Voice of America, 97-07-21

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] EAST EURO WEATHER (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] EDITORIAL: BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINAL SENTENCED

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

[04] FRANCE FINANCE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] KURDS IN TURKEY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[06] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[07] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[08] U-S/IRELAND TALKS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[09] U-S/N IRELAND O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] EAST EURO WEATHER (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: RESIDENTS OF CENTRAL EUROPE REMAIN ON ALERT AS RAINS FEED SWOLLEN RIVERS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND, AND NEARBY AREAS. THE REGION HAS BEEN HIT BY CENTRAL EUROPE'S WORST FLOODING THIS CENTURY, WITH ABOUT 100 PEOPLE KILLED AND THE COST ESTIMATED IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM PRAGUE, WHERE RELIEF AGENCIES ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

TEXT: FLOODWATERS CAN DO THEIR DAMAGE IN HOURS OR DAYS. THE CLEANUP AND RECOVERY CAN TAKES WEEKS OR MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER.

OFFICIAL AGENCIES, AND CHURCH GROUPS AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE STRICKEN AREAS. AMONG THEM IS THE PRAGUE-BASED PEOPLE-IN-NEED FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS BEEN CONCENTRATING ON RESTORING WATER SERVICES.

ITS DIRECTOR, TOMAS POJAR, SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS DRAWING ON ITS EXPERIENCE IN OTHER TROUBLE SPOTS.

THE SITUATION IS REALLY BAD, AND WE'VE GOT EXPERIENCE FROM BOSNIA FROM THE FRONT LINES, FROM CHECHNYA, AND THE SITUATION FROM THE DEVASTATED VILLAGES AND PARTS OF THE TOWNS ARE COMPARABLE TO THAT SITUATION.

IN AREAS HIT BY THE FLOODING, THE WATER SUPPLY IS OFTEN ONE OF THE FIRST CASUALTIES. IRONICALLY, FLOODS OFTEN RUIN WATER SYSTEMS BY DAMAGING PUMPING EQUIPMENT AND CONTAMINATING CLEAN WATER WITH CHEMICALS AND DISEASE ORGANISMS CARRIED IN THE FLOODWATER. SO MR. POJAR SAYS THE PEOPLE-IN-NEED FOUNDATION IS CONCENTRATING NOW ON RESTORING WATER SERVICES.

PERHAPS BECAUSE THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH A NATURAL DISASTER OF THIS MAGNITUDE, RESIDENTS OF THE AREA COMPLAIN THEY DID NOT GET ANY WARNING, AND THAT THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE WAS SLOW IN COMING. MR. POJAR AGREES THE RESPONSE TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION HAS BEEN INADEQUATE BUT HE SAYS THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S BEEN A COMPLETE CATASTROPHE AND COMPLETE DISASTER. IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE PREPARED FOR THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE NATURAL CATASTROPHES. IF SOMETHING COMES IN THE FUTURE AND I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO CAN REALLY WORK ON THESE MECHANISMS AND TO THINK (ABOUT) WHAT HAS FAILED, BECAUSE A LOT HAS FAILED.

ONE EXAMPLE: MR. POJAR SAYS PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/RRM
21-Jul-97 1:04 PM EDT (1704 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINAL SENTENCED

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 WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE RECENTLY SENTENCED BOSNIAN SERB DUSAN TADIC TO TWENTY YEARS IN PRISON. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF TAKING PART IN AN ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN AGAINST MUSLIM CIVILIANS DURING THE BOSNIAN WAR IN 1992.

PROSECUTORS SAID THIS CASE WAS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT ABOUT JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS' POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN WHICH LARGE NUMBERS OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS WERE KILLED OR FORCED TO FLEE AREAS CAPTURED BY SERBS. AT THE SENTENCING, AMERICAN JUDGE GABRIELLE MCDONALD TOLD MR. TADIC, "YOU COMMITTED THESE CRIMES WITH INTENTION AND WITH SADISTIC BRUTALITY USING KNIVES, IRON BARS, THE BUTT OF A PISTOL, STICKS, IN ONE CASE TIGHTENING A NOOSE AROUND THE VICTIM'S NECK UNTIL HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE SENTENCE MR. TADIC RECEIVED REFLECTS THE COMMITMENT OF THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS TO PURSUE JUSTICE IN RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. THIS TRIAL PROVED THAT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WORKS, THAT TRIALS WILL BE CONDUCTED FAIRLY, AND THAT DEFENDANTS' DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WILL BE PROTECTED. THE SENTENCE SHOWS THAT WAR CRIMINALS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA TURNED OVER TO THE HAGUE FOR TRIAL. NATO RECENTLY SENT TROOPS INTO BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY AND ARRESTED AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL. ANOTHER WAS KILLED AFTER SHOOTING AT A NATO SOLDIER. BOTH INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN INDICTED BY THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE OMAROHA CONCENTRATION CAMP NEAR PRIJEDOR. TWO OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC, REMAIN AT LARGE. THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING TO JUSTICE THOSE GUILTY OF ATROCITIES IN BOSNIA. THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
21-Jul-97 2:47 PM EDT (1847 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL IN TRADING MONDAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE OFF IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, AS TRADERS CONTINUED TO CASH IN ON THE BIG PROFITS THEY MADE LAST WEEK.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 88 POINTS, MORE THAN TWO PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

THE LONDON MARKET ALSO DROPPED SHARPLY. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 71 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

THE DROP IN PARIS WAS MUCH SMALLER. THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF JUST TWO-AND-ONE-HALF POINTS, LESS THAN ONE-TENTH PERCENT

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS LOST A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/RRM
21-Jul-97 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE FINANCE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE'S SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT IS INCREASING TAXES ON BIG COMPANIES TO CUT THE PUBLIC DEFICIT AND PREPARE THE FRENCH FRANC FOR ENTRY INTO THE NEW EUROPEAN SINGLE CURRENCY. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: WHEN THE LEFT WON PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST MONTH, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN PROMISED TO PUBLISH A FULL AUDIT OF FRANCE'S FINANCES AS A POINTER TO WHETHER FRANCE CAN MEET THE EUROPEAN UNION CRITERIA FOR MONETARY UNION.

THE FIGURES, RELEASED MONDAY, SHOW A PUBLIC DEFICIT OF BETWEEN THREE-POINT-FIVE AND THREE-POINT-SEVEN PERCENT. THIS IS WELL ABOVE THE THREE PERCENT MAXIMUM ALLOWED UNDER THE RULES FOR MONETARY UNION THAT GOVERN THE CREATION OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY, KNOWN AS THE EURO.

BUT NEW GOVERNMENT MEASURES SHOULD BRING THE DEFICIT INTO LINE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS RAISING TAXES ON THE PROFITS OF BIG FRENCH COMPANIES BY FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 41-POINT-SIX PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT. HE ALSO ADDED CAPITAL GAINS MADE BY COMPANIES TO THEIR TOTAL TAXABLE PROFIT. MR. STRAUSS-KAHN SAID THESE MEASURES WILL HELP CUT THE DEFICIT BY RAISING ABOUT THREE-POINT-SIX-BILLION DOLLARS.

MR. STRAUSS-KAHN SAID OTHER CUTS WILL COME FROM SLASHING STATE SPENDING. ONE VICTIM WILL BE FRANCE'S DEFENSE BUDGET. DELAYS, AND PERHAPS SOME OUTRIGHT CUTS, ARE EXPECTED IN SEVERAL ARMS PROGRAMS.

THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT IS KEEPING ELECTION PROMISES NOT TO MAKE THE AVERAGE CITIZEN SUFFER MORE AUSTERITY POLICIES PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF THE NEW SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY. IT DID NOT INTRODUCE ANY MEASURES, SUCH AS INCOME TAX INCREASES, THAT WOULD AFFECT INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS DIRECTLY.

EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION WITHOUT FRANCE WOULD BE ALMOST UNTHINKABLE. THE NEW SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT'S LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, DESPITE SOME HESITATIONS EXPRESSED DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN TWO MONTHS AGO, IT IS COMMITTED TO JOINING THE NEW CURRENCY.

THE FINAL DECISIONS ON WHICH COUNTRIES WILL JOIN THE CURRENCY WILL BE TAKEN IN APRIL. THE CURRENCY WILL COME INTO BEING FOR BANKING TRANSACTIONS IN 1999 AND BE IN FULL USE THREE YEARS LATER.

THE NEXT STEP LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE EURO WILL COME WHEN MR. JOSPIN MEETS GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL AT THE END OF AUGUST TO RESOLVE THE FINAL DETAILS.

AFTER THAT, THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE EVEN MORE MEASURES TO RAISE MONEY WHEN HIS GOVERNMENT PRESENTS AN INTERIM BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/RRM
21-Jul-97 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] KURDS IN TURKEY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WHILE THE TURKISH MILITARY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS AGAINST THE KURDISH REBELS, THE P-K-K, THE CONFLICT REMAINS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR TURKEY, COMPLICATING ITS RELATIONS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS AND WITH THE WEST. ONE OF THE LEADING AMERICAN SCHOLARS ON THE KURDS GAVE HIS VIEWS OF THE SITUATION AT WASHINGTON'S MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE. V-O-A'S ED WARNER ATTENDED AND ALSO TALKED TO ANOTHER ANALYST OF THE REGION.

TEXT: THOUGH THE KURDISH P-K-K REBELLION CONTINUES IN TURKEY'S SOUTHEAST, THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT MOST KURDS ARE REASONABLY CONTENT WITH THEIR LIFE IN TURKEY. MORE THAN HALF LIVE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY AND ARE WELL INTEGRATED INTO THE SOCIETY.

ALL THE MORE REASON, SAYS MICHAEL GUNTER, FOR TURKEY TO GRANT SOME MEASURE OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION TO THE LARGELY LOYAL KURDS.

A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, HE EMPHASIZED THIS POINT IN A DISCUSSION OF HIS NEW BOOK, "THE KURDS AND THE FUTURE OF TURKEY," AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON.

HE CITED A RECENT SURVEY OF KURDS THAT SHOWS 85 PERCENT DO NOT WANT A SEPARATE STATE, THOUGH 90 PERCENT FAVOR SOME TURKISH RECOGNITION OF KURDISH CULTURE.

PRPOFESSOR GUNTER SAYS THIS COULD BE REFLECTED IN THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION:

DELETE FROM THE PRESENT TURKISH CONSTITUTION PROVISIONS ON THE EXCLUSIVE TURKISHNESS OF THE STATE. THIS STATE IS NOT JUST A STATE FOR TURKS. IT IS A STATE FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN TURKEY, TOO. JUST MAKING SOME CONCESSIONS HERE IS NOT GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY DESTROY THE TURKISH STATE. YOU ARE GOING TO DESTROY THE TURKISH STATE, I THINK, A LOT FASTER IF YOU DO NOT MAKE SOME NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

PROFESSOR GUNTER ADDED WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE KURDS IS ALSO GOOD FOR TURKEY:

I THINK MOST PROGRESSIVE TURKISH POLITICIANS HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED THAT THE HIGHLY OVER-CENTRALIZED TURKISH STATE IS TOO NARROW A BOTTLENECK FOR THE MODERN WORLD, THAT TO THRIVE ECONOMICALLY IN THE MODERN WORLD, YOU NEED ENOUGH DECENTRALIZATION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF MAINTAINING TURKEY'S OVERALL CENTRALIZATION TO MAKE THE STATE EVEN WORK. OTHERWISE, THE STATE ITSELF WILL BE SUFFOCATED BY OVER-CENTRALIZATION.

BUT THIS MUST BE DONE WITH GREAT CAUTION, SAYS PHOEBE MARR, A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES AT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY:

I JUST HAVE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY YOU CAN GIVE TO A GROUP ON CULTURAL TERMS BEFORE YOU DO NOT HAVE A COHESIVE STATE. I CERTAINLY WOULD SUPPORT DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY -- ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY. LOCAL COMMUNITIES USUALLY DO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THEY NEED. BUT IF THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE DEFINED ON ETHNIC, SECTARIAN, CULTURAL GROUNDS, HOW FAR DO YOU GO DOWN THAT PATH BEFORE YOU HAVE A GROUP THAT SIMPLY IS NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE NATION STATE?

PHOEBE MARR SAYS KURDS SHOULD SEEK MORE REPRESENTATION IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN FOLLOW A SEPARATIST ROUTE. IN HE OPINION, THE ANSWER TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM IS MORE DEMOCRACY IN TURKEY.

THAT NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR POWER, THE MILITARY:

THE TURKISH MILITARY HAS ALWAYS SAID, UNFORTUNATELY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, THAT THEY WOULD NOT COUPLE A POLITICAL AND MILITARY SOLUTION TOGETHER. FIRST COMES THE MILITARY SOLUTION, AND THEN THEY ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER THE POLITICAL SOLUTION. NOW THE TURKISH MILITARY SEEM TO BE SAYING THEY FEEL, JUSTIFIED OR UNJUSTIFIED, THEY HAVE THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL AND THEY ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER A POLITICAL SOLUTION. I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE THEM UP ON THAT.

PHOEBE MARR SAYS THE TURKISH MILITARY SHOULD ACT BEFORE IT AROUSES TOO MUCH ANTAGONISM AMONG ITS NEIGHBORS BY PURSUING THE P-K-K INTO NORTHERN IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/RRM
21-Jul-97 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (MONDAY) IN ADVANCE OF TUESDAY'S SCHEDULED CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED SIX, UP 16 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 913, DOWN TWO POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY MANY TRADERS WERE CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS TUESDAY BY ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. WALL STREET WILL BE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IF MR. GREENSPAN PROVIDES ANY HINTS ON FUTURE CENTRAL BANK INTEREST RATE POLICY. HE IS ALSO CERTAIN TO BE ASKED IF HE BELIEVES STOCK PRICES, IN GENERAL, ARE NOW TOO HIGH.

LAST DECEMBER, MR. GREENSPAN USED THE PHRASE "IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE" TO DESCRIBE THE LONG RALLY IN STOCK PRICES...AND STOCK PRICES QUICKLY, BUT TEMPORARILY, TUMBLED..

THE CONSOLIDATION MOVEMENT IN THE U-S COMMERCIAL BANKING INDUSTRY CONTINUED WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE FIRST UNION BANK WILL ACQUIRE THE SIGNET BANK FOR THREE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS. THE BANKS OPERATE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

THE VALUE OF ALL GLOBAL CORPORATE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS SOARED TO A RECORD HIGH 130 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. A STUDY BY A CONSULTING FIRM (KPMG) ALSO SHOWS THE AVERAGE PRICE PAID FOR ACQUISITIONS HAS CLIMBED ALMOST 50 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR. I-B-M, THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER COMPANY, REPORTED ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS JUMPED BY 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO ONE POINT FOUR BILLION DOLLARS, AHEAD OF WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. A-T AND T, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANT, REPORTED A 36 PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS. THE COMPANY SAYS PROFITS WERE HURT BY INVESTMENTS IN WIRELESS AND LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE. LAST WEEK, A-T AND T SHOCKED MANY WALL STREET ANALYSTS WHEN IT ANNOUNCED THAT ITS PRESIDENT, JOHN WALTER, WAS RESIGNING AFTER JUST NINE MONTHS ON THE JOB.

THE EXXON OIL CORPORATION CITED BETTER RESULTS IN ITS REFINING AND PLASTICS BUSINESSES FOR A 25 PERCENT QUARTERLY PROFIT INCREASE, WELL BEYOND WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
21-Jul-97 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS MET DAVID TRIMBLE, THE LEADER OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY -- THE LARGEST PRO-BRITISH PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- TO DISCUSS THE ONGOING PEACE PROCESS. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, THE TWO SIDES DISAGREE ON THE ISSUE OF DECOMMISSIONING -- HOW TO GET PARAMILITARY GROUPS TO SURRENDER THEIR WEAPONS.

TEXT: FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE ISSUE OF DECOMMISSIONING PARAMILITARY WEAPONS HAS STALLED PROGRESS IN THE SEARCH FOR A LASTING PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE SET OUT THEIR IDEAS ON THE SUBJECT IN A PAPER SUBMITTED TO ALL PARTIES NOW ENGAGED IN TALKS OUTSIDE BELFAST. AMONG THE PROPOSALS IS THE CREATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THE HANDING IN OF PARAMILITARY WEAPONS. HOWEVER, THE LARGEST PRO-BRITISH PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- THE ULSTER UNIONISTS -- HAVE CRITICIZED THE PROPOSALS AS BEING TOO VAGUE. THEY SAY THERE IS NO GUARANTEE DECOMMISSIONING WILL TAKE PLACE DURING SUBSTANTIVE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND THAT ARE DUE TO BEGIN IN MID-SEPTEMBER. THOSE TALKS HAVE TAKEN ON AN ADDED DIMENSION BECAUSE IF THE NEW CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCED BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY HOLDS, ITS POLITICAL WING SINN FEIN -- WILL TAKE PART.

IN AN EFFORT TO GET CLARIFICATION FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, ULSTER UNIONIST LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE MET (MONDAY) PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IN LONDON. FOLLOWING THE MEETING, MR. TRIMBLE SAID THE TALKS WERE INCONCLUSIVE -- AND HE TOLD REPORTERS WHAT HE WANTS LONDON AND DUBLIN TO CLARIFY.

WHAT WE WANT THE GOVERNMENTS TO SAY -- AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BOTH GOVERNMENTS -- IS THAT THEY EXPECT THE DECOMMISSIONING WOULD OCCUR DURING TALKS AND THAT THEY WILL MAKE ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS; THAT THEY WILL ASK SINN FEIN TO UNDERTAKE TO WORK TOWARDS DECOMMISSIONING DURING TALKS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE SANCTION THAT IF THEY DISHONORED THAT COMMITMENT, THAT THEY WOULD THEN BE EXCLUDED FROM TALKS.

THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS ON DECOMMISSIONING MAY COME UP FOR A VOTE DURING WEDNESDAY'S SESSION OF POLITICAL TALKS CURRENTLY HELD OUTSIDE BELFAST. MR. TRIMBLE SAID IF THE PROPOSALS ARE NOT AMENDED, HIS PARTY WOULD HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST THEM. BUT HE ALSO DID NOT RULE OUT PROGRESS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. MEANWHILE, SINN FEIN REAPED THE FIRST BENEFITS FROM THE I-R-A'S CEASEFIRE AS ITS REPRESENTATIVES WERE ADMITTED -- FOR THE FIRST TIME -- INTO THE BUILDING WHERE CURRENT TALKS ARE UNDERWAY. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SET UP OFFICES AND MAY HOLD BILATERAL TALKS WITH ANY PARTY WISHING TO TALK TO THEM.

AS FOR BECOMING PART OF THE OFFICIAL NEGOTIATIONS, THAT WILL HAPPEN ONLY WHEN NEW TALKS BEGIN IN MID-SEPTEMBER -- AND IF THE I-R-A CEASEFIRE HOLDS UNTIL THEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH/RRM
21-Jul-97 12:43 PM EDT (1643 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S/IRELAND TALKS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: HERE IN WASHINGTON, U-S OFFICIALS ARE CALLING ON THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TO FIRMLY ABIDE BY THE CEASE-FIRE IT DECLARED DURING THE WEEKEND. PROTESTANT FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INCLUDING THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN, IN PEACE TALKS -- WITHOUT A CONCURRENT PLEDGE BY THE MILITANT CATHOLICS TO DISARM. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS IS AT A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY. AND IT IS URGING THE I-R-A TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AMONG PROTESTANTS BY RIGIDLY ADHERING TO ITS CEASE-FIRE PLEDGE. THE COMMENTS HERE CAME AS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SOUGHT TO REASSURE PRO-BRITISH UNIONISTS LEERY ABOUT ALLOWING THE I-R-A INTO PEACE TALKS WITHOUT A PRIOR COMMITMENT TO SURRENDER WEAPONS. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY MADE CLEAR IT IS UP TO THE I-R-A TO SHOW GOOD FAITH.

A CEASE-FIRE SHOULD BE PERMANENT AND UNEQUIVOCAL. AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE IN THIS CASE IT WILL BE, AND THAT THAT WILL BE DEMONSTRATED TO BE TRUE OVER TIME. WE LAUD THOSE UNIONIST AND LOYALIST ELEMENTS THAT HAVE REFRAINED FROM VIOLENCE THEMSELVES OVER THESE MANY MONTHS.

BRITAIN AND IRELAND HAVE AGREED TO ALLOW THE POLITICAL WING OF THE I-R-A, SINN FEIN, TO ENTER PEACE TALKS -- IF A CEASE-FIRE HOLDS FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. MR. MCCURRY SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO SUPPORT THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, AND TO DEEPEN AND NURTURE THE PROCESS NOW UNDERWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/ENE/RRM
21-Jul-97 3:15 PM EDT (1915 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S/N IRELAND O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AS ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY OFFICIALS MEET TODAY (MONDAY) WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, THE HEAD OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL WING HAS HAILED THE I-R-A CEASE-FIRE AS THE START OF A NEW AND CHALLENGING ERA. VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES HAS PLEDGED ITS CLOSE COOPERATION WITH ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO BUILD ON WHAT IT CALLS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY:

TEXT: THE PRO-BRITISH ULSTER UNIONISTS ARE EXPECTED TO DEMAND OF PRIME MINISTER BLAIR A TIMETABLE FOR I-R-A DISARMAMENT. THERE IS SOME DOUBT WHETHER THE PARTY WILL PARTICIPATE IF SUCH A TIMETABLE IS NOT AGREED TO.

SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS (SUNDAY) URGED THE UNIONIST PARTIES TO PUT ASIDE THEIR DOUBTS AND CALL A CEASE-FIRE IN THEIR MINDS. APPEARING ON THE U-S TELEVISION NEWS NETWORK, CNN, MR. ADAMS ALSO SUGGESTED THE BRITISH SECRET SERVICES HAVE SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE PEACE EFFORTS.

THE SINN FEIN LEADER SAYS THE BRITISH TREAT THE NORTHERN IRELAND ISSUE AS A SECURITY PROBLEM AND SEEK TO DESTABILIZE THE I-R-A'S CEASE-FIRE WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT SUNDAY:

SINN FEIN WANTS TO SEE A TOTAL DISARMAMENT OF THIS SITUATION. BUT, THE WEAPONS WHICH KILLED PEOPLE IN NATIONALIST AREAS, WHICH KILLED PEOPLE ON BLOODY SUNDAY, WHICH KILLED PEOPLE IN MY OFFICES WERE THE WEAPONS IN THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH AND THE WEAPONS PUT IN THE HANDS OF THE LOYALISTS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLED FOR AN UNEQUIVOCAL AND PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE. DESCRIBING IT AS A MOMENT OF GREAT POSSIBILITY, PRESIDENT CLINTON URGED THE PARTIES TO NEGOTIATE ON THE BASIS OF FAIRNESS AND COMPROMISE. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/LWM
20-Jul-97 9:12 PM EDT (0112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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