Voice of America, 98-03-18

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] CONGRESS-BALKANS WRAP (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[03] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

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

[05] IRISH PEACE TALKS (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

[06] ISLAMIC MEET (S & L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (CAIRO)

[07] KOSOVO / SHOOTING (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[08] MILITARY MONEY FOR BOSNIA? (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

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

[10] TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[11] VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[12] WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING THE PARTIES TO THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY COMPROMISES TO END THE CONFLICT IN THE BRITISH-RULED PROVINCE. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON USED THE OCCASION OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY, WHEN IRISH LEADERS WERE IN WASHINGTON TO ATTEND RECEPTIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND ON CAPITOL HILL, TO URGE THE PARTIES TO MAKE -- IN HIS WORDS -- 'PRINCIPLED COMPROMISES' FOR PEACE.

YOU MUST GET IT DONE. IT IS TOO LATE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED BY THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE OF THE LAST THREE DECADES, BUT YOU CAN DO IT AND YOU MUST -- NOW.

IT WAS AN APPEAL HE MADE DURING TALKS WITH IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN, AND THEN REPEATED AT SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH OTHER KEY FIGURES IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

NEGOTIATIONS ARE SAID TO HAVE REACHED A CRITICAL STAGE, AND MR. CLINTON HOPES HIS EFFORTS WILL HELP THE PARTIES CLINCH AN AGREEMENT. OFFICIALS HAVE SAID A SETTLEMENT COULD BE REACHED BY NEXT MONTH, FOLLOWED BY A REFERENDUM IN MAY.

PRIME MINISTER AHERN FOCUSED ON THE NEED FOR THE PARTIES TO BE FLEXIBLE.

IT IS ALL NOW ABOUT COMPROMISE, PEOPLE MOVING FROM TRADITIONAL POSITION TO COMPROMISE WHERE WE CAN GET AN AGREEMENT. THE VIEW IS THAT IF WE CAN DO THAT OVER THE SHORT TERM, THEN WE CAN MAKE HISTORIC PROGRESS.

DAVID TRIMBLE, LEADER OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY, WHICH IS SEEKING TO KEEP NORTHERN IRELAND UNDER BRITISH RULE, FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO END VIOLENCE DURING HIS WHITE HOUSE APPEARANCE.

WE HOPE THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT, AND WE HOPE THAT AGREEMENT WILL LEAD TO PEACE. BUT ONE MUST NOT ASSUME THAT IT WILL BE EASY, OR THAT PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE SOLVED IMMEDIATELY. THAT IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE WITH REGARD TO VIOLENCE. FOR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE, TERRORISM HAS BEEN A HIGH-STATUS, LOW-RISK OCCUPATION. WE HOPE TO CHANGE BOTH THOSE ASPECTS.

LEADER OF THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, GERRY ADAMS, MET WITH MR. CLINTON MONDAY NIGHT.

THE PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME THEIR TALKS IN BELFAST ON MONDAY. (SIGNED)
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17-Mar-98 8:30 PM EST (0130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONGRESS-BALKANS WRAP (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS URGED CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF U-S FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE APPEAL CAME AS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEBATED A MOTION CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF U-S TROOP DEPLOYMENT IN THE BALKANS. AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THAT MEASURE WAS DEFEATED.

TEXT: ON A DAY IN WHICH THE HOUSE DEVOTED HOURS TO A DEBATE ON BOSNIA, TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS PRESSED THEIR CASE BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TOLD THE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY PANEL TO REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE BOSNIAN WAR. SHE SAID "WE MUST LOOK BACK TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME."

LET US NOT FORGET THE YEARS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, MASS RAPE, INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING, BOMBED OUT APARTMENTS AND PREMEDITATED MASSACRES. NEITHER SHOULD WE FORGET THE UNCERTAINTY, INSECURITY AND DEVASTATION THE PARTIES FACED AFTER THE WAR WHEN THE DAYTON ACCORDS WERE SIGNED AND THE PROCESS OF BUILDING PEACE BEGAN.

TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT 20-THOUSAND TROOPS. IT CAME DOWN FROM 20-THOUSAND TO 15-THOUSAND TO 12-THOUSAND TO 10-THOUSAND AND NOW TO 85-HUNDRED. AND THE PROJECTION IS WE WILL GO TO ROUGHLY 69-HUNDRED.

BUT SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE VOICED DOUBTS. REPUBLICAN TILLIE FOWLER OF FLORIDA SAID SHE IS PREPARED TO VOTE TO BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME. SHE SAID OTHER DEFENSE PROGRAMS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE SO MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON BOSNIA.

IT IS HAPPENING. WHETHER YOU ALL WANT TO ADMIT IT OR NOT, IT IS OUT THERE. AND ITS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TO TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF THESE ACCOUNTS TO PAY FOR THIS ONGOING MISSION IN BOSNIA.

A FEW HOURS LATER, THE FULL HOUSE TOOK UP A RESOLUTION CHALLENGING THE MISSION ON LEGAL GROUNDS. IT WAS NOT A VOTE TO WITHDRAW U-S TROOPS, BUT RATHER ON THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO DEPLOY WITHOUT FORMAL CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT.

REPUBLICAN TOM CAMPBELL OF CALIFORNIA SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS WRONG TO SEND TROOPS TO THE BALKANS WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL VOTE OF APPROVAL FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE. HE SAYS UNDER THE TERMS OF LEGISLATION PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 1973, THE WHITE HOUSE MUST EITHER SEEK A VOTE OR BRING THE TROOPS HOME.

AS IT IS NOW, WE HAVE THE WORST OF ALL POSSIBLE SITUATIONS. THE PRESIDENT USES FORCE AND THE CONGRESS GIVES UP ITS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION. AND THAT, MR. SPEAKER, IS THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF ALL.

MR. CAMPBELL'S RESOLUTION PROMPTED AN EMOTIONAL DEBATE IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER. IKE SKELTON -- THE SENIOR DEMOCRAT ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE -- CRITICIZED THE MEASURE.

ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION BY THIS HOUSE WOULD SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE -- A VERY WRONG MESSAGE -- TO OUR TROOPS IN BOSNIA OF WHOM I AM SO VERY PROUD, OUR ALLIES HELPING US IN BOSNIA, AND TO FRIENDS AND FOES ALIKE AROUND THE WORLD.

MISSISSIPPI DEMOCRAT GENE TAYLOR WAS AN EARLY CRITIC OF THE DEPLOYMENT. HE NOW SUPPORTS THE MISSION.

SHOULD CONGRESS VOTE EVERY TIME TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED? ABSOLUTELY! BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT. THIS RESOLUTION IS PULLING THE PLUG ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN MILITARY VENTURE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

CONGRESSMAN CAMPBELL'S RESOLUTION CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE DEPLOYMENT WAS DEFEATED (193 VOTED YES -- 225 VOTED NO). IT WAS THE SECOND VICTORY OF THE DAY IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S BALKAN POLICY. EARLIER, HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED TO CONDEMN THE PERSECUTION OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND ENDORSE THE ADMINISTRATION'S CALL TO ALL PARTIES TO RENOUNCE VIOLENCE AND SEEK PEACE TALKS WITHOUT CONDITIONS. (SIGNED)
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18-Mar-98 3:31 PM EST (2031 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S CONGRESS HAS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE RECENT VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO, CALLING FOR A HALT TO REPRESSION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE TRYING TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO BELGRADE. BY A NEAR-UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE HOUSE APPROVED A MEASURE THAT CALLS ON ALL SIDES TO RENOUNCE VIOLENCE - AND ALSO HOLDS OUT THE THREAT OF TOUGHER SANCTIONS AGAINST THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT.

REPUBLICAN BENJAMIN GILMAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, SAYS CONGRESS WILL NOT TOLERATE ANOTHER CONFLICT LIKE THE ONE IN BOSNIA. HE HOPES THE HOUSE ACTION WILL HELP THE ADMINISTRATION BRING PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAV AND SERBIAN AUTHORITIES.

WE VIEW THEIR ACTIONS WITH ABHORRENCE AND DISGUST, AND WE INSIST ON A SPEEDY AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS IN KOSOVO.

THE SENATE PASSED A SIMILAR MEASURE (WEDNESDAY) WITH ONLY A BRIEF DISCUSSION AND NO DISSENTING VOTES. THAT RESOLUTION DENOUNCES HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE ALBANIAN POPULATION. DEMOCRAT JOSEPH BIDEN PUT THE BLAME SQUARELY ON THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT FOR WHAT THE SENATOR CALLS APPALLING MASSACRES.

YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS BLACK-SUITED THUGS USED ARTILLERY, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, HEAVY-CALIBER MACHINE GUNS, EVEN HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS TO CARRY OUT THEIR GRUESOME WORK.

THE SENATE ALSO CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO FREEZE YUGOSLAV AND SERBIAN ASSETS IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT OBEY THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP, WHICH MONITORS BALKAN PEACE EFFORTS.(SIGNED)
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18-Mar-98 6:54 PM EST (2354 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 WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: SHARE PRICES IN LONDON ENDED THE DAY AT A NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGH, BUT THEY WERE OFF IN BOTH FRANKFURT AND PARIS. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE ALMOST 69 POINTS, ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT -- BOOSTED BY THE BELIEF THAT BRITISH INTEREST RATES WILL NOT GO UP ANYTIME SOON.

BUT THE MARKETS IN PARIS AND FRANKFURT BOTH WERE DOWN, AFTER A SLOW START ON WALL STREET. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF NINE POINTS, TWO-TENTHS PERCENT AND IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX FELL 37 POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

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

[05] IRISH PEACE TALKS (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: JOHN ALDERDICE -- LEADER OF THE NON-SECTARIAN ALLIANCE PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- SAYS SELF-INTEREST WILL PERSUADE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC EXTREMISTS THERE TO ACQUIESCE IN A SETTLEMENT TO END THEIR BITTER CONFLICT. DR. ALDERDICE -- A PSYCHIATRIST -- IS ONE OF SEVERAL POLITICAL LEADERS FROM DIVIDED IRELAND VISITING AND SPEAKING IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, AS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO BRING A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR AN AGREEMENT THIS YEAR. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK:

TEXT: JOHN ALDERDICE -- BY ALL ACCOUNTS -- IS A MODERATE. A PRESBYTERIAN IN BRITISH-RULED NORTHERN IRELAND, HIS SMALL ALLIANCE PARTY EMBRACES BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS.

DR. ALDERDICE DOES NOT EXPECT ALL THE EXTREME ELEMENTS OF THE IRISH CONFLICT TO SUPPORT PROPOSALS FOR A SETTLEMENT. BUT HE BELIEVES THE STRONG CENTER CAN HOLD ITS GROUND AND PREVAIL. HE SAYS EVEN PEOPLE LIKE IAN PAISLEY -- WHO LEADS THE STRONGEST PROTESTANT OPPOSITION TO THE PEACE TALKS -- HAVE POLITICAL AMBITIONS AND MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE LEFT OUT:

I HAVE ENORMOUS DIFFICULTY IN BELIEVING THERE CAN BE UNANIMITY ON THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A MARKET FOR THE ONE THAT SAYS "NO." IAN PAISLEY KNOWS THAT. HE'S MADE A POLITICAL CAREER OUT OF IT. AND THERE'S NO WAY HE'S GOING TO SAY "YES" TO ANYTHING. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT HE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO DO. HE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO ACQUIESCE IN A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE HIS PARTY WANTS TO HAVE CAREERS IN A NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT -- POWER-SHARING OR OTHERWISE.

AS FOR THE IRISH NATIONALIST SIDE -- DR. ALDERDICE IS MORE SKEPTICAL. HE BELIEVES SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS HAS A TOUGHER TASK IN WINNING OVER THE FRINGE ELEMENTS OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY THAT FOR DECADES HAS WAGED A TERROR CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND. BUT HE SAYS THE CATHOLICS, TOO, MAY REALIZE IN THE END THAT THEIR LONG-TERM INTERESTS LIE IN JOINING:

I THINK GERRY ADAMS HAS AN ENORMOUS TASK. I DON'T KNOW WHETEHR HE CAN DO IT OR NOT. I HAVE REAL DOUBTS HE CAN BRING ALL OF THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT IN. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IN THE LEAST THAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES CAN ACQUIESCE IN WHAT HAPPENS AND TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS AND TO BE INVOLVED THERE AND TO GRADUALLY GROW TO WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THE REST OF US.

SINN FEIN WANTS A UNIFIED IRELAND. BUT ITS LEADERS THIS WEEK HAVE SIGNALLED THEY MIGHT BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT NORTH AND SOUTH SOMEDAY WILL BE ONE COUNTRY.

THE HEAD OF THE ALLIANCE PARTY IS PRESSING IRISH AND BRITISH LEADERS TO WORK OUT THOSE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SUBMIT THEM TO THE IRISH PEOPLE FOR A VOTE, AND HOLD ELECTIONS FOR A NEW NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT BY THE END OF JUNE. HE FEARS MORE KILLINGS WILL SOUR THE MOOD. SUMMERTIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND NORMALLY IS MARKED BY SECTARIAN MARCHES THAT OFTEN TURN VIOLENT.

DR. ALDERDICE SPOKE IN NEW YORK TO A PRIVATE FOREIGN POLICY GROUP, AS PART OF HIS CURRENT VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
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18-Mar-98 4:52 PM EST (2152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ISLAMIC MEET (S & L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (CAIRO)

INTRO: THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION HAS URGED MUSLIM STATES TO RECONSIDER THEIR RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL IN RETALIATION FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE MOVE CAME AT THE END OF TALKS IN THE GULF STATE OF QATAR AMONG FOREIGN MINISTERS AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM THE FIFTY FIVE MEMBER ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION.

TEXT: THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE THREE DAYS OF TALKS IN QATAR'S CAPITAL DOHA CONTAINS A PREDICTABLE CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL.

THE FOREIGN MINISTERS BLAME THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FOR THE STALEMATE IN THE PEACE PROCESS. AND THEY URGE THE INTERNTIONAL COMMUNITY--ESPECIALLY THE CO-SPONSORS OF THE PEACE PROCESS, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA--TO STEP UP THE PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENTS TO THE PALESTINIANS AND TO HALT THE CONSTRUCTION OF SETTLEMENTS IN OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

THE COMMUNIQUE SAYS MUSLIM STATES, THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED TIES WITH ISRAEL SINCE THE 1991 MADRID PEACE CONFERENCE, SHOULD NOW RECONSIDER THOSE RELATIONS.

ACCORDING TO THE REUTER NEWS AGENCY, QATAR'S FOREIGN MINISTER (SHEIKH HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL-THANI) INDICATED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT MAY SHUT DOWN AN ISRAELI TRADE MISSION IN THE GULF STATE.

ON OTHER ISSUES, THE FOREIGN MINISTERS WELCOME LAST MONTH'S AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND IRAQ ON ACCESS TO IRAQI WEAPONS SITES. AND THEY URGE BAGHDAD TO COOPERATE WITH U-N EFFORTS TO VERIFY THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE MINISTERS VOICE SYMPATHY OVER THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AND URGE ISLAMIC STATES TO SEND MORE HUMANITARIAN AID TO BAGHDAD. BUT THE IRAQI DELEGATION AT THE MEETING MADE NO APPARENT PROGRESS IN ITS EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE TO CALL FOR AN END TO THE U-N SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE IRAQI INVASION OF KUWAIT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

THE FOREIGN MINISTERS MADE ANOTHER APPEAL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN AFGHANISTAN. AND THEY ALSO CONDEMN THE REPRESSION OF THE ALBANIAN MUSLIMS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/WDC/PLM
17-Mar-98 7:10 PM EST (0010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] KOSOVO / SHOOTING (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: MORE VIOLENCE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SOURCES SAY POLICE OPENED FIRE AT PROTESTORS IN A TOWN WEST OF PRISTINA, THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, KILLING ONE MAN AND INJURING OTHERS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE INCIDENT WAS AT ONE OF SEVERAL PROTEST RALLIES HELD THROUGHOUT KOSOVO. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF THE CASUALTIES.

AT THE BIGGEST OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS, AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS TOOK TO THE STREETS OF PRISTINA TO PROTEST A RECENT CRACKDOWN BY PARAMILITARY SERBIAN FORCES AND TO DEMAND THAT SERBS LEAVE KOSOVO, WHICH HAS A 90 PERCENT ALBANIAN MAJORITY.

SERBIAN FORCES HAVE KILLED ABOUT 80 PEOPLE IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS IN THE DRENICE REGION, WEST OF PRISTINA. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WERE AFTER TERRORISTS, BUT MANY OF THOSE KILLED HAVE BEEN WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY MEN.

MAINSTREAM MODERATE ALBANIANS SAY THEY WANT INDEPENDENCE, BUT THE SERBS SAY THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. SERBIAN OFFICIALS HAVE TRIED TO OPEN BILATERAL TALKS, BUT ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS CALL THE OFFER A PROPAGANDA STUNT, AND SAY THEY NEED THIRD-PARTY MEDIATION.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. U-S ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS IN PRISTINA. TUESDAY, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENI PRIMAKOV MET IN BELGRADE WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. AND ON THURSDAY, FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM FRANCE (HUBERT VEDRINE) AND GERMANY (KLAUS KINKEL) WILL BE IN BELGRADE. SO FAR, THOUGH, NONE OF THE OUTSIDE POWERS HAS FOUND THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF THREATS OR PROMISES TO PERSUADE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO ENTER MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS ON KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
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18-Mar-98 11:06 AM EST (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] MILITARY MONEY FOR BOSNIA? (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SENT IT IS TOP DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY OFFICIALS UP TO CAPITOL HILL (WEDNESDAY) IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE CONGRESS TO KEEP AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA. THE MISSION HAS COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS, MANY IN CONGRESS WONDER IF THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IS WORTH THE FINANCIAL COST AND THE RISK TO AMERICAN LIVES.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD THE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, U-S TROOPS HAVE HELPED BOSNIA MAKE REMARKABLE PROGRESS TOWARD RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAD PROMISED TO PULL THE 85-HUNDRED U-S PEACEKEEPERS OUT OF BOSNIA BY JUNE OF THIS YEAR. BUT A FEW-MONTHS AGO MR. COHEN SAID IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THE U-S MEMBERS OF THE STABILIZATION FORCE TO STAY PAST THE DEADLINE. OFFICIALS SAY A SMALLER FORCE OF ABOUT 69-HUNDRED AMERICANS IS NECESSARY.

MR. COHEN SAYS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM, SERB, AND CROATIAN SOLDIERS HAVE RETURNED TO CIVILIAN LIFE, THOUSANDS OF HEAVY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, AND ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN HELD -- BUT HE SAYS THAT PROGRESS IS FRAGILE.

ALL OF IT CAN BE LOST, AND WILL BE LOST IF WE ARE UNABLE TO STAY FURTHER TO ALLOW WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO TAKE ROOT AND PROSPER IN THE FUTURE.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS ANOTHER 487-MILLION DOLLARS IS NEEDED TO KEEP U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA UNTIL SEPTEMBER, AND IT IS ASKING FOR ANOTHER ONE-POINT-NINE-BILLION DOLLARS FOR NEXT YEAR.

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ADMITS IT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT SAYS DOING NOTHING WILL COST FAR MORE.

U-S INTERESTS ARE ILL SERVED WHEN AGGRESSION IS UNDETERRED, HATRED UNLEASHED, AND GENOCIDE UNCHECKED AN UNPUNISHED IN THE HEART OF EUROPE. SO TODAY I ASK YOUR HELP IN OBTAINING THE FUNDS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN OUR TROOPS AND MAINTAIN OUR SHARE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S ASSISTANCE FOR BOSNIAN RECONSTRUCTION.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FLOYD SPENCE, A REPUBLICAN, POINTED OUT PEACE SEEMED DISTANT WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT BEGAN MORE THAN TWO-YEARS AND MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AGO. HE SAYS IT STILL SEEMS LONG WAY OFF.

REPUBLICAN DAVE WELDON OF FLORIDA SAID THE PENTAGON IS DRAINING MONEY, SPARE PARTS, AND AMMUNITION FROM THE REST OF THE FORCE TO KEEP SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA. MR. WELDON AND OTHER MEMBERS SAY THEY ARE WORRIED THE DEMANDS OF BOSNIA ARE LEAVING U-S FORCES LESS READY TO FIGHT.

OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMPLAINED AMERICAN ALLIES ARE BEARING TOO LITTLE OF THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER BURDENS OF AMERICAN DEPLOYMENTS. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT DISAGREED, ARGUING WASHINGTON PAYS ABOUT 25-PERCENT OF THE OVERALL COST OF FOREIGN FORCES IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED).
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18-Mar-98 2:24 PM EST (1924 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] 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 CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 87 HUNDRED 75, UP 25 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 85, UP FIVE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADING WAS ALMOST AN EXACT COPY OF TUESDAY'S PATTERN. STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN MODESTLY FOR MUCH OF THE SESSION UNTIL IT WAS CLEAR THERE WOULD BE NO SIGNIFICANT PROFIT TAKING. THEN, BUYING PRESSURE LIFTED STOCK PRICES, AND MAJOR INDEXES, TO RECORD HIGHS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, SAYS TIGHT U-S LABOR MARKETS ARE STARTING TO GENERATE HIGHER WAGE DEMANDS. BUT DAVID BLITZER, CHIEF ECONOMIST AT THE STANDARD AND POOR'S RESEARCH COMPANY, SAYS WAGE PRESSURES ARE STILL NOT CAUSING INFLATION.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE VERY STRONG GROWTH WITH NO INFLATION. IN FACT, THE "FED" (FEDERAL RESERVE) CALLS IT "EERILY LOW PRICE INCREASES."

IN A REPORT (BEIGE BOOK), THE CENTRAL BANK CITES INCREASED GLOBAL COMPETITION AND PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES FOR THE LACK OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURES IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

THE LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL SELL ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ITS BUSINESSES. THAT WILL BE DONE IN ORDER TO PERSUADE U-S REGULATORS TO APPROVE LOCKHEED MARTIN'S PROPOSED MERGER WITH NORTHROP GRUMMAN, ANOTHER DEFENSE INDUSTRY FIRM. BUT SOURCES SAY THE U-S GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE AN EVEN LARGER DIVESTMENT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN BEFORE THE MERGER CAN BE APPROVED.

THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY IS SUING THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD FOR 25 MILLION DOLLARS, CLAIMING THE RAILROAD HAS FAILED IN ITS OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE REASONABLY RELIABLE SERVICE. UNION PACIFIC HAS SUFFERED SERIOUS SERVICE DELAYS SINCE ITS MERGER WITH THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. HOWEVER, A UNION PACIFIC SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. BAYER, THE GERMAN-BASED DRUG AND CHEMICAL COMPANY WILL INVEST ONE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A NEW CHEMICAL PLANT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. BAYER ORIGINALLY WANTED TO BUILD THE PLANT IN TAIWAN BUT INTENSE POLITICAL OPPOSITION THERE CAUSED BAYER TO SHIFT THE PLANT TO THE UNITED STATES.

RUMORS CIRCULATED ON WALL STREET THAT THE LARGEST U-S BANK AND THE LARGEST INVESTMENT FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES MAY MERGE. THERE WAS NO CONFIRMATION, OR EVEN RELIABLE SOURCE TO ESTABLISH THAT THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK AND THE MERRILL LYNCH INVESTMENT FIRM ARE IN TALKS. EVEN SO, SOME ANALYSTS FOUND THE RUMORS INTRIGUING.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PLM
18-Mar-98 5:04 PM EST (2204 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TRIED TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND FORWARD DURING THIS WEEK'S TRADITIONAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. AS HE WAS PRESENTED WITH A BOWL OF SHAMROCKS, THE TRADITIONAL IRISH GOOD LUCK PLANT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC, BERTIE AHERN, HE URGED ALL PARTIES TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD TOWARD A PEACE AGREEMENT. THE PRESIDENT REMINDED THEM THAT THIS WAS THEIR BEST OPPORTUNITY IN DECADES TO END THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.

THE INCIDENCE OF THE TRADITIONAL IRISH FESTIVAL DAY, WHICH IS MARKED BY PARADES AND MUCH MERRY MAKING BY IRISH AMERICANS, AND MANY WHO ONLY CLAIM A CELTIC BLOODLINE FOR THE DAY, HAS CAUSED A FLURRY OF EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS ON THE PEACE PROCESS.

WE WELCOME __________________ NOW WITH A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE TALKS BETWEEN THE MAIN ROMAN CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION, SINN FEIN, POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, OTHER CATHOLIC GROUPS, AND THE VARIOUS PROTESTANT ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THE UNIONISTS, ARE NEARING A CRITICAL STAGE. THEY HAVE A SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE OF THIS EASTER, ANOTHER HISTORICAL DAY FOR THE IRISH. IT WAS ON EASTER MONDAY IN 1916 THAT A REBELLION BY CATHOLICS AGAINST ENGLAND FAILED.

THERE HAVE BEEN REVOLTS AND TERRORIST KILLINGS, BY BOTH PROTESTANT UNIONISTS, WHO WANT CONTINUED UNION WITH BRITAIN, AND ROMAN CATHOLICS, CALLED REPUBLICANS, WHO WANT TO BECOME A PART OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC TO THE SOUTH. IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND PROVINCES, CALLED ULSTER, CATHOLICS ARE A MINORITY, AND CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR YEARS BY THE MORE POWERFUL PROTESTANTS.

MEDIATOR OF THE CURRENT PEACE TALKS IS FORMER U-S SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL FROM MAINE, WHO IS OF IRISH DESCENT. ALTHOUGH SLOWED BY SPORADIC KILLINGS AND BOMBINGS BY FRINGE GROUPS OF CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT TERRORISTS, THE TALKS APPEAR TO BE MAKING PROGRESS. AND THAT FACT HAS NOT BEEN LOST ON U-S EDITORIAL WRITERS, SUCH AS THOSE AT "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS."

VOICE: THIS SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FINDS IRELAND ON THE BRINK OF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT THAT COULD END THE SECTARIAN BLOODSHED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND. MAY ALL THE PARTIES TO THE NORTHERN IRISH CONFLICT REALIZE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO PEACE AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ACHIEVE IT. CERTAINLY, THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS INVESTED MUCH ENERGY AND GOODWILL IN ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE, BRINGING THE ANTAGONISTS TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND POINTING OUT THEIR AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST. .... SOME NORTHERN IRISH HOTHEADS UNDOUBTEDLY WILL PREFER MORE WAR OVER IMPERFECT PEACE. THIS IS WHERE MR. CLINTON COULD BE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL. HIS PRESTIGE IN THE WHOLE OF IRELAND IS ENORMOUS. IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT WITHOUT HIM IRELAND WOULD NOT BE SO CLOSE TO PEACE. ONCE THE GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON A DEAL THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN SELL TO ALL SIDES, A STRONG PUSH FROM HIM COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE.

TEXT: TAKING A DECIDEDLY MORE GLOOMY POSITION, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HOPES FOR THE BEST, BUT WRITES WITH A SLIGHTLY FATALISTIC AIRE:

VOICE: THE PARTIES ARE DUE TO RESUME FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS NEXT MONDAY, AND HAVE ONLY UNTIL ABOUT EASTER, APRIL 12TH TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON A PEACE PLAN THAT CAN BE PUT TO BRITISH AND IRISH VOTERS IN MAY - - BEFORE THE SUMMER MARCHING SEASON. [EDITORS: DURING THE SO-CALLED "MARCHING SEASON" PROTESTANTS MARCH THROUGH CATHOLIC AREAS OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S CITIES, CELEBRATING THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE RIVER, IN 1690. THERE, PROTESTANT IRISH FORCES UNITED WITH THE ENGLISH TO DEFEAT THE CATHOLIC TROOPS OF DEPOSED KING JAMES THE SECOND OF ENGLAND, FORCED FROM THE ENGLISH THRONE BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGION. THESE PRESENT DAY MARCHES HAVE CAUSED RIOTS THAT ENDED IN MANY DEATHS DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES.]

THE NEXT MONTH WILL PROBABLY SEE AN ESCALATION IN VIOLENCE AS DESPERATE FRINGE GROUPS MAKE A LAST EFFORT TO SABOTAGE PEACE. BUT JUST AS THE TWO GOVERNMENTS CANNOT ALLOW THE BOMBERS A VETO, NEITHER CAN THE PARTIES LET THEIR HARD-LINE CONSTITUENTS SET THEIR NEGOTIATING POSITIONS. NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEOPLE ARE EAGER FOR PEACE. THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY, LEADER OF A PROTESTANT PARTY OPPOSED TO THE TALKS, IS DRAWING MINUSCULE AUDIENCES TO HIS RALLIES BLASTING THE NEGOTIATORS. A GROUP OF BUSINESS, LABOR AND COMMUNITY LEADERS RECENTLY FORMED AN ORGANIZATION CALLED 'NEW AGENDA' TO PUSH THE POLITICIANS TOWARD COMPROMISE. POLLS SHOW THAT NORTHERN IRISH CITIZENS HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THEIR POLITICIANS WILL MAKE PEACE. THE NEGOTIATORS WILL HAVE THREE WEEKS TO PROVE THEM WRONG.

TEXT: WRITING IN THE CITY WITH ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S LARGEST IRISH-AMERICAN POPULATIONS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TAKES NOTE OF ALL THE IRISH LEADERS GATHERED IN WASHINGTON ON TUESDAY [3/17] FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY, AND THEN NOTES ABOUT THE TALKS:

VOICE: THE MOST HOPEFUL SIGN IS THAT THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS - - BOLSTERED BY THE UNITED STATES - - HAVE DEEPENED THE COOPERATIVE POLICIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT THE NEGOTIATIONS THIS FAR. THE SPIRIT OF CONCILIATION WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE PLEASED ST. PATRICK, A BRITON FIRST BROUGHT TO IRELAND AS A SLAVE WHO ESCAPED AND RETURNED AS A MISSIONARY. IN PATRICK'S TIME, [THE EARLY 400'S A.D] THE IRISH FREELY DECIDED TO BECOME CHRISTIANS, USHERING IN A GLORIOUS CHAPTER OF THEIR HISTORY, WHEN MONKS FROM THE ISLAND, AFTER ABSORBING LITERATURE OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, WENT FORTH TO RESEED EUROPE WITH LOST KNOWLEDGE. A CONVERSION OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS NOT REQUIRED OF [LEADING UNIONIST DAVID] TRIMBLE OR [GERRY ] ADAMS [HEAD OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY] - - MERELY A RECOGNITION THAT THEY LIVE IN THE SAME PLACE AND NEED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT THAT A PEACE AGREEMENT WOULD BRING.

TEXT: IN NEW YORK, "THE DAILY NEWS" ALSO TAKES A HOPEFUL APPROACH, NOTING THE RESILIENCE OF THE IRISH SPIRIT.

VOICE: THUS, EVEN IN THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE TROUBLES OVER NORTHERN IRELAND, THERE WAS ALWAYS HOPE FOR RESOLUTION. IF 'NO SURRENDER!' WAS THE CRY OF THE MILITANTS, SO IT WAS FOR THOSE COMMITTED TO PEACE. DOVES [SLANG FOR THOSE COMMITTED TO PEACE] HAVE BEEN AN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN ULSTER, BUT THEIR NUMBERS ARE GROWING. AND THOSE WHO JUDGED THEM MUDDLEHEADED DREAMERS SHOULD LOOK AT GERRY ADAMS' SOCIAL CALENDAR: THE LEADER OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, WAS A LUNCHEON GUEST YESTERDAY [3/17] AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON. REPEAT, THE BRITISH EMBASSY. EVEN A YEAR AGO, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE. BUT [MR.] ADAMS APPEARS TO HAVE LEARNED A FUNDAMENTAL LESSON: DIPLOMACY OPENS MORE DOORS THAN BOMBS DO. /// OPT /// THAT THE BRITISH EXTENDED THE INVITATION ALSO BESPEAKS A SEA CHANGE IN THEIR ATTITUDE, ONE PROMPTED BY THE OVERTURES OF PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR. /// END OPT /// IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT THIS BREAKING OF BREAD TAKES PLACE IN WASHINGTON. THE U-S CAN BE PROUD OF ITS HELPFUL ROLE, INCLUDING FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL'S SHEPHERDING THE TALKS. .... THAT COMMITMENT IS WORTH CELEBRATING TODAY [3/17] - - AND EVERY DAY.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PEACE TALKS ON NORTHERN IRELAND.
NEB/ANG/PLM
18-Mar-98 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRODUCTION: THE INCREASING VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO AND ITS DANGER TO THE SURROUNDING REGION WERE DISCUSSED AT A HEARING OF THE HELSINKI COMMISSION ON CAPITOL HILL (WED.) VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF SPECIALISTS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

TEXT: THE SERBS AND ALBANIANS SEEM HEADED FOR THE KIND OF CONFLICT IN KOSOVO THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE BALKANS. AT A HEARING IN THE U-S SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, JANUSZ BUGAJSKI OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SAID THE LATEST KILLINGS IN KOSOVO SHOW THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE MAJORITY ALBANIAN POPULATION RATHER THAN SEEK SOME REASONABLE COMPROMISE.

HE NOTED BELGRADE MAY WANT ARMED CONFLICT IN KOSOVO TO DISTRACT SERBS FROM THEIR OWN DETERIORATING ECONOMY. BUT WARFARE COULD EASILY SPREAD TO MACEDONIA AND OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

MR. BUGAJSKI URGED INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT TO HEAD OFF THE CRISIS:

WITHOUT A DURABLE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT BETWEEN SERBIAN AND ALBANIAN LEADERS, MEDIATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNDER AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, ANY TENTATIVE SANCTIONS APPLIED WILL SIMPLY FOCUS ON CONFLICT PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT. IN REALITY, THE PERMANENT PREVENTION OF CONFLICT AND BLOODSHED IS CONTINGENT UPON A LONG TERM POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

ARTIMIJE RADOSAVLJEVIC, SERBIAN ORTHODOX BISHOP OF KOSOVO, SAID ALBANIAN TERRORISTS ARE ALSO TO BLAME FOR THE CRISIS. HE ADDED THAT SERBIA'S AUTOCRATIC LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE.

SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID NEITHER SIDE HAS LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE BOSNIAN CIVIL WAR:

WE APPEAL TO THIS COMMISSION TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS NOT BETWEEN THE SERBIAN AND ALBANIAN PEOPLE BUT BETWEEN AN UNDEMOCRATIC REGIME ON ONE SIDE AND A SECESSIONIST EXTREMISM ON THE OTHER. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE IN DEMOCRATIC, MULTI-ETHNIC AND MULTI-CULTURAL SERBIA.

U-S CONGRESSMAN STENY HOYER SAID BORDERS SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED. HE THINKS KOSOVO SHOULD REMAIN IN SERBIA, NOT SECEDE FROM IT. HE ACKNOWLEDGED SERBIAN ANXIETY OVER AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR HOMELAND. BUT HE ADDED THAT HARDLY EXCUSES THE RECENT SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT ALBANIANS BY SERBIAN FORCES.

CONGRESSMAN HOYER RECALLED A MEETING HE ONCE HAD WITH THE SERBIAN LEADER IN KOSOVO:

I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS ONE PERSON IN ALL OF KOSOVO - ONE PERSON OF ALBANIAN ETHNIC EXTRACTION WITH WHOM THERE COULD BE PRINCIPLED DIALOGUE ON THE RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT. MR. MILOSEVIC'S HAND-PICKED LEADER COULD NOT THINK OF ONE PERSON, NOT ONE IN ALL OF KOSOVO THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND DISCUSS DIFFERENCES. IN THAT CONTEXT, RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

MR. HOYER AND OTHER SPEAKERS SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MIUST OVERCOME THIS KIND OF INTRANSIGENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/PLM
18-Mar-98 5:57 PM EST (2257 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: REACTION CONTINUES IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS TO THE LATEST REVELATIONS REGARDING ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. THERE ARE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL EDITORIALS ABOUT FORMER WHITE HOUSE VOLUNTEER KATHLEEN WILLEY'S COMMENTS ON THE CBS NEWS INTERVIEW PROGRAM "60 MINUTES," AIRED SUNDAY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE VATICAN'S APOLOGY TO THE JEWS FOR INACTION DURING THE HOLOCAUST; THE LEGACY OF FAMED PEDIATRICIAN BENJAMIN SPOCK; A U-S ARMY COURT MARTIAL VERDICT OF ITS FORMER TOP ENLISTED MAN: THE MARCH TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND EXPANDING NATO. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FROM THE HEARTLAND OF THE LOWER 48 STATES, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" IN NEBRASKA REACTS TO THE KATHLEEN WILLEY INTERVIEW, IN WHICH SHE REPEATED ALLEGATIONS OF AN UNWANTED SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON NEAR THE OVAL OFFICE WHILE SHE WAS WORKING AS A WHITE HOUSE VOLUNTEER. NEBRASKA'S BIGGEST DAILY COMMENTS:

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S INSISTENCE THAT HE ACTED APPROPRIATELY AROUND THE MANY WOMEN WHO SAID HE HAD SEXUAL AFFAIRS WITH THEM OR TRIED TO HAS BEEN UNDERMINED BY TESTIMONY MADE PUBLIC IN THE PAULA JONES LAWSUIT OVER THE WEEKEND AND BY KATHLEEN WILLEY'S '60 MINUTES' APPEARANCE. BUT IT ISN'T JUST [MR.] CLINTON WHO HAS A PROBLEM. THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP GIVING THE PRESIDENT HIGH JOB PERFORMANCE RATINGS ALTHOUGH THEY SAY HE IS PROBABLY LYING ABOUT HIS INFIDELITIES ARE MIGHTY MIXED UP. /// OPT /// ..... MEANWHILE, THE WHITE HOUSE SLIMING [DISCREDITING] MACHINERY HAS BEEN RE-TARGETED FROM WHITEWATER PROSECUTOR KENNETH STARR TO [MS.] WILLEY, SUGGESTING THAT [MS.] WILEY WAS BEFUDDLED OVER HER HUSBAND'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND MISUNDERSTOOD [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S ATTEMPTS TO COMFORT HER ..... /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TODAY'S "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" TRIES TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE PUBLIC'S CONFUSION ON THE EVOLVING WHITE HOUSE SCANDAL.

VOICE: IN MOST ANY OTHER CONTEXT, THE IMPACT OF KATHLEEN WILLEY'S TELEVISED DESCRIPTION OF A CRUDE SEXUAL ADVANCE BY A POWERFUL POLITICIAN WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE CAREER OF THE ACCUSED. BUT THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY TIMES IN WASHINGTON ..... THE ATMOSPHERE SURROUNDING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SEX SCANDALS -- POLITICALLY, LEGALLY, JOURNALISTICALLY -- HAS BECOME SO INFECTED WITH MOTIVES AND LACKING IN STANDARDS OF FAIR PLAY THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE WITHHOLDING JUDGMENT UNTIL MORE FACTS ARE IN. /// OPT /// ..... AMERICANS DESERVE A PRESIDENT WHO WILL STAND TALL AND INSPIRE CONFIDENCE, INSTEAD OF HIDING IN A HAZE OF SILENCE, CLAIMS OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, SEMANTICS-SLICKENED DENIALS AND ATTACKS ON HIS ACCUSERS. /// END OPT /// ..... THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE CONTINUES TO ACT AS IF THE SOLE END GAME IS TO PROTECT HIS PRESIDENCY. EACH PASSING DAY, HOWEVER, ERODES HIS CHANCES OF LEAVING A LEGACY OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN SCANDAL AND SURVIVAL.

TEXT: SUMMING UP ITS VIEW OF THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE WHITE HOUSE SAGA UNDER THE HEADLINE: "A NATION SHORTCHANGED;" "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF OR WHERE ANY ULTIMATE TRUTH WILL BE FOUND. WHAT CAN NO LONGER BE DENIED OR ARGUED AWAY IS THAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HIMSELF HAS BEEN THE PRIME MOVER IN CREATING THE MESS HE IS NOW IN. AND WITH EACH PASSING DAY HIS DENIALS, HIS EXPLANATIONS, HIS PROFESSED MYSTIFICATION APPEAR LESS AND LESS CREDIBLE.

TEXT: HOWEVER "THE NEW YORK POST" SAYS THE DECISION BY THE WHITE HOUSE TO RELEASE A SERIES OF WHAT THE PAPER CALLS "OBSEQUIOUS LETTERS" [MS.] WILLEY WROTE TO BILL CLINTON FOLLOWING THE ALLEGED INCIDENT HAS DIMINISHED THE IMPACT OF HER TELEVISION INTERVIEW. SAYS "THE POST:"

VOICE: WHATEVER WENT ON BETWEEN [MS.] WILLEY AND ]MR.] CLINTON WAS MORE AMBIGUOUS THAN SHE MADE IT SOUND.

TEXT: ANOTHER ISSUE OF ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY SOMEONE IN POWER CONTINUES TO DRAW ATTENTION IN THE PAPERS. IT IS THE ACQUITTAL -- ON ALL BUT ONE CHARGE, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE -- IN THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TRIAL OF THE ARMY'S FORMER TOP ENLISTED MAN, SERGEANT MAJOR GENE MCKINNEY. OF THIS VERDICT, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: VERDICTS IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES NEVER SATISFY EVERYONE. ONE PERSON'S WORD IS OFTEN WEIGHTED AGAINST ANOTHER'S, AND ONLY ONE CAN BE BELIEVED. BUT THE OUTCOME OF THE CASE AGAINST GENE MCKINNEY .... HAD THE DISTINCTION OF NOT TOTALLY SATISFYING ANYONE.

TEXT: "USA TODAY" SAYS THE ARMY'S RULES REGARDING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT NEED TO BE CHANGED IN THE WAKE OF THIS TROUBLING DECISION.

VOICE: CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT OR, MOST COMMONLY, THE MILITARY ITSELF CAN REWRITE THE RULES. [SERGEANT] MCKINNEY'S CASE MAKES A STRONG ARGUMENT THAT THEY SHOULD. THE PENTAGON OFTEN PREACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF MODERNIZING TO DEAL WITH THE THREATS OF A NEW WORLD. SO, TOO, SHOULD IT MODERNIZE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE DANGERS INHERENT IN A MIXED-SEX MILITARY.

TEXT: MOVING ON TO A LONG-AWAITED STATEMENT BY THE VATICAN ON THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'S BEHAVIOR DURING THE NAZI HOLOCAUST, IN WHICH MILLIONS OF JEWS AND OTHERS WERE KILLED DURING WORLD WAR TWO, DRAWS AN ASSESSMENT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES," WHICH CALLS IT "A CAREFULLY CRAFTED STATEMENT, THAT GOES FURTHER THAN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS EVER GONE IN RECKONING HONESTLY WITH ITS PASSIVITY DURING THE NAZI ERA." "BUT, ADDS "THE TIMES;"

VOICE: .... THE DOCUMENT DISAPPOINTINGLY STOPS WELL SHORT OF THE UNFLINCHING ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN FRANCE AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE PRODUCED IN RECENT YEARS.... A FULL EXPLORATION OF POPE PIUS'S [THE 12TH] CONDUCT IS NEEDED. /// OPT /// HE DID NOT ENCOURAGE CATHOLICS TO DEFY NAZI ORDERS. CHURCH OFFICIALS AFTER THE WAR HELPED NAZIS ESCAPE TO FREEDOM. /// END OPT /// ..... IT NOW FALLS TO JOHN PAUL AND HIS SUCCESSORS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARD FULL ACCEPTANCE OF THE VATICAN'S FAILURE TO STAND SQUARELY AGAINST THE EVIL THAT SWEPT ACROSS EUROPE.... THE NEW DOCUMENT PROVIDES A USEFUL STARTING POINT.

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE DOCUMENT A "HOLLOW APOLOGY," WHILE TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" -- CALLING IT A "REMARKABLE DOCUMENT" -- SAYS, "THE NEW STATEMENT IS A SINCERE BEGINNING. STILL, THERE'S MUCH MORE TO BE SAID AND LEARNED," ADDING:

VOICE: THE VATICAN DOCUMENT IS A BEGINNING, NOT AN END.

TEXT: THERE ARE CONTINUING EULOGIES TO THE NATION'S AND PROBABLY THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS PEDIATRICIAN, DOCTOR BENJAMIN SPOCK, WHO'S BOOK "BABY AND CHILD CARE" HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO AT LEAST FOUR DOZEN LANGUAGES AND SOLD ALMOST AS MANY COPIES IN THIS COUNTRY AS THE BIBLE. IN PORTLAND, "THE OREGONIAN" SAYS:

VOICE: [DOCTOR] SPOCK .... WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT AS A [ANTI-WAR] PROTESTER BUT AS A GUIDE WHEN THE GOING WAS TOUGHEST, THE CHILD AILING AND THE PARENT WORRIED. MILLIONS OF THOSE PARENTS WILL HAVE A SPECIAL BOND WITH HIM, REMEMBERING THAT MOMENT WHEN 'GET DR. SPOCK' WAS THE ONLY RECOURSE THEY COULD THINK OF. THE VOLUME WE PICKED UP AT A USED BOOK STORE TO REFRESH OUR MEMORY (1976 EDITION) STILL HAS A TATTERED MARKER AT THE CHICKEN POX, WHOOPING COUGH, MUMPS SECTION. WE CAN APPRECIATE WHAT THE PARENT WAS GOING THROUGH, AND WE CAN SHARE A COMMON THOUGHT: THANKS FOR THE HELP, DR. SPOCK.

TEXT: UNDER THE HEADLINE "THANK YOU, DR. SPOCK," "THE DAILY NEWS" IN NEW YORK ADDS:

VOICE: [DOCTOR] SPOCK'S LOVE OF CHILDREN AND HIS INSPIRED BELIEF IN 'THE NATURAL LOVING CARE THAT KINDLY PARENTS GIVE' INSURE THAT HIS REPUTATION AS AMERICA'S PEDIATRICIAN WILL REMAIN INTACT.

TEXT: IN THE WAKE OF THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY HOLIDAY YESTERDAY, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" AGAIN PRAISES PRESIDENT CLINTON'S EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, WHICH HE REITERATED YESTERDAY.

VOICE: THE PRESIDENT, TO HIS GREAT CREDIT, TURNED THE TRADITIONAL GATHERING OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLITICAL LEADERS IN WASHINGTON FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVITIES INTO A QUEST FOR PEACE. 'CONCESSIONS THAT TODAY MIGHT SEEM HARD TO ACCEPT WILL SEEM SO MUCH LESS IMPORTANT IN THE LIGHT OF AN ACCORD THAT BRINGS HOPE AND PEACE AND AN END TO VIOLENCE, ' [MR.] CLINTON SAID AT A CAPITOL HILL LUNCHEON. '.... THIS IS THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME FOR PEACE IN IRELAND. YOU MUST DO IT FOR YOURSELVES AND YOUR CHILDREN. YOU CAN DO IT AND YOU MUST, NOW.' ..... THE BLESSINGS OF THAT PEACE WILL BE THE NEGOTIATORS' OWN REWARD.

TEXT: TO ANOTHER EUROPEAN TROUBLE SPOT NOW, THE BALKANS, AND THIS COMMENT ON THE SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S ALBANIAN-MAJORITY KOSOVO PROVINCE FROM "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS."

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER BALKAN INVOLVEMENT LIKE THE ONE IT ALREADY HAS. FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO BECOME ENSNARED IN A BOSNIA-STYLE OPERATION IN KOSOVO WOULD BE A MISTAKE. THE DETERIORATING SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO STAND BACK AND REVIEW THE BIG PICTURE. .... CONGRESS TOO EASILY GAVE IN ON THE INITIAL DECISION TO GO INTO BOSNIA, AND IT MUST NOT COMPOUND THE ERROR BY GIVING THE PRESIDENT CARTE BLANCHE ON KOSOVO. A BALKAN QUANDARY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BECOME A BALKAN QUAGMIRE.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE EXPANDING OF NATO, FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" FEELS THE EXPANSION IS STILL "ON SHAKY GROUND," ADDING:

VOICE: IT COULD PRODUCE SEVERAL NEGATIVE RESULTS, FROM SENDING AMERICAN TROOPS TO DEFEND THOSE COUNTRIES TO INCURRING HUGE COSTS NOT NOW APPARENT TO ALIENATING RUSSIA. AMERICANS SHOULD BE SURE ... THEY WANT TO TREAD ON THAT UNSTEADY GROUND. ...... EXPANSION SHOULD HAPPEN ONLY IF THERE'S A NEED AND IF A BIGGER NATO WOULD IMPROVE THE UNITED STATES' SECURITY. THAT CASE HASN'T BEEN MADE.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S DAILY PAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY.
NEB/ANG/MMK
18-Mar-98 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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