Voice of America, 97-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] ASEAN / E-U / BURMA (L) BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

[02] BALKAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[03] CYPRUS CONFLICT BY AL PESSIN (NICOSIA)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[05] GERMANY / E-U / JOBS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] HUNGARY - NATO BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

[08] THESSALONIKI FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW BY KATAYOUN BEGLARI (WASHINGTON)

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

[01] ASEAN / E-U / BURMA (L) BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

INTRO: A SCHEDULED MEETING BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS, OR ASEAN, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF A DISPUTE OVER BURMA'S PARTICIPATION. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM THE THAI CAPITAL.

TEXT: THAI DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN THINAKORN KANASUTA CONFIRMS THAT NEXT WEEK'S E-U-ASEAN MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF A DISAGREEMENT OVER BURMA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FORUM.

THE MEETING WAS CALLED OFF AFTER THE E-U REFUSED TO BACK DOWN FROM ITS DEMAND THAT BURMA BE BARRED FROM THE PROCEEDINGS BECAUSE OF RANGOON'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. ASEAN, WHICH ADMITTED BURMA TO ITS RANKS EARLIER THIS YEAR, SAYS IT VIEWS THE E-U STANCE AS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ONE OF ITS MEMBERS.

THAILAND HAS BEEN ASEAN'S MESSENGER IN THE DISPUTE.

AN E-U OFFICIAL, WHO ASKED NOT TO BE NAMED, SAYS THE E-U IS NOT BOYCOTTING THE TALKS. HE SAYS BURMA, ALONG WITH FELLOW NEW ASEAN MEMBER LAOS, COULD NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE TECHNICAL TALKS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SIGNATORIES TO THE 1980 COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE E-U AND ASEAN. BUT HE ADDS THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO NEGOTIATE BURMA'S ACCESSION TO THE AGREEMENT.

THE MEETING, WHICH WAS TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK IN BANGKOK, WAS TO DISCUSS COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO BLOCS. NO NEW DATE HAS BEEN SET.

THE E-U OFFICIAL SAYS THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF DISPUTE THAT HAS BEEN EXPECTED BETWEEN THE WEST AND ASEAN EVER SINCE BURMA WAS GRANTED FULL ASEAN MEMBERSHIP. THE WEST, LED BY THE E-U AND THE UNITED STATES, HAD STRONGLY URGED ASEAN NOT TO ADMIT BURMA, SAYING ADMISSION WOULD GIVE RANGOON'S REPRESSIVE MILITARY GOVERNMENT A MEASURE OF LEGITIMACY IT DOES NOT DESERVE. BUT ASEAN REFUSED, SAYING BURMA'S PRESENCE IN REGION WAS ENOUGH TO WARRANT ADMISSION AND THAT ITS DOMESTIC POLICIES ARE STRICTLY AN INTERNAL AFFAIR.

DIPLOMATS SAY BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE FURTHER COMPLICATIONS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE WEST AND ASEAN.

BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, LED BY NOBEL LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI, ALTHOUGH THE DEGREE OF PRESSURE VARIES.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS ALLOWED TO HOLD A PARTY CONGRESS AT HER HOME IN SEPTEMBER, BUT OFFICIALS HAVE RECENTLY BLOCKED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY HER TO MEET WITH LOCAL SUPPORTERS. ON THURSDAY, AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS STOPPED FROM MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE HLAING DISTRICT OF RANGOON. (SIGNED)
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13-Nov-97 4:37 AM EST (0937 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BALKAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: A HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONTINUE IN THE NATIONS THAT WERE ONCE PART OF YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK .

TEXT: THE U-N OFFICIAL, ELIZABETH REHN, SAYS POLICE BRUTALITY IS TOO COMMON IN THE BALKAN NATIONS AND URGED BOTH IMPROVED TRAINING AND MORE ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN.

MS. REHN IS THE U-N'S SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BOSNIA AND HERZOGOVINA, CROATIA AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. MS. REHN SAYS MORE PROTECTION MUST BE OFFERED TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF THE BALKAN FIGHTING, ESPECIALLY RAPE VICTIMS WHO ARE WILLING TO TESTIFY AT WAR CRIMES TRIALS.

MS. REHN SAYS WOMEN HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN STABILIZING LIFE IN THESE COUNTRIES, INCLUDING MEMBERSHIP IN THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCES.

SO MANY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR, THE VICTIMS WHO STILL LIVE, ARE WOMEN, AND IT SHOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE SHOULD BE QUITE A FEW FEMALE POLICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE.

U-N OFFICIAL BARBARA REHN SAYS THE MOTIVATION FOR ADDING WOMEN TO THESE UNITS IS SIMPLE PRAGMATISM.

FOR A MUSLIM WOMAN, FOR INSTANCE, TO SPEAK TO A MALE FOREIGN POLICE (MAN) -- THAT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM. SO THIS GENDER ASPECT IS NOT FEMINISM, IT IS REALLY REALISM.

MS. REHN SAYS THE POWERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND THE LOCAL CIVIL POLICE BETTER QUALIFIED AND BETTER TRAINED. BRUTAL OFFICERS, MS. REHN SAYS, SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED, REMOVED AND, POSSIBLY, FACE CHARGES.

MS. REHN URGES THE BALKAN NATIONS TO COOPERATE IN THE WAR CRIMES TRIALS, SAYING THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE. SHE SAYS PUNISHMENT TODAY MAY DISCOURAGE OTHERS WHO MIGHT MISUSE POWER. MS. REHN ALSO URGES A CONTINUING EFFORT TO FIND 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE MISSING AND BELIEVED DEAD. THE U-N OFFICIAL ALSO URGES MORE FUNDING TO HELP LOCATE AND REMOVE THE ONE-MILLION LAND MINES SCATTERED THROUGH 30-THOUSAND MINE FIELDS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
13-Nov-97 4:59 PM EST (2159 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CYPRUS CONFLICT BY AL PESSIN (NICOSIA)

INTRO: U-S MEDIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE MADE AN EFFORT TO GET A NEW CYPRUS PEACE PROCESS STARTED THIS WEEK, HOSTING HIS FIRST THREE-WAY MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THE DIVIDED ISLAND'S ETHNIC GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES. MR. HOLBROOKE CAME OUT OF THE MEETING SAYING THE DIFFERENCES ARE "VERY PROFOUND" AND "THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE." V-O-A CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN, IN CYPRUS FOR THE TALKS, TOURED THE U-N BUFFER ZONE WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD.

TEXT:

IT'S A VERY NARROW PART OF THE BUFFER ZONE HERE AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE BUILDINGS.

(PESSIN) SO THIS IS AN AREA THEY WITHDREW FROM? (MAVIN) YES, IN 1989, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE JUST SO CLOSE TOGETHER, TENSIONS WERE TOO HIGH HERE.

BRITISH ARMY CAPTAIN CATHERINE MAVEN, OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORCES, LEADING A TOUR OF THE BUFFER ZONE WHICH SEPARATES THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND TURKISH FORCES. AT THIS SPOT, THE ZONE WAS ONCE BARELY WIDE ENOUGH FOR A JEEP TO PASS THROUGH.

IN THE LEFT-HAND BUILDINGS YOU'D HAVE THE GREEK CYPRIOTS ON ONE SIDE AND THE TURKISH-CYPRIOTS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, AND THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. AND WHAT THEY USED TO DO WAS JOUST, WITH LONG POLES WITH SPEARS ON THE END. BUT THEY WEREN'T JOUSTING FOR FUN. THEY'D TRY TO KNOCK AN EAR OFF OR KNOCK AN EYE OUT, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. AND THEN FOR MAXIMUM POINTS, IT WOULD JUST BE TO GET THE OTHER PERSON TO FALL INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE NOT ONLY WOULD HE FALL AND HURT HIMSELF, BUT THEN THEY COULD SAY HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, HE'S IN THE BUFFER ZONE, HE'S GOING TO ATTACK ME, THEREFORE I CAN SHOOT HIM.

THAT PARTICULAR FLASH-POINT WAS REMOVED IN 1989, WHEN BOTH SIDES WITHDREW FROM THE BUILDINGS AT THE UNITED NATIONS' REQUEST. THE NOW ABANDONED BUILDINGS ALONG THE NARROW STREET STAND AS A SILENT SYMBOL OF THIS CONFLICT -- TWO COMMUNITIES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, WHICH ONCE LIVED PEACEFULLY, THEN SPLIT THROUGH A BITTER WAR, AND ARE NOW WARY OF COMING TOGETHER AGAIN.

U-S MEDIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, WHO BROKERED THE BOSNIA SETTLEMENT, SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF HISTORY ON CYPRUS, BUT HE WANTS THE TWO COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR LEADERS, TO TRY TO FOCUS MORE ON THE FUTURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME SAD WHEN I COME TO CYPRUS IS THAT WHEN I TRY TO TALK OF THE FUTURE, THE PEOPLE HERE, THE LEADERS HERE, TALK ABOUT THE PAST. NOW, I UNDERSTAND WHY, BECAUSE THE PAST IS AN EVER-PRESENT FACTOR IN CYPRUS, AND IT PUTS A VERY HEAVY LEGACY ON THE FUTURE. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD IGNORE THE PAST. WE SHOULD LEARN FROM IT. BUT WE CANNOT BE IMPRISONED BY THE PAST.

THE LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES AGREES -- IN PRINCIPLE. AND THEY HAVE ALSO AGREED TO CREATE WHAT IS CALLED A "BI-ZONAL, BI-COMMUNAL FEDERATION." BUT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ON JUST WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT.

TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH SAYS THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF "INTER-COMMUNAL TALKS" HAS FAILED, AND MUST BE REPLACED.

IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH THIS GOAL BECAUSE OUR EQUALITY HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED. SO WE SAY, THIS IS ENOUGH. IT HAS BROUGHT US TO A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION. AND I SAY THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS TO STOP THIS INTER-COMMUNAL NEGOTIATION NONSENSE. IT HAS PROVED TO BE A NONSENSE. IT HAS PROVED TO BE A GAME PLAYED BY GREEK CYPRIOTS AND SCORING GOALS AGAINST US AT EACH ROUND. THEREFORE, THIS HAS TO STOP.

MR. DENKTASH DEMANDS RECOGNITION FOR HIS BREAK-AWAY STATE, NOW RECOGNIZED ONLY BY TURKEY. THEN, HE SAYS, A NEW CYPRIOT FEDERATION COULD BE NEGOTIATED.

BUT THE GREEK SIDE REFUSES TO CHANGE THE AGREED-UPON "INTER-COMMUNAL" FORMULA, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGREES. CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MANOLIS CHRISTOFIDES.

WE AGREED THAT WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH A FEDERAL REPUBLIC, BI-ZONAL, BI-COMMUNAL, IN WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED. SO WE HAVE THIS COMMON GROUND, AND WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT OUR AGREEMENT. WE HAVE TO RESPECT OUR SIGNATURES AND PROCEED TO ESTABLISH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC.

MR. DENKTASH SAYS "MAYBE," BUT ONLY IF HIS "STATE" IS RECOGNIZED ALONG WITH WHAT HE CALLS THE "SOVEREIGN RIGHTS" OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS. MR. CHRISTOFIDES SAYS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS HE IS ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS EFFORT, AND HE PREDICTS FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE DECADES-OLD CYPRUS DISPUTE WILL TAKE SOME TIME. HE INDICATES HE IS NOT YET SURE WHETHER THE POLITICAL WILL EXISTS ON BOTH SIDES TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT COMPROMISES WHICH WILL BE NEEDED.

THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL WAITING TO COME BACK TO THEIR HOUSES. AND THEY'RE SORT OF CAUGHT IN THIS TWILIGHT ZONE, JUST WAITING.

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING THURSDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. EDITOR JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES CLOSED UP IN BOTH FRANKFURT AND PARIS, BUT AN EARLY RALLY IN LONDON FADED, AND THE LONDON MARKET ENDED DOWN.

THE BIGGEST GAIN WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 45-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS-PERCENT OF THE GERMAN MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN FOUR POINTS, ABOUT ONE-TENTH-PERCENT.

BUT PRICES WERE DOWN IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF NINE-AND-ONE-HALF-POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS-PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED A LITTLE VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. BUT IT WAS OFF AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
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13-Nov-97 1:40 PM EST (1840 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] GERMANY / E-U / JOBS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL SAYS HE IS OPPOSED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION TRYING TO ENGAGE IN JOB CREATION EFFORTS -- AN IDEA SUPPORTED BY FRANCE. DETAILS FROM BONN AND VOA'S KYLE KING.

TEXT: CHANCELLOR KOHL'S REJECTION OF A EUROPEAN JOBS CREATION PROGRAM EMERGED DURING PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE IN BONN, WHERE MR. KOHL SAID EMPLOYMENT POLICIES WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENTS.

MR. KOHL WAS RESPONDING TO CALLS FROM GERMANY'S OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, WHO FAVOR THE CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT QUOTAS TO BE ISSUED AT A EUROPEAN UNION JOBS SUMMIT NEXT WEEK.

THE CHANCELLOR SAID IT WAS UP TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES TO CREATE JOBS BY REFORMING TAX POLICIES, AND BY LOWERING GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND LABOR COSTS. HE ALSO CALLED FOR GREATER EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HIGH TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF CREATING WORK.

THE IDEA OF A EUROPEAN UNION JOBS SUMMIT WAS PROPOSED BY FRANCE'S NEW SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO USE THE GATHERING IN LUXEMBOURG TO CALL FOR NEW E-U PROGRAMS TO BOOST EMPLOYMENT.

MR. KOHL SAYS THE SUMMIT SHOULD BE USED TO COORDINATE JOBS POLICIES AND EXAMINE WAYS TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

ALTHOUGH FRANCE AND GERMANY ARE KEY ADVOCATES OF GREATER EUROPEAN UNION INTEGRATION, THEY HAVE DIFFERED SHARPLY ON THE QUESTION OF JOBS CREATION.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE HAS BEEN ABOVE 12 PERCENT AND IN GERMANY, IT IS AT A POST-WAR HIGH OF MORE THAN 11 PERCENT. ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF ANY MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMING YEAR. (SIGNED)
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13-Nov-97 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] HUNGARY - NATO BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WERE INVITED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON NATO MEMBERSHIP. OF THE THREE CANDIDATES, ONLY HUNGARIANS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO JOIN. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS THAT REFERENDUM WILL BE HELD THIS SUNDAY.

TEXT: THE REFERENDUM SEEMS ALMOST CERTAIN TO PASS. AMONG LIKELY VOTERS, ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS NOW SAY THEY WILL VOTE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

ALL MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE SUPPORTING NATO MEMBERSHIP. OPPOSING IT ARE FRINGE MOVEMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

THE PRO-NATO CAMPAIGN IS WELL-FINANCED, WITH THE FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTRIES TOGETHER SPENDING ABOUT ONE-MILLION DOLLARS. THE MONEY HAS GONE FOR EVERYTHING FROM SEMINARS TO PERSUADE SENIOR OFFICERS, TO NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENTS, EVEN PAYMENT TO A TELEVISION SHOW TO ADD A PRO-NATO CHARACTER TO THE PROGRAM.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS, FOREIGN MINISTER LASZLO KOVACS SAID IF THE VOTERS APPROVE NATO MEMBERSHIP IT WOULD ALLOW HUNGARY TO LEAVE THE TRAGEDIES OF THE PAST BEHIND AND JOIN WHAT HE CALLED THE COMMUNITY OF MORE FORTUNATE NATIONS.

THOSE TRAGEDIES ARE IN FACT ONE REASON WHY SOME HUNGARIANS OPPOSE NATO. AFTER BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SUPERPOWER STANDOFF FOR 40 YEARS, INCLUDING A RUSSIAN INVASION TO PUT DOWN AN ANTI-COMMUNIST UPRISING IN 1956, THESE HUNGARIANS ARE SAYING, NO THANKS.

THE HEAD OF THE HUNGARIAN ATLANTIC COUNCIL, MIKLOS DERER, SAYS THERE IS ALSO AN ANTI-WESTERN STREAK AMONG SOME, ESPECIALLY OLDER HUNGARIANS BASED ON A FEELING OF HAVING BEEN ABANDONED BY THE WEST ON VARIOUS HISTORIC OCCASIONS.

THERE IS A GENERAL FEELING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE POPULATION THAT HUNGARY HAS SO FAR BEEN SEVERAL TIMES NEGLECTED AND ABANDONED BY THE WEST. IT WAS THE CASE IN 1956 LAST TIME, OR IT WAS THE CASE ACCORDING TO THEM AT THE TIME OF THE YALTA ACCORDS. SO THERE IS A CERTAIN KIND OF RESENTMENT IN THE HUNGARIAN POPULATION VIS-A-VIS THE WEST. I WOULDN'T SAY AGAINST THE WEST, BUT VIS-A-VIS THE WEST.

MR. DERER -- WHOSE ORGANIZATION IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE GOVERNMENT -- ALSO MENTIONS A TRADITION OF NEUTRALITY AMONG SOME HUNGARIANS.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH POLLING IN THE RUNUP TO THE REFERENDUM. ONE POLLSTER, GALLUP'S ROBERT MANCHIN, AGREES THAT SOME HUNGARIANS OPPOSE MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR COUNTRY TO BE NEUTRAL. HE SAYS OTHER OPPONENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE COSTS AND FEAR IT COULD CUT INTO PENSIONS OR OTHER SOCIAL PAYMENTS.

MR. MANCHIN SAYS HIS SURVEYS INDICATE YOUNGER, BETTER EDUCATED, URBAN HUNGARIANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT NATO MEMBERSHIP. THERE IS ALSO A GENDER GAP WITH MEN TENDING TO FAVOR NATO, AND WOMEN MORE OPPOSED.

THEY ARE REALLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SONS GOING TO WAR SOMEWHERE ELSE OR JUST GENERALLY MORE PEACE-LOVING. THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT SOME MORE NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL BE IN HUNGARY THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES. IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH MORE DEEP-SEATED VALUE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES.

DESPITE THE DIFFERENCE, SUPPORT IN THE CLOSING DAYS BEFORE THE REFERENDUM IS RISING. AS ONE WESTERN OBSERVER PUT IT, NO ONE IMAGINES THAT HUNGARY WOULD TURN ITS BACK ON THIS OPPORTUNITY. (SIGNED)
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13-Nov-97 10:44 AM EST (1544 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: U-S STOCK PRICES ENDED THE DAY (THURSDAY) HIGHER AMID VOLATILITY AND HEAVY TRADING VOLUME. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE LATEST FINANCIAL NEWS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: A DAY OF WIDE SWINGS IN THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LEFT THAT INDEX WITH A GAIN OF 86 POINTS -- JUST OVER ONE PERCENT CLOSING AT 74-THUNDRED-88. THE BROADER STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 917, AN INCREASE OF 11 POINTS.

THE RELEASE OF PRODUCTIVITY FIGURES HELPED BOOST CONFIDENCE IN THE U-S ECONOMY. THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAID AMERICAN BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY ROSE AT THE FASTEST RATE IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS IN THE THIRD QUARTER, LED BY SHARP GAINS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. JOBLESS CLAIMS WERE DOWN IN THE WEEK ENDED NOVEMBER EIGHTH. THAT WAS IN LINE WITH ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS, BUT CONTINUES TO FUEL CONCERNS ABOUT INFLATION.

AND FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE U-S CONGRESS, SAYING RECENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN ASIA COULD HAVE A NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON THE U-S ECONOMY.

WHILE THIS MAY BE INEVITABLE IN THE VERY DYNAMIC FINANCIAL SYSTEM, NONETHELESS, THESE CONTAGION PROBLEMS SLOW DOWN OVERALL WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH, INCLUDING OUR OWN, AND THE SOONER WE CAN GET THEM RESOLVED, THE BETTER.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. GREENSPAN'S REMARKS DID NOT HAVE A DISCERNIBLE IMPACT ON TRADING ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

CONCERN ABOUT CURRENCY AND FINANCIAL INSTABILITY IN ASIA REMAINED THE MAIN WORRY ON WALL STREET, AND WAS BLAMED FOR CONTRIBUTING TO DECLINES IN SOME BANKING AND COMPUTER-RELATED STOCKS, WHICH HAVE DEPENDED ON PROFITS FROM THAT REGION.

THE WASHINGTON POST CORPORATION, ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN U-S NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS, ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUY BACK ONE-MILLION SHARES OF ITS STOCK. AND AS PART OF ITS COST-CUTTING MEASURES, THE NATION'S THIRD LARGEST RETAILER, K-MART, SAYS IT WILL OFFER EARLY RETIREMENT PLANS TO NEARLY 30-THOUSAND WORKERS.

THE MOST HEAVILY TRADED STOCKS INCLUDED COMPUTER-MAKER MICRON AND AUTOMAKER FORD, BOTH OF WHICH WERE DOWN. COMPUTER COMPANIES COMPAQ, I-B-M AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AND ENERGY-PRODUCER GENERAL ELECTRIC WERE ALSO AMONG THE MOST HEAVILY TRADED. THEY WERE ALL UP IN THURSDAY'S TRADING SESSION. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/RRM
13-Nov-97 4:37 PM EST (2137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] THESSALONIKI FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW BY KATAYOUN BEGLARI (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL -- ONE OF THE PRESTIGIOUS FILM FESTIVALS IN THE BALKANS -- WILL SHOWCASE A WIDE RANGE OF FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHEN IT OPENS THIS MONTH (NOVEMBER 21ST THROUGH THE 30TH) IN THE NORTHERN GREEK CITY (OF THESSALONIKI). KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWED THE DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THIS YEAR, THE THESSALONIKI FILM FESTIVAL WILL HAVE THE NEWLY RENOVATED, STATE-OF-THE-ART "OLYMPION (CORRECT SPELLING) CINEMA CENTER" AS ITS NEW HOME.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL -- MICHEL DEMOPOULOS -- SAYS ABOUT 160 FILMS WILL BE SCREENED DURING THE 10 DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL IS DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS.

...AROUND 160 FILMS WITH ALL THE SECTIONS. AND IN THE COMPETITION (SECTION), 14 FILMS; AND IN THE 'NEW HORIZONS' (SECTION), AROUND 40 FILMS, (WHERE THERE WILL BE THE) SELECTION OF THE BEST INDEPENDENT FILMS INTERNATIONALLY. THERE IS ALSO A PROGRAM OF 'AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE,' BUT NO HOLLYWOOD (FILMS).

THE 'NEW HORIZONS' SECTION INCLUDES CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILMS SUCH AS "TASTE OF CHERRIES" BY ABBAS KIAROSTAMI (IRAN), JANOS SZASZ'S "THE WITMAN BOYS" (HUNGARY), AND TAKESHI KITANO'S "HANA-BL" (JAPAN). SINCE 1994, THE THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HAS SERVED AS A GATHERING POINT FOR FILMMAKERS FROM THE BALKANS THROUGH A SPECIFIC SECTION OF THE FESTIVAL CALLED THE ANNUAL 'BALKAN SURVEY.'

AFTER OVERCOMING MANY OBSTACLES TO PRODUCE FILMS IN COUNTRIES LIKE ALBANIA, BOSNIA, AND BULGARIA, BALKANS' FILMMAKERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEIR WORKS TO THESSALONIKI AND PRESENT THEM TO LARGE AUDIENCES. THIS YEAR, A SPECIAL SUBSECTION TO "BALKAN SURVEY" WILL BE PRESENTED ENTITLED "THE BALKANS: TIMES OF TURMOIL." IT WILL FOCUS ON THE CONFLICT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. FESTIVAL DIRECTOR DEMOPOULOS, EXPLAINS THAT THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON YUGOSLAVIA.

THIS YEAR, THERE IS A MAIN PROGRAM OF THE 'BALKAN SURVEY' -- THAT MEANS WE HAVE SIX FILMS OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, FILMS FROM BULGARIA, SLOVENIA, TURKEY, YUGOSLAVIA. PLUS, WE HAVE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CRISIS, THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA; THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT FILMS AND VIDEOS ABOUT THE CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA.

THE LINEUP INCLUDES "CALLING THE GHOSTS" BY MANDY JACOBSON AND KARMEN JELINCIC (USA,CROATIA), NIKOLAUS GEYRHALTER'S "THE YEAR AFTER DAYTON" (AUSTRIA), AND THE FIRST BOSNIAN POST-WAR PRODUCTION -- "THE PERFECT CIRCLE," BY ADEMIR KENOVIC, WHICH WON THE BEST DIRECTOR AWARD AND SHARED THE TOP PRIZE AT THE TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION 38 YEARS AGO AS A "WEEK OF GREEK CINEMA," THE THESSALONIKI FESTIVAL HAS HAD A GREEK COMPETITION SECTION. THIS YEAR, THE FESTIVAL'S GREEK SECTION WILL INCLUDE A TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY GREEK ACTRESS IRENE PAPAS.

THE THESSALONIKI FESTIVAL ALSO WILL PRESENT A RETROSPECTIVE OF RENOWNED FRENCH DIRECTOR CLAUDE CHABROL, AND THERE WILL BE TRIBUTES TO MEXICAN MASTER ARTURO RIPSTEIN, PORTUGAL'S MANUEL DE OLIVIERA AND RUSSIA'S ALEXANDER SOKUROV.

THE FESTIVAL ALSO HAS ORGANIZED AN EXHIBTION OF PAINTINGS AND PHOTOS BY IRANIAN DIRECTOR ABBS KIAROSTAMI, WHOSE FILM "THE TASTE OF CHERRIES" WILL BE PART OF THE 'NEW HORIZONS' SECTION OF THE FESTIVAL. (SIGNED)
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13-Nov-97 1:27 PM EST (1827 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: FROM ONE END OF THIS COUNTRY TO THE OTHER, THE COMMON THEME IN THURSDAY'S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS IS WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE ESCALATING CONFRONTATION WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE "FAST TRACK" TRADE AUTHORIZATION DEFEAT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON IN CONGRESS; THE AU PAIR SENTENCE REDUCTION DEBATE; THE POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL FUTURE OF RETIRED ARMY GENERAL COLIN POWELL AND THE PAKISTANI TERRORIST KILLINGS OF FOUR AMERICANS. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FROM MAINE TO OREGON, U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE REACTING TO WEDNESDAY'S UNANIMOUS VOTE IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, FURTHER TIGHTENING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON TOP IRAQI OFFICIALS. IT WAS MEANT TO FORCE IRAQ TO BACK DOWN FROM ITS CURRENT STANCE OF REFUSING TO ALLOW U-S MEMBERS OF THE U-N WEAPONS MONITORING TEAM TO WORK. BUT THE PRESS IS DIVIDED OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS LATEST U-N MOVE. IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS IN ITS [EDITORIAL] HEADLINE -- THE U-N CAN'T LET IRAQ HOLD [THE] WORLD HOSTAGE; THE SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION SENDS THE MESSAGE IT'S IN CHARGE.

VOICE: ONCE AGAIN SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE IRAQI DICTATOR, HAS MISJUDGED WORLD REACTION TO HIS CONTINUED FLOUTING OF CONDITIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1991 CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT ENDING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. ...WEDNESDAY'S UNANIMOUS VOTE BY THE 15-MEMBER SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE DISABUSED SADDAM OF THE NOTION THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE. ...THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S WARNING THAT 'FURTHER MEASURES' WILL FOLLOW IN THE EVENT OF CONTINUED IRAQ INTRANSIGENCE SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY IN BAGHDAD.

TEXT: FOUR-THOUSAND KILOMETERS AWAY, "THE OREGONIAN" IN THE OTHER PORTLAND, WONDERS WHERE THE CONFLICT GOES NEXT.

VOICE: IRAQI OFFICIALS WANT THE WORLD TO THINK THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE UNITED NATIONS IS ABOUT SANCTIONS OR IMPROPER U-S ACTIVITY. IT IS NOT. IT IS ABOUT DEADLY NERVE GAS, DISEASE AGENTS AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- IN THE HANDS OF THE IRAQI LEADER AND LAUNCHABLE BY MISSILES AGAINST HIS ENEMIES. ... THE UNANIMITY [OF WEDNESDAY'S SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE] WAS IMPORTANT AS A SIGNAL TO SADDAM THAT HE CAN NOT COUNT ON HELP FROM POTENTIAL BUSINESS PARTNERS, SUCH AS FRANCE AND RUSSIA, NEGATING A UNIFIED RESISTANCE TO HIS LATEST OUTRAGE. SADDAM SHOULD BACK DOWN... NOW THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS CONDEMNED SADDAM, THE NEXT DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGE FOR THE UNITED STATES IS GAINING INTERNATIONAL CONCURRENCE ON WHAT TO DO.

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE U-N VOTE NOTHING MORE THAN A -- SLAP ON THE WRIST.

VOICE: AWARD THIS ROUND TO IRAQ. ITS ESCALATING EVASIONS OF U-N DEMANDS THAT IT DESTROY ALL ... WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ... EARNED IT A WRIST SLAP FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL. A RESOLUTION DILUTED TO WIN THE CONCURRENCE OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA INSISTS, ONCE AGAIN, THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN BEHAVE HIMSELF. ... AMERICAN AND BRITISH DIPLOMATS ARE TRYING TO PUT THE BEST FACE ON A WOEFULLY INEFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO IRAQ'S BRAZEN CHALLENGE TO U-N AUTHORITY.

TEXT: THURSDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS THE VOTE -- AMERICA'S HOLLOW EMBARGO ON IRAN -- IN ITS EDITORIAL OBSERVER COLUMN, WHILE "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALLS THE ACTION -- THE U-N FLINCH.

TURNING TO THE DAY'S OTHER FAVORITE TOPIC, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S EMBARRASSING DEFEAT BY HIS OWN PARTY IN THE HOUSE ON "FAST TRACK'" TRADE AUTHORIZATION, "THE WASHINGTON POST" WONDERS IF THIS MEANS THE PRESIDENT IS NOW A -- LAME DUCK? (WEAKENED BECAUSE HE IS IN HIS LAST TERM IN OFFICE)

VOICE: IF THE PRESIDENT CAN NOT GET THE TRADE BILL PASSED, WHAT ELSE CAN NOT HE DO? THAT IS THE POLICY VERSION OF THE POLITICAL QUESTION, IS MR. CLINTON, NEVER A PARTICULAR FAVORITE OF MANY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY ANYWAY, ALREADY BECOMING SOMETHING OF A LAME DUCK? ...MR. CLINTON SAYS HE WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR, ELECTION YEAR, WITH A REVISED POSITION ON TRADE THAT WILL SOMEHOW WIN THE VOTES AND ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE THAT ELUDED HIM THIS YEAR. MAYBE. ...BUT THE REST OF HIS SECOND TERM ALREADY LOOKED LIKE AN UPHILL CLIMB, AND NOW THAT CLIMB IS A LOT STEEPER.

TEXT: PICKING UP ON "THE POST'S" THEME, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" HEADLINES ITS EDITORIAL ON "FAST TRACK" -- CLINTON'S WATERLOO? -- (A REFERENCE TO NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT) AND SUGGESTS:

VOICE: BILL CLINTON LOST A LOT MORE THAN FAST-TRACK TRADE NEGOTIATION AUTHORITY LAST WEEK. HE LOST HIS GRIP -- WHICH HAD BEEN STEADILY WEAKENING -- ON HIS OWN PARTY.

TEXT: TURNING TO YET ANOTHER MAJOR STORY THAT HAS ALREADY ELICITED ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF COMMENT, THE REDUCED SENTENCE OF A BRITISH AU PAIR (LIVE-IN CHILD CARE WORKER) CONVICTED OF MURDERING THE MASSACHUSETTS INFANT IN HER CARE, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS THE JUDGE MADE A MISTAKE.

VOICE: IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT JUDGE HILLER ZOBEL WANTED TO BRING A COMPASSIONATE END TO THE TRIAL OF LOUISE WOODWARD. ...[JUDGE] ZOBEL DID THE RIGHT THING WHEN HE REDUCED THE CHARGE AGAINST WOODWARD, BUT HE GAVE HER THE WRONG SENTENCE. WOODWARD'S CONVICTION STILL LEAVES HER RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTHEW EAPPEN'S DEATH. AS SUCH, [JUDGE] ZOBEL SHOULD HAVE HANDED DOWN A SENTENCE OF THREE-AND-ONE-THIRD TO FIVE YEARS AS OUTLINED IN STATE SENTENCING GUIDELINES FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. LOUISE WOODWARD MAY NOT BE A MURDERER, BUT SHE CAUSED AN INFANT'S DEATH AND SHOULD PAY THE APPROPRIATE PRICE.

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION", LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, SAYS THAT ONE POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, RETIRED ARMY GENERAL COLIN POWELL IS -- TOO SENSIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT.

VOICE: AS A WHITE HOUSE AIDE AND LATER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, [MR.] POWELL HAS SEEN THE SYSTEM UP CLOSE. HE KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST THAT WE HAVE CREATED A CAMPAIGN PROCESS SO THOROUGHLY DEGRADING THAT IT SOILS THE REPUTATION OF ANYBODY WILLING TO GO THROUGH IT. TO LEAD THE NATION, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SELL YOUR SOUL. [MR.] POWELL HAS DONE A LOT FOR THIS COUNTRY, BUT THAT IS ONE SACRIFICE HE IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FIRST REACTION FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" TO THE KILLING IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, WEDNESDAY OF FOUR AMERICAN OIL COMPANY WORKERS AND THEIR PAKISTANI DRIVER. THEY WERE SHOT TO DEATH IN APPARENT RETALIATION FOR THE GUILTY VERDICT HANDED DOWN IN A SUBURBAN WASHINGTON COURTROOM THIS WEEK TO PAKISTANI AMAL KASI, FORMERLY KNOWN AS KANSI. HE IS THE MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING TWO C-I-A WORKERS AND INJURING OTHERS AT THE SPY AGENCY'S VIRGINIA HEADQUARTERS IN 1993.

VOICE: PAKISTANIS MAY NOT BE SURPRISED BY MORE SHOOTINGS IN KARACHI, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST VIOLENT CITIES, WHERE THE STREETS RUN RED WITH THE BLOOD OF LOCALS CAUGHT IN POLITICAL CROSSFIRE. THOUGH THERE ARE THINGS THE UNITED STATES CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT FUTURE ATTACKS, THE MAIN CHALLENGE IS TO ISLAMABAD. AND WHILE IT IS FOREIGNERS WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETED THIS TIME, THE KILLERS' REAL GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION OF PAKISTAN. // OPT // ....THE COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENT WAS QUICK TO CALL THE KARACHI SHOOTINGS 'A REPREHENSIBLE ACT.' BUT TAKING A MORAL STAND WILL NOT BE NEARLY ENOUGH. AN EVEN FASTER WAY TO SAVE LIVES WOULD BE FOR PAKISTANI LEADERS TO STOP PANDERING TO EXTREMISTS, INCLUDING THE SORTS OF PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE MURDER AS A PATRIOTIC DUTY. UNTIL IT BECOMES KNOWN - - IN PAKISTAN AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD - - THAT POLITICAL KILLERS WILL BE PURSUED AND PUNISHED, THERE WILL BE MORE OF THEM. // END OPT //

TEXT: ON THAT SOMBER NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
13-Nov-97 10:59 AM EST (1559 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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