Voice of America, 98-11-09

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / POLICE (S) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (MALISEVO)

[02] BRITAIN / NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[03] E-U / FOREIGN MINISTERS (L OVERNIGHTER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[04] E-U / FOREIGN MINISTERS / RUSSIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

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

[07] EDITORIAL: SLOVAKIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT

[08] SLOVAKIA / WEST BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[01] KOSOVO / POLICE (S) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (MALISEVO)

INTRO: TWO SERBIAN POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN KOSOVO. YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS SAY THE EXEUCTION-STYLE MURDERS ARE EVIDENCE THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A) IS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM THE KOSOVO TOWN OF MALISEVO.

TEXT: SERB POLICE OFFICIALS SAY ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS KILLED THE TWO POLICEMEN LATE SUNDAY OR EARLY MONDAY.

THE SERB OFFICIALS CHARGE THE MUTILATED BODIES OF THE TWO POLICEMEN OFFER, WHAT THEY CALL, THE CLEAREST EVIDENCE YET THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN OBSERVERS TRYING TO PUT AN END TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO.

POLICE SPOKESMAN BOZIDAR FILIC SAID THE TWO MEN WERE KIDNAPPED FRIDAY. HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE TWO WERE TORTURED AND THEN KILLED. THEIR BODIES WERE DISCOVERED BY U-S OBSERVERS FROM THE VERIFICATION MISSION BEING SET UP BY THE ORGANIZATION OF SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E).

WESTERN OBSERVERS SAID THE KILLING OF THE TWO SERBIAN POLICEMEN WAS IN APPARENT REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF FIVE K-L-A MEMBERS DURING THE WEEKEND. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/JWH/RAE
09-Nov-98 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] BRITAIN / NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR MET MONDAY WITH THE HEAD OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC ARMY, IN HIS LATEST ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE OVER DISARMING NORTHERN IRELAND'S PARAMILITARIES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: SINN FEIN EXPECTS TO TAKE PART IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW CABINET, AS OUTLINED IN THE APRIL PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT THE PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND SAYS THAT CANNOT HAPPEN UNTIL THE I-R-A STARTS TO DISARM

SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS SAYS THE I-R-A IS NEGOTIATING DECOMMISSIONING AS REQUIRED BY THE PEACE PLAN. BUT HE INSISTS IT IS NOT A PRECONDITION TO JOINING THE CABINET.

THE REALITY IS THAT UNIONISTS ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE OBLIGED TO DO UNDER THE AGREEMENT WHILE THE REPUBLICANS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE THAN THEY'RE OBLIGED TO DO UNDER THE AGREEMENT. LET'S SEE THIS AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS, WHICH IS BOGGED DOWN QUITE DELIBERATELY, WILLFULLY DELAYED, WHICH IS NEEDS TO BE MOVED FORWARD.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR IS TRYING TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK AND GET THE PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK. HE MET SEPARATELY LAST MONTH WITH MR ADAMS AND ULSTER UNIONIST LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE WITH LITTLE SUCCESS.

NORTHERN IRELAND'S CABINET WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FORMED AT THE START OF NOVEMBER. BUT EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD UNTIL THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
09-Nov-98 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / FOREIGN MINISTERS (L OVERNIGHTER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET TUESDAY WITH FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE SIX COUNTRIES MOST LIKELY TO BECOME E-U MEMBERS EARLY IN THE NEXT CENTURY. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE FOCUSING ON RELATIVELY SIMPLE AREAS SUCH AS EDUCATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF THEIR MEETING HERE IN BRUSSELS, THE E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS APPROVED THE PROGRESS REPORTS THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS DEVELOPED ON THE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES.

THE COMMISSION SAID LAST WEEK THAT FOUR OF THE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES -- POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA AND ESTONIA -- ALL HAVE WEAKNESS IN THEIR JUDICIAL SYSTEMS. ONLY HUNGARY, AMONG THE LEADING CANDIDATES, HAS MADE ANY PROGRESS TOWARD IMPROVEMENT OF ITS LEGAL SYSTEM.

THE COMMISSION ALSO SAID THAT NONE OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES FULLY MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP. IT SAID POLAND AND HUNGARY COME THE CLOSEST. CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED ABOUT SLOVENIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WHICH WERE SAID TO HAVE LOST GROUND SINCE LAST YEAR.

WHAT ALSO HAS LOST GROUND IS ENTHUSIASM AMONG SOME EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES FOR QUICK ENLARGEMENT OF THE UNION. GERMANY'S NEW GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT RAISING THE HOPES OF THE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES -- AS WELL AS CYPRUS -- BEFORE THE EUROPEAN UNION SOLVES ITS OWN QUESTIONS OF FINANCING.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS ENLARGEMENT IS NOT JUST A FAVOR TO THE NEW MEMBERS.

ENLARGEMENT IS NOT AN ACT OF ALTRUISM TO THE APPLICANT COUNTRIES. IT IS SOMETHING THAT VERY MUCH IS IN THE INTEREST OF EUROPE ITSELF AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECALL THAT WE NEED TO CARRY WITH US OUR OWN POPULATIONS, THE PUBLIC IN EUROPE NEEDS TO BE CONVINCED THAT ENLARGEMENT IS IN THEIR INTEREST AS MUCH AS IT IS IN THE POPULATION OF THE APPLICANT COUNTRIES.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL FEAR DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES MAY BE DIVERTED TO CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPE AWAY FROM THEM. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MIGRANT WORKERS AND WANT LONG TRANSITION PERIODS BEFORE ALLOWING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF LABOR.

THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS MEETING TUESDAY IS THE DESIRE BY AUSTRIA TO ENCOURAGE REFORMS IN THE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES DURING ITS SIX MONTH PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/JO
09-Nov-98 2:16 PM EST (1916 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] E-U / FOREIGN MINISTERS / RUSSIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE ENDORSED A FOOD AID PROPOSAL FOR RUSSIA AND URGED THE REQUEST BE APPROVED URGENTLY. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: RUSSIA HAS NOT YET GIVEN THE EUROPEAN UNION A FORMAL REQUEST FOR FOOD AID, BUT THE FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDED TO APPROVE PLANS BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO GET FOOD ROLLING TO RUSSIA BY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE RUSSIA ABOUT 470-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF EUROPEAN FOOD. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE MINISTERS NEEDED TO APPROVE A PLAN WITHOUT WAITING FOR RUSSIA TO DESCRIBE WHERE THE FOOD SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THE GREATEST NEED IS AND WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE GREATEST FOOD STUFF, AND THIS POINT HAS BEEN MADE, WE HAVE GOT SERIOUS TIME PRESSURES HERE. WITH THE BEST WILL IN THE WORLD FROM THE TIME A DECISION IS TAKEN, IT WILL BE ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT APPEARS ON THE GROUND.

THE COMMISSION DREW UP THE PLAN AFTER A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO RUSSIA LAST WEEK. THE PLAN INCLUDES ONE-MILLION TONS OF WHEAT, ONE-HALF-MILLION TONS OF RYE, 150-THOUSAND TONS OF BEEF, 100-TONS OF PORK, AND 50-THOUSAND TONS APIECE OF RICE AND MILK POWDER.

THE EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL ON RUSSIA TO TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO FACILITATE THE ASSISTANCE. OFFICIALS SAY THESE MEASURES INCLUDE A RUSSIAN PLEDGE NOT TO RE-EXPORT THE EUROPEAN UNION AID. RUSSIA WOULD ALSO HAVE TO AGREE TO SELL THE AID AT PREVAILING MARKET PRICES IN RUSSIA SO AS NOT TO DISTORT THE DOMESTIC MARKET. THE PROFIT FROM THESE SALES WOULD BE USED TO FUND SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' ENDORSEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PLAN FOLLOWS LAST FRIDAY'S AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES ON FOOD AID. THE UNITED STATES AGREES TO SET UP A 600-MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT LINE FOR RUSSIA PLUS ONE-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION TONS OF WHEAT AND 100-THOUSAND TONS OF OTHER FOODS.

EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FALLING PRICES FOR PORK AND HAVE BEEN URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO HELP RUSSIA TO GET EUROPEAN PORK MOVING THERE. THE PROBLEM, OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS SAY, IS THAT RUSSIA HAS NOT MADE A FORMAL REQUEST TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD HAS NOT BEEN CLARIFIED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH
09-Nov-98 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (MONDAY) IN WHAT ANALYSTS SAY WAS WIDESPREAD PROFIT-TAKING. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 97, DOWN 77 POINTS, CLOSE TO ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 30, DOWN 10 POINTS.

THERE WAS NO MAJOR ECONOMIC NEWS TO MOVE STOCKS BUT PRICES WERE DOWN ALL DAY. ANALYSTS SAY MOST OF THE SELLING WAS SIMPLY PROFIT-TAKING AFTER LAST WEEK'S MORE THAN FOUR PERCENT GAIN IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

WITH THE MARKET BEING AS STRONG AS IT HAS BEEN, WE ARE BOUND TO GET SOME PROFIT TAKING AND I THINK IT REPRESENTS A VERY HEALTHY STAGE FOR THE MARKET.

THE CONVERSE FOOTWEAR COMPANY REPORTED A FOUR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY LOSS BECAUSE OF A STEEP DECLINE IN SALES OF ITS BASKETBALL SHOES. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAID IT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH EFFECT THE LOCKOUT AT THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION HAD ON THE SALES DECLINE.

THE DOW CORNING COMPANY IS PROPOSING A BREAST IMPLANT SETTLEMENT WHICH COULD BRING THE COMPANY OUT OF BANKRUPTCY. THE FIRM IS PROPOSING TO PAY THREE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE CLAIMS FROM 170 THOUSAND WOMEN WHO SAY THEIR HEALTH WAS HARMED BY DOW CORNING'S SILICON BREAST IMPLANTS.

GENERAL MOTORS HAS SIGNED A 10-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE ALCAN ALUMINUM COMPANY OF CANADA. THE DEAL WILL GUARANTEE G-M A STEADY SUPPLY OF ALUMINUM AT PREDICTABLE PRICES. G-M PLANS TO USE MORE ALUMINUM IN ITS VEHICLES AS A MEANS OF REDUCING WEIGHT AND INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY.

ANOTHER CONSOLIDATION IN THE U-S CASINO GAMBLING INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. M-G-M GRAND WILL BUY THE PRIMADONA RESORTS CORPORATION FOR 267 MILLION DOLLARS. BOTH COMPANIES OPERATE CASINOS IN THE STATE OF NEVADA.

A SURVEY BY "ADVERTISING AGE" MAGAZINE SHOWS TWO MULTI-NATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANIES ARE THE LARGEST ADVERTISERS IN THE WORLD. PROCTER AND GAMBLE OF THE UNITED STATES SPENT FIVE AND THREE QUARTERS BILLION DOLLARS ON ADVERTISING LAST YEAR. UNILEVER, THE ANGLO-DUTCH COMPANY, SPENT THREE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
09-Nov-98 5:01 PM EST (2201 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE POLITICAL BOMBSHELL THAT EXPLODED LATE FRIDAY WITH THE RESIGNATION OF HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH, AND HIS FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT HE WOULD LEAVE CONGRESS SOON, CONTINUES TO REVERBERATE IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY.

OTHER EDITORIAL TOPICS INCLUDE: /// OPT /// THE LATEST ON THE CLINTON IMPEACHMENT MOVE; /// END OPT /// THE TROUBLE THE WYE ACCORD IS IN; AN ELECTION IN KAZAKHSTAN IS SEEN AS A FRAUD; AND THE DALAI LAMA'S VISIT HERE. NOW, HERE WITH US IS _________________ WITH A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH STUNNED THE COUNTRY LATE FRIDAY WITH HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT, IN THE WAKE OF REPUBLICAN'S WEAK SHOWING IN THE ELECTION, HE WOULD NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR SPEAKER OF THE NEW CONGRESS, AND WOULD ALSO RESIGN HIS SEAT WITHIN MONTHS. THAT SET OFF A BATTLE AMONG REPUBLICANS FOR THE JOB, AND CAUSED AN AVALANCHE OF EDITORIALS COMMENTING ON THE COMBATIVE GEORGIA REPUBLICAN, AN AVALANCHE WHICH CONTINUES TODAY. "USA TODAY" SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE THAT "REVOLUTIONARY ZEAL YIELDS TO [A] NEED FOR PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS."

VOICE: THE NEWLY RE-ELECTED AND SOON-TO-BE DEPARTED NEWT GINGRICH ONCE SUMMED UP HIS ROLE AS HOUSE SPEAKER THIS WAY: 'I AM A CHANGE AGENT.' IN HIS FOUR YEARS AS SPEAKER, [MR.] GINGRICH CERTAINLY PRESIDED OVER MAJOR UPHEAVALS IN WASHINGTON. BUT IN THE END, THE MAN WHO PLANNED BOLD REVOLUTIONS WAS LEFT IN THE COLD BY A PUBLIC CRAVING NOT RADICAL TRANSFORMATIONS BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S PROBLEMS.

TEXT: IN BOSTON, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" APPEARS TO COMPARE THE RISE AND FALL OF NEWT GINGRICH TO A GREEK TRAGEDY

VOICE: ... AS HE WAS LEADING THE TROOPS TO VICTORY, [MR.] GINGRICH LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE MISTAKES THAT LIMITED HIS EFFECTIVENESS AND ALLOWED DEMOCRATS TO TURN HIM INTO A PUBLIC BOGEYMAN [GHOUL]. IT WAS A CARICATURE THAT WAS UNFAIR, BUT ONE THAT [MR.] GINGRICH HIMSELF CONTRIBUTED TO. THE GEORGIA'S PARTISAN ATTACK-DOG STYLE AS MINORITY WHIP SERVED HIM POORLY IN POWER.

TEXT: AS FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" IT IS PUSHING CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER COX AS THE BEST REPLACEMENT, EVEN AS IT APPEARS THAT THE MAN WITH THE MOST VOTES WILL BE BOB LIVINGSTON OF LOUISIANA.

VOICE: THESE COLUMNS, DEVOTED TO IDEAS RATHER THAN TO PARTY, DO NOT USUALLY COMMENT ON INTERNAL LEADERSHIP RACES. BUT

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER MAJOR POLITICAL STORY, THE DIMINISHING CHANCES OF IMPEACHING PRESIDENT CLINTON, "THE MINNEAPOLIS [MINNESOTA] STAR TRIBUNE" CRITICIZES A SERIES OF QUESTIONS IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HENRY HYDE SENT TO THE PRESIDENT, DEMANDING SWORN ANSWERS.

VOICE: IN HIS ACTIONS THURSDAY, [MR.] HYDE AT ONCE EXHIBITED A TIN EAR [SLANG EXPRESSION FOR: "POLITICAL DEAFNESS"] TO THE ELECTORATE, A DECIDEDLY PARTISAN APPROACH TO THE PRESIDENT -- AND A FEW GOOD INSTINCTS. THE TIN EAR IS TO THE PUBLIC'S REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED JUDGMENT -- AS WELL AS TO THE CONSIDERED JUDGMENT OF 400 PLUS HISTORIANS. [MR.] HYDE INSISTED THAT HIS DUTY HAD NOT CHANGED SINCE THE ELECTION -- AN ELECTION WHOSE SLAP AT THE GOP HAS COST SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH HIS JOB. ... BUT SOMEONE AMONG ITS [THE COMMITTEE'S] MEMBERS MUST HELP STEER A COURSE AWAY FROM IMPEACHMENT.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE UPSET AT THE APPARENT DERAILING OF THE WYE, MARYLAND, PEACE ACCORD, BY TERRORIST ACTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. "THE NEW YORK POST" BLAMES THE PALESTINIANS.

VOICE: EVEN BEFORE FRIDAY'S TERRORIST BOMBING IN A CROWDED JERUSALEM MARKET, IN WHICH 21 ISRAELIS WERE INJURED, SERIOUS QUESTIONS WERE BEING RAISED ABOUT THE WYE PLANTATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS. WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SOLID PACT LESS THAN A MONTH AGO IS ALREADY BEING UNDERMINED, THANKS TO BOTH YASSER ARAFAT AND BILL CLINTON. THE LINCHPIN OF THIS AGREEMENT, AFTER ALL, IS SUPPOSED TO BE RECIPROCITY: IF THE PALESTINIANS DO NOT HONOR THEIR COMMITMENTS, ISRAEL WILL REFUSE TO WITHDRAW FROM FURTHER TERRITORY IN THE WEST BANK.

TEXT: "THE POST" GOES ON TO POINT OUT THAT THE PALESTINIANS ARE RENEGING ON TWO KEY POINTS; DELETING REFERENCES IN THEIR CHARTER TO THE ELIMINATION OF ISRAEL; AND A REDUCTION IN THEIR POLICE FORCE TO THE AGREED-UPON 24-THOUSAND MEN. "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER," HOWEVER, HAS A MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.

VOICE: ...THIS IS NOT A MOMENT FOR DESPAIR. TO THE CONTRARY, IF BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS KEEP TO THE COURSE CHARTED AT WYE PLANTATION, THE TERRORISTS MAY BE THWARTED. THE WYE ACCORD OFFERS THE BEST CHANCE SINCE THE 1993 PACT IN OSLO TO CONFRONT TERRORISM, WHILE MOVING TOWARD PEACE.

TEXT: TURNING TO A DOMESTIC SCIENCE STORY THAT CAUSED MAJOR, FRONT PAGE, HEADLINES IN U-S PAPERS LAST WEEK, "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS:

VOICE: IT IS HARD TO OVERSTATE THE POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BREAKTHROUGH THAT HAS ALLOWED RESEARCHERS TO GROW AND CULTURE 'STEM CELLS,' CELLS FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES OF EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN MATURE INTO HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TISSUE. POTENTIAL MEDICAL USES MENTIONED FOR THIS NEW CAPABILITY -- IF IT MATERIALIZES -- RANGE FROM TREATMENTS FOR SPINAL INJURY, PARKINSON'S DISEASE OR HEART DAMAGE ... TO WILDER PROSPECTS SUCH AS GROWING NEW GENETICALLY IDENTICAL ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANT INTO THE DONOR, FOR WHOSE IMMUNE SYSTEM THEY WOULD BE A PERFECT MATCH.

TEXT: OVERSEAS, REGARDING THE FORMER SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" AND "WASHINGTON POST" BOTH HAVE SOME HARSH THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN, WHERE THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT, NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV APPEARS TO HAVE NO VIABLE OPPOSITION. HERE'S PART OF "THE TIMES'" THOUGHTS.

VOICE: MR. NAZARBAYEV IS A THINLY DISGUISED DICTATOR WHO STAGES ELECTIONS HE HAS NO CHANCE OF LOSING. FEW WESTERN LEADERS COMPLAIN BECAUSE HE IS SEEN AS THE GUARANTOR OF STABILITY IN AN OIL-RICH NATION. ... OIL TAKES PRECEDENCE, AS KAZAKHSTAN'S PROVEN OIL RESERVES ALONE COME TO TEN BILLION BARRELS. ... HE HAS BEEN RECEIVED WARMLY BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. KAZAKHSTAN'S DEMOCRATIZATION IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR WASHINGTON, AND MR. NAZARBAYEV KNOWS IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY WRONG, BUT ALSO SHORTSIGHTED.

TEXT: AS FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST," WHICH CALLS MR. NAZARBAYEV A "CENTRAL ASIAN CZAR," THE PAPER NOTES:

VOICE: KAZAKHSTAN, THE SECOND-LARGEST NATION TO EMERGE FROM THE SOVIET UNION, SEEMED TO HAVE A BETTER SHOT [OPPORTUNITY] AT SUCCESS THAN MOST. IT IS BLESSED WITH DEEP POOLS OF UNDERGROUND OIL. ITS LEADER, NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV, GAVE AT LEAST SOME POLITICAL SPACE TO OPPONENTS, INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND A FREE PRESS. BUT IN AN APPARENT AMBITION TO BECOME CZAR FOR LIFE, MR. NAZAERBAYEV NOW SEEMS READY TO CLOSE THAT SPACE AND SQUANDER HIS NATION'S ADVANTAGES. ... THE SAD THING ABOUT THIS CLAMPDOWN IS THAT KAZAKHSTAN ITSELF WILL PAY THE PRICE. NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE, IT FACES GREAT OBSTACLES: ETHNIC RIVALRY BETWEEN RUSSIANS AND KAZAKHS, GEOPOLITICAL PRESSURES FROM SURROUNDING POWERS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION FROM SOVIET TIMES. DEALING WITH THESE CHALLENGES REQUIRES ALL THE TALENT A YOUNG NATION CAN MUSTER. INSTEAD, MR. NAZARBAYEV IS CONSTRICTING THE BASE FROM WHICH LEADERS MIGHT EMERGE.

TEXT: IN NEWS FROM THE SAME GENERAL REGION, TIBET'S EXILED SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE DALAI LAMA IS IN WASHINGTON, AND "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" HOPES HE RECEIVED A MORE FORMAL WELCOME AT THE WHITE HOUSE THAN LAST TIME.

VOICE: THE DALAI LAMA IS IN WASHINGTON AGAIN, WALKING THE TIGHT ROPE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL PEACEMAKER AND SAVVY POLITICIAN. WHETHER HIS VISIT TO DISCUSS CHINA-TIBET RELATIONS WILL IMPROVE MATTERS BETWEEN BEIJING AND HIS NATIVE REGION RESTS PARTIALLY IN THE HANDS OF HIS WASHINGTON-WEATHER FRIENDS. VISITS IN THE PAST HAVE INCLUDED DIPLOMATIC SMILES ON BOTH SIDES, BUT NO DEFINITIVE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE U-S TO HELP THE DALAI LAMA. ... MR. CLINTON'S SPEECH DURING THE JUNE VISIT TO CHINA ABOUT THE TRAGEDY OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE INCIDENT WAS FULL OF FINE PHRASES. LET US HOPE MR. CLINTON REMEMBERS THAT SPEECH, AND THAT HE USES EVEN MORE FERVOR TO WELCOME -- THIS TIME, OFFICIALLY -- THE TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER WHOSE PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FROM GROTESQUE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES UNDER THAT SAME [CHINESE] GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
09-Nov-98 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] EDITORIAL: SLOVAKIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT

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:

ONE MONTH AFTER VOTERS REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT LED BY VLADIMIR MECIAR, SLOVAKIA HAS FORMED A NEW GOVERNMENT. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER IS MIKULAS DZURINDA. HE HEADS A COALITION THAT INCLUDES HIS OWN CENTER-RIGHT SLOVAK DEMOCRATIC COALITION AND THE REFORMED COMMUNISTS OF THE PARTY OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT. THOSE PARTIES AND TWO OTHERS JOINED TO DEFEAT THE FORMER RULING PARTY, THE MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SLOVAKIA, HEADED BY MR. MECIAR.

UNDER MECIAR, THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT PURSUED POLICIES AND COMMITTED ACTS THAT WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC BEHAVIOR. BECAUSE OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL FAILINGS, SLOVAKIA WAS NOT DEEMED READY FOR INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS.

MR. DZURINDA SAID HE HOPES TO PUT SLOVAKIA BACK ON TRACK TOWARD INTEGRATION WITH EUROPE. HIS GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO REVERSE THE POLICIES OF THE MECIAR GOVERNMENT AND HAS URGED THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO TO RECONSIDER SLOVAKIA'S EXCLUSION FROM THEIR ENLARGEMENT PLANS.

THE UNITED STATES IS ENCOURAGED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO PURSUE ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC REFORM AND INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS. MR. DZURINDA AND HIS GOVERNMENT FACE MANY CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE ECONOMY. THE U.S. WELCOMES THE MEASURES WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF SLOVAKIA HAS SAID IT WILL UNDERTAKE. THE U.S. IS PREPARED TO OFFER ITS SUPPORT IF SLOVAKIA EMBARKS ON A NEW AND CONSTRUCTIVE PATH.

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.
09-Nov-98 2:42 PM EST (1942 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] SLOVAKIA / WEST BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN ALMOST SIX YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, SLOVAKIA HAD BECOME AN INCREASINGLY ISOLATED COUNTRY IN CENTRAL EUROPE UNTIL SEPTEMBER, WHEN VOTERS TURNED OUT THE LONG-TIME, AUTOCRATIC PRIME MINISTER, VLADIMIR MECIAR. NOW, A NEW GOVERNMENT IN SLOVAKIA IS WASTING NO TIME IN FORGING NEW TIES WITH THE WEST. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE NEW GOVERNMENT WAS FORMED IN LATE OCTOBER, AFTER A MONTH OF DIFFICULT COALITION NEGOTIATIONS. THE FOUR PARTIES RANGE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER IS MIKULAS DZURINDA, AN ECONOMIST BY TRAINING AND A POLITICIAN INTENT ON REVERSING THE PREVIOUS ISOLATIONIST AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC POLICIES OF HIS PREDECESSOR.

UNDER FORMER PRIME MINISTER MECIAR, SLOVAKIA WAS A PARIAH AMONG THE EX-WARSAW PACT STATES. FOREIGN INVESTMENT WAS DISCOURAGED AND PRIVATIZATION LAGGED. A HARSH MEDIA LAW SUPPRESSED FREE EXPRESSION DURING THE LAST ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE WAS SAID TO BE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS OWN POLITICAL PURPOSES. SLOVAKIA WAS POINTEDLY LEFT OUT OF EXPANSION PLANS BY BOTH NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE CAPITAL, BRATISLAVA, WAS AN UNPOPULAR PLACE FOR WESTERN POLITICAL LEADERS TO VISIT. NOW, WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT IN PLACE, ALL THAT IS CHANGING.

CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL VISITED BRATISLAVA SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS. HE SAID THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE SLOVAK CAPITAL REMINDED HIM OF 1989. THAT WAS THE YEAR MR. HAVEL -- THEN A DISSIDENT PLAYWRIGHT -- HELPED LEAD THE VELVET REVOLUTION THAT TOPPLED THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN WHAT WAS THEN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

MR. HAVEL'S TRIP WAS FOLLOWED MONDAY WITH A VISIT BY DEPUTY U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY ROBERT MALLETT. DIPLOMATIC SOURCES IN BRATISLAVA SAY IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT HIS VISIT COMES SO SOON AFTER THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS BEING FORMED. THE MESSAGE IS CLEARLY ONE OF SUPPORT FOR SLOVAKIA'S DRAMATIC TURNAROUND.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS MUCH DAMAGE TO UNDO. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER FORMER PRIME MINISTER MECIAR, SLOVAKIA WAS CRITICIZED FOR THE TREATMENT OF ITS ETHNIC MINORITIES. AND SO, ONE OF THE FIRST APPOINTMENTS MADE BY MR. DZURINDA'S NEW GOVERNMENT WAS A NEW MINISTER FOR MINORITIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS (PAL CSAKY, AN ETHNIC HUNGARIAN). THE NEW POST SHOULD HELP DEFUSE CONCERN ABOUT SLOVAKIA'S ATTITUDE TOWARD ITS 10-PERCENT HUNGARIAN MINORITY AS WELL AS ITS SUBSTANTIAL GYPSY (ROMA) POPULATION.

A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BRATISLAVA, HOWEVER, DOES NOT GUARANTEE SLOVAKIA WILL BE GETTING QUICK INVITATIONS TO JOIN NATO OR THE EUROPEAN UNION. E-U EXPANSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS SET FIRST TO INCLUDE SIX COUNTRIES, INCLUDING NEIGHBORING POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. BUT LIKE OTHER APPLICANTS, SLOVAKIA IS CONSIDERED TO BE NOT AS POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY PREPARED AS THE FIRST ROUND COUNTRIES. HOWEVER, IF THE NEW GOVERNMENT CAN CARRY OUT THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS IT HAS PROMISED, THEN AT LEAST SLOVAKIA WILL BE ON THE ROAD TO E-U MEMBERSHIP -- SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT BE SAID UNDER THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
09-Nov-98 11:39 AM EST (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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