Voice of America, 98-05-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] EDITORIAL: THE NEW NATO AND RUSSIA

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

[03] IRELAND / REFERENDUM (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (TRALEE, IRELAND)

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

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

[06] YUGO POL (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

[01] EDITORIAL: THE NEW NATO AND RUSSIA

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:

AS ALEXANDER VERSHBOW, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL, SAID IN A RECENT SPEECH, THERE CAN BE NO LASTING SECURITY IN THE EURO-ATLANTIC AREA UNTIL NATO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IS ON A SOLID FOOTING.

RUSSIA IS IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION. THE U.S. AND EUROPE HAVE AN ENORMOUS STAKE IN HOW THAT TRANSFORMATION TURNS OUT. AMERICA'S GOAL IS THE SAME AS THAT OF MANY RUSSIANS: TO SEE RUSSIA COMPLETE THE TRANSITION TO A MODERN DEMOCRATIC STATE. RUSSIANS WANT A STATE THAT ABIDES BY ITS OWN CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. THEY WANT A STATE THAT IS MARKET-ORIENTED AND PROSPEROUS. AND THEY WANT A STATE THAT IS AT PEACE.

THE U.S. IS ASSISTING RUSSIA'S INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL POLITICAL, SECURITY AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES. AMERICA'S MESSAGE TO RUSSIA IS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN TO RUSSIAN COOPERATION WITH NATO. THE 1997 NATO-RUSSIA FOUNDING ACT HAS HELPED TO LAY A FOUNDATION FOR CLOSE CONSULTATION. THE U.S. AND RUSSIA ARE NOW ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS OF SUCH ISSUES AS THE DESTRUCTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION, AND TERRORISM. AND THEY ARE PARTNERS IN PEACEKEEPING IN BOSNIA.

ONE LESSON OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY IS THAT PEACE AND STABILITY ARE STRENGTHENED WHEN ALL NATIONS PARTICIPATE IN EUROPE'S POLITICAL, MILITARY, AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES. AS AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW SAID, "THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT NATO AND RUSSIA WILL WORK TOGETHER TO IMBUE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH REAL SUBSTANCE AND MEANING."

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.
18-May-98 3:20 PM EDT (1920 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ALL REPORTED LOWER PRICES IN MONDAY TRADING. FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE IS V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: MARKET ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTED THE TUMBLE TO FACTORS RANGING FROM ANXIETY OVER THE UPCOMING MEETING BY THE U-S FEDERAL RESERVE ON INTEREST RATES, TO THE ONGOING CRISIS IN INDONESIA, TO CONCERNS OVER WHAT EFFECT THE BIG LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST COMPUTER SOFTWARE GIANT "MICROSOFT" MAY HAVE ON THE U-S ECONOMY.

WHATEVER THE CONCERN, EUROPEAN INVESTORS MONDAY WERE INCLINED TO SELL SHARES. IN LONDON -- EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET -- THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED OFF NEARLY 92-POINTS -- A LOSS OF ONE-AND-A-HALF-PERCENT. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX SHED 71-POINTS AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" WAS OFF 45-POINTS -- A LOSS OF MORE THAN ONE-PERCENT FOR THE DAY ON BOTH INDEXES.

ON EUROPEAN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR HELD STEADY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND WAS UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
18-May-98 1:45 PM EDT (1745 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] IRELAND / REFERENDUM (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (TRALEE, IRELAND)

INTRO: THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC WILL GO TO THE POLLS THIS WEEK (FRIDAY, MAY 22ND), VOTING ON A PEACE AGREEMENT DESIGNED TO END 30 YEARS OF INTER-COMMUNAL BLOODSHED. PREDICTIONS ARE THE AGREEMENT WILL BE APPROVED, BUT THERE ARE FEARS MOST OF THE PRO-BRITISH PROTESTANTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILL VOTE "NO." V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, WHERE THE AGREEMENT APPARENTLY FACES LITTLE OPPOSITION.

TEXT: HERE IN THE WEST OF IRELAND, THE TROUBLES IN BELFAST AND OTHER NORTHERN IRISH CITIES SEEM FAR AWAY. THE SUNNY WEATHER OF THE PAST FEW DAYS HAD RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS IN TRALEE, COUNTY KERRY, OUT IN THE STREETS, HIKING THE HILLS, ATTENDING HORSE RACES AND COUNTRY FAIRS, AND GENERALLY ENJOYING LIFE.

TRALEE'S NUMEROUS PUBS WERE PACKED WITH REVELERS (SUNDAY NIGHT), BUT THERE WAS NO TALK OF THE UPCOMING VOTE.

DUBLIN IS FILLED WITH POSTERS URGING A "YES" VOTE ON THE PEACE AGREEMENT. HERE IN TRALEE THERE ARE NONE. ONE MAN TOLD ME, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WILL PASS.

BUT IN THE NORTH, IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY. FACTIONAL LEADERS AND PROMINENT POLITICIANS ARE CRISS-CROSSING THE PROVINCE. SUPPORTERS OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "GOOD FRIDAY" AGREEMENT -- SINCE IT WAS REACHED ON THAT CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY -- ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE PROTESTANT UNIONISTS IT IS THE BEST HOPE FOR A PEACEFUL END TO THE TROUBLES.

ACCORDING TO POLLS, UNIONIST SUPPORT HAS BEEN DRIFTING AWAY, AS OPPONENTS SUCH AS THE PROTESTANT MINISTER IAN PAISLEY INCREASE THEIR ATTACKS. THEY SAY THE AGREEMENT IS A STEP TOWARD A UNITED IRELAND UNDER DUBLIN'S RULE. UNIONISTS WERE DISMAYED ALSO, WHEN A GROUP OF I-R-A -- IRISH REPUBLIC ARMY -- PRISONERS WERE RELEASED TEMPORARILY AND GIVEN A HERO'S WELCOME AT A PRO-AGREEMENT RALLY BY THE I-R-A POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN.

IN THE NEXT FOUR DAYS, MR. PAISLEY AND HIS ALLIES ARE HOLDING RALLIES ACROSS NORTHERN IRELAND, ASKING FOR A "NO" VOTE. BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN A LAST-MINUTE CAMPAIGN FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT.

WHILE THE PEACE PLAN WILL PROBABLY BE APPROVED BY THE MAJORITY OF ALL VOTERS, THERE IS REAL CONCERN IT MAY BE REJECTED BY A MAJORITY OF PROTESTANTS. THAT WOULD CAUSE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN IMPLEMENTING TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/JWH/WTW
18-May-98 5:29 AM EDT (0929 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE AMERICAN PRESS CONTINUES TO EXPRESS CONCERN AT THE RIOTING AND GENERAL CHAOS IN INDONESIA. OTHER TOPICS THIS MONDAY INCLUDE: ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN GOT FUNDS FROM THE CHINESE MILITARY; A U-S BATTLE WITH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION OVER SURVIVAL OF SEA TURTLES; ANOTHER FIGHT OVER GLOBAL WHALING BAN; NEW LABOR PRACTICES FORM THE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR COMPANY NIKE; AND THE PASSING OF ENTERTAINER FRANK SINATRA. NOW, HERE IS ____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RIOTING THAT LEFT NEARLY 500 DEAD LAST WEEK IN INDONESIA, AND HAS BROUGHT THE SUHARTO GOVERNMENT TO THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE, IS STILL A PRIME TOPIC IN THE AMERICAN PRESS. MONDAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS MR. SUHARTO IS THE PROBLEM, AND HIS DEPARTURE WOULD BE THE SOLUTION.

VOICE: THE EXPLOSION OF RAGE IN INDONESIA, THE WORLD'S FOURTH MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY, IS DIRECTED AT [MR.] SUHARTO, THE MILITARY DICTATOR FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS FOR MANY YEARS, HE POSED AS THE SAVIOR OF HIS COUNTRY, HOLDING IT TOGETHER, WITH JUSTIFICATION SOME OF THAT TIME. NO MORE. FOR THE GOOD OF HIS 200 MILLION PEOPLE, [GENERAL SUHARTO SHOULD STEP DOWN. NOTHING HE CAN DO NOW WOULD ASSUAGE THEIR ANGER. .... LONG A COLD WAR ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES AND BENEFICIARY OF MILITARY AID, [HE] HAS LOST TOUCH. ..... INDONESIA NEEDS HEALING, WHICH CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL [MR.] SUHARTO REMOVES HIMSELF OR IS REMOVED. THERE WERE MILDER OPTIONS, BUT THE TIME FOR THEM HAS PAST.

TEXT: HERE AT HOME, SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS HAVE SURFACED IN THE PRESS THAT A CHINESE ARMY OFFICER, WORKING ON SPACE ROCKETS, PASSED ON THREE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT EVENTUALLY FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE CLINTON RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF 1996. LATER, PRESIDENT CLINTON RELAXED RULES ALLOWING U-S COMMERCIAL SATELLITES TO BE LAUNCHED ON CHINESE ROCKETS. ALL THIS HAS PROMPTED "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" TO COMMENT:

VOICE: THE WHITE HOUSE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INSIST THAT THIS IS ALL SHEER COINCIDENCE OR PERHAPS A BUREAUCRATIC SNAFU -- LIKE SO MUCH ELSE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. BUT THE TIME HAS RUN OUT FOR EXCUSES. CHINAGATE COULD MAKE EVERY OTHER SORDID CLINTON SCANDAL PALE BY COMPARISON.

TEXT: TURNING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS U-S EFFORTS TO SAVE THE ENDANGERED KEMP'S RIDLEY AND OTHER SEA TURTLES HAVE BEEN THWARTED BY THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION [W-T-O]. AND "THE SUN" SAYS THE U-S SHOULD FIGHT BACK ON BEHALF OF THE GIANT, OCEAN-GOING TURTLES.

VOICE: A WTO TRIBUNAL IN GENEVA LAST MONTH SANCTIONED THE UNITED STATES FOR UPHOLDING A 1989 LAW THAT BANS SHRIMP IMPORTS FROM COUNTRIES WHOSE FISHERMEN FAIL TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES BY USING NETS WITH ESCAPE HATCHES. SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES COMPLAINED THAT THE UNITED STATES VIOLATED THE FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT BY INSISTING ON A CERTAIN METHOD OF CAPTURE. ..... DROWNING IN SHRIMP NETS IS A MAJOR REASON FOR THE DECLINE OF SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE STRONG STEPS TO REMEDY THIS GLOBAL TRADE INEQUITY, HOLDING FAST TO ITS SHRIMP-NET LAW AND PUSHING THE WTO TO REVIEW AND REVISE ITS SKEWED STANDARDS.

TEXT: IN ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL NOTE, THIS ONE ABOUT WHALES, TODAY'S "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" IS URGING THE UNITED STATES NOT TO GIVE IN TO PRESSURE AT THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION MEETING, AND VOTE TO ALLOW INCREASED HUNTING OF THE GIANT SEA MAMMALS.

VOICE: THE LITTLE MINKE WHALES ARE MOVING INTO MAINE WATERS NOW, WITH FINBACKS, HUMPBACKS, RARE RIGHT WHALES AND OTHER SUMMER WHALE RESIDENTS TO FOLLOW. THEY ARE SAFE HERE .... [AND] SHOULD BE SAFE WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND AFTER A 1986 MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL WHALING, BUT THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY SO. JAPAN, NORWAY AND MOST RECENTLY, ICELAND CONTINUE TO KILL WHALES IN DEFIANCE OF WORLD OPINION. SADDER STILL IS THE MOVE UNDERWAY AT THE 50TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION IN MUSCAT, OMAN, TO END THE 12-YEAR-OLD GLOBAL BAN. .... THE I-W-C SHOULD HOLD THE LINE ON THE WHALING BAN, AND STRONGLY CONDEMN THE RENEGADE NATIONS. TO DO OTHERWISE, AS [MAINE SENATOR OLYMPIA] SNOWE SAYS, WOULD BE 'A MAJOR SETBACK IN THE CAUSE OF WHALE PROTECTION.'

TEXT: TURNING TO ECONOMICS, AND THE BIRTH OF THE "EURO," THE EUROPEAN COMMON CURRENCY, TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS WITHOUT AN ECONOMIC REVIVAL IN EUROPE, THE ELEVEN PARTICIPATING EURO MEMBERS MAY BE IN FOR A DIFFICULT TRANSITION.

VOICE: ....... IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER DOMESTIC POLITICS IN EACH OF THE MEMBER COUNTRIES WILL REMAIN QUIESCENT DURING THE TRANSITION - - UNLIKELY IF UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS SO HIGH WHILE SOCIAL PROGRAMS ARE BEING TRIMMED TO MEET THE STRINGENT BUDGET DEMANDS OF THE SYSTEM. IT IS THIS LOOMING POLITICAL REALITY THAT MAKES IMPERATIVE A STRONG REVIVAL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.

TEXT: STILL WITH ECONOMICS, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" ASSESSES THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC SHOE MAKER NIKE ABOUT HOW IT PLANS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF ITS ASIAN WORKERS.

VOICE: WITH HIS COMPANY IN DANGER OF BECOMING A SYMBOL OF WORKER EXPLOITATION, PHILIP KNIGHT, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NIKE, ANNOUNCED SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES IN LABOR PRACTICES LAST WEEK. WHILE FALLING SHORT OF CRITICS' DEMANDS THAT NIKE PAY A LIVING WAGE AND PULL OUT OF COUNTRIES WHERE WORKERS CANNOT ORGANIZE, THE REFORMS SET A STANDARD OTHER COMPANIES SHOULD MATCH. BUT NIKE MUST SEE THAT ITS NEW POLICIES REACH THE FACTORY FLOOR. .... LABOR GROUPS THAT HAVE INVESTIGATED FACTORIES OF NIKE SUBCONTRACTORS ABROAD HAVE ACCUSED THEM OF PAYING LESS THAN LOCAL LAWS REQUIRE, FORCING EMPLOYEES TO WORK OVERTIME AND PROVIDING UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. ..... THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT NIKE'S WORKING CONDITIONS ARE WORSE THAN IN OTHER SHOE FACTORIES OVERSEAS. NIKE HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME OTHER MANUFACTURERS IT HAS CLAIMED TO TREAT ITS WORKERS BETTER.

TEXT: LASTLY, THE NATION AND MUSIC LOVERS EVERYWHERE CONTINUE TO MOURN THE PASSING OF SINGER AND ENTERTAINER FRANK SINATRA WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 82. "USA TODAY" COMMENTS ON THE MAN AND HIS MYSTIQUE.

VOICE: BY NOW EVERYONE HAS RECALLED HIS GOLDEN TALENT: THE GREAT PHRASING AND CONTROL; HIS ASTONISHING ABILITY TO EMPATHIZE WITH A SONG'S MESSAGE AND CONVEY IT TO LISTENERS WITH AMBISEXUAL INTIMACY. OH, FRANKIE, SIGHED THE GIRLS. YO, FRANK, SAID THE BOYS. AND THEY BOTH CRAVED THE SAME THING: HIS AURA. IN THAT MEMORY OF [MR.] SINATRA'S GREAT GIFT, YOU CAN ALSO SEE [MR.] SINATRA'S GREAT CONTRADICTION: THAT HE COULD EXPRESS THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE SO PERFECTLY IN MUSIC WHILE FAILING TO EXPRESS SOME EQUIVALENT AESTHETIC IN HIS PUBLIC LIFE. .... SOME CRITICS AND FANS WANT TO DISCONNECT THE MAN FROM HIS MUSIC. BUT [MR.] SINATRA WAS A TOTAL PACKAGE: HIP AND CREATIVE YET SQUARE AND UPTIGHT, GENEROUS YET NASTY. HE WAS AN EXCITING GUY, THAT FRANKIE. BUT NOT A SIMPLE ONE.

TEXT: WITH THAT ASSESSMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS COMMENTARY SAMPLING FROM MONDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
18-May-98 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (MONDAY) AND THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY WAS HIT WITH ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWSUITS. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 50, DOWN 45 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED FIVE, DOWN ALMOST THREE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE DISORDERS IN INDONESIA AND NUCLEAR TESTING IN INDIA. THERE WAS ALSO A LITTLE ANXIETY AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, ALTHOUGH THE OVERWHELMING OPINION ON WALL STREET IS THAT THE CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES.

THE BIG BUSINESS STORY OF THE DAY WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWSUITS AGAINST THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY. THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND 20 STATE GOVERNMENTS CHARGE MICROSOFT IS USING ITS DOMINANT POSITION IN PERSONAL COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEMS TO FORCE CUSTOMERS TO USE MICROSOFT'S INTERNET BROWSER SYSTEM. MICROSOFT STOCK DROPPED THREE POINTS.

WE BELIEVE THE ANTI-TRUST LAWSUIT IS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE, COSTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS AND ULTIMATELY WILL BE UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE COURTS.

THE SUITS AGAINST MICROSOFT WERE FILED AFTER EFFORTS TO REACH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BROKE DOWN LAST WEEKEND.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALSO FILED A SUIT AGAINST THE TEXACO OIL COMPANY, CLAIMING THE COMPANY UNDERPAID ROYALTIES FOR OIL PUMPED FROM LAND OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE AMERICANS. TEXACO HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.

STOCKS OF SEVERAL DRUG COMPANIES WENT AGAINST THE DAY'S DOWNWARD TREND BECAUSE OF POSITIVE RESEARCH STUDIES OF NEW ANTI-CANCER DRUGS. STOCKS OF THE ELI LILLY, GENENTECH AND ENTREMED COMPANIES ALL ROSE.

SEVERAL MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR ACQUISITIONS WERE ANNOUNCED. PEARSON, THE BRITISH MEDIA COMPANY WILL PAY FOUR-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING BUSINESS OF SIMON AND SCHUSTER. SIMON AND SCHUSTER IS CURRENTLY A DIVISION OF VIACOM, THE ENTERTAINMENT GIANT.

THE OFFICE DEPOT COMPANY WILL PAY THREE BILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE THE VIKING COMPANY, A CATALOG MARKETER OF OFFICE SUPPLIES.

THE DILLARD DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN IS BUYING THE MERCANTILE STORES COMPANY FOR TWO-POINT-NINE BILLION DOLLARS. THE COMBINATION WILL OPERATE MORE THAN 300 DEPARTMENT AND SPECIALTY STORES IN THE SOUTHERN AND MIDWESTERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
18-May-98 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO POL (S&L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

INTRO: A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IS LOOMING IN YUGOSLAVIA, FOLLOWING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT MONDAY AGAINST PRIME MINISTER RADOJE KONTIC. THE REMOVAL OF MR. KONTIC -- WHO IS FROM MONTENEGRO, SERBIA'S PARTNER IN THE NEW YUGOSLAVIA -- MAY SPARK A CRISIS BETWEEN THE TWO REPUBLICS. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM OUR CENTRAL EUROPEAN BUREAU IN PRAGUE:

TEXT: THE NO CONFIDENCE VOTE WAS CALLED BY ALLIES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO HAS BEEN LOCKED IN A POWER STRUGGLE WITH MONTENEGRO'S REFORMIST PRESIDENT MILO DJUKANOVIC.

HE HAS PUBLICLY DISAGREED WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ON ISSUES RANGING FROM LIFTING SOCIALIST CONTROLS ON THE ECONOMY TO GRANTING REPUBLIC STATUS TO THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.

ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE BELIEVE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS PLANNING TO NOMINATE A NEW PRIME MINISTER FROM THE PARTY OF HIS SOCIALIST PROTEGE, FORMER MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT, MOMIR BULATOVIC. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE MOVE WOULD GIVE MR. MILOSEVIC CONTROL OVER THE PARLIAMENT AND ENABLE HIM TO CHANGE THE YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION.

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