Compact version |
|
Monday, 23 December 2024 | ||
|
Voice of America, 99-07-28Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO FUNERAL (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252249 CONTENT= INTRO: Several hundred people attended funeral services Wednesday (today) for the 14 unarmed Kosovar Serbs who were gunned down last week (July 23) as they returned home from farming. Tim Belay has this report from Pristina. TEXT: (Opens with natural sound.fade under.) Five Orthodox priests held the services on an outdoor volleyball court in the village of Gracko. The victims, all males, were fatally shot Friday night as they were returning from a field where they had been harvesting hay. A few of the several hundred mourners were treated for heat exhaustion while women who lost husbands and sons mourned in the background. ///Act natural sound//////Act Kouchner//////End Act//////Act Kouchner//////End Act///NNNN Source: Voice of America [02] KOSOVO - SERBS (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252246 CONTENT= INTRO: The U-N Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R, says the massacre of 14 Serb farmers in Kosovo has not provoked a mass exodus of Serbs out of the province. But, as Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva, the agency says that since the incident, tensions and fears have increased and efforts to protect minority residents of Kosovo from reprisal attacks have taken on a new urgency. TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says Serbs remaining in Kosovo and those who have fled to other parts of Serbia face a troubling and uncertain future. It describes the Serbs as living in a state of limbo. U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris Janowski says the Serbs are not welcome anywhere. He says some Serbs are moving out of Kosovo and into other parts of Serbia or Montenegro. At the same time, other Serbs are moving back into Kosovo. Around 260 Serbs reportedly came back from Belgrade and Kraljevo Saturday. They were escorted by K-FOR peacekeepers. The Yugoslav Red Cross reports another 200 Serbs are to return this week. Mr. Janowski says Yugoslav authorities are not forcing the Serbs to return home. /// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ////// END ACT ////// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ////// END ACT ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [03] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252256 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: More than 100 countries and international organizations have pledged a little more than two- billion dollars to help the refugees returning to Kosovo. Ron Pemstein in Brussels reports on the first donor conference sponsored by the European Union and the World Bank. TEXT: Not all of the money pledged at this conference is new money. The United States has already announced its pledge of 500-million dollars, Japan has pledged 200-million, Germany will contribute 190-million, and the European Union as a whole is pledging 160-million. The European Union estimates the costs just to repair burned and damaged houses in Kosovo will exceed one- billion dollars, but expects if the refugees make their own repairs, the international expense can be reduced. There also are costs to repair water and electric lines as well as to re-build Kosovo's hospitals and schools. The two-billion dollars pledged at the first donor's conference will be used to cover the initial costs of reconstruction as well as to meet the budgetary deficits of the United Nations agencies working in Kosovo. The funds also will be used to cover Kosovo's immediate basic needs as identified by the United Nations agencies. Christiaan Poortman is the World Bank's country director for Southeast Europe. /// POORTMAN ACT ////// END ACT ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [04] ALBRIGHT / KOSOVO (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (ROME)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252247 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Italy and the United States say they are concerned about the slow pace of re-building civilian institutions in Kosovo. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her Italian counterpart Lamberto Dini met in Rome Wednesday to discuss Kosovo's future ahead of a meeting of Western leaders in Sarajevo later in the week to consider ways to enhance stability across the Balkans. Correspondent Nick Simeone has details. TEXT: Italy and the United States, key NATO partners in the war over Kosovo, want to accelerate reconstruction efforts in Kosovo at a time when NATO peacekeepers are under severe strain just trying to keep law and order. Last week's murder of fourteen Serb civilians underscored just how volatile the situation is and how stretched NATO troops are to ensure the safety of civilians. Secretary of State Albright will make a day-long visit to Kosovo Thursday but stopped off in Rome to discuss the future of the province with Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini. Both voiced concern about how long it is taking to restore normal life to the Serb province. // ALBRIGHT ACT //// END ACT //// REST OPT //NEB/NJS/KL 28-Jul-1999 11:21 AM LOC (28-Jul-1999 1521 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [05] NATO COMMANDER REPLACED (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (TOKYO)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252230 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The United States is replacing the general who led NATO forces in the conflict with Yugoslavia over Kosovo. General Wesley Clark will leave his post in April -- after a series of disputes with Pentagon officials over the conduct of the war. V-O-A's Defense Department correspondent Jim Randle reports. TEXT: Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says Defense
Secretary William Cohen is not punishing General Clark
and will ask the White House to offer him an
appointment as an ambassador.
In an interview in Tokyo, Mr. Bacon portrayed the
change as a normal rotation - but General Clark will
serve less than three years. Commanders often serve
for four.
General Clark was a Rhodes Scholar and is portrayed by
some other officers as something of a maverick. During
the NATO air campaign, he tried to get the Pentagon to
send in more aircraft and to take the politically
unpopular step to prepare for a ground campaign.
General Clark will be replaced by Air Force General
Joe Ralston, who is currently the Vice Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff -- the second highest post in
the U-S military. General Ralston was nominated to be
the top officer in the U-S Military, but withdrew his
bid to be the Chairman after he was embarrassed by a
minor sex scandal.
Mr. Bacon says General Ralston is a "proven warrior"
who also has the strong diplomatic skills needed to
deal with the sometimes-conflicting interests of the
19 NATO allies.
The reshuffling of top generals will also see the
commander of U-S and United Nations Forces in Korea,
John Tilelli, replaced by General Thomas Schultz.
General Tilelli has been leading troops in Korea since
1996. He served two tours in Vietnam and lead troops
in the Persian Gulf war. He has several decorations
for valor.
The reshuffling comes as Defense Secretary William
Cohen is in Japan on his way to visit troops in Korea.
(signed)
Neb/jr/jo/plm
28-Jul-1999 02:18 AM LOC (28-Jul-1999 0618 UTC)
[06] NATO COMMANDER REPLACED (L-UPDATE) BY JIM RANDLE (SEOUL)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252243 CONTENT= (Editors: adds Cohen sound, changes dateline, new throughout) INTRO: The United States is replacing the general who led NATO forces in the Kosovo conflict. General Wesley Clark will leave his post in April after a series of disputes with Pentagon officials over the conduct of the war. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, General Clark urged Washington to hit Yugoslavia harder, sooner and to make serious plans for a ground campaign. TEXT: At a news conference in Tokyo, Defense Secretary William Cohen said he is not punishing General Clark, but plans to replace him with Air Force General Joe Ralston anyway. /// Cohen act ////// end act ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [07] CLINTON - CLARK (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252248 CONTENT= INTRO: The White House is vigorously denying
suggestions that NATO Commander General Wesley Clark
is being replaced because of differences with the
administration over the conduct of the Kosovo war. V-
O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House.
Text: The White House is confirming that General
Clark is to be replaced ahead of schedule. But
President Clinton's spokesman, Joe Lockhart, says it
would be "ridiculously wrong" to suggest that he is
being removed from the NATO job as punishment for
advocating an aggressive approach in the campaign
against Yugoslavia.
The Washington Post reported that the NATO chief had
been "abruptly" informed Tuesday that he would be
leaving his job next April. The Post says the
decision followed tension between General Clark and
the Pentagon over the general's advocacy of using
stronger force in the Kosovo war and for urging
preparations for a ground invasion.
Mr. Lockhart, however, said President Clinton has the
highest regard for General Clark and what he called
his "invaluable" work in the Kosovo crisis. Both the
White House and Pentagon said his replacement was part
of a normal rotation of senior officers, and that he
was asked to leave a few months early to accommodate
the needs of his designated successor, General Joseph
Ralston, now the vice chairman of the military Joint
Chiefs of Staff. (signed)
NEB/DAG/rrm
28-Jul-1999 11:25 AM LOC (28-Jul-1999 1525 UTC)
[08] CLINTON-SARAJEVO ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252267 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: President Clinton is preparing to leave Washington today (Thursday) to join some 40 other world leaders in an international conference in Sarajevo aimed at speeding reconstruction in Balkan countries and their economic integration with the rest of Europe. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House: Text: What's being called the Stability Pact Summit will be attended by the Group of Eight and European Union along with leaders of Balkan and Southeast European countries with the exception of Serbia. It is a follow-up to this week's donor conference in Brussels that raised two billion dollars in pledges to help rebuild Kosovo, and it is aimed at drawing up a longer-term strategy for uplifting the war-torn region and tying it closer, economically, with the rest of Europe. But Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger says that Serbia cannot benefit from such a program unless there is a change of leadership in Belgrade: /// Berger Actuality ////// End Act ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [09] MONTENEGRO MONEY (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252254 INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Economist Steve Hanke of Johns Hopkins University is advising Montenegro president Milo Djukanovic to abandon the Yugoslav currency and establish an independent, sound money for Montenegro - the smaller, junior partner with Serbia in the Yugoslav federation. V-O-A's Barry Wood spoke to Mr. Hanke about a currency board system for Montenegro. TEXT: Mr. Hanke says Montenegro is seeking to completely redefine its relationship to Serbia within Yugoslavia. The issue, he says, is broader than just a new money, but the currency is fundamentally important. He says Montenegro is seeking economic independence from Belgrade. And that the go-ahead on a new money could come within the next few weeks. During a visit to V-O-A, Mr. Hanke said the currency he envisages for Montenegro would be even stronger than the recently introduced -- and so far, successful convertible marka in Bosnia-Hezegovina. /// first Hanke act ////// end act ////// second Hanke act ////// end act ///NNNN Source: Voice of America [10] U.S. - RUSSIA WRAP (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=7/26/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252226 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The United States and Russia have agreed to open talks next month in Moscow on a new round of cuts in their nuclear weapons arsenals. The announcement came at the end of a day of meetings between President Clinton, Vice President Gore and Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin here in Washington. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House. Text: The talks on a new Start Three nuclear arms treaty will begin next month even though the Russian Duma has yet to approve the 1993 Start Two treaty. Speaking at a joint news conference with the Prime Minister, Vice President Gore renewed the administration's call on the Duma to move forward with ratification. But with the Russian Parliament still angered by Nato's bombing campaign over Yugoslavia, Mr. Gore acknowledged lawmakers may not be in any hurry to approve Start Two. // Gore actuality //// end act //// Stepashin actuality //// end act //NEB/DAT/PT 27-Jul-1999 20:24 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 0024 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [11] FRENCH SANCTIONS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252252 EDITOR= CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: As the United States plans to introduce 100- percent taxes on some European foods Thursday in retaliation for Europe's ban on American beef produced with hormones, French farmers have begun a series of protest actions. Julian Nundy reports from Paris. TEXT: Almost inevitably, the first target chosen by
French farmers was a McDonald's fast-food restaurant.
About 150 farmers invaded a McDonald's in the
southwestern city of Auch Tuesday and sat down to eat
their own picnic. They posted up stickers with
slogans like "No to the American diktat" or "No
hormones in the country of foie gras."
Instead of eating a Big Mac hamburger, the French
farmers ate foie gras and other regional delicacies.
Foie gras is, alongside French truffles, Dijon mustard
and roquefort cheese, on a list of food that will be
subject to a 100-percent American tax. This is in
reprisal for Europe's refusal to import American beef
raised with growth hormones.
The World Trade Organization in Geneva backs the
sanctions, arguing that Europe has not come up with
scientific evidence that American beef really does
present a health risk to the consumer.
The countries most affected by the American measures
are France, Denmark, Germany and Italy.
In France, foie gras, truffles and mustard producers
say they do not expect much impact on their sales.
Only makers of roquefort cheese, used in the United
States on pizzas and in a sauce accompanying steak in
a recipe made popular by General Norman Schwarzkopf,
the 1991 Gulf War commander, say they fear real losses
because of the sanctions.
A day ahead of the new measures, Jack Greenberg, the
chief executive of McDonald's, told the daily Le Monde
he regretted the emotional tone that the issue has
provoked.
At its worst, the American Agriculture Secretary, Dan
Glickman, accused French Agriculture Minister Jean
Glavany of being "insulting" for claiming that America
has what the French minister called "the worst food in
the world." (signed)
NEB/JN/ENE/gm
28-Jul-1999 12:31 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 1631 UTC)
[12] GERMAN GOVERNMENT (L ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BERLIN)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2252255 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The German government has held its last cabinet meeting in the Rhineside city of Bonn. As Suzanne Kelly reports from the new German capital, Berlin, the government's move, and the end of an era, are nearly complete. TEXT: Most of the German government ministries have
already arrived to set up their offices in Berlin.
The German Parliament held its last meeting in Bonn
last month before packing up. And now Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder's cabinet has also held its last
meeting in the small riverside town of Bonn which has
served as Germany's capital since the end of World War
Two.
The Chancellor's cabinet will not meet again until
late August, but that meeting will be in the cabinet's
new home in an old East German government building
where former communist dictator Erich Honecker once
worked.
The move from Bonn to Berlin has been a controversial
one in a country still haunted by its past. Opponents
say the shift of power could ruin the small and quiet
town of Bonn. Others say the haunting memories of the
past will influence and change the government in
Germany.
But Mr. Schroeder has done all he could since being
elected last September to step up the move, saying
that once the government is back in Berlin, a new
"Berliner Republic" will flourish. (signed)
NEB/SK/JWH/gm
28-Jul-1999 13:58 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 1758 UTC)
[13] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252266 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Stock prices in the United States were mixed today (Wednesday), but traders were encouraged by the lack of news from the Chairman of the U-S Central Bank. V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from New York. TEXT: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 10- thousand-972, down seven points. The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed at 13-hundred-65, up two points. The NASDAQ index gained one percent. Analysts say traders were generally pleased with the Senate testimony of Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the U- S Central Bank. He basically reiterated his comments of last week that the Central Bank will move forcefully to prevent inflation. /// Begin Opt ////// Opt Greenspan Act ////// End Act ////// End Opt //////Rest Opt///NNNN Source: Voice of America [14] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/28/1999TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11399 CONTENT= INTRO: The editorial columns of the nation's newspapers (this Wednesday) are commenting on Chinese issues. There is also concern about the safety of Serbs in Yugoslavia's Kosovo province after the killing of 14 Serbian farmers; thoughts about the Northern Ireland peace process; and a new controversy hounding Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign. Lastly, rioting at a rock music concert brings expressions of concern for the future of such events. Now, here is a sampling of comment from ____________ in today's Editorial Digest. TEXT: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright comes in for some criticism from Maine's "Portland Press Herald" for her handling of the latest dispute between mainland China and Taiwan. VOICE: Ms. Albright's scolding of Taiwan in talks with her Chinese counterpart earlier this week is offensive to democracies around the world. Who gives the American secretary of state the right to say Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui hasn't `explained' enough why is country henceforth will deal with China on a `state-to-state' basis? Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's denouncing [Mr.] Lee as a `troublemaker,' and warning the United States that it should be `very careful not to say anything' to encourage Taiwanese independence, is similarly obnoxious. [Mrs.] Albright and [Mr.] Tang . forget one thing: The future of Taiwan is up to the people of Taiwan to decide, not the major powers on either side of the Pacific Ocean. TEXT: But according to the "The Chicago Tribune," what it describes as Mr. Lee's "posturing has been ill-considered, even dangerous." Voice: Despite repeated protests from friends and foes alike, Taiwan President Lee . continues to insist that Taiwan and China should be considered as equal states. . as unwise as that [his statement] was diplomatically, it was also, in an odd way, grand. This was democracy in the Republic of China on Taiwan. TEXT: Moving to the issue of Chinese repression of a religious movement called Falun Gong which claims to have millions of adherents in China, "The New York Times'criticizes the Beijing government's actions. VOICE: In a step recalling Maoist political re- education campaigns, Beijing has sent 12-hundred officials belonging to the Falun Gong spiritual movement to special schools to study Communist literature and recant their allegiance to the group. That is disturbing behavior from a Chinese leadership that proclaims its commitment to economic reform and modernization and that signed the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights . Beijing's repression may only deepen public disenchantment with the authorities. TEXT: In Europe, the murder of 14 Serb farmers in the war-torn province of Kosovo continue to evoke outrage from the U-S Press. The Pacific island evening daily, "The Honolulu Star-Bulletin," says "NATO must protect [the] Kosovo Serb minority, adding that the killing: VOICE: . has underlined in blood the fact that the NATO victory has not brought true peace to Kosovo. It would be dreadfully naive to believe this conflict ended with the Yugoslav military pullout. TEXT: Ohio's "Akron Beacon Journal' adds: VOICE: The ambush of 14 farmers at work is a brazen crime, a challenge to the authority of the peacekeeping forces, carried out in utter defiance of both NATO and the United Nations. . The horror at Gracko, the worst single attack on Serbs since the war ended, can only reinforce their contention that there can be no safety for them under the international arrangements. TEXT: As regards the collapse of the Good Friday peace plan negotiated by former U-S Senator George Mitchell in Northern Ireland a year ago, "The Chicago Tribune" writes: VOICE: Fifteen months ago, .[Mr.] Mitchell was reaping acclaim for his role in forging a peace agreement in Northern Ireland. Six weeks from now, `he'll try to save it from the scrap heap . when a review' of the shaky Good Friday Agreement . is scheduled. . That meeting . will serve as a bellwether for the future of the accord --,and the prospects of long-term peace in the embattled British province. TEXT: Domestically, Vice President Al Gore's troubled presidential campaign has hit another snag after it was revealed that more than 14-and-one-half billions of liters of water was released into the Connecticut River to make sure his canoe did not get grounded during a photographic shoot with the media on a short campaign stop. "The Daily Oklahoman" quotes an angry environmental official in its critical editorial. VOICE: They won't release the water for the fish when we ask them to, but somehow they find themselves able to release it for a politician,' John Kassel, director of neighboring Vermont's Department of Natural Resources, told the "Washington Times." TEXT: And in the West, where water is a precious commodity, "The Colorado Springs [Colorado] Gazette" added to the derision: VOICE: Political buffs [historians / observers] will recall the flak [criticism] Vice President Al Gore took on a Denver visit three years ago when the city's water chief ordered an additional 363-million liters of water released into the South Platte River so it looked more majestic as [Mr.] Gore mugged [posed] for cameras at the river's edge. It just happened again - - last week on a whistle stop [brief trip] in New Hampshire. Water was released Into the Connecticut River so [Mr.] Gore's canoe wouldn't get stuck. A smart-aleck might observe if our vice president can't part the waters, at least he can make them rise. . But can he do the same in the polls? TEXT: The announcement by the police that a man working as a laborer in California's Yosemite National Park has confessed to the murders of four women during the past several months, causes "The San Francisco Chronicle" to wonder: "Are There More Victims And is Yosemite Safe?" VOICE: The chilling statement by confessed killer Cary Stayner that he has murdered four women since February should be a warning to F-B- I agents that there may even be more victims. . F-B-I agents had interviewed [Mr.] Stayner about the three [earlier] murders, but released him for lack of evidence. For weeks agents have been reassuring the public that the suspects in the Sund-Pelosso [earlier murder] case had been arrested. Not smart. . the public is casting a gimlet eye at agents who allowed [Mr.] Stayner to remain free to kill again. TEXT: on that note, we conclude this sampling of
comment from the editorial pages of Wednesday's daily
papers.
[15] EDITORIAL: TURKEY FIGHTS TERRORISMDATE=7/29/1999TYPE=EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-08391 CONTENT= THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR
BROADCAST 07/29/99.
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:
The long arm of the Turkish law reached into
Europe this month, as special forces grabbed
Cevat Soysal and brought him back to Ankara to
face criminal charges.
The Turkish government claims Soysal is the
Kurdistan Workers' Party's number two leader
in Europe. The terrorist group, also known as
the P-K-K, denies it. The Kurdistan Workers'
Party has been fighting the Turkish state for
the past fifteen years.
Whatever his rank, the capture of Soysal,
following that of P-K-K leader Abdullah Ocalan
earlier this year and Semdin Sakik last year,
shows the Turkish authorities are determined
that law and order shall prevail in Turkey.
While Turkey's large Kurdish minority has
grievances, there is no excuse for the
campaign of terror the P-K-K has waged.
Ocalan himself, at his trial last month,
admitted to being directly responsible for the
deaths of hundreds of ordinary people. With
his death sentence on appeal, he has called on
his followers to lay down their arms and work
with the agencies of the Turkish state to
resolve the Kurdish question.
As a representative democracy with a parliament
and law courts, Turkey has institutions that
can consider cultural policies, notably
pertaining to language, that are of great
concern to its large Kurdish population. Bombs
and violence, however, will not serve those
who wish to affect such policies.
Anncr:
That was an editorial expressing the policies
of the United States 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.
28-Jul-1999 16:07 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 2007 UTC)
Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |