Voice of America, 98-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] EURO / EMPLOYMENT (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[02] KOSOVO / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[03] KOSOVO / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[04] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (OSTRAZUB, KOSOVO)

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

[06] THE KOSOVO DEAL BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

[07] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

[01] EURO / EMPLOYMENT (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: A NEW REPORT OUT BY THE THE EUROPEAN UNION EXAMINES ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG ITS 15 MEMBER COUNTRIES. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WIDELY MIXED.

TEXT: SPAIN HAS THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. (ALMOST 20) PERCENT OF THE SPANISH WORK FORCE CANNOT FIND A JOB. IN ITS EFFORT TO COMBAT UNEMPLOYMENT, THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS SPAIN HAS ONE OF THE BEST STRATEGIES. NEARLY ONE-MILLION SPANIARDS WILL BENEFIT THIS YEAR FROM JOB CREATION EFFORTS.

PORTUGAL AND FRANCE ALSO ARE PRAISED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THEIR NATIONAL PLANS AIMED AT DEALING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE UNION'S REPORT CRITICIZES EFFORTS MADE BY GERMANY'S OUTGOING GOVERNMENT, AND BY GREECE.

PADRAIG FLYNN IS THE EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF SOCIAL POLICIES. HE SAYS ALL THE MEMBERS ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE.

ALL OF THE MEMBERS, ALL OF THEM ARE ON BOARD ON THIS AND THAT IS THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO LEAVE: NOBODY IS SHIRKING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR SEEKING NOT TO SATISFY THE COMMITMENTS FOR THE EUROPEAN TARGETS.

MR. FLYNN SAYS EUROPE SUFFERS IN COMPARISON TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IT PUTS TO WORK.

WE ARE NOT DISSIMILAR TO THE UNITED STATES AS FAR AS AGRICULTURE OR MANUFACTURING OR IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS CONCERNED, BUT WE ARE WAY BEHIND INSOFAR AS EMPLOYMENT IN THE SERVICES ARE CONCERNED. AND HERE I AM TALKING ABOUT BOTH COMMUNAL SERVICES AND BUSINESS AND DISTRIBUTION AND THE WHOLE QUESTION ABOUT HOTELS AND LEISURE AND RESTAURANTS -- WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE UNITED STATES IN THESE THINGS.

THE EMPLOYMENT RATE MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING AND THE POTENTIAL OF THE LABOR FORCE THAT IT IS NOT WORKING. EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES USED TO HAVE SIMILAR RATES 20 YEARS AGO. THE EUROPEAN UNION HOPES TO MAKE UP THE GAP IN JOB CREATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF
14-Oct-98 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN SAYS IT IS SENDING AN ADVANCE TEAM THURSDAY TO KOSOVO TO HELP ORGANIZE THE MONITORING OF THE PLANNED SERB MILITARY PULLOUT THERE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN ULTIMATELY EXPECTS TO PROVIDE ONE TENTH OF THE TWO-THOUSAND FOREIGN INSPECTORS.

TEXT: BRITAIN IS NOT WASTING ANY TIME IN PROVIDING PESONNEL FOR THE KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS AN ADVANCE TEAM IS READY TO LEAVE THIS WEEK FOR KOSOVO. ANOTHER 150 INSPECTORS WILL GO WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THEY WILL BE PEOPLE OF CALIBER ABLE TO GIVE THIS MISSION THE EYES AND THE EARS WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP TABS ON PRESIDENT (SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC.

THE BRITISH CONTINGENT IS THE FIRST WAVE OF AN AIR AND GROUND MONITORING MISSION TO VERIFY THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT IS FULFILLING HIS PROMISE TO PULL SERB SPECIAL FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND LET THE DISPLACED RETURN TO THEIR HOMES THERE.

FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK ALSO INTENDS TO PUSH FOR A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO TO GIVE IT EVEN MORE CLOUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/KL
14-Oct-98 12:14 PM EDT (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN SAYS IT IS SENDING AN ADVANCE TEAM THURSDAY TO KOSOVO TO HELP ORGANIZE THE MONITORING OF THE PLANNED SERB MILITARY PULLOUT THERE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN ULTIMATELY EXPECTS TO PROVIDE ONE TENTH OF THE TWO-THOUSAND FOREIGN INSPECTORS.

TEXT: BRITAIN IS NOT WASTING ANY TIME IN PROVIDING PESONNEL FOR THE KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS AN ADVANCE TEAM IS READY TO LEAVE THIS WEEK FOR KOSOVO. ANOTHER 150 INSPECTORS WILL GO WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THEY WILL BE PEOPLE OF CALIBER ABLE TO GIVE THIS MISSION THE EYES AND THE EARS WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP TABS ON PRESIDENT (SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC.

THE BRITISH CONTINGENT IS THE FIRST WAVE OF AN AIR AND GROUND MONITORING MISSION TO VERIFY THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT IS FULFILLING HIS PROMISE TO PULL SERB SPECIAL FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND LET THE DISPLACED RETURN TO THEIR HOMES THERE.

FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK ALSO INTENDS TO PUSH FOR A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO TO GIVE IT EVEN MORE CLOUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/KL
14-Oct-98 12:14 PM EDT (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (OSTRAZUB, KOSOVO)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGERS IN KOSOVO SAY THEY WANT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO LIVE UP TO PROMISES HE MADE TO U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE. BUT PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS RESIDENTS FROM ONE SMALL TOWN SAY THEY ARE UNWILLING TO GO BACK HOME UNTIL AFTER SERB POLICE AND ARMY FORCES LEAVE THE REGION.

TEXT: ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGERS SAY THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOMES UNTIL THE SERBIAN POLICE AND ARMY HAVE CLEARED OUT. THE VILLAGERS SAY THEIR FEARS ARE BASED ON WHAT THEY CALL YEARS OF BROKEN PROMISES BY YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO PERMIT TWO-THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS INTO KOSOVO TO VERIFY A WITHDRAWAL OF SERB SECURITY FORCES.

FULL COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS WOULD END THE GOVERNMENT'S SEVEN-MONTH CRACKDOWN AGAINST KOSOVO ALBANIAN MILITANTS. THE FIGHTING KILLED HUNDREDS AND LEFT UP TO 300-THOUSAND REFUGEES HOMELESS.

IN THE SMALL TOWN OF OSTRAZUB, VILLAGERS SAY THE SHOOTING ENDED ONLY THREE DAYS AGO, EVEN AS NATO PLANES PREPARED FOR STRIKES. SERB FORCES REMAIN POISED TO FIGHT ON THE EDGE OF TOWN AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS IN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ARE IN NEARBY HILLS. THE VILLAGERS SAY THAT AS RECENTLY AS THREE DAYS AGO, SHELLS STRAFED THE TOWN.

BAJRAM MORINA, A COSMETICS SALESMAN, WHO RETURNED TO HIS HOME WEDNESDAY TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES, SAID HE WILL NOT BRING HIS CHILDREN HOME UNTIL THE SERB FORCES HAVE LEFT KOSOVO.

EVERYTHING IS IN THEIR HANDS... WE DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THROUGH THESE TALKS, IF THE POLICE FORCE GO OUTSIDE FROM (LEAVE) KOSOVO. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE, THE BEST THING IS KOSOVO. AH. WE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH SERBIA. THE BEST THING.

LIKE MOST VILLAGERS, MR. MORINA STILL WANTS AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO. ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUTNUMBER ETHNIC SERBS IN THE PROVINCE, NINE TO ONE.

BUT THAT POSSIBILITY HAS BEEN -- SO FAR -- RULED OUT BY WESTERN NATIONS WHO FEAR THAT SEPARATISM COULD SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION.

THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT ON WEDNESDAY OFFERED ELECTIONS, SAYING THAT KOSOVO ALBANIANS WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN PARLIAMENT, JUDICIARY, AND POLICE. THOSE OFFERS HAVE BEEN REJECTED IN THE PAST BY INDEPENDENCE-MINDED ALBANIAN LEADERS WHO SAY THAT YUGOSLAVIA IS A POLICE STATE THAT TRAMPLES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREE SPEECH. (SIGNED)
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14-Oct-98 12:38 PM EDT (1638 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS SOME COMPANIES REPORTED STRONGER-THAN-EXPECTED EARNINGS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 68, UP 30 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND FIVE, UP 10 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT TRADERS WERE STILL NERVOUS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SITUATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT THERE WAS ALSO SOME OPTIMISM AS A RESULT OF SOME UNEXPECTEDLY STRONG CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED RETAIL SALES IN THE UNITED STATE ROSE ONLY MODESTLY IN SEPTEMBER, SUGGESTING AMERICAN CONSUMERS HAVE BECOME MORE CAUTIOUS IN THEIR BUYING DECISIONS.

AMONG THE POSITIVE EARNINGS REPORTS RELEASED WEDNESDAY WAS THE REPORT FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS ROSE BY 10 PERCENT.

THE TIME WARNER MEDIA CONGLOMERATE REPORTED A 39 MILLION DOLLAR PROFIT AFTER A 28 MILLION DOLLAR LOSS IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.

THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY REPORTED A 106 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY PROFIT, WELL ABOVE WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. APPLE SAYS THE SUCCESS OF ITS NEW I-MAC COMPUTER WAS A BIG FACTOR IN THE STRONG EARNINGS STATEMENT.

UNDERWEAR MAKER FRUIT OF THE LOOM REPORTED A 50 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY PROFIT, ABOVE WALL STREET FORECASTS. THE COMPANY SAYS SALES INCREASED MODESTLY BUT THE MAIN FACTOR IN THE PROFIT JUMP WAS AGGRESSIVE COST CUTTING.

ALTHOUGH MANY AMERICANS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE RECENT DROP IN THE VALUES OF THEIR STOCK PORTFOLIOS, COLLECTORS OF "BEANIE BABIES" HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT. THE PRICES OF THE LIMITED EDITION BEAN-BAG DOLLS HAVE APPRECIATED AS MUCH AS ONE THOUSAND PERCENT OR MORE IN JUST THE PAST TWO YEARS. BUT SERIOUS INVESTMENT ADVISORS CAUTION THAT A SUDDEN AND SEVERE CRASH IN "BEANIE BABY" VALUE IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE AND THAT SPECULATION IN THE DOLLS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED VERY HIGH RISK.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
14-Oct-98 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] THE KOSOVO DEAL BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MONDAY BROUGHT NEWS FROM YUGOSLAVIA OF AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD AVERT NATO AIR STRIKES IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAMMERED OUT THE PLAN WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THE PROPOSAL HAS SPARKED A DEBATE ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS -- WILL IT WORK? IS IT ENOUGH TO STOP THE VIOLENCE? HERE IS _____________ TO GIVE US A SAMPLING OF THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO BEGIN TALKS ON AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO AND TO SHRINK HIS TROOP PRESENCE IN THE REGION TO MATCH LEVELS FROM BEFORE THE CRISIS ESCALATED IN FEBRUARY. TWO-THOUSAND UNARMED INTERNATIONAL MONITORS ARE TO CHECK MR. MILOSEVIC'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT, AND NATO PLANES WILL DO THE SAME FROM THE AIR.

THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL ON U-S EDITORIAL PAGES. SOME PAPERS, LIKE THE "U-S-A TODAY," VIEW THE KOSOVO AGREEMENT AS SOMETHING SHORT OF AN IDEAL SOLUTION BUT SOMETHING BETTER THAN NO SOLUTION -- OR NO INTERVENTION -- AT ALL. THE "U-S-A TODAY" SAYS WITHOUT IT, THE BALKAN WINTER WOULD SOON KILL HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

THE MINNEAPOLIS "STAR TRIBUNE" THINKS THE AGREEMENT -- WHILE NOT PERFECT -- DESERVES "MORE THAN A LITTLE PRAISE."

VOICE: THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT LEAVE MR. MILOSEVIC A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM; EITHER HE COMPLIES OR HE DOES NOT. IF HE DOES NOT, NATO STILL MUST BE WILLING TO USE FORCE. ... IT NOW SEEMS POSSIBLE TO HOPE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL BE SPARED DEATH BY STARVATION AND COLD IN THE MOUNTAINS OF KOSOVO THIS WINTER. THAT IS AN OUTCOME WORTH PRAISING. "NEWSDAY," FROM NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, ALSO URGES PRESIDENT CLINTON AND NATO TO REMAIN READY TO STRIKE IF MR. MILOSEVIC DOES NOT KEEP HIS END OF THE DEAL.

VOICE: THE AGREEMENT MR. HOLBROOKE NEGOTIATED IN SEVERAL GRUELING SESSIONS WITH THE SERB [LEADER] IS A GOOD ONE. ... BUT THE EMERGENCY IN KOSOVO IS HARDLY OVER. IT IS ONLY IN A STATE OF SUSPENSION. ... IF THERE IS A SERIOUS SHORTCOMING IN [THE] NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, IT IS THE IMPLICIT HOPE THAT TWO-THOUSAND UNARMED OBSERVERS WILL BE INSURANCE ENOUGH TO PREVENT TROUBLE. ... [MR. CLINTON] SHOULD BE WILLING TO GO THE NEXT STEP TO ENSURE IT IS NOT A HOLLOW VICTORY. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ALSO CRITICIZES THE PROPOSAL OF UNARMED OBSERVERS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. THE "TIMES" SAYS THE GROUP "LACKS THE UNITY AND SPINE TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THE SERBS." BUT THE "TIMES" SAYS THE AGREEMENT MAY INDEED SAVE LIVES, CONCLUDING, "THE KILLING AND INTIMIDATION MAY STOP IN KOSOVO -- AT LEAST FOR NOW." THE "NEW YORK POST" IS EVEN MORE CRITICAL OF THE AGREEMENT THAN THE "TIMES." THE "POST" HAS ALREADY CALLED FOR THE OUTRIGHT OUSTER OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. IT NOW DERIDES THE HOLBROOKE PLAN AND CALLS U-S POLICY ON THE BALKANS "CONFUSED AND INEPT."

VOICE: YOU CAN BET [MR. MILOSEVIC] IS NOT EXACTLY QUAKING IN HIS BOOTS. ... THE DEAL HE IS SUPPOSED TO COMPLY WITH IS HARDLY DRACONIAN. ... IF NATO IS PACIFIED BY SOME EMPY PROMISES ... THE WEST WILL TRULY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANY DEATHS THAT WILL FOLLOW. THE PLAIN FACT IS THAT THE 350-THOUSAND KOSOVARS SHIVERING IN THE MOUNTAINS ... WILL BE IN MORTAL DANGER UNTIL MR. MILOSEVIC IS CRIPPLED OR GONE.

BUT MOST U-S NEWSPAPERS HAVE NOT TAKEN SUCH A HARDLINE STANCE AS THE "NEW YORK POST." MANY WELCOME THE AGREEMENT AS A START, BUT OFFER ADVICE FOR FURTHER ACTION. "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" AND "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALL FOR GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO IN ORDER TO AVERT FUTURE SEPARATIST VIOLENCE. HERE IS WHAT THE "BOSTON GLOBE" HAS TO SAY:

VOICE: THE AGREEMENT MR. HOLBROOKE PROCURED IN BELGRADE DOES N NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO: THE REFUSAL OF THE ALBANIAN KOSOVARS TO LIVE UNDER SERBIAN OPPRESSION. IN THIS CASE THE WISEST POLICY MAY BE TO POSTPONE THE POLITICAL QUESTION AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE. WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS LOOK AT U-S EDITORIAL OPINION ON THE NEW AGREEMENT TO AVERT NATO AIR STRIKES IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.
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14-Oct-98 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH KURD REBELS HAVE ENDED A NEARLY MONTH-OLD UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE, KILLING ABOUT 16 TURKISH FORCES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE REBELS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE LOST 42 MEN IN THE CLASHES WITH TURKISH SECURITY FORCES IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF VAN NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER.

TEXT: IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY THE REBEL GROUP DECIDED TO END ITS MONTH-OLD CEASEFIRE. BUT SOURCES CLOSE TO THE REBELS SAY IT IS BECAUSE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IGNORED THEIR CALL TO STOP THE FIGHTING AND CONTINUED ITS BATTLE AGAINST THEM.

THE LATEST CLASHES ARE SOME OF THE HEAVIEST REPORTED IN RECENT MONTHS BETWEEN REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K, AND TURKISH SECURITY FORCES IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES.

OFFICIALS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF DIYARBAKIR SAID THE FIGHTING BROKE OUT AFTER TURKISH TROOPS CAME ACROSS A LARGE GROUP OF P-K-K FIGHTERS DURING OPERATIONS IN VAN PROVINCE.

THE REBELS KILLED 14 VILLAGE GUARDS AND TWO SOLDIERS DURING THE CLASHES WHICH LASTED FOR HOURS. THE VILLAGE GUARD IS A GOVERNMENT-PAID KURDISH MILITIA. THE P-K-K CONSIDERS GUARD MEMBERS TO BE TRAITORS AND MAKES THEM AMONG THE P-K-K'S PRIME TARGETS.

THE CLASHES COINCIDE WITH TURKEY'S THREATS TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA BECAUSE OF ITS SUPPORT FOR THE P-K-K. TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN SAID TUESDAY HE HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT SYRIA HAD SHUT DOWN ALL P-K-K CAMPS ON ITS TERRITORY AND HAD EXPELLED THE P-K-K'S LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN. THE REPORTS COULD NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED NEARLY 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE P-K-K LAUNCHED ITS ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH INDEPENDENCE 14 YEARS AGO. THE REBELS HAVE SINCE SAID THEY WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH SOME FORM OF SELF RULE. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REJECT THE SELF-RULE PROPOSAL AND HAS SPENT 100-BILLION DOLLARS SO FAR ON ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE P-K-K (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
14-Oct-98 10:10 AM EDT (1410 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MANY U-S EDITORIAL PAGES ARE TAKING ON THE REPORTED AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO BETWEEN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE. EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE ALSO ADDRESSING SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. HERE IS _________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK, INCLUDING SOME EXCERPTS AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE POSSIBLE END TO VIOLENCE IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO TOPS MANY U-S EDITORIAL PAGES.

YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO PULL SOME -- BUT NOT ALL -- OF HIS TROOPS OUT OF THE REGION, AND TO BEGIN TALKS ON AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO. HE WILL ALSO ALLOW TWO-THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL MONITORS TO CHECK ON HIS COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT, AND NATO PLANES WILL DO THE SAME FROM THE AIR.

MANY PAPERS, LIKE "THE U-S-A TODAY," ARE CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEAL, BUT SAY ITS SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON THE BEHAVIOR MR. MILOSEVIC.

VOICE: THE CENTRAL TRUTH IS THAT WITHOUT THIS DEAL, THE BALKAN WINTER WOULD SOON KILL REFUGEES BY THE HUNDREDS, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A REGIONAL WAR, INTO WHICH THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES COULD BE DRAWN, WOULD BE INCREASED. ... THE POLICYMAKERS CHOSE THE RIGHT PATH BEFORE THE CRISIS SPUN OUT OF CONTROL.

OTHER PAPERS ARE BEHIND THE AGREEMENT, BUT THEY THINK NATO AND THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON MR. MILOSEVIC. HERE IS WHAT "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" HAS TO SAY:

VOICE: [THE] DEAL IS ONLY A START. ... ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, AS WELL AS MILITARY THREATS, SHOULD STAY IN PLACE UNTIL MILOSEVIC DEMONSTRATES HIS READINESS TO ALLOW HEALING IN KOSOVO.

BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF U-S DAILIES ARE HARSHLY CRITICAL OF THE KOSOVO COMPROMISE. "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" FEELS U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE GAVE UP TOO MUCH TO THE YUGOSLAV LEADER.

VOICE: IF THIS IS PEACE, IT IS PEACE WITHOUT HONOR AND WITHOUT JUSTICE. IT IS NOT WORTHY OF A GREAT NATION LIKE THE UNITED STATES. ... WEAKNESS AND IRRESOLUTION OF THIS KIND CAN ONLY INVITE MORE VIOLENCE. "THE WASHINGTON TIMES," ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER U-S DAILIES, ALSO OFFERS A SUGGESTION FOR STEMMING THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE "TIMES" WARNS EUROPE MIGHT BE THE NEXT VICTIM IF INTEREST RATES THERE DO NOT COME DOWN.

VOICE: EUROPE'S CENTRAL BANKERS HAVE WON THE INFLATION WAR. ... UNLESS [THEY] EASE MONETARY POLICY SOON, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, THEY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPREADING THE FINANCIAL CONTAGION TO THEIR OWN CONTINENT.

UP NORTH IN MAINE, THE "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WELCOMES NEWS ABOUT A JAPANESE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT COUNTRY'S TRILLION-DOLLAR BANKING CRISIS WITH 400-BILLION-DOLLARS IN PUBLIC FUNDS. JAPAN'S PARLIAMENT RECENTLY APPROVED THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD GIVE TOKYO THE POWER TO CLOSE FAILED BANKS OR FORCE THEM TO MERGE WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE "PRESS HERALD" PRAISES THE PLAN.

VOICE: [THE PROPOSAL] APPEARS TO LAY OUT AN APPROPRIATE POLICY ON AN APPROPRIATE SCALE. ... BANKING REGULATORS HAVE TO BE FIRM, THOUGH. SOME BANKS AND BUSINESSES MADE VERY POOR BETS ON ... INVESTMENTS. FAILURE FOR THEM IS APPROPRIATE. ... THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TAKE ON THE [BANKING] PROBLEM IS WELCOME NEWS. NOW IT MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS GOOD LEGISLATIVE INTENTIONS.

AND WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S EDITORIAL SAMPLING FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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14-Oct-98 12:14 PM EDT (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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