Voice of America, 97-07-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-U ENLARGEMENT BY MICHELE KELEMEN (WASHINGTON)

[02] EDITORIAL: NATO-UKRAINE CHARTER

[03] EDITORIAL: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AWARDS

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

[05] EUROPE / FLOODING (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] EUROPE / SURVEY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[07] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DEBORAH COOPER (WASHINGTON)

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

[09] NATO EXPANSION (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

[01] E-U ENLARGEMENT BY MICHELE KELEMEN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TOOK THE FIRST STEP THIS WEEK ON THE ROAD TO EUROPEAN UNION ENLARGEMENT. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED (ON WEDNESDAY) THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION BEGIN TALKS WITH FIVE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES -- HUNGARY, POLAND, ESTONIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVENIA. AND IT REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO OPENING TALKS WITH CYPRUS, POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR. THE TALK OF E-U EXPANSION COINCIDES WITH NATO'S PLANS TO EXPAND EASTWARD. BUT AS V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS, OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE -- THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE SEPARATELY.

TEXT: THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT GRANTING E-U MEMBERSHIP TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES COULD PROVIDE A BACK DOOR ENTRY INTO NATO OR, AT LEAST, PROVIDE MORE SECURITY TO THOSE COUNTRIES NOT IN THE FIRST WAVE OF NATO EXPANSION. BUT THE HEAD OF THE E-C DELEGATION HERE IN WASHINGTON -- HUGO PAEMEN -- SAYS THAT IS NOT SO.

IN THE MANY DISCUSSIONS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THERE HAS BEEN, AND I THINK IN WASHINGTON FROM TIME TO TIME, THE TENDENCY TO SAY, "WELL, WE CANNOT TAKE THOSE COUNTRIES IN NATO FOR THE MOMENT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THEM." I DON'T THINK THAT IS A WISE POSITION. THESE ARE TWO RELATIVELY DIFFERENT EXERCISES.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING, MR. PAEMEN SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION AID PLANS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS THE DEBATE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND EUROPE HEATS UP OVER COST-SHARING FOR NATO EXPANSION. THE E-U HAS SET ASIDE ABOUT 45-BILLION DOLLARS (ECUS) FOR THE POTENTIAL MEMBERS.

THIS IS ALREADY THE BEGINNING OF A GOOD 'MARSHALL PLAN' FOR EASTERN EUROPE. SO IT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, I THINK, WHEN YOU ASSESS THE OVERALL EFFORT, WHICH THE EUROPEANS DO, IN TERMS OF BRINGING THE EASTERN EUROPE INTO THE WESTERN SPHERE.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS CONFIDENT IT CAN MEET THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FOR EXPANDING THE EUROPEAN UNION. MOST OF THE INITIAL AID FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HELP FUTURE MEMBER STATES IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE. TO KEEP COSTS DOWN, THE COMMISSION SAYS IT IS TIME TO DEEPEN AGRICULTURAL REFORMS BEFORE NEW MEMBER STATES CAN JOIN. THAT IS SURE TO SPARK HOSTILITY AMONG EUROPEAN FARMERS. A FINAL DECISION ON THE ENLARGEMENT PLAN WILL BE MADE AT AN E-U SUMMIT IN LUXEMBURG IN DECEMBER. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-97 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: NATO-UKRAINE CHARTER

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

NATO AND UKRAINE HAVE SIGNED A CHARTER. THIS CHARTER, SAID PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, REFLECTS THE WAY UKRAINE HAS EMERGED FROM A CENTURY OF STRUGGLE TO PURSUE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM. WHILE UKRAINE IS STILL WORKING TO CARRY OUT REFORMS, IT HAS HELPED REDUCE THE NUCLEAR THREAT AND EMBARKED ON A COURSE OF PEACEFUL INTEGRATION WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACIES.

THE CHARTER LOOKS FORWARD TO UKRAINE'S TAKING "FURTHER STEPS TO DEVELOP ITS DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, TO IMPLEMENT RADICAL ECONOMIC REFORMS, AND TO DEEPEN THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION WITH THE FULL RANGE OF EUROPEAN AND EURO-ATLANTIC STRUCTURES." AMONG THE AREAS WHERE COOPERATION IS ENVISIONED ARE EURO-ATLANTIC AND UKRAINIAN SECURITY, DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL, COMBATING DRUG-TRAFFICKING, AND DEFENSE CONVERSION.

NATO AND UKRAINE HAVE AGREED TO MEET NOT LESS THAN TWICE A YEAR. IN ADDITION, UKRAINE WILL ESTABLISH A MILITARY LIAISON IN BRUSSELS, WHERE NATO HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED. NATO AND UKRAINE WILL CONSULT WHENEVER UKRAINE PERCEIVES A DIRECT THREAT TO ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE, OR SECURITY. AS PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA SAID, "UKRAINE HAS MADE HER CHOICE AND IS READY, TOGETHER WITH THE NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND THE PARTNERS OF THE ALLIANCE, TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SECURE FUTURE FOR EUROPE, AND THUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD."

PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSED THAT TODAY'S SECURITY "IS NOT A MATTER OF COMPETITION BUT OF COOPERATION ON BEHALF OF COMMON GOALS. IT IS NATURAL," HE SAID, "FOR UKRAINE TO REACH OUT TO NATO AND FOR NATO TO DO THE SAME, HELPING TO SECURE UKRAINE FIRMLY IN THE HEART OF A NEW AND UNDIVIDED DEMOCRATIC EUROPE."

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
18-Jul-97 11:27 AM EDT (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EDITORIAL: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AWARDS

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING AMERICAN IDEALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

VOICE:

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RECENTLY AWARDED GRANTS TO FORTY-FIVE WRITERS FROM SIXTEEN COUNTRIES. THESE AWARDS ARE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO WRITERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETS OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION. THIS YEAR, THE GRANTS TOTALED TWO-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

TWELVE TURKISH WRITERS WERE AMONG THE GRANTEES. THEY FACED REPRESSION FOR WRITING ABOUT SUCH ISSUES AS THE KURDISH QUESTION, THE ROLE OF ISLAM IN SOCIETY, AND THE NATURE OF THE TURKISH STATE. IN TURKEY, SUCH REPRESSION CO-EXISTS WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF FREE EXPRESSION ON ALMOST ALL OTHER TOPICS.

EIGHT CHINESE JOURNALISTS WERE GIVEN GRANTS IN RESPONSE TO THEIR GOVERNMENT'S SUPPRESSION OF ALL WHO DARE TO EXPRESS IDEAS THAT CONFLICT WITH THOSE OF THE RULING COMMUNIST PARTY. COLUMNIST AND EDITOR WANG DAN WAS NUMBER ONE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S MOST WANTED LIST AFTER THE JUNE 1989 MASSACRE OF PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS IN BEIJING. IN 1996, WANG DAN WAS SENTENCED TO ELEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR SIGNING A PETITION DEMANDING A REVERSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S "COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY" VERDICT ON THE 1989 DEMOCRACY PROTESTS. AS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAID, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REPRESS CRITICISM IN FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR INTERNATIONAL FREE EXPRESSION STANDARDS.

OTHER RECIPIENTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH GRANTS INCLUDE IRANIAN NOVELIST AND JOURNALIST, ABBAS MAROUFI, WHOSE BOOKS ARE BANNED AND WHO HAS BEEN LEGALLY BARRED FROM WORKING IN IRAN; NGUYEN DINH HUY, A VIETNAMESE JOURNALIST WHO IS SERVING A FIFTEEN-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR PLANNING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY; AND MOROCCAN POET AND NOVELIST ABDELLATIF LAABI, WHO WAS TORTURED AND SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR "CRIMES OF OPINION." HE WAS RELEASED IN 1980 AND FORCED INTO EXILE IN FRANCE. THERE HE HAS BEEN A COURAGEOUS DEFENDER OF OTHER PERSECUTED WRITERS, INCLUDING SALMAN RUSHDIE.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE. SUCH FREEDOM IS THE MARK OF TRULY DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING AMERICAN IDEALS AND INSTITUTIONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
18-Jul-97 11:26 AM EDT (1526 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL SHARPLY IN TRADING FRIDAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE OFF IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, AS TRADERS CASHED IN ON THE BIG PROFITS THEY MADE EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 82 POINTS, MORE THAN TWO-AND-SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

THE LONDON MARKET ALSO SUFFERED A BIG DROP. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL ALMOST 72 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED DOWN ALMOST 31 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. AND IT WAS UNCHANGED AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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18-Jul-97 1:12 PM EDT (1712 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EUROPE / FLOODING (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: WATER FROM RAIN SWOLLEN RIVERS IN CENTRAL EUROPE HAS ROARED INTO GERMANY AFTER SUBMERGING TOWNS IN NEIGHBORING POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: LOW-LYING AREAS AROUND THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF FRANKFURT ON THE ODER WERE INUNDATED AS WATER SPILLED OVER THE BANKS OF RIVERS. FIRE, POLICE, RESCUE WORKERS AND RESIDENTS WORKED THROUGH THE DAY TO PROTECT HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITH SANDBAGS AS WATER LEVELS CONTINUED RISING.

SOME AREAS WERE UNDER AS MUCH AS SIX METERS OF WATER, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE LEVELS HAVE FINALLY PEAKED.

IN NEIGHBORING POLAND, OFFICIALS CALLED A DAY OF MOURNING FOR THE DOZENS OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE FLOODING, WHICH BEGAN WITH UNUSUALLY HEAVY RAINS EARLIER THIS MONTH. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES IN POLAND AND FLAGS HAVE BEEN FLYING AT HALF STAFF.

IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT REGIONS, WATER LEVELS ARE FINALLY RECEDING. BUT WEATHER FORECASTERS SAY MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-97 9:52 AM EDT (1352 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EUROPE / SURVEY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: A BRITISH PUBLICATION HAS ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF A EUROPE-WIDE SURVEY ON THE PERSON WHO MADE THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION THIS CENTURY. IN THIS REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE POLL'S FINDINGS.

TEXT: THE EDINBURGH-BASED "EUROPE QUARTERLY" MAGAZINE IS A NEW PUBLICATION DEVOTED ESSENTIALLY TO LITERARY MATTERS. ITS AIM IS TO GIVE WRITERS FROM AROUND EUROPE A FORUM WHERE THEY CAN PRESENT THEIR VIEWS AND EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH OTHER AUTHORS.

IN ITS FIRST ISSUE, "EUROPE QUARTERLY" PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY IT CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT TO FIND THE PERSON WHO CONTRIBUTED THE MOST THIS CENTURY TO EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION. FIFTY-SIX LEADING ACADEMICS AND HEADS OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- SUCH AS MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES -- FROM 24 COUNTRIES RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY.

AND THE WINNER IS THIS MAN WHO UTTERED THESE IMMORTAL WORDS MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO.

WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES. WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE LANDING GROUNDS. WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE FIELDS AND IN THE STREETS. WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE HILLS. WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.

WINSTON CHURCHILL -- BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DURING THE YEARS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR -- TOPPED THE LIST.

MAGGIE LENNON IS "EUROPE QUARTERLY'S" EDITOR. SHE SAYS SHE WAS QUITE SURPRISED WHEN WINSTON CHURCHILL WAS NAMED AS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION THIS CENTURY.

NOW I COME FROM A VERY STRONG ARTS BACKGROUND AND. I SUPPOSE IN MY OWN MIND, I WAS THINKING OF THE CIVILIZING FORCES OF LITERATURE, OF THE ARTS, OF VISUAL ARTS, THE THEATER, FILM. AND I WAS AMAZED, TO BE HONEST, THAT THE WINNER, THE PERSON WHO CAME TOP OF THE POLLS WAS WINSTON CHURCHILL. BUT I THINK ACROSS THE CONTINENT, PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE IDEA OF "CIVILIZATION" VERY, VERY LITERALLY AND THEY HAVE TAKEN IT AS AN ISSUE OF SURVIVAL. AND CERTAINLY IT IS TRUE, HAD THE OUTCOME OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR BEEN DIFFERENT, THEN EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

IN SECOND PLACE CAME A WORLD-RENOWNED PHYSICIST WHOSE THEORY OF RELATIVITY REVOLUTIONIZED OUR THINKING OF THE UNIVERSE.

THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE, THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS LANGUAGE WAS TO LINK ACCOUSTICALLY OR OTHERWISE COMMUTABLE THINGS TO SENSE IMPRESSION. MOST LIKELY, ALL SOCIABLE ANIMALS . . . . . (THEN FADE )

THE VOICE OF ALBERT EINSTEIN.

CONTINUING DOWN THE LIST, ONE FINDS DOCTORS FRANCIS CRICK AND JAMES WATSON -- DISCOVERERS OF D-N-A -- PSYCHIATRIST SIGMUND FREUD, POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND, AND THE FOUNDER OF CUBISM, PAINTER AND SCULPTOR PABLO PICASSO.

THE ONLY WOMAN TO MAKE THE LIST WAS FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER -- IN 40TH PLACE. THE MAGAZINE'S EDITOR MAGGIE LENNON SAYS SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE LACK OF WOMEN NOMINATED BY THE EUROPEAN INTELLECTUALS - ALTHOUGH ABOUT HALF OF THOSE RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY WERE WOMEN.

I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR (PHYSICIST AND CHEMIST) MARIE CURIE. BUT AS EDITOR, IT IS A BIT CHEEKY TO PUT YOUR OWN NOMINATION IN. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK MARIE CURIE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIME EXAMPLE -- POSSIBLY (GERMAN SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARY) ROSA LUXEMBURG, ANOTHER. ANNE FRANK IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY. (FRENCH PHILOSOPHER AND MYSTIC) SIMONE WEIL -- THERE ARE LOTS OF WOMEN WHO COULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND WERE NOT.

ROUNDING OUT THE TOP TEN ON "EUROPE QUARTERLY'S" LIST ARE SOVIET HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ANDREI SAKHAROV, THE MAN WHO FREED HIM FROM INTERNAL EXILE -- FORMER SOVIET LEADER MIKHAIL GORBACHEV -- AND BRITISH PHILOSOPHER KARL POPPER. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-97 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DEBORAH COOPER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A VARIETY OF EDITORIAL COMMENT IS CONTAINED IN FRIDAY'S AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS, BUT MOST TOPICS DEAL WITH U-S POLITICAL ISSUES. AMONG THE ISSUES DISCUSSED -- THE MURDER OF A MEXICAN JOURNALIST, THE RECENT COUP IN CAMBODIA, NATO EXPANSION, THE CHALLENGE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE USE OF FILM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A FEATURE MOVIE.

FOR A BRIEF SAMPLING OF THIS FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS OPINION, HERE IS ______.

TEXT: THE ASSASSINATION OF MEXICAN JOURNALIST BENJAMIN FLORES GONZALEZ IS DISCUSSED BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WHICH CALLS THE MURDER OF THE CRUSADER AGAINST THE DRUG TRADE AN ACT OF COWARDICE.

VOICE: "THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD MUSTER ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO BRING THE KILLER OF THE 29-YEAR-OLD EDITOR TO JUSTICE. FLORES GONZALEZ OWNED AND RAN LA PRENSA, A SMALL NEWSPAPER IN THE TOWN OF SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, ACROSS THE BORDER FROM YUMA, ARIZONA. HE HAD A DESERVED REPUTATION FOR AGGRESSIVE COVERAGE OF THE CROSS-BORDER DRUG TRADE AND WAS THE TARGET OF FREQUENT THREATS. LAST MAY HE PUBLISHED A MAJOR EXPOSE ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HALF A TON OF CONFISCATED COCAINE THAT WAS STORED AT THE FEDERAL JUDICIAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN SAN LUIS, AN ACT OF COURAGEOUS, DANGEROUS JOURNALISM." TEXT; THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-BULLETIN IN THE EASTERN SEABOARD STATE OF RHODE ISLAND COMMENTS ON THE RECENT COUP IN CAMBODIA IN WHICH LONG-TIME COMMUNIST HUN SEN OUSTED DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED PRINCE NORODOM RANARIDDH.

VOICE: "IT WOULD BE A GREAT DAY FOR HUMANITY IF DESPOTIC REGIMES OF ALL TYPES WOULD CEASE TO EXIST, BUT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE (IF EVER). MEANWHILE, PEOPLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAMBODIA SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT MILITARY INTERVENTION AIMED AT OVERTHROWING MR. HUN SEN IS NOT LIKELY TO DO MORE THAN INITIATE A NEW ROUND OF SLAUGHTER, AND THAT PUNITIVE ECONOMIC MEASURES (SUCH AS TRADE EMBARGOES AND AID CUTOFFS) WILL HURT THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY WILL DAMAGE THE REGIME. INDEED, AFTER THE INITIAL ROUND OF SOMEWHAT RITUALISTIC DENUNCIATIONS, A GROWING NUMBER OF NATIONS SEEMS TO BE PREPARING TO ACCEPT THE SAD REALITY OF MR. HUN SEN'S VICTORY. THE OLD RULE IN MEDICINE IS: FIRST, DO NO HARM. WHEN WHAT YOU CAN DO IS UNLIKELY TO HELP, IT MAY BE BEST TO DO NOTHING -- AT LEAST UNTIL A BETTER OPTION IS FOUND."

TEXT: FRIDAY'S WASHINGTON TIME COMMENTS ON U-S POLICY TOWARDS CUBA. THE NEWSPAPER NOTES THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SIGNED A SIX-MONTH WAIVER WHICH PREVENTS LITIGATION AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT HAVE PROFITED FROM PROPERTY BELONGING TO U-S CITIZENS THAT WAS CONFISCATED IN CUBA. THE PROVISION IS PROVIDED IN THE CONTROVERSIAL HELMS-BURTON BILL WHICH TIGHTENS SANCTIONS AGAINST FIDEL CASTRO'S REGIME.

VOICE: IT'S NO SECRET THAT HE (CLINTON) ONLY SIGNED IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE FIDEL CASTRO ORDERED HIS TROOPS TO SHOOT DOWN TWO PRIVATE PLANES CONTAINING FOUR UNARMED AMERICAN CITIZENS, MEMBERS OF THE CUBAN AMERICAN GROUP BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE. BEFORE THAT VICIOUS ATTACK, MR. CLINTON HAD BEEN MAKING VETO NOISES. FROM THE BEGINNING OF HIS PRESIDENCY, MR. CLINTON HAS PROVEN HIMSELF RELUCTANT TO TAKE A TOUGH STANCE VIS-A-VIS FIDEL, AND HE WAS, FURTHER, EAGER TO APPEASE OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE, WHO SEEM CONVINCED THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO PROFIT FROM PROPERTY STOLEN FROM U-S CITIZENS BY A TOTALITARIAN COMMUNIST DICTATOR."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST TAKES A LOOK AT PERU'S PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI WHO IT NOTES IS RECEIVING THE LOWEST POPULAR APPROVAL RATINGS IN HIS SEVEN YEARS OF POWER DESPITE ACCEPTING DESERVED INTERNATIONAL PLAUDITS FOR ROUTING TERRORISTS FROM THE RESIDENCE OF THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO PERU.

VOICE: "YESTERDAY STREET DEMONSTRATION AND TWO CABINET RESIGNATIONS ADDED TO THE PRESSURE. THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE THE ECONOMY HAS BOOMED, BUT IT IS NO ACCIDENT. MR. FUJIMORI IS UNDER ATTACK FOR GROSS ABUSES OF OFFICIAL POWER. HIS KEY ACT WAS TO SEE TO THE SACKING OF THREE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGES (HIS OWN CHOICES) WHO HAD RULED OUT HIS DUBIOUS ATTEMPT TO RUN AGAIN FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE YEAR 2000. TORTURE IS BEING ALLEGED BY, AMONG OTHERS, A FEMALE ARMY INTELLIGENCE AGENT WHO WENT PUBLIC WITH ACCOUNTS OF AN OSTENSIBLE ARMY PLAN TO ATTACK AND EVEN TO KILL JOURNALISTS. OVER LAST WEEKEND CAME ACCOUNTS BY FRECUENCIA LATINA OF SYSTEMATIC GOVERNMENT PHONE TAPPING. THE CHANNEL'S FOREIGN-BORN MAJOR SHAREHOLDER FACES LOSS OF HIS PERUVIAN NATIONALITY AND POSSIBLE SEIZURE OF HIS PROPERTY. MR. FUJIMORI HAS EXPLOITED THE GOODWILL OF PERUVIANS AND FOREIGNERS ALIKE IN ORDER TO TIGHTEN HIS PERSONAL RULE."

TEXT: FINALLY, THIS FRIDAY, THE OMAHA (NEBRASKA) WORLD-HERALD COMMENTS ON THE USE OF A FILM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A NEW MOVIE.

VOICE: "THE MAKERS OF THE SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE "CONTACT" SHOWED A STARTLING LACK OF INTEGRITY WHEN THEY INCLUDED FILMED IMAGES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AS PART OF THE PLOT. CLINTON IS MADE TO APPEAR TO BE TALKING TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM EXTRATERRESTRIAL BEINGS. LATER, HE APPEARS TO ADDRESS THE NATION TO DISCUSS AN UNEXPLAINED EXPLOSION. IN A THIRD SCENE, HE IS SHOWN IN THE CABINET ROOM WITH TWO ACTORS WHO WERE ADDED WITH COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. THE PRESIDENT WAS UPSET, AND HE WAS ENTITLED TO BE. IT'S ONE THING TO SATIRIZE THE PRESIDENT ON TELEVISION COMEDY SHOWS, EVEN USING FILM CLIPS AS PART OF THE SATIRE. SATIRE IS LEGITIMATE COMMENT, PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. BUT PRESENTING ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FALSELY IMPLYING THAT HE PARTICIPATED IN THE MOVIE IS SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN. MAKING HIM APPEAR TO SAY THINGS THAT HE DID NOT SAY ABOUT SUBJECTS HE DID NOT ADDRESS OVERSTEPS THE BOUNDS OF PROPRIETY AND HONESTY."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT COMMENT FORM THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD WE END FRIDAY'S LOOK AT U-S PRESS OPINION.
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18-Jul-97 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (FRIDAY) AS MANY TRADERS DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR PROFITS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78 HUNDRED 90, DOWN 130 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 31 POINTS. THE MORE INCLUSIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 915, DOWN 16 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WERE SEVERAL EXCUSES GIVEN FOR THE SELL-OFF INCLUDING DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE MICROSOFT COMPANY'S EARNINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE PROFITS OF THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE FIRM ALMOST DOUBLED IN THE LATEST QUARTER. BUT MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE REAL REASON FOR THE SELL-OFF WAS SIMPLY PROFIT-TAKING AFTER THE BIG GAINS OF THE PAST WEEK.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT SOARED BY 17 PERCENT IN MAY WITH THE LEVEL OF IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. ANALYSTS SAY THE STRONG U-S DOLLAR AND ROBUST CONFIDENCE AMONG AMERICAN CONSUMERS WERE THE REASONS FOR THE SPIKE IN IMPORTS.

SOURCES SAY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL STAND FIRM IN ITS OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED MERGER OF THE BOEING AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANIES OF THE UNITED STATES. A FINAL DECISION IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WARNED THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL LIKELY TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION IF THE EUROPEANS WITHHOLD APPROVAL OF THE MERGER.

BRITISH AIRWAYS SAYS IT EXPECTS TO BE ALMOST FULLY OPERATIONAL BY MONDAY. THE COMPANY HAS SUFFERED FROM A BRIEF FORMAL STRIKE BY FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND AN INFORMAL "SICKOUT" BY THE WORKERS. BUT BRITISH AIRWAYS SAYS MOST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS NOW SEEM TO BE REGAINING THEIR "HEALTH."

BRITISH AIRWAYS AND AMERICAN AIRLINES ARE ENTERING INTO JOINT MARKETING AGREEMENTS WITH IBERIA AIRLINES OF SPAIN. IN ADDITION, BOTH AMERICAN AND BRITISH AIRWAYS HAVE OPTIONS TO BUY STAKES IN IBERIA WHEN THE STATE-OWNED CARRIER IS PRIVATIZED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

STANLEY WORKS, THE TOOL AND HARDWARE MAKER, SAYS IT WILL UNDERGO A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING WHICH WILL INVOLVE THE ELIMINATION OF 45 HUNDRED JOBS AND REDUCE ITS MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES FROM 123 TO 70.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
18-Jul-97 5:19 PM EDT (2119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] NATO EXPANSION (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC MET IN PRAGUE TODAY (FRIDAY) TO DISCUSS NATO EXPANSION AND RELATED ISSUES. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS THEY EMPHASIZED COOPERATION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAVING THE EXPANSION PROCESS OPEN.

TEXT: THE THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS PLEDGED TO CONTINUE REGULAR CONTACTS AS THEY BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT JOINING NATO. AND THEY EMPHASIZED THAT THE PROCESS OF NATO EXPANSION SHOULD NOT STOP WITH THEM. ROMANIA, SLOVENIA, SLOVAKIA AND THE BALTIC COUNTRIES ARE IN LINE, HOPING TO BE AMONG THE NEXT TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSEF ZIELENIEC SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES DO NOT WANT TO SEE A RETURN TO EUROPE'S COLD WAR PAST.

WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE NEW BLOCS, HE SAID. WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO SEE THE SECOND WAVE OF NEW MEMBERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE THREE MINISTERS TOOK A POSITIVE POSITION ON SLOVAKIA'S BID TO JOIN NATO. SLOVAKIA HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY THE UNITED STATES AND SOME COUNTRIES IN WESTERN EUROPE FOR ITS FAILURE TO INSTITUTE POLITICAL REFORMS.

BUT FOR THE CZECH, POLISH AND HUNGARIAN MINISTERS IT APPEARS TO BE LESS OF A PROBLEM. HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LASZLO KOVACS SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE ANY DIVISIONS WITH SLOVAKIA. HIS POLISH COUNTERPART, DARIUSZ ROSATI, SAID ANY COUNTRY THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO JOIN.

ALSO, FROM THE POINT OF OUR NATIONAL INTEREST, SECURITY INTEREST, IT IS ADVISABLE THAT SLOVAKIA WOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE SAME EURO-ATLANTIC AND EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS.

THE THREE MINISTERS SAID THEIR SMOOTH INTEGRATION INTO NATO WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHER NEW MEMBERS. HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LASZLO KOVACS PUT IT THIS WAY.

WE DO CONSIDER THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST WAVE OF ENLARGEMENT WOULD JUSTIFY THE SECOND WAVE.

MR. KOVACS SAID CONTINUING THE PROCESS OF NATO EXPANSION WOULD PREVENT NEW LINES OF DIVISION BEING FORMED IN EUROPE BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE IN NATO, AND THOSE WHO ARE LEFT OUT. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-97 12:28 PM EDT (1628 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN UNVEILS A REFORM PACKAGE AIMED AT RE-STRUCTURING THE U-N BUREAUCRACY; AND, THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGAIN VOTES OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST ISRAEL FOR DEFYING AN INTERNATIONAL WARNING AGAINST BUILDING NEW SETTLEMENTS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SPENT MOST OF THE WEEK LOOKING IN ON ITSELF. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN UNVEILED A MUCH ANTICIPATED REFORM PACKAGE FOR OVERHAULING AND ENERGIZING A LARGE AND OFTEN UNWIELDY U-N BUREAUCRACY. HE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATING KEY DEPARTMENTS, MERGING U-N AGENCIES DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING HUMAN RIGHTS FUNCTIONS BY WRAPPING THEM INTO ONE. MR. ANNAN PLANS TO SET UP A CABINET-STYLE ADMINISTRATION AND WANTS GOVERNMENTS TO APPROVE A NEW POSITION OF DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO HELP HIM RUN IT.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PLAN, IN EFFECT, WOULD SWEEP AWAY A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BUILT UP OVER MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. IN PRESENTING HIS PROPOSALS TO THE WORLD BODY, MR. ANNAN CALLED THEM A RECIPE FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE:

THE REFORMS I'M PROPOSING ARE BOLD REFORMS. THE AIM IS SIMPLE: TO TRANSFORM THE ORGANIZATION. TO BRING GREATER UNITY OF PURPOSE, GREATER COHERENCE OF EFFORTS, AND GREATER AGILITY IN RESPONDING TO AN INCREASINGLY DYNAMIC AND COMPLEX WORLD.

MR. ANNAN SIGNALLED IT'S "DO OR DIE" FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, WHICH HE SAID IS OUT OF TOUCH :

THE UNITED NATIONS IS NOT WORKING AS IT SHOULD. OUR ORGANIZATION IS SLOW TO REFLECT CHANGES IN GEOPOLITICAL REALITIES. WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLEXIBLE AND BE ADAPTABLE, WE HAVE, ALL TOO OFTEN, BEEN BUREAUCRATIC. NOW IS THE TIME FOR REFORM.

THE U-N'S IMAGE -- ITS RELEVANCY -- IS NOT ALL THAT'S AT STAKE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS CHRONIC FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. THE U-S CONGRESS IS HOLDING BACK ON MONEY WASHINGTON OWES AND HAS LINKED PAYMENT TO THE REFORM PROCESS. SPEAKING FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAID -- WHILE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PLAN IS NOT PERFECT -- IT'S A VERY POSITIVE, SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD MEETING U-S GOALS:

OVERALL WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH HIS PROGRAM. WE THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE. WE THINK IT'S FAR-REACHING. WE BELIEVE IT IS A PLAN THAT WILL GIVE US THE KIND OF HEAD OF STEAM THAT WE NEED WITH THE AMERICAN CONGRESS THAT DEALS WITH PAYING OUR ARREARS AND AT THE SAME TIME CONSISTENT WITH OUR REFORM EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

KEY U-N CRITICS ON CAPITOL HILL -- WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SHARP CUTS IN STAFF AND PROGRAMS -- WERE NOT ESPECIALLY INSPIRED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PLAN. ONE SENATOR SAID HE WAS "UNDERWHELMED" BY IT ALL.

BUT MR. ANNAN REMAINS VISIBLY UNRUFFLED. HE SAYS HE'S DONE HIS JOB BY SUGGESTING WAYS THE ORGANIZATION CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE ON A TIGHTER BUDGET. HE SAYS NOW IT'S UP TO GOVERNMENTS TO DO THEIR JOB.

A LOT OF THE CHANGES THE U-S CONGRESS IS LOOKING FOR ARE OUTSIDE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S AUTHORITY. THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS -- THE ENTIRE U-N MEMBERSHIP TO GET WHAT IT WANTS. AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON SAYS HE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGE.

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IN OTHER NEWS -- THE WORLD BODY SENT ISRAEL A STRONG MESSAGE THIS PAST WEEK THAT ITS SETTLEMENTS POLICY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED 131 TO THREE TO CALL FOR A HALT TO A NEW HOUSING PROJECT IN THE JERUSALEM AREA. AND IT SET THE STAGE FOR A POSSIBLE FUTURE BANON ISRAELI GOODS PRODUCED IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORIES.

THE UNITED STATES JOINED ISRAEL IN VOTING AGAINST THE ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION. THE UNITED STATES, WHICH DISAPPROVES OF THE ISRAELI BUILDING PROJECTS, BELIEVES NONETHELESS THAT THE U-N SHOULD NOT ADDRESS ISSUES THE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAEL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE.

IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT MONTHS THAT ISRAEL STOOD VIRTUALLY ISOLATED. THE VOTE CAME DURING A RESUMED EMERGENCY SESSION THAT BEGAN IN APRIL AT THE REQUEST OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION. THE P-L-O SAYS ISRAELI ACTIONS ARE KILLING THE PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-97 4:17 PM EDT (2017 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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