Voice of America, 97-03-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] BONINO/U-N (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[02] E-U / ALBANIA (L ONLY) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

[03] ROME / E-U (L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

[04] U-S / BALKANS (L ONLY BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

[05] BOSNIAN PREZ/AWARD (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[06] COHEN / RUSSIA MISSILES (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[07] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY-CQ) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[08] TUESDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] BONINO/U-N (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS -- EMMA BONINO -- IS IN THE UNITED STATES TO MOBILIZE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS FOR ALBANIA AND CENTRAL AFRICA. SHE MET WITH U-N OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK TUESDAY BEFORE A VISIT TO WASHINGTON. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE U-N HUMANITARIAN DEPARTMENT IS SENDING A MISSION TO ALBANIA. SO ARE THE EUROPEANS. COMMISSIONER BONINO BELIEVES ALL RELEVANT PARTS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY MUST GET INVOLVED IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES; SHE SEES NO PROBLEM WITH OVERLAPPING MISSIONS.

BOTH U-N AND EUROPEAN TEAMS WILL VISIT ALBANIA TO ASSESS EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN NEEDS -- WITH A VIEW TO BOLSTERING WHATEVER STATE INSTITUTIONS ARE STILL FUNCTIONING. A REBELLION SURGED THROUGH THE COUNTRY AFTER SHADY INVESTMENT SCHEMES CLAIMED THE SAVINGS OF MANY ALBANIANS. THE U-N AND E-U MISSIONS ALSO EXPECT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALBANIA'S REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LONGER TERM -- INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR ELECTIONS IN TWO MONTHS.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER SAYS RELIEF WORK OF ANY KIND -- WHETHER IN ALBANIA OR IN THE TUMULTUOUS REGION OF CENTRAL AFRICA -- IS A RISKY VENTURE. BUT SHE SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE IF THE WORLD HOPES TO CONTAIN DOMESTIC CONFLICTS.

CERTAINLY WHEN YOU DECIDE TO INTERVENE, YOU ALWAYS RUN A RISK. BUT IF YOU DO NOTHING IN SUCH A SITUATION, MAYBE YOU WILL BE FACED VERY SOON WITH A MAJOR PROBLEM THROUGHOUT ALL THE REGION.

SHORING UP ALBANIA OR RESCUING AFRICANS FROM THE FALLOUT OF WAR IN ZAIRE IMPLIES DANGER TODAY AS PERHAPS NEVER BEFORE. RELIEF WORKERS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED -- SOME KILLED -- IN THE RECENT PAST. MS. BONINO SAYS FEUDING PARTIES SEEM TO HAVE POLITICIZED HUMANITARIAN WORK -- DEPRIVING IT OF THE SPECIAL PROTECTED STATUS IT HAS NORMALLY ENJOYED THROUGH THE DECADES.

IMPUNITY HAS BECOME, AT ALL LEVELS, A GENERAL BEHAVIOR -- THAT YOU CAN KILL, YOU CAN FIRE ON HUMANITARIAN (WORKERS). AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, IN WHICH THE RESPECT BROUGHT TO THE RED CROSS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE HUMANITARIAN (WORKERS) WERE OUT OF THE POLITICAL GAMES INSIDE OR BETWEEN COUNTRIES HAS BEEN COMPLETELY LOST.

KNOWN FOR HER FERVENT DEDICATION TO HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER IS ON HER WAY TO WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS ZAIRE. MS. BONINO SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIALLY TO RELIEF IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 1:06 PM EST (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U / ALBANIA (L ONLY) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

INTRO: ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO HAS WON PROMISES OF HELP FOR HIS COUNTRY FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. BUT, AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS FROM ROME, E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE STANDING FIRM ON THEIR REFUSAL TO ORGANIZE A MILITARY INTERVENTION.

TEXT: THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE GATHERING OF EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS IN ROME TO MARK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHAT IS NOW THE EUROPEAN UNION.

MR. FINO AND HIS FOREIGN MINISTER, ARIAN STAROVA, MET WITH THE E-U MINISTERS TO BRIEF THEM ON ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE ORDER TO ALBANIA AND TO THANK THEM FOR ASSURANCES OF AID TO EUROPE'S POOREST AND MOST CHAOTIC COUNTRY.

WORKING WITH THE 54-NATION ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, THE 15 NATIONS OF THE E-U WILL PROVIDE TWO-POINT-THREE-MILLION DOLLARS OF EMERGENCY FOOD AID AND MEDICINE AND WILL SEND TWO DOZEN CIVILIAN AND MILITARY EXPERTS TO ALBANIA TO ADVISE ON RECONSTRUCTION.

BUT ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI DENIED REPORTS THAT ITALY IS READY TO LEAD A MILITARY FORCE TO ALBANIA TO RESTORE ORDER AND TO HALT THE FLOW OF REFUGEES TO ITALY.

THE NUMBER OF ALBANIANS WHO HAVE ARRIVED ON ITALY'S ADRIATIC SHORE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IS APPROACHING 12-THOUSAND, DESPITE ITALIAN EFFORTS TO BLOCK NEW CROSSINGS.

THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID ITALY WOULD OPERATE ONLY WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND CALLED TALK OF MILITARY ACTION "PREMATURE." AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID GERMANY WOULD PROVIDE AID BUT NO SOLDIERS.

THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER ALSO MET WITH POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND AT THE VATICAN.

THE VATICAN SAID THE POPE TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER THAT THE CHURCH WILL WORK WITH AUTHORITIES OF THE MAINLY MUSLIM COUNTRY TO PROVIDE AID. IT ALSO SAID THE VATICAN WILL CONTINUE ITS APPEALS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN ALBANIA'S BEHALF. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 1:51 PM EST (1851 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ROME / E-U (L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION TUESDAY BEGINS CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF IT FOUNDING IN ROME. AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS, E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE MARKING THE OCCASION BY DEBATING PLANS TO REFORM THE E-U TREATY AND REVAMP ITS INSTITUTIONS.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE 15 E-U MEMBER STATES WERE MEETING IN ROME'S RENAISSANCE CITY HALL ON THE CAPITOLINE HILL WHERE THE SIX FOUNDING NATIONS HAD SIGNED THE TREATY OF ROME ON MARCH 25TH, 1957.

THE TREATY ESTABLISHED THE "EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY" -- NOW THE "EUROPEAN UNION" -- LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FOUR DECADES OF UNPRECEDENTED PEACE AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

ACHIEVING COOPERATION HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY, HOWEVER, AND EFFORTS TO REACH AGREEMENT ON REFORM ARE A CASE IN POINT.

THE E-U HAS BEEN DEBATING FOR TWO YEARS ON CHANGES NEEDED TO STREAMLINE ITS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN PREPARATION FOR THE ADMISSION OF AS MANY AS 12 ADDITIONAL MEMBER COUNTRIES. THE E-U'S DUTCH PRESIDENCY IS PUSHING FOR ADOPTION OF THE REFORMS IN A NEW CHARTER -- THE TREATY OF AMSTERDAM -- AT AN E-U SUMMIT IN THE DUTCH CITY IN JUNE.

THE E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS WERE ALSO MEETING WITH ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BAKSIM FINO AND FOREIGN MINISTER ARIAN STAROVA, WHO CAME TO ROME TO SEEK HELP IN ENDING THE CHAOS GRIPPING THEIR IMPOVERISHED BALKAN COUNTRY.

ROME WAS IN FINE FORM FOR THE E-U CELEBRATIONS. THE SUN WAS SHINING TUESDAY AND BLUE AND GOLD FLOWERS FORMING THE E-U FLAG BLOOMED ON THE LAWNS OF PIAZZA VENEZIA IN THE CITY CENTER. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 6:47 AM EST (1147 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S / BALKANS (L ONLY BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: A GROUP OF BALKAN NATIONS IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO BOOST REGIONAL COOPERATION UNDER A U-S SPONSORED PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THE GROUP HAS SET MODEST OBJECTIVES, IN HOPES OF ATTRACTING MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE REGION.

TEXT: THE INITIATIVE WAS LAUNCHED LATE LAST YEAR, WITH THE 11 BALKAN NATIONS AGREEING TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE TRADE BARRIERS AND BOOST ECONOMIC TIES, AND TO DEAL WITH OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING ENERGY CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AT A REGIONAL LEVEL.

SINCE THEN, A FORMER AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT LEADER, ERHARD BUSEK, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO COORDINATE THE PROGRAM. AND AN AGENDA COMMITTEE HAS BEGUN MEETING TO PRIORITIZE PROJECT PROPOSALS.

THE U-S OFFICIAL MOST INVOLVED IN THE INITIATIVE, AMBASSADOR RICHARD SCHIFTER, HAS STRESSED THAT IT DOES NOT HERALD A MAJOR NEW WESTERN AID PROGRAM FOR THE BALKANS. AND HE REPEATED THAT POINT AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HERE TUESDAY FOLLOWING TALKS WITH BALKAN REPRESENTATIVES.

WE START WITH THE PROPOSITION THAT THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE REGION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE SUCH THAT IF WE MERELY LOOK TO THE TAX PAYERS OF THE WEALTHIER COUNTRIES TO PART WITH MONEY THAT CAN GO INTO PROJECTS IN THE REGION, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THE GAP IS GOING TO BE TOO GREAT. THE ONLY WAY, WE BELIEVE, IN WHICH THE COUNTRIES HAVE A CHANCE OF REALLY PROGRESSING IS BY ULTIMATELY MAKING THEMSELVES FAR MORE ATTRACTIVE TO PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAN THEY NOW ARE.

ONE OF THE FIRST PRIORITIES SET BY THE BALKAN REPRESENTATIVES IS TO EASE THE CHRONIC BOTTLENECKS DELAYING THE PASSAGE OF GOODS ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS.

A WORKING GROUP HAS BEGUN TO EXPLORE THE ISSUE, WITH TECHNICAL ADVICE FROM THE GENEVA-BASED ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE. AMBASSADOR SCHIFTER SAID THE PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO STANDARDIZE CUSTOMS DOCUMENTS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESSING OF COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.

TWO OTHER WORKING GROUPS ARE SOON TO BEGIN MEETING, FOCUSING ON REGIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AND WAYS TO ATTRACT COMMERCIAL BANK LOANS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN THE BALKANS.

THE SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN INITIATIVE WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO INCLUDE TWELVE BALKAN NATIONS. BUT YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN DENIED MEMBERSHIP UNTIL THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT COMPLIES WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREATER POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION, PUT FORWARD BY THE EUROPEAN SECURITY ORGANIZATION LAST DECEMBER.

TWO OTHER NATIONS, CROATIA AND SLOVENIA, HAVE YET TO ENDORSE THE INITIATIVE'S FOUNDING CHARTER. BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN LEARY OF ANY MOVE THAT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS A STEP TOWARD THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THE OLD YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. BUT AMBASSADOR SCHIFTER SAID CROATIAN AND SLOVENIAN REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMITTEE WORK. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 10:39 AM EST (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIAN PREZ/AWARD (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC WAS HAILED AS A "DEMOCRAT" AT THE UNITED NATIONS TUESDAY. THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY -- A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BASED IN WASHINGTON -- AWARDED MR. IZETBEGOVIC ITS 1996 INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY MEDAL, CITING HIM FOR WHAT THE GROUP CALLS HIS COMMITMENT TO A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC CONCEDES HIS COUNTRY FACES DAUNTING CHALLENGES AS HE TRIES TO STEER THE MUSLIMS, CROATS AND SERBS OF BOSNIA TO ACCEPT LIVING TOGETHER. HE SAYS THE VIOLENCE AND HATRED OF WAR HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK:

MY VISION OF BOSNIA IS CLEAR -- INTEGRATED, SINGLE, PLURALISTIC AND DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. THIS IS THE VISION -- BUT LIFE AND REALITY ARE OFTEN SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. WAR, ANY WAR, PLACES A DIFFICULT TEMPTATION ON DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRACY.

THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT, A MUSLIM -- THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN THE COUNTRY -- SAYS ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY IS RESPECT FOR MINORITY RIGHTS. HE SAYS TYRANNY ON EITHER SIDE BY THE MAJORITY OR THE MINORITY -- IS STILL TYRANNY:

I BELIEVE THAT THE MEASUREMENT FOR FREEDOM IS THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS MINORITIES AND FREEDOM OF OPINION IS FIRST OF ALL THE RIGHT TO THINK DIFFERENTLY. THIS IS, IN SHORT, MY UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACY.

THE WASHINGTON-BASED CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IS SHIFTING AWAY FROM BOSNIA, AS THE COUNTRY STRUGGLES TO IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. THE GROUP SAYS -- WITH SOME TREPIDATION -- BOSNIA'S FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE ACCEPTED THE 1996 DEMOCRACY AWARD TO RECOGNIZE WHAT HIS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP MOVING TOWARD DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM.

AMONG THOSE PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- ISMAIL RAZALI OF MALAYSIA -- WHO HAS BEEN AN ARDENT CHAMPION OF THE MUSLIMS OF BOSNIA, AND WASHINGTON'S U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON.

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY CITATION INCLUDE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES CORAZON AQUINO AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 3:11 PM EST (2011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] COHEN / RUSSIA MISSILES (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS REJECTING CONGRESSIONAL CRITICISM THAT THE UNITED STATES GAVE UP TOO MUCH IN THE MISSILE DEFENSE AGREEMENT REACHED AT LAST WEEK'S U-S/RUSSIAN SUMMIT. CRITICS CHARGE THE HELSINKI ACCORD LIMITS AMERICA'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP REGIONAL ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEMS. DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: MR. COHEN -- THE ONLY REPUBLICAN IN THE CLINTON CABINET -- SAYS HIS PARTY COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS ARE WRONG TO SUGGEST THAT THE HELSINKI AGREEMENT WOULD THREATEN EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AN ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM TO PROTECT U-S TROOPS DEPLOYED ABROAD.

THE SUMMIT ACCORD, A SUPPLEMENT TO THE 1972 ANTI-BALLISTIC-MISSILE TREATY, LIMITS THE SPEED OF MISSILE INTERCEPTORS. REPUBLICANS -- AMONG THEM HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH -- SAY THE AGREEMENT WOULD CRIPPLE A PRIORITY U-S PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A SO-CALLED "THEATER" DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT CAN SHOOT DOWN MISSILES LIKE THE SCUDS FIRED BY IRAQ DURING THE GULF WAR.

IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS, MR. COHEN ASKED WHY AN ACCORD SUPPOSEDLY DISADVANTAGEOUS TO THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ATTACKED IN THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT AS A CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR MOSCOW:

APPARENTLY THEY FEEL VERY BADLY ABOUT THE AGREEMENT IN RUSSIA, THAT RUSSIA GAVE UP TOO MUCH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DID NOT GIVE UP ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO CONDUCT OUR THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE TESTING SYSTEMS.

MR. COHEN SAID THE HELSINKI DEAL IS "COMPLETELY IN ACCORD" WITH TREATY GUIDELINES THE CONGRESS ITSELF APPROVED LAST YEAR. (SIGNED)
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25-Mar-97 1:11 PM EST (1811 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY-CQ) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE UP SHARPLY IN TRADING TUESDAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS -- IN GERMANY, BRITAIN, AND FRANCE. IN LONDON, STOCKS WERE UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN DAYS. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE 56 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

SHARE PRICES ALSO WERE UP SHARPLY IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE 45 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-SEVENTH-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX FINISHED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY UP BY MORE THAN 27 POINTS, ABOUT EIGHT-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. PRICES ROSE SOME MORE IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK, BUT IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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25-Mar-97 2:05 PM EST (1905 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TUESDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A GLANCE AT THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SEVERAL MAJOR U-S DAILIES SHOWS ATTENTION FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS INCLUDING: VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S VISIT TO CHINA; THE DETERIORATING RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS; TURKEY'S UNEASY MILITARY; THE ADMISSION BY TOBACCO COMPANIES OF THE UNHEALTHY CHRACTERISITICS OF CIGARETTES; WHAT HATH HELSINKI WROUGHT; AND LASTLY, THE PROBLEM OF GRADE INFLATION IN U-S EDUCATION.

NOW HERE IS ____________________WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: OBSERVERS OF DIPLOMACY BELIEVE THAT THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST MAY BE DISINTEGRATING. THE CAUSES GIVEN INCLUDE LAST WEEK'S TERRORIST BOMBING N TEL AVIV AND THE INSISTENCE OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THAT IT WILL BUILD A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN EAST JERUSALEM. IT PROMPTS THIS COMMENT FROM THE MIAMI HERALD.

VOICE: "SURELY IT WAS PURE COINCIDENCE THAT THE LAST LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, JUST AS THE LAST LIGHT SEEMED TO FADE FROM THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. BUT EVEN IN THE DARLING SKY OVER ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK, YOU STILL COULD MAKE OUT THE SILHOUETTES OF THE PEACE PROCESS'S TWIN NEMESES: ISRAELI INTRANSIGENCE AND PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE. ONE BEGETS THE OTHER BEGETS THE OTHER. THE CYCLE IS SO CERTAIN, SO FAMILIAR, THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHICH .... CAME FIRST, OR LAST. ...... IT WAS MOST UNWISE OF MR. NETANYAHU TO DECIDE TO BUILD THIS HOUSING NOW. IT WAS EQUALLY UNWISE OF MR. ARAFAT TO LEAVE FOR AN EIGHT-DAY CONFERENCE IN SRI LANKA WHEN TENSIONS IN THE WEST BANK AND ISRAEL PROPER ARE BOILING ANEW."

TEXT: IN GEORGIA, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION CRITICIZED THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AS WELL AS THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: "IT IS INEXCUSABLE FOR PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO SAY THAT CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW JEWISH SETTLEMENT IN EAST JERUSALEM PROVOKED A SUICIDE BOMBING IN TEL AVIV. NOTHING, NOTHING, [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] CAN BE SAID TO JUSTIFY FRIDAY'S MURDEROUS ACT. [OPT] TO CLAIM OTHERWISE IS TO ENCOURAGE HAMAS OR OTHER RADICAL PALESTINIAN GROUPS TO START A NEW ROUND OF TERROR. ..... UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP NOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS DISTINGUISHED ITSELF IN THE RECENT TURMOIL. ISRAEL WAS DEAD WRONG [TOTALLY WRONG] TO GO AHEAD WITH ITS EAST JERUSALEM HOUSING PROJECT. PALESTINIAN LEADERS ARE FAR TOO RECKLESS IN TALKING UP THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE." [END OPT]

TEXT: TURNING TO ASIA, THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS VICE PRESIDENT GORE SHOULD BE SURE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT TO CHINA.

VOICE: "IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME FOR VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE TO HARP [REPEATEDLY DISCUSS] ON CHINA'S REPUTED EFFORTS TO CHANNEL CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO U-S POLITICIANS DURING HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS THIS WEEK IN BEIJING. NOT BECAUSE CHINESE MEDDLING IN AMERICAN POLITICS IS A TRIVIAL MATTER, BUT BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTING IT RESTS MORE WITH RECIPIENTS OF THE TAINTED FUNDS, SUCH AS [MR] GORE HIMSELF. [VICE PRESIDENT] GORE WOULD DO BETTER TO STRESS A SUBJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART: CHINA'S GRAVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A FITTING SUBJECT FOR DIALOGUE BECAUSE CHINESE FAILURE TO MANAGE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CAN HAVE CALAMITOUS RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE SECURITY, THE PROSPERITY, AND THE HEALTH OF AMERICANS AS WELL AS CHINESE.

[OPT] .

.... THE CHINESE NEED CLEAN ENERGY, AND THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM AMERICAN FIRMS THAT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO SCRUB CONTAMINATED AIR, WATER, AND SOIL. [MR.] GORE IN BEIJING SHOULD BE THE RIGHT PREACHER IN THE RIGHT PULPIT."

TEXT: ALSO COMMENTING ON THE VISIT, THE WASHINGTON POST ADDS:

VOICE: "VICE PRESIDENT GORE IS IN CHINA, THE HIGHEST-RANKING OFFICIAL TO VISIT BEIJING SINCE THE 1989 MASSACRE IN TIENANMEN SQUARE. THE VERY FACT OF HIS VISIT WILL BE USEFUL TO CHINA'S LEADERS, NOW STRUGGLING FOR LEGITIMACY IN THE WAKE OF DENG XIAOPING'S DEATH. HIS [GORE] DELIBERATE DECISION NOT TO VISIT HONG KONG, WHERE FREEDOM IS THREATENED BY AN IMMINENT CHINESE TAKEOVER, IS HELPFUL TO THOSE LEADERS, TOO. .....IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MR. GORE SEND A FEW OTHER SIGNALS, TOO, PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY. ONE CONCERNS HONG KONG ..... MR. GORE SHOULD STRESS THAT CIVIL RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG ARE IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES - - IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO CALL INTO QUESTION A VISIT TO WASHINGTON BY CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN NEXT FALL IF CHINA KEEPS TO ITS CURRENT COURSE."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES, WORRIED ABOUT TURKEY'S DRIFT TOWARD A MORE FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC OUTLOOK, IS NOW EQUALLY WORRIED ABOUT RUMBLINGS FROM TURKEY'S MILITARY LEADERSHIP.

VOICE: "THE TURKISH GENERAL STAFF IN RECENT WEEKS HAS ALL BUT PUT THE COUNTRY'S ISLAMIC-LED GOVERNMENT ON NOTICE THAT THE MILITARY WILL SEIZE POWER IF TURKEY CONTINUES TO DRIFT AWAY FROM ITS SECULAR POLITICAL TRADITIONS. WHILE THE GENERALS' DEFENSE OF SECULARISM APPEALS TO MANY AMERICANS, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT ANOTHER PERIOD OF MILITARY RULE IN TURKEY WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. WASHINGTON NEEDS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT FAVORS CIVILIAN GOVERNANCE AND WOULD BE OBLIGED TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM ANY MILITARY-DOMINATED REGIME. [OPT] ..... FOR PRACTICAL AS WELL AS PRINCIPLED REASONS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS TO TURKEY'S PROBLEMS RATHER THAN THOSE IMPOSED BY FORCE."

TEXT: TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN IS COMMENTING ON LAST WEEK'S REVELATION BY THE LIGGETT CIGARETTE COMPANY ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT'S HARMFUL EFFECTS.

VOICE: "THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT A TOBACCO COMPANY HAS BROKEN RANKS WITH THE INDUSTRY AND AGREED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SMOKING IS ADDICTIVE AND CAUSES CANCER IS DRAMATIC ENOUGH. BUT THE PART OF THE SETTLEMENT REACHED BY 22 STATES WITH THE LIGGETT GROUP INCORPORATED THAT MAY PROVE MOST THREATENING TO THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY INVOLVES LIGGETT'S ADMISSION THAT SOME TOBACCO MARKETING HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARD MINORS. THIS CHARGE IS ONE THAT TOBACCO OFFICIALS HAVE STEADFASTLY DENIED, EVEN UNDER OATH IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS."

TEXT: OTHER PAPERS ARE STILL TRYING TO DISCERN WHAT SIGNIFICANCE THE HELSINKI SUMMIT WILL HAVE ON FUTURE U-S - RUSSIAN RELATIONS. THE WASHINGTON TIMES CONSIDERS THE RESULTS A "MIXED MESSAGE."

VOICE: "WHILE ALL THE DIRE PREDICTIONS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S ELEVENTH MEETING WERE PROVED WRONG, THE RESULTS OF LAST WEEK'S SUMMIT IN HELSINKI ... ARE ELUSIVE. ..... MR. CLINTON ... AS ALWAYS ... PUT THE BEST FACE ON THINGS, ASSERTING THAT THE MEETING WAS VERY POSITIVE. BUT WHAT, IF ANY, ARE THE POSITIVE RESULTS TO WHICH HE IS REFERRING? ON THE QUESTION OF NATO IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET THAT THE TWO MEN WERE NOT GOING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. .....THE REST OF THE SUMMIT WAS TAKEN UP WITH .... ARMS CONTROL, AN ISSUE THAT REMAINS CENTRAL TO RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND RUSSIA. A NEW START THREE TREATY WAS ANNOUNCED FROM HELSINKI. ..... OF COURSE, AS IT HAPPENS, START TWO HAS YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED."

TEXT: FINALLY, USA TODAY IS CONCERNED AT THE TREND OF U-S HIGH SCHOOLS IN AWARDING MORE "A" GRADES, WHICH, THE PAPER SUGGESTS, MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT AMERICAN STUDENTS' ACTUAL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.

VOICE: "WHAT'S GOING ON IS NOT IMPROVED SCHOLARSHIP BUT RATHER INFLATED GRADING. A U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDY FOUND A'S AND B'S IN MANY URBAN SCHOOLS ARE NO BETTER THAN C'S AND D'S. DISTRICTS PUMP UP [INCREASE] GRADES FOR NON-ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, FROM CLASS ATTENDANCE TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. AND MORE THAN HALF OF ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW WEIGHT GRADES, AWARDING BONUS POINTS FOR TAKING COLLEGE PREP CLASSES. .... WHAT'S THE ANSWER? ... HIGH SCHOOL GRADES SHOULD MEAN WHAT THEY SAY. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GIVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE IN COLLEGE."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
25-Mar-97 10:39 AM EST (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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