Voice of America, 97-08-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA AID BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[02] CLINTON / AZERBAIJAN (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[03] COMPUTERS AND PRODUCTIVITY BY FRANK RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

[04] EDITORIAL: CROATIA -- IMF LOAN DELAY

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

[06] FRANCE / CLIMBERS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

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

[08] GLOBAL WARMING BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[09] IRAQ / KURDS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (WASHINGTON)

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

[11] PRIVACY, PC SALES, DISEASES, APPLE BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[12] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[13] U-S / IRAN (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[01] ALBANIA AID BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL AID DONORS MET THIS WEEK IN ROME TO ASSESS THE NEEDS AND PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN STRIFE-TORN ALBANIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD PREPARED THIS BACKGROUND REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE AND THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM OF THE NEW SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT IN THE SMALL BALKAN COUNTRY.

TEXT: ECONOMIC REFORM IN ALBANIA HAS BEEN ON HOLD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS FORCED THE RULING CONSERVATIVES TO RESIGN AND EMERGENCY ELECTIONS TO BE HELD. THE OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS, LED BY FATOS NANO, WON THE JUNE ELECTION. WITH AN ITALIAN-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE DUE TO LEAVE ALBANIA SOON, THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO RESTART THE ECONOMY AND WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INVESTORS.

AT THE ROME MEETING OF PROSPECTIVE AID DONORS, PARTICIPANTS VOICED STRONG COMMITMENT FOR PROVIDING HELP. BUT THEY MADE CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST FIRST PUT IN PLACE A CREDIBLE PROGRAM TO HALT ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC SLIDE. THE DONORS SAY THE HUGE BUDGET DEFICIT MUST BE NARROWED. AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE REMAINING PYRAMID (HIGH-RISK) INVESTMENT COMPANIES THAT DOMINATE THE ALBANIAN ECONOMY MUST BE CLOSED. THE COLLAPSE OF SEVERAL PYRAMID COMPANIES TRIGGERED THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT LED TO THE POPULAR REVOLT AND TOPPLED THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA.

KRISTAQ LUNIKU WAS ALBANIA'S CENTRAL BANK CHIEF UNTIL THIS PAST MARCH. NOW A CONSULTANT AT THE WORLD BANK, MR. LUNIKU BELIEVES THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO REFORM. HE SAYS WHILE MANY OF ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF RECENT YEARS HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ECONOMY COULD BEGIN TO EXPAND AGAIN BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. MR. LUNIKU SAYS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT NO AID MONEY BE USED TO COMPENSATE INVESTORS WHO LOST MONEY IN THE COLLAPSED PYRAMID SCHEMES.

NO EXTRA MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYERS OF THE WORLD AND ALBANIA WILL GO TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF THE PYRAMID SCHEMES. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP TO GO AHEAD WITH THE STABILIZATION OF THE COUNTRY. OTHERWISE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION FROM THE BUDGET, WE CAN'T DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THESE ARE BALANCED ACCOUNTS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DETERIORATE ON THE ONE SIDE AND PUMP LIQUIDITY ON THE OTHER SIDE, TRYING TO STABILIZE THE ECONOMY, IT (STABILIZATION AND RECOVERY) IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND SAYS IT WILL MAKE NO LOAN TO ALBANIA UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT TAKES DECISIVE ACTION TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PYRAMID SCHEMES AND INITIATE STRUCTURAL REFORMS.

THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT RECENTLY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WILL LEAD TO INDEPENDENT AUDITS OF THE REMAINING PYRAMID COMPANIES, WHOSE OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES MAKE THEM THE BIGGEST PRIVATE COMPANIES IN ALBANIA. MR. LUNIKU IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE BIG COMPANIES LIKE "VEFA HOLDINGS" HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY ALL THE DEPOSITORS WHO LOST MONEY IN THE HIGH-INTEREST INVESTMENT OPERATIONS.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ANY PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY OR CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO GOOD COMPANIES WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SO THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE CAPITAL DEFICIENCY OF THOSE COMPANIES WILL BE QUITE HIGH.

UNTIL THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF THE 'GET-RICH-QUICK' INVESTMENT COMPANIES A YEAR AGO, ALBANIA HAD BEEN THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN ALL OF POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE. BUT THE ROOTS OF A MARKET ECONOMY PROVED TO BE SHALLOW IN ALBANIA. LURED BY THE PROMISE OF INSTANT WEALTH, CITIZENS POURED THEIR SAVINGS INTO HIGH-RISK INVESTMENTS. AND THE COLLAPSE OF THOSE SCHEMES UNLEASHED A POLITICAL FIRESTORM -- THE RESULT OF WHICH IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. (SIGNED)
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01-Aug-97 5:32 PM EDT (2132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON / AZERBAIJAN (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON MET AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT, HEYDAR ALIYEV, ON FRIDAY AND URGED A SPEEDY END TO THE AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN CONFLICT OVER THE BREAKAWAY NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGION OF AZERBAIJAN. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE TWO-HOUR MEETING SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSED THAT AN EARLY, PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE IS THE KEY TO PROGRESS TOWARD A DEMOCRATIC AND SECURE AZERBAIJAN. IT PLEDGED CONTINUED U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, BUT SAID THE PARTIES THEMSELVES MUST MAKE THE HARD CHOICES THAT PEACE REQUIRES.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID THE ENTIRE CAUCASUS REGION WOULD BENEFIT FROM PEACE.

DIMUNITION OF THE CONFLICT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL STABILITY AND WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO AZERBAIJAN BUT ALSO TO GEORGIA AND TO ADJACENT TRANS-CAUCASUS NATIONS.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH FOUR U-S ENERGY COMPANIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OIL RESERVES IN THE AZERBAIJANI WATERS OF THE CASPIAN SEA. HE ALSO SIGNED A SEPARATE U-S AZERBAIJANI INVESTMENT TREATY. (SIGNED)
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01-Aug-97 5:17 PM EDT (2117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] COMPUTERS AND PRODUCTIVITY BY FRANK RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, A DEMOCRAT, WAS ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS ON BALANCING THE BUDGET IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED BOOM IN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. (BEGIN OPT) THE AMERICAN RECORD STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THAT OF WESTERN EUROPE, WHERE ANEMIC ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY HISTORIC HIGHS IN UNEMPLOYMENT; JAPAN'S ECONOMY, NOT LONG AGO THE WONDER OF THE WORLD, IS ALSO STAGNATING. (END OPT) IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS LAST WEEK, CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD ALAN GREENSPAN ADMITTED THAT HE WAS SURPRISED AT CONTINUING U-S ECONOMIC VITALITY, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED BY AMERICAN BUSINESS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MAY BE FINALLY PAYING OFF.

TEXT: WHY IS THE AMERICAN ECONOMY DOING SO WELL? IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FEWER AND FEWER WORKERS ARE PRODUCING EVER INCREASING QUANTITIES OF GOODS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEIR LABOR PRODUCTIVITY IS GOING UP STEADILY. BUT IN THE SERVICE SECTOR, WHICH NOW ACCOUNTS FOR 80% OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAYS THAT PRODUCTIVITY HAS INCREASED AT A MERE ONE PERCENT PER YEAR. BRIAN QUINN, A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, SAYS THAT THE STATISTICS HAVE BECOME HOPELESSLY OUTDATED. PROFESSOR QUINN IS THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK, "THE INNOVATION REVOLUTION."

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE REAL OUTPUT OF THE ECONOMY IS WAY UP, EVEN THOUGH THE MEASURES HAVE NOT CAPTURED THAT OUTPUT. THE STANDARD WAY OF MEASURING PRODUCTIVITY IS TO TAKE THE UNITS OF OUTPUT AND DIVIDE BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT IT TAKES TO CREATE THOSE OUTPUTS. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR DATA BASES DON'T CAPTURE MANY OF THOSE OUTPUTS, NOTABLY THE ONES THAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES CREATE. THE QUALITY OF OUTPUT IS NOT CAPTURED AT ALL.

THERE IS INVARIABLY A TIME LAG BEFORE A NEW TECHNOLOGY CATCHES ON.. MARJORIE BLUMENTHAL, DIRECTOR OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, POINTS OUT THAT ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS NOW HAVE COMPUTERS, COMPARED WITH 30 PERCENT JUST FOUR YEARS AGO. FURTHERMORE, SHE SAYS, BUSINESSES HAVE LEARNED TO DOWNSIZE AND REORGANIZE TO MAKE BETTER USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HOW TO USE COMPUTING COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS BETTER THAN WHEN WE FIRST HAD THEM. AS IN OTHER CASES OF AUTOMATION, SUCH AS WE SEE IN MANUFACTURING, PEOPLE FIRST INTRODUCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN WAYS THAT REPLICATE THE OLD WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS. AND NOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY MAKES THAT POSSIBLE. YOU CAN THINK ABOUT INTERACTIONS WITH CUSTOMERS, WITH SUPPLIERS, WITH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES OF DIFFERENT KINDS AND SO ON. SO THERE IS A QUALITATIVE CHANGE IN THE ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY AMONG PROFESSIONAL WHITE COLLAR WORKERS.

ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR BRIAN QUINN, SERVICES AND MANUFACTURING HAVE IN MANY CASES BECOME SO INTERDEPENDENT THAT IT BECOMES POINTLESS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE CADCAM SYSTEM -- THAT'S COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN, COMPUTER-AIDED MANUFACTURING -- NEW AUTOMOBILE MODELS CAN BE ENTIRELY DESIGNED ON COMPUTERS; SUB-CONTRACTERS AND SUPPLIERS ARE THEN GIVEN THE SPECIFICATIONS ELECTRONICALLY IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT THE PARTS.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DO SO MANY MORE THINGS THAN WE COULD DO BEFORE THAT WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF UNPARALLELED INNOVATION. THERE ARE NEW PRODUCTS, SERVICE PRODUCTS AND PHYSICAL PRODUCTS, EMERGING EVERY DAY BECAUSE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CONCEIVE OF THES PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, TO DESIGN THESE PRODUCES AND SERVICES, TO IMPLEMENT THEM, MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN EVERY BEFORE.

AT PRESENT, AMERICA LEADS THE WORLD IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES. STUDIES SHOW THAT THE UNITED STATES IS FAR AHEAD OF EUROPE AND JAPAN IN SERVICE SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY. HOWEVER, MARJORIE BLUMENTHAL SAYS THAT THE GLOBAL NATURE OF MODERN TELECOMMUNICATIONS MEANS THAT NEW TECHNIQUES WILL SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD RAPIDLY -- NOT JUST TO ADVANCED INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS BUT TO ALL COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF EDUCATED PEOPLE IN THEIR WORKFORCES:

CERTAINLY WE HAVE HAD AN ADVANTAGE BASED ON LEVEL OF USE AND SOPHISTICATION OF USE AND THE TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN INTERRELATED. AND THAT HAS HELPED OUR COMPETITIVENESS IN MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES. BUT IT ALSO TENDS TO BE THE CASE THAT THOSE ADVANTAGES DON'T ENDURE INDEFINITELY, BECAUSE THE COSTS OF TECHNOLOGY ARE GOING DOWN AND PEOPLE WHO HOLD KNOW-HOW TRAVEL OR WRITE ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW. SO INFORMATION DOES FLOW, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY. SO THERE IS LIKELY TO BE SOME DEGREE OF LEVELLING HERE AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER AREAS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, IN DARTMOUTH PROFESSOR QUINN'S VIEW, IS A KEY TO AMERICA'S CURRENT PROSPERITY. HOWEVER, HE SAYS, IT ALSO HAS A MULTIPLIER EFFECT FROM WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD STANDS TO BENEFIT. (SIGNED)
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01-Aug-97 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EDITORIAL: CROATIA -- IMF LOAN DELAY

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

VOICE:

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, OR I-M-F, RECENTLY DECIDED TO DELAY CONSIDERATION FOR THE SECOND TIME OF A FORTY-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN FOR CROATIA. THIS DECISION WAS THE RESULT OF A CONSENSUS AMONG I-M-F BOARD MEMBERS THAT CROATIA IS NOT MEETING ITS OBLIGATION TO HELP BUILD PEACE IN THE BALKANS.

WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION OF PEACE AS SPELLED OUT IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS, THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE FOR ECONOMIC REFORMS TO SUCCEED. THE RISK OF RENEWED CONFLICT COULD ALSO UNDERMINE CROATIA'S ABILITY TO REPAY LOANS. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REALITIES ARE INTERTWINED IN CROATIA; FAILURE IN ONE AREA UNDERMINES THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN THE OTHER.

THE U.S. HAS SUSPENDED ALL BILATERAL ASSISTANCE NOT AIMED AT THE REINTEGRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES, OR DEMOCRATIZATION. CROATIA CONTINUES TO FAIL TO USE ITS INFLUENCE WITH BOSNIAN CROATS TO ARREST INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS AND TURN THEM OVER TO THE HAGUE FOR TRIAL.

IN ADDITION, THE U.S. CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNED BY CROATIA'S OPPOSITION TO THE RETURN OF SERB REFUGEES TO ITS TERRITORY AND FAILURE TO ENCOURAGE REFUGEE RETURNS THROUGHOUT BOSNIA. THE U.S. ALSO REMAINS DISTURBED BY CROATIA'S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR: THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA MUST IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON AGREEMENTS BEFORE IT CAN GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
01-Aug-97 12:03 PM EDT (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE OFF IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 26 POINTS, ABOUT EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 30 POINTS, A DROP OF ABOUT SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED OFF JUST OVER EIGHT POINTS, LESS THAN TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 10 YEARS AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. IT ALSO ROSE IN VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, BUT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN.
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01-Aug-97 1:08 PM EDT (1708 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] FRANCE / CLIMBERS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN ACCIDENTS IN THE ALPS IN JULY, ONE OF THE HEAVIEST TOLLS EVER KNOWN IN EUROPE'S SUMMER VACATION SEASON. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS FRENCH POLICE BLAME MOST OF THE DEATHS ON CLIMBERS WHO ARE ILL-EQUIPPED AND INEXPERIENCED.

TEXT: MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENED DURING THE PAST WEEK. AFTER THE FIRST HALF OF JULY WAS MARKED BY BAD WEATHER, SUDDEN SUNSHINE BROUGHT OUT THE CROWDS, MOST OF WHOM WENT CLIMBING AROUND THE MONT BLANC MOUNTAIN.

LAST WEEKEND ALONE, EIGHT PEOPLE FELL TO THEIR DEATHS ON THE FRENCH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS. OTHERS WERE KILLED IN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY.

THOSE WHO DIED INCLUDED A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY AND A FRENCH POLICE OFFICER TRAINED IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE TECHNIQUES. FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THE POLICEMAN, WHO WAS SWEPT AWAY BY AN AVALANCHE, WAS THE ONLY REALLY EXPERIENCED CLIMBER AMONG THE CASUALTIES.

POLICE HELICOPTERS TAKE OFF FROM THE FRENCH ALPINE RESORT OF CHAMONIX AS SOON AS THE SUN RISES EVERY DAY TO LOOK FOR TOURISTS IN TROUBLE. ON WEDNESDAY, THEY LOCATED SIX DEAD BODIES BY MID-MORNING.

IN ONE CASE, A POLICE RESCUE TEAM FOUND AND SAVED THE OLDEST TOURIST YET. THIS WAS AN 84-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, WHO HAD BEEN WALKING ALONE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM EXHAUSTION BUT WAS OTHERWISE UNHURT.

ONE PARTICULARLY TRAGIC INCIDENT HAD NO DIRECT CONNECTION WITH CLIMBING. A DOCTOR TRIED TO HELP A YOUNG WOMAN ON A CYCLING TRIP WHO HAD SLIPPED DOWN A MOUNTAIN SIDE. BUT HE WAS KILLED HIMSELF. HE WAS BEING WINCHED FROM A HELICOPTER WHEN THE CABLE SUPPORTING HIM SNAPPED. THE WOMAN HE WAS TRYING TO REACH WAS ALREADY DEAD.

IN MOST CASES, POLICE BLAME POOR EQUIPMENT, A LACK OF ATTENTION TO WEATHER FORECASTS AND A GENERAL RELUCTANCE BY TOURISTS TO LISTEN TO PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

IN ONE EPISODE, NO FEWER THAN 40 AMATEUR CLIMBERS FOUND THEMSELVES CUT OFF IN A SUDDEN FOG AT A HEIGHT OF FOUR-THOUSAND METERS. FRENCH MOUNTAIN GUIDES HAD EARLIER ADVISED THEM TO CUT SHORT THEIR CLIMB BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. THAT GROUP WAS LOCATED BECAUSE ONE OF ITS MEMBERS, WHO WAS CARRYING A MOBILE TELEPHONE, WAS ABLE TO CALL FOR HELP. .(SIGNED)
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01-Aug-97 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: FOR A SECOND DAY, U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE FILLED WITH EDITORIALS CONCERNING THIS WEEK'S TERRORIST BOMBINGS IN JERUSALEM.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE MONEY TROUBLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA; THE BATTLE OVER A NEW AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO; AND THE POL POT TRIAL IN CAMBODIA.

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

TEXT: THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF EDITORIAL ON THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS AT A JERUSALEM FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET ON WEDNESDAY. SEVERAL PAPERS ARE MAKING THEIR FIRST EDITORIAL COMMENTS ON THE BLAST, WHILE OTHERS ARE FOLLOWING UP YESTERDAY'S EDITORIALS WITH THOUGHTS ON WHERE THE PEACE PROCESS SHOULD GO FROM HERE.

IN THE FORMER CATEGORY IS THIS FROM TODAY'S OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND.

VOICE: "FOLLOWING THE HIDEOUS ATROCITY OF WEDNESDAY'S SUICIDE BOMBING ..... ALL OF ISRAEL'S OPTIONS SEEM UNAPPEALING. BUT AMID ALL THE INSISTENCE THAT THE PEACE PROCESS MUST CONTINUE, THERE ARE GROWING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENTITY ISRAEL IS NEGOTIATING WITH, THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTH THE AUTHORITY'S WILL TO CONTROL TERRORISM LAUNCHED FROM ITS TERRITORY AND ITS ABILITY TO DO IT. ..... WITHOUT A PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK, ISRAEL FACES MORE BLOODSHED - - INCLUDING AN INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE NEW WAR - - AND NO MORE CHANCE OF CLOSER TIES WITH NEIGHBORS."

TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION COMPARES THE PALESTINIAN SUICIDE BOMBERS WITH THE ILL-FATED WORLD WAR TWO JAPANESE AIR FORCE KAMIKAZE ATTACKS THAT ULTIMATELY FAILED.

VOICE: "..... THE PHENOMENON WAS A SIGN OF JAPANESE DESPERATION. ......THE JAPANESE ALSO HOPED THAT THE SACRIFICE OF THE KAMIKAZES WOULD INSPIRE THEIR OWN TROOPS AND DEMORALIZE THE AMERICANS. IT DIDN'T WORK, THE TIDE OF HISTORY COULD NOT BE TURNED. PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS ARE IN A SIMILAR STATE OF DESPERATION. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS HAVE MADE REAL PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE. ..... SUICIDE IS THE ACT OF THOSE WHO FEEL THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, NO OTHER WAY OF CHANGING REALITY. IF THOSE MOST OPPOSED TO PEACE .... ARE DOWN TO [NOW RESORTING TO] SUICIDE AS A WEAPON, IT IS PERHAPS A PERVERSE SIGN THAT IN THE LONG RUN, PEACE WILL BE ACHIEVED."

TEXT: AND SOME SECOND DAY REFLECTION FROM NEWSDAY.

VOICE: "ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS ARE AT THE BRINK OF WAR. WITH TENSIONS RISING BY THE HOUR AFTER HAMAS' DOUBLE-SUICIDE BOMBING ..... A PROVOCATIVE MOVE OR MISSTEP COULD FLARE INTO OPEN HOSTILITIES. IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD OBLITERATE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE FRACTURED MIDWEST PEACE PROCESS. ALL POSSIBLE EFFORTS SHOULD GO TOWARD AVERTING A SLIDE INTO OPEN WARFARE. THAT'S WHERE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, WHO HAVE REMAINED TOO DETACHED FOR TOO LONG FROM THE MIDEAST CAULDRON, COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

.... WASHINGTON MUST PUT MEASURED PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES TO MOVE PROMPTLY TO DEFUSE TENSIONS. ..... THE BOMBING HAS STRENGTHENED FACTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OPPOSED TO THE PEACE PROCESS, WHICH HAS PROVED TO BE FAR EASIER TO DISRUPT THAN TO SUSTAIN."

TEXT: AND IN THE NEW YORK POST, A PLEA FOR UNDERSTANDING IF AND OR WHEN ISRAELI COMMANDOS TAKE REVENGE AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS.

VOICE: "AS ISRAEL MOURNS THE 13 CIVILIANS WHO DIED IN WEDNESDAY'S ..... BOMBING, AMERICANS SHOULD FIX ONE IMAGE IN THEIR MIND'S EYE - - THE PHOTOGRAPH ..... OF A VISITING GERMAN LUTHERAN MINISTER .... HER FACE AND THROAT COVERED WITH BLOOD, HER EYES WINCING IN PAIN, HER MOUTH CONTORTED IN DEEP ANGUISH. THIS IMAGE SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN IN THE COMING DAYS, IF AND WHEN ISRAELI COMMANDOS TAKE THEIR FIRST OFFENSIVE ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS HARBORED BY THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY .....IF IT IS TO BE WAR, THE DECLARATION WAS WRITTEN IN THE BLOOD ON THE WOUNDED WOMAN'S FACE."

TEXT: LASTLY, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ASKS, PLAINTIVELY:

VOICE: "CAN THE PEACE PLAN STILL BE SALVAGED? IT HAS ALWAYS DEMANDED SUPREME PATIENCE AND GOODWILL, WITH ITS GRADUAL TURNOVER OF AUTHORITY AND TERRITORY. THOSE QUALITIES ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE FOUND IN THE REGION ITSELF, BUT THEY NEED EXTRAORDINARY BOLSTERING FROM OUTSIDE. THE U-S ROLE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL."

TEXT: TURNING TO SOUTHEAST ASIA, THERE ARE TWO AREAS UNDER DISCUSSION. FIRST, ABOUT ECONOMIC TROUBLES IN THE BOSTON GLOBE.

VOICE: "SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BECOME THE CENTER OF THE LATEST ROUND OF CURRENCY CRISES - - AND THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ANY NATION ENCOUNTERS IF IT SQUANDERS TOO MANY FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN ATTEMPTING TO BUOY THE EXCHANGE VALUE OF ITS CURRENCY. AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT MAY BE TO WATCH A CURRENCY DRIFT LOWER IN VALUE, THAT DRIFT IS FAR LESS TRAUMATIC THAN THE PLUNGE THAT OCCURS WHEN RESCUE ATTEMPTS PROVE INADEQUATE. MALAYSIA IS THE LATEST TO BE EXPOSED TO THE EXPERIENCE, FOLLOWING THE PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST IS FOCUSED ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN SOME OF THOSE NATIONS, IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL AS IT WRITES:

VOICE: "SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT CLASHED THIS WEEK ON THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS WITH SOME OF HER COUNTERPARTS FROM MALAYSIA, CHINA AND OTHER ASIAN NATIONS. THEY OBJECTED TO SUPPOSED AMERICAN ARROGANCE IN PUSHING THEM TO ALLOW THEIR PEOPLE TO LIVE, THINK, EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND WORSHIP IN FREEDOM. THOSE ARE NOT UNIVERSAL VALUES, THE ASIANS ARGUED, BUT WESTERN ONES, NO MORE ENTITLED TO INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION THAN 'ASIAN VALUES' SUCH AS CONSENSUS, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILITY. WHAT BALONEY! [ABSURDITY]."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, CONTEMPLATING THE DRIVE OF FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD TO BECOME THE NEXT AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, AGAINST THE WISHES OF SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS, WONDERS: DOES MR. WELD WANT A PLACE IN THE SUN, OR MERELY IN THE LIMELIGHT?

VOICE: "WILLIAM WELD ..... SEEMS ..... TO HAVE FLUNG HIMSELF, STARK, RAVING NAKED, INTO A POLITICAL BRIAR PATCH. HE'S QUIT HIS DAY JOB, GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS ..... [AND] HE'S VOWING TO FIGHT HIS WAY THROUGH A FELLOW REPUBLICAN ... SENATOR ... HELMS ... TO SEIZE A DUBIOUS PLUM, THE AMBASSADORSHIP OF MEXICO. .... THOSE WHO ASSUME MR. WELD MUST WANT TO RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE ... ARE DIVIDED ON WHETHER THE GAME HE'S PLAYING IS DEVILISHLY DEEP OR MIGHTY STUPID. ..... THE GUESS HERE IS THAT NOMINEE WELD WON'T GET HIS HEARING, AND THAT'LL WORK OUT JUST FINE FOR HIM. ..... THE WORLD OF FIVE-FIGURE SPEAKING FEES AND PLUSH GIGS [JOBS] AS MEDIA PUNDIT WILL SOON BECKON ....."

TEXT: THE AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP IS IN A STATE OF FLUX IN A DISPUTE WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA A YEAR AGO THAT KILLED 19 U-S SERVICEMEN. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "THE PENTAGON ..... LONG AGO IDENTIFIED THE OFFICER ..... BRIGADIER GENERAL TERRYL SCHWALIER ..... PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY LAPSES THAT LEFT AMERICAN AIRMEN VULNERABLE TO A TERRORIST ATTACK THAT KILLED 10 OF THEM AND WOUNDED 500 OTHERS. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN, IN A GUTSY [COURAGEOUS] AND ALTOGETHER PROPER DECISION, HAS NOW DENIED A PROMOTION TO THAT OFFICER, OVER THE VEHEMENT OBJECTIONS OF THE AIR FORCE BRASS [HIGHEST RANKING LEADERSHIP]. ....IT IS GRATIFYING TO FIND A SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNWILLING TO SETTLE FOR ..... LAX STANDARDS."

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE TRIAL BY DISSIDENT KHMER ROUGE GUERRILLAS DEEP IN A CAMBODIAN JUNGLE LAST WEEK OF THEIR FORMER LEADER POL POT, THE WASHINGTON TIMES VIEWS THE EVENT WITH SKEPTICISM.

VOICE: "UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE INFORMATION IS SO SCARCE AND SINCE POL POT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE HIS CAPTORS WHISKED HIM AWAY, IT IS AT LEAST CONCEIVABLE THAT THE TRIAL WAS A PLOY, PERHAPS CONCEIVED SO AS TO DRAW OUT HIS RIVALS IN THE POWER STRUGGLE THAT IS EVIDENTLY UNDERWAY WITHIN THE PARTY. AS ONE OF HIS VICTIMS TOLD ABC'S 'NIGHTLINE,' IT WAS AS IF ADOLF HITLER HAD BEEN JUDGED BY A TRIBUNAL OF NAZIS. IN OTHER WORDS, UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS POL POT IS DELIVERED TO AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COURT AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ATROCITIES HE COMMITTED OR INSPIRED, JUSTICE WILL NOT HAVE BEEN SERVED."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RRM
01-Aug-97 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] GLOBAL WARMING BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS MEETING AT A U-N CONFERENCE IN GERMANY SAY THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE MARKET CAPITALISM MAY PROVIDE A KEY TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: MOST EXPERTS AGREE THAT EMISSIONS FROM THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS ARE A MAJOR LONG-TERM THREAT TO THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THERE IS FAR LESS AGREEMENT ON THE BEST WAY TO CUT EMISSIONS OF THE SO-CALLED GREENHOUSE GASES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING.

ONE IDEA NOW MAKING THE ROUNDS AT THE U-N CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN BONN IS TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW COUNTRIES TO BUY AND SELL EMISSION RIGHTS.

UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM, DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, WHERE COSTS OF REDUCING POLLUTION ARE HIGHER, WOULD GET EMISSION REDUCTION CREDIT BY INVESTING IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHERE COSTS ARE LESS.

U-N SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR ROBERT WATSON SAYS EVERYBODY WOULD BENEFIT UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM.

THE IDEA IS THE UNITED STATES OR A EUROPEAN COUNTRY COULD BUY SOME OF THOSE SO CALLED EMISSION RIGHTS FROM INDIA OR CHINA, AND IN ESSENCE, YOU WOULD GET CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FLOWING TO CHINA AND INDIA. AND WE BELIEVE ALSO THERE SHOULD BE A SHARE OF THE SURPLUS REVENUE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT COSTS 100 DOLLARS A TON TO AVOID EMISSIONS IN AMERICA, 20 DOLLARS IN CHINA, THE FAIR PRICE FOR CARBON (EMISSIONS) MAY WELL BE 40, 50, 60 OR 70 DOLLARS. SO CHINA WOULD GET CLEAN TECHNOLOGY -- AND IT WOULD GET PART OF THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COST (OF REDUCING POLLUTION) IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY AND A DEVELOPED COUNTRY.

SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA. BUT OFFICIALS FROM SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE OPPOSED.

THEY SAY THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS CREATED THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD DEAL WITH IT THEMSELVES. CRITICS ALSO ACCUSE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES OF TRYING TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EASY AND INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO REDUCE POLLUTION.

THE HEAD OF THE U-S DELEGATION AT THE CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS, MARK HAMBLEY, REJECTS THOSE CHARGES. HE SAYS THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WILL REDUCE EMISSIONS IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO WORK OUT IN MORE DETAIL, ABOUT HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF THE COMPLIANCE EFFORTS WE HOPE TO PUT IN PLACE, THIS WILL GUARANTEE THAT THESE TRADES WILL BE DONE IN A WAY THAT WILL INDEED ADVANCE THE PROCESS -- WILL BE ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT -- AND NOT JUST SOMETHING TO ALLOW COUNTRIES TO ESCAPE THEIR OBLIGATIONS. ITS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS THAT WILL ALLOW COUNTRIES TO REDUCE EMISSIONS IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

ADVOCATES OF THE EMISSIONS TRADING IDEA SAY THEY HOPE TO ONE DAY SEE A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIAL INVESTMENT FUNDS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE MARKET FORCES TO FUNNEL MONEY INTO DEVELOPING NATIONS FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/KL
01-Aug-97 12:14 PM EDT (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] IRAQ / KURDS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: KURDISH FACTIONAL LEADER JALAL TALABANI OF THE P-U-K (PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN) SPENT THE WEEK IN MEETINGS WITH U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO REVIEW THE SITUATION IN THE AUTONOMOUS KURDISH ZONE OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND THE SHAKY CEASE-FIRE THERE WITH THE RIVAL K-D-P (KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY) FACTION LED BY MASSOUD BARZANI. V-O-A'S LAURIE KASSMAN TALKED WITH MR TALBANI DURING HIS WASHINGTON VISIT ABOUT THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE PEACE TALKS.

TEXT: KURDISH LEADER JALAL TALABANI SAYS THE U-S BROKERED PEACE TALKS HAVE NOT MOVED BEYOND A SHAKY CEASE-FIRE IN SPITE OF U-S AND BRITISH EFFORTS FOR A REAL POLITICAL RECONCILIATION.

THERE WAS NO PROGRESS AT ALL SINCE LAST OCTOBER 1996, WHEN WE REACHED A KIND OF COMMON AGREEMENT ABOUT MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

MR. TALABANI SAYS TURKEY'S RECENT MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ HAS ALSO COMPLICATED KURDISH PEACE EFFORTS. BUT HE ALSO BLAMES RIVAL KURDISH LEADER MASSOUD BARZANI FOR THE STALLED TALKS.

THE TWO MEN HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A POWER FEUD FOR DECADES. A FRAGILE POLITICAL COALITION FORGED AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR FELL APART IN 1994.

THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN VYING FOR CONTROL OF NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE THEN. A SHAKY YEAR-LONG TRUCE ENDED IN BLOODSHED LAST AUGUST WHEN MR BARZANI'S K-D-P FORCES MACHED ON THE REGIONAL CAPITAL OF IRBIL TO OUST THE RIVAL P-U-K FROM ITS STRONGHOLD THERE.

MR. BARZANI'S CALL FOR MILITARY HELP FROM BAGHDAD ALARMED THE U-S AND ALLIED GOVERNMENTS. U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS FORCED THE TWO FACTIONS BACK TO THE PEACE TABLE LAST OCTOBER AND MANAGED TO WIN ANOTHER CEASE-FIRE -- BUT NOT MUCH MORE.

IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW DURING HIS WASHINGTON VISIT, MR TALABANI SPELLED OUT HIS CONDITIONS FOR POLITICAL RECONCILIATION.

FIRST, THERE MUST BE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADED BY AN INDEPENDENT PERSONALITY. THIS REGIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST REPRESENT ALL IRAQI KURDISTAN PARTIES. THEY MUST UNITE ALL PARTS AND PREPARE THE GROUND FOR A NEW ELECTION, WHICH WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE. AND WE ARE READY TO ACCEPT THE RESULT OF THAT ELECTION.

MR. TALABANI SAYS THE GOAL OF RECONCILIATION SHOULD BE SELF-RULE WITHIN A UNIFIED, DEMOCRATIC IRAQ.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE GEO-POLITICS OF KURDISTAN, WE ARE FOR HAVING A REAL SELF-RULE, WHICH WE THINK IS BEST IN A FEDERATION -- WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A DEMOCRATIC, PLURALISTIC, SECULAR PARLIAMENTARIAN IRAQ.

THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS ALSO INVITED MR. BARZANI TO WASHINGTON TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO MOVE THE KURDISH PEACE TALKS FORWARD. THE NEXT ROUND IS DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/RRM
01-Aug-97 5:43 PM EDT (2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) BUT DID RECOVER MUCH OF THEIR EARLIER LOSSES LATE IN THE SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 81-HUNDRED-94, DOWN 28 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 81 POINTS. THE BROADER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 947, DOWN SEVEN POINTS.

STOCKS PRICES DROPPED SHARPLY AND STAYED DOWN FOR MOST OF FRIDAY'S SESSION. FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS DOWN ABOUT 100 POINTS. A SLOW BUT STEADY RECOVERY IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING REDUCED THE LOSSES.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE UPSET BY THE JULY U-S EMPLOYMENT REPORT. THE JOBLESS RATE OF FOUR-POINT-EIGHT PERCENT WAS A 25-YEAR LOW, BUT WALL STREET WAS CONCERNED THAT THE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED LAST MONTH WAS WELL ABOVE EXPECTATIONS. THAT TRIGGERED SOME FEAR THAT THE LABOR MARKET IS BECOMING VERY TIGHT AND COULD HELP SPARK INFLATION.

WORKERS AT THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE REMAIN ON THE JOB WITHOUT A CONTRACT AS UNION AND MANAGEMENT NEGOTIATORS TRY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. A STRIKE AT U-P-S COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS BECAUSE ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS NO WAY OTHER CARRIERS COULD ABSORB THE 12-MILLION PACKAGES THAT U-P-S DELIVERS EACH DAY.

THE STOCK OF KELLOGG, THE WORD'S LARGEST BREAKFAST CEREAL COMPANY, SOARED MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT AFTER THE COMPANY REPORTED MUCH BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED EARNINGS.

THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SAYS ITS NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE SALES FELL NINE PERCENT LAST MONTH.

AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS IT WILL NOT RAISE MOST PRICES FOR ITS 1998 MODEL CARS AND TRUCKS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
01-Aug-97 5:01 PM EDT (2101 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] PRIVACY, PC SALES, DISEASES, APPLE BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS EDITION OF COMPUTER DIGEST:

THE AMERICAN CONGRESS IS DISCUSSING A PROPOSED LAW DEALING WITH HIGH-TECH SECURITY,

COMPETITION AMONG PERSONAL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS,

USING THE INTERNET TO TRACK DEADLY DISEASES,

AND, LOOKING FOR A NEW PERSON TO HEAD APPLE COMPUTER. *****

PRIVACY

REUTERS REPORTS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS BACKING LEGISLATION "THAT LIFTS STRICT US EXPORT CONTROLS ON HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COMPUTER-ENCODING TECHNOLOGY." IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, AMERICAN COMPANIES WOULD BE ALLOWED "TO EXPORT ENCRYPTION PRODUCTS THAT PREVENT HACKERS FROM INTERCEPTING DATA, INCLUDING ANYTHING FROM SENSITIVE MEDICAL RECORDS TO CREDIT-CARD NUMBERS AND PERSONAL E-MAIL MESSAGES." HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE NEWS AGENCY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION "HAS VOWED TO VETO THE BILL." THE PRESIDENT IS CONCERNED THAT "FURTHERING GREATER SECRECY ON THE INTERNET MIGHT BE TANTAMOUNT TO RELEASING A FREE FLOW OF HIDDEN CRIMINAL COMMERCE." *****

PC SALES

TEXT: ACCORDING TO RECENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, IBM CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE IN THE HOME PERSONAL COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE MARKETS "WHILE COMPETITORS LIKE COMPAQ AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS MICROSOFT AND INTEL ARE BOOMING." ROBERT DJURDJEVIC, AN ANALYST WITH ANNEX RESEARCH, TOLD THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER THAT IBM "IS DOING REASONABLY WELL, BUT IT'S NOT SPECTACULAR." THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT UNDER LOUIS GERSTNER, ITS CURRENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, IBM HAS STABILIZED ITS OLD-LINE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING MAINFRAME COMPUTERS. THE COMPANY HAS ALSO STARTED A NEW -- AND PROFITABLE -- COMPUTER SERVICES DIVISION. THE DIVISION INSTALLS, SERVICES AND OPERATES COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR CORPORATIONS. BUT, TO IMPROVE SALES OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS, IBM PLANS TO FOCUS ON SELLING EQUIPMENT TO CANADA AND EUROPE, "TWO MARKETS WHERE IT SEES OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH GROWTH." *****

DISEASES

TEXT: JACK WOODALL IS DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE ARBOVIRUS LABORATORY. BUT HIS WORK HAS A WORLDWIDE IMPACT. DOCTOR WOODALL'S LABORATORY OPERATES PROMEDMAIL, OR PROGRAM FOR MONITORING EMERGING DISEASES. THE PROJECT USES COMPUTER NETWORKS TO PROVIDE "AN EARLY-WARNING SYSTEM" OF DISEASE OUTBREAKS. HE TOLD THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THAT THE GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY DISEASES EARLY SO THAT THEY CAN BE CONTAINED. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT "LIVES CAN BE SAVED BY RAPIDLY SPREADING WORD OF CHOLERA OUTBREAKS, SAY NEAR RESORTS OR FISH FARMS." SO FAR, PROMED HAS 15,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 140 COUNTRIES. THE JOURNAL SAYS THAT THE SERVICE "SUPPLEMENTS OTHER INTERNET SERVICES THAT ARE LIMITED TO WHAT GOVERNMENTS ARE WILLING TO REPORT.... WHILE SOME OF PROMED'S POSTINGS ARE UNATTRIBUTED, MOST ARE SIGNED BY SUBSCRIBERS RANGING FROM EPIDEMIOLOGISTS TO LAYMEN WHO TRANSLATE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTS." *****

APPLE

TEXT: APPLE COMPUTER, A COMPANY THAT HAS SEEN ITS MARKET SHARE DROP IN RECENT YEARS, IS LOOKING FOR A NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THAT APPLE HAS RETAINED AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM TO COME UP WITH A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE. HOWEVER, THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT STEVE JOBS, A CO-FOUNDER OF APPLE, WHO IS NOW A CONSULTANT TO THE COMPANY, IS RAPIDLY AND VISIBLY PUTTING "HIS IMPRINT BACK ON APPLE, AND EVEN WITHOUT A FORMAL POSITION APPEARS TO BE, IN EFFECT, LEADING THE COMPANY AFTER THE RECENT OUSTER OF GILBERT F. AMELIO." THE TIMES NOTES THAT "MR. JOBS HAS PRIVATELY TOLD FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE APPLE'S CHAIRMAN OR CHIEF EXECUTIVE." BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, STEVE JOBS IS CHANGING APPLE'S DIRECTION WHICH "APPARENTLY INCLUDES A DRAMATIC ROLLBACK OF THE COMPANY'S WILLINGNESS TO LICENSE THE MACINTOSH OPERATING SYSTEM." RICHARD DOHERTY, A COMPUTER INDUSTRY CONSULTANT AT ENVISIONEERING, A NEW YORK CONSULTING FIRM, SAYS THAT "THERE IS AN INCREDIBLY HIGH LEVEL OF ENERGY ON THE APPLE CAMPUS COMPARED TO FOUR WEEKS AGO." AND, CONTINUES MR. DOHERTY, "IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF STEVE JOBS' NEW ROLE." *****
01-Aug-97 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS IN HAITI AND GEORGIA; U-N OFFICIALS WELCOME THE SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS IN LIBERIA, EXPRESSING HOPE THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY IS FINALLY ON THE ROAD TO PEACE; SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN URGES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO MOVE TOWARD DEMOCRATIC RULE TO ENCOURAGE OUTSIDE INVESTMENT IN THEIR ECONOMIES. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE PEOPLE OF HAITI ARE SHOWING MIXED FEELINGS TOWARD A U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN THEIR COUNTRY, WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO YEARS. STILL, THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDED THAT MISSION FOR A FINAL FOUR MONTH PERIOD AFTER HAITIAN PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL SAID HIS NEW NATIONAL POLICE FORCE IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY AGAINST CRIME AND OTHER VIOLENCE.

THE COUNCIL AGREED TO MAINTAIN A REDUCED FORCE IN HAITI UNTIL NOVMBER 30TH. ITS MAIN FUNCTION WILL BE TO CONTINUE TRAINING THE HAITIAN POLICE. U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SIMPLY CANNOT LEAVE HAITI TO ITS OWN DEVICES SO SOON:

MOST OF THE HAITIAN NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 30. THE MOST SEASONED OFFICERS HAVE FEWER THAN TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB. IF WE ARE TO HELP HAITI TO DEVELOP DURABLE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CONTINUE TO MENTOR THIS YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FORCE.

THE UNITED NATIONS SENT IN ITS OWN PEACEKEEPERS SHORTLY AFTER SOME 20-THOUSAND TROOPS FROM THE UNITED STATES WENT IN TO RESTORE HAITI'S OUSTED PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE IN 1994. A SUBSEQUENT ELECTION BROUGHT PRESIDENT PREVAL TO POWER.

-0-

THE SECURITY COUNCIL ALSO RENEWED A SMALL OBSERVER MISSION IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA THIS PAST WEEK. GEORGIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE HAD ASKED FOR A FULL-FLEDGED PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO REPLACE A MONITORING MISSION LED BY RUSSIA.

BUT THE SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT AND SEPARATISTS FROM ABKHAZIA SHOW MORE PROMISE. THOSE TALKS RESUMED RECENTLY WITH STRONGER UNITED NATIONS INVOLVEMENT.

-0-

U-N OFFICIALS WELCOMED THE SUCCESSFUL HOLDING OF ELECTIONS IN LIBERIA AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. FACTION LEADER CHARLES TAYLOR WON OVERWHELMINGLY. ELECTION OBSERVERS DECLARED THE VOTING FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE.

A SENIOR U-N AIDE WAS SELECTED TO REPRESENT SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AT SATURDAY'S INAUGURATION CEREMONIES.

-0-

THE UNITED NATIONS THIS PAST WEEK DONATED 36 MILLION DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS IN SOME 75 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AIMED AT STRENGTHENING JUDICIAL SYSTEMS, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, DECENTRALIZATION AND TRADE. THE MONEY WILL BE PUT INTO A FOUR-YEAR TRIAL PROJECT TO TEST NEW IDEAS AND APPROACHES.

THE INITIATIVE WAS ANNOUNCED AT A THREE-DAY CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK WHICH INCLUDED MAYORS, PARLIAMENTARIANS, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND CIVIC GROUPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE MEETING WAS DEVOTED TO THE TOPIC OF GOOD GOVERNANCE.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN EXPLAINED WHAT THE CONCEPT MEANS. HE SAID DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WILL NOT PROSPER UNTIL THEIR GOVERNMENTS ENDORSE DEMOCRATIC VALUES:

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ARE INDIVISIBLE. WITHOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE, WITHOUT THE RULE OF LAW, PREDICTABLE ADMINISTRATION, LEGITIMATE POWER AND RESPONSIVE REGULATION -- NO AMOUNT OF FUNDING, NO AMOUNT OF CHARITY WILL SET US ON THE PATH TO PROSPERITY.

THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL -- A GHANAIAN --SAID GOVERNMENTS MUST CREATE CONDITIONS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND GENERATE NATIONAL WEALTH. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THEIR PEOPLE AND ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE CHOICES OVER THEIR OWN LIVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/KL
01-Aug-97 3:07 PM EDT (1907 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] U-S / IRAN (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS ANXIOUS TO SEE IF THE NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT TAKING OFFICE MONDAY -- MOHAMMED KHATEMI -- WILL LEAD THE COUNTRY ON A MORE MODERATE COURSE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE INAUGURATION OF MR. KHATEMI -- WHO IS CONSIDERED MORE FRIENDLY TO THE WEST THAN HIS PREDECESSORS -- IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR IRAN. HE SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON FOUND THE ELECTION OF THE RELATIVELY MODERATE CLERIC IN LATE MAY "INTRIGUING," AND NOW WANTS TO SEE IF HIS ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE WILL MEAN A CHANGE OF DIRECTION IN TEHRAN:

WHAT THE PRESIDENT NOW DESIRES TO SEE ARE CHANGES IN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN WHICH WOULD INDICATE WHETHER OR NOT THIS NEW GOVERNMENT IS ONE THAT CAN MODERATE THE BEHAVIOR OF A REGIME WE HAVE FOUND HIGHLY OBJECTIONABLE IN THE PAST.

THE UNITED STATES HAS SOUGHT TO ISOLATE IRAN BECAUSE OF WHAT AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY IS ITS SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM. MR. MCCURRY REITERATED THAT LAST WEEK'S U-S DECISION TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A GAS PIPELINE ACROSS IRAN WAS NOT A DIPLOMATIC SIGNAL TO TEHRAN, BUT RATHER AN EFFORT TO HELP TURKMENISTAN AND OTHER ENERGY PRODUCING STATES OF THE CASPIAN BASIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/SP
01-Aug-97 6:49 PM EDT (2249 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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