Voice of America, 01-08-17

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] MACEDONIA (L-O) BY DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN (LUXEMBOURG)

[02] TURKEY / QUAKE (L-O) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] MACEDONIA (L-O) BY DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN (LUXEMBOURG)

INTRO: NATO's ruling council has put off action until at least next week on full deployment of a force to collect arms from ethnic Albanian gunmen in Macedonia. Douglas Bakshian reports from Luxembourg.

TEXT: Meeting in special session, the NATO envoys reviewed the situation and decided it is too soon to make a final decision on deployment. NATO wants a stable cease-fire to be in place before committing the full 35-hundred member force. Sporadic clashes between ethnic Albanian rebels and Macedonia government forces have been reported. An advance unit of about 400 soldiers is already arriving in the Macedonia. It will survey the situation and prepare a headquarters and communications facilities that would ultimately be used by the main force. In addition, NATO commander General Joseph Ralston travels to Macedonia Monday to make his own review of the situation. NATO spokesman Yves Brodeur says the alliance is sending a clear message.

[02] TURKEY / QUAKE (L-O) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: Thousands in Turkey held vigils and gathered around the graves of their loved ones today (Friday). Amberin Zaman reports from Ankara that they marked the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake, which ripped through northwest Turkey killing over 20-thousand people.

TEXT: It has been two years since the tremor - measuring 7-point-4 on the Richter scale - tore through seven western Turkish provinces. But thousands of victims still remain in temporary shelter despite government pledges to provide permanent homes. At least 12-thousand homes have been erected for homeless survivors. Yet two thirds of the new owners, citing numerous deficiencies, have opted to remain in prefabricated shelters. Anger was palpable among many victims Friday as they gathered in Adapazari province, which was all but destroyed during the earthquake. Many shouted anti-government slogans. Others simply wept around the graves of their loved ones. Scores of victims are still missing and their relatives remain hopeful that they are still alive. What is more likely, acknowledge Turkish officials, is that the missing are among hundreds of victims buried without being identified in mass graves. The head of an Istanbul-based seismological institute says the majority of Turks remains unprepared for another major earthquake, which some experts warn may strike northwest Turkey yet again. The use of shoddy construction materials by disreputable contractors has largely been blamed for the high death toll in the August 17th earthquake. Turkey's parliament has since passed new legislation stiffening penalties for contractors who build unsafe homes. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/GE/RH

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