Voice of America, 98-04-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] ASIA / EUROPE CONFERENCE BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] ASIA / EUROPE SUMMIT BY ZULKARNAIN H. TAJIBNAPIS (WASHINGTON)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] GERMANY / AUSTRIA / BORDERS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] KOSOVO REPORTERS NOTEBOOK BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

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

[07] TURKEY PRISON (L-ONLY) BY TOM KANKKONEN (ISTANBUL)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ASIA / EUROPE CONFERENCE BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: LEADERS FROM EUROPEAN AND ASIAN COUNTRIES BEGIN A THREE-DAY SUMMIT MEETING THURSDAY IN LONDON, HELD AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE CONTINUING FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA. IN THIS REPORT FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT WHAT MAY COME OUT OF THE SESSION.

TEXT: LEADERS FROM 25 COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT KNOWN AS "ASEM." THIS IS THE SECOND SUMMIT OF ITS KIND. THE FIRST WAS HELD TWO YEARS AGO IN BANGKOK.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE SUCH GATHERINGS TURN OUT TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN "TALKING SHOPS" -- IN OTHER WORDS MEETINGS WHERE LEADERS EXCHANGE IDEAS AND WELL-REHEARSED PHRASES, BUT NOTHING CONCRETE IS REALLY ACHIEVED.

HOWEVER THE SENIOR LONDON ECONOMIST WITH THE JAPANESE BANK "D-K-B" -- GERARD LYONS -- SAYS GIVEN THE CURRENT ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS, SOME SERIOUS PROPOSALS ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT OF THE THREE-DAY MEETING. FIRST, HE EXPECTS SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS TO COME OUT WITH A STATEMENT STRONGLY ENDORSING THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN HELPING ASIA OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS.

SECOND, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM, BASICALLY CONTINUING THE DEBATE THAT HAS SURFACED SINCE THE ASIAN CRISIS. AND THE THIRD AREA IS ONE THAT DOES HAVE SOME NITTY GRITTY DETAILS TO IT, IN THAT THE SUMMIT ALREADY LOOKS SET TO LAUNCH WHAT IS CALLED THE 'ASEM TRUST FUND INITIATIVE.' AND ALSO TWO TRADE PLANS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO BE SIGNED AT THE SUMMIT -- THE 'ASIAN ACTION PLAN' AND THE 'INVESTMENT PROMOTION ACTION PLAN.' SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TALKING -- THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF TALKING, GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN ASIA -- BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME INITIATIVES TO COME OUT OF THE SUMMIT AS WELL.

MR. LYONS SAYS THE WORLD STILL NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA, EVEN IF IT HAS DROPPED OFF THE FRONT PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS. HE SAYS COUNTRIES ARE NOW TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AND INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS STABILIZED THE SITUATION, PREVENTING THE CRISIS FROM SPREADING.

BUT NOW WE ARE IN THE SECOND STAGE, AND THIS SECOND STAGE WILL BE VERY LONG. THE SECOND STAGE IS ONE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES THROUGHOUT ASIA -- COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE TROUBLED ECONOMIES WILL HAVE HIGH DEBTS TO PAY OFF AND THIS THEREFORE POINTS TO HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, BANKRUPTCIES, AND CONTINUED DOMESTIC PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT MANY PARTS OF ASIA. AND AS A RESULT, THESE ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN DIFFICULTY ARE GOING TO TRY AND RELY ON EXPORTS TO GET THEMSELVES OUT OF TROUBLE, HENCE THE NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE A BUOYANT GLOBAL ECONOMY. THE THIRD STAGE OF THE ASIAN CRISIS -- WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE COMPLETE RECOVERY -- I THINK IS SOME TIME AWAY -- MAYBE FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AWAY.

THE BRITISH ECONOMIST BELIEVES EUROPE CAN PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN ASIA, ESPECIALLY BY INCREASING TRADE OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN THE TWO CONTINENTS.

BUT YET, WITH EUROPE VERY MUCH WITH ITS MIND SET ON MONETARY UNION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE ANY TURN AROUND IN EUROPEAN POLICY. SO EUROPEAN POLICY IS ALREADY SET ON A SORT OF SINGLE PATH TOWARDS A SINGLE CURRENCY, HENCE THERE IS NOTHING NEW THAT EUROPE CAN REALLY OFFER AT THIS SUMMIT. THEY CAN ALWAYS PROMISE, OF COURSE, TO GET THEIR OWN (ECONOMIC) HOUSE IN ORDER AND HOPE THAT A SINGLE (EUROPEAN) CURRENCY ALLOWS THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY TO PICK UP.

GERARD LYONS -- SENIOR LONDON ECONOMIST WITH THE JAPANESE BANK "D-K-B" -- SAYS WHAT WILL HELP ASIA IN THE LONG RUN, IS A STRONG EUROPEAN ECONOMY COUPLED WITH AN OPEN TRADING MARKET. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH
01-Apr-98 8:20 AM EST (1320 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ASIA / EUROPE SUMMIT BY ZULKARNAIN H. TAJIBNAPIS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SECOND SUMMIT EUROPEAN AND ASIAN NATIONS TAKES PLACE LATER THIS WEEK (APRIL 2 TO 4) IN LONDON. THOUGH ECONOMIC ISSUES WILL MOST LIKELY TOP THE AGENDA, THE MEETING BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND 10 ASIAN COUNTRIES (SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, CHINA, AND THE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS) WILL DISCUSS OTHER MATTERS AS WELL. VOA'S ZUL TAJIBNAPIS IN WASHINGTON PREPARED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: RAHARJO JAMTOMO, INDONESIA'S AMBASSADOR TO LONDON, SAYS HE BELIEVES THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS WILL LIKELY DOMINATE THE MEETING OF ASIAN AND EUROPEAN NATIONS, BUT HE SAYS ASIAN AND EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE OTHER TOPICS TO DISCUSS AS WELL.

HE SAYS THE MEETING WILL DISCUSS SOME NEW ASEAN PROPOSALS, INCLUDING THE FORMATION OF AN ASIA-EUROPE AGRICULTURAL FORUM AND COOPERATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. WE HOPE, HE SAYS, THE MEETING ALSO WILL DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL FOR AN ASEAN TRUST FUND AIMED AT HELPING TO DEAL WITH THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

AMBASSADOR JAMTOMO SAYS HE SEES THE FORUM AS A USEFUL VEHICLE FOR INCREASED ECONOMIC AND TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO CONTINENTS, AND NOT MERELY A SYMBOLIC GATHERING. THE MEETING, HE SAYS FILLS A STRATEGIC NEED FOR A LINK BETWEEN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AND EUROPE. THE UNITED STATES AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, HE POINTS OUT, HAVE ALREADY FORMED A STRONG LINK IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM, WHILE THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE ALSO HAVE A LONG ESTABLISHED TRANS-ATLANTIC TRADE COOPERATION.

DAVID WALL, AN ASIAN SPECIALIST AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN LONDON, SAYS THE FORUM, LAUNCHED TWO YEARS AGO, NOW NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DETERMINE HOW TO EXPAND ITS MEMBERSHIP. ACCORDING TO MR. WALL, THE ASIAN CRISIS IS NO DOUBT A MAIN ITEM FOR THIS SECOND ASEM MEETING, BUT HE SAYS MANY DELEGATES ALSO WILL BE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF CHINA.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF CHINA IS TAKING IT EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. THEY ARE SENDING ZHU RONGJI (THE NEW PREMIER) AND HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL ACT WILL BE TO LEAD THE DELEGATION OF 150 LEADING POLICY MAKERS, POLICY THINKERS FROM CHINA. AND FOR THE ASEM MEMBERS THEMSELVES, THEY ARE SEEING IT AS A VEHICLE FOR ENGAGING IN A SERIOUS DIALOGUE WITH CHINA.

RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION SEEM TO HAVE IMPROVED FOLLOWING THE DECISION BY THE E-U NOT TO PROCEED WITH ITS PLAN TO SUPPORT A U-N RESOLUTION CONDEMNING BEIJING FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS' RECORD. CHINA HOPES THE TRIP BY PREMIER ZHU RONGJI WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARD IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA.

THE NEXT CONFERENCE OF ASIAN AND E-U NATIONS IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN SEOUL IN THE YEAR 2000.
NEB/ZT/KL
01-Apr-98 3:11 PM EST (2011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE BIG WEST EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS WEDNESDAY CLOSED THEIR TRADING DAY HIGHER. FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE STOCK PRICES SEEMED ON AN EVER-UPWARD CLIMB WEDNESDAY, BUT RETREATED FROM THEIR HIGH POINTS OF THE DAY BY THE TIME TRADING CLOSED. WEAKER NUMBERS ON WALL STREET WERE CITED BY SOME ANALYSTS FOR THE LATER DAY DECLINES. STILL, THE NUMBERS SET CLOSING RECORDS IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS. THE BIGGEST GAINS WERE HERE IN LONDON, WHERE THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 85 POINTS -- A GAIN OF ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT. MORE MODEST GAINS WERE POSTED ON THE PARIS "CAC 40," WHICH WAS UP SEVEN-AND-A-HALF POINTS, AND THE FRANKFURT DAX, WHERE THE ELECTRONIC TRADING BOARD CLOSED UP 38 POINTS.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS TRADING ABOUT A HALF CENT HIGHER AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THREE-QUARTERS OF A PFENNIG HIGHER AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK.

GOLD IN LONDON SHOWED LITTLE PRICE CHANGE, SELLING AT AROUND 301 DOLLARS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/JO
01-Apr-98 1:05 PM EST (1805 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / AUSTRIA / BORDERS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: OFFICIALS IN GERMANY ARE CALLING FOR TOUGH, NEW CRIME FIGHTING MEASURES FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF ALL REMAINING CONTROLS ALONG ITS BORDER WITH AUSTRIA. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM THE SOUTHERN GERMAN STATE OF BAVARIA SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THE REMOVAL OF BORDER CONTROLS BETWEEN AUSTRIA, ITALY AND GERMANY WILL PROVIDE CRIMINAL GANGS EASY ACCESS TO WESTERN EUROPE.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER CONTROLS ALONG ROADS AND RAIL LINES BETWEEN AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND ITALY ENDED AT (TUESDAY) MIDNIGHT, MARKING AUSTRIA'S FULL MEMBERSHIP IN WHAT IS CALLED THE "SCHENGEN ACCORD." THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR OPEN, PASSPORT-FREE TRAVEL BETWEEN MEMBER STATES, WHICH INCLUDE FRANCE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS AND LUXEMBOURG.

IN A CEREMONY ALONG THE BORDER WITH ITALY, AUSTRIAN OFFICIALS HAILED THE REMOVAL OF PASSPORT CONTROLS, BUT ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT IT COULD INCREASE THE TRAFFIC IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. IN BONN, GERMANY INTERIOR MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER ALSO WELCOMED THE MOVE, BUT SAID TOUGHER SECURITY MEASURES WERE NEEDED ON THE OUTER BORDER OF THE SO-CALLED SCHENGEN ZONE.

NOTING THAT 15-THOUSAND CRIMINALS AND 30-THOUSAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED AT THE BORDER LAST YEAR, OFFICIALS FROM THE SOUTHERN GERMAN STATE OF BAVARIA SAY EVEN TOUGHER MEASURES ARE NEEDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF
01-Apr-98 10:22 AM EST (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO REPORTERS NOTEBOOK BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE CONFLICT IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE HAS BEEN MUCH IN THE NEWS LATELY. THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY IMPOSED AN ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA, HOPING IT WILL FORCE BELGRADE TO PEACEFULLY RESOLVE THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN KOSOVO, AND THE COUNTRY'S SERBIAN RULERS IN BELGRADE. THE DISPUTE REACHED CRISIS LEVEL OVER THE PAST MONTH, WITH SOME 80 PEOPLE LEFT DEAD FROM CLASHES. BUT FINDING A SOLUTION WILL BE DIFFICULT, AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES, WHO FILED THIS REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK AFTER SPENDING THREE WEEKS IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: // SOUND OF GUNFIRE -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER NARRATIVE

AMID THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO, THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE OUTSIDE MY HOTEL WINDOW IS ALARMING BUT, AS IT TURNS OUT, HARMLESS. IT'S JUST SOMEONE'S WAY OF CELEBRATING AT A FAMILY BANQUET DOWNSTAIRS.

TENSIONS HAVE BEEN HIGH IN KOSOVO SINCE AUTHORITIES CRACKED DOWN ON ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS FOLLOWING THEIR ATTACK ON POLICE. THE OFFENSIVE BY POLICE AND PARAMILITARY SPECIAL UNITS FOCUSED NEW ATTENTION ON THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO -- SOMETHING EXPERTS HAVE LONG CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE 90-PERCENT OF KOSOVO'S POPULATION. THEY ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE AUTONOMY UNTIL 1989, WHEN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE EFFECTIVELY STRIPPED KOSOVO OF SELF-RULE. THE ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM KOSOVO'S UNIVERSITY AND HAVE BEEN FIRED FROM JOBS IN STATE ENTERPRISES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES. THEY SAY THEY WANT INDEPENDENCE, THOUGH SOME SAY THEY WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH A KOSOVO REPUBLIC -- SIMILAR TO THE STATUS OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, INSIDE FEDERAL YUGOSLAVIA. ONLY A FEW ALBANIAN NATIONALISTS WANT KOSOVO TO BECOME PART OF ALBANIA.

BUT SERBIA IS NOT INCLINED TO LET KOSOVO GO BECAUSE, FOR SERBS, THE KOSOVO REGION HAS TREMENDOUS EMOTIONAL RESONANCE. THE PROVINCE IS DOTTED WITH SACRED AND HISTORIC MONASTERIES OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. AND, ON A PLAIN JUST OUTSIDE PRISTINA, IS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE LANDMARK EVENTS IN SERB HISTORY: THE BATTLE OF KOSOVO, WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBIAN AND TURKISH SOLDIERS FACED-OFF IN JUNE 1389.

AT THE BATTLE SITE, A FRIEND OF MINE READS THE INSCRIPTION ON A MARBLE COLUMN DESCRIBING THE HEROISM OF PRINCE LAZAR -- THE SERB COMMANDER WHO LED HIS FORCES TO DEFEAT AGAINST THE TURKS, SETTING THE STAGE FOR MORE THAN FOUR CENTURIES OF TURKISH RULE.

A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, SMOKE POURS FROM THE TWO GIANT POWER PLANTS WHERE THE PROVINCE'S COAL RESERVES GENERATE ELECTRICITY FOR USE THROUGHOUT SERBIA, AND FOR EXPORT.

TOO LITTLE HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT KOSOVO'S ECONOMY. THE PROVINCE IS POOR NOW, BUT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A LOT MORE PROSPEROUS. KOSOVO LITERALLY SITS ON A GOLD MINE. WELL, THERE'S ONLY A LITTLE GOLD HERE, BUT THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF OTHER METALS AND MINERALS, INCLUDING LEAD, ZINC, NICKEL AND 12-BILLION TONS OR MORE OF COAL -- POOR QUALITY BROWN COAL, TO BE SURE, BUT JUST FINE FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY. KOSOVO ALSO HAS SOME OF THE BEST AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. BUT THIS IS ALL POTENTIAL WEALTH: THE FARMS ARE MOSTLY SMALL AND INEFFICIENT. AND THE MINES OPERATE AT A FRACTION OF CAPACITY. THE MOST IMPORTANT MINING OPERATION, AT TREPCA (TREP-CHA), HAS RECENTLY ATTRACTED SOME INVESTMENT FROM A GREEK COMPANY, BUT KOSOVO'S MINING EQUIPMENT IS MOSTLY SAID TO BE OLD AND POORLY-MAINTAINED, AND SKILLED ALBANIAN WORKERS WHO WERE LET GO SOME YEARS AGO TOOK WITH THEM VALUABLE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE.

THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS NEVER FAR FROM THE SURFACE, BUT LIFE GOES ON: RESIDENTS DRINK ENDLESS CUPS OF COFFEE IN ONE OF PRISTINA'S NUMEROUS CAFES. BUT THIS IS NOT A PLACE WHERE SERBS AND ALBANIANS DEBATE THE GREAT ISSUES. EACH GROUP PATRONIZES ITS OWN CAFES, RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS. THEY ATTEND SEPARATE SCHOOLS, TOO. AND FOR THE RELATIVELY FEW WHO ARE RELIGIOUS, THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THE NATIONALITIES DON'T MIX -- THE SERBS ARE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, THE ALBANIANS MOSTLY MUSLIM WITH A SMALL CATHOLIC MINORITY.

GREAT FLOCKS OF BLACKBIRDS SWOOP THROUGH PRISTINA IN THE EVENING, PASSING THE T-V SATELLITE DISHES THAT HANG FROM PRACTICALLY EVERY APARTMENT BALCONY. THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE HUNGRY FOR NEWS UNFILTERED BY SERBIA'S STATE TELEVISION.

THE BIRDS PERCH TOGETHER IN ONE TREE UNTIL, EXACTLY ALL AT THE SAME MOMENT, THEY TAKE WING AND MOVE EN MASSE TO A SEEMINGLY IDENTICAL TREE JUST DOWN THE BLOCK.

THE BATTLE OF KOSOVO, THE ONE SIX CENTURIES AGO, WAS FOUGHT AT A PLACE CALLED THE "FIELD OF BLACKBIRDS." AS THE BIRDS FLY BY THIS NIGHT I WONDER IF THEY ARE AN OMINOUS OMEN ... OR MERELY A WHIMSICAL DELIGHT. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF
01-Apr-98 9:34 AM EST (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS STATISTICS POINT TO CONTINUED U-S ECONOMIC EXPANSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88-HUNDRED-68, UP 68 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11-HUNDRED-EIGHT, UP SIX POINTS.

AN INDEX DESIGNED TO FORECAST FUTURE U-S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WAS UP IN FEBRUARY, SIGNALING THAT THE CURRENT EXPANSION WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. OTHER POSITIVE NEWS INCLUDED A RISE IN AN INDEX OF MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY AND A RECORD IN FEBRUARY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION SPENDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE A GOOD ECONOMY. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD MARKET PERFORMANCE. WALL STREET AND MAIN STREET ARE BOTH COMFORTABLE AND MONEY CONTINUES TO FLOW INTO EQUITY FUNDS AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY FOUR BILLION DOLLARS WEEKLY.

ANALYSTS AGREE THAT MONEY FROM MUTUAL FUNDS HAS BEEN A POWERFUL FORCE IN KEEPING STOCK PRICES HIGH. A NEW SURVEY (CONDUCTED BY SUNAMERICA INC.) SHOWS 80-PERCENT OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY DURING RETIREMENT AND THAT CONCERN HELPS KEEP THE MONEY FLOWING INTO STOCK FUNDS.

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY SAYS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN PARTS OF ASIA WILL NOT STOP IT FROM PROCEEDING WITH ITS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT PLANS IN THE REGION. COKE CHAIRMAN DOUGLAS IVESTER ALSO SAYS ECONOMIC REFORMS IN CHINA WILL OPEN NEW OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

U-S REGULATORS (F-D-A) HAVE APPROVED A NEW SWEETNER WHICH IS 600 TIMES AS SWEET AS SUGAR. THE PRODUCT, NAMED SUCRALOSE, IS MADE BY THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON COMPANY AND CAN BE USED IN FOOD AND BEVERAGES.

THE ZENITH ELECTRONICS COMPANY REPORTS A 156-MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY LOSS. ZENITH'S OUTSIDE AUDITOR IS QUESTIONING WHETHER THE COMPANY CAN SURVIVE AND THE COMPANY PLANS A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING IN AN EFFORT TO CUT COSTS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
01-Apr-98 4:58 PM EST (2158 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY PRISON (L-ONLY) BY TOM KANKKONEN (ISTANBUL)

INTRO: THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS VOWED TO NEGOTIATE A SOLUTION TO A WAVE OF UNREST AFFECTING SEVERAL PRISONS. TOM KANKKONEN REPORTS FROM ISTANBUL THAT PRISONERS IN AT 10 TURKISH PRISONS HAVE TAKEN SOME 50 OFFICERS HOSTAGE.

TEXT: THE PROTESTS STARTED AFTER A GROUP OF INMATES WERE TRANSFERRED FROM A PRISON IN IZMIR ON THE TURKISH WEST COAST. AUTHORITIES SAY THE PRISONERS, WHO BELONG TO AN ARMED LEFTIST GROUP, WERE INVOLVED IN EARLIER UNREST. OTHER LEFTIST INMATES PROTESTED AGAINST THE TRANSFER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF SOME OF THE CELLBLOCKS. THE UNREST THEN SPREAD RAPIDLY TO 10 PRISONS.

INMATES TOOK SOME 50 PRISON OFFICERS HOSTAGE AND DEMANDED THAT THE TRANSFERRED PRISONERS SHOULD BE RETURNED.

TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTER MURAT BASESGIOGLU HAS RULED-OUT THE USE OF FORCE AT THIS STAGE, AND SAYS THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS. SOME JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIALS EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE UNREST COULD SOON BE OVER (EDS: BY LATER TODAY, WEDNESDAY).

ONE LAWYER INVOLVED IN THE TALKS IN IZMIR DESCRIBED THE MIDDAY SITUATION AT THAT PRISON AS "CALM." HE TOO EXPECTS NEGOTIATIONS TO CONTINUE.

PRISONERS CONVICTED OF TAKING PART IN THE ACTIVITIES BY OUTLAWED POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE USUALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND KEEP IN TOUCH USING MOBILE CELLULAR PHONES SMUGGLED IN TO THE PRISONS.

TURKEY'S PRISONS SUFFER FROM OVERCROWDING AND OTHER PROBLEMS, DUE LARGELY TO A LACK OF FUNDS. IN SOME PRISONS, DRUGS AND WEAPONS ARE ALSO READILY AVAILABLE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, ONE INMATE WAS KILLED AT A PRISON IN ISTANBUL AFTER AN EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE BETWEEN THE INMATES.

TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SOMETIMES ADMIT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER ALL THE PRISONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/TK/PCF
01-Apr-98 9:11 AM EST (1411 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS FROM PORTLAND, MAINE TO PORTLAND, OREGON ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAILURE OF CONGRESS TO PASS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. OTHER TOPICS ON THIS FIRST DAY OF APRIL ARE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO AFRICA; NELSON MANDELA'S ALLEGED FAILINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA; THE POSSIBLE FINAL SOLUTION TO A LATIN AMERICAN BORDER WAR; TROUBLE OVER CYPRUS; AND FINALLY, REMEMBRANCES OF A PIONEERING FEMINIST AND CONGESSWOMAN, BELLA ABZUG. NOW, HERE IS ____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NATION'S EDITORIALS WRITERS ARE FURIOUS THAT CONGRESS FAILED TO PASS MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH AGREED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO THAT REFORM WOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY OF THEIRS, BUT THE PROMISE HAS COME TO NAUGHT. IN PORTLAND, "THE OREGON" VENTS ITS FRUSTRATION UNDER AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE READING "NO SHAME."

VOICE: IT'S FITTING THAT HOUSE LEADERS USED ARTFUL DECEIT TO STICK ANOTHER KNIFE IN THE BACK OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. THE SO-CALLED DEBATE ... WAS MORE OR LESS A REFLECTION OF THE DIRTY UNDERSIDE OF MODERN AMERICAN CAMPAIGNS .... SO THE SLEAZY MANEUVERING THAT KILLED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN THE HOUSE WAS PREDICTABLE. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS DISGUSTING.

TEXT: ACROSS THE CONTINENT, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" IS NO LESS ANGRY, BUT MORE RESERVED IN ITS RHETORIC.

VOICE: IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL CONGRESS WANT THE ISSUE TO DIE NOW. FOR ALL THE OUTCRY OVER ALLEGED DEMOCRATIC ABUSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, THE GOP LEADERSHIP HAS FALLEN IN BEHIND THE STATUS QUO. THIS TURN OF EVENTS IS ESPECIALLY SAD BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A LEADERSHIP THAT WON ITS CONTROL OF CONGRESS ON THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD FIGHT SPECIAL INTERESTS AND KEEP PROMISES.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" ASKS:

VOICE: CAN YOU FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME? WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE, CONGRESS'S REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SEEMS BENT ON TRYING. ..... IT'S ** REPUBLICANS** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] WHO CONTROL THE HOUSE AND SENATE TODAY. SO IT'S REPUBLICANS WHO MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT ONLY FAILING TO CLEAN UP THE SCANDAL-RIDDEN SYSTEM BUT ALSO FOR TURNING THE EFFORT TO DO SO INTO A CYNICAL CHARADE. ..... BY ALL ACCOUNTS, MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD VOTE FOR REFORM. WHAT'S NEEDED IS COMMITTED CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. THE PLOYS OF MESSRS [TRENT] LOTT [REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER] AND [HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER NEWT] GINGRICH SHOW COMMITMENT ONLY TO DECEIT.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SEES A POSSIBLE BACKLASH AGAINST THE LEADERSHIP, SO OUTLANDISH WAS ITS TACTICS.

VOICE: BY ARROGANTLY PREVENTING A VOTE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THIS WEEK, NEWT GINGRICH SO ANGERED FAIR-MINDED LAWMAKERS THAT THEY ARE NOW RALLYING TO THE CAUSE OF CLEANER ELECTIONS. SUPPORTERS OF AN OVERHAUL OF FUND-RAISING LAWS WERE GATHERING MORE SIGNATURES YESTERDAY FOR A DRIVE TO BRING REMEDIAL LEGISLATION TO THE HOUSE FLOOR IN DEFIANCE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. ..... IT HAS BEEN FASHIONABLE IN WASHINGTON TO SAY THERE IS NO PUBLIC GROUNDSWELL FOR A CAMPAIGN CLEANUP. BUT THE MANEUVERS BY MR. GINGRICH AND HIS OBSTRUCTIONIST CREW SHOWED THAT ONLY UNDEMOCRATIC MEASURES CAN NOW BLOCK SOUND LEGISLATION.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S AFRICA TRIP CONTINUES TO DRAW CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION, BUT IT'S NOT COMPLETELY FAVORABLE, AS WE READ IN "USA TODAY."

VOICE: MASTER CAMPAIGNER BILL CLINTON HAS STUMPED ACROSS AFRICA FOR TEN DAYS, DOING WHAT HE DOES SO BRILLIANTLY STUMPING ACROSS THE USA: SHARING THE PAIN OF THE TROUBLED AND DOWNTRODDEN, SCHMOOZING WITH BUSINESS AND POLITICAL ELITES, BASKING IN THE PRESENCE OF A GENUINE HERO, AND DRIBBLING MODEST FAVORS IN HIS WAKE. FROM VILLAGE HUT TO NELSON MANDELA'S PRISON CELL, IT'S A MODEST AND PERHAPS EVEN SELF-SERVING MISSION BUT NEVERTHELESS AN IMPORTANT ONE: BY FAR THE LONGEST ATTENTION SPAN ANY U-S PRESIDENT HAS PAID TO THIS CONTINENT OF 750 MILLION PEOPLE. ..... BUT WILL IT ALL BE FORGOTTEN AFTER [MR.] CLINTON'S LAST AIRPORT WAVE IN SENEGAL THURSDAY? THAT'S HAPPENED REPEATEDLY TO LATIN AMERICA, MUCH CLOSER TO THE USA BUT SIMILARLY IGNORED. ..... CAMPAIGN-STYLE GESTURES ... ARE USEFUL ... BUT THE LONG HAUL FOLLOW-THROUGH IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

TEXT: AND IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," SOME POLITE CRITICISM OF THE CONTINENT'S TOWERING HEROIC FIGURE, NELSON MANDELA, IN THE WAKE OF THE CLINTON TRIP. "THE JOURNAL" PRAISES HIS POLITICAL, BUT NOT HIS ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP.

VOICE: .....MR. MANDELA'S MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA'S POLITICAL ECONOMY REMAINS A MATTER OF CONCERN. HIS MISSTEPS ARE GENERALLY BLAMED FOR THE ECONOMY'S DETERIORATION. MOST NOTABLE HAS BEEN MR. MANDELA'S COZINESS WITH THE FAR LEFT, ESPECIALLY THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS .... TO MAINTAIN HIS POLITICAL SUPPORT. THIS .... HAS LED TO RESTRICTIVE LABOR LEGISLATION THAT HAS PUMPED UP WAGES TO A LEVEL AT WHICH CORPORATIONS CAN NO LONGER JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE OF ADDING NEW EMPLOYEES. THIS HELPS EXPLAIN SOUTH AFRICA'S DEVASTATING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, HOVERING AROUND THIRTY PERCENT AND AS HIGH AS SIXTY PERCENT IN SOME TOWNSHIPS.

TEXT: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PRAISING THE POTENTIAL SOLUTION FOR A LONG-SIMMERING BORDER DISPUTE IN LATIN AMERICA BETWEEN PERU AND ECUADOR.

VOICE: .... 1995 FIGHTING KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS. SINCE THEN PERU HAS BOUGHT MORE JET FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS. NATIONALIST POLITICS ON BOTH SIDES COULD PUSH THE COUNTRIES BACK TO WAR. FORTUNATELY, THIS ANCIENT DISPUTE IS NOW FACING SOME MODERN SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING REGIONAL DIPLOMACY AND COOPERATION, AND THE DECISION OF BOTH NATIONS THAT TRADE AND GROWTH ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN NATIONALIST SYMBOLS. /// OPT /// ..... ECUADOR WILL GIVE UP ITS QUIXOTIC CLAIM TO THE DISPUTED LAND. IN RETURN IT WILL HAVE PERMANENT ACCESS TO THE AMAZON, WHICH IS CLOSED TO IT TODAY. THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD ALSO WORK TOGETHER ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, SUCH AS ROADS, IRRIGATION AND HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" SAYS THE SQUABBLE OVER MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, IN WHICH GREECE WAS ACCEPTED BUT TURKEY REJECTED, HAS HEIGHTENED TENSIONS OVER CYPRUS, WHERE THE TWO NATION'S SUPPORT OPPOSING FACTIONS ACROSS A U-N GUARDED DEMARCATION LINE. "THE POST'S" POSITION SEEMS TO BE THAT SINCE THE EUROPEANS CREATED THIS MESS, THEY SHOULD STEP IN TO SOLVE IT.

VOICE: THE EUROPEANS ... SHOULD NOT BE LET OFF THE HOOK [ALLOWED TO ABSOLVE THEMSELVES OF RESPONSIBILITY]. GREECE AND TURKEY ARE NOT MIDDLE EAST, THEY ARE EUROPE, WESTERN EUROPE. THIS IS NOT 1945, IT IS 1998. EUROPEANS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPOSE A SINGLE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE TO DEAL WITH THE GREEK-TURKISH QUESTION. AT THE LEAST, THE EUROPEAN UNION COULD HAVE HANDLED ITS ACCESSION AFFAIRS IN A MANNER THAT, IF IT DID NOT EASE NATIONAL GRIEVANCES, WOULD NOT HAVE AGGRAVATED THEM.

TEXT: LASTLY A TRIBUTE TO A FORMER NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMAN, AND PIONEER FEMINIST, BELLA ABZUG, WHO DIED YESTERDAY AT AGE 77, FROM ONE OF DOZENS PUBLISHED TODAY. THIS TRIBUTE COMES FROM PORTLAND, OREGON. "THE OREGONIAN" SAYS:

VOICE: BELLA ABZUG DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED FOR FAR MORE THAN THE FLAMBOYANT HATS THAT WERE HER TRADEMARK DURING THE 1970S, WHEN, AS A CONGRESSWOMAN FROM NEW YORK, SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST NOTED AND QUOTED WOMEN POLITICIANS. 'SHE VERY MUCH AS THE DEFINING CHARACTER' IN THE WOMEN'S POLITICAL MOVEMENT .... PORTLAND ...CITY COMMISSIONER GRETCHEN MILLER .... KAFOURY SAID TUESDAY. ..... [MS] ABZUG .... WAS ONE OF THE FIGURES WHO HELPED CHANGE THE FACE OF AMERICAN POLITICS.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
01-Apr-98 10:58 AM EST (1558 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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