Voice of America, 98-07-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] UN/BOSNIA (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

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

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

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

[06] CONGRESS-YUGOSLAVIA ASSETS CQ BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[01] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FRESH FIGHTING IS REPORTED IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, ALONG A MAIN ROAD OUT OF THE CAPITAL, AND ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN SERBIA AND ALBANIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS MORE FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: SERB FORCES ARE ENGAGED IN A MAJOR OFFENSIVE, APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO OPEN HIGHWAYS THAT HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY SEPARATIST ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS.

STATE-CONTROLLED TELEVISION SAYS SERB FORCES CAPTURED A REBEL STRONGHOLD (AT LAPUSNIK) AS THEY WORKED TO OPEN THE MAIN WEST FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, (TO THE SECOND CITY, PEC).

IF THE UNCONFIRMED REPORT IS TRUE, IT WOULD BE THE GUERRILLAS' LATEST DEFEAT AS THE SERBS MOVE TO REVERSE RECENT GAINS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. ON SUNDAY, FIGHTING ERUPTED RIGHT AT THE BORDER BETWEEN SERBIA AND ALBANIA. THE ALBANIAN NEWS AGENCY (ATA) SAYS THERE WAS A BRIEF SKIRMISH AS SERB SOLDIERS FIRED AT A BORDER POST (AT MORINI), AND ALBANIAN TROOPS (AND LOCAL VILLAGERS) RETURNED FIRE. BUT THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY TANJUG SAID ARMY TROOPS EXCHANGED FIRE WITH GUERRILLAS WHO WERE TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO ALBANIA.

EITHER WAY, THE INCIDENT RAISES THE SPECTER OF THE WAR SPILLING OVER THE BORDER, WHICH MANY ANALYSTS FEAR COULD TRIGGER AN EVEN WIDER CONFLICT.

CASUALTY FIGURES FROM SERB AND ALBANIAN SOURCES DIFFER WIDELY IN THE LATEST FIGHTING. BUT HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE FIGHTING ESCALATED FIVE MONTHS AGO, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES.

TWO-MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN KOSOVO -- 90-PERCENT OF THEM ETHNIC ALBANIAN. THEY ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE AUTONOMY UNTIL 1989, BUT SINCE THEN HAVE EFFECTIVELY BEEN RULED BY BELGRADE. MOST OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS WANT INDEPENDENCE, BUT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAYS THE PROVINCE MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEGUN SEVERAL DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES AIMED AT AUTONOMY, BUT THE BIG POWERS ARE OPPOSED TO INDEPENDENCE FOR FEAR OF FURTHER DESTABILIZING THE BALKAN REGION. (SIGNED)
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27-Jul-98 8:34 AM EDT (1234 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] UN/BOSNIA (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: IN NEW YORK TODAY (MONDAY), THE UNITED NATIONS RERESENTATIVE FOR BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, CARLOS WESTENDORP, COMPARED THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA TO A GLASS HALF FULL, NOT HALF EMPTY. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: AMBASSADOR WESTENDORP SAYS MANY STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA TOWARD THE GOAL OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION.

MR. WESTENDORP INCLUDES GREATER FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS AS SIGNS OF POSITIVE CHANGE. NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER, HE SAYS, REPRESENT ANOTHER STEP FORWARD. BUT THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL SAYS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WILL NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL PEOPLE ARE LIVING TOGETHER AGAIN.

IN SPITE OF THIS YEAR BEING, THEORETICALLY, THE YEAR OF THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO MINORITY AREAS, ONLY 11 THOUSAND HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES OF ORIGIN AND WE EXPECTED 50 THOUSAND RETURNS. SO LESS THAN WE EXPECTED. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT THIS ELEMENT OF PEOPLE RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES IS GOING TO BE THE LITMUS TEST OF RECONCILIATION IN THE COUNTRY.

MR. WESTENDORP SAYS REFORM OF BOSNIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND ELECTORAL LAWS ARE ALSO PRIORITIES.

BUT MR. WESTENDORP SAYS THERE WILL BE NO NORMALIZATION IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA UNTIL PROMINENT BOSNIAN SERBS, INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, ARE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO TRIAL.

AMBASSADOR WESTENDORP SAYS THESE CHALLENGES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD WILL REQUIRE A CONTINUOUS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/BJS/LSF/PLM
27-Jul-98 3:09 PM EDT (1909 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS ALL WERE UP A LITTLE IN MORNING TRADING. BUT PRICES TUMBLED AFTER THE TOKYO MARKET CLOSED DOWN AND AFTER WALL STREET OPENED LOWER. AND BY THE CLOSE, THEY ALL WERE OFF SHARPLY.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 186 POINTS, THREE PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL ALMOST 66 POINTS, ONE-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT. AND, IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF 56 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/WFR
27-Jul-98 1:46 PM EDT (1746 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (MONDAY) IN A SURGE OF LATE-SESSION BUYING. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 28, UP 90 POINTS OR ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 47, UP SIX POINTS.

STOCKS WERE DOWN FOR MOST OF THE SESSION UNTIL THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING WHEN BUYING PRESSURE LIFTED THE MAJOR AVERAGES.

INVESTORS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD AND WHAT IS HAPPENING DOMESTICALLY TO OUR CORPORATION'S EARNINGS AND IT IS REFLECTED IN STOCK PRICES.

SALES OF EXISTING HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES DECLINED SLIGHTLY IN JUNE. HOWEVER ANALYSTS SAY THEY STILL EXPECT ANNUAL HOME SALES THIS YEAR TO EXCEED LAST YEAR'S RECORD OF FOUR-POINT-TWO MILLION.

THE AT-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY IS TAKING ANOTHER STEP TOWARD EXPANDING ITS BUSINESS WITH A 10 BILLION DOLLAR JOINT VENTURE WITH BRITISH TELECOM. THE TWO COMPANIES WILL POOL THEIR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS WHICH ANALYSTS SAY SHOULD HELP SPEED GROWTH AND CUT COSTS. LAST MONTH, A-T AND T ANNOUNCED IT WILL PAY 48 BILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE THE T-C-I CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT BELL ATLANTIC, A REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, IS IN MERGER TALKS WITH G-T-E, ANOTHER REGIONAL PHONE COMPANY.

CONTINENTAL, THE GERMAN-BASED TIRE COMPANY, WILL PAY ALMOST TWO BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE BRAKE AND CHASSIS BUSINESS OF I-T-T INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NEW OPTIMISM THAT THE STRIKES AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS MAY BE SETTLED SOON. NEGOTIATORS REPORT SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS AT TALKS WHICH BEGAN OVER THE WEEKEND. AN ARBITRATOR WILL SOON DECIDE WHETHER THE STRIKES ARE ILLEGAL. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT BOTH UNION AND MANAGEMENT WOULD RATHER SETTLE THAN RISK A RULING AGAINST THEM.

THERE WERE SOME MORE EARNINGS DISAPPOINTMENTS. UNION CARBIDE, THE GIANT CHEMICAL COMPANY, BLAMES THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE STRONG U-S DOLLAR FOR A 37 PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS. CHUBB, A MAJOR PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, REPORTED ITS EARNINGS FELL BY 12 PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER. AND, THE ATLANTIC RICHFIELD OIL COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS PLUNGED BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT. BUT, THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY REPORTED AN 11 PERCENT PROFIT GAIN, BOLSTERED BY GROWTH IN ITS FINANCIAL ADVISORS UNIT.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
27-Jul-98 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: REACTION TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF TWO U-S CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS BY A DERANGED MAN CONTINUES TO FILL THE EDITORIAL PAGES, JOINED BY REACTION TO THE SUBPOENA OF PRESIDENT CLINTON BY THE STARR GRAND JURY PROBING THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER.

THERE IS ALSO COMMENT ABOUT THE APPARENT DAWNING OF A NEW, MORE DEMOCRATIC DAY IN NIGERIA, AS WELL AS COMMENT ON THE MOVE TO TAKE CHINA'S PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE AND BACK INTO THE BARRACKS. ANOTHER TOPIC IN MONDAY'S EDITORIALS IS COMMENT ON THE SELECTION OF A NEW JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK INCLUDING SOME QUOTES, IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS LAST FRIDAY BY A GUNMAN, THERE IS A VIGOROUS DEBATE ON WHETHER SECURITY PRECAUTIONS AT THE HUGE U-S LEGISLATIVE BUILDING ARE SUFFICIENT. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS PLEADING THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS THE CAPITOL'S DOORS SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN.

VOICE: THERE'S PLENTY TO REGRET IN THE SHOOTING THAT LEFT TWO HEROIC U-S CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS DEAD FRIDAY. ..... BUT AT THE CRUCIAL POINT, THE CAPITOL'S SECURITY SYSTEM DID WORK. THE SUSPECT DIDN'T MAKE IT UNNOTICED PAST THE METAL DETECTORS TO HUNT DOWN WHICHEVER PUBLIC OFFICIAL HAUNTED HIS DREAMS. POLICE PERSONNEL WERE AFTER HIM FROM THE MOMENT HE TRIED TO ENTER THE BUILDING ...... NOW, TO THEIR CREDIT, MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE SOUNDLY REJECTED THE SORT OF FORTRESS SECURITY THAT SURROUNDS THE WHITE HOUSE /// OPT /// - - THE CLOSED BOULEVARDS, HIGH FENCES, CHECKPOINTS, SENSORS, HIGHLY CONTROLLED ENTRY. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "USA TODAY," HOWEVER, TAKES THE VIEW THAT SOMETHING PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE DONE TO INCREASE SECURITY ON CAPITOL HILL.

VOICE: THERE IS NO COMPLETE SAFETY FROM A FANATIC WHO HAS NO CARE FOR HIS OWN LIFE. BUT THE FACT THAT THE CAPITOL'S LAYERED SECURITY SYSTEM ... WAS NEGATED BY A RECOGNIZED MADMAN ARMED ONLY WITH A PISTOL EXPOSES WEAKNESSES. ..... THE CAPITOL POLICE MAY BE OVERTAXED. /// OPT /// ACCESS THROUGH ANY OF THE BUILDING'S SEVERAL ENTRANCES IS RELATIVELY EASY. THE FEW GUARDS POSTED THERE ARE FREQUENTLY DISTRACTED BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS, LOBBYISTS, REPORTERS AND STAFF WHO STREAM PAST. .... HAD SECURITY AND TOURIST-AIDE FUNCTIONS BEEN SEPARATED, [OFFICER JACOB] CHESTNUT'S LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPARED. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AND IN A FINAL COMMENTARY ON THE SHOOTING, "THE NEW YORK POST" WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE ALLEGED KILLER, RUSSELL WESTON, WHO HAD A HISTORY OF BIZARRE BEHAVIOR, WAS NOT GIVEN MORE HELP.

VOICE: IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL OBLIGATION OF A CIVIL SOCIETY TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT CARE FOR THEMSELVES, AND PRIMARY AMONG SUCH PEOPLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE ARE PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENICS. AMERICA IS DOING A HORRIBLE JOB OF IT. /// OPT /// .... HOW MANY MORE RUSSELL WESTONS WILL THERE HAVE TO BE BEFORE THE 50 STATES AND CONGRESS BEGIN TO RETHINK THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION POLICIES OF [MENTAL INSTITUTIONS DURING] ..... THE PAST 30 YEARS? /// END OPT ///

TEXT: THE NATION'S OTHER MAJOR STORY IS THE SUBPOENA SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR HAS ISSUED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON - - THE FIRST SUCH DOCUMENT EVER TO A SITTING PRESIDENT - - FORCING HIM TO TESTIFY SOON IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: WE WOULD PREFER TO SEE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT THAT MET CERTAIN MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS. ... THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY MEANS THAT THE LAW SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE IN AVOIDING CONFRONTATIONS - - UP TO A POINT. BUT IT CANNOT BE JUNKED BECAUSE OF THE ODD AND STUBBORN CHOICES MR. CLINTON HAS MADE.

TEXT: IN A RELATED MATTER, THE PRESSING NEED THAT MANY PAPERS FEEL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF RECENT LAWBREAKING IN PRESIDENTIAL FUND RAISING, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS FINALLY RUN OUT OF EXCUSES N O T TO APPOINT SUCH AN OFFICER.

VOICE: THE PRINCIPLE IS SIMPLE: JANET RENO CANNOT CREDIBLY INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT BY HER BOSS [THE PRESIDENT] OR THOSE CLOSE TO HIM. MR. [CHARLES] LABELLA [CHIEF INVESTIGATOR OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S OWN CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING PROBE] SAYS SO, IN WRITING. SO DOES LOUIS FREEH, THE FORMER FEDERAL JUDGE WHO HEADS THE F-B-I. DITTO JAMES ... DESARNO, THE TOP F-B-I AGENT ON THE DEPARTMENT'S CAMPAIGN-FINANCING TASK FORCE. THE OPINION OF THIS TRIO OF PROFESSIONALS CANNOT BE COOLLY FINESSED, AS MS. RENO HAS DONE FOR MONTHS WITH SIMILAR CRITIQUES BY REPUBLICANS.

TEXT: TURNING OVERSEAS, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON WHAT "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS IS A "NEW DAY DAWNING IN NIGERIA," AND IT CREDITS THE NATION'S NEW MILITARY RULER, GENERAL ABDULSALAM ABUBAKAR, WITH SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGES.

VOICE: HE MADE A COMMITMENT TO CHANGE NIGERIA'S DICTATORIAL WAYS, PROMISED TO RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND, LAST WEEK, ANNOUNCED A CONCRETE PLAN TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY. ALTHOUGH NIGERIANS HAVE HEARD THOSE KINDS OF PROMISES BEFORE, MR. ABUBAKAR APPEARS SINCERE. NOT ONLY ARE HIS PROPOSALS SUBSTANTIVE, HE BEGAN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TO IMPLEMENT THEM.

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: "THE WORLD SHOULD TAKE GENERAL .... ABUBAKAR'S PLEDGE TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY TO NIGERIA AT FACE VALUE. /// OPT /// DISSIDENTS IN AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY, ACCUSTOMED TO MILITARY STRONGMEN'S BRUTALITY AND DUPLICITY, WILL NOT. ..... GENERAL ABUBAKAR IS PROBABLY SINCERE. BUT CONVINCING FOREIGN REGIMES OF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. ..... IT IS GENERAL ABUBAKAR'S OBLIGATION TO REGAIN TRUST, NOT THE PEOPLE'S TO OFFER IT./// END OPT ///

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IS LAMENTING THAT AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SUMMIT WITH CHINA'S JIANG ZEMIN, THE NATION'S DEPLORABLE TREATMENT OF DISSIDENTS HAS RESUMED.

VOICE: .... THINGS HAVE MORE OR LESS RETURNED TO NORMAL. AT LEAST 15 DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN DETAINED, WITH SOME RELEASED AFTER A FEW DAYS AND OTHERS FACING HARD TIME IN THE CHINESE GULAG. ..... AND SO IT GOES IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. 'WE DID NOT TELL YOU OR TELL ANYONE THAT WE WOULD SEE AN OVERNIGHT TRANSFORMATION OF WHAT IS A SOMETIMES OPPRESSIVE REGIME,' EXPLAINED WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN, MIKE MCCURRY. ..... BUT MR. CLINTON AND HIS TEAM DID SUGGEST THAT HIS VISIT ..... AND HIS GENTLE ENDORSEMENTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS MIGHT HELP CREATE MORE POLITICAL SPACE FOR DEMOCRACY.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS PLEASED ABOUT ONE CHINESE DEVELOPMENT, PRESIDENT JIANG'S DECISION TO FORCE THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY OUT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

VOICE: ....WHATEVER THE SHORT-TERM HARDSHIPS, CHINA WILL MARCH FURTHER ALONG THE CAPITALIST ROAD IF [PRESIDENT] JIANG SUCCEEDS IN DISMANTLING ARMY BUSINESSES, ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION AND CREATING A MORE TRANSPARENT WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

TEXT: STILL WITH ASIAN AFFAIRS, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER," REACTING TO THE CHOICE OF PRIME MINISTER BY JAPAN'S RULING PARTY, SUGGESTS:

VOICE: FOREIGN MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI ..... IS AN OLD-STYLE MACHINE POLITICIAN WHO RANKED BEHIND HIS TWO OPPONENTS IN THE PARTY RACE IN ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND POLL RATINGS. BUT AT LEAST THE RACE FOR L-D-P CHIEF WAS FOUGHT OUT IN PUBLIC, UNLIKE BACKROOM PRACTICES OF YEARS PAST. LET'S HOPE THIS NEW PUBLIC PRESSURE WILL INSTILL A SENSE OF URGENCY IN MR. OBUCHI. THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER, AND HOW QUICKLY, HE ANNOUNCED A PROGRAM OF SIGNIFICANT REFORMS.

TEXT: ON THAT HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
27-Jul-98 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] CONGRESS-YUGOSLAVIA ASSETS CQ BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS UNFOLDING IN THE VILLAGES OF KOSOVO. AID WORKERS ESTIMATE IT WILL TAKE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND THE HUNGRY. SOME MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ARE URGING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO TAP YUGOSLAV ASSETS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WERE FROZEN IN 1992. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THERE ARE LEGAL BARRIERS.

TEXT: WHEN TOM LANTOS SPEAKS OF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO THERE IS A WEARINESS IN HIS VOICE AND A SADNESS IN HIS EYES. THEY ARE THE EYES OF A MAN WHO WITNESSED THE ATROCITIES OF WORLD WAR TWO.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VILLAGES DESTROYED...FAMILIES SHATTERED...PEOPLE WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY DESTITUTE, DESPERATE, AND IN NEED OF HELP.

MR. LANTOS IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE NAZI HOLOCAUST CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD USE FROZEN YUGOSLAV ASSETS TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS THAT THESE DESTITUTE PEOPLE -- WHOSE TINY LITTLE HOMES HAE BEEN SHOT TO SMITHEREENS, WHO HAVE NO EMPLOYMENT, NO POSSESSIONS, ADDING TO THE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WE ALREADY HAVE IN THIS REGION -- SHOULD THEY WAIT FOR COMPENSATION OR HUMANITARIAN AID UNTIL AFTER THIS CONFLICT IS RESOLVED?

BUT DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE THE ASSETS, NO MATTER HOW NOBLE THE CAUSE? ROBERT GELBARD IS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE BALKANS.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF BREAKING INTO THESE FROZEN FUNDS -- MANY OF WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDER LITIGATION FROM A VARIETY OF THE PARTIES COMING OUT OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO DISPOSING THE ASSETS AMONG THE FIVE STATES THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM YUGOSLAVIA.

AMBASSADOR GELBARD SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS ALREADY INVOLVED IN A LAW SUIT RELATED TO BOSNIAN CLAIMS ON THE MONEY. HE SAYS CONGRESSMAN LANTOS HAS GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT A U-S GOVERNMENT MOVE TO TAP THE ASSETS WOULD HAVE SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS.

SOME LEGAL SCHOLARS SAY IT MIGHT BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THEY CITE AN OLD SUPREME COURT CASE IN WHICH THE JUSTICES SAID CONGRESS MUST DECLARE WAR BEFORE CONFISCATING FOREIGN PROPERTY.

STANLEY MARCUS IS A WASHINGTON BASED ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW. HE SAYS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DISTRIBUTING FROZEN ASSETS IS AN OPEN QUESTION. ALL THE SAME, HE WOULD ADVISE AGAINST IT.

THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD THE UNITED STATES EXPROPRIATE THE ASSETS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES OR FOREIGN NATIONALS. EXPROPRIATION IS SOMETHING THE UNITED STATES HAS PROTESTED WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES DO IT. IT IS AN ACT IF -- WERE THE UNITED STATES TO DO IT -- WOULD RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL CRITICISM OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE CURRENT WORTH OF THE YUGOSLAV ASSETS IS UNCLEAR, SINCE MUCH OF THE TOTAL IS IN PRIVATE HANDS. MR. MARCUS SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO GET A FULL ACCOUNTING WOULD BE FOR THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO DO A COMPLETE INVENTORY. CONGRESSMAN LANTOS SAYS ANY YUGOSLAVIAN MONEY HELD BY THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE USED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. HE IS URGNG OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO WORK WITH HIM TO BRING NECESSARY LEGISLATION BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WDC/PLM
27-Jul-98 7:42 PM EDT (2342 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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