Voice of America, 97-02-21

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BELGRADE ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

[03] CENTAM/E-U (L-ONLY) BY BILL RODGERS (SAN JOSE)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[05] NATO/ZYUGANOV BY MICHELE KELEMEN (WASHINGTON)

[06] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[07] U-S-SERBIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: THE REVERBERATIONS OF CHINESE LEADER DENG XIAOPING'S DEATH CONTINUE IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS THIS FRIDAY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA; THE RESIGNATION OF WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR; ALLEGED UNFAIRNESS IN THE WAY AMERICA RATES ITS ALLIES IN THE ILLEGAL DRUG WAR AND A CONTROVERSIAL SUPREME COURT DECISION ON ABORTION PROTESTS.

NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS WHICH WANTED MORE TIME TO CONTEMPLATE THE DEATH OF DENG XIAOPING ARE NOW COMMENTING. IN GEORGIA, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS: NOT TO WORRY.

VOICE: "THE DEATH OF DENG XIAOPING DOES NOT SEEM AN OCCASION FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON AND WASHINGTON POLICY-MAKERS TO WORRY ABOUT. AFTER ALL, CHINA'S PARAMOUNT LEADER HAD LONG AGO RELINQUISHED HIS FORMAL TITLES, ANOINTING TECHNOCRAT JIANG ZEMIN AS HIS SUCCESSOR IN 1989. [MR.] JIANG, CHINA'S PRESIDENT AND COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER EVER SINCE, IS UNLIKELY TO VEER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE COURSE HE HAS STEERED THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. [OPT] ..... ONLY WHEN U-S POLICY-MAKERS SEE CLEARLY HOW A POST-DENG BEIJING WILL DEAL WITH QUESTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE RULE OF LAW, SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION AND MILITARY ADVENTURISM, CAN WASHINGTON MAKE APPROPRIATE COURSE CORRECTIONS. TILL THEN, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MUST REMAIN FIRM ABOUT CONTAINING CHINA'S WORST IMPULSES BUT ALSO CONVINCE ITS LEADERSHIP THAT EVEN WITHOUT [MR.] DENG'S BLESSING, THE TWO COUNTRIES CAN WORK OUT A RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL BENEFIT." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, PORTLAND'S PRESS HERALD SEES THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SUGGESTING A "CHANGE IN THE WIND WITH [MR.] DENG'S PASSING."

VOICE: "[MR.] DENG DESERVES CREDIT FOR ALL HE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO DENG XIAOPING. HE WILL CARRY TO HIS GRAVE THE GHOSTS OF THOSE CHINESE LEGIONS HE AND MAO MURDERED, BY SOME ACCOUNTS BETWEEN 60 MILLION AND 80 MILLION PEOPLE SINCE 1949 ALONE. ..... THIS IS THE CHINA THAT MAO AND DENG BEQUEATHED THE PEOPLE. IT WILL BE UP TO THE PEOPLE, NOW, TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL SYSTEM THEY INHERITED. A MAJOR PARTY CONGRESS THIS FALL COULD SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE COMMITTEE OF PARTY FUNCTIONARIES RUNNING THE COUNTRY. ..... DENG XIAOPING IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS DENG XIAOPING'S FREE-MARKET REFORMS LIKELY PAVED THE WAY FOR PLURALISM AND DEMOCRACY IN CHINA, BUT SEES A GRIM IRONY IN HIS PASSING.

VOICE: "TO SEE THE CHINESE FLAG FLYING AT HALF-STAFF IN TIANANMEN SQUARE THIS WEEK MUST SEEM IRONIC TO FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS, OF PROTESTERS WHO WERE GUNNED DOWN THERE IN 1989 IN AN ASSAULT THAT MR. DENG APPROVED. THIS SUGGESTS AN EPITAPH - - ECONOMIC SAVIOR AND POLITICAL REPRESSOR ...." BUT UNDER ANY FAIR ACCOUNTING, MR. DENG DESERVES MUCH MORE CREDIT THAN THAT."

TEXT: AND THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR LOOKS TOWARD THE FUTURE AND CHINA'S POST-DENG PERIOD, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: "WHERE WILL CHINA GO AFTER DENG XIAOPING? ABOUT WHERE [MR.] DENG WANTED IT TO GO - - FORWARD INTO THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM. ...... COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER JIANG ZEMIN APPEARS TO HAVE A FIRM GRASP ON THE NUMBER ONE SPOT. BUT HE SITS ATOP A HIVE OF COMPETING POLITICAL ASPIRANTS, IN VARIOUS WINGS OF THE PARTY AND IN THE MILITARY. A PARTY CONGRESS SET FOR LATER THIS YEAR WILL POSE A MAJOR TEST OF MR. JIANG'S STAYING POWER. [OPT] OTHER EVENTS NOT FAR DOWN THE ROAD WILL FORCE CHINA'S LEADERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AS NEVER BEFORE: THE RETURN OF HONG KONG TO CHINESE RULE, THE QUESTION OF CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION .... AND AT SOME POINT, A NEW MODUS VIVENDI WITH TAIWAN."

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE PASSING OF CHINA'S LEADER, NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND (NEW YORK) MAKES THIS COMPARISON.

VOICE: "NO ONE CAN GUESS WHETHER [MR.] DENG'S FREE-MARKET ECONOMIC REFORMS WILL ULTIMATELY TRANSFORM THE ASIAN COLOSSUS AS PROFOUNDLY AS MIKHAIL GORBACHEV'S REFORMS CHANGED RUSSIA. BUT UNLIKE [MR.] GORBACHEV, [MR.] DENG WILL NEVER BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAN UNDER WHOSE TUTELAGE A WHOLE POLITICAL SYSTEM DISSOLVED. POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION IS STILL IN CHINA'S FUTURE."

TEXT: STILL IN ASIA, TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SAYS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THAT, THESE DAYS, IT IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO TELL OUR ALLIES FROM OUR ENEMIES ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.

VOICE: "IT IS WORRISOME WHEN AMERICAN DIPLOMATS COMPLAIN THAT DEALING WITH SOUTH KOREA, A TRADITIONAL ALLY, HAS GROWN MORE FRUSTRATING THAN DEALING WITH NORTH KOREA, A DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE FOE. SUCH COMPLAINTS ARE NOT MEANT LITERALLY. BUT ONLY NORTH KOREA CAN PROFIT FROM THE TENSIONS SEOUL HAS RECENTLY BEEN INTRODUCING INTO ITS RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA THIS WEEKEND PROVIDES A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY TO SET MATTERS STRAIGHT."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, THE UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION OF KENNETH STARR, THE WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL PROBING THE ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE AND REALTED AFFAIRS OF PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON, THE NEW YORK POST SAYS:

VOICE: "KENNETH STARR DESERVES NO THANKS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR DECLARING HIS INTENTION TO LEAVE AS WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ON AUGUST FIRST..... APPARENTLY SURPRISED BY THE TURMOIL HIS ANNOUNCEMENT SPARKED, [MR.] STARR NOW INTIMATES HE MAY STAY ON. BUT THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. ..... THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL SHOULD TURN DOWN THE ACADEMIC POSITION AND SEE THE PROBE THROUGH TO ITS END - - OR ELSE STEP ASIDE IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE WAY FOR A SUCCESSOR."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SECONDS THAT IDEA OF THE POST, AND ADDS IF MR. STARR INTENDS TO LEAVE, HE SHOULD DO SO IMMEDIATELY.

IN FLORIDA, THE MIAMI HERALD IS UPSET AT WHAT IT BELIEVES IS THE UNEVEN WAY THE U-S CERTIFIES ITS ALLIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS. BY MARCH FIRST UNDER THE LAW, PRESIDENT CLINTON MUST ANNOUNCE HIS ANTI-DRUG EFFORT CERTIFICATION FOR VARIOUS NATIONS. SAYS THE HERALD:

VOICE: "THE EXPECTATION IS THAT MR. CLINTON, AS LAST YEAR, WILL CERTIFY MEXICO AND DECERTIFY COLOMBIA. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE U-S GOVERNMENT AGAIN WILL BE APPLYING A DOUBLE STANDARD ..... [THAT] MAKES THE UNITED STATES LOOK THE FOOL. IT ANGERS AND HURTS COLOMBIANS, WHOSE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY HAS STRIVEN MIGHTILY TO COMBAT DRUG-TRAFFICKING. IT WINKS [DISREGARDS] AT THE CORRUPTION, HISTORICALLY ENDEMIC IN MEXICO'S POLICE, THAT NOW APPEARS TO HAVE TAINTED AT LEAST ONE GENERAL IN MEXICO'S GENERALLY UNTAINTED ARMY. IN SHORT, THE PRESIDENT'S CERTIFY-DECERTIFY DECISION WILL BE GUIDED NOT BY ANY RATIONAL DEFINITION OF 'WORTHY ALLY,' [BUT ON] GEOGRAPHY, PURE AND SIMPLE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE VERY EMOTIONAL AND DIVISIVE ISSUE OF ABORTION, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS A COMMENT ON WEDNESDAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISION, UPHOLDING A LOWER COURT DECISION TO CREATE A PROTEST-FREE ZONE AROUND ABORTION CLINICS, BUT ALSO AFFIRMING ABORTION FOES RIGHT TO CONTINUE PICKETING SUCH CLINICS FROM A DISTANCE. SAYS THE TIMES:

VOICE: "BECAUSE SO MUCH POLITICAL HEAT STILL ATTACHES TO THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, IT MAY BE HARD TO VIEW ..... [THE] DECISION ON ABORTION PROTESTERS IN OTHER TERMS THAN AS A VICTORY OR A DEFEAT FOR ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. YET THE ENDURING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COURT'S SENSIBLE RULING, MORE SPECIFICALLY DEFINING THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF ANTIABORTION PROTESTERS, REALLY ..... HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS ENGAGED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES, FROM GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO UNION PICKETERS."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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21-Feb-97 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

INTRO: THE ZAJEDNO OPPOSITION COALITION IN SERBIA HAS SCORED A MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST THE RULING SOCIALISTS, GIVING BELGRADE ITS FIRST NON-COMMUNIST LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 52 YEARS. BUT JULIA GLYN-PICKETT IN BELGRADE REPORTS THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES BETWEEN THE SOCIALISTS AND ZAJEDNO.

TEXT: THREE MONTHS OF MASS PROTESTS AGAINST THE ALLEGED GOVERNMENT THEFT OF OPPOSITION ELECTION WINS HAS FINALLY PAID OFF. OPPONENTS OF SERBIA'S RULING SOCIALISTS TOOK CONTROL FRIDAY OF BELGRADE'S CITY HALL.

NEARLY TWO WEEKS AGO, THE SOCIALISTS -- IN A MAJOR RETREAT -- APPROVED SPECIAL LEGISLATION TO REINSTATE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN BELGRADE AND 13 OTHER DISPUTED SERBIAN TOWNS.

IN BELGRADE -- IN A BUILDING THAT OVERLOOKS THE OFFICES OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED IN THE CITY'S FIRST NON-COMMUNIST MAYOR IN 52 YEARS. COUNCIL DEPUTIES FROM THE ZAJEDNO OPPOSITION COALITION APPLAUDED LOUDLY AS THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED THAT ZORAN DJINDJIC -- ONE OF THREE LEADERS OF ZAJEDNO -- WAS THE WINNING CANDIDATE.

MAYOR DJINDJIC CALLED FRIDAY'S MEETING A TRIUMPH FOR DEMOCRACY.

MAYOR DJINDJIC SAID THE PRIORITIES FOR BELGRADE'S NEW COUNCIL WILL BE TO DO AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THE ACCOUNTS OF THE OUTGOING COUNCIL AND TO REGAIN CONTROL OF LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION KNOWN AS STUDIO B.

THE NEW MAYOR'S DEPUTY, MILAN BOZIC, TOLD V-O-A THAT ZAJEDNO'S VICTORY WAS -- ABOVE ALL -- A VICTORY FOR THE CITIZENS OF SERBIA.

THE CROWD IN THE CITY HALL SHOWS THAT THE CITIZENS -- NOT ONLY WE -- HAVE ENTERED THE CITY HALL. OF COURSE, WE EXPECT A LOT OF OBSTACLES FROM THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AGAINST OUR LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. BUT WE WILL SHOW THAT WE ABLE TO RUN THE CITY AND TO USE IT AS A POLITICAL WEAPON FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

BUT FRIDAY'S MEETING, WHICH LASTED TWO HOURS LONGER THAN PLANNED, WAS FAR FROM SMOOTH, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM BOTH THE SOCIALISTS AND SERBIAN RADICAL PARTY REPEATED BLOCKED VOTING PROCEDURES. THURSDAY, THE LEADER OF THE NATIONALIST RADICAL PARTY, VOJISLAV SESELJ, CRITICIZED MR. DJINDJIC, CALLING HIM A GERMAN SPY, AND HE SAID NO SELF-RESPECTING SERB COULD SUPPORT HIM OR HIS PARTY.

ANALYSTS SAY THE RADICAL PARTY'S OPPOSITION TO THE ZAJEDNO COALITION IS JUST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAMPER THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF LOCAL ZAJEDNO-RUN COUNCILS IN BELGRADE AND OTHER SERBIAN TOWNS.

THE COALITION HAS NO MONEY TO FILL BANK ACCOUNTS THAT IT SAYS HAVE BEEN EMPTIED BY THE OUTGOING GOVERNMENT. AND IT ALSO IS FACING A BATTLE WITH SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES FOR CONTROL OF LOCAL MEDIA.

ZAJEDNO HAS SUSPENDED ITS DAILY PROTEST RALLIES, BUT ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE IN SERBIA. THE DAILY STUDENT PROTEST MARCHES THROUGH CENTRAL BELGRADE HAVE NOT STOPPED. AND HUNDREDS OF STRIKING TEACHERS LEFT ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF SERBIA'S SCHOOLS CLOSED THIS PAST WEEK. (SIGNED)
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21-Feb-97 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CENTAM/E-U (L-ONLY) BY BILL RODGERS (SAN JOSE)

INTRO: CENTRAL AMERICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS NEXT WEEK IN THE NETHERLANDS TO DISCUSS FUTURE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ISTHMUS. AS VOA'S BILL RODGERS REPORTS FROM OUR CENTRAL AMERICAN BUREAU, THE E-U'S ENVOY TO CENTRAL AMERICA SAYS NEXT WEEK'S MEETING IS PART OF A CONTINUING POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS.

TEXT: THE TWO-DAY MEETING OPENS NEXT TUESDAY IN THE HAGUE, AND WILL BRING TOGETHER SIX CENTRAL AMERICAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM HOLLAND, IRELAND, AND LUXEMBOURG. THE DELEGATES OF THESE THREE NATIONS WILL REPRESENT THE 15-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION. THE MEETING, DUBBED SAN JOSE 13, IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROCESS OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN THE E-U AND CENTRAL AMERICA WHICH BEGAN IN 1984.

AT THE TIME, MOST OF CENTRAL AMERICA WAS EMBROILED IN CONFLICT -- CAUSED IN PART BY THE COLD WAR RIVARY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. THE E-U LAUNCHED ITS INITIATIVE TOWARD CENTRAL AMERICA IN 1984 AS A WAY TO COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCE OF THE TWO SUPERPOWERS. THE E-U'S AMBASSADOR TO THE REGION, DIETER KONI, SAYS NEXT WEEK'S MEETING IN THE HAGUE IS PART OF THIS POLITICAL INITIATIVE THAT BEGAN MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN THE COSTA RICAN CAPITAL FRIDAY MR. KONIG SAID NOW THAT PEACE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN CENTRAL AMERICA, THE E-U'S GOAL IS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE RULE OF LAW IN THE REGION. HE SAID EUROPE ALSO WILL SUPPORT POLICIES AIMED AT ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND DISTRIBUTING INCOME MORE EQUITABLY.

EUROPEAN UNION AID TO CENTRAL AMERICA LAST YEAR TOTALED 230-MILLION DOLLARS -- ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL AS IN 1995. AMBASSADOR KONIG SAID WHILE CENTRAL AMERICA IS NOT VERY IMPORTANT TO THE E-U ECONOMICALLY, THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE IS A DEMONSTRATION OF EUROPE'S CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE REGION.

AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING, THE CENTRAL AMERICAN DELEGATES ARE EXPECTED TO ASK THE E-U TO CONSIDER GRANTING PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS FOR THE REGION'S INDUSTRIAL EXPORTS TO EUROPE -- SIMILAR TO THOSE NOW ENJOYED BY ANDEAN NATIONS. AMBASSADOR KONIG SAID FRIDAY WHILE THE ISSUE IS NOT ON THE FORMAL AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK'S TALKS, THE EUROPEAN UNION MAY BE WILLING TO CONSIDER GRANTING PREFERENTIAL TRADE BENEFITS FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL GOODS AFTER 1998. (SIGNED)
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21-Feb-97 6:06 PM EST (2306 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING FRIDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN SHARPLY IN EARLY TRADING ON ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS -- REFLECTING THE SHAKY START ON WALL STREET. BUT THEY REGAINED SOME OF THOSE LOSSES LATER IN THE DAY. AND ONE -- FRANKFURT -- ACTUALLY ENDED WITH A GAIN.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 12 POINTS -- ABOUT TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

BUT PRICES WERE OFF IN BOTH LONDON AND PARIS. LONDON'S FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FINISHED DOWN ALMOST 20 POINTS -- FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX LOST 12 POINTS -- ABOUT ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED A LITTLE IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE GERMAN MARK.
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21-Feb-97 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NATO/ZYUGANOV BY MICHELE KELEMEN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AS SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TRIES TO EASE RUSSIAN CONCERNS ABOUT NATO EXPANSION, TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SHOW NO SIGN OF SOFTENING THEIR POSITION ON THE ISSUE. COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV, WHOSE PARTY DOMINATES THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT, IS AMONG THOSE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST EXPANSION. AS V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS, HE SAYS THAT WAS ONE OF THE HOT TOPICS DURING A U-S VISIT.

TEXT: MR. ZYUGANOV SAYS AT EVERY NEWS CONFERENCE AND AT EVERY SPEECH, HE WAS ASKED WHY HE OPPOSES NATO EXPANSION. AND IT WAS NO DIFFERENT AT HIS APPEARANCE AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY HERE IN WASHINGTON (THURSDAY NIGHT).

RUSSIA IS MAKING NO THREATS TO ANYBODY. WHAT IS THE REASON TO EXPAND THE MILITARY BLOC? WE HAVE ANOTHER DECISION (IDEA) -- BOTH RUSSIA AND NATO CAN GIVE SECURITY GUARANTEES TO EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. AND IN THIS WAY, THESE COUNTRIES WILL BECOME A SORT OF BRIDGE OF COOPERATION, FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BOTH SIDES OF EUROPE, BETWEEN EAST AND WEST.

WHILE RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE VARIOUS REASONS FOR OPPOSING NATO EXPANSION AND VARIOUS OTHER PROPOSALS TO AVOID IT, MR. ZYUGANOV SAYS THEY ARE UNITED IN THEIR OPPOSITION. AND HE BRUSHED ASIDE OPINION POLLS THAT SHOW MOST AVERAGE RUSSIANS ARE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE.

PLEASE DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION WHEN, YES, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DAY BY DAY SURVIVAL. BUT LET US THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE. RUSSIA WILL WAKE UP AND IN THE NEAREST FUTURE PEOPLE WILL ASK, WHAT WAS THE SENSE IN DOING THAT? WHY CAUSE A NEW ROUND OF MISTRUST AND TENSIONS?

MR. ZYUGANOV JOINS A LONG LIST OF RUSSIAN POLITICIANS WHO HAVE VISITED THE UNITED STATES IN RECENT MONTHS -- AMONG OTHERS, ALEXANDER LEBED AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ALEXANDER RUTSKOI. WHY DO THEY KEEP COMING? WELL, MICHAEL PETERS OF THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATION SAYS IT IS ALL PART OF THE CHANGES IN POST-COMMUNIST ERA RUSSIAN POLITICS.

ALMOST ANYONE WHO CONSIDERS HIMSELF A CREDIBLE CANDIDATE FOR LEADERSHIP OF RUSSIA IN THE FUTURE FEELS THE NEED TO COME TO THE WEST TO MEET WITH AS WIDE AN AUDIENCE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE DEALT WITH IN THE WEST.

BUT MICHAEL PETERS, A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, SAYS MR. ZYUGANOV HAD A TOUGH TIME EXPLAINING HIMSELF WHEN HE MET WITH THAT ORGANIZATION IN NEW YORK.

I THINK THAT HE HAS A TOUGH STORY (POSITION) TO SELL, BECAUSE HE PERSISTS IN CALLING HIMSELF A COMMUNIST AND HE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY DIFFERENTIATING HOW HIS BRAND OF COMMUNISM WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM COMMUNISTS THAT EXISTED DURING THE SOVIET UNION. AND IN FACT IF IT IS DIFFERENT, WHY IT IS THAT HE SHOULD PERSIST IN CALLING HIMSELF A COMMUNIST? SO, I THINK IT IS A DIFFICULT SELL ON HIS PART.

DEMONSTRATING, IN A WAY, HIS COMMUNIST BELIEFS, MR. ZYUGANOV PRESENTED AN OLD EDITION OF THE COMMUNIST NEWSPAPER PRAVDA TO HIS HOSTS AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. BUT JUST TO SHOW HE IS CATCHING ON TO U-S POLITICS, THAT EDITION INCLUDED AN FULL TRANSCRIPT OF A SPEECH BY JOHN F. KENNEDY, MADE LONG AGO IN THAT SAME AUDITORIUM. (SIGNED)
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21-Feb-97 12:54 PM EST (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TRIES TO STRENGTHEN MEDIATION OF THE WAR IN ZAIRE BY ENDORSING A FIVE-POINT PEACE PLAN; GOVERNMENTS ATTEMPT TO BOLSTER THE PEACE PROCESS IN LIBERIA; A U-S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION COMES TO NEW YORK TO DISCUSS REFORMS WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN; AND, A FORMER U-S CONGRESSMAN TAKES UP HIS NEW JOB AS WASHINGTON'S U-N AMBASSADOR. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEEMS MORE INTENSE IN RECENT DAYS ON ENDING THE VARIOUS CONFLICTS IN CENTRAL AFRICA -- ESPECIALLY THE WAR IN ZAIRE. THE SECURITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK ENDORSED A PEACE PLAN SUBMITTED BY ALGERIAN DIPLOMAT MOHAMMED SAHNOUN -- THE U-N ENVOY FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION. UNDER SEPARATE COVER, THE UNITED STATES AND SIX EUROPEAN NATIONS ALSO APPROVED IT IN PARIS. AND SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA INVITED THE TUTSI-LED REBELS IN ZAIRE AND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO CAPETOWN FOR PEACE TALKS.

U-N OFFICIALS EXPRESSED CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM -- MORE IT APPEARED FOR THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION FOCUSED ON CENTRAL AFRICA THAN CONFIDENCE ABOUT A PEACEFUL OUTCOME. THE U-N ENVOY -- AMBASSADOR SAHNOUN -- APPEALED TO THE MAJOR POWERS TO EXERT PRESSURE ON THE ZAIREANS TO PUT DOWN THEIR ARMS. AFTER A JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL AFRICA, HE SAID THE SITUATION IS MUCH WORSE THAN HE HAD EXPECTED.

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THE UNITED NATIONS HELD A MEETING IN NEW YORK THIS PAST WEEK TO REVIEW PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN LIBERIA. CONCERNED GOVERNMENTS SAID THEY WERE PERSUADED THAT THE COUNTRY IS FINALLY ON ITS WAY OUT OF CHAOS. SOME DONORS SIGNALLED THEY WOULD RESUME AID FLOWS. A FEW WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES PLEDGED TO SEND MORE TROOPS TO ADD TO SOME NINE-THOUSAND WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS ALREADY IN LIBERIA. HOWEVER, DISAGREEMENT PERSISTS ON HOW TO ORGANIZE ELECTIONS MAY 30TH. THE MAIN ISSUE IS WHETHER TO ALLOW OVER 750-THOUSAND REFUGEES LIVING IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES TO VOTE WITHOUT RETURNING HOME. THE HOST GOVERNMENTS WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO BACK, SAYING POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING ON THEIR TERRITORY COULD HAVE AN UNSETTLING EFFECT.

THE REFUGEES EQUAL ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF LIBERIA'S PRE-WAR POPULATION.

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A DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS CAME TO NEW YORK THIS PAST WEEK (TUESDAY, 02-18) FOR MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL ON HIS REFORM PLAN. THE CONGRESS IS HOLDING BACK ON PAYMENT OF OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS WASHINGTON OWES IN PAST DUES.

U-N CONGRESSIONAL CRITICS REMAINED ADAMANT THAT THEY WOULD WRITE INTO LEGISLATION SHORTLY CONDITIONS THE U-N MUST MEET FOR RELEASE OF THE MONEY. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS REJECTED SO-CALLED BENCHMARKS FOR U-N REFORM. BUT SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAID THE NEXT DAY HE'S ENCOURAGED THE CONGRESSMEN WERE INTERESTED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VISIT:

A VERY HEALTHY DIALOGUE CONTINUED BETWEEN THE U-N AND WASHINGTON YESTERDAY. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THEY ARE ASKING SO MANY BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHAT THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PLANS FOR REFORM ARE. WE THINK THIS IS JUST GOOD FOR THE PROCESS.

-0- MEANWHILE, THE NEW AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N -- BILL RICHARDSON -- TOOK UP HIS POST THIS PAST WEEK. HE WAS EBULLIENT AND FRIENDLY, EVEN WENT TO SHAKE HANDS WITH MEMBERS OF THE U-N CAFETERIA STAFF.

AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON -- A FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO -- PLEDGED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL WASHINGTON'S SUPPORT. HE SAID PART OF HIS JOB WOULD BE TO TAKE A POSITIVE MESSAGE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION TO THE REST OF AMERICA:

MY MESSAGE HAS BEEN ONE OF PAYING OUR ARREARS, REFORM -- BUT ALSO TO SAY THAT THE UNITED NATIONS IS IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES. AND I'M GOING TO BE GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY IN TOWN MEETINGS EXPLAINING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE U-N TO THE UNITED STATES.

AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON IS CONSIDERED A CONSUMMATE POLITICIAN FROM HIS YEARS AS A CONGRESSMAN. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSED HOPE THAT HE WILL USE HIS SKILLS TO HELP RESTORE AMERICA'S GOOD STANDING AT THE U-N. (SIGNED)
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21-Feb-97 4:02 PM EST (2102 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S-SERBIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS WELCOMED THE SERBIAN OPPOSITION TAKING POWER IN THE CITY HALLS WHERE IT WON LAST NOVEMBER 17TH. BUT AS RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES IS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA IN SERBIA.

TEXT: NOT CONTENT WITH THE OPPOSITION TAKING CONTROL OF BELGRADE AND OTHER TOWNS IN SERBIA, THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS CALLING ON THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW THE OPPOSITION TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL MEDIA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES THE CHANGE IN CONTROL IN THE CITIES AND TOWNS WON BY THE OPPOSITION AS AN IMPORTANT MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HE SAYS THAT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE EXPECT THAT MUNICIPAL ASSETS INCLUDING LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA ARE FAIRLY TRANSFERRED AND THAT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WILL WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENTS -- BUT WE VIEW THIS AS THE FIRST STEP, NOT THE LAST.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING FOR FURTHER DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN SERBIA INCLUDING THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT AND ITS DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/MMK
21-Feb-97 2:40 PM EST (1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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