Voice of America, 96-08-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGO / CROATIA SUMMIT (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[02] BOSNIA / SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (BIJELJINA)

[03] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[04] U-S SANCTIONS REACT (S-ONLY) UPDATE BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] SANCTIONS / FRANCE REACT (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[06] IRAQ OIL SALES (S) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

[07] LIFE ON MARS (L) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

[08] NETSCAPE, INTEL, SONY, COURSES, FIBER BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[09] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] YUGO / CROATIA SUMMIT (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA HAVE REACHED AN INITIAL AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE BY THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN THE SERBIAN AND CROATIAN LEADERS NEAR ATHENS.

TEXT: GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS ANNOUNCED THE LEADERS OF THE TWO BALKAN STATES HAD AGREED ON INITIAL RECOGNITION, AND WOULD RESTORE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN CROATIAN AND YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTERS THIS MONTH IN BELGRADE.

MR. SIMITIS SAID A GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING THE TWO COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS HAD ALSO BEEN AGREED. HE SAID THE AGREEMENT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO FORMER ENEMIES, AND A JOINT STATEMENT WOULD BE ISSUED WITHIN HOURS. THE TALKS, ORGANIZED BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT, BROUGHT TOGETHER THE TWO MOST POWERFUL BALKAN LEADERS, CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. IT WAS THEIR FIRST BILATERAL MEETING SINCE 1991.

CROATIA DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA TWO-MONTHS LATER, AND CROATIA THEN FOUGHT A BITTER WAR AGAINST ITS SERB MINORITY, WHICH WAS BACKED BY SERBIA. BOTH MEN HAVE COME UNDER STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO HELP RESTORE PEACE IN THE BALKANS AND STABILIZE THE REGION. (SIGNED)
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07-Aug-96 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (BIJELJINA)

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO GROUND FORCES IN BOSNIA IS WARNING THERE MAY BE VIOLENCE ON ELECTION DAY IN SEPTEMBER WHEN TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF BOSNIANS TRY TO CROSS ETHNIC LINES TO VOTE IN THEIR FORMER TOWNS. HE SAYS NATO TROOPS WILL TRY TO PREVENT HOSTILE CROWDS FROM GATHERING TO THREATEN VOTERS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM BIJELJINA, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE COMMANDER OF NATO GROUND FORCES IN BOSNIA, LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER, SPOKE TO REPORTERS AT HIS MOBILE HEADQUARTERS JUST A FEW MILES FROM SERBIA IN THE FAR NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

BIJELIJNA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES WHERE SERBS FORCED MUSLIMS FROM THEIR HOMES FOUR-YEARS AGO, A PRACTICE THAT BECAME KNOWN AS "ETHNIC CLEANSING."

WITH NATION-WIDE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH, LESS THAN SIX-WEEKS FROM NOW, THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS MAY TRY TO RETURN TO BIJELIJNA AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES TO CAST THEIR VOTES ON ELECTION DAY. GENERAL WALKER SAYS HARD-LINE NATIONALISTS HERE AND ELSEWHERE IN BOSNIA COULD RESORT TO VIOLENCE TO TRY TO STOP ANYONE FROM RETURNING, EVEN FOR A FEW HOURS.

THE LAST THING THAT THE WORLD WANTS TO SEE ARE ANGRY, UNRULY MOBS TRYING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE OF VOTING AND CASTING THEIR VOTE.

GENERAL WALKER SAYS LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE MORE WILLING TO SEE THE VOTING GO SMOOTHLY, AND HE IS CALLING ON THEM TO PRESSURE NATIONAL LEADERS TO ENSURE OPEN AND FAIR BALLOTING.

THE GENERAL INSISTS NATO IS NOT A POLICE FORCE AND HE WILL NOT DIVULGE NATO PLANS FOR THE ELECTIONS. BUT HE DOES SAY NATO TROOPS WILL TRY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE, RATHER THAN DEAL WITH ITS CONSEQUENCES.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT WE WILL BE TRYING TO DO IS TO WORK IN THE BUILD-UP TO THE ELECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF SUCH CROWDS IS REDUCED TO THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE.

NATO SOURCES SAY TROOPS WILL BE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS WHERE TROUBLE IS EXPECTED, AND NATO SOLDIERS WILL MAN CHECKPOINTS WHERE CARS AND PEOPLE WILL BE THOROUGHLY SEARCHED FOR WEAPONS. BUT WITH MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSAND POLLING STATIONS IN BOSNIA, OFFICIALS SAY SOME VIOLENCE IS STILL EXPECTED ON ELECTION DAY. (SIGNED)
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07-Aug-96 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MEETING THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA NEXT WEEK IN GENEVA AND WILL BE MAKING A SEPARATE VISIT TO SARAJEVO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WILL BE THE THEME OF HIS VISIT.

TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MEETING THE BALKAN PRESIDENTS ONE MONTH BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTION, WITH NO ASSURANCE AT THIS TIME THAT THOSE ELECTIONS WILL PERMIT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OR A FREE PRESS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL BE PRESSING THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA TO IMPROVE THESE CONDITIONS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

THIS TRIP IS BEING TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THIS CRUCIAL MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTIONS WHERE CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO CAMPAIGN, WHERE WE HOPE THERE'S FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WE HOPE THE OPEN BROADCAST NETWORK WILL BE ESTABLISHED AND FULLY FUNCTIONING AND WHERE THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON EVERYONE CONCERNED.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL PRECEDE HIS TALKS IN GENEVA BY MEETING NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA AND NATO COMMANDER, GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN IN BRUSSELS ON TUESDAY. HE WILL FINISH HIS TRIP IN SARAJEVO THURSDAY BY GREETING CROWDS IN THE STREET AND GIVING LOCAL INTERVIEWS TO EMPHASIZE HIS THEME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTION. (SIGNED)
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07-Aug-96 3:41 PM EDT (1941 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S SANCTIONS REACT (S-ONLY) UPDATE BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AS MORE COUNTRIES JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION OF THE NEW U-S LAW AIMED AT ISOLATING IRAN AND LIBYA ECONOMICALLY, THE UNITED STATES HAS VOWED TO STAND FIRM IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS WASHINGTON IS ASKING ITS ALLIES TO JOIN IT IN A CAMPAIGN OF MULTI-LATERAL SANCTIONS AIMED AT TWO COUNTRIES CONSIDERED CHIEF SPONSORS OF TERRORISM:

TEXT: ITALY, RUSSIA, JAPAN AND BRAZIL JOINED THE CHORUS OF CONDEMNATION OF THE LAW WHICH IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON FOREIGN COMPANIES INVESTING AT LEAST 40-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE OIL OR GAS INDUSTRIES OF EITHER COUNTRY. ITALY IS LIBYA'S TOP TRADING PARTNER. ROME RECEIVES MOST OF ITS OIL FROM IRAN AND LIBYA. BOTH IRAN AND LIBYA PROVIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION WITH ABOUT 20-PERCENT OF ITS ANNUAL OIL SUPPLIES.

U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS NOTHING CAN DISSUADE WASHINGTON FROM IMPLEMENTING THE LAW:

BUT, WE'D LIKE TO COOPERATE WITH THE EUROPEANS. WE'D LIKE THEM TO BECOME A PARTNER OF US AND WE'D LIKE NOT TO SEE THIS DEBATE TURN INTO A U-S/EUROPEAN DEBATE. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE FOCUS OF BOTH OUR ANGER ON IRAN AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE IRAN FEEL THE PRESSURE OF THIS BILL MORE THAN THE EUROPEANS.

EUROPEAN OFFICIALS HAVE THREATENED RETALIATION AGAINST U-S FIRMS. MR. BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS PREPARED TO DEFEND ITS NEW LAW BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. (SIGNED).
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06-Aug-96 9:54 PM EDT (0154 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] SANCTIONS / FRANCE REACT (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE, IN THE THIRD DAY OF PROTESTS AGAINST A NEW U-S LAW THAT PUNISHES COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN AND LIBYA, SAYS IT WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE REPRISALS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES IF FRENCH INTERESTS ARE HURT. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC TOLD THE WEEKLY CABINET MEETING FRANCE WILL RESPOND IMMEDIATELY IF ANY FRENCH COMPANY IS HURT UNDER THE NEW U-S LAW THAT WILL PUNISH COMPANIES CONCLUDING ENERGY CONTRACTS WITH IRAN AND LIBYA.

THE FRENCH BUDGET MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, ALAIN LAMASSOURE, SAID PRESIDENT CHIRAC STRESSED FRANCE'S RESPONSE WILL BE IMMEDIATE. HE SAID IT WILL BE COORDINATED WITH THE REST OF THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION.

MR. LAMASSOURE DID NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS OF HOW FRANCE, OR THE EUROPEAN UNION, WOULD RETALIATE. BUT DIPLOMATS SAY MEASURES UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE DRAWING UP A SO-CALLED BLACKLIST OF AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT SEEK TO BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF EUROPEAN COMPANIES SUFFERING FROM FROM U-S SANCTIONS.

THEY SAY OTHER MEASURES COULD BE THE INTRODUCTION OF A VISA SYSTEM FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN WORKING IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES, AND A FORMAL APPEAL TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. MEANWHILE, DIPLOMATIC SOURCES SAID IRELAND, CURRENT EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT, IS CONSIDERING A FORMAL PROTEST TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK TO EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL OF THE LAW. E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE EXPECTED TO DRAW UP THEIR POLICY ON THE ISSUE EARLY NEXT MONTH.

BEFORE THE FRENCH CABINET MEETING, FRANCE'S EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTER MICHEL BARNIER HAD SOME TOUGH WORDS FOR U-S POLICY. IN A RADIO INTERVIEW, MR. BARNIER SAID THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING, AS HE PUT IT, TO PLAY AT BEING THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN ALL ON ITS OWN.

HE SAID NO COUNTRY COULD FIGHT TERRORISM ALONE. HE SAID IT COULD DO SO ONLY IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER NATIONS.

REFLECTING CRITICISM OF THE NEW U-S LAW, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON MONDAY, IS MORE LINKED TO NOVEMBER'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAN TO LONG-TERM FOREIGN POLICY GOALS, MR. BARNIER SAID HE HOPES INTERNAL POLITICAL CONCERNS WILL NOT REPLACE THE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY NEEDED TO COMBAT TERRORIST VIOLENCE. (SIGNED)
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07-Aug-96 11:48 AM EDT (1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] IRAQ OIL SALES (S) BY LARRY FREUND (NEW YORK)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES APPROVED PLANS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR THE LIMITED SALE OF IRAQI OIL FOR HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES. CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND IN NEW YORK REPORTS THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED DELAYS IN THE OIL SALES AS THE UNITED STATES PUSHED FOR TIGHTER CONTROLS.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS SATISFIED WITH ALL BUT A FEW MINOR DETAILS OF THE PLAN FOR THE FIRST SANCTIONED SALE OF IRAQI OIL IN SIX YEARS. THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SALE OF TWO-BILLION-DOLLARS WORTH OF IRAQI OIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO PAY FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE. BUT, THE U-N EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQI OIL SALES -- IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ INVADED KUWAIT SIX-YEARS AGO -- REMAINS IN PLACE.

THE UNITED STATES HAD DELAYED APPROVAL OF U-N PROCEDURES FOR THE IRAQI OIL SALES. BUT AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TOLD REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES IS NOW PREPARED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE OIL SALES.

THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD CONCERNING; MAKING SURE THAT THE MONITORING WAS GOING TO BE DONE PROPERLY, THAT VARIOUS TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE HAD HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH ... MOST OF THOSE ASPECTS HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT.

THE HEAD OF THE U-N SANCTIONS COMMITTEE FOR IRAQ -- GERMAN AMBASSADOR TONO EITEL -- EXPECTS THE COMMITTEE TO MEET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE PROCEDURES. HE SAYS OIL COULD BE FLOWING FROM IRAQ IN A WEEK OR TWO. (SIGNED)
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07-Aug-96 2:34 PM EDT (1834 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] LIFE ON MARS (L) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA HAS MADE WHAT IT CALLS A STARTLING DISCOVERY ABOUT LIFE ON MARS. AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY, NASA AND UNIVERSITY SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE THAT A PRIMITIVE FORM OF MICROSCOPIC LIFE MAY HAVE EXISTED ON THE RED PLANET AT LEAST FOUR BILLION YEARS AGO WHEN THE SOLAR SYSTEM WAS VERY YOUNG.

TEXT: SCIENTISTS HAVE SUSPECTED LIFE FLOURISHED ON MARS EONS AGO EVER SINCE THE DISCOVERY THAT WATER ONCE FLOWED ON THE RED PLANET. BUT TWO U-S VIKING SPACECRAFT WHICH GATHERED MARTIAN SOIL SAMPLES IN 1976 TURNED UP NO EVIDENCE OF ORGANIC, CARBON COMPOUNDS VITAL TO LIFE. NOW, SCIENTISTS FROM NASA AND U-S AND CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES MAY HAVE FOUND WHAT ELUDED THE VIKING PROBES TWO DECADES AGO. IN A PAPER TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL "SCIENCE" LATER THIS MONTH, THEY REPORT THE FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN A MARTIAN METEORITE DISCOVERED IN ANTARCTICA IN 1984.

THE ROCK IS AT LEAST FOUR BILLION YEARS OLD AND IS THE OLDEST OF 12 MARTIAN METEORITES FOUND ON EARTH. SCIENTISTS BELIEVE IT WAS CHIPPED AWAY FROM OUR SOLAR SYSTEM NEIGHBOR BY A COLLIDING ASTEROID 15 MILLION YEARS AGO AND LANDED ON EARTH ONLY 13 THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

A SOPHISTICATED EXAMINATION OF THE MARS ROCK REVEALS TINY CRACKS WHICH CONTAIN CARBON-BASED GLOBULES SIMILAR TO THOSE DEPOSITED BY SOME BACTERIA ON EARTH. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, NASA ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL GOLDIN CALLS THE EVIDENCE COMPELLING, BUT NOT CONCLUSIVE.

THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE COMPOUNDS CAN BE FORMED NON-BIOLOGICALLY -- DURING EARLY STAR FORMATION, FOR INSTANCE. THEY ALSO OCCUR IN PARTIAL COMBUSTION, SUCH AS WHEN A CANDLE BURNS OR FOOD IS GRILLED.

THE RESEARCHERS ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND DEVELOPED A LIST OF OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE CHEMICALS THAT, TAKEN INDIVIDUALLY, COULD BE EXPLAINED NON-BIOLOGICALLY. BUT AS THEY WRITE IN THEIR PAPER, THE OBSERVATIONS TAKEN TOGETHER CAUSE THEM TO CONCLUDE THAT THE COMPOUNDS ARE EVIDENCE FOR PRIMITIVE, SINGLE-CELLED LIFE ON EARLY MARS.

THE FINDING IS EXCITING FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANETARY SOCIETY IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA -- LOUIS FRIEDMAN.

ANY DISCOVERY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS OR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE WOULD BE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT BECAUSE NO SUCH LIFE HAS EVER BEEN DETECTED. IF WE COULD FIND OUT ASBOUT ANY OTHER EVIDNECE OF LIFE -- EVEN A FOUR-AND-A-HALF BILLION YEAR OLD PIECE OF EVIDENCE, OR A FOUR-BILLION YEAR OLD PIECE OF EVIDNECE -- IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE PIECE TOGETHER THE IDEA OF THE ORIGIN AND THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE!

IN HIS STATEMENT, NASA ADMINISTRATOR GOLDIN SAYS THAT THERE IS NO SIGN THAT LIFE FORMS HIGHER THAN SINGLE-CELLED MICROORGANISMS EVER EXISTED ON MARS -- CERTAINLY, HE SAYS, NOT THE MYTHICAL LITTLE GREEN MEN OF SCIENCE FICTION.

THE U-S SPACE AGENCY IS SENDING TWO MORE UNPILOTED PROBES TO MARS LATER THIS YEAR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER EARLY IN ITS EVOLUTION AND WHETHER THE NOW-BARREN PLANET COULD EVER HAVE SUPPORTED LIFE. (SIGNED)
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06-Aug-96 10:14 PM EDT (0214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NETSCAPE, INTEL, SONY, COURSES, FIBER BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS EDITION OF COMPUTER DIGEST:

ONE AMERICAN SOFTWARE COMPANY COMPLAINS ABOUT ANOTHER,

A MAJOR COMPUTER CHIPMAKER DELAYS INTRODUCTION OF A NEW PRODUCT,

AN ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER EXPANDS INTO HIGH-TECHNOLOGY,

CAMPUSES IN CYBERSPACE,

AND, FROM OIL PIPELINES TO FIBER OPTIC HIGHWAYS. *****

NETSCAPE

TEXT: THIS WEEK, NETSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS ACCUSED MICROSOFT OF ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS "FOR PLACING LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF INTERNET CONNECTIONS THAT CAN BE MADE TO A SINGLE COPY OF MICROSOFT NT WORKSTATION SOFTWARE." NETSCAPE PRESENTED ITS COMPLAINT IN BOTH A LETTER TO MICROSOFT AND A COPY SENT TO THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. GARY REBACK, A CALIFORNIA LAWYER WHO WROTE THE LETTER, TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT MICROSOFT "WAS USING ITS DOMINANCE IN OPERATING-SYSTEM SOFTWARE TO WREST AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER COMPETITORS." *****

INTEL

TEXT: THE INTEL CORPORATION SAYS THAT IT WILL NOT COME OUT WITH ITS NEW MULTIMEDIA PENTIUM CHIP UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR. FRANK SPINDLER, INTEL'S PENTIUM PROCESSOR MANAGER, TOLD THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THAT HIS COMPANY "DELAYED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW CHIPS, KNOWN AS P55C CHIPS, BECAUSE IT COULDN'T MAKE AS MANY OF THE FASTEST VERSIONS AS COMPUTER MAKERS WANTED." WHEN IT COMES OUT, THE NEW CHIP -- THE BRAIN OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER -- WILL BE ABLE "TO PROCESS VIDEO AND AUDIO TWO TO FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN AN EQUIVALENT PENTIUM PROCESSOR." THE JOURNAL NOTES THAT INTEL'S DECISION "COULD SLOW DOWN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDUSTRY AND POSSIBLY PUT A NICK IN COMPUTER-RELATED CHRISTMAS SALES." *****

SONY

TEXT: SONY, THE JAPANESE-BASED ELECTRONIC COMPANY, SUCCESSFULLY MARKETS A VARIETY OF TELEVISION SETS, VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS AND CAMERAS, RADIOS, AND GAME MACHINES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS MONTH, REPORTS HOME PC MAGAZINE, SONY IS COMING OUT WITH ITS OWN BRAND OF PERSONAL COMPUTER. CALLED THE "PC BY SONY," THE HIGH-TECH DEVICE WILL USE A PENTIUM CHIP AND COMES WITH 16 MEGABYTES OF RAM OR MEMORY. IT WILL ALSO HAVE AN EIGHT-SPEED CD-ROM DRIVE, A 3-D SURROUND-SOUND MONITOR AND ALL THE NECESSARY SOFTWARE. *****

CAMPUS

TEXT: SOME COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE RETURNING TO THEIR CAMPUSES WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. ACCORDING TO USA TODAY, BROWN UNIVERSITY (IN RHODE ISLAND) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HAVE BEGUN TO OFFER ALUMNI COURSES OVER THE INTERNET. AL FILREIS, A UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ENGLISH PROFESSOR SAYS THAT "ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER PHYSICALLY HERE TO STILL BE HERE." BOTH INSTITUTIONS OFFER THEIR ELECTRONIC-MAIL CLASSES IN SIMILAR WAYS: STUDENTS SUBSCRIBE TO A MAILING, "SO READING YOUR MESSAGES IS LIKE SITTING IN A SEMINAR. A PROFESSOR SENDS COURSE MATERIALS TO THE 'CLASS' AND AN OPEN DISCUSSION FOLLOWS." PARTICIPANTS CAN READ AND REPLY TO MESSAGES ANY TIME OF DAY. STERLING HOWARD, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S GENERAL ALUMNI SOCIETY, SAYS THAT "THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE SAME SOURCE FOREVER IS A GREAT THING." *****

FIBER

TEXT: ACCORDING TO US NEWS & WORLD REPORT MAGAZINE, SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1908, THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES "HAS MADE A BUSINESS OF REINVENTING ITSELF." IN FACT, AT AN OFFICE BUILDING IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, THE COMPANY MANAGES BOTH A 14,000-KILOMETER OIL PIPELINE AND A NEW 17,000 KILOMETER FIBER-OPTIC VIDEO NETWORK. THE MAGAZINE ADDS THAT "IN AN ERA WHERE EVERYONE FROM SOCIOLOGISTS TO STOCK-MARKET ANALYSTS WORRIES ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE U.S. ECONOMY UNDERGOING A SHIFT FROM INDUSTRY TO INFORMATION, WILLIAMS PROVES THAT THE FUTURE BELONGS TO COMPANIES THAT CAN USE CURRENT SKILLS TO EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGIES." *****
07-Aug-96 10:14 AM EDT (1414 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: EDITORIAL WRITERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE SPEAKING OUT ON WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE A MOOD OF INTOLERANCE AMONG REPUBLICANS ON THE ABORTION ISSUE, AS THE G-O-P CONVENTION PREPARES TO OPEN IN SAN DIEGO. IN ADDITION, THERE IS ALSO COMMENT ON PRESUMED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB DOLE'S INCOME TAX CUT PROPOSAL. OTHER EDITORIALS DISCUSS POLITICAL UNREST IN INDONESIA; MEXICO'S STRUGGLE TOWARD TRUE DEMOCRACY, AND THE CONTROVERSY OVER SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN. NOW, FOR A FEW QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK, HERE IS __________________ WITH WEDNESDAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH REMARKS ABOUT THE APPARENT TAKEOVER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PLATFORM COMMITTEE BY CONSERVATION FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS WHO OPPOSE ABORTION FOR ANY REASON.

VOICE: "TO THE ZEALOTS WHO HAVE APPOINTED THEMSELVES PROTECTORS OF BARELY FORMED FETUSES, INTOLERANCE MAKES SENSE. IN THEIR VIEW, THE TAKING OF INNOCENT LIFE MUST BE OPPOSED WITHOUT COMPROMISE... REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD, WANT EVENHANDED LANGUAGE [IN THE GOP PLATFORM] ... WHICH WELCOMES INDIVIDUALS ON EACH SIDE OF THE ABORTION ISSUE... WITH NO HINT OF TOLERANCE, THE PLATFORM IS SURE TO GENERATE A FLOOR FIGHT... BUT ... AN ACTIVE FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE WOULD BE BETTER THAN MEEK CAPITULATION TO A FRINGE."

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ADDS:

VOICE: "BOB DOLE'S HOPE FOR TOLERANCE ON THE ABORTION ISSUE TOOK ANOTHER BEATING THIS WEEK... EXPRESSING RESPECT FOR THE OPPOSING POINT OF VIEW IS ANATHEMA TO EITHER EXTREME OF THE NATIONAL ABORTION DEBATE. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THOSE WHO WISH TO ERADICATE ABORTION WOULD CALL THE TUNE [CONTROL] IN SAN DIEGO, SINCE THEY MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF DELEGATES TO NEXT WEEK'S GOP CONVENTION."

TEXT: AND IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN FEELS THE DECISION ON TOUGH, ANTI-ABORTION LANGUAGE IN THE CONVENTION PLATFORM SIGNIFIES AN EVEN BROADER TREND:

VOICE: "SPECULATION THAT MR. DOLE MIGHT SELECT A CENTRIST RUNNINGMATE HAS ALL BUT DISAPPEARED. THE CONVENTION IS DOMINATED BY THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER BE 'RIGHT' [POLITICALLY RIGHT OF CENTER] THAN CAPTURE THE WHITE HOUSE... IT'S ... RAISING THE QUESTION ONE WEEK BEFORE THE CONVENTION OF WHETHER MR. DOLE IS IN CONTROL OF HIS PARTY."

TEXT: MR. DOLE'S ECONOMIC PLAN, INCLUDING AN ACCROSS-THE-BOARD 15 PERCENT INCOME TAX CUT, GETS NO SUPPORT FROM THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, WHICH CALLS IT "A VOTE FOR FISCAL DISASTER":

VOICE: "PILLARS OF THE DOLE PROGRAM ARE FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED: BOB DOLE HAS ANNOUNCED A BASICALLY POLITICAL SCHEME THAT WOULD TURN THE ECONOMY, THE MARKETS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS ON THEIR HEADS. WHAT SORT OF CONSERVATISM IS THIS?"

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS, THE STIRRINGS OF A PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN INDONESIA DRAW THE ATTENTION OF SEVERAL MAJOR DAILIES, INCLUDING THE LOS ANGELES TIMES:

VOICE: "[INDONESIA'S PRESIDENT] SUHARTO SHOULD LOOSEN HIS GRIP ON THE NATION'S POLITICAL LIFE... THE JAKARTA GOVERNMENT'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT A POPULAR OPPOSITION LEADER TOUCHED OFF THE WORST RIOTING IN TWO DECADES... [MR.] SUHARTO'S INSTINCTS MAY BE TO DIG IN HIS HEELS [RESIST], BUT SUCH A REACTION WOULD RISK CONTINUING INSTABILITY THAT COULD SPOOK [FRIGHTEN] AMERICAN AND OTHER FOREIGN INVESTORS. INDONESIA ... CANNOT AFFORD A FLIGHT OF CAPITAL."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR THINKS IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE IN INDONESIA, BUT IT WON'T COME EASY:

VOICE: "INDONESIAN PRESIDENT SUHARTO['S] ... SYSTEM OF ENFORCED CONSENSUS, WITH ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS TIGHTLY UNDER CONTROL, MAY NOW BE FEELING THE TREMORS OF CHANGE... INDONESIA ... IS SHACKLED BY A POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT MAY BE INCAPABLE OF DEALING WITH CHANGE... WHAT'S NEEDED ... IS A LOOSENING OF AUTOCRATIC CONTROL SO THAT INDONESIA, LIKE TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA, CAN EXPERIENCE A DEMOCRATIC EVOLUTION TO COMPLEMENT AND REINFORCE ITS ECONOMIC ONE."

TEXT: ELSEWHERE, IN ANOTHER STRUGGLE TOWARD TRUE DEMOCRACY, WHERE BEFORE THERE WAS A FACADE, TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST COMPLIMENTS THE EFFORTS OF MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNEST ZEDILLO TO "MODERNIZE THE MEXICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM," CALLING IT:

VOICE: "... SOMETHING AS MONUMENTALLY BOLD AS MIKHAIL GORBACHEV DID IN DISMANTLING THE SOVIET SYSTEM. HE [PRESIDENT ZEDILLO] HAS PRODUCED A RARE CONSENSUS OF ALL THE PARTIES AND PUSHED THROUGH THE MEXICAN CONGRESS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT PROMISE TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY... IF MEXICANS FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE NEW PROMISE, THEY WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A TRULY OLYMPIAN NATIONAL FEAT."

TEXT: ON THE SUBJECT OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN AND LIBYA, USA TODAY NOTES:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESS TOOK THE RIGHT STEP THIS WEEK BY IMPOSING PENALTIES ON FOREIGN FIRMS THAT MAKE LARGE ENERGY INVESTMENTS IN IRAN OR LIBYA, SUSPECTED OF COMPLICITY IN THE DOWNING OF A PLANE [PAN AM FLIGHT 103] OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, IN 1988... WHAT THIS CAN DO IS PUT IRAN ON NOTICE THAT SPREADING TERROR WILL NOT BE IGNORED, AND IT LETS OUR ALLIES KNOW THAT COMPLICITY, EVEN INDIRECT, WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR DOES NOT DISAGREE WITH THE U-S OBJECTIVE, BUT SAYS SANCTIONS AGAINST ALLIES IS NOT THE RIGHT COURSE.

VOICE: "WHOA! COMING ON THE HEELS OF A SIMILAR BATTLE OVER U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST EUROPEAN AND CANADIAN FIRMS INVESTING IN CUBA, THIS STIFF-SPINED [SANCTIONS] BATTLE AMONG FRIENDS THREATENS TO RETURN THE U-S TO THE COLLISION FOREIGN POLICY OF THE EARLY CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. IT'S TIME FOR SERIOUS, QUIET EFFORTS TO FIND A COMPROMISE AMONG ALLIES."

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME CONCERNS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, ABOUT NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK, ADJACENT TO ISRAEL.

VOICE: "THE NEW ... POLICY FOR JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND ... GAZA ... [DISPLACING] ... ARABS WHO NOW LIVE OR FARM THERE WOULD CREATE GEOGRAPHIC AND POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO A DURABLE PEACE WITH THE PALESTINIANS. BUT YASSER ARAFAT'S CALL FOR A CAMPAIGN OF CONFRONTATION AGAINST THE NEW SETTLEMENTS POLICY IS PREMATURE... TO SUSTAIN [PEACE] ... ISRAEL WILL HAVE TO PROCEED WITH THE UTMOST CARE AND SENSITIVITY IN PUTTING ITS NEW ... POLICY INTO EFFECT. "

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF OPINIONS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
07-Aug-96 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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