Voice of America, 97-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT SPEECH BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[02] EURO MARKET REACT (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

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

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

[05] PATRIARCH / NEW YORK (L-ONLY) BY KELLY LAPPAS (NEW YORK)

[06] TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[07] YUGO KILLING (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[01] ALBRIGHT SPEECH BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRODUCTION: IN A MAJOR SPEECH AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID DEFENDING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS A KEY ELEMENT OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY. IT LIES BEHIND U-S POLICY IN BOSNIA AND IS CRUCIALLY INVOLVED IN U-S RELATIONS WITH CHINA. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS

TEXT: THERE WILL BE NO CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS, NO CONFRONTATION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST, SAID U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IN A SPEECH (THURSDAY) AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON. BUT THERE WILL BE AN ENDURING STRUGGLE BETWEEN HUMANKIND'S BETTER AND WORSE INSTINCTS

IN THIS ONGOING CONFLICT, SHE SAID RELIGION HAS A DECISIVE ROLE. THEREFORE, THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY SUPPORTS FREEDOM OF RELIGION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD:

WE HAVE PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED THE PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AS A FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY. I HAVE INSTRUCTED U-S DIPLOMATS TO PROVIDE FREQUENT AND THOROUGH REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH THEY ARE ACCREDITED. WE HAVE INTENSIFIED THE SPOTLIGHT GIVEN TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE REPORTS WE ISSUE ANNUALLY ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE MODIFYING OUR PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING REQUESTS FOR POLITCAL ASYLUM TO ASSURE THAT THOSE FLEEING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ARE TREATED FAIRLY.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID EARLIER THIS YEAR, SHE DISCUSSED RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGION IN VIETNAM. PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN TO PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ABOUT RUSSIA'S NEW LAW ON RELIGION. IN THE SUMMIT MEETING WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN NEXT WEEK, THE SECRETARY AND PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR TIBET AND FOR CHINA'S GROWING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

BUT SHE CAUTIONED AGAINST PURSUING THE RIGHT GOAL WITH THE WRONG MEANS. SHE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE A BILL IN CONGRESS THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT FULLY OBSERVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:

ALTHOUGH WELL INTENTIONED, THIS BILL WOULD CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL HIERARCHY AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS WITH THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM TORTURE AND MURDER SHOVED ALONG WITH OTHERS INTO SECOND PLACE. IT WOULD ALSO ESTABLISH A NEW AND UNNEEDED BUREAUCRACY AND DEPRIVE U-S OFFICIALS OF THE FLEXIBILITY REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE OVERALL FOREIGN POLICY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BE EFFECTIVE IN DEFENDING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, IT MUST BE AWARE OF THE VALUES AND PERSPECTIVES OF OTHERS.

SHE SAID THE DAYTON ACCORDS HOLD OUT THE PROSPECT OF ENDING THE RELIGIOUS STRIFE IN BOSNIA. PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN HELD, MORE REFUGEES ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES, TEN WAR CRIME SUSPECTS HAVE SURRENDERED, THOUSANDS OF HEAVY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND MORE ACCURATE TV AND RADIO NEWS IS AVAILABLE:

SO WHEN CYNICS SUGGEST THAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA CANNOT LIVE TOGETHER, I CAN ONLY SAY, BUT THEY DID, THEY HAVE, THEY MUST AND THEY WILL AGAIN. FOR THE ETHNIC HATRED THAT SPLINTERED THAT REGION WAS NOT A NATURAL PHENOMENON. IT WAS TAUGHT, PUBLISHED, BROADCAST AND YES, EVEN PREACHED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND THE FEARS AROUSED WERE MANIPULATED BY RUTHLESS LEADERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THEIR OWN POSITION, POWER AND WEALTH.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAID THE WORLD IS DIVIDED NOT BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH OR EAST AND WEST BUT BETWEEN THOSE IMPRISONED BY HISTORY AND THOSE DETERMINED TO SHAPE HISTORY. (SIGNED)
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23-Oct-97 7:12 PM EDT (2312 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO MARKET REACT (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE HAVE ALL RECOVERED FROM THURSDAY'S SHARP DROP, SPARKED BY THE RECORD DECLINE IN HONG KONG. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE OVERVIEW OF THE EURO-MARKET SCENE FROM OUR LONDON BUREAU.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN MARKETS LOST BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR PERCENT IN VALUE DURING THURSDAY'S HEAVY SELL-OFF. BUT ON FRIDAY, MOST OF THE BIG EUROPEAN STOCK BOURSES BEGAN TRADING WITH A SHARP RISE.

ANALYSTS SAY IT WAS LARGELY FROM BARGAIN HUNTERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUT-PRICE STOCKS. BY THE END OF THE TRADING DAY, MOST OF THE EUROPEAN EXCHANGES REGAINED ABOUT HALF OF THE VALUE LOST ON THURSDAY.

BUT THOSE WHO WATCH STOCK MARKET BEHAVIOR SAY TRADING PATTERNS OVER THE COMING DAYS MAY PROVIDE IMPORTANT CLUES ON WHETHER THE "HONG KONG EFFECT" WAS A MERE ABERRATION OR A WARNING.

TALK OF A MAJOR CORRECTION FOR WESTERN MARKETS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS, YET STOCK EXCHANGES HAVE PROVED RESILIENT. AT MOST, ANALYSTS SAY MOST WESTERN MARKETS ARE DUE FOR A "CORRECTION" -- A TERM WHICH USUALLY MEANS A PRICE DECLINE OF ABOUT 10 PERCENT.

NOBODY SEES ANYTHING TO INDICATE A FULL-SCALE MARKET CRASH IS IMMINENT BECAUSE ECONOMIES, IN GENERAL, REMAIN RELATIVELY HEALTHY. (SIGNED)
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24-Oct-97 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE IMPENDING VISIT OF CHINA'S PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN IS A POPULAR TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF FRIDAY'S U-S PAPERS. ANOTHER STORY RELATED TO CHINA, THE TUMBLE OF ASIAN STOCK MARKETS THURSDAY, IS ALSO DRAWING COMMENT; OTHER EDITORIALS DEAL WITH THOUGHTS FROM THE MASTER OF THE KILLING FIELDS, POL POT, THE FORMER CAMBODIAN COMMUNIST LEADER.

THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN FOR GLOBAL WARMING, GEORGE SOROS' BIG GIFT TO RUSSIA, AND REJUVENATING THE UNITED NATIONS ARE ALSO DRAWING RESPONSES FROM THE PAPERS.

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

TEXT: TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN "NEW YORK TIMES" DEALS WITH THE VISIT NEXT WEEK OF THE CHINESE PRESIDENT, AND IT WARNS HIM NOT TO EXPECT AS WARM A WELCOME AS HIS PREDECESSOR.

VOICE: "AS JIANG ZEMIN TRAVELS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES NEXT WEEK, HE CANNOT EXPECT THE ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION THAT GREETED THE LAST CHINESE LEADER TO MAKE SUCH A PUBLIC PASSAGE THROUGH AMERICA. WHEN DENG XIAOPING BARNSTORMED THROUGH WASHINGTON, HOUSTON, ATLANTA AND SEATTLE IN EARLY 1979, IT WAS JUST MONTHS AFTER WASHINGTON HAD ESTABLISHED FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BEIJING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1949, AND THE MOOD WAS ONE OF ALMOST EUPHORIC CURIOSITY. [MR.] DENG'S EASY SPONTANEITY, IDENTIFICATION WITH MARKET REFORM AND PITHY COMMENTS CHARMED AMERICAN AUDIENCES. BUT BEIJING'S 1989 MILITARY ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS IN TIANANMEN SQUARE REOPENED AMERICAN EYES TO THE DARK SIDE OF CHINESE COMMUNIST RULE. MEMORIES OF TIANANMEN AND BEIJING'S CONTINUED SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL DISSENT GUARANTEE THAT MR. JIANG WILL FACE MORE CRITICAL SCRUTINY...... [HOWEVER] ...THE NEAR-CERTAINTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTESTS ....... DOES NOT PRECLUDE A USEFUL VISIT."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ADDS THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "... AMERICANS MAY EXPERIENCE A TWINGE OF DEJA VU AT THE PRELIMINARIES FOR THE STATE VISIT OF CHINA'S NUMERO UNO .... IN A THROWBACK TO THE OLD DAYS, READERS OF TIME MAGAZINE ARE TOLD THAT DENG XIAOPING'S SUCCESSOR, ONCE THOUGHT OF AS A BLOODLESS BUREAUCRAT, ..... IS FOND OF CROONING ELVIS PRESLEY'S OLD HIT 'LOVE ME TENDER.' BUT [MR.] JIANG DOES NOT EXPECT TO BE LOVED FOR HIS PERSONALITY ALONE. .... 'CHINA PLANS TO SIGN CONTRACTS TO BUY BOEING .... PASSENGER JETS AND OTHER U-S GOODS VALUED AT MORE THAN FOUR BILLION [DOLLARS].' HEREIN LIES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN [MR.] JIANG AND THOSE REAL REDS [COMMUNISTS] WHO STAGED CHARM OFFENSIVES ON THESE SHORES DURING THE COLD WAR. CHINA TODAY IS HURTLING DOWN THE CAPITALIST ROAD. ONLY THE RULING PARTY IS STILL COMMUNIST, AND THE PARTY BOSSES IN POWER OPERATE LIKE ROBBER BARONS."

TEXT: THE MAJOR SELL OFF OF STOCKS IN HONG KONG THURSDAY DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" WHICH SAYS THE MARKET AND THE GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING SHOULD TAKE ITS FREE-TRADE LESSON FROM THE HANDLING OF THE 1987 STOCK MARKET CRASH IN THIS COUNTRY, RATHER THAN THE PROTECTIONISM THAT FOLLOWED THE OCTOBER 1929 CRASH, PRECEDING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

VOICE: "CONTINUING DENIALS ON THE PART OF HONG KONG'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TUNG CHEE HWA, AND OTHERS IN HIS GOVERNMENT, SEEM UNABLE TO CONVINCE MARKET PLAYERS THAT THE NEWLY MINTED SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA WILL STICK BY THE PEG [THAT IS, "PEGGING" OR VALUING THE HONG KONG DOLLAR TO THE U-S DOLLAR]. PARTLY THE DOUBTS HAVE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT OTHER CENTRAL BANKS IN THE REGION ALSO CLAIMED THEY WERE ONE-THOUSAND PERCENT BEHIND THEIR UNOFFICIAL PEGS, JUST BEFORE DUMPING THEM. ..... A CHINESE BAILOUT WOULD DESTROY WHATEVER SHRED OF INDEPENDENCE HONG KONG MIGHT HOPE TO RETAIN UNDER ITS NEW ASSOCIATION WITH BEIJING, UNDERMINING MARKET CONFIDENCE IN THE LONG RUN."

TEXT: RECENT COMMENTS FROM FORMER KHMER ROUGE COMMUNIST GUERRILLA LEADER POL POT THAT HE HAS NO REGRETS FOR HIS DRASTIC AGRARIAN REFORM IN CAMBODIA THAT LED TO THE KILLING FIELDS, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: "POL POT .... SAYS HIS CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR .... [CONCEDING] THAT 'MISTAKES' WERE MADE AFTER HE AND HIS FOLLOWERS SEIZED POWER BUT HE INSISTS THE MASS KILLINGS HE DIRECTED WERE NECESSARY TO SAVE CAMBODIA FROM THE CLUTCHES OF VIETNAM, ITS ANCIENT ENEMY. [OPT] SAMUEL JOHNSON FAMOUSLY REMARKED THAT PATRIOTISM IS THE LAST REFUGE OF A SCOUNDREL. GENOCIDAL PARANOIACS FIND COMFORT IN IT AS WELL. [END OPT] .... NOW POL POT SAYS HE IS DYING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. THE AWFUL THING IS HE PROBABLY BELIEVES IT."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE STILL COMMENTING ON THIS WEEK'S U-S PLAN TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHICH "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CALLS "A VALUABLE COURSE CORRECTION," BUT ADDS:

VOICE: "THIS NEWSPAPER BELIEVES ... THE STANDARDS PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON COULD HAVE BEEN TOUGHER. BUT THE UNITED STATES, LIKE AN OCEAN LINER, CANNOT STOP AND TURN ON A DIME [A VERY TINY OBJECT, MEANING HERE, I.E., "A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME."] ANY TREATY AGREED UPON IN KYOTO MUST BE RATIFIED BY THE SENATE, WHICH WOULD NOT FAVOR MEASURES THAT MIGHT BRING A PREMATURE END TO AMERICA'S ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. NOR WOULD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THEIR SUPPORT WILL BE VITAL."

TEXT: REGARDING THE 500-MILLION DOLLAR GIFT TO RUSSIA'S VARIOUS SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES BY HUNGARIAN-BORN U-S MULTI-MILLIONAIRE GEORGE SOROS, TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: "MONEY MAY NOT BUY STABILITY. BUT IN A COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA THAT IS STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP A POST-COMMUNIST CIVIL SOCIETY, MR. SOROS' MILLIONS BREATHE LIFE INTO IDEAS THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE NO CHANCE OF BEING DISCUSSED AND IMPLEMENTED."

TEXT: A DOMESTIC TOPIC WRITTEN ABOUT IN SEVERAL EDITORIALS IS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NEW CHILD CARE INITIATIVE, ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK. NEWSDAY IS ENTHUSIASTIC, SAYING IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE "[PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S RIGHT TO ASK 'WHO'S MINDING THE KIDS?'

VOICE: "AT BOTTOM, THE PROBLEM IS ECONOMIC: MOST PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY MORE FOR CARE THAN THEY DO NOW, SO THE SYSTEM REMAINS CASH-STARVED. CHILD-CARE WORKERS ARE SORELY UNDERPAID AND UNDER-TRAINED AND TURNOVER IS HIGH, SO THE FRAGILE EMOTIONAL BONDS THAT ARE KEY TO A CHILD'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT ARE FREQUENTLY SEVERED. ..... [MR.] CLINTON DESERVES CREDIT FOR THE EFFORT. HIS OWN INITIATIVES ARE SMALL ..... BUT AT LEAST [PRESIDENT] CLINTON IS TRYING TO CREEP FORWARD WHERE OTHERS HAVE DARED NOT GO."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] TODAY'S HARTFORD COURANT NOTES THE VISIT OF SOUTH AFRICAN LEADER NELSON MANDELA TO HIS LONG-TIME SUPPORTER, LIBYA'S DICTATOR, MOAMMAR GADHAFI, AND SAYS:

VOICE: "MR. GADHAFI SUPPORTED MR. MANDELA'S FIGHT AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA'S WHITE-RULED REGIME FINANCIALLY, MILITARILY, DIPLOMATICALLY AND MORALLY. .... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE TO LIKE THE MANDELA VISIT TO UNDERSTAND ITS ROOTS AND RESPECT HIS DECISION. [OPT] AS MR. MANDELA ..... ACCURATELY OBSERVED, LIBYA'S LEADER 'HELPED US AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE ALONE, AND THE ONES WHO ARE STOPPING US FROM COMING HERE [TO LIBYA] WERE HELPING OUR ENEMIES AT THAT TIME.' ..... INSTEAD OF EXPRESSING OPEN ANNOYANCE, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO LET THIS AFRICAN FRIEND OF DEMOCRACY DROP IN ON A FRIEND WHO HELPED HIM WHEN HE WAS IN NEED AND PERSUADE THE FRIEND TO BECOME A BELIEVER IN FREE ELECTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE OCCASION OF UNITED NATIONS DAY, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS OF THE OFT-CRITICIZED WORLD BODY:

VOICE: "... TOO MANY AMERICANS NOW TREAT IT WITH BENIGN NEGLECT. .... WE'VE OFTEN OBSERVED THAT THE PRACTICAL AGENCIES OF THE U-N - - INVOLVED IN KEEPING TABS ON GLOBAL WEATHER, AVIATION, CHILDREN'S WELFARE, HEALTH, REFUGEES, ETC . - - GO LARGELY UNNOTICED, DOING A RELATIVELY EFFICIENT JOB. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS ITS FAULTS. BUT AT LEAST IT SERVES AS A USEFUL FINISHING SCHOOL AND CROSSROADS FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE FOREIGN MINISTERS, PRIME MINISTERS AND PRESIDENTS...... PEACEKEEPING AND CONFLICT-PREVENTION CANNOT ALL BE DONE BY WASHINGTON. IN THAT RESPECT THE U-S NEEDS TO DO MORE THAN CONTINUALLY BADGER [HARASS] THE U-N SECRETARIAT ABOUT REFORM. .... AND, OF COURSE, CONGRESS OUGHT TO PAY THE U-S'S BACK DUES."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
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24-Oct-97 11:09 AM EDT (1509 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 DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (FRIDAY) AS INVESTOR NERVOUSNESS CONTINUED, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE STOCKS OF TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 77 HUNDRED 15, DOWN 132 POINTS, ALMOST TWO PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST THE SAME AMOUNT, 132 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 941, DOWN NINE POINTS.

IT WAS A DAY OF WILD PRICE FLUCTUATION. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ROSE 100 POINTS EARLY IN THE SESSION IN RESPONSE TO A RECOVERY IN HONG KONG AND OTHER WORLD MARKETS. BUT THEN U-S STOCK PRICES TURNED NEGATIVE, LARGELY BECAUSE OF CONCERN THAT THE SLOWDOWN IN ASIAN ECONOMIES WILL HURT DEMAND FOR TECHNOLOGY. THE INTEL MICROPROCESSOR COMPANY HAS POSTPONED, FOR ONE YEAR, THE OPENING OF A NEW PLANT. SEVERAL WALL STREET ANALYSTS CUT THEIR RATINGS ON TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY REPORTED A QUARTERLY LOSS OF ALMOST 700 MILLION DOLLARS, HIGHER THAN WALL STREET HAD EXPECTED. ALTHOUGH FLOODED WITH ORDERS FOR NEW AIRCRAFT, BOEING WAS FORCED TO TAKE A ONE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLAR CHARGE TO REMEDY PRODUCTION PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, BOEING IS STILL INCURRING EXPENSES AS A RESULT OF ITS MERGER WITH THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION.

THE L-T-V STEEL CORPORATION REPORTED A 90 MILLION DOLLAR LOSS IN THE THIRD QUARTER. THE COMPANY SAYS THE LOSS WAS CAUSED BY CHARGES RELATED TO THE CLOSING OF A PLANT IN PITTSBURGH.

DOUGLAS IVESTER HAS BEEN NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY. MR. IVESTER, A 20-YEAR VETERAN OF COKE, REPLACES ROBERTO GOIZUETA (GOY-SWEAT-A) WHO DIED LAST WEEK.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
24-Oct-97 5:52 PM EDT (2152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] PATRIARCH / NEW YORK (L-ONLY) BY KELLY LAPPAS (NEW YORK)

(VOICED BY MAX RUSTON)

INTRO: PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW -- THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS -- WAS HONORED IN NEW YORK TODAY (FRIDAY) IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE IN AMERICA. V-O-A'S KELLY LAPPAS REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAS WELCOMED BY NEW YORK MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI IN FRONT OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE ON 79TH STREET -- WHICH WAS RENAMED "PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY" IN HIS HONOR. DURING THE CEREMONY, MR. GIULIANI EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PATRIARCH'S VISIT TO NEW YORK.

IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL APPRECIATION FOR THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE, PEACE, AND LOVE THAT HAVE LONG BEEN A PART OF THE SPIRITUAL MISSION OF THE GREEK ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA FOR THE LAST 75 YEARS. INDEED, NEW YORK CITY IS A TESTAMENT TO TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING. WE'RE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE WORLD, WITH PEOPLE FROM EVERY CONCEIVABLE BACKGROUND.

JOINING THE MAYOR AND THE PATRIARCH WAS ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON, PRIMATE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA. HE THANKED MAYOR GIULIANI FOR HIS SUPPORT AND HELP IN WELCOMING THE PATRIARCH TO NEW YORK CITY AND SAID THE PATRIARCH'S VISIT WAS A JOYOUS ONE.

MORE THAN DEDICATING A PLAQUE, HE IS HERE TO GIVE US HIS BLESSING -- NOT ONLY IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE MINISTRY OF THIS ARCHDIOCESE OVER THESE PAST SEVEN AND A HALF DECADES, BUT WITH HIS PRAYER FOR WHAT MORE WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT 75 YEARS AND BEYOND. WE STAND WITH HIM TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING AND TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE CHALLENGES AND TASKS THAT LIE AHEAD FOR THE GOOD OF THIS CITY, THIS NATION, AND ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

DURING THE CEREMONY, PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW SEEMED MOVED BY THE DEDICATION OF THE PLAQUE TO THE ARCHDIOCESE AS WELL AS BY THE UNVEILING OF THE "PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY" STREET SIGN.

MR. MAYOR, WE EXPRESS TO YOU OUR WARMEST THANKS. AND FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS, WE BLESS ALL THOSE WHO PASS BY OR WORK ON PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY, AS WELL AS ALL THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK. MAY OUR ALL GOOD GOD PROTECT YOU AND BRING TO FRUITION THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS. THE GRACE OF GOD BE WITH YOU.

NEW YORK IS PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW'S THIRD STOP ON HIS 16-CITY, MONTH-LONG VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/KL/LSF/RRM
24-Oct-97 5:44 PM EDT (2144 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: ONE OF TURKEY'S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY END THE PRACTICE OF JAILING PEOPLE FOR EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS, SO-CALLED CRIMES OF THOUGHT. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE MOVE FOLLOWS THE SENTENCING THIS WEEK OF TWO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

TEXT: THE PROPOSAL WAS DRAFTED BY THE LEFT WING REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY, OR C-H-P, AMID MOUNTING CRITICISM FROM EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT'S ABOUT THE ARREST OF A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND LAWYER, ESBER YAGMURDERELI.

MR. YAGMURDERELI -- A BLIND ETHNIC KURD -- WAS JAILED FOR UP TO 23 YEARS FOR ADVOCATING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE 13 YEAR LONG REBELLION BY THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (P-K-K) IN TURKEY'S SOUTHEASTERN REGION.

THE CHAIRMAN OF TURKEY'S INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, AKIN BIRDAL, WAS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON FOR EXPRESSING SIMILAR VIEWS.

THE TWO MEN WERE SENTENCED UNDER ARTICLE EIGHT OF TURKEY'S ANTI-TERROR LAW WHICH BANS THE EXPRESSION OF WHAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SEPARATIST VIEWS. HUNDREDS OF JOURNALISTS, ACADEMICS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN JAILED UNDER THE LAW.

GERMANY WAS ONE NATION TO CRITICIZE THE JAILINGS. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID TURKEY'S CHANCES OF GAINING FULL MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. SIMILAR VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED BY BRITAIN.

TURKEY'S NEW SECULAR COALITION LED BY CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ HAS PROMISED TO IMPROVE TURKEY'S TARNISHED HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.

BUT SOME WESTERN OBSERVERS SAY THE SENTENCINGS OF MR. YAGMURDERELI AND MR. BIRDAL RAISE DOUBTS ABOUT THE GOVERNMMENT'S SINCERITY. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE POWERFUL TURKISH MILITARY IS OPPOSED TO EASING RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT WOULD UNDERMINE THE BATTLE AGAINST THE P-K-K.

TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL SAID HE IS PREPARED TO GRANT AN AMNESTY TO MR. YAGMURDERELI IF THE ACTIVIST SEEKS ONE. BUT MR. YAGMURDERELI HAS REFUSED, SAYING HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE ACCORDED PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

HUNDREDS OF TURKS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR MR. YAGMURDERELI BY DEMONSTRATING LATE THURSDAY AT THE SPOT IN ISTANBUL WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY AFTER APPEARING ON A TELEVISION PROGRAM. SOME OBSERVERS SAID THE DEMONSTRATION IS A SIGN THAT PRESSURE ON TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS IS NO LONGER COMING JUST FROM WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, BUT ALSO FROM THE TURKISH PEOPLE THEMSELVES. (SIGNED)
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24-Oct-97 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] YUGO KILLING (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: A YUGOSLAV BUSINESSMAN WITH STRONG LINKS TO THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN GUNNED DOWN IN BELGRADE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: SERBIAN BUSINESSMAN ZORAN TODOROVIC WAS SHOT TO DEATH NEAR HIS CAR AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PETROLEUM COMPANY WHERE HE WAS A SENIOR MANAGER. A PERSON WHO WAS WITH HIM -- APPARENTLY A BODYGUARD -- WAS WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK.

MR. TODOROVIC WAS INVOLVED IN THE YUGOSLAV UNITED LEFT PARTY, A NEO-COMMUNIST GROUP HEADED BY MIRJANA MARKOVIC, THE INFLUENTIAL WIFE OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

FRIDAY'S KILLING WAS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ATTACKS ON PROMINENT BUSINESS AND POLITICAL FIGURES IN FEDERAL YUGOSLAVIA. SIX MONTHS AGO, A TOP POLICE OFFICIAL WAS SHOT TO DEATH WHILE EATING IN A RESTAURANT.

THERE IS WIDESPREAD BELIEF THAT THESE AND OTHER GANGLAND-STYLE KILLINGS STEM FROM THE BLACK MARKET ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL BUSINESSMEN AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS. (SIGNED)
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24-Oct-97 6:43 AM EDT (1043 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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