Voice of America, 98-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA POL (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] KOSOVO MASSACRE (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[03] U-N / YUGO / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[04] TURKEY / U-S / STRIKE (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[05] BRITISH POLITICS (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[06] GERMAN POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

[07] GERMANY'S BATON PASSES TO A NEW GENERATION BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[09] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ALBANIA POL (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S RULING SOCIALIST PARTY HAS NOMINATED THE PARTY GENERAL SECRETARY TO SUCCEED PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO, ONE DAY AFTER MR. NANO HANDED IN HIS RESIGNATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: IF APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT, ALBANIA'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE PANDELI MAJKO, WHO HAS NO SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND AT AGE 30 WOULD BE ALBANIA'S YOUNGEST LEADER. HE IS DESCRIBED AS A MODERATE WHO FAVORS RECONCILIATION AMONG ALBANIA'S RIVAL FACTIONS.

MR. MAJKO WOULD REPLACE FATOS NANO, WHO RESIGNED MONDAY AFTER POLITICAL VIOLENCE EARLIER THIS MONTH. MR. NANO HAD BEEN IN OFFICE LITTLE MORE THAN ONE YEAR, AND HAD FAILED TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING MANY OF ALBANIA'S WORST PROBLEMS.

THE STATE LOST EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER MUCH OF THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR, WHEN THE COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT SCHEMES TRIGGERED WIDESPREAD UNREST AS MANY ALBANIANS LOST THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. THE ECONOMY REMAINS IN DEEP TROUBLE, WITH LITTLE FOREIGN INVESTMENT. ALBANIA REMAINS EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY.

MR. NANO'S SUPPORT ERODED SHARPLY AFTER RIOTING IN TIRANA EARLIER THIS MONTH, FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF A SENIOR AIDE TO OPPOSITION LEADER SALI BERISHA (AZEM HAJDARI).

SUPPORTERS OF MR. BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY SET FIRE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND COMMANDEERED TANKS THAT HAD BEEN DEPLOYED TO RESTORE ORDER. MR. BERISHA SEEMED AT FIRST TO ENCOURAGE THE UNREST, BUT LATER TRIED TO CALM THE SITUATION.

MR. BERISHA TUESDAY CALLED FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT WITH A BROADER BASE THAN MR. NANO'S COALITION. IN A STATEMENT, HE URGED HIS SUPPORTERS TO ADOPT A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION. (SIGNED)
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29-Sep-98 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO MASSACRE (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: WESTERN NEWS REPORTERS HAVE WITNESSED WHAT THEY CALL THE WORST SCENE OF SLAUGHTER IN KOSOVO'S SEVEN-MONTH GUERRILLA CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS. PHILIP SMUCKER WAS AMONG THE REPORTERS WHO SAW BODIES OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY REFUGEES WHO WERE SLAUGHTERED IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 30-KILOMETERS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: VILLAGERS SAID THE KILLING WAS THE WORK OF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES WHO HAD SHELLED THE AREA -- PROMPTING THE REFUGEES TO FLEE INTO A WOODED AREA.

THEY SAID SERB POLICE AND ARMY UNITS APPARENTLY FORCED AN OLD MAN AT GUNPOINT TO LEAD THEM TO 11 PERSONS HIDING IN THE WOODS -- WAITING FOR THE SHELLING TO END. THE OLD ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAN WAS THEN KILLED -- A KNIFE SLASH ACROSS HIS THROAT AND A BULLET IN HIS HEAD.

BELOW HIM IN A RAVINE WERE THE DEAD ETHNIC-ALBANIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN -- ALL SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE OR KILLED BY A KNIFE. THEY APPARENTLY HAD TRIED TO FLEE UP THE RAVINE ONLY TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE UNDERBRUSH.

A ONE-AND-A-HALF YEAR OLD CHILD IN A HOODED PURPLE JACKET LAY AT THE FOOT OF HIS PREGNANT MOTHER. AN 65-YEAR-OLD MAN -- APPARENTLY TOO FEEBLE TO RUN UP THE RAVINE -- HAD THE TOP OF HIS HEAD BLOWN OFF. HIS WIFE HAD ONE FOOT SEVERED AND A STAB OR BULLET WOUND IN THE CHEST.

ANOTHER FIVE BODIES WERE FOUND NEARBY.

THE SLAUGHTER OF REFUGEES TOOK PLACE SATURDAY, THE SAME DAY THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY VISITED THE AREA. SHE LATER TOLD WESTERN REPORTERS SHE HAD GAINED NO GUARANTEES FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THAT WHAT SHE CALLED -- REPRESSIVE MEASURES -- WOULD END IN KOSOVO.

THE KILLING ALSO CAME TWO-DAYS AFTER A NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING WARNED OF POSSIBLE WESTERN AIR STRIKES IF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES DID NOT END THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS IN KOSOVO.

MEMBERS OF THE BIG POWERS CONTACT GROUP FOR KOSOVO VISITED THE REGION TUESDAY, A DAY AFTER AMERICAN OBSERVERS DISCOVERED THE SCENE OF THE MASSACRE. WESTERN POWERS ARE TRYING TO PUT AN END TO THE CONFLICT WHICH PITS ETHNIC-ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS AGAINST THE SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES. (SIGNED)
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29-Sep-98 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-N / YUGO / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER TODAY (TUESDAY) DEFENDED HIS GOVERNMENT'S SECURITY CRACKDOWN IN KOSOVO AND REJECTED UNITED NATIONS EFFORTS TO INTERVENE IN THE DISPUTE. FROM OUR UNITED NATIONS BUREAU, V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS MISUNDERSTOOD THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. IN AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO COUNCIL STATEMENTS DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND BLAMING YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO, MR. JOVANOVIC SAID THE THREAT OF PRESSURE WILL NOT HELP RESOLVE ISSUES IN THE PROVINCE.

THE YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTED THE COUNCIL'S PORTRAYAL OF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO AS A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN FIGHTING AS SUCH IN GENERAL THROUGHOUT ALL THIS TIME. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN SIDES FIGHTING IN THAT PART OF SERBIA. THERE HAS BEEN SECURITY FORCES COUNTERING TERRORISM, ERADICATING TERRORISTS.

MR. JOVANOVIC'S COMMENTS FOLLOW WARNINGS FROM U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN THAT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IS LOOMING IN THE REGION, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS AND WINTER APPROACHING. U-N OFFICIALS HAVE DESCRIBED THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS IN KOSOVO AS ETHNIC CLEANSING.

MOST OF THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN BETWEEN YUGOSLAV SECURITY FORCES AND THE UNDERGROUND KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. ETHNIC ALBANIANS SAY THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, MOTIVATED BY ETHNIC RIVALRY, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONFLICT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN NEW YORK, THE YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HIS GOVERNMENT, AS OF MONDAY, SUCCEEDED IN -- HE SAID -- NEUTRALIZING TERRORISM ACTIVITIES IN KOSOVO. HE SAID SPECIAL SECURITY FORCES ARE NOW BEING PULLED BACK TO THEIR BARRACKS. REPORTS FROM KOSOVO SAY IT IS NOT YET CLEAR THAT SUCH A PULLBACK IS UNDERWAY. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
29-Sep-98 4:49 PM EDT (2049 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY / U-S / STRIKE (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE U-S AIR FORCE AND A TURKISH LABOR UNION HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT THAT ENDS A THREE-MONTH STRIKE BY WORKERS AT NATO BASES IN TURKEY. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: UNION REPRESENTATIVES SAID ABOUT 18-HUNDRED STRIKING WORKERS WILL RETURN TO THEIR JOBS WEDNESDAY AFTER THE U-S AIR FORCE AGREED TO A 20-PERCENT WAGE INCREASE.

THE U-S AIR FORCE ALSO AGREED NOT TO LAY OFF ANY OF THE STRIKING WORKERS AND TO PAY EACH ONE 800-DOLLARS IN PARTIAL COMPENSATION FOR LOST WAGES. OFFICIALS SAID THE TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT ALSO PROVIDES SEVEN QUARTERLY COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

THE STRIKE STARTED AT TWO NATO BASES IN THE COASTAL CITY OF IZMIR AND IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF ADANA AFTER AIR FORCE OFFICIALS REJECTED LABOR UNION DEMANDS FOR A 70-PERCENT PAY HIKE TO COMPENSATE FOR TURKEY'S HIGH-INFLATION RATE.

U-S AIR FORCE OFFICIALS SAY MISSION AND FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT BOTH BASES CONTINUED WITHOUT INTERRUPTION THROUGHOUT THE STRIKE.

U-S AND BRITISH FIGHTER JETS THAT ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE OVER KURDISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ ARE BASED AT THE INCIRLIK BASE IN ADANA. THE NO-FLY ZONE WAS DECLARED BY THE ALLIES AT THE END OF THE 1991 GULF WAR TO PROTECT THE IRAQI KURDS AGAINST POSSIBLE ATTACK BY IRAQI TROOPS.

THE STRIKE CLOSED COMMISSARIES, GASOLINE STATIONS, DINING HALLS, AND OTHER SERVICE FACILITIES, MAKING LIVING CONDITIONS DIFFICULT FOR ABOUT SEVEN-THOUSAND BASE RESIDENTS. (SIGNED)
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29-Sep-98 11:40 AM EDT (1540 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BRITISH POLITICS (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR DEFENDED HIS GOVERNMENT'S RECORD AND OUTLINED FUTURE POLICY AT THE LABOR PARTY'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE UNDERWAY THIS WEEK. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR'S MESSAGE WAS CLEAR. HE WOULD RATHER BE UNPOPULAR THAN WRONG, ESPECIALLY WHEN FIGHTING INFLATION. DON'T BACK DOWN, HE SAID, AND DON'T TURN BACK TO THE BOOM AND BUST ECONOMICS OF PREVIOUS CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS.

THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE. THE ROCK OF STABILITY, NOT THE SHIFTING SANDS OF STOP-GO. THEN WE CAN BUILD THE FUTURE UPON IT -- A HIGH TECH, HIGH WAGE, HIGH SKILL, HIGH PRODUCTIVITY ECONOMY, NOT THE LOW WAGE, LOW SKILL ROUTE THIS COUNTRY HAS TAKEN FOR FAR TOO LONG.

THE LABOR PRIME MINISTER SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF HIS SPEECH LISTING HIS GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS, FROM INCREASING FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES TO BEEFING UP POLICE PATROLS OF TARGETED HIGH CRIME AREAS AND INITIATING MINIMUM WAGE RULES. MR BLAIR AIMED HIS REMARKS AT CRITICS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE LABOR PARTY WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT AN AUTHORITARIAN STYLE DURING HIS 18 MONTHS IN OFFICE.

IN FOREIGN POLICY, MR BLAIR UNDERLINED HIS COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND THE TRANS-ATLANTIC ALLIANCE. HE TALKED OF THE CHANGING POLITICAL FACE OF EUROPE AND POINTED OUT THAT 13 OF THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER-STATES NOW HAVE CENTER-LEFT LEADERS. THE LATEST IS GERMANY'S GERHARD SCHROEDER WHO WAS ELECTED CHANCELLOR THIS PAST WEEKEND.

AND IN THIS NEW ERA, A NEW AGENDA, ECONOMIES THAT COMPETE ON KNOWLEDGE, ON THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE MANY, NOT THE FEW. SOCIETIES BASED ON INCLUSION, NOT DIVISION. COUNTRIES THAT ARE INTERNATIONALIST NOT ISOLATIONIST. THIS IS THE THIRD WAY, OUR WAY OF RECONNECTING PEOPLE TO POLITICAL IDEALISM IN AN AGE WHEN POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IS DISTRUSTED.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR AGAIN THANKED U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON FOR HIS HELP FOR NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS. THE GESTURE OF THANKS MET WITH SUSTAINED APPLAUSE FROM LABOR PARTY DELEGATES. SOME OF MR. BLAIR'S POLITICAL ALLIES HAD SUGGESTED HE DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE BELEAGUERED U-S PRESIDENT WHO FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS. (SIGNED)
29-Sep-98 12:20 PM EDT (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GERMAN POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN CITIZENS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO GET DETAILS OF WHAT A GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK LIKE LED BY THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS AND INCOMING CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER. SUZANNE KELLY IN BONN REPORTS ON DETAILS KNOWN SO FAR.

TEXT: AS THE NEWLY ELECTED SOCIAL DEMOCRATS -- THE S-P-D -- MET FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ELECTION IN BONN ON TUESDAY, MORE DETAILS BECAME KNOWN ABOUT WHAT EFFECTS THEIR RULE MAY HAVE ON GERMANY'S POPULATION OF 81 MILLION PEOPLE.

MR. SCHROEDER HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE WILL TACKLE HIS MOST IMPORTANT DECISION -- FORMING A GOVERNMENT -- BY HOLDING COALITION TALKS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL "GREENS" PARTY LATER THIS WEEK ON FRIDAY. HE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT S-P-D PARTY CHIEF AND POSSIBLY GERMANY'S NEXT FINANCE MINISTER -- OSKAR LAFONTAINE -- WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE PARTY AND LARGELY SHAPE POLICY FOR THE S-P-D. AND MR. SCHROEDER HAS REPEATED THAT HE WILL DO ALL HE CAN TO SPEED UP THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT'S MOVE FROM BONN TO BERLIN BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. SOME IN THE S-P-D SAY THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO COME AS EARLY AS NEXT APRIL OR MAY.

BUT HOW SOON WILL THESE CHANGES BE FELT BY THE AVERAGE GERMAN? PERHAPS AS EARLY AS NEWSPAPER JANUARY. IN A GERMAN NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW, MR. LAFONTAINE TALKS A TAX CUT INITIATIVE AFTER THE FIRST OF NEXT YEAR WHICH COULD MEAN A SAVINGS OF THE EQUIVALENT OF 15-HUNDRED U-S DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR THE AVERAGE GERMAN WAGE EARNER. MR. LAFONTAINE SAYS ONE OF THE NEW GOVERNING COALITION'S FIRST ACTS WILL BE TO PUSH THROUGH THE LONG-PROMISED TAX CUTS.

BUT MR. SCHROEDER AND HIS S-P-D ARE NOT THE ONLY MEMBERS OF GERMANY'S PARLIAMENT HOLDING FRANTIC MEETINGS THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS POLICY. ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF THE GREENS PARTY IS MEETING AT A BONN HOTEL ALONG THE RHINE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE READY FOR FRIDAY'S COALITION TALKS AS WELL. ONE MEMBER OF THE GREENS PARTY SAID THAT AFTER THE SHOCK OF SUNDAY'S ELECTION RESULTS, THEY MUST NOW CONCENTRATE ON THE WORK OF FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT. GERHARD SCHROEDER SAYS HE EXPECTS TO HAVE HIS NEW GOVERNMENT IN PLACE BY SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. (SIGNED)
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29-Sep-98 12:18 PM EDT (1618 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY'S BATON PASSES TO A NEW GENERATION BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS AS CHANCELLOR, HELMUT KOHL HAS BEEN VOTED OUT OF OFFICE BY GERMANS WHO APPARENTLY GREW TIRED OF HIM AND DESIRE NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

MANY U-S PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE HISTORIC REIGN OF EUROPE'S LONGEST-LIVED, MODERN LEADER, AND GERMANY'S FUTURE MOVE TOWARD THE LEFT UNDER HIS SUCCESSOR, GERHARD SCHROEDER. FOR A SAMPLING, WE WELCOME TO OUR MICROPHONE _________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, HELMUT KOHL PRESIDED OVER THE LARGEST AND STRONGEST AND MOST ECONOMICALLY POWERFUL NATION IN EUROPE. IN WHAT MANY OBSERVERS BELIEVE TO BE HIS CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT, HE OVERSAW THE REUNIFICATION OF EAST AND WEST GERMANY AFTER THE BERLIN WALL CAME CRASHING DOWN IN 1989. AND HE WAS ONE OF THE PRIME ARCHITECTS OF THE PENDING COMMON, EUROPEAN CURRENCY, THE EURO.

THE NEW CHANCELLOR WILL BE THE PRESENT GOVERNOR OF LOWER SAXONY, GERHARD SCHROEDER, A TELEGENIC, SOCIAL DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN, 14 YEARS YOUNGER THAN MR. KOHL.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN THE MIDWEST, WHERE "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" TRIES TO PUT THE KOHL DEFEAT IN PERSPECTIVE.

VOICE: VIEWED FROM AMERICA, THE TOPPLING OF GERMANY'S 'IRON CHANCELLOR,' HELMUT KOHL, SEEMS A GARGANTUAN LOSS. EVEN THE MAN WHO DEFEATED HIM, SOCIAL DEMOCRAT GERHARD SCHROEDER, COMES TO POWER URGING CHANGE, BUT NOT TOO MUCH OF IT - - WARY OF STRAYING FROM FROM THE PATHS BLAZED BY [MR.] KOHL. THAT ALONE IS A TRIBUTE TO THE LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY OF THE DEPOSED CHANCELLOR. .... IRONICALLY, HIS ACHIEVEMENT ALSO HELPED HASTEN HIS DEPARTURE. THE SAME EAST GERMANY THAT SO CHERISHED HIS SKILLS DURING UNIFICATION GREW RESTIVE AND BITTER WHEN HE FAILED TO BRING DOWN DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, WHICH FELL HARSHEST IN THE EAST. IN THE END, IT WAS SIMPLY TIME FOR GERMANY TO MOVE ON, TO PUT A NEW FACE IN POWER AND TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION. [MR.] SCHROEDER'S ELECTION COMPLETES A TREND MOVING EUROPE'S MAJOR POWERS TO THE CENTER-LEFT, FOLLOWING TURNOVERS IN FRANCE, BRITAIN AND ITALY.

TEXT: FOR THE VIEW FROM TEXAS, WE TURN TO "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS," WHICH SAYS THE ECONOMY WAS A KEY FACTOR IN SUNDAY'S BIG DECISION.

VOICE: GERMAN VOTED THEIR POCKETBOOKS, HOLDING MR. KOHL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATION'S ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. MR. KOHL HAD ONCE CALLED THE FORMER COMMUNIST HAVENS IN EASTERN GERMANY A POLITICAL STRONGHOLD. BUT WITH EASTERN GERMANY'S JOBLESS RATE NEARING 20 PERCENT, VOTERS THERE DEALT HIM A CRUSHING POLITICAL DEFEAT. /// OPT /// UNLIKE MR. KOHL, SOCIAL DEMOCRAT GERHARD SCHROEDER BROKE WITH GERMANY'S PAST DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. MR. KOHL SPOKE ABOUT GERMANY'S HISTORIC GREATNESS. MR. SCHROEDER TALKED ABOUT THE NATION'S PRESENT AND FUTURE. ... FOR THE MOMENT, IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW INCLUSIVE MR. SCHROEDER WILL BE IN PUTTING TOGETHER A COALITION GOVERNMENT, AND WHETHER THAT COALITION CAN STRUCTURE A COHERENT ECONOMIC POLICY TO ADDRESS GERMANY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. ... THE KOHL ERA IS OVER, AND MR. SCHROEDER NOW EMBODIES A NEW GERMAN VISION - - ONE THAT VALUES JOBS AND ECONOMIC STABILITY OVER NATIONALIST RHETORIC. VOTERS REJECTED MR. KOHL'S PAST. NOW MR. SCHROEDER MUST DELIVER THE FUTURE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" TRIES TO ASSESS THE NEW GERMAN LEADER AND WHERE HE WILL LEAD HIS NATION.

VOICE: THE NEW BOSS HAS EARNED A LABEL AS A CLINTON-BLAIR CENTRIST. [MR.] SCHROEDER HAS PLEDGED HELP TO BOTH SIDES IN THE JOBS-VERSUS-TAXES DEBATE. HIS PLANS TO UPDATE GERMANY ARE DUBBED 'THE NEW MIDDLE' TO DRAW IN ALL SIDES. WITHIN HOURS OF HIS VICTORY, HE WAS WORKING ON A COALITION WITH THE SMALL GREENS PARTY TO FORM THE MAJORITY NEEDED TO RUN THE COUNTRY. /// OPT /// PADDLING THE CANOE ON BOTH SIDES WILL TAKE POLITICAL SKILL. VERY SOON HE WILL NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE ON A HOST OF DIVISIVE ISSUES WHERE THE MIDDLE COURSE MAY NOT WORK. NEW INDUSTRY MUST BE FOUND FOR THE FORMER EAST GERMANY, A POOR RELATION WITH THE PROSPEROUS WEST. ... IF GERMANY IS TO GROW IN THE WORLD ECONOMY, CAN IT AFFORD BOTH HIGH WAGES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS? CAN ITS ROLE AS AN ANCHOR OF A SLOWLY UNIFYING EUROPE CONTINUE IF ITS ECONOMY AND TASTE FOR FOREIGN AID DWINDLE? /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" HAS SOME DIRE PREDICTIONS IF MR. SCHROEDER, AS EXPECTED, FORMS A COALITION WITH THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT GREEN PARTY.

VOICE: NOW THAT THE COLD WAR IS OVER, IT MAY WELL BE SALUTARY FOR GERMANY AND THE REST OF EUROPE TO EXPERIENCE GREEN GOVERNMENT AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. AFTER ALL, THE GREENIE PHILOSOPHY - - ANTI-BUSINESS, ANTI-GROWTH, ANTI-MODERNITY - - HAS MANY SYMPATHIZERS IN MANY WEALTHY COUNTRIES. BUT WHEN EVEN MORE GERMAN JOBS DISAPPEAR, AND EVEN MORE GERMAN AUTO PLANTS AND FACTORIES OPEN IN BUSINESS-FRIENDLY PLACES LIKE THE UNITED STATES, THOSE GREEN SYMPATHIZERS MAY FINALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT GREEN DREAMS ARE ACTUALLY NIGHTMARES WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED AND ..... WANT.

TEXT: /// OPT /// LASTLY, ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" NOTES THE MAJOR GENERATIONAL CHANGE MR. SCHROEDER'S VICTORY REPRESENTS.

VOICE: PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, [MR.] SCHROEDER'S ELECTION MARKS THE SYMBOLIC PASSING OF THE BATON TO THE FIRST GENERATION OF NATIONAL GERMAN LEADERS BORN AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. OUT FROM UNDER THE SHADOW OF GERMANY'S NAZI PAST, HE MAY BRING AN INVIGORATING PERSPECTIVE TO EUROPEAN AFFAIRS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THE ELECTION TO THE CHANCELLORSHIP [PRIME MINISTER] OF SOCIAL DEMOCRAT GERHARD SCHROEDER.
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29-Sep-98 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (TUESDAY) AS THE U-S CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCED A MODEST REDUCTION IN INTEREST RATES. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT EIGHT THOUSAND 80, DOWN 28 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 49, UP A FRACTION OF A POINT.

STOCKS WERE MODESTLY HIGHER UNTIL MID-AFTERNOON WHEN THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, ANNOUNCED A QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT INTEREST RATE CUT. MANY TRADERS HAD BEEN HOPING FOR A HALF-PERCENT REDUCTION. BUT THERE IS SOME SPECULATION THAT TUESDAY'S ACTION IS JUST THE BEGINNING, WITH FURTHER INTEREST RATE CUTS TO COME LATER THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE SIGNS THAT THE U-S ECONOMY IS SLOWING SOMEWHAT. SO I THINK THE FED WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE AN EASIER POLICY STANCE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

AN INDEX OF U-S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DROPPED THIS MONTH BY ITS LARGEST MARGIN SINCE JANUARY. THE SURVEY SHOWS AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

THE TOP U-S SECURITIES REGULATOR, ARTHUR LEVITT, SAYS THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL LOSSES BY SO-CALLED "HEDGE" FUNDS WHICH OFTEN USE BORROWED MONEY FOR SPECULATION. HOWEVER, MR. LEVITT BELIEVES THE RECENT LOSSES BY THE "LONG-TERM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FUND" WERE EXTREME. A GROUP OF BANKS AND BROKERAGE FIRMS HAVE INVESTED THREE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS TO RESCUE THAT FUND. GILLETTE, THE GIANT SHAVING AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS COMPANY IS WARNING IT WILL REPORT LOWER PROFITS THIS QUARTER AND PLANS TO LAYOFF 11 PERCENT OF ITS WORLDWIDE WORK FORCE. SIXTY PERCENT OF GILLETTE'S REVENUE COMES FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL.

THE GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY SAYS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS WILL FALL SHORT OF ESTIMATES BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS AND THE RECENT STRIKES AT GENERAL MOTORS.

GENERAL MOTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE ITS NORTH AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. G-M CHAIRMAN JACK SMITH SAYS COMBINING THOSE TWO UNITS WOULD MEAN CONSIDERABLE COST SAVINGS.

FIVE U-S TOBACCO COMPANIES ARE BEING SUED BY A HEALTH INSURANCE FIRM IN ISRAEL WHICH IS SEEKING TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION FOR THE COST OF TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. IT IS THE FIRST SUCH LAWSUIT EVER FILED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
29-Sep-98 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP IN GERMANY AND THE IMPROVED PROSPECT OF MOVEMENT IN THE LONG-STALLED MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY. THERE IS ALSO COMMENT ON THE END OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SEASON; AS WELL AS THOUGHTS ON THE SLOVAKIAN ELECTION; AND CRITICISM OF SPECIAL INTERESTS IN CONGRESS. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MANY PAPERS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE 16 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP OF HELMUT KHOL OF GERMANY, A CAREER THAT ENDED SUNDAY WITH HIS DEFEAT BY GERHARD SCHROEDER, THE GOVERNOR OF LOWER SAXONY. "THE BOSTON GLOBE" NOTES:

VOICE: /// OPT /// VOTERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY UNGRATEFUL. WERE IT OTHERWISE, WINSTON CHURCHILL WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF OFFICE IN 1945, GEORGE BUSH MIGHT HAVE WON THE 1992 ELECTION ON THE STRENGTH OF THE GULF WAR, AND HELMUT KOHL WOULD NOT HAVE LOST OUT IN GERMANY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SUNDAY. /// END OPT /// AFTER 16 DRAMATIC YEARS AS CHANCELLOR OF THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN EUROPE, [MR.] KOHL WAS UNDONE BY THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS WISEST DECISIONS, HIS PROUDEST TRIUMPHS. HE PAID THE ULTIMATE POLITICAL PRICE FOR UNIFYING THE RIVEN HALVES OF GERMANY AFTER 1989 AND SHEPHERDING HIS RELUCTANT COMPATRIOTS TOWARD A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY.

TEXT: "USA TODAY" SAYS THE FIRST CHALLENGE FOR MR. SCHROEDER IS: "BECOME A WORLD LEADER - - FAST." BUT THEN ADDS THAT WHEN HIS PREDECESSOR FIRST CAME TO POWER, THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP ABILITIES, AND HE PROVED THE DOUBTERS WRONG.

VOICE: ... FOR AMERICANS, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER [MR.] SCHROEDER - - LIKE [CHANCELLOR] KOHL - - CAN RISE ABOVE HIS POLITICAL ALLIES AND HIS OWN PAST TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP GERMANY AND THE WORLD NEED TODAY .....CAN HE LEAD EUROPE TO TAKE THE TOUGH ACTIONS NEEDED TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS - - EVEN IF THAT REQUIRES SHORT TERM DISRUPTIONS AND POSTPONEMENT OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES? ... THE NEW CHANCELLOR WON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO TURN THOSE GENERALITIES INTO SPECIFICS. THE U-S IS SEEKING COORDINATED CUTS IN WORLD INTEREST RATES TO EASE ECONOMIC PRESSURES, AND INFLATION-WARY GERMANY CENTRAL BANKERS ARE BALKING.

TEXT: MAINE'S "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WORRIES ABOUT MR. SCHROEDER'S POTENTIAL COALITION PARTNER, THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT GREEN PARTY.

VOICE: COBBLING TOGETHER A GOVERNING COALITION WILL BE ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR [MR.] SCHROEDER. HIS SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO FORGE A BOND WITH THE GREEN PARTY. THAT'S A MATTER OF SOME CONCERN IN WASHINGTON AS THE GREENS HAVE SOMETIMES OPPOSED TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY MILITARY ONES. [MR.] SCHROEDER WISELY REMAINS COMMITTED TO CLOSE TIES WITH THIS COUNTRY, HOWEVER.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE PREVIOUSLY STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS, MONDAY'S MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU, AND PALESTINIAN LEADER ARAFAT, DRAWS SUBSTANTIAL COMMENT TODAY. "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS, "A SUMMIT NEXT MONTH INVOLVING ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS IS GOOD NEWS AND SHOULD HELP RELIEVE TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST."

VOICE: U-S, ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED MONDAY PLANS FOR A WASHINGTON .... SUMMIT NEXT MONTH. .... THAT GOOD NEWS SHOULD HELP RELIEVE TENSIONS IN THE REGION THAT HAD REACHED THE BOILING POINT AFTER FREQUENT PROTESTS AND CLASHES BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS AS WELL AS CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANDING TERRORISM. ..... CLEARLY AN EXTRAORDINARY PUSH FOR PEACE HAD BECOME AN URGENT NEEDS. THANKS TO INTENSIVE EFFORTS BY AMERICAN FACILITATORS IN RECENT MONTHS AND RENEWED OPENNESS BY ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, PROSPECTS IMPROVED.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT "THE RUSTLE OF MIDEAST DIPLOMACY."

VOICE: AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF SLUMBER, THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE EFFORT IS STIRRING. .... WITH TIME RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT ON THE NEGOTIATING CLOCK ESTABLISHED UNDER THE OSLO ACCORDS, THE TWO SIDES CAN AFFORD NO FURTHER DELAY. THANKS TO PALESTINIAN TERRORISM AND ISRAELI INTRANSIGENCE, THE OSLO TIMETABLE CALLING FOR COMPLETION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT BY MAY 1999 HAS BEEN ALL BUT OBLITERATED.

TEXT: FROM ONE END OF THE NATION TO THE OTHER, PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE EXCITEMENT AND QUALITY OF THE JUST-COMPLETED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON, WHICH HAD A NUMBER OF SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING MARK MCGWIRE'S RECORD-SETTING 70 HOME RUNS. IN PORTLAND, "THE OREGONIAN" SAYS:

VOICE: ... JUST WHEN SOME PEOPLE WERE TALKING HOPEFULLY ABOUT A TIE [FOR MOST HOME RUNS HIT] BETWEEN MCGWIRE AND SAMMNY SOSA [OF THE CHICAGO CUBS], 'BIG MAC' BLASTED HIS FINAL FIVE HOMERS OF THE SEASON. .... SO WHO WAS THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER? FOR OUR MONEY, THAT'S WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING TIE. BOTH PLAYERS SHOWED WHAT BASEBALL CAN BE WHEN IT IS AT ITS BEST. /// OPT /// .... MCGWIRE'S CONSIDERATION OF BASEBALL'S HISTORY AND OF THE FEELINGS OF [PREVIOUS RECORD HOLDER] ROGER MARIS' FAMILY DURING THE COURSE OF THIS RACE WERE REMARKABLE. SOSA IS A TRUE RAGS-TO-RICHES STORY WHO IS USING HIS FAME AND WEALTH TO HELP CHILDREN IN HIS HOME, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: /// OPT /// ACROSS THE CONTINENT, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS DESPITE PROBLEMS, BASEBALL IS A FINE GAME:

VOICE: IT IS STILL A GAME PLAYED BY MILLIONAIRES WHO CHANGE TEAMS AS OFTEN AS MANY PEOPLE TRADE IN CARS. IT IS STILL A LEAGUE WITH DEEP LABOR TENSION THAT THREATENS AT TIMES TO SHUT DOWN PLAY. FOR MORE THAN A MOMENT THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IT WAS JUST A GLORIOUS GAME. ..... THE RACE TO BREAK ROGER MARIS' 37-YEAR-OLD RECORD OF 61 HOME RUNS IN A SINGLE SEASON CAPTIVATED AMERICANS, DRAWING FIRST THEIR ATTENTION, THEN THEIR ADORATION. SOSA AND MCGWIRE SHOWED THAT SPORTSMANSHIP SURVIVES IN THE WORLD OF ... EIGHT-FIGURE PLAYER CONTRACTS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CELEBRATES A MOVE TOWARD DEMOCRACY IN A SECOND EUROPEAN ELECTION, SLOVAKIA. IT MOVES THE NATION AWAY FROM WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED "DISTURBING TRENDS AWAY FROM DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES..." "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES:

VOICE: IN VOTING FOR A NEW PARLIAMENT ... A MAJORITY OF SLOVAKS REGISTERED THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THOSE DANGEROUS TRENDS AND GAVE THEIR BACKING TO A COALITION OF PRO-DEMOCRACY PARTIES. .... IF THE DEMOCRATS MANAGE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AND BEGIN TO TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS, WESTERN INSTITUTIONS SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO WELCOME SLOVAKIA INTO THEIR RANKS.

TEXT: /// OPT /// IN ANOTHER DOMESTIC NOTE, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS UPSET AT THE WAY SPECIAL INTERESTS DOMINATED THIS SESSION OF WHAT IT FEELS WAS A RATHER UNPRODUCTIVE SESSION OF CONGRESS.

VOICE: ... CALL IT A 'DO-NOTHING CONGRESS' IF YOU MUST, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND FOR THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR, IT'S BEEN A SEASON OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ON CAPITOL HILL. WHILE BUSILY SERVING THE MONIED INTERESTS THAT KEEP THEM IN OFFICE, HOWEVER, LAWMAKERS HAVE MADE ONE EMBARRASSING ERROR OF OMISSION: FISCAL YEAR 1999 STARTS ON THURSDAY, AND YET CONGRESS HAD OKD [APPROVED] ONLY TWO OF THE 13 SPENDING BILLS NEEDED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION. /// END OPT

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
29-Sep-98 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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