Voice of America, 96-10-25

Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BLACK SEA/ECONOMY (L-ONLY) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

[03] E EURO STOCKS (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

[05] NORWAY POLITICS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] NUDGING NATO EASTWARD BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

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

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IN FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS, INCLUDING YET ANOTHER UNTOLD STORY OF WORLD WAR TWO. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT OF BOB DOLE FOR PRESIDENT; ISSUES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN; OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL FOR EXPANDING NATO, AND TROUBLE BREWING IN EAST AFRICA. NOW, HERE WITH DETAILS IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FRIDAY'S BOSTON GLOBE HAS STRONG WORDS ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "SWISS BANKING'S DIRTY SECRET," CONCERNING THE FATE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF JEWISH ASSETS THAT DISAPPEARED DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. THE PAPER WRITES:

VOICE: "THE RECENT DISCOVERIES ABOUT SWISS BANKS DISPOSING OF FUNDS DEPOSITED BY HOLOCAUST VICTIMS SUGGESTS AN OBTUSENESS THAT VERGES ON COMPLICITY WITH THE THIRD REICH. AT FIRST, SWISS AUTHORITIES DENIED THAT VICTIMS' UNCLAIMED ACCOUNTS HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO COMMUNIST REGIMES IN POLAND AND HUNGARY SO THOSE REGIMES COULD COMPENSATE SWISS BUSINESSES FOR CONFISCATED ASSETS. BUT THIS WEEK A SWISS HISTORIAN, PETER HUG, PUBLISHED A STUDY DOCUMENTING THAT SUCH TRANSFERS WERE MADE, FULFILLING SECRET ANNEXES OF COMPENSATION TREATIES WITH POLAND, HUNGARY AND OTHER COMMUNIST GOVERNMENTS, ANNEXES SO SECRET THAT THEY WERE NOT EVEN REVEALED TO THE SWISS PARLIAMENT... THEIR [SWISS AUTHORITIES] REFUSAL TO PERMIT THE HEIRS OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS TO RECOVER ASSETS DEPOSITED IN SWISS BANKS HAS LONG BEEN AN OUTRAGE..."

TEXT: IN ANOTHER COMMENTARY ON THE MATTER, USA TODAY WRITES:

VOICE: "UNDER PRESSURE FROM JEWISH GROUPS AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, THE LEGENDARY SWISS BANK SECRECY IS BEING EASED FOR MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, BUT AT A GLACIAL PACE. [OPT] THIS COMES ON TOP OF GROWING EVIDENCE THAT SWISS BANKS AND BUSINESSES HELP HIDE AND LAUNDER THE NAZIS' OWN ILL-GOTTEN GAINS -- INCLUDING GOLD, DIAMONDS AND THE LIKE TAKEN FROM THEIR VICTIMS. [END OPT] ... IN THE TROUBLED ECONOMY OF EUROPE TODAY, NATIONALIST, ANTI-FOREIGNER PARTIES THAT ECHO THE APPEAL OF NAZISM AND FASCISM ARE AGAIN SHOWING STRENGTH, NOTABLY IN AUSTRIA AND FRANCE. ALL THE MORE REASON TO EXPOSE HITLER'S MANY LITTLE HELPERS. ANY HINT THAT NAZISM CAN BE CODDLED OR IGNORED INSULTS THE POSTWAR PROMISE: NEVER AGAIN!"

TEXT: TURNING TO THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAGN, TODAY'S NEW YORK POST HAS ENDOSED REPUBLICAN BOB DOLE AS, WHAT IT CALLS, "THE BETTER CHOICE" TO RUN THE COUNTRY. THE EDITORIAL SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "...FACILE CAMPAIGNERS AREN'T ALWAYS GOOD PRESIDENTS. AND SERIOUS MEN WHO DON'T EXCEL AT PANDERING AND BABY-KISSING CAN BE STRONG LEADERS. BOB DOLE -- A WALKING ILLUSTRATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM -- FITS INTO THE LATTER CATEGORY. JUST AS IMPORTANT, BILL CLINTON IS THE WRONG MAN FOR THIS TASK. A SECOND CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE MIRED IN SCANDAL FROM DAY ONE... THE ... SCANDALS -- FROM WHITEWATER TO TRAVELGATE TO FILEGATE -- MAY LEAD TO HIGH-LEVEL INDICTMENTS DIRECTLY AFTER THE ELECTION."

TEXT: STILL WITH THE CAMPAIGN, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS COMMENTING ONTHURSDAY'S BIG STORY: THE REQUEST BY THE DOLE CAMPAIGN FOR REFORM PARTY CANDIDATE ROSS PEROT TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE AND THROW HIS SUPPORT TO MR. DOLE.

VOICE: "THE DOLE CAMPAIGN WAS ... LOONEY [CRAZY] TO IMAGINE THAT MR. PEROT WOULD SATISFY EITHER REQUEST. THE REFORM PARTY CANDIDATE CARRIES GRUDGES BETTER THAN THE MONTAGUES AND CAPULETS, [THE WARRING FAMILIES IN SHAKEASPEAR'S ROMEO AND JULIET] AND MR. DOLE HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF HIS ENEMIES LIST EVER SINCE HE WORKED TO KEEP MR. PEROT OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES."

TEXT: FLORIDA'S ORLANDO SENTINEL EXPRESSES THE VIEW THAT BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SEEM TO BE ETHICALLY FLAWED, AND IT APPARENTLY DOES NOT BOTHER MANY VOTERS.

VOICE: "SOME PEOPLE MIGHT QUESTION WHETHER THE INTEGRITY-CHARACTER ISSUE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. THOSE PEOPLE PREFER TO FOCUS ON MORE TANGIBLE ISSUES... BUT THE INTEGRITY-CHARACTER ISSUE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES... SIMPLY PUT, ALL THE QUALITIES THAT TOUCH ON INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER -- HONESTY, MORAL STRENGTH, SINCERITY, UPRIGHTNESS, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND FORTITUDE -- MATTER GREATLY IN A PRESIDENT."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS DIGESTED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TIMETABLE FOR BRINGING NEW MEMBERS INTO NATO, WHICH HE OUTLINED IN DETROIT THIS WEEK, AND THE PAPER DOESN'T LIKE IT.

VOICE: "EXPANDING NATO INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MAY BE A POPULAR IDEA IN THE MIDWEST AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF ETHNIC VOTERS... BUT GOOD POLITICS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE GOOD FOREIGN POLICY. BRINGING COUNTRIES LIKE POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC INTO THE NATO ALLIANCE BEFORE THE END OF THIS DECADE RISKS MAKING THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE LESS SECURE RATHER THAN MORE SO."

TEXT: WHILE ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY ACCUSES THE PRESIDENT OF "PLAYING POLITICS WITH NATO."

VOICE: "THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING THROUGH A STAGE OF DANGEROUS INSTABILITY, WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ABOUT TO GO UNDER THE SURGEON'S KNIFE AND HIS FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, ALEXANDER LEBED, NOW FORMING HIS OWN POWER BASE. THE EXPANSION OF NATO HAS BEEN USED BY NATIONALIST DEMAGOGUES TO FAN RUSSIAN PARANOIA AND INSECURITY ABOUT WESTERN THREATS, AND ... REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE ISSUES IN U-S-RUSSIAN RELATIONS. FOR [MR.] CLINTON TO RAISE THE EXQUISITELY THORNY ISSUE NOW, FOR POLITICAL GAIN IN MICHIGAN, IS CAVALIER AT BEST, IRRESPONSIBLE AT WORST."

TEXT: LASTLY, CONCERNING THE LATEST ETHNIC TROUBLES IN AND AROUND BURUNDI, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD NOTES WITH SADNESS:

VOICE: "AT THIS MOMENT, AS MANY AS 300-THOUSAND REFUGEES ARE ON THE MOVE IN EASTERN ZAIRE, CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN THE MURDEROUS TROOPS OF MOBUTU SESE SEKO, THE ZAIRIAN DICTATOR, AND THE BANYAMULENGE ETHNIC GROUP. THE REFUGEES ARE HUTUS FROM RWANDA AND BURUNDI WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN CAMPS IN EASTERN ZAIRE. THE BANYAMULENGE ARE ETHNIC TUTSIS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN EASTERN ZAIRE FOR THE PAST 400-YEARS. YET, THEY HAVE BEEN ORDERED BY ZAIRE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AS THOUGH THEY ... ARRIVED ONLY YESTERDAY. A HUMANITARIAN TRAGEDY OF TRULY EPIC PROPORTIONS IS SHAPING UP IN EASTERN ZAIRE AND NEIGHBORING BURUNDI... THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD MEET IN EMERGENCY SESSION TO TRY TO HEAD OFF THE IMPENDING SLAUGHTER. "

TEXT: ON THAT SOMBER NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF FRIDAY'S U-S EDITORIALS COLUMNS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
25-Oct-96 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] BLACK SEA/ECONOMY (L-ONLY) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: LEADERS OF COUNTRIES SURROUNDING THE BLACK SEA HAVE PLEDGED TO FORGE STRONGER ECONOMIC LINKS. VOA'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS ON A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE HELD FRIDAY IN THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: LEADERS OF THE DIVERSE BLACK SEA NATIONS VOWED TO BOOST TRADE TIES AND TO WORK TOGETHER ON ENERGY, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES. THE 11 MEMBERS OF THE BLACK SEA COOPERATION FORUM SIGNED A DECLARATION OUTLINING THEIR GOALS AT THE END OF SUMMIT MEETING IN MOSCOW.

SUMMIT HOST RUSSIA IS JOINED BY TURKEY, GREECE, UKRAINE, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, MOLDOVA, ALBANIA, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA TO FORM THE GROUP. SEVEN OTHER NATIONS HAVE OBSERVER STATUS.

PARTICIPANTS IN FRIDAY'S MEETING ALSO TACKLED ISSUES RANGING FROM THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORISM TO THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN DRUGS AND WEAPONS -- INCLUDING NUCLEAR MATERIALS.

BLACK SEA FORUM MEMBERS ALSO VOICED SUPPORT FOR PEACE INITIATIVES IN THE BALKANS AND THE CAUCASUS -- THE FORMER SOVIET REGION THAT HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY UNREST IN THE POST-SOVIET PERIOD.

RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN SAID THE GROUP HELPS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE REGION. SPEAKING AFTER THE SUMMIT, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAID EVENTUALLY THE COUNTRIES MIGHT SET UP A FREE TRADE ZONE.

FRIDAY'S MEETING WAS THE THIRD SUMMIT OF BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION. TURKEY INITIATED THE FORUM IN 1992. THE GROUP IS EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN IN TURKEY EARLY NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/EA/PCF/CF
25-Oct-96 12:05 PM EDT (1605 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] E EURO STOCKS (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE HIGH-FLYING EAST EUROPEAN STOCKS TOOK A BREATHER THIS WEEK, AS ALL OF THE MAJOR EXCHANGES WERE LOWER. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE.

TEXT: THE BIGGEST LOSER WAS WARSAW WHERE THE WIG INDEX LOST EIGHT PERCENT, OR 1200 POINTS, TO 13-THOUSAND-500. SINCE TOUCHING ITS 52-WEEK HIGH OCTOBER NINTH, THE WARSAW INDEX HAS LOST 11 PERCENT. BUDAPEST, THE REGION'S BEST PERFORMER ON THE YEAR, LOST MORE THAN THREE PERCENT, WITH THE BUX INDEX DOWN 160 POINTS TO 35-HUNDRED-40.

PRAGUE WAS ALSO LOWER, WITH THE P-X 50 INDEX DOWN PARTICULARLY HARD ON FRIDAY. THE INDEX ENDS AT 521, AN ELEVEN POINT LOSS ON THE WEEK.

THE SMALLER EXCHANGES WERE ALSO LOWER. BRATISLAVA WAS DOWN ONLY MARGINALLY. ZAGREB AND LJUBLJANA WERE LOWER AND THERE WAS NO TRADING IN SOFIA, WHERE BULGARIA CONTINUES TO BE AFFLICTED BY A COLLAPSE OF BUSINESS CONFIDENCE AND A WEAK CURRENCY.

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN LITTLE ACTIVITY IN BUCHAREST WHERE THE CURRENCY IS WEAKENING AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING ROMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/CF
25-Oct-96 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE RECOVERED A BIT AFTER A WEEK OF STEADY LOSSES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: LEADING SHARE PRICES WERE UP IN BOTH LONDON AND PARIS. THE MARKET IN FRANKFURT CLOSED DOWN, BUT PRICES ROSE IN THE TRADING THAT CONTINUES AFTER FLOOR ACTIVITY ENDS FOR THE DAY. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP 23 POINTS -- MORE THAN ONE-HALF PERCENT -- AT JUST OVER FOUR-THOUSAND-22. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ALSO ROSE MORE THAN ONE-HALF PERCENT. IN FRANKFURT, THE GERMAN MARKET'S DAX-30 INDEX WAS DOWN A LITTLE AT THE CLOSE OF FLOOR TRADING, BUT THEN ROSE A BIT IN LATER TRADE.

ON EUROPEAN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR HIT A 33-MONTH HIGH AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT THE DOLLAR WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND, AND THE FRENCH FRANC. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/CF
25-Oct-96 2:06 PM EDT (1806 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] NORWAY POLITICS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THORBJOERN JAGLAND HAS BEEN APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER OF NORWAY, FOLLOWING THE SURPRISE RESIGNATION EARLIER THIS WEEK OF LONGTIME GOVERNMENT HEAD, GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND. VOA EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT FROM BONN.

TEXT: NORWAY'S KING HARALD APPOINTED MR. JAGLAND AND HIS NEW LABOR PARTY GOVERNMENT AFTER OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF MS. BRUNDTLAND, WHO HAS DOMINATED NORWEGIAN POLITICS FOR MUCH OF THE PAST 15 YEARS. THE 46-YEAR-OLD MR. JAGLAND, WHO HAS BEEN GROOMED BY MS. BRUNDTLAND TO TAKE OVER THE JOB, FACES HIS FIRST TEST AT THE POLLS IN NEXT YEAR'S GENERAL ELECTIONS.

FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT HE TOLD REPORTERS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WOULD REMAIN THE SAME, BUT HE SAID HE BELIEVED HIS TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE.

OBSERVERS DESCRIBE THE NEW PRIME MINISTER AS A PLAIN-SPEAKING AND DOWN-TO-EARTH.

SOME FINANCIAL ANALYSTS SAY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS INITIALLY A BIT WARY OF MR. JAGLAND BECAUSE OF HIS LEFT WING BACKGROUND, BUT INVESTORS WERE CALMED WHEN HE SAID ECONOMIC AND OTHER POLICIES WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.

MS. BRUNDTLAND, NORWAY'S MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICIAN AND THE NATION'S FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER, SURPRISED THE NATION WEDNESDAY WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD STEP DOWN.

AFTER OFFICIALLY SUBMITTING HER RESIGNATION AT A CABINET SESSION, SHE SAID THE ONLY THING THAT IS SAD IS LEAVING THE PEOPLE SHE HAS WORKED WITH SO CLOSELY.

MS. BRUNDTLAND, WHO HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE POST OF U-N SECRETARY GENERAL, WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN NORWAY'S PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/CF
25-Oct-96 10:22 AM EDT (1422 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] NUDGING NATO EASTWARD BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: CAMPAIGNING IN MICHIGAN THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID IF HE IS RE- ELECTED PRESIDENT, HE WILL PRESS FOR THE ADMISSION OF NEW EASTERN EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF NATO NO LATER THAN 1999.

THE PRESIDENT WAS SPEAKING IN DETROIT, WHICH HAS A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ETHNIC AMERICANS WITH TIES TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

IN COMMENTING ON THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO NATO EXPANSION, SOME PAPERS BELIEVE IT WAS UNWISE FOR HIM TO MIX A DELICATE FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE WITH PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. OTHERS HOWEVER, APPLAUD AT LEAST SOME MENTION IN THE CAMPAIGN OF A CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE. WE GET A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL REACTION NOW FROM __________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: WE BEGIN IN TEXAS, WHERE THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS TAKES ISSUE WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUGGESTING THAT NATO "DOES NOT NEED FAST EXPANSION" AS ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS.

VOICE: "[OPT] UNTIL RECENTLY, PRESIDENT CLINTON SUPPORTED A LONGER TIMETABLE FOR EXPANDING THE 16-MEMBER NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. THE EXPANSION WOULD INCLUDE THE NEWLY EMERGING DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. THIS WEEK, HOWEVER, THE PRESIDENT CHANGED COURSE. ..... [END OPT] WHY THE RUSH? NO NEED EXISTS TO NOW EXPAND NATO. IN FACT, SOME PRACTICAL HURDLES ARGUE AGAINST A FAST EXPANSION. FIRST, THERE'S THE BOSNIAN PRECEDENT. BOTH PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND GEORGE BUSH WERE RELUCTANT TO SEND U-S TROOPS TO BOSNIA. .... SO WHY SHOULD 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS THINK CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD ANSWER ANY POSSIBLE NEW CALLS TO INTERVENE IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE? ..... SECOND, THE THREATS FACING THE LIKELY NEW NATO MEMBERS - - POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC - - ARE NOT MILITARY CHALLENGES. THEIR REAL PROBLEMS ARISE OUT OF ECONOMIC INSTABILITY. ..... THE BETTER OPTION IS TO HAVE A SLOW ENLARGEMENT ..... [WHICH] WOULD BENEFIT ALL THE PLAYERS IN THIS DELICATE GAME."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, THE BOSTON GLOBE REACTED EVEN MORE NEGATIVELY, CALLING IT "UNWISE HASTE..."

VOICE: "THE NATO ALLIES, THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND (RUSSIA) HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN INTENSE CONSULTATIONS ABOUT THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO FOR SEVERAL YEARS. ONLY [MR.] CLINTON'S DATE CERTAIN CAN BE SEEN AS A NOVELTY. BUT IN THIS MATTER, THE SETTING OF A DEADLINE COULD PROVE TO BE IMPRUDENT... THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF RUSSIA APPEARS LESS PREDICTABLE THAN EVER, AND THIS UNCERTAINTY SHOULD BE A REASON FOR CAUTION..."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN ON THE OTHER HAND, SAYS THE ISSUE MUST BE VIGOROUSLY DEBATED BY EVERY AMERICAN OF VOTING AGE, BECAUSE IT HAS VERY SERIOUS, POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON ['S] ..... APPEAL TO VOTERS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN EXTRACTION IN THE UPPER MIDWEST LEFT HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT, BOB DOLE, IN THE COMPRESSED POSITION OF DEMANDING NATO ENLARGEMENT JUST ONE YEAR EARLIER... AMERICANS HAVE YET TO PONDER DEEPLY WHETHER THEY ARE REALLY PREPARED TO GO TO WAR TO DEFEND POLAND AND HUNGARY. OR EVEN BELARUS AND UKRAINE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST DEFENDS THE PRESIDENT, SAYING THAT CAMPAIGN CRITICS CAN NOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

VOICE: "FOR THOSE WHO WISHED FOR MORE ATTENTION TO FOREIGN POLICY IN THIS CAMPAIGN, IT WOULD BE CHURLISH NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A CO-MINGLING OF POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. AS ON MOST OF THESE ISSUES, IN FACT, MR. CLINTON AND BOB DOLE DO NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER ON NATO EXPANSION -- WHICH IS SHORTHAND FOR THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF WHETHER TO EXTEND U-S AND WESTERN MILITARY GUARANTEES TO THE FORMERLY COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE."

TEXT: BACK IN TEXAS, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE SAYS THE PRESIDENT DESERVES CREDIT, NOT SCORN, FOR AT LEAST INJECTING A CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

VOICE: "THE SPEECH WAS SUBSTANTIVE AND STATESMANLIKE, AND [MR.] CLINTON SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR SUCH. UNFORTUNATELY, IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN A DEVELOPING SCANDAL OVER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGNERS RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY. AND TO DATE THE FUTURE OF U-S INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS NOT HAD SUFFICIENT AIRING IN THE CAMPAIGN ARENA. KUDOS TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ACKNOWLEDGING IN HIS DETROIT SPEECH THAT THE PRESIDENCY HAS GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT HE WILL NOW ADDRESS SOME OF THESE OTHER SERIOUS FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES AND THAT CHALLENGER BOB DOLE AS WELL WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY - - BEYOND JUST CAMPAIGN ATTACKS - - THAT VOTERS CAN WEIGH IN THEIR NOVEMBER FIFTH DECISION."

TEXT: HOWEVER, FOR ITS PART, THE NEW YORK TIMES DOESN'T LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S TIMING.

VOICE: "EXPANDING NATO INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MAY BE A POPULAR IDEA IN THE MIDWEST AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF ETHNIC VOTERS... BUT GOOD POLITICS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE GOOD FOREIGN POLICY. BRINGING COUNTRIES LIKE POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC INTO THE NATO ALLIANCE BEFORE THE END OF THIS DECADE RISKS MAKING THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE LESS SECURE RATHER THAN MORE SO."

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY TAKES A STRONG NEGATIVE TONE, ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT OF "PLAYING POLITICS WITH NATO."

VOICE: "THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING THROUGH A STAGE OF DANGEROUS INSTABILITY, WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ABOUT TO GO UNDER THE SURGEON'S KNIFE AND HIS FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, ALEXANDER LEBED, NOW FORMING HIS OWN POWER BASE. THE EXPANSION OF NATO HAS BEEN USED BY NATIONALIST DEMAGOGUES TO FAN RUSSIAN PARANOIA AND INSECURITY ABOUT WESTERN THREATS, AND ... REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE ISSUES IN U-S-RUSSIAN RELATIONS. FOR [MR.] CLINTON TO RAISE THE EXQUISITELY THORNY ISSUE NOW, FOR POLITICAL GAIN IN MICHIGAN, IS CAVALIER AT BEST, IRRESPONSIBLE AT WORST."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF OPINIONS REGARDING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMITMENT TO EXPAND NATO BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
NEB/ANG/NL
25-Oct-96 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN AFGHANISTAN; U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI CONCEDES THE U-N'S OPTIONS ARE LIMITED FOR ENDING THE FIGHTING IN EASTERN ZAIRE; THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY IS THREE SIGNATURES SHORT FROM ENTERING INTO FORCE; AND THE WORLD ORGANIZATION OBSERVES UNITED NATIONS DAY, AMID INCREASING PRESSURES FOR CHANGE. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS CALLED UNANIMOUSLY FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND A NEW GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY. IT ALSO WARNED NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES THIS PAST WEEK TO STOP SUPPLYING ARMS TO THE AFGHAN FACTIONS. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL GAVE NO INDICATION THAT THE U-N IS READY TO CONSIDER SENDING AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE.

THE COUNCIL EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR INCREASED DIPLOMACY. THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY IN AFGHANISTAN -- GERMAN DIPLOMAT NORBERT HOLL -- SAID HIS MAIN PRIORITY IS TO END THE FIGHTING.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL CRITICIZED THE NEW TALEBAN RULERS IN KABUL FOR RESTRICTING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. THE TALEBAN IMPOSED STRICT ISLAMIC LAW IN THE CAPITAL AFTER SEIZING POWER LAST MONTH.

-0-

ETHNIC FIGHTING IN ZAIRE HAS PROMPTED EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN FROM U-N DIPLOMATS, WHO FEAR A NEW GENOCIDE IN CENTRAL AFRICA. FIGHTING BETWEEN TUTSI REBELS AND ZAIREAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN EASTERN ZAIRE HAS ALSO WORSENED RELATIONS WITH BURUNDI AND RWANDA. ZAIRE COMPLAINED TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ACCUSING RWANDA AND BURUNDI OF SENDING SOLDIERS TO HELP THE REBELS. TUTSI DOMINATE THE MILITARY IN BOTH COUNTRIES. RWANDA RESPONDED WITH SHARP DENIALS.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI TOLD REPORTERS THE U-N WOULD DO ALL IT CAN TO EASE THE SITUATION BUT SAID MILITARY INTERVENTION IS NOT LIKELY:

THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS TO OFFER OUR DIPLOMATIC ASSISTANCE, TRYING TO SOLVE THE DISPUTE, TRYING TO FIND EVEN A PROVISIONAL SOLUTION AND TRY TO OFFER THE MAXIMUM OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE OBSERVERS ON THE GROUND OR TO HAVE EVEN A MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE GROUND.

AN ESTIMATED ONE MILLION TUTSI AND MODERATE HUTU WERE MASSACRED IN RWANDA IN 1994 -- SENDING A WAVE OF REFUGEES INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ZAIRE.

-0- 129 COUNTRIES TO DATE HAVE SIGNED THE GLOBAL TREATY BANNING ALL NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAST MONTH. ALL 44 COUNTRIES WITH NUCLEAR PROGRAMS MUST RATIFY THE TREATY BEFORE IT CAN ENTER FORCE. BANGLADESH IS THE LATEST OF THAT GROUP TO JOIN. ITS NEW PRIME MINISTER SIGNED DURING A VISIT TO U-N HEADQUARTERS THIS PAST WEEK.

THAT LEAVES ONLY NORTH KOREA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN. INDIA IS THE LEAD OPPONENT OF THE TREATY, ARGUING IT FAILS TO SET A TIMETABLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT. PAKISTAN SAYS IT WILL NEVER SIGN AS LONG AS ITS ARCH-RIVAL INDIA REMAINS OUT OF THE CLUB.

-0-

THE U-N OBSERVED UNITED NATIONS DAY THIS PAST THURSDAY -- MARKING 51 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. ITS BELEAGUERED LEADER -- BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI -- DELIVERED A KEYNOTE ADDRESS NOTING THAT THE U-N IS ENGAGED IN A PROCESS OF CHANGE TO ADAPT ITSELF TO NEW DEMANDS:

THE UNITED NATIONS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. JUST AS OUR PREDECESSORS STROVE TO GIVE US A WORLD ORGANIZATION CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE AGE, SO OUR TASK IS TO PREPARE THE UNITED NATIONS OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO VETO MR. BOUTROS-GHALI'S BID FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR. IT SAYS THE U-N NEEDS A TRUE REFORMER AT THE TOP. MR. BOUTROS-GHALI'S SUPPORTERS SAY HE HAS DONE MUCH TO STREAMLINE THE U-N BUREAUCRACY. BUT CRITICS IN THE U-S CONGRESS REMAIN ADAMANT THAT A CHANGE IS NEEDED.

THE FIRST REAL CHALLENGE TO MR. BOUTROS-GHALI CAME FRIDAY AS THE AFRICAN NATION OF NIGER ACTIVELY PROMOTED ONE OF ITS OWN -- HAMID ALGABID, CURRENTLY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE. NIGER SAYS -- IN THE FACE OF U-S DETERMINATION TO GET RID OF MR. BOUTROS-GHALI -- AFRICA MUST PRESERVE A SECOND TERM FOR AN AFRICAN CANDIDATE.

HAMID ALGABID SPEAKS FLUENT FRENCH -- A MAJOR REQUIREMENT OF FRANCE, WHICH HAS THREATENED TO BLOCK ANY CANDIDATE THAT IS LESS THAN PROFICIENT IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. FRANCE HAD SPONSORED MR. BOUTROS-GHALI IN 1991 -- WHO IS ALSO A FRANCOPHONE -- AND FORCED HIS ELECTION THROUGH THE SECURITY COUNCIL. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
25-Oct-96 2:36 PM EDT (1836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next Article