Voice of America, 97-06-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[02] DISAGREEMENTS OVER NATO ENLARGEMENT BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)

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

[04] EURO SUMMIT (2ND S- UPDATE) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

[06] NORTHERN IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

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

[08] TURKEY POLITICS (LONG) BY AL PESSIN (ANKARA)

[09] U-S / MACEDONIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[01] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: FORMER AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR FRANZ VRANITZKY -- THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- HAS BEEN MEETING WITH AMERICAN OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION JUNE 29TH. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHETHER THOSE ELECTIONS WILL BE FREE AND FAIR HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

TEXT: AS PART OF ITS SUPPORT FOR THE JUNE 29TH ELECTION, THE O-S-C-E IS PRINTING BALLOT PAPERS FOR ALBANIA. THE ITALIAN PRINTER IS READY TO START. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SUPPLIED THE PRINTER WITH THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES TO GO ON THOSE BALLOTS.

THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALBANIA, FRANZ VRANITZKY, SAYS THE CONDITIONS ARE DIFFICULT TO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. HE SAYS THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT SELECTED JUNE 29TH AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO HELP THE ALBANIANS TO CARRY THE VOTE OUT.

I HAVE HAD AMPLE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN WASHINGTON WITH SECRETARY (OF STATE MADELEINE) ALBRIGHT AND OTHER LEADING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ALSO ENDORSES THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 29TH AND I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO ACTUALLY BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE THAT ALBANIA, CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS IN ALBANIA, WILL BE EVEN MORE DETERIORATED SHOULD THE ELECTION BE POSTPONED OR DELAYED AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO BEAR IN OUR MINDS IT IS OVERLY IMPORTANT THAT ALBANIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GETS A NEW GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT THAT IS BASED ON A GENERAL ELECTION AND THEN COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL FINANCE INSTITUTIONS WILL HAVE TO START.

THE FORMER AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR RETURNS TO VIENNA WHERE HE MEETS WEDNESDAY WITH O-S-C-E LEADERS TO PREPARE MONITORING OF THE ALBANIAN ELECTION. HE EXPECTS 700 MONITORS TO OBSERVE THE ELECTION INCLUDING MORE THAN 100 FROM THE UNITED STATES.

MR. VRANITZKY SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS MOVING FROM MORAL AND POLITICAL SUPPORT OF EUROPEAN INVOLVEMENT IN ALBANIA TO A MORE ACTIVE ROLE WITH THE ELECTION OBSERVERS. HE ALSO SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN AMERICAN PLEDGES TO TAKE PART IN ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AFTER A NEW GOVERNMENT IS FORMED.

ALBANIA IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN EUROPE, IN TERMS OF STANDARD OF LIVING, BUT MR. VRANITZKY BELIEVES THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRY IN THE LONG TERM.

THE COUNTRY HAS VERY GOOD, NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS IS A COUNTRY WHICH HAS A GOOD DEAL OF POTENTIAL, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THEY CAN COME UP TO THE STANDARDS OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FURTHER INTEGRATION, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FAMILY OF PEOPLE ETC. THERE IS, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, NO REASON WHY ALBANIA SHOULD NOT BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF NATIONS.

MR. VRANITZKY SAYS THE ALBANIANS SOMETIMES WANT TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FUTURE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. BUT, HE SAYS THIS DEPENDS ON A STRONG TURNOUT OF VOTERS ON JUNE 29TH. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-97 12:35 PM EDT (1635 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] DISAGREEMENTS OVER NATO ENLARGEMENT BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PUSH TO ENLARGE NATO CAUSED STRAINS IN U-S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. AND IT IS NOW CAUSING DIVISIONS WITHIN THE ALLIANCE ITSELF, WHERE DIFFERENT VIEWS ARE EMERGING OVER WHICH NATIONS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST GROUP OF NEW COUNTRIES ADMITTED. IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE SHARP QUESTIONS FROM CONGRESS IN THE COMING MONTHS OVER THE COSTS OF NATO EXPANSION. MORE ON JUST SOME OF THE HURDLES THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE FACES AS IT EXPANDS EASTWARD -- FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT THE PENTAGON, NICK SIMEONE.

TEXT: SOME OF AMERICA'S EUROPEAN ALLIES, NOTABLY FRANCE AND ITALY, OPPOSE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO LIMIT THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION TO JUST HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. ITALY HAS BEEN BACKING EARLY ADMISSION FOR SLOVENIA; FRANCE FOR ROMANIA.

IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK, U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD HIS NATO COUNTERPARTS THE UNITED STATES WILL INSIST ON LIMITING INVITATIONS AT NEXT MONTH'S NATO SUMMIT IN MADRID TO THESE THREE COUNTRIES. ALL THREE BORDER A REGION OF RELATIVE INSECURITY IN EUROPE. FOR THIS SAME REASON, FRANCE CONTINUES TO BACK EARLY ADMISSION FOR ROMANIA. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN JACQUES RUMMELHARDT:

IT (ROMANIA) IS AN IMPORTANT STATE ON THE EASTERN FLANK OF EUROPE THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY OF THAT REGION AND TO THE STRATEGIC POTENTIAL OF THE ALLIANCE. WE THINK THAT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER MADRID, ROMANIA HAS A RIGHT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE.

DECISIONS WITHIN THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MADE BY CONSENSUS, BUT WITH NATO MEMBERS ALREADY IN DISAGREEMENT, THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS HE EXPECTS THE UPCOMING SUMMIT TO BE -- AS HE PUT IT -- A CIRCUS.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL -- THE LEADER OF ONE OF AMERICA'S CLOSEST EUROPEAN ALLIES -- HAS SIDED WITH FRANCE IN SAYING THAT BOTH ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA SHOULD BE ADMITTED DURING THE FIRST ROUND.

THERE ARE ALSO LIKELY TO BE EMERGING DISAGREEMENTS OVER THE COST AND PACE OF EXPANSION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE WHITE HOUSE STILL MUST SELL THIS MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR ENLARGEMENT PLAN TO A WARY CONGRESS, WHICH MUST THEN APPROVE THE MONEY REQUIRED TO PAY THE AMERICAN SHARE OF NATO EXPANSION. THE ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES THE COST TO THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER TO BE AS MUCH AS 200-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR DURING THE NEXT DECADE.

NEW NATO MEMBERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PICK UP MUCH OF THE BILL -- EVERYTHING FROM BRINGING THEIR OWN MILITARY EQUIPMENT UP TO ALLIANCE STANDARDS TO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR THEIR SOLDIERS. U-S GENERAL ROBERT OSTERTHALER IS DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR EUROPEAN AND NATO AFFAIRS:

THERE DOES HAVE TO BE, I THINK, A VERY DISCIPLINED AND THOROUGH SURVEY DONE SO THAT AS WE UNDERTAKE THE PROCESS OF ASSIMILATING THESE NEW COUNTRIES, WE CAN EMPHASIZE THE RIGHT THINGS IN THE NEAR-TERM AND PUT OFF THE LONGER-TERM PROBLEMS PERHAPS FOR LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS. BUT IT'S PREMATURE TO IDENTIFY WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS NEED TO BE DONE IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES. WE HAVEN'T EVEN NAMED THE COUNTRIES YET.

GENERAL OSTERTHALER EXPECTS NEW NATO NATIONS TO PURCHASE AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT. BUT HE BELIEVES THE BIGGEST EXPENSE FOR NEW NATO COUNTRIES WILL BE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REFORMING THEIR MILITARIES.

FOR THE NEW CANDIDATE COUNTRIES, I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY WILL FIND THEY NEED TO SPEND A GOOD BIT ON MILITARY AND DEFENSE REFORM UP FRONT (RIGHT AWAY) AS WELL AS INTER-OPERABILITY IMPROVEMENTS. BY THAT, I MEAN DOWNSIZING OF VERY LARGE FORCES, WHICH ARE STRUCTURED MUCH LIKE A LOT OF THE WESTERN EUROPEAN ARMIES WERE STRUCTURED AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THAT, AS YOU KNOW, COSTS MONEY. REDUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS MONEY. MODERNIZATION COSTS MONEY, BUT AS I'VE SAID, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE VERY HIGHEST PRIORITY.

THERE HAS BEEN LIMITED DEBATE OVER NATO EXPANSION BOTH IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE PARLIAMENTS OF WESTERN EUROPE, WHICH ARE MORE PREOCCUPIED AT THE MOMENT WITH TERMS FOR EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION. BUT THERE ARE SOME U-S LAWMAKERS WHO ARE QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR AN EXPANDED NATO. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER OF CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THEM.

WE NEED NOT SPEND OUR LIMITED DEFENSE DOLLARS TODAY FOR THE STABILITY OF OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS. THEY CAN PAY FOR THEIR OWN STABILITY. WHY WE WERE IN NATO WAS BECAUSE THE SOVIET UNION WAS A THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. STAYING IN NATO NOW WASTES LIMITED DOLLARS THAT SHOULD BE SPENT ON AMERICAN WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT WILL ENABLE THE UNITED STATES TO PROJECT POWER FROM THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

BUT CONGRESSMAN TOM LANTOS, A CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT WHO WAS BORN IN HUNGARY, CONSIDERS THAT VIEW SHORT-SIGHTED.

NATO HAS BEEN THE ESSENCE OF OUR DEFENSE STRATEGY (REGARDING) OUR MOST FORMIDABLE OPPONENT SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE SOVIET UNION. IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF NAIVETE TO ASSUME THAT NEW THREATS MIGHT NOT RE-EMERGE ON THE EURO-ASIAN CONTINENT AIMED AT OUR ALLIES AND, INDEED, AT THE UNITED STATES.

U-S LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FORMAL CONSIDERATION OF NATO EXPANSION AND ITS COSTS SOMETIME BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-97 4:03 PM EDT (2003 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PROFIT-TAKING ON WALL STREET PROMPTED INVESTORS IN EUROPE TUESDAY TO SELL STOCK AS WELL. PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM KEY WEST EUROPEAN MARKETS.

TEXT: LONDON, PARIS AND FRANKFURT ALL CLOSED ON THE DOWN SIDE TUESDAY, WITH THE BIGGEST DECLINES REGISTERED HERE IN LONDON. THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS SHED ALMOST 63 POINTS AT THE CLOSE TO CONTINUE THE SLIDE THAT BEGAN MONDAY. PROFIT-TAKING APPEARED TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AS WELL ON THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX, WHERE STOCKS CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 33 POINTS. THE GERMAN "DAX 30" INDEX IN FRANKFURT WAS DOWN MORE THAN 23-AND-A-HALF POINTS FOR THE DAY.

THE U-S DOLLAR ADVANCED AGAINST MOST EUROPEAN CURRENCIES TUESDAY AS INVESTOR WORRIES OVER THE FUTURE OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY CONTINUED. GOLD IN LONDON ADVANCED 60-CENTS AN OUNCE IN THE CLOSING FIX, WHERE THE PRICE WAS PUT AT 342-DOLLARS-35 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-97 2:04 PM EDT (1804 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO SUMMIT (2ND S- UPDATE) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: EUROPEAN LEADERS ARE STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES AT THEIR SUMMIT IN AMSTERDAM AND COME UP WITH A NEW TREATY FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE DECIDED TO SHELVE PLANS FOR A COMMON DEFENSE POLICY.

TEXT: FRANCE AND GERMANY FAVORED A COORDINATED DEFENSE POLICY FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION WHICH COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A MILITARY ROLE. FRENCH AND GERMAN OFFICIALS FELT AFTER THE E-U'S FAILURE TO ACT IN BOSNIA, IT WAS TIME TO GIVE THE 15-MEMBER ORGANIZATION A STRONGER MILITARY POSTURE.

HOWEVER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR LED THE FIGHT AGAINST SUCH A MOVE AND SECURED LANGUAGE IN A NEW TREATY WHICH SIMPLY TALKS OF A "POSSIBLE" DEFENSE ROLE FOR THE E-U. MR. BLAIR TOLD REPORTERS HE FELT A GREATER DEFENSE ROLE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION WOULD UNDERMINE NATO.

NOTHING MUST JEOPARDIZE NATO - THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEFENSE POLICY AND THERE MUST BE NO QUESTION OF US BEING FORCED INTO INTEGRATION OF THE VARIOUS EUROPEAN DEFENSE INSTITUTIONS -- AND THAT HAS BEEN SECURED.

HOWEVER EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE FAILED TO AGREE ON THE ISSUE OF VOTING RIGHTS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES AS THE E-U INCREASES ITS MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-97 6:27 PM EDT (2227 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS DOWN BUT THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 HUNDRED INDEX MOVED UP SLIGHTLY. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON HAS MORE FROM OUR NEW YORK BUREAU.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS DOWN 11 POINTS, IN VOLATILE TRADING, CLOSING AT 77-HUNDRED-61. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX GAINED HALF OF ONE POINT TO CLOSE AT 894.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE START OF TRADING, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DROPPED 50 POINTS, DUE TO PROFIT TAKING. IT QUICKLY RECOUPED THOSE LOSSES FOR A MID-DAY GAIN OF MORE THAN 20 POINTS BEFORE MOVING DOWN AGAIN IN THE LAST HOURS OF TRADING. BROKERS SAY THE VOLATILITY REFLECTS A HIGH LEVEL OF INVESTOR UNCERTAINTY.

IN CORPORATE NEWS, TWO OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONSUMER ELECTRONICS FIRMS -- PHILIPS ELECTRONICS OF THE NETHERLANDS AND U-S-BASED LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES -- ARE JOINING FORCES. THE RESULT IS A JOINTLY-OWNED COMPANY NAMED PHILIPS CONSUMER COMMUNICATIONS, WITH ESTIMATED ANNUAL SALES OF TWO-AND-ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS.

PHILIPS IS THE LEADING MAKER OF CORDED AND CORDLESS TELEPHONES IN EUROPE, WHILE LUCENT DOMINATES THE MARKET FOR TELEPHONES AND ANSWERING MACHINES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE VENTURE HAS PLANS TO MOVE INTO NEW INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN LATIN AMERICA, JAPAN, AND OTHER PARTS OF ASIA.

ALSO IN COMMUNICATIONS, MOTOROLA SAYS IT IS PLANNING A 13 BILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TO PROVIDE MULTIMEDIA, VOICE, DATA AND VIDEO SERVICES. THE PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF 63 SATELLITES AND TARGET ALL LEVELS OF CONSUMERS -- FROM HOUSEHOLDS TO MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

AND THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY WAS IN THE NEWS AS THE CRUISE OPERATOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL AGREED TO PURCHASE CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES. THE ONE-POINT-THREE BILLION DOLLAR DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CREATE A NEW CHALLENGE TO CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES FOR LEADERSHIP OF THE LUCRATIVE CRUISE BUSINESS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/LWM
17-Jun-97 5:29 PM EDT (2129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NORTHERN IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: A NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIAN WITH CLOSE LINKS TO PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARY GROUPS SAYS THEIR CEASEFIRE IS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING DOWN. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA HAS DETAILS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE KILLING OF TWO POLICEMEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND MONDAY BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY HAS BROUGHT FEARS OF RETALIATION FROM PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARIES -- THOSE KNOWN AS "LOYALISTS."

THEY HAVE BEEN ABIDING BY A CEASEFIRE SINCE OCTOBER 1994. THEIR UMBRELLA GROUP -- THE "COMBINED LOYALIST MILITARY COMMAND" -- HAS BEEN SILENT SO FAR, FOLLOWING THE POLICE KILLINGS.

BUT DAVID ERVINE -- HEAD OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S "PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST PARTY," WHICH HAS CLOSE LINKS TO PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARIES -- SAYS THEIR CEASEFIRE MAY END.

I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU SOME KIND OF AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT LOYALISM WILL HOLD TIGHT -- AND I AM AFRAID I CAN'T. I THINK THE SITUATION HAS BEEN DEEPLY DESTABILIZED AND THAT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, OUR BEST EFFORTS MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH. WE HOPE THAT THEY ARE, BUT OUR BEST HOPES MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH. WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

MR. ERVINE SAYS HE WILL NEVERTHELESS CONTINUE TO URGE LOYALISTS NOT TO RETURN TO VIOLENCE. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-97 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

(UNEDITED)

INTRO: THE NATION MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN TODAY, THE EVENT THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE RESIGNATION OF RICHARD NIXON AS PRESIDENT. THE EVENT IS BEING NOTED IN THE DAY'S EDITORIALS COLUMNS, ALONG WITH OTHER TOPICS, SUCH AS: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE RACE RELATIONS; THE FINAL DAYS OF CAMBODIAN'S POL POT; CONTINUING TROUBLES FOR PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU, AND A TRIBUTE TO MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

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

TEXT: TODAY'S DALLAS MORNING NEWS REMEMBERS ONE OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERS OF THE WATERGATE DRAMA, A PERSON KNOWN ONLY AS "DEEP THROAT", A SOURCE WHO KNEW MUCH OF WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE AND TOLD IT TO WASHINGTON POST REPORTERS BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN. NOW, THE TEXAS PAPER SAYS, IT WOULD BE GOOD IF "DEEP THROAT'S" IDENTITY IS REVEALED.

VOICE: "THE CLANDESTINE CONVERSATIONS HELPED POINT THE REPORTERS TOWARD WRONGDOING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION. MESSERS WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN HAVE AGREED NOT TO REVEAL THE PERSON'S IDENTITY UNTIL HE DIES. (ALL THAT'S ACTUALLY KNOWN IS THE SOURCE IS A MALE.) ..... BUT THAT AGREEMENT DOESN'T MEAN DEEP THROAT CANNOT END THE MYSTERY HIMSELF. FORMER SENATOR HOWARD BAKER, A LEADING FIGURE IN THE SENATE'S WATERGATE INVESTIGATION, SUGGESTED SUNDAY .... THAT DEEP THROAT COULD SERVE HISTORY AGAIN BY IDENTIFYING HIMSELF."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE TITLES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THIS TUESDAY "WATERGATE'S POISON."

VOICE: "AFTER A QUARTER-CENTURY, WATERGATE CONTINUES TO HAUNT AMERICAN POLITICS, NOT SIMPLY AS A TOXIC HISTORICAL EVENT BUT AS A BLIGHT ON PUBLIC LIFE. ........WATERGATE HAS PROVED TO BE AMAZINGLY TENACIOUS, LIKE AN ESPECIALLY VIRULENT, DRUG-RESISTANT DISEASE. ..... THE CONTEMPT THAT [PRESIDENT] NIXON SHOWED FOR THE PUBLIC STILL POISONS THE WELL. TRUST CANNOT BE BUILT IN A DAY, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A BETTER START IN A QUARTER-CENTURY."

TEXT: AND USA TODAY SAYS THE LESSONS OF THE AFFAIR ARE THESE:

VOICE: "PARANOIA IS A DESTROYER. THE END DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE MEANS. IN POLITICS, THE COVER-UP IS OFTEN FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN THE CRIME."

TEXT: TURNING TO A KEY DOMESTIC ISSUE OF THE DAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE RACE RELATIONS, THE DAILY NEWS OF NEW YORK IS PLEASED.

VOICE: "[PRESIDENT] CLINTON .... HAS TAKEN ON A TASK FRAUGHT WITH AS MUCH DANGER AS POSSIBILITY. BUT IF AMERICA IS TO TRAVERSE THE NEW MILLENNIUM AS A UNITED NATION, WHAT CHOICE DOES IT HAVE? NOT SURPRISINGLY, CRITICS FROM BOTH SIDES ARE SKEPTICAL. SOME SAID [MR.] CLINTON WENT TOO FAR IN DEFENDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. OTHERS SAID HE SHOULD HAVE BACKED UP HIS WORDS WITH PROGRAMS. BOTH SIDES HAVE A POINT .... BUT WHAT'S [REALLY] NEEDED ARE NEW IDEAS AND CANDOR. AND THE FIRST STEP IS FOR AMERICANS TO START TALKING TO EACH OTHER."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE PRESIDENT'S KEY NOTE ANNOUNCEMENT.

VOICE: "WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON APPOINTED A BLUE-RIBBON [COLLECTION OF VERY NOTABLE PEOPLE] PANEL TO WRITE THE FIRST SPEECH OF HIS HIGHLY-PUBLICIZED 'GREAT AND UNPRECEDENTED CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE," THERE WAS AT LEAST THE THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY THAT THE TALKS WOULD BE HONEST AND FACTUAL. INSTEAD, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A ROUTINE EXERCISE IN HYPOCRISY."

TEXT: NO SO SAYS THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, WHICH PRAISES THE SPEECH, IN PART SAYING:

VOICE: "THOSE WHO FEARED ... THE SPEECH WOULD BE NO MORE THAN A FEEL-GOOD PEP TALK SHOULD HAVE BEEN REASSURED BY [MR.] CLINTON'S WORDS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. SPEAKING IN A STATE THAT HAS RECENTLY REPUDIATED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AT THE POLLS, THE PRESIDENT OFFERED AN INTELLIGENT DEFENSE OF THIS VALUABLE TOOL AGAINST THE CONSEQUENCES OF RACISM. [OPT] ..... REACTION HAS BEEN MIXED TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH AND TO HIS CREATION OF A COMMISSION TO CATALYZE NATIONAL DIALOGUE. SOME ACCUSED HIM OF SPOUTING LIBERAL IDEALISM THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. OTHERS CRITICIZED HIM FOR NOT SPECIFICALLY CALLING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. APPARENTLY, MANY AMERICANS WOULD PREFER A POLICY OF WILLFUL BLINDNESS TO THE PROBLEM, AS IF REFUSING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WOULD MAKE IT GO AWAY."

TEXT: REGARDING ASIA, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE ALMOST GLOATING ABOUT THE TROUBLES OF FORMER CAMBODIAN COMMUNIST LEADER AND GENOCIDE ARCHITECT POL POT, NOW AILING AND HUNTED BY HIS FORMER TROOPS. THE BOSTON GLOBE CALLS IT "A FITTING FATE."

VOICE: "ONE OF THE MOST DESOLATING LESSONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY IS THAT JUSTICE RARELY CATCHES UP WITH MASS MURDERERS BEFORE THEY DEPART THE STAGE. HITLER ESCAPED AN ACCOUNTING THROUGH SUICIDE. STALIN DIED IN BED. MAO ZEDONG'S EXPIRED OF NATURAL CAUSES, UNPUNISHED. AND NOW POL POT, A POLITICAL CRIMINAL AS EVIL AS ANY OF HIS PREDECESSORS, IS FLEEING FORMER KHMER ROUGE COMRADES IN A JUNGLE OF NORTHERN CAMBODIA. ..... AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER POL POT WAS ALLIED WITH BOTH OF THE PRIME MINISTERS NOW SHARING POWER IN PHNOM PENH, AND ALSO WITH WASHINGTON AND BEIJING. NONE OF HIS FORMER ALLIES HAS AN INTEREST IN HIS SURVIVAL OR IN LETTING HIM HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THE DEMISE OF POL POT IS "SURELY WELCOME NEWS FOR A COUNTRY WHERE MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE DIED UNDER KHMER ROUTE RULE....." BUT CAUTIONS:

VOICE: ".... IT IS TOO SOON TO CELEBRATE. EVEN IF THE REPORTS [ABOUT POL POT] TURN OUT TO BE TRUE, CAMBODIA HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE IT EVEN APPROACHES DEMOCRACY AND A DECENT RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS."

TEXT: IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS BEEN ABSOLVED BY THE ISRAELI SUPREME COURT OF ALL LEGAL PROBLEMS FROM A POTENTIAL SCANDAL THAT SWIRLED AROUND HIM FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. BUT THE SUN IN BALTIMORE IS NOT PLEASED WITH HIS LEADERSHIP.

VOICE: "WHILE MR. NETANUYAHU SHOWS A GIFT FOR PROVOKING CRISES, THE OPPOSITION LABOR PARTY HAS GOTTEN ITS ACT TOGETHER BY CHOOSING EHUD BARAK AS ITS LEADER. A FORMER WARRIOR AND WOULD-BE PEACE-MAKER IN THE TRADITION OF THE LATE YITZHAK RABIN, MR. BARAK BECOMES THE ALTERNATIVE TO MR. NETANYAHU. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ELECTED BY SUCH A SLIM VOTE, HE NEEDED TO FORGE POLICIES COMMANDING GREATER SUPPORT THAN HE DOES. HE IS MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION."

TEXT: AND OFF SHORE IN THAT REGION, THE WASHINGTON POST TALKS ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE ON CYPRUS NOW THAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE OF BOSNIAN FAME HAS BEEN DRAFTED A PEACEMAKER BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.

VOICE: "WHY WOULD THE UNITED STATES WANT TO INCREASE ITS POLITICAL INVESTMENT IN THIS UNPROMISING AND MUCH WORKED-OVER MEDITERRANEAN ISSUE? HISTORICALLY, THE PARTIES HAVE OFTEN SEEMED LESS CONCERNED WITH RECONCILIATION THAN ARE THE ANXIOUS OUTSIDERS. THE OFFICIAL ANSWER IS NOW, AS IT LONG HAS BEEN, THAT AN EFFORT IS JUSTIFIED BY THE DANGER OF A SPILLOVER WAR BETWEEN NATO MEMBERS GREECE AND TURKEY ......."

TEXT: TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDDING FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA, BUT SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT AIDING SUCH AN UNPREDICTABLE NATION.

VOICE: "SOME IN SEOUL AND WASHINGTON MAY ASK WHY THE WORLD SHOULD DO ANYTHING TO AID A BENIGHTED AND DANGEROUS GOVERNMENT LIKE NORTH KOREA'S. BUT IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEING AIDED WITH FOOD. IT'S THE NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE - - WHO, DESPITE MORE DECADES OF ENFORCED ISOLATION, MUST SENSE THE FAILINGS OF THE TYRANNY THEY'VE ENDURED. HELPING THEM NOW IS A MATTER OF MORAL IMPERATIVE."

TEXT: FINALLY THESE THOUGHTS FROM THE MONITOR ABOUT THE ANIMAL OFT DESCRIBED AS "MAN'S BEST FRIEND," AND WHICH NEW RESEARCH SHOWS, MAY HAVE BEEN IN THAT ROLE MUCH LONGER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

VOICE: "YOU DON'T HAVE TO PERSUADE US WITH THAT NEW GENETIC EVIDENCE. ANYONE BELOVED BY A DOG KNOWS THE WARMTH AND WISDOM OF THAT RELATIONSHIP MUST DATE BACK TO OUR ANCESTORS, HOMO SPAIENS, MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND YEARS AGO. .... WE WERE GLAD TO SEE LAST WEEK'S REPORT THAT RESEARCHERS, DESPITE SKEPTICISM, HAVE RATIFIED OUR GUT [INTERNAL] INSTINCT ABOUT THE ERA OF FIDO FIDELIS."

TEXT: ON THAT CANINE NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/EH
17-Jun-97 11:27 AM EDT (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TURKEY POLITICS (LONG) BY AL PESSIN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN WEDNESDAY AS PART OF A PLAN TO EASE TENSION BETWEEN HIS ISLAMIST PARTY AND THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY, AND TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOT CONFIRMED IT OFFICIALLY, BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL TO TENDER HIS RESIGNATION. THE CLOSEST MR. ERBAKAN HAS COME TO MENTIONING THE PLAN WAS A COMMENT HE MADE TUESDAY THAT HIS PARTY IS WILLING TO MAKE "SACRIFICES." HE ALSO SAID HE HAS THE VOTES TO PUSH A POWER-TRANSFER AGREEMENT THROUGH PARLIAMENT IF HE WANTS TO.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER IS TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER, AND SHE IS TO ORGANIZE EARLY ELECTIONS, PERHAPS THREE MONTHS FROM NOW. MR. ERBAKAN WOULD BECOME DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.

THE TWO LEADERS OF RIVAL PARTIES HAVE BEEN SHARING POWER FOR THE LAST YEAR, SINCE TURKISH VOTERS GAVE ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE VOTE TO EACH OF THEIR TWO PARTIES, AND ANOTHER 20 PER CENT TO A THIRD PARTY, WITH THE REMAINDER GOING TO SMALLER PARTIES. AFTER MONTHS OF HAGGLING, THEY GREED ON A POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT, BUT UNDER TURKEY'S CONSTITUTION, PRESIDENT DEMIREL COULD BLOCK IT.

PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN HAS BEEN UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM TURKEY'S MILITARY, WHICH SEES ITSELF AS THE GUARDIAN OF TURKEY'S SECULAR SOCIETY. THE ARMY HAS ACCUSED THE RULING WELFARE PARTY OF TRYING TO MAKE TURKISH SOCIETY MORE ISLAMIC.

THERE IS AN EFFORT TO HAVE THE PARTY DECLARED ILLEGAL FOR ITS LINK TO ISLAM, AND TURKEY HAS FACED SERIUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS DURING ITS RULE. STILL, MR. ERBAKAN HAS CHARACTERIZED THIS WEEK'S PLANNED POWER SHIFT AS A "MID-AIR REFUELING," AND HAS PREDICTED HE WILL BE RETURNED TO OFFICE WITH A LARGER PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION THAN HE GOT A YEAR AGO. (SIGNED)
NE/AWP/PT
17-Jun-97 4:51 PM EDT (2051 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S / MACEDONIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE NATO MILITARY FORCES REMAIN IN THE BALKANS REGION BEYOND THE MID-1998 WITHDRAWAL DATE FOR THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE MACEDONIAN LEADER MET AT THE WHITE HOUSE TUESDAY WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE MACEDONIAN LEADER SAY IF NATO PEACEKEEPERS DO LEAVE BOSNIA ON SCHEDULE NEXT YEAR, HIS COUNTRY IS PREPARED TO PLAY HOST TO ALL OR SOME OF AN ALLIED CONTINGENCY FORCE HE BELIEVES SHOULD REMAIN SOMEWHERE IN THE BALKANS.

IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS AFTER A 40-MINUTE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, MR. GLIGOROV EXPRESSED CONCERN FIGHTING COULD RESUME IN BOSNIA AFTER A NATO PULLOUT -- ESPECIALLY, HE SAID, SINCE SINCE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS HAVE NOT BEEN REALIZED, INCLUDING THE RETURN OF REFUGEES.

MR. GLIGOROV, HEARD HERE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, WARNED THAT THE GAINS ALREADY ACHIEVED BY NATO IN RESTORING PEACE TO THE BALKANS COULD BE LOST IF THERE IS A PREMATURE ALLIED DEPARTURE FROM THE REGION:

THE PRESENCE OF THESE FORCES HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO SETTLING THIS ISSUE AND TO ENDING THE SENSELESS WAR THAT WAS LED THERE. IT ENDED THE KILLINGS OF THE PEOPLE. IT ENDED ETHNIC CLEANSING. AND, THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT THEIR REMAINING ON THE BALKANS AND IN THIS REGION, WHERE MACEDONIA IS ALSO LOCATED, WOULD BE VERY POSITIVE. IN THIS SENSE, MACEDONIA IS READY TO ACCEPT A PART OF THEIR PRESENCE OR THE OVERALL PRESENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.

ABOUT ONEP-THOUSAND U-N PEACEKEEPERS -- HALF OF THEM AMERICAN TROOPS -- HAVE BEEN POSTED IN MACEDONIA SINCE 1992 TO PREVENT THE SPILLOVER OF BALKANS FIGHTING TO THAT COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT GLIGOROV SAID IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MANDATE OF THE U-N FORCE BE EXTENDED BEYOND ITS CURRENT EXPIRATION DATE IN NOVEMBER.

BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, HE SAID, WOULD BE THE INFUSION OF U-S AND OTHER WESTERN INVESTMENT IN MACEDONIA, WHICH IS RECOVERING FROM THE CRIPPLING EFFECTS OF A DISPUTE WITH GREECE AND U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

GREECE CLAMPED AN ECONOMIC BLOCKADE AGAINST ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOR IN 1993 TO PRESS ITS DISPUTE WITH MACEDONIA OVER ITS FLAG AND OTHER NATIONAL SYMBOLS ATHENS SAID IMPLIED TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OVER ITS NORTHERN REGION, ALSO NAMED MACEDONIA.

BUT THE SKOPJE GOVERNMENT LATER AGREED TO CHANGE THE FLAG AND TAKE OTHER STEPS TO EASE THE CRISIS. AND IN HIS COMMENTS HERE, MR. GLIGOROV PRAISED WHAT HE SAID HAS BEEN THE POSITIVE ROLE OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS IN IMPROVING BILATERAL RELATIONS.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY ALSO WELCOMED THE IMPROVEMENT IN GREEK-MACEDONIAN TIES AND HAILED WHAT HE CALLED THE ENORMOUS COURAGE OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV IN HIS RECOVERY FROM THE SEVERE WOUNDS OF A 1995 ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AND HIS EFFORTS FOR BALKANS STABILITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RRM
17-Jun-97 12:33 PM EDT (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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