Voice of America, 98-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] DATELINE: KOSOVO'S SUPPORTERS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

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

[03] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[04] US OPINION ROUNDUP: NORTHERN IRELAND BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

[05] N. IRELAND / PROJECT CHILDREN BY REBECCA WARD (WASHINGTON)

[06] CONGRESS-ROMANIA (L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[07] CLINTON/ROMANIA ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[08] SPAIN/ETA NEWSPAPER (L-ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

[01] DATELINE: KOSOVO'S SUPPORTERS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY WHICH IS FIGHTING TO SEPARATE KOSOVO PROVINCE FROM THE REST OF YUGOSLAVIA HAS ACQUIRED A VAST ARSENAL OF WEAPONS THANKS TO ETHNIC ALBANIANS LIVING OVERSEAS. DIPLOMATS FEAR THIS DEVELOPMENT MAY HAVE ALTERED THE BALANCE OF POWER IN KOSOVO'S ETHNIC CONFLICT WHICH UNTIL RECENTLY HAS FAVORED SERB FORCES.

TEXT: THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR K-L-A -- HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A RAG-TAG BAND OF STUDENTS AND FARMERS LED BY A FEW WELL-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM ABROAD. ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY LACKING A WELL-ORGANIZED COMMAND STRUCTURE, THE K-L-A HAS NEVERTHELESS BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE ANTI-TANK AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS WITH LARGE SUMS OF MONEY SENT BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS WORKING IN GERMANY, SWITZERLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. MOST OF THE WEAPONS CAME INTO THE COUNTRY OVER KOSOVO'S MOUNTAINOUS BORDER WITH ALBANIA. THE FLOOD OF ARMS AND MONEY HAS ALLOWED THE K-L-A TO INCH FORWARD TOWARD KEY TOWNS AND TAKE A HEAVY TOLL ON SERB SECURITY FORCES. THE CONFLICT HAS CLAIMED A TOTAL OF 350 LIVES -- MOSTLY CIVILIAN.

YUGOSLAVIA HAS THOUSANDS OF TROOPS IN KOSOVO TO QUELL THE SUCCESSIONIST MOVEMENT BY WHAT IT CALLS A TERRORIST MOVEMENT. THOSE TROOPS INCLUDE ARMY, SPECIAL POLICE AND PARATROOPS. THESE FORCES MAY CALL ON THE SUPERIOR RESOURCES OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IF ORDERED TO DO SO BY PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. MILOSEVIC SAYS HE IS TRYING TO PROTECT KOSOVO'S SERBIAN MINORITY AND PREVENT FURTHER SPLINTERING OF YUGOSLAVIA. KOSOVO IS THE SITE OF SERBIA'S MOST REVERED MONASTERIES AND THE LEGENDARY BATTLEFIELD WHICH DEFINES SERBIAN NATIONHOOD.

KOSOVO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POOREST PART OF YUGOSLAVIA AND WITH LITTLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT HIGH, MANY ALBANIANS SOUGHT WORK OVERSEAS. THEIR EARNINGS ARE NOW FINANCING THE GUERRILLA INSURGENCY WHICH IS DEDICATED TO OUSTING KOSOVO'S SERBIAN RULERS. // OPT //

TAPE: CUT ONE CHIMES # 5-04088 RUNS 2:42

PERHAPS 500-THOUSAND KOSOVO ALBANIANS LIVE IN THE WEST -- IN AMERICA, SCANDINAVIA, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AND ELSEWHERE -- AND THEY SEND MONEY HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND ALBANIAN INSTITUTIONS IN KOSOVO. THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS OF KOSOVO HAVE AN ELECTED, BUT UNRECOGNIZED GOVERNMENT OF WHAT THEY CALL THE "REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO," PLUS A UNIVERSITY, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE BULK OF THE MONEY HAS COME FROM KOSOVO ALBANIANS ABROAD. A YEAR OR SO AGO, 60 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET CAME FROM THOSE ABROAD. BUT AN ECONOMICS ADVISOR TO SHADOW PRESIDENT IBRAHIM RUGOVA, FATMIR REXEPI, SAYS TAXES COLLECTED BY THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT ON LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE DECREASING BECAUSE OF KOSOVO'S ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. SO HE SAYS ETHNIC ALBANIAN INSTITUTIONS HERE ARE INCREASINGLY RELYING ON THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE DIASPORA.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT FUNDING IS DRYING UP AS THE DIASPORA SHIFTS ITS SUPPORT TO THE REBELS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BY SENDING MONEY TO VARIOUS FUNDS THAT FUNNEL THE MONEY TO THE REBELS. REPORTER ARDAIN ARIFAJ OF THE ALBANIAN LANGUAGE "KOHA DITORE" (DAILY) NEWSPAPER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY.

IT'S, I DON'T KNOW, I WOULD SAY PERHAPS 100 PERCENT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. THEY ARE NOT PAYING THE GOVERNMENT OF KOSOVO AT ALL. ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY PAY GOES TO THIS FUND, "FATHERLAND IS CALLING," OR ANY OTHER FUND. OR EVEN THEY DO COLLECT CASH MONEY AT DIFFERENT MEETINGS. SO ALL THE MONEY GOES TO U-C-K.

THE U-C-K IS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. BECAUSE OF AN UNDEVELOPED BANKING SYSTEM AND NOW INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS, GETTING MONEY INTO KOSOVO TO HELP THE REBELS IS A BIT OF A PROBLEM. SOMETIMES CASH IS CARRIED IN, SOMETIMES IT IS USED TO BUY WEAPONS ABROAD, WHICH ARE THEN SMUGGLED IN. THE POPULARITY OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS SURE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON CIVILIAN INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN RECEIVING MONEY FROM ABROAD. NINETY PERCENT OF THE BUDGET OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SHADOW GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS A UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS SUMMER NOW HERE IN KOSOVO, AND THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. BUT EDUCATORS ARE ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN STUDENTS RETURN IN THE FALL.

TEXT: VOA'S ART CHIMES REPORTING FROM KOSOVO'S PROVINCIAL CAPITAL -- PRISTINA. // END OPT //

THE NEW-YORK BASED ALBANIAN-AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT 400 THOUSAND ALBANIAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE -- FORMER CONGRESSMAN JOSEPH DIO GUARDI -- SAYS EVER SINCE THE SERB BOMBING OF DRENICA IN FEBRUARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT HAS SHIFTED TO THE K-L-A -- WHICH THE SERBS CALL A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION:

TAPE: CUT TWO DIO GUARDI (LATHAM # 7-301110) RUNS :13

THE ALBANIAN-AMERICANS CONSIDER MEMBERS TODAY OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY TODAY AS HEROES. NO ONE SHOULD EVEN THINK OF CHARACTERIZING THIS GROUP AS A GROUP OF TERRORISTS. THEY ARE NOT.

TEXT: THE SERBS DISAGREE WITH MR. DIO GUARDI SAYING THE K-L-A IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BECAUSE IT ATTACKS SERB POLICE STATIONS.

SAMI REPISHTI, AN ETHNIC-ALBANIAN WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL, SAYS SO MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO THE K-L-A BECAUSE THE WEST PAID NO ATTENTION TO SERBIAN REPRESSION OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO UNTIL THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT BEGAN TO FIGHT BACK.

TAPE: CUT THREE REPISHTI (LATHAM # 7-301110) RUNS :32

IT IS TRUE THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED A KIND OF EUPHORIA AMONG MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TOTALLY FRUSTRATED BY THE INACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THESE PAST 10 YEARS. SINCE THEY ARE TAKING UPON THEMSELVES THE ROLE OF LIBERATORS, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A GREAT EMOTIONAL APPEAL AMONG THE POPULATION. IN THE UNITED STATES THERE ARE DEFINITELY PEOPLE WHO ARE FIRED UP. THEY FEEL THAT, FINALLY, THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVA ARE FINDING ENOUGH COURAGE TO STAND UP AND TO SAY, 'THAT'S ENOUGH OF MILOSEVIC.'

TEXT: MR. REPISHTI SAYS TODAY ALBANIANS IN AMERICA TEND TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO BY GIVING MONEY TO THE UCHEKA -- AS THE K-L-A IS CALLED IN THE ALBANIAN LANGUAGE:

TAPE: TAPE FOUR REPISHTI (LATHAM # 7-301110) RUNS :23

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT THE UNITED STATES, TOO, AND THEY WENT THERE TO JOIN THE U-C-K. MOST OF THE POPULATION HERE HAVE HELPED THE U-C-K FINANCIALLY -- THERE IS NO DOUBT. BUT THEY HAVE CONTINUED ALSO TO HELP THE SONS OF KOSOVA. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURES IN MONEY THAT HAS GONE TO ONE OR THE OTHER. BUT DEFINITELY A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN GOING TO BOTH SIDES.

TEXT: // OPT // MR. REPISHTI DEFENDS THIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS NECESSARY IN THE FACE OF INDECISION AND VACILATION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:

TAPE: TAPE FIVE REPISHTI (LATHAM # 7-301110) RUNS :29

WE HAVE HERE AN ARMY OF PEASANTS AND SHEPHERDS WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE ARMY OF MILOSEVIC, WHOSE CONDUCT AND AIMS WE HAVE SEEN IN BOSNIA. ALBANIAN-AMERICANS ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE, WHEN THE EMBARGO WAS PLACED ON BOSNIA, THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE WERE LEFT UNARMED AND DEFENSELESS. IF WE CUT THE FINANCIAL MEANS OF BUYING WEAPONS FOR ALBANIANS, WE ARE GOING TO FIND A LARGE NUMBER OF ALBANIANS FACING THE SERBIAN ARMY TOTALLY UNARMED. AND, OF COURSE, WE ARE GREATLY CONCERNED. // END OPT //

TEXT: BOTH SAMI REPISHTI AND JOSEPH DIO GUARDI SAY SUPPORT FOR THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT WILL CONTINUE DESPITE WESTERN CALLS TO STOP FINANCING THE WEAPONS PIPELINE TO THE K-L-A. LAST WEEK WESTERN DIPLOMATS MEETING IN BONN CALLED FOR A HALT IN THE FLOW OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO KOSOVO ON THE GROUNDS IT IS SUSTAINING FIGHTING IN THE AREA. JIM HOOPER OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED BALKAN INSTITUTE SAYS THE DECISION BEARS AN UNCOMFORTABLE RESEMBLANCE TO A SIMILAR DIPLOMATIC PROPOSAL TO END THE FIGHTING IN BOSNIA:

TAPE: TAPE SIX HOOPER RUNS :52

THIS LOOKS LIKE A KOSOVO VERSION OF THE ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST THE BOSNIANS. IT PREVENTED THEM FROM OBTAINING THE WEAPONS NECESSARY FOR THEIR SURVIVAL AND IT FACILITATED THE ATTACKS BY THE SERBS AND THE GENOCIDE THERE WHICH TOOK OVER 200 THOUSAND LIVES. AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE SAME MORAL EQUIVALENCY APPROACH IN THIS CONTACT GROUP STATEMENT. IT MAKES IT SEEM THAT THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AND THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WHO ARE DEFENDING THEMSELVES ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE SERBS WHO ARE ATTACKING THEM WITH PLANES, HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS, TANKS, ARTILLERY, AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

TEXT: MR. HOOPER AGREES THE K-L-A GUERRILLAS DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO WIN AN ALL-OUT WAR WITH SERBIA. BUT WITH ENOUGH ARMS AND MONEY HE SAYS THAY CAN DRAW THE CONFLICT OUT FOR YEARS -- A PROSPECT HE BELIEVES NO ONE WANTS -- INCLUDING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. (SIGNED) NEB/PAM/
15-Jul-98 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ALL ENDED THE TRADING DAY WEDNESDAY ON RECORD HIGHS. FOR THE CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE WEEK-LONG RALLY CONTINUED INTO WEDNESDAY, WITH KEY STOCK MARKET INDEXES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL POSTING RECORDS WHEN TRADING ENDED. ANALYSTS SAY INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN'S ECONOMY HELPED DRIVE THE RALLY. CURRENCY TRADERS, HOWEVER, APPEAR LESS SANGUINE ABOUT A QUICK ECONOMIC TURNAROUND IN JAPAN.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX WAS UP BY NEARLY ONE PERCENT WITH A 51-POINT GAIN. ONLY MODEST GAINS WERE POSTED ON THE FRANKFURT "DAX" -- UP FOUR POINTS FOR THE DAY -- BUT KEEPING THAT INDEX IN RECORD-HIGH TERRITORY. FRENCH INVESTORS ENDED TWO DAYS OF HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH A BUYING SPREE ON THE "CAC 40" LIST OF STOCKS. IT CLOSED UP ALMOST 88 POINTS -- A GAIN FOR THE DAY OF MORE THAN TWO PERCENT.

IN CURRENCY TRADING WEDNESDAY, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
15-Jul-98 2:31 PM EDT (1831 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED MIXED IN HEAVY TRADING TODAY (WEDNESDAY), BUT ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR INDEXES STILL MANAGED AN ALL TIME HIGH. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, UP ABOUT 60 POINTS EARLY IN THE DAY, CLOSED DOWN 11 POINTS AT 92-HUNDRED-34 AFTER A LATE SELLOFF. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX WAS DOWN 12 POINTS AT 11-HUNDRED-74.

BUT THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX CLOSED UP 26 POINTS AT 19-HUNDRED-94, MARKING THE SIXTH RECORD HIGH TRADING SESSION IN A ROW FOR THE TECHNOLOGY-HEAVY MEASURE. INTEL, THE COMPUTER CHIP MAKER, DELL COMPUTER AND OTHER HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS HELPED PUSH THE NASDAQ TO THE NEW RECORD.

THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE PUSHED THROUGH THE 93-HUNDRED LEVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME EARLY IN THE DAY, PROPELLED BY TWO COMPONENT STOCKS, EASTMAN KODAK AND ALCOA ALUMINUM. KODAK MOVED UP 12 PERCENT ON BETTER THAN EXPECTED EARNINGS. ALCOA GAINED ON A PLAN TO CUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN COSTS. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET FELL BACK ON PROFIT-TAKING AND THE FAILURE OF ANOTHER DOW COMPONENT, THE CATERPILLAR HEAVY EQUIPMENT MAKER, TO MEET EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS.

ANALYSTS SAY THE FLOOD OF QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORTS ARE GENERALLY MEETING OR EXCEEDING WALL STREET PROJECTIONS. THESE ANALYSTS SEE THE MARKET TRENDS AS BEING FAIRLY POSITIVE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS CONCERN THAT ONLY A RELATIVELY FEW STOCKS ARE MOVING UP SIGNIFICANTLY WITH RALLIES.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY LITTLE MOVEMENT -- UP OR DOWN -- IN THE PRICE OF MOST SMALL AND MEDIUM CAPITALIZATION STOCKS. ART CASHIN, A SENIOR WALL STREET EXECUTIVE, BELIEVES THE POPULARITY OF INDEX FUNDS IS ONE REASON.

THE THOUGHT ON THE FLOOR IS THAT IT IS PART OF THIS PHENOMENON WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND THAT IS THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF INDEX FUNDS AND THE BELIEF THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ARE IN INDEX FUNDS. SO WHEN NEW MONEY COMES IN -- AND EVEN ACTIVE MONEY MANAGERS NOW HAVE PROFILES THAT LOOK LIKE INDEX FUNDS -- IT GOES INTO THE HIGH CAPS (LARGE COMPANIES) AND IT EVEN GOES INTO THE HIGH CAPS OF NASDAQ.

INDEX MUTUAL FUNDS TRY TO EMULATE THE RESULTS OF POPULAR MARKET INDEXES SUCH AS THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 BY INVESTING ONLY IN STOCKS THAT MAKE UP INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
15-Jul-98 5:16 PM EDT (2116 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] US OPINION ROUNDUP: NORTHERN IRELAND BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DEATHS OF THREE YOUNG CATHOLIC BROTHERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, FIREBOMBED AS THEY WERE SLEEPING IN THEIR BEDS, IS DRAWING STRONG COMMENTARY FROM AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS. EDITORIALS ACROSS THE NATION ARE EXPRESSING THE VIEW THAT THESE SENSELESS AND SHOCKING DEATHS SHOULD GIVE PAUSE TO POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT DIVIDE. HERE NOW IS A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE NATION'S PRESS REACTION FROM _____________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE "BOSTON GLOBE", A NEWSPAPER WITH A LARGE IRISH READERSHIP, QUESTIONS WHETHER NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE AGREEMENT CAN HOLD IN THE WAKE OF THE DEATHS OF THE THREE QUINN BROTHERS. COMPOUNDING THE TRAGEDY, THE GLOBE SAYS, IS THE FACT THAT THE BOYS WERE TOO YOUNG TO BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CLAIMED THEIR LIVES.

VOICE: JASON, MARK AND RICHARD PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR A CONFLICT THAT STARTED LONG BEFORE THEY WERE BORN AND THAT THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. LIKE ALL INNOCENTS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF THE WORLD'S ANGER, THEIR LOSS IS BEST MOURNED IN REFLECTION ON MAN'S CAPACITY TO DESTROY AND BEST AVENGED IN RENEWED DETERMINATION TO BECOME SOMETHING BETTER.

TEXT: HALFWAY ACROSS THE NATION, THE CLEVELAND (OHIO) "PLAIN DEALER" SUGGESTS THE DEATHS OF THE THREE WILL BACKFIRE AGAINST A GROUP OF PROTESTANTS, KNOWN AS ORANGEMEN, WHO ANNUALLY DEMAND THEY BE ALLOWED TO MARCH THROUGH A CATHOLIC AREA OF NORTHERN IRELAND, DESPITE THE DETERMINATION OF BRITISH FORCES NOT TO LET THEM.

VOICE: ORANGE PROPAGANDISTS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST CHARGES THAT THEIR INSISTENCE ON MARCHING INTO CATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOODS -- BEST REPRESENTED BY THE CURRENT STANDOFF AT DRUMCREE, PORTADOWN, HAS HELPED CREATE A CLIMATE INSPIRING SOMEONE TO ATTACK A HOUSE WHERE CATHOLICS SLEPT.

TEXT: OUT WEST, THE PORTLAND "OREGONIAN" WRITES THAT THESE SENSELESS DEATHS SHOULD NOW MAKE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND QUESTION REALIZE THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

VOICE: THREE BOYS DIED BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO WALK DOWN A ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. SURELY NOW THE AWFUL PRICE OF SECTARIAN HATRED IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS ON VIVID DISPLAY. SURELY NOW THE GOOD PEOPLE, THE REASONABLE PEOPLE, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE IRISH PEOPLE WILL DEMAND PEACE. EVEN SOME OF THE WORST FOMENTERS OF THE IRISH VIOLENCE SEEMED STUNNED BY THE BOYS' DEATHS.

TEXT: THE POSSIBLE UNRAVELING OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S THREE MONTH OLD PEACE AGREEMENT -- WITH ITS POTENTIAL TO END THE 30 YEAR IRISH-BRITISH CONFLICT -- CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS.

VOICE: MADNESS SEEMS TO HAVE GRIPPED BRITISH RULED NORTHERN IRELAND. WHAT OTHER CONCLUSIONS COULD ONE DRAW FROM THE RECENT MAYHEM THERE?

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SUGGESTS ANY FACTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILLING TO TARGET INNOCENTS SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED A SAY IN THE PROVINCE'S FUTURE.

VOICE: THERE SHOULD BE A RULE OF AUTOMATIC AND TOTAL DISQUALIFICATION FOR ANY ETHNIC OR POLITICAL CAUSE WHOSE UPHOLDERS BELIEVE THEY CAN ADVANCE IT BY THE MURDER OF CHILDREN.

TEXT: FINALLY, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" IN FLORIDA CALLS FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT RADICAL ELEMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL THE REGION'S FUTURE.

VOICE: EXTREMISTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND KNOW . . . IT'S EASIER TO BE BLOCK-HEADED THAN IT IS TO WORK OUT DIFFERENCES. BUT IT'S TIME TO STOP ALLOWING THE EXTREMISTS TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE MAJORITY. BY EMBRACING THE PEACE PLAN WITH REDOUBLED ENTHUSIASM, NORTHERN IRELAND'S LONG-SUFFERING MASSES COULD WREST CONTROL AND CHART THEIR OWN DESTINY.

TEXT: THAT'S JUST A SAMPLING OF WHAT SOME OF AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
NEB/NJS/MMK
15-Jul-98 12:30 PM EDT (1630 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] N. IRELAND / PROJECT CHILDREN BY REBECCA WARD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SECTARIAN EMOTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE STRETCHED TO THEIR LIMITS EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME DURING THE ANNUAL MARCHING SEASON, WHICH CELEBRATES PROTESTANT VICTORIES OVER CATHOLIC FORCES HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO. REBECCA WARD REPORTS THAT AN ANNUAL EFFORT TRYS TO PROTECT NORTHERN IRELAND'S CHILDREN FROM THE POTENTIAL VIOLENCE.

TEXT: EVERY YEAR, SINCE 1974, PROJECT CHILDREN HAS BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF KIDS -- BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC -- FROM VIOLENCE-PLAGUED AREAS OF NORTHERN IRELAND TO THE UNITED STATES FOR A SIX-WEEK SUMMER HOLIDAY. WASHINGTON COORDINATOR CAROL WHEELER SAYS 117 CHILDREN ARRIVED IN THE CAPITAL IN EARLY JULY. SHE SAYS FOR MOST OF THE CHILDREN, IT IS THEIR FIRST-EVER OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRY WHO ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SECTARIAN DIVIDE. IT ALSO GIVES AMERICANS LIKE BILL JOHNSON AND HIS WIFE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP THEIR HOMES.

WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN STAYING WITH US. THEY'RE BOTH 12 YEARS OLD. ONE'S A PROTESTANT, AND ONE'S A CATHOLIC. IT'S OUR FIRST TIME WITH PROJECT CHILDREN. BUT IT'S A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE AGAIN. BOTH OF OUR GIRLS ARE GROWN AND MARRIED.

MARY HOAK AND HER HUSBAND ARE ALSO HOSTING TWO CHILDREN, TWO BOYS, A CATHOLIC AND A PROTESTANT. SHE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE PROGRAM SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT CHURCH, AND SAYS IT IS SOMETHING SHE'S WANTED TO DO FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY IS IRISH. ABOUT 4 OR 5 GENERATIONS BACK. IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING THAT....BRINGING KIDS TOGETHER AND TO MAKE THEM SEE THAT THERE ISN'T REALLY A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT THEY CAN BE FRIENDS.

AT AN ICE BREAKER PARTY, GIVEN SHORTLY AFTER THE KIDS' ARRIVAL IN EARLY JULY, THE HIGH POINT BECAME A SOCCER GAME. BOYS AND GIRLS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 10 TO 14, FELL INTO TWO TEAMS -- NO RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION -- JUST SKINS VERSUS SHIRTS. STEVEN, SIMON AND BOBBY WERE IN THE GAME. AND IF THEY ARE AWARE OF WHO IS CATHOLIC AND WHO IS PROTESTANT, THEY DON'T SHOW IT. INSTEAD THEY SHARE A GREAT ENTHUSIASM FOR FOOTBALL, AND THE UNTED STATES.

GO TO WASHINGTON, GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE, GO TO THE CAPITOL, DO EVERYTHING. -- I TOOK A TRACTOR AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD -- WENT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WENT SWIMMING, SWIMMING EVERYDAY.

JEANNE MCQUERY, A WHITE HOUSE AIDE, HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH PROJECT CHILDREN FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. SHE SAYS IN THAT TIME, HER RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAM HAVE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

WE HELPED WITH THE PEACE ACCORD AND SENT A COUPLE OF REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ACTUALLY AN IRISH REPRESENTATIVE WORKING ON A LOT OF THE DETAILS. SO, WE SENT A COUPLE OF TEACHERS THERE. AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUNDRAISERS, QUITE A FEW FUNDRAISERS, PARTIES, WE WORKED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD A COUPLE OF HOMES...AND JUST MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND. THROUGH ITS WORK WITH THE YOUTH OF NORTHERN IRELAND, PROJECT CHILDREN HOPES TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES.

BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A MAJOR STEP TOWARD PEACE BY APPROVING A REFERENDUM IN MAY THAT CREATES A LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND ALLOWS CLOSER TIES TO THE IRISH REPUBLIC WHILE MAINTAINING NORTHERN IRELAND'S STATUS AS A BRITISH PROVINCE.

MS. WHEELER SAYS THAT GIVES PROJECT CHILDREN A NEW ENVIRONMENT TO WORK IN. WHEN THE KIDS RETURN HOME IN AUGUST, THEY RETURN TO A NEW GOVERNMENT, ELECTED BY THEIR PARENTS, CHARGED WITH WORKING TOWARD PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.
NEB/RW/PLM
15-Jul-98 12:45 PM EDT (1645 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] CONGRESS-ROMANIA (L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT HAS MADE A DIRECT APPEAL TO THE U-S CONGRESS TO BACK HIS COUNTRY'S BID TO JOIN NATO. IN A SPEECH TO A JOINT MEETING OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, EMIL CONSTANTINESCU SAID THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE WANT TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF SECURING A PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR ALL OF EUROPE. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU SAYS THE ROMANIANS WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE CEAUSESCU DICTATORSHIP IN 1989 PAID A BLOODY PRICE FOR FREEDOM.

OVER 12-HUNDRED OF THEM PAID DEARLY, WITH THEIR LIVES, AND THOUSANDS MORE WERE INJURED DURING THE ANTI-COMMUNIST REVOLUTION IN ROMANIA.

BUT HE SAYS THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE SOON LEARNED A LESSON -- THAT OBTAINING FREEDOM IS NOT ENOUGH.

FREEDOM MUST BE MAINTAINED AND DEFENDED ON A CONSTANT BASIS. I FEEL THE BEST WAY TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE IS BY WORKING TOGETHER IN COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NATIONS.

DURING HIS SPEECH TO A JOINT MEETING OF CONGRESS, MR. CONSTANTINESCU SAID ROMANIA IS A KEY TO STABILITY IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. HE SAID ROMANIA WANTS TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF DEFENDING ALL EUROPE AS A MEMBER OF NATO, AND A TRUSTED ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES.

IN ORDER TO BUILD A FULLY PROSPEROUS, DEMOCRATIC AND STABLE EUROPE -- ONE THAT STRETCHES FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE URALS AND BEYOND -- THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO ANCHOR ITS POLICIES TO COUNTRIES ON EUROPE'S SOUTHEASTERN FLANK THAT SHARE ITS DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE REGION'S STABILITY.

ROMANIA WAS NOT AMONG THE FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INVITED TO JOIN NATO. THAT INITIAL GROUP INCLUDED HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THE ROMANIANS HOPE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION.(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/JO
15-Jul-98 12:09 PM EDT (1609 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] CLINTON/ROMANIA ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH ROMANIAN PRESDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU, WHO IS ON A WEEK-LONG U-S VISIT TO PRESS HIS COUNTRY'S BID FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP. HE IS THE FIRST ROMANIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT WASHINGTON SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM THERE NINE YEARS AGO. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS MORE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: ROMANIA CONSIDERS EARLY ADMISSION TO NATO THE KEY TO ITS FURTHER INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSITUTIONS. AND IT HAS PRESSED NON-STOP FOR MEMBERSHIP EVEN THOUGH THE ALLIANCE HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT ITS INITIAL EXPANSION TO POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

IN A SPEECH TO A JOINT MEETING OF CONGRESS ON THE EVE OF HIS WHITE HOUSE VISIT, PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU SAID ROMANIA CAN BE "AN ANCHOR OF STABILITY" AND IS EAGER TO DO ITS PART FOR THE ALLIANCE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN EUROPEAN HISTORY:

WE WELCOME THE CHANCE TO SHARE OUR PART OF THE BURDEN OF SECURING A PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR ALL OF EUROPE. BUT TO DO THAT, WE NEED YOUR HELP. IN MANY WAYS, THIS MOMENT IS AS CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF EUROPE AS WERE THE YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR TWO THAT FIRST GAVE BIRTH TO NATO ITSELF.

MR. CONSTANTINESCU SAID HIS COUNTRY WAS THE FIRST EAST EUROPEAN STATE TO JOIN NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AND HAS RESOLVED ETHNIC AND BORDER PROBLEMS WITH NEIGHBORING STATES TO MEET CONDITIONS FOR FULL ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP.

HIS GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO EMBARKED ON A CONTROVERSIAL ONE-POINT-FIVE BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM TO BUILD U-S-DESIGNED HELICOPTERS AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO BRING ITS ARMED FORCES INTO LINE WITH NATO STANDARDS.

IN HIS SPEECH TO CONGRESS, MR. CONSTANTINESCU STRESSED HIS COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC REFORM -- WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN ROMANIANS HAD EXPECTED FOLLOWING THE OVERTHROW OF COMMUNIST DICTATOR NICOLAE CEAUSESCU IN 1989.

HIS WASHINGTON VISIT RECIPROCATES A VISIT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO BUCHAREST ONE YEAR AGO. (SIGNED)
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15-Jul-98 6:33 PM EDT (2233 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] SPAIN/ETA NEWSPAPER (L-ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

INTRO: SPANISH POLICE WEDNESDAY RAIDED AND SHUT DOWN THE OFFICES OF A NEWSPAPER WHICH IS SYMPATHETIC TO THE VIOLENT BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP "ETA." GIL CARBAJAL REPORTS FROM MADRID, THE ACTION WAS TAKEN BY COURT ORDER AFTER EVIDENCE SHOWED CLOSE LINKS BETWEEN BETWEEN THE NEWSPAPER AND ETA.

TEXT: IN PRE-DAWN RAIDS, SOME 350 SPANISH POLICE ARRESTED 11 PERSONS AND SEALED-OFF THE OFFICES OF THE PRO-BASQUE INDEPENDENCE NEWSPAPER CALLED "EGIN," ALONG WITH ITS SISTER RADIO STATION "EGIN IRRATIA," AND THEIR PARENT COMPANY, "URAIN." EGIN, WHICH HAS A CIRCULATION OF 50-THOUSAND COPIES, REGULARLY REPORTS ETA COMMUNIQUES AND ITS CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR TERRORIST MURDERS AND KIDNAPPINGS.

AMONG THOSE ARRESTED ARE A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF "HERRI-BATASUNA" -- ETA'S POLITICAL WING -- AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE UMBRELLA GROUP OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATIONS KNOWN AS "KAS." ALTHOUGH THE IDEOLOGICAL LINKS BETWEEN ETA, HERRI-BATASUNA AND EGIN ARE WELL ESTABLISHED, AUTHORITIES UNTIL NOW HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH HARD EVIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL AND ECONOMIC TIES.

IN A NEWS CONFERENCE EXPLAINING THE OPERATION, SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER, JAIME MAYOR OREJA, SAID THAT THE RAID WAS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF PROOF OF STRUCTURAL CONNECTIONS, STABLE AND PERMANENT CONTACTS, AND A RELATIONSHIP OF SUBORDINATION OF THE NEWSPAPERS AND ITS PARENT COMPANY TO ETA. THE MINISTER ADDED THAT WHILE OTHER POLICE OPERATIONS HAD DISMANTLED TERRORIST COMMANDOS, WHICH HE LIKENED TO LIMBS (ARMS AND LEGS), THIS TIME HE SAID THEY HAD STRUCK AT ETA'S VERY HEART.

ALTHOUGH EGIN'S OFFICES HAVE BEEN RAIDED BEFORE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 22-YEAR HISTORY THAT ITS OFFICES HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN.

THE PROVISIONAL CLOSURE WAS ORDERED BY SPANISH HIGH COURT JUDGE BALTASAR GARZON, WHO HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING ETA'S FINANCIAL NETWORK.

WEDNESDAY'S OPERATION FOLLOWS EARLIER RAIDS AND ARRESTS IN LATE MAY CARRIED OUT UNDER HIS SUPERVISION. AT THAT TIME, 11 PERSONS WERE ARRESTED IN AND AROUND BILBAO. DOCUMENTS CONFISCATED REVEALED THAT THEY LAUNDERED MONEY AND FINANCED ETA MEMBERS HIDING OUT IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/GC/PCF/JO
15-Jul-98 12:52 PM EDT (1652 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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