Voice of America, 99-01-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / OSCE (L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] BRITAIN/HEALTH CRISIS BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

[03] RUSSIA/FRANCE (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

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

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

[01] ALBANIA / OSCE (L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE NEW CHIEF OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E) SAYS AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED (TUESDAY) WITH ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS TO FREE EIGHT CAPTURED YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE CHAIRMAN, KNUT VOLLEBAEK, SAYS INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS WON A PROMISE FROM THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A) FOR THE EARLY RELEASE OF EIGHT SOLDIERS.

MR. VOLLEBAEK SAID HE COULD NOT GIVE FURTHER DETAILS OF WHEN THE SOLDIERS WOULD BE RELEASED OR WHETHER ETHNIC-ALBANIAN PRISONERS HELD BY THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE EXCHANGED.

THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY HAD WARNED THE SOLDIERS MUST BE RELEASED UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT THE K-L-A WAS ASKING FOR THE RELEASE OF NINE OF ITS MEMBERS HELD BY SERBIA IN RETURN.

THE O-S-C-E CHIEF WAS ON A TOUR OF KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION BASES IN TENSE NORTHERN KOSOVO WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED. MEANWHILE, ENVER MALOKU, A TOP AIDE TO THE LEADER OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS, WAS BURIED (TUESDAY) ONE DAY AFTER HE WAS SLAIN BY THREE GUNMEN OUTSIDE HIS HOME IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

THE INFORMATION CHIEF IN THE PARTY OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN LEADER, IBRAHIM RUGOVA, WAS PRAISED AS A LINK BETWEEN MR. RUGOVA'S NON-VIOLENT POLICIES, AND THE REBELS FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. MR. MALOKU'S DEATH CASTS DOUBT ON THE ABILITY OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO UNIFY AND REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR MR. RUGOVA, XHEMAJL MUSTAFA, SUGGESTED SERB SECURITY FORCES AND SECRET POLICE HAD A MOTIVE TO KILL MR. MALOKU, BUT HE DID NOT DIRECTLY ACCUSE THE SERBS OF THE KILLING. SERBIAN POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING. (SIGNED)
LON/PS/RAE/GE
12-Jan-99 1:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BRITAIN/HEALTH CRISIS BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IS BEING DESCRIBED BY BOTH OUTSIDE OBSERVERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS BEING IN A STATE OF CRISIS. CHRONIC AND LONG-TERM UNDER FUNDING, SEVERE STAFFING SHORTAGES AND NOW, AN OUTBREAK OF FLU HAS STRETCHED THE SYSTEM BEYOND ITS LIMITS. AS V-O-A-'S CHRISTINE FURNELL REPORTS FROM LONDON, THE CRISIS IS, IRONICALLY, DUE IN PART TO THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN DRIVE TO REDUCE HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS.

TEXT: FOR DAYS, BRITAIN'S NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH STORIES ABOUT PATIENTS KEPT WAITING FOR HOURS ON TROLLEYS IN HOSPITAL CORRIDORS, INTENSIVE CARE UNITS FORCED TO TURN AWAY PATIENTS FOR LACK OF ROOM, AND FOREIGN NURSES BEING FLOWN IN FROM AS FAR A FIELD AS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO FILL BRITAIN'S ESTIMATED EIGHT THOUSAND NURSING VACANCIES.

POLITICAL PRESSURE TO CUT THE COUNTRY'S WAITING LISTS HAS PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN CREATING THE PRESENT HEALTH SERVICE CRISIS. JOYCE ROBINS, COUNCIL MEMBER OF A GROUP CALLED THE "PATIENTS' ASSOCIATION," SAYS WHILE THE MOST RECENT (EDS: NOVEMBER) FIGURES SHOW WAITING LISTS FELL BY 31-THOUSAND, BED OCCUPANCY JUMPED TO 90-PERCENT. THAT MEANS THERE ARE VIRTUALLY NO EMPTY BEDS FOR A CRISIS LIKE BRITAIN'S CURRENT OUTBREAK OF FLU -- SOMETHING SHE BELIEVES IS BEYOND GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

IT HAS DISTORTED THE SYSTEM. NOT SIMPLY THIS GOVERNMENT, ALL GOVERNMENTS FALL INTO THIS PIT. BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT A FIGURE FOR WAITING LISTS AND IT SOUNDS ENORMOUS, THEY JUMP IN AND SAY "THIS IS OUR PRIORITY -- WE WILL POUR MONEY INTO THIS," AND THEN THE SYSTEM BULGES OUT SOMEWHERE ELSE. (IF) YOU HAVE GOT LOTS OF ELECTIVE SURGERY CASES IN THE BEDS, (AND) YOU GET AN OUTBREAK LIKE FLU ... WE CAN'T COPE WITH IT. WE LACK PLANNING, WE LACK FORWARD THINKING.

MRS. ROBINS SAYS MANY HOSPITALS ARE FORCED TO CLOSE ACCESS TO BEDS BECAUSE THEY LACK QUALIFIED NURSING STAFF.

NURSE RECRUITMENT IS PROVING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT HERE, BECAUSE OF THE LONG HOURS AND RELATIVELY LOW PAY. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TRAIN SIX THOUSAND NURSES DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS, BUT THAT WILL NOT HELP HEALTH AUTHORITIES MEET CURRENT DEMANDS.

TIM JONES IS POLICY MANAGER WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CONFEDERATION, A BODY WHICH REPRESENTS ALL OF BRITAIN'S HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND TRUSTS. HE BLAMES THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S CRISIS ON LONG-TERM UNDER-FUNDING WHICH HAS LED TO THE SEVERE SHORTAGE OF NURSES.

A REPORT PUBLISHED THIS WEEK FOR BRITAIN'S NURSING REGULATORY BODY SAYS THERE IS GROWING PRESSURE TO REEXAMINE SERVICES. IT SUGGESTS A MOVE TOWARDS BRINGING CARE CLOSER TO HOME, EITHER IN DAY CLINICS OR ACTUALLY IN THE PATIENT'S HOME, RATHER THAN IN HOSPITALS.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A NEED, NOT JUST FOR MODERNIZATION BUT FOR INVESTMENT IN CORE SERVICES. THAT INCLUDES NURSES' PAY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES, PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, SOCIAL WORK AND, REALLY, WE SHOULD BE GEARING-UP TO TRY AND KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND TO CARE FOR THEM IN THEIR OWN HOMES, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE IN HOSPITAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE. THEY DON'T HAVE LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS, WHICH MEAN THEY NEED AN EXPENSIVE BED, BUT THERE IS NO SERVICE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR HOMES.

MR. JONES SAYS IF THE HEALTH SERVICE IS TO SURVIVE, IT NEEDS MAJOR REORGANIZATION AND A SHIFT TO COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEF/PCF
12-Jan-99 6:08 AM EST (1108 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] RUSSIA/FRANCE (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA AND FRANCE ARE CALLING FOR AN OVERHAUL OF UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THAT FRANCE IS PREPARING A PROPOSAL FOR SUBMISSION TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE MATTER.

TEXT: AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW TUESDAY, THE FRENCH AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS SAID THE UNITED NATIONS MUST CHANGE THE WAY IT MONITORS IRAQI DISARMAMENT. FRENCH MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE SAID HIS COUNTRY WILL SHORTLY PRESENT A PROPOSAL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT INCLUDES, AT THE VERY LEAST, A REVAMPING OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS COMMISSION.

RUSSIAN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SAID MOSCOW IS STUDYING THE PLAN.

BOTH MINISTERS, HOWEVER, STRESSED THAT THEIR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS WERE SEPARATE, AND THAT NO JOINT PROPOSAL IS BEING PLANNED. MR. VEDRINE AVOIDED A DIRECT ANSWER WHEN ASKED IF FRANCE BACKED THE RUSSIAN CALL TO REMOVE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER.

RUSSIA AND FRANCE, ALONG WITH CHINA, WERE CRITICAL OF THE AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ LAST MONTH BY FELLOW SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES. RUSSIA BRIEFLY WITHDREW ITS AMBASSADORS FROM WASHINGTON AND LONDON IN PROTEST.

RUSSIA HAS ALSO REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERN AT WHAT IT CALLS U-S DOMINANCE OF WORLD AFFAIRS.

OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA DURING MR. VEDRINE'S MOSCOW VISIT INCLUDED EUROPEAN SECURITY AND THE SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA. NEWS AGENCIES REPORTED THE FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREED THE CONTACT GROUP SHOULD INCREASE ITS ROLE IN EASING TENSIONS IN THE KOSOVO REGION.

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) IN SOME HEAVY PROFIT-TAKING. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 94 HUNDRED 74, DOWN 145 POINTS OR ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 39, DOWN 24 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX, WHICH HAD CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS FOR SEVEN STRAIGHT SESSIONS, WAS ALSO DOWN SHARPLY.

ANALYSTS SAY THE SELLING WAS A COMBINATION OF PROFIT-TAKING AFTER LAST WEEK'S STRONG RALLY AND SOME NEW CONCERNS ABOUT BRAZIL. SOME INVESTORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ECONOMIC AUSTERITY PROGRAM IN BRAZIL AND THERE IS SPECULATION ABOUT A POSSIBLE CURRENCY DEVALUATION THERE.

INVESTMENT MANAGER MARC GREENBERG SAYS MANY OF THE INTERNET COMPANIES HAVE SOLID BUSINESS PROSPECTS BUT THAT THEIR STOCKS MAY HAVE RUN UP TOO FAR, TOO FAST.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS TIMING, PARTICULARLY WITH THE INTERNET STOCKS. I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE VERY VIABLE BUT WE HAVE JUST GOTTEN HERE (SO HIGH) SO FAST THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREATHER (PAUSE).

U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO A STRONG U-S DOLLAR. MR. RUBIN'S COMMENTS APPEARED TO HELP STOP THE RECENT SLIDE OF THE DOLLAR RELATIVE TO THE JAPANESE YEN.

THE NEW HEAD OF THE U-S SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE --SENATOR PHIL GRAMM -- SAYS THE LAW WHICH REQUIRES THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK TO MAKE SEMI-ANNUAL APPEARANCES BEFORE CONGRESS MAY NOT BE RENEWED WHEN IT EXPIRES LATER THIS YEAR. SENATOR GRAMM SEES NO NEED TO EXTEND THE LAW, MEANING THAT NEXT MONTH'S REQUIRED CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY BY ALAN GREENSPAN COULD BE HIS LAST. ACE, A BERMUDA-BASED INSURANCE FIRM, WILL PAY ALMOST THREE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE BUSINESS OF THE CIGNA COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE DEAL WILL ACCELERATE CIGNA'S SHIFT FROM A TRADITIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY TO A MANAGED HEALTH CARE FIRM.

THE BANKAMERICA CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL CUT AS MANY AS 18 THOUSAND JOBS, OR ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF ITS GLOBAL WORK FORCE IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS. THE COMPANY SAYS THE CUTBACKS ARE NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE EFFICIENCIES ACHIEVED THROUGH THE MERGER WITH NATIONSBANK.

THE STOCK OF NIKE, THE ATHLETIC SHOE AND APPAREL MAKER, FELL FIVE PERCENT IN REACTION TO NEWS THAT BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR MICHAEL JORDAN WILL LIKELY RETIRE. NIKE PRODUCTS ENDORSED BY JORDAN ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 250 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REVENUES.

THE INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS FELL BY 60 PERCENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER DUE TO THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN IN ASIA AND LOWER PAPER PRICES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
12-Jan-99 5:31 PM EST (2231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE SENATE CONTINUES TO BE THE MAJOR TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MANY NEWSPAPERS.

THERE ARE OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION, HOWEVER, AND THEY INCLUDE: THE CONTROVERSY OVER USING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM MEMBERS TO SPY ON IRAQ; THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN DEALING WITH NORTH KOREA; HOW ISRAEL IS RESPONDING TO THE WYE RIVER ACCORD; MAKING U-S DIPLOMATS SAFER AND HOPES FOR RECONCILIATION IN CAMBODIA. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEGINS THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE, AND BOTH SIDES ARE PRESENTING THEIR WRITTEN ARGUMENTS ON THE CHARGES. "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS DISAPPOINTED AT THE WAY THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ANSWERED THE IMPEACHMENT CHARGES ON PAPER.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ... IS THE SAME OLD LEGALISTIC HAIR-SPLITTING THAT MISSES THE POINT. ... WHAT MAKES THIS LATEST DEFENSE AS UNSATISFACTORY AS ALL THE OTHERS, HOWEVER, IS THE CONTINUING AND DEMEANING FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE SIMPLY TO ADMIT (SINCE IT CANNOT DENY MORE CREDIBLY) THE CHARGES THAT THE PRESIDENT LIED UNDER OATH. ... IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND A SINGLE HONEST SENTENCE IN THE FACTUAL DEFENSE ON THE PERJURY CHARGE.

TEXT: ON A RELATED MATTER, WHETHER THE PRESIDENT SHOULD GIVE THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH ON ITS USUAL JANUARY DATE, THE DEBATE INTENSIFIES. WITH "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTING HE SHOULD, IGNORING PLEAS BY SEVERAL SENATORS TO DELAY IT. [EDITORS NOTE: THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE PRESIDENT MUST DELIVER SUCH A SPEECH, EACH YEAR, BUT DOES NOT SPECIFY WHEN.]

VOICE: ... THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THE LAWMAKERS SHOULD NOT BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR. THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IS TOO IMPORTANT A PART OF THE GOVERNMENT CALENDAR TO PUT ON HOLD INDEFINITELY. THE FACT THAT HE HAS BEEN IMPEACHED HAS NOT STRIPPED MR. CLINTON OF THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AT A TIME OF HIS CHOOSING, EVEN IF HIS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN HIS OWN HAND. IF HE WANTS, AT LONG LAST, TO ADDRESS MORE FULLY HIS LIES UNDER OATH AND OTHER MISDEEDS, SO MUCH THE BETTER. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS NOTHING USEFUL TO ADD ABOUT HIS SIGNAL [EDITORS: USED AS AN ADJECTIVE "SIGNAL" MEANS: "OUT OF THE ORDINARY," "NOTICEABLE"] FAILURE TO PROTECT THE RULE OF LAW, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT TOO.

TEXT: AND IN PORTLAND, "THE OREGONIAN" MAKES THE CASE THAT A L L OF THE SENATE'S PROCEEDINGS SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH WILL REQUIRE RULES CHANGES. CURRENT SENATE RULES SAY THE FINAL SPEECHES AND IMPEACHMENT VOTE ARE PRIVATE.

VOICE: IT HARDLY TAKES A FULLY DEGREED HISTORIAN TO KNOW THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME THE SENATE HELD AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR A PRESIDENT ... TODAY'S SENATORS SHOULD [OPEN] THEIR FINAL DELIBERATIONS .... TO THE PUBLIC THAT ELECTED [THEM]. THIS IS N O T A DECISION TO BE MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE DEBATE OVER THE USE, BY U-S INTELLIGENCE, OF SOME OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR THE UNITED STATES, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS IT "JUSTIFIED SPYING," ADDING:

VOICE: A KEY FACT TOO READILY OVERLOOKED IS THAT THE ARMS INSPECTION PROGRAM, CREATED EIGHT YEARS AGO BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL, HAS ALWAYS HAD TO RELY ON INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE PROVIDED BY MEMBER STATES. ... IN SHORT, THE U-N ARMS INSPECTIONS HAVE ALWAYS DEPENDED HEAVILY IF INDIRECTLY ON U-S SPYING. ... IRAQI BEHAVIOR HAS SIMPLY ALLOWED NO ALTERNATIVE TO USING EVERY INTELLIGENCE MEANS POSSIBLE TO UNCOVER AND DESTROY ITS PROVOCATIVE AND THREATENING SECRET ARMS PROGRAMS.

TEXT: STILL ON IRAQ, "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND IS UPSET BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAS STILL NOT CLEARLY ARTICULATED, AS FAR AS THE PAPER IS CONCERNED, THIS COUNTRY'S LATEST POLICY ON IRAQ AND "HOW IT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT." THE PAPER SAYS WITH "EACH PASSING DAY [BRINGING] NEWS OF YET ANOTHER EXCHANGE OF MISSILES, ANOTHER INCONCLUSIVE DOGFIGHT BETWEEN IRAQ AND ALLIED WARPLANES" SUCH A CLARIFICATION IS NECESSARY.

THE RELATIVELY NEW, SECRET, UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX IN NORTH KOREA COMES IN FOR SOME SCRUTINY FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH WARNS THAT THE COMPLEX COULD JEOPARDIZE THE NUCLEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN PYONGYANG AND WASHINGTON TO MODERNIZE THE NATION'S CIVILIAN NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM.

VOICE: AMERICA SHOULD HELP NORTH KOREA DEAL WITH ITS DEVASTATING FAMINE AND SHOULD OFFER SUPPORT IF THE NORTH BEGINS TO MOVE AWAY FROM ITS DISASTROUS COMMAND ECONOMY. BUT .... THERE ARE LIMITS TO AMERICAN GENEROSITY AND ... WASHINGTON EXPECTS THE 1994 NUCLEAR AGREEMENT TO BE HONORED IN FULL.

TEXT: FROM THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA COMES A PLEA FROM "THE OMAHA [NEBRASKA] WORLD-HERALD" THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON N O T TO RELEASE CONVICTED SPY JONATHAN POLLARD.

VOICE: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS ADVISED PRESIDENT CLINTON AGAINST GRANTING CLEMENCY TO JONATHAN POLLARD, WHO IS SERVING A LIFE TERM FOR STEALING VOLUMES OF CLASSIFIED U-S DOCUMENTS AND GIVING THEM TO ... ISRAEL. ... CRITICS OF CLEMENCY INCLUDE THE TOP REPUBLICAN AND THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, RICHARD SHELBY OF ALABAMA AND BOB KERREY OF NEBRASKA. .... TO RELEASE [MR.] POLLARD, [SENATOR] SHELBY SAID, WOULD BE TO "SET A DANGEROUS AND UNWISE PRECEDENT THAT CRIMES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT SERIOUS." ... THOSE ARE WORDS FOR AMERICANS TO REMEMBER AS THE SENATE WRESTLES WITH HOW TO PROCEED WITH [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S TRIAL.

TEXT: STILL WITH ISRAEL, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS SUPPORTING THE INCREASED COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL ON AN INCOMING MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, THAT CAME OUT OF THE WYE RIVER ACCORD, AND EXPLAINS:

VOICE: ... IRAN WILL SOON HAVE, THANKS TO RUSSIAN SOURCES, THE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO THREATEN ISRAEL. IF ARMS INSPECTORS ARE KEPT OUT OF IRAQ AND SADDAM HUSSEIN IS ABLE TO TO REVIVE HIS MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, THERE MAY SOON BE A BALLISTIC-MISSILE THREAT TO ISRAEL FROM TWO HOSTILE AND UNPREDICTABLE POWERS. IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO ENDOW ISRAEL NOW WITH SOME MEANS OF DEFENSE AGAINST THAT THREAT.

TEXT: FROM FLORIDA'S ORLANDO SENTINEL" COMES A PLEA TO THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE U-S EMBASSIES SAFER. A RECENT GOVERNMENT REPORT WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT DOING MORE TO PREVENT THE CAR BOMBING DEATHS IN NAIROBI, KENYA AND DAR-ES-SAALAM, TANZANIA LAST YEAR. SAYS THE "SENTINEL:"

VOICE: THERE'S LITTLE TO BE GAINED FROM FINGER-POINTING AND BLAME-MONGERING, THOUGH. ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD GET BUSY FIXING THE PROBLEM. ... TRYING TO MAKE EMBASSIES INVULNERABLE WOULD TURN THEM INTO REMOTE FORTRESSES. THAT WOULD RISK CREATING A PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER BETWEEN AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING. THE BETTER APPROACH IS TO TAKE SENSIBLE, DIRECT STEPS TO UPGRADE EMBASSY SECURITY, AS WELL AS INDIRECT STEPS, SUCH AS IMPROVING WAYS OF MONITORING TERRORISTS.

TEXT: NOTING THE RECENT CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY DISSIDENTS IN CHINA, TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS CALLING FOR A "REALISTIC U-S POSITION ON RIGHTS OF CHINESE," AND NOT HOLDING THE COUNTRY TO "A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE UNITED STATES HELD ALLIES THROUGHOUT THE COLD WAR ..."

VOICE: AS THE UNITED STATES ENTERS ITS SECOND OF TWO DAYS OF HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS TODAY, IT IS HARD TO FATHOM [UNDERSTAND] WHAT FRIGHTENS THE OLD MEN WHO RULE CHINA. ... WHAT REALLY MAKES PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN AND HIS COLLEAGUES NERVOUS ... IS POLITICAL DISSENT. NOT THAT MUCH EXISTS FOR A NATION OF ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION SOULS. BUT HORRIFYING MEMORIES OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, IMPOSED IN THE 1960S, PREVENT VIGOROUS DISSENT FROM BUBBLING UP IN THE 1990S. ..... NOW THAT THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE RESUMED HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS AFTER A FOUR-YEAR LAPSE, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PRESS FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR TIBETANS AND CHRISTIANS, AND HOLD CHINA TO ITS PROFESSIONS OF GOOD INTENT. BEIJING NEEDS TO KNOW THE PRICE OF RELAPSE.

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE RECENT CODDLING IN CAMBODIA OF TWO HIGH KHMER ROUGE LEADERS, BY THE HUN SEN GOVERNMENT FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: NO ELECTED LEADER CAN RIGHTLY DISMISS THE KILLING OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE AND OTHER ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE FRATRICIDAL POL POT REGIME BETWEEN 1975 AND 1979. YET HUN SEN CLEARLY TRIED WHEN HE PROMISED IMMUNITY TO KHIEU SAMPHAN AND NUON CHEA, TWO DEFECTING MEMBERS OF THE LATE POL POT'S INNER CIRCLE, AND SQUIRED THEM ABOUT THE NATION'S VACATION SPOTS. NOW CONFRONTING INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION AND THE PAIN ... HIS ACTIONS AWAKENED, HE HAS BACKTRACKED, BUT ONLY AFTER HUSTLING HIS 'GUESTS' BACK TO ... A KHMER ROUTE STRONGHOLD WHERE THEY ARE - - FOR NOW - - SAFE FROM ARREST. ... VIRTUALLY ALL IN THE GOVERNMENT TODAY HAVE TIES EITHER TO THE KHMER ROUGE OR THE OCCUPYING, REPRESSIVE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT THAT FOLLOWED. THAT PAST CANNOT BE BURIED. STILL, PEOPLE CAN LEARN FROM THE PAST AND SOMETIMES OVERCOME IT - - BUT ONLY WHEN THERE IS THE KIND OF RECONCILIATION THAT DEMANDS AN ACCOUNTING FOR THE SUFFERING AND LOST LIVES. HUN SEN CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DENY CAMBODIANS THAT ACCOUNTING.

TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE DAY'S U-S PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
12-Jan-99 11:56 AM EST (1656 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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