Voice of America, 97-08-14

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] FRANCE / POPE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[03] GERMANY WORKERS BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[05] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[06] U-N / ALBANIA SECURITY (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[07] U-S/BOSNIA TROOPS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

[08] U-S / BOSNIA TROOPS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

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

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

TEXT: PRICES FELL IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY DOWN MORE THAN 47 POINTS, ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED OFF 12 POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF A FRACTION, ABOUT TWO POINTS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK, BUT LOST A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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14-Aug-97 1:31 PM EDT (1731 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] FRANCE / POPE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: WITH POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND MAKING HIS FIFTH TRIP TO FRANCE NEXT WEEK, AUTHORITIES IN PARIS HAVE DETAILED SEVEN-THOUSAND EXTRA POLICE TO GUARANTEE HIS SECURITY. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE 16TH-CENTURY FRENCH ASTROLOGER NOSTRADAMUS PREDICTED THAT, TOWARD THE END OF THIS CENTURY, A POPE WOULD DIE ON FRENCH SOIL.

ALTHOUGH THE SECULAR FRENCH REPUBLIC IS HARDLY SUPERSTITIOUS, THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IT MADE FOR EACH OF POPE JOHN PAUL'S PREVIOUS FOUR VISITS TO FRANCE WERE IMPRESSIVE. THIS YEAR, WITH THE POPE VISITING PARIS FOR FOUR DAYS FROM NEXT THURSDAY, THE SHOW OF SECURITY WILL BE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE.

A TOTAL OF SEVEN-THOUSAND EXTRA POLICE HAVE BEEN DRAFTED INTO THE FRENCH CAPITAL JUST TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF THE POPE AND OF THE MANY THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A CATHOLIC YOUTH FESTIVAL NEXT WEEK.

THESE SEVEN-THOUSAND POLICE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE 12-HUNDRED POLICE AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN PATROLLING RAILROAD STATIONS AND TOURIST SITES FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS TO HEAD OFF ATTACKS BY ALGERIAN ISLAMIC TERRORISTS.

THE FRENCH AIR FORCE HAS SET UP SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE OF THE OPEN-AIR MASSES AT WHICH THE POPE WILL OFFICIATE, AT THE LONGCHAMP RACE COURSE AND BY THE EIFFEL TOWER IN THE CENTER OF PARIS. THE AIR FORCE IS WORRIED BY THE PROSPECT OF UNAUTHORIZED FLYING.

WHEREVER THE POPE GOES, HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS OWN BODYGUARDS DRAWN FROM THE VATICAN'S SWISS GUARDS AND BY HUNDREDS OF FRENCH SECURITY OFFICERS.

WHEN HE DRIVES SOUTH OF PARIS FRIDAY TO CONSECRATE THE NEW CATHEDRAL OF EVRY, HE WILL BE ESCORTED BY NO FEWER THAN 530 POLICE MOTORCYCLISTS.

WHEN THE POPE CELEBRATES MASS, THE POLICE SAY THAT EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER, INCLUDING PRIESTS AND NUNS, WILL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH METAL DETECTORS.

THE FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH SAID INITIALLY THAT IT EXPECTED A TOTAL OF 650-THOUSAND BELIEVERS TO ATTEND MASS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE POPE'S VISIT. BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE ATTENDANCE WILL BE MUCH LOWER.

A WEEK AGO, ONLY 250-THOUSAND PEOPLE FROM 135 COUNTRIES HAD SIGNED UP TO ATTEND THE YOUTH FESTIVAL. THE CHURCH SAYS, HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A SUDDEN INTEREST THROUGHOUT FRANCE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS AND MANY MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MAKING PLANS TO VISIT THE FRENCH CAPITAL. MEANWHILE, THE STATE RAILROAD HAS SCHEDULED EXTRA TRAINS, AND PARIS POLICE SAY THAT FOUR-THOUSAND BUSES HAVE BEEN HIRED TO BRING BELIEVERS INTO TOWN. (SIGNED)
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14-Aug-97 11:30 AM EDT (1530 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY WORKERS BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: WITH GERMANY'S JOBLESS RATE HOVERING ABOVE 11 PERCENT AND EFFORTS TO REFORM THE ECONOMY FOUNDERING, MANY GERMANS ARE CONCERNED THE COUNTRY'S SO-CALLED ECONOMIC MIRACLE MAY HAVE COME TO AN END. BUT, AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, CHANGING THE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY WILL NOT BE EASY.

TEXT: WITH HIS GENEROUS SOCIAL BENEFITS, 40 DAYS OF PAID VACATION, AND AMPEL MONTHLY SALARY, 36-YEAR-OLD HORST ERTHEL, IS A PROUD MEMBER OF GERMANY'S HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE.

BUT MR. ERTHEL, WHO WORKS AT AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP IN BONN, KNOWS THE NATION'S ECONOMY IS NOT DOING WELL, AND MAJOR CHANGES WILL HAVE TO BE MADE.

THE BUREAUCRACY IS TOO STRONG, MR. ERTHEL SAYS. THE ECONOMY NEEDS TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE, THERE NEEDS TO BE QUICKER REACTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS FACING GERMANY TODAY IS JOBLESSNESS. UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN HOVERING AT MORE THAN 11 PERCENT AND THE HIGH COST OF SOCIAL BENEFITS HAS DRIVEN UP GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S HAS PROPOSED A SERIES OF REFORMS, BUT OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE BLOCKED HIS CALLS FOR CUTS IN TAXES AND SOCIAL BENEFITS.

UNION LEADERS SAY IT IS NOT FAIR TO PUT THE BURDEN OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS WHO MADE GERMANY ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DYNAMIC ECONOMIES.

BUT BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES SAY EVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT PROPOSALS DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO REVERSE THE COUNTRY'S DECLINE. A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AXEL NITSCHKE, SAYS GERMAN LABOR COSTS ARE SIMPLY TOO HIGH FOR COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD NEW WORKERS.

YES, THEY HAVE TO BE CUT AND THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL PROPOSALS FOR THAT. BUT THOSE PROPOSALS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. THEY JUST CHANGE THE BURDEN FROM SOCIAL INSURANCE COSTS TO TAX COSTS FOR COMPANIES, AND THAT CANNOT BE THE SOLUTION. THERE HAVE TO BE CUTS IN COSTS OVERALL.

ONE IDEA THAT HAS BEEN TRIED IN HOLLAND IS TO CUT WORKING HOURS IN AN EFFORT TO BOOST EMPLOYMENT. BUT WORKERS LIKE MR. ERTHEL, SAY THEY HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THAT SOLUTION.

FEWER HOURS WILL NOT BRING MORE JOBS, MR. ERTHEL SAYS. I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE SAME WORK WILL HAVE TO BE DONE BY THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY THERE. THEY WILL JUST HAVE TO DO IT IN LESS TIME AND THE QUALITY WILL SUFFER. GERMANY PRODUCES QUALITY PRODUCTS, HE SAYS. YOU CANNOT SAY WORKERS ARE PAID TOO MUCH AND DO TOO LITTLE.

NEVERTHELESS, THE HIGH COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN GERMANY HAS BECOME A CENTRAL ELEMENT OF A NATIONWIDE DEBATE. MANY GERMANS REMAIN PROUD OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEM THEY HAVE BUILT AND THEY REJECT THE KIND OF SYSTEM THAT HAS FLOURISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE THERE IS FAR LESS JOB SECURITY.

WITH ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR, CHANCELLOR KOHL HAS ALREADY BEGUN POSITIONING HIMSELF AS AN ADVOCATE OF GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY.

BUT BUILDING A NATIONAL CONSENSUS WILL BE DIFFICULT, AND MANY GERMANS ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN MR. KOHL'S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES. ONE RECENT POLL FOUND THAT ONLY ONE IN FIVE OF THOSE QUESTIONED THOUGHT MR. KOHL'S CONSERVATIVE PARTY WAS THE MOST COMPETENT TO SOLVE GERMANY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

AND THE OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS ARE HOPING THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT SENTIMENT IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/EH
14-Aug-97 11:56 AM EDT (1556 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP MODESTLY TODAY (THURSDAY) AFTER ANOTHER VOLATILE SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79-HUNDRED-42, UP 13 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 924, UP TWO POINTS.

IT WAS ANOTHER IN A RECENT STRING OF VOLATILE DAYS ON WALL STREET. STOCK PRICES SOARED IN EARLY TRADING, WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINING 60 POINTS. ENTHUSIASM THEN BEGAN TO WANE AND THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DROPPED MORE THAN 50 POINTS. STOCK PRICES TURNED SLIGHTLY POSITIVE IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF TRADING.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED CONSUMER PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE ONLY A MODEST TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN JULY, ABOUT WHAT ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED.

TALKS AIMED AT ENDING THE 11-DAY STRIKE AGAINST THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE RESUMED WITH THE HELP OF A U-S GOVERNMENT LABOR MEDIATOR. BEFORE THE MEETING, U-P-S CHAIRMAN JAMES KELLY INDICATED THE COMPANY MIGHT ADOPT A MORE FLEXIBLE POSITION ON THE QUESTION OF WHO WILL CONTROL THE WORKERS' PENSION FUNDS. THE STRIKE BY NEARLY 200-THOUSAND U-P-S WORKERS IS THE LARGEST LABOR WALKOUT IN THE UNITED STATES IN 27 YEARS.

FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO THE 23-BILLION-DOLLAR MERGER OF BELL ATLANTIC AND NYNEX, TWO REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. THE NEW COMPANY WILL BE THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRM AFTER A-T-AND-T.

TWO MAJOR U-S RETAILERS REPORTED VERY DIFFERENT EARNINGS PERFORMANCE IN THE LATEST QUARTER. THE RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM AT THE K-MART CORPORATION SEEMS TO BE WORKING, WITH THE COMPANY ENJOYING A 35 PERCENT PROFIT INCREASE. BUT THE WOOLWORTH COMPANY REPORTED A 181-MILLION-DOLLAR LOSS, LARGELY BECAUSE IT JUST BEGAN A RESTRUCTURING WHICH INVOLVES THE CLOSING OF THE 400 WOOLWORTH VARIETY STORES IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
14-Aug-97 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT AGE FIFTY FOR INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE POPULAR TOPICS IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE U-S PRESS.

OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION THIS THURSDAY INCLUDE: U-S POLICY TOWARD BOSNIA AND HOW THE LESSONS LEARNED BY THE U-N IN CAMBODIA APPLY; SOME THOUGHTS ON CHINA; AND A SERIES OF FASCINATING ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDS, INCLUDING ONE IN OREGON.

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

TEXT: INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH BIRTHDAYS SINCE INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN THIS WEEK AND SEVERAL PAPERS ARE TAKING NOTE, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, WHICH REMEMBERS VIVIDLY THE HORRORS OF PARTITION IN 1947.

VOICE: "FOR A PEOPLE WHOSE CULTURE WAS DEFINED TWO MILLENNIUMS AGO, FIVE DECADES MAY SEEM ONLY THE FLICK OF AN EYELID. BUT FOR MODERN INDIA, ATTAINING THE NERVOUS DIGNITY OF 50 IS AN OCCASION FOR CELEBRATION AND SELF-EXAMINATION. BOTH RESPONSES REVERBERATE AMONG NEARLY A BILLION INDIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD, SOME OF WHOM OUTSPOKENLY DECRY THE SHORTCOMINGS OF A COUNTRY THEY PERCEIVE AS POOR, CORRUPT AND DIVIDED. YET THIS ELOQUENT DISSENT, NO LESS THAN FIREWORKS AND PARADES, SUGGESTS THAT THIS ANNIVERSARY IS TRULY WORTH REMARKING. [OPT] TODAY'S AMBIVALENCE IS OWED IN PART TO THE UNREALISTIC HOPES AND INFLATED PROMISES THAT HERALDED THE END OF BRITISH RULE ON AUGUST 15, 1947. ..... THE AWAKENING WAS RUDE AND IMMEDIATE. NO LEADER, INDIAN OR BRITISH, ANTICIPATED THE HORRIFIC MASSACRES THAT TURNED RAILROAD TRAINS INTO VEHICLES OF DEATH. AS MANY AS A MILLION LIVES WERE LOST IN COMMUNAL CARNAGE OR IN THE PANICKY EXODUS OF MUSLIMS FLEEING TO PAKISTAN AND HINDUS FLEEING TO INDIA. [END OPT] .... IT IS A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT THAT INDIA HAS SURVIVED AS A NATION UNITED BY A COMMITMENT TO FREE ELECTIONS AND FREE SPEECH..... FIFTY YEARS ON, INDIA'S DEVOTION TO PERSONAL FREEDOM REMAINS ITS GREATEST ASSET ....."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE SUN FROM BALTIMORE, WHICH INCLUDES PAKISTAN IN ITS BIRTHDAY COMMENTS, WE READ:

VOICE: "FEW COUNTRIES ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE WITH AS NOBLE HOPES AND DIRE PREDICTIONS AS PAKISTAN AND INDIA DID ON AUGUST 14TH AND 15TH, 1947. INDIA WAS TO BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRATIC, SECULAR STATE OF MULTIPLE RELIGIONS AND LANGUAGES. PAKISTAN WAS TO BE THE STATE OF THE ISLAMIC PEOPLES OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT. THE HISTORY OF EACH IS A TESTAMENT TO NATIONAL PURPOSE VANQUISHING HORRENDOUS ODDS OF POVERTY, STRIFE, COLD WAR MANIPULATION AND HOSTILITIES WITH THE OTHER. ..... BUT EACH HAS FAILED ITS PROMISE. PAKISTAN HAS BEEN RULED BY MILITARY DICTATORS MORE THAN HALF ITS HISTORY. INDIA HAD ITS OWN LAPSE FROM DEMOCRACY. [OPT] ..... REFORMS THIS DECADE HAVE UNLEASHED ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN INDIA, CREATING MILLIONAIRES MORE RAPIDLY THAN CHINA, YET NOT TOUCHING MOST OF NEARLY A BILLION PEOPLE. [END OPT] .... THE THREE WARS INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT, THEIR NUCLEAR RIVALRY, THE DISPUTE OVER KASHMIR LASTING ALL THEIR NATIONAL LIVES, HAVE HELD THEM BACK."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE PEACEKEEPING EFFORT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS WHAT HAPPENED IN CAMBODIA, THE U-N FAILURE TO CURB FORMER KHMER ROUGE HUN SEN, WHO NOW CONTROLS THE COUNTRY, IS A STARK OBJECT LESSON FOR THE FATE OF BOSNIA.

VOICE: "AS THE CLINTON CRISIS TEAM AND ITS NATO ALLIES POWWOW [CONFER] ON WHETHER TO CUT THE RED OR THE BLACK WIRE ON THE BOSNIAN TIME BOMB, THEY SHOULD HAVE ONE THING ON THEIR MINDS: CAMBODIA. THAT'S RIGHT, CAMBODIA, THE UNITED NATIONS' FORMER CROWN JEWEL OF PEACEKEEPING. 'FORMER' BECAUSE AFTER SOME PEACE ACCORDS, ROUGHLY TWO BILLION DOLLARS, A HIGHLY PUBLICIZED INTERNATIONALLY OBSERVED ELECTION AND SOME DEAD PEACEKEEPERS, THE HOT LITTLE COUNTRY IS NEARLY BACK TO SQUARE ONE. ..... THE U-N FAILURE IN CAMBODIA RESULTED FROM WEAKNESS. IT WAS UNWILLING TO DISARM HUN SEN'S HENCHMEN AND NEUTRALIZE STATE INSTITUTIONS HE CONTROLLED. ..... ARRESTING ..... INDICTED [BOSNIAN] WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC ..... IS NOT JUST A MORAL OBLIGATION, IT'S A POLITICAL NECESSITY. IT'S CRITICAL IF THE SERB REPUBLIC IS TO STOP DRIFTING AWAY FROM A UNIFIED BOSNIA INTO A SEPARATE ENTITY AND IF CREDIBILITY IS TO BE RESTORED TO THE PEACE ACCORDS (NOT TO MENTION U-S FOREIGN POLICY.)"

TEXT: MR. CLINTON'S CHINA POLICY AS REGARDING DISSIDENTS COMES IN FOR SOME CRITICISM FROM THURSDAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES.

VOICE: "THERE ARE MANY AMERICANS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE BILL CLINTON PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS [TO PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES] IN THE MATTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHINA. AND NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME. IT'S A GOOD TIME BECAUSE MR. CLINTON IS GETTING READY TO HOST CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN IN THE FALL - - THE FIRST STATE VISIT TO THIS COUNTRY BY A CHINESE LEADER SINCE THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE NINE YEARS AGO. AND AS THE PRESIDENT SENT HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER OFF TO BEIJING THIS WEEK TO PREPARE THE GROUND FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMIT, WEI JING-SHENG, CHINA'S MOST FAMOUS DISSIDENT, LANGUISHED STILL IN AN UNSPEAKABLE CHINESE PRISON CAMP. ..... MR. CLINTON, LIVING IN PEACE AND COMFORT IN THE FREEST SOCIETY IN THE WORLD, HAS THE POWER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MR. WEI AND HIS FELLOW DISSIDENTS."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD CELEBRATES A VISIT TO THE CITY BY MORE THAN 40 CHINESE EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVES, PROVINCIAL LEGISLATORS, AND BUSINESS PEOPLE, FOR THE 16TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE U-S - CHINA PEOPLES FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION. THE PAPER POINTS OUT:

VOICE: "A MAJOR COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS THIS FALL WILL SET THE COURSE OF THE COUNTRY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. CHINA IS ON THE VERGE OF MAJOR CHANGE, AND PORTLAND WILL FEEL SOME OF ITS CURRENTS THIS WEEK. ......THE CRITICAL ROLE OF TRADE IN U-S - CHINESE FRIENDSHIP IS REFLECTED IN THE LARGE NUMBER OF BUSINESS PEOPLE, AMERICAN AND CHINESE, INVOLVED IN THE PORTLAND CONVENTION."

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE U-P-S STRIKE, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WONDERS WHY TEAMSTERS UNION PRESIDENT RON CAREY IS TALKING SO TOUGH, WHEN HE HAS SO LITTLE OF HIS UNION'S OWN MONEY TO BACK A LONG WALKOUT BY HIS MEMBERS EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOW BORROWING MONEY FROM THE AFL-CIO.

VOICE: "ALAS, THE TEAMSTERS' CASH POSITION ISN'T QUITE UP TO TAKING SUCH A FLYER [RISK]; WITH 98-MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS AND 81 MILLION IN LIABILITIES, THE UNION HAS 17-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH TO SUPPORT A STRIKE WHOSE COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE TEN MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK. GOSH, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?"

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST PAYS TRIBUTE TO A QUARTET OF CUBAN DISSIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES, WHILE ALL THEY WANTED WAS TO READ A PAPER TO THE FORTHCOMING COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS IN HAVANA, WITH A TRUE PICTURE OF CUBA'S CURRENT, SELF-MADE PROBLEMS.

VOICE: "IT IS HARD TO READ THE DOCUMENT 'THE HOMELAND BELONGS TO US ALL' FOR WHICH THESE ACTIVISTS ARE NOW IMPRISONED WITHOUT ASKING IF THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE WAVE OF A DEMOCRATIC CUBA'S FUTURE. THEY SEEK 'A CONSENSUS FREELY REACHED BY THE CITIZENRY ....IF, AS ITS LEADERS ASSERT, THE CITIZENRY IN GENERAL SUPPORTS THE COMMUNIST PARTY, THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO HOLD INTERNATIONALLY-SUPERVISED, FREE ELECTIONS, WHICH WOULD SERVE TO SILENCE ALL THE DETRACTORS OF THE SYSTEM.'"

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE NEWS THAT THE FAMOUS OVER-WINTER CAMP OF FAMED U-S EXPLORERS LEWIS AND CLARK MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND IN OREGON, AFTER EQUALLY STARTLING DISCOVERIES BY ROBERT BALLARD, OF ROMAN SHIPWRECKS DEEP IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, HAS PROMPTED THE WASHINGTON POST TO WRITE:

VOICE: "ALL THESE FINDS ARE TESTAMENT TO GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TENACITY, YEARS OF STUDY AND RISK-TAKING AS WELL AS SOME NIFTY NEW TECHNOLOGY. .... AS PROFESSIONALS, ARCHAEOLOGISTS ..... WORK GOES MOSTLY UNHERALDED BY THE LAY PUBLIC UNTIL IT INVOLVES HISTORICAL SITES, PEOPLES AND EVENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE GENERAL CORE OF KNOWLEDGE. BUT IN RECENT YEARS ..... ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE GROWN MORE AWARE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF CULTIVATING PUBLIC INTEREST, PARTICULARLY SINCE MANY OF THE DIGS ARE FUNDED WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS."

TEXT: WITH THOSE THOUGHTS, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
14-Aug-97 10:28 AM EDT (1428 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N / ALBANIA SECURITY (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS (THURSDAY) URGING ALBANIA TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO FIGHT BANDITRY AND GANG VIOLENCE FOLLOWING THE RECENT WITHDRAWAL OF A MULTINATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE FROM THAT COUNTRY. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: DURING SEVERAL HOURS OF TALKS, MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL PRAISED THE MULTI-NATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE FOR PREVENTING CIVIL WAR IN ALBANIA. DIPLOMATS SAID IMPORTANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN POLITICAL REFORM, INCLUDING THE HOLDING OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN LATE JUNE AND EARLY JULY.

THE SEVEN THOUSAND TROOP FORCE, WITH SOLDIERS FROM 10 COUNTRIES, WAS DEPLOYED IN ALBANIA IN APRIL. IT ENTERED ALBANIA AMID VIOLENCE AND UNREST IN THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF SEVERAL INVESTMENT SCHEMES THAT COST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. THE LAST TROOPS IN THE FORCE LEFT THE COUNTRY ON MONDAY.

MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES, SOUTH KOREA, CHILE, JAPAN AND EGYPT, SAID THEY ARE EAGER TO HELP ALBANIA REBUILD ITS FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES. BUT, A SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT -- READ BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHN WESTON -- STRESSED THAT SUCH ASSISTANCE WILL BE CONDITIONAL ON IMPROVED SECURITY IN ALBANIA.

THE NECESSARY INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE CONDITIONAL UPON ALBANIA'S OWN EFFORTS AT ACHIEVING RECONCILIATION, SECURITY, REHABILITATION AND ECONOMIC REFORM.

ARMED GANGS REMAIN A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN SOME AREAS OF ALBANIA, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. EARLIER THIS WEEK, POLICE LAUNCHED A NEW CRACKDOWN ON GANGSTERS. MORE THAN 15 HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ALBANIA SINCE VIOLENCE BEGAN IN MARCH.

U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH CALLED FOR AN END TO THE PYRAMID SCHEMES, BANDITRY, FACTIONALISM AND DISORDER. ALBANIA'S AMBASSADOR, PELLUMB KULLA, PRAISED THE UNITED NATIONS FOR PREVENTING THE CRISIS IN HIS COUNTRY FROM WORSENING, AND PROMISED PROGRESS IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM.

THE MAIN PRIORITIES OF THIS GOVERNMENT ARE THE QUICK ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC ORDER AND THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF THE COUNTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY WILL BE ASSURED WITHIN A SHORT TIME, AND ALBANIA WILL ENTER ON THE PATH OF NORMAL AND SOLID DEVELOPMENT.

SEVERAL SPEAKERS IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING SAID THE U-N INTERVENTION IN ALBANIA SHOULD BE USED AS A MODEL FOR DEALING WITH OTHER CASES OF INSTABILITY. ITALY'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE TALKS SAID IF SIMILAR ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA, THOUSANDS OF LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/EH
14-Aug-97 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/BOSNIA TROOPS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS SHARPLY INCREASING ITS TROOP PRESENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN ADVANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD THERE IN MID-SEPTEMBER. AS MANY AS 12-THOUSAND U-S SOLDIERS WILL BE IN BOSNIA IN A FEW WEEKS -- THE MOST SINCE THE INITIAL NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE WAS WITHDRAWN AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE PENTAGON SAYS THE U-S CONTINGENT IN THE MULTINATIONAL STABILIZATION FORCE -- S-FOR -- WILL GROW FROM ABOUT EIGHT THOUSAND TROOPS TO AS MANY AS TWELVE THOUSAND IN THE COMING WEEKS.

BUT IT IS DISMISSING THE NOTION THE INCREASE -- INCLUDING SEVERAL HUNDRED ADDITIONAL MILITARY POLICE -- MIGHT BE RELATED TO A PUSH BY NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO APPREHEND INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE ADDED U-S PRESENCE WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AN OVERLAP OF NEW TROOPS AND OTHERS SCHEDULED TO BE WITHDRAWN -- AND WILL HELP PROVIDE INCREASED SECURITY FOR BOSNIA'S LONG-DELAYED MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS:

THERE ARE CURRENTLY SLIGHTLY FEWER THAN EIGHT THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA. OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, NEW SOLDIERS WILL COME IN. BUT THERE WILL BE A DELAY IN THE EXIT OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIERS. SO THERE WILL BE A TEMPORARY BUILDUP TO ELEVEN OR TWELVE THOUSAND SOLDIERS. AND THAT'S TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL PRESENCE DURING THE ELECTIONS -- THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS -- WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELD IN MID-SEPTEMBER, I THINK THE 13TH AND THE 14TH.

THE MUNICIPAL VOTING WAS ORIGINALLY TO HAVE BEEN HELD LAST SEPTEMBER BUT WAS PUT OFF DUE TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS, INCLUDING WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN THE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS. THE ELECTIONS POSE GREATER SECURITY PROBLEMS THAN LAST YEAR'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS -- SINCE MANY POTENTIAL VOTERS ARE REFUGEES WHO WILL HAVE TO CROSS ETHNIC DIVIDING LINES TO CAST BALLOTS IN THEIR PRE-WAR HOME TOWNS.

MR. BACON SAID THE TROOP INCREASE HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED FOR MONTHS AND DECLINED TO CONNECT IT TO WHAT HE CALLED "HYPOTHETICAL SPECULATION" ABOUT AN POSSIBLE EFFORT BY THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES TO ARREST PROMINENT BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

HE SAID A NUMBER OF OPTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO HELP THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE BRING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. BUT HE SAID HE STANDS BY THE PENTAGON'S DENIAL EARLIER THIS WEEK OF REPORTS THAT U-S AND ALLIED SPECIAL FORCES HAVE BEEN TRAINING TO SEIZE PROMINENT SUSPECTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/ENE/PT
14-Aug-97 4:15 PM EDT (2015 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / BOSNIA TROOPS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS SHARPLY INCREASING ITS TROOP PRESENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN ADVANCE OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD THERE NEXT MONTH. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE PENTAGON SAYS THE U-S PRESENCE IN BOSNIA WILL GROW FROM JUST UNDER EIGHT-THOUSAND TROOPS TO AS MANY AS 12-THOUSAND IN THE COMING WEEKS. BUT IT IS DISMISSING THE NOTION THE INCREASE MIGHT BE RELATED TO A PUSH BY NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO APPREHEND INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE ADDED U-S PRESENCE WILL INCREASE SECURITY FOR BOSNIA'S LONG-DELAYED MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

NEW SOLDIERS WILL COME IN. BUT THERE WILL BE A DELAY IN THE EXIT OF THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIERS. SO THERE WILL BE A TEMPORARY BUILDUP TO 11- OR 12-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. AND THAT'S TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL PRESENCE DURING THE ELECTIONS -- THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS -- WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELD IN MID-SEPTEMBER, I THINK THE 13TH AND THE 14TH.

MR. BACON SAYS A NUMBER OF OPTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO HELP THE TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE BRING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. BUT HE SAID HE STANDS BY THE PENTAGON'S DENIAL EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT U-S AND ALLIED SPECIAL FORCES HAVE BEEN TRAINING TO SEIZE PROMINENT SUSPECTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/RRM
14-Aug-97 3:38 PM EDT (1938 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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