Voice of America, 97-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE-TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

[02] ALBANIA AID (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (ROME)

[03] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[04] FRANCE POL REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] NATO / RUSSIA (L) CQ BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[06] CHINA / NATO (L-ONLY) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

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

[08] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[01] GREECE-TURKEY (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREECE SAYS IT IS WILLING TO SIGN A NON-AGGRESSION PACT WITH TURKEY, IF ITS AGE-OLD RIVAL RETRACTS THREATS OF WAR. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM ATHENS, THE STATEMENT HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON A SENIOR TURKISH MINISTER WHO CONCLUDED A RARE TWO-DAY VISIT TO THE GREEK CAPITAL TUESDAY, AND WHOSE REMARKS CAUSED SOME HEATED REACTION.

TEXT: BEHIND THE SMILES AND A SEEMINGLY FRIENDLY SPIRIT, GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU AND HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART, ONUR OYMEN, CROSSED SWORDS OVER AGE-OLD DIFFERENCES DIVIDING THEIR NATIONS.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 18-YEARS A DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER FROM TURKEY MADE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE.

BUT AS SOME GREEKS WELCOMED MR. OYMEN'S VISIT, MOST VIEWED IT AS A CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THEY CALL IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO ENEMY STATES. LOCAL MEDIA DUBBED THE VISIT A PEACE MISSION WITH THORNS.

MOST OF THE CRITICISM CAME FROM MR. OYMEN'S REMARKS ON WHAT HE CALLED GREECE'S QUESTIONABLE SOVEREIGNTY OVER A HOST OF ISLANDS DOTTING THE AEGEAN SEA.

THOUGH THE TURKISH MINISTER'S ARGUMENTS WERE NOT UNUSUAL, CRITICS SAY THEY SPOILED A CLIMATE OF RAPPROCHEMENT WHICH WAS SLOWLY DEVELOPING BETWEEN ATHENS AND ANKARA.

GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODORE PANGALOS ACCUSED TURKEY OF WHAT HE CALLED -- GROSS INCONSISTENCY.

GREECE AND TURKEY AGREED LAST MONTH TO FORM TWO COMMITTEES OF EXPERTS TO EXPLORE WAYS OF SOLVING LONG-STANDING DIFFERENCES. THE INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS PUT FORWARD BY THE EUROPEAN UNION, WAS CONSIDERED A BREAKTHROUGH IN EFFORTS TO EASE TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS ONE-YEAR AFTER A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER A TINY ISLAND BROUGHT THEM TO THE BRINK OF WAR.

THOUGH GREECE HAS NOT MOVED TO SUSPEND THE INITIATIVE FOLLOWING MR. OYMEN'S CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS IN ATHENS, CRITICS FEAR THE RULING SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT MAY BE FORCED TO DO SO.

A STRING OF SOCIALIST LEGISLATORS VOWED TO END THEIR SUPPORT OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT, SHOULD IT PRESS AHEAD WITH PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY. (SIGNED)
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27-May-97 1:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA AID (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (ROME)

INTRO: NEARLY THREE-DOZEN COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES HAVE TAKEN PART IN A CONFERENCE ON THE PROBLEMS AFFLICTING ALBANIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IN ROME REPORTS THE OFFICIALS LAID OUT A STRATEGY OF ASSISTANCE THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT AFTER ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION AT THE END OF JUNE.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS MADE THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION ITS CRITICAL FIRST PRIORITY IN ALBANIA.

DELEGATES AT THE MEETING SAY SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL TAKE PLACE ONLY AFTER A NEW GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN OFFICE. ALL FUTURE ASSISTANCE IS CONTINGENT ON THAT GOVERNMENT HAVING ITS ECONOMIC PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. THE I-M-F SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA AS EARLY AS LATE JULY -- PROVIDED SEVERAL CRITICAL STEPS ARE TAKEN.

THEY INCLUDE PLACING THE ASSETS OF ALBANIA'S REMAINING PYRAMID SCHEMES UNDER STATE CONTROL SUPERVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, THE PURSUIT OF A SOUND BUDGETARY AND MONETARY POLICY, AND STEPS TO ASSURE TAX COLLECTIONS ARE RESUMED WHILE THE GOVERNMENT RE-ESTABLISHES CONTROL OVER BORDER CROSSINGS.

ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI SAID ONCE THESE STEPS ARE TAKEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL AID.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE HELP, TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM HELP POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THIS WILL BE DONE. BUT THE ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES IN THE END ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN DESTINY. THE DESTINY OF THEIR COUNTRY LIES IN THEIR OWN HANDS AND NOT IN THE HANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

A WORLD BANK OFFICIAL TOLD V-O-A THE SITUATION IN ALBANIA DIFFICULT BUT NOT HOPELESS. HE EXPRESSED HOPE THE FOUR REMAINING LARGE PYRAMID INVESTMENT SCHEMES WILL SOON BE CLOSED, SAYING THERE CANNOT BE A NORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR WHILE THEY REMAIN OPEN.

THE OFFICIAL SAID THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY FROM CHAOS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH IS LIMITED. HE SAID THE PRIORITY ECONOMIC TASK IS STRENGTHENING THE INSTITUTIONS OF A MARKET ECONOMY.

AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION THERE WILL BE A MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THESE SAME ORGANIZATIONS IN ROME. AFTER THAT, THE WORLD BANK WILL HOST A CONFERENCE IN EITHER ROME OR BRUSSELS ON LONG TERM ASSISTANCE FOR ALBANIA. (SIGNED)
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27-May-97 7:52 AM EDT (1152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC APPEALED TO VOTERS TUESDAY TO PREVENT THE VICTORY OF THE LEFT IN THE SECOND ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NEXT SUNDAY. HIS APPEAL CAME AFTER HIS RULING CONSERVATIVE COALITION WAS OUTDISTANCED IN THE FIRST-ROUND VOTE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: TRAILING SOME SIX POINTS BEHIND THE COMBINED SOCIALIST-COMMUNIST OPPOSITION, FRANCE'S CONSERVATIVES HAVE A HARD TASK AHEAD OF THEM TO RECOVER AND TAKE A PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY IN THE FINAL VOTE NEXT SUNDAY. ALREADY, THEIR POOR PERFORMANCE HAS LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE. CONSISTENTLY LOW IN POPULARITY POLLS, MR. JUPPE SAID MONDAY THAT HE WILL NO LONGER BE PRIME MINISTER AFTER THE SECOND VOTE, EVEN IF THE RIGHT DOES WIN.

IN A FIVE-MINUTE NATIONWIDE TELEVISION ADDRESS, MR. CHIRAC APPEALED TO VOTERS NOT TO GIVE A NEW CHANCE TO WHAT HE CALLED "THE SOCIALIST IDEAS OF YESTERDAY." A CONSERVATIVE TACTIC IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO REMIND THE FRENCH THAT THEY MASSIVELY REJECTED THE PREVIOUS SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT IN ELECTIONS JUST FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW, THE RIGHT IS ALSO POINTING OUT THAT THE SOCIALISTS' ELECTORAL ALLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNISTS IS LIKELY TO ENDANGER FRANCE'S VOICE IN EUROPE SINCE THE COMMUNISTS ARE OPPOSED TO THE MAASTRICHT EUROPEAN TREATY. UNDER THE TREATY, A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY IS DUE TO BE PUT IN PLACE FROM NEXT YEAR. AND FRANCE IS DETERMINED TO BE PART OF THE NEW CURRENCY.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC, USING THE WORDS "I HAVE UNDERSTOOD YOUR MESSAGE," PAID TRIBUTE TO MR. JUPPE'S WORK AS PRIME MINISTER. MR. CHIRAC PROMISED A NEW STYLE OF GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE, LOWER TAXES AND SOCIAL CHARGES TO GIVE THE ECONOMY A BOOST AND A MODERNIZATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, A NEW CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL PROTECT THE WEAKEST MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, A PLEDGE NOT TO UNDERMINE FRANCE'S GENEROUS WELFARE SYSTEM.

MR. CHIRAC DID NOT GIVE ANY CLUES TO HIS CHOICE FOR A NEW CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER. ACCORDING TO THE DAILY LE MONDE, HE IS HESITATING BETWEEN THE FORTHRIGHT PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER, PHILIPPE SEGUIN, AND THE MORE CONVENTIONAL FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD BALLADUR.

IF THE LEFT DOES FINALLY TAKE THE ELECTION NEXT SUNDAY, MR. CHIRAC WILL NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF CHOICE. THEN HE WILL BE OBLIGED TO OFFER THE PRIME MINISTER'S POST TO THE LEADER OF FRANCE'S SOCIALIST PARTY, LIONEL JOSPIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/ENE/LWM
27-May-97 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE POL REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN AMERICAN ANALYST ON FRENCH POLITICAL AFFAIRS SAYS THE DECISION BY PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE TO RESIGN FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S STRONG SHOWING BY THE LEFTIST OPPOSITION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY VOTING IS NOT SURPRISING. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS ANDREW PIERRE, HEAD OF FRENCH STUDIES AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, SAYS IT IS AIMED AT SECURING VICTORY IN SUNDAY'S SECOND ROUND BY THE RULING CENTER-RIGHT COALITION OF PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC:

TEXT: MR. PIERRE SAYS PRIME MINISTER JUPPE, WHO HE CONSIDERS A BRIGHT AND ABLE ADMINISTRATOR, HAS BECOME QUITE UNPOPULAR AS A RESULT OF HIS AUSTERITY POLICIES AND THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION HE LACKS PERSONAL WARMTH:

MR. PIERRE SAYS, FOR MR. JUPPE, RESIGNATION COULD MEAN A RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY ONCE HIS POLITICAL FORTUNES RECOVER.

SPECULATION ON MR. JUPPE'S SUCCESSOR CENTERED ON FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD BALLADUR AND FORMER PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PHILIPPE SEQUIN.

MR. PIERRE SAYS PRESIDENT CHIRAC, IN AN ADDRESS TO THE NATION SCHEDULED LATER TODAY (TUESDAY), MAY SEEK TO REASSURE CITIZENS HIS REFORM POLICIES NEEDED FOR EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION WILL NOT CUT DEEPLY INTO THE FRENCH SOCIAL-WELFARE COMPACT. (SIGNED).
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26-May-97 8:49 PM EDT (0049 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NATO / RUSSIA (L) CQ BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS JOINED THE LEADERS OF NATO MEMBER NATIONS AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FOR THE SIGNING OF A NATO-RUSSIA AGREEMENT THAT CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE WESTERN ALLIANCE'S PLANNED EASTWARD EXPANSION. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE AGREEMENT -- KNOWN AS THE 'FOUNDING ACT' GIVES RUSSIA A VOICE, BUT NOT A VETO, OVER NATO DECISION-MAKING.

IT ALSO RE-ASSURES MOSCOW THE ALLIANCE HAS NO PLANS TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR STATION TROOPS ON THE SOIL OF FORMER SOVIET BLOC NATIONS -- ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT PRECLUDE SUCH MOVES.

MR. CLINTON SAYS THE PACT JOINS THE TWO FORMER COLD WAR FOES IN COMMON CAUSE FOR A LONG SOUGHT GOAL -- A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC, UNDIVIDED EUROPE.

IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS -- THE VEIL OF HOSTILITY BETWEEN EAST AND WEST HAS LIFTED.

IT WILL NOT BE AN ALLIANCE DIRECTED TO ADVANCE THE HOSTILE BLOC OF NATIONS, BUT INSTEAD DESIGNED TO ADVANCE THE SECURITY OF EVERY DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE -- NATO'S OLD MEMBERS, NEW MEMBERS, AND NON-MEMBERS ALIKE.

THE SIGNING OF THE ACCORD OPENS THE WAY FOR NATO'S PLANS TO EXTEND MEMBERSHIP TO SEVERAL FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS -- LIKELY HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AND POLAND -- AT ITS JULY SUMMIT IN MADRID.

MR. YELTSIN SAID RUSSIA STILL OPPOSES NATO EXPANSION. BUT HE SET ASIDE HIS COUNTRY'S CONCERNS TO EMBRACE A PACT HE SAID WOULD PROTECT EUROPE AND THE WORLD FROM NEW CONFRONTATION.

AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, THE RUSSIAN LEADER CAUGHT MR. CLINTON AND THE OTHER LEADERS BY SURPRISE BY ANNOUNCING HIS COUNTRY WOULD TAKE A UNILATERAL STEP TO REDUCE ITS NUCLEAR STOCKPILE. HE SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

EVERYTHING THAT IS AIMED AT COUNTRIES PRESENT HERE, ALL OF THOSE WEAPONS ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR WARHEADS REMOVED.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS LATER CLARIFIED MR. YELTSIN'S STATEMENT, SAYING HE WAS REFERRING TO DE-TARGETING MISSILES, RATHER THAN REMOVING WARHEADS.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING A PERSONAL CLARIFICATION FROM MR. YELTSIN WHEN HE MEETS WITH HIM LATER TUESDAY. (SIGNED)
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27-May-97 9:32 AM EDT (1332 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] CHINA / NATO (L-ONLY) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: CHINA SAYS IT WELCOMES RUSSIA'S SIGNING OF AN HISTORIC NATO PEACE AGREEMENT, AND SAYS IT HOPES THE ACCORD WILL LEAD TO BETTER RELATIONS FOR ALL INVOLVED. AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN MADE HIS COMMENTS (TODAY/TUESDAY) IN BEIJING.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH CHINA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH NEIGHBORING RUSSIA HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY TURBULENT, THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE STEADILY IMPROVED THEIR TIES IN RECENT YEARS.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WAS IN BEIJING LAST YEAR AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN RECENTLY VISITED MOSCOW.

DESPITE THE WARMING OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA'S NEIGHBOR TO THE EAST, MR. YELTSIN ON TUESDAY SIGNED A PEACE PACT WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND 15 OTHER WESTERN ALLIES.

IN BEIJING, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SHEN GUOFANG SAYS CHINA WELCOMES THE AGREEMENT.

MR. SHEN SAYS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN NOTE OF THE TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE NATO COUNTRIES, AND SAYS CHINA HOPES BOTH SIDES CAN RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAYS SIGNING THE ACCORD WILL BE HELP MAINTAIN PEACE IN EUROPE, AND WILL ALSO HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BETTER RELATIONS. (SIGNED)
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27-May-97 5:48 AM EDT (0948 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS FILLS THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE NATION'S PAPERS AS AMERICAN GETS BACK TO WORK AFTER THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

TOPICS INCLUDE THE UPSET IN FRENCH ELECTORAL POLITICS; THE CONTROVERSIAL U-S BUDGET ACCORD; THE MILITARY CRACKDOWN IN BURMA; THE LULL IN MIDEAST PEACE TALKS; AND THE NEW LEADER OF IRAN WHO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A MODERATE.

NOW, HERE IS ____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE FRENCH ELECTORATE DELIVERED A POWERFUL BLOW AGAINST ITS PRESENT GOVERNMENT IN SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS. NOW, PREMIER ALAIN JUPPE SAYS HE WILL RESIGN NO MATTER WHO WINS IN THE SECOND ROUND OF BALLOTING THIS COMING SUNDAY. SAYS THE NEW YORK TIMES:

VOICE: "THERE IS NO MISTAKING THE REBUFF FRENCH VOTERS GAVE THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE SUNDAY [5/25] IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE OPPOSITION LEFTIST COALITION WON 43 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO THE GOVERNMENT PARTIES' 37 PERCENT, WITH 15 PERCENT GOING TO THE FAR-RIGHT, ANTI-IMMIGRANT NATIONAL FRONT. ..... THESE RESULTS EXPRESS DISCONTENT WITH THE STATUS QUO, BUT NO STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR ANY PARTY'S POLITICAL PRESCRIPTIONS. THE FRENCH ARE RIGHTLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY'S PROLONGED ECONOMIC STAGNATION AND CHRONIC DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT. ..... BUT THEY ARE ALSO DUBIOUS ABOUT THE LEFT'S GLIB-SOUNDING PROMISE OF PAINLESS GOVERNMENT-SPURRED RECOVERY."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE RECENTLY COMPLETED BUDGET AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS, THE PRESS CONTINUES TO EXPRESS SKEPTICISM THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE BALANCED EARLY IN THE NEXT CENTURY. TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST COMMENTS.

VOICE: "A NEW ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE TAX CUTS IN THE BUDGET DEAL .... WILL DO EVEN GREATER LONG-TERM HARM THAN EARLIER BELIEVED. THE ADMINISTRATION SAID REASSURINGLY WHEN THE DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAD AGREED TO LIMIT THE REVENUE LOSS FROM THE CUTS NOT JUST BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND-AND-TWO, WHEN THE BUDGET IS SUPPOSED TO BE BALANCED, BUT THEREAFTER. THE SPECULATION HAD BEEN THAT OTHERWISE THE CUTS COULD BE RIGGED TO HAVE ONLY A MODEST EFFECT IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, AFTER WHICH THE BOTTOM WOULD FALL OUT [THE WHOLE DEFICIT-REDUCTION PLAN WOULD COLLAPSE]. .... THE CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES HAS GONE TO THE YEAR-BY-YEAR FIGURES IN THE FINER PRINT OF THE AGREEMENT. .... IT'S A SCAM [A FRAUD] , MADE THE GREATER BY THE FACT THAT THE CUTS WOULD BE ENORMOUSLY REGRESSIVE."

TEXT: FLORIDA'S ORLANDO SENTINEL IS UPSET AT THE CURRENT DEADLOCK IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS, AND THE PAPER SAYS, WHILE "THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO PASS AROUND...... THE BIGGER FAILING FALLS TO THE ISRAELI SIDE."

VOICE: "ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S PLANNED MEETING TODAY WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK AIMS TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS. IT CAN'T HOPE TO SUCCEED IF MR. NETANYAHU PERSISTS IN TALKING THE TALK WITHOUT WALKING THE WALK. [SAYING ONE THING BUT DOING ANOTHER]. THE SITUATION MAKES ONE PINE [WISH FOR OR LONG FOR [THE RETURN OF (IMPLIED) ] FOR FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN - - WHO WAS ASSASSINATED IN 1995 ..... IF MR. NETANYAHU PERSISTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ENCOURAGING ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN EAST JERUSALEM, HE WILL FINISH UNRAVELING WHAT MR. RABIN HELPED TO BUILD. [OPT] SO DESPERATE IS THE SITUATION THAT MARTIN INDYK, THE UNITED STATES' AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL, FRETS THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE OSLO ACCORDS HAS COLLAPSED. [END OPT] .... PEACE PROSPECTS WILL IMPROVE ONLY IF MORE PEOPLE LIKE MR. RABIN REACH THE FOREFRONT IN ISRAELI POLITICS, AND DIMINISH THE INFLUENCE OF IMPEDIMENTS TO PEACH SUCH AS MR. NETANYAHU AND HIS ILK."

TEXT: TURNING EASTWARD, TO BURMA, WHERE THE SLORC MILITARY REGIME HAS STEPPED UP ITS PERSECUTION OF DISSIDENTS, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "BURMA'S MILITARY REGIME HAS LAUNCHED A NEW, NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS - - AND RIGHTFUL RULERS - - OF THAT SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION. ABOUT 200 SHOULD-BE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE IN JAIL. THE JUNTA HAS SENTENCED ONE DEMOCRAT TO 26 YEARS IN PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF A COPYING MACHINE. ONE OF THE WORLD'S WORST GOVERNMENTS IS PROVIDING 'ANOTHER REASON,' AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, 'WHY WE DON'T THINK THAT BURMA OUGHT TO BE TREATED AS A NORMAL COUNTRY.'

TEXT: SATURDAY'S ELECTION IN IRAN SAW MOHAMMED K H A T E M I ELECTED AS PRESIDENT. THE NEW LEADER HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A "MODERATE CLERIC". TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL BELIEVES THE ELECTION SIGNALS THAT A REVIEW OF U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAN IS IN ORDER.

VOICE: "A NEW GENERATION OF IRANIANS SENT AN EMPHATIC MESSAGE SATURDAY TO THE CLERICAL BIGOTS WHO'VE RULED THEIR COUNTRY FOR 19 YEARS: ENOUGH! THE U-S MIGHT DRAW A MESSAGE TWO: NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW IRANIAN POLICY WITH A VIEW TOWARD SOMETHING MORE POSITIVE AND CREATIVE. [OPT]..... IRAN'S YOUNG PEOPLE - - WHO MAKE UP A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION - - ALSO ARE AFFLICTED WITH LOW PAY AND HIGH INFLATION, WHICH LIMITS THEIR CHANCES FOR MARRIAGE AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. WHILE THEIR WISHES FOR A FREER AND BETTER LIFE ARE CLEAR ENOUGH, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY WANT. [END OPT] ...THE TASK OF THE WEST IS TO FIND WAYS TO REINFORCE THE PREFERENCES THAT THE IRANIAN PEOPLE HAVE NOW SO CLEARLY STATED. IF IT CAN DO THAT, IT WILL BE HELPING NOT ONLY THE IRANIANS BUT THE CAUSE OF PEACE IN WESTERN ASIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF REGION."

TEXT: LASTLY, THE BOSTON GLOBE REMINDS US OF WHAT MAY BE A STARTLING ANNIVERSARY.

VOICE: "PERHAPS BECAUSE JOHN F. KENNEDY'S IMAGE WAS FROZEN BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET WHEN HE WAS ONLY 45 YEARS OLD, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENVISION THE WAY HE MIGHT HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE YEARS SINCE THEN. BUT [PRESIDENT] KENNEDY WAS VERY MUCH A FIGURE IN CONSTANT EVOLUTION, LEARNING AND GROWING, ADAPTING TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES, AND INFLUENCING A RAPIDLY WIDENING PUBLIC SPHERE. SO IT IS FITTING THAT THIS WEEK, WHICH INCLUDED WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY ON MAY 29TH, WILL BE DEVOTED TO REMEMBERING HIS TOO-SHORT CAREER. ..... THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MEMORIAL .... LIES IN REMEMBERING HIS UNIQUE REVITALIZATION OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT, CUT SHORT IN MIDPASSAGE BUT ENDURING NEVERTHELESS."

TEXT: ON THAT HISTORICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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27-May-97 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE ALL CLOSED HIGHER IN TRADING ON TUESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH IN OUR LONDON OFFICE HAS THE DAY'S CLOSING FIGURES.

TEXT: FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL POSTED HEALTHY GAINS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING -- WITH THE "CAC 40" INDEX IN PARIS SHOWING NEW LIFE AFTER PLUMMETING 108 POINTS MONDAY IN THE WAKE OF SUNDAY'S FRENCH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS. PARIS CLOSED UP 25-AND-A-HALF POINTS TUESDAY. A STRONGER DOLLAR HELPED PROPEL STOCKS IN FRANKFURT, WHERE THE "DAX 30" INDEX POSTED A 16-AND-A-HALF POINT GAIN FOR THE DAY TO CLOSE AT ANOTHER NEW RECORD HIGH. IN LONDON, THE TRADING WEEK BEGAN TUESDAY FOLLOWING A BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY. THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP 20 POINTS.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE DOLLAR WAS UP A FRACTION OF A CENT AGAINST THE POUND AND UP NEARLY A PFENNIG AGAINST THE MARK. GOLD IN LONDON CLOSED AT 343-DOLLARS-75-CENTS, UP 70 CENTS AN OUNCE FROM THE PREVIOUS CLOSING FIX. (SIGNED)
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27-May-97 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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