 |
Compact version |
|
 |
        |
|
 |
||
|
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Voice of America, 97-07-06Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS / U-N BY AL PESSIN (NICOSIA)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-36890 CONTENT= VOICED AT: //////////INTRO: THE LEADERS OF THE GREEK- AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT COMMUNITIES WILL MEET THIS WEEK (JULY 9-13) UNDER U-N SPONSORSHIP AT A RESORT OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY. IT WILL BE THE START OF WHAT OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A CRITICAL EFFORT TO SOLVE A MORE THAN 30-YEAR-OLD CONFLICT BEFORE UPCOMING EVENTS MAKE IT WORSE. IN NICOSIA, V-O-A'S AL PESSIN SPOKE TO THE CHIEF OF THE U-N MISSION ON THE ISLAND ABOUT THE CONFLICT AND THE PROSPECTS FOR SOLVING IT. TEXT: /// MUSIC ACTUALITY ///GREEK MUSIC FILTERS OUT THE WINDOW OF A SIDEWALK CAFE CATERING TO TOURISTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THIS DIVIDED CAPITAL, WHERE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION HELPS FUEL THE ECONOMY. /// CHANTING ACTUALITY ///ON THE NORTH SIDE OF NICOSIA, WHERE TURKEY IS THE MOTHER COUNTRY, TOURISM IS DOWN, OFF-DUTY TURKISH SOLDIERS ROAM THE STREETS, AND AN IMAM PRAYING IN THE HAGA SOPHIA MOSQUE IS THE MOST IDENTIFIABLE LOCAL IMAGE. IN THE MIDDLE LIES THE U-N BUFFER ZONE, PATROLLED BY 25-HUNDRED SOLDIERS AND POLICE OFFICERS FROM HALF A DOZEN COUNTRIES, AND HOUSING THE OFFICE OF THE MAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO BRING THE TWO HOSTILE SIDES OF THE ISLAND TOGETHER, GUSTAVE FEISSEL. /// FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THE CYPRUS QUESTION, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COMING YEAR, THE NEXT 12-MONTHS OR SO, WILL BE A VERY CRITICAL PERIOD, WHICH MAY WELL DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AROUND HERE. /// END ACTUALITY ///SIMILAR STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SINCE THE ISLAND WAS SPLIT IN 1974. THAT WAS THE YEAR GREECE BACKED A COUP BY RIGHT WING ETHNIC-GREEK MILITARY OFFICERS AND TURKEY RESPONDED BY INVADING FROM THE NORTH. NORTHERN CYPRUS LATER DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE, WHICH IS RECOGNIZED ONLY BY TURKEY. THIS TIME, OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE U-N'S FEISSEL, BELIEVE THERE ARE EXTERNAL FACTORS PUSHING TOWARD A SETTLEMENT. BOTH CYPRUS AND TURKEY WANT TO TAKE STEPS TOWARD JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION NEXT YEAR, WHICH PROBABLY CAN NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT. THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT, WHICH CONTROLS THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE ISLAND, HAS ORDERED ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES FROM RUSSIA. TURKEY HAS THREATENED TO ATTACK THE MISSILES IF THEY ARE DELIVERED NEXT YEAR AS SCHEDULED. /// FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///BOTH SIDES SHOULD HEAR THIS WAKE-UP CALL AND SHOULD GET BUSY AND I WOULD HOPE THAT AS THESE SO-CALLED DEADLINES GET CLOSER, EVERYBODY WILL REALIZE THAT THEY CAN NOT AFFORD TO LET THIS THING JUST GO ON AND THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. /// END ACTUALITY ///THE BROAD OUTLINES OF A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AGREED UPON IN A SERIES OF ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE YEARS, AND U-N RESOLUTIONS. CYPRUS IS TO BECOME ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT WAS BEFORE 1974, BUT WITH SOME NEW DEFINITIONS -- A COUNTRY WITH ONE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TWO POWERFUL REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE GREEK AND TURKISH PARTS. AS ALWAYS IN SUCH SITUATIONS, THE PROBLEM IS WORKING OUT THE EXACT TERMS. /// OPT // FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///NOT ONLY DO WE KNOW IN CYPRUS WHAT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, WE ALSO HAVE, ON THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK, ALL THE PIECES THAT ARE NEEDED TO WORK OUT THIS SETTLEMENT. SO, WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS FOR THE TWO LEADERS TO SAY, OK, LET'S GET ON WITH IT. AND THEN TO TAKE ALL THESE BITS AND PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND SHAPE THEM INTO AN OVERALL SETTLEMENT. /// END OPT // END ACTUALITY ///THAT IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK. THE TWO SIDES HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF JUST HOW THE AGREED UPON -- BI-ZONAL, BI-COMMUNAL FEDERATION SHOULD WORK. /// OPT ////// OPT ///THE MR. FEISSEL SAYS THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS WEEK'S TALKS SHOULD BE TO FIND FORMULAS TO MAKE BOTH SIDES FEEL SECURE IN A NEW ARRANGEMENT -- TO MAKE THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS FEEL SECURE THEY WILL NOT BE DOMINATED OR OVER-RUN BY THE GREEK CYPRIOTS, AND TO MAKE THE GREEK CYPRIOTS FEEL SECURE THEY WILL NOT BE INVADED AGAIN BY TURKEY. /// FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///THE ISSUE OF SECURITY IS PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR BOTH SIDES. SO, IN MANY WAYS ONE OF THE DILEMMAS WE HAVE IS THAT WHAT MAKES ONE SIDE FEEL SECURE, MAKES THE OTHER SIDE FEEL INSECURE. SO WE HAVE TO FIND AN ARRANGEMENT IN SECURITY WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY RESPOND TO BOTH CONCERNS. /// END ACTUALITY ///MR. FEISSEL BELIEVES THE DIFFERENCES ARE NOT AS GREAT AS THEY SOMETIMES SEEM TO BE. /// OPT // FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///ONE SHOULD BE ABLE, WITHOUT HAVING TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST, TO COME UP WITH WAYS OF BRIDGING THE DIFFERENCES IN A WAY THAT WOULD RESPOND REASONABLY TO THE BASIC CONCERNS OF THE TWO SIDES. IF, AND THAT IS THE WORD ONE WOULD HAVE TO UNDERLINE 10-TIMES, IF, YOU KNOW, THE TWO SIDES WANT TO GET ON WITH IT. /// END OPT // END ACTUALITY ///THE U-N REPRESENTATIVE BELIEVES THERE ARE AMPLE REASONS FOR THE TWO SIDES TO MOVE FORWARD -- THE E-U ISSUE, THE MISSILES, AND HE BELIEVES THE FACT THE STATUS QUO, WHICH HAS WORKED FOR BOTH SIDES IN THE PAST, IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNTENABLE. /// FEISSEL ACTUALITY ///THE STATUS QUO IS A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION. PEOPLE COME TO CYPRUS AND THE SUN IS SHINING, PEOPLE ARE SITTING AT THE BEACH, THERE IS PLENTY OF THIS AND PLENTY OF THAT. SO PEOPLE SAY, 'WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?' AND THE FACT IS THAT THIS SITUATION, IN MANY WAYS, IS SORT OF HELD TOGETHER BY SCOTCH TAPE AND RUBBER BANDS, AND IS NOT A VIABLE SITUATION. /// END ACTUALITY ///THAT WAS MADE CLEAR IN A SERIES OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE KILLED A YEAR AGO ALONG THE BUFFER ZONE. U-N REPRESENTATIVE GUSTAVE FEISSEL SAYS THOSE INCIDENTS SERVE AS
A FRESH REMINDER OF THE URGENCY OF REACHING A SETTLEMENT, A
REMINDER HE HOPES WILL BE PROMINENT IN THE MINDS OF THE TWO
COMMUNITY LEADERS WHEN THEY SIT DOWN TO TALK PEACE THIS WEEK.
ALTHOUGH, HE SAYS THE PROCESS IS LIKELY TO TAKE A YEAR, AND QUITE
POSSIBLY MORE. (SIGNED)
[02] ALBANIA ELECTION (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216725 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///// ED'S: POLLS CLOSE 16:00 U-T-C, 12-NOON EDT. /////INTRO: ALBANIAN VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS (SUNDAY) IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE FIRST ROUND A WEEK AGO MAKE IT CLEAR THE SOCIALISTS WOULD HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENT, BUT TODAY'S (SUNDAY'S) RUNOFF ELECTION WILL DETERMINE IF THEY WILL CONTROL A CRITICAL TWO-THIRDS OF THE PARLIAMENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS FROM OUR CENTRAL EUROPE BUREAU IN PRAGUE. TEXT: ALBANIA'S SOCIALISTS WON MORE THAN ONE-HALF THE SEATS ON JUNE 29TH. BUT MORE THAN 30 CONTESTS WERE UN-DECIDED, IN MOST CASES BECAUSE NO CANDIDATE WON MORE THAN HALF THE VOTE. SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER FATOS NANO SAYS HE WILL BECOME PRIME MINISTER, REPLACING INTERIM PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO. VOTING BEGAN PEACEFULLY, WITH NO INCIDENTS REPORTED. EUROPEAN ELECTION MONITORS ARE OBSERVING THE VOTE, AS THEY WERE A WEEK AGO, GUARDED AGAIN BY TROOPS OF THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE. ELECTION MONITORS TERMED LAST WEEK'S FIRST-ROUND BALLOTING --
ACCEPTABLE -- AND ORGANIZERS HOPE THE ELECTION WILL SIGNAL A
RETURN TO NORMALCY FOR ALBANIA AFTER MONTHS OF VIOLENCE.
(SIGNED)
[03] ALBANIA ELECT (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216734 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED IN ALBANIA FOLLOWING A FINAL ROUND OF ELECTIONS CALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN SOME MEASURE STABILITY TO THE VIOLENCE TORN COUNTRY. V-O-A EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT. TEXT: INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORS SAY THE VOTING WAS MOSTLY CALM IN THE 34 DISTRICTS WHERE NO CANDIDATE WON A MAJORITY IN THE FIRST ROUND OF BALLOTING LAST WEEK. TURNOUT WAS LOW FOR THE RUN OFF, WHICH WILL DETERMINE HOW BIG OF A MAJORITY THE SOCIALISTS WILL HAVE IN ALBANIA'S NEW PARLIAMENT. IN THE FIRST ROUND, THE SOCIALISTS LED BY FATOS NANO WON MORE THAN 80-SEATS IN THE 155-MEMBER PARLIAMENT. THE SECOND ROUND WILL DETERMINE HOW BIG A MAJORITY THEY WILL HAVE OVER PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH HAS DOMINATED ALBANIA'S GOVERNMENT. THE ELECTIONS WERE CALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF POPULAR HIGH-RISK INVESTMENT SCHEMES TRIGGERED A WAVE OF UNREST THAT LEFT MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED PEOPLE DEAD. PRESIDENT BERISHA, WHO MANY PEOPLE BLAME FOR THE VIOLENCE, HAS
SAID HE WILL STEP DOWN ONCE A NEW GOVERNMENT IS INSTALLED.
(SIGNED)
[04] ALBANIA REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216744 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///C-R TO BE USED AS SIDEBAR TO CN-ALBANIA///INTRO: AN ANALYST WHO FOLLOWS ALBANIAN POLITICAL AFFAIRS CLOSELY SAYS IT APPEARS THE SOCIALISTS ARE POISED TO BUILD ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE FIRST-ROUND PARLIAMENTARY VICTORY IN SUNDAY'S SECOND ROUND. VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS NICHOLAS PANO OF WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SAYS, WHATEVER THE EXTENT OF THEIR VICTORY, THE SOCIALISTS WILL NEED HELP TO ADDRESS ALBANIA'S MASSIVE PROBLEMS: TEXT: ALBANIA'S OPPOSITION SOCIALIST-LED ALLIANCE HAS CLAIMED VICTORY WITH LEADER FATOS NANO CONFIDENT OF BEING THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. MR. PANO SAYS IT IS CLEAR THE SOCIALIST-LED ALLIANCE WILL ENJOY A STRONG MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT WHEN THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS FORMED PROBABLY AT THE END OF THE MONTH. MR. PANO SAYS THE SOCIALISTS HAVE A DAUNTING TASK AHEAD OF THEM: /// PANO ACTUALITY ///THEY NEED TO BEGIN A PROCESS OF HEALING IN THE COUNTRY. THEY NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE MISTAKES OF THE BERISHA REGIME AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES NOT TO REPEAT THESE MISTAKES. /// END ACTUALITY ///MR. PANO SAYS THE SOCIALISTS MUST, AMONG OTHER THINGS TRANSFORM THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION SERVICE ENDING ITS SECRET POLICE TACTICS, ROOT OUT CORRUPTION, DISBAND THE REMAINING REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEES OPERATING IN THE COUNTRY, CURB THE ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL GANGS AND RECOVER THE ARMS LOOTED FROM POLICE STATIONS AND ARMY DEPOTS EARLIER THIS YEAR. MR. PANO SAYS THE SOCIALISTS WILL NEED THE HELP OF ITS POLITICAL
RIVALS TO SUCCEED. (SIGNED)
[05] FRANCE / SEGUIN (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216731 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE FRENCH POLITICIAN WHO LED THE 1992 CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MAASTRICHT EUROPEAN UNION TREATY, PHILIPPE SEGUIN, HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF FRANCE'S MAIN CONSERVATIVE PARTY, "THE GAULLIST RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC". JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: NEARLY 80-PERCENT OF MEMBERS OF THE GAULLIST RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC PARTY VOTED FOR PHILIPPE SEGUIN, A POLITICIAN KNOWN FOR HIS TOUGH STYLE AND POPULAR APPEAL. THE 54-YEAR-OLD MR. SEGUIN, WHO WAS BORN AND SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD IN TUNISIA, NOW CONSOLIDATES HIS POSITION AS ONE OF THE STRONGMEN OF THE FRENCH RIGHT. AS SUCH, HE IS A RIVAL TO PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, ALTHOUGH, IN A SPEECH TO A SPECIAL PARTY CONGRESS, MR. SEGUIN STRESSED WHAT HE CALLED HIS AFFECTION AND LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT. MR. SEGUIN REPLACES FORMER PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, WHO IS BLAMED BY MANY FRENCH CONSERVATIVES FOR THEIR HUMILIATING DEFEAT BY THE LEFT IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS FIVE-WEEKS AGO. PRESIDENT CHIRAC PROMPTED THOSE ELECTIONS BY DISSOLVING PARLIAMENT A YEAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, APPARENTLY IN THE BELIEF HIS CONSERVATIVE COALITION WOULD WIN. THE SPECIAL CONGRESS OF THE GAULLIST PARTY IN PARIS UNDERLINED MANY OF THE DIVISIONS THAT WRACK THE GROUP. MILITANTS BOOED WHEN FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD BALLADUR ENTERED THE HALL. MR. BALLADUR OPPOSED MR. CHIRAC IN THE 1995 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND MANY PARTY MEMBERS STILL ACCUSE HIM OF TREACHERY. MR. SEGUIN'S TASK NOW WILL BE TO RE-UNITE THE PARTY AND RE-BUILD THE FRENCH RIGHT. POLITICAL SOURCES SAY MR. SEGUIN AND OTHER LEADING FRENCH CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS BELIEVE THE CURRENT LEFT-RIGHT POWER-SHARING BETWEEN PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND THE SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN WILL NOT LAST FOR THE FULL FIVE-YEAR TERM OF THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT. THEY SAY THE RIGHT MUST THEREFORE BE PERMANENTLY READY FOR ELECTIONS. SINCE HE RAN AN ALMOST SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MAASTRICHT EUROPEAN UNION TREATY IN 1992, MR. SEGUIN HAS COME TO BE SEEN AS ONE OF THE MOST ANTI-EUROPEAN POLITICIANS IN FRANCE. BUT HE HAS BEEN ANXIOUS TO DISPEL THIS IMPRESSION, AND HE HAS
EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN
CURRENCY. NONETHELESS, HE IS SEEN IN MUCH OF EUROPE, AND
ESPECIALLY IN GERMANY, AS A DIFFICULT PARTNER. (SIGNED)
[06] IRISH PARADE (L) BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216737 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A PROTESTANT PARADE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO MARCH THROUGH A CATHOLIC AREA OF NORTHERN IRELAND. THE DECISION TO LET THEM MARCH IN THE COUNTY ORMEAU TOWN OF PORTADOWN PROCEED WAS TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLICE FORCE, RONNIE FLANAGAN AND WAS FOLLOWED BY RIOTING AND HIJACKING IN CATHOLIC AREAS. FROM BELFAST, KEVIN KELLY REPORTS: TEXT: THE FIRST SIGN THAT THE TRADITIONAL PROTESTANT MARCH WAS GOING TO BE ALLOWED THROUGH CAME AT AROUND 3 O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY WHEN THE POLICE MOVED ON TO THE CATHOLIC GARVAGHY ROAD AREA IN FORCE. THEY CLASHED WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WERE DETERMINED NOT TO LET THE PARADE, WHICH THEY CLASS AS TRIUMPHALIST, ENTER THEIR DISTRICT. THEY WERE FORCIBLY MOVED BACK AND THE ROAD CLEARED. A FEW HOURS LATER NEARLY TWO THOUSAND MARCHERS, ALL MEMBERS OF A PROTESTANT GROUPING CALLED THE ORANGE ORDER CAME THROUGH. THE HEAD OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLICE FORCE, RONNIE FLANAGAN, SAID HE'D TAKEN THE DECISION TO PROTECT CATHOLIC LIVES. THE SENIOR BRITISH MINISTER IN NORTHERN IRELAND MO MOWLAM, CLAIMED INTRANSIGENCE ON BOTH SIDES HAD LED TO THE OUTCOME. AFTER THE MARCH PASSED BY, THE CATHOLIC RESIDENTS CLASHED WITH BRITISH ARMY TROOPS WHO'D REPLACED THE POLICE. DOZENS WERE INJURED AS WERE A NUMBER OF POLICE. AS NEWS AND PICTURES FLASHED AROUND NORTHERN IRELAND, RIOTING AND HIJACKING BROKE OUT IN CATHOLIC AREAS. DURING ONE INCIDENT A NUMBER OF SHOTS WERE FIRED AT POLICE. IN ANOTHER, A TRAIN WAS HELD UP BY ARMED AND MASKED MEN, THE PASSENGERS ORDERED OFF AND THE TRAIN SET ON FIRE AND DESTROYED. TODAY'S EVENTS HAVE DELIVERED YET ANOTHER BLOW TO A PEACE
PROCESS IN IRELAND WHICH HAS BEEN FRAGILE FOR SOMETIME. HOPES
THAT THE IRA WILL AGAIN CALL A CEASE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE VANISHED
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. BOTH SIDES SEEM AS FAR APART AS EVER
ON POLITICAL AGREEMENT, A FORLORN HOPE. (SIGNED)
[07] HIGH TECHNOLOGY UPDATE (L) BY STEVE NORMAN (WASHINGTON)DATE=07/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216728 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE SUPREME COURT RULES COMPUTER NETWORKS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISPLAY PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES, MERGERS ARE BEING PROPOSED AMONG TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES, AND THE LEADING PERSONAL COMPUTER MANUFACTURER GETS LARGER. STEVE NORMAN REPORTS ON THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HIGH-TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY. TEXT: THE U-S CONSTITUTION'S FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH. IT IS THIS AMENDMENT THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT CITED WHEN IT RECENTLY RULED THE "COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY LAW" UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE LAW WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER NETWORK -- THE INTERNET. FAMILY RIGHTS EXPERT CATHY CLEAVER OF THE "U-S FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL" WARNS THE RULING WILL HARM CHILDREN WHO ACCESS THE INTERNET. /// CLEAVER ACTUALITY ///PORNOGRAPHIC SITES CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS TO CHILDREN AND CAN, IN FACT, INVITE CHILDREN ONTO THEIR SITES. SO, THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM AND OBVIOUSLY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP FIGHTING (TO REMOVE PORNOGRAPHY FROM THE INTERNET). /// END ACTUALITY ///-0- THE LEADER IN PERSONAL COMPUTER PRODUCTION -- COMPAQ COMPUTERS -- HAS INCREASED THE SIZE OF ITS BUSINESS HOLDINGS BY ACQUIRING -- TANDEM COMPUTERS -- WHICH MANUFACTURERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR HUGE CORPORATIONS. THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS THREE-BILLION DOLLARS. COMPAQ CHIEF EXECUTIVE ECKHARD PFIEFER SAYS THE DEAL GIVES COMPAQ MORE OF A MARKET PRESENCE IN LARGE, HIGH-TECHNOLOGY COMPUTING SYSTEMS. /// PFIEFER ACTUALITY ///WE ARE IN THE HIGH GROSS SEGMENTS (PART OF THE COMPUTER BUSINESS WHICH MARKETS VERY EXPENSIVE COMPUTERS); THOSE THAT MATTER MORE AND MORE IN THE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT. BUT, OBVIOUSLY, ALSO IN THE CONSUMER MARKET. SO, COMPAQ COVERS THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF HIGH GROWTH COMPUTER SYSTEMS. AND WITH TANDEM, WE HAVE IT ALL AND OUR GOAL REMAINS TO BE A 40-BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY BY THE YEAR 2000. /// END ACTUALITY ///-0- COMMUNICATIONS DE-REGULATION IN THE UNITED STATES IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE COMPETITION BETWEEN COMPANIES OFFERING TELEPHONE AND COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. DE-REGULATION REQUIRES THE NATIONAL LONG-DISTANCE PROVIDERS AND REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES TO SHARE THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL TELEPHONE MARKETS. THE ANTICIPATION OF TOUGH COMPETITION HAS ENCOURAGED MANY OF THE REGIONAL COMPANIES TO PROPOSE MERGERS IN ORDER TO BE LARGER AND MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE NATIONAL MARKET. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANALYST SCOTT CLELAND SAYS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR SOME OF THE PLANNED MERGERS. /// CLELAND ACTUALITY ///THEY (REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES) ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE WHAT AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH SELL IT WILL BE TO GET IT THROUGH WASHINGTON (TO GET WASHINGTON TO APPROVE THE MERGERS). SO, I THINK, THEY HAVE VASTLY UNDERESTIMATED THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE IN WASHINGTON. /// END ACTUALITY ///AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH, KNOWN AS A-T-&-T, IS ONE OF THE LARGE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES WHICH MAY FIND ITSELF IN COMPETITION WITH SMALLER, REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES. IN ORDER TO OFFSET LOSS IN PROFITS FROM THIS COMPETITION, A-T-&-T OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE FORMING A NEW CORPORATION, BY MERGING WITH SEVERAL SMALLER COMPANIES, TO PROVIDE ENERGY SERVICES, SUCH AS ELECTRICITY. THIS IS A TOTALLY NEW BUSINESS FOR A-T-&-T, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL -- THE MAN CREDITED WITH INVENTING THE
TELEPHONE. (SIGNED)
[08] MARS ROVER/ SUNDAY (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID MCALARY (WASHINGTON)DATE=7/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-216743 CONTENT= VOICED AT: // RE-RUNNING WITH CORRECT CR NUMBER //INTRO: THE U-S SPACE AGENCY SAYS GROUND CONTROLLERS HAVE COMMANDED A SMALL SIX-WHEELED ROBOTIC ROVER TO BEGIN ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE MARTIAN SURFACE. THE ROVER'S JOURNEY BEGAN MORE THAN TWO DAYS AFTER ITS MARS PATHFINDER MOTHERSHIP LANDED ON MARS. AS SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY TELLS US, THE EXULTANT SCIENCE TEAM AT THE SPACE AGENCY CONTROL CENTER IN CALIFORNIA REPORTS THE ROVER AND ITS INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING PERFECTLY. TEXT: AFTER NEARLY A DAY'S DELAY BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS, MISSION SCIENTISTS IN PASADENA CALIFORNIA HAVE DISPATCHED THE SMALL ROBOT GEOLOGIST NAMED SOJOURNER TO EXAMINE ITS FIRST ROCK AND TAKE ITS FIRST SOIL SAMPLES. IT IS THE FIRST MOBILE ROBOT TO ROME ANY PLANET. THE COMMUNICATIONS TROUBLE SET BACK THE INVESTIGATION SCHEDULE BY ONE DAY, BUT THE TROUBLE APPARENTLY CLEARED ITSELF UP WHEN THE ROVER'S COMPUTER WAS RESTARTED. THIS ALLOWED MISSION SCIENTISTS TO DEPLOY SOJOURNER DOWN A RAMP FROM THE MARS PATHFINDER MOTHER SHIP ONTO MARTIAN SOIL SUNDAY TO AWAIT ITS FIRST INSTRUCTIONS. A PROJECT SCIENTIST WITH THE U-S SPACE AGENCY NASA -- MATTHEW GOLOMBEK ['GO-LAHM-BEK] -- SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE TECHNICALLY. // GOLOMBEK ACT //WE HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL SPACECRAFT ON THE SURFACE OF MARS AND WE HAVE FULLY FUNCTIONAL INSTRUMENTS IN EVERY REGARD AND AS YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL ROVER AS WELL. // END ACT //THE SCIENTISTS PICKED THEIR INITIAL TARGET FOR THE ROVER BASED ON A LARGE PANORAMIC VIEW PIECED TOGETHER WITH MANY SMALLER IMAGES RETURNED BY THE MARS PATHFINDER LANDING CRAFT. THE TRIUMPHANT U-S SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN ACTING LIKE CHILDREN IN A CANDY STORE -- UNABLE TO HIDE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT THEY SAY IS A DIVERSE MARTIAN LANDSCAPE UNLIKE WHAT THEY SAW IN IMAGES SENT BACK 21-YEARS AGO BY THE LAST TWO MARS PROBES KNOWN AS THE VIKING MISSION. // OPT SMITH ACT //THE JOY THAT FILLS MY HEART HAS OVERFLOWED MY BODY AND RISEN TO THE HEAVENS AND HAS REACHED TO MARS. // END ACT // END OPT //THIS IS UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA RESEARCHER PETER SMITH. // SMITH ACT //THERE IS A WONDER TO THIS LANDING SITE. IT IS DIVERSE IN EXACTLY WAY WE HOPED IT WOULD BE DIVERSE. WE HAVE FOUND HILLS, WE HAVE FOUND A NEARBY CRATER, AND ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT SOME OF THE CHUNKS THAT WERE EJECTED ARE NEARBY IN OUR LANDING SITE. WE SEE LARGE ROCKS, SMALL ROCKS, DIVERSE ROCK TYPES. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES. // END ACT ////OPT//THE LANDING SITE IS THOUGHT TO BE AN ANCIENT MARTIAN FLOOD PLAIN, AND IN THE BACKGROUND ABOUT ONE OR TWO KILOMETERS AWAY ARE TWO HILLS WHICH SCIENTISTS BELIEVE ALSO EXHIBIT WATER'S EFFECTS. MR. GREELEY SAYS BANDS OR STRIPES AROUND THE RIGHT HILL COULD REPRESENT LAYERS OF SEDIMENT, TERRACES CUT BY EROSION, OR DEPOSITS LEFT BY WATER. // OPT GREELEY ACT //THE POINT IS, THESE ALL ARE INDICATIVE OF WATER ACTIVITY. WE SEE EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE EPISODES OF FLOODING -- NOT JUST ONE CATASTROPHIC EVENT, BUT MANY EVENTS. THE BANDING THAT WE SEE HERE IS AN INDICATION OF THAT MULTIPLE FLOODING. // END ACT // END OPT //USING THE PANORAMIC VIEW AS A GUIDE, THE PATHFINDER SCIENTISTS
HAVE DECIDED TO SEND SOJOURNER TO SCOUT A NEARBY ROCK COVERED
WITH LUMPS REMINISCENT OF BARNACLES. THE FIRST COLOR IMAGES ARE
EXPECTED LATER TODAY. (SIGNED)
Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
All Rights Reserved.