Voice of America, 97-08-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / SERBS (S & L) BY ART CHIMES (BANJA LUKA)

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

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

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[05] PEACE TRAIN (L ONLY) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (COLOGNE)

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] BOSNIA / SERBS (S & L) BY ART CHIMES (BANJA LUKA)

INTRO: BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC MET TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH TOP MILITARY GENERALS AS SHE AND HER HARDLINE RIVAL RADOVAN KARADZIC BATTLE FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB CITY OF BANJA LUKA WHERE THE MEETING TOOK PLACE.

TEXT: AFTER MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF TALKS, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL STAFF LEFT THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE. BUT THERE WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWING THE MEETING, AND THAT HAS LED SOME OBSERVERS TO BELIEVE MRS.. PLAVSIC FAILED TO WIN THE PLEDGE OF LOYALTY TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS THAT SHE WANTS FROM THE MILITARY.

THE BOSNIAN SERB'S TOP GENERAL (PERO COLIC) FAILED TO SHOW UP. BUT SINCE HE WAS APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT PLAVSIC, HIS LOYALTY IS NOT CONSIDERED IN DOUBT.

IN RECENT WEEKS, MRS. PLAVSIC HAS MOVED TO BRING MORE BOSNIAN SERB INSTITUTIONS UNDER HER CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY, INCLUDING THE POLICE AND TELEVISION NEWS. THE EFFORT IS AIMED AT UNDERMINING HER RIVAL, FORMER PRESIDENT AND INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECT, RADOVAN KARADZIC. THEIR ESCALATING DISPUTE THREATENS TO DIVIDE THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC.

AND SHE FURTHER INDICATED THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT ABSENT U-S PRESENCE, THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT WOULD FOLLOW, AND POSSIBLY THE RESUMPTION OF WAR IN BOSNIA.

BUT SENATOR BIDEN ADMITTED THERE HAS BEEN NO MOVEMENT TOWARD A U-S POLITICAL CONSENSUS ON LEAVING THE TROOPS HERE -- WHICH COSTS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND RISKS AMERICAN LIVES. HE SAID THERE IS NO MOVEMENT ON A U-S POLITICAL CONSENSUS AT HOME, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN, HE SAYS, VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND HERE TO IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

ALSO TUESDAY, 60 POLICE BEGAN A TWO WEEK TRAINING COURSE AS THE UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES TO RESTRUCTURE THE LOCAL POLICE IN BANJA LUKA. EARLIER THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT PLAVSIC REPLACED POLICE OFFICIALS LOYAL TO RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND U-N INVESTIGATORS FOUND HEAVY WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES IN POLICE STATIONS, IN VIOLATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT.

HUNDREDS OF NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SECURITY AROUND POLICE FACILITIES. BUT U-N SPOKESMAN ALUN (CQ) ROBERTS POINTS OUT THERE HAS BEEN NO TROUBLE AND THE TROOPS COULD BE WITHDRAWN IN THE NEAR FUTURE -- THOUGH INTERNATIONAL FORCES WILL REMAIN IN BANJA LUKA, WHICH IS A REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/KL
26-Aug-97 1:13 PM EDT (1713 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CONTINUED A DOWNWARD TREND IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES WERE OFF IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, DEPRESSED BY A DROP IN THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR AND A BELIEF THAT INTEREST RATES WILL INCREASE IN GERMANY.

GERMAN SHARES TOOK THE BIGGEST HIT. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED OFF MORE THAN 112 POINTS, ABOUT TWO AND EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 20 POINTS, ABOUT ONE PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 WAS DOWN ALMOST 15 POINTS, ABOUT THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, BUT IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/EH
26-Aug-97 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) AMID NERVOUSNESS ABOUT THE U-S DOLLAR AND ECONOMIC NEWS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 77 HUNDRED 82, DOWN 77 POINTS OR ONE PERCENT. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 913, DOWN SEVEN POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME NERVOUSNESS AMONG STOCK TRADERS ABOUT THE DROP IN THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WHICH WAS LINKED TO SPECULATION THAT INTEREST RATES IN GERMANY WILL SOON RISE. ANALYSTS SAY MANY TRADERS WERE ALSO CONFUSED BY THE LATEST GROUP OF U-S ECONOMIC REPORTS.

THE REPORTS WERE MIXED. A SURVEY OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SHOWS AMERICANS ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED FACTORY ORDERS FOR DURABLE GOODS -- PRODUCTS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE YEARS OR LONGER WERE DOWN SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT LAST MONTH. AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAID SALES OF EXISTING HOMES ROSE TWO POINT TWO PERCENT IN JULY.

THE STOCK OF THE NOVELL COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY JUMPED ON RUMORS THAT I-B-M MAY ACQUIRE NOVELL. NEITHER COMPANY WOULD COMMENT ON THE RUMORS.

THE HILTON HOTELS COMPANY HAS GONE TO COURT IN ITS CONTINUING EFFORT TO COMPLETE A HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FOR THE I-T-T HOTEL AND CASINO CORPORATION. HILTON IS ASKING A COURT TO BLOCK I-T-T'S ATTEMPT TO SPLIT ITSELF INTO THREE SEPARATE COMPANIES, A MOVE WHICH WOULD EFFECTIVELY KILL HILTON'S EIGHT POINT THREE BILLION DOLLAR OFFER FOR I-T-T.

OFFICIALS AT THE HUDSON FOODS COMPANY SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING GETTING OUT OF THE BEEF BUSINESS ENTIRELY IN THE WAKE OF THE SHUT DOWN OF ITS BEEF PROCESSING PLANT. THE PLANT WAS ORDERED CLOSED AFTER SOME OF THE BEEF WAS FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH E-COLI, A DANGEROUS BACTERIA. THE PRIMARY BUSINESS OF HUDSON FOODS IS CHICKEN AND TURKEY.

THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE SAYS IT EXPECTS TO LIST TWO MORE CHINESE CORPORATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE SIX MAINLAND-BASED CHINESE COMPANIES AND EIGHT HONG KONG BASED FIRMS WHICH TRADE STOCK ON THE NEW YORK EXCHANGE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
26-Aug-97 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO DECIDE LATER THIS WEEK WHETHER TO ALLOW SINN FEIN -- THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- TO ENTER UPCOMING TALKS ON NORTHERN IRELAND. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: POLITICAL TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND ARE TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15TH OUTSIDE BELFAST. BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HOPE THE TALKS WILL BE INCLUSIVE -- MEANING, ALL THE MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILL ATTEND.

THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO INCLUDE SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. LATER THIS WEEK, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHETHER THE I-R-A CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCED ON JULY 20TH IS GENUINE, THUS ALLOWING SINN FEIN TO ENTER THE MAINSTREAM POLITICAL PROCESS. ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL ACCEPT THE VALIDITY OF THE I-R-A CEASEFIRE AND FORMALLY INVITE SINN FEIN TO THE TALKS.

THE PERSON DECIDING WHETHER TO ALLOW SINN FEIN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE IS THE SENIOR BRITISH MINISTER IN CHARGE OF NORTHERN IRELAND, MO MOWLAN. SHE TOLD BRITISH RADIO HER DECISION WILL BE ANNOUNCED EITHER THURSDAY OR FRIDAY AND WILL BE BASED ON A NUMBER OF CRITERIA.

WHETHER A PARTY HAS GOT AN ELECTORAL MANDATE, WHICH SINN FEIN CLEARLY HAVE SINCE THE ELECTION LAST MAY. I HAVE TO LOOK AT WHETHER THEY ARE COMMITTED TO EXCLUSIVELY PEACEFUL MEANS. I HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THEY ABIDE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND WHETHER THE CEASEFIRE OF 1994 HAS BEEN UNEQUIVOCALLY RESTORED.

THE BRITISH MINISTER SAID SHE WILL MEET SECURITY OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN IRELAND BEFORE ANNOUNCING HER DECISION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MS. MOWLAN GAVE THE CLEAREST SIGNAL TO DATE THAT SINN FEIN WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN POLITICAL TALKS, WHEN SHE SAID THE SITUATION SURROUNDING THE I-R-A CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN UP TO NOW IN HER WORDS -- QUITE POSITIVE.

RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE POLITICAL TALKS WILL BE DISCUSSIONS ON THE THORNY ISSUE OF DECOMMISSIONING WEAPONS -- IN OTHER WORDS HOW TO MAKE SURE PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- SUCH AS THE I-R-A -- HAND IN THEIR ARMS, BOMBS AND BOMB-MAKING EQUIPMENT. THAT ISSUE HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AND PREVENTED ANY PROGRESS IN PREVIOUS TALKS ON NORTHERN IRELAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF/EH
26-Aug-97 9:49 AM EDT (1349 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] PEACE TRAIN (L ONLY) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (COLOGNE)

INTRO: GERMANY HAS BLOCKED A SO-CALLED "EUROPEAN PEACE TRAIN" THAT IT SAYS WAS BEING USED TO PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF KURDISH RADICALS. ABOUT 400 PEACE ACTIVISTS HAD WANTED TO TRAVEL FROM BRUSSELS TO TURKEY TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CONSIDER MISTREATMENT OF ETHNIC KURDS. BUT THOMAS ANDERSSEN REPORTS THE TRAIN'S DEPARTURE FROM BRUSSELS WAS CANCELLED AT THE LAST MINUTE AFTER THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION.

TEXT: ABOUT 400 PEACE ACTIVISTS, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS, AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENTS FROM ACROSS EUROPE PLANNED TO RIDE WHAT WAS CALLED THE PEACE TRAIN FROM THE CAPITAL OF BELGIUM TO DIYARBAKIR -- A TOWN IN TURKEY'S KURDISH EAST.

THE JOURNEY WAS MEANT TO BE A PROTEST AGAINST WHAT THEY CALL TURKEY'S MISTREATMENT AND SUPPRESSION OF ITS KURDISH POPULATION.

TO REACH ITS DESTINATION HOWEVER, THE TRAIN WOULD HAVE HAD TO PASS THROUGH GERMANY, WHICH REFUSED PERMISSION.

GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER CONDEMNED THE PEACE TRAIN AS A PROMOTIONAL EXERCISE FOR THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, P-K-K, A POLITICAL GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN OUTLAWED IN GERMANY. THE P-K-K IS FIGHTING A VIOLENT STRUGGLE IN EASTERN TURKEY FOR A KURDISH HOMELAND.

IN ISSUING HIS BAN, MR. KANTHER SAID THAT NON-GERMAN CITIZENS ON THE TRAIN WOULD BE TURNED BACK AT THE BORDER IF THEY TRIED TO CROSS FROM BELGIUM INTO GERMANY.

THE DECISION HAS GROUND THE EUROPEAN PEACE TRAIN TO A HALT. SMALL DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD IN BRUSSELS AND COLOGNE ON TUESDAY TO PROTEST. INSTEAD, A SMALL DELEGATION OF 10 OR 15 HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WILL FLY TO ISTANBUL THURSDAY AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY TO DIYARBAKIR IN EASTERN TURKEY IN TIME FOR THE SEPTEMBER FIRST OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL ANTI-WAR DAY, AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

PEACE TRAIN ORGANIZERS -- A LOW-PROFILE GROUP IN HANOVER, GERMANY REACTED ANGRILY TO THE GERMAN VETO AND ACCUSED GERMANY OF BEING DISCRIMINATORY AND AN ACCOMPLICE TO WHAT IT CALLED TURKEY'S CAMPAIGN OF SUPPRESSION OF KURDS. THE GROUP HAD SPENT THE PAST FOUR MONTHS ORGANIZING THE INITIATIVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/TA/JWH/EH
26-Aug-97 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WITH E-COLI BACTERIA SHOWING UP IN HAMBURGER BEEF PATTIES, AND FISH-BORN TOXINS PRODUCING LESIONS IN SOME MARYLAND FISH, THE ISSUE OF FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION IS A VERY POPULAR TOPICS IN TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS.

OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE; THE MIR SPACECRAFT'S HONORABLE RECORD; THE BAN ON LAND MINES; THE POPE'S VISIT TO FRANCE; AND SOME UGLY HISTORY UNCOVERED IN SWEDEN.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS ________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RECENT RECALL OF ELEVEN AND ONE THIRD MILLION KILOGRAMS OF GROUND BEEF FROM HUDSON FOODS AFTER POTENTIALLY FATAL E. COLI BACTERIA MADE MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE SICK, HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF FOOD SAFETY. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS QUESTIONING THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE NATION'S FOOD INSPECTION SYSTEM, AS IT WARNS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT RELY TOO HEAVILY ON INDUSTRY INSPECTION OF MEAT.

VOICE: "THE RECALL ..... HAS PUT THE NATION ON A FOOD ALERT AS IT APPROACHES THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND. IS THAT HAMBURGER ON THE BARBECUE SAFE TO EAT? HOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD SUCH A THOUGHT BEFORE BUYING OR EATING GROUND BEEF SINCE THE LATEST CONTAMINATION INCIDENT, IN WHICH 16 PEOPLE IN COLORADO FELL ILL AFTER EATING PATTIES TAINTED WITH THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY BACTERIA KNOWN AS E. COLI (O 157:H7). THE VIRULENT BACTERIUM APPEARS CONTAINED FOR NOW BY THE LARGEST FOOD RECALL EVER. BUT THE SCARE RAISES NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND THE BEEF INDUSTRY. [OPT] .... THE BEEF INDUSTRY, BY ITS OWN ADMISSION, CANNOT ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT GUARANTEE ITS PRODUCT. ITS ADVICE, TO COOK GROUND BEEF TO JUST ABOVE 71 DEGREES CELSIUS, IS WISE. BUT THE INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT NEED TO DO A LOT MORE TO RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THOSE LABOR DAY BURGERS." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS MORE REASSURED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION AND APPLAUDS NEW GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY TESTING WHICH BEGINS IN JANUARY.

VOICE: "THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, ALARMED BY THE DISCOVERY THAT ABOUT ELEVEN AND ONE THIRD MILLION KILOGRAMS OF ITS FAVORITE BARBECUE FOOD MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED ..... CAN BE REASSURED BY WASHINGTON'S QUICK ACTION TO GET THE MEAT RECALLED. YET TO GUARD AGAINST FUTURE EPISODES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST MOVE AS SWIFTLY AS IT CAN TO PUT A NEW REGULATORY SYSTEM IN PLACE. [OPT] ..... THE EPISODE HAS .... POINTED TO SEVERAL AREAS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE ON MEAT SAFETY NEEDS STRENGTHENING. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, A NEW AND BETTER INSPECTION SYSTEM CALLED HAZARD ANALYSIS CRITICAL CONTROL POINT WILL BE PHASED IN TO REPLACE THE OLD AND CHANCY 'SNIFF AND POKE' METHOD USED BY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT INSPECTORS. ..... THE NEW SYSTEM ..... REQUIRES CLOSER MONITORING BY THE PLANT AND BY FEDERAL INSPECTORS AT EACH CRITICAL POINT IN THE PROCESS ..... [OR OPT] [SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE DAN] GLICKMAN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS, PARTICULARLY THE LARGER ONES, TO STEP UP THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS EVEN BEFORE THEY ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO."

TEXT: THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SEAFOOD, COMING IN LARGE PART FROM THE RICH WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, BUT ABOUT THE TIME THE E-COLI WAS TURNING UP IN HAMBURGER, A WATER-BORN TOXIN, PFIESTERIA, WAS KILLING FISH IN A RIVER THAT FEEDS INTO THE BAY, AS FISH WASHED ASHORE WITH UGLY LESIONS ON THEIR BODIES. SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION HAS PLUMMETED, CAUSING THE SUN IN BALTIMORE TO WRITE THIS EDITORIAL ENTITLED "IT'S STILL OK TO EAT SEAFOOD."

VOICE: ".... THE EXPERTS SAY THE ODDS OF BECOMING ILL FROM SEAFOOD INFECTED BY PFIESTERIA - - INCLUDING SEAFOOD THAT COME FROM THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES - - ARE VIRTUALLY NILL. ..... IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU WOULD UNWITTINGLY BUY SEAFOOD WITH PFIESTERIA, BECAUSE THE MICROORGASNISM KILLS WITHIN MINUTES OF RELEASING ITS POISON, OFTEN CAUSING UGLY LESIONS. NO ONE IS GOING TO BUY A FISH COVERED WITH SORES, EVEN IF A WHOLESALER OR RETAILER WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO TRY TO SELL ONE. "

TEXT: FROM FOOD ON EARTH TO MEN IN SPACE NOW, AND THIS CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR EDITORIAL ON THE MIR SPACECRAFT'S HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE.

VOICE: "THREE CHEERS FOR THE RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS. ANATOLY SOLOVYOV AND PAVEL VINOGRADOV CARRIED OUT A TREACHEROUS SPACE WALK WITH PANACHE. WE ADMIRE THEIR SKILL IN KEEPING THE MIR SPACE STATION GOING, BUT IT SEEMS TIME TO CONSIDER HONORABLE RETIREMENT FOR THAT REMARKABLE CRAFT. ..... RUSSIAN SPACE OFFICIALS AND THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT NEED TO FACE THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT PURSUE BOTH MIR AND SPACE STATION ALPHA PROGRAMS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY SHOULD PLAN TO RETIRE MIR NEXT JUNE AND TAKE PRIDE IN ITS 11 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT."

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE CURRENT MOVE ON TWO PARALLEL DIPLOMATIC LEVELS TO BAN THE MANUFACTURE AND USE OF LAND MINES, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS SHOWING SOME IMPATIENCE OVER THE PROGRESS.

VOICE: "THIS MONTHS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION RIGHTLY, THOUGH BELATEDLY, DECIDED TO JOIN MORE THAN 100 OTHER NATIONS WORKING TO ADOPT A DRAFT TREATY BANNING ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES. REGRETTABLY, THE ADMINISTRATION STILL INSISTS ON PRESSING FOR TWO PENTAGON-SPONSORED EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE LIKELY NOT ONLY TO DELAY THIS CANADIAN-LED INITIATIVE BUT, WORSE, TO UNDERMINE THE LARGER GOAL OF DRAWING HOLDOUTS LIKE RUSSIA AND CHINA INTO A WORLDWIDE TREATY. .... [OPT] IF THE UNITED STATES PERSISTS IN DEMANDING THE TWO EXCEPTIONS, OTHER COUNTRIES WILL HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING COMPARABLE LOOPHOLES OF THEIR OWN. .... THE CHANCE TO SAVE SO MANY LIVES SHOULD NOT BE FURTHER DELAYED." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD TALKS ABOUT THE HUGE SUCCESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND'S RECENT TRIP TO FRANCE, AND ABOUT HIS MESSAGE OF LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND, A MESSAGE THE PAPER SAYS, SHOULD BE HEARD IN THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: "POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND .... SCOLDED THE WEST FOR TURNING ITS BACK ON IMMIGRANTS. CITING CHRIST'S SECOND 'GREAT COMMANDMENT' TO LOVE THEY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF,' HE ASKED: 'WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?' AND ANSWERED ' ... EVERY HUMAN BEING, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.' IT IS NOT NECESSARY, HE SAID, IN WORDS EVERY WESTERN LEGISLATOR SHOULD PONDER, 'TO ASK HIS NATIONALITY, OR TO WHICH SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS GROUP HE BELONGS.'

TEXT: TURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST, TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR IS PLEASED WITH SOME HINTS OF REFORM IN IRAN.

VOICE: "IRAN'S NEW GOVERNMENT INCLUDES IN ITS CABINET SOME FIGURES PERCEIVED AS LIBERAL WITHIN THE IRANIAN CONTEXT. BUT WILL THE COUNTRY'S NEW PRESIDENT, MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, STEER IT TOWARD AN EQUALLY NEW FOREIGN POLICY, PERHAPS EVEN THAWING RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES? THE PROBABLE ANSWER IS NOT SOON. BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR PUTTING A HOLD ON THE CAREFUL CHANGE OF POLICY TOWARD IRAN LATELY UNDER WAY IN WASHINGTON. [OPT] ..... PRESIDENT KHATAMI OUTMANEUVERED THE ZEALOTS TO WIN CONFIRMATION OF HIS CABINET. AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS TOWARD NORMALIZATION MAY BE UNDER WAY."[END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, AN UGLY REVELATION ABOUT PAST SOCIAL POLICY IN SWEDEN DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

VOICE: "THE EXPOSE WAS NUMBING. SWEDEN'S SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS, HAILED FOR PERFECTING THE POST-WORLD WAR TWO WELFARE STATE AND ITS HUMANITARIAN BENEFITS, HAD A DARK AND DIRTY SECRET. FROM 1935 TO 1976 THE STATE SANCTIONED A PROGRAM OF STERILIZING WOMEN TO WEED OUT 'INFERIOR' RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ENCOURAGE ARYAN FEATURES AMONG THE SWEDES. WHILE READING THE REVELATIONS .... IN THE NEWSPAPER DAGENS NYHETER ..... ONE COULD ALMOST HEAR THE ANTHEMS OF NAZI GERMANY. ..... SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER MARGOT WALLSTROM SAID SHE WILL REVIEW THE LAWS, SPECIFICALLY THE STATUTES THAT SAY SUCH VICTIMS CANNOT SEEK DAMAGES. THAT'S NOT NEARLY SATISFACTORY. THESE WOMEN, UP TO 60-THOUSAND OVER FOUR DECADES, WERE DENIED THEIR RIGHTS AND DIGNITY IN THE NAME OF RACIAL PURITY. OUTRAGEOUS. COMPENSATION IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT SHOULD FOLLOW."

TEXT: ON THAT INDIGNANT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
26-Aug-97 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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