Voice of America, 98-07-29

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CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 1 OF 5: ALBANIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 2 OF 5: SERBIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[03] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 3 OF 5: MACEDONIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[04] KOSOVO CRISIS, PART 4 OF 5: BULGARIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[05] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 5 OF 5: BOSNIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[06] KOSOVO UNREST UPDATE (S/L) BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

[07] LORD OWEN/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

[08] GERMANY IMMIGRANTS (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

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

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

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

[12] WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (S) BY DAVID B. BYRD (ATHENS, GREECE)

[01] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 1 OF 5: ALBANIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

PERSPECTIVE TELEPHONE=619-3464
EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST
CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES)

INTRO: MOST BALKAN ANALYSTS HAVE BEEN URGING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, LED BY UNITED STATES, MOVE SWIFTLY TO END THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. BUT, WITHIN THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, OPINION IS DIVIDED OVER THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THE ESCALATING CRISIS IN THE BALKANS. IN AMERICA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE KOSOVO CRISIS ARE DRAMATICALLY

TEXT: JOSEPH DIOGUARDI [DEE-OH-GWAR-DEE], A FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW YORK, IS PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANIAN-AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE. HE SAYS THERE ARE 400,000 ALBANIAN-AMERICANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, DETROIT, AND CHICAGO. ACCORDING TO MR. DIOGUARDI, KOSOVO -- OR KOSOVA [KAH-SOH-VAH AS IT'S KNOWN BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- IS THE "PREDOMINANT CONCERN" OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- DIO GUARDI (0:36) "THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT KOSOVA IS THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIONAL CAUSE FOR THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE. IT'S THE JERUSALEM OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. [OPT] THERE ARE ALBANIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRIED FOR A DECADE TO ESTABLISH A REPUBLIC OF KOSOVA WITHIN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THERE'S A VERY GOOD CASE FOR KOSOVA TO MAKE FOR ITS INDEPENDENCE TODAY, AND THAT IS WHAT THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE FIGHTING FOR, ALONG WITH THE KOSOVA LIBERATION ARMY IN KOSOVA." [END OPT]

TEXT: MR. DIOGUARDI SAYS MOST ALBANIAN-AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT U-S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE BALKANS HAS FAILED AND THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT NOT STOOD UP TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- DIO GUARDI (0:36) RETIME "ONE OF THE MAIN FAILURES OF THAT POLICY TOWARDS KOSOVA IS THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN OUR PROFESSED ADHERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND OUR FAILURE TO ASSUME A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN KOSOVA IN THE FACE OF SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS EXAMPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MODERN HISTORY."

TEXT: JOSEPH DIOGUARDI SAYS THAT ALBANIAN-AMERICANS NO LONGER SUPPORT THE PACIFIST POLICIES OF IBRAHIM RUGOVA, THE POLITICAL LEADER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. INSTEAD, THEY ARE TURNING TOWARD THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHICH HE COMPARES WITH THE MINUTEMEN, THE ARMED CITIZENS OF THE AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- DIO GUARDI (0:30) "THE ALBANIANS TODAY TRUST NOBODY BUT THEMSELVES, AND THEY'RE NOW FIGHING FOR THEIR FREEDOM THE WAY THE MINUTEMEN DID 222 YEARS AGO IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THEY CANNOT TRUST THE SERBS, THEY CANNOT TRUST EUROPE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN REPRESSED UNDER THE WORST CONDITIONS FOR OVER 10 YEARS. SO NOW, WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. WE NEED TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO PUT UP WITH THIS KIND OF OPPRESSION ANY MORE."

TEXT: SAMI REPISHTI [SAH-MEE RAY-PEESH-TEE], PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL, AGREES THAT MANY ALBANIAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEGUN TO DESPAIR OF A POLITICAL OR DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. AND, HE ADDS, THEY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IBRAHIM RUGOVA'S POLICIES.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- REPISHTI (0:39) "HE DEFINITELY ENJOYS GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION BY MOST OF THE ALBANIAN-AMERICANS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT, MANY ALBANIAN-AMERICANS ALSO ARE FRUSTRATED BY NOT SEEING ANY CONCRETE RESULTS COMING FROM THE PEACEFUL ATTITUDES OF DR. RUGOVA. THEY FEEL THAT BY CONTINUING THIS WAY THE WEST IS GOING TO NEGLECT THEM, THE WAY IT HAS DONE FOR 10 YEARS. THE REASON WHY MANY PEOPLE HERE -- ALBANIAN-AMERICANS -- ARE SUPPORTING THE K-L-A IS THAT IT HAS GIVEN THEM A SENSE OF PRIDE BY SHOWING THAT WE ARE ABLE ALSO TO FIGHT IF IT IS NECESSARY."

TEXT: MR. REPISHTI DESCRIBES THE NATIONAL ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL OF WHICH HE IS PRESIDENT AS "LESS RADICAL" THAN OTHER GROUPS.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- REPISHTI (0:45) "OUR GROUP WAS FORMED AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN ALBANIA, AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA. AND, OUR PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE THE ALBANIAN PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON AND TO STRENGTHEN THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DO NOT USE OUR RIGHT TO CRITICIZE WHAT WE SEE IS NOT RIGHT, BUT WE DO NOT TAKE RADICAL POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY OPPOSITE THAT OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT. I'M A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND EVERY ACT OF VIOLENCE OR USE OF FORCE IS TO ME IN A SENSE REPULSIVE, BUT THERE ARE SOME RIGHT WARS AND SOME WRONG WARS. THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS WHEN THE DICTATORS HAVE TO BE FACED WITH FORCE."

TEXT: MR. REPISHTI SAYS THAT HE AND OTHER ALBANIAN-AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT THE BOSNIAN EXPERIENCE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL RESPOND ONLY TO FORCE. FOR THAT REASON, HE ADDS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, MUST BE WILLING TO USE FORCE TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. [OPT] OUR NEXT FEATURE IN THIS SERIES WILL EXAMINE THE SERBIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

[02] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 2 OF 5: SERBIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMONG THE MEMBERS OF AMERICA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO DIFFER

TEXT: NIKOLA KOSTIC [NEE-KO-LAH KOS-TICH], PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA, IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN UNITY CONGRESS, THE LARGEST UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF SERBS IN NORTH AMERICA. MR. KOSTIC ALSO SERVES ON THE ARCH-DIOCESAN COUNCIL, WHICH OVERSEES 150 SERBIAN ORTHODOX PARISHES. HE SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN A MILLION SERBIAN-AMERICANS. [OPT] THE LARGEST CENTERS OF POPULATION ARE IN ILLINOIS, INDIANA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, AND WASHINGTON, D-C. [END OPT]

MR. KOSTIC SAYS THE ATTITUDE OF AMERICAN SERBS TOWARD KOSOVO IS TEMPERED BY THE EARLIER CONFLICT IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA AND BY THE REFUGEE CRISIS CREATED BY THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- KOSTIC (1:02) "SO, THEY ARE NOW ENTERING THE KOSOVO PERIOD VERY FRUSTRATED, VERY DEPRESSED, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT KOSOVO -- AND EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THIS -- IS THE CRADLE OF SERBIAN STATEHOOD HISTORICALLY. KOSOVO IS LOADED WITH HISTORICAL MARKERS FOR SERBS -- MONASTERIES, CHURCHES, AND SITES, THE FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD OF KOSOVO [POLJE] FROM 1389. THEY REALLY FEEL THAT AMERICAN POLICY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION POLICY, IS GOING TO IN SOME WAY TAKE KOSOVO AWAY FROM SERBIA, WHICH IT HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND THAT ALL OF IT WILL GO TO SOME OTHER ENTITY [THAT IS, TO THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS], THAT THE SERBS WHO REMAIN IN THAT AREA WILL BE CLEANSED COMPLETELY, AND THAT THEY WILL LOSE NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE BUT THEY WILL ALSO LOSE ALL THE CHURCHES, MONASTERIES, HISTORICAL OBJECTS, AND THAT WILL HAVE BEEN DONE VERY UNFAIRLY."

TEXT: NONETHELESS, MR. KOSTIC SAYS, MOST AMERICAN SERBS AT THIS POINT DO NOT SUPPORT THE POLICIES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. AND, THEY FEEL MR. MILOSEVIC HAS PUT HIS OWN POLITICAL AMBITIONS AHEAD OF THE WELFARE OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- KOSTIC (0:57) "THEY ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH [MR.] MILOSEVIC. THEY THINK HE'S VERY UNDEMOCRATIC AND THAT THE WAY THAT HE'S DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM IS SUCH THAT HE'S USING KOSOVO IN ORDER TO PROP HIMSELF UP AND HIS GOVERNMENT, EVEN THOUGH HE IS BATTLING SORT OF A LOSING CAUSE IN A LOT OF WAYS. NOT ONLY IS HE DOING THAT IN ORDER TO BOLSTER HIS OWN POWER, HE IS NOT BEING REALISTIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE TRAPPINGS OF HIS POWER HAVE ERODED. [OPT] HE DOES NOT HAVE POPULAR SUPPORT. HE'S PRETTY MUCH KEPT IN PLACE BY A VERY LARGE CONTINGENT OF POLICE FORCES -- OVER 100,000 POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE AS WELL-ARMED AS THE YUGOSLAV ARMY. HE'S NOT WILLING TO STAND UP IN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS. HE'S NOT WILLING TO DEMOCRACTIZE THE COUNTRY, THE ECONOMY, AND SO ON. AND THEY FEEL THE POLICY IS VERY WRONG. [END OPT] AND, OF COURSE, IT'S BEING DONE TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES."

TEXT: BUT, AMERICAN SERBS, MR. KOSTIC SAYS, ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE GROWING POWER OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. THEY BELIEVE, HE SAYS, THE K-L-A IS A GUERRILLA ARMY THAT USES TERRORIST TACTICS. MR. KOSTIC SAYS AMERICAN SERBS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE WILLING TO INCLUDE THE K-L-A IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- KOSTIC (0:14) "THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ALWAYS SAID, 'WE WILL NOT TALK TO TERRORISTS OR GROUPS THAT USE TERRORIST TACTICS.' SO, WE SEE THIS AS A VERY UNUSUAL STEP TAKEN BY MR. HOLBROOKE [U-S ENVOY AND U-N AMBASSADOR- DESIGNATE] IN HIS MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP."

TEXT: MR. KOSTIC SAYS KOSOVO HAS BEEN A "HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE FOR YEARS." BUT, AT THIS STAGE, THE SERBIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND NATO TO NEUTRALIZE THE SITUATION.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- KOSTIC (0:39) "I THINK WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS SEAL THE BORDERS IN ORDER NOT TO ALLOW MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. I THINK THERE'S AMUNITION AND ARMAMENTS STILL FLOWING INTO KOSOVO [FROM ALBANIA]. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT OFF. I THINK THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT WITH [MR.] MILOSEVIC IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF POLICE ACTION IS TAKEN IN KOSOVO. AND I THINK [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS ENTITLED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SECURITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN KOSOVO ON ALL SIDES. I ALSO THINK THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN FORCE [KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM] RUGOVA AND SOME OF THE LEADERS TO COME IN AND BEGIN NEGOTIATING WITH [MR.] MILOSEVIC VERY SERIOUSLY."

TEXT: MR. KOSTIC SAYS AMERICAN SERBS BELIEVE THAT U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO IS CREDITED WITH GREAT SKILL IN BRINGING TOGETHER THE SERBIAN, CROATIAN, AND BOSNIAN LEADERS AT DAYTON, STILL HAS CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. AND, HE ADDS. THEY ARE COUNTING ON HIM BOTH TO BRING THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND TO EITHER "NEUTRALIZE OR REMOVE" K-L-A INFLUENCE FROM THE PEACE PROCESS. [OPT] OUR NEXT FEATURE IN THIS SERIES WILL EXAMINE THE MACEDONIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

[03] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 3 OF 5: MACEDONIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

PERSPECTIVE TELEPHONE=619-3464
EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST
CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES)

INTRO: AMONG THE MEMBERS OF AMERICA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO DIFFER

TEXT: BALKAN SPECIALISTS GENERALLY AGREE THAT, IF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO ESCALATES, THE RISK OF ITS SPREADING TO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA IS GREAT. MACEDONIAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN PAUL SIMOFF [SIM-OFF] IS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MACEDONIAN PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATION, THE LARGEST MACEDONIAN EMIGRE ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD. MR. SIMOFF SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT 300,000 PEOPLE OF MACEDONIAN DESCENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. [OPT] THE MAJORITY LIVE IN THE METROPOLITIAN AREAS OF THE AMERICAN MIDWEST, SUCH AS DETROIT, INDIANAPOLIS, FORT WAYNE, GARY, COLUMBUS, AND BUFFALO.

MR. SIMOFF SAYS MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS ARE WORRIED THAT THE WAR IN KOSOVO WILL SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE BALKANS AND THAT IT WILL ENGULF MACEDONIA.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- SIMOFF (0:16) "THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE PARAMOUNT CONCERN AND FEAR AMONG MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS CERTAINLY AND I'M SURE OTHERS WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT REGION. AND THAT IS NOT A FEAR THAT IS TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. I THINK THERE'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN."

TEXT: [OPT] MACEDONIA, ONE OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS THAT ACHIEVED ITS INDEPENDENCE IN 1992, IS A MULTIETHNIC DEMOCRACY. THE MAJOR POPULATION GROUPS ARE ETHNIC MACEDONIANS, ALBANIANS, TURKS, AND ROMA -- OR GYPSIES, AND SERBS. [END OPT] MR. SIMOFF SAYS MOST MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS BELIEVE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN A "DESTABILIZING FORCE" IN THE BALKANS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO ALARMED BY THE GROWING STRENGTH OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- SIMOFF (0:24) "YOU GET CAUGHT IN THIS QUANDRY OF PEOPLE WHO IN SOME RESPECT ARE PERCEIVED TO BE FIGHTING FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I THINK THEY [MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS] CERTAINLY HAVE A RESPECT FOR THAT. BY THE SAME TOKEN, THEY ALSO SEE GROUPS LIKE THAT [THE K-L-A] AS BEING DESTABILIZING. AND SO, IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, AND THE MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS CERTAINLY DO RECOGNIZE THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY FEEL THIS IS SUCH AN UNSETTLING KIND OF SITUATION FOR THEM."

TEXT: MORE THAN 30 THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY FLED TO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AND MONTENEGRO, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE ARE DISPLACED WITHIN KOSOVO. AND, IT MAY BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, MR. SIMOFF SAYS, BEFORE MACEDONIA IS ALSO FACED WITH A LARGE INFLUX OF REFUGEES, AND SOME NEW WORRIES.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- SIMOFF (0:56) "IT PUTS SOME STRAIN ON SEVERAL FRONTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. FIRST, THERE IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. TO PROVIDE A BASIC LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS CERTAINLY WOULD STRAIN RELATIVELY LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL. BUT, I THINK PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT YOU BRING IN THIS GROUP OF REFUGEES AND AMONG THEM YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN PERHAPS BECOME DESTABILIZING. WOULD THIS PROMPT GROUPS OF REFUGEES TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE BORDERS [OF KOSOVO AND MACEDONIA] TO PURSUE MILITARY ACTIONS THAT COULD SOMEHOW BRING MILITARY INCURSIONS ACROSS THE BORDER INTO MACEDONIA? AND THEN, THIRD, OF COURSE ONCE YOU BRING THESE GROUPS IN LARGE NUMBERS INTO MACEDONIA, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE EXISTING ETHNIC ALBANIAN GROUPS ALREADY IN MACEDONIA? THEY COMPRISE ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 30 PERCENT OR 40 PERCENT OF THEIR POPULATION, DEPENDING ON WHOSE ESTIMATES YOU WANT TO USE."

TEXT: MR. SIMOFF SAYS A LONGER-TERM FEAR OF MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO AND AN EVENTUAL UNION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN A "GREATER ALBANIA." ACCORDING TO MR. SIMOFF, THIS KIND OF SCENARIO MIGHT "ENTAIL A PARTITION OF THE REST OF MACEDONIA" OR EVEN THE COLLAPSE OF THE MACEDONIAN STATE.

IN 1993, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE U-N PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENT FORCE -- UNPREDEP -- IN MACEDONIA OUT OF CONCERN THAT THE ESCALATING CONFLICT IN BOSNIA COULD SPREAD. THE 750 TROOPS MONITOR MACEDONIA'S BORDERS AND REPORT ON ILLEGAL ARMS TRAFFIC. ON JULY 21, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED TO INCREASE ITS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO A TOTAL OF 1050 AND EXTEND THE MANDATE OF THE FORCE THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR.

GIVEN THE VOLATILITY OF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO, MR. SIMOFF SAYS, MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS WOULD WELCOME A GREATER U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REGION.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- SIMOFF (0:48) "I THINK THE MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY CLEAR AND UNITED IN TERMS OF THE KINDS OF ACTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES. MOST OF THEM RECOGNIZE THAT, IF THAT AREA IS GOING TO BE STABILIZED AT ALL, IT'S GOING TO ENTAIL THE UNITED STATES IN PARTICULAR EXPANDING ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN THAT AREA. AND MANY MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS HAVE STRONGLY ADVOCATED THAT THE UNITED STATES, CERTAINLY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE, BUILD SOME SORT OF A PERMANENT BASE OF OPERATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. THERE IS A CONCENSUS THAT A LARGER MILITARY PRESENCE IS CERTAINLY WARRANTED. I THINK SECONDLY, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IS THAT MACEDONIA OUGHT TO BE ADMITTED TO ALL THE VARIOUS TRADE AND OTHER GOVERNING BODIES ASSOCIATED WITH EUROPE -- THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER EUROPEAN TRADE ORGANIZATIONS."

TEXT: MR. SIMOFF SAYS MACEDONIA IS THE ONLY SUCCESSOR STATE OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA THAT ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT BLOODSHED. AND, MACEDONIAN-AMERICANS, HE ADDS, ARE PROUD OF THE STRIDES THE NEWLY DEMOCRATIC STATE HAS MADE IN "PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FREEDOM." BUT, THEY ARE WORRIED THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO WILL LEAD TO A "WIDER CONFLAGRATION" THAT WILL ULTIMATELY WIPE OUT MACEDONIA'S PROGRESS OVER THE PAST SIX-AND-A-HALF YEARS. [OPT] OUR NEXT FEATURE IN THIS SERIES WILL EXAMINE THE BULGARIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

[04] KOSOVO CRISIS, PART 4 OF 5: BULGARIAN-AMERICAN BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

PERSPECTIVE TELEPHONE=619-3464
EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST
CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES)

INTRO: AMONG THE MEMBERS OF AMERICA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO DIFFER

TEXT: RADI SLAVOFF [RAH-DEE SLAH-VOFF], MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION, IS PRESIDENT OF THE BULGARIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, D-C. THE COALITION REPRESENTS CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. MR. SLAVOFF SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT HALF A MILLION BULGARIANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. [OPT] THE LARGEST COMMUNITIES ARE IN MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, OHIO, CALIFORNIA, AND NEW YORK. [END OPT]

MR. SLAVOFF SAYS ABOUT HALF OF THE BULGARIAN-AMERICANS CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER WORLD WAR I FROM THE SO-CALLED "MACEDONIAN" REGION OF PRESENT-DAY BULGARIA. THIS REGION BORDERS THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, WHICH ACHIEVED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN 1992.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- SLAVOFF (0:43) "MOST OF THE POPULATION THAT CAME AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR CAME PRECISELY FROM THAT REGION, AND THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE. THE CRISIS -- I WOULD CALL IT AT THIS POINT WAR -- THAT IS DEVELOPING IN KOSOVO IS TAKING A DANGEROUS TURN. AND THE EXTREMISTS FROM THE ALBANIAN SIDE HAVE GAINED MOMENTUM, AND THE EXTREMISTS FROM BELGRADE ARE GOING TO REACT, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR CONFRONTATION THERE. WE ARE CONCERNED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER BOSNIA IN THAT REGION, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE HEADING."

TEXT: MR. SLAVOFF SAYS BULGARIAN-AMERICANS HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHOM THEY REGARD AS AN EXTREMIST AND "RESPONSIBLE FOR DESTROYING PEACE IN THE BALKANS." AND, THEY ARE ALSO ALARMED BY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, ESPECIALLY BY THE FACTION THAT IS CHAMPIONING A GREATER ALBANIA. HE SAYS BOTH THESE POSITIONS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO ANY PEACE EFFORTS.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- SLAVOFF (0:08) [OPT] AS WE SAY IN BULGARIAN, 'TWO POINTED STONES DON'T MAKE FLOUR.' THEY DON'T HAVE FLAT SIDES TO RUB." [END OPT]

TEXT: ACCORDING TO MR. SLAVOFF, BULGARIAN-AMERICANS WORRY THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS LIKELY TO SPREAD INTO MACEDONIA AND PERHAPS BEYOND.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- SLAVOFF (0:54) "THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR. THE BULGARIANS DO NOT WANT WAR. THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR FORCES OF MODERATION FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO AND STILL CONTINUES TO BE. THEY [THE BULGARIANS] ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL BALKAN COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE GREATER DIFFERENCES AMONG THEMSELVES [GREECE, TURKEY, ROMANIA, MACEDONIA, SERBIA, AND ALBANIA]. THEY [THE BULGARIANS] WERE TRYING TO DEVELOP SOME KIND OF A CONCENSUS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. BUT, UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS, I DON'T THAT IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE BULGARIANS NEED A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT. THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN THE BALKANS, I DON'T THINK THEY WILL GET THESE PEACEFUL CONDITIONS THAT THEY CAN CONCENTRATE ON DEVELOPING THEIR OWN COUNTRY, THEIR OWN NATION."

TEXT: BULGARIAN-AMERICANS, MR. SLAVOFF SAYS, BELIEVE THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY THE BALKANS NATIONS ON THEIR OWN. SO, HE SAYS, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO LEAD THE WAY.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- SLAVOFF (0:22) "OUTSIDE FORCES WILL HAVE TO STEP IN. OF COURSE, WE SHOULD HAVE NATO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CONFLICT. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD WORK WITH OUR NATO ALLIES. THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE, SHOULD NOT GO IT ALONE. THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT PRESSURE ON OUR ALLIES AND GO IN THERE JOINTLY."

TEXT: MR. SLAVOFF SAYS BOTH THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE AND THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WILL HAVE TO BE FORCED TO COME TO THE BARGAINING TABLE, IF A WIDER WAR IN THE BALKANS IS TO BE AVOIDED.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- SLAVOFF (0:53) "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BULGARIANS IN BULGARIA WILL DO IF THE WAR SPILLS OVER INTO MACEDONIA, AND IT CERTAINLY WILL, THE WAY IT IS GOING. IF [MR.] MILOSEVIC MOUNTS A CAMPAIGN WITH HIS ARMED FORCES AND MOVES INTO FULL-OUT WAR IN KOSOVO, HIS FORCES MOST PROBABLY WILL CROSS INTO MACEDONIA TO FIGHT THE ALBANIANS THERE ALSO, WHICH WILL BRING MACEDONIA INTO CLOSER ALLIANCE WITH BELGRADE. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GREEKS ARE GOING TO DO. THEY CERTAINLY ARE AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME KIND OF A MUSLIM REPUBLIC IN THE CENTER OF THE BALKANS WHICH MIGHT BE INSPIRED BY THE TURKS WHO ARE DEADLY ENEMIES OF THE GREEKS. AND THAT WILL FURTHER COMPLICATE MATTERS."

TEXT: MOST BULGARIAN-AMERICANS, MR. SLAVOFF SAYS, GENERALLY FAVOR FULL AUTONOMY FOR THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WITHIN THE YUGOSLAV STATE. AND, HE ADDS, BULGARIAN-AMERICANS FULLY SUPPORT THE OFFICIAL U-S POSITION ON KOSOVO. BUT, MR. SLAVOFF SAYS, THE FULL COOPERATION OF AMERICA'S NATO ALLIES IS ESSENTIAL, IF PEACE IS TO BE ACHIEVED. [OPT] OUR NEXT FEATURE IN THIS SERIES WILL EXAMINE THE BOSNIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

[05] KOSOVO CRISIS, PT 5 OF 5: BOSNIAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMONG THE MEMBERS OF AMERICA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO DIFFER

TEXT: DR. NEDZIB SACIRBEY [NAY-JEEB SAH-CHER-BEE], A RETIRED PHYSICIAN LIVING IN THE WASHINGTON, D-C, AREA, IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO. DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, DR. SACIRBEY WAS ENGAGED IN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES IN BEHALF OF THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, AND HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO ORGANIZE BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES TO SPEAK WITH "ONE VOICE." THE BOSNIAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, OF WHICH HE IS A MEMBER, IS AN UMBRELLA GROUP THAT LOBBIES ON ISSUES OF CONCERN TO BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES. DR. SACIRBEY SAYS THAT, OF THE APPROXIMATELY 120,000 BOSNIANS IN AMERICA, ABOUT 100,000 IMMIGRATED DURING THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. [OPT] THEY NOW LIVE IN THE MAJOR CITIES -- NEW YORK, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, DALLAS, AND HOUSTON.

DR. SACIRBEY SAYS BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES, CONSIDER THEMSELVES VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND GENOCIDE DURING WHAT HE CALLS THE "SERBIAN AGGRESSION" IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. BECAUSE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES, THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ESCALLATING CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- SACIRBEY (0:44) "WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OURSELVES AS FRIENDS OF SERBS AND ALBANIANS, BUT IN THE FIRST PLACE AS HUMAN BEINGS WHO CARE VERY MUCH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. DEFINITELY, WE SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOSNIA AND KOSOVO. WE ARE NOT ENEMIES OF YUGOSLAVIA, BUT WE ARE AGAINST THE HEGEMONY OF THE SERBS AND THE DOMINATION OF ONE ETHNIC GROUP IN YUGOSLAVIA. THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS THE RESULT OF SERBIAN OPPRESSION CARRIED OUT BY THE SERBIAN MINORITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SERBIAN POLICE AND SERBIAN MILITARY."

TEXT: DR. SACIRBEY SAYS THE WORLD IS NOW WITNESSING ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO SIMILAR TO THAT THE BOSNIANS EXPERIENCED EARLIER. HE SAYS, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTROL THE TERRITORY OF KOSOVO, SERBIA IS NOW TRYING TO EXPEL THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. IN HIS OPINION, BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES FAVOR INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTIONTO STOP THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. DR. SACIRBEY SAYS, BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES HAS MORE POWER THAN ANY OTHER NATION, IT HAS A SPECIAL DUTY.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- SACIRBEY (0:19) "CONSEQUENTLY, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES IS GREATER THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. THE UNITED STATES HAS TRIED TO BE THE CHAMPION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. AND, IN ORDER TO BE THE CHAMPION, THEY HAVE TO ACT TO PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO."

TEXT: BOSNIAN-AMERICANS, DR. SACIRBEY SAYS, VIEW THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA'S POLICY OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE. SO, HE ADDS, THEY NOW SEE ARMED RESISTANCE AS LAST LINE OF DEFENSE THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE. ACCORDING TO DR. SACIRBEY, BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES CONSIDER THE K-L-A TO BE "IDEALISTS" WHO ARE WILLING TO "GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM OF THEIR PEOPLE."

TAPE: CUT THREE -- SACIRBEY (0:18) "THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUGGLE OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE HUMAN DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AS [DO] SERBS, AS AMERICANS, GERMANS, AND OTHERS."

TEXT: DR. SACIRBEY SAYS THAT, IF THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN POWERS HAD INTERVENED EARLIER IN BOSNIA, A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE DIED, TWO MILLION PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE WAR, AND THE LEGACY OF RESENTMENT AND HOSTILITY IN THE REGION MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- SACIRBEY (0:33) "WE WISH THAT AMERICA AND THE WORLD WOULD LEARN AND WOULD DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THE LOSS OF LIFE [IN KOSOVO] WILL GO UP, UP, UP. I'M UNHAPPY WITH USING WORDS, USING PROMISES, AND IN A WAY IT MEANS COVERING UP WHAT [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS DOING INSTEAD OF ACTING IN A DECISIVE WAY. UNFORTUNATELY, SO MANY HEAVY [STRONG, THREATENING] WORDS WERE USED [BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY] IN BOSNIA THAT NO ONE NOW BELIEVES IN HEAVY WORDS BEING USED IN KOSOVO."

TEXT: DR. NEDZIB SACIRBEY SAYS BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT "WORDS AND PROMISES" CAN BE USED TO "COVER UP" INACTION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND THEY BELIEVE "ACTING DECISIVELY" IN KOSOVO IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE AGGRESSION THERE. [OPT] THIS IS FINAL IN A SERIES OF FIVE REPORTS ON THE VIEWS OF ETHNIC AMERICANS ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN KOSOVO. [END OPT]
29-Jul-98 2:44 PM EDT (1844 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO UNREST UPDATE (S/L) BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

INTRO: DIPLOMATS REPRESENTING EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER NATIONS MET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, BUT THEY CANCELLED A SCHEDULED TOUR OF THE REGION. FROM BELGRADE, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM AUSTRIA, BRITAIN AND GERMANY MET WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, BUT CANCELLED A TOUR OF THE COUNTRYSIDE BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS.

NEW CLASHES WERE REPORTED AS THE SERBS CONTINUED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE THAT HAS APPARENTLY SUCCEEDED IN RECAPTURING KEY AREAS OF THE PROVINCE FROM SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS FLED MALISEVO, A TOWN CAPTURED TUESDAY BY SERB FORCES WITHOUT A FIGHT.

THE DIPLOMATS ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO END THE FIGHTING, BUT THE LACK OF A UNIFIED ALBANIAN SIDE MAKES A CEASE-FIRE DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE. LEADING ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICIAN IBRIHIM RUGOVA SAYS HE HAS REACHED A COMPROMISE WITH OTHER FACTIONS, BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE DEAL FOR A SO-CALLED "COALITION" GOVERNMENT INCLUDES THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT, THE "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY."

THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS ABOUT 150-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING. OTHER SOURCES PUT THE NUMBER OF DEAD AT MORE THAN 500 -- MOST OF THEM ETHNIC ALBANIANS. THE TOTAL POPULATION OF KOSOVO IS ABOUT TWO-MILLION. KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUTNUMBER THE SERBS BY ABOUT NINE-TO-ONE.

THE EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS ARE DUE TO MEET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE THURSDAY. AUSTRIAN DELEGATE ALBERT ROHAN CALLED FOR AN END TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO, SAYING "WE CANNOT TOLERATE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF VICTIMS."

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS OFFERED TO RESTORE KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY. BUT THE GUERRILLAS ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE -- OR EVEN A GREATER ALBANIA TO INCLUDE KOSOVO AND WESTERN MACEDONIA. (SIGNED) NEB/ART/PCF/PLM/KBK
29-Jul-98 12:56 PM EDT (1656 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] LORD OWEN/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: EUROPE'S FORMER ENVOY TO BOSNIA, LORD DAVID OWEN, IS CALLING FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION TO PROTECT RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE BESIEGED SERBIAN REGION OF KOSOVO -- WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE. LORD OWEN ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE OF INTERNATIONAL RELIEF WORKERS AT NEW YORK'S HUNTER COLLEGE TODAY (WEDNESDAY). VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: LORD OWEN BELIEVES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST INTERVENE IN KOSOVO -- NOT TO FIGHT THE WAR OR TO TAKE SIDES -- BUT TO MAKE SURE ITS PEOPLE RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. THE FORMER ENVOY TO BOSNIA THINKS SERBIA, WHICH REJECTS OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE, MIGHT AGREE TO MILITARY ESCORTS TO BRING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO KOSOVO.

LORD OWEN CONCEDES THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD LIKELY NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED. AN EARLIER U-N OPERATION IN BOSNIA TURNED SOUR AND HAD TO BE RESCUED BY NATO FORCES. THE FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, NOW A PRIVATE CITIZEN, SUGGESTS DUPLICATING IN KOSOVO THE REGIONAL FRAMEWORK PUT TOGETHER FOR BOSNIA.

IT MAY BE THAT AT THE MOMENT THERE'S NOT MUCH ENTHUSIASM FOR COUNTRIES -- FOR THE U-N -- TO GET INVOLVED ON THE GROUND THEMSELVES. OKAY. THEN IT IS NECESSARY TO USE EXISTING REGIONAL STRUCTURES. THAT'S WHY THE STRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED IN BOSNIA -- WHERE THERE IS COOPERATION BETWEEN NATO AND OTHER NON-NATO COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA -- IS THE RIGHT MODEL TO USE.

LORD OWEN BELIEVES THE TIME TO ACT IN KOSOVO IS NOW -- BEFORE THE ONSET OF COLD WEATHER IN A FEW MONTHS. HE ADMITS THERE ARE DANGERS INVOLVED. BUT HE SAYS IT IS HARDLY A MORAL CHOICE TO SIMPLY SIT BACK AND WATCH PEOPLE DIE.

YOU'VE GOT TO ANTICIPATE THE SITUATION NOW. I KNOW THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS TO ANY SUCH INTERVENTION. I LIVED WITH IT DAY BY DAY, WEEK BY WEEK, MONTH BY MONTH, YEAR BY YEAR IN BOSNIA. BUT I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IF WE DON'T INTERVENE THERE WILL BE A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN KOSOVO THIS WINTER.

BESIDES THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, LORD OWEN FEARS KOSOVO -- IF LEFT FESTERING -- WILL UPSET A FRAGILE PEACE IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA, WHICH ALSO HAS A RESTIVE ALBANIAN POPULATION. HE SAYS, IN THIS SENSE, THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS FOR THE REGION THAN THE BOSNIAN WAR HAD EVER BEEN. MACEDONIA UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN SPARED THE TURMOIL THAT ENGULFED THE BALKANS WHEN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA STARTED TO BREAK APART IN 1991. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/KBK
29-Jul-98 2:02 PM EDT (1802 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] GERMANY IMMIGRANTS (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

INTRO: AS GERMANY PREPARES FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN JUST OVER NINE WEEKS (EDS: SEPTEMBER 27TH), POLITICIANS FROM THE COUNTRY'S TWO LEADING PARTIES HAVE TAKEN A TOUGHER STAND AGAINST FOREIGNERS WHO COMMIT CRIMES IN GERMANY. SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM BONN THAT FOREIGNERS ARE FAST BECOMING CAUGHT IN THE GERMAN ELECTION CROSSFIRE.

TEXT: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS MADE NO SECRET ABOUT THE WAY HE AND HIS CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS FEEL ABOUT FOREIGNERS WHO COMMIT CRIMES IN GERMANY.

CHANCELLOR KOHL TOLD VOTERS LAST WEEK IN THE NORTHERN TOWN OF KUEHLINGSBORN THAT NOBODY WOULD TOLERATE A GUEST WHO CAME INTO THE HOUSE, SMASHED UP THE FURNITURE AND INSULTED THE WIFE. LIKEWISE, HE SAID, GERMANY SHOULD NOT TOLERATE FOREIGN GUESTS WHO BREAK THE LAW.

THE CHANCELLOR, WHO HAS STEPPED UP HIS VERBAL ASSAULT ON FOREIGN LAWBREAKERS IN RECENT WEEKS, IS STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP WITH THE OPPOSITION, SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE GERHARD SCHROEDER, WHO HAS ABOUT A FIVE PERCENT ADVANTAGE OVER MR. KOHL IN OPINION POLLS. BUT CRITICS SAY THE ATTEMPT TO GAIN VOTES BY BOTH THE CHANCELLOR AND MR. SCHROEDER IS COMING AT THE COST OF FOREIGNERS' SAFETY.

IN A COUNTRY WITH RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE IS GROWING SENTIMENT IN GERMANY THAT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR OUTSIDERS. BOTH MAJOR PARTIES HAVE ADDRESSED THIS FRUSTRATION IN THE CAMPAIGN.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OPPOSITION S-P-D SAYS IF ELECTED, THE PARTY WILL MAKE SURE THAT IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT COMMITTING CRIMES WILL FACE TOUGH CONSEQUENCES -- LIKELY DEPORTATION. THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS -- THE MORE LIBERAL OF GERMANY'S TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES -- ARE ALSO CALLING FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAWS ALLOWING FOR QUICK DEPORTATION OF CRIMINALS. SOME MEMBERS OF MR. KOHL'S MORE CONSERVATIVE C-D-U -- AND ITS SISTER PARTY THE C-S-U [CHRISTIAN SOCIAL UNION] -- HAVE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT FOREIGNERS LIVING HERE SHOULD LEARN GERMAN, OR ELSE BE DEPORTED. "GREENS PARTY" SPOKESPERSON KERSTIN MUELLER SAYS HER PARTY IS IN THE MINORITY ON THIS ISSUE, CALLING INSTEAD FOR BROADER CITIZENSHIP LAWS. SHE SAYS THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR USING THE COUNTRY'S FOREIGNERS AS SCAPEGOATS TO GAIN VOTES.

BADLY, THE VICTIMS OF THIS CAMPAIGN FOR LAW AND ORDER ARE REFUGEES, OR FOREIGNERS LIVING HERE.

MS. MUELLER SAYS SHE IS AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE C-D-U AND S-P-D CONTINUE THEIR TOUGH STAND. WITH A COUNTRY THAT HOSTS SEVEN MILLION FOREIGNERS, SHE FEARS AN INCREASE IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE. /// END OPT ///

I'M AFRAID OF THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THESE EXPERIENCES IN THE PAST -- ALWAYS WHENEVER POLITICIANS WORK WITH THESE "LAW AND ORDER" WORD(S) ... THEY DEMAND THAT FOREIGNERS HAVE TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. IT CREATES A BAD ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE SOCIETY.

THE S-P-D DISMISSES SUCH CRITICISM, AND DENIES IT IS USING THE ISSUE JUST TO GAIN VOTES. ASK SOME FOREIGNERS LIVING IN GERMANY HOW THEY FEEL, AND THEY OFTEN GIVE YOU A VERY DIFFERENT ANSWER. JOHN MUMUFU HAS BEEN LIVING IN GERMANY FOR THREE YEARS, BUT SAYS HE IS GOING BACK TO NIGERIA AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

GERMANY IS FOR GERMANS ALONE. THEY DON'T LIKE FOREIGNERS, SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A FOREIGNER TO HAVE CITIZENSHIP HERE.

MR. MUMUFU IS CORRECT THAT GERMANY HAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S STRICTEST IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN THE WORLD. FAMILIES WHICH, FOR EXAMPLE, ORIGINALLY CAME HERE AS "GUEST WORKERS" FROM TURKEY AND GREECE OFTEN REMAIN FOR GENERATIONS WITHOUT EVER BEING ALLOWED TO GAIN GERMAN CITIZENSHIP. // OPT // MR. MUMUFU SAYS THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE BELIEVES THE GERMANS WILL NEVER ACCEPT HIM AS A FOREIGNER.

SO MANY OF THEM, THEY SAID, "YOU DON'T LIKE BLACKS? NO, I DON'T LIKE BLACKS." SOMETIMES THEY SAY "GET OUT OF THIS COUNTRY, GET OUT OF THIS COUNTRY."

TERRY ISAKI, WHO HAS LIVED IN GERMANY SINCE HE WAS A CHILD, ALSO FEARS GERMANS WILL NEVER FULLY ACCEPT FOREIGNERS.

THEY ARE MAKING LIFE HARDER FOR PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND IT'S HARD, 'CAUSE THEY PICK ON PEOPLE, ACTUALLY.

WITH THE LATEST CALLS FROM GERMANY'S OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR TOUGHER TREATMENT OF FOREIGN CRIMINALS, MANY GERMANS WHO HOPE FOR A MORE LENIENT POLICY IF THE S-P-D WINS THE NEXT ELECTION SAY THEY'RE NOW GIVING UP THAT HOPE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SK/PCF/WTW
29-Jul-98 6:10 AM EDT (1010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN MARKETS WERE VOLATILE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH INVESTORS APPARENTLY WAITING FOR A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF JAPAN'S NEW PRIME MINISTER.

THE FRANKFURT MARKET CLOSED DOWN. THE DAX INDEX FELL 39 POINTS, ALMOST SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

BUT IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP 17 POINTS, FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX SHOWED A GAIN AFTER SIX-DAYS OF LOSSES. IT CLOSED UP EIGHT-POINTS, JUST MORE THAN ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT LOST VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
29-Jul-98 1:42 PM EDT (1742 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS TRADERS AWAITED A REPORT ON A KEY MEASURE OF U-S INFLATION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 14, DOWN 19 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 25, DOWN FIVE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY SOME TRADERS WERE CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF THURSDAY'S RELEASE OF THE EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX, AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURE IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS U-S ORDERS FOR DURABLE GOODS -- PRODUCTS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE YEARS OR LONGER -- FELL TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN JUNE. MUCH OF THE LOSS WAS THE RESULT OF THE CRIPPLING STRIKES AT GENERAL MOTORS.

THOSE STRIKES ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OVER WITH WORKERS RATIFYING THE TENTATIVE SETTLEMENTS ANNOUNCED LATE TUESDAY. THE DEAL WILL KEEP G-M STRIKE-FREE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 13 MONTHS. HOWEVER, MANY WALL STREET ANALYSTS DO NOT THINK G-M GAINED MUCH FROM THE SETTLEMENTS AND G-M STOCK WAS DOWN.

IN ADDITION, AUTO ANALYST DAVID HEALEY OF BURNHAM SECURITIES SAYS G-M WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY RECOVER THE ESTIMATED TWO BILLION DOLLARS IT LOST DURING THE STRIKES.

ALTHOUGH I THINK G-M CAN ADD SOME ADDITIONAL CARS AND TRUCKS TO THEIR PRODUCTION SCHEDULES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, IT WILL BE VERY HARD FOR THEM TO MAKE UP ANYTHING NEAR THE LOSSES THEY HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED.

THE STOCK OF CENDANT CORPORATION, A FRANCHISING CONGLOMERATE, ROSE AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF WALTER FORBES, ITS EMBATTLED CHAIRMAN. MR. FORBES HAD BEEN UNDER PRESSURE TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF THREE YEARS OF ACCOUNTING IRREGULARITIES AT CENDANT. MR. FORBES SAID HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM.

I-T-T INDUSTRIES, THE AUTO COMPONENT AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT MAKER, SAYS IT WILL BUY BACK ONE POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS OF ITS OWN STOCK. AT CURRENT PRICES, THAT AMOUNTS TO ALMOST 30 PERCENT OF ALL OUTSTANDING I-T-T STOCK.

AUTO PARTS COMPANY T-R-W IS PLANNING A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING WHICH WILL INVOLVE THE CLOSING OF PLANTS AND THE ELIMINATION OF 75 HUNDRED JOBS.

B-A-T INDUSTRIES, THE BRITISH TOBACCO AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, SAYS ITS PROFITS FELL BY MORE THAN 14 PERCENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. THE COMPANY SAYS THE EARNINGS DROP WAS THE RESULT OF TOBACCO-RELATED LEGAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
29-Jul-98 5:14 PM EDT (2114 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE LEAD STORY OF THE DAY, IN FRONT PAGE BANNER HEADLINES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, IS THAT A SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATING PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS GRANTED FULL IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION TO FORMER WHITE HOUSE AIDE MONICA LEWINSKY. PAPERS ARE ALREADY COMMENTING ON THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE MONTHS-LONG PROBE OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE YOUNG WOMAN THEN URGED HER TO LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH. THE OTHER BIG STORY ELICITING COMMENT CONTINUES TO BE LAST FRIDAY'S SHOOTING DEATHS OF TWO CAPITOL GUARDS BY A DERANGED MAN WITH A PISTOL. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE LATEST MOVES AGAINST BURMA'S DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI; TALKS AIMED AT COOLING THE NUCLEAR THREAT IN SOUTH ASIA; IRAN'S BALLISTIC MISSILE TRIAL; AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER JAPAN'S NEW LEADER CAN MOVE THE NATION OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FIRST THE MONICA LEWINSKY STORY, AND THE NEWS THAT SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR HAS GRANTED HER VIRTUALLY FULL IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION, IN RETURN FOR HER FULL STORY OF AN ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT. IN NEBRASKA, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" IS ANNOYED AT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STALLING ON ANSWERING HIS SUBPOENA IN THE PROBE:

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE WHITE HOUSE SPIN [INTERPRETATION TO SWAY PUBLIC OPINION] MACHINE IS IN HIGH GEAR IN RESPONSE TO THE SUBPOENA OF PRESIDENT CLINTON BY THE WHITEWATER GRAND JURY..... THE PRESIDENT'S SITUATION WAS MADE MORE DIFFICULT TUESDAY WHEN [MS.] LEWINSKY WAS GIVEN BLANKET IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR HER TESTIMONY ABOUT WHETHER SHE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT. /// END OPT /// .... DESPITE HIS INSISTENCE SIX MONTHS AGO THAT HE WAS EAGER TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT [MS.] LEWINSKY, [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS BEEN USING ATTORNEYS AS A SHIELD. ..... WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, THE GRAND JURY IS THE PROPER LEGAL FORUM IN WHICH TO TELL YOUR STORY. AND YOUR STORY IS LONG OVERDUE.

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND (NEW YORK), "NEWSDAY" ALSO SUGGESTS IT IS TIME TO TELL THE TRUTH.

VOICE: IF [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS TOLD THE TRUTH UNTIL NOW, OBVIOUSLY HE SHOULD KEEP TELLING IT. IF NOT, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO START. FOR POLITICAL REASONS, CONGRESS WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO IMPEACH HIM. IT MAY BE LESS RELUCTANT IF VOTERS CONCLUDE THAT HE LIED BEFORE AND IS LYING AGAIN.

TEXT: MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS HISTORY MAY BE IN THE MAKING:

VOICE: NO SITTING PRESIDENT EVER HAS APPEARED BEFORE A GRAND JURY, SO HISTORY COULD BE IN THE MAKING. EVEN IF THE PRESIDENT WERE TO TESTIFY BY LIVE CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION, THE 23 GRAND JURORS WOULD BE ABLE TO QUESTION HIM DIRECTLY, WHICH NEVER HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. [MR.] CLINTON UNDERSTANDABLY IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY NOT TO ... DEFY [MR.] STARR'S GRAND JURY SUBPOENA..... EVEN IF THE PRESIDENT WERE TO WIN THE CONSTITUTIONAL STANDOFF, THE QUESTION OF WHAT HE HAD TO HIDE WOULD BEOME PRE-EMINENT IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND. THIS COULD RUB OFF [AFFECT] ON DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ATTEMPTING TO WIN BACK THE HOUSE IN FALL ELECTIONS.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" LOOKS TO MR. CLINTON'S FUTURE PLACE IN HISTORY:

VOICE: THE RESIDUAL PUBLIC-RELATIONS CLOUT [POWER] OF THE PRESIDENCY IS SO GREAT THAT IT WOULD BE AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT IT IS TOO LATE FOR MR. CLINTON TO SAVE HIMSELF LEGALLY AND BUILD SOME KIND OF POSITIVE MONUMENT FOR POSTERITY. BUT NO REASONABLE PERSON IN HIS POSITION WOULD DALLY ANY LONGER BEFORE BEGINNING A COMEBACK.

TEXT: MOVING ON TO THE OTHER MAJOR DOMESTIC STORY OF THE DAY, THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF TWO CAPITOL POLICE GUARDS BY A DERANGED MAN LAST FRIDAY: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE CRITICIZING THE NATION'S HANDLING OF MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THIS INCIDENT. "THE MIAMI HERALD" NOTES:

VOICE: THE FLOWERS NOW ADORNING THE CAPITOL STEPS ARE NOT JUST A TRIBUTE TO THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS KILLED ..... THEY'RE ALSO REMINDERS OF AN ANCIENT VERITY: FREEDOM ISN'T FREE; FREQUENTLY ITS COST IS TALLIED AS BLOOD SHED IN SELFLESS ACTS OF DUTY AND SACRIFICE. ..... DURING YESTERDAY'S [MEMORIAL] CEREMONIES IN THE ROTUNDA, PRESIDENT CLINTON SPOKE FOR MANY AMERICANS WHEN HE SAID: '..... THEY REMIND US THAT WHAT MAKES OUR DEMOCRACY STRONG IS NOT ONLY WHAT CONGRESS MAY ENACT OR A PRESIDENT MAY ACHIEVE. EVEN MORE, IT IS THE QUIET COURAGE AND UNCOMMON BRAVERY OF AMERICANS LIKE J-J CHESTNUT AND [JOHN] GIBSON, AND INDEED EVERY ONE OF THE 81 POLICE OFFICERS WHO JUST THIS YEAR HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE OUR DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND, JOINS THE "MIAMI HERALD" IN COMMENTING ON THE WAY THE NATION MISHANDLES THE MENTALLY ILL, LIKE THE MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING THE TWO OFFICERS.

VOICE: SOME ARE BLAMING THE SHOOTING ON THE CLOSING OF MENTAL HOSPITALS AND THE MOVE TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT -- A 'DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION' TREND UNDER WAY FOR 50 YEARS. OTHERS ARE .... ... PUSHING FOR ... INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION. THOSE ARE REFLEX RESPONSES. IT WOULD BE TERRIBLY WRONG TO REACT TO THE RARE OUTBURST OF VIOLENCE ... BY CHIPPING AWAY AT THE RIGHTS OF ALL MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.... WHAT WOULD HELP MOST IS A MORE COMPLETE SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAMS TO ENSURE THAT THE MENTALLY ILL -- EVEN IN RURAL AREAS -- HAVE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH [HEALTH CARE] PROVIDERS AND TAKE THEIR MEDICINE.

TEXT: MOVING OVERSEAS, TO BURMA AND THE CURRENT STAND-OFF BETWEEN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE NATION'S LEADING DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI. "THE NEW YORK TIMES," AGAIN ANGRY AT THE GOVERNMENT'S TREATMENT OF HER, WRITES:

VOICE: THE MILITARY JUNTA RULING IN THAT COUNTRY HAS NOW BLOCKED HER EFFORT TO TRAVEL TO A MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF HER POLITICAL PARTY. SHE HAS REFUSED TO TURN BACK AND YESTERDAY SPENT HER FIFTH DAY IN A STIFLING HOT CAR, SURROUNDED BY ARMED TROOPS, ON A ROAD OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL CITY OF YANGON [RANGOON]. THIS TREATMENT OF THE 1991 NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, WHICH DREW STRONG PROTESTS YESTERDAY FROM AMERICA, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER COUNTRIES, IS DESPICABLE. EVEN IF THE JUNTA BACKS OFF, THE EPISODE SHOWS AGAIN THAT IT IS UNFIT TO GOVERN MYANMAR [BURMA].

TEXT: TO WHICH, "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS:

VOICE: REMARKABLY ... DESPITE NEARLY A DECADE OF CONFINEMENT AND HARASSMENT, OF SEEING HER COLLEAGUES IMPRISONED AND TORTURED, SOMETIMES TO DEATH, AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS NEVER RETURNED THE INSULTS. CONSISTENTLY, SHE CALLS FOR DIALOGUE AND COMPROMISE: ..... NOW, IN KEEPING WITH THAT PRINCIPLE, SHE IS CALLING FOR THE TRUE PARLIAMENT TO BE CONVENED BY AUGUST 21ST. ALONE IN HER SUN-BAKED VEHICLE ON THAT COUNTRY ROAD, SHE IS IN THE RIGHT, AND ... DESERVES SUPPORT FOR HER CAMPAIGN.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE INCIDENT AN EXAMPLE OF THE "RECKLESS REGIME IN MYANMAR," AND ADDS:

VOICE: THE MILITARY HAS REPEATEDLY CROSSED THE LINE OF JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY IN ITS DECADE-LONG ATTEMPT TO DESTROY SUU KYI'S UNWAVERING EFFORT TO BRING DEMOCRACY TO MYANMAR, FORMERLY BURMA. .... ALL SIDES IN MYANMAR KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WANT DEMOCRACY. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT MUST BE BORN IN BLOOD.

TEXT: "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT FLURRY OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING IN SOUTH ASIA, BETWEEN RIVALS INDIA AND PAKISTAN, AND HAILS THE PENDING FACE-TO-FACE TALKS BEGINNING TODAY AT A CONFERENCE IN SRI LANKA.

VOICE: WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS FIGURED INTO TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN, A CRISIS COULD EXPAND BERYOND THEIR BORDERS. NUCLEAR WEAPONS EXPLOSIONS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES. ..... AT LEAST INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE HAD A MODICUM OF GOOD SENSE, WITH BOTH AGREEING TO MORATORIUMS ON NUCLEAR-WEAPONS TESTING. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, THOUGH. .... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PERSIST IN ENCOURAGING INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.

TEXT: STILL ON DEFENSE ISSUES, "NEWSDAY" COMMENTS THAT: "WITH ITS BALLISTIC MISSILE TRIAL RUN, IRAN IS SIGNALING THAT IT WANTS TO BE A GLOBAL PLAYER."

VOICE: IRAN'S TEST OF A MEDIUM RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE THAT CAN REACH ISRAEL AND SAUDI ARABIA SHOULD SEND STRATEGIC SHIVERS FROM THE PERSIAN GULF TO WASHINGTON. .... THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON TO BUILD A MISSILE CAPABLE OF SPANNING A REGION: TO EQUIP IT WITH A NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL PAYLOAD, MAKING IT A STRATEGIC WEAPON. THAT MEANS IRAN COULD BE SIGNALLING TO THE WORLD ITS INTENSION OF BECOMING A NUCLEAR POWER.

TEXT: AND FINALLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON JAPAN'S NEW PRIME MINISTER FROM "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, WHICH IS NOT IMPRESSED ON HIS PROSPECTS FOR CURING THE NATION'S SERIOUS ECONOMIC ILLS. VOIICE: /// OPT /// [FOREIGN MINISTER KEIZO] .... OBUCHI IS NOT THE FAVORITE OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC LEADERS DESPERATE FOR JAPAN TO STIMULATE ITS ECONOMY, PRUNE FAILED BANKS AND RESTORE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN RECESSION-BOUND EAST ASIA. NOR WAS HE FAVORED BY JAPANESE VOTERS WHO MADE CLEAR TO POLLSTERS THEIR PREFERENCE FOR EITHER OF TWO OPPONENTS. HIS SELECTION WAS FOLLOWED BY MORE CRUMBLING CONFIDENCE IN JAPANESE FINANCIAL CIRCLES AS HE TRIED TO FORM A CABINET. ..... /// END OPT /// ALTHOUGH MR. [FOREIGN MINISTER KEIZO] OBUCHI ENDORSED HIS SHARE OF REFORM SUGGESTIONS DURING HIS RUN FOR LEADERSHIP, HE APPEARS AS THE UPHOLDER OF THE DO-NOTHING CONSENSUS OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
29-Jul-98 12:50 PM EDT (1650 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (S) BY DAVID B. BYRD (ATHENS, GREECE)

INTRO: THE 13TH WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GOT UNDERWAY WEDNESDAY IN ATHENS, GREECE. V-O-A'S DAVID BYRD IS IN THE GREEK CAPITAL AND FILED THIS REPORT ON THE ACTION.

TEXT THE 16 TEAMS STARTED ACTION WEDNESDAY WITH LITHUANIA SCORING A CRUSHING WIN OVER SOUTH KOREA, 97-56. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE U-S MEN DEFEATING BRAZIL 83-59. THE AMERICANS TAKE ON LITHUANIA NEXT, AND COACH RUDY TOMJANOVICH SAYS THAT HIS DEFENSE WILL HAVE TO COUNTER THE LITHUANIAN'S SCORING.

I DID GET TO WATCH THE FIRST GAME TONIGHT -- LITHUANIA AGAINST SOUTH KOREA. AND I FELT THAT THEY ARE A VERY STRONG SHOOTING TEAM. THAT IS OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THEIR SHOOTING.

IN OTHER GAMES WEDNESDAY, RUSSIA BEAT JAPAN, 83-58 AND YUGOSLAVIA DEFEATED PUERTO RICO, 80-66. ALSO SPAIN TOPPED NIGERIA, 80-68 AND ITALY DEFEATED SENEGAL, 76-66. HOST COUNTRY GREECE DEFEATED CANADA 78-72 AND ARGENTINA BEAT AUSTRALIA 66-62. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBB/WDC/PLM
29-Jul-98 6:02 PM EDT (2202 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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