Voice of America, 97-09-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANNAN/ANNUAL REPORT (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[02] BOSNIAN SERB WARNING (S ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

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

[04] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[06] SARAJEVO RALLY (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

[01] ANNAN/ANNUAL REPORT (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN -- IN AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE WORLD -- HAS CALLED ON GOVERNMENTS TO PUT MORE ENERGY INTO MULTILATERAL COOPERATION AS THE WORLD RE-ALIGNS ITSELF AFTER THE COLD WAR. MR. ANNAN HOPES TO PUT HIS WORLD VIEW ON PROMINENT DISPLAY BEFORE NATIONAL LEADERS IN A MAJOR SPEECH SEPTEMBER 22ND TO THE NEW SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL NOTES IN HIS REPORT SOME 120 COUNTRIES NOW HOLD GENERALLY FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS -- THE LARGEST NUMBER IN HISTORY. BUT MR. ANNAN SEES THE WORLD IN A KIND OF "FREE-FALL" SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR. HE BELIEVES GOVERNMENTS MUST COOPERATE MORE INTENSELY IF THEY HOPE TO MANAGE THE CHAOS.

MR. ANNAN POINTS TO THE STRONG EMERGENCE OF ETHNIC TENSIONS -- WHAT HE CALLS IDENTITY POLITICS -- AND THE GENOCIDAL, INHUMANE BEHAVIOR THAT TERM OFTEN IMPLIES -- INCLUDING RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WAR. HE SAYS CENTRAL ASIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE TRAGIC CASES IN POINT.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IDENTIFIES GLOBALIZATION AS PERHAPS THE MOST PROFOUNDLY INFLUENTIAL SOURCE OF RAPID CHANGE SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION TURNED TRADE INTO A ROUTINE FEATURE OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE. THE DOWNSIDE IS MANY COUNTRIES ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND IN THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION. MR. ANNAN NOTES TWO-THIRDS OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT GOES TO EAST ASIA, WITH CHINA CLAIMING SOME 40 PERCENT OF THE WHOLE. AFRICA, BY CONTRAST, RECEIVES A MERE FOUR PERCENT. MEANWHILE, OFFICIAL FOREIGN AID IS DECLINING.

MR. ANNAN ALSO POINTS OUT THAT THE TECHNOLOGICAL BOON (ADVANCEMENT) ASSOCIATED WITH PROSPERITY IS ABETTING INTERNATIONAL CRIME -- SUCH AS DRUG TRAFFICKING AND TERRORISM -- AND REQUIRES CAREFUL REGULATION.

U-N REFORM IS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THE NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IS SEEKING A PRIME TIME POSITION EARLY IN THE SESSION TO STRESS GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY. IF GOVERNMENTS AGREE, HIS SPEECH COULD COME ON THE SAME DAY U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON MIGHT ALSO BE SPEAKING TO THE WORLD BODY.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- IN OFFICE LESS THAN A YEAR -- HAS ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO RE-HAUL HIS ADMINISTRATION. HE IS NOW CALLING ON GOVERNMENTS TO DO THEIR PART BY SETTING PRIORITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION. HE SAYS THE ORGANIZATION -- IN FINANCIAL CRISIS SINCE WASHINGTON STARTED WITHHOLDING ITS MANDATORY DUES -- DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO MEET ALL DEMANDS OR FUND OUT-DATED PROGRAMS. (SIGNED)
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08-Sep-97 11:15 AM EDT (1515 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIAN SERB WARNING (S ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE THAT ADMINISTERS CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD FOR BOSNIA HAS IMPLICITLY WARNED THE SERB MEMBER OF BOSNIA'S JOINT PRESIDENCY THAT HE MUST ATTEND A MEETING THIS WEEK. OTHERWISE, THE REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONSIDER HIM TO HAVE RESIGNED. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS DETAILS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE, DUNCAN BULLIVANT, SAID EACH MEMBER OF THE MULTI-ETHNIC PRESIDENCY HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO ATTEND FORMAL MEETINGS OF THE COUNTRY'S JOINT INSTITUTIONS, OR TO APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE. THE TRIPARTITE PRESIDENCY INCLUDES ONE CROAT, ONE MUSLIM AND ONE SERB.

ALTHOUGH NO NAMES WERE MENTIONED, THE SERB MEMBER OF THE JOINT BODY, MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, FAILED TO ATTEND THE LAST TWO MEETINGS OR TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO REPRESENT HIM.

MR. BULLIVANT SAID IF A MEMBER FAILS TO ATTEND THREE SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS, THAT MEMBER WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE RESIGNED AND NEW ELECTIONS FOR THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY WILL BE CALLED.

MR. KRAJISNIK REFUSED TO ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING BECAUSE IT WAS HELD IN SARAJEVO ON BOSNIAN FEDERATION TERRITORY. BUT HE ALSO FAILED TO TURN UP AT THE SECOND MEETING IN LUKAVICA, IN THE SERB REPUBLIC. THE THIRD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SOMETIME THIS WEEK IN SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)
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08-Sep-97 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: DESPITE HIGHER PRICES ON WALL STREET, EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS MONDAY CLOSED MOSTLY LOWER. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE CONFIDENT MOOD BY INVESTORS IN NEW YORK CAME TOO LATE TO INFLUENCE BUYING IN MUCH OF WESTERN EUROPE. WHILE SOME OF THE BIG MARKETS MANAGED TO TURN AROUND DEEPER LOSSES FROM EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE MARKETS WERE MOSTLY LOWER.

THE GERMAN "DAX 30" INDEX SHED ALMOST 33 POINTS AT THE CLOSE, BUT LATE HOUR COMPUTER TRADING ON THE FRANKFURT MARKET WAS IN POSITIVE TERRITORY. HERE IN LONDON, THE INFLUENTIAL "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED DOWN NINE POINTS FOR THE DAY. ONLY THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX CLOSED HIGHER -- GAINING MORE THAN 16 POINTS IN MONDAY'S TRADING.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR CONTINUED TO GAIN, ADDING MORE THAN A PFENNIGE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND A CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD WAS PRICED AT 321-DOLLARS-85 CENTS AN OUNCE IN THE LONDON CLOSING FIX -- A DECLINE OF 30 CENTS FROM THE CLOSE ON FRIDAY. (SIGNED)
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08-Sep-97 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AFTER A WEEK AND A WEEKEND OF GRIEVING FOR DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES AND MOTHER TERESA, WHO BOTH DIED LAST WEEK, THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGE WRITERS HAVE TURNED TO LESS GLAMOROUS, THOUGH NOT LESS IMPORTANT TOPICS.

THERE ARE STILL COMMENTS RELATED TO DIANA HOWEVER, REGARDING HER OPPOSITION TO LAND MINES. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE: THE EROSION OF DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG; THE DEBATE OVER SPEEDING UP TRADE LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS; THE TROUBLED SOUTH EAST ASIAN ECONOMIC "TIGERS; AND THE TRUTH COMMISSION MARCHES ON IN SOUTH AFRICA.

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

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST IS STILL TALKING ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED AND UNPRECEDENTED OUTPOURING OF GRIEF OVER THE DEATH OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, IN AN EDITORIAL ENTITLED "WHY MILLIONS MOURN."

VOICE: "LONG AFTER THOSE WHO WATCHED IN PERSON OR ON TELEVISION HAVE PASSED ON, HISTORIANS WILL BE TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE TREMENDOUS AND INTERNATIONAL OUTPOURING OF GRIEF .... OVER PRINCESS DIANA. THE DEATH OF NO OTHER FIGURE IN TODAY'S WORLD ..... COULD HAVE PROMPTED SO MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO INTERRUPT WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND MOURN. [OPT] IN BRITAIN, PERHAPS A MILLION PEOPLE CONVERGED ON LONDON TO SAY THEIR GOODBYES TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES. ELSEWHERE ........ MILLIONS AROSE AT AN UNUSUALLY EARLY HOUR TO WATCH ON TELEVISION A FUNERAL OF A WOMAN THEY KNEW ONLY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS. [END OPT] MUCH OF THE WORLD WEPT. NO ONE QUITE EXPECTED THIS. ..... DIANA, GLAMOROUS AND GOOD, WAS A DIVORCED MOTHER WHO STRUGGLED OPENLY WITH SUCH COMMONPLACE 'WOMAN'S ' ISSUES AS WEIGHT AND EATING DISORDERS. MILLIONS IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE STRUGGLES, AND IT IS THEY WHO MOST WISHED DIANA SUCCESS IN REBUILDING HER LIFE APART FROM THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR."

TEXT: OF MOTHER TERESA, WHO DIED FRIDAY, USA TODAY MAKES THESE COMPARISONS WITH THE POPULAR BRITISH PRINCESS.

VOICE: "PRINCESS DIANA WAS NO MOTHER TERESA, YET THE COINCIDENCE OF THEIR DEATHS INEVITABLY INVITES COMPARISON. BOTH CHAMPIONED THE POOR. AND BOTH USED THE MEDIA TO PROMOTE THEIR CAUSES. BUT WHERE DIANA WAS GLAMOROUS, MOTHER TERESA WAS AUSTERE. WHILE DIANA LIVED IN A WORLD OF FUND-RAISING GALAS, MOTHER TERESA NEVER STRAYED FROM THE CALCUTTA SLUMS FOR LONG. OF COURSE, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. DIANA WAS THE PRINCESS OF RAINDROP GOODNESS ..... MOTHER TERESA PROVIDED A LESS COMFORTABLE MODEL. SHE BELIEVED IN TOTAL COMMITMENT, NOT JUST CONTRIBUTION. THUS SHE DEVOTED HERSELF TO A LIFE NOT MUCH MORE LUXURIOUS THAN THAT OF THE LEPERS, THE LUNATICS AND THE DYING SHE TENDED."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE DISCUSSING THE RENEWED EMPHASIS DIANA'S DEATH GIVES TO THE DEBATE OVER ENDING THE USE OF LAND MIENS, ONE OF HER FAVORITE CAUSES. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS:

VOICE: "WHAT BETTER WAY TO REMEMBER DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, THAN DILIGENT PURSUIT OF ONE OF THE CAUSES SHE CHAMPIONED - - THE ERADICATION OF LAND MINES AND HELP FOR THEIR VICTIMS? THAT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS AT A 100-NATION CONFERENCE UNDER WAY IN OSLO, NORWAY, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19TH. ..... THE PUBLIC'S HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF DIANA'S COMMITMENT TO HELP LAND MINE VICTIMS - - A COMMITMENT THAT INCLUDED VISITS TO SUCH SCENES OF CARNAGE AS ANGOLA AND BOSNIA - - SHOULD GIVE THE PROPOSED BAN MOMENTUM."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS AFRAID THAT EMOTION IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE'S GOOD SENSE ON THE ISSUE.

VOICE: "THE PLIGHT OF MINE VICTIMS HEIGHTENED AT DIANA'S FUNERAL PAGEANT ADDS TO THE EMOTIONAL CASE ........NO ONE SERIOUSLY CLAIMS ANY BAN COULD BE COMPREHENSIVE, ENFORCEABLE OR VERIFIABLE; TWO OF THE BIGGEST PRODUCERS - - RUSSIA AND CHINA - - AREN'T EVEN TAKING PART IN THE TALKS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO DEMONSTRATING HUMANITARIAN CONCERN FOR THE VICTIMS OF LAND MINES, NO COUNTRY HAS DONE MORE THAN THE U-S WHICH UNILATERALLY MADE THE DECISION TO DEPLOY 'SMART,' SELF-DESTRUCTING, MINES AND WHICH HAS GIVEN 125-MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP WAR-TORN COUNTRIES DE-MINE. IN OSLO, THE U-S HAS DARED TO ASK FOR EXCEPTIONS CRUCIAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY; ON THE BATTLEFIELD .... AND AT THE DMZ ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, WHERE TWO-THIRDS OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ARMY IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF SEOUL. IN EITHER EVENTUALITY THE POTENTIAL VICTIMS WOULD BE THE ENEMY, NOT CIVILIANS."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG, THE WASHINGTON POST NOTES, ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST VISIT BY HONG KONG'S NEW LEADER, TUNG CHEE-HWA, TO WASHINGTON, THAT LONG RANGE PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY DON'T LOOK GOOD, ALTHOUGH THINGS HAVEN YET CHANGED MUCH.

VOICE: "THE GOOD NEWS CONSISTS MOSTLY OF WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IN THE EARLY MONTHS. [OPT] LIFE IN HONG KONG GOES ON PRETTY MUCH AS BEFORE. THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY HAS BEHAVED ITSELF. POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. THE ECONOMY, WHILE A BIT BUFFETED BY THE FINANCIAL CRISIS SWEEPING THROUGH SOUTHEAST ASIA, REMAINS STRONG. [END OPT] UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THIS CAN BE COUNTED ON FOR THE LONG TERM IS MR. TUNG DOESN'T KEEP HIS PROMISE TO BRING MORE DEMOCRACY TO HONG KONG. ..... THUS THE IMPORTANCE MANY OUTSIDERS, INCLUDING SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, HAVE ASSIGNED TO AN ELECTION NEXT SPRING, WHICH WOULD PUT BACK IN PLACE A LEGISLATURE REFLECTIVE OF POPULAR WILL. BUT THE ELECTION LAW MR. TUNG HAS DRAFTED WOULD HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. .... THE EFFECT WOULD BE TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EASILY CONTROLLABLE BY BEIJING AND LESS ACCESSIBLE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ITS ALLIES, THE TOP VOTE-GETTERS IN THE LAST ELECTION."

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES IS TAKING NOTE OF THE RECENT AND VERY CHANGING ECONOMIC FORTUNES OF SEVERAL SO-CALLED 'TIGERS' OF SOUTH EAST ASIA.

VOICE: "SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AND CURRENCIES ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE, ROILING THE ECONOMIES OF THAILAND, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA AND THE PHILIPPINES, ONCE DUBBED THE TIGERS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE. CONFIDENCE IS DETERIORATING IN THE ABILITY OF THE FOUR GOVERNMENTS TO MANAGE THE SITUATION. THIS IS A TIMELY ALERT FOR THE REGION. A DECADE OF EXPORT-DRIVEN PROSPERITY HAS MASKED DOMESTIC PROBLEMS, OVERHEATED ECONOMIES AND ERODED FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE. A NEW GAME PLAN IS NEEDED. [OPT] .... IT IS TOO EARLY TO SUGGEST THE DEMISE OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE. BUT CHANGES WILL BE REQUIRED, SOME OF THEM FUNDAMENTAL, LIKE BETTER EDUCATION AND TRAINING BEYOND BASIC MANUFACTURING SKILLS IN THE WORK FORCE. FINANCIAL SECTORS NEED REFORM. TO THE NORTH, THE CHINESE GIANT IS FLEXING ITS INDUSTRIAL MUSCLES, AND THE TIGERS WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THEIR CLAWS." [END OPT]

TEXT: STILL TALKING OF ECONOMIC MATTERS, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS HEARTILY ENDORSING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL FOR FAST TRACK AUTHORITY IN CONGRESS TO SPEED BILLS INCLUDING CHILE IN NAFTA, AND GETTING OTHER TRADE ISSUES QUICKLY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON BEGINS AN IMPORTANT BATTLE WITH CONGRESS THIS WEEK FOR RENEWAL OF 'FAST TRACK' AUTHORITY, THE RIGHT TO SUBMIT TRADE AGREEMENTS TO CONGRESS FOR A SPEEDY VOTE WITHOUT AMENDMENTS. WITHOUT FAST-TRACK PROTECTION, COUNTRIES WILL NOT NEGOTIATE TRADE ACCORDS WITH WASHINGTON FOR FEAR OF ENDLESS REVISION. NOT SURPRISINGLY, PROTECTIONIST FORCES WITHIN BOTH PARTIES WOULD BE HAPPY TO BLOCK THE NO-AMENDMENT RULE, EVEN THOUGH EVERY PRESIDENT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS HAS USED THE RULE TO OPEN UP FOREIGN MARKETS AND ALSO BRING DOWN PRICES FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS."

TEXT: TODAY'S HARTFORD COURANT IS PLEASED WITH WHAT IT SEES AS MOVEMENT TOWARD MEANINGFUL PEACE TALKS OVER NORTHERN IRELAND.

VOICE: "GERRY ADAMS' REMARKS IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK WERE NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE. THE LEADER OF SINN FEIN, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL WING, SPOKE SOOTHING WORDS OF PEACE AND COMPROMISE WHILE ON A GOODWILL TRIP. FOR SOMEONE WHO OFTEN HAS BEEN A MILITANT ADVOCATE OF THE CATHOLIC MINORITY'S INTERESTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND .... THE WORDS OF PEACE HAD AN UNFAMILIAR RING. BUT IF MR. ADAMS WAS SINCERE .... THE CHANCE FOR PROGRESS WILL BE GREATER WHEN FORMAL PEACE TALKS RESUME SEPTEMBER 15TH. .... NOBODY EXPECTS THAT PEACE WILL BREAK OUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND OVERNIGHT. BUT THAT'S WHAT AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE PROVINCE WANT. MR. ADAMS' WORDS LAST WEEK BODE WELL FOR THAT GOAL."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME COMMENTS ON THE REMARKABLE 18 MONTH HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA'S EXTRAORDINARY TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FROM THE BALTIMORE SUN.

VOICE: "SO FAR, THE COMMISSION HAS GRANTED AMNESTY TO 47 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A FULL CONFESSION TO CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED BETWEEN THE 1960 SHARPEVILLE MASSACRE AND THE END OF APARTHEID IN 1993. NEARLY 25-HUNDRED AMNESTY REQUESTS HAVE BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE A POLITICAL MOTIVE, A PRE-REQUISITE FOR PARDON, COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. .... PARDONS FOR APARTHEID ATROCITIES TEST [THE] COUNTRY'S RESOLVE FOR A NEW BEGINNING."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE NATION'S PRESS AS WE BEGIN THIS FIRST FULL WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.
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08-Sep-97 10:32 AM EDT (1432 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) AND A HUGE DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE COMPUTER ON-LINE SERVICE INDUSTRY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78 HUNDRED 35, UP 12 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 931, UP TWO POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY CONFIDENCE RETURNED TO WALL STREET AFTER A WEEKEND SPEECH BY ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. MR. GREENSPAN DID NOT INDICATE THE CENTRAL BANK WILL RAISE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES AT A MEETING LATER THIS MONTH.

IN A DEAL WORTH ONE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS, THE WORLDCOM COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WILL BUY COMPUSERVE, AN ON-LINE COMPUTER SERVICE FIRM. THEN, WORLDCOM WILL GIVE COMPUSERVE'S TWO AND ONE-HALF MILLION CUSTOMERS TO THE AMERICA ONLINE CORPORATION IN EXCHANGE FOR AMERICAS ON-LINE'S COMPUTER NETWORK SERVICES SUBSIDIARY.

THE DEAL WILL BROADEN WORLDCOM'S PRESENCE ON THE COMPUTER INTERNET AND STRENGTHEN AMERICA ONLINE'S ALREADY DOMINANT POSITION AS A CONTENT SERVICE PROVIDER.

AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANIES SAY THEY WILL NOT SETTLE A 14 BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THEM BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT SETS THE STAGE FOR THE FIRST TRIAL LATER THIS MONTH OF A STATE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. EARLIER, THE INDUSTRY HAD SETTLED CLAIMS BY THE STATES OF FLORIDA AND MISSISSIPPI. THE STATES ARE SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR THE MONEY SPENT TO TREAT SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES.

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY HAS SIGNED A 33 MILLION DOLLAR JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ANGOLA. COKE WILL UPGRADE ONE BOTTLING PLANT IN THE AFRICAN NATION AND BUILD A SECOND PLANT.

THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A CHEAP BUT RUGGED FIVE PASSENGER SEDAN MEANT FOR SALE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS. THE AUTOMOBILE, WITH AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS, COULD BE READY FOR PRODUCTION BY THE YEAR 2000.(SIGNED)
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08-Sep-97 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] SARAJEVO RALLY (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIA'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICKED OFF IN SARAJEVO (MONDAY NIGHT) WITH A RALLY BY A NEWLY FORMED COALITION WHICH INCLUDES THE RULING MUSLIM-LED PARTY OF PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC. THE TURNOUT HOWEVER WAS A MARKED CONTRAST TO LAST YEAR AS WE HEAR FROM PAMELA TAYLOR IN SARAJEVO:

TEXT: THE CROWD OF BETWEEN FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED, MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE, CHEERED AND CLAPPED TO THE MUSIC OF THEIR FAVORITE SARAJEVO MUSICIANS BUT ONLY POLITELY APPLAUDED THE POLITICIAN'S SPEECHES.

THE SCHEDULED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC, THE HEAD OF THE RULING S-D-A PARTY AND HIS NEW COALITION PARTNER, HARIS SILAJDZIC WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND. THAT LEFT THE PODIUM TO THE PRESIDENTS OF SEVERAL MINOR PARTIES AND TO BOSNIAN VICE PRESIDENT EJUP GANIC.

MR. GANIC TOLD THE CROWD IN A FIVE MINUTE SPEECH THAT HE WAS JUST PASSING BY WHEN ASKED TO ADDRESS THEM. THIS WAS IN MARKED CONTRAST TO LAST YEAR'S S-D-A RALLY IN SARAJEVO'S OLYMPIC STADIUM AT WHICH 100 THOUSAND PEOPLE TURNED OUT. THIS TIME, THERE WERE FEW OF THE MUSLIM SYMBOLS WHICH MARKED LAST YEAR'S ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN: GREEN ISLAMIC FLAGS, KORANIC GREETINGS. INSTEAD THERE WAS MUCH TALK OF RETURNING SAJAJEVO TO IT'S PRE-WAR STATE WHEN NO ONE TALKED OF ETHNIC ORIGINS.

ONE MAN IN THE CROWD -- A WAR VETERAN -- SAID HE SUPPORTED THE COALITION BUT MAINLY BECAUSE HE REALIZED THE MISTAKE HE HAD MADE LAST YEAR VOTING FOR THE MUSLIM LED PARTY OF ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC.

THIS YEAR'S LOW TURNOUT WAS ALSO IN MARKED CONTRAST WITH A RALLY THE DAY BEFORE (SUNDAY) BY ZLATKO LAGUMDZIJA OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (S-D-P). ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO HEAR HIS MESSAGE OF A UNITED AND DEMOCRATIC BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
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08-Sep-97 6:13 PM EDT (2213 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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