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Voice of America, 97-07-27Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] GERMANY / FLOODS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)DATE=7/27/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-217719 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AUTHORITIES IN GERMANY ARE EVACUATING MORE PEOPLE FROM LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE RAIN SWOLLEN ODER RIVER, WHERE WATER LEVELS HAVE REACHED RECORD HEIGHTS. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: OFFICIALS IN THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF FRANKFURT ON THE ODER SAY WATER LEVELS HAVE NOW RISEN TO MORE THAN SIX AND ONE HALF METERS ABOVE NORMAL IN SOME AREAS. WATER HAS BROKEN THROUGH DIKES IN SEVERAL PLACES SOUTH OF FRANKFURT AND EXPERTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT NEW BREAKS BECAUSE THE WATER HAS SATURATED THE EARTHEN DIKES. DESPITE ONGOING EFFORTS TO REINFORCE THE DIKES AND LEVEES, OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING TO EVACUATE AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE FROM LOW LYING AREAS. IN THE PAST WEEK, MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES IN EASTERN GERMANY. THE FLOODING, WHICH IS BLAMED FOR THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 100
PEOPLE IN POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HAS CAUSED DAMAGE
ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN ONE-BILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
[02] NORTHERN IRELAND / US (S) BY STEPHANIE MANN (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/27/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-217724 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE LEADER OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, HAS AGAIN DISMISSED CALLS FOR THE I-R-A TO DISARM BEFORE PEACE TALKS BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE MANN REPORTS THAT GERRY ADAMS MADE HIS COMMENTS ON THE U-S TELEVISION PROGRAM "FOX NEWS SUNDAY." TEXT: SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS SAYS ALL PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRELAND SHOULD GIVE UP THEIR WEAPONS, NOT JUST THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. HE SAYS SINN FEIN IS COMMITTED TO DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF DISARMAMENT THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15TH. TWO PRO-BRITISH GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE THREATENING TO BOYCOTT THE PEACE EFFORT BECAUSE OF THE IRISH REPUBLICANS' REFUSAL TO DISARM. WHEN ASKED IF HE COULD URGE THE I-R-A TO MAKE A TOKEN GOODWILL GESTURE OF A PARTIAL DISARMAMENT, GERRY ADAMS SAID HE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE OVER THE I-R-A. // ADAMS ACT //I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THE INFLUENCE TO GET THEM TO SURRENDER THEIR WEAPONS WHEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BRING ABOUT THAT. // END ACT //AND THE SINN FEIN LEADER AGAIN APPEALED TO THE PRO-BRITISH GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO AGREE TO COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. // REST OPT //MR. ADAMS ALSO PRAISED THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, SAYING HE
WELCOMES TONY BLAIR'S MORE PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TO THE IRISH
QUESTION. IT'S ONLY WHEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT JOINS WITH THE
IRISH GOVERNMENT IN A PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, GERRY ADAMS SAYS,
THAT THE TALKS CAN SUCCEED. (SIGNED)
[03] SPAIN/ETA DEMO BY RICK SALLINGER (SAN SEBASTIAN)DATE=7/27/97TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-37103 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POLICE IN THE PORT CITY OF SAN SEBASTIAN IN NORTHERN SPAIN SAY AN ESTIMATED 18-THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK PART IN A MARCH CALLED BY THE POLITICAL WING OF THE SEPARATIST GROUP ETA. THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE. RICK SALLINGER REPORTS THE DEMONSTRATION WAS A RESPONSE TO MASSIVE PROTESTS THROUGHOUT SPAIN AGAINST ETA EARLIER THIS MONTH. TEXT: /// OPENS WITH SOUND OF MARCHERS CHANTING, FADES UNDER/// THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FILLED THE STREETS OF SAN SEBASTIAN TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE POLITICAL ARM OF THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP ETA. THEY CHANTED "VIVA ETA" AND CALLED FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR THEIR REGION. ETA WANTS TO JOIN TERRITORY IN NORTHERN SPAIN AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE INTO A BASQUE NATION CALLED EUSKADI. ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE MARCH IS CARLOS RODRIGUEZ OF THE SPANISH POLITICAL PARTY HERRI BATASUNA. /// RODRIGUEZ ACT///SECURITY FORCES WERE PREPARED FOR TROUBLE, BUT THE MARCH THROUGH THE STREETS WAS PEACEFUL. POLICE WERE NEARBY WITH A WATER CANNON, BUT IT WAS NOT NEEDED. THE DEMONSTRATION WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR ONE WEEK AGO, BUT THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT BANNED IT THEN BECAUSE OF A FEAR THERE WOULD BE VIOLENCE. THAT WAS SHORTLY AFTER ETA TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KIDNAPPING AND SHOOTING OF A LOCAL POLITICIAN. THE MURDER OF MIGUEL ANGEL BLANCO WAS THE 773RD IN A 29 YEAR CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE FOR BASQUE INDEPENDENCE. HE WAS SEIZED TO UNDERLINE AN OLD ETA DEMAND THAT ETA PRISONERS HELD IN SPANISH JAILS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO PRISONS IN THE BASQUE REGION. BUT MR. BLANCO'S DEATH TURNED THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN AGAINST ETA AS NO OTHER ACT OF VIOLENCE HAD DONE. ///CHANTING, FADES UNDER///TWO WEEKS AGO AN ESTIMATED SIX MILLION PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT SPAIN AGAINST ETA. THE PUBLIC ANGER IN SPAIN TURNED TO ANGER OUTRAGE WHEN MR. BLANCO WAS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH . ///MUSIC, FADES UNDER///BASQUE MUSIC PLAYED AS THE COFFIN WAS CARRIED THROUGH HIS HOMETOWN. HIS MOTHER CONSUELO GARRIDO LATER SAID SHE HOPED THERE WOULD BE SOME GOOD AS A RESULT OF HER SON'S MURDER. ///ACT IN SPANISH, FACES UNDER///WITH THE BLANCO MURDER IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED ETA HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS SUPPORT. WELL KNOWN BASQUE JOURNALIST INAKI GABILONDO WAS AMONG THOSE SPEAKING OUT: ///ACT IN SPANISH, FADE UNDER//////CHANTING, FADES UNDER///BUT THIS DEMONSTRATION SHOWED THAT ETA IS NOT ALONE HERE IN THE HEART OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY. IN THIS PART OF SPAIN THE ORGANIZATION*S POLITICAL WING NORMALLY GETS 15 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. THE MESSAGE BEING SENT WITH THIS MARCH IS THAT DESPITE THE MASS
CONDEMNATION AROUND SPAIN, ETA STILL HAS POWER HERE WITH THE
BULLET AND THE BALLOT BOX. (SIGNED)
[04] U-S/IRAN PIPELINE (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (LOS ANGELES)DATE=7/27/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-217729 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// CORR: IN 2ND GRAPH OF TEXT; READ IT; XX SIX BILLION XX //INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS A U-S DECISION N O T TO OPPOSE CONSTRUCTION OF A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE ACROSS IRAN DOES NOT SIGNAL A CHANGE IN U-S POLICY TOWARD THE TEHRAN GOVERNMENT. DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES. TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT HERE SAY THERE ARE NO GROUNDS UNDER U-S SANCTIONS LAW FOR OPPOSING THE PIPELINE DEAL. AND THEY INSIST THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN U-S POLICY SEEKING TO ISOLATE IRAN BECAUSE OF ITS SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. IT WAS DISCLOSED SATURDAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT TRY TO BLOCK THE ONE-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLAR PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPELINE TO CARRY GAS FROM TURKMENISTAN ACROSS IRAN TO TURKEY. THE OFFICIALS SAID THE PIPELINE WOULD NOT CARRY IRANIAN GAS TO MARKET AND THUS WOULD NOT REQUIRE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1996 LAW REQUIRING SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN FIRMS INVESTING IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRIES OF EITHER IRAN OR LIBYA. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTED SUNDAY THE U-S STANCE IS BOTH A
SIGNAL TO IRAN AND TO THE NEW SECULAR GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY, WHICH
WOULD DERIVE MAJOR ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM THE PIPELINE PROJECT.
(SIGNED)
[05] U-S / IRAN PIPELINE BY SUZANNA ANDERSON (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/27/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-217712 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT OPPOSE A PIPELINE THAT WOULD CARRY NATURAL GAS ACROSS IRAN. V-O-A'S SUZANNA ANDERSON REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON. TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE ONE-POINT-SIX-BILLION-DOLLAR PIPELINE WOULD NOT TECHNICALLY VIOLATE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAN IN 1996. LIMITING AMERICAN AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTRY'S ENERGY SECTOR. THE 32-HUNDRED KILOMETER PIPELINE WOULD CARRY NATURAL GAS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF TURKMENISTAN ACROSS IRAN TO TURKEY AND OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE. ALTHOUGH THE PIPELINE IS NOT EXPECTED TO CARRY IRANIAN GAS, TEHRAN WILL RECEIVE A TRANSIT FEE. THE PIPELINE PROJECT WOULD MARK IRAN'S FIRST INVOLVEMENT IN A
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PROJECT SINCE THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION
OF 1979 (SIGNED).
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