Voice of America, 98-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: KOSOVAR ELECTIONS & EDUCATION BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

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

[04] KOSOVO OVERNIGHT (S) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

[05] KOSOVO VIOLENCE (S) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

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

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ALBRIGHT-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

INTRO: SIX FOREIGN MINISTERS -- CONCERNED WITH EVENTS IN THE BALKANS (THE CONTACT GROUP) -- MEET IN BONN WEDNESDAY TO EVALUATE YUGOSLAVIA'S COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR DEMANDS FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN ITS TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BONN, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS TRYING TO PUSH HER RELUCTANT COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER KEEPING UP THE SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: ARE YUGOSLAV SPECIAL FORCES PULLING OUT OF KOSOVO OR ARE THEY PREPARING FOR MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST THE ALBANIAN POPULATION? DOES MONDAY'S AGREEMENT TO ALLOW ALBANIANS TO RECEIVE SCHOOLING IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND HISTORY SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF A PEACEFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS?

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND HER COLLEAGUES -- FROM RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY AND GERMANY -- WILL DEBATE AT THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HERE (IN BONN). THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE SAID AFTER MEETING ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN ROME, SHE BELIEVES THE EDUCATION AGREEMENT DOES NOT REPRESENT ENOUGH PROGRESS.

WE CAN NOT HAIL THIS NEW AGREEMENT WITHOUT NOTING THAT IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THAT BELGRADE IS STILL IGNORING THE CONTACT GROUP'S KEY DEMANDS. SERBIAN SECURITY POLICE ARE DIGGING IN, NOT PULLING OUT. (YUGOSLAV) PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS STILL NOT COMMITTED HIMSELF TO UNCONDITIONAL DIALOGUE. AID WORKERS CONTINUE TO BE HARASSED AND THE LIST GOES ON. WE HAVE TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO SETTLE FOR HALF-SINCERE, HALF MEASURES.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS FINDING OUT THAT RUSSIA, ITALY AND FRANCE MAY BE WILLING TO SETTLE FOR SOME OF WHAT SHE CALLS, HALF MEASURES.

RUSSIA HAS STOPPED SUPPORTING AN ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IN THE UNITED NATIONS -- DESPITE OFFERING SUPPORT FOR A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AT THE MINISTERS' MEETING IN LONDON TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TRIED TO CONVINCE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV TO MAINTAIN AND INCREASE SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IN A TUESDAY NIGHT MEETING HERE. A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS SLIGHT POSITIVE MOVEMENT BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SHOULD NOT NECESSITATE PUTTING A HOLD ON THE RESOLUTION. IN ROME, ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI REFUSED TO COMMIT HIS COUNTRY TO SUPPORTING SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

I SAID THAT SOME STEPS IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE CONTACT GROUP WANTED AND HAVE DECIDED UPON IN LONDON HAVE BEEN TAKEN. NOW WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE AN EVALUATION OF THIS. HAVE THE TROOPS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO? I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CONFINED IN THEIR BARRACKS AND CERTAINLY WE CAN NOT SAY THAT THEY HAVE INTERVENED AGAIN IN KOSOVO. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DEMONSTRATIONS ORGANIZED BY THE STUDENTS, AS WELL BY THE CITIZENS OF KOSOVO THEMSELVES, AND THEY HAVE TAKEN PLACE PEACEFULLY, -- WITHOUT INTERVENTION BY THE AUTHORITIES.

FRANCE HAS ALSO BEEN RELUCTANT TO TAKE ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT MEETS FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE IN THE HOUR BEFORE THE FULL CONTACT GROUP GATHERS TO DECIDE IF ANY MORE SANCTIONS WILL BE ADOPTED. A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE MINISTERS MAY DECIDE TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA RATHER THAN AGREE ON ANY NEW ONES. (SIGNED)
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24-Mar-98 11:45 AM EST (1645 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: KOSOVAR ELECTIONS & EDUCATION BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON SUNDAY [3/22/98], IBRAHIM RUGOVA, MODERATE LEADER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, WAS REELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE SELF-DECLARED, BUT UNRECOGNIZED, "REPUBLIC OF KOSOVA" [KO-SOH-VAH]. THE FOLLOWING DAY SERBIAN AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO [KOS-SOH-VOH] AGREED THAT ALBANIAN STUDENTS WOULD RETURN TO STATE SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR BOYCOTT. THE AGREEMENT MARKED THE FIRST COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SINCE SERBIAN POLICE EARLIER THIS MONTH BEGAN A CRACKDOWN ON ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS IN WHICH MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. ON WEDNESDAY [TOMORROW/TODAY/YESTERDAY], THE SIX-MEMBER "CONTACT GROUP" OF FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, AND RUSSIA WILL MEET/ARE MEETING/MET IN BONN TO DISCUSS PROPOSED SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA. MEANWHILE, THERE ARE REPORTS OF

TEXT: DAVID PHILLIPS, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY, SAYS SUNDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN KOSOVO WAS A "STRONG STATEMENT" IN SUPPORT OF MODERATION. AND, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SOME ALBANIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES BOYCOTTED THE VOTE, THE 85-PERCENT TURNOUT INDICATES TO HIM WIDE SUPPORT FOR "PEACEFUL, NONVIOLENT NEGOTIATIONS" TO RESOLVE THE CURRENT CRISIS IN KOSOVO. HOWEVER, KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND SERBIANS ARE FAR APART. [OPT] THE ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN KOSOVO IS DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA, AND THEIR LEADERS INSIST ON INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. SERBIA MAINTAINS THAT KOSOVO IS AN INTERNAL MATTER AND THAT EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD KEEP OUT. THE WESTERN POWERS ARE URGING THAT KOSOVO'S PRE-1989 AUTONOMY BE RESTORED. [END OPT] REALISTICALLY, ANY PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICT WILL HAVE TO GO STEP BY STEP, SAYS DAVID PHILLIPS.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- PHILLIPS "IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THESE NEGOTIATIONS AS PART OF A PROCESS. THE L-D-K [DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO, THE POLITICAL PARTY OF DR. RUGOVA] IS CLEARLY COMMITTED TO ITS INDEPENDENCE AGENDA. LEADERS IN BELGRADE ARE EQUALLY CLEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT SUSTAIN AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVA. THEREFORE, THE PARTIES SHOULD FOCUS ON AN INTERIM AGREEMENT THAT STABILIZES THE SITUATION, STOPS THE VIOLENCE, AND REALIZES A MODUS VIVENDI FOR THE TIME BEING. THE IMPORTANCE OF AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY AS A FACILITATOR OR MEDIATOR IS SUBSTANTIAL. IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, THERE NEEDS TO BE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION DURING THIS STAGE."

TEXT: MR. PHILLIPS SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES SHOULD DO "EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO INCREASE DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE" ON BELGRADE.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- PHILLIPS "U-S LEADERSHIP IS CALLED FOR. SOMETIMES THAT REQUIRES SOME UNILATERAL ACTION. THE EDUCATIONAL AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURE, BUT IT'S ONLY USEFUL TO AN OVERALL SETTLEMENT OF POLITICAL ISSUES IF IT'S PART OF A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES A BROAD PACKAGE OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES AND AUTONOMY STATUS, AND AN INTERIM AGREEMENT THAT STABILIZES THE SITUATION AND ALLOWS THE REGION TO QUIET DOWN. EXPERIENCE PROVES, IF THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T TAKE THE LEAD, THAT WON'T HAPPEN. SO, MADELAINE ALBRIGHT'S TRIP TO EUROPE AND CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE 'CONTACT GROUP' ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL RIGHT NOW."

TEXT: BALKAN HISTORIAN NICHOLAS PANO OF WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SAYS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN TO REALIZE THE PRESSURES IT MAY COME UNDER.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- PANO "IT IS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE AT LEAST THE IMAGE, THE APPEARANCE, THAT IT'S INTERESTED IN MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS. I THINK THE PROPOSAL ON EDUCATION IS ONE STEP IN THIS DIRECTION. I ALSO THINK THAT THE WILLINGNESS OF THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT TO ENDORSE NEGOTIATIONS IS ANOTHER STEP. BUT AGAIN, IT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPLEMENTION, HOW THE SCHOOL AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED. AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IS ALSO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE NEGOTIATIONS CAN TAKE PLACE. [OPT] THE INITIAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE YUGOSLAV REGIME TO INITIATE THE NEGOTIATIONS REALLY DID NOT SIT WELL WITH THE ALBANIANS. WHAT THE YUGOSLAVS DID WAS ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WERE SENDING A MISSION TO PRISTINA TO MEET WITH THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION. THERE WAS NO FORMAL APPROACH TO THE ALBANIAN SHADOW GOVERNMENT OF DR. RUGOVA. AND THEN, THE MISSION WAS HEADED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS KNOWN TO BE STRONGLY BIASED AGAINST THE ALBANIANS. AND THAT CERTAINLY WAS NOT THE WAY TO BEGIN THE VERY IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS." [END OPT]

TEXT: PROFESSOR PANO SAYS HE BELIEVES ESTABLISHING AN ALBANIAN REPUBLIC WITHIN AN ENLARGED YUGOSLAV FEDERATION IS THE "MINIMUM KIND OF SETTLEMENT" THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WILL ACCEPT.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- PANO "YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE KOSOVA ISSUE HAS FESTERED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. [OPT] VARIOUS WESTERN REPRESENTATIVES HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO RESTORE MAXIMUM AUTONOMY TO KOSOVA. THAT WOULD VERY STRONGLY IMPLY THAT THESE WESTERN SPOKESMEN, AND THIS INCLUDES SEVERAL AMERICAN SPOKESMEN, DO FAVOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REPUBLIC. [END OPT] I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY PAST THE POINT WHERE THE ALBANIANS WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE 1989 STATUS QUO. IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE FOR A YUGOSLAV STATE IN ITS PRESENT CONFIGURATION TO SUCCEED AND FOR DEMOCRACY TO TAKE HOLD, I THINK AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT WOULD BE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALBANIAN REPUBLIC WHICH, ALONG WITH MONTENEGRO, WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LIBERALIZATION PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN SERBIA ITSELF."

TEXT: PROFESSOR PANO SAYS THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND NATO HAVE CRITICAL ROLES TO PLAY IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- PANO "I THINK THAT NATO CAN DISPATCH MILITARY OBSERVERS TO THE FRONTIER REGION. I THINK THE PEACE-KEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA NEEDS TO BE RETAINED, AND NATO CAN PERHAPS BE A FACTOR IN REINFORCING THIS FORCE. NATO, I THINK, NEEDS TO ENGAGE IN SOME VERY SERIOUS CONTINGENCY PLANNING IN THE EVENT THAT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO DOES DETERIORATE. I THINK THAT THIS CONTINGENCY PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL SO THAT THE DIPLOMATS OF THE NATO NATIONS HAVE SOME REALIZATION OF HOW FAR THEY CAN GO IN PRESSURING [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL SETTLEMENT, SHOULD THIS BECOME NECESSARY. TIME IS RUNNING OUT, INSOFAR AS THE RESOLUTION OF THE KOSOVAR ISSUE IS CONCERNED. AND UNLESS ALL THE NATIONS OF THE REGION, AND ESPECIALLY THE MAJOR POWERS OF EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES FACE UP TO THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY HAVE, WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER DEVASTATING BALKAN CRISIS WHOSE FINAL CHAPTER IS NOT A PLEASANT OPTION TO COMTEMPLATE."

TEXT: ANALYSTS NICHOLAS PANO AND DAVID PHILLIPS SAY THAT, WITH THE RECENT ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO AND THE SIGNING OF AN EDUCATIONAL ACCORD, THE TIME IS RIPE FOR CONCRETE STEPS TOWARD AN "EVENTUAL LONG-TERM RESOLUTION" OF THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. [NOTE: THE SERBIANS USE THE SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION, KOSOVO [KOS-OH-VOH], WHEREAS THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS REFER TO THE SAME REGION AS KOSOVA [KO-SOH-VAH]. THESE TWO TERMS ALSO HAVE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS.]
24-Mar-98 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: SHARE PRICES ROSE IN ALL EUROPEAN MARKETS. ANALYSTS CITED SOLID COMPANY REPORTS, MERGER ACTIVITY, AND A STRONG OPENING ON WALL STREET.

INDEXES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS IN SEVERAL MARKETS -- INCLUDING AMSTERDAM, BRUSSELS, FRANKFURT, MADRID, MILAN, PARIS, AND ZURICH. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE 58 POINTS, ONE-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

PRICES ROSE THROUGHOUT FRANKFURT'S SHORT FLOOR TRADING DAY. AND IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE DAX INDEX FINISHED UP 50 POINTS, ONE PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE ALMOST 37 POINTS, SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND, AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
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24-Mar-98 1:42 PM EST (1842 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO OVERNIGHT (S) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

INTRODUCTION: NEW VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE ON TUESDAY AS MAJOR POWERS ARE PREPARING TO MEET IN GERMANY ON THE ISSUE. VOA'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITOL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE SIX COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP, WHAT IS CALLED THE CONTACT GROUP, ARE TO MEET IN BONN ON WEDNESDAY TO DECIDE WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE YUGOSLAV DISPUTE. THERE COULD BE NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO COULD AFFECT THE DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONS IN BONN. ON TUESDAY, GUN BATTLES ERUPTED BETWEEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBIAN POLICE. ONE POLICEMAN WAS KILLED AND ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT SEVERAL ALBANIANS WERE ALSO KILLED.

ACCORDING TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, A POLICE PATROL IN THE WESTERN PART OF KOSOVO WAS ATTACKED BY MEN WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. THE ATACKERS, OR TERRORISTS AS THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT CALLS THEM, RETREATED INTO VILLAGES AND THE GUN BATTLE BEGAN.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN SOURCES SAY SEVERAL VILLAGES WERE SURROUNDED BY SERBIAN FORCES USING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADES AND HELICOPTERS. WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE REPORTED FLEEING IN FEAR.

IT WAS A SCENE THAT BROUGHT INEVITABLE MEMORIES OF THE CIVILIAN DEATHS, ATTRIBUTED TO A SERBIAN GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN, ON SUSPECTED MILITANT SEPERATISTS, THAT KILLED EIGHTY PEOPLE OVER THE PAST MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/GB/PLM
24-Mar-98 6:56 PM EST (2356 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO VIOLENCE (S) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: A NEW OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE HAS KILLED ONE SERB POLICEMAN, WOUNDED OTHERS, AND ACCORDING TO AT LEAST ONE REPORT, LEFT FOUR ALBANIANS DEAD. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA, THE KOSOVO CAPITAL.

TEXT: THE NEW VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN THE WESTERN PART OF KOSOVO, NEAR ITS BORDER WITH ALBANIA.

REPORTS FROM THE SCENE SAY POLICE STILL ARE SURROUNDING THE VILLAGE OF GLLOGJAN AND HAVE TURNED ASIDE A GROUP OF JOURNALISTS. A CALLER TO AN ALBANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE SAID AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE COULD BE HEARD AND HELICOPTERS WERE STILL CIRCLING THE AREA.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN CIVILIANS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE FLED THE AREA TO NEARBY VILLAGES.

THE OFFICIAL YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY TANJUG SAYS THE VIOLENCE BEGAN WHEN A POLICE PATROL WAS ATTACKED WITH ROCKETS AND AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. AND THE GUN BATTLE CONTINUED WHEN THE ATTACKERS WITHDREW TO VILLAGES.

THE NEWS AGENCY REPORT SAYS A CAPTURED ATTACKER SAID SOME OF THE ATTACKERS -- WHOM TANJUG CALLS "TERRORISTS" -- ENTERED YUGOSLAVIA FROM ALBANIA. (SIGNED)
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24-Mar-98 1:03 PM EST (1803 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 SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A STRONG REBOUND FROM MONDAY'S LOSSES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89-HUNDRED-FOUR, UP 88 POINTS -- OR ONE PERCENT AND JUST SHORT OF A RECORD HIGH. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX DID CLOSE AT A RECORD HIGH 11-HUNDRED-FIVE, UP 10 POINTS.

STOCKS MADE A QUICK AND CONVINCING RECOVERY FROM MONDAY'S TRADING WHICH SAW THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOSE 90 POINTS, OR ONE PERCENT.

ANALYSTS SAY A DROP IN OIL PRICES AFTER MONDAY'S BIG RALLY IN OIL CAUSED SOME TRADERS TO CONCLUDE THAT THE DECISION BY OIL PRODUCING NATIONS TO LIMIT OUTPUT WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC EFFECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT IS THE INFLOWS OF MONEY, THE SEASONAL INFLOWS, THE RE-INVESTMENT DEMAND WHICH COMES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. BEYOND THAT, I THINK IT IS THE OPTIMISM THAT INTEREST RATES WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.

ANALYSTS ALSO SAY THERE IS STRONG PRESSURE ON MOST STOCK MUTUAL FUND MANAGERS TO BECOME FULLY INVESTED BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, MARCH 31ST.

THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE FIRM WILL OPEN A DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN INDIA. MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN BILL GATES HAS RECENTLY COMPLAINED OF A SHORTAGE OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND APPARENTLY WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS IN INDIA. ROCHE, THE SWISS-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, REPORTS A LOSS OF ONE-POINT-FOUR BILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR. THE COMPANY SAYS THE LOSS IS THE RESULT OF HUGE RESTRUCTURING AND ACQUISITION COSTS.

A BIG ACQUISITION IN THE U-S HOTEL INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. THE FELCOR COMPANY WILL ACQUIRE 109 HOTELS FROM THE BRISTOL CORPORATION IN A DEAL WORTH ALMOST TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY SAYS CONTINUING PRODUCTION PROBLEMS RELATED TO ITS REDESIGNED 737 JETLINER MAY RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE AGAINST FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS. LAST YEAR, BOEING TOOK A TWO-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLAR CHARGE FOR PRODUCTION PROBLEMS.

THE RAYTHEON CORPORATION HAS RECEIVED A 110 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT FROM THE U-S ARMY TO UPGRADE THE PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM. PATRIOT MISSILES, DESIGNED TO INTERCEPT ENEMY MISSILES, WERE USED IN THE GULF WAR OF 1991.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
24-Mar-98 4:49 PM EST (2149 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE ABRUPT FIRING OF RUSSIA'S CABINET BY BORIS YELTSIN IS DRAWING A GOOD DEAL OF EDITORIAL REACTION IN THE U-S PRESS THIS TUESDAY. ALSO DRAWING COMMENT ARE THE LATEST LEGAL MANEUVERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL; THE INACTIVITY OF THE CURRENT CONGRESS; SOME BENEFICIAL CHANGES IN VENEZUELA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM; AND MORE ABOUT INDONESIA'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TROUBLES. NOW, HERE IS ______________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: RETURNING FROM A WEEK'S SICK LEAVE BECAUSE OF A RESPIRATORY INFECTION, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN REASSERTED HIS CONTROL OVER THE COUNTRY MONDAY BY UNEXPECTEDLY FIRING HIS ENTIRE CABINET, INCLUDING HIS PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN. THE FIRINGS CAUGHT EVERYBODY OFF GUARD, BUT THE U-S DAILIES HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO RECOVER, THEY THEY'VE GOT PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT THIS LATEST POLITICAL EPISODE. IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" NOTES THAT DESPITE THE DEPTH OF THE SHAKE-UP, THE COUNTRY IS CALM, AND, THE PAPER SUGGESTS THAT "DEMOCRACY MAY EMERGE THE BIGGEST WINNER OF ALL" IN THIS SHAKE UP.

VOICE: WHEN MIKHAIL GORBACHEV SENT SOVIET TROOPS INTO SEVEN REBELLIOUS REPUBLICS OF THE OLD SOVIET UNION IN EARLY 1991, TENSION SWEPT THE STREETS OF MOSCOW AND ST. PETERSBURG. NO ONE KNEW, EVEN IN THOSE DAYS OF 'PERESTROIKA,' WHETHER THE NEW SPIRIT OF OPENNESS THAT THE INVASION HAD SO CRUDELY VIOLATED WOULD SURVIVE. NO SUCH TENSION WAS REPORTED ON RUSSIAN STREETS ON MONDAY WHEN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SACKED HIS ENTIRE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS THE MOST SWEEPING POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN RUSSIA SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION, BUT PEOPLE SHOWED NO UNDUE SENSE OF ALARM. ... THE CONTRAST WITH 1991 IS REMARKABLE. ... RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY ... REALLY MAY BE MATURING.

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS THE REMOVAL OF PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN IS NOT, NECESSARILY, A BAD THING.

VOICE: THE MOST INTRIGUING CASUALTY OF BORIS YELTSIN'S DECISION ... WAS PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, THE PRESIDENT'S MOST LOYAL DEPUTY AND SURVIVOR OF NUMEROUS CABINET RESHUFFLES. AS PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR STEPANOVICH CAST HIMSELF AS A REFORMER, BUT SPENT MOST OF HIS ENERGIES PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF RUSSIA'S ENERGY MONOPOLIES AND FINANCIAL-INDUSTRIAL GROUPS ... IN GENERAL. IF THE CHERNOMYRDIN ERA ENDS HERE, THE YELTSIN LEGACY WILL BE THE BRIGHTER. /// OPT /// WE USE THE WORD 'ENDS' WITH CAUTION. GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLES HAVE BEEN A HALLMARK OF THE YELTSIN PRESIDENCY. FOR THOSE IN FAVOR, GETTING KICKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR OFTEN MEANS BEING LET IN AGAIN THROUGH THE BACK IN SOME NEW FUNCTION. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, HOWEVER, "THE SUN" WORRIES IF MR. YELTSIN IS MENTALLY SOUND.

VOICE: ....HIS STUNNING DECISION ... RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 67-YEAR-OLD KREMLIN LEADER'S SOUNDNESS. ... THE PURGE ... LEAVES THE KREMLIN IN THE HANDS OF LITTLE-KNOWN AND UNTESTED ADVISERS. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS UNLIKELY TO AFFECT RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY, THE WORLD OUGHT TO BE WORRIED.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" PICKS UP ON "THE SUN'S" THEME, ADDING:

VOICE: MR. YELTSIN'S ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE. BUT HIS INCREASINGLY MERCURIAL LEADERSHIP, MARKED BY ERRATIC PRONOUNCEMENTS, FREQUENT HEALTH CRISES AND SUDDEN REMOVAL OF TOP AIDES, NOW THREATENS TO UNDERMINE RUSSIA'S POLITICAL STABILITY AND THE CONFIDENCE OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND INVESTORS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" THOUGH SEES A CLEVER BORIS YELTSIN IN THE SACKING AND NOT SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST HIS SENSIBILITIES TO GOVERN.

VOICE: THE PLOY COULD NOT BE MORE TRANSPARENT. AS HE HAS DONE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE 1991, [MR.] YELTSIN SHUFFLED MINISTERS TO SHIFT BLAME ONTO THEM FOR WHAT RUSSIANS BITINGLY DERIDE AS THE SECOND WAVE OF STAGNATION ... POLITICALLY SOPHISTICATED RUSSIANS PERCEIVE THE CURRENT SHAKE-UP OF THE CABINET AS ONE OF [MR.] YELTSIN'S LAST CHANCES TO GINGER [IDENTIFY] A SCAPEGOAT BEFORE THE COUNTRY GETS CAUGHT UP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 1999 AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND.

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC TURMOIL, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE LASHING OUT AT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S LATEST USE OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO SHIELD SOME WHITE HOUSE STAFFERS FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE KENNETH STARR'S GRAND JURY ABOUT HIS ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH AN INTERN. TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS" FUMES THE -- PRESIDENT IS OVERSTEPPING [HIS AUTHORITY] IN [THE] LEWINSKY INQUIRY -- ADDING:

VOICE: MR. CLINTON 'S LEGAL ADVISERS ARE CLAIMING ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE AS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT ... AIDES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REVEAL THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT ABOUT MS. LEWINSKY. THERE MAY BE LEGAL GROUNDS TO ARGUE FOR THAT POINT. BUT THE EXTRAORDINARY DECISION TO INVOKE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE GOES BEYOND THE CONSTITUTIONAL REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING THE PROTECTIVE RULE. ... MR. CLINTON SHOULD ADVISE HIS LAWYERS TO PURSUE OTHER STRATEGIES AND PRESERVE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO AFRICA, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUGGESTS THAT JUST AS PARTS OF ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA DID BEFORE IT, AFRICA CAN EXTRICATE ITSELF FROM THE POVERTY OF THE THIRD WORLD. BUT IT SAYS AUTOCRATIC RULE HAS TO BE ENDED IN RESOURCE-RICH NATIONS.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CURRENT TRIP ... POINTS UP ANOTHER PROBLEM. HE IS AVOIDING NIGERIA, ZAIRE, ZIMBABWE, AND ANGOLA -- STATES THAT IN THE PAST WERE PRAISED AS RESOURCE-RICH ENGINES CAPABLE OF PULLING THEIR NEIGHBORS INTO FASTER GROWTH. AS ONE ANALYST NOTED, THOSE NATIONS -- WITH THEIR STORES OF OIL, COPPER, DIAMONDS, AND RICH SOIL -- GIVE 'POTENTIAL' A BAD NAME. INSTEAD OF LEADING AFRICA TOWARD DEMOCRATIC PROSPERITY THEY ARE VARIOUSLY MIRED IN AUTOCRATIC RULE, THE AFTERMATH OF CIVIL WAR, AND CORRUPTION. ... BUT THERE ARE SIGNS OF TURNAROUND GATHERING STRENGTH.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" TAKES A LOOK AT THE CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF CONGRESS AND FINDS THE LEGISLATORS WANTING.

VOICE: RENAME AN AIRPORT, PASS THE PORK AND GET OUTTA THERE! THAT IS THE CODE THAT HAS BEEN BROADCAST -- UNASHAMEDLY -- FROM CAPITOL HILL FOR MONTHS NOW. MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE RENAMED WASHINGTON 'S NATIONAL AIRPORT AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REGAN AND ARE EAGERLY WORKING TO FINISH A HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT SPENDING BILL THAT WILL PROVIDE A GUSH OF NEW MONEY FOR PROJECTS BACK HOME. THEN THE PLAN IS TO GET OUT OF WASHINGTON FAST, TO CAMPAIGN FOR RE-ELECTION. SHAME ON THEM ... THERE IS PLENTY TO DO IF ONLY THIS CONGRESS WOULD OPEN ITS EYES AND TAKE SOME RISKS.

TEXT: IN LATIN AMERICAN NEWS, "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS PRAISING VENEZUELA FOR A MAJOR REVOLUTION WITHIN ITS JUDICIAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS LEADING THE WAY FOR OTHER NATIONS.

VOICE: VENEZUELA'S NEW LEGAL SYSTEM, FUNDED BY A 60-MILLION-DOLLAR WORLD BANK LOAN, TOOK SIX-YEARS TO DESIGN. GUIDED BY THE NEW CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW APPROVED BY THE CONGRESS IN DECEMBER, THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ACTUALLY PRESUME THE ACCUSED INNOCENT UNTIL TRIED AND PROVEN OTHERWISE. ... THE OLD SECRETIVE SYSTEM OF ENDLESS WRITTEN ARGUMENTS AND APPEALS IS BEING REPLACED BY AN AMERICAN-STYLE ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM, WITH ORAL ARGUMENTS IN A PUBLIC TRIAL AND EVEN JURIES IN CASES OF SERIOUS CRIMES. ... MAY VENEZUELA'S BOLD REFORM EXPERIMENT THUS LEAD THE WAY TO A JUST, MORE-DEMOCRATIC LATIN AMERICA -- ONE IN WHICH AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY TRULY SERVES AS GUARDIAN OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

TEXT: IN THE CARIBBEAN, AS REGARDS THE RELAXATION OF SOME U-S EMBARGO RULES AGAINST CUBA ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK BY THE WHITE HOUSE, "THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH" SAYS OF THE MEASURES, INCLUDING THE EASING OF RULES FOR SENDING FOOD, MEDICINE, AND MONEY FROM INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS RESUMING MERCY FLIGHTS FROM THE U-S:

VOICE: THESE ARE ALL STEPS FORWARD. BUT THEY DO NOT CHALLENGE THE EMBARGO, AN ANACHRONISTIC HOLDOVER FROM THE COLD WAR. POLITICAL REALITY -- ARCH-CONSERVATIVE SENATORS IN KEY COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS AND THE POWERFUL CUBAN-AMERICAN LOBBY -- MAKES IT UNLIKELY THAT THE EMBARGO WILL BE LIFTED ANYTIME SOON, HOWEVER OBSOLETE IT MAY BE.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT SUHARTO IN INDONESIA, DESPITE THAT ISLAND COUNTRY'S GROWING FINANCIAL CRISIS, FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES."

VOICE: MR. SUHARTO, THOUGH HE HAS ADOPTED THE TRAPPINGS OF PRESIDENCY, HAS NONETHELESS BEEN RULING AS A VIRTUAL DICTATOR SINCE HE CAPTURED POWER AS AN ARMY GENERAL IN 1965. (ONLY FIDEL CASTRO'S TENURE ON THE WORLD STAGE IS LONGER.) IN RECENT YEARS, EVEN BY HIS LOW STANDARDS, MR. SUHARTO'S RULE HAS BECOME MORE ERRATIC AND ARBITRARY. ... DESPITE SUCH POLITICAL TURMOIL, MR. CLINTON'S FOREIGN-POLICY APPARATUS HAS NO POLICY FOR DEALING WITH THE DEMISE OF THE SUHARTO REGIME. ... MEANWHILE, FOR FIVE YEARS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VIOLATING THE SPIRIT OF A LAW FORBIDDING IT TO PROVIDE PENTAGON TRAINING TO THE VERY INDONESIAN TROOPS WHO ARE NOW BEING DEPLOYED AGAINST DEMONSTRATORS PROTESTING MR. SUHARTO'S 'RE-ELECTION' TO YET ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM EARLIER THIS MONTH. ... DOES THE MILITARY TRAINING HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENSURING THAT MR. SUHARTO'S BILLIONAIRE CRONIES, WHO DOUBLE AS CLINTON BENEFACTORS, CAN CONTINUE TO LOOT THE NATION?

TEXT: WITH THAT QUESTION RINGING IN OUR EARS, WE COME TO THE END OF THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
24-Mar-98 11:08 AM EST (1608 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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