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Voice of America, 98-03-23Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228582 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN IN TRADING MONDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON. TEXT: SHARE PRICES WERE OFF IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. ANALYSTS CITED THE SLOW START ON WALL STREET AND UNCERTAINTY PROMPTED BY SURGING OIL PRICES AND BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S DISMISSAL OF HIS ENTIRE GOVERNMENT. THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE GERMAN MARKET WAS OFF IN FLOOR TRADING, AND IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE DAX INDEX WAS DOWN 31 POINTS, SIX-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX DROPPED NINE POINTS, TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN JUST OVER NINE POINTS, LESS THAN TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR FELL
AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND, AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
(SIGNED)
[02] FRANCE / RIGHT (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228577 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE LEADER OF FRANCE'S EXTREME-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY, JEAN-MARIE LE PEN, FAILED MONDAY IN HIS BID TO TAKE THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SOUTHERN PROVENCE REGION. HIS PARTY HAS CAUSED A POLITICAL SENSATION BY BACKING MODERATE CONSERVATIVES FOR THE PRESIDENCIES OF OTHER REGIONS. MEANWHILE, JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS, REPORTS FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IS DUE TO MAKE A NATIONWIDE TELEVISION ADDRESS TO APPEAL TO THE FRENCH TO REJECT EXTREMISM. TEXT: BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT, FRANCE'S RULING LEFT-WING COALITION IS CERTAIN OF CONTROLLING ONLY FIVE OF THE 22 REGIONAL COUNCILS. AFTER VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS JUST OVER ONE WEEK AGO, THE LEFT SEEMED LIKELY TO TAKE AT LEAST 12 COUNCILS, PERHAPS SEVERAL MORE. THE FINAL DECISIVE MOVES CAME WHEN THE COUNCILS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME TO BUILD ALLIANCES IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THERE WAS NO CLEAR MAJORITY AND TO ELECT REGIONAL PRESIDENTS. SUDDENLY SWITCHING ITS TACTICS AND ABANDONING ITS USUAL PLACE ON THE SIDELINES, THE EXTREME RIGHT BACKED MODERATE CONSERVATIVES IN A NUMBER OF REGIONS, INSURING THE DEFEAT OF THE LEFT. IN THREE REGIONS, THE NEWLY-ELECTED CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTS IMMEDIATELY RESIGNED, SAYING THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE OFFICE WITH THE HELP OF THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION NATIONAL FRONT. IN FIVE OTHERS, HOWEVER, THE NEW PRESIDENTS STAYED IN PLACE AND WERE EXPELLED FROM THEIR PARTY -- THE CONSERVATIVE UNION FOR FRENCH DEMOCRACY. IN RETURN FOR HIS PARTY'S UNEXPECTED SUPPORT, JEAN-MARIE LE PEN, THE LEADER AND FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL FRONT, THEN DEMANDED THAT THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT BACK HIM FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVENCE REGION. BUT THE BID FAILED WHEN FORMER CONSERVATIVE DEFENSE MINISTER FRANCOIS LEOTARD -- A FIERCE OPPONENT OF MR. LE PEN -- SPLIT THE VOTE BY KEEPING HIS OWN NAME IN THE BATTLE. AND IT WAS THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WHO WON. DESPITE THE DEFEAT IN PROVENCE, MR. LE PEN'S PARTY HAS CHANGED THE WHOLE FRENCH POLITICAL SCENE. FOR MANY ANALYSTS, THE TWO TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE PARTIES RISK DISAPPEARING ALTOGETHER, LEAVING FRANCE'S POLITICAL ARENA TO THE NEO-FASCIST RIGHT AND THE LEFT. WHAT SHOCKS MANY ANALYSTS IS THE WILLINGNESS OF A NUMBER OF POLITICIANS TO MAKE HURRIED DEALS WITH THE NATIONAL FRONT, A PARTY THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS. FOR THE DAILY LE MONDE, THE CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC
AND HIS SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN ARE NOW IN CHARGE
OF, WHAT IT CALLS "A SICK COUNTRY," WITH THE DIFFICULT
RESPONSIBILITY OF ENGINEERING ITS RECOVERY. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO DEMO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228564 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AN ESTIMATED 10 TO 20-THOUSAND SERBS MARCHED IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE (TODAY, MONDAY), TO PROTEST A NEW PLAN TO GIVE ALBANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PRISTINA CAMPUS. VOA CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM PRISTINA THAT UNLIKE A SERB PROTEST ON THURSDAY, THIS ONE WAS PEACEFUL. TEXT: /// DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING -- ESTABLISH AND FADE /// THE WELL-ORGANIZED PROTEST BEGAN AT THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, THEN MOVED THROUGH TOWN AS LARGE NUMBERS OF POLICE STATIONED ALONG THE ROUTE LOOKED ON. THE STUDENTS CALLED THE DEMONSTRATION TO COINCIDE WITH AN EDUCATION AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN'S PARALLEL UNIVERSITY TO HOLD CLASSES IN THE SERB-RUN UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS. BUT AT LEAST IN THE BEGINNING, THE STUDENTS WILL ATTEND CLASSES AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND WILL NOT SIT TOGETHER IN THE SAME CLASS. KOSOVO'S 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PRISTINA. THE ALBANIANS HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN UNIVERSITY THAT MEETS IN HOMES, CHURCHES AND OTHER INFORMAL LOCATIONS. THE AGREEMENT, WHICH ALSO COVERS ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, IS FAR SHORT OF A UNITARY EDUCATION SYSTEM. BUT EVEN THIS MODEST AGREEMENT, TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING, IS TOO MUCH FOR THE SERB PROTESTERS. THE STUDENTS SAY THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND SAY THE AGREEMENT REPRESENTS A BETRAYAL OF KOSOVO. AND UNIVERSITY RECTOR RADIVOJE PAPOVIC -- IN A PUBLISHED INTERVIEW -- SAID THE DEAL IS ILLEGAL AND THAT IS REPRESENTS THE FIRST STEP ON THE ROAD TO AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO. //OPT//ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE DONE MOST OF THE PROTESTING OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL WEEKS, DEMONSTRATING AGAINST A CRACKDOWN BY PARAMILITARY
AND POLICE FORCES THAT COST SOME 80 ALBANIANS THEIR LIVES. THE
AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WERE AFTER TERRORISTS, BUT MANY OF THOSE
KILLED WERE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. (SIGNED)
[04] KOSOVO ELECTION-SERB VIEW (L-ONLY) CQ BY GIL BUTLER (BELGRADE)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228575 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC REACTED TO SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN INDEPENDENCE-MINDED KOSOVO PROVINCE WITH A SHOW OF DISDAIN. VOA'S GIL BUTLER IS IN BELGRADE AND HAS A REPORT. TEXT: THE MAIN GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER, "POLITIKA," REPORTED THE ELECTION ON PAGE 15. A TWO COLUMN REPORT CALLED IT A "FARCE," A "SIMULATED ELECTION" AND A MEDIA PROMOTION OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA. /// SERBIAN T-V ACTUALITY -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER ///THE OFFICIAL SERBIAN TELEVISION NEWSCAST HERE CALLED THE ELECTIONS A "CATASTROPHE". THE REPORT SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A POLLING STATION AND THAT MANY ALBANIANS HAD BOYCOTTED THE ELECTIONS. THE REPORT FEATURED SEVERAL INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T INTEND TO VOTE. THAT CONTRASTED WITH WESTERN REPORTS OF A LARGE TURNOUT FOR THE U-N-RECOGNIZED ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE SEEN BY SOME IN KOSOVO AS A POTENT SYMBOL OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN DEMANDS FOR INDEPENDENCE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT ETHNIC ALBANIAN-MAJORITY KOSOVO IS PART OF SERBIA -- BUT SHOULD HAVE AUTONOMY. KOSOVO'S AUTONOMOUS STATUS WAS EFFECTIVELY REVOKED BY THE
BELGRADE GOVERNMENT IN 1989 AND TWO YEARS LATER ALBANIANS SET UP
A SHADOW GOVERNMENT CALLED THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=03/23/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10628 TELEPHONE=619-3335 CONTENT= //// EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T ! ! ////INTRO: ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPICS THIS MONDAY IS A REAPPRAISAL OF U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA, IN THE WAKE OF LAST FRIDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON OF SOME CHANGES IN THAT POLICY BEFORE MR. CLINTON LEFT FOR AFRICA. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE CLINTON TRIP TO AFRICA, SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE NEW PREMIER IN CHINA, THE SITUATION IN INDONESIA AND THE ON-GOING CONCERN ABOUT INTEGRITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. NOW, HERE IS ____________________WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF REASSESSING OF THIS COUNTRY'S POLICY TOWARD CUBA NOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS RESTORED DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN MIAMI AND HAVANA AND IS ALLOWING CUBANS TO SEND MONEY TO RELATIVES ON THE ISLAND. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SEES THESE CHANGES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF POPE JOHN PAUL'S RECENT VISIT TO CUBA. VOICE: AS THE RECENT PAPAL VISIT TO CUBA CONTINUES TO REVERBERATE IN WASHINGTON, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN A FEW MODEST BUT POSITIVE STEPS TO REVERSE ISOLATIONIST POLICIES THAT BENEFIT NO ONE. THE MEASURES PROPOSED FRIDAY BY THE PRESIDENT WOULD STREAMLINE MEDICAL AID TO CUBA, AUTHORIZE DIRECT HUMANITARIAN FLIGHTS .... AND LEGALIZE LIMITED REMITTANCES FROM CUBAN AMERICANS TO RELATIVES IN CUBA. ANOTHER MEASURE WOULD SEEK WAYS TO EASE RESTRICTIONS ON FOOD SHIPMENTS TO CUBA. /// OPT /// ..... PREDICTABLY, THE PRESIDENTIAL MOVE HAS ANGERED THE REMAINING CLIQUE OF COLD WAR WARRIORS IN CONGRESS ..... THESE MEASURES ARE MEANT TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF CUBA, NOT THE CASTRO REGIME. ..... MORE IMPORTANT, /// END OPT /// THEY SIGNAL A RECOGNITION THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING IN CUBA AND THAT THE UNITED STATES IS MOVING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR AN EVENTUAL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE BITTER OPPOSITION FROM THE LATE JORGE MAS CANOSA, TO ANY RELAXATION OF RELATIONS WITH CUBA, AS IT ASSESSES THE CHANGES. VOICE: .... PRESIDENT CLINTON [HAS] RESTORED THE RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT HE FOUND ON TAKING OFFICE IN 1993. THE EMBARGOES HE REPEALED ARE THOSE HE INSTITUTED IN 1994 IN RESPONSE TO A FORCED EXODUS OF BOAT PEOPLE, AND IN 1996 WHEN CUBA SHOT DOWN TWO FLORIDA-BASED CIVILIAN PLANES. MR. CLINTON DID NOT RELAX THESE MEASURES DURING THE LIFETIME OF JORGE MAS CANOSA, THE HARD-NOSED [TOUGH] FLORIDIAN WHO TOOK OVER U-S POLICY ON HIS HOMELAND. AFTER HIS DEATH LAST YEAR, HIS CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION RETRACTED NOTHING, BUT OTHER CUBAN-AMERICAN VOICES WERE HEARD. ..... MR. CLINTON['S] ... ACTIONS REPRESENTED A HUMANITARIAN IMPROVEMENT AND A MODEST MODERATION OF FAILED POLICIES. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CURRENT TRIP TO AFRICA IS ALSO GAINING A GOOD DEAL OF ATTENTION, INCLUDING THESE THOUGHTS FROM MONDAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE." VOICE: THE UNITED STATES IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE OF AFRICA. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SIX-NATION TOUR, MORE A SIGHTSEEING JAUNT THAN A WORKING VISIT, NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY GREATER ATTENTION TO THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF THE CONTINENT. /// OPT /// [MR.] CLINTON'S FIRST STOP IS GHANA, WHERE A FIVE PERCENT GROWTH RATE HIDES DEEP PROBLEMS OF INFLATION, INFRASTRUCTURE DISREPAIR, AND FOREIGN DEBT. HE WILL ALSO VISIT BOTSWANA, A RARE EXAMPLE OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND POLITICAL PLURALISM, AND SOUTH AFRICA, TO NOTE ITS SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM APARTHEID TO MAJORITY RULE. /// END OPT ///TEXT: ALSO ON THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP IS THIS COMMENTARY FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD" WHICH TELLS READERS: VOICE: GIVE THE PRESIDENT CREDIT. NOW IS A GREAT TIME FOR AN AFRICAN TOUR. SURE, IT WOULD BE EASY TO NOTE THAT MR. CLINTON'S TRIP AUSPICIOUSLY IS TIMED WHEN WASHINGTON, D-C IS CONSUMED WITH (MINUTIAE ABOUT) MONICA [LEWINSKY, THE FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN WHO IS ALLEGED TO HAVE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT]. BUT TO THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT'S AFRICAN JOURNEY THIS WEEK IS NOTHING MORE THAN A TIMELY ESCAPE FROM SCANDAL AND KENNETH STARR'S INVESTIGATION WOULD BE WRONG. /// OPT TEXT: THE TRIP, HOWEVER, HAS DONE LITTLE TO QUELL EDITORIALS COMMENTING ON ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THE BROADER ISSUE OF THE PRESIDENT'S CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY. HOWEVER, TODAY'S "MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE" IS SALUTING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. VOICE: THE NATIONAL MEDIA'S VAST ARRAY OF POLITICAL PUNDITS SEEMS UNITED THESE PAST FEW WEEKS IN ONLY TWO THINGS -- AN ADRENALINE RUSH OVER THE PRESIDENT'S HIGH-PROFILE DIFFICULTIES AND AN UNVEILED CONDESCENSION TOWARD THE AMERICAN POPULACE. THE PUBLIC, WHICH STEADFASTLY APPROVES OF THE WAY BILL CLINTON DOES HIS JOB AS PRESIDENT, IS PORTRAYED VARIOUSLY AS AMORAL, SELF CENTERED, PURPOSEFULLY BLIND - - OR AS A COLLECTION OF MANIPULATED RUBES [COUNTRY BUMPKINS]. WE'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT FAR WEST OF THE BELTWAY [USED IN THIS CONTEXT TO MEAN THE "INSIDE WASHINGTON VIEW"] THAT THE VIEWS WHICH SO PERPLEX POLLSTERS ARISE NOT FROM MORAL WEAKNESS, AVARICE OR GULLIBILITY, BUT FROM EXPERIENCE, FAIRMINDEDNESS AND A SENSE OF PROPORTION. WITH STAKES THIS HIGH, VOTERS ARE SMART TO BE WARY AND WAIT. TEXT: "NEWSDAY" ON THE OTHER HAND, NOTES THE OPENING OF A NEW MOTION PICTURE CALLED "PRIMARY COLORS," BASED CLOSELY ON THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AS MORE REASON TO WORRY. VOICE: IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT HOLLYWOOD BRINGS A REALISTIC TREATMENT OF POLITICS TO THE SCREEN. 'PRIMARY COLORS,' BASED ON A NOVEL BY [NEWSWEEK REPORTER] JOE .... KLEIN, INCLUDES NOT A SINGLE BLOWING-UP OF THE WHITE HOUSE OR HIJACKING OF AIR FORCE ONE. THE FILM IS NOT ONLY A THINLY VEILED FICTIONALIZATION OF THE 1992 CLINTON CAMPAIGN, IT'S ALSO A FABLE ABOUT POLITICS TODAY. AND SO, BETWEEN JOKES AND JERKS, IT SHOWS HOW LEADERSHIP CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. .... NO PRESIDENT IN MEMORY HAS HAD A BETTER SENSE OF THE POLITICAL ECONOMY -- AND THE CURRENT BOOM IS IN NO SMALL PART A TRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF HIS UNDERSTANDING. STILL, CHARACTER COUNTS. TEXT: THE PAPER GOES ON TO QUOTE THE ACTRESS PLAYING THE PRESIDENT'S WIFE AS BEING SHARPLY CRITICAL OF HIM AS A PERSON, WHICH SHE SAYS, TAKES AWAY FROM HIS GREATNESS AS A LEADER. IN OVERSEAS EVENTS, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'" HAS THIS ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGE FACING THE NEW PREMIER OF CHINA, ZHU RONGJI. VOICE: THE CONFIRMATION OF SHU RONGJI AS CHINA'S NEW PREMIER, EQUIPPED WITH A STRONG MANDATE TO MAKE PAINFUL CHANGES AND A RELATIVELY REFORMIST CABINET, WILL REASSURE MANY THAT CHINA ISN'T ABOUT TO FOLLOW ITS ASIAN PEERS INTO ECONOMIC CHAOS. MR. ZHU HAS LONG HELD THE ECONOMIC PORTFOLIO FIRMLY IN HIS GRASP, BUT HIS RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STATE COUNCIL WILL BE SEEN AS ONE MORE SIGN THAT PRAGMATISM RATHER THAN IDEOLOGY WILL DETERMINE CHINA'S REFORM COURSE. /// OPT /// THE CHALLENGES ARE DAUNTING, ALTHOUGH SOME ARE MISUNDERSTOOD. FOR INSTANCE, CHINA'S EXPORTS WILL SLOW, BUT THEY WERE BOUND TO DO SO AT SOME POINT, AFTER RAPID GROWTH FROM A LOW BASE; THE EFFECT OF CURRENCY DEVALUATIONS AMONG OTHER ASIAN EXPORTERS IS OFTEN OVERSTATED. .... ALSO, FEARS OF LARGE LAYOFFS FROM STATE FIRMS HAVE PROMPTED CONSUMERS TO SAVE AND NEW PRODUCTION CAPACITY HAS COME ON LINE, WITH PRICES FALLING ACROSS THE BOARD. ALL THIS MEANS SLOWER GROWTH AND FEWER NEW JOBS TO ABSORB REDUNDANT WORKERS STREAMING OUT OF THE STATE ENTERPRISE GATES IN A PHENOMENON KNOWN AS **XIAGANG** [ITALICS FOR A FOREIGN WORD], OR LEAVING THE POST. /// END OPT /// TEXT: AND LASTLY, ABOUT THE ON-GOING ECONOMIC TURMOIL IN INDONESIA, WHICH MANY FEAR WILL LEAD TO POLITICAL TURMOIL, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" DEPLORES THE UNOPPOSED REELECTION OF PRESIDENT SUHARTO TO YET ANOTHER, FIVE-YEAR TERM. VOICE: ONE OF HIS CHILDREN SPECULATED THAT THIS MAY BE THE PRESIDENT'S LAST (TERMS AS PRESIDENT) -- THAT HE WILL STEP DOWN, THAT IS, AT THE AGE OF 81. BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT. AS USUAL, PRESIDENT SUHARTO IS KEEPING A TIGHT REIN ON ALL POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND DISSENT, STIFLING THE EMERGENCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES, INDEPENDENT UNIONS AND OTHER GROUPS ESSENTIAL TO A CIVIL SOCIETY. DAILY PROTESTS BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS REFLECT PENT-UP FRUSTRATION WITH THIS REPRESSION. THIS IS THE BACKDROP TO INDONESIA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS, WHICH CONTINUES TO THREATEN NOT ONLY INDONESIA - - THE WORLD'S FOURTH-MOST-POPULOUS NATION -- BUT THE REGION. ..... NO LASTING SOLUTION TO THE NATION'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IS POSSIBLE IN THE ABSENCE OF MORE POLITICAL OPENNESS. TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM
SOME OF MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
[06] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228601 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (MONDAY) IN WHAT ANALYSTS SAY WAS A COMBINATION OF PROFIT-TAKING AND CONCERN ABOUT OIL PRICES. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 16, DOWN 90 POINTS, OR MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 95, DOWN THREE POINTS. STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN MOST OF THE DAY, BUT SELLING PRESSURE ACCELERATED LATE IN THE SESSION. STOCK PRICES FELL ON NEWS OF RISING OIL PRICES AFTER MAJOR OIL PRODUCING NATIONS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE CUTTING PRODUCTION. THE ONE BRIGHT SPOT WAS OIL COMPANY STOCK THEMSELVES WHICH WERE UP. BUT THE STOCKS OF COMPANIES SENSITIVE TO OIL PRICES, SUCH AS AIRLINES, FELL. HOWEVER, MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE OIL PRICE INCREASES WILL PROBABLY BE MODEST AND NOT CAUSE ANY SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. ANALYSTS SAY THAT, EVEN WITHOUT THE OIL PRICE NEWS, SOME STOCK MARKET PROFIT-TAKING WAS EXPECTED AFTER FIVE STRAIGHT SESSIONS OF RECORD HIGHS IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. ///REST OPT///THE WAVE OF CONSOLIDATION IN THE U-S DEFENSE INDUSTRY MAY BE COMING TO AN END. THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS FILED A LAW SUIT AIMED AT BLOCKING THE PROPOSED NINE BILLION DOLLAR MERGER OF THE LOCKHEED MARTIN AND THE GRUMMAN NORTHRUP CORPORATIONS. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTED AFTER DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN CONCLUDED THAT THE MERGER WOULD BE ANTI-COMPETITIVE. MR. COHEN TOLD REPORTERS CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. ///COHEN ACT///THE MARKET IS NOW MORE CONCENTRATED THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO. MERGERS, THEREFORE, REQUIRE US TO EXERCISE GREATER SCRUTINY. ///END ACT///THE EASTMAN KODAK PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY WILL INVEST ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN CHINA. KODAK WILL FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHINESE COMPANIES TO MAKE PHOTOGRAPHIC AND X-RAY FILM AS WELL AS OTHER PRODUCTS. BERTELSMANN, THE GERMAN-BASED MEDIA CONGLOMERATE, WILL BUY THE RANDOM HOUSE BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE ADVANCE PUBLICATIONS COMPANY. THE PRICE WAS NOT DISCLOSED. TALKS AIMED AT A MERGER OF THE HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION AND THE CIRCUS CIRCUS CASINO COMPANY HAVE COLLAPSED. SOURCES SAY THE TWO COMPANIES DISAGREED ABOUT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, AMONG OTHER THINGS. A SIX AND ONE-HALF YEAR LABOR DISPUTE IS OVER AT THE CATERPILLAR
HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPANY. UNION MEMBERS HAVE RATIFIED A NEW
CONTRACT WHICH PROVIDES PAY RAISES FOR CURRENT WORKERS BUT ALLOWS
THE COMPANY TO HIRE NEW WORKERS AT LOWER WAGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
[07] RUSSIA GOVERNMENT--4TH UPDATE (S) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=3/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228567 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN MONDAY DISMISSED HIS ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AND APPOINTED A YOUNG TECHNOCRAT AS TEMPORARY PRIME MINISTER. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MET WITH GENERAL APPROVAL. TEXT: IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT, MR. YELTSIN FIRED THE CABINET, FROM PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN ON DOWN. BUT LATER IN A TELEVISED SPEECH, THE RUSSIAN LEADER EXPRESSED GENERAL SATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, AND ASSURED INVESTORS THAT ECONOMIC REFORMS WOULD CONTINUE IN RUSSIA. ///YELTSIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///HE LATER APPOINTED 35-YEAR-OLD SERGEI KIRIYENKO AS ACTING PRIME MINISTER. MR. KIRIYENKO, FUEL AND ENERGY MINISTER IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, TOLD REPORTERS THE APPOINTMENT CAME AS A SURPRISE. THE OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN, ACCEPTED HIS
DISMISSAL CALMLY, SAYING "THERE IS NO CRISIS". HE SAYS HE WILL
NOW BEGIN ORGANIZING HIS PARTY'S CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2000
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
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