Voice of America, 98-01-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] BRITAIN / U-S / IRAQ O'NITER (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] BUTLER / IRAQ / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] HOLBROOKE/CONFLICT BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[06] HUNGARY/YUGOSLAVIA/OIL (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

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

[08] UNHCR/BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[01] BRITAIN / U-S / IRAQ O'NITER (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS IN LONDON FOR TALKS (SATURDAY) WITH HER BRITISH COUNTERPART, ROBIN COOK, ON THE CONTINUING CRISIS SURROUNDING U-S WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS IN IRAQ. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS TO BRIEF MR. COOK ON HER MADRID MEETING WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENI PRIMAKOV.

DURING HER EUROPEAN TOUR -- WHICH HAS TAKEN HER TO PARIS, MADRID AND NOW LONDON -- THE U-S SECRETARY OF STATE IS DISCUSSING WAYS TO PERSUADE IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ACCESS TO ALL SITES, INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL PALACES.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH RADIO, FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER DEREK FATCHETT SAID SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS.

WE HAVE GOT TO ACHIEVE THAT OBJECTIVE AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO THAT IS BY USING ALL THE DIPLOMATIC MEANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. AND WE HAVE TO SAY TO SADDAM HUSSEIN THAT AS PART OF THOSE DIPLOMATIC MEANS, WE ARE DETERMINED -- AND WE DO NOT RULE OUT -- ANY OPTION, INCLUDING THE MILITARY OPTION.

BRITAIN IS WASHINGTON'S STAUNCHEST ALLY IN CALLING FOR MILITARY ACTION -- IF NEED BE -- TO FORCE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO COMPLY. (SIGNED)
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30-Jan-98 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BUTLER / IRAQ / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, RICHARD BUTLER, SAYS THE CRISIS IN IRAQ CAN BE RESOLVED QUICKLY, IF IRAQ WILL SIMPLY COOPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. MR. BUTLER MADE THE COMMENTS IN BONN, AFTER A BRIEF MEETING WITH GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. BUTLER SAID HE IS STILL MYSTIFIED BY IRAQ'S DECISION TO STOP COOPERATING WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS. HE SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE HAD TO BE A CRISIS OVER THE ISSUE.

THERE IS A VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION AVAILABLE, IT'S THE ONE THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE, AND THAT IS THAT IRAQ SHOULD OFFER TO THE COMMISSION THE COOPERATION THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS ASKED OF IT.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL AGAIN SAID THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS DIPLOMATICALLY. BUT HE ADDED THE USE OF FORCE CAN NOT BE RULED OUT.

MR. BUTLER SAID HE BELIEVED WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAD MADE MUCH PROGRESS BEFORE THEIR WORK WAS HALTED, AND HE SAID THE REMAINING WORK COULD BE WRAPPED UP QUICKLY, IF INSPECTORS WERE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOBS.

I REGRET THAT SUCH A FUSS HAS BEEN MADE OF THIS. WHAT IS REALLY AT ISSUE IS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IRAQI SPECIAL WARHEADS THAT REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.

MR. BUTLER -- WHOSE COMMISSION IS CHARGED WITH CERTIFYING THAT IRAQ HAS ELIMINATED ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION -- SAID HE HOPED PLANNED TALKS WITH IRAQ IN THE COMING DAYS WOULD HELP RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.

THE COMMISSION MUST CERTIFY THAT ALL IRAQI WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BEFORE U-N SANCTIONS CAN BE LIFTED. (SIGNED)
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30-Jan-98 10:03 AM EST (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED OUT THE WEEK WITH A GAIN FRIDAY. FROM LONDON, VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE NUMBERS.

TEXT: WHILE FRIDAY STARTED ON AN UNCERTAIN NOTE, TRADE ENDED WITH SOME NEW RECORD HIGHS AND A SENSE OF OPTIMISM AMONG EUROPEAN INVESTORS.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX POSTED A RECORD HIGH WITH A 36 POINT GAIN. THE PARIS "CAC 40" POSTED A NEW RECORD HIGH AS WELL, ADDING ANOTHER 38 POINTS AT THE CLOSE. FRANKFURT'S MAJOR INDEX -- THE "DAX 30" -- ENDED THE WEEK WITH A GAIN AS WELL, UP 21 POINTS FOR THE DAY.

ON MONEY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS STEADY OR HIGHER AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND BRITISH POUND.

GOLD PRICES, WHICH SHOWED NEW STRENGTH THIS WEEK, RETREATED FRIDAY IN LONDON, DOWN TWO DOLLARS FOR THE DAY TO CLOSE AT 301-DOLLARS-45-CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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30-Jan-98 1:57 PM EST (1857 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK AS THE MAIN EDITORIAL TOPIC, THE PRESIDENT'S ALLEGED AFFAIR AND COVER-UP WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN IS SLIPPING BELOW OTHER TOPICS IN THE COMMENTARIES. NOW, THE FOCUS IS SHIFTING TO A POTENTIAL MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ OVER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REPEATED REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS TO STUDY HIS COUNTRY.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE: THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS; THE WHITE HOUSE AFFAIR; A CAMPAIGN FUND-RAISING INDICTMENT; THE LATEST GOINGS-ON IN TURKEY; AND ANOTHER ABORTION CLINIC BOMBING. NOW, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO IS ________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: AS THE UNITED STATES PREPARES FOR A POSSIBLE MILITARY ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ, THE DEBATE INCREASES IN INTENSITY WITHIN THE NATION'S PRESS. TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS "MAKE IRAQ AIR STRIKE A LAST RESORT."

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES IS CLEARLY MOVING TO A WAR FOOTING AGAINST IRAQ. AN AIR CAMPAIGN COULD START AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK. ..... ALTHOUGH MOST AMERICANS AGREE SADDAM'S BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL THREAT MUST BE STOPPED - - WITH UNILATERAL U-S ACTION IF NECESSARY - - THEY OUGHT TO QUESTION WHETHER AERIAL BOMBARDMENT NOW IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. AN AIR STRATEGY SUPPOSES WE KNOW WHERE THE TARGETS ARE. UNFORTUNATELY, AS INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS THIS WEEK, WE HAVE ONLY A ROUGH IDEA OF THE HIDING PLACES FOR SADDAM'S STOCKS OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. TRY AS WE MIGHT TO AVOID IT, WE COULD CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE UNINTENDED LOSS OF LIFE AMONG CIVILIANS, FURTHER ALIENATING THE ARAB WORLD AND EVEN OUR ALLIES, AND WE STILL MIGHT NOT TAKE OUT SADDAM'S HIDDEN BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSETS. AND AFTER A SUSTAINED POUNDING FROM THE AIR WOULD IRAQ WELCOME THE RETURN OF U-N INSPECTORS? .... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON SHOULD NOT RULE OUT ANOTHER AIR ASSAULT ON IRAQ. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES TAKES THAT DRASTIC STEP, IT SHOULD TRY EVERY FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE SHORT OF WAR.

TEXT: ON THE WEST COAST, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" ALSO PONDERS THE EFFICACY OF AN ATTACK. VOICE; MILITARY ACTION, IF IT COMES, WILL HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY PREPARED IN THE DIPLOMATIC ARENA AND IN THE BUILDUP OF U-S AND BRITISH NAVAL AND AIR POWER IN THE PERSIAN GULF. WHETHER IT WOULD SUCCEED IN GETTING IRAQ TO BACK DOWN IS AN UNANSWERABLE QUESTION. NEW WEAPONS, INCLUDING DEEP-PENETRATION MISSILES, COULD DESTROY UNDERGROUND DEPOTS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ARMS THAT IRAQ IS BELIEVED TO HAVE. BUT FIRST THOSE SITES HAVE TO BE LOCATED, NO EASY TASK. THE PROLONGED AIR ASSAULT THAT IS LIKELY WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE IF IRAQ WAS LEFT IN POSSESSION OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND IF IT LED TO THE END OF THE U-N INSPECTION PROGRAM. ..... WHERE IRAQ MISCALCULATED WAS IN UNDERESTIMATING U-S READINESS, WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN CONGRESS, TO ACT UNILATERALLY IF PUSHED. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF IRAQ CAN BE COERCED INTO COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. AT A MINIMUM, ITS ADAMANCY INVITES A NEW ROUND OF COSTLY DESTRUCTION.

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, OTHER PAPERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE MID EAST PEACE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS. TAKE "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" FOR EXAMPLE.

VOICE: THERE IS SOMETHING UNIQUELY FRUSTRATING ABOUT ALLOWING TREMENDOUS PROMISE TO SLIP THROUGH ONE'S FINGERS. YET THAT INCREASINGLY APPEARS TO BE THE FATE OF THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. LAST WEEK'S FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY AT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS BOLD AND COLORFUL BUT SHORT-LIVED. ..... WITH MR. CLINTON DISTRACTED BY A PERSISTENT SCANDAL, HE COULDN'T MUSTER THE ATTENTION DEMANDED BY MIDDLE EAST PEACE. NO DOUBT MR. CLINTON'S VISITORS PICKED UP ON THE PRESIDENT'S INATTENTIVENESS. RATHER THAN DEMAND COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE AGREEMENTS,F MR. CLINTON CAME ACROSS AS A HAND-WRINGER LEAVING THE HARD DECISIONS UP TO THE PARTIES INVOLVED. IS THAT ANY WAY TO HANDLE FOREIGN POLICY? OF COURSE NOT. .... CONTINUED BULL-HEADEDNESS [STUBBORNNESS] IN THE MIDDLE EAST, COMBINED WITH AN ABSENCE OF WILL IN THE UNITED STATES, POINTS TOWARD FAILURE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" DEALS WITH YET ANOTHER FACET OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS COUNTRY AND ISRAEL, THAT OF ECONOMIC AID. "THE POST" FEELS ITS ABOUT TIME TO PHASE OUT ECONOMIC AID TO ISRAEL, WHICH IS NOW A WEALTHY NATION.

VOICE: CERTAINLY IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR ISRAEL TO LINGER ON AS AN ECONOMIC CLIENT. IT IS UNNECESSARY AND DEMEANING. IN THE LONG PERIOD SINCE ISRAEL STARTED GETTING THE ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION DOLLARS [YEARLY] IN ECONOMIC AID, ITS GNP HAS INCREASED FROM 20-BILLION TO A STUNNING 98-BILLION DOLLARS. ISRAEL IS, BY WORLD STANDARDS, A RICH COUNTRY. THAT ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION WOULD BE MUCH BETTER SPENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENUINELY NEEDY COUNTRIES. THAT'S WHAT FOREIGN AID OUGHT TO BE FOR.

TEXT: AND SPEAKING OF FINANCIAL AID SENT ABROAD, "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND IS PRESSING CONGRESS TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOR DISBURSEMENT TO ASIA TO STEM THAT REGION'S ECONOMIC CRISIS.

VOICE: TO HELP COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL TURMOIL IN ASIA, PRESIDENT ... CLINTON WILL ASK CONGRESS FOR 18-BILLION TO BOLSTER THE RESOURCES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND THIS YEAR. THAT'S A REQUEST ... CONGRESS OUGHT TO APPROVE, DESPITE SOME LAWMAKERS' MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF I-M-F RESCUE MISSIONS. BUT APPROVAL IS NO SURE THING. ..... THE SOONER INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, THAILAND AND KOREA GET BACK ON THEIR FEET - - AND JAPAN RESOLVES ITS LESS DRAMATIC ECONOMIC PROBLEMS - - THE SOONER THOSE PRESSURES ON THE U-S ECONOMY WILL EASE. BUT IF EAST ASIA'S CURRENCY ILLS ARE ALLOWED TO GROW WORSE, U-S BUSINESS AND JOBS WILL BE EVEN MORE SERIOUSLY AFFLICTED.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" AGREES, NOTING "THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN EAST ASIA IS TOO SERIOUS TO EXPOSE IT TO A FREE MARKET EXPERIMENT."

TURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL, AND ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD AN AFFAIR WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND SUGGESTED SHE LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH, TODAY'S "NEW YORK POST" IS AFRAID THE LESSENING ATTENTION TO THE AFFAIR MEANS MR. CLINTON MAY BE AVOIDING ITS CONSEQUENCES.

VOICE: ** IS HE GETTING AWAY WITH IT? ** [ALL ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYBODY IS ASKING AS THE PRESIDENT'S POLL NUMBERS CLIMB IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS ARE GAPING IN HORRIFIED WONDER THE HOUDINI-LIKE WAY BILL CLINTON SEEMS TO BE SLITHERING OUT OF THE MORAL STRAITJACKET THAT SEEMED TO BE INESCAPABLE ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO. HIS IDEOLOGICAL OPPONENTS ARE INCREASINGLY DISGUSTED WITH AN AMERICAN POPULACE THAT SEEMS READY TO FORGIVE THE MAN THEY ELECTED PRESIDENT ALMOST ANYTHING.

TEXT: HOWEVER, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS DEMANDING THE PRESIDENT TELL ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT THE AFFAIR NOW, RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE FACTS TO DRIP, SLOWLY, OUT OF A TIGHT-MNOUTHED WHITE HOUSE.

VOICE: DAY BY DAY, LEAD BY LEAK, THE PUBLIC IS GIVEN CAUSE TO WONDER ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BEHAVIOR TOWARD FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. SERIOUS - - THOUGH UNPROVEN - - ALLEGATIONS ARE BEING MET BY FLAT DENIALS AND LITTLE ELSE BY MR. CLINTON AND HIS WIFE. ONE OF THE LATEST REPORTS THAT BEGS FOR AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE IS THAT MS. LEWINSKY SUPPOSEDLY MET WITH THE PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN LATE DECEMBER. THE TIMING IS STARTLING BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ** AFTER** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] SHE HAD BEEN SUBPOENAED BY LAWYERS FOR PAULA CORBIN JONES, WHO ALLEGES THAT MR. CLINTON SEXUALLY HARASSED HER YEARS AGO. LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THAT IF THERE WAS SUCH A MEETING, POSTSUBPOENA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ETHICALLY TROUBLING BECAUSE A DEFENDANT MUSTN'T TAMPER WITH A WITNESS. ..... JUDGING FROM HIS HAPPINESS ON THE HUSTINGS [OUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE] THIS WEEK, MR. CLINTON PREFERS TO PURSUE HIS POLITICAL VISION AND LEAVE THIS OTHER BUSINESS TO HIS LAWYERS. PLENTY OF AMERICANS AGREE WITH THAT TACTIC. BUT PLENTY OF OTHERS DON'T. THE PRESIDENT HAS A DUTY TO BE FAR MORE FORTHCOMING.

TEXT: IN YET ANOTHER RELATED WHITE HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, THE LONG-RUNNING INVESTIGATION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING VIOLATIONS DURING THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THERE HAS NOW BEEN AN INDICTMENT OF A CLOSE CLINTON FRIEND. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS ONLY LUKEWARM APPLAUSE.

VOICE: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK PRODUCED THE FIRST INDICTMENT IN ITS CAMPAIGN FUND-RAISING INVESTIGATION - - A WELCOME STEP, BUT HARDLY ONE THAT MAKES UP FOR THE SLOW, TIMID CHARACTER OF THE INQUIRY. A WASHINGTON GRAND JURY CHARGED YAH LIN (CHARLIE) TRI, ONE OF THE SECONDARY ACTORS IN THIS AFFAIR, WITH ILLEGALLY FUNNELING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE CLINTON LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. ..... MR. TRIE, A LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANTEUR WHO BEFRIENDED MR. CLINTON YEARS AGO, GAVE THE PARTY AND THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN. /// OPT /// ..... THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION CANNOT STOP WITH MR. TRIE, OR THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MADE ILLEGAL DONATIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IN WRONGLY DECLINING TO APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO PURSUE THE FUND-RAISING ABUSES, ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS PLACED A BURDEN ON HER OWN INVESTIGATION TO FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING WHEREVER IT LEADS, INCLUDING SENIOR OFFICIALS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY./// END OPT ///

TEXT: BACK OVERSEAS AGAIN, IN ANOTHER EDITORIAL, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATEST REVELATIONS OF A SCANDAL INVOLVING THE FORMER TURKISH GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: TURKEY'S SECULAR LEADERS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES OF ISLAMIC POLITICIANS AND KURDISH SEPARATISTS, BUT THE GRAVEST THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC ORDER IN TURKEY IN RECENT YEARS SEEMS TO HAVE COME FROM THE SECULAR LEADERSHIP ITSELF. AND OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND THAT BETWEEN 1993 AND 1996 THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER CONNIVED WITH DRUG GANGS, GAMBLING MOGULS AND RIGHT-WING HIT MEN TO ASSASSINATE ENEMIES AT HOME AND ABROAD AND SPONSOR A FAILED COUP ATTEMPT IN NEARBY AZERBAIJAN. .... FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS ALSO NEEDED INTO POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ARMED FORCES AND DEATH-SQUAD-STYLE KILLINGS IN KURDISH AREAS. THE COLLUSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNDERWORLD THAT HAS NOW BEEN EXPOSED MUST BE ERADICATED AND NEVER REPEATED.

TEXT: THE LATEST BOMBING OF AN ABORTION CLINIC IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, THAT KILLED AN OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER WORKING AS A SECURITY GUARD AND BADLY INJURED A WOMAN STAFFER, DRAWS OPPROBRIUM FROM SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION."

VOICE: THERE IS NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN COWARDS WHO SUBSTITUTE CONTORTED CONVICTIONS FOR CONSCIENCE. ONE OR MORE OF THESE COWARDS BOMBED A BIRMINGHAM ABORTION CLINIC THURSDAY ..... IT CAME A YEAR AFTER CLINIC BOMBINGS IN SANDY SPRINGS [GEORGIA] AND TULSA, OKLAHOMA. ..... IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW WHETHER THE BIRMINGHAM BOMBING HAS ANY CONNECTION TO THE ATLANTA CASES. BUT ALL AMERICANS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR STANCE ON ABORTION, SHOULD DENOUNCE THIS ACT OF TERRORISM AND SUPPORT A SWIFT AND THOROUGH RESPONSE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. ..... TERRORISM CAN BE WAGED BY AN ARMY WITH AN ARSENAL OR BY A LONE MADMAN WITH A HOMEMADE BOMB. THE EFFECT IS THE SAME. AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR THAT ENDANGERS EVERYONE'S FREEDOM.

TEXT: AND LAST, SOME KIND THOUGHTS FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" ABOUT ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST REVERED WOMEN, "THE QUEEN MUM" AS THEY CALL HER IN ENGLAND. THE PAPER SENDS BEST WISHES TO THE 97-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, WHO HAS JUST BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL.

VOICE: THE QUEEN MOTHER, GOD LOVE HER, WAS ON HER FEET AND TRYING OUT HER NEW LEFT HIP JUST THREE DAYS AFTER DOCTORS HAD REPLACED HER OLD ONE, BROKEN IN A FALL ON SUNDAY. IF LUFTWAFFE BOMBS COULD NOT DETER HER FROM STAYING IN LONDON AND VISITING BOMBED-OUT SECTIONS OF THE EAST END IN WORLD WAR TWO, A LITTLE THING LIKE A TRIP OVER SOME ASPHALT AT HER DAUGHTER'S COUNTRY ESTATE WASN'T ABOUT TO KEEP HER DOWN. ..... THE WHOLE WORLD IS PRAYING SHE ... COMES HOME SOON, AND THAT HER RECOVERY IS COMPLETE.

TEXT: ON THAT SENTIMENTAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT TO BE FOUND IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FRIDAY.
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30-Jan-98 10:18 AM EST (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] HOLBROOKE/CONFLICT BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: SENIOR U-S DIPOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS PRACTICAL WORK NOT THEORY -- IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP REGIONAL CONFLICTS FROM ERUPTING INTO WARFARE. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN HAS THIS REPORT FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: U-S AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE BELIEVES CONFLICTS SUCH AS THAT IN BOSNIA CAN ONLY BE AVERTED IF THERE IS STRONG LEADERSHIP FROM KEY OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

MR. HOLBROOKE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO END THE FIGHTING IN BOSNIA AND IS NOW SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS. THE UNRESOLVED CONFLICT IN CYPRUS, MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS, HAS MUCH IN COMMON WITH CURRENT SITUATIONS IN BURUNDI, EAST TIMOR, TIBET, ALGERIA AND KOSOVO.

THE U-S DIPLOMAT SAYS THEORETICAL MODELS FOR RESOLVING THE 24-YEAR-OLD CYPRUS CONFLICT ARE OF LITTLE VALUE BECAUSE THEY IGNORE PRACTICAL AND POLITICAL FACTORS.

THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES DIVIDING THE TWO COMMUNITIES ARE NOT TECHNICALLY THAT DIFFICULT. BUT THE POLITICAL FACTORS THAT LED TO THE CURRENT DIVISION ARE REAL AND DEEP AND DEEPLY FELT AND SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT PRACTICAL SOUTIONS.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE BELIEVES FACE TO FACE MEETINGS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL IN SUCH CONFLICTS ARE USEFUL, EVEN VITAL, BUT THAT POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED WITH A COMMITMENT FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THE DIFFERENCES OF THE OPPOSING SIDES IN THESE CONFLICTS ARE USUALLY MUCH DEEPER THAN SOME BELIEVE.

I WANT TO STRESS THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT'S EAST TIMOR OR CYPRUS OR KOSOVO, YOU HAVE TO GO FROM TWO DIRECTIONS, THE TOP DOWN AND THE BOTTOM UP. I DON'T BUY (ACCEPT) THE THEORY I'VE HEARD FROM SOME CONFLICT RESOLUTION EXPERTS THAT YOU BUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP, THAT IT'S JUST A PROBLEM OF COMMUNICATIONS AND A FEW MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT CAN BE CLEARED UP BY A GROUP PSYCHODRAMA. THAT'S NOT TRUE. THE DIFFERENCES ARE MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT IN SOME OF THESE CONFLICTS AND DISAGREEMENTS.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE SPOKE AT THE INAUGURAL EVENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK ON THE ROLE OF "PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY IN THE POST COLD WAR WORLD."

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS IN RESOLVING CONFLICTS, COMMUNITY LEVEL WORK MUST BE MATCHED BY PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL. IN THE CASE OF BOSNIA, AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE SAYS LEADERSHIP WAS NEEDED FROM THE UNITED NATIONS, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES. THE ABSENCE OF THIS LEADERSHIP, HE SAYS, IS THE REASON THERE WAS A WAR IN BOSNIA.

MR. HOLBROOKE, WHO IS CRITICAL OF U-S DIPLOMACY UNDER FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SAYS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP MUST ALSO BE TIMELY TO PREVENT WAR AND VIOLENT ERUPTIONS.

IN ALGERIA, IT'S WAY PAST TOO LATE. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ALGERIA TODAY IS TRULY HORRENDOUS. THE SAME IS TRUE IN BURUNDI AND EAST TIMOR. TIBET IS STILL A DIFFERENT KIND OF SITUATION, A TRAGEDY, A SLOW MOTION, ALMOST INVISIBLE TRAGEDY WHICH ALSO DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE, NOT, AS SOME SAY, THE INEVITABLE RESULT OF DEEP ETHNIC HATREDS. HE SAYS SWIFT ACTION COULD HAVE ENDED THE CONFLICT SOONER.

THE WAR IN BOSNIA ENDED, AND BELIEVE ME IT IS OVER. IT IS NOT, AS MANY PEOPLE WANT TO SAY, A WAR THAT WILL ERUPT AGAIN. IT IS OVER PROVIDED THAT THE WEST DOES NOT WALK AWAY FROM IT. THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT DECISION TO REMOVE THE TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG THE TROOPS STAY WAS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT DECISION. THE WAR IN BOSNIA ENDED, BELATEDLY, BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES FINALLY GOT INVOLVED, WITH A FULL COURT (MAJOR) DIPLOMATIC EFFORT AND WAS PREPARED TO BACK IT UP BY THE USE OF FORCE.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THE USE OF FORCE IS SOMETIMES AN ESSENTIAL PART OF PREVENTING SOMETHING WORSE. CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HE SAYS, DOES NOT ALWAYS REQUIRE OR EVEN ALLOW COMPLETE NEUTRALITY.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU CANNOT BE MORALLY NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES ONE SIDE IS RIGHT AND THE OTHER SIDE IS WRONG. OTHER TIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MORAL JUDGEMENT.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS IN BOSNIA ALL SIDES COMMITTED ATROCITIES, BUT THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE CLEARLY THE WORST OFFENDERS. HE CAUTIONS, HOWEVER, AGAINST CONSIDERING ALL MEMBERS OF A GROUP SUCH AS THE BOSNIAN SERBS AS BEING EVIL. U-S DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS SUCH JUDGEMENTS PUT ANY ATTEMPT AT RESOLVING CONFLICTS ON A HOPELESS PATH. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
30-Jan-98 4:41 PM EST (2141 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] HUNGARY/YUGOSLAVIA/OIL (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: HUNGARY HAS SIGNED (LATE THURSDAY) THE BIGGEST LONG-TERM ENERGY CONTRACT WITH YUGOSLAVIA, SINCE THE LIFTING OF THE EMBARGO IN 1995. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST THAT HUNGARY HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE YUGOSLAVIA WITH NATURAL GAS FROM RUSSIA IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

TEXT:

APPLAUSE (FADE UNDER)

AT A CEREMONY IN BUDAPEST, THE HUNGARIAN OIL AND GAS COMPANY "MOL" AND THE YUGOSLAV "NIS" ENERGY COMPANY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WHICH THEY SAY WILL HOPEFULLY LEAD TO NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND HUNGARY.

ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT, "MOL" WILL PROVIDE YUGOSLAVIA WITH A TOTAL OF 73 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS FROM RUSSIA THROUGH A SPECIAL PIPELINE, UNTIL THE YEAR 2018.

OFFICIALS OF THE HUNGARIAN COMPANY SAY THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS AND THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE ACCORD MAY BE DIFFICULT TO CARRY IF THE UNITED NATIONS ENFORCES NEW SANCTION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AS A PUNISHMENT FOR ITS NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS.

HOWEVER THE CEO WITH "MOL", ZOLTAN MANDOKI, SAYS HE HOPES THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.

THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED AS A MOMENT WHEN YUGOSLAVIA AND OTHER BALKAN NATIONS ARE BRACING THEMSELVES FOR A DIFFICULT WINTER.

MR. MANDOKI SAYS HE HOPES THE COOPERATION WILL ALSO LEAD TO INVESTMENTS IN OTHER FORMER YUGOSLAV STATES SUCH AS BOSNIA. HOWEVER, HE ADDS PROVIDING NATURAL GAS TO FORMERLY WAR TORN AREAS IS NOT EASY.

DESPITE THOSE DIFFICULTIES, HUNGARIAN ENERGY ANALYST, TODD HETH, SAYS THE NEW SITUATION MAY LEAD TO A MORE MARKET ORIENTED ENERGY SECTOR IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND HUNGARY.

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR COUNTRY TO MAINTAIN GOOD ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH ALL ITS NEIGHBORING NATIONS, INCLUDING YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ENE-T/PT
29-Jan-98 8:45 PM EST (0145 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) AS PROFIT-TAKERS CAME INTO THE MARKET. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED SIX, DOWN 66 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 206 POINTS, ALMOST THREE PERCENT. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 980, DOWN FIVE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY MUCH OF FRIDAY'S SELLING WAS BY TRADERS TAKING PROFITS AFTER THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OF STRONGLY RISING STOCK PRICES.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED THE U-S ECONOMY GREW BY THREE POINT EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR, THE STRONGEST GROWTH SINCE 1988. AND INFLATION ALMOST DISAPPEARED WITH PRICES CLIMBING AT THEIR SLOWEST RATE SINCE THE MID 1960'S. ANALYSTS SAY THAT WHILE INFLATION SHOULD STAY UNDER CONTROL, THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS WILL PROBABLY SLOW THE OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR.

THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK HAS REPEATED HIS SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TO HELP ASIAN NATIONS DEAL WITH THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. ALAN GREENSPAN TOLD CONGRESS THE ASIAN SITUATION COULD CAUSE ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AROUND THE WORLD.

SOURCES SAY THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION HAS RULED THAT THE EASTMAN KODAK PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES HAS NO REAL CASE IN ITS DISPUTE WITH THE FUJI CORPORATION OF JAPAN. KODAK HAD ACCUSED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT OF UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES BY FAVORING FUJI AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR KODAK TO PENETRATE THE JAPANESE MARKET.

THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO SHARPLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AIRLINES AND FLIGHTS SERVING THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE DEAL ALSO MAKES POSSIBLE SOME PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN U-S AND JAPANESE AIRLINES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
30-Jan-98 5:24 PM EST (2224 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] UNHCR/BOSNIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: NEXT TUESDAY, TOP RANKING INTERNATIONAL AND BOSNIAN OFFICIALS WILL MEET IN SARAJEVO TO DISCUSS THE RETURN OF MINORITIES TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE PARTICIPANTS WANT THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF 130-THOUSAND SERBS AND CROATS WHO FLED SARAJEVO DURING THE WAR.

TEXT: THE MEETING WILL BE CO-CHAIRED BY U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, ROBERT GELBARD, THE WESTERN POWERS' HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, CARLOS WESTENDORP, AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION HERMAN DE LANGE. KEY ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE HOUSING, RECONSTRUCTION, EDUCATION AND MINORITY RIGHTS. BUT, SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, KRIS JANOWSKI, SAYS THE MAIN AIM OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO GET A POLITICAL COMMITMENT FROM THE BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SARAJEVO AN OPEN CITY.

THE IDEA BEHIND THE MEETING IS TO BOOST EFFORTS TO RESTORE SARAJEVO'S MULTI-ETHNIC CHARACTER -- WHICH WAS ONCE THE CITY'S UNIQUE FEATURE. IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT IT WILL BOOST U-N-H-C-R'S "OPEN CITIES" PROGRAM WHICH SEEKS TO REWARD WITH AID THOSE AREAS WHICH ACCEPT MINORITY RETURNS.

SIX CITIES IN THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION ARE PART OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY'S OPEN CITIES PROGRAM. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MAINLY MUSLIM REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RETURN TO HOMES WHICH ARE IN AREAS CONTROLLED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THIS PROBLEM ALSO EFFECTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS WHO FLED TO SARAJEVO FROM AREAS WHICH ARE NOW PART OF THE BOSNIAN SERBIAN REPUBLIC, OR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA.

ONE HUGE PROBLEM IS THE NUMBER OF DISPLACED PEOPLE IN SARAJEVO -- NEARLY 100-THOSAND -- IN A POPULATION OF URBAN SARAJEVO, WHICH IS NOW ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 340-THOUSAND. SO NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF DISPLACED PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM DISPLACED FROM AREA IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TO WHICH THEY CANNOT GO BACK AT THE MOMENT.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE SUCCESS OF RETURNING THESE MUSLIMS TO THEIR HOMES WILL DEPEND ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HOPES THE SITUATION WILL IMPROVE WITH THE RECENT ELECTION OF A MORE LIBERAL-MINDED BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT.

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