Voice of America, 00-05-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-N/ KOSOVO REPORT (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

[02] U-S - KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[03] U-S/EUROPE MISSILE DEFENSE (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[04] E-U / ENLARGEMENT (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[05] E-U / CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[06] POLAND PROGRESS (LO) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[07] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[08] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] U-N/ KOSOVO REPORT (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: A new U-N Security Council report has again pointed to the need for a special envoy to investigate the issue of detainees and missing persons in Kosovo. Correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: The report is the result of a recent visit to Kosovo by eight members of the Security Council, who traveled to the Serb province to observe the U-N mission. The mission is charged with setting up an interim government and police force, rebuilding the economy and facilitating the return of detainees and missing persons. The report finds a return to normalcy gradually taking hold in Kosovo as economic activities slowly progress. But the report expresses concern about continued violence and discrimination against minorities, particularly Roma and Serbs. One of the major impediments to reconciliation, according to the report, is the issue of missing persons and detainees. The report recommends the Security Council deal with the issue on an urgent basis. The United States' deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, James Cunningham, says the United States supports the appointment of a special envoy to look into the problem.

[02] U-S - KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: The Clinton administration is stepping up its criticism of a bipartisan proposal in the Senate to end funding for U-S troops in Kosovo next year unless the next administration wins specific congressional authorization for the operation. U-S officials say the measure sends a dangerous signal to the enemies of peace in Kosovo, and would undercut the progress made in bringing stability to the region. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House. Text: The proposal would cut off funds for the continued deployment of U-S troops in Kosovo beyond July first of next year, unless the White House obtains congressional authorization to continue the deployment. The measure -- contained in an amendment to the military construction bill and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday -- also requires the administration to develop a plan to shift the full responsibility for providing ground troops in Kosovo to European allies by the same date. With President Clinton's term ending next January, the measure would effectively leave the decision to his successor. The provision reflects the widespread concern among lawmakers about an open-ended deployment of U-S troops in a region where sporadic violence has lingered for nearly a year -- since the end of a NATO bombing campaign that ousted Yugoslav troops from Kosovo. At the White House Thursday, National Security Council spokesman P-J Crowley -- while acknowledging there has been what he called a "less than a perfect picture in Kosovo" - said the Senate proposal sends the wrong signal.

[03] U-S/EUROPE MISSILE DEFENSE (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: The French government is following Russia and China in raising concerns about a multi-billion dollar U-S project to deploy a missile defense system that would guard against nuclear attacks by enemy nations. French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine -- whose government takes over as rotating head of the European Union in July -- is expressing the concern of E-U nations directly to senior U-S leaders. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports.

TEXT: A number of European countries are worried that the proposed missile defense shield as well as U-S efforts to renegotiate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia could weaken trans-Atlantic defense ties. After a meeting in Washington Thursday with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, French Foreign Minister Vedrine told reporters his government wants Washington to take Europe's concerns into consideration, including whether missile programs like that of North Korea's really do constitute strategic threats that warrant a re-negotiation of the A-B-M treaty. He spoke through an interpreter.

[04] E-U / ENLARGEMENT (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: The European Union is launching a public relations campaign to encourage support for expansion both in its 15-member-nations and in the 13- countries seeking E-U membership. Correspondent Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels.

TEXT: The European Union is holding talks on 25-areas of legislation with the most advanced applicant countries. But talks have not started on the four most sensitive topics - agriculture, justice, the free movement of people, and the budget. This has led to an impression that enlargement negotiations are dragging. Countries such as Poland and Hungary are expecting to receive invitations to join the European Union by New Year's Day 2003 or 2004. But they are worried the schedule is falling behind because E-U members are reluctant to make concessions on the difficult topics. European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen says, through an interpreter, that he is satisfied negotiations are on track.

[05] E-U / CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: The European Union's Trade Commissioner leaves Sunday for Beijing, where he hopes to reach an agreement on China's accession to the World Trade Organization, or W-T-O. Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels that the telecommunications business remains a key issue for the European Union.

TEXT: The European Union is the last major trading partner China needs in order to become a member of the World Trade Organization. China is optimistic, with China's Minister of Foreign Trade saying it will not be long before China joins the W-T-O. The European Union's Trade Commissioner, Pascal Lamy, agrees the negotiations are in the final stages. Mr. Lamy tells reporters before he returns to China that a larger share (of the Chinese market) for Europe's mobile telephone business is a necessity.

[06] POLAND PROGRESS (LO) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A former U-S ambassador to Poland, Thomas Simons, says Poland is a stunning success story in making the transition from communism to democracy and free markets. V-O-A's Barry Wood reports Mr. Simons spoke at Washington's Woodrow Wilson Center.

TEXT: Mr. Simons says national consensus, self- reliance and speed are the key ingredients of Poland's success. Mr. Simons, who was U-S ambassador to Poland in the early 1990s, says Poland is successful on almost every level. Its economy has consistently grown by five-percent annually; it has been admitted to NATO and is on the fast track for European Union membership; and it evolved into a vibrant democracy with an active entrepreneurial business class. Mr. Simons says Poland's foreign policy has also been a great success.

[07] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: Stock prices in the United States rallied sharply higher today (Thursday) but many market analysts were not impressed. V-O-A's Joe Chapman reports from New York.

TEXT: The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved up 178 points, nearly two-percent, to 10-thousand-545 in another lackluster trading session despite the higher prices. High technology and Internet shares also recovered with the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising 115 points, more than three-percent, to three-thousand- 499. The Standard and Poor's 500 closed up 24 points to finish at one-thousand-407. Analysts say the move upward in stock prices was what they call a "snapback rally," with some investors looking for bargain prices after two days of a sharp selloff. But volume continues to be only light to moderate, with many investors remaining on the sidelines.

[08] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: As a congressional vote nears on granting China permanent normal trading status with the United States, the topic continues to figure prominently in the nation's editorial columns. The latest chapter in the saga of the Cuban shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez also is a popular topic. Other editorials in Thursday's papers are discussing: the revived Northern Ireland peace process, a Mother's Day march for better gun control, the crisis in Sierra Leone, and congressional moves to restrain U-S peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo province. Now, here is ___________ with a closer look in today's U-S Editorial Digest.

TEXT: President Clinton is stepping up his efforts to win congressional approval for giving China permanent normal trading status with this country. To that end, he got help this week from former presidents George Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, who all consider it a good idea. In Hawaii, Honolulu's Star-Bulletin agrees.

VOICE: As three former presidents and other leaders contend, failure to approve the status could be disastrous. /// OPT /// ... [President] Carter acknowledged that China has failed to take adequate steps in terms of human rights, democracy and labor standards. "But there is no doubt in my mind that a negative vote on this issue in the Congress will be a serious setback and impediment for the further democratization, freedom and human rights in China," he said. This is an accurate assessment. /// END OPT ///... Rejection by Congress would achieve nothing positive, would hurt U-S exports and could cause serious damage to the Sino-American relationship and to the movement for democratization ...

TEXT: The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville is also for granting China the new trade status, noting:

VOICE: China's economy is growing rapidly and eventually may be the world's largest. But, because of the uncertainty over trade status, long-term commitments are difficult. As a result, U-S exports are growing 22 percent slower than exports from the rest of the world. ... Capitalism is morally superior to Chinese communism, but there are better arenas to have that debate. Meanwhile, free trade will help bring about the changes in China that the politicians say they want.

TEXT: The Detroit [Michigan] Free Press agrees, arguing that "trade has become America's best avenue of global influence on a variety of issues. Economic engagement, it says, "will be more effective with the Beijing government than costly saber rattling."

TEXT: The saga of the little shipwrecked Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, is once more commanding attention in the editorial columns. Several aspects are under discussion, including today's federal court hearing on his plea for asylum. Says The Miami Herald:

VOICE: ... this is not, contrary to the Clinton administration's spin, a simple custody battle between a father and a relative. This is a fundamentally important asylum case whose outcome could have a wide-ranging impact on thousands of other children who arrive alone in the United States and whose best interest may conflict with the wishes of parents ...

TEXT: U-S-A Today, the national daily published in a Washington, D-C suburb, makes the point that Elian's case is getting special attention from the U-S government mainly because he is a Cuban citizen. And the newspaper faults the State Department's efforts in cases involving U-S children taken to other countries.

VOICE: ... Washington's superheated efforts to do the right thing for Elian are more than heroic. They ring of hypocrisy. American parents get no such intense help when ... their ... children are taken to other countries.

TEXT: U-S-A Today reports that about one-thousand U-S children are abducted every year to another country and most never come back. In another facet of the story, today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel faults the lawyer for Elian's father for taking the family to a fancy Washington party last weekend. The Milwaukee paper suggests the boy was being exploited on behalf of his host, a rich Washington Democrat who heads a foundation advocating normal U-S - Cuban relations.

VOICE: The Washington Post reports that a wealthy Democratic contributor ... Smith Bagley held a pool party at his home ... for about a dozen people, including Elian, his father and stepmother, their lawyer and his young son ... and several other children and adults ... holding the outing at [Mr.] Bagley's home ... he also runs a foundation that advocates normalized relations between the United States and Cuba - (raising) the possibility that Elian might have been invited simply to burnish [Mr.] Bagley's image. If [true] ... then [Mr.] Bagley was using Elian, just as Cuban expatriates in Miami used Elian to hammer away at Cuban President Fidel Castro.

TEXT: There is also comment on the latest development in peace process in Northern Ireland - the Irish Republican Army agreement to put its weapons beyond use and open to international inspection. The Tulsa [Oklahoma] World has this to say on the subject:

VOICE: The decision puts the possibility of peace back on the table and is a step toward fulfilling the agreements of the two-year-old Good Friday peace pact. /// OPT /// Maybe this bold move can set a new and straight course toward peace. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: The San Francisco Examiner also praises the announcement, suggesting:

VOICE: The Northern Irish people need several years of such confidence-building, and no resurgence of violence, to put three decades of societal disorder behind them. In time, as an increasingly integrated and prosperous part of the European Community, they will wonder what the trouble was about.

TEXT: Thousands of U-S mothers are planning to demonstrate in Washington and 60 others cities this Sunday, Mother's Day, asking for better gun control in the country. The New York Times says the outpouring:

VOICE: ... has the potential to achieve something that a seemingly endless sequence of school shootings and other gun tragedies somehow has not. ... to seize control of American's gun control debate from the national Rifle Association and its political mouthpieces [Editors: "gun-friendly" members of congress] ... tilting it ... toward a recognition of the serious public health threat the nation's porous gun laws represent.

TEXT: Turning to international subjects, the Dallas Morning News comments on the situation in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, where a rebel band is advancing on the capital, Freetown, and Westerners are fleeing under British paratroop protection. Says today's Morning News:

VOICE: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone is beginning to look like another Somalia-type disaster. ... Everybody wants to help Sierra Leone. However, the answer is not to repeat the mistakes of Bosnia and Somalia by sending more U-N peacekeepers where there is no peace to keep.

TEXT: In Colorado's leading city, Denver's Rocky Mountain News runs this comment from chief foreign affairs columnist Holger Jensen.

VOICE: The sorry performance of the United Nations peacekeeping mission ... demonstrates yet again that the world body is an effective peacekeeper only where there is a peace to keep.

TEXT: And regarding U-N peacekeeping, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia's Kosovo province could be without U-S troops in a year, as Congress votes in a new deadline for American support. In what The Washington Post calls a "Wake-up Call:"

VOICE: ... the Senate Appropriations Committee has voted ... to stop funding the U-S presence in Kosovo on July first of next year unless there is express congressional authorization to stay longer. ... the Senate measure is the wrong answer to ... legitimate concerns. ... it would actually discourage U-S allies - - who are, after all, providing the lion's share of the ground forces already -- from seeing the job through ...

TEXT: Concerning that destructive computer virus called the Love Bug, which appears to have originated in the Philippines, The Houston [Texas] Chronicle laments how the destructive program displays the vulnerability of the Internet and the World Wide Web, the international network of computers.

VOICE: The speed and ease with which the virus spread were astonishing, and the damage done will be tremendous, even though warnings were quickly issued and countermeasures taken. ... the world has a long way to go before its cyberspace patrol is effectively armed to combat the dangers and potential chaos lurking out there.

TEXT: President Clinton's lawyers are arguing before the Arkansas Supreme Court that testify the president gave under oath in the Monica Lewinsky affair should not be cause for his disbarment as a lawyer in his home state. Connecticut's Waterbury Republican- American is not swayed by the arguments.

VOICE: It's too bad the ... Summer Olympics won't include competition in linguistic gymnastics because if it did, Bill Clinton would be the odds-on favorite to bring home the gold. .... he has tortured the language and logic like never before in arguing against (his) disbarment before an Arkansas disciplinary panel ... the indisputable truth is he lied to protect his political hide [Editors: career]

TEXT: Lastly, a plea from the Boston Globe to save Zeugma, an archeological site of two ancient cities, possible of Roman times, to be flooded within weeks by a dam across the Euphrates River, providing hydroelectric power for southeastern Turkey. Says the Globe:

VOICE: One might wish for a Poseidon or Zeus to protect the site or a Moses to hold back the water. A less epic but simpler approach is available to the Turkish government: Delay the dam project for a few months so archeologists can complete more of their rescue.

TEXT: On that note, we conclude this sampling of comment from the editorial pages of Thursday's U-S press.
NEB/ANG/JP 11-May-2000 12:21 PM EDT (11-May-2000 1621 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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