Voice of America, 26 June 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY PHIL HAYNES (WASHINGTON)

[02] BALTIC STATES/NATO (L-ONLY) BY JILL MOSS (WASHINGTON)

[03] GREECE/PAPANDREOU (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

[04] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY PHIL HAYNES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE TERRORIST BOMBING OF A U-S MILITARY FACILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA OCCURRED TOO LATE FOR MOST U-S NEWSPAPERS TO OFFER ANY EDITORIAL COMMENT IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITIONS. AT LEAST ONE PAPER DOES COMMENT, HOWEVER. OTHER MATTERS DRAWING EDITOIRIAL COMMENT INCLUDE: THE U-N EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQ; THE U-S SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS POLICE AUTHORITY TO SEIZE THE PROPERTY OF DRUG DEALERS; THE SENATE KILLS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN REFORM LEGISLATION, AND CAMBODIA'S UNCERTAIN FUTURE. FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT WEDNESDAY'S PRESS OPINION PAGES, HERE IS ________ WITH THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: USA TODAY, THE NATIONAL DAILY, IS AMONG THE FEW PAPERS COMMENTING ON THE TUESDAY NIGHT TERRORIST BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA THAT KILLED AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL AND WOUNDED SCORES OF OTHER PEOPLE. THE PAPER NOTES PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WARNING THAT, IN HIS WORDS, THE "COWARDS WHO COMMITTED THIS MURDEROUS ACT MUST NOT GO UNPUNISHED." USA TODAY GOES FURTHER, WRITING:

VOICE: ...WHATEVER THE REASON, WHOEVER THE PERPETRATOR, THE U-S SHOULD NOT FLINCH. AMERICAN TROOPS REMAIN IN SAUDI ARABIA BECAUSE OF A PERSIAN GULF WAR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT IT AND KUWAIT FROM IRAQ. THAT COMMITMENT IS ROOTED IN AN ASSORTMENT OF U-S INTERESTS: TO FOSTER STABILITY IN AN OIL-RICH REGION; TO DETER THE SIMMERING BELLIGERENCE OF IRAQ AND IRAN. THE PRICE OF PEACE MAY SEEM TO HIGH, ESPECIALLY TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST A SON OR DAUGHTER. BUT WITHOUT IT, MANY MORE LIVES WOULD BE AT RISK."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK POST TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND QUESTIONS HIS SINCERITY IN PROMISING RECENTLY TO ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS ACCESS TO THE COUNTRY'S MOST SECRET WEAPONS-STORAGE SITE. THE POST RECALLS THE PRESIDENT ACTED SHORTLY AFTER THE U-N AGREED TO ALLOW IRAQ TO SELL A FIXED AMOUNT OF OIL TO BUY MUCH-NEEDED FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: "FORGIVE OUR SKEPTICISM... THE HISTORY HERE ISN'T ENCOURAGING... AS WE SEE IT, THE U-N NEEDN'T BE IN ANY HURRY AGAIN TO LIFT THE EMBARGO. CERTAINLY, THERE'S NO REASON TO DO SO UNTIL INSPECTORS ARE ACTUALLY ADMITTED TO THE FACILITIES IN QUESTION. PROMISES, LETS REMEMBER, DON'T MEAN MUCH TO SADDAM HUSSEIN. AND THE CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME IS GETTING TEDIOUS."

TEXT: THE U-S SUPREME COURT DECISION AFFIRMING THE RIGHT OF POLICE TO PROSECUTE CRIMINALS AND TO SEIZE PROPERTY ALLEGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE CRIME HAD DRAWN BOTH CRITICISM AND WORDS OF CAUTION FROM THE PRESS. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES THINKS THE COURT RULING GOES "TOO FAR".

VOICE: "SKIPPING PAST RECENT PRECEDENTS AND IGNORING COMMON SENSE, THE SUPREME COURT WENT OVERBOARD THIS WEEK IN AFFIRMING THE GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE NARCOTICS DEALERS AND SEIZE THEIR PROPERTY. [BEGIN OPT] A MAJORITY OF EIGHT JUSTICES WAS SO ANXIOUS TO AVOID TAMPERING WITH THIS CORNERSTONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY THAT THEY IGNORED AN IMPORTANT FACT. NOT ALL CIVIL FORFEITURES ARE ALIKE... [END OPT] THE NEW DECISION ONCE AGIAN REVEALS A COURT THAT IS DETERMINED NOT TO LET A REASONABLE READING OF THE CONSTITUTION OR BASIC FARINESS LIMIT A POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE."

TEXT: FLORIDA'S MIAMI HERALD DOES NOT OPPOSE THE COURT'S RULING, BUT SAYS AUTHORITIES SHOULD NOT SEE IT AS "A GREEN LIGHT FOR ABUSE."

VOICE: "THE COURT IS RIGHT, BUT THAT DOESN'T LESSEN THE OBLIGATION OF LAWMAKERS TO MONITOR HOW POLICE USE THIS POWER... [BEGIN OPT] THE STANDARDS OF PROOF FOR A SEIZURE ARE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN FOR A CRIMINAL CONVICTION; THE COST OF FIGHTING A SEIZURE CAN EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY SEIZED. [END OPT] ... POLICE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THESE LAWS ARE SCALPELS, NOT BROAD AXES, AND THAT JUSTICE, NOT CASH, IS THE PURPOSE."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THE U-S SENATE TUEDAY NARROWLY DEFEATED A BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL TO REFORM LAWS ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FINANCING. THE VOTE WAS SPLIT ESSENTIALLY ALONG PARTY LINES, WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY REPUBLICAN SENATOR VOTING AGAINST THE LEGISLATION. THE BALTIMORE SUN SAYS THE ACTION PROVES ONCE AGIAN THAT CONGRESS "CANNOT DEAL WITH THE TOUGH ISSUES."

VOICE: "WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSING MILITARY BASES, PUTTING CAPS ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE SPENDING OR, IN THIS INSTANCE, TERMINATING OUTRAGEOUS FINANCIAL PRACTICES THAT UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAN'T LEGISLATE. ITS ONLY RESORT IS TO TURN EVENTUALLY TO COMMISSIONS WHOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE TO BE VOTED UP OR DOWN WITHOUT CHANGE. THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE FOUNDING FATHERS PLANNED IT." [END OPT]

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR NOTES THAT CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS COME TO CAMBODIA IN RECENT YEARS, BUT SAYS THE COUNTRY REMAINS DIVIDED BY POLITICS AND FEAR. CAMBODANS, IT SAYS, DESERVE BETTER:

VOICE: "IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE A UNITED NATIONS-SPONSORED ELECTION BROUGHT A MEASURE OF CALM AND RENEWAL TO CAMBODIA... THE NEW CONSTITUTION, DRAFTED WITH U-N HELP, HAS BROUGHT DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES AND NEW FREEDOMS -- BUT THEY CONSTANTLY GRATE AGAINST OLD HABITS OF REPRESSION AND AUTOCRACY. AND IN THE JUNGLES, REMNANTS OF THE KHMER ROUGE ... STILL CARRY ON A LOW-LEVEL INSURGENCY. CAMBODIANS HAVE SUFFERED AS MUCH AS ANY PEOPLE ON EARTH, AND THEY DESERVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE... NOW THAT THE TENSIONS HAVE LOWERED, THE TEMPTATIONS IS TO LET THE COUNTRY SLIP FROM VIEW. BUT THE WORLD HAS TO KEEP WATCHING AND HELPING." [END OPT]

TEXT: FINALLY, SOMETHING ON THE LIGHTER SIDE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL IN FLORIDA, WHICH COMMENTS ON FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S REVELATION THAT SHE HAS HAD MAKE-BELIEVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HISTORIC FIGURES. THE PAPER WRITES:

VOICE: "COULD IT BE THAT MRS. CLINTON'S IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH FORMER FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ARE HARMLESS -- EVEN HELPFUL? THE KEY IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON GOVERNMENT POLICY... WHO KNOWS HOW MANY FORMER PRESIDENTS AND FIRST LADIES CONSULTED PSYCHICS, MEDIUMS AND THE LIKE -- BUT NEVER LET ON? AS LONG AS MRS. ROOSEVELT WON'T BE FORMING POLICY, LET THE LADIES TALK."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, WE CONCLUDE THIS LOOK AT THE EDITORAL PAGES OF THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/PCH/GE
26-Jun-96 11:41 AM EDT (1541 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BALTIC STATES/NATO (L-ONLY) BY JILL MOSS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENTS OF THE THREE BALTIC STATES SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR FUTURE ACCESSION TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. THE THREE LEADERS ARE CONCLUDING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES DURING WHICH THEY RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE NEW YORK-BASED EAST-WEST INSTITUTE (TUESDAY) FOR LEADERSHIP IN REFORMING THEIR COUNTRIES ECONOMIES. AS V-O-A'S JILL MOSS REPORTS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENTS OF LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND ESTONIA THINK NATO MEMBERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANT TO SECURITY IN THE REGION, THEY DO NOT VIEW IT AS A GUARANTEE.

TEXT: ESTONIAN PRESIDENT LENNART MERI, HIS LATVIAN COUNTERPART GUNTIS ULMANIS, AND LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE NATO MEMBERSHIP BUT REALIZE IT IS NO GUARANTEE TO REGIONAL SECURITY.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN WASHINGTON, ESTONIAN PRESIDENT MERI TOLD REPORTERS THAT ALTHOUGH NATO MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO THE BALTICS, SECURITY IN THE REGION IS DEPENDENT ON ADDITIONAL FACTORS -- SUCH AS DEMOCRATIC REFORM.

SECURITY IS MORE THAN SIMPLY NATO. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO CONSOLIDATE THE REESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY AND PROTECT WHAT IS THE MOST PRO-AMERICAN REGION IN THE WORLD TODAY -- EASTERN EUROPE.

THE BALTIC COUNTRIES ARE NOT AMONG THE FIRST NATIONS EXPECTED TO BE ADMITTED TO NATO. POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAVE APPLIED FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP WHEN NATO ENLARGEMENT OCCURS. PROCEDURES FOR NATO EXPANSION ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER.

DURING MEETINGS WITH U-S CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, ESTONIAN PRESIDENT MERI SAID THE THREE BALTIC PRESIDENTS WERE GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT BLOCK THEIR EVENTUAL MEMBERSHIP IN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

WE JUST HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING WITH SOME CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND I AM VERY HAPPY THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS WILL SUPPORT THE BALTIC ACCESSION TO NATO. WE ARE NOT SO MUCH INTERESTED IN WHEN THIS ENLARGEMENT WILL TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE A GUARANTEE THAT EVERY STATE WHO IS QUALIFIED TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS NATO WILL HAVE AN ACCESSION TO NATO.

THE BALTIC LEADERS ALSO MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY. BOTH MEN ASSURED THE PRESIDENTS THAT THE ONGOING DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC REFORMS IN LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND ESTONIA WILL IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES DOWN THE ROAD FOR FULL NATO MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/JAG/RJM/PT
26-Jun-96 3:47 PM EDT (1947 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GREECE/PAPANDREOU (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREECE CAME TO A VIRTUAL STANDSTILL WEDNESDAY AS IT BURIED ITS INFLUENTIAL SOCIALIST LEADER, ANDREAS PAPANDREOU. THE ATHENS (BOARSE) STOCK EXCHANGE, BANKS AND STATE OFFICES REMAINED SHUT AS FLAGS FLEW AT HALF STAFF OVER PUBLIC BUILDINGS. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM THE SITE OF THE FUNERAL.

TEXT: SOME 200-THOUSAND GREEKS DEFIED SWELTERING HEAT TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF ANDREAS PAPANDREOU -- ONE OF GREECE'S MOST BELOVED YET UNPREDICTABLE LEADERS OF THIS CENTURY. THE 77-YEAR-OLD SOCIALIST LEADER DIED OF A HEART ATTACK AT HIS HOME THIS PAST SUNDAY.

THOUSAND OF PEOPLE FROM ALL PARTS OF GREECE POURED INTO THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO PAY THEIR FINAL RESPECTS TO THE VETERAN POLITICIAN. FOREIGN DIGNITARIES FLOCKED TO ATHENS FROM 80 NATIONS -- AMONG THEM SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN.

PAPANDREOU WAS BURIED WITH TRIBUTES OF A HEAD OF STATE, THOUGH HE WAS OUT OF OFFICE WHEN HE DIED.

JET FIGHTERS STREAMED ACROSS THE ATHENS SKY, MILITARY BANDS PLAYED A DIRGE, AND A 21-ROUND CANNON SALUTE SOUNDED AS PAPANDREOU'S CORTEGE WOUND THROUGH THE CAPITAL. HIS CASKET, DRAPED IN THE BLUE AND WHITE GREEK FLAG, WAS DRAWN ON A GUN CARRIAGE WHICH MOURNERS SHOWERED WITH ROSE PEDALS AND FOLLOWED TO THE ATHENS CEMETERY. THERE, HE WAS LAID TO REST OPPOSITE THE TOMB OF HIS FATHER, ALSO A FORMER PRIME MINISTER.

PAPANDREOU ROSE TO POWER IN 1981, BECOMING GREECE'S FIRST SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER. HIS INFLAMMATORY ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC AND FIERY BALCONY SPEECHES MOVED THE GREEK MASSES LIKE NO OTHER GREEK POLITICIAN THIS CENTURY. ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND A MESSY DIVORCE DROVE HIM OUT OF OFFICE IN 1989, BUT HE SWUNG BACK TO POWER THREE YEARS AGO. A PROLONGED ILLNESS FORCED HIM TO STEP DOWN FROM THE PREMIERSHIP IN JANUARY, BUT HE RETAINED THE POST OF SOCIALIST PARTY PRESIDENT.

SOCIALISTS ARE SET TO VOTE FOR A NEW LEADER LATER THIS WEEK. THEY ALL CONCEDE, HOWEVER, THAT NO ONE CAN MATCH UP TO THE POLITICAL MASTERY AND LEGEND LEFT BEHIND BY ANDREAS PAPANDREOU. (SIGNED) NEB/AC/PCF /MMK
26-Jun-96 1:14 PM EDT (1714 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ACTING U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM IS HEADING BACK TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO PRESS AGAIN FOR ASSISTANCE IN BRING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES ALSO WELCOMES THE DECISION OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN SEPTEMBER:

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS MR. KORNBLUM WILL MAKE STOPS IN BELGRADE, ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS:

HE WILL, AS HE ALWAYS DOES, PRESS THE PARTIES TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT INCLUDING, IMPORTANTLY, PROVISIONS CONCERNING WAR CRIMINALS.

THE SPOKESMAN, REFERRING TO FRESH REPORTS BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL WILL EITHER STEP DOWN OR BE REMOVED BEFORE ELECTIONS ARE HELD, SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SUCH A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

MR. DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES ALSO APPLAUDS THE O-S-C-E'S FLAVIO COTTI, THE SWISS FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO ANNOUNCED TUESDAY IN VIENNA BOSNIA ELECTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 14TH:

AND WE SHARE HIS CONCLUSION THAT CONTINUING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE ELECTIONS COULD HEIGHTEN POLITICAL DIVISION IN BOSNIA.

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