Voice of America, 98-08-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] E-U / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] KOSOVO TALKS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

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

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

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

[01] ALBANIA / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS AND AIRCRAFT HAVE BEGUN MILITARY EXERCISES IN ALBANIA, IN A SHOW OF FORCE AIMED AT AN AUDIENCE IN THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL, BELGRADE. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE EXERCISE IS OFFICIALLY AIMED AT PROMOTING REGIONAL STABILITY. BUT THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THE REAL MISSION -- TO CONVINCE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THAT NATO IS SERIOUS ABOUT INTERVENTION IF A POLITICAL SOLUTION CAN NOT BE FOUND IN NEIGHBORING KOSOVO.

TROOPS FROM 14 COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART, INCLUDING 11 NATO MEMBERS PLUS RUSSIA, ALBANIA AND LITHUANIA.

NATO STRATEGISTS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR POSSIBLE INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO, WHERE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE. THE SECRET NATO PLANS ARE SAID TO FOCUS MAINLY ON AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB TARGETS. USING GROUND FORCES IS THOUGHT TO BE TOO RISKY.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE KOSOVO FIGHTING, AND ABOUT 200-THOUSAND HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES.

ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADERS SAY THE NATO EXERCISE, CODE-NAMED -- COOPERATIVE ASSEMBLY -- IS AIMED AT DISCOURAGING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. BUT IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER LUAN HAJDARAGA SAID THE GOAL IS A POLITICAL RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS.

WE ARE WAITING FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN [ETHNIC] ALBANIANS AND SERBS TO SOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT IN THE CASE THAT NO POLITICAL MEANS WILL BE ON THE TABLE, SO THE MILITARY SOLUTION WILL REMAIN. BUT LET US HOPE THE KOSOVO PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED BY POLITICAL MEANS.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADERS IN KOSOVO LAST WEEK NAMED A NEGOTIATING TEAM, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHO NAMED THEIR OWN TEAM. UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE POLITICAL TEAM WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE A CEASEFIRE OR ANYTHING ELSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/RAE
17-Aug-98 8:06 AM EDT (1206 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMANITARIAN AID WILL TRAVEL TUESDAY TO KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE E-U OFFICIAL HOPES TO PERSUADE BOTH SIDES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT TO PERMIT BETTER ACCESS FOR RELIEF AGENCIES TO REFUGEES AND OTHER WAR VICTIMS.

TEXT: EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER EMMA BONINO WILL BEGIN HER VISIT TO THE REGION WITH TALKS AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN BELGRADE. IN KOSOVO, SHE PLANS TO VISIT THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE AREAS WORST AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT.

MISS BONINO SAYS THE AIM OF HER TRIP IS TO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING HUMANITARIAN AID. SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO SEE FOR HERSELF THE CONDITIONS FACED BY REFUGEES AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FIGHTING BETWEEN SERB SECURITY FORCES AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

THE E-U OFFICIAL SAYS SHE WILL MEET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA AND ALSO EXPECTS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH E-U DIPLOMATS IN THE REGION.

MISS BONINO IS EXPECTED TO REPEAT THE EUROPEAN UNION'S STANCE THAT PEACEFUL DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION REPRESENTS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO.

SHE ALSO IS EXPECTED TO STRESS THAT WHILE THE EUROPEAN UNION IS SYMPATHETIC TO THE PLIGHT OF THE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IN KOSOVO, THERE IS LITTLE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ITS DEMANDS FOR INDEPENDENCE.

MISS BONINO'S VISIT COMES AS THE NATO ALLIANCE IS CONDUCTING MILITARY EXERCISES IN ALBANIA. THE AIM OF THE NATO EXERCISE, WITH 17-HUNDRED TROOPS AND AROUND 60 PLANES AND HELICOPTERS, IS TO SHOW THE ALLIANCE IS READY AND ABLE TO MOUNT A MILITARY STRIKE IN KOSOVO, IF A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS CANNOT BE FOUND.

NATO AMBASSADORS IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK GAVE THE GO-AHEAD FOR THESE EXERCISES. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED PLANS FOR A SERIES OF POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIONS IN KOSOVO, INVOLVING THE USE OF BOTH GROUND AND AIR FORCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH/RAE
17-Aug-98 10:25 AM EDT (1425 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO TALKS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: AFTER AN OFFENSIVE THAT HAS PUSHED ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS FROM THEIR STRONGHOLDS ACROSS KOSOVO, SERB OFFICIALS HAVE OFFERED ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICIANS A FRESH ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE TROUBLED PROVINCE. THAT APPROACH HAS BEEN REJECTED BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN NEGOTIATORS. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: A SENIOR KOSOVO ALBANIAN NEGOTIATOR HAS TOLD HIS SERBIAN COUNTERPARTS IN BELGRADE THAT CONDITIONS ARE NOT RIGHT FOR TALKS ON THE STATUS OF KOSOVO. AT THE SAME TIME, SERBIAN OFFICIALS, LED BY CHIEF NEGOTIATOR RATKO MARKOVIC, HAVE TAKEN A GET-TOUGH APPROACH TO RESOLVING THE CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN SERBIA ONE OF TWO REPUBLICS IN YUGOSLAVIA.

AFTER SERB SECURITY FORCES SEIZED THE TOWN OF JUNIK OVER THE WEEKEND, MR. MARKOVIC HAS ISSUED A FRESH INVITATION FOR KOSOVO ALBANIANS TO COME TO THE PEACE TABLE. HE BLAMED THE SEPARATISTS FOR PROVOKING THE SERB ATTACKS.

SERB OFFICIAL MEDIA HAS PRAISED ITS POLICE AND MILITARY FORCES FOR DEALING A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE ALBANIAN KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR "K-L-A." TANJUG, THE OFFICIAL STATE NEWS AGENCY, HAS ALSO THANKED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR WHAT IT SAYS IS PRESSURE BEING APPLIED ON THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS TO ENGAGE IN SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF KOSOVO.

THOUGH SERB OFFICIALS INSIST THAT THEY ARE ON AN OFFENSIVE TO STAMP-OUT THE K-L-A, WESTERN AND ALBANIAN ANALYSTS BOTH SAY THAT THE GUERRILLA FIGHTERS HAVE SUFFERED ONLY LIMITED CASUALTIES DURING A THREE-WEEK SERB OFFENSIVE.

ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS SAY THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIAN RULE. WESTERN DIPLOMATS, LED BY AMERICAN AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL, SAY THAT INDEPENDENCE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. ON MONDAY, AMBASSADOR HILL MET WITH SERBIAN NEGOTIATORS IN BELGRADE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTARTING NEGOTIATIONS ON KOSOVO'S STATUS. DETAILS OF HIS DISCUSSIONS WERE UNAVAILABLE.

BUT SENIOR KOSOVO NEGOTIATOR, DR. FEHMI AGANI, FLATLY REJECTED THE IDEA OF TALKS WITHOUT PRIOR WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES FROM KOSOVO.

THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IN PRISTINA, SAID ON MONDAY THAT IT WAS BEING DENIED ACCESS TO FIGHTING ZONES ACROSS KOSOVO. THE U-N OFFICE SAYS IT HAS FOUND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW REFUGEES SCATTERED IN WOODED AREAS ACROSS KOSOVO AFTER THE WEEKEND FIGHTING. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/PCF
17-Aug-98 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE DETAINED FIVE SUSPECTS AND OFFICIALS FROM BELFAST AND DUBLIN ARE JOINING FORCES TO INVESTIGATE WHO IS BEHIND THE BOMB BLAST THAT KILLED AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND ON SATURDAY. V-O-A CORERSPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: ONE OF THE FIVE SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY IS THE TEENAGE SON OF A LEADING MEMBER OF THE ALLEGED POLITICAL WING OF A DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN GROUP KNOWN AS THE REAL I-R-A. THE GROUP HAS DENIED ANY LINKS TO THE TERRORIST ATTACK BUT POLITICIANS BLAME THE REAL I-R-A FOR THE BOMBING.

THE SUSPECTS WERE PICKED UP IN AN EARLY MORNING RAID ON MONDAY. THEY CAN BE HELD UP TO ONE WEEK BEFORE BEING CHARGED OR RELEASED.

POLICE OFFICIALS FROM BELFAST AND DUBLIN SAY THEY WILL POOL THEIR RESOURCES IN THE INVESTIGATION AND IN TIGHTENING SECURITY ACROSS THE ISLAND.

A CABINET MEMBER FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC, MARY O'ROURKE, TOLD BRITISH RADIO THAT A TRAGEDY LIKE THE OMAGH BOMBING WAS NOT TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT LAST APRIL.

THERE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS IN THE LAST NUMBER OF WEEKS AND MONTHS IN WHICH THE EFFORTS OF THIS SO-CALLED SPLINTER GROUPS HAVE BEEN THWARTED. BUT OUR CONSTANT DREAD AND FEAR WAS THAT ONE OF THEIR EFFORTS WOULDN'T BE THWARTED NO MATTER WHAT THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE SECURITY FORCES.

POLICE IN OMAGH HAD RECEIVED A MISLEADING TELEPHONE WARNING ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. IT LED THEM TO EVACUATE BYSTANDERS TOWARD THE BOMB RATHER THAN AWAY FROM IT. IN OMAGH, RESIDENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF THE TRAGEDY. FLOWERS HAVE BEEN LEFT NEAR THE BOMB SITE, SOME WITH SIMPLE NOTES THAT ASK WHY OR WHAT PRICE PEACE.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR MADE A QUICK TRIP TO THE MARKET TOWN AND TO BELFAST TO CONSULT WITH LEADERS THERE. HE INSISTS THE PEACE PROCESS MUST NOT BE DERAILED BY THE WEEKEND TRAGEDY. THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS NOW ARE ALSO LOOKING AT CHANGES IN SECURITY MEASURES TO TRY TO PREVENT MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/JWH/KL
17-Aug-98 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: EUROPE'S BIG STOCK MARKETS OPENED THE TRADING WEEK MONDAY ON A MIXED NOTE. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM LONDON.

TEXT: FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS CONTINUED TO REACT TO PRESSURE BROUGHT ON BY TROUBLES IN ASIA AND THE PRECARIOUS STATE OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY. THE WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES MONDAY TOOK A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE (WERE VOLATILE) FROM SHARPLY LOWER PRICES TO SIZABLE GAINS. BUT AT THE END OF TRADING, THE OVERALL STOCK INDEXES WERE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE CLOSE FRIDAY. LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX CLOSED UP 12-POINTS, WHILE THE PARIS "CAC 40" ENDED DOWN 11. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" WAS OFF A LITTLE LESS THAN ONE-PERCENT -- ABOUT 42 POINTS -- BUT HAD BEEN TRADING FOR A WHILE DOWN ALMOST TWO-PERCENT.

ON THE CURRENCY EXCHANGES, THE HIGH-FLYING U-S DOLLAR EASED BACK AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, TRADING DOWN ABOUT ONE PFENNIG. THE DOLLAR WAS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, BUT LOST ABOUT A HALF YEN AGAINST THE JAPANESE CURRENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
17-Aug-98 2:24 PM EDT (1824 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (MONDAY) AS BARGAIN HUNTERS RULED WALL STREET. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 74, UP 149 POINTS OR MORE THAN ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 83, UP 20 POINTS.

BARGAIN HUNTING SEEM TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS OF MANY TRADERS AFTER LAST WEEK'S TWO PERCENT DECLINE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS SEEMED TO SHRUG OFF THE DEVALUATION OF THE RUSSIAN RUBLE, SAYING SOME TYPE OF DEVALUATION WAS EXPECTED LAST WEEK.

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY ALSO DID NOT APPEAR TO CONCERN WALL STREET.

ANALYSTS AGREE THAT ANY SERIOUS MOVE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE A MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STOCKS, BUT FEW EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN.

MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD -- THE U-S CENTRAL BANK -- MEET TUESDAY TO CONSIDER INTEREST RATES. HOWEVER, THE OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS ON WALL STREET IS THAT THE BANK WILL LEAVE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED.

A HUGE ACQUISITION IN THE U-S WASTE DISPOSAL INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. WASTE MANAGEMENT WILL BUY THE EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMPANY IN AN ALL STOCK DEAL WORTH ONE POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS. K-MART, THE U-S DISCOUNT STORE CHAIN, SAYS IT PLANS TO CONVERT MORE THAN 500 OF ITS STORES INTO THE LARGE FORMAT "BIG K-MART" DESIGN WHICH FEATURES WIDER AISLES AND BETTER LIGHTING. K-MART HAS BEEN GAINING CUSTOMERS IN RECENT YEARS AFTER SUFFERING SERIOUS DETERIORATION IN THE EARLY 1990'S. TIFFANY, THE LUXURY RETAILER OF JEWELRY AND HOUSEWARES, SAYS ITS PROFITS ROSE TO A RECORD IN THE LATEST QUARTER, DESPITE THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. TIFFANY SAYS STRONG SALES IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE OFFSET WEAKNESS IN ASIA.

A FEDERAL MEDIATOR IS EXPECTED TO HELP IN NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT ENDING A TWO-DAY STRIKE AT U-S WEST, A REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY WHICH SERVES 25 MILLION CUSTOMERS IN 14 WESTERN STATES. SO FAR, MOST ROUTINE TELEPHONE SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN DISRUPTED.

THE FALLING VALUE OF THE CANADIAN DOLLAR HAS MADE CANADA A VERY ATTRACTIVE VACATION SPOT FOR MANY AMERICANS. THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS A RECORD ONE POINT TWO MILLION AMERICANS MADE OVERNIGHT VISITS TO CANADA IN JUNE. THE CANADIAN DOLLAR IS NOW WORTH LESS THAN 70 U-S CENTS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
17-Aug-98 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON GIVES TESTIMONY BEFORE THE WHITEWATER GRAND JURY TODAY IN WASHINGTON, AND MANY OF TODAY'S PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THIS HISTORIC CONFRONTATION BETWEEN A SITTING PRESIDENT AND THE SPECIAL COUNSEL.

THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE EDITORIAL BOARDS, AND THEY INCLUDE THE TERROR BOMBING IN NORTHERN IRELAND; A DELAY OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET; AND U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAQ. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION TESTIMONY BEFORE A GRAND JURY IN WASHINGTON INVESTIGATING HIS ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY IS DRAWING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS IT "A SCANDAL'S SAD LEGACY."

VOICE: AMERICANS WANT THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER OVER AND DONE WITH. THEY WANT PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SOMEHOW MAKE IT GO AWAY. BUT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN, EVEN IF [MR.] CLINTON MANAGES TO ELUDE LEGAL CULPABILITY DURING TODAY'S SCHEDULED APPEARANCE VIA VIDEO BEFORE THE WHITEWATER ... GRAND JURY ... NO MATTER HOW IT IS RESOLVED, THE LEWINSKY CONTROVERSY HAS INDELIBLY MARKED NOT ONLY [PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LEGACY BUT THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENCY ITSELF. ... ITS DEBILITATING LEGACY WILL BE WITH US FOR YEARS TO COME.

TEXT: WHATEVER THE PRESIDENT SAYS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS IT WILL BE UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DETERMINE WHAT COMES NEXT.

VOICE: ... THE REAL QUANDARY IN THIS IS NOT THE PRESIDENT'S. IT LIES WITH THE PUBLIC, WHO MUST RESPOND TO HIM. ... IT IS CLEAR ENOUGH WHAT HE WILL SEEK. HE WANTS A BYE, A PASS. YES, WE GUESS HE WILL SOMEHOW NOT QUITE SAY, I LIED UNDER OATH, BUT I OUGHT NOT BE SERIOUSLY PUNISHED FOR IT. BUT THE PRICE OF SUCH A JUDGMENT IS HUGE. IT ESTABLISHES A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" WORRIES ABOUT THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS WHILE THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE IS DISTRACTED.

VOICE: IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO THINK THAT THE UNRAVELING OF THE CLINTON PRESIDENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLITICAL INSTABILITY BESETTING THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES -- WOULDN'T IT? ... ISN'T IT ONLY JUST COINCIDENCE THAT AS THE PRESIDENT IS DECIDING WHETHER TO LIE AGAIN UNDER OATH AND DISGRACE HIS OFFICE STILL FURTHER, MOSCOW IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC WIPEOUT, THE LARGEST COUNTRY IN AFRICA IS ONCE AGAIN BEING TORN APART BY CIVIL WAR, AND ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA ARE JOINING SERBIA'S ALBANIANS IN DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE? ... ACTUALLY, THE CURRENT WORLDWIDE CRISIS HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH MONICA LEWINSKY AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY BILL CLINTON DID HIS JOB BEFORE ANYBODY BUT THE PRESIDENT KNEW ABOUT THE INTERN WITH THE STAINED DRESS. THE FAILURE HERE IS A FAILURE OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY -- POLICY, NOT ORAL SEX.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE TERRORIST BOMB IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THAT KILLED MORE THAN TWO-DOZEN PEOPLE DURING THE WEEKEND, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: EVERYONE'S WORST FEARS ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND WERE REALIZED ON SATURDAY WHEN A CAR BOMB EXPLODED IN THE TWO OF OMAGH, KILLING 28 PEOPLE. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS ENDORSED THE PEACE AGREEMENT IN MAY, BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC SPLINTER GROUPS HAVE THREATENED TO EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION THROUGH VIOLENCE. NOW ONE OF THEM ... HAS CARRIED OUT THE DEADLIEST ATTACK IN NORTHERN IRELAND SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN THREE DECADES AGO. THE GROUP'S AIM CAN ONLY BE TO PROVOKE THE RETURN OF VIOLENT CLASHES BY INSPIRING RETALIATION BY PROTESTANT GROUPS. IT IS UP TO POLICE AND POLITICIANS TO INSURE THEY DO NOT SUCCEED.

TEXT: "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" NOTES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE REACTION TO THE LATEST BOMB, WHICH MAY BRING SOME GOOD.

VOICE: LIKE THE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST U-S EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA, THE SHEER SAVAGERY HAS UNITED ALL PARTIES. ... 'I CONDEMN IT WITHOUT ANY EQUIVOCATION WHATSOEVER,' SAID [GERRY] ADAMS ... LEADER OF THE I-R-A-ALIGNED SINN FEIN ... THAT IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT GIVEN THAT THE BOMBING IS THE SUSPECTED WORK OF AN IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY SPLINTER GROUP SEEKING TO KILL THE PEACE. IT IS THE FIRST TIME [MR.] ADAMS HAS EVER DENOUNCED A REPUBLIC ATTACK. AND IT COULD MARK THE FINAL PASSAGE OF HIS MOVEMENT FROM A GANG WITH GUNS TO A RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL PARTY. ...

TEXT: IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, THE ON-GOING DEBATE OVER HEALTH CARE, AND SPECIFICALLY THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF GROUP HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS CALLED H-M-O'S, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD."

VOICE: A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULING GIVING MEDICARE [THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN FOR OLDER AMERICANS] PATIENTS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO APPEAL THE DECISIONS OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS IS ONE THAT WILL RESONATE WITH 150-MILLION AMERICANS. ... IF THE DECISION TO PROVIDE MEDICARE PATIENTS WITH A CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHT OF APPEAL NOW DRIVES THE REGULATORS AND THE HMO INDUSTRY TO ENHANCE THE RIGHTS OF 150-MILLION H-M-O PATIENTS NATIONWIDE, THAT WOULD BE A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

TEXT: ANTICIPATING THE POSSIBILITY OF YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IF THE NEW FEDERAL BUDGET IS NOT PASSED BY CONGRESS, "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND URGES LAWMAKERS TO GET ON WITH THEIR CRITICAL WORK.

VOICE: THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD HAVE LITTLE STOMACH FOR A SHUTDOWN; THEY TOOK A POLITICAL DRUBBING FOR THE LAST ONE. BUT CONGRESS HAS YET TO SEND THE WHITE HOUSE A SINGLE ONE OF THE 13 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS NEEDED TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING WHEN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS OCTOBER FIRST. INSTEAD IT HAS FUSSED ABOUT HOW TO SPEND A LARGELY ILLUSORY SURPLUS OF ABOUT ONE-POINT-FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT DECADE. ... BY FLIRTING WITH GOVERNMENT PARALYSIS WHEN THEY HAVE LEFT SO MUCH UNDONE -- INCLUDING TOBACCO LEGISLATION, MANAGED-CARE AND CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM AND MONEY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND -- THEY ARE SETTING THEMSELVES UP AS THE PARTY OF IMPRUDENCE.

TEXT: LASTLY, AS REGARDS THE U-S POLICY TOWARD'S IRAQ, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" IS FURIOUS ABOUT REPORTS THAT THE U-S INTERFERED WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION RAIDS IN IRAQ TO FORESTALL ANOTHER CONFRONTATION WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN.

VOICE: IT IS OF PRESSING URGENCY THAT THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE AND ... SENATE RETURN FROM RECESS IMMEDIATELY TO START HEARINGS TO DETERMINE WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD BEEN GOING ON. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITH A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GULF REGION, LEAVING BEHIND AN IRAQI DICTATOR IN POSSESSION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

TEXT: ON THAT DISCORDANT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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17-Aug-98 10:16 AM EDT (1416 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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