Voice of America, 97-11-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA - REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (SARAJEVO)

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

[03] GERMANY / ARMY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[04] HUMAN RIGHTS / TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[05] NY ECON WRAP (L-ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

[07] TURKEY KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] BOSNIA - REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS' TOP REFUGEE OFFICIAL SAYS THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS IN THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IN SARAJEVO, THE U-N OFFICIAL SAYS THE TOUGHEST WORK LIES AHEAD.

TEXT: THE WAR AND SO-CALLED ETHNIC CLEANSING IN BOSNIA DROVE HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES. ONE CORNERSTONE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT IS THE RETURN OF REFUGEES -- BUT IMPLEMENTATION IS STILL FAR FROM COMPLETE.

THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, TOLD REPORTERS IN SARAJEVO 400-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES, BUT IN MOST CASES THEY HAVE RETURNED TO AREAS WHERE THEY ARE IN THE MAJORITY. SHE SAID FEWER THAN ONE IN 10 HAVE GONE BACK TO AREAS WHERE THEY ARE IN THE MINORITY.

ONE FACTOR PREVENTING THE RETURN OF REFUGEES IS A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING -- SO MUCH WAS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED DURING THE WAR. MRS. OGATA SAYS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS HELPED WITH THE REBUILDING, BUT IT CAN NOT DO IT ALL.

WE WILL HAVE SPENT SOMETHING LIKE 50-MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT BIGGER RECONSTRUCTION AGENCIES WILL TAKE OVER, AND THAT WE ARE JUST A CATALYZING AGENCY FOR THIS KIND WORK. BUT THE BIG RECONSTRUCTION WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY BIGGER DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.

TWELVE UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES, PLUS THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION, ARE LAUNCHING A 400-MILLION DOLLAR APPEAL THIS WEEK TO FUND REFUGEE PROGRAMS IN BOSNIA NEXT YEAR.

GIVEN WHAT BOSNIA HAS BEEN THROUGH, MRS. OGATA SAID THE SLOW PACE OF REFUGEE RETURN IS NOT SURPRISING, BUT SHE SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST STAY ENGAGED.

WHAT BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA NEEDS MOST IS ENOUGH TIME FOR STABILITY AND REINTEGRATION OF PEOPLE TO TAKE ROOT. AND THEREFORE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE STABILIZING PRESENCE OF THE NATO-LED S-FOR (STABILIZATION FORCE) MUST CONTINUE WELL BEYOND JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.

BUT EVEN WITH THE S-FOR TROOPS THE RETURN OF REFUGEES IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO BE A SLOW AND DIFFICULT PROCESS, AND MANY SKEPTICS WONDER IF -- GIVEN THE DIVISIONS WITHIN BOSNIA AND THE HISTORY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING -- IF IT CAN BE DONE AT ALL. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/RAE
20-Nov-97 1:27 PM EST (1827 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ALL POSTED GAINS WHEN TRADING CLOSED THURSDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH PROVIDES THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: WITH TRADING STRONG IN NEW YORK AND SOME ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IMPROVING IN THE FAR EAST, WESTERN EUROPE'S MAJOR STOCK EXCHANGES REACTED POSITIVELY AND POSTED SOLID GAINS.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS ENJOYED BY GERMAN INVESTORS OF STOCKS TRACKED BY THE "DAX 30." IT WAS UP BY MORE THAN TWO-PERCENT -- JUST MORE THAN 81-POINTS ON THE INDEX. LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP JUST MORE THAN 78-POINTS. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" INDEX OF FRENCH STOCKS POSTED A CLOSING GAIN OF JUST UNDER 31-POINTS THURSDAY.

THE U-S DOLLAR SHOWED LITTLE MOVEMENT IN EUROPEAN TRADING AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND BRITISH POUND.

GOLD PRICES IN LONDON RETREATED A BIT, DOWN ABOUT A DOLLAR-AND-A-QUARTER IN THE CLOSING FIX, WHEN THE METAL WAS PRICED AT 303-DOLLARS-75 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
20-Nov-97 1:47 PM EST (1847 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY / ARMY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE GERMAN ARMY HAS UNVEILED A SERIES OF NEW MEASURES AIMED AT PURGING ITS RANKS OF RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS. V-O-A'S BONN CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS THE MOVE FOLLOWS A SERIES OF EMBARRASSING SCANDALS INVOLVING NEO-NAZIS.

TEXT: GERMAN ARMY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOW BEGIN MORE CAREFUL BACKGROUND CHECKS OF NEW RECRUITS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF NEO-NAZI OR OTHER EXTREMIST CRIMES.

OFFICERS ALSO WILL KEEP A MORE WATCHFUL EYE ON TROOPS DURING OFF DUTY HOURS AND DEAL SWIFTLY WITH SOLDIERS WHO ARE REGARDED AS RECEPTIVE TO EXTREME RIGHT-WING POLITICS.

ARMY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRISTOPHER KATZ, SAYS THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE POLITICAL EDUCATION THAT WILL CONFRONT SOLDIERS WITH GERMAN HISTORY.

THAT MEANS TO ORGANIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, VISITS TO EXHIBITIONS, TO BRING ABOUT A DIALOGUE WITH EXPERTS FROM SOCIETY, TO ORGANIZE DISCUSSION GROUPS WITH GUESTS THAT COME INTO THE BARRACKS FROM ALL PARTS OF SOCIETY, AND TO MAKE THE POLITICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT MORE MODERN AND TO COME AWAY FROM A PURE LECTURE SYSTEM.

TOP ARMY OFFICIALS SAY SOLDIERS WHO DO NOT RESPOND TO THE LESSONS IN DEMOCRACY WILL FACE TOUGH DISCIPLINARY MEASURES. BUT THEY WILL TRY TO GUIDE SOLDIERS BACK INTO THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM, WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

THE MEASURES FOLLOW THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF A VIDEO TAPE WITH SEVERAL SOLDIERS MAKING ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS, GIVING THE BANNED HITLER SALUTE AND SIMULATING ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

INVESTIGATIONS BY THE ARMY AND THE GERMANY PARLIAMENT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE INCIDENT AND A SIMILAR SCANDAL UNCOVERED EARLIER, WERE NOT PART OF ANY ORGANIZED EXTREME RIGHT-WING TENDENCY IN THE ARMY.

OFFICIALS SAY THE LATEST SCANDAL WAS MAINLY THE WORK OF A SINGLE EXTREMIST WHO DIRECTED THE VIDEO TAPES. BUT COLONEL KATZ ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENT HAS HURT THE REPUTATION OF THE MODERN GERMAN ARMY, WHICH HAS WORKED TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE NAZI PAST.

I THINK HE REALLY DAMAGED A LITTLE BIT (THE REPUTATION) OF OUR ARMY BUT I CAN NOT SEE HIM AS AN EXAMPLE FOR A MAJORITY OF SOLDIERS. I THINK REALLY HE WAS A SINGLE CASE.

OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE SOLDIERS INVOLVED IN THE LATEST SCANDAL HAVE SINCE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY. THEY SAY THOSE STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY WILL BE PUNISHED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/MMK
20-Nov-97 11:14 AM EST (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] HUMAN RIGHTS / TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: TWO TURKISH LAWYERS HAVE WON A PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD FOR HELPING THE KURDISH MINORITY AND FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS ON THE CEREMONY (THURSDAY) ON CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: THIS YEAR'S ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, NAMED FOR THE LATE U-S SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, IS GOING TO SENAL SARIHAN AND SEZGIN TANRIKULU. BOTH ARE PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEYS WHO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HAVE DEFENDED KURDS WHO ARE SEEKING GREATER FREEDOM FROM THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.

SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. TANRIKULU PAID TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THEM.

THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS NEVER PURSUED FOR PERSONAL GAIN OR AMBITION. AS A LAWYER WHO LIVES IN A REGION EXPERIENCING A VIOLENT CIVIL WAR, I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS AWARD TO SIX OF MY COLLEAGUES OF TURKISH ORIGIN WHO WERE ASSASSINATED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TURKEY. THIS AWARD ALSO BELONGS TO 27 OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ON TRIAL FOR NOTHING OTHER THAN THEIR COURAGE TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE ATTORNEYS HAVE ALSO TRIED TO CHANGE WHAT THEY CALL REPRESSIVE ANTI-TERRORIST LAWS AND PENAL CODES. MRS. SARIHAN HERSELF WAS IMPRISONED FOR THREE YEARS IN THE EARLY 1970'S AND MORE RECENTLY THREATENED WITH DEATH BY ISLAMIC RADICALS. SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY SAYS BOTH HONOREES SAYS ARE WORTHY HEIRS TO HIS BROTHER'S LEGACY.

ROBERT KENNEDY SHARED THEIR DEDICATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. LIKE ALL OF US HERE, HE WOULD BE INSPIRED BY THEIR EXAMPLE, THEIR COURAGE, THEIR COMMITMENT AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

THE LAWYERS ARE NOW APPEALING THE CASE OF LEYLA ZANA, THE FIRST KURDISH WOMAN ELECTED TO TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT, WHO IS SERVING A PRISON TERM AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF TREASON. ONE OF HER OFFENSES WAS TESTIFYING BEFORE A HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL OF THE U-S CONGRESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/TMD/RRM
20-Nov-97 5:24 PM EST (2224 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NY ECON WRAP (L-ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED HIGHER TODAY (THURSDAY) IN WHAT ANALYSTS SAY WAS A BROADBASED RALLY. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE WIDELY FOLLOWED DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP 102 POINTS AT 78-HUNDRED-27 -- MORE THAN ONE PERCENT -- WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE S-AND-P 500 CLOSED UP 14 POINTS AT 959.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT IN SEPTEMBER WAS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN EIGHT MONTHS. ANALYST MARTIN HELD SAYS THE 11-BILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT IN SEPTEMBER SUGGESTS THAT ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE AFFECTING THE UNITED STATES.

SOME WALL STREET ANALYSTS SAY THE TRADE DEFICIT IS MODERATING THE ROBUST GROWTH OF THE U-S ECONOMY AND HELPING TO KEEP INFLATION LOW.

THE U-S LABOR DEPARTMENT REPORTS A SURPRISING 20-THOUSAND INCREASE IN WORKERS FILING NEW CLAIMS FOR JOBLESS BENEFITS. THE U-S CENTRAL BANK HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT LABOR SHORTAGES CONTRIBUTING TO INFLATION, BUT THE NEW FIGURES INDICATE A POTENTIAL EASING IN THE LABOR MARKET.

WALL STREET ANTICIPATES LARGER TRADE DEFICIT FIGURES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, BUT GENERALLY BELIEVES SOUTHEAST ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WILL NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE UNITED STATES. ANALYST MARTIN HELD SAYS, HOWEVER, U-S EXPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS -- THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR MANUFACTURING -- COULD BE HURT.

A LOT OF OUR EXPORTS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND ACTUALLY TO ASIA IN GENERAL, ARE EXPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS. THE PROBLEMS IN ASIA ARE LARGELY OF OVER-INVESTMENT, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE DEMAND FOR CAPITAL GOODS THROUGHOUT ASIA IS GOING TO SOFTEN DRAMATICALLY, I DO THINK SOME OF OUR CAPITAL GOODS EXPORTERS ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

U-S STOCK PRICES HAVE NOW RECOVERED AND PASSED THE LEVEL THEY WERE AT BEFORE THE SEVEN PERCENT SELL-OFF OF OCTOBER 27TH THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE COLLAPSE OF ASIAN STOCK PRICES. ANALYSTS SAY ONE FACTOR IN THE MOST RECENT INCREASE IN STOCK PRICES IS A DECLINE IN LONG TERM INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/RRM
20-Nov-97 4:41 PM EST (2141 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE COLLAPSE OF SEVERAL ASIAN ECONOMIES APPEARS TO BE SPREADING TO SOUTH KOREA, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, AND U-S EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE SITUATION WITH GROWING CONCERN THIS THURSDAY. THE PRIME DOMESTIC STORY ELICITING COMMENT CONCERNS THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO ALLOW SWITCHES ON AUTOMOBILE AIR BAGS WHICH, WHILE THEY SAVE MANY LIVES, HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO DEATHS OF CHILDREN. THE APPARENT BREAKTHROUGH IN THE CONFRONTATION WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN, ANNOUNCED IN GENEVA EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, U-S TIME, CAME TOO LATE FOR ALL BUT ONE RESPONSE IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS, FROM USA TODAY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE FALL OF TEAMSTERS BOSS RON CAREY, AND THE RELEASE OF WEI JINGSHENG. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL "THE ASIAN VIRUS SPREADS" AS IT REACTS TO THE LATEST FINANCIAL NEWS FROM SEOUL.

VOICE: "[OPT] UNTIL NOW THE FINANCIAL CHAOS BUFFETING THAILAND, HONG KONG AND OTHER SMALL ASIAN ECONOMIES HAS POSED LITTLE THREAT OUTSIDE THE REGION. BUT THIS WEEK THE CONTAGION HIT SOUTH KOREA, THE WORLD'S 11TH-LARGEST ECONOMY. KOREA'S MISFORTUNE HAS ALREADY SHAKEN JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES. UNLIKE MEXICO'S RECENT TROUBLES, ASIA'S CRISIS REFLECTS PROBLEMS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR MORE THAN RECKLESS MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICIES. [END OPT] ..... THE PRESSING NEED IN SOUTH KOREA AND ITS NEIGHBORS IS TO STABILIZE THEIR BANKS, WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, THEREBY QUIETING THE FEARS OF INVESTORS AND DEPOSITORS ..... BUT KOREA, FOR REASONS OF DOMESTIC POLITICS, HAS RESISTED REACHING OUT TO THE FUND BECAUSE ITS LOANS COME IN EXCHANGE FOR STRINGENT COMMITMENTS TO FIX BANKING AND OTHER FINANCIAL IMBALANCES. IF KOREA WAITS TOO LONG, AND THE ECONOMY SINKS, THE CONSEQUENCES WILL SPREAD FAR BEYOND ITS BORDERS."

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE CONTINUES TO BE HOPEFUL, PROPOSING:

VOICE: "WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS BEEN SLOWED -- BUT NOT REVERSED -- BY BUBBLES BURSTING IN ASIA. IF EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THERE, THE REGION'S ECONOMIES SHOULD GRADUALLY BEGIN TO REVIVE."

TEXT: THE POPULAR DOMESTIC TOPIC IS A DECISION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK TO ALLOW SOME MOTORISTS TO DISCONNECT THE AIR BAGS IN THEIR CARS, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A GOOD REASON. THE BAGS HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES, BUT HAVE ALSO KILLED SOME CHILDREN, WITH THEIR EXPLODING FORCE. "THE DENVER POST" SAYS OF THE MOVE:

VOICE: "NOW, AT LAST, ... THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ... HAS DECIDED TO ALLOW ... DEACTIVATIONS..... BEFORE THEY [CAR OWNERS] CAN HAVE THE [AIR BAG CUT-OFF] SWITCHES INSTALLED, CAR OWNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE FEDERAL PAPERWORK CARRYING THE USUALLY PERJURY PENALTY FOR FALSE STATEMENTS. THIS INCLINES US TO HEAVE TWO SIGHS -- ONE OF RESIGNATION OVER THE INCREDIBLE OFFICIOUSNESS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE OTHER OF RELIEF THAT THIS LONG-OVERDUE DECISION HAS AT LAST BEEN MADE."

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, "FOR A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE, IT'S A GOOD IDEA."

VOICE: "... IT'S TRUE THAT SOME OF THE AIRBAG VICTIMS WERE WOMEN UNDER FIVE FEET TWO-INCHES TALL, WHOSE ONLY MISTAKE WAS SITTING TOO CLOSE IN ORDER TO REACH PEDALS OR SEE OVER THE DASH. IT IS FOR SUCH PEOPLE, AND FOR PARENTS WHOSE VEHICLE GIVES THEM NO CHOICE BUT TO SEAT CHILDREN IN FRONT, THAT THE ON-OFF SWITCH OPTION IS INTENDED."

TEXT: IN A FIRST COMMENT ON THE POSSIBILITY RESOLUTION TO THE WEAPONS INSPECTION CRISIS IN IRAQ, "USA TODAY" IS WORRIED THAT IN DEFERRING TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, "THE U-S RISKS LOSING [THE] REINS AS RUSSIA, IRAQ BARGAIN," AND IT CITES THE MEMOIRS OF FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER, ON THE CURRENT DEAL-MAKER.

VOICE: "[MR.] BAKER PORTRAYS [MR.] PRIMAKOV AS A MEDDLER WHO EVOLVED FROM NUISANCE TO OBSTRUCTIONIST DURING CRITICAL MONTHS LEADING UP TO DESERT STORM. [MR.] BAKER SAYS [MR.] PRIMAKOV REPEATEDLY JEOPARDIZED COALITION UNITY BY TRYING TO BROKER DEALS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO IRAQ.... AT BEST, [MR.] PRIMAKOV ... MAY HAVE MINED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SADDAM TO MANAGE A RETURN OF U-S WEAPONS INSPECTORS. EARLY TODAY, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID THAT RETURN WAS UNCONDITIONAL, BUT DETAILS WERE SCARCE. AT WORST, THE EX-KGB CHIEF MAY HAVE AGAIN OVERSTEPPED HIS AUTHORITY AND OVERSOLD RESULTS, GIVING SADDAM MORE REASON TO THINK HE CAN DESTROY THE COALITION."

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" VOICES ITS OPINION THAT IN THE CASE OF THE TERRORIST MASSACRE IN LUXOR, EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI "MUBARAK MUST BE TOUGH ON EGYPT'S EXTREMISTS."

VOICE: "... FOR EGYPT'S ECONOMIC SURVIVAL, [PRESIDENT] MUBARAK MUST INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE EXTREMISTS BEFORE HE CAN HOPE TO REDUCE IT."

TEXT: THERE IS CONTINUING COMMENT ABOUT THE FALL FROM POWER OF TEAMSTER UNION PRESIDENT RON CAREY, A REFORMER BARRED FROM RUNNING IN A NEW ELECTION FOR HIS CURRENT JOB BY A FEDERAL MONITOR. MR. CAREY HAS BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE ABUSES BY THE MONITOR, DRAWING THIS RESPONSE FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR."

VOICE: "IN ITS BEST LIGHT, THIS TURN OF EVENTS CAN BE SEEN AS PART OF THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO FREE THE LARGEST U-S LABOR UNION OF PERSISTENT CORRUPTION. .... [HOWEVER] WITH [MR.] CAREY PROBABLY OUT OF THE PICTURE, THE WORST FEAR OF HIS SUPPORTERS COULD BE REALIZED: ELECTION OF JAMES P. HOFFA, SON OF THE LONGTIME TEAMSTERS LEADER KNOWN FOR MOB [CRIMINAL] CONNECTIONS, AS PRESIDENT. BUT HOW DID MR. HOFFA COME BY THE ONE-POINT-EIGHT-MILLION DOLLARS THAT FINANCED HIS NARROW LOSS TO [MR.] CAREY LAST YEAR? THE SAME FEDERAL MONITOR WHO DISQUALIFIED [MR.] CAREY HAS ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THOSE FUNDS. LET THAT PROBE AND OTHERS GO FORWARD. A TRULY REFORMED TEAMSTERS UNION WOULD BE A CREDIT TO ORGANIZED LABOR."

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE RELEASE FROM A CHINESE PRISON OF LEADING DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG, "THE MIAMI HERALD" COMMENTS:

VOICE: "CHINA WILL MARCH TO ITS OWN GONG. IE., IT WILL CHANGE AT ITS OWN PACE. SO IT WAS THAT BEIJING RELEASED WEI JINGSHENG, SENDING CHINA'S MOST PROMINENT DISSIDENT INTO EXILE.... THAT'S SOMETHING TO REJOICE OVER. YET MR. WEI IS NOT FREE TO RETURN TO CHINA AND ... PROMOTE DEMOCRACY FROM WITHIN. THAT REMAINS SOMETHING TO LAMENT."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, EARLY REACTION TO THE PREMATURE, CAESAREAN BIRTH IN IOWA YESTERDAY OF SEPTUPLETS, FOUR BOYS AND THREE GIRLS, TO A SEAMSTRESS AND HER HUSBAND. SAYS "THE NEW YORK POST:"

VOICE: "THE SAGA OF THE SEVEN LITTLE MCCAUGHEYS [PRONOUNCED MCCOY] HAS, TO PUT IT MILDLY, CAPTURED THE NATION'S IMAGINATION. AND WHY NOT? THE BIRTH YESTERDAY IN [DES MOINES] IOWA OF APPARENTLY VIABLE SEPTUPLETS WAS, IN PURELY HUMAN TERMS, A WONDROUS EVENT. IT ... WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY ENERGIZE AMERICA'S EVER-ACRIMONIOUS ABORTION DEBATE.... BUT THAT'S A SUBJECT FOR ANOTHER TIME. TODAY, AMERICA WELCOMES THE MCCAUGHEY BABIES -- SEVEN MIRACLES OF A SORT UNIMAGINABLE NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO."

TEXT: ON THAT NEO-NATAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF OPINIONS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
20-Nov-97 10:30 AM EST (1530 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: ONE OF THE MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS OPERATING IN NORTHERN IRAQ ACCUSES TURKEY OF CONTINUING TO ATTACK ITS FORCES, EVEN THOUGH THE FACTION HAS WITHDRAWN FROM DISPUTED POSITIONS WITHIN THE WESTERN-PROTECTED ENCLAVE. JALAL TALABANI'S "PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN," OR "P-U-K," SAYS TURKEY'S MILITARY CONTINUES TO ATTACK THEIR POSITIONS AND VILLAGES JOINTLY WITH MASSOUD BARZANI'S "KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY" -- THE "K-D-P" --MAINLY ALONG THE IRANIAN BORDER. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE TWO GROUPS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A THREE-YEAR-LONG ARMED CONFLICT FOR CONTROL OVER NORTHERN IRAQ.

TEXT: IN A STATEMENT, THE P-U-K ACCUSED ANKARA OF USING NAPALM AND CLUSTER BOMBS IN WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS SUSTAINED TURKISH AIR ATTACKS AGAINST KURDISH VILLAGES. THE P-U-K SAID SCORES OF CIVILIANS HAD DIED IN THE ASSAULTS AND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAD BEEN FORCIBLY DISPLACED.

THE REPORTS CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED, AS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BAN JOURNALISTS FROM ENTERING NORTHERN IRAQ THROUGH TURKEY, WHICH REMAINS THE MAIN ACCESS ROUTE TO THE ENCLAVE.

THE P-U-K DESCRIBED THE ALLEGED TURKISH ATTACKS AS A BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE NO-FLY ZONE ESTABLISHED BY ALLIED WESTERN FORCES AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR. THE ZONE IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE IRAQI KURDS AGAINST POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORCES.

TURKISH OFFICIALS DENY THE ATTACK CHARGES, SAYING THEIR MILITARY IN NORTHERN IRAQ ONLY TARGETS TURKISH KURD REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR THE P-K-K. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, TURKEY HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN AGAINST P-K-K REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ WITH THE HELP OF MASSOUD BARZANI'S K-D-P -- THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS LAUNCHED AGAINST THE REBELS IN RECENT YEARS.

SOME WESTERN DIPLOMATS CONFIRM THEY HAVE REPORTS OF TURKISH STRIKES AGAINST THE P-U-K -- LONG ACCUSED BY ANKARA OF HELPING THE TURKISH KURD REBELS OF THE P-K-K. DIPLOMATS ADD THAT IN JOINING FORCES WITH THE K-D-P AGAINST THE P-U-K, TURKEY HAS EFFECTIVELY CEASED TO BE A NEUTRAL PARTY IN THE KURDISH CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRAQ. YET UNTIL A MONTH AGO TURKEY -- ALONG WITH THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN -- WAS A LEADING MEDIATOR IN THE SO-CALLED "ANKARA PEACE PROCESS," AIMED AT RECONCILING THE TWO RIVAL KURDISH FACTIONS.

K-D-P OFFICIALS INSIST THE LATEST ROUND OF FIGHTING WHICH BRINGS THE YEAR-OLD UNITED STATES-SPONSORED CEASEFIRE TO AN END WAS INITIATED BY THE P-U-K. HUNDREDS OF IRAQI KURDS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE EITHER DIED OR BEEN WOUNDED IN THE FIGHTING, WHICH IS CONCENTRATED NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER.

THE P-U-K ACCUSES THE K-D-P OF RESISTING ALL MOVES TOWARDS NORMALIZATION IN THE ENCLAVE, WHICH INCLUDE PROPOSALS TO HOLD FRESH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE P-U-K ALSO ACCUSES THE K-D-P OF USURPING HUNDREDS OF MILLION OF DOLLARS IN BORDER TAXES MR. BARZANI'S MILITIA LEVY ON TRUCKS CARRYING IRAQI OIL SMUGGLED OUT OF NORTHERN IRAQ INTO TURKEY.

AMID ALL THE ACCUSATIONS AND COUNTER-ACCUSATIONS, ANALYSTS SAY WHAT IS BECOMING CLEAR IS THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF RECONCILING THE TWO KURDISH GROUPS. MR. BARZANI AND MR. TALABANI BOTH BELIEVE THEY ARE THE NATURAL LEADERS OF AN ESTIMATED THREE-MILLION IRAQI KURDS. THE TWO GROUPS HAVE FOUGHT MORE FREQUENTLY AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR CONTROL OVER THE KURDISH REGION THAN AGAINST THEIR COMMON ENEMY, IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. EVEN SO, U-S AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP EFFORTS TO FORGE A LASTING PEACE BETWEEN THE P-U-K AND THE K-D-P -- NOT LEAST BECAUSE THE TWO GROUPS REMAIN THE KEY ELEMENTS IN THE COALITION AGAINST IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/MMK
20-Nov-97 10:27 AM EST (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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