Voice of America, 26 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IT'S THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, NEWSPAPERS ARE MORE FILLED WITH ADVERTISEMENTS FOR TRADITIONAL AFTER-CHRISTMAS SALES THAN EDITORIALS ABOUT NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. BUT AMONG THE LEAD EDITORIALS THERE ARE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS; WHAT'S CALLED A SOUTH AFRICAN CRIME WAVE; AND WORRIES ABOUT A NATIONAL DEFENSE AGAINST MISSILE ATTACK. NOW, ___________________ HAS A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WRITES ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS, 'THE UPHEAVAL IN SOUTH KOREA.' "THE TIMES" GOES ON TO SAY THAT "AN EXTRAORDINARY POLITICAL DRAMA IS UNFOLDING IN SOUTH KOREA," WHERE FORMER PRESIDENTS CHUN DOO HWAN AND ROH TAE WOO WERE INDICTED FOR STARTING THE 1979 MILITARY COUP THAT BROUGHT THEM TO POWER. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CONTINUES:

VOICE: "THE CLEANSING PROCESS CAN REACH A HEALTHY CONCLUSION ONLY IF [CURRENT] PRESIDENT KIM [YOUNG SAM] COMPLETES HIS OWN RUPTURE WITH AN AMBIGUOUS PAST AND ESTABLISHES HIMSELF AS THE UNFLINCHING REFORMER HE NOW CLAIMS TO BE. .... [BEGIN OPT] THE BENEFITS OF SUCH A CLEANSING WOULD BE BROADLY FELT. FUTURE GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE LESS TO WORRY ABOUT FROM MILITARY PLOTTERS. A NEW GENERATION OF POLITICIANS SHOULD FINE IT EASIER TO GAIN POWER. COMPANIES WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE ON THE PRICE AND QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS RATHER THAN THE SIZE OF THEIR PAYOFFS, AND NEW ENTREPRENEURS WOULD HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO BID FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. [END OPT] .... TODAY KOREA HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS AN EAST ASIAN MODERL OF PROSPERITY AND DEMOCRACY BUILT ON RESPECT FOR LAW. MR. KIM AND HIS COUNTRYMEN SHOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS."

TEXT: IN "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," THE LEAD EDITORIAL LOOKS AT SOUTH AFRICA'S "TRANSITION TO A SMOOTHLY FUNCTIONING MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY" YET WARNS THAT "SOUTH AFRICA'S HOPEFUL FUTURE COULD SNAG ON SOMETHING NOT UNKNOWN TO AMERICANS: FEAR OF CRIME." ACCORDING TO "THE MONITOR:"

VOICE: "THE SOURCES OF BURGEONING CRIMINALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE COMPLEX. THE COUNTRY HAS A 40 PERCENT OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WHICH SOME OBSERVERS PEG EVEN HIGHER. THERE IS THE LINGERING LEGACY OF APARTHEID - FROM VIOLENT EMOTIONS TO STOCKPILED WEAPONS. .... AS IN OTHER NEWLY DEMOCRATIZING LANDS, WHEN THE OLD REPRESSIVE SYSTEM WAS LIFTED, THE SOCIAL CAULDRON BOILED OVER. [BEGIN OPT] ... IN BLACK TOWNSHIPS, CRIME IS A DEEPENING PROBLEM, AND RESIDENTS SOMETIMES RESORT TO VIGILANTISM TO ADDRESS IT. BUT CRIME HAS SPREAD TO THE SUBURBS, TOO. SUBURBAN HOUSEWIVES CARRY PISTOLS; HOMES BECOME FORTRESSES. .... THE COUNTRY'S POOR, BLACK MAJORITY NEEDS TO SEE CONTINUING PROGRESS, HO MATTER HOW SLOW. THAT CAN SHRINK CRIME. [END OPT] ... GOOD-WILL AND SHARED GOALS HAVE GOTTEN SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRATS TO THEIR PRESENT STAGE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEIR WAY OF DEALING WITH CRIME HAS BEEN TO HOLD FISCALLY SOUND ECONOMIC POLICIES AND PATIENTLY BUILD A MORE EFFICIENT, CRIME-FIGHTING POLICE FORCE, ALL THE WHILE KEEPING NEWLY ESTABLISHED CIVIL LIBERTIES INTACT. IT'S SLOW, HARD WORK, BUT IT SHOULD PAY OFF."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES THAT THE U-S SENATE MADE A MISTAKE WHEN IT AUTHORIZED "EARLY DEPLOYMENT (BY THE YEAR 2003) OF A BIG-SCALE NATIONAL DEFENSE AGAINST A MISSILE ATTACK." THE NEWSPAPER WONDERS WHO IT WOULD PROTECT AGAINST?

VOICE: "THE COLD WAR IS OVER. THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THE ECONOMICALLY DIMINISHED AND POLITICALLY DISRUPTED RUSSIANS ARE PLANNING AN ATTACK OR IN A POSITION TO DO SO IF THEY WANTED TO. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE EXTREMELY TOUCHY ABOUT THESE DELICATE STRATEGIC ARRANGEMENTS, AND A RUDE UNILATERAL ALTERATION IN THEM CAN HAVE UNWANTED AND DISTURBING POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES. ... CONGRESS NEEDS TO WORK ITS WAY BACK TO THE RIGHT NUCLEAR COURSE."

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK "NEWSDAY" WELCOMES INDIA'S DECLARATION THAT IT IS NOT PLANNING TO TEST A NUCLEAR WEAPON, AS THE UNITED STATES HAS FEARED. "NEWSDAY" CONTINUES:

VOICE: "MAYBE A U-S INTELLIGENCE LEAK HELPED EMBARRASS THE INDIANS INTO CALLING OFF A PLANNED TEST. OR MAYBE THEY NEVER PLANNED ONE AT ALL. EITHER WAY, SETTING OFF A NUKE [NUCLEAR DEVICE] NEAR ITS BORDER WITH PAKISTAN WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROVOCATION BETTER AVOIDED. THE PAKISTANIS WOULD HAVE GONE BALLISTIC, IF ONLY FIGURATIVELY, AND EDGED THAT MUCH CLOSER TO DEMONSTRATING THEIR OWN NUCLEAR CAPACITY. ... INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FLEX NUCLEAR MUSCLES LIKE THE BIG GUYS, INDIA WOULD BE BETTER OFF EMULATING THE SMART GUYS, SUCH AS GERMANY AND JAPAN, WHICH HAVE DONE VERY NICELY IN THE NUCLEAR AGE WHILE FORSAKING NUCLEAR WEAPONS."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT FROM "NEWSDAY," WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIALS FOR THE TUESDAY AFTER THE CHRISTMAS 1995.

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26-Dec-95 10:49 AM EST (1549 UTC)
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[02] BOSNIA / NATO / S BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS ARE PRESSING AHEAD WITH THEIR PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA, WHERE THE WARRING FACTIONS HAVE JUST ONE MORE DAY TO GO BEFORE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PULL BACK FROM KEY POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: U-S MILITARY OFFICERS SAY THEY ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE THAT WILL BE USED TO CARRY TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT FROM HUNGARY INTO BOSNIA.

WORK ON THE BRIDGE AND BAD WEATHER HAVE SLIGHTLY THE ARRIVAL OF THE BULK OF THE U-S CONTINGENT TO THE MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE. STILL, MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT FAR OFF SCHEDULE.

NEARLY ALL OF THE BRITISH AND FRENCH CONTINGENTS TO THE FORCE ARE ALREADY IN BOSNIA, AND NATO OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE 60 THOUSAND TROOPS WILL BE IN PLACE WITHIN A MONTH.

AROUND SARAJEVO, FRENCH TROOPS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER ABOUT 40 KEY POSITIONS ALONG THE CONFRONTATION LINE SEPARATING THE SERBS FROM BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN, THE PARTIES ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAR LAND MINES AND VACATE THE POSITIONS BY WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)

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26-Dec-95 4:14 AM EST (0914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] SARAJEVO / SERBS (L) BY KYLE KING (PALE)

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE ASKED FOR A DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A KEY PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN -- BUT HE IS MAKING NO PROMISES. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS THE REQUEST CAME AS ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH HELD HIS FIRST MEETING WITH BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS IN THEIR STRONGHOLD, PALE.

TEXT: SITTING BESIDE THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT, ADMIRAL SMITH SAID HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO DELAY THE TRANSFER OF SARAJEVO'S SERB SUBURBS TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT IN A POSITION TODAY TO MAKE SUCH AN EXPRESSION.

BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS, WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD, SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER BEFORE THEY GIVE UP THE TERRITORY THEY CONTROL IN SARAJEVO.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PEACE PLAN, ALL SERB FORCES ARE TO WITHDRAW BY FEBRUARY THIRD SO AUTHORITY CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

SERB LEADERS SAY THE PEOPLE OF THE SERB SUBURBS ARE IN A NEAR STATE OF PANIC AND WILL NOT ACCEPT MUSLIM AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY SAID IT WELCOMES ALL SERB RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, EXCEPT THOSE WHO COMMITTED WAR CRIMES.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY FEAR SERB LEADERS MAY EVENTUALLY TRY TO FORCE ALL SERBS OUT OF THE SUBURBS THEY CONTROL, ONCE THEY REALIZE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TERMS OF THE PEACE PLAN.

IN THE MEANTIME, NATO FORCES CONTINUE TO TRY TO ESTABLISH A SECURE ENVIRONMENT.

AROUND SARAJEVO, FRENCH TROOPS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING FRONT LINE SERB AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS THAT MUST BE VACATED BY WEDNESDAY UNDER TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD.

THE FRENCH TROOPS, WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT IN SARAJEVO, WILL THEN ESTABLISH A DEMILITARIZED BUFFER ZONE TO KEEP THE SOLDIERS OF THE TWO SIDES APART. OFFICIALS SAY SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE OPERATION. (SIGNED)

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26-Dec-95 1:40 PM EST (1840 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] TURKEY / POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER, TANSU CILLER AND HER MAIN CONSERVATIVE RIVAL, MESUT YILMAZ, MET TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF FORGING A RIGHT-WING COALITION. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE TWO HOPE TO KEEP THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, REFAH, WHICH CAME FIRST IN SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, FROM FORMING TURKEY'S NEXT GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING, MR YILMAZ SAID HE IS HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT HE TERMED THE REALIZATION OF A STRONG GOVERNMENT BASED ON COMPROMISE. THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN HIS CENTER-RIGHT MOTHERLAND PARTY AND MRS CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY HAS ALSO BEEN ENDORSED BY BULENT ECEVIT, LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY, WHICH CAME IN FOURTH IN SUNDAY'S VOTING.

MR ECEVIT'S SUPPORT IS VIEWED AS CRUCIAL BECAUSE WITH ONLY 267 SEATS BETWEEN THEM, MRS CILLER AND MR. YILMAZ CANNOT FORM A MAJORITY IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT. NEITHER CAN REFAH, DESPITE SCORING ITS GREATEST RESULT EVER IN ANY ELECTION, WITH 21 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

REFAH LEADER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, APPEARED UNDAUNTED BY THE EFFORTS TO SHUT HIS PARTY OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT, SAYING HE WAS PREPARED TO COOPERATE WITH HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS. HE SAID HE HOPED PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL WOULD SOON ASSIGN HIM THE TASK OF FORMING A COALITION IN LINE WITH TURKISH POLITICAL TRADITION UNDER WHICH THE BIGGEST PARTY IS GIVEN THE FIRST GO AT PUTTING TOGETHER A WORKABLE ALLIANCE.

OBSERVERS SAY THAT IN MANY WAYS, THE KEY TO THE NEXT COALITION LIES IN THE HANDS OF MR DEMIREL. THE TURKISH PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD ASK THE PARTY MOST LIKELY TO GET A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN PARLIAMENT TO FORM THE GOVERNMENT. ANALYSTS SAY WITH MRS CILLER AND MR YILMAZ BOTH VOWING NOT TO WORK WITH REFAH, CHANCES OF MR. ERBAKAN GETTING THE JOB SEEM SLIM. (SIGNED)

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26-Dec-95 11:49 AM EST (1649 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] TURKEY ELECT / FIS REACT (S-ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A SPOKESMAN FOR ALGERIA'S ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT HAS WELCOMED THE STRONG SHOWING BY THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS ANWAR HADDAM -- IN A LETTER TO THE LEADER OF THE WELFARE PARTY -- SAYS HE HOPES TURKEY WILL NOW BE ABLE TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO HELP ACHIEVE A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA:

TEXT: IN HIS LETTER TO PARTY LEADER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, MR. HADDAM CONGRATULATES HIM ON HIS PARTY'S SUCCESS IN CAPTURING MORE THAN 21 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, AND EXPRESSES ADMIRATION FOR TURKEY'S FREE AND FAIR BALLOT. MR. HADDAM, WHO LIVES IN WASHINGTON, IS HEAD OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ABROAD OF THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT, OR FIS.

MR. HADDAM SAYS HE HOPES TURKEY WILL NOW BECOME WHAT HE CALLS A TRUE AMBASSADOR OF THE MUSLIM WORLD TO THE WEST. HE SAYS TURKEY, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, WILL BE ABLE TO CONVINCE THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OF THE URGENCY FOR A JUST POLITICAL SOLUTION TO ALGERIA'S POLITICAL CRISIS.

THE MILITARY-BACKED GOVERNMENT IN ALGIERS CANCELLED GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 1992 THAT FIS WAS POISED TO WIN. FIS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE IN WHICH MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED.

WHILE THE ISLAMIC PARTY LEADER, MR. ERBAKAN, SAYS HE SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY, TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES ARE CONSIDERING FORMING A COALITION TO BLOCK THE WELFARE PARTY FROM BECOMING THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

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25-Dec-95 10:19 PM EST (0319 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America