Voice of America, 98-02-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / SHKODRA (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] BOSNIA: HOPES FOR THE SERB REPUBLIC BY PAMELA TAYLOR (DATELINE)

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

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

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[01] ALBANIA / SHKODRA (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE RETAKEN CONTROL OF A TOWN IN NORTHERN ALBANIA, ONE DAY AFTER AN ARMED GANG SEIZED A POLICE STATION THERE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: SPECIAL FORCES ON THE GROUND, SUPPORTED BY TROOPS IN HELICOPTERS, WON BACK CONTROL OF THE TOWN OF SHKODRA MONDAY. THE SOLDIERS HAD TO FORCE THEIR WAY ACROSS A BRIDGE DEFENDED BY ARMED MEN TO GET INTO THE TOWN.

AN ARMED GROUP SUNDAY TOOK OVER A POLICE STATION AND FREED PRISONERS. IN THE CHAOS THAT FOLLOWED, BANKS WERE REPORTEDLY ROBBED OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, THE LIBRARY WAS SET ON FIRE, AND THE UNIVERSITY WAS LOOTED.

IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER THE ARMED GROUP HAD ANY POLITICAL MOTIVES, ALTHOUGH THE INTERIOR MINISTER (NERITAN CEKA) SAID SOME OF THEM HAD COME FROM (MONTENEGRO IN) YUGOSLAVIA AIMING TO DESTABILIZE ALBANIA.

ALBANIA PLUNGED INTO ANARCHY A YEAR AGO AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT SCHEMES. MANY WEAPONS WERE LOOTED FROM MILITARY DEPOTS AND POLICE HAVE STILL NOT FULLY RESTORED LAW AND ORDER. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/JO
23-Feb-98 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA: HOPES FOR THE SERB REPUBLIC BY PAMELA TAYLOR (DATELINE)

INTRO: WASHINGTON WARMLY WELCOMED THE NEW, MODERATE BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER LAST WEEK -- UNDERSCORING SOME RECENT DRAMATIC POLITICAL CHANGES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. DURING HIS 5-DAY VISIT, MILORAD DODIK MET WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND OTHER U-S OFFICIALS. THEY ASSURED HIM PROMISED U-S ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIA'S SERB ENTITY WILL GO FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAYS. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS:

TEXT: IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS WERE SIGNED AND WAR ENDED IN BOSNIA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS SPENT ABOUT 114 MILLION DOLLARS ON RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA, HOWEVER, RECEIVED VERY LITTLE OF THAT MONEY BECAUSE HARDLINE SERB LEADERS HAD BEEN REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE ALL THE TERMS OF DAYTON -- SPECIFICALLY TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

THAT ATTITUDE APPEARS BE CHANGING UNDER THE NEW BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER MILORAD DODIK. ONLY DAYS AFTER ASSUMING OFFICE IN JANUARY, MR. DODIK UNVEILED A SERIES OF MEASURES DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE SERB REPUBLIC'S NEW COMMITMENT TO DAYTON. AND, SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES, MR. DODIK ANNOUNCED HIS GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN BOSNIAN SERB CAPITAL, BANJA LUKA.

MR. DODIK CAME TO WASHINGTON WITH A MISSION: TO UNBLOCK MONEY TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. HE WARNED HE COULD BE FORCED TO RESIGNED IF EUROPEAN AND U-S AID IS NOT FORTHCOMING.

IF ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE DOES NOT COME THROUGH, MR. DODIK SAID, THE LOGICAL CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THAT THE SERB PEOPLE WILL DEMAND ANOTHER GOVERNMENT BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO IMPROVE THEIR LOT. MR. DODIK IMPLIED THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKELY BE MORE HARDLINE AND LESS COOPERATIVE THAN HIS OWN.

AFTER MEETING WITH THE BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER, BOTH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND BRIAN ATWOOD, DIRECTOR OF THE U-S AID AGENCY, PLEDGED TO WORK TO RELEASE 60 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE PROMISED -- BUT NOT DELIVERED -- TO THE SERB REPUBLIC.

THE U-S CONGRESS STOPPED THE FLOW OF FUNDS TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS AFTER REPORTS SERB HARDLINERS WERE TAKING A CUT OF ALL INTERNATIONAL AID MONEY.

MR. ATWOOD SAID HE HOPES NOW TO CONVINCE THE CONGRESS TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY ALLOTMENT TO THE SERB REPUBLIC FROM THREE TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONSULTATIONS WITH CONGRESS AND I DO NOT THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS. IT THINK HE HAS (MR. DODIK) MADE A REAL IMPRESSION ON OUR CONGRESS.

BRIAN ATWOOD SAYS HE ALSO EXPECTS GREATER COOPERATION FROM SERB OFFICIALS IN MAKING SURE AID MONEY DOES NOT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF EXTREMISTS. TOWARD THIS END, MR. ATWOOD SAID NATIONAL AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES IN THE SERB REPUBLIC ARE BEING ASKED TO SIGN SEPARATE PLEDGES TO ABIDE BY THE DAYTON ACCORDS BEFORE ANY MONEY IS RELEASED TO THEM.

WE WILL SCRUTINIZE COMPANIES THAT ASK FOR LOANS TO INSURE THERE ARE NOT ANY WAR CRIMINALS WORKING IN THOSE COMPANIES. WE WILL UNDERGO AS CAREFUL AN EXAMINATION OF THESE ISSUES AS POSSIBLE AND DODIK UNDERSTANDS THAT.

MR. ATWOOD SAID U-S OFFICIALS ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THE NEW BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT MUST SPEED UP PRIVATIZATION, END ALL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCE BY INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS AND ENSURE THAT ELECTED NON-SERB OFFICIALS IN THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA BE ALLOWED TO ASSUME THEIR POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/JO
23-Feb-98 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN A CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO THE REPORTED AGREEMENT ON THE IRAQ WEAPONS CRISIS. BUT JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE E-U MINISTERS REMAIN CAUTIOUS UNTIL FULL DETAILS OF THE DEAL HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.

TEXT: THERE WAS A FEELING OF RELIEF AS THE 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS GATHERED IN BRUSSELS FOR THEIR ROUTINE MONTHLY GATHERING. ALL THE SIGNS WERE THAT THE ELEVENTH HOUR MISSION OF THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL HAD BEEN A SUCCESS, AND THAT THE MILITARY OPTION WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED AGAINST IRAQ.

HAD THE ISSUE OF AIR STRIKES STILL BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE POLITICAL AGENDA, IT WOULD HAVE EXPOSED THE DIVISION OF THE 15 E-U GOVERNMENTS. INSTEAD, THEY WERE ABLE TO UNITE IN CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMING THE PROSPECT OF PEACE, AND THEY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING AN AGREEMENT WAS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE FIRM RESOLVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAID HE BELIEVES LITTLE WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THAT THREAT OF FORCE.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE GULF, BUT I THINK WHAT WE CAN SAY IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN BAGHDAD IS THAT IT HAS ALREADY PLAYED A VERY USEFUL PART. SADDAM IS A MAN WHO ONLY MAKES AGREEMENT UNDER PRESSURE, THIS TIME HE HAS LOOKED OVER THE BRINK AND IT MAY BE THAT HE HAD DECIDED IT WOULD BE WISER TO AGREE TO THE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING FOR A LONG TIME.

MR COOK NOTED THAT ONCE THE TEXT OF THE DEAL HAS BEEN STUDIED, AND IF IT PROVES ACCEPTABLE, IT MUST BE NAILED DOWN IN A NEW RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. HE SAID THE TEST OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE WHETHER IT ALLOWS FULL AND REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF ALL SITES IN IRAQ WHERE WEAPONS COULD BE MANUFACTURED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH/PLM
23-Feb-98 11:55 AM EST (1655 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING MONDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES ROSE TO RECORD HIGHS ON ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. BUT THE RECORD PACE FIZZLED OUT AFTER A SHAKY START ON WALL STREET.

IN FRANKFURT, THE FLOOR TRADING DAY ENDED WITH THE DAX INDEX AT A RECORD HIGH CLOSE. PRICES RETREATED IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, BUT THE DAX STILL ENDED UP ALMOST 28 POINTS, SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ALSO ENDED WELL BELOW THE DAY'S HIGHS. BUT IT WAS STILL UP 11 POINTS, MORE THAN THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

THE BIGGEST REVERSAL WAS IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX SET A RECORD HIGH EARLY IN THE DAY, THEN CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 49 POINTS, NINE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/WTW
23-Feb-98 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE REPORTED AGREEMENT BETWEEN U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND SADDAM HUSSEIN, POSSIBLY HEADING OFF A MILITARY CONFRONTATION, CAME TOO LATE OVER THE WEEKEND FOR A WIDE-SPREAD EDITORIAL REACTION. ONLY A FEW PAPERS, INCLUDING MONDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" HAS AN EDITORIAL ON THE TOPIC, ASSESSING THE EARLY INFORMATION. OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA AND THE REST OF WEST AFRICA; INDONESIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS; THE MONICA LEWINSKY AFFAIR; AND THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING. NOW, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO IS __________________WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE REPORTED DEAL HEADING OFF A MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ DRAWS THIS EARLY COMMENT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH THE PAPER SAYS IT CONDITIONAL ON LEARNING THE SPECIFICS.

VOICE: . ...AS SKETCHED OUT BY MR. ANNAN'S AIDES YESTERDAY, THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD APPEAR TO DEFUSE THE IRAQ CRISIS, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY. BY AGREEING TO PERMIT UNRESTRICTED INSPECTION OF PREVIOUSLY CLOSED PRESIDENTIAL SITES, MR. HUSSEIN HAS ENDED IRAQ'S MOST FLAGRANT DEFIANCE OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN THE WAKE OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. BUT THE AGREEMENT, BECAUSE IT IS LIMITED TO EIGHT CONTESTED SITES, LEAVES OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF IRAQI BELLIGERENCE ABOUT OTHER LOCATIONS. ... BY BACKING DIPLOMACY WITH THE THREAT OF MILITARY FORCE, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SO FAR HANDLED THE CRISIS WITH SKILL. IF THE ANNAN DEAL IS SOUND, AND MR. HUSSEIN CARRIES IT OUT IN GOOD FAITH, MR. CLINTON SHOULD BE NO LESS WILLING TO ACCEPT IT THAN HE HAS BEEN TO USE MILITARY FORCE.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE LATEST VIOLENCE IN WEST AFRICA, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS SUGGESTING NIGERIA, THE REGIONAL POWER THERE, NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS OWN INTERNAL PROBLEMS AS IT ASSERTS ITS BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON ITS NEIGHBORS.

VOICE: PEACE IS AT HAND IN SIERRA LEONE BECAUSE OF THE MIGHT OF NIGERIAN PEACEKEEPERS WHO APPEAR WILLING TO SALVAGE DEMOCRACY IN EVERY WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY BUT THEIR OWN. THEIR CAPTURE OF FREETOWN, THE CAPITAL ... AND THEIR VICTORY OVER THE MILITARY JUNTA THAT OUSTED PRESIDENT AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH REPRESENT AN AFRICAN SOLUTION TO AN AFRICAN PROBLEM AND DEMONSTRATE NIGERIA'S CLOUT IN THE REGION. ... BUT WHEN WILL THE NIGERIAN GENERALS GIVE AID TO THE CAUSE OF DEMOCRACY AT HOME IN LAGOS AND TOSS OUT THE ILLEGAL REGIME OF THEIR COMMANDER AND PRESIDENT, GENERAL SANI ABACHA? WHAT IS RIGHT FOR SIERRA LEONE SHOULD BE RIGHT FOR NIGERIA TOO.

TEXT: TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN" CONTINUES TO CRITICIZE THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ITS REFUSAL TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE U-S AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND IN RESCUING ITS ECONOMY FROM COLLAPSE.

VOICE: WHILE MALAYSIA, THAILAND, SOUTH KOREA AND THE PHILIPPINES MAY HAVE TURNED THE CORNER OF THEIR FINANCIAL CRISES, INDONESIA'S PLIGHT WORSENS. SOCIAL BREAKDOWN LOOMS AS FOOD RIOTS INCREASE. POLITICAL OSSIFICATION PREVENTS AN ECONOMIC SOLUTION. PRESIDENT SUHARTO, AT 76, IS HAVING HIMSELF ELECTED NEXT MONTH, BY A HAND-PICKED ASSEMBLY, TO A SEVENTH FIVE-YEAR TERM. HE IS HAVING HIS OLD CRONY, B. JUSUF HABIBIE, THE ARCHITECT OF GRANDIOSE PROJECTS AND THE ENEMY OF REFORM, MADE VICE PRESIDENT AND SUCCESSOR. THIS REPUDIATES THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, WHOSE 43-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT PLAN DEPENDS ON REFORM. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SACKED THE CENTRAL BANK CHIEF, WHO NEGOTIATED THE I-M-F BAILOUT. ... ADOPTING A CURRENCY BOARD NOW COULD SEND PRECIOUS DOLLARS OUT OF CIRCULATION, BOOST INTEREST RATES, CURTAIL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND FRIGHTEN PRIVATE WEALTH OUT OF INDONESIA.

TEXT: BACK AT HOME, THERE IS STILL COMMENT ON THE ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN, MONICA LEWINSKY. TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" COMMENTS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THAT CASE, AND IN THE OLDER, WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION, ALL HEADED BY SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR.

VOICE: THERE WAS, TO BEGIN WITH, THE THURSDAY APPEARANCE OF CLINTON CONFIDANT BRUCE LINDSEY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL. ... MR. LINDSEY'S TESTIMONY WILL ... BE TROUBLESOME BECAUSE OF THE CLAIM OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE MR. CLINTON IS THREATENING TO USE TO KEEP UNDER WRAPS ANYTHING HE MIGHT HAVE TOLD MR. LINDSEY ABOUT WHAT WENT ON WITH MONICA LEWINSKY IN THE OVAL OFFICE. ... NO SOONER HAD MR. LINDSEY AND HIS LEGAL PHALANX FINISHED THE FIRST ROUND OF JOUSTING WITH THE GRAND JURY, IT SEEMS, THAN THE STORY BROKE THAT MR. STARR HAD WON A GUILTY PLEA -- AND A PROMISE OF COOPERATION IN THE ONGOING WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION -- FROM FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR, AND CONVICTED WHITEWATER FELON, JIM GUY TUCKER, WHOSE SECOND FRAUD TRIAL WAS DUE TO OPEN THIS WEEK. [EX-GOVERNOR] TUCKER ... COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT -- TO BOTH BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON. FOR ONE THING, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE CAN CORROBORATE CLAIMS ... THAT BILL CLINTON PRESSURED [MUNICIPAL JUDGE DAVID] HALE TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL 300-THOUSAND DOLLAR LOAN TO SUSAN MCDOUGAL -- WHICH MR. CLINTON HAS DENIED UNDER OATH. ... ON THE WHOLE, NOT A HAPPY WEEK AT THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: AS REGARDS ANOTHER OFT-REPEATED CHARGE, SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STAR IS INVOLVED IN A PERSONAL AND PARTISAN VENDETTA AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, THE NATIONAL DAILY "USA TODAY" SAYS IN A MONDAY EDITORIAL -- [THE] FACTS DO NOT SUPPORT [THAT] CLAIM. LASTLY, IN NEW YORK, AT LEAST ONE DAILY, "THE POST" IS NOTING THE FORTHCOMING FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING, WITH THESE THOUGHTS.

VOICE: ARIZONA REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN KYL'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND TERRORISM WILL MARK THE APPROACHING FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE W-T-C ATTACK WITH AN EXAMINATION BOTH OF THE BOMBING AND OF WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED ABOUT THE LARGER THREAT RADICAL ISLAM PRESENTS TO THE UNITED STATES. IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE APPROPRIATE TOPIC -- GIVEN THAT THE U-S IS ABOUT TO GO TO WAR AGAINST IRAQ, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTERS OF TERROR AND TERRORISTS.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
23-Feb-98 10:09 AM EST (1509 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 UP TODAY (MONDAY), WITH SOME MAJOR INDEXES CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 84-HUNDRED-10, DOWN THREE POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE-THOUSAND-38, UP FOUR POINTS, AND A RECORD HIGH. THE NASDAQ (NAZ-DAK) INDEX OF STOCKS TRADED IN THE COMPUTERIZED MARKET ALSO CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH.

STOCK PRICES WERE STRONG FOR MOST OF THE DAY, BUT SOME WEAKNESS IN MAJOR OIL-COMPANY STOCKS HELD THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE BACK. ANALYSTS SAY THE APPARENT DEAL TO PREVENT U-S AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ MAY FURTHER DEPRESS OIL PRICES.

WORKERS AT THE CATERPILLAR HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPANY HAVE REJECTED A PROPOSED UNION CONTRACT THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED A SIX-YEAR LABOR DISPUTE. HOWEVER, WORKERS WILL STAY ON THE JOB WHILE NEGOTIATIONS RESUME.

THE RAYTHEON CORPORATION WILL SELL ITS LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT BUSINESS TO THE BAIN CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM FOR 358 MILLION DOLLARS. ITS IS PART OF RAYTHEON'S STRATEGY TO CONCENTRATE EXCLUSIVELY ON ITS AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE BUSINESSES.

BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS INVITED BIDS FOR 100 NEW JETLINERS. BOEING OF THE UNITED STATES AND AIRBUS INDUSTRIES OF EUROPE ARE EXPECTED TO COMPETE VIGOROUSLY FOR THE ORDERS, ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH MORE THAN THREE BILLION DOLLARS.

THE TROUBLED OXFORD HEALTH CARE COMPANY IS ABOUT TO GET NEW LEADERSHIP, WITH THE FIRM'S FOUNDER, STEPHEN WIGGINS, READY TO STEP DOWN AS CHAIRMAN. OXFORD, WHICH SOME ANALYSTS SAY GREW TOO QUICKLY, IS FACING HUGE LOSSES, AND IS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE A 700-MILLION-DOLLAR CASH INFUSION FROM A PRIVATE INVESTMENT GROUP. WILLIAM MCKEEVER, WHO FOLLOWS OXFORD FOR THE SCHRODER WERTHEIM INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAYS THE HEALTH CARE FIRM NEEDS EXPERIENCED MANAGERS.

THEY REALLY NEED SEASONED PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD AT RUNNING A LARGE CORPORATION. OXFORD HAS NOW GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY FOUR BILLION DOLLARS OF REVENUES.

OXFORD IS ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
23-Feb-98 5:07 PM EST (2207 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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