Voice of America, 97-12-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] IRAQ / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY JESSICA JONES (CAIRO)

[02] U-S TROOPS TO REMAIN IN BOSNIA BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

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

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[01] IRAQ / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY JESSICA JONES (CAIRO)

INTRO: IRAQ HAS CRITICIZED TURKEY FOR EXTENDING THE MANDATE OF U-S LED ALLIED FORCES PROTECTING KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. JESSICA JONES REPORTS IRAQ CALLED THE TURKISH MOVE AN "ACT OF AGGRESSION."

TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY CARRIED A STATEMENT FROM THE COUNTRY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY (FRIDAY), SAYING IT CONDEMNED THE DECISION OF THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT (THURSDAY) TO EXTEND THE TERM OF "OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH," WHICH ENFORCES A NO-FLY ZONE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ.

THE STATEMENT SAID IRAQ HOLDS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT -- IN ITS WORDS -- "FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS IRRESPONSIBLE POLICY WHICH INFLICTS DANGEROUS DAMAGE ON IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY." IT SAID THE SIX-MONTH EXTENSION IS "AN ACT OF AGGRESSION BY ITSELF AGAINST IRAQ."

THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT HAS EXTENDED THE TERM OF OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH UNTIL THE END OF JUNE. THE MANDATE HAS BEEN RENEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR, AND IS AIMED AT PROTECTING KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ FROM THE FORCES OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.

IRAQI NEWSPAPERS ALSO CRITICIZED THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT'S DECISION. THE OFFICIAL AL-THAWRA DAILY SAID "TURKEY IS DAMAGING ITS INTERESTS . . . AND TURNING ITS NEIGHBORS FROM FRIENDS TO ENEMIES."

IRAQI KURDS MAINTAIN AN AUTONOMOUS STATE IN THE NO-FLY ZONE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH. MORE THAN 45 U-S AND BRITISH PLANES AND ABOUT 14-HUNDRED PERSONNEL ARE PART OF THE OPERATION, WHICH IS BASED AT THE SOUTHERN TURKISH BASE OF INCIRLIK. (SIGNED)
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26-Dec-97 10:47 AM EST (1547 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-S TROOPS TO REMAIN IN BOSNIA BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NEWSPAPERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO REACT TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT (DECEMBER 18) THAT U-S FORCES WILL REMAIN INDEFINITELY IN BOSNIA. WE GET A SAMPLING OF COMMENTS NOW FROM _________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: PRESIDENT "CLINTON TAKES A RISK FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA" IS THE HEADLINE ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE IN THE PORTLAND (MAINE) PRESS HERALD. THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON PROVED HIMSELF A RISK-TAKER FOR PEACE WHEN HE FLEW TO BOSNIA FOR A ONE-DAY VISIT (DECEMBER 22) WITH POLITICAL LEADERS, U-S TROOPS AND THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE. (BEGIN OPT) IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE LATTER (I.E. BOSNIAN PEOPLE) TO SEE THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT WALKING IN THE PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE WALKED IN FEAR SO LONG, RIDING THROUGH THE SNIPER'S ALLEYS WHERE THEY HAVE HAD TO DODGE THE ENEMY'S BULLETS, ASSURING THEM AND THE TROOPS HE COMMANDS THAT AMERICA'S JOB IN BOSNIA ISN'T OVER YET. (END OPT) ... THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE ULTIMATELY MUST DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINY, SOMETHING THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DO IN TODAY'S INSTABILITY. ... THIS IS NO TIME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO LEAVE BOSNIA TO ITS OWN DEVICES. REBUILDING HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, AND AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IS NEEDED."

TEXT: "BOSNIA FOLLY CONTINUES," IS THE EDITORIAL SUMMATION OF THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL, WHICH SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO KEEP TROOPS IN BOSNIA "WAS A POOR ONE. INDEED, IT WAS DOWNRIGHT "IRRESPONSIBLE," SAYS THE SENTINEL.

VOICE: "THE PRESIDENT'S ZEAL TO BE INVOLVED IN BOSNIA'S AFFAIRS CONSISTENTLY HAS CLOUDED HIS THINKING DURING THE RECENT YEARS OF THAT NATION'S CIVIL CONFLICT. MR CLINTON HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT A SOLUTION TO CENTURIES OF ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES IN THAT COUNTRY ISN'T IN THE OFFING. ... IF OTHER MEMBERS OF NATO, NOTABLY BRITAIN AND FRANCE, WANT TO GIVE PEACEKEEPING ANOTHER GO, THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO. BOSNIA IS MOSTLY A EUROPEAN PROBLEM, ANYWAY. BUT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT FOLLY."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, USA TODAY WRITES, "RECALL THE HORRORS OF THREE YEARS AGO? SETTING A DATE FOR WITHDRAWAL WOULD INVITE RENEWED SLAUGHTER." USA TODAY SAYS U-S TROOPS SHOULD REMAIN TO "FINISH THE JOB."

VOICE: "A RAPID PULLOUT WOULD TRADE ... PROGRESS FOR RENEWED WAR. (BEGIN OPT) VIRTUALLY NO ONE DOUBTS BOSNIA'S ANCIENT ANIMOSITIES WOULD ERUPT IN NEW CONFLICT THE MOMENT NATO TROOPS LEFT. THE TRUE CHALLENGE WILL BE DEFINING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD PERMIT A SCALING DOWN IN THE SIZE OF THE TROOP FORCE AND EVENTUALLY WITHDRAWAL OF THE PEACEKEEPERS. (END OPT) ... SETTING DEADLINES (FOR WITHDRAWAL) IS FOOLISH. TIME WILL BE NEEDED TO ASSURE THE PEACE IN BOSNIA."

TEXT: FINALLY, THERE IS THIS COMMENT FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE:

VOICE: "(BEGIN OPT) THE BEST THING THAT CAN BE SAID FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO EXTEND THE U-S TROOP PRESENCE IN BOSNIA IS THAT HE OMITTED SETTING ANOTHER PHONY END-OF-MISSION DEADLINE. TWICE BEFORE THE PRESIDENT HAS ASSURED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE U-S FORCES WOULD BE OUT OF BOSNIA BY A DEFINITE DATE. (END OPT) FINALLY, HE (PRESIDENT CLINTON) IS BEING HONEST. OUR COMMITMENT THERE IS OPEN-ENDED. ... THE PRESIDENT WAS RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES START TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE COSTS IN BOSNIA. HE SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD. THE U-S HAS NO VITAL NATIONAL INTEREST AT STAKE IN BOSNIA, AND THE EUROPEAN POWERS CAN GET THE JOB DONE ON THEIR OWN, IF ONLY THEY WOULD SCREW UP THE COURAGE."

TEXT: THAT COMMENT FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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26-Dec-97 11:42 AM EST (1642 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 TODAY (FRIDAY) IN ANOTHER ABBREVIATED TRADING SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 76 HUNDRED 79, UP 19 POINTS. BUT, FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 77 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 936, UP ALMOST FOUR POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS APPARENTLY A SLIGHT REBOUND AFTER THE HEAVY SELLING PRESSURES ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. AS IT DID ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSED THREE HOURS EARLY AND TRADING VOLUME WAS VERY LIGHT AT 164 MILLION SHARES.

PRELIMINARY FIGURES SHOW AMERICAN RETAILERS DID NOT DO AS WELL AS EXPECTED DURING THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SEASON, WITH SALES UP ABOUT THREE PERCENT OR ABOUT THE SAME RATE AS INFLATION. ANALYSTS SAY A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS ARE BECOMING RELUCTANT TO GO INTO DEBT TO BUY HOLIDAY GIFTS.

THE DECISION BY COMEDIAN JERRY SEINFELD TO END HIS POPULAR TELEVISION SERIES COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE N-B-C TELEVISION NETWORK. ANALYSTS SAY THE NETWORK WILL SUFFER A RATINGS DECLINE ON THURSDAY EVENINGS IF IT CAN NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WHICH COMES NEAR TO MATCHING "SEINFELD'S" POPULARITY.

ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES SAYS IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY TESTED ITS NEW MID-SIZE BUSINESS JET NAMED THE "GALAXY." THE AIRPLANE, WHICH CAN CARRY UP TO 19 PASSENGERS IS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE MARKET BY 1999 AT A PRICE OF ABOUT 16 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE DANA CORPORATION HAS RECEIVED U-S GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR ITS ACQUISITION OF THE AXLE AND BRAKE BUSINESSES OF THE EATON CORPORATION. THE DEAL, VALUED AT ALMOST 300 MILLION DOLLARS, IS EXPECTED TO SOLIDIFY DANA'S POSITION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE PARTS MARKET. (SIGNED)
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26-Dec-97 1:53 PM EST (1853 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, THE HOLIDAY CONTINUES FOR MANY IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS THE HOLIDAY HAS BROUGHT EDITORIALS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL RESCUE OF SOUTH KOREA; WORRIES ABOUT KEEPING U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA; AND THE VERDICT IN THE TERRY NICHOLS' TERRORISM TRIAL. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SOUTH KOREA'S MARKETS SURGED HIGHER FRIDAY, REACTING TO NEWS OF THE EARLY ARRIVAL OF LOANS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. (BEGIN OPT) TRADERS SAY INVESTORS SEE THE ADVANCED AID AS A SIGN THAT THE WORST OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS MAY BE OVER AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MAY BE RETURNING. THE I-M-F AGREED TO SEND AN EARLY 10-BILLION-DOLLAR LOAN IN EARLY JANUARY, AS PART OF SEOUL'S NEAR 60-BILLION-DOLLAR BAILOUT PACKAGE. IN EXCHANGE, SOUTH KOREA AGREED TO MORE QUICKLY OPEN ITS FINANCIAL MARKETS TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND TO STRICTLY ADHERE TO I-M-F REFORMS. (END OPT) THE WASHINGTON POST WRITES THAT SOUTH KOREA HAS MANY STRENGTHS, INCLUDING "AN EDUCATED AND MOTIVATED WORK FORCE, A HIGH SAVINGS RATE, (AND) AN IMPRESSIVE INDUSTRIAL BASE." THE POST SAYS A "PSYCHOLOGY OF PANIC HAS SET IN, WITH INVESTORS REACTING OUT OF PROPORTION TO THOSE PROBLEMS." THE SOLUTION, CONTINUES THE WASHINGTON POST, IS A SERIES OF REFORMS NOW BEFORE THE SOUTH KOREAN LEGISLATURE.

VOICE: "THESE STEPS, ALONG WITH THE UNDERLYING STRENGTH OF KOREA'S ECONOMY, SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE. IF NOT, SOUTH KOREA COULD GO DEEPER INTO DEFAULT. THAT WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE (TO SOUTH KOREANS) OF SPREADING TO U-S AND OTHER FOREIGN CREDITORS PAIN THAT SO FAR HAS BEEN CONCENTRATED AMONG KOREANS, BUT IT WOULD COST SOUTH KOREA FOR MANY YEARS IN DAMAGED CREDIBILITY AND HIGHER INTEREST RATES. IN ANY CASE, THERE SEEEMS TO BE NO OPTION NOW THAT WILL SPARE ORDINARY KOREANS A GREAT DEAL OF HARDSHIP."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES WRITES THAT SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT KIM DAE-JUNG FACES A MONUMENTAL CHALLENGES:

VOICE: "...TO RESTORE STABILITY AND ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE IN A SYSTEM THAT IS SHOT THROUGH WITH BAD DEBT, AND TO RESTORE FAITH IN SOUTH KOREA'S POLITICAL SYSTEM AS WELL. THE ONE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THIS SEA OF BAD NEWS IS THAT MR. KIM, WHO OFFICIALLY TAKES OFFICE IN FEBRUARY BUT IS ALREADY SETTING POLICY, IS PROBABLY IN A BETTER POSITION THAN MOST TO TACKLE THE CRISIS."

TEXT: "WHERE'S THE EXIT?" IS THE QUESTION THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINAL ASKS ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE AS IT WRITES ABOUT THE OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENT TO KEEP U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA. THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

VOICE: "THE UNITED STATES' FOREIGN POLICY IN BOSNIA IS STARTING TO SEEM A LOT LIKE WRITER JEAN-PAUL SARTRE'S PLAY "NO EXIT." THE CHARACTERS IN MR. SARTRE'S DRAMA ARE TRAPPED IN HELL. THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA ISN'T MUCH BETTER. ... NOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CHOSEN TO EXTEND U-S PARTICIPATION IN BOSNIA PEACEKEEPING BEYOND NEXT SUMMER'S PLANNED WITHDRAWAL, A SUBSTANTINAL NUMBER OF U-S TROOPS WILL STAY ON. 'HOW LONG?' WOULD BE A LOGICAL QUESTION. MR. CLINTON ISN'T SAYING. ... THAT'S POLITICAL ARROGANCE AT ITS WORST. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS OUGHT NOT TO STAND FOR IT."

TEXT: TERRY NICHOLS WAS CONVICTED THIS WEEK (TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23) OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND CONSPIRACY IN THE 1995 OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. THE JURY IN DENVER, COLORADO REACHED ITS VERDICT IN ITS SIXTH DAY OF DELIBERATIONS, SIX MONTHS AFTER BOMBER TIMOTHY MCVEIGH'S CONVICTION IN A SEPARATE TRIAL. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WRITES THAT IN THE NICHOLS VERDICT, "12 DECENT AMERICAN SHOW THIS TERRORIST JUST HOW WRONG HE WAS ABOUT HIS COUNTRY."

VOICE: "THE ATROCITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY WAS SO DESPICABLE THAT, AT A GUT LEVEL, IT'S UNSETTLING TO SEE A CO-CONSPIRATOR (TERRY NICHOLS) GET OFF WITH LESS THAN THE MAX (MAXIMUM SENTENCE). YET THE FAIR-MINDED RESULT FROM A PANEL OF SEVEN WOMEN AND FIVE MEN SHOULD BE A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ALL AMERICANS. TERRY NICHOLS, A CONTEMPTABLE PERSON WHO TWICE TRIED TO RENOUNCE HIS U-S CITIZENSHIP, GOT A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEFENSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT HE DESPISED. AND ULTIMATELY, HE GOT A JUST VERDICT FROM 12 FELLOW CITIZENS."

TEXT: WITH THAT FROM THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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26-Dec-97 10:36 AM EST (1536 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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