Voice of America, 99-02-10

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (RAMBOUILLET)

[02] KOSOVO / PEACEKEEPERS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[03] FRANCE / AIDS BLOOD (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

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

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

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (RAMBOUILLET)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS AT THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS SAY THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE DIFFICULT BUT THAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM RAMBOUILLET, NEAR PARIS.

TEXT: THE AMERICAN DELEGATE TO THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS THAT GOT UNDER WAY SUNDAY DESCRIBED THE NEGOTIATIONS AS "NOT EASY." BUT HE SAID THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS SEEKING AUTONOMY AND THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT'S DELEGATION "ARE MAKING PROGRESS."

THE TWO TEAMS OF NEGOTIATORS, WHO ARE MEETING IN THE 14TH CENTURY CHATEAU OF RAMBOUILLET, JUST SOUTH OF PARIS, HAVE STILL NOT ACTUALLY MET FACE TO FACE. THE U-S DELEGATE, CHRISTOPHER. HILL, SAID THE THREE MEDIATORS, WHO INCLUDE A RUSSIAN AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, ARE HOLDING SEPARATE TALKS WITH THE TWO SIDES.

ONLY POLITICAL ISSUES, SUCH AS THE FORMULATION OF A CONSTITUTION FOR AN AUTONOMOUS KOSOVO, HAVE SO FAR BEEN DISCUSSED. THIS MEANS THAT THE DELICATE ISSUE OF SENDING A NATO PEACE FORCE -- TO WHICH BELGRADE IS SO FAR OPPOSED -- HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED

MR. HILL SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WILL BE NO INTERIM AGREEMENTS ON SEPARATE ASPECTS, ONLY AN OVERALL PEACE ACCORD.

WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN A PARTIAL AGREEMENT. WE'RE INTERESTED IN A SETTLEMENT THAT WORKS AND WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN A PIECE OF PAPER THAT DESCRIBES A SETTLEMENT UNLESS WE CAN MAKE THE SETTLEMENT WORK, AND WE HAVE A STRATEGY FOR HOW TO NEGOTIATE THAT, AND IT STARTS WITH WORKING ON THE INSTITUTIONS THAT WOULD BE FORMED IN KOSOVO.

DURING THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE THREE MEDIATORS SINCE TALKS BEGAN, MR. HILL HINTED THAT SOME DELEGATES ARE BREAKING GROUND RULES THAT FORBID THEM CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. ASKED ABOUT SOME LEAKS TO THE MEDIA, HE SAID ONLY THAT THIS IS WHAT HE CALLED "THE ERA OF CELLPHONES."

IN PARTICULAR, THE MEDIATORS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE TRUTH OF REPORTS THAT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAD ASKED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THE RUSSIAN DELEGATE, BORIS MAYORSKY, WHO STRESSED THAT UNDER ANY PEACE AGREEMENT, KOSOVO WILL REMAIN PART OF YUGOSLAVIA, FIRMLY CONDEMNED ANY SUCH LEAKS.

IF THIS INFORMATION REALLY STEMS FROM THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION, THEY ARE BREAKING THE RULES OF THE GAME.

THE THREE MEDIATORS REPRESENT THE SIX-NATION "CONTACT GROUP" COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND ITALY. AT THE WEEKEND, THE GROUP IS SCHEDULED TO REVIEW PROGRESS SO FAR.

DESPITE AN EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT FOREIGN MINISTER LEVEL, MR. HILL SAID AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WILL MAKE THE TRIP TO FRANCE ONLY IF PROGRESS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/KL
09-Feb-99 10:36 AM EST (1536 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / PEACEKEEPERS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WOULD BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE IF IT REFUSED TO ALLOW NATO TROOPS TO ENFORCE A PEACE AGREEMENT IN KOSOVO. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS ARE A KEY ELEMENT OF THE PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO THAT IS NOW UNDER DISCUSSION AT TALKS TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE PARIS.

THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE WILLING TO SEND A FORCE OF UP TO 30-THOUSAND PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO, IF AND WHEN AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

NEGOTIATORS SAY SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AT THE TALKS. BUT THE YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE IS OPPOSED TO ANY NEW INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. ASKED IF BELGRADE WOULD ACCEPT FOREIGN TROOPS AS PART OF A PEACE DEAL WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, HE SAID UNDER NO CONDITIONS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THAT POSITION IS A MISTAKE. MR. RUBIN SAYS THAT BY REJECTING THE IDEA OF NATO PEACEKEEPERS, THE SERBS WOULD BE REJECTING THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT THAT IS NOW UNDER DISCUSSION.

IF THE SERBS FAIL TO AGREE TO THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN AND THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS DO -- AND A PRIME EXAMPLE OF FAILING TO AGREE WOULD BE TO REFUSE TO ALLOW THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE -- THE SERBS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO AIR STRIKES. SO THEY WOULD BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE TO HOLD UP THIS AGREEMENT OVER THE QUESTION OF ALLOWING FORCES IN, IF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE PREPARED TO DO SO.

MR. RUBIN SAYS NATO TROOPS WILL NOT BE SENT INTO KOSOVO IN THE ABSENCE OF A PEACE AGREEMENT. HE SAYS PLANNING FOR SUCH A FORCE HAS ALWAYS ASSUMED IT WOULD GO WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS OF KOSOVO, WHO MAKE UP ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

MR. RUBIN ALSO DISMISSED NEWS REPORTS THAT SAY NATO HAS FAILED TO SHAPE ADEQUATE PLANS FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF A PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE OR TO DEFINE WHO WILL HAVE CONTROL OF IT. IF SUCH A FORCE IS DEPLOYED, MR. RUBIN SAID NATO WOULD HAVE UNDISPUTED CONTROL.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT IS PREPARED TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE IF SHE IS NEEDED TO HELP MOVE THE TALKS FORWARD. U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEY WANT AN AGREEMENT WITHIN A WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC/PT
09-Feb-99 5:37 PM EST (2237 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] FRANCE / AIDS BLOOD (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FORMER FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS AND TWO OF HIS MINISTERS HAVE GONE ON TRIAL, CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN CONNECTION WITH FRANCE'S "TAINTED BLOOD" SCANDAL. AS JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS, BLOOD PRODUCTS CONTAMINATED WITH THE AIDS VIRUS WERE PRESCRIBED IN 1985 EVEN AFTER AIDS TESTING WAS AVAILABLE.

TEXT: FORMER FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS AND THE TWO FORMER MINISTERS OF HIS SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT ARE ACCUSED OF MANSLAUGHTER FOR DEATHS CAUSED BY THE USE OF AIDS-TAINTED BLOOD FOR TRANSFUSIONS AND FOR HEMOPHILIACS DURING 1985. IF CONVICTED, THEY COULD BE SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR UP TO THREE YEARS.

MR. FABIUS, FORMER SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GEORGINA DUFOIX, AND JUNIOR HEALTH MINISTER EDMOND HERVE ARE THE FIRST FRENCH POLITICIANS TO BE TRIED BY THE "COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC."

THIS SPECIAL COURT, AT WHICH THREE PROFESSIONAL JUDGES AND 12 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, ARE JUDGE AND JURY, WAS CREATED IN 1993 TO DEAL WITH OFFENSES COMMITTED BY POLITICIANS WHILE IN OFFICE.

ALTHOUGH THE THREE MINISTERS ARE CHARGED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATHS OF SEVEN PEOPLE, AN OFFICIAL REPORT LAST YEAR FOUND THAT ABOUT 300 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE IN 1985.

BLOOD CONCENTRATES THAT WERE KNOWN TO BE UNSAFE WERE STILL PRESCRIBED TO HEMOPHILIACS, AND BLOOD FROM DONORS WHO HAD NOT BEEN TESTED FOR THE H-I-V AIDS VIRUS WAS STILL USED FOR THREE MONTHS AFTER AIDS TESTS HAD BECOME AVAILABLE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CURRENT TRIAL IS TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THERE WAS A POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY. TWO DOCTORS HAVE ALREADY SERVED PRISON TERMS AND A SERIES OF OTHER DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS ALSO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, RELATIVES OF SOME OF THE VICTIMS GATHERED FOR A WHAT THEY SAY IS A PARALLEL TRIAL.

THEY ARE ANGRY THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE PART AS CIVIL PLAINTIFFS. SOME DESCRIBE THE TRIAL OF THE EX-MINISTERS BY OTHER POLITICIANS IS A "MASQUERADE."

ONE WITNESS WHO SPOKE ON THE FIRST DAY OF A TRIAL THAT IS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE WEEKS WAS A WOMAN, WHOSE FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON DIED OF AIDS AFTER HE RECEIVED A TRANSFUSION OF CONTAMINATED BLOOD.

TURNING TO THE THREE DEFENDANTS, SHE TOLD THEM THAT TO SAY THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF AIDS IN 1985 WAS LIKE THOSE IN EUROPE WHO SAID IN 1945 THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

MAKING HIS FIRST STATEMENT TO THE COURT, MR. FABIUS SAID HE HOPES THE TRIAL WILL SERVE THE CAUSE OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE. MRS. DUFOIX SAID SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES NEVER HAD WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS "THE SHADOW OF A DESIRE" TO HARM ANYONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH
09-Feb-99 12:42 PM EST (1742 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[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 WHAT SOME ANALYSTS SAY IS THE START OF A DOWNWARD CORRECTION. V-O-A'S BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 33, DOWN 158 POINTS -- MORE THAN ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 16, DOWN 27 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX PLUNGED BY FOUR PERCENT, REFLECTING DRAMATIC WEAKNESS IN MANY TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

SELLING PRESSURE HIT STOCKS HARD AND EARLY WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FALLING MORE THAN 100 POINTS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO HOURS OF TRADING. STOCKS STABILIZED SOMEWHAT AT MID-DAY BUT THE SELLING PRESSURE RESUMED LATE IN THE SESSION. A CONSENSUS DEVELOPED AMONG MANY ANALYSTS AND TRADERS THAT THE SELLING IS THE START OF A SIGNIFICANT DOWNWARD CORRECTION IN STOCK PRICES.

I THINK THIS IS SIMPLY A "SPEED BUMP" (SLOWDOWN) ON A BULL MARKET ROAD. I DO NOT THINK THE BULL MARKET IS OVER JUST BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH A CORRECTION BUT I AM AMAZED AT THE PHONE CALLS I GET FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY "HEY, IT IS GOING DOWN," AS IF IT IS NEVER SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF AMERICAN WORKERS SOARED IN THE FOURTH-QUARTER AT ITS FASTEST RATE IN ALMOST THREE YEARS. ECONOMISTS SAY RISING PRODUCTIVITY IS A KEY FACTOR IN SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHOUT INFLATION.

VETERAN TELEVISION EXECUTIVE BARRY DILLER IS COMBINING HIS U-S-A NETWORKS WITH LYCOS, AN INTERNET MEDIA FIRM. THE MERGER WILL CREATE A COMPANY CAPABLE OF REACHING 70 MILLION TELEVISION HOUSEHOLDS AND 30 MILLION INTERNET USERS. BUT THE ALL-STOCK DEAL IS WORTH CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE RECENT VALUE OF LYCOS STOCK WHICH PROMPTLY DROPPED ABOUT 20 PERCENT ON THE NEWS. THAT SPARKED A WIDESPREAD SELL-OFF IN MOST INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS WHICH MANY ANALYSTS SAY HAD BECOME SERIOUSLY OVER-VALUED.

SMITHKLINE BEECHAM, THE ANGLO-AMERICAN DRUG COMPANY, ANNOUNCED A SWEEPING REORGANIZATION INCLUDING THE SALE OF TWO SUBSIDIARIES. THE COMPANY WILL SELL ITS CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES DIVISION TO QUEST DIAGNOSTIC CORPORATION FOR ONE AND ONE QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS. IN ADDITION, SMITHKLINE IS SELLING ITS PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS OPERATION TO THE EXPRESS SCRIPTS CORPORATION FOR 700 MILLION DOLLARS. SMITHKLINE SAYS THE DIVESTITURES WILL ALLOW IT TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURE OF DRUGS.

A WORK SLOWDOWN BY PILOTS AT AMERICAN AIRLINES WENT INTO ITS FOURTH DAY WITH AMERICAN FORCED TO CANCEL ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ITS DAILY FLIGHTS. THE AMERICAN PILOTS ARE ANGRY THAT THE COMPANY HAS NOT RAISED THE SALARIES OF PILOTS WHO FLY FOR RENO AIR, A REGIONAL CARRIER WHICH WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY AMERICAN. STARBUCKS, THE U-S-BASED GOURMET COFFEE SHOP CHAIN, HAS OPENED A CAFE IN KUWAIT AT THE START OF WHAT THE COMPANY SAYS WILL BE A MAJOR EXPANSION INTO SIX MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES. A STARBUCKS EXECUTIVE NOTES THAT COFFEE DRINKING IS A STRONG PART OF THE CULTURE IN ARAB NATIONS AND SAYS THE COMPANY EXPECTS TO DO VERY WELL THERE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
09-Feb-99 5:04 PM EST (2204 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: FROM THE SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS, TO FLORIDA'S SULTRY EVERGLADES, THIS NATION'S NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO MOURN THE PASSING OF JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN.

IN OTHER EDITORIAL TOPICS, THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, NOW IN ITS FINAL STAGES, COMES IN FOR COMMENT, AS DOES BRAZIL'S STRUGGLING ECONOMY; AND A NEW JAIL TERM FOR A BOXER TOO OFTEN VIOLENT OUTSIDE THE RING. NOW, HERE IS ____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE WAKE OF KING HUSSEIN'S FUNERAL, MORE U-S PAPERS ARE MOURNING HIM, AND LOOKING ANXIOUSLY TOWARD THE FUTURE WITH A NEW, UNTESTED JORDANIAN KING. IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, "THE DENVER POST" SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: YOU WOULD THINK, JUDGING FROM THE LIST OF PEOPLE CONVERGING ON TINY JORDAN, THAT THE LEADER OF A WORLD POWER HAD DIED. /// OPT /// THE U-S DELEGATION ... [WAS] HEADED BY BILL CLINTON AND THREE EX-PRESIDENTS. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU .... ALONG WITH CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA ... RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ... JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI, U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND DOZENS OF OTHER WORLD LEADERS. /// END OPT /// THEIR PRESENCE [WAS] A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A KING WHO SPENT MUCH OF HIS REIGN PURSUING PEACE IN A WARRING CORNER OF THE THE WORLD. ... JORDAN'S NEW RULER IS A NOVICE. HIS PEOPLE -- AND THE REST OF THE WORLD -- CAN ONLY HOPE HE FOLLOWS HIS FATHER'S SKILLED SEARCH FOR PEACE IN A TROUBLED TIME.

TEXT: TO KANSAS, AND THESE THOUGHTS FROM "THE TOPEKA CAPITOL-JOURNAL."

VOICE: REAL PEACE IS NOW HIS. BUT THE PASSING OF KING HUSSEIN ... MAKES AN EARTHLY PEACE IN THE MIDEAST SEEM MORE PRECARIOUS -- IF THAT'S POSSIBLE IN THAT TROUBLED CORNER OF THE WORLD. ... ONE DOES NOT SURVIVE LONG IN EITHER THE MIDEAST OR THE BUSINESS OF LEADING NATIONS WITHOUT SOME DEGREE OF CUNNING AND CALCULATION. [KING] HUSSEIN HAD MORE THAN HIS SHARE OF BOTH -- BEHIND THAT DISARMING SMILE OF HIS. /// OPT /// INDEED, HE WAS SHREWD TO THE LAST - - SWEEPING AWAY HIS DISLOYAL AND UNPOPULAR BROTHER HASSAN IN FAVOR OF MAKING ELDEST SON ABDULLAH KING -- ENSURING SUCCESSION STAYS IN THE FAMILY. /// END OPT /// [KING] HUSSEIN WILL CLEARLY BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREAT STATESMEN OF THE CENTURY. PRAY THAT IN THE NEXT CENTURY WE MAY SAY THE SAME OF THE SON.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" WONDERS: WHAT HAPPENS NOW.

VOICE: IS THE LEGACY OF PEACE THAT KING HUSSEIN SOUGHT IN HIS LAST YEARS TOO FRAGILE TO SURVIVE? THE IMMEDIATE ANSWERS MAY NOT COME FROM JORDAN, WHERE KING HUSSEIN'S ELDEST SON, ABDULLAH, 37, HAS BEEN INVESTED AS THE FOURTH RULER OF THE HASHEMITE STATE ... THE ANSWER ... IS MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN ISRAEL, IN THE THROES OF AN ELECTION THAT MANY VIEW AS A REFERENDUM ON THE WYE RIVER ACCORDS THAT KING HUSSEIN HELPED TO ACHIEVE.

... KING ABDULLAH THE SECOND ... OPENLY SUPPORTS CONTINUING THE PEACE PROCESS. THAT BODES WELL FOR THE TRANSITION. IT ALSO PUTS THE BURDEN ON ISRAELI VOTERS TO SEAT A GOVERNMENT READY TO WORK WITH PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT TO SHOW REAL PROGRESS.

TEXT: IN BOSTON, THE "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" CALLS THE LATE KING A "LEADER AMONG LEADERS" AND A RULER WHO "SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO LEAD BY POLL-TAKING." "THE WASHINGTON POST," NOTING ALL THE DIGNITARIES AT THE FUNERAL, ADDS:

VOICE: ... ALL THIS GREW OUT OF HIS READINESS TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE. ABOUT WHAT MATTERED MOST TO HIM -- THE HASHEMITE DYNASTY AND THE INTEGRITY OF JORDAN -- HE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL AS HE WENT ALONG.

TEXT: IN TEXAS, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS":

VOICE: THE JORDANIAN RULER WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A PIVOTAL FIGURE IN HIS REGION'S ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR PEACE. HE EARNED RESPECT BY BALANCING HIS OWN INTERESTS AS AN ARAB LEADER WITH A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF NEIGHBORING ISRAEL'S NEEDS. ... THE FACT THAT HE WAS IN POWER WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS IN ELEMENTARY [GRADE] SCHOOL TESTIFIES TO HIS SURVIVAL SKILLS AND DURABILITY.

TEXT: AND IN MINNESOTA, WHERE HE RECEIVED SIX MONTHS OF TREATMENT AT THE STATE'S FAMOUS MAYO CLINIC, "THE [MINNEAPOLIS] STAR-TRIBUNE" LAMENTS:

VOICE: BECAUSE HE WAS A PRIVATE MAN AND BECAUSE ILLNESS IS A PRIVATE MATTER, MINNESOTANS KNEW LITTLE ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY MONARCH WHO WAS IN THEIR MIDST PERIODICALLY DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS. BUT NOW THAT KING HUSSEIN ... HAS LEFT THE MAYO CLINIC AND FLOWN HOME TO DIE, THEY CAN JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD IN MOURNING THIS REMARKABLE PEACEMAKER. IT'S IRONIC THAT CANCER SHOULD CLAIM A MAN WHO SURVIVED COUPS, ASSASSIN'S BULLETS AND SIEGES BY RIVAL ARAB POWERS. BUT THE WORLD SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT HE SURVIVED LONG ENOUGH TO EMERGE AS A PEACEMAKER AND RENDER IT SUCH GREAT SERVICE.

TEXT: TURNING NOW TO THE MAJOR DOMESTIC STORY, WHICH CONTINUES TO BE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" NOTES:

VOICE: AS THE FINAL ACT OF THE IMPEACHMENT DRAMA DRAGGED TOWARD ITS INEVITABLE CONCLUSION YESTERDAY, THE PROSECUTORS' RAMBLING CLOSING ARGUMENTS PROVIDED A PERFECT METAPHOR FOR THE HOUSE CASE AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON: A SERIES OF UNFOCUSED CHARGES, BUILT ON INNUENDO AND DISTORTED EVIDENCE.... BY CONTRAST WITH [WHITE HOUSE LAWYER CHARLES] RUFF'S THOUGHTFUL PRESENTATION, THE HOUSE MANAGERS' ARGUMENTS AMOUNTED TO ONE LONG, SELF-PITYING WHINE. ... AS THE SENATORS GET READY TO VOTE, HISTORY SITS IN JUDGMENT OF THEM. THEY HAVE BUT ONE CHOICE: ACQUITTAL.

TEXT: IN KANSAS, "THE TOPEKA CAPITOL-JOURNAL," ACKNOWLEDGING THE OUTCOME OF THE SENATE VOTE, WARNS:

VOICE: ... BEFORE THEY PULL OUT THE PARTY HATS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THEY SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT THE CASE HAS DONE TO AMERICA. ONE EXAMPLE: A COLUMN ON THIS PAGE MONDAY TOLD OF A TEENAGER WHO REFERS TO LYING NOW AS 'PULLING A CLINTON.' THAT'S NOTHING TO CELEBRATE.'

TEXT: GERMANY IS STRUGGLING WITH THE QUESTION OF "WHO IS A GERMAN" AS REGARDS GRANTING CITIZENSHIP TO IMMIGRANTS. "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS WEALTHY NATIONS DO HAVE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT SAYS GERMANY'S SITUATION WITH LONG-RESIDENT TURKISH WORKERS HAS BECOME RIDICULOUS.

VOICE: GERMANY'S DILEMMA IS FAMILIAR TO EVERY RELATIVELY PROSPEROUS NATION WITHIN REACH OF A LESS PROSPEROUS ONE - - WHICH MEANS, IN PRACTICE, EVERY PROSPEROUS NATION. ... BUT GERMANY ... WITH A VIEW OF GERMAN-NESS BASED ON BLOOD RATHER THAN RESIDENCY ... DENIED CITIZENSHIP TO ... PERMANENT [NON-GERMAN WORKERS, SUCH AS TURKS] RESIDENTS AND EVEN TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN BORN IN GERMANY. THE UNTENABLE RESULT IS TYPIFIED BY THE RECENT CASE OF A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY DEPORTED TO TURKEY THROUGH HE HAD BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN GERMANY.

TEXT: TURNING TO THIS HEMISPHERE, "THE MIAMI HERALD" FEARS THE WORST MAY NOT BE OVER IN BRAZIL'S ECONOMIC TROUBLES.

VOICE: WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL VILLAGE. EAST ASIA HAS AN ECONOMIC BUST, AND INVESTORS PANIC. SO, RUSSIA'S ECONOMY TAKES A DIVE [SLANG FOR:"FAILS"]. SCARED INVESTORS THEN RUN OUT OF BRAZIL. BRAZIL'S RESERVES PLUMMET, AND THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO FLOAT ITS OVERVALUED CURRENCY, WHICH PROMPTLY TAILSPINS. ... THUS, BRAZIL'S ECONOMY OF 800-BILLION -- REPRESENTING NEARLY HALF OF SOUTH AMERICA'S GOODS AND SERVICES AND THE DESTINATION FOR MOST EXPORTS SHIPPED FROM SOUTH FLORIDA -- HEADS INTO SEVERE RECESSION. ARGENTINA, WHICH HEAVILY EXPORTS TO BRAZIL, NOW IS BEING DRAGGED DOWN AND OTHER NATIONS ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW. ... FUNDAMENTALLY, THE OLD RELIEF FORMULAS OF THE I-M-F AND OTHER GLOBAL LEADERS DON'T SEEM TO BE KEEPING PACE WITH THE PHENOMENAL CHANGES IN WORLD FINANCIAL MARKETS.

TEXT: STILL WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" WONDERS WHETHER JAPANESE BANKERS ARE READY TO FINALLY MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS NEEDED TO RESURRECT THAT NATION'S AILING ECONOMY.

VOICE: BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, THE WORLD WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA WHETHER JAPANESE BANKERS ARE FINALLY WILLING TO TAKE FINANCIAL REFORM SERIOUSLY. THE POTENTIALLY WATERSHED EVENT COMES IN THE FORM OF A MONDAY DEADLINE SET BY JAPANESE REGULATORS FOR THE NATION'S DEBT-STRAPPED BIG BANKS TO PRESENT RECOVERY PLANS IN EXCHANGE FOR PUBLIC BAILOUT MONEY. .... IF BANKERS CONTINUE TO BALK, JAPAN'S ROAD TO RECOVERY WILL BE MEASURED IN YEARS.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS FROM "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" ON THE RECENT ASSAULT CONVICTION IN MARYLAND OF FORMER WORLD HEAVY WEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION MIKE TYSON:

VOICE: EVEN IN THE BOXING RING, WHERE BRUTALITY IS SANCTIONED, HE STEPPED OVER THE LINE INTO BARBARIC BEHAVIOR BY BITING OFF PART OF EVANDER HOLYFIELD'S EAR DURING A CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT. ANYONE WHO HARBORS THAT KIND OF UNCONTROLLED RAGE IS DANGEROUS. THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE OF TYSON, A MAN TRAINED AND SKILLED IN PHYSICAL ASSAULT. ... THE ASSAULT CHARGES, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN 20 YEARS IN PRISON, WERE NOT MINOR, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING TYSON'S HISTORY. ... SO, DEPENDING ON APPEALS, TYSON WILL SERVE TIME IN MARYLAND AND MAY GO BACK TO PRISON IN INDIANA FOR VIOLATING PROBATION THAT FOLLOWED HIS PRISON TIME FOR RAPE. HIS BOXING CAREER PROBABLY IS OVER. THAT'S A HEAVY PRICE TO PAY. BUT WHO KNOWS HOW HIGH THE PRICE MIGHT BE FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO FACES IRON MIKE TYSON'S UNCHECKED RAGE?

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION FROM TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
09-Feb-99 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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