Voice of America, 97-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT / SLOVENIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BUCHAREST)

[02] AMNESTY BOSNIA (S-CQ) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

[03] BOSNIA / WAR CRIMES BY KYLE KING (PALE)

[04] CLINTON / ROMANIA WRAP (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (BUCHAREST)

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

[06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[08] NATO / ROMANIA REACT (L ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (BUCHAREST)

[09] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[10] RUSSIA/BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

[11] SENATE-BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[12] THE FORMAL NATO EXPANSION BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[13] TURKEY/JOURNALISTS (L ONLY) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

[14] TURKEY / JOURNALISTS ALTERNATE (L-ONLY) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

[15] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[01] ALBRIGHT / SLOVENIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BUCHAREST)

INTRO: AS PRESIDENT CLINTON FLIES OFF TO DENMARK, HIS SECRETARY OF STATE IS MOVING ON TO SLOVENIA. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BUCHAREST, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS A SIMILAR MISSION TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO ROMANIA.

TEXT: JUST AS PRESIDENT CLINTON ASSURED ROMANIANS THAT NATO'S DOOR REMAINS OPEN TO THEM, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS TAKING THE SAME MESSAGE TO LJUBLJANA THAT SLOVENIA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ROAD TO WIN NATO MEMBERSHIP IN THE NEXT ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT.

THE SLOVENES FEEL THEY LOST A NUMBERS GAME IN MADRID ALONG WITH ROMANIA IN THE FIRST ROUND. SLOVENE PRIME MINISTER JANEZ DRNOVSEK BELIEVES HIS COUNTRY DID NOT RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION FROM NATO BUT INSTEAD WAS GROUPED WITH ROMANIA CREATING A CHOICE BETWEEN TAKING THREE COUNTRIES OR FIVE. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS SLOVENIA'S SUPPORTERS WITHIN NATO DID NOT WANT TO RISK A CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED STATES THAT FAVORED ACCEPTING ONLY POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

IN MEETINGS WITH SLOVENE PRESIDENT MILAN KUCAN AND PRIME MINISTER DRNOVSEK, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL DESCRIBE STEPS SLOVENIA NEEDS TO TAKE TO BE READY IN 1999 WHEN NATO CONSIDERS A SECOND ROUND. THAT INCLUDES FASTER MOVES TOWARD PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

MS. ALBRIGHT LEAVES LJUBLJANA SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO FLY TO ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA FOR A DINNER MEETING WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV. (SIGNED)
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11-Jul-97 7:48 AM EDT (1148 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] AMNESTY BOSNIA (S-CQ) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

INTRO: FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF A BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES SUSPECT THURSDAY AND THE KILLING OF ANOTHER, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOT TO LOSE MOMENTUM IN APPREHENDING THOSE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. VOA'S CHRISTINE FURNELL REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THERE IS INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE NATO-LED STABILIZING FORCE TO ACT, GIVEN THAT TROOPS ARE DUE TO WITHDRAW FROM BOSNIA IN A YEAR.

JUST A FEW OF THE MORE THAN 70 SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS INDICTED BY THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL ARE IN CUSTODY. AMNESTY'S LEGAL DIRECTOR, NICHOLAS HOWEN, SAYS PEACE CANNOT PREVAIL UNTIL THE GUILTY ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

YESTERDAY'S ARREST OF ONE PERSON WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SECRET INDICTMENT WAS HUGELY IMPORTANT AND THIS IS CLEARLY JUST THE BEGINNING. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO SEE NOW IS NOT PART-TIME JUSTICE, BUT FULL TIME JUSTICE. WE NEED TO SEE THE BEGINNING THAT WAS MADE IN THE LAST WEEK CARRIED FORWARD.

LENDING SUPPORT TO AMNESTY'S CAMPAIGN WAS NEWLY ELECTED BRITISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MARTIN BELL -- A FORMER JOURNALIST WHO EXTENSIVELY COVERED THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. MR. BELL PAID TRIBUTE TO THE BRITISH TROOPS INVOLVED IN THURSDAY'S ARREST. BUT HE SAID ALL CONTRIBUTING NATIONS SHOULD BE EQUALLY INVOLVED, AND BRITAIN MUST NOT BE PRESSURED INTO ASSUMING THE ROLE OF ARRESTING ARM OF NATO FORCES. (SIGNED)
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11-Jul-97 10:36 AM EDT (1436 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / WAR CRIMES BY KYLE KING (PALE)

INTRO: BOSNIAN SERBS ARE REACTING WITH ANGER AND UNCERTAINTY AFTER NATO TROOPS SHOT AND KILLED ONE WAR CRIMES SUSPECT AND ARRESTED ANOTHER ON THURSDAY. FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB CAPITAL OF PALE, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: AT A SMALL MACHINE SHOP NOT FAR FROM THE HOME OF BOSNIA'S MOST WANTED WAR CRIMINAL, MOST OF THE CONVERSATION WAS FOCUSED ON THE QUESTION OF: WHAT WILL COME NEXT?

IN PRIJADOR, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR A PROTEST AGAINST THURSDAY'S ACTION. MANY SHOUTED ANTI-U-S AND ANTI-NATO SLOGANS. IN PALE, THERE WERE NO PUBLIC PROTESTS, BUT MOST PEOPLE WERE ANGRY ABOUT THE LATEST NATO ACTIONS.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE PRAISED THE LATEST NATO ACTION, SAYING THEY HOPE IT SIGNALS A CHANGE IN POLICY TOWARD WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA.

THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, CHRIS JANOWSKY, SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA GOING FORWARD WITH WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS LIKE MR. KARADZIC STILL AT LARGE.

THE FACT THAT HE AND OTHER INDICTEES ARE STILL AT LARGE IS AN INSULT TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR VICTIMS AND AN OBSTACLE TO THE RETURN OF THE SURVIVORS WHO WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IN BRUTAL WAVES OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

BUT JUST HOW MUCH OF A CHANGE IN POLICY HAS BEEN MADE IS STILL NOT CLEAR.

NATO OFFICIALS, LIKE MAJOR CHRIS RILEY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE 30-THOUSAND NATO-LED TROOPS IN BOSNIA, HAVE BEEN CAREFUL TO POINT OUT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE MANDATE TO DETAIN WAR CRIMINALS.

IF IN THE COURSE OF OUR NORMAL DUTIES, WE COME ACROSS PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, THE COMMANDER ON THE GROUND RETAINS THE ABILITY TO DETAIN THOSE INDIVIDUALS IF THE TACTICAL SITUATION ALLOWS.

CRITICS OF THE POLICY HAVE LONG COMPLAINED THAT NATO TROOPS HAVE AVOIDED GOING AFTER WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS, BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF A POSSIBLE BACKLASH. THEY SAY THURSDAY'S ARREST OF ONE SUSPECT AND THE KILLING OF ANOTHER, WERE UNUSUAL BECAUSE THEY ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED THE MEN WERE UNDER INDICTMENT. AGAIN, MAJOR RILEY:

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE RECEIVED SEALED INDICTMENTS, AND WE CHOOSE OUR TIME WHEN THE TACTICAL SITUATION PERMITTED TO DETAIN PEOPLE THAT WE DID COME ACROSS IN THE COURSE OF OUR NORMAL DUTIES.

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER WESTERN LEADERS HAVE PORTRAYED THURSDAY'S TOUGH ACTION BY NATO TROOPS AS THE START OF A NEW POLICY IN BOSNIA.

ALEX IVANKO, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, SAYS HE BELIEVES THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN EMPHASIS, DESPITE WHAT MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY.

YES, I WOULD PROBABLY SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A MORE RESOLUTE AND ROBUST APPROACH -- AN APPROACH THAT THE TRIBUNAL HAS BEEN LOBBYING FOR A LONG, LONG TIME IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. THAT IS WHY THE TRIBUNAL IS SO HOPEFUL THAT SUCH OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE AND ALL THOSE INDICTED WILL END UP IN THE HAGUE.

BUT ANY FUTURE ARRESTS OF WAR CRIMINALS WILL SURELY NOT BE AS EASY AS THE ACTION TAKEN ON THURSDAY. IN PALE, WHERE MR. KARADZIC LIVES SURROUNDED BY A SMALL ARMY OF HEAVILY ARMED SPECIAL POLICE, SOME RESIDENTS SAY HE WILL NEVER BE TAKEN ALIVE.

ONE MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO HAVE HIS VOICE RECORDED SAID HE FEELS IN HIS HEART THAT MR. KARADZIC IS STILL PRESIDENT OF THE SERB REPUBLIC -- AND THAT NATO TROOPS SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT TRYING TO ARREST HIM. (SIGNED)
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11-Jul-97 1:18 PM EDT (1718 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CLINTON / ROMANIA WRAP (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (BUCHAREST)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON, IN A SPEECH IN BUCHAREST, HAS SOUGHT TO REASSURE ROMANIA IT IS A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION IN TWO YEARS. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS THE PRESIDENT SPOKE IN ROMANIA JUST DAYS AFTER THAT COUNTRY WAS NOT INVITED TO JOIN NATO AT THE ALLIANCE SUMMIT IN MADRID.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON -- WHO THIS WEEK EFFECTIVELY BLOCKED ROMANIA'S BID TO JOIN NATO -- HELD OUT THE PROSPECT OF FUTURE MEMBERSHIP.

AT A SPEECH TO TENS OF THOUSANDS GATHERED IN UNIVERSITY SQUARE, THE SITE OF BLOODY PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN 1990, MR. CLINTON WELCOMED BUCHAREST'S SUCCESSFUL REFORM PROGRAM BEGUN THIS YEAR.

ACKNOWLEDGING ROMANIA'S DEEP DESIRE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP, HE VOWED THAT IF THE COUNTRY STAYS THE COURSE, IT WOULD -- IN HIS WORDS -- 'CROSS THAT MILESTONE' (PASS THAT MARKER).

TO ALL WHO WANT TO SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP, I REAFFIRM FROM THIS PLAZA OF FREEDOM: THE DOOR TO NATO IS OPEN. IT WILL STAY OPEN. AND WE WILL HELP YOU WALK THROUGH IT. NATO HAS COMMITTED TO REVIEW ASPIRING MEMBERS IN 1999 -- AND ROMANIA IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES.

AT A MEETING WITH ROMANIAN PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU EARLIER IN THE DAY (FRIDAY), MR. CLINTON PLEDGED CLOSER BILATERAL COOPERATION TO HELP ROMANIA MEET THE STANDARDS OF NATO MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)
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11-Jul-97 11:54 AM EDT (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 48 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-POINT-TWO PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. THE FRANKFURT CLOSING -- ABOVE FOUR-THOUSAND-40 -- IS A RECORD HIGH. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 12 POINTS, ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. AND, IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 31 POINTS, ABOUT SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK. BUT IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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11-Jul-97 2:01 PM EDT (1801 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE KILLING OF A SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINAL IN THE BALKANS AND THE ARREST OF SEVERAL OTHERS IS ONE OF THE TOP TOPICS U-S EDITORIALS WRITERS ARE COMMENTING ON THIS FRIDAY.

OTHER SUBJECTS YOU CAN SEE CRUISING AMONG SOME OF THE BIGGER PAPERS ARE: THE CHAOS IN CAMBODIA; THE EXPANSION OF NATO; NEW RULES ON LABELING TELEVISION CONTENT;A COURAGEOUS ACT IN SOUTH AFRICA; WHAT TO DO ABOUT BABIES BORN TO JAILED WOMEN AND BOXER MIKE TYSON'S PUNISHMENT FOR "THE BITE HEARD ROUND THE WORLD."

NOW, HERE IS __________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THREE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL DAILY PAPERS ARE ALL COMMENTING ABOUT THE RAID MADE BY BRITISH PEACEKEEPING TROOPS OF THE NATO FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE EFFORT TO ARREST SEVERAL WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS ENDED IN THE DEATH OF ONE MAN. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS PERHAPS THIS SIGNALS THE END OF EVENTUAL FREEDOM FOR THE TWO MOST SERIOUS OFFENDERS.

VOICE: "FOREMOST AMONG THE DEFIANT SERBS WERE RADOVAN KARADZIC, THEIR POLITICAL LEADER, AND ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC. ..... THIS NEWSPAPER SAID THAT THEIR CRIMES SURELY HAD EARNED THEM A BULLET BEARING THEIR NAME AND THAT MANY AMONG THEIR VICTIMS WOULD BE HAPPY TO DELIVER IT. THAT STILL SEEMS LIKELY, BUT ANOTHER PATH FOR BRINGING THEM TO JUSTICE IS OPENING. THURSDAY, BRITISH .... NATO ... FORCES .... OPERATING WITH U-S LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AUTHORIZED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, CONDUCTED RAIDS IN AND NEAR THE NORTHERN TOWN OF PRUJEDOR. ....SEVENTY-FOUR SERBS, MUSLIMS AND CROATS HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. ONLY A HANDFUL ARE IN CUSTODY. THE OTHERS SHOULD START LOSING SLEEP."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO APPLAUDS THE ARRESTS.

VOICE: "AFTER MONTHS OF HESITATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS FELLOW NATO LEADERS HAVE INITIATED THE MOST SENSITIVE AND POTENTIALLY VOLATILE ACTION OF THE BOSNIA PEACEKEEPING MISSION, THE .... ARREST OF INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS. IT IS A STEP THAT MAY HELP SECURE PEACE AND JUSTICE IN BOSNIA, BUT ONE THAT MUST BE TAKEN WITH GREAT CARE AND PRECISION."

TEXT: THE HEADLINE IN TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST SUMS UP HOW THAT PAPER FEELS ABOUT THE NEW POLICY."NEXT:RADOVAN KARADZIC" ALTHOUGH NEWSDAY PROCLAIMS TO ITS READERS: "CATCHING WAR CRIMINALS IS NO JOB FOR PEACEKEEPERS." TURNING TO THE OTHER MAJOR TOPIC, THE MILITARY COUP IN CAMBODIA, IN WHICH CO-PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN'S FORCES OUSTED HIS CO-PRIME MINISTER RIVAL PRINCE NORODOM RANARIDDH, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SIGHS:

VOICE: "THE COUP IS A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. AFTER DECADES OF TOTALITARIAN RULE AND VIOLENCE ON A HORRIFIC SCALE, CAMBODIA HAD BEEN PUT ON A PATH TOWARD DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. [CO-PRIME MINISTER] HUN SEN SHOULD BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE VIOLENCE MUST STOP AND ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR 1998 SHOULD GO FORWARD. OTHERWISE, AID WILL CEASE AND SANCTIONS WILL FOLLOW FOR A REGIME BENT ON ADDING TO A SAD AND VIOLENT HISTORY."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IS EQUALLY FRUSTRATED AT THE COUP AND AT U-S POLICY TOWARD CAMBODIA LEADING UP TO IT. THE PAPER ALSO NOTES THAT HUN SEN BASICALLY TOLD THE WORLD TO MIND ITS OWN BUSINESS AT HIS FIRST CABINET MEETING, AND THEN COMMENTS:

VOICE: "OF COURSE, IT'S NOT AMERICA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP ALL COUPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND WITH TOLERANT FRIENDS LIKE THE ONES HE FOUND IN ASEAN, HUN SEN CERTAINLY DID NOT NEED WEAK SIGNALS FROM WASHINGTON TO MAKE HIM FEEL INVINCIBLE. BUT AS LONG AS ASEAN, THE U-S AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONFINE THEIR CONDEMNATION OF THE PUTSCH TO MILD TUT-TUTTING, WHILE LEAVING THE RENEGADE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN FOREIGN AID FLOWING, HUN SEN IS ENTIRELY JUSTIFIED IN THINKING HE HAS A GREEN LIGHT TO GO ON BEHAVING ANY WAY HE LIKES."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOPIC, THE EXPANSION OF NATO, TODAY'S PROVIDENCE [RHODE ISLAND] JOURNAL-BULLETIN SAYS THE LAST CHAPTER ON THIS FIRST EXPANSION IN DECADES IS NOT OVER, SINCE THE SENATE MUST STILL APPROVE IT, AND THEIR ARE POWERFUL U-S OPPONENTS.

VOICE: "THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT ON THE POTENTIALLY HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF THIS MOVE. BUT THERE IS NO SUCH AGREEMENT ON WHETHER ITS IMPACT WILL BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. .....IT SHOULD ... BE NOTED THAT NATO EXPANSION WOULD POSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ALLIANCE ITSELF. THERE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, NO CONSENSUS ON WHAT THIS FIRST ROUND OF EXPANSION WILL COST, BOTH IN TERMS OF RAISING THE THREE NEWCOMERS' MILITARY CAPACITIES TO MEET NATO STANDARDS AND EXPANDING THE ALLIANCE'S OWN CAPABILITIES TO MEET ITS NEW DEFENSIVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN EASTERN EUROPE. ..... NATO EXPANSION IS LIKELY BUT ... NOT ASSURED.

A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN THE SENATE WILL BE NEEDED TO APPROVE ...... AND OPPONENTS OF THE MOVE INCLUDE WIDELY RESPECTED CURRENT AND FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL LEADERS - - INCLUDING FORMER DEMOCRATIC SENATORS SAM NUNN AND BILL BRADLEY. BE PREPARED FOR THE FIREWORKS [IN THIS CASE: LOUD AND CONFRONTATIONAL DEBATE.]"

TEXT: THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL SAYS THIS FRIDAY:

VOICE: "THOUGH IT'S BEING PRESENTED AS A FAIT ACCOMPLI, ADDING THREE NEW MEMBERS TO NATO IS NOT A DONE DEAL, AND QUESTIONS STILL LOOM."

TEXT: AND THE NEW YORK POST IS ALSO VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE DECISION.

VOICE: "BEFORE THE INK HAS EVEN DRIED ON THE MADRID TREATY, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ADMISSION OF POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC INTO NATO, THE PLAN HAS BEGUN TO FALL APART: FRANCE'S PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SUGGESTS THAT HIS NATION IS UNWILLING TO PAY ITS SHARE OF THE ...COSTS. THERE IS NO CLEAR MECHANISM FOR SPLITTING THE CHECK, WHICH COULD ADD UP TO AS MUCH AS 120-BILLION DOLLARS, ACCORDING TO A CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE. [OPT] .... EXPANSION WOULD SEEM ACTUALLY TO INCREASE AMERICA'S VULNERABILITY TO NUCLEAR ATTACK. RUSSIA STILL HAS THOUSANDS OF WARHEADS ..... AND MANY RUSSIAN OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS VIEW AN EXPANDING NATO AS A THREAT TO THEIR COUNTRY..... MOST SENATORS REMAIN UNDECIDED. WE HOPE ... BEFORE VOTING ON RATIFICATION .... [THEY] FIRST FIGURE OUT WHAT AMERICA GETS FOR SACRIFICING ITS SAFETY AND ITS MONEY."

TEXT: IN AN IMPORTANT DOMESTIC STORY, ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW, CLEARER VIEWING GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON TELEVISION PROGRAM CONTENT, THE MIAMI HERALD CALLS IT A SMALL STEP, BUT GOOD FOR KIDS.

VOICE: "A NEW RATINGS SYSTEM THAT TELLS BETTER THE VIOLENT AND SEXUAL NATURE OF PRIME-TIME TELEVISION PROGRAMS WILL MAKE THE PICTURE A LITTLE CLEARER - - AT LEAST FOR CONCERNED PARENTS. ..... THE ADVOCACY GROUPS HAVE WON A SIZABLE CONCESSION FROM A POWERFUL, RECALCITRANT INDUSTRY. .....NOW ... THOSE GROUPS MUST TURN THEIR CONSIDERABLE MUSCLE TOWARD EDUCATING THOSE PARENTS WHO SHOULD CARE ENOUGH, BUT DON'T, TO BE THE ULTIMATE 'RATING SYSTEM' IN THEIR OWN HOMES."

TEXT: THE ISSUE OF HOW TO HANDLE PREGNANT WOMEN PRISONERS IN THE NATION'S STATE AND FEDERAL JAILS TROUBLES THE BOSTON GLOBE THIS MORNING.

VOICE: "BABIES BELONG WITH THEIR MOTHERS, EVEN WHEN THEIR MOTHERS ARE IN PRISON. BUT WHEN PREGNANT WOMEN OR THE MOTHERS OF NEWBORNS ARE JAILED, SOME STATES OPT TO BE TOUGH ON THE BABY,NOT JUST THE PERPETRATOR. IN MASSACHUSETTS, INMATES WHO GIVE BIRTH GENERALLY MUST GIVE UP THEIR BABIES AFTER 48 HOURS TO A RELATIVE OR FOSTER PARENT. THE OBVIOUS REASONING: JAIL IS NO PLACE FOR BABY. .... BUT IN NEW YORK, AT THE BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY NURSERY, SOME 30 INCARCERATED MOTHERS RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN JAIL THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF INFANCY. .... SPLITTING UP MOTHERS AND CHILDREN MAY SEEM APPROPRIATELY PUNITIVE, BUT IT'S IN NO ONE'S BEST INTEREST, SAYS SUSAN MARCUS-MENDOZA, A UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PROFESSOR. .... BETTER TO SUPPORT ... FAMILIES WITH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAN TO PAY LATER FOR COSTLY SOCIAL COMPLICATIONS."

TEXT: BACK OVERSEAS, AND IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE PARENTS OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN KILLED BY A BLACK MOB, APPEARING BEFORE THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, ON BEHALF OF THEIR DAUGHTER'S MURDERS, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: "PETER AND LINDA BIEHL BROUGHT MERCY LIKE SHAKESPEAR'S 'GENTLE RAIN FROM HEAVEN' TO A 'PLACE BENEATH' THAT NEEDS ALL IT CAN GET. .... THE BIEHLS PROPERLY SAID THE LEGAL QUESTION OF AMNESTY WAS FOR SOUTH AFRICA TO DECIDE, AND THE COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING IT. BUT THEY THEMSELVES WOULD NOT OPPOSE AMNESTY, WHETHER OR NOT TRUTH WAS NOW BEING TOLD BY THE YOUNG MEN WHO HAD CHANGED THEIR PREVIOUS TESTIMONY. ..... THE BIEHLS, WITHOUT MAKING A POINT OF IT, SEEMED TO KNOW, AS SHAKESPEARE DID, THAT MERCY IS 'TWICE BLESS'D;/IT BLESSES HIM THAT GIVES AND HIM THAT TAKES."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, REGARDING ANOTHER, VERY DIFFERENT JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, THE BOXING BAN IMPOSED ON MIKE TYSON BY THE NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION, FOR BITING OFF PART OF EVANDER HOLYFIELD'S EAR IN THEIR TITLE FIGHT, THE BOSTON GLOBE CALLS IT A JUST PUNISHMENT.

VOICE: "IT WAS ALSO A LONG-OVERDUE UNMASKING OF AN ATHLETE WHOSE SCORN FOR THE RULES - - BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE RING - - HAD FOR TOO LONG VEILED THE COWARDLY HEART OF A PURSE SNATCHER AND THE UNGLAMOROUS CRUELTY OF A RAPIST. ..... THE COMMISSIONERS WERE NOT EMPOWERED TO SANCTION HIS ACTIONS OUTSIDE THE RING. BUT [MR.] TYSON HAS HAD MORE SECOND CHANCES THAN MOST PEOPLE COULD HOPE TO HAVE. THERE WILL BE NO INJUSTICE IF HE IS NEVER LICENSED TO FIGHT AGAIN."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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11-Jul-97 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) BUT THE WEEK ENDED WITHOUT BREAKING THROUGH THE EIGHT THOUSAND LEVEL OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 21, UP 35 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 26 POINTS. THE MORE BROADLY-BASED STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 916, UP TWO POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC BUT THAT SELLING PRESSURE TENDED TO INCREASE WHENEVER THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE MOVED CLOSE TO THE EIGHT THOUSAND LEVEL.

THERE WAS CONTINUED EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS NO INFLATION THREAT TO THE U-S ECONOMY. THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED WHOLESALE PRICES FELL IN JUNE FOR A RECORD SIXTH STRAIGHT MONTH.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE STOCK OF THE M-C-I TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY FELL SHARPLY AFTER IT SAID EXPENSES RELATED TO ENTERING LOCAL TELEPHONE MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL HURT ITS EARNINGS. BRITISH TELECOM, WITH WHICH M-C-I IS PLANNING TO MERGE, SAID IT WILL NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEGOTIATING THE DEAL WHICH IS NOW WORTH 24 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION REPORTED A BIG DROP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS, SAYING A 29-DAY STRIKE AT AN ENGINE PLANT WAS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE FALLING EARNINGS.

THE STOCK OF THE "AT HOME" CORPORATION STARTED TRADING IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND QUICKLY DOUBLED IN PRICE. AT HOME PROVIDES A SERVICE WHICH ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO CONNECT THEIR PERSONAL COMPUTERS TO THE INTERNET THROUGH CABLE TELEVISION LINES INSTEAD OF THE TELEPHONE.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF NAFTA, THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WHICH LINKS CANADA, MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. IN A REPORT TO CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS NAFTA HAD A "MODEST POSITIVE" IMPACT ON THE U-S ECONOMY. BUT MANY LABOR LEADERS DISAGREE, SAYING NAFTA HAS CAUSED STAGNANT WAGES IN THE UNITED STATES AND FALLING WAGES IN MEXICO.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
11-Jul-97 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NATO / ROMANIA REACT (L ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (BUCHAREST)

TEXT: IT WAS MR. CLINTON WHO BLOCKED ROMANIA'S BID TO JOIN NATO AT THE MADRID SUMMIT THIS WEEK, ARGUING THAT BUCHAREST NEEDED TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARD REFORM BEFORE IT COULD BE ADMITTED INTO THE ALLIANCE.

MANY ROMANIANS WHO TURNED OUT FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH, LIKE THESE TWO WOMEN, DID NOT DISAGREE.

NO WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO BE IN NATO. MAYBE WE'LL PASS THESE TWO YEARS AND THEN WE WILL BE MEMBERS OF NATO. HIS VISIT GIVES US HOPE.

I THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION, BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, WE WERE NOT QUITE UP TO THE MARK.

BUT FOR OTHERS, LIKE THIS WOMAN, NATO'S DECISION WAS A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.

I THINK HIS VISIT IS JUST A CONSOLATION. WE WERE HOPING FOR A LOT WITH THIS NATO THING, BUT I THINK WE CAME TOO LATE IN THIS NATO FIGHT.

BUT EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISAPPOINTED BY NATO'S DECISION, THEY WERE HONORED THAT MR. CLINTON CHOSE TO VISIT THEIR COUNTRY.

IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT HAS COME HERE.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT FOR ROMANIA BECAUSE FOR 50 YEARS WE BELONGED TO THE EAST, TO THE RUSSIANS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST SIGN THAT THE WEST IS RECONSIDERING RELATIONS WITH US.

OTHER ROMANIANS SAY THEY WILL BE PATIENT, AND HOPE THEIR COUNTRY WILL MAKE THE NEXT ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION TWO YEARS FROM NOW. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WDC/EH
11-Jul-97 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE DECISION BY LEADERS OF THE PROTESTANT ORANGE ORDER TO RE-ROUTE OR CANCEL SOME CONTENTIOUS MARCHES IN NORTHERN IRELAND THIS WEEKENED HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY MOST POLITICAL PARTIES. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: FOR GENERATIONS, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, PROTESTANTS HAVE BEEN MARCHING TO COMMEMORATE VARIOUS EVENTS IN THEIR HISTORY. MOST OF THESE ARE HELD PEACEFULLY AS PROTESTANTS WALK ALONG WELL-KNOWN ROUTES PLAYING THEIR FIFES AND DRUMS. HOWEVER WHEN THOSE MARCHES GO THROUGH CATHOLIC -- OR NATIONALIST -- AREAS, THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE OF VIOLENCE.

DURING THIS WEEK, TENSIONS WITHIN NORTHERN IRELAND WERE INCREASING AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN THE PROTESTANT MARCHING CALENDAR WAS APPROACHING -- JULY 12TH, SATURDAY. ON THIS DAY, PROTESTANTS THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH PROVINCE COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE, WHEN IN 1690, THE PROTESTANT KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE DEFEATED ENGLAND'S CATHOLIC KING JAMES THE SECOND.

IN A DECISION WHICH WAS AS REMARKABLE AS IT WAS UNEXPECTED, PROTESTANT LEADERS FROM LOCAL ORANGE ORDER LODGES DECIDED TO RE-ROUTE ONE MARCH SCHEDULED SATURDAY IN LONDONDERRY, AND CALLED OFF THREE OTHERS -- IN ARMAGH, NEWRY AND IN THE CATHOLIC STRONGHOLD OF THE LOWER ORMEAU ROAD IN BELFAST.

IN A STATEMENT, THE LOCAL LEADERS SAID THEY HAD DECIDED ON SUCH A MOVE TO PREVENT SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. BUT THE SAME STATEMENT SAID THEY RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MARCH IN THE FUTURE.

THE ASSISTANT GRANDMASTER OF THE ORANGE ORDER -- JEFFREY DONALDSON - TOLD REPORTERS THE MOVE WAS A COURAGEOUS ACT.

THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE LOCAL ORANGEMEN HAVE BEEN DONE SO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF NORTHERN IRELAND -- NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVING IN OR SURRENDERING TO THREATS OF VIOLENCE. AND LET US BE CLEAR -- VIOLENCE CAN HAVE NO PART TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND.

THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS -- AS WELL AS MOST PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- WELCOMED THE MOVE. HOWEVER THE HARDLINE PRO-BRITISH DEMOCRATIC UNIONISTS DESCRIBED IT AS "SURRENDER" AND A "SELL-OUT TO THOSE WHO WANT A UNITED IRELAND."

GERRY ADAMS -- PRESIDENT OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- SAID THE DECISION CREATED A MUCH-NEEDED BREATHING SPACE. BUT HE SAID THERE ARE STILL QUITE A NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS PARADES SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL WILL WANT TO ENSURE THIS IS THE LAST YEAR WE ARE SUBJECTED TO THESE DIFFICULTIES. I WOULD URGE THE LOCAL ORANGE LODGES IN THESE AREAS TO IMMEDIATELY ENTER INTO TALKS WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THESE REMAINING DISPUTED PARADES.

THE DECISION BY THE LOCAL PROTESTANT LEADERS TO CANCEL OR RE-ROUTE FOUR MARCHES THIS SATURDAY HAS DIMINISHED THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE. NATIONALISTS HAVE TAKEN DOWN THEIR ANTI-MARCHING BANNERS. MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW ASKING WHETHER THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY WILL RECIPROCATE WITH A SIMILAR GOODWILL GESTURE -- THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANOTHER CEASEFIRE. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH/EH
11-Jul-97 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] RUSSIA/BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS REACTED ANGRILY TO THURSDAY'S NATO OPERATION AGAINST SUSPECTED BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINALS. VOA'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE BRANDED THE OPERATION A "COWBOY RAID," AND SAY IT THREATENS PEACE EFFORTS IN THE REGION.

A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT SAID MOSCOW WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IT CALLED THE UNILATERAL ACTION, ADDING, SUCH ARRESTS SHOULD ONLY BE MADE THROUGH DIRECT COOPERATION AMONG PARTIES TO THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

THE BRITISH TROOPS, THE STATEMENT ARGUED, HAD OVERSTEPPED THEIR MANDATE.

RUSSIAN TROOPS MAKE UP PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT SUGGESTED THE ARRESTS COULD PROMPT THE KREMLIN TO REVIEW ITS MEDIATING ROLE.

RUSSIA HAS OFTEN BEEN AT ODDS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NEGOTIATING ALLIANCE, IN PART BECAUSE OF ITS GREATER SYMPATHY FOR THE SERBS, WITH WHOM RUSSIANS SHARE SLAVIC AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EA/PCF/EH
11-Jul-97 10:29 AM EDT (1429 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] SENATE-BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS BACKED AWAY FROM A THREAT TO CUT OFF FUNDS FOR AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: LAWMAKERS PASSED A NON-BINDING MEASURE URGING BUT NOT REQUIRING THE WHITE HOUSE TO PULL U-S SOLDIERS OUT OF BOSNIA BY THE END OF NEXT JUNE. IT ALSO SAYS THE EUROPEAN ALLIES SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN ANY FOLLOW-UP FORCE.

THE SENATE LAID ASIDE A STRONGER PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF MONEY FOR THE U-S MISSION AFTER JUNE. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE TROOPS WILL BE OUT ON SCHEDULE BUT MUST ALSO HAVE FLEXIBILITY AND SHOULD NOT BE TIED TO ANY FIXED DEADLINE. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN WARNS THAT IDEA COULD UNDO EVERTHING THE ALLIES HAVE ACHIEVED.

COULD ALL THE BOSNIAN HORRORS OF ETHINIC CLEANSING, RAPE CAMPS, AND SHELLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND CHILDREN RE-EMERGE? YOU BET THEY COULD.

THE MORE CONSERVATIVE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED TO CUT OFF FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION. THE HOUSE AND SENATE MUST IRON OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES BEFORE SENDING A FINAL DEFENSE BILL TO THE PRESIDENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/EH
11-Jul-97 2:10 PM EDT (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] THE FORMAL NATO EXPANSION BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK, THE FORMAL EXPANSION OF NATO AT THE MADRID SUMMIT, IS DRAWING COMMENTS FROM NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE TURN TO ___________________ FOR OUR SAMPLING NOW ON THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: LIKE PRESS OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS VERY DIVIDED OVER THE QUESTION OF NATO EXPANSION, AND GENERALLY LAMENTS THE LACK OF DEBATE ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE SO FAR, THE WORLD PRESS CANNOT AGREE ON ITS MERITS EITHER.

MANY PAPERS IN EUROPE, ESPECIALLY IN THE THREE INVITEES, POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE DECISION, BUT SOME OTHER EUROPEAN DAILIES LAMENT THE STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES IN WHAT IS NUMERICALLY A EUROPEAN MILITARY ALLIANCE. BUT OTHER PAPERS SUGGEST THAT SINCE EUROPEAN NATIONS STILL CANNOT MAKE UP THEIR MINDS ON MANY ISSUES, IT INVITES THE AMERICANS TO TAKE A MORE FORCEFUL POSITION.

STILL OTHERS SAW THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO INVITE JUST THE THREE NATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE, OR FIVE IN ALL, INCLUDING ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA, SHOWED THAT NATO IS BEGINNING TO CRACK AT THE SEAMS.

IN WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE NON-ALIGNED WORLD, THERE IS ALSO SOME UNEASE AT THE DEGREE AND EXTENT OF U-S STRENGTH IN SHAPING WORLD POLICY.

TO GET SOME SPECIFICS, WE BEGIN IN GERMANY WHERE "THE STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG" REMARKS:

VOICE: "ENTANGLED IN POWER STRUGGLES AND JEALOUSIES, THE ALLIANCE IS HOPELESSLY IN A STALEMATE WITH ITS SECOND FUTURE-ORIENTED PROJECT, THE REFORM OF ITS INTERNAL AND COMMAND STRUCTURES .... IN MADRID, WASHINGTON MADE BLATANTLY CLEAR TO THE EUROPEANS THAT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT WANT TO LET GO OF THE REINS OF COMMAND IN EUROPE ..... THE AMERICANS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAY-SO."

TEXT: WHILE IN CONSTANCE, THE SUEDKURIER SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "IN MADRID, THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY HOW FAR NATO SHOULD BE EXPANDED EASTWARD BUT ALSO WHO LEADS THE ALLIANCE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. THE STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES IS BASED ON ITS DETERMINATION, WHILE THE POWERLESSNESS OF THE EUROPEANS DERIVES FROM THEIR INDECISIVENESS. [OPT] [MR.] CLINTON HAS UNDERSTOOD THIS, AND [THAT] IS WHY HE DOES NOT WANT TO ENTRUST THE WESTERN COMMUNITY ... TO THE MOODS OF A CONTINENT WHERE THE COUNTRIES ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER."[END OPT]

TEXT: IN BRITAIN, THE GUARDIAN WAS GENERALLY APPROVING OF THE EXPANSION.

VOICE: "IF NATO MOVES TOWARDS BECOMING ALL-INCLUSIVE, OR ALMOST SO, IT COULD IN THE LONGER TERM ALSO MOVE CLOSER TO BECOMING A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATION ..... IT MAY MEAN THAT NATO WILL BECOME LESS ATLANTIC AND MORE EUROPEAN, BUT POST-COLD WAR THAT NEED NO LONGER CAUSE SUCH HORROR. A REAL REGIONAL NATO WILL ALSO BE BETTER PLACED TO DO WHAT ITS ADVOCATES ARGUE SHOULD BE ITS PRINCIPAL FUNCTION: KEEPING OR RESTORING THE PEACE IN THE FRACTURED COUNTRIES WHICH ARE THE REAL LEGACY OF THE COLD WAR."

TEXT: ACROSS THE CHANNEL, THERE WAS A NOTE OF BITTERNESS AT EUROPE'S LACK OF RESOLVE IN LIBERATION, PUBLISHED IN PARIS.

VOICE: "DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT CHIRAC UTTERED A FEW SURPRISING WORDS: 'FRANCE HAS NO INTENTION OF INCREASING ITS NATO CONTRIBUTION FURTHER TO ITS EXPANSION' .... THIS INDIRECT DIALOGUE BETWEEN [MR.] CHIRAC AND [PRESIDENT] CLINTON IS IN ITSELF INDICATIVE OF THE TRANSATLANTIC UNEASINESS THAT PREVAILS. THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS OFTEN ACCUSED BY EUROPE OF ARROGANCE AND HEGEMONY, IS OFTEN MADE STRONGER BY EUROPE'S OWN WEAKNESSES."

TEXT: ANALYZING THE FRUSTRATION AT EUROPE'S OWN WEAKNESS, WAS PIERRE-MARIE CRISTIN ON FRENCH RADIO STATION RTL:

VOICE: "EUROPE WILL CONTINUE TO DEBATE, WHILE THE UNITED STATES DECIDES."

TEXT: IN MILAN, ONE OF ITALY'S BIGGEST DAILIES, "CORRIERE DELLA SERA" RAN THIS FRONT PAGE COMMENTARY, WHICH SAID IN PART:

VOICE: "THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE'S BIG FEAST .... WAS SPOILED BY [PRESIDENT] CHIRAC'S REPEATED ATTACKS ON [PRESIDENT] CLINTON .....THE FRENCH PRESIDENT REFUSED TO PAY THE COSTS OF NATO EXPANSION. A TIT-FOR-TAT ATTITUDE IN THE WAKE OF AMERICA'S REFUSAL TO GIVE IN TO FRANCE'S REQUEST ON NATO'S SOUTHERN COMMAND [WHICH FRANCE WANTS TO BE COMMANDED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN AN AMERICAN GENERAL].."

TEXT: IN COLORFUL LANGUAGE "LA REPUBBLICA" IN ROME OPINED:

VOICE: "THE MADRID AGREEMENT IS ONLY A DIPLOMATIC DRESSING, UNDER WHICH THE WOUNDS OF THE TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP REMAIN OPEN AND BLEEDING ..."

TEXT: IN MOSCOW, THE RUSSIAN PRESS WAS GENERALLY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE EXPANSION. HERE'S "KOMMERSANT DAILY," THE BUSINESS-ORIENTED PAPER.

VOICE: "NATO ENLARGEMENT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES. DISCUSSIONS ON ENLARGEMENT HAVE HAD, AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE, AN EXTREMELY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE GENERAL POLITICAL SITUATION IN EUROPE."

TEXT: WHILE "NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETTE" WARNED:

VOICE: "YESTERDAY'S INVITATIONS FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND MAY HAVE UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES."

TEXT: AND HOW ABOUT REACTION IN THE INVITEES' CAPITOLS? FIRST TO PRAGUE, AND THE HUGE DAILY "MLADA FRONTA DNES" WHICH WRITES:

VOICE: "WITH THE INVITATION FROM THE WEST, PRAGUE CAN AFFORD ONLY A FEW BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE; IT DEFINITELY CANNOT REST ON ITS LAURELS ... THE ARMY MUST HAVE CAPABLE OFFICERS WHO ARE ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH THEIR PARTNERS ....GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION POLITICIANS WILL BE THE MOST BUSY OF ALL. THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE THE NATION THAT A CHANGEABLE WIND OF POLITICAL PROSPERITY WILL NOT TAKE AWAY THEIR WORDS OF ENTHUSIASM AND SUPPORT FOR A JOINT DEFENSE."

TEXT: NEXT IN HUNGARY, BUDAPEST'S "NEPSZABADSAZ" WAS NOT TOTALLY ECSTATIC, AND FINALLY ASKED THIS KEY QUESTION.

VOICE: "HUNGARY FACES A NUMBER OF SHORT AND LONG-TERM PROBLEMS WITH THAT MEMBERSHIP. FIRST OF ALL, FROM NOW ON HUNGARY WILL BE SURROUNDED BY NON-NATO MEMBER NEIGHBORS ... WHAT EFFECT WILL OUR MEMBERSHIP HAVE ON THE BILATERAL AND ESPECIALLY THE ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN HUNGARY AND RUSSIA, WHOSE MARKET IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US? .... HOW MUCH WILL MEMBERSHIP COST?"

TEXT: IN POLAND HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO AMBIGUITY, AT LEAST IN "GAZETA WYBORCZA" FROM WARSAW, WHICH WROTE ON ITS FRONT PAGE:

VOICE: "THIS DAY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF POLAND IN THE LAST THREE CENTURIES BECAUSE THE LAST THREE CENTURIES [HAVE] NOT BEEN GOOD TO THE POLES."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE FROM THE LAST OF THE THREE NATIONS INVITED TO JOIN, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF INTERNATIONAL PRESS OPINION ON THIS WEEK'S FORMAL EXPANSION OF NATO>
NEB/ANG/EH
11-Jul-97 3:23 PM EDT (1923 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] TURKEY/JOURNALISTS (L ONLY) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

INTRO: THE NEW YORK-BASED COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS IS SENDING WHAT IT CALLS AN EMERGENCY MISSION TO TURKEY TO URGE OFFICIALS THERE TO RELEASE IMPRISONED TURKISH JOURNALISTS. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND.

TEXT: THE AIM OF THE MISSION, SAYS THE COMMITTEE, IS TO URGE TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ AND HIS GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE THE RELEASE OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS AND TO CHANGE THE LAWS UNDER WHICH THEY WERE JAILED. THE PRIVATELY-SUPPORTED REPORTERS' GROUP SAYS IT HAS IDENTIFIED 78 CASES OF JOURNALISTS JAILED IN TURKEY AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

THE MISSION IS BEING LED BY THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, TERRY ANDERSON. MR. ANDERSON, A FORMER MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT FOR ASSOCIATED PRESS, WAS HELD HOSTAGE IN LEBANON FROM 1985 TO 1991. THE COMMITTEE EXPECTS TO BEGIN ITS DISCUSSIONS IN TURKEY ON SUNDAY AND WILL BE JOINED IN ANKARA BY REPRESENTATIVES OF TURKISH AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS GROUPS.

WILLIAM ORME, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, SAYS THE REPORTERS' GROUP IS CALLING ON THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF INDEPENDENT REPORTING. THE JAILING OF JOURNALISTS FOR EXERCISING THEIR INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION, HE ADDS, CANNOT BE TOLERATED IN A DEMOCRACY. THE COMMITTEE SAYS ITS DELEGATION WILL TRAVEL TO A PRISON NEAR ISTAMBUL ON WEDNESDAY TO VISIT OCAK ISIK YURTCU, THE IMPRISONED FORMER EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE COMMITTEE SAYS HIS CASE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE PLIGHT OF ALL TURKISH JOURNALISTS JAILED FOR ARTICLES CONSIDERED CRITICAL OF TURKEY'S CONFLICT WITH KURDISH INSURGENTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE JOURNALISTS CITED BY THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED FOR THEIR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN ILLEGAL AND MOSTLY LEFTIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH AIDING AND ABETTING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAYS, FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IS AMONG THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THE NEW TURKISH GOVERNMENT WHICH, HE ADDS, HAS STATED THAT "NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO CORRECT CERTAIN DEFICIENCIES IN OUR DEMOCRACY."

THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS SAYS ITS MISSION TO TURKEY IS THE LATEST STEP IN ITS LONG-TERM EFFORT TO HALT THE CRIMINALIZATION OF INDEPENDENT REPORTING IN TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/LSF/EH
11-Jul-97 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] TURKEY / JOURNALISTS ALTERNATE (L-ONLY) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

INTRO: A PRIVATELY SUPPORTED JOURNALISTS' GROUP BASED IN NEW YORK IS SENDING A DELEGATION TO TURKEY TO URGE ITS NEW GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE IMPRISONED TURKISH JOURNALISTS. CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: "THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS" SAYS ITS DELEGATION WILL URGE TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, MESUT YILMAZ, TO EXPEDITE THE RELEASE OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS AND END WHAT IT CALLS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF INDEPENDENT REPORTING. ALICE CHASEN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF THE JOURNALISTS COMMITTEE, SAYS THE DELEGATION IS TRAVELING TO TURKEY TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY'S NEW LEADERSHIP.

MEMBERS OF THIS COALITION GOVERNMENT HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO THE EFFECT THAT ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE AGENDA OF THIS NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE THE REPEAL OR THE ABROGATION OF THESE ONEROUS STATUTES UNDER WHICH JOURNALISTS ARE ROUTINELY PROSECUTED AND IMPRISONED, THAT PRESS FREEDOM IS ON THE FRONT-BURNER FOR THIS GOVERNMENT. AND, THEREFORE, THAT SIGNALS TO US THAT THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES ON THE PART OF THE YILMAZ GOVERNMENT (FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT).

THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS SAYS IT HAS DOCUMENTED 78 CASES OF JOURNALISTS IN JAIL IN TURKEY AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, AND SAYS THE JAILING OF JOURNALISTS FOR EXERCISING THEIR INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION CANNOT BE TOLERATED IN A DEMOCRACY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE JOURNALISTS CITED BY THE COMMITTEE WERE CONVICTED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE NEW TURKISH GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CORRECT WHAT IT CALLS "CERTAIN DEFICIENCIES IN OUR DEMOCRACY."

ALICE CHASEN OF THE JOURNALISTS COMMITTEE MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LAWS IN TURKEY, NOT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PRACTICE OF JOURNALISM. THE JOURNALISTS, SHE SAYS, HAVE BEEN JAILED FOR PUBLISHING DISCUSSION OF WHAT SHE CALLS CERTAIN TOPICS THE GOVERNMENT DEEMS SENSITIVE.

THE ONGOING CONFLICT WITH THE KURDISH INSURGENCY HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT THAT HAS BEEN MOST SENSITIVE FOR THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, REGARDLESS OF WHICH PERSON HAS BEEN IN OFFICE IN THE PRIME MINISTERSHIP. THE VERY DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TO GARNER PROSECUTION FOR THE RESPONSIBLE EDITORS OF THOSE PUBLICATIONS.

THE COMMITTEE'S DELEGATION IS LED BY TERRY ANDERSON, A FORMER MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND A HOSTAGE IN LEBANON FOR SEVEN YEARS. THE COMMITEE EXPECTS TO RELEASE A REPORT AND POSSIBLY A FILM ON THE DELEGATION'S TRIP AFTER ITS RETURN. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/LSF/RRM
11-Jul-97 2:49 PM EDT (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CONDEMNS A COUP IN CAMBODIA, AS THE OUSTED PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN NEW YORK TO SEEK INTERNATIONAL HELP IN RESTORING HIM TO POWER; THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- BOWING TO CONCERNS IN CONGO/KINSHASA -- AGREES TO SUSPEND ONE HUMAN RIGHTS MISSION AND ASSEMBLE A NEW TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS; AND, GREEK AND TURKISH LEADERS ON CYPRUS COME TO NEW YORK IN ANOTHER EFFORT TO END OVER TWO DECADES OF ETHNIC DIVISION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WENT INTO A DIPLOMATIC TAILSPIN AFTER LAST WEEKEND'S COUP IN CAMBODIA. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE IN PHNOM PENH, AND APPEALED TO CAMBODIA'S LEADERS TO RECONCILE:

IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA ONCE AGAIN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. WE ALL RECALL THE EFFORTS THE U-N AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HADE AFTER 20 YEARS OF WAR TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA A FRESH BEGINNING.

THE U-N HAD MOUNTED A HUGE OPERATION IN CAMBODIA THAT LED TO ELECTIONS IN 1993 AFTER THE CAMBODIANS SIGNED A PEACE ACCORD ENDING YEARS OF WAR.

BUT WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO LAUNCH ANOTHER COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO CAMBODIA'S PRESENT DIFFICULTIES IS STILL BEING DEBATED. THE SECURITY COUNCIL SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER ITS OPTIONS. MEANWHILE, THE OUSTED PRIME MINISTER, PRINCE NORODOM RANARIDDH, CAME TO TOWN WITH A FEW SUGGESTIONS OF HIS OWN. HE CALLED FOR A FREEZE ON ASSISTANCE TO CAMBODIA -- WHICH DEPENDS HEAVILY ON INTERNATIONAL AID. HE SAID HUN SEN -- THE CO-PRIME MINISTER WHO OUSTED HIM -- MIGHT RESPOND TO ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND AGREE TO A PEACEFUL SOLUTION:

AND IF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A VERY CLEAR STAND -- THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ALONGSIDE WITH JAPAN, FOR INSTANCE, FRANCE, ETC., I HOPE THAT THOSE SANCTIONS WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO AVOID A BLOODY, LONG CIVIL WAR.

THE PRINCE ALSO WANTS THE U-N TO PRESS HIS FATHER, KING SIHANOUK, TO MEDIATE. THE KING IS IN BEIJING.

-0-

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN HAS DECIDED TO ASSEMBLE A NEW TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS FOR CONGO/KINSHASA TO LOOK INTO ALLEGED MASSACRES OF RWANDAN HUTU REFUGEES. THE GOVERNMENT OF FORMER REBEL LEADER LAURENT KABILA BARRED A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ENQUIRY, CHARGING ONE OF ITS INVESTIGATORS WITH BIAS.

THE INVESTIGATOR -- ROBERTO GARRETON OF CHILE -- HAD CONCLUDED THAT TROOPS LOYAL TO PRESIDENT KABILA WERE MOST LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE ATROCITIES IN EASTERN ZAIRE DURING THEIR SEVEN-MONTH STRUGGLE TO TAKE KINSHASA.

U-N DIPLOMATS PROTESTED PRESIDENT KABILA'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE MISSION. BUT SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN SAID WHAT'S IMPORTANT NOW IS TO GO IN QUICKLY -- NO MATTER WHO GOES -- AND LOOK FOR EVIDENCE:

PLEASE DON'T TALK IN TERMS OF WHO HAS LOST AND WHO HAS WON AND WHO HAS CAVED IN AND WHO HAS NOT CAVED IN. THE ISSUES ARE MUCH TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO PLAY A ZERO-SUM GAME. I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE WORLD TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

THE KABILA GOVERNMENT BLAMES THE MASSACRES MAINLY ON RWANDAN HUTU MILITIAS WHO FLED TO ZAIRE ALONG WITH HUTU CIVILIANS IN 1994, AFTER A CIVIL WAR IN RWANDA BROUGHT THE MINORITY TUTSI TO POWER.

-0-

GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS CAME TO NEW YORK THIS PAST WEEK AFTER A THREE-YEAR HIATUS TO SEE WHETHER THEY CAN START TALKING AGAIN ABOUT ENDING THEIR LONG DISPUTE. THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO DEPLOY RUSSIAN MISSILES NEXT YEAR AND TURKEY IS ON FULL ALERT. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PRESSING FOR A SETTLEMENT.

CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE TURKISH TROOPS INVADED IN 1974 IN RESPONSE TO A COUP IN NICOSIA BACKED BY GREECE. THE U-N WANTS TO RE-UNITE THE COUNTRY UNDER A FEDERAL SYSTEM.

THE CYPRIOTS WERE SET UP IN A REMOTE LOCATION NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN OPENED ON A HOPEFUL NOTE:

I INVITED THE LEADERS OF THE CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES TO MEET HERE FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT A LASTING PEACE IN CYPRUS IS NOW WITHIN GRASP.

THE U-N DECLARED A NEWS BLACKOUT ON THE TALKS. NO BREAKTHROUGHS WERE ANTICIPATED. BUT THE CYPRIOTS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN NEXT MONTH -- THIS TIME NEAR GENEVA. (SIGNED)
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11-Jul-97 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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