Voice of America, 97-01-02

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BELGRADE DEMOS (L-ONLY) BY COLIN SOLOWAY (BELGRADE)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[05] SERBIA / NEW YEAR'S DEMOS (L ONLY) BY COLIN SOLOWAY (BELGRADE)

[06] TURKEY / IRAQI KURDS (S & L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

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

INTRO: EDITORIALS IN SOME OF THE NATION'S MAJOR PAPERS THIS FIRST WORK DAY OF THE NEW YEAR ARE DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING: THE ETHICS CONTROVERSY SWIRLING AROUND HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH; NORTH KOREA'S APOLOGY FOR ITS SUBMARINE RAID AGAINST THE SOUTH; THE JAILING IN CHINA OF A TIBETAN WHO HAD STUDIED IN THE UNITED STATES; THE SERBIAN DEMOCRACY STRUGGLE AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST WASHINGTON'S DRUG POLICIES FROM CARIBBEAN LEADERS.

NOW HERE IS _____________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE ETHICS CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER, GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN NEWT GINGRICH, CONTINUES ITS PROMINENCE IN EDITORIAL COLUMNS. THIS THURSDAY, ANOTHER MAJOR PAPER, THE SUN, IN BALTIMORE, IS CALLING ON THE SPEAKER TO STEP DOWN, AFTER HE ADMITTED HE PRESENTED MISLEADING INFORMATION TO A HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE PROBING POSSIBLE TAX VIOLATIONS. SAYS "THE SUN,"

VOICE: "SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH OWES IT TO HIMSELF, HIS PARTY AND HIS COUNTRY TO STAND ASIDE, PERHAPS TEMPORARILY, WHEN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 105TH CONGRESS ASSEMBLES NEXT WEEK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZING. [OPT] INSTEAD OF SEEKING RE-ELECTION IMMEDIATELY, HE SHOULD URGE THE SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE HENRY HYDE, A RESPECTED GOP VETERAN, TO SERVE AS SPEAKER PRO TEM WHILE HIS ETHICS CASE GETS THE THOROUGH PARLIAMENTARY AIRING IT DESERVES. [END OPT]..... IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SUCH A VISIONARY POLITICIAN AS NEWT GINGRICH FINDS HIMSELF IN THIS MESS."

[BEGIN OPT]

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THE SUBJECT, THOUGH IT TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM.

VOICE: "[OPT] THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE NOW SAYS ... IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESUME ITS INVESTIGATION INTO NEWT GINGRICH UNTIL JANUARY EIGHTH, ONE DAY AFTER THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SCHEDULED A VOTE ON MR. GINGRICH'S FUTURE AS SPEAKER. THE COMMITTEE ALSO SAYS IT WILL NOT BE PREPARED TO RECOMMEND THE ... PUNISHMENT MR. GINGRICH DESERVES ..... UNTIL LATER IN THE MONTH. [END OPT] FOR [OPT] THE [END OPT] REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE HOUSE, THERE IS ONLY ONE HONORABLE AND PRACTICAL RESPONSE TO THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND THAT IS TO DELAY THE VOTE ON THE SPEAKERSHIP. THE HOUSE CANNOT BE ASKED TO DECIDE SUCH AN IMPORTANT MATTER ON THE BASIS OF INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT MR. GINGRICH'S FITNESS FOR OFFICE."

TEXT: BUT FORMER REAGAN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL BRUCE CHAPMAN, WRITING IN THE WASHINGTON POST, SAYS SPEAKER GINGRICH'S OFFENSE IS A MINOR ONE AND ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY CONGRESS COULD HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON POLITICAL SPEECH.

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] THE COMMON ASSUMPTION IN NEWS STORIES AND COMMENTARIES ABOUT NEWT GINGRICH IS THAT THE SPEAKER MISUED TAX-EXEMPT MONEY TO TEACH A PARTISAN COLLEGE COURSE. BUT THAT ASSUMPTION GOES ALMOST WHOLLY UNINSPECTED...THE CLASSES WERE VIDEOTAPED...I DECIDED TO GET A FULL SET...[END OPT] GINGRICH IS ACCUSED OF USING THIS NONPROFIT COURSE AND THE COLLEGES WHERE HE TAUGHT IT ON BEHALF OF HIS PARTISAN OBJECTIVES, SPEFICICALLY THOSE OF HIS [POLITICAL] ACTION ORGANIZATION, GOPAC. THE REALITY IS CLOSER TO THE REVERSE: HE INITIALLY USED GOPAC AND HIS POLITICAL CONNECTIONS TO START AN ACADEMIC COURSE THAT REFINES HIS PHILOSOPHICAL AND ACADEMIC INTERESTS. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT...THERE IS SOME DANGER THAT GINRICH'S COLLEGE COURSE WIL BE USED AS AN EXCUSE TO FURTHER RESTRICT USE OF TAX-EXEMPT EDUCATIONAL MONIES, A MOVE WITH POTENTIAL TO THROTTLE, RATHER THAN IMPROVE, PUBLIC DISCOURSE."

TEXT: TURNING OVERSEAS, THE RECENT NORTH KOREAN APOLOGY FOR SENDING A TEAM OF COMMANDOS INTO THE SOUTH ABOARD A SUBMARINE IS DRAWING CONSIDERABLE COMMENT. THE NEW YORK POST CALLS THE APOLOGY "PHONY," ADDING:

VOICE: "NORTH KOREA HAS THE MEANS TO RESOLVE MANY OF ITS PROBLEMS ALL BY ITSELF. THAT IT REFUSES TO DO SO IS, IN THE END, PYONGYANG'S BUSINESS."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE, ON THE OTHER HAND, CALLS THE APOLOGY "A WELCOME REDUCTION OF TENSION IN ASIA AS WELL AS A LAUDABLE DIPLOMATIC ACHIEVEMENT BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION." AND IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "ASIA WILL BE A SAFER PLACE IF THE RAPPROCHEMENT (RAP-PROASH-MAHN) BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND THE WEST THAT TENTATIVELY APPEARED AT THE END OF THE OLD YEAR IS MADE MORE VIGOROUS IN THE NEW. [OPT] IN THE LAST DAYS OF 1996, THE CRISIS BETWEEN OBSCURANTIST AND DESPERATELY POOR NORTH KOREA WITH PROSPEROUS BUT DOMESTICALLY PREOCCUPIED SOUTH KOREA STARTED TO COOL DOWN. THE HEIGHTENED TENSION ALONG THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE WAS EASING. .... [END OPT] IN THIS CONTEXT, IT IS DISCONCERTING THAT THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA, JAMES LANEY, HAS RESIGNED ..... JUST WHEN POLICIES IDENTIFIED WITH HIM ARE BEARING FRUIT."

TEXT: THE RECENT IMPRISONMENT BY CHINA ON SUBVERSION CHARGES, OF AN AMERICAN SCHOLAR OF TIBETAN BIRTH, DRAWS THIS RETORT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WENT OUT OF ITS WAY TO LINK NGAWANG CHOEPEL [NAH-WANG CHA-PELL] TO THE UNITED STATES, CHARGING THAT AMERICANS UNDERWROTE HIS TRIP AND THAT HE WAS GATHERING INFORMATION FOR A FOREIGN AGENCY. ..... TO BE SURE, AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE SCOLDED BEIJING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TIBET, HONG KONG AND CHINA ITSELF. BUT THE CHINESE KNOW THEY CAN SAFELY IGNORE SUCH TALK. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, UNWILLING TO DAMAGE ITS RELATIONS WITH BEIJING, HAS FAILED TO IMPOSE ANY REAL COST ON CHINESE REPRESSION. ..... WASHINGTON SHOULD READ IT [MR. CHOEPEL'S SENTENCE] AS AN INDICATION OF CHINA'S CONTINUING CONTEMPT FOR ITS WEAK DEFENSE OF TIBETAN RIGHTS."

TEXT: TURNING TO EUROPE, AND THE ONGOING PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN SERBIA, NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND COMMENTS:

VOICE: "AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF OF MASSIVE DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS ..... SERBIA IS ON THE VERGE OF FULL-SCALE REBELLION. ANY DAY NOW A PLAZA .... IN BELGRADE COULD BECOME THE NEXT TIANANMEN SQUARE. BUT WHETHER THE COMING CLASH .... WILL TURN INTO A BLOODY SPASM OF REPRESSION LARGELY DEPENDS ON HOW [MR.] MILOSEVIC PERCEIVES HIS ACTIONS WILL BE MET BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ..... WASHINGTON AND ITS NATO ALLIES MUST NOT CONTINUE TO BE AMBIGUOUS ABOUT SERBIA. THEY MUST SEND OUT CLEAR SIGNALS THAT THEY WILL NOT STAND BY TO WATCH A NASCENT DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT BE SMOTHERED IN BLOOD."

TEXT: IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THE MOST URGENT PROJECT IN EUROPE IN THE NEW YEAR IS TO ENSURE THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA THE LEADERSHIP OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC CHOICE. ..... THE EXAMPLE OF POLICY OF DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA ALSO WOULD OPEN THE SUREST AND SHORTEST ROAD - - IF STILL A STEEP AND ROCKY ONE - - TO RESOLVING TENSIONS THROUGHOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AS A WHOLE. ..... SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ... MUST ANSWER SOONER OR LATER TO A PUBLIC THAT KNOWS HIM AS A LEADER WHO FAILED IN HIS RECKLESS GOAL OF CREATING A 'GREATER SERBIA' AND LEFT HIS COUNTRY BROKEN AND BEREFT, ISOLATED AND IN DISRESPECT EVERYWHERE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHAT SOME CARIBBEAN LEADERS CALL U-S HEAVY-HANDEDNESS REGARDING DRUG INTERDICTION DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM THE MIAMI HERALD.

VOICE: "NO ONE DISPUTES THE URGENCY OF CONTROLLING THE ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFIC. UP TO 40 PERCENT OF THE COCAINE AND HEROIN ENTERING THE UNITED STATES COMES VIA THE CARIBBEAN. ..... [HOWEVER] CARIBBEAN LEADERS SAY ... IT IS 'UNACCEPTABLE' FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BULLY WEAKER NATIONS INTO TREATIES AND CONCESSIONS WITHOUT GIVING UP ANYTHING IN RETURN. [OPT] ..... REGIONAL LEADERS RECENTLY SOUGHT A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. HE SHOULD SCHEDULE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. [END OPT] IF THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO HAVE THE ALL IMPORTANT COOPERATION OF THE CARIBBEAN NATIONS IN ITS DRUG WAR, THEN IT MUST ACCORD THEM THE ATTENTION NEEDED IF THEY'RE TO ALLEVIATE REGIONAL PROBLEMS."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
02-Jan-97 10:41 AM EST (1541 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE DEMOS (L-ONLY) BY COLIN SOLOWAY (BELGRADE)

INTRO: THE LEADERSHIP OF SERBIA'S ORTHODOX CHURCH TODAY (THURSDAY) ATTACKED SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, ACCUSING HIM OF TRYING TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY IN THE MIDST OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MOST SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISIS SINCE THE END OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA. FROM BELGRADE, REPORTER COLIN SOLOWAY HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE ORTHODOX CHURCH WAS, TRADITIONALLY, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF MR. MILOSEVIC. THE CHURCH HIERARCHY DID NOT COMPLAIN WHEN SERBS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA "ETHNICALLY CLEANSED" HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEIR CATHOLIC AND MUSLIM NEIGHBORS. BUT TODAY (THURSDAY), AS THE PROSPECT OF SERB-ON-SERB VIOLENCE INCREASES, THE CHURCH VOICED ITS ALARM, ACCUSING MR. MILOSEVIC OF STRANGLING POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS TO REMAIN IN POWER.

THE CHURCH'S ANNOUNCEMENT IS A PARTICULARLY HEAVY BLOW FOR MR. MILOSEVIC, WHOSE STRONGEST SUPPORT COMES FROM THE CONSERVATIVE HEARTLAND OF SERBIA.

IT GAVE COMFORT TO ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS IN THEIR SEVENTH WEEK OF PROTEST, WHO ARE CALLING FOR THE RULING SOCIALISTS TO RECOGNIZE VICTORIES OF THE OPPOSITION COALITION IN NOVEMBER'S LOCAL ELECTIONS.

FOR THE PAST WEEK, PROTEST MARCHES HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY THOUSANDS OF RIOT POLICE, AND GROWING NUMBERS OF MARCHERS ARE ALLEGEDLY BEING SUBJECTED TO INTIMIDATION AND BEATINGS FROM POLICE ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM THE RALLIES.

AT THURSDAY'S DEMONSTRATION, OPPOSITION LEADER VUK DRASKOVIC TRIED TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN MR. MILOSEVIC AND HIS SOCIALIST CADRES, WHO ARE INCREASINGLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE POLITICAL CRISIS. HE ASSURED SOCIALISTS THAT ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE ROOM FOR EXPERIENCED AND RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE, NO MATTER THEIR POLITICAL PARTY.

HE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO EXACERBATE THE GROWING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE SOCIALISTS AND THE YUGOSLAV UNITED LEFT, OR "YUL," A COALITION OF HARD-LINE COMMUNISTS HEADED BY MR. MILOSEVIC'S WIFE, MIRA MARKOVIC. HE CHARGED THAT "YUL" WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS.

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: TAKING THEIR CUE FROM THE END-OF-YEAR SELLING SPREE ON WALL STREET, KEY WESTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS THAT REOPENED FOR THE NEW YEAR ALL CLOSED SHARPLY LOWER THURSDAY. FOR THE NUMBERS, HERE'S V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: AFTER THE DOW JONES INDEX DROPPED 101 POINTS ON WALL STREET TUESDAY, MOST MARKET ANALYSTS EXPECTED A FOLLOW-ON EFFECT WHEN NEW YEAR'S TRADING BEGAN IN EUROPE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

COMING OFF ITS RECORD-SETTING CLOSES EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BOTH FRANKFURT AND LONDON CLOSED DOWN SHARPLY. THE GERMAN "DAX 30" INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 40 POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX WAS OFF JUST OVER 61 POINTS FOR THE DAY. THE PARIS "CAC-40" INDEX SOLD-OFF SHARPLY AS WELL, CLOSING DOWN ALMOST 59 POINTS. MARKET VOLUME, HOWEVER, WAS THIN AND SOME ANALYSTS DID NOT SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED BY THE MARKET DOWNTURN.

THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED A FRACTION OF A CENT IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, AND GAINED MORE THAN TWO CENTS IN VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. GOLD LOST MORE THAN TWO DOLLARS AN OUNCE IN THE CLOSING FIX IN LONDON THURSDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
02-Jan-97 1:11 PM EST (1811 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: ALTHOUGH MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE WERE CLOSED WEDNESDAY FOR THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY, MANY INVESTORS WHO PROFITED HANDSOMELY IN 1996 ANTICIPATE FURTHER GAINS -- AT LEAST INITIALLY -- THIS YEAR. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH LOOKS AT SOME OF THE PROFIT FIGURES REGISTERED BY THE KEY EUROPEAN BOURSE INDEXES IN 1996.

TEXT: THE KEY INDEXES OF STOCKS IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL REGISTERED DOUBLE-DIGIT GAINS LAST YEAR. IN LONDON, STOCKS TRACKED BY THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX POSTED A GAIN OF JUST UNDER 12 PERCENT -- CLOSING THE YEAR TUESDAY ON A RECORD HIGH. WHILE INDICATIONS SUGGEST SOME FURTHER GAINS ON THE "FOOTSIE" INDEX, THE OUTLOOK IS TEMPERED SOMEWHAT BY ECONOMIC CHANGES WHICH MAY FOLLOW UPCOMING BRITISH ELECTIONS.

STOCKS IN PARIS ON THE "CAC-40" INDEX DID EVEN BETTER THAN THOSE IN LONDON. PRICES LAST YEAR ON THE "CAC" ROSE ALMOST 24 PERCENT. GERMANY'S "DAX-30" INDEX IN FRANKFURT WAS EVEN BETTER, WITH A 28 PERCENT GAIN AND SHARE TRADING VOLUME UP MORE THAN 40 PERCENT. STEADY LOAN INTEREST RATES IN GERMANY SUGGEST TO MANY MARKET ANALYSTS THAT GERMAN STOCKS ARE LIKELY TO GAIN EVEN MORE VALUE THIS YEAR.

ALTHOUGH FIGURES FROM WESTERN MARKETS WERE IMPRESSIVE, LAST YEAR'S BIGGEST SHARE VALUE GAIN IN EUROPE CAME ON THE BUDAPEST STOCK MARKET. THE "BUX" INDEX -- AS IT IS CALLED -- SOARED A WHOPPING 170 PERCENT. (SIGNED)
NEB / PCF / WOD
01-Jan-97 9:43 AM EST (1443 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] SERBIA / NEW YEAR'S DEMOS (L ONLY) BY COLIN SOLOWAY (BELGRADE)

BELGRADE STUDENTS DEFIED POLICE WARNINGS AND MARCHED THROUGH THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL WEDNESDAY EVENING, IN THE FIRST PROTEST OF THE NEW YEAR AGAINST THE REGIME OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. COLIN SOLOWAY REPORTS FROM BELGRADE

MOST BELGRADERS SPENT WEDNESDAY RECOVERING FROM TUESDAY NIGHT'S MASSIVE NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION AND ANTIGOVERNMENT PROTEST THAT DREW MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE TO THE CITY'S CENTRAL SQUARE. EVEN THE ZAJEDNO OPPOSITION COALITION GAVE ITS SUPPORTERS THE DAY OFF AFTER 42 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF DEMONSTRATIONS.

BUT NEARLY 10,000 STUDENTS WOKE UP IN TIME FOR AN EVENING PROTEST MARCH THROUGH THE STREETS, DEFYING LAST WEEK'S PROHIBITIONS ON DEMONSTRATIONS THAT OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC. MR. MILOSEVIC'S RIOT POLICE ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE TAKEN THE HOLIDAY OFF. THE STUDENTS BLEW WHISTLES AND HORNS, AND BANGED DRUMS AS THEY MARCHED. THEY CALLED ON BELGRADERS TO SUPPORT THEM WITH A SO-CALLED NOISE PROTEST, BEATING POTS AND PANS FROM THEIR BALCONIES, AND EVEN BANGING ON HEATING AND WATER PIPES, TO DROWN OUT THE EVENING NEWS BROADCAST ON STATE-CONTROLLED TELEVISION. THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS NOT MARCHING OVERCAME THEIR HANGOVERS AND JOINED IN WITH KITCHEN NOISEMAKERS.

TRUE TO FORM, STATE-RUN TELEVISION REPORTED ON CELEBRATIONS IN NEARLY EVERY TOWN IN SERBIA, BUT NEGLECTED TO MENTION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND CITIZENS GATHERED A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, IN THE CENTER OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL. SERBS LEARNED WHAT THE CHINESE WATCHED ON TELEVISION NEW YEAR'S EVE, BUT UNDER THE RULING SOCIALISTS' NEAR TOTAL MONOPOLY OF BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA, THEY WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE LARGEST ANTIGOVERNMENT RALLY IN SIX WEEKS OF DAILY PROTESTS AGAINST THE SOCIALISTS' ELECTORAL FRAUD IN NOVEMBER'S LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THE SKIES OVER BELGRADE EXPLODED WITH FIREWORKS, WHISTLES, HORNS, AND THE CHEERS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS GATHERED AT A COMBINATION NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AND ANTIGOVERNMENT PROTEST.

DOZENS OF SERBIA'S MOST POPULAR ACTORS AND MUSICIANS WERE ON HAND TO ENTERTAIN THE CROWDS WHO CAME TO SUPPORT THE ZAJEDNO (TOGETHER) OPPOSITION COALITION IN THEIR QUEST TO REGAIN VICTORIES IN FOURTEEN SERBIAN CITIES, INCLUDING BELGRADE. BUT THE EXUBERANCE OF THE CROWD OVERWHELMED THE MASSIVE SOUND SYSTEM. ORGANIZERS DECIDED TO FORGO THE PERFORMANCES AND SPEECHES, AND INSTEAD PLAYED OPPOSITION SONGS BY POPULAR ROCK BANDS AND SOUNDTRACK MUSIC FROM YUGOSLAV DIRECTOR EMIR KUSTURICA'S NEW FILM "UNDERGROUND." OPPOSITION LEADERS MADE BRIEF STATEMENTS WISHING THE CROWD HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CALLING ON THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS.

OPPOSITION LEADER VUK DRASKOVIC TOLD THE CROWD: "YOU ARE STRONGER THAN ANY WORDS I CAN SAY; IN 1997 WE WILL FINISH WHAT WE STARTED IN 1996."

MORE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/KL
01-Jan-97 5:49 PM EST (2249 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY / IRAQI KURDS (S & L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: TURKEY'S MILITARY SAYS ABOUT 100 KURDISH REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED AFTER FOUR DAYS OF A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION DESIGNED TO OUST THE SEPARATISTS FROM THEIR CAMPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE OFFENSIVE IS PART OF A CONTINUING BATTLE BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES TO CRUSH SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY OR "P-K-K."

TEXT: THE CROSS-BORDER OPERATION HAS PUT SOME FIVE-THOUSAND TURKISH SOLDIERS INSIDE NORTHERN IRAQ. THEY ARE BACKED BY FIGHTER JETS AND HELICOPTERS.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE MILITARY SAID IT HAD DESTROYED THREE P-K-K CAMPS IN THE SINATH REGION ALONG THE TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER. ATTACKS CONTINUED THURSDAY ON OTHER SUSPECTED CAMPS.

TURKEY'S P-K-K REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A SEPARATE KURDISH ENTITY FOR A DOZEN YEARS. THE CONFRONTATION WITH TURKISH TROOPS HAS CENTERED IN TURKEY'S MOUNTAINOUS SOUTHEAST. THE OPERATION THIS WEEK CAME AFTER P-K-K REBELS REPORTEDLY FIRED FROM ACROSS THE BORDER AT TURKISH SOLDIERS IN THE AREA OF SILOPI.

TURKEY ACCUSES THE P-K-K REBELS OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A POWER VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO SEEK REFUGE AND OBTAIN SUPPLIES THERE.

TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAVE CALLED ON IRAQ'S KURDS THERE TO BETTER POLICE THE BORDER AREA TO PREVENT THE P-K-K FROM ENTERING.

BUT A LONG-RUNNING FEUD BETWEEN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS HAS LEFT NO CENTRAL AUTHORITY TO DO THE JOB. BAGHDAD HAS BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE AUTONOMOUS KURDISH AREAS OF THE NORTH SINCE THE END OF THE 1991 GULF WAR.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME TURKISH TROOPS HAVE CROSSED INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN THEIR CONTINUING CAMPAIGN TO CRUSH THE P-K-K OPPOSITION. A MAJOR OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO SENT MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ.

THAT OPERATION BROUGHT SHARP CRITICISM FROM EUROPEAN AND ARAB ALLIES WHO WARNED IT WAS INFRINGING ON IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY. BAGHDAD ONCE AGAIN HAS DENOUNCED TURKEY'S CROSS-BORDER OPERATION. THE OFFICIAL DAILY "AL THAWRA" SAYS THE OPERATION MUST BE CONDEMNED AND REJECTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/PCF/RRM
02-Jan-97 1:37 PM EST (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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