Voice of America, 97-05-20

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBRIGHT-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[03] CYPRUS CLASHES (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

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

[05] REFUGEE REPORT (L) BY ART CHIMES (WASHINGTON)

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

[07] TURKEY / KURDSM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

INTRO: POLITICAL TENSIONS ROSE IN ALBANIA TUESDAY AS POLITICAL PARTIES REMAIN DEADLOCKED OVER ELECTION RULES. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE GREEKS AND ITALIANS ARE PRESSING FOR AGREEMENT AND THREATENING TO WITHDRAW THEIR PEACEKEEPING TROOPS.

TEXT: INTERIM ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO IS APPEALING FOR WESTERN HELP TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT OVER THE PLANNED ELECTION ON JUNE 29TH. MR. FINO WARNS OF UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES IF THE DEADLOCK IS NOT QUICKLY OVERCOME. ITALY, WHICH LEADS THE SIX-THOUSAND MEMBER INTERVENTION FORCE IN ALBANIA, AGAIN APPEALED FOR THE PARTIES TO PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND COME TO TERMS OVER AN ELECTION LAW. THE ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE ELECTIONS MUST GO AHEAD AS PLANNED AND THAT ANY MOVE TO DELAY THEM COULD PROMPT A WITHDRAWAL OF THE MULTI-LATERAL FORCE.

THAT SAME MESSAGE WAS VOICED BY THE GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER WHO SAID FAILURE TO REACH AN ELECTION COMPROMISE WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTION FORCE. EARLIER, PRIME MINISTER FINO THREATENED TO RESIGN. HIS SPOKESMAN SAID HE HAS WITHDRAWN THAT THREAT AFTER ITALIAN, U-S, AND OTHER WESTERN DIPLOMATS URGED HIM TO STAY ON.

AT ISSUE IS THE DEEP MISTRUST THAT SEPARATES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA FROM THE SOCIALISTS AND OTHER POLITICAL GROUPINGS.

DESPITE THE COLLAPSE OF THE ALBANIAN ARMY TWO MONTHS AGO, PRESIDENT BERISHA CONTINUES TO EXERT CONTROL OVER BROADCAST MEDIA AND HE HAS IGNORED OPPOSITION VIEWS IN PUSHING HIS OWN ELECTION LAW THROUGH THE OUTGOING PARLIAMENT.

WHILE THE PRESIDENT HAS LAUNCHED HIS PARTY'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN, THE OTHER PARTIES SAY THEY WILL BOYCOTT THE ELECTION UNLESS THE LAW IS CHANGED. THE FRAGMENTED OPPOSITION WANTS A GREATER NUMBER OF SEATS TO BE DETERMINED BY PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI SAID TUESDAY IN BUDAPEST THAT THE MISSION OF THE MULTI-LATERAL FORCE WILL BE REVIEWED IF THE ELECTIONS ARE POSTPONED. THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAYS IT EXPECTS SWIFT ACTION TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 1:57 PM EDT (1757 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBRIGHT-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WILL BE TRAVELING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO EUROPE NEXT WEEK BUT WILL BE MAKING A SPECIAL STOP OF HER OWN IN THE BALKANS AFTERWARD. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT WILL BE VISITING SARAJEVO AND MAKING OTHER STOPS IN THE BALKANS ON THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO EUROPE AND THE NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN PORTUGAL.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS OPTIONS FOR HER OTHER STOPS IN THE BALKANS ARE BEING CONSIDERED BUT MS. ALBRIGHT WILL VISIT AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA. ZAGREB AND BELGRADE ARE AMONG THE OTHER PLACES FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HOLD TALKS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS MAKING THE VISIT TO CHECK COMPLIANCE WITH BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT CROATIA AND SERBIA AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS, ABOUT THEIR FAITHFULNESS TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS

THE SECRETARY OF STATE VISITED THE BALKANS AS AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BUT THIS WILL BE HER FIRST VISIT AS SECRETARY OF STATE. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 3:29 PM EDT (1929 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CYPRUS CLASHES (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: CALM HAS RETURNED TO CYPRUS AFTER CLASHES SPARKED BY GREEK CYPRIOTS OPPOSED TO A UNITED NATIONS-SPONSORED PEACE CONCERT. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS AT LEAST 50 DEMONSTRATORS WERE INJURED AND 40 ARRESTED.

TEXT: THE CLASHES ERUPTED WHEN A GROUP OF GREEK CYPRIOT DEMONSTRATORS TRIED TO ILLEGALLY ENTER THE CONCERT SITE AT THE ISLAND'S UNITED NATIONS BUFFER ZONE.

WITHIN MOMENTS, SPORADIC STREET FIGHTS SPREAD ACROSS NICOSIA AS POLICE TRIED TO CHASE AWAY STONE-HURLING PROTESTERS WITH CLUBS AND TEAR GAS. BY DAWN, DOZENS OF SHOPS AND CARS WERE DESTROYED AND CHARRED TRASH BINS DOTTED THE CITY'S STREETS.

IT WAS THE WORST UNREST IN CYPRUS IN NEARLY A YEAR.

THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE AMONG THOUSANDS OPPOSING ANY ACT OF ETHNIC RECONCILIATION SO LONG AS GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE BARRED FROM TRAVELING TO THE TURKISH-OCCUPIED NORTH. NEARLY 200-THOUSAND GREEK CYPRIOTS WERE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND 23 YEARS AGO. ABOUT 30-THOUSAND TROOPS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY THAT REGION, WHICH TURKEY ALONE RECOGNIZES AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION.

THE CYPRUS DISPUTE IS THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUE DIVIDING GREECE AND TURKEY. IT NEARLY BROUGHT THE TWO NATO ALLIES TO WAR LAST YEAR WHEN TWO GREEK CYPRIOTS WERE KILLED BY TURKISH EXTREMISTS DURING A PROTEST MARCH AT THE U-N BUFFER ZONE.

AFTER TWO DECADES OF FAILED PEACE ATTEMPTS, THE U-N OPTED THIS MONTH FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH. IT ORGANIZED THE PEACE CONCERT, HOPING THAT THE YOUTH OF THE ISLAND'S RIVAL COMMUNITIES COULD USHER IN A CLIMATE OF TRUST AND COEXISTENCE. THE PLAN, HOWEVER, DID NOT SUCCEED. ONLY ABOUT 300 OF AN EXPECTED FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO SING AND DANCE WITH WHAT THEY CALL, THEIR ENEMIES. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 6:59 AM EDT (1059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL SHARPLY IN TRADING TUESDAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPEAN MARKETS SHOWED BIG LOSSES. ANALYSTS SAID TRADERS WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH THEY FEAR WOULD HIT PROFIT MARGINS.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX WAS OFF MORE THAN 61-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-POINT-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE GERMAN MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 33-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-POINT-TWO-PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FINISHED DOWN MORE THAN 37-POINTS, ABOUT EIGHT-TENTHS-PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR LOST VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 1:15 PM EDT (1715 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] REFUGEE REPORT (L) BY ART CHIMES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A U-S BASED HUMANITARIAN GROUP HAS WARNED REFUGEES AROUND THE WORLD ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES, AS THE PRINCIPLE OF ASYLUM UNRAVELS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS BEEN REVIEWING THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE U?-S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES.

TEXT: IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT, THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL GROUP CITES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES WHERE REFUGEES ARE BEING TURNED AWAY OR FORCED TO RETURN HOME BEFORE IT IS SAFE. THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES -- ROGER WINTER -- IS WORRIED BY WHAT HE CALLS THE CONTINUING DETERIORATION IN THE PROTECTION AVAILABLE TO THOSE FLEEING PERSECUTION AND VIOLENCE.

THE MESSAGE OF THE WORLD REFUGEE SURVEY IS THAT ASYLUM, THE PRINCIPLE OF ASYLUM ITSELF -- THE FACT THAT WHEN PEOPLE LEGITIMATELY HAVE TO RUN, THEY NEED A PLACE TO RUN TO -- THAT THAT IS REALLY UNDER ATTACK [AND] IN FACT IS BEING UNDERMINED AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR MOST REFUGEES TODAY.

THE U-S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES CRITICIZES SEVERAL COUNTRIES FOR THEIR TREATMENT OF REFUGEES. THE GROUP CITES GERMANY FOR ANNOUNCING PLANS TO FORCIBLY REPATRIATE BOSNIANS. THEY CRITICIZE TOGO FOR DENYING ASYLUM FOR LIBERIANS. AND THEY CRITICIZE THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS TREATMENT OF CUBAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS INTERCEPTED AT SEA. REFUGEE COMMITTEE OFFICIAL BILL FRELICK (PRON. FRAY-LICK) EXPLAINS WHAT THEY FIND WRONG WITH THE PROCEDURE.

THEY'RE READ A STATEMENT THAT BASICALLY TELLS THEM THAT THEY CAN GO BACK HOME AND APPLY TO THE AMERICAN INTEREST SECTION IN HAVANA FOR REFUGEE PROCESSING. THE SAME PERSON THAT MAKES THAT 'SALES PITCH' TO TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN GO BACK HOME IS THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADJUDICATING THEIR CLAIM.

THE U-S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES SAYS THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES AT THE END OF 1996 WAS THE LOWEST SINCE 1988. STILL, REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS NUMBER MORE THAN 14 MILLION, WORLDWIDE. ADD DISPLACED PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT LEFT THEIR HOME COUNTRY AND THE NUMBER JUMPS TO 34 MILLION MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BY WAR, DISASTER AND OTHER CAUSES. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 6:47 AM EDT (1047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE BUDGET COMPROMISE AGREED TO SEVERAL WEEKS AGO BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS COMES IN FOR MORE SCRUTINY IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES THIS TUESDAY.

IN OTHER TOPICS, THE EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE LOOKING AT THE LIKELY EXPANSION OF NATO; THE NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, OR ZAIRE AS IT WAS CALLED UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK; [OPT] A U-S DEBT TO THE HMONG HILL TRIBESMEN OF LAOS [END OPT]; INDIAN - PAKISTAN RELATIONS AND THE NEW DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DOWNSIZING REPORT.

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

TEXT: THERE IS SARCASM AND SKEPTICAL DISBELIEF AFOOT IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS THIS TUESDAY AS THE DENVER POST VIEWS THE BUDGET AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND XONGRESS. HERE IS PART OF THE COMMENT.

VOICE: "THE 'BUDGET DEAL' SUPPOSEDLY GIVEN ITS FINISHING TOUCHES LAST WEEK BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND TOP REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS IS LARGELY AN EXERCISE IN POLITICAL SMOKE AND MIRRORS BASED ON HIGHLY OPTIMISTIC ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS. THE ORIGINAL DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED WITH GREAT FANFARE [PUBLICITY] A FORTNIGHT AGO BUT WAS VAGUE EVEN BY WASHINGTON STANDARDS. ..... IT DUCKS [AVOIDS] BASIC REFORMS IN FAVOR OF GIMMICK [SUBTERFUGE] AND WILL PRODUCE - - AT BEST - - ONLY A MOMENTARY PAUSE IN AMERICA'S DEFICIT DILEMMA IN TWO-THOUSAND-TWO BEFORE SWIFTLY PLUNGING THE NATION BACK INTO THE FISCAL RED SEA IN WHICH IT HAS WALLOWED FOR TWO DECADES."

TEXT: BACK EAST, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER IS EQUALLY SKEPTICAL, CALLING IT "A BUDGET DEAL GONE AWRY."

VOICE: "THE POLITICOS [CONGRESSMEN AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS] WHO BROKERED THIS DEAL MADE IT SOUND LIKE A DISCIPLINED, FIVE-YEAR MARCH TOWARD A BALANCED BUDGET. NOT SO. UNDER THIS SCHEME, THE DEFICIT IN TWO-THOUSAND WILL BE 15-BILLION DOLLARS HIGHER [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] THAN THE DEFICIT THIS YEAR. THAT LOOKS LIKE A MISPRINT - - OR A JOKE - - BUT IT'S TRUE. DESPITE ALL THEIR GRANDIOSE NOISE-MAKING, MR. CLINTON AND THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T SHRINK THE DEFICIT ONE BIT BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. [OPT] BASICALLY, THEY AGREED TO MOONWALK INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM. ..... IT'S SO MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT THE NATION DESERVES THAT LAWMAKERS OUGHT TO REJECT IT - - AND COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ATTACKS THE DEFICIT IN THIS CENTURY, NOT THE NEXT ONE."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA ABOUT THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO IS STILL DRAWING COMMENT, SUCH AS THIS FROM TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: "THE FINAL [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] WORD [ON NATO'S EXPANSION] WILL NOT BE WRIT TILL SOME FUTURE CRISIS WITHIN OR ALONG THE NEW NATO BORDERS TESTS THE METTLE OF THE BIG CLUB MEMBERS. SO WE WILL NOT KNOW WHETHER THE PROS OR CONS ARE PROVEN RIGHT FOR YEARS - - PERHAPS DECADES. THAT IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH GREAT HISTORIC ENTERPRISES. AS WE NEAR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARSHALL PLAN, WHICH WED THE U-S TO WESTERN EUROPE AS FIRMLY AS DID THE CREATION OF NATO, IT'S USEFUL TO LOOK AT WHAT WE MEAN BY 'THE WEST' - - AND RUSSIA'S LONG DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO DEFY OR LINK ITSELF TO THAT WEST. ..... WHETHER RUSSIA REMAINS ON A COURSE TO MARKET-FRIENDLY, PRO-WESTERN DEMOCRACY OR TURNS INWARD AND NATIONALISTIC MAY BE DETERMINED BY HOW THE 'SAY [INPUT] BUT NOT A VETO' ON NATO'S INFLUENCE PLAYS OUT."

TEXT: IN RELATED NEWS, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD IS APPLAUDING UKRAINE'S DECISION TO GET OUT OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL NUCLEAR MISSILE BUSINESS.

VOICE: "UKRAINE'S DECISION TO DISMANTLE ITS LAST REMAINING BALLISTIC MISSILES, DESIGNED TO CARRY NUCLEAR WARHEADS OF DESTRUCTION TO THE WEST, IS WELCOME IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. THE SOVIET-MADE SS-24 MISSILES ARE VESTIGES OF A COLD WAR THAT NO LONGER EXISTS, [OPT] A THROWBACK TO THE DAYS WHEN BEAUTIFUL UKRAINE WAS A FORCED PARTNER WITH THE OLD SOVIET UNION IN THE SUBJUGATION OF EASTERN EUROPE. ..... UKRAINE, WHICH ALREADY HAD BEAT ITS DEADLINE OF ELIMINATING ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS BY TWO-THOUSAND, NOW HAS GONE AN IMPORTANT STEP FURTHER.BY ELIMINATING THE MEANS BY WHICH THESE WEAPONS WOULD HAVE DONE THEIR AWFUL WORK, IT HAS MADE UKRAINE A SAFE SPACE FOR DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: OF COURSE THE BIG NEWS IN AFRICA - - SOME ARE CALLING IT THE BIGGEST NEWS SINCE THE END OF THE COLONIAL ERA - - IS THE CHANGEOVER OF POWER IN ZAIRE - - NOW CALLED THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS THIS ADVICE FOR THE NEW LEADER LAURENT KABILA.

VOICE: "THE SENSIBLE FIRST STEP WOULD BE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT WITH BROAD REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING OPPOSITION FACTIONS, LIKE HIS OWN, THAT OPPOSED [PRESIDENT] MOBUTU'S LONG DICTATORSHIP. AN OBVIOUS MODEL COULD BE SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH WITH THE FALL OF THE APARTHEID REGIME BROUGHT TOGETHER OLD ENEMIES IN A NEW GOVERNMENT. [OPT]..... TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, THE BEST MESSAGE WOULD BE ONE OF ACTIVITY. REBUILDING ROADS, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE DESTROYED BY DECADES OF NEGLECT WOULD SET [MR.] KABILA ON A PROPER PATH."

TEXT: HERE AT HOME, THE WASHINGTON POST NOTES A CEREMONY IN THE CAPITAL LAST WEEK, HONORING THE HMONG PEOPLE OF LAOS FOR THEIR HELP IN A SECRET WAR AGAINST THE COMMUNISTS NEARLY THREE DECADES AGO. THE POST SAYS THE NATION STILL OWES THESE BRAVE PEOPLE MORE.

VOICE: "TO ANYONE WITH A MEMORY AND A COMMITMENT TO KEEPING ONE'S WORD, IT IS BOUND TO COME AS A SHOCK THAT THE UNITED STATES IS STILL NOT FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS TO ITS HMONG AND LAO ALLIES IN THE VIETNAM WAR. .... THE HMONG, OR 'MEO', AND LAO RECRUITS FORMED UNDER CIA DIRECTION .......GATHERED INTELLIGENCE, PROTECTED U-S NAVIGATIONAL SITES AND RESCUED HUNDREDS OF DOWNED AMERICAN PILOTS. IN TURN, THE UNITED STATES TOOK ON SPECIFIC PROTECTIVE OBLIGATIONS AND OF COURSE AN OVERWHELMING MORAL OBLIGATION. THESE DEBTS WERE FULFILLED ONLY RAGGEDLY WHEN COMMUNIST NORTH VIETNAM SWEPT OVER LAOS. HMONG AND LAO SOLDIERS AND [THEIR] FAMILIES WERE ALTERNATELY REPRESSED BY THE VICTORIOUS FORCES AND FORCED INTO EXILE. SOME 135-THOUSAND NOW LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ARLINGTON CEMETERY, THE HMONG UNVEILED A MEMORIAL TO THEIR COMBAT VETERANS AND AMERICAN ADVISERS. IN THE LAO AND HMONG LANGUAGES THE WRITING ON THE MONUMENT STATES, 'YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.' THEY ALMOST WERE."

TEXT: THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE

SUB-CONTINENT'S GIANTS, INDIA AND PAKISTAN. IT DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "AFTER THREE WARS AND FIVE DECADES OF ENMITY, FAR MORE THAN PERSONAL CHEMISTRY IS NEEDED TO BREACH THE WALLS DIVIDING INDIA AND PAKISTAN. STILL, WHEN PRIME MINISTER I-K GUJRAL CALLS HIS PAKISTANI COUNTERPART 'MY PERSONAL FRIEND,' AND WHEN NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS OF NEW DELHI'S 10TH PRIME MINISTER 'I LIKE THIS MAN VERY MUCH,' THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE CAN BE SENSED. [OPT] A SYMPATHETIC BOND UNITES THE PRIME MINISTERS, WHO MET THE OTHER DAY IN THE NEUTRAL INDIAN OCEAN NATION OF THE MALDIVES. MR. SHARIF HAS ROOTS IN THE PUNJAB ..... SO DOES MR. GUJRAL, WHO FLED WITH HIS HINDU FAMILY ACROSS THE FRONTIER IN A CONVULSION WHOSE 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOTH COUNTRIES WILL RECALL IN AUGUST. ON THE SORROWS OF DIVISION THE TWO SPEAK THROUGH THEIR OWN LIVES, AND CAN DO SO IN THE SAME LANGUAGE." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S CHICAGO TRIBUNE IS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO RENEW CHINA'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADING STATUS (WHICH GIVES CHINA THE LOWEST RATE OF U.S. IMPORT DUTIES) BUT SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS IN FOR A BIG FIGHT WITH CONGRESS.

VOICE: ".... THE PROSPECTS OF PROGRESS IN SINO - U-S RELATIONS HAVE SOURED FASTER THAN UNEATEN EGG FOO YONG. .... A VIGOROUS DEBATE ON CHINA IS WELCOME AND INEVITABLE. CHINA IS DESTINED TO BE A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION AND ANGUISH TO AMERICANS FOR YEARS TO COME. BUT IF WE INSIST ON DEMONIZING AND DISTANCING OURSELVES FROM IT, WE WILL FORFEIT ANY REALISTIC OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE CHINA FOR THE GOOD OF OURSELVES AND ITS PEOPLE."

TEXT: ON THE LATEST PENTAGON REVIEW OF U-S FORCES AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN'S PLAN TO FURTHER REDUCE THEM, THE WASHINGTON POST SUGGESTS CONGRESS WILL STILL OBJECT.

VOICE: "THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARK IS, ONCE AGAIN, OPTIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SAVINGS FROM PROCUREMENT REFORM, BASE CLOSINGS, PRIVATIZATION OF MANY NON-COMBAT FUNCTIONS AND OTHER SENSIBLE IDEAS THAT WILL RUN INTO RESISTANCE FROM CONGRESSMEN WHO VIEW THE DEFENSE BUDGET AS THE LAST BOTTOMLESS BARREL OF PORK [SO-CALLED BENEFICIAL SPENDING OF FEDERAL MONEY IN VARIOUS LOCALITIES THAT BENEFIT THE RE-ELECTION CHANCES OF THE LOCAL CONGRESSMAN AND ARE, THUS, VIGEROUSLY DEFENDED]."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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20-May-97 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / KURDSM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS DRIVE AGAINST SEPARATIST KURDISH REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AMID MOUNTING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO END THE SEVEN-DAY OLD OFFENSIVE. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER TURHAN TAYAN SAID TUESDAY THE TURKISH TROOPS WILL, IN HIS WORDS, STAY IN NORTHERN IRAQ UNTIL RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED.

MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE P-K-K, ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CLASHES WHICH ARE SAID TO BE CONCENTRATED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS KHARKURK TRIANGLE, WHERE TURKEY'S BORDERS MEET WITH IRAN AND IRAQ.

TURKISH FIGHTER JETS CONTINUED TO BOMB REBEL POSITIONS WITHIN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY SAID ABOUT 100 SORTIES HAD BEEN FLOW IN THE LAST TWO DAYS FROM TURKISH BASES IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION, DESTROYING SEVERAL REBEL BASES IN THE MOUNTAINS DIVIDING TURKEY AND IRAQ.

THE GERMANY-BASED PRO-KURDISH "DEM" NEWS AGENCY SAID TURKISH FORCES HAD SUFFERED WHAT IT TERMED HEAVY LOSSES AT THE HANDS OF THE REBELS -- A CLAIM THAT WAS DENIED BY OFFICIALS OF AN IRAQI KURDISH GROUP, THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE K-D-P. THE IRAQI GROUP HAS BEEN TAKING PART IN TURKEY'S ANTI-REBEL DRIVE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MAIN IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUP, THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS, SAID TUESDAY IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS HAD BEEN MASSING ALONG THE IRAQI BORDER IN RECENT DAYS IN AN APPARENT SHOW OF FORCE. TURKEY HAS LONG ACCUSED IRAN OF PROVIDING ARMS AND BASES FOR THE P-K-K AND APPEALED TO IRANIAN AUTHORITIES NOT TO ALLOW ANY OF THE REBELS TO ENTER ITS TERRITORY. MEANWHILE, IRAQ HAS CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO EXERT ITS INFLUENCE OVER TURKEY TO SECURE THE IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF TURKISH TROOPS. IRAQ HAS VIRTUALLY LOST ALL CONTROL OVER ITS KURDISH NORTH SINCE THE ALLIES, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, ESTABLISHED A NO FLY ZONE OVER THE ENCLAVE AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR TO PROTECT THE IRAQI KURDS FROM POSSIBLE ATTACK BY IRAQI GOVERNMENT TROOPS.

TURKEY HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THE OPERATION IS BEING CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO APPEALS FROM K-D-P LEADER MASSOUD BARZANI TO HELP DRIVE THE P-K-K OUT OF NORTHERN IRAQ.

IN A SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT, THE DAMASCUS BASED P-K-K LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, WAS REPORTED TO HAVE OFFERED TO DECLARE A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE AND HOLD WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS PEACE TALKS WITH TURKEY -- AN OFFER, ANALYSTS SAY, ANKARA IS SURE TO REJECT. (SIGNED)
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20-May-97 12:04 PM EDT (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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