Voice of America, 98-06-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / DEFENSE (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (TIRANA)

[02] KOSOVO REJECTION (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BELGRADE)

[03] RUSSIA/KOSOVO BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

[04] U-S / KOSOVO (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[05] CLINTON / FRANCE (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

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

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

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

[01] ALBANIA / DEFENSE (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (TIRANA)

INTRO: A SENIOR GOVERNMENT MINISTER IN TIRANA SAYS ALBANIA WANTS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES, ALBANIA IS PREPARED TO SUPPORT NATO INTERVENTION.

TEXT: ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER LUAN HAJDARAGA SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WANTS TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT IF THAT FAILS, HE SAYS, NATO FORCES CAN USE ALBANIAN FACILITES FOR ATTACKS AGAINST SERBIA.

WE'RE READY TO COOPERATE IN ALL PROGRAMS AND WILL BE READY TO ASSURE THEM ALL FACILITIES IN CASE OF WAR TO ASSURE NATO ALL THE FACILITIES AND ALL THE NEEDS THEY WILL NEED FROM US.

AFTER MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN MOSCOW TUESDAY, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AGREED TO RESUME TALKS WITH KOSOVO'S MODERATE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. BUT WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT ENOUGH. THE WESTERN POWERS ARE DEMANDING THAT SERBIA WITHDRAW FORCES THAT HAVE BEEN POUNDING VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN KOSOVO, ALONG THE ALBANIAN BORDER.

IF WAR BREAKS OUT IN KOSOVO, EXPERTS WARN OF THE POSSIBILITY IT COULD SPILL OVER INTO ALBANIA. IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW, DEFENSE MINISTER HAJDARAGA SAID HIS FORCES ARE CAPABLE OF RESISTING ANY SERBIAN INCURSION.

WE HAVE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ALBANIA SOME MILITARY UNITS AND WE'RE SURE THEY'RE READY TO CONFRONT ANY FIGHTING BETWEEN US AND SERBS. OUR CONTROL IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ALBANIA IS VERY NORMAL, AND WE WILL TAKE ALL MEASURES TO REINFORCE OUR MILITARY CONTINGENT IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ALBANIA.

DESPITE MR. HAJDARAGA'S ASSURANCES, GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN NORTHERN ALBANIA IS SAID TO BE TENUOUS, WITH POLICE AND MILITARY FORCES IN MANY AREAS EXCERCISING LESS AUTHORITY THAN GANGS AND BANDITS. MANY ARE ARMED WITH THE THOUSANDS OF WEAPONS THAT WERE LOOTED FROM ALBANIAN MILITARY ARSENALS DURING LAST YEAR'S UNREST. SINCE THEN, ALBANIAN MILITARY FORCES HAVE BEEN GETTING EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FROM NATO MEMBERS UNDER THE ALLIANCE'S "PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE" PROGRAM. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-98 8:31 AM EDT (1231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO REJECTION (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BELGRADE)

INTRO: KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS TODAY/WEDNESDAY REJECTED AN OFFER FOR RENEWED TALKS BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. AFTER MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN MOSCOW TUESDAY, MR. MILOSEVIC REPEATED AN EARLIER OFFER TO HOLD DIRECT TALKS WITH KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN LEADERS. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM BELGRADE:

TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIAN NEGOTATING TEAM, FEHMI AGANI, SAYS THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S MOSCOW ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PROBLEM, HE SAYS, IS NOT WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY TALKS, BUT THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE HELD.

THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE DEMANDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV SPECIAL POLICE UNITS FROM KOSOVO BEFORE TALKS CAN BEGIN. IN HIS MOSCOW STATEMENT, PRESDENT MILOSEVIC SAID POLICE FORCES WILL BE REDUCED ONLY WHEN ALBANIAN MILITANTS STOP WHAT HE CALLED THEIR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

THE SERB MEDIA CENTER IN KOSOVO'S PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, REPORTED ANOTHER ATTACK ON A SERB POLICE PATROL TUESDAY EVENING BY MILITANTS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE K-L-A.

THE K-L-A HAS BEEN GROWING IN STRENGTH AND POPULARITY WITHIN KOSOVO FOLLOWING A STEPPED UP SERB MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE PROVINCE THAT HAS DRIVEN MORE THAN 65-THOUSAND PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES -- MOST OF THEM ACROSS THE BORDER INTO ALBANIA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE PEACEFUL RESISTANCE POLICIES OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAVE BEEN LOSING GROUND.

IN THE BELGRADE MEDIA, PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S MOSCOW ANNOUNCEMENT WAS PRAISED AS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO PROBLEM PEACEFULLY. OPPOSITION LEADER VUK DRASKOVIC EXPRESSED THE WIDELY HELD VIEW AMONG MOST SERBS THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL TROOPS FROM KOSOVO WOULD MEAN SURRENDERING THE PROVINCE TO TERRORISTS.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MET WITH MR. RUGOVA IN MAY FOLLOWING U-S MEDIATION BUT ALBANIAN LEADERS CANCELLED FURTHER TALKS, SAYING THEY WOULD NOT TALK WHILE SERB GOVERNMENT TROOPS CONTINUE TO ATTACK VILLAGES AND KILL CIVILIANS.

AN ESTIMATED 300 PEOPLE, SERBS AND ALBANIANS, HAVE DIED IN KOSOVO SINCE CLASHES BEGAN IN LATE FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-98 12:01 PM EDT (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] RUSSIA/KOSOVO BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS HAVE CRITICIZED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH IN HIS MOSCOW DECLARATION ON WAYS TO END THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. HE PLEDGED TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS BUT MADE NO PROMISE TO PULL OUT TROOPS. THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DESCRIBED IT AS THE BEST POSSIBLE DEAL. BUT AS V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS SOME ANALYSTS SAY IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BETTER DEAL FOR MR. MILOSEVIC.

TEXT: THE YUGOSLAV LEADER CLEARLY RECEIVED A MORE SYMPATHETIC HEARING IN MOSCOW THAN HE WOULD HAVE ELSEWHERE. RUSSIA STRONGLY OPPOSES NATO INTERVENTION IN YUGOSLAVIA AND IS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN ITS INFLUENCE IN THE REGION.

AS IF TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT, RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION-DOMINATED LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT OVERWHELMINGLY BACKED A RESOLUTION WEDNESDAY GIVING PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND THE GOVERNMENT RARE PRAISE FOR THE MEDIATION EFFORT AND WARNING THE WEST AGAINST INTERVENING OVER KOSOVO.

FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, MEANWHILE, DISMISSED CRITICISM OF THE MOSCOW TALKS. MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS THE DECLARATION SIGNED TUESDAY WAS THE BEST IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

BUT AS ONE NEWSPAPER "RUSSKY TELEGRAF" PUT IT WEDNESDAY, MR. MILOSEVIC'S PROMISE NOT TO USE FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS IS A HOLLOW PLEDGE AS LONG AS YUGOSLAV FORCES CONTINUE TO ATTACK VILLAGES IN KOSOVO.

MR. MILOSEVIC AND MR.PRIMAKOV SAY YUGOSLAV TROOPS WILL BE PULLED OUT WHEN TERRORIST ACTIONS IN KOSOVO STOP.

ANALYST PAUL KANDEL OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES INSTITUTE FOR EUROPE ARGUES A CASE SIMILAR TO THAT OF MR. PRIMAKOV.

CERTAINLY MR. MILOSEVIC DID NOT AGREE ON THE CONCESSIONS THAT WESTERN NATIONS DEMANDED, NOR SHOULD HE DO THAT," MR. KANDEL SAYS. HE GOES TO SAY "THE POSITION OF THE WESTERN SIDE IS UNFAIR AND IRRATIONAL BECAUSE IT IS ONE SIDED."

RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS ALSO ACCUSE WESTERN NATIONS OF PLACING ALL THE BLAME ON YUGOSLAVIA AND NOT PUTTING ENOUGH PRESSURE ON KOSOVO FIGHTERS. DMITRY TRENIN OF THE CARNEGIE MOSCOW CENTER SAYS THIS KIND OF CRITICISM OF THE WEST IS HEARD MORE OFTEN IN POLICY MAKING CIRCLES IN RUSSIA.

I WOULD CALL IT A CONTINUATION OF THE COOLING OFF OF RUSSIA AND PRIMARILY THE UNITED STATES. IT IS NOT JUST THE KOSOVO ISSUE. I THINK YOU WOULD PLACE IRAQ IN THE SAME CATEGORY.

RUSSIA RECENTLY USED ITS INFLUENCE IN IRAQ TO HELP END A STANDOFF BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN OVER WEAPONS INSPECTORS. MR. TRENIN BELIEVES RUSSIA IS TOO OFTEN GUIDED BY ITS DESIRE TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS.

FOR THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS NOT ACHIEVING PEACE AND STABILITY IN KOSOVO PER SAY. BUT RATHER THEY WANT TO EXCLUDE NATO FROM USING ITS MILITARY FORCE WITHOUT RUSSIA'S CONSENT ANYWHERE IN EUROPE. I THINK IT IS VERY SERIOUS IN THE EYES OF RUSSIAN POLICY MAKERS AND THE MILITARY.

IF MR. MILOSEVIC DOES NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON HIS PLEDGES, RUSSIA WILL HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW FOR ITS MEDIATION EFFORT. HOWEVER, MR. TRENIN AND OTHER ANALYSTS SAY THE YUGOSLAV LEADER HAS MADE GOOD USE OF ITS RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA BY MAKING SOME CONCESSIONS AND LEAVING THE NEXT STEP UP TO ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO OR THE WEST. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-98 1:53 PM EDT (1753 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S / KOSOVO (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE TOP U-S BALKANS NEGOTIATOR, ROBERT GELBARD, SAYS NATO IS CONTINUING MILITARY PLANNING BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING KOSOVO CRISIS. HE MADE HIS REMARKS A DAY AFTER YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OFFERED TO HOLD A DIALOGUE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS BUT ALSO REFUSED TO WITHDRAW HIS SECURITY FORCES FROM THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. VOA'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: MR. GELBARD SAYS NATO PLANS ANOTHER SERIES OF MILITARY EXERCISES NEAR KOSOVO THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE NAVAL MANEUVERS. ON MONDAY, NATO WARPLANES FLEW NEAR THE KOSOVO BORDER IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA IN MANEUVERS DESIGNED TO PRESSURE SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO END WHAT THE WEST CONSIDERS HIS REPRESSION OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS.

THE AMERICAN BALKANS NEGOTIATOR WAS SPEAKING TO A STATE DEPARTMENT-SPONSORED SEMINAR OF REGIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

MR. GELBARD ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT REPORTS THAT A SERBIAN HELICOPTER CROSSED THE BORDER INTO ALBANIA. HE SAYS CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS OF THAT KIND (-- IF TRUE --) WOULD BE EXTREMELY GRAVE.

ANOTHER DANGER IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS IS THE POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT OF ISLAMIC RADICAL GROUPS. MR. GELBARD SAYS IRANIANS AND CHECHENS ARE AMONG THOSE MAKING OVERTURES TO THE GUERRILLAS KNOWN AS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. BUT, HE SAYS, THE K-L-A APPEARS TO BE WARY OF SUCH OUTSIDE ISLAMIC INVOLVEMENT.

AN URGENT MEETING OF THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON KOSOVO IS EXPECTED TO BE CALLED SOON.

ON TUESDAY, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HELD TALKS WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND LATER OFFERED TO HOLD A DIALOGUE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRIHIM RUGOVA. HE ALSO AGREED THAT INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES SHOULD HAVE FREE ACCESS IN KOSOVO AND THAT THE RETURN OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE FIGHTING THERE BE FACILITATED. BUT MR. MILOSEVIC STOPPED SHORT OF PLEDGING AN END TO VIOLENCE AND ORDERING SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES TO RETURN TO THEIR BARRACKS. HE SAID THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS MUST FIRST STOP WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS TERRORISM.

U-S AND OTHER WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY THAT OFFER FAILED TO MEET DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- BUT THEY ARE WATCHING CAREFULLY TO SEE IF MR. MILOSEVIC MAKES GOOD ON WHAT HE HAS PROPOSED. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-98 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CLINTON / FRANCE (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON (LATER TODAY / THURSDAY) MEETS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN -- WHOSE COUNTRY IS A CLOSE U-S ALLY, BUT ONE THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH U-S POLICY. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: FRANCE HAS MADE CLEAR ITS DISAGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES IN RECENT YEARS OVER A NUMBER OF ISSUES -- FROM THE FUTURE OF NATO TO U-S SANCTIONS POLICY TOWARD IRAN AND CUBA.

BUT ON THE EVE OF MR. JOSPIN'S VISIT, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY CHOSE TO HIGHLIGHT THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

AS ONE OF OUR CLOSEST AND OLDEST -- IF NOT THE OLDEST ALLY ON EARTH -- FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES WORK TOGETHER ON A HOST OF ISSUES.

MR. MCCURRY SAYS U-S SANCTIONS POLICY WILL LIKELY BE ON THE MEETING'S AGENDA, AS WILL THE SITUATION IN IRAQ AND ALLIED EFFORTS TO SECURE PEACE IN THE BALKANS.

WHILE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MR. JOSPIN WILL MEET WITH VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND THE TWO MEN ARE EXPECTED TO SIGN A CIVIL AVIATION AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
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17-Jun-98 7:21 PM EDT (2321 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL RECORDED BIG INCREASES -- REGAINING SOME OF THE LOSSES EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST WEEK. ANALYSTS SAY THE RISE WAS TRIGGERED -- AT LEAST IN PART -- BY THE DECISION BY CENTRAL BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO SUPPORT THE VALUE OF THE JAPANESE YEN.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 121 POINTS -- MORE THAN TWO-AND-ONE-TENTH PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP 80 POINTS, ALMOST TWO PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED WITH A GAIN OF 103 POINTS, ONE-AND-EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT.

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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17-Jun-98 1:39 PM EDT (1739 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 UP SHARPLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REACTION TO A STRONGER JAPANESE YEN. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 29, UP 164 POINTS OR ALMOST TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED SEVEN, UP 19 POINTS.

THE RALLY WAS SPARKED BY THE JOINT DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO INTERVENE IN THE CURRENCY MARKETS TO SUPPORT THE JAPANESE YEN. THE YEN STRENGTHENED AGAINST THE DOLLAR MAKING U-S, PRODUCTS MORE COMPETITIVE.

NEITHER COMPANY IS COMMENTING BUT THERE IS A REPORT ("FINANCIAL TIMES") THAT THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY IS PLANNING TO MAKE A BID FOR THE AMERICA ON-LINE COMPUTER SERVICE FIRM. IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE DEAL, WITH A-O-L'S STOCK CURRENTLY WORTH 20 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE SEAGRAM BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY IS CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS IN THE SALE OF ITS TROPICANA JUICE DIVISION. INITIALLY, THE COMPANY PLANNED TO SPIN-OFF TROPICANA INTO A SEPARATE COMPANY WITH ITS OWN STOCK. BUT NOW, SEVERAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT COMPANIES ARE REPORTED OFFERING AS MUCH AS FOUR BILLION DOLLARS FOR SEAGRAM'S JUICE BUSINESS.

THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL BEGIN PRODUCTION IN OCTOBER OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ELECTRIC MINIVAN. CHRYSLER SAYS THE MINIVANS WILL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ABOUT 140 KILOMETERS BEFORE THE BATTERY MUST BE RECHARGED.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
17-Jun-98 5:08 PM EDT (2108 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: COPING WITH THE VIOLENCE IN THE YUGOSLAVIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO CONTINUES TO OCCUPY THE ATTENTION OF MANY EDITORIAL WRITERS AROUND THE NATION THIS WEDNESDAY. THE BIG DOMESTIC TOPIC IS REACTION TO ACCUSATIONS THAT WHITEWATER SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR MAY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW IN TALKING ABOUT THE CLINTON INVESTIGATION WITH REPORTERS.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA AND HOW THE CHINESE ARE PREPARING; THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY BILL IN CONGRESS; AND THE LATEST ON THE MOTHER'S HELPER IN BOSTON CONVICTED OF KILLING THE BABY IN HER CARE. NOW, HERE IS ______________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THERE IS REACTION TO NATO'S BIG AIR EXERCISES OVER THE REGIONS ADJOINING KOSOVO PROVINCE IN YUGOSLAVIA MONDAY IN SEVERAL PAPERS. OF THIS ATTEMPT TO GET PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP HIS ATTACKS ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, "USA TODAY" SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE THE "NEW THREAT IN [THE] BALKANS DEMANDS [A] U-S RESPONSE."

VOICE: BASED ON [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S RECORD, THE NEXT TIME MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN A NOISY AIR SHOW IF HE IS TO BE PREVENTED FROM IGNITING A FULL-SCALE WAR IN THE BALKANS. ...... THE LESSON OF THE EARLY '90S MUST NOT BE REPEATED. EUROPE DITHERED AND THE USA LOOKED AWAY WHEN [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC PICKED FIGHTS WITH SLOVENIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA, GRABBING FOR POWER WHILE CEMENTING HIS OWN POLITICAL BASE IN RABID APPEALS TO SERBIAN NATIONALISM. ... AMERICANS WERE DRAGGED INTO DEADLY EUROPEAN WARS TWICE IN THIS CENTURY AND PAID HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS IN TAXES OVER 40 YEARS TO OBTAIN A PEACEFUL END TO THE COLD WAR. WE CANNOT LET THAT BE LOST THROUGH INATTENTION TO THE OUTRAGES OF THE LATEST BULLY ON THE BLOCK. INVOLVEMENT IN EUROPE'S WAR IS INEVITABLE ........

TEXT: TAKING THE OPPOSING SIDE IS "THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" WHICH SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE: "STOP SABER-RATTLING. THE PAPER ADDS: "IT IS MIND-BOGGLING [INCONCEIVABLE] THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD SUBJECT THE UNITED STATES TO THE DANGERS OF KOSOVO," ADDING:

VOICE: ..... RATTLING SABERS WON'T NECESSARILY ENCOURAGE YUGOSLAVIA TO STOP SUPPRESSING DISSIDENTS IN THAT NATION'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, WHY SHOULD THE UNITED STATES LEAD THE CHARGE? ...... RUSSIA HAS A POINT IN QUESTIONING NATO'S RIGHT TO RATTLE ITS WEAPONS AT YUGOSLAVIA WITHOUT A NOD [CONSENT] FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL SEEK THAT AUTHORIZATION. NATO ISN'T A GOVERNMENT. IT'S A DEFENSE ALLIANCE DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST DANGERS TO THE SECURITY OF ITS MEMBERS. ALTHOUGH YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNAL PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED SOME CONCERN TO ITS NEIGHBORS AND PRODUCED REFUGEES, IT HARDLY QUALIFIES AS A MAJOR SECURITY THREAT TO OTHER COUNTRIES. ..... RESPONSIBILITY FOR KOSOVO BELONGS TO EUROPE. IF NONMILITARY EFFORTS FAIL, LET EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HANDLE THE SITUATION. AT MOST, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PLAY A SUPPORTIVE ROLE. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS STANCE AND BACK OFF.

TEXT: THE BIG DOMESTIC STORY REGARDS ALLEGATIONS IN A NEW MAGAZINE BY MEDIA CRITIC STEVEN BRILL THAT INDEPENDENT WHITEWATER COUNSEL KENNETH STARR MAY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW BY TALKING TO REPORTERS ON HIS INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" NOTES:

VOICE: THERE IS NO QUESTION THE FRUSTRATIONS OF BATTLING THE PRESIDENTIAL FOG MACHINE [OBFUSCATION] SOMETIMES HAVE LED THE WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO THRASH ABOUT. THE WHITE-HOT [CRITICAL] [CRITICAL] QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER MR. STARR ALSO VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW AND / OR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES BY DISCUSSING GRAND JURY MATTERS WITH REPORTERS. THAT'S A FIT TOPIC FOR THE JUDGES SUPERVISING HIS PROBE. BUT SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN PROVEN, DESPITE ALL THE PROMOTIONAL CHEST THUMPING BY STEVEN BRILL, ABOUT WHAT MR. STARR IS QUOTED AS SAYING IN THE FIRST ISSUE OF MR. BRILL'S NEW MAGAZINE. ..... THE LEGITIMATE WORRY IS WHETHER MR. STARR ..... WENT OVER THE 6-E [FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON GRAND JURY SECRECY] LINE WHILE STRUGGLING TO NAVIGATE THE POST-MONICA LEWINSKY WHIRLWIND.

TEXT: TURNING BACK TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS UPSET ABOUT THE REPRESSIVE WAY CHINA IS PREPARING TO RECEIVE PRESIDENT CLINTON NEXT WEEK.

VOICE: CHINESE LEADERS ARE SO EAGER TO PROJECT A SANITIZED PICTURE OF POLITICAL HARMONY TO A GLOBAL TELEVISION AUDIENCE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HARASSING DEMOCRATIC DISSIDENTS, PREVENTING CHINESE-AMERICANS FROM VISITING THEIR FAMILIES BACK HOME AND BLOCKING DISTRIBUTION OF A BOOK FEATURING AMERICAN JOURNALISTIC ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ALLEGED SEXUAL INDISCRETIONS. THESE ACTIONS DO NOT, AS INTENDED, ADVERTISE BEIJING'S GROWING IMPORTANCE AS A WORLD CAPITAL OR THE CONFIDENT CONSOLIDATION OF POWER BY A NEW LEADERSHIP SINCE DENG XIAOPING. INSTEAD, THEY REMIND THE WORLD HOW FAR CHINA STILL FALLS SHORT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF POLITICAL FREEDOM /// OPT /// AND HOW NERVOUS ITS LEADERS REMAIN ABOUT SPONTANEOUS POLITICAL EXPRESSION BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE. ..... AMERICANS, AND MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WORLD, WILL NOT JUDGE CHINA FAVORABLY FOR ENFORCED SILENCE ON ITS STREETS./// END OPT ///

TEXT: THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY REGULATION BILL, WHICH HAS OCCUPIED CONGRESS FOR WEEKS, COMES IN FOR MORE COMMENT AS IT APPEARS TO BE NEARING A CLIMACTIC MOMENT IN THE SENATE. REMARKS "THE BOSTON GLOBE:"

VOICE: /// OPT /// TRENT LOTT, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, MAY NOT BE THE MOST RELIABLE OBSERVER OF THE ANTI-TOBACCO LEGISLATION HIS FELLOW SENATORS ARE DEBATING, SINCE HE IS TRYING HARD TO KILL IT. BUT ONE COMMENT HE MADE ABOUT THE BILL'S PROGRESS IN RECENT WEEKS IS ASTUTE: 'EVERYBODY THAT HAS TOUCHED IT,' HE SAID, 'HAS MADE IT WORSE.' /// END OPT /// ..... DURING THE YEAR, CONGRESS HAS TRANSFORMED THE SETTLEMENT FROM A PLAN TO CUT TEENAGE SMOKING BY RAISING CIGARETTE PRICES, REGULATING NICOTINE CONTENT, AND PAYING FOR ANTI-SMOKING EDUCATION TO A HULKING BILL FUNDING EVERYTHING FROM DRUG INTERDICTION TO A TAX CUT FOR TWO-CAREER COUPLES. THE PRICE TAG IS NOW 516-BILLION DOLLARS. ..... UNLESS CONGRESS FINDS ITS SPINE, THE BEST HOPE FOR REDUCING YOUTH SMOKING MAY BE BACK WITH THE STATES, WHICH ARE STILL WINNING SETTLEMENTS WITH BIG TOBACCO IN COURT.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" BIDS FAREWELL TO THE PAINFUL COURT CASE OF LOUISE WOODWARD, THE ENGLISH MOTHER'S HELPER OR AU PAIR CONVICTED OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER FOR KILLING THE BABY IN HER CARE, BUT SENTENCED TO A VERY SHORT JAIL TERM. HER CONVICTION WAS UPHELD ON APPEAL TO MASSACHUSETTS' HIGHEST COURT.

VOICE: THE DISSENTING JUDGES, ALONG WITH THE BABY'S PARENTS AND MANY OTHERS OBJECTED THAT A SENTENCE OF A MERE 279 DAYS - - JUST 16 DAYS LONGER THAN THE ENTIRE SPAN OF MATTHEW EAPPEN'S SHORT LIFE - - IS HARDLY ADEQUATE PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME. BUT OBSERVERS AGREE THAT ANY FURTHER APPEAL IS UNLIKELY. SO, LOUISE WOODWARD IS NOW FREE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND. ......[BUT SHE] WILL NEVER BE FREE OF THE DOUBTS IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HER --- OR FROM THE UNPLEASANT FACT THAT EVEN THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BELIEVE IN HER INNOCENCE MAY VERY WELL SHRINK FROM ALLOWING HER TO BE ALONE WITH THEIR BABIES.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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17-Jun-98 10:08 AM EDT (1408 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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