE CLAIMS AND IT IS SCHEDULED TO MEET TUESDAY IN SARAJEVO. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE THE COMMISSION HAS FAILED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

TEXT: MORE THAN THREE-MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- ABOUT TWO-MILLION OF THEM FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MANY WERE FORCED TO ABANDON THEIR HOMES AND NO LONGER LIVE THERE.

ONE PROVISION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT STIPULATES THE EARLY RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IS AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE TO SETTLE THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. SO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOW FACED WITH THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO LEGALLY GUARANTEE THE SAFE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES.

ARTHUR HELTON IS THE DIRECTOR OF MIGRATION PROGRAMS AT THE "OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE" -- A NEW YORK-BASED ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS.

MR. HELTON SAYS WHILE THE GUNS ARE NOW SILENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, EVICTIONS CONTINUE -- A PROCESS HE DESCRIBES AS LOW-GRADE ETHNIC CLEANSING.

IT CONCERNS THESE QUESTIONS OF EVICTIONS, INCLUDING ILLEGAL EVICTIONS OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY MINORITIES WHO FIND THEMSELVES EVICTED BY MAJORITIES EITHER FOR ETHNIC OR POLITICAL REASONS -- MUSLIMS WHO EVICT SERBS, SERBS WHO EVICT MUSLIMS, CROATS WHO EVICT BOTH. IT IS REALLY QUITE A SAD AFFAIR AND THAT INSTABILITY AND TENSION OCCASIONED BY THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE DRAWING TO A HEAD AND, I THINK, WILL BECOME VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR. HELTON SAYS EVICTIONS ARE QUITE WIDESPREAD. A RECENT REPORT BY THE "ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE" SAYS EVICTIONS ARE A SIGNIFICANT HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEM IN ABOUT HALF OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S TERRITORY

TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, A SPECIAL NINE-MEMBER "PROPERTY" COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED LAST MARCH. BUT MR. HELTON SAYS UP TO NOW, THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE.

IT HAS NOT PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE UP TO THIS POINT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO PREVENT OR AMELIORATE THESE QUESTIONS OF THE ILLEGAL EVICTIONS. IT IS OUR VIEW THAT THE PROPERTY COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY EVICTED, OR WHO FACE IMMINENT EVICTION, HAVE AN EARLY REMEDY TO TRY TO BE RESTORED TO THEIR HOMES.

MR. HELTON SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMISSION WHICH IS EXPECTED TO MEET TUESDAY IN SARAJEVO. IN ADDITION TO CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO SETTLE PROPERTY CLAIMS, THE LETTER URGES THE COMMISSION TO IMMEDIATELY OPEN FIELD OFFICES IN PLACES WHERE THE NEED IS MOST ACUTE -- IN BANJA LUKA AND MOSTAR.

THE ONLY WAY THAT IT CAN BE ENFORCED, IS IF THROUGH THE REPRESENTATION, WITH THE RELEVANT POLITICAL ENTITIES, IT GETS THE ATTENTION AND THE COMPLIANCE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES -- INCLUDING THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. IF IT IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT, THEN IT CANNOT ENFORCE ITS PRONOUNCEMENTS AND JUDGMENTS ON THESE QUESTIONS -- AND IF THAT CANNOT BE DONE, THEN IT IS NO STRONGER THAN THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

ARTHUR HELTON OF THE "OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE" SAYS THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PROPERTY COMMISSION HAS ALREADY SPENT ONE-MILLION DOLLARS ON ORGANIZATION AND IS SEEKING ANOTHER EIGHT-MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. MR. HELTON SAYS DONOR GOVERNMENTS SHOULD MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION BECOMES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE BEFORE GRANTING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS. (SIGNED)
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30-Sep-96 9:54 AM EDT (1354 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA PRESIDENCY (S-ONLY) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIA'S THREE LEADERS (MET/ARE MEETING) MONDAY IN WHAT IS THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COUNTRY'S COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY. THE HISTORIC MEETING BETWEEN THE MUSLIM REPRESENTATIVE ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, THE SERB MOMCILO KRAJISNIK AND THE CROAT KRESIMIR ZUBAK, TOOK PLACE IN A SMALL HOTEL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SARAJEVO. KAREN COLEMAN REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE HISTORIC MEETING BETWEEN THE THREE MEMBERS OF BOSNIA'S PRESIDENCY TOOK PLACE IN A HOTEL ON A HILL ON THE ROAD TO PALE. THEY ALL ARRIVED SEPARATELY.

MR. KRAJISNIK CAME WITH A PERSONAL CONVOY OF CARS FROM PALE. THEY WENT INTO SEPARATE ROOMS FIRST AND THEN ALL CAME TOGETHER AND SHOOK HANDS.

THE MEETING TOOK PLACE SO THEY COULD WORK OUT HOW THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS ELECTED TO RUN THE COUNTRY WILL OPERATE, STARTING WITH THE PRESIDENCY. THEY WERE ALSO TO DECIDE HOW MANY TIMES THEY WILL MEET, AND HOW THEY'LL WORK IN THE FUTURE.

THE SESSION IS A MORE SYMBOLIC ONE THAN A PRACTICAL ONE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH A MUSLIM AND A CROAT LEADER IN SARAJEVO SINCE THE WAR BEGAN IN 1992.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR CARL BILDT, THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR FOR BOSNIA, SAID THE MEETING WAS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP FORWARD. (SIGNED)
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30-Sep-96 2:11 PM EDT (1811 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS (L-O) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN BOSNIA IN NOVEMBER. ORIGINALLY THEY WERE TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, BUT WERE POSTPONED UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR. NOW THERE IS A DOUBT WHETHER THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION, OR O-S-C-E -- THE BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA -- WILL BE ABLE TO ARRANGE THEM IN TIME. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM KAREN COLEMAN IN SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HOLD MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ALONG WITH THE GENERAL ONES ON SEPTEMBER 14TH. LAST AUGUST, THEY WERE POSTPONED AMID CHARGES OF VOTER REGISTRATION ABUSE AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES. THEN, TWO WEEKS AGO, ROBERT FROWICK, HEAD OF MISSION FOR THE O-S-C-E, ANNOUNCED THEY'D BE HELD DURING THREE DAYS IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER THE O-S-C-E'S HANDLING OF THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA HAS LED TO DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE LOCAL ONES ORGANIZED IN TIME. NICOLE SHULTZ IS THE O-S-C-E SPOKESPERSON.

WE STILL HAVE THE NOVEMBER DATES THAT WE ANNOUNCED TO YOU ... ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO. BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT HUE AND CRY (MUCH COMMENT) BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND FROM SOME OF THE MEMBER GOVERNMENTS AS TO THE WISDOM AND OR FEASIBILITY OF HOLDING ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER. SO WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW ... THOSE QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER INDEED THIS WOULD WORK AND (IF) IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THE O-S-C-E HAS HUGE OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME IF THESE ELECTIONS ARE TO GO AHEAD PROPERLY. PROBLEMS WITH THE VOTERS LISTS, SEVERE STAFF SHORTAGES AT THE O-S-C-E, INAPPROPRIATE POLLING STATIONS AND THE BAD WEATHER ARE JUST SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN NOVEMBER IS EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. (SIGNED) NEB / KC / PCF / BD/MMK
30-Sep-96 2:35 PM EDT (1835 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY A U-S MILITARY PRESENCE WILL BE NECESSARY AFTER THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE WITHDRAWS FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA LATER THIS YEAR. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE SUCCESS OF THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS VINDICATES THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO PEACE:

TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS IT IS PREMATURE TO DISCUSS THE MAKEUP OF AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, OR I-FOR, WITHDRAWS ABOUT DECEMBER 20TH. HE REJECTS SUGGESTIONS THE PRESIDENT LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IF U-S FORCES WILL STAY ON BEFORE THE NOVEMBER FIFTH ELECTION.

THE SECRETARY, MINDFUL OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO A ONE-YEAR U-S PRESENCE IN BOSNIA, SAYS MR. CLINTON IS WAITING FOR NATO TO COMPLETE ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION LATER THIS YEAR:

THE PRESIDENT WILL BE VERY OPEN WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN HE HAS THAT DECISION BEFORE HIM. BUT HE SHOULDN'T REACH OUT FOR THE DECISION AND MAKE IT PREMATURELY UNTIL HE KNOWS WHAT THE SITUATION IS ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA AT THE TIME THE DECISION HAS TO BE MADE.

MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE TASK AT HAND IS CREATING THE POST-WAR UNIFIED GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NOW BEEN CERTIFIED. HE EXPRESSES HOPE THE ELECTED THREE-MAN PRESIDENCY WILL MEET BY EARLY OCTOBER. THE UNITED STATES HAS INSISTED SUCH MEETINGS TAKE PLACE IN SARAJEVO AS SPELLED OUT IN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS.

THE SECRETARY SAYS THE STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO PEACE IN BOSNIA IS WORKING AND WILL HELP DETERMINE THE NATURE OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE AFTER I-FOR LEAVES. (SIGNED).
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29-Sep-96 8:46 PM EDT (0046 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] SOROS / IMMIGRANTS (S-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS, KNOWN FOR HIS HUMANITARIAN AND PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD, IS LAUNCHING A NEW 50-MILLION-DOLLAR FUND. MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS THIS TIME THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT IN THE UNITED STATES.:

TEXT: THE NEW FUND WILL BEAR THE NAME OF EMMA LAZARUS, THE POET WHOSE WORDS ABOUT AMERICA'S READINESS TO WELCOME HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE ADORN THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

IT IS LEGAL IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO START A NEW LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHO WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THE FUND. ANNOUNCING HIS INITIATIVE AT A WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. SOROS, WHO IS A FORMER IMMIGRANT, MADE NO SECRET HE IS DRIVEN BY THE PAIN OF THOSE AFFECTED BY A RECENTLY ADOPTED U-S LAW THAT DENIES WELFARE BENEFITS TO MANY LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE BEING HURT. AND THAT IS WHAT I AM RESPONDING TO.

SOROS ASSOCIATES ESTIMATE NEARLY ONE-AND-ONE-HALF MILLION PEOPLE WILL LOSE BENEFITS BECAUSE OF THE MEASURE. THE EMMA LAZARUS FUND WILL TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS.

THE WILL HELP LEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO LEARN ENGLISH AND ACQUIRE OTHER SKILLS NEEDED TO COMPETE ON THE U-S JOB MARKET -- AND EVENTUALLY BECOME U-S CITIZENS. MR. SOROS SAYS AID WILL BE DISBURSED THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WORK WITH IMMIGRANTS. (SIGNED)
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30-Sep-96 12:11 PM EDT (1611 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE LATEST TROUBLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE UPPERMOST IN THE MINDS OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS THIS LAST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER. OTHER EDITORAL TOPICS DEALT WITH TODAY INCLUDE: PEACEKEEPING IN BOSNIA; ARGENTINA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS; THE U-S ECONOMY; THE FLOW OF DRUGS FROM MEXICO, AND THE NEW POWER IN AFGHANISTAN.

TEXT: MANY PAPERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIOLENT TURN OF EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS BACK INTO PEACE TALKS. THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "THE LATEST HEART-BREAKING EVENTS IN ISRAEL PLEAD FOR RADICAL RELIANCE ON THE DEEP RELIGIOUS HERITAGE OF JEWS, ARABS, AND CHRISTIANS JOINING IN THE PEACE PROCESS OR LOOKING ON WITH COMPASSION FROM AFAR. ALL THREE GROUPS TRACE THIS HERITAGE BACK TO THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM AND HIS BREAK WITH PAGAN SUPERSTITION TO HONOR ONE GOD. THEY ALL -- WE ALL -- POSSESS THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES TO TURN FROM THE BLOODY RESULTS OF A DIVISIVE TUNNEL IN JERUSALEM TO THE HEALING LANDMARK OF ABRAHAM'S REVERENCED CAVE."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES, FOR ITS PART, IS PLEASED THAT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU HAS AGREED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S INVITATION TO COME TO WASHINGTON FOR SUMMIT TALKS ON THE ISSUE.

VOICE: "GIVEN BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S UNEASY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK WAS PROBABLY NOT THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S PREFERRED METHOD OF DEALING WITH THE CRISIS IN ISRAEL, GAZA AND THE WEST BANK. THAT HE AGREED TO JOIN YASSER ARAFAT, THE PALESTINIAN LEADER, KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN AND POSSIBLY PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK OF EGYPT IN WASHINGTON SUGGESTS THAT MR. NETANYAHU APPRECIATES THE NEED FOR INTENSE DIPLOMACY AND SOME FLEXIBILITY TO SAVE A TATTERED PEACE."

TEXT: USA TODAY SAYS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS AT RISK IN HOLDING THESE TALKS SINCE HE HAS SO LITTLE LEVERAGE WITH THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT AFTER HAVING SUPPORTED SHIMON PERES IN THE LAST ELECTIONS.

VOICE: "DESPITE POLITICAL RISKS THAT COULD COME WITH FAILURE, [MR.] CLINTON HAD NO OTHER GOOD CHOICE. AND FOR THAT, HE CAN BLAME HIMSELF. EVER SINCE BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WAS SWORN IN AS PRIME MINISTER JUNE 18TH, THE U-S-EDUCATED ISRAELI LEADER HAS SPECIALIZED IN PROVOCATION RATHER THAN PEACEMAKING, WHILE THE U-S MOSTLY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY... THE U-S RESPONSE TO [MR.] NETANYAHU'S PROVOCATIONS WAS DIPLOMATIC MEWING. [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S DIPLOMATS TALKED TO [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU'S DIPLOMATS. SOMETHING GOT LOST IN THE TRANSLATION... [MR.] NETANYAHU NOW MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO PURSUE THE PEACE AGREEMENT WITH {MR.] ARAFAT AS HIS PARTNER, ANGERING HARD-LINERS IN HIS POLITICAL COALITION, OR ABANDON IT, EARNING THE ANGER OF MODERATES AT HOME AND ABROAD."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL TROUBLE-SPOT, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE WASHINGTON POST LOOKS AHEAD TO THE FUTURE OF THE ALLIED PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE.

VOICE: "THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT THE UNITED STATES JOINED IN BOSNIA IS COMING UP ON THE END OF ITS YEAR'S LEASE, AND THERE IS NO DENYING THAT WITHIN ITS ASSIGNED FRAMEWORK IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS. [OPT] RECALL THE WARNINGS OF CASUALTIES AND QUAGMIRE WHEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SET IT UP. NONE OF THAT MATERIALIZED. [END OPT] ... NOW THE CLOCK IS RUNNING, AND A DECISION LOOMS ON WHETHER AND WITH WHAT TO REPLACE THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT IS ABOUT TO LEAVE ON THE SCHEDULE AN ELECTION-BOUND PRESIDENT CLINTON PLEDGED... THE REALITY IS THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE TO IMPART SOME STABILITY FOR A FURTHER PERIOD WHILE THE BOSNIANS SEEK THEIR UNCERTAIN DESTINY."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD SHARES SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN ARGENTINA, WHICH WERE UNDERLINED BY LAST WEEK'S PARALYZING STRIKES AND PRESIDENT MENEM'S BATTLE WITH POWERFUL TRADE UNIONISTS.

VOICE: "UNDER PRESIDENT MENEM, ARGENTINA HAS GONE A LONG WAY TOWARD ECONOMIC MODERNIZATION... BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN, CHIEF AMONG THEM A HIGH EXTERNAL DEBT, AN UNCOMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET, AND AN INEFFICIENT TAX-COLLECTION SYSTEM... HE MUST UNITE THE DISPARATE SECTORS OF ARGENTINE POLITICS... AND HE MUST ADDRESS PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS QUICKLY -- CREATING MUCH-NEEDED PROGRAMS TO RETRAIN THE IDLE LABOR FORCE WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES TODAY FOCUSES ON THE U-S ECONOMY, AND SAYS "THE ... NEWS IS GOOD ... BUT NOT THAT GOOD."

VOICE: "FOR THE MOST PART, (U-S) ECONOMIC CONDITIONS PLAINLY ARE BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS DECADE. BUT THE POVERTY RATE IS STILL HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN 1989, THE INCOME GAP BETWEEN THE BEST-OFF FIVE PERCENT OF AMERICANS AND THE POOREST 20 PERCENT REMAINS DISTURBINGLY WIDE AND MORE THAN ONE CHILD IN FIVE STILL LIVES IN POVERTY. HOW SUCH THINGS AS MAJOR CHANGES IN THE WELFARE LAWS WILL AFFECT THOSE AND OTHER ECONOMIC SIGNPOSTS IS A BIG AND PERHAPS OMINOUS QUESTION."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK POST, CITING REPORTS THAT ARMED MEXICAN DRUG-RUNNERS ARE TERRORIZING U-S RANCHERS ALONG THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER, SAYS BOTH GOVERNMENTS MUST DO MORE TO FIGHT THE PROBLEM.

VOICE: "OFTEN, RANCHERS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT ARMED MEXICANS USING THEIR PROPERTY AS DRUG-TRADE TRANSIT ZONES ARE TERRIFIED EVEN TO PROVIDE THEIR NAMES TO AMERICAN AUTHORITIES ... IN OUR VIEW, MEXICO NEEDS TO DEVOTE MORE ENERGY TO HALTING ARMED INCURSIONS INTO THE U-S AND LESS TO COMPLAINING ABOUT AMERICA'S REACTION. AS FOR WASHINGTON, NO SELF-RESPECTING NATION CAN ALLOW ITS FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO BE TERRORIZED BY ARMED DRUG GANGS WHO VIOLATE ITS SOVEREIGNTY."

TEXT: LASTLY, ABOUT THE CAPTURE OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, BY THE TALIBAN FUNDAMENTALIST GUERRILLAS, TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "PIVOTAL, DISTANT AFGHANISTAN HAS BECOME, AFTER NEIGHBORING IRAN, THE WORLD'S SECOND PROCLAIMED ISLAMIC STATE, AND ITS NEIGHBORS SHOULD PAY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. THIS IS, AFTER ALL, THE COUNTRY THAT SOUNDED THE DEATH KNELL OF AN EXPANSIONIST SOVIET UNION... NOW THERE IS A LINE -- FROM THE ARAB MIDDLE EAST, IRAN, THROUGH AFGHANISTAN TO PAKISTAN -- OF ISLAMIC POWERS, THOUGH SOME PARTS OF AFGHAN TERRITORY ARE STILL CONTROLLED BY FORCES OF THE OUSTED GOVERNMENT... RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IS GONE FROM KABUL. WHAT TAKES ITS PLACE WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED IN THE REGION."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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30-Sep-96 10:46 AM EDT (1446 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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