Voice of America, 7 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS WEEK, CHINA ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT MISSILE TESTS NEAR TWO OF TAIWAN'S MAJOR PORTS. TODAY, SOME AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS USE THEIR EDITORIAL PAGES TO COMMENT ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND A FOREIGN AID SUCCESS STORY. NOW, _______________ HAS A CLOSER LOOK FOR US IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, A SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL SAID THAT "CHINA HAD DECIDED TO TEST-FIRE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE BALLISTIC MISSILES BEGINNING ON FRIDAY, NEAR THE NORTHERN HARBOR OF KEELUNG AND OFF THE SOUTHERN HARBOR OF KAOHSIUNG, TO CURB WHAT IT SAW AS CONTINUING TAIWAN EFFORTS TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. THE WASHINGTON TIMES, IN ITS EDITORIAL, CALLS THE MOVE "AN ACT OF WAR."

VOICE: "THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ESCALATING PROVOCATIONS BY MAINLAND CHINA THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE JULY. WITHOUT A PROPER RESPONSE, WE CAN BE CERTAIN THIS PROVOCATION WILL NOT BE THE LAST ONE EITHER. CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR A 30-DAY MISSILE ATTACK ON TAIWAN, SHOULD THE TAIWANESE (AS IS PERFECTLY WITHIN THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS) OPT TO DROP THEIR TRADITIONAL ONE-CHINA POLICY AND VOTE ON MARCH 23 FOR A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DEDICATED TO INDEPENDENCE. THIS ACT OF AGGRESSION SIMPLY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND AGAINST AN OLD FRIEND AND PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES, A COUNTRY TO WHOSE DEFENSES WE ARE COMMITTED ACCORDING TO THE 1979 TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES NOTES THAT THE 40-MEMBER HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE IS CALLING, IN A RESOLUTION, "FOR EXPLICIT GUARANTEES OF A U-S MILITARY DEFENSE OF TAIWAN SHOULD THE ISLAND BE ATTACKED BY CHINA." IN FACT, SAYS THE LOS ANGELES NEWSPAPER, REPRESENTATIVE DANA ROHRBACHER, OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, SAID THAT "THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS IS SENDING THIS MESSAGE TO BEIJING: BACK OFF." THE L-A TIMES OFFERS THIS VIEW:

VOICE: "A MESSAGE WITH THAT TONE IS BETTER LEFT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE. INDEED, WHEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKE WEDNESDAY, 24 HOURS AFTER THE RESOLUTION WAS INTRODUCED, THE TENOR WAS MORE GUARDED. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAID IN COMMENTING ON CHINA'S PENDING MISSILE TESTS IN WATERS OFF TAIWAN: 'WE BELIEVE PLANS FOR THESE MISSILE TESTS ARE IRRESPONSIBLE, AND WE HAVE INFORMED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES SHOULD THESE TESTS GO WRONG'. THE SABER RATTLING HAS ITS ROOTS IN POLITICS. IN TWO WEEKS TAIWAN WILL CONDUCT ITS FIRST DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND BEIJING IS CLEARLY SHOWING ITS DISPLEASURE WITH AN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT ON THE ISLAND. WASHINGTON'S ONE-CHINA POLICY HAS PROVED TO BE A RELIABLE IF TRICKY DEFENSE OF AMERICAN INTERESTS IN CHINESE QUESTIONS AND IN EAST ASIA GENERALLY. THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN RESOLUTION TAKES AIM AT THIS POLICY OF 'STRATEGIC AMBIGUITY'. DO THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO TORPEDO THIS LONG STANDING AND SO FAR SUCCESSFUL POLICY? OR IS THE INTENT TO POLITICIZE FOREIGN POLICY ON CHINA IN THIS AMERICAN ELECTION YEAR?"

TEXT: COMMENTING ON ANOTHER PROBLEM AREA, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THAT "NO TASK IS MORE IMPORTANT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA THAN BUILDING A NON-GOVERNMENTAL CIVIL SOCIETY TO OPEN UP THE INGROWN LOCAL REGIMES." THE POST POINTS TO THE EFFORTS OF "BILLIONAIRE SPECULATOR" GEORGE SOROS, WHO RUNS PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS "TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CENTRALLY DETERMINED BUT AUTONOMOUS AND SPONTANEOUS." HIS EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN A SCORE OF FORMERLY COMMUNIST COUNTRIES. BUT THE POST NOTES A GLARING EXCEPTION:

VOICE: "EXCEPT NOT IN SERBIA. NOT ANYMORE. EVEN AS HE OFFERED HIMSELF INTERNATIONALLY AS A MAN WHO COULD BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA, SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS FURTHER CONSOLIDATING HIS POWER AT HOME. HE HAD MADE A SPECIAL TARGET OF THE LOCAL SOROS FOUNDATION, WHICH DOES SCHOLARSHIPS, SUMMER CAMPS AND TOYS FOR CHILDREN, RELIEF FOR SERB REFUGEES, MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE INDEPENDENT WORKS. THE FOUNDATION HAS SUSTAINED SERBIA'S ONLY INDEPENDENT MEDIA, INCLUDING THE NEWSPAPER NASA BORBA AND TELEVISION'S STUDIO B. BUT AFTER A CAMPAIGN (400 ARTICLES AND BROADCASTS) IN THE OFFICIAL MEDIA, SERB AUTHORITIES HOKED UP A TECHNICALITY TO CLOSE THE FOUNDATION DOWN. EVIDENTLY, MR. MILOSEVIC, HEADING TOWARD ELECTIONS, WANTS NO OPPOSITION, DEMOCRATIC OR OTHERWISE -- LEAST OF ALL AN OPEN SOCIETY."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE COMMENTS TODAY ON ANOTHER CONCERN IN THE BALKAN REGION. IN AN EDITORIAL HEADLINED "BOSNIA'S IRAN CONNECTION," THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT "AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE JUSTIFIED IN WORRYING ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF IRAN'S CLERICAL DICTATORSHIP ON THE FLEDGLING STATE OF BOSNIA."

VOICE: "GIVEN THE WEST'S DILATORY REACTION TO THEIR ORDEAL, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT BOSNIAN LEADERS HAVE TURNED TO TEHRAN FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT THEIR DECISION TO SEND HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS TO IRAN FOR MILITARY TRAINING AND POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION CAN ONLY EXACERBATE THE INTERCOMMUNAL CONFLICTS THAT HAVE BEEN MUFFLED, BUT NOT EXTINGUISHED, UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT BROKERED BY WASHINGTON... TO ALLOW THE TERROR-MONGERS OF TEHRAN A ROLE IN THE BUILDING OF A BOSNIAN STATE IS TO IMPERIL THE WEST'S PEACEKEEPING PROJECT IN THE BALKANS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE IRANIAN MULLAHS IS TO FOSTER THE CREATION OF A THEOCRATIC REGIME IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, A CLERICAL POLICE STATE IN THE IMAGE OF THEIR OWN. WERE THEY TO SUCCEED, BOSNIA WOULD BECOME AN EVEN MORE USEFUL WAY STATION FOR THEIR EXPORT OF TERRORISM AND SUBVERSION THAN THE SUDAN."

TEXT: ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL WRITES THAT "WHEN ONE COMPARES THE ENCOURAGING SITUATION IN MEXICO TODAY WITH THE TURMOIL AND UNCERTAINTY THAT COUNTRY FACED A YEAR AGO, THE DIFFERENCE IS STRIKING."

VOICE: "THAT IMPROVEMENT IS ATTRIBUTABLE, IN PART TO DECISIVE ACTION BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. AFTER SIZING UP THE DISRUPTION IN MEXICO CAUSED BY THE DEVALUATION OF THE PESO, HE PUT TOGETHER A MUCH-DEBATED PACKAGE OF LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES... AT STAKE WERE AMERICAN JOBS AND EXPORTS, THE SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN-MEXICO BORDER AND THE STABILITY OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA THAT MIGHT HAVE PANICKED AND FOLLOWED MEXICO'S PLUNGE TOWARD THE ABYSS, IF ITS CRISIS HAD BEEN IGNORED IN WASHINGTON. ALTHOUGH MR. CLINTON CERTAINLY TOOK A RISK IN HELPING MEXICO, HIS GESTURE PROVED WORTHWHILE. MOST IMPORTANT, MEXICO IS LIVING UP TO ITS OBLIGATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER TAKES A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES NOW UNDERWAY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT "WITH 26 STATES VOTING IN 25 DAYS, THE AIRPORT-TOUCHDOWN MEDIA EVENTS AND THE T-V COMMERCIALS ARE ALL MANY VOTERS WILL EVER SEE -- IF THAT."

VOICE: "SEN. SLADE GORDON, R-WASH., IS OFFERING REFORM LEGISLATION: FOUR REGIONWIDE PRIMARIES (EAST, SOUTH, MIDWEST, WEST) A MONTH APART FROM MARCH TO JUNE. INSTEAD OF RACING COAST TO COAST FOR UP TO 15 DISPERSED CONTESTS IN A WEEK, CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE WEEKS TO WORK ONE REGION, THEN THE NEXT....IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, AND IT PROBABLY IS. WHEN SENDING POWER BACK TO THE STATES IS THE BATTLE CRY OF THE AGE, MADE-IN-WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN REFORM IS SCARCELY IN THE CARDS. AND STATE PARTY CHIEFS WHO CONTROL AND MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT HAVE NO INTEREST IN CHANGE."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BE FOUND IN THURSDAYS DAILY PAPERS.

NEB/DN/PCH

07-Mar-96 10:42 AM EST (1542 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS HAVE ISSUED A SHARP WARNING TO PROTAGANISTS IN BOSNIA TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK TO LIMIT ETHNIC TENSIONS. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THOUSANDS OF SERBS NEVERTHELESS ARE LEAVING THE LAST TWO SERB-HELD SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO AND TENSIONS BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION ARE GROWING.

TEXT: IN A STRONG STATEMENT, NATO OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED ON ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA TO GET ON WITH THE PEACE PROCESS. THE NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK, SAID IT WAS TIME FOR EVERYONE TO START LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

THE SUCCESS OF THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR PEACE DEPENDS UPON THE RECONCILIATION OF THE ENTITIES, AND THE RETURN TO A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY, THE SORT OF SOCIETY THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE WAR STARTED.

THE NATO STATEMENT WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF FEDERATION AUTHORITIES, AFTER WEDNESDAY'S INCIDENT DURING WHICH INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS THREATENED THE USE OF NATO FORCE, BEFORE UNAUTHORIZED CROAT POLICEMEN WOULD LEAVE A SERB SUBURB OF SARAJEVO.

MAJOR HASELOCK SAID NEGOTIATION WAS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD AND DIRECT ACTION BY ANY SIDE THAT WAS UNHAPPY WITH SOME PART OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.

ALL PARTIES HAVE SIGNED UP TO THIS MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY IN THEIR PEACE AGREEMENT AND A LASTING PEACE CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF ALL PARTIES CAN LEARN TO LIVE TOGET HER AGAIN.

BUT SO FAR, SUCH CALLS BY NATO AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. THERE WERE MORE REPORTS OF HARASSMENT OF SERBS WHO HAVE REMAINED BEHIND IN AREAS TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL. THE TWO MOST POPULOUS SERB SUBURBS, ILIDZA AND GRBAVICA, WILL CHANGE HANDS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, KRIS JANOWSKI, SAYS THERE IS ALMOST NO LAW OR ORDER THERE.

WE ARE ALSO VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE REMAINING POPULATION IN THE GRBAVICA AREA, WHERE VIRTUALLY EVERY NIGHT THERE IS A FIRE IN A BUILDING. THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF OLD PEOPLE THERE LIVING IN ISOLATED APARTMENTS, IN APARTMENT HOMES, OFTEN BARRICADED IN. SOME OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED VISITS FROM THUGS, WHO TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD LEAVE OR THEY WILL BE SMOKED OUT OR BEATEN UP. SO THE ATMOSPHERE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE TENSE.

MOST SERBS HAVE ALREADY LEFT ILIDZA AND GRBAVICA AND EVERY DAY THE ROADS ARE CLOGGED BY PEOPLE LEAVING WITH EVERYTHING THEY CAN LOAD ON TO THE FEW OLD TRUCKS LEFT IN THE AREA.

ONE GROUP HOWEVER IS TRYING TO PERSUADE SERBS TO STAY. OFFICIALS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE FOR SERB SARAJEVO, SAY THEY WANT TO TRY TO PROTECT THE SERBS WHO STAY BY PUBLICIZING VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

KRIS JANOWSKI WELCOMES THIS INITIATIVE SAYING THERE IS SOME CHANCE OF CONVINCING SERBS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THIS IS A LOCAL INITIATIVE LAUNCHED BY A LOCAL POLITICIAN WHO ENJOYS, WHO HAS THE TRUST OF AT LEAST A PART OF THE LOCAL POPULATION.

THE LOCAL POLITICIAN IS MAKSIM STANISIC, THE FORMER DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE SERB SUBURBS, AND STILL A POWERFUL LOCAL SERB POLITICIAN. SITTING IN HIS OFFICE IN ILIDZA HE CAN SEE OUT OF HIS WINDOW THE HEAVILY LOADED TRUCKS ROARING OUT OF TOWN. WITH ONLY FIVE DAYS LEFT BEFORE ILIDZA COMES UNDER FEDERATION CONTROL, HE IS CLINGING TO FAINT HOPES.

HE SAYS HE HOPES INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS WILL CHANGE THE DEADLINE FOR THE HANDOVER, OR HE SAYS ILIDZA AND GRBAVICA WILL BE EMPTY OF SERBS, JUST LIKE THE OTHER SERB SUBURBS.

MR STANISIC ALSO MAKES A GRIM PREDICTION IF HIS DEMANDS FOR CHANGES TO THE PLAN ARE NOT MET.

HE SAYS WITHOUT CHANGES THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE FOR SERBS IN SARAJEVO, AND IF THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR SERBS HERE THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. MR. STANISIC SAYS HE WILL REMAIN IN ILIDZA AS LONG AS THERE IS ONE SERB LEFT HERE THAT NEEDS HIM. AT THE RATE SERBS ARE LEAVING THE SERB SUBURBS, HE MAY NOT NEED TO STAY FOR VERY LONG. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/CF
07-Mar-96 2:16 PM EST (1916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L-ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: A KEY OFFICIAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY (UNHCR) SAYS IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME AND ONE OR TWO MIRACLES TO REPATRIATE THE REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE SAYS REFUGEES MAY FEEL THE ONE-YEAR-LONG NATO PRESENCE IN BOSNIA IS TOO SHORT TO ALLOW THEM TO RETURN AND LIVE THERE SAFELY. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES' ENVOY TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, SOREN JESSEN-PETERSEN, SAID NATO'S SEPARATION OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA IS EASY COMPARED TO THE U-N-H-C-R'S WORK.

MR. JESSEN-PETERSEN SAID HE HOPES TO GET A CLEAR INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT AT A MEETING IN OSLO ON FRIDAY TO U-N PLANS TO HELP IMPLEMENT CIVIL ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE U-N-H-C-R IS TO REPATRIATE TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION REFUGEES OR DISPLACED PEOPLE AND WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED IN BOSNIA'S POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION.

ACCORDING TO MR. JESSEN-PETERSEN, HIS AGENCY HAS BEEN ASKED TO DO THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

IT WILL TAKE A LONG, LONG TIME, A LOT OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES AND A FEW MIRACLES, HE SAID, TO REPATRIATE THE REFUGEES. HE ADDED, THOUGH, THAT IT IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

AMID A SERIES OF PESSIMISTIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA, THE NATO COMMANDER IN SARAJEVO, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, HAS WARNED OF CONTINUING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

HE SAID THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS BASED ON THE SURVIVAL OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. BUT HE SAID, HE SEES LITTLE EVIDENCE OF THE POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE THE FEDERATION WORK.

ON A RELATED ISSUE, THE AMERICAN OFFICIAL WHO IS ORGANIZING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, RAISED A QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN BE HELD THIS YEAR. THE OFFICIAL, ROBERT FROWICK, SAID FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE WITH THE GOOD FAITH OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES. HE SAID THAT GOOD FAITH DOES NOT EXIST NOW. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/ADEN/CF
07-Mar-96 10:04 AM EST (1504 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] EURIPIDES IN BEIJING BY GIL BUTLER (BEIJING)

INTRO: AN UNUSUAL DRAMATIC PRODUCTION IS IN REHEARSALS IN BEIJING PREPARING FOR OPENING NIGHT MARCH 14TH. IT IS A STAGING OF AN ANCIENT GREEK TRAGEDY, "THE BACCHAE," IN CHINESE AND GREEK. VOA BEIJING CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER ATTENDED A REHEARSAL AND SHARES THE EXPERIENCE IN THIS REPORT.

TEXT: IN A SPARE, MIRROR-LINED REHEARSAL HALL HIDDEN AWAY ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF AN ANONYMOUS HIGH RISE IN NORTHERN BEIJING, A CHINESE FLUTE SIGNALS THE START OF AN ANCIENT GREEK TRAGEDY PERFORMED IN CLASSIC CHINESE STYLE.

THE PLAY IS EURIPIDES' "THE BACCHAE" WHICH DRAMATIZES THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN CONFLICT WITH THE GODS. IT'S ABOUT THE GREEK GOD DIONYSUS -- AN IRRATIONAL, ECSTATIC FORCE -- AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE RETURNS TO THEBES, THE CITY THAT REJECTED HIM.

THROUGHOUT THE PLAY, AS IN TRADITIONALLY STAGED GREEK DRAMA, A CHORUS COMMENTS ON THE ACTION AND GUIDES THE AUDIENCE RESPONSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. BUT IN THIS CHINESE PRODUCTION THE CAST OF CLASSICALLY-TRAINED PEKING OPERA PERFORMERS, NOT ONLY SING THEIR LINES BUT DANCE WHILE DOING IT. THE PLAY'S MAIN CHARACTERS SPEAK IN CHINESE FOR THIS PRODUCTION, BUT THE CHORUS LEARNED ITS SONGS IN GREEK, BY ROTE.

THE PLAY IS A PRODUCTION OF AN AMERICAN ENSEMBLE CALLED THE NEW YORK GREEK DRAMA COMPANY. THE COMPANY USUALLY PERFORMS ANCIENT GREEK DRAMAS IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BUT THIS BEIJING PRODUCTION IS THE RESULT OF AN IDEA FOR COMBINING CHINESE WORDS AND MUSIC WITH GREEK DRAMA.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLAY IS CHEN SHIZHENG, A FORMER CHINESE OPERA SINGER WHO HAS PERFORMED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1987.

ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE A CAPPELLA BUT AS SOON AS WE CAME BACK HERE I THOUGHT BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE CHINESE BEIJING OPERA CAST DOING THE PRODUCTION, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE THIS INTERPRETATION OF CHINESE INSTRUMENTS PLAYING GREEK MELODY.

THREE WELL-KNOWN CHINESE OPERA PERFORMERS TAKE THE LEADING ROLES INTHE PLAY.

MALE ACTORS ALSO PLAY THE FEMALE ROLES, INCLUDING THE MOST TRAGIC FIGURE IN THE PLAY, AGAVE, THE MOTHER OF THE KING OF THEBES, WHO KILLS HER SON WHILE IN A DELIRIUM BROUGHT ON BY THE GOD DIONYSUS.

THIS PRODUCTION OF EURIPIDES "THE BACCHAE" OPENS AT THE BEIJING CHILDRENS THEATRE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 14TH. IT IS BEING TAPED FOR SHOWING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN AMERICA. (SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/CF
07-Mar-96 7:38 AM EST (1238 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] GERMAN ECON (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE GERMAN ECONOMY, ALREADY HIT BY RECORD HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, HAS NOW POSTED ITS FIRST QUARTERLY DROP IN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT SINCE 1993. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN SOME ANALYSTS ARE PREDICTING CONTINUED PROBLEMS FOR THE GERMAN ECONOMY.

TEXT: THE FEDERAL STATISTICS OFFICE IN WIESBADEN SAYS THE COUNTRY'S OUTPUT IN GOODS AND SERVICES FELL ONE-HALF PERCENTAGE POINT IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1995.

IT IS THE FIRST DROP IN NEARLY THREE YEARS.

A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ACCOMPANYING THE RELEASE OF THE NEW DATA SAYS THE FIGURES SHOW THE ECONOMY IS IN A WEAKENING PHASE.

THE LATEST FIGURES ON GERMANY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT INDICATE THE ECONOMY GREW ONLY ONE PERCENT FROM THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

DESPITE THE GLOOMY NUMBERS, ECONOMICS MINISTER GUENTHER REXRODT REJECTS SUGGESTIONS THE COUNTRY IS HEADED INTO A RECESSION. THE ECONOMICS MINISTER SAYS HE BELIEVES CONDITIONS FOR GREATER GROWTH HAVE ACTUALLY IMPROVED, BUT MANY ECONOMISTS SAY THEY EXPECT THE WEAKNESS TO CONTINUE.

AN ECONOMIST FOR THE GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AXEL NITSCHKE, SAYS COMPANIES ARE INVESTING LESS MONEY IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AND SOME ARE LOOKING OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY FOR PLACES TO PUT THEIR MONEY.

ACCORDING TO SURVEYS WE HAVE DONE, GERMAN COMPANIES ARE EAGER TO INVEST IN 1996 MUCH MORE MONEY OUTSIDE THAN IN 1995, THEREFORE WE DO EXPECT THIS TREND TO CONTINUE.

WITH ABOUT ONE IN EVERY NINE ABLE BODIED GERMANS NOW UNEMPLOYED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO FIND A WAY TO LURE INVESTORS BACK INTO GERMANY.

ONE WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE TO LOWER INTEREST RATES, SOMETHING ECONOMISTS ARE URGING THE GERMAN CENTRAL BANK TO DO. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/CF
07-Mar-96 9:42 AM EST (1442 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] PERRY/BOSNIA-IRAN (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IRANIAN TROOPS REMAIN IN BOSNIA NEARLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DEPARTURE DEADLINE IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE PROGRAM TO UPGRADE THE BOSNIAN ARMED FORCES WILL NOT GO FORWARD UNTIL THEY ARE SATISFIED AUTHORITIES IN SARAJEVO ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PEACE AGREEMENT. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE ADMINISTRATION IS SHARPENING ITS WARNINGS TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AMID WHAT IT SAYS ARE DISTURBING ACCOUNTS THAT 200 OR MORE IRANIANS MAY STILL BE IN THE COUNTRY HELPING TRAIN GOVERNMENT FORCES.

ALL FOREIGN TROOPS INCLUDING IRANIAN VOLUNTEERS WERE TO HAVE LEFT BOSNIA BY JANUARY 19TH UNDER TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. BUT DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, IN CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY THURSDAY, SAID SOME IRANIANS REMAIN, AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL USE ALL THE LEVERAGE IT WAS WITH THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT TO GET COMPLIANCE:

THE DAYTON ACCORD OF COURSE CALLS FOR ALL FOREIGN TROOPS TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE WILL HOLD THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO THAT. THIS IS AN ACCORD WHICH THEY SIGNED AND AGREED TO. WE WILL HOLD THEM TO THAT AGREEMENT. WE HAVE, I THINK CONSIDERABLE LEVERAGE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SEE THAT THEY HOLD TO THAT AGREEMENT.

NEITHER MR. PERRY NOR JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI WOULD COMMENT IN DETAIL ON THE IRANIAN PRESENCE IN THE OPEN COMMITTEE HEARING. BUT GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI SAID THE IRANIANS ARE UNDER SURVEILLANCE AND DO NOT POSE A MAJOR THREAT TO U-S AND OTHER NATO PEACEKEEPERS:

THE TROOPS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ARE MOSTLY IRANIAN. SOME HAVE LEFT. SOME WE BELIEVE ARE STILL THERE. FOR THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY DO NOT POSE, A DIRECT THREAT TO OUR FORCES. BUT WE ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION VERY CAREFULLY. WE ARE WELL PREPARED -- SHOULD THEY POSE A THREAT TO OUR FORCES -- TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. MEANWHILE, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED TO INSURE THAT THESE FORCES IN FACT LEAVE.

IRANIANS AND OTHERS ARE REPORTED TO BE RUNNING SEVERAL TRAINING CAMPS FOR GOVERNMENT FORCES IN CENTRAL BOSNIA WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THREE IRANIANS WERE ARRESTED AND DEPORTED LAST MONTH AFTER NATO PEACEKEEPERS RAIDED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A TERRORIST TRAINING CENTER NEAR SARAJEVO.

THE SENATE IS THREATENING TO BLOCK A $200 MILLION DOLLAR U-S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND FOR BOSNIA BECAUSE OF THE IRANIAN PRESENCE AND OTHER CONCERNS.

AND AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAID THERE WILL BE NO WEAPONS DELIVERIES UNDER A PROMISED U-S PROGRAM TO BUILD UP GOVERNMENT FORCES UNTIL AUTHORITIES PROVE THAT ALL THE IRANIANS HAVE LEFT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID U-S OFFICIALS ARE PUZZLED AS TO WHY THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT THINKS IT STILL NEEDS HELP FROM A HANDFUL OF IRANIANS WHEN THERE ARE SOME 60-THOUSAND NATO TROOPS THERE BUILDING PEACE IN THE COUNTRY.

MR. BURNS ALSO SAID THE ADMINISTRATION TAKES A DIM VIEW OF THE VISIT TO IRAN THIS WEEK BY BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HASAN MURATOVIC. HE SAID SARAJEVO OFFICIALS WILL RUE THE DAY (REGRET) THEY BECAME TOO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH IRAN, WHICH HE CALLED AN OUTLAW STATE AND A SPONSOR OF TERRORISM. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTJ/LWM
07-Mar-96 4:17 PM EST (2117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] PERRY - BOSNIA / IRAN BY DAVID GOLLUST (DEFENSE)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS IRANIAN TROOPS REMAIN IN BOSNIA LONG AFTER THE JANUARY 19TH DEPARTURE DEADLINE OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO PRESS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FOR COMPLIANCE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS IRANIANS ARE STILL IN BOSNIA NEARLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE TO HAVE LEFT ALONG WITH OTHER FOREIGN FORCES UNDER THE TERMS OF DAYTON ACCORDS.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SPOKE AT BUDGET HEARINGS IN CONGRESS, WHERE MEMBERS ARE INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT ABOUT THE IRANIAN PRESENCE AND THREATING TO BLOCK ECONOMIC AND MILITARY AID TO THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO. MR. PERRY SAYS HE REMAINS CONFIDENT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS THE LEVERAGE TO FORCE COMPLIANCE:

THE DAYTON ACCORD, OF COURSE, CALLS FOR ALL FOREIGN TROOPS TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE WILL HOLD THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO THAT. THIS IS AN ACCORD WHICH THEY SIGNED AND AGREED TO. WE WILL HOLD THEM TO THAT AGREEMENT. WE HAVE, I THINK, CONSIDERABLE LEVERAGE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SEE THAT THEY HOLD TO THAT AGREEMENT.

NEITHER MR. PERRY NOR THE ARMED FORCES CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN -- GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI -- WHO APPEARED WITH HIM, WOULD COMMENT IN DETAIL ABOUT THE IRANIAN PRESENCE IN THE OPEN COMMITTEE HEARING. BUT GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI MINIMIZED THE THREAT THE IRANIANS POSE TO U-S AND OTHER NATO PEACEKEEPERS:

THE TROOPS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ARE MOSTLY IRANIAN. SOME HAVE LEFT. SOME, WE BELIEVE, ARE STILL THERE. FOR THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY DO NOT POSE, A DIRECT THREAT TO OUR FORCES. BUT WE ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION VERY CAREFULLY. WE ARE WELL PREPARED -- SHOULD THEY POSE A THREAT TO OUR FORCES -- TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

IRANIANS ARE REPORTED TO BE AMONG VOLUNTEERS FROM ISLAMIC COUNTRIES STILL RUNNING TRAINING CAMPS IN BOSNIA FOR GOVERNMENT FORCES. THREE IRANIANS WERE ARRESTED AND DEPORTED LAST MONTH AFTER NATO PEACEKEEPERS RAIDED WHAT WAS TERMED A TERRORIST TRAINING CENTER BEING OPERATED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

SENATORS ARE THREATENING TO BLOCK A 200 MILLION DOLLAR U-S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND BECAUSE OF THE IRANIAN PRESENCE AND OTHER CONCERNS. THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS A PROMISED PROGRAM TO EQUIP AND TRAIN BOSNIAN FORCES -- DUE TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH -- WILL NOT GO FORWARD UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/CF
07-Mar-96 1:07 PM EST (1807 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] TURKEY POLITICS (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAS HANDED OVER POWER TO HER FORMER ARCH-RIVAL MESUT YILMAZ THURSDAY AFTER AGREEING TO WORK WITH HIS MOTHERLAND PARTY IN A RIGHT-WING COALITION GOVERNMENT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE NEW GOVERNMENT WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER TANSU CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY AND MR. YILMAZ'S CENTRE-RIGHT MOTHERLAND PARTY MUST BE RATIFIED BY A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT.

ANALYSTS SAY WITH 268 SEATS BETWEEN THEM, THE TWO PARTIES CANNOT GAIN A MAJORITY. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ASSURED THE SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY LED BY BULENT ECEVIT, MAKING THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE A MERE FORMALITY.

THE CEMENTING OF THE RIGHT-WING ALLIANCE PROVIDES FOR A ROTATING PREMIERSHIP. MR. YILMAZ WILL ASSUME THE LEADERSHIP POST FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE HANDING IT BACK TO MRS. CILLER FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT BROUGHT WIDESPREAD RELIEF AMONG PRO-SECULARIST AND BUSINESS CIRCLES.

ONLY WEEKS AGO, MR YILMAZ APPEARED ALMOST CERTAIN TO STRIKE A DEAL WITH THE PRO-ISLAMIC REFAH PARTY AFTER FAILING TO RESOLVE HIS LONG-STANDING FEUD WITH MRS. CILLER. THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BECOME THE COUNTRY'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER IN THE EVENT OF THEIR FORMING A GOVERNMENT TOGETHER.

MRS. CILLER'S SHELVING AT THE LAST MINUTE OF HER EARLIER DEMAND SHE RETAIN THE PREMIERSHIP IS LARGELY BELIEVED TO BE THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE BREAKDOWN IN TALKS BETWEEN MR. YILMAZ AND REFAH LEADER, NECMETTIN ERBAKN. SOME ANALYSTS SAY MR. YILMAZ AND MRS. CILLER WERE FORCED TO SET ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE STAUNCHLY SECULAR TURKISH MILITARY.

ANALYSTS SAY IT IS TOO EARLY YET TO PREDICT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW COALITION. IT FACES THE DAUNTING TASK OF CURBING THREE-DIGIT INFLATION, RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND TRYING TO END THE ELEVEN YEAR LONG KURDISH REBELLION IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY SINCE BOTH SHARE COMMON POLICIES FOR THE ECONOMY - INCLUDING THE URGENT NEED FOR PRIVATISATION OF THE COUNTRY'S DEBT-SHACKLED STATE OWNED COMPANIES - THAT IS A POSITIVE START. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/ADEN/CF
07-Mar-96 12:56 PM EST (1756 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America