Voice of America, 98-01-29

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CONTENTS

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S KURDISH MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S TURKISH MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[03] IRAQ US FRANCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[06] RUSSIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S KURDISH MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: GERMANY IS HOST TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST KURDISH POPULATION OUTSIDE KURDISTAN, THE TRADITIONAL KURDISH REGION OVERLAPPING THE BORDERS OF TURKEY, IRAQ, AND

TEXT: ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBERS OF KURDISH PEOPLE LIVING IN GERMANY VARY. GERMANS PLACE THE NUMBER OF KURDS AT ABOUT 500,000. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO MOHAMMED AMIN PENJWINI [PEN-JWEE-NEE], DIRECTOR OF THE KURDISH INSTITUTE IN BERLIN, THERE ARE ABOUT A MILLION KURDS NOW LIVING IN GERMANY. MR. PENJWINI IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE KURDISH PARLIAMENT-IN-EXILE AS WELL AS DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURE AND RESEARCH COMMUNITY IN THE PARLIAMENT. HE EXPLAINS THAT KURDISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO GERMANY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- PENJWINI (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE B: CUT ONE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:18) "KURDISH IMMIGRATION TO GERMANY STARTED AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR. ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, ESPECIALLY KURDS FROM TURKEY WENT TO GERMANY TO WORK. PEOPLE WERE OFFICIALLY SENT BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, AND MANY OF THOSE WHO CAME WERE KURDS. WE CAN SAY THAT 80 PERCENT OF GERMANY'S KURDS ARE FROM TURKEY."

TEXT: JOERG SCHOENBOHM [YURG SHERN-BOHM], SENATOR OF THE INTERIOR FOR THE STATE OF BERLIN, SAYS THERE WAS -- AND STILL IS -- CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION AMONG GERMAN OFFICIALS OVER THE ETHNIC BACKGROUND OF IMMIGRANTS FROM TURKEY. BOTH KURDS AND TURKS FIRST ARRIVED IN BERLIN IN THE '60'S AS "GASTARBEITER" [GAHST AR-BYE-TER], OR SO-CALLED "GUEST WORKERS." TAPE B: CUT TWO -- SCHOENBOHM (0:46) "IN THOSE DAYS WE DID NOT SEPARATE [DISTINGUISH] BETWEEN KURDS AND TURKS. ALTOGETHER WE HAVE 150,000 TURKS, OUT OF WHICH 50,000 CLAIM TO BE OF KURDISH ORIGIN. BUT, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TURKS AND THE KURDS WHICH WE SEE IN TURKEY IS NORMALLY NOT RELEVANT FOR BERLIN BECAUSE THEY LIVE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY [HERE]. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION P-K-K [KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY], WHICH IS A COMMUNIST ORGANIZATION OF KURDISH PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE SOME ACTIVISTS HERE AROUND BERLIN. BUT WE CAN COPE WITH THEM, AND WE CAN PREVENT RIOTS FROM OCCURRING BETWEEN KURDISH PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO THE P-K-K AND TURKS HERE."

TEXT: TODAY THE LARGEST KURDISH COMMUNITIES LIVE IN BERLIN, HANNOVER, AND COLOGNE. AFTER THE GULF WAR IN 1990, MANY MORE KURDS ARRIVED AS ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM IRAQ. THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE GERMANY HAS EUROPE'S MOST GENEROUS ASYLUM AND WELFARE BENEFITS. GERMANS LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THEIR COUNTRY HAS ACCEPTED MORE BOSNIAN REFUGEES AND MORE KURDS FROM TURKEY AND IRAQ THAN HAS THE REST OF THE EUROPEAN UNION COMBINED. BUT, IN RECENT MONTHS, THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS BEEN CRITICIZING THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT IT CALLS REPRESSIVE POLICIES THAT HAVE DRIVEN MANY KURDS FROM THEIR VILLAGES, SWELLING THE TIDE OF WOULD-BE IMMIGRANTS INTO WESTERN EUROPE. GERMANY'S INTERIOR MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER HAS VOWED TO PREVENT WHAT HE CALLS, QUOTE, "A CRIMINAL WAVE OF MIGRATION." HE SAYS THAT, IN 1997, 14,000 KURDS APPLIED FOR ASYLUM IN GERMANY, MORE THAN 10 TIMES THE NUMBER IN 1993. TURKEY'S INTERIOR MINISTER, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAYS THE KURDS' DEPARTURE IS MOTIVATED SOLELY BY ECONOMIC CONCERNS, NOT BECAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES..

MR. PENJWINI OF THE KURDISH INSTITUTE SAYS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR KURDISH IMMIGRANTS IS A LACK OF GERMAN LANGUAGE SKILLS. HE SAYS THAT MAKES FINDING JOBS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY IN AN ECONOMY BURDENED BY ITS OWN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. TAPE A: CUT TWO -- PENJWINI (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE UNDER) TAPE B: CUT THREE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:08) "UNEMPLOYMENT IS A BIG PROBLEM IN GERMANY IN GENERAL, AND OF COURSE, IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE FOREIGNERS, ESPECIALLY WITH OLDER PEOPLE."

TEXT: MR. PENJWINI SAYS KURDISH PEOPLE IN GERMANY FACE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. KURDISH WOMEN, IN PARTICULAR, HE SAYS, FEEL THE CLASH BETWEEN THEIR OWN CONSERVATIVE TRADITIONS AND THE RELATIVE FREEDOM OF GERMAN SOCIETY. TAPE A: CUT THREE -- PENJWINI (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE UNDER) TAPE B: CUT FOUR -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:48) "IN KURDISTAN MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE MUSLIM, AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KURDISH AND EUROPEAN SOCIETY. IN KURDISTAN PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT A PERSON CAN NORMALLY DO IN GERMANY. THE STANDARD OF LIVING, THE ECONOMIC LEVEL IN KURDISTAN IS VERY LOW. ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN IN KURDISTAN FACE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS, AND WHEN THEY COME TO A NEW SOCIETY LIKE GERMANY, THEY HAVE A BIG SHOCK. [OPT] AS AN EXAMPLE, WE CAN FIND A LOT OF KURDISH GIRLS WHO LIVE HERE IN GERMANY, AND THEY TRY TO LIVE LIKE THE OTHERS DO, BUT THEY FACE PROBLEMS. THEY'VE BEEN KILLED BY PARENTS OR BY RELATIVES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GERMAN GUY, ESPECIALLY. A BOYFRIEND AND A GIRLFRIEND, THESE THINGS ARE FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM." [END OPT]

TEXT: MR. PENJWINI SAYS KURDISH SCHOOL CHILDREN, HOWEVER, HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH THEIR GERMAN CLASSMATES, AND THEY MAKE FRIENDS EASILY. HE BELIEVES KURDISH IMMIGRANTS ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO BECOME INTEGRATED INTO GERMAN SOCIETY. EVEN GERMAN JOURNALISTS HAVE NOTED, HE SAYS, THAT KURDS GENERALLY ADJUST MORE QUICKLY TO THEIR HOST COUNTRY THAN DO OTHER IMMIGRANTS FROM NON-WESTERN NATIONS. TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- PENJWINI (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE UNDER) TAPE B: CUT FIVE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0: "MAYBE IT'S THE NATURE OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE. MAYBE THEY ACCEPT OTHER CULTURES MORE EASILY THAN OTHER IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD THEIR OWN COUNTRY. SO, WHEN THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN A NEW COUNTRY, THEY TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT NEW SOCIETY, AS A SORT OF REACTION TO NEVER HAVING HAD THEIR OWN COUNTRY."

TEXT: MOHAMMED AMIN PENJWINI OF THE KURDISH INSTITUTE SAYS ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE ETHNIC KURDS IN GERMANY NOW HAVE GERMAN CITIZENSHIP. AND, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO KURDISH REPRESENTATIVES IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT, THERE ARE KURDISH REPRESENTATIVES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND IN STATE PARLIAMENTS.
29-Jan-98 11:30 AM EST (1630 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S TURKISH MINORITY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER GERMANY SHOULD OFFER DUAL NATIONALITY TO CHILDREN BORN TO TURKISH AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS AND AN INCREASE IN NEO-NAZI ACTIVITIES HAVE FOCUSED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON GERMAN ATTITUDES TOWARD "FOREIGNERS." GERMANY PLAYS HOST TO A GREATER NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN EUROPE. MORE THAN 7 MILLION FOREIGNERS, OR 9 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, HAVE SETTLED IN GERMANY. AND, THEY HAVE BEGUN TO TRANSFORM THE COUNTRY INTO A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FOREIGNERS IN GERMANY ARE SO-CALLED "GUEST WORKERS" FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE AND

TEXT: AS SENATOR OF THE INTERIOR FOR THE STATE OF BERLIN, JOERG SCHOENBOHM [YURG SHERN-BOHM] IS REPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND FOR ALL LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING FOREIGNERS LIVING IN HIS CITY. HE SAYS BERLIN HAS TAKEN IN MORE FOREIGNERS, INCLUDING ASYLUM SEEKERS, THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN GERMANY. SENATOR SCHOENBOHM SAYS MOST OF THE "GUEST-WORKERS" FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE AND TURKEY TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN THE LABOR-HUNGRY FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- SCHOENBOHM (0:46) "THE MAJORITY OF THE TURKS CAME TO BERLIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE '60'S, AND IN THOSE DAYS WE DID NOT SEPARATE [DISTINGUISH] BETWEEN KURDS AND TURKS. ALTOGETHER WE HAVE 150,000 TURKS LIVING HERE, OUT OF WHICH 50,000 CLAIM TO BE OF KURDISH ORIGIN. TURKS LIVING HERE PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF BERLIN. THEY CAN FOLLOW THEIR ISLAMIC BELIEFS AND CAN OWN MOSQUES. EACH YEAR ROUGHLY 6,000 TO 7,000 TURKISH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED FOR QUITE A WHILE IN GERMANY ASK TO TAKE GERMAN NATIONALITY, AND WE GRANT IT. EACH YEAR WE HAVE IN BERLIN 11,000 TO 12,000 FOREIGNERS WHO GET GERMAN NATIONALITY."

TEXT: SENATOR SCHOENBOHM SAYS THE PEOPLE OF BERLIN HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF WELCOMING FOREIGNERS INTO THEIR MIDST. TAPE A: CUT TWO -- SCHOENBOHM (0:41) "THIS GOES BACK MORE THAN 200 YEARS TO THE TIMES OF THE FATHER OF FREDERICK THE GREAT [KING OF PRUSSIA]. AND SO, ALTOGETHER WE HAVE LIVING IN BERLIN 450,000 FOREIGNERS -- OUT OF WHICH WE HAVE 150,000 [TURKS]. AND THERE ARE SOME QUARTERS IN WHICH YOU HAVE A MAJORITY OF TURKISH PEOPLE. THEY HAVE TURKISH MARKETS. MANY OF THEM INTEGRATE THEMSELVES INTO GERMAN LIFE AND FACE NO PROBLEMS. BUT IN SOME AREAS OF CRIMINALITY AND DRUGS, THERE WE FACE A CHALLENGE, BUT IT IS MOSTLY RELATED TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GROWN UP HERE IN GERMANY AND WHO HAVE NOT LIVED FOR A LONG TIME HERE."

TEXT: THE SENATOR BELIEVES BERLINERS ARE VERY TOLERANT AND HAVE AVOIDED THE KINDS OF RIOTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN SOME OTHER GERMAN CITIES AND TOWNS. IN SOME GERMANY CITIES, SUCH AS COLOGNE AND FRANKFURT, TURKS ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY HALF OF ALL RESIDENTS. BUT, HE WARNS, ONE HAS TO BE CAREFUL, IN HIS WORDS, "NOT TO OVERLOAD THE SYSTEM," A REFERENCE TO THE HIGH COST OF PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

KENAN KOLAT [KEN-AN KOH-LAHT] HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE SITUATION OF TURKS IN GERMANY. MR. KOLAT IS SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE TURKISH UNION IN BERLIN-BRANDENBURG, AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION WITH 22 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, HE SAYS GERMANY'S 2.1 MILLION TURKISH PEOPLE FACE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS. TAPE B: CUT ONE -- KOLAT (ESTABLISH TURKISH FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT THREE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:24) "ONE IS THE EDUCATION PROBLEM, AND THE OTHER IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. FOR TURKISH YOUNG PEOPLE, 30 PERCENT LEAVE SCHOOL WITHOUT A DIPLOMA. FOR GERMAN YOUNG PEOPLE, IT IS 8 PERCENT. HERE WE SEE A DIFFERENCE. AND UNEMPLOYMENT FOR TURKISH PEOPLE IS ABOUT 30 PERCENT. AMONG GERMAN PEOPLE IT'S ABOUT 12 PERCENT. IT'S A GREAT PROBLEM. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DIPLOMA, YOU HAVE NO CHANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT."

TEXT: MS. KOLAT SAYS TURKS IN GERMANY -- WHETHER THEY'RE RECENT IMMIGRANTS OR THE CHILDREN OF FORMER GUESTWORKERS WHO'VE LIVED IN GERMANY ALL THEIR LIVES -- FACE DISCRIMINATION. TAPE B: CUT TWO -- KOLAT (ESTABLISH TURKISH FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:52) "IN FACT, GERMANS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ALL FOREIGNERS, NOT ONLY AGAINST TURKS. BASICALLY, THERE ARE TWO LEVELS OF DISCRIMINATORY OR ANTI-FOREIGNER ATTITUDES. FIRST, THERE ARE RACIST LAWS. SECOND, THERE ARE LATENT RACIST TRENDS. PEOPLE FEEL ANTI-FOREIGNER DISCRIMINATION IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. BUT, WE ARE NOT FOREIGNERS. WE ARE TURKS AMONG GERMAN PEOPLE. IF YOU GO TO A DISCO, YOU CANNOT ENTER. IF YOU HAVE BLACK HAIR, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. OR, IF YOU LOOK FOR A HOUSE. FOR EXAMPLE, MY WIFE IS HERE. SHE CAME TO BERLIN THREE YEARS AGO. SHE IS TURKISH. SHE CAN SPEAK VERY GOOD GERMAN. IF YOU DIDN'T SEE HER, YOU WOULD THINK SHE'S GERMAN. BUT IF YOU SEE HER, OKAY. WE TELEPHONED TO FIND A HOME, AND THE PERSON SAID, 'OKAY, YOU CAN COME. GIVE YOUR NAME.' AND SHE GAVE HER NAME. 'KOLAT' IS NOT GERMAN. SO THEN, WE ARE NOT GERMANS."

TEXT: KENAN KOLAT SAYS HIS WIFE, DILEK [DIL-LEK], HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THEIR DISTRICT PARLIAMENT IN BERLIN SINCE 1995. IN THE GERMAN BUNDESTAG, OR PARLIAMENT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE OF TURKISH ORIGIN. MR. KOLAT SAYS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TURKS HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED SINCE GERMAN UNIFICATION. [OPT] THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE TURKISH UNION SAYS THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF "FOREIGNERS" IN GERMANY. THE FIRST ARE TURKS LIKE HIMSELF AND OTHER MUSLIMS, WHO ARE OF DARK COMPLEXION AND VISIBLY DIFFERENT FROM THE MAJORITY POPULATION. HE SAYS THEY ARE REGARDED BY GERMANS AS "OUTSIDERS." THE SECOND GROUP OF FOREIGNERS, MR. KOLAT SAYS, ARE THOSE OF WESTERN ORIGIN, WHO ARE CHRISTIAN AND WHOSE APPEARANCE IS MORE SIMILAR TO THAT OF ETHNIC GERMANS. AND, THIS GROUP, MR. KOLAT BELIEVES, FACES FAR LESS DISCRIMINATION. IN FACT, CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S GOVERNING COALITION HAS INSISTED THAT GERMANY MUST PRESERVE ITS CHARACTER AS, QUOTE, "A BASTION OF CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION." [END OPT]

ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN ESSEN, MANY ETHNIC TURKS WHO GREW UP IN GERMANY RESENT THE SECOND-CLASS STATUS THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM EXERCIZING FULL POLITICAL RIGHTS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS. EVEN THOUGH THEY PAY HEAVY TAXES, THEY CANNOT VOTE, AND THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE CIVIL SERVICE OR UNIVERSITIES. GERMANY EXERCISES THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS AMONG WESTERN DEMOCRACIES. ALTHOUGH THE LAW GRANTS AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP TO THOSE OF GERMAN PARENTAGE, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR FOREIGNERS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO ACQUIRE A GERMAN PASSPORT, EVEN THEY WERE RAISED IN GERMANY.
29-Jan-98 11:30 AM EST (1630 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] IRAQ US FRANCE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (THURSDAY) AS TRADERS LIKED WHAT THEY HEARD FROM THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79-HUNDRED-73, UP 57 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 985, UP EIGHT POINTS.

IT WAS THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY OF STRONGLY RISING STOCK PRICES, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME APPARENT PROFIT-TAKING LATE IN THE SESSION. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAD BEEN UP MORE THAN 80 POINTS AT MIDDAY.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY REMARKS FROM ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. IN TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS, MR. GREENSPAN INDICATED THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS WILL PROBABLY COOL THE U-S ECONOMY AND KEEP THE NATION'S INFLATION RATE UNDER CONTROL. WALL STREET TRADERS INTERPRETED HIS COMMENTS TO MEAN THE CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS WERE MIXED. THE ELI LILLY DRUG COMPANY ENJOYED A 23 PERCENT JUMP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS, FUELED LARGELY BY STRONG SALES OF ITS ANTI-DEPRESSANT DRUG PROZAC. BUT THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY SAID ITS PROFITS DROPPED IN THE LATEST QUARTER AS THE STRONG DOLLAR HURT EARNINGS IN SOME INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.

TOBACCO INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS, URGING APPROVAL OF A PROPOSED 368-BILLION-DOLLAR SETTLEMENT THAT WOULD GRANT THE TOBACCO COMPANIES' PARTIAL IMMUNITY FROM LAWSUITS. ONE OF THE EXECUTIVES, STEVEN GOLDSTONE, CHAIRMAN OF THE R-J-R NABISCO COMPANY, CONCEDED THERE ARE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CIGARETTE SMOKING.

THE AIR TOUCH COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WILL PAY ALMOST SIX-BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CELLULAR TELEPHONE BUSINESSES OF THE U-S WEST CORPORATION. WITH THAT ACQUISITION, AIR TOUCH WILL BECOME THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST CELLULAR COMPANY BEHIND A-T-AND-T.

ANALYSTS SAY SOUTH KOREA'S DEBT RESTRUCTURING DEAL WITH INTERNATIONAL BANKS MAY PROVIDE A MODEL FOR SIMILAR DEALS FOR OTHER FINANCIALLY-TROUBLED ASIAN NATIONS. UNDER THE DEAL 24-BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF SOUTH KOREA'S SHORT-TERM DEBT WILL BE CONVERTED TO LONGER TERM LOANS OF UP TO THREE YEARS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
29-Jan-98 4:51 PM EST (2151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: POLITICAL TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND MOVE BACK TO BELFAST NEXT WEEK AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NEGOTIATIONS IN LONDON. IN THIS REPORT FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT WHAT WAS ACHIEVED DURING THE THREE DAYS OF LONDON TALKS.

TEXT: MOVING THE TALKS TO LONDON WAS ESSENTIALLY A SYMBOLIC GESTURE. IT WAS MEANT TO UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT GIVES TO THE WHOLE POLITICAL PROCESS.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, THE PARTICIPANTS HAD TO RESOLVE A KEY ISSUE -- WHETHER TO EXPEL FROM THE TALKS REPRESENTATIVES OF A PRO-BRITISH PARAMILITARY GROUP KNOWN AS "THE ULSTER FREEDOM FIGHTERS," OR U-F-F. THE GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLING OF AT LEAST THREE CATHOLICS DURING THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

FACED WITH GROWING PRESSURE FROM VARIOUS PARTIES, POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U-F-F DECIDED TO WITHDRAW RATHER THAN BE EXPELLED. JOHN ALDERDICE -- THE LEADER OF THE NON-SECTARIAN "ALLIANCE PARTY" -- SAYS THE UNITED FRONT SHOWN BY THE VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT VIOLENCE AND POLITICS DO NOT MIX.

JUST THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN THIS DEGREE OF DISCIPLINE EXERCISED. A PARTY IN THE TALKS WHOSE PARAMILITARY WING WAS ON A RAMPAGE, KILLING PEOPLE. THE SIGNAL WOULD THEN HAVE GONE OUT TO THE OTHER LOYALIST PARTY AND ITS PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION AND INDEED TO "SINN FEIN" AND THE I-R-A THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULDN'T EMBARK AGAIN ON A TERRORIST CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THAT WOULD NOT STOP THEM PARTICIPATING IN THE TALKS.

AFTER DISPOSING OF THAT CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, THE NEGOTIATORS CONTINUED TO ADDRESS KEY QUESTIONS SURROUNDING AN OVERALL POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE BRITISH PROVINCE -- SUCH AS WHAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC. MR. ALDERDICE AGREES WITH THE IRISH AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS THAT PROGRESS WAS MADE DURING THE TALKS AT LONDON'S "LANCASTER HOUSE".

ALL THE PARTIES ARE NOW ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS IN A WAY THAT I THINK WAS PROBABLY NOT THE CASE BEFORE WE CAME TO "LANCASTER HOUSE." I WOULD BE VERY HESITANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TURNED THE CORNER, BUT I THINK WE HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD THIS WEEK. THIS IS NO LONGER PRE-NEGOTIATIONS, THIS IS ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS. ALL THE PARTIES ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AND I DO NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE JUST THERE, THEY ARE ENGAGED -- THEY ARE WORKING, THINKING, RESPONDING, PRODUCING ANSWERS, AND TRYING TO TOUGH IT OUT WITH EACH OTHER.

MR. ALDERDICE REPEATED HIS VIEW THAT A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY THE MAY DEADLINE SET BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

IN A MOVE SEEN AS A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ANNOUNCED A NEW INQUIRY INTO ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS EPISODES OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S RECENT HISTORY KNOWN AS "BLOODY SUNDAY." ON JANUARY 30TH 1972, 14 NATIONALISTS WERE KILLED BY BRITISH SOLDIERS DURING A CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH IN LONDONDERRY -- NORTHERN IRELAND'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

THE SOLDIERS SAID THEY RESPONDED AFTER BEING SHOT AT. BUT MARCHERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THE SOLDIERS FIRED FIRST. AN INQUIRY AT THE TIME SUPPORTED THE VIEW OF THE BRITISH ARMY -- AN INQUIRY CONSIDERED BY MANY NATIONALISTS TO BE A WHITEWASH. FOR YEARS, RELATIVES OF THOSE KILLED AND THE IRISH GOVERNMENT HAVE CALLED ON LONDON FOR A FRESH INQUIRY. IN ANNOUNCING SUCH A MOVE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MR. BLAIR SAID THE NEW INVESTIGATION WILL TRY TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH -- SO FAR AS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED AT 26 YEARS DISTANCE.

THIS WILL NOT BE EASY AND WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE THAT THERE WERE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND AT THAT TIME. "BLOODY SUNDAY" WAS A TRAGIC DAY FOR ALL CONCERNED. WE MUST ALL WISH IT NEVER HAPPENED. OUR CONCERN NOW IS SIMPLY TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH AND TO CLOSE THIS PAINFUL CHAPTER ONCE AND FOR ALL.

THE NEW INQUIRY WILL BE COMPOSED OF THREE SENIOR JUDGES. THE PANEL WILL BE HEADED BY A BRITISH MAGISTRATE WITH THE TWO OTHER MEMBERS COMING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH
29-Jan-98 12:25 PM EST (1725 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] RUSSIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV AGAIN HAS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF A GERMAN-DANISH-POLISH ARMY UNIT ON POLISH TERRITORY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING IN BONN REPORTS THE RUSSIAN OFFICIAL MADE THE COMMENTS ON THE SECOND DAY OF A VISIT TO GERMANY.

TEXT: MR. SERGEYEV USED HIS SECOND DAY IN GERMANY TO VISIT THE NATO HEADQUARTERS AT RENDSBURG WHERE THE NUCLEUS OF A GERMAN-DANISH-POLISH ARMY CORPS IS NOW BASED.

THE VISIT WAS INTENDED TO REASSURE RUSSIA THAT ITS SECURITY INTERESTS WILL NOT BE THREATENED BY PLANS TO MOVE THE CORPS TO POLAND SOME TIME IN 1999 AFTER POLAND IS ADMITTED TO NATO.

BUT MR. SERGEYEV AGAIN EXPRESSED UNEASE AT THE PLAN, SAYING HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE SENSE OF STATIONING NATO TROOPS IN POLAND, CLOSER TO THE RUSSIAN BORDER. WEDNESDAY, AFTER TALKS WITH GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE, MR. SERGEYEV SAID CALLED THE PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT A MOVE TOWARD THE RUSSIAN BORDER WITH GUNS IN HAND.

MR. SERGEYEV HAS ALSO USED HIS VISIT TO GERMANY TO STRESS RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE TO GET IRAQ TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO VISIT SO-CALLED SENSITIVE SITES.

DURING TALKS (THURSDAY) WITH GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL, HE AGAIN SAID EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO RESOLVE THE STAND-OFF WITH DIPLOMACY. WEDNESDAY, MR. SERGEYEV CALLED THE CRISIS ABOUT IRAQI WEAPONS INSPECTIONS THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS ISSUE AT THE MOMENT. MEANWHILE, GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATION'S WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM WILL VISIT BONN FRIDAY FOR TALKS WITH GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTER ABOUT THE STAND-OFF.

OFFICIALS SAY THE VISIT IS AIMED AT HELPING THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT FORM AN OPINION ABOUT IRAQ'S POLICY OF OBSTRUCTING THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH
29-Jan-98 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH COMES IN FOR MORE ATTENTION TODAY, IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS, WHICH ALSO FEATURE COMMENTARIES ON THE SCANDAL INVOLVING AN ALLEGED AFFAIR BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND A WHITE HOUSE INTERN, AND HIS ALLEGED ATTEMPTS TO HAVE HER LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH. OTHER TOPICS BEING DEALT WITH INCLUDE THE THREAT OF SADDAM HUSSEIN; A CONTROVERSY OVER THE VIETNAM WAR'S UNKNOWN SOLDIERS AND THE JAPANESE FINANCIAL SCANDAL. JOINING US IN THE STUDIO NOW IS __________________FOR A CLOSER LOOK WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FOR A SENSE OF HOW THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE PLAYED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WE TURN TO THIS EDITORIAL IN "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" WHICH SAYS IT WAS "A FEW ANSWERS SHORT."

VOICE: THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS ... WAS VINTAGE BILL CLINTON -- A STIRRING PRESENTATION THAT INVITED AMERICANS TO REVEL IN THEIR ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND TO AIM EVEN HIGHER. THE PRESIDENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE AS IT CAME AMID GREAT PERSONAL PRESSURE BROUGHT ON BY THE SCANDAL THAT SWIRLS AROUND HIM. ..... [THE] ADDRESS WAS IMPRESSIVE TO BE SURE, BUT SOME PROPOSALS SEEM POORLY TIMED AND LACKING IN SUBSTANCE.

TEXT: TO THE NORTH, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ORATORY: "[MR.] CLINTON'S CLEAR MESSAGE, CLOUDED," ADDING:

VOICE: THE STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE ... WAS A MARVEL OF CLINTONIAN ORATORY: NO OTHER MODERN PRESIDENT COULD HOLD THE NATION';S ATTENTION FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR WITH WHAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A PASSTICHE OF POLICY TALK, MAKING MOST OF HIS INITIATIVES SOUND BOTH REASONABLE AND RIGHT, BY TURNS MASSAGING AND CAJOLING CONGRESS, CALLING CITIZENS TOWARD GOALS OF RACIAL TOLERANCE, EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND SOCIAL HARMONY..... IT FELT AND SOUNDED VERY MUCH LIKE LEADERSHIP ..... YET IT WAS ONLY ONE SPEECH. [PRESIDENT] CLINTON STILL NEEDS TO SHORE UP HIS ASSERTION THAT HE HAD NO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. WHILE THAT ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED, HIS CAPACITY TO LEAD REMAINS UNDERMINED.

TEXT: FARTHER NORTH, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS OF THE SPEECH "THE NATION'S BUSINESS GOES BEYOND SCANDAL."

VOICE: WHAT WAS SO REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS SPEECH WAS ITS UNREMARKABLE QUALITY. IT WAS AS GOOD AS ANY THE PRESIDENT HAS DELIVERED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION IS IMPERILED BY EXPLOSIVE CHARGES OF MISCONDUCT. ..... [MR.] CLINTON'S ... ADDRESS, HOWEVER, FORCED THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO TAKE TIME OUT FROM THE SCANDAL AND FOCUS, IF ONLY FOR AN HOUR AND 12 MINUTES, ON IMPORTANT ISSUES CONFRONTING THE NATION. [MR.] CLINTON DID A MASTERFUL JOB EXPLAINING HIS VISION FOR AMERICA.

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE SPEECH, IN THE MIDST OF TRAVAIL, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" CALLED IT "BUOYANT," ADDING:

VOICE: IT WAS A STRANGE, AMAZING NIGHT. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON -- DOGGED [FOLLOWED] FOR DAYS BY SERIOUS BUT UNPROVEN ALLEGATIONS -- STRODE INTO THE HOUSE CHAMBER, TOUTED AMERICA'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND CHALLENGED THE NATION TO BUILD ON THEM. HERE WAS AN APPEALING AGENDA DELIVERED IN A COMMANDING MANNER. YET EVEN AS THE APPLAUSE LINES AND BALCONY BOWS FLEW BY, LISTENERS COULD NOT HELP WONDERING WHETHER MR. CLINTON CAN HOLD ON TO ENOUGH POLITICAL SUPPORT TO MAKE CONGRESS PASS MUCH OF IT. INDEED, AS THIS STERLING STATE OF THE UNION SWEPT ALONG ... THE UNDERLYING QUESTION NAGGED: WOULD THIS ADDRESS BE HIS LAST?

TEXT: BACK IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" REMEMBERS THE PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING LAST YEAR'S ADDRESS.

VOICE: LAST YEAR, YOU'LL RECALL, MR. CLINTON'S FIFTH STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE WAS A SPLIT-SCREEN PRESENTATION. EVEN AS HE SPOKE, THE JURY IN O-J SIMPSON'S CIVIL TRIAL WAS RETURNING ITS VERDICT. THIS TIME - - THE JURY ON MR. CLINTON'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCT RIGHTLY BEING STILL OUT - - THE SCREEN WAS FIGURATIVELY SPLIT BECAUSE POLLS SAY THAT HIS PERSONA IS SPLIT. AMERICANS ADMIRE HIS LEADERSHIP EVEN AS THEY DISAPPROVE OF HIS ALLEGED WOMANIZING - - INCLUDING, THIS TIME, AN UNPROVEN AFFAIR WITH A 21-YEAR-OLD WHITE HOUSE INTERN, MONICA LEWINSKY, AND A POSSIBLE COVER-UP -- A CRIME. ...... HISTORIAN JAMES MCGREGOR BURNS SAID AFTERWARD THAT THIS STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE MIGHT PROVE TO BE MR. CLINTON'S LAST -- OR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW STAGE OF HIS PRESIDENCY. WHO KNOWS WHERE ALL THIS WILL LEAD? ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HOPE THAT WE KNOW AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THE DETAILS -- AND THE CONSEQUENCES -- OF THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MR. CLINTON.

TEXT: DURING HIS SPEECH, THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT ANY BUDGET SURPLUS, AND ONE IS NOW ANTICIPATED, SHOULD GO EXCLUSIVELY TO PROTECTING THE FINANCIALLY AILING SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS THAT "CENTERPIECE" OF HIS SPEECH MAY BE POSSIBLE AND MAY WIN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT.

VOICE: ..... ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MR. CLINTON COULD WIN HIS ARGUMENT. HE WANTS TO DEDICATE ALL BUDGET SURPLUSES -- PROJECTED AT 200-BILLION DOLLARS OVER FIVE YEARS ... TO BUILDING UP SOCIAL SECURITY RESERVES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE 76 MILLION BABY BOOMERS WHO START RETIRING IN ANOTHER DECADE. THAT'S FAR PREFERABLE TO REPUBLICANS' CALL FOR MORE TAX CUTS -- THE SUREST WAY TO RESURRECT DEFICITS.

TEXT: LASTLY ON THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS SOME THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE PRESIDENT IS ABLE TO SEPARATE HIS CURRENT PERSONAL PROBLEMS FROM THE AFFAIRS OF STATE, AND "THE POST" WONDERS IF THE SEPARATION IS ENTIRELY A GOOD THING.

VOICE: THE PROFESSED ASTONISHMENT .... ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO ...'COMPARTMENTALIZE' THE PROBLEMS FACING HIM ..... HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT HE COULD CARRY OUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES SO SMOOTHLY -- IN THIS CASE, DELIVER THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -- EVEN WHILE BESIEGED BY THE SCANDAL OVER HIS ALLEGED PERSONAL MISCONDUCT. THE IMPLICATION WAS THAT THE TWO -- THE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES AND THE NEED TO DEFEND HIMSELF -- WERE SOMEHOW SEPARATE. BUT THEY AREN'T. THE LINE BETWEEN THEM IS BLURRED -- AND THAT IN A WAY IS THE REAL PROBLEM. THE CONTINUING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES HAS BECOME, FOR NOW, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT IN THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE. ..... BUT IT IS NOT TRUE THAT NO ONE CAN EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO SAY ANYTHING MORE PUBLICLY. HE OWES A FULL ACCOUNTING THAT HE ALONE CAN GIVE, AND THAT HE HAS THUS FAR CONSPICUOUSLY FAILED TO GIVE -- NOT EVEN BEGUN TO. WE'VE SAID BEFORE, WE HAVE NO IDEA OF THE TRUTH OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. BUT IT DOES NOT DISPOSE OF THEM SIMPLY TO ASSERT THAT THEY ARE FALSE, OR EVEN THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEDDLING AND MAGNIFYING THEM ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

TEXT: IN RELATED COMMENTARIES, REGARDING HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S SPIRITED DEFENSE OF HER HUSBAND ON TELEVISION THIS WEEK, "USA TODAY" HAS SOME CONCERNS FOR HER EXPLANATION.

VOICE: TO HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, THE CHARGES AGAINST HER HUSBAND LOOK LIKE A 'VAST RIGHTWING CONSPIRACY.' AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY SHE'D FEEL UNDER SIEGE. KENNETH STARR, JERRY FALWELL, AND THE ASSORTED SENATORS, JUDGES, WRITERS, PUBLISHERS, TALK-SHOW HOSTS AND POLITICAL OPERATIVES SEEN AS GUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY MAY NEVER HAVE MET SECRETLY IN REMOTE HOTELS TO PLOT THE PRESIDENT'S DEMISE. BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO. MANY OF THEM MAKE NO SECRET THAT THEY ARE EAGERLY PURSUING THE GOAL OF A CLINTON-FREE WHITE HOUSE. THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH DOES THAT REALLY MATTER. .... BUT EVEN [MR.] STARR'S INVESTIGATION WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE IF THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ARE FALSE. IN THE END - - CONSPIRACY OF NOT, ENEMIES OR NOT - - NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. THE FIRST LADY MAY BE GUILTY OF OVERSTATEMENT, BUT AS THE FOLK SAYING HAS IT, EVEN THE PARANOID CAN HAVE REAL ENEMIES.

TEXT: BY COINCIDENCE -- SOME WOULD SAY UNFORTUNATE COINCIDENCE THERE IS A POPULAR MOVIE OUT CALLED "WAG THE DOG" ABOUT A FICTIONAL U-S PRESIDENT WHO SEXUALLY FONDLES A GIRL SCOUT AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THEN HE STARTS A FICTIONAL WAR WITH ALBANIA, PRODUCED IN HOLLYWOOD, TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER THE SEXUAL INCIDENT.

MANY PAPERS HAVE BEEN MAKING UNFLATTERING COMPARISONS WITH THE REAL-LIFE SITUATION INVOLVING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND A POSSIBLE ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ. THE LATEST IS "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

VOICE: DOES THIS SEEM FAMILIAR? IT SHOULDN'T GRANTED, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IS CURRENTLY EMBROILED IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER, AND THE UNITED STATES IS INDEED EYEBALL TO EYEBALL [IN A MENACING POSITION] WITH IRAQ. BUT THAT CONFRONTATION HAS BEEN BREWING FOR SEVEN YEARS -- LONG BEFORE [MR.] CLINTON CAME TO THE PRESIDENCY. INDEED, NEWSDAY HAS LONG ARGUED THAT THE UNITED STATES MUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE STRONG MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. .... CINEMATIC SATIRE IS FINE. BUT 'WAG' GOES TOO FAR, DEPICTING WASHINGTON POLS NOT ONLY AS PHILANDERERS BUT, ULTIMATELY, AS MURDERERS. .... 'WAG' IS A DISHONEST MOVIE THAT BRINGS DISCREDIT NOT ON THOSE IT PURPORTS TO PORTRAY, BUT ON THOSE WHO MADE IT.

TEXT: IN PORTLAND, OREGON, "THE OREGONIAN" SAYS SPEAKING OF IRAQ THAT "SADDAM HUSSEIN SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION," ADDING:

VOICE: .... THE ISSUE IS, AS IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE PERSIAN GULF WAR ENDED, ABOUT DESTROYING SADDAM'S ABILITY TO DIRECT NERVE GAS, DEADLY DISEASE AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST HIS ENEMIES. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT INSTEAD OF COMPLYING WITH THE AGREEMENT TO DESTROY THOSE WEAPONS AND ALLOW INSPECTIONS, IRAQ HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY CONCEALING WEAPON AND ITS ABILITY TO MAKE MORE. ..... THE TIME HAS COME TO FORCE SADDAM TO COMPLY; FORCE MAY BE THE ONLY REASONING HE UNDERSTANDS. ..... CERTAINLY THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T WANT TO BE CAST IN THE ROLE OF REGIONAL BULLY, WITH ALL THE FALLOUT THAT COULD CAUSE IN RELATIONS WITH OTHER ARAB NATIONS. BUT NEITHER CAN IT STAND ASIDE AND ALLOW SADDAM -- THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DEVASTATION TO KUWAIT -- TO REBUILD WITH IMPUNITY THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT THE WORLD HAS DECIDED HE IS TOO IRRESPONSIBLE TO POSSESS.

TEXT: TO THAT ADDS "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES IS MOVING TOWARD A MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ. SOME 30 U-S WARSHIPS, LOADED WITH BOMBERS AND MISSILES, ARE STEAMING IN OR NEAR THE PERSIAN GULF. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN ARE BEING DISPATCHED TO EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST TO DRUM UP SUPPORT, OR AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING, AMONG ALLIES. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KENNETH BACON CITED 'AN INCREASING FEELING THAT THE DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS HAVE EXHAUSTED THEMSELVES.' ..... SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE PAST, AND THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE HE WOULD REFRAIN IN THE FUTURE. HE HAS ENOUGH DEADLY ANTHRAX VIRUS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL ARMS TO 'BLOW AWAY TEL AVIV,' [AMBASSADOR RICHARD BUTLER, THE CHIEF U-N ARMS INSPECTOR] HAS SAID, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF CREDIBLE INSPECTIONS HE IS PRODUCING MORE DAY BY DAY. UNDOUBTEDLY, THE STATUS QUO IS UNTENABLE.

TEXT: TURNING TO A NEW DOMESTIC CONTROVERSY, REGARDING THE POSSIBLE KNOWN IDENTITY OF THE OFFICIAL "UNKNOWN" SOLDIER OF THE VIETNAM WAR BURIED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" COMMENTS.

VOICE: ON MEMORIAL DAY IN 1984, THE REMAINS OF A SERVICEMAN WHO DIED IN VIETNAM WERE LAID TO REST WITH HERO'S HONORS AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS IN ARLINGTON CEMETERY. ..... 14 YEARS LATER, THE ADVANCES OF SCIENCE AND THE PAIN OF A FAMILY SEEKING CLOSURE SUPERSEDE THE SANCTITY OF THE GRAVE. RELATIVES OF LIEUTENANT MICHAEL BLASSIE OF ST. LOUIS, WHO WAS SHOT DOWN OVER AN LOC IN MAY 1972, HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR SON AND BROTHER WAS BURIED AS THAT UNKNOWN. THE PENTAGON IS SEARCHING RECORDS TO VERIFY THE CLAIM AND IS ALSO WRESTLING WITH THE PROTOCOL OF OPENING A GRAVE. ..... THIS IS A DELICATE MATTER, BUT ONE THAT MUST PUT THE BLASSIE FAMILY FIRST. .....SURELY THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PUT A LOVED ONE TO REST, EVEN AS A NATION CRADLES ITS UNKNOWN WARRIORS.

TEXT: THERE'S BEEN A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN JAPAN'S ON-GOING ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE FINANCE MINISTER HAS RESIGNED, AMID REPORTS THAT HIS POWERFUL GOVERNMENT AGENCY GAVE WARNINGS TO BANKS THAT WERE ABOUT TO BE INSPECTED. TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS IT IS A CASE OF DEJA VU.

VOICE: AN UNFOLDING SCANDAL ONCE AGAIN PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON THE ENDURING COZINESS OF JAPANESE BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT. WHEN IT COMES TO BANKING, THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. TOKYO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON [CONTROL] ITS WOBBLY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, AND THE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION IS A SYMBOL OF THE PROBLEM BUT OFFERS NO CURE. ..... IF JAPAN, KNOWN FOR THE DISCIPLINE THAT CREATED THE WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST ECONOMY, CANNOT GET MOVING, THIS GOVERNMENT AND THOSE THAT PRECEDED IT IN RECENT YEARS -- ALL LED BY THE LONG-RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- SHOULD BEAR THE BLAME AND THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

TEXT: TURNING TO A LONG-FESTERING TROUBLE SPOT IN SOUTHERN EUROPE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS HEARTENED BY WHAT IT SEES AS "SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN BOSNIA."

VOICE: THE PESSIMISTS ABOUT BOSNIA HAVE ALWAYS FOUND PLENTY OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE IN THE SERB REPUBLIC. WHILE SUPPOSEDLY A PART OF BOSNIA, THIS ENCLAVE OF BOSNIAN SERBS HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY FOLLOWERS OF RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE VIRULENT NATIONALIST WHO HAS LONG THWARTED ANY CHANCE OF A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIAN STATE. BUT THAT MAY BE CHANGING. EARLIER THIS MONTH A NEWLY ELECTED SERB PARLIAMENT CHOSE AS PRIME MINISTER A MODERATE 38-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS FORMED A COALITION WITH MUSLIMS. WHILE THE NEW LEADER, MILORAD DODIK, HAS A PRECARIOUS HOLD ON POWER AND FACES GREAT OBSTACLES, HIS ELECTION SUGGESTS THAT LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA IS MORE POSSIBLE THAN IT SEEMED A YEAR AGO. ..... MR. DODIK'S RISE MAY ALLOW SERBS SICK OF CONFLICT AND ISOLATION TO SPEAK UP WITHOUT FEAR.

TEXT: ON THAT CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SUMMARY OF SOME EDITORIALS GLEANED FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
29-Jan-98 12:09 PM EST (1709 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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