Voice of America, 98-02-13

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] IRAQ/KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

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

INTRO: MOST OF THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ENDED THE WEEK WITH A GAIN FRIDAY. FOR THE CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE IS V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPE'S TOP THREE BOURSES POSTED HIGHER NUMBERS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING, DESPITE BIG DECLINES EARLIER IN THE DAY IN TOKYO AND HONG KONG. TRADING IN EUROPE BEGAN LOWER, BUT BUYING PICKED UP AS GENERALLY POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS WAS RELEASED FRIDAY.

GERMANY'S DAX INDEX REVERSED A SHARP DECLINE EARLY TO CLOSE IN LATE DAY ELECTRONIC TRADING UP 13 POINTS. THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX OF STOCKS GAINED NINE POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP NEARLY 30 POINTS FOR THE DAY. THE ONE-DAY GAINS FOR THE THREE STOCK INDEXES RANGED FROM ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-HALF PERCENT.

ON EUROPEAN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST THE BOTH GERMAN MARK AND BRITISH POUND. GOLD PRICES HELD STEADY AS WELL, HOVERING AROUND THE 299-DOLLAR AN OUNCE MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/MMK
13-Feb-98 12:53 PM EST (1753 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] IRAQ/KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: RIVAL KURDISH FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAVE AGREED TO COMPLY WITH A U-S-BROKERED CEASEFIRE THAT BROKE DOWN LAST OCTOBER. OFFICIALS FROM THE "KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY" -- OR "K-D-P" -- AND THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN -- OR "P-U-K" -- MET WEDNESDAY ON THE MATTER. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE CURRENT MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE GULF IS APPARENTLY FACTOR IN THE KURDISH TRUCE.

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM BOTH PARTIES DESCRIBED THE MEETING ARRANGED BY AZIZ MOHAMMED, THE FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE IRAQI COMMUNIST PARTY, AS VERY FRUITFUL.

HOSHYAR ZEBARI IS A LEADING OFFICIAL WITH THE K-D-P. HE TOLD V-O-A THAT THE TWO PARTIES HAD AGREED ON A NUMBER OF POINTS THAT COULD HELP PAVE THE WAY TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT.

THEY HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES, LIKE THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS, THE REPATRIATION OF DEPORTEES AND (ENDING) THE MEDIA ATTACKS ON EACH OTHER.

HOPES OF A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS FADED LAST OCTOBER AFTER THE P-U-K ATTACKED K-D-P POSITIONS, SHATTERING THE CEASEFIRE. THE K-D-P, BACKED BY TURKISH TROOPS, RETALIATED BY PUSHING P-U-K FORCES BACK TO THE FRONTLINE.

THE TWO PARTIES HAVE BEEN AT WAR FOR CONTROL OVER NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE MAY 1994. A U-S LED AIR FORCE BASED IN TURKEY ENFORCES A "NO-FLY ZONE" OVER THE AREA DECLARED BY THE ALLIES AT THE END OF THE 1991 GULF WAR.

MR. ZEBARI SAYS THE PEACE PROCESS HAS GAINED IMPETUS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CRISIS BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND IRAQ.

WELL IT'S TRUE THAT PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN THE P-U-K AND THE K-D-P HAS TAKEN A NEW IMPETUS AND (IS) DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY THE CURRENT CRISIS AND THE CURRENT STANDOFF BETWEEN THE U-N AND IRAQ. AND THE KURDISH PARTIES ARE LOOKING BEYOND THEIR IMMEDIATE INTEREST TO THE FUTURE OF THE KURDS IN IRAQ, IN THE EVENT THERE IS ANY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

THE KURDS HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION VERY CLEAR -- THAT THEY WANT FEDERATION WITHIN A UNITED IRAQ. THEY ARE NOT FOR DIVIDING THE COUNTRY. IT'S NOT IN OUR INTEREST. SO REALLY THESE REPORTS ARE UNFOUNDED.

MR. ZEBARI ALSO DENIES WIDESPREAD MEDIA REPORTS OF A FRESH TURKISH INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY NEW TURKISH MOVEMENT INTO IRAQI KURDISTAN RECENTLY, CONTRARY TO THESE PRESS REPORTS. THE K-D-P -- WHO IS IN CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE BORDER REGION WITH TURKEY -- HAS NOT SEEN ANY SUCH MOVEMENT.

ANKARA IS WORRIED ABOUT AN INFLUX OF KURDISH CIVILIANS FOLLOWING A U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ. TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL SEND TROOPS INTO THE WESTERN-PROTECTED KURDISH ENCLAVE IF NECESSARY TO STAUNCH THE FLOW OF REFUGEES, SHOULD SUCH A SITUATION ARISE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
13-Feb-98 9:06 AM EST (1406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (FRIDAY) BUT THE WIDELY FOLLOWED DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT ANOTHER RECORD HIGH. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 83 HUNDRED 70, UP A FRACTION OF ONE POINT. IT WAS THE FOURTH STRAIGHT DAY THAT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAS CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 181 POINTS OR TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT ONE THOUSAND 20, DOWN FOUR POINTS.

STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN FOR MOST OF THE DAY BUT SOME LATE BUYING LIFTED PRICES, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE STOCKS OF LARGE CORPORATIONS SUCH AS THOSE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS RETAIL INVENTORIES IN THE UNITED STATES GREW IN DECEMBER AT FOUR-TENTHS OF A PERCENT. ANALYSTS SAY IT IS A SIGN OF WEAKENED CONSUMER DEMAND AND A POSSIBLE SIGN OF A SLOWDOWN IN U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR.

A PLAN TO CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST ACCOUNTING AND CONSULTING FIRM HAS BEEN CANCELLED. K-P-M PEAT MARWICK AND THE ERNST AND YOUNG COMPANY HAVE CALLED OFF THEIR MERGER. THE COMPANIES SAY THEY WERE FACING POSSIBLE RESISTANCE TO THE MERGER BY GOVERNMENT REGULATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES.

A BITTER SIX YEAR STRIKE AGAINST THE CATERPILLAR HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPANY MAY HAVE COME TO AN END. CATERPILLAR HAS REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION BUT THE DEAL MUST STILL BE RATIFIED BY THE UNION MEMBERS. FUJI, THE JAPANESE-BASED PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, HAS COMPLAINED TO U-S OFFICIALS THAT SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES HAVE BEEN INFRINGING ITS U-S PATENTS FOR SINGLE-USE CAMERAS. THE COMPLAINT NAMES SEVERAL COMPANIES BUT NOT KODAK, FUJI'S CHIEF COMPETITOR IN THE U-S MARKET.

SOURCES IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY SAY THAT AIRBUS INDUSTRIES, THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM, IS ON THE VERGE OF RECEIVING MORE THAN FOUR BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ORDERS FROM SEVERAL LATIN AMERICAN AIRLINES. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAD COMPETED FOR THE ORDERS, CONCEDED THE REPORTS ARE PROBABLY TRUE.

MONDAY IS PRESIDENTS' DAY, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ALL U-S FINANCIAL MARKETS WILL BE CLOSED.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
13-Feb-98 4:59 PM EST (2159 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND'S TOP POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (I-R-A) WAS INVOLVED IN TWO RECENT MURDERS IN BELFAST. KEVIN KELLY IN BELFAST REPORTS BRITISH MINISTER MO MOWLAM SAYS SHE WILL CONSULT WITH THE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND OTHER PARTIES TAKING PART IN PEACE TALKS BEFORE DECIDING IF THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN, SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF THE DISCUSSIONS.

TEXT: IN A STATEMENT FRIDAY, THE SENIOR BRITISH MINISTER IN NORTHERN IRELAND, MO MOWLAM, SAID SHE HAD BEEN FULLY BRIEFED BY NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE CHIEF RONNIE FLANAGAN ABOUT THE TWO RECENT KILLINGS IN BELFAST. ONE OF THE VICTIMS WAS A CATHOLIC NARCOTICS DEALER WHO WAS KILLED MONDAY; THE OTHER WAS A MEMBER OF A LOYALIST PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION.

MS. MOWLAN SAID MR. FLANAGAN TOLD HER THAT HE BELIEVES THE I-R-A WAS INVOLVED IN BOTH MURDERS, AND AS SUCH HAD BROKEN THEIR CEASEFIRE.

THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR, IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN, AND PRESIDENT CLINTON ALL HAVE BEEN UPDATED ON THE DEVELOPMENTS.

MS. MOWLAM SAID THE ISSUE WOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AND BY ALL THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND TALKS PROCESS WHEN DISCUSSIONS RESUME IN THE IRISH CAPITAL, DUBLIN, ON MONDAY.

OBSERVERS SAID IT NOW SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE I-R-A, WILL BE EXPELLED FROM THOSE TALKS. HOWEVER, THE CHAIRMAN OF SINN FEIN, MITCHEL MCLAUGHLIN, INSISTS HIS PARTY HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN WITHIN THE PROCESS.

UNIONISTS DISAGREE, FEELING THAT SINN FEIN MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE TALKS. THEY SAY THEY HAVE BROKEN THE MITCHELL PRINCIPLES OF NON-VIOLENCE, WHICH WERE ESTABLISHED TO STOP SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS USING BOTH POLITICS AND VIOLENCE TO ACHIEVE THEIR AIMS.

WHAT IS CERTAIN IS THAT A DECISION ON THE MATTER WILL BE THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA WHEN THE PARTIES GATHER IN DUBLIN ON MONDAY MORNING. (SIGNED)
NEB/KK/JWH/WFR
13-Feb-98 6:47 AM EST (1147 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article