Voice of America, 97-05-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA/CORFU (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

[02] ALBANIA POL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[03] BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[04] BOSNIAN RAPE VICTIMS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

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

[06] INTEL, BRIDGE, INTERNET,EDUCATION, ROADWAYS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

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

[09] TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

[01] ALBANIA/CORFU (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN ALBANIA HAS TRIGGERED UNREST AT THE NEIGHBORING GREEK ISLAND OF CORFU. LOCALS THERE HAVE ARMED THEMSELVES FOR PROTECTION FROM ALBANIAN RAIDERS. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM ATHENS THE CRISIS HAS PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT BOTH CITIZENS AND THE LUCRATIVE TOURISM TRADE.

TEXT: THE ONCE PEACEFUL LOCALS OF CORFU ARE TURNING MILITANT. THEY ARE TAKING OUT THEIR OLD HUNTING GUNS OR BUYING NEW ONES TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTIES FROM, WHAT THEY CALL, THE ARMED ALBANIAN RAIDERS.

SITUATED LESS THAN THREE-KILOMETERS WEST OF ALBANIA'S SOUTHERN SHORES, CORFU HAS BEEN A MAJOR CROSSING POINT FOR THOUSANDS OF DESTITUTE REFUGEES WHO CONTINUE TO FLEE THEIR CHAOS-RIDDEN COUNTRY.

BUT ON DIFFERENT BOATS, ARMED GANGS STEAM TO CORFU, STEALING YACHTS AND LOOTING STORES. LOCALS SAY THE ALBANIAN ROBBERS MAKE THEIR CROSSING AT NIGHT, WITH HIGH-POWER SPEEDBOATS CAPABLE OF OUT-RUNNING THE ISLAND'S OUTDATED COAST GUARD VESSELS. MORE SO, LOCALS ARGUE THAT EXISTING PATROLS AND SECURITY MEASURES ARE NOT ENOUGH.

THEY TOOK THE SITUATION INTO THEIR OWN HANDS RECENTLY WHEN A 30-YEAR-OLD COAST GUARD OFFICIAL WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE TRYING TO CHASE OFF A CLAN OF HOODED ALBANIAN ROBBERS.

CORFU'S LATEST UPSURGE IN ALBANIAN-RELATED CRIME HAS PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER A NEW SET OF MEASURES TO PLUG ITS POROUS FRONTIERS. ABOUT 28-THOUSAND ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND DEPORTED BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND BY GREEK POLICE.

OFFICIALS HOWEVER CONCEDE THAT THOUSANDS HAVE GONE UNDETECTED MANY OF THEM ARMED WITH GUNS THEY STOLE FROM TENTS OF LOOTED ARMY DEPOTS IN ALBANIA.

THE WORRYING SITUATION HAS PROMPTED THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN ATHENS TO ISSUE AN ADVISORY WARNING ITS SAIL-LOVING NATIONALS TO KEEP THEIR YACHTS NEAR THE SHORES OF CORFU AND AVOID DRIFTING OFF TO ALBANIA. LAST YEAR, A BRITISH BUSINESSMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY ARMED ALBANIANS AS THEY TRIED TO STEAL HIS YACHT. IT WAS THE WORST-EVER CRIMINAL EVENT AGAINST A BRITISH NATIONAL IN GREECE.

WITH RECORD BOOKINGS EXPECTED FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER SEASON, GREEK GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE NEED TO COMBAT CORFU'S CRIME IS A MUST, AND IS PART OF A PLAN TO PROTECT TOURISM -- GREECE'S BIGGEST SOURCE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/PCF
08-May-97 10:16 AM EDT (1416 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA POL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA EUROPEAN ENVOY FRANZ VRANITZKY MET (THURSDAY) WITH POLITICAL LEADERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A COMPROMISE ABOUT A NEW ELECTORAL LAW FOR THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THERE IS MOUNTING PRESSURE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE SO ALBANIAN ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD BEFORE THE END OF JUNE.

TEXT: MR. VRANITZKY MET FOR ONE HOUR WITH ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA. NEITHER MAN SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTERWARDS. EARLIER, MR. VRANITZKY MET WITH LEADERS OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PARTY.

AT ISSUE IS WHETHER THE NEW PARLIAMENT SHOULD HAVE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS OR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. THE SOCIALISTS, WHO WITHDREW FROM THE FLAWED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS A YEAR AGO, FAVOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

ALBANIA'S INTERIM PRIME MINISTER -- A SOCIALIST -- SAYS IF AGREEMENT IS NOT REACHED SOON, THE CABINET WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY MAJORITY VOTE AND SUBMIT ITS PROPOSAL TO THE PARLIAMENT, WHERE MR. BERISHA'S PARTY HAS A HUGE MAJORITY.

NEW ELECTIONS WERE A CONDITION SET BY THE SOCIALISTS FOR JOINING THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT. THERE IS ALSO DISAGREEMENT OVER THE NEED TO DISBAND THE CITIZEN'S COMMITTEES WHICH CONTROL MUCH OF SOUTHERN ALBANIA, AND OVER A LAW WHICH BANS CERTAIN FORMER COMMUNISTS FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

THE UNREST IN ALBANIA WAS CAUSED BY THE COLLAPSE OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES WHICH WIPED OUT THE SAVINGS OF THOUSANDS OF POOR ALBANIANS. THE ITALIANS, WHICH LEAD A SIX-THOUSAND STRONG PEACEKEEPING FORCE, THREATEN TO WITHDRAW FROM ALBANIA UNLESS THE ELECTION TAKES PLACE IN JUNE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PCF/RAE
08-May-97 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL IS IN BOSNIA TO DISCUSS WAYS TO EASE THE REPATRIATION OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES STILL LIVING IN GERMANY. BUT AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, MR. KINKEL WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING GERMAN STATES TO CHANGE THEIR PLANS TO SEND THE REFUGEES HOME.

TEXT: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY ONE OF MR. KINKEL'S GOALS IS TO EXPLORE WAYS TO COORDINATE PLANS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES.

HAVING TAKEN IN MORE THAN 320-THOUSAND REFUGEES DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, GERMAN STATES NOW SAY THE REFUGEES ARE A FINANCIAL BURDEN AND HAVE ALREADY BEGUN ORDERING THEM HOME. ALTHOUGH MANY ARE LEAVING VOLUNTARILY, THOSE THAT DO NOT WILL BE DEPORTED.

THE PROBLEM FOR MOST REFUGEES, LIKE THIS ELDERLY MAN LIVING AT A PUBLIC SHELTER IN BONN, IS THEY HAVE NO HOME TO GO BACK TO.

LIKE MOST OF THE REFUGEES IN GERMANY, HE IS A MUSLIM AND HIS HOME TOWN IS NOW CONTROLLED BY SERBS. IF FORCED BACK TO BOSNIA, HE SAYS HE AND HIS WIFE WILL PROBABLY WIND UP ON THE STREET (HOMELESS).

FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL HAS CRITICIZED GERMAN STATES FOR PLANNING TO FORCE SUCH REFUGEES TO RETURN TO BOSNIA, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE LITTLE TO HELP THEM.

ONE POSSIBLE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN GERMANY INVOLVES GIVING LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO REFUGEES WHO CAN'T RETURN TO THEIR HOME TOWNS. THE PLAN, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED, COULD HELP REFUGEES RESETTLE IN AREAS NEAR THEIR FORMER HOMES AND WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN KEEPING THEM IN GERMANY. HOWEVER, SOME BOSNIAN OFFICIALS ARE REPORTED TO BE OPPOSED TO THE PLAN, SAYING IT WOULD REINFORCE THE ETHNIC DIVISIONS IN THE COUNTRY. FOR NOW, CASH-STRAPPED GERMAN STATE GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY WILL PUSH AHEAD WITH THEIR REPATRIATION PLANS, AND THEY SAY THEY EXPECT TO LEARN LITTLE FROM MR. KINKEL'S TRIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/MMK
08-May-97 10:47 AM EDT (1447 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIAN RAPE VICTIMS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TWO BOSNIAN WOMEN RAPE VICTIMS WENT TO THE U-S CONGRESS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH THEIR HEARTWRENCHING STORY AND TO PLEAD FOR THE ARREST OF MAJOR INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS WHO REMAIN AT LARGE. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS THAT THE NEWS FROM THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL OF A FIRST GUILTY VERDICT DOMINATED THE PROCEEDINGS.

TEXT: THE DOCUMENTARY FILM "CALLING THE GHOSTS" SERVED AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR A HEARING BY THE CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS ON THE SUBJECT OF RAPE AS A MEANS OF ETHNIC WARFARE. BUT THE NEWS FROM THE HAGUE THAT BOSNIAN SERB CAMP COMMANDER DUSAN TADIC WAS FOUND GUILTY (TUESDAY) OF 11 OF 31 CHARGES AGAINST HIM, REFOCUSED ATTENTION TO THE SUBJECT OF APPREHENDING TOP WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

THIS IS THE FIRST POST WORLD WAR TWO CONVICTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOLLOWING DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC'S PLEA OF GUILTY, WHO AS YOU ALL KNOW WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON.

CONGRESSMAN LANTOS POINTED OUT THAT DUSAN TADIC FACES LIFE IN PRISON IF HIS APPEAL IS NOT UPHELD. THE CONGRESSMAN ALSO SAID EIGHT OF THE 75 SUSPECTS INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL ARE WANTED FOR CRIMES OF RAPE. OF THAT 75, WHICH INCLUDES SERBS, CROATS AND MUSLIMS -- HE SAID 67 REMAIN AT LARGE. //END OPT//

THE TWO WOMEN WHO WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE FILM, JADRANKA CIGELI [YAD-RAHN-KAH TSEE-GHELI] AND NUSRETA SIVAC [NEWS-RHETA SEE-VATZ] GAVE MOVING TESTIMONY ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL. THEY WERE BOTH RAPED AND TORTURED AT THE SAME CAMP IN PRIJDOR WHERE DUSAN TADIC SERVED AS A COMMANDER. BUT THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT NOW SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ARREST THEIR INDIVIDUAL TORTURERS AS THEY ARE FOR THE TOP BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP THAT MUST BE HANDED OVER FOR TRIAL. OTHERWISE THEY SAID, BOSNIA FACES AN UNENDING CYCLE OF REVENGE AND COUNTER-REVENGE.

PERHAPS THE STRONGEST TESTIMONY CAME FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY -- U-N-H-C-R. CATHERINE O'NEILL TOLD HOW FURIOUS AND HELPLESS SHE FELT DURING THE SERB ATTACK ON SREBRENICA IN 1995 AS SHE WATCHED BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS PULL YOUNG WOMEN OFF BUSES WHICH WERE CARRYING THEM OUT OF THE WAR ZONE.

THE WAR CRIMINALS MUST BE ARRESTED, TRIED AND PUNISHED. THE MAJOR QUESTION IS, WHO SHOULD DO THE ARRESTING? IN MY JUDGMENT, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARRESTING THOSE CRIMINALS LIES WITH THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES OF EACH OF THE POST-WAR GOVERNMENTS. THOSE GOVERNMENTS WANT THEIR ECONOMIES REBUILT, THEY WANT LOANS, THEY WANT CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOUSING. THEY WANT JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR DEMOBILIZED SOLDIERS.

MS. O'NEILL SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS THE LEVERAGE TO FORCE THESE ARRESTS BY SIMPLY WITHHOLDING AID AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNTIL ALL THE PARTIES FULLY COMPLY WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. SHE POINTED OUT THAT SEVERAL U-S SENATORS SUGGESTED WEDNESDAY THAT POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION AID BE TIED TO THE ARREST AND EXTRADITION OF INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/LWM
08-May-97 3:50 PM EDT (1950 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MOST MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE WERE CLOSED FOR A HOLIDAY ON THURSDAY. BUT IN LONDON, STOCKS WERE TRADED AND PRICES CLOSED UP SHARPLY. FOR THE FIGURES, HERE'S PAUL FRANCUCH FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE KEY STOCK MARKET BAROMETER IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX, HELD AT A SLIGHT ADVANCE FOR MOST OF THE TRADING DAY THURSDAY, WAITING FOR A DIRECTION CUE AFTER TRADING OPENED ON WALL STREET. NEW YORK MOVED UP SHARPLY, AND THAT SENT PRICES ON THE "FOOTSIE" SOARING UP 43 POINTS TO CLOSE AT A NEW LONDON MARKET RECORD.

THE DOLLAR, MEANWHILE, RETREATED AGAINST MOST EUROPEAN CURRENCIES, A KEY EXCEPTION BEING THE POUND. THE DOLLAR CLOSED DOWN ONE-AND-A HALF-CENTS AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, BUT WAS UP A CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH CURRENCY.

GOLD WAS PRICED AT 343-DOLLARS-90 CENTS IN THE CLOSING LONDON FIX, UP THREE-DOLLARS-FIVE-CENTS AN OUNCE FROM WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
08-May-97 1:16 PM EDT (1716 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] INTEL, BRIDGE, INTERNET,EDUCATION, ROADWAYS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS EDITION OF AMERICAN DIGEST:

A MAJOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURER COMES OUT WITH A NEW COMPUTER CHIP,

USING HIGH-TECHNOLOGY TO REPAIR A BRIDGE,

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNET,

AMERICA'S SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES WILL SPEND LESS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS,

AND, THE POSSIBILITY OF FULLY-AUTOMATED ROADWAYS. *****

INTEL

TEXT: THIS WEEK, THE SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA-BASED INTEL CORPORATION INTRODUCED ITS NEW PENTIUM II CHIP. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS THAT THE LATEST VERSION OF THE DEVICE, WHICH SERVES AS THE ELECTRONIC BRAIN FOR PERSONAL COMPUTERS, HAS BEEN SELECTED TO POWER COMPUTERS MADE BY MORE THAN 100 MANUFACTURERS. HOWEVER, THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT SOME INDUSTRY ANALYSTS BELIEVE THAT THE PENTIUM II HAS A FLAW WHICH MAY AFFECT SOME MATH CALCULATIONS. PAUL OTELLINI, INTEL'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR SALES, SAYS THAT THE COMPANY IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *****

BRIDGE

TEXT: THE 1989 CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE SEVERELY DAMAGED THE BRIDGE LINKING THE CITIES OF SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND. NOW, THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS PLANNING TO REPLACE PART OF THE DAMAGED STRUCTURE WITH ONE THAT WOULD BE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEVASTATION FROM TREMORS. NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE SAYS THAT TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE BRIDGE'S DESIGN, THE DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED 3-D COMPUTER MODELS OF THREE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS. THE HIGH-TECH SIMULATIONS WILL ALLOW ENGINEERS AND CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT THE NEW SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BRIDGE TO LOOK LIKE. *****

INTERNET

TEXT: A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY FIND/SVP SUGGESTS THAT "MORE THAN 20 MILLION AMERICANS SAY THE INTERNET HAS BECOME INDISPENSABLE. THE RESEARCH FIRM'S STUDY SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE USED THE HIGH-TECH NETWORK, AND CLOSE TO 30 MILLION SAY THEY ARE REGULAR USERS. "NEARLY 10 MILLION ARE WOMEN." ALSO, "AMONG NON-INTERNET USERS, MORE THAN 55 MILLION SAY THEY PLAN TO BEGIN USE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS OR WANT TO LEARN MORE." *****

SCHOOLS

TEXT: ON WEDNESDAY (FYI - MAY 7), THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION "AGREED TO GIVE A CUT RATE TO THE NATION'S 110,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES." VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE SAYS THAT THE MOVE MEANS THAT FOR "MOST SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES THE COST OF BOTH TELEPHONE ACCESS AND INTERNET ACCESS WILL BE CUT IN HALF." AND, HE ADDS, "ACCESS FOR OUR POORER SCHOOLS WILL BE VIRTUALLY FREE." GORDON AMBACH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS, TOLD THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER THAT "HISTORY WILL RECORD THIS ACT AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FEDERAL INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE EDUCATION INTO THE INFORMATION AGE OF THE 21ST CENTURY." *****

TRAFFIC

TEXT: COMPUTERS WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR REPORTS THAT "FULLY AUTOMATED ROADWAYS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME COMMONPLACE SOMETIME AFTER 2020." THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT IN AUGUST, CALIFORNIA'S ADVANCED TRANSIT AND HIGHWAYS PROJECT WILL BEGIN AN EXPERIMENT OVER A 35-KILOMETER STRETCH OF HIGHWAY JUST NORTH OF SAN DIEGO. THE PROJECT WILL ALLOW MOTORISTS DRIVING SPECIALLY EQUIPPED PROTOTYPES TO "ENTER THE FREEWAY'S EXPRESS LANES, THROW A COUPLE OF SWITCHES, AND RELAX. A COMPUTER TAKES CHARGE, STEERING THE CAR, APPLYING BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR." THE PAPER NOTES THAT SOME COMMERCIAL BUS LINES IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY HAVE RADAR-BASED COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS. AND, WITHIN A YEAR, SEVERAL CARS WILL COME EQUIPPED WITH "RADAR, INFRARED, OR LASER SENSORS TO MAINTAIN SAFE SPACING, EVEN IF THE CAR AHEAD CHANGES SPEED." *****
08-May-97 2:47 PM EDT (1847 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A REBOUND FROM WEDNESDAY'S SELL-OFF. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 71-HUNDRED-36 UP ALMOST 51 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 820, UP FOUR AND ONE-HALF POINTS.

THE RALLY RAN COUNTER TO THE FORECASTS OF MANY ANALYSTS WHO HAD ASSUMED WIDESPREAD SELLING WOULD FOLLOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAY 7TH AS THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR A PROPOSED CUT IN U-S CAPITAL GAINS TAXES.

ANALYSTS BELIEVED MANY INVESTORS WHO HAD GAINS IN THEIR STOCKS WOULD SELL IN ANTICIPATION OF LOWER TAXES. BUT AL GOLDMAN OF THE A-G EDWARDS INVESTMENT COMPANY SAYS MOST STOCK TRADING IS DONE WITHOUT REGARD TO TAX CONSIDERATIONS.

MR. GOLDMAN SAYS FOR INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS FOR WHOM CAPITAL GAINS TAXES ARE A CONSIDERATION, THE PROPOSED TAX CUT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE AS MUCH BUYING AS SELLING.

AMERICAN RETAILERS REPORTED GENERALLY DISAPPOINTING SALES IN APRIL, ESPECIALLY OF APPAREL. ANALYSTS SAY COLD, WET WEATHER IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT THE EASTER HOLIDAY CAME AT THE END OF MARCH WERE THE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THE SLOWING SALES TREND.

U-S AIRWAYS SAYS IT WILL ELIMINATE UNPROFITABLE ROUTES AND CLOSE SOME FACILITIES IN A COST-CUTTING MOVE. U-S AIRWAYS, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COST STRUCTURES IN THE INDUSTRY, HAS SO FAR BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONVINCING ITS UNIONS TO MAKE WAGE CONCESSIONS.

THE FUJI PHOTO COMPANY OF JAPAN WILL START MAKING FILM IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME. ANALYSTS SAY THE MOVE COULD PUT FUJI IN A STRONGER COMPETITIVE POSITION AGAINST KODAK, ITS ARCH-RIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES MARKET.

TWO EXTENDED CARE HEALTH COMPANIES ARE MERGING IN A DEAL WORTH ONE-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS. THE COMBINATION OF THE LIVING CENTERS OF AMERICA AND THE GRANCARE COMPANY WILL CREATE A FIRM WITH 330 NURSING AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
08-May-97 5:13 PM EDT (2113 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE EVER CHANGING SITUATION IN ZAIRE, AS REBELS CLOSE IN ON THE CAPITOL CITY OF KINSHASA, CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF EDITORIAL WRITERS FROM THE NEW ENGLAND SEA COAST TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS THIS THURSDAY. IN OTHER COMMENTARIES, THE SUBJECTS INCLUDE: A NEW U-S STUDY ON SWISS TIES TO THE NAZIS; PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LATIN AMERICAN TRIP; A SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS STANDOFF; AND THE RUN-AWAY RATE OF COMPENSATION FOR SOME OF AMERICA'S TOP EXECUTIVES. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: READERS THROUGHOUT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN THE AMERICAN WEST ARE SEEING THIS COMMENT IN THE DENVER POST, ABOUT WHAT MAY BE THE LAST DAYS OF THE MOBUTU DICTATORSHIP IN ZAIRE.

VOICE: "ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, SOME OF THE WORST GENOCIDE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO RIPPED THROUGH RWANDA, SENDING SCORES OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES STREAMING ACROSS THE BORDER INTO ZAIRE. BUT ZAIRE ITSELF WAS A BARELY FUNCTIONING NATION, SUNDERED BY CIVIL WAR AND AN INEPT BUT CORRUPT DICTATORSHIP. .... NOW THE SITUATION IS IMPLODING INTO A LIVING HELL. [OPT] ZAIRE'S REBEL FORCES ARE FORCING REFUGEES TO FLEE THE CAMPS AND STUFFING THEM INTO HOT, AIRLESS TRAINS AND TRUCKS AND SHIPPING THEM ACROSS THE RWANDAN BORDER. ..... OVERWHELMED BY THE FAMINE AND FIGHTING AROUND THEM, AID AGENCIES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO COPE [END OPT] ....THE UNITED STATES MUST PROD INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES INTO STEPPING UP THEIR FAMINE RELIEF EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HELP THE UNITED NATIONS COPE WITH THE NEW REFUGEE TIDE - - SUPPORT THAT MAY MEAN PAYING AT LEAST PART OF THE HUGE DEBT THE UNITED STATES OWES THE U-N."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE BIDS FAREWELL TO MOBUTU SESE SEKO, ZAIRE'S LONG-TIME DICTATOR, THIS WAY, REMINDING READERS:

VOICE: "[OPT] WHETHER HE RETURNS OR REMAINS IN EXILE, [MR.] MOBUTU IS FINISHED, AND ... LEAVES HIS COUNTRY MUCH THE WORSE FOR HIS 32-YEAR-RULE. WHILE [PRESIDENT] MOBUTU STOLE A FORTUNE FROM HIS MINERAL RICH COUNTRY - - HE ONCE BOASTED HE WAS THE SECOND-RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD, WITH EIGHT BILLION BANKED IN SWITZERLAND - - PER CAPITA INCOME IN ZAIRE DECLINED BY NEARLY 60 PERCENT. A THIRD OF THE CHILDREN UNDER HIS RULE DIE BEFORE THE AGE OF FIVE. [END OPT] IT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS .... TO ATTRIBUTE [MR.] MOBUTU'S FELONIOUS DESPOTISM MERELY TO HIS RAPACITY OR TO SOME PENCHANT FOR TYRANNY IN THE POSTCOLONIALIST STATES OF AFRICA. IN ZAIRE, ACROSS AFRICA, AND IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, [MR.] MOBUTU WAS PROPERLY KNOWN AS AMERICA'S MAN. .... OVER THE ... YEARS, ZAIRE'S PRESIDENT-FOR-LIFE TOOK DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM THE CIA, RECEIVED HALF OF U-S AID TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, AND USED WASHINGTON'S ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME ARMY MUTINIES, ETHNIC UPRISINGS, AND OPPOSITION POLITICIANS."

TEXT: TURNING TO A NEW REPORT ISSUED BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT THAT IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF SWITZERLAND'S CONTACT WITH THE NAZIS DURING WORLD WAR TWO, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "THE HONEST EXCAVATION OF HISTORY CAN BRING SOBERING DISCOVERIES, AS THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOW FOUND IN AN EXAMINATION OF NAZI GERMANY'S STOLEN GOLD AND ITS REDISTRIBUTION AFTER THE WAR. NO NATION EMERGES UNSCATHED FROM THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, AND MANY ARE DISGRACED. ..... SWITZERLAND IS PROPERLY SINGLED OUT. THOUGH HELPFUL TO THE ALLIES AS A BASE FOR SPYING, IT SERVED AS NAZI BANKER, GOLDKEEPER AND FINANCIAL BROKER."

TEXT: ON THE SAME TOPIC, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ADDS:

VOICE: " ... IN THE POSTWAR ERA ....THE SWISS ERECTED MORALLY INDEFENSIBLE BARRIERS TO PREVENT HOLOCAUST VICTIMS FROM RECOVERING WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS. ONLY NOW, UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE SO TRAGICALLY LATE FOR SO MANY, IS SWITZERLAND EXHIBITING GREATER RESPONSIBILITY."

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN COMES IN FOR SOME ATTENTION, WITH THE SUN IN BALTIMORE VOICING THIS ASSESSMENT.

VOICE: "AT THE SAME TIME THE U-S WAS WINNING THE COLD WAR WITH THE SOVIET UNION LESS THAN A DECADE AGO, IT WAS ON ITS WAY TO VICTORY IN THE HOT IDEOLOGICAL CIVIL WARS THEN ROILING CENTRAL AMERICA. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO THE REGION THIS WEEK IS A CELEBRATION OF COMPARATIVE PEACE, INCIPIENT DEMOCRACY AND FREE-MARKET ECONOMIC REFORM. [OPT] .... MR. CLINTON SHOULD USE HIS PRESENT OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT LITTLE HE CAN TO INSURE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY IN NATIONS WHERE BILLIONS OF MILITARY DOLLARS ONCE FLOWED TO GOVERNMENTS IN EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA AND TO CONTRA REBELS IN NICARAGUA." [END OPT]

TEXT: SPEAKING OF THE PRESIDENT'S STOP IN MEXICO, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS ASIDE FROM ALL THE PROBLEMS MR. CLINTON DISCUSSED WITH PRESIDENT ZEDILLO, PERHAPS HIS MOST IMPORTANT ROLE WAS TO CHALLENGE THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN THE COUNTRY TO DO BETTER.

VOICE: "OF MR. CLINTON'S SYMBOLIC AFFIRMATION IN MEXICO, NONE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS CALLS - - AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S FIRST - - ON THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO THE P-R-I, THE PARTY THAT HAS RULED FOR 68 YEARS. THE P-R-I'S IMMOBILISM AND CORRUPTION ARE LEGEND. [OPT] MR. ZEDILLO IS AT ONCE ITS CREATURE AND ITS WOULD-BE REFORMER. HE IS COMING UP TO MEXICO'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS ON JULY 6TH AS THE CHAMPION OF CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL CULTURE. BUT SERIOUS CHANGE OF THE SORT THAT WILL PROMOTE OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS BEST NAILED INTO PLACE NOT BY REFORM FROM THE TOP BUT BY POLITICAL COMPETITION FROM BELOW. THIS WAS THE MESSAGE INTENDED BY MR. CLINTON'S CALLS ON THE OPPOSITION." [END OPT]

TEXT: THERE IS PRAISE FROM USA TODAY FOR THE PATIENCE WITH WHICH TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HANDLED AN ARMED SEPARATISTS STANDOFF.

VOICE: "PLAINLY, THE FORCES OF ANARCHY AND CULTISM ARE EXPERIENCING ONE OF THEIR PERIODIC CRESCENDOS. AND IT'S LIKELY TO GET WORSE AS THE MILLENNIAL CHANGE CLICKS EVER CLOSER. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE PROMISE OF APOCALYPSE TO FOCUS THE DISENCHANTED, THE DESPERATE AND THE DISTURBED. ..... SO, WHAT TO DO? TO THE DEGREE FRINGE GROUPS EXPRESS MEANINGFUL GRIEVANCES ..... THE NATION SHOULD LISTEN. AND TO THE DEGREE THEIR DELUSIONS ... ARE HARMLESS, THEY SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE. ... WHEN THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THE RULE OF LAW MUST NOT BE COMPROMISED. IN TEXAS, WHERE OFFICIALS ADOPTED A HEAR-THEM-OUT, WAIT-THEM-OUT STRATEGY, THE RIGHT BALANCE WAS ACHIEVED: ENFORCEMENT, GLOVED IN PATIENCE."

TEXT: NEWSDAY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATEST LEGAL VICTORY FOR THE TOBACCO COMPANIES IN HEALTH-RELATED LAW SUITS. ON MONDAY [5/5/], A FLORIDA FAMILY LOST A LAW SUIT THAT CLAIMED DAMAGES FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO DIED AFTER SMOKING CIGARETTES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

VOICE: "IT'S TRUE THAT WE LIVE IN AN EXCESSIVELY LITIGIOUS SOCIETY, AND THERE'S PLENTY ABOUT OUR TORT-LAW SYSTEM THAT COULD STAND FIXING. BUT TOBACCO SHOULD BE THE LAST INDUSTRY TO GET OFF THE HOOK [FREED OF RESPONSIBILITY] FOR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, NOT ONE OF THE FIRST. IT [TOBACCO COMPANIES] LIED FOR YEARS ABOUT THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING, YET IN THE FLORIDA TRIAL TOBACCO LAWYERS HAD THE GALL TO ARGUE THAT THE DECEASED PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE QUIT LONG BEFORE SHE DID BECAUSE IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME CONCERN FOR THE RATE OF INCREASE OF COMPENSATION FOR COMPANY PRESIDENTS AND OTHER TOP BUSINESS OFFICIALS IN THIS COUNTRY, AS COMPARED TO THE RATE OF SALARY INCREASES FOR AVERAGE WORKERS. THAT'S NOT GOOD SAYS THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.

VOICE: "ACCORDING TO BUSINESS WEEK MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL SURVEY, AVERAGE COMPENSATION FOR CORPORATE BIGWIGS [BOSSES] INCREASED 54 PERCENT LAST YEAR TO AN AVERAGE OF FIVE-POINT-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S ON TOP OF AN INCREASE OF 30 PERCENT IN 1995. MEANWHILE, AVERAGE COMPENSATION FOR CIVILIAN WORKERS NATIONWIDE ROSE BY LESS THAN THREE PERCENT LAST YEAR. [OPT] .... THOSE WITH THE POWER TO DOLE OUT THE PROCEEDS OF A BOOMING ECONOMY ARE CHOOSING TO DOLE IT OUT LARGELY TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR COLLEAGUES. [END OPT] UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE TREND WILL CONTINUE, EVEN AS IT INCREASES THE CYNICISM AND ALIENATION OF THE AMERICAN WORK FORCE."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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08-May-97 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S LATEST REPORT, IN 1996 THERE WERE NEARLY THREE-HUNDRED ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST EVER. MORE THAN THREE-HUNDRED PEOPLE, INCLUDING TWENTY-FOUR AMERICANS, WERE KILLED. OVER TWO-THOUSAND SIX-HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS.

TUPAC AMARU REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT TERRORISTS TOOK MORE THAN FIVE-HUNDRED HOSTAGES IN SEIZING THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE IN LIMA, PERU. THE HOSTAGES WERE LATER RESCUED AND THE TERRORISTS KILLED BY PERUVIAN SECURITY FORCES. IN SRI LANKA, THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM CARRIED OUT SEVERAL BOMBINGS AGAINST CIVILIANS, INCLUDING AN ATTACK ON THE CENTRAL BANK IN COLOMBO WHICH KILLED SOME NINETY PEOPLE. ETHIOPIA SUFFERED TWO DEADLY HOTEL BOMBINGS BY REBEL GROUPS AND A NUMBER OF ASSASSINATIONS AND ARMED ATTACKS BY ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS. MOST OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN EUROPE WERE DIRECTED BY THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, AGAINST TURKISH BUSINESSES IN GERMANY. THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY RESUMED ITS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND BRITAIN.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE NUMBER OF TERRORIST CASUALTIES DOUBLED TO OVER EIGHT-HUNDRED IN 1996. ALGERIAN ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP TERRORISTS BOMBED SCHOOLS, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, CAFES, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES, CAUSING HUNDREDS OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. AMONG THE FOREIGN VICTIMS WERE THE BISHOP OF ORAN, KILLED BY A BOMB, AND SEVEN FRENCH PRIESTS KIDNAPPED AND SAVAGELY MURDERED.

SIXTY-FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN SUICIDE ATTACKS BY HAMAS TERRORISTS IN ISRAEL. HAMAS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM IRAN, THE LEADING STATE SPONSOR OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. IRAN ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO HIZBALLAH AND SAFE HAVEN TO THE P-K-K. THE SIX OTHER COUNTRIES IDENTIFIED AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ARE IRAQ, LIBYA, SUDAN, SYRIA, NORTH KOREA, AND CUBA. THE U.S. CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO PRESSURE THESE STATES TO ABANDON THEIR SUPPORT OF TERRORISM. AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID, "AMERICA WILL NEVER ABIDE TERRORISTS. WHEREVER THEY COME FROM, WHEREVER THEY GO, WE WILL GO AFTER THEM. WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE HAVE BROUGHT THEM ALL TO JUSTICE."

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
08-May-97 2:29 PM EDT (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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