Voice of America, 96-08-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-S-EUROPEAN UNION (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[02] U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN AND LIBYA BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[03] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA VIOLENCE (L-ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[05] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: COURT TV FROM THE HAGUE (WASHINGTON)

[06] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[07] LIFE ON MARS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[01] U-S-EUROPEAN UNION (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS OFFERING TO WAIVE PROPOSED SANCTIONS IF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TAKE TOUGHER MEASURES OF THEIR OWN AGAINST LIBYA AND IRAN. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON AN APPARENT PEACE OFFERING.

TEXT: TWO EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVES HAVE DELIVERED A PROTEST TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE IRAN-LIBYA SANCTIONS LAW SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON ON MONDAY. THEY EXPRESSED THEIR GOVERNMENTS' VIEW THAT THE SANCTIONS ACT IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF COMBATTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT RESERVES ITS RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE LAW IN THE APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL FORA.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS SOFTENED THE COMBATIVE TONE IT ADOPTED EARLIER IN THE WEEK. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE LAW CONTAINS FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO WAIVE THE SANCTIONS IF THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TAKE TOUGHER MEASURES OF THEIR OWN AGAINST LIBYA AND IRAN.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE, FRANKLY, SOME OF THESE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS ADOPT TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST IRAN AND SHOULD THEY DO SO, I THINK THEY'LLBE MET HALFWAY BY THE UNITED STATES. THERE MIGHT BE AN ABILITY FOR US TO GIVE SANCTIONS RELIEF TO THE COMPANIES OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

BY CONTRAST, EARLIER THIS WEEK, MR. BURNS SAID THE EUROPEANS SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO ALONG WITH THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
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08-Aug-96 4:24 PM EDT (2024 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN AND LIBYA BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED INTO LAW LEGISLATION TO IMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON COMPANIES MAKING FUTURE LARGE-SCALE INVESTMENTS IN IRAN AND LIBYA. THE U-S REGARDS BOTH COUNTRIES AS SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISM. NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD REACTED TO THE NEW U-S LAW, AS WE HEAR NOW FROM __________________ IN THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: MANY NEWSPAPERS ARE CRITICAL OF AMERICA'S RECENT ACTION. FOR EXAMPLE, GERMANY'S AUGSBURGER ALLGEMEINE SAYS THAT "SO FAR, NOT A SINGLE REGIME HAS BEEN OUSTED WITH PUNITIVE MEASURES -- (INCLUDING) THE UNSUCCESSFUL U-S STRUGGLE AGAINST CUBA. THIS IS WHY," CONTINUES THE PAPER, "THE EUROPEAN UNION IS WELL-ADVISED TO PUT UP THE FIERCEST POSSIBLE RESISTANCE TO THIS VIOLATION OF THE WORLD TRADE ORDER."

ANOTHER GERMAN NEWSPAPER, ALLEMEINE ZEITUNG, HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: "WHEN WILL THE AMERICANS LEARN TO RESPECT THE JUSTIFIED INTERESTS OF THE EUROPEANS, TOO, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO...NOT CORRESPOND WITH U-S INTERESTS? PARTNERSHIP A LA WASHINGTON IS INCREASINGLY PRESENTED IN IMPERIOUS TONES: EVERYBODY LISTENS TO MY COMMAND, AND THOSE WHO DO NOT LIKE IT WILL BE PUNISHED. THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN HIT BY TERRORISM, HAS BECOME UNCERTAIN, AND ITS FORMERLY IMPERTURBABLE SELF-CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN SHAKEN. BUT THIS UNCERTAINTY SHOULD NOT LEAD TO OVERREACTION, TO TUTELAGE AND ATTACKS ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OTHER STATES."

TEXT: BRITAIN'S FINANCIAL TIMES SAYS THE LEGISLATION, COMING AFTER THE HELMS-BURTON ACT THAT PENALIZES SOME FOREIGN BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE IN CUBA, HAS EXACERBATED LONGSTANDING FEARS ABOUT THE USE OF AMERICAN LAW "TO REGULATE OTHER COUNTRIES' BEHAVIOR".

VOICE: "EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS ARE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND TO PREPARE ROBUST RETALIATION TO PROTECT THEIR COMPANIES' LEGAL INTERESTS. WHETHER THEY ARE ALSO RIGHT TO PLAY THE ISSUE DOWN, IN THE HOPE THAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WILL USE HIS DISCRETION TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW LAWS LENIENTLY, IS MORE QUESTIONABLE... AT THE CORE OF THE EUROPEAN CASE IS THE FACT THAT U-S ASSERTIONS ABOUT IRAN'S ROLE IN TERRORISM REMAIN UNPROVEN. WHILE THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT IRAN, LIBYA AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SETTLED DOMESTIC SCORES THROUGH VIOLENCE IN WESTERN CAPITALS, WASHINGTON HAS YET TO DEMONSTRATE THAT EITHER TEHRAN OR TRIPOLI IS AT PRESENT ENGAGED IN A CAMPAIGN OF STATE TERROR AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES."

TEXT: CHINA'S BEIJING DAILY NOTES THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON APPROVED THE SANCTIONS MEASURE DESPITE REPEATED OPPOSITION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION.

VOICE: "THE GOVERNMENTS OF FRANCE, BRITAIN, GERMANY, SPAIN AND ITALY REACTED STRONGLY. THEY NOT ONLY CRITICIZED THE BILL, BUT HAVE DECIDED TO WORK OUT RETALIATORY MEASURES. THIS IS ANOTHER TRIAL OF STRENGTH ON THE ISSUE OF TRADE BETWEEN THE E-U AND THE UNITED STATES. THIS REFLECTS THE PROFOUND DIFFERENCES AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES ON THE ISSUE OF TRADE AND ANTI-TERRORISM. IN FACT, THE IRAN-LIBYA SANCTIONS BILL IS INTENDED TO CONFER EXTRATERRITORIALITY ON THE UNITED STATES, GIVING IT THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN OTHER COUNTRIES' AFFAIRS. IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THE OTHERS WILL RESIST."

TEXT: INDONESIA' MERDEKA IS OF THE OPINION THAT "PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS FORCED TO SIGN THE SANCTIONS ACT..."

VOICE: "WE POSE A QUESTION THAT IS DISTURBING TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL OBSERVERS: HAS THE UNITED STATES CEASED PLAYING ITS ROLE OF THE SUPERPOWER? THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS AMBITIOUSLY ENCOURAGED THE WHOLE WORLD TO FOLLOW ITS CULTURE AND VALUES, IS NOW FIGHTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ONLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THE WHITE HOUSE POLICY."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, JAPAN'S NIHON KEIZAL TELLS READERS THAT "THE UNITED STATES CALLS IRAN AND LIBYA THE MOST DANGEROUS SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISM IN THE WORLD..."

VOICE: "HOWEVER, JAPAN AND E-U COUNTRIES DO NOT NECESSARILY SHARE THE SAME VIEW AS THE UNITED STATES. JAPAN AND EUROPE, WHICH ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON IRAN'S NATURAL RESOURCES, ARE TRYING TO PERSUADE TEHRAN -- THROUGH DIALOGUE AND OTHER EXCHANGES -- TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. IT WILL NOT BE EASY TO CLOSE THE (POLICY) GAP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN AND EUROPE. WE HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL IMPLEMENT THE SANCTIONS IN A MORE PRUDENT MANNER, KEEPING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING COOPERATIVE TIES WITH ITS ALLIES AND AVOIDING UNNECESSARY TRADE FRICTION."

TEXT: SEOUL SHINMUN OF SOUTH KOREA BELIEVES THAT -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S VIEW -- "THE UNITED STATES WAS RASH AND EXCESSIVELY SELF-RIGHTEOUS" IN PASSING THE SANCTIONS LAW.

VOICE: "THE LEGISLATION REALLY IS ABOUT FORCING A U-S DOMESTIC LAW UPON SOVEREIGN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, A PRECEDENT FOR WHICH IS NOT LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN INTERNATIONAL LAW... THE WORLD HAS RESPONDED WITH A PROTEST, WHICH WAS EXPECTED. WE ONLY HOPE THAT THIS IRRATIONAL MEASURE OF THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT CAST A PALL OVER THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT COMMENT FROM SOUTH KOREA, WE CONCLUDE THIS WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP ON THE NEW U-S LAW IMPOSING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON COMPANIES THAT MAKE LARGE-SCALE INVESTMENTS IN IRAN AND LIBYA.
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08-Aug-96 3:08 PM EDT (1908 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: MORE VIOLENCE IS REPORTED IN BOSNIA AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE STOPPED THE DIGGING AT MASS GRAVES AROUND THE TOWN OF SREBRENICA. NATO OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF TONS OF ILLEGALLY STORED SERB AMMUNITION -- WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE CONFISCATED AND DESTROYED. ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORS CRITICIZE BOSNIAN SERB CLAIMS OF SOVEREIGNTY. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN PATRICK SVENSSON SAYS A MUSLIM MAN WAS ARRESTED A WEEK AGO BY SERB POLICE IN BANJA LUKA FOR POSSESSION OF AN ILLEGAL WEAPON, BUT WHEN HIS WIFE WENT TO THE JAIL TO SEE HIM, POLICE SAID HE HAD DIED OF "AN UNKNOWN ACCIDENT."

THE DECEASED WAS BEATEN WITH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT, AND THE INJURIES HE SUSTAINED (WERE) NOT SELF INFLICTED, WHICH IS WHAT THE LOCAL POLICE AT FIRST STATED, BUT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS BY MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES AND BLEEDING.

THERE WAS ALSO VIOLENCE NEAR SARAJEVO ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. U-N POLICE OFFICIALS SAY A SERB POLICEMAN WAS HIT BY A GUNSHOT FIRED FROM THE MUSLIM PART OF DOBRINJA, A SUBURB DIVIDED BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND SERBS. // OPT // THE POLICEMAN IS REPORTED TO BE IN CRITICAL, BUT STABLE CONDITION. // END OPT //

IN ANOTHER SIGN OF INCREASED TENSIONS ACROSS BOSNIA, THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE AGAIN SAID THEY WILL ALLOW NO FURTHER DIGGING AROUND MASS GRAVES IN SREBRENICA UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ACCESS TO GRAVES OF SERB WAR DEAD IN MUSLIM AND CROAT AREAS. COLUM MURPHY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, SAYS HE HOPES THE DISPUTE CAN BE RESOLVED.

THE WHOLE PROCESS OF EXHUMATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GO FORWARD, EVEN OUTSIDE THE FRAMEWORK OF THE HAGUE, AND IF IT DOESN'T THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE NON-COMPLIANCE.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO, MAJOR BRETT BOUDREAU, RULED OUT ANY ATTEMPT BY NATO TROOPS TO FORCE THE SERBS TO ALLOW THE DIGGING.

WE'RE NOT ABOUT TO SEND IN THE CAVALRY AND PUNCH OUR WAY THROUGH TO ALLOW EXHUMATIONS TO OCCUR.

MAJOR BOUDREAU ALSO SAID HUNDREDS OF TONS OF BOSNIAN SERB AMMUNITION RECENTLY DISCOVERED BY NATO TROOPS WOULD PROBABLY BE DESTROYED. THE SERBS HAVE ASKED THAT THE NEWLY DISCOVERED SITE AND 18 OTHER PREVIOUSLY UNREGISTERED AMMUNITION STORAGE AND TRAINING SITES BE AUTHORIZED BY NATO. BUT MAJOR BOUDREAU SAID THERE WOULD BE NO TOLERANCE OF VIOLATIONS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT.

IF THOSE SITES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED, IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED, THE MATERIAL IN THEM WILL BE CONFISCATED AND DESTROYED.

THE GENERAL ATTITUDE OF SERB OBSTRUCTION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT IS CAUSING CONCERN IN THE RUN-UP TO SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. // OPT // SENIOR SERB OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TELLING THEIR PEOPLE THAT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT GUARANTEES THE BOSNIAN SERBS THEIR OWN STATE. JOANNA VAN VLIET, SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE ELECTION ORGANIZERS, SAYS THE SERBS MUST RESPECT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT OR FACE UNSPECIFIED PENALTIES.

THERE IS NO WAY THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INDEPENDENT STATE OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AFTER THE ELECTIONS, BUT IF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WANTS THE LEGITIMACY THAT IT CAN GET FROM THE DAYTON AGREEMENT -- WHICH IS AS A SEPARATE ENTITY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, -- THEN IT HAS TO ABIDE BY THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK.

WITH NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS LESS THAN SIX WEEKS AWAY, THERE IS GROWING INTRANSIGENCE BY LEADERS ON ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
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08-Aug-96 11:24 AM EDT (1524 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA VIOLENCE (L-ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SAY THEY ARE DISTURBED BY GROWING INTER-ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN THE RUN-UP TO NATION-WIDE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER. IN THE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS, A SERB POLICEMAN HAS BEEN SHOT FROM A MUSLIM AREA AND A MUSLIM MAN DIED OF INJURIES WHILE IN THE CUSTODY OF SERB POLICE. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: ETHNIC TENSIONS BETWEEN MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS ARE GROWING ACROSS BOSNIA. A NUMBER OF ARSON ATTACKS ON CHURCHS AND MOSQUES HAVE OCCURRED AND SEVERAL BRIDGES WHICH CROSS ETHNIC LINES HAVE BEEN BLOWN UP. POLICE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM ALL SIDES HAVE ALSO FORCED ETHNIC MINORITIES FROM THEIR HOMES, OR HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM RETURNING.

IN THE LATEST INCIDENTS, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A BOSNIAN SERB POLICEMAN WAS SHOT NEAR SARAJEVO. THE SHOOTING OCCURRED IN DOBRINJA, A DIVIDED SUBURB OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE SERB POLICEMAN, WHO IS IN CRITICAL, BUT STABLE CONDITION, WAS STRUCK BY GUNFIRE FROM THE MUSLIM SIDE OF THE TENSE INTER-ETHNIC BOUNDARY.

THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO SAYS A MUSLIM MAN WAS KILLED LAST WEEK WHILE IN THE CUSTODY OF BOSNIAN SERB POLICE IN BANJA LUKA, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. THE MAN WAS ALLEGEDLY ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF AN ILLEGAL WEAPON, AND HIS WIFE WAS TOLD HE WOULD BE RELEASED THE NEXT DAY. WHEN SHE WENT TO THE JAIL, SERB POLICE SAID HE HAD DIED OF "AN UNKNOWN ACCIDENT." PATRICK SVENSSON, THE U-N SPOKESMAN, SAYS A SUBSEQUENT AUTOPSY DISCLOSED THE TRUTH.

THE DECEASED WAS BEATEN WITH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT, AND THE INJURIES HE SUSTAINED WAS NOT SELF INFLICTED, WHICH IS WHAT THE LOCAL POLICE AT FIRST STATED, BUT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS BY MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES AND BLEEDING.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THAT THE ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 14TH COULD SPARK MAJOR NEW VIOLENCE WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES TRY TO CROSS ETHNIC LINES TO VOTE IN THEIR FORMER TOWNS AND VILLAGES. THE OFFICIALS ARE WORKING HARD TO CALM THE RISING TENSIONS, BUT THEY ARE RECEIVING LITTLE HELP FROM NATIONAL LEADERS. RECONCILIATION AND TOLERANCE ARE NOT VOTE-WINNING SLOGANS IN THIS DEVASTATED COUNTRY, WHERE MEMORIES OF THE WAR ARE STILL FRESH. (SIGNED)
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08-Aug-96 1:52 PM EDT (1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: COURT TV FROM THE HAGUE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAY, THE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING AND AND PUTTING SUSPECTED CRIMINALS ON TRIAL AT THE HAGUE IN THE NETHERLANDS. KATE PORTEUS TELLS US ABOUT A SPECIAL NEWS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SENDING THE SOUNDS AND IMAGES OF THESE HISTORIC COURT PROCEEDINGS BACK TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND THE PEOPLE THE TRIALS MOST EFFECT.

TEXT: THE BOSNIAN SERB, DUSAN TADIC, STANDS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING RAPE, TORTURE AND MURDER DURING THE FOUR-AND-A-HALF-YEAR WAR IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. WHEN TADIC'S TRIAL BEGAN, THE NEWS ORGANIZATION INTERNEWS BEGAN BROADCASTING BACK TO THE BOSNIAN AND CROATIAN PEOPLE. CUT ONE: INTERNEWS SOUND (FULL FOR 3 SECONDS AND UNDER)

TEXT: INTERNEWS' IS THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCING THE PROCEEDING IN THE HAGUE FOR INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION. BACK IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THEIR PROGRAMS ARE PICKED UP AND RE-BROADCAST BY RADIO-TELEVISION BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA IN SARAJEVO. CUT ONE: INTERNEWS (UP AND FULL FOR 10 SECONDS AND THEN FADE) "GOOD EVENING, THIS IS INTERNEWS EVENING HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S SESSIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN THE HAGUE. DUSAN TADIC REACTED EMOTIONALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AFTER A WEEK OF HEAVY TESTIMONY...."

TEXT: PAUL MITCHELL IS THE TELEVISION PRODUCER OVERSEEING THE DAILY BROADCASTS FROM THE HAGUE THAT ARE FED INTO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVNIA. HE SAYS, UNLIKE OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATION SUCH AS C-N-N OR THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS WIRE SERVICES, INTERNEWS' MISSION IS TO OFFER COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL TO THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE. CUT TWO: MITCHELL RUNS [23 SECONDS] "WE BEGIN AT TEN IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY BEGIN AND WE FINISH AT SIX IN THE EVENING WHEN THEY FINISH. WE INCLUDE EVERYTHING, EVEN THE LITTLE BORING DETAILS -- WHEN THE LAWYERS ARE ARGUING WITH THE JUDGES, WHEN THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSLATIONS. EVERYTHING IS THERE AND THE PEOPLE CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE CASE, HOW IT WORKS."

TEXT: THE BROADCASTS ARE FUNDED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT AND THE NON-GOVERRNMENTAL SOROS FOUNDATION. PAUL MITCHELL BELIEVES THAT THE INTERNEWS BROADCASTS OFFER BOSNIAN VIEWERS MORE THAN JUST THE FACTS OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS. FOR MANY, HE HOPES, IT IS A PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS. CUT TWO: MITCHELL RUNS [16 SECONDS] "IT ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIMES TO KNOW THAT THE WORLD TAKES THEM SERIOUSLY AND THAT THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF IN WORLD, WHICH IS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, HAS SET UP THIS COURT WHICH IS VERY FORMAL AND IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE PROCESSES AND SO FORTH."

TEXT: THIS IS NOT MR. MITCHELL'S FIRST JOURNALISTIC PROJECT ON THE BALKANS. HE PRODUCED THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SIX-HOUR DOCUMENTARY, "THE DEATH OF YUGOSLAVIA" FOR THE B-B-C AND THE AMERICAN DISCOVERY CHANNEL. FOR MR. MITCHELL PERSONALLY, HE SAYS PRODUCING THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TRIALS OFFERS HIM A SATISFACTION THAT OTHER JOURNALISTIC ASSIGNMENTS CAN NOT. CUT FOUR: MITCHELL RUNS [27 SECONDS] "TELEVISION JOURNALISTS, JOURNALISTS IN GENERAL, WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO FLY INTO COUNTRIES WHERE TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND IF WE DO A GOOD JOB MAYBE WE WIN AN AWARD OR TWO, OR A WE GET A NICE COMPLIMENT IN A CRITICISM; SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IT IS VERY NICE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO, SOMETHING ACTUALLY POSITIVE FOR THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE REPORTED OUT OF. THAT OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T ARISE VERY OFTEN BUT WHEN I WAS OFFERED THIS, I JUMPED AT IT."

TEXT: ALTHOUGH NO FORMAL POLLING HAS BEEN DONE, PAUL MITCHELL SAYS FIRST INDICATIONS ARE THAT INTERNEWS' BROADCASTS ARE WELL WATCHED IN BOSNIA-HEREZEGOVINA. CUT THREE: MITCHELL RUNS [18 SECONDS] "ACTUALLY, HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN BOSNIA CERTAINLY ARE WATCHING IT, MOSTLY THROUGH TELEVISION, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR BROADCASTS ARE BEING SEEN AND IN FACT IS THE WAY THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT IT. WHETHER IN THE END IT DOES HEAL THE WOUNDS -- I HATE TO USE THE CLICHE -- BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL."

TEXT: INTERNEWS WILL CONTINUE BROADCASTING THE TADIC TRIAL AND ANY FUTURE TRIALS IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
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08-Aug-96 10:31 AM EDT (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS IS A POPULAR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THURSDAY'S U-S EDITORIALS. THERE IS ALSO COMMENTARY ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, AND OPINIONS ON LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE RECENTLY HELD CENTENNIAL OLYMPICS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. ______________ HAS A SAMPLING OF THOSE COMMENTS IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SCIENTISTS AT THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) SAID WEDNESDAY THAT "RESEARCH INTO A METEORITE THAT WAS BLASTED OFF MARS ... AND DISCOVERED ON ANTARCTICA ESTABLISHED THAT IT CONTAINS ORGANIC CHEMICALS AND FOSSILIZED WORM-LIKE STRUCTURES." DAVID MCKAY, THE SPACE AGENCY'S TEAM LEADER ON THE PROJECT, SAID THAT "THE SIMPLEST EXPLANATION IS THAT THESE ARE PRODUCTS OF MICRO-ORGANISMS ON MARS." HE ADDED THAT THE BACTERIA APPEARS TO HAVE EXISTED MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF BILLION YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, THE BOSTON GLOBE JOINS OTHERS CHOOSING TO RESERVE JUDGMENT IN STATING THAT "THE RECENT REPORT IS FAR FROM DEFINITIVE."

VOICE: "WHAT IS CLEAR IS THE VITAL ROLE WASHINGTON HAS PLAYED IN ADVANCING THE RESEARCH. THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FUNDS THE ANNUAL ANTARCTIC METEORITE HUNT. A NEW GENERATION OF NASA MARS PROBES IS SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH THIS FALL; THE HINT OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE MAY GIVE THE ENTIRE AGENCY A BOOST. WHEN WE THINK OF LIFE AMONG THE STARS, SOME TINY BACTERIA ON A ROCK IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT MOST OF US HAVE IN MIND. BUT FROM BACTERIA, ENZYMES AND A MARVELOUS SPECK OF CHANCE MAY ONE DAY COME THAT CELESTIAL NEIGHBOR WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. MAYBE NOT ON MARS. MAYBE NOT EVER. PERHAPS WE ARE THE ONLY TENANTS IN THIS PECULIAR INTERSELLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL WE CAN DO IS KEEP KNOCKING ON DOORS AND ASKING. 'IS ANYBODY HOME?'"

TEXT: JERRY PURNELLE AND ALEX POURNELLE ARE SCIENTISTS AND WRITERS. IN A COLUMN APPEARING IN TODAY'S EDITION OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES -- THEY SAY THAT FOR ABOUT FOUR DOLLARS PER EVERY AMERICAN, THE UNITED STATES COULD SEND A MANNED EXPEDITION TO MARS. AND, THEY ASK: "CAN WE AFFORD NOT TO?"

VOICE: "MANKIND HAS ALWAYS EXPLORED WHETHER TO FIND A NEW CAVE OR THE NEW WORLD. WE HAVE A DEEP-SEATED NEED TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN, AND LITERALLY NOTHING CAN BE MORE UNKNOWN THAN LIFE THAT DIDN'T SHARE OUR PLANET. THE BURNING HUMAN QUESTION IS NO LONGER, 'ARE WE ALONE'? BUT RATHER 'WHAT FORM DO OUR FELLOW CREATURES TAKE'?... SINCE THIS PATH ALSO LEADS TO THE DREAMS AND HOPES OF BREAKING OUR EARTHBOUND CHAINS, TO A NEARLY LIMITLESS FUTURE AMONG THE PLANETS, IT'S A BARGAIN AT ANY PRICE. IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF THAT HOPE WERE TO SMOTHER UNDER THE MISTAKEN IDEA THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD THE FUTURE."

TEXT: IN AN EDITORIAL HEADLINED "THE SETTLEMENTS ISSUE," THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR TELLS READERS THAT "IT IS STILL FAR FROM CLEAR HOW THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS WILL FARE IN THE NEW CLIMATE CREATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BANJAMIN NETANYAHU."

VOICE: "ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, MR. NETANYAHU HAS MET WITH THE LEADER OF JORDAN AND EGYPT, AND HE HASN'T RULED OUT RESUMPTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH YASSER ARAFAT THAT WAS A HALLMARK OF HIS PREDECESSOR'S PEACEMAKING. BUT HE HAS MADE SUCH A RESUMPTION FAR MORE DIFFICULT BY LIFTING THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD FREEZE ON NEW BUILDING IN THE JEWISH SETTLEMENTS THAT DOT THE WEST BANK."

TEXT: BUT, THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS SAYS THAT YASSER ARAFAT'S CALL TO PALESTINIANS TO USE "ALL MEANS" TO RESIST ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS, MAY SUGGEST -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS -- "A RETURN TO VIOLENCE."

VOICE: "ARAFAT CLEARLY IS FRUSTRATED THAT NEW ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS TAKING A SLOWER APPROACH TO PEACE. BUT BY USING NETANYAHU'S POLICY ON SETTLEMENTS -- WHICH SIMPLY ALLOWS FOR NATURAL GROWTH -- TO JUSTIFY VIOLENCE, ARAFAT IS PULLING A BAIT-AND-SWITCH GAME. FACED WITH PROBLEMS AT HOME, HE'S FINDING A SCAPEGOAT. IN FACT, ARAFAT'S FRUSTRATION IS MATCHED BY UNHAPPINESS THROUGHOUT THE PALESTINIAN POPULATION; MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES SIMPLY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPROVED BY PEACE. [OPT] THE ISRAELI CLOSURE OF GAZA AND THE WEST BANK RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS HAS CAUSED A MAJOR ECONOMIC DISLOCATION. AND ARAFAT'S THUGGISH SECURITY FORCES AND GENERALLY UNDEMOCRATIC RULE HAVE CAUSED RIOTS AND DEATH. THUS, WITH HIS PEOPLE NEEDING JOBS AND AN HONEST, EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, ARAFAT GIVES THEM A CALL TO ARMS." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HOLDS ITS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CONVENTION NEXT WEEK IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. THE PLATFORM COMMITTEE IS ALREADY MEETING. WILLIAM SAFIRE, A NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST, WRITES THAT "BEFORE BOB DOLE CAN TAKE ON BILL CLINTON HE MUST FIRST TAKE CONTROL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY..."

VOICE: "HIS ATTEMPT TO REACH A TEMPERATE COMPROMISE ON ABORTION WITH THE BUCHANANITES HE SO DECISIVELY DEFEATED IN THE PRIMARIES HAS FAILED. THE ONE-ISSUE EXTREMISTS WON'T TAKE 'YES, BUT' FOR AN ANSWER; THEY DEMAND A CONVENTION VICTORY THAT, AS IN 1992, WOULD INSURE ANOTHER ELECTION DEFEAT. IF YOU CANNOT TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CONVENTION, YOU WILL HAVE A HARD TIME TAKING CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY. WHEN AN INTOLERANT FACTION TRIES TO DICTATE THE PARTY PLATFORM, IT IS UP TO THE NOMINEE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PARTY'S MORE INCLUSIVE RANK AND FILE IS RESPECTED AND ITS VIEW OFFICIALLY RECORDED. THEN DOLE MUST RINGINGLY DISSOCIATE HIMSELF FROM CULTURAL WARFARE IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. [OPT] BY CALLING THE BUCHANAN BLUFF, DOLE WOULD NOT ONLY SAVE THE PARTY'S SOUL BUT GAIN IT ELECTORAL STRENGTH: FOR EVERY EXTREMIST WHO WALKS, TEN MODERATES WILL COME HOME." [END OPT]

TEXT: SOME INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OFFICIALS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL THE EXCESSIVE COMMERCIALISM OF THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED SUMMER GAMES IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE WASHINGTON TIMES EDITORIALIZES THAT "THE I-O-C ... IS NOT EXACTLY A DISINTERESTED PARTY..."

VOICE: "FOR ALL THE PURPORTED CONCERN ABOUT THE IMAGE OF THE GAMES, GAMES OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE COMMERCIAL CLUTTER HITS THEM RIGHT IN THE WALLET; IT MAY UNDERMINE THE EXCLUSIVITY OF THE OFFICIAL SPONSORSHIPS, FOR WHICH COMPANIES PAY UPWARDS OF 40 MILLION DOLLARS. THE COMPETITION FROM UNOFFICIAL SPONSORS SUPPOSEDLY MAKES THE OFFICIAL SORT LESS VALUABLE AND MEANS LESS MONEY FOR I-O-C OFFICIALS... ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IN THE WAKE OF BOMBINGS AND SHOOTINGS THAT LEFT A GEORGIA RESIDENT AND AN OFF-DUTY SECURITY GUARD DEAD, THE I-O-C WOULD HAVE HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN COMMERCIALISM."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT:

VOICE: "IT WAS CHURLISH OF JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH, THE ANCIENT AND PERMANENT SPANISH PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, TO CARP ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE COMMERCIALISM OF ATLANTA IN HIS POST-MORTEM, WHEN LITTLE BEYOND SELF-CONGRATULATION IS EXPECTED. ATLANTA WAS CHOSEN OVER SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE ATHENS FOR THESE GAMES BECAUSE OF ITS PROMISED COMMERCIALISM."

TEXT: AND, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS THAT THE GAMES MADE CLEAR THAT, IN THE UNITED STATES, "WOMEN ATHLETES ARE NO LONGER AN ODDITY."

VOICE: "STRENGTH, SPEED, SKILL, AMBITION, DARING, GUTS -- THESE ARE WORDS NO LONGER CONFINED TO MALE ATHLETES. A GENERATION AGO, MANY WOMEN WERE WRONGLY STUCK ON THE SIDELINES. NOW, THEY, LIKE THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, ARE GENERATING EXCITEMENT ON FIELD AND COURT -- AND LEARNING VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS ABOUT WORKING AS A TEAM, ABOUT WINNING, LOSING, SETTING GOALS AND ACHIEVING THEM."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/DN/PCH
08-Aug-96 9:53 AM EDT (1353 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] LIFE ON MARS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON WEDNESDAY, A TEAM OF PLANETARY SCIENTISTS RELEASED DETAILS ABOUT A SMALL METEORITE, OR ROCK, FROM MARS THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN ANTARCTICA, WHERE IT IMPACTED SOME 13-THOUSAND YEARS AGO. THE RESEARCHERS PRESENTED THEIR REPORT AT THE NASA SPACE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON. WHILE SAYING THAT THE FINDINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED BY FURTHER STUDY, RICHARD ZARE, OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY, SAID THAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES THINK THAT THE ROCK CONTAINS "MICRO-FOSSILS FROM MARS." PRESIDENT CLINTON NOTED THAT "IF THIS DISCOVERY IS CONFIRMED, IT WILL SURELY BE ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING INSIGHTS INTO OUR UNIVERSE THAT SCIENCE HAS EVER UNCOVERED. ITS COMPLICATIONS ARE AS FAR-REACHING AND AWE-INSPIRING AS CAN BE IMAGINED." MANY OF AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS OFFER EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE FINDING, AS WE HEAR NOW FROM ______________________, WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES, IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THURSDAY, SAYS THAT "A DISCOVERY OF LIFE ON MARS, EVEN PRIMITIVE LIFE IN THE VERY DISTANT PAST, WOULD HAVE PROFOUND INTELLECTUAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS."

VOICE: "IT WOULD MARK ANOTHER STEP IN THE CENTURIES-OLD PROCESS OF MOVING HUMANITY FROM THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. IT WOULD ALSO RAISE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER LIFE ORIGINATED INDEPENDENTLY ON EARTH AND MARS OR STARTED FIRST ON ONE PLANET AND THEN MIGRATED TO THE OTHER, OR PERHAPS MIGRATED FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE ENTIRELY. IF LIFE DID FORM INDEPENDENTLY ON TWO SEPARATE PLANETS IN OUR OWN SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM, THAT WOULD RAISE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT LIFE MIGHT BE FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE AS WELL. CREATIONISTS WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE ON EARTH MIGHT FACE EVEN GREATER DIFFICULTIES IN COPING WITH LIFE EVOLVING ELSEWHERE."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS THAT EVIDENCE THAT SINGLE-CELL LIFE FORMS EXISTED 3.6 BILLION YEARS AGO ON MARS IS A "THRILLING" DEVELOPMENT.

VOICE: ...SIMPLY PUT, LIFE IS LIFE. AND NEVER BEFORE HAS SCIENCE DETECTED SUCH A TRACE OUT THERE OF THE BIOGENIC WONDER THAT FLUTTERS, FLOWERS AND FLOWS SO ABUNDANTLY AROUND DOWN HERE. THE ODDS ON THE SEARCH FOR LIFE ELSEWHERE IN THE VAST, UNFOLDING UNIVERSE SUDDENLY HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLED. THE OPTIMISTS ARE BEAMING. YES, LEARNED SKEPTICS REMAIN, AND EVEN THE...AUTHORS AREN'T TOUTING THEIR FOSSILIZED MICROBE AS A SURE THING. BUT FOR THEM TO ASSERT THAT A ONCE-LIVING ORGANISM IS THE LIKELIEST EXPLANATION FOR DATA COLLECTED FROM A MARTIAN ROCK -- THAT'S A WATERSHED. THIS DISCOVERY REVIVES THE SPACE PROGRAM'S BADLY ERODED SENSE OF QUEST. MARS, LONG AN ICON OF OUR COSMIC WANDERLUST AND SCI-FI IMAGINATIONS, BECKONS AGAIN WITH URGENCY."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REMINDS READERS THAT TWO UNMANNED MISSIONS TO MARS ARE ALREADY BEING PREPARED.

VOICE: "THE MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR, SCHEDULED TO BE LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER, WILL MAKE A COMPLETE MAP OF THE PLANET. THE MARS PATHFINDER, TO BLAST OFF IN DECEMBER, WILL ARRIVE ON THE SURFACE OF THE RED PLANET ON INDEPENDENCE DAY OF 1997, ONE YEAR AFTER THOSE CREEPY ALIENS ATTACKED EARTH IN A RECENT BLOCKBUSTER FILM... UNDOUBTEDLY, SCIENTISTS ARE GOING TO USE THE INCONCLUSIVE...STUDY TO LOBBY FOR MORE AMBITIOUS PROJECTS. SOME OF THE PROPOSED MISSIONS SEEM ONLY MARGINALLY USEFUL AND, WELL, ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE. BRITISH BIOLOGIST JAMES LOVELOCK, FOR INSTANCE, WANTS TO TURN MARS INTO A HABITABLE PLANET... OTHER PROPOSED MISSIONS SEEM MORE PROMISING. SOME RESEARCHERS, FOR INSTANCE, THINK THAT METEOR FRAGMENTS LIKE THE ONE FOUND IN ANTARCTICA ACT LIKE SEEDS, SPRINKLING D-N-A, A BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE, AROUND THE SOLAR SYSTEM. BY RETRIEVING D-N-A SAMPLES FROM MARS, THEY ARGUE, WE MAY ONE DAY BE ABLE TO TRACE THE EVOLUTION OF THIS MASTER MOLECULE."

TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S USA TODAY PONDERS THE QUESTION: "IF MARS IS JUST ACROSS THE ALLEY, IMAGINE WHAT'S DOWN THE STREET."

VOICE: "INTERSPACE COMPANIONSHIP IS ONE OF HUMANITY'S MOST FUNDAMENTAL NOTIONS, AND WE ROUTINELY SEEK IT OUT. THE SETI PROGRAM, UNTIL RECENTLY GOVERNMENT FUNDED, CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR INTERSELLAR RADIO TRANSMISSIONS. PIONEER AND VOYAGER INTERPLANETARY PROBES INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT OURSELVES FOR OTHERS TO FIND. WE USED TO ISOLATE ASTRONAUTS FOR FEAR OF SPACE BUGS. SIMILARLY, WE CONTINUE TO SEARCH SPACE FOR THE INGREDIENTS -- ELEMENTS AND ACIDS AND COMPOUNDS OF ALL SORTS -- THAT COMPRISED THE PRIMORDIAL SOUP. AND WE CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR AND FIND OTHER PLANETS AROUND OTHER STARS. WHY? TO LEARN OF OUR OWN GENESIS. AND TO LEARN IF LIFE IS UBIQUITOUS OR UNIQUE."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE BOSTON GLOBE OFFERS THIS THOUGHT:

VOICE: "WHEN WE THINK OF LIFE AMONG THE STARS, SOME TINY BACTERIA ON A ROCK IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT MOST OF US HAVE IN MIND. BUT FROM BACTERIA, ENZYMES AND A MARVELOUS SPECK OF CHANCE MAY ONE DAY COME THAT CELESTIAL NEIGHBOR WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. MAYBE NOT ON MARS. MAYBE NOT EVER. PERHAPS WE ARE THE ONLY TENANTS IN THIS PECULIAR INTERSTELLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL WE CAN DO IS KEEP KNOCKING ON DOORS AND ASKING, 'IS ANYBODY HOME'?"

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS ON A STUDY SUGGESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ELSEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
NEB/DN/PCH
08-Aug-96 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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