Voice of America, 97-11-06

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[03] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[04] YUGO POL BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

[05] YUGO REFUGEES BY ART CHIMES (SREMSKI KARLOVCI, YUGOSLAVIA)

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE THURSDAY GAVE UP MUCH OF THE GAINS THEY POSTED ON WEDNESDAY. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM LONDON.

TEXT: SEVERAL ANALYSTS DESCRIBED TRADING ON THE EUROPEAN BOURSES AS "LISTLESS" THURSDAY, AS INVESTORS AWAITED THE RELEASE FRIDAY OF SOME KEY AMERICAN ECONOMIC DATA, WHICH COULD RAISE OR LOWER INVESTOR CONFIDENCE.

EACH OF THE BIG STOCK INDEXES OF FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS CLOSED DOWN BETWEEN ONE AND ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT IN VALUE THURSDAY.

THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30" LOST 43 POINTS, THE PARIS "CAC 40" WAS DOWN 41, AND LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX SHED ALMOST 45 POINTS WHEN TRADING CONCLUDED.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND THURSDAY UPSET INVESTORS BY ANNOUNCING ANOTHER QUARTER-POINT HIKE IN THE LENDING RATES. IT NOW STANDS AT SEVEN-AND-A-QUARTER PERCENT. THAT DROVE THE POUND UP MORE THAN A CENT-AND-A-HALF AGAINST THE U-S DOLLAR, WHICH ALSO LOST ABOUT A HALF PFENNIGE IN TRADING AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF /MMK
06-Nov-97 1:56 PM EST (1856 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED DOWN SLIGHTLY TODAY (THURSDAY) IN CALM TRADING. JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN NINE POINTS, AT SEVEN-THOUSAND-683 -- WHILE THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE S-AND-P 500 CLOSED OFF FIVE POINTS, AT 938.

THE MARKET SHRUGGED OFF SOME GOOD NEWS, A STRONGER THAN EXPECTED INCREASE IN RETAIL SALES DURING OCTOBER AT MAJOR RETAIL CHAINS. TRADERS SAY SOME INVESTORS ARE WAITING FOR FRIDAY'S EMPLOYMENT FIGURES AND NEXT WEEK'S CENTRAL BANK MEETING.

ANALYST TOM MCMANUS SAYS SOME MAJOR INVESTORS BELIEVE SOME PRICES FOR COMMODITIES AND DURABLE GOODS MIGHT ACTUALLY FALL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WHO ARE STARTING TO SAY THAT MAYBE THIS DIS-INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT WE'VE ENJOYED FOR 15 YEARS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SLIP INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE SEE DECLINING PRICES FOR A LOT OF COMMODITIES. I THINK THEY BE TAKING IT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR.

WHILE THE MARKET IGNORED THE RETAIL SALES FIGURES, ECONOMISTS SAY THE STRONG GROWTH IS A GOOD INDICATOR FOR HEALTHY RETAIL SALES DURING THE APPROACHING HOLIDAY SEASON AND IS ANOTHER SIGN OF A HEALTHY U-S ECONOMY.

ANALYSTS AGREE THERE IS NO STRONG SELLING PRESSURE AND THAT BUYERS REMAIN READY TO STEP IN WHEN A STOCK BECOMES A BARGAIN. MOST SALES ARE BY INVESTORS WHO LOCK IN PROFITS AND BUY OTHER STOCKS.

ANALYST TOM MCMANUS SAYS U-S STOCKS, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE STOCKS IN THE S-AND-P 500 ARE GOOD INVESTMENTS IN WHAT MOST CALL A "FLIGHT TO QUALITY.".

LONG-DURATION U-S FINANCIAL ASSETS WILL CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN AN ERA OF EVEN LOWER INFLATION THAN WE SEE NOW. THE EXTREMELY LARGE CAPITALIZATION MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES LIKE COCA COLA OR PROCTOR AND GAMBLE WILL NOT SUFFER AS MUCH IN A DEFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT AS PEOPLE MIGHT SUSPECT.

IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, MR. MCMANUS SAYS PURCHASERS MIGHT DELAY A BIG-TICKET PURCHASE LIKE HEAVY FACTORY MACHINERY IN THE HOPE OF A LOWER PRICE. BUT NO ONE, HE SAYS, WILL DELAY BUYING A BAR OF SOAP OR A COCA COLA FOR THAT REASON (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/RRM
06-Nov-97 5:01 PM EST (2201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TWO STORIES -- THE BATTLE OVER "FAST TRACK" AUTHORITY FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON TO MAKE TRADE TREATIES AND TUESDAY'S ELECTION RESULTS -- ARE PROVIDING FODDER FOR MANY EDITORIAL OPINIONS THIS FIRST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER. OTHER TOPICS ON THE AGENDA TODAY INCLUDE THE CONFLICT OVER WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ; THE PRESIDENT'S CHOICE TO HEAD THE CIVIL RIGHTS SECTION OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT; AND A HINDSIGHT LOOK AT THE SO-CALLED "TIGER" ECONOMIES OF ASIA. NOW, HERE IS __________________WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: WE TURN FIRST TO THE TRADE AUTHORITY CALLED "FAST TRACK" WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY. "FAST TRACK" MEANS CONGRESS GIVE UP ITS RIGHT TO AMEND TRADE TREATIES, AND AGREES TO A SIMPLE YES OR NO VOTE ON THE FINISHED AGREEMENT. THAT GIVES THE ADMINISTRATION FREEDOM TO NEGOTIATE PACTS WITH OTHER NATIONS WHO KNOW IN ADVANCE THEY WILL NOT BE RADICALLY CHANGED BY THE LEGISLATORS. IN THE MIDWEST, "THE MINNEAPOLIS [MINNESOTA] STAR TRIBUNE" SUPPORTS THE MEASURE AND TELLS DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS OPPOSING IT TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT.

VOICE: ".....ECONOMIC ANXIETY IN THE 1990S HAS MADE EVERY TRADE DEAL SUSPECT. DEMOCRATS' OBJECTIONS FALL INTO TWO BROAD GROUPS. THE FIRST IS THAT NAFTA, [NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT] THE MOST FAMOUS TREATY NEGOTIATED UNDER FAST-TRACK, HAS PROVED A FAILURE ..... THAT TRADE WITH MEXICO NEVER PRODUCED THE PROMISED BOOM IN AMERICAN EXPORTS AND JOBS. THAT'S PERFECTLY TRUE. BUT IT'S MAINLY BECAUSE MEXICO PLUNGED INTO A RECESSION IN 1995. MEXICO HAS, HOWEVER, KEPT THE NAFTA PROMISES TO OPEN ITS MARKETS TO AMERICAN GOODS, AND AMERICA'S SHARE OF THE MEXICAN MARKET HAS GROWN STEADILY SINCE THE TREATY TOOK EFFECT...... THE DEMOCRATS' PROTEST ON FAST TRACK IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER; AMERICANS WON'T CHAMPION FREE TRADE IF IT BENEFITS ONLY THE ELITE. BUT THAT ISN'T THE CASE YET, AND SO IT'S PREMATURE TO CEASE CHAMPIONING FREE TRADE."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" ALSO SUPPORTS FAST TRACK, BUT CHIDES THE PRESIDENT FOR TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THE BATTLE IN THE HOUSE TO HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

VOICE: "...... EARLIER THIS WEEK HE WAS OUT HUSTLING [TRYING TO GAIN] VOTES NOT FOR FAST-TRACK BUT FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FROM NEW YORK TO VIRGINIA, EVEN WHERE THEY WERE HOPELESSLY BEHIND.... IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES THAT HE WAS OUT SHAKING HANDS WITH A DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL CANDIDATE IN NEW YORK RATHER THAN TWISTING DEMOCRATIC ARMS [TO "TWIST AN ARM" IS A METAPHOR FOR PRESSURING] IN CONGRESS [UNDERSTOOD: TO VOTE FOR FAST TRACK]."

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: "CONGRESS WOULD GRIEVOUSLY HARM AMERICAN WORKERS, FARMERS, CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS IF IT DEPRIVED PRESIDENT CLINTON OF THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE IN TRADE ARENAS THAT PRESIDENTS FORD, CARTER, REAGAN, BUSH AND CLINTON ... USED AND NEEDED..... MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ... ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN BEST JUDGMENTS AND THEIR VOTES. THEY MUST NOT SEND THE PRESIDENT NAKED INTO THE TRADE JUNGLE."

TEXT: THE OTHER POPULAR TOPIC IS ANALYSING THE VARIOUS ELECTION RESULTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITH "THE MIAMI HERALD" GIVING ITS VIEW THIS WAY.

VOICE: "REPUBLICANS HAVE MORE REASON TO SMILE THAN THEY DID AFTER BOB DOLE'S DEFEAT A YEAR-AGO. THE GOP SWEPT RACES FOR TWO GOVERNORSHIPS, ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, AND MAYOR OF THE BIG APPLE [SLANG: NEW YORK CITY.] .... YET MAVERICK REPUBLICAN MAYOR RUDY GUILIANI'S BIG WIN IN NEW YORK CITY MAY BE LESS A GOP MANDATE THAN A VOTE FOR INCUMBENCY WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOOD AND THE CRIME RATE DOWN.... INCUMBENT MAYORS ALSO WON BIG IN DETROIT, CLEVELAND, AND CHARLOTTE.... THE MOST PORTENTOUS RESULTS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR MAY WELL BE FOUND IN THE REFERENDUMS. IN THOSE, THE VOTERS ARE USUALLY ABLE TO SPEAK MORE CLEARLY THAN IN THE CANDIDATES' RACES, WHERE THE OUTCOME SO OFTEN TURNS ON A MIX OF ISSUES AND PERSONALITIES.... VOTERS IN WASHINGTON STATE DEFEATED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE INSTITUTED THE NATION'S TOUGHEST GUN-CONTROL MEASURES. .... IN OREGON, VOTERS DECISIVELY REJECTED A PROPOSAL TO REPEAL A 1994 LAW LEGALIZING PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE."

TEXT: FOR ITS PART, HERE IS PART OF WHAT "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAW IN THE RETURNS.

VOICE: "[OPT] .... VOTERS ... CONVEYED AN UNAMBIGUOUS MESSAGE THROUGH LOCAL RACES AND BALLOT QUESTIONS ... THAT TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHERE IT SPENDS MONEY, AND [THAT] THEY ARE LEERY OF SCHEMES PUT FORWARD BY SOCIAL ACTIVISTS. [END OPT] .... THIS WEEK'S ELECTIONS CLEARLY SHOW ... AMERICAN POLITICS NOW FIRMLY OCCUPIES A SPACE BETWEEN CENTER AND RIGHT ....."

TEXT: YET ANOTHER FAVORITE TOPIC: HOW SHOULD THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES RESPOND TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST AFFRONTS ON WEAPONS INSPECTIONS? "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS WE SHOULD "STAND [OUR] GROUND IN IRAQ," ADDING:

VOICE: "APPARENTLY MR. HUSSEIN IS HOPING TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES. HE HAS TRIED THAT TACK REPEATEDLY IN THE PAST. HE SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SUCCEED. IF MR. HUSSEIN CONTINUES TO BE NASTY, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO RESPOND FORCEFULLY. ..... IN THE EVENT THAT MR. HUSSEIN ... [FOLLOWS] THROUGH WITH HIS PROMISE TO SHOOT DOWN A U-N SPY PLANE -- MILITARY ACTION WILL BE NECESSARY. THAT SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT, THOUGH ....."

TEXT: IN THE FIGHT OVER THE CONFIRMATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHOICE TO BE THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, CHINESE-AMERICAN BILL LANN LEE, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" BLAMES THE PARTISAN POLITICS OF UTAH'S REPUBLICAN SENATOR ORRIN HATCH FOR THE SUDDENLY MORE INTENSE CONTROVERSY.

VOICE: "SENATOR ... HATCH'S MANIPULATION OF BILL LANN LEE'S CONFIRMATION PROCESS WAS A CALLOUS PERFORMANCE, NEARLY A POLITICAL BEHEADING FOR NO APPARENT REASON BEYOND THE FACT THAT [MR.] LEE IS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHOICE AS THE NATION'S TOP CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICIAL."

TEXT: COUNTERS "THE NEW YORK POST," IT IS MR. LEE'S BIAS IN SUPPORT OF RACE-BASED QUOTAS THAT:

VOICE: "MAKES HIM THE WRONG MAN TO ENFORCE THE NATION'S CIVIL-RIGHTS LAWS.... A FIRM BELIEF IN TREATING ALL CITIZENS AS EQUALS UNDER THE LAW IS AN ABSOLUTE PREREQUISITE ... FOR THE JOB. THIS IS WHERE [MR.] LEE FAILS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE WASHINGTON POST" LOOKS AT THE "TIGER" ECONOMIES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, THAT ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO WERE THE ECONOMIC ENVY OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD, ONLY TO FALL ON HARD TIMES. "THE POST" POINTS OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA ARE ALL CURRENTLY IN VARYING DEGREES OF ECONOMIC TROUBLE:

VOICE: ".... NONE OF THESE SHORTCOMINGS IS NEW, AND NONE PREVENTED THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ECONOMIES FROM PROGRESSING FROM POVERTY TOWARD MIDDLE CLASS SUCCESS WITH HISTORIC SWIFTNESS. THE TIGER ECONOMIES, IN OTHER WORDS, DID MANY THINGS RIGHT, AND CONTINUE TO DO MANY THINGS RIGHT. THEIR SAVINGS RATES ARE HIGH; THEIR FISCAL POLICIES ARE RESPONSIBLE. THEY INVESTED HEAVILY IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRIMARY EDUCATION. THEY OPENED THEIR ECONOMIES TO TRADE AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. .... BUT IF THEIR TROUBLES ARE FALSELY EXAGGERATED, THE RECOVERY COULD TAKE FAR LONGER THAN NECESSARY."

TEXT: ON THAT WORD OF CAUTION WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL CONTENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/ MMK
06-Nov-97 10:56 AM EST (1556 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] YUGO POL BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

INTRO: VETERAN YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SEEMS UNFAZED BY HIS LATEST CHALLENGES. MR. MILOSEVIC REMAINS THE MAN AT THE HELM, DESPITE RECENT EVENTS -- INCLUDING STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS, THE ELECTION DEFEAT OF AN ALLY, AND THE ASSASSINATION OF A BUSINESSMAN WITH POLITICAL TIES TO HIS WIFE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: // ACTUALITY -- SOUND OF TRAFFIC -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///

IT IS EVENING RUSH HOUR IN BELGRADE. COMMUTERS GATHER TO BOARD OVERCROWDED BUSES AS A POLICEMAN STRUGGLES TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING. MY MAP SAYS THIS AVENUE IS NAMED FOR MARSHALL JOSIP BROZ TITO, THE WORLD WAR TWO PARTISAN LEADER WHO CREATED SOCIALIST YUGOSLAVIA AND KEPT IT TOGETHER AS A MULTI-ETHNIC COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. BUT NEW STREET SIGNS SHOW THEY HAVE CHANGED THE NAME, AND NOW THE STREET IS CALLED "SRPSKIH VLADARA," -- TRANSLATION: "SERBIAN RULERS."

THAT NICELY SUMMARIZES THE CHANGES OVER THE PAST YEARS HERE. TITO'S FEDERALISM HAS BEEN REPLACED BY SERBIAN NATIONALISM. AND NOW, AFTER A DEVASTATING WAR, WHAT REMAINS OF FEDERAL YUGOSLAVIA IS SERBIA AND ITS MUCH SMALLER PARTNER, MONTENEGRO, RULED BY FEDERAL PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA.

THE DAYS OF OBVIOUS SUFFERING AMONG THE YUGOSLAV POPULATION APPEAR TO BE OVER. SHOP WINDOWS ARE FULL OF IMPORTED ELECTRONICS AND HUNDRED-DOLLAR SHOES; BUT MOST OF THE COMMERCE SEEMS TO BE AT THE INNUMERABLE KIOSKS AROUND TOWN. UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS HIGH, AND FREELANCE CAPITALISTS SELL CIGARETTES TO MOTORISTS ALONG THE "AUTO-PUT" TOLL ROADS.

THE ECONOMIC STRESS, THE SENSE OF INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN UPSURGE IN NATIONALISM. IN SERBIA'S RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, ULTRANATIONALIST CANDIDATE VOJISLAV SESELJ BEAT-OUT MR. MILOSEVIC'S PROTEGE, ZORAN LILIC, IN A CONTEST THAT WAS INVALIDATED WHEN AN OPPOSITION BOYCOTT KEPT THE TURNOUT UNDER 50-PERCENT. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ELECTION NEXT MONTH.

STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS IN KOSOVO, WITH ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY, REMAIN A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. IN AN REGION WHERE ETHNIC DIVISIONS SPLIT THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA, KOSOVO'S 90-PERCENT MAJORITY OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN MUSLIMS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.

AND IN YET ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO MR. MILOSEVIC, PRO-WESTERN REFORMER MILO DJUKANOVIC WAS THE APPARENT WINNER IN LAST MONTH'S VOTING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S SMALLER REPUBLIC, MONTENEGRO. BUT MILOSEVIC PROTEGE MOMIR BULATOVIC REFUSED TO CONCEDE DEFEAT.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH OF A THREAT MR. DJUKANOVIC REPRESENTS. IN PART, THE MATTER IS SYMBOLIC: THE DJUKANOVIC VICTORY REPRESENTS A SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE TO THE MILOSEVIC POLITICAL MACHINE, AND DEMONSTRATES WEAKNESS IN THE RULING SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

BUT DESPITE MONTENEGRO'S SMALL SIZE, VICTORY BY ANTI-MILOSEVIC FORCES COULD HAVE SOME TANGIBLE IMPACT. THE UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IS EVENLY-DIVIDED BETWEEN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, AND THUS ANTI-MILOSEVIC FORCES FROM MONTENEGRO COULD WIELD DISPROPORTIONATE POWER THERE.

AND THERE IS MORE. LATE LAST MONTH A SERBIAN BUSINESSMAN WITH CLOSE LINKS TO THE INFLUENTIAL WIFE OF MR. MILOSEVIC (EDS: MIRA MARKOVIC) WAS GUNNED DOWN, IN THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF KILLINGS WITH APPARENT POLITICAL MOTIVES.

AND I THINK THAT HIS POSITION CAN ONLY BE QUESTIONED BY PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM, INCLUDING (VOJISLAV) SESELJ, AND SERIES OF ASSASSINATIONS WHICH OF PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY CLOSE TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY ARE AN INDICATION OF HOW IT MAY END WITH HIM AS WELL.

THE EASING OF SANCTIONS MEANS YUGOSLAVIA IS NOT THE ISOLATED INTERNATIONAL PARIAH IT ONCE WAS, BUT THERE IS STILL THE MATTER OF BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMINALS. THE WESTERN POWERS THINK THE "HEAD MAN" IN BELGRADE (EDS: MILOSEVIC) WILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT WHETHER THEY GO PEACEABLY BEFORE THE BAR OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE.

IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH THE "NEW YORK TIMES" NEWSPAPER, MR. MILOSEVIC SAID THAT SERBS RESENT BEING PUSHED. HE WAS REFERRING TO WESTERN PRESSURE. BUT HE MIGHT ALSO HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE HE FACES, AS ONE OF THE REGION'S CRAFTIEST AND MOST DURABLE LEADERS FACES NEW CHALLENGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/MMK
06-Nov-97 2:14 PM EST (1914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] YUGO REFUGEES BY ART CHIMES (SREMSKI KARLOVCI, YUGOSLAVIA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA IS HOME TO AN ESTIMATED 600-THOUSAND REFUGEES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ETHNIC SERBS, WHO FLED FIGHTING IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA AND CROATIA WHEN WAR RAGED IN THE EARLY 1990S. NOW THEY BIDE THEIR TIME, WONDERING IF THE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN EUROPE'S LARGEST REFUGEE POPULATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: // ACTUALITY -- HORSE-DRAWN CART; ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER //

A HORSE-DRAWN CART IS UNUSUAL ON THE STREETS OF SREMSKI KARLOVCI, BUT IT FITS RIGHT IN AMID THE GRACEFUL BUILDINGS DATING BACK TO THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE. THE ONE-TIME SEAT OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AN HOUR'S DRIVE NORTH OF BELGRADE, SREMSKI KARLOVCI HAS AN OLD WORLD FEEL, BUT WALK INTO A CONVERTED SPORTS HALL AND IT'S ANOTHER WORLD.

A WOMAN SCRUBS DIRT FROM A CHILD'S WINTER JACKET IN A WHITE-TILED ROOM THAT HAS TWO SHOWERS WITHOUT ANY PARTITIONS -- THE ONLY BATHING FACILITY HERE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MODERN WASHING MACHINES, BUT IT'S COMPLETELY INADEQUATE FOR THE 100 PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, CROWDED INTO CUBICLES IN WHAT USED TO BE A BASKETBALL COURT.

THESE REFUGEES ARE MOSTLY FROM CROATIA'S KRAJINA REGION, WHO WERE DRIVEN OUT BY CROATIAN FORCES TWO YEARS AGO. AMONG THEM IS KOVILYKA MIRICH, A GRANDMOTHER WHO SAYS SHE'S 64 -- BUT LOOKS MUCH OLDER. SHE AND HER HUSBAND SHARE A CUBICLE ON A NARROW BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE BASKETBALL COURT. THEY HAVE A BIT OF PRIVACY BEHIND A CARDBOARD PARTITION, BUT IT'S STILL VERY SPARTAN. THEY SLEEP ON METAL COTS, HEAD TO HEAD. ON A TINY STOVE A POT OF POTATOES IS BOILING. MRS. MIRICH SAYS SHE BOUGHT THE POTATOES WITH MONEY SHE EARNED YESTERDAY PICKING APPLES -- A DAY'S WORK PAYING A LITTLE MORE THAN 10 DOLLARS. SHE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A WOMAN WHO SHOULD BE WORKING IN AN ORCHARD ALL DAY. BUT SHE IS GLAD THAT FOR NOW, AT LEAST, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY COMING IN. BUT WINTER WILL BE HERE SOON.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES HERE IN SREMSKI KARLOVCI PROVIDE HOT MEALS FOR THESE REFUGEES, BUT ONLY FIVE DAYS A WEEK. ON WEEKENDS, THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN. UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION, THE HOST COUNTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING REFUGEES WITH FOOD, BUT NELA REBIC OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS FEDERATION OFFICE IN THE VOJVODINA REGION SAYS THE BURDEN IS TOO GREAT.

WELL, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, BUT YOU CAN FEED THEM IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FEED THEM WITH. AND BEARING IN MIND THAT IN VOJVODINA, WE HAVE ALMOST 200-THOUSAND REFUGEES AS WELL AS ALMOST 200-THOUSAND SOCIAL CASES, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANY GOVERNMENT, AND FOR ANY COUNTRY, TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES AND FEED SUCH A BIG NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

INTERNATIONAL DONORS SEEM TO BE LOSING INTEREST IN THE SERB REFUGEES. //OPT// THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM WILL PROBABLY PULL OUT EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY'S "ECHO" PROGRAM IS ALSO CONSIDERING ENDING ITS WORK HERE. //END OPT//

WHAT'S SOMETIMES CALLED "DONOR FATIGUE" IS PARTLY TO BLAME, BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER REASONS WHY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEEMS TO HAVE LESS INTEREST IN SERB REFUGEES THAN THE ONES WITH EQUALLY SAD STORIES ACROSS THE BORDER IN BOSNIA.

I ASKED ONE REFUGEE, WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, IF HE THOUGHT SERB REFUGEES WERE SUFFERING FOR POLITICAL REASONS?

THE REFUGEES LIVING IN THIS BASKETBALL COURT ARE NOT TYPICAL -- ONLY 10-PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA ARE HOUSED IN SO-CALLED "COLLECTIVE CENTERS." BUT IF CONDITIONS FOR THE MAJORITY ARE MORE PRIVATE AND SOMETIMES LESS PRIMITIVE, ALL FACE SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES IN A COUNTRY WITH A DEVASTATED ECONOMY: THERE ARE FEW JOBS, THEY PAY POORLY, AND THE PROVERBIAL SOCIAL SAFETY NET IS FULL OF HOLES. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/EH
06-Nov-97 10:28 AM EST (1528 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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