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Voice of America, 97-09-26Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS TALKS (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)DATE=9/26/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-220452 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: LEADERS OF THE GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES ON CYPRUS ARE TO MEET TODAY IN YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BRING PEACE TO THEIR WAR-DIVIDED ISLAND. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM ATHENS, WHERE DIPLOMATS SAY THE CHANCES OF A BREAKTHROUGH ARE SLIM. TEXT: IT IS THE THIRD TIME IN JUST OVER TWO MONTHS THAT CYPRUS' RIVAL COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF RECONCILIATION. THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS, GUSTAVE FEISSEL, WILL MEDIATE THE TALKS BETWEEN GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH. THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT HAS LEFT OPEN THE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION. BUT MR. DENKTASH MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE IS TAKING PART TO DISCUSS THE ISLAND'S MOST PRESSING ISSUE -- SECURITY AND DISARMAMENT. U-S DIPLOMATS ARE ALSO KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THE TALKS WHICH U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS MONTH DURING A VISIT TO THE WAR-DIVIDED ISLAND. THE UNITED STATES RESUMED INVOLVEMENT IN THE CYPRUS PEACE PROCESS AFTER THE GREEK-CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT IT WAS SET TO DEPLOY RUSSIAN-MADE ROCKETS. U-S DIPLOMATS SAY THEY ARE PRESSING FOR A SOLUTION TO AVERT DEPLOYMENT OF THE MISSILES CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED THE ISLANDS NORTH FOLLOWING A SHORT-LIVED COUP IN NICOSIA, BACKED BY THE THEN MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN GREECE. GOVERNMENTS IN ATHENS, ANKARA, AND NICOSIA SUBSEQUENTLY FELL. BUT TURKISH TROOPS REMAINED IN THE ISLANDS' NORTH. THEY PRESENTLY NUMBER ABOUT 30-THOUSAND. DIPLOMATS VIEW A SOLUTION TO CYPRUS AS THE KEY TO EASING LONG-STANDING RIVALRY' BETWEEN NATO ALLIES GREECE AND TURKEY. BUT THERE, TOO, HOPES OF AN EARLY RECONCILIATION SEEM BLEAK. A MEETING BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS THIS WEEK PRODUCED LITTLE PROGRESS IN EASING TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, WHICH CAME CLOSE TO WAR LAST YEAR. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS SAID THEY SIMPLY AGREED THAT THEY DISAGREED ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES RANGING FROM THE AEGEAN SEA TO CYPRUS. DIPLOMATS IN ATHENS FEAR THE DEADLOCK IN GREEK-TURKISH TALKS MAY
OVERSHADOW TODAY'S MEETING IN CYPRUS. (SIGNED)
[02] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)DATE=9/26/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-220472 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES ROSE SHARPLY IN TRADING FRIDAY IN LONDON, BUT WERE DOWN IN OTHER EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON. TEXT: SHARE PRICES IN LONDON SOARED TO NEW RECORD HIGHS, SPARKED BY REPORTS BRITAIN WOULD JOIN THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY SOON AFTER IT IS LAUNCHED IN JANUARY OF 1999. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DOWNPLAYED THE REPORTS, CALLING THEM "PURE SPECULATION." BUT THAT DID LITTLE TO DAMPEN INVESTOR ENTHUSIASM. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP ALMOST 161 POINTS, ABOUT THREE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE LONDON MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. BUT THE LONDON BOOM DID NOT EXTEND TO OTHER MARKETS. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 68 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT. AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF ALMOST 20 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN IN VALUE
AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT GAINED
VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
[03] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=09/26/97TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10366 TELEPHONE=619-3335 CONTENT= INTRO: THE FEDERAL TAX COLLECTION AGENCY, KNOWN AS INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR I-R-S, COMES IN FOR A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT AS THE RESULT OF SENATE HEARINGS THIS WEEK ON ALLEGED ABUSES THE TAX COLLECTORS HAVE COMMITTED. OTHER TOPICS FILLING THE NATION'S EDITORIALS PAGES THIS FRIDAY INCLUDE: THE ANNIVERSARY OF INTEGRATION AT LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL; THE CURBING OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN RUSSIA; SOME THOUGHTS ON NORTH KOREA; A DEBATE OVER PRIVACY AND COMPUTERS; AND A NEW PROBLEM FOR NON-CITIZEN RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A FEW QUOTES IS _________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR HAS BEEN MONITORING THOSE I-R-S HEARINGS IN THE SENATE AND SAYS: VOICE: "THANKS TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AMERICANS ARE THIS WEEK BEING SHOWN THE DARKEST SIDE OF THEIR FEDERAL TAX COLLECTION SYSTEM. THE STORIES OF MALICIOUSNESS AND MALFEASANCE BY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AGENTS IN PURSUIT OF UNPAID TAXES SHOULD DISTURB ALL CITIZENS. .... LET THE TOUGH OVERSIGHT CONTINUE. BRING ON NEW MANAGEMENT, SUCH AS THE INDEPENDENT BOARD RECOMMENDED BY A RECENT FEDERAL COMMISSION THAT STUDIED THE I-R-S. PUT THE EMPHASIS ON SERVICE, INCLUDING THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS." TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY ECHOES THOSE SENTIMENTS, ADDING: VOICE: "THIS WEEK'S LURID TALES ABOUT I-R-S ABUSES BRING TO MIND POLICE-BRUTALITY CASES. [OPT] TAX COLLECTORS AND POLICE OFFICERS BOTH DO NECESSARY BUT UNPLEASANT LABOR. [END OPT] THE ISSUE IS THE SYSTEM UNDER WHICH THEY WORK; IF IT ENCOURAGES OR TOLERATES BAD BEHAVIOR, THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL DELIVER. [OPT] .... STILL, REFORMS OF THE I-R-S WILL COME TO NAUGHT IF CONGRESS KEEPS COMPLICATING THE TAX LAWS. THE ULTIMATE GOALS SHOULD INCLUDE TWO ..... FEWER LOOPHOLES AND LOWER RATES. ..... IN SUCH A HIDEOUS THICKET OF COMPLEXITY, ABUSES WILL ALWAYS BE LURKING." TEXT: AND THIS CAUTION FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES. VOICE: ".... THERE ARE LIMITS TO HOW LOVABLE MR. [TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT] RUBIN CAN MAKE THE AGENCY. NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS DO NOT VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT WHAT THEY OWE TO THE I-R-S WITHOUT PRODDING. THAT CREATES UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT. MOREOVER, THE TAX CODE IS IMPOSSIBLY COMPLEX ..... FOR SOLUTIONS, CONGRESS NEED LOOK ONLY AT ITSELF." TEXT: TURNING TO AN EMOTIONAL STORY, FORTY YEARS AGO NINE BLACK STUDENTS INTEGRATED LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, WITH THE PROTECTION OF THE U-S ARMY. TO MARK THE OCCASION, THERE WAS A CEREMONY THURSDAY IN LITTLE ROCK, AT WHICH PRESIDENT CLINTON SPOKE. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION WRITES: VOICE: "IN HIS SPEECH ... COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTEGRATION OF LITTLE ROCK SCHOOLS, PRESIDENT CLINTON DESCRIBED THE EVENT AS A SYMBOL OF THIS NATION'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO RACIAL PROGRESS.... FORTY YEARS LATER, THAT COMMITMENT APPEARS TO BE WEAKENING, IN PART AS AN INDIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF LITTLE ROCK. THE FORCED INTEGRATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THE 1950S AND '60S DROVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WHITE PARENTS TO ABANDON PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, NOT JUST IN THE SOUTH BUT IN MANY NORTHERN CITIES AS WELL. ....THE PUBLIC [SCHOOL] SYSTEM HAS NEVER FULLY RECOVERED. ..... THE EROSION OF OUR NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION BODES POORLY." TEXT: TURNING OVERSEAS, THE WASHINGTON POST IS UPSET BY THE NEW RUSSIAN LAW LIMITING THE PRACTICE OF SOME RELIGIONS, BUT SUPPORTS THE RIGHT OF THE RUSSIANS TO MAKE THEIR OWN LAWS. VOICE: "[OPT] THE LEGISLATION STEMS PARTLY FROM RUSSIA'S DESIRE TO CONTROL DANGEROUS CULTS, SUCH AS SUM SHINRIKYO, WHICH ESTABLISHED A PRESENCE IN RUSSIA BEFORE ITS MEMBERS STAGED THEIR 1995 GAS ATTACK ON A TOKYO SUBWAY. BUT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, FEARING COMPETITION FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARIES, ALSO HAS EMBRACED AND PROMOTED THE BILL. ..... IF [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN SIGNS THE BILL ON RELIGIONS, RUSSIA WILL TAKE ANOTHER STOP BACK IN THIS DEBATE; OUTSIDERS ARE RIGHT TO CRITICIZE. BUT THERE STILL WOULD BE FAR MORE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN RUSSIA THAN IN, SAY, SAUDI ARABIA OR CHINA. [END OPT] THE LAW WAS ADOPTED DEMOCRATICALLY BY AN ELECTED PARLIAMENT .... FOR THE U-S CONGRESS TO CUT OFF AID, EVEN WHILE THE DEBATE IN RUSSIA REMAINS UNRESOLVED, WOULD BE SHORTSIGHTED." TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES REFLECTS ON SOME SOBERING REVELATIONS FROM TWO TOP NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS, INTERVIEWED BY THE PAPER THIS WEEK, COLONEL CHOI JOO-HWAL AND FORMER DIPLOMAT KO YONG-HWAN. VOICE: "IN COLONEL CHOI'S VIEW, THE TALK OF FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA IS MUCH EXAGGERATED. FAMINE CERTAINLY HAS NOT SPREAD TO THE POINT OF AFFECTING THE ONE-POINT-TWO-MILLION-STRONG STANDING ARMY. 'NORTH KOREA IS READY FOR WAR, NOT ONLY MILITARILY AND ECONOMICALLY, BUT PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AS WELL ..... THE QUESTION IS WHEN THEY WILL CHOOSE TO ATTACK.' THAT'S W H E N, [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] NOT I F [ITALICS AGAIN]. .... NORTH KOREA IS CONVINCED (RIGHTLY) THAT THE UNITED STATES HOLDS THE KEY TO THE SITUATION IN THE REGION - - THE POWER TO BE FEARED AS WELL AS MANIPULATED. [OPT] ... IF THERE IS ANY GOOD NEWS IN ALL OF THIS, IT IS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS IN A POSITION TO CONTROL FUTURE EVENTS IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA. ..... WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME MUCH, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OUTLAST IT ....." [END OPT] TEXT: BACK DOMESTICALLY, THERE IS A MAJOR DEBATE RAGING CONCERNING THE F-B-I'S RIGHT TO BLOCK COMPANIES FROM SELLING ENCRYPTION DEVICES TO THE PUBLIC SO PEOPLE CAN PREVENT ANYONE, EVEN THE GOVERNMENT, FROM READING THEIR COMPUTER MESSAGES. USA TODAY OPPOSES THE F-B-I'S PLAN. VOICE: IT'S THE ELECTRONIC EQUIVALENT OF DEMANDING THAT AMERICANS PUT COPIES OF ALL THEIR RECORDS IN SOME FEDERAL DEPOSITORY. ..... THE F-B-I SAYS ENCRYPTION CONTROLS ARE FOR YOUR SECURITY. [HOWEVER] ...... SMART CROOKS EASILY CAN EVADE POLICE EFFORTS BY USING UNBREAKABLE FOREIGN ENCRYPTION AVAILABLE OVER THE INTERNET OR BY REMOVING INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE BY PRESSING THEIR COMPUTER'S DELETE KEY." TEXT TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD IS TALKING ABOUT THE UNWANTED EFFECTS OF TWO SEPARATE CHANGES IN U-S IMMIGRATION LAWS THAT ARE THROWING MANY OF THE NATION'S RESIDENT ALIENS INTO PANIC. THE LAWS TAKE EFFECT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. VOICE: "THE NEW RULE .... PROVIDES THAT ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN 'UNLAWFULLY PRESENT' IN THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN 180 DAYS AND DEPARTS IS BARRED FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY FOR THREE YEARS; FOR THOSE UNLAWFULLY HERE SINCE THAT PROVISION TOOK EFFECT APRIL FIRST, THE 1280-DAY GRACE PERIOD ENDS TOMORROW. .....[IN ADDITION] BECAUSE SEPTEMBER 30TH MARKS THE LAST DAY OF THE OLD RULE THAT ALLOWS ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS TO LEGALIZE THEIR STATUS WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTRY, MANY PARENTS, CHILDREN, HUSBANDS, AND WIVES WILL BE FORCED APART. ..... UNDER .... THIS RULE ..... PEOPLE WHO ENTERED ILLEGALLY OR WHO'VE FALLEN OUT OF LEGAL STATUS - - - - MAY PAY A PENALTY OF ONE-THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ADJUST THEIR STATUS WITHOUT HAVING TO EXIT. .... CONGRESS SHOULD REINSTATE [THE RULE] ..." TEXT: AND FINALLY, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN LOST IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. VOICE: "SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WERE HE A WISE LEADER, WOULD HAVE USED SERBIA'S ELECTIONS TO OFFER THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION A SHARE OF POWER SO AS TO OUTFLANK THE ULTRANATIONALIST VOJISLAV SESELJ. HE ALSO WOULD HAVE HELD OUT A HAND TO SERBIA'S PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, WHOSE 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION SEETHES ON THE EDGE OF AN EXPLOSION THAT COULD MATCH OR SURPASS THE CALAMITY OF BOSNIA. [MR.] MILOSEVIC, HOWEVER IS NOT A WISE LEADER BUT A CALCULATING POWER GRABBER. AS PRESIDENT OF THE RUMP YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO), HE SO THOROUGHLY EXPLOITED THE LEVERS OF POWER BEFORE THE ELECTIONS AS TO REQUIRE SCANT FRAUD ON THE DAY OF THE VOTE." TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF
EDITORIALS FROM FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
[04] ITALY QUAKES (L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)DATE=9/26/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-220461 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TWO EARTHQUAKES HAVE STRUCK CENTRAL ITALY. PEGGY POLK REPORTS, THE QUAKES KILLED AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE AND BADLY DAMAGED THE 13TH CENTURY BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND ITS PRECIOUS ARTWORKS. TEXT: THE FIRST QUAKE STRUCK AT ABOUT 2:30 A.M., MEASURING FIVE-POINT-FIVE ON THE RICHTER SCALE. ALTHOUGH THAT IS CONSIDERED MODERATE, THE TREMOR WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO COLLAPSE CENTURIES-OLD BUILDINGS IN THE HILLTOWNS OF UMBRIA NEAR THE REGION OF THE MARCHES TO THE EAST. THE ITALIAN CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCY SAID AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE DIED, BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE OF THEIR HOMES IN THE VILLAGES OF COLLECURTI, FABRIANO. AND NOCERA UMBRA. THE TREMOR -- FELT IN ROME, MORE THAN 100 KILOMETERS TO THE SOUTH ALSO OPENED CRACKS IN THE BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI -- ONE OF ITALY'S MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS AND ARTISTIC SHRINES. THE SECOND QUAKE CAME AS THE MAYOR OF ASSISI, THE REGION'S SUPERINTENDANT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND MEMBERS OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER EXAMINED THE DAMAGE TO FRESCOES IN THE CHURCH PAINTED AROUND THE YEAR 1300 BY GIOTTO. OFFICIALS SAID PART OF THE ROOF COLLAPSED, KILLING TWO FRIARS AND
POSSIBLY BURYING MORE VICTIMS UNDER THE RUBBLE. THE SHOCK ALSO
BROUGHT DOWN THE INSIDE WALL OVER THE UPPER BASILICA'S DOORS,
APPARENTLY DESTROYING FRESCOES BY CIMABUE.
IN ROME, A LARGE WROUGHT IRON CHANDELIER, HANGING IN THE CORRIDOR
OF THE 15TH CENTURY SENATE BUILDING, FELL FROM ITS MOORINGS,
INJURING A PASSING SENATE EMPLOYE.
IN ALL, OFFICIALS SAID, AT LEAST ONE DOZEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED
AND AS MANY AS TWO-THOUSAND WERE LEFT HOMELESS. (SIGNED)
[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S &L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=9/26/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-220479 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) IN A STRONG REBOUND FROM RECENT LOSSES. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 22, UP 74 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED FIVE POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 945, UP SEVEN POINTS. ANALYSTS SAY THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME BARGAIN HUNTING AFTER THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OF LOSSES IN THE MAJOR STOCK INDEXES. SOME TRADERS WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED BY REVISED DATA ON U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE FIGURES SHOW THE ECONOMY EXPANDING AT A THREE POINT THREE PERCENT ANNUAL RATE IN THE SECOND QUARTER, DOWN THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT FROM THE INITIAL ESTIMATE. ANALYSTS SAY THE SLIGHTLY SLOWER GROWTH RATE SHOULD HELP KEEP INFLATIONARY PRESSURES UNDER CONTROL. THE U-S INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION HAS VOTED TO IMPOSE STEEP TARIFFS ON IMPORTS OF SOME SPECIALIZED COMPUTERS FROM JAPAN. THE COMMISSION FOUND THAT JAPANESE COMPANIES WERE ILLEGALLY "DUMPING" OR SELLING THE SUPERCOMPUTERS BELOW MARKET PRICES -- IN THE UNITED STATES. ///REST OPT///THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO BAR FEDERAL TRADE
OFFICIALS FROM PROMOTING AMERICAN TOBACCO EXPORTS IN
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. IN THE PAST DECADE, U-S CIGARETTE EXPORTS
HAVE MORE THAN QUADRUPLED.
T AND N, THE BRITISH ENGINEERING FIRM, HAS RECEIVED A THREE POINT
SIX BILLION DOLLAR TAKEOVER OFFER FROM FEDERAL-MOGUL, A U-S AUTO
PARTS SUPPLIER. HOWEVER, ANALYSTS SAY OTHER COMPANIES MAY BE
INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING T AND N, RAISING THE POSSIBILITY OF A
BIDDING WAR.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
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