Voice of America, 97-03-11

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBANIA / GOVERNMENT (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[03] ALBANIA UNREST (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[04] ALBANIA (S ONITER) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[06] EUROPE / COMPACT DISCS (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[07] NATO AND THE NEAR ABROAD BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[08] U-S / MONTENEGRO (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

[09] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

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

INTRO: THE CONTROVERSY OVER VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTY FUNDRAISING FOR LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO RATE STRONG COMMENTARY IN THE NATION'S PRESS.

IN ADDITION, EDITORIALS ARE DISCUSSING THE MURDER OF THE "GANGSTA" RAPPER, BIGGIE SMALLS, OR "NOTORIOUS B.I.G."; THE ANTHONY LAKE HEARINGS; THE RESURGENCE OF BORIS YELTSIN AND THE MANY ENEMIES OF ZAIRE'S LEADER MOBUTU SESE SEKO.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE EXPANDING STORY THAT CHINA MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL AND SENATE CAMPAIGNS IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE U-S POLICY. TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS THE " 'CHINA CONNECTION' IS AN AFFRONT TO [THE] U-S".

VOICE: "ALLEGATIONS OF A 'CHINA CONNECTION' AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN WASHINGTON ARE SO BIZARRE THAT IT WOULD BE EASY TO DISMISS THEM AS ABSURD. IF AN ATTEMPT REALLY WAS MADE BY CHINA TO BUY FAVOR WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, HOWEVER, IT IS AN OFFENSE OF SUCH PROPORTIONS THAT U-S-CHINESE RELATIONS CANNOT REMAIN AS THEY ARE. ....... NOW, MORE THAN EVER, APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO LOOK INTO FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES THAT TOUCHED (OR IN SOME CASES EMANATED FROM) THE WHITE HOUSE IS CALLED FOR."

TEXT: STILL IN NEW ENGLAND, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR TAKES THE OPPOSITE VIEW.

VOICE: "NO ONE HAS YET PROVED THAT CHINA'S GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO BUY INFLUENCE OVER ADMINISTRATION POLICY DECISIONS. AND CERTAINLY THE SUSPICIONS NOW BEING AIRED SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO AFFECT FUTURE AMERICAN POLICY TOWARD, OR RELATIONS WITH, CHINA. THOSE RELATIONS ARE FAR TOO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE TO BE UNDERMINED BY THE CURRENT POLITICAL EMBARRASSMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON OR VICE PRESIDENT GORE."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SEIZES ON THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE F-B-I (FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION) ON WHETHER AGENTS BRIEFING NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF MEMBERS ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CHINESE POLITICAL DONATIONS LAST JUNE WERE TOLD NOT TO INFORM THEIR SUPERIORS. SAYS THE TIMES:

VOICE: ".... THESE LATEST DISCLOSURES SEND RIPPLES FAR BEYOND THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF MR. CLINTON'S DISINTEREST IN WHERE AND HOW HE GOT THE MONEY TO FINANCE HIS RE-ELECTION. WHAT EMERGES IS YET ANOTHER PICTURE OF MANAGERIAL CHAOS AMONG THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CLOSE ADVISERS...... WHICHEVER SIDE IS TELLING THE TRUTH, IT IS A SERIOUS LAPSE WHEN REPORTS THAT A FOREIGN POWER MIGHT BE TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH THE AMERICAN ELECTORAL PROCESS FAILED TO REACH THE PRESIDENT."

TEXT: IN A RELATED EDITORIAL, THE WASHINGTON POST CRITICIZES THE CLINTON FUND-RAISING TEAM FOR TAKING 107-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A POOR OKLAHOMA INDIAN TRIBE WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT THE MONEY WOULD HELP IT GET SOME OF ITS ANCESTRAL LAND BACK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AFTER MONDAY'S STORY IN THE POST, THE PAPER TODAY EDITORIALIZES:

VOICE: "THE WHITE HOUSE KEEPS SAYING THAT NONE OF THE DONORS TO THE PRESIDENT'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN BOUGHT ANYTHING, IN THE SENSE OF A POLICY RESULT. NOW WE HAVE AN UGLY CASE - - A SQUEEZING OF THE ASSETS OF A LOW-INCOME OKLAHOMA INDIAN TRIBE - - SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT."

TEXT: ANOTHER BIG DOMESTIC NEWS STORY DRAWING A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT IS THE DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AND DEATH SUNDAY OF CHRISTOPHER WALLACE, A POPULAR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTERTAINER IN THE FIELD OF "GANGSTA [GANGSTER] RAP" MUSIC. KNOWN ON STAGE AS "NOTORIOUS B.I.G.", OR "BIGGIE SMALLS," MR. WALLACE, A NEW YORKER, WAS ENGAGED IN A GEOGRAPHIC AND PUBLIC RIVALRY WITH ANOTHER "GANGSTER RAPPER", THE LATE TUPAC SHAKUR FROM LOS ANGELES.

MR. SHAKUR WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN A SIMILAR SCENARIO SIX MONTHS AGO IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. ABOUT THE RIVALRY AND THE TWO DEATHS, USA TODAY WRITES.

VOICE: "..... THERE'S MORE TO THE VIOLENT DEATHS OF TWO OUTLANDISH, OUTRAGEOUS PERFORMERS THAN A FEW PLATITUDES. NEITHER SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VANISH INTO SOME CONVENIENT CULTURAL MYTHOLOGY ..... WITHOUT ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT UNDERLIES THEIR VICIOUS MUSIC. ..... WITHOUT A NEW STRATEGY TO CONFRONT THE ROOTS OF GANGSTERISM AND DRIVE-BYS - - THE ABSENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ABSENT ANCHORS AND ALL-TOO-PRESENT DRUGS - - A NEW GENERATION WILL SURELY BE SEDUCED."

[BEGIN OPT]

TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION PICKS UP THAT SAME THEME, REMARKING:

VOICE: "....BEFORE THE MAINSTREAM CULTURE SAYS A QUICK GOOD-RIDDANCE OVER THE GRAVE OF [MR.] WALLACE, PERHAPS THERE OUGHT TO BE A MOMENT OR SO TO PAUSE AND REFLECT OVER THE WAYS IN WHICH HIS LIFESTYLE REFLECTS VALUES THAT THE LARGER CULTURE HAS ADOPTED."

TEXT: TODAY IN THE SENATE (3/11), CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BEGIN FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE TO HEAD THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (C-I-A). MR. LAKE'S HEARING HAS BEEN DELAYED WHILE CRITICS IN CONGRESS INVESTIGATED HIS ROLE IN FAILING TO OPPOSE OR INFORM CONGRESS OF IRANIAN ARMS SALES TO THE BELEAGUERED BOSNIAN MUSLIMS DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

IN ANOTHER EDITORIAL, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION OPINES:

VOICE: "THE C-I-A IS MAKING GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS JUST IN TIME FOR BOTH TO BE THOROUGHLY SIFTED IN SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR C-I-A DIRECTOR-DESIGNATE ANTHONY LAKE. THE AGENCY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT, TO ITS CREDIT, IT HAD SEVERED CONNECTIONS WITH 100 INFORMERS WHOSE CRIMINAL OR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS WERE SO VILE AND WHOSE TIPS WERE OF SO LITTLE VALUE ... THE C-I-A COULDN'T JUSTIFY THE LARGE SUMS IT PAID THEM. .... IN ANOTHER, MORE NEGATIVE DISCLOSURE, THE C-I-A AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WERE REVEALED RECENTLY TO HAVE FAILED MISERABLY IN COMPLYING WITH A 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ORDER TO DECLASSIFY MILLIONS OF SECRET DOCUMENTS, MANY OF THEM DECADES OLD. ..... ALL THIS IS FUEL FOR THE GRILLING [HEATED QUESTIONING] OF [MR.] LAKE.... THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ..... SHOULD PRESS [MR.] LAKE ON HOW HE INTENDS TO HELP LOVER THE VEILS OF GOVERNMENT SECRECY THAT TOO OFTEN SERVE TO SHIELD OFFICIALS FROM ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC."

TEXT: TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN IS REMARKING ABOUT THE RESURGENCE OF RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT, BORIS YELTSIN, AS DISPLAYED IN HIS RECENT STATE-OF-THE-NATION ADDRESS IN THE DUMA (RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT), BUT THE PAPER REMAINS FEARFUL OVER THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY.

VOICE: "BORIS ... YELTSIN LOST NO TIME IN REAFFIRMING HIS AUTHORITY AFTER RETURNING FROM A LONG SICK LEAVE EARLIER THIS MONTH. HE SHUFFLED THE KREMLIN CABINET AND VOWED TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC REFORMS. HE ALSO PROMISED TO PUSH FOR CLOSER UNION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND BELARUS. NEXT ON THE AGENDA WILL BE HIS SUMMIT WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE CAPITAL OF NEIGHBORING FINLAND MARCH 20TH. MR. YELTSIN'S POPULARITY IS SAGGING. .......UNLESS MR. YELTSIN COMES HOME WITH SOME KIND OF SATISFACTORY DEAL FROM MR. CLINTON ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION, POPULAR OUTRAGE IN RUSSIA MAY BE ADDED TO HIS TROUBLES."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DIRECTS SOME CRITICISM AT THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK (CNN), WHICH, IT SAYS, WITH OTHER JOURNALISTS, MISUNDERSTANDS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE INSURRECTION IN ALBANIA. THE JOURNAL SAYS IT IS N O T A POPULAR UPRISING BUT RATHER:

VOICE: ".... AN UNDER-HANDED STRATEGY OF THE ALBANIAN SOCIALIST PARTY THAT HAS SO FAR BEEN ASTONISHINGLY SUCCESSFUL. THE ASP'S PLAN ..... PULL OUT OF AN ELECTION IF OPINION POLLS PREDICT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE, COMPLAIN THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME A ONE-PARTY STATE, WAIT FOR A CAUSE CELEBRE [ITALICS FOR FRENCH WORD] AND THEN ENCOURAGE CRIMINAL GANGS AND FORMER COMMUNIST SECRET POLICE AND MILITARY LEADERS TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM "A" TO "Z" IN WORLD TROUBLES; SOME COMMENT ON ZAIRE'S AILING LEADER MOBUTU SESE SEKO, WHO THE THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS IS NOW PAYING FOR ALIENATING HIS MANY NEIGHBORS, AS WELL AS HIS OWN PEOPLE, FOR SO LONG.

VOICE: "THE OPEN SECRET OF THE REBELS' WAR TO OVERTHROW [MR.] MOBUTU IS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED BACKING FROM NEARLY ALL THE REGIONAL ENEMIES [MR.] MOBUTU HAS MADE IN HIS CALAMITOUS CAREER. THE LIST OF THOSE AIDING AND ABETTING THE ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES FOR THE LIBERATION OF CONGO-ZAIRE AFFIRMS THE PRINCIPAL THAT THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE WE END THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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11-Mar-97 11:25 AM EST (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA / GOVERNMENT (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT HAS NAMED A NEW PRIME MINISTER -- FROM THE OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PARTY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE MOVE IS INTENDED TO HALT SPREADING ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS.

TEXT: THE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE IS BASHKIM FINO, AN ECONOMIST AND FORMER MAYOR OF THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF GJIROCASTRA WHICH IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF INSURGENTS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ON STATE TELEVISION, WHICH SAID A NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE INSTALLED ON WEDNESDAY.

THE EMBATTLED ALBANIAN PRESIDENT, SALI BERISHA, TELEPHONED ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI TO INFORM HIM OF THE DECISION. THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR LATE MONDAY SUCCEEDED IN GETTING INSURGENTS IN THE COASTAL TOWN OF VLORE TO PROMISE TO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS IN RETURN FOR AMNESTY.

THE NAMING OF A SOCIALIST AS PRIME MINISTER IS SEEN AS A MAJOR CONCESSION BY AN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE PRESIDENT BERISHA WHOSE ARMY HAS FLED RATHER THAN CONFRONT ARMED PROTESTERS. EARLIER THE PRESIDENT AND THE OPPOSITION AGREED THAT THE INCOMING CABINET WOULD BE COMPRISED EQUALLY OF THE OPPOSITION AND MR. BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE NEW CABINET WILL HAVE AS ITS FIRST PRIORITY ENDING THE REBELLION AND RESTORING ORDER. MOST OF THE ARMED PROTESTERS ARE DISMISSING AN OFFER OF AMNESTY AND ARE INSISTING INSTEAD THAT PRESIDENT BERISHA RESIGN.

EARLIER TUESDAY, CROWDS OF ANGRY PROTESTERS RANSACKED AN EIGHT STORY HOTEL AND LOOTED ITS CONTENTS IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL TOWN OF SARANDE. THE INSURGENTS LAST WEEK HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF SARANDE, WITHIN VIEW OF THE GREEK ISLAND OF CORFU. NEARBY, MASKED GUNMEN TOOK CONTROL OF A CUSTOMS POST ON THE GREEK BORDER THAT WAS HASTILY ABANDONED BY THE ALBANIAN ARMY. THE GREEK NEWS AGENCY SAYS ONE PERSON WHO REFUSED TO TURN OVER MONEY TO THE GUNMEN WAS SHOT DEAD AT THE KAKAVIA BORDER CROSSING.

IN SARANDE, REBEL LEADERS REMAIN DEFIANT AND SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF TURNING IN THEIR WEAPONS. A REBEL SPOKESMAN IN THE THE TOWN OF PERMET IS QUOTED AS SAYING ONE TOWN AFTER ANOTHER IS FALLING TO THE PEOPLE. HE SAID SURRENDERING WEAPONS NOW WOULD BE LIKE ACCEPTING DEFEAT WHILE YOU ARE WINNING.

THE SOCIALISTS IN TIRANA ARE INSISTING THAT THEIR LEADER, FATOS NANO, BE RELEASED FROM PRISON WHERE HE IS SERVING A 12 YEAR SENTENCE FOR CORRUPTION. THE SOCIALISTS ON SUNDAY AGREED TO END THEIR NINE MONTH BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT WHICH HAD BEEN CALLED TO PROTEST FRAUD IN LAST MAY'S GENERAL ELECTION.

THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT TO BE HEADED BY A SOCIALIST WILL ORGANIZE NEW INTERNATIONALLY SUPERVISED ELECTIONS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. (SIGNED)
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11-Mar-97 2:26 PM EST (1926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA UNREST (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: TALKS CONTINUE IN ALBANIA ON THE FORMATION OF A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT ARMED PROTESTERS NOW CONTROL ABOUT ONE THIRD OF ALBANIA'S TERRITORY.

TEXT: AT LEAST TEN MAJOR TOWNS ARE NOW IN CONTROL OF THE PROTESTERS. IN VLORE, A CENTER OF THE PROTESTS AGAINST PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA, A HASTILY ELECTED COMMITTEE OF INSURGENTS SIGNED A DECLARATION (MONDAY NIGHT) ABOARD AN ITALIAN WARSHIP, PROMISING TO ABIDE BY THE SUNDAY'S AGREEMENT PROMISING AMNESTY TO THOSE WHO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS BY THIS WEEKEND. THE ACCORD WITH THE VLORE DEFENSE COMMITTEE WAS NEGOTIATED BY THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO ALBANIA.

ELSEWHERE IN THE SOUTH, THE PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN CONSOLIDATING THEIR GAINS AND SHOWING LITTLE INTEREST IN COMPLYING WITH THE AMNESTY. THEY CONTINUE TO CALL FOR MR. BERISHA'S RESIGNATION.

TALKS ON A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT CONTINUE WITH AN APPARENT AGREEMENT THAT CABINET POSTS SHOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE RULING PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION.

THE MAIN OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS ARE CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR LEADER FROM PRISON WHERE HE IS SERVING A SENTENCE FOR CORRUPTION.

ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI HAS CANCELLED A PLANNED TRIP TO INDIA TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS IN ALBANIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
11-Mar-97 10:00 AM EST (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ALBANIA (S ONITER) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAYS THE SOCIALIST FORMER MAYOR OF THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF GJIROCASTRA WILL HEAD A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE NEW ELECTIONS. MEANWHILE, AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS, THERE IS NO SIGN THAT ARMED INSURGENTS ARE GIVING UP THEIR WEAPONS.

TEXT: MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF ALBANIA IS NOW UNDER CONTROL OF INSURGENTS WHO ARE ARMED WITH WEAPONS LOOTED FROM GOVERNMENT BASES ABANDONED BY THE ARMY. ON TUESDAY, THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE INSURGENCY HAD SPREAD TO AREAS IN THE FAR NORTH, A REGION THOUGHT TO BE LOYAL TO PRESIDENT BERISHA.

IN HIS LATEST ATTEMPT TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS, PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS NAMED A PRIME MINISTER FROM THE MAIN OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS. BASHKIM FINO IS AN ECONOMIST AND SOCIALIST FORMER MAYOR OF GJIROCASTRA, A SOUTHERN TOWN UNDER THE CONTROL OF INSURGENTS.

THE NEW CABINET TO BE INSTALLED WEDNESDAY IS TO BE COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF UP TO TEN ALBANIAN PARTIES. NEW ELECTIONS ARE TO BE HELD UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION WITHIN THE NEXT TWO-AND-ONE-HALF MONTHS. THUS FAR, THE REBELS HAVE RESISTED GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO TURN IN WEAPONS IN RETURN FOR AMNESTY. MOST OF THE INSURGENTS GROUPS INSIST THAT ONLY PRESIDENT BERISHA'S RESIGNATION CAN END THE CRISIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH
11-Mar-97 2:27 PM EST (1927 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS TUESDAY. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING STOCKS REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ONCE AGAIN ROSE TO NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGHS IN FRANKFURT AND LONDON. BUT THE MARKET FELL BACK IN PARIS.

PRICES IN LONDON SET A NEW HIGH FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT DAY. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST SEVEN POINTS, ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT.

STOCK PRICES ALSO MOVED TO A RECORD CLOSING HIGH IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED UP MORE THAN 24 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

BUT PRICES WERE DOWN IN PARIS, AFTER FOUR DAYS OF RECORD HIGHS. THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED THE DAY DOWN MORE THAN 23 POINTS, ABOUT EIGHT-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED A LITTLE IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/MMK
11-Mar-97 1:27 PM EST (1827 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EUROPE / COMPACT DISCS (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY SAYS BULGARIA THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE WESTERN MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH A MASSIVE OUTPUT OF PIRATE COMPACT DISCS. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, THE ORGANIZATION IS CALLING ON THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY REPRESENTS THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD -- SUCH COMPANIES AS E-M-I, POLYGRAM, SONY, AND WARNER.

THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION SAYS BULGARIA HAS BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER -- AFTER CHINA -- OF PIRATE COMPACT DISCS. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS IT IS FLOODING THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET WITH 20-MILLION ILLEGALLY-COPIED COMPACT DISCS A YEAR WHICH REPRESENTS ANNUAL LOSSES TO THE INDUSTRY OF MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS.

THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION'S DIRECTOR -- NICHOLAS GARNETT -- SAYS ALL OF THESE ILLEGAL RECORDINGS ARE BEING PRODUCED IN FIVE FACTORIES.

MY SOURCES IN BULGARIA SUGGEST THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE IS THAT CERTAIN TECHNOLOGIES WHICH HAD MILITARY APPLICATIONS WHILE BULGARIA WAS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE WARSAW PACT HAVE NOW SHIFTED INTO THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR AND THE OPTICAL DISK TECHNOLOGY WHICH YOU USE TO PRODUCE COMPACT DISCS HAS SORT OF DEVELOPED FROM THAT HISTORY.

MR. GARNETT SAYS THE SHEER SIZE OF BULGARIA'S ILLEGAL C-D INDUSTRY HAS CREATED ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS INTERNATIONAL PIRACY PROBLEMS FOR THE RECORDING INDUSTRY. HE SAYS MOST OF THE PIRATE COMPACT DISCS ARE SENT TO SURROUNDING COUNTRIES SUCH AS GREECE, ROMANIA, AND THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE PROBLEM -- THERE IS A WHOLESALE MARKET FOR SOUND RECORDINGS AND VIDEOS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOSCOW WHICH IS REPORTED TO BE DOING ONE-MILLION DOLLARS U-S BUSINESS EVERY DAY. OF THAT BUSINESS, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE -- MAYBE 30, 40 PERCENT OF IT -- IS BULGARIAN PIRATE C-D'S. THAT IS A COLOSSAL AMOUNT OF BUSINESS WHICH IS LOST TO THESE PIRATES. RUSSIA IS ONLY GETTING ITS MUSIC INDUSTRY ON ITS FEET AND TO HAVE THIS SORT OF PROBLEM COMING IN FROM A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR PRODUCERS THERE.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY SAYS THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION, SUCH AS INCREASE CUSTOMS CONTROLS -- SOMETHING HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO RATHER EASILY.

BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD -- THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY DOING THIS, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS ALREADY DOING IT -- THEY HAVE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT BULGARIA, IF IT WISHES TO RECEIVE AT THIS TIME THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IF INDEED IT WANTS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IT HAS GOT TO PLAY BY THE INTERNATIONAL RULES -- AND PIRACY ARE OUTSIDE THOSE RULES.

NICHOLAS GARNETT SAYS TO EMPHASIZE THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM, HIS ORGANIZATION HAS JUST RECENTLY OPENED AN OFFICE IN SOFIA. HE SAYS STAFF MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION IN BULGARIA AND PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH
11-Mar-97 11:47 AM EST (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] NATO AND THE NEAR ABROAD BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONCE NATO EXPANDS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COUNTRIES LEFT OUT ON RUSSIA'S BORDERS ? MANY FEAR MOSCOW WILL INCREASE ITS PRESSURE ON WHAT IT CALLS THE "NEAR ABROAD." PROPONENTS OF EXPANSION ARE CONSIDERING SOME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATO AND THESE NATIONS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REASSURING RUSSIA OF NATO'S PEACEFUL INTENTIONS. V-O-A'S ED WARNER REPORTS SOME COMMENT ON THE ISSUE.

TEXT: IN THE FAMOUS PHRASE, AN "IRON CURTAIN" WAS ONCE DRAWN ACROSS EUROPE, SEPARATING COMMUNIST NATIONS FROM DEMOCRATIC ONES, AND A COLD WAR ENSUED. NOW THERE ARE FEARS ANOTHER, IF LESS RIGID CURTAIN WILL DESCEND ON EUROPE WITH THE PROJECTED EXPANSION OF NATO.

EUROPE NEEDS UNITY, NOT DIVISION, SAYS JONATHAN CLARKE, A FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST FOR THE CATO INSTITUTE:

EXPANDING NATO DOES IN FACT DRAW NEW LINES IN EUROPE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE WANTED TO AVOID. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WANTING TO BIND UP EUROPE'S WOUNDS RATHER THAN SIMPLY TO SHIFT THE SCARS TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

MR. CLARKE NOTES THAT THE THREE NATIONS EXPECTING NATO MEMBERSHIP POLAND, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC - ARE IN NO PARTICULAR DANGER AND ARE MAKING PROGRESS. THE NATIONS ON RUSSIA'S BORDERS THAT ARE NOT TO BE ADMITTED ARE IN GREATER DANGER AND THEIR PROGRESS - BOTH ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC - IS IN DOUBT:

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A DEAL IS EMERGING BY WHICH RUSSIA WILL ACQUIESCE IN NATO'S EXPANSION TO POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ON CONDITION THAT NATO DOES NOT EXPAND TO INCLUDE ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FORMER WARSAW PACT LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BALTICS, UKRAINE, ROMANIA, BULGARIA. I THINK THAT THOSE COUNTRIES ARE LIKELY TO FEEL SOMEWHAT LEFT OUT IN THE COLD BY THIS MOVE.

IRA STRAUSS, U-S COORDINATOR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA IN NATO, SAYS THE NON-NATO NATIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO VARYING KINDS OF PRESSURE FROM RUSSIA:

RUSSIA IS ALREADY IN A RELATION WITH BELARUS THAT INVOLVES SOME PRESSURE FROM BOTH SIDES, ACTUALLY. BELARUS ALSO EXERTS SOME POLITICAL PRESSURE ON RUSSIA TO REUNITE. I WOULD SAY THE MAIN PRESSURE GOES THAT WAY. SO THE PROBLEM WITH BELARUS IS NOT PRESSURE FROM RUSSIA. THE CASE OF UKRAINE AND THE BALTIC STATES: YES, THEY ARE FACING PRESSURE FROM RUSSIA, AND THEY WILL FACE MORE PRESSURE, ASSUMING THAT NATO EXPANDS AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THEM.

MR. STRAUSS ADDS THAT RUSSIA WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO JOIN NATO UNLESS IT, TOO, CAN BECOME A MEMBER. HE FAVORS THIS BROADENED EXPANSION BUT RECOGNIZES IT IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

PAUL GOBLE, A LONGTIME ANALYST OF RUSSIA AND NOW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RADIO FREE EUROPE, SAYS LITHUANIANS HAVE PROPOSED THE BEST SOLUTION FOR DEALING WITH THE COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF NATO:

NATO SHOULD, IN THEIR MIND, ADVANCE THE IDEA OF THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO NATO OVER THE NEXT TEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS WITHOUT ANY SPECIFICATION OF WHO WILL BE TAKEN IN EXACTLY WHEN. THAT WOULD PROVIDE A KIND OF GUARANTEE, IF YOU WILL, THAT ALL THESE COUNTRIES WERE OBJECTS OF WESTERN CONCERN. IT WOULD MAKE EXPLICIT WHAT HAS BEEN IMPLICIT IN MANY WESTERN COMMENTS THAT NATO EXPANSION IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING THING RATHER THAN A ONE-TIME SHOT.

MR. GOBLE BELIEVES THE RUSSIANS ARE LARGELY POSTURING OVER NATO TO GAIN CONCESSIONS FROM THE WEST. OTHERS SAY THE RUSSIANS ARE IN EARNEST, AND A FIERCELY NATIONALIST REACTION IS POSSIBLE. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE DEBATE, SAY OBSERVERS, IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS POWER CENTERS IN RUSSIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
11-Mar-97 6:11 PM EST (2311 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / MONTENEGRO (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS RELEASING FIVE SHIPS TO MONTENEGRO THAT WERE IMPOUNDED AT THE TIME OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA. RON PEMSTEIN HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE FIVE SHIPS WERE HELD BY THE UNITED STATES AS PART OF AMERICAN ENFORCEMENT OF THE U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA. THE YUGOSLAV SHIPS WERE SUSPECTED OF TRYING TO BREAK THE EMBARGO

AT A MEETING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT (MONDAY), ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM TOLD MONTENEGRO'S VISITING PRIME MINISTER, MILO DJUKANOVIC, THE SHIPS WILL BE RELEASED SUBJECT TO CLAIMS BY SUCCESSOR STATES OF YUGOSLAVIA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS A DELAY IS NEEDED TO GIVE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS A CHANCE TO ASSERT THEIR POSSIBLE CLAIMS TO OWNERSHIP OF THE FIVE SHIPS.

WE HAVE AGREED TO INITIATE A PROCESS LEADING TO THE RELEASE OF FIVE MONTENEGRIN SHIPS THAT WERE IMPOUNDED AS PART OF THE SANCTIONS REGIME DURING THE BOSNIAN WAR. THIS PROCESS INCLUDES NOTIFICATION OF OTHER CLAIMANTS AND WE ASSUME IT WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

MR. KORNBLUM ALSO RAISED AMERICAN CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WITH THE MONTENEGRIN PRIME MINISTER. MONTENEGRO IS THE ONLY OTHER REPUBLIC IN SERBIA-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/RRM
11-Mar-97 3:50 PM EST (2050 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE LAWYER FOR A BOSNIAN CROAT ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES HAS TOLD THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL THAT HIS CLIENT SAVED THE LIVES OF BOSNIAN SERB PRISONERS IN THE CAMP HE COMMANDED. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS THE STATEMENT CAME ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE TRIBUNAL'S FIRST TRIAL DEALING WITH ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS.

TEXT: THE FOUR MEN CHARGED IN THIS CASE ARE ACCUSED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRUTAL CONDITIONS AT THE CELEBICI PRISON CAMP IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. PROSECUTORS SAY GUARDS AND OTHERS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA MURDERED AT LEAST 14 BOSNIAN SERB PRISONERS, AND TORTURED AND RAPED OTHERS.

ONLY THE DEFENSE LAWYER FOR CAMP COMMANDER ZRAVKO MUCIC CHOSE TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT TODAY (TUESDAY). MR. MUCIC IS NOT ACCUSED OF COMMITTING THE WORST OF THE CRIMES. BUT PROSECUTORS SAY THAT IN HIS POSITION AS CAMP COMMANDER, HE KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

HIS LAWYER, BRANISLAV TAPUSKOVIC, TOLD THE COURT THAT HIS CLIENT HAD RELEASED MANY PRISONERS, GOT FOOD FOR THEM WHEN THERE WAS NONE, AND THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE CAMP, PRISON GUARDS DID NOT DARE TO BEAT ANYONE. MR. TAPUSKOVIC SAID HIS CLIENT HAD DONE HIS BEST IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE IS ABSURD.

HIS WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

SHOULD WE NEGLECT WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID AND SHOULD WE HOLD HIM TO SOME STANDARDS WHICH WERE NOT POSSIBLE THEN.

LAWYERS FOR THE OTHER THREE DEFENDANTS -- ALL MUSLIMS -- WILL MAKE THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS AFTER THE PROSECUTION CASE IS COMPLETED.

THE COURT IS SCHEDULED TO HEAR FROM MORE THAN 70 WITNESSES, THE MAJORITY WHO SAY THEY WERE VICTIMS OF CRUELTY AT CELEBICI. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH
11-Mar-97 12:35 PM EST (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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