Voice of America, 98-05-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON/EUROPE ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN LEADERS' FAILURE

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

[04] KOSOVO UNREST (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[07] NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE (PART TEN) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[01] CLINTON/EUROPE ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON LEAVES WASHINGTON TODAY (TUESDAY) ON A SIX-DAY EUROPEAN JOURNEY THAT WILL INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO GERMANY AND A SUMMIT OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE TRIP WILL BE HEAVY WITH CEREMONIAL EVENTS INCLUDING AN OBSERVANCE THURSDAY OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT. BUT IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE TALKS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL -- AND WITH THE OTHER SUMMIT PARTNERS IN BIRMINGHAM ON TROUBLE ISSUES INCLUDING KOSOVO AND THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.

WHITE HOUSE AIDE JIM STEINBERG -- THE CHIEF U-S ORGANIZER FOR THE SUMMIT -- SAYS THE EIGHT-NATION MEETING OPENING FRIDAY WILL HAVE A NEW FORMAT AIMED AT SHARPENING ITS FOCUS:

THIS WILL BE A MEETING INVOLVING THE HEADS BY THEMSELVES IN ALL OF THEIR SESSIONS. THE DISCUSSION WILL BE MUCH LESS FORMAL THAN IN THE PAST. THERE'S BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. AND I THINK AS YOU WILL FINALLY SEE AT THE END THERE WILL BE A MUCH PARED-DOWN COMMUNIQUE, REFLECTING A MORE FOCUSSED EFFORT OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS, AND AN OPPORTUNITY REALLY FOR THEM TO HAVE MORE TIME IN A LESS STRUCTURED WAY THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST ON THEIR MIND.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WILL BE PLAYING AN EXPANDED ROLE IN THE SUMMIT, THOUGH HE WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM AN INITIAL MEETING OF THE WESTERN INDUSTRIAL POWERS -- THE G-7 -- ON MONETARY POLICY.

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BILATERAL MEETING WITH MR. YELTSIN -- SET FOR SUNDAY -- WILL BE THEIR FIRST SINCE THE RUSSIAN CABINET SHAKEUP AND RESULTING POLITICAL TURMOIL. WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAYS MR. YELTSIN APPEARS IN FIRM CONTROL IN MOSCOW AND THE UNITED STATES LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIS YOUTHFUL PRIME MINISTER SERGEI KIRIYENKO:

HE HAS APPOINTED A NEW GOVERNMENT THAT IS YOUNG, THAT DOES NOT CARRY ENORMOUS BAGGAGE, THAT HAS GENERALLY BEEN PRAGMATIC AND COMMITTED TO REFORM. I FIND THAT VERY ENCOURAGING. THE FACT THAT PRIME MINISTER KIRIYENKO IS 35 I THINK IS NOT NECESSARILY A HANDICAP WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO REMAKE A SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN FROZEN FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS IN A COMMAND ECONOMY.

MR. BERGER SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC PLAN A JOINT APPEAL TO THE SUMMIT PARTNERS FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC TIES WITH AFRICA -- AN OUTGROWTH OF MR. CLINTON'S SIX-NATION AFRICA TOUR IN LATE MARCH. IN ANOTHER BILATERAL ON THE SIDELINES AT BIRMINGHAM, MR. CLINTON WILL AGAIN PRESS JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO TO STIMULATE THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY TO HELP WARD OFF A REGIONAL RECESSION. (SIGNED)
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11-May-98 6:38 PM EDT (2238 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN LEADERS' FAILURE

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

ON MAY 7TH, REPRESENTATIVES OF FORTY-EIGHT NATIONS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS MET IN BRUSSELS. THERE, THEY PLEDGED OVER ONE AND A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. THE UNITED STATES PLEDGED OVER TWO-HUNDRED FORTY MILLION DOLLARS.

IF USED EFFICIENTLY, THIS MONEY WILL MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA. IT WILL CREATE JOBS AND REBUILD HOMES, SO THAT DISPLACED PERSONS CAN RESUME A NORMAL LIFE. IT WILL REPAIR SCHOOLS, POWER PLANTS, WELLS, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS DESTROYED BY WAR.

BUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CANNOT REBUILD BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. IT CAN ONLY HELP THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE DO THAT FOR THEMSELVES. NOR CAN OUTSIDERS BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA IF BOSNIA'S LEADERS REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THEIR COMMITMENTS.

IN THIS REGARD, RECENT ACTIONS BY THE LEADERS OF THE BOSNIAN CROAT COMMUNITY ARE A CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN. THEIR DECISION TO BOYCOTT THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE IS ONLY THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS' LACK OF INTEREST IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE. OTHER ACTIONS TELL THE SAME STORY. THE HOUSE BURNING AND RIOT AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB RETURNEES BY A MOB IN DRVAR AND THE MURDER OF AN ELDERLY MAN AND WOMAN WERE ALMOST CERTAINLY ORCHESTRATED BY LOCAL BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS. EVIDENTLY, THEY PREFER THAT DISPLACED BOSNIAN CROATS REMAIN UNDER THEIR CONTROL RATHER THAN RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. OTHER ACTIONS CALL INTO QUESTION THE WILLINGNESS OF THE BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS TO COMPLY WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. RECENT STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT TUDJMAN IN FAVOR OF REOPENING THE DAYTON ACCORDS ARE ALSO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. REOPENING THE ACCORDS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEY MUST BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED AS AGREED.

BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS ARE PLAINLY ACTING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT ZAGREB WILL CONTINUE TO PAY THEIR SALARIES AND SUPPORT THEIR POLICIES. THEY BELIEVE THAT ANY ASSISTANCE NOT PROVIDED BY INTERNATIONAL DONORS WILL BE MADE UP BY THE CROATIAN TAXPAYER. IN FACT, THE CROATIAN TAXPAYER ALREADY SUBSIDIZES THE HERZEGOVINIAN CROATS AT A COST OF OVER SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

MANY BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN RETAINING ACCESS TO THEIR ILLEGAL SOURCES OF INCOME THAN IN HELPING THEIR PEOPLE. IN THE END, FOREIGN DONORS WILL NOT PAY THE PRICE FOR THESE POLICIES. THE BOSNIAN CROAT PEOPLE AND CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA WILL.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
11-May-98 5:48 PM EDT (2148 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED HIGHER IN TRADING MONDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: SHARE PRICES ROSE IN ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE STRENGTH OF THE U-S DOLLAR AND A STRONG OPENING ON WALL STREET.

THE BIGGEST JUMP WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, BREAKING THROUGH THE FOUR-THOUSAND LEVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE INDEX WAS UP ALMOST 110 POINTS, MORE THAN TWO-AND-EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 78 POINTS, ALMOST ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT. AND, IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 58 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
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11-May-98 1:56 PM EDT (1756 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO UNREST (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S ENVOYS ARE MEETING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TODAY (MONDAY) FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LATEST AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE TO BRING PEACE TO YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: U-S ENVOYS ROBERT GELBARD AND RICHARD HOLBROOKE ARE TRYING TO PERSUADE MR. MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO.

KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY WANTS INDEPENDENCE, BUT BELGRADE INSISTS KOSOVO MUST REMAIN PART OF SERBIA.

THE AMERICANS ALSO MET MR. MILOSEVIC SATURDAY, AFTER WHICH HE EMPHASIZED SERBIA STILL CONSIDERS KOSOVO AN INTERNAL MATTER AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT AN OUTSIDE MEDIATOR. LAST WEEK, MR. MILOSEVIC REPORTEDLY AGREED TO AT LEAST SERIOUSLY CONSIDER MEDIATION.

BY FAILING TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS, SERBIA HAS TRIGGERED NEW SANCTIONS THAT BAN FOREIGN INVESTMENT. MEANWHILE, SUSPECTED SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS FIRED AT A POLICE CONVOY NEAR THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, AT DAWN MONDAY. POLICE CLOSED THE ROAD, WHICH IS KOSOVO'S MAIN EAST-WEST HIGHWAY. (SIGNED)
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11-May-98 8:37 AM EDT (1237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: "USA TODAY," IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, IS PLACING THE BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF LATEST ROUND OF MIDEAST PEACE DISCUSSIONS ON ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE MONDAY PAPERS INCLUDE: A POLITICAL KIDNAPPING IN INDONESIA; THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS; FACING THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND COMPUTER PROBLEM; AND HOW DO YOU KEEP ENDANGERED ANIMALS SAFE AFTER YOU REMOVE THEM FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE COMMENTARIES IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE "USA TODAY" EDITORIAL ABOUT MR. NETANYAHU AND THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS IS UNUSUALLY BLUNT:

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSED MEETING OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS IN WASHINGTON TODAY TURNED OUT TO BE THE PEACE SUMMIT THAT WASN'T. AND THERE'S NO DOUBT WHERE THE BLAME LIES. IT BELONGS UNEQUIVOCALLY TO ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. THE ISRAELI LEADER TRIED MIGHTILY DURING THE WEEKEND TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY ELSEWHERE: TO THE PALESTINIANS, WHO OFTEN HAVE DESERVED IT IN THE PAST, AND TO PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO EMBARRASSED [MR.] NETANYAHU BY SETTING TODAY'S DEADLINE' FOR THE RESUMPTION OF STALLED PEACE TALKS WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION. BUT, IN TRUTH, [MR.] CLINTON AND MIDDLE EAST ENVOY DENNIS ROSS HAD LITTLE CHOICE. THEY'VE WATCHED IN FRUSTRATION FOR 15 MONTHS AS [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU STALLED PEACE PLANS AGREED TO BY HIS ASSASSINATED PREDECESSOR, YITZAK RABIN. .... THE RIDICULOUS RESULT IS THAT ONLY A YEAR REMAINS BEFORE OSLO'S DEADLINE FOR RESOLVING FORMIDABLE ISSUES, SUCH AS THE FINAL STATUS OF PALESTINIAN LAND AND CONTROL OF JERUSALEM. THE TIME HAS PASSED FOR QUIBBLING OVER FINE POINTS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" RECOUNTS THE HARROWING TALE OF AN INDONESIAN DISSIDENT, PIUS LUSTRILANANG, WHO SURVIVED A KIDNAPPING AND PRISON TORTURE TO TELL HIS STORY, WHICH "THE POST" SAYS SHOULD CAUSE A REAPPRAISAL OF U-S AID.

VOICE: MR. LUSTRILANANG BELIEVES, WITHOUT PROOF BUT BASED ON PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE, THAT HIS CAPTORS BELONGED TO INDONESIA'S ARMED SERVICES. THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS PRESIDENT SUHARTO, INDONESIA'S AUTOCRATIC RULER FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES AND A LONGTIME U-S FAVORITE. PRESIDENT CLINTON NOT LONG AGO BLAMED THE COLD WAR FOR PAST U-S SUPPORT OF DICTATORS WHO SQUELCHED 'THEIR OWN PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS .....' BUT THE COLD WAR IS OVER, MR. SUHARTO IS SQUELCHING HARDER THAN EVER - - AND THE UNITED STATES IS BACKING BILLIONS IN AID TO HIS REGIME. ..... THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE MAKING CLEAR, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, THAT IT IS ON THE SIDE OF THIS [REFORM] MOVEMENT -- THAT MR. SUHARTO AND THIS ARMY SHOULD BE ASSISTING NOW IN A PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY.

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" CONTINUES TO WORRY ABOUT THE FAILURE OF JAPAN TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE DEPTH OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS, BUT SEES A GLIMMER OF HOPE IN A RISING POLITICAL NEWCOMER.

VOICE: AS JAPAN'S RULING POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS CONTINUE TO DRAG EACH OTHER DOWN INTO THE DARKENING WATERS OF DEFLATION AND INDECISION, ONE POLITICIAN IS MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS AN OUTSIDER BENT ON REFORMING THE SYSTEM. NAOTO KAN, LEADER OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JAPAN, HAS VOWED TO DECENTRALIZE THE GOVERNMENT AND BRING DOWN THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S DE FACTO ONE-PARTY RULE THAT HAS DOMINATED JAPANESE POLITICS SINCE 1955. .... MR. KAN SAYS ... HIS PARTY WILL PURSUE 'A NEW ROAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC CENTER,' SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN THE FREE-MARKET AND WELFARE STATE.

TEXT: BACK AT HOME, THE EVER-CLOSER, YEAR TWO THOUSAND COMPUTER GLITCH, THAT MAY SEND MANY OF THE MACHINES INTO CHAOS, IS THE TOPIC OF A COMMENT IN TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," WHICH SEES A BRIGHTER SIDE TO THE CRISIS: FORCED INNOVATION.

VOICE: THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES AND TELECOM INDUSTRY, HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON COMPUTERS, HIT THE PANIC BUTTON EARLY. IT HAS TASK FORCES PUSHING TO TEST NEW SYSTEMS BY YEAR-END 1998 OR EARLY 1999. GOVERNMENTS, NOTORIOUSLY SLOW ON COMPUTERIZATION, HAVE KNOWN ABOUT Y2K [SHORTHAND FOR YEAR TWO-THOUSAND] FOR A LONG TIME, BUT TENDED TO COMPLAIN THAT LEGISLATORS HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM ENOUGH FUNDS TO REWRITE ALL SOFTWARE. AL GORE IS BELATEDLY RINGING ALARM BELLS. .... Y2K IS PROVIDING A LITMUS TEST SEPARATING FAST-ACTING, LOOK-AHEAD MANAGERS FROM COMPLACENT ONES. IT MAY GOAD SOME LEADERSHIP SHAKEUPS. THE NATION THAT RUSHED THE MANHATTAN PROJECT AND MOON LANDING IS LIKELY TO PROVE IT CAN OVERCOME THE TWO-DIGIT CHASM. IN THE PROCESS, IT MAY ALSO STREAMLINE MANY KINDS OF BASIC DAILY OPERATIONS. STAY TUNED.

TEXT: LASTLY, WE TURN TO THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE PROPOSED REMOVAL FROM THE OFFICIAL ENDANGERED ANIMAL LIST SEVERAL CREATURES THAT HAD BEEN THREATENED, LIKE THE BALD EAGLE. TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL'" WORRIES ABOUT HOW THE ANIMALS WILL BE PROTECTED AFTER BEING DROPPED FROM THE GOVERNMENT LIST.

VOICE: REMOVING FROM THE LIST ALL 29 SPECIES UNDER CONSIDERATION COULD TAKE AS LONG AS TWO YEARS. AND THEN, MOST LIKELY, STATE REGULATIONS WOULD POSE AN OBSTACLE. STILL, DILIGENCE IS NEEDED TO SEE THAT THOSE SPECIES ARE PRESERVED. .... THE DISCONTINUED USE OF TOXIC PESTICIDES MAY HAVE CAUSED THE POPULATION OF SO MANY ENDANGERED SPECIES TO REBOUND, AS SOME SAY. OR STRINGENT PROTECTIONS AFFORDED BY THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MAY DESERVE CREDIT, AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS BELIEVE. WHATEVER THE REASON, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS ALLOWED ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE TO FLOURISH SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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11-May-98 10:37 AM EDT (1437 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 MIXED TODAY (MONDAY) IN A VOLATILE SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND, 91, UP 36 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11- HUNDRED SIX, DOWN ONE POINT.

STOCK PRICES WERE UP STRONGLY EARLY IN THE SESSION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINING MORE THAN 100 POINTS. BUT SELLING PRESSURES DEVELOPED LATER IN THE DAY. ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS STILL SOME NERVOUSNESS ABOUT WHETHER THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL RAISE INTEREST RATES AT A MEETING LATER THIS MONTH (MAY 19TH).

THE DOMINANT BUSINESS STORY OF THE DAY INVOLVED ANOTHER PLANNED MERGER IN THE U-S TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. S-B-C COMMUNICATIONS HAS AGREED TO PAY 61 BILLION DOLLARS FOR AMERITECH TO CREATE THE LARGEST LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ANALYST JEFFREY KAGEN SAYS THE S-B-C/AMERITECH DEAL IS PART OF A MAJOR TREND.

THE TELECOM INDUSTRY IS BECOMING A BATTLE OF TITANS. IT REALLY SEEMS THAT COMPANIES THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE SIZE IN ORDER TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY.

AT MORE THAN 60 BILLION DOLLARS, THE S-B-C/AMERITECH DEAL WOULD EASILY SURPASS THE 37 BILLION DOLLAR COMBINATION OF WORLDCOM AND M-C-I TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THE SEAGRAM BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY IS IN TALKS TO ACQUIRE POLYGRAM, THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRE-RECORDED MUSIC COMPANY. ANALYSTS SAY POLYGRAM IS VALUED AT MORE THAN 10 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE DUPONT CHEMICAL COMPANY SAYS IT WILL SELL 20 PERCENT OF ITS CONOCO ENERGY SUBSIDIARY TO THE PUBLIC IN A STOCK OFFERING. WALL STREET REACTED POSITIVELY AND DUPONT'S STOCK GAINED ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT. SUMITOMO, THE GIANT JAPANESE TRADING COMPANY, HAS REACHED AGREEMENT WITH U-S AND BRITISH REGULATORS TO SETTLE CHARGES OF ILLEGAL COPPER TRADING. THE COMPANY WILL PAY 132 MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES. IN 1996, SUMITOMO DISCLOSED THAT ONE OF ITS EMPLOYEES HAD CONDUCTED UNAUTHORIZED COPPER TRADES WHICH RESULTED IN TWO POINT SIX BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF LOSSES.

THE INTEL MICROPROCESSOR COMPANY HAS OPENED ITS NEW ONE POINT THREE BILLION DOLLAR PLANT IN IRELAND. THE IRISH PLANT IS THE FIRST IN EUROPE TO PRODUCE THE FASTER AND SMALLER "POINT 25-MICRON" PROCESSORS USED IN COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

THE BUSINESS EXECUTIVE KNOWN AS "CHAINSAW AL" IS AT IT AGAIN. THE SUNBEAM SMALL APPLIANCE COMPANY WILL ELIMINATE 51 HUNDRED JOBS OR ONE-THIRD OF ITS TOTAL WORK FORCE. SUNBEAM CHAIRMAN AL DUNLAP HAS BEEN NICKNAMED "CHAINSAW" BECAUSE OF HIS HISTORY OF MAKING MAJOR JOB CUTS AT THE COMPANIES HE HAS RUN. MR. DUNLAP HAS ARGUED THAT IF HE DID NOT CUT JOBS, THOSE COMPANIES WOULD DIE. (SIGNED)
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11-May-98 5:02 PM EDT (2102 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE (PART TEN) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- SINN FEIN -- IS URGING VOTERS IN THE IRISH REFERENDUMS MAY 22ND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLITICAL ACCORD ON NORTHERN IRELAND AGREED TO LAST MONTH. IN THIS REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT SINN FEIN'S VIEWS ON THE DOCUMENT.

TEXT: SINN FEIN WAS THE LAST OF THE EIGHT POLITICAL PARTIES INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING THE ACCORD ON NORTHERN IRELAND LAST MONTH TO APPROVE THE DOCUMENT. PARTY MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED THE AGREEMENT DURING A SPECIAL CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN ON SUNDAY (MAY 10TH).

THERE WAS REALLY NEVER ANY DOUBT THAT SINN FEIN WOULD ENDORSE THE AGREEMENT WHICH WAS REACHED AFTER 22 MONTHS OF SOMETIMES BITTER NEGOTIATIONS. POLITICAL OBSERVERS FELT THE PARTY HAD NO OTHER CHOICE IF IT WANTED TO HAVE A SAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S FUTURE.

THE OUTCOME WAS IN ESSENCE PREDETERMINED WHEN THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TACITLY APPROVED THE ACCORD BY SAYING SINN FEIN MEMBERS COULD TAKE PART IN A NEW NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY. IN APPROVING THE ACCORD, SINN FEIN MEMBERS ALSO CHANGED THEIR CONSTITUTION BY DROPPING THE TRADITIONAL ABSTENTIONIST POLICY TO ANY NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICAL INSTITUTION. THIS MEANS SINN FEIN LEADERS -- IF ELECTED -- MAY PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE NEW 108-MEMBER NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY AND THUS HELP GOVERN THE BRITISH PROVINCE.

SINN FEIN CHAIRMAN MITCHELL MCLAUGHLIN AGREES WITH OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS THAT THE AGREEMENT IS NOT PERFECT, BEING THE FRUIT OF COMPROMISES.

WE DO HAVE THE ISSUE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS. WE DO HAVE THE ISSUE OF INSTITUTIONALIZED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE NATIONALIST COMMUNITY AND THAT HAS TO BE RESOLVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. WE DO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE CULTURAL DENIAL AND DISCRIMINATION AND PUT IN NEW INSTITUTIONS THAT WILL ADDRESS THOSE AREAS OF CONTINUED DIVISIONS AMONGST OUR PEOPLE. BUT THESE MATTERS CAN AND I THINK WILL BE ADDRESSED IF WE PUT IN PLACE THE DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATIONS AND THEN JUST BUILD UPWARDS AND OUTWARDS.

FOR MITCHELL MCLAUGHLIN AND SINN FEIN, THE ULTIMATE PRIZE REMAINS A UNITED IRELAND -- AND THE POLITICAL PARTY WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR THAT GOAL. THAT IS WHY MR. MCLAUGHLIN BELIEVES THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISIONS IN THE NEW NORTHERN IRELAND AGREEMENT ARE THOSE DEALING WITH CROSS-BORDER INSTITUTIONS -- THE SO-CALLED NORTH-SOUTH OR ALL-IRELAND BODIES.

IF WE CAN GET ALL-IRELAND BODIES THAT ADDRESS ISSUES, WE CAN ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT THAT TYPE OF COOPERATION AND THAT ALL-IRELAND APPROACH IS NOT ONLY MORE EFFICIENT, BUT IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL SECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY -- BE THEY UNIONIST, NATIONALIST, OR REPUBLICAN. SO I THINK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS NEW IDEA -- AND THIS IS A NEW IDEA -- I THINK WE CAN KEEP THE PROCESS OF POLITICAL TRANSITION GOING AND WE CAN MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM FOR CHANGE.

THE AGREEMENT HAS SPLIT THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT. A SMALL GROUP OF I-R-A DISSIDENTS HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION AND HAS VOWED TO CONTINUE AN ARMED STRUGGLE AGAINST BRITAIN. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OUTLAWED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS NOT ABIDING BY CEASEFIRES.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN SAYS THOSE GROUPS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DERAIL THE PEACE PROCESS NOW UNDERWAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

THE ENEMIES OF PEACE IN OUR COUNTRY ARE GATHERING. THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR STRENGTH AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACK. THOSE OF US WHO ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING A DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTION WILL NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE DEFLECTED FROM THAT COURSE, NOR WILL WE ALLOW THOSE SMALL MICRO-GROUPS TO SET OUR AGENDA. WE HAVE TO WATCH THE "BIG PICTURE." WE HAVE TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE FOR THESE GROUPS TO DISRUPT OR TO TURN US BACK TO THE INTENSITY OF CONFLICT AND DIVISION THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. NO ONE WANTS TO GO BACK.

SINN FEIN OFFICIALS WILL NOW URGE THEIR FOLLOWERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLITICAL ACCORD BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WILL HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOAL OF A UNITED IRELAND. MANY UNIONIST -- OR PRO-BRITISH -- POLITICIANS ARE URGING THEIR MEMBERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT GUARANTEES NORTHERN IRELAND REMAINING PART OF GREAT BRITAIN. SO IRONICALLY, SWORN POLITICAL ENEMIES ARE NOW CAMPAIGNING FOR THE AGREEMENT -- ALBEIT FOR DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED REASONS. (SIGNED)
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11-May-98 11:21 AM EDT (1521 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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