Voice of America, 97-12-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] CZECH POL CQ BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

[04] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[01] CZECH POL CQ BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: A POLITICAL CRISIS CONTINUES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION, WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE LIKELY DIRECTION OF THE SITUATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM PRAGUE WHERE POLITICIANS HAVE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS ARE SET TO BEGIN ON FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: THE CRISIS WAS TRIGGERED BY A FUND-RAISING SCANDAL IN THE CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS. MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THE OUTGOING GOVERNMENT WILL STAY ON AS A CARETAKER. TALKS ON FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BEGIN OFFICIALLY UNTIL DECEMBER 15TH, AFTER A MEETING OF THE CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

CZECH FINANCE MINISTER IVAN PILIP (TODAY) TUESDAY SAID IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNLIKELY THAT THE CURRENT COALITION WILL BE ABLE TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE CRISIS COMES AS THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS POISED TO JOIN NATO AND, PERHAPS SOON AFTER, THE EUROPEAN UNION. ALL THE MAIN PARTIES SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP, ALTHOUGH THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WANT A PUBLIC REFERENDUM ON JOINING NATO.

A GOVERNMENT CRISIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO DERAIL THE PROCESS. SEVERAL COMMENTATORS HAVE NOTED THAT GOVERNMENTS ROUTINELY FALL IN ITALY WITHOUT AN IMPACT ON THEIR STATUS IN NATO.

THE CRISIS HAS HAD A FINANCIAL IMPACT. THE CZECH CROWN DIPPED SHARPLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK MONDAY BEFORE THE CENTRAL BANK INTERVENED, AND THE PRAGUE STOCK MARKET ALSO SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES.

IN THE CZECH PRESS, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST (DAILY) NEWSPAPER, "MLADA FRONTA DNES," SAYS ELECTIONS IN THE SPRING OF 1998 APPEAR EVER MORE LIKELY. THE PAPER SAYS MOST PARLIAMENT MEMBERS FROM MR. KLAUS' PARTY ARE AGAINST REMAINING IN THE GOVERNMENT.

ANOTHER PAPER, THE CENTRIST (DAILY) "HOSPODARSKE NOVINY," SAID MR. KLAUS MAY HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT THE WINDOW, BUT HE IS COMING BACK THROUGH THE DOOR.

BUT IT IS NOT AT ALL CLEAR THAT MR. KLAUS CAN GET BACK IN, AND HE HAS NOT SAID IF HE WANTS TO TRY.

HE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING PRIME MINISTER IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE WHO HAD COMPILED AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION. BUT THE CZECH ECONOMY HAS STUMBLED BADLY THIS YEAR. AND THAT -- PLUS HIS PARTY'S FUND-RAISING SCANDAL THAT BROUGHT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT -- MAKES IT FAR FROM CERTAIN THAT HE WOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED AN ASSET TO A NEW GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/RAE
02-Dec-97 11:29 AM EST (1629 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED MIXED ON TUESDAY. FOR THOSE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE IS PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: AFTER THE BIG ADVANCES POSTED ON MOST STOCK MARKETS MONDAY, TUESDAY'S FIGURES INDICATED A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH BY INVESTORS. GAINS WERE IMPRESSIVE IN LONDON -- EUROPE'S BIGGEST STOCK MARKET. THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX ADDED 56-POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING.

BUT IN GERMANY, A MARGINAL ADVANCE ON THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30" INDEX OF ABOUT FIVE-POINTS GAVE WAY TO A NEARLY 30-POINT DECLINE IN AFTER HOURS COMPUTER TRADING ON THE DAX. THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX WAS DOWN AS WELL, LOSING JUST MORE THAN FIVE-POINTS.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR SAW LITTLE CHANGE IN VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND OR GERMAN MARK.

GOLD IN LONDON WAS SELLING FOR ABOUT 295 DOLLARS AN OUNCE -- UP A DOLLAR FROM TRADING MONDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
02-Dec-97 1:33 PM EST (1833 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES ENDED THE DAY (TUESDAY) SLIGHTLY HIGHER AMID FORECASTS OF CONTINUED STRENGTH IN THE U-S ECONOMY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE LATEST FINANCIAL NEWS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ENDED THE DAY UP SIX POINTS CLOSING AT EIGHT-THOUSAND-19. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX -- WHICH MONITORS A WIDER RANGE OF STOCKS -- WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY, CLOSING AT 972, A DROP OF THREE POINTS.

STOCKS OF SOME WELL KNOWN COMPANIES, INCLUDING SOFT-DRINK GIANT COCA-COLA, CHEMICAL MAKER DUPONT AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURER PROCTER AND GAMBLE, POSTED GAINS. TECHNOLOGY STOCKS WERE GENERALLY LOWER. COMPUTER COMPONENT MAKERS INTEL AND WESTERN DIGITAL WERE DOWN.

AND A MAJOR BUSINESS RESEARCH FIRM, THE CONFERENCE BOARD, RELEASED A SURVEY FORECASTING CONTINUED STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SURVEY -- THE INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS -- MEASURES 10 ECONOMIC COMPONENTS, INCLUDING MONEY SUPPLY, STOCKS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS. MICHAEL BOLDIN IS A CONFERENCE BOARD ANALYST.

THE COMPOSITE INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS ROSE TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT. WE ARE AT AN HISTORICAL HIGH. WE HAVE SEEN SIX MONTHS OF INCREASES IN A ROW, WHICH ARE VERY GOOD NUMBERS FOR THE ECONOMY. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE THAT THERE IS ALMOST NO RISK OF RECESSION IN THE NEAR TERM AND GROWTH COULD REMAIN ABOVE THREE PERCENT THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF 1998.

MR. BOLDIN SAYS THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE IMPACT ON THE INDEX FROM ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN EAST ASIA. HE SAYS THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT THE U-S ECONOMY REMAINS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON DOMESTIC FACTORS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/WFR
02-Dec-97 4:45 PM EST (2145 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: AT TALKS IN BRUSSELS, NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS RECEIVED A GRIM WARNING OF THE THREAT TO WORLD SECURITY WHICH IS POSED BY IRAQ. DETAILS OF IRAQ'S POWERFUL ARSENAL OF WEAPONS WERE GIVEN (TUESDAY) BY THE UNITED STATES. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE ALLIANCE DEFENSE MINISTERS RECEIVED A DETAILED BRIEFING FROM DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ON IRAQ'S CAPACITY TO MOUNT GAS AND GERM ATTACKS. THE BRIEFING FOLLOWS THE RECENT STANDOFF BETWEEN IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER THE ADMISSION OF AMERICAN INSPECTORS, AS PART OF A U-N MONITORING MISSION.

OFFICIALS SAY THAT AT THE TIME, NOT EVERY NATO NATION WAS AS SUPPORTIVE OF THE UNITED STATES AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN, AND THE BRIEFING WAS DESIGNED TO PROVE TO ALL THE ALLIES THAT THE RISK FROM IRAQ IS REAL -- AND WIDESPREAD.

THE U-S UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS, WALTER SLOCOMBE, SAID SECRETARY COHEN HAD IMPRESSED ON AMERICA'S NATO PARTNERS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP PRESSURE ON IRAQ TO PERMIT FULL, UNHINDERED INSPECTIONS.

THE SOBERING AMERICAN PRESENTATION WAS DESIGNED TO CONVINCE ALL PRESENT THAT IRAQ DOES NOT PRESENT JUST A REGIONAL THREAT, BUT A GLOBAL ONE. THE AMERICANS SAY IRAQ HAS THREE-POINT-NINE TONS OF A SUPER-TOXIN CALLED "V-X," LARGE STOCKS OF DEADLY ANTHRAX, AND IS WORKING ON A MISSILE WITH A RANGE OF THREE-THOUASAND MILES, WHICH COULD PENETRATE DEEP INTO THE TERRITORY OF MANY OF NATO'S EUROPEAN MEMBERS.

SECRETARY COHEN STRESSED THAT U-2 AIR SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS OVER IRAQ MUST CONTINUE UNTIL ALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. NATO MINISTERS WERE SHOWN PICTURES WHICH WERE SAID TO BE OF IRAQ'S REPUBLICAN GUARD IN A CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITY.

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, BRITAIN AND SPAIN HAVE SOLVED A MAJOR DISPUTE OVER GIBRALTAR, CLEARING THE WAY FOR SPAIN'S ENTRY INTO NATO'S INTEGRATED MILITARY COMMAND. THIS WILL ALLOW REFORM AND STREAMLINING OF THE COMMAND STRUCTURE, WITH A NEW REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN MADRID.

THE ISSUE OF GIBRALTAR HAS LED TO FREQUENT PROBLEMS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND SPAIN, WHICH BOTH CLAIM SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TINY, BUT STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT, TERRITORY.

DISCUSSIONS WERE ALSO HELD ON PLANS TO EXPAND THE NATO ALLIANCE, TO BRING IN POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THIS WILL COST OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WITH THE UNITED STATES ALONE FACING AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL BILL OF 37-MILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF
02-Dec-97 1:45 PM EST (1845 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE AMERICAN PRESS IS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT RELATIONS WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN OVER THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS CONTROVERSY, BUT THE JUST-CONVENED GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE IN KYOTO, JAPAN, IS ALSO A POPULAR TOPIC.

OTHER SUBJECTS BEING DEALT WITH IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS INCLUDE ISRAEL'S PEACE PROSPECTS WITH THE PALESTINIANS; ECONOMIC REFORMS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC; WORLD AIDS DAY, AND NEW PLANS TO POLICE PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TWO VERY DISTINCT VIEWS OF THE U-S POSITION ON GLOBAL WARMING FROM TWO SIDES OF THE NATION. FIRST, IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS PLEASED WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION, CALLING IT A -- WISE LINE -- THAT -- HOLDS PROMISE.

VOICE: THE TONE AT THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH BEGAN MONDAY IN KYOTO, JAPAN, HAS BEEN A LOT MORE CONTENTIOUS [THAN THE RIO CONFERENCE IN 1992] BECAUSE THE FIVE-THOUSAND DELEGATES KNOW THAT THIS TIME THE PLAN IS TO ENTER INTO TREATIES BACKED BY INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS. THAT HAS LEFT THE UNITED STATES TRYING TO FORGE A MIDDLE GROUND ...THE U-S GOAL -- A SENSIBLE ONE -- IS TO REDUCE INDUSTRIAL NATIONS' AVERAGE CARBON DIOXIDE AND OTHER EMISSIONS TO 1990 LEVELS BY TWO-THOUSAND-12, THOUGH SOME FLEXIBILITY WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR INDIVIDUAL NATIONS. THAT REPRESENTS A 25-PERCENT REDUCTION FROM THE LEVELS THE UNITED STATES, WITH ITS EXPANDING ECONOMY, WOULD OTHERWISE REACH. ... THE EUROPEAN UNION'S GOALS ARE HONORABLE BUT UNREACHABLE. THE WORLD NEEDS AN ACCORD IT CAN ABIDE BY, AND THE U-S PROPOSAL IS JUST THAT."

TEXT: IN THE EAST, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS, CONVERSELY, -- AMERICA SHOULD LEAD ON GLOBAL WARMING ... [BUT] UNFORTUNATELY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS FOLLOWING."

VOICE: THOUGH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HARDLY WELCOMES THE ROLE, THE UNITED STATES IS EXPECTED TO BE A WORLD LEADER ON THIS ISSUE. ... UNFORTUNATELY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS CONTENTED ITSELF WITH THE ROLE OF FOLLOWER ON THE ISSUE ... RATHER THAN PUSHING AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING, THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT TOGETHER A MODEST PROPOSAL TO CUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TO 1990 LEVELS BY TWO-THOUSAND-12. [MR.] CLINTON'S PLAN INCLUDES SOME GOOD IDEAS, BUT IT FAILS THE TEST OF LEADERSHIP.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE DAY'S OTHER MAJOR TOPIC, DEALING WITH IRAQ'S MILITARY DICTATOR, SADDAM HUSSEIN, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" BLAMES HIM FOR THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE, NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD ENFORCING A POST GULF WAR ECONOMIC EMBARGO.

VOICE: GIVEN THE SUFFERING OF IRAQI CHILDREN IT ISN'T EASY TO INSIST ON MAINTAINING AN ECONOMIC SANCTION STRONGHOLD ON IRAQ. LAST WEEKEND GRIEVING IRAQIS MARCHED THE COFFINS OF SCORES OF YOUNG MALNUTRITION VICTIMS THROUGH THE STREETS OF BAGHDAD. .... BUT THE UNITED STATES MUST STRAND ITS GROUND. ALTHOUGH SANCTIONS ARE FAR FROM A PERFECT CHECK ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S AGGRESSIVE AMBITIONS, THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL THAN DOING NOTHING ... IT WAS SADDAM WHO RESISTED FOR MORE THAN FIVE-YEARS THE UNITED NATIONS-ADMINISTERED PROGRAM OF SELLING IRAQ'S OIL TO BUY ESSENTIALS FOR HIS PEOPLE. IT WAS HE WHO SPENT ONE-BILLION-DOLLARS OF IRAQ'S SCARCE RESOURCES TO BUILD 48 NEW RESIDENCES AFTER THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. ... IN NO WAY HAS HE EARNED ANY LETUP IN INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" FORCEFULLY AGREES, CHASTISING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR APPEARING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS.

VOICE: .... HERE WE ARE BARELY A WEEK OUT OF A TENSE ARMED SHOWDOWN PROVOKED ENTIRELY BY SADDAM HUSSEIN, INTO A PHASE OF GRINDING CONFRONTATION OVER SOME OF THE MOST HORRIBLE WEAPONS EVER KNOWN TO HUMANKIND, AND AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON IS SUGGESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD 'VERY SERIOUSLY' CONSIDER LETTING IRAQ SELL MORE OIL TO BUY FOOD AND MEDICINE. ... MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WOULD SEE ANY SUCH TRANSACTION AS A BOW TO THE IRAQI DICTATOR. ...THE CRISIS IS NOT OVER. THIS COUNTRY IS BEING TESTED. AND IT IS HARDLY A TIME FOR NEW CONCESSIONS OR PREMATURE CLAIMS OF VICTORY.

TEXT: THE LATEST ISRAELI MOVE TO TURN OVER SOME ADDITIONAL LAND TO THE PALESTINIANS, BUT WITH MANY CONTINGENCIES, DRAWS THE EDITORIAL IRE OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES".

VOICE: ... THE DECISION IS LACED WITH AMBIGUITY, LEAVING UNCERTAIN WHETHER IT WAS FASHIONED TO ADVANCE THE PEACE TALKS OR TO SATISFY MR. NETANYAHU'S CONSERVATIVE ALLIES. ... WASHINGTON IS RIGHT TO PRESSURE MR. NETANYAHU TO BE BOLDER IN HIS DIPLOMACY, AND PRESIDENT CLINTON PROPERLY MADE HIS IMPATIENCE CLEAR BY NOT MEETING WITH THE ISRAELI LEADER DURING A RECENT VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. ... EVEN DURING DAYS OF RELATIVE CALM THIS AUTUMN, MR. NETANYAHU AND HIS CABINET HAVE SHOWN TOO LITTLE DETERMINATION TO KEEP OSLO ALIVE.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF VACLAV KLAUS, THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, DUE TO A CAMPAIGN FINANCING SCANDAL, PROMPTS THIS FROM "THE NEW YORK POST".

VOICE: .... COMPARE [MR.] KLAUS' ACTION TO THE BEHAVIOR OF ...BILL CLINTON. MORE THAN THREE-MILLION DOLLARS IN QUESTIONABLE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS HAS BEEN UNCOVERED ... HE AND HIS VICE PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY CAUGHT IN OUTRIGHT LIES ... ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS. AND THEY GET OFF, [GO UNPUNISHED] TIME AND AGAIN -- TODAY, [MR.] CLINTON'S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SHE WILL NOT APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO LOOK INTO FUND-RAISING CALLS MADE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. BILL CLINTON IS NOT ONE-TENTH THE MAN VACLAV KLAUS IS.

TEXT: IN ANOTHER COMMENTARY, "THE NEW YORK POST" NOTING THAT MONDAY WAS WORLD AIDS DAY, PROCLAIMED BY THE UNITED NATIONS, SAYS THE ILLNESS GETS MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DESERVES, SINCE HEART DISEASE AND CANCER STILL CAUSE MANY MORE DEATHS.

VOICE: AIDS REMAINS PRETTY MUCH AN AFFLICTION OF PROMISCUOUS HOMOSEXUALS AND INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS -- AT LEAST IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO MINIMIZE THE TRAGEDY ATTENDING THE DISEASE, BUT ONLY TO SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES WHO EITHER HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED ABOUT AIDS -- OR CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT SCARING THE BEJABBERS OUT OF [TERRORIZING] PEOPLE CONSTITUTES SOUND PUBLIC POLICY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" COMMENTS ON THE MEETING IN WASHINGTON MONDAY ANNOUNCING NEW PLANS FROM INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT TO CURBS CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET, THE WORLD-WIDE LINKAGE OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS.

VOICE: THERE IS LIKELY NO COMPROMISE THAT WILL MAKE ALL COMPETING INTERESTS HAPPY. BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHERS DESERVE THE CHANCE TO SHOW THAT VOLUNTARY EFFORTS WILL PROTECT KIDS FROM CYBERSMUT. ... IT WELL MAY BE THAT A COMBINATION OF REMEDIES SUCH AS SOFTWARE FILTERS, OR ONLINE SERVICES DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC AGES, WILL BE NEEDED. AT THE LEAST, THE INDUSTRY SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO TRY ...TO PROTECT CHILDREN BEFORE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE WITH IS AND ISN'T ACCEPTABLE ONLINE.

TEXT: IN ANOTHER COMMENTARY, "THE HERALD" NOTES THE DEPARTURE OF THE U-N PEACKEEPING FORCE FROM HAITI, AND HOLD OUT HOPE THAT THE RAVAGED ISLAND'S NEW, INTERNATIONALLY-TRAINED POLICE FORCE CAN MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER.

VOICE: IN A NATION WHERE SOME 70 TO 80-PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE HAVE NO JOB, CRIME IS WIDESPREAD. HAITIANS FEAR ATTACKS BY ARMED GANGS, WHICH KILLED A REPORTED 60 PEOPLE LAST MONTH. THERE ALSO ARE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE NATIONAL POLICE, ACCUSING IT OF CORRUPTION AND BRUTALITY. SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. ...STILL, THE HAITIAN NATIONAL POLICE ... REMAINS UNDER TRAINED, UNDEREQUIPPED, AND HOBBLED BY A WOEFULLY INADEQUATE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ...AS LONG AS THAT CONTINUES, ALL THE INTERNATIONAL AID IN THE WORLD WILL MAKE ONLY A LIMITED DIFFERENCE.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE END OF THIS BRIEF SURVEY OF EDITORIALS FROM TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
02-Dec-97 10:45 AM EST (1545 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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