Voice of America, 97-05-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] BRITISH ELECTION (S-UPDATE) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] CHESS, PC INDUSTRY, JOBS, UNFRIENDLY COMPUTERS, ONLINE BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

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

[04] FRANCE RIGHT (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] ISRAEL / TURKEY (L-O) CQ BY PATRICIA GOLAN (JERUSALEM)

[06] MAY DAY/GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING (LEIPZIG)

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[08] RELIGION / PERSECUTION (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

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

[10] WORLD HEALTH (L-ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

[01] BRITISH ELECTION (S-UPDATE) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S TWO MAJOR TELEVISION NETWORKS PREDICT A LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR THE OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY IN ELECTIONS HELD THURSDAY. IF CORRECT, THIS WOULD MEAN AN END TO 18 YEARS OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY RULE. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: JUST MINUTES AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED, BRITISH TELEVISION ESTIMATED THE LABOUR PARTY WOULD RECEIVE 47 PERCENT OF THE VOTES CAST, THE RULING CONSERVATIVES 29 PERCENT AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY 18 PERCENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, BRITAIN'S I-T-N TELEVISION SAID TONY BLAIR'S LABOUR PARTY WOULD HAVE A 159-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS. BOTH TELEVISION ESTIMATES WERE BASED ON INTERVIEWS OF BRITISH VOTERS AFTER THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

THE TELEVISION EXIT POLLS ONLY CONFIRM PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS WHICH HAVE POINTED FOR WEEKS NOW TO A LABOUR PARTY WIN.

WITH THE VOTING FINISHED, THE COUNTING IS NOW UNDERWAY -- AND IT WILL TAKE HOURS BEFORE THE FINAL, OFFICIAL TALLY IS KNOWN BECAUSE ALL BALLOTS HAVE TO BE COUNTED BY HAND -- THERE ARE NO ELECTRONIC POLLING BOOTHS.

BALLOTING THROUGHOUT BRITAIN WAS REPORTED HEAVY AS VOTERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SUNNY SKIES AND WARM TEMPERATURES TO GO TO THE POLLS. HEAVY SECURITY SURROUNDED THE 45-THOUSAND POLLING STATIONS AS POLICE WERE DETERMINED TO PREVENT DISRUPTION FROM THE PARAMILITARY GROUP, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE I-R-A HAS INCREASED ITS TERRORIST CAMPAIGN, SETTING OFF SEVERAL SMALL BOMBS AND TELEPHONING BOMB THREATS. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 6:05 PM EDT (2205 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CHESS, PC INDUSTRY, JOBS, UNFRIENDLY COMPUTERS, ONLINE BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS EDITION OF COMPUTER DIGEST:

A CHESS RE-MATCH BETWEEN A COMPUTER AND A HUMAN CHAMPION,

SALES OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS ARE UP,

JOBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIGH-TECH COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE UNITED STATES,

COMPUTERS ARE STILL NOT AS EASY TO USE AS THEY SHOULD BE,

AND, PARENTS COMMUNICATING ONLINE. *****

CHESS

TEXT: LAST YEAR, GARRY KASPAROV, THE WORLD'S BEST CHESS PLAYER, FACED A HIGH-TECH OPPONENT. THE FIRST GAME WAS WON BY THE COMPUTER, THOUGH MR. KASPAROV WENT ON TO WIN THE MATCH FOUR GAMES TO TWO. ON SATURDAY (FYI - MAY 3), THE EVENT WILL BE REPEATED. THIS TIME, REPORTS THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, IBM IS RETURNING "WITH A COMPUTER THAT HAS DOUBLE THE CALCULATING SPEED AND IMPROVED ANALYTICAL POWERS." GARRY KASPAROV TOLD THE NEWSPAPER THAT "WE HUMANS KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY ANIMALS AND MACHINES THAT ARE FASTER, STRONGER OR MORE AGILE THAN WE. BUT," HE CONTINUES, "NONE IS SMARTER, MORE INTELLIGENT. IN THIS AREA," SAYS MR. KASPAROV, "WE HAVE ENJOYED A MONOPOLY." *****

INDUSTRY

TEXT: WORLDWIDE, THE PERSONAL COMPUTER INDUSTRY GREW BY MORE THAN 15-PERCENT DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1997. THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THAT COMPAQ REMAINS THE WORLD LEADER IN SALES, WHILE APPLE COMPUTER "HAS FALLEN FROM THE GLOBAL TOP FIVE PC MAKERS FOR THE FIRST TIME." THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT WHILE THE FIRST QUARTER OF EACH YEAR IS NORMALLY A SLUGGISH TIME FOR COMPUTER SALES, THIS YEAR'S FIRST PERIOD "HAS BEEN STIMULATED BY NEW, LOWER-PRICED PC'S AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE INTEL'S M-M-X MULTIMEDIA MICROPROCESSORS." *****

JOBS

TEXT: THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER NOTES THAT IT IS A SELLER'S MARKET "FOR STUDENTS MAJORING IN COMPUTER SCIENCE OR ENGINEERING." THE PAPER ESTIMATES THAT TODAY "190,000 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JOBS ARE GOING UNFILLED AT LARGE AND MIDSIZE COMPANIES." HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, BASED IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, SAYS THAT THE NUMBER OF BACHELOR'S DEGREES AWARDED IN COMPUTER SCIENCE FELL MORE THAN 40-PERCENT BETWEEN THE YEARS 1986 AND 1994. MANNY CONSTOMANOLIS, DIRECTOR OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND CAREER SERVICES AT THE ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, SAYS THAT MANY RECENT GRADUATES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE TO FILL POSITIONS PREFER TO START THEIR OWN COMPANIES. *****

UNFRIENDLY COMPUTERS

TEXT: WHILE INTEREST IN PERSONAL COMPUTING REMAINS HIGH IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ELSEWHERE, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT SAYS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE MAGAZINE, "THE INDUSTRY HAS YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FIRST-TIME CONSUMERS REALLY WANT FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER." AVRAM MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, IS AWARE OF WHAT HE CALLS "PAIN OF OWNERSHIP ISSUES." THESE INCLUDE "PRICE, ALL THE HASSLE, FEAR OF TECHNOLOGY...GETTING THE MACHINE OUT OF THE BOX AND RUNNING." HE TOLD US NEWS THAT "WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE PERCEIVED BENEFITS." *****

PARENTS

TEXT: MORE THAN 200,000 AMERICAN MOTHERS AND FATHERS SPEND, ON AVERAGE, "10 MINUTES PER SESSION CHATTING WITH OTHER PARENTS, ON A SPECIAL WORLD WIDE WEB SITE AND AREA OF THE AMERICA ONLINE COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDER. THE USERS PARTICIPATE IN WHAT'S CALLED IVILLAGE (PRONOUNCED - EYE VILLAGE) WHICH SERVES AS A COMMUNITY CENTER. FOR EXAMPLE, KATHRYN SIMPSON, OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON, TOLD BUSINESS WEEK MAGAZINE THAT WHILE SHE IS HOME RAISING HER CHILDREN, HER COMPUTER ALLOWS HER TO CHAT, DURING THE DAY, WITH OTHER ADULTS, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THE NEW YORK-BASED PROVIDERS OF IVILLAGE HOPE TO ONE DAY SPONSOR "ONLINE SEMINARS ON SPECIAL TOPICS, WHICH PARENTS CAN ATTEND AFTER PAYING A SMALL ADMISSION FEE." *****
01-May-97 2:40 PM EDT (1840 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MANY STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE WERE CLOSED THURSDAY FOR THE "MAY DAY" HOLIDAY, BUT IN LONDON, THE MARKET WAS OPEN AND PRICES ADVANCED. FROM LONDON, PAUL FRANCUCH HAS MORE.

TEXT: WHILE THE WORKERS' DAY OF SOLIDARITY WAS THE OCCASION FOR THURSDAY'S HOLIDAY IN MUCH OF EUROPE, IN BRITAIN THE PUBLIC FLOCKED TO VOTING BOOTHS IN A GENERAL ELECTION WHICH POLLSTERS PREDICT WILL RESULT IN THE FIRST CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN NEARLY TWO DECADES.

IN THE CITY OF LONDON, INVESTORS PUSHED THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX TO A NEW HIGH, CLOSING UP NINE-POINTS FOR THE DAY. SEVERAL ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS ARE NOT ANTICIPATING RADICAL MARKET CHANGES IF THE OPPOSITION "LABOUR" PARTY WINS THE ELECTION OVER THE CONSERVATIVES, AS POLLSTERS PREDICT.

STOCK MARKETS IN FRANKFURT AND PARIS WERE CLOSED THURSDAY.

ON THE LONDON MONEY MARKET, THE DOLLAR CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN A CENT AGAINST THE MARK AND A FRACTION OF A CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED IN THE CLOSING FIX, UP 25-CENTS AN OUNCE AT 340-DOLLARS-80-CENTS. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 1:41 PM EDT (1741 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE RIGHT (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF FRANCE'S RIGHT-WING "NATIONAL FRONT" PARTY SAYS PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SHOULD RESIGN IF HIS CONSERVATIVE COALITION IS DEFEATED IN UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. JULIAN NUNDY HAS MORE FROM PARIS.

TEXT: LAUNCHING HIS PARTY'S CAMPAIGN FOR FRANCE'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, JEAN-MARIE LE PEN, THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL FRONT, ACCUSED PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC OF CONSTANTLY BETRAYING HIS ALLIES.

MR. LE PEN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTIONS TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. HE SAID HE PREFERRED TO KEEP HIMSELF OPEN FOR A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

MR. CHIRAC HAS CALLED ELECTIONS NINE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, PRINCIPALLY TO ENSURE THAT THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH DELICATE MOVES TO PUT TOGETHER THE NEW EUROPEAN SINGLE CURRENCY NEXT APRIL.

MR. LE PEN, SPEAKING TO A MAY FIRST HOLIDAY RALLY TO HONOR THE FRENCH NATIONAL HEROINE "JOAN OF ARC," IS OPPOSED TO THE SINGLE CURRENCY AND TO ALL THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE MAASTRICHT EUROPEAN UNION TREATY. HE ACCUSED MR. CHIRAC OF TRYING TO SUBMERGE FRANCE'S NATIONAL IDENTITY IN EUROPE.

ALTHOUGH MR. LE PEN'S PARTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEMBERS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, OPINION POLLS PREDICT THAT IT IS LIKELY TO GAIN AT LEAST ONE SEAT IN THE SECOND AND FINAL ROUND OF THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE ON JUNE FIRST.

ONE POLL GIVES THE EXTREME RIGHT 16 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL VOTE. IF PROVED CORRECT, THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST EVER PERCENTAGE THAT THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION PARTY HAS EVER OBTAINED IN A FRENCH NATIONAL ELECTION. IN THE PAST, THE OPINION POLLS HAVE TENDED TO UNDER-ESTIMATE NATIONAL FRONT SUPPORT.

THE NATIONAL FRONT HAS SINGLED OUT AS ITS MAIN ENEMY MR. CHIRAC AND HIS RULING CONSERVATIVE COALITION. EVEN WHERE IT DOES NOT WIN SEATS, THE NATIONAL FRONT CAN TRY TO SPLIT THE VOTE IN THE SECOND ROUND OF ELECTIONS AND STOP CONSERVATIVES FROM BEING ELECTED.

MR. LE PEN SAID THAT, IF THE SOCIALIST OPPOSITION COMES TO POWER, THEN MR. CHIRAC SHOULD FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE LATE PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE, WHO RETIRED FROM PUBLIC LIFE WHEN HE LOST A NATIONAL REFERENDUM IN 1969. MR. LE PEN SAID PRESIDENT CHIRAC'S POLICIES PUT FRANCE IN DANGER OF DISAPPEARING. THE RIGHT-WING LEADER SAID MR. CHIRAC NOW WANTS THE FRENCH VOTERS TO BE THE ACCOMPLICES OF WHAT HE CALLED A "NATIONAL SUICIDE." (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 11:22 AM EDT (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ISRAEL / TURKEY (L-O) CQ BY PATRICIA GOLAN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: TURKEY'S DEFENSE MINISTER, TURHAN TAYAN, IS IN ISRAEL FOR TALKS AIMED AT INCREASING MILITARY TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. PATRICIA GOLAN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.

TEXT: TURHAN TAYAN IS THE FIRST TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAEL. HE AND ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK MORDECHAI HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING PLANS FOR JOINT NAVAL MANEUVERS.

DEFENSE MINISTER TAYAN'S VISIT IS PART OF THE INCREASING COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL, DESPITE THE ELECTION LAST YEAR OF ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN.

WHEN MR. ERBAKAN'S ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY CAME TO POWER LAST YEAR, ISRAEL WAS CONCERNED THAT PARTY LEADERS MIGHT TRY TO IMPLEMENT THEIR CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO CUT SECURITY AND ECONOMIC TIES WITH ISRAEL, IN FAVOR OF IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH IRAN. BUT DESPITE SOME AWKWARD MOMENTS DURING ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID LEVY'S TRIP TO TURKEY LAST MONTH, STRATEGIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY APPEAR TO BE IMPROVING.

THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON MILITARY COOPERATION AND A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, WHICH TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT APPROVED EARLY LAST MONTH.

DEFENSE MINISTER TAYAN TOLD REPORTERS IN ISRAEL THAT ALTHOUGH HIS COUNTRY IS AS CONCERNED AS ISRAEL ABOUT THE THREAT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. MR. TAYAN SAYS THAT NONE OF THE AGREEMENTS WITH ISRAEL IS DIRECTED AGAINST ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

UNDER THE ISRAEL-TURKEY DEFENSE ACCORDS, ISRAELI AIR FORCE PLANES FLY TRAINING MISSIONS OVER TURKEY, AND ISRAEL IS RENOVATING MORE THAN 50 TURKISH F-4 FIGHTER JETS. ISRAELI MEDIA REPORTS SAY THE TURKISH DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT IS SHOWING INTEREST IN THE ISRAELI ARROW MISSILE DEFENSE PROJECT, WHICH IS STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 9:28 AM EDT (1328 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MAY DAY/GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING (LEIPZIG)

INTRO: BEAUTIFUL SPRING WEATHER HELPED BRING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GERMANS OUT ONTO THE STREETS FOR TRADITIONAL MAY DAY RALLIES AND PROTESTS (THURSDAY). V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS THAT ALTHOUGH THE COUNTRY'S RECORD-HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT WAS THE DOMINANT THEME AT MOST OF THE NATIONWIDE RALLIES, FEAR OF RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM WAS THE OVERRIDING CONCERN IN THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF LEIPZIG.

TEXT: SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER AT THE MAY DAY RALLY IN DOWNTOWN LEIPZIG DENOUNCED RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS IN GERMANY, WHO THEY ACCUSE OF TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NATION'S ECONOMIC WOES.

GERMANY'S RIGHT-WING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD PLANNED TO RALLY ABOUT 10-THOUSAND OF ITS SUPPORTERS IN LEIPZIG. BUT THE MAYOR BANNED THE MARCH, FEARING AN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENT CLASHES WITH LEFTISTS.

THOUSANDS OF POLICE WERE POSTED AT CHECKPOINTS IN AND AROUND THE CITY IN AN EFFORT TO AVERT VIOLENCE.

ALTHOUGH TRADITIONALLY SET ASIDE TO HONOR THE NATION'S WORKERS, MANY PEOPLE IN LEIPZIG SAID THE MAIN REASON THEY TOOK PART IN THIS YEAR'S RALLY WAS TO SHOW THEIR OPPOSITION TO NEO-NAZIS.

UNION LEADER GUNTHER BERNT SAYS GERMANY NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL SO EXTREMISTS DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

BUT WITH MORE THAN FOUR-MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF WORK IN GERMANY AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE STILL IN THE DOLDRUMS, MANY PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE MORE ACUTE.

BUT LIKE OTHERS AT THE DEMONSTRATION, THIS MIDDLE AGED COUPLE SAID THEY DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THE MAJOR PARTIES IN GERMANY CAN REALLY SOLVE THE NATION'S PROBLEMS. AND FOR THAT REASON, MANY PEOPLE SAID THEY ARE VERY PESSIMISTIC. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 11:49 AM EDT (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A COMBINATION OF PROFIT-TAKING AND CAUTION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 69 HUNDRED 76, DOWN 32 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 798, DOWN TWO POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME PROFIT-TAKING AFTER THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OF STRONG GAINS. IN ADDITION, SOME TRADERS TURNED CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF THE MONTHLY EMPLOYMENT REPORT WHICH WILL BE RELEASED FRIDAY. WALL STREET WAS ENCOURAGED BY NEWS THAT A BUDGET DEAL BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS MAY BE NEAR. BUT SUCH A DEAL IS EXPECTED AND HAD NO REAL EFFECT ON STOCK PRICES.

APPARENTLY ENCOURAGED BY A HEALTHY ECONOMY, AMERICANS BOOSTED THEIR SPENDING IN MARCH. THE GOVERNMENT SAID CONSUMER SPENDING ROSE BY ONE-HALF PERCENT WHILE INCOMES WERE UP BY SIX-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ROSE BY ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT LAST WEEK. BUT ANALYSTS SAY STRIKES AT TWO AUTO COMPANIES CAUSED MUCH OF THE INCREASE.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION SPENDING IN THE UNITED STATES WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY IN MARCH BUT SPENDING ON NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION ROSE TO A RECORD 256 BILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL RATE.

THE U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT A POTENTIAL RISE IN THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT WITH JAPAN. MEETING WITH JAPAN'S TRADE MINISTER, U-S REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY SAID IT IS IMPORTANT FOR JAPAN TO CONTINUE OPENING ITS MARKETS.

THE AVON COSMETICS COMPANY IS JOINING WITH THE MATTEL TOY COMPANY TO MARKET A LINE OF CHILDREN'S COSMETICS WITH THE BARBIE DOLL NAME. THE COMPANIES SAY THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE INTERNATIONAL APPEAL OF THE BARBIE DOLL BY TARGETING MARKETS IN ASIA, EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA AS WELL AS NORTH AMERICA. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] RELIGION / PERSECUTION (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S LAWMAKERS ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS OFTEN SEE THEIR RIGHTS SUPPRESSED. AS V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS, TWO CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AND A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK INDICATE THE ISSUE IS MOVING TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE U-S FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA.

TEXT: U-S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THIS WEEK PRESENTED NEW FINDINGS ON RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION TO LAWMAKERS.

THE TOP EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT WITH THE GROUP "FREEDOM HOUSE", NINA SHEA (SHAY), WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD IN SUMMARIZING THE SITUATION WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS IN THE WORLD.

CHRISTIANS TODAY ARE THE MOST PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS GROUP IN THE WORLD. AND RADICAL ISLAM IS ONE OF THE TWO POLITICAL TENDENCIES, WHERE THIS IS OCCURRING. THE OTHER BEING COMMUNISM, OF COURSE.

WITH STATISTICS IN HAND, MS. SHEA PRESENTED A PICTURE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES BEING SUPPRESSED AND SQUEEZED OUT THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, MOST ACTIVELY BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SHE SAYS IN IRAQ, THE SHARE OF CHRISTIANS IN THE OVERALL POPULATION HAS DROPPED FROM 35-PERCENT TO FIVE-PERCENT THIS CENTURY. IN IRAN, THEY DWINDLED FROM 15-PERCENT TO TWO-PERCENT, AND IN SYRIA, FROM 40 TO 10-PERCENT.

BRITISH SOCIAL SCIENTIST BAT YE'OR, WHO WAS EXPELLED FROM HER NATIVE EGYPT FOR RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL REASONS MORE THAN 40-YEARS AGO, SAYS THE PLIGHT OF MIDDLE EASTERN JEWISH COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE ISRAEL WAS SIMILAR. SHE SAYS ONLY ONE-PERCENT OF THE MORE THAN ONE-MILLION JEWS, WHO LIVED IN THE ARAB WORLD IN THE LATE 1940'S, REMAIN THERE.

MRS. BAT YE'OR SAID SUDANESE AUTHORITIES ARE THE WORLD'S WORST SUPPRESSORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS. SHE SAID THEY ARE TRYING TO IMPOSE ISLAM ON CHRISTIANS AND ANIMISTS LIVING IN SOUTHERN SUDAN.

THERE IS A JIHAD (ISLAMIC HOLY WAR), AN ONGOING JIHAD THERE, MASSACRES OF PEOPLE, DEPORTATION OF ALL POPULATION, EXTERMINATION OF VILLAGES, DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES, AND, WORST OF ALL, SLAVERY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. CHILDREN ARE TAKEN INTO CAMPS AND SOLD AS SLAVES OR CONVERTED INTO ISLAM. THEY ARE GIVEN NEW NAMES AND NEW IDENTITIES AND ARE DEPORTED FAR AWAY FROM THEIR VILLAGES SO THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO BACK.

MRS. BAT YE'OR ALSO ACCUSED IRAN OF PERSECUTING THE BAHAI RELIGIOUS MINORITY.

THEY HAVE NO LEGAL STATUS IN SOCIETY. THEY CANNOT WORK, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING. THEY CANNOT MEET FOR PRAYER.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, TO REMIND THE WORLD THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED WITH THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION -- AND SECOND, TO PUSH CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS WITH STRONG TIES TO CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN GROUPS TOWARD A LESS ISOLATIONIST FOREIGN POLICY STANCE. (SIGNED)
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01-May-97 1:27 PM EDT (1727 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THERE ARE SEVERAL RECURRING TOPICS THAT CROP UP IN MANY OF THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MAY 1, AMONG THEM, THE BRITISH ELECTIONS; THE SITUATION IN ZAIRE AND THE SENTENCE OF A U.S. ARMY SERGEANT CONVICTED OF RAPE.

OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: CUTTING THE DEFENSE BUDGET; DEBT RELIEF FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS AND A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER.

NOW, HERE IS _________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE GOING TO THE POLLS AND ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE IN A LABOR GOVERNMENT. SOME JOURNALISTS IN THE U-S PRESS ARE WRITING ABOUT WHAT THAT PORTENDS. USA TODAY SAYS IT IS "FOOLISH AND INACCURATE" FOR MEDIA ANALYSTS TO COMPARE LABOR'S CANDIDATE, TONY BLAIR, WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, AS MANY HAVE BEEN DOING.

VOICE: "..... OVERLY FACILE ANALYSTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC WANT TO CAST [MR.] BLAIR AS A [BILL] CLINTON 'CLONE,' SUGGESTING HE IS COPYING THE PRESIDENT'S SUCCESS IN REMODELING THE DEMOCRATS FIVE YEARS AGO ..... HARDLY. .... IF THERE'S [THERE IS] A MODEL [,] IT MIGHT BE DAVID LANGE AND GEOFFREY PALMER OF NEW ZEALAND, UNKNOWN TO MOST AMERICANS BUT WHO LED THEIR 'NEW' LABOR PARTY BACK TO POWER IN 1984. THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN UNDOING WHAT THEIR PREDECESSORS HAD CREATED OVER NEARLY A CENTURY: ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGHGOING WELFARE STATES AND GOVERNMENT-DIRECTED ECONOMIES OUTSIDE THE COMMUNIST BLOC, BUT ONE WHICH NO LONGER MET THE PUBLIC'S NEEDS AND WANTS."

TEXT: ADDS TODAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES:

VOICE: "[OPT] OSTENSIBLY, THE BRITISH ELECTION HINGES ON THE QUESTION OF EUROPE, THAT ISSUE BEING THE PRIMARY IDENTIFIABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LABOR AND THE CONSERVATIVES. WHILE MR. MAJOR HAS HEWED TO A CAUTIOUSLY PRO-EUROPE LINE ..... MR. BLAIR IS COMMITTED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION IN A BIG WAY. A CURIOUS REVERSAL IN THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO PARTIES HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE LABOR DISCOVERED THAT PRO-UNION SOCIAL LEGISLATION IS MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPOSED FROM BRUSSELS THAN ENACTED IN LONDON. [END OPT]....CHANCES ARE ... THE BRITISH WILL REGRET THE DAY THEY ELECT MR. BLAIR TO POWER. THEY MAY EVEN WAKE UP ON MAY SECOND AND FIND SOMETHING MORE IMMEDIATELY TROUBLING: THE 'OLD LABOR' PARTY - - WITH ALL ITS UNION BOSSES, TROTSKYITES AND CRAZED FEMINISTS - - REARING ITS UGLY HEAD BEHIND THE GRINNING FACE OF TONY BLAIR'S 'NEW LABOR.' ONE WOULD HOPE, EVEN IF AGAINST HOPE AT THIS POINT, THAT THE BRITS HAVE SENSE ENOUGH NOT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE."

TEXT: TURNING TO AFRICA, AND WHAT MAY BE THE FINAL DAYS OF THE DICTATORSHIP IN ZAIRE, THE SUN IN BALTIMORE TRIES TO LOOK BEYOND THE EXPECTED REBEL TAKEOVER OF LAURENT KABILA.

VOICE: "WHETHER PRESIDENT MOBUTU SESE SEKO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF A SOUTH AFRICAN OFFER TO MEET WITH ZAIRIAN REBELS MATTERS LESS AND LESS AS EACH HOUR PASSES. HIS MISRULE IS COMING TO THE END. [OPT] .... YESTERDAY ...REBELS ... CAPTURED KIKWIT, A CITY ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY [ABOUT 400 KILOMETERS] EAST OF THE CAPITAL. 'THE NEXT STOP IS KINSHASA,' A REBEL SPOKESMAN SAID. [END OPT] .....THE EVENTUAL OVERTHROW OF MR. MOBUTU, WHO STOLE SO MANY OF HIS COUNTRY'S RICHES HE IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST MEN, IS UNLIKELY TO END ZAIRE'S SUFFERING. ALREADY THERE ARE REPORTS THAT REBEL DISCIPLINE IS BREAKING DOWN. ..... AS MR. MOBUTU'S CORRUPT RULE COMES TO A CLOSE, ZAIRE FACES A TROUBLED FUTURE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MR. MOBUTU IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE WITH ALL HIS ILL-GOTTEN GAINS.

VOICE: "THERE IS NO CALL FOR A SENTIMENTAL INDULGENCE OF THE MAN ON THE BASIS THAT IN THE PAST HE HAD HIS USES FOR THE WEST AND THAT NOW HE IS GRAVELY ILL. HE HAD HIS RUN, [HIS TIME IN POWER] AND HE IS OWED NOTHING. INDEED, HE OWES. THE BILLIONS HE SEEKS TO RETAIN FROM THE FRUITS OF HIS LOOTING ARE NOT HIS. THEY BELONG TO THE COUNTRY, AND THEY WILL BE IMMENSELY HELPFUL IN THE REBUILDING THAT HIS MISRULE NOW MAKES A NATIONAL PRIORITY."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON A MAJOR DOMESTIC STORY, THE CONVICTION OF A U.S. ARMY SERGEANT, DELMAR SIMPSON, ON 18 COUNTS OF RAPE COMMITTTED AGAINST FEMALE RECRUITS UNDER HIS COMMAND, AND 25 OTHER SEXUAL VIOLATIONS. THE MIAMI HERALD, FOR ONE, SAYS THE SENTENCE MUST AFFIRM THE MILITARY'S RESPECT FOR WOMEN.

VOICE: "THE JURY'S HEARTENING VERDICT OUGHT TO RING AS RESOUNDINGLY OF WHAT BEHAVIOR WON'T BE TOLERATED IN THE U-S MILITARY AS THE TESTIMONY OF RECRUITS AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND RANG OF WHAT - - SADLY - - HAS BEEN TOLERATED. SEX, BOTH FORCED AND CONSENSUAL, OCCURRED BETWEEN RECRUITS AND THEIR SUPERIORS - - BECOMING A TWISTED ..... CONTEST. THE STORIES ARE SICKENING, AND ELEVEN OTHER ABERDEEN MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED. ....THE SENTENCE, LIKE THE CONVICTION, JUST AFFIRM WHAT 'HONOR' AND 'INTEGRITY' IN THE MILITARY REALLY MEAN."

TEXT: WHILE THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AT THE ABERDEEN BASE WHERE SERGEANT SIMPSON WAS STATIONED, MUST BEAR SOME OF THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY.

VOICE: ".... WHAT HAPPENED AT ABERDEEN STRIKES US LESS AS A CASE OF HORMONES INEVITABLY RUNNING RAMPANT THAN AS A BLATANT FAILURE OF COMMAND. WHERE WERE THE HIGHER-RANKING OFFICERS WHILE THE ACCUSED DRILL SERGEANTS ORGANIZED THEIR SEX RING? .... THEY, TOO, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE."

TEXT: TURNING TO A SOMEWHAT RELATED MILITARY ISSUE, THAT OF BUDGET CUTTING, THE NEW YORK POST SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND THE CONGRESS MUST BE SURE NOT TO CUT TOO DEEPLY.

VOICE: "WHAT IF THEY GAVE A WAR AND AMERICA COULDN'T COME? THE POSSIBILITY IS NOT AS LUDICROUS AS IT SOUNDS, SAD TO SAY. DESPITE THE NEARLY 300-BILLION-DOLLARS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WILL RECEIVE THIS YEAR, EVIDENCE ABOUNDS THAT THE COUNTRY IS ILL-PREPARED TO DEFEND ITS INTERESTS IN AN INCREASINGLY FRACTIOUS WORLD. [OPT] PART OF THE PROBLEM IS GENDER POLITICS. THE CLINTON PENTAGON IS POPULATED BY FOLKS WHO WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL G-I JANE [SLANG FOR THE WOMEN IN THE MILITARY] HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE RANKS - - REGARDLESS OF THE COST IN DIMINISHED TROOP MORALE, READINESS AND, ULTIMATELY, COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS. [END OPT] .... WE UNDERSTAND FULLY THAT DECISION-MAKING IN WASHINGTON IS LARGELY BUDGET-DRIVEN THESE DAYS. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEED TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. BUT IN NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS, THE THREAT [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] MUST DEFINE THE TERMS OF THE DEBATE."

TEXT: AND SPEAKING OF DEFICITS AND BUDGETS, TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES IS HAILING THE NTERNATIONAL BANKING COMMUNITY'S NEW POLICY OF DEBT RELIEF FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS.

VOICE: "THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND RECENTLY AGREED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO WRITE OFF SOME LOANS TO ONE OF ITS BORROWERS, UGANDA. UGANDA IS SPECIAL BECAUSE OF A DECADE LONG POLICY OF PRO--GROWTH ECONOMIC REFORM. BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DECISION GOES WELL BEYOND A SINGLE AFRICAN COUNTRY. IT MEANS ... THE BANK AND THE FUND HAVE AT LAST PUT INTO EFFECT A POLICY TO REWARD POOR, HIGHLY INDEBTED COUNTRIES THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REFORMING THEIR ECONOMIES."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD REMINDS US:

VOICE: "PRAYER IS NOT LIMITED TO PARTICULAR FAITHS OR CREEDS; IT IS THE CRY OF THE HUMAN HEART DIRECTLY TO THE HOLY, A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE SECULAR AND THE SACRED THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN A ONE-WAY STREET. .... AS THE PSALMIST WROTE LONG AGO, 'IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD ..... ESPECIALLY ON THE MORNING AND NIGHT OF THIS, AMERICA'S NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT THOUGHT, WE CONCLUDE THIS GLANCE AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/NL
01-May-97 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] WORLD HEALTH (L-ONLY) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: DISEASES OF THE WEALTHY COUNTRIES ARE BECOMING THE LEADING KILLERS IN THE DEVELOPING NATIONS, TOO. A REPORT IN THE MEDICAL JOURNAL "THE LANCET" SAYS HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE ARE NOW THE WORLD'S TWO MAJOR CAUSES OF DEATH. V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY TELLS US THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.

TEXT: WHAT WERE ONCE MOSTLY ILLNESSES OF INDUSTRIAL NATIONS TAKE MORE LIVES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD THAN TYPICAL TROPICAL INFECTIONS, LIKE MALARIA.

THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED FOR THE WORLD BANK BY DOCTORS AT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES.

THE FINDING THAT HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE LEAD THE LIST OF THE CAUSES OF DEATH IS SURPRISING. THESE ARE ILLNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AFFLUENCE. NEVERTHELESS, THE AUTHORS SAY THAT ADULTS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME REGIONS LIKE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF THESE TWO ILLNESSES AND FOR OTHER NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAN DO PEOPLE OF THE WEALTHY COUNTRIES.

THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THE REASON MAY BE THAT MALNUTRITION EARLY IN LIFE PREDISPOSES PEOPLE TO SUCH DISEASES WHEN THEY BECOME PROSPEROUS ENOUGH TO ADD UNHEALTHY AMOUNTS OF FAT, SALT, AND SUGAR TO THEIR DIET.

CANCER ALSO IS INCREASINGLY COMMON IN THE THIRD WORLD. THE DOCTORS SAY THAT BY 1990 -- THE YEAR THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED -- THERE WERE 50 PERCENT MORE CANCER DEATHS IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THAN IN THE DEVELOPED ONES. THE MOST COMMON FORM IS LUNG CANCER, WHICH IS THE 10TH LEADING KILLER IN THE WORLD, JUST AHEAD OF MALARIA. THIS IS MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE INCREASE IN SMOKING IN THE POORER NATIONS.

OTHER LEADING KILLERS CITED IN THE REPORT ARE PNEUMONIA, DIARRHEA, AND COMPLICATIONS FROM CHILDBIRTH, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR DEATH AMONG WOMEN AGED 15 TO 44. THESE ARE FOLLOWED BY CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, TUBERCULOSIS, MEASLES, AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

ALTHOUGH ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS ARE CHANGING THE DEVELOPING WORLD'S DISEASE PROFILE, THOSE COUNTRIES STILL SUFFER THE BULK OF CHILDREN'S DEATHS. DESPITE EFFORTS TO REDUCE MORTALITY OF MOTHERS AND INFANTS, ONE-FOURTH OF ALL THE DEATHS IN 1990 WERE OF A CHILD UNDER FIVE.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION-HARVARD REPORT LISTS OTHER FINDINGS OF INTEREST. INJURIES ACCOUNT FOR A SURPRISING ONE IN 10 DEATHS WORLDWIDE. VIOLENCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE DEATH IN SIX AMONG MEN LIVING IN LATIN AMERICA. MORE THAN HALF OF THE FEMALE SUICIDES IN THE WORLD -- 56 PERCENT -- OCCURRED IN CHINA. ESTIMATES SHOW THAT ALMOST ONE IN FOUR CHINESE WOMEN TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES. WORLDWIDE, SUICIDES, VIOLENCE, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND DROWNING WERE MORE COMMON THAN WAR-RELATED DEATHS.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST OF THE 30 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IS AIDS. AS A RESULT, THE AUTHORS SAY IT IS WORTH PONDERING ON HOW MUCH MORE MONEY IS SPENT ON AIDS RESEARCH THAN ON CAUSES OF SUICIDE OR PREVENTION OF AUTOMOBILE MISHAPS. A "LANCET" EDITORIAL SAYS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DOES NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THE STUDY. IT SAYS THE W-H-O INSISTED THE DISCLAIMER BE INCLUDED IN THE JOURNAL BECAUSE THE RESEARCH DOES NOT REFLECT ITS VIEWS. BUT THE EDITORIAL SAYS THE AGENCY'S TIMID RESPONSE IS UNACCEPTABLE, ADDING THAT IT SHOULD SPONSOR DEBATE ABOUT HEALTH PRIORITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/RRM
01-May-97 5:19 PM EDT (2119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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