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Voice of America, 98-04-14Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)DATE=4/14/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229624 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TWO BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS ARRESTED BY NATO TROOPS LAST WEEK HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN THE HAGUE TO CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. MIROSLAV KVOCKA AND MLADEN RADIC ARE TO STAND TRIAL AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED ATROCITIES AT THE SERB-RUN OMARSKA PRISON CAMP. FROM THE HAGUE, GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS. TEXT: WHEN INFORMATION ABOUT CONDITIONS AT THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP FIRST LEAKED OUT THROUGH TELEVISION REPORTS, WORLD PUBLIC OPINION WAS THAT OF SHOCK. PROSECUTORS SAY THE CAMP WAS BRUTAL AND PRISONERS WERE IN CONSTANT FEAR OF THEIR LIVES. MIROSLAV KVOCKA WAS SECOND IN COMMAND AT OMARSKA AND MLADEN RADIC WAS A SHIFT COMMANDER. BECAUSE OF THEIR POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY, THEY ARE BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE BOTH FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND THOSE OF THEIR SUBORDINATES. AFTER THE 1992 SERB TAKEOVER OF THE PRIJEDOR AREA OF NORTHWEST BOSNIA, MANY OF THE REGION'S MUSLIM AND CROAT INTELLECTUAL, POLITICAL AND BUSINESS ELITE WERE HELD IN OMARSKA. PROSECUTORS SAY PRISONERS WERE ROUTINELY AND OPENLY TORTURED, RAPED, CONSTANTLY HUMILIATED AND MURDERED. READING THE CHARGES AGAINST THE TWO MEN AT TUESDAY'S INITIAL COURT APPEARANCE TOOK WELL OVER AN HOUR. NEITHER MADE ANY COMMENT IN COURT, STANDING ONLY TO ANSWER NOT GUILTY TO ALL THE CHARGES. MR. RADIC ALSO ENTERED A NOT GUILTY PLEA TO AN INDIVIDUAL CHARGE THAT HE REPEATEDLY RAPED A WOMAN PRISONER. THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE TWO MEN WILL BE JOINTLY TRIED WITH ANOTHER SUSPECT -- MILAN KOVACEVIC. IN THE FIRST OPERATION OF ITS KIND, HE WAS ARRESTED BY NATO TROOPS LAST JULY AND IS DUE TO GO ON TRIAL HERE NEXT MONTH. HE'S ALSO CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH EVENTS AT OMARSKA. //REST OPT//NEB/GS/PCF 14-Apr-98 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [02] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=04/14/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10662 TELEPHONE=619-3335 CONTENT= //// EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T ! ! ////INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE EDITORIALIZING ON A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES THIS TUESDAY, INCLUDING THE IRISH PEACE ACCORD, WHAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS A "DANGEROUS DECLINE" IN UKRAINE'S ECONOMY, THE FUTURE OF RADAVAN KARADZIC, ///OPT /// THE LATEST EPISODE IN THE STARR INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESIDENT, /// END OPT TEXT: FIRST TO THE PEACE ACCORD IN IRELAND, REACHED LAST FRIDAY GOOD FRIDAY IN MANY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES -- AND THE VIEW OF IT FROM TODAY'S "SAVANNAH [GEORGIA] MORNING NEWS" WHICH CALLS IT AN "AMERICAN PEACE IN IRELAND." VOICE: THE PEACE THAT BEGAN IN ALL OF IRELAND OVER EASTER WEEKEND WAS ITS OWN JUST REWARD, A GIFT BORNE IN HEARTS AND MINDS AS CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT IT SHOULD BE. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE IT ENDURES AND THAT IT SURVIVES THE CRUCIAL POLITICAL TESTS THAT LIE AHEAD. .... IN A LARGE SENSE, THE PEACE ... COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT AMERICAN PARTICIPATION, AND THE IRONY MUST HAVE SOAKED THROUGH ALL OF BRITAIN. IN LONDON'S PRIVATE CLUBS, MANY A STUFFY PEER MUST HAVE SAID SATURDAY, AS HE READ THE TIMES, [OF LONDON] 'HAS IT COME TO THIS, THAT THE AMERICANS HAVE TO BAIL US OUT OF IRELAND?' THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, OF COURSE, AND NO COUNTRY COULD HAVE DONE IT SO WELL -- PROTESTANT AMERICA WHERE THE CATHOLIC IRISH FOUND REFUGE FROM THE POTATO FAMINE AND BRITISH CRUELTIES IN THE 1840S ....... TEXT: ELSEWHERE IN GEORGIA, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS THE "TIME IS RIGHT FOR IRISH PEACE," ADDING: VOICE: TOO OFTEN A STAGE FOR TRAGEDY, NORTHERN IRELAND PRODUCED A REAL-LIFE DRAMA LAST WEEK WITH AN OUTCOME SO POSITIVE, YOU MAY WANT TO STAND UP AND CHEER. FOR THAT DIVIDED PROVINCE'S PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS TO COME AS FAR AS THEY DID ON A POWER-SHARING ACCORD IS CAUSE FOR HIGH HOPES. ..... AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS PEACE- MAKING EFFORT BOGGED DOWN AS THE CAMP DAVID AND OSLO INITIATIVES HAVE BECOME. NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MAJORITY POPULAR SENTIMENT AND THE POLITICAL WILL EXPRESSED BY [BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY] BLAIR, IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN AND PRACTICAL LOCAL LEADERS SO LAST WEEK'S POWER-SHARING DOCUMENT CAN BECOME A PILLAR OF PEACE. TEXT: LASTLY ON THIS TOPIC, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS OF THE AGREEMENT: VOICE: ..... IT DOES NOT REFLECT ANY MAJOR CAPITULATION ON THE PART OF EITHER UNIONISTS OR NATIONALISTS. BUT IT DOES REPRESENT A LONG OVERDUE REALITY CHECK. NORTHERN IRELAND'S ECONOMY GREW NEARLY EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO GROW ANOTHER SEVEN PERCENT THIS YEAR. UNEMPLOYMENT, WHILE STILL VERY HIGH IN CERTAIN, ESPECIALLY CATHOLIC, POCKETS OF THE PROVINCE, HAS COME DOWN TO UNDER EIGHT PERCENT OVERALL, LOWER THAN IN GERMANY AND FRANCE. THE ONCE SWELLING RANKS OF IDLE YOUNG MALES -- IDEAL PICKS FOR CAREER PARAMILITARIES -- ARE DWINDLING. AS THE ECONOMY PICKS UP, AND WITH IT THE HOPE FOR LONG PROMISED INVESTMENT, NORTHERN IRELAND'S VOTERS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE GROWN IMPATIENT WITH THE INTRANSIGENCE OF SECTARIAN LEADERS. TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS WORRIED ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN ECONOMY, SUGGESTING: VOICE: LAST YEAR, UKRAINE AND TURKMENISTAN WERE THE ONLY FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS TO SEE THEIR OFFICIAL ECONOMIES SHRINK. UKRAINE'S STEADY DECLINE IS THE MAIN REASON THAT VOTERS ABANDONED THE RELATIVELY REFORMIST GOVERNING PARTY IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TWO WEEKS AGO. THE BIG WINNER WAS THE COMMUNIST PARTY, A GROUP SO TROGLODYTE ["A GROUP THAT IS "RECLUSIVE, REACTIONARY, OUT OF DATE"] THAT IT FAVORS 'VOLUNTARY REUNIFICATION' WITH RUSSIA. THE VOTE PRACTICALLY INSURES THAT UKRAINE WILL SEE NONE OF THE REFORMS THE COUNTRY NEEDS. TEXT: TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SEES THE "NOOSE" TIGHTENING AROUND RADOVAN KARADZIC. VOICE: THE WAR IN BOSNIA ENDED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO BUT THE CHAPTER ON WAR CRIMES IS STILL OPEN. PROGRESS IN ARRESTING THE CHIEF SUSPECTS IS SLOW BUT REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE NATO FORCES .....THE BIG FISH ELUDING THE NET IS RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE WARTIME LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS WHOSE OBDURATE STAND AT WAR'S END COST COUNTLESS UNNECESSARY DEATHS. ..... [BUT] THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING. THE SERB LEADER IS LEFT WITH NO GOOD ALTERNATIVE. HE MUST FACE THE COURT AND TRY TO DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE OR STAY ON THE RUN, NEVER SURE WHICH OF HIS MANY ENEMIES WILL SOMEDAY TRACK HIM DOWN. EITHER WAY, IT'S A FATE HE DESERVES AND HIS VICTIMS DEMAND. /// OPT ///TEXT: BACK HOME, IN THE LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SPECIAL WHITEWATER COUNSEL KENNETH STARR, "THE NEW YORK POST" IS UPSET ABOUT THE LATEST EPISODE. THE PAPER SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION'S FIRST AMENDMENT BY ITS ATTACKS ON THE CONSERVATIVE MONTHLY "THE AMERICAN SPECTATOR." VOICE: THE PRO-CLINTON PRESS MACHINE ...... IS THE SOURCE OF THE SPECTATOR'S TROUBLES ..... [ALLEGING] THAT FORMER ARKANSAS JUDGE DAVID HALE, A KEY WITNESS IN THE WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION, MAY HAVE BEEN PAID OFF [FOR HIS TESTIMONY] BY MULTI-MILLIONAIRE RICHARD MELLON SCAIFE THROUGH THE AUSPICES OF THE SPECTATOR. .... THE HATRED THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE FEELS FOR THE SPECTATOR IS UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE THE CLINTONITES THE RIGHT TO ABUSE THE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (IN THE PERSON OF KENNETH STARR). ..... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO HARASS OR EVEN BANKRUPT A MAGAZINE BECAUSE OF ITS POLITICAL VIEWS. WILL NO ONE RISE TO THE DEFENSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT? TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" WRITING ON THE SAME ISSUE, SEES IT DIFFERENTLY. VOICE: [THE] JUSTICE [DEPARTMENT] IS ASKING MR. STARR TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF REPORTS THAT BILLIONAIRE PUBLISHER RICHARD MELLON SCAIFE FUNNELED MONEY TO MR. HALE THROUGH AN OPERATIVE OF THE AMERICAN SPECTATOR MAGAZINE ..... THE PROBLEM IS THAT A FRIEND AND FORMER LAW PARTNER OF MR. STARR'S, THEODORE OLSON, IS A DIRECTOR ON THE FOUNDATION THAT PUBLISHES THE MAGAZINE. ALSO, THE MAGAZINE'S PUBLISHER IS MR. STARR'S PERSONAL FRIEND. AND MR. SCAIFE GAVE ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, WHERE MR. STARR PLANS TO TEACH WHEN HIS ROLE AS INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ENDS. MR. STARR'S CONFLICT [UNDERSTOOD: OF INTEREST] COULDN'T BE MORE EVIDENT. /// END OPT ///TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IS COMMENTING ON THE NEED FOR DEBT RELIEF TOWARD THE VARIOUS AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRESIDENT CLINTON JUST VISITED, SAYING THEY NEED THAT EVEN MORE THAN INCREASED TRADE WITH THE WEST. VOICE: .... FOR MANY OF THE POOREST NATIONS OF AFRICA (AND LATIN AMERICA) NOTHING MATTERS MORE. MANY OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING UNDER A BURDEN OF DEBT SO CRUSHING THAT THE AID AND TRADE INCOME THEY RECEIVE SIMPLY GETS RECYCLED BACK NORTH IN THE FORM OF INTEREST PAYMENTS. MEANWHILE, LITTLE IS LEFT TO PAY FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD BEGIN TO RELIEVE POVERTY. ..... MR. CLINTON SAID HE ... PROMISED SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AND OTHER AFRICAN LEADERS TO 'SEE WHAT I COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE AS MUCH AID AS WE POSSIBLY CAN' AND 'TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS' ONCE HE RETURNED TO WASHINGTON. THIS WEEK, WITH THE WORLD'S FINANCE MINISTERS IN TOWN FOR THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE WORLD BANK AND [THE] I-M-F [INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND], WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO BEGIN REDEEMING THAT PROMISE. TEXT: LASTLY AS REGARDS THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF CAMBODIAN COMMUNIST POL POT, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS: VOICE: IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND A POLITICAL CRIMINAL WHO WROUGHT MORE EVIL IN THE LAST HALF-CENTURY THAN CAMBODIA'S MAD MAOIST, POL POT. IN THE FIELD OF CRUELTY AND MASS MURDER, ONLY MAO ZEDONG HIMSELF AND THE HUTU EXTREMISTS WHO MASTERMINDED THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE OF 1994 CAN BE COMPARED TO POL POT. ..... POL POT OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, MUCH AS SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND FRANJO TUDJMAN, THE WARTIME LEADERS OF SERBIA AND CROATIA, SHOULD BE MADE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. BUT THE CALCULATIONS OF STATECRAFT HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON WITH THE IMPERATIVES OF JUSTICE. POL POT IS VULNERABLE TO ARREST NOW ONLY BECAUSE HE HAS NOTHING MORE TO OFFER AS A COUNTERBALANCE TO VIETNAMESE EXPANSION. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL
COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=4/14/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229649 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (TUESDAY) AND THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED INFLATION SEEMED TO VANISH FROM THE U-S ECONOMY LAST MONTH. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 91 HUNDRED 10, UP 97 POINTS OR ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 15, UP SIX POINTS. STOCK TRADERS CELEBRATED THE LATEST U-S INFLATION NEWS. THE NEWS IS THAT INFLATION IS VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT, WITH THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX UNCHANGED IN MARCH. ANALYSTS HAD BEEN EXPECTING A MODEST RISE. ///BEGIN OPT////// COHEN ACT ///WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS A MARKET THAT CONTINUES TO GET BIG INFLOWS OF MONEY, THAT IS PUSHING UP A LOT OF STOCK IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IN PARTICULAR. ///END ACT///THE STRENGTH IN U-S BANK AND FINANCIAL STOCKS, OF COURSE, IS RELATED TO THE RECENT ROUND OF HUGE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR MERGERS IN THAT INDUSTRY. BUT SMALLER COMPANIES ARE ALSO CONSOLIDATING. THE ANCHOR FINANCIAL COMPANY HAS AGREED TO ACQUIRE THE COMSOUTH BANKING COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN A DEAL WORTH 71 MILLION DOLLARS.///END OPT/// THERE WERE MORE STRONG EARNINGS REPORTS. THE EASTMAN KODAK PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY SAYS IT HAD A 50 PERCENT JUMP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS. THE PFIZER DRUG COMPANY SAW A 15 PERCENT EARNINGS GAIN AND THE VIGOROUS FINANCIAL MARKETS HELPED PROPEL A 35 PERCENT RISE IN PROFITS FOR THE J-P MORGAN INVESTMENT BANK. /// REST OPT ///THE PRICE OF PALLADIUM SURGED BY MORE THAN 10 PERCENT TO 318 DOLLARS AN OUNCE, ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 YEARS. ANALYSTS SAY THE RISE IN PALLADIUM HAS BEEN CAUSED BY A SLOWDOWN IN SHIPMENTS FROM RUSSIA, THE WORLD'S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF THE METAL WHICH IS USED IN AUTO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE HAS ANNOUNCED A RESEARCH INITIATIVE CALLED
"INTERNET TWO." INVOLVING MORE THAN 120 UNIVERSITIES, THE PROJECT
AIMS TO DEVELOP A COMPUTER NETWORK WHICH IS MANY TIMES FASTER
THAN THE CURRENT INTERNET. SEVERAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ARE
MAKING DONATIONS TO THE PROJECT.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
[04] MORE ON THE IRISH PEACE ACCORD BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=04/14/98TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-10663 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: UNITED STATES NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO COMMENT ON THE AGREEMENT REACHED LAST FRIDAY - - GOOD FRIDAY TO MANY CHRISTIANS - BETWEEN NORTHERN IRELAND'S VARIOUS FACTIONS AND THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS THAT MAY LEAD TO PEACE IN THE SIX PROVINCES KNOWN AS ULSTER. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY ____________________ WHO HAS ADDITIONAL COMMENTS IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: THIS CONFLICT, WHICH HAS SEEN MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND PEOPLE MURDERED DURING THE PAST THREE DECADES, GOES BACK ABOUT ONE-THOUSAND YEARS AND INVOLVES THE CELTIC IRISH AND THE ANGLO SAXON BRITISH WHO TRIED TO SUBJUGATE THEM. IT HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH THE GREEK - TURKISH DIVISION OF CYPRUS AND THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS. THEREFORE, WITH THE ADVENT OF A COMPROMISE ACCORD, THAT GIVES BOTH SIDES PART OF WHAT THEY WANTED, AND HOLDS OUT THE HOPE OF A LASTING PEACE, THERE IS INTENSE INTEREST IN THE U-S PRESS. IT IS ALSO A FACT THAT MANY IRISH IN PAST GENERATIONS CAME HERE TO MAKE A NEW LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, AND IRISH AFFAIRS HAS ALWAYS HELD A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION FOR MANY AMERICANS. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN OHIO, WHERE "THE [CLEVELAND] PLAIN DEALER," A PAPER THAT HAS WRITTEN MORE OFTEN THAN MOST MAJOR U-S DAILIES ON THIS SUBJECT, AND WHICH CALLS THE PACT NOT "A CONCLUSION, BUT A BEGINNING." VOICE: .... FOR THE LONG-SUFFERING PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND, IT WAS A HISTORIC AGREEMENT THAT WAS WORKED OUT IN BELFAST WITH SKILLFUL ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS. IT IS ONE IN WHICH AMERICANS AS WELL AS IRISH CAN TAKE PRIDE, SINCE FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL OF MAINE, AS CHAIRMAN AND EMISSARY OF PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, WAS DECISIVE IN PUSHING PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE A DEAL. REGRETTABLY, IT CANNOT YET BE SAID THAT THE POLITICAL CHIEFS AROUND THE TABLE WERE ABLE TO FASHION A TRUE PEACE, BECAUSE ARMED FRINGE ELEMENTS - - NATIONALIST AND UNIONIST - - RETAIN THE CAPACITY TO USE VIOLENCE TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS. BUT WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED HOLDS GREAT PROMISE ///OPT /// - - ESPECIALLY AGREEMENT TO BUILD A VASTLY MORE REPRESENTATIVE POLITICAL PROCESS IN THE PART OF IRELAND WHERE PROTESTANTS OUTNUMBER ROMAN CATHOLICS AND PREFERRED TO STAY UNDER BRITISH RULE WHEN AN EARLIER SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED IN 1921. /// END OPT /// ..... IT IS NOW UP TO VOTERS IN BOTH IRELANDS TO APPROVE THE DEAL, AND WHATEVER RESERVATIONS THEY MIGHT ENTERTAIN, IT IS ALMOST UNTHINKABLE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DO SO. TEXT: THE "SAVANNAH [GEORGIA] MORNING NEWS" WHICH CALLS IT AN "AMERICAN PEACE IN IRELAND." VOICE: THE PEACE THAT BEGAN IN ALL OF IRELAND OVER EASTER WEEKEND WAS ITS OWN JUST REWARD, A GIFT BORNE IN HEARTS AND MINDS AS CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT IT SHOULD BE. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE IT ENDURES AND THAT IT SURVIVES THE CRUCIAL POLITICAL TESTS THAT LIE AHEAD. .... IN A LARGE SENSE, THE PEACE ... COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT AMERICAN PARTICIPATION, AND THE IRONY MUST HAVE SOAKED THROUGH ALL OF BRITAIN. IN LONDON'S PRIVATE CLUBS, MANY A STUFFY PEER MUST HAVE SAID SATURDAY, AS HE READ THE TIMES, [OF LONDON] 'HAS IT COME TO THIS, THAT THE AMERICANS HAVE TO BAIL US OUT OF IRELAND?' THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, OF COURSE, AND NO COUNTRY COULD HAVE DONE IT SO WELL - - PROTESTANT AMERICA WHERE THE CATHOLIC IRISH FOUND REFUGE FROM THE POTATO FAMINE AND BRITISH CRUELTIES IN THE 1840S ....... TEXT: "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" SAYS THIS AGREEMENT MAY ALSO PROVE A MODEL FOR RESOLVING OTHER DISPUTES. VOICE: LET'S FACE IT: PEACE IN THE BRITISH-RULED PROVINCE OF NORTHERN IRELAND IS NOT THE HIGHEST U-S PRIORITY. ..... IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS NOT ON THE LEVEL OF SAY, REDUCING RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL. YET PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS RIGHT TO FACILITATE THE PEACE TALKS ..... BUT CRUCIAL AS MR. CLINTON'S ROLE WAS, MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR THE HISTORIC PEACE ACCORD SHOULD GO TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND TO THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS. ALL HAD TO MAKE RATHER STUNNING COMPROMISES. ..... MR. CLINTON SHOULD PROMOTE THE AGREEMENT ON THE MARGINS OF HIS MAY MEETINGS IN BRITAIN WITH LEADERS OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. HE SHOULD HAIL IT AS A MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE FESTERING ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE: AND HE SHOULD NOMINATE [FORMER U-S SENATE MAJORITY LEADER] GEORGE MITCHELL FOR SOME KIND OF PEACE PRIZE. THE FORMER MAINE SENATOR DEVOTED TWO YEARS TO GUIDING THE TALKS TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICS WITH A HOPEFUL TONE. VOICE: THE ACCORD, IF IT'S RATIFIED IN THE MAY 22ND REFERENDUM, WOULD REPRESENT A HISTORIC SEA CHANGE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND. THE MAIN GOAL IS THE CREATION OF AN ASSEMBLY TO GOVERN ULSTER, WITH PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PROVINCE'S CATHOLIC MINORITY AND PROTESTANT MAJORITY. TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GO AGAINST THE CATHOLIC MINORITY, ANY OF ITS ACTIONS WOULD NEED A 70 PERCENT MAJORITY, A MARGIN THAT'S COMFORTABLY WIDER THAN THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY'S SHARE. ULSTER WOULD BECOME AUTONOMOUS BUT REMAIN PART OF GREAT BRITAIN, WHICH WOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DEFENSE. BUT NORTHERN IRELAND WOULD GOVERN ITSELF IN ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE. ITS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH THE IRISH REPUBLIC AND WITH LONDON WOULD FOLLOW SEPARATE NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST PROTOCOLS. THESE WOULD ELIMINATE TRADE BARRIERS AND BORDER CONSTRAINTS, A CRITICAL STEP TO GIVING ULSTER ACCESS TO THE BOOMING ECONOMY IN THE SOUTH. ULTIMATELY, THE BEST CHANCE TO SILENCE THE IRISH GUNS WILL BE THE SHARING OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SUGGESTS THE "TIME IS RIGHT FOR IRISH PEACE," ADDING: VOICE: TOO OFTEN A STAGE FOR TRAGEDY, NORTHERN IRELAND PRODUCED A REAL-LIFE DRAMA LAST WEEK WITH AN OUTCOME SO POSITIVE, YOU MAY WANT TO STAND UP AND CHEER. FOR THAT DIVIDED PROVINCE'S PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS TO COME AS FAR AS THEY DID ON A POWER-SHARING ACCORD IS CAUSE FOR HIGH HOPES. ..... AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS PEACE MAKING EFFORT BOGGED DOWN AS THE CAMP DAVID AND OSLO INITIATIVES HAVE BECOME. NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MAJORITY POPULAR SENTIMENT AND THE POLITICAL WILL EXPRESSED BY [BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY] BLAIR, IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN AND PRACTICAL LOCAL LEADERS SO LAST WEEK'S POWER-SHARING DOCUMENT CAN BECOME A PILLAR OF PEACE. /// END OPT ///TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS OF THE AGREEMENT: VOICE: ..... IT DOES NOT REFLECT ANY MAJOR CAPITULATION ON THE PART OF EITHER UNIONISTS OR NATIONALISTS. BUT IT DOES REPRESENT A LONG OVERDUE REALITY CHECK. NORTHERN IRELAND'S ECONOMY GREW NEARLY EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO GROW ANOTHER SEVEN PERCENT THIS YEAR. UNEMPLOYMENT, WHILE STILL VERY HIGH IN CERTAIN, ESPECIALLY CATHOLIC, POCKETS OF THE PROVINCE, HAS COME DOWN TO UNDER EIGHT PERCENT OVERALL, LOWER THAN IN GERMANY AND FRANCE. THE ONCE SWELLING RANKS OF IDLE YOUNG MALES - - IDEAL PICKS FOR CAREER PARAMILITARIES - - ARE DWINDLING. AS THE ECONOMY PICKS UP, AND WITH IT THE HOPE FOR LONG PROMISED INVESTMENT, NORTHERN IRELAND'S VOTERS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE GROWN IMPATIENT WITH THE INTRANSIGENCE OF SECTARIAN LEADERS. TEXT: LASTLY, IN MAINE, SENATOR MITCHELL'S HOME STATE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" OPINES: VOICE: NOT SINCE THE SIX COUNTIES OF NORTHERN IRELAND BECAME A PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 77 YEARS AGO HAS THERE BEEN SUCH HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. ...... [SENATOR] MITCHELL'S NOBLE EFFORTS HAVE HELPED GIVE THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. PEOPLE OF GOOD FAITH AROUND THE WORLD ARE HOPING THEY TAKE IT. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS /// OPT /// ADDITIONAL /// END OPT ///NEB/ANG/PLM 14-Apr-98 2:49 PM EDT (1849 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=4/14/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229642 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED TRADING MIXED ON TUESDAY. FOR THE CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE IS V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON. TEXT: PRICES ON THE BIG EUROPEAN STOCK INDEXES BEGAN THE POST-EASTER HOLIDAY TRADING SHARPLY HIGHER -- MOSTLY DRIVEN BY BANK STOCKS WHICH TRADED UP ON THE NEWS OF THE BIG BANK MERGERS PROPOSED IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT THE EUPHORIA SUBSIDED BY THE END OF TRADING, AND LONDON AND PARIS CLOSED DOWN. THE LONDON "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX LOST ONE-AND-A-HALF (EDS: 1.4) POINTS -- OFF JUST SLIGHTLY FROM THURSDAY'S CLOSE. THE PARIS "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX ENDED LOWER BY ALMOST 27 POINTS. BUT THE GERMAN "DAX" INDEX TRADED HIGHER, CLOSING UP ALMOST 56 POINTS -- A DAILY GAIN OF JUST OVER ONE PERCENT. THE U-S DOLLAR CLOSED LOWER IN THIN TRADING IN EUROPE. THE DOLLAR WAS DOWN ALMOST TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE DEUTSCHEMARK AND DOWN ABOUT A CENT-AND-A-HALF AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. GOLD IN LONDON TRADED HIGHER, UP TWO DOLLARS AN OUNCE, TO CLOSE
AT 309-DOLLARS-55 CENTS. (SIGNED)
[06] CZECH / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)DATE=4/14/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229614 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE PARLIAMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS OPENED DEBATE ON NATO ENLARGEMENT. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM PRAGUE. TEXT: FREQUENT OPINION SURVEYS HAVE MEASURED THE CZECH PUBLIC'S SUPPORT FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP, BUT THE VOTE IN PARLIAMENT IS THE ONE THAT COUNTS. APPROVAL OF THE NATO TREATY IS EXPECTED BY A WIDE MARGIN. ONLY THE COMMUNISTS AND THE RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN PARTY OPPOSE THE TREATY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND AND HUNGARY THE FIRST POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. SURVEYS INDICATE THE CZECH PUBLIC ALSO SUPPORTS NATO MEMBERSHIP, BUT BY A SMALLER MARGIN THAN CITIZENS OF THE TWO OTHER CANDIDATE COUNTRIES. THE LATEST POLLS HERE INDICATE SUPPORT RUNNING AT ABOUT 60-PERCENT. SUPPORTERS SAY THAT AFTER FOUR DECADES OF COMMUNIST RULE, WHICH FOLLOWED NAZI DOMINATION IN WORLD WAR TWO, THE COUNTRY NEEDS THE PROTECTION OF ITS STRONG NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST. TROUBLES IN THE BALKANS, THEY SAY, SHOW THAT EUROPE IS STILL A DANGEROUS PLACE. THE POINT WAS MADE AT A PRO-NATO RALLY JUST BEFORE PARLIAMENT CONVENED. IN THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF PRAGUE CASTLE WERE GATHERED SOVIET AND NAZI TANKS, TRUCKS, AND OTHER ARMY VEHICLES, MANNED BY ACTORS IN UNIFORM. AN ORGANIZER OF THE DEMONSTRATION -- FILM PRODUCER VACLAV MARHOUL SAID THE ORGANIZERS DO NOT EXPECT TO CHANGE ANY VOTES IN PARLIAMENT. THEY JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT'S AT STAKE. /// MARHOUL ACTUALITY ///TWO TIMES IN OUR HISTORY, TWO TIMES THOSE OCCUPATION ARMIES CROSSED OUR BORDER, THEY CAME HERE AND THEY KILL CZECH PEOPLE. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO REFRESH THE MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE HERE. /// END ACTUALITY ///BUT OPPONENTS SAY THAT WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE ALLIANCE IS NO LONGER NEEDED, AND ITS EXPANSION COULD BE SEEN AS A PROVOCATION IN MOSCOW. THEY ALSO SAY THE COST WILL BE TOO HIGH INCLUDING UPGRADING MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING. NATO WAS FORMED IN 1949 AS A MUTUAL DEFENSE AGREEMENT AMONG DEMOCRACIES IN WESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. ITS 16 CURRENT MEMBERS -- AND ANY THAT JOIN IN THE FUTURE -- AGREE TO REGARD AN ATTACK ON ONE AS AN ATTACK ON ALL. BECAUSE THE NATO ORGANIZATION IS BASED ON A TREATY, ALL CURRENT
AS WELL AS PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS MUST RATIFY THE EXPANSION.
SEVERAL HAVE ALREADY DONE SO. A VOTE IN THE U-S SENATE IS
EXPECTED LATER THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
[07] ALBRIGHT / FOREIGN POLICY BY VALONDA BRUINTON (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/14/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-40047 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE GOAL OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE 21-ST CENTURY IS FOR U-S CITIZENS TO PROSPER AND AT THE SAME TIME BRING OTHER COUNTRIES ALONG AND CREATE MORE SUPERPOWERS. AS VALONDA BRUINTON REPORTS, THE SECRETARY DISCUSSED A WIDE RANGE OF FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES IN A LECTURE IN WASHINGTON TUESDAY. TEXT: SECRETARY ALBRIGHT DISCUSSED THE GOALS OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY AS PART OF A SERIES OF TALKS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY AND ITS RELEVANCE TO DOMESTIC AND WORLD AFFAIRS. MS. ALBRIGHT SAID SHE SAW THE WORLD AS DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS FIRST: COUNTRIES WHO OBEY THE VARIOUS CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES, SECOND: SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION, THIRD: ROGUE STATES, AND THE FOURTH GROUP SHE DESCRIBED AS BASKET CASES, (OUT OF CONTROL) COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NO STRUCTURE AT ALL. THE SECRETARY SAID THE LONG TERM STATE DEPARTMENT AMBITION IS TO ELIMINATE THE LAST THREE GROUPS. // ALBRIGHT ACT //OUR LONG TERM GOAL AS WE MOVE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY IS FRANKLY TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY INTO THAT FIRST GROUP. SO THAT MEANS SUPPORTING AS WE CAN THE SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION, TRYING TO REFORM THE ROGUES IN SOME WAY AND TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THE BASKET CASES BE ABLE TO STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET. THAT I THINK IS A GOOD LONG TERM GOAL FOR THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THAT MAKES A MORE STABLE WORLD. // END ACT //THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO DISCUSSED THREATS TO SOCIETY, THE GREATEST OF WHICH SHE SAID WERE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. SHE SAID OTHER THREATS INCLUDE DRUGS, REFUGEES AND DISEASE. MS. ALBRIGHT SAID INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS CAN HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SUCH THREATS. // ALBRIGHT ACT //WE NEED TO BE PROUD OF BEING PART OF THE BIGGEST MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY IN THE WORLD AND PROUD OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY BUT AT THE SAME TIME PREPARED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE GAIN AS A NATION WHEN WE PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACTUALLY MULTIPLY OUR POWER AND OUR SOVEREIGNTY BY ALLOWING US TO DEAL WITH WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF THESE 21ST CENTURY THREATS. // END ACT //SECRETARY ALBRIGHT WAS QUESTIONED BY A HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT ABOUT WHY THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE A CONSISTENT POLICY TOWARD COUNTRIES CONSIDERED ROGUE OR ISOLATED STATES. SHE SAID THERE CAN NOT BE A COOKIE CUTTER (UNIFORM) APPROACH. SHE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE NIGERIA, WHICH HAS NOT SEEN A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN NEARLY TWENTY-YEARS, SAYING IT CAN NOT BE TREATED THE SAME AS THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. SHE SAID THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WAS A FUNCTIONING ECONOMY WORKING WELL BUT IS NOW FAILING TO THOROUGHLY LIVE UP TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS SIGNED BY PARTIES TO THE BALKAN CONFLICT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID MANY COUNTRIES THAT ARE BEING ISOLATED COULD VERY EASILY BECOME PART OF THE RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY. // ALBRIGHT ACT //THEY ARE VERY CAPABLE OF BEING PART OF THE SYSTEM. TAKE IRAQ. IRAQ IS A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT POOR, THAT HAS OIL REVENUES THAT COULD BECOME A PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IF THEY ABIDED BY THE RULES THAT THE SYSTEM PUT DOWN WHICH IS TO COME CLEAN ON WHAT THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. // END ACT //SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID THE CONSISTENCY OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY
COMES WITH ITS BASIC CORE PRINCIPLES. SHE SAID THESE ARE --
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS, AND
MOVING TOWARD FREE MARKET SYSTEMS. (SIGNED)
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