Voice of America, 97-01-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[02] BREAKDOWN IN BULGARIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[03] BULGARIA / ECONOMY BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

[04] BULGARIA CRISIS (L) BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

[05] CYPRUS/TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

[07] RUSSIA/NATO (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[08] SERB / PRESSURE (L-O) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THE LEAD EDITORIAL TOPIC IN MANY NEWSPAPERS IS THE ACCORD REACHED THIS WEEK BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS; ONE NEWSPAPER URGING THE U-S TO RATIFY THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION; AND ANOTHER PAPER SAYS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ETHICS PANEL IS BECOMING PARTISAN.

NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ISRAELI TROOPS ARE BEGININNG A WITHDRAWAL THAT WILL REMOVE MOST TROOPS FROM HEBRON, AND EVENTUALLY FROM WEST BANK RURAL AREAS. HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, NEWSPAPERS ARE PRAISING THE LONG-AWAITED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAEL. THE WASHINGTON POST, FOR EXAMPLE, WRITES THAT "THE HEBRON AGREEMENT IS VERY GOOD NEWS." IT GOES ON TO ADD:

VOICE: "IT'S NOT CLEAR FROM WHERE [ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN] NETANYAHU DREW THE BRAVE DECISION TO CHALLENGE A POLITICAL LIFETIME'S BELIEFS AND COMRADES AND TAKE A LARGER VIEW. IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT IN THE HEBRON TALKS HE HAS MADE THE ISRAELI CONCESSIONS, AND WON FROM YASSER ARAFAT THE PAELESTINIAN CONCESSIONS, THAT ENABLE THE QUEST FOR PEACE TO GO ON."

TEXT: IN AN EDITORIAL ENTITLED, "IT'S ALIVE," THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINAL NOTES THAT "PROGRESS IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS HAS BEEN SO MINIMAL LATELY THAT JUST ABOUT ANY POSITIVE NEWS SEEMS EXCITING." BUT THE FLORIDA NEWSPAPER HAS THIS CAVEAT:

VOICE: "BEFORE ANYONE GETS CARRIED AWAY WITH EXCITEMENT, THOUGH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE HEBRON ACCORD IS SIMPLY ONE STEP IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS. MANY ISSUES REMAIN UNSOLVED."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITES THAT NOW THERE IS "A CLEARER ROAD TO MIDDLE EAST PEACE." THE TIMES ALSO PRAISES THE WORK OF BOTH THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS:

VOICE: "MR. NETANYAHU, HARSHLY CRITICAL OF THE OSLO FORMULA DURING LAST YEAR'S ISRAELI ELECTION CAMPAIGN, HAS NOW EMBRACED THE PEACE PLAN AS HIS OWN. HE SHOWED GREAT COURAGE IN RECONSIDERING HIS POSITION AND REJECTING THE OBJECTIONS OF HIS MORE HAWKISH CABINET COLLEAGUES. MR. ARAFAT ALSO ACCEPTED DIFFICULT COMPROMISES, HE AGREED THAT THE SCHEDULE FOR THE REMAINING ISRAELI TROOP WITHDRAWALS COULD BE STRETCHED OUT UNTIL MID-1998, DROPPING HIS LONG INSISTANCE ON THE ORIGINAL TARGET DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1997. THE NEW SCHEDULE WILL STILL ALLOW NEGOTIATION ABOUT THE FINAL STATUS OF THE TERRITORIES WITH MOST OF THE DISPUTED AREAS NO LONGER OCCUPIED BY ISRAELI TROOPS."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ADVISES IN ITS EDITORIAL ABOUT THE HEBRON ACCORD THAT THERE IS "NO GOING BACK." THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

VOICE: "THE ACCORD MARKES THE RELUCTANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF BOTH THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER AND THE PALESTINIAN LEADER THAT, NO MATTER HOW BITTER THE COMPROMISES EACH MUST MAKE, THE MOMENTUM OF THE PEACE PROCESS CANNOT BE HALTED. THAT RECOGNITION IS SYMBOLIZED BY THE PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT DESCRIBES THE ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE -- FURTHER ISRAELI PULLBACKS, FURTHER PALESTINIAN ASSURANCES ON SECURITY. [END OPT]"

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS URGING THE U-S SENATE TO RATIFY THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION. THE EDITORIAL EXPLAINS:

VOICE: "BY ITS FAILURE TO RATIFY THE INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, THE SENATE CONTINUES TO EMBARRASS THE UNITED STATES AND JEOPARDIZE ITS NATIONAL SECURITY. THE TREATY, SIGNED FOUR YEARS AGO AND SINCE RATIFIED BY 67 COUNTRIES -- CHINA IS EXPECTED TO JOIN THAT LIST SOON -- BANS THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, STOCKPILING, TRANSFER AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS. ... DESPITE BROAD BIPARTISAN BACKING AND A RENEWED APPEAL FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE TREATY REMAINS BOTTLED UP IN THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, WHOSE CHAIRMAN, JESSE HELMS [REPUBLICAN, NORTH CAROLINA], SEEMS DETERMINED TO KEEP IT FROM GOING TO A FLOOR VOTE."

TEXT: WHILE WASHINGTON PREPARES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION NEXT MONDAY, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE ENGAGED IN A HIGHLY PARTISAN DEBATE ABOUT WHAT "NEWSDAY" IS CALLING "THE GINGRICH AFFAIR," SAYING IT "...HAS BECOME A CASE STUDY IN PARTISANSHIP RUN AMOK." NEWSDAY GOES ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, HAS COLLAPSED IN PARTISAN BRAWLING. REPUBLICANS ... HAVE TRIED MIGHTILY TO SWEEP PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH'S WRONGDOING OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW.... MEANWHILE, DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS TO BEAT TEAM GINGRICH [I.E. TO BEAT MR. GINGRICH'S SUPPORTERS] HAVE GONE HAYWIRE. [END OPT] ... AMID THIS MAYHEM, THE PUBLIC MUST KEEP ITS EYE ON THE BALL: THE CENTRAL USSUE IS [MR.] GINGRICH'S ADMISSION THAT HE CRICUMVENTED, IIF NOT VIOLATED, THE TAX LAW IN FINANCING HIS POLITICAL ASCENT THROUGH TAX-EXEMPT FOUNDATIONS. THEN HE GAVE FALSE INFORMATION TO THE ETHICS PANEL."

TEXT: THAT EDITORIAL FROM NEWSDAY CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME TOPICS FROM TODAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
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16-Jan-97 11:13 AM EST (1613 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BREAKDOWN IN BULGARIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, PROTESTERS HAVE POURED INTO THE STREETS OF SOFIA TO DEMAND NEW ELECTIONS TO END THE RULE OF FORMER COMMUNISTS IN BULGARIA. AS PARLIAMENT RECONVENES UNDER HEAVY GUARD, THE GOVERNING SOCIALIST PARTY HAS AGREED TO HOLD ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH THE DATE IS IN DISPUTE ALONG WITH OTHER POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. V-O-A'S ED WARNER ASKED SOME BULGARIAN JOURNALISTS VISITING THE UNITED STATES TO COMMENT ON EVENTS.

TEXT: DURING SOVIET TIMES, BULGARIA WAS THE CLOSEST, MOST FAITHFUL ALLY OF MOSCOW IN EASTERN EUROPE. IT CARRIED OUT PLOTS HATCHED IN THE KREMLIN, INCLUDING ASSASSINATIONS. COMMUNIST PARTY RECORDS SHOW IT SENT ARMS AND FUNDS TO GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA. TODAY, SAY BULGARIANS, THEIR COUNTRY IS PAYING FOR THIS DUBIOUS PAST. UNLIKE OTHER CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS, IT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO THROW OFF ITS ITS COMMUNIST LEGACY AND LEADERS. WHO REMAIN IN POWER AND PURSUE THE SAME DISCREDITED ECONOMIC POLICIES.

BULGARIA IS ON THE VERGE OF ECONOMIC BREAKDOWN -- WITH WAGES FALLING, BANKS CLOSING, AND INTERNATIONAL DONORS REFUSING TO HELP UNTIL POLITICAL STABILITY IS RESTORED.

NICOLAE ILCHEVSKY IS ONE OF A GROUP OF BULGARIAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS NOW VISITING THE UNITED STATES:

THE SITUATION IN BULGARIA IS DESPERATE. THE ECONOMY SUFFERS FROM HIGH INFLATION. MOST OF THE POPULATION IS NOW BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. POLITICALLY, THINGS ARE GRIM. NOW WE HAVE A POLITICAL CRISIS IN BULGARIA, AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE.

EVEN BY BALKAN STANDARDS, SOFIA'S POLITICAL SCENE IS CHAOTIC. THE CURRENT TROUBLES BEGAN WHEN PRIME MINISTER ZHAN VIDENOV RESIGNED IN DECEMBER OVER THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. HE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PRESIDENT ZHELYU ZHELEV HAS REFUSED TO ASK THE SOCIALIST PARTY TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT UNTIL IT REACHES SOME AGREEMENT WITH THE NON-COMMUNIST OPPOSITION ON ECONOMIC POLICIES AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS -- BUT THE OPPOSITION IS FURIOUS OVER THE POLICE ASSAULT ON THE DEMONSTRATORS. MEANWHILE, THE PROTESTS CONTINUE AS THE COUNTRY, IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT ZHELEV, "IS GOING TO THE DOGS (RUIN), FINANCIALLY."

ILKO OVCHAROV, ONE OF THE EDITORS VISITING WASHINGTON, SAYS BULGARIA TOOK THE WRONG TURN AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM:

AFTER THE CHANGES IN BULGARIA IN 1989, NO REFORM MINDED GOVERNMENT EMERGED. FOR A SHORT TIME, THE OPPOSITION WAS IN CHARGE, BUT THE SOCIALISTS OR EX-COMMUNISTS CONTINUED TO RULE THE COUNTRY AND TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING TO POSTPONE THE NEEDED REFORMS, THUS CAUSING THE PRESENT CRISIS.

BULGARIA'S PRESS HAS EXPOSED SOME OF THE SPREADING CORRUPTION, INCLUDING THE FORMER COMMUNISTS WHO HAVE LOOTED STATE ENTERPRISES AND SENT THE MONEY ABROAD. BULGARIANS HAVE LOST THEIR SAVINGS AS BANKS HAVE MADE BAD LOANS. FOREIGN INVESTMENT HAS DRIED UP.

BUT VISITING EDITOR SPAS VASILEV SAYS THE PRESS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH:

WE REPRESENT PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS AND ARE FREE TO WRITE WHAT WE THINK, BUT BECAUSE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE. THESE COSTS HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR WORK, AND FOR THIS REASON WE CANNOT REALLY SAY WE ARE A FREE AND INDEPENDENT PRESS.

THE VISITING EDITORS POINT OUT THAT WHILE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE IN BULGARIA, NOBODY SEEMS TO BE IN CHARGE. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 2:50 PM EST (1950 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BULGARIA / ECONOMY BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

INTRO: INVESTORS AND ECONOMIC EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT BULGARIA WILL FACE AN EVEN WORSE ECONOMIC CRISIS IF POLITICAL LEADERS FAIL TO FIND SOME WAY OUT OF THEIR CURRENT DEADLOCK. AS KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SOFIA, SPIRALING INFLATION HAS ALREADY PUT THE PRICE OF BASIC FOODS OUT OF SOME PEOPLE'S REACH.

TEXT: AS SHE STANDS OUTSIDE A SMALL BAKERY IN THE BULGARIAN CAPITAL, JORDANKA IVANOVA IS HOPPING MAD ABOUT THE RISING COST OF BREAD.

MRS. IVANOVA SAYS IT IS RIDICULOUS, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I SAY ITS JUST RIDICULOUS. I USED TO LIVE IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY AND I KNOW THAT WE EXPORTED WHEAT, BUT NOW IT TAKES NEARLY HALF A DAY'S PAY JUST TO BUY ONE LOAF OF BREAD.

AN OPPOSITION MEMBER OF THE BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT, ALEXANDER BOSHKOV, BLAMES THE SOCIALISTS. HE SAYS IF THE FORMER COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE SOLD SO MUCH GRAIN, IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO IMPORT EXPENSIVE FOREIGN WHEAT.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT MADE A HUGE MISTAKE OR WHETHER IT WAS A ROBBERY? BUT THEY EXPORTED ALL THE GRAIN. NOW THEY ARE IMPORTING AND THIS IS WHY THERE IS A "DOLLARIZATION" OF THE PRICE OF BREAD. IF WE HAD OUR OWN GRAIN, OUR OWN WHEAT, THEN THE PRICE OF BREAD WOULD CORRESPOND TO THE LOCAL PRICE OF THE WHEAT.

SOCIALIST DEPUTIES IN THE BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT, LIKE STEPHAN STOILOV, OPENLY ADMIT THE GOVERNMENT SOLD TOO MUCH GRAIN, BUT HE SAYS THE SOCIALISTS ARE NOT FULLY TO BLAME FOR THE CRISIS.

MR. STOILOV SAYS BREAD IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF IMPORTED GRAIN AND BECAUSE OF SPECULATORS.

BREAD PRODUCERS SAY THEY EXPECT THE COST OF ONE LOAF OF BREAD WILL SOON RISE TO THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 65-CENTS. AT THE CURRENT INFLATION RATE OF 300-PERCENT THAT IS ABOUT WHAT THE AVERAGE BULGARIAN WORKER IS PAID PER DAY.

BUT THE COST OF BREAD IS JUST ONE SYMPTOM OF BULGARIA'S ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. LATER THIS MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO MAKE A 130-MILLION DOLLAR PAYMENT ON ITS 10-BILLION DOLLAR FOREIGN DEBT.

MR. BOSHKOV, WHO IS ONE OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY'S LEADING ECONOMIC EXPERTS, SAYS THERE ARE ENOUGH RESERVES TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT, BUT THE NEXT ONE IS QUESTIONABLE.

THE SECOND PAYMENT IS DUE IN MARCH AND ITS ABOUT 350-MILLION DOLLARS. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAY WITHOUT A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND GETTING FRESH LOANS SO WE CAN PAY IT.

BUT RE-NEGOTIATING BULGARIA'S DEBTS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL STALEMATE IN THE COUNTRY. FOR THE ELDERLY AND THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES LIKE MRS. IVANOVA, THAT MEANS TOUGH TIMES.

MRS. IVANOVA SAYS SHE WILL BE CARED FOR BY HER DAUGHTERS. BUT SHE SEES PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HER APARTMENT HOUSE DIGGING IN THE GARBAGE.

OPPOSITION LEADERS AND THE SOCIALISTS ARE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS WHEN TO HOLD NEW ELECTIONS AND THE FORMATION OF AN EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT, BUT UNTIL AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED, THERE IS NO ONE CAPABLE OF MAKING KEY DECISIONS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 11:50 AM EST (1650 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BULGARIA CRISIS (L) BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

INTRO: THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS IN BULGARIA SHOWS NO SIGNS OF LETTING UP. A NEW OPINION POLL SHOWS THAT SUPPORT FOR THE BELEAGUERED SOCIALIST PARTY OF BULGARIA HAS FALLEN SHARPLY. ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, PRIVATE BAKERS SAY BREAD PRICES WILL SOON DOUBLE. FROM SOFIA, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: // ACT OF DEMONSTRATION, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

THOUSANDS OF PROTESTING WORKERS AND STUDENTS WERE OUT ON THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL THURSDAY FOR A TENTH STRAIT DAY AS THE RULING SOCIALISTS WERE HANDED THEIR LATEST SETBACK IN PARLIAMENT.

FOUR LEADING REFORMERS IN THE PARTY (EDS: ANDREI RAICHEV, ROSSEN KARADIMOV, DIMITAR YONCHEV AND ANDREI BUNDJULOV) HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE WITHDRAWING THEIR PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIALISTS WHO STILL CONTROL A MAJORITY. THE FOUR SAID THEY WERE LEAVING BECAUSE THE FORMER COMMUNISTS HAD FAILED TO REFORM THEMSELVES.

THAT NEWS CAME AS A NEW OPINION POLL SHOWED THAT SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIALISTS HAD REACHED AN ALL-TIME LOW, WITH ONLY FOUR PERCENT SAYING THE PARTY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE POLITICAL STALEMATE IN BULGARIA, WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT COLLAPSED, HAS BEEN COMPOUNDED BY SOARING INFLATION AND POTENTIAL DEFAULT ON 10-BILLION DOLLARS IN INTERNATIONAL LOANS.

ALEXANDER BOSHKOV, AN OPPOSITION MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SAYS EVEN IF A COALITION GOVERNMENT IS FORMED, THE WORK AHEAD WILL BE DIFFICULT.

THE FIRST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR WILL BE A NIGHTMARE, AND YOU NEED A GOVERNMENT WITH THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE. AND THE SOCIALIST PARTY HAS LOST THIS TRUST ALTOGETHER. THEY JUST BLEW IT.

COMPOUNDING THE POLITICAL CRISIS, THE PRICE OF BREAD IS NOW EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF WHEAT IN A COUNTRY ONCE KNOWN FOR ITS AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS. WITH A 300 PERCENT INFLATION RATE THAT HAS DRIVEN THE WAGES OF THE AVERAGE WORKER DOWN TO ABOUT 20 DOLLARS A MONTH, THE DOUBLING OF BREAD PRICES WOULD MAKE THE COST OF ONE LOAF EQUAL TO A FULL DAY'S PAY.

OPPOSITION LEADERS, WHO BLAME THE SOCIALISTS FOR THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS, SAY THEY WANT PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED AND ELECTIONS HELD IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THE SOCIALISTS HAVE, SO FAR, REFUSED, OFFERING INSTEAD TO HOLD A VOTE BY DECEMBER. WITH A NEW REFORM-MINDED PRESIDENT TO BE SWORN-IN SUNDAY, SOME OBSERVERS SAY THEY HOPE A COMPROMISE WILL BE FOUND THEN. BUT EXPERTS SAY DIGGING OUT OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC CRISIS WILL TAKE TIME. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 1:27 PM EST (1827 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CYPRUS/TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY CAREY CAVANAUGH TOLD REPORTERS IN THE TURKISH CAPITAL, ANKARA, THURSDAY THAT HIS MISSION TO DEFUSE THE LATEST CYPRUS CRISIS HAD BEEN A SUCCESS. THE CRISIS WAS SPARKED OFF BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT'S GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF PLANS TO DEPLOY RUSSIAN-MADE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES. TURKEY HAS THREATENED TO HIT THE MISSILES, SHOULD THEY BE DEPLOYED. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE DETAILS OF MR. CAVANAUGH'S TRIP.

TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. CAVANAUGH SAID THE CRISIS PITTING TURKEY AND THE TURKISH CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION AGAINST GREECE, GREEK CYPRUS AND RUSSIA HAD BEEN DEFUSED.

MR. CAVANAUGH, WHO EARLIER TRAVELLED TO ATHENS AND TO NICOSIA, WHERE HE MET WITH GREEK CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS KLERIDES, SAID HE HAD MADE WASHINGTON'S VIEW VERY CLEAR TO ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED -- NAMELY, THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS OPPOSED TO THE MISSILE DEAL AND THAT IT IS ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED BY TURKEY'S THREATS TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO PREVENT THEIR DEPLOYMENT.

THE U-S ENVOY SAID EARLIER THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION WOULD PROCEED WITH THE MISSILE DEPLOYMENT. THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT TOLD MR. CAVANAUGH THAT IT WOULD NOT BRING IN ANY PART OF THE RUSSIAN MADE WEAPONS FOR AT LEAST 16 MONTHS. NICOSIA ALSO MAINTAINS THAT THE MISSILES ARE FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES ONLY.

TURKEY SAYS THE TIME FRAME FOR THE DEPLOYMENT IS IRRELEVANT AND INSISTS THAT THE DEAL WITH RUSSIA SHOULD BE CANCELLED.

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE CELEBRATED ANOTHER DAY OF RECORD HIGH CLOSINGS THURSDAY. FROM OUR LONDON OFFICE, PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE FIGURES.

TEXT: IT WAS NOT JUST FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS WHICH CLOSED WITH NEW RECORD HIGHS THURSDAY, BUT SMALLER STOCK MARKETS IN AMSTERDAM, COPENHAGEN, AND OSLO WERE CHALKING-UP NEW RECORDS AS WELL.

NEWS IN BRITAIN THAT INFLATION HAD SUBSIDED, THEREBY KEEPING INTEREST RATES IN CHECK, SENT STOCK PRICES ON EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET SOARING THURSDAY. THE LONDON "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX GAINED 38-AND-A-HALF POINTS. IN PARIS, DESPITE THE FAILURE OF AN ANTICIPATION INTEREST RATE CUT, THE KEY "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX GAINED ALMOST 20 POINTS. FRANKFURT'S "DAX 30" INDEX GAINED ANOTHER FIVE POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING TO SET A NEW RECORD.

ON CURRENCY MARKETS, THE DOLLAR WAS UP A FRACTION OF A CENT AGAINST THE MARK AND DOWN A FRACTION OF A CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD PRICES FELL BY JUST UNDER A DOLLAR, CLOSING IN LONDON AT 353-DOLLARS-35 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 1:33 PM EST (1833 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA/NATO (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE KREMLIN HAS NO PLAN TO FORM A NEW MILITARY BLOC IN RESPONSE TO THE PLANNED EXPANSION OF NATO. BUT AS PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, TOUGH BARGAINING LIES AHEAD, AS THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE PREPARES TO ISSUE INVITATIONS TO FORMER SOVIET ALLIES.

TEXT: DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR RODIONOV SAID THURSDAY THE PLANNED EASTWARD EXPANSION OF THE NATO ALLIANCE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THE KREMLIN, BUT NOT FOR PANIC.

MR. RODIONOV SAID MOSCOW FACES POTENTIAL THREATS FROM THE WEST, THE SOUTH, AND THE EAST. BUT, HE SAID, THOSE ARE POTENTIAL THREATS, NOT REAL ENEMIES.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAID RUSSIA REMAINS FIRMLY OPPOSED TO NATO ENLARGEMENT. BUT ALMOST NONCHALANTLY, HE ADDED, IF NATO WANTS TO EXPAND, LET THEM DO IT. HE SAID, AS FOR US, WE ARE NOT GOING TO EXPAND.

HE SAID ANY ATTEMPT TO COUNTER NATO ENLARGEMENT COULD REVIVE THE COLD WAR RIVALRY WHICH THREATENED THE WORLD FOR DECADES. THE 60-YEAR OLD FORMER ARMY GENERAL, WHO IS NOW RUSSIA'S FIRST CIVILIAN DEFENSE CHIEF, WAS SPEAKING DAYS BEFORE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA IS DUE IN MOSCOW. MR. SOLANA WILL MEET RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV NEXT WEEK FOR WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A HARD BARGAINING SESSION.

MR. PRIMAKOV HAS ALREADY MADE CLEAR THE KREMLIN WANTS A VOICE IN NATO DECISIONS IT BELIEVES AFFECT RUSSIA'S NATIONAL INTEREST.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING NATO IS READY TO GIVE RUSSIA A CONSULTING ROLE ON ISSUES SUCH AS TERRORISM, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND PEACEKEEPING. BUT ON THE ISSUE OF ALLOWING RUSSIA A VETO OVER NATO DECISIONS, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE SIGN OF FLEXIBILITY.

THE ALLIANCE HAS SCHEDULED A SPECIAL SUMMIT NEXT JULY AT WHICH THE FIRST INVITATIONS ARE TO BE ISSUED FOR NEW MEMBERS. THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION ARE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND POLAND, ALL OF WHICH WERE PART OF THE SOVIET-DOMINATED MILITARY BLOC KNOWN AS THE -- WARSAW PACT. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 12:08 PM EST (1708 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] SERB / PRESSURE (L-O) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

INTRO: RENEWED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TO FIND A SPEEDY SOLUTION TO THE EIGHT-WEEK LONG ELECTION CRISIS CAME ON THURSDAY. BUT LEADERS OF THE SERBIAN OPPOSITION AND STUDENTS REMAIN SKEPTICAL THAT THEIR DEMANDS WILL BE MET IN THE NEAR FUTURE. JULIA GLYN-PICKETT REPORTS FROM BELGRADE

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, AT A COUNCIL MEETING IN VIENNA ON THURSDAY, ADMONISHED THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO SOLVE WHAT THEY CALLED THE COUNTRY'S PROFOUND POLITICAL CRISIS.

FOLLOWING THE PARTIAL RECOGNITION OF A NUMBER OF DISPUTED OPPOSITION VICTORIES, THE O-S-C-E ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT STEP-BY-STEP CONCESSIONS TO THE OPPOSITION WERE SIMPLY NOT THE WAY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION, AND THAT WIDER DEMOCRATIC REFORM WAS NEEDED.

ECHOING WEDNESDAY'S PLEA OF THE YUGOSLAV DEFENSE COUNCIL TO SOLVE THE CRISIS WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVICH, ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THURSDAY FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER, MIRKO MARIANOVIC.

IN THAT STATEMENT, MR. MILOSEVICH STRESSED THAT DEMOCRATIC MEANS SHOULD BE USED TO SOLVE THE POLITICAL DISPUTE BETWEEN GOVERNING AND OPPOSITION PARTIES.

BUT OPPOSITION LEADERS, WHO CONTINUED THEIR PROTEST ON THURSDAY IN DEFIANCE OF THOUSANDS OF RIOT POLICE, SAID THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THIS MEANT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS OF THE DISPUTED NOVEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT RECENT CONCESSIONS, INCLUDING THE LOCAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S RECOGNITION OF OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN BELGRADE AND NIS, WERE SIMPLY A TRICK BY THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP TO BUY TIME.

STUDENTS WERE ALSO WARY OF GOVERNMENT PROMISES, AFTER THE BELGRADE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL REJECTED THEIR DEMAND WEDNESDAY THAT THE CHANCELLOR, DRAGUTIN VELICKOVIC, BE FIRED.

STUDENT LEADER, CEDOMIR ANTIC, EXPRESSED THE STUDENTS' REACTION.

HE SAID THAT STUDENTS WERE CONFUSED AND PARALYZED AS A RESULT OF THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL -- WHO HAD GIVEN THEM PUBLIC SUPPORT WITH THE ONE HAND, ONLY TO SNATCH IT AWAY IN SECRET WITH THE OTHER. BUT HE SAID STUDENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON UNTIL THE BITTER END. (SIGNED)
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16-Jan-97 3:56 PM EST (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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