Voice of America, 25 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE ELECTIONS IN TAIWAN ARE A POPULAR TOPIC IN MONDAY'S U-S PRESS EDITORIALS, FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL OTHER SUBJECTS, INCLUDING: THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA; THE U-S DEBT LIMIT AND THE FAILURE TO PASS A FEDERAL BUDGET, AN ASSERTION THAT THE OSLO PEACE ACCORD FOR THE MIDDLE EAST IS DEAD AND A LOOK AT THE EUROPEAN UNION. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" HAILS THE ELECTION THIS WEEKEND ON TAIWAN.

VOICE: "CHEERS FOR TAIWAN. IT'S JUST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED A LEADER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHINA'S HISTORY. TAIWAN'S ACHIEVEMENT IS STUNNING, THE MORE SO THAT IF FACED DOWN UGLY MILITARY INTIMIDATION BY THE MAINLAND CHINESE REGIME. ..... BEIJING IS FURIOUS ON TWO COUNTS. TAIWAN'S PERFORMANCE AT THE POLLS SHOWS UP THE ESSENTIAL TOTALITARIAN CHARACTER OF A REGIME WHOSE WON ARMY SHOT DOWN STUDENTS DEMANDING DEMOCRACY AT TIENANMEN. AND THE REGIME MAY FEAR THAT AN ELECTION-STRENGTHENED TAIWAN WILL REDOUBLE EFFORTS AT INDEPENDENCE. IT IS A NERVOUS MOMENT THAT CALLS FOR ATTENTIVE DIPLOMACY."

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" CALLS IT "TAIWAN'S DAY IN THE SUN."

VOICE: "DEMOCRACY, OF COURSE, IS NOT A DESTINATION BUT A PROCESS. YET THERE IS EVERY INDICATION THAT TAIWAN IS ON THE RIGHT PATH. CLUTCHES OF ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTERS IN TAIPEI WERE FREE TO BURN FLAGS AND MAKE NUISANCES OF THEMSELVES WITHOUT INCIDENT, WHILE FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WITH VIEWS RANGING FROM PRO-UNIFICATION TO PRO-INDEPENDENCE COULD APPEAR ON STAGE HOLDING HANDS."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE BALKANS, THE QUESTION OF EXTENDING NATO'S INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA DRAWS THIS REACTION FROM LONG ISLAND'S "NEWSDAY."

VOICE: "CLOSE EUROPEAN ALLIES AND TOP UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO EXTEND THE MANDATE OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA BEYOND ITS DECEMBER DEADLINE. [MR.] CLINTON SHOULD RESIST PROLONGING THAT MILITARY COMMITMENT, AT LEAST UNTIL THE OUTCOME OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD BECOMES CLEARER TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR. [OPT] EUROPEAN FEARS THAT THE ACCORD WILL DISINTEGRATE WITHOUT ASSURANCES OF CONTINUED SECURITY ARE JUSTIFIED. ..... BUT FEARS OF CIVIL UNREST SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY PUSHING FOR FORMATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE FOR BOSNIA, NOT FOR THE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS, INCLUDING 20-THOUSAND OR SO AMERICANS." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE NATION'S DEBT CEILING, AND THE WAY CONGRESS PROPOSES TO EXTEND IT.

VOICE: "THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS LOADED UP A BILL TO RAISE THE FEDERAL DEBT LIMIT - - WHICH CONGRESS MUST PASS IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TO PAY ITS BILLS - - WITH TWO OFFENSIVE PROVISIONS. ONE PROVISION WOULD LOWER TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES BY RAISING THE AMOUNT THEY CAN EAR WITHOUT LOSING BENEFITS ..... WORSE YET, CONGRESS WANTS TO PAY FOR THIS TAX CUT BY TRIMMING SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS TO SOME DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. ..... THE COUNTRY WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY REMOVING THESE HARMFUL PROVISIONS FROM THE DEBT LIMIT BILL."

TEXT: IN A RELATED TOPIC, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS UPSET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1997.

VOICE: "BILL CLINTON SAYS, 'THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT IS OVER.' YET HIS NEW BUDGET WOULD RAISE TOTAL SPENDING 63-BILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR. ..... IN OTHER WORDS, HIS BRAND-NEW BUDGET - - A REHASH FOR THE MOST PART - - IS JUST ONE MORE STUNT IN A MUDFIGHT [POLITICAL CONFLICT] WHERE NEITHER PARTY HAS SHOWN MUCH TASTE FOR MUSCULAR DEFICIT-CUTTING THAT WOULD LOWER INTEREST RATES, STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY AND STOP DUMPING IOUS ONTO FUTURE GENERATIONS."

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES," CITING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND THE TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS, SAYS IN ITS LEAD HEADLINE THAT "OSLO IS DEAD." "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS THAT THE PLO AND HAMAS AGREED THAT THE TERRORISTS WOULD HALT BOMBINGS UNTIL AFTER THE PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS WERE OVER AND THAT ALL FUTURE ATTACKS WOULD BE BASED IN AREAS OUTSIDE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY JURISDICTION. ADDS "THE TIMES."

VOICE: "MR. ARAFAT'S ACTIONS ARE NOT SURPRISING CONSIDERING HIS PAST HISTORY, BUT WHAT IS TRULY SHOCKING HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO THESE ALLEGATIONS. BENNY BEGIN, A LIKUD KNESSET MEMBER ..... HAS BEEN TRYING FOR SOME TIME TO GET ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION ..... OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, ON VARIOUS ISRAELI NEWS AND INTERVIEWS PROGRAMS, MR. BEGIN HAS TRIED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ONLY TO BE SHOUTED DOWN BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT ... OFFICIALS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTING ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE, LOOKS BACK AT SOME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S GOALS.

VOICE: "THE 1991 TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION SET OUT AN AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION BY THE END OF THIS DECADE. WITH THE DECADE MORE THAN HALF OVER, MUCH OF THAT AGENDA REMAINS WISHFUL. EUROPE'S GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES ARE UNWIELDY. ITS QUEST FOR A COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY STUMBLED BADLY IN BOSNIA. ONLY THREE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S 215 COUNTRIES NOW MEET THE DEFICIT TARGET FOR THE SINGLE CURRENCY. .....THE DREAM OF EUROPEAN UNITY HAS ACHIEVED MUCH IN THE PAST FOUR DECADES . . . A REALISTIC RETREAT NOW ON CURRENCY [UNIFICATION] TARGETS WILL NOT SHATTER THE EUROPEAN DREAM. ON THE CONTRARY, IT WILL CONSERVE STRENGTH FOR THE EXPANDING CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.

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25-Mar-96 10:26 AM EST (1526 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA - HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AS PEACEKEEPERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, TRYING TO END THE BLOODSHED, DIPLOMATS ARE WORKING TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE CONFLICT. HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES WERE AT CENTER STAGE AT THE PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO, AND THEY CAME UNDER REVIEW EARLIER THIS MONTH (MARCH 4-5) AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN VIENNA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS.

TEXT: AS THE VIOLENCE SUBSIDES IN BOSNIA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS TURNING ITS ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT UNDERLIE THE CONFLICT. IN VIENNA, OFFICIALS FROM EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA, PLUS REPRESENTATIVES FROM NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS MET TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN BOSNIA.

ASSISTANT U-S SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN SHATTUCK SAYS PARTICIPANTS IN VIENNA AGREED THAT THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS KEY TO THE RESTORATION OF PEACE IN BOSNIA.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT AT THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA LIES A TERRIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS CATASTROPHE. GENOCIDE [AND] CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ARE THE ESSENCE OF THAT CONFLICT. AND THE CONFLICT AROSE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SAFEGUARDS FOR MINORITIES, NO INSTITUTIONS OF JUSTICE, NO MEANS OF RESOLVING THE CONFLICT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON, MR. SHATTUCK SAID THE VIENNA MEETING HIGHLIGHTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN BOSNIA. THEY AGREED ON THE NEED TO ESTABLISH HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS AN INDEPENDENT POLICE AND JUDICIARY, AND FREE NEWS MEDIA.

AS BOSNIAN SERB ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWING FROM AREAS AROUND SARAJEVO, RESIDENTS RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES HAVE IN MANY CASES FOUND THEM LOOTED AND BURNED. MR. SHATTUCK SAID THAT ALTHOUGH TROOPS OF THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, OR IFOR, HAVE PATROLLED IN THE AREA, IT HAS _NOT_ BEEN POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO PREVENT THE ARSON AND LOOTING.

IT'S VERY CLEAR: THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY STOPPED IS BY FULL OCCUPATION OF ALL OF THE HOUSES IN THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS DURING THE TIME THAT THOSE WHO WERE LEAVING WERE LEAVING. AND THAT WAS SIMPLY FAR BEYOND ANY MANDATE THAT IFOR HAD.

MR. SHATTUCK ADDED THAT IN RECENT DAYS, IFOR HAS BEEN ACTIVELY DETAINING LOOTERS, ALTHOUGH UNDER THEIR MANDATE THEY HAVE TO RELEASE THEM AFTER 72 HOURS.

PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE THREE AND A-HALF MONTHS SINCE DAYTON IS WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS VERY ELOQUENTLY CALLED "THE MIRACLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE" SLOWLY, STEADILY RETURNING TO BOSNIA. CERTAINLY NOT LIFE WHICH IS FREE FROM CONFLICT YET ... BUT NONETHELESS LIFE WHICH IS FREE OF THE VIOLENCE AND WHICH IS SLOWLY AND STEADILY COMMITTING TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESS WHICH I THINK WAS AT THE HEART OF THE CONFERENCE THAT WE HAD IN VIENNA.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN SHATTUCK SAID THE UNITED STATES REMAINS COMMITTED TO IFOR, BUT FOR ONE YEAR ONLY. AFTER THAT, HE SAID, WASHINGTON WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE PEACE PROCESS AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN OTHER WAYS. (SIGNED)

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25-Mar-96 12:23 PM EST (1723 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: BOSNIA RECONCILIATION PROJECT BY ROSANNE SKIRBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: GORNJI VAKUF (PRON: GORNEY VA-KUF) IS A CITY DIVIDED BY ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF SARAJEVO, THE CITY WAS THE VICTIM OF BITTER CROSS-FIGHTING BETWEEN WARRING ETHNIC GROUPS. TODAY, RUBBLE IS THE MOST COMMON SITE ALONG THE GORNJI VAKUS'S MAIN STREETS, WHICH CONSTITUTE AN ETHNIC DIVIDING LINE, WITH CROATS LIVING ON ONE SIDE AND BOSNIACS -- OR BOSNIAN MUSLIMS -- ON THE OTHER. BUT AMID THE RUINS OF WAR, THERE ARE SIGNS OF HOPE. AS

TEXT: ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WITH THE WAR STILL RAGING, JULIA DEMICHAELIS WAS SENT TO GORNJI VAKUF, A TOWN OF 25-THOUSAND KNOWN FOR ITS EXTREME NATIONALISM PRIOR TO THE WAR.

TAPE CUT ONE: JULIA DEMICHAELIS (:09) "THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION IS UNBELIEVABLE. WHEN I WALK DOWN THE STREET OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE BUILDINGS ARE MORE THAN 85 PERCENT DESTROYED."

TEXT: AS PROJECT MANAGER OF A TWO-POINT-TWO MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE U-S AID AGENCY, MS DEMICHAELIS' JOB IS TO GET EACH SIDE OF THE DIVIDED CITY TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER -- NO EASY TASK GIVEN THE TOWN'S HISTORY.

TAPE CUT TWO: JULIA DEMICHALELIS (:21) "GORNY VAKUF EXPERIENCED THREE DISTINCT WARS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THE CITIZENS FOUGHT EACH OTHER, WHICH MAKES IT FAR MORE COMPLEX TO ENGAGE IN A RECONCILIATION PROCESS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR FORMER HOMES. THEY CAN SEE THEIR FORMER HOMES, AND THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO KILLED EACH OTHER AND WHO BURNED WHOSE HOUSES."

TEXT: THE U-S-AID GRANT WAS DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE TO RECONCILE THEIR DIFFERENCES BY COLLABORATING ON RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS -- BUILDINGS THAT HAD BEEN SHARED PRIOR TO THE WAR. BUT JULIA DEMICHAELIS SAYS, SADLY, GETTING STARTED WAS A SLOW PROCESS. THE NECESSARY BUILDING MATERIALS WERE ON HAND, STORED IN A WAREHOUSE OUTSIDE OF TOWN, BUT THE PEOPLE HAD TO BE CONVINCED.

TAPE CUT THREE: JULIA DEMICHAELIS (:32) "IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS WALKING THE STREETS, MEETING WITH THE MAYORS, MEETING WITH ALL THE PRINCIPAL COMMUNITY, OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL LEADERS, TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF REINTEGRATION, TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT I WAS HERE TO LEARN FROM THEM, TO TRY TO DO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT I HAVE WHAT THEY WANTED AND THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHAT I BELIEVED MUST BE DONE UPON ARRIVAL."

TEXT: THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGH CAME WITH A GROUP OF SCHOOL TEACHERS INTERESTED IN REBUILDING THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY.

TAPE: CUT FOUR: JULIA DEMICHAELIS/SKIRBLE (:54) JULIA DEMICHAELIS: "THEIR FIRST REACTION WAS, DON'T ASK US, IT'S NOT OUR DECISION. [OPT] WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO ANY OF THE THINGS YOU WANT US TO. THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS. WE CAN'T RISK OUR LIVES TO DO THIS. WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR ORDERS FROM FAR AWAY. AND, [END OPT] WITH SOME PERSISTENCE AND FOLLOW-UP AFTER EACH MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT, YES, IN FACT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. THEY CAN DECIDE. THEY CAN WORK WITH ME TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKERS IN THEIR TOWN. THEY CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME TOGETHER AGAIN." [OPT] SKIRBLE: "SO THEY ARE FEELING A SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT." JULIA DEMICHAELIS: "EXACTLY. IT'S NOT MY GOAL TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD STRUCTURES. IT'S MY GOAL TO EMPOWER THEM TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND TO TRY TO USE THE PROJECT TO RESPOND TO THAT." [END OPT]

TEXT: JULIA DEMICHAELIS WENT ON TO HIRE A STAFF OF LOCAL BOSNIACS AND COATS. BESIDES THE LIBRARY, THE TOWN IS CONSIDERING REBUILDING A SECONDARY SCHOOL, A BUS STOP KIOSK AND A BRIDGE. MS. DEMICHAELIS SAYS PROGRESS IS SLOW AND SHE THINKS THE DEADLINE SET BY THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS FOR COMPLETING THE PROJECT IS UNREALISTIC.

TAPE CUT FIVE: JULIA DEMICHAELIS (:14) "I WOULD SAY THAT THESE PEOPLE NEED A LOT MORE TIME THAN WE ARE GIVING THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE CALL RECONCILE. THEY REALLY NEED SOME TIME TO SORT OUT THEIR OWN FAMILY IDENTIFY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FORMER NEIGHBORS."

TEXT: HAVING LIVED IN GORNJI VAKUF FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, WHAT SURPRISES JULIA DEMICHAELIS THE MOST IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE TO GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

TAPE CUT SIX: JULIA DEMICHAELIS (:21) "PEOPLE THAT COME IN, THEY WANT SOME HELP, BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO HELP ME. THEY WILL BRING THEIR DONKEY CARTS TO MY WAREHOUSE TO PICK UP THEIR HOUSE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. THEY WORK IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND YET THEY SURVIVE WITH THEIR PRIDE."

TEXT: ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, THE LONE U-S-AID WORKER HAS BEEN INVITED INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES. AS SHE SITS AT THEIR TABLES, DISCUSSES THEIR PROBLEMS AND WATCHES THEIR CHILDREN AT PLAY, SHE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THAT -- GIVEN TIME -- THE COMMUNITY OF GORNY VAKUF CAN REUNITE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

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25-Mar-96 3:35 PM EST (2035 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] E-U/MAD COW (L UPDATE) BY JOHN FRASER ( BRUSSELS )

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS ORDERED THAT NO BRITISH BEEF CAN BE SOLD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE DECISION WAS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO NEW SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS THAT MAD COW DISEASE -- OR B-S-E -- COULD BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE DECISION, WHEN IT CAME, LEFT BRITAIN ISOLATED.

BY A VOTE OF 14 TO ONE, THE OTHER E-U COUNTRIES ORDERED THAT BRITISH BEEF CANNOT BE EXPORTED TO THE REST OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, EITHER.

BRITAIN WILL HAVE TO REPORT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- THE E-U'S CIVIL SERVICE -- EVERY TWO WEEKS, AND THE BAN WILL NOT BE LIFTED UNTIL BRITAIN CAN CONVINCE ITS E-U PARTNERS THAT ITS BEEF IS SAFE.

E-U AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER SAYS THE BAN WAS IMPOSED TO RESTRICT MAD COW DISEASE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

HE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON REPORTS THAT A HERD OF CATTLE HAS JUST HAD TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN FRANCE BECAUSE OF INFECTION BY ONE HEAD (MEMBER) OF THE HERD.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INVITED TO COME UP WITH NEW PROPOSALS FOR ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM OF B-S-E.

ONE OPTION UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE SLAUGHTER OF PART OR ALL OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL HERD.

COMMISSIONER FISCHLER SAYS HE WILL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS SUCH A PLAN WITH THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES, BUT HE HAS REFUSED TO SAY HOW MUCH EUROPEAN UNION CASH ASSISTANCE COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR SUCH A COSTLY OPTION.

BRITAIN HAS REACTED ANGRILY TO THE DECISION BY ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS.

A BRITISH SPOKESMAN SAYS THE EXPORT BAN IS BASED NOT ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, BUT ON EMOTION. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING THE BRITISH CAN NOW DO TO OVERTURN THE EUROPEAN UNION DECISION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO FORCE WITHIN DAYS.

BRUSSELS OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE ANNOYED AT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE GIVEN NO ADVANCE WARNING BY BRITISH MINISTERS ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF THE LINK BETWEEN MAD COW DISEASE AND HUMAN HEALTH. HOWEVER, THEY DENY THAT THEY HAVE ACTED BECAUSE OF REVENGE -- THEY SAY THEIR ONLY MOTIVE IS TO PROTECT EUROPEAN CONSUMERS FROM A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HEALTH RISK. (SIGNED)

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25-Mar-96 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] GERMANY ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS AND THE LIBERAL FREE DEMOCRATS ARE BASKING IN THE GLOW OF THEIR WEEKEND GAINS IN STATE ELECTIONS. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, THE ELECTION RESULTS HAVE GIVEN A BIG BOOST TO THE CHANCELLOR'S COALITION GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: OFFICIALS OF MR. KOHL'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAY THE WEEKEND ELECTIONS WERE A CLEAR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CHANCELLOR AND HIS POLICIES.

THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS WON THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE THREE ELECTIONS IN THE RICH SOUTHERN STATE OF BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG AND BOOSTED THEIR STRENGTH IN RHEINLAND-PALATINATE AND SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.

CHANCELLOR KOHL'S JUNIOR COALITION PARTNERS IN BONN, THE LIBERAL FREE DEMOCRATS, HAD A STRONG SHOWING IN ALL THREE STATE ELECTIONS, REVERSING A LOSING TREND THAT HAD THREATENED TO PUSH THEM OUT OF NATIONAL POLITICS.

THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WERE THE BIG LOSERS, WITH A DROP IN SUPPORT IN ALL THREE STATE ELECTIONS.

ANALYSTS SAY VOTERS REJECTED THE S-P-D CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY AND CALLS FOR CURBS ON THE IMMIGRATION OF ETHNIC GERMANS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

OBSERVERS SAY THE ELECTIONS SHOW THAT VOTERS WANTED TO STABILIZE THE CHANCELLOR'S COALITION GOVERNMENT AND EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO ANY POLICY EXPERIMENTS DURING A TIME OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.

AS THE CHANCELLOR'S COALITION EMERGES FROM ITS ELECTION BOOST, OFFICIALS EXPECT MR. KOHL TO BE IN STRONGER POSITION TO DEAL WITH RECORD HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND A SAGGING ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE.

MR. KOHL IS NOW EXPECTED TO PUSH FOR SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CUTS AND A MAJOR TAX REFORM PACKAGE IN AN EFFORT TO BOOST THE GERMAN ECONOMY AND MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY. (SIGNED)

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25-Mar-96 9:51 AM EST (1451 UTC)
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[06] HILLARY / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WIFE, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, IS IN BOSNIA AS PART OF AN EIGHT-DAY TRIP AROUND EUROPE. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS MRS. CLINTON HAS MET WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND AMERICAN TROOPS STATIONED IN BOSNIA TO ENFORCE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST LADY ARRIVED AT THE MAIN AMERICAN BASE AT TUZLA, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, SHE HEARD EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE HORROR OF THE WAR HERE.

AT A MEETING WITH OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS SIDES, ONE WOMAN, A MEMBER OF THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, TOLD MRS. CLINTON SARAJEVO IS THE LARGEST GRAVEYARD IN THE WORLD. AND SHE DESCRIBED FINDING DEAD BODIES ON EVERY STREET CORNER DURING THE THREE-AND-ONE-HALF YEAR WAR. MRS. CLINTON ALSO MET WITH THE ACTING BOSNIAN PRESIDENT, EJUP GANIC, AND OTHER SENIOR BOSNIAN OFFICIALS.

MRS. CLINTON IS ACCOMPANIED ON THE ONE DAY VISIT TO BOSNIA BY HER 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, CHELSEA, AND BY AMERICAN SINGER SHERL CROW AND COMEDIAN SINBAD WHO WILL PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR SOLDIERS DURING THE VISIT.

MRS. CLINTON IS TRAVELLING BY HELICOPTER TO TWO SMALL U-S BASES TO MEET WITH AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO PATROL THE FRONT LINE BETWEEN THE SIDES. BAD WEATHER PREVENTED PRESIDENT CLINTON FROM LEAVING THE MAIN TUZLA BASE DURING HIS VISIT TO BOSNIA IN JANUARY.

THE VISIT TO BOSNIA MARKS THE FIRST TIME A FIRST LADY HAS FORMALLY ADDRESSED TROOPS IN HOSTILE AREA IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS, SINCE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT VISITED AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

MRS CLINTON BROUGHT MAIL FROM AMERICA FOR THE SOLDIERS AND ALSO GIFTS CONTRIBUTED AT AN AMERICAN ARMY BASE IN GERMANY WHERE MANY OF THE SOLDIERS NOW IN BOSNIA ARE FROM. THE ITEMS INCLUDE A LARGE SCREEN COLOR TELEVISION, HUNDREDS OF VIDEOS, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND LONG DISTANCE CALLING CARDS.

THE FIRST LADY SPENT SUNDAY AT THE BASE IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY, WHERE SHE REASSURED THE FAMILIES OF U-S SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA. SHE TOLD FAMILY MEMBERS THE PRESIDENT AND ALL AMERICAN ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY ARE MAKING. (SIGNED)

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25-Mar-96 9:58 AM EST (1458 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] ROMANIA MONEY BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: MOST FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING IN ROMANIA CAME TO A HALT MONDAY AFTER THE CENTRAL BANK SUSPENDED THE TRADING LICENSES OF FOREIGN COMMERCIAL BANKS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS ROMANIAN AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO HALT A DECLINE IN THE VALUE OF ROMANIA'S CURRENCY, THE LEU, WHILE BRINGING DISCIPLINE TO A GENERALLY UNREGULATED BANKING SYSTEM.

TEXT: THE CLAMP DOWN ON CURRENCY TRADING HAS BROUGHT PROTESTS FROM THE OVER ONE DOZEN FOREIGN BANKS WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING A CAPITAL MARKET IN ROMANIA. LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRADING PRACTICES OF THE FOREIGN BANKS, FIRST SUSPENDING THE LICENSES OF A FEW BIG BANKS AND THEN ON FRIDAY EXTENDING THE BAN TO ALL. ONLY ONE PRIVATE AND THREE STATE-OWNED ROMANIAN BANKS NOW HAVE LICENSES TO OPERATE AN INTER-BANK MARKET IN ROMANIAN LEI.

ANALYSTS SAY THE CENTRAL BANK WANTS TO HALT THE DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY AND NARROW WHAT HAD BEEN A 20 PERCENT GAP BETWEEN THE PRESCRIBED EXCHANGE RATE AND WHAT THE COMMERCIAL BANKS WERE ACTUALLY CHARGING. THE ROMANIAN CURRENCY LAST YEAR DECLINED BY TWO-THIRDS AGAINST THE U-S DOLLAR.

THE CURRENCY IS WEAK BECAUSE ROMANIA HAS A CHRONIC BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DEFICIT AND SHRINKING FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES. SOME ROMANIAN OFFICIALS PRIVATELY BLAME FOREIGN BANKS FOR THE CURRENCY'S DECLINE.

EXPERTS APPLAUD THE CENTRAL BANK'S APPARENT DETERMINATION TO MORE CLOSELY REGULATE BANKS AND BRING ABUSIVE PRACTICES TO A HALT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE ROMANIAN BANKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING BY CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. RECENTLY, THE CENTRAL BANK DISMISSED THE MANAGEMENT OF ONE OF LARGEST BUCHAREST BANKS, ACCUSING BANCA DACIA FELIX OF GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF ROMANIAN LAW.

BUT THE MOVE AGAINST THE FOREIGN BANKS PUTS THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT INTO CONFLICT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, WHICH HAS CONDITIONED CONTINUED LENDING TO THE CREATION OF A LIBERALIZED CAPITAL MARKET. THE I-M-F HAS DELAYED DISBURSEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED 70-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN INSTALLMENT UNTIL THE END OF APRIL. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE CENTRAL BANK IS SUBJECT TO POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND THAT THE AUTHORITIES INSISTED ON MOVES TO STRENGTHEN THE LEU IN ADVANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LATER THIS YEAR.

ROMANIA'S ECONOMY HAS BEEN IMPROVING BUT THE FINANCIAL SECTOR REMAINS AN AREA WHERE PROGRESS IN BUILDING A MARKET SYSTEM HAS BEEN SLOWEST. (SIGNED)

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25-Mar-96 10:29 AM EST (1529 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] SLOVAKIA POL (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR SAYS HIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO DO MORE TO ESTABLISH ITS DEMOCRATIC CREDENTIALS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH IT HOPES TO JOIN. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. MECIAR WAS SPEAKING (SUNDAY) AT A PARTY CONGRESS WHERE HE WAS UNANIMOUSLY RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF HIS RULING MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SLOVAKIA. IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, THE 53-YEAR-OLD MR. MECIAR PLEDGED TO STEP UP DIALOGUE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION IN AN EFFORT TO ADVANCE SLOVAKIA'S MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION.

IN OFTEN SELF CRITICAL REMARKS, THE SLOVAK LEADER SAID HIS GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DONE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE COUNTRY'S NEGATIVE IMAGE. HE URGED E-U NATIONS TO BE MORE TOLERANT OF SLOVAKIA, WHICH IS NEW TO DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES. HE SAID SLOVAKS THEMSELVES -- OUT OF STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE AND SPITE -- HAVE OFTEN SENT OUT NEGATIVE SIGNALS TO WESTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD FAILED TO MOVE QUICKLY IN MAKING SLOVAK REGULATIONS COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. AND HE SAID MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC OF THE NEED FOR SLOVAKIA TO JOIN BOTH THE E-U AND NATO.

MR. MECIAR WAS RESPONDING TO RECURRENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIS OWN AUTHORITARIAN STYLE AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVES BY THE GOVERNMENT. TWICE DURING 1995, THE EUROPEAN UNION SENT PROTEST NOTES TO MR. MECIAR, CALLING ATTENTION TO ANTI-DEMOCRATIC TENDENCIES. IN HIS SPEECH, MR. MECIAR REAFFIRMED IN UNAMBIGUOUS TERMS THAT SLOVAKIA WANTS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. MECIAR IS CONCERNED THAT SLOVAKIA APPEARS TO HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE E-U AND IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO BE AMONG THE LEADING POST-COMMUNIST CANDIDATES TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. WHILE STRESSING HIS DESIRE FOR SLOVAKIA TO JOIN WESTERN INSTITUTIONS, MR. MECIAR OVER THE PAST YEAR HAS SIMILARLY STRESSED THE NEED FOR STRONGER TIES TO RUSSIA AND A CONCEPTION OF SLOVAKIA BEING A BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST.

THIS WEEK THE SLOVAK PARLIAMENT VOTES ON A FRIENDSHIP TREATY WITH HUNGARY THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BY MR. MECIAR AND HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER GYULA HORN. NATIONALISTS IN MR. MECIAR'S COALITION HAD OPPOSED THE TREATY, BUT NOW ARE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT IT WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS TUESDAY.

U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER LAST WEEK CALLED FOR ROMANIA AND SLOVAKIA TO APPROVE FRIENDSHIP TREATIES WITH HUNGARY THAT SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF HUNGARIAN MINORITIES. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
25-Mar-96 11:42 AM EST (1642 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America