Voice of America, 96-10-21

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[03] CLINTON / NATO O'NITER (L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (DETROIT)

[04] EURO ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[06] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] U.S. / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

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

INTRO: EDITORIALS IN MONDAY'S U-S PRESS DEAL WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING YESTERDAY'S DEMONSTRATION IN BELGIUM; THE MINOR ROLE OF FOREIGN POLICY IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES; THIS COUNTRY'S TRAVEL BAN TO LEBANON; AND INDONESIAN MONEY FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CARRYING AN EDITORIAL ABOUT SUNDAY'S HUGE DEMONSTRATION IN BRUSSELS, PROTESTING THE FIRING OF A JUDGE INVESTIGATING THE BELGIUM'S PEDOPHILE SCANDAL THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF AT LEAST FOUR YOUNG KIDNAP VICTIMS.

VOICE: "MANY BELGIANS BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT FEARED HE [THE MAGISTRATE] WOULD UNCOVER OFFICIAL PROTECTION OF THE RING. .... NO COUNTRY IS IMMUNE TO THE TEMPTATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER. A 'CIVIL' NATION IS ONE THAT DETECTS AND PUNISHES BAD BEHAVIOR THROUGH INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS A FREE PRESS ....OPEN-GOVERNMENT LAWS, WELL-TRAINED POLICE AND AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY. BELGIUM ENJOYS MORE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS THAN MOST COUNTRIES, BUT THEIR FEEBLENESS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCANDALS."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC POLITICS AND THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL RACE, TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR CHIDES BOTH MAJOR CANDIDATES FOR PAYING SCANT ATTENTION TO FOREIGN POLICY IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

VOICE: "NOT THAT THE CANDIDATES PURPOSEFULLY PUSHED IT ASIDE OR AVOIDED IT. BOB DOLE RAISED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DECLINE OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD. PRESIDENT CLINTON, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, RECOUNTED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN-POLICY THEMES. BUT THE CANDIDATES RARELY LINGERED ON THESE ISSUES. ..... SO FAR, THE CANDIDATES HAVEN'T CLEARLY DRAWN DISTINCTIONS IN THIS CRUCIAL AREA."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] BOB DOLE HAS WON THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE WASHINGTON TIMES, WHICH FEELS HE SHOULD BE PRESIDENT. IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST ENDORSEMENT EDITORIALS FOR THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN, AND SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "AGAINST THE HAPHAZARD CLINTON RECORD OF FINE WORKS AND FECKLESS DEEDS STANDS HIS OPPONENT, BOB DOLE. ..... HIS [MR. DOLE'S] SERVICE IN WORLD WAR TWO, HIS PERSONAL COURAGE AND RESOLVE IN REBUILDING A BODY SHATTERED BY THAT WAR, AND A POLITICAL CAREER LEADING TO THE SUMMIT OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE: MR. DOLE HAS AN OUT-SIZED REPUTATION." [END OPT]

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, MR. DOLE'S RECENT CAMPAIGN COMMENTS GETS A REBUKE FROM NEWSDAY, WHICH ASKS: "WHAT BECAME OF THE BOB DOLE WHO SPOKE OF NATIONAL UNITY AT HIS PARTY'S CONVENTION?" NEWSDAY PROVIDES THIS ANSWER.

VOICE: "APPARENTLY 'THAT' BOB DOLE GOT SWEPT AWAY IN THE TREACHEROUS POLITICAL CURRENTS OF A TOUGH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. IT SEEMS THAT MR. INCLUSION [I.E. MR. DOLE], WHILE MAKING A DESPERATE BID TO CLOSE THE GAP IN VOTE-RICH CALIFORNIA LAST WEEK, SIMPLY DISAPPEARED. WE'LL MISS HIM."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] TURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST, TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST IS TALKING ABOUT THE U-S BAN ON TRAVEL TO LEBANON, AND WHAT THEY CALL "A LOW-KEY CAMAPAIGN" TO END THE PROHIBITION ON TRAVEL. THE BAN WAS IMPOSED IN THE 1980S AFTER TERRORISTS KIDNAPPED A NUMBER OF AMERICANS.

VOICE: "THE PREMISE IS THAT LEBANON HAS SUFFERED MUCH AND DESERVES AND COULD PROFIT FROM THIS GESTURE OF CONFIDENCE. WHAT TO DO, HOWEVER, ABOUT THE TERRORIST GROUPS STILL LOOSE - - HEZBOLLAH, ABU NIDAL, THE PFLP-GC AND SO FORTH? .... THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO, IN ADDITION TO HOLDING UNOFFENDING INDIVIDUALS HOSTAGE FOR YEARS, KILLED HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS WITH BOMBS AT THE U-S EMBASSY AND THE MARINE BARRACKS IN BEIRUT. .... THOSE TERRORISTS, WHO ARE NOT RESPONSIVE TO LEBANESE AUTHORITY, ARE THE PROBLEM." [END OPT]

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] REGARDING WORLD TRADE, THE WASHINGTON POST, HAS THESE COMMENTS ON THE SUCCESSOR TO THE GATT ORGANIZATION.

VOICE: "WHEN A NEW INTERNATIONAL COURT FOR TRADE DISPUTES BEGAN HEARING CASES NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, MANY AMERICANS FEARED THE WORST. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND ITS DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURE WOULD CLIP U-S SOVEREIGNTY AND HURT U-S COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, THEY FEARED. BUT EARLY RESULTS ARE QUITE THE REVERSE: THE COURT IS WORKING WELL, AND U-S COMPANIES ARE BENEFITING MORE THAN MOST." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, BACK TO A CAMPAIGN ISSUE AGAIN. THE SUN IN BALTIMORE IS SUGGESTING THAT BY TAKING MONEY FROM AN INDONESIAN BILLIONAIRE AND HIS ASSOCIATES, THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE CREATED A MAJOR SCANDAL FOR ITSELF.

VOICE: "LIKE WATERGATE, THIS MAY TURN OUT TO BE A CAMPAIGN SCANDAL WITH MORE LEGS THAN A SPIDER. PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS ENTOURAGE, INCLUDING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, HAVE RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS OF UP TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH PERSONS ASSOCIATED WITH A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR INDONESIAN BANKING CONGLOMERATE, THE LIPPO GROUP. .... SEEN AT ITS WORST, IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER ADMINISTRATION POLICY TOWARD THE JAKARTA REGIME WAS UNDULY INFLUENCED BY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT, IN SOME INSTANCES, MAY HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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21-Oct-96 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA SHOULD BE POSTPONED AFTER ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHN KORNBLUM'S TALKS IN BOSNIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: MR. KORNBLUM WILL BE MEETING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC BILJANA PLAVSIC IN BANJA LUKA AS THE UNITED STATES ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS SHOULD BE POSTPONED ONCE AGAIN IN BOSNIA BECAUSE OF REGISTRATION PROBLEMS.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT YET MADE A DECISION.

IT IS TRUE SOME OF THE PARTIES, PARTICULARLY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN SRBSKA, HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD OBSTACLES TO THE GOING FORWARD WITH THE ELECTIONS BUT WE HAVE NOT REACHED A RECOMMENATION ON THAT SUBJECT, ALTHOUGH THE DECISION ULTIMATELY WILL BE THAT OF AMBASSADOR FROWICK'S.

ROBERT FROWICK, A FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, USUALLY MAKES DECISIONS ON ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA CONSISTENT WITH AMERICAN POLICY. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ORIGINALLY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14TH ALONG WITH NATIONAL ELECTIONS BUT WERE POSTPONED UNTIL LATE NOVEMBER. A FURTHER DELAY COULD POSTPONE THE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS FROM THE BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. (SIGNED)
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21-Oct-96 2:53 PM EDT (1853 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON / NATO O'NITER (L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (DETROIT)

INTRO: ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHIFTS HIS FOCUS (LATER) (TUESDAY) FROM DOMESTIC POLITICS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. HE IS EXPECTED TO PRESENT A TIMETABLE FOR THE ACCESSION OF NEW MEMBERS. WITH TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE NOVEMBER FIFTH ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT THEN TRAVELS SOUTH FOR MORE CAMPAIGNING. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA IS TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ALREADY SUGGESTED THAT A NATO SUMMIT DEALING WITH EXPANSION BE HELD SOME TIME IN EARLY 1997. A PREPARATORY FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN BRUSSELS IN DECEMBER.

CONSIDERING RUSSIA'S SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANSION, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN A SENSITIVE ONE. BUT NOW THE PRESIDENT IS PREPARING TO PROVIDE SOME NEW DETAILS ON A TIMETABLE, AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ARE HINTING HE WANTS EXPANSION BY 1999.

WITHOUT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMING THAT, CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY NOTES THAT YEAR IS THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION.

HE WILL NOT LIKELY INDICATE BY NAME ANY SPECIFIC COUNTRIES, BUT CERTAINLY WILL INDICATE WHAT HE THINKS THE TIMING SHOULD BE FOR THE ACCESSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ALLIANCE AS WE WORK TO EXPAND THE ALLIANCE. THAT WILL BE, I THINK, A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT.

AFTER HIS SPEECH HERE, THE PRESIDENT TAKES HIS COMFORTABLE NATIONAL LEAD OVER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB DOLE TO THE SOUTH, STOPPING FIRST IN THE TRADITIONALLY-REPUBLICAN STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE HIS RACE WITH DOLE IS CLOSE. IN FLORIDA, HE WILL UNDERSCORE HIS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR THE STATE'S MANY ELDERLY VOTERS. ON MONDAY, AT STOPS IN OHIO AND MICHIGAN, THE PRESIDENT AND RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS QUESTIONED MR. DOLE'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVED EDUCATION AND TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. MR. DOLE HAS CHARGED DEMOCRATS WITH ACCEPTING IMPROPER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS. BUT CLINTON SPOKESMAN MCCURRY CALLS THIS -- IN HIS WORDS-- A "POLITICAL DEATHBED CONVERSION."

THE CLINTON RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN RELEASED A STATEMENT CITING REPUBLICAN ACCEPTANCE OF MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS FROM U-S SUBSIDIARIES OF SIXTEEN FOREIGN-OWNED COMPANIES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND A NEW CLINTON TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT CALLS THE DOLE STRATEGY OF CRITICIZING DEMOCRATS FOR ACCEPTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS IN ITS WORDS -- "DESPERATE ATTACKS." (SIGNED)
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21-Oct-96 6:32 PM EDT (2232 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN THE WAKE OF EUROPEAN ELECTIONS HELD SUNDAY, LITHUANIA'S CONSERVATIVES ARE HEADED FOR TRIUMPH OVER THE RULING FORMER COMMUNISTS IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. MEANWHILE, LOCAL ELECTIONS WENT SMOOTHLY IN ALBANIA, AND FINLAND HELD ITS FIRST EVER ELECTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD WRAPS UP THE RESULTS:

TEXT: IN LITHUANIA -- THE MOST POPULOUS OF THE THREE BALTIC STATES -- INDEPENDENCE LEADER VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS LED A VICTORIOUS COMEBACK FOR HIS CONSERVATIVE "HOMELAND UNION." FOUR YEARS AGO IN AN ELECTION THAT BEGAN A TREND OF FORMER COMMUNIST TRIUMPHS IN EASTERN EUROPE, LITHUANIAN VOTERS DISMISSED THE CONSERVATIVES AND ELECTED THE FORMER COMMUNIST LITHUANIAN DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY. ON MONDAY, MR. LANDSBERGIS CLAIMED VICTORY. INCOMPLETE RETURNS SHOW THE HOMELAND UNION GETTING ABOUT 26 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, COMPARED TO ABOUT TEN PERCENT FOR THE FORMER COMMUNISTS. MR. LANDBERGIS PREDICTED FINAL RESULTS WILL NOT CHANGE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE EARLY TREND. HE SAID HIS PARTY EXPECTS TO NOMINATE THE NEW PRIME MINISTER AND GOVERN IN COALITION WITH OTHER CONSERVATIVE PARTIES.

THE FORMER COMMUNISTS HAD LOST POPULARITY DUE TO ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND A BANKING SCANDAL EARLIER THIS YEAR WHICH FORCED THE ECONOMY INTO RECESSION.

JUST TO THE NORTH OF LITHUANIA AND ACROSS THE BALTIC SEA, FINLAND SUNDAY CHOSE ITS 16 REPRESENTATIVES TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN STRASBURG. THE OPPOSITION "CENTER" PARTY GOT 24 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO THE RULING SOCIAL DEMOCRATS 21 PERCENT. SEVERAL OF THE ELECTED CANDIDATES OPPOSE EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION -- SOMETHING WHICH IS ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY FINLAND'S GOVERNMENT.

IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF EUROPE, ALBANIA SUNDAY HELD LOCAL ELECTIONS WHICH OCCURRED WITHOUT MAJOR INCIDENT. COMING FIVE MONTHS AFTER FLAWED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE VOTE WAS REGARDED AS A TEST OF ALBANIA'S FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY. SOME 350 INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS MONITORED THE ELECTION IN WHICH TURNOUT WAS A HIGH 75 PERCENT. THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY CLAIMED A LANDSLIDE VICTORY. THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, WHICH COORDINATED ELECTION MONITORING, SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO DRAW FINAL CONCLUSIONS, BUT SAYS THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF SERIOUS INCIDENTS. SOME TWO-MILLION ALBANIANS VOTED FOR TOWN AND DISTRICT COUNCILS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
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21-Oct-96 12:27 PM EDT (1627 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED AT ANOTHER RECORD HIGH IN LONDON, BUT DROPPED A BIT IN OTHER MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET FIGURES FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES FOOTSIE 100 INDEX ROSE ALMOST FIVE PERCENT, ENDING THE DAY JUST ABOVE FOUR-THOUSAND-73, AN ALL TIME RECORD HIGH CLOSE

IN FRANKFURT, THE GERMAN MARKET ALSO HIT A RECORD HIGH, BUT THEN DROPPED BACK TO END THE DAY SLIGHTLY LOWER. EXPERTS BLAMED THE DECLINE ON A DROP IN THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, AND SAID THE GERMAN MARKET IS CONSOLIDATING ITS BIG GAINS OF RECENT WEEKS. IN PARIS, STOCK PRICES ALSO CLOSED DOWN A LITTLE AFTER THE TWO-AND-ONE-HALF YEAR CLOSING HIGH OF LAST FRIDAY.

THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN AGAINST MOST EUROPEAN CURRENCIES. THE PRICE OF GOLD IN LONDON WAS UP. (SIGNED)
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21-Oct-96 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY JOHN KORNBLUM MEETS LATER TODAY (MONDAY) IN SARAJEVO WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MUSLIM, CROAT AND SERB COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH GO ON AS SCHEDULED. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. KORNBLUM IS EXPECTED TO ALSO PRESS BOSNIA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES TO ACCELERATE THEIR WORK ON THE COUNTRY'S POST-WAR GOVERNMENT BODY:

TEXT: MR. KORNBLUM, WHO IS EXPECTED TO BE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP, IS TRYING TO ENSURE THE COOPERATION OF BOSNIA'S THREE MAIN COMMUNITIES. THE BALLOT IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 23RD AND 24TH.

U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS DENOUNCES BOSNIAN SERB SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY HOLD THEIR OWN LOCAL ELECTIONS APART FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. THEY HAVE ALSO THREATENED TO PULL OUT OF THE BALLOT CITING UNADDRESSED SECURITY CONCERNS.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE PARTICIPANTS TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, INCLUDING THE SERBS, AGREED THE O-S-C-E LED BY AMBASSADOR ROBERT FROWICK MUST RUN THE ELECTIONS:

SO, AMBASSADOR KORNBLUM, WHO APPEARS IN THE BALKANS ON THE AVERAGE OF ONCE A WEEK, WILL BE BACK TO PRESS THIS ISSUE, TO WORK WITH AMBASSADOR FROWICK AND CARL BILDT AND TO SEE THE UNITED STATES PUSHES FORWARD, AS WE HAVE NOW FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, TO COMPLETE THE PEACE AGREEMENTS.

MR. KORNBLUM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PRESS MUSLIM, CROAT AND SERB LEADERS TO SPEED UP WORK ON BOSNIA'S COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY AND PARLIAMENT. THE PRESIDENCY HAS MET ONLY ONCE SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTION AND BOTH THE PRESIDENCY AND PARLIAMENT HAVE BEEN BOYCOTTED BY THE SERBS. (SIGNED)
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20-Oct-96 10:01 PM EDT (0201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U.S. / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT'S WIFE, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, HAS ANNOUNCED TWO INITIATIVES TO HELP BOLSTER THE PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. ONE AIMS TO EDUCATE BOSNIAN CHILDREN ON THE DANGERS OF LAND MINES, AND THE OTHER PROVIDES FOR AN EXCHANGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES BETWEEN A U-S HOSPITAL AND A BOSNIAN CLINIC. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS DETAILS ABOUT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS UNVEILED AT THE WHITE HOUSE MONDAY.

TEXT: LAND MINES ARE AMONG THE MOST UNFORTUNATE LEGACIES OF WAR.

IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ALONE, U-N OFFICIALS SAY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE MILLION LAND MINES. ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE HECTARES OF LAND IN CENTRAL BOSNIA IS UNUSABLE BECAUSE OF MINES. SINCE THE FIGHTING ENDED, THE DETONATION OF MINES HAS BECOME THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF SERIOUS INJURY.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY CHILDREN ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO INJURY AND DEATH BY LANDMINES THAN ADULTS BECAUSE THEIR BODIES ARE SMALLER. OFFICIALS SAY CHILDREN OFTEN MISTAKE MINES FOR TOYS.

A NEW TOOL UNVEILED AT THE WHITE HOUSE MONDAY AIMS TO EDUCATE BOSNIAN CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF LAND MINES.

A SUPERMAN COMICBOOK, PUBLISHED BY D-C COMICS, A DIVISION OF WARNER BROTHERS, TELLS CHILDREN HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MINES. IT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH HELP FROM THE U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND THE U-N CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF).

FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON -- A LONG TIME CHILDRENS' ADVOCATE -- SAID THE COMICBOOK COULD HELP CHILDREN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

WE ALL KNOW THAT CHILDREN CANNOT BECOME HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ADULTS IF THEIR CHILDHOODS ARE SCARRED BY FEAR AND VIOLENCE.

THE COMIC BOOK -- WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGES OF BOSNIA -- WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT NO CHARGE THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE MINE ACTION CENTER IN SARAJEVO.

U-N AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, WHO WAS ALSO ON HAND FOR THE WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY, SAID THE PUBLICATION COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

THIS IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM THAT WE CANNOT SOLVE OVERNIGHT. WHAT WE CAN DO IS REDUCE THE CARNAGE BY TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE HIDDEN DANGER, WARNING THEM TO EXERCISE CARE WHEN CHOOSING A PLACE TO PLAY SOCCER, URGING THEM TO STICK ONLY TO MARKED PATHS AND ROADS, REINFORCING THE MESSAGE THAT THEY MUST HEED THE ADVICE OF PARENTS AND LOVED ONES BECAUSE UNLIKE SUPERMAN, THEY ARE VERY VULNERABLE.

AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT REPEATED HER COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT TO BAN LAND MINES AROUND THE WORLD.

THE OTHER INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED AT THE WHITE HOUSE IS A NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND A MEDICAL CLINIC IN TUZLA, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR AN EXCHANGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES BETWEEN THE TWO FACILITIES.

BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, SVEN ALKALAJ, WELCOMED THE INITIATIVE.

BY FORGING THIS PARTERSHIP, WE ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES, AND BY THAT, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS STABILIZATION OF PEACE AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

MRS. CLINTON -- WHO VISITED TUZLA EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRAISED BOTH THE MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP AND THE COMIC BOOK ON LAND MINES, SAYING THEY REPRESENT AMERICA'S BELIEF THAT PEACE AND DEMOCRACY CAN LAST IN BOSNIA IF THE NATION ITSELF AND THE PEOPLE'S SPIRITS ARE REPAIRED. (SIGNED)
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21-Oct-96 2:19 PM EDT (1819 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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