Voice of America, 97-05-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-U/AIRCRAFT MERGER (L ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[03] EUROPE / DEFENSE (ALT VERSION) (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

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

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

[06] SERBIA / RADIO BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[01] E-U/AIRCRAFT MERGER (L ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS WATCHING THE EUROPEAN UNION'S REACTION CLOSELY TO THE PROPOSED MERGER OF AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING GIANTS BOEING AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE COMMENT FOLLOWS CRITICISM OF THE PROPOSED MARRIAGE BY A TOP OFFICIAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYING IT COULD DOMINATE THE GLOBAL MARKET INCLUDING EUROPE:

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO REVIEW THE IMPACT OF SUCH A MERGER ON ITS MEMBER MARKETS. THE COMMISSION, THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE E-U, IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON THE PROPOSAL ON OR BEFORE JULY 31ST. IT HAS THE POWER TO FORCE THE FIRM TO SELL ITS ASSETS IN MEMBER COUNTRIES, FINE THE MERGED COMPANY UP TO 10-PERCENT OF ITS VALUE OR PREVENT EUROPEAN COMPANIES FROM BUYING BOEING-MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPANY PRODUCTS.

COMMISSION ANTI-TRUST OFFICIAL KAREL VAN MIERT REPEATED CONCERNS MONDAY THAT THE MERGER IS PROBLEMATIC. ELLA KRUCOFF IS AN E-U SPOKESWOMAN IN WASHINGTON:

HE (VAN MIERT) EMPHASIZED THAT BOEING PRODUCES 60-PERCENT OF ALL AIRCRAFT AND, WITH THE MERGER, THE AMOUNT WOULD BE MORE LIKE 70-PERCENT. IN ADDITION, THE MERGING PARTIES AIRCRAFT WILL REPRESENT 84-PERCENT OF ALL OPERATING COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

MS. KRUCOFF, QUOTING MR. VAN MIERT, SAYS DOWN THE ROAD THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ABSENCE OF COMPETITION. THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM AIRBUS INDUSTRIES CONTROLS ABOUT 35-PERCENT OF THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING BUSINESS. MR. VAN MIERT ALSO DENOUNCED EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BOEING AND MAJOR CARRIERS SUCH AS AMERICAN AIRLINES.

U-S TRADE OFFICE SPOKESMAN JAY ZIEGLER SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION ON THE PROPOSED MERGER SINCE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY REVIEWING POSSIBLE ANTI-TRUST CONCERNS. HOWEVER, MR. ZIEGLER HAD A WARNING FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION:

WE HAVE SOLID BI-LATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION IN PLACE REGARDING AIRCRAFT SALES AND PURCHASES AND THAT DEAL WITH SUCH ISSUES AS DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIES. WE WILL NOT BE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THIS MERGER BECOMES AN EXCUSE TO REOPEN OUR BI-LATERAL AGREEMENTS.

UNDER A RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT, OFFICIALS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE UNITED STATES SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSED MERGERS. AN E-U SPOKESMAN INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO LINK ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE BOEING/MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MERGER PROPOSAL AND DISCUSSIONS ON SUBSIDIES.

BYRON CALLEN, AN ANALYST WITH THE NEW YORK-BASED MERRILL LYNCH FIRM SUGGESTS THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION MAY BE OVERSTATING THE DOMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT MARKET BY BOEING AND MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS. MR. CALLAN EXPECTS A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT WILL BE REACHED BETWEEN BOEING AND THE E-U:

A SIMPLE ONE MIGHT BE A PROMISE THAT THEY (BOEING) WON'T OFFER EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENTS TO EUROPEAN AIR CARRIERS SIMILAR TO THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED BY BOEING WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES AND DELTA AND ONE BY AIRBUS WITH U-S AIRWAYS.

MR. CALLAN SAYS HE EXPECTS U-S ANTI-TRUST AUTHORITIES TO APPROVE THE 13-BILLION DOLLAR MERGER TOTALING ANNUAL SALES OF 48-BILLION DOLLARS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT LIKELY COMING BY AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
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12-May-97 9:54 PM EDT (0154 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED WITH RECORD GAINS TUESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON HAS THE NUMBERS:

TEXT: THE NUMBERS WERE ALL UP AND REGISTERED BEFORE PROFIT-TAKING SET IN ON WALL STREET, SO NEW YORK SELLING FAILED TO PUT A DAMPER ON THE EUROPEAN RALLY. FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS ALL POSTED RECORD CLOSING PRICES FOR THEIR MAJOR STOCK INDEXES TUESDAY. THE GERMAN "DAX 30" WAS UP 20-POINTS, THE FRENCH "CAC 40" UP 26-AND-ONE-HALF AND THE "FOOTSIE" "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF BRITISH STOCKS SOARED ANOTHER 21-AND-ONE-HALF POINTS.

DOLLAR TRADING IN LONDON SAW THE AMERICAN CURRENCY DOWN A LITTLE LESS THAN A PFENNIG AGAINST THE MARK AND DOWN A CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD CLOSED LOWER AS WELL IN THE LONDON LATE FIX, LOSING ABOUT TWO-DOLLARS AN OUNCE AND PRICED AT 348-DOLLARS-FIVE CENTS. (SIGNED)
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13-May-97 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EUROPE / DEFENSE (ALT VERSION) (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF THE NATO ALLIANCE, HAS DECIDED TO SET UP A MILITARY COMMITTEE FOR PURELY EUROPEAN DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF THE UNITED STATES. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION, OR W-E-U, HAS BEEN WORKING IN PARALLEL WITH NATO FOR THE LAST 49 YEARS. SEEN BY SOME OF ITS MEMBERS AS MINOR SUBSIDIARY OF NATO, IT HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY FRANCE AND SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AS THE STRUCTURE AROUND WHICH EUROPE COULD BUILD AN INDEPENDENT DEFENSE ARM.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS DECADE, THE W-E-U HAS BEEN INVOLVED AS A PURELY EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION IN OPERATIONS IN THE ADRIATIC ALONG THE COASTS OF CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MORE RECENTLY, SOME OF ITS MEMBERS SENT TROOPS UNDER ITALIAN COMMAND INTO ALBANIA. BUT THIS WAS NOT OFFICIALLY A W-E-U MISSION BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT THE GOALS OF THE OPERATION.

WHEN W-E-U MEMBER COUNTRIES DO DECIDE TO ACT, THEY STILL USE THE NATO MILITARY STRUCTURES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE. NOW, AT A TWO-DAY MEETING OF FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS IN PARIS, THE W-E-U CREATED A MILITARY COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE, COMPRISING MILITARY CHIEFS OF STAFF, WILL MEET REGULARLY TO REVIEW MILITARY OPERATIONS.

HOWEVER THE W-E-U, WITH ITS RANKS NOW SWOLLEN BY THE ADDITION OF 10 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS FROM THE FORMER COMMUNIST WARSAW PACT, DOES NOT SEEM ANY NEARER TO ASSUMING AN IDENTITY SEPARATE FROM NATO. THIS WAS MADE CLEAR BY BRITAIN'S TWO REPRESENTATIVES -- FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBINSON. DESPITE CHANGES OF APPROACH SINCE THE ELECTION OF A LABOUR GOVERNMENT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BRITISH MINISTERS MADE IT PLAIN THAT BRITAIN STILL CONSIDERS THE NATO ALLIANCE, UNDER AMERICAN COMMAND, TO BE THE BASIS FOR SECURITY IN EUROPE.

WE WANT TO DEVELOP A EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE IDENTITY. WE SEE THAT PRIMARILY BEING DONE WITHIN NATO. AS A GOVERNMENT, WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO BRITAIN'S SECURITY AND DEFENSE REMAINING BASED ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE. BUT THAT INCLUDE A DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION.

MR. COOK SAID BRITAIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH A FRENCH AND GERMAN PLAN TO BRING THE W-E-U UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. HE SAID BRITAIN IS ANXIOUS NOT TO UNDERMINE NATO. HE SAID THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE "EXISTS AND IT WORKS."

IN SOME EVIDENCE THAT BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY IS CHANGING, MR. COOK DID TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY DURING THE CONFERENCE -- HELD IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION, KNOWN AS "UNESCO" -- TO ANNOUNCE BRITAIN'S RETURN TO THE ORGANIZATION.

THE UNITED STATES LEFT UNESCO IN 1985, BECAUSE IT SAID THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO SET UP A "NEW WORLD INFORMATION ORDER" AND END THE DOMINANCE OF WESTERN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WERE TOO POLITICAL. BRITAIN LEFT THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE DEPARTURE OF THE TWO COUNTRIES COST UNESCO A LARGE PART OF ITS BUDGET.

SINCE THEN, HOWEVER, UNESCO HAS ABANDONED ANY PLANS TO REFORM NEWS-GATHERING AND DISTRIBUTION, OPENING THE WAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE FORMER MEMBER COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
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13-May-97 1:03 PM EDT (1703 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) IN SOME PROFIT-TAKING AFTER MONDAY'S STRONG RALLY. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 72 HUNDRED 74, DOWN 18 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 833, DOWN FOUR POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THE PROFIT-TAKING WAS ACTUALLY RATHER MODEST IN LIGHT OF MONDAY'S 123 POINT RISE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED RETAIL SALES IN THE UNITED STATES FELL IN APRIL BY THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT, THE STEEPEST DECLINE SINCE LAST JUNE. SOME ANALYSTS SAY IT WAS ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE U-S ECONOMY IS SLOWING AND ANOTHER REASON THAT GOVERNORS OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES AT THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK.

THE DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION IS SUING THE INTEL MICROPROCESSOR COMPANY, CHARGING INTEL WITH INFRINGING ON DIGITAL'S PATENTS. DIGITAL IS CLAIMING INTEL WRONGLY USED PATENTED TECHNOLOGIES IN ITS PENTIUM, PENTIUM PRO AND PENTIUM TWO FAMILIES OF MICROPROCESSORS.

GENERAL MOTORS IS NOW FACING A THIRD STRIKE WHICH THREATENS MUCH OF ITS NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. WORKERS AT A WIRING PLANT IN OHIO WALKED OFF THEIR JOBS. THE PLANT MAKES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS USED IN VIRTUALLY ALL G-M VEHICLES PRODUCED IN NORTH AMERICA. G-M IS ALREADY TRYING TO RESOLVE STRIKES AT TWO ASSEMBLY PLANTS IN THE STATES OF MICHIGAN AND OKLAHOMA.

THE TEXACO OIL COMPANY'S ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING WAS A MAGNET FOR PROTESTERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS CAUSES. SOME CRITICIZED THE COMPANY FOR ITS RECORD ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND RACIAL ISSUES. ANOTHER GROUP PROTESTED TEXACO'S INVESTMENT IN BURMA. TEXACO SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DOES NOT POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT. ON BURMA, THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL COMPLY WITH U-S LAW WHICH BANS NEW, BUT NOT EXISTING INVESTMENTS IN BURMA.

THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS BASEBALL TEAM SAYS IT IS SEEKING PERMISSION FROM THE NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE TO SELL THE TEAM TO RUPERT MURDOCH'S NEWS CORPORATION. ANALYSTS SAY THE PRICE COULD BE ABOUT 350 MILLION DOLLARS, ABOUT TWICE THE PREVIOUS RECORD 173 MILLION DOLLARS PAID FOR THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES BASEBALL TEAM IN 1993. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/LWM
13-May-97 5:38 PM EDT (2138 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV HAVE HELD FURTHER TALKS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAMMER OUT FINAL DETAILS OF A SECURITY PACT. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS EMBARKED ON A TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY CAMPAIGN IN HOPES OF WINNING FURTHER CONCESSIONS FROM THE ALLIANCE.

TEXT: THE NATO CHIEF AND THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MET LATE INTO THE NIGHT UNDER A TOTAL NEWS BLACKOUT. SOURCES CLOSE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS INDICATED ANOTHER MEETING MIGHT TAKE PLACE BEFORE MR. SOLANA FLIES OUT OF THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL WEDNESDAY.

NO SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGHS ARE EXPECTED. BEFORE THE LATEST ROUND OF TALKS BEGAN, PRESIDENT YELTSIN WAS QUOTED AS TELLING MR. PRIMAKOV TO TAKE A FIRM LINE IN DEFENDING RUSSIA'S INTERESTS.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER, IN TURN, TOOK A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE, SAYING ONLY THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON A SECURITY PACT BEFORE A SCHEDULED NATO-RUSSIA SUMMIT LATER THIS MONTH IN PARIS. BUT, HE ADDED, NOT EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON US.

IN THE MEAN TIME, MR. YELTSIN HAS EMBARKED ON A TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY CAMPAIGN, CALLING LEADERS OF SEVERAL NATO COUNTRIES IN HOPES OF WINNING LAST MINUTE CONCESSIONS. HIS OFFICE SAID HE HAD SPOKEN TO BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IN THE PAST TWO DAYS.

MR. YELTSIN PREVIOUSLY SAID THE SECURITY AGREEMENT WAS 98-PERCENT READY FOR SIGNING, AND PREDICTED IT WOULD BE FINISHED IN TIME FOR THE PARIS SUMMIT. BUT THE REMAINING TWO-PERCENT IS THE HEART OF THE DEAL, AND AS NEGOTIATIONS HAVE DRAGGED ON, THE ALLIANCE HAS MADE CLEAR THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE RUSSIAN LEADER IS COMING UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE AT HOME NOT TO RUSH INTO A DEAL JUST TO MEET A DEADLINE. A GROUP OF INFLUENTIAL FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS WARNED THE KREMLIN AGAINST SIGNING AN IMPERFECT AGREEMENT WITH NATO, SAYING IT WOULD BE BETTER TO PROLONG THE TALKS.

THE REMAINING DISAGREEMENTS ARE SAID TO BE OVER A RUSSIAN DEMAND FOR LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF NATO TROOPS TO BE STATIONED IN NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES, AND A COMMITMENT NOT TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE EXPANSION ZONE.

THE ALLIANCE IS SLATED TO INVITE AT LEAST THREE NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN AT ITS JULY SUMMIT IN MADRID. HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAVE BEEN NAMED AS THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES, BUT AT LEAST TWO OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SAID TO BE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. (SIGNED)
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13-May-97 5:34 PM EDT (2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] SERBIA / RADIO BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: YOUNG SERBIAN JOURNALISTS WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE, SAY THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WITH A MIXTURE OF HOPE AND ENTHUSIASM. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, SEVERAL OF THE YOUNG JOURNALISTS WERE HONORED IN GERMANY THIS WEEK DURING A STUDENT GATHERING CALLED TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

TEXT: AT THE AGE OF 24, NATASHA NARANCIC IS ALREADY A VETERAN JOURNALIST AT THE BELGRADE RADIO STATION CALLED B-92.

THE STATION, WHICH CELEBRATES ITS EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK, EARNED A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION FOR ITS BATTLE TO STAY ON THE AIR DURING PROTESTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC.

SINCE THE PROTESTS ENDED AND OPPOSITION POLITICIANS HAVE TAKEN UP THEIR ELECTED POSITIONS, MS. NARANCIC SAYS HER JOB HAS BECOME LESS OF A BATTLE.

I THINK IT IS EASIER THAN BEFORE THE LOCAL ELECTIONS LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION WON IN A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT TOWNS IN SERBIA AND IN ALL OF THESE TOWNS THERE ARE SMALL LOCAL RADIO STATIONS THAT WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT.

BUT THE BATTLE FOR AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA HAS NOT YET BEEN WON. MS. NARANCIC SAYS THE FIGHT HAS BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED SINCE THE DAYS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT COULD SIMPLY SHUT HER STATION DOWN.

THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT THE POLITICIANS FROM THE RULING PARTY AND FROM THE GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO COMMUNICATE WITH US. THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE INTERVIEWS, TO GIVE SHORT STATEMENTS, ITS REALLY TYPICAL.

NEVERTHELESS, MS. NARANCIC SAYS SHE IS OPTIMISTIC A FREE MEDIA WILL TAKE ROOT IN SERBIA.

I AM OPTIMISTIC, WHY NOT? I MEAN, THAT IS WHY I DO MY JOB, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. YOU KNOW IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE I COULD MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER, I WOULDN'T DO THIS JOB.

HER ENTHUSIASM FOR JOURNALISM WAS SHARED BY ANOTHER OF THE YOUNG STUDENT REPORTERS BEING HONORED IN GERMANY THIS WEEK BY A EUROPEAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION.

KATARINA SPASIC, WHO WORKS AT A BELGRADE STATION CALLED RADIO INDEX, SAYS SHE HAS ALREADY INTERVIEWED NEARLY EVERY MAJOR POLITICAL LEADER IN SERBIA ON HER ONE-HOUR PROGRAM.

AND IT IS VERY INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT IS LIVE. IT LASTS ABOUT ONE HOUR, AND I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK VERY TOUGH AND VERY GOOD QUESTIONS, AND MY LISTENERS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, AND ITS SOMETHING LIKE A TALK SHOW, SO IT IS VERY INTERESTING. ITS THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF MY JOB.

BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING, JOURNALISM WAS A REST FROM CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, AND NOW CHEMICAL ENGINEERING HAS BECOME A REST FROM JOURNALISM. SO WE WILL SEE.

WHATEVER THE DECISION, MS. SPASIC AND THE OTHER STUDENT JOURNALISTS HONORED IN GERMANY THIS WEEK, HAVE ALREADY HELPED FUEL A REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH
13-May-97 1:02 PM EDT (1702 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AMERICAN EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE FASCINATED WITH THE VICTORY OF THE "DEEP BLUE" I-B-M COMPUTER OVER WORLD CHESS CHAMPION GARRY KASPAROV AND HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT IT.

OTHER TOPICS IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY INCLUDE: AID FOR IRANIAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS; THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'S TREATMENT OF FORMER IRAQI AGENTS; THE POPE IN LEBANON; A U-S RETURN TO VIETNAM AND THE CURRENT LEGAL DISPUTE FACING THE WHITE HOUSE.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A CHESS-PLAYING COMPUTER CALLED "DEEP BLUE", WHICH WAS DESIGNED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COMPANY, HAS DEFEATED THE WORLD'S BEST CHESS PLAYER, GARRY KASPAROV. MR. KASPAROV LOST TO "DEEP BLUE" IN A SERIES OF MATCHES IN NEW YORK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MR. KASPAROV FACED THE MACHINE. MR. KASPAROV TRIUMPHED IN A MATCH LAST YEAR BUT THE COMPUTER WON THIS TIME AFTER HAVING BEEN IMPROVED BY ITS DESIGNERS.

THE MATCH RESULT HAS PROVED IRRESISTIBLE FOR EDITORIAL WRITERS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, WHO SAY THE MACHINE SHOULD NOT GET TOO BOASTFUL OF ITS VICTORY.

VOICE: "GARRY KASPAROV THOUGHT HE SAW A GHOST COME OUT OF A MACHINE. THE SIGHT SO THOROUGHLY SPOOKED [UNNERVED] HIM THAT HE LOST HIS COOL [COMPOSURE], HE LOST HIS CHESS GAME AND, ON SUNDAY, HE LOST HIS TITLE AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHESS PLAYER. THE MACHINE WAS I-B-M'S DEEP BLUE CHESS COMPUTER, AND THE GHOST WAS THE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THAT [MR.] KASPAROV THOUGHT HE GLIMPSED IN ITS MOVES. [OPT] DEEP BLUE PLAYED LIKE A VERY SMART HUMAN BEING, NOT LIKE A COMPUTER, [MR.] KASPAROV SAID AFTER LOSING TO THE SILICONE BEAST. [END OPT] .... DEEP BLUE CAN ANALYZE 200 MILLION .... CHESS POSITIONS EACH SECOND, BUT IT IS STILL NOT A FORM OF INTELLIGENCE. ..... [MR.] KASPAROV'S FATE ASIDE, REST EASY. THE GHOSTLY INTELLECT THAT SEEMS TO INHABIT DEEP BLUE IS ONLY A COMPUTER-GENERATED ILLUSION."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE TAKES A SIMILAR POSITION, WRITING:

VOICE: "NOT SO FAST, DEEP BLUE. THAT WAS NO VICTORY. THAT WAS PROCESSING. BIG DIFFERENCE. ....... WORLD CHESS CHAMPION GARRY KASPAROV LOST. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT WHAT HE LOST WAS CONTROL OVER HIMSELF. HE LET THE 'MAN VERSUS MACHINE' HYPE [PUBLICITY] GET TO [UNSETTLE] HIM."

TEXT: USA TODAY TAKES HEART IN MR. KASPAROV'S EMOTIONAL OUTBURST AFTER LOSING, SUGGESTING THAT MAKES HIM SUPERIOR TO THE MACHINE AFTER ALL.

VOICE: "DEEP BLUE WON, BUT DEEP BLUE DOESN'T CARE. AND THAT'S WHY [MR.] KASPAROV'S DEFEATED OUTBURST WAS SO GLORIOUS - - BECAUSE IT WAS SO HUMAN. IT REMINDS US THAT CALCULATION IS CHILD'S PLAY NEXT TO THE INTRICACIES OF INTUITION AND EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT. THOSE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF SENTIENCE, AND THEY GIVE OUR ACTIONS MEANING."

TEXT: MOVING FROM THE ESOTERIC TO THE PRACTICAL, THERE ARE THESE COMMENTS ON THE HUGE EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHEASTERN IRAN. FIRST, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR COMMENTS ON WHY THE U-S SHOULD AID A NATION THAT HAS BEEN SO UNFRIENDLY IN THE PAST. THE PAPER SUGGESTS IT IS BOTH MORALLY CORRECT AND POLITICALLY WISE, SINCE IT MAY PROVIDE "THE BREAK THAT LEADS TO SENSIBLE DEALING BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST."

VOICE: ".... THIS MONTH [ACTUALLY IN APRIL] ... A GERMAN COURT RULED THAT IRAN HAD SUPPORTED TERRORISM [IN THE DEATH OF THREE IMPORTANT KURDISH-IRANIAN DISSIDENTS AND THEIR AIDE AT A BERLIN GREEK RESTAURANT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.] THAT LED TO BITTER WORDS BETWEEN THOSE TWO COUNTRIES - - AND STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. THEN CAME THE EARTHQUAKE: ..... WITH ADMIRABLE SPEED, THE U-S AND EUROPE DOUSED THEIR QUARREL WITH TEHRAN AND OFFERED AID. .... JESUS' WORDS ON THE SUBJECT WERE REVOLUTIONARY - - AND SUCCINCT: 'LOVE YOUR ENEMIES .....' DOES IT WORK? LOOK AT THE POSTWAR REBUILDING OF GERMANY AND JAPAN."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD ADDS THAT IRAN IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY IN TROUBLE FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE.

VOICE: "THE SITUATION IN NEIGHBORING AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN THAT ALSO WERE HARD HIT BY THE EARTHQUAKE MAY BE EVEN MORE DESPERATE. DIFFICULT AS IT HAS BEEN TOG ET RELIEF SUPPLIES TO REMOTE NORTHEASTERN IRAN, IT WILL BE INFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT IN NORTHWESTERN AFGHANISTAN, IN A COUNTRY RENT BY CIVIL WAR."

TEXT: RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN IRAQ IS ANOTHER ISSUE, THE WAY THE C-I-A IS TREATING SOME DISSIDENTS WHO AIDED THE AGENCY IN THE PAST, BUT WHO HAVE NOW BEEN DISAVOWED. THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THAT'S NO WAY TO TREAT FOREIGN SUPPORTERS.

VOICE: "THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS A NASTY HABIT OF DISOWNING FOREIGNERS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES SUPPORTING WASHINGTON'S INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS ABROAD. THE LATEST VICTIMS ARE A SMALL GROUP OF IRAQIS WHO WORKED WITH THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN RECENT YEARS IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO WEAKEN SADDAM HUSSEIN. THEY ARE NOW IN CALIFORNIA JAILS, FACING DEPORTATION AS THREATS TO AMERICAN SECURITY. .... THE IRAQI OPERATION WAS ILL CONCEIVED AND UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED ..... TO COMPOUND THE ERROR NOW BY ABANDONING THE FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE DISGRACEFUL."

TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE, PLEASED WITH THE POPE'S CURRENT VISIT TO LEBANON, SUMS UP IN THIS COMMENTARY:

VOICE: "THE POPE SHOWED COURAGE IN VISITING LEBANON. THAT COUNTRY DEMONSTRATED A GREAT DEAL OF RECONSTRUCTION JUST TO PROVIDE HIM SECURITY AND HOSPITALITY. THE INSPIRING PORTION OF HIS MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD IS THAT IF HEALING CAN OCCUR EVEN IN LEBANON, IT IS POSSIBLE ANYWHERE."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST, TAKING NOTE OF THE ARRIVAL IN HANOI OF THE NEW U-S AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM, DOUGLAS "PETE" PETERSON, A FORMER FIGHTER PILOT AND PRISONER OF WAR THERE YEARS AGO, SAYS:

VOICE: "IN GREETING THE ENVOY OF THE NATION THEY DEFEATED, THE VIETNAMESE PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD. THEY INCLUDED IN THE RECEIVING PARTY THE 80-YEAR-OLD MILITIAMAN CREDITED WITH SAVING THE LIFE OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (REPUBLICAN OF ARIZONA), ANOTHER FORMER DOWNED AMERICAN PILOT TURNED APOSTLE OF CONCILIATION. ..... A GENERATION LATER .... FEW WOULD DENY IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, TODAY'S COMMENTS ON THE LATEST LEGAL DISPUTE BETWEEN THE WHITEWATER SPECIAL COUNSEL AND THE WHITE HOUSE, THIS TIME OVER SOME NOTES BELONGING TO FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON. THE WHITE HOUSE IS REFUSING TO HAND THEM OVER, CLAIMING LAWYER-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, BUT THE WASHINGTON POST DISAGREES.

VOICE: "THE CONFIDENTIAL STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS IS INDEED AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. .... BUT THOUGH THE PRIVILEGE IS RIGHT, ITS APPLICATION IN THIS CASE IS WRONG - - A STRETCH WHEREBY THE WHITE HOUSE COULD WELL END UP HARMING THE DOCTRINE IT PURPORTS TO PROTECT. ..... THE CLINTONS CREATED THE ENTANGLEMENT WITH THE DOCTRINE OF PRIVILEGE IN WHICH THEY NOW SEEK PROTECTION. ASSUMING THE NOTES ARE AS BENIGN AS THEY SAY, IT SEEMS TO US THEY COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM UP LONG AGO....."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF SOME OF TODAY'S AMERICAN PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/NL
13-May-97 10:38 AM EDT (1438 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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