Voice of America, 98-05-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] BRITAIN / SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND)

[02] CLINTON/GERMANY WRAP (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (EISENACH, GERMANY)

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

[04] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

[01] BRITAIN / SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND)

INTRO: LEADERS FROM THE SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS, ALONG WITH RUSSIA, ARE GATHERING IN THE BRITISH CITY OF BIRMINGHAM TO TAKE PART IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "G-8" SUMMIT. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA IS IN BIRMINGHAM AND HAS A PREVIEW OF EVENTS.

TEXT: WHEN LEADERS FROM THE SEVEN MOST INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AND RUSSIA MEET, IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON VARIOUS GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES. THE BIRMINGHAM MEETING WILL BE NO EXCEPTION.

HIGH ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE CURRENT CRISIS BROUGHT ON BY INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTING AND THE FEAR THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE REGION. SEVERAL COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT THIS SUMMIT HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA, AND IT IS BELIEVED SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS WILL TRY TO PRESENT A UNITED VIEW, STRONGLY CRITICIZING THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ITS NUCLEAR TESTING POLICY.

THE LEADERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, THE UNREST IN INDONESIA AND THE SITUATION IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.

BUT ECONOMIC ISSUES WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS, WHICH WILL BE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THE SENIOR LONDON ANALYST WITH THE JAPANESE BANK "D-K-B" -- GERARD LYONS -- SAYS SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS WILL TALK ABOUT THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND EFFORTS BY JAPAN TO SOLIDIFY ITS ECONOMY.

THE "G-8" WILL PUT PRESSURE ON JAPAN TO NOT ONLY DO MORE, BUT GIVEN THAT THE JAPANESE HAVE UNVEILED SOME BIG MEASURES RECENTLY -- THE LATEST BEING THE LARGE STIMULUS PACKAGE -- THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON JAPAN TO IMPLEMENT THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THEN TO CONTINUE WITH FINANCIAL MARKET REFORM. //OPT// ESSENTIALLY, THE AMERICANS HAVE POINTED OUT BEFORE, THAT THEY WANT JAPAN TO BE A SOLUTION TO ASIA'S PROBLEMS, NOT A SYMPTOM TO ASIA'S PROBLEMS -- AND I BELIEVE THE WHOLE "G-8" SUMMIT WILL REINFORCE THAT MESSAGE.

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS RENEWED ATTENTION ON THE WHOLE ISSUE OF INDEBTEDNESS. MR. LYONS BELIEVES DEBT RELIEF MUST BE ADDRESSED BY THE SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS.

AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN RECENT YEARS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN A HOLE, LARGELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAY DEBTS AND YET THEIR ECONOMIES HAVE NOT BEEN IN GREAT SHAPE. BUT OF COURSE IN TERMS OF AFRICA, THERE IS A NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE -- AND THE ISSUE IS NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC ISSUE IN AFRICA. THERE ARE LOTS OF NON-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

CHIEF AMONG THOSE PROBLEMS, SAYS MR. LYONS, IS HOW TO INSURE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS TAKE HOLD ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

IN AN EFFORT TO PUBLICIZE THE ISSUE OF DEBT RELIEF FOR THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES, ABOUT 40-THOUSAND ACTIVISTS FROM CHURCHES, AID AGENCIES, AND TRADE UNIONS ARE PLANNING TO FORM A HUMAN CHAIN AROUND THE CONFERENCE CENTER. MANY ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR MEASURES NOT ONLY TO REDUCE THE DEBT HELD BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, BUT TO CANCEL IT ALTOGETHER. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF/RAE
14-May-98 1:24 PM EDT (1724 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON/GERMANY WRAP (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (EISENACH, GERMANY)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON WRAPPED UP A TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO GERMANY THURSDAY BY TRAVELLING WITH CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL TO FORMERLY-COMMUNIST EAST GERMANY. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE TOWN OF EISENACH.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT IS HOLDING UP THE DRAMATIC ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN EASTERN GERMANY AS A MODEL OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN AS FREE-MARKET ECONOMICS AND DEMOCRACY TAKE HOLD IN THE REST OF THE FORMER WARSAW PACT (COUNTRIES).

HE AND CHANCELLOR KOHL TOURED A FORMER EAST GERMAN AUTO PLANT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER AND UPGRADED BY THE U-S GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY -- AND IS NOW DESCRIBED AS THE WORLD'S MOST EFFICIENT CAR-MAKING COMPLEX.

WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL AT HIS SIDE, MR. CLINTON TOLD FACTORY WORKERS THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WORKERS FROM FORMERLY COMMUNIST SYSTEMS CAN DO IF THEIR ENERGY AND CREATIVITY IS UNLEASHED:

THIS PLANT, ITS SUCCESS, ITS WORLD-CLASS PRODUCTIVITY, IS A SYMBOL THAT ALL THE WORLD CAN SEE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY LIVE IN THE EASTERN PART OF GERMANY -- BUT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WHO HAVE LIVED UNDER A SYSTEM OF CONTROL AND DIRECTION -- CAN LIVE BETTER AS FREE PEOPLE, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

CHANCELLOR KOHL, FOR HIS PART, SAID WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EISENACH IS A VINDICATION OF HIS GOVERNMENT'S MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE EAST. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID THE STILL-STRUGGLING ECONOMIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE SHOULD STAY THE FREE-MARKET COURSE AND TAKE HEART:

YOU WILL DO IT, YOU'LL MANAGE, YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT WAY. AND, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE MESSAGE IS PASSED ON FROM HERE -- BEYOND THE BORDERS, INTO TO THE EAST, POLAND FOR INSTANCE, TO UKRAINE, TO RUSSIA -- THAT THE WAR IS OVER. THE COLD WAR IS OVER. THAT WE TOGETHER, WILL BUILD EUROPE -- A EUROPE OF PEACE, OF FREEDOM, BUT ALSO A EUROPE OF SOCIAL WELL-BEING.

THE PRESIDENT CAPPED HIS STAY HERE WITH A CAMPAIGN-STYLE RALLY WITH MR. KOHL AT WHICH HE AGAIN SEEMED TO ENDORSE THE CHANCELLOR'S RE-ELECTION BID. GERMANY IS ONE NATION, IN HARMONY WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, MR. CLINTON SAID, THANKS IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. KOHL.

IN POWER FOR 16-YEARS, THE CHANCELLOR IS FAR BEHIND IN THE POLLS IN HIS RACE WITH OPPOSITION LEADER GERHARDT SHROEDER, TO BE DECIDED IN THE SEPTEMBER ELECTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/JO
14-May-98 4:10 PM EDT (2010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: SHARE PRICES DRIFTED LOWER ON EUROPEAN MARKETS, A SHARP CONTRAST FROM THE GAINS OF WEDNESDAY. BUT ALL EXCHANGES REGAINED AT LEAST SOME OF THEIR LOSSES IN LATE TRADING.

IN FRANKFURT, PRICES WERE OFF DURING THE FLOOR TRADING DAY, BUT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING THE DAX INDEX MANAGED A SLIGHT GAIN ABOUT TWO-POINTS. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 24-POINTS, ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT, AFTER BEING DOWN MORE THAN ONE-PERCENT EARLIER IN THE DAY. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL EIGHT-POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS-PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, BUT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
14-May-98 1:38 PM EDT (1738 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED DOWN SLIGHTLY TODAY (THURSDAY) IN TRADING DOMINATED BY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE WIDELY FOLLOWED DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 40 POINTS, OR ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT, AT NINE-THOUSAND-172 WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 CLOSED OFF ONE AND ONE-HALF POINTS AT ONE-THOUSAND-117.

THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS PULLED DOWN BY ONE OF ITS 30 COMPANIES, THE HEWLETT PACKARD COMPUTER FIRM, WHICH CLOSED OFF NEARLY 12 DOLLARS A SHARE OR ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE. HEWLETT PACKARD SAID BEFORE THE MARKET OPENED THAT ITS QUARTERLY PROFIT WILL BE WELL UNDER WHAT ANALYSTS EXPECT.

HEWLETT-PACKARD, WHICH MANUFACTURES COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER PRINTERS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE DECLINE IN THE STOCK INDEX. ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET TOOK THE HEWLETT PACKARD NEWS IN STRIDE ALTHOUGH TRADING OVERALL WAS LACKLUSTER WITHOUT ANY CLEAR DIRECTION.

TRADERS ON THE STOCK EXCHANGES REACTED FAVORABLY TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SETTLEMENT TALKS BETWEEN THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MICROSOFT COMPANY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED THE GIANT SOFTWARE COMPANY OF USING MONOPOLY POWER TO PUT PRESSURE ON COMPETITORS.

GRAHAM TANAKA, WHO HEADS A NEW YORK INVESTMENT FIRM, SAYS HE AND OTHER ANALYSTS BELIEVE MICROSOFT WILL NOT BE DAMAGED THAT MUCH BY ANY POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT.

IN THE END IT'S NOT GOING TO MATTER ALL THAT MUCH. MICROSOFT STILL HAS ITS DOMINANCE IN TERMS OF ITS OPERATING SYSTEM AND ALL THE MODULES THEY ADD ON, HOWEVER THEY HANG IT ON THE TREE (NO MATTER HOW THE MODULES ARE ADDED).

MICROSOFT CLOSED UP MORE THAN TWO PERCENT ON THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING UNREST AND VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA. THE ANALYSTS SAY ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE POSSIBILITY THE U-S CENTRAL BANK MAY TIGHTEN CREDIT AT ITS NEXT MEETING. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/JMC/LSF
14-May-98 5:31 PM EDT (2131 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS REMAIN A DOMINANT TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE U-S PRESS THIS THURSDAY, FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANGLES. SOME PAPERS ARE MAKING THEIR FIRST COMMENTS ON THE BLASTS THEMSELVES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE, WHILE OTHERS ARE DEMANDING TO KNOW HOW THIS COUNTRY'S MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR INTELLIGENCE COULD BE CAUGHT NAPPING -- AND STILL OTHERS ARE DEMANDING SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA FOR VIOLATING THE DE-FACTO WORLD NUCLEAR TESTING BAN.

THERE ARE ALSO COMMENTARIES ON A PAIR OF ASIAN NATIONS TAKING VERY DIFFERENT PATHS TOWARD LOCAL GOVERNMENT; REMEMBERING THE BERLIN AIRLIFT; (AND) THE GROUP OF EIGHT SUMMIT IN ENGLAND; /// OPT /// AND YET ANOTHER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL INVESTIGATION OF A CLINTON CABINET OFFICER. /// END OPT ///

WE ARE JOINED BY ______________________ IN THE STUDIO NOW WITH A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: WE BEGIN WITH SEVERAL INITIAL COMMENTS FROM PAPERS HAVING NOW DIGESTED THE FULL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS CONDUCTED MONDAY AND AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY IN A REMOTE DESERT REGION NEAR THE PAKISTANI BORDER. "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND WORRIES ABOUT LOOSING THE NUCLEAR DEMON, WHILE IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" CALLS THE EXPLOSIONS MIND-BOGGLING. FIRST TO OREGON:

VOICE: INDIA'S SURPRISE NUCLEAR TESTS THIS WEEK BRING A CHILLING REMINDER AND RAISE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. THE REMINDER IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THE COLD WAR IS OVER, THE POTENTIAL FOR NUCLEAR WAR IS NOT. /// OPT /// THIS IS NOT MERELY A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS, CHINA AND PAKISTAN. EVEN A CONTAINED NUCLEAR CONFLICT COULD HAVE WORLDWIDE CONSEQUENCES THROUGH SPREADING RADIATION AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. /// END OPT /// A KEY QUESTION ... IS JUST HOW FAR INDIA'S NEW, NATIONALISTIC GOVERNMENT ... WILL PROCEED IN DEVELOPING ITS PUBLIC NUCLEAR CAPABILITY AND IN OTHER WAYS TOWARD CONFRONTATION WITH CHINA AND PAKISTAN.

TEXT: "THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" IS AGHAST, COMMENTING:

VOICE: THE DAMAGE THAT INDIA HAS DONE TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE THIS WEEK BOGGLES THE MIND. ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS -- THREE MONDAY AND TWO WEDNESDAY -- HAVE DRAWN WELL-DESERVED CRITICISM FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. /// OPT /// WITH SUCH SUCH PROMINENT GUIDEPOSTS AS THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD HOPED TO END NUCLEAR-WEAPONS TEST INSANITY. BECAUSE INDIA HAS SHOWN APPALLING DISDAIN FOR THOSE PRINCIPLES AND FOR GLOBAL SENTIMENT, IT DESERVES TO BE TREATED HARSHLY. ... /// END OPT /// ... VIRTUALLY OVERNIGHT, INDIA HAS LOST AN IMMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF INTERNATIONAL GOOD WILL THAT ONLY REMORSE AND FUTURE RESTRAINT CAN HOPE TO RESTORE.

TEXT: DEFENDING INDIA, "THE MANCHESTER [NEW HAMPSHIRE] UNION LEADER" SAYS WHEN YOU HAVE COMMUNIST CHINA FOR A NEIGHBOR, DEVELOPING NUCLEAR BOMBS IS NOT A CRIME.

VOICE: FACED WITH AN EMERGING COMMUNIST CHINESE HEGEMONY IN ASIA, INDIA NOT SURPRISINGLY IS UNWILLING TO BET ITS NATIONAL SECURITY ON ARMS CONTROL TREATIES AND PAPER ALLIANCES. THE HINDU-NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT IN NEW DELHI SEEKS, INSTEAD, A CREDIBLE NUCLEAR DETERRENT AS A COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE CHINESE THREAT LOOMING JUST OVER THE HIMALAYAS. HENCE, THIS WEEK'S ATOMIC BOMB TESTS. ... SO WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE SURPRISED THAT INDIA DESIRES TO ACQUIRE THE SECURITY THAT COMES WITH A CREDIBLE NUCLEAR DETERRENT? WHY DO SO MANY AMERICANS CONTINUE TO BE SURPRISED WHEN OTHER NATIONS ACT IN WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE THEIR OWN NATIONAL INTERESTS, RATHER THAN SURRENDER THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY TO GLOBALISTS ALLIANCES?

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE," ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS DEMANDING TO KNOW HOW COULD THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND ALL THE OTHER U-S INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING FORCES, WHO SPEND MULTI-BILLIONS A YEAR, HAVE BEEN CAUGHT TOTALLY BY SURPRISE?

VOICE: IT IS EMBARRASSINGLY CLEAR THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT FAILED TO NOTICE OR PREEMPT INDIA'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE NUCLEAR TESTS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY ALTERED THE PROSPECTS FOR NONPROLIFERATION AND GLOBAL STABILITY. ///OPT /// HEARINGS TODAY BEFORE THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CAN BE EXPECTED TO CLARIFY THE CAUSES OF A MOMENTOUS FAILURE OF U-S INTELLIGENCE. /// END OPT /// IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE, HOWEVER, FOR THE SENATORS TO BECOME FIXATED ON TECHNICAL SHORTCOMINGS IN THE MONITORING ACTIVITIES OF THE [AGENCIES] ... THE CRUCIAL INTELLIGENCE FAILURE OWES LESS TO THE LIMITATIONS OF MACHINES THAN TO THE OBTUSENESS OF POLICY MARKERS. THE FORESHADOWINGS OF INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS WERE CLEAR.

TEXT: TO WHICH "NEWSDAY" ADDS SIMPLY:

VOICE: CONGRESS AND THE NATION NEED TO KNOW WHY THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT TO GATHER FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE IS NOT PUT TO THE USE FOR WHICH IT'S INTENDED:GIVING POLICY MAKERS ACCURATE ASSESSMENTS OF OUR FRIENDS' AND ENEMIES' INTENTIONS IN TIME TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

TEXT: LASTLY ON THE INDIAN EXPLOSIONS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CALLING FOR WORLD SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA AS A PUNISHMENT FOR SETTING OFF THE BOMBS, AND APPLAUDS PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR IMMEDIATELY IMPOSING U-S SANCTIONS AGAINST NEW DELHI.

VOICE: WHEN [PRESIDENT] CLINTON MEETS OTHER LEADERS OF THE TOP INDUSTRIAL NATIONS IN ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND, THE INDIAN PROVOCATION WILL BE ON THE TABLE. FRANCE AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE CONDEMNED THE TESTS BUT OPPOSE SANCTIONS. THEY SHOULD THINK AGAIN. AND ALL BIG POWERS SHOULD PRESS PAKISTAN, INDIA'S NEIGHBOR AND LONGTIME ENEMY, NOT TO RETALIATE BY TESTING A NUCLEAR DEVICE OF ITS OWN.

TEXT: MOVING ON, BUT STILL IN ASIA, THE VERY DIVERGENT PATHS OF TWO NATIONS INDONESIA AND THE PHILIPPINES, TOWARD GOVERNING THEMSELVES, IS CONTRASTED AND HIGHLIGHTED BY TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST." PRAISING THE PEACEFUL NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND ITS 80-PERCENT VOTER TURNOUT, "THE POST" CONTRASTS THAT WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN INDONESIA.

VOICE: IN INDONESIA, MEANWHILE -- ANOTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARCHIPELAGO SEPARATED FROM THE PHILIPPINES, AT THE CLOSEST POINT, BY A RATHER NARROW STRETCH OF WATER -- THE BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY PASSED A TRAGIC MILESTONE. THOUSAND OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR MONTHS HAVE BEEN STAGING PEACEFUL PROTESTS CALLING ON LONGTIME DICTATOR PRESIDENT SUHARTO TO STEP DOWN. ON TUESDAY, THIS MOVEMENT SUFFERED ITS FIRST FATAL CASUALTIES WHEN SECURITY FORCES FIRED INTO A STUDENT DEMONSTRATION IN JAKARTA, KILLING AT LEAST SIX AND WOUNDING MANY MORE. ... ANYONE WHO WATCHES THE PHILIPPINES, OR ANY OTHER DEMOCRACY, KNOWS THAT ELECTIONS DO NOT SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS. ... YET THE PHILIPPINES HAS FOUND CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC AS WELL AS POLITICAL SUCCESS SINCE JETTISONING, THROUGH 'PEOPLE POWER,' THE STIFLING CORRUPTION OF THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP.

TEXT: "THE POST" GOES ON TO SAY THAT INDONESIA MUST STILL SUFFER THROUGH A SIMILAR PERIOD BEFORE DEMOCRACY, HOPEFULLY, TAKES FLOWER.

HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD, ANOTHER TRIUMPH OF FREEDOM OVER TOTALITARIANISM, DRAWS COMMENT, AS THE FAMED ALLIED BERLIN AIRLIFT IS CELEBRATED BY "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ON ITS 50TH BIRTHDAY. "THE JOURNAL" IMPLIES PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN AND CRITICISM, BY COMPARISON, OF BILL CLINTON.

VOICE: /// OPT /// A MODEL OF MILITARY INTERVENTION, THE AIRLIFT'S SUCCESS AROSE OUT OF STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, ASSIDUOUS COALITION BUILDING AND A BOLD TACTICAL CALCULATION. IT NOT ONLY DELIVERED JOE STALIN HIS FIRST DEFEAT OF THE COLD WAR, IT HELPED CEMENT AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN SECURITY AND TO THE REHABILITATION OF A WAR-DEVASTATED AND DEMORALIZED GERMANY. /// END OPT ///... COMMEMORATING AND RECALLING THE FAMOUS AIRLIFT RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHETHER CURRENT LEADERS WOULD RISE TO THE CHALLENGE. ... TODAY'S GENERATION OF RISK-AVERSE LEADERS SEEM OFTEN TO PREFER STRATEGIES OF SANCTION, COMPROMISE AND BLUFF, AS WAS DEMONSTRATED DURING THE LONG SLAUGHTER IN BOSNIA AND THE RECENT BACKDOWN TO SADDAM HUSSEIN. ... /// OPT /// IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER THE AIRLIFT TO 50-YEARS AGO, OF ONLY TO RECALL THAT LEADERS WERE ONCE A MATCH FOR SUCH A CHALLENGE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" TALKS ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING SUMMIT OF THE GROUP OF EIGHT IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, AND SOME OF THE VITAL ISSUES ON THE TABLE.

VOICE: THE MAJOR TOPIC ... IS EXPECTED TO BE THE ROILING ECONOMIES OF JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, INDONESIA, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT U-S TRADING PARTNERS IN ASIA. MANY OBSERVERS ARE SAYING JAPAN IS ON THE VERGE OF RECESSION. THE GOVERNMENT THERE HAS TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO JUMP-START AN ECONOMY HEAVILY BASED ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS, BUT IT HAS SO FAR RESISTED U-S ADVICE TO CUT TAXES AND SUBSIDIES. UNLESS JAPAN ... CAN PULL ITSELF OUT OF ITS SLUMP, ALL ITS REGIONAL TRADING PARTNERS WILL FEEL THE ILL EFFECTS OF A RECESSION -- AS WILL THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, "NEWSDAY" DECRIES THE FACT THAT YET ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PRESENT OR FORMER CLINTON CABINET THE FIFTH -- IS UNDER THE INVESTIGATIVE GAZE OF A SPECIALLY APPOINTED INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. BUT THE NEWSPAPER CAUTIONS AGAINST EXPECTING FAST RESULTS.

VOICE: SOME WELL-REGARDED LAWYER WILL SOON BECOME THE FIFTH INDEPENDENT COUNSEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE A MEMBER OF PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S CABINET. THIS PROSECUTOR WILL BE EVEN BETTER REGARDED A YEAR FROM NOW IF HE OR SHE MANAGES TO RESOLVE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST LABOR SECRETARY ALEXIS HERMAN BY THEN. BUT DO NOT COUNT ON THAT.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THURSDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPER.
NEB/ANG/RAE
14-May-98 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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