Voice of America, 4 April 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE DEATH OF U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IN A BALKAN PLANE CRASH THAT ALSO TOOK THE LIVES OF MORE THAN A DOZEN U-S BUSINESS LEADERS, DOMINATES THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS THURSDAY. ALMOST EVERY PAPER IS LEADING ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE POPULAR MR. BROWN, THE HIGHEST RANKING BLACK IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE REACTION TO THE BEATING OF ILLEGAL ALIENS BY TWO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY; SOUTH AFRICA'S QUEST FOR JUSTICE; THE RIGHT TO DIE DECISION AND THE MAD COW CRISIS. NOW, HERE WITH A FEW EXCERPTS IS ____________________AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FROM ONE END OF THE NATION TO THE OTHER, PAPERS ARE EULOGIZING COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN, WHO DIED ALONG WITH MORE THAN 30 OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CRASH OF A U-S AIR FORCE PLANE OUTSIDE THE CROATIAN COASTAL CITY OF DUBROVNIK WEDNESDAY. IN CHICAGO, "THE SUN TIMES" CALLS MR. BROWN "A CHAMPION OF AMERICAN BUSINESS," WHILE IN THE FAR NORTHEAST, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" OFFERS THIS TRIBUTE:

VOICE: "PEACE MISSIONS ALWAYS CARRY A MEASURE OF PERIL. THAT PERIL WAS REAFFIRMED WEDNESDAY WITH THE TRAGIC LOSS OF A U-S AIR FORCE PLANE CARRYING SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RON BROWN AND OTHERS ON A STORMY APPROACH ... INTO DUBROVNIK. NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY, [MR.] BROWN, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S HIGHEST RANKING BLACK OFFICIAL, WAS PURSUING PEACE THROUGH COMMERCE... LET CONTINUED PURSUIT OF ECONOMIC STABILITY IN A RAVAGED PART OF THE WORLD BE HIS FINEST MEMORIAL."

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," WHICH HAS AT TIMES BEEN CRITICAL OF MR. BROWN AND SOME OF HIS BUSINESS DEALINGS BEFORE BECOMING SECRETARY, TODAY SAYS:

VOICE: "PLAYERS IN POLITICS ARE NOT ALWAYS SAINTS; THEY DON'T GENERALLY PRETEND TO BE. BUT THEY DO THEIR DUTY AS THEY SEE IT, AND ON HIS FLIGHT YESTERDAY, SECRETARY BROWN WAS SERVING HIS COUNTRY AS OTHERS SERVED IT BEFORE. WHATEVER ISSUES WE RAISED ABOUT HIS BUSINESS DEALINGS, WE NEVER DOUBTED THAT RON BROWN WAS A MAN WHO HAD TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. [SOMEONE WHO MADE AN IMPACT] ... WE JOIN IN EXTENDING SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY ... AND THOSE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE EXECUTIVES WHO WERE TRAVELING WITH HIM."

TEXT: A PORTRAIT OF RON BROWN, CARRIED IN THURSDAY'S "DENVER POST", LETS THE COMMERCE SECRETARY BROWN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE RESENTED HIS SUCCESS AND THE KEY ROLE HE PLAYED IN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ELECTION. MR. BROWN IS QUOTED BY MICHAEL FRISBY, A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

VOICE: "'A BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA, WHEN HE OR SHE ACHIEVES A LEVEL OF SUCCESS AND POWER AND AUTHORITY, FACES IN SOME CASES A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT,' SAID RON BROWN, SITTING IN HIS COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OFFICE. 'PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS. THEY DON'T LIKE IT. THEY RESENT IT. THEY WANT TO GIVE ALL KINDS OF REASONS WHY YOU ARE THERE, OTHER THAN THE REASON THAT YOU ARE GOOD AND CONFIDENT AND SMART... I THINK,' HE SAID, 'THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO RESENT IT BEING SAID, BUT IF NOT FOR ME, BILL CLINTON WOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT'..."

TEXT: "USA TODAY" CALLS RON BROWN "[A] REMARKABLE MAN IN MANY WORLDS," WHILE "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS THE WORLDS OF BUSINESS AND POLITICS HAVE LOST A FRIEND, ADDING THAT "RON BROWN'S FINAL MISSION TYPIFIES HIS CAN-DO SPIRIT." AND IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS MR. BROWN WAS "A TIRELESS FIELD GENERAL FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ECONOMIC POLICIES".

HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, WHERE FLAGS ARE FLYING AT HALF STAFF, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS:

VOICE: "....RON BROWN HAD PROVEN TO BE A FIRST-CLASS SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND A CLINTON ADMINISTRATION STANDOUT... RON BROWN MADE HIS MARK ON HIS COUNTRY."

TEXT: THE SECOND MOST POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPIC TODAY IS THE CONTINUING OUTRAGE AT THE BEATING OF TWO ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY. IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SCORNFULLY CALLS IT:

VOICE: "... THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF LAW OFFICERS OUT OF CONTROL AFTER A HIGH-SPEED CHASE, DIRECTING THEIR RAGE AGAINST HELPLESS SUSPECTS WHO ARE NEITHER FIGHTING BACK NOR TRYING TO ESCAPE... IF THE OFFICERS ARE PROVED GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT, THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY AND STRIPPED OF THEIR BADGES... LET THE MESSAGE BE THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT TREATED THIS WAY, BY THE POLICE OR ANYBODY ELSE."

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" MAKES THE POINT THAT EVEN FOREIGNERS IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY HAVE RIGHTS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.

VOICE: "THERE SHOULD BE NO CONFUSION ON THIS POINT. FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY AMERICAN LAW APPLY TO ANYONE WITHIN THIS NATION'S BOUNDARIES OR JURISDICTIONS. THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES TO DUE PROCESS. ..... AMERICANS SHOULD ALL BE PROUD TO HAVE THOSE GUARANTEES."

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLS THE INCIDENT "A POLICE EMBARRASSMENT" ADDING:

VOICE: "THE ALIENS, LIKE RODNEY KING, [A BLACK MOTORIST BEATEN BY LOS ANGELES POLICE IN 1991] WERE NOT BLAMELESS. THEY FLED. THEY IGNORED WARNINGS TO STOP. THEY LED POLICE ON A CHASE ACROSS TWO COUNTIES, ENDANGERING THEIR PURSUERS AND INNOCENT THIRD PARTIES ALIKE. THEY EVEN THREW CHUNKS OF THEIR TRUCK AT THE POLICE. ...... EVEN SO, THERE IS NO EXCUSE, NO DEFENSE FOR THIS POLICE BRUTALITY."

TEXT: AMONG INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS ON A NEW AND DIFFICULT TASK FACING THE RECONCILING GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.

VOICE: "THIS MONTH SOUTH AFRICA EMBARKS ON A ... DIFFICULT STAGE OF THAT JOURNEY, AS THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION BEGINS HEARING TESTIMONY ON THE CRIMES OF APARTHEID. IN RETURN FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TORTURE AND MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVISTS OVER THREE DECADES, THE COMMISSION WILL OFFER FULL AMNESTY TO THE SECURITY OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WHO CARRIED OUT THE CRIMES... COUNTRIES THAT NEGOTIATE A TRANSFER OF POWER, LIKE SOUTH AFRICA, MUST APPROACH PAST CRIMES DELICATELY, WITH ALLEGED MISCREANTS LOOKING OVER JUDGES' SHOULDERS FROM A POSITION OF CONTINUING INFLUENCE. COUNTRIES THAT CANNOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE PAST HORRORS, LIKE RUSSIA, ARE MOST IN DANGER OF REPEATING THEM, AS IN CHECHNYA TODAY."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS COMMENTING ON A PAIR OF WHAT IT CALLS "MOMENTOUS DECISIONS" FROM HIGH-RANKING FEDERAL APPEALS COURTS ON A PERSON'S RIGHT TO DIE. BOTH CASES CONCERNED THE ISSUE OF ASSISTED SUICIDE, A VERY EMOTIONAL AND WIDELY DISCUSSED TOPIC IN THE NATION. "THE TIMES" GOES ON TO SUGGEST:

VOICE: "... THE TWO RULINGS HAVE PROVIDED THE OUTLINES OF A SOUND SOLUTION THAT WOULD GUARANTEE DESPERATELY ILL PATIENTS THE OPTION OF DYING WITH DIGNITY, WHILE SAFEGUARDING LEGITIMATE STATE INTERESTS IN DETERMINING PATIENTS' TRUE WISHES AND PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" SAYS OF THE MAD COW DISEASE CRISIS IN EUROPE, WHICH HAS BROUGHT CALLS FOR SLAUGHTER OF PART OF BRITAIN'S BEEF CATTLE HERD, AND PROMPTED THE EUROPEAN UNION TO BAN ALL BRITISH BEEF:

VOICE: "THESE MEASURES HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. THEY ARE ABOUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, STABILITY OF MARKETS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET. WHILE SCIENTISTS NEED MORE TIME TO KNOW, CONSUMERS AND VOTERS DEMAND ACTION... THE ACTION SHOWS THE EXTENT THAT SOVEREIGNTY IS SUPPLANTED BY E-U INSTITUTIONS. HOW MUCH MORE 'EUROPEAN' TO GO IS THE MOST EMOTIONAL ISSUE DIVIDING BRITAIN BEFORE ITS ELECTION NEXT YEAR."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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04-Apr-96 10:58 AM EST (1558 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / BROWN REACT (L ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE GOVERNMENTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE SENT CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE DEATH OF U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: BOSNIANS FROM THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO PEOPLE IN THE STREET ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE DEATHS OF SECRETARY BROWN, OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES WHO HAD COME TO THE REGION.

HIGH HOPES HAD BEEN PINNED ON THE SECRETARY'S VISIT AND AN EXPECTED FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE AS PART OF THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ABOUT THE NEED TO GET CIVILIAN RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN THE MONTHS LEADING TO ELECTIONS EXPECTED BY SEPTEMBER.

THE BUSINESS EXECUTIVES TRAVELLING WITH MR. BROWN WERE SAID TO BE INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN AN INDEPENDENT TELEVISION STATION, TOURISM, BANKING, AND GENERAL RE-BUILDING PROJECTS.

THE TELEVISION PROJECT IS SEEN HERE AS ESPECIALLY VITAL IF ELECTIONS ARE TO BE FREE AND FAIR. MANY SARAJEVANS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THESE PROJECTS MIGHT NOW BE EVER FURTHER DELAYED BY THE DEATHS OF PEOPLE SEEN AS KEY PLAYERS IN THE PLAN TO REBUILD BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

CROATIA OFFICIALS SAY ALL 33 BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. ALTHOUGH THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS NOT YET KNOWN, IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ADVERSE WEATHER IN THE AREA, KNOWN FOR TURBULENT WINDS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. (SIGNED)

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04-Apr-96 10:12 AM EST (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA RECONSTRUCTION BY BARRY WOOD ( PRAGUE )

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN WAS WORKING ON AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IS A VAST UNDER-TAKING THAT BY MANY ACCOUNTS IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE NATO-LED MILITARY PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE ON THE CHALLENGE OF REBUILDING BOSNIA'S SHATTERED ECONOMY.

TEXT: IN HIS LAST SPEECH, DELIVERED IN TUZLA, MR. BROWN SAID BOSNIA NEEDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT AS MUCH AS IT NEEDS FOREIGN AID. OTHER EXPERTS AGREE. BUT THEY ARE QUICK TO ADD IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO INTEREST FOREIGN INVESTORS IN A COUNTRY WHERE MOST OF THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

THERE ARE FEW FUNCTIONING ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS IN BOSNIA. A CENTRAL BANK HAS ONLY JUST BEEN ESTABLISHED, NO MONEY HAS YET BEEN ISSUED, AND THERE IS ALMOST NO CROSS BORDER TRADE. LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE WORK FORCE HAS ANY KIND OF JOB AND 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION DEPENDS ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

TOP OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A QUICK DEMONSTRATION OF A TANGIBLE BENEFIT FROM PEACE. UNLESS THERE ARE JOBS AND THE PROMISE OF A BETTER TOMORROW, THEY SAY, THERE IS THE DANGER OF AN EVENTUAL RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING.

FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER CARL BILDT, WORKING FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION, IS IN CHARGE OF THE NON-MILITARY ELEMENTS OF THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION. MR. BILDT SAYS HE IS FRUSTRATED AT THE SLOW PACE OF JOB CREATION AND RECONSTRUCTION.

THE JUMP-START OF THE ECONOMY IS IN MY OPINION CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THERE MUST EARLY BE PROJECTS ALL OVER THE TERRITORY THAT ARE VISIBLE. SO THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT PEACE BRINGS DIVIDENDS.

MR. BILDT AND OTHERS ATTACH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO A MEETING NEXT WEEK IN BRUSSELS WHERE DONOR COUNTRIES ARE TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PROMISES OF MONEY FOR BOSNIA'S RECONSTRUCTION. THE WORLD BANK, WHICH IS COORDINATING THE AID EFFORT, SAYS BOSNIA NEEDS FIVE BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THE WORLD BANK SAYS AID PROJECTS ARE ALREADY UNDER WAY. THEY INCLUDE WATER PIPELINE REHABILITATION, SEWER RECONSTRUCTION, PHONE LINE REPAIRS AND THE PROVISION OF SEEDS FOR THE SPRING PLANTING.

AMONG THE BUSINESS LEADERS TRAVELING WITH MR. BROWN WERE EXECUTIVES FROM THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION AND HOME BUILDING INDUSTRIES. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO ASSURE THAT AMERICAN COMPANIES FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE RECONSTRUCTION.

AS TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT, THE EXPERTS SAY THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOTELS, CATERERS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THERE ARE FEW IMMEDIATE INCENTIVES TO COME TO BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

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04-Apr-96 10:35 AM EST (1535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BROWN / HOLBROOKE / S-O BY PAUL WESTPHELING (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A FORMER HIGH-RANKING U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN'S MISSION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WAS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE REGION. AS V-O-A'S PAUL WESTPHELING REPORTS, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS MR. BROWN'S GOAL WAS TO HELP REBUILD THE AREA'S WAR-SHATTERED ECONOMY:

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE -- WHO LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED LAST NOVEMBER -- SAYS HE IS DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE DEATH OF MR. BROWN AND THE OTHER AMERICAN BUSINESS EXECUTIVES IN THE PLANE CRASH NEAR DUBROVNIK AIRPORT.

IN A U-S TELEVISION INTERVIEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT (A-B-C'S "NIGHTLINE"), MR. HOLBROOKE SAID HE GREATLY ADMIRED THE COMMERCE SECRETARY FOR HIS DIPLOMATIC, POLITICAL AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS.

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER AND I ASKED RON (BROWN) TO UNDERTAKE THIS MISSION TO START THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA, WITHOUT WHICH THERE CAN'T BE PEACE. AND, HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES -- INCLUDING CHUCK MEISNER, MY COMMERCE COUNTERPART WHO ALSO DIED -- ARE AN IMMENSE LOSS TO ALL OF US

FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS MR. BROWN WAS AMONG THE BEST THE UNITED STATES HAD AND WILL BE SORELY MISSED. (SIGNED)

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04-Apr-96 4:13 AM EST (0913 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] E-U EXPANSION (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE E-U COMMISSION, JACQUES SANTER, HAS REAFFIRMED THE DETERMINATION OF THE 15-COUNTRY GROUP TO EXPAND EASTWARDS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: MR. SANTER EXPRESSED HOPE NEGOTIATIONS ON MEMBERSHIP FOR SOME EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WOULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS 1998, AFTER COMPLETION OF THE YEAR-LONG INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE THAT BEGAN LAST WEEK IN ITALY. THE E-U PRESIDENT SAID IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY WHICH EASTERN COUNTRIES WOULD BE FIRST TO JOIN, OR WHEN.

IN REMARKS AT A BUSINESS FORUM IN PRAGUE, MR. SANTER SAID EASTERN EXPANSION IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS A GREAT CHALLENGE.

HE SAID EXPANSION FROM THE CURRENT 15 MEMBERS TO AS MANY AS 25 IN THE NEXT DECADE REQUIRES E-U DECISION-MAKING BE STREAMLINED. INSTITUTIONAL REFORM OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OF ITS DECISION MAKING COMMISSION, WHICH HE HEADS, IS HIS TOP PRIORITY.

MR. SANTER SUCCEEDED JACQUES DELORS AS E-U PRESIDENT ONE-YEAR AGO. THE COMMISSION'S WORK IS GUIDED BY E-U HEADS OF GOVERNMENT WHO MEET AS THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL EVERY SIX-MONTHS.

ASKED WHAT THE CANDIDATES FROM THE EAST HAVE TO DO TO GAIN ADMISSION, MR. SANTER REPLIED, BRING YOUR LAWS AND PROCEDURES INTO CONFORMITY WITH E-U STANDARDS. MR. SANTER SAID HE EXPECTS THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE TO PROPOSE WEIGHTED VOTING WITHIN THE COMMISSION INSTEAD OF THE CONSENSUS APPROACH THAT NOW PREVAILS. HE SAID THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS IN BRUSSELS MUST BE REDUCED.

E-U MEMBERSHIP HAS BECOME A PRINCIPAL FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVE OF THE POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. CZECH INDUSTRY MINISTER VLADIMIR DLOUHY SAID PRAGUE IS FEARFUL THE EUROPEAN UNION MIGHT EVOLVE INTO A GROUPING OF CORE COUNTRIES COMMITTED TO CLOSER UNION AS WELL AS AN OUTER CORE. HE SAID NEW MEMBERS COULD BE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIGNED TO THIS SECOND GROUP.

MR. SANTER DENIED THIS, BUT SAID PROCEDURES FOR TAKING IN NEW MEMBERS AS WELL AS INSTITUTIONAL REFORM AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE. (SIGNED)

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04-Apr-96 12:38 PM EST (1738 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR PEACE-BUILDING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AS INTERNATIONAL ENVOYS STRESS THE NEED TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION; U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IS MOURNED AT U-N HEADQUARTERS AFTER HIS PLANE CRASHES IN CROATIA; SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI -- STRUGGLING WITH A BUDGET CRISIS -- PROPOSES A 10 PERCENT REDUCTION OF U-N STAFF. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED NEW SUPPORT FOR THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT THAT AIMS AT RECONSTRUCTING BOSNIA INTO A PEACEABLE SOCIETY AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF WAR. IT ISSUED A LENGTHY STATEMENT DEALING WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE PROCESS -- AWARE THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE AT A FASTER PACE WHILE BOSNIA STILL HAS OUTSIDE MILITARY SUPPORT. THE NATO-LED FORCE IS DUE TO LEAVE IN DECEMBER.

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT -- JUAN SAMOVIA OF CHILE -- SAYS THE WORK AHEAD IS AWESOME. BUT AT LEAST NOW, HE POINTS OUT, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS DEALING WITH ISSUES OF PEACE, NOT WAR, IN BOSNIA:

FINALLY WE ARE IN THE AVENUE OF FINDING WAYS OF CONSOLIDATING PEACE THERE. WE OF COURSE KNOW THAT RECONCILIATION IS AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER... AND THAT THE BASIS OF RECONCILIATION IS TRUST...AND THAT THE BUILDING OF TRUST IN CONFLICT SOCIETIES IS A PROCESS THAT IS VERY, VERY LONG AND VERY COMPLEX.

THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIGHT HAVE ADDED THAT PEACE-BUILDING IS ALSO VERY COSTLY. THAT WAS THE POINT BROUGHT HOME BY THE EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA -- CARL BILDT -- WHO REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL HIS JOB OF GUIDING RECONCILIATION IS VERY DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE MONEY TO BUILD ROADS AND SCHOOLS AND HOMES. FUNDING FOR CIVILIAN WORKS IS FAR BELOW THE U-N TARGET. MEANWHILE, THE U-N'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR BOSNIA -- IQBAL RIZA -- HAS BEEN FORCED TO DEFEND THE U-N POLICE OPERATION IN BOSNIA. MR. RIZA ADMITS THE OFFICERS GOVERNMENTS SEND OFTEN DO NOT MEET STANDARDS. MANY HAVE BEEN SENT BACK HOME. BUT HE SAYS AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IS NOT EASY TO SET UP:

YES, THE QUALITY IS VERY UNEVEN, AS FAR AS TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES IS CONCERNED. ALSO AS FAR AS LANGUAGE IS CONCERNED. THE ONLY OPERATING LANGUAGE WE HAVE IS ENGLISH. AND IF YOU HAVE 34 COUNTRIES, THEN YOU HAVE, SHALL WE SAY, 27 ACCENTS TO DEAL WITH. SO, IT IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO JUDGE THE U-N POLICE FORCE BY THE STANDARDS YOU WOULD APPLY TO THE MOUNTIES OF CANADA, OR STATE POLICE HERE, OR BOBBIES IN LONDON.

LESS THAN HALF OF A 17-HUNDRED STRONG POLICE FORCE APPROVED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS PRESENTLY DEPLOYED.

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U-N DIPLOMATS HAVE EXPRESSED SYMPATHY TO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE VICTIMS OF A PLANE CRASH IN CROATIA. ON BOARD WERE U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN WHO WAS TRAVELING TO BOSNIA WITH AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS. HIS PLAN WAS TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT IN THE WAR-SHATTERED ECONOMY.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI SAID HE WAS DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE CRASH AND PRAISED SECRETARY BROWN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO BUILD PEACE THROUGH COMMERCE AND TRADE.

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THE U-N'S BUDGET CRISIS WAS A MAJOR TOPIC THIS PAST WEEK -- AS MANY U-N EMPLOYEES WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS RECOMMENDED A 10 PERCENT REDUCTION IN STAFF TO HELP MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A NEW, SMALLER BUDGET. HE ALSO PROPOSED CUTTING FUNDS FOR SEVERAL U-N COMMISSIONS -- WHICH MEANS FEWER PUBLICATIONS AND MEETINGS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN DECEMBER PASSED THE FIRST NO-GROWTH BUDGET IN ITS HISTORY, WHICH DEMANDED 154 MILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS. THE U-N'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SAYS THE U-N WILL HAVE TO DEMAND GREATER EFFICIENCY TO DELIVER THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES GOVERNMENTS ARE USED TO. HE BELIEVES IT CAN BE DONE. BUT MANY EXPERTS ARE NOT AS CONFIDENT.

THE U-N HOPES ITS MOVES TOWARD REFORM WILL PERSUADE THE U-S CONGRESS TO PAY ITS DUES. THE UNITED STATES OWES THE U-N OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS. ARREARS ON MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PUT THE ORGANIZATION ON THE EDGE OF BANKRUPTCY. (SIGNED)

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04-Apr-96 5:19 PM EST (2219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America