Voice of America, 96-09-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS/UNGA (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[02] BULGARIA ECONOMY BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[03] NATO TALKS (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[04] BOSNIA AND THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE -- SHORT #1

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

[01] CYPRUS/UNGA (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: AT THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (THURSDAY) CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS CLERIDES SAYS HE IS PREPARED TO RESUME FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH THE BREAKAWAY TURKISH CYPRIOT REPUBLIC, PROVIDED NEGOTIATIONS DO NOT OBSCURE THE MAIN ISSUE: THE WITHDRAWAL OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TURKISH TROOPS. CLASHES THIS MONTH BETWEEN THE GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES LEFT THREE PEOPLE DEAD ALONG A U-N-PATROLLED BUFFER ZONE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLERIDES INSISTED THE RECENT VIOLENCE WOULD NOT WEAKEN HIS DETERMINATION TO REVIVE THE MORIBUND PEACE PROCESS ON CYPRUS. BUT HE SAID NEW TALKS THAT FAIL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF FOREIGN OCCUPATION WILL DESTROY THE CREDIBILITY OF THE PROCESS:

WE ARE PREPARED TO EMBARK ON FACE TO FACE NEGOTIATIONS IN 1997 ONCE THE GROUND HAS BEEN SUFFICIENTLY PREPARED TO ENSURE SUCCESS. WE ARE NOT, HOWEVER, WILLING AFTER 22 YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS WHICH HAVE NOT YIELDED ANY RESULT ON THE MAIN ISSUES OF THE PROBLEM TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER ROUND OF FRUITLESS TALKS...OVERSHADOWING THE REAL ISSUE WHICH IS THE INVASION AND OCCUPATION FOR 22 YEARS OF SUBSTANTIAL TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS BY THE TURKISH FORCES.

TURKEY SENT TROOPS TO CYPRUS IN 1974 FOLLOWING A SHORT-LIVED COUP IN NICOSIA BACKED BY GREECE. THE TURKISH CYPRIOT POSITION IS THE TROOPS ARE THERE TO PROTECT THEM.

THE INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS -- LED BY MR. CLERIDES -- HAS A COMPELLING ECONOMIC MOTIVE FOR WANTING TO SPEED UP A POLITICAL SOLUTION. HE WANTS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. ENTRY TALKS ARE DUE TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR. HOWEVER, E-U MEMBERS FIND THE STATUS QUO ON CYPRUS UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS TOWARD RE-UNIFICATION.

A U-N PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE FOR YEARS CALLS FOR A FEDERATION OF THE TWO CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE SEPARATELY BUT UNDER A CENTRAL AUTHORITY. (SIGNED)
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26-Sep-96 11:43 AM EDT (1543 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BULGARIA ECONOMY BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE GOVERNMENT OF BULGARIA THIS WEEK HAS BEEN TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES AIMED AT OVERCOMING A FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT HAS SHARPLY ERODED CONFIDENCE IN THE RULING SOCIALIST PARTY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT.

TEXT: INFLATION IN BULGARIA IS RUNNING AT ABOUT 100 PERCENT. IN A BID TO SLOW INFLATION AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY, THE BULGARIAN CENTRAL BANK HAS TRIPLED INTEREST RATES. AND AUTHORITIES ARE SELLING TREASURY BILLS TO THE PUBLIC, HOPING THAT HIGH INTEREST RATES WILL ENTICE SAVERS TO PUT THEIR MONEY INTO THE BANKING SYSTEM. THIS WEEK, PEOPLE LINED UP OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL BANK IN SOFIA TO BUY THE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WANTS TO PARTIALLY PRIVATIZE 15 STATE ENTERPRISES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE WELCOME TO BUY INTO THE COMPANIES -- WHICH INCLUDE PROFITABLE CHEMICAL, CEMENT, AND COPPER PRODUCERS -- SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN OBTAIN BADLY NEEDED HARD CURRENCY.

PRIME MINISTER ZHAN VIDENOV ANNOUNCED THE LATEST MEASURES IN A TELEVISION ADDRESS MONDAY NIGHT. HE SAID HE HOPES PRIVATIZATION WILL BRING IN ONE-BILLION DOLLARS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

MR. VIDENOV ALSO HAS SENT HIS FINANCE MINISTER AND CENTRAL BANK CHIEF TO WASHINGTON IN THE HOPE THAT THEY CAN PERSUADE THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TO RESUME THE LENDING IT SUSPENDED ONLY SIX WEEKS AGO. THE I-M-F HAD AGREED TO A BIG STAND-BY LOAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT ASKED FOR SHORTLY AFTER SEVERAL BANKS FAILED AND THE CURRENCY COLLAPSED LAST MAY. THE I-M-F SUSPENDED THE LENDING, HOWEVER, WHEN TOUGH BUDGETARY AND PRIVATIZATION MEASURES WERE NOT RIGOROUSLY IMPLEMENTED. MEANWHILE, BUSINESS AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN BULGARIA COLLAPSED ALONG WITH THE CURRENCY. THE EXCHANGE RATE HAS DECLINED FROM 70 LEVA TO THE DOLLAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO 230 NOW. LIVING STANDARDS, ALREADY LOW, HAVE SLIPPED FURTHER AS INFLATION PICKED UP AND GOODS DISAPPEARED FROM STORE SHELVES. ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS BEEN HALTED -- AND THERE ARE PREDICTIONS OF SIGNIFICANT BANKRUPTCIES AHEAD.

BULGARIA'S SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT -- WHICH CAME TO POWER AT THE END OF 1994 -- HAS BEEN OPPOSED TO GETTING THE STATE OUT OF THE ECONOMY. BUT BULGARIA HAS SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN DEBTS AND INTEREST PAYMENTS -- AND ITS DEBT PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

FOREIGN BANKERS SAY PRIME MINISTER VIDENOV NOW HAS LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO MOVE AGGRESSIVELY ON PRIVATIZATION. (SIGNED)
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26-Sep-96 10:21 AM EDT (1421 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NATO TALKS (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONSIDER KEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIA NEXT YEAR IF MILITARY PLANNERS SAY AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IS NECESSARY. BUT HE SAYS IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO MAKE A COMMITMENT. THE SECRETARY'S COMMENTS CAME ON THE SECOND DAY OF AN INFORMAL GATHERING OF NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS IN NORWAY. KYLE KING HAS BEEN MONITORING THE SESSION.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY PERRY SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS NOT READY TO COMMIT ITSELF AND PARTICIPATE IN A FOLLOW-ON PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA, DESPITE PRESSURE FROM U-S ALLIES. THE 16 NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS AGREED WEDNESDAY SOME TYPE OF PEACEKEEPING PRESENCE WILL LIKELY BE NECESSARY AFTER THE MANDATE FOR THE CURRENT FORCE RUNS OUT DECEMBER 20TH.

MILITARY PLANNERS WILL NOW BE INSTRUCTED TO DRAW UP A LIST OF OPTIONS FOR THE NEW FORCE, WHICH SOME NATO MEMBERS SAY MUST INCLUDE AMERICAN TROOPS.

WHILE REFUSING TO COMMIT TO U-S PARTICIPATION, MR. PERRY DID SAY HE FELT RUSSIA SHOULD BE INVOLVED IF THERE IS CONTINUING NATO MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIA.

IN ADDITION TO BOSNIA, ALLIANCE DEFENSE MINISTERS ALSO USED THEIR TWO-DAY GATHERING IN THE NORWEGIAN COASTAL CITY OF BERGEN TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO.

MR. PERRY DECLINED TO SAY WHICH COUNTRIES MIGHT BE THE FIRST TO JOIN. BUT POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES.

DISMISSING RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION PLANS, MR. PERRY SAID HE EXPECTED SEVERAL EASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS TO BE INVITED TO START TALKS ON JOINING NEXT YEAR. THE U-S DEFENSE CHIEF AGAIN SAID HE DID NOT THINK NATO EXPANSION POSED ANY THREAT TO RUSSIA.

GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE NATO WILL BE ABLE TO REACH SOME KIND OF SECURITY PACT WITH RUSSIA THAT WILL SATISFY RUSSIAN CONCERNS. (SIGNED)
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26-Sep-96 10:30 AM EDT (1430 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA AND THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE -- SHORT #1

ANNCR: ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.

THIS WEEK, "BOSNIA AND THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE." HERE IS YOUR HOST, -------. HOST: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON THE LINE.

THE BRUTAL WAR IN BOSNIA WAS HALTED IN 1995 BY THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT AND THE DISPATCH OF OVER FIFTY THOUSAND NATO TROOPS, INCLUDING TWENTY THOUSAND AMERICANS. THE DAYTON PLAN CALLED FOR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, WHICH WERE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14TH. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON CALLED THE ELECTIONS "A REMARKABLE STEP FORWARD." BUT OUTSPOKEN NATIONALISTS AMONG MUSLIM, SERB AND CROAT PARTIES WERE THE TOP VOTE-GETTERS. THIS HAS LED SOME OBSERVERS TO QUESTION BOSNIA'S ABILITY TO SURVIVE.

JOHN SHATTUCK IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR. HE SAYS THE ELECTIONS HELPED STRENGTHEN BOSNIA'S STATUS AS A UNIFIED STATE.

SHATTUCK: "[ELECTIONS] ARE THE GATEWAY TO ESTABLISHING NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN BOSNIA. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, THEY ARE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THEIR LEADERS BY ESTABLISHING A CONNECTION WITH THEM DIRECTLY THROUGH THE ELECTIONS PROCESS. THEY WERE ALSO A WAY FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES THAT OPPOSE SOME OF THE NATIONALIST RHETORIC AND ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THE NAME OF NATIONALISM TO BEGIN TO GET A FOOTHOLD IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN BOSNIA."

HOST: MR. SHATTUCK SAYS THE CONDITIONS FOR THE ELECTIONS WERE REASONABLE BUT FAR FROM PERFECT.

SHATTUCK: "I THINK THE PRESENCE OF THE NATO FORCES KEPT THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT TO A VERY HIGH DEGREE SO THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LOT OF MOVEMENT AROUND BOSNIA. BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME -- THESE NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED IF BOSNIA IS TO STAY ON THE PATH OF PEACE. AND THAT'S THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT PHASE OF THE BOSNIA PEACE PROCESS."

HOST: ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHATTUCK SAYS THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS WILL INSIST THAT BOSNIA REMAIN A UNIFIED STATE.

SHATTUCK: "THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE VERY CLEAR THAT WE WILL USE ECONOMIC LEVERAGE AND DIPLOMATIC LEVERAGE TO REQUIRE THAT THOSE WHO SIGN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD STAY TOGETHER IN THIS UNIFIED STATE. AND IF THERE'S AN EFFORT BY ANY ONE PARTY TO SECEDE, THEY WILL FIND THAT THEIR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE WILL BE CUT OFF. THEY WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED."

JOHN SHATTUCK OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES WILL NOW CONCENTRATE ON HELPING BOSNIA DEVELOP EFFECTIVE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. ON THE LINE, THIS IS ----------.

ANNCR: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS IS ----------.
26-Sep-96 4:29 PM EDT (2029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NATION'S MAJOR DAILIES THIS THURSDAY COVER A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. A LEAD TOPIC FOR SOME DAILIES IS THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CLASHES JERUSALEM AND THE PALESTINIAN AREAS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE FEDERAL RESERVE DECISION NOT TO RAISE INTEREST RATES; THE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL IN CONGRESS; A NEW REPORT ON POSSIBLE WHITEWATER ILLEGALITIES; INSTABILITY IN HAITIM, AND WELCOMING ASTRONAUT SHANNON LUCID BACK TO EARTH. NOW, HERE WITH A QUOTE OR TWO IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: BOTH THE WASHINGTON POST AND THE NEW YORK TIMES ARE COMMENTING ON THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELI TROOPS OVER THE ISRAELIS' OPENING OF A NEW ARCHAELOGICAL TUNNEL THAT RUNS ALONGSIDE JERUSALEM'S TEMPLE MOUNT, WHICH IS SACRED TO BOTH MUSLIMS AND JEWS. THE WASHINGTON POST CALLS IT AN "EXPLOSION IN JERUSALEM."

VOICE: "NO ONE EVEN SLIGHTLY FAMILIAR WITH THE IMMENSE VOLATILITY OF THE JERUSALEM ISSUE COULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT ISRAEL WOULD ON ITS OWN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ON THE GROUND, ON THE EDGE OF A SITE SCARED TO MUSLIMS AS WELL AS JEWS, WITHOUT TRIGGERING AN ENRAGED PALESTINIAN RESPONSE. [OPT] ... ADD (TO) THAT THE LIKUD GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO PEACE TALKS HAD ALREADY SEVERELY ERODED PALESTINIAN PATIENCE. THE POPULAR ERUPTION THAT FOLLOWED WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE. [END OPT] ... A STUNNING BLOW HAS BEEN DEALT TO THE REQUIREMENT OF AT LEAST MINIMAL MUTUAL CIVILITY FOR FINISHING UP THE SELF-RULE PHASE OF ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN RELATIONS..."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THE VIOLENCE COULD HAVE "EASILY BEEN AVOIDED", AND GOES ON TO COMMENT:

VOICE: "[OPT] TO OVERCOME THE DAMAGE OF THIS CLASH, (ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER) NETANYAHU SHOULD HOLD DIRECT AND SERIOUS TALKS WITH (PALESTINIAN LEADER) ARAFAT, NOT JUST AN UNCOMFORTABLE PHOTO OPPORTUNITY LIKE THEIR PREVIOUS MEETING. [END OPT] THE CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED PEACE ACCORDS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS WILL SWIFTLY COME UNDONE IF MR. NETANYAHU AND MR. ARAFAT DO NOT CALM THE ESCALATING TENSIONS AND PREVENT THE VIOLENCE FROM SPREADING. THIS IS NO TIME FOR PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS BY EITHER SIDE."

TEXT: FOR ITS PART, THE NEW YORK POST BLAMES PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY LEADER ARAFAT FOR THE NEW VIOLENCE AND SAYS IT IS VERY SERIOUS.

VOICE: "SOME COMPARE YESTERDAY'S FRENZIED VIOLENCE TO THE SEVEN-YEAR, P-L-O-ORCHESTRATED 'INTIFADA' [ITALICS FOR FOREIGN WORD], WHICH BEGAN IN 1987 AND CAUSED DEATH AND DESTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE WEST BANK AND GAZA. WE DISAGREE. THIS RIOT STRIKES US AS FAR MORE SERIOUS... IT WAS LED NOT BY A TERROR GROUP, BUT BY A 'GOVERNMENT' -- THE P-A -- THAT REPRESENTS ITSELF AS COMMITTED TO PEACE WITH ISRAEL.

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC FISCAL MATTERS, SEVERAL THURSDAY PAPERS HAVE COMMENTS ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S DECISION NOTTO RAISE INTEREST RATES DURING THEIR MEETING THIS WEEK. THE SALT LAKE [CITY] TRIBUNE CALLS IT A "WISE FED DECISION."

VOICE: "WITHOUT BETTER REASONS TO DO OTHERWISE, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD'S OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE WISELY LEFT ALONE THE DISCOUNT RATE THAT IS CHARGED COMMERCIAL BANKS. THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SEASON WAS SPARED ANOTHER CONFUSING DISPUTE... IF ... CHAIRMAN [ALAN] GREENSPAN IS CORRECT -- AND MUCH EVIDENCE SUPPORTS HIM -- THAT THE NATION'S ECONOMY IS DOING WELL BY PROVIDING JOBS, SUSTAINING GROWTH AND RESISTING INFLATION, THEN NO CRYING [STRONG] REASON CALLS FOR FIDDLING WITH [ALTERING] THE DISCOUNT RATE AT THIS TIME."

TEXT: ADDS THE WASHINGTON POST:

VOICE: "THE (FEDERAL RESERVE COMMISSION'S) DECISION WAS A TENTATIVE PAT ON THE BACK FOR THE ECONOMY. THE BOARD IS NEITHER UNHAPPY ENOUGH WITH THE ECONOMY'S CURRENT STATE NOR SURE ENOUGH OF ITS FUTURE COURSE TO MAKE A CHANGE. THE DECISION, AND THE POLICY INSTINCTS THAT PRODUCED IT, DREW THE USUAL VOLUME OF SECOND-GUESSING... OUR OWN SENSE IS THAT THE FED OF LATE HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL BEING CONSIDERED BY CONGRESS, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE OBJECTS, CALLINT IT "AN IMMIGRATION BILL THAT DESERVES TO DIE."

VOICE: "IT WOULD ALLOW FOR DEPORTATION OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS IF THEY USED SOME FORMS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS WELFARE, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. LEGAL IMMIGRANTS INFECTED WITH THE AIDS VIRUS WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM RECEIVING PUBLICLY-FINANCED HEALTH TREATMENT. THE MEASURE ALMOST TOTALLY IGNORES THE LURE OF JOBS THAT BRINGS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THE UNITED STATES IN THE FIRST PLACE... BARRING MAJOR CHANGES, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD VETO THIS WRONGHEADED AND OVERREACHING MEASURE."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD IS CONCERNED ABOUT A NEW FEDERAL REPORT THAT SUGGESTS FURTHER IMPROPER CONDUCT BY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON DURING HER CAREER AS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY IN ARKANSAS.

VOICE: "A NEW REPORT ... SUGGESTS THAT HILLARY ... CLINTON WAS MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN WHITEWATER-RELATED SAVINGS-AND-LOAN TRANSACTIONS THAN SHE HAS SO FAR ACKNOWLEDGE... HER STANDARD ANSWER -- THAT SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER SPECIFICS -- IS BECOMING AN UNCOMFORTABLE PATTERN."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR WRITES TODAY ABOUT THE ONGOING INSTABILITY IN HAITI AND SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE DEMOCRATIC GAINS ALREADY MADE THERE.

VOICE: "WASHINGTON IS COMMITTED TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT HAITI'S TREK TOWARD ORDER AND DEMOCRACY IS NOT REVERSED. THE FORCES OF INSTABILITY WITHIN THE COUNTRY MAKE THAT COMMITMENT EXTRAORDINARILY TRICKY. [OPT] SURVIVING ELEMENTS OF THE 'TONTON MACOUTES' [ITALICS FOR FRENCH WORDS], THE GOVERNMENT THUGS RAMPANT DURING THE DUVALIER DICTATORSHIPS; JOBLESS EX-SOLDIERS RESENTFUL OVER THE DISBANDING OF THE OLD ARMED FORCES, AND RADICAL ARISTIDE SUPPORTERS -- ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE. [END OPT] ... THE [U-S] TROOPS ARE GONE, BUT THAT INVESTMENT [IN HAITIAN DEMOCRACY] SHOULD BE PROTECTED -- NOT TO PRESERVE A CLINTON ACHIEVEMENT IN THE MIDST OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN, BUT TO ENHANCE REGIONAL STABILITY AND TO ADDRESS A PROLONGED HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY ON OUR DOORSTEP."

TEXT: WITH REGARD TO THAT NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE THAT RAN AGROUND OFF SOUTH KOREA LAST WEEK, APPARENTLY WHILE LANDING SPIES OR COMMANDOS, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "IT OF COURSE MAKES NO SENSE FOR A COUNTRY DESPERATELY SEEKING INTERNATIONAL AID IN THE FACE OF A MASSIVE FOOD SHORTAGES AND EVEN WIDESPREAD STARVATION TO FURTHER POISON ATTITUDES AGAINST IT. WHAT THE BIZARRE SUBMARINE INCIDENT UNDERSCORES ONCE AGAIN IS THAT RATIONALITY MAY HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH PYONGYANG'S BEHAVIOR."

TEXT: WHILE THE WASHINGTON POST FACETIOUSLY SUGGESTS THAT THE SOUTH KOREANS SHOULD SELL THE SUBMARINE RATHER THAN RETURN IT:

VOICE: "THE LATEST EPISODE DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE NORTH'S CREDIBILITY AS A NEGOTIATING PARTNER... THE SOUTH CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR ARGUING THAT, BEFORE SEEKING ADDITIONAL CHARITY [TO EASE THE COUNTRY'S FAMINE], NORTH KOREA SHOULD CURTAIL ITS MILITARY AND SABOTAGE EFFORTS AND DIVERT SOME OF THOSE FUNDS INTO FOOD PRODUCTION. MAYBE SEOUL COULD START BY AUCTIONING OFF THE SUBMARINE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE SAYS "WELCOME TO EARTH, SHANNON," IN ANTICIPATION OF TODAY'S LANDING OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS AT CAPE CANAVERAL THURSDAY MORNING BRINGING ASTRONAUT SHANNON LUCID HOME AFTER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS IN ORBIT ABOARD THE RUSSIAN SPACE STATION, MIR.

VOICE: "... WE SALUTE SHANNON LUCID FOR HER MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT IN ENDURANCE AND FOR SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD HUMOR AND GRACE UNDER PRESSURE. WELL DONE AND WELCOME HOME."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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26-Sep-96 11:25 AM EDT (1525 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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