Read our Collection of articles on International Policy Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Sunday, 22 December 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Voice of America, 97-08-04

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] ATHENS'97-DAY THREE WRAP (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS, GREECE)
  • [02] ATHENS 97 : DAY TWO WRAP (L) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)
  • [03] ATHENS '97 - MONDAY PREVIEW (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)
  • [04] BOSNIA / REFUGEES (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)
  • [05] CHICAGO / ALIYEV (L-O) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)
  • [06] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)
  • [07] FRANCE / OLD (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)
  • [08] HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)
  • [09] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)
  • [10] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)
  • [11] U-S / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

  • [01] ATHENS'97-DAY THREE WRAP (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS, GREECE)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218099
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE UNITED STATES REMAINS AT THE TOP OF THE MEDALS TABLE AFTER THREE NIGHTS OF COMPETITION AT THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREECE. BUT AS STEVE SCHY REPORTS FROM OLYMPIC STADIUM IN ATHENS, THE U-S WAS UNABLE TO ADD TO ITS GOLD MEDAL TALLY MONDAY NIGHT.

    TEXT: CATHERINE FREEMAN OF AUSTRALIA GOT OFF TO A SLOW START BUT TURNED ON THE SPEED TO EDGE JAMAICA'S SANDIE RICHARDS BY TWO-100THS OF A SECOND TO TAKE THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE WOMEN'S 400-METERS. AFTER THE RACE FREEMAN SAID SHE'S HAD A TOUGH YEAR, AND WAS RELIEVED TO HAVE WON.

    // FREEMAN ACT //

    "NOT EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY OR WONDERFULLY GLORIOUSLY PERFECT ALL THE TIME. BUT I GUESS THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO MY CHARACTER, SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M HAPPY."

    // END ACT //

    RICHARDS SETTLED FOR THE SILVER MEDAL, WHILE THE BRONZE WENT TO AMERICAN JEARL MILES-CLARKE (49.90).

    SARKA KASPARKOVA OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC WAS THE GOLD MEDALIST IN THE WOMEN'S TRIPLE JUMP, WITH A LEAP OF 15-POINT-TWO-ZERO METERS. RODICA MATEESCU OF ROMANIA FINISHED WITH THE SILVER (15.16), WHILE UKRAINIAN YELENA GOVOROVA WON THE BRONZE (14.67)

    IN THE MEN'S 400-METER HURDLES, FRENCHMAN STEPHANE DIAGANA TOOK THE GOLD IN 47-POINT-SEVEN-ZERO SECONDS. HERBERT LLEWELLYN OF SOUTH AFRICA EARNED THE SILVER 16-100THS OF A SECOND BACK AND THE BRONZE MEDAL WENT TO AMERICAN BRYAN BRONSON (47.88).

    THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE MEDALS TABLE AFTER THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF COMPETITION, WITH SIX MEDALS, INCLUDING TWO GOLD. THE UKRAINE HAS FOUR TOTAL AND GERMANY HAS THREE MEDALS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/SS/ENE/LWM
    04-Aug-97 6:17 PM EDT (2217 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [02] ATHENS 97 : DAY TWO WRAP (L) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)

    DATE=8/3/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218045
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE SECOND DAY OF COMPETITION AT THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREECE WAS FILLED WITH DRAMA AND SURPRISES. IN ADDITION TO QUALIFYING EVENTS, THREE MORE GOLD MEDALS WERE AWARDED. STEVE SCHY HAS THE DETAILS FROM OLYMPIC STADIUM IN ATHENS.

    TEXT: HEINZ WEIS OF GERMANY SURPRISED EVERYONE -- HIMSELF INCLUDED -- BY WINNING THE HAMMER THROW SUNDAY. WEIS SETTLED A SEESAW BATTLE WITH A FINAL THROW OF 81.76 METERS TO TAKE THE GOLD MEDAL. LATER, HE TOLD V-O-A SPORTS HE WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED IT IF SOMEONE HAD TOLD HIM HE WOULD WIN.

    // WEIS ACT //

    "I WOULD SAY YOU ARE CRAZY. I WAS SO NERVOUS AND I THOUGHT TRY YOUR BEST, REACH THE BEST EIGHT AND THEN YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS."

    // END ACT //

    ANDREY SKVARUK OF THE UKRAINE TOOK THE SILVER AND VASILIY SIDORENKO OF RUSSIA WON THE BRONZE.

    BUT THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS OF THE EVENING WERE THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S 100 METERS WHERE THE UNITED STATES PICKED UP ITS FIRST TWO GOLD MEDALS. MARION JONES RAN A PERSONAL BEST TIME OF 10.83 SECONDS TO WIN THE GOLD.

    // JONES ACT //

    I WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE RACE AND OF COURSE MY GOAL WAS TO COME HERE AND WIN A GOLD MEDAL. AND I DID THAT AND I GOT MY PR (PERSONAL RECORD) SO I'M VERY HAPPY.

    // END ACT //

    UKRAINIAN ZHANNA PINTUSSEVICH FINISHED RIGHT BEHIND JONES FOR THE SILVER MEDAL. AND SEVATHEDA FYNES OF THE BAHAMAS WON THE BRONZE.

    MANY EXPECTED THE SPEEDY MEN'S FIELD TO BEAT THE WORLD 100 METER RECORD OF 9.84 SECONDS AND AMERICAN MAURICE GREENE CAME CLOSE RUNNING THE BEST RACE OF HIS LIFE TO WIN THE GOLD IN 9.86 SECONDS.

    /// GREENE ACT ///

    "I JUST FEEL VERY EXCITED AT THIS TIME AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE LORD FOR LETTING ME HAVE THE BEST RACE THAT I HAD."

    /// END ACT ///

    WORLD RECORD-HOLDER DONOVAN BAILEY OF CANADA SETTLED FOR THE SILVER AND AMERICAN TIM MONTGOMERY WON THE BRONZE.

    IN ANOTHER SURPRISE, 400 METER OLYMPIC CHAMPION MICHEAL JOHNSON OF THE UNITED STATES ALMOST FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE EVENT. AS HE CAME TOWARD THE FINISH LINE IN THIRD PLACE, JOHNSON STARTED TO EASE UP AND WAS PASSED, DROPPING INTO FOURTH. ONLY THE THREE FASTEST RUNNERS FROM EACH HEAT QUALIFY AUTOMATICALLY AND JOHNSON HAD TO WAIT NERVOUSLY TO SEE IF HIS TIME WOULD BE ONE OF THE NEXT FOUR FASTEST IN ORDER TO ADVANCE. HE DID MOVE INTO MONDAY'S SEMI-FINALS RANKED 15TH OUT OF 16 QUALIFIERS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/SS/ENE-T/LWM
    03-Aug-97 9:03 PM EDT (0103 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [03] ATHENS '97 - MONDAY PREVIEW (S) BY STEVE SCHY (ATHENS)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218067
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THREE MORE GOLD MEDALS ARE ON THE LINE MONDAY NIGHT AT THE WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREECE. AS V-O-A'S STEVE SCHY REPORTS FROM OLYMPIC STADIUM IN ATHENS, THE FINALS IN THE MEN'S 400-METER HURDLES AND WOMEN'S TRIPLE JUMP AND 400 METERS WILL BE HELD.

    TEXT: JEARL (JER'-IL) MILES-CLARK OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME (50.05) HEADING INTO THE WOMEN'S 400-METER FINALS. BUT JAMAICAN SANDIE RICHARDS WON THE SECOND SEMI-FINAL HEAT, AND TOLD V-O-A SHE SURPRISED HERSELF IN THE SECOND ROUND.

    /// RICHARDS ACT ///

    I DID NOT KNOW I WAS RUNNING THAT FAST, BUT IT HAPPENED, I'M IN SHAPE. WE HAD TWO RUNS IN ONE DAY WHICH TOOK A LOT OUT OF MOST OF US AND WE HAVE NO BREAKS, SO TODAY IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER GRUELING DAY. BUT I GUESS THE STRONGEST WILL SURVIVE TODAY.

    /// END ACT ///

    IN THE MEN'S 400-METER HURDLES, AMERICAN BRYAN BRONSON RAN A 47-POINT-EIGHT-THREE SECOND QUALIFYING TIME TO LEAD THE FIELD, WHILE RODICA MATEESCU OF ROMANIA IS THE WORLD LEADER IN THE WOMEN'S TRIPLE JUMP THIS YEAR WITH A LEAP OF 15-POINT-ONE-FOUR METERS.

    THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE MEDALS TABLE AFTER THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF COMPETITION, WITH FOUR MEDALS, INCLUDING TWO GOLD. THE UKRAINE HAS THREE TOTAL WITH ONE GOLD, AND GERMANY AND RUSSIA EACH HAVE TWO MEDALS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/SS/GKT/SP
    04-Aug-97 9:53 AM EDT (1353 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] BOSNIA / REFUGEES (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218065
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM REFUGEES WHO HAD JUST RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES IN A CROAT-CONTROLLED AREA OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT, WITH ONE MAN REPORTEDLY FOUND DEAD IN A BURNED-OUT HOUSE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS WATCHING THE STORY FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

    TEXT: THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN THE TOWN OF JAJCE (EDS: PRONOUNCED "YAI-EH-TSEH") AND SEVEN NEARBY VILLAGES -- LOCATED ABOUT 100-KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF SARAJEVO.

    HUNDREDS OF MOSTLY-DRUNKEN LOCAL RESIDENTS TOOK TO THE STREETS FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHTS, INTIMIDATING THE RETURNEES. THE MUSLIM REFUGEES HAD BEEN BACK ONLY A FEW DAYS.

    //OPT//

    AT LEAST 10 HOUSES WERE BURNED DOWN, AND UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAY A MAN DIED IN ONE OF THE FIRES. //END OPT//

    UNITED NATIONS AUTHORITIES SAY LOCAL POLICE IN THE CROAT-CONTROLLED AREA STOOD BY AND FAILED TO INTERVENE IN WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A CASE OF "ETHNIC RE-CLEANSING."

    U-N SPOKESMAN ALEX IVANKO COMMENTED ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INCIDENT.

    /// IVANKO ACT. ///

    IT'S EXTREMELY BAD NEWS. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENTS WE SAW THIS YEAR IN THE FEDERATION. IT INVOLVES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BEING ACTUALLY INTIMIDATED INTO LEAVING THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. IT INVOLVED THREATS OF VIOLENCE, POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS ... THERE ARE INDICATIONS POLICE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE EVENTS. //OPT// SO IT'S QUITE SERIOUS, YES. //END OPT//

    /// END ACT ///

    THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, CARLOS WESTENDORP, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS HAVE WRITTEN TO AUTHORITIES OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, ASKING THEM TO ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME WITHIN 48 HOURS, AND THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

    THE ATTACK COMES JUST DAYS BEFORE A U-S PEACE DELEGATION, INCLUDING VETERAN NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, IS DUE TO VISIT THE REGION. THE AMERICAN TEAM WILL TRY TO PRESS THE PARTIES TO ADHERE TO THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

    //REST OPT//

    U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A LONG LIST OF PROVISIONS IN THE DAYTON AGREEMENT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HONORED, INCLUDING THE ONE ABOUT ALLOWING REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

    THE U-N HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES WOULD LIKE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE PARTIES TO LIVE UP TO THEIR DAYTON COMMITMENTS, BUT SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SOUNDS LESS-THAN-OPTIMISTIC.

    /// JANOWSKI ACT. ///

    VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HERE IS TRYING TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE PARTIES TO GET THEM TO DELIVER ON THE COMMITMENTS THAT THEY HAD MADE UNDER DAYTON. THIS PRESSURE, ON OCCASION, HAS PRODUCED SOME RESULTS, ALBEIT LIMITED. SO, THE MORE PRESSURE THE BETTER. WHETHER IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE A BREAKTHROUGH IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

    /// END ACT. ///

    MR. JANOWSKI ADDS THAT UNLESS REFUGEES ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME, THE WHOLE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WILL BE THREATENED. (SIGNED)
    NEB/ART/PCF/SP
    04-Aug-97 9:06 AM EDT (1306 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [05] CHICAGO / ALIYEV (L-O) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218097
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY AND WANTS TO CONTINUE IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. BUT HEIDAR ALIYEV SAYS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD LAW ON THE BOOKS IN THE UNITED STATES IS BLOCKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TWO COUNTRY'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS. AS WE HEAR FROM MICHAEL LELAND, MR. ALIYEV MADE HIS COMMENTS BEFORE A GATHERING OF BUSINESS EXECUTIVES MONDAY IN CHICAGO.

    TEXT: PRESIDENT HEIDAR ALIYEV SAYS HIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE, SIX YEARS AFTER THE BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION. HE SAYS INFLATION HAS BEEN CUT FROM 16-HUNDRED PERCENT IN 1994 TO NEAR ZERO TODAY. LAST FRIDAY, THE AZERI STATE OIL COMPANY SIGNED EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION CONTRACTS WITH U-S OIL GIANTS MOBIL, EXXON, CHEVRON AND CHICAGO-BASED AMOCO. SPEAKING IN THE AMOCO HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, MR. ALIYEV SAID HIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE IS IN THE FREE-MARKET ECONOMY.

    // ALIYEV ACT (TRANSLATOR) #1 //

    WE HAVE NO WAY BACK IN AZERBAIJAN. WE WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM AND WILL NEVER ALLOW THE RESTORATION OF THE SOCIALIST ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTRY.

    // END ACT //

    MR. ALIYEV'S SPEECH WAS NOT ONLY AIMED AT THANKING AMOCO AND OTHER U-S OIL COMPANIES FOR INVESTING IN AZERBAIJAN, BUT TO REMIND OTHER EXECUTIVES THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR MORE U-S BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT IN HIS COUNTRY.

    // ALIYEV ACT (TRANSLATOR) #2 //

    EVERY MAJOR OIL COMPANY BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL TENS OF OTHER OIL-RELATED COMPANIES TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, SO MANY AMERICAN COMPANIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH AZERBAIJAN.

    // END ACT //

    BUT MR. ALIYEV SAYS ONE IMPEDIMENT TO BETTER ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES IS A LAW THAT THE U-S CONGRESS PASSED IN 1992 BARRING ANY U-S AID TO OR AID ORGANIZATION CONTACT WITH THE AZERI GOVERNMENT. THE CONGRESS PASSED THE LAW AS PUNISHMENT FOR AZERBAIJAN'S BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA. PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAYS THE LAW IS UNFAIR.

    // ALIYEV ACT (TRANSLATOR) #3 //

    IT IS US WHO HAS BROUGHT THE UNITED STATES TO AZERBAIJAN. IT IS US WHO HAS BROUGHT THE UNITED STATES TO THE CASPIAN SEA AND BECAUSE OF THIS, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS GOT ANGRY AT US AND ASKED WHY WE HAVE BROUGHT AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES TO THE CASPIAN SEA?

    // END ACT //

    PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAYS SEVERAL CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION LAST WEEK EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO LOOK INTO REPEALING THE LAW. RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN REMAIN STRAINED OVER THE FUTURE OF NOGORNO-KARABAKH, AN ETHNIC ENCLAVE WITHIN AZERBAIJAN THAT HAS DEMANDED UNIFICATION WITH ARMENIA. BOTH PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND ALIYEV HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO SEE THE CONFLICT RESOLVED. PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAYS HIS COUNTRY WANTS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY WITH ARMENIA, BUT SAYS AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT GIVE UP ANY OF ITS TERRITORY. (SIGNED)
    NEB/ML/LWM
    04-Aug-97 5:51 PM EDT (2151 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218086
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: KEY STOCK MARKETS OF WEST EUROPE ALL CLOSED ON A LOWER NOTE MONDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE DAY'S FINAL FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

    TEXT: STOCKS WERE DOWN SLIGHTLY HERE IN LONDON -- BUT SHOWED SIGNS OF A MINOR CORRECTION IN FRANKFURT, AS INVESTOR WORRIES OVER HIGHER GERMAN INTEREST RATES HELPED DRIVE THE KEY "DAX 30" INDEX OF STOCKS DOWN ALMOST 112 POINTS FOR THE DAY. PRICES WERE SHARPLY LOWER IN PARIS AS WELL, WHERE THE "CAC 40" INDEX ENDED THE DAY DOWN 57 POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED DOWN JUST OVER THREE-AND-A-HALF POINTS.

    THE DOLLAR, MEANWHILE, SOARED ON EUROPEAN MONEY MARKETS, HITTING ITS HIGHEST VALUE IN YEARS AGAINST SUCH CURRENCIES AS THE GERMAN MARK, THE ITALIAN LIRA AND THE SWISS AND FRENCH FRANCS. THE DOLLAR GAINED ABOUT A HALF PFENNIGE AGAINST THE MARK AND ALMOST A HALF-CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

    GOLD CLOSED IN LONDON AT 323-DOLLARS-85 CENTS AN OUNCE -- VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED FROM THE FRIDAY CLOSING FIX. (SIGNED)
    NEB/PCF/RRM
    04-Aug-97 1:28 PM EDT (1728 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [07] FRANCE / OLD (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218069
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: JEANNE CALMENT, A FRENCH WOMAN ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE THE WORLD'S LONGEST-LIVING PERSON, DIED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 122. JULIAN NUNDY HAS MORE ON HER LIFE IN THIS REPORT FROM PARIS.

    TEXT: BORN IN 1875, JEANNE CALMENT WAS ALREADY 43 AT THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR. SHE REMEMBERED THAT IN 1918, THE YEAR THE WAR ENDED, SHE CRIED WHEN SHE HEARD OF THE EXECUTION OF TSAR NICHOLAS THE SECOND OF RUSSIA AND HIS FAMILY. AS A GIRL, MRS. CALMENT WAS INTRODUCED TO THE IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER VINCENT VAN GOGH -- SHE SAID HE WAS IMPOLITE AND SMELLED OF DRINK. AND SHE REMEMBERED SEEING PARIS'S EIFFEL TOWER WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HER CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH WITNESSED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRST ELECTRIC LIGHT BULBS, THE FIRST MANNED AIRPLANE FLIGHT IN 1903 AND THE FIRST MASS-PRODUCED MOTOR CAR, THE FORD MODEL-T.

    MRS. CALMENT, WHO USED TO SAY THAT GOD HAD FORGOTTEN HER, DIED MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 122 YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS. DOCTORS SAID HER DEATH WAS DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES. BLIND AND NEARLY TOTALLY DEAF, SHE DIED IN AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME IN THE CITY OF ARLES WHERE SHE LIVED ALL HER LIFE.

    STUDIED BY DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS FOR THE SECRET OF HER OLD AGE, MRS. CALMENT WAS A NATIONAL HEROINE. HER BIRTHDAY EVERY FEBRUARY 21ST WAS A NATIONAL EVENT COVERED BY THE NEWS MEDIA.

    MRS. CALMENT, WHO STARTED SMOKING AFTER HER 100TH BIRTHDAY AND TOOK ONE CIGARETTE A DAY AS WELL AS THE OCCASIONAL GLASS OF PORT, HAD SEVERAL RIVALS FOR THE TITLE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON. THEY INCLUDED MARIA DO CARMO GERONIMO, A FORMER BRAZILIAN SLAVE WHO SAYS SHE WAS BORN THREE YEARS EARLIER THAN MRS. CALMENT.

    BUT THE BRAZILIAN'S CLAIM, AS WELL AS THAT OF TWO IRANIANS, CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED, SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE OFFICIAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES. IN FRANCE, RECORDS OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS HAVE BEEN KEPT FOR 200 YEARS, SO MRS. CALMENT HAD THE PAPERS TO PROVE HER AGE.

    //OPT//

    IN THE LAST YEARS OF HER LIFE, MRS. CALMENT WAS VISITED BY AN AVERAGE 150 TELEVISION CREWS A YEAR. HER LONG LIFE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A BOOK BY TWO DOCTORS AND, JUST BEFORE HER 121ST BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR, SHE CUT HER FIRST RECORD.

    THIS FEATURED HER BARELY AUDIBLE VOICE OVER FUNK-RAP AND TECHNO MUSIC. THAT PROMPTED A COURT TO PUT HER UNDER THE CARE OF THE AUTHORITIES SO THAT SHE COULD NOT BE EXPLOITED FOR COMMERCIAL ENDS. //END OPT//

    HEARING OF HER DEATH, THE MAYOR OF ARLES SAID THE WHOLE TOWN WAS IN MOURNING. HE SAID THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAD HOPED MRS. CALMENT "WAS IMMORTAL." (SIGNED)
    NEB/JN/PCF
    04-Aug-97 10:45 AM EDT (1445 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [08] HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218078
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: IN AN OPENING SPEECH MONDAY TO DELEGATES IN GENEVA OF THE U-N SUBCOMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, RALPH ZACKLIN, CONDEMNED THE USE OF VIOLENCE TO PURSUE POLITICAL AIMS. LISA SCHLEIN ATTENDED THE OPENING SESSION AND REPORTS THE COMMISSIONER'S STRONG COMMENTS WON IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.

    TEXT: IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, MR. ZACKLIN LOST NO TIME IN EXPRESSING HIS REVULSION AT THE LATEST TERRORIST ATTACKS IN JERUSALEM. HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF WHAT HE CALLED "THE SENSELESS ACTS OF TERRORISM" THAT WERE COMMITTED IN ISRAEL.

    ///ZACKLIN ACT///

    I CONDEMN IN THE STRONGEST TERMS THESE ATTACKS ON THE LIFE AND WELL-BEING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND EXTEND MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES AND RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS. SUCH ACTS HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION AND CAN ONLY DEBASE THOSE WHO COMMIT THEM.

    ///END ACT///

    JEWISH GROUPS APPLAUDED THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S FORTHRIGHT STANCE. THEY HAVE LONG COMPLAINED THAT THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IS TOO SLOW IN DENOUNCING GROUPS THAT COMMIT CRIMES TO ACHIEVE WHAT IS SOMETIMES CALLED POLITICO-IDEOLOGICAL ENDS.

    //OPT//

    MR. ZACKLIN ALSO SAYS HE IS APPALLED BY THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA, WHICH HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 60-THOUSAND LIVES IN RECENT YEARS AND CAUSED UNTOLD SUFFERING AMONG THE CIVILIAN POPULATION.

    ///SECOND ZACKLIN ACT///

    REGRETTABLY, THESE ARE ONLY TWO RECENT EXAMPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. I THUS CONDEMN ALL IDEOLOGIES WHICH ENCOURAGE HATRED AND VIOLENCE AND LEAD TO THE CONSTANT DENIAL OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE RIGHT TO LIFE.

    ///END ACT // //END OPT//

    THE U-N SUBCOMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS HAS JUST BEGUN ITS ANNUAL FOUR-WEEK-LONG SESSION. COMPOSED OF 26 INDEPENDENT EXPERTS, THE SUBCOMMISSION OPERATES AS A "THINK TANK" FOR THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM. IT STUDIES WAYS TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECT MINORITIES. MANY OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LATER IMPLEMENTED BY THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

    //REST OPT//

    BESIDES SCRUTINIZING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION AROUND THE WORLD, THE SUBCOMMISSION WILL, AT THIS SESSION, EXAMINE ISSUES SUCH AS CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY. THESE INCLUDE SEXUAL SLAVERY DURING TIMES OF WAR AND THE ONGOING EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LS/PCF/RRM
    04-Aug-97 11:52 AM EDT (1552 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=08/04/97
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-10280
    TELEPHONE=619-3335
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
    CONTENT=
    // EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS PERISHABLE MATERIAL AND BECOMES DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T ON MONDAY //

    INTRO: TERROR IN THE MIDEAST AND IN NEW YORK CITY, LINKED TO ARAB EXTREMISTS, IS HIGH IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY, AS WE BEGIN THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF AUGUST.

    OTHER TOPICS DRAWING COMMENTS TODAY INCLUDE: CASPIAN SEA OIL DEPOSITS AND THE ESCALATING GEO-POLITICS OF THAT REGION; NEW ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURES FROM DEEP BENEATH THE SEA AND THE PROBLEM OF SURPLUS WEAPONS IN AMERICA; [OPT] [AS WELL AS] [AND] CHEERS FOR THE GOP'S CONTRACT WITH AMERICA. [END OPT]

    NOW, HERE IS ______________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

    TEXT: THE MIDEAST IN THE AFTERMATH OF TERRORIST BOMBINGS LAST WEEK CONTINUES TO RECEIVE EDITORIAL ATTENTION IN SOME OF THE UNITED STATES' LARGEST DAILIES. THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THE TOUGH LINE OF THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW MOST ISRAELIS THINK, ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL.

    VOICE: "A GALLUP ISRAEL POLL CONDUCTED ONLY HOURS BEFORE THE CRUEL BOMBINGS IN JERUSALEM ILLUMINATES THE CHOICES BEFORE WOULD-BE PEACE MAKERS AT THIS GRAVE MOMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ...... 60 PERCENT OF ISRAELI JEWS POLLED SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEMILITARIZED PALESTINIAN STATE, AND MORE THAN HALF WOULD GRANT PALESTINIANS SOLE OR JOINT SOVEREIGNTY OVER PARTS OF EAST JERUSALEM. .... THE EVIDENT FACT REMAINS THAT MOST ISRAELI JEWS FAVOR PEACE WITH THE PALESTINIANS ON TERMS THAT THE ISRAELI LIKUD GOVERNMENT .... REJECTS ...."

    TEXT: THERE IS CONCERN IN USA TODAY AT THE ESCALATING TENSION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS, AND CRITICISM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR NOT TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AT THIS CRITICAL TIME.

    VOICE: "AND WHAT DOES THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE SO MUCH U-S POLITICAL CAPITAL HAS BEEN INVESTED IN THE PEACE PROCESS? NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. ..... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON AND COMPANY HAVE BEEN LYING LOW SINCE SPRING, WHEN [MR.] NETANYAHU'S DECISION TO EXPAND JEWISH HOUSING IN JERUSALEM RAISED TENSIONS. AND UNLIKE PREDECESSORS JAMES BAKER AND WARREN CHRISTOPHER, [SECRETARY] ALBRIGHT HAS TRAVELED EVERYWHERE BUT THE MIDEAST IN HER FIRST SEVEN OVERSEAS TRIPS. ..... MORE AGGRESSIVE INTERVENTION .... COULD HAVE EASED THE DIFFICULTY OF MOVING BEYOND THIS LATEST CRISIS TO RENEWED PEACE TALKS."

    TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE POTENTIAL BOMBING IN NEW YORK CITY BY ARAB TERRORISTS, AVERTED ONLY BY THE QUICK WORK OF NEW YORK POLICE WHO RAIDED THE TERRORISTS APARTMENT. IT POINTS OUT AGAIN, SAYS THE SUN IN BALTIMORE, THAT "TERROR KNOWS NO BORDER."

    VOICE: "AMERICANS MUST EMPATHIZE WITH ISRAELIS, AFTER THE MARKET BOMBING IN JERUSALEM, WHEN THEY CONTEMPLATE THE BOMBING AVERTED IN NEW YORK BY GOOD CITY POLICE WORK. POLICE, TIPPED BY AN EXCITED MAN ON THE STREET, WOUNDED TWO APPARENT TERRORISTS AND ARRESTED A THIRD, SEIZING FIVE PIPE BOMBS .... THAT WERE WITHOUT TIMERS AND SUITABLE ONLY FOR SUICIDE BOMBINGS SUCH AS OCCURRED IN JERUSALEM. .... POLICE SAID THE BOMBERS WERE LESS THAN A DAY FROM A BOMBING AT THE ATLANTIC AVENUE [SUBWAY] STATION. AT RUSH HOUR, DEATH, MAIMING AND PANIC WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRENDOUS."

    [OPT]

    TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES, ALSO COMMENTING ON THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE, SAYS THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT, YET UNANSWERED ASPECT OF THE NEW YORK ARRESTS.

    VOICE: "... ONE QUESTION, POSED BY AN UNDERSTANDABLY FURIOUS NEW YORK MAYOR RUDOLF GUILIANI, HAS NOT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY ANSWER YET: WHAT WERE THESE TWO CHARACTERS DOING IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE FIRST PLACE?"

    [END OPT]

    TEXT: ON NOW TO ANOTHER AREA OF THE WORLD WHERE GEO-POLITICS IS HEATING UP BECAUSE OF RICH OIL DEPOSITS TO BE FOUND AROUND THE CASPIAN SEA. THE NEW YORK TIMES TALKS OF THE COMPLEXITIES IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL.

    VOICE: "THE CASPIAN REGION NOWADAYS IS BEST DEFINED AS A LARGE BODY OF UNDERSEA OIL SURROUNDED BY NATIONS ANXIOUS TO TAP IT. THE INDUSTRY RECKONS THAT THE CASPIAN RESERVES CONTAIN UP TO 200-BILLION BARRELS OF OIL WORTH AS MUCH AS FOUR TRILLION DOLLARS AT CURRENT PRICES, PLUS COMPARABLE RESERVES OF NATURAL GAS. [OPT] LITTLE WONDER TWO POTENTATES FROM THE CASPIAN AND CAUCASUS AREA, PRESIDENTS HEYDAR ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN AND EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE OF GEORGIA, JOURNEYED TO WASHINGTON THIS SUMMER SEEKING TO IMPROVE DIPLOMATIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. [END OPT] THE DANGER IS THAT AMERICAN POLITICAL CONCERNS WILL BE OVERWHELMED BY THE PETROLEUM JUGGERNAUT. .... CORRUPTION, POLITICAL REPRESSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES REMAIN ENDEMIC IN THE REGION. THE UNITED STATES HAS A NASTY HABIT OF SUBORDINATING ITS DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES WHEN ACCESS TO FOREIGN OIL RESERVES SEIZES THE ATTENTION OF POLITICIANS AND THEIR CORPORATE BENEFACTORS. IT HAPPENED IN IRAQ. IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE CASPIAN BASIN." [END OPT]

    TEXT: STILL WITH THE SEAS, IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, THE RECENT DEEP WATER ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDS OF AMERICAN EXPLORER ROBERT BALLARD DRAWS RAVES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.

    VOICE: "LAST WEEK, ROBERT BALLARD, [OPT] THE 'UNDERWATER INDIANA JONES' [END OPT] WHO FOUND THE TITANIC AND THE BISMARCK, UNVEILED FINDS FROM A SPRING EXPEDITION TO THE MEDITERRANEAN THAT USED A ONCE-SECRET U-S NAVY NUCLEAR SUBMARINE EQUIPPED TO SCUTTLE ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR. ..... SUCH DEEP-SEA MARVELS, ALONG WITH IMPROVED SONAR, FIBER OPTICS AND COMPUTER MAPPING, REMOVE MUCH OF THE GUESSWORK AND RISK THAT HAVE HAMPERED ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN MILES-DEEP WATERS. ..... THE STUNNING DEGREE TO WHICH DEEP SEAS PRESERVE ITEMS ON THE OCEAN FLOOR (A PERFECT, UNSMOKED CIGAR WAS FOUND IN A 19TH CENTURY STEAMER WRECK) PROMISES PRECIOUS YIELDS OF LEARNING ABOUT COMMERCE AND CULTURE OF THE PAST."

    TEXT: BACK AT HOME, THE WASHINGTON POST IS UPSET AT THE PROSPECT OF TWO-AND-ONE HALF MILLION SURPLUS U-S ARMY WEAPONS, HELD BY FOREIGN NATIONS, RETURNING HOME FOR PURCHASE BY GUN HOBBIESTS, AND POSSIBLY, BY CRIMINALS.

    VOICE: "THE INDUSTRY CLASSIFIES THE GUNS AS OBSOLETE 'CURIOS AND RELICS' OF INTEREST MOSTLY TO COLLECTORS AND SPORTS SHOOTERS. BUT THEY'RE NOT ..... THESE ARE SOLDIERS' M-ONE GARAND RIFLES, M-ONE CARBINES AND .45-CALIBER M1911 PISTOLS; SOME CAN BE CONVERTED TO AUTOMATIC OR ILLEGAL ASSAULT WEAPONS ..... FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS, THE PENTAGON DECLINES TO TRANSFER SUCH SURPLUS TO COMMERCIAL GUN VENDORS ....... THIS WEEK, THE GUN IMPORTERS ..... QUIETLY PERSUADED A HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS PANEL TO APPROVE LANGUAGE TO PREVENT THE STATE, JUSTICE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS FROM DENYING THE IMPORTERS' APPLICATIONS. IT'S A SLAP AT THE COUNTRY'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE."

    TEXT: AND FINALLY, SOME PRAISE FOR THE GOP'S CONTRACT WITH AMERICA, FROM TODAY'S OMAHA [NEBRASKA] WORLD-HERALD.

    VOICE: "DEMOCRATS SPENT TWO MILLION ATTACKING THE REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA IN THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS OF 1994. THE CONTRACT HELPED DELIVER THE FIRST GOP MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE IN 40 YEARS. YET DEMOCRATS CONTINUED TO MALIGN IT AS A (TYPICAL, CYNICAL CAMPAIGN RHETORIC THAT WOULD BE ABANDONED OR B) A MEAN-SPIRITED CONTRACT 'ON' AMERICA THAT WOULD GO NOWHERE. ..... [HOWEVER] THE CONTRACT WAS A DEVICE UNPRECEDENTED IN NATIONAL ELECTORAL POLITICS: HERE IS A SPECIFIC CHECKLIST OF EXACTLY WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO; ELECT US AND HOLD US TO IT. ADVOCATES CALLED IT A STRAIGHTFORWARD MASTERSTROKE. CRITICS CALLED IT AN ILL-ADVISED PIECE OF POLITICAL HOKUM. ..... THREE YEARS LATER .... MUCH OF WHAT IT CONTAINED IS NOW THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES, THANKS TO THE PERSISTENCE AND FORESIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.

    TEXT: WITH THAT PRAISE FOR THE GRAND OLD PARTY, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
    NEB/ANG/RRM
    04-Aug-97 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218095
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (MONDAY) IN A VOLATILE SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

    TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 81-HUNDRED-98, UP FOUR POINTS. THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 950, UP THREE POINTS.

    STOCK PRICES WERE VOLATILE DURING THE SESSION -- DOWN, UP, DOWN AND THEN FINALLY CLOSING UP. ANALYSTS SAY THAT WEAKNESS IN THE BOND MARKET MADE SOME TRADERS NERVOUS, ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT FOR STOCKS REMAINS POSITIVE.

    ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK IN THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, MANY PEOPLE ON WALL STREET WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE EVENTUAL ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE AT U-P-S. THE COMPANY DELIVERS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ALL PACKAGES IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE AND OTHER CARRIERS SAY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY ABSORB THE U-P-S BUSINESS. BUT STOCKS OF PUBLICLY TRADED PACKAGE CARRIERS, SUCH AS AIRBORNE AND FEDERAL EXPRESS, ROSE IN ANTICIPATION OF INCREASED BUSINESS.

    ///REST OPT///

    THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY FORMALLY CELEBRATED ITS TAKEOVER OF THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION. NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DOUGLAS COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SELLING WELL LATELY. HOWEVER, BOEING CHAIRMAN PHIL CONDIT HAS INDICATED THAT AT LEAST ONE DOUGLAS MODEL MAY SURVIVE.

    GENERAL MOTORS SAYS IT WILL BUY BACK TWO-AND-ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ITS STOCK DURING THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOMAKER SAYS IT WILL NOT RAISE ITS QUARTERLY STOCK DIVIDEND, WHICH WILL REMAIN AT 50 CENTS.

    THE DIRECTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND PRAISED U-S ECONOMIC POLICY-MAKERS FOR THE SUSTAINED PERIOD OF EXPANSION WITH LOW INFLATION. HOWEVER, THE I-M-F OFFICIALS WARNED THAT U-S MONETARY AUTHORITIES MUST REMAIN VIGILANT TO GUARD AGAINST THE EMERGENCE OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
    04-Aug-97 4:57 PM EDT (2057 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [11] U-S / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

    DATE=8/4/97
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-218096
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND SOME OF ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE SUSPENDING CONTACTS WITH BOSNIAN AMBASSADORS, TO PUSH THE COUNTRY'S FACTIONS TO SETTLE A DISPUTE OVER THE ENVOYS' POSTS. DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

    TEXT: DIPLOMATIC ASSIGNMENTS ARE ONE OF MANY UNSETTLED QUESTIONS IN POSTWAR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. LAST MAY, THE WESTERN ALLIES SET A DEADLINE FOR MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS TO PRODUCE A LIST OF COMMON ENVOYS.

    WHEN THE DEADLINE PASSED WITHOUT A DEAL, INTERNATIONAL HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS WESTENDORP CALLED FOR A HALT TO CONTACTS WITH THE PRESENT AMBASSADORS. THE BRITISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, SWEDISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS AGREED. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL JOIN THEM.

    // FOLEY ACT //

    WE SUPPORT THE DECISION ON THE DEADLINE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. WE INTEND TO SUSPEND CONTACT WITH THE ACCREDITED BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

    // END ACT //

    THE MOVE WILL NOT AFFECT U-S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AID FOR BOSNIA. HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATION REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT MANY ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, ESPECIALLY WHAT OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS DEFIANCE OR LACK OF EFFORT BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

    AMERICAN ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD AND RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO BROKERED THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, WILL VISIT THE REGION THIS WEEK IN SEARCH OF WHAT ONE SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL CALLS A BIG BREAKTHROUGH.

    AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE DELEGATION HOPES TO MEET WITH BOSNIA'S JOINT PRESIDENCY IN SARAJEVO, THOUGH SERB PRESIDENT MOMCILO KRAJISNIK HAS SAID HE WILL NOT ATTEND. THE SENIOR OFFICIAL SAYS MISSING THE TALKS WOULD BE A REAL MISTAKE AND WOULD BRING SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS, THOUGH HE WOULD NOT SAY WHAT THOSE REPERCUSSIONS MIGHT BE.

    BUT THE OFFICIAL ALSO VOICED HIS UNHAPPINESS OVER THE FACT THAT THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, CARLOS WESTERNDORP, WILL APPARENTLY NOT BE THERE EITHER. THE OFFICIAL SAYS MR. WESTENDORP HAS NOT SPENT ENOUGH TIME IN THE REGION SINCE TAKING THE POST. (SIGNED)
    NEB/DS/ENE/LWM
    04-Aug-97 5:18 PM EDT (2118 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    voa2html v2.03a run on Tuesday, 5 August 1997 - 1:10:52 UTC