Voice of America, 97-11-09

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS MEETING PREVIEW (LONG) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

[02] CYPRUS MEETING PREVIEW (SHORT) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

[03] TRANSITION REPORT (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[04] AZERBAIJAN OIL (S-ONLY) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

[01] CYPRUS MEETING PREVIEW (LONG) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, BEGINS HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE ISLAND MONDAY WITH TENSION BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY HIGH AND RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ISLAND'S GREEK AND TURKISH SECTORS SET TO BREAK DOWN EARLY NEXT YEAR IF SOME AGREEMENT IS NOT REACHED. AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM NICOSIA ON THE ISSUES AND SHARPLY DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT AWAIT MR. HOLBROOKE.

TEXT: THIS SMALL ISLAND IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HAS BEEN A POINT OF TENSION FOR MORE THAN 30-YEARS, WITH FIGHTING BETWEEN ITS MAINLY ETHNIC GREEK AND TURKISH SECTORS BOTH REFLECTING AND INCREASING TENSION BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY. THAT TENSION NEARLY LED TO FIGHTING LAST MONTH WHEN TURKISH WAR PLANES CHALLENGED GREEK AIR FORCE PLANES DURING MILITARY MANEUVERS. ON CYPRUS, THE SITUATION HAS BEEN GENERALLY TENSE FOR MANY YEARS, VIOLENCE HAS BROKEN OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. PRESIDENT CLINTON TRIED TO MEDIATE A SETTLEMENT EARLY IN HIS FIRST TERM, BUT FAILED. NOW, IN HIS SECOND TERM, HE HAS APPOINTED THE VETERAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- THE MAN WHO MEDIATED THE SEEMINGLY-IMPOSSIBLE BOSNIA SETTLEMENT -- TO TRY TO DO THE SAME FOR CYPRUS.

MR. HOLBROOKE HAS ANOTHER DAUNTING TASK AHEAD OF HIM.

THE SOUTHERN, MAINLY GREEK, SECTOR OF THE ISLAND, KNOWN AS THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, HAS APPLIED FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND NEGOTIATIONS ON ITS ACCESSION ARE TO BEGIN IN APRIL. THE SMALLER, MAINLY TURKISH NORTHERN SECTOR, WHICH DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE IN 1974, SAYS IF THOSE TALKS START, ALL TALK OF REUNITING THE ISLAND WILL END. THE GREEK SIDE HAS ALSO ORDERED RUSSIAN-MADE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES FOR DELIVERY NEXT SUMMER, A MOVE THE TURKISH SIDE SEES VIRTUALLY AS AN ACT OF WAR.

THE NORTHERN SECTOR BROKE AWAY AFTER A BRIEF, BUT BLOODY AND BITTER, WAR WHICH FOLLOWED A GREEK-BACKED COUP AND A TURKISH INVASION, BUT ONLY TURKEY RECOGNIZES THE NORTHERN GOVERNMENT.

VARIOUS SETS OF NEGOTIATIONS IN THE 1970'S SET UP A FRAMEWORK FOR RE-UNIFICATION, BASED ON A VAGUE CONCEPT CALLED BI-COMMUNALITY. BUT THE TWO SIDES HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON JUST HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT IDEA.

A SOLUTION SEEMS NO CLOSER TODAY. THE TURKISH SIDE, WITH ONLY 18-PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, INSISTS ON EQUALITY IN A NEW CYPRIOT FEDERATION. THE GREEK SIDE, IS RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP THAT MUCH POWER.

MR. HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO BRING THE GREEK-SIDE LEADER GLAFKOS CLERIDES AND THE TURKISH-SIDE LEADER RAUF DENKTASH TOGETHER ON TUESDAY, BUT NO QUICK SOLUTION IS EXPECTED.

THE TWO ELDERLY LEADERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR NEGOTIATIONS FOR MORE THAN 30-YEARS. THEY BOTH SAY THEY WANT A SETTLEMENT, AND BOTH SIDES POINT TO THE EUROPEAN ISSUE AND THE MISSILES, AS NEW MOTIVATIONS. BUT IN TWO RECENT MEETINGS MR. CLERIDES AND MR. DENKTASH HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS, AND HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED TENSIONS SOMEWHAT.

MR. DENKTASH DESCRIBES THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED HOLBROOKE VISIT AS DESIGNED ONLY TO RE-ESTABLISH CONTACT, NOT TO HAVE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS. WHILE MR. CLERIDES SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD, HE IS FACING ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/RAE
09-Nov-97 3:09 PM EST (2009 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] CYPRUS MEETING PREVIEW (SHORT) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, BEGINS HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE ISLAND MONDAY TO TRY TO MOVE ITS GREEK AND TURKISH SECTORS TOWARD A SETTLEMENT BEFORE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR DEEPEN THE CONFLICT. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM NICOSIA.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO BRING THE LEADERS OF THE ISLAND'S GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES TOGETHER FOR A MEETING TUESDAY, BUT NO QUICK SOLUTION IS EXPECTED.

THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER GLAFKOS CLERIDES AND HIS TURKISH-SIDE COUNTERPART RAUF DENKTASH HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SUCH MEETINGS FOR MORE THAN 30-YEARS, AND THEIR LAST TWO ENCOUNTERS THIS YEAR DID NOT RESULT IN PROGRESS.

BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SENT HIS BEST INTERNATIONAL TROUBLE-SHOOTER TO TRY TO FORGE A SETTLEMENT. FRESH FROM MEDIATING THE SEEMINGLY-IMPOSSIBLE BOSNIA DISPUTE, MR. HOLBROOKE WILL TRY TO FORGE A COMPROMISE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE ISLAND'S TWO SECTORS TO BE REUNITED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1974.

IF HE DOES NOT SUCCEED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE TURKISH SIDE SAYS THE GREEK SIDE'S EFFORT TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS EXPECTED RECEIPT OF RUSSIAN-MADE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES WILL CREATE A CRISIS. THAT WOULD INEVITABLY SPILL OVER INTO MORE TENSION BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY, WHOSE MILITARY PLANES NEARLY SHOT AT EACH OTHER LAST MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/RAE
09-Nov-97 3:13 PM EST (2013 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] TRANSITION REPORT (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CHIEF ECONOMIST OF THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (E-B-R-D), NICHOLAS STERN, WAS IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY WHERE HE SPOKE ABOUT THE MIXED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE LONDON BASED BANK HAS GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ROMANIA.

TEXT: MR. STERN SAYS ROMANIA IS EASTERN EUROPE'S BIG AROUND COUNTRY IN 1997. EVEN THOUGH ITS ECONOMY WILL HAVE CONTRACTED BY ABOUT TWO PERCENT THIS YEAR THE EUROPEAN BANK BELIEVES THE NEW CENTER RIGHT GOVERNMENT IS RESTORING FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SIGNIFICANT GROWTH. MR. STERN SAYS AFTER YEARS OF DELAY UNDER THE FORMER COMMUNISTS PRIVATIZATION IS MOVING AHEAD IN ROMANIA. HE SEES BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS, PARTICULARLY IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INDUSTRY.

ROMANIA HAS BECOME THE SECOND BIGGEST CLIENT FOR E-B-R-D LOANS AND INVESTMENT. THE BANK WAS SET UP BY OVER TWO DOZEN GOVERNMENTS IN 1991 TO PROMOTE THE FREE MARKET TRANSFORMATION IN THE FORMER EAST BLOC.

IN ITS ANNUAL TRANSITION REPORT, THE E-B-R-D FINDS THAT IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALTICS GROWTH HAS SLOWED THIS YEAR TO THREE PERCENT. BUT IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES 1997 IS THE FIRST YEAR OF OVERALL GROWTH OF ABOUT ONE PERCENT. WITHIN THESE TWO REGIONS THE 26 ECONOMIES HAVE VERY MIXED PERFORMANCE. GROWTH HAS SLOWED IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, INCREASED IN HUNGARY, AND HELD STEADY IN POLAND. THE BALTICS HAVE ALL IMPROVED AND THE SEVEN PERCENT GROWTH IN ESTONIA IS THE BEST IN THE REGION. THERE ARE HOWEVER WORRIES ABOUT THE TRADE DEFICIT AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURE.

WHILE RUSSIA IS AT LAST GROWING AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF DECLINES, SERIOUS PROBLEMS REMAIN. THE INFORMAL OR UNDERGROUND ECONOMY IS HUGE, EQUAL TO 40 PERCENT OF ALL OUTPUT. CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT AND GROWTH UNEVEN. IN UKRAINE THE E-B-R-D SAYS NECCESSARY STRUCTURAL REFORMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE. THE ONLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SAYS THE REPORT, HAVE BEEN MACRO-ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION OF A NEW CURRENCY.

IN CENTRAL ASIA MR. STERN SAYS NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS LIKE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE. WHILE THERE IS SIGNFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF RICH NATURAL RESOURCES THE RISK FOR INVESTORS IS HIGH. TURKMENISTAN HAS THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF REGISTERING THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DECLINE, 15 PERCENT, OF ANY TRANSITION ECONOMY THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PT
07-Nov-97 7:34 PM EST (0034 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] AZERBAIJAN OIL (S-ONLY) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: AN INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM SAYS IT HAS BEGUN PUMPING CRUDE OIL FROM THE CASPIAN SEA, OFF THE COAST OF AZERBAIJAN. V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS.

TEXT: THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CONSORTIUM, THE AZERBAIJAN INTERNATIONAL OPERATING COMPANY, SAYS IT HAS PUMPED THE FIRST ONE-THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF CRUDE OIL FROM THE CHIRAG FIELD.

THAT IS ONE OF THREE OIL FIELDS THE CONSORTIUM IS DEVELOPING.

THE OIL IS BEING PUMPED THROUGH A 178 KILOMETER LONG PIPELINE TO THE COAST. IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE TRANSPORTED THROUGH TWO PIPELINES TO THE BLACK SEA. ONE RUNS THROUGH RUSSIA'S BREAKAWAY REGION OF CHECHNYA. THE SECOND PIPELINE CROSSES THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA AND IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION BY 1999.

THE CONSORTIUM INVOLVES OIL GIANTS SUCH AS BRITISH PETROLEUM, AMOCO, EXXON AND NORWAY'S STATOIL. THE AZERBAIJANI STATE OIL COMPANY HAS A 10 PERCENT STAKE AS DOES RUSSIA'S LUKOIL. THE DEAL, SIGNED IN 1994, HAS BEEN HAILED AS A SIGN THAT AZERBAIJAN HAS RETURNED AS A MAJOR WORLD OIL PRODUCER. (SIGNED)
NEB/MK/WJK
08-Nov-97 5:20 AM EST (1020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article