Voice of America, 97-10-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: ALBANIAN MINORITY IN SERBIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] EURO STOCKS (S UPDATE) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

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

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: ALBANIAN MINORITY IN SERBIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THERE IS PROBABLY NO MORE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN THE BALKANS TODAY THAN THAT OF THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVO. THE OVERWHELMINGLY ALBANIAN MAJORITY THERE, WHICH IS NOW SEEKING INDEPENDENCE AS HAVE YUGOSLAV SUCCESSOR STATES SUCH AS SLOVENIA, ACTUALLY REPRESENTS A MINORITY WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA. BUT THE SERBS REGARD KOSOVO AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR REPUBLIC. THE KEY EVENT IN SERBIAN NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE 1389 BATTLE OF KOSOVO IN WHICH THE SERBIAN PRINCE LAZAR WAS KILLED BY THE TURKS, WHO SUBSEQUENTLY ESTABLISHED CONTROL OVER SERBIA. SO, THE SERBS CONSIDER KOSOVO PART OF THEIR HISTORICAL HOMELAND. BUT, THE ALBANIANS, WHO REGARD THEMSELVES AS THE DESCENDANTS OF THE ANCIENT ILLYRIANS, HAVE LIVED IN THE REGION SINCE THE FIFTH CENTURY. AND TODAY, THEY COMPRISE ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO AND A SIXTH OF THE POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC

TEXT: IN 1989, KOSOVO WAS AN AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE WITHIN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. ON JUNE 28 THAT YEAR, THE SERBS -- LED BY PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- CELEBRATED THE 600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR DEFEAT BY THE TURKS AT KOSOVO POLJE, THE "FIELD OF BLACKBIRDS." THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT ABOLISHED THE AUTOMOMY OF ITS TWO AUTONOMOUS REGIONS OF KOSOVO AND VOJVODINA [VOY-VOH-DEE-NAH]. SERBIA THEN INSTALLED ITS OWN POLICE, COURTS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN KOSOVO. THE ALBANIANS REACTED BY BOYCOTTING THE 1991 SERBIAN ELECTIONS AND ELECTING THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT AND SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. BUT, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA -- OF WHICH SERBIA IS THE DOMINANT MEMBER -- DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE SO-CALLED "REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO."

BOSKO DROBJNAJK [BOSH-KOH DROB-NEE-YAHK], A SERB, IS SECRETARY OF INFORMATION FOR KOSOVO AND METOHIJA [MEH-TOCH-EE-JAH]. HE DISPUTES THE POPULATION FIGURES GENERALLY ACCEPTED BY WESTERN ANALYSTS -- NAMELY, THAT 90 PERCENT OF KOSOVO IS ALBANIAN. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- DROBJNAJK (ESTABLISH SERBIAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT ONE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:23) "THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA COMES TO SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 2 MILLION INHABITANTS. SOME 80 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IS ALBANIAN. THEN 10 PERCENT ARE SERBS. AND OF THE REST, 10 PERCENT ARE MONTENEGRINS, TURKS, ROMA -- MEANING GYPSIES -- SOME CROATS, AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS."

TEXT: MR. DROBJNIAJK SAYS, DESPITE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN KOSOVO IS "NORMAL" AND IS "IMPROVING DAY BY DAY." TAPE A: CUT TWO -- DROBJNAJK (ESTABLISH SERBIAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT TWO -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:36)

PEOPLE OF VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS COMMUNICATE NATURALLY, THEY TRADE WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEY JUST HAVE A NORMAL ORDINARY LIFE. THE PROBLEM APPEARS WHEN THE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE INVOLVED. THE ALBANIAN [L-D-K] POLITICAL PARTY WAS TENDING TOWARD AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO, THE SO-CALLED 'REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO.' OF COURSE, MORE AND MORE ALBANIANS ARE BECOMING AWARE OF THE ILLUSIONS OF AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO STATE AND ARE NOW TURNING TO A NORMAL EVERYDAY LIFE, AND RELATIONS ARE AS A CONSEQUENCE IMPROVING SIGNIFICANTLY."

TEXT: ANTON BERISHA [BER-EE-SHAH], AN ALBANIAN WHO DIRECTS THE PRISTINA OFFICE OF THE SOROS-YUGOSLAV FOUNDATION, USED TO BE A PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT KOSOVO UNIVERSITY. HIS PORTRAYAL OF THE KOSOVO SITUATION IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE INFORMATION SECRETARY'S. THE DIFFERENCE, SAYS MR. BERISHA, GOES BACK TO 1990 WHEN TEN OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS LOST THEIR JOBS. TAPE A: CUT THREE -- BERISHA (ESTABLISH SERBIAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT THREE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:32) "I'M ALSO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT A PAPER AT THAT INSTITUTION WHERE I HAD BEEN WORKING THAT I COULD NOT ENTER THE PLACE ANY MORE. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THE STATE HAD IN MIND WITH THE ALBANIANS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE '90'S, WHEN THEY SACKED THEM ALL FROM THEIR WORK. WHEN IT HAPPENED THAT WE ALL LOST OUR JOBS, WE HAD THE CHOICE EITHER TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES OR TO DO NOTHING AND SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND WHAT FATE WOULD BRING."

TEXT: IBRAHIM RUGOVA [ROO-GOH-VAH], A FORMER LITERARY CRITIC AND NOW CHAIRMAN OF THE L-D-K OR DEMOCRACY PARTY OF KOSOVA [KOS-SOH-VAH], HAS BEEN THE LEADER OF THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVO SINCE 1992. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA DISMISSED 140,000 ALBANIANS FROM THEIR JOBS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PARALLEL SYSTEMS IN KOSOVO -- A STATE SYSTEM OPERATED BY THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND A SYSTEM OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED BY THE ALBANIAN POPULATION. TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- RUGOVA (ESTABLISH ALBANIAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT FOUR -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:37) "THE NEW REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LIVING AN INDEPENDENT LIFE HERE. THE BEST SOLUTION IS INDEPENDENCE. WE HAD OUR REFERENDUM IN 1991. AND NOW, AS THE PRESIDENT [OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVA], I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH THE OUTCOME OF THE REFERENDUM. THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVA. I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A [UNITED NATIONS] PROTECTORATE OVER KOSOVA, WHICH IS AN INTERIM PHASE TO NORMALIZE AND DEMILITARIZE THE REGION. I HAVE ALWAYS ADVOCATED AN OPEN KOSOVA WITH FULL GUARANTEES FOR LOCAL SERBS IN KOSOVA -- A KOSOVA OPEN TO BOTH ALBANIA AND SERBIA AND TO THE UNITED STATES."

TAPE: LJILJANA SMAJLOVIC [LIL-E-JAH-NAH SMY-LOH-VICH], A SERB FROM SARAJEVO IS THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY, "VREME" [VRAY-MAY]. SHE SAYS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO IS EXTREMELY DELICATE. TAPE B: CUT FIVE -- SMAJLOVIC (1:02) "THE ALBANIANS ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THEIR SITUATION. THEY SEEM TO BE NOW IN SOME STATE OF SUSPENSE. THEY WAITED FOR THE BOSNIAN WAR TO BE RESOLVED. THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE MOMENT WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL PUSH THE SERBS INTO TRYING TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO ISSUE. THERE'S NO RAPPROACHMENT AT THE MOMENT. THERE ARE ALMOST NO POINTS ON WHICH SERBS AND ALBANIANS AGREE. 'VREME' MAGAZINE HAS PUBLISHED A FASCINATING REPORT ON THE ETHNIC DISTANCE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES IN KOSOVO. AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE; 99 PERCENT OF ALBANIANS, FOR EXAMPLE, THINK THAT KOSOVO SHOULD GAIN COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE -- WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA OR OUTSIDE OF YUGOSLAVIA. UP TO 75 PERCENT OF THEM WANT KOSOVO TO ATTACH ITSELF TO ALBANIA. ON THE OTHER HAND, NEARLY 98 PERCENT OF THE SERBS IN KOSOVO CONSIDER THE IDEA INTOLERABLE THAT KOSOVO SHOULD GAIN ANY KIND OF AUTONOMY OR INDEPENDENCE."

TEXT: WITH SUCH OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS, IT IS UNCERTAIN HOW A SATISFACTORY AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO CAN BE WORKED OUT. BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE ALBANIAN MINORITY IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA, VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO COULD BE DESTABILIZING THERE AS WELL. AND THERE ARE FEARS THAT THE CONFLICT MIGHT ULTIMATELY INVOLVE ALBANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE, AND TURKEY.
30-Oct-97 2:42 PM EST (1942 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO STOCKS (S UPDATE) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN EUROPE MOVED LOWER AGAIN THURSDAY, AS WORLD MARKETS REMAINED VOLATILE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL OPENED LOWER -- FOLLOWING THE TREND SEND EARLIER IN ASIA. BUT THEN AS PRICES STABILIZED ON WALL STREET, SO DID THE MARKETS IN EUROPE. STILL, THE EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL FINISHED DOWN -- BUT WELL ABOVE THEIR LOWS OF THE DAY

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 78 POINTS, ABOUT TWO-AND-SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX FINISHED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY OFF 65 POINTS, ONE-AND-SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL 70 POINTS, ONE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED A LITTLE IN VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/EH
30-Oct-97 1:24 PM EST (1824 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 DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (THURSDAY) IN ANOTHER VOLATILE SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 73 HUNDRED 81, DOWN 125 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 903, DOWN 15 POINTS.

STOCKS WERE DOWN EARLY IN THE SESSION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOSING ABOUT 100 POINTS BEFORE PRICES REBOUNDED. BUT LATE IN THE DAY A NEW WAVE OF SELLING BROUGHT PRICES DOWN AGAIN. BOB MCCOOEY OF THE GRISWOLD INVESTMENT COMPANY THEORIZED THAT SHORT-TERM TRADERS WERE MOVING THE MARKET.

AS WE GET LATER IN THE DAY, WE OFTEN TIMES HAVE A LOT OF THE SHORT-TERM TRADERS, THE DAY TRADERS, STARTING TO LIQUIDATE (SELL) SOME PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED POSITIONS.

THERE WAS CONTINUED NERVOUSNESS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ASIAN MARKETS WHICH FELL AGAIN THURSDAY WITH THE SELLING SPREADING TO STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA.

VOLUME ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WAS AGAIN HEAVY AT 712 MILLION SHARES.

SALES OF NEW HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES FELL IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT MONTH. BUT THE U-S JOB MARKET IS STILL VERY STRONG. CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FELL LAST WEEK TO THEIR LOWEST LEVEL IN THREE MONTHS.

CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE FORMALLY SIGNED THAT DEAL TO BUY THREE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF JETLINERS FROM THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY. U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY SAYS THE DEAL COULD BE A TURNING POINT IN U-S-CHINESE TRADE WHICH IS CURRENTLY WEIGHTED IN CHINA'S FAVOR.

AMERICANS CONTINUE TO POUR MONEY INTO STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS. THE INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE SAYS THE NET INFLOWS INTO STOCK FUNDS IN SEPTEMBER WAS 26 BILLION DOLLARS, ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT IN AUGUST.

OPERATORS OF A MUTUAL FUND WHICH WAS CREATED TO INVEST IN CUBA WILL CLOSE THE FUND. THE FUND, WHICH HAS ASSETS OF MORE THAN FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, WAS CREATED THREE YEARS AGO IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END OF COMMUNISM AND THE INTRODUCTION OF FREE ENTERPRISE IN CUBA. BUT FUND MANAGERS SAY THOSE CONDITIONS SEEM UNLIKELY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND THE FUND WILL BE DISSOLVED.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
30-Oct-97 4:47 PM EST (2147 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE U-S CHINA SUMMIT IS A POPULAR TOPIC IN THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS BUT IT DOES NOT DOMINATE, SINCE PAPERS HAVE BEEN STAGGERING THEIR MAIN EDITORIALS ABOUT THIS MEETING ALL WEEK.

OTHER TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED INCLUDE: THE MARS PATHFINDER WINDS DOWN; CONGRESS DOES LIKEWISE; SADDAM HUSSEIN'S JOUSTING WITH THE U-N ARMS INSPECTORS; AND THE ARGUMENT OVER NATO EXPANSION. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE FORMAL SUMMIT MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE WEDNESDAY BETWEEN PRESIDENTS JIANG AND CLINTON IS DRAWING APPROPRIATE AMOUNTS OF COMMENT, LIKE THIS LONG, LEAD EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: "JUST AS RONALD REAGAN TRIED TO MAKE IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION THE FOREIGN POLICY CENTERPIECE OF HIS SECOND TERM, BILL CLINTON NOW LOOKS TO CHINA FOR HIS PLACE IN THE DIPLOMATIC HISTORY BOOKS. THIS WEEK'S VISIT OF PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN HAS SHOWN THE DIFFICULTY OF TRYING TO CONSTRUCT A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA. MR. CLINTON, AFTER SEVERAL FALSE STARTS IN HIS FIRST TERM, HAS DEVISED A SOUND CHINA POLICY THAT EMPHASIZES ENGAGEMENT RATHER THAN ESTRANGEMENT. THE QUESTION NOW AND IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IS HOW EFFECTIVELY MR. CLINTON HANDLES THE MANY ELEMENTS OF THAT POLICY, FROM DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS TO ENHANCING TRADE. ..... THOUGH CHINA'S PROMISES ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION MAY BE SHAKY, MR. CLINTON OTHERWISE DID A GOOD JOB OF AFFIRMING AMERICA'S DEMOCRATIC VALUES WHILE PROMOTING ITS STRATEGIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. [OPT] TO ADVANCE TO THE KIND OF STRONG AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BOTH MEN TALKED ABOUT AS THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL, HE WILL NEED MORE HELP FROM MR. JIANG THAN HE HAS GOTTEN SO FAR THIS WEEK." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED WITH WHAT TURNED INTO A HUMAN RIGHTS DEBATE AT YESTERDAY'S JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE.

VOICE: "YOU COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER EVIDENCE OF THE NEED FOR MORE TOP LEVEL U-S CONTACT WITH CHINA THAN YESTERDAY'S AMAZING NEWS CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT ... CLINTON AND ..... JIANG. [OPT] THE TWO LEADERS SPARRED OPENLY OVER THE FRANK HUMAN-RIGHTS QUESTIONS ASKED BY U-S JOURNALISTS, WHICH MUST HAVE STARTLED THE CHINESE JOURNALISTS IN MR. JIANG'S ENTOURAGE, USED AS THEY ARE TO CANNED [REHEARSED, AND NEVER VARIED] RESPONSES. [END OPT] THE CHINESE LEADER DEFENDED THE 1989 MASSACRE OF .... TIANANMEN SQUARE AS 'NECESSARY' TO ENSURE STABILITY .... BUT MR. CLINTON STEPPED IN BRISKLY WITH AMERICA'S 'VERY DIFFERENT VIEW.' .... HE PREDICTED THAT THE 21ST CENTURY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SOCIETIES WILL BE THOSE THAT DON'T TRY TO STIFLE INTERNAL DIFFERENCES. HE IS RIGHT. AND THE WAY CHINA AND AMERICA SO OPENLY AIRED ** THEIR ** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] DIFFERENCES IS EXTREMELY HEALTHY ..... IN A SUMMIT WITH NO GRAND AGREEMENTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME MAY BE THE TWO LEADERS' PLEDGE TO HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS."

TEXT: FROM DIPLOMACY AT THE SUMMIT, TO SCIENCE IN OUTER SPACE, AND THE APPARENT DEMISE, IN THE MARTIAN AUTUMN, OF THE PATHFINDER PROBE, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: "PATHFINDER AND ITS LITTLE ADJUNCT, THE ROVER SOJOURNER, TOOK THE COUNTRY BY STORM FROM THE DAY - - INDEPENDENCE DAY, AS IT HAPPENS - - THAT THEY FLAWLESSLY LANDED ON MARS. THE PICTURES PATHFINDER SENT BACK, SOME OF THEM IN COLOR, ASTONISHED US WITH THEIR DETAIL, THEIR SHARPNESS AND THE GRITTY REALITY THEY BROUGHT TO MARTIAN LANDSCAPES - - THE BOULDERS AND HILLOCKS, THE SUNSETS, THE DISTANT VISTAS. THE PHOTOS EARNED FRONT-PAGE STATUS AROUND THE WORLD ..... PATHFINDER'S OVERWHELMING SUCCESS .... RESTORED THE LUSTER AND EXCITEMENT OF SPACE EXPLORATION. ... SO IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THAT THE LAST PIECE OF INFORMATION NOW HAS BEEN RELAYED."

TEXT: SPEAKING OF ENDING A MISSION, CONGRESS IS ALSO GETTING READY TO ADJOURN FOR THE YEAR, AND THE WASHINGTON POST ALSO HAS SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT:

VOICE: "THE LEADERSHIP WOULD LIKE TO FINISH UP NEXT FRIDAY [11/7]. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU CAN BE PRETTY SURE THEY'LL GET DONE BEFORE THEN, OR BEFORE THEY GO, AND ONE THING THAT THEY WON'T, THOUGH THEY SHOULD. THEY'LL FIND SOME WAY TO FUND THOSE PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR WHICH THEY HAVEN'T MANAGED TO PASS APPROPRIATIONS BILLS; NO CHUNK OF THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT SOME OPERATING FUNDS. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY WON'T PASS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION, AND NO MATTER THAT BOTH PARTIES CLAIM TO WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO CLEAN UP WHAT THEY VARIOUSLY DEFINE AS THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE MESS. THEY ALWAYS CLAIM THAT, EVEN AS THEY NEVER DO IT. THERE IS ONE OTHER THING OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE THAT THEY CAN AND OUGHT TO DO BEFORE THEY QUIT ..... THEY CAN AND SHOULD GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE [SO CALLED "FAST TRACK"] AUTHORITY HE SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE FUTURE TRADE AGREEMENTS."

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE LATEST FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MOVE TO FORCE OUT U-S MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM, DRAWS A SHARP RETORT FROM NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND.

VOICE: "SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST OUTRAGEOUS MOVE .... IS JUST ANOTHER HEAVY-HANDED, TRANSPARENT ATTEMPT TO SPLIT THE ALLIANCE AGAINST HIM. HE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SUCCEED. .... [MR.] HUSSEIN HAS TRIED TO SPLIT THE ALLIANCE BY NEGOTIATING FAVORABLE OIL DEALS FOR SOME SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (FRANCE, RUSSIA) WITH THE CONDITION THAT SANCTIONS ARE EASED. AND, AS THE DISPUTE OVER THE GERM-WARFARE PROGRAM HAS PROGRESSED, THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAD SEEMED SLOW TO REACT. IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS BY NOW THAT THE ONLY WAY OF DEALING WITH [MR.] HUSSEIN IS FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. ....[OPT] THE COALITION MUST NOW DEMONSTRATE TO HIM THE FOLLY OF HIS THINKING - - AND JEEP HIM IN HIS BOX." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE ORLANDO SENTINEL IS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT FEELS IS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S FAILURE TO EXPLAIN THE OVERRIDING NEED TO EXPAND NATO.

VOICE: "IN HEARINGS BEFORE THE U-S SENATE, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SQUANDERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THE NEED TO EXPAND THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. THE WHITE HOUSE IS ROLLING ALONG ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT ADDING NEW MEMBERS TO NATO IS A GOOD IDEA. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THERE SHOULD BE AMPLE REASONS TO SUPPORT IT. INSTEAD, LAWMAKERS ARE HEARING GENERAL JUSTIFICATIONS THAT HAVE SO LITTLE HEFT [SUBSTANCE] ... A BREEZE COULD WHISK THEM AWAY. .... THE ENTIRE DISCUSSION SO FAR HAS PIG-IN-A-POKE [LITERALLY: "TO BUY A PIG (OR ANYTHING ELSE) WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE IT AND SO JUDGE IT MERITS] THINKING WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. REASONABLE [COST] ESTIMATES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WELL IN ADVANCE OF A VOTE. SO SHOULD ALL SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS. .... AS OF NOW, THERE'S NO REASON FOR AMERICANS TO BUY INTO ADDING NEW MEMBERS TO NATO."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THURSDAY U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/EH
30-Oct-97 9:52 AM EST (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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