Voice of America, 99-07-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / U-S DEATHS (S) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[02] KOSOVO - U-S DEATHS (S-ALT) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[03] E-U KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[04] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[05] US-NO MILOSEVIC AMNESTY (S ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[06] EDITORIAL: SERBS CALL FOR MILOSEVIC TO RESIGN

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

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

[01] KOSOVO / U-S DEATHS (S) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: TWO U-S SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN KOSOVO LATE SUNDAY WHEN THEIR ARMORED VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN WESTERN KOSOVO (ABOUT 16 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF GNJILANE). THREE OTHER AMERICANS WERE INJURED. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THIS IS THE THIRD FATAL ACCIDENT INVOLVING U-S SOLDIERS OPERATING IN THE BALKANS.

TEXT: ARMY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE OLD, HEAVY, BOXY ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER FLIPPED OVER.

INVESTIGATORS WILL INTERVIEW THE SURVIVORS AND SEARCH THE ACCIDENT SCENE FOR CLUES.

THE TROOPS WERE ENGINEERS NORMALLY BASED IN GERMANY. THE INJURED MEN WERE NOT HURT BADLY AND ARE BACK WITH THEIR UNITS.

IN EARLY JULY, ANOTHER U-S SOLDIER DIED IN A TRAFFIC MISHAP IN MACEDONIA. EARLIER, A TWO-MAN HELICOPTER CREW PERISHED IN ALBANIA WHEN THEIR APACHE GUNSHIP CRASHED ON A TRAINING MISSION. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE-THOUSAND U-S S0LDIERS ON PEACKEEPING DUTY IN KOSOVO, WITH ABOUT SEVEN-THOUSAND MORE ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT ROLES IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. (SIGNED)
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19-Jul-99 10:03 AM EDT (1403 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO - U-S DEATHS (S-ALT) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: AN ACCIDENT IN KOSOVO INVOLVING A U-S ARMORED VEHICLE HAS KILLED TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND INJURED THREE OTHERS. THE SOLDIERS WERE THE FIRST AMERICANS TO DIE IN KOSOVO SINCE NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE BEGAN LAST MONTH. TIM BELAY HAS DETAILS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE U-S ARMY IS NOT SAYING WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, WHICH TOOK PLACE EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. IT WILL ONLY SAY THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING.

THE VICTIMS WERE PART OF THE SIX-THOUSAND-MEMBER U-S ARMY PRESENCE IN SOUTHEASTERN KOSOVO, PARTICIPATING IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION HERE.

THE BODIES WILL BE SENT ON TO GERMANY AFTER A BRIEF PLANE-SIDE CEREMONY IN MACEDONIA.

THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.

THESE ARE THE FIRST U-S MILITARY CASUALTIES TO COME AS PART OF THE KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING MISSION, A JOINT EFFORT BY NATO AND RUSSIA. EARLIER, IN ALBANIA, TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS DIED WHEN THEIR APACHE HELICOPTER CRASHED ON A TRAINING MISSION. (SIGNED)
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19-Jul-99 10:51 AM EDT (1451 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS, MEETING IN BRUSSELS MONDAY, DECIDED TO START LIFTING SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA, IMPOSED AT THE TIME OF THE WAR IN KOSOVO. BUT AS RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE TIMETABLE FOR THE MOVE HAS BEEN LEFT TO THE GROUP'S EXECUTIVE "EUROPEAN COMMISSION" TO DECIDE.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS OPENED THEIR MEETING BY CALLING FOR MORE DECISIVE ACTIONS IN THE BALKANS. THEY CLOSED THEIR MEETING BY DECIDING TO LEAVE IT UP TO THEIR EXPERTS TO DETERMINE WHEN SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WILL BE LIFTED.

FINNISH FOREIGN MINISTER TARJA HARLONEN SAYS THE MINISTERS ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO LIFT THE BAN ON AIRLINE FLIGHTS TO AND FROM YUGOSLAVIA -- BUT THAT'S ONLY A "POLITICAL" DECLARATION OF INTENTION. SHE SAYS THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS BEEN ASKED TO WORK ON A PLAN OF ACTION.

THE COMMISSION AND THE COMPETENT WORKING BODIES WERE REQUESTED TO MAKE PROPOSALS TO THESE ENDS WITHOUT DELAY, SO I'M SORRY TO SAY IF SOMEBODY'S WAITING, THAT WE COULDN'T LIFT SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE IN LEGAL TERMS, BUT THIS IS THE POLITICAL AIM -- TO DO THAT.

THE E-U MINISTERS ALSO AGREED TO TRY TO HELP THE SERBIAN PEOPLE WITHOUT HELPING THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE MINISTERS WANT TO FIND WAYS TO HELP SERBIAN TOWNS AND CITIES CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATIC FORCES. THE PROBLEM, AS ONE DIPLOMAT POINTS OUT, IS THAT WHILE THIS IS GOOD THEORY, IT OFTEN DOES NOT WORK IN REALITY. //OPT// AS THE EUROPEANS FOUND OUT WITH THEIR AID IN BOSNIA, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TOWNS THAT COOPERATED IN ALLOWING REFUGEES TO RETURN AND THOSE THAT DID NOT. //END OPT//

MANY OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS SPENT MUCH OF THEIR TIME ARGUING WITH THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ABOUT WHERE THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION'S BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION OFFICE WILL BE LOCATED. THE GREEKS CONTEND THEIR PORT OF SALONIKA IS THE BEST PLACE. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WANTS TO PUT IT IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

THE MINISTERS SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE, SAYING THE INITIAL HEADQUARTERS WILL BE IN PRISTINA -- BUT THE ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERS WILL BE IN THE GREEK CITY. (SIGNED)
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19-Jul-99 3:12 PM EDT (1912 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY -- U-N-H-C-R -- REPORTS NEARLY ALL OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO FLED KOSOVO AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR HAVE RETURNED HOME. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE AGENCY SAYS TENSIONS IN KOSOVO REMAIN HIGH, AS MANY OF THE RETURNING REFUGEES EXACT VENGEANCE AGAINST MINORITY SERBS AND GYPSIES.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS NEARLY 700-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO KOSOVO FROM NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO. JUST OVER 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES REMAIN IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO GO HOME, DESPITE THE MANY HARDSHIPS THEY WILL FACE UPON THEIR RETURN. AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAYS THEIR RETURN HAS PROVOKED AN ALARMING NUMBER OF ATTACKS AGAINST SERBS AND GYPSIES.

IN SOME WAY, THE HUGE JOY OF A MASSIVE RETURN IN A SPECTACULAR REVERSAL OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IS NOW MARRED BY INCIDENTS AGAINST MINORITIES.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS MANY OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE NOW SEEKING TO AVENGE THESE DEATHS AND PUNISH THOSE WHO FORCIBLY EXPELLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE PROVINCE.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN JANOWSKI SAYS THERE ARE DAILY REPORTS OF SERBS AND GYPSIES BEING KILLED AND ABDUCTED. HE SAYS MANY HOUSES HAVE BEEN LOOTED AND BURNED. IN SOME AREAS, HE SAYS MINORITIES ARE SUBJECT TO SYSTEMATIC HARASSMENT. HE CALLS WHAT IS HAPPENING A NEW WAVE OF ETHNICALLY-MOTIVATED ATTACKS.

ONE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HERE IN NOT TRYING TO DRAW AN EQUATION BETWEEN WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE ALBANIANS, WHICH WAS A STATE-SANCTIONED MASS EXPULSION OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE SERBS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A MUCH MORE LIMITED, MUCH LESS ORGANIZED, AND OF COURSE ON A MUCH LESSER SCALE.

SERBIAN AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE SOME 130-THOUSAND SERBS HAVE FLED KOSOVO. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS ABOUT 30-THOUSAND REMAIN IN THE PROVINCE. HE SAYS THE EXODUS ESSENTIALLY HAS ENDED. NOW, ONLY A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO TERRIFIED TO STAY ARE LEAVING. (SIGNED)
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19-Jul-99 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] US-NO MILOSEVIC AMNESTY (S ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS FIRMLY OPPOSED ANY SUGGESTION YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC BE GRANTED AMNESTY IN RETURN FOR LEAVING OFFICE. U-S OFFICIALS SAY HE MUST STAND TRIAL ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, VUK DRASKOVIC MADE THE SUGGESTION IN AN INTERVIEW ("NY TIMES") IN WHICH HE SAID THE BEST WAY TO GET SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OUT OF POWER IS TO PROMISE HIM IMMUNITY FROM ARREST IF HE RESIGNS.

MR. MILOSEVIC AND FOUR OF HIS AIDES HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ON CHARGES OF COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN KOSOVO.

AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID THE ONLY PLACE FOR SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

WE OPPOSE ANY SUGGESTION OF GRANTING SANCTUARY OR AMNESTY TO INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, AND WE ENCOURAGE ANY STATE THAT OBTAINS CUSTODY OVER MILOSEVIC TO DELIVER HIM DIRECTLY TO THE HAGUE.

MR. RUBIN SAID THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS ISSUED A WARRANT FOR MR. MILOSEVIC'S ARREST AND FAILURE TO ACT ON THE WARRANT VIOLATES SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. (SIGNED)
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19-Jul-99 2:49 PM EDT (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EDITORIAL: SERBS CALL FOR MILOSEVIC TO RESIGN

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:

OPPOSITION TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS GROWING. MORE THAN TWO-HUNDRED THOUSAND SERBS HAVE SIGNED PETITIONS DEMANDING THAT MILOSEVIC RESIGN. AND ANTI-MILOSEVIC DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD IN A NUMBER OF SERBIAN CITIES, INCLUDING CACAK ['CHAH-CHAHK], NOVI SAD ['NO-VEE SAHD], LESKOVAC ['LES-KO-VAHTS], SUBOTICA ['SOO-BO-TEE-TSA], AND KRAGUJEVAC ['KRAH-GOO-YEH-VATS]. MEANWHILE, IN THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MILOSEVIC AND HIS DISASTROUS POLICIES.

IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY YUGOSLAVS WANT TO BE RID OF MILOSEVIC. HIS REGIME'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY CAUSED MUCH HARDSHIP. AND THINGS GREW WORSE AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IN RESPONSE TO MILOSEVIC'S AGGRESSION IN BOSNIA. THEN THE REPRESSION AND TERROR AGAINST ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO BROUGHT THE DEVASTATING NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. INSTEAD OF SEEKING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO, MILOSEVIC AUTHORIZED A CAMPAIGN OF MURDER, RAPE, PLUNDER AND DESTRUCTION. FOR THESE ATROCITIES, HE AND FOUR OF HIS TOP AIDES HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO KOSOVO, MANY OF THE REGION'S SERBS HAVE FLED TO OTHER PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA. THIS PUTS AN ADDED STRAIN ON THE COUNTRY'S RESOURCES. IN KOSOVO, THE VICTIMS OF MILOSEVIC'S AGGRESSION CAN EXPECT HELP FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THEY TRY TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES AND LIVES. BUT IN THE PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA STILL RULED BY MILOSEVIC AND OTHERS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, PEOPLE ARE WELL AWARE THAT NO SUCH HELP CAN BE EXPECTED.

THAT IS WHY INCREASING NUMBERS OF YUGOSLAVS ARE DEMANDING THAT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC RESIGN. HIS CRIMES HAVE BROUGHT GREAT SHAME ON THE SERBIAN PEOPLE. AND HIS CONTINUATION IN OFFICE CAN BRING THEM ONLY MORE SUFFERING.

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.
19-Jul-99 2:49 PM EDT (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MODERATELY LOWER TODAY (MONDAY), AS THEY BACKED AWAY FROM LAST WEEK'S RECORD HIGHS. ANALYSTS DESCRIBED TRADING ACTIVITY AS UNINSPIRED. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 22 POINTS, CLOSING AT 11-THOUSAND-187. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 11 POINTS AT 14-HUNDRED-SEVEN. AND THE NASDAQ TOOK A LOSS OF OVER ONE PERCENT.

DESPITE GOOD EARNINGS REPORTS BY U-S BUSINESSES, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASTIC BUYING ON WALL STREET. ANALYST RON DURAN SAYS THERE'S ENOUGH CASH AROUND BUT HE EXPECTS A SLOWDOWN IN MARKET ACTIVITY OVER THESE SUMMER MONTHS:

THE MONEY FLOW THAT STILL CONTINUES INTO EQUITY [STOCK] MUTUAL FUNDS IS VERY GOOD. SO ACTIVITY SHOULD BE REASONABLE, BUT SHOULD BE DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM THE LAST QUARTER.

U-S BANKS SEEM TO BE RECOVERING FROM THEIR BAD TIME LAST YEAR. J-P MORGAN AND THE NUMBER-ONE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, CITIGROUP, REPORTED BETTER THAN EXPECTED QUARTERLY PROFITS.

CITIGROUP WAS FORMED LAST YEAR FROM THE MERGER OF CITICORP AND TRAVELERS' GROUP. THE COMPANY HAS TRIED TO PARE COSTS SINCE THEN AND SAYS IT HAS ALREADY CUT ABOUT ONE-POINT-SEVEN-BILLION DOLLARS IN EXPENSES.

ANALYSTS SAY THEY EXPECT U-S BANKS TO HAVE A VERY GOOD YEAR -- A MORE MODEST ONE NEXT YEAR, PERHAPS -- BUT OVERALL, A HEALTHY REBOUND FOR THE MUCH BELEAGUERED FINANCIAL SECTOR. PFIZER, THE NUMBER-TWO DRUG MAKER IN THE UNITED STATES, BEAT WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. IT REPORTED NET PROFITS 13 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR. GLOBAL SALES OF PFIZER'S ANTI-IMPOTENCY DRUG VIAGRA HAVE SHOT UP OVER 60 PERCENT. AND DELTA, THE THIRD-LARGEST U-S AIRLINE, ALSO REPORTED HIGHER QUARTERLY PROFITS. DELTA, WHICH ACQUIRED A REGIONAL U-S CARRIER AND MORE RECENTLY FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH AIR FRANCE, SAYS IT HAS THE LOWEST COSTS (PER SEAT-MILE) AMONG THE MAJOR U-S AIRLINES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/JMC/WTW
19-Jul-99 4:32 PM EDT (2032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE DEATH OF JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY JUNIOR, HIS WIFE, AND HER SISTER IN A WEEKEND PLANE CRASH HAS RIVETED THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION, AND DOMINATES THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE AN ACCUSATION OF MURDER IN THE "VALUJET" CRASH IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES; THE UNREST IN IRAN; ANTI SEMITISM AND NUCLEAR INSTABILITY IN RUSSIA; AND REMEMBERING APOLLO ELEVEN'S TRIP TO THE MOON. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS __________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: NEWSPAPERS FROM ONE END OF THE NATION TO THE OTHER ARE REMEMBERING THE HANDSOME, ENERGETIC SON OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, WHO DIED WHEN THE SMALL PLANE HE WAS FLYING CRASHED LATE FRIDAY INTO THE SEA OFF MASSACHUSETTS. AS "PITTSBURGH'S POST-GAZETTE" SAYS:

VOICE: THE EXTINGUISHING OF ANY PROMISING YOUNG LIFE IS A TRAGEDY, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD THAT JOHN F. KENNEDY JUNIOR HAS PERISHED IN A PLANE CRASH UNDERSTANDABLY HAS ABSORBED AND APPALLED THE NATION. ... AMERICANS OF A CERTAIN AGE NATURALLY THOUGHT OF THE SMALL BOY WHO SALUTED HIS ASSASSINATED FATHER,THE PRESIDENT. EQUALLY NATURALLY, THEY RECALLED THE OTHER TRAGEDIES VISITED ON A FAMOUS AND PHOTOGENIC FAMILY. ... IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THE WEEKEND'S SAD EVENTS CAUSED WHAT ONE WRITER CALLED 'THE SPRINGS OF SYMPATHY' TO FLOW.

TEXT: "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" RELATES THE DEATH TO ANOTHER THAT FAIRLY RECENTLY SHOCKED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

VOICE: IN AN AGE WHEN AMERICANS ROUTINELY EXPRESS THEIR DISGUST WITH POLITICS AND DISTRUST OF POLITICIANS, THERE IS DEEP AND GENUINE SORROW FOR THE LOSS SUFFERED BY AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS POLITICAL FAMILY. ... JOHN F. KENNEDY JUNIOR'S SUDDEN FATE WAS A SHOCK IN THE SAME WAY THAT PRINCESS DIANA'S WAS. HE WAS A CELEBRITY, AND HE HANDLED CELEBRITY EASILY AND GRACIOUSLY WITH A SELF-DEPRECIATING SENSE OF HUMOR.

TEXT: "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL DAILY PUBLISHED IN A WASHINGTON, D-C SUBURB, REMEMBERS HIM THIS WAY:

VOICE: HANDSOME AND VIBRANT, LIKE HIS FATHER,... HE DID NOT WITHER UNDER THE MEDIA MICROSCOPE, BUT SEEMED WITH EACH PASSING YEAR TO GROW MORE AT EASE, EVEN BECOMING PART OF IT WITH HIS CREATION OF A POLITICAL MAGAZINE, "GEORGE". AT 38, HIS POTENTIAL IS BARELY SCRATCHED. AND NOW HE, AS HIS FATHER AND UNCLE BEFORE, APPEARS LOST, AWAKENING ONCE AGAIN A SENSE OF OUR OWN VULNERABILITY. IT IS THAT INTUITIVE PERSONAL CONNECTION, NOT THE FAMILY'S POLITICS OR ITS ILLUSORY FLING AT CAMELOT, THAT ENGAGES US. IN THE KENNEDYS, WE SEE OURSELVES.

TEXT: ANOTHER PLANE CRASH IS ALSO BEING COMMENTED UPON, THE "VALUJET" FLIGHT-592 CRASH IN THE EVERGLADES THREE-YEARS AGO THAT KILLED ALL 110 PEOPLE ON BOARD. IN OHIO, "THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL" HAS THESE THOUGHTS ON THE 110 COUNTS OF MURDER HANDED DOWN BY A STATE COURT AGAINST THE MAINTENANCE COMPANY THAT CAUSED THE CRASH.

VOICE: IMPROPERLY CAPPED OXYGEN-GENERATING CANISTERS LOADED IN THE CARGO HOLDS CAUGHT FIRE AND ENGULFED THE PLANE. THE TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT. NOW COMES TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. THE FIRST INDICTMENTS IN THE ... CRASH WERE HANDED DOWN TUESDAY AGAINST "SABRETECH", AN AIRLINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR ... AND THREE OF ITS FORMER EMPLOYEES. ... THE BREAKDOWN IN OVERSIGHT, HOWEVER, WENT BEYOND THE CONTRACTOR. VALUJET DID NOT COME OUT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS BLAMELESS. NEITHER DID THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY.

TEXT: OVERSEAS, THE STUDENT UNREST IN IRAN, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES."

VOICE: THE PROTESTS ARE NOTABLE BECAUSE IN IRAN, THE MEDIA, CULTURAL EXPRESSION, AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS ARE LIMITED. THE AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, AN UNELECTED RELIGIOUS LEADER, IS THE SUPREME LEADER AND CONTROLS THE ARMED FORCES, THE POLICE, THE JUDICIARY, THE INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY, AND THE BROADCAST NETWORK. ... THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS ARE EVIDENCE THAT THE COERCIVE STATUS QUO HAS BECOME INTOLERABLE TO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. /// OPT

TEXT: A PAIR OF TOPICS CONCERNING RUSSIA ARE ALSO IN THE COMMENTARIES TODAY. THE FIRST, ABOUT THE INCREASING INSTABILITY OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL, HAS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WORRIED, AS IT POINTS OUT:

VOICE: BUDGET CUTS AND POLITICAL CHANGES HAVE SO WEAKENED RUSSIA'S ONCE-FORMIDABLE ARMED FORCES THAT MOSCOW'S MILITARY PLANNERS NOW FEEL OBLIGED TO RELY ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO DEFEND THEIR FRONTIERS AGAINST EVEN A NON-NUCLEAR ATTACK. THAT ALARMING SHIFT IN PLANNING WAS UNDERSCORED BY THE EXTENSIVE WAR GAMES MOSCOW RECENTLY CONDUCTED, THE LARGEST SUCH MANEUVERS SINCE 1991.

TEXT: STILL WITH RUSSIAN AFFAIRS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS WORRIED ABOUT THE RISE IN ANTI-SEMITISM, AND MOST RECENTLY THE STABBING TO DEATH OF A JEWISH CULTURAL CENTER LEADER INSIDE A SYNAGOGUE.

VOICE: IN MOSCOW ALONE, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST SEVEN CASES OF ARSON AND BOMBING ATTACKS AT SYNAGOGUES AND OTHER JEWISH SITES ... AMERICANS KNOW ONLY TOO WELL HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR ANY SOCIETY TO FREE ITSELF OF RACISM AND RACIST VIOLENCE. RUSSIA, IN THE MIDST OF WRENCHING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE, CAN OFFER MORE PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATIONS THAN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES FOR WHY SUCH POISONS MIGHT SPREAD. BUT A MEASURE OF ANY SOCIETY IS THE VIGOR WITH WHICH IS FIGHTS AGAINST SUCH HATRED. IN THIS REGARD, RUSSIA'S PERFORMANCE IS MIXED AT BEST.

TEXT: FROM MINNESOTA, THERE IS AN ANGRY EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "[MINNEAPOLIS] STAR TRIBUNE" ABOUT THE CUTS THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS MADE IN THIS COUNTRY'S FOREIGN AID MONEY, AND THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE BUDGET IS DOWN FROM 14-POINT-ONE-BILLION DOLLARS TO 13-POINT-SEVEN-BILLION DURING THE PAST EIGHT-YEARS; THE AGENCY'S STAFF CUT BY A THIRD. SAYS "THE STAR-TRIBUNE:"

VOICE: THIS IS REALLY A VERY ODD WAY FOR CONGRESS TO BEHAVE. ITS MEMBERS ARE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST NATION, A LAND TEEMING WITH CALORIES AND CARS AND CASH. JUST ACROSS THE OCEAN LIVE MOTHERS WHO CAN NOT FEED THEIR CHILDREN. SIMPLE COMPASSION SHOULD MOVE CONGRESS TO SHARE MORE OF AMERICA'S WEALTH WITH THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING -- TO HELP THEM CONJURE A LIVELIHOOD. ... INDEED, DO NOT ALL AMERICANS FEEL UNEASY THAT THE UNITED STATES SPENDS A SMALLER SHARE OF ITS GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT ON FOREIGN AID THAN ANY OTHER DEVELOPED NATION?

TEXT: IN A SIMILAR VEIN, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TODAY RUNS A COMMENTARY BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ACCUSING THE INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS OF IGNORING THE SLAUGHTER GOING ON THERE.

VOICE: THE WEST IS TRYING SO HARD TO SAVE THE KOSOVARS, SENDING TREASURE AND BLOOD, TAKING ENORMOUS POLITICAL RISKS, AND DEMONSTRATING GREAT MORAL RESOLVE AND COURAGE IN OPPOSING 'ETHNIC CLEANSING.' MEANWHILE IT HAS ABANDONED OTHER PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE, TO THE SAME FATE. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. FOR OVER A DECADE, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN SUDAN AND THE NUBA MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN THE TARGET OF A DELIBERATE POLICY OF ETHNIC ERADICATION. THE RADICAL ISLAMIC REGIME IN KHARTOUM HAS ANNOUNCED MANY TIMES THAT ITS PLANS FOR US ARE TOTAL DISAPPEARANCE. IT HAS KILLED MANY MORE OF US -- NEARLY TWO-MILLION -- THAN THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO. ... THE WORLD HAS NOT WITNESSED THE USE OF DELIBERATE STARVATION ON SUCH A SCALE SINCE JOSEPH STALIN. I PRAY THAT THE REASON FOR THE INDIFFERENCE, FOR THE SILENCE THAT KILLS, IS NOT THAT WE ARE BLACK WHILE THE KOSOVARS ARE WHITE, NOT THAT WE ARE AFRICANS RATHER THAN EUROPEANS. BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. ... THE WAR IN MY COUNTRY IS THE LONGEST-LASTING ARMED CONFLICT OF THIS CENTURY. MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED THAN IN BOSNIA, CHECHNYA, RWANDA, AND KOSOVO COMBINED.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE REMEMBERING THE HEROIC FLIGHT OF APOLLO ELEVEN, THREE-DECADES AGO, WHICH PUT THE FIRST MEN ON THE MOON. IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE GREENSBURG TRIBUNE-REVIEW CALLS NEIL ARMSTRONG "A HERO FOR ALL TIMES."

VOICE: JULY 20TH, 1969. HUMANKIND'S IMPRESSIONS OF TIME, SPACE AND LIFE ITSELF WERE ALTERED IRREVOCABLY 30-YEARS AGO THIS WEEK. IN AN INCREDIBLE FEAT OF ENGINEERING SIMPLICITY, RAW COURAGE AND SHEER LUCK, MAN WALKED ON THE MOON. IT WAS NEIL ARMSTRONG WHO TOOK THAT SMALL STEP FOR A MAN BUT SUCH A GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND, OUR FIRST FORAY ONTO ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY. ... THE WORLD STOPPED TO SHARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MR. ARMSTRONG AND FELLOW MOONWALKER EDWIN 'BUZZ' ALDRIN. IT WAS A MOMENT OF UNPRECEDENTED UNIVERSAL AWE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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19-Jul-99 12:28 PM EDT (1628 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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