Voice of America, 98-06-18

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY/GREECE (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[02] CLINTON / FRANCE (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

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

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

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

[06] WHAT TO DO ABOUT KOSOVO PROVINCE? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] NATO'S ROLE IN BRINGING PEACE TO KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[08] U-S EXPERTS WARY OF E-U MAD COW MOVES BY ROB SIVAK (WASHINGTON)

[01] TURKEY/GREECE (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: LEADING TURKISH OFFICIALS ACCUSED GREECE THURSDAY OF USING CYPRUS AS A LAUNCHING PAD TO ATTACK TURKEY. TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM SAID TURKEY WOULD TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO PROTECT ITSELF AND NORTHERN CYPRUS AGAINST GREEK AGGRESSION. FROM ANKARA AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT: MR CEM'S COMMENTS CAME AFTER SIX TURKISH F-16 FIGHTER JETS LANDED IN TURKISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN CYPRUS.

TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH DESCRIBED THE ARRIVAL OF THE TURKISH JETS AS A STEP TO RE-ESTABLISH WHAT HE TERMED BALANCE ON THE ISLAND. ON TUESDAY, GREECE SENT FOUR WARPLANES AND TWO TRANSPORT PLANES TO A GREEK CYPRIOT MILITARY BASE. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS DESCRIBED THE GREEK ACTION AS A CLEAR SIGNAL OF GREECE'S PLANS TO ATTACK TURKEY.

LATE WEDNESDAY, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ MET WITH HIS CABINET MINISTERS AND TOP GENERALS IN AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO EVALUATE THE VISIT OF THE GREEK JETS TO THE ISLAND. MR YILMAZ WARNED THURSDAY THAT GREEK CYPRIOTS WOULD BE THE ONES TO SUFFER IF TENSIONS CONTINUED TO RISE ON THE ISLAND.

TURKEY AND GREECE, BOTH MEMBERS OF NATO, HAVE LONG ARGUED OVER CYPRUS. IN 1974 TURKISH TROOPS INVADED THE ISLAND IN RESPONSE TO A COUP ATTEMPT BY GREEK CYPRIOT NATIONALISTS, BACKED BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT. THE COUP FAILED AND SOME 30,000 TURKISH TROOPS REMAIN DEPLOYED IN NORTHERN CYPRUS, WHICH DECLARED ITSELF INDEPENDENT IN 1983 AND IS ONLY RECOGNIZED BY TURKEY.

TENSIONS ON THE ISLAND ESCALATED LAST YEAR AFTER THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DEPLOY RUSSIAN-MADE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES ON THE ISLAND. TURKEY HAS THREATENED TO DESTROY THE MISSILES IF AND WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED.

EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES TO RECONCILE THE TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOTS HAVE SINCE FOCUSED ON PREVENTING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE MISSILES. BUT THE GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOW NO SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN ON THEIR DECISION. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/KL
18-Jun-98 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON / FRANCE (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET WITH FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS A RANGE OF GLOBAL ISSUES. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE HAVE HAD SOME HIGH-PROFILE DISAGREEMENTS -- NOTABLY OVER U-S SANCTIONS POLICY, MR. CLINTON AND MR. JOSPIN FOCUSED ON AREAS WHERE THEY AGREE.

THEY DISCUSSED ALLIED EFFORTS TO END THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO, WHERE SERBIA HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS, AS WELL AS RECENT U-S EFFORTS TOWARD RAPPROCHEMENT WITH IRAN.

ALSO ON THE AGENDA WAS ASIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS, AND THE JOINT FOREIGN EXCHANGE INTERVENTION BY THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO PROP UP THE YEN WEDNESDAY. IT IS A MOVE APPLAUDED BY MR. JOSPIN, WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS FOLLOWING HIS MEETING.

WE THINK THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON THE YEN ARE GOOD. JAPANESE AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARED TO ACT.

MR. JOSPIN AND MR. CLINTON ALSO WITNESSED THE SIGNING OF AN AVIATION AGREEMENT WHICH WILL EXPAND COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/PT
18-Jun-98 7:57 PM EDT (2357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN IN TRADING THURSDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL OPENED UP, GETTING A BOOST FROM SOARING PRICES IN ASIA. BUT THEY ALL CLOSED DOWN AFTER TRADERS BECAME NERVOUS WHEN CENTRAL BANKS IN BOTH GERMANY AND FRANCE HINTED AT POSSIBLE INCREASES IN INTEREST RATES.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF 41 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX CLOSED DOWN 53 POINTS, NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL 21 POINTS, MORE THAN THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE A LITTLE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN A BIT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/JO
18-Jun-98 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (THURSDAY) AS TRADERS RESTED AFTER WEDNESDAY'S BIG RALLY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 13, DOWN 16 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED SIX, DOWN A FRACTION OF ONE POINT.

STOCK TRADING WAS RATHER LACKLUSTER AFTER WEDNESDAY'S BIG RALLY IN WHICH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED ALMOST TWO PERCENT AFTER THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN MOVED TO SUPPORT THE YEN. MANY ANALYSTS SAY THAT, WHILE THE CENTRAL BANK INTERVENTION HAS REVERSED THE SLIDE IN THE JAPANESE CURRENCY, THE LONG TERM SOLUTION TO A WEAK YEN WILL BE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC REFORMS BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.

THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS WAS REFLECTED IN THE LATEST U-S TRADE FIGURES WHICH SHOW THE TRADE DEFICIT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WAS A RECORD 47 POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

DAVID WEES OF THE STANDARD AND POOR'S RESEARCH COMPANY SAYS IT IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT FOR U-S COMPANIES TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS IN ASIA.

THE U-S IS JUST PRICED OUT OF MANY WORLD MARKETS. WITH THE STRONG RISE IN THE DOLLAR AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE ASIAN CURRENCIES, WE ARE SIMPLY NOT COMPETITIVE AGAINST JAPANESE AND ASIAN PRODUCERS.

THE ASIAN SITUATION HAS CAUSED THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY TO REVISE DOWNWARD ITS PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT DEMAND.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS JUMPED BY MORE THAN 13 THOUSAND LAST WEEK. ANALYSTS SAY MUCH OF THE INCREASE WAS CAUSED BY STRIKES AND SHUT DOWNS AT GENERAL MOTORS PLANTS.

THOSE G-M STRIKES HAVE NOW ENDED ALMOST ALL OF THE COMPANY'S NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE PRODUCTION AND HAVE COST G-M AN ESTIMATED 200 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST EARNINGS.

TOBACCO COMPANY STOCKS WERE STRONG AS A RESULT OF WEDNESDAY'S COLLAPSE OF CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO PASS SMOKING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED A HUGE INCREASE IN U-S CIGARETTE PRICES. HOWEVER, SOME ANALYSTS SAY IT IS TOO SOON FOR THE INDUSTRY TO CELEBRATE. THE COMPANIES ARE STILL LIABLE FOR INDIVIDUAL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS INVOLVING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES.

THE YAHOO COMPUTER INTERNET SEARCH SERVICE SAYS IT EXPECTS TO REPORT A LOSS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER DUE TO ITS RECENT ACQUISITION OF VIAWEB, AN INTERNET SOFTWARE COMPANY.

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL BUY A 43 PERCENT INTEREST IN INFOSEEK, ANOTHER INTERNET SEARCH AND DIRECTORY SERVICE. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL REFLECTS A TREND OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA COMPANIES GAINING A PRESENCE ON THE INTERNET.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
18-Jun-98 5:14 PM EDT (2114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: INTERVENTION IN WORLD MONEY MARKETS BY THE UNITED STATES TO HELP PROP UP THE JAPANESE YEN IS THE POPULAR TOPIC FOR COMMENT IN THURSDAY'S U-S PAPERS. THERE IS ALSO A GOOD DEAL OF ANGER IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS ABOUT THE SENATE'S FAILURE, AFTER WEEKS OF ARGUING, TO PASS A TOBACCO CONTROL BILL.

OTHER EDITORIALS ARE COMMENTING ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO; NEW HUMAN RIGHTS TROUBLE IN COLOMBIA; THE HORN OF AFRICA WAR; AND A DEMAND FOR AN APOLOGY ON A SENSATIONAL STORY ABOUT U-S FORCES ALLEGEDLY USING NERVE GAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR TO KILL DESERTERS. NOW, HERE IS ______________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: WEDNESDAY'S MOVE BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO BUY YEN AND SELL DOLLARS IN ORDER TO BOOST THE FAILING JAPANESE CURRENCY, IS DRAWING WIDESPREAD COMMENT, OFTEN AT THE TOP OF THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS: "U-S IS RIGHT TO BOLSTER YEN," WHILE THE UNDER-HEADLINE ADDS: "THE MOVE DOES NOT DIMINISH TOKYO'S NEED TO REFORM." HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS THAT THIS COUNTRY HAD TO WAIT TO ACT UNTIL JAPAN MADE MORE REFORM COMMITMENTS.

VOICE: TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN DID WELL TO WITHHOLD U-S SUPPORT FOR THE SLIDING JAPANESE YEN UNTIL RECEIVING ASSURANCES FROM JAPAN OF FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC REFORM.

TEXT: THE NATION'S LEADING FINANCIAL DAILY, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ALSO DEALS WITH THE YEN SUPPORT IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, SUGGESTING THE U-S INTERVENTION WAS LATER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE INTERVENTION BY THE THE TWO CENTRAL BANKS [EDS: THE JAPANESE CENTRAL BANK ALSO BOUGHT YEN WITH DOLLARS] TO BUY UP YEN WITH DOLLARS WAS OBVIOUSLY DRIVEN BY CONCERN AT THE U-S TREASURY THAT AMERICA IS NOT AFTER ALL INSULATED FROM JAPAN'S CURRENT TRAUMA; ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO WORD LEAKED OUT OF ROBERT RUBIN'S OFFICE THAT THE TREASURY SECRETARY WOULD NOT BE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED IF THE FALLING YEN DROPPED INTO THE PLUS-140 TO THE DOLLAR RANGE. NO DOUBT THERE BEGAN TO BE SOME WORRY WHEN IT HIT 146 WITH NO END IN SIGHT, AND MOST LIKELY THE ANXIETY DEEPENED WHEN THE DOW [INDEX OF LEADING U-S STOCKS] SHED 207 POINTS MONDAY. /// END OPT /// ..... IF YESTERDAY'S [WEDNESDAY'S] EXCHANGE MARKET INTERVENTION IS A SIGN THAT THE TREASURY FINALLY IS WAKING UP TO THE DANGERS OF INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY INSTABILITY, WE WARMLY WELCOME SUCH NEWS. ..... CLEARLY, IN TODAY'S WORLD OF INTERCONNECTED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, A SICKNESS IN ONE LARGE FINANCIAL SECTOR CANNOT HELP BUT SPREAD TO OTHERS. /// OPT /// JAPAN'S FINANCIAL SECTOR IS VERY SICK, AND THE SLUMPING YEN, NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY OF OTHER HEAVILY DEVALUED ASIAN NATIONS TO PAY THEIR BILLS, CAN ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AND FINALLY ON THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC CRISIS, THIS ADVICE FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES."'

VOICE: AFTER FOOLISHLY SPENDING ABOUT 500 BILLION DOLLARS IN MOSTLY MAKE-WORK PUBLIC-WORKS PROJECTS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, SQUANDERING MONEY THAT COULD HAVE SOLVED ITS BANKING CRISIS, IT IS TIME FOR JAPAN TO ADOPT AN INCENTIVE-DRIVEN FISCAL POLICY REFLECTING PERMANENT MARGINAL-RATE INCOME-TAX CUTS. ..... RATHER THAN USE ITS 225-BILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN-CURRENCY RESERVES IN A FUTILE EFFORT TO PERMANENTLY BOLSTER ITS CURRENCY'S VALUE, THE GOVERNMENT CAN SEND FINANCIAL MARKETS INFINITELY MORE EFFECTIVE SIGNALS BY USING SOME OF ITS RESERVES TO BEGIN CLOSING ITS INSOLVENT BANKS. ..... NO AMOUNT OF CURRENCY INTERVENTION BY GOVERNMENTS WILL SAVE THE YEN IN THE ABSENCE OF REFORM.

TEXT: A MAJOR DOMESTIC ISSUE IS THE SENATE'S FAILURE TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CONTROL THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND FORCE IT TO PAY THE HEALTH CARE COSTS OF SMOKING-INDUCED ILLNESSES. "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE OUTCOME:

VOICE: ....THE SENATE LEADERSHIP ..... KICKED AWAY THE CHANCE TO AFFECT THE THREE-THOUSAND KIDS A DAY WHO START SMOKING, AND THE ADVICE OF ALL PARTS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY. TWO YEARS' WORTH OF REVELATIONS ABOUT THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY'S CONCEALING ITS MARKETING STRATEGIES, FOCUSING ON UNDERAGE SMOKERS, MANIPULATING NICOTINE LEVELS AND COVERING UP ITS OWN RESEARCH ON HEALTH EFFECTS SEEMS TO HAVE INTERESTED THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP NOT AT ALL. /// OPT /// . ..... IT'S HARD TO DISAGREE WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S CONCLUSION THAT 'FAT CAT [POWERFUL, WEALTHY] LOBBYISTS WITH LARGE CHECKBOOKS MADE SURE THAT THE VOTE WAS NEVER TAKEN.' ... THE TOBACCO COMPANIES DO HAVE MORE MONEY THAN KIDS DO. BUT AMERICANS ARE STARTING TO SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: /// OPT /// FOR IT'S PART, "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND CALLS THE SENATE'S "FAILURE TO PASS THE ANTI-TOBACCO BILL ....SHAMEFUL." /// END OPT /// "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS PONDERING RUSSIA'S ROLE IN THE CURRENT NATO DRIVE TO END FIGHTING IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.

VOICE: /// OPT /// WASHINGTON HAS WISELY ADOPTED AN UNRUFFLED ATTITUDE TOWARD RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC INTERVENTION IN THE CRISIS OVER SERBIAN ETHNIC CLEANSING OF VILLAGES IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. /// END OPT /// RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DO NOT HIDE THEIR DESIRE TO PROTECT THE REGIME OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FROM NATO AIR STRIKES LIKE THOSE THAT HELPED END THE WAR IN BOSNIA AND BEGAN THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS. /// OPT /// ..... BUT [MR.] MILOSEVIC [HAS] REFUSED TO GIVE AN INCH ON THE CRUCIAL DEMAND OF WASHINGTON AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES - - AN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB SECURITY FORCES AND SOLDIERS. /// END OPT /// ...... [MR. YELTSIN CAN PRETEND TO PROTECT FELLOW SLAVS. HE CAN DEMONSTRATE HIS VALUE TO WESTERN CREDITORS BY HELPING THEM PREVENT ANOTHER CALAMITOUS WAR IN THE BALKANS. BUT HIS MIMICRY OF AN INDISPENSABLE GREAT POWER FOOLS NOBODY - - NOT WASHINGTON, NOT [MR.] MILOSEVIC, NOT THE RUSSIAN PUBLIC.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" AFTER WRITING ABOUT THE LATEST KILLINGS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN COLOMBIA THIS YEAR, SAYS THE SOUTH AMERICAN NATION FACES TWO BASIC, AND INTERRELATED, PROBLEMS: CIVIL WAR AND DRUG TRAFFICKING.

VOICE: ..... IN REALITY, NO WAR AGAINST THE NARCOS HAS A FIGHTING CHANCE AS LONG AS COLOMBIA'S 36-YEAR-OLD CIVIL WAR RAGES. THE TRAGEDY IS THAT, WHILE SUCCESSIVE COLOMBIAN ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE SPENT UNTOLD BILLIONS FIGHTING, NONE HAS ADDRESSED THE REAL CONCERNS THAT KEEP THE MARXIST REBELS IN BUSINESS; RURAL POVERTY, CORRUPTION, SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE AND THE VERY HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED IN HOPES OF VANQUISHING REBELS.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ALSO LAMENTS THE LATEST AFRICAN WAR IN THE HORN OF AFRICA:

VOICE: UNLIKE MOST MAJOR CONFLICTS IN AFRICA, THE ERITREAN-ETHIOPIAN WAR IS STRICTLY HOME-GROWN, WHICH MAKES IT ESPECIALLY TRAGIC. THE TWO GOVERNMENT NEED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR REPUTATIONS AS HARBINGERS OF A NEW STYLE OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP BY ENDING THE FIGHTING AND RESUMING A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP. /// OPT /// THE MORE EXTREME ELEMENTS IN ETHIOPIA NEED TO REMEMBER THAT COMPACT ERITREA HAS AN EXTREMELY COMPETENT ARMY. ETHIOPIA SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN A WAR IT CANNOT WIN. /// END OPT /// ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA HAVE MUCH TO OFFER AFRICA AS EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES THAT NO LONGER DANCE TO THE TUNE OF LARGER POWERS. A LONG WAR WOULD PERMANENTLY UNDERCUT THEIR CLAIMS TO LEADERSHIP.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" IS DEMANDING THAT CABLE NEWS NETWORK AND TIME MAGAZINE APOLOGIZE TO THE U-S MILITARY FOR A STARTLING REPORT LAST WEEK THAT U-S TROOPS USED NERVE GAS TO KILL U-S MILITARY DESERTERS HIDING IN LAOS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. SAYS "THE POST:"

VOICE: LAST WEEK, WE SAID THAT IF C-N-N / TIME MAGAZINE CLAIMS ABOUT THE USE OF NERVE GAS BY AMERICAN TROOPS IN INDOCHINA TURN OUT TO BE WRONG 'THEN C-N-N AND TIME WILL OWE THE MOTHER OF ALL APOLOGIES.' THE TIME TO START APOLOGIZING IS NOW. THAT'S BECAUSE THE ALLEGATIONS ..... ARE LOOKING MORE DUBIOUS BY THE MINUTE. .... IT IS NOW BEYOND REASONABLE ARGUMENT THAT .... [REPORTER PETER] ARNETT AND HIS ACCOMPLICES DISTORTED THE HISTORICAL RECORD TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT'S FAIR TO CONCLUDE ... THEY WERE PURSUING NOT FACTS, BUT AN AGENDA. /// OPT /// ..... AS IT STANDS, C-N-N AND TIME ARE COMPLICIT IN A GROSS SLANDER ON BRAVE AMERICAN SOLDIERS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
18-Jun-98 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] WHAT TO DO ABOUT KOSOVO PROVINCE? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: DIPLOMATS FROM NATO AND RUSSIA ARE WORKING OVERTIME WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN YUGOSLOVIA AND WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE TO TRY TO END THE FIGHTING THERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MANY JOURNALISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PRECEDENT-SETTING POSSIBILITY OF NATO AIR FORCES ATTACKING A SOVEREIGN NATION, SINCE KOSOVO IS LEGALLY A PART OF THE CURRENT YUGOSLAVIA.

FOR THOSE REASONS, /// END OPT /// THE WORLD'S PRESS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS LATEST BALKAN TROUBLE SPOT, AND WE GET A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL FROM AROUND THE GLOBE NOW FROM ______________________ IN THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: MANY NEWSPAPERS SEE MOSCOW INVOLVEMENT THIS WEEK AS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO ENHANCE THE FORMER SUPERPOWER'S PRESTIGE ABROAD AND IMPRESS RUSSIAN AT HOME - - ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF RUSSIAN ECONOMIC TURMOIL. /// OPT /// THE RUSSIANS HAVE A CLOSE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS TIE WITH THE SERBS, SINCE THEY ARE BOTH SLAVIC PEOPLE WHO PREDOMINANTLY PRACTICE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY.

ANOTHER THEME IN SOME REPORTS WAS THE FEAR THAT THE WEST STILL HAS NO CLEAR CONCEPT OF WHAT A FINAL AUTONOMOUS ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVO WOULD LOOK LIKE, WITHIN THE CURRENT YUGOSLAV FEDERATION.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN YUGOSLAVIA, WHERE THE BELGRADE DAILY "NASA BORBA" HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: IT LOOKS AS IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET EXCITED OVER THE NATO [AIR FORCE] MANEUVERS. THIS TIME PEOPLE ARE RIGHT, NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT INTERVENTION, BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE ANYMORE. .... [PEOPLE] LOOK NOW ON ALL THESE THREATS AND SANCTIONS AS A PROBLEM WHICH ONLY [MR.] MILOSEVIC AND [MR.] SESELJ [THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO] HAVE WITH AMERICANS.

TEXT: IN NEARBY MACEDONIA, THE DAILY "DNEVNIK" RAN THIS COMMENTARY LAMENTING THEIR WEAK DIPLOMATIC POSITION IN THE NEIGHBORING CONFLICT.

VOICE: NO MATTER HOW NEEDED OR FORCED IT WAS, NATO OVER-FLIGHTS IN THE NAME OF SOME 'MILITARY SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY' MEANT TEMPORARY OCCUPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. OUR POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IS SO WEAK .... WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FOREIGN INTERESTS AS PRIMARY, UNDER THE MASK OF SOME TYPE OF OUR 'DEFENSE.'

TEXT: IN RUSSIA, WHERE MUCH OF THE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY WAS CENTERED THIS WEEK, MOSCOW'S "NOVIYE IZVESTIA" NOTED:

VOICE: OF THE WHOLE WORLD, IT SEEMS, ONLY THE RUSSIAN LEADER REFUSES TO SEE THAT THE MOSCOW MEETING DID NOT, AND COULD NOT, CHANGE ANYTHING. A 'ZERO' OUTCOME LIKE THAT SATISFIES PRACTICALLY EVERYONE WITH INTERESTS IN THE BALKANS. IT IS GOOD IF ONLY BECAUSE IT HELPS MAINTAIN A STATUS QUO .....

TEXT: ALSO FROM MOSCOW, "NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA" OPINED:

VOICE: ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THE MOSCOW NEGOTIATORS MADE ONLY A FIRST STEP TOWARDS UNTANGLING THE KOSOVO FRAY. TO KEEP THE MOVES FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN YUGOSLAVIA ON COURSE, A FEW OTHER FACTORS ARE IN ORDER, UNRELATED FOR THE TIME BEING TO MOSCOW'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, IN ANY IMMEDIATE TERMS, AT LEAST. .... CRUCIAL COULD BE GUARANTEES THAT MR. MILOSEVIC .... WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE WORD HE VIRTUALLY GAVE BORIS YELTSIN AND HOLD BACK FROM MAKING ANY EXTRA DEMANDS. OTHERWISE, BOTH RUSSIA'S EFFORTS AND ITS STATURE WILL BE CONSIDERABLY PREJUDICED.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, WE GET THIS FROM "THE TIMES" IN LONDON.

VOICE: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC PLAYED THE 'TERRORISM' CARD IN MOSCOW THIS WEEK TO JUSTIFY HIS DECISION TO WITHDRAW SERBIAN TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. HE WAS PLAYING A FAMILIAR GAME.

TEXT: TAKING A MORE PESSIMISTIC VIEW IS "THE GUARDIAN," WHICH SCOFFED AT THE NATO AIR SHOW FLYING NEAR KOSOVO'S BORDERS:

VOICE: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CALLED NATO'S BLUFF ... BY REFUSING TO WITHDRAW HIS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. THREATENED WITH WESTERN MILITARY INTERVENTION IF SERBIAN FORCES DO NOT STOP THEIR RUTHLESS CAMPAIGN, MR. MILOSEVIC MADE A FEW CONCESSIONS AFTER TALKS WITH BORIS YELTSIN IN THE KREMLIN ..... HE CLEARLY FELT THAT NATO WOULD NEVER FIND THE CONSENSUS TO MOUNT ITS FIRST OFFENSIVE AGAINST ANOTHER COUNTRY.

TEXT: FOR FRENCH REACTION, /// OPT /// "LE FIGARO" FROM PARIS HAS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO WILL ALLOW [FRENCH PREMIER LIONEL] JOSPIN TO CELEBRATE WITH BILL CLINTON THE SOLIDITY OF THE 'TRANS-ATLANTIC' ALLIANCE. RIVALRIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE NOW CONCENTRATED ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, WHILE DIVERGING VIEWS ON SUCH ISSUES AS EUROPE, NATO OR IRAQ HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. ON KOSOVO, THERE ARE NO DIFFERENCES OF ANALYSIS BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN OFFICIALS.

TEXT: ALSO IN PARIS, /// END OPT /// "LE MONDE," WORRIES ABOUT A POTENTIALLY BAD PRECEDENT THAT VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW:

VOICE: IN THE EVENT OF A MILITARY INTERVENTION, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT NATO INTERVENES IN FAVOR OF A MINORITY IN A FOREIGN TERRITORY, AND AGAINST THE WISH OF THAT NATION AND ITS ARMY ... SUCH AN INTERVENTION WOULD MEAN A BREAK FROM PRESENT RULES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW .....

TEXT: IN GERMANY, "THE FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG" LAMENTS:

VOICE: AGAIN [MR.] MILOSEVIC SEEMS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CREATING NOTHING BUT CONFUSION /// OPT /// ... THE ONLY THING THAT CAME OUT OF THE TALKS [IN MOSCOW] IS THE PROMISE THAT SERBIAN OPPRESSIVE BODIES WILL REFRAIN FROM FURTHER 'MEASURES' AGAINST THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS. THIS, TOO MEANS LITTLE SINCE NOTHING PREVENTS THESE 'BODIES' FROM DECLARING CIVILIANS TERRORISTS AND FROM ATTACKING THEM WITH MILITARY MEANS. /// END OPT /// ACCORDING TO MOSCOW'S INTERPRETATION OF THE TALKS, THE SERBIAN FORCES WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM KOSOVO. NATO'S THREATENING GESTURES ARE NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE EITHER.

TEXT: THAT WAS NOT AT ALL THE VIEW OF AT LEAST ONE MAJOR DAILY IN PRAGUE, WHERE THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S "LIDOVE NOVINY" COMMENTED:

VOICE: WHEN THE ALLIANCE LAUNCHED JET FLYOVERS, THOSE WHO FAVOR SIMPLE SOLUTIONS SIGHED WITH RELIEF: THE TOUGH MOVE ON THE PART OF NATO WILL SHOW THE SERBS ... THE WORLD COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THEIR VIOLENCE - - AND IF THEY [THE SERBS] DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT - - MORE VIGOROUS MOVES WILL FOLLOW WHICH WILL TEACH THEM TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS.

TEXT: HOWEVER IN THE SPANISH CAPITAL, MADRID, "EL PAIS" ONE OF THE CONTINENTS LARGEST DAILIES, NOTED:

VOICE: AS THE WAR IN BOSNIA AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD HAVE ILLUSTRATED, [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS A SPECIALIST IN NOT FULFILLING HIS PROMISES ....

TEXT: AS WE TURN BRIEFLY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, IN BAHRAIN, "AL-AYAM" WRITES THAT "KOSOVO IS BECOMING ANOTHER BOSNIA." MEANWHILE,IN JORDAN, AMMAN'S "AL-DUSTUR" WRITES:

VOICE: THE EASY-GOING APPROACH OF THE WEST TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KOSOVO BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE TRAGEDY OF BOSNIA-HYERZEGOVINA, WHERE MUSLIMS SUFFERED A MASS-EXTERMINATION CAMPAIGN AT THE HANDS OF THE SERBS FOR TWO YEARS. WESTERN FORCES DID NOT INTERVENE UNTIL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS WERE KILLED AND EVICTED, AND MANY VILLAGES AND CITIES WERE BURNED DOWN ..... WHY DOESN'T THE WEST LEARN A LESSON FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND IMMEDIATELY INTERVENE IN KOSOVO, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM QATAR, THE DAILY "AL-WATAN" EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: WHILE PALESTINIAN HOUSES IN THE WEST BANK ARE BEING RAZED BY ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES ..... SERB FORCES CONTINUE TO FORCE MUSLIM FAMILIES OUT OF KOSOVO WITH THE AIM OF 'CLEANSING' THE AREA OF ITS MUSLIM MAJORITY POPULATION.

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF THE WORLD PRESS ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.
NEB/ANG/GE
18-Jun-98 5:07 PM EDT (2107 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] NATO'S ROLE IN BRINGING PEACE TO KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN RESPONSE TO NATO AIR EXERCISES OVER ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS EXPRESSED HIS READINESS TO MEET WITH KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA, AS DEMANDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ON TUESDAY, HOWEVER, MR. MILOSEVIC PLEDGED TO CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE AGAINST WHAT HE CALLED "TERRORISTS," BUT PROMISED TO HALT MILITARY OPERATIONS

TEXT: JOHN FOX, A FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO WORKED ON BALKAN ISSUES DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, NOW DIRECTS THE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE. MR. FOX SAYS HE THINKS EARLIER U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS UNWITTINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- FOX (0:53) "IT'S BEEN FLIPPING AND FLOPPING AND ZIGGING AND ZAGGING AND A DEEPLY CONFUSED POLICY. I DON'T THINK THAT THE U-S SPONSORED TALKS HAVE DONE MUCH MORE THAN GIVE COVER FOR ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE END. AS UNFORTUNATE AS THAT OUTCOME IS FOR ANY DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE, I THINK IT HAS TO BE SAID. I THINK IT'S UNDERCUT MODERATES. I THINK IT HAS DISCREDITED THE NEGOTIATING TRACK. AND, IT HAS PROBABLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF DEAD CIVILIANS AND HASTENED THE DAY WHEN MORE FORCEFUL MEASURES WOULD HAVE TO BE USED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE LESSONS OF BOSNIA ARE EARLY INTERVENTION, CREDIBLE USE AND THREAT OF FORCE BEHIND THE DIPLOMACY, EARLY DEPLOYMENT OF NATO, AND U-S LEADERSHIP ON KEY ISSUES OF EUROPEAN SECURITY AND STABILITY. (OPT) BUT, IT'S AN INTERAGENCY PROCESS, AND IT'S AN ALLIANCE PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY OF COURSE IT NEEDS PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE BOTTOM UP, AND IT NEEDS EARLY LEADERSHIP." (END OPT)

TEXT: IN THE CURRENT BALKAN DISPUTE, MR. FOX SAYS, THE UNITED STATES MISCALCULATED THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT HAD TO CONVINCE THE SERBIAN AND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP TO REACH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT ON THE STATUS OF THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- FOX (0:53) (OPT) "THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY'D HAD ALL THESE YEARS WHEN KOSOVO DIDN'T EXPLODE, AND MAYBE IT JUST WOULDN'T EXPLODE FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS. THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT FORCE WHICH WILL REQUIRE A LOT MORE FORCE, A MUCH LARGER INTERVENTION, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD MADE RATHER SERIOUS MISCALCULATIONS BACK IN THE EARLIER MONTHS. I THINK IT WILL INDEED BE THE EUROPEANS WHO DRIVE THE AMERICANS NOW. (END OPT) THANKS TO EARLIER DISASTROUS POLICIES THAT THE WEST ADOPTED ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE REFUGEE-RECEIVING COUNTRIES IN EUROPE ARE ALREADY LOADED UP. THEY HAVE AN INCREASINGLY KEEN APPRECIATION OF WHAT A BALKAN WAR COULD MEAN FOR EUROPE. BUREAUCRACIES AND MINISTRIES AND MUCH LESS MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT COME SUPPLIED WITH HISTORICAL IMAGINATION. THAT'S WHY CONFLICT PREVENTION IS PRIMARILY A NONGOVERNMENTAL AVOCATION."

TEXT: GOVERNMENTS, SAYS JOHN FOX, OFTEN FAIL TO PREVENT INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- FOX (0:22) "EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THIS WAS COMING, EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THIS WAS PREVENTABLE. MOST UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE CIVILIANS ON THE GROUND -- THE MOTHERS, THE CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE 90 PERCENT STILL THE VICTIMS OF THESE CAMPAIGNS -- THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO REQUIRE, NOT JUST BLOODSHED, BUT POLICY EMBARRASSMENT AND DRAMATIC FAILURE, IN ORDER TO GET ACTION."

TEXT: THE REAL QUESTION NOW, MR. FOX SAYS, IS WHETHER NATO'S DISPLAY OF FORCE HAS ARRIVED IN TIME TO PREVENT WHAT HE CALLS AN "IRREVERSIBLE RADICALIZATION AND DESTABILIZATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD."

AMBASSADOR MORTON ABRAMOWITZ [AH-BRAHM-OH-WITS] IS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE SINCERITY OF THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT'S MOST RECENT PROMISES TO END THE VIOLENCE. MR. ABRAMOWITZ IS FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND EARLIER SERVED AS AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY AND TO THAILAND. AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IF MR. MILOSEVIC WERE TO WITHDRAW HIS FORCES, LET THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES RETURN HOME, AND STOP CREATING REFUGEES. AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ ADDS THAT THERE ARE TWO CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE KOSOVO SITUATION.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:25) "THE FIRST IS THE CESSATION OF THE VIOLENCE, WHICH I THINK IS CRITICAL BEFORE THE NON-VIOLENT ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP IS SIMPLY SWEPT AWAY. THEY MAY ALREADY BE FATALLY DAMAGED. AND THE SECOND IS, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF KOSOVO. SO, IT'S NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF HAVING TALKS. IT'S HAVING TALKS TO DO SOMETHING. AND ON THAT, IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY."

TEXT: FURTHERMORE, AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS, ANY MEANINGFUL TALKS BETWEEN THE SERBIAN AND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP WILL REQUIRE WHAT HE CALLS "AGGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT." AND, THE AMBASSADOR ADDS, THE CONTINUING THREAT OF NATO AIR POWER WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY TO BACK UP INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:30) "THE QUESTION IS: IS NATO GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH, IF NOTHING HAPPENS? THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS ALREADY SINCE THIS HAS GONE ON. WE'VE SEEN LOTS OF DESTRUCTION, LOTS OF THREATS, NOTHING HAPPENING. WE ARE NOW APPROACHING MUCH MORE SERIOUS NATO COMMITMENT TO TRY TO END THE VIOLENCE. I HOPE IT'S A GENUINE COMMITMENT. IF THE AIR EXERCISE IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT COMMITMENT -- FINE. IF IT'S ANOTHER EXERCISE IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING CHEAPLY, THEN'S IT'S SIMPLY GOING TO LEAD TO MORE VIOLENCE."

TEXT: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS NATO WILL CONTINUE ITS ASSESSMENT OF A POSSIBLE MILITARY RESPONSE IF NEEDED TO FORCE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO END THEIR BLOODY CRACKDOWN IN KOSOVO.
18-Jun-98 2:40 PM EDT (1840 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S EXPERTS WARY OF E-U MAD COW MOVES BY ROB SIVAK (WASHINGTON)

[TAPE INSERTS AVAILABLE FROM AUDIO SERVICES]

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION POLICYMAKERS HAVE (JUNE 10TH) RECOMMENDED LIFTING THE BAN ON BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS IMPOSED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO DURING EUROPE'S "MAD COW" SCARE. BUT

TEXT: DURING THE MID 1980S, THE FATAL BRAIN-WASTING ILLNESS CALLED MAD COW DISEASE, ALSO KNOWN AS B-S-E, INFECTED NEARLY ONE IN TEN BRITISH CATTLE. BUT WHAT LED THE EUROPEAN UNION TO SLAM THE DOOR ON BRITISH BEEF WAS THE FINDING BY A TEAM OF BRITISH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS, IN EARLY 1996, THAT B-S-E-INFECTED BEEF WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF DEATH IN AT LEAST 24 CASES OF A SIMILAR HUMAN BRAIN AILMENT, KNOWN AS C-J-D. AS A RESULT OF THEIR FINDING, BRITAIN'S EIGHT BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR BEEF EXPORT TRADE WAS SHUT DOWN, MORE THAN THREE MILLION BRITISH CATTLE WERE DESTROYED, AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN BRITISH BEEF WAS BADLY SHAKEN. NOW, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS PROPOSED RELAXING THE BAN. ANNOUNCING A PROPOSAL TO PERMIT BRITISH EXPORTS OF BONELESS BEEF FROM YOUNG CATTLE THAT PRESUMABLY ARE B-S-E-FREE, E-U FARM COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER TOLD REPORTERS IN BRUSSELS: "WE DO FEEL THAT BRITISH BEEF IS SAFE."

SOME EXPERTS IN THE UNITED STATES BELIEVE THAT JUDGMENT IS PREMATURE. AMONG THEM IS PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AMERICAN AUTHOR RICHARD RHODES, WHOSE LATEST BOOK, DEADLY FEASTS, CHRONICLES THE FOUR-DECADE SEARCH FOR THE CAUSES OF B-S-E AND SIMILAR BRAIN-WASTING DISEASES:

TAPE: CUT ONE -- RHODES "WHAT I THINK IS MOST DISTURBING IS THE DECLARATION THAT BRITISH BEEF IS SAFE. THAT HAS PAINFUL ECHOES OF WHAT THE BRITISH PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF EUROPE HEARD TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS NOT, AT THAT TIME, SAFE FOR THE SAME REASON -- BECAUSE THE BASIC SCIENCE HAD NOT YET BEEN DONE."

TEXT: MR. RHODES SAYS THE BRITISH HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR CATTLE MONITORING AND TESTING PROGRAMS, AND HAVE BANNED THE USE OF ANIMAL-DERIVED CATTLE FEED -- WHICH MOST EXPERTS BELIEVE TRIGGERED THE MAD COW EPIDEMIC. BUT THE AMERICAN AUTHOR SAYS THE E-U PROPOSAL TO ALLOW LIMITED EXPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF FAILS TO ADDRESS THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF MAD COW DISEASE, OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK IT CONTINUES TO POSE:

TAPE CUT TWO -- RHODES "THIS IS A DISEASE THAT, IN CATTLE, REQUIRES THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO INCUBATE AND DURING THE INCUBATION PERIOD, WHICH IS TOTALLY SYMPTOMLESS, THERE IS NO REALLY RELIABLE TEST THAT THE ANIMALS CAN BE PUT TO. I HAVE TO SAY, I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR U-S-D-A WOULD NOT DECIDE TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF THESE PRODUCTS INTO THE UNITED STATES."

TEXT: THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S CHIEF ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICER, LINDA DETWILER, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS STRICTLY ENFORCED BANS ON IMPORTS OF BEEF AND LIVESTOCK FROM COUNTRIES WITH B-S-E. AND THAT, SHE SAYS, HAS KEPT AMERICA'S 100-MILLION CATTLE FREE OF B-S-E -- AT LEAST SO FAR. LINDA DETWILER SAYS THAT WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, THE U-S WILL BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AS IT CONSIDERS THE FUTURE OF THE U-S BAN ON IMPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF AND LIVESTOCK.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- DETWILER "WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ACTION TAKEN IN EUROPE AND WE WILL EVALUATE THAT, AS WELL AS THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED KINGDOM. BUT NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME."

TEXT: OFFICIALS WITH THE U-S CATTLE INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP -- THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION -- SAY BRITISH EFFORTS TO END ITS MAD COW EPIDEMIC HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC POLICY LESSONS. BUT SPOKESWOMAN ALISA HARRISON PREDICTS IT WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE BRITISH BEEF OR POPULAR BRITISH BREEDING CATTLE WILL RETURN TO THE U-S MARKET:

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- HARRISON "THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETE ASSURANCE THAT THERE IS NO THREAT OF THIS ANIMAL DISEASE ENTERING THE U-S HERD. BECAUSE THE HEALTH OF OUR ANIMALS IS PARAMOUNT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY HERD, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY INDUSTRY."

TEXT: WARINESS ABOUT BRITISH BEEF IS NOT CONFINED TO THE UNITED STATES. CONSUMER, HEALTH AND LIVESTOCK GROUPS THROUGHOUT EUROPE HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERNS. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S OWN VETERINARY COMMITTEE IS STILL DEBATING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE PLAN. E-U OFFICIALS SAY A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO LIFT THE BRITISH BEEF BAN COULD BE MONTHS AWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RMS/NES
18-Jun-98 5:05 PM EDT (2105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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