Voice of America, 96-10-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] GOLDSTONE / WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[02] PERRY/BOSNIA FORCE (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[03] FRANCE BOSNIA (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[04] GERMANY / UNIFICATION (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

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

[01] GOLDSTONE / WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE GOALS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLVIA WERE DESCRIBED BY THE RECENTLY RESIGNED CHIEF PROSECUTOR AT A PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHNGTON. V-O-A'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT: NATIONS ARE STILL SOVEREIGN, SO AN INTERNATIONAL COURT CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, SAID RICHARD GOLDSTONE, WHO RECENTLY RESIGNED AS CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

AT A PRESS BRIEFING AT THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION IN WASHINGTON, MR. GOLDSTONE SAID THE TRIBUNAL IS LEARNING ON THE JOB IN A UNIQUE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE. IT CANNOT OPERATE OUTSIDE THE POLITICAL CONTEXT OF NATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN LAWS:

NO INTERNATIONAL COURT, CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS, IS EVER GOING TO HAVE ITS OWN POLICE FORCE AND ITS OWN ARMY TO GO AND ARREST PEOPLE. ANY INTERNATIONAL COURT, AND FOR GOOD REASON, IS GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE COOPERATION OF GOVERNMENTS. WARRANTS OF ARREST HAVE TO EXECUTED BY NATIONAL POLICE FORCES, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO GIVE THE ORDERS.

MR. GOLDSTONE CONCEDED ARRESTS OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IS MOVING SLOWLY. NATO FORCES HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO APPREHEND THOSE ACCUSED, HE SAID, BUT THE POLITICAL WILL IS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT A MORE ROBUST POLICY:

IF THERE IS SUFFICENT PUBLIC PRESSURE AND POLITICAL PRESSURE, IT IS STILL MY HOPE THAT ANY REMAINING FORCE THAT STAYS ON IN BOSNIA WILL YIELD SOME ARRESTS. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TRIBUNAL COULD BE MORTALLY WOUNDED IF FOR ANY APPRECIABLE TIME FURTHER IT BECOMES MANIFEST THAT THE TRIBUNAL IS NOT ABLE TO DO THE JOB FOR WHICH IT WAS CREATED.

MR. GOLDSTONE SAID HE IS GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EVENTUALLY BRINGING WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. INVESTIGATIONS ARE PROCEEDING, ESPECIALLY AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL, BUT GATHERING THE NECESSARY EVIDENCE IS TIME CONSUMING AND PAINSTAKING.

HE THINKS MUCH DEPENDS ON CARRYING OUT THE DAYTON ACCORDS:

THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH WAS AGREED TO AT DAYTON, PUTS RIGHT ABOVE ANY NATIONAL LAW THE DUTY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA OF ALL COURTS AND ALL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TO ARREST PEOPLE INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL. SO THE LAW WILL BE ON OUR SIDE.

RICHARD GOLDSTONE SAID IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE NATIONS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO HAND OVER THEIR WAR CRIMINALS IF THEY WANT TO BECOME MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. (SIGNED)
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02-Oct-96 8:02 PM EDT (0002 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] PERRY/BOSNIA FORCE (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE IN CONGRESS THURSDAY, DEFENDING THE DECISION TO SEND FIVE THOUSAND NEW U-S TROOPS TO BOSNIA TO COVER THE WITHDRAWAL OF NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY INSISTS THE MOVE DOES NOT MEAN A U-S ROLE IN A FOLLOW-ON BOSNIAN PEACE FORCE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING WAS MARKED BY BLISTERING REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF THE DECISION TO SET UP THE COVERING FORCE WITHOUT CONSULTING CONGRESS. THE ADMINISTRATION CONCEDES THE MOVE WILL MEAN A U-S PRESENCE IN BOSNIA UNTIL MID-MARCH, THREE MONTHS BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL TARGET.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN SAID THERE IS NOW HUGE CREDIBIITY GAP BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HE SAID HAS VIOLATED ITS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO GET CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT FOR SENDING TROOPS ABROAD:

IT'S GOING TO BRING ON A CRISIS WHICH WILL CALL FOR REVIEW AND REVAMPING OF THE WAR-POWERS ACT -- BECAUSE THE ABUSE OF POWERS THAT'S BEING PRACTICED HERE IS IN DIRECT CONTRAVENTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

DEFENSE SECRETARY PERRY TOLD THE PANEL THE COVERING FORCE IS SIMILAR IN CONCEPT TO THE ENABLING FORCE WHICH ENTERED BOSNIA LAST DECEMBER TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR NATO TROOPS. HE SAID HE AND FELLOW NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS WHO MET IN NORWAY LAST WEEK MADE NO DECISION ON A FOLLOW-ON FORCE -- BUT ONLY ASSIGNED MILITARY EXPERTS TO STUDY THE OPTIONS. (SIGNED)
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03-Oct-96 4:22 PM EDT (2022 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] FRANCE BOSNIA (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE LEADERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA HAVE AGREED TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN A MAJOR STEP TOWARD RESTORING NORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC OF BOSNIA AND PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA AGREED TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AT A SURPRISE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS THURSDAY IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL.

THEIR TALKS IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL WERE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO LAST FOR JUST ONE MORNING, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A LUNCH WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. BUT OFFICIALS IN THE ENTOURAGES OF BOTH LEADERS SAID THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS HAD BEEN VERY POSITIVE AND HAD PROMPTED THEM TO MEET AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY.

OFFICIALS SAID THEY HOPED TO COME UP WITH SOME CONCRETE RESULTS AND, AFTER A SECOND TWO-HOUR SESSION IN THE AFTERNOON, MR. CHIRAC SAID THE TWO LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AT FULL AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL.

SARAJEVO AND BELGRADE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER AS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT CONCLUDED LAST YEAR, BUT HAD NOT EXCHANGED DIPLOMATS TO COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THEIR TWO GOVERNMENTS.

THE PARIS TALKS WERE THE FIRST SINCE MR. IZETBEGOVIC, THE LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, CAME OUT ON TOP IN BOSNIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LAST MONTH. THE THREE COMMUNITIES IN BOSNIA -- CROATS, MUSLIMS, AND SERBS -- EACH ELECTED A REPRESENTATIVE TO A NEW THREE-MEMBER LEADERSHIP. WITH THE MOST VOTES, MR. IZETBEGOVIC BECAME THE REPUBLIC'S REPRESENTATIVE ABROAD.

BELGRADE'S DISPATCH OF AN AMBASSADOR TO SARAJEVO WILL HELP REASSURE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS ABOUT THEIR SECURITY AFTER THE INTENSE CIVIL WAR WITH BOSNIAN SERBS. THIS WILL ALSO LEAD TO MOVES TO ESTABLISH NORMAL TRANSPORT SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE PARTIES TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN IN PARIS NEXT MONTH TO CONSOLIDATE THE PEACE PROCESS, AND HOLD A DECEMBER FOLLOW-UP MEETING IN LONDON. (SIGNED)
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03-Oct-96 12:38 PM EDT (1638 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / UNIFICATION (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

INTRO: GERMANY IS MARKING THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS PEACEFUL RE-UNIFICATION WITH A MIXTURE OF HOPE AND APPREHENSION. DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING EUPHORIA THAT CAME WITH THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, MANY PEOPLE IN BOTH EAST AND WEST HAVE NOW BEGUN TO FOCUS ON THE ENORMOUS PROBLEMS THAT UNIFICATION HAS CREATED. FROM THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF DRESDEN, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: IN THE SIX YEARS GONE BY SINCE GERMAN UNIFICATION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN BONN HAS PUMPED MORE THAN 650-BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE FORMER COMMUNIST EAST. HOMES, HIGHWAYS, STORES AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION ARE BEING COMPLETELY MODERNIZED.

AND YET IN A RECENT PUBLIC OPINION POLL IN EASTERN GERMANY, MORE THAN 85 PERCENT OF THOSE QUESTIONED SAID THEY WERE WORSE OFF.

ALTHOUGH THE BERLIN WALL NO LONGER SEPARATES THEM, THE PROBLEMS BROUGHT ON BY UNIFICATION HAVE UNDERSCORED A DEEP SPLIT BETWEEN THE GERMANS.

MANY WESTERN GERMANS SAY THEY RESENT THE HIGH LEVEL OF TAX MONEY BEING USED TO SUPPORT THE EAST -- AND MANY EAST GERMANS SAY THEY RESENT THE BOSSY WEST GERMANS WHO THEY FEEL HAVE TAKEN OVER THEIR LIVES.

TO VOICE THEIR FRUSTRATION, MANY VOTERS IN THE FIVE NEW EAST GERMAN STATES HAVE TURNED TO THE PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM -- OR P-D-S -- THE SUCCESSOR TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

ANDRE HAHN, A LEADING P-D-S MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE EASTERN GERMAN STATE OF SAXONY, SAYS MANY PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN SHUT OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

I THINK IT IS NOT ONLY THE UNEMPLOYMENT, OR SUCH THINGS, IT IS THE FEELING OF THE EASTERN PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE NO CHANCE TO BE A PART OF A UNITED GERMANY AND NOTHING FROM THE LIFE OF THE EASTERN PEOPLE IS LEFT -- NOTHING.

TILO SCHULTZ, AN ENGINEERING STUDENT AT A UNIVERSITY NEAR DRESDEN, SAYS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGES. BUT HE SAYS FOR THE OLDER GENERATION LIKE HIS PARENTS, IT HAS BEEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

FOR MY DAD, IT WAS REALLY HARD, I THINK. HE LOST HIS JOB. IT WAS AT A SMALL SHIPYARD FOR RIVER CONTAINER SHIPS, AND THEY DO NOT NEED THEM ANY MORE, AND SO HE BECAME UNEMPLOYED. HE HAD TO ADJUST TO FIND A NEW PROFESSION, BUT AT THE AGE OF 57, IT IS TOUGH TO FIND A NEW PROFESSION.

WITH UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EAST GERMAN STATES AT ABOUT 25 PERCENT AND AS HIGH AS 40 PERCENT IN SOME REGIONS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP THE SEARCH.

IN SOME CASES, THEY BECOME TRAPPED BY A GENEROUS NEW SOCIAL SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES LITTLE INCENTIVE TO FIND A NEW JOB -- OR PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM WORKING AT LOWER PAYING JOBS FOR WHICH THEY ARE UNTRAINED.

AT THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS OF GERMAN UNITY DAY, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN MUNICH THIS YEAR, OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROCESS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AND WILL TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED.

BUT EVEN A BRIEF VISIT TO ANY MAJOR CITY IN EASTERN GERMANY WILL ILLUSTRATE THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PROGRESS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE IN REBUILDING THE COUNTRY -- PROGRESS THAT WILL LIKELY MAKE IT EVEN MORE OF AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE IN THE FUTURE. (SIGNED)
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03-Oct-96 1:12 PM EDT (1712 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE EMERGENCY MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON IS THE OVERWHELMING TOPIC FOUND IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS, BUT OPINIONS ON WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IT ACHIEVED, VARY GREATLY. THE WASHINGTON POST CALLS IT A "DISASTER", WHILE THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS IT WAS "A VALUABLE NUDGE [SMALL PUSH]" IN THE PEACE PROCESS. AMONG TODAY'S OTHER TOPICS: THE CONTROVERSY OVER ASSISTED SUICIDE; THE FORTHCOMING NICARAGUAN ELECTION; THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEAL, AND THE FUROR OVER THE BASEBALL SPITTING INCIDENT. NOW, FOR A CLOSER LOOK HERE IS _________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: EDITORIAL OPINIONS ON THE JUST-CONCLUDED MIDEAST SUMMIT VARY WIDELY. SOME PAPERS CONSIDER IT A FAILURE, OTHERS A SUCCESS, AND STILL OTHERS CALL IT MERELY A RESPITE IN AN ON-GOING PROCESS. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, "BLEAK FUTURE FOR MIDEAST." IT WRITES:

VOICE: "AFTER THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK IN THE MIDDLE EAST, FOLLOWED BY THE FAILURE OF THE WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT, IT'S HARD TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE REGION'S IMMEDIATE FUTURE. THERE'S APPARENTLY MORE DYING TO BE DONE ... BEFORE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS ARE SICK ENOUGH OF DEATH AND VIOLENCE TO MAKE REAL PEACE."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS DOES NOT AGREE.

VOICE: "MEASURED AGAINST THE LOW EXPECTATIONS THAT PRECEDED IT, THE SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON ... MUST BE SCORED A SUCCESS. NOT A RINGING ONE, [A LARGE SUCCESS] BUT FAR BETTER THAN THE ONLY OTHER OPTION: MASSIVE BLOODLETTING."

TEXT: REPRESENTING THOSE PAPERS THAT SEE THE SUMMIT AS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WHICH CALLS IT A "MIDEAST TIME-OUT."

VOICE: "THERE WAS GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FROM THE ... SUMMIT... BUT MOSTLY, THERE WAS PREDICTABLE NEWS. THAT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ... NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT ... ARAFAT COULD NOT SOLVE THE ENORMOUS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEIR TWO PEOPLES IN A DAY AND A HALF OF DISCUSSIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE SURPRISED ANYONE. THE WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT WAS, AFTER ALL, ONLY THE SECOND TIME THE TWO MEN HAD EVEN MET FACE-TO-FACE."

TEXT: IN NEW YORK, LONG ISLAND'S NEWSDAY TAKES THE MIDDLE GROUND, CALLING IT A "SOBERING SUMMIT," AND ADDING:

VOICE: "FOR THE MOMENT, TAKE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S WORDS SERIOUSLY AND LOOK AT THE MIDEAST SITUATION AS A GLASS HALF FULL. THE PARTIES DID NOT HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH DURING THEIR ... SUMMIT... BUT THEY HAVE BEGUN A SERIOUS DEBATE ON THEIR DIFFERENCES, AND ... ARE NOW COMMITTED TO IMMEDIATE DISCUSSIONS TO RESOLVE THE MAJOR OUTSTANDING ISSUE FROM THE OSLO PEACE ACCORD: ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM HEBRON."

TEXT: MOVING TO OTHER CONCERNS, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL CONSIDER TWO CASES CONCERNING ASSISTED SUICIDE IS WELCOMED BY THE MIAMI HERALD.

VOICE: "THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN MADE URGENT BY THE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE THAT EMPHASIZE STAVING OFF DEATH WITHOUT DUE RECOGNITION OF THE IMPACT OF DOING SO ON PEOPLE WHO ARE TERMINALLY ILL, HAVE UNYIELDING PAIN, AND ARE WATCHING THEMSELVES DIE DAY BY DREAD DAY... CLEARLY THERE IS A NEED FOR GUIDELINES AND OVERSIGHT SO THAT A WRENCHING PERSONAL DECISION DOESN'T SLIDE TOWARD PRESSURED DECISIONS. BUT THE QUALITY OF ONE'S VERY EXISTENCE SHOULD BE A MATTER OF RIGHT, NOT OF POPULAR VOTE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS WHATEVER THE SURPEME COURT DECIDES ABOUT ASSISTED SUICIDE, IT WILL BE "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RULINGS OF THE DECADE":

VOICE: "THE QUESTION NOW IS NOT WHETHER LIFE SUPPORT MUST BE CONTINUED IN THE FACE OF EVIDENCE THAT A PATIENT WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED IT. IT IS WHAT ROLE PHYSICIANS MAY PLAY IN FACILITATING SUICIDE WHEN A PATIENT EXPRESSES THE WISH TO DIE... CLEARER GROUND RULES ARE SURELY NEEDED."

TEXT: LOOKING TOWARD THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN NICARAGUA, THE MIAMI HERALD SEES TROUBLE.

VOICE: "NICARAGUANS HAD HOPED FOR BETTER THAN THIS. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE OCTOBER 20TH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, VOTING REGISTRATION IS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE. AND THE FIVE-MEMBER SUPREME ELECTORAL COUNCIL, BURDENED WITH THE TWIN DUTIES OF ISSUING NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND VOTING DOCUMENTS, SEEMS TO BE STUMBLING FROM ONE FOUL-UP TO THE NEXT. [OPT] ... EARLIER THIS WEEK, MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED REPUBLICAN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ... PROPOSED THAT THE COUNCIL EXTEND ITS SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS AND ENGAGE IN A MASSIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, TO REASSURE VOTERS THAT THEY WILL ALL BE CERTIFIED IN TIME TO VOTE. WISE ADVICE ... [END OPT] THESE ELECTIONS ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO LET QUICK TEMPERS OR CONFUSION MAR THEM."

TEXT: BACK TO DOMESTIC CONCERNS, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ASSESSES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR:

VOICE: "THE BUDGET COMPROMISES ALLOWED ALMOST EVERYONE -- EXCEPT G-O-P PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL BOB DOLE -- TO CLAIM VICTORY. THE PRESIDENT GOT SIX-POINT-FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL SPENDING FOR EDUCATION, ANTI-DRUG, AND OTHER PROGRAMS, WHILE CONGRESS GAVE HIM 15-POINT-THREE-BILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN HE ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR... THE BUDGET, BY ITS VERY NATURE, IS A BORING SUBJECT. BUT CUMULATIVE DEFICITS AND OUT-OF-CONTROL ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS AFFECT EVERYONE -- ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS AND WORKING FAMILIES WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT... WHOEVER WINS CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS NEXT YEAR MUST REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO BRING BOTH THE BUDGET AND ENTITLEMENTS UNDER CONTROL."

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE FUTURE OF PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY IS CALLING FOR MORE CANDOR FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PLAYING COY GAMES ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE U-S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. DENYING THAT ANY DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT EXTENDING IT BEYOND THE DECEMBER 20TH DEADLINE WHILE SENDING FIVE-THOUSAND NEW TROOPS TO BOSNIA THIS WEEK FOR A SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT IS NOT JUST POLITICAL SOPHISTRY: IT'S DISHONEST... [MR.] CLINTON'S FAILURE TO COME CLEAN [TELL THE TRUTH] ON THIS ISSUE ONLY BREEDS CYNICISM. HE SHOULD BE ABOVE THIS KIND OF EVASION."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, LOOKING ACROSS THE BORDER, PONDERS THE LATEST CONTROVERSY OVER MEXICAN PRESIDENT ZEDILLO'S DECISION TO SELL 61 PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS NOW RUN BY THE STATE OIL MONOPOLY, PEMEX, DESPITE A PROPOSAL FROM RANK AND FILE MEMBERS OF HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY, THE PRI (PRON. PREE), TO HALT THE SALE. SAYS THE TIMES:

VOICE: "MEXICAN PRESIDENTS HAVE LONG USED THE OIL INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE INEXPENSIVE GASOLINE AND RELATED FUELS TO BUILD POLITICAL SUPPORT. THEY HAVE AT TIMES ALSO USED IT AS A LEVER TO CONTROL UNIONS AND CONTRACTS FOR PARTY OR PERSONAL BENEFIT. [MR.] ZEDILLO HAS SOUGHT TO MOVE THE OIL INDUSTRY TOWARD EFFICIENCY AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS. THE PRI PROPOSAL WAS A SETBACK, BUT ONE THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN AND SHOULD OVERCOME."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, STILL MORE ON THE FUROR IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL, TOUCHED OFF BY ROBERTO ALOMAR OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES WHEN HE SPIT IN THE FACE OF AN UMPIRE WHO HAD CALLED A THIRD STRIKE AGAINST HIM. SAYS TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION:

VOICE: "WHEN BALTIMORE ORIOLES SECOND BASEMAN ROBERTO ALOMAR SPAT IN THE FACE OF AN UMPIRE, IT BECAME AN EXAMPLE OF A PLAYER LOSING CONTROL. SINCE THEN IT HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL: THE INABILITY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO TAKE CONTROL OF ITS FATE AND ENFORCE ORDER OVER ITS AFFAIRS."

TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS IN SOME OF TODAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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03-Oct-96 10:46 AM EDT (1446 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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