Voice of America, 98-06-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] EUROPEAN SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] THE KOSOVO PROBLEM BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[03] CLINTON/KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[04] ALBRIGHT/KOSOVO UPDATE (L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[05] UNHCR / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN

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

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[08] TURKEY / MILITARY (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] EUROPEAN SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: LEADERS OF THE 15-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION HAVE ENDED THEIR SUMMIT IN CARDIFF, WALES -- THE LAST HIGH-LEVEL MEETING UNDER THE BRITISH PRESIDENCY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA IN LONDON REPORTS THE MEETING OF LEADERS FROM EUROPE WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY A VISIT BY A WORLD LEADER FROM AFRICA.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN SUMMIT WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE PRESENCE OF ONE MAN -- SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR INVITED THE SOUTH AFRICAN LEADER TO ATTEND THE MEETING -- AND HIS PRESENCE IN CARDIFF WAS SEEN AS EUROPE'S FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO A MAN WHO RETIRES FROM ACTIVE POLITICS NEXT YEAR.

BEFORE ATTENDING A SUMMIT LUNCHEON IN HIS HONOR, MR. MANDELA WAS PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR OF CARDIFF WITH THE SYMBOLIC "KEYS TO THE CITY." IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, HE THANKED ALL THOSE WHO FOR DECADES FOUGHT AGAINST APARTHEID -- AND HE SAID SOUTH AFRICA STILL NEEDS INTERNATIONAL HELP.

DEMOCRACY HAS BROUGHT NEW AND EVEN GREATER CHALLENGES. IN THE FOUR YEARS OF OUR FREEDOM, WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL. BUT ERADICATING THE LEGACY OF APARTHEID AND REBUILDING OUR REGION WILL TAKE MANY YEARS. WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

EUROPEAN UNION AND SOUTH AFRICAN NEGOTIATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO AGREE ON A FREE TRADE ACCORD. TALKS WILL CONTINUE NEXT MONTH AFTER BOTH SIDES FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK.

AS FOR THE SUMMIT ITSELF, PARTICIPANTS FOCUSED ESSENTIALLY ON INTERNAL MATTERS -- HOW TO REFORM THE BLOC'S INSTITUTIONS AS IT MOVES TOWARD CLOSER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND PREPARES TO ACCEPT NEW MEMBERS. NO MAJOR DECISIONS WERE TAKEN, BUT OFFICIALS SAID SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE IN SETTING A TIMETABLE FOR MORE REFORMS.

IN SUMMING UP THE WORK OF THE SUMMIT, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TOLD REPORTERS MONETARY UNION GOES HAND IN HAND WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGES.

THE IMPORTANCE IS THAT WE ARE SAYING FROM CARDIFF, IF YOU WANT MONETARY UNION TO SUCCEED, ECONOMIC REFORM GOES ALONG WITH IT. NOW IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS THE POINT ABOUT POLITICAL REFORM, THAT WE DO NOT WANT A CENTRALIZED EUROPEAN FEDERAL "SUPER-STATE," WE WANT A EUROPEAN UNION WHERE NATION STATES FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR OWN IDENTITY BUT UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATING WITH OTHERS.

THIS WAS THE LAST EUROPEAN SUMMIT PRESIDED OVER BY BRITAIN SINCE IT RELINQUISHES THE SIX-MONTH E-U PRESIDENCY AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. AUSTRIA TAKES OVER THE EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BEGINNING JULY FIRST. (SIGNED)
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16-Jun-98 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] THE KOSOVO PROBLEM BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ABOUT THE KOSOVO SITUATION. WE GET A SAMPLING OF THEIR REMARKS FROM ______________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAYS HE IS READY FOR TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS ON ENDING VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. ON MONDAY, MORE THAN 80 AIRCRAFT FROM 13 NATO COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN A SHOW OF FORCE OVER ALBANIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS THIS COMMENT.

VOICE: AS SEEN WITH IRAQ EARLIER THIS YEAR, DIPLOMACY BACKED WITH A SHOW OF FORCE CAN MOVE A LEADER WITH A HISTORY OF FAILING TO RESPOND TO GENTLER FORMS OF INTERNATIONAL PERSUASION. /// OPT /// AS THE KOSOVO CRISIS GREW MORE SEVERE IN RECENT WEEKS, WASHINGTON FIRST TRIED TO ENCOURAGE A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION BY OFFERING SERBIA RELIEF FROM ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. WHEN THAT FAILED TO DISSUADE MR. MILOSEVIC FROM MILITARY ACTION, AMERICA AND ITS ALLIES ISSUED A SERIES OF CLEAR WARNINGS THAT THEIR PATIENCE WAS RUNNING OUT. /// END OPT /// ...BEFORE WASHINGTON CONTEMPLATES MOVING ANY FURTHER DOWN A PATH THAT COULD LEAD TO AMERICAN MILITARY INTERVENTION, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MUST DO WHAT IT HAS NOT DONE TO DATE. IT MUST SPELL OUT THE SPECIFIC POLITICAL GOALS IT MEANS TO ACHIEVE IN KOSOVO, WHAT ROLE MILITARY FORCE MIGHT PLAY IN ADVANCING THESE AND WHAT KINDS OF LIMITS ... IT IS PREPARED TO IMPOSE ON ANY AMERICAN MISSION.

TEXT: "THE BALKAN CRISIS," WRITES "THE WASHINGTON TIMES," "JUST WON'T GO AWAY."

VOICE: AGAIN WE ARE SEEING APPALLING LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING, AND, YET AGAIN, THE HAND BEHIND THE ATROCITIES BELONGS TO SERBIAN STRONGMAN SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. SIX YEARS AFTER YUGOSLAVIA BROKE UP, ETHNIC HATRED AND UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIANS ARE STILL CONSPIRING TO PERPETUATE HUMAN MISERY IN THIS CORNER OF EUROPE.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO IS NOT LIKELY TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION. THE NEWSPAPER ADVOCATES "THE RESTORATION OF KOSOVO'S STATUS AS AN AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE WITHIN SERBIA." KOSOVO AUTONOMY IS ALSO SEEN AS A POSSIBILITY BY "THE PHILADELPHIA [PENNSYLVANIA] INQUIRER:"

VOICE: THE SOLUTION FOR KOSOVARS IS A RETURN TO BROAD AUTONOMY, THE KIND THEY HAD BEFORE MR. MILOSEVIC ABOLISHED IT IN 1989. THE KOSOVAR SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS ARE STILL WEAK. THEY WOULD AGREE TO A CEASEFIRE, SAY MORE MODERATE KOSOVAR LEADERS, IF SERB SECURITY FORCES RETREATED. THEN INTERNATIONALLY SPONSORED NEGOTIATIONS COULD BEGIN, BETWEEN THE KOSOVARS AND BELGRADE.

TEXT: FINALLY, "THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" ADVISES THE UNITED STATES TO "STAY OUT OF KOSOVO."

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES CAN'T REMAIN INDIFFERENT WHEN PEOPLE ARE DYING, BUT THIS NATION SHOULDN'T CONSIDER SENDING TROOPS TO KOSOVO. IF KOSOVO REQUIRES FOREIGN FORCES, EUROPE SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD. AFTER ALL, EUROPE HAS THE GREATEST INTEREST IN PEACE IN KOSOVO. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD LIMIT ACTIONS TO PROVIDING DIPLOMATIC AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.

TEXT: WITH THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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16-Jun-98 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON/KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS A MIXED RESPONSE TO THE KOSOVO AGREEMENTS REACHED BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. YELTSIN BRIEFED PRESIDENT CLINTON BY TELEPHONE ON THE MOSCOW TALKS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE YELTSIN-MILOSEVIC AGREEMENTS ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND MEET SOME OF THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP'S CRITERIA FOR ENDING THE KOSOVO VIOLENCE.

BUT SPEAKING HERE AFTER THE CLINTON-YELTSIN PHONE DISCUSSION, SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY TOOK STRONG ISSUE WITH MR. MILOSEVIC'S INSISTENCE THAT SERB SECURITY UNITS BE WITHDRAWN ONLY AFTER THE END OF ALLEGED TERRORISM BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS:

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC MUST IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW SECURITY UNITS INVOLVED IN CIVILIAN REPRESSION WITHOUT LINKAGE TO WHAT TODAY'S STATEMENT ARISING FROM THE MEETING CALLS THE QUOTE "STOPPING OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES." THAT'S LINKAGE THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE A LOOPHOLE. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTINUATION OF THE BRUTAL CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE BY SERB SECURITY FORCES. AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB SECURITY FORCES IS FUNDAMENTAL.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED WITH APPROVAL PROVISIONS OF THE MOSCOW AGREEMENT GIVING FREE ACCESS IN KOSOVO TO INTERNATIONAL MONITORS AND HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLOWING REFUGEES TO RETURN. HE SAID NATO WILL MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLEDGES CAREFULLY, AND IN THE MEANTIME WILL CONTINUE PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO IF NEEDED:

NATO CONTINGENCY PLANNING IS STILL UNDERWAY BECAUSE AGREEMENTS ARE ONE THING. BUT WE'VE LONG SINCE LEARNED THAT BEHAVIOR WITH RESPECT TO SERB AUTHORITIES IS WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH. SO WE'LL BE WATCHING CAREFULLY TO SEE WHAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE AGREEMENT -- WHAT NOW OCCURS -- IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS AGREEMENT BY MILOSEVIC.

THE YELTSIN-MILOSEVIC MEETING WAS PRECEDED BY AN AERIAL SHOW OF FORCE BY NATO OVER THE SOUTHERN BALKANS. MR. MCCURRY SAID CONSULTATIONS WOULD CONTINUE IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL OVER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FORCE IN KOSOVO ITSELF IF NEEDED. BUT HE SAID THERE WAS ALREADY, AS HE PUT IT, "SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY AND HISTORICAL PRECEDENT" FOR THE ALLIES TO ACT IF THEY DEEMED IT NECESSARY. (SIGNED)
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16-Jun-98 4:39 PM EDT (2039 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ALBRIGHT/KOSOVO UPDATE (L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE ON THE LATEST OFFER BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ON RESOLVING THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE MILOSEVIC OFFER FAILED TO MEET A KEY DEMAND OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY--WITHDRAWAL OF SECURITY FORCES AND AN END TO VIOLENCE. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: SECRETARY ALBRIGHT TOLD A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, THE MEETING BY MR. MILOSEVIC WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAD YIELDED SOME PROGRESS---BUT HE FAILED TO AGREE TO PULL BACK SECURITY FORCES UNLESS THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS END WHAT HE CALLED--TERRORISM.

SHE TOLD SENATORS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS THE PRIME RESPONSIBILITY TO HALT REPRESSION OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS. LATER, AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY ALBRIGHT TOLD REPORTERS THERE WAS SOME PROGRESS AT THE YELTSIN-MILOSEVIC TALKS ON THREE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DEMANDS---RETURN OF REFUGEES, INTERNATIONAL MONITORS, AND AN OFFER OF DIALOGUE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS. SHE SAID THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE PUT ON THE SERBIAN LEADER BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN WAS "CORRECT". NOW, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID, THE UNITED STATES WILL SEE HOW THOSE PROMISES ARE CARRIED OUT.

I THINK WE WILL BE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE, FIRST OF ALL WHETHER THE FIRST THREE ITEMS ARE CARRIED OUT AND WHETHER IN FACT, THERE IS SOME ACTION FORWARD. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WORDS ARE, BUT IF THERE ARE ACTIONS WHICH WOULD , IN FACT, SHOW THAT THERE IS SOME WITHDRAWAL OF THOSE FORCES AND THAT THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE DECREASES.

NATO WARPLANES CONDUCTED EXERCISES NEAR KOSOVO ON MONDAY AIMED AT SENDING A MESSAGE THAT MILITARY ACTION IS POSSIBLE. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID NATO MILITARY PLANNING WILL GO ON.

IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE KOSOVO ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS DIPLOMATICALLY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THE NATO EXERCISE WENT FORWARD YESTERDAY AND PLANNING IS GOING FORWARD. THAT IS BEING DONE IN SUPPORT OF DIPLOMACY, AND I HOPE MILOSEVIC IS HEARING THAT MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAID, ULTIMATELY, THERE CAN NOT BE A SOLUTION IN KOSOVO UNLESS THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IS REDUCED. SHE SAID IT MUST BE OBVIOUS TO BOTH THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY GUERRILLAS THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. AND, SHE SAID, ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRIHIM RUGOVA HAS AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR A PURSUING A SOLUTION WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR ENHANCED AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVARS. (SIGNED)
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16-Jun-98 3:36 PM EDT (1936 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] UNHCR / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN

INTRO: SIX UNITED NATIONS AID AGENCIES HAVE LAUNCHED AN APPEAL TO HELP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE IN NORTHERN ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO AND KOSOVO. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE 18 MILLION DOLLAR APPEAL WILL COVER EMERGENCY NEEDS OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, THE U-N-H-C-R, SAYS THE SITUATION IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO REMAINS CRITICAL. AND THERE'S A DESPARATE NEED TO PROVIDE SHELTER, FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED TO FLEE THE FIGHTING. UNHCR SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI IS URGING DONORS TO RESPOND GENEROUSLY TO THE U-N APPEAL. HE SAYS THE MONEY IS NEEDED TO BRING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE KOSOVO FIGHTING -- AND TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE NEW WAVES OF REFUGEES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN KOSOVO. WE HOPE THAT THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN. WE HOPE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. BUT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR MORE REFUGEES AND FURTHER EXODI IF THE SITUATION DOES NOT IMPROVE AND THE POLICE CRACKDOWN CONTINUES AND WE SEE PEOPLE FLEEING.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS RESUMED THE HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT TO KOSOVO, WHICH WAS SUSPENDED ON MONDAY. MOREOVER, A CONVOY OF SIX TRUCKS CARRYING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF SUPPLIES LEFT THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL TIRANA TUESDAY MORNING FOR KOSOVO. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS HE HOPES THE U-N WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT RELIEF SUPPLIES SAFELY BY LAND AS THIS WOULD BE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND CHEAPEST WAY OF PROVIDING AID.

OF COURSE, IF WE HAVE A NEW INFLUX, IF THE SITUATION DETERIORATES, THAN WE MAY RESORT TO ASKING NATO TO HELP US WITH AIRLIFTING SUPPLIES FROM TIRANA TO THE NORTH. THE NORTH HAS NO AIRFIELDS THAT COULD TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE DONE BY HELICOPTERS OR VERY SMALL AIRCRAFT.

THE U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES THAT AT LEAST 45,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UPROOTED BY THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO. PRIVATE AID AGENCIES IN THE AREA BELIEVE MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS. ON MONDAY, THE U-N AGENCY REGISTERED 365 REFUGEES IN NORTHERN ALBANIA, DOUBLING THE TOTAL OF THE PREVIOUS DAY. IT REPORTS BETWEEN 300 AND 350 REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO ARE ARRIVING IN NEIGHBORING MONTENEGRO EVERY DAY. (SIGNED)
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16-Jun-98 12:59 PM EDT (1659 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL WERE UP, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS ON THE DOWNSIDE -- DESPITE A CONTINUED DOWNWARD TREND ON MOST ASIAN MARKETS EARLIER IN THE DAY.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 40 POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED UP 14 POINTS, TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE MARGINALLY, ABOUT EIGHT POINTS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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16-Jun-98 2:31 PM EDT (1831 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS INCLUDE ADVICE FOR NATO ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOV; WORRIES ABOUT THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CONDITION; FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA; AND A POSSIBLE END OF WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. WITH A REVIEW OF THE COMMENTS, HERE IS ________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS IN KOSOVO. "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" WRITES THAT MANY OF THE PROBLEMS IN KOSOVO CAN BE SOLVED, BUT NATO MUST "FIRST STOP [MR.] MILOSEVIC -- WITH FORCE IF NECESSARY."

VOICE: /// OPT /// IT'S USELESS FOR NATO TO RUMINATE ABOUT SENDING TROOPS TO ALBANIA AND MORE PEACEKEEPERS TO MACEDONIA. MR. MILOSEVIC ISN'T INTERESTED IN INVADING THOSE COUNTRIES, ONLY IN DRIVING REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO ACROSS THEIR BORDERS. /// END OPT /// WHAT MUST BE DONE -- AND QUICKLY -- IS FOR NATO TO ISSUE THE SERB LEADER A WARNING: UNLESS HE HALTS HIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN, HE FACES AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB MILITARY TARGETS AS POTENT AS THOSE THAT PERSUADED SERBS TO CEASE AND DESIST IN BOSNIA. ... SUCH WARNINGS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN EQUALLY STRONG MESSAGE TO KOSOVAR LEADERS THAT THE WEST OPPOSES INDEPENDENCE FOR THEIR REGION. /// OPT /// OTHERWISE, MINORITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA WILL START DECLARING INDEPENDENCE. IN THAT DIRECTION LIES ONLY MORE BLOODSHED AND CHAOS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: A WORLD BANK OFFICIAL (REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, JEAN-MICHEL SEVERINO) PREDICTED (TUESDAY IN MELBOURNE) THAT ASIA IS ENTERING A DEEP AND LONG DEPRESSION THAT WILL LAST UNTIL AT LEAST THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR. THE OFFICIAL SAID JAPAN COULD HELP THE REGION RECOVER IF IT REVIVED ITS ECONOMY AND INCREASED ITS DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR FOREIGN GOODS. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WARNS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THAT "TOKYO MUST NOT DITHER."

VOICE: JAPAN HAS BEEN IN DENIAL ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF ITS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS ITS EYES WIDE OPEN. NEWS THAT JAPAN IS OFFICIALLY IN RECESSION HAS BATTERED WORLD MARKETS AND SENT THE YEN PLUMMETING. THE SHARP REACTION SHOULD FINALLY AWAKEN JAPAN TO THE NEED FOR TOUGHER MEASURES TO REVIVE ITS MORIBUND ECONOMY. THE WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST ECONOMY HAS OBLIGATIONS IN A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. ... /// OPT /// IF TOKYO DITHERS UNTIL CHANGE IS FORCED UPON IT, THE DAMAGE TO ITS INSULAR AND PROTECTED ECONOMY WILL BE FAR GREATER THAN IF IT SUMMONED THE POLITICAL WILL TO ACT NOW. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT "TROUBLE IN THE HORN OF AFRICA," WITH THE FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA. THE NEWSPAPER WRITES:

VOICE: YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE LAST THING TWO OF THE WORLD'S VERY POOREST COUNTRIES WOULD NEED WAS WAR WITH EACH OTHER. FIVE YEARS AFTER ERITREA GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA, THE TWO HAVE GONE AT IT AGAIN -- ONCE AGAIN AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE, WHO WOULD BENEFIT MUCH MORE FROM A LITTLE EFFORT BY THEIR LEADERS TO BUILD THEIR POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND THEIR ECONOMIES. ... /// OPT /// IF WE [THE U-S] WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR AFRICA, GETTING ON TOP OF THE SITUATION IN THE HORN [OF AFRICA] OUGHT TO BE A PRIORITY. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: IRAQ SAYS A NEW, ACCELERATED WORK SCHEDULE FOR U-N ARMS INSPECTORS IS A "BREAKTHROUGH" TOWARD THE LIFTING OF TRADE SANCTIONS IMPOSED EIGHT YEARS AGO. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREQ AZIZ EXPRESSED IRAQ'S WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE SO THAT THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ENDING THE SANCTIONS. "THE NEWS YORK TIMES" HAS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: /// OPT /// IT WAS STARTLING TO HEAR RICHARD BUTLER, THE CHIEF UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTOR FOR IRAQ, DECLARE [TUESDAY] THAT A MORE COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE IN BAGHDAD MAY NOW MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CONCLUDE THE SEARCH FOR CONCEALED BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND PROHIBITED MISSILES IN JUST A FEW MORE MONTHS. MR. BUTLER IS NOT KNOWN FOR OPTIMISTIC FORECASTS ABOUT IRAQI BEHAVIOR, AND BAGHDAD SELDOM COOPERATES FOR VERY LONG. /// END OPT /// IRAQ MUST REVEAL WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE ANTHRAX AND BOTULINUM TOXIN IT IS KNOWN TO HAVE IMPORTED BEFORE THE PERSIAN GULF WAR AND MAY SINCE HAVE MULTIPLIED. IT MUST ALSO ACCOUNT FOR THE DEADLY V-X NERVE GAS IT IS KNOWN TO HAVE MANUFACTURED AND THE MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE IT HAS TRIED TO BUILD SECRETLY FROM IMPORTED DESIGNS. ... ONLY THEN SHOULD THE SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDER A TIMETABLE FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS.

TEXT: THAT COMMENT FROM "THE NEWS YORK TIMES" CONCLUDES THE EDITORIAL DIGEST.
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16-Jun-98 11:22 AM EDT (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TURKEY / MILITARY (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S TOP GENERALS HAVE DISMISSED A RECORD NUMBER OF MILITARY PERSONNEL -- MANY ACCUSED OF LINKS WITH ISLAMIC RADICAL GROUPS. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THAT TURKISH NEWS REPORTS SAY 58 OFFICERS AND 109 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS WERE EXPELLED DURING AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL.

TEXT: DURING THE MEETING, TURKISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF ISMAIL HAKKI KARADAYI BRIEFED TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ ABOUT WHAT THE MILITARY CONSIDERS THE CONTINUED THREAT POSED BY ISLAMIC RADICALISM.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING. MR. YILMAZ SAID HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE BATTLE AGAINST ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM. HE SAYS HE WILL DO HIS UTMOST TO PASS DRAFT LEGISLATION THROUGH THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY CURB RELIGIOUS ACTIVISM.

MR. YILMAZ CAME TO POWER LAST YEAR WITH PLEDGES TO DEFEND TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR DEMOCRACY AFTER THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT WAS PRESSURED TO STEP DOWN BY THE MILITARY. LAST JANUARY, TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BANNED FORMER PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN'S ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY AND BARRED HIM FROM POLITICS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE ARMED FORCES -- WHICH HAVE SEIZED POWER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE DECADES -- VIEW THEMSELVES AS THE CUSTODIANS OF THE SECULAR REPUBLIC FOUNDED BY KEMAL ATATURK 75 YEARS AGO. THAT IS WHY SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE MILITARY IS THE ONE INSTITUTION ISLAMIC RADICALS MOST WANT TO PENETRATE.

DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, ABOUT 300 OFFICERS ACCUSED OF CONNECTIONS TO MILITANT GROUPS HAVE BEEN DISMISSED FROM THE ARMED FORCES. UNDER THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION, THE COURTS HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER DECISIONS MADE BY THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY'S RESURGENT ISLAMIST MOVEMENT HAS NOW EXTENDED TO THE ECONOMIC SPHERE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MILITARY HAS DRAWN UP A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT IT SAYS ARE FUNDING ISLAMIST RADICAL GROUPS AND HAVE CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT ON THE PURCHASE OF THE GOODS AND SERVICES THEY SELL.

IN A SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT, TURKEY'S LEFT-WING OPPOSITION LEADER, DENIZ BAYKAL, SAYS HE HAS FORMALIZED A DEAL WITH PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS NEXT APRIL. UNDER THE DEAL, MR. YILMAZ IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT IN THE PERIOD BEFORE THE POLLS. IN EXCHANGE, MR. BAYKAL HAS PLEDGED SUPPORT FOR A SERIES OF REFORMS, INCLUDING THE DRAFT BILL AIMED AT CURBING ISLAMIC RADICALISM. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
16-Jun-98 12:18 PM EDT (1618 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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