Voice of America, 98-06-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] US-UK-KOSOVO BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[03] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[04] RUSSIA/KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

[05] NATO / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[06] KOSOVO TALKS (S) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)

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

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

[09] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS TOPS THE LIST OF TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN U-S DAILY NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COLUMNS AT MIDWEEK. AMONG THEM, THE NEW INITIATIVE BY SOUTH KOREA TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT IN PYONGYANG; THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO PROVINCE; AND RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL WOES.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE COLOMBIA'S RECENT, FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BALLOTING; AND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TROUBLES. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE LATEST OVERTURES BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH KOREA TO NORTH KOREA, AMONG THEM "THE BOSTON GLOBE," WHICH HAILS THE NEW, MORE FLEXIBLE POLICY.

VOICE: PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK'S STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, KIM DAE JUNG DEMONSTRATES A KEEN SENSE OF REALISM, CALLING FOR THE TERMINATION OF AMERICA'S COLD WAR SANCTIONS ON THE STALINIST REGIME IN NORTH KOREA. THE IMPORT OF THIS CHANGE IN SOUTH KOREAN POLICY IS NOT MERELY PSYCHOLOGICAL. IT IS NOT MERELY A SIGN THAT KIM DAE JUNG CAN OVERCOME PERSONAL AND PATRIOTIC FEELINGS OF ANIMOSITY AGAINST THE BELLICOSE REGIME IN PYONGYANG. AT A TIME WHEN IRRESPONSIBLE, ULTRANATIONALISTIC LEADERS IN INDIA HAVE INDUCED INSTABILITY THROUGHOUT ASIA, SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN THE WORLD A LESSON IN THE DIFFICULT ART OF STATECRAFT. /// OPT HE IS NO LESS WARY OF THE COMMUNIST CLIQUE RULING NORTH KOREA THAN HIS PREDECESSORS. BUT HE HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE BEST CHANCE OF AVOIDING A CATACLYSMIC END TO NORTH KOREA'S IMPOVERISHMENT LIES WITH A LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AND EFFORTS TO DRAW PYONGYANG INTO ROUTINE RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: THE CHANGES HAVE ALSO CAUGHT THE ATTENTION - - MOST FAVORABLY - - OF THE EDITORIAL PAGE AT "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: HIS PLEA DESERVES A SERIOUS HEARING, ESPECIALLY FROM CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS INCLINED TO TREAT ANY AMERICAN OVERTURE TOWARD PYONGYANG AS A MORTAL THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF SOUTH KOREA.

MR. KIM IS A BETTER JUDGE THAN ANYONE IN WASHINGTON OF SOUTH KOREA'S SECURITY NEEDS, AND BY CHAMPIONING A LESS CONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH TO HIS NORTHERN NEIGHBOR HE EFFECTIVELY ERASES THE ARGUMENT THAT AN ADJUSTMENT IN AMERICAN POLICY WOULD UNDERMINE SEOUL'S INTERESTS. ..... CLOSELY COORDINATED EFFORTS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND SEOUL WILL BE REQUIRED TO STEER NORTH KOREA TOWARD A SAFER PATH. KIM DAE JUNG COMES TO AMERICA OFFERING A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP.

TEXT: HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD NOW, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE NOTING WITH GROWING CONCERN THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE BETWEEN SERBIAN POLICE AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. AMONG THEM IS "NEWSDAY" WHICH WONDERS ALOUD IN ITS WEDNESDAY EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "IS KOSOVO THE NEXT BOSNIA? RUSSIA COULD STOP IT."

VOICE: KOSOVO IS NOT YET THE SORT OF HOUSEHOLD WORD FOR ETHNIC SLAUGHTER THAT ITS BALKAN NEIGHBOR, BOSNIA, HAS BECOME. BUT KOSOVO COULD JOIN THE LEXICON OF POLITICAL HORRORS IF THE SERBIAN ARMY DOESN'T STOP ITS CAMPAIGN OF MASSACRES AND ARTILLERY BARRAGES, WHICH ARE DRIVING THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUT OF THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO INTO REFUGEE CAMPS BEYOND ITS BORDERS. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SHOULD CONSIDER REINVOKING SUSPENDED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND ENLISTING RUSSIAN HELP TO DISSUADE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FROM WAGING HIS BRUTAL REPRESSION OF KOSOVO'S SEPARATIST MOVEMENT.

TEXT: ADD TO THAT, "THE WASHINGTON POST" RETORT THAT SO FAR, WHAT IT CALLS "EMPTY THREATS" ARE HAVING LITTLE EFFECT ON THE YUGOSLAV SERBIAN LEADER, AND IT COMPLAINS THAT ALL THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE DOES REGARDING SERBIAN EXCESSES, IS TALK.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID TIME AND AGAIN ... IT WON'T PERMIT SERB LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO EXTEND HIS BRUTAL ETHNIC-CLEANSING TACTICS TO THE INDEPENDENCE-MINDED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. NOW, MR. MILOSEVIC'S TROOPS ARE CONDUCTING PRECISELY SUCH ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO, AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE SO FAR: MORE TALK. /// END OPT ///..... U-S POLICY IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS HAS BEEN A CONFUSING MIXTURE OF SANCTIONS THREATENED, IMPOSED AND WITHDRAWN. SUCH SANCTIONS ARE IN ANY CASE MOSTLY BESIDE THE POINT; ONLY THE CREDIBLE THREAT OF FORCE, AND THE USE OF FORCE IF NECESSARY, CAN DETER MR. MILOSEVIC.

TEXT: TURNING TO RUSSIA NOW, AND THE CRISIS-TINGED FALL OF THE RUBLE, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" OPINES, THINGS ARE N O T GOING TO GET BETTER UNTIL BORIS YELTSIN FINDS A WAY TO COLLECT THE COUNTRY'S WOEFULLY UNDERPAID INCOME TAXES.

VOICE: /// OPT /// ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT, THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY ACTUALLY GREW ZERO-POINT-EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR. WHILE THAT'S NOT SPECTACULAR, IT'S A LONG WAY FROM RECESSIONARY STATUS. INFLATION, MEANWHILE, IS STAYING AT SINGLE-DIGIT LEVELS, A LONG WAY BELOW WHAT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN 1991. STILL .... THE TAX SITUATION HAS NOT IMPROVED, ONLY WORSENED, ESPECIALLY IN RECENT MONTHS,' RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAID IN A NATIONALLY BROADCAST SPEECH ON THE CRISIS. /// END OPT /// ..... RUSSIA'S FUTURE CAN BE BRIGHT WITH THE RIGHT POLICIES AND PENALTIES IN PLACE. THEY [THE GOVERNMENT] SHOULD AIM AT LESSENING THE AMOUNT SKIMMED OFF THE TOP, BOTH BY OUTRIGHT CRIMINALS AND BY TOO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE MERELY TEMPTED BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO RESIST BY THE INEFFICIENCY OF A TAX CODE WITHOUT ANY TEETH [ENFORCEMENT POWERS].

TEXT: IN LATIN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENTS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS PRAISING NOEMI SANIN, A COLOMBIAN FORMER CABINET MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR FOR BRINGING SOME MUCH NEEDED INTEGRITY TO THE COUNTRY, DESPITE HER LOSS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

VOICE: WHATEVER THE OUTCOME, THIS TROUBLED COUNTRY IS NOT HAVING ANOTHER ROUND OF POLITICS AS USUAL. DRAWING A SURPRISING ONE-THIRD OF THE VOTE, [MS.] SANIN, AN INDEPENDENT, PROVIDED AN ELECTORAL WAKE-UP. SHE WAS PITTED AGAINST CANDIDATES OF THE TWO TRADITIONAL POLITICAL MACHINES, THE LIBERAL AND THE CONSERVATIVE PARTIES, WHICH HAVE DOMINATED COLOMBIAN POLITICS FOR ALMOST A CENTURY. ..... WHOEVER WINS IN THE CONTEST BETWEEN LIBERAL HORACIO SERPA AND CONSERVATIVE ANDRES PASTRANA SHOULD LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWERS OF [MS.] SANIN.

TEXT: "THE TIMES" CONCLUDES BY SAYING WASHINGTON SHOULD ALSO BE QUICK TO SUPPORT COLOMBIAN POLITICIANS LIKE MS. SANIN.

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, A STATE MORE POPULOUS AND RICHER THAN MANY INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES, THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS SELECTED TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND A HOST OF OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICES, DRAWING THIS COMMENT FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: CALIFORNIANS TUESDAY REJECTED THE NOTION THAT A WEALTHY BUT UNKNOWN POLITICAL OUTSIDER .... AL CHECCHI, THE FORMER NORTHWEST AIRLINES MOGUL ..... COULD SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF A PERSONAL FORTUNE AND WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE NATION'S MOST POPULOUS STATE. EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT, IT SEEMS, IS NOT SUCH A BAD THING AFTER ALL. .... AT THE SAME TIME, CALIFORNIANS SEEMED TO BE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT IT TAKES MORE THAN A FLOOD OF COSTLY TELEVISION ADS - - NEGATIVE OR OTHERWISE - - TO WIN THEIR VOTES. ONCE AGAIN, THE POLITICAL WIZARDS SEEMED TO UNDERESTIMATE THE SAVVY [WISDOM] OF THE VOTERS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS STILL WORRIED BY THE WIDENING GROUP OF NUCLEAR-ARMED NATIONS, RECENTLY EXPANDED BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN, AND SAYS THE WORLD POWERS NEED A NEW POLICY TO STOP THE SPREAD. THE PAPER SUGGESTS:

VOICE: ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN FOUR SEPARATE AREAS: PROMOTING PEACE AND CURBING A WEAPONS RACE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. DEALING MORE RATIONALLY WITH IRAN AND NOT LETTING THE GUARD DOWN ON IRAQ. GETTING ISRAEL BACK ON TRACK ON TRADING LAND FOR PEACE UNDER THE DEAL IT MADE IN OSLO. DETERMINING WHAT STOCKPILE REDUCTIONS WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW CAN SAFELY AGREE TO IN ORDER TO RENEW MOMENTUM ON GLOBAL CURBING OF NUCLEAR BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

TEXT: LASTLY, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TROUBLES, AND SPECIFICALLY HIS WITHDRAWAL OF THE CLAIM OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO SHIELD TWO OF HIS KEY AIDES FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE A GRAND JURY EXAMINING HIS ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MONICA LEWINSKY. "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" COMMENTS:

VOICE: MR. ... SIDNEY ... BLUMENTHAL WILL NOW LIKELY APPEAR AGAIN ABOUT THE INCIDENT, EXCEPT HE CAN NO LONGER CITE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AS A WAY TO AVOID ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS. MR. LINDSEY'S CASE IS DIFFERENT, HOWEVER. AND IT IS CREATING THE TURMOIL. THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE SHOULD PREVENT BRUCE LINDSEY, THE WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY COUNSEL, FROM ANSWERING CERTAIN GRAND JURY QUESTIONS. AS WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY COUNSEL, THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUES, HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT ARE PROTECTED BY THE DOCTRINE THAT EXEMPTS LAWYERS FROM TESTIFYING ABOUT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CLIENTS. .... THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD PUT ITS DEFINITIVE MARK ON THIS QUESTION. IT WOULD HELP RESOLVE ANY CONFUSION AND EXPEDITE THE STARR INVESTIGATION. ..... THE PUBLIC DESERVES A RULING.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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03-Jun-98 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] US-UK-KOSOVO BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING WAYS TO HELP END VIOLENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA BETWEEN SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. THE U-S AND BRITISH DEFENSE CHIEFS DISCUSSED KOSOVO AT PENTAGON MEETING WEDNESDAY. AS V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS MANY IDEAS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING TOUGHER SANCTIONS ON SERBIA.

TEXT: ASSAULTS BY ARTILLERY AND TROOPS HAVE FORCED THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS TO FLEE KOSOVO INTO YUGOSLAVIA'S OTHER REPUBLIC, MONTENEGRO, OR OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND INTO ALBANIA. TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE SAID TO HAVE DIED SINCE UNREST BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

BRITISH DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE ROBERTSON BLAMES YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR THE BLOODSHED, AND SAYS NATO ALLIANCE MEMBERS AND OTHER NATIONS WILL TIGHTEN ECONOMIC AND OTHER SANCTIONS ON BELGRADE.

SERBIA IS AN ECONOMIC BASKET CASE. FURTHER SANCTIONS, OR THE REINFORCEMENT OF EXISTING SANCTIONS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PUT PRESSURE ON THE CIVIL POPULATION AND ON MILOSEVIC'S REGIME. SO DIPLOMATICALLY AND EVERY OTHER WAY WE HAVE TO TRY TO CHANGE HIS MIND ABOUT THE APPROACH HE IS TAKING, THE ATTITUDE HE IS TAKING, IN KOSOVO. AND WE WILL DO THAT.

MR. ROBERTSON SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING WITH U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN. MR. COHEN SAYS MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS, INCLUDING DEPLOYING THOUSANDS OF TROOPS NEAR KOSOVO, ARE UNDER STUDY BY NATO. MR. COHEN SAYS IT IS FAR TOO SOON TO SAY WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WILL COME OUT OF THE STUDY AND WHAT ACTIONS WILL RESULT.

NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET TO TALK ABOUT KOSOVO AND OTHER ISSUES NEXT WEEK IN BRUSSELS.

BUT WESTERN POWERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO STOP SERBIAN ATTACKS IN KOSOVO FOR MANY MONTHS, BUT SO FAR HAVE FAILED TO CHANGE HIS MIND OR HIS POLICIES. (SIGNED).
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03-Jun-98 2:48 PM EDT (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT HE WOULD STEP DOWN FROM OFFICE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE MOVE WILL ALLOW THE FORMATION OF AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT AHEAD OF EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS IN TURKEY, NOW SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1999. REPORTER AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS MORE FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HIS MEETING WITH THE OPPOSITION LEADER -- REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY CHAIRMAN, DENIZ BAYKAL -- MR. YILMAZ SAID GENERAL AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WOULD BE HELD TOGETHER. HE SAID APRIL 18TH WAS THE LIKELY DATE FOR THE ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED BEFORE THE YEAR 2000.

MR. BAYKAL HAS BEEN PRESSING MR. YILMAZ THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO AGREE TO EARLY ELECTIONS AND ESTABLISH A NEUTRAL CARETAKER GOVERNMENT IN THE RUN-UP TO THE POLLS. MR. YILMAZ'S MINORITY COALITION IS SURVIVING, THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM MR BAYKAL'S LEFT-WING GROUP, WHICH CONTROLS 56 SEATS IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT.

BUT WEDNESDAY'S AGREEMENT MAY FURTHER WEAKEN CONFIDENCE IN MR. YILMAZ'S GOVERNMENT. THE CONSERVATIVE LEADER TOOK POWER IN A COALITION WITH LEFT-WING LEADER BULENT ECEVIT AFTER TURKEY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETIN ERBAKAN, RESIGNED LAST JUNE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE COUNTRY'S PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES.

MR. YILMAZ PLEDGED TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REDUCE TURKEY'S TRIPPLE-DIGIT INFLATION, CRACK DOWN ON MASSIVE CORRUPTION AND CURB THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL ISLAM. BUT CRITICS SAY HE HAS DONE LITTLE TO ACHIEVE ANY OF THESE GOALS, SO FAR.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE WON BY THE ISLAMIST "VIRTUE "PARTY. IT WAS FORMED AFTER ITS PREDECESSOR -- THE "WELFARE" PARTY -- WAS BANNED BY TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT LAST JANUARY ON CHARGES OF TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE SECULAR STATE. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-98 1:46 PM EDT (1746 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA/KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE SERB CRACKDOWN ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO AND THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES FROM THE TROUBLED YUGOSLAV PROVINCE HAVE SPARKED ALARM AMONG WESTERN NATIONS. NATO IS TO SEND MILITARY ADVISERS AND IS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF DEPLOYING TROOPS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. BUT V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS RUSSIA OPPOSES ANY SUCH ACTION.

TEXT: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN VALERY NESTERUSHKIN ADMITS THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES IS TROUBLING, BUT HE WARNS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOT TO HURRY INTO WHAT HE CALLS A COMPLICATED SITUATION. HE ARGUES NATO CAN NOT SEND TROOPS TO ALBANIA WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. RUSSIA, A COUNCIL MEMBER, OPPOSES SUCH PLANS.

WE DON'T SAY WE WILL BLOCK (A DECISION TO SEND TROOPS), IT DEPENDS VERY MUCH ON THE REAL SITUATION, WHICH SHOULD BE STUDIED AND INVESTIGATED BY INTERNATIONAL BODIES LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS OR THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

IT'S QUITE COMPLICATED TO INVESTIGATE ALL ALLEGATIONS COMING FROM THE AREA. THE SITUATION IS VERY TENSE AND CERTAINLY IT IS NECESSARY TO GET A REAL ASSESSMENT OF THE REAL PROBLEMS THERE.

[05] NATO / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS HAVE AGREED THE 16-NATION ALLIANCE WILL SPEED PLANS TO HELP ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA SEAL THEIR BORDERS WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO RENEWED FIGHTING IN KOSOVO BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS.

TEXT: THERE IS FEAR AT NATO HEADQUARTERS THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO COULD ESCALATE AND SPREAD OUTSIDE SERBIA'S BORDERS -- POSSIBLY DRAWING IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.

NATO AMBASSADORS AGREED TO STEP UP PLANS TO DEPLOY TROOPS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. BUT THEY SAID THAT FIRST, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES AND RISKS OF SUCH A STRATEGY.

NATO GENERALS ARE WORKING ON THE ASSESSMENT, WHICH WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO COMPLETE. OFFICIALS SAY IT SHOULD BE READY FOR A MEETING OF NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS NEXT WEEK (JUNE 11TH AND 12TH).

IN THE MEANTIME, NATO AGREED TO STEP UP MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. MILITARY ADVISERS WILL BE SENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO HELP THE TWO COUNTRIES SECURE THEIR BORDERS WITH KOSOVO.

THE AMBASSADORS ALSO AGREED TO ACCELERATE NATO MANEUVERS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, AND TO STEP UP ASSISTANCE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS IN DEALING WITH THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

THERE IS A SOME FEAR AT NATO HEADQUARTERS THAT UNLESS EFFORTS ARE SPEEDED UP TO CONTAIN THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO, THERE IS A RISK OF A FRESH CONFLICT ON THE SCALE OF THE CIVIL WAR IN BOSNIA.

OFFICIALS SAY THE COMPARISON WITH BOSNIA IS PROMPTED BY ATTACKS ON VILLAGES, THE EXODUS OF CIVILIANS, AND THE DEATHS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THAT SO FAR, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A RECURRENCE OF THE LARGE-SCALE ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT OCCURRED DURING IN BOSNIA.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEIR GOAL IS FOR KOSOVO TO BE GIVEN BACK ITS POLITICAL AUTONOMY WITHIN SERBIA AND THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-98 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO TALKS (S) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO HAVE THREATENED TO BOYCOTT TALKS WITH SERBIAN OFFICIALS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY UNLESS FIGHTING IN THE DECANI VALLEY STOPS IMMEDIATELY. V-OA'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA:

TEXT: THE THREAT TO PULL OUT OF FRIDAY'S TALKS COMES DESPITE A MEETING IN PRISTINA TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE SPANISH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, BLEREM SHALA, SAID SERB FORCES ARE TRYING TO SOLIDIFY THEIR CONTROL BY FIGHTING AND ARE NOT NEGOTIATING SERIOUSLY.

BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION IN DECANI, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WAIT FOR THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS TO CONTINUE THIS FRIDAY.

MR. SHALA SAID THE TALKS CANNOT TAKE PLACE UNLESS ALL FIGHTING STOPS IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, SERB SOURCES IN PRISTINA SAY THEY ARE RESPONDING TO CONTINUED PROVOCATIONS BY THE ARMED KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A). AND WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE K-L-A DO NOT APPEAR TO BE UNDER THE TOTAL CONTROL OF KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-98 12:00 PM EDT (1600 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 SHARPLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WAVE OF LATE SESSION SELLING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED THREE, DOWN 87 POINTS OR ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 82, DOWN 10 POINTS.

STOCKS TRADED IN A NARROW RANGE MOST OF THE DAY BUT HEAVY SELLING HIT THE MARKET LESS THAN AN HOUR BEFORE THE CLOSE. SOME ANALYSTS, SUCH AS BILL ALLEN OF THE JEFFRIES INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAY A DOWNWARD CORRECTION IS DEFINITELY UNDERWAY.

THE MARKET SHOULD WORK ITS WAY SOMEWHAT LOWER TO THE 84 OR 85 HUNDRED AREA (ON THE DOW) OVER TIME AND I EXPECT WE WILL HAVE A RALLY IN THE LATE SUMMER.

A BIG MERGER IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. TELLABS WILL ACQUIRE THE CIENA (SEA-ENNA) CORPORATION IN AN ALL-STOCK DEAL WORTH SEVEN POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY IS GETTING A STRONG RESPONSE TO ITS EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM. THE COMPANY HAD EXPECTED ABOUT 10 THOUSAND PEOPLE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEAL THIS YEAR BUT SO FAR, 14 THOUSAND HAVE SIGNED UP. THE EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM IS PART OF A MAJOR EFFORT BY A-T AND T TO REDUCE ITS COSTS.

THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY SAYS IT WILL END PRODUCTION OF THE M-D-11 JETLINER BECAUSE OF LOW DEMAND. BOEING INHERITED THE M-D-11 FROM THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPANY WHICH BOEING ACQUIRED LAST YEAR.

GENERAL MOTORS REPORTS A 13 PERCENT SALES INCREASE FOR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS IN THE U-S MARKET LAST MONTH. ON TUESDAY, CHRYSLER SAID ITS SALES JUMPED BY A RECORD 27 PERCENT IN MAY. IN BOTH CASES, SALES WERE HELPED BY CUSTOMER REBATES AND OTHER INCENTIVES.

THE DELL COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS IT EXPECTS EUROPE TO DRIVE THE COMPANY'S GROWTH THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION, DELL SAYS IT PLANS TO BUILD A PLANT IN BRAZIL NEXT YEAR IN A MAJOR PUSH TO EXPAND INTO THE LATIN AMERICAN COMPUTER MARKET.(SIGNED)
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03-Jun-98 5:07 PM EDT (2107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCKS CLOSED HIGHER IN TRADING ON THE MAJOR MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE WEDNESDAY. FOR THE CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE MAJOR MARKETS, ALONG WITH AMSTERDAM, MILAN AND ZURICH, ALL CLOSED HIGHER WEDNESDAY. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH -- UP MORE THAN 62 POINTS FOR THE DAY, A GAIN OF ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT. FRANKFURT'S "DAX" INDEX POSTED A 56-AND-A-HALF POINT GAIN AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING -- A VALUE GAIN OF JUST OVER ONE PERCENT. AND HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 LEADING BRITISH STOCKS ENDED 56 POINTS HIGHER, WHICH WAS JUST SHORT OF A ONE PERCENT RISE.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR HELD STEADY AGAINST BOTH THE BRITISH POUND AND THE DEUTSCHMARK.

GOLD IN LONDON TRADED UP ABOUT A DOLLAR-AND-A-HALF, CLOSING AT 291-DOLLARS-65 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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03-Jun-98 2:35 PM EDT (1835 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: AIR FRANCE PILOTS' UNIONS SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS TOWARD ENDING THEIR STRIKE. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE PILOTS ARE NONETHELESS CONTINUING TALKS WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE-OWNED FRENCH CARRIER.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH AIR FRANCE MANAGEMENT SAYS IT IS WILLING TO MEET SOME OF THE PILOTS' DEMANDS AND DISMANTLE A TWO-TIER PAY STRUCTURE, THE MAIN FRENCH PILOTS' UNION SAYS THE STRIKE THAT BEGAN MONDAY COULD BE -- LONG AND HARD.

DESPITE THIS APPARENT PESSIMISM, THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE TALKS. THE PILOTS PARTICULARLY WANT THE MANAGEMENT TO WITHDRAW A PROPOSAL TO SUBSTITUTE STOCK IN AIR FRANCE FOR PART OF THEIR SALARY. THE TWO-TIER SALARY STRUCTURE, THEIR OTHER MAIN OBJECTION, ALLOWS THE AIRLINE TO GIVE NEW RECRUITS LOWER PAY.

THE AIR FRANCE STRIKE IS SO FAR SEEN AS THE MAIN THREAT TO THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT THAT OPENS IN FRANCE NEXT WEDNESDAY, BUT A TRAIN-DRIVERS' UNION IS NOW CALLING FOR A RAIL STRIKE TOO.

IN A REMINDER THE AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POTENTIAL TERRORISTS, FRENCH POLICE HAVE ARRESTED THREE SUSPECTED ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS. FIFTEEN OTHERS WERE CHARGED WITH TERRORIST ACTIVITIES LAST WEEK.

FRENCH AUTHORITIES SAY THEY FEAR A REPETITION OF BOMBING ATTACKS BY THE BANNED ALGERIAN "ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP", THAT WAGED A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR IN FRANCE IN 1995. BUT FRENCH POLICE HAVE FOUND NO ARMS OR HARD EVIDENCE OF VIOLENCE PLANNED FOR THE WORLD CUP.

WITH MOST OF AIR FRANCE'S FLIGHTS GROUNDED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, THE POPULAR REACTION TO THE PILOTS' STRIKE CONTINUES TO BE HOSTILE, WITH THE MEDIA UNITED IN THEIR CONDEMNATION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD CUP ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, MICHEL PLATINI, ALSO ACCUSES THE STRIKERS OF TAKING ALL OF FRANCE HOSTAGE. SO FAR, THE MAIN UNION FEDERATIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN PUTTING PRESSURE ON MEMBERS TO DELAY ACTION UNTIL AFTER THE TOURNAMENT, ALL SAY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO STRIKES DURING THE WORLD CUP.

BUT THE MAIN AIRLINE PILOTS' UNION IS INDEPENDENT OF THE FEDERATIONS, ENABLING IT TO PRESSURE THE MANAGEMENT OF AIR FRANCE, WHICH -- WITH SOME OF ITS PLANES REPAINTED TO MARK THE WORLD CUP -- HAS BEEN DESIGNATED THE TOURNAMENT'S OFFICIAL CARRIER. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/RAE
03-Jun-98 7:58 AM EDT (1158 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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