Voice of America, 98-01-06

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] GERMANY / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[04] GERMANY / KURD (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] ISRAEL/TURKEY/U-S (L-ONLY) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

[06] KURDISH REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

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

[08] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[09] U-S / BALKAN REFUGEES (S-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

[10] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ON THE MAJOR EXCHANGES OF WESTERN EUROPE WERE MOSTLY DOWN ON TUESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: AFTER STARTING THE WEEK ON A HIGH NOTE, MANY EUROPEAN INVESTORS WERE IN A SELLING MOOD ON TUESDAY. ONLY THE LONDON "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP -- BUT THE GAIN WAS SLIGHT. THE "FOOTSIE" ADDED ONLY ABOUT TWO-POINTS AT THE CLOSE AFTER TRADING MOSTLY LOWER.

IN GERMANY AND FRANCE, THE MAJOR STOCK INDEXES WERE DECIDEDLY LOWER AT THE CLOSE. THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX WAS DOWN 35-POINTS FOR THE DAY, WHILE THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30" INDEX SHED 32-POINTS WHEN TRADING ENDED.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED IN VALUE AGAINST BOTH THE BRITISH POUND AND THE GERMAN MARK.

GOLD TRADING IN LONDON SAW THE PRECIOUS METAL LOSE MORE VALUE. THE CLOSING FIX TUESDAY WAS PUT AT 282-DOLLARS-FIVE-CENTS AN OUNCE -- DOWN ONE-DOLLAR-10-CENTS FROM MONDAY. (SIGNED)
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06-Jan-98 1:37 PM EST (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] GERMANY / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAYS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIA NEED TOUGHER RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, SO THAT SERB WARTIME LEADERS CAN BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING HAS MORE ON THE REMARKS.

TEXT: WITH THE CURRENT TERM FOR THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA SCHEDULED TO END IN JUNE, MR. KINKEL SAYS HE WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOW-ON FORCE TO BE GIVEN A MORE ROBUST MANDATE.

THE NEW MANDATE, HE SAYS, SHOULD ENSURE THAT FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC FACES WAR CRIMES CHARGES IN THE HAGUE THIS YEAR. THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT MR. KARADZIC COULD BE CAPTURED.

MR. KINKEL, WHOSE COMMENTS APPEARED IN A GERMAN NEWSPAPER, SAYS HE ALSO FAVORS A TIME LIMIT ON THE FOLLOW ON PEACEKEEPING FORCE AN IDEA WHICH PRESIDENT CLINTON OPPOSES.

NATO LEADERS HAVE ALREADY AGREED IN PRINCIPAL TO KEEP PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIAN BEYOND JUNE, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO WORK OUT THE MANDATE FOR THE NEW FORCE. (SIGNED)
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06-Jan-98 8:02 AM EST (1302 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: GERMAN AUTHORITIES HAVE STEPPED-UP BORDER CONTROLS IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS THAT A WAVE OF KURDISH IMMIGRANTS MAY BE ON THE WAY. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: INTERIOR MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER SAYS GERMANY WILL NOT TOLERATE WHAT HE CALLED A CRIMINAL WAVE OF MIGRATION INTO THE COUNTRY.

HE TOLD GERMAN RADIO THAT BORDER CONTROLS HAVE BEEN STEPPED UP IN THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE COUNTRY AND HE AGAIN URGED GREECE, ITALY AND TURKEY TO TAKE SIMILAR MEASURES.

THE GERMAN ACTION COMES ONE WEEK AFTER MORE THAN 12-HUNDRED ILLEGAL MIGRANTS, MOST OF THEM KURDS FROM TURKEY AND IRAQ, LANDED IN ITALY SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM.

IN HIS RADIO INTERVIEW, MR. KANTHER CRITICIZED ITALY AND GREECE, SAYING IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THEM TO ALLOW THE MIGRANTS INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION, KNOWING THEY WILL PROBABLY WIND UP IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND OR THE NETHERLANDS -- ALL OF WHICH OFFER GENEROUS WELFARE BENEFITS.

WITH ABOUT A HALF-MILLION KURDS NOW LIVING IN GERMANY, OFFICIALS FEAR MORE COULD ENTER THE COUNTRY IF THEY ARE ALLOWED INTO EUROPE. MEANWHILE, TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BLAMED THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE WAVE OF MIGRATION, SAYING THE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATISTS HAS MADE LIFE IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY IMPOSSIBLE.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED THE CRITICISM, SAYING THOSE KURDS TRYING TO FLEE TO EUROPE ARE ECONOMIC MIGRANTS AND ARE NOT VICTIMS OF POLITICAL REPRESSION.

THE LATEST MIGRATION CRISIS BEGAN AFTER ITALY EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE KURDS AND SAID IT WOULD GRANT POLITICAL ASYLUM TO ALL GENUINE REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
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06-Jan-98 12:44 PM EST (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / KURD (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A 48-YEAR-OLD KURDISH MAN HAS GONE ON TRIAL IN GERMANY CHARGED WITH INVOLVEMENT IN A SERIES OF ARSON ATTACKS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE SUSPECT -- IDENTIFIED BY GERMAN OFFICIALS AS "FAYSAL D" IS ACCUSED OF ORGANIZING A SERIES OF ARSON ATTACKS ON TURKISH BANKS AND TRAVEL BUREAUS IN GERMANY FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE ATTACKS LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO TURKISH INTERESTS IN GERMANY.

AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO CHARGED THE SUSPECT -- A FORMER EUROPEAN SPOKESMAN FOR THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K -- WITH HEADING A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING A BLOODY 13 YEAR CAMPAIGN FOR INDEPENDENCE IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY. THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED IN GREAT BRITAIN IN 1994. LAST YEAR, ANOTHER P-K-K MEMBER WAS GIVEN A FOUR YEAR JAIL TERM BY A COURT IN GERMANY, WHICH IS HOME TO ABOUT HALF A MILLION KURDS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/ADEN/KL
06-Jan-98 9:15 AM EST (1415 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ISRAEL/TURKEY/U-S (L-ONLY) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL AND TURKEY ARE HOLDING A DAY-LONG JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE WEDNESDAY DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION AMONG THEIR FORCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. BUT SEVERAL COUNTRIES HAVE DENOUNCED THE MANEUVER AS PROVOCATIVE. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.

TEXT: IT IS A SEARCH-AND-RESCUE EXERCISE -- THE FORCES OF THE THREE NATIONS ON THE HIGH SEAS, MORE OR LESS AS USUAL, RECEIVING DISTRESS CALLS AND TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESPOND.

THE COMMANDER OF THE ISRAELI FORCES IN THE OPERATION, REAR ADMIRAL YEDIDIYA YA'ARI:

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EXERCISE IS TO PRACTICE EMERGENCY COORDINATED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AT SEA, NO LESS, NO MORE. WE SAIL THE SAME SEAS. WE MAY BE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO THE SAME DISASTERS. AND WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

BUT FOR SOME OF THE REGION'S COUNTRIES, THE U-S--ISRAEL--TURKEY JOINT MANEUVER IS MORE OMINOUS. IRAQ, SYRIA AND IRAN HAVE DENOUNCED THE MOVE, AND THE ARAB LEAGUE SAYS IT COULD HURT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. MANY OF THE REGION'S ARAB COUNTRIES HAVE LONG BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF THE GROWING TIES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY, PARTICULARLY ON MILITARY AFFAIRS.

THE COMMANDER OF U-S FORCES IN THE EXERCISE, COMMODORE JOSEPH SESTAK, SAYS HE READ ABOUT THOSE OBJECTIONS, EVEN WHILE AT SEA.

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS WHAT COULD FOLLOW COORDINATION ON SEARCH AND RESCUE? THAT LEAVES THE TURKISH COMMANDER, COLONEL HUSNU DAG, SOMEWHAT ON THE DEFENSIVE IN DISCUSSING THIS OPERATION, WHICH HAS BEEN CODE-NAMED "RELIANT MERMAID."

TURKEY COOPERATES NOT ONLY WITH ISRAEL BUT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION -- IN THE CONTEXT OF HER MILITARY TRAINING AND COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THEM. "RELIANT MERMAID" IS ONE OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE EXERCISES, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED AGAINST ANY COUNTRY.

[06] KURDISH REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, OR U-N-H-C-R, HAS VOICED CONCERN ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF KURDISH MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING IN ITALY FROM TURKEY AND IRAQ. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS MORE THAN THREE-THOUSAND PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM KURDS, HAVE ARRIVED ILLEGALLY IN ITALY BY BOAT SINCE JULY.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY APPLAUDS THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT'S OPEN DOOR POLICY AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO LET THE KURDISH MIGRANTS APPLY FOR ASYLUM. THE AGENCY ADMITS SOME OF THESE PEOPLE MAY BE ECONOMIC MIGRANTS AND NOT GENUINE REFUGEES, BUT SAYS MIGRANTS HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR CLAIMS FOR ASYLUM HEARD.

GIVEN THE CONTINUING CONFLICT AND ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN AREAS OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, THE U-N AGENCY SAYS IT BELIEVES SOME OF THE MIGRANTS PROBABLY HAVE A WELL-FOUNDED FEAR OF PERSECUTION.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN, PAM O'TOOLE, SAYS HER AGENCY STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE WAY IN WHICH SMUGGLERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE KURDS.

MANY OF THESE PEOPLE VICTIMS OF UNSCRUPULOUS TRAFFICKERS WHO DEMAND HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, FORCING THESE PEOPLE TO SELL THEIR HOMES OR THEIR POSSESSIONS FOR THE TRIP. IN RECENT MONTHS ... WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IN WHICH WE'VE SEEN MIGRANTS WASHED UP ON THE SHORES OF ITALY OR GREECE IN PITIABLE CONDITIONS.

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS THE TRAFFICKED MIGRANTS RUN MANY DANGERS. THEY ARE OFTEN FORCED TO MAKE THE JOURNEY IN OVERCROWDED AND UNSEAWORTHY BOATS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE SUNK. SHE SAYS SOME OF THE LATEST ARRIVALS IN ITALY WERE ALLEGEDLY ROBBED OF THEIR POSSESSIONS IN TRANSIT IN ALBANIA AND GIVEN INSUFFICIENT FOOD TO EAT.

GERMANY IS HOST TO MOST OF THE KURDS. ITALIAN AUTHORITIES, SAY ABOUT HALF OF THE 839 KURDS WHO ARRIVED ON DECEMBER 26TH HAVE APPLIED FOR ASYLUM. MS. O'TOOLE SAYS U-N-H-C-R STAFF IN ROME WILL ATTEND A MEETING LATER THIS WEEK TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR ASYLUM. (SIGNED)
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06-Jan-98 7:57 AM EST (1257 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY), REFLECTING RENEWED CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN ASIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79-HUNDRED-SIX, DOWN 72 POINTS OR ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 966, DOWN 10 POINTS.

STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN ALL DAY IN WHAT ANALYSTS SAID WAS RENEWED CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN PARTS OF ASIA ON U-S CORPORATE PROFITS. ESPECIALLY HARD-HIT WERE STOCKS OF MAJOR AMERICAN BANKS AND OIL COMPANIES. OIL STOCKS DROPPED SHARPLY AFTER A LEADING INVESTMENT FIRM (GOLDMAN SACHS) CUT ITS OIL PRICE FORECAST TO 17 DOLLARS A BARREL FOR MOST OF THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED FACTORY ORDERS IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE IN NOVEMBER AT THEIR STRONGEST RATE IN MORE THAN A YEAR. ORDERS FOR NEW AIRCRAFT SURGED, ACCOUNTING FOR MOST OF THE INCREASE.

BOTH OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT COMPANIES HAD A GREAT YEAR. AIRBUS INDUSTRIES OF EUROPE SAYS IT HAD FIRM ORDERS IN 1997 FOR 460 JETLINERS, A COMPANY RECORD. BUT BOEING OF THE UNITED STATES WAS STILL AHEAD IN TOTAL ORDERS LAST YEAR WITH 570.

FEDERAL EXPRESS, THE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY COMPANY, SAYS IT WILL RAISE RATES IN THE UNITED STATES BY ABOUT FOUR PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS RATES FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS IT EXPECTS TO REPORT A PROFIT OF ABOUT 45-MILLION DOLLARS IN THE RECENT QUARTER. IT WILL BE APPLE'S FIRST PROFITABLE QUARTER IN MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE UNISYS CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL STOP MAKING PERSONAL COMPUTERS AND TAKE A ONE-POINT-ONE-BILLION-DOLLAR CHARGE. UNYSIS HAS BEEN MOVING AWAY FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND IS FOCUSING ON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.

THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST CUSTOMER IN THE WORLD FOR THE INTEL COMPANY'S MICROPROCESSORS, SAYS IT WILL NO LONGER DEAL EXCLUSIVELY WITH INTEL. COMPAQ HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL NOW ALSO BUY MICROPROCESSORS FROM THE ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES AND THE CYRIX CORPORATIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
06-Jan-98 4:55 PM EST (2155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

(UNEDITED)

INTRO: THE MIDDLE EAST IS HIGH IN THE EDITORIALS IN MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY, BOTH WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE CABINET TURMOIL IN ISRAEL, AND THE ONGOING SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS IN ALGERIA.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE WHAT "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLS A HELPFUL FROG THAT HAS LED TO A NEW PAIN MEDICINE; SOME EVIL GHOSTS IN LITHUANIA'S PAST COMING TO LIGHT; GERALDINE FERRARO BACK IN POLITICS; AND THE UNSTEADY WORLD FINANCIAL SITUATION. NOW, HERE IS __________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RESIGNATION OF ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID LEVY HAS CAUSED A MAJOR POLITICAL CRISIS IN THAT COUNTRY, AND FURTHER CONFUSED THE PEACE PROCESS WHICH HAS BEEN HANGING BY A THREAD. IN "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND, THE LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS.

VOICE: THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, ALREADY DISPIRITED AND DYSFUNCTIONAL, WILL BE IN EVEN WORSE SHAPE NOW THAT FOREIGN MINISTER ... LEVY HAS RESIGNED. ANY CHANCE OF MOVING AHEAD ON THE PEACE PROCESS WITH THE PALESTINIANS HAS ALMOST CERTAINLY BEEN LOST. WILL THERE BE EARLY ELECTIONS? WOULD ANY PARTY WIN A MANDATE IN THESE ELECTIONS? BOTH ANSWERS ARE UNCLEAR. ...... [MR.] LEVY IS THE THIRD MAJOR CABINET MEMBER TO RESIGN IN PROTEST OVER GOVERNMENT POLICY. MAYBE [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU CAN CONTINUE TO MUDDLE THROUGH, BUT HIS NATION WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY EARLY ELECTIONS.

TEXT: IN "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" THERE IS A SLIGHTLY MORE OPTIMISTIC TONE AND THIS HEADLINE: "[THE] PEACE PROCESS CAN PROCEED DESPITE [THE] CABINET SHAKEUP."

VOICE: COMMON WISDOM SAYS THAT SUNDAY'S RESIGNATION OF ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER ... WILL HAMPER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULDN'T LET COMMON WISDOM DISRUPT ITS PLANS TO JUMP-START ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS, SOON. ..... WITH MR. LEVY GONE, SOME WONDER WHETHER MR. NETANYAHU CAN PUSH A CREDIBLE WITHDRAWAL PLAN THROUGH HIS CABINET, AND WHETHER HE WOULD FACE A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE IF HE DID. IN REALITY, THE ISRAELI LEADER MAY NOT BE AS VULNERABLE AS HE SEEMS. [HOWEVER] .... IF THE CABINET CANNOT AGREE ON A CREDIBLE PLAN, PERHAPS THE INTERESTS OF ALL ISRAELIS WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF NEW ELECTIONS WERE HELD.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" EDITORIAL HEADLINE SPELLS OUT THAT PAPER'S POSITION, SUCCINCTLY: "ISRAEL NEEDS AN ELECTION," WHILE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CONCLUDES ITS COMMENTARY:

VOICE: MR. NETANYAHU WAS ELECTED PRIME MINISTER ON A PLATFORM OF PEACE WITH SECURITY. THAT ELUSIVE COMBINATION IS STILL WHAT MOST ISRAELIS WANT. IF HE CANNOT DELIVER IT WITH HIS CURRENT CABINET ALLIES, HE SHOULD LOOK TO THE VOTERS TO PROVIDE HIM OR THE RIVAL LABOR PARTY WITH A BROADER POLITICAL BASE.

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WORRIES THAT ALGERIA'S GOVERNMENT MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE DUE TO THE ON-GOING MASSACRES BY ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS.

VOICE: ALGERIA NEEDS HELP TO SURVIVE AS [A] NATION. TO DO NOTHING IS TO ACQUIESCE IN THE WORSENING SLAUGHTER. .... THE TERRORISTS' BLOODLUST, WHICH BY NOW HAS CLAIMED AN ESTIMATED 75-THOUSAND LIVES, STEADILY HAS DIMINISHED WHATEVER POPULAR SUPPORT THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN HAD WHEN IT BEGAN IN LATE 1991. ALGERIA ULTIMATELY HAS TO SOLVE ITS OWN PROBLEMS, BUT U-N SECURITY COUNCIL INTERVENTION, BACKED STRONGLY BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN DEMOCRACIES, NOW MAY BE THE ONLY THING THAT SAVES THE COUNTRY.

TEXT: A TROPICAL ECUADOREAN FROG WITH A POISONOUS SKIN HAS APPARENTLY LED SCIENTISTS TO A TOTALLY NEW KIND OF SUPER PAIN KILLER, WITH FEWER SIDE EFFECTS THAN MORPHINE BUT JUST AS STRONG. "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS THE DISCOVERY IS YET ANOTHER REASON TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION.

VOICE: IT [THIS NEW DISCOVERY] MAKES ONE WONDER HOW MANY OTHER SPECIES THERE ARE IN THE WORLD WHOSE BENEFICIAL QUALITIES WE DON'T YET APPRECIATE -- PARTICULARLY IN PLACES THREATENED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES. THIS OFFERS YET ANOTHER COMPELLING REASON WHY HUMANKIND SHOULD TREAT THE REST OF ITS CO-INHABITANTS -- PLANT AND ANIMAL -- WITH EQUAL RESPECT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO EXIST .....

TEXT: A DARK PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIA WAS DEALT WITH ON THE FRONT PAGE OF "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" THIS WEEK, THE DEPORTATION OF SEVERAL U-S RESIDENTS WHO HELPED THE NAZIS PUT JEWS TO DEATH. TODAY, THE PAPER FOLLOWS UP WITH THIS EDITORIAL COMMENT.

VOICE: IN RECENT YEARS, SAYS A TIMES REPORT, SIX ELDERLY LITHUANIAN MEN, THEIR HOLOCAUST CRIMES FINALLY UNCOVERED BY U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS, HAVE LEFT LONG EXILE IN AMERICA AND RETURNED TO THEIR HOMELAND. THESE ARE MEN ACCUSED OF WORKING WITH NAZI DEATH SQUADS IN THE WAR, KILLING THEIR OWN COUNTRYMEN, TAKING PART IN A POGROM THAT KILLED AN ESTIMATED 220-THOUSAND JEWS. NONE HAVE BEEN TRIED, TWO HAVE DIED. THE FORMER HEAD OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT UNIT THAT TRACKED THEM DOWN SAYS LITHUANIAN AUTHORITIES ARE AWAITING THE 'BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION' THAT THE DEATHS OF THE REST WILL CLOSE THIS CHAPTER OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. .... THESE OLD MEN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SLIP AWAY IN SILENCE.

TEXT: NEW YORK DEMOCRAT GERALDINE FERRARO, WALTER MONDALE'S UNSUCCESSFUL VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE IN 1984 IS BACK IN POLITICS, CHALLENGING OTHER DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE PRIMARY, IN A BID TO FACE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT SENATOR ALFONSE D'AMATO. SAYS "THE NEW YORK TIMES:"

VOICE: WITH HER ENTRANCE INTO THE FIGHT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION, MS. FERRARO HOPES TO ESTABLISH HERSELF AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST POWERFUL, AS WELL AS BEST-KNOWN, WOMEN IN POLITICS. SHE WILL NOT HAVE CLEAR SAILING [AN EASY TIME]. ..... [HOWEVER] NEW YORK HAS NOT HAD AN EXCITING POLITICAL CONTEST IN A WHILE, AND MS. FERRARO'S ENTRY MAKES THIS RACE LOOK EVEN MORE INTRIGUING.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" JOINS WORLD FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS IN EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY SET UP. CALLING THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LENDING "FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED," THE "POST" SAYS:

VOICE: .... MR. SOROS ARGUES FOR RADICAL REFORM OF A SYSTEM IN PLACE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF MR. SOROS'S PROPOSAL IS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS SWEEPING THROUGH EAST AND SOUTHWEST ASIA, WHICH, DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE I-M-F [INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND] AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL FIREMEN, SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF ABATING. THE POINT HERE IS NOT TO BASH [CRITICIZE] THE I-M-F ....... IT FACES NO EASY CHOICES, AND FAILURE ON ITS PART COULD LEAD TO A GLOBAL FINANCIAL MELTDOWN ON A SCALE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN. .... YET, WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE THUS FAR IS SOBERING ENOUGH, AND CERTAINLY SHOULD STIMULATE A VIGOROUS, OPEN DEBATE ABOUT WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK IN THE CURRENT SET-UP.

TEXT: LASTLY, REACTING TO YET ANOTHER CRASH OF A BRITISH-BUILT TRAINING AIRCRAFT USED BY THE U-S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, IN WHICH SIX PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN TWO YEARS, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" POSES THIS QUESTION:

VOICE: HATE TO BE JINGOISTIC, BUT JUST WHY IS THE U-S AIR FORCE ACADEMY USING A BRITISH-BUILT PLANE?

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS COMMENTS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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06-Jan-98 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S / BALKAN REFUGEES (S-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS DONATING 29 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP NEARLY TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION REFUGEES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA RETURN HOME. V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS THE MONEY WILL BENEFIT THE PEOPLE SCATTERED AROUND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE CONTRIBUTION WILL BE CHANNELED TO THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES THAT OVERSEES REGIONAL RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS.

BECAUSE MOST REFUGEES AND DISPLACES PERSONS IN THE REGION COME FROM AREAS WHERE ETHNIC GROUPS ARE MINORITIES, THE U-N-H-C-R WILL CONCENTRATE ON OBSTACLES TO RETURN ACROSS ETHNIC LINES.

THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS REQUIRE FORMER REGIONAL WARRING PARTIES TO ALLOW REFUGEES TO FREELY RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. BUT MANY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF WIDESPREAD ETHNIC HARASSMENT.

MR. RUBIN SAYS THE BULK OF ITS CONTRIBUTION WILL BE USED IN CITIES THAT WELCOME THE RETURN OF PRE-WAR RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ETHNICITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/MAX/PT
05-Jan-98 7:23 PM EST (0023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: IN THE HAGUE, JUDGES AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TUESDAY HEARD THE FIRST DAY OF EVIDENCE IN THE TRIAL OF A BOSNIAN CROAT ACCUSED OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER AND MISTREATMENT OF MUSLIM PRISONERS. FORMER PRISON CAMP COMMANDER ZLATKO ALEKSOVSKI IS THE EIGHTH SUSPECT TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE THE COURT. FROM THERE, GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS.

TEXT: SMILING AS HE ENTERED THE COURTROOM, 38-YEAR-OLD ZLATKO ALEKSOVSKI LOOKED BUSINESS-LIKE IN A DARK SUIT, CARRYING A LAPTOP COMPUTER TUCKED UNDER HIS ARM.

PROSECUTORS SAY HE WAS COMMANDER OF THE "KAONIK" DETENTION CAMP, 65 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF SARAJEVO. THEY SAY MUSLIM PRISONERS AT THE CAMP WERE MURDERED, TORTURED, SOME FORCED TO DIG TRENCHES UNDER FIRE OR BE USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS.

PROSECUTOR GRANT NIEMANN TOLD JUDGES THAT ALTHOUGH THE CRIMES WERE -- IN SOME WAYS -- NOT THE MOST SERIOUS IN THE BOSNIAN WAR, MR. ALEKSOVSKI WAS, NONE THE LESS, GUILTY. AS COMMANDER, HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE ABUSES, BUT MR. NIEMANN SAYS, HE DID VIRTUALLY NOTHING.

ACCORDING TO ONE DETAINEE, ALEKSOVSKI NEVER PREVENTED THE BEATINGS AND THAT THE SOLDIERS INVOLVED WERE NEVER PUNISHED. HIS PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS, HALF-HEARTED AT BEST, DID NOT HAVE ANY DETERRENT EFFECTS.

MR. ALEKSOVSKI DENIES THE CHARGES. HIS ZAGREB-BASED LAWYER, GORAN MIKULICIC (PRON: MIKUL-ICH-ICH) CALLED FOR THE PROVISIONAL RELEASE OF HIS CLIENT, PARTLY ON HEALTH GROUNDS. HE SAYS MR. ALEKSOVSKI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AND HE'LL PROVE IT.

WE SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT OUR CLIENT HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. WE ADMIT THAT HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE FACULTY -- KAONIK -- BUT WE WILL PROVE THAT SOME MALFUNCTIONS OR MALTREATMENT WAS NOT SYSTEMATIC ABUSE OF DETAINEES.

MR. ALEKSOVSKI WAS EXTRADITED BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES IN APRIL LAST YEAR AFTER DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES. JUDGES WILL INITIALLY HEAR ONLY FOUR DAIS OF EVIDENCE IN THIS TRIAL. THAT'S BECAUSE THE TRIBUNAL'S SINGLE COURTROOM IS NEEDED FOR TWO OTHER CASES. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF
06-Jan-98 12:22 PM EST (1722 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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