Voice of America, 96-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] GERMANY / BEEF BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

[02] MADCOW FRANCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[03] BOSNIA/SARAJEVO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] LAKE ON MOVING AHEAD WITH DAYTON ACCORD

[05] U-S/ BOSNIA HALFWAY (L-O) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[06] LEBED JOINS YELTSIN CABINET (UPDATE) BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

[07] RUSSIA/ZYUGANOV (L) BY JOAN BEECHER (MOSCOW)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[01] GERMANY / BEEF BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: FEAR OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY, KNOWN AS B-S-E, OR MORE COMMONLY AS "MAD COW DISEASE," HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON BEEF SALES THROUGHOUT EUROPE. THE SALES DIVE FOLLOWED A BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT THREE MONTHS AGO OF A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN THE FATAL CATTLE AILMENT AND A FATAL HUMAN BRAIN CONDITION. IN GERMANY -- WHERE SALES OF BRITISH BEEF REMAIN OFFICIALLY BANNED -- CONSUMERS APPEAR TO BE STAYING AWAY FROM BEEF REGARDLESS OF ITS ORIGIN. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN .

TEXT: GERMANY NEVER REALLY IMPORTED MUCH BEEF FROM BRITAIN. STATISTICS SUGGEST BRITISH IMPORTS HERE WERE ONLY A SCANT TWO PERCENT OF THE BEEF SOLD. YET AUTHORITIES SAY BEEF SALES IN GERMANY, AFTER PLUNGING BY 30 PERCENT IN MARCH AMID FEARS MAD COW DISEASE COULD BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS, HAVE YET TO MAKE A COMEBACK.

GEORG MAIER IS A BUTCHER AT A SMALL SHOP IN BONN. HE SAYS HIS BEEF SALES HAVE PLUMMETED BY AN EVEN GREATER 60 PERCENT. BUT IT ONLY APPLIES TO CUTS OF RAW MEAT -- NOT, STRANGELY ENOUGH, TO SALES OF BEEF SAUSAGES OR COLD CUTS. "OUR CUSTOMERS ARE NOW BUYING MORE PORK AND POULTRY," SAYS MR. MAIER SAYS. "AND IF THEY DO ASK FOR BEEF," HE SAYS, "MANY WANT TO KNOW WHAT COUNTRY IT IS FROM.'

BUTCHER GEORG MAIER TOLD ME NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF HIS CUSTOMERS SPECIFICALLY ASK WHERE DOES HE GET HIS BEEF? FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, HE TELLS THEM, THIS SHOP HAS BOUGHT BEEF FROM A FARM IN THE NEARBY EIFEL-REGION. BUT THE BUTCHER SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THAT CUSTOMERS ARE NOT AS TRUSTING ANYMORE. AS LONG AS SCIENTISTS HAVE NOT REALLY DETERMINED WHETHER MAD COW DISEASE CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS, HE SAYS, OF COURSE PEOPLE WILL BE CAREFUL.

THAT WAS APPARENT DURING MY VISIT TO THE SHOP ... BUT SOMETIMES IT WAS NOT. THIS ELDERLY LADY ASKED MR. MAIER FOR A SHANK OF BEEF.

WHEN IT COMES TO BEEF, THE "GERMAN FARMER'S ASSOCIATION" AGREES ISSUE NOW IS CONFIDENCE. THE ASSOCIATION ADDS THAT GERMAN FARMERS ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO REGAIN CONSUMER TRUST. MOST IMPORTANT, THE ASSOCIATION SAYS, IS TO MAKE IT OBLIGATORY FOR ALL STORES TO LABEL ALL MEAT, SHOWING WHAT COUNTRY OR REGION IT IS FROM. THE ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO CALLED ON GERMANY'S THOUSANDS OF CATTLE FARMERS TO OPEN THEIR BARN DOORS TO THE PUBLIC, AND LET PEOPLE SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW GERMAN CATTLE ARE RAISED, AND WHAT THEY ARE FED. // OPT // IN BRITAIN, MAD COW DISEASE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN COWS FED WITH REMAINS OF SHEEP INFECTED WITH THE DISEASE "SCRAPIE." // END OPT //

THE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION SAYS MOST BEEF SOLD HERE IS GERMAN, AND MANY FARMERS HAVE BEEN HARD-HIT BY THE FALLING SALES REVENUES.

IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT GERMANS AGAINST POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS, THE BONN AGRICULTURE MINISTRY HAS PUT OUT A BROCHURE WITH INFORMATION ON B-S-E. CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WHEN BUYING BEEF, AND OFFER DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE MEAT CONTENTS OF MANY WELL-KNOWN PRODUCTS SUCH AS BABY-FOOD, FROZEN AND CANNED FOOD, ALONG WITH AND PET FOOD.

TELEPHONE HOTLINES ARE ANOTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH VOLUNTEERS ARE FRUSTRATED AS THEY OFTEN DO NOT KNOW WHAT ANSWERS TO GIVE. AS LONG AS THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT B-S-E CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS, THE INSECURITY IS CERTAIN TO REMAIN. (SIGNED)
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19-Jun-96 7:32 AM EDT (1132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] MADCOW FRANCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE IS PLANNING TO HELP CATTLE FARMERS TO RETIRE EARLY IN ANTICIPATION OF A PROLONGED DROP IN THE CONSUMPTION OF BEEF. IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO HELP THE FARMERS FINANCIALLY. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: AT THE WEEKLY CABINET MEETING, FRENCH AGRICULTURE MINISTER PHILIPPE VASSEUR PROPOSED THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF MEASURES THAT INDICATE THAT FRANCE EXPECTS THE MAD COW CRISIS TO CONTINUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE MOST ORIGINAL OF THESE MEASURES IS TO PROVIDE STATE FUNDING TO HELP CATTLE FARMERS WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF 55 TO RETIRE EARLY. THIS WAY, FRANCE WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ITS FARMERS WHO RAISE CATTLE.

ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE SO FAR ONLY BEEN A HANDFUL OF CASES OF MAD COW DISEASE REPORTED AMONG FRENCH LIVESTOCK, THE CONSUMPTION OF BEEF HAS FALLEN OFF SHARPLY. FRANCE WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO BAN IMPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF IN MARCH WHEN BRITISH SCIENTISTS WARNED THAT THERE WERE RISKS OF TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE FROM CATTLE TO HUMAN BEINGS.

OTHER MEASURES ANNOUNCED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ARE PURELY FINANCIAL. IT IS PROPOSING TO HELP CATTLE-FARMERS BY ALLOWING THOSE WITH BANK LOANS TO DELAY REPAYMENT OF THEIR LOANS OVER THE NEXT YEAR. FRANCE IS ALSO ASKING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO COME UP WITH A TOTAL PACKAGE OF JUST OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE FARMERS ALL OVER EUROPE WHO ARE IN DIFFICULTY BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS. EARLIER, THE FRENCH INTRODUCED NEW MEASURES TO CONTROL SHEEP SUFFERING FROM "SCRAPIE," AN ILLNESS SIMILAR TO MAD COW DISEASE. ALTHOUGH SCIENTISTS SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT SCRAPIE IS TRANSMISSIBLE TO HUMAN BEINGS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED FRENCH SHEEP FARMERS TO REPORT ALL CASES OF THE DISEASE.

UNDER NEW MEASURES BEING CONSIDERED FOR SHEEP, ALL ANIMALS WITH SCRAPIE WILL BE SLAUGHTERED IN FRANCE AND THEIR MEAT DESTROYED. THEY WILL NO LONGER BE SOLD FOR CONSUMPTION.

AS THE DISPUTE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND ITS EUROPEAN NEIGHBORS OVER THE BAN ON BRITISH BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS NEARS THE END OF ITS THIRD MONTH, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAYS FRANCE IS WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS "RELATIVELY OPTIMISTIC" THAT A SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND AT THE EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT IN FLORENCE THIS WEEK. IF SO, THIS WILL HEAD OFF A BRITISH THREAT TO PARALYZE ALL EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS -- AND PROVOKE ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISES MODERN EUROPE HAS EVER KNOWN. (SIGNED)
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19-Jun-96 10:36 AM EDT (1436 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/SARAJEVO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A SENIOR NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION COMMANDER IN BOSNIA HAS SAID A DECISION TO KEEP NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA WILL BE MADE ONLY AFTER ELECTIONS SCHEDULED THERE FOR THIS SEPTEMBER. MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL JACKSON ALSO SAYS NATO CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT MANY OF THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED LAST YEAR IN DAYTON OHIO. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: AT A PRESS CONFERENCE MARKING THE END OF HIS TOUR IN BOSNIA, GENERAL JACKSON SAID ANY DECISION ON WHETHER NATO TROOPS SHOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA BEYOND THE DECEMBER END OF THE ONE-YEAR NATO OPERATION HERE WOULD DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME OF NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE HELD IN MID-SEPTEMBER.

A JUDGMENT WILL THEN HAVE TO BE MADE AFTER THE ELECTIONS AS TO WHAT CLIMATE WE'VE GOT, HOW THOSE ELECTIONS WENT ... AND A DIFFICULT BUT VERY NECESSARY JUDGMENT ABOUT STABILITY, BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND PERHAPS IN THE MEDIUM TERM.

THERE ARE GROWING SIGNS NATO COUNTRIES ARE MOVING TOWARDS A LONGER TERM DEPLOYMENT HERE TO SAFEGUARD THE CURRENT PEACE, BUT THE DECISION MAY BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

GENERAL JACKSON ALSO STRONGLY REJECTED CRITICISM THAT NATO TROOPS HAVE BEEN TOO TIMID IN ENFORCING THEIR MANDATE IN BOSNIA.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO MAKE VERY CAREFUL JUDGMENTS. I MEAN, ACTIONS HAVE REACTIONS, AND REACTIONS TO THAT. AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY CAREFUL JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LONG TERM BEFORE YOU START REACTING TO DAY-TO-DAY EVENTS. IT'S NOT EASY.

THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTING THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR REFUGEES AND THE ARREST OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. GENERAL JACKSON SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD TO CONSIDER WHAT WAS POSSIBLE, NOT WHAT WAS IDEAL, AND HE INSISTED MILITARY FORCE COULD NOT CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.

IF PEOPLE WISH TO VOTE OR TO ACT IN AN ETHNIC MANNER -- AS OPPOSED TO A MULTI-ETHNIC MANNER -- AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. AND I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT BY COMING WITH A BIG STICK.

DESPITE SUCH REMARKS, SOURCES SAY THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, HAS ASKED NATO COMMANDERS TO CAPTURE THE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. IN WHAT ARE DESCRIBED AS ACRIMONIOUS MEETINGS, NATO COMMANDERS HAVE SO FAR REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION AGAINST MR. KARADZIC. (SIGNED)
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19-Jun-96 11:05 AM EDT (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] LAKE ON MOVING AHEAD WITH DAYTON ACCORD

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

ACCORDING TO ANTHONY LAKE, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN BOSNIA. THE DAYTON ACCORD HAS PERMITTED BOSNIANS TO BEGIN TO REBUILD. THE U.S. HAS ALREADY SPENT EIGHTY-SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP RESTORE HEAT, HOT WATER AND ELECTRICITY, AND HAS PROVIDED MEDICINE AND CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BOSNIANS. HUNDREDS OF HOUSES AND SCHOOLS ARE ALSO BEING REPAIRED.

THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, KNOWN AS IFOR, HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR RECONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN. IFOR HAS COMPELLED THE WARRING SERB, MUSLIM AND CROAT FACTIONS TO PULL BACK FROM A THREE-MILE WIDE SEPARATION ZONE. NEARLY ALL HEAVY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN PLACED UNDER IFOR SUPERVISION AND MANY WILL BE DESTROYED UNDER AN AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED THIS MONTH. IN ADDITION, VIRTUALLY ALL PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE BEEN RELEASED. THOSE STILL IN CUSTODY ARE BEING HELD AS WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

NONETHELESS, MANY DIFFICULTIES REMAIN. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION ARE STILL RESTRICTED. INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, MOST NOTABLY BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. AND FEWER REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN HOME THAN HAD BEEN HOPED.

THE U.S. BELIEVES THE BEST WAY FOR BOSNIA TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THE ELECTIONS THAT THE DAYTON ACCORD REQUIRES. AS MR. LAKE SAID, ONLY AFTER ELECTIONS ARE HELD WILL THE CONSTITUTION FULLY TAKE EFFECT. AND ONLY THEN CAN A PARLIAMENT, A PRESIDENCY AND A CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BE CREATED. THE U.S. BELIEVES THAT BY SEPTEMBER 14TH, THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR ELECTIONS WILL EXIST. POLL NUMBERS REFLECT A STRONG DESIRE ON THE PART OF MUSLIMS, CROATS AND SERBS TO VOTE AS SCHEDULED ON THE FUTURE OF THEIR STATE. THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS THAT DESIRE.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
19-Jun-96 3:06 PM EDT (1906 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S/ BOSNIA HALFWAY (L-O) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA REACHES THE HALF-WAY POINT OF ITS ONE-YEAR MANDATE TODAY (THURSDAY). NEARLY 60-THOUSAND TROOPS FROM THE ALLIANCE HAVE BEEN IN THE BALKANS FOR SIX MONTHS ENFORCING TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. A REPORT FROM V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS ACKNOWLEDGING BOTH SUCCESSES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS IN THE FIRST SIX-MONTHS OF THE BOSNIAN MISSION. BUT IT SAYS IN THE LONG RUN IT WILL BE THE BOSNIAN PARTIES NOT NATO TROOPS WHO WILL DECIDE IF LASTING PEACE IS BROUGHT TO THE COUNTRY.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE MISSION, INCLUDING THE SEPARATION OF FORCES, DISARMAMENT OF WARRING FACTIONS AND THE TRANSFER OF TERRITORY AS PROVIDED UNDER THE ACCORDS HAVE GONE WELL AND WITH MINIMAL NATO CASUALTIES.

BUT THEY CONCEDE THAT OTHER ASPECTS INCLUDING RECONCILIATION AMONG PARTIES, REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, AND CIVIL RECONSTRUCTION HAVE LAGGED BEHIND. AND THE FACT THAT BOSNIAN SERB FIGURES RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC REMAIN AT LARGE DESPITE WAR CRIMES INDICTMENTS CAST A SHADOW OVER EFFORTS TO HOLD NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER.

HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN REALISTIC FROM THE BEGINNING, AND HAS NEVER BELIEVED THAT BOSNIA COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING LIKE THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE OR BELGIUM IN THE SPAN OF A YEAR.

BUT HE SAID U-S AND ALLIED LEADERS BELIEVE THE ELECTION PROCESS CAN SUCCEED AND THAT A PEACEFUL MULTIETHNIC SOCIETY CAN BE RESTORED IN BOSNIA. MR. BURNS SAID THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE UNDERTAKING WILL BE DECIDED BY THE BALKANS SIGNATORIES AT DAYTON:

A LOT OF THE CRITICISM IS THAT WE HAVEN'T TURNED IT INTO AN IDEAL COUNTRY. NO WE HAVEN'T. AND ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE MOSLEMS, THE CROATS AND THE SERBS TO RE-MAKE THEIR COUNTRY. AND TO RE-MAKE THEIR REGION. WE CAN ONLY HELP THEM. BUT WE DID STOP THE WAR. WE DID HELP THEM NEGOTIATE THE PEACE. NOW WE'LL HELP THEM CONDUCT ELECTIONS. WE'RE PRESERVING THE PEACE THROUGH 60-THOUSAND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM NATO COUNTRIES. WE'VE DONE A LOT.

MR. BURNS SAID NO ONE IS LIKELY TO DIE IN BOSNIAN FIGHTING THIS SUMMER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS AND THAT IS A CONSIDERABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF.

HE SAID THE U-S CONTINUES TO HOPE THAT THE INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, MR. KARADZIC, WILL BE AT THE HAGUE BY THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS FACING TRIAL -- OR AT LEAST MARGINALIZED POLITICALLY SO THAT A NEW SERB LEADERSHIP CAN STEP FORWARD.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM, THE ADMINISTRATION'S DIPLOMATIC POINT MAN FOR BOSNIA WILL GO TO BELGRADE, ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO NEXT WEEK FOR MORE TALKS ON DAYTON COMPLIANCE ISSUES INCLUDING THE STATUS OF THOSE INDICTED. (SIGNED)
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19-Jun-96 5:19 PM EDT (2119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] LEBED JOINS YELTSIN CABINET (UPDATE) BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE APPEARANCE OF BORIS YELTSIN ON MOSCOW TELEVISION TUESDAY WITH GENERAL ALEKSANDR LEBED, ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS JUST TWO DAYS EARLIER IN THE FIRST ROUND OF RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, CREATED A POLITICAL

TAPE: CUT ONE -- YELTSIN (IN RUSSIAN AND FADE TO VOICEOVER) "THIS IS NOT JUST AN APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A UNION OF TWO POLITICAL LEADERS, A UNION OF TWO PROGRAMS. HIS POLITICAL PROGRAM WILL BE ENRICHED BY THE POLITICAL PROGRAM OF THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA. THEREFORE, I MUST CORRECT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF MY PROGRAM ACCORDINGLY, ESPECIALLY SUCH QUESTIONS AS ARMY REFORM, SECURITY QUESTIONS, THE PROBLEM OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME, THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER MATTERS." HOST: PRESIDENT YELTSIN ALSO ANNOUNCED THE FIRING OF DEFENSE MINISTER PAVEL GRACHYOV, EFFECTIVELY PASSING TO GENERAL LEBED A KEY ROLE IN REFORMING THE ARMY. HIS POSITION AS THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL ADVISER ON SECURITY AFFAIRS ALSO MEANS THAT THE GENERAL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY AGENCIES FORMERLY UNITED UNDER THE OLD K-G-B -- THE COMMITTEE OF STATE SECURITY. APPEARING TOGETHER WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN, GENERAL LEBED SAID:

TAPE: CUT TWO -- LEBED (IN RUSSIAN AND FADE TO VOICEOVER) "TODAY I HAVE TAKEN OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES INDICATED BY THE PRESIDENT. TAKING UPON MYSELF THOSE COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT RESPONSIBILITIES, I AM DEEPLY CONVINCED THAT NO LESS THAN 80 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR ME WILL FIND THAT DECISION A CORRECT ONE, AND WILL FOLLOW MY LEAD." HOST: THAT THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A MAJOR TURNING POINT FOR RUSSIA HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED BY MANY RUSSIAN EXPERTS. DMITRI SIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE NIXON CENTER FOR PEACE

TAPE: CUT THREE -- SIMES (RUSSIAN AND FADE TO VOICEOVER) "THE APPOINTMENT OF LEBED IS A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIAN POLITICS. FIRST OF ALL, IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT YELTSIN HAS BROUGHT INTO HIS GOVERNMENT AN INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PERSONAGE. ALL OF HIS OTHER APPOINTMENTS WERE APPOINTMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO THEMSELVES HAD NO SERIOUS POLITICAL BASE. HE WOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY GETTING RID OF THEM SHOULD HE WISH TO DO SO. WITH LEBED, EVERYTHING WILL BE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED, BECAUSE HE IS A PERSON WHO IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING HIS TEMPERATMENT, IS OF A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHARACTER AND ORDER OF MAGNITUDE." HOST: GENERAL LEBED, WHO IS CONSIDERED VERY POPULAR WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES, HAS DESCRIBED THE SOVIET INVASION OF AGHANISTAN AS "A STUPID POLITICAL ADVENTURE." HE HAS SAID THAT THE CHECHENS SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR INDEPENDENCE, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT. FURTHERMORE, GENERAL LEBED SAYS THAT HE DOES NOT OBJECT TO THE EXTENSION OF NATO INTO EAST/CENTRAL EUROPE. HIS CONCERNS, HE SAYS, ARE REFORM WITHIN RUSSIA ITSELF.

ARIEL COHEN, RUSSIAN SPECIALIST FOR THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN WASHINGTON, THINKS THAT DESPITE HIS MILITARY BACKGROUND, GENERAL LEBED HAS BECOME MORE POLITICALLY SOPHISTICATED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS: TAPE; CUT FOUR -- COHEN (IN RUSSIAN AND FADE) "HE HAS OFTEN SAID THAT THE RUSSIAN STATE SHOULD PLAY THE ROLE OF A WOLF-DOG, RATHER THAN A WOLF. SINCE HE LEARNS FAST, AND IS STILL QUITE YOUNG, HIS NEW MOSCOW SURROUNDINGS WILL ENRICH HIS EXPERIENCE AND TURN HIM INTO AN ACTIVE CIVILIAN LEADER, PERHAPS NOT QUITE LIKE COLIN POWELL, THE FORMER AMERICAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT IN ANY CASE A CIVILIZED PERSON." HOST: THE COMMUNIST CANDIDATE, GENNADY ZYUGANOV, HAD SAID THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO OFFER GENERAL LEBED THE POSITION OF PRIME MINISTER, SHOULD HE WIN THE RUN-OFF ELECTION EARLY NEXT MONTH. BUT THE GENERAL SAID THAT COMMUNIST IDEALS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH REALITY:

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- LEBED (RUSSIAN AND FADE TO VOICEOVER) "THE IDEALS OF EQUALITY, BROTHERHOOD, HAPPINESS ARE ATTRACTIVE. BUT WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN REALIZED IN ANY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD? WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE WORTH GREAT SACRIFICES AND SUFFERING. BUT LET THEM BE REALIZED SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE WANT SIMPLY TO LIVE." HOST: IN THE WAKE OF THE YELTSIN-LEBED ALLIANCE, THREE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING HAVE -- DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY -- THROWN THEIR SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN. ECONOMIST GRIGORY YAVLINSKY AND ULTRA-NATIONALIST VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY, WHO TOGETHER RECEIVED 13 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, ARE URGING THEIR SUPPORTERS TO VOTE AGAINST THE COMMUNISTS. ALSO, EYE SURGEON SVYATOSLAV FYODOROV HAS FORMALLY ENDORSED MR. YELTSIN.

MEANTIME, PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN HAS DECLARED WEDNESDAY, JULY 3RD, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR A RUN-OFF ELECTION ON THAT DAY BETWEEN MR. YELTSIN AND COMMUNIST CANDIDATE GENNADY ZYUGANOV. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY ASSUMED THAT SETTING THE ELECTION FOR JULY 3RD, RATHER THAN SUNDAY, JULY 7TH, WOULD IMPROVE THE PRESIDENT'S CHANCES FOR REELECTION, SINCE MOST OF HIS ADHERENTS ARE CITY DWELLERS AND MANY OF THEM CUSTOMARILY LEAVE TOWN TO SPEND THE WEEK-ENDS AT THEIR DACHAS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. (SIGNED)
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19-Jun-96 3:40 PM EDT (1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA/ZYUGANOV (L) BY JOAN BEECHER (MOSCOW)

INTRO: AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW TODAY, COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF GENNADY ZYUGANOV, WHO PLACED SECOND IN THE FIRST ROUND OF RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE SUNDAY, SAID THERE CAN BE NO VICTOR IN THE SECOND ROUND. ACCORDING TO MR. ZYUGANOV, WHOEVER COMES TO POWER WILL HAVE TO FORM A COALTION GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL TRUST. VOA ANALYST JOAN BEECHER REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: MR. ZYUGANOV TOLD A JAM-PACKED HALL OF REPORTERS THAT HE IS READY TO PROPOSE A COALITION GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE INTERESTS OF ALL SOCIAL CLASSES WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AND IN WHICH ALL ABLE PEOPLE WILLING TO SERVE RUSSIA CAN BE INCLUDED. HE SAID THAT THE COMPOSITION OF HIS PROPOSED COALTION GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL TRUST MAY BE PUBLISHED AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, MR. ZYUGANOV SAID THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO MEET WITH ANY OF THE OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN HIS EFFORT AT COALITION-BUILDING. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD ALREADY MET WITH GENERAL ALEXANDER LEBED TUESDAY MORNING, AT WHICH TIME THEY DISCUSSED NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES. LATER IN THE DAY, HE SAID HE PLANNED TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

MR. ZYUGANOV DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FORMING A COALTIION WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN HIMSELF.

MR. ZYUGANOV SAID THAT NO ONE POLITICAL FORCE, ACTING ALONE, WAS CAPABLE OF GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE DEEP CRISIS IT IS NOW IN.

WHILE STRESSING HIS WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH ANYONE WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM, MR. ZYUGANOV ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE EXPECTS TO COME IN FIRST IN THE SECOND POUND. FOR ONE THING, THE COMMUNIST PARTY CANDIDATE CHALLENGED THE ASSUMPTION THAT GENERAL LEBED'S SUPPORTERS WILL VOTE FOR MR. YELTSIN, NOW THAT THE GENERAL HAS BEEN GIVEN A KEY POST IN THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT.

YOU CAN'T HAND OVER VOTERS TO SOMEONE ELSE AS IF THEY WERE SERFS, MR. ZYUGANOV SAID. VOTERS VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE ON THE BASIS OF HIS PROGRAM. HIS MESSAGE, MR. ZYUGANOV SAID. HE WAS SURE HIS MESSAGE WILL APPEAL TO VOTERS WHO SUPPORTED GENERAL LEBED IN THE FIRST ROUND. IN THE SECOND ROUND, HE EXPECTS AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THEM WILL VOTE FOR HIM.

GENERAL LEBED WILL BE OFFERED A GOOD POST, MR. ZYUGANOV SAID. WE'LL HANG ON TO HIS VOTERS." [SIGNED]
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19-Jun-96 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS CONTINUE TO COMMENT ON THE RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN RUSSIA. OTHER TOPICS ON WEDNESDAY'S OPINION PAGES INCLUDE U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ, AND COPYRIGHT PROTECTION. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: YESTERDAY, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN NAMED ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO A TOP OFFICE IN GOVERNMENT. ALEXANDER LEBED, A RETIRED PARATROOP GENERAL, WAS NAMED BY MR. YELTSIN TO HEAD THE PRESIDENT'S SECURITY COUNCIL, WHICH THE NEW YORK TIMES DESCRIBES AS "THE KREMLIN'S INNER CIRCLE OF DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS."

VOICE: "IN A SINGLE STROKE, MR. YELTSIN PICKED UP THE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT ENDORSEMENT OF MR. LEBED, WHO DREW 15 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN SUNDAY'S ELECTION, AND GAINED THE SERVICES OF THE RETIRED GENERAL IN MANAGING MOSCOW'S RAGGED MILITARY AND SECURITY SERVICES. WHILE MR. LEBED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER ALL HIS 10 MILLION SUPPORTERS TO MR. YELTSIN IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF ELECTION NEXT MONTH, HIS SUPPORT COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN A CLOSE RACE AGAINST GENNADY ZYUGANOV, THE COMMUNIST CANDIDATE. AS HEAD OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, MR. LEBED CAN HELP RESTORE DISCIPLINE TO RUSSIA'S DANGEROUSLY DEMORALIZED MILITARY SERVICES AND MOBILIZE THE COUNTRY'S INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES FOR THE BADLY NEEDED CRACKDOWN ON CRIME AND CORRUPTION THAT HE PROMISED IN HIS OWN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. RUSSIA WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY AN EFFORT TO CONTROL THE CRIMINAL GANGS THAT NOW MANIPULATE RUSSIAN BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND HAVE MADE ECONOMIC REFORM SYNONYMOUS WITH CRIME FOR MANY RUSSIANS."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE SAYS THE FIRST ROUND OF BALLOTING IN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -- IN ITS WORDS -- "YIELDED AN OUTCOME THAT MAGNIFIES THE MOST PROSAIC POSSIBILITY OF DEMOCRACY: A PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS."

VOICE: "IT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE FUTURE BEYOND ROUND TWO THAT (BORIS) YELTSIN DOES NOT MERELY COBBLE TOGETHER A TEMPORARY ELECTORAL ALLIANCE BUT LAYS THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A TRUE COALITION. THIS WOULD MEAN CONSTRUCTING A DEMOCRATIC BLOC ROOTED NOT SOLELY IN OPPOSITION TO THE COMMUNISTS BUT ALSO IN AN EXPLICIT COMMITMENT TO BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL ON THE RUSSIAN VOTE, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS, "EVEN WITH ONE-THIRD OF THE VOTE, MR. YELTSIN CAN CLAIM A REMARKABLE POLITICAL COMEBACK."

VOICE: "STEPPING BACK FROM THE PRESENT POLITICAL MANEUVERING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE BROADER TRENDS. RUSSIA HAS EMBARKED ON THE ONLY SUSTAINED DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT IN ITS LONG, TURBULENT HISTORY. [OPT] COALITION-BUILDING IS PROCEEDING WITHOUT VIOLENCE; PEOPLE ARE CASTING BALLOTS FOR COMPETING CANDIDATES IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF RELATIVE ORDER AND FAIRNESS. KEY DECISIONS LIE AHEAD. ECONOMIC REFORM MUST CONTINUE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME FAIRNESS AND EQUITY HAVE TO BE RESPECTED. IF HE CLEARS THE NEXT HURDLE, (BORIS) YELTSIN'S TASK IS TO SHOW RUSSIANS THOSE PRIORITIES ARE NOT CONTRADICTORY." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL COMMENTS ON THE FACT THAT "WHEN IRAQ AGREED RECENTLY TO SELL SOME OF ITS OIL FOR FOOD AND OTHER NEEDS UNDER STRICT UNITED NATIONS TERMS, IT WAS REGARDED AS A POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH." TODAY, THE PAPER THINKS OTHERWISE.

VOICE: "NOW COMES STRONG EVIDENCE THAT ARGUES FOR MAINTAINING THE SANCTIONS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IRAQ'S BARRING OF U-N INSPECTORS FROM SEVERAL MILITARY SITES LAST WEEK SHOWED THAT ITS PENCHANT FOR UNCOOPERATIVENESS HASN'T WORN OFF. IF ANYTHING, IRAQ'S BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS A HARDENING OF ITS POSITION. IN THE PAST, IRAQ SOUGHT TO DELAY U-N EFFORTS. OUTRIGHT DENIAL IS AN UNPLEASANT NEW TWIST, ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN IRAQ'S POSITION. THE U-N INSPECTORS SIMPLY WERE DOING THEIR JOB -- SEARCHING FOR PROHIBITED WEAPONS OR MATERIALS TO MAKE SUCH WEAPONS. IRAQ'S BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS THAT IT IS HIDING SOMETHING."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THE U-S MOVING FORWARD TO FINALLY RATIFY THE TREATY BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS, WHICH IS STALLED IN THE SENATE. THE POST SAYS "THE WAY IT WORKS NOW, TO FIND OUT WHETHER A COUNTRY ... IS SECRETLY COOKING UP CHEMICAL WEAPONS, YOU FINALLY HAVE TO BOMB IT AND DEFEAT IT IN WAR..."

VOICE: "THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKED IN IRAQ, WHOSE DICTATOR USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST SOME OF ITS OWN CITIZENS AND HAD THEM AVAILABLE BUT DIDN'T USE THEM AGAINST THE COALITION THAT DEFEATED IT IN THE GULF WAR. THE TERMS IMPOSED BY THE VICTORS ALLOWED FOR CONTINUING UNANNOUNCED ON-SITE INSPECTIONS BY THE UNITED NATIONS. THESE CANNOT REMOVE ALL POSSIBILITY OF UNDETECTED CHEATING BUT, ALONG WITH OTHER INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS, CAN REDUCE IT SUBSTANTIALLY. THERE IS, HOWEVER, A FAR EASIER, CHEAPER AND MORE RELIABLE WAY THAN GOING TO WAR TO CHECK ON CHEMICAL ARMS SUSPECTS. IT IS TO BRING INTO FORCE THE LONG-DELAYED CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION. THIS TREATY PERMITS THE SORT OF DEEPLY INTRUSIVE INSPECTIONS THAT THE GULF WAR COALITION IMPOSED ON DEFEATED IRAQ, AND MORE. IT ORGANIZES THE GLOBAL MONITORING OF THE RELEVANT PARTS OF THE CHEMICAL BUSINESS AND THE CHEMICAL TRADE, AND IT PROVIDES A RANGE OF PENALTIES FOR BOTH NON-JOINERS AND VIOLATORS."

TEXT: LAST WEEK, THE U-S SUPREME COURT RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL THE PRACTICE OF RE-SHAPING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO HELP ENSURE MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL APPROVES THE HIGH COURT'S DECISION.

VOICE: "THE PRACTICE OF CORRALLING AS MANY BLACK, HISPANIC OR ASIAN VOTERS AS POSSIBLE INTO BIZARRELY SHAPED DISTRICTS WAS AT BEST A STRANGE OVERREACTION TO THE PRE-CIVIL RIGHTS ACT EXCLUSION OF MINORITIES FROM MANY ELECTED OFFICES. AT WORST, IT THREATENED TO DEEPEN RACIAL TENSIONS BY CREATING OFFICIALS -- BOTH WHITE AND MINORITY -- WHO WOULD FEEL NO NEED TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS RACIAL LINES IN ORDER TO WIN."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE SAINT LOUIS (MISSOURI) POST-DISPATCH COMMENTS ON THE DEATH OF A POPULAR AMERICAN ENTERTAINER.

VOICE: "ONE MEASURE OF ELLA FITZGERALD'S VOCAL APPEAL WAS HER LARGE FOLLOWING AMONG NONJAZZ AUDIENCES. HER DEATH LAST WEEK AT AGE 78 PROMPTED CRITICS AND MUSICIANS ALIKE TO REAFFIRM HER INESTIMABLE IMPACT ON JAZZ MUSIC IN GENERAL. FOR A TIME, MISS FITZGERALD SPECIALIZED IN A UNIQUE VOCAL STYLE, KNOWN AS SCAT, IN WHICH SHE WOULD IMPROVISE A LINE OR TWO IN THE MANNER OF GIFTED JAZZ MUSICIANS, SUCH AS CHARLIE PARKER AND DIZZY GILLESPIE. BUT HER REPERTORY INCLUDED A LOT MORE THAN BE-BOP RHYTHM. INDEED, LYRICIST IRA GERSHWIN ONCE OBSERVED, 'I NEVER KNEW HOW GOOD OUR SONGS WERE UNTIL I HEARD ELLA FITZGERALD SING THEM'. IN RECENT YEARS, MISS FITZGERALD HAD BEEN SIDETRACKED BY HEALTH PROBLEMS. IN A CAREER SPANNING SIX DECADES, HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO ELEVATE TO ART A WIDE RANGE OF AMERICAN MUSIC. NO WONDER SHE BECAME KNOWN AS THE 'FIRST LADY OF SONG'."

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM THE SAINT LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS FROM AROUND THE NATION.
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19-Jun-96 10:39 AM EDT (1439 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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