Voice of America, 97-08-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / SERBS (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] EDITORIAL: MEETING WITH KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER

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

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

[05] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[01] BOSNIA / SERBS (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS HAVE SET UP POSITIONS AROUND POLICE STATIONS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB TOWN OF BANJA LUKA, AS A POWER STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE BOSNIAN-SERB REPUBLIC CONTINUES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS WATCHING THE SITUATION FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE, WHERE HE FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: NATO TROOPS MOVED INTO PLACE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT POLICE STATIONS IN BANJA LUKA WHERE INVESTIGATORS SAY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS MAY HAVE OCCURRED.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE FOUND ENOUGH WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES TO FILL SEVERAL LARGE TRUCKS. EARLIER, THEY FOUND HUNDREDS OF TAPES OF RECORDED TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS AND EQUIPMENT FOR A SOPHISTICATED WIRETAPPING OPERATION CAPABLE OF MONITORING 50 SIMULTANEOUS CONVERSATIONS. UNTIL RECENTLY THE POLICE IN BANJA LUKA HAD BEEN CONTROLLED BY FORCES LOYAL TO BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC'S BITTER RIVAL, WAR CRIMES SUSPECT RADOVAN KARADZIC. AMONG THOSE TARGETED IN THE WIRETAPS WERE MRS. PLAVSIC AND MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IN BANJA LUKA.

THAT COURT RECENTLY INVALIDATED A DECLARATION BY MRS. PLAVSIC TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT AND CALL NEW ELECTIONS.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY THE WIRETAPPING WAS USED TO INTIMIDATE MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT. SIMON HASELOCK IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE (EDS: CARLOS WESTENDORP). HE SAYS MRS. PLAVSIC WAS CLEARLY ACTING WITHIN HER AUTHORITY WHEN SHE CALLED FOR NEW ELECTIONS.

THE RULING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, CALLING THAT INTO QUESTION. (HAS) CLEARLY BEEN TAKEN, FIRSTLY, UNDER POLITICAL PRESSURE, RATHER THAN UNDER LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PHYSICAL PRESSURE AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE COURT -- WHICH BASICALLY INVALIDATE THE JUDGMENT, EVEN IF IT HAD A LEGAL BASIS, WHICH WE DON'T ACCEPT.

MR. KARADZIC HAS BEEN INDICTED ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. LIKE MOST OTHER BOSNIAN SUSPECTS, HE HAS ELUDED CAPTURE. HIS WHEREABOUTS ARE WELL KNOWN, BUT HE IS WELL-GUARDED, AND NATO-LED "S-FOR" (STABILIZATION FORCES) TROOPS HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO TRY TO CAPTURE HIM UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

MRS. PLAVSIC HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A RATHER UNLIKELY, UNANIMOUS CHOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. SHE IS COMMITTED SERB NATIONALIST, BUT IN RECENT MONTHS HAS SHOWN ENOUGH DEDICATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO WIN SUPPORT AS A CREDIBLE RIVAL TO MR. KARADZIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/KL
20-Aug-97 8:50 AM EDT (1250 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: MEETING WITH KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER

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:

THIS MONTH, KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA VISITED WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS THE NON-VIOLENT POLICIES ADVOCATED BY DR. RUGOVA AND HIS PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO. HIS RESTRAINT IN THE FACE OF SERIOUS PROVOCATIONS COMMANDS RESPECT. AS SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAID, THE U.S. HAS "THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR THE WORK THAT [DR. RUGOVA] IS CARRYING OUT IN KOSOVO."

THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DENY BASIC RIGHTS TO KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS. THESE CITIZENS SUFFER SERIOUS ABUSES AT THE HANDS OF SERBIAN AUTHORITIES, PARTICULARLY THE POLICE AND COURTS. THE U.S. AND OTHER NATO MEMBERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE BELGRADE REGIME THAT THERE WILL BE NO RELIEF FROM INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS UNTIL SERBIA HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS THE GRIEVANCES OF KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN COMMUNITY.

THE U.S. IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL KILLINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN KOSOVO THIS YEAR. THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO SHOULD PUBLICLY CONDEMN SUCH INCIDENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BELGRADE REGIME SHOULD NOT USE CONCERN ABOUT TERRORISM AS AN EXCUSE TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN COMMUNITY. THE TRIALS OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS HAVE FALLEN FAR SHORT OF WESTERN JUDICIAL STANDARDS.

THE U.S. CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO, BUT NOT INDEPENDENCE. REDRAWING OF BORDERS WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO STABILITY. A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF KOSOVO MUST BE FOUND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. THE U.S. CALLS FOR DEMOCRATIZATION THROUGHOUT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, INCLUDING KOSOVO. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT LAST YEAR'S KOSOVO EDUCATION AGREEMENT BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL ETHNIC ALBANIAN CHILDREN TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AND BE TAUGHT IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. KOSOVARS MUST BE GUARANTEED THE RIGHTS TO WHICH THEY -- AND ALL PEOPLE -- ARE ENTITLED.

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.
20-Aug-97 1:49 PM EDT (1749 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ON THE MAJOR MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE WERE UP AGAIN WEDNESDAY, CONTINUING THE RECOVERY FROM THE SHARP FALL EARLY IN THE WEEK. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING MARKET FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: SOME ANALYSTS ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHICH WAY THE RECENTLY VOLATILE STOCK MARKETS MAY MOVE. SUMMER HOLIDAYS HAVE KEPT MANY INVESTORS AWAY. OTHERS ARE WATCHING FOR A CLEAR DIRECTION. BUT THAT DIRECTION WEDNESDAY WAS CLEARLY UP -- AS KEY MARKET INDEXES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL CLOSED ON A HIGH NOTE.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED UP JUST OVER 42 POINTS, IN PARIS THE "CAC 40" INDEX OF STOCKS ADDED 43 POINTS IN VALUE, AND THE GERMAN "DAX 30" INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 54 POINTS WEDNESDAY.

THE DOLLAR WAS UP ALMOST A PFENNIG AGAINST THE MARK AND MORE THAN A CENT AGAINST THE POUND.

GOLD WAS DOWN THREE DOLLARS AN OUNCE IN THE LONDON CLOSING FIX, SELLING AT 322-DOLLARS-25 CENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
20-Aug-97 2:11 PM EDT (1811 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 TODAY (WEDNESDAY), WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINING MORE THAN 100 POINTS FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT EIGHT-THOUSAND-21, UP 103 POINTS. THE MORE INCLUSIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 939, UP 13 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY OPTIMISM AGAIN RULES WALL STREET AND LAST FRIDAY'S STEEP THREE PERCENT DROP IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE IS NOW VIEWED BY MANY AS A BRIEF ABERRATION IN A CONTINUING STRONG STOCK MARKET.

THE LATEST U-S TRADE FIGURES SURPRISED WALL STREET. THE TRADE DEFICIT DROPPED BY ALMOST 15 PERCENT IN JUNE AS IMPORTS DECLINED AND U-S EXPORTS ROSE DESPITE THE STRONG U-S DOLLAR. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE OVERALL DROP, THE BILATERAL U-S TRADE DEFICITS WITH CHINA AND JAPAN BOTH ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE STOCK OF THE DELL COMPUTER COMPANY WAS UP AFTER BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS.

THE STOCK OF NEWSCORP, THE AUSTRALIAN-BASED MEDIA COMPANY, DROPPED AFTER REPORTING DISAPPOINTING EARNINGS. THE COMPANY CITED TWO MAJOR MOVIE FLOPS AND THE COSTS OF RESTRUCTURING ITS HARPER COLLINS BOOK PUBLISHING DIVISION.

NORTHWEST AIRLINES SAYS IT WILL SLASH FARES BY UP TO 40 PERCENT FOR DOMESTIC TRAVEL IN THE UNITED STATES. NORTHWEST SAYS THE NEW POLICY WILL REPLACE PERIODIC PROMOTIONAL FARES, WHICH TYPICALLY LAST FOR ONLY NARROW PERIODS OF TIME.

A RESEARCH COMPANY (DATAQUEST) SAYS THE NUMBER OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WILL RISE 72 PERCENT THIS YEAR TO 82-MILLION. THE STUDY ALSO FORECASTS THAT ABOUT 270-MILLION COMPUTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET BY THE YEAR 2001. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
20-Aug-97 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE NATIONWIDE STRIKE AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PACKAGE DELIVERY SERVICE, EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE NOW WRITING THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT THE STRIKE. AND FEDERAL AIR-SAFETY INVESTIGATORS HAVE MADE THEIR CONCLUSIONS ABOUT LAST YEAR'S FATAL PASSENGER PLANE CRASH IN MIAMI. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: AFTER 15 DAYS, THE TEAMSTERS UNION AND UNITED PARCEL SERVICE -- U-P-S -- HAVE REACHED ARGEEMENT TO END THE STRIKE AGAINST THE DELIVERY COMPANY. IT WAS A STRIKE THAT VIRTUALLY SHUT DOWN DELIVERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FORCED LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO SEARCH FOR ALTERNATE WAYS TO DELIVER PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS. THE LABOR DISPUTE HAS BEEN A RICH SOURCE OF MATERIAL FOR EDITORIAL WRITERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA, HEADQUARTERS OF U-P-S, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION NEWSPAPER ADVISES LABOR AND MANAGEMENT THAT IT IS "TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK." AND "THOUGH ORGANIZED LABOR SEEMS TO HAVE COME OUT ON TOP, BOTH SIDES CAN DRAW LESSONS FROM THE STRIKE...." ONE LESSON, WRITES THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION:

VOICE: "...IT'S THAT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TAILORED TO FIT TODAY'S EMPLOYMENT REALITY. IN 1997, GOOD WORKERS ARE SCARCE. [BEGIN OPT] ... THE KEY TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS IN COMING YEARS, WILL NOT LIE IN 'DOWNSIZING' [I.E. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF WORKERS], SQUEEZING OR INTIMIDATING, BUT IN GETTING WORKERS TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE BY USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND GREATER TRAINING." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, THE LOS ANGELES TIME WRITES THAT "A NATIONWIDE SIGH OF RELIEF WAS ALMOST AUDIBLE" AS THE COUNTRY LEARNED THE FAMILIAR BROWN U-P-S DELIVERY TRUCKS WOULD BE BACK ON THE ROAD. BUT WHO WON? ASKS THE L-A TIMES.

VOICE: "LABOR CHARACTERIZED ITSELF AS VICTORIOUS. THE COMPANY SAID IT GOT WHAT IT NEEDED. [BEGIN OPT] FOR NOW, THE TEAMSTERS ARE FEELING REFRESHED AND EMBOLDENED, HAVING STAGED A STRIKE WELL CALCULATED TO APPEAL TO A BROAD SPECTRUM OF WORKERS AND SHORE UP THE UNION'S TARNISHED IMAGE. [END OPT] IT'S PREMATURE TO PORTRAY THE SETTLEMENT AS A WATERSHED EVENT FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT AFTER YEARS OF DECLINING MEMBERSHIP AND CLOUT."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE, HOWEVER, CALLS THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT "A WIN FOR WORKERS" AND ADDS THAT "THE ECONOMIC ISSUES IT RAISED STRUCK A RESPONSIVE CHORD." THE EDITORIAL GOES ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "THE ... ANXIETIES OF WORKERS IN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE CONTINGENT ECONOMY -- PART-TIMERS, CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, CONSULTANTS, AND TEMPORARY WORKERS -- FOUND THEIR VOICE IN THE TEAMSTERS STRIKE. ... THE SENSE THAT THE CURRENT AMERICAN PROSPERITY IS NOT EQUALLY SHARED - THAT LOW INFLATION, A BOOMING STOCK MARKET, AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT HAVE NOT PUSHED UP WAGES FOR A WHOLE SECTOR OF THE WORK FORCE -- BOLSTER THE STRIKERS' CASE. FAILTURE TO ADDRESS THAT ANXIETY COULD ONLY LEAD TO MORE UNREST."

TEXT: ON MAY 11, 1996, VALUJET FLIGHT 592 TOOK OFF FROM MIAMI AIRPORT. MINUTES LATER, ITS FIERY CRASH INTO THE EVERGLADES KILLED ALL 110 PERSONS ON BOARD. FOR THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS BEEN CONDUCTING HEARINGS INTO THE CRASH. TUESDAY, (AUG. 19) AT A FINAL PUBLIC HEARING. THEY ISSUED WHAT USA TODAY CALLS "DEVASTATING CONCLUSIONS."

TEXT: "VALUJET 592 NEED NOT HAVE PERISHED. ITS 110 PASSENGERS AND CREW WOULD HAVE SURVIVED WERE IT NOT FOR MASSIVE AND MULTIPLE RIPS IN THE SAFETY NET OF U-S AVIATION. [BEGIN OPT] ... THE PREVENTABLE CAUSE: MISLABELED, IMPROPERLY PACKED OXYGEN GENERATORS FUELED AN IN-FLIGHT CARGO-HOLD FIRE. ... NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO RECTIFY THAT EGREGIOUS WRONG. AND ITS AFTERMATH DID PRODUCE SOME SIGNIFICANT REFORMS - FROM THE FREDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO THE AIRLINES TO MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS. [END OPT]

TEXT: FINALLY, THE MIAMI HERALD HEADLINES ITS EDITORIAL ABOUT THE VALUJET CRASH, "AN INDICTMENT OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRAION" AND GOES ON TO WRITE THAT, "IN THE VALUJET CRASH [THE] NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HEARINGS AIRED DAMNING EVIDENCE OF LAX OVERSIGHT." THE MIAMI HERALD GOES ON TO ASK:

VOICE: "COULD THE 110 LIVES LOST ... HAVE BEEN SAVED? THE ANSWER IS A POIGANT 'PERHAPS.' TO THE EQUALLY VITAL QUESTION, WILL SUCH DISASTERS BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE?, THE ANSWER AGAIN IS 'PERHAPS.' THAT IS, SUCH DISASTERS COULD BE AVERTED IF THE [SAFETY BOARD'S] FINAL HEARING ON AIRLINE DISASTERS EVOLVES FROM BEING AN ANTICLIMAX TO BEING A PRELUDE TO DECISIVE ACTION TO MAKE AIR TRAVEL SAFER."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/GE/RRM
20-Aug-97 10:11 AM EDT (1411 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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