Voice of America, 98-09-02

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (SARAJEVO)

[02] EDITORIAL: CONGOLESE CONFLICT ESCALATES

[03] EDITORIAL: LATVIA: REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP

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

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

[06] KOSOVO PEACE PLAN (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[07] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (SREDNJE, BOSNIA)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] BOSNIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE 1995 DAYTON AGREEMENT THAT ENDED THE BOSNIAN WAR CALLS FOR THE RETURN OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO FLED THE CONFLICT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTING THE REFUGEES' RETURN IS THAT THE HOMES OF MANY MINORITIES WERE TAKEN OVER BY ETHNIC RIVALS WHILE THEY WERE GONE. ANOTHER IS POLITICAL RESISTANCE TO MULTI-ETHNIC INTEGRATION -- JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER A BLOODY WAR TO SEPARATE CROAT FROM SERB FROM MUSLIM IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON THIS VERY SLOW PROCESS.

TEXT: SINCE THE DAYTON ACCORDS WERE SIGNED, ONLY 50-THOUSAND SERBS, CROATS, AND MUSLIMS HAVE RETURNED TO HOMES THAT WERE IN REGIONS WHERE ANOTHER ETHNIC GROUP IS THE MAJORITY.

TWENTY-SIX-THOUSAND CROATS HAVE GONE BACK TO BOSNIAN MUSLIM AREAS, 11-THOUSAND SERBS HAVE RETURNED TO THE CROAT-MUSLIM FEDERATION PART OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND 11-THOUSAND MUSLIMS HAVE RETURNED TO CROAT AREAS. ONLY TWO-THOUSAND CROATS AND MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED BACK INTO THE SERB REGION -- WHAT IS CALLED REPUBLICA SRPSKA.

ARIENE QUENTIER IS SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SARAJEVO OFFICE OF THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES.

THINGS HAVE IMPROVED A LITTLE, BUT NOT ENOUGH. AND IT IS CLEARLY THE REMOVAL OF POLITICAL OBSTACLES WHICH WILL REMOVE ALL THE SECURITY PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD AND WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY FACILITATE THE RETURN OF MINORITIES TO THEIR HOMES.

THE IDEAL GOAL OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS IS FOR THERE TO BE ONE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WITH TWO ENTITIES UNDER A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND REPUBLICA SRPSKA. AND ALL THE REGIONS WOULD BE MULTI-ETHNIC. BUT THERE IS RESISTANCE -- NOT ONLY FROM THE SERB REGION, BUT FROM CROAT MAJORITY AREAS, AND FROM THE CITY OF SARAJEVO ITSELF WHICH IS NOW 85 PERCENT MUSLIM. BEFORE THE WAR, SARAJEVO WAS ABOUT 40 PERCENT MUSLIM WITH CROATS, SERBS, AND JEWS MAKING UP THE OTHER 60 PER CENT.

BUT MS. QUENTIER SAYS, EVEN WHEN THE POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO MINORITY RETURNS ARE REMOVED, THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF JOBS.

THE PROBLEM IS, ONCE THIS ONE IS REMOVED -- THE POLITICAL PROBLEM -- THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE THE ECONOMICAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT THINK OF A SUSTAINABLE RETURN -- ESPECIALLY A MINORITY RETURN -- WITHOUT SOME SORT OF ECONOMY STARTING SO PEOPLE HAVE A JOB.

THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL WAS CRITICAL OF REFUGEE RETURNS WITH DISREGARD TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS HAVE CRITICIZED GERMANY -- WHICH TOOK IN 180-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES -- FOR FORCED RETURNS.

MS. QUENTIER SAYS IF REFUGEES ARE SIMPLY SENT BACK TO REGIONS WHERE THEY ARE THE MAJORITY, THEN THE ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT WENT ON DURING THE WAR WILL BE CONSOLIDATED -- NOT REMEDIED -- AND THE GOAL OF A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA WILL NOT BE REACHED.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/JWH/JO
02-Sep-98 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: CONGOLESE CONFLICT ESCALATES

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:

A REBELLION BY TROOPS WHO ONCE FOUGHT TO BRING PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA TO POWER IN THE CONGO CONTINUES TO SPREAD. PRESIDENT KABILA CLAIMS THAT TROOPS FROM UGANDA AND RWANDA ARE AIDING THE REBELS -- A CHARGE BOTH COUNTRIES DENY. FORCES FROM ANGOLA, ZIMBABWE, AND NAMIBIA HAVE INTERVENED TO KEEP PRESIDENT KABILA IN POWER. THE UNITED STATES IS GRAVELY CONCERNED THAT THE ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT MAY LEAD TO A WIDER REGIONAL WAR.

THE UNITED STATES URGES ALL PARTIES TO ABIDE BY THE AGREEMENT REACHED AT THE AUGUST 23RD SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY SUMMIT IN PRETORIA. THAT SUMMIT CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE AND ALL-PARTY NEGOTIATIONS. THE CONGO AND ALL OTHER STATES SHOULD SUPPORT THOSE GOALS.

THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE CONFLICT ON NONCOMBATANTS. ALL PARTIES MUST ENSURE THE SAFETY OF NON-COMBATANTS AND STOP INCITING ETHNIC VIOLENCE. THE U.S. URGES ALL SIDES TO CEASE ACTIONS AIMED AT DEPRIVING CIVILIANS OF FOOD, WATER AND ELECTRICITY.

THE U.S. HAS STRESSED REPEATEDLY THE NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN THE CONGO, THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL FOREIGN FORCES, AND NEGOTIATIONS. THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AFRICAN LEADERS TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CONGOLESE CONFLICT.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
02-Sep-98 1:28 PM EDT (1728 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] EDITORIAL: LATVIA: REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP

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:

LATVIA WILL HOLD A REFERENDUM IN EARLY OCTOBER ON LIBERALIZING ITS CITIZENSHIP LAWS. AFTER IT WON INDEPENDENCE IN 1991, LATVIA GRANTED AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP ONLY TO THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. THAT LEFT SEVEN-HUNDRED THOUSAND ETHNIC RUSSIANS WITHOUT A COUNTRY. RUSSIANS MAKE UP ONE-THIRD OF LATVIA'S POPULATION; THEY SETTLED THERE DURING THE HALF CENTURY OF SOVIET OCCUPATION. IN FACT, MANY WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO LATVIA UNDER SOVIET DICTATOR JOSEF STALIN'S "RUSSIFICATION" PROGRAM.

IN JUNE, THE LATVIAN PARLIAMENT AMENDED THE LAW TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR NON-CITIZENS TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP. BUT NATIONALIST OPPONENTS OF THE NEW LAW HAVE GATHERED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO MANDATE A REFERENDUM. LATVIAN PRESIDENT GUNTIS ULMANIS AND FOREIGN MINISTER VALBIS BIRKAVS STRONGLY OPPOSE THE REFERENDUM FOR FEAR THAT IT WILL JEOPARDIZE LATVIA'S EFFORTS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SUPPORTS THE AMENDED CITIZENSHIP LAW AND BELIEVES IT WILL HELP LATVIA INTEGRATE INTO THE WEST AND IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. RUSSIA HAS THREATENED LATVIA WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS TO PROTEST WHAT IT SAYS IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LATVIA'S ETHNIC RUSSIAN RESIDENTS.

THE UNITED STATES RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF THE LATVIAN PEOPLE TO HOLD A REFERENDUM. NEVERTHELESS, THE U.S. SUPPORTS THE RECENT AMENDMENTS LIBERALIZING LATVIA'S CITIZENSHIP LAW. AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID, THE U.S. VIEWS SUCH LIBERALIZATION AS KEY TO LATVIA'S INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
02-Sep-98 1:28 PM EDT (1728 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE REBOUND ON WALL STREET TUESDAY HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON PRICES OF WEST EUROPEAN SHARES ON WEDNESDAY. ALL OF THE BIG MARKETS CLOSED WITH SOLID GAINS. DETAILS FROM LONDON AND VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH.

TEXT: THE BOUNCE-BACK IN EUROPE SAW SHARE PRICES STAY HIGHER THROUGHOUT THE TRADING DAY, AS OPPOSED TO THE VOLATILE PRICE SWINGS SEEN IN RECENT TRADING SESSIONS. LONDON, PARIS AND FRANKFURT ALL CLOSED HIGHER, AS DID SMALLER STOCK MARKETS IN AMSTERDAM, MILAN AND ZURICH.

MARKET ANALYSTS CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT MORE VOLATILITY IN SHARE PRICES WAS EXPECTED.

WEDNESDAY'S CLOSE SAW LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX POST A GAIN OF MORE THAN ONE PERCENT -- UP 67 POINTS. IN FRANKFURT, THE "DAX" INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 93 POINTS -- A DAILY GAIN JUST SHY OF TWO PERCENT. STOCKS TRACKED ON THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX ADDED MORE THAN TWO PERCENT IN VALUE WEDNESDAY, CLOSING UP MORE THAN 83 POINTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
02-Sep-98 2:16 PM EDT (1816 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: WESTERN EUROPE'S STOCK MARKETS OPEN TODAY (THURSDAY) AFTER POSTING GAINS OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO PERCENT FOR THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON LOOKS AHEAD TO THURSDAY'S EUROPEAN TRADING.

TEXT: MANY MARKET ANALYSTS ARE WORRIED THAT WEDNESDAY'S GAINS MAY HAVE BEEN LITTLE MORE THAN A LIFELESS BOUNCE AFTER THE SHARP FALLS EARLIER IN THE WEEK. HIGHER PRICES ON MANY WORLD MARKETS WEDNESDAY, AND THE IMPRESSIVE REBOUND ON WALL STREET TUESDAY, HELPED ALL OF WEST EUROPE'S MARKETS POST SIZABLE GAINS.

WHEN TRADING OPENS THIS MORNING, THE GERMAN "DAX" IN FRANKFURT WILL START OFF AT JUST UNDER 4948, SEEING A GAIN OF ALMOST TWO PERCENT ON WEDNESDAY. THE PARIS "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX OPENS AT JUST UNDER 3730 AFTER DAILY GAINS OF MORE THAN TWO-AND-ONE-QUARTER PERCENT. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 BRITISH STOCKS OPENS AT JUST UNDER 5236, AFTER GAINING MORE THAN ONE PERCENT IN VALUE ON WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
02-Sep-98 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO PEACE PLAN (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: AFTER MONTHS OF PRESSING FOR A FRAMEWORK ACCORD FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN KOSOVO, AN AMERICAN MEDIATOR SAYS MAJOR PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. U-S AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL TOLD THE V-O-A THAT DESPITE CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO, BOTH SIDES IN THE CONFLICT HAVE AGREED TO A PEACE PROCESS THAT WOULD PERMIT THE DEMOCRATIZATION (POWER-SHARING) OF KOSOVO OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: SERB AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE AGREED TO THE IDEA OF A THREE-YEAR FRAMEWORK DEAL DESIGNED TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND STABILITY IN THE EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE.

AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL, WHO MEDIATED THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, SAYS IT MEANS DEMOCRACY AND PEACE ARE POSSIBLE, WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE KEY ISSUE OF WHETHER KOSOVO SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT, A REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, OR REMAIN A PROVINCE IN SERBIA.

AMBASSADOR HILL SPOKE (WEDNESDAY) WITH V-O-A IN PRISTINA.

WELL, FOR THE FIRST TIME BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED THAT THEY WILL REVIEW THIS PROCESS IN THREE YEARS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ALBANIAN SIDE BECAUSE THEY HAVE COME TO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE FOR INDEPENDENCE. AND WHAT THIS ENABLES THEM TO DO IS TO FOCUS INSTEAD ON THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO BUILD THEIR INSTITUTIONS. AND THAT AFTER THREE YEARS, WE CAN REVIEW WHERE WE ARE AND THEY CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO RAISE ADDITIONAL ISSUES.

YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MADE THE THREE-YEAR TIME FRAME OFFER TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY ETHNIC-ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA TOLD AMBASSADOR HILL IT SOUNDED POSSIBLE.

OFFICIALS FROM MR. RUGOVA'S POLITICAL PARTY CAUTIONED THE FRAMEWORK HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY AGREED TO.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHAT EFFECT, IF ANY, WEDNESDAY'S PROGRESS TOWARDS AND AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE ON THE WAR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE SMASHED THROUGH VILLAGE AFTER VILLAGE IN KOSOVO DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

THOUSANDS OF NEW REFUGEES STREAMED FROM VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN KOSOVO WEDNESDAY, AFTER CLASHES BETWEEN SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES AND KOSOVO-ALBANIAN REBELS.

AMBASSADOR HILL SAYS ANY SOLID DEAL FOR PEACE BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO WILL REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING. HE COULD NOT SAY WHAT ORGANIZATION MIGHT AGREE TO PLAY THAT ROLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/PCF/RAE
02-Sep-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (SREDNJE, BOSNIA)

INTRO: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS FACED WITH A MAJOR PROBLEM OF ACCOMMODATING RETURNING REFUGEES. MANY ARE BEING SENT HOME FROM GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO AREAS FAR FROM THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, ANOTHER REFUGEE INFLUX IS COMING FROM THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, WHERE SERBIAN FORCES HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS. CIVILIANS ARE THE MAIN VICTIMS. VOA'S GIL BUTLER VISITED ONE GROUP OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES AT A SMALL TRANSIT CENTER 10 KILOMETERS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: /// OPENS WITH ACTUALITY -- BUTLER AND ADNAN /// (BUTLER) WHY DID YOU LEAVE KOSOVO? (ADNAN SPEAKS SERBIAN, TRANSLATOR) BECAUSE OF THE WAR. (BUTLER) DID YOU FEEL IN DANGER? (ADNAN SERBIAN, TRANSLATOR) EXACTLY. THAT DAY WHEN WE WANTED TO COME HERE, REALLY, MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO SEE US ARE SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM AND NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATED. SO FAR THE AUTHORITIES HAVE PROVIDED US WITH SPACE IN THE TRANSIT CENTERS, WHICH ARE INITIALLY MEANT TO BE FOR BOSNIAN RETURNEES WHO CANNOT GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES.

THE TRANSIT CENTER IN THE VILLAGE OF SREDNJE WAS DESIGNED FOR VERY SHORT STAYS BY RETURNING BOSNIANS. BUT IT IS FILLED WITH KOSOVARS. ONE YOUNG MAN IDENTIFIES HIMSELF ONLY AS "A MUSLIM."

IN KOSOVO (THERE) NOW IS WAR. I WAS AFRAID AND I MUST ESCAPE. I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE TROUBLES THERE. THE SITUATION IS VERY BAD.

HE HASN'T GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO WHAT KIND OF PEACEFUL SOLUTION MIGHT BE REACHED IN KOSOVO -- HE ONLY WANTS TO ESCAPE THE FIGHTING.

TWO WOMEN FROM THE TOWN OF MITREVICA BLAME SERBIAN POLICE FOR THEIR TROUBLES.

THEY EXPLAIN -- THROUGH A TRANSLATOR -- THAT THEY GAVE SHELTER TO PEOPLE RUNNING FROM HEAVY FIGHTING IN DRINECA AND THE SERB POLICE CAME TO ARREST THEM. /// OPT /// THE HUSBAND OF ONE OF THE KOSOVAR WOMEN IS STILL IN JAIL, BUT THE OTHER ESCAPED.

HER HUSBAND, WHEN HE HEARD THEY WERE COMING, HE JUST ESCAPED BEFORE POLICE CAME. THEY WERE ON THE WAY TO THAT HOUSE. ONE DAY AFTER SHE TOOK HER FOUR CHILDREN AND THEY CAME TO SARAJEVO.

NONE OF THE KOSOVARS AT THE U-N-H-C-R TRANSIT CENTER HAD ANY IDEA HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE SEEKING ASYLUM IN BOSNIA. MANY TALKED OF TRYING TO GET WORK VISAS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE CANADA. FOR NOW, THE UNITED NATIONS IS TAKING CARE OF THEM AT TRANSIT CENTERS BUT IS TRYING TO GET MORE PERMANENT SHELTERS FOR THE KOSOVARS -- TO MAKE ROOM AT THE TRANSIT CENTERS FOR RETURNING BOSNIANS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PCF
02-Sep-98 1:08 PM EDT (1708 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC CRISIS IS THE MAJOR TOPIC OF THE COUNTRY'S EDITORIAL PAGE WRITERS THIS WEDNESDAY. ALSO ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES ARE COMMENTARIES ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO RUSSIA AND THE REBOUND ON THE U-S STOCK MARKETS.

THERE ARE ALSO COMMENTS ON THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCHED OVER JAPAN; WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE CONGRESS IN THE WANING WEEKS OF ITS SESSION; AND PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY IN PANAMA. NOW, JOINING US AT THE MICROPHONE IS ___________________ WITH A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THERE IS ONLY ONE EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION." IT IS HEADLINED: "THE NEW WORLD DISORDER."

VOICE: AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM HAS EMERGED IN THE PAST DECADE, FOUNDED ON COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, FUELED BY INFORMATION, HELD TOGETHER BY AN ALMOST RELIGIOUS BELIEF IN THE SANCTITY OF FREE MARKETS AND DRIVEN BY A DEEP DISDAIN FOR CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT, SAFETY NETS AND ANY OTHER RESTRAINT ON COMPETITION AND PERSONAL ENTERPRISE. NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHETHER IT HOLDS TOGETHER IN A CRISIS. THIS IS NOT QUITE THE 'NEW WORLD ORDER' ... GEORGE BUSH ENVISIONED IN THE LATE '80S. ... IT IS A NEW WORLD 'DISORDER,' IN WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE GIVEN UP CONTROL OF THEIR CURRENCIES TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND CONTROL OF THEIR ECONOMIES TO INTERNATIONAL CONGLOMERATES AND TRADING COMPANIES. /// OPT /// ... IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, WE SEEK A WORLD THAT IS COMPREHENSIBLE, THAT OFFERS SOME SENSE OF CONTROL, THAT MAKES US FEEL LESS VULNERABLE. ... THAT'S NOT THE WORLD WE'VE CREATED. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC MESS.

VOICE: ... THE UNITED STATES ALSO SHOULD INITIATE AN INTERNATIONAL, HIGH-LEVEL, THOUGHTFUL REVIEW OF QUESTIONS UNDERLYING THIS CRISIS. THESE WOULD INCLUDE THE EFFICACY OF I-M-F RESCUE MEASURES; THE ISSUE OF CONTROLS ON SHORT-TERM CAPITAL MOVEMENTS ACROSS BORDERS; THE ASSERTION THAT GLOBAL CAPITAL FLOWS HAVE SPARKED OR COULD SPARK A RACE TO THE BOTTOM IN LABOR STANDARDS, ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION ... AND ... THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND HUMANE WAY TO LIBERALIZE AN ECONOMY; AND MORE. BY JOINING THESE ISSUES IN A SERIOUS WAY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION COULD PROVIDE A WELCOME REAFFIRMATION OF ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AT A SHAKY TIME.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS CALLING FOR LOWER INTEREST RATES AROUND THE WORLD.

VOICE: IT IS TIME FOR THE FINANCE MINISTERS OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN INDUSTRIAL POWERS TO ... REASSURE THE WORLD THAT THE FEAR SHOWN IN STOCK MARKETS IS EXAGGERATED. A DECISIVE EASING OF MONETARY POLICY - - LOWER INTEREST RATES - - WOULD SHRINK CONCERNS IN A HURRY.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SEES THINGS DIFFERENTLY, AS IT ASSESSES THE STOCK MARKET REBOUND.

VOICE: THE AMERICAN ... MARKET BOUNCED BACK YESTERDAY, ENCOURAGING INVESTORS AROUND THE WORLD AND REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON CENTRAL BANKERS TO LOWER INTEREST RATES HERE AND IN EUROPE. PERHAPS MARKETS WILL NOW PAUSE TO SEE JUST HOW FAR ASIA'S ECONOMIC WOES WILL SPREAD.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE EXPRESSING FEAR AT THE MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHED BY NORTH KOREA EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT FLEW OVER JAPAN. ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY"SAYS "NORTH KOREA IS PLAYING A VERY DANGEROUS GAME."

VOICE: MONDAY'S TESTING OF A MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE IS TROUBLESOME AND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER NORTH KOREA INTENDS TO ADHERE TO THE AGREEMENT TO LIMIT ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. AND THE MISSILE LAUNCH CAME JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER NORTH KOREA WAS REPORTED TO HAVE A SECRET UNDERGROUND SITE THAT COULD BE PART OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. /// OPT /// .... THE NORTH KOREANS MUST DESIST FROM THESE EFFORTS OR THERE WILL BE NO CHOICE BUT TO END THE NUCLEAR AGREEMENT... UNDER WHICH THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA WILL PROVIDE THE NORTH WITH NUCLEAR REACTORS THAT DO NOT PRODUCE WEAPONS-GRADE MATERIAL IN EXCHANGE FOR A HALT TO DEVELOPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. /// END OPT /// LAUNCHING MISSILES OVER JAPAN WITH THE CLEARLY IMPLIED THREAT OF MISSILES TO SOUTH KOREA IS A VERY DANGEROUS GAME TO BE PLAYING. IF IT'S A GAME.

TEXT: UNDER A HEADLINE READING NATIONAL INSECURITY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" INCORPORATES THE NORTH KOREAN LAUNCH INTO SEVERAL OTHER WORRISOME EVENTS THIS SUMMER.

VOICE: IF THERE WERE A NATIONAL SECURITY INDEX THAT COULD BE QUANTIFIED LIKE THE DOW JONES, IT WOULD SHOW A STEEP DECLINE OVER THE SUMMER. SADDAM HUSSEIN'S VIOLATION OF U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND HIS TRASHING OF THE ARMS INSPECTION AGREEMENT HE NEGOTIATED ... WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CONSTITUTE THE MOST FLAGRANT SECURITY THREAT. ... CREATING A FEARFUL SYMMETRY OF INSECURITY, NORTH KOREA'S STALINIST REGIME ... FIRED A TWO-STAGE BALLISTIC MISSILE OVER JAPAN - - A WEAPON THAT HAS THE RANGE TO STRIKE U-S MILITARY BASES IN JAPAN. THIS NEW NORTH KOREAN MISSILE SIGNIFIES TO SOME ARMS CONTROL SPECIALISTS THAT PYONGYANG REMAINS DETERMINED TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY DESPITE A DEAL WITH WASHINGTON ... THE NORTH'S MISSILE LAUNCH ALSO SERVES AS A FLAMBOYANT FORM OF SALESMANSHIP AIMED AT POTENTIAL BUYERS FROM TEHRAN TO TRIPOLI. /// OPT /// THE IRAQI AND NORTH KOREAN THREATS, COMING AT A TIME WHEN THE SAFETY OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND FISSILE MATERIALS IS MORE DUBIOUS THAN EVER, UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR AN UNDISTRACTED U-S PRESIDENT WHO HAS THE CREDIBILITY TO RALLY RELUCTANT ALLIES AND THE U-S PUBLIC BEHIND HIS POLICIES. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND HAS SOME IDEAS OF WHAT CONGRESS SHOULD TRY TO FINISH IN ITS FEW WEEKS REMAINING BEFORE THE AUTUMN RECESS, AND, URGES LAWMAKERS TO NOT BECOME DISTRACTED BY THE KENNETH STARR INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND MONICA LEWINSKY.

VOICE: LAWMAKERS ... SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE WORK THAT LIES BEYOND MONEY AND MONICA. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, WORKABLE PROTECTION FOR PATIENTS DEALING WITH HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT TOBACCO AND YOUNG PEOPLE; ALL THOSE LIE WITHIN LAWMAKERS' REACH IF THEY CARE TO TAKE HOLD OF THEM. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AND DEBATED - - BUT CONGRESS LACKED THE WILL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CLAIMS ABOUT THE PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN, STRUCK WITH U-S MISSILES DURING THE ATTACK ON AFGHANISTAN, COMES IN FOR CRITICISM FROM NEBRASKA'S "OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" WHICH QUOTES A TV INTERVIEW WITH U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON AS AFFIRMING THE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THE PLANT MADE A RARELY FOUND COMPONENT OF NERVE.

VOICE: THE NEXT DAY, [AMBASSADOR] RICHARDSON'S STORY FELL APART. THE ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT HAD ERRED. OFFICIALS SAID THE UNITED STATES HADN'T KNOWN, WHEN THE ATTACK WAS ORDERED, THAT THE PLANT PRODUCED MEDICAL AND VETERINARY PRODUCTS. THEY ALSO CONCEDED THAT THEY HAVE OVERSTATED EVIDENCE OF [OSAMA] BIN LADEN'S TIES TO THE FACTORY. .... THIS INABILITY TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME WAS UNFORTUNATE. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION, NOT JUST [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S, WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION WHEN THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED LYING TO HIS FAMILY AND THE COUNTRY ABOUT MONICA LEWINSKY AND SENT HIS CABINET MEMBERS OUT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN TO TELL THE PRESS THE PRESIDENT WAS TELLING THE TRUTH. ..... [AMBASSADOR] RICHARDSON ... KNOWINGLY OR NOT, PERPETUATED A DECEPTION. IT WAS YET ANOTHER BLACK EYE [ETHICAL LAPSE] FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME GOOD NEWS FORM CENTRAL AMERICA, WHERE IN THE OPINION OF "THE MIAMI HERALD," PANAMA HAS TAKEN A BIG STEP TOWARD MORE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, RULING OUT A SECOND TERM FOR PRESIDENTS.

VOICE: PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO PEREZ BALLADARES LOST ON SUNDAY AND, HEARTENINGLY, DEMOCRACY WON. THE OCCASION .... A HOTLY CONTESTED REFERENDUM ASKING VOTERS TO OVERTURN A CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL REELECTION. A YES WOULD HAVE CLEARED THE WAY FOR MR. PEREZ BALLADARES TO RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN IN MANY. BUT, IN AN IMPRESSIVE TURNOUT, PANAMANIAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY - - TWO TO ONE - - SAID NO. ... FOR ALL THE TALK OF DEMOCRACY IN LATIN AMERICA, LITTLE REAL PROGRESS WILL BE MADE AS LONG AS SUCH MODERN-DAY **CAUDILLOS** [ITALICS FOR A FOREIGN WORDS] [MEANS STRONG MEN OR DICTATORS] PROSTITUTE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES TO HANG ONTO POWER.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SOME OF TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
02-Sep-98 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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