Voice of America, 98-03-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-UPDATE-CQ) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] EU / BEEF (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[04] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] ISRAEL / EUROPE (L UPDATE) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

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

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

[08] U-S / NATO (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[09] US-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-UPDATE-CQ) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WASHINGTON CELEBRATIONS OF SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TUESDAY TO TRY TO GIVE A BOOST TO NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE EFFORTS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: KEY FIGURES IN THE BELFAST NEGOTIATIONS ARE ATTENDING WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL SAINT PATRICKS DAY RECEPTIONS. AND THE PRESIDENT IS HAVING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH THE PARTIES TO ADVANCE THE TALKS, SEEN HERE TO BE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE.

FIRST ON THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE IS THE LEADER OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL WING GERRY ADAMS, WHOSE GROUP WAS RECENTLY BANISHED FROM THE TALKS AFTER BELFAST KILLINGS SEEN TO HAVE BEEN THE WORK OF THE I-R-A. CLINTON FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER JIM STEINBERG SAYS THE PRESIDENT WILL TELL MR. ADAMS THERE CAN BE NO RETURN TO VIOLENCE:

I THINK HE'S GOING TO MAKE VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES CONTINUE. THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE. AND THAT PARTIES WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF NORTHERN IRELAND NEED TO BE COMMITTED EXCLUSIVELY TO PEACEFUL MEANS.

MR. STEINBERG WARNED OF POSSIBLE SABOTAGE BY BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT EXTREMISTS AS THE BELFAST TALKS NEAR AN AGREEMENT. OFFICIALS BELIEVE AN ACCORD COULD BE STRUCK BY MID-APRIL TO BE FOLLOWED BY AN ULSTER REFERENDUM IN MAY. (SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 6:11 PM EST (2311 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EU / BEEF (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: BRITISH BEEF IS EXPECTED TO BE EXPORTED AGAIN WITHIN WEEKS, FOLLOWING A VOTE (MONDAY) BY EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE MINISTERS TO EASE THE GLOBAL EXPORT BAN THAT HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR TWO YEARS. AT FIRST THE EASING OF THE BAN WILL APPLY ONLY TO NORTHERN IRELAND. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE VOTE CAME AS A BIG BOOST TO NORTHERN IRELAND.

ELEVEN OF THE 15 EU STATES WERE IN FAVOR OF THE BRITISH PROPOSAL, UNDER WHICH MEAT FROM HERDS IN NORTHERN IRELAND WHICH HAVE BEEN FREE OF MAD COW DISEASE FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS CAN BE EXPORTED AROUND THE WORLD.

GERMANY AND BELGIUM VOTED AGAINST THIS SCHEME WITH SPAIN AND LUXEMBOURG ABSTAINING.

THE E-U AGREEMENT IS THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGH FOR BRITISH FARMERS SINCE THE BAN WAS IMPOSED TWO YEARS AGO, BECAUSE OF FEARS OF A LINK BETWEEN MAD-COW DISEASE AND ITS HUMAN EQUIVALENT.

BRITISH FARM MINISTER LORD BERNARD DONOUGHUE SAYS THAT THE VOTE IS GOOD NEWS FOR BEEF PRODUCERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

THE DECISION TO ALLOW NORTHERN IRELAND BEEF EXPORTS TO RESUME IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO TRADE WORTH 160 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST YEAR, WITH HOLLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA AS THE MAIN MARKETS.

A TEAM OF E-U VETERINARY INSPECTORS IS SHORTLY DUE TO VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND TO ENSURE THAT THE BEEF EXPORT SCHEME CAN BE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY OPERATED.

IF THEY ARE CONVINCED OF THIS, BRITISH OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT EXPORTS COULD START UP AGAIN WITHIN WEEKS.

NORTHERN IRELAND IS THE ONLY PART OF BRITAIN WHICH E-U OFFICIALS BELIEVE CAN ADMINISTER SUCH A SCHEME, BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH A FULLY COMPUTERIZED DATA BASE COVERING BEEF AND DAIRY HERDS.

WITHOUT THIS COMPUTER SYSTEM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRODUCE THE DETAILED RECORDS OF HERDS AND ANIMAL MOVEMENTS FROM BIRTH TO SLAUGHTER WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY BRITAIN'S E-U PARTNERS.

THE LONDON GOVERNMENT IS NOW PRESSING FOR SPEEDY E-U AGREEMENT ON ANOTHER BRITISH PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ALLOW EXPORTS TO RESUME FOR BEEF FROM ALL BRITISH ANIMALS BORN AFTER AUGUST 1996.

THAT MONTH SAW THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL CONTROLS TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF THE MAD-COW DISEASE. (SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 4:30 PM EST (2130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: PRICES ADVANCED ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, WITH PARIS AND FRANKFURT SETTING NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGHS.

IN FRANKFURT, PRICES DECLINED DURING THE FLOOR TRADING SESSION. BUT THEN, IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE DAX INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 33 POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP 58 POINTS, ONE-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE FRACTIONALLY, LESS THAN THREE POINTS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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16-Mar-98 2:08 PM EST (1908 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRENCH POLITICIANS -- FRESH FROM REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN WHICH THE GOVERNING LEFT-WING COALITION MADE SUBSTANTIAL GAINS -- ARE NOW INVOLVED IN BARGAINING OVER THE PRESIDENCIES OF THE IMPORTANT REGIONAL COUNCILS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE REGIONAL ELECTIONS SUNDAY WAS THE RATE OF ABSTENTION. NEARLY 42 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS DID NOT TURN OUT TO VOTE -- A RECORD FOR A FRENCH NATIONAL ELECTION.

AS RESULTS CAME IN, POLITICIANS FROM ALL SIDES EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE LOW TURNOUT, ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE FINAL VOTE.

THE GOVERNMENT COALITION OF SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS, AND ECOLOGISTS MADE SUBSTANTIAL GAINS, AS HAD BEEN EXPECTED. THE LEFT IS NOW SET TO RUN 12 OF FRANCE'S 22 REGIONAL COUNCILS. THE RIGHT, WHICH HAD CONTROL OF 20 COUNCILS AFTER THE LAST REGIONAL POLL IN 1992, PROBABLY WILL SEE ITS NUMBER REDUCED TO 10.

THOSE FIGURES COULD CHANGE IF ANY OF THE MAINSTREAM PARTIES ARE PREPARED TO STRIKE DEALS WITH THE EXTREME RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT. THE NATIONAL FRONT, CONFIRMING ITS SCORE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST YEAR, TOOK JUST OVER 15 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL TOTAL IN THE REGIONAL VOTE.

ALL MAJOR PARTIES SAY THEY WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION NATIONAL FRONT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. ON A LOCAL LEVEL, HOWEVER, THIS MIGHT CHANGE AND THE TEMPTATIONS WILL INCREASE AS THE ELECTIONS TO THE REGIONAL PRESIDENCIES APPROACHES. THE PRESIDENTS WILL BE CHOSEN WHEN THE NEW COUNCILS MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FRIDAY.

THE MAIN LONG-TERM FALLOUT OF THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE TWO CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION PARTIES. ALTHOUGH THEY DID MUCH BETTER THAN SOME OPINION POLLS HAD PREDICTED, THEIR LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE TO REFORM TO RECAPTURE VOTER CONFIDENCE. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR REGULAR SUPPORTERS, ACCORDING TO OPINION POLLS, INSIST THAT THEY MUST NOT DO ANY DEALS WITH THE NATIONAL FRONT. SO, JUST HOW THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WILL TRY TO REGENERATE ITSELF IS LIKELY TO BE THE MAIN FRENCH POLITICAL QUESTION IN THE COMING MONTHS. ALREADY, WITHIN THE GAULLIST R-P-R PARTY, TWO VIEWPOINTS HAVE EMERGED.

FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD BALLADUR SAYS THE TWO OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD UNITE INTO ONE GROUP. PHILIPPE SEGUIN, THE GAULLIST PARTY PRESIDENT, SAYS THE TWO PARTIES MUST KEEP THEIR SEPARATE IDENTITY. THIS LEAVES THE INITIATIVE IN THE HANDS OF PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, WHO NOW HAS TO REBUILD HIS POLITICAL BASE IF HE WANTS A CHANCE OF RE-ELECTION WHEN HIS TERM ENDS IN FOUR YEARS' TIME. (SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ISRAEL / EUROPE (L UPDATE) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: A DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE BETWEEN BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SETTLED. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THE DISPUTE HAD THREATENED TO SPOIL MR. COOK'S VISIT TO ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES ON TUESDAY.

TEXT: MR. COOK WAS PLANNING TO VISIT A DISPUTED HILLTOP ON THE EDGE OF JERUSALEM ESCORTED BY PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS. THAT INFURIATED ISRAELI LEADERS, WHO SAID IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR EUROPE TO PLAY AN ENHANCED ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.

BRITAIN HOLDS THE ROTATING PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. MR. COOK SAID HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO TO THE HILL -- WHICH ISRAEL CALLS HAR HOMA AND THE PALESTINIANS CALL JABAL ABU GHNEIM -- BECAUSE IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH SIDES FOR HIM TO SEE THE SITUATION FOR HIMSELF. IT IS THE SAME HILL WHICH HELPED CREATE THE CURRENT DEADLOCK IN THE PEACE PROCESS, WHEN ISRAEL BEGAN BUILDING A HOUSING PROJECT ON IT A YEAR AGO.

LATE MONDAY, ISRAELI AND BRITISH DIPLOMATS SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND ANNOUNCED MR. COOK WILL VISIT THE SITE ESCORTED BY ISRAELI OFFICIALS. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE HE COULD VISIT A NEARBY HILL AND HAVE A LOOK AT THE DISPUTED LOCATION FROM THE PALESTINIAN SIDE.

THAT PARTICULAR DIPLOMATIC TEMPEST HAS BEEN EASED. BUT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID BAR ILLAN SAYS THE ORIGINAL BRITISH PLAN CONFIRMS THE LONG-HELD ISRAELI VIEW THAT EUROPE IS TOO PRO-PALESTINIAN TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MIDDLE EAST MEDIATOR.

WHAT WE FEEL IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY POSITIONS SEEM TO ECHO THE PALESTINIAN DEMANDS, IN FACT THEY ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THEM, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO CONSIDER THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AN HONEST BROKER.

ISRAEL SAYS HAR HOMA, OR JABAL ABU GHNEIM, IS IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF JERUSALEM. THE PALESTINIANS SAY IT IS A RURAL AREA THAT BELONGS TO THE WEST BANK, AND SHOULD EVENTUALLY COME UNDER PALESTINIAN CONTROL.

ISRAEL SAYS THE HOUSING PROJECT IS A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD OF JERUSALEM. THE PALESTINIANS, AND NOW MR. COOK, CALL IT A "SETTLEMENT" -- A TERM WHICH REFERS TO ISRAELI TOWNS IN PALESTINIAN AREAS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA. (SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 2:12 PM EST (1912 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A NATIONALLY TELEVISED NEWS INTERVIEW IN WHICH ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE ACCUSED PRESIDENT CLINTON OF IMPROPER SEXUAL ADVANCES TOLD HER STORY IS ALREADY DRAWING EDITORIAL COMMENT. OTHER TOPICS IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS INCLUDE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PENDING TRIP TO AFRICA; THE CHINESE ECONOMY: THE EROSION OF DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG; THE BIG U-S DEBT TO THE UNITED NATIONS; AND THE VOLATILE SITUATION IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THESE COMMENTARIES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: KATHLEEN WILLEY, THE WIDOW OF A RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, BUSINESSMAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUPPORTER, TOLD HER STORY OF BEING SEXUALLY ACCOSTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A HALLWAY NEAR THE OVAL OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE, ON THE CBS NEWS PROGRAM "60 MINUTES." SHE ADDED LITTLE TO HER SWORN TESTIMONY BEFORE A FEDERAL GRAND JURY WHICH, ALTHOUGH SECRET, HAD COME OUT IN THE PRESS. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS VEHEMENTLY DENIED MS. WILLEY'S VERSION OF EVENTS.

BUT THE NATIONAL TELEVISION EXPOSURE HAS PUT THE ISSUE OF THE PRESIDENT"S ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SQUARELY BACK ON THE FRONT PAGES OF THE NEWSPAPERS. IN AN EDITORIAL, "USA TODAY" WONDERS: WHO'S LYING.

VOICE: WHEN PAULA JONES' ATTORNEYS DISGORGED THEIR 700 PAGE FILING FRIDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LAWYER, ROBERT BENNETT, CALLED IT 'A PACK OF LIES.' ... THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS THE JONES SAGA UNFOLDS, THE CAST OF PEOPLE WHO ALSO MUST BE LYING STEADILY GROWS BIGGER. NOW IT IS NOT ONLY [MS.] JONES BUT ALSO MONICA LEWINSKY, KATHLEEN WILLEY, GENNIFER FLOWERS, LINDA TRIPP, DOLLY KYLE BROWNING, AND SEVERAL ARKANSAS STATE TROOPERS. AS THE DOCUMENTS RELEASED FRIDAY SHOW, MOST GAVE SWORN STATEMENTS THAT DIRECTLY CONTRADICT CLAIMS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT. ... THE LARGER QUESTION IS HOW MUCH ANY OF THIS MATTERS. THE PUBLIC VOTED [MR.] CLINTON INTO OFFICE TWICE, DESPITE REPEATED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL IMPROPRIETIES, AND HIS POPULARITY HAS ONLY CLIMBED IN THE WAKE OF THE NEWER REVELATIONS. WITH THE ECONOMY BOOMING, AMERICANS RIGHTLY SEE IT AS A HIGHER PRIORITY AND GIVE THE PRESIDENT HIGH MARKS. ... ROARING ECONOMY OR NOT, IF [MR.] CLINTON IS FOUND TO HAVE DISGRACED THE PRESIDENCY AND LIED TO THE NATION, HE IS UNLIKELY TO ESCAPE UNSCATHED.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" IS MORE CRITICAL, NOTING:

VOICE: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A PORTRAIT OF A SEXUALLY DRIVEN MR. CLINTON USING HIS POLITICAL POSITION TO GET WOMEN, ASKING THEM TO LIE ABOUT IT, OFFERING JOBS AS INCENTIVES FOR SILENCE OR THREATS AS DETERRENTS TO THE TRUTH, AND GETTING FRIENDS AND ALLIES TO HELP HIM COVER UP HIS UNWHOLESOME ACTIVITIES. WHATEVER THE EFFECT OF ALL THE TESTIMONY ON THE PAULA JONES CASE ITSELF, THERE IS SIMPLY NO DENYING THAT THESE PAGES [A REFERENCE TO THE 700 PAGE BRIEF FILED IN THE PAUL JONES CASE LAST FRIDAY, ASKING THE U-S COURT NOT TO DISMISS THE CASE, AS THE CLINTON LAW TEAM HAD ASKED] CONVEY A DEEPLY UNFLATTERING AND TROUBLING PORTRAIT OF THE PRESIDENT.

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER PRESIDENTIAL NEWS, MR. CLINTON IS READYING HIMSELF FOR AN EXTENSIVE TRIP TO AFRICA, AND "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE NOTES:

VOICE: AFTER DECADES OF BENIGN NEGLECT, THE UNITED STATES IS FINALLY BEGINNING TO PAY ATTENTION TO AFRICA. THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEEK PASSED A BROAD BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A NEW U-S TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY FOR THE 48-COUNTRIES OF THE SUB-SAHARAN REGION. THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SCHEDULED TO BECOME THE FIRST U-S PRESIDENT IN 20 YEARS TO VISIT BLACK AFRICA. HIS SIX-NATION ITINERARY INCLUDES SOME OF THE CONTINENT'S MOST STABLE AND PROMISING COUNTRIES -- SENEGAL, GHANA, UGANDA, BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA. RWANDA, THE SCENE OF MUCH RECENT BLOODY SUFFERING AND TRIBAL WARFARE, HAS NOW BEEN ADDED TO THE TOUR ... THIS KIND OF HIGH-LEVEL U-S ATTENTION IS LONG OVERDUE. ... ON HIS TRIP, MR. CLINTON SHOULD REASSURE AFRICAN LEADERS THAT THEY WILL BE SUPPORTED IF THEY STRIVE FOR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE ORIENT, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS WORRIED ABOUT CHINA'S NEW DRIVE TO DISMANTLE MAJOR PARTS OF ITS OLD AND INEFFICIENT STATE-RUN ECONOMY, IN FAVOR OF MORE FREE ENTERPRISE BUSINESS. BUT SAYS "THE TIMES:"

VOICE: .... BEIJING APPEARS TO HAVE LITTLE CHOICE, BUT NEVERTHELESS ... RUNS THE RISK OF UPSETTING A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL UNREST. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD MEAN MASSIVE JOB LOSSES. BUT DOING NOTHING COULD DRAG CHINA DOWN THE ASIAN WHIRLPOOL. A STABLE CHINA IS VITAL TO U-S INTERESTS IN THE REGION.

TEXT: AND STILL WITH CHINA, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SEES DEMOCRACY ERODING, VERY GRADUALLY IN THE FORMER BRITISH CROWN COLONY OF HONG KONG.

VOICE: THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION REMAINS: WHETHER HONG KONG CAN HOLD ONTO FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY AS PART OF A COUNTRY WITH FAR LESS OF BOTH. ... SOME EARLY SIGNS ARE DISCOURAGING. A BEIJING-INSTALLED GOVERNOR AND PARLIAMENT HAVE APPROVED A CONVOLUTED SYSTEM FOR THIS MAY'S ELECTION, INVOLVING INDIRECT VOTES AND RESERVED SEATS, THAT WILL GUARANTEE POLITICAL CONTROL TO BUSINESS INTERESTS FAVORABLE TO CHINA AND SUSPICIOUS OF DEMOCRACY. NOW COMES RENEWED PRESSURE ON HONG KONG'S FREE MEDIA, WHICH ... REPRESENT THE BEST HOPE FOR PRESERVING 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS.' A PRO-CHINA MEDIA BARON, XU SIMIN, CHOSE BEIJING AS HIS VENUE TO ATTACK RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG ... FOR BROADCASTING TOO MUCH CRITICISM OF CHINA AND ITS APPOINTEES IN HONG KONG. ... HONG KONG NOW FACES THE DANGER OF MOVING TOWARD THE CRONY CAPITALISM AND CENSORSHIP THAT HAVE BEEN DISCREDITED ELSEWHERE.

TEXT: THE NAGGING ISSUE OF THIS COUNTRY'S HUGE BACK DEBT TO THE UNITED NATIONS IS AGAIN DRAWING COMMENT, THIS TIME FROM "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, " WHICH NOTES:

VOICE: WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THE DAY WOULD COME WHEN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WOULD BE HELPING SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HURTING U-S BUSINESS INTERESTS? THAT IS JUST WHAT GOP LAWMAKERS ARE DOING WITH THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK U-S PAYMENT OF NEARLY ONE-BILLION [DOLLARS] IN ARREARS TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND U-S CREDITS TO HELP CONTAIN ASIA'S ECONOMIC TURMOIL. ... /// OPT /// IF WASHINGTON KEEPS STIFFING THE UNITED NATIONS UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR, IT WILL LOSE ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE, IN COMPANY WITH OTHER DEADBEATS SUCH AS CAPE VERDE, CHAD, TOGO AND VANUATU. IT WILL ALSO LOSE THE CHANCE TO LOWER ITS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION, LEGALLY, A MOVE THAT REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WANT. ITS TIME FOR THEM TO STOP PLAYING GAMES THAT HURT U-S INTERESTS ABROAD. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE TENSION IN THE ALBANIAN-MAJORITY YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, "NEWSDAY" IS SUGGESTING U-S TROOPS BE KEPT ON THE READY IN NEARBY MACEDONIA.

VOICE: FOR NOW, THE INTERNATIONAL UPROAR IN RESPONSE TO [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC'S MASSACRES IN KOSOVO HAS PERSUADED HIM TO SUSPEND MILITARY OPERATIONS. BUT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? WASHINGTON AND ITS ALLIES ARE SENDING OUT AMBIGUOUS SIGNALS. IT IS CLEAR THEY WANT [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO STOP TREATING KOSOVO AS A ZONE UNDER MILITARY OCCUPATION. BUT IT IS EQUALLY EVIDENT THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO SEE KOSOVO, WHICH IS 90-PERCENT MUSLIM AND ALBANIAN, SPLIT OFF FROM SERBIA INTO A SEPARATE NATION ... WHAT TO DO? NO ONE HAS A CLUE [A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.]

TEXT: LASTLY, FROM NEBRASKA, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" REJOICES AT NEWS THAT OVERALL CANCER RATES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE GOING DOWN.

VOICE: THE REPORT PROVES THAT PEOPLE AREN'T HELPLESS WHEN IT COMES TO CANCER. THEY CAN REDUCE THE DANGER. ... IN GENERAL, CANCER OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN MINORITIES OR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE THAN IN MIDDLE-CLASS WHITE PEOPLE. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES ATTENTION FROM THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS CAUSED THE SITUATION AND HOW IT CAN BE ADDRESSED. ... BY CHOOSING A HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLE, MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AVOID THE DISEASE ENTIRELY OR, IF WARNING SIGNS APPEAR, SEEK TREATMENT PROMPTLY WHEN THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE HIGHER.

TEXT: ON THAT HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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16-Mar-98 10:44 AM EST (1544 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 UP SHARPLY TODAY (MONDAY) WITH MAJOR INDEXES SETTING RECORD HIGHS, FOLLOWING COMMENTS FROM A VERY INFLUENTIAL INVESTOR. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 87 HUNDRED 18, UP 116 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 79, UP 10 POINTS. BOTH INDEXES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS.

MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE RALLY WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF COMMENTS FROM A VERY INFLUENTIAL INVESTOR, WARREN BUFFETT. IN AN ANNUAL LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF HIS INVESTMENT FIRM, MR. BUFFETT SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE U-S STOCKS ARE CURRENTLY OVER-VALUED.

ANALYSTS SAY AN ONGOING REASON FOR RISING STOCK PRICES IS THE FLOOD OF MONEY THAT INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS CONTINUE TO POUR INTO MUTUAL FUNDS. THE INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE SAYS THAT NET NEW CASH FLOWING INTO FUNDS LAST MONTH WAS 28 BILLION DOLLARS, UP TWO BILLION DOLLARS FROM JANUARY.

THE ALLTEL CORPORATION WILL BUY THE 360 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION IN A STOCK DEAL VALUED AT FOUR POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS. THE COMPANIES PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN THE SOUTHEAST AND MIDWEST REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES.

FINANCIER CARL ICAHN HAS DROPPED HIS 43 MILLION DOLLAR BID TO BUY BANKRUPT PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS. MR. ICAHN SAYS HIS OFFER HAD BEEN "MISUNDERSTOOD" BY THE BANKRUPTCY COURT JUDGE WHO HAD EXPRESSED SERIOUS MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL. IN THE MEANTIME, PAN AM IS TALKING WITH ANOTHER INVESTOR ABOUT A RESCUE PLAN.

LAIDLAW ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WILL PAY ONE POINT EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS FOR SAFETY-KLEEN, ANOTHER WASTE MANAGEMENT FIRM. SAFETY-KLEEN IS THE LARGEST MOTOR OIL RECYCLING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. NIKE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR, SAYS IT WILL CUT MORE THAN THREE PERCENT OF ITS U-S WORK FORCE AND ELIMINATE AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF JOBS INTERNATIONALLY. NIKE SAYS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE LAYOFFS IS WEAKER DEMAND IN MANY ASIAN MARKETS.

ONE STOCK THAT DID NOT PERFORM WELL AS A RESULT OF WARREN BUFFET'S ANNUAL REPORT TO HIS SHAREHOLDERS WAS THAT OF THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN. MCDONALD'S IS NO LONGER AMONG HIS INVESTMENT COMPANY'S TOP HOLDINGS. MR. BUFFETT MADE NO COMMENT ON THAT AND NEITHER DID MCDONALD'S. HOWEVER, SOME ANALYSTS SAY MR. BUFFETT IS NO LONGER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MCDONALD'S LONG-TERM GROWTH PROSPECTS.(SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 4:59 PM EST (2159 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / NATO (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: AS THE U-S SENATE PREPARES TO OPEN DEBATE ON RATIFYING NEW NATO MEMBERS, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS APPEALING TO LAWMAKERS TO REJECT A PROPOSAL TO SLOW THE PACE OF EXPANDING THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DEBATE THIS WEEK ON RATIFYING POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION.

BUT SOME SENATORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY IMPLICATIONS OF NATO ENLARGEMENT. REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN WARNER HAS PROPOSED THAT THE ALLIES CALL A MORATORIUM ON A SECOND ROUND OF EXPANSION, TO ALLOW TIME TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.

BUT IN A TWO-AND-A-HALF PAGE LETTER TO SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, RELEASED MONDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON URGES LAWMAKERS TO REJECT ANY EFFORT THAT WOULD PUT A HOLD ON THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT -- SAYING IT WOULD BE, IN HIS WORDS, 'UNNECESSARY AND UNWISE'.

MR. CLINTON WARNS SUCH A MORATORIUM WOULD REDUCE U-S FLEXIBILITY AND LEVERAGE, AND FRACTURE NATO'S CONSENSUS THAT THE DOOR TO MEMBERSHIP REMAINS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. HE ALSO SAYS THE MOVE WOULD DRAW A NEW AND POTENTIALLY DESTABILIZING DIVIDING LINE IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
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16-Mar-98 3:06 PM EST (2006 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] US-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS NOT TAKEN THE MEASURES SUGGESTED BY FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN LONDON LAST WEEK FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, A MEETING WILL BE HELD IN BONN, GERMANY TO STIFFEN THE PENALTIES IF NOTHING CHANGES.

TEXT: THE DEADLINE IS THURSDAY FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS THAT ADDRESSES SELF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. WHEN THE SIX FOREIGN MINISTERS MET IN LONDON THEY SAID FURTHER SANCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON MARCH 25TH WHEN THEY MEET AGAIN IF NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY YUGOSLAVIA.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO OPEN A POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH MODERATE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. THEREFORE, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS, A FREEZE ON YUGOSLAV BANK ACCOUNTS ABROAD WILL BE DISCUSSED WHEN THE MINISTERS MEET IN BONN.

WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT IF HE DOES NOT CHANGE COURSE, IF HE DOESN'T START LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THIS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE RATHER THAN ON THE KILLING FIELDS ,THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP THE PRESSURE ECONOMICALLY. THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS OF THE CONTACT GROUP MINISTERS WILL BE TO ADDRESS THE FREEZE ON ASSETS THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THEIR LAST STATEMENT AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL BE ONE ITEM AND THERE MAYBE ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION BUT AS OF NOW THERE IS NO SIGN THAT HE IS REVERSING COURSE. ON THE CONTRARY, HE IS PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSALS THAT APPEAR DESIGNED TO FAIL AND THAT ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.

THE FOLLOW UP CONTACT GROUP MEETING HAS BEEN MOVED FROM WASHINGTON TO BONN TO ALLOW ALL THE MINISTERS TO ATTEND. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV DID NOT ATTEND THE LONDON MEETING, BUT AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MONDAY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT EXPECTS ALL SIX MINISTERS TO BE PRESENT IN BONN.

FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV MEETS WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM TO AVOID THE STIFFER ECONOMIC PENALTIES THAT RUSSIA MAY CHOOSE TO JOIN. RUSSIA REFUSED TO JOIN THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY AND GERMANY IN TWO OF THE FOUR MEASURES THEY AGREED UPON, IN LONDON, TO TAKE AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. THE FRENCH AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ALSO PLAN TO BE IN BELGRADE, BEFORE THE BONN MEETING, TO URGE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO UNDERTAKE A SERIOUS DIALOGUE. AMERICAN BALKAN ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD, WILL BE IN THE KOSOVO CAPITAL PRISTINA, TO WORK WITH KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADERS.

SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES WANTS A DIALOGUE THAT RESTORES KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA. THAT AUTONOMY WAS TAKEN AWAY BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN 1989.

OUR STANDARD IS THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE AN ABILITY TO SEE THEIR LEGITIMATE POLITICAL RIGHTS FULFILLED. CERTAINLY, ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GO BACK TO THE STATUS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S EFFORTS IN THE LATE 80S. AT THIS POINT WHAT WE ARE PREPARED TO SAY IS THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE INDEPENDENCE FOR THIS REGION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE MORE SELF-ADMINISTRATION AND TO THE EXTENT THERE CAN BE AN ENHANCED STATUS FOR KOSOVO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, WE THINK THAT WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

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