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Voice of America, 98-04-03Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] ASIA / EUROPE SUMMIT (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229179 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS OPENED THE TWO-DAY LONDON SUMMIT BRINGING TOGETHER THE LEADERS FROM 25 ASIAN AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, THE MEETING TAKES PLACE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF ASIA'S CONTINUING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS. TEXT: MR. BLAIR TOLD SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA IS GROWING DAY BY DAY AS THE TWO CONTINENTS BECOME MORE INTERDEPENDENT IN BUSINESS AND TRADE. THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSED THE HOPE THE TWO-DAY MEETING WILL GIVE EUROPEAN AND ASIAN LEADERS A CHANCE TO ADDRESS KEY CHALLENGES, BE THEY ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, OR POLITICAL. THE MEETING COMES AT A TIME WHEN ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF AN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS. MR. BLAIR SAID EUROPE CANNOT TURN ITS BACK ON ASIA AT THIS CRITICAL TIME AND HE OUTLINED FOUR AREAS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. /// BLAIR ACT ///FIRST -- HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THIS CRISIS AND LIMIT THE IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, IN PARTICULAR HOW WE CAN INCREASE COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. SECOND -- HOW WE CAN LIMIT THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THIS CRISIS. THIRD -- HOW WE CAN HELP TO MAINTAIN OPEN MARKETS, FURTHER TRADE LIBERALIZATION TO TO HELP RESOLVE THE CRISIS. AND FOURTH -- HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF CRISIS FROM RECURRING. /// END ACT ///MR. BLAIR SAID ASIA AND EUROPE MUST RESIST DEMANDS FOR PROTECTIONIST ECONOMIC MEASURES AND MUST OPEN MARKETS AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO TRADE -- A VIEW SHARED BY THAILAND'S PRIME MINISTER CHUAN LEEKPAI. /// LEEKPAI ACT ///SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ALREADY HESITANT ABOUT OPENING THEIR ECONOMIES SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE PRESENT FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA, NOR SHOULD THEY USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO CLOSE THEIR ECONOMIES. /// END ACT ///ASIAN LEADERS DO NOT EXPECT A MASSIVE INFLUX OF CAPITAL FROM
EUROPE TO BAIL THEM OUT OF THEIR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WOES.
ANALYSTS SAY WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS SUMMIT ARE VARIOUS TRADE
INITIATIVES AS WELL AS A TRUST FUND WHICH WILL HELP ASIAN
COUNTRIES RESTRUCTURE THEIR FINANCIAL SYSTEMS. (SIGNED)
[02] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-39460 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO EXERCISES IN THE BOSNIAN SERB STRONGHOLD OF PALE THIS WEEK (EDS: THURS APRIL 2ND) HAVE RENEWED SPECULATION THAT AN ARREST ATTEMPT COULD BE IMMINENT AGAINST FORMER LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC. HE, ALONG WITH HIS MILITARY DEPUTY, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, FACE GENOCIDE CHARGES BY THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR OF OPERATIONS, THE TRIBUNAL SEEMS TO BE FINALLY HITTING ITS STRIDE. AFTER INITIAL RELUCTANCE, NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA HAVE MADE ARRESTS, GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION HAVE HANDED PEOPLE OVER, AND NOW A NUMBER OF BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SURRENDERED TO THE TRIBUNAL. BUT AS GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO. TEXT: /// BEGIN WITH ACT OF BUILDING WORK; EDGE UNDER LINK....ESTABLISH BRIEFLY AND FADE UNDER/// WORK IS ALMOST COMPLETED ON A SECOND -- AND URGENTLY NEEDED -- COURTROOM AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THIS EXTRA SPACE IS VITAL, IF THE TRIBUNAL IS TO KEEP UP WITH ITS EXPANDING WORKLOAD. AFTER A SHAKY START, IT NOW HAS 24 CONVICTED OR SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS IN CUSTODY. THAT'S THE MAIN REASON -- SAYS DEPUTY PROSECUTOR, GRAHAM BLEWITT -- THE COURT IS FINALLY BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ///BLEWITT ACT///THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE HAD HARDLY ANYBODY IN CUSTODY AND THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF THE TRIBUNAL WAS BEING QUESTIONED ... BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE SAYING, "WELL ... THERE'S ONLY THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE IN CUSTODY. CAN THIS TRIBUNAL EVER SUCCEED WITH SUCH AN APPALLING ARREST RATE?" AND OF COURSE THAT'S CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT ASKING THAT QUESTION ANYMORE. ///END ACT//////SEGUE TO ACT OF COURT USHER///THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IS NOW IN SESSION. (REPEATS IN FRENCH) INTERNATIONAL RELUCTANCE TO ARREST WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS MEANT THAT FOR A LONG TIME, THIS COURTROOM WAS EMPTY. NOW, THERE ARE FOUR TRIALS GOING ON AT ONCE OVER ALTERNATE WEEKS -- ONE IN THE MORNING, ONE IN THE AFTERNOON. MIRKO KLARIN COVERS THE TRIBUNAL FOR THE INDEPENDENT, BELGRADE-BASED DAILY, "NASA BORBA." HE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FINALLY TOOK ACTION, BASED ON A VERY CONCRETE CALCULATION. /// KLARIN ACT///THEY SAW THAT THOSE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS WHO WERE STILL AT LARGE AND STILL HAVE POLITICAL INFLUENCE ... THAT THEY ARE THE BIGGEST SINGLE OBSTACLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT -- WHICH MEANS THAT THE WESTERN TROOPS WILL HAVE TO STAY FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS. SO THEY STARTED, FINALLY, TO (GET) SERIOUS WITH THAT, THAT SOMEBODY HAD TO REMOVE THEM. ///END ACT//////SECOND BLEWITT ACT///UP UNTIL THAT POINT, THERE WAS NO INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE THEMSELVES UP TO THE TRIBUNAL. BUT WHAT HAS NOW HAPPENED IS THAT ALL (THOSE) INDICTED ... REALIZE THAT THEY MIGHT BE NEXT ON THE LIST TO BE PICKED UP BY S-FOR. ///END ACT///AMERICAN DEFENSE LAWYER, NIKOLA KOSTIC IS AN ETHNIC SERB WHO ADVISES THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT. HE CALLS HIMSELF THE "DEFENDER OF HIS PEOPLE," REPRESENTING AS HE DOES, TWO SUSPECTS AT THE TRIBUNAL AND EXPECTING TO TAKE ON MORE. ///KOSTIC ACT///I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID, "LOOK...I'M ON THE LIST....I KNOW I'M INDICTED, I DON'T LIKE LIVING UNDER THIS SITUATION. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE LOOKED FOR -- AND/OR THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF EXPEDITION LOOKING FOR ME. I'D LIKE TO GO, BUT I JUST DON'T BELIEVE I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL." THE ONLY THING I CAN DO TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY OUGHT TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE AND COME ABOUT IS BY (SHOWING) WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HAGUE. ///END ACT///MR. KOSTIC SAYS THE RIGHT KIND OF MESSAGE IS SENT BY EVENTS LIKE THE RECENT SENTENCE PASSED ON DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC. HE WAS GIVEN FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AFTER ADMITTING BEING PART OF A BOSNIAN SERB EXECUTION SQUAD WHICH KILLED HUNDREDS OF MEN FROM SREBRENICA. JUDGES TOOK ACCOUNT OF HIS COOPERATION AND REMORSE. //OPT// THE MESSAGE THAT COOPERATION WILL BE REFLECTED IN A SENTENCE IS A PERSUASIVE ONE, SAYS JOURNALIST MIRKO KLARIN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVES. NOT JUST THE PRESENCE OF S-FOR, HE SAYS, BUT PEOPLE ON YOUR OWN SIDE WHO THINK YOU KNOW TOO MUCH. ///SECOND KLARIN ACT///THEY ARE DEPENDING (ON) POLITICAL SITUATIONS, POLITICAL REALITIES -- AND BOTH THINGS CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY. I ALWAYS SAY, KARADZIC AND MLADIC, IF THEY ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET TO THE HAGUE (ALIVE), THEY WILL (BE IN) THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN FEEL PHYSICALLY SAFE, THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THEY WILL BE TREATED IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER AND WHERE THEY WILL HAVE A FAIR TRIAL. FOR SOME OF (THOSE ACCUSED), THE HAGUE WILL BE UNDESERVED MERCY. ///END ACT/////END OPT//BUT THE BASIC SERB COMPLAINT REMAINS THE SAME AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN -- THAT THE COURT IS BIASED, AND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF INDICTMENTS ARE AGAINST THEM. THE SECOND ASSERTION IS TRUE, BUT THE TRIBUNAL DENIES IT'S A MATTER OF POLICY. DEPUTY PROSECUTOR, GRAHAM BLEWITT, SAYS STRATEGY IS EVOLVING. MANY OF THE EARLY CHARGES HE ADMITS WERE THE RESULT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE TO INDICT SOMEONE. ///THIRD BLEWITT ACT///IF IN THE EARLY DAYS WE'D HAD SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO INDICT THE LEADERSHIP, MY GUESS IS WE WOULDN'T HAVE INDICTED SO MANY OF THESE "SMALL FISH" (MINOR CHARACTERS) AS THEY'RE CALLED. SO FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF LEAVING THESE PEOPLE WHERE THEY WERE AND CONTINUING TOWARDS THE LEADERSHIP, OR INDICTING THESE LOWER LEVEL PEOPLE, WE CHOSE TO BRING OUT THOSE INDICTMENTS AT THE STAGE. BUT THIS IS JUST PART OF A PROCESS. WE WILL GO BEYOND THAT AND EVENTUALLY PEOPLE OF MORE SIGNIFICANCE WILL BE HERE. ///END ACT///PUTTING THE "SMALL FISH" ON TRIAL, HE SAYS, HAS GIVEN THE COURT A CHANCE TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH PROCEDURE. IT'S BEEN A KIND OF ELABORATE "DRESS REHEARSAL," SO THAT WHEN THOSE WHO DIRECTED THE WAR ARE IN THE DOCK, THINGS WILL RUN SMOOTHLY. //REST OPT/////ACT OF DOSIN IN SERBO-CROAT -- ESTABLISH AND FADE SLOWLY ///BUT FOR LUBICA DOSIN, TERMS LIKE "SMALL FISH" HAVE NO MEANING. HER HUSBAND IS DEAD, AND THE MAN SHE HOLDS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE IS ALREADY ON TRIAL HERE. ALONG WITH 200 OTHER MEN, HER HUSBAND WAS TAKEN ON A STRETCHER FROM VUKOVAR HOSPITAL AND LOADED ONTO A BUS. PROSECUTORS SAY THE MEN WERE BEATEN, THEN SHOT. SIX YEARS LATER IN THE COURTROOM AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL -- MRS. DOSIN FACES THE FORMER MAYOR OF HER CITY, CHARGED WITH HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE KILLINGS. THAT'S ALSO THE WIDER POINT FOR THE TRIBUNAL -- THAT INDIVIDUALS,
NOT WHOLE NATIONS, ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. FIVE YEARS AFTER IT WAS
SET UP, THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IS FINALLY GETTING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS IN THE DOCK TO THE ANSWER THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM.
(SIGNED)
[03] SOROS' QUEST FOR AN OPEN SOCIETY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/2/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-39457 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FEW, IF ANY, CAN RIVAL GEORGE SOROS' PHILANTHROPY, BUT IT COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED. IT IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE HIS VISION OF THE GOOD SOCIETY. THOSE WHO SHARE HIS VIEWS COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL; THOSE WHO DO NOT ARE HIGHLY CRITICAL. BUT AS V-O-A'S ED WARNER REPORTS, THERE IS NO DENYING THE PHILANTHROPIST'S VAST INFLUENCE IN MUCH OF THE WORLD. TEXT: FEW PEOPLE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SPREAD THEIR IDEAS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT GEORGE SOROS IS THE EXCEPTION. WITH PERSONAL ASSETS OF FIVE BILLION DOLLARS, HE GIVES AWAY 350 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO PROMOTE WHAT HE CALLS AN "OPEN SOCIETY," ONE THAT IS OPEN TO ALL IDEAS AND DEBATE AND CLOSED TO ALL DOGMAS. HE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH BRINGING THE OPEN SOCIETY TO RUSSIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES ONCE IN THE GRIP OF COMMUNISM. IN A RECENT SPEECH AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, HE EXPLAINED HIS CREDO: // SOROS ACT //I HAVE A DUAL INVOLVEMENT IN RUSSIA. I AM INVOLVED AS A PHILANTHROPIST, AND I AM INVOLVED AS AN INVESTOR. AND I MUST SAY THAT MY POSITION AS A PHILANTHROPIST HAS TAKEN PRECEDENCE OVER MY POSITION AS AN INVESTOR. BUT ONCE I BECOME AN INVESTOR, I HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT RETURNS, AND I WILL NOT MAKE AN INVESTMENT IF I DO NOT THINK I CAN MAKE A PROFIT. // END ACT //HUNGARIAN-BORN SOROS HAS DISPLAYED A RARE GIFT FOR MAKING MONEY, BUT SOMETIMES IN WAYS THAT HAVE BROUGHT SHARP CRITICISM. IN 1992, HE MADE A BILLION DOLLARS BY SPECULATING AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THUS FORCING BRITAIN OUT OF THE EUROPEAN MONETARY SYSTEM. LAST SUMMER, MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MOHAMAD ACCUSED HIM OF WRECKING THE CURRENCIES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, LEADING TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT HAS SWEPT THE REGION. INDEED, MR. SOROS HAS BEGUN TO EXPRESS SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THE SYSTEM FROM WHICH HE HAS PROFITED. IN A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE "ATLANTIC MONTHLY" MAGAZINE, HE LAMENTS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER THAT HAS ALLOWED CURRENCIES TO "FLOAT AND CRUSH AGAINST EACH OTHER LIKE CONTINENTAL PLATES." EXCESSIVE SELF-SEEKING UNDERMINES THE OPEN SOCIETY. HE WRITES: THERE IS NO MAGIC OF THE MARKETPLACE. THESE SECOND THOUGHTS HAVE EMERGED FROM HIS EXPERIENCE WITH SOME FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, WHERE HE HAS SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE DEMOCRACY. THE RISE OF AN INTENSE NATIONALISM IN SOME PLACES HAS DISMAYED HIM. NATIONALISTS ACCUSE HIM OF WORKING TOO CLOSELY WITH FORMER COMMUNISTS. MORE RECENTLY, MR. SOROS HAS TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO THE UNITED STATES, IN PARTICULAR ITS WAR ON DRUGS WHICH HE CONSIDERS FUTILE. HE IS GIVING FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS TO GROUPS THAT SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE DRUG POLICY THAT DOES NOT FILL UP THE NATION'S PRISONS. HE IS CREDITED WITH HELPING PERSUADE VOTERS IN TWO AMERICAN STATES, CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA, TO ALLOW DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE SOME ILLEGAL DRUGS, INCLUDING MARIJUANA. IN RESPONSE, HE HAS BEEN DENOUNCED FOR TRYING TO LEGALIZE DRUGS. THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED, HE SAYS. "NO POLITICIAN CAN STAND UP AND SAY WHAT I AM SAYING BECAUSE IT IS THE THIRD RAIL - INSTANT ELECTROCUTION." FOR THIS KIND OF DEFIANT STAND AGAINST CONVENTION AND THE MONEY TO BACK IT UP, MR. SOROS IS DESCRIBED BY JUSTIN RAIMONDO IN "CHRONICLES" MAGAZINE AS A "NATION IN HIMSELF THAT HAS NO BORDERS BUT ONLY TENTACLES AND OWES NO LOYALTY TO ANY PARTICULAR STATE BUT ONLY TO THE GOOD OF MANKIND - WHICH GENERALLY SEEMS TO COINCIDE WITH THE GOOD OF GEORGE SOROS." BUT IT IS GOOD FOR MANY OTHERS, INSISTS JOHN CHETTLE, A WASHINGTON LAWYER WITH INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS : // CHETTLE ACT //HE IS ONE OF THE FEW REALLY WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO DO SOMETHING QUITE SIGNIFICANT WITH THEIR MONEY OUTSIDE THE SAFE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SO ON. HE REALLY HAS GONE INTO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN A WAY THAT RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO DO, AND HE HAS BEEN PREPARED TO PUT SOLID AMOUNTS OF MONEY - FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS AT A TIME - INTO THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES IN PARTICULAR COUNTRIES WHERE HE THINKS HE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. // END ACT //MR. CHETTLE SAYS OFFICIALS IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TELL HIM
GEORGE SOROS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE
OPEN SOCIETY THEY WANT AS MUCH AS HE DOES. (SIGNED)
[04] NATO / SERBIA (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229173 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED A PLAN BY YUGOSLAVIA FOR A REFERENDUM ON MEDIATION FOR THE COUNTRY'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE REFERENDUM PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED AS BELGRADE FACED INCREASED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON NEGOTIATING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE. TEXT: MR. SOLANA SAID THE REFERENDUM IS A MISTAKE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. SPEAKING IN SOFIA, MR. SOLANA SAID THE PROPOSAL BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DELAY A RESOLUTION OF THE KOSOVO DISPUTE. KOSOVO'S 90 PERCENT ALBANIAN MAJORITY WANTS INDEPENDENCE. THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP DOES NOT SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE. BUT RUSSIA, AMERICA, AND THE FOUR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SAY BELGRADE SHOULD NEGOTIATE ON GREATER AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO. THE LONG-SIMMERING DISPUTE HAS GOTTEN VIOLENT LATELY, WITH ABOUT 80 ETHNIC ALBANIANS DEAD IN A RECENT OFFENSIVE BY POLICE AND PARAMILITARY UNITS. THE CRACKDOWN WAS TRIGGERED BY ATTACKS ON POLICE BY THE SHADOWY KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. DIPLOMATS WARN THE SITUATION COULD FURTHER DETERIORATE. KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE HELP OF A THIRD-PARTY MEDIATOR, BUT BELGRADE CONSIDERS THE DISPUTE AN INTERNAL MATTER. YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THIS WEEK SAID THE ISSUE WOULD BE DECIDED BY A REFERENDUM BY SERBIAN VOTERS. WITHIN SERBIA AS A WHILE, ETHNIC SERBS ARE A MAJORITY, AND THE REFERENDUM WOULD PROBABLY GO AGAINST THE ALBANIANS EVEN IF A SUGGESTED ALBANIAN BOYCOTT DOES NOT MATERIALIZE. FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ HAS BEEN PROPOSED
BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A MEDIATOR ON KOSOVO. THE ORGANIZATION
FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE COULD ALSO MEDIATE THE
DISPUTE.
TUESDAY, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSED AN ARMS
EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA, BUT THE MEASURE IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE ONLY
SYMBOLIC VALUE. THE CONTACT GROUP HAS ALSO IMPOSED SOME
SANCTIONS, BUT THEY TOO SEEM TO BE HAVING LITTLE EFFECT.
(SIGNED)
[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229209 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (FRIDAY) BUT THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DID GO ABOVE NINE THOUSAND SEVERAL TIMES. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 83, DOWN THREE POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 187 POINTS OR MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 11 HUNDRED 22, UP TWO POINTS. ALTHOUGH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FAILED TO CLOSE ABOVE NINE THOUSAND, IT DID REACH THAT LEVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY AFTER ONLY EIGHT MINUTES OF TRADING ON FRIDAY. THEN, THE INDEX FELL BACK. FOR THE REST OF THE DAY IT MOVED BACK AND FORTH OVER AND UNDER NINE THOUSAND. ANALYSTS SAY THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME RESISTANCE AT THE NINE THOUSAND LEVEL WITH SELLING PRESSURE EVERY TIME THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CROSSED THAT MARK. BUT MANY ANALYSTS DISMISS THE NINE THOUSAND OBSESSION AS A "MEDIA EVENT" AND SAY THE STOCK MARKET IS HEALTHY AND A CLOSE ABOVE NINE THOUSAND IS INEVITABLE. ///REST OPT///HILDEGARD ZAGORSKY OF THE PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES FIRM SAYS STOCK PRICES SHOULD CONTINUE TO HEAD HIGHER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. ///ZAGORSKY ACT///THE BASIC TREND OF THE MARKET IS UP AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE DOW TO CLOSE AROUND 10 THOUSAND BY THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT, ALONG THE WAY WE WILL HAVE SOME UPS AND DOWNS. ///END ACT///THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED THE U-S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT TO FOUR POINT SEVEN PERCENT IN MARCH. AND THE NUMBER OF JOBS FELL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THAT, AFTER FIVE STRAIGHT MONTHS OF STEADY JOB GROWTH, THE STATISTICS DO NOT INDICATE A SIGNIFICANT SLOWDOWN IN THE U-S ECONOMY. THE G-T-E TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY SAYS IT PLANS A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE SALE OF MORE THAN TWO BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS AND A PROGRAM TO CUT COSTS BY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. THE SUNBEAM SMALL APPLIANCE COMPANY SAYS IT EXPECTS A LOSS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1998. IN ADDITION, SUNBEAM CHAIRMAN AL DUNLAP FIRED THE COMPANY'S HEAD OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS. SUNBEAM STOCK FELL BY MORE THAN 20 PERCENT. THE PROCTER AND GAMBLE COMPANY SAYS IT'S FOLGER'S COFFEE DIVISION WILL CUT PRICES BY ABOUT FIVE PERCENT DUE TO A DROP IN COFFEE FUTURES PRICES. IN A SEPARATE ANNOUNCEMENT, PROCTER AND GAMBLE SAYS IT'S "ATTENDS" ADULT DIAPER OPERATION IS FOR SALE. AN EVENT IN CHICAGO WAS HISTORIC ALTHOUGH IT WAS OVERSHAWDOWED BY
ATTENTION TO THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE REACHING THE NINE
THOUSAND LEVEL. THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE, THE NATION'S LEADING
FUTURES AND OPTIONS MARKET, CELEBRATED ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY
FRIDAY.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PLM
[06] KOSOVO: TWO VIEWS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229211 (CQ) CONTENT= VOICED AT: // FIXES PUNCTUATION PAGE TWO ///INTRO: AN INFLUENTIAL ETHNIC-ALBANIAN PUBLISHER FROM (YUGOSLAVIA'S) SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO WARNED IN WASHINGTON (TODAY/FRIDAY) THAT MORE VIOLENCE IS LIKELY IN THE TROUBLED PROVINCE. THIS, DESPITE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S CALL FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN SERBIAN OFFICIALS AND KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS. TEXT: IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A IN WASHINGTON (FRIDAY), VETON SURROI, PUBLISHER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN DAILY 'KOHE DITTORE,' SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S OFFER FOR DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVAR LEADERS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE -- UNLESS HE AGREES TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR PRESENT. // ACT ONE / SURROI //HE IS HOLDING A GUN AT THE ALBANIANS HEADS AND SAYING 'THIS IS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR AND THAT NOBODY SHOULD MEDDLE IN THAT AFFAIR.' THE LEVEL OF DISTRUST BETWEEN THE SERBS AND THE KOSOVARS IS SO HIGH THERE IS A NEED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION EFFORT. // END ACT //MR. SURROI SAYS THE HELSINKI HUMAN RIGHTS ACCORD CONSIDERS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TO BE A MATTER FOR INTERNATIONAL CONCERN. FOR THIS REASON, HE IS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO EXERT WHAT HE CALLED 'ENORMOUS PRESSURE' TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. // ACT TWO / SURROI //UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING POSITIVE IN THE COMING MONTHS. ACTUALLY I SEE QUITE NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PART OF THE SERBIAN REGIME THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS WORSE THAN THEY ARE (IN KOSOVO). // END ACT //MR. SURROI SAYS WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY IS A GUERRILLA MOVEMENT IN THE MAKING -- A REFERENCE TO THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR K-L-A. THIS MILITANT SEPARATIST GROUP SAYS IT HAS TARGETED SERBIAN POLICE IN ITS DRIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE. THE SERBIANS SAY THEIR FEBRUARY CRACKDOWN WAS DIRECTED AT THE K-L-A. BUT MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE ALSO KILLED. SERBIANS, HOWEVER, SAY THEY WANT TO AVOID MORE VIOLENCE -- AND HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE SITUATION. AT A PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON (AT THE CATO INSTITUTE) ALEX DRAGNICH, A SERBIAN-AMERICAN AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY IN TENNESSEE -- PRESENTED THE SERB VIEW. HE SAYS THE SERBIAN MINORITY IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN PERSECUTED BY THE 90-PERCENT ALBANIAN MAJORITY ALL THESE YEARS. PROFESSOR DRAGNICH SAYS THIS IS THE MAIN REASON AUTONOMY WAS SUSPENDED BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN 1989 -- AND HE SAYS THERE WERE OTHER REASONS: // ACT THREE /DRAGNICH //THEY (THE ALBANIANS) DESECRATED THEIR (THE SERB) CHURCHES, THEY DESTROYED THEIR PROPERTIES, USED DURESS TO GET THEM TO SELL THEIR HOLDINGS. IN TEN YEARS -- 1971 TO 1981 -- THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS BROUGHT IN FROM ALBANIA 240 UNIVERSITY TEACHERS, ALONG WITH TEXTBOOKS IN ALBANIAN. IN ADDITION THEY IMPORTED MOVIES, ARRANGED FOR ALBANIAN T-V AND RADIO HOOK-UPS, AS WELL AS FOR SPORTS AND CULTURAL VISITS. // END ACT //MANY SERBIANS SAY NOW THEY FEEL ISOLATED IN KOSOVO AND THEY FEAR
THEY THEY WILL LOSE THE PROVINCE -- WHICH HAS LONG-BEEN
IMPORTANT TO THEM FOR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL REASONS. (SIGNED)
[07] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=04/03/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10647 TELEPHONE=619-3335 CONTENT= //// EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T ! ! ////INTRO: THE FALLOUT FROM THE FEDERAL JUDGE'S DECISION TO THROW OUT A SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS. SOME PAPERS ARE MAKING THEIR FIRST COMMENT ON THE DECISION, ANNOUNCED AT MID-AFTERNOON, WASHINGTON TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, WHILE OTHERS ARE ALREADY INTO THEIR SECOND OPINION ON HOW THE DECISION WILL AFFECT THE INVESTIGATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE BY INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE PRESIDENT'S JUST-CONCLUDED AFRICA TRIP; AN EMBARRASSING FIRST EVER AUDIT OF THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; SOME STARK REVELATIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTS OF THE 1960S AND 70S; AND THE PROSPECT OF PUERTO RICO BECOMING A STATE. NOW, HERE WITH US IS _____________________WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS WAITED TO DIGEST THE NEWS OF A DECISION BY JUDGE SUSAN WEBBER WRIGHT IN LITTLE ROCK FEDERAL COURT WHO, WEDNESDAY THREW OUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT BY PAULA CORBIN JONES, AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. MS. JONES ALLEGED THAT MR. CLINTON MADE A LEWD SEXUAL REQUEST OF HER WHILE HE WAS GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS. IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE DURHAM "HERALD-SUN" CALLS THE JUDGE'S RULING "A WISE ONE," ADDING: VOICE: IN A RECENT OP-ED [OPPOSITE THE EDITORIALS PAGE, MEANING: THE COMMENTARY SECTION] PIECE, DUKE UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR JAMES COLEMAN JUNIOR ARGUED THAT [MS.] JONES' CLAIMS LACKED MERIT BECAUSE HER LAWYERS PRESENTED NO EVIDENCE THAT [MR.] CLINTON'S ALLEGED ACTIONS HAD HARMED HER EMPLOYMENT ..... [JUDGE] WRIGHT'S RULING OUGHT TO HELP SHUT THE DOOR ON SIMILAR FRIVOLOUS HARASSMENT CASES. ..... [MS. JONES] HAS HAD HER DAY IN COURT. SHE AND HER ATTORNEYS NEED TO DO THE COUNTRY A FAVOR, RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW, AND DROP THIS CASE. /// OPT ///TEXT: MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" CALLS THE NEWS "A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT." VOICE: THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN BETTER GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF BEING PRESIDENT WILL BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS, EVEN THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIS POLITICS. ..... JUDGE WRIGHT CAREFULLY PULLS APART [MS.] JONES' CASE. ...... THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF [JUDGE] WRIGHT'S RULING IS THAT THERE IS MUCH LESS URGENCY AROUND THE INVESTIGATION OF KEN STARR, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, OVER THE VERACITY OF [MR.] CLINTON'S DEPOSITION IN THE JONES CASE. /// END OPT ///TEXT: IN THE HEARTLAND, OMAHA'S "WORLD-HERALD" IS UPSET AT THE RESISTANCE KENNETH STARR IS FACING IN HIS INVESTIGATION, AND THE ATTACKS AGAINST HIS CREDIBILITY. VOICE: KENNETH STARR ..... IS CRITICIZED BY DEMOCRATS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE INVESTIGATION, WHICH BEGAN IN 1993. THEIR CRITICISM HAS BECOME MORE STRIDENT SINCE WEDNESDAY['S DECISION] ..... WHAT THE CRITICS DO NOT MENTION ARE THE MANY ROADBLOCKS THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN IN [MR.] STARR'S WAY, PROLONGING THE INVESTIGATION. /// OPT TEXT: "THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" SAYS THERE IS "LITTLE TO CELEBRATE" IN THE DECISION, SUGGESTING RATHER: VOICE: IT'S A RELIEF THAT PAULA JONES' LAWSUIT HAS BEEN PUT TO REST, BUT THE NATION STILL SUFFERS EMBARRASSMENT ABOUT ITS HIGHEST ELECTION OFFICIAL. .... SURE, THE ECONOMY IS ROBUST, AND TIMES ARE GOOD. .... BUT WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT, IN THOSE ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE? .... MR. CLINTON'S PURPORTED BEHAVIOR HAS DONE MORE TO DISILLUSION ALREADY-SKEPTICAL VOTERS ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS. AND THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE NATION'S DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT .... /// OPT ///TEXT: DOES THE DISMISSAL OF MS. JONES' LAWSUIT GIVE MEN A "LICENSE TO HARASS? IS THE QUESTION ON THE EDITORIAL LIPS OF TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES.," WHICH CONCLUDES THE ANSWER IS "NO." VOICE: THE DISMISSAL IS BY NO MEANS A SIGN THAT REDRESS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT WILL BE HARDER TO OBTAIN NOW THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE JONES SUIT. THESE CASES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT. ..... THE JONES CASE, WITH ITS PECULIAR SET OF FACTS, ACTUALLY SHEDS LITTLE LIGHT ON HARASSMENT AS IT COMMONLY EXISTS IN WORKPLACES. THE CASE SHOULD NOT BE USED TO TRIVIALIZE SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS THAT TYPICALLY INVOLVE GREATER INJURY AND GREATER ABUSE. TEXT: LASTLY ON THE MAIN TOPIC OF THE DAY, "THE HARTFORD COURANT" CRITICIZES KENNETH STARR FOR WHAT THE PAPER BELIEVES IS HIS OVERZEALOUS INVESTIGATION OF FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY, WHO ALLEGEDLY HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. VOICE: THE OVERZEALOUS MR. STARR HAS SUBPOENAED THE RECORDS OF TWO BOOKSTORES IN WASHINGTON FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT SHE MAY HAVE BOUGHT. APPARENTLY HE THINKS MS. LEWINSKY'S CHOICE OF READING MATTER WILL REVEAL SOMETHING LEGALLY SIGNIFICANT ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. CLINTON. ..... MR. STARR IS OUT OF CONTROL ..... THIS INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, APPOINTED BY THE FEDERAL COURT, IS TRAMPLING ALL OVER THE FIRST AMENDMENT. IT'S TIME HE WAS RESTRAINED. /// END OPT ///TEXT: TURNING TO PRESIDENT'S JUST-COMPLETED AFRICA TRIP, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS IT A "STARTING POINT FOR AFRICA," ADDING: VOICE: [MR.] CLINTON'S VISIT, THE MOST AMBITIOUS JOURNEY IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA BY ANY AMERICAN PRESIDENT, SHOULD HELP FORM A NEW AGENDA IN WASHINGTON. THAT WILL BE UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, AND THEY SHOULD NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THE GOODWILL THAT [MR.] CLINTON ENGENDERED. ..... AT STOPS IN GHANA, UGANDA, RWANDA, SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND SENEGAL, [MR.] CLINTON PROMISED AID AND TRADE. TO KEEP THESE PROMISES, HE WILL NEED TO CONVINCE AMERICANS, WHO WOULD RATHER SPEND THOSE DOLLARS CLOSER TO HOME. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS OF THE TRIP: VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON PUT HIS 12-DAY TRIP ... TO GOOD USE. HIS WORDS ON SLAVERY, GENOCIDE AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST APARTHEID RESONATED WITH AMERICAN HISTORY AND EMOTIONS. MR. CLINTON GAVE AFRICA NEW VISIBILITY AND A MORE HOPEFUL IMAGE. HE SHOULD NOW FOLLOW HIS MESSAGES OF EMPATHY WITH CONSISTENT POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC LEADERSHIP. /// END OPT ///TEXT: THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLETED AN AUDIT OF ITS ENTIRE OPERATION, WITH SOME EMBARRASSING DISCOVERIES. AS THE EDITORIAL HEADLINE IN TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" PUTS IT: "ANYBODY SEEN A MISSING JET ENGINE?," AS THE PAPER GOES ON TO CALL THE RESULTS "UNDENIABLY DISTURBING." VOICE: THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, THE BOOKKEEPING ARM OF CONGRESS, SAYS ONLY EIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S MAJOR DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HAD THEIR FINANCES IN ORDER -- MEANING THEIR BOOKS ACCURATELY REFLECTED THEIR REVENUES, SPENDING, ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. SEVENTEEN OTHER ... AGENCIES ESSENTIALLY FLUNKED THEIR AUDITS, WITH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DRAGGING AT THE BOTTOM. THE GAO ESTIMATES THAT OVERALL, 100-BILLION DOLLARS IN GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS WERE INCORRECTLY RECORDED..... SLOPPINESS OF THIS SORT IS UNACCEPTABLE. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST," ADDRESSING THE TOPIC OF THE RETURN OF CAMBODIA'S DEPOSED PRIME MINISTER, PRINCE NORODOM RANARIDDH, SAYS DO NOT BE FOOLED INTO THINKING ALL IS SUDDENLY WELL IN THAT TROUBLED LAND. CALLING IT "ONLY A FIRST STEP," "THE POST" SAYS: VOICE: NOW THAT ..... PRINCE ... RANARIDDH HAS BEEN PERMITTED TO RETURN TO HIS HOMELAND, OTHER NATIONS MAY BE TEMPTED TO DECLARE VICTORY AND EASE UP ON THE DIFFICULT JOB OF RESTORING DEMOCRACY THERE. THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE, AND A BETRAYAL OF CAMBODIA'S PEOPLE. PRINCE RANARIDDH'S RETURN IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT, THE RESULT OF DOGGED DIPLOMACY BY U-S, JAPANESE, THAI AND OTHER OFFICIALS. BUT IS IS ONLY A FIRST STEP. /// END OPT ///TEXT: REACTING TO THE RELEASE OF THOUSANDS OF STATE GOVERNMENT FILES FROM MISSISSIPPI THAT CHRONICLE THE STATE'S SECRET RESISTANCE TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S AND 70S "THE HARTFORD [CONNECTICUT] COURANT" COMPARES IT TO THE LESSON THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEARNED FROM THE HOLOCAUST . VOICE: THE SCOPE OF ITS DIRTY WORK IS STAGGERING. /// OPT /// TEXT: LASTLY, A SUGGESTION FROM "NEWSDAY" THAT IF THE U-S COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO REALLY WANTS TO BECOME THE 51ST STATE, AS THE HOUSE VOTED TO ALLOW IT TO CHOOSE LAST MONTH, THEN IT SHOULD AGREE TO MAKE ENGLISH ITS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. VOICE: .... AS THE PUBLIC DEBATE OVER PUERTO RICO'S FUTURE HEATS UP ON THE MAINLAND AND ON THE ISLAND, ONE KEY POINT SHOULD NOT BE LOST: IF PUERTO RICO **DOES** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] VOTE FOR STATEHOOD, IT MUST BE PREPARED TO EMBRACE AMERICAN CULTURE. THIS MEANS SCHOOLS MUST PRODUCE STUDENTS WHO ARE FLUENT IN ENGLISH (RIGHT NOW, 75 PERCENT OF ALL PUERTO RICANS ARE NOT.) ..... CONGRESS NEED NOT APOLOGIZE FOR INSISTING ON BETTER ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AS A CONDITION FOR STATEHOOD. TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE
EDITORIALS PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
[08] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=4/3/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229190 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MOST OF THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ENDED THE WEEK ON THE UP SIDE, AFTER POSTING AN EARLIER STRING OF RECORD CLOSING HIGHS. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS FRIDAY'S FINAL FIGURES FROM LONDON. TEXT: RECORD CLOSING HIGHS WERE POSTED HERE IN LONDON AND IN FRANKFURT, AS WELL AS ON SMALLER EXCHANGES IN AMSTERDAM AND MILAN. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX CLOSED OFF JUST UNDER FOUR POINTS FRIDAY, AFTER SETTING A RECORD THE DAY BEFORE. ELSEWHERE, PRICES WERE UP. SOME ANALYSTS CITED A JUMP IN UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES IN THE UNITED STATES AS BEING A KEY FACTOR. THE THINKING GOES THAT HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT HELPS KEEP INTEREST RATES IN CHECK -- A GOOD SIGN FOR BUSINESS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX ENDED TRADING UP A LITTLE OVER 11 POINTS. IN FRANKFURT, COMPUTER TRADING ON THE "DAX" INDEX ENDED MORE THAN 75 POINTS HIGHER -- A VALUE GAIN FOR THE DAY OF ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT. THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK BUT UP NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. GOLD WAS UP FOUR DOLLARS AN OUNCE IN LONDON TRADING TO CLOSE AT
306-DOLLARS-35 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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