Voice of America, 98-12-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] SERBIA'S CLAMPDOWN BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[03] E-U / NORTH KOREA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[04] ITALY / OCALAN (L) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

[05] ITALY/OCALAN UPDATE (L/S VER) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

[06] TURKEY'S KURDISH LEADER POSES DILEMMA FOR ITALY BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[01] SERBIA'S CLAMPDOWN BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN EXTRAORDINARY PURGE OF HIS INNERMOST CIRCLE -- CRACKING DOWN ON INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA AND ARRESTING STUDENTS FOR WRITING OPPOSITION GRAFFITI. AT THE SAME TIME, THE UNITED STATES IS LEVELING SOME OF ITS STRONGEST CRITICISM YET AGAINST THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS MORE ON A DEEPENING CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA:

TEXT: MANY BALKAN ANALYSTS WERE SURPRISED BY THE UNEQUIVOCAL CONDEMNATION OF MR. MILOSEVIC IN STATEMENTS THIS WEEK BY STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN:

I DON'T THINK WE WOULD LOSE ANY SLEEP IF MILOSEVIC IS REMOVED FROM POWER. WE WANT TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA. THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA.

IN HIS STRONGLY-WORDED STATEMENT, MR. RUBIN SAYS THERE WILL BE NO LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA UNTIL DEMOCRACY IS ESTABLISHED THERE. HE ALSO ACCUSES THE YUGOSLAV LEADER OF BEING AT THE CENTER OF EVERY CRISIS IN THE REGION FOR THE PAST DECADE.

THE LATEST SETBACK TO DEMOCRACY IN YUGOSLAVIA CAME SHORTLY AFTER MR. MILOSEVIC CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT (IN OCTOBER) TO END THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO. THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSED A PUBLIC INFORMATION LAW WHICH WESTERN CRITICS ARE CALLING THE MOST DRACONIAN IN EUROPE.

MEDIA CONSIDERED UNPATRIOTIC BY THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE FINED UP TO 240-THOUSAND DOLLARS. ALREADY, SEVERAL LEADING INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN. // OPT // INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM BROADCASTING MATERIAL FROM FOREIGN SOURCES SUCH AS V-O-A, THE B-B-C AND DEUTSCHE-WELLE. ALTHOUGH THE LAW LEGALLY INCLUDES THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, THERE HAS BEEN NO CRACKDOWN THERE, BUT A NEWSPAPER IN THE NEIGHBORING (YUGOSLAV) REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO HAS BEEN FINED FOR PRINTING A SYMBOL OF STUDENT OPPOSITION TO THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT. // END OPT //

THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE YUGOSLAV EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON RECENTLY FOUND HERSELF IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION OF TRYING TO DEFEND THE NEW PRESS LAW AT A PUBLIC FORUM NEAR WASHINGTON. SPEAKING AT (THE "NEWSEUM,") A MUSEUM DEVOTED TO THE NEWS MEDIA, LJILJANA TOSKOVIC PRESENTED THIS DEFENSE FOR SERBIA'S MEDIA LAW:

THE BASIC PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ADOPTED BY THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT ARE AIMED AT FUTURE DEMOCRATIZING THE FIELD OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, PROTECTING PERSONAL FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS AND PREVENTING MONOPOLIES.

THIS OFFICIAL EXPLANATION DID NOT CONVINCE ROY GUTMAN, OF THE NEW YORK NEWSPAPER "NEWSDAY." MR. GUTMAN WON A PULITZER PRIZE IN 1993 FOR HIS EXPOSE OF SERB-RUN CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

IT JUST LOOKS FROM AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE AS IF THE GOVERNMENT AND PARTICULARLY THE RADICAL PARTY, WHICH IS RUN BY VOJISLAV SESELJ WHO RAN PARAMILITARY GROUPS DURING THE CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN WARS -- IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PARTY WHICH CONTROLS THE INFORMATION MINISTRY HAS JUST DECIDED TO CLOSE DOWN THE FREE PRESS. THE QUESTION IN MY MIND IS, WHY IS SERBIA DOING THIS NOW?

MR. MILOSEVIC IS ONLY INTERESTED IN RETAINING POWER IN SERBIA AT ALL COST[S]. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS HE HAS TO ELIMINATE AND CONFINE ALL THOSE WHO ARE OF A DIFFERENT OPINION TO HIS AND HIS WIFE'S OPINION.

MR. PAVLOVIC, WHO HAS 30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE WORKING AS A JOURNALIST IN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE UNITED STATES, WAS REFERRING TO REPORTS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS INCREASINGLY INFLUENCED BY HIS WIFE, MIRJANA MARKOVIC, WHO HEADS A LEADING PRO-COMMUNIST PARTY.

MANY ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE AND WASHINGTON VIEW THE RECENT ACTIONS OF MR. MILOSEVIC AS SIGNS OF WEAKNESS RATHER THAN STRENGTH. ONE OF THEM IS FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL JOHN FOX:

CERTAINLY THE CRACKDOWN, TOGETHER WITH THE PURGES WITHIN THE REGIME, ARE SIGNS OF BOTH DESPERATION AND PREPARATION. DESPERATION IN THAT ONE DOESN'T CRACK DOWN FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT COMES FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS.

JOHN FOX SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC IS PREPARING FOR A BIGGER STRUGGLE AHEAD. HE LIKENS THE MEDIA WAR IN SERBIA TO THE ROLE PLAYED BY SOLIDARITY IN POLAND DURING THE 1980'S, WHICH EVENTUALLY HELPED OVERTURN COMMUNIST RULE. (SIGNED)
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02-Dec-98 5:28 PM EST (2228 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: NATO-LED TROOPS HAVE ARRESTED A BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL WANTED FOR GENOCIDE BY PROSECUTORS AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE HIGHEST RANKING BOSNIAN SERB TO BE SEIZED FOR TRIAL SO FAR IS CHARGED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE MASSACRE OF MUSLIMS AFTER THE FALL OF SREBRENICA. LAUREN COMITEAU HAS DETAILS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: PROSECUTORS CALL GENERAL RADISLAV KRSTIC A VERY SIGNIFICANT MILITARY LEADER. AS A TOP COMMANDER IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY, THEY SAY HE DIRECTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE MASSACRE OF MUSLIMS, FOLLOWING THE FALL OF THE SO-CALLED U-N "SAFE HAVEN" OF SREBRENICA IN 1995.

IN ONE OF THE BLOODIEST INCIDENTS OF THE BOSNIAN WAR, THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN AND BOYS WERE SLAUGHTERED, AND THOUSANDS ARE STILL MISSING. GENERAL KRSTIC IS BEING CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE, EXTERMINATION AND MURDER FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE, BOTH AS A COMMANDER AND A DIRECT PARTICIPANT.

HIS INDICTMENT WAS KEPT SECRET UNTIL HIS ARREST WEDNESDAY -- PART OF THE PROSECUTION'S STRATEGY TO ARREST WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS WHO EITHER WON'T GIVE THEMSELVES UP OR ARE PROTECTED BY GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION.

GENERAL KRSTIC IS SAID TO HAVE CLOSE TIES TO FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS MILITARY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. THOSE MEN HAVE ALSO BEEN INDICTED FOR GENOCIDE FOR ALLEGEDLY MASTERMINDING THE SREBRENICA MASSACRE. WHILE THEY ARE STILL FREE, GENERAL KRSTIC WILL SOON BE FACING JUDGES IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)
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02-Dec-98 1:41 PM EST (1841 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / NORTH KOREA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION IS HOLDING ITS THEIR FIRST-EVER TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS E-U OFFICIALS SAY THE MEETING SYMBOLIZES AN IMPORTANT STEP IN IMPROVING RELATIONS.

TEXT: IN A BID NOT TO UNDULY RAISE EXPECTATIONS, EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFICIALS SAY NO IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS MEETING. INSTEAD, THEY SAY, ITS IMPORTANCE LIES IN THE FACT THAT IT IS BEING HELD AT ALL.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, OFFICIALS FROM EUROPE AND FROM NORTH KOREA ARE EMBARKING ON A POLITICAL DIALOGUE ON A RANGE OF ISSUES FROM HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOOD AID TO NUCLEAR SAFETY.

THE EUROPEAN UNION BELIEVES THAT THE TIME IS RIGHT TO EMBARK ON A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH NORTH KOREA, A COMMUNIST NATION WHICH IS REGARDED AS THE ASIAN COUNTRY WHICH HAS THE LEAST CONTACT WITH THE WESTERN WORLD.

THE MEETING IS BEING HELD AT OFFICIAL -- AND NOT A MINISTERIAL LEVEL. BUT IT DOES INCLUDE DIPLOMATS FROM BRITAIN, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA WHO ARE REPRESENTING ALL 15 E-U STATES.

THE HOPE IS THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE THE FIRST, BUT NOT THE LAST, AND THAT A MORE PERMANENT POLITICAL DIALOGUE CAN BE ESTABLISHED. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ALREADY INVOLVED IN SENDING FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, WHERE SHORTAGES HAVE LED TO SERIOUS STARVATION.

EUROPE IS ALSO A PARTNER WITH THE UNITED STATES, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN IN A NUCLEAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO DISMANTLE NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR MISSILES IN RETURN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

THESE NEW REACTORS ARE DUE TO BE READY BY THE YEAR 2003 AND WILL REPLACE EXISTING PLANTS THAT ARE SUSPECTED OF PRODUCING MATERIAL FOR USE IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
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02-Dec-98 11:20 AM EST (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ITALY / OCALAN (L) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

MEANWHILE IN ITALY ALL EYES WILL BE ON ISTANBUL SOCCER STADIUM LATE WEDNESDAY WHERE ITALY'S JUVENTUS TEAM WILL PLAY AGAINST TURKEY'S GALATASARAY. TWO ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WILL BE ON HAND FOR THE GAME. THE PREMIER SAID HE HOPED THE GAME WOULD BE PLAYED SERENELY.

WE ALSO HOPE THAT THIS SPORT EVENT WILL REPRESENT AN EASING OF THE TENSION BETWEEN ITALY AND TURKEY, D'ALEMA ADDED.

BEFORE LEAVING FROM TURIN THIS MORNING, THE ITALIAN TEAM'S HONORARY PRESIDENT UMBERTO AGNELLI SAID HE HAD NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE MATCH BUT STRESSED THE OCALAN AFFAIR HAD TO BE RESOLVED.

THE CURRENT SITUATION BETWEEN ITALY AND TURKEY, HE SAID, IS NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE. OUR COMPANIES ARE SUFFERING UNJUSTLY AND I HOPE A SOLUTION IS FOUND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ANTI-ITALIAN SENTIMENT IS RUNNING HIGH IN TURKEY AND AROUND 20-THOUSAND SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO PROTECT FANS AND PLAYERS AGAINST ANY POSSIBLE INCIDENTS. (SIGNED)
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02-Dec-98 1:12 PM EST (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY'S KURDISH LEADER POSES DILEMMA FOR ITALY BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: HIS NICKNAME IS "APO," AND HE IS EASILY THE MOST WANTED MAN IN THE NATION OF TURKEY. BUT CURRENTLY, HE SITS IN AN ITALIAN JAIL, WHILE A DIPLOMATIC WHIRLWIND CONCERNING HIS FUTURE BLOWS ACROSS EUROPE AND BEYOND.

THE U-S PRESS HAS PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT THIS DIPLOMATIC IMPASSE AS WELL. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _______________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: HIS REAL NAME IS ABDULLAH OCALAN, AND TO MANY HE IS A TERRORIST LEADER WITH THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT TURKS ON HIS HANDS. BUT TO MANY TURKISH KURDS, HE IS A HERO FIGHTING A REPRESSIVE TURKISH MILITARY, WHICH BULLDOZES KURDISH VILLAGES AND KILLS MANY CIVILIANS AS WELL AS GUERRILLAS, IN ITS EFFORTS TO STAMP OUT MR. OCALAN'S MARXIST "KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY," KNOWN AS THE P-K-K.

NOW THE KURDISH LEADER IS UNDER ARREST IN ROME, HAVING BEEN INVITED TO ITALY BY A GROUP OF LEFT-WING DEPUTIES IN THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT, BUT ARRESTED BY POLICE AT THE AIRPORT ON A TURKISH ARREST WARRANT. THE NEW ITALIAN GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA, A FORMER COMMUNIST, FACES A DIFFICULT DECISION. ITALIAN LAW DOES NOT ALLOW EXTRADITION OF ANY PRISONER TO A NATION WHERE THAT PERSON FACES THE DEATH PENALTY, AS THE P-K-K LEADER WOULD, IF HE RETURNED TO TURKEY.

THE ITALIANS DO NOT WANT TO KEEP MR. OCALAN INDEFINITELY, AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH HIM. SOME U-S NEWSPAPERS SAY THIS SITUATION HAS CATAPULTED THE REAL KURDISH QUESTION INTO PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS, AND GIVEN THE EUROPEAN NATIONS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE ONE OF THIS CENTURY'S OLDEST ETHNIC PUZZLES HOW TO GIVE THE KURDS A HOMELAND OF THEIR OWN.

WITH THAT BACKGROUND, WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING OF THE U-S PRESS IN FLORIDA, WHERE THE VERO BEACH "PRESS JOURNAL" COMPARES MR. OCALAN TO ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S WORST-EVER TERRORISTS.

TEXT: TO UNDERSTAND WHY [THE TURKS ARE SO FURIOUS AT ITALY FOR NOT EXTRADITING HIM] IMAGINE THAT TIMOTHY MCVEIGH [ -- THE FORMER U-S ARMY SOLDIER CONVICTED OF A TERROR ATTACK IN OKLAHOMA THREE YEARS AGO THAT KILLED MORE THAN 160 PEOPLE AT A FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING -- ] ... FLED TO ITALY AFTER SETTING OFF HIS BOMB ... AND THAT THE ITALIANS, INSTEAD OF SENDING HIM BACK HERE, BEHAVED AS IF HE WERE A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL FIGURE WITH SOME SORT OF A CASE TO MAKE FOR HIMSELF. // OPT // TRYING TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES, THE ITALIANS HAVE NOTED ... THEY HAVE A LAW PROHIBITING EXTRADITION TO LANDS THAT PRACTICE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN EXECUTED IN TURKEY SINCE 1984, AND TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEY ARE WILLING TO ELIMINATE THEIR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT STATUTES IF NECESSARY. NO, THE REAL REASONS ITALY IS NOT ACCEDING TO THE DEMANDS OF ITS NATO PARTNER ARE TO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE, [MR.] D'ALEMA, A FORMER COMMUNIST, MAY WELL HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE CLAIMS MADE BY THE FUGITIVE, ABDULLAH OCALAN ... [WHO] POINTS TO SUFFERING BY KURDS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO CARVE OUT THEIR OWN COUNTRY IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY, AND MAKES IT SOUND AS IF HE IS A HEROIC GUERRILLA LEADER. // END OPT // ... THE FUNDAMENTAL POINT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO ANYONE. IT IS THAT TERRORISM IS INEXCUSABLE AND WILL NOT JUST CONTINUE BUT SPREAD IF THE CIVILIZED NATIONS OF THE WORLD DO NOT COOPERATE IN BRINGING ITS PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE.

TEXT: JOHN TIRMAN, OF THE WINSTON FOUNDATION FOR WORLD PEACE IN WASHINGTON, WRITES IN "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" THAT "SOMETIMES PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE STRICT IMPOSITION OF JUSTICE." AND HE GOES ON TO EXPLAIN MR. OCALAN'S POPULARITY.

VOICE: THE CAUSE OF THE REBELLION BY [MR.] OCALAN'S KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, IS INDEED POLITICAL -- NAMELY, THE SAVAGE TREATMENT OF THE KURDISH POPULATION IN TURKEY FOR 70 YEARS. THE KURDISH PEOPLE, SETTLED IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA LONG BEFORE THE TURKS ARRIVED FROM CENTRAL ASIA, LIVED PEACEFULLY UNDER THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. BUT UNDER THE TURKISH REPUBLIC CREATED BY KEMAL ATATURK IN 1923, KURDS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO REPEATED POGROMS. THEY HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN FROM USING THEIR LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS. THE SOUTHEAST IS IMPOVERISHED AND SHORT-CHANGED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN ANKARA. THESE INDIGNITIES STIRRED SEVERAL UPRISINGS, BUT THE P-K-K'S IS THE MOST SERIOUS. IT HAS LED THE TURKISH MILITARY TO CRACK DOWN ON ALL EXPRESSIONS OF DISSENT OVER ITS KURDISH POLICY. // OPT // NO KURDISH POLITICAL PARTIES CAN FUNCTION. SEVERAL KURDISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, INCLUDING THE DISSIDENT LEYLA ZANA, ARE JAILED. MORE THAN 32-HUNDRED KURDISH VILLAGES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED BY THE MILITARY, WITH TWO-MILLION VILLAGERS FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. SOME 35-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE P-K-K AND THE MILITARY SINCE 1984. THE MILITARY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE UPRISING, SUCH AS GRANTING FULL LANGUAGE RIGHTS OR PERMITTING KURDISH PARTIES, BECAUSE OF ITS RIGID TURKISH NATIONALISM. // END OPT // ... THE EXTRADITION OF [MR.] OCALAN TO TURKEY, WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY RESULT IN HIS EXECUTION, WOULD REINFORCE THE TURKISH MILITARY'S BELLIGERENCE. WITHOUT SOME CONDITIONS ON EXTRADITION, [MR.] OCALAN'S TRIAL AND DEATH WOULD ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. ... BEFORE SENDING HIM BACK [TO TURKEY,] THE ITALIANS SHOULD INSIST ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE MOST AMBITIOUS CONDITION WOULD BE AN ACTUAL END TO THE CIVIL WAR, WITH THE TURKS GRANTING FULL POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS TO KURDS AND THE P-K-K DEMOBILIZING. TRUTH COMMISSIONS AND WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS COULD FOLLOW. BUT THAT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH TO HOPE FOR.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" SEES THE OCALAN DETENTION AS AN OPENING FOR DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES INTO THE DEEPER, MORE TROUBLING QUESTION OF KURDISH INDEPENDENCE.

VOICE: THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT AND MANY TURKISH PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED BY ANY DEALING THAT SEEMS TO LEGITIMIZE WHAT THEY REGARD AS A TERRORIST SEPARATIST GROUP -- THE P-K-K ... WHOSE LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, CREATED THE CRISIS BY LANDING IN ROME. ... YET IS IS CLEAR THAT TURKEY'S OWN RESPONSE TO THE KURDS OVER THE YEARS HAS FAILED TO SATISFY THE INTERESTS OF EITHER SIDE. FEW INFORMED PEOPLE DOUBT THAT THE OCALAN PARTY HAS A TERRORIST PEDIGREE. ... [BUT [OCALAN'S] UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL HAS KINDLED THOUGHTS IN PARTS OF THE ITALIAN AND GERMAN GOVERNMENTS OF TRANSFORMING THE KURDISH ISSUE FROM AN ARMED STRUGGLE INTO SOME SORT OF A NEGOTIATION. THE IDEA WOULD BE TO COMBAT TERRORISM ON ONE LEVEL, TO STRENGTHEN KURDISH RIGHTS ON A SECOND[,] AND TO FACILITATE TURKEY'S NOW-STALLED ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION ON A THIRD. ... AT SOME POINT, THE ROLE OF KURDS OUTSIDE TURKEY NEEDS TO BE STIRRED IN [INCLUDED]. OTHER IDEAS ARE IN THE AIR. NATO ALLIES WHO TIP-TOE AROUND THE QUESTION, AS THE UNITED STATES TENDS TO, IN THE END DO TURKEY NO REAL FAVOR.

TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS IT DOES NOT HARBOR ANY SYMPATHY FOR THE "PERPETRATORS OF ATROCITIES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER." IT IS NONETHELESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF SOVEREIGNTY BEING UNDERMINED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW. IT CITES BOTH THE CASE OF MR. OCALAN, AND THE CORRESPONDING DILEMMA IN BRITAIN, WHICH IS HOLDING FORMER CHILEAN MILITARY LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET FOR POSSIBLE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN ON HUMAN-RIGHTS CHARGES.

VOICE: THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE KURDISH PEOPLE'S PARTY [SIC] FOR 14 YEARS, VERY MUCH WANTS HIS EXTRADITION FOR THE DEATH OF SOME 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER THE YEARS. (THAT'S ABOUT 10 TIMES THE NUMBER KILLED UNDER GENERAL PINOCHET.) ... THE GERMANS, WHO ALSO HAVE AN ORDER OUT FOR MR. OCALAN'S ARREST, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT HIM EXTRADITED TO GERMANY, THOUGH THE ITALIANS WOULD DEARLY LOVE THIS SOLUTION. ... ALL OF WHICH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, BEGS THE QUESTION: EXACTLY UNDER WHAT INTERNATIONAL LAWS ARE THESE TWO CASES BEING CONSIDERED? WITHOUT SYMPATHIZING WITH PERPETRATORS OF ATROCITIES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, SURELY THERE IS REASON TO PAUSE WHEN THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGNTY (IN THIS CASE CHILE'S), THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, IS BEING DISMISSED SO READILY.

TEXT: AND FINALLY, IN THE CAPITAL OF (THE STATE OF) RHODE ISLAND, "THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL" DRAWS THESE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE OCALAN DILEMMA.

VOICE: ... HIS ARREST HAS PROVOKE A DISMAYINGLY COMPLICATED LEGAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC UPROAR. IF THIS LETS HIM GET OFF THE HOOK [ESCAPE WITHOUT PUNISHMENT], IT WILL BE NOT ONLY A GRIEVOUS AFFRONT TO HIS VICTIMS, BUT ALSO A SOBERING DEFEAT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. ... USING ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED BY TURKEY AND GERMANY, ITALIAN OFFICIALS TOOK MR. OCALAN INTO CUSTODY WHEN HE LANDED IN ROME. ... ITALY WOULD BE GLAD TO GET MR. OCALAN OFF ITS HANDS BY EXTRADITING HIM TO GERMANY, WHICH HAS NO DEATH PENALTY. BUT BONN DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM, FOR FEAR THAT A TRIAL WOULD PROVOKE SERIOUS PROBLEMS BETWEEN GERMANY'S LARGE ETHNIC TURKISH AND KURDISH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. IN ANY EVENT, SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE MUST BE FOUND...

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S PRESS OPINION ON THE DETENTION IN ITALY OF TURKEY'S MAIN KURDISH LEADER, ABDULLA OCALAN.
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02-Dec-98 3:55 PM EST (2055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ALTHOUGH THEY DID MAKE A STRONG RECOVERY FROM SESSION LOWS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 64, DOWN 69 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 71, DOWN FOUR POINTS.

STOCKS WERE DOWN ALL DAY AND AT ONE POINT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAD LOST 175 POINTS. BUT LATE SESSION BUYING CUT THE LOSSES.

THE RALLY BROUGHT THE MAJOR AVERAGES FROM SMALL LOSSES FOR THE YEAR TO 20 PERCENT PLUS GAINS AND SOME SETTLING BACK IS IN ORDER.

THE STOCK OF THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY FELL SHARPLY AFTER THE COMPANY SAID IT EXPECTS SALES WEAKNESS THROUGH THE YEAR 2000 BECAUSE OF A BIG DROP IN ORDERS FROM ASIA. BOEING ALSO SAYS IT WILL ELIMINATE 20 THOUSAND JOBS ON TOP OF THE 28 THOUSAND LAYOFFS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED.

STOCK OF THE SEARS ROEBUCK COMPANY ALSO FELL AFTER THE RETAILER REPORTED AN ALMOST FOUR PERCENT DROP IN SAME STORE SALES LAST MONTH.

I-T-T INDUSTRIES SAYS IT WILL CUT AS MANY AS 12 HUNDRED JOBS AND TAKE A 400 MILLION DOLLAR CHARGE IN RESTRUCTURING. THE COMPANY, WHICH MAKES INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, SAYS COST-CUTTING IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PROFITS IN A TOUGH MARKET ENVIRONMENT. KELLOGG, THE WORLD'S LARGEST BREAKFAST CEREAL COMPANY, SAYS IT WILL ELIMINATE MORE THAN 500 JOBS. KELLOGG ALSO BLAMES A TOUGH COMPETITIVE SITUATION FOR THE CUTS.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS NEW HOME SALES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE BY EIGHT-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN OCTOBER, WELL ABOVE EXPECTATIONS.

A STRONG DEMAND FOR HOME MORTGAGE LOANS HELPED TO FUEL A RECORD TWO POINT TWO BILLION DOLLAR PROFIT FOR U-S SAVINGS BANKS IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

A GROUP OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IS ASKING THE U-S CENTRAL BANK TO DELAY THE PLANNED ACQUISITION OF THE BANKERS TRUST COMPANY BY DEUTSCHE BANK OF GERMANY. LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE HOLOCAUST VICTIMS AND THEIR HEIRS WANT THAT DEAL HELD UP PENDING A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION OF DEUTSCHE BANK'S ACTIVITIES DURING WORLD WAR TWO.

THE U-S AIRWAYS CORPORATION HAS AGREED TO PAY 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SETTLE A SEX DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT. THE MONEY WILL BE DIVIDED AMONG 30 FEMALE U-S AIR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE PAID LESS THAN MEN WITH THE SAME JOB DESCRIPTIONS.

AUTO INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY GENERAL MOTORS WILL REPORT AN ALMOST SIX PERCENT DROP IN NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE SALES IN NOVEMBER. AFTER MEETING WITH G-M MANAGEMENT, THE ANALYSTS SAY THE COMPANY IS HAVING PROBLEMS RECOVERING FROM STRIKES LAST JUNE AND JULY.(SIGNED)
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02-Dec-98 5:05 PM EST (2205 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NEW DIRECTION THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE IS TAKING COMES IN FOR A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT IN WEDNESDAY'S U-S PAPERS, AND ANOTHER POPULAR TOPIC IS THE HUGE OIL COMPANY MERGER OF EXXON AND MOBIL.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE PITFALLS OF GIVING MORE AID TO THE PALESTINIANS; REASSESSING OUR POLICY TOWARD CUBA; // OPT // THE MIXED RESULTS IN QUEBEC'S PROVINCIAL ELECTION; // END OPT // AND THE BANANA TRADE WAR. NOW, HERE IS IS _______________ WITH A FEW EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE INCREASINGLY POLARIZED BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, REGARDING THE POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, CALLS FORTH A BIG BOLD HEADLINE OVER THE TOP EDITORIAL IN "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION." IT READS: "GOP BLINDED BY HATE" AND SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: AT SOME LEVEL, AN EFFORT TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES COMES DOWN TO A CREDIBILITY CONTEST BETWEEN THE OCCUPANT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THOSE WHO SEEK TO REMOVE HIM. HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT REALITY, AND THAT FAILURE HAS DRIVEN THEM TO MAKE THE MOST STUPID OF POLITICAL MISTAKES /// OPT /// AND MISPLAY A HAND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A WINNER. BUT WHAT IS TRULY REMARKABLE IS THEIR INABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR PAST MISTAKES. THE G-O-P LEARNING CURVE IS A FLAT LINE LEADING NOWHERE. /// END OPT /// THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, UNABLE TO ACCEPT POLITICAL REALITY, TRIED TO EXPAND ITS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY BY DELVING INTO THE FINANCING OF THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, GROUND ALREADY COVERED FRUITLESSLY BY HOUSE AND SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. FOLKS, WE ARE NOW LONG PAST STUPIDITY AND WELL INTO THE REALM OF THE ABSURD.

TEXT: IN NEBRASKA, HOWEVER, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" DISAGREES.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DEFENDERS RAISED PREDICTABLE OBJECTIONS OVER THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S DECISION TO MAKE A MODEST INQUIRY INTO THE CAMPAIGN FINANCING SCANDAL. /// OPT /// ... REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CONYERS, THE COMMITTEE'S RANKING DEMOCRAT, CALLED THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 'AN INQUIRY INS EACH OF A HIGH CRIME.' SUCH TALK WAS EMBLEMATIC OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE HAS OPERATED SINCE HIS MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP HIS AFFAIR WITH MONICA LEWINSKY CAME TO LIGHT IN JANUARY.

TEXT: SUPPORTING THAT NEBRASKA OPINION IS "THE NEW YORK POST."

VOICE: THE COMMITTEE'S VOTE TO EXPAND ITS INQUIRY -- IN LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL HOUSE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BROAD-BASED INVESTIGATION NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO THE LEWINSKY AFFAIR -- BROUGHT PREDICTABLE HOWLS OF OUTRAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND ITS DEMOCRATIC LAPDOGS IN CONGRESS. BUT THAT SHOULD NOT DETER HYDE & COMPANY FROM PRESSING FORWARD, NO MATTER WHAT THE POLLSTERS AND THE PUNDITS SAY. ... AFTER ALL, THE PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION IN THIS MATTER ARE NOT ORIGINATING IN THE PRECINCTS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. THEY ARE SOLELY THE PROVINCE OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" ON THE OTHER HAND SAYS THE COMMITTEE IS "OUT OF CONTROL," AND "THE HARTFORD COURANT" ACCUSES THE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP OF "TRIVIALIZING" THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS BY WIDENING IT.

TEXT: ON A CLOSELY RELATED TOPIC, THE FINDING BY AUDITORS FROM THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION THAT BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS FOR PRESIDENT OWE MILLIONS BACK TO THE U-S TREASURY IN ILLEGALLY PROCURED FUNDS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: TO EVERYONE EXCEPT THE PARTISANS, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBVIOUS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BOB DOLE VIOLATED CAMPAIGN SPENDING LAWS IN THE 1966 ELECTION. ... THE CONCLUSION BY [FEDERAL ELECTION] COMMISSION AUDITORS AND COUNSEL ...SHOULD HELP CLOSE THE SOFT-MONEY LOOPHOLE THAT HAS DESTROYED THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. IT SHOULD ALSO FINALLY PROD ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TO GET AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE. ... WHATEVER EXCUSE SHE HAD [NOT TO ACT] IS NOW GONE. (ED'S: "SOFT MONEY" IS POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS GIVEN TO NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES, RATHER THAN SPECIFIC CANDIDATES. IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE THE MONEY FOR SPECIFIC CANDIDATE ADS.)

TEXT: TURNING TO ONE OF THE MAJOR BUSINESS STORIES OF THE YEAR, THE PROPOSED MERGER OF THE NATION'S TWO LARGEST OIL COMPANIES, EXXON AND MOBIL, "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, SAYS:

VOICE: IN SOME RESPECTS, THERE'S CONSIDERABLE LOGIC TO THE MERGER: EXXON-MOBIL WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE COSTLY CONTEST TO FIND OIL AND PUMP IT FROM THE GROUND. BUT IF THE BENEFITS AREN'T SHARED BY CONSUMERS AT THE GAS PUMP, REGULATORS MUST NOT LET IT HAPPEN.

TEXT: TURNING TO MIDDLE EAST TOPICS, AND SPECIFICALLY NEW AID TO THE PALESTINIANS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CYNICAL. IT HEADLINES ITS COMMENT: "ARAFAT'S MONEY SIEVE":

VOICE: THE UNHAPPY FACT IS THAT DESPITE EARLIER AID, THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY HAS REGRESSED, UNEMPLOYMENT HAS RISEN AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF FAMILIES -- TOTALING 23-PERCENT IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP, ACCORDING TO PALESTINIAN FIGURES -- NOW LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. ... MOST FOREIGN AID, INCLUDING AMERICAN, IS NOW EARMARKED FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND MONITORED CLOSELY BY DONOR COUNTRIES. BUT THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY STILL HAS A LOT OF CLEANING UP TO DO.

TEXT: WHILE IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: THE AID PLEDGED MONDAY TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY BY THE UNITED SATES AND OTHER NATIONS AT A WASHINGTON CONFERENCE -- MORE THAN THREE-BILLION -- IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE PEACE BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS STICK.

TEXT: RETURNING TO THIS HEMISPHERE, "USA TODAY" JOINS THE GROWING NUMBER OF DAILY PAPERS APPLAUDING A MOVEMENT TOWARD A REASSESSMENT OF THE U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA, INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO.

VOICE: ... A GROUP THAT INCLUDES THREE FORMER SECRETARIES OF STATE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF SENATORS ... IS PUSHING A PLAN IT HOPES WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH POLITICAL COVER FOR THE ISSUE TO BE WEIGHTED ON THE MERITS. ITS MEMBERS HAVE WRITTEN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON OVER THE LAST MONTH, URGING THE APPOINTMENT OF A NATIONAL BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO REVIEW U-S-CUBA POLICY. ... A FORTHRIGHT, FACTUAL REVIEW OF U-S POLICY CAN ONLY HELP. A SIMILAR COMMISSION HELPED CORRECT OUTDATED POLICIES TOWARD CENTRAL AMERICA IN THE 1980S. ... SUCH A REFINEMENT IS OVERDUE.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE NOTING THE SEPARATIST VICTORY IN QUEBEC'S PROVINCIAL ELECTION THIS WEEK WAS NOT AS STRONG AS THE "PARTI QUEBECOIS" SUPPORTERS MIGHT HAVE HOPED. "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" FRAMES THE OUTCOME THIS WAY.

VOICE: THE RE-ELECTION OF PREMIER LUCIENT BOUCHARD AND THE "PARTI QUEBECOIS" IS A VICTORY FOR SEPARATISTS, BUT NOT FOR SEPARATION. THE PEOPLE OF QUEBEC VOTED -- NARROWLY -- IN FAVOR OF THE GOOD GOVERNMENT MR. BOUCHARD HAS PROVIDED, AND TO GIVE THEIR PROVINCE A STRONG HAND AS IT TRIES TO WRENCH WHAT IT SEES AS DESERVED CONCESSIONS FROM ENGLISH CANADA. AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, THE NARROWNESS OF THE P-Q VICTORY BOOSTS THE IMPRESSION ... THAT QUEBECKERS ARE NOT READY FOR ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM.

TEXT: LASTLY, THE GROWING BANANA TRADE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, SAYS "THE WASHINGTON POST" MAY NOT BE THAT IMPORTANT, BUT ITS EFFECT ON OTHER COMMODITIES IN WORLD TRADE MAY BE.

VOICE: A MINI-TRADE WAR IS BREWING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ... OVER BANANAS. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN COMPLAINING FOR YEARS ABOUT EUROPEAN IMPORT RULES THAT UNFAIRLY FAVOR EUROPEAN MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES AND SELECTED BANANA-GROWING COUNTRIES WHILE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST U-S MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES ... IN MAY 1997 THE W-T-O RULED AGAINST EUROPE, FINDING ... THAT EUROPE WAS BREAKING THE RULES. ... THE BANANA DISPUTE HAS ILLUSTRATED A FLAW IN THE W-T-O STRUCTURE. A LOSING COUNTRY SHOULD NOT UNILATERALLY BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER IT HAS COME INTO COMPLIANCE; A WINNING COUNTRY SHOULD NOT UNILATERALLY BE ABLE TO IMPOSE TARIFFS IF IT FINDS THE COMPLIANCE UNSATISFACTORY. THIS IS A FLAW THAT CAN BE FIXED EASILY; THE APPEALS PANEL THAT MAKES THE ORIGINAL FINDING COULD BE CHARGED WITH EVALUATING COMPLIANCE ...

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
02-Dec-98 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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