Voice of America, 97-09-29

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] GREECE / P-K-K (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

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

[04] THE FORMAL NATO EXPANSION BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] TURKEY/PATRIARCH BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ISTANBUL)

[06] U-S/BOSNIA (S/L) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED MONDAY ON A MIXED NOTE. FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: STOCKS TRACKED BY THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX HERE IN LONDON CLOSED OFF SIX POINTS FROM THE RECORD-HIGH LEVEL SET LAST FRIDAY. ANALYSTS PREDICTED SOME PROFIT-TAKING AS INITIAL EUPHORIA SUBSIDED OVER REPORTS BRITAIN WOULD JOIN THE PENDING SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY SOONER THAN PREDICTED. IN PARIS, THE MARKET SHOWED LITTLE SIGN OF DIRECTION WITH THE "CAC 40" INDEX OF FRENCH STOCKS GAINING JUST OVER THREE POINTS IN THIN TRADING VOLUME.

FRANKFURT'S "DAX 30" STOCK INDEX ADDED 23-AND-A-HALF POINTS IN TRADING MONDAY, BUT COMPUTERIZED DAX TRADING LATER IN THE DAY HAD PRICES CLOSING ON THE DOWN SIDE.

THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, BUT WAS DOWN A HALF-CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD IN LONDON WAS FIXED AT 326-DOLLARS-85 CENTS AN OUNCE -- DOWN 25 CENTS FROM FRIDAY'S CLOSING FIX. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/WFR
29-Sep-97 2:06 PM EDT (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] GREECE / P-K-K (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREEK OFFICIALS SAID MONDAY THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN TRACKING DOWN A WANTED KURDISH SEPARATIST AND MASTER BOMB-MAKER WHO CONTENDS HE WORKED WITH GREECE'S MOST DEADLY TERRORIST GROUP, "NOVEMBER 17." ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM ATHENS THAT CRITICS, INCLUDING WESTERN DIPLOMATS, BELIEVE THE MOVE PUTS IN QUESTION GREECE'S RESOLVE TO FIGHT TERRORISM.

TEXT: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, DIMITRIS REPPAS, DENIES THE KURDISH DEFECTORS' ALLEGATIONS, CALLING THEM YET ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF WHAT HE TERMED "GROSS TURKISH PROPAGANDA."

THE DISMISSAL COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE BRITISH SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, THE "OBSERVER," RAN A FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE FEATURING WHAT IT CALLED "THE SECRETS OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS BOMBERS: SEYDO HAZAR."

IN THE ARTICLE, THE 31-YEAR-OLD HAZAR IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS AN EXPLOSIVES EXPERT WHO CRAFTED CHEMICALLY POISONOUS BOMBS IN GREECE ON BEHALF OF THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, OR THE P-K-K.

SINCE THE EARLY 1970S, THE GROUP HAS BEEN SEEKING A SEPARATE KURDISH STATE IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY. SEVERAL WESTERN NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, HAVE CALLED THE P-K-K AN EXTREME TERRORIST ORGANIZATION USING VIOLENCE WITH IMPUNITY.

BUT PITTED AGAINST THE TURKISH ESTABLISHMENT, THE P-K-K HAS FOUND POLITICAL SUPPORT IN GREECE. MR. HAZAR SAYS THAT GREECE HAS OFFERED P-K-K REBELS A TRAINING CAMP IN TRIADA, A TOWN NORTH OF THE GREEK CAPITAL OF ATHENS. MR. MAZAR SAYS THE CAMP WAS RUN BY BOTH THE GREEK SECRET SERVICE AND THE "NOVEMBER 17" TERRORIST GROUP, WHICH HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLING OF 21 PEOPLE, INCLUDING FORMER ATHENS C-I-A CHIEF RICHARD WELCH IN 1975.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS POSTED A TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CONVICTION OF MEMBERS OF NOVEMBER 17.

BUT GREECE ARGUES IT'S NEITHER AWARE OF MR. HAZAR'S WHEREABOUTS NOR HAS ANY INTEREST IN TRACKING HIM DOWN TO INQUIRE INTO HIS ALLEGATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/PCF/RRM
29-Sep-97 12:05 PM EDT (1605 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (MONDAY) AS INVESTMENT MANAGERS PREPARED FOR THE END OF THE YEAR'S THIRD QUARTER. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 91, UP 69 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 953, UP EIGHT POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY SOME OF THE RISE IN PRICES WAS THE RESULT OF SO-CALLED END OF THE QUARTER "WINDOW DRESSING." THAT MEANS INVESTMENT MANAGERS MOVE MONEY INTO WELL PERFORMING STOCKS IN ORDER TO IMPRESS CLIENTS AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL QUARTER. THE U-S CENTRAL BANK MEETS TUESDAY TO CONSIDER SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES. BUT THE STRONG CONSENSUS ON WALL STREET IS THAT INTEREST RATES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

BOTH THE INCOMES AND SPENDING OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS WERE UP LAST MONTH. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS STEADY JOB GAINS PUSHED PERSONAL INCOMES UP SIX-TENTHS OF A PERCENT AND SPENDING EDGED UP BY THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.

THE VOLATILITY IN THE U-S STOCK MARKET IN AUGUST MAY HAVE MADE SOME AMERICANS WARY. THE INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE SAYS THE NET INFLOW OF MONEY INTO U-S STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS LAST MONTH WAS ABOUT HALF WHAT IT WAS IN JULY.

THE GENERAL MILLS FOOD COMPANY WILL CLOSE THREE CEREAL MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS A MOVE TO CUT COSTS AND BOOST EFFICIENCY.

THE SUIZA (SWEE-ZA) FOODS COMPANY WILL PAY ABOUT 700 MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE THE MORNINGSIDE GROUP. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE THE LARGEST DAIRY FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE LEAD ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY SAYS THE COMPANIES WILL NOT PAY ANY MORE THAN THE 368 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF LIABILITY CLAIMS. SOME CRITICS OF THE PLAN SAY THE INDUSTRY SHOULD PAY MORE. BUT LAWYER PHIL CARLTON SAYS "THEY HAVE MILKED THIS COW DRY."(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
29-Sep-97 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] THE FORMAL NATO EXPANSION BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DIFFICULT TASK OF DISENGAGING FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND PEACE TALKS ON NORTHERN IRELAND ARE TWO OF THE TOPICS THAT HAVE ELICITED NEW COMMENTS THIS FINAL MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER. OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: THE FUTURE OF THE B-2 BOMBER, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM DEBATE, AND REFORMING THE U.S. TAX COLLECTION SYSTEM, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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

TEXT: THE AMERICAN PRESS CONTINUES TO TURN AN EVER MORE SKEPTICAL EYE TOWARD THE BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING EFFORT, AND MORE PAPERS ARE DEMANDING THE PRESIDENT SET A CLEAR POLICY FOR GETTING OUT. TODAY'S NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND, RUNS THIS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "FIND A WAY TO MEET DEADLINE FOR BOSNIA PULLOUT" ADDING:

VOICE: "[OPT] IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED, BUT IT'S STILL DISAPPOINTING: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S TOP FOREIGN POLICY MAKERS HAVE STARTED TO MAKE THE CASE FOR EXTENDING U-S PARTICIPATION IN THE NATO MISSION TO BOSNIA BEYOND NEXT SUMMER'S DEADLINE..... INSTEAD OF LOBBYING TO BREAK THE DEADLINE IN BOSNIA FOR THE THIRD TIME IN TWO YEARS, THEY SHOULD COME UP WITH A WORKABLE STRATEGY TO DISENGAGE U-S TROOPS AND STICK TO THE TIMETABLE. [END OPT] .... THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS REASONABLY CLEAR: END THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THREE FACTIONS IN BOSNIA; MAINTAIN THE PEACE LONG ENOUGH FOR THE THREE SIDES TO HOLD ELECTIONS, AND BRING REFUGEES HOME AND WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. BUT NOW THE GOAL SEEMS TO BE REDEFINED AS THE CREATION OF A UNIFIED BOSNIA AT ANY COST AND THE CAPTURE OF ALL INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS REGARDLESS OF THE IMPACT ON THE FRAGILE PEACE. THAT WOULD TAKE AN INDEFINITE EXTENSION OF THE NATO MANDATE."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT IT CALLS THE "QUAGMIRE" OF BOSNIA, TITLING THIS EDITORIAL "DAYTON'S FADING PROMISES" AND ISSUING THIS FRANK ASSESSMENT.

VOICE: "THE MAPS AND THE GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES THAT WERE LAID DOWN AT DAYTON, OHIO, IN 1995 HAVE LARGELY COME TO NAUGHT NEARLY TWO YEARS LATER. THE INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATS WHO TRAVELED THERE TO END THE WAR IN BOSNIA HAVE ONLY THE PROMISES OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DISARMAMENT. A ROUNDUP OF WAR CRIMINALS WAS POSSIBLE. FAIR ELECTIONS SEEMED ATTAINABLE. BUT ALL THESE PROSPECTS HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE HOT WINDS OF ETHNIC HATRED. THE BALKANS WIN AGAIN, TO THEIR GREAT LOSS. [OPT] .... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO MAKE BOSNIA A TOP-PRIORITY PROJECT. THE PROSPECTS FOR A WORKABLE GOVERNMENT AND AN END TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES MUST BE CLOSELY MEASURED. SET A TARGET DATE -- JUNE OR LATER -- AND MARK THE PROGRESS. NATO SHOULD NOT BE AN OCCUPYING POWER. THE BOSNIANS MUST FACE THAT FACT. [END OPT]

TEXT: IN A SLIGHTLY MORE HOPEFUL COMMENTARY, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE NOTING WHAT SEEMS LIKE REAL PROGRESS IN ANOTHER LONG-TROUBLED AREA, NORTHERN IRELAND. MONDAY'S SUN IN BALTIMORE NOTES:

VOICE: "GREAT HOPES ATTEND THE NEGOTIATIONS AT STORMONT, NEAR BELFAST.... TWO DEVELOPMENTS, FOLLOWNG THE SECOND IRA CEASE FIRE, PERMIT OPTIMISM. ONE IS THAT JOHN HUME, LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOR PARTY (SDLP), BIGGEST VOTE-WINNER AMONG THE CATHOLIC MINORITY IN THE PROVINCE, IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH HE IS ELIGIBLE. ....[HE] IS THE TRUE ARCHITECT OF THIS PEACE PROCESS.... THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT IS THAT THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY LEADER, DAVID TRIMBLE, CAME OFF INTRANSIGENCE INTO FULL PARTICIPATION. HE CAN WITHSTAND HIS RIVAL, THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY, CHARGING SELLOUT. ..... THE PROSPECTS ARE SUFFICIENTLY REAL THAT DAVID TRIMBLE, JOHN HUME AND GERRY ADAMS DARED NOT STAY AWAY."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST IS ALSO PLEASED, OPINING:

VOICE: "THERE HAS BEEN TOO MUCH HISTORY AND TOO MUCH KILLING FOR ANYONE TO IMAGINE THE WAY IS NOW CLEAR. BUT TODAY, WHEN THE TALKS ARE TO BEGIN, YOU SHOULD HOLD YOUR BREATH IN HOPES THAT IS WILL BE A GOOD DAY FOR ALL THE IRISH."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CONTINUATION OF THE B-2 BOMBER AND THE BOSNIA PULLOUT, USA TODAY IS UPSET ABOUT THE WAY CONGRESS APPEARS TO BE VOTING ON BOTH SIDES OF THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.

VOICE: "IF YOU THINK THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE NEEDS A BUNCH MORE OF THOSE BATWINGED 'STEALTH' BOMBERS (OR THE MAKE-WORK JOBS THEY PROVIDE,) YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS CAN CLAIM CREDIT: THE HOUSE AND SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED 157 MILLION DOLLARS LAST WEEK TO MAKE SURE THE B-2 PRODUCTION LINE KEEPS GOING. OR DID THEY? ..... THEY ALSO VOTED TO CUT OFF FUNDS FOR BOSNIA OPERATIONS JUNE 30TH. OR DID THEY? THERE'S MORE STEALTH IN THE CORRIDORS OF THE CAPITOL THAN IN THE NATION'S HIGH-TECH SKIES. BY CONGRESSIONAL SLEIGHT OF HAND, MEMBERS ADROITLY HAVE POSITIONED THEMSELVES ON BOTH SIDES OF BOTH BUILDING MORE BOMBERS AND BUGGING OUT [LEAVING] OF BOSNIA. FOR POLITICIANS, MANAGING TO GET ON BOTH SIDES OF TOUCHY ISSUES IS NOT NEW. IT'S OFTEN DONE BY CHANGING SIDES BETWEEN VOTES ON AMENDMENTS AND ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL TO WHICH THEY'RE ATTACHED. BUT RARELY IS IT DONE AS ARTFULLY AS IN THE NEW DEFENSE BUDGET."

TEXT: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER IS UPSET AT WHAT IT SEES AS A WEAKENING OF THE KEY BILL AIMED AT CORRECTING LOOPHOLES IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

VOICE: "IN RECENT YEARS, THE BEST CHANCE FOR REAL CHANGE HAS BEEN A PACKAGE OF CONTRIBUTION LIMITS, SPENDING LIMITS, LOW-COST TV TIME AND OTHER CHANGES SPEARHEADED (LED) BY SENATORS JOHN MC CAIN (REPUBLICAN OF ARIZONA) AND RUSS FEINGOLD (DEMOCRAT OF WISCONSIN). ..... BUT THE MUSCLE OF THESE SENATORS' PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN SPENDING LIMITS, CONTRIBUTION LIMITS, AND FREE AND CUT-RATE TV TIME. SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO THE ....AMENDMENT. SADLY, SOME OF IT [HAS] BEEN DROPPED. .... IF THE AMENDMENT LOSES AND [ALL THAT IS] LEFT IS 'SOFT MONEY, BELLS & WHISTLES,' [THE WEAKENED BILL] IT WOULD BE BETTER TO PASS NOTHING, LEAVE THE STINK IN PLACE, AND TAKE THE CRUSADE TO THE VOTERS."

TEXT: [OPT] THERE IS QUITE A DEBATE RAGING ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING CASSINI SPACE PROBE TO SATURN BECAUSE IT WILL CARRY ENRICHED PLUTONIUM FOR SOME OF ITS POWER AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS FEAR THAT COULD LEAK AND POISON THE ATMOSPHERE IN A CRASH. HOWEVER THE ORLANDO SENTINEL SAYS THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE LAUNCH.

VOICE: [OPT] "THE TIMING IS RIGHT FOR THE CASSINI, AND, AS IS THE CASE IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPACE EXPLORATION, IT APPEARS ... THE BENEFITS WILL OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. .... ARE THERE RISKS? UNDOUBTEDLY, AS THERE ARE IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPACE EXPLORATION. IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT NASA HAS TAKEN EXTRAORDINARY STEPS TO SECURE THE MISSION. THERE IS MUCH TO GAIN FROM A VISIT TO SATURN .... THE REASONABLE COURSE IS TO LET CASSINI FLY. [END OPT]"

TEXT: LASTLY, THE SUN IN BALTIMORE HOLDS OUT THE PROMISE THAT AFTER LAST WEEK'S SENATE HEARINGS INTO ALLEGED ABUSES OF TAXPAYERS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, THINGS AT THE AGENCY MAY IMPROVE.

VOICE: "THREE DAYS OF SENATE HEARINGS ON INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ABUSES SEEM TO HAVE LIT A SPARK UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND ITS ACTING IRS COMMISSIONER, MICHAEL ... DOLAN. BY THE END OF LAST WEEK'S HEARINGS, HE HAD ADMITTED MISTAKES AND ISSUED SWEEPING POLICY DIRECTIVES. .... LAST WEEK'S HEARINGS SOUGHT TO UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR DRASTIC CHANGE. ..... THE HEARINGS SERVED AS A NEEDED WAKE-UP CALL FOR DEMOCRATS: EITHER MOVE QUICKLY TO MAKE THE IRS KINDER, GENTLER AND MORE EFFICIENT, OR FACE A POLITICAL FIRESTORM."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/ MMK
29-Sep-97 11:02 AM EDT (1502 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/PATRIARCH BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ISTANBUL)

INTRO: ECUMENICAL ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW, SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE WORLD'S 270-MILLION ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN MID-OCTOBER, WHEN HE WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. DURING HIS TRIP, THE PATRIARCH WILL SEEK U-S SUPPORT IN EASING CURRENT PRESSURES FACED BY HIS CHURCH IN MUSLIM TURKEY, WHERE IT IS HEADQUARTERED. AMBERIN ZAMAN INTERVIEWED THE PATRIARCH RECENTLY AND FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: /// SOUND OF MASS -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER///

THE MYSTICAL DRONE OF A PRIEST CHANTING DURING MASS. THIS COULD BE ANY ORTHODOX CHURCH. BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY CHURCH. IT IS PART OF AN ANCIENT UNIVERSITY COMPLEX WHERE, FOR GENERATIONS, CLERGY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO SERVE IN THE ECUMENICAL ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE BASED IN ISTANBUL SINCE BYZANTINE TIMES.

BUT FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS, THE HALKI THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- AS THE UNIVERSITY IS CALLED -- HAS REMAINED CLOSED. IT WAS SHUT DOWN BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES FOLLOWING THE COUNTRY'S 1970 MILITARY COUP. ITS CLOSURE MEANS THAT NO NEW ORTHODOX CLERGY ARE TRAINED IN TURKEY.

HIS ALL-HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW IS THE PRESENT LEADER OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A, THE PATRIARCH EXPLAINED WHAT HE TERMED THE VERY GRAVE PROBLEMS FACING HIS CHURCH, DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF THE HALKI SCHOOL.

THERE WAS A NEW LAW OF THE TURKISH STATE WHICH PROHIBITED THE FUNCTIONING OF THE PRIVATE, NON-STATE UNIVERSITIES. ACCORDING TO THAT LAW, THE PRIVATE FACULTIES HAD TO INCORPORATE WITH RESPECTIVE FACULTIES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITIES. BUT THE CASE OF OUR UNIVERSITY WAS A UNIQUE ONE. THERE WASN'T A FACULTY OF ORTHODOX THEOLOGY (IN TURKEY).

PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW HAS TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF RE-OPENING THE SCHOOL TO SUCCESSIVE TURKISH GOVERNMENTS. BUT SO FAR, HE HAS HAD NO SUCCESS.

FOR 26 YEARS NOW WE ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN, TO SAY THAT IT INDISPENSABLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PATRIARCHATE. WE NEED FRESH BLOOD. WE NEED YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG CLERGYMEN.

CHURCH OFFICIALS SAY MATTERS ARE FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S INSISTENCE THAT THE PATRIARCH AND HIS 12-MEMBER HOLY SYNOD BE DRAWN FROM THE RAPIDLY DIMINISHING ETHNIC GREEK COMMUNITY IN ISTANBUL. THE ETHNIC GREEK POPULATION IS DOWN FROM 150-THOUSAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CENTURY TO CURRENTLY AROUND THREE-THOUSAND MOSTLY-OLD AND INFIRM PEOPLE.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE REFUSAL BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES TO RE-OPEN THE UNIVERSITY MAY BE LINKED TO LONG-HELD FEARS THAT THE PATRIARCH IS TRYING TO ESTABLISH A VATICAN-LIKE STATE IN THE HEART OF MUSLIM TURKEY, AND THAT HE IS ACTING AS A SO-CALLED "FIFTH COLUMN" OR INTERNAL ENEMY, REPRESENTING HIS NATIVE GREECE. CHURCH OFFICIALS DISMISS SUCH CHARGES AS RIDICULOUS. THEY POINT OUT THAT RE-OPENING THE SCHOOL WOULD HELP IMPROVE TURKEY'S IMAGE AT A TIME WHEN IT IS CAMPAIGNING FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

MANY CHURCH OFFICIALS HOPE THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL ECHO PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW'S APPEAL TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR HALKI TO RE-OPEN ITS DOORS DURING HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES NEXT MONTH. BUT ABOVE ALL, THE PATRIARCH AND HIS FOLLOWERS SAY SALVATION CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
29-Sep-97 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S/BOSNIA (S/L) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: CALLING THE BALKANS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT, THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA EVEN AFTER ITS TROOPS ARE SCHEDULED TO LEAVE NEXT JUNE. HOWEVER, AS VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, BILL RICHARDSON SAYS WASHINGTON IS COMMITTED TO SEE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD IMPLEMENTED:

TEXT: AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON -- APPEARING ON THE N-B-C TELEVISION PROGRAM "MEET THE PRESS," SAYS AN AMERICAN TROOP PRESENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BEYOND JUNE, 1998 WILL BE UP TO PRESIDENT CLINTON IN CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS.

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER LAST WEEK SUGGESTED U-S TROOPS MAY HAVE TO STAY BEYOND JUNE. SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE THREATENED TO CUT OFF FUNDING FOR THE BOSNIA OPERATION.

AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF CONGRESS' CONCERNS. HE SAYS A JUNE WITHDRAWAL REMAINS THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL. HOWEVER, HE SAYS WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD:

THAT MEANS REFUGEE RETURNS, PROGRESS TOWARDS A FEDERATION, AN AGGRESSIVE POSTURE ON WAR CRIMINALS. THAT POLICY IS WORKING. WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION SLOWLY WITH SOME PROBLEMS.

AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON SAYS WASHINGTON WILL REMAIN ENGAGED IN THE CIVILIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON BEYOND JUNE INCLUDING ECONOMIC AID. HE SAYS THE DECISION TO EXTEND THE NATO PRESENCE WILL BE A JOINT DECISION AMONG AMERICA'S NATO ALLIES.

APPEARING ON A SEPARATE U-S COMMERCIAL TELEVISION PROGRAM (CNN'S "LATE EDITION"), FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER LADY MARGARET THATCHER SAYS NATO SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO IMPLEMENT DAYTON. SHE SAYS REFUGEES ARE TRICKLING BACK TO THEIR HOMES SLOWLY AND MORE TIME IS NEEDED TO ALLOW THEM TO RETURN.

LADY THATCHER SAYS ARRESTING WAR CRIMINALS SUCH AS FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC IS A KEY TO ACCOMPLISHING REFUGEE REPATRIATION AND THE SUCCESS OF DAYTON:

WHO ELSE IS GOING TO GET BACK TO THAT AREA WHILE THESE (INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS) PEOPLE ARE ROAMING, WHILE THEIR GANGS ARE ROAMING, WHILE SOME OF KARADZIC'S GANG ARE IN FACT THE POLICE FORCE IN THAT PART OF THE AREA. WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD BELIEVE THE WEST IS SERIOUS WHEN WE HAVE NOT GONE IN, SENT OUR FORCES IN, REALLY TO HAVE A LOOK AT THOSE TERRIBLE MASS GRAVES.

LADY THATCHER BLAMES THE WEST FOR A LACK OF WILL IN BRINGING WHAT SHE CALLS MASS MURDERERS TO JUSTICE. NOTING A RECENT BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES OPERATION TO ARREST TWO BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS, LADY THATCHER SAYS QUIET, UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO NAB SUSPECTS AND ONLY REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETED. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/LWM
28-Sep-97 9:25 PM EDT (0125 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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