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Voice of America, 99-01-06Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)DATE=1/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243831 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY FAILED WEDNESDAY AFTER INDEPENDENT LAWMAKER YALIM EREZ GAVE UP IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO FORGE A BROAD-BASED COALITION PRIOR TO GENERAL ELECTIONS IN APRIL. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA HAS MORE. TEXT: AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS WEEK, MOST IN TURKEY BELIEVED THAT MR. EREZ -- A BUSINESSMAN-TURNED-POLITICIAN -- WOULD SUCCEED IN STITCHING TOGETHER A COALITION GOVERNMENT. HE HAD THE SUPPORT OF OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ AND, IT SEEMED AT THE TIME, OF LEFTIST LEADER BULLENT ECEVIT. BUT IN A SURPRISE MOVE ON MONDAY, TANSU CILLER -- LEADER OF THE RIGHT-WING "TRUE PATH" PARTY -- ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD BACK A MINORITY COALITION TO BE FORMED BY MR. ECEVIT ON THE SOLE CONDITION THAT HE DID NOT SEEK TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS. MR. EREZ IS A ONE-TIME ALLY OF MRS. CILLER AND HELPED HER BECOME TURKEY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER IN 1993. BUT THAT RELATIONSHIP BROKE DOWN AFTER SHE DECIDED TO FORM A COALITION WITH THE ISLAMISTS, FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 1995. THAT ILL-FATED ALLIANCE WAS FORCED OUT OF POWER BY TURKEY'S RIGIDLY PRO- SECULAR ARMY IN 1997. POLITICAL OBSERVERS IN TURKEY SAY MRS. CILLER HAS LONG VIEWED MR. EREZ AS A POTENTIAL THREAT TO HER PARTY LEADERSHIP. THEY SAY THIS IS WHY SHE HAS NOW THROWN HER WEIGHT BEHIND MR. ECEVIT, AFTER INITIALLY REJECTING HIS PROPOSAL FOR A MINORITY COALITION LAST MONTH. TURKEY HAS BEEN MIRED IN A POLITICAL CRISIS SINCE NOVEMBER. PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ'S GOVERNING COALITION WITH MR ECEVIT WAS BROUGHT DOWN IN A PARLIAMENTARY NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE AFTER THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS THAT MR. YILMAZ HAD USED HIS INFLUENCE TO ENRICH BUSINESS CRONIES. EFFORTS TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT HAVE SINCE CENTERED ON
SIDELINING THE ISLAMISTS, WHO COMMAND THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SEATS
IN THE PARLIAMENT BUT CONTINUE TO BE DISTRUSTED BY TURKEY'S
PRO-SECULAR MILITARY LEADERS. (SIGNED)
[02] EUROPEAN-UNION-FRAUD (L-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=1/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243840 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, JACQUES SANTER, HAS REJECTED CHARGES OF FRAUD AND MISMANAGEMENT -- ONE WEEK BEFORE HIS COMMISSION FACES A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE CONFLICT IS OVERSHADOWING PRIDE IN THE NEW SINGLE CURRENCY, THE EURO. TEXT: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS BEEN CELEBRATING THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO CURRENCY THIS WEEK IN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS. THE STABILITY OF THE SINGLE CURRENCY FOR 11 UNION MEMBERS IS SEEN AS ADVANCING EUROPEAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ONLY BODY DIRECTLY ELECTED BY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, HAS REJECTED THE BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, THE E-U EXECUTIVE BODY. THE PARLIAMENT HAS SCHEDULED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMISSION FOR NEXT WEEK. IF THE VOTE SUCCEEDS, ALL 20 COMMISSIONERS WOULD BE FORCED TO RESIGN. AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO FORCE TWO COMMISSIONERS TO QUIT -- THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR AID PROGRAMS TO AFRICA WHERE FRAUD HAS BEEN SUGGESTED. A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IS NEEDED TO FORCE THE ENTIRE COMMISSION TO RESIGN. THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, JACQUES SANTER, SAYS HE WILL FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT, THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, INSISTS THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. /// SANTER ACT W/ INTERPRETER ///ALL OF THESE MATTERS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF FRAUD. THERE IS NO SUSPICION OF CORRUPTION AS WAS ARGUED BEFORE AND THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, OF COURSE IT IS WITHIN EACH REPORT BY THE COURT OF AUDITORS. THE COURT OF AUDITORS IS ENTITLED TO ISSUE COMPLAINTS AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO SET THINGS RIGHT. /// END ACT ///THE PARLIAMENT'S REJECTION OF THE COMMISSION'S BUDGET WAS BASED ON A REPORT ENTITLED "HOW THE COMMISSION DEALS WITH INTERNAL IRREGULARITIES AND CASES OF FRAUD." THE AUTHOR OF THAT CRITICAL REPORT HAS JUST BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE COMMISSION AND PUT ON HALF SALARY. MR. SANTER SAYS THE MAN, AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, WAS SUSPENDED -- NOT BECAUSE HE COMPLAINED TO HIS SUPERIORS --.BUT BECAUSE HE LEAKED THE CONFIDENTIAL REPORT TO THE PRESS. COMPLAINTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE ABOUT THE COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET, ERKKI LIIKANEN OF FINLAND. REPORTS HAVE CIRCULATED SAYING MR. LIIKANEN'S WIFE HAS PROFITED FROM A CONTRACT BETWEEN A FINNISH COMPANY AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. MR. LIIKANEN TELLS REPORTERS, THAT IS NOT HIS FAULT. /// LIIKANEN ACT ///I COME FROM THE CULTURE WHERE MEN AND WIVES ARE EQUAL. BOTH OF THEM HAVE THEIR RIGHTS FOR THEIR OWN CAREER AND FOR THEIR OWN PUBLIC LIVES AND THEY REPLY FOR THEIR OWN DEEDS THEMSELVES. ANY QUESTION OF A CHAUVINIST CHARACTER WHICH TRIES TO UNDERMINE THIS RIGHT OF WOMEN TO WORK, I HIGHLY REGRET. /// END ACT ///MR. LIIKANEN INSISTS THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS NOT WITH HIS
BRANCH OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. HE SAYS THESE MANAGEMENT
QUARRELS BETWEEN THE UNION'S EXECUTIVE AND THE PARLIAMENT
CONTINUE DURING A WEEK THE UNION SHOULD BE CELEBRATING ITS
GREATER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION. (SIGNED)
[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=1/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243867 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS BUYING PRESSURES INCREASED. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 95-HUNDRED-45, UP 233 POINTS, OR TWO-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 12-HUNDRED-72, UP 27 POINTS. AND THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT SESSION. VOLUME ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WAS ALMOST ONE-BILLION SHARES, THE FIFTH HIGHEST IN HISTORY. ANALYSTS SAY ENTHUSIASTIC BUYERS AND RELUCTANT SELLERS COMBINED TO CREATE THE EXPLOSIVE RALLY WHICH SPREAD ACROSS ALL INDUSTRY SECTORS AND FROM LARGE TO SMALL COMPANY STOCKS. SOME ANALYSTS SAY STOCKS ARE RISING TOO FAST, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF AN EXPECTED SLOWDOWN IN CORPORATE PROFITS. BUT OTHERS, // OPT // END OPT ///// REST OPT ////// CARDILLO ACT ///THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN VERY MUCH INTACT. WE HAVE LOW INFL ATION AND LOW INTER EST RATES AND WE DO NOT FORES EE ANYTH ING THAT WOULD THREA TEN THE INFLA TION OUTLO OK. /// END ACT ///GENERAL MOTORS REPORTS ITS DECEMBER SALES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE BY MORE THAN THREE PERCENT, BETTER THAN ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED. HOWEVER, G-M'S SALES FOR THE FULL YEAR WERE DOWN ALMOST THREE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT, BECAUSE OF STRIKES IN JUNE AND JULY. THE TEXACO OIL COMPANY HAS AGREED TO PAY THREE-POINT-ONE-MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE GOVERNMENT CHARGES THAT IT PAID SOME WOMEN LESS THAN MEN FOR SIMILAR WORK. THE MONEY WILL BE DIVIDED AMONG 186 WOMEN EMPLOYEES AT TEXACO. PHILLIPS PETROLEUM IS THE LATEST OIL COMPANY TO CUT ITS WORK FORCE AND SPENDING BECAUSE OF LOW OIL PRICES. PHILLIPS SAYS IT WILL ELIMINATE ABOUT 14-HUNDRED JOBS AND CUT CAPITAL SPENDING BY 30 PERCENT. WALT DISNEY CHAIRMAN MICHAEL EISNER SAYS HIS COMPANY IS
CONSIDERING A MAJOR THEME PARK IN CHINA BUT STRESSES THE PROJECT
IS STILL IN THE IDEA STAGE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DISNEY COMPANY
REPORTED THAT MR. EISNER'S SALARY AND BONUS WAS CUT ALMOST IN
HALF BECAUSE OF A WEAK PROFIT PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR. EVEN WITH
THAT CUT, MR. EISNER STILL EARNED ALMOST SIX-MILLION DOLLARS IN
SALARY AND BONUS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
[04] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=01/06/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11085 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= ////////INTRO: THE PENDING SENATE TRIAL OF IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TAKES A BACK SEAT TO CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN U-S RELATIONS WITH CUBA IN THE DAY'S EDITORIALS. THERE ARE ALSO EDITORIALS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ALLEGING CHINESE SPYING TO OBTAIN U-S TECHNOLOGY; THE DEBUT OF AN ALL-WOMAN GOVERNMENT TEAM IN ARIZONA; THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO; AND A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN ANGOLA. NOW, HERE WITH A QUOTE OR TWO, AND A CLOSER LOOK, IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES IN U-S REGULATIONS REGARDING CUBA, HAS PRECIPITATED A FLURRY OF EDITORIAL COMMENT. THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT A L L AMERICANS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO SEND MONEY TO INDIVIDUAL CUBANS, AND THAT A PAIR OF BASEBALL GAMES MAY BE PLAYED BETWEEN THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES AND THE CUBAN NATIONAL TEAM, AS WELL AS OTHER CHANGES. IN BALTIMORE -- HOME TO THE ORIOLES BASEBALL TEAM -- "THE SUN" SAYS SUCH A GAME WOULD, HOWEVER SLIGHTLY, MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. VOICE: THE CAREFULLY HEDGED INITIATIVES TOWARD LOOSENING RELATIONS WITH CUBA ANNOUNCED BY THE WHITE HOUSE YESTERDAY ARE WELCOME, BUT DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. ... BASEBALL COULD DO FOR CUBAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS WHAT PING-PONG DIPLOMACY DID IN PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION'S OPENING TO CHINA IN THE 1970S. BUT IT IS NO SURE THING. ... UNFORTUNATELY, THE WHITE HOUSE DID NOT AUTHORIZE A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO REVIEW FOUR DECADES OF TRADE EMBARGO. TEXT: IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WITH ITS HUGE EXPATRIATE CUBAN POPULATION, "THE MIAMI HERALD" GREETS THE MOVES IN A LEAD EDITORIAL THAT SAYS, IN PART: VOICE: WE WELCOME YESTERDAY'S PROACTIVE CUBA INITIATIVES .... OF COURSE THE MEASURES' IMPACT WILL DEPEND ON THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO AGREE. ... THAT SAID, LETTING U-S COMPANIES SELL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES IN CUBA MAKES LITTLE SENSE. ANY SUCH SALES COULD BOLSTER THE STATE, WHICH VIRTUALLY CONTROLS ALL FOOD PRODUCTION. TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" BEGINS BY SAYING: "NO REASONABLE PERSON CAN OPPOSE GIVING THE HARD-PRESSED PEOPLE OF CUBA ACCESS TO MORE HARD CURRENCY SENT BY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES ... " BUT ENDS UP ON A MORE SKEPTICAL NOTE: VOICE: STILL, IT IS NOT IN AMERICA'S INTEREST TO ALLOW A REPRESSIVE AND BRUTAL TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP TO CONTINUE IN THIS HEMISPHERE. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES: IS THE UNITED STATES GETTING ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE RELAXATION MEASURES ...? /// OPT ///TEXT: LASTLY, ON THIS TOPIC, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS," WHICH HAS BEEN CALLING FOR AN END TO THE EMBARGO AND DOES SO AGAIN, BEGINS ITS THOUGHTS THIS WAY. VOICE: MORE MONEY. MORE FOOD. MORE FLIGHTS. MORE BASEBALL. THE ONLY THING MISSING IS A COMPLETE LIFTING OF THE ANTIQUATED EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA. THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WON'T EVEN EXAMINE IT IS THE ONE WRINKLE [FAULT] IN AN OTHERWISE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT. /// END OPT ///TEXT: THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TOMORROW IN THE SENATE, AND THERE IS PLENTY OF COMMENT ABOUT THAT DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY'S" POSITION IS SUMMED UP IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "THE HOUSE MISHANDLED CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT. THE SENATE SHOULDN'T FOLLOW ITS PATH." "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SENATE TO "AVOID POLITICAL PARALYSIS" IN ITS PROCEEDINGS. THE "GLOBE" EDITORIAL CONTINUES: VOICE: IMPEACHMENT IS NOT CONVICTION. NEITHER IS IT EVICTION. ... IF [MR.] CLINTON IS CONVICTED, HE WILL BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND REPLACED AT ONCE; IF HE IS ACQUITTED, THE MATTER WILL END. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS NO NEED - - AND NO REASON - - TO HANG A 'TEMPORARILY INCAPACITATED' SIGN ON THE WHITE HOUSE DOORKNOB. /// OPT ///TEXT: FOR ITS PART, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS OF THE SENATE: VOICE: SENATORS SYMPATHETIC TO MR. [TRENT LOTT, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER] LOTT'S GOAL NEED TO HELP HIM COPE WITH THE DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT OF DISCIPLINING THIS IRRESPONSIBLE PRESIDENT IN A WAY THAT DOES N O T HARM THE COUNTRY MORE THAN IT HARMS MR. CLINTON. THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO RUN AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS BIGGER THAN BILL CLINTON. /// END OPT ///TEXT: WHILE IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS: VOICE: A QUICK PROCEEDING THAT MAKES CLEAR THE SENATE'S STRONGEST DISAPPROVAL OF [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S APPARENT LYING AND LEAVES NO DOUBT THAT [MR.] CLINTON BROUGHT THIS UPON HIMSELF REMAINS THE RIGHT COURSE. A PROLONGED TRIAL ENDING IN PREDICTABLE ACQUITTAL WOULD NOT BE SATISFACTORY IN ANY RESPECT. TEXT: BUT "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL DAILY BASED IN THE WASHINGTON SUBURBS, SAYS THE CURRENT PLAN OF TWO SENATORS TO HOLD ONLY A FOUR-DAY TRIAL WITH NO WITNESSES, IS THE WRONG SOLUTION FOR THE NATION. VOICE: ... NOBLE AS THE SENATOR'S EFFORT IS, THEIR PLAN WOULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT WOULD SOLVE, INVITING A HASTY ENDING RATHER THAN THE THOUGHTFUL, DELIBERATE ONE THE COUNTRY SO BADLY NEEDS. ... IN THE END, CENSURE MIGHT BE THE CORRECT FORM OF PUNISHMENT. BUT THE PUBLIC AND LAWMAKERS ACTING ON ITS BEHALF MUST FIRST AGREE ON PRECISELY WHAT [MR.] CLINTON HAS DONE - - AN AGREEMENT BEST REACHED AT TRIAL. TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER SERIOUS STORY, THE CONCLUSION REACHED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THAT CHINA STOLE OR WAS GIVEN SENSITIVE U-S ROCKET AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES, IS "DISTURBING" TO "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES," WHICH SUGGESTS: VOICE: IF CHINA'S ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES ARE AS EXTENSIVE AS THE COMMITTEE INDICATES, A REVIEW OF AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE POLICIES CLEARLY SEEMS IN ORDER. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CELEBRATES THE SWEARING IN, IN ARIZONA, OF THE FIVE TOP POLITICAL POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT GOING TO WOMEN, WITH THESE THOUGHTS: VOICE: SUCH A SWEEP HAS NOT HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT IT IS NOT SO SURPRISING IN A STATE WITH A LONG HISTORY OF WOMEN AS GOVERNMENT LEADERS. INDEED, FOUR OF THESE WOMEN HAVE HAD YEARS OF SERVICE IN STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICES. ... THE ARIZONA TERRITORY WAS SPARSELY POPULATED IN THE LATE 1890'S, AND WOMEN HAD IMPORTANT ROLES FOUNDING COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY. TEXT: AS REGARDS THE NEW EUROPEAN CURRENCY, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" FROM BOSTON PROBES A POTENTIAL WEAKNESS. VOICE: MUCH OF WESTERN EUROPE, NOW THAT IT HAS THE EURO, FACES A PROBLEM COMMON TO ALL FEDERATIONS: HOW DO THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF UNITY GET SPREAD AROUND ENOUGH TO KEEP ALL ELEVEN MEMBER-NATIONS CONTENT? IN CREATING A COMMON CURRENCY, THE ELEVEN NATIONS OF EUROLAND GAVE UP THEIR RIGHT TO SET MONETARY POLICY. THEY CAN NO LONGER PRINT MONEY, OR INFLUENCE INTEREST RATES, TO STIMULATE THEIR NATION'S ECONOMY SHOULD IT FALL ON HARD TIMES. ... EUROPE WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND WHATEVER SYSTEM IT HAS TO DISTRIBUTE THE BENEFITS OF A UNIFIED CONTINENT. OTHERWISE, IF A NATION SUFFERS IN THE MORE COMPETITIVE EUROPEAN ECONOMY, ITS PEOPLE WILL ELECT AN ANTI-EURO GOVERNMENT. /// END OPT ///TEXT: LASTLY, IN CALLING FOR SOME "ACCOUNTABILITY IN ANGOLA," "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS EQUALLY CRITICAL OF BOTH SIDES IN THE NEWLY RE-KINDLED CIVIL WAR. VOICE: THE COLLAPSE OF ANGOLA IS THE SADDER FOR FOLLOWING AN AMBITIOUS RESCUE EFFORT MOUNTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHERS. IN THE MOST RECENT PHASE OF A GHASTLY DECADES-LONG CIVIL WAR, THE UNITED NATIONS DISPATCHED A MEDIATOR AND A ONE-THOUSAND-PERSON PEACE MISSION. BUT THE MEDIATOR HAS FAILED TO FIND COMMON GROUND, AND THE PEACE MONITORS OBSERVE BUT HAVE NO MANDATE TO ENFORCE. .... THE CULPRIT HERE IS NOT THE DETERMINISTIC SURGING OF WAVES OF ETHNIC HOSTILITY. IT IS THE AVARICE AND AMBITION OG, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA, AND JONAS SAVIMBI, LEADER OF THE REBELS. THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM
TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
[05] SWISS PRESIDENT (L) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=1/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243838 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SWITZERLAND'S NEW PRESIDENT, RUTH DREIFUSS SAYS SHE WILL USE HER POSITION TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE SWISS PEOPLE THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE LIES IN BECOMING PART OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A, THE SWISS PRESIDENT ALSO TOLD REPORTER LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA, THE COUNTRY HAD TO FACE UP TO ITS ROLE DURING WORLD WAR II AND GO ON FROM THERE. TEXT: SWISS PRESIDENT, RUTH DREIFUSS SAYS IT IS VITAL FOR SWITZERLAND'S FUTURE AND FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE COUNTRY'S FEDERALIST, DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM TO BECOME MORE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OF STATES. SHE SAYS ONE OF SWITZERLAND'S STRENGTHS IS THAT IT IS A COUNTRY COMPOSED OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT CULTURES -- GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN -- LIVING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE TOGETHER. BUT MS. DREIFUSS SAYS THIS HARMONIOUS SITUATION MAY NOT CONTINUE IF SWITZERLAND INSISTS ON REMAINING APART FROM THE REST OF EUROPE. /// DREIFUSS ACT ///I FEAR THAT IF WE KEEP THIS SPLENDID ISOLATION -- WHICH IS NOT SO SPLENDID -- THE WILL TO LIVE TOGETHER WILL WEAKEN. SO I THINK IT IS REALLY A VITAL QUESTION. /// END ACT ///MS. DREIFUSS ACKNOWLEDGES IT WILL NOT BE EASY TO CHANGE LONG-HELD TRADITIONAL IDEAS ABOUT SWISS INDEPENDENCE AND NEUTRALITY. BUT SHE BELIEVES THROUGH OPEN DISCUSSION AND EDUCATION A MAJORITY OF SWISS CITIZENS WILL EVENTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF STAYING OUT. THE OFFICE OF SWISS PRESIDENT IS LARGELY CEREMONIAL, BUT RUTH DREIFUSS IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION. SHE IS THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST JEW TO HEAD THE COUNTRY. AS SUCH, SHE BELIEVES SHE IS IN A POSITION TO PUSH FORWARD MANY OF THE ISSUES SHE CONSIDERS IMPORTANT. ANOTHER ONE OF HER PRIORITIES IS TO GET SWITZERLAND TO FACE UP TO ITS PAST. THIS YEAR, A COMMISSION OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS SET UP TO EXAMINE SWITZERLAND'S ROLE WITH NAZI GERMANY DURING WORLD WAR TWO, WILL PUBLISH ITS REPORT. MS. DREIFUSS SAYS THE RELEASE OF THE SO-CALLED BERGIER REPORT IS BOUND TO CREATE SOME TENSION IN THE COUNTRY. /// 2ND DREIFUSS ACT ///IN THIS FIELD, I AM NOT AFRAID ABOUT TENSE MOMENTS. I THINK THAT IN THE COUNTRY IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONFRONT THE PAST, NOT ONLY TO BE MORE CAPABLE TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE PAST. BUT, ALSO TO CONFRONT THE FUTURE. /// END ACT ///MS. DREIFUSS SAYS MANY OF THE ATTACKS AGAINST SWITZERLAND'S
WARTIME ROLE ARE UNFAIR AND NOT BASED ON REALITY. SHE SAYS IT IS
AS IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CRITICS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR
MISTAKES AS IT IS FOR SWITZERLAND TO ACCEPT CRITICISM WHEN
JUSTIFIED. (SIGNED)
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