Voice of America, 98-09-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA AID BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (SHKODRA, ALBANIA)

[02] DESPERATE STRAITS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[03] GERMANY-KOHL (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

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

[05] STOCKS PLUNGE (L ONLY) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

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

[07] EDITORIAL: CZECH PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE

[08] U-N ASSEMBLY OPENER (S) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[01] ALBANIA AID BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (SHKODRA, ALBANIA)

INTRO: THE LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS IN ALBANIA AND THE VIOLENT UNREST THAT ROCKED TIRANA LAST WEEK HAVE HAMPERED EFFORTS BY U-N AND PRIVATE RELIEF AGENCIES TO AID THE THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM SERBIA'S WAR-TORN KOSOVO PROVINCE. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM THE NORTHERN ALBANIAN TOWN OF SHKODRA.

TEXT: LAST WEEK, JUST WHEN THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL ERUPTED INTO VIOLENCE, A NEW FLOOD OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO CROSSED INTO THE COUNTRY. TWICE DISPLACED, THESE REFUGEES -- UPWARDS OF FOUR-THOUSAND OF THEM -- HAD GONE INITIALLY TO MONTENEGRO, BUT THE AUTHORITIES THERE ORDERED THEM EXPELLED. THEY WERE LOADED ON BUSES AND DROPPED OFF AT AN ISOLATED BORDER POST A FEW KILOMETERS NORTH OF TIRANA.

AID AGENCY OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF THE INFLUX, BUT WITH ALBANIA IN CHAOS, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ALESSANDRA MORELLI IS A FIELD OFFICER FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY.

THIS EVENT HAD IMPACTED THE QUICK REACTION OF U-N-H-C-R (U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES OFFICE) BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES FROM TIRANA COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE CITY TO COME AND FACE IMMEDIATELY THE CRISIS, AS THE SECURITY SITUATION AT THAT MOMENT WAS AT THE HIGHEST PEAK. SO WE HAD THE CIVILIAN UNREST IN ALBANIA AND IN PARALLEL, FOUR-THOUSAND PEOPLE CROSSING INTO THE COUNTRY.

THE REFUGEES, EXHAUSTED AND TRAUMATIZED, MADE THEIR WAY INTO SHKODRA ON FOOT. THE LUCKY ONES FOUND TEMPORARY SHELTER WITH LOCAL FAMILIES. BUT WHEN AID AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES FINALLY REACHED THE TOWN A FEW-DAYS AGO, THEY FOUND SOME OF THE KOSOVARS HUDDLING ON THE ROOF OF SHKODRA'S TELEVISION STATION AND OTHERS SLEEPING ON POOL TABLES IN A LOCAL BILLIARD PARLOR.

AID AGENCY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE BEGINNING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THIS LATEST INFLUX FROM KOSOVO. BUT IN ALBANIA, NOTHING IS EASY. TO BRING SUPPLIES TO THE NORTHERN TOWN FROM TIRANA IS A THREE-HOUR DRIVE OVER A NARROW, POT-HOLED ROAD THAT MUST RANK AMONG THE WORST IN EUROPE.

BUT THE BIG PROBLEM FOR AID AGENCIES IS ALBANIA'S CHRONIC LAWLESSNESS. RELIEF AGENCY WAREHOUSES IN TIRANA AND ELSEWHERE HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY LOOTED. AND IN THE NORTH, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT EXERCISES NO REAL CONTROL, ROVING BANDS OF GUNMEN FREQUENTLY HIJACK AID AGENCY VEHICLES.

ONE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING HERE IS OWNERSHIP. YOU START DOING SOMETHING AND THREE-THOUSAND "OWNERS" POP UP ... WE ARE WORKING IN A KALASHNIKOV CULTURE (GUN CULTURE). HERE EVERYTHING IS DEALT WITH GUNS. SO EVEN THE INTERNATIONALS (AID AGENCIES) HAVE TO FACE THIS.

WITH THE HARSH BALKAN WINTER FAST APPROACHING, U-N-H-C-R AND OTHER RELIEF AGENCIES ARE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE REFUGEES OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN ALBANIA TO THE MORE TEMPERATE REGIONS IN THE SOUTH. BUT WITH THE COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE STILL IN TATTERS IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR'S CHAOS, AND WITH THE THREAT OF MORE VIOLENCE AS A RESULT OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL IMPASSE, ALESSANDRA MORELLI SAYS THE TASK FOR AID AGENCIES SEEMS MONUMENTAL.

WHAT WE HAVE IN ALBANIA -- EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED LAST YEAR. SO WHEN I TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I TALK TO MY HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA, I ALWAYS SAY -- WE MUST TREAT THIS AREA AS THE 'EARTHQUAKE, THE DAY AFTER.'

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 25-THOUSAND KOSOVO REFUGEES IN ALBANIA. THE FIGURE IS NOT LARGE BY BALKAN STANDARDS, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, RELIEF AGENCY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE.

THERE ARE GROWING FEARS OF A MAJOR NEW INFLUX, WITH MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND KOSOVARS DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING CAMPED AROUND A TOWN JUST A FEW KILOMETERS NORTH OF THE ALBANIAN BORDER. IF THERE IS FRESH FIGHTING IN THE AREA AND THESE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO CROSS THE FRONTIER, SAYS ONE AID WORKER -- WE WILL SIMPLY BE OVERWHELMED. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF/RAE
21-Sep-98 7:17 AM EDT (1117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] DESPERATE STRAITS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE WEATHER IS CHANGING FROM AUTUMN TO WINTER IN THE BALKANS, WITH OCCASIONAL SNOW AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS THAT SEPARATE YUGOSLOVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE FROM ALBANIA. THE ONCOMING COLD IS EXACERBATING THE PLIGHT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC-ALBANIANS LIVING IN THE WOODS. THEY FLED THE RECENT FIGHTING BETWEEN SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES AND ETHIC-ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO WHO WANT EITHER MORE FREEDOM OR INDEPENDENCE FROM BELGRADE.

A GROWING NUMBER OF U-S DAILIES ARE CALLING ON PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE WEST TO TAKE A STRONGER STAND ON BEHALF OF THESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE USE OF MILITARY INTERVENTION, TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR THE REFUGEES BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ___________________IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: ACCORDING TO A DISPATCH IN MONDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES," NATO INDECISION ON THE KOSOVO SITUATION IS BEGINNING TO HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. JANE PERLEZ OF THE "TIMES," QUOTING WESTERN DIPLOMATS, WRITES FROM BELGRADE, THE YUGOSLAVIAN CAPITAL: "NATO INDECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO ACT AGAINST A THREE-MONTH-OLD MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO BY PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF YUGOSLAVIA HAS SEVERELY THREATENED THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ALLIANCE AND ALMOST INSURED A WINTER-LONG HUMAN CATASTROPHE .... "THE TIMES" REPORT SAYS MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND ... ETHNIC ALBANIANS... ARE SQUATTING WITHOUT SHELTER IN THE COLD AND RAIN ON SOME OF EUROPE'S MOST RUGGED MOUNTAINS. ... THE DIRECTOR OF UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE OPERATIONS IN SERBIA, MARGARET O'KEEFE, SAID .... THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE ORGANIZATION WAS 'VERY PESSIMISTIC THAT WE ARE HEADING INTO A WINTER OF CONFLICT WITH GUERRILLA-TYPE STRIKES BY THE K-L-A [KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] AND REPRISALS BY THE SERB POLICE. "THE TIMES" REPORT ADDS: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS, FEARFUL OF THE PRECEDENT THAT AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO WOULD SET FOR OTHER BREAKAWAY MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD, HAVE SAID THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE AIMS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ...... BUT WARNED MR. MILOSEVIC THAT IF HE CONTINUED TO USE FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS NATO WOULD RETALIATE.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING WITH "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH EARLIER IN THE MONTH CALLED THE SITUATION: "KOSOVO'S REFUGEE EMERGENCY."

VOICE: A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SEASON OF COLD AND STARVATION IS RAPIDLY CLOSING IN ON KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN REFUGEES. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MUST MARSHAL AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY RESOURCES TO PERSUADE YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO STOP TERRORIZING KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION. WASHINGTON MUST ALSO HELP PROTECT AND ASSIST THOSE ALREADY DISPLACED UNTIL THEY CAN RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. MR. MILOSEVIC HAS DENIED POLITICAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS TO KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN MAJORITY AND TURNED THE ONCE-AUTONOMOUS REGION INTO A MINORITY-RULED SERBIAN PROVINCE. HIS REPRESSION HAS SPAWNED AN ARMED GUERRILLA MOVEMENT SEEKING FULL INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO. .... ALMOST 300-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES. TENS OF THOUSANDS REMAIN TRAPPED IN OPEN COUNTRY, MANY WITH ONLY SHEETS OF PLASTIC TO PROTECT AGAINST THE SNOWS ALREADY FALLING AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES ARE TRYING TO HELP. BUT THEY CANNOT DO SO UNTIL MR. MILOSEVIC CALLS OFF THIS THUGS. ... IF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY CANNOT PERSUADE ALL OTHER NATO LEADERS TO PRESS AHEAD, WASHINGTON SHOULD ASSEMBLE A COALITION OF THOSE WILLING TO ACT. IF NECESSARY, AMERICA SHOULD ACT ON ITS OWN. OTHERWISE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS MAY FREEZE OR STARVE TO DEATH THIS WINTER.

TEXT: IN TENNESSEE, "THE [MEMPHIS] COMMERCIAL APPEAL" TALKS ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF USING U-S MILITARY FORCE IN SEVERAL FOREIGN POLICY AREA, INCLUDING IRAQ, WHERE SADDAM HUSSEIN IS REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. AND THEN, OF KOSOVO, THE BIG TENNESSEE DAILY SAYS:

VOICE: ... SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT THREATENED NATO AIR STRIKES TO TRY TO HALT A SMALL BUT HARSH WAR BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE PROVINCE'S ALBANIAN MAJORITY. AIR STRIKES MIGHT HAVE PROMPTED A PAUSE IN THAT CIVIL WAR, BUT, AS BOSNIA SHOWED, ANY MEANINGFUL TRUCE MUST BE ENFORCED BY TROOPS ON THE GROUND AND MANY, IF NOT MOST, WOULD BE AMERICAN. ... THESE CHOICES COME AT A BAD TIME, WHEN - - AND MAYBE BECAUSE - - PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ABILITY TO LEAD IS SEEN AS SUSPECT. DOMESTIC POLITICAL PROBLEMS DO NOT ABSOLVE US OF OUR INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THE WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS AND THE NATION MAY SOON HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE CASUALTIES TO ENFORCE OUR FOREIGN POLICY GOALS.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" RECENTLY CALLED THE SITUATION: "A MASSACRE WITHOUT KNIVES," REFERRING TO THE ONGOING ETHNIC CLEANSING.

VOICE: WHEN STARVATION AND EXPOSURE BEGIN TO CLAIM THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN KOSOVO A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM IGNORANCE AS AN EXCUSE FOR INACTION. 'MASSIVE WAR CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED HERE,' JOHN SHATTUCK, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SAID DURING A RECENT VISIT TO THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. ... PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS TEAM HAVE PROMISED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO ... USE FORCE IF NECESSARY, AGAINST MR. MILOSEVIC'S MARAUDING SOLDIERS ... BUT THEIR THREATS HAVE PROVED EMPTY. INSTEAD, MR. CLINTON SENDS HIS EMISSARIES, AGAIN AND AGAIN, TO PLEAD WITH THE WAR CRIMINAL TO STOP HIS CRIMES. MR. MILOSEVIC HAS LEARNED HE CAN DEFY THEM AT NO COST.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" JOINS A GROWING LIST OF DAILIES CALLING ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CRISIS.

VOICE: THE SIMMERING CIVIL WAR IN SERBIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE IS BREWING A HORRIFIC DISASTER AS WINTER APPROACHES. AN ESTIMATED 250-THOUSAND REFUGEES DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING BETWEEN KOSOVAR REBELS AND SERB FORCES HAVE DISPERSED INTO THE MOUNTAINS, CUT OFF FROM THEIR DESTROYED VILLAGES AND FARMS AND RUNNING OUT OF FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. WITH THE PUNISHING BALKAN WINTER COMING EARLY TO THE KOSOVO PLATEAU, A HUMAN CATASTROPHE COULD ENSUE UNLESS WASHINGTON TAKES THE LEAD IN MOUNTING AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO DELIVER EMERGENCY AID ... MORE SIGNIFICANT, THE PENTAGON MUST BE PREPARED TO USE FORCE IF SERBIAN TROOPS IMPEDE THE SUPPLY OPERATION.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK POST" SUGGESTS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WESTERN ALLIES SHOULD GET TOUGH WITH MR. MILOSEVIC.

VOICE: TWENTY-NINE LEADING FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERTS, POLITICIANS AND INTELLECTUALS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE HAVE WRITTEN AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLING FOR A MAJOR SHIFT IN AMERICA'S POLICY TOWARD THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA - - ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE LONG AGO. THEY URGE HIM TO TURN HIS ATTENTION TO THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO WHERE THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION, 15 PERCENT OF WHICH IS HOMELESS THANKS TO SERB BRUTALITY, NOW FACES A WINTER OF STARVATION. SPECIFICALLY ..... STEPHEN SOLARZ, ELLIOTT ABRAMS, ... JEANE KIRKPATRICK AND THEIR 25 CO-SIGNERS WANT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO STOP TREATING SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC AS A RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTABLE LEADER WITH WHOM AMERICA CAN DEAL - - AND START TREATING HIM LIKE THE CUNNING, MANIPULATIVE WAR-CRIMINAL HE IS .. [MR.] MILOSEVIC STARTED THE RECENT BALKAN CONFLICT, FOSTERED MURDEROUS ETHNIC HATRED FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL ENDS AND IS NOW SENDING HIS FORCES INTO KOSOVO ON A MISSION OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. AS THE LETTER WRITERS SAY, THE REMOVAL OF [MR.] MILOSEVIC PROVIDES THE ONLY GENUINE POSSIBILITY OF A DURABLE PEACE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL OPINION ON THE SITUATION CURRENTLY GROWING MORE DESPERATE IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. NEB/ANG/
21-Sep-98 3:13 PM EDT (1913 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY-KOHL (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

INTRO: THE GERMAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN HAS ENTERED ITS FINAL WEEK LEADING UP TO SUNDAY'S VOTE. OPINION SURVEYS INDICATE THE RACE IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL. GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS VIRTUALLY CLOSED THE GAP WITH HIS SOCIALIST CHALLENGER GERHARD SCHRODER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BONN, WHERE CHANCELLOR KOHL IS TRYING TO BUILD CAMPAIGN MOMENTUM.

TEXT: THE CAMPAIGN BUTTON PASSED OUT AT HELMUT KOHL'S RALLY IS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH. IT SAYS: "KEEP KOHL." THE PICTURE ON THE BLUE BUTTON IS A CHARGING ELEPHANT.

THOUGH THE AUDIENCE AT THE RALLY IN BONN'S MARKETPLACE IS PREDOMINANTLY MIDDLE-AGED TO ELDERLY, THE 68-YEAR-OLD CHANCELLOR CHARGES AHEAD FOR NEARLY ONE HOUR ABOUT GERMAN CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE. HE DISCUSSES THE NEW CURRENCY, THE "EURO"; THE RISKS COMING FROM RUSSIA AND THE BALKANS; AND THE RISKS THAT COULD COME FROM A SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FORMER COMMUNISTS -- THE PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

AMID HECKLING FROM YOUNG SOCIALISTS ON THE EDGE OF THE CROWD, THE CHANCELLOR INSISTS HIS CHALLENGER GERHARD SCHRODER IS LYING WHEN HE SAYS HE WON'T RELY ON THE FORMER COMMUNISTS FOR SUPPORT. THE CHANCELLOR SAYS "THE SOCIALISTS ARE LYING TO THE VOTERS."

ALTHOUGH THE OPINION SURVEYS SHOW THE RACE IS NOW TOO CLOSE TO CALL, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW EITHER MAJOR PARTY CAN FORM A GOVERNMENT. CHANCELLOR KOHL'S PARTNER, THE "FREE DEMOCRATS," ARE FORECAST TO WIN JUST FIVE PERCENT -- THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT. MR. SCHRODER'S PARTNER, THE "GREENS," ARE IN A LITTLE BETTER SHAPE, BUT SHORT OF GIVING THE SOCIALISTS A MAJORITY. THE RED-GREEN COALITION MIGHT HAVE TO RELY ON THE FORMER COMMUNISTS FOR SUPPORT.

CHANCELLOR KOHL IS WARNING THE VOTERS OF THIS DANGER. THE OPINION SURVEYS ARE SHOWING THE CHANCELLOR'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS WINNING MORE OF THE CURRENTLY 28 PERCENT UNDECIDED VOTERS, WHILE THE SOCIALISTS ARE REMAINING SLIGHTLY AHEAD. CHANCELLOR KOHL IS TRYING TO WIN A FIFTH STRAIGHT TERM.

HERE IN THE RHINELAND, MR. SCHRODER'S ADVERTISEMENTS SAY GERMANY NEEDS A NEW CHANCELLOR. OPPONENTS AROUND THE CAPITAL HAVE DEFACED THE SOCIALIST SLOGAN WITH THE WORDS "BUT NOT THIS ONE." (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF/WFR
21-Sep-98 2:53 PM EDT (1853 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 STUNNING REVERSAL AFTER THE BROADCAST OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VIDEOTAPED GRAND JURY TESTIMONY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 33, UP 37 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 23, UP THREE POINTS.

STOCK PRICES STAGED A DRAMATIC TURNAROUND. AFTER LOSING MORE THAN 180 POINTS EARLY IN THE SESSION, STOCKS SLOWLY BEGAN TO RECOVER. ANALYSTS SAY A MAJOR REASON WAS THE CONTENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VIDEOTAPED GRAND JURY TESTIMONY WHICH SEEMED TO CONTAIN NO SURPRISES. SOME TELEVISION STATIONS BROADCAST THE TAPE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

AS THE TAPES ROLLED ON, THE MARKET STARTED TO GET A BETTER TONE AND THE TAPES DID NOT SEEM TO BE AS BAD AS WE HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.

IN ADDITION TO RELIEF OVER THE CLINTON TAPES, TRADERS WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED BY RUMORS THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK COULD REDUCE INTEREST RATES AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

LOCKHEED MARTIN, A MAJOR U-S DEFENSE CONTRACTOR, WILL PAY TWO POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE COMSAT, A LEADING PROVIDER OF SATELLITE AND DIGITAL NETWORKING SERVICES. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL WILL HELP CUSHION LOCKHEED MARTIN AGAINST THE FALL-OFF IN U-S DEFENSE SPENDING.

THREE COMPANIES ISSUED WARNINGS THAT THEIR THIRD QUARTER PROFITS WILL BE WEAKER THAN EXPECTED. THE COMPANIES INCLUDE TUPPERWARE, THE MAKER OF FOOD STORAGE BOXES, CELLSTAR, A PRODUCER OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SILICON GAMBLING, A MANUFACTURER OF SLOT MACHINES.

COCA COLA WILL SUSPEND PRODUCTION IN ZAMBIA BECAUSE OF A DISPUTE WITH THAT AFRICAN NATION OVER EXCISE TAXES. COCA COLA CLAIMS THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT DELIVER ON A PROMISE TO REDUCE THE TAXES FROM 25 TO FIVE PERCENT.

THE U-S TREASURY DEPARTMENT WILL EASE A BANKING REGULATION WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO CURB MONEY LAUNDERING. CURRENTLY, U-S BANKS MUST FILE A REPORT ON ANY CASH TRANSACTION IN EXCESS OF 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HOWEVER, THE AMENDED RULE WILL EXEMPT REPORTING FOR TRANSACTIONS BY BUSINESSES SUCH AS SUPERMARKETS THAT LEGITIMATELY DEAL WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
21-Sep-98 5:10 PM EDT (2110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] STOCKS PLUNGE (L ONLY) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES STEADIED AFTER PLUNGING IN EARLY TRADING (MONDAY) ON CONCERNS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL TROUBLE AND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FUTURE. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FELL 175-POINTS -- MORE THAN TWO-PERCENT -- IN THE FIRST 15-MINUTES OF TRADING. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LATER STEADIED.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS NEW CONCERN ABOUT JAPAN WHERE A PLAN TO STABILIZE THAT NATION'S BANKING SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE IN JEOPARDY. TOKYO STOCKS FELL TO A 12-YEAR LOW AND STOCK MARKETS IN HONG KONG, MALAYSIA, AND INDONESIA ALSO FELL SHARPLY.

THERE IS ALSO CONTINUED WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN LATIN AMERICA, WHERE U-S BANKS HAVE A LARGE EXPOSURE. THE RELEASE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VIDEOTAPED GRAND JURY TESTIMONY RAISED NEW QUESTIONS ON WALL STREET ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT. IN ADDITION, EDWARD YARDENI, A RESPECTED WALL STREET ECONOMIST, HAS REVISED DOWNWARD HIS CORPORATE EARNINGS FORECAST.

BUT MANY FINANCIAL ADVISORS CONTINUE TO COUNSEL CALM. MUTUAL FUND MANAGER JIM O'SHAUGHNESSY SAYS INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS SHOULD IGNORE THE MARKET TURMOIL.

THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS LOOK AT THE MARKET AND, REALIZING YOUR PORTFOLIO IS DOWN, SAY 30-PERCENT, DECIDE TO SELL. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF INVESTORS DO.

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY SAYS HISTORY SHOWS THAT LONG-TERM INVESTORS WILL BE REWARDED IF THEY DO NOT ENGAGE IN PANIC SELLING DURING STOCK MARKET DOWNTURNS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RAE
21-Sep-98 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: BILL CLINTON'S TROUBLES WITH THE MONICA LEWINSKY AFFAIR CONTINUE TO OCCUPY A PLACE OF PROMINENCE IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS, EVEN AS THE TAPE OF MR. CLINTON TESTIFYING BEFORE THE GRAND JURY PLAYED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION THIS MONDAY.

IN OTHER EDITORIALS THERE IS COMMENT ON THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES: THE PLIGHT OF KOSOVO REFUGEES; THE GRIM SITUATION IN CAMBODIA AFTER THE QUESTIONABLE ELECTIONS; THE POPULATION EXPLOSION; AND THE PERVASIVENESS OF ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING IN MEXICO. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS AN INTERESTING IDEA ABOUT ONE OF THE FACETS OF THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL.

VOICE: THE LEWINSKY SCANDAL HAS WEAKENED BILL CLINTON'S GRASP ON HIS OFFICE, BUT IT MAY HAVE GIVEN HIM A PECULIAR NEW WEAPON IN THE BUDGET WARS. ONLY A FEW WEEKS FROM ADJOURNMENT, CONGRESS IS ENGAGED IN THE ANNUAL AUTUMN RITUAL OF CONFRONTING THE WHITE HOUSE OVER TAXES AND SPENDING, JUST WHEN MR. CLINTON IS BRAVING THE IMPEACHMENT FIRESTORM ON AN ISLAND OF HIS OWN CONTRADICTIONS. BUT IN THAT WEAKNESS LIES A PARADOXICAL KIND OF STRENGTH. THE MORE FEEBLE THE PRESIDENT SEEMS, THE MORE SERIOUSLY CONGRESS TAKES HIS DEMANDS. THE LAST THING CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS WANT IS TO DISTRACT THE PUBLIC FROM MR. CLINTON'S TROUBLES AND PROVOKE A SEARCHING LOOK AT THE GOP BUDGET PRIORITIES. ... /// OPT

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS CONCERNED THAT PARTISAN POLITICS IS PLAYING TOO GREAT A ROLE IN THE PROCEEDINGS:

VOICE: THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS ON WHICH THE HOUSE IS NOW EMBARKED CAN NEVER BE DIVORCED ENTIRELY FROM PARTISAN POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. BUT IT OUGHT NOT BE AN EXERCISE IN NAIVETE TO URGE THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES TO TRY. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND THUS THEIR ULTIMATE WORTH, WILL DEPEND NOT JUST ON WHETHER THEY ARE FAIR BUT ON WHETHER THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS HAVING BEEN SO. ...THESE ARE NOT COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE ONLY REAL CHECK AGAINST ABUSE IS THUS THE COMMITTEE'S OWN DISCRETION...

TEXT: TURNING TO THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC WOES, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" DECRIES THE LACK OF POWERFUL LEADERSHIP AT A TIME OF CRISIS.

VOICE: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, THAT COUNTRY'S LEADER FOR 16-YEARS, TRAILS IN THE POLLS A WEEK BEFORE NATIONAL ELECTIONS. HE IS NEITHER INCLINED TO LEND AID WHERE IT IS NEEDED ABROAD NOR DEVIATE FROM GERMANY'S TRADITION OF CONSERVATIVE CENTRAL BANKING BY LOWERING INTEREST RATES. JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI, WHO WAS SET TO ARRIVE IN NEW YORK SUNDAY, IS NOT A STRONG FIGURE POLITICALLY. ... RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS A TENUOUS HOLD ON POWER. ...THEN THERE IS BILL CLINTON ... BROUGHT TO THE BRINK OF IMPEACHMENT BY A SEX SCANDAL AND HIS ATTEMPTS TO COVER IT UP. [MR.] CLINTON'S VOICE, SO BADLY NEEDED AT A TIME OF NEAR CRISIS FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY, HAS BEEN LOST IN THE OUTCRY OVER HIS PERSONAL FAILINGS ...

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE U-S ECONOMY, "USA TODAY" SAYS THE FALLING PRICES BROUGHT ABOUT BY GLOBAL ECONOMIC STAGNATION, MAY LOOK GOOD, BUT CAN HAVE A DANGEROUS SIDE.

VOICE: ... WHILE THIS DISINFLATIONARY BONANZA FEELS GOOD BY COMPARISON, IT IS NOT WITHOUT DANGERS. ... LOWER PRICES ARE GREAT, IF THEY COME FROM BETTER PRODUCTIVITY BROUGHT BY NEW TECHNOLOGY OR IMPROVED MANAGEMENT ... BUT THEY SPELL TROUBLE WHEN SPURRED BY WAVES OF ECONOMIC MISERY ABROAD THAT FLOOD THE NATION WITH CUT-RATE CARS OR OTHER IMPORTS.

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" JOINS A GROWING LIST OF DAILIES CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.

VOICE: THE SIMMERING CIVIL WAR IN SERBIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE IS BREWING A HORRIFIC DISASTER AS WINTER APPROACHES. AN ESTIMATED 250-THOUSAND REFUGEES DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING BETWEEN KOSOVAR REBELS AND SERB FORCES HAVE DISPERSED INTO THE MOUNTAINS, CUT OFF FROM THEIR DESTROYED VILLAGES AND FARMS AND RUNNING OUT OF FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. WITH THE PUNISHING BALKAN WINTER COMING EARLY TO THE KOSOVO PLATEAU, A HUMAN CATASTROPHE COULD ENSURE UNLESS WASHINGTON TAKES THE LEAD IN MOUNTING AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO DELIVER EMERGENCY AID ... MORE SIGNIFICANT, THE PENTAGON MUST BE PREPARED TO USE FORCE IF SERBIAN TROOPS IMPEDE THE SUPPLY OPERATION.

TEXT: TURNING TO ASIA, "THE WASHINGTON POST" VIEWS WITH ALARM THE VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED THE ELECTION VICTORY IN CAMBODIA OF FORMER KHMER ROUGE OFFICIAL HUN SEN, DESPITE NEWS THAT RECONCILIATION TALKS MAY BEGIN THIS WEEK.

VOICE: SINCE A GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN AGAINST POLITICAL DEMONSTRATORS BEGAN SEPTEMBER 7TH, TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, WHILE ANOTHER 16 BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND FLOATING IN RIVERS AND IRRIGATION DITCHES, AND IN SHALLOW GRAVES AROUND PHNOM PENH. SEVERAL SHOWED SIGNS OF TORTURE, AND THERE IS GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE IN SOME CASES THAT CAMBODIAN SECURITY FORCES WERE INVOLVED. THE WHEREABOUTS OF MANY OPPOSITION FIGURES ... DETAINED IN RECENT DAYS, ARE UNKNOWN.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS WORRIED ABOUT THE RELENTLESS GROWTH OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, NOTING:

VOICE: NEXT YEAR THE WORLD'S POPULATION WILL PASS SIX-BILLION. THAT IS ONE BILLION MORE THAN IN 1987. AND BY 2050, WELL BEFORE THE TIME THOSE BORN TODAY START RETIRING, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WALKING THIS GLOBE WILL REACH NINE-POINT-FOUR BILLION, ACCORDING TO A UNITED NATIONS' ESTIMATE. THE ADJUSTMENT TO THAT POPULATION SURGE WILL NOT BE EASY. ALREADY, NEARLY HALF A BILLION PEOPLE FACE WATER SHORTAGES. BY 2050 THAT NUMBER WILL EXPLODE TO TWO-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION, OR 35-PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S PROJECTED POPULATION THEN, NOTES A NEW REPORT FROM THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. .... CONSIDERING THE RISKS, IT SEEMS RECKLESS THAT CONGRESS HAS BEEN SHRINKING THE FUNDS THE UNITED STATES MAKES AVAILABLE FOR FAMILY PLANNING.

TEXT: REACTING TO NEWS REPORTS THAT THREE TOP MEMBERS OF MEXICO'S ELITE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE DRUG UNDERWORLD, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" DESPAIRS.

VOICE: THE RAMPANT CORRUPTION IN MEXICO'S LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND ITS MILITARY SEEMS IMPERVIOUS TO ANY EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES TO STEM IT. ... CONSIDERING THAT CORRUPTION HAD REACHED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MEXICO'S GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE BROTHER OF MEXICO'S PREVIOUS PRESIDENT, AND THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ITS NATIONAL ANTI-DRUG CZAR, NOBODY SHOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. NO AMOUNT OF RHETORIC FROM THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO DISGUISE THE UNCOMFORTABLE AND SAD FACT THAT MEXICO HAS BECOME SO PERVASIVELY CORRUPT THAT THERE IS NOTHING THE UNITED STATES COULD CONCEIVABLY DO TO REVERSE A WORSENING TREND.

TEXT: ON THAT RATHER DISCOURAGING NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
21-Sep-98 10:44 AM EDT (1444 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] EDITORIAL: CZECH PRESIDENT AT WHITE HOUSE

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON RECENTLY WELCOMED CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL TO THE WHITE HOUSE. AS MR. CLINTON SAID, VACLAV HAVEL'S "REMARKABLE LIFE EMBODIES A GREAT LESSON, THAT PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY CAN CHANGE IT, EVEN AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS; THAT WORDS CAN BE POWERFUL INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE; AND THAT, TOGETHER, WORDS AND DEEDS CAN BE THE PILLARS OF FREEDOM."

ONLY A DECADE AGO, CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HALF OF THE REST OF EUROPE LAY SHROUDED BENEATH THE FAILED IDEOLOGY OF COMMUNISM. VACLAV HAVEL, A PLAYWRIGHT TURNED POLITICAL ACTIVIST, HAD ALREADY SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN PRISON. BUT HAVEL AND OTHER CZECHOSLOVAK PATRIOTS DID NOT GIVE UP. AT THE END OF 1989, THEIR PEACEFUL "VELVET REVOLUTION" SUCCEEDED. AS MR. CLINTON SAID, "THERE WAS EXHILARATION ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHEN [VACLAV HAVEL] SPOKE AS PRESIDENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY 1990 AND DECLARED, 'PEOPLE, YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS RETURNED TO YOU.' " AND CZECHS AND SLOVAKS CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY DIVIDED PEACEFULLY TO FORM THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA IN 1993.

AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MR. CLINTON AND MR. HAVEL TALKED ABOUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S PREPARATIONS FOR INTEGRATION INTO NATO. PRESIDENT HAVEL THANKED THE U.S. FOR ITS STRONG SUPPORT OF NATO ENLARGEMENT. AND HE EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAT THE ENLARGEMENT PROCESS WILL NOT END AT THE POLISH, CZECH AND HUNGARIAN BORDERS.

AS PRESIDENT CLINTON POINTED OUT, CZECH TROOPS ARE WORKING WITH U.S. TROOPS IN BOSNIA. CZECH SOLDIERS SERVED AS PEACEKEEPERS AND MILITARY OBSERVERS IN MACEDONIA, GEORGIA, ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE AND LIBERIA. MR. CLINTON ALSO STRESSED U.S. SUPPORT FOR GREATER OPENNESS IN CZECH ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS AND GREATER INVESTMENT IN THE INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE CZECH ECONOMY. THE U.S. STRONGLY SUPPORTS EVENTUAL CZECH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

AS PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID, THE U.S. AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC "ARE MAKING PROGRESS AS FRIENDS AND PARTNERS. THAT IS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE COURAGE PRESIDENT HAVEL AND THE CZECH PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN AND CONTINUE TO SHOW TODAY."

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
21-Sep-98 2:20 PM EDT (1820 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-N ASSEMBLY OPENER (S) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING PRESIDENT CLINTON, ARE AT THE UNITED NATIONS (MONDAY) FOR THE OPENING OF THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE DEBATE OPENS WITH A CALL FROM U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN FOR WORLD LEADERS TO PREPARE CAREFULLY FOR THE OPENING OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. HE SAYS THEY MUST HELP THE UNITED NATIONS IDENTIFY A SELECT FEW OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS AND DEVISE ACHIEVABLE PLANS FOR DEALING WITH THEM. HE IS ALSO CALLING FOR THE UNITED STATES TO PAY ITS BUDGET ARREARS TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

MR. CLINTON, IN HIS SPEECH, FOCUSES ON THE NEED FOR STRONGER MEASURES TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND TO FORTIFY THE WORLD ECONOMY.

MORE THAN 180 PEOPLE WILL PRESENT SPEECHES DURING THE TWO-WEEK GENERAL DEBATE, INCLUDING 26 HEADS OF STATES. IN ADDITION TO TERRORISM AND ECONOMICS, THOSE LEADERS WILL DISCUSS THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, AND CONFLICTS IN KOSOVO AND AFGHANISTAN, AMONG OTHER ISSUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF

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