Voice of America, 18 April 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO ASIA AND THEN RUSSIA CONTINUES TO HOLD THE ATTENTION OF MANY EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS THIS THURSDAY, BUT ANOTHER FAVORED TOPIC IS THE ANTI-TERRORISM BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE CONGRESS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE BATTLE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS IN LEBANON; TROUBLE IN HAITI, AND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IRAN-BOSNIAN ARMS DECISION. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NATION WILL PAUSE TOMORROW, THE 19TH OF APRIL, TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED IN THE MASSIVE BOMBING OF THE FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING AND DAY-CARE CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, LAST YEAR. FOR ITS PART, CONGRESS HAS BEEN HURRYING THROUGH AN ANTI-TERRORISM BILL THAT WOULD INCREASE THE STATE'S POLICE POWERS AND GIVE MORE MONEY TO TERRORISM CONTROL. UNFORTUNATELY, SAY SEVERAL INFLUENTIAL DAILIES, IN ITS HASTE, CONGRESS HAS ERRED. FOR ITS PART, "THE NEW YORK TIMES," SAYS:

VOICE: "THE LEGISLATIVE STEW THAT EMERGED FROM A HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE IS NOT PRIMARILY AIMED AT TERRORISTS BUT AT SHREDDING THE DOCTRINE OF HABEAS CORPUS, [IN LATIN LITERALLY "TO PRODUCE THE CORPSE" OR IN MOST CASES, THE BODY OF THE PERSON CHARGED WITH THE CRIME, SO THAT PERSON CAN SPEAK IN HIS/HER OWN DEFENSE] A VITAL SAFEGUARD AGAINST UNFAIR TRIAL AND ARBITRARY IMPRISONMENT... THE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES OTHER DUBIOUS STEPS... THREATENING BASIC NOTIONS OF FREE SPEECH ... IS A POOR WAY TO COMBAT TERRORISM, MUCH LESS TO HONOR THE 169 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE TRAGIC OKLAHOMA CITY EXPLOSION."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS EQUALLY UNENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE BILL.

VOICE: "THE RUSH IS ON TO GET A TERRORISM BILL TO PRESIDENT CLINTON BY FRIDAY, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING... LINKING THIS BILL TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY TRAGEDY IS, HOWEVER, A STRETCH. AS FAR AS IS KNOWN, THAT CRIME WAS UNRELATED TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR MALEVOLENT ALIENS."

TEXT: BOSTON'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS ALSO CRITICAL OF THE LEGISLATION:

VOICE: "THE TRAGEDY IN OKLAHOMA CITY ... CREATED A POLITICAL NECESSITY TO DO MORE -- WHICH IS NOW BEING PLAYED OUT IN THE RUSH TO ENACT BY TOMORROW'S ANNIVERSARY. THE RESULTING BILL IS NOT GOOD LAW, THOUGH IT WILL PROBABLY BECOME LAW. AT SOME POINT, AS WITH PAST INTRUSIONS ON BASIC LIBERTIES, MUCH OF IT WILL HAVE TO BE UNDONE."

TEXT: AS TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY TRAGEDY ITSELF, "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND IS STILL ASKING: "WHY THE BOMBING?"

VOICE: "A RISING DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT IS MOTIVATING EXTREMISTS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT... SOME OF THE QUESTIONS MAY BE ANSWERED WHEN THE TRIAL OF THE BOMBING SUSPECTS FINALLY GETS UNDERWAY. BUT THE ANSWERS WON'T SATISFY. IT WILL BE A BIT LIKE ASKING A BIOLOGIST WHY LIFE OCCURS. THE ANSWER WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES, BUT IT STILL LEAVE US WONDERING WHY WE ARE ALIVE. "

TEXT: INTERNATIONALLY, THE FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS IN LEBANON DRAWS A COMMENT FROM TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES", WHICH SAYS THAT "ALL LEBANESE AREN'T THE ENEMY" AND PLEAS FOR VERY PINPOINTED ATTACKS AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS.

VOICE: "FRUSTRATED BY ITS INABILITY TO SUPPRESS HEZBOLLAH'S ROCKET ATTACKS ON ITS NORTHERN COMMUNITIES, ISRAEL IS WAGING WAR AGAINST LEBANON'S EOCNOMY IN THE HOPE THAT THE BEIRUT GOVERNMENT AND ITDS SYRIAN MASTERS CAN BE BLUDGEONED INTO REIGNING IN THE RADICAL ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION... IN TIME, DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS WILL FIND ALL PARTIES READY FOR A SETTLEMENT... MEANWHILE, ISRAEL WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT ITS SWORN ENEMY IS NOT ALL OF LEBANON BUT THE FANATICS OF HEZBOLLAH. MILITARY MEASURES SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT THAT SPECIFIC ENEMY.

TEXT: TURNING TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ASIA TRIP, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE VISIT TO JAPAN THIS WEEK YIELDED SOME ENCOURAGING RESULTS. MANY TENSIONS CONTINUE TO UNDERGIRD U-S - JAPAN AFFAIRS, BUT [MR.] CLINTON AND PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO ISSUED AN IMPORTANT REAFFIRMATION OF THE TWO NATIONS' MILITARY ALLIANCE AND STARTED THE HARD BUT VITAL WORK OF CLARIFYING AND MODERNIZING THEIR RELATIONSHIP... MORE FAR-SEEING ... WAS JAPAN'S AGREEMENT TO REVIEW ITS POLICY FOR DIRECT MILITARY COOPERATION WITH ITS ALLIES."

TEXT: MR. CLINTON'S NEXT STOP IS RUSSIA FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, WHICH DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON ARRIVES IN RUSSIA TODAY (THURSDAY) FACING ISSUES THAT WILL SEVERELY TEST HIS DIPLOMATIC METTLE... WITH THE WAR IN CHECHNYA STILL GOING ON, THE SECURITY OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR MATERIALS IN DOUBT AND NEW CONCERNS ... ABOUT A SECRETIVE RUSSIAN MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ... IN THE URAL MOUNTAINS ... MR. CLINTON SHOULD NOT BE CONTENT JUST TO FLATTER MR. YELTSIN... [HE] SHOULD NOT BECOME A CAMPAIGN PROP FOR MR. YELTSIN."

TEXT: WITH THE FINAL CONTINGENT OF U-S COMBAT TROOPS [SOME ENGINEERING BATTALIONS WILL REMAIN] LEAVING HAITI THIS WEEK, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES SAYS THERE IS STILL -- IN ITS WORDS -- "SOMETHING ROTTEN" ON THE IMPOVERISHED CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

VOICE: "A NEW STAFF REPORT BEING RELEASED TODAY BY REPUBLICANS ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE INTELLIGENCE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEES, FOLLOWING [AN] ... INVESTIGATIVE TRIP, RAISES VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE RISING LEVEL OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN HAITI, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING LACK OF ENTHUSIASM ON THE PART OF THE U-S ADMINISTRATION FOR INVESTIGATING VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND FOR PRESSURING THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL TO CLEAN UP HIS ACT [IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCE]."

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME ADDITIONAL CRITICISM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THE PRESIDENT DID, INDEED, ACQUIESCE IN ALLOWING ARMS SHIPMENTS FROM IRAN TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AT THE HEIGHT OF THE BALKAN WAR.

VOICE: "... WHILE THE MANEUVER WAS DEVIOUS, IT WAS NOT ILLEGAL, THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED... PERHAPS SO. BUT THAT LEAVES UNANSWERED THE HEAVY CHARGE, LEVELED BY REPUBLICANS PARTISANS ... OF WHETHER WASHINGTON WAS TOO QUICK TO GIVE REVOLUTIONARY IRAN, ONE OF THE MUSLIMS' SUPPLIERS, A CHANCE TO BUILD UP A FIRST EUROPEAN OUTPOST... NOW THAT TEHRAN HAS A TOE-HOLD IN BOSNIA, WASHINGTON ... MUST SEE ... IT DOES NOT CONSOLIDATE A CONTINUING ADVANTAGE."

TEXT: AND THAT WRAPS UP THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS FOR THURSDAY, THE 18TH OF APRIL.

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18-Apr-96 11:22 AM EDT (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: A THURSDAY DEADLINE (2200 U-T-C) FOR THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO COMPLY WITH A VITAL PROVISION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS HOURS AWAY. THE DEADLINE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE MET. BUT, NATO OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE MUSLIMS, SERBS, AND CROATS ARE GENUINELY TRYING TO MEET TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE RETURN OF REGULAR TROOPS TO BARRACKS AND THE STORAGE OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES' HEAVY WEAPONS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

IF THE MUSLIMS, SERBS, AND CROATS COMPLY, THE WAR IN BOSNIA WILL BE, EFFECTIVELY, OVER. LARGE, STANDING ARMIES WILL BE REPLACED BY SMALL PEACE-TIME FORCES WHICH CAN CARRY OUT TRAINING EXERCISES ONLY WITH NATO'S APPROVAL.

NATO OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY THE FORMER WARRING FORCES ARE NOT GOING TO MEET THE THURSDAY DEADLINE FOR WITHDRAWING THEIR TROOPS AND HEAVY WEAPONS FROM THE FIELD. BUT, THE OFFICIALS SAY THE RIVAL ARMIES ARE GENUINELY TRYING TO RETURN THEIR REGULAR TROOPS TO BARRACKS AND TO MOVE THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS TO NATO-DESIGNATED STORAGE AREAS.

THE MILITARY MOVEMENTS ARE A MASSIVE OPERATION. ABOUT 150-THOUSAND SOLDIERS, THOUSANDS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS AND MORTARS, 13-HUNDRED ARTILLERY PIECES, AND AN ESTIMATED 800 TANKS ARE INVOLVED.

A SHORTAGE OF FUEL, TRANSPORTING VEHICLES, PROPER MILITARY RECORDS AND LOGISTICAL EXPERTISE IS SAID TO BE AFFECTING THE FORMER WARRING FORCES' ABILITY TO MEET THE THURSDAY DEADLINE.

NATO WILL ASSESS THE SITUATION THIS WEEKEND. BUT, NATO SOURCES SAY IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL MORE WEEKS FOR THE MUSLIM, SERB, AND CROAT REGULAR TROOPS AND HEAVY WEAPONS TO BE MOVED TO THE DESIGNATED PLACES.

AS LONG AS THE FORMER WARRING FORCES APPEAR TO BE REALLY TRYING TO DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, NATO IS NOT LIKELY TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. BUT, IF THERE IS ANY DELIBERATE LACK OF COMPLIANCE, NATO IS CERTAIN TO TAKE A VERY HARD LINE. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, KNOWN HEAVY WEAPONS ARE HIDDEN AND THEIR EXISTENCE IS DENIED, NATO WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY CONFISCATE THEM. (SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 10:11 AM EDT (1411 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EGYPT/GREECE (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS ( ATHENS )

INTRO: A GREEK MILITARY PLANE HAS LEFT FOR CAIRO CARRYING MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND DOCTORS TO HELP TREAT THE GREEK TOURISTS WHO SURVIVED A TERRORIST ATTACK AT A CAIRO HOTEL. AT LEAST 19 TOURISTS, MOSTLY GREEKS, WERE KILLED IN THE SHOOTING. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM ATHENS.

TEXT: THE GREEK TRANSPORT PLANE TOOK OFF FOR CAIRO AS THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT IN ATHENS STRONGLY CONDEMNED WHAT IT CALLED AN ABHORRENT KILLING OF INNOCENT GREEK PEOPLE.

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DIMITRIS REPPAS SAID CARGOES OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND A TEAM OF GREEK DOCTORS ARE BEING SENT TO CAIRO TO HELP TREAT ABOUT 15 GREEKS WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN FOUR TERRORISTS OPENED FIRE WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL EUROPA.

A GREEK JETLINER WILL ALSO BE SENT TO CAIRO TO CARRY THE SURVIVORS BACK TO GREECE.

MORE THAN 200 GREEK TOURISTS WERE STAYING AT THE HOTEL, ALONG WITH ISRAELIS, RUSSIANS, AND GERMANS. THE EGYPTIAN CITIES OF CAIRO AND ALEXANDRIA ARE FAVORITE HOLIDAY SPOTS FOR GREEKS.

LOCAL MEDIA IN EGYPT SAID THE TERRORISTS MIGHT HAVE MISTOOK THE MOSTLY BLACK-CLOTHED GREEK TOURISTS FOR ISRAELIS.

GREECE'S CLOSE TIES WITH THE ARAB WORLD WERE NURTURED BY FORMER SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU WHO REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL.

GREECE FINALLY ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL IN 1990, THE LAST EUROPEAN COUNTRY TO DO SO.

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SAID IT DID NOT WANT TO INTERPRET THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO AS AN ARAB ACT AGAINST GREECE. (SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EGYPT / SHOOTING (L UPDATE) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: THE EGYPTIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS 18 GREEK TOURISTS -- 14 WOMEN AND FOUR MEN -- WERE KILLED WHEN FOUR UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN OPENED FIRE ON THEIR TOUR GROUP AS IT WAS ABOUT TO BOARD A BUS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOTEL. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS 13 OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACK, INCLUDING ONE EGYPTIAN. THREE ARE LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

TEXT: THE INTERIOR MINISTRY CONFIRMS FOUR GUNMEN DRIVING A WHITE VAN SPRAYED THE HOTEL ENTRANCE WITH MACHINEGUN FIRE. WITNESSES SAY ONE OF THE GUNMEN ALSO RAN INTO THE BUILDING SHOOTING TOWARD THE GROUND-FLOOR DINING ROOM. THEY DESCRIBE THE GUNMEN AS YOUNG, CLEAN-SHAVEN, AND DRESSED IN BLACK LEATHER JACKETS. THE BUS, SOME OF ITS WINDOWS SHATTERED, OTHERS POCKMARKED WITH BULLET HOLES, STOOD EMPTY IN FRONT OF THE ENTRYWAY HOURS AFTER THE ATTACK. THERE WERE DRYING POOLS OF BLOOD BY THE BUS DOOR, UP THE HOTEL STEPS AND INTO THE LOBBY.

THE TOUR GROUP ARRIVED IN CAIRO ON THE LAST LEG OF A HOLY-LAND TOUR THAT TOOK THEM TO RELIGIOUS SITES IN ISRAEL AND EGYPT. OTHER TOUR GROUPS AT THE SAME HOTEL, STILL SHOCKED AND FRIGHTENED BY THE INCIDENT, SAID THEY WERE PACKING TO LEAVE.

IT IS THE FIRST MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO SINCE DECEMBER OF 1993 WHEN EIGHT AUSTRIAN TOURISTS AND EIGHT EGYPTIANS WERE WOUNDED IN AN ATTACK ON A TOUR BUS IN THE CAPITAL. ISLAMIC RADICALS OF THE GAMA-A ISLAMIYA GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT ATTACK.

THE GOVERNMENT INSISTS ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ISLAMIC MILITANTS HAS DESTROYED THEIR NETWORK. THE RADICALS HAVE BEEN BATTLING GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES FOR FOUR YEARS.

MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE VIOLENCE, INCLUDING EIGHT FOREIGNERS. BUT IN RECENT MONTHS, THE TERRORIST THREAT HAD DIMINISHED AND EGYPT'S TOURISM INDUSTRY WAS STARTING TO ENJOY A REVIVAL.

SEVERAL TOURISTS WHO WITNESSED THE SHOOTING SAY THEY HAD BEEN WARNED ABOUT ISRAEL, FOLLOWING THE RECENT SUICIDE BOMBINGS THERE. BUT THEY SAY THEY DID NOT EXPECT A TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO.

ANALYSTS IN CAIRO AND FRENCH OFFICIALS IN PARIS SUGGEST THE TERRORIST ATTACK IS A REACTION TO ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE HEZBOLLAH GROUP IN LEBANON, AMID SIMMERING ANGER IN THE ARAB WORLD OVER THE MILITARY OFFENSIVE.

FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE INITIATED CEASEFIRE PROPOSALS TO END THE FIGHTING. ISRAELI TOURISTS OFTEN STAY AT THE MODERATELY PRICED HOTEL ON THE EDGE OF CAIRO JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE PYRAMIDS. (SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MACEDONIA AID (L) BY BARRY WOOD (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: WHEN MACEDONIA -- A SMALL LANDLOCKED MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORY IN THE SOUTHERN BALKANS -- DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA FIVE YEARS AGO SOME EXPERTS DOUBTED WHETHER IT COULD BE A VIABLE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL OF SKOPJE THAT MACEDONIA IS DOING MUCH BETTER THAN THE EXPERTS PREDICTED.

TEXT: MACEDONIA IS UNIQUE AMONG FORMER FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS IN THAT IT WAS ABLE TO PEACEFULLY SEPARATE FROM THE FEDERATION. MACEDONIA HAS MAINTAINED GOOD RELATIONS WITH ALL OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS. ITS NORTHERN FRONTIER WITH SERBIA IS PATROLLED BY UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS INCLUDING TROOPS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

MACEDONIA IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A KIND OF PEACE DIVIDEND. AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THE UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WERE SUSPENDED. SINCE 70 PERCENT OF MACEDONIA'S TRADE TRADITIONALLY WENT THROUGH SERBIA THE OPENING OF THE FRONTIER WAS WELCOME IN SKOPJE. ABOUT THE SAME TIME GREECE LIFTED ITS UNILATERAL EMBARGO AGAINST MACEDONIA, WHICH HAD DEPRIVED SKOPJE OF ITS DIRECT LINK TO THE SEA AND ACCESS TO CRUDE OIL IMPORTS FROM THE PORT OF SALONIKA.

LINDA GREGORY IS THE SKOPJE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. MS. GREGORY SAYS ECONOMIC REFORM IS PROCEEDING AT A RAPID PACE AND THAT WITH THE EMBARGOES LIFTED MACEDONIA'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT.

I THINK MACEDONIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THE BALKANS, I REALLY DO. THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT IS THE ONLY OF THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS THAT CAME PEACEFULLY TO INDEPENDENCE. THEY HAVE STUCK WITH THE COMMITMENTS TO THE STABILIZATION PROGRAM THAT WAS SET UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY THE WORLD BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

DESPITE HAVING THE SANCTIONS TO THE NORTH AND THE EMBARGO TO THE SOUTH, MACEDONIA MAINTAINED ITS COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC REFORMS, WHICH WERE VERY TOUGH. THE I-M-F HAS INDICATED IN MEETINGS BOTH HERE AND IN WASHINGTON THAT MACEDONIA HAS DONE A SUPERB JOB OF MAINTAINING ITS COMMITMENT TO FISCAL REFORM. THEY BROUGHT INFLATION DOWN FROM TWO THOUSAND PERCENT IN 1992 TO 16 PERCENT LAST YEAR.

THE MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES WANT TO DIVERSIFY TRADE AND REDUCE THE COUNTRY'S DEPENDENCE ON GREECE AND SERBIA. THUS, A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY IS CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW RAIL AND ROAD LINK TO THE EAST AND WEST. FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER AID DONORS. ROAD IMPROVEMENT THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WEST TO ALBANIA IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. A 60 KILOMETER RAIL LINK TO THE BULGARIAN RAIL NETWORK IS ALSO UNDERWAY. EXPERTS SAY WHEN THE PROJECT IS FINISHED IN ABOUT SIX YEARS MACEDONIA WILL HAVE ALTERNATE TRANSPORT ROUTES WEST TO THE ALBANIAN PORT OF DURRES AND EAST TO THE BULGARIAN BLACK SEA PORT OF BURGAS. (SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 1:42 PM EDT (1742 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MACEDONIA ECONOMY (L-O) BY BARRY WOOD (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA IS DOING WELL ECONOMICALLY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IN THE CAPITAL OF SKOPJE REPORTS MACEDONIA IS BENEFITING FROM THE END OF U-N SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND THE DECISION OF GREECE TO LIFT ITS UNILATERAL TRADE EMBARGO ON MACEDONIA.

TEXT: JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE EARTHQUAKE RAVAGED SKELETON OF SKOPJE'S OLD TRAIN STATION, MACEDONIA'S NEW STOCK EXCHANGE IS UP AND RUNNING. OCCUPYING A ROW OF SECOND FLOOR OFFICES, THE STOCK EXCHANGE CURRENTLY TRADE TWO STOCKS AND TWO BONDS.

BUT MUCH GREATER ACTIVITY IS ANTICIPATED AS MACEDONIA'S PRIVATIZATION OF STATE ENTERPRISES GAINS MOMENTUM. STOCK EXCHANGE DIRECTOR EVGENI ZOGRAFSKI SAYS SKOPJE'S CAPITAL MARKET IS MOVING FORWARD SINCE ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH GREECE AND SERBIA WERE NORMALIZED.

I EXPECT THAT THE LIFTING OF THE EMBARGO WILL IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN ALL THESE BALKAN COUNTRIES. AND THIS WILL PUSH THE ECONOMY. AT THE SAME TIME THE FINANCIAL MARKET WILL DEVELOP, VERY SOON.

MR. ZOGRAFSKI SAYS A MAJOR CHALLENGE IS TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN BANKS. HE SAYS MACEDONIAN CITIZENS LOST UP TO ONE-BILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS THEY HAD DEPOSITED IN BELGRADE-BASED BANKS PRIOR TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA.

THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE MACEDONIAN ECONOMY IS FORMER ECONOMICS PROFESSOR JANE MILJOVSKI, WHO IS NOW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. ADDRESSING BUSINESS LEADERS AT THE EUROPEAN BANK MEETING IN SOFIA, MR. MILJOVSKI SAID MACEDONIAN TRADE WITH BOTH SERBIA AND GREECE WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE.

AT THE MOMENT THE BIGGEST (TRADING) PARTNERS ARE GERMANY, BULGARIA, AND GREECE. AND ALSO TURKEY SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN IN THIS LIST. BUT IN A SHORT TIME I THINK YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA) AND GREECE WILL IMPROVE THEIR POSITION VERY FAST BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY PROACTIVE IN MACEDONIA.

SINCE ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE THE MACEDONIAN CURRENCY HAS HELD GENERALLY STEADY AGAINST THE MARK AND THE DOLLAR. INFLATION HAS COME DOWN TO BELOW 18-PERCENT (ANNUALLY) AND THERE WILL BE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY THIS YEAR. LIVING STANDARDS, WHILE BELOW THEIR LEVEL OF SIX-YEARS AGO, ARE GRADUALLY IMPROVING. (SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 12:19 PM EDT (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S EGYPT ATTACK (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (ST. PETERSBURG)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS CONDEMNED THE ATTACK ON GREEK TOURISTS BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN IN CAIRO THURSDAY THAT LEFT AT LEAST 18 DEAD. THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO EXPRESSING OUTRAGE AT THE BOMB EXPLOSION IN LONDON, APPARENTLY BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. U-S REACTION CAME IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, WHERE PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ON A BRIEF VISIT. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY MIKE MCCURRY CALLS THE ATTACK ON GREEK TOURISTS A TRAGIC REMINDER THAT WHILE THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF PEACE, THERE REMAIN "DESPERATE INDIVIDUALS" AS HE PUT IT, DETERMINED TO HOLD BACK PROGRESS TOWARD RECONCILIATION.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, MR. MCCURRY SAYS THE ATTACK UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR ALL NATIONS BOTH TO CONDEMN TERRORISM AND TO TAKE ACTIONS TO END IT. HE SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CONVEYING HIS SYMPATHY TO EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK AND GREEK PRIME MINISTER CONSTANIN SIMITIS,AND SENDING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS.

IN A SEPARATE STATEMENT, THE PRESS SECRETARY SAID MR. CLINTON IS DEEPLY CONCERNED AND OUTRAGED BY THE LONDON BOMB EXPLOSION. MR. MCCURRY, NOTING THAT TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND ARE SET TO BEGIN JUNE 10TH, SAYS ONLY GENUINE DIALOGUE CAN LEAD TO A FUTURE OF HOPE AND PROMISE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND.(SIGNED)

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18-Apr-96 7:13 PM EDT (2313 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America