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Voice of America, 99-07-23

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

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] DEMELLO/KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)
  • [02] KLA COMPLIANCE (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)
  • [03] KOSOVO REFUGEE AIRLIFT (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)
  • [04] EDITORIAL: CRACKDOWN IN CROATIA
  • [05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)
  • [06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

  • [01] DEMELLO/KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

    DATE=7/23/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-252072
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: A TOP UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL SAYS THE ORGANIZATION HOPES TO DEPLOY MORE THAN THREE-THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICERS TO KOSOVO TO HELP SAFEGUARD LAW AND ORDER. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE U-N POLICE ALSO WILL TRAIN A LOCAL FORCE.

    TEXT: THE U-N'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO, CONSIDERS RESTORATION OF LAW AND ORDER TO BE KOSOVO'S TOP PRIORITY.

    MR. DE MELLO REJECTS CRITICISM THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HAS BEEN SLOW IN GETTING THE POLICE UNIT INTO KOSOVO. HE SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN POLICE FORCE AND IS DEPENDENT ON THE GOODWILL OF MEMBER COUNTRIES TO CONTRIBUTE PEOPLE TO THE OPERATION. WHILE THIS HAS PROVEN DIFFICULT, HE SAYS POLICE RECRUITMENT IS PICKING UP. BY NEXT WEEK, 100 INTERNATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS WILL ARRIVE IN KOSOVO EVERY FIVE DAYS. THE U-N OFFICIAL SAYS THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO RECRUIT A LOCAL POLICE FORCE. THAT PROCESS, HE SAYS, WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK.

    ///DE MELLO ACT///

    THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEPLOY THREE TO FOUR-THOUSAND MULTI-ETHNIC POLICE UNITS THROUGHOUT KOSOVO, INCLUDING, INCIDENTALLY, 10 PERCENT WOMEN. THAT IS OUR TARGET AT PRESENT. THAT, HOWEVER, WILL TAKE SOME TIME. //OPT// THEY WILL HAVE TO BE TRAINED. THEY WILL UNDERGO TRAINING AT A NEW POLICE ACADEMY ... THAT TRAINING WILL TAKE FIVE TO SIX WEEKS. THEY WILL THEN HAVE TO UNDERGO ON THE JOB TRAINING ALONGSIDE THE INTERNATIONAL U-N POLICE FORCE. //END OPT//

    ///END ACT///

    //OPT//

    MR. DE MELLO HEADED KOSOVO'S U-N ADMINISTRATION UNTIL FORMER FRENCH HEALTH MINISTER BERNARD KOUCHNER TOOK UP THE POST.

    //END OPT//

    MR. DE MELLO SAYS EVERY DAY, BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN KOSOVO. AND, THERE ARE FREQUENT ABDUCTIONS AND REVENGE ATTACKS BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS AGAINST MINORITY SERBS AND GYPSIES, INCLUDING THE BURNING AND LOOTING OF HOUSES. MR. DE MELLO SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE LOCAL POLICE RECRUITS WILL PERFORM THEIR DUTIES IMPARTIALLY.

    ///SECOND DE MELLO ACT///

    OBVIOUSLY, THIS WILL BE A DIFFICULT TASK. BUT THIS IS WHY I SAID THAT WE WOULD BE APPLYING VERY STRICT CRITERIA IN THE INDIVIDUAL RECRUITMENT INTO THIS NEW POLICE FORCE. AND WE SHALL DETERMINE THROUGHOUT A SIX-MONTH INITIAL TRAINING PERIOD WHETHER THEY DESERVE THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO OR NOT.

    ///END ACT///

    MR. DE MELLO SAYS HE BELIEVES THERE ARE ENOUGH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO ENABLE THE UNITED NATIONS TO CREATE A KOSOVO POLICE FORCE WHICH WILL ABIDE BY DEMOCRATIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LS/PCF/KL
    23-Jul-99 11:42 AM EDT (1542 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [02] KLA COMPLIANCE (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

    DATE=7/23/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-252070
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: ALTHOUGH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY FAILED TO MEET A DEADLINE IN ITS AGREEMENT TO DISARM, A NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS THE ALLIANCE STILL EXPECTS FULL COMPLIANCE. DETAILS FROM PRISTINA AND REPORTER TIM BELAY.

    TEXT: IN RECENT DAYS, THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY UPBEAT ABOUT THE COOPERATION IT SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED FROM THE K-L-A. A THREE-MONTH PLAN TO SHUT DOWN THE REBEL ARMY COMPLETED ITS FIRST MONTH THIS WEEK. BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, THE K-L-A MAY HAVE MISSED WEDNESDAY'S DEADLINE FOR TURNING OVER ALL OF ITS HEAVY WEAPONRY AND ONE-THIRD OF ITS STOCKPILE OF SMALL, AUTOMATIC RIFLES.

    NATO SAYS IT HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF WEAPONS THE K-L-A REPORTED AS HAVING BEEN TURNED IN. BECAUSE OF THAT, A PLANNED ANNOUNCEMENT ON PROGRESS IN THE DEMOBILIZATION -- ORIGINALLY SET FOR THURSDAY -- HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SATURDAY.

    LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LOUIS GARNEAU, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NATO MISSION IN KOSOVO, SAYS THE TWO-DAY DELAY WILL GIVE NATO AND THE K-L-A A CHANCE TO VERIFY HOW MANY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER.

    /// GARNEAU ACT ///

    WE WERE NOT YET IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM OR GIVE ASSURANCE THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THE K-L-A HAD MET THE CONDITIONS IN THEIR UNDERTAKINGS. IT'S QUITE A COMPLICATED ACCOUNTING PROCESS, ACTUALLY, CONSIDERING THERE ARE CATEGORIES OF FIRE ARMS AND WEAPONS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THERE'S ALSO 15 DIFFERENT WEAPONS STORAGE SITES SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE PROVINCE.

    /// END ACT ///

    LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GARNEAU SAYS NATO MONITORS AND THE K-L-A CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT NUMBERS WHEN THEY COUNTED THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEAPONS THAT HAD BEEN LOCKED UP. STILL, HE SAYS, THE DELAY IS NOT A PROBLEM.

    /// SECOND GARNEAU ACT ///

    WE SHOULDN'T BE READING TOO MUCH INTO THIS, REALLY. IT'S A 48-HOUR DELAY AND WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ONCE THE DELAY IS EXPIRED THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH THE GUARANTEES AND ASSURANCE THAT WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN TERMS OF THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT MILESTONE.

    /// END ACT ///

    LT. COMMANDER GARNEAU SAYS THE REAL TEST WILL COME TWO MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN THE K-L-A IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETELY DISARMED AND OUT OF UNIFORM. (SIGNED)
    NEB/TB/PCF/KL
    23-Jul-99 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [03] KOSOVO REFUGEE AIRLIFT (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

    DATE=7/23/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-252069
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: AFTER A SLOW START, A UNITED NATIONS OPERATION TO AIRLIFT ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES HOME TO KOSOVO FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF ASYLUM HAS BEGUN TO SPEED-UP. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS MORE THAN THREE-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO KOSOVO SINCE THE HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT STARTED A WEEK AGO.

    TEXT: THE "INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION," WHICH IS ORGANIZING THE AIRLIFT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, CALLS FRIDAY (TODAY) A WATERSHED BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF KOSOVARS GOING HOME IN A SINGLE DAY. SPOKESMAN JEAN-PHILLIPPE CHAUZY SAYS THE OPERATION HAS BEEN GOING VERY SMOOTHLY, BUT ADDS IT HAS ALSO BEEN SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTING. HE SAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING FLOWN INTO SKOPJE AIRPORT IN MACEDONIA HAS NOT REACHED THE MAXIMUM DAILY LIMIT OF ONE-THOUSAND. BUT FRIDAY'S RETURNS, SAYS MR. CHAUZY, WILL EXCEED THAT FIGURE.

    ///CHAUZY ACT///

    THE FACT THAT TODAY WE CAN RETURN ONE-THOUSAND-322 (EDS: 1,322) PEOPLE IN ONE DAY ABOARD NINE FLIGHTS -- THIS IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL ALSO TO THE KOSOVAR COMMUNITY THAT THEY CAN RETURN AND WE CAN HELP THEM RETURN SAFELY AND SPEEDILY.

    ///END ACT///

    DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE KOSOVO WAR, THE UNITED NATIONS FLEW MORE THAN 90-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES OUT OF MACEDONIA TO THIRD COUNTRIES OF ASYLUM. MOST WENT TO WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. BUT MANY THOUSANDS ALSO WENT TO CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA. NOW THAT THE FIGHTING IS OVER, MANY ARE EAGER TO GO HOME. LAST WEEK, THE UNITED NATIONS BEGAN A PROGRAM TO ASSIST THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER TO GO HOME. NO ONE WILL BE FORCED TO RETURN. MR. CHAUZY SAYS SO FAR, MOST OF THE KOSOVARS RETURNING HOME ARE COMING FROM GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND.

    ///SECOND CHAUZY ACT///

    RETURNEES ARE ALLOWED TO TRANSIT THROUGH SKOPJE. AND, I DO INSIST ON TRANSIT. THAT MEANS THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THE AIRPORT, BOARD BUSES AND THEY'RE TAKEN TO THE BLACE BORDER AND THEY CROSS INTO KOSOVO. THEY ARE NOT, FOR INSTANCE, TO OVERNIGHT IN MACEDONIA.

    ///END ACT///

    MR. CHAUZY SAYS PEOPLE ARE TRANSPORTED BY BUS FROM THE KOSOVO CAPITAL PRISTINA TO THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.

    HE SAYS THE HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT WILL BE GIVEN A BOOST EARLY NEXT WEEK. THAT'S WHEN FLIGHTS INTO PRISTINA WILL BEGIN. HE SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS IS PLANNING TO FLY UP TO 600 PEOPLE A DAY INTO THE KOSOVO CAPITAL. MR. CHAUZY SAYS THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RETURNEES TO ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND A DAY. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LS/PCF/KL
    23-Jul-99 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] EDITORIAL: CRACKDOWN IN CROATIA

    DATE= 07/24/99
    TYPE= EDITORIAL
    NUMBER= 0-08383
    CONTENT=THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS BEING RELEASED FOR
    BROADCAST 07/24/99.

    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:

    THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, OR H-D-Z, HAS RULED CROATIA SINCE IT GAINED INDEPENDENCE IN 1991. UNFORTUNATELY, THE H-D-Z CONTINUES TO USE ITS MAJORITY POSITION TO HARASS CRITICS AND DENY OPPOSITION PARTIES THE ABILITY TO COMPETE FREELY AND FAIRLY IN ELECTIONS. IN JUNE, THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY NACIONAL PUBLISHED A SERIES OF DOCUMENTS THAT REPORTEDLY BELONGED TO THE CROATIAN SECURITY SERVICE. THE DOCUMENTS CONTAINED MINUTES OF WIRETAPPED TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS OF MANY PROMINENT CROATS. NACIONAL CHARGED THAT THE SECURITY SERVICE WAS ACTING ON BEHALF OF A FACTION OF THE H-D-Z. IT ACCUSED THE SERVICE OF KEEPING A WIDE RANGE OF CROATIAN PUBLIC FIGURES -- INCLUDING JOURNALISTS, OPPOSITION POLITICAL LEADERS, AND EVEN SOCCER COACHES -- UNDER SURVEILLANCE. CROATIAN AUTHORITIES RESPONDED TO THE REPORT BY RANSACKING THE OFFICES OF THE NACIONAL AND THE HOME OF ITS CHIEF EDITOR, IVO PUKANIC.

    ALTHOUGH THE CROATIAN CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, IN PRACTICE THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS THE NATIONAL ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND MUCH OF THE PRINT MEDIA AS WELL. JOURNALISTS WHO DARE TO CRITICIZE OR EXPOSE ABUSES BY THE GOVERNMENT RISK THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION, ARREST, AND IMPRISONMENT. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MORE THAN SIX-HUNDRED CIVIL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN FILED. SOME THREE-HUNDRED CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS HAVE BEEN STARTED BY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA, HDZ PARTY LEADERS, AND OTHERS.

    JOURNALISTS ARE NOT THE ONLY TARGET OF REPRESSION BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES. THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA. IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO INCREASING ATTACKS IN CROATIA'S GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA AND TO HARASSMENT BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES.

    THE PEACEFUL EXPRESSION OF DISSENT AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS MUST BE PROTECTED IF CROATIA IS TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF BECOMING TRULY DEMOCRATIC. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO END ITS REPRESSIVE PRACTICES AND WORK WITH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION.

    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.
    23-Jul-99 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

    DATE=7/23/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-252082
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (FRIDAY), AS INVESTORS TOOK A BREAK AND SOME PROFITS IN A LIGHTER THAN USUAL TRADING SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK:

    TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 58 POINTS, CLOSING AT 10-THOUSAND-910 -- A LOSS OF MORE THAN TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT FOR THE WEEK. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED DOWN FOUR POINTS AT 13-HUNDRED-56. AND, THE NASDAQ CLOSED UP A FRACTION BUT LOST ABOUT SIX PERCENT OVER THE WEEK.

    THE U-S CORPORATE EARNINGS SEASON IS AT MID-POINT. A LOT OF BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED PROFIT REPORTS CAME IN. BUT THE BIGGER FOCUS NOW IS ON SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES, AFTER FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN THURSDAY SIGNALED HE IS READY TO RAISE RATES AGAIN IF HE SEES ANY SIGN OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURE.

    /// BEGIN OPT ///

    ED KEON, MARKET STRATEGIST FOR PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, SAYS STOCKS, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE ALREADY FULLY VALUED, SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT CAN DRIVE THE MARKET FORWARD FROM HERE:

    /// KEON ACT ///

    THE ESTIMATES ARE WIDELY KNOWN. PEOPLE DO EXPECT EARNINGS TO BE QUITE GOOD. WE'RE ALREADY SELLING AT WHAT WE THINK IS JUST ABOUT AS HIGH AS EARNINGS-MULTIPLES ARE GOING TO GET. SO WHEN YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH AT THE PEAK OF VALUATION, ANY LITTLE BAD NEWS CAN SEND THINGS DOWN, OR EVEN GOOD NEWS THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO IMPRESS THE MARKET.

    /// END ACT ///

    /// END OPT ///

    HIGHER CRUDE OIL PRICES FAILED TO BRING BIGGER EARNNGS FOR U-S OIL COMPANIES. CHEVRON -- THE THIRD LARGEST U-S OIL COMPANY -- REPORTED A 20 PERCENT DROP IN PROFITS BECAUSE OF A SHORTFALL IN ITS REFINING AND MARKETING BUSINESSES.

    /// REST OPT ///

    THE NUMBER ONE U-S DRUGMAKER, MERCK, SAYS SALES OF A MEDICINE TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL HELPED DRIVE UP ITS NET INCOME 12 PERCENT THIS PAST QUARTER. ITS OVERALL SALES ROSE 24 PERCENT. AND, EARNINGS AT SUN MICROSYSTEMS GREW A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED 30 PERCENT OVER THE QUARTER. THE LEADING MAKER OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR BUSINESSES IS FOCUSING ON PROVIDING NETWORKING COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE FOR THE GROWING INTERNET INDUSTRY. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/GM
    23-Jul-99 4:39 PM EDT (2039 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=07/23/99
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-11395
    TELEPHONE=619-3335
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

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

    INTRO: HEIGHTENING TENSIONS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA; SUSPICION THAT NORTH KOREA IS PREPARING TO TEST-FIRE A NEW LONG-RANGE MISSILE; THE PENALTY IMPOSED ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES FOR COASTAL DUMPING AND THE FUNERAL OF JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. ARE AMONG THE TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIALS.

    NOW HERE IS _________________WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

    TEXT: THE U-S PRESS IS DEVOTING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO THE SUGGESTION BY TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT, LEE TENG-HUI, THAT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL BEIJING ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISLAND AS A SEPARATE STATE. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS THAT WHILE MR. LEE'S REMARKS ARE DISRUPTIVE, THE STRONG RESPONSE THEY HAVE DRAWN FROM OFFICIALS IN BEIJING ARE RASH.

    VOICE: ...THREATENING TAIWAN WITH BLOCKADE OR INVASION IS NOT THE WAY TO PERSUADE ITS PEOPLE TO SUPPORT REUNIFICATION. WASHINGTON'S RELATIONS WITH BEIJING REST NOT ONLY ON THE DOCTRINE THAT TAIWAN AND THE MAINLAND ARE A PART OF A SINGLE CHINA BUT ALSO ON AMERICA'S INSISTENCE THAT THE REUNIFICATION ISSUE BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY. MR. LEE SHOULD DROP HIS TALK OF SEPARATE STATES, AND BEIJING SHOULD ABANDON THE IDEA OF REUNIFICATION BY MILITARY FORCE.

    TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON IS AT LEAST PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TENSIONS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND BEIJING BECAUSE OF COMMENTS HE MADE LAST YEAR DURING A VISIT TO CHINA. THE PAPER WRITES:

    VOICE: EVER SINCE MR. CLINTON LAST YEAR LET HIMSELF BE TALKED INTO DENOUNCING TAIWANESE INDEPENDENCE DURING HIS STAY IN SHANGHAI, THE TAIWANESE HAVE FELT NERVOUS, BETRAYED AND UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE FUTURE. ...CONTRARY TO THE COURSE PURSUED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, IT IS THE TAIWANESE WHO NEED TO BE REASSURED. REAL TROUBLE WILL SURELY ARISE IF BEIJING, TOO STARTS TO DOUBT AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN'S SAFETY.

    TEXT: TURNING NOW TO NORTH KOREA, THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" ARGUES THAT THE UNITED STATES MUST TRY OTHER MEASURES THAN IT HAS SO FAR USED TO PREVENT PYONGYANG FROM FIRING OF A NEW LONG-RANGE MISSILE.

    VOICE: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS TRIED FOR YEARS TO MODIFY PYONGYANG'S BEHAVIOR BY OFFERING NUMEROUS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INCENTIVES. IT HAS LITTLE TO SHOW FOR THAT EFFORT. ...PYONGYANG'S PARANOID SUSPICIONS HAVE NOT ABATED, ITS THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF ITS NEIGHBORS HAVE NOT DIMINISHED, ITS MISSILE SALES TO IRAN, SYRIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE NOT BEEN CURBED. ...IT'S TIME THIS BLACKMAIL BE IDENTIFIED FOR WHAT IT IS ....THE CHALLENGE FROM NORTH KOREA REQUIRES A NEW FORM OF RESPONSE.

    TEXT: ALSO BEING DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EDITORIALS, ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, AN INTERNATIONAL CRUISE SHIP COMPANY, RECEIVED A HEAVY FINE THIS WEEK FOR DUMPING WASTE OIL AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, CALIFORNIA, AND ALASKA. IN MIAMI, FLORIDA "THE HERALD" SAYS THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD HELP TAKE THE PROFIT OUT OF POLLUTING.

    VOICE: ..IT WAS THE PROSECUTOR'S DOGGED PURSUIT OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN THAT SHATTERED THE MYTH THAT CRUISE LINES AND OTHER INTERNATIONALLY FLAGGED VESSELS ARE BEYOND REACH OF U-S LAW. ...LET ROYAL CARIBBEAN PROVE IT IS SAILING CLEAN TO A FEDERAL JUDGE. IT IS A COMPANY JUST BEGINNING TO ATONE FOR ITS DAMAGE TO OUR NATION'S -- INDEED THE WORLD'S -- NATURAL RESOURCES.

    TEXT: AND FINALLY, CALIFORNIA'S "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" SAYS FAREWELL TO JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.

    VOICE: THERE REMAINS AN ALMOST MYSTICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE KENNEDY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WHO RECALL THE KENNEDY PRESIDENCY AS CAMELOT, A LOVELY FICTION THAT WILL NOT DIE. ...HE (JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.) WAS CAMELOT'S CHILD PRINCE, WHO GREW UP TO BE THE HANDSOME AND CHARMING TORCH BEARER OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE KENNEDY'S AS AMERICAN'S ROYAL FAMILY. THE COMMITMENT OF HIS ASHES TO THE DEEP SEA YESTERDAY WAS THE END OF THE CAMELOT DREAM, BUT THE KENNEDY MYSTIQUE ENDURES.

    TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM FRIDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
    NEB/ENE/KL
    23-Jul-99 2:03 PM EDT (1803 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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