Voice of America, 98-06-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA'S RESPONSE TO THE WAR IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] KOSOVO / HOLBROOKE (S) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[03] ASIAN CRISIS/ EUROPEAN UNION BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

[04] CUP VIOLENCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

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

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

[08] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[01] ALBANIA'S RESPONSE TO THE WAR IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MOST BALKAN ANALYSTS FEAR THAT, IF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS NOT RESOLVED SOON, IT COULD SPREAD TO THE NEIGHBORING STATES OF MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. HISTORIAN AND JOURNALIST ELEZ BIBERAJ [EL-EZ BEE-BER-RYE] HAS JUST

TEXT: ELEZ BIBERAJ, CHIEF OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA'S ALBANIAN SERVICE, HAS WRITTEN THREE BOOKS ON ALBANIA. THE MOST RECENT, "ALBANIA IN TRANSITION: THE ROCKY ROAD TO DEMOCRACY," WAS PUBLISHED IN MAY. IT DEALS WITH THE TRANSITION FROM COMMUNISM SINCE 1991, AND IT COVERS THE COLLAPSE OF STATE AUTHORITY IN ALBANIA AND ITS IMPACT ON LAST YEAR'S ELECTIONS. MR. BIBERAJ SAYS MOST PEOPLE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF TIRANA ARE STILL PREOCCUPIED WITH THEIR OWN PROBLEMS AND WITH ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC STANDSTILL.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- BIBERAJ (0:43) "BUT, HAVING SAID THAT, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE ATTITUDES ARE PRO-KOSOVAR, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR THE STRUGGLE OF THE KOSOVARS FOR SEPARATION FROM SERBIA. HOWEVER, THERE'S RECOGNITION AMONG THE ALBANIANS THAT THERE'S TINY ALBANIA, WHICH RIGHT NOW DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AN ARMED FORCES BECAUSE THE ARMY COLLAPSED LAST YEAR, AND THERE'S AN ESTIMATE OF PERHAPS 4,000 TO 6,000 SOLDIERS RIGHT SOLDIERS RIGHT NOW, AND NATO IS HELPING THEM REBUILD THE ARMED FORCES. BUT, THERE IS RECOGNITION IN TIRANA THAT THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT ALBANIA AS A STATE CAN DO FOR THE KOSOVARS. THE EMPHASIS IS FOR NATO TO INTERVENE, FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH THE ALBANIAN STATE, THE POPULATION OF ALBANIA, REALLY CANNOT DEAL WITH."

TEXT: IN THE BORDER REGION IN THE DISTRICT OF TROPOJE [TROH-POH-JAH], WHICH IS NEXT TO KOSOVO, MR. BIBERAJ SAYS THERE'S MUCH MORE SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVARS BECAUSE THE REGION TRADITIONALLY HAS HAD CLOSE TIES WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- BIBERAJ (0:38) "THE LOCAL POPULATION HAS TAKEN IN THESE REFUGEES. THE POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT HAS IN FACT DOUBLED IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 WEEKS. THERE WERE NO REFUGEE CAMPS. THE ARMY HAD BUILT UP THESE TENTS, BUT ALL THE REFUGEES WERE STAYING WITH LOCAL ALBANIAN FAMILIES IN THEIR PRIVATE HOUSES. (OPT) AND, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THE LOCAL POPULATION, WHICH IS PROBABLY POORER THAN THE KOSOVARS WHO WERE COMING FROM ACROSS THE BORDER, HOW HOSPITABLE THEY WERE WITH WHAT THEY CONSIDERED THEIR BROTHERS. (END OPT) AND, IN FACT, THE LOCAL ALBANIANS SAID THEY WOULD REFUSE TO REFER TO THE KOSOVARS AS 'REFUGEES.' THEY WERE SAYING, 'THEY'RE OUR BROTHERS, OUR SISTERS.'"

TEXT: ONE OF THE OPTIONS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING IS THE STATIONING OF NATO TROOPS ALONG THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO -- ON THE ALBANIAN AND THE MACEDONIAN SIDES. MR. BIBERAJ SAYS THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS IDEA.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- BIBERAJ (1:04) "IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY UNSTABLE, THE SITUATION IS VERY FRAGILE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CAPITAL AND A FEW OTHER LARGER CITIES LIKE DURRES, THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL NOT IN A POSITION TO EXERCISE ITS SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (OPT) SO, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NATO TROOPS UP THERE AND RESTORE ITS OWN AUTHORITY. (END OPT) BUT, PERHAPS OF GREATER IMPORTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT IS TO PREVENT THE YUGOSLAVS FROM HAVING AN EXCUSE TO MOVE INTO THAT REGION OF ALBANIA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE KOSOVARS HAVE FOUND SANCTUARY, AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE ARMS GOING INTO KOSOVO FROM ALBANIA. ALL THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ALBANIA HAVE CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THIS IDEA. AND THERE SEEMS TO BE OPPOSITION AT THE POPULAR LEVEL, SAYING THAT, IF NATO STATIONS TROOPS ON THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO, THE IMPACT OF THIS WOULD BE THAT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE ISOLATED. IT WOULD SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL TO MILOSEVIC, IN EFFECT TELLING HIM THAT, 'YOU CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING YOU WANT TO IN KOSOVO, BUT WE WILL PREVENT YOU FROM EXPANDING THE WAR TO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA.'"

TEXT: MR. BIBERAJ SAYS THE ALBANIANS HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE EUROPEANS TO STOP THE WAR AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- BIBERAJ (1:02) "SO, IF ANYTHING IS DONE, THEY THINK THAT IT WILL BE THE U-S, EITHER UNILATERALLY OR BY LEADING THE REST OF AMERICAN ALLIES IN EUROPE THROUGH NATO. PEOPLE IN ALBANIA ARE VERY SKEPTICAL ABOUT ANY POSSIBILITY OF AN AGREEMENT RESULTING FROM FURTHER DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER, IBRAHIM RUGOVA, AND MR. MILOSEVIC OR HIS REPRESENTATIVES. IBRAHIM RUGOVA IS INCREASINGLY BEING MARGINALIZED. THERE'S WIDESPEAD SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. MY COLLEAGUE

TEXT: ELEZ BIBERAJ, CHIEF OF THE ALBANIAN SERVICE, SAYS HE THINKS THAT, IF THERE IS AN "ALL-OUT" WAR IN KOSOVO -- AND HE BELIEVES THE WAR IN FACT HAS ALREADY BEGUN -- IT WILL DESTABILIZE BOTH ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA.
23-Jun-98 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / HOLBROOKE (S) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE TRAVELS TO BELGRADE TODAY (TUESDAY) FOR TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS THE AMERICAN ENVOY MAY BE OFFERING MR. MILOSEVIC HIS LAST CHANCE TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

TEXT: AFTER RUSSIA PERSUADED MR. MILOSEVIC TO AGREE TO RESUME TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS IN KOSOVO, MR. HOLBROOKE WILL BE PRESSURING HIM WITH THE WEST'S OTHER BIG DEMAND -- A PULLBACK OF SERBIAN FORCES.

KOSOVO IS A MAJORITY-ALBANIAN PART OF SERBIA WHERE SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN BATTLING SERB FORCES. THE GUERRILLAS SAY THEY CONTROL 40 PERCENT OF THE PROVINCE, BUT BETTER-EQUIPPED AND TRAINED SERB FORCES ARE FIGHTING BACK AND HAVE DRIVEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THEIR HOMES.

MR. HOLBROOKE'S VISIT COMES ONE WEEK AFTER NATO AIR EXERCISES JUST OUTSIDE SERBIAN AIRSPACE. NATO IS DRAWING UP CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR POSSIBLE AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB MILITARY TARGETS. NATO LEADERS STILL HAVE NOT DECIDED WHETHER TO BACK THEIR DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE WITH FORCE. (SIGNED)
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23-Jun-98 7:09 AM EDT (1109 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ASIAN CRISIS/ EUROPEAN UNION BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

INTRO: THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS CONTINUES, WITH MANY ANALYSTS SAYING IT MAY NOT BOTTOM OUT FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO. THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE HAVE STEPPED IN AT VARIOUS POINTS TO TRY TO EASE THE CRISIS. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THERE ARE FEARS SHARPLY DEVALUED ASIAN CURRENCIES COULD LEAD TO A FLOOD OF CHEAP ASIAN IMPORTS IN THE WEST.

TEXT: THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS PRESENTS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WESTERN CONSUMERS -- AND A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE FOR WESTERN MANUFACTURERS AND BUSINESSES.

CONSUMERS MAY FIND, TO THEIR DELIGHT, THAT ITEMS MADE IN THAILAND, SOUTH KOREA, INDONESIA, OR ANY OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES HIT BY THE ECONOMIC CRISIS HAVE BECOME CHEAPER, DUE TO THE SHARPLY DEVALUED ASIAN CURRENCIES. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT A MANUFACTURER IN EUROPE OR THE UNITED STATES FEARS -- A FLOOD OF CHEAP IMPORTS THAT CAN UNDERCUT SALES OF DOMESTIC GOODS.

IN MANY CASES, SUCH FEARS CAUSE POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMEN IN THE WEST TO SPEAK OF PROTECTIONISM. THEY CALL FOR NEW TRADE BARRIERS TO PROTECT THEIR OWN DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES.

SUCH CALLS PUT WESTERN GOVERNMENTS IN A DILEMMA. ON THE ONE HAND, THEY MUST SATISFY CALLS TO PROTECT THEIR OWN INDUSTRIES FROM BEING OVERWHELMED BY CHEAP IMPORTS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THESE GOVERNMENTS ARE CALLING ON ASIAN NATIONS TO PROVIDE FREER ACCESS TO WESTERN GOODS -- GOODS WHICH, UNDER ASIAN CURRENCY DEVALUATIONS, FAR FEWER ASIANS CAN AFFORD.

NEVERTHELESS, EUROPE SAYS IT IS RESISTING MOVES TOWARD PROTECTIONISM. AT A BANGKOK NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY, MARKING THE END OF BRITAIN'S PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, BRITISH AMBASSADOR JAMES HODGE SAID EUROPEAN LEADERS ARE STANDING BY THEIR COMMITMENT MADE AT THE ASIA-EUROPE MEETING IN APRIL.

BUT WE ACTUALLY DO COORDINATE WITHIN THE E-U INSOFAR AS TRADING POLICIES ARE CONCERNED. THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY MUCH WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE (EUROPEAN) COMMISSION. AND I WOULD STRESS AGAIN THE COMMITMENT WHICH ALL OF THE LEADERS OF EUROPE WHO WERE AT THE MEETING IN LONDON IN APRIL EXPRESSED TO AVOIDING PROTECTIONISM, TO AVOIDING A SLIP DOWN THAT PARTICULAR SLOPE.

MR. HODGE SAYS BOTH AID AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WILL HELP PULL ASIA OUT OF ITS SLUMP -- AND THUS STAVE OFF CALLS FOR PROTECTIONISM.

MY OWN VIEW IS THAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS FIRST, CONTINUING EDUCATION OF PEOPLE IN SAYING THAT PROTECTIONISM, ULTIMATELY, DOES NOT HELP ANYONE. AND SECOND, BY CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS IN ASIA TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS RECOVERY, THAT THAT RECOVERY IS MAINTAINED, AND THAT TO PUT IN PLACE MECHANISMS, DEVICES TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO DOES NOT REOCCUR.

EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AID FOR FINANCIALLY TROUBLED ASIAN COUNTRIES. IN ADDITION, THE E-U HAS SET UP AN ASIA TRUST FUND, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 40-MILLION DOLLARS. BUT, MR. HODGE EMPHASIZES IT IS NOT A BAILOUT, BUT ONLY PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND HELPS ASSESS THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE CONTINUING CRISIS. (SIGNED)
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22-Jun-98 7:34 AM EDT (1134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CUP VIOLENCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRENCH POLICE SAY THEY HAVE DETAINED A SECOND GERMAN HOOLIGAN BELIEVED TO HAVE ATTACKED A POLICEMAN WHO SUFFERED CRITICAL BRAIN DAMAGE DURING A MATCH IN THE WORLD CUP FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. ANOTHER SUSPECT IS EXPECTED TO BE CHARGED LATER TUESDAY. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: STILL UNDER THE SHOCK AT THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS AFFLICTED THE WORLD CUP, THE FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTRY IS CONSIDERING A PARTIAL SUSPENSION OF THE TREATY ALLOWING FREE MOVEMENT ACROSS SOME OF EUROPE'S FRONTIERS.

THE SCHENGEN TREATY, SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN STATES, ALLOWS CITIZENS OF FRANCE AND GERMANY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO TRAVEL FROM ONE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER WITHOUT SHOWING PASSPORTS OR OTHER IDENTITY DOCUMENTS.

SINCE GERMAN HOOLIGANS ATTACKED A POLICE OFFICER IN THE STREETS OF THE NORTHERN TOWN OF LENS DURING A WORLD CUP MATCH BETWEEN GERMANY AND YUGOSLAVIA SUNDAY, OFFICIALS SAY FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER JEAN-PIERRE CHEVENEMENT IS CONSIDERING APPLYING EMERGENCY MEASURES TO RE-INTRODUCE PASSPORT CONTROLS ON FRANCE'S FRONTIERS UNTIL THE TOURNAMENT ENDS IN MID-JULY.

MR. CHEVENEMENT DESCRIBED THE HOOLIGANS AS "SMALL GROUPS OF THUGS, FANATICS AND FASCISTS."

FRENCH POLICE IN LENS SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED ANOTHER GERMAN WHO WAS DETAINED SUNDAY AS ONE OF THOSE WHO ATTACKED THE FRENCH POLICEMAN. A GROUP OF FOUR HOOLIGANS BEAT THE POLICEMAN WITH SEVERAL MAKESHIFT WEAPONS INCLUDING AN IRON BAR AS HE LAY UNCONSCIOUS ON THE GROUND.

THE INCIDENT, FOLLOWING RIOTS A WEEK BEFORE AS ENGLISH FANS BATTLED WITH NORTH AFRICAN YOUTHS IN MARSEILLE WHEN THE MEDITERRANEAN PORT WAS THE VENUE FOR AN ENGLAND-TUNISIA MATCH, HAS CONFIRMED THE 1998 WORLD CUP AS THE MOST VIOLENT EVER.

IN THE ATLANTIC PORT OF NANTES, POLICE SAID THEY ARRESTED TWO GERMANS CARRYING NEO-NAZI PROPAGANDA AND ARMED WITH BASEBALL BATS. THEY WERE CAUGHT SHORTLY BEFORE A MATCH BETWEEN CHILE AND CAMEROON.

POLICE SAY MESSAGES HAVE BEEN TRACED ON THE INTERNET, CALLING ON GERMAN HOOLIGANS TO TRAVEL TO NANTES, EVEN THOUGH GERMANY IS NOT SCHEDULED TO PLAY THERE.

THE GERMAN TEAM HAS, MEANWHILE, CONFIRMED PRESS REPORTS THAT GERMAN OFFICIALS BRIEFLY CONSIDERED WITHDRAWING FROM THE COMPETITION TO HEAD OFF MORE VIOLENCE.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY REJECT ANY NOTION OF WITHDRAWING NATIONAL TEAMS BECAUSE OF HOOLIGANISM, SAYING THAT THE MAJORITY OF GENUINE FOOTBALL FANS CANNOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE OF A FEW. (SIGNED)
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23-Jun-98 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCKS ON THE THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS FINISHED HIGHER ON TUESDAY, DRIVEN UPWARD BY GOOD NEWS FROM WALL STREET. HERE IS KEVIN LYNCH WITH THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM EUROPE.

TEXT: RESPONDING TO A RISE IN WALL STREET'S BLUE CHIP STOCKS, MARKETS IN LONDON, PARIS AND FRANKFURT ALL POSTED SOLID GAINS MONDAY, WITH GERMANY LEADING THE WAY. TRADERS THERE ATTRIBUTED ONE REASON FOR THE RISE: THAT THERE WAS NO BAD NEWS.

HERE ARE THE CLOSING FIGURES. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES 100 INDEX WAS UP 60 POINTS, AN INCREASE OF ONE PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 WAS UP 46 POINTS, AN INCREASE OF A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX WAS UP ONE HUNDRED POINTS, AN INCREASE OF ONE POINT SEVEN PERCENT.

THE DOLLAR FINISHED THE DAY MARGINALLY LOWER IN EUROPE.

THE PRICE OF GOLD CLOSED IN LONDON AT 294 DOLLARS 30 CENTS AN OUNCE -- DOWN 70 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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23-Jun-98 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (TUESDAY) AND THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY WON A COURT VICTORY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 28, UP 117 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 19, UP 16 POINTS.

THE RALLY WAS BROAD-BASED BUT LED BY HIGH TECHNOLOGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND OIL STOCKS. ANALYSTS SAY SOME OF THE BUYING INTEREST WAS SO-CALLED QUARTERLY "WINDOW DRESSING." THAT MEANS MANY INVESTMENT MANAGERS BOUGHT STOCKS TO MAKE THEIR PORTFOLIOS LOOK GOOD AT THE END OF THE QUARTER.

THE STOCK OF THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY TRADED AT A NEW HIGH AFTER A U-S APPEALS COURT OVERTURNED A LOWER COURT ORDER. THE ORDER HAD RESTRICTED THE COMPANY FROM LINKING ITS INTERNET BROWSER PROGRAM TO ITS COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM.

ANALYSTS SAY IT WAS INDEED GOOD NEWS FOR MICROSOFT. BUT STEVE OLFELDER, EDITOR OF "COMPUTER WORLD" MAGAZINE, POINTS OUT MICROSOFT IS STILL SUBJECT TO AN ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE JUST A LITTLE BLIP (DEVELOPMENT) IN WHAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A VERY LONG AND COMPLICATED LEGAL BATTLE.

ECONOMISTS SAY THEY EXPECT THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN THE LATEST FIGURES ARE RELEASED THURSDAY. HOWEVER, THE ECONOMISTS SAY MUCH OF THE EXPECTED INCREASE REFLECTS THE STRIKES AND PLANT SHUTDOWNS AT GENERAL MOTORS, NOT ANY GENERAL SLOWDOWN IN U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH.

A STRONGER ECONOMY MEANS HIGHER CONSUMER SPENDING AND MORE COMPETITION FOR THE CONSUMER DOLLAR. A LEADING ADVERTISING ANALYST SAYS HE EXPECTS AD SPENDING IN THE UNITED STATES WILL RISE ALMOST SEVEN PERCENT THIS YEAR TO MORE THAN 200 BILLION DOLLARS.

AMERICA WEST AIRLINES IS DECLINING COMMENT ON A REPORT (WALL STREET JOURNAL) THAT IT MAY BE FINED BY U-S REGULATORS FOR FAILING TO OVERSEE THE WORK OF OUTSIDE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS. THE COMPANY WILL SAY ONLY THAT NO FINES HAVE YET BEEN IMPOSED.

M-G-M GRAND, THE HOTEL AND CASINO COMPANY, MANAGED TO TURN A POTENTIAL DISASTER INTO A STRONG GAIN FOR ITS STOCK. THE COMPANY WARNED WALL STREET THAT ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS WILL FALL FAR SHORT OF ESTIMATES. NORMALLY, THAT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THE STOCK PRICE DOWN. BUT M-G-M ALSO ANNOUNCED A HUGE STOCK BUYBACK PROGRAM RESULTING IN A 16 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF ITS STOCK.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
23-Jun-98 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO CHINA IS ELICITING A GOOD DEAL OF DISCUSSION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY, AS IS THE LATEST MOVE IN THE CHESS MATCH BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS OVER THE FUTURE OF JERUSALEM.

THE RECENT COLOMBIAN ELECTION IS BEING PRAISED; WHILE THERE IS SOME CRITICISM OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE OPPOSING A DIPLOMATIC POSTING BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE, JAMES HORMEL, IS HOMOSEXUAL. AND LASTLY THERE IS SOME COMMENT ON THE HISTORIC WORLD CUP FOOTBALL [SOCCER] MATCH, IN WHICH IRAN DEFEATED THE UNITED STATES TWO TO ONE. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA AND IN THE U-S PRESS, COMMENT ON THE TRIP AND ITS GOALS IS RIFE. THIS HEADLINE FROM "NEWSDAY" EXPLAINS HOW SOME EDITORIALISTS VIEW THE JOURNEY."FUTURE OF U-S-CHINA RELATIONS IS IN CLINTON'S HANDS." THE PAPER SAYS MR. CLINTON WILL SET THE TONE FOR THE NEXT, CRITICAL STAGE IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SUPERPOWER U-S AND THE EMERGING GLOBAL POWER, CHINA.

VOICE: THIS RELATIONSHIP COULD WELL BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE COMING CENTURY, SO IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT [MR.] CLINTON USE THIS TRIP TO SET SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS ON THE RIGHT COURSE.

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SEES MR. CLINTON'S CHALLENGE AS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISPUTE OVER HIS OFFICIAL GREETING IN TIANANMEN SQUARE, SITE OF THE BLOODY MASSACRE OF PRO-DEMOCRACY STUDENTS IN 1989.

VOICE: ....[MR.] CLINTON IS WISE TO RESIST DEMANDS THAT HE LECTURE HIS HOSTS DURING THE CEREMONY AT TIANANMEN SQUARE. /// OPT /// THAT WOULD ONLY COME ACROSS AS ARROGANT. AMERICANS SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES HOW THEY WOULD FEEL IF CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN HAD REFUSED TO VISIT WASHINGTON DURING HIS 1997 VISIT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ONCE WAS THE SITE OF SLAVE AUCTIONS. /// END OPT /// [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS TOO MUCH WORK TO ACCOMPLISH IN CHINA TO GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT DURING THE WELCOMING CEREMONY. ... IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE UNITED STATES HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE CHINA; THE CURRENT ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS MAKES THAT POINT EVEN MORE OBVIOUS. ... THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ALSO PROVIDES A REMINDER OF CHINA'S IMPORTANCE.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" HARKS BACK TO PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN'S FAMED SPEECH ABOUT DEMOCRACY AT MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1988 AS A GUIDE FOR WHAT IT HOPES WILL BE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS DURING HIS VISIT TO CHINA.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT ... THAT [MR.] REAGAN'S SPEECH ... HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THOSE WHO HEARD IT, AND HELPED HASTEN THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IN THE SOVIET UNION. /// END OPT /// HERE IS HOPING BILL CLINTON USES HIS VISIT TO TIANANMEN SQUARE AS A WAY OF TELLING THE CHINESE PEOPLE ABOUT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND ABOUT THE WESTERN IDEAL OF FREEDOM IN THE SPIRIT OF RONALD REAGAN'S GREAT SPEECH.

TEXT: VYING FOR POPULARITY WITH THE CHINA TRIP, IS THE LATEST MOVE BY ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT IN ITS RELATIONS WITH THE PALESTINIANS; A SUPPOSEDLY INNOCENT MOVE TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF JERUSALEM, WHICH DRAWS THIS CRITICISM FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE."

VOICE: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS ONCE AGAIN LURCHED INTO A UNILATERAL ACTION -- AN EXPANSION OF JERUSALEM'S MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY -- THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE PALESTINIANS, AND THE ISRAELI PEACE CAMP JUSTIFIABLY RESENT. /// OPT /// ALTHOUGH IS IS NOT YET CLEAR HOW ENLARGEMENT OF JERUSALEM'S ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL AND ITS TAX BASE MAY RELATE TO SOME LARGER STRATEGY, /// END OPT /// IT IS EVIDENT THAT [MR.] NETANYAHU'S NEWEST ASSERTION OF A RIGHT TO ESTABLISH NEW FACTS ON THE GROUND, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE SPIRIT OF THE OSLO PEACE ACCORDS OR THE NEEDS OF OTHER PARTIES, HAS STIRRED UP A HORNET'S NEST.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" LABELS THE MOVE "A DANGEROUS PROVOCATION," WHILE "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: ISRAEL'S DECISION TO GREATLY EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF ITS CAPITAL ... DELIVERS ANOTHER BLOW TO THE REELING PEACE PROCESS AND ANOTHER SNUB TO U-S EFFORTS TO KEEP THAT PROCESS ALIVE. ... GIVEN THE ALMOST UNINTERRUPTED SLIDE IN PEACE PROSPECTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, IS THERE ANY POINT IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUING TO PLEAD FOR A REVIVAL OF THE TALKS?

TEXT: IN THIS HEMISPHERE, TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" IS DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULTS OF COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SUNDAY, NOTING:

VOICE: FORMER BOGOTA MAYOR ANDRES PASTRANA HANDILY DEFEATED PRESIDENT SAMPER'S HAND-PICKED CANDIDATE, HORACIO SERPA, WHO HAD STEADFASTLY DEFENDED MR. SAMPER AGAINST ALLEGATIONS THAT HIS 1994 CAMPAIGN ACCEPTED SIX MILLION DOLLARS FROM DRUG CARTELS. ... COLOMBIANS CLEARLY WERE SICK AND TIRED OF THE TAINT ATTACHED TO PRESIDENT SAMPER ...THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD CHEER, AND ENCOURAGE, MR. PASTRANA'S STATED INTENT OF HOLDING PEACE TALKS SOON WITH COLOMBIA'S GUERRILLAS.

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS CRITICIZING CONGRESS FOR HOLDING UP THE CONFIRMATION OF AN OPENLY HOMOSEXUAL BUSINESSMAN, JAMES HORMEL, TO BE AMBASSADOR TO LUXEMBOURG. THE PAPER SAYS THE "SENATE [IS] NO PLACE FOR GAY BASHING," WHILE "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SINGLES OUT OKLAHOMA SENATOR DON NICKLES, FOR HIS CRITICISM OF MR. HORMEL:

VOICE: /// OPT /// FOR MONTHS NOW, HIS [HORMEL'S] NOMINATION HAS BEEN IN LIMBO BECAUSE A FEW SENATORS INVOKED THEIR INFORMAL POWER TO PUT AN INDEFINITE 'HOLD' ON IT. /// END OPT /// IF HOMOPHOBES WANT TO OPPOSE MR. HORMEL, EVEN THOUGH LUXEMBOURG HAS EXPRESSED ITS APPROVAL, LET 'EM. BUT HIS FUTURE SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE FULL SENATE, NOT X'D OUT [DEFEATED] BY A TINY MINORITY.

TEXT: BACK TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AS "THE NEW YORK POST" COMPLAINS BITTERLY ABOUT HOW IT SAYS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO PUSH THE SAUDI ARABIAN AUTHORITIES HARD ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING.

VOICE: NINETEEN AMERICAN AIRMEN DIED IN THAT TERRORIST BLAST, AND THANKS TO SAUDI FOOT DRAGGING, [INATTENTION, DELAY] IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE'LL EVER FIND OUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. THE DOZENS OF INVESTIGATORS...THE DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND DEFENSE INITIALLY SENT...TO SAUDI ARABIA AFTER THE ATTACK, WHICH TOOK PLACE TWO-YEARS AGO THIS COMING THURSDAY, HAVE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. ...ON THE RECORD, BOTH GOVERNMENTS INSIST THE PROBE REMAINS OPEN -- BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY PRIVATELY IT HAS COME TO AN END. ...KEEPING THE PROBE ALIVE ON PAPER WHILE EFFECTIVELY CLOSING IT DOWN IS NO SOLUTION AND OFFERS NO PROSPECT OF JUSTICE TO THE MANY WIDOWS AND OTHER SURVIVORS OF THE VICTIMS. IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON TO...MAKE CLEAR OUR DISPLEASURE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ABOUT THE FOOTBALL [SOCCER] MATCH, IN WHICH UNHERALDED IRAN ELIMINATED THE U-S FROM THE WORLD CUP WITH A TWO TO ONE VICTORY SUNDAY, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE CONCLUDES:

VOICE: IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY FOR IRAN, CHEERED POLITICALLY IN TEHRAN AND WHEREVER THE UNITED STATES IS REVILED AS THE GREAT SATAN. IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE WAS DISAPPOINTMENT TO BE SURE, BUT SOCCER FANS TOOK IT IN STRIDE. THE TRUE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CONTEST WAS THE MOMENTARY UNITY BETWEEN IRANIANS OF THE REVOLUTION AND IRANIANS OF THE DIASPORA IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN FRANCE. YOUNG WOMEN EXPATRIATES IN THE BRIEFEST OF PARIS FASHIONS, SCORNFUL OF THE CHADOR, EXULTED EQUALLY WITH GRIM CLERICS IN QOM [IRAN'S HOLY CITY]. THE THRILL WAS GENUINE AND SHARED. ...THIS MOMENT OF SOCCER GLORY WILL PASS, LEAVING A MEMORY OF NATIONAL PRIDE RESTORED, A GLIMPSE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, AND MIGHT YET STILL BE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
23-Jun-98 11:23 AM EDT (1523 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON DISCUSSED THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH IRISH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT, MARY MCALEESE. THE IRISH LEADER IS ON A SIX-DAY U-S VISIT, HER FIRST SINCE TAKING OFFICE LAST OCTOBER. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: MRS. MCALEESE SAID SHE THANKED PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR THE KEY ROLE HE PLAYED IN ACHIEVING THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE ACCORD AND THE REFERENDUM VOTES IN FAVOR OF IT LAST MONTH. TALKING TO REPORTERS AFTER WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A COURTESY CALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MRS. MCALEESE SAID THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO FOLLOW ULSTER DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY:

HE'S KEEPING HIS FINGER VERY MUCH ON THE PULSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON. AND OF COURSE HIS WISH IS THE SAME WISH THAT WE ALL HAVE -- THAT THE SENSE OF HUGE ENERGY THAT WAS COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS BY THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND IN THE REFERENDUM, THAT THAT WILL BE SUSTAINED.

MRS. MCALEESE SAID MR. CLINTON IS ANXIOUS TO VISIT IRELAND AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY -- HIS PLANS FOR A VISIT IN MAY HAVING BEEN SHELVED BECAUSE OF THE REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/MMK
23-Jun-98 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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