Voice of America, 99-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[02] KOSOVO NEGOTIATIONS (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

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

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

[01] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE IN THE U-S CONGRESS SAYS HE SUPPORTS PLANS TO SEND NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO IF AN AGREEMENTIS REACHED BETWEEN SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN FRANK WOLF RECENTLY VISITED THE REGION AND TALKED TO PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE DISPUTE.

TEXT: MR. WOLF SAYS THE ATMOSPHERE IN KOSOVO IS TENSE. HE SAYS EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE SHOWING RESTRAINT DURING THE BREAK IN THE PEACE TALKS. BUT HE WORRIES ABOUT THE FUTURE.

THE SERB FORCES ARE VERY WELL ARMED....ALMOST EVERY SERBIAN CITIZEN IN KOSOVO HAS A WEAPON AND THE K-L-A (KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY) IS WELL ARMED SO YOU HAVE THE INGREDIENTS OF A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

DURING HIS VISIT, THE VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN TALKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AT A VILLAGE CHECKPOINT.....AND THEN MET WITH SERBIAN POLICE NEARBY. HE SAT DOWN WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND DIPLOMATS....AND HE CONSULTED WITH OFFICIALS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA.

WHAT TAKES PLACE IN KOSOVO IMPACTS ON MACEDONIA. WHAT TAKES PLACE IN MACEDONIA COULD IMPACT WITH REGARD TO GREECE AND TURKEY. IT IS INTER-RELATED AND IT'S COMPLEX HE SAYS HE LEFT THE REGION CONVINCED OF THE NEED FOR A NATO PRESENCE IF A KOSOVO PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

HE URGES PRESIDENT CLINTON TO DO MORE TO PREPARE THE COUNTRY FOR THE POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF U-S TROOPS.

PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DONE A POOR JOB OF MAKING THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR MAKING THE CASE TO THE CONGRESS FOR U-SINVOLVEMENT IN THIS CONFLICT, WHICH ALSO HAS A SIGNIFICANT MORAL ASPECT TO IT

MR. WOLF IS ALSO CALLING ON CONGRESS TO LAUNCH AN EXTENSIVE SERIES OF HEARINGS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES. HE SAYS IT IS TIME FOR A MAJOR REASSESSMENT OF AMERICA'S ROLE ABROAD. (SIGNED)
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02-Mar-99 3:24 PM EST (2024 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO NEGOTIATIONS (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: A HARDLINE POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS IN KOSOVO HAS RESIGNED FROM HIS JOB. PHILIP SMUCKER IN PRISTINA REPORTS THE MOVE CLEARS THE WAY FOR INCREASED WESTERN PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO END FIGHTING AND ACCEPT A PEACE DEAL.

TEXT: A FIERY OPPONENT OF A NATO-BACKED PEACE DEAL FOR KOSOVO, ADEM DEMACI, HAS RESIGNED FROM HIS POST AS REBEL POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE.

IN STEPPING DOWN (TUESDAY), MR. DEMACI LASHED OUT AT SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A) FOR CONSIDERING THE PEACE DEAL WHICH HE SAID STOPS SHORT OF THEIR STATED GOAL OF COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIAN RULE. HE SAID ANY DEAL SHORT OF INDEPENDENCE WOULD LEAD ONLY TO MORE HARDSHIP AND BLOODSHED FOR KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN POPULATION.

THE DEPARTURE OF MR. DEMACI FROM THE K-L-A ENDS A RIFT WITHIN THE REBEL LEADERSHIP THAT THREATENED THE KOSOVO PEACE DEAL. HIS DEPARTURE COMES AMID A GROWING ALBANIAN CONSENSUS IN FAVOR OF THE NATO-BACKED DEAL.

AN ALBANIAN "YES" TO THE DEAL WOULD SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION ONTO WESTERN POWERS WHO HAVE VOWED TO FORCE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ALSO ACCEPT THE DEAL.

SENIOR WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT IS USING THE FAILURE OF KOSOVO PEACE TALKS LAST MONTH IN FRANCE TO PUT A MILITARY STRANGLEHOLD ON SEVERAL KEY REGIONS IN KOSOVO.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (KNUT VOLLEBAEK) SAID (TUESDAY) THAT INCREASED FIGHTING AND MILITARY MANEUVERS ACROSS KOSOVO ARE PUTTING THE PEACE PROCESS AT GREAT RISK.

WESTERN REPORTERS WERE BARRED BY SERBIAN FORCES FOR A SECOND DAY TUESDAY FROM ENTERING THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGE OF GAJRE. ALBANIAN CIVILIANS CONTINUED TO FLEE TANK SHELLING NEAR THE MACEDONIAN BORDER.

FIGHTING IN THE PAST WEEK HAS KILLED MORE THAN TEN PEOPLE IN KOSOVO AND LED TO ANOTHER EXODUS OF VILLAGERS FROM THEIR HOMES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/JWH
02-Mar-99 12:25 PM EST (1725 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) AS EARLY GAINS EVAPORATED LATE IN THE SESSION. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 92-HUNDRED-97, DOWN 27 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12-HUNDRED-25, DOWN 10 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT.

STOCKS PRICES WERE UP FOR MOST OF THE SESSION, BUT SELLING PRESSURE IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING BROUGHT THE MAJOR AVERAGES DOWN.

HEWLETT-PACKARD, THE WORLD'S THIRD-LARGEST COMPUTER MAKER, WILL SPLIT ITSELF INTO TWO SEPARATE COMPANIES, ONE FOR SCIENTIFIC MEASURING BUSINESSES, THE OTHER FOR COMPUTING AND IMAGING.

WE THINK THAT BY CREATING TWO COMPANIES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON A CERTAIN SET OF CUSTOMERS AND TECHNOLOGIES. WE WILL HAVE GREATER AGILITY, MORE FLEXIBILITY AND MORE SPEED IN THE FUTURE.

THE INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS WAS UP SHARPLY IN JANUARY FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT MONTH. THE INDEX, DESIGNED TO FORECAST FUTURE U-S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, POINTS TO CONTINUED STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH.

NEW HOME SALES IN THE UNITED STATES FELL IN JANUARY FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT MONTH. EVEN WITH THE DOWNTURN HOWEVER, U-S HOME SALES IN JANUARY WERE STILL EIGHT PERCENT HIGHER THAN IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO. ALCATEL, THE FRENCH TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MAKER, WILL PAY TWO-BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH FOR XYLAN [PRON: 'ZIGH-LANN] CORPORATION, THE U-S INTERNET EQUIPMENT MAKER.

THE U-S SENATE HAS APPROVED A HALF-BILLION-DOLLAR LOAN PROGRAM TO HELP AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESSES UPGRADE THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO COMPLY WITH YEAR-2000 REQUIREMENTS. A RECENT SURVEY INDICATES MANY SMALL COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE THE IMMEDIATE CASH REQUIRED TO MAKE THEIR COMPUTERS READY TO UNDERSTAND DATES BEYOND 1999.

THE TOP SECURITIES REGULATOR IN THE UNITED STATES SAYS ANY FINANCIAL BROKERAGE FIRM WHICH IS NOT YEAR-2000 COMPLIANT BY THIS OCTOBER WILL BE SHUT DOWN. HOWEVER, ARTHUR LEVITT SAYS THAT, AS A GROUP, SECURITIES FIRMS ARE "CLEARLY ON TRACK" IN MAKING THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS COMPLIANT.

TWO MORE TOP AMERICAN EXECUTIVES AT THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAVE RESIGNED. THE VICE PRESIDENTS IN CHARGE OF INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING AND PLATFORM ENGINEERING ARE BOTH JOINING THE RIVAL FORD MOTOR COMPANY. SINCE GERMANY'S DAIMLER MERGED WITH CHRYSLER LAST MAY, A NUMBER OF TOP CHRYSLER EXECUTIVES HAVE RETIRED OR FOUND NEW JOBS. ANALYSTS SAY SOME OF THE AMERICANS AT CHRYSLER BELIEVE THEIR CAREERS MAY BE LIMITED IN WHAT WILL BECOME ESSENTIALLY A U-S BRANCH OF A GERMAN COMPANY.

TUESDAY WAS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDE, THE SUPERSONIC PASSENGER JET WHICH WAS JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE. BUT THE CONCORDE HAS NEVER RECOVERED ITS DEVELOPMENT COSTS, AND ONLY TWO AIRLINES -- AIR FRANCE AND BRITISH AIRWAYS -- HAVE EVER OFFERED CONCORDE SERVICE. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
02-Mar-99 5:16 PM EST (2216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NIGERIA COMES IN FOR A GOOD DEAL OF HOPEFUL COMMENT IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS, AS DOES THE CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA, AS EXAMINED BY SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT.

LOOKING AT SOME OTHER EDITORIALS, WE FIND THOUGHTS ON THE RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON; THE PLIGHT OF FOUR CUBAN DISSIDENTS; THE U-N'S HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON GUATEMALA'S CIVIL WAR; AND THE HEALTH OF BORIS YELTSIN. NOW, HERE IS _____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A FEW EXCERPTS, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR A FULL RETURN TO DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA, AS HERALDED BY THE ELECTION OF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, BUT WARNS OF THE DIFFICULT JOB AHEAD.

VOICE: RETIRED GENERAL ... OBASANJO, THE ONLY ONE OF NIGERIA'S MILITARY LEADERS TO HAVE VOLUNTARILY GIVEN UP POWER, WAS FREED FROM PRISON ... JUST EIGHT MONTHS AGO. MONDAY, HE WAS DECLARED NIGERIA'S FIRST ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 16 YEARS. THIS WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS BY NO MEANS ASSURES THE SURVIVAL OF DEMOCRACY IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN AS ABUSED BY ITS LEADERS AS NIGERIA. [MR.] OBASANJO CAN PUT AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS NATION ON THE DEMOCRATIC PATH IF ANYBODY CAN, HOWEVER. ... DEMOCRACY, SO LONG DELAYED, IS NIGERIA'S ONLY SALVATION NOW.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS HOPEFUL, BUT WARY, THAT MR. OBASANJO CAN OVERCOME HIS AUTHORITARIAN PAST TO RULE DEMOCRATICALLY.

VOICE: [MR.] OBASANJO IS SUSPECT BECAUSE HE IS A RETIRED GENERAL, AND SOME OPPONENTS SEE HIM AS A PAWN OF THE ARMY. HIS SUPPORTERS COUNTER THAT 20 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT HE TURNED OVER POWER TO CIVILIAN RULE. THAT ROUND OF DEMOCRACY DIDN'T LAST LONG AND THE GENERALS RETURNED. [NOW] ... HUNGER AND POVERTY ARE RAMPANT IN NIGERIA. THE ECONOMY IS IN TATTERS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN BADLY DAMAGED BY THE POLITICS OF NEGLECT. THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES [MR.] OBASANJO MUST CONQUER IF NIGERIA IS TO MAKE A PERMANENT BREAK FROM MILITARY RULE.

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEW LEADER ABOUT KEEPING PEACE AMONG NIGERIA'S MANY DISPARATE ETHNIC GROUPS.

VOICE: SO WHAT SHOULD MR. OBASANJO DO NOW THAT HE'S WON OFFICE? FOR STARTERS, MAKE GOOD USE OF THE OIL REVENUES THAT ARE NIGERIA'S LARGEST SOURCE OF INCOME. THE SOUTHERN NIGER RIVER DELTA REGION PRODUCED ABOUT 980 PERCENT OF NIGERIA'S HIGH-QUALITY CRUDE, BUT THAT AREA HAS RECEIVED LITTLE BENEFIT AND MUCH ENVIRONMENTAL INJURY. MR. OBASANJO MUST ALSO KEEP THE PEACE BETWEEN THE NORTHERN MUSLIMS AND SOUTHERN CHRISTIANS IN A COUNTRY WITH SOME 200 SEPARATE ETHNIC GROUPS. WHY DOES AMERICA CARE? WELL ... A HEALTHY GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY COULD LIFT ALL OF THE WESTERN AFRICAN COAST.

TEXT: TURNING TO CHINA'S RECENT CRACK DOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES, UNDERSCORED BY SECRETARY MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S CURRENT VISIT, PORTLAND'S "OREGONIAN" MUSES:

VOICE: IN CHINA THIS WEEK, SECRETARY ... ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT LINK ITS TRADE POLICY TOWARD CHINA WITH ITS POLICY TOWARD CHINESE HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES. /// OPT /// SAY, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, THAT PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COMES THROUGH GENTLE PRODDING AND NOT OPEN CONFRONTATION. .... SAY YOU ACCEPT ... THAT. /// END OPT /// THEN HOW ABOUT LINKING U-S TRADE POLICY TO SOMETHING MORE GERMANE - - LIKE CHINESE TRADE POLICY. LAST YEAR, THE UNITED STATES RECORDED A RECORD 57-BILLION DOLLAR TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA. /// OPT /// WHILE THE UNITED STATES HAS GRANTED CHINA FIRST-RATE ACCESS TO AMERICAN MARKETS THROUGH ITS MOST-FAVORED-NATION RELATIONSHIP, CHINESE TARIFFS REMAIN HIGH, WHICH LIMITS IMPORTS OF AMERICAN GOODS. /// END

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THERE CONTINUES TO BE COMMENT ABOUT THE RECENTLY-PUBLICIZED ALLEGATION THAT WHILE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ARKANSAS, MR. CLINTON RAPED ONE OF HIS CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS IN A LITTLE ROCK MOTEL ROOM. "THE DALLAS MORNING," DESCRIBES THE PUBLIC'S QUANDARY OVER THE CHARGE.

VOICE: NO DOUBT THE PRESIDENT, LIKE A WEARY NATION, WOULD PREFER THE SEAMY CHARGES FADE INTO A FOOTNOTE FOR HISTORIANS AND BIOGRAPHERS ASSESSING THE CLINTON PRESIDENCY. ... BUT AN ATTORNEY-CRAFTED RESPONSE (I.E. A RESPONSE FROM THE PRESIDENT'S ATTORNEY) IS SIMPLY INADEQUATE. ... NONETHELESS, AMERICA HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE PRESIDENTIAL BEHAVIOR, AND WOULD BE BETTER INFORMED IF THE PRESIDENT PERSONALLY COMMENTED ON THIS SUBJECT. ... WITHOUT CLARIFICATION, THE NAGGING SUSPICION WILL REMAIN THAT MR. CLINTON OWES ANOTHER PERSON, AND THE NATION, MORE CONTRITION.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST:" ADDS:

VOICE: FOR SOME, PERHAPS, HEARING MR. CLINTON DENY THE CHARGE ... WOULD BE HELPFUL ... BUT IT COULD HARDLY ASSIST IN ANY SOBER ASSESSMENT OF MRS. BROADDRICK'S CLAIMS. MR. CLINTON'S WORD IN THIS REALM BY NOW HAS NO VALUE. THAT LEAVES US WITH AN ACCUSATION THAT CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLY ACCEPTED, NOR EASILY IGNORED.

TEXT: TO THE CARIBBEAN NOW, AND CRITICISM FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD" OF THE CUBAN TRIAL OF FOUR DISSENTERS WHO WROTE A DEMOCRATIC MANIFESTO CALLED "THE HOMELAND BELONGS TO US ALL" AND ARE NOW ON TRIAL FOR SEDITION.

VOICE: THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER DISSIDENT SHOW TRIAL. THE FOUR ARE CUBA'S BEST KNOWN PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE, THEIR 'CRIMES' REFLECTIVE OF THE REPRESSIVE STATE THAT TOLERATES NO FREE EXPRESSION - - A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT. /// OPT /// FREEDOM FOR MS. [MARTHA BEATRIZ ] ROQUE AND MESSRS. [VLADIMIRO] ROCA, [FELIX] BONNE AND [RENE] GOMEZ HAS BECOME A RALLYING CRY FOR HUMAN-RIGHTS GROUPS WORLDWIDE, AS WELL AS FOR DIGNITARIES FROM THE POPE TO CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER TO SPAIN'S FOREIGN-RELATIONS MINISTER. /// END OPT /// ... WITH ITS SECRET TRIAL, WHAT IS CUBA TRYING TO HIDE? ITS HYPOCRISY? ITS ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS? ITS OWN EMBARGO ON THE CUBAN PEOPLE? TOO LATE. THE WORLD HAS OPENED UP TO CUBA, AND THE REGIME CANNOT STAND THE LIGHT OF DAY.

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" FROM BOSTON, REFLECTS ON THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION'S REPORT ON GUATEMALA'S LONG CIVIL WAR.

VOICE: IN GUATEMALA AS IN OTHER PLACES WITH GRISLY RECENT PASTS - - SOUTH AFRICA, FOR EXAMPLE, OR CAMBODIA - - ISSUES OF RECONCILIATION, AMNESTY, AND JUSTICE MAKE AN OFTEN TURBULENT MIX. BUT THE OVERRIDING NEED IS CLEAR: TO ASSURE THAT SUCH GRIM ABUSES OF POWER WILL NOT RECUR. IN GUATEMALA, THIS WILL REQUIRE PROOF THAT THE MILITARY AND POLICE ARE NO LONGER LAWS UNTO THEMSELVES.

TEXT: IN ASIA AGAIN, THE RECENT INDIAN-PAKISTANI SUMMIT IS BEING HAILED IN CONNECTICUT'S CAPITAL BY "THE HARTFORD COURANT."

VOICE: ... THE TWO NEIGHBORS DESERVE RECOGNITION FOR TAKING A BIG STEP AWAY FROM [POTENTIALLY NUCLEAR] CONFLICT. ... THE TWO LEADERS AGREED TO DEVELOP 'MEASURES OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING IN THE NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL FIELDS.' TOWARD THAT END, THEY WOULD GIVE EACH OTHER ADVANCE NOTICE OF BALLISTIC-MISSILE TESTS AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY WARHEADS AND MISSILES EACH POSSESSES AND HOW THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE DEPLOYED. MORE IMPORTANT, THE LEADERS PLEDGED TO INTENSIFY DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTE OVER ... JAMMU KASHMIR.

TEXT: "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" EXPRESSES THE WORRY THAT RUSSIA'S AILING BORIS YELTSIN MAY NOW BE AN ACTUAL DANGER TO PEACE.

VOICE: TODAY, AT AGE 68, [MR.] YELTSIN IS AILING, DISORIENTED AND HOSPITALIZED YET AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR A RECURRING ULCER. AFTER YEARS OF ILLNESSES - - HEART PROBLEMS, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND FAILING HEALTH - - [MR.] YELTSIN'S ABSENCE NO LONGER SEEMS TO SURPRISE ORDINARY RUSSIANS. BUT AMERICANS AND OTHER OUTSIDERS CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR WONDERING WHETHER THIS BROKEN BEAR OF A MAN SHOULD STILL HAVE HIS FINGERS ON THE BUTTONS AND CODES THAT DETERMINE NUCLEAR WAR AND PEACE. ... AT TIMES IT SEEMS THAT [MR.] YELTSIN DOES MORE DAMAGE WHEN HE SHOWS UP FOR WORK THAN WHEN HE DOESN'T.

MORE TROUBLING STILL, SOME LEADERS IN THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT ARE OPENLY QUESTIONING WHETHER [MR.] YELTSIN'S DETERIORATING HEALTH COULD BE LEADING TO THE COLLAPSE OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY, AND PERHAPS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ITSELF.

TEXT: AND REGARDING THE MIDDLE EAST, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TODAY LAMENTS WHAT IT CALLS ISRAEL'S FUTILE "TWO-EYES-FOR-AN-EYE" POLICY OF MILITARY RETRIBUTATION FOR HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS IN THE ISRAELI-SECURITY ZONE OF SOUTHERN LEBANON.

VOICE: WHOEVER WINS THE MAY ELECTIONS IN ISRAEL SHOULD EXPLOIT ISRAEL'S CURRENT STRENGTH AND SYRIA'S RELATIVE WEAKNESS TO NEGOTIATE A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE THAT WOULD INCLUDE AN ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL AND TRUE SECURITY FOR SOUTHERN LEBANON.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF SOME OF THE NATION'S LEADING DAILY PAPERS.
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02-Mar-99 12:18 PM EST (1718 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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