Voice of America, 97-07-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALIYEV / WASHINGTON (L-ONLY) BY JOAN BEECHER (WASHINGTON)

[02] BULGARIA / SECRET FILES (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[03] CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CASPIAN BY FRANK RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

[04] E-U/U-S TRADE TIES (L ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[06] ITALY/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

[08] TURKMENISTAN / AZERBAIJAN OIL DISPUTE BY HASAN JAVADI (WASHINGTON)

[09] U-S/ AZERBAIJAN (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[10] U-S/BALKANS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[11] U-S / BALKANS (L) BY ERIN BRUMMETT (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[12] WAR CRIMES HEARING (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[13] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ALIYEV / WASHINGTON (L-ONLY) BY JOAN BEECHER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT GEIDAR ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN -- MAKING HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES -- SPOKE AT WASHINGTON'S GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY. IN HIS SPEECH, PRESIDENT ALIYEV FOCUSED ON AZERBAIJAN'S CONFLICT WITH ARMENIA OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH, THE LARGELY ARMENIAN REGION WITHIN AZERBAIJAN THAT HAS DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JOAN BEECHER REPORTS.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH A CEASE-FIRE HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR THREE YEARS, 20 PERCENT OF AZERBAIJAN'S TERRITORY -- NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND SEVEN OTHER ADJACENT PROVINCES -- REMAINS UNDER ARMENIAN CONTROL. //OPT// PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAID THAT THIS UNRESOLVED CONFLICT IS HINDERING AZERBAIJAN'S EFFORTS TO BUILD A DEMOCRATIC, LAW-BASED STATE AND A MODERN MARKET ECONOMY. //END OPT//

BUT PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAID HE HOPES A RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT MAY BE FOUND THIS YEAR, NOW THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED RUSSIA AND FRANCE IN CO-CHAIRING THE MINSK CONFERENCE, THE GROUP SET UP TO MEDIATE THE CONFLICT BY THE O-S-C-E, THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

THE CO-CHAIRS HAVE ALREADY COME UP WITH NEW PEACE PROPOSALS.

THE NEW PROPOSALS CALL FOR THE PROVISION OF MAXIMUM AUTONOMY TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH -- WITHIN AZERBAIJAN, AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN TROOPS FROM THE OCCUPIED AREAS, AND THE INTRODUCTRION OF INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS THERE. SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAID HE WAS READY AND WILLING TO GRANT MAXIMUM AUTONOMY.

UNFORTUNATELY, ARMENIA DOES NOT AGREE TO THAT. THEY ARE CONTINUING TO CLAIM [DEMAND] INDEPENDENCE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH. BUT WE CAN NEVER AGREE TO THAT. WE CAN NEVER AGREE TO CREATE A SECOND ARMENIAN STATE ON AZERBAIJANI TERRITORY. NEITHER US [WE] OR THE WORLD COMMUNITY CAN AGREE TO THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, PRESIDENT ALIYEV INDICATED HIS UNHAPPINESS WITH AN AMERICAN LAW HE SAYS IS UNJUST TO AZERBAIJAN. THIS IS SECTION 907 OF THE 1992 FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT, WHICH BANS DIRECT AID TO THE GOVERNMENT OF AZERBAIJAN AS LONG AS IT CONTINUES ITS BLOCADE OF ARMENIA. //OPT// PRESIDENT ALIYEV CONTENDS THAT ARMENIA IS NOW BLOCADING AZERBAIJAN, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

I AM VERY PLEASED THAT RECENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS OF THE U-S ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THEY ARE AGAINST [SECTION] 907, AND I WILL CARRY OUT DISCUSSIONS IN THE U-S CONGRESS TODAY ABOUT THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT THE CONGRESS WILL REPEAL THIS UNJUST DECISION AGAINST AZERBAIJAN.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON THIS FRIDAY, TO DISCUSS THESE AND OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE TWO COUNTRIES. HE IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO SIGN A SERIES OF NEW CONTRACTS WITH AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING AZERBAIJAN'S CASPIAN SEA OIL RESERVES. THE OVERALL GOAL OF HIS VISIT, PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAID, IS TO RAISE U-S AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS TO WHAT HE CALLED "A NEW LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP." [SIGNED]
NEB/JB/RRM
30-Jul-97 5:55 PM EDT (2155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BULGARIA / SECRET FILES (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: BULGARIA HAS MOVED ONE MORE STEP AWAY FROM ITS COMMUNIST PAST AS THE PARLIAMENT PASSED A LAW OPENING UP OLD SECRET POLICE FILES OF TOP OFFICIALS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR CENTRAL EUROPE BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE RULING UNION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES HAD MADE OPENING THE FILES A KEY PROMISE IN ITS ELECTION CAMPAIGN THREE MONTHS AGO.

THE REFORMIST GOVERNMENT SAYS MAKING THE FILES PUBLIC WILL PREVENT ATTEMPTS TO BLACKMAIL OFFICIALS ABOUT THEIR POSSIBLE PAST COLLABORATION WITH SECURITY FORCES.

BUT OPPOSITION POLITICIANS SAY THE MEASURE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WILL UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY. DEPUTIES FROM THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF FORMER COMMUNISTS WALKED OUT OF PARLIAMENT TO PROTEST THE BILL.

THE NEW LAW WILL ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO FILES OF SENIOR OFFICIALS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS.

ELSEWHERE IN FORMERLY COMMUNIST EUROPE, DISCLOSURE OF SECRET POLICE FILES HAVE EMBARRASSED MANY WHO COLLABORATED WITH SECURITY AUTHORITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/KL
30-Jul-97 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CASPIAN BY FRANK RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID THAT IT DOES NOT OPPOSE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPELINE ACROSS IRAN, EVEN THOUGH IT CONTINUES TO ACCUSE THE REGIME THERE OF EXPORTING TERRORISM. ROBERT EBEL, DIECTOR FOR ENERGY AND SECURITY AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN WASHINGTON, SAYS THAT THIS COULD BE POLITICALLY, AS WELL AS ECONOMICALLY, SIGNIFICANT.

ARE WE SENDING A SIGNAL TO IRAN? DOES THIS PROVIDE IRAN AN OPENING? CAN WE GET INTO A DIALOG WHICH HOPEFULLY WOULD LEAD TO BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES? IS IT AN INDICATION THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF TURKEY? TURKEY VERY MUCH NEEDS ADDITIONAL NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES TO MEET THEIR GROWING ENERGY REQUIRMENTS. TURKEY IS A VALUED NATO PARTNER. OR IS IT AN EFFORT BY THE UNITED STATES TO DO SOMETHING FOR TURKMENISTAN? TURKMENISTAN IS SITTING ON WORLD CLASS NATURAL GAS RESERVES, BUT IT HAS NO WAY TO GET THESE RESERVES TO MARKET. PERHAPS ALL THREE PURPOSES ARE BEING SERVED.

MR. EBEL POINTS OUT THAT THE RECENT ELECTION OF MOHAMMED KHATAMI, CONSIDERED A RELATIVE MODERATE, TO BE IRAN'S NEW PRESIDENT, WAS DESCRIBED BY UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AS A "POSITIVE AND POSSIBLY HOPEFUL SIGN."

FREDERICK STARR, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, IS ALSO ENCOURAGED THAT CHINA HAS INVESTED 3 BILLION DOLLARS INTO KAZAKHSTAN'S AKTYUBINSK OIL FIELD, AND IS NEGOTIATING WITH JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPELINE THAT WOULD CARRY THE OIL INTO ITS NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE OF XINJIANG.

UP TO NOW, THE CONVERSATION HAS FOCUSED ON EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN BUYERS, BUT THE RECENT SHIFT WITH CHINA ENTERING THE PICTURE IS, I THINK, A SIGN OF THE TIMES. IN TERMS OF POLITICS, IT'S VERY GOOD NEWS FOR CENTRAL ASIA, BECAUSE JUST AS THEY WANT TO DIVERSIFY THE NUMBER OF CHANNELS FOR SHIPPING THE OIL OUT, THEY ALSO WANT TO DIVERSIFY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COOPERATING WITH THEM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESOURCES. SO WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS A SITUATION IN WHICH THE CENTRAL ASIAN AND STATES OF THE CASPIAN BASIN HAVE MORE OPTIONS. IT GIVES THEM GREATER CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN FATE.

THE AKTYUBINSK OIL FIELD IS NOT NEARLY SO LARGE AS THE TENGHIZ FIELD AT THE NORTHEAST TIP OF THE CASPIAN SEA. SO FAR, IT APPEARS THAT OIL WILL BE CARRIED FROM TENGHIZ TO THE RUSSIAN PORT OF NOVOROSSISK, ON THE BLACK SEA, ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THAT TENGHIZ OIL MAY EVENTUALLY GO ACROSS THE CASPIAN TO BAKU, THE CAPITAL OF AZERBAIJAN. SOME OF THE GREAT OIL RESERVES OFF THE SHORES OF AZERBAIJAN MAY ALSO GO NORTH THROUGH CHECHNYA TO NOVOROSSISK, BUT MOST OF IT IS EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH GEORGIA, TO THE PORT OF SUPSA, ALSO ON THE BLACK SEA, AND THEN ON TO A TURKISH PIPELINE THAT WOULD CARRY IT TO CEYHAN (CHAY'-HAN) ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. ROBERT EBEL SAYS THAT RUSSIA HAS EXPLOITED CONFLICTS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA, AND ALSO WITHIN GEORGIA ITSELF, TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINES WHICH IT DOES NOT CONTROL.

OVERTLY, RUSSIA IS NOT TRYING TO SUBVERT THESE PIPELINES. COVERTLY MAY BE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MATTER. I WOULD PRESUME THAT RUSSIA WILL SEE IT IN ITS INTEREST TO KEEP THE POT BOILING BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN AND TO KEEP THE POT BOILING INSIDE GEORGIA. RUSSIA HAS COME OUT PRETTY MUCH A WINNER IN EVERYTHING IT HAS TRIED TO DO IN THE CASPIAN AND IN AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN. NONE OF THESE PROJECTS REALLY WERE MOVING FORWARD UNTIL RUSSIA WAS GIVEN A PIECE OF THE ACTION. ONCE THAT HAPPENED, THEN POSITIVE THINGS BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE.

EVEN THOUGH RUSSIA HAS BEEN GIVEN A PIECE OF THE ACTION, FREDERICK STARR SAYS THAT VAST CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE REGION SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION.

THE BORDER TO THE SOUTH WAS ONE OF THE MOST TIGHTLY CLOSED BORDERS IN THE WORLD. EVERY DAY THE OLD SOVIET BORDER BECOMES LESS AND LESS IMPORTANT AS TRADITIONAL RELATIONS AND LINKS REOPEN. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS, FIRST, A PLURALIZATION OF THE CHANNELS OF EXPORT AND OF OWNERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES. THIS DOES STRENGTHEN SOVEREIGNTIES IN CENTRAL ASIA. WHAT IS ALSO HAPPENING THROUGH ALL THIS IS THE FURTHER DECAY OF THE OLD SOVIET STATE SYSTEM AND THE EMERGENCE OF HISTORICAL RELATIONS THAT GO ACROSS THE BORDERS BOTH TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE EAST, AND TO THE WEST.

EVENTUALLY, MESSERS STARR AND EBEL AGREE, THE GREAT ENERGY RESOURCES OF CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CASPIAN BASIN WILL FIND THEIR WAY TO WORLD MARKETS, CHANGING THE GEOPOLITICAL MAP OF THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/FR/KL
30-Jul-97 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] E-U/U-S TRADE TIES (L ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS DESPITE IMPROVING OVERALL TRADE TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES REMAIN INCLUDING THE IMPOSITION OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS ON NON-AMERICAN FIRMS. VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS BRUSSELS IS ALSO CONCERNED BY A GROWING TREND AMONG LOCAL AND STATE U-S GOVERNMENTS TO USE TRADE SANCTIONS THAT ARE VIEWED AS UNFAIR TO EUROPEAN COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES:

TEXT: IN ITS 13TH ANNUAL REPORT ON BARRIERS TO TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE E-U, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, SAYS THE TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP HAS GROWN STRONGER. IT CITES THE 1995 NEW TRANSATLANTIC AGENDA, OR N-T-A, AS A POWERFUL DRIVING FORCE FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION.

OF CONCERN TO THE EUROPEANS IS THE TREND IN U-S TRADE POLICY TOWARD EXTRATERRITORIALITY -- THE IMPOSITION OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS ON NON-AMERICAN FIRMS. THE BIGGEST EXAMPLE IS THE SO-CALLED "HELMS-BURTON" ACT ALLOWING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO SUE FOREIGN FIRMS USING THEIR CONFISCATED PROPERTY IN CUBA.

E-U SPOKESWOMAN ELLA KRUKOFF IN WASHINGTON SAYS BRUSSELS HAS BEEN VOCIFEROUS IN ITS OPPOSITION OF SUCH LAWS:

IT MEANS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT IN THE CASE OF TWO BRITISH CITIZENS WHO WORK FOR CANADIAN COMPANIES WHICH HAPPEN TO DO SOME BUSINESS WITH CUBA THEY CANNOT ENTER THE UNITED STATES. THE U-S LAW HAS HAD AN EXTRATERRITORIAL REACH BEYOND THE UNITED STATES.

OF EQUAL CONCERN, SHE SAYS, IS THE TREND BY SEVERAL U-S STATES TO IMPOSE THEIR POLITICAL GOALS ON NON-AMERICAN COMPANIES. SHE CITES A NEW LAW BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS RESTRICTING FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN BURMA OVER THE ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS:

WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. WE DON'T FEEL THAT THE WAY TO ADDRESS IT IS TO BREAK INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS AND, IN THIS CASE, AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT THAT'S BEING BROKEN. WE WOULD PREFER TO TAKE MULTI-LATERAL ACTIONS AGAINST BURMA.

SHE SAYS THAT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WAS SIGNED BY 39 U-S STATES INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT, NICHOLAS ROSTOW, SAYS THE LAW REQUIRES ANY FIRM DOING BUSINESS WITH BURMA TO ADD 10-PERCENT TO ITS BID FOR ANY STATE CONTRACT:

THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE IS OF THE VIEW THAT THIS IS A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MEASURE WHICH AFFECTS ANY AND ALL COMPANIES AND IS WITHIN ITS POWER UNDER THE U-S CONSTITUTION AND ALSO IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT.

THAT LEGISLATION, BACKED BY THE U-S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE W-T-O FOLLOWING AN E-U COMPLAINT LODGED IN JUNE. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAYS OTHER STATES MAY BE CONSIDERING SIMILAR LEGISLATION AS IT RELATES TO SANCTIONS AGAINST SWITZERLAND FOR RECEIVING GOLD LOOTED BY NAZI GERMANY IN WORLD WAR TWO FROM THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/LWM
29-Jul-97 8:04 PM EDT (0004 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS -- SETTING NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGHS IN FRANKFURT AND PARIS.

THE BIGGEST GAIN WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 46 POINTS AT THREE-THOUSAND-69 -- A NEW HIGH -- A GAIN OF ABOUT ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 40 POINTS TO END THE FLOOR TRADING DAY AT A NEW HIGH OF FOUR-THOUSAND-421 -- A GAIN OF ABOUT NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 50 POINTS, ABOUT ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/RRM
30-Jul-97 1:21 PM EDT (1721 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ITALY/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: PRIME MINISTERS FROM ITALY AND ALBANIA ARE MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN ROME FOR TALKS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE SECURITY AND ECONOMIC ISSUES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI WELCOMES HIS ALBANIAN COUNTERPART, FATOS NANO, JUST ONE WEEK AFTER ALBANIA'S NEW SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT TOOK OFFICE.

MUCH OF THE COUNTRY REMAINS OUTSIDE TIRANA'S CONTROL, AND ALBANIA'S NEW PRESIDENT, REXHEP MEJDANI, HAS PROMISED TO RESTORE ORDER WITHOUT THE HELP OF INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS. AN ITALIAN-LED SECURITY FORCE IS SCHEDULED TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ENTIRELY ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT ALSO FACES CRUSHING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. ALBANIA IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN EUROPE, AND PRIME MINISTER NANO, WHO IS AN ECONOMIST, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INCREASE THE COUNTRY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/KL
30-Jul-97 7:32 AM EDT (1132 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 TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSING AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE SIXTH TIME IN THE LAST SEVEN SESSIONS. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS UP 80 POINTS -- ALMOST ONE PERCENT -- CLOSING AT 82 HUNDRED 54, AN ALL-TIME HIGH. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED UP 10 POINTS AT 952, ALSO A RECORD HIGH.

ANALYSTS SAY STOCKS FOLLOWED THE BOND MARKET WHERE CONTINUED OPTIMISM ABOUT LOW INFLATION IN THE UNITED STATES PUSHED BOND PRICES UP. THE RISING PRICES FORCED THE YIELD ON THE BENCHMARK 30-YEAR U-S GOVERNMENT BOND DOWN TO SIX POINT 32 PERCENT, THE LOWEST LEVEL IN 16 MONTHS.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED NEW HOMES SALES IN THE UNITED STATES JUMPED SIX PERCENT IN JUNE, REFLECTING BOTH CONTINUED LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES AND HIGH CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

THREE EXECUTIVES AT THE LARGEST FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL CHAIN IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF FRAUD. THE THREE MANAGERS OF THE COLUMBIA/H-C-A COMPANY WERE INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY FOR ALLEGEDLY FALSIFYING INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO MEDICARE, THE GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY. COLUMBIA/H-C-A REPORTED A 13 PERCENT INCREASE IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS, IN LINE WITH WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. BUT, THE FRAUD INVESTIGATION HAS MADE MANY WALL STREET TRADERS NERVOUS -- AND THE VALUE OF THE COMPANY'S STOCK CONTINUED TO FALL.

A LENGTHY MANAGEMENT SQUABBLE BETWEEN OFFICIALS AT NORTHWEST AIRLINES OF THE UNITED STATES AND K-L-M AIRLINES OF THE NETHERLANDS IS OVER. K-L-M HAS AGREED TO SELL ITS 19 PERCENT OWNERSHIP OF NORTHWEST BACK TO THE U-S COMPANY. HOWEVER, THE TWO COMPANIES SAY THEY WILL EXPAND THEIR STRATEGIC MARKETING ALLIANCE.

B-A-T INDUSTRIES, THE HUGE BRITISH-BASED TOBACCO AND INSURANCE COMPANY, SURPRISED ANALYSTS BY ANNOUNCING THAT IT WILL NOT RAISE ITS QUARTERLY STOCK DIVIDEND PAYMENT. B-A-T SAYS THE DIVIDEND WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY AS TO HOW MUCH THE COMPANY MAY HAVE TO PAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TOBACCO SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
30-Jul-97 5:32 PM EDT (2132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TURKMENISTAN / AZERBAIJAN OIL DISPUTE BY HASAN JAVADI (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY RUSSA AND AZERBAIJAN TO EXTRACT OIL FROM THE CASPIAN SEA HAS AROUSED STRONG OPPOSITION FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY BORDERING THE CASPIAN, TURKMENISTAN. VOA'S HASAN JAVADI HAS PREPARED THIS REPORT ON THE LATEST DISPUTE OVER RIGHTS TO EXPLOIT THE RESOURCES OF THE CASPIAN SEA.

TEXT: DURING THE SOVIET ERA, THE RICH OIL FIELDS OF THE CASPIAN SEA HAD MOSTLY RUSSIAN NAMES AND WERE UNDER RUSSIAN CONTROL. THE DIFFERENT COASTAL REPUBLICS DIDN'T DISPUTE THE RIGHTS TO THEM. BUT WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION, THE DISPUTES STARTED. THE LATEST CONTROVERSY CONCERNS PLANS TO DEVELOP THE KYAPAZ FIELD OFF THE COAST OF AZERBAIJAN. TWO RUSSIAN COMPANIES, LUKOIL AND ROSSNEFT, ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEAL, AND THE AMERICAN COMPANY UNOCAL ALSO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE. TURKMENISTAN CLAIMS OWNERSHIP OF THE FIELD AND SAYS THE DEAL IS ILLEGAL.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT AZERBAIJAN HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR DEALS IT HAS MADE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CASPIAN OIL. IN SEPTEMBER 1994, WHEN AZERBAIJAN SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH A CONSORTIUM OF WESTERN OIL COMPANIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THREE OFFSHORE OIL FIELDS IN THE CASPIAN SEA -- THE CHIRAG, AZERI, AND GUNESHLI. THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENOUNCED THE AGREEMENT AND QUESTIONED WHETHER AZERBAIJAN HAD THE RIGHT TO SIGN IT IN THE ABSENCE OF AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEGAL RULING ON THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CASPIAN FIELDS. TURKMENISTAN AND IRAN SIDED RUSSIA.

ALTHOUGH TURKMENISTAN CALLED FOR RESTRAINT IN PROCEEDING WITH EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE FIELDS, THE DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING PLACE. LATER THIS YEAR THE EARLY OIL (FIRST OIL) WILL START BEING PUMPED FROM THE FIELDS.

IN THE LATEST DISPUTE, OVER THE KAYPAZ FIELD, TURKMENISTAN HAS TAKEN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST AZERBAIJAN. EARLIER THIS MONTH (JULY 4), TURKMENISTAN HIRED A WASHINGTON-BASED LAW FIRM (HOGAN AND HARTSON) TO PURSUE ITS CLAIMS AGAINST AZERBAIJAN OVER THE EXPLOITATION OF THE KYAPAZ FIELD.

AT THE CENTER OF THE DISPUTE IS THE STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA. IRAN, RUSSIA AND TURKMENISTAN SAY THE CASPIAN SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A LAKE; SUCH A CLASSIFICATION WOULD MEAN THAT ALL COUNTRIES BORDERING THE CASPIAN WOULD HAVE TO SHARE ITS RESOURCES. BUT IF IT CLASSIFIED AS A SEA, AS AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN WANT, EACH STATE BORDERING THE CASPIAN WOULD HAVE EXCLUSIVE COASTAL ZONES.

LAST NOVEMBER, AT AN OIL CONFERENCE IN ASHKABABD, RUSSIA PROPOSED THAT THE LITTORAL STATES CLAIM TO A POINT IN THE CASPIAN SEA AND THE MIDDLE SECTION WOULD BE SHARED COLLECTIVELY. EVEN KAZAKHSTAN WENT ALONG WITH THIS PROPOSAL. BUT THE DECISION HAD TO BE UNANIMOUS, AND AZERBAIJAN DID NOT AGREE TO IT. THE FIELDS, ROUGHLY IN THE CENTER OF THE CASPIAN, ARE MOSTLY UNDER AZERI CONTROL.

AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT HAS NO OBJECTION IF TURKMENISTAN PARTICIPATES IN EXPLOITATION OF KYAPAZ OIL FIELD. BUT TURKMEN AUTHORITIES HAVE SO FAR REJECTED THIS OFFER, SAYING THEY WANT TO ESTABLISH THEIR CLAIM AND CLARIFY THE DIVISIONS AT THE CASPIAN SEA.

AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT, HAYDER ALIEV, IS NOW IN WASHINGTON TO TALK WITH U-S OFFICALS. ON THE EVE OF HIS STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, HE DISCUSSED HIS COUNTRY'S POSITION REGARDING THE CASPIAN AND THE RECENT AGREEMENTS. HE MADE CLEAR THAT THE KYAPAZ DEAL HAS THE SUPPORT OF RUSSIA:

IN OUR TRIP TO MOSCOW, AT THE SUGGESTION OF RUSSIA, WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH TWO RUSSIAN COMPANIES FOR KYAPAZ OIL FIELD AND THIS HAS ANGERED TURKMENISTAN. IT IS TRUE THAT THIS FIELD IS ON THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND TURKMENISTAN AND IT USED TO BE CALLED 'MIDDLE FIELD'. THIS HAS NOT BEEN BY OUR INITIATIVE. BOTH LUKOIL AND ROSSNEFT ARE INTERESTED IN THIS FIELD AND WILL SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH TURKMENISTAN, SO THERE IS NO NEED FOR TURKMEN AUTHORITIES TO BE UPSET.

THE RUSSIANS, FOR THEIR PART, HAVE TRIED TO PLAY DOWN THE CLAIMS OF TURKMENISTAN. RUSSIAN ENERGY MINISTER SERGY KIRIYENKO HAS EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA AND TURKMENISTAN WILL ACHIEVE A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING ON THE CASPIAN OIL AND GAS FIELDS. A RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL HAS DESCRIBED THE KYAPAZ AGREEMENT AS PURELY COMMERCIAL, A DEAL CONCLUDED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES OF RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN. HE ADDED THAT "PRIVATE RUSSIAN COMPANIES ENJOY CONSIDERABLE FREEDOM OF ACTION, WHICH DOES NOT ALWAYS COINCIDE WITH MOSCOW'S OFFICIAL POSITION.

DAVID NISSMAN, AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, SAYS RUSSIA HAS BEEN VERY FLEXIBLE IN ITS POSITION REGARDING THE CASPIAN:

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, ON ONE HAND MAINTAINED THAT THE CASPIAN IS A LAKE THEREBY IT HAS TO BE REDIVIDED; ON THE OTHER HAND, IT HAS MADE NO STEPS WHATSOEVER TO INTERFERE IN THE COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS MADE BETWEEN RUSSIAN COMPANIES AND THOSE COMPANIES, LET US SAY SOCAR (STATE OIL COMPANY OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC) OR KAZAKH OIL. RUSSIAN COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS POLICY ACCEPTS THE STATUS QUO, THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE CASPIAN, WHEREBY IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL BODY OF WATER, THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT THE QUESTION HAS YET TO BE CLARIFIED.

WHEN IT COMES TO OIL AND GAS DEPOSITS IN THE REGION, TURKMENISTAN HAS THE MOST AFTER KAZAKHSTAN, BUT IT HAS NOT DEVELOPED THEM LIKE AZERBAIJAN, WHICH TAKES THE THIRD PLACE AMONGST THE OIL RICH CASPIAN STATES.

TURKMENISTAN HAS RECENTLY STEPPED UP ITS EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE WESTERN COMPANIES TO EXPLOIT ITS GAS AND OIL RESOURCES, BUT MR. NISSMAN SAYS TURKMENISTAN'S ECONOMY IS NOT AS ADVANCED AS ITS NEIGHBORS:

SOMETHING HAS TO BE BORNE IN MIND, WHEREAS AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN HAVE BEEN MAKING AN EFFORT TO BRING THEIR ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UP TO FREE MARKET STANDARDS AND THIS INCLUDES VERY MUCH THE OIL BUSINESS, TURKMENISTAN HAS NOT DONE THIS. TURKMENISTAN, IN TERMS OF ACQUIRING FOREIGN INVESTMENT, HAS BEEN LAGGING BEHIND THE OTHER COUNTRIES, BECAUSE THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE ECONOMIC BASIS, OR EVEN ECONOMIC STABILITY TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER THREE COUNTRIES INVOLVED.

TURKMENISTAN HAS WARNED IT WILL NOT BACK DOWN IN OPPOSING THE CASPIAN OIL DEAL SIGNED BY RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN. ON MONDAY TURKMEN PRESIDENT SAPAMURAT NIYAZOV MET (IN ASHGABAT) WITH A RUSSIAN DELEGATION HEADED BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VALERY SEROV TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE KYAPZ OIL FIELD. (SIGNED)
NEB/HJ/KL
30-Jul-97 12:51 PM EDT (1651 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S/ AZERBAIJAN (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT GEIDAR ALIYEV SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL THE U-S CONGRESS WILL RESTORE HIS COUNTRY'S FOREIGN AID, WHICH IT CUT OFF FIVE YEARS AGO. DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: CLEARING THE WAY FOR AID AND INVESTMENT IS A TOP PRIORITY OF MR. ALIYEV'S FIRST WASHINGTON VISIT. CONGRESS OUTLAWED U-S ASSISTANCE IN 1992 IN REACTION TO AZERBAIJAN'S WARTIME BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE AND SOME LAWMAKERS NOW FAVOR LIFTING THE BAN, KNOWN AS SECTION 907. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE HAS HOPE FOR A CHANGE.

DURING MY MEETINGS BOTH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND IN THE SENATE I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOW, THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE INJUSTICE OF THIS 907 AND THERE IS A TENDENCY TO REPEAL 907.

THE VISIT COMES AT A TIME OF HEIGHTENED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTEREST IN AZERBAIJAN. AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE ANXIOUS TO TAP THE COUNTRY'S VAST OIL FIELDS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SEEKING TO COUNTER IRAN'S INFLUENCE IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/LWM
30-Jul-97 6:11 PM EDT (2211 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S/BALKANS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING RICHARD HOLBROOKE, A KEY FIGURE IN NEGOTIATING THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD, BACK TO THE BALKANS TO PRESS THE PARTIES TO FULLY CARRY OUT TERMS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE DECISION TO AGAIN BRING MR. HOLBROOKE BACK TO BALKANS DIPLOMACY IS A REFLECTION OF NEW ADMINISTRATION CONCERN ABOUT LAGGING COMPLIANCE WITH CIVILIAN ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS.

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY MR. HOLBROOKE, WHO LEFT THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR TO BECOME AN INVESTMENT BANKER, WILL JOIN U-S BOSNIA ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD ON THE MISSION TO THE REGION NEXT WEEK.

THE TWO DIPLOMATS WILL MEET SENIOR LEADERS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA TO PRESS FOR ACTION TO MAKE THE MULTI-ETHNIC FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN BOSNIA VIABLE, AND TO FULFILL COMMITTMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND THE HANDOVER OF INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

MR. HOLBROOKE HAS BEEN TAPPED TWICE BEFORE FOR BOSNIA-RELATED MISSIONS SINCE LEAVING THE STATE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS NAMED ONLY LAST MONTH AS A SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY ON CYPRUS. THE ADMINISTRATION IS HOPING BOTH POLITICAL AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IN BOSNIA CAN BE STABILIZED BY NEXT JUNE WHEN NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING TROOPS ARE TO WITHDRAW. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/EH/RRM
30-Jul-97 12:25 PM EDT (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] U-S / BALKANS (L) BY ERIN BRUMMETT (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: DAYTON PEACE NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS RETURNING TO THE BALKANS NEXT WEEK ON A MISSION AIMED AT GETTING THE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT TO FULLY COMPLY WITH ITS TERMS. MORE FROM ERIN BRUMMETT AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE -- KNOWN FOR A TENACIOUS NEGOTIATING STYLE THAT LED TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS -- IS JOINING U-S BOSNIA ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD ON NEXT WEEK'S TRIP TO BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY TELLS WHO THE U-S MISSION WILL SEE.

THEY PLAN TO MEET WITH KEY BALKAN LEADERS -- ALL PARTIES TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS -- TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE U-S EXPECTS TO SEE CONCRETE ACTION ON IMPLEMENTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

MR. FOLEY SAYS THE AIM IS TO SEND A VERY STRONG SIGNAL TO THE PARTIES INVOLVED OF THE VERY STRONG U-S EXPECTATION THAT THEY (THE PARTIES), AS HE PUTS IT, "GET WITH IT" ON DAYTON IMPLEMENTATION.

THE MISSION COMES AMID CONCERN IN WASHINGTON AND IN NATO THAT THE AGREEMENT HAS FAILED AND THAT NATO FORCES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE WITHDRAWN AS SCHEDULED NEXT JUNE.

NATO HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY CALLING FOR RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES, DELIVERY OF INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS TO THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL AND FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC.

MR. FOLEY SAYS APPREHENSION OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS IS A PRIORITY OF THE HOLBROOKE / GELBARD MISSION.

IN THE OVERALL ORBIT OF DAYTON ACCORDS IMPLEMENTATION AND PROVISIONS, IT (WAR CRIMINAL APPREHENSION) IS FRONT AND CENTER OBVIOUSLY ON THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PARTIES, NOW AND FOR THE REST OF THE S-FOR (STABILIZATION FORCE) MISSION. BUT WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES. REFUGEE RETURN IS VERY IMPORTANT ALSO.

MR. FOLEY SAYS THE DECISION FOR MR. HOLBROOKE TO GO TO THE BALKANS AT THIS STAGE IS VERY POSITIVE AND HE RECOGNIZED THE NEGOTIATOR'S RECORD OF SUCCESS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME MR. HOLBROOKE HAS BEEN PRESSED INTO DUTY ON BOSNIA-RELATED MISSIONS.

U-S OFFICIALS HOPE MR. HOLBROOKE, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE PARTIES TO AGREE TO THE DAYTON ACCORD, WILL BE EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THEM TO COMPLY WITH IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/EKB/KL
30-Jul-97 4:05 PM EDT (2005 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] WAR CRIMES HEARING (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: A BOSNIAN SERB MAN HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO GENOCIDE CHARGES AT THE UNITED NATIONS' WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. AS GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, THE MAN, MILAN KOVACEVIC, WAS ARRESTED BY NATO TROOPS EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE NORTHWESTERN BOSNIAN TOWN OF PRIJEDOR.

TEXT: FIFTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MILAN KOVACEVIC'S APPEARANCE IN COURT HAD BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. HIS LAWYER SAYS HE HAS HAD TWO STROKES SINCE HE ARRIVED IN THE HAGUE. ALTHOUGH HE DID MOVE SLOWLY AS HE WAS LED INTO COURT BY U-N GUARDS, THERE WAS LITTLE OTHER VISIBLE SIGN OF A HEALTH PROBLEM.

THE FORMER PRIJEDOR HOSPITAL DIRECTOR STANDS ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN GENOCIDE. THE INDICTMENT AGAINST HIM SAYS HE TOOK PART IN THE PLANING AND SETTING UP OF PRISON CAMPS IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA, SUCH AS OMARSKA, KERATERM AND TRNOPOLJE.

PROSECUTORS SAID CONDITIONS THERE WERE "ABJECT AND BRUTAL." PRISONERS, THEY SAY, WERE ROUTINELY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, TORTURED, STARVED, AND OTHERWISE ABUSED AND KILLED.

PRESIDING JUDGE NINIAN STEPHEN ASKED MR. KOVACEVIC TO STAND.

JUDGE: ARE YOU NOT READY TO PLEAD TO THAT CHARGE?

KOVACEVIC: ON THE COUNTS OF THE INDICTMENT, I PLEAD NOT GUILTY, AND THANK GOD AND THE JUSTICE OF THIS COURT, I THINK I WILL BE FOUND NOT GUILTY.

MR KOVACEVIC'S BELGRADE-BASED ATTORNEY, IGOR PANTELIC, SAYS HE INTENDS TO FILE A PROTEST QUESTIONING THE LEGALITY OF HIS CLIENT'S ARREST.

BUT CHIEF PROSECUTOR LOUISE ARBOUR DEFENDS THE USE OF SECRET ARREST WARRANTS. SHE SAYS THE PROSECUTION WILL USE ANY MEANS AT ITS DISPOSAL.

IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE ON MY PART TO SIMPLY KEEP ADDING TO A LONG LIST OF PUBLIC INDICTMENTS, WHICH ARE NOT YIELDING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH INDICTMENTS AND ARREST WARRANTS ARE ISSUED, WHICH IS TO BRING THE ACCUSED TO THE TRIBUNAL TO ANSWER THE CHARGES. SO THIS IS, INDEED IN THAT SENSE, A STRATEGY WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE SOMEWHAT MORE PROMISING FOR THE FUTURE, AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, WE WILL FOLLOW IT.

JUSTICE ARBOUR SAYS THERE ARE MORE SECRET INDICTMENTS, BUT REFUSES TO SAY HOW MANY.

THE TRIBUNAL HAS NOW ISSUED 77 PUBLIC INDICTMENTS. TEN PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY. BUT THEIR PRESENCE CREATES ANOTHER DIFFICULTY. THERE ARE PLANS FOR A SECOND COURTROOM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME THE TWO TRIALS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED ON ALTERNATE WEEKS. WITH OTHER BUSINESS -- LIKE WEDNESDAY'S COURT APPEARANCE ALSO BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE SAME COURTROOM, IT COULD BE MANY MONTHS, OR LONGER, BEFORE THOSE IN CUSTODY COME TO TRIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH/RRM
30-Jul-97 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A PAIR OF VERY DISSIMILAR STORIES DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS: THE BUDGET DEAL AND A JUNGLE TRIAL FOR THE FORMER LEADER OF CAMBODIA'S KHMER ROUGE, POL POT.

ONE CAN ALSO FIND COMMENTARIES ON THE NEED FOR POLITICAL REFORM IN KENYA; THE BATTLE SHAPING UP OVER A PROPOSED NEW AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO AND THE UNDERUTILIZED RICHES OF THE CASPIAN SEA REGION.

NOW HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE BUDGET AGREEMENT REACHED YESTERDAY BETWEEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS IS COMING IN FOR MIXED PRAISE AND CRITICISM IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MANY PAPERS. THE COMPLAINT APPEARS TO BE THAT CUTTING TAXES AT THIS TIME, WHILE THE BUDGET DEFICIT REMAINS, ALTHOUGH SMALLER, WAS NOT IN THE LONG-RANGE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY. HERE'S SOME OF WHAT THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION HAS TO SAY:

VOICE: "THE BUDGET AGREEMENT .... IS AN INELEGANT COLLECTION OF TAX BREAKS DESIGNED TO DELIGHT WEALTHY AMERICANS AND POWERFUL VOTING BLOCS. STILL, IT IS A LANDMARK:THE BUDGET WILL ELIMINATE DEFICIT SPENDING AND CUT TAXES. CONSIDERING THAT THE UNITED STATES HASN'T HAD A BALANCED BUDGET IN 28 YEARS OR A TAX CUT IN 16 YEARS, THE BIPARTISAN PACKAGE IS WORTH A ROUND OF POLITE APPLAUSE. ...... [HOWEVER] ....THE IDEA OF LOWERING THE TAX RATE FOR ALL AMERICANS GOT TRAMPLED IN THE RUSH TO CREATE NEW LOOPHOLES FOR SOME."

TEXT: THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, CALLING THE AGREEMENT "LONG OVERDUE," SAYS "ON BALANCE, [IT IS] A GOOD PLAN," [OPT] ADDING:

VOICE: "THE BUDGET AGREEMENT - - WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE APPROVAL BY CONGRESS AT WEEK'S END - - FINALLY WILL SET THE NATION ON THE COURSE TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY."

TEXT: FARTHER SOUTH, THE MIAMI HERALD'S EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS: "CHEER THE TAX CUT .... BUT LAMENT THE DEBT. THERE'S NO REAL WISDOM IN CUTTING TAXES, BUT AT LEAST ALL WILL SHARE IN THE CUTS." THE BOSTON GLOBE, MEANWHILE, CALLS IT "A BUDGET IN DELICATE BALANCE," ADDING:

VOICE: "ON THE WHOLE, THE PACT ..... DESERVES SUPPORT. YET NO ONE SHOULD MISTAKE IT FOR A COHERENT POLICY; IT IS A THOROUGHLY POLITICAL DOCUMENT, COBBLED TOGETHER TO WIN VOTES, AND SOME OF THE TRADE-OFFS ARE APPARENT."

TEXT: UNDER A HEADLINE READING "FUTURE IMPERFECT," NEWSDAY SAYS: "THE FEDERAL TAX PACT FIXES A FEW BAD MISTAKES BUT SETS NEW ONES IN MOTION FOR TOMORROW." AND IN NEBRASKA, THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD CALLS IT A "VICTORY FOR AMERICANS," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE BALANCED BUDGET AGREEMENT AND 91-BILLION DOLLAR NET TAX CUT AGREED TO ON MONDAY NIGHT ARE BENEFICIAL TO AMERICA. ..... THE BALANCED BUDGET PLAN IS A GIANT STEP DOWN THE PATH TO ROLLING BACK ENTITLEMENT SPENDING BY SLASHING 128-BILLION FROM THE FUTURE GROWTH OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. ..... THIS ... WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF THE MOVE TO END THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT, YET IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A COMPASSIONATE GOVERNMENT, [OPT] WITH EXPANDED PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR, THE DISABLED, ELDERLY IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO MOVE FROM WELFARE TO WORK. [END OPT] WE APPLAUD BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF CONGRESS."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES CRITICIZES THE AGREEMENT, AND OFFERS THIS ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN FUTURE YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE BUDGET DEAL:

VOICE: "DISCRETIONARY SPENDING AND WELFARE PROGRAMS WERE ALREADY SLASHED DEEPLY IN THIS AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET STRUGGLES, AND TAX HIKES ARE OFF THE POLITICAL AGENDA OF BOTH PARTIES. THE MOST LIKELY RESULT IS THAT EACH SIDE WILL REALIZE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR ITS PROGRAMS IS TO CUT DEEPLY INTO MIDDLE-CLASS ENTITLEMENTS. THE RIPEST TARGET IS SURE TO BE MEDICARE, WHICH IS BLOATED AND FRAUD-RIDDEN AND CRIES OUT FOR OVERHAUL."

TEXT: THE DAY'S OTHER FAVORITE TOPIC FOR COMMENTARY IS THE TELEVISED TRIAL, DEEP IN A CAMBODIAN JUNGLE, OF POL POT, THE LEGENDARY LEADER OF THE COMMUNIST KHMER ROUGE, WHICH RULED CAMBODIA IN THE 1970'S. THE WASHINGTON POST DEALS WITH IT IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL.

VOICE: "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS, POL POT - - ONE OF THE CENTURY'S MOST EVIL FIGURES - - HAS BEEN SIGHTED BY A WESTERNER AND SHOWN ON AMERICAN TELEVISION. IT IS AS IF HITLER OR STALIN HAD RESURFACED TWO DECADES AFTER THEIR GENOCIDAL CRIMES. POL POT, WHOSE KHMER ROUGE MOVEMENT TURNED CAMBODIA INTO A CONCENTRATION CAMP WHERE A MILLION PEOPLE DIED IN FOUR SHORT YEARS, NOW APPEARS AS A FEEBLE OLD MAN ..... IS IT TRULY A FALL FROM POWER, OR A POL POT RUSE WITHIN CAMBODIA'S TANGLED POLITICS? OUTSIDERS CANNOT BE SURE. WE CAN BE CERTAIN, THOUGH, .... IT IS NOT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL THAT ALONE COULD PROVIDE JUSTICE AND SATISFY HISTORY."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL ALSO, TITLING ITS COMMENTARY, "A TRIAL BUT NO JUSTICE."

VOICE: "THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE TWO-HOUR SHOW TRIAL ..... REMAINS OPEN TO QUESTION. IT HAS BEEN 18 YEARS SINCE POL POT WAS LAST SEEN BY OUTSIDERS. ..... EVEN IF THE LEAD CHARACTER IN THIS DRAMA STAGED IN A JUNGLE CLEARING IS REAL, THERE IS NO CERTAINTY THAT THE EVENT DEPICTED WAS GENUINE.

WHY MOUNT SUCH A SHAM? FOR ONE THING, TO TRY TO CONVINCE CAMBODIANS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE KHMER ROUGE HAS ACTED TO PURIFY ITSELF BY REMOVING THE MAN MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATEST GENOCIDE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. FOR ANOTHER, TO TRY TO FEND OFF PRESSURES TO HAVE POL POT TURNED OVER TO AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL TO FACE CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. ..... ALL THIS SUITS THE PURPOSES OF THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CAMBODIAN OFFICIALS WHO WERE ONCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE KHMER ROUGE REGIME. FOREMOST AMONG THEM IS HUN SEN, WHO SEIZED POWER IN A COUP EARLIER THIS MONTH. HUN SEN IS EAGER TO WIN INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY. THE UNITED STATES HAS LET IT BE KNOWN HE CAN HELP HIS CAUSE BY SEEING TO IT THAT POL POT IS HANDED OVER FOR TRIAL. THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN. POL POT, DISGRACED OR NOT, STILL LIVES, HUN SEN RULES AND THE CRIES FOR JUSTICE THAT COME FROM THE GRAVES OF THE KHMER ROUGE'S VICTIMS SEEM DESTINED TO GO UNANSWERED."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE WARNS READERS NOT TO CONFUSE THE TRIAL WITH NORMAL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.

VOICE: "....THE SHAM TRIAL OF POL POT CANNOT BE MISTAKEN FOR JUSTICE. UNLIKE HIS PEERS IN EVIL - - STALIN, MAO, AND HITLER - - POL POT WAS CAPTURED AND HUMILIATED BY ERSTWHILE COMRADES. THEY BROUGHT HIM DOWN BEFORE HE COULD DO TO THEM WHAT HE HAD DONE TO HIS FORMER DEFENSE CHIEF, SON SEN, WHO WAS REPORTEDLY MURDERED ALONG WITH TEN OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS ON ORDERS FROM POL POT. JUSTICE REQUIRES A TRIAL FOR GENOCIDE BEFORE AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. ..... SAD TO SAY, HOWEVER, THE CONCERNED PARTIES HAVE SHOWN A SHAMEFUL LACK OF ZEAL FOR BRINGING POL POT TO JUSTICE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THIS TOPIC, THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS SHRUGS IN DISGUST:

VOICE: "POL POT, WHO PLANTED CAMBODIA'S 'KILLING FIELDS' WITH AN ESTIMATED TWO MILLION VICTIMS DURING A FOUR-YEAR REIGN OF TERROR, HAS BEEN MADE TO ANSWER FOR HIS CRIMES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VENUE WAS A CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED KHMER ROUGE TRIAL, WHICH LIKELY PRECLUDES HIS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. AND HIS SENTENCE? LIFE UNDER HOUSE ARREST. TALK ABOUT JUNK JUSTICE."

TEXT: BACK AT HOME, THE NEW YORK POST TALKS ABOUT THE TESTIMONY REGARDING CHARLIE TRIE, THE CHINESE-AMERICAN LONGTIME FRIEND OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY AS OUTLINED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

VOICE: "IN MARCH 1996, CHINESE GUNBOATS WERE ENGAGING IN LARGE-SCALE LIVE-FIRE MANEUVERS OFF THE COAST OF TAIWAN, DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE THE ISLAND ON THE EVE OF ITS FIRST FREE ELECTIONS. MANY FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERTS BELIEVED AMERICAN SHOULD SEND A CARRIER BATTLE GROUP DIRECTLY INTO THE STRAITS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND THE MAINLAND TO SIGNAL THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD OPPOSE CHINESE AGGRESSION. CHARLIE TRIE, A LONGTIME FRIEND AND FINANCIAL BACKER OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS. THAT MONTH, [MR.] TRIE - - WHO WAS BANKROLLED [FINANCED] BY FOREIGN INTERESTS GAVE 460-THOUSAND .... TO THE PRESIDENT'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. ..... FOR WHATEVER REASON, [MR.] CLINTON CHOSE TO KEEP AMERICAN WARSHIPS OUT OF THE STRAITS, SHOWING THE FLAG MORE DISCREETLY IN OTHER WATERS NEAR TAIWAN. ALL THE MONEY, BY THE WAY, CAME FROM FOREIGN SOURCES IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WHO SAYS THE SENATE'S CAMPAIGN FINANCE HEARINGS ARE BORING?"

TEXT: AS FOR THE RECENT POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS DEMANDING MORE MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY IN KENYA, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS IT IS "TIME FOR REFORM...."

VOICE: "THE RECENT, [7/26] PEACEFUL ASSEMBLAGE [WHICH FOLLOWED EARLIER RIOTS IN WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE KILLED] WAS TESTAMENT, AT LEAST IN PART, TO WHAT INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE CAN ACHIEVE. TWENTY-ONE COUNTRIES SIGNED A STATEMENT CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT'S EARLIER TACTICS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND THREATENED TO HOLD UP A 36 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN DISBURSEMENT. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE RULING KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION ANNOUNCED IT WOULD SET UP A PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE CONSTITUTION AND REEVALUATE LAWS USED TO STIFLE DEBATE. WHETHER THE OFFER IS GENUINE REMAINS TO BE SEEN. BUT WITH A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS YEAR, MR. MOI SHOULD BE RUNNING SCARED."

TEXT: ON THE BATTLE LOOMING OVER THE CONFIRMATION OF FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD TO BE AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, MAINE'S PORTLAND PRESS HERALD APPLAUDS MR. WELD FOR FORCING PRESIDENT CLINTON TO COME TO HIS DEFENSE BY RESIGNING HIS GOVERNORSHIP TO DO BATTLE WITH THE SENATE.

VOICE: "HOLD ON, SAID SENATOR JESSE HELMS, THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. [SENATOR] HELMS SAID [MR.] WELD'S POSITION ON MEDICAL USES FOR MARIJUANA SUGGESTED THE GOVERNOR WAS SOFT ON DRUGS. GIVEN [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S WILLINGNESS TO WITHDRAW A NOMINEE AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE, [SENATOR] HELMS PROBABLY FIGURED REFUSING TO HOLD HEARINGS ON THE NOMINATION WOULD SEND THE WHITE HOUSE SCURRYING. IT ALMOST DID, EXCEPT [MR. ] WELD WANTS TO FIGHT. GOOD FOR HIM - THAT'S A NICE CHANGE."

TEXT: ON THE MIDDLE EAST, THE NEW YORK POST SAYS PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT "DESERVES NO U-S AID," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE TIME HAS COME TO HOLD YASSER ARAFAT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF HIS PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, WHICH HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS AND PROVOCATIVE ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATION. CONGRESS IS POISED TO CUT OFF THE 500-MILLION IN AID IT PROVIDES TO THE PA - - MONEY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ENCOURAGE THE PEACE PROCESS. STOPPING THE FUNDS WOULD SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO [MR.] ARAFAT THAT HIS GOVERNMENT'S BEHAVIOR IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE."

TEXT: LASTLY, THERE IS THIS COMMENT ON THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK OF AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT HEYDAR ALIEV, WHO WILL SEEK AN END TO U-S SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON HIS NATION DURING THE WAR WITH ARMENIA OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH, THE ARMENIAN ENCLAVE WITHIN AZERBAIJAN. SAYS THE WASHINGTON TIMES:

VOICE: "PRESSURE IS BUILDING IN WASHINGTON TO LIFE SANCTIONS ON AZERBAIJAN. THE REASONS ARE NOT FAR TOO SEEK: BEYOND THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF EQUITY ( ARMENIA HAS RECEIVED SIX TIMES THE AMERICAN AID OF AZERBAIJAN SINCE THE WAR), THERE ARE POWERFUL OIL INTERESTS AT PLAY HERE. MASSIVE INVESTMENT WILL BE NEEDED TOE EXTRACT THE OIL RESERVES, WHICH BORDER THE AZERI COAST, AND TO BUILD THE PIPELINES TO EXPORT THE PRODUCT. ..... THERE IS A VERY GOOD CASE TO BE MADE FOR INTENSE U-S INVOLVEMENT IN GETTING THE CAUCASUS REGION STABILIZED AND SECURE. TYING THE QUESTION OF SANCTIONS TO GETTING MR. ALIYEV TO CLEAN UP [IMPROVE] HIS ACT WOULD NOT BE A BAD PLACE TO START."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM WEDNESDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. NEB.ANG/RRM
30-Jul-97 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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