Voice of America, 96-10-15

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: SOROS TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[03] EAST GERMANY / SUCCESS BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

[04] EURO INTEGRATION (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

INTRO: NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN ARE APPEARING IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY.

IN ADDITION, THE U-S PRESS IS COMMENTING ON SUCH TOPICS AS: THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TRIP TO AFRICA; A NEW CRACKDOWN IN CHINA; THE FIGHTING BETWEEN RIVAL KURDISH FACTIONS; AND THE ARREST OF SOME WEST VIRGINIA MILITIA MEMBERS FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO BLOW UP AN F-B-I BUILDING THERE.

NOW, HERE IS _____________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S [10/15] WASHINGTON POST IS COMMENTING ON PRESS REPORTS THAT A WEALTHY INDONESIAN FAMILY HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY FUNNELING MONEY INTO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN.

VOICE: "AN ENORMOUSLY WEALTHY AND INFLUENTIAL INDONESIAN FAMILY AND ITS ASSOCIATES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE SURREPTITIOUSLY FUNNELED MORE THAN A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN. ..... THE INDONESIAN FAMILY TURNS OUT TO HAVE HAD A CONNECTION WITH THE PRESIDENT SINCE HIS ARKANSAS DAYS, AND THERE IS AT THIS POINT NO EVIDENCE THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BENT A PARTICULAR POLICY OR TAILORED A DECISION IN ITS BEHALF. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO INSISTS, OVER REPUBLICAN PROTESTS TO THE CONTRARY, THAT THE CONTRIBUTIONS BROKE NO LAW. BUT IF THAT IS SO, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE THE LAW CONTAINS AS MANY HOLES AS A SPONGE ...... THE MONEY TENDS TO COME .... FROM PEOPLE SEEKING TO BUY INFLUENCE. IF THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS THE BURDEN OF EXPLAINING WHAT WAS. THE BURDEN HAS NOT BEEN MET. "

TEXT: ADDS THE LOS ANGELES TIMES:

VOICE: "THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY REMAINS MURKY [UNCLEAR] AND WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE CASE POINTS ONCE AGAIN TO THE WEAKNESSES OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE NEED FOR MORE STRINGENT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. "

TEXT: AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, WHICH WROTE SEVERAL STORIES EXPOSING THE CONNECTIONS TO INDONESIA, HAS THESE COMMENTS:

VOICE: "WHOSE MONEY IS THIS, REALLY? IT'S SOMEHOW TYPICAL OF THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE QUESTION GOES UNRECOGNIZED."

TEXT: TURNING TO SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S TRIP TO AFRICA, TODAY'S [10/15] ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS IT HAS BOOSTED THE MORALE OF THE NATIONS HE VISITED, AND THE RECENT CLINTON PLAN FOR A NEW AFRICAN RAPID REACTION FORCE HAS MERIT.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING TO ASSIST IN THE CREATION OF AN AFRICAN CRISIS RESPONSE FORCE THAT COULD SWIFTLY DEAL WITH DISASTERS THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT. THE UNITED STATES, ALONG WITH EUROPEAN AND ASIAN ALLIES, WOULD SHOULDER THE ESTIMATED 40-MILLION START-UP COST OF TRAINING AND EQUIPPING A FORCE 10-THOUSAND STRONG. ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, AFRICANS WOULD POLICE THEIR CONTINENT THEMSELVES. ..... THIS UNDERTAKING ..... IS A ..... KIND OF LOW-COST INSURANCE POLICY TO FOSTER THE STABILITY ESSENTIAL TO PROGRESS IN AFRICA."

TEXT: ADDS THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD, ABOUT THE FORCE:

VOICE: "THE OUTSIDE WORLD CANNOT IMPOSE ITS SOLUTIONS ON AFRICA. ONLY AFRICA CAN SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS, WHEN THEY OCCUR, AND A STANDING ALL-AFRICAN FORCE CAN CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THAT CAN HAPPEN."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN IS MORE CRITICAL OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY TOWARD AFRICA AND CRITICIZES THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BY ASKING:

VOICE: "WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO DISCOVER AFRICA?"

TEXT: SPEAKING OF THE RECENT JAILING IN CHINA OF MORE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS, ESPECIALLY THE WELL-KNOWN LIU XIAOBO, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS REGARDING U-S POLICY:

VOICE: "STRONG WORDS, WHILE WELCOME, ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. SECRETARY OF STATE ... CHRISTOPHER IS SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA SOON. [OPT] HE SHOULD COMPOSE HIS DELEGATION IN SUCH A WAY AS TO SHOW THAT CONCERN FOR FREEDOM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF U-S POLICY TOWARD CHINA. ...... AND [END OPT] MR. CHRISTOPHER SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT A WARMING OF U-S-CHINA RELATIONS, ..... CANNOT AUTOMATICALLY TAKE PLACE WHILE CHINA REMAINS SO FLAGRANTLY IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS....."

TEXT: IN A RELATED EDITORIAL, NEWSDAY IS COMPLAINING THAT NEITHER PRESIDENT CLINTON NOR CHALLENGER BOB DOLE ARE DISCUSSING THEIR CHINA POLICY IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES OR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

VOICE: "LIKE A 362-KILO GORILLA IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM, CHINA IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE AS THIS NATION'S BIGGEST FOREIGN POLICY HEADACHE. YET THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, BOB DOLE, HAVE DONE. NARY A MENTION OF CHINA HAS SURFACED, EITHER IN DEBATES OR IN INTERVIEWS. ...... THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND POLITICAL OBSTACLES BEIJING WILL USE TO CONFRONT WASHINGTON'S LEADERSHIP ABROAD ARE ALREADY EVIDENT. HOW ABOUT IT, BILL CLINTON? BOB DOLE?"

TEXT: TURNING TO NORTHERN IRAQ, WHERE THE TWO MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS ARE ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING, TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN SAYS:

VOICE: "AMERICAN DIPLOMATS SHOULD BE TELLING THE LEADERS OF KURDISH IRAQ THAT IF THEY FIGHT EACH OTHER, THE UNITED STATES CANNOT PROTECT THEM FROM EXTERNAL ENEMIES, SADDAM HUSSEIN INCLUDED. ..... THE U-S .... CANNOT PROTECT THE KURDS FROM EACH OTHER. AND IT CANNOT PROTECT THEM FROM OUTSIDE ENEMIES IF THEY KEEP OPENING THE GATES TO THOSE ENEMIES."

TEXT: IN THIS HEMISPHERE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT A NEW WAVE OF REPRESSION IN COLOMBIA AGAINST A FREE PRESS. THE CAMPAIGN IS BEING WAGED BY PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER, WHO WAS RECENTLY ACCUSED OF TAKING DRUG MONEY FOR HIS CAMPAIGN. HE IS NOW ALLEGEDLY SEEKING REVENGE ON THE BROADCASTERS OF HIS COUNTRY.

VOICE: "IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CYNICAL CAMPAIGN OF POLITICAL REVENGE, [MR.] SAMPER'S ALLIES ARE PUSHING THREE BILLS THROUGH THE COLOMBIAN CONGRESS THAT WOULD SUSPEND EXISTING BROADCAST LICENSES FOR TV NEWS PROGRAMS. .... THE INTER AMERICAN ASSOCIATION HAS ALREADY URGED THE COLOMBIAN CONGRESS TO DEFEAT THESE BILLS. WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IAPA'S RESOLUTION AND CALL ON THE COLOMBIAN EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE TO HALT THIS ILL-DISGUISED ATTEMPT AT CENSORSHIP."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE ARREST OF SEVERAL MEMBERS OF A WEST VIRGINIA MILITIA GROUP, FOR ALLEGEDLY PLOTTING TO BLOW UP A NEW F-B-I FINGERPRINT LAB IN THEIR STATE, TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS:

VOICE: "SUCH PARANOID MEANDERINGS, RICH IN IGNORANCE, WOULD BE OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE IF THEY WERE NOT MATCHED BY THE CAPABILITY TO BE VASTLY DESTRUCTIVE. THE ARRESTED WEST VIRGINIA MILITIA MEMBERS HAD BEEN ABLE TO SECURE ITEMS RANGING FROM PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES TO A CONFIDENTIAL FIRE DEPARTMENT BLUEPRINT OF THE F-B-I STRUCTURE. THAT IS CAUSE FOR CONSIDERABLE CONCERN."

TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
15-Oct-96 10:31 AM EDT (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: SOROS TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE WORLD HAS BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE ETHNIC COMPLEXITY AND POTENTIAL FOR DEADLY CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS. LARGELY AS A RESULT OF THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, NEWLY FORMED NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SENT TRAINERS TO AND CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE AREA. THREE OF THE NETWORK OF 26 NATIONAL SOROS [SOR-OSH] FOUNDATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN FINANCIER AND PHILANTHROPIST GEORGE SOROS DRAW ON THEIR OWN AREA SPECIALISTS TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION,

TEXT: THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK CITY SERVES AS A LIAISON FOR THE 26 NATIONAL SOROS FOUNDATIONS IN EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. MICHAEL VACHON OF THE NEW YORK OFFICE SAYS THE FIRST COOPERATIVE TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION BEGAN LAST YEAR.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- VACHON (0:41) "THE SOROS YUGOSLAVIA FOUNDATION, THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE IN MACEDONIA, AND THE OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION FOR ALBANIA HELD A THREE-PART TRAINING SEMINAR TO DISCUSS THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS. THE FOCUS WAS ON PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS WITH THE THEORY AS WELL AS THE PRACTICE OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MEDIATION AND NEGOTIATION AS WELL AS THE TOOLS TO ENABLE THEM TO BEGIN LOCAL TRAININGS IN THESE AREAS. ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT THE NATIONAL [SOROS] FOUNDATIONS OFTEN TAKE IS TO TRAIN TRAINERS, TO TRAIN TEACHERS, SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE CAN THEN GO AND SHARE THE SKILLS THAT THEY MAY HAVE LEARNED WITH A MUCH BROADER SPECTRUM OF THE POPULATION."

TEXT: THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA [SERBIA], THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, AND ALBANIA ALL HAVE SIGNIFICANT ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS. (BEGIN OPT) IN KOSOVO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS RULED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE, 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS ETHNIC ALBANIAN. AND, IN VOJVODINA, WHICH IS ALSO RULED FROM BELGRADE, THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF HUNGARIANS, AS WELL AS CROATS AND ROMANIANS. WITHIN SERBIA ITSELF, THERE ARE ROMA [GENERALLY KNOWN AS EUROPEAN 'GYPSIES, CROATS, AND BOSNIAN MUSLIMS. MACEDONIA HAS A SIZEABLE ALBANIAN MINORITY POPULATION, AS WELL AS SMALLER TURKISH, ROMANI, VLACH, AND SERB COMMUNITIES. AND ALBANIA HAS SIGNIFICANT GREEK AND ROMANI MINORITY COMMUNITIES, PLUS SMALLER VLACH AND SERB GROUPS. (END OPT)

AGIM ISAKU [AH-GHIM EE-SAH-KOO], PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION FOR ALBANIA, SAYS THE FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN HIS COUNTRY.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- ISAKU (0:36) "WE ARE PLANNING TO DO THIS CONFLICT RESOLUTION NOT ONLY WITH NEIGHBORS, BUT [ALSO] IN EVERYDAY PROGRAMS. WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES, FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT NATIONS, ORIGINS. AND WE ARE DOING THIS WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS. (BEGIN OPT) WE WERE THE FIRST FOUNDATION -- TOGETHER WITH OUR [SOROS] FOUNDATION IN SERBIA -- DOING [TO CONDUCT] THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN ALBANIANS AND ALBANIAN INTELLECTUALS, SERB INTELLECTUALS, AND INTELLECTUALS FROM KOSOVO. AND WE PUBLISHED A BOOK WITH ALL OUR DISCUSSIONS AND STUDIES IN ALBANIA, IN KOSOVO, AND IN SERBIA. IT WAS [CALLED] 'CONFLICT OR DIALOGUE.'" (END OPT)

TEXT: IN MACEDONIA, SLAVICA INDZEVSKA [SHAH-VIT-ZAH IN-JEF-SKAH] IS IN CHARGE OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAM IN SKOPJE. SHE SAYS IT'S PART OF THE EAST-EAST PROJECT.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- INDZEVSKA (0:25) "THIS MEANS COLLABORATION AND LINKS BETWEEN THE EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THERE WERE SEVERAL INITIATIVES IN MACEDONIA LAST YEAR, AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE CENTER WORKING AT THE PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY IN SKOPJE. VIOLETA PETROVSKA-BESHKA APPROACHED US WITH AN ADVANCED PROJECT IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION. YUGOSLAVIA WAS INVOLVED, MACEDONIA, AND ALBANIA."

TEXT: VIOLETA PETROSKA-BESHKA OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY [COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES] AT SKOPJE UNIVERSITY IS A PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND DIRECTS THE UNIVERSITY'S CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROJECT. SHE WAS NOMINATED BY HER COUNTRY THIS YEAR FOR UNESCO'S PEACE EDUCATION AWARD.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- PETROSKA-BESKA (0:23) "OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATING PEOPLE IN THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION AREA IS TO TELL THEM THAT CONFLICTS ARE PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE, AND IT'S NOT THAT THE CONFLICTS ARE BAD, [IT'S] THAT THE APPROACH TO THE CONFLICTS MIGHT BE BAD. AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, WHICH CAN MAKE THE CONFLICT [SITUATION] BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE IT STARTED."

TEXT: PROFESSOR PETROSKA-BESHKA SAYS SHE TEACHES THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MEDIATION SKILLS SHE LEARNED AS A POST-GRADUATE STUDENT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY. HER STUDENTS ARE JOURNALISTS, LAWYERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND EDUCATORS. AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, SHE THINKS SHE HAS A SPECIAL INSIGHT INTO THE KINDS OF INTERETHNIC CONFLICT THAT PEOPLE IN THE BALKANS ARE STRUGGLING TO MANAGE. HER OWN SPECIALTY IS WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF MACEDONIAN AND ALBANIAN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHY, SHE SAYS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOPS SUCH AS THOSE SPONSORED BY THE SOROS FOUNDATIONS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, AND ALBANIA CAN BE A USEFUL MEANS OF BRINGING TOGETHER MAJORITY AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. VIOLETA PETROSKA-BESHKA OF SKOPJE UNIVERSITY BELIEVES IT'S IMPERATIVE THEY EXPLORE NEW WAYS OF RESOLVING THEIR ETHNIC CONFLICTS PEACEFULLY.
15-Oct-96 1:26 PM EDT (1726 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EAST GERMANY / SUCCESS BY KYLE KING (DRESDEN)

INTRO: UNEMPLOYMENT IN EASTERN GERMANY IS RUNNING AT MORE THAN 15 PERCENT AND MANY BUSINESS ARE JUST BARELY ABLE TO SURVIVE. THE IMAGE OF A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR STARTING UP A NEW COMPANY MAY SEEM SOMEWHAT OUT OF PLACE BUT V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF DRESDEN, THE END OF COMMUNISM HAS BROUGHT NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ONE YOUNG INVENTOR.

TEXT: FLORIAN WENDT, THE FOUNDER OF A YOUNG HIGH-TECH COMPANY IN EASTERN GERMANY, IS PROUD OF THE NEW LASER EQUIPMENT AND UNIQUE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS THAT HE DEVELOPED.

STANDING IN FRONT OF A MACHINE THAT PRODUCES THE COMPLICATED MOLDS FACTORIES USE TO MAKE CAR PARTS, MR. WENDT DEFIES THE IMAGE OF THE COMMUNIST TRAINED WORKER WHO DOES WHAT HE IS TOLD AND LITTLE MORE.

AFTER QUITTING HIS JOB AT A FOUNDRY IN LEIPZIG IN 1994, MR. WENDT BEGAN SEARCHING FOR A FINANCIAL BACKER WHO COULD HELP HIM START UP HIS OWN BUSINESS.

TWO YEARS LATER, MR. WENDT'S SMALL COMPANY HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS USED TO CREATE ENGINES AND OTHER METAL PARTS.

MR. WENDT SAYS THAT BY USING COMPUTER GENERATED DRAWINGS OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT, HIS MACHINE CREATES THE CASTINGS THAT FACTORIES AND STEEL MILLS USE TO FILL WITH MOLTEN STEEL OR ALUMINUM.

WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPLY THEM WITH THEIR CASTINGS REALLY QUICKLY AND THE CUSTOMER HAS THE ABILITY TO SPEED UP HIS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR SAY HIS ENGINE OR HIS MACHINERY AND HIS EQUIPMENT THAT CONTAINS CASTINGS.

FOR MR. WENDT, THE END OF COMMUNISM HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY AND THE CHANCE TO TURN HIS OWN IDEAS INTO REALITY, SOMETHING HE SAYS OTHER BUDDING YOUNG INVENTORS CAN DO IF THEY ARE COMMITTED.

THEY WILL FIND INVESTORS TO START UP A NEW BUSINESS IF THEY ARE CREATIVE AND HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS, THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE IN OUR CASE CONVINCED THE PEOPLE. THEY SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEW IDEA, WHICH IS CREATIVE AND NOT JUST A COPY OF ANY OTHER BUSINESS, SO THEY FOUND IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO HELP ME AND HELP US.

ASKED WHY THE IMAGE OF INFLEXIBLE AND LAZY WORKERS IN THE EAST CONTINUES TO PERSIST, MR. WENDT SAYS HE IS NOT SURE. PERHAPS, HE SAYS, PEOPLE IN THE WEST JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BELIEVING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS TRUE BEFORE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM. IN ANY CASE HE SAYS, MOST PEOPLE HE KNOWS ARE NOT LAZY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
15-Oct-96 12:08 PM EDT (1608 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO INTEGRATION (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN PRAGUE, EUROPEAN BANKERS, ACADEMICS AND BUSINESS LEADERS ATTENDING A CONFERENCE SAY THE EXPANSION OF THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION IS INEVITABLE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS AT THE CONFERENCE ON WHAT SORT OF NEW POLICIES THE E-U SHOULD FOLLOW.

TEXT: TOP OFFICIALS AT THE CONFERENCE FROM BOTH WESTERN AND EASTERN EUROPE AGREE THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL ADMIT ITS FIRST FORMER COMMUNIST MEMBERS SHORTLY AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. BUT THERE WERE SHARP DIFFERENCES ABOUT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES THE E-U SHOULD PURSUE.

ITALIAN TRADE UNIONISTS AND SCANDINAVIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS ARGUED THAT WESTERN EUROPE'S COMFORTABLE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED TO MAKE EUROPE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ASIA.

CZECH TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTRY VLADIMIR DLOUHY SAID THAT ONCE HIS COUNTRY IS A MEMBER OF THE UNION, THE CZECH REPUBLIC WILL PUSH A CONSERVATIVE AGENDA OF TAX CUTS, DEREGULATION, AND A SMALLER ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE ECONOMY.

BUT MR. DLOUHY -- HIMSELF A COMMUNIST UNTIL 1989 -- SAID SECURITY, NOT ECONOMICS, IS THE PRIMARY REASON THE CZECH REPUBLIC WANTS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE MAIN REASON WHY WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THIS DECADE AND NEXT IS NOT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL -- BUT A SECURITY ONE. AFTER REMAINING IN A KIND OF SECURITY VACUUM, FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR OUR SOCIETY WILL BE A FINAL, DEFINITIVE STEP (AWAY) FROM 40 YEARS OF COMMUNISM -- AND ALSO FROM A WHOLE CENTURY WHERE THIS COUNTRY WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO BIG INFLUENCES: ONE COMING FROM THE WEST AND ONE COMING FROM THE EAST.

MARIE-HELENE BERARD, AN ECONOMIST IN PARIS AND FORMER ADVISER TO JACQUES CHIRAC, SAID EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES HAVE TO SCALE BACK SOCIAL PAYMENTS THAT NO LONGER CAN BE FINANCED.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FINANCE THEM ANY MORE -- WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THE BUDGET, OR EMPLOYER PAYMENTS, OR THROUGH WAGES, IT IS A HUGE DIFFICULTY FOR ALL OF US. BECAUSE THESE PAYMENTS ARE RISING MUCH FASTER THAN REVENUES.

THE INDUSTRY LEADERS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE SAY ONCE EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE ADMITTED TO THE E-U, THEIR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE -- BASED ON LOWER WAGES -- WILL ERODE AND EVENTUALLY VANISH. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PCF/RRM
15-Oct-96 12:48 PM EDT (1648 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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