Voice of America, 98-05-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIAN CLERICS (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

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

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND / WEDNESDAY (L) BY GIL BUTLER (BELFAST)

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

[01] BOSNIAN CLERICS (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: THE TOP RELIGIOUS LEADERS FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SOUGHT SUPPORT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN NEW YORK FOR THEIR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION MOVEMENT. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: ALL OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS NODDED THEIR HEADS SILENTLY WHEN A REPORTER ASKED ONE OF THEM WHY THEY WERE IN NEW YORK TO SEEK PEACE. THE RELIGIOUS LEADER SAID IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO MAKE THE LONG JOURNEY TO NEW YORK THAN TO GO A FEW KILOMETERS TO MANY TROUBLED VILLAGES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE LEADERS OF THE MUSLIM, ROMAN CATHOLIC, SERBIAN ORTHODOX AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE VISITING THE UNITED STATES, IN PART TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WAY ITS PLURALISTIC WAY OF LIFE WORKS. BUT THEY ALSO ARE GATHERING SUPPORT FOR REBUILDING THEIR COUNTRY AND, MAKING THOSE JOURNEYS OF A FEW KILOMETERS SAFER.

MUSTAPHA CERIC (CHER-ICH), THE MUSLIM LEADER FROM SARAJEVO, SAYS THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT WAS CAUSED BY ULTRA EXTREMISTS WHO SOMETIMES CLAIMED TO HAVE RELIGIOUS OBJECTIVES. BUT HE SAYS THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS NOT A RELIGIOUS WAR.

SOME CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION. WE HAVE TO KNOW THIS. THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS NOT A RELIGIOUS WAR, BUT SOME PEOPLE DID USE RELIGION TO ACHIEVE THEIR POLITICAL GOALS. WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND WORK TO NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

THE MUSLIM LEADER NOTED A DECLARATION SIGNED AT BERNE, SWITZERLAND, FIVE YEARS AGO STATES THAT THE GREATEST CRIME AGAINST RELIGION IS A CRIME COMMITTED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION. HE SAYS, HOWEVER, THE BOSNIAN WAR WAS ACTUALLY A WAR AGAINST THE BASIC BELIEFS OF ANY REAL RELIGION.

IT WAS WAR AGAINST ALL RELIGIONS, ALL MORAL VALUES, ALL ETHICAL VALUES -- (A WAR) AGAINST WHICH ANY RELIGION -- IF IT CAN BE CALLED A RELIGION -- MUST STAND UP OR FACE A MORAL DISASTER.

THE BOSNIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISCUSSED THE SITUATION IN THEIR COUNTRY AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH KEY OFFICIALS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT AND WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL FAITHS.

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, ASIDE FROM SEEKING HELP FOR BOSNIAN PROBLEMS, URGED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FOCUS ON FINDING PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS TO ETHNIC CONFLICTS IN THE KOSOVO PROVINCE OF SERBIA.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/JMC/LSF
20-May-98 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: REBOUNDING STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE SAW RECORD HIGHS POSTED WEDNESDAY IN PARIS AND FRANKFURT. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM OUR LONDON OFFICE.

TEXT: WITH POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS AND A SEMBLANCE OF TEMPORARY STABILITY IN INDONESIA, EUROPE'S INVESTORS WERE IN A BUYING MOOD WEDNESDAY.

THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX GAINED 73-AND-ONE-HALF POINTS AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" CLOSED UP 67. FOR BOTH INDEXES, THE DAILY GAINS WERE ABOUT A PERCENT-AND-A-HALF. IN LONDON, THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES 100" INDEX ADDED 30-POINTS AT THE CLOSE.

STOCK MARKETS IN FRANKFURT AND PARIS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY FOR THE ASCENSION DAY HOLIDAY.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS STEADY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND DOWN ONE-HALF CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD PRICES IN LONDON REMAIN AROUND THE 300-DOLLAR AN OUNCE MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
20-May-98 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS TRADERS GAINED CONFIDENCE THAT U-S INTEREST RATES WILL REMAIN LOW. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 71, UP 116 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 19, UP NINE POINTS.

ALTHOUGH STOCKS WERE GENERALLY STRONG, THERE WAS SOME WEAKNESS IN TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. THE DELL COMPUTER COMPANY REPORTED A LARGE QUARTERLY PROFIT INCREASE BUT ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED THAT AND DELL'S STOCK, ALONG WITH OTHER COMPUTER ISSUES, FELL.

THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT CLIMBED BY SEVEN PERCENT IN MARCH, EXCEEDING WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. RISING IMPORTS MAY SLOW THE RATE OF U-S ECONOMIC EXPANSION. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THAT MAY ENCOURAGE THE U-S CENTRAL BANK TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK HAS DROPPED ITS 24 BILLION DOLLAR HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FOR THE MELLON BANK OF PITTSBURGH. THE FAILED ACQUISITION GOES AGAINST THE RECENT TREND OF CONSOLIDATION IN THE U-S BANKING INDUSTRY.

THE HEAD OF THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, IS ATTEMPTING TO DISPEL THE IDEA THAT RECENT INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATIONS ARE A THREAT TO HIS COMPANY. SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL A-T AND T STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING, MR. ARMSTRONG ALSO SAID THE COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

OUR GOAL IS TO LEAD IN EACH SEGMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, WHETHER LONG DISTANCE, LOCAL, INTERNET SOLUTIONS, GLOBAL OR WIRELESS.

MR. ARMSTRONG SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THAT A-T AND T WILL SOON BE ABLE TO RESUME ITS HISTORIC GROWTH RATE.

SOME TELEPHONE PAGER SERVICE HAS NOW BEEN RESTORED AFTER A U-S COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE WENT OUT OF SERVICE LATE TUESDAY. THE FAILURE OF THE GALAXY FOUR SATELLITE KNOCKED OUT MILLIONS OF TELEPHONE PAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS SOME TELEVISION AND DATA LINKS.

THE DOW CORNING SILICON PRODUCTS COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CUT ITS GLOBAL WORK FORCE BY ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE, MORE THAN 10 PERCENT, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS THERE WILL BE NO LAYOFFS, THAT THE CUTS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH NORMAL ATTRITION.

IN SOUTH KOREA, THE HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY SAYS IT WILL LAY OFF ONE-FIFTH OF ITS WORK FORCE OR MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE. THE UNION WHICH REPRESENTS HYUNDAI WORKERS SAYS IT MAY STRIKE TO PROTEST THE LAYOFFS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
20-May-98 4:42 PM EDT (2042 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NORTHERN IRELAND / WEDNESDAY (L) BY GIL BUTLER (BELFAST)

INTRO: CITIZENS OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC WILL VOTE FRIDAY ON A PROPOSED PLAN TO END 30 YEARS OF INTERCOMMUNAL STRIFE. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BELFAST THAT WHILE IRISH REPUBLICANS SEE THE PEACE AGREEMENT AS A STEP TOWARD PEACEFUL UNIFICATION OF IRELAND, PRO-BRITISH UNIONISTS EMPHASIZE THE AGREEMENT'S CALL FOR DISARMING THE ARMED FACTIONS.

TEXT: ALL SIDES IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND DISPUTE ARE PREDICTING VICTORY, DEPENDING ON HOW VICTORY IS DEFINED.

ANTI-AGREEMENT FIGURES LIKE UNIONIST PETER ROBINSON, SAY THE NO'S CAN WIN. OTHERS SAY EVEN A SIZEABLE NO VOTE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF CRIPPLING A FUTURE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY.

THE HEAD OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL ARM, SINN FEIN GERRY ADAMS -- PREDICTED THE YES VOTE WILL CARRY THE DAY ON FRIDAY. HE SAID THAT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS TOWARD A REAL PEACE SETTLEMENT. BUT HE DECLINED ONE REPORTER'S INVITATION TO DECLARE THAT THE REPUBLICAN WAR WAS OVER.

MR. ADAMS SAID THE UNIONIST CAMP IS DIVIDED.

SINN FEIN UNDERSTANDS THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS PRESENTS TO UNIONISTS. IN FACT, YOU WILL KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE REPUBLICAN AND NATIONALIST SIDE AS WELL. BUT WHAT UNITES NATIONALISM IS A DESIRE FOR CHANGE, AND THIS IS PRECISELY THE ISSUE WHICH IS DIVIDING UNIONISM BECAUSE THE REAL PROBLEM FACING UNIONISM IS THE PROSPECT OF CHANGE.

DEPUTY MAYOR MCNARRY AGREES WITH THOSE WHO SAY IF UNIONIST SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT IS WEAK IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION.

IT CAN'T. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT. IT CAN'T. THE WHOLE IDEA ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT IS THAT IT IS DONE BY CONSENT AND CONSENSUS WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF UNIONISTS AND A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF NATIONALISTS WORKING TOGETHER IN A NEW ASSEMBLY. NOW IF THE PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR THAT AND INDICATE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT, THEN THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT HE SAYS HE PREFERS TO THINK POSITIVELY AND SAYS HE THINKS THE PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR THE FUTURE BY APPROVING THE REFERENDUM. BUT, HE INSISTS THAT BOTH REPUBLICAN AND PROTESTANT ARMED FACTIONS MUST DISARM AND RENOUNCE VIOLENCE. IN DAVID MCNARRY'S WORDS: I WILL NOT BE SITTING IN THE ASSEMBLY WITH ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT HANDED THEIR GUNS IN. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/JWH/WFR
20-May-98 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE TWO MAJOR TOPICS IN NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS AROUND THE UNITED STATES THIS WEDNESDAY APPEAR TO BE THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTITRUST ACTION AGAINST THE COMPUTER SOFTWEAR GIANT MICROSOFT AND THE CONTINUING GOVERNMENTAL CRISIS IN INDONESIA.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE IRISH PEACE REFERENDUM, TO BE VOTED ON THIS FRIDAY; THE HOPE OF BRINGING PEACE TO AFGHANISTAN; AND REVISITING THE HELMS-BURTON BAN ON CUBAN BUSINESS DEALINGS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A PAIR OF ANTITRUST SUITS AGAINST MICROSOFT FOR ALLEGEDLY USING ILLEGAL BUSINESS PRACTICES TO ELIMINATE ITS COMPETITION, FILED MONDAY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 20 OF THE STATES, IS DRAWING A FLOOD OF COMMENT. MICROSOFT MAKES THE SOFTWEAR THAT OPERATES ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONAL COMPUTERS IN THE WORLD, BUT DOES NOT HAVE AS LARGE A SHARE OF THE SPECIAL GUIDING SOFTWEAR COMPUTER USERS NEED TO FIND THINGS ON THE INTERNET AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB. THOSE ARE THE GLOBAL COMPUTER LINKAGES THAT CONTAIN A CORNUCOPIA OF INFORMATION ON VIRTUALLY ANY TOPIC. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS MICROSOFT IS USING ITS POWER AS THE MAKER OF OPERATING SOFTWEAR, TO FORCE COMPUTER MAKERS TO A L S O INCLUDE IN THEIR MACHINES ITS VERSION OF THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB GUIDE SOFTWARE CALLED INTERNET EXPLORER. BY SO DOING, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, MICROSOFT IS TRYING TO CRUSH THE INDEPENDENT COMPANY THAT MAKES THE CURRENTLY MOST POPULAR INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB GUIDING SOFTWARE, "NETSCAPE." "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND APPLAUDS THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION.

VOICE: MICROSOFT'S PROTESTATIONS ASIDE, THE ANTITRUST SUITS FILED THIS WEEK AGAINST THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE GIANT RAISE VERY APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET - - AND CONTROL OF THE INFORMATION THAT FLOWS THROUGH IT. /// OPT /// ..... LURKING BENEATH THOSE ISSUES IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER MICROSOFT IS SEEKING UNDUE INFLUENCE OVER WHERE THAT BROWSER MOST EASILY LEADS USERS. /// END OPT /// AS THE INTERNET DEVELOPS INTO A GREATER AND MORE HEAVILY USED MARKETPLACE OF SERVICES, PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION, IT WILL GIVE A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO ANYBODY WHO CAN STEER USERS TO CERTAIN SITES. /// OPT /// ...... PRESUMABLY THE LITIGATION WILL TAKE YEARS TO RESOLVE, UNLESS THE PARTIES REACH SOME AGREEMENT ON THEIR OWN. BUT /// END OPT /// THE DESIRABILITY OF RESTRAINING ANTICOMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR HASN'T ENDED JUST BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY HAS TAKEN BUSINESS IN DIRECTIONS UNIMAGINABLE WHEN THE ANTITRUST LAWS WERE FIRST ENACTED MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

TEXT: ACROSS THE CONTINENT, SOME FOUR THOUSAND KILOMETERS AWAY, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" AGREES, SUGGESTING IN ITS HEADLINE THAT "TRUST BUSTING [IS] NEEDED TO CONTROL MICROSOFT.

VOICE: WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY DRIVING THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION IS NEW, THE ROLE THAT MICROSOFT CORPORATION HAS CARVED FOR ITSELF IN THE AMERICAN AND WORLD ECONOMIES IS NOT. HISTORY HAS SEEN COMPANIES DOMINATE CRITICAL INDUSTRIES BEFORE, AND THE LESSONS LEARNED SHOULD NOT BE SET ASIDE AS THE GOVERNMENT AND 20 STATES PURSUE ANTITRUST ACTION AGAINST MICROSOFT. ....THE SOLUTION ... MAY NOT BE SIMPLY TO TRY TO MONITOR WHAT MICROSOFT DOES WITH ITS MONOPOLY, BUT, RATHER TO END IT.

TEXT: IN BLUNT LANGUAGE, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS, OF THE MICROSOFT PRESIDENT THAT "BILL GATES IS WRONG," /// OPT /// AND ATTACKS HIS SOFT DRINK ANALOGY.

VOICE: MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN BILL GATES DISMISSED THE LAWSUITS AS A 'STEP BACKWARD FOR AMERICA .... [FOR] FREEDOM AND INNOVATION .... IT'S LIKE TELLING COCA-COLA IT MUST TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF ITS FORMULA.' WRONG. MICROSOFT'S AMBITION TO HAVE WINDOWS [ITS COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM] PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY AMERICAN LIFESTYLE IS MORE LIKE COKE TELLING AMERICANS THAT FROM NOW ON IT WILL BE THEIR BEVERAGE, MAIN COURSE AND DESSERT.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS NOT YET SURE OF THE MERITS OF EITHER SIDE BUT MUSES:

VOICE: IF ONE COMPANY CONTROLS THE CRUCIAL GATEWAY - - THE OPERATING SYSTEM - - **AND** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] USES THAT CONTROL TO EXTEND ITS MONOPOLY TO OTHER PRODUCTS, A LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED. THE PUBLIC IS DENIED THE FULL BENEFITS OF CREATIVE SOFTWARE-WRITING EVERYWHERE - - NOT JUST IN MICROSOFT'S OFFICES. WE'RE NOT SURE IT HAS COME TO THAT YET - - OR THAT IT'S LIKELY TO. THE SOFTWARE FIELD HAS A VITALITY THAT DEFIES SIMPLE COMPARISON TO INDUSTRIAL MONOPOLIES OF THE PAST. ..... BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION MICROSOFT HAS A LOCK ON A PIVOTAL PIECE OF THE SOFTWARE GALAXY. .... TO THAT DEGREE, EVERYONE HAS TO PLAY BY MICROSOFT'S RULES.

TEXT: TO THE CRISIS IN INDONESIA NOW, AND THESE THOUGHTS ON WHAT PRESIDENT SUHARTO SHOULD DO FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES," WHICH SUGGESTS THAT HIS "NEBULOUS PROMISES" ABOUT NEW ELECTIONS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

VOICE: MR. SHUARTO'S PLAN FOR ELECTIONS IS ANYTHING BUT RAPID AND FREE. IT RELIES ON A RIGGED SYSTEM FOR SELECTING A PRESIDENT SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT HAS FAITHFULLY CHOSEN MR. SUHARTO FOR THE PRESIDENCY SEVEN TIMES SINCE HE ASSUMED POWER. ...... INDONESIANS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT THEIR PRESIDENT THROUGH DIRECT BALLOTING. IF THAT REFORM IS TOO GREAT TO MAKE DURING A CRISIS, THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY [WHICH SELECTS THE PRESIDENT] SHOULD AT LEAST BE CHOSEN IN FREE ELECTIONS OPEN TO EVERY POLITICAL PARTY. ..... MR. SUHARTO'S BEST SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY NOW WOULD BE TO SET IN MOTION A FULLY DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND THEN RESIGN.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WORRIES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY'S STUDENTS WHO HAVE LED MANY OF THE PROTESTS.

VOICE: WORLDWIDE, HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES ARE WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEIR CALLS FOR REAL DEMOCRACY, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND AN END TO THE SUHARTO FAMILY'S CORRUPT MANIPULATION OF THE ECONOMY FOR ITS OWN GAIN. MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ARE CALLING FOR SUHARTO TO STEP DOWN NOW AND WANT TO CUT TIES WITH HIS GOVERNMENT. BUT INDONESIA NEEDS TRANSITION WITHOUT CHAOS.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" SUGGESTS THAT "THE MONITOR'S" IDEA OF "TRANSITION WITHOUT CHAOS" WILL NOT COME EASILY.

VOICE: PRESIDENT SUHARTO HAS TO GO. THAT MUCH THE RIOTING STUDENTS IN INDONESIA HAVE GOT RIGHT. BUT HOW AND WHEN THE AGING AUTOCRAT SHOULD EXIT IS VERY MUCH IN DOUBT. ...... WILL [HE] GO QUIETLY NOW? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE ARMY DECIDES TO DO. THE MILITARY IS THE ONLY FORCE IN THE COUNTRY CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING ORDER. BUT THE PRICE MAY BE STEEP. AND THERE'S NOT MUCH .... WASHINGTON OR ITS ASIAN PARTNERS CAN DO BEYOND TRYING TO PERSUADE THE ARMY TO BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY - - AND THEN STANDING BY TO PICK UP THE PIECES WHEN ORDER RESUMES.

TEXT: FOR ITS PART, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS IT IS DEFINITELY "MR. SUHARTO'S TIME TO GO."

VOICE: MR. SUHARTO HAS RUN OUT HIS STRING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED PROMPTLY BY THE POPULAR CHOICE. THE ARMY SHOULD TAKE UP AN UNEQUIVOCAL ROLE AS GUARDIAN OF THE POLITICAL ARENA, NOT ITS GENDARME. PAINFUL DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO SHARE THE BURDENS OF ECONOMIC REGENERATION NEED TO BE MADE IN A DEMOCRATIC CONTEXT. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE WONDERING WHERE THE UNITED STATES STANDS.

TEXT: THERE IS ADDITIONAL CONCERN FROM TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY HAVE COMPROMISED U-S SECURITY BY ALLOWING U-S SATELLITES TO BE LAUNCHED FROM CHINESE ROCKETS AFTER GETTING A CAMPAIGN DONATION FROM THE CHINESE MILITARY AEROSPACE CONSORTIUM. SAYS "THE GLOBE:"

VOICE: DISCLOSURES BY DEMOCRATIC FUND-RAISER AND FORMER COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL JOHNNY CHUNG ABOUT INFUSIONS OF CAMPAIGN CASH FROM BEIJING'S RED OLIGARCHY UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT AND BALANCED INVESTIGATION, PREFERABLY BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE AND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. ..... THERE IS SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING IN THE SPECTACLE OF TOP CHINESE MILITARY OFFICIALS AND U-S CORPORATE EXECUTIVES POURING 'SOFT MONEY' INTO DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COFFERS IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO BUY COMMERCIAL FAVORS.

TEXT: NORTHERN IRELAND VOTES FRIDAY ON THE PEACE REFERENDUM, AND MANY EDITORIALS PAGES ARE PLEADING FOR A "YES" VOTE, INCLUDING "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, WHICH SAYS IT IS "A CHANCE FOR HEALING THE WOUNDS IN IRELAND."

VOICE: THIS GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT OFFERS THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND A CHANCE FOR A CONSENSUS ON COEXISTENCE. A RESOUNDING YES VOTE BY PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS IS IN THE INTEREST OF THEM ALL.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE REFERENDUM" A HISTORIC CHANCE TO CONTAIN AND ELIMINATE THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS TRAGICALLY MARKED SO MANY GENERATIONS, AND CALLS THE BALLOTING ...."A VOTE FOR POSTERITY." TO ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT NOW, AND THE LATEST INITIATIVE TO BRING PEACE TO AFGHANISTAN, BY CONTROLLING THE TALEBAN FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC MILITIA, AND HALT THE CIVIL WAR "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALLS IT: "TAMING THE TALEBAN."

VOICE: U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON HAD SUCCEEDED IN FINALLY OPENING TALKS BETWEEN THE RADICAL ISLAMIC TALEBAN AND THE OPPOSITION NORTHERN ALLIANCE. [BUT SERIOUS PROBLEMS PERSIST] ...... THE WAR IS ABOUT TWO CONCEPTIONS OF MODERNIZATION, THE TALEBAN'S FUNDAMENTALIST ONE AND THE OPPOSITION'S MORE SECULAR VERSION. .... THE INDIAN NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS DO NOT DIMINISH THE AMERICANS TAKE IN ENABLING CENTRAL ASIAN OIL AND GAS TO FLOW THROUGH A POSTWAR AFGHANISTAN INTO STRUGGLING PAKISTAN AND THENCE TO ENERGY-HUNGRY INDIA. ENDING A TERRIBLE WAR IS JUSTIFICATION ENOUGH FOR AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT.

TEXT: LASTLY, TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" IS CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR ATTEMPTING TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION AGAINST CUBA AS CRYSTALIZED IN THE HELMS-BURTON LAW.

VOICE: AT MONDAY'S E-U - U-S SUMMIT PRESIDENT CLINTON PROVED THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST MAKE SOME GOOD FRIENDS BY SELLING OUT AMERICAN INTERESTS AT BARGAIN-BASEMENT PRICES. MR. CLINTON PROMISED ..... TO GRANT EUROPE PERMANENT WAIVERS TO THE 1996 HELMS-BURTON ACT, WHICH IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES OPERATING IN CUBA ON PROPERTY THAT WAS FILCHED ["STOLEN" OR "APPROPRIATED"] FROM U-S BUSINESSES. HE ALSO PROMISED TO IGNORE THE LIBYAN-IRAN SANCTIONS ACT, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE PRESIDENT TO SANCTION EUROPEAN FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN LIBYA AND IRAN, TWO COUNTRIES THAT ARE THOUGHT TO JEOPARDIZE AMERICAN .... SECURITY BY SUPPORTING TERRORISM ..... THE CAVE-IN SEEMED TO BE MR. CLINTON'S PAYMENT FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE 'TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP,' A MUSHY [UNFOCUSED, IMPRECISE] AGREEMENT TO TALK ABOUT OPENING UP TRADE BETWEEN THE U-S AND EUROPE. ..... IT IS UNCLEAR WHY MR. CLINTON WOULD ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONCESSIONS ON FREE TRADE BY NEGOTIATING AWAY AMERICAN LEGISLATION THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FREE TRADE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM WEDNESDAY'S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
20-May-98 11:05 AM EDT (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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