Voice of America, 98-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] BRITAIN / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S BOSNIAN REFUGEES BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[03] E-U / FOREIGN AID (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[05] GERMANY / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[07] TURKEY / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] BRITAIN / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH SENIOR OFFICIALS SAY THEY STILL HOPE TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA IN LONDON ALSO REPORTS THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE HAS RELEASED FIGURES DETAILING THE THREAT POSED BY IRAQ'S BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

TEXT: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TOLD LAWMAKERS IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS GIVING WEAPONS INSPECTORS FREE ACCESS IN IRAQ. HE MADE CLEAR DIPLOMATIC MEASURES MUST BE BOLSTERED BY THE THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION.

IT IS OUR DESIRE -- AS THE DESIRE OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS -- THAT THERE SHOULD BE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. NO ONE WANTS TO USE FORCE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT UNLESS DIPLOMACY IS BACKED UP BY FORCE, THEN IN THE CASE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, DIPLOMACY WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. AND SECONDLY, THAT THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE, PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN PREVENTING HIM DEVELOPING THESE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WHICH HE HAS BEEN DEVELOPING IN THIS PAST PERIOD OF TIME.

MR. BLAIR SPOKE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON.

BEFORE LEAVING FOR SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT, MR. COOK TOLD A LONDON CONFERENCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE IF HE UNDERESTIMATED THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN RESOLVE TO MAKE SURE HE DOES NOT KEEP CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. AND MR. COOK UNDERLINED THE NATURE OF THE THREAT.

SADDAM SAID THE "V-X" NERVE AGENT PROJECT WAS A FAILURE. HE HAS NOW ADMITTED PRODUCING FOUR TONS OF THE "V-X" NERVE AGENT. OVER SIX HUNDRED TONS OF V-X PRECURSOR CHEMICALS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. THESE COULD MAKE TWO HUNDRED TONS OF "V-X". ONE DROP OF THE "V-X" NERVE AGENT CAN KILL."

IN A REPORT PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE ALSO SAID IRAQ HAS PRODUCED 84-HUNDRED TONS OF ANTHRAX, TWO-THOUSAND LITERS OF A TOXIN THAT PRODUCES LIVER CANCER AND HAS ANOTHER TOXIN THAT CAUSES GANGRENE. IT SAID U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE DESTROYED 38-THOUSAND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, 48 OPERATIONAL MISSILES AND 480-THOUSAND LITRES OF LIVE WEAPONS AGENTS.

THE REPORT SAID BRITISH OFFICIALS BELIEVE IRAQ IS HIDING A LOT MORE -- AND THAT IS WHY THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE SO VITAL.

IN HIS SPEECH, MR. COOK SAID THOSE INSPECTORS MUST BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK UNIMPEDED.

IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS OF LAST YEAR, THE U-N INSPECTORS TRIED TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS IN 63 SITES FOR CONCEALMENT. AT 38 OF THOSE SITES, THE INSPECTORS WERE SUBJECTED TO DELAY, AT 14 THEY WERE DENIED ACCESS COMPLETELY. FOUR OUT OF FIVE OF THEIR INSPECTIONS WERE BLOCKED. IF SADDAM HUSSEIN GETS HIS HANDS ON THE WEAPONS HE HAS BEEN TRYING SO HARD TO PRODUCE, HIS NEIGHBORS IN THE GULF COULD NEVER BE SECURE.

MR. COOK SAID THE WORLD CANNOT ALLOW SADDAM HUSSEIN TO SUCCEED IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. ONE SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THE CURRENT CRISIS AS HAVING FAR MORE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES THAN IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWEIT. (SIGNED)
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04-Feb-98 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: GERMANY'S BOSNIAN REFUGEES BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: OF THE 700,000 BOSNIAN WAR REFUGEES WHO FLED THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, NEARLY HALF RECEIVED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN GERMANY. SINCE THE END OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA, MANY GERMAN OFFICIALS HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY UNEASY WITH THEIR COUNTRY'S ROLE AS HOST TO THE REFUGEES. THEY HAVE ALSO COME UNDER INTENSE POLITICAL PRESSURE TO CUT THE ESTIMATED $3 BILLION ANNUAL COST OF SUPPORTING THE REFUGEES. DESPITE THE PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, WHICH THEORETICALLY GUARANTEE THE RIGHT OF REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME, MANY BOSNIANS ARE IN FACT UNABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR PRE-WAR HOMES. AND, ABOUT 60,000 REFUGEES ARE THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION FROM GERMANY UNLESS THEY LEAVE VOLUNTARILY.

TEXT: AS SENATOR OF THE INTERIOR FOR THE STATE OF BERLIN, JOERG SCHOENBOHM [YURG SHERN-BOHM] IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL LEGAL MATTERS FOR FOREIGNERS LIVING IN HIS CITY. SENATOR SCHOENBOHM SAYS BERLIN ORIGINALLY ASSUMED A HEAVY HUMANITARIAN BURDEN FOR THE REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HIS CITY KNEW "WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A REFUGEE." TAPE A: CUT ONE -- SCHOENBOHM (0:29) "WE TOOK 29,000 REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA AND 7,000 FROM THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC -- ALTOGETHER 36,000 -- WHICH ARE MORE REFUGEES THAN THE WHOLE OF FRANCE, U-K [GREAT BRITAIN], AND BELGIUM TOGETHER TOOK IN. WE PAY 500 MILLION DEUTSCHMARKS [ABOUT 300 MILLION U-S DOLLARS] PER YEAR IN SOCIAL BENEFITS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, TO THESE PEOPLE. NOW, THIS BURDEN IS QUITE HIGH. AND SO, WE SAY, 'SINCE PEACE IS STARTING IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE REBUILT, WE WOULD LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO GO BACK VOLUNTARILY.'"

TEXT: SENATOR SCHOENBOHN SAYS, ALTHOUGH IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS PREFER THAT THE BOSNIANS GO HOME VOLUNTARILY, SOME REFUGEES ARE BEING FORCIBLY REPATRIATED. HE EXPLAINS THAT 450,000 FOREIGNERS OF MANY ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS LIVE IN BERLIN, AND THAT HAS CREATED A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE GERMAN POPULATION. TAPE A: CUT TWO -- SCHOENBOHN (0:23) "WE ARE A CITY THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF UNIFICATION, OVERCOMING THE BURDEN OF THE COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP IN EAST BERLIN. THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO DO WITH OUR AFFAIRS [RESOURCES]. AND HAVING 450,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS CITY -- MAINLY IN WEST BERLIN, NOT IN EAST BERLIN -- I THINK WE HAVE REACHED THE MAXIMUM THAT COULD BE ABSORBED IN THESE TIMES OF CHALLENGES AND CHANGES."

TEXT: BOSNIAN JOURNALIST BEGZADA DJULOVIC-KILIAN [BEG-ZAH-DAH JOO-LOH-VICH KIL-LEE-AN], WHOSE HUSBAND IS GERMAN, IS ORIGINALLY FROM A MUSLIM FAMILY IN TUZLA. SHE HAS BEEN LIVING IN BERLIN SINCE 1989, WHEN SHE BEGAN WORKING FOR A RADIO STATION SERVING THE SO-CALLED "GUEST-WORKER" COMMUNITY FROM YUGOSLAVIA. MS. DJULOVIC-KILIAN AND HER HUSBAND, ULRICH KILIAN, ALSO A JOURNALIST, ARE HAVING DINNER AT A SMALL, CROWDED RESTUARANT IN BERLIN. SHE EXPLAINS THE DILEMMA OF THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN GERMANY, AND HER HUSBAND TRANSLATES, ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE CROWD. TAPE B: CUT ONE -- DJULOVIC-KILIAN (ESTABLISH GERMAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT THREE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:50) "WE HAD A LARGE WAVE OF REFUGEES COME HERE -- ABOUT 40,000. BERLIN ALONE TOOK MORE REFUGEES THAN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND ITALY TOGETHER. SO, THERE ARE THESE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE BEING FRUSTRATED AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK AND, PARTICULARLY NOW, BEING THREATENED WITH BEING SENT BACK. A LOT OF THE REFUGEES ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO BACK TO. THEY CANNOT GO BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES SINCE THEY ARE OCCUPIED BY SERBS. AND THE DAYTON ACCORD HAS ITS WEAKNESSES. THE WAR CRIMINALS ARE IN THE SAME POSITIONS AND ARE PULLING THE STRINGS THERE [IN BOSNIA]. IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT BOSNIAN MUSLIMS ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY SERBS, SO GERMANY HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHOM TO SEND BACK, WHERE AND WHEN."

TEXT: BEGZADA DJULOVIC-KILIAN SAYS AT THIS POINT THE WILLINGNESS OF GERMANS TO HELP THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES THEY TOOK IN IS EXHAUSTED. TAPE B: CUT TWO -- DJULOVIC-KILIAN (ESTABLISH GERMAN FOR 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:37) "[GERMAN] PEOPLE SAY, 'WE BUILT EVERYTHING UP AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR. WE BUILT OUR NEW HOUSES. NOW IT'S UP TO THE BOSNIANS TO REBUILD THEIR COUNTRY. WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR THEM. SO, THEY'RE NOT WELCOME. AT THE BEGINNING, YES, IN THAT IMMEDIATE CRISIS SITUATION OF GRENADES AND BOMBS FALLING ON CIVILIAN VILLAGES, WE HELPED, BUT NOT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN STAY HERE FOREVER.' THERE IS A DIFFICULTY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. IT'S A BIG PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE REST OF BOSNIA IS CROWDED WITH REFUGEES AS WELL. AND BY SENDING BACK THE REFUGEES FROM BERLIN, WE ADD TO THE PROBLEMS DOWN THERE AND ADD TO A POSSIBLE NEW OUTBREAK OF VIOLENT CONFLICT."

TEXT: MS. DJULOVIC-KILIAN'S YOUNGER SISTER, JASMINE [YAHZ-MEE-NAH] DJULOVIC CAME TO GERMANY IN 1992, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA. SHE IS NOW EMPLOYED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN BERLIN AND WORKS WITH BOSNIAN REFUGEES. SHE SAYS MANY REFUGEES HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS, AND THEY ARE WITHOUT HOPE. TAPE A: CUT FIVE -- DJULOVIC (1:11) "I WAS WORKING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ALMOST, BUT I AM AN EXCEPTION. I SEE BOSNIAN PEOPLE LIVING HERE, INTELLECTUALS, AND THEY ARE VERY DESPERATE. WHAT MAKES THEM EVEN MORE DESPERATE IS THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO GET AN EDUCATION. [OPT] FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE KIDS CAME HERE AND THEY WERE OLDER THAN 16, ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF THEM GOT THE CHANCE TO GET SOME EDUCATION HERE. THEY STAY HOME AND TRY TO KILL TIME. FOR THEM IT WAS VERY HARD TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL. THEY HAD TO GIVE UP ANY HOPE OF LEARNING A PROFESSION. [END OPT] FOR THIS GENERATION, IT WILL BE AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM TO GO BACK TO BOSNIA AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO. [OPT] IF YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR 5 YEARS, THEN YOU LOSE SELF-CONFIDENCE ABOUT YOUR POSSIBILITIES. AND FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, NOW THEY ARE 22 OR 23, THE ONLY CHANCE IS TO GET A JOB IN BOSNIA AS A SIMPLE [UNSKILLED] WORKER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY SAD." [END OPT]

TEXT: GERMANS AND BOSNIANS ARE AGREED THAT THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS FOR THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN GERMANY. AND, BOTH SIDES SAY THEY HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT WITH A PROBLEM THEY NEVER DREAMED WOULD DRAG ON SO LONG -- WITHOUT A RESOLUTION.
04-Feb-98 9:55 AM EST (1455 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / FOREIGN AID (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION IS REVIEWING ITS BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- THE LOME CONVENTION, THE E-U'S LINK WITH 71 DEVELOPING NATIONS IN AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND THE PACIFIC. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE E-U WANTS TO USE THE AID PROGRAM TO HELP IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO BOOST MARKET REFORMS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION -- THE WORLD'S LARGEST FOREIGN AID DONOR -- SAYS IT WANTS TO NEGOTIATE A REVISED LOME CONVENTION BY THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND.

E-U COMMISSIONER JOAO DE DEUS PINHEIRO HAS OFFERED PROPOSALS WHICH OFFICIALS SAY WOULD HELP MAKE SURE THAT COUNTRIES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE AGREE TO BASIC REFORMS. NATIONS RECEIVING AID WOULD HAVE TO STRENGTHEN HUMAN RIGHTS, BOLSTER THE RULE OF LAW, STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY, AND AVOID CONFLICTS WITH OTHER NATIONS.

THE PROPOSALS ALSO WOULD PERMIT AID TO BE USED AS A REWARD FOR NATIONS THAT WORK TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENFORCE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF WORKERS' RIGHTS.

E-U OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE ASSISTANCE IS TARGETED MORE EFFECTIVELY. THEY SAY THERE WILL BE LESS EMPHASIS ON HUGE PROJECTS WHICH DO LITTLE FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE, AND MORE EMPHASIS ON PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO OVERCOME THE CAUSES OF POVERTY.

PROFESSOR PINHEIRO SAID THAT INSTEAD OF ONE GLOBAL APPROACH TO ALL 71 LOME CONVENTION COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND THE PACIFIC, HE WANTS TO SEE SEPARATE ACCORDS THAT DEAL WITH THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN EACH REGION.

THE E-U SAYS IT IS DETERMINED TO HELP DEVELOPING NATIONS TACKLE PROBLEMS SUCH AS MARKET REFORMS, THEIR HUGE DEBT BURDENS, AND BECOMING FULLY INTEGRATED INTO GROUPS SUCH AS THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND THE WORLD BANK.

THE E-U SAYS IT ALSO WANTS TO HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE TO INVESTORS AND WILL HELP IN A NUMBER OF AREAS SUCH AS COPYRIGHT PROTECTION, TECHNICAL STANDARDS, COMPETITION POLICY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE E-U AND THE LOME CONVENTION NATIONS ARE TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
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04-Feb-98 12:15 PM EST (1715 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: PRICES FELL SHARPLY IN EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A WEEK, WITH TRADERS APPARENTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IRAQ SITUATION.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR-TRADING DAY DOWN 45-POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-PERCENT. THE GERMAN MARKET FELL ANOTHER FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 22-POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX DIPPED 17 POINTS, THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR FELL AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
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04-Feb-98 1:36 PM EST (1836 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] GERMANY / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW MORE MODERATE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT CAN COUNT ON WESTERN HELP WHEREVER POSSIBLE. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL MADE THE COMMENTS IN BONN, FOLLOWING TALKS WITH THE NEW BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER TALKS WITH GERMAN OFFICIALS, THE NEW BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER, MILORAD DODIK, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT NEEDS FOREIGN ASSISTANCE. MR. DODIK, WHO IS ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP SINCE BEING SWORN IN AS BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER ON SATURDAY, SAID THAT WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM ABROAD, HIS GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID MR. DODIK'S ELECTION HAD BOOSTED THE HOPE FOR LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA, AND HE SAID GERMANY WILL MAKE THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA THE FOCUS OF ITS HUMANITARIAN AID PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

SINCE THE ELECTION OF THE NEW MODERATE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN MOVING TO SPEED THE FLOW OF AID TO THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA. THE INFLUENCE OF HARD-LINE SERB NATIONALISTS HAD UNTIL NOW PREVENTED ALMOST ALL AID FROM REACHING THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC.

GERMANY THIS WEEK PLEDGED MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN IMMEDIATE AID TO HELP THE BOSNAIN SERB GOVERNMENT BUILD NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN BANJA LUKA. GERMANY, WHICH IS STILL HOME TO MORE THAN 250-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES, SAYS IT WILL ALSO SEND FINANCIAL EXPERTS TO HELP REBUILD SERB PARTS OF BOSNIA, WHICH HAS AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF ABOUT 70 PERCENT. A GERMAN AID ENVOY IS ALSO EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO BANJA LUKA NEXT MONTH FOR TALKS WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
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04-Feb-98 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (WEDNESDAY), BUT ONE MAJOR INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 81-HUNDRED-29, DOWN 31 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE-THOUSAND-SEVEN, UP ONE POINT AND ANOTHER ALL-TIME HIGH. THAT INDEX HAS CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THREE STRAIGHT DAYS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME PROFIT-TAKING, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE LARGE COMPANY STOCKS THAT MAKE UP THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, BUT THAT THE OVERALL MARKET REMAINS STRONG.

AS EXPECTED, GOVERNORS OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK ENDED A TWO-DAY MEETING WITHOUT CHANGING SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES. ANALYSTS SAY, BECAUSE IT WAS EXPECTED, THE INACTION HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.

THE PRICE OF SILVER ROSE AFTER THE BILLIONAIRE AMERICAN INVESTOR WARREN BUFFETT REVEALED THAT HIS COMPANY HAS NOW BOUGHT ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL WORLD PRODUCTION OF SILVER. MR. BUFFETT'S JUDGMENT IS HIGHLY REGARDED BY MANY INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS SAY THEY EXPECT SILVER PRICES MAY CONTINUE TO RISE SOMEWHAT AS OTHERS FOLLOW MR. BUFFETT'S LEAD.

THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS ITS DOMESTIC VEHICLE SALES FELL BY ALMOST 11 PERCENT IN JANUARY, WORSE THAN ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED. FORD CITED FEWER SALES TO AMERICAN CAR RENTAL COMPANIES AND LOWER TRUCK DEMAND. SEAGRAM, THE CANADIAN-BASED BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS FELL SHARPLY PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN PARTS OF ASIA. NESTLE, THE SWISS-BASED FOOD COMPANY, WILL PAY ONE-POINT-TWO-BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE SPILLERS PETFOODS FIRM OF BRITAIN. ANALYSTS SAY THE MOVE IS AIMED AT EXPANDING NESTLE'S PRESENCE IN THE EUROPEAN PET FOOD MARKET.

AS ONE OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, BILL GATES MAY BE ABLE TO INSULATE HIMSELF FROM SOME OF LIFE'S UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCES. BUT THE MULTI-BILLIONAIRE CHAIRMAN OF THE MICROSOFT CORPORATION WAS THE VICTIM OF A PIE-THROWING ATTACK IN BRUSSELS, BELIGIUM. MR. GATES WAS FORCED TO WIPE CUSTARD PIE OFF HIS FACE, BUT WAS OTHERWISE UNINJURED. OFFICIALS SAY THE PRANK APPEARED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMMERCIAL PURPOSE. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
04-Feb-98 4:39 PM EST (2139 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ WARNED THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE DANGERS POSED TO TURKEY BY IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE REMARKS BY MR. YILMAZ SIGNAL A SHIFT IN TURKEY'S POSITION ON POSSIBLE U-S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.

TEXT: TURKEY EARLIER HAD VOICED ITS FIRM OPPOSITION TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD AND SAID IT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE USE OF ITS BASES IN ANY BOMBING RAIDS TARGETTING IRAQ.

BUT PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING TOWARDS THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION FOLLOWING A VISIT TO ANKARA BY A HIGH-LEVEL U-S DELEGATION. THE U-S OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY PRESENTED DETAILED REPORTS ABOUT IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPACITY. THEY REPORTEDLY INCLUDED INFORMATION THAT IRAQ HAS ABOUT THREE-THOUSAND TONS OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS THAT COULD THREATEN TURKEY.

TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN TOLD REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THAT THE FIGURES PRESENTED BY THE U-S TEAM ARE IN HIS WORDS "REALLY FRIGHTENING" MR, YILMAZ SAID THAT UNLESS IRAQ COMPLIES WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS TO DESTROY THE WEAPONS, THEN, IN HIS WORDS, THE AMERICAN APPROACH -- THAT IS TO APPLY FORCE -- WOULD BE THE CORRECT ONE.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM FLEW TO BAGHDAD WEDNESDAY TO CONVEY A MESSAGE FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL URGING IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE MR. CEM SAID TURKEY'S OBJECTIVE WAS TO AVERT A POTENTIAL WAR. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHO MR. CEM WILL BE MEETING DURING HIS STAY IN THE IRAQI CAPITAL. MEANWHILE, TURKEY'S SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED HEAVY TRAFFIC WEDNESDAY AT A U-S BASE IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF ADANA. THE INCIRLIK BASE WAS USED BY U-S-LED COALITION FORCES DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR TO CARRY OUT BOMBING RAIDS AGAINST IRAQ. BUT A US SPOKESMAN AT INCIRLIK SAID THE ACTIVITY IS NOT EXTRAORDINARY.

PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ TOLD PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO NEW REQUEST FROM THE AMERCIAN GOVERNMENT TO USE THE BASE AGAIN. BUT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT TOLD REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES COULD, IN HIS WORDS, USE THE INCIRLIK BASE WITHOUT CONSULTING THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IF IT CHOSE TO DO SO. (SIGNED)
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04-Feb-98 10:27 AM EST (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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