Voice of America, 98-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / BULGARIA (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] CLINTON / NATO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[03] CZECH / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

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

[06] TURKEY/KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] CLINTON / BULGARIA (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON -- DURING A MEETING WITH BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PETAR STOYANOV -- ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO STEP UP U-S SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC REFORM IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: UNDER THE PLAN, THE UNITED STATES WILL EXPAND POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, MILITARY AND CIVIL COOPERATION WITH COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE, AND WILL WORK TO PROMOTE THEIR INCLUSION IN EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS.

A WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT SAYS THE PLAN WILL HELP NATIONS IN THE REGION CONSOLIDATE REFORMS, DEVELOP REGIONAL COOPERATION, AND REINFORCE BALKAN PEACE BY PROMOTING STABILITY IN THE AREA.

MR. STOYANOV, MEANWHILE, USED THE MEETING TO MAKE CLEAR HIS COUNTRY'S DESIRE TO JOIN NATO.

EMERGING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TALKS, MR. STOYANOV TOLD REPORTERS HE HOPES BULGARIA WILL BE AMONG THE NEXT ROUND OF CANDIDATES CHOSEN BY THE ALLIANCE. HE SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

BULGARIA WILL NEED TO BE A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR NATO, AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY BE (CHOSEN FOR MEMBERSHIP) IN THE NEXT WAVE.

MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR BULGARIA'S CAMPAIGN TO JOIN NATO.

A JOINT STATEMENT SAID BOTH PRESIDENTS AGREED BULGARIA'S ENGAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, THE ALLIANCE'S MILITARY COOPERATION PROGRAM FOR FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS, IS A KEY TOOL TO MAKING THAT COUNTRY THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ALLIANCE.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY PRAISED BULGARIA'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PROGRAM.

BULGARIA HAS BEEN AN EXCEEDINGLY SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANT IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM, HAS REALLY DEMONSTRATED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT IT IS INTERESTED IN A FUTURE CLOSE MILITARY RELATIONSHIP AND CLOSE RELATIONS WITH OTHERS IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY.

IN AN ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST TUESDAY, MR. STOYANOV -- IN A VEILED REFERENCE TO RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION -- SAID HIS COUNTRY'S DRIVE TO JOIN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IS NOT MEANT TO BE A HOSTILE ACT TOWARD MOSCOW.

HE NOTED THAT BULGARIA, WHILE SEEKING MEMBERSHIP IN NATO, ALSO WANTS GOOD RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA -- ON THE BASIS OF, IN HIS WORDS, MUTUAL BENEFIT AND RESPECT OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY. HE PRAISED RUSSIA FOR SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE IN PROMOTING REFORM.

MR. STOYANOV, HIMSELF, RECEIVED PRAISE FOR DEMOCRATIC AND MARKET REFORM FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON, ACCORDING TO WHITE HOUSE AIDES.

THE BULGARIAN LEADER INDICATED THE COMMENTS WERE MOST WELCOME. AGAIN, HE SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

THE VERY FACT OF THE VISIT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, AND VERY EXCITING. BUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS WAS A VERY STRONG AND IMPORTANT ENCOURAGING SIGN FOR THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE. THEY NEED THIS AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME WITH REFORM.

MR. STOYANOV -- WHO WAS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER 1996 -- IS ON HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WDC/PT
10-Feb-98 7:55 PM EST (0055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON / NATO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS FORMALLY CALLED ON THE U-S SENATE TO RATIFY NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. MR. CLINTON WEDNESDAY SENT TO THE U-S SENATE DOCUMENTS THAT WILL EXPAND NATO EASTWARD. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: AT A STATE DEPARTMENT CEREMONY ATTENDED BY U-S DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY OFFICIALS, BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS, AND THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND, MR. CLINTON SIGNED DOCUMENTS REQUESTING SENATE RATIFICATION OF NATO ENLARGEMENT.

MR. CLINTON ARGUED THAT EXPANDING NATO IS IN THE U-S INTEREST BECAUSE IT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE ALLIANCE, AND CREATE A MORE SECURE CLIMATE IN WHICH DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY CAN GROW.

MR. CLINTON STANDING BESIDE A REPLICA OF THE BERLIN WALL -- WHICH, AS HE PUT IT, REPRESENTED THE FALSE AND FORCED DIVISION OF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT DURING THE COLD WAR -- SAID ENLARGING THE ALLIANCE WOULD ALSO HELP UNIFY THE CONTINENT.

NATO CANNOT MAINTAIN THE OLD IRON CURTAIN AS ITS PERMANENT EASTERN FRONTIER. IT MUST AND CAN BRING EUROPE TOGETHER IN SECURITY, NOT KEEP IT APART IN INSTABILITY.

ALTHOUGH SOME SENATORS ARE CONCERNED NATO EXPANSION WILL ANGER RUSSIA, MR. CLINTON NOTED THE ALLIANCE IS FORGING STRONGER TIES WITH MOSCOW -- A POINT ECHOED BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.

THE EMERGENCE OF A PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS AND SECURE RUSSIA EMBEDDED IN THE NEW ARCHITECTURE OF EUROPEAN SECURITY, IS A MATTER OF OUR HIGHEST NATIONAL INTEREST. ALREADY WE HAVE TAKEN MAJOR STEPS TO DRAW RUSSIA INTO THAT ARCHITECTURE. WE WANT RUSSIA TO BE PART OF THE NEW EUROPE, WE WANT NO NEW DIVIDING LINES. THAT IS A COMMITMENT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

SOME SENATORS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF NATO EXPANSION, ALTHOUGH U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE U-S SHARE WILL BE FAR LESS THAN FIRST BELIEVED. THERE ARE ALSO WORRIES ABOUT WEAKENING THE ALLIANCE'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY STRENGTH. REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN WARNER OF VIRGINIA HAS EVEN SUGGESTED THE ALLIES CALL A MORATORIUM ON A SECOND ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT.

BUT MR. CLINTON MADE CLEAR THE DOOR TO NATO MEMBERSHIP REMAINS OPEN FOR FUTURE CANDIDATES.

HISTORY TEACHES US THAT THE REALM OF FREEDOM IN EUROPE HAS NO FIXED BOUNDARIES. THE UNITED STATES IS DETERMINED THAT THE VISIONS OF THE PAST, NOT CIRCUMSCRIBE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FUTURE.

DESPITE THE CONCERNS OF SOME SENATORS ABOUT NATO ENLARGEMENT, REPUBLICAN WILLIAM ROTH OF DELAWARE, CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE NATO OBSERVER GROUP IN CONGRESS, SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR RATIFICATION.

A VOTE IS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WDC/PT
11-Feb-98 4:10 PM EST (2110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CZECH / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE CZECH PARLIAMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IS DEBATING THE COUNTRY'S PROPOSED MEMBERSHIP IN NATO. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IN PRAGUE REPORTS APPROVAL IS LIKELY DESPITE LUKE-WARM SUPPORT AMONG THE CZECH PEOPLE.

TEXT: CZECH LAWMAKERS SEEM LIKELY TO APPROVE NATO MEMBERSHIP IN THE FIRST READING, BUT THE MATTER WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL A SECOND VOTE LATER.

THE PARTIES OF THE FORMER CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNMENT ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NATO MEMBERSHIP. THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, WHICH HAD BEEN IN OPPOSITION, ARE CALLING FOR A DELAY, UNTIL AFTER THE CURRENT CARETAKER GOVERNMENT IS REPLACED IN ELECTIONS LATER THIS YEAR. BUT PARTY LEADER MILOS ZEMAN, WHO IS ALSO THE PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN, ADMITS HE DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES, AND HE SAYS LAWMAKERS WILL LIKELY APPROVE CZECH MEMBERSHIP IN NATO -- AT LEAST ON THIS FIRST READING.

MR. ZEMAN SAYS THE DETAILS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S MEMBERSHIP NEED TO BE EXAMINED MORE CLOSELY, AND HE SAYS THE MATTER SHOULD BE PUT TO A REFERENDUM OF CZECH VOTERS.

OPINION POLLS INDICATE THE CZECH PUBLIC ENDORSES NATO MEMBERSHIP, BUT JUST BARELY. THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COSTS, BUT MANY CZECH CITIZENS ARE ALSO WONDERING WHY NATO EXPANSION IS NEEDED NOW THAT THE SOVIET UNION IS GONE. CZECH LEADERS HAVE FAILED TO CONVINCE A DECISIVE MAJORITY THAT JOINING NATO WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

A PRIVATE GROUP LAST MONTH LAUNCHED AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE SUPPORT FOR NATO. THEIR DRAMATIC TELEVISION AD FEATURES DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWING SOVIET TANKS AND TROOPS IN PRAGUE DURING 1968 INVASION.

THE MESSAGE IS THAT, THANKS TO NATO, THE COLD WAR ENDED AND CZECHS NOW HAVE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.

THE DEBATE IN THE CZECH PARLIAMENT IS THE FIRST AMONG THE CENTRAL EUROPE COUNTRIES INVITED TO JOIN NATO. POLAND AND HUNGARY ALSO HAVE RECEIVED INVITATIONS. THEIR THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON DISCUSSING THE ISSUE IN ADVANCE OF THE U-S SENATE'S CONSIDERATION.

THE AMENDED NATO TREATY MUST BE RATIFIED BY ALL 16 CURRENT MEMBERS. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS URGED THE U-S SENATE TO RATIFY THE TREATY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
11-Feb-98 7:56 AM EST (1256 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ON WEDNESDAY CLOSED MIXED, WITH FIGURES LITTLE CHANGED FROM THOSE ON TUESDAY. VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THERE WAS NOTHING OF ANY GREAT NEWS TO MARKET TRADERS TO MAKE THEM EITHER BUY OR SELL STOCKS, SO THE FIGURES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS SHOWED LITTLE MOVEMENT ON WEDNESDAY.

THE LONDON "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX POSTED A FIVE POINT DECLINE AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING. GERMANY'S KEY "DAX 30" INDEX IN FRANKFURT WAS DOWN AS WELL. THE DAX LOST SIX POINTS. ONLY THE PARIS "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX NUDGED UPWARDS, GAINING A MERE FOUR POINTS AT THE CLOSE.

ON CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST BOTH THE BRITISH POUND AND GERMAN MARK.

GOLD TRADING HERE IN LONDON WEDNESDAY SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE AS WELL. AN OUNCE OF GOLD WAS FIXED AT 299-DOLLARS-45 CENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/SP
11-Feb-98 2:02 PM EST (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH MAJOR INDEXES AGAIN CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 83 HUNDRED 14, UP 18 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 20, UP ONE POINT. BOTH INDEXES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW.

ANALYSTS SAY OPTIMISM CONTINUED AFTER TUESDAY'S BIG RALLY WHICH SAW THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAIN 115 POINTS. BUT THERE WAS CAUTION AMONG SOME TRADERS WHO WANT TO ASSESS ECONOMIC STATISTICS SUCH AS JANUARY RETAIL SALES AND THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WHICH WILL BE RELEASED THURSDAY.

THE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES SOFTWARE COMPANY IS OFFERING NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH IN A HOSTILE BID FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES, A TECHNOLOGY SERVICES COMPANY. THE TAKEOVER ATTEMPT CAME AFTER TALKS AIMED AT A FRIENDLY MERGER OF THE TWO COMPANIES BROKE DOWN.

A FRIENDLY TAKEOVER WAS ANNOUNCED BY I-B-M WHICH WILL PAY 180 MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE COMQUEST TECHNOLOGIES, A PRODUCER OF COMPUTER CHIPS FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONES.

THE EQUITABLE INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRM REPORTED A RECORD 23 PERCENT JUMP IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS. THE COMPANY CITED STRENGTH IN THE SECURITIES TRADING AND UNDERWRITING BUSINESSES.

THE GLAXO-WELLCOME PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY HAS RECEIVED U-S GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR A NEW DRUG TO TREAT MIGRAINE HEADACHES. THE NEW DRUG, NAMED AMERGE, IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE LONGER LASTING PAIN RELIEF THAN COMPETING MEDICINES.

THE LEVI STRAUSS CLOTHING COMPANY AND THE I-B-M COMPUTER CORPORATION RECEIVED THE FIRST ANNUAL RON BROWN AWARDS FOR CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AT A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY. THE FIRMS WERE HONORED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FIGHT RACISM AND FOSTER DIVERSITY IN THEIR WORK FORCES. THE AWARD IS NAMED FOR RON BROWN, THE LATE U-S SECRETARY OF COMMERCE WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 1996.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
11-Feb-98 5:17 PM EST (2217 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY/KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH WARPLANES WEDNESDAY ARE BOMBING REBEL KURD POSITIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE TURKISH AIR OFFENSIVE IS CONCENTRATED OVER IRAQ'S METINA REGION, JUST ACROSS THE TURKISH BORDER.

TEXT: TURKISH SECURITY OFFICIALS SAY F-16 FIGHTER JETS FROM BASES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF DIYARBAKIR WERE CARRYING OUT THE RAIDS AGAINST REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST "KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY," OR P-K-K. NEARLY 20 P-K-K REBELS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A SEPARATE CLASH ALSO NEAR THE METINA MOUNTAINS, TURKISH NEWSPAPERS REPORTED WEDNESDAY. TURKISH AND IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO DENY REPORTS THAT AROUND SEVEN-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS HAD CROSSED INTO THE WESTERN PROTECTED ENCLAVE MONDAY. BUT EYEWITNESSES IN THE REGION, INCLUDING WELL-INFORMED IRAQI KURDISH SOURCES, SAY OTHERWISE.

MONDAY'S INCURSION FOLLOWS LAST WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT THAT IT WOULD SEND TROOPS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ TO PREVENT AN INFLUX OF KURDISH CIVILIANS INTO TURKEY IN CASE THE UNITED STATES ATTACKS IRAQ. AROUND 50-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS ARE REPORTED TO BE MASSED ALONG THE IRAQI BORDER READY TO CROSS OVER AT ANY TIME.

TURKISH STATE MINISTER SALIH YILDIRIM CONFIRMED THAT MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN BY ANKARA TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO TO 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES IN WHAT SOME TURKISH OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A HUMANITARIAN SAFETY ZONE TO BE ESTABLISHED 15 KILOMETERS INSIDE IRAQI TERRITORY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
11-Feb-98 9:53 AM EST (1453 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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