Voice of America, 98-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / EUROPE (S ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] CLINTON/GERMANY ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (BERLIN)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[04] EUROPE DEVELOPMENT BANK (L ONLY) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (KIEV)

[05] EUROPE GENETICS (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[06] GREEK-AMERICAN NOVEL BY KELLY LAPPAS (NEW YORK)

[07] KOSOVO / U.S. (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

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

[10] TURKEY/HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] CLINTON / EUROPE (S ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EN ROUTE TO BERLIN, GERMANY, THE FIRST STOP ON A SIX-DAY, THREE-NATION TOUR OF EUROPE. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON WILL USE HIS TWO-DAY VISIT TO GERMANY TO MEET WITH CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL AND TAKE PART IN CEREMONIES MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT.

THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PAY A VISIT TO THE FORMER EAST GERMAN TOWN OF EISENACH WHERE HE WILL VISIT AN OPEL/GENERAL MOTORS AUTOMOBILE PLANT AND DELIVER A SPEECH. LATER, MR. CLINTON FLIES TO BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND FOR A SUMMIT OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS -- THE FOCUS OF WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE ASIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS. AT A STOP IN LONDON, MR. CLINTON WILL ATTEND A MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- WHERE PLANS FOR A SINGLE CURRENCY WILL BE DISCUSSED.

THE PRESIDENT HAS ADDED A LAST-MINUTE STOP TO HIS ITINERARY -- GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, WHERE HE WILL TAKE PART IN CEREMONIES MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.

MR. CLINTON RETURNS TO WASHINGTON MAY 18TH. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 5:11 PM EDT (2111 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON/GERMANY ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (BERLIN)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON STARTS A SIX-DAY EUROPEAN VISIT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH TALKS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL IN POTSDAM, IN THE FORMER EAST GERMANY. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM BERLIN.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT WILL SPEND MUCH OF HIS TWO-DAY VISIT IN THE FORMERLY-COMMUNIST EASTERN GERMANY -- TO UNDERSCORE BOTH THE POST-COLD-WAR TRANSFORMATION THERE, AND THE PROBLEMS STILL TO BE OVERCOME IN ACHIEVING THE GOAL A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC AND UNITED EUROPE.

MR. CLINTON WILL DISCUSS THOSE PROBLEMS -- INCLUDING BOSNIA, THE UNREST IN KOSOVO, AND THE RESURGENCE OF RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM IN GERMANY ITSELF -- IN HIS MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL AT THE HISTORIC SANS SOUCI PALACE IN POSTDAM. THEY ARE LIKELY TO DISCUSS, AS WELL, THE IMPLICATIONS OF INDIA'S TRIPLE NUCLEAR TEST, WHICH THE PRESIDENT TUESDAY DESCRIBED AS DEEPLY DISTURBING.

LATER IN THE DAY -- HERE IN BERLIN -- THE PRESIDENT MEETS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER GERHARD SCHROEDER, WHO IS HEAVILY FAVORED IN THE POLLS TO UNSEAT MR. KOHL IN THE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER. AND HE MAKES A BROADCAST ADDRESS TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ROLE OF AN EXPANDED NATO IN EUROPE'S FUTURE.

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAYS MR. CLINTON WILL CAST NATO AS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CAN HELP DO AWAY ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH THE DIVISIONS OF EUROPE:

O-S-C-E IS THE ONE ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY SPANS ALL OF EUROPE, CAN BE INVIGORATED AND ALREADY IS PLAYING A LARGER ROLE -- WHETHER IT'S IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH OR HOPEFULLY IN KOSOVO. THE EURO-ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP, WHICH GREW OUT OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, IS ANOTHER INSTITUTION THAT BRINGS ALL OF EUROPE TOGETHER, AS DOES THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE ITSELF. AND WHAT WE ARE CREATING HERE IS AN INTERLOCKING WEB OF INSTITUTIONS THAT CREATE AN INCREASINGLY UNITED EUROPE.

THE PRESIDENT JOINS THURSDAY IN AN OBSERVANCE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT, AND WILL GO ON TO BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND FOR THE ANNUAL SUMMIT OF THE LEADING INDUSTRIAL POWERS AND RUSSIA. HE CLOSES OUT THE TRIP NEXT MONDAY IN GENEVA BY MARKING ANOTHER 50TH ANNIVERSARY -- THAT OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE -- PREDECESSOR TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 6:17 PM EDT (2217 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED LOWER IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: SHARE PRICES FELL IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, FOLLOWING SHARP GAINS A DAY EARLIER.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN LONDON, EUROPE'S BIGGEST EXCHANGE. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 72 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX WAS OFF 41 POINTS, EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT. AND, IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL 30 POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS BASICALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 2:02 PM EDT (1802 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EUROPE DEVELOPMENT BANK (L ONLY) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (KIEV)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (E-B-R-D) HAS ENDED ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN KIEV. V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS FROM THE UKRAINIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: E-B-R-D ACTING PRESIDENT CHARLES FRANK CALLS THE KIEV CONFERENCE A BIG SUCCESS, SAYING THE BANK SIGNED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEALS TO PROMOTE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES IN UKRAINE AND HELP THE COUNTRY IMPROVE ITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR DIALOGUE WITH THE UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE. UKRAINE NEEDS TO MAKE PROGRESS IN ITS TRANSITION IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD ITS HARD-WON MACRO-ECONOMIC GAINS.

THAT WAS A MESSAGE DELJVERED TO SEVERAL OF THE 26 CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS, WHICH RECEIVE AID FROM THE E-B-R-D.

BALKAN NATIONS LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL BACKING AT THE MEETING SAID THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FIGHTING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE. BULGARIA'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS INVESTORS MAY PULL OUT OF THE WHOLE REGION IF FIGHTING INTENSIFIES IN KOSOVO. BUT THE E-B-R-D'S BANKING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE BALKANS REGION, OLIVIER DESCAMPS, SAYS BULGARIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, AND ALBANIA ARE TAKING A UNIFIED APPROACH.

MOST OF THE PLAYERS INVOLVED ARE MAYING EVERY EFFORT FOR THE SITUATION NOT TO DETERIORATE FURTHER AND WE HAVE DECIDED AS FAR AS THE BANK IS CONCERNED TO CONTINUE SAY IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL, AND WE ARE NOT STOPPING ANY OF OUR PROJECTS IN THE REGION.

MR. DESCAMPS SAYS THE BANK HAS LONG-TERM STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN THE BALKANS REGION

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS TN ASIA AND THE RESULTING FALL OF SHARE PRICES ON MANY CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS WAS ALSO A MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN AMONG DELEGATIONS AT THE KIEV CONFERENCE. BUT, MR. DESCAMPS SAYS THERE WAS ONE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE ASIA CRISIS.

THERE HAD BEEN A RATHER BIG EUPHORIA FOR EMERGING MARKETS IN THE PAST YEARS. THAT HAS CERTAINLY LED TO SOME MISPRICED SECURITIES. SO. IF THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPACT. IT HAS BEEN A READJUSTMENT AND REASSESSMENT OF PRICING, WHICH I THINK IS HEALTHY. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE SHOULD NOT KID OURSELVES THAT THESE MARKETS ARE RISKY AND VOLATILE.

E-B-R-D OFFICIALS SAY THE LESSONS THAT CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SHOULD LEARN FROM THE ASIA CRISIS IS THAT THEY MUST DEVELOP MORE OPEN FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND CRACK DOWN ON CORRUPTION (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 2:29 PM EDT (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EUROPE GENETICS (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TUESDAY ADOPTED A CONTROVERSIAL LAW ON PATENTING THE RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON HUMANS. THIS WILL BRING EUROPE CLOSER TOWARDS THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF PATENTS, AND WILL HELP MULTINATIONAL FIRMS LAUNCH NEW PRODUCTS IN THE EUROPEAN MARKET. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS SAY THAT EXISTING LAWS ON PATENTS WERE DRAWN UP OVER 38-YEARS AGO -- LONG BEFORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF RESEARCH INTO HUMAN AND ANIMAL GENETICS WERE REALIZED. FOR THIS REASON, THEY PROPOSED UPDATING THE RULES ON BIOTECHNOLOGY -- HOPEFULLY CLARIFYING WHICH PRACTICES ARE LEGAL, AND WHICH ARE NOT.

THE PROPOSAL, NOW MADE LAW BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, CONTAINS A NUMBER OF SAFEGUARDS, WHICH WERE NOT IN AN EARLIER PROPOSAL REJECTED BY THE PARLIAMENTARIANS THREE YEARS AGO. THE REVISED MEASURE ALLOWS THE PATENTING OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES RESULTING FROM RESEARCH ON HUMANS AND ANIMALS, WHICH ARE LINKED TO AN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION. HOWEVER, HUMAN CLONING IS OUTLAWED UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, AS IS GENETIC MODIFICATION OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS, AND EXPERIMENTATION ON HUMAN EMBRYOS FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES. IT ALSO PROHIBITS UNNECESSARY SUFFERING FOR ANIMALS.

IN THESE RESPECTS, THE EUROPEAN LAW WILL DIFFER FROM AMERICAN PATENT LEGISLATION, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME EXCLUSIONS.

OFFICIALS SAY THE MEASURE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR INVENTORS TO APPLY FOR EUROPE-WIDE PATENTS ON THE FRUITS OF THEIR RESEARCH, AND THIS WILL BE CHEAPER AND EASIER THAN SEEKING PATENTS IN EACH OF THE 15 E-U MEMBER STATES. THE OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW LAW IS NEEDED TO PROTECT INVENTORS, AND SHOULD ENCOURAGE RESEARCH INTO AREAS WHICH INCLUDE THE SEARCH FOR A CANCER CURE. HOWEVER, CRITICS OF THE LAW FEAR IT WILL TAKE THE E-U TOWARDS A SITUATION WHERE SCIENTISTS WILL BE GIVEN THE POWER TO INDULGE IN FRANKENSTEIN-LIKE EXPERIMENTS. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GREEK-AMERICAN NOVEL BY KELLY LAPPAS (NEW YORK)

INTRO: NICHOLAS PAPANDREOU IS A WRITER AND THE SON OF ANDREAS PAPANDREOU, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE. HE LIVES IN ATHENS BUT IS VISITING THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE HIS FIRST NOVEL. MORE ON THIS FROM V-O-A'S KELLY LAPPAS IN NEW YORK.

TEXT: NICHOLAS PAPANDREOU'S NOVEL FOLLOWS THE LIFE OF ALEX, A YOUNG GREEK-AMERICAN BOY WHOSE FAMILY IS UPROOTED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO LIVE IN GREECE SO HIS FATHER CAN PURSUE HIS POLITICAL DREAMS. THE STORY RESEMBLES THE AUTHOR'S HISTORY, BUT MR. PAPANDREOU SAYS HIS BOOK, "A CROWDED HEART" IS MOSTLY FICTION.

I THINK WHAT'S SIMILAR IS THE SENTIMENT AND THE PASSION THAT I HAVE FOR GREECE. THE ACTUAL STORIES THEMSELVES ARE FICTIONAL. THE DIALOGUES AND MANY OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR ARE INVENTED BASICALLY TO CREATE THAT MYTHICAL WORLD. SO I WOULD SAY THE PASSION AND THE LOVE FOR PEOPLE IS MINE, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LITTLE BOY IS HIS OWN.

THROUGHOUT THE BOOK, YOUNG ALEX GROWS UP IN A MYTHICAL WORLD OF GREEK VILLAGES AND GREEK CHARACTERS. HE STRUGGLES WITH LEARNING THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND STRUGGLES TO BEAR THE WEIGHT OF A POLITICAL FAMILY. HE ALSO STRUGGLES WITH HIS IDENTITY AS A GREEK-AMERICAN.

MR. PAPANDREOU HAS HAD A SIMILAR STRUGGLE. HE WAS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1956, THEN MOVED TO GREECE WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE SIXTIES, RETURNED AGAIN TO THE UNITED STATES LATER FOR HIS STUDIES AT YALE AND PRINCETON UNIVERSITIES AND NOW LIVES IN GREECE AGAIN.

I FEEL VERY AMERICAN. I GREW UP HERE, I WRITE IN ENGLISH. BUT I ALSO THINK I HAVE A GREEK HEART. IT'S A HARD THING, AND I LIVE WITH BOTH THOSE WORLDS.

AS THE SON OF THE LATE ANDREAS PAPANDREOU, NICHOLAS PAPANDREOU SAYS HE GREW UP IN A WORLD OF CROWDS. THE TITLE OF HIS NOVEL, "A CROWDED HEART", REFERS TO THE HUGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT SURROUNDED HIM DAILY.

THERE'S AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. THE REAL PARENTS OF THE KID IN A WAY ARE THE CROWD AND THE GREEK PEOPLE. BECAUSE ON A DAILY BASIS, I HAD TO -- AND ALSO THE CHARACTER IN THE BOOK -- HAD TO DEAL WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE COMING AND TELLING THEM ABOUT THE GRANDFATHER AND FATHER, TELLING THEM THEIR BELIEFS, THEIR PROBLEMS. SO I THINK THAT WAS, GROWING UP, WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF HAVING THIS HUGE WORLD, MAINLY OF OTHER PEOPLE, AND NOT A LOT OF PRIVACY.

AT THE END OF "A CROWDED HEART" ALEX IS 17 AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HIS FUTURE. ALTHOUGH STILL TRYING TO FIND HIS OWN BALANCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WORLDS, HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD. MR. PAPANDREOU PLANS TO FOLLOW ALEX'S LIFE FURTHER IN HIS NEXT BOOK. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 12:02 PM EDT (1602 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] KOSOVO / U.S. (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S ENVOYS RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND ROBERT GELBARD ARE CONTINUING THEIR SHUTTLE MISSION IN SERBIA, TRYING TO START TALKS BETWEEN OFFICIALS IN BELGRADE AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE TWO MEN HAVE RETURNED TO BELGRADE AFTER TALKS (TUESDAY) IN KOSOVO. BUT AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES -- WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE -- THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY BREAKTHROUGH.

TEXT: AFTER TALKS WITH MODERATE ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES REMAINS SUBSTANTIAL. HE GAVE NO HINT OF ANY PROGRESS IN CLOSING THAT GAP ON THE FOURTH DAY OF A SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY MISSION IN BELGRADE, THE KOSOVO CAPITAL PRISTINA, AND TIRANA.

SINCE SERIOUS FIGHTING BROKE OUT IN KOSOVO MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE IF ANY PROGRESS IN BRINGING TOGETHER KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS -- WHO WANT INDEPENDENCE -- AND THE BELGRADE AUTHORITIES -- WHO INSIST KOSOVO MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA. THE TWO SIDES CAN'T EVEN AGREE ON NEGOTIATING PROCEDURES. THE ALBANIANS WANT THIRD-PARTY MEDIATION. THE SERBS REFUSE, SAYING KOSOVO IS AN INTERNAL MATTER.

THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER BIG POWERS FAVOR MEDIATED TALKS ON AUTONOMY, AND HAVE IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS TO PERSUADE BELGRADE TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS. (SIGNED)
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12-May-98 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) ON RENEWED CONFIDENCE THAT THE U-S INFLATION RATE WILL REMAIN LOW. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91-HUNDRED-61, UP 70 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11-HUNDRED-15, UP NINE POINTS.

TUESDAY'S SESSION WAS ALMOST A REVERSE IMAGE OF MONDAY'S TRADING. STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN FOR MOST OF THE SESSION TUESDAY BUT ROSE SHARPLY LATE IN THE DAY. ANALYSTS SAY STOCK TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY A LATE RALLY IN THE BOND MARKET, INDICATING CONFIDENCE THAT WEDNESDAY'S WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX WILL SHOW CONTINUED LOW INFLATION IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

MAJOR U-S RETAILERS REPORTED HIGHER FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS, LED BY WAL-MART. THE NATION'S LARGEST DISCOUNT STORE CHAIN REPORTED A RECORD 828-MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY PROFIT.

THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL PURCHASE UP TO 80 F-16 FIGHTER JETS FROM THE LOCKHEED-MARTIN COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE DEAL COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS SIX BILLION DOLLARS.

THE GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA HAS FILED SUIT IN THE UNITED STATES AGAINST MAJOR AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANIES IN AN EFFORT TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY IS THE FIRST NATION TO SUE THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN U-S COURTS. SEVERAL U-S STATES HAVE SUED THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND REACHED SETTLEMENTS WITH THE COMPANIES.

THE NIKE ATHLETIC CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR COMPANY SAYS IT WILL UPGRADE WORKING CONDITIONS IN ITS ASIAN FACTORIES BY RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE OF EMPLOYEES FROM 14 TO 16 AND ADOPTING U-S INDOOR AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS IN ALL FACTORIES. NIKE HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM SOME HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS FOR ALLEGED SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS IN SOME OF ITS ASIAN PLANTS.

THE COLA DRINK SALES "WAR" IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN JOINED BY A NEW COMBATANT. BRITISH ENTREPRENEUR RICHARD BRANSON IS INTRODUCING HIS "VIRGIN" COLA IN SIX MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES, WITH NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION LATER THIS YEAR. MR. BRANSON IS EAGER TO CHALLENGE COCA-COLA AND PEPSI-COLA IN THEIR HOME MARKET AND HE RODE AN ARMY TANK THROUGH THE STREETS OF NEW YORK TO SYMBOLIZE HIS "INVASION."(SIGNED)
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12-May-98 4:49 PM EDT (2049 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: ACROSS THE FRONT PAGES OF MOST U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE BIG HEADLINES REGARDING THE THREE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS DETONATED MONDAY BY INDIA. ALTHOUGH MANY PAPERS ARE STILL DIGESTING THE NEWS, AND ASSAYING ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND CONSEQUENCES, BEFORE WRITING EDITORIALS, SEVERAL ARE COMMENTING.

HOWEVER THE DOMINANT TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS SEEMS TO BE BUILDING FRUSTRATION AT THE STANCE OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IN FAILING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE PALESTINIANS DURING THE LATEST U-S PEACE PUSH.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: ANOTHER SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE ANOTHER CABINET OFFICER; THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO REPAIR FAULTY JETLINER WIRING; AND ANOTHER STEP TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, THE LEAD HEADLINE IN "NEWSDAY" READS:"INDIA'S BIG BANG," AND THE SUB HEADLINE CONTINUES: "THE NEW GOVERNMENT WAS MOST UNWISE TO TEST NUKES; NOW SANCTIONS MUST BE APPLIED."

VOICE: WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING? INDIAN LEADERS' DECISION TO EXPLODE THREE NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN UNDERGROUND TESTS YESTERDAY WAS PROVOCATIVE, RECKLESS, AND INCREDIBLY STUPID. ...THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RETALIATE WITH THE STIFF SANCTIONS DEMANDED BY LAW: AN IMMEDIATE CUTOFF OF ECONOMIC AND MILITARY AID AND A FREEZE ON LOANS BY INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS. .../// OPT /// WORTH MONITORING WILL BE THE REACTIONS OF THE RUSSIAN AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. ...NONE OF THIS BODES WELL. THE TESTS ARE PARTICULARLY DISTRESSING BECAUSE THEY WERE GRATUITOUS -- AN ABSURD MOVE MOTIVATED IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, BY INDIA'S CHAOTIC DOMESTIC POLITICS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS ALSO CONCERNED, AS IT TRIES TO ANALYZE THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE BLASTS.

VOICE: STRATEGICALLY, INDIA'S EXPLOSION OF THREE NUCLEAR DEVICES BENEATH THE DESERT NEAR PAKISTAN... IS AIMED AT A STRONGER CHINA. THE TWO FOUGHT IN 1962 NEAR THEIR HIMALAYAN BORDERS WHEN NEITHER WAS NUCLEAR. NOW CHINA IS DEVELOPING ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES RAPIDLY, AND ITS GROWING NAVAL CAPABILITIES DISTURB INDIA. DIPLOMATICALLY, INDIA'S MUSCLE-FLEXING IS AIMED MORE AT PAKISTAN, THE WEAKER NEIGHBOR THAT UNDERMINES INDIA'S RULE IN DISPUTED KASHMIR AND JAMMU.

...FOR MUCH OF INDIA'S TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, THE TESTS ARE A WELCOME DISPLAY OF NATIONAL PROWESS. BUT INDIA'S FIRST TESTING SINCE 1974 OF MORE SOPHISTICATED DEVICES IS DESTABILIZING. IT COULD PANIC PAKISTAN INTO OPEN COMPETITION.

TEXT: AND IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE MOVE PLAYING "WITH NUCLEAR FIRE."

VOICE: INDIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT TOOK POWER TWO MONTHS AGO WITH A HARD FOREIGN POLICY LINE, INCLUDING THE APPALLING THREAT TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. EVEN MORE SHOCKING WAS MONDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THREE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR DEVICES HAD BEEN DETONATED ... MONDAY'S EXPLOSIONS ...RAISE THE STAKES AGAIN IN SOUTH ASIA, A RESTIVE REGION LONG CONSIDERED VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR WAR. /// OPT /// PAKISTAN, PREDICTABLY, PLEDGED TO TAKE 'ALL APPROPRIATE MEASURES FOR ITS SECURITY.' NUCLEAR EXPERTS BELIEVE ...THE ISLAMABAD REGIME IS CAPABLE OF ASSEMBLING A NUCLEAR WEAPON ON SHORT NOTICE. CHINA, WHICH FOUGHT A WAR WITH INDIA IN 1962, OBVIOUSLY MUST BE CONCERNED BY MONDAY'S NEWS.

TEXT: TURNING NOW TO THE EDITORIAL FRUSTRATION OF MANY PAPERS, AT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S REFUSAL TO COMPROMISE ON THE LATEST U-S PEACE PROPOSAL, CONCERNING WEST BANK LAND GIVE-BACKS TO THE PALESTINIANS. "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" CALLS IT A "BAD CASE OF STUBBORNNESS," CONTINUING:

VOICE: THERE IS SOMETHING SINGULARLY DISTURBING ABOUT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S COCKSURE [SELF-IMPORTANT] ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. HE IS ACTING ALMOST AS IF THE UNITED STATES IS OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. ... [HE] CONTINUES TO THWART THE PEACE PROCESS BY REFUSING TO AGREE TO A REASONABLE WEST BANK WITHDRAWAL.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS EVEN MORE FORCEFUL, CALLING ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO WITHDRAW FROM TALKS WITH THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, WHICH AT THIS POINT, THE PAPER CONSIDERS TO BE FRUITLESS.

VOICE: THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER IN A LONG SERIES OF CRISES IN THE TORTUOUS MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. GIVEN THE ABORTED SUMMIT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE REASON TO HOPE THAT THE SPUTTERING NEGOTIATIONS ... CAN BE RESTARTED. PRESIDENT CLINTON REPORTEDLY IS CONSIDERING PROPOSING YET ANOTHER MIDEAST SUMMIT SEVERAL WEEKS HENCE, BUT HE SHOULD NOT. PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND HIS HAWKISH CABINET ARE NOT LIKELY TO TURN REASONABLE ANY TIME SOON. ... WHAT [MR.] NETANYAHU AND HIS SUPPORTERS IN [THE U-S] CONGRESS SEE AS SECURITY FOR ISRAEL IS AN ILLUSION. KEEPING THE PALESTINIANS UNDER ISRAEL'S THUMB IS DRAINING THE NATION'S RESOURCES, SAPPING ITS MILITARY'S MORALE, WIDENING INTERNAL DIFFERENCES AND ISOLATING IT FROM THE WORLD. REAL SECURITY INVOLVES BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN ANTAGONISTS ...

TEXT: WAIT A MINUTE, SAYS "THE WASHINGTON POST" SUGGESTING -- THE CASE IS STRONG FOR LEAVING CHOICES [ON SECURITY] IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE [ISRAELIS] WHO WILL BEAR THEIR CONSEQUENCES. SAYS "THE POST:"

VOICE: /// OPT /// SUDDENLY THE UNITED STATES FINDS ITSELF DRAWN FAR BEYOND THE FAMILIAR FRAYING TACTICAL ISSUES OF THE STALLED ... NEGOTIATIONS. ITS MOVE FROM FAILED FACILITATOR TO HOPEFUL RAFTER OF COMPROMISE TERMS TAKES IT TO A MORAL AS WELL AS POLITICAL THRESHOLD. /// END OPT /// SHOULD AMERICANS EVEN BE THINKING OF SUBSTITUTING THEIR NOTION FOR THE ISRAELIS' NOTION OF WHAT SECURITY CONCESSIONS THE ANXIOUS ISRAELIS SHOULD MAKE? IS IT NOT ESPECIALLY OFFENSIVE THAT ISRAELIS SHOULD BE ASKED TO PAY PALESTINIANS TO STOP KILLING CHILDREN IN THE STREETS?

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" ADDS THAT:

VOICE: ... TIME DOES APPEAR TO BE RUNNING OUT BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES ITS THREATENED REASSESSMENT OF THE AMERICAN ROLE IN THE MIDEAST NEGOTIATIONS. ...IT IS ISRAEL, AFTER ALL, THAT HAS THE MOST TO LOSE IF THE TALKS RUN AGROUND.

TEXT: BRIEFLY, IN OTHER OPINIONS, "NEWSDAY" PRAISES A NEWLY ACTIVIST FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS RECENT URGENT ORDER TO GROUND FOR INSPECTION, ALL OLDER BOEING 737 JETLINERS, DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FRAYED WIRING IN THE FUEL TANKS, THAT COULD CAUSE IN FLIGHT EXPLOSIONS. AS THE LONG ISLAND PAPER NOTES:

VOICE: THE FAA MIGHT HAVE SHRUNK FROM A TOUGH DECISION THAT WAS BOUND TO INCONVENIENCE SOME TRAVELERS ON MOTHER'S DAY, [SUNDAY 5/10] TO SAY NOTHING OF SUBSEQUENT BUSINESSES DAYS. BUT THE AGENCY HAD ITS PRIORITIES RIGHT, FIGURING THAT PASSENGERS WOULD APPRECIATE ITS CONCERN FOR THEIR SAFETY -- EVEN AS ITS DIRECTOR OF AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION PUT IT, 'WHILE THEY ARE SITTING THERE STRANDED.' /// OPT /// AS IT TURNED OUT, STRANDINGS WERE APPARENTLY FEW BECAUSE THE AIRLINES WENT ALL-OUT TO GET THE 15-HOUR INSPECTION AND REPAIR JOB DONE WITH MINIMAL DELAY. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" WHICH, IN THE PAST, HAS BEEN HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE F-A-A FOR MOVING TOO SLOWLY ON AIRLINE SAFETY ISSUES, PRAISES THE AGENCY THIS TIME:

VOICE: THE F-A-A DID NOT WAIT THIS TIME FOR A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, AS OFTEN HAS BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST. INSTEAD, THE AGENCY TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE ONE-POINT-FIVE-MILLION PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL BY AIR IN THIS COUNTRY EVERY DAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, DEFECTS WERE FOUND IN ABOUT HALF OF THE 737'S THAT WERE INSPECTED BEFORE THE GROUNDING ORDER ON SUNDAY. ... SURE. SOME FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED SO THE EMERGENCY INSPECTIONS COULD BE PERFORMED. THE ALTERNATIVE, THOUGH, WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE.

TEXT: ANOTHER CLINTON CABINET MEMBER, THIS TIME ALEXIS HERMAN, THE LABOR SECRETARY, IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY A SPECIAL COUNSEL, SET UP YESTERDAY BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO. SAYS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THIS NEWS IS SOMEWHAT PARADOXICAL.

VOICE: ATTORNEY GENERAL ... RENO'S DECISION TO REQUEST AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE INFLUENCE-PEDDLING AND ILLEGAL FUND-RAISING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST LABOR SECRETARY ... HERMAN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE [LAW] ... WE ONLY WISH MS. RENO'S SENSITIVITY TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND HER CLARITY IN INTERPRETING HER DUTY UNDER THE ACT EXTENDED TO THE BROADER AND MORE IMPORTANT MATTER OF THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL FUND-RAISING SCANDALS.

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE ISSUE OF IRISH PEACE PROGRESS, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" LAUDS THE RECENT VOTE OF THE SINN FEIN POLITICAL PARTY, ALIGNED WITH THE

IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TERRORISTS, TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS.

VOICE: WITH ITS OVERWHELMING APPROVAL OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ACCORD, SINN FEIN HAS MOVED THAT TROUBLED LAND CLOSER TO A LASTING PEACE. THE CHALLENGE NOW IS TO SELL THE PACT TO VOTERS AND TO PREVENT THE RABBLE-ROUSERS FROM UNDERMINING THE PEACE EFFORT.

TEXT: THAT BRINGS TO A CLOSE THIS SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND AMONG THE U-S PRESS THIS TUESDAY.
NEB/ANG/RAE
12-May-98 10:41 AM EDT (1441 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] TURKEY/HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: A MAN REGARDED BY MANY AS TURKEY'S TOP HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER WAS GUNNED DOWN BY UNIDENTIFIED ATTACKERS IN ANKARA TUESDAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE TURKISH CAPITAL, THE ATTACK AGAINST AKIN BIRDAL HAS PROVOKED A STORM OF CRITICISM AGAINST THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO PROTECT HIM.

TEXT: HUNDREDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, JOURNALISTS AND ORDINARY CITIZENS CONTINUE TO WAIT OUTSIDE ANKARA'S SEVGI HOSPITAL, WHERE MR. BIRDAL HAD SURGERY TO REMOVE THREE BULLETS LODGED IN HIS CHEST.

MR. BIRDAL -- A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF TURKEY'S ETHNIC KURDS -- WAS FREQUENTLY ACCUSED BY STATE OFFICIALS OF BEING A SYMPATHIZER OF THE OUTLAWED "KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY," THE "P-K-K". THE GROUP HAS BEEN WAGING AN ARMED CAMPAIGN THE PAST 14-YEARS TO GAIN SELF RULE FOR TURKEY'S ESTIMATED 12-MILLION KURDS. MR. BIRDAL DENIES THE ACCUSATIONS.

HE WAS RECENTLY ACCUSED BY THE TURKISH MEDIA OF RECEIVING ORDERS FROM ABDULLAH OCALAN -- THE DAMASCUS BASED P-K-K LEADER -- FOLLOWING ALLEGED CONFESSIONS BY A RECENTLY CAPTURED REBEL COMMANDER, SEMDIN SAKIK.

TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT AND INTERIOR MINISTER MURAT BASESGIOGULU WHO RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE MR. BIRDAL IS BEING OPERATED ON WAS JEERED AT BY THE CROWD WAITING OUTSIDE.

HIS LAWYER, HUSNU ONDUL, TOLD REPORTERS MR. BIRDAL HAD BEEN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS FOLLOWING MEDIA REPORTS OF HIS ALLEGED CONNECTIONS WITH THE P-K-K. HE SAID MR. BIRDAL HAD REPEATEDLY SOUGHT POLICE PROTECTION, BUT TURKEY'S INTERIOR MINISTRY HAD FAILED TO HONOR HIS REQUESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
12-May-98 8:43 AM EDT (1243 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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