Voice of America, 98-06-19

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[02] WHAT TO DO ABOUT KOSOVO PROVINCE? - CQ BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[05] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[06] FRANCE / BALLADUR (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY (U-N-H-C-R) SAYS IT APPEARS YUGOSLAVIA HAS CLOSED THE BORDER BETWEEN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND NORTHERN ALBANIA. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE AGENCY SAYS IT IS WORRIED ABOUT THE FATE OF HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE TRYING TO FLEE THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT DOES NOT HAVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION FROM ANYONE THAT THE BORDER BETWEEN KOSOVO AND NORTHERN ALBANIA HAS BEEN CLOSED. BUT, U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS U-N STAFF MEMBERS REPORT THE FLOW OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO INTO ALBANIA HAS STOPPED. AND NO NEW REFUGEES HAVE SHOWN UP AT THE LITTLE ALBANIAN BORDER VILLAGE OF PODESH, WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE FROM KOSOVO HAVE BEEN ARRIVING.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NO NEW PEOPLE IN KOSOVO WHO WOULD NOT LIKE TO CROSS. SOME PEOPLE MAY ACTUALLY BE CAUGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS, UNABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, AFRAID OF CROSSING THE BORDER.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS AID WORKERS HAVE EXTREMELY LIMITED ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE IN WESTERN KOSOVO. HE SAYS THEY CAN TRAVEL ONLY FROM TIME TO TIME ALONG THE MAIN ROAD. HE SAYS AID WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INTO ANY OF THE VILLAGES WHERE THE FIGHTING HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE. THEREFORE, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON.

HE SAYS THE REFUGEE AGENCY HAS BEEN RECEIVING CONFLICTING SIGNALS FROM THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE BORDER CLOSURE. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS SERBIAN OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED THE U-N-H-C-R TO CHECK ON DISPLACED PEOPLE ALONG THE BORDER. BUT HE SAYS THAT WHEN AID WORKERS CALL TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, NO ONE FROM THE SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ANSWERS THE TELEPHONE.

.IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE IT AS OMINOUS. BUT, WE'RE CERTAINLY WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE. WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE DISPLACEMENT IN WESTERN KOSOVO. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND THESE PEOPLE MUST BE SOME WHERE. AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO ACCESS, THAT WE ASSUME THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE THERE WHO MIGHT BE CAUGHT UP IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION IS QUITE ALARMING.

THE REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THAT AS THE REFUGEE FLOW FROM KOSOVO TO ALBANIA HAS STOPPED, THE NUMBERS ARRIVING IN NEIGHBORING MONTENEGRO HAVE INCREASED.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS MONTENEGRO NOW HAS TEN-THOUSAND-400 REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO, AND MORE ARE ARRIVING AT A RATE OF BETWEEN 300 AND 400 EACH DAY . HE SAYS REFUGEE CENTERS ARE FULL AND AID WORKERS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY COPING WITH THE INCREASED NUMBERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
19-Jun-98 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] WHAT TO DO ABOUT KOSOVO PROVINCE? - CQ BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: DIPLOMATS FROM NATO AND RUSSIA ARE WORKING OVERTIME WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN YUGOSLOVIA AND WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE TO TRY TO END THE FIGHTING THERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MANY JOURNALISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PRECEDENT-SETTING POSSIBILITY OF NATO AIR FORCES ATTACKING A SOVEREIGN NATION, SINCE KOSOVO IS LEGALLY A PART OF THE CURRENT YUGOSLAVIA.

FOR THOSE REASONS, /// END OPT /// THE WORLD'S PRESS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS LATEST BALKAN TROUBLE SPOT, AND WE GET A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL FROM AROUND THE GLOBE NOW FROM ______________________ IN THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: MANY NEWSPAPERS SEE MOSCOW INVOLVEMENT THIS WEEK AS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO ENHANCE THE FORMER SUPERPOWER'S PRESTIGE ABROAD AND IMPRESS RUSSIAN AT HOME - - ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF RUSSIAN ECONOMIC TURMOIL. /// OPT /// THE RUSSIANS HAVE A CLOSE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS TIE WITH THE SERBS, SINCE THEY ARE BOTH SLAVIC PEOPLE WHO PREDOMINANTLY PRACTICE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY.

ANOTHER THEME IN SOME REPORTS WAS THE FEAR THAT THE WEST STILL HAS NO CLEAR CONCEPT OF WHAT A FINAL AUTONOMOUS ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVO WOULD LOOK LIKE, WITHIN THE CURRENT YUGOSLAV FEDERATION.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN YUGOSLAVIA, WHERE THE BELGRADE DAILY "NASA BORBA" HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: IT LOOKS AS IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET EXCITED OVER THE NATO [AIR FORCE] MANEUVERS. THIS TIME PEOPLE ARE RIGHT, NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT INTERVENTION, BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE ANYMORE. .... [PEOPLE] LOOK NOW ON ALL THESE THREATS AND SANCTIONS AS A PROBLEM WHICH ONLY [MR.] MILOSEVIC AND [MR.] SESELJ [THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO] HAVE WITH AMERICANS.

TEXT: IN NEARBY MACEDONIA, THE DAILY "DNEVNIK" RAN THIS COMMENTARY LAMENTING THEIR WEAK DIPLOMATIC POSITION IN THE NEIGHBORING CONFLICT.

VOICE: NO MATTER HOW NEEDED OR FORCED IT WAS, NATO OVER-FLIGHTS IN THE NAME OF SOME 'MILITARY SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY' MEANT TEMPORARY OCCUPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. OUR POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IS SO WEAK .... WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FOREIGN INTERESTS AS PRIMARY, UNDER THE MASK OF SOME TYPE OF OUR 'DEFENSE.'

TEXT: IN RUSSIA, WHERE MUCH OF THE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY WAS CENTERED THIS WEEK, MOSCOW'S "NOVIYE IZVESTIA" NOTED:

VOICE: OF THE WHOLE WORLD, IT SEEMS, ONLY THE RUSSIAN LEADER REFUSES TO SEE THAT THE MOSCOW MEETING DID NOT, AND COULD NOT, CHANGE ANYTHING. A 'ZERO' OUTCOME LIKE THAT SATISFIES PRACTICALLY EVERYONE WITH INTERESTS IN THE BALKANS. IT IS GOOD IF ONLY BECAUSE IT HELPS MAINTAIN A STATUS QUO .....

TEXT: ALSO FROM MOSCOW, "NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA" OPINED:

VOICE: ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THE MOSCOW NEGOTIATORS MADE ONLY A FIRST STEP TOWARDS UNTANGLING THE KOSOVO FRAY. TO KEEP THE MOVES FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN YUGOSLAVIA ON COURSE, A FEW OTHER FACTORS ARE IN ORDER, UNRELATED FOR THE TIME BEING TO MOSCOW'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, IN ANY IMMEDIATE TERMS, AT LEAST. .... CRUCIAL COULD BE GUARANTEES THAT MR. MILOSEVIC .... WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE WORD HE VIRTUALLY GAVE BORIS YELTSIN AND HOLD BACK FROM MAKING ANY EXTRA DEMANDS. OTHERWISE, BOTH RUSSIA'S EFFORTS AND ITS STATURE WILL BE CONSIDERABLY PREJUDICED.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, WE GET THIS FROM "THE TIMES" IN LONDON.

VOICE: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC PLAYED THE 'TERRORISM' CARD IN MOSCOW THIS WEEK TO JUSTIFY HIS REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW SERBIAN TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. HE WAS PLAYING A FAMILIAR GAME.

TEXT: TAKING A MORE PESSIMISTIC VIEW IS "THE GUARDIAN," WHICH SCOFFED AT THE NATO AIR SHOW FLYING NEAR KOSOVO'S BORDERS:

VOICE: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CALLED NATO'S BLUFF ... BY REFUSING TO WITHDRAW HIS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. THREATENED WITH WESTERN MILITARY INTERVENTION IF SERBIAN FORCES DO NOT STOP THEIR RUTHLESS CAMPAIGN, MR. MILOSEVIC MADE A FEW CONCESSIONS AFTER TALKS WITH BORIS YELTSIN IN THE KREMLIN ..... HE CLEARLY FELT THAT NATO WOULD NEVER FIND THE CONSENSUS TO MOUNT ITS FIRST OFFENSIVE AGAINST ANOTHER COUNTRY.

TEXT: FOR FRENCH REACTION, /// OPT /// "LE FIGARO" FROM PARIS HAS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO WILL ALLOW [FRENCH PREMIER LIONEL] JOSPIN TO CELEBRATE WITH BILL CLINTON THE SOLIDITY OF THE 'TRANS-ATLANTIC' ALLIANCE. RIVALRIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE NOW CONCENTRATED ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, WHILE DIVERGING VIEWS ON SUCH ISSUES AS EUROPE, NATO OR IRAQ HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. ON KOSOVO, THERE ARE NO DIFFERENCES OF ANALYSIS BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN OFFICIALS.

TEXT: ALSO IN PARIS, /// END OPT /// "LE MONDE," WORRIES ABOUT A POTENTIALLY BAD PRECEDENT THAT VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW:

VOICE: IN THE EVENT OF A MILITARY INTERVENTION, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT NATO INTERVENES IN FAVOR OF A MINORITY IN A FOREIGN TERRITORY, AND AGAINST THE WISH OF THAT NATION AND ITS ARMY ... SUCH AN INTERVENTION WOULD MEAN A BREAK FROM PRESENT RULES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW .....

TEXT: IN GERMANY, "THE FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG" LAMENTS:

VOICE: AGAIN [MR.] MILOSEVIC SEEMS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CREATING NOTHING BUT CONFUSION /// OPT /// ... THE ONLY THING THAT CAME OUT OF THE TALKS [IN MOSCOW] IS THE PROMISE THAT SERBIAN OPPRESSIVE BODIES WILL REFRAIN FROM FURTHER 'MEASURES' AGAINST THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS. THIS, TOO MEANS LITTLE SINCE NOTHING PREVENTS THESE 'BODIES' FROM DECLARING CIVILIANS TERRORISTS AND FROM ATTACKING THEM WITH MILITARY MEANS. /// END OPT /// ACCORDING TO MOSCOW'S INTERPRETATION OF THE TALKS, THE SERBIAN FORCES WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM KOSOVO. NATO'S THREATENING GESTURES ARE NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE EITHER.

TEXT: THAT WAS NOT AT ALL THE VIEW OF AT LEAST ONE MAJOR DAILY IN PRAGUE, WHERE THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S "LIDOVE NOVINY" COMMENTED:

VOICE: WHEN THE ALLIANCE LAUNCHED JET FLYOVERS, THOSE WHO FAVOR SIMPLE SOLUTIONS SIGHED WITH RELIEF: THE TOUGH MOVE ON THE PART OF NATO WILL SHOW THE SERBS ... THE WORLD COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THEIR VIOLENCE - - AND IF THEY [THE SERBS] DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT - - MORE VIGOROUS MOVES WILL FOLLOW WHICH WILL TEACH THEM TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS.

TEXT: HOWEVER IN THE SPANISH CAPITAL, MADRID, "EL PAIS" ONE OF THE CONTINENTS LARGEST DAILIES, NOTED:

VOICE: AS THE WAR IN BOSNIA AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD HAVE ILLUSTRATED, [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS A SPECIALIST IN NOT FULFILLING HIS PROMISES ....

TEXT: AS WE TURN BRIEFLY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, IN BAHRAIN, "AL-AYAM" WRITES THAT "KOSOVO IS BECOMING ANOTHER BOSNIA." MEANWHILE,IN JORDAN, AMMAN'S "AL-DUSTUR" WRITES:

VOICE: THE EASY-GOING APPROACH OF THE WEST TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KOSOVO BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE TRAGEDY OF BOSNIA-HYERZEGOVINA, WHERE MUSLIMS SUFFERED A MASS-EXTERMINATION CAMPAIGN AT THE HANDS OF THE SERBS FOR TWO YEARS. WESTERN FORCES DID NOT INTERVENE UNTIL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS WERE KILLED AND EVICTED, AND MANY VILLAGES AND CITIES WERE BURNED DOWN ..... WHY DOESN'T THE WEST LEARN A LESSON FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND IMMEDIATELY INTERVENE IN KOSOVO, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM QATAR, THE DAILY "AL-WATAN" EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: WHILE PALESTINIAN HOUSES IN THE WEST BANK ARE BEING RAZED BY ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES ..... SERB FORCES CONTINUE TO FORCE MUSLIM FAMILIES OUT OF KOSOVO WITH THE AIM OF 'CLEANSING' THE AREA OF ITS MUSLIM MAJORITY POPULATION.

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF THE WORLD PRESS ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.
NEB/ANG/GE
19-Jun-98 12:01 PM EDT (1601 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS OPENED UP. BUT THEY SOON TURNED DOWNWARD, WITH ANALYSTS BLAMING THE GLOOMY OPENING ON WALL STREET AND THE CONTINUING WORRIES ABOUT POSSIBLE INCREASES IN INTEREST RATES.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 CLOSED OFF 64 POINTS, ONE-AND-ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX FELL 46 POINTS, EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 25 POINTS, SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND, BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/MMK
19-Jun-98 2:15 PM EDT (1815 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) ON CONTINUED WORRY ABOUT THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC SITUATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 87-HUNDRED-12, DOWN 100 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 122 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 11-HUNDRED, DOWN FIVE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE NERVOUS IN ADVANCE OF THE WEEKEND MEETING IN TOKYO OF DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS OF THE "GROUP OF SEVEN" INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS. MANY TRADERS WANT TO SEE POSITIVE SIGNS THAT JAPAN IS READY TO UNDERTAKE MAJOR ECONOMIC REFORMS TO STABILIZE THE VALUE OF THE YEN.

SOME ANALYSTS, SUCH AS BILL MEEHAN, SAY THERE IS ALSO CONTINUED CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT THE NEXT ROUND OF CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS.

THERE IS A REASONABLE CHANCE WE COULD SEE A SUMMER RALLY BUT I THINK THAT WILL ONLY INCREASE THE RISK BECAUSE EARNINGS MOMENTUM IS JUST NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE (STOCK) VALUATIONS.

THERE'S A REPORT (REUTERS) THAT A EUROPEAN UNION ANTI-MONOPOLY PANEL HAS RECOMMENDED CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE PENDING MERGER OF THE WOLDCOM AND M-C-I TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES. THE CONDITION IS THAT M-C-I SELL ITS INTERNET BUSINESS.

STRIKES AT TWO GENERAL MOTORS PLANTS HAVE NOW SHUT DOWN VIRTUALLY ALL OF G-M'S VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PLANTS IN NORTH AMERICA. ANALYSTS SAY IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES, IT COULD SLOW THE RATE OF U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH. IOMEGA, THE MANUFACTURER OF COMPUTER DATA STORAGE PRODUCTS, SAYS IT WILL CUT 12 PERCENT OF ITS WORKFORCE AND ESTIMATES ITS QUARTERLY AND YEARLY LOSSES WILL BE BIGGER THAN WALL STREET HAD EXPECTED. IOMEGA SAYS BOTH SALES AND PROFIT MARGINS ARE DOWN.

THE MICRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY WILL PAY 800-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MEMORY CHIP BUSINESS OF THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS COMPANY. THE DEAL WILL LEAVE MICRON AND I-B-M AS THE ONLY U-S MANUFACTURERS OF DYNAMIC RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY -- OR "DRAM" -- CHIPS.

SCHLUMBERGER (SCHLUM-BER-ZHAY), THE GIANT OILFIELD SERVICES COMPANY, WILL BY CAMCO, A SMALLER COMPETITOR FOR THREE-POINT-ONE-BILLION DOLLARS.

THE MERCK AND ASTRA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WILL RESTRUCTURE THEIR JOINT VENTURE, WHICH WILL GIVE SWEDISH-BASED ASTRA MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF THE OPERATION. ANALYSTS SAY THE MOVE COULD ULTIMATELY BE WORTH MORE THAN 10-BILLION DOLLARS TO U-S-BASED MERCK. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/RRM
19-Jun-98 4:38 PM EDT (2038 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE POSSIBILITY OF A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES IS A POPULAR TOPICS IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS. ANOTHER MAJOR TOPIC IS THE FAILURE OF THE SENATE TO PASS A TOBACCO INDUSTRY REFORM BILL, AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE MEASURE STILL MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY DEAD. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A WORLD CRIMINAL COURT; AND MORE THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PENDING TRIP TO CHINA. /// OPT /// THERE IS ALSO COMMENT ABOUT THE CONTINUING CONGRESSIONAL FIGHT TO PASS MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. //// END OPT

NOW WE WELCOME ______________________ WHO HAS SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN A NEW YORK SPEECH WEDNESDAY NIGHT, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SUGGESTED THIS COUNTRY IS READY TO EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN TEHRAN AND WASHINGTON, BROKEN OFF BY THE TAKEOVER OF THE U-S EMBASSY AND TAKING AMERICANS HOSTAGE IN 1979. "NEWSDAY" IS PLEASED AT THIS LATEST OVERTURE, CALLING IT A "HOPEFUL AND WELCOME DEVELOPMENT."

VOICE: SECRETARY OF STATE ... ALBRIGHT SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR MAKING A COURAGEOUS PUBLIC OVERTURE TO IRAN, SPELLING OUT WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN HINTING AT FOR MONTHS: IT'S TIME TO END THE MUTUAL DEMONIZATION THAT HAS FROZEN U-S-IRAN RELATIONS SINCE THE HOSTAGE CRISIS OF 1979. IRAN IS TOO IMPORTANT A PLAYER IN THE CRITICAL PERSIAN GULF REGION EITHER TO IGNORE OR ISOLATE.

TEXT: HERE'S SOME NEW ENGLAND REACTION FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE," WHICH CAUTIONS IT IS STILL DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF IRAN'S REFORMIST PRESIDENT IS REALLY IN CHARGE.

VOICE: AFTER A PRUDENT INTERLUDE FOR REFLECTION, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVELY TO THE OVERTURE SOUNDED LAST JANUARY BY IRAN'S POPULARLY ELECTED PRESIDENT, MOHAMMAD KHATAMI. ..... IT WOULD BE FOLLY NOT TO WELCOME THE SIGNALS COMING FROM THE KHATAMI FACTION IN TEHRAN. RECENT DISQUIETING EVENTS DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR COOPERATIVE RELATIONS WITH AN IRAN THAT IS PREPARED TO BREAK OUT OF ITS INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION BY CHANGING ITS BEHAVIOR. ... NONETHELESS, THE U-S APPROACH TO TEHRAN RESTS ON AN UNCERTAIN PREMISE. POLICY MAKERS DO NOT KNOW IF [PRESIDENT] KHATAMI IS TRULY IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN POLICY OR EVEN IF HE CAN SURVIVE A VICIOUS POWER STRUGGLE AGAINST ENTRENCHED HARD-LINERS.

TEXT: AND IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: THE TENTATIVE [RECONCILIATION] PROCESS SET IN MOTION IN JANUARY BY ... PRESIDENT .... KHATAMI MAY NOW BE READY FOR A MAJOR ADVANCE. ....THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE QUIET DIPLOMACY, DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVENMENTS TO TALK OVER THEIR CONCERNS IN AN ATMOSPHERE FREE OF PROPAGANDA EXCHANGES.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES," HOWEVER, SAYS THIS CHANGE IS VERY PREMATURE.

VOICE: SECRETARY OF STATE .... ALBRIGHT .......ESSENTIALLY ..... ADVOCATED REVERSING U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAN, WITHOUT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE OR EVEN A COMPELLING REASON FOR THE SHIFT. ...... GIVEN THE FACT THAT NOTHING CONCRETE HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED IN IRAN, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REAL BASIS FOR THIS PIE-IN-THE-SKY [TOTALLY UNREALISTIC] POLICY POSITION.

TEXT: AND "THE NEW YORK POST" SAYS THE SECRETARY'S TIMING ON MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT "WAS AWKWARD AND INAPPROPRIATE:"

VOICE: ..... SHE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE PICKED A BETTER EVENING THAN ONE THAT FOLLOWED A DAY OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND REVOLUTIONARY GUARD REPRESSION IN TEHERAN. ..... WHEN IRAN IS READY TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AGAIN, AMERICAN CAN NORMALIZE RELATIONS IN 20 SECONDS.

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC ISSUES, WITH A LEAD EDITORIAL ENTITLED "SELLOUT IN THE SENATE," "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS UPSET WITH CONGRESS FOR FAILING TO PASS THE TOBACCO CONTROL MEASURE.

VOICE: A MINORITY OF THE SENATE, LED, INCONGRUOUSLY, BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, PUT POLITICS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH ON WEDNESDAY, SET ASIDE THE TOBACCO BILL AND SQUANDERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SMOKING, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUNG. THE BILL'S REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS THINK ... THEY WILL ESCAPE RETRIBUTION FOR THE VOTE IN THE FALL CAMPAIGN - - THAT THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY'S AD CAMPAIGN HAS PROVIDED THEM WITH AIR COVER [PROTECTION]. BUT THIS ONE WAS NOT LIKE OTHER VOTES; IT IS ONE FOR WHICH THE NAYSAYERS SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY.

TEXT: THE NATION'S LARGEST TABLOID, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" HOLDS OUT HOPE THAT THE BILL IS NOT TOTALLY DEAD, AND SUGGESTS THAT EVEN IF IT FAILS TO PASS, LITIGATION IN STATE COURTS OVER LIABILITY FOR CIGARETTE-RELATED DEATHS IS GAINING GROUND.

VOICE: IF THE [CIGARETTE] COMPANIES THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET A BETTER DEAL [THAN THE ONE CONTAINED IN THE SENATE BILL] IN THE COURTS, THEY OUGHT TO FIRE THEIR LAWYERS. IN THE LAST YEAR, THEIR LEGAL BRIEF HAS GOTTEN MORE PRECARIOUS. MORE AND MORE DAMAGING INFORMATION IS COMING OUT ABOUT THE INDUSTRY'S DECADES OF DECEIT. LAWSUITS FROM THE STATES AND FROM INDIVIDUALS ARE PROLIFERATING.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TODAY LAUDS THE ATTEMPTS OF 158 NATIONS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN THE HAGUE, "TO PUNISH THE WORLD'S DESPOTS," AS THE GLOBE PUTS IT.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE UNITED NATIONS' EFFORT STANDS FIRMLY ON THE HIGHEST MORAL GROUND AND TOUCHES THE SOUL OF ANY CIVILIZED PERSON SICKENED BY WHAT HAS SADLY BECOME THE COMMON BUTCHERING OF HUMAN BEINGS AROUND THE WORLD. /// END OPT /// OH, TO BE ABLE TO HAUL IN THE POL POTS, THE SADDAM HUSSEINS, THE SLOBODAN MILOSEVICS, AND EVERY OTHER PERPETRATOR OF GENOCIDE, WAR CRIMES, OR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. BUT WILL THE COURT HAVE THE MUSCLE [POWER] TO DO THAT? THE QUESTION IS THE HOTTEST OF MANY DEBATES AT THE GATHERING.....

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CONTINUES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE OF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO AGREE ON MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN REFORM.

VOICE: HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH AND HIS ALLIES DID ALL THEY COULD THIS WEEK TO BURY CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. BUT AFTER TWO DAYS OF SKIRMISHING, CHRISTOPHER SHAYS OF CONNECTICUT EXTRACTED A PROMISE FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS YESTERDAY TO VOTE ON THE SHAYS-MEEHAN BILL TO OUTLAW 'SOFT MONEY' BEFORE THE END OF SUMMER. THAT PROMISE STRENGTHENS THE CHANCE OF REFORM ....... WE REMAIN CONVINCED THAT IF THE ...BILL PASSES THIS SUMMER AND GOES BACK TO THE SENATE, MR. LOTT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIS MEMBERS AND .......THERE WILL .... BE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE .... TO BREAK THE FILIBUSTER AND PASS REFORM. IT IS ANYTHING BUT A SURE THING, BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO GIVE UP.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS ALSO COMMENTING ON THE LATEST CABINET SHUFFLE COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE THAT SEES PRESIDENT CLINTON NOMINATING U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON TO BECOME THE NEW ENERGY SECRETARY, AND RICHARD HOLBROOKE, OF BOSNIAN MEDIATION FAME, TO REPLACE MR. RICHARDSON AT THE WORLD BODY. SAYS "THE TIMES"

VOICE: RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS LIVING PROOF THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WIN FRIENDS TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE. THE MOST UNDIPLOMATIC OF DIPLOMATS, HE IS NEVERTHELESS PERSUASIVE ENOUGH TO BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE POST OF WASHINGTON'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THE MAN HE REPLACES, BILL RICHARDSON, IS HIS STYLISTIC OPPOSITE .... HE, IN TURN, KNOWS WASHINGTON AND THE RELEVANT ISSUES WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE A SOLID ENERGY SECRETARY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" COMMENTING ON CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DIALOGUE ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S UPCOMING TRIP TO CHINA SUGGESTS:

VOICE: ..... CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ..... WOULD LIKE TO DICTATE WHAT HE SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO DURING THE TRIP. LAWMAKERS SHOULD BACK OFF [END THIS EFFORT]. SURE, THE U-S-CHINA RELATIONSHIP CONTAINS UNRESOLVED ISSUES. ..... BUT THOSE MATTERS SHOULDN'T DOMINATE AND DIRECT BROADER U-S-CHINA AFFAIRS.

TEXT: ON THE ISSUE OF ALLOWING COMMERCIAL MISSILE AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS SOUNDING THE ALARM.

VOICE: EVIDENCE KEEPS MOUNTING THAT THE CHINESE ARMY IS EXPLOITING FLAWED AMERICAN EXPORT CONTROLS TO ACQUIRE SOPHISTICATED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FOR MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE USE. THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT ARE NOW QUESTIONING THE PENDING SALE OF A HUGHES COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE WHOSE UPGRADED DESIGN WOULD LET CHINESE AUTHORITIES EAVESDROP ON MOBILE TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD. PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD SUSPEND THIS SALE AND THE LICENSING OF ANY MORE SATELLITE DEALS WITH CHINA UNTIL EXPORT CONTROL RULES ARE TIGHTENED.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM FRIDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/GE
19-Jun-98 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] FRANCE / BALLADUR (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: ONE OF FRANCE'S MOST SENIOR CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS, FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD BALLADUR, HAS CAUSED A POLITICAL FUROR BY EFFECTIVELY OFFERING AN OPENING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: AS THE FRENCH CONSERVATIVE RIGHT HAS BEEN WEAKENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST YEAR BY POOR PERFORMANCES AT THE BALLOT BOX AND BY THE CONSOLIDATION, IF NOT THE RISE, OF THE EXTREME RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT, EDOUARD BALLADUR HAS BEEN DEPICTED AS SOLID AND RELIABLE, A CALM CONSERVATIVE WITH REAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.

MR. BALLADUR'S SUPPORTERS HAVE PROMOTED THE 69-YEAR-OLD FORMER PRIME MINISTER AS A MAN CAPABLE OF PICKING UP THE PIECES AND REASSEMBLING THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT, ESPECIALLY AS THE TWO MAINSTREAM CONSERVATIVE PARTIES ARE MAKING AN ATTEMPT AT FORMING A NEW ALLIANCE. BUT, WITH A REMARK THAT EVEN MANY IN HIS ENTOURAGE DESCRIBE AS MISGUIDED, MR. BALLADUR HAS UPSET THE FRENCH POLITICAL WORLD.

IN A RADIO INTERVIEW, MR. BALLADUR WAS ASKED HIS OPINION OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS "NATIONAL PREFERENCE." THIS IS ONE OF THE DEMANDS OF THE NATIONAL FRONT.

IT AMOUNTS TO GIVING FRENCH NATIONALS PRIORITY OVER FOREIGNERS, ESPECIALLY FOR JOBS. OPPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL FRONT SAY IT IS SIMPLY A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE NATIONAL FRONT IS RACIST. IN REPLY, MR. BALLADUR CREATED A STORM BY SAYING THE CONCEPT DESERVES TO BE EXAMINED. HE SAID THE ISSUE SHOULD BE PUT BEFORE AN OFFICIAL COMMISSION BRINGING TOGETHER ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL FRONT.

THIS INFURIATED SEVERAL OF MR. BALLADUR'S OWN SIDE. MR. BALLADUR'S GAULLIST RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC PARTY SAID IN A TERSE STATEMENT THAT IT WILL ENTER INTO NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL FRONT.

SENIOR CONSERVATIVES DESCRIBED THE IDEA OF TALKING WITH THE NATIONAL FRONT IN HARSH TERMS, USING WORDS SUCH AS "ANATHEMA." AMONG THE GOVERNING LEFT-WING COALITION, POLITICIANS ACCUSED MR. BALLADUR OF "OPENING THE DOOR" TO THE NATIONAL FRONT.

IN THE CONFUSION, ONLY THE NATIONAL FRONT SEEMED SATISFIED. ACCORDING TO BRUNO MEGRET, THE NUMBER TWO OF THE EXTREME-RIGHT PARTY, THE WHOLE EPISODE PROVES THAT "NATIONAL FRONT IDEAS ARE GAINING GROUND." (SIGNED
NEB/JN/KL/GE
19-Jun-98 10:19 AM EDT (1419 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article