Voice of America, 96-10-16

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] E-U / INTERNET (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] EURO MONETARY UNION BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[05] EUROPE / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[06] EUROPE / HELMS-BURTON (S/L) BY GORDON MARTIN (GENEVA)

[07] FRANCE / BOUTROS-GHALI (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[08] GERMANY / IMAGE PROBLEM BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

[09] PERRY / RUSSIA ARMS (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (MOSCOW)

[10] TURKEY POLITICS (S-ONLY) BY EDWARD DE MARCO (ISTANBUL)

[11] U.S. / KURDS (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE)

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHARACTER, AND NEW ALLEGATIONS THAT HIS CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE ILLEGALLY TAKEN LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A WEALTHY INDONESIAN BUSINESSMAN HIGHLIGHT TODAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE TONIGHT'S SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE; THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION IN NICARAGUA; TROUBLES FOR THE TALEBAN MILITIA IN AFGHANISTAN; CHILD LABOR IN INDIA; AND THE PROBLEM OF RETOOLING COMPUTERS FOR THE YEAR 2000.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF TODAY'S COMMENTARIES, IS ___________________AND WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: NEWLY SURFACED ALLEGATIONS THAT AN INDONESIAN BUSINESSMAN HAS CHANNELED SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HAS RISEN TO THE TOP OF MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS, AS PAPERS REEXAMINE THE ISSUE OF BILL CLINTON'S CHARACTER. IN NEW ENGLAND, THE MANCHESTER UNION LEADER'S PUBLISHER NACKEY LOEB, IN A FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL, SAYS OF THE PRESIDENT:

VOICE: "..... WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH SOMEONE SO ADDICTED TO LYING THAT HE DOES SO EVEN WHEN IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT SOMEONE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND IS TRYING FOR ANOTHER TERM? THE FAILURE TO TELL THE TRUTH HAS BEEN THE COMMON PRACTICE THROUGHOUT BILL CLINTON'S POLITICAL HISTORY. [OPT]..... IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WE ARE TOLD THE WORD 'TRUST' IS THE PASSWORD TO THE PRESIDENCY. CONSIDERING [MR.] CLINTON'S PAST, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE CAN TRUST HIM TO DO, WHEN FACED WITH HAVING TO TELL US THE TRUTH."[END OPT]

TEXT: AND IN AN ADJOINING EDITORIAL, THE UNION LEADER TAKES ON THE ISSUE OF THE INDONESIAN CAMPAIGN FUNDS:

VOICE: "NOW WE FIND OUT THAT A FAMILY OF INDONESIAN BILLIONAIRES HAS CONTRIBUTED MILLIONS TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN AND THE D-N-C [DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE], AND HAVE BEEN REWARDED WITH ACCESS TO THE WHITE HOUSE. ..... HARD-HEADED [SMART, PRACTICAL] BUSINESSMEN DO NOT HAND OUT MILLIONS TO POLITICIANS WITHOUT EXPECTING SOMETHING IN RETURN. "

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE ALLEGED INDONESIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASK IN THE LEAD EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "WHY WOULD A WEALTHY INDONESIAN FAMILY CONTRIBUTE HUGE SUMS OF MONEY TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE? PRESUMABLY IT WANTS ACCESS AND INFLUENCE, JUST LIKE SCORES OF BUSINESSES AND RICH INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO LAVISH COMPARABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ON THE NATIONAL PARTIES ..... CLEARLY THE MONEY FROM THE RIADY FAMILY AND ITS ASSOCIATES HAS TO BE EXAMINED TO SEE IF IT VIOLATED THE FEDERAL BAN ON POLITICAL DONATIONS BY FOREIGNERS AND FOREIGN BUSINESSES .... [AND] WHETHER ANY FAVORS HAVE BEEN PROMISED OR CARRIED OUT IN RETURN. .... MR. DOLE WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THESE MATTERS IN THE DEBATE TONIGHT, BUT HE MAY BE RESTRICTED BY HIS OWN PARTY'S RECORD IN SOLICITING WHOPPING [LARGE] DONATIONS FROM FAVOR-SEEKERS.... BOTH CANDIDATES BEAR PLENTY OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR FLOODING THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN WITH SPECIAL-INTEREST MONEY."

TEXT: STILL ON THE ISSUE OF TRUTHFULNESS, USA TODAY CITES THREE DIFFERENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE IT SAYS, CHARACTER QUESTIONS DEMAND ANSWERS TO: ALLEGED MISUSE OF F-B-I FILES ON PAST REPUBLICAN STAFFERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE; THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS STILL UNANSWERED ABOUT THE WHITEWATER SCANDALS; AND THE ASIAN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

VOICE: ".... ON THREE ISSUES, AT LEAST, MORE SCRUTINY IS IN ORDER REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS. THEY INVOLVE INCIDENTS THAT COULD BE MERELY ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE AMATEURISH BLUNDERING THAT CHARACTERIZED MANY WHITE HOUSE ACTIONS IN 1993-1994, OR THEY COULD CONSTITUTE SERIOUS ABUSE OF POWER. ......[OPT] [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS TRIED TO MUFFLE THE CHARACTER ISSUE, CALLING PIOUSLY FOR AN END TO PERSONAL ATTACKS. THAT'S FINE AS IT APPLIES TO OLD TALES ABOUT HIS ROVING EYE [FOR ATTRACTIVE WOMEN, IN OTHER WORDS HIS ALLEGED EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIRS] OR [MR.] DOLE'S LEAVETAKING OF HIS FIRST WIFE AND DAUGHTER. BUT IT SHOULDN'T BURY ISSUES OF POLITICAL PROBITY."

TEXT: LASTLY ON U-S POLITICS, THIS PLEA FROM MAINE'S PORTLAND PRESS HERALD FOR BOTH CANDIDATES TO RISE ABOVE PERSONAL ATTACK AND STICK TO THE ISSUES.

VOICE: "[MR.] DOLE HAS SUGGESTED HE WILL RAISE QUESTIONS ... ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FROM INDONESIAN BANKING INTERESTS. THAT IS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE, AS IS THE FBI FILES DEBACLE OR ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES. ..... THAT CAN BE DONE, HOWEVER, WITHOUT .... PERSONAL RANCOR....."

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE ONLY NATION DEEP INTO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENCY, AND TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD TAKES A LOOK AT THE FINAL WEEK OF NICARAGUA'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

VOICE: "THE ECHO OF HISTORY WILL BE STRONG WHEN NICARAGUANS VOTE FOR A NEW PRESIDENT ON SUNDAY .....ONLY TWO [CANDIDATES] HAVE ANY REAL HOPE OF VICTORY: ARNOLDO ALEMAN .... WITH SOME TIES TO THE NOTORIOUS SOMOZA DYNASTY, AND FORMER PRESIDENT DANIEL ORTEGA OF THE EQUALLY NOTORIOUS SANDINISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT, WHICH OVERTHREW ANASTASIO SOMOZA IN 1979. THAT NICARAGUANS ARE MAKING THE CHOICE WITH BALLOTS AND NOT WITH BULLETS IS ONE SIGN ... THE COUNTRY IS TRANSCENDING THE VIOLENCE OF ITS NOT-SO-DISTANT PAST."

TEXT: TURNING TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE STRICT ISLAMIC TALEBAN MILITIA, WHICH RECENTLY TOOK OVER THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL OF KABUL, TODAY'S SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: "THE PROMISE OF UNIFYING AFGHANISTAN AND ENDING ITS WARS, MADE BY THE TALEBAN MILITIA SWEEPING THE COUNTRY, HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED. INSTEAD, THESE NEWEST RULERS, HAVING CONQUERED THE CAPITAL OF KABUL, FIT AN AGE-OLD AFGHANI PATTERN OF THE CENTER OPPOSED BY THE PROVINCES, THE MAJORITY FOUGHT BY MINORITIES, AUTHORITY UNDERMINED BY TRIBALISM. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM FACED BY THE PRECEDING ISLAMIC RULERS, COMMUNISTS AND KINGS. ..... AFGHANISTAN'S AGONY CONTINUES."

TEXT: STILL IN ASIA, THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY TALKS ABOUT INDIA'S PROBLEM WITH CHILD LABOR, AND A DIFFICULT DECISION BY THE WORLD BANK WHICH AIDS AT LEAST ONE INDUSTRY WHERE CHILD LABOR IS PREVALENT.

VOICE: "IT IS THE SILK TRADE THAT THE WORLD BANK HAS SUPPORTED WITH LOANS IN THE PAST. SOON IT WILL CONSIDER ANOTHER LOAN. BONDED CHILD LABOR, THOUGH TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL, IS INTEGRAL TO EVERY STAGE OF THE SILK INDUSTRY IN INDIA, FROM PROCESSING COCOONS TO WEAVING FABRIC. CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX AND SEVEN ARE FORCED TO PLUNGE THEIR HANDS INTO SCALDING WATER AND UNWIND THREAT. ..... NOTHING COULD BE MORE PERTINENT TO ITS ADMIRABLE GOAL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAN ENSURING THAT A NATION'S PRIMARY RESOURCE - - ITS COMING GENERATION - - ENDS UP IN SCHOOL AND NOT IN SWEATSHOPS."

TEXT: AND BACK AT HOME, THE COMPUTER TECHNICIANS ARE WRESTLING WITH THE DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF HOW TO MAKE THEIR MACHINES COMFORTABLE WITH THE TURNING OF A CENTURY, WHEN MOST SOFTWEAR IS PROGRAMMED ONLY TO REOCGNIZE YEAR THROUGHS THE END OF THE 1900S. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "AT THE DAWN OF THE INFORMATION AGE, UTOPIAN THEORISTS PREDICTED THAT COMPUTERS WOULD FREE US FROM LABORIOUS TASKS TO FOCUS ON MORE CHALLENGING PROBLEMS. BUT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IS NOW FINDING THE OPPOSITE TO BE TRUE, AT LEAST IN ONE INSTANCE. TO PREVENT ITS COMPUTERS FROM GOING HAYWIRE [BREAKING DOWN] WHEN THEY HAVE TO PROCESS DATES INVOLVING THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND, THE AGENCY IS HASTILY LAUNCHING A CONVERSION PROGRAM THAT WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST 18-HUNDRED STAFF YEARS OF LABOR BY JANUARY FIRST, 1999. THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS ONE SHARED BY BOTH GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS: MOST COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO ASSUME THAT THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF EVERY YEAR ARE 19. .... THE PROBLEM ... EXPERTS SAY COULD COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE BRING TO A CLOSE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIAL TOPICS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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16-Oct-96 10:28 AM EDT (1428 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U / INTERNET (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS APPROVED A PLAN TO COMBAT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND OTHER ILLEGAL MATERIAL ON THE "INTERNET" COMPUTER NETWORK. BUT, AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE COMMISSION SAID IT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY PREVENT THE USE OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY BY PORNOGRAPHERS AND CRIMINALS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION PROPOSAL MIRRORS A RECENT BRITISH INITIATIVE, IN WHICH COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE SUBSCRIBERS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET -- COMPANIES KNOWN AS SERVICE PROVIDERS -- WILL HAVE THE MAIN ROLE IN OUTLAWING OBSCENE MATERIAL.

THE E-U COMMISSION PROPOSAL ENCOURAGES ALL EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS TO FOLLOW BRITAIN'S LEAD, BY MAKING SERVICE PROVIDERS MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING ACCESS TO ILLEGAL MATERIAL. THERE ALSO WILL BE AN ATTEMPT TO COORDINATE LEGISLATION AGAINST THE CRIMINAL USE OF THE INTERNET.

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER MARTIN BANGEMANN SAYS THE INTERNET HAS BECOME A POWERFUL TOOL. HOWEVER, LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, THE INTERNET CAN CARRY POTENTIALLY HARMFUL OR ILLEGAL CONTENTS, OR CAN BE MISUSED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.

HE SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH SUCH MISUSE IS LIMITED, THE THREAT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE IGNORED. HE SAYS THAT IS WHY HE CONCLUDED COORDINATED ACTION IS NEEDED BY ALL E-U NATIONS.

THE E-U STRATEGY NOT ONLY INVOLVES SELF-REGULATION BY ACCESS PROVIDERS, BUT ALSO ENVISAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEVICES TO BLOCK ACCESS TO COMPUTER SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CONTAINING ILLEGAL MATERIAL. IT ALSO ENVISAGES A RATING SYSTEM FOR MATERIAL THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE BUT NOT ILLEGAL.

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS RAISING THE ISSUE IN THE G-SEVEN GROUP OF INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS. A CONFERENCE WILL BE HOSTED BY GERMANY NEXT YEAR TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON HARMFUL AND ILLEGAL CONTENT.

MR. BANGEMANN SAID THERE IS NO PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE THREAT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, BOMB-MAKING MANUALS OR OTHER CRIMINAL MATERIAL BEING AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET. HE SAID NO ONE CAN GIVE AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE THIS MATERIAL CAN BE ELIMINATED. HOWEVER, HE SAID THERE ARE TECHNICAL MEASURES THAT CAN GIVE A CERTAIN PROTECTION NOW, AND THAT IS WHY HE IS SEEKING URGENT ACTION INSIDE EUROPE, AND BEYOND. (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 10:57 AM EDT (1457 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO MONETARY UNION BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: RECENTLY, THE FRENCH AND GERMAN GOVERNMENTS DECIDED TO GO AHEAD ON SCHEDULE WITH THE AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO CREATE A SINGLE CURRENCY FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS MONETARY UNION, DUE TO OCCUR IN 1999, WAS A TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION AT A CONFERENCE ON EUROPEAN UNION EXPANSION HELD IN PRAGUE THIS WEEK.

TEXT: EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION IS NO LONGER A SUBJECT MERELY FOR ACADEMIC DEBATE. A COMMON CURRENCY FOR EUROPE, TO BE CALLED THE "EURO," IS TO BE CREATED WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

AT THE PRAGUE CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE BOHEMIA FOUNDATION, AN OFFICIAL OF THE FRANKFURT-BASED "EUROPEAN MONETARY INSTITUTE" (HANSPETER SCHELLER) SAID THE FUTURE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK WILL DECIDE IN 1998 WHICH COUNTRIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW CURRENCY.

PROSPECTIVE MEMBER COUNTRIES MUST MEET STRICT CONDITIONS. THESE INCLUDE EXCHANGE RATE STABILITY, LOW RATES OF INTEREST AND INFLATION, AS WELL AS MORE DIFFICULT PARAMETERS ON BUDGET DEFICITS AND OVERALL INDEBTEDNESS.

THE CORE COUNTRIES FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE EURO ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE ONLY GERMANY, FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG. FINLAND THIS WEEK FORMALLY LINKED ITS CURRENCY TO THE EUROPEAN STANDARD IN THE HOPE IT EVENTUALLY CAN BE PART OF THE MONETARY UNION. ITALY AND SPAIN SAY THEY WANT TO JOIN BUT CONCEDE THAT DIFFICULT WORK IS NEEDED TO MEET COMPLIANCE CRITERIA. BRITAIN IS UNDECIDED BUT LEANING AGAINST PARTICIPATION.

MALCOLM LEVITT OF BRITAIN'S BARCLAY'S BANK SAYS MONETARY UNION WILL HAVE WIDESPREAD -- AND NOT ALWAYS POSITIVE EFFECTS -- ON BUSINESS. HE SAYS THE BANKING SECTOR WILL BE HIT HARD BY INCREASED COMPETITION AND GREATLY REDUCED DEMAND FOR MONEY-CHANGING ONCE THE "EURO" COMPLETELY REPLACES NATIONAL CURRENCIES IN THE YEAR 2002. EUROPE'S SMALLER STOCK EXCHANGES WILL SUFFER, HE SAYS, BECAUSE COMPANIES WILL CHOOSE TO LIST THEIR SHARES ONLY IN "EUROS" ON BIG EXCHANGES. PARTICIPATING NATIONS, HE SAYS, SHOULD BENEFIT FROM LOWER INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES.

OTHER SPEAKERS EXPRESSED SCEPTICISM ABOUT MONETARY UNION. SOME IRISH AND SWEDISH OFFICIALS COMPLAINED THAT THE "EURO" IS BEING PROMOTED PRIMARILY BY BIG E-U POWERS, IN PARTICULAR FRANCE AND GERMANY, AND THAT THE INTERESTS OF SMALL COUNTRIES WILL NOT BE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED.

BUT THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE "EURO" WILL BE INTRODUCED. THE GUIDELINES FOR MONETARY UNION ARE CONTAINED IN THE 1991 E-U MAASTRICHT TREATY, AND THE TIMETABLE FOR MONETARY UNION IS BEING OBSERVED, WITH THE IMPORTANT SECOND PHASE NOW UNDERWAY. DURING THE SECOND PHASE, PARTICIPATING CURRENCIES ARE TO BE LINKED IN AN EXCHANGE RATE MECHANISM THAT LIMITS THEIR FLUCTUATION. AFTER 1998, PARTICIPATING CURRENCIES WILL HAVE THEIR EXCHANGE RATES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER PERMANENTLY FIXED IN ANTICIPATION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE "EURO." (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 1:24 PM EDT (1724 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: TRADING ON EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS WEDNESDAY WAS DOWN FOLLOWING SOME RECORD HIGHS POSTED YESTERDAY (TUESDAY). FOR MANY TRADERS, IT WAS A DAY OF PROFIT-TAKING. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE WRAPUP FROM OUR LONDON OFFICE.

TEXT: ALL OF EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS WEDNESDAY REPORTED DECLINES AND PROFIT-TAKING BY INVESTORS APPEARED TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR. EVEN FIGURES RELEASED IN WASHINGTON INDICATING THAT INFLATION WAS BEING HELD IN CHECK DID LITTLE TO QUELL THE RACE TO CASH IN VALUABLE STOCKS HERE IN EUROPE. IN LONDON, THE KEY "FOOTSIE 100" (FTSE 100) INDEX LOST JUST OVER 26 POINTS AT THE END OF TRADING. FRANKFURT'S "DAX" INDEX OF 30 LEADING SHARES FELL 13-AND-A-HALF POINTS. STOCKS ON THE PARIS "CAC-40" INDEX WERE OFF ALMOST 10 POINTS FROM THEIR HIGH FOR THE YEAR SET TUESDAY.

THE DOLLAR ALSO LOST VALUE AGAINST MOST KEY EUROPEAN CURRENCIES IN TRADING WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EUROPE / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: CROATIA WILL BECOME THE 40TH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AFTER PLEDGING TO IMPROVE ITS RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS CROATIA OFFICIALLY BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER SIXTH.

TEXT: THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IS ONE OF THE LEAST KNOWN, BUT LONGEST ESTABLISHED, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT WAS SET UP IN 1949 -- IN THE WAKE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR -- TO BE A FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AMONG EUROPEAN NATIONS. BUT MANY COUNTRIES WERE INITIALLY EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY FELL IN THE SOVIET SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.

CROATIA APPLIED TO JOIN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN 1992, BUT THE APPLICATION HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO PROCESS INITIALLY BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND MORE RECENTLY BECAUSE OF CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CROATIA.

DENMARK AND HOLLAND SAY THEY STILL HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT CROATIA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, BUT A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDED THAT CROATIA CAN BE BEST HELPED IN DEALING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS FROM INSIDE THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE.

THE MOST PROMINENT FEATURE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IS THE EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT, TO WHICH HUNDREDS OF CASES ARE REFERRED EACH YEAR, BY RECENT MEMBERS SUCH AS TURKEY, AND BY FOUNDING MEMBERS, SUCH AS BRITAIN AND BELGIUM.

OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT CROATIA PLEDGED TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY AND ALSO TO MAKE OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS REFORMS, AS A PRE-CONDITION FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE. IT WILL ALSO COME UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, AND TO RESPECT THE FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, AND THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES AND OF MINORITIES.

ON TUESDAY, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA URGED CROATIA'S PRIME MINISTER, ZLATMO METESA, TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENTS TO PEACE IF IT WANTS WIDER INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE. A SIMILAR MESSAGE WAS RELAYED TO THE CROATIAN OFFICIAL BY E-U COMMISSIONER HANS VAN DEN BROEK. (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 11:26 AM EDT (1526 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EUROPE / HELMS-BURTON (S/L) BY GORDON MARTIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE PAST MARCH, THE HELMS-BURTON ACT PASSED THE U-S CONGRESS AND CLEARED THE WAY FOR PROSECUTION IN AMERICAN COURTS OF NON-U-S COMPANIES THAT HAVE DEALINGS WITH CUBA INVOLVING PROPERTY CONFISCATED DURING THE CUBAN REVOLUTION. THE ACT HAS AROUSED WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION AROUND THE WORLD. ON WEDNESDAY, THE EUROPEAN UNION TOOK THE ISSUE BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION IN GENEVA, WHERE GORDON MARTIN FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: AT A SESSION OF THE W-T-O DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY, THE EUROPEAN UNION ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF TRYING TO FORCE OTHER COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW ITS OWN FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES THROUGH THE PENALTIES LAID DOWN IN THE HELMS-BURTON ACT.

THE MOVE TO CHALLENGE THE NEW LAW WAS APPROVED TWO WEEKS AGO AT A LUXEMBOURG MEETING OF E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS.

E-U SPOKESMAN IAN WILKINSON TOLD THE W-T-O MEETING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AMERICAN LEGISLATION, BUT WITH THE EXTRA-TERRITORIAL MEANS CHOSEN TO ACHIEVE THEM, AND THE ADVERSE EFFECT ON E-U TRADE.

THE SENIOR U-S TRADE OFFICIAL IN GENEVA, AMBASSADOR BOOTH GARDNER, VOICED SURPRISE THAT A FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE W-T-O. HE BLOCKED THE REQUEST FOR A PANEL TO BE SET UP TO ADJUDICATE.

THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL REPEAT THE CALL FOR A PANEL AT THE NEXT W-T-O SESSION ON NOVEMBER 20TH. UNDER THE WORLD TRADE BODY'S RULES, THE UNITED STATES WILL, THIS TIME, HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.

CONCERN OVER THE HELMS-BURTON ACT HAS BEEN VOICED BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND SWITZERLAND. DIPLOMATS HOPE THAT A TRANSATLANTIC DISPUTE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BRUSSELS CAN STILL BE AVERTED. (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 12:54 PM EDT (1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] FRANCE / BOUTROS-GHALI (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI HAS MET IN PARIS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, AND LATER SAID ONLY THAT HE AND MR. CHIRAC DISCUSSED INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS. BUT, AS JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS, THE VISIT COMES AS FRANCE IS PREPARING TO DEFEND -- AGAINST U-S OPPOSITION -- MR. BOUTROS-GHALI'S BID FOR A SECOND TERM AS HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A DIPLOMATIC FEUD IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. AND AN UNDERCURRENT HAS BEEN FRANCE'S SUPPORT FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI.

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE IT CLEAR IT DOES NOT WANT MR. BOUTROS-GHALI TO SERVE A SECOND TERM AS THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS. BUT FRANCE IS SUPPORTING MR. BOUTROS-GHALI, A FORMER EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER.

U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ALSO ANGERED FRANCE WITH COMMENTS HE MADE WHILE ON A TOUR OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES EARLIER THIS MONTH. MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID THE TIME HAD PASSED WHEN PARTS OF AFRICA COULD BE CONSIDERED THE PRESERVE OF ONE COUNTRY. THE REMARKS WERE TAKEN AS A SLAP AT FRANCE, WHICH HAS A RECORD OF INTERVENING IN AFRICAN AFFAIRS, ESPECIALLY IN ITS FORMER COLONIES.

MR. BOUTROS-GHALI MADE NO COMMENT ABOUT THIS LATEST U-S / FRENCH FLAP. THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID ONLY THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED A RANGE OF DIPLOMATIC PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY THE MIDDLE EAST -- WHERE PRESIDENT CHIRAC BEGINS A SIX-NATION TOUR ON SATURDAY. (SIGNED)
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16-Oct-96 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] GERMANY / IMAGE PROBLEM BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

INTRO: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WEST GERMAN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HAVE HELPED TRANSFORM FORMER COMMUNIST EAST GERMANY INTO THE MOST DYNAMIC REGION OF CENTRAL EUROPE. IN THE SIX YEARS SINCE UNIFICATION, STATE OF THE ART FACTORIES HAVE REPLACED STATE-RUN FIRMS THAT WERE ONCE THE SOURCE OF JOKES ABOUT INEFFICIENT COMMUNIST WORKERS. BUT DESPITE THE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, THE STEREOTYPE OF LAZY, INFLEXIBLE EAST GERMANS WILL NOT GO AWAY, AS KYLE KING REPORTS FROM DRESDEN.

TEXT: ASK ANYBODY IN GERMANY, AND THEY WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU PLENTY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.

MAGGIE SIMMER, A LAW STUDENT WHO GREW UP IN WEST GERMANY, SAYS MOST PEOPLE THERE ARE HARD WORKING AND AMBITIOUS. IN THE EASTERN PART, SHE SAYS, PEOPLE ARE MUCH LESS FLEXIBLE.

IF MY BOSS SAID TO ME "YOU HAVE TO GO TO LEIPZIG," FOR EXAMPLE, "TO WORK IN AN OFFICE THERE," FOR ME I WOULD SAY, "IT'S OKAY, I WILL GO WORK IN LEIPZIG." BUT IF YOU SAID THAT TO AN EAST GERMAN HE WOULD SAY, "NO, I'M LIVING IN DRESDEN AND I WILL NOT GO TO LEIPZIG TO WORK."

NOT ALL, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY UNKIND. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS, YOU HAVE NO ONE WHO SAYS, "OKAY, I WILL SEE HOW TO HELP YOU." BUT PEOPLE SAY, "I CAN'T HELP YOU AND I WILL NOT HELP YOU. EVEN IF I COULD, I WILL NOT."

NOT SURPRISINGLY, MANY EASTERNERS HAVE THEIR OWN STEREOTYPICAL IMAGE OF PUSHY, AGGRESSIVE WESTERNERS WHO LOOK DOWN THEIR NOSES AT (ARE CONDESCENDING TOWARDS) EASTERN GERMANS, OR "OSSIES," AS THEY ARE OFTEN CALLED.

FLORIAN WENDT, AN EAST GERMAN BUSINESSMAN WHO GREW UP NEAR DRESDEN, SAYS MOST OF THE PEOPLE HE GREW UP WITH ARE ADOPTING WELL TO THE NEW SYSTEM. LIKE ALL STEREOTYPES, HE SAYS, THE IMAGE OF LAZY, INFLEXIBLE WORKERS IS OVERBLOWN.

I BELIEVE IT IS NOT TRUE, IN GENERAL. THERE MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE WITH THAT ATTITUDE HERE, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE MAJORITY.

LIKE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE EAST, 25-YEAR-OLD TILO SCHULZ SAYS PEOPLE HIS AGE KNOW THEY HAVE TO ADOPT TO THE SYSTEM AS IT NOW EXISTS.

IF I CAN'T ADJUST TO THE SYSTEM REALLY FAST, I WILL GET LOST. IF I HANG AROUND AND KEEP ALL MY OLD HABITS, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET A JOB. SO WHAT CAN I DO? I AM 25, MY WHOLE LIFE IS IN FRONT OF ME, SO I DO WHAT IS REQUIRED.

MR. SCHULZ, WHO STUDIES ENGINEERING AT THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN FREIBERG, SAYS MANY OLDER PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE EAST SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT LOOKING FOR A JOB.

ALTHOUGH MANY HAVE BEEN DISILLUSIONED BY THE PROCESS OF UNIFICATION AND THE LOSS OF THEIR JOBS, MOST REJECT THE IMAGE OF EAST GERMAN WORKERS THAT HAS EMERGED.

FLORIAN WENDT, WHO NOW EMPLOYS SEVEN PEOPLE AT HIS TWO YEAR OLD BUSINESS IN EASTERN GERMANY, BLAMES WESTERNERS FOR HOLDING ON TO WHAT HE SAYS IS AN OUTDATED VIEW.

IT MIGHT BE MORE CONVENIENT TO STICK WITH WHAT THEY USED TO KNOW BEFORE THE WALL CAME DOWN. IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY JUST REFRAIN FROM UNDERGOING ANY CHANGE IN THEIR THINKING. THEY ARE VIEWING PEOPLE IN EASTERN GERMANY AS THEY WANT THEM TO BE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS TRUE THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS LAZY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

THE IRONY FOR ENTREPRENEURS LIKE MR. WENDT, IS THAT IT IS OFTEN NOT ENOUGH TO SHOW THAT A STEREOTYPE IS WRONG. HE NOW FALLS INTO ANOTHER CATEGORY INVENTED IN AFTERMATH OF UNIFICATION, THE "BESSER WESSIE" -- AN EAST GERMAN WHO WORKS SO HARD HE IS MORE LIKE A WESTERN GERMAN THAN EVEN A WEST GERMAN COULD BE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/MMK
16-Oct-96 11:25 AM EDT (1525 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] PERRY / RUSSIA ARMS (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (MOSCOW)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY HAS MET IN MOSCOW WITH HIS RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR RODIONOV. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. PERRY WILL MAKE AN UNUSUAL APPEARANCE THURSDAY IN THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT, THE DUMA, TO URGE RATIFICATION OF THE START-TWO STRATEGIC ARMS ACCORD.

TEXT: MR. RODIONOV EMERGED FROM NEARLY THREE HOURS OF TALKS WITH MR. PERRY TO SAY THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS NOT ONLY START-TWO, BUT ALSO EVEN DEEPER CUTS IN THE TWO COUNTRIES' NUCLEAR ARSENALS. HOWEVER, U-S AND RUSSIAN ANALYSTS CONCEDE THE TREATY IS IN DANGER OF FAILING IN THE DUMA, WHERE HARDLINE NATIONALIST AND COMMUNIST DEPUTIES HAVE HEAVY INFLUENCE AND MR. PERRY HIMSELF MAY HELP DETERMINE THE TREATY'S FUTURE WITH HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE ABOUT 100 DUMA MEMBERS FROM THREE KEY COMMITTEES.

RUSSIAN DEPUTIES CONTEND THAT THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING START-TWO WILL IMPOSE A HEAVY BURDEN ON THE ALREADY FINANCIALLY STRAPPED RUSSIAN MILITARY. AND MANY DUMA MEMBERS SAY THEY WILL WITHHOLD SUPPORT BECAUSE OF NATO'S EXPANSION PLAN.

MR. PERRY INSISTED TO REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM THAT START-TWO AND NATO EXPANSION ARE SEPARATE ISSUES AND THAT HE WILL NOT ENTER INTO ANY DISCUSSION THAT SEEKS TO TIE THEM TOGETHER. BUT A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL HERE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION IS SENSITIVE TO RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND IS READY TO CONSULT CONGRESS ABOUT INCREASING AID UNDER A PROGRAM TO HELP MOSCOW OVERCOME THE INITIAL COST OF RETIRING HUNDREDS MORE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE TWO SPONSORS OF THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION, SENATORS SAM NUNN AND RICHARD LUGAR, ARE SCHEDULED TO JOIN SECRETARY PERRY IN HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE DUMA. ABOUT ONE-AND-ONE-HALF-BILLION DOLLARS IN NUNN-LUGAR MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS TO DISMANTLE WEAPONS INHERITED BY RUSSIA, UKRAINE, BELARUS, AND KAZAKSTAN AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION.

THE SENIOR OFFICIAL SAID MR. RODIONOV ENDORSED CLOSER COOPERATION WITH NATO DESPITE RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION. HE SAID THE TWO DEFENSE CHIEFS AGREED TO MEET IN LATE NOVEMBER IN BOSNIA WHERE BOTH COUNTRIES ARE PART OF THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING OPERATION.

MR. PERRY SEES U-S / RUSSIAN COOPERATION IN BOSNIA AS THE KEYSTONE OF A NEW POST COLD WAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO POWERS. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY PRAISED MR. RODIONOV'S OFFER TO PROVIDE TROOPS FOR A FOLLOW-ON PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA NEXT YEAR. AND HE PRAISED THE PERFORMANCE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS IN DEALING WITH A CONFRONTATION WITH SERBS IN NORTH EASTERN BOSNIA DURING THE PAST WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DG/JWH/CF
16-Oct-96 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] TURKEY POLITICS (S-ONLY) BY EDWARD DE MARCO (ISTANBUL)

INTRO: TURKEY'S RULING COALITION HAS SURVIVED A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT. AS EDWARD DE MARCO REPORTS, THE CHALLENGE WAS SPARKED BY PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN'S CONTROVERSIAL VISIT TO LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMER GADHAFI.

TEXT: MR. ERBAKAN CAME UNDER ATTACK FROM OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AND THE TURKISH MEDIA EARLIER THIS MONTH, WHEN HE SAT QUIETLY WHILE MR. GADHAFI LECTURED HIM ABOUT TURKEY'S POLICY TOWARD ITS MINORITY KURDS. MR. GADDAFI PROVOKED OUTRAGE IN TURKEY BY CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF A KURDISH STATE. THAT AMOUNTED TO A PUBLIC REBUKE TO TURKEY'S 12-YEAR-OLD BATTLE AGAINST SEPARATIST KURDS.

SECULAR TURKS FEAR MR. ERBAKAN'S HIGH PROFILE TRIP TO LIBYA AND AN EARLIER VISIT TO IRAN SIGNAL A DEPARTURE FROM TURKEY'S TRADITIONAL TILT TO THE WEST. THE VISITS HAVE ANGERED TURKEY'S LONGTIME ALLY, THE UNITED STATES. DURING HOURS OF DEBATE THAT PRECEDED WEDNESDAY'S NO CONFIDENCE VOTE, OPPOSITION LEADERS DENOUNCED MR. ERBAKAN'S FOREIGN POLICY MOVES AS HARMFUL AND EMBARASSING TO THE COUNTRY. BUT TOP OFFICIALS OF MR. ERBAKAN'S WELFARE PARTY DEFENDED THE OVERTURES TO OTHER ISLAMIC STATES AS AN EFFORT TO EXPAND POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS.

WHATEVER THE ULTIMATE POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THE LIBYA TRIP, MR. ERBAKAN'S FOUR-MONTH-OLD COALITION HAS SURVIVED ITS FIRST MAJOR TEST. (SIGNED) NEB/EM/GKT/T/MMK
16-Oct-96 4:22 PM EDT (2022 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] U.S. / KURDS (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE)

INTRO: A KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATION -- THE FACTION LED BY MASSOUD BARZANI -- WILL BE MEETING A SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL THURSDAY HERE IN WASHINGTON. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT PELLETREAU HAS ARRANGED WITH THE LEADERS OF THE TWO RIVAL KURDISH FACTIONS TO VISIT THEM NEXT WEEK IN THE REGION AS PART OF HIS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED TRIP TO THE GULF.

MR. PELLETREAU HAS BEEN TRYING TO PUSH THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HEADED BY MASSOUD BARZANI, AND THE PATRIOTIC UNION, LED BY JALAL TALABANI, TO START CEASE-FIRE TALKS AND TO BREAK THEIR ALLIANCES WITH IRAN AND IRAQ.

MR. TALABANI'S GROUP, SUPPORTED BY IRAN, RECAPTURED CONTROL OF THE TOWN OF SULAYMANIYA IN NORTHERN IRAQ DURING THE WEEKEND, RAISING FEARS THAT IRAQ MIGHT INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF MR. BARZANI'S FACTION AS IT DID LAST AUGUST.

EVEN BEFORE THE RENEWAL OF FIGHTING, THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATION HAD SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH MR. PELLETREAU HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. MR. PELLETREAU MET MR. BARZANI IN ANKARA ON SEPTEMBER 18TH AND HE PLANS TO SEE HIM AGAIN NEXT WEEK. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING IN THE REGION WILL BE HIS FIRST WITH MR. TALABANI SINCE THE FIGHTING BEGAN.

SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. PELLETREAU HAS A COMMON OBJECTIVE IN ALL HIS MEETINGS WITH THE KURDISH FACTIONS.

THE MOTIVATION HERE IS TO HAVE DIRECT TALKS WITH THEM SO THAT AMBASSADOR PELLETREAU CAN CONVINCE THEM THAT IT REALLY IS IN THEIR IMMEDIATE INTEREST TO MOVE TOWARDS A CEASE-FIRE AND NOT TO ALLOW IRAN AND IRAQ, IRAN OR IRAQ, THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLAME THE SITUATION FURTHER.

THE UNITED STATES HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT MR. TALABANI'S FACTION HAS MOVED ANY CLOSER TO THE CITY OF IRBIL, STILL UNDER THE CONTROL OF MR. BARZANI'S FACTION OR THAT IRANIAN TROOPS ASSISTED THE PATRIOTIC UNION IN CAPTURING SULIMANIYA AS THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CHARGED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/CF
16-Oct-96 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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