Voice of America, 98-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY/PRIME MINISTER (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[02] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

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

[06] ESTONIA / CZECH / E-U BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[07] BOSNIA REFUGEES (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[01] TURKEY/PRIME MINISTER (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT VOTED THURSDAY TO SET UP A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER, TANSU CILLER. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, TURKEY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER COULD BE TRIED BY THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT -- IF SHE'S FOUND GUILTY OF ACCUMULATING HER VAST FORTUNE THROUGH UNLAWFUL MEANS.

TEXT: MRS. CILLER -- WHO BECAME TURKEY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER IN 1993 -- HAS LONG BEEN DOGGED THROUGHOUT HER TERM IN OFFICE BY ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION. CHARGES RANGE FROM RECEIVING KICKBACKS FROM BUSINESS CRONIES FOR GRANTING THEM HUGE SUBSIDIZED GOVERNMENT LOANS TO USING STATE FUNDS TO PURCHASE IMPORTED FOOD FOR HER PET SIAMESE CAT.

ACCORDING TO THE PROBE MOTION LAUNCHED BY HER ARCH POLITICAL RIVAL, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, MRS. CILLER'S FORTUNE INCREASED BY NEARLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS DURING HER FIVE YEARS IN POWER -- FIRST AS PRIME MINISTER AND LATER AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, WHEN SHE TOOK PART IN A CONTROVERSIAL COALITION WITH THE NOW-BANNED ISLAMIST "WELFARE" PARTY.

MRS CILLER -- A U-S EDUCATED FORMER ECONOMICS PROFESSOR -- HAS DENIED ALL THE CHARGES AND CALLED FOR EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS, JUST HOURS BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE MOVE WAS TAKEN TO DETER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FROM VOTING AGAINST HER.

THURSDAY'S VOTE MARKS THE FIRST REAL POLITICAL DEFEAT FOR MRS CILLER, WHO FACED SIMILAR CHARGES WHEN IN POWER. AT THAT TIME, HER ISLAMIST COALITION PARTNERS -- WHO HELD THE GREATEST NUMBER OF SEATS IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT -- RESCUED HER FROM DEFEAT. BUT THEIR SUPPORT WAS FAR FROM EVIDENT DURING THURSDAY'S SESSION.

IF CHARGES AGAINST HER ARE SUBSTANTIATED, MRS CILLER COULD FACE PROSECUTION BEFORE TURKEY'S SUPREME COURT AND BE BANNED FROM POLITICS. BUT PUNDITS WARN AGAINST WRITING HER OFF AT THIS POINT. THEY SAY THAT THROUGHOUT HER BRIEF POLITICAL CAREER, TANSU CILLER HAS DISPLAYED WHAT MANY TERM A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO SURVIVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
16-Apr-98 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA, AND THE WORLDWIDE FUROR OVER THE EXECUTION IN VIRGINIA TUESDAY OF A PARAGUAYAN NATIONAL, ARE AMONG THE DAY'S MOST POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPICS. OTHER SUBJECTS TO BE FOUND IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE U-S PRESS THIS THURSDAY INCLUDE: BORIS YELTSIN'S LEADERSHIP; THE JAPANESE ECONOMY AND CRITICISM OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE CLOSE IN ON RADOVAN KARADZIC.

NOW HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ATTENDING A TRADE SUMMIT IN CHILE, BUT AS FAR AS "NEWSDAY" IS CONCERNED, THE PROSPECTS DO NOT LOOK VERY EXCITING. IN FACT THE PAPER CALLS IT: "A HO-HUM SUMMIT" IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE.

VOICE: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IS OFF ON ANOTHER FOREIGN TRIP. WITH AFRICA BEHIND HIM, IT'S TIME FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SECOND SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS THIS WEEKEND IN SANTIAGO, CHILE. AND GRIP-AND-GRIN PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ABOUT ALL THAT [MR.] CLINTON AND HIS FELLOW HEMISPHERIC LEADERS WILL HAVE TO SHOW FOR THEIR TRAVELS, SINCE CONGRESS SAW FIT TO DENY [PRESIDENT] CLINTON FAST-TRACK AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE THE EXPANSION OF REGIONAL FREE TRADE -- THE ONE CONCRETE RESULT THAT MIGHT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS GATHERING.

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS ALSO UPSET AT CONGRESS.

VOICE: THE FIRST SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, CONVENED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON FOUR YEARS AGO IN MIAMI, SET A GOAL OF FREE TRADE FOR THE HEMISPHERE BY TWO-THOUSAND-FIVE, CALLING FOR CONCRETE PROGRESS BY TWO-THOUSAND. THE SECOND SUMMIT ... THIS WEEKEND IN ... CHILE, WILL SPEED THE PROGRESS, WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON CHEERLEADING. THE CATCH IS THAT, THIS TIME, HE WILL BE THE LAGGARD.... CONGRESS DENIED HIM 'FAST-TRACK' NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY FOR TRADE AGREEMENTS, WHICH EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE GERALD FORD HAS HAD. ..... THE ADMINISTRATION BRAVELY ARGUES THAT IT CAN BEGIN TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT FAST TRACK. OTHER GOVERNMENTS DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

TEXT: THE EXECUTION IN VIRGINIA YESTERDAY OF A PARAGUAYAN MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER HAS CAUSED A FUROR OVERSEAS BECAUSE THE MAN WAS DENIED CONTACT WITH HIS EMBASSY BY POLICE. "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS OF THE INCIDENT:

VOICE: THE STATE OF VIRGINIA ADMITTEDLY DID TOO LITTLE AT THE OUTSET OF ANGEL FRANCISCO BREARD'S CASE. BUT PARAGUAY DEMANDED TOO MUCH TOO LATE IN THE GAME..... IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBATE THAT RAGED DURING [MR.] BREARD'S LAST DAYS GIVE WAY TO AN INTERNATIONAL REEXAMINATION OF DUE-PROCESS PROCEDURES THAT, ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL-LAW EXPERTS, ARE CARRIED OUT INCONSISTENTLY. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD HERE; IT FAILED TO LIVE UP TO A 1963 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. ITS ACTIONS NOW IMPERIL THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS ARRESTED ABROAD.

TEXT: THE ISSUE OF BORIS YELTSIN'S RECENT ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING THE FIRING OF MUCH OF HIS CABINET AND THE NOMINATION OF A FAIRLY INEXPERIENCED POLITICIAN AS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER IS WORRYING "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES." THE PAPER PREDICTS MR. YELTSIN WILL WIN HIS BATTLE WITH THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, THE DUMA, OVER APPOINTING SERGEI KIRIYENKO AS HIS NEW PRIME MINISTER, BUT THAT, SAYS "THE TIMES," WILL NOT REASSURE RUSSIA'S NEIGHBORS AND THE WEST ABOUT THE AGING PRESIDENT.

VOICE: BUT HAVING A FUNCTIONING ADMINISTRATION WOULD STILL LEAVE PLENTY OF CONCERN. A KEY WORRY IS [MR.] YELTSIN HIMSELF AND HIS INCREASINGLY BIZARRE BEHAVIOR. THE TOLL TAKEN BY THE YEARS, THE RECURRENT ILLNESSES AND THE LEGENDARY BOOZING [DRINKING EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL] CAN NO LONGER BE DISGUISED. [MR.] YELTSIN IS KNOWN TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY FOR ONLY A FEW HOURS A DAY, AT BEST. AT TIMES, EVEN IN PUBLIC APPEARANCES, THE MAN IN CHARGE OF RUSSIA'S STILL HUGE NUCLEAR ARSENAL SEEMS UNSURE WHERE HE IS OR WHAT HE'S DOING.

TEXT: THE SLUMPING JAPANESE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO DRAW ATTENTION AND COMMENT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT, IN THE OPINION OF "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL", IT IS SLIPPING INTO DEFLATION.

VOICE: THE JAPANESE ECONOMY .... ONCE THE LOCOMOTIVE AND ROLE MODEL OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT .... IS NOT ONLY SLIPPING INTO RECESSION BUT THREATENING TO BECOME AN ECONOMIC BLACK HOLE, SUCKING GROWTH OUT OF THE WORLD IN GENERAL AND STRUGGLING ASIAN ECONOMIES IN PARTICULAR. ESPECIALLY WORRISOME, JAPAN IS VISITING STRANGE AND HOSTILE-LOOKING ECONOMIC TERRITORY. ONCE THE 'BUBBLE ECONOMY,' IT IS NOW SETTLING INTO THE GRIP OF DEFLATION.... WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, AND WHAT SHOULD OR EVEN CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? JAPANESE OFFICIALDOM SEEMS ESPECIALLY CLUELESS [DEVOID OF ANY ANSWERS]. ..... WHAT THIS KIND OF ECONOMY NEEDS IS A DOSE OF WHAT [FAMED ENGLISH ECONOMIST JOHN MAYNARD] KEYNES CALLED 'ANIMAL SPIRITS.' THE PRIMARY POLICY TOOL IS INCREASING THE INCENTIVES IN THE ECONOMY, THROUGH **PERMANENT** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] REDUCTIONS IN THE ** MARGINAL** RATE OF TAXATION.

TEXT: IN A RELATED COMMENT, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS TODAY THAT COMMENTATORS SHOULD STOP CRITICIZING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, ONE OF THE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS TRYING TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING OF ASIAN ECONOMIES.

VOICE: THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MULTINATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT MAKES SHORT-TERM LOANS TO HELP TIDE COUNTRIES AND THEIR BANKS OVER FINANCIAL CRISES. IN RECENT MONTHS, THE I-M-F HAS ORGANIZED THE RESCUE OF THE FLAILING ECONOMIES OF SOUTH KOREA, THAILAND AND INDONESIA..... THE I-M-F HAS MADE ITS LOANS [TO INDONESIA] CONTINGENT ON AN END TO PRESIDENT SUHARTO'S CRONY CAPITALISM.... IS THIS A PERFECT SOLUTION? NO, BUT IF THE I-M-F WEREN'T THERE, SOME SUCH INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION WOULD HAVE TO BE INVENTED. ITS FUTURE ROLE IS RIPE FOR DEBATE, BUT NOW IS NOT THE MOMENT TO BLOCK I-M-F FUNDING.

DON'T TRY TO REMODEL THE FIREHOUSE WHILE THE [FIRE] ENGINES ARE RUSHING TO A MAJOR FIRE.

TEXT: STILL WITH ASIAN AFFAIRS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGED BY THE DIRECT TALKS NOW UNDERWAY, ALBEIT HALTINGLY, BETWEEN THE

TWO KOREAS.

VOICE: SOUTH KOREA'S RECENTLY ELECTED PRESIDENT, KIM DAE JUNG, IN ADDITION TO SETTING HIS NATION'S TROUBLED ECONOMY BACK ON COURSE, IS TRYING TO OPEN A NEW CHAPTER IN RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA. ......[BUT] IMPROVED RELATIONS WON'T COME EASILY. NORTH KOREA IS THE WORLD'S MOST ISOLATED AND REGIMENTED COUNTRY -- THE LAST REMAINING STALINIST REGIME. ..... THUS IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT OFFICIALS FROM THE TWO KOREAS THIS WEEK HELD THEIR FIRST DIRECT, BILATERAL TALKS IN SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS BAD, BUT NOT PARTICULARLY SURPRISING, NEWS THAT THOSE TALKS QUICKLY RAN INTO AT LEAST A TEMPORARY GLITCH [PROBLEM].

TEXT: IN AN EDITORIAL WRITTEN BEFORE NEWS THAT CAMBODIA'S FORMER COMMUNIST LEADER POL POT HAS DIED, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" CELEBRATED EFFORTS TO BRING BOTH HIM AND BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC TO JUSTICE FOR THEIR CRIMES.

VOICE: THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, IS AUTHORIZED TO TRY ACCUSED WAR CRIMINALS FROM THE BALKANS. IT APPEARS TO NEED ONLY A MAJORITY OK FROM THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PUT POL POT IN THE DOCK AS WELL. ..... BRINGING POL POT AND [MR.] KARADZIC TO JUSTICE CAN BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN ESTABLISHING WORLDWIDE THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MASS RAPE, MASS STARVATION. SLAUGHTER OF CIVILIANS, ABUSE OF CAPTIVES AND ON AND ON. ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION, SADDAM HUSSEIN?

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE MEXICO'S INCREASED EFFORTS AT DEPORTING FOREIGN NATIONALS IT BELIEVES ARE ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE TROUBLED, SOUTHERN JUNGLE STATE OF CHIAPAS, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: DEPORTING FOREIGN LEFTISTS WON'T SOLVE MEXICO'S FOUR-YEAR-OLD CONFLICT OVER LAND RIGHTS IN CHIAPAS. ONLY A POLITICAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ZAPATISTA GUERRILLAS CAN DO THAT. THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO THE EXTRA MILE TO REACH A FAIR SETTLEMENT WITH PEASANTS WHO HAVE BEEN MISTREATED FOR CENTURIES. /// OPT /// ..... NO ONE IS DISPUTING THAT THE DEPORTATIONS WERE LEGAL. BUT LEGALITY DOES NOT MAKE THE OUSTERS MORALLY RIGHT OR POLITICALLY ASTUTE. THIS IS THE TIME FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/ MMK
16-Apr-98 10:47 AM EDT (1447 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NORTHERN IRELAND (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF THE LARGEST PRO-BRITISH POLITICAL PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAS STRONGLY ENDORSED THE PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT FOR THE BRITISH PROVINCE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE LEADER OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY, DAVID TRIMBLE, WELCOMED A PUBLIC OPINION POLL THAT SHOWS MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF NORTHERN IRELAND VOTERS SUPPORT THE PEACE PLAN. AND HE SAID HE IS CONFIDENT HIS PARTY'S GOVERNING COUNCIL WILL ENDORSE THE AGREEMENT WHEN IT MEETS SATURDAY.

MR. TRIMBLE ALSO REJECTED STATEMENTS BY THE LEADER OF ANOTHER PRO-BRITISH PARTY WHO DENOUNCED THE PEACE DEAL AND SAID IT WOULD WEAKEN NORTHERN IRELAND'S TIES TO BRITAIN.

THE SUGGESTION THAT IN ANY WAY THIS AGREEMENT WEAKENS THE UNION IS CLEARLY FALSE, CLEARLY FALSE. AND INDEED, BECAUSE OF THE ACCEPTANCE BY OTHER PARTIES WHO HITHERTO HAVE DENIED THE LEGITIMACY OF NORTHERN IRELAND, THE UNION IS NOW STRONGER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BEFORE. WE'RE NOT ON THE ROAD TO A UNITED IRELAND.

THE OPINION POLL SHOWS 73 PERCENT SUPPORT FOR THE PEACE PLAN IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND 61 PERCENT SUPPORT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC. VOTERS IN BOTH AREAS VOTE ON THE AGREEMENT ON MAY 22ND. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH
16-Apr-98 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A MIX OF PROFIT-TAKING AND SOME ROTATION FROM STOCKS TO BONDS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 76, DOWN 85 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED EIGHT, DOWN 11 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY PROFIT-TAKING WAS NO SURPRISE AFTER THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS TWO DAYS IN A ROW. THERE WAS ALSO SOME MOVEMENT OF MONEY FROM STOCKS AND INTO BONDS.

ANALYSTS ALSO SAY AMERICAN STOCK TRADERS WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THE TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT DROP IN THE JAPANESE STOCK MARKET ON THURSDAY.

THE BIGGEST INDIVIDUAL LOSS OF THE DAY ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE INVOLVED THE CENDANT CORPORATION WHICH LOST ABOUT HALF ITS VALUE. THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS DISCOVERED POSSIBLE FRAUD IN ITS ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES AND WILL HAVE TO REVISE DOWNWARD ITS EARNINGS STATEMENTS. CENDANT OPERATES A NUMBER OF HOTEL CHAINS AND A CAR RENTAL COMPANY.

THE STOCK OF THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY WAS UP AFTER APPLE REPORTED ITS SECOND STRAIGHT PROFITABLE QUARTER, WITH EARNINGS THAT EXCEEDED WALL STREET ESTIMATES.

OTHER EARNINGS REPORTS CAME FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHICH ENJOYED A 15 PERCENT PROFIT RISE AND CONTINENTAL AIRLINES WHERE PROFITS WERE UP NINE PERCENT. THE CONTINUED POPULARITY OF THE "BARBIE DOLL" HELPED PROPEL A 120 PERCENT EARNINGS JUMP AT THE MATTEL TOY COMPANY.

UNITED AIRLINES SAYS IT WILL DISCONTINUE ITS DAILY SERVICE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA AND FROM SEOUL TO OSAKA, JAPAN. UNITED SAYS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA HAS MADE THOSE ROUTES UNPROFITABLE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
16-Apr-98 6:32 PM EDT (2232 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ALL CLOSED SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THURSDAY, FOLLOWING THE TREND OF MOST OF MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: LOWER FIGURES IN ASIA AND ON WALL STREET COMBINED TO PUT EUROPEAN INVESTORS IN A SELLING MOOD ON THURSDAY. FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL CLOSED DOWN AT, OR JUST ABOVE, ONE PERCENT FOR THE DAY.

THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX SHED 66 POINTS AT THE CLOSE. LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX WAS LOWER BY 72 POINTS. AND IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" WAS OFF JUST UNDER 39 POINTS FOR THE DAY.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED UNCHANGED AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK BUT LOST ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENT TO THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD PRICES IN LONDON REMAINED STEADY AT 307-DOLLARS-55 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
16-Apr-98 1:47 PM EDT (1747 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ESTONIA / CZECH / E-U BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION IS NEGOTIATING WITH SIX PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS WHO HOPE TO JOIN AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. TALKS WITH POLAND, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA, ESTONIA AND CYPRUS ARE BEING CONDUCTED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT MANY OF THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME. ESTONIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES ON A VISIT THURSDAY TO PRAGUE. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPE CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS.

TEXT: ESTONIA HAS ADOPTED WHAT SOME MIGHT CALL A RADICAL FREE MARKET APPROACH TO THE ECONOMY. TAXES FOR COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE A FLAT 26 PERCENT, REGARDLESS OF INCOME. TARIFFS HAVE BEEN ABOLISHED. THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A BALANCED BUDGET.

ESTONIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, TOOMAS ILVES, TOLD A MEETING OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, EXECUTIVES, AND DIPLOMATS THAT THE MEASURES WERE ADOPTED FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. HE SAID THEY ALSO HAVE HELPED ESTONIA PREPARE FOR E-U MEMBERSHIP, BUT THERE IS STILL MORE WORK AHEAD.

THE TASK WILL BE RELATIVELY FORMIDABLE. CERTAINLY THE PROCESS IS NOT GOING TO BE A SPONTANEOUS ONE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE QUITE A LONG TIME TO MAKE THE REFORMS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERTAKE IN ORDER TO JOIN. THOUGH IN MANY WAYS, IN ESTONIA'S CASE THE DIFFICULT AREAS ARE NOT ONES WHICH REQUIRE ANY KIND OF MAJOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, BUT RATHER THEY SIMPLY REQUIRE MONEY.

THE AMERICAN-EDUCATED DIPLOMAT SAYS ONE EXAMPLE IS THE COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, FROM CAUSES INCLUDING DECADES OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION.

MOST ISSUES IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, HOWEVER, ARE ECONOMIC. AND MR. ILVES DEFENDED HIS COUNTRY'S AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC CHANGES, DESCRIBED AS "SHOCK THERAPY."

SHOCK THERAPY WORKS VERY WELL IF YOU ACTUALLY DO ALL THE REFORMS AND YOU DON'T WAIT, AND DON'T DO THEM PIECEMEAL, THEN YOU ACTUALLY SEE RESULTS. WHEREAS IF YOU KEEP CUTTING OFF LITTLE PARTS OF THE DOG'S TAIL IT KEEPS HURTING FOR THE DOG, BUT IF YOU CUT IT OFF ALL AT ONCE THEN YOU ACTUALLY GET SOME RESULTS.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC ALSO IS NEGOTIATING ON EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP. CZECH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAVEL TELICKA (TEH'-LITCH-KAH) SAID THAT JUST AS EACH OF THE SIX CANDIDATE COUNTRIES HAS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND ISSUES, THE EUROPEAN UNION ITSELF ALSO IS NOT MONOLITHIC.

NOT EVERY MEMBER STATE, THOUGH HAVING POLITICALLY ACCEPTED THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT, IS EQUALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ENLARGEMENT FOR ITS OWN NATIONAL INTERESTS, FOR ITS OWN NATIONAL REASONS. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SAID [THAT] IT'S LEGITIMATE. IT'S STILL A UNION OF NATIONAL STATES. AND IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT EUROPEAN INTERESTS, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT NATIONAL INTERESTS. LET'S ACCEPT THIS VERY FACT.

HIGH-COST PRODUCERS IN THE WEST ARE WORRIED ABOUT COMPETITION FROM COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, WHERE COSTS ARE CONSIDERABLY LOWER. THE SAME CONCERNS WERE VOICED IN THE 1980S, WHEN GREECE, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL WERE ADMITTED TO THE E-U.

THE ESTONIAN AND CZECH OFFICIALS HAD SIMILAR VIEWS ON AN ISSUE THAT IS BECOMING AN EXPENSIVE ONE FOR THE E-U -- THE COST OF TRANSLATING.

UNDER CURRENT RULES, ALL NATIONAL LANGUAGES HAVE EQUAL STATUS, AND ALL OFFICIAL E-U DOCUMENTS HAVE TO BE TRANSLATED INTO WHAT COULD BE 21 LANGUAGES. MEETINGS, TOO, REQUIRE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION. THE COST IS ENORMOUS NOW, AND COULD SKYROCKET.

BOTH DIPLOMATS, FROM COUNTRIES WHOSE LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN BY RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE, SAID THEY COULD SUPPORT A LIBERALIZATION IN THE RULES. BUT THE CZECH DEPUTY MINISTER, MR. TELICKA, SAID DOCUMENTS USED BY OFFICIALS IN MEMBER COUNTRIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE TRANSLATED. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
16-Apr-98 10:57 AM EDT (1457 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] BOSNIA REFUGEES (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: TWO BOSNIAN SERB REFUGEES HAVE BEEN KILLED AFTER THEY RECENTLY RETURNED HOME TO A TOWN NOW CONTROLLED BY CROATS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: A UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN (ALEX IVANKO) SAYS BOTH THE MAN AND THE WOMAN WERE SHOT IN THE BACK, AND THE MAN WAS ALSO STABBED.

NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS FOUND THE BODIES IN THEIR BURNING HOUSE IN DRVAR (PRE-DAWN) THURSDAY MORNING.

THE SERBS WERE IN THE MAJORITY IN DRVAR BEFORE CROAT FORCES DROVE THEM OUT IN 1995. A FEW SERB REFUGEES HAVE STARTED TO RETURN, BUT UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WELCOME. DOZENS OF HOUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED.

THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR PRE-WAR HOMES. BUT IN FACT, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY THE DESTRUCTION AND HOSTILITY, AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO HOME. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
16-Apr-98 11:23 AM EDT (1523 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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