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Voice of America, 98-04-15Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] COHEN / GREECE-TURKEY (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229710 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN HEADS FOR TURKEY, GREECE AND MIDDLE EAST NATIONS TODAY (THURSDAY) WHERE HE WILL FIND A STALLED PEACE PROCESS AND GROWING TENSIONS BETWEEN KEY AMERICAN ALLIES. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, MR. COHEN'S HOPE OF SMOOTHING STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN NATO ALLIES GREECE AND TURKEY IS COMPLICATED BY OLD TENSIONS OVER CYPRUS -- AND SOME NEW WEAPONS. TEXT: THE NEW WEAPONS ARE S-300 ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILES, BOUGHT FROM RUSSIA BY THE GREEK-LED CYPRUS GOVERNMENT. AN ANALYST WITH THE "CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION", A PRIVATE GROUP, SAYS THE S-300'S HAVE BEEN PAID FOR, BUT NOT YET DELIVERED. ANDREW KOCH (PRONO: COKE) SAYS THE MISSILES ARE POWERFUL AND SOPHISTI- CATED. /// KOCH ACT ///THE MISSILE WOULD GIVE CYPRUS THE ABILITY TO SHOOT DOWN TURKISH AIRCRAFT OVER TURKISH AIR SPACE AND OVER TURKEY PROPER (TURKISH LAND). TURKEY IS WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE OCCUPIED A THIRD OF THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS, AND THEY HAVE AN ONGOING, THOUGH NON-SHOOTING, CONFLICT WITH BOTH GREECE AND THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS. /// END ACT ///MR. KOCH SAYS TURKISH FEARS THAT THE MISSILES COULD BE CONVERTED TO STRIKE LAND TARGETS ARE UNFOUNDED. MEANTIME, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS RENEWED ITS THREAT TO USE "ANY MEANS NECESSARY" TO REMOVE THE MISSILES. ANOTHER ANALYST SAYS THE ONLY HOPEFUL SIGN IN GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS IS THE RECENT MEETING BETWEEN THE TOP RANKING MILITARY OFFICIALS OF THE TWO NATIONS, WHERE IT WAS REPORTED THE TWO OFFICIALS GOT ALONG WELL. A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING THEIR MILITARY EQUIPMENT. A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SOURCE SAYS GREECE IS SHOPPING FOR IMPROVED AIR DEFENSES AND A NEW FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, POSSIBLY U-S MADE F-16'S OR F-15'S. A DEFENSE INDUSTRY SOURCE SAYS TURKEY IS IN THE MARKET FOR NEW TANKS AND ATTACK HELICOPTERS, AND IS GETTING SOME OF ITS OLD F-4 PHANTOM FIGHTER PLANES MODERNIZED BY AN ISRAELI COMPANY. ARMS MAKERS FROM SEVERAL NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, ARE SAID TO BE VYING FOR THE WEAPONS CONTRACTS. /// REST OPT ///TURKEY IS THE FIRST STOP ON MR. COHEN'S TRIP, GREECE IS THE LAST. IN BETWEEN HE WILL VISIT JORDAN, EGYPT AND ISRAEL. HE WILL MEET WITH THE DEFENSE MINISTER AND THE KING IN JORDAN,
WHERE A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS THEY WILL LIKELY TALK ABOUT
THE SITUATION IN NEIGHBORING IRAQ, AND JORDAN'S MILITARY NEEDS.
IN ISRAEL, MR. COHEN WILL MEET WITH THE DEFENSE MINISTER TO
DISCUSS SECURITY CONCERNS, AND POSSIBLY ISRAEL'S PLANNED UPGRADE
OF ITS AIR FORCE. A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS MR. COHEN MAY
ALSO MEET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER TO TALK ABOUT THE STALLED PEACE
PROCESS.
IN EGYPT, MR COHEN IS SCHEDULED TO SEE SOME OF THE RESULTS OF
EARLIER EFFORTS TO MAKE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AS HE VISITS
AMERICAN TROOPS PATROLLING A DEMILITARIZED ZONE BETWEEN ISRAEL
AND EGYPT. THE OBSERVER FORCE WAS PUT IN PLACE TO HELP KEEP THE
ONCE-WARRING NATIONS APART. MR. COHEN WILL ALSO VISIT CAIRO FOR
TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK. (SIGNED)
[02] CZECH / NATO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229671 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CZECH PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED TO APPROVE THE COUNTRY'S ENTRY INTO NATO -- THE FIRST OF THE THREE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES TO DO SO. CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM PRAGUE TEXT: LAWMAKERS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S LOWER HOUSE, THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO ACCEPT AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION IN 1999. /// ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS - IN CZECH ///THE VOTE WAS 154 IN FAVOR, 38 AGAINST. ALL MAINSTREAM PARTIES SUPPORTED THE MEASURE, WITH ONLY THE COMMUNISTS AND RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN PARTY AGAINST IT. THE LEFT-OF-CENTER SOCIAL DEMOCRATS VOTED TO ACCEPT THE TREATY, BUT JUST BEFORE THE VOTE THEIR LEADER, MILOS ZEMAN, SAID THE MATTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT BEFORE THE CZECH PUBLIC IN A REFERENDUM. OPINION SURVEYS INDICATE ABOUT 60-PERCENT OF THE CZECH PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF NATO MEMBERSHIP -- CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN PUBLIC SUPPORT IN POLAND AND HUNGARY, THE TWO OTHER FORMERLY-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN. THROUGHOUT CENTRAL EUROPE DEBATES ABOUT NATO EXPANSION ARE SIMILAR. SUPPORTERS CITE THE ONGOING NEED FOR EUROPEAN SECURITY AND THE NEED TO BE PART OF EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS -- INCLUDING NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. OPPONENTS SAY IT WILL COST TOO MUCH, AND SAY WITH THE COLD WAR OVER, AN EXPANDED NATO IS A NEEDLESS PROVOCATION TO MOSCOW. NATO ENLARGEMENT ALSO MUST BE APPROVED BY ALL 16 CURRENT MEMBERS.
SEVERAL HAVE DONE SO. A VOTE IN THE U-S SENATE IS EXPECTED LATER
THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
[03] U-S / CZECH (S ONLY) BY VALONDA R. BRUINTON (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229718 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS CONGRATULATED VISITING CZECH PRIME MINISTER JOSEF TOSOVSKY ON THE VOTE IN THE CZECH PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY TO ENTER THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT VALONDA BRUINTON REPORTS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THE STEP IS A MOMENTUS ONE. TEXT: LAWMAKERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF JOINING NATO 154 TO 38. ONLY THE COMMUNISTS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OPPOSED THE MOVE. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN HAILED THE VOTE. // RUBIN ACT //THIS REPRESENTS A MILESTONE IN CZECH HISTORY AND WE BELIEVE THE NEW PRIME MINISTER DESERVES PRAISE FOR HIS NON-PARTISAN LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROCESS WAS DONE SMOOTHLY. // END ACT //THE VOTE MAKES THE CZECH REPUBLIC THE FIRST OF THOSE INVITED TO JOIN AN EXPANDED NATO TO APPROVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE ALLIANCE. HUNGARY AND POLAND HAVE ALSO BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE 16-NATION BODY. SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAID SECRETARY ALBRIGHT ALSO DISCUSSED WITH PRIME
MINISTER TOSOVSKY THE HEALTH OF CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL WHO
UNDERWENT EMERGENCY SURGERY TUESDAY FOR A PERFORATED LARGE
INTESTINE. HE SAID THE SECRETARY SENT MR. HAVEL A PERSONAL GET
WELL GREETING. (SIGNED)
[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (S) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229681 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A PROTESTANT POLITICAL PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAS LAUNCHED ITS CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT THE PROPOSED NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AGREEMENT IN A REFERENDUM NEXT MONTH. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA REPORTS FROM LONDON. TEXT: THE PRO-BRITISH "DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY" DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE TALKS THAT LED TO THE PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT. AND THE PARTY'S LEADER, THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY, IS LEADING THE EFFORT TO GET PROTESTANTS TO VOTE AGAINST THE DEAL IN THE REFERENDUM ON MAY 22ND. MR. PAISLEY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE (IN BELFAST) THE AGREEMENT IS "TREACHEROUS, A TOTAL SELLOUT -- A BETRAYAL." HE SAYS HIS PARTY HOPES TO CONVINCE OTHER PRO-BRITISH CITIZENS IN THE PROVINCE TO VOTE AGAINST THE DOCUMENT. /// PAISLEY ACT ///I AM CERTAIN AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COME TO REALIZE THE TRUE IMPORT OF THE SCALE OF THE BETRAYAL OF THIS DOCUMENT, THAT THIS PROVINCE CAN BE SAVED THROUGH A MASS OF UNIONIST "NO" VOTES NEXT MONTH. /// END ACT ///THE LARGEST PRO-BRITISH PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE ULSTER
UNIONISTS, MEETS SATURDAY TO DECIDE IF IT WILL SUPPORT THE
AGREEMENT. THE PARTY'S LEADER, DAVID TRIMBLE, IS ONE OF THE
NEGOTIATORS WHO SIGNED THE DOCUMENT. (SIGNED)
[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229715 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSING AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 62, UP 52 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 19, UP THREE POINTS. ///BEGIN OPT////// REILLY ACT //////OPT//////END ACT///THE STOCKS OF TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES WERE STRONGER AFTER TWO LEADING COMPANIES -- INTEL AND COMPAQ -- REPORTED LOWER EARNINGS. REPORTS OF LOWER PROFITS ARE NOT NECESSARILY BAD FOR INDIVIDUAL STOCKS IF INVESTORS HAD EXPECTED THEM. IN FACT, SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE EARNINGS DROPS FOR COMPAQ AND INTEL WERE NOT AS STEEP AS WALL STREET HAD ANTICIPATED. /// REST OPT ///A GROUP REPRESENTING SMALL U-S BANKING COMPANIES IS ASKING CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROPOSED MERGER OF CITICORP AND TRAVELERS. THE INDEPENDENT BANKERS ASSOCIATION SAYS THE COMBINATION OF THE NATION'S SECOND-LARGEST BANK WITH A MAJOR INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY MAY BE ILLEGAL AND, IN ANY CASE, WOULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE UNITED STATES. ROBERT CRANDALL, THE MAN WHO BROUGHT MANY INNOVATIONS TO THE U-S AIRLINE INDUSTRY, IS RETIRING AS CHAIRMAN OF A-M-R CORPORATION WHICH OWNS AMERICAN AIRLINES. MR. CRANDALL, WHO IS 62 YEARS OLD, DEVELOPED THE IDEA OF FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAMS AND PIONEERED THE USE OF SO-CALLED "HUB" AIRPORTS WHICH INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY OF MAJOR AIRLINES. THE PENNZOIL COMPANY SAYS IT WILL MERGE ITS AUTO SERVICES BUSINESSES WITH THE QUAKER STATE CORPORATION. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE THE LARGEST MOTOR OIL AND LUBRICATION SERVICES FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ANNUAL REVENUES IN EXCESS OF THREE BILLION DOLLARS. THE PRICE OF PALLADIUM SOARED TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH PRICE OF ALMOST
350 DOLLARS AN OUNCE BEFORE FALLING SHARPLY. THE DROP CAME AFTER
RUSSIA'S ACTING PRIME MINISTER SIGNED AN ORDER AUTHORIZING A
RESUMPTION OF PALLADIUM EXPORTS. RUSSIA IS NOW THE DOMINATE
PROVIDER OF THAT PRECIOUS METAL, PRODUCING 60 PERCENT OF WORLD
SUPPLIES LAST YEAR.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/KL
[06] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=4/15/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229696 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE FINISHED TRADING MOSTLY LOWER ON WEDNESDAY. FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON. TEXT: THE MARKETS SEEMED IN A PROFIT-TAKING MOOD WEDNESDAY, AS INVESTORS CASHED-IN ON THE RECORD-SETTING GAINS FROM THE PAST WEEK. EUROPE'S BIGGEST STOCK EXCHANGE HERE IN LONDON SAW THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSE DOWN 30 POINTS -- A ONE-HALF PERCENTAGE POINT LOSS FOR THE DAY. A MORE MODEST DECLINE WAS REGISTERED ON THE FRANKFURT "DAX," WHICH LOST JUST UNDER NINE POINTS. IN PARIS, HOWEVER, THE "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX GAINED 17 POINTS -- A VALUE RISE OF JUST UNDER ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT FOR THE DAY. ON CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND BRITISH POUND. GOLD PRICES IN LONDON CLOSED DOWN TWO DOLLARS AN OUNCE. THE
PRICE WAS FIXED AT 307-DOLLARS-55 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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