Voice of America, 00-03-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] BALKAN STABILITY (L-ONLY)(CQ) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[02] CONGRESS / COLOMBIA - KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[03] KOSOVO TOOPS (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[04] U-S - KOSOVO INCURSION (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[05] TURKISH YOUTHS AND POLITICS BY YONCA POYRAZ DOGAN (WASHINGTON)

[06] CHINA-EU-WTO (S & L) BY ROGER WILKISON (BEIJING)

[07] EUROPE SPY (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[08] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

[09] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

[01] BALKAN STABILITY (L-ONLY)(CQ) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: International donors meeting in Brussels have pledged two-point-four-billion dollars to help the economies of southeastern Europe. Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels, the money exceeded organizers' hopes and will be spent over the coming year for a variety of projects.

TEXT: All six projects Croatia presented to the regional funding conference met with approval. Foreign Minister Tonino Picola says Croatia's reform government is getting the support it needs. He calculates the projects are worth 133-million dollars, plus a 55-million-dollar program to resettle returning Serb refugees to Croatia.

[02] CONGRESS / COLOMBIA - KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: The U-S House of Representatives has approved a controversial plan to help Colombia fight drug trafficking. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports the aid package is part of a 12-point-seven-billion dollar emergency spending bill that passed the House (Thursday) by a vote of 263 to 146.

TEXT: This bill covers a wide range of emergency expenses. But to most House members, it is simply "the Colombia bill." The measure provides one-point-seven billion dollars to train and equip the Colombian military for anti- drug operations. It also gives extra aid to neighboring countries in South America facing a destabilizing spillover of drug violence. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has long championed increased U-S support for Colombia's anti-drug efforts. In a rare move, he joined the debate and delivered a personal appeal to his colleagues.

[03] KOSOVO TOOPS (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: Pentagon officials say they are sending more U-S troops to Kosovo and more tanks and artillery to nearby Macedonia. The deployment comes as NATO and U- S officials express growing concern that more ethnic violence may break out in the troubled area along the border between Kosovo and the rest of Serbia. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.

TEXT: The new deployment adds 125 reconnaissance soldiers to the 59-hundred Americans already deployed in the Kosovo protection force, or KFOR. Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says this new unit is specially trained and equipped to find and report military movements over a wide area, in daylight or darkness.

[04] U-S - KOSOVO INCURSION (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: The United States says it would take very seriously any Yugoslav violation of an agreement that forbids Serb forces from approaching Kosovo's administrative boundary. The warning follows reports that a Yugoslav tank may have crossed into a five- kilometer wide buffer zone around Kosovo earlier this week. From the State Department, V-O-A's Kyle King reports.

TEXT: NATO officials say British troops crossed over Kosovo's administrative boundary into Serbia proper on Wednesday to investigate the report that Yugoslav armored vehicles may have been in the buffer zone. Under terms of the agreement that ended the conflict in Kosovo last year, Serbian police are the only Yugoslav forces allowed on the Serbian side of the five-kilometer wide zone. NATO officials say British troops investigating the possible incursion into the so-called Ground Safety Zone took photographs of tracks that were possibly made by an armored vehicle. The photographs are now being evaluated by experts. NATO officials have been keeping a careful eye on the zone following reports that armed ethnic Albanian militiamen have been training in the area. Analysts fear clashes between the militiamen and Serb police or Yugoslav army troops could trigger a new crisis in the region. State Department spokesman James Foley says the United States and its allies are concerned about the threat posed by extremists on both sides of the boundary. Mr. Foley also expressed concern about reports of possible incursions into the buffer zone by Yugoslav military units.

[05] TURKISH YOUTHS AND POLITICS BY YONCA POYRAZ DOGAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: Public interest groups in Turkey and the United States are working together on a project that could have long-range implications for the way politics is practiced in Turkey. The two groups -- both non-governmental organizations, or N-G-Os -- are trying to get more of Turkey's young people to vote. V-O-A's Yonca Poyraz Dogan [PRON: 'YOHN-JA 'POY-RAHZ DO-'AHN] has the details:

TEXT: What if more than half the population in a country of 65-million people are under 25 years of age and its top politicians are more than 75? In the case of Turkey, experts are saying it means that the country's young people need more representation in the political system. Now two public interest groups are addressing the issue. One is the International Republican Institute (I-R-I), a Washington-based non-profit organization that runs pro-democracy programs outside the United States. The other is the Ari [PRON: `AH-RUHR] Movement, a non-government public interest group based in Turkey. Both want to get young people more interested in politics so they can have a bigger say in the way Turkey is governed. I-R-I's program officer, Kristen McSwain, has been meeting with young people in Turkey and listening to their concerns. What needs to be done first, she says, is to get Turkey's youth to take part in the political decision making process.

[06] CHINA-EU-WTO (S & L) BY ROGER WILKISON (BEIJING)

INTRO: China and the European Union are in a third day of talks on Beijing's entry into the World Trade Organization. But, as VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, E-U diplomats are saying there is still no indication that the two sides will be able to strike a deal.

TEXT: E-U Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng sat across the negotiating table Thursday in another attempt to hammer out a deal that would pave the way for Beijing's accession to the W-T-O. E-U diplomats in Beijing say the two sides are dealing with what one described as nuts and bolts issues, primarily involving the E-U's attempt to extract major Chinese concessions in the telecommunications and insurance sectors. The diplomats say Brussels is holding out for a better deal than the one the United States negotiated with China last year. But Chinese officials say they are not prepared to give one trading partner what they did not grant to another. Striking a deal with the E-U is the last major roadblock to be overcome, in China's 14-year quest to join the W-T-O.

[07] EUROPE SPY (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: The European parliament plans to vote next month on a resolution condemning the U-S-led Echelon spy network for industrial espionage against European businesses. Correspondent Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels.

TEXT: Echelon was set up in 1971 as an electronic monitoring system during the Cold War. European-Union member Britain helps operate the system, along with listening posts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A British news report says the system led by the U-S National Security Agency has engaged in industrial espionage against European businesses. Green Party members of the European Parliament demanded a committee of inquiry look into the charges. They cite reports Echelon is capable of intercepting phone calls, electronic mail, and fax messages. They also say information gathered on Echelon helped the United States beat the European Airbus Consortium in selling aircraft to Saudi Arabia in 1994. The European Commission has a problem in investigating these damages. Commission spokesman Jonathan Faull explains that no European business has complained about damages from spying.

[08] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: U-S STOCK PRICES WERE LOWER TODAY (THURSDAY) AS ANOTHER WAVE OF PROFIT-TAKING IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR HIT WALL STREET. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK:

TEXT: EVEN THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE SUCCUMBED TO THE TECHNOLOGY SELL-OFF. DOW COMPONENTS MICROSOFT, INTEL AND HEWLETT-PACKARD CAME UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE. THE INDUSTRIALS LOST 38 POINTS, THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT, CLOSING AT 10-THOUSAND-980.

THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX FELL 20 POINTS - OVER ONE PERCENT.

AND THE TECHNOLOGY-WEIGHTED NASDAQ COMPOSITE, ON A FOUR-DAY LOSING STREAK, DROPPED ANOTHER FOUR PERCENT. THE NASDAQ IS DOWN MORE THAN 10 PERCENT FROM ITS RECORD HIGH MARCH 10TH.

TECHNOLOGY MAY BE SELLING OFF. BUT ASH RAJAN (PRON: REAGAN), AN INVESTMENT STRATEGIST WITH THE PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES BROKERAGE FIRM, SAYS IT WON'T LAST. HE PREDICTS "TECH" STOCKS WILL RALLY AGAIN:

YOU KNOW THE TEMPTATION HERE TO SAY THAT THE NASDAQ AND THE DOW ARE DISCONNECTED AND THERE'S A ROTATION GOING ON FROM THE TECHNOLOGY AREAS TO THE SO-CALLED "OLD ECONOMY" NAMES - I CERTAINLY DON'T BUY THAT. I CERTAINLY LIKE THE BROADENING. I WOULD LIKE THE DOW TO PARTICIPATE. BUT I STILL THINK THE MONEY FLOWS ARE GOING BACK TO "TECH," "TELECOM," E-COMMERCE, SOFTWARE. AND THAT TRULY IS WHERE THE ACTION IS.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE THE ACTION IS AT THE MOMENT. SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE "TECH DRAIN" WILL CONTINUE UNTIL STOCK VALUATIONS ARE MORE IN LINE WITH EARNINGS.

THE U-S ECONOMY GREW A REVISED SEVEN-POINT-THREE PERCENT IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 1999 FROM THE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED SIX-POINT-NINE PERCENT - THE STRONGEST SHOWING IN ABOUT 15 YEARS. REACTION WAS MUTED ON WALL STREET. TRADERS DISMISSED THE NEWS AS "ANCIENT HISTORY."

SOFTWARE GIANT MICROSOFT IS REPORTED READY TO MAKE NEW OFFERS TO THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO SETTLE ITS ANTI-TRUST SUIT. MICROSOFT'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STEVE BALLMER, CALLS THE OFFERS "SUBSTANTIAL." MEANWHILE, MICROSOFT IS TEAMING UP WITH BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND LONG-DISTANCE PHONE CARRIER A-T AND T IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEAL. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE WIRELESS INTERNET APPLICATIONS TO CUSTOMERS AROUND THE WORLD.

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY - THE WORLD'S LEADING MAKER OF COMPUTER DISK DRIVES - HAS ANNOUNCED A 20 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL THAT WILL TAKE THE COMPANY PRIVATE(TAKE ITS SHARES OFF THE STOCK EXCHANGE). SEAGATE EXECUTIVES SAY THEIR STOCK WAS TRADING FAR BELOW THE VALUE OF THE COMPANY'S ASSETS.

UNDER A COMPLICATED AGREEMENT, VERITAS SOFTWARE WILL BUY BACK THE VERITAS SHARES THAT SEAGATE OWNS. SEAGATE WILL TURN OVER ITS OPERATING BUSINESSES TO A PRIVATE GROUP FOR ABOUT TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/PT 30-Mar-2000 16:43 PM EDT (30-Mar-2000 2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries -- OPEC -- voted this week to increase oil production. U-S editorial writers are discussing the implications of the vote and how it will affect the nation's economy. Other topics drawing attention include a setback in Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations, an Amnesty International report on human rights in Saudi Arabia, a trade deal for Africa and the need for Americans to understand better how their own government works. Now for a closer look and some excerpts, here is __________ with today's U-S Editorial Digest.

TEXT: With a diplomatic push from President Clinton, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries took a welcome step to boost oil production. OPEC voted this week to increase its production by seven percent, a move that may ultimately return gasoline and heating oil prices to levels of the mid-1990s -- before the past year's big price increases. Nonetheless, questions persist, and U-S editorial writers are engaged in discussion about the OPEC decision. The Beacon Journal in Ohio says the feeling of urgency that accompanied OPEC's vote should send a message.

VOICE: Chiefly, the decision is a reminder of how vital a steady supply of reasonably-priced oil is to orderly markets, for oil producers as well as consumers. ... This week's focus on OPEC also underscores the importance of competition, of maintaining and developing non-OPEC sources of oil. ... The level of recent concern [about prices] invites th[is] country to continue the many successful efforts toward greater fuel efficiency, greater energy conservation and increased exploration for economically- and environmentally-feasible alternative-energy sources.

TEXT: In New York, Newsday argues that OPEC acted in its own interest:

VOICE: Political pressure had little to do with it. Rather, OPEC nations realized that high prices would hurt them, by encouraging consumers to cut back and other oil suppliers to develop new sources. Better to keep Americans reliant on OPEC petroleum to fuel their thirsty S-U-V's [sport utility vehicles]. ... That's not ideal, but until America learns to use less oil or produce more, we're stuck with it.

TEXT: The New York Times is considering the latest setback in efforts to reach a peace agreement between Israel and Syria. The newspaper warns there is a danger that the two countries "could drift into armed conflict" after Israeli troops withdraw from Lebanon in July.

VOICE: The cause of this impasse is Syria's president, Hafez al-Assad, who refused to show any flexibility when he met with President Clinton in Geneva last Sunday. ... It is essential that neither Prime Minister Ehud Barak nor the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, be distracted by Mr. Assad's intransigence. The next building block of a durable Middle East peace is a permanent settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. For now, peace with Syria may not be possible, but Mr. Assad and Mr. Barak must guard against escalating tension over Lebanon.

TEXT: The Boston Globe, in Massachusetts, believes the latest report on Saudi Arabia by the human-rights monitoring group Amnesty International merits attention, especially from Americans.

VOICE: The report's descriptions of systematic human-rights abuses in Saudi Arabia are no more repugnant than the horrors perpetrated in some other countries, but what makes the Saudi monarchy a special case for Americans is its status as an ally of the United States. ... If the concept of human rights is to have any real meaning, there can be no double standard for allies, clients or crucial oil producers. The public-relations firms and lobbyists hired by the Saudi government -- and named by Amnesty -- should not be able to hide the truth about the kingdom. Precisely because the Saudi rulers are allies of Washington, America has an obligation to demand that discriminatory laws, arbitrary arrests, torture and executions without a fair trial are abolished in the kingdom.

TEXT: In California, the Los Angeles Times is turning some attention to Africa's need for a better trade deal with the World Trade Organization.

VOICE: The world's poorest countries are being offered what at first appears to be a generous deal. Developed nations would accept much of the poor nations' exports, free of tariffs and quotas, in return for negotiations with the World Trade Organization. But for the 48 least- developed countries, including many in Africa, the offer is not as generous as it seems, and there are strings attached. ... The African countries need free access to U-S textile markets much more than they need another round of W-T-O trade talks. ... Time is critical.

TEXT: And finally, upcoming elections in the United States have Florida's Orlando Sentinel highlighting the need for Americans to become better informed about the fundamentals of American government and politics:

VOICE: America's future rests with its children, but unfortunately many people -- both children and adults -- don't understand how American government works. That's of particular concern as voters prepare to make crucial decisions in upcoming elections. ... Politics and government affect the lives of everyone. People who don't understand issues affecting government and politics easily can be seduced by bumper stickers, campaign ... signs and catchy political slogans. It is up to parents, educators and community activists to lead the way. They must set an example by taking an active interest in politics and government. ... Nothing less will do.

TEXT: With that comment from the Orlando Sentinel, we conclude this sampling of comment from the editorial columns of Thursday's U-S press.
NEB/ENE/WTW 30-Mar-2000 13:13 PM EDT (30-Mar-2000 1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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