Voice of America, 97-12-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] BALKAN ELECTIONS BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

[02] E-U SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[04] ISLAM MEET (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (TEHRAN)

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

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

[07] TURKEY / E-U (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[08] U-S / TURKEY (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] BALKAN ELECTIONS BY ART CHIMES (BELGRADE)

INTRO: A SPATE OF RECENT ELECTIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SUGGEST A CONFUSION OF ATTITUDES IN THE BALKANS -- AND PERHAPS THE APPEARANCE OF A DEMOCRACY GONE MAD. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, WHERE HE COVERED THE MOST RECENT SERBIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

TEXT: SERBIA IS HEADING (EDS: ON DECEMBER 21ST) FOR ITS FOURTH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SINCE SEPTEMBER, AND LIKE THE PREVIOUS THREE, ANALYSTS EXPECT IT WILL BE INCONCLUSIVE. IN RECENT MONTHS, SERBIA ALSO HAD PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS; YUGOSLAVIA'S OTHER REPUBLIC, MONTENEGRO, HAS TRIED TO ELECT A PRESIDENT; BOSNIA HAD MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS; AND BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC VOTED FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

IN MOST OF THESE CONTESTS, HARDLINE NATIONALISTS STILL DOMINATE. AFTER LAST MONTH'S ELECTION FOR THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT, FOR INSTANCE, THE HARDLINERS LOST SOME GROUND, BUT THEY REMAIN THE BIGGEST FACTION. AND EVEN BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC, WHO HAS PLEDGED SUPPORT OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, IS STILL A FERVENT NATIONALIST. SHE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A "MODERATE" ONLY IN COMPARISON TO HER RIVAL, INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECT RADOVAN KARADZIC.

IN SERBIA'S MOST RECENT PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST, FOUR OUT OF FIVE VOTES WENT TO EITHER AN ULTRANATIONALIST FORMER PARAMILITARY LEADER, OR THE HANDPICKED CHOICE OF FORMER SERBIAN HARDLINER PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THE LOSING CANDIDATE WAS VUK DRASKOVIC -- THE CLOSEST THING TO A MODERATE AMONG THE LEADING CANDIDATES -- WHO WON ONLY ABOUT 16 PERCENT OF THE VOTES. JUST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAST A BALLOT, AND CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL ANDJELKO TRPKOVIC SAYS MANY VOTERS DIDN'T THINK THEIR BALLOT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AS IN BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC, ELECTIONS IN SERBIA PROPER NEVER SEEM TO REALLY DECIDE ANYTHING. BUT DESPITE THE SEEMINGLY-ENDLESS CYCLE OF VOTING, POLITICAL ANALYST VLADIMIR GOATI SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION, AND HE AGREES THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS -- EVEN THE VERY OFFICE OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT -- IS SOMETHING OF A CHARADE.

BUT THE REGIME IS FUNCTIONING, THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE REGIME. WHAT DOES IT MEAN, "PRESIDENT?"

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SERVED TWO TERMS AS SERBIAN PRESIDENT, BUT WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY PREVENTED FROM RUNNING FOR THE POST AGAIN. HE IS NOW THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAVIA PRESIDENT, AND MANY COMMENTATORS SAY HE PLANS TO TRANSFER AUTHORITY FROM THE PRESIDENTS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S REPUBLICS -- SERBIAN AND MONTENEGRO -- TO HIS OWN OFFICE.

AS SERBIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MOVES INTO ITS FOURTH ROUND, THERE IS A WIDESPREAD EXPECTATION THAT IF RADICAL PARTY CANDIDATE VOJISLAV SESELJ IS AHEAD, THE RULING SOCIALISTS WILL SOMEHOW MAKE SURE THAT THE TURNOUT FAILS TO REACH THE 50-PERCENT MINIMUM TO VALIDATE THE POLL. A JOURNALIST WITH BELGRADE'S "VREME" INDEPENDENT WEEKLY MAGAZINE, NENAD STEFANOVIC, SAYS IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME.

I THINK (IF) THE SOCIALISTS ... SEE THAT SESELJ IS GOING TO WIN ... THEY WILL IN THE FINAL RESULTS ANNOUNCE (THAT) LESS THAN 50-PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE VOTED ... AS THEY DID LAST TIME.

OTHER JOURNALISTS AND MANY POLITICAL ANALYSTS TAKE FOR GRANTED THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCHIEF IN VOTE COUNTING. MANY SUSPECT IRREGULARITIES IN THE LAST RUNOFF ELECTION, IN OCTOBER. A REPORT BY ELECTION MONITORS FROM THE "ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE" FOUND THIS ROUND OF SERBIAN VOTING -- LIKE EARLIER ONES -- TO BE "FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED." IN PARTICULAR, THE O-S-C-E SAID ELECTION DAY PROCEDURES LACKED SAFEGUARDS, MEDIA COVERAGE WAS ONE-SIDED, AND THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION WAS TOO POLITICIZED. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF
11-Dec-97 11:20 AM EST (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE GATHERING IN LUXEMBOURG FOR SUMMIT TALKS WHICH INCLUDE REVIEWING PLANS FOR ENLARGING THE 15-NATION BLOC -- INCLUDING NEW NATIONS FROM EASTERN EUROPE. THE LEADERS ALSO HOPE TO RESOLVE A DISPUTE OVER MANAGEMENT OF EUROPE'S PLANNED SINGLE CURRENCY, THE "EURO," DUE TO BE LAUNCHED IN JUST OVER A YEAR. DETAILS FROM JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE 15 E-U HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE STARTING NEGOTIATIONS EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH SIX COUNTRIES JUDGED TO BE THE BEST QUALIFIED FOR MEMBERSHIP. THESE ARE CYPRUS, POLAND, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA AND ESTONIA. HOWEVER, EFFORTS ARE ALSO BEING MADE TO REASSURE ROMANIA, BULGARIA, SLOVAKIA -- AND OTHER APPLICANT NATIONS WHICH HAVE FAILED TO GET ON THE SHORT LIST -- THAT THEY WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THE OVERALL PROCESS.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER SAYS THAT FAR FROM BEING LEFT BEHIND, ALL THESE COUNTRIES SEEKING E-U MEMBERSHIP WILL BE GIVEN HELP TO PREPARE. HE SAYS THESE COUNTRIES NEED TO PROCEED FURTHER WITH ECONOMIC REFORMS, THE STABILIZATION OF DEMOCRACY, AND WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS SAFEGUARDS.

PRESIDENT SANTER SAYS THE E-U HAS SET ASIDE 75-BILLION DOLLARS OF AID FOR ALL THE APPLICANT COUNTRIES. HE ADDS THAT THOSE COUNTRIES NOT AMONG THE NEXT GROUP TO WIN MEMBERSHIP WILL ACTUALLY GET MORE ASSISTANCE THAN THE FIRST SIX.

FINLAND AND SWEDEN ARE SEEKING EVEN MORE GENEROUS TREATMENT FOR ALL APPLICANTS. A COMPROMISE IS BEING WORKED OUT ON HOW TO INVOLVE AND CONSULT WITH THE COUNTRIES WHICH DO NOT YET QUALIFY FOR MEMBERSHIP, SO THEY ARE NOT MADE TO FEEL LIKE FAILURES.

E-U OFFICIALS SAY THE SIX NEW MEMBERS CAN JOIN WITHOUT A BIG INCREASE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET. THERE WILL HAVE TO BE REFORMS TO REGIONAL AID AND TO FARM SUPPORT -- BUT THESE REFORMS WERE TO BE ADDRESSED IN ANY EVENT. SPAIN, HOWEVER, IS EXPRESSING CAUTION ABOUT THE PLANNED REFORMS. IT LEADS A GROUP OF NATIONS WHICH ENJOYS THE MOST E-U SUBSIDIES IN QUESTIONING THE MEMBERSHIP OF NEW, POORER E-U COUNTRIES THAT COULD CLAIM MORE SUBSIDIES AT MADRID'S EXPENSE.

THE SUMMIT WILL ALSO HAVE TO RESOLVE A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE 11 COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO ADOPT THE SINGLE CURRENCY IN JANUARY 1999, AND THE REMAINING FOUR, WHICH WILL NOT BE THERE FROM THE START. BRITAIN, DENMARK, SWEDEN AND GREECE SAY THAT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT ADOPT THE NEW "EURO" CURRENCY WHEN IT IS FIRST INTRODUCED, THEY MUST NOT BE SIDELINED WHEN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DECISIONS ARE TAKEN.

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

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ALL CLOSED LOWER THURSDAY IN THE WAKE OF SHARP DECLINES ON FAR EAST MARKETS EARLIER IN THE DAY. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE DECLINES IN ASIA AND CONCERNS OVER EVEN BIGGER SELL-OFFS AHEAD FORCED EUROPEAN INVESTORS INTO A DECIDEDLY "BEARISH" (SELLING) MOOD. THE FRANKFURT AND LONDON MARKETS DECLINED BY ABOUT TWO PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE KEY STOCK INDEX LOST THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT IN VALUE THURSDAY.

THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX LOST ALMOST 104 POINTS AT THE CLOSE. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX POSTED A LOSS OF 95 POINTS. AND IN FRANKFURT, THE "DAX 30" INDEX SHED MORE THAN 87 POINTS AT THE END OF TRADING.

IN CURRENCIES, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN A HALF CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND MORE THAN TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK.

GOLD PRICES IN LONDON WERE VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED. THE CLOSING FIX PRICE WAS SET AT 283-DOLLARS-95 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/MMK
11-Dec-97 1:38 PM EST (1838 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ISLAM MEET (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (TEHRAN)

INTRO: CHIEFS OF STATE AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM MORE THAN 50 MUSLIM COUNTRIES ARE WRAPPING UP A THREE-DAY SUMMIT IN TEHRAN. DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN THE IRANIAN CAPITAL REPORTS ON WHAT ARE LIKELY TO BE THE MAIN POINTS OF THE SUMMIT'S FINAL COMMUNIQUE.

TEXT: THE TEHRAN DECLARATION WILL DOUBTLESS CONTAIN A RINGING AND REPEATED CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL. BUT WHAT WAS STILL NOT CLEAR AS THE SUMMIT WENT INTO ITS FINAL DAY WAS HOW THE COMMUNIQUE WILL ADDRESS THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.

FROM THE OUTSET, IRANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE ARGUED THAT THE U-S SPONSORED NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE ABANDONED BECAUSE -- IN THEIR VIEW -- THE PROCESS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LEGITIMATE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIANS TO RECOVER ALL OF PALESTINE, INCLUDING JERUSALEM.

MODERATE ARAB LEADERS ATTENDING THE TALKS AGREE ISRAEL IS TO BLAME FOR THE DEADLOCK IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT THEY SAY THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE PROCESS ITSELF SHOULD BE ABANDONED. AND THEY HAVE URGED THE SUMMIT TO REITERATE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS.

THE TEHRAN DECLARATION IS EXPECTED TO URGE ALL ISLAMIC NATIONS TO RECONSIDER ANY AGREEMENTS ON MILITARY COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL -- A REFERENCE TO TURKEY WHICH HAS CONCLUDED TWO SUCH ACCORDS WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST YEAR.

BUT TURKEY IS NOT MENTIONED BY NAME IN THE DRAFT OF THE RESOLUTION. AND TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMERIL WHO ATTENDED THE SUMMIT STRESSED THAT THE PACTS WITH ISRAEL POSE NO THREAT TO ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM COUNTRY.

TURKEY ALSO IS EXPECTED TO DRAW IMPLICIT CRITICISM IN THE SUMMIT DECLARATION FOR ITS REPEATED MILITARY INCURSIONS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN PURSUIT OF TURKISH KURD SEPARATISTS.

PRESIDENT DEMERIL LEFT TEHRAN BEFORE THE SUMMIT'S FINAL SESSION. BUT TURKISH OFFICIALS INSISTED HIS DEPARTURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THE FINAL STATEMENT.

THE SUMMIT IS EXPECTED TO REAFFIRM THE ISLAMIC WORLD'S SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. AND IT ALSO IS EXPECTED TO VOICE SYMPATHY AND CONCERN OVER THE PLIGHT OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

BUT IRAQ -- REPRESENTED HERE BY VICE PRESIDENT TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN -- HAS APPARENTLY FAILED IN A BID TO GAIN SUMMIT BACKING FOR ITS DEMAND FOR AN END TO U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

A RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY KUWAIT AND APPROVED AT PRELIMINARY TALKS SAYS IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH ALL THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN THE WAKE OF THE IRAQI INVASION OF KUWAIT, INCLUDING DEMANDS FOR THE RELEASE OF KUWAITI PRISONERS OF WAR AND COMPENSATION FOR KUWAIT'S ECONOMIC LOSSES AS A RESULT OF THE IRAQI OCCUPATION.

A FRESH APPEAL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN AFGHANISTAN ALSO IS EXPECTED TO EMERGE FROM THE SUMMIT, ALONG WITH MORE THAN 140 RESOLUTIONS COVERING ISSUES RANGING FROM REFUGEES IN THE MUSLIM WORLD TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND TERRORISM. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH/KL
11-Dec-97 5:01 AM EST (1001 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED DOWN TODAY (THURSDAY) NEARLY TWO PERCENT. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: CONCERNS ABOUT ASIAN ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND CORPORATE PROFITS DROVE STOCK PRICES LOWER FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT DAY. THE WIDELY FOLLOWED DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 130 POINTS AT 78-HUNDRED-49 WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 CLOSED DOWN 15 POINTS AT 955.

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS LED THE STOCK MARKETS DOWN AND THE NASDAQ MARKET, WHERE MANY OF THESE STOCKS ARE TRADED, WAS OFF MORE THAN TWO PERCENT.

ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THE CONTINUED FINANCIAL TURMOIL IN ASIA, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH KOREA, AND THE EXPECTED IMPACT OF A DOLLAR THAT KEEPS GETTING STRONGER AGAINST ASIAN CURRENCIES, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH KOREAN WON.

SOME AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE REPORTING LOWER THAN EXPECTED PROFITS AND OTHERS ARE WARNING WALL STREET ANALYSTS OF SLOWDOWNS AS A RESULT OF THE ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. WALL STREET INVESTORS DROVE PRICES OF THESE STOCKS SHARLY LOWER.

WALL STREET ECONOMISTS SAY INVESTORS ARE CONCERNED THAT A STRONGER DOLLAR WILL MAKE AMERICAN EXPORTS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ASIAN MARKETS AND DRIVE CORPORATE PROFITS EVEN LOWER.

KULICKE AND SOFFA, WHICH MAKES EQUIPMENT USED IN MANUFACTURING COMPUTER CHIPS, ANNOUNCED IT WOULD HAVE LOWER THAN EXPECTED PROFITS EARLY NEXT YEAR. THE FIRM SAYS THE KOREAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WILL CAUSE SOME DELIVERIES IN THAT COUNTRY TO BE POSTPONED. KULICKE AND SOFFA, WHICH IS TRADED ON THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE, LOST ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ITS VALUE IN A SINGLE DAY.

JAMES GRANT, AN INDEPENDENT ANALYST WHO PUBLISHES A RESPECTED FINANCIAL INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER, SAYS ONE REASON FOR THE PRICE SLIDE THIS WEEK IS THAT SOME INVESTORS IN THE AMERICAN STOCK MARKETS HAVE BEEN OVERLY OPTIMISTIC.

BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO OVERVALUED MARKETS, SPEAKING OF THE U-S. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CALAMITY TO TIP OVER A MARKET THAT IS PRICED FOR A PERFECT OUTCOME. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE TROUBLE IS.

BUT DESPITE THE HIGH VOLUME OF TRADES AND THE STRONG DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON PRICES, ANALYSTS SAY TRADING WAS ORDERLY AND THAT BARGAIN-HUNTERS KEPT PRICES FROM CLOSING LOWER. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/RRM
11-Dec-97 4:48 PM EST (2148 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO TWA FLIGHT 800, WHICH CRASHED OFF LONG ISLAND MORE THAN A YEAR AGO KILLING ALL ON BOARD, IS A POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPIC THIS THURSDAY. U-S PAPERS ARE ALSO GOING OVER THE RESULTS OF THE GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE IN JAPAN; AS WELL AS THE APPARENT EASING OF ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENT IN IRAN. AND THERE ARE COMMENTS ABOUT LIBYA'S MILITARY STRONGMAN; CHINESE DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG AT THE WHITE HOUSE; AND A CHANGE IN U-S NUCLEAR WAR PLANNING. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS __________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THIS WEEK'S GOVERNMENT HEARING INTO THE FATAL CRASH THAT TOOK 230 LIVES ABOARD THE TRANS WORLD AIRWAYS JETLINER IS DRAWING SUBSTANTIAL COMMENT. IN BALTIMORE, THE SITE OF THE MEETING, "THE SUN" COMMENTS:

VOICE: IMMEDIATELY AFTER TWA FLIGHT 800 EXPLODED OFF LONG ISLAND EN ROUTE TO PARIS IN JULY, 1996, THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT TERRORISM, AN INITIAL SUSPECT, MIGHT ULTIMATELY PROVE A LESS DISTURBING CAUSE THAN SOMETHING INVOLVING THE ENGINEERING OF THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF. THAT STATEMENT RINGS A LITTLE MORE TRUE NOW THAT INVESTIGATORS HAVE HOMED IN ON A POSSIBLE FLAW IN FUEL TANK DESIGN. THE FINDINGS WERE REVEALED IN HEARINGS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD THIS WEEK IN BALTIMORE..... THE HEARING ... HAS ATTRACTED NATIONAL MEDIA AND SCORES OF RELATIVES OF THE ... VICTIMS..... THE PUBLIC EVENT HAS HELPED ERODE SOME OF THE CYNICISM THAT HAD HEATED UP ... DURING THE LONG ... INVESTIGATION ... [AND IT] HAS ALSO BEEN VALUABLE PSYCHOLOGICALLY, OFFERING TO FAMILIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC MORE REASON FOR CONFIDENCE THAT A RESOLUTION IS BEING VIGOROUSLY PURSUED.

TEXT: "USA TODAY" WANTS THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO LESSEN FUEL-TANK DANGERS, WITHOUT WAITING TO REDESIGN THE AIRCRAFT.

VOICE: FOR FOUR DECADES, PLANE MANUFACTURERS AND THE FAA [FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION] WHICH REGULATES THEM, HAD INSISTED THAT THE FLAMMABILITY RISK OF FUEL FUMES, KNOWN TO BUILD UP IN EMPTY TANKS, WAS MINIMAL AS LONG [AS] NO SPARK WAS PRESENT TO IGNITE THEM. JETLINERS WERE DESIGNED ACCORDINGLY, ASSUMING THAT IF ALL IGNITION SOURCES WERE ELIMINATED, SAFETY WAS ASSURED. YET TWA 800'S FUEL TANK, LIKE THAT ON A 737 SEVEN YEARS AGO IN THE PHILIPPINES, EXPLODED FOR STILL UNEXPLAINED REASONS. A RE-EVALUATION, URGED BY THE NTSB [NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD] FORT A YEAR, CLEARLY IS OVERDUE.... NOW THAT THEY'VE RETHOUGHT THE NEED FOR ADDRESSING FUEL VAPOR DANGERS, A RETHINKING OF INTERIM STEPS SEEMS CRITICAL.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE NOW-COMPLETED GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE IN JAPAN, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS IT "PRODUCED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MULTINATIONAL AGREEMENT EVER ON THE WORLD'S ENVIRONMENT, BUT WHAT IT WILL MEAN IN THE END IS FAR FROM SETTLED." THE PAPER NOTES THE KEY POINTS.

VOICE: FIRST, NEARLY ALL NATIONS AT THE SUMMIT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS AT LEAST PARTLY CAUSED BY THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS..... AND SECOND, THE INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AGREED TO TARGET LEVELS FOR REDUCING FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS THAT ARE FAR STRICTER THAN THE UNITED STATES INITIALLY SOUGHT.... IT [THE TREATY] ISN'T FLAWLESS, BUT IT'S A STARTING POINT, AND A BETTER ONE THAN SOME OF THE CHICKEN LITTLES [ALARMISTS] WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" IS CONCERNED ABOUT A SUPPOSED IRRIGATION PIPELINE BEING BUILT BY WESTERN COMPANIES FOR 25-BILLION DOLLARS IN THE LIBYAN DESERT BY LIBYA'S DICTATOR, COLONEL MOAMAR GADDAFI.

VOICE: THE PIPELINE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CENTERPIECE OF AN IRRIGATION PROJECT, BUT AFTER A DECADE OF CONSTRUCTION, FOREIGN ENGINEERS WORKING ON THE PIPELINE SAY NONE OF THE ANCILLARY WORK SUITABLE FOR IRRIGATION HAS BEEN DONE.... MOREOVER, THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE MAIN PIPE IS MUCH LARGER THAN WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TRANSPORT WATER ... [BUT] COULD ACCOMMODATE MILITARY VEHICLES.... THE ELABORATE STORAGE AREAS IN THE TUNNEL SYSTEM COULD HIDE ARMAMENTS AND SHELTER TROOPS..... AS LONG AS WASHINGTON CANNOT COUNT ON ALLIED SOLIDARITY WITH ITS EMBARGO ON [COLONEL GADDAFI] OR ON A SENSE OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ... THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREEMPT THE COLONEL'S TUNNELING IN THE DESERT.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS COMMENTING ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE FROM THE REGION -- A "CONCILIATORY TONE AT [THE] ISLAMIC CONFERENCE" FROM IRAN'S NEW LEADER AYATOLLAH KHATAMI.

VOICE: THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE IN TEHRAN THIS WEEK HAS BROUGHT A HIGHLY VISIBLE END TO IRAN'S INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION AND AN APPARENT EASING OF ITS LONG ESTRANGEMENT FROM ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION. IT HAS ALSO, IF UNINTENTIONALLY, PUT ON DISPLAY THE WIDENING POLITICAL DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE DOGMATIC CLERICS WHO HAVE HELD THE REINS OF POWER SINCE THE REVOLUTION OF 1979 AND THEIR MORE PRAGMATIC RIVALS.... A WELCOME SMELL OF CHANGE IS IN THE AIR.

TEXT: CHINESE DISSIDENT WEI JINGSHENG, RECENTLY RELEASED FROM HIS COUNTRY'S JAIL FOR HEALTH REASONS, VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK. "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS OF THE VISIT:

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS RIGHT TO SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ... CHINESE DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE WEI JINGSHENG, DESPITE WARNINGS FROM THE CHINESE REGIME THAT SUCH A MEETING SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE.... IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT PEOPLE OF MR. WEI'S QUALITY COME THROUGH WASHINGTON, AND WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MR. CLINTON MUST HAVE PROFITED FROM THEIR 35-MINUTE CONVERSATION.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCES PULL OUT FROM HAITI AND WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THAT TROUBLED ISLAND, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THERE ARE SOME LIMITS ON "NATION-BUILDING."

VOICE: THE MILITARY MISSION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ITS CORE EFFORT TO GIVE HAITI A MORE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. IT REMOVED A THUGGISH DICTATORSHIP THAT KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR. .... THE CULTURE OF BRUTALITY REMAINS, HOWEVER.... HAITI SHOWS WHY OUTSIDERS SHOULD NOT COUNT ON RAPIDLY CHANGING A POLITICAL CULTURE DEFORMED BY CENTURIES OF DICTATORSHIP. [OPT] .... OUTSIDERS CANNOT BUILD A WORKING HAITI. THEY CAN, AND HAVE, ESTABLISHED A MORE SECURE AND FREE ATMOSPHERE, A NECESSARY PREREQUISITE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IS ALSO SALUTING A CHANGE IN THE NATION'S NUCLEAR WAR POLICY, THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND THE DIMINISHED THREAT FROM RUSSIAN NUCLEAR ARMS.

VOICE: ...... PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DECIDED SIMPLY TO DETER NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL ATTACK ON AMERICAN INTERESTS BY AIMING AT A SHORTER LIST OF TARGETS CENTERING ON THE COMMAND CENTERS AND NUCLEAR FORCES OF COUNTRIES DEEMED POSSIBLE THREATS. THE CHANGE MAKES SENSE.

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA AND THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION TESTIMONY AGAINST HER, ACCUSING HER OF MURDER, TORTURE, AND KIDNAPPING DURING HER ANTI-APARTHEID CAMPAIGN, FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: DESPITE THIS CHECKERED HISTORY, THE WOMEN KNOWN TO MANY BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS AS 'MOTHER OF THE NATION' RETAINS A STRONG FOLLOWING. SHE HAD BEEN SEEN AS A LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC), THE DOMINANT FORCE IN THE COUNTRY'S POLITICS. THAT PATH FOR HER AMBITIONS, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN BLOCKED. AFTER THE ... LARGELY NEGATIVE TESTIMONY ... THE ANC ... MADE IT CLEAR SHE WOULD GET NO FORMAL BACKING FOR THE POST. THIS IS A RELIEF TO THE PARTY, TO PRESIDENT MANDELA, AND TO THE COUNTRY ... [AND] ANOTHER SMALL STEP [TOWARD] ... BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE.

[END FOPT]

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
11-Dec-97 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / E-U (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: LEADERS OF EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES MEET FRIDAY IN LUXEMBOURG, WITH E-U EXPANSION ONE OF THE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED -- HOW TO DEAL WITH TURKEY WHICH FIRST APPLIED TO JOIN THE E-U IN 1987. IN ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN SPOKE TO SEVERAL TURKS FROM VARYING PROFESSIONS ABOUT THEIR VIEWS ON TURKEY'S BID FOR MEMBERSHIP.

TEXT: MOST TURKS SEEM TO VIEW THE OUTOCOME OF THE LUXEMBOURG MEETING AS A TURNING POINT IN TURKEY'S CANDIDACY FOR FULL E-U MEMBERSHIP.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WITH WHOM I TALKED SAY THEY BELIEVE TURKEY SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY WITH THE 11 OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE APPLIED FOR FULL E-U MEMBERSHIP AND WITH WHICH THE E-U HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE -- TO OPEN TALKS. MOST SAY THEY WANT TURKEY TO BE PART OF EUROPE.

THE E-U HAS SO FAR REFRAINED FROM COMMITTING ITSELF TO OPENING TALKS WITH TURKEY NEXT YEAR ALONG WITH THE 11 OTHER CANDIDATES -- EVEN THOUGH ANKARA FIRST APPLIED FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP TEN YEARS AGO.

ONE YOUNG TURKISH STUDENT, SERDAR, SAID HE AGREES WITH SOME OF THE E-U'S OBJECTIONS PERTAINING TO TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE FLAWS IN TURKEY'S DEMOCRACY.

SERDAR SAYS TURKISH PEOPLE NEED TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES AND IN HIS WORDS UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION. MUFIT, A HANDICAPPED MAN, WHO MAKES A LIVING SELLING UNICEF GREETING CARDS, FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR PARKED OUTSIDE A SHOPPING MALL, HAS A RATHER DIFFERENT APPROACH.

MUFIT SAID HE BELIEVES TURKEY SHOULD JOIN THE E-U BECAUSE IN HIS WORDS LIFE WOULD BE CHEAPER.

IN MANY WAY'S, MUFIT'S COMMENTS REFLECT WHAT SOME OBSERVERS DESCRIBE AS A LACK INFORMATION AMONG THE TURKISH PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT E-U MEMBERSHIP REALLY MEANS. THE MAJORITY SEEM TO VIEW E-U MEMBERSHIP AS THE FINAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FROM THE WEST THAT TURKEY -- DESPITE BEING MUSLIM -- IS ACCEPTED AS PART OF EUROPE.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM -- IN A RECENT ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE -- LINKED TURKEY'S RELIGIOUS IDENTITY TO THE E-U'S RELUCTANCE TO INCLUDE TURKEY, NATO'S ONLY MUSLIM MEMBER, IN ITS EXPANSION PLANS. HE ASKS -- IN THE ARTICLE -- IF THE FACT THAT TURKEY IS A MUSLIM NATION MIGHT BE THE UNDECLARED CAUSE OF WHAT HE TERMED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE COUNTRY.

A VETERAN TURKISH JOURNALIST, SEVA ULLMAN, SAYS SHE AGREES THAT EUROPE IS PREJUDICED AGAINST TURKEY.

THE REASON WHY EUROPE DOESN'T WANT TURKEY IS BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. WHEN IT COMES TO ELIGIBILITY TURKEY IS FAR MORE ADVANCED THAN MANY OF THE OTHER APPLICANTS IN TERMS OF DEMOCRACY AND IN TERMS OF ITS ECONOMY

SOME TURKS WHO OPPOSE TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP ALSO DO SO FOR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL REASONS. METIN, WHO MAKES A LIVING SELLING AMERICAN-MADE SNEAKERS, BASEBALL CAPS, AND SWEATSHIRTS TO TURKISH TEENAGERS, SAYS TURKEY SHOULD REMAIN TRUE TO ITS CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE.

METIN CONCLUDES THAT TURKEY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT EUROPE. BUT LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE INTERVIEWED, HE SAID HE BELIEVES THAT EUROPE CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
11-Dec-97 11:55 AM EST (1655 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / TURKEY (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS PUBLICLY CRITICIZING TURKEY IN THE WAKE OF A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH WARPLANES YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY). V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT ACCUSED TURKEY OF A PROVOCATION, FOR SENDING JETS INTO THE NORTHERN AEGEAN NEAR THESSALONIKI, WHERE THEY WERE MET BY GREEK FIGHTERS.

THOUGH NO SHOTS WERE FIRED, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE TURKISH FLIGHTS NEEDLESSLY HEIGHTEN TENSIONS BETWEEN TWO NATO ALLIES. HE CALLED ON TURKEY TO HALT THE SORTIES.

THESE FLIGHTS INTO THE NORTHWEST AEGEAN, EVEN IF THE PLANES REMAINED WITHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, WERE NEEDLESSLY PROVOCATIVE AND TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

EACH COUNTRY BLAMES THE OTHER FOR THE INCIDENT. THE GREEK DEFENSE MINISTRY CHARGES THE TURKISH PILOTS VIOLATED GREEK AIRSPACE, WHILE TURKEY SAYS THEY DID NOT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/MMK
11-Dec-97 3:11 PM EST (2011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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