Voice of America, 98-05-28

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] NATO-LUXEMBOURG (L-CQ) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LUXEMBOURG)

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

[04] MONTENEGRO ELECTION BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

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

[06] DENMARK REFERENDUM (S/L VER) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[07] CLINTON / KOSOVO O'NITE (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[08] ALBANIAN-AMERICANS / KOSOVO BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

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

INTRO: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN THE LATEST NEWS OVERSHADOWS THE EDITORIALS. PAKISTAN'S DETONATION OF SEVERAL NUCLEAR DEVICES WILL PROVIDE PLENTY OF MATERIAL FOR FRIDAY'S U-S EDITORIALS, BUT TODAY THE TOPICS RANGE FROM WEDNESDAY'S MARKET TROUBLES, TO HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH'S COMMENTS ON IN ISRAEL.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE JUDGE'S ORDER COMPELLING SECRET SERVICE OFFICERS TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE PRIVATE GOINGS-ON IN THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE; WHAT TO DO WITH THE FORTHCOMING BUDGET SURPLUS; AND THE "YES" VOTE IN IRELAND. NOW, WE WELCOME _______________ TO THE STUDIO WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK

TEXT: WORLD MARKETS HAD A REALLY BAD DAY WEDNESDAY ON NEWS OF MORE ECONOMIC TROUBLES IN INDONESIA AND RUSSIA, AMONG OTHER PLACES, AND TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS:

VOICE: THE TURBULENCE, IN TURN, HAS FURTHER SHAKEN AN ALREADY WOBBLY RUSSIAN ECONOMY. AS SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS LEARNED LAST YEAR, THIS KIND OF ECONOMIC CHAIN REACTION CAN BE DIFFICULT TO REVERSE, BUT A CRISIS CAN BE AVERTED IN RUSSIA IF INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS AND RUSSIANS THEMSELVES DO NOT PANIC. ..... IT IS NOT IN ANYONE'S INTEREST TO SEE A COLLAPSE IN RUSSIA. /// OPT

TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" IS CRITICAL OF THE CALLS FOR AN I-M-F BAILOUT OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY, WRYLY NOTING THAT THEY ARE COMING FROM THE SAME PRIVATE BANKERS WHO HAVE MADE RISKY INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY AND NOW WANT PROTECTION, CONTRARY TO NORMAL MARKETPLACE LAWS.

VOICE: /// OPT /// .... PART OF WHAT'S DRIVING THE RUSSIAN PANIC IS THAT WESTERN BANKS .... HAVE BEEN CHANNELING FUNDS TOWARD BIG RUSSIAN COMPANIES, LENDING AGAINST SHARES IN THOSE COMPANIES. AS SHARE PRICES HAVE DROPPED, THE RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN SELLING ANYTHING THEY CAN TO MEET MARGIN CALLS FROM THEIR WESTERN CREDITORS, AND SO DRIVING DOWN SHARE PRICES EVEN MORE. THESE ARE THE SAME CREDITORS NOW CALLING FOR A BAILOUT. THIS IS MORAL HAZARD PERSONIFIED - - WHEN ONE BAILOUT TEMPTS INVESTORS TO TAKE EXCESSIVE RISKS IN EXPECTATION OF FUTURE BAILOUTS. IT'S A SYNDROME THAT'S WORRIED US SINCE THE 1994 MEXICAN BAILOUT SET THE PRECEDENT FOR THE 1997 ASIAN BAILOUTS .......... THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I-M-F-ENGENDERED MORAL HAZARD COULD LEAD TO GENUINE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. /// END OPT /// ....THE QUESTION THE WORLD NEEDS TO ASK IS WHETHER IT'S BEST TO LET THE RUSSIANS SORT OUT THEIR LATEST CRISIS - - PERHAPS WITH THE PRIVATE HELP OF THE SAME RICH CREDITORS NOW CALLING FOR A PUBLIC BAILOUT. OR DO WE ADD RUSSIA TO THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THROUGH WHICH THE I-M-F FUNNELS TAXPAYER MONEY TO BAIL OUT BIG BANKS THAT GOT THEMSELVES INTO RISKY MARKET?

TEXT: HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH, VISITING ISRAEL, IS DRAWING SHARP CRITICISM FOR SOME OF HIS REMARKS CALLING JERUSALEM 'THE UNITED AND ETERNAL CAPITAL OF ISRAEL. AS NEBRASKA'S "OMAHA WORLD HERALD" POINTS OUT, THAT IS A CLAIM "VEHEMENTLY DETESTED IN THE ARAB WORLD," AND SAYS OF HIS VENTURE INTO FOREIGN POLICY:

VOICE: [MR.] GINGRICH CROSSED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN UNCROSSABLE LINE. THE STATUS OF JERUSALEM IS AN EXTREMELY DELICATE ISSUE. AMERICAN PRONOUNCEMENTS IN ISRAEL ON THAT SUBJECT, IF THEY ARE TO BE MADE AT ALL, SHOULD BE MADE BY DIPLOMATS, NOT BY THE PRESIDENT'S CONGRESSIONAL CRITICS.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS EVEN MORE BLUNT, SUGGESTING IN AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE THAT THE "SPEAKER IS IRRESPONSIBLY POSING AS [THE] NATION'S CHIEF DIPLOMAT," AND ADDING:

VOICE: HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TWO YEARS HENCE, BUT APPARENTLY ... ALREADY IMAGINES HIMSELF TO BE THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THE ONLY REQUISITES HE LACKS FOR THAT JOB ARE TACT, DIPLOMACY AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW U-S FOREIGN POLICY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" IS UPSET BY A RECENT FEDERAL COURT JUDGE'S RULING THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS ON DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE PROTECTING THE PRESIDENT, MUST TESTIFY TO A GRAND JURY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW REGARDING MR. CLINTON'S CONTACT WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE AIDE MONICA LEWINSKY. SAYS "THE HERALD"

VOICE: THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD APPEAL THE ... RULING ... JUDGE NORMA HALLOWAY JOHNSON, COULD UNREASONABLY AND UNNECESSARILY RISK THE SAFETY NOT ONLY OF PRESIDENT CLINTON BUT OF FUTURE PRESIDENTS AS WELL. ... [BECAUSE THE RULING] ... WOULD SEVERELY DAMAGE, IF NOT DESTROY, THE FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT MUST EXIST FOR THE SECRET SERVICE TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE PRESIDENT.

TEXT: ANOTHER FLORIDA DAILY, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS TRYING TO DAMPEN DOWN BUDGET-SURPLUS FEVER IN THE COUNTRY, BY STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT WHATEVER BUDGET SURPLUS THE NATION ENDS UP WITH, SHOULD GO TO "PAY DOWN THE DEBT. "THE SENTINEL" REPEATS:

VOICE: THIS NATION IS IN HOCK [DEBT] UP TO ITS EARS [DEEPLY] - - TO THE TUNE [AMOUNT] OF NEARLY SIX TRILLION DOLLARS. IT MUST PAY DOWN THAT DEBT.

TEXT: THE "YES" VOTE LAST FRIDAY IN THE IRISH PEACE REFERENDUM IS STILL DRAWING PRAISE, BUT "THE DENVER POST" WONDERS WHETHER THE MOST FANATICAL KILLERS ON BOTH SIDES CAN BE CONTROLLED.

VOICE: THE LINGERING QUESTION, THEN, IS WHETHER PARTISANS ON BOTH SIDES OF WHAT THE IRISH EUPHEMISTICALLY CALL 'THE TROUBLES' WILL LISTEN TO THE PEOPLES THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT. ..... HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT STRONG SUPPORT OF THE POPULACE. BUT A LACK OF POPULAR BACKING MIGHT NOT STOP A FEW OBDURATE GOONS FROM INFLICTING A LOT OF PAIN, WITH BOMBS, BULLETS OR BOMBAST.

TEXT: REGARDING THE CONTROVERSY SWIRLING OVER A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM A CHINESE MILITARY AND AEROSPACE OFFICER TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN, AND LATER CONCESSIONS FROM THE U-S TOWARDS THE CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE TRANSFER OF SOME AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS CALLING FOR REASON AND PRUDENCE IN ANY CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.

VOICE: HOUSE SPEAKER GINGRICH AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LOTT OUGHT TO START THE COMING DAYS SORTING OUT AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS IN CHINA FROM THE POLITICAL HAY [GAIN] TO BE MADE FROM ATTEMPTS BY SOME CHINESE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL-PARTY FIGURES TO INFLUENCE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. THE TWO MATTERS ARE NOT TOTALLY UNRELATED. BUT THEY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE. THEY OUGHT TO BE SO TREATED.

TEXT: LASTLY, REGARDING THE LATEST SCHOOL SHOOTING IN SPRINGFIELD, OREGON, WHICH LEFT TWO STUDENTS DEAD AND MANY OTHERS WOUNDED, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS THE THREATS MADE BY STUDENTS MUST BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY IN THE NATION'S SCHOOLS.

VOICE: IT IS DISTURBING THAT THE IDEA OF VIOLENCE IS SO ACCEPTABLE TO SOME CHILDREN THAT THEY TALK OPENLY OF MASS MURDER. IT IS ALSO TROUBLING THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS BECOME SO SATURATED BY VIOLENCE AND IMAGES OF VIOLENCE THAT MANY CHILDREN ARE INURED TO IT AND ARE NOT ALARMED WHEN CLASSMATES SPEAK OF BRINGING GUNS TO SCHOOL TO KILL PEOPLE.

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE BRING TO A CLOSE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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28-May-98 11:54 AM EDT (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO-LUXEMBOURG (L-CQ) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LUXEMBOURG)

ORDERS FOR DURABLE GOODS IN THE UNITED STATES SOARED IN APRIL AT THE FASTEST RATE IN FIVE MONTHS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS A STRONG DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT HELP PUSH ORDERS UP. ANALYSTS SAY THE DURABLE GOODS ORDERS FIGURE INDICATES THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA HAS STILL NOT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON U-S EXPORTS.

TWO HUGE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE COMPANIES ARE COMBINING IN A DEAL WORTH FIVE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS. THE UNITED HEALTH CARE CORPORATION WILL ACQUIRE THE HUMANA COMPANY IN AN ALL STOCK TRANSACTION.

THE M-C-I TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WILL SELL ITS COMPUTER INTERNET BUSINESS TO THE CABLE AND WIRELESS COMPANY OF BRITAIN FOR 625 MILLION DOLLARS. ANALYSTS SAY THE MOVE IS AN EFFORT TO WIN REGULATORY APPROVAL OF M-C-I'S PLANNED 37 BILLION DOLLAR SALE TO THE WORLDCOM CORPORATION. (SIGNED)
28-May-98 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MONTENEGRO ELECTION BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

INTRO: VOTERS IN THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO GO TO THE POLLS IN DECISIVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SUNDAY. BUT THE OUTCOME COULD LEAD TO A NEW POLITICAL CRISIS FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MONTENEGRIN ELECTIONS IN THIS NEWS ANALYSIS FROM OUR CENTRAL EUROPEAN BUREAU IN PRAGUE:

TEXT: AS IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS DEALING WITH ARMED SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, HE NOW FACES A POLITICAL CHALLENGE FROM MONTENEGRO, SERBIA'S TRADITIONAL ALLY.

MONTENEGRO'S REFORMIST PRESIDENT, MILO DJUKANOVIC, SAYS IF HIS PARTY'S CANDIDATES WIN OVER MR. MILOSEVIC'S CANDIDATES ON MAY 31ST -- WHICH MR. DJUKANOVIC SAYS THEY WILL -- HE WARNS THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT.

EVER SINCE MR. DJUKANOVIC NARROWLY DEFEATED MILOSEVIC SUPPORTER MOMIR BULATOVIC IN LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN MONTENEGRO, THE CRISIS BETWEEN THE TWO REMAINING YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS HAS DEEPENED.

MR. DJUKANOVIC HAS BEEN OPEN IN HIS SUPPORT FOR MORE LIBERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES AND HAS CRITICIZED MR. MILOSEVIC FOR REFUSING TO ACCEPT OUTSIDE MEDIATION OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

IN A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE LAST WEEK, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC APPOINTED HIS PROTEGE -- THE DEFEATED MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT, MR. BULATOVIC -- TO BE THE NEW YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER. THIS ACTION FOLLOWED THE ABRUPT DISMISSAL OF DJUKANOVIC ALLY, RADOJE KONTIC.

ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE BELIEVE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS SETTING THE STAGE TO GAIN CONTROL OVER THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. ALTHOUGH MONTENEGRO IS THE SMALLER OF THE TWO YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS (EDS: SERBIA & MONTENEGRO), IT HAS AN EQUAL NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT. UNDER THE YUGOSLAV THE CONSTITUTION, THE FEDERATION PRESIDENT IS ELECTED BY PARLIAMENT AND CAN BE REMOVED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES.

SOME ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE ALSO EXPRESS ALARM OVER RECENT ACTIONS BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO SHARPLY INCREASE RADIO AND TELEVISION LICENSING FEES AND TO DENY OPERATING FREQUENCIES TO SMALL INDEPENDENT STATIONS. THIS HAS GIVEN THE STATE-OWNED MEDIA A CLEAR FIELD, THE ANALYSTS SAY, DURING THIS ELECTION WEEK. AND THAT, COUPLED WITH THE FACT MONTENEGRINS ARE DEEPLY DIVIDED AS TO WHICH PARTY THEY SUPPORT, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF SUNDAY'S ELECTION. (SIGNED)
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28-May-98 12:06 PM EDT (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] 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: THE EUROPEAN MARKETS SEEMED TO STABILIZE A BIT THURSDAY, AFTER HUGE DROPS THE DAY BEFORE. THE LOSSES WERE SMALL IN BOTH LONDON AND PARIS, AND THE FRANKFURT MARKET SHOWED A GAIN IN LATE TRADING.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX FELL ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT IN FLOOR TRADING, BUT THEN IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE INDEX ROSE 40 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN JUST TWO POINTS, LESS THAN ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF EIGHT POINTS, JUST OVER ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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28-May-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] DENMARK REFERENDUM (S/L VER) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: VOTERS IN DENMARK ARE GOING TO THE POLLS IN A REFERENDUM THAT COULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S ENLARGEMENT PLANS. VOA CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: OPINION POLLS INDICATE A MAJORITY OF DANES WILL APPROVE THE E-U'S "AMSTERDAM TREATY."

OPINION POLLS PUBLISHED BEFORE THE VOTING GOT UNDERWAY INDICATE SUPPORTERS WILL WIN BY A COMFORTABLE MARGIN. ONE POLL PUT SUPPORT FOR THE TREATY AT NEARLY 50-PERCENT, AND OPPOSITION AT ABOUT 40-PERCENT. A "YES" VOTE FOR THE TREATY WILL CLEAR THE WAY FOR AS MANY AS 11 NEW E-U MEMBER STATES FROM EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE. BUT ALL 15 CURRENT MEMBER STATES MUST FIRST APPROVE THE AGREEMENT, SO ANALYSTS ARE CLOSELY WATCHING THE DANISH VOTE BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S SOMETIMES MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE E-U.

SUPPORTERS OF THE AMSTERDAM TREATY HAVE CAMPAIGNED ACTIVELY FOR A "YES" VOTE, ARGUING THAT THE EXPANSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE PEACE. POLAND, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA AND ESTONIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE FIRST NEW E-U MEMBERS, ONCE THE TREATY IS APPROVED BY ALL CURRENT MEMBER STATES. (SIGNED)
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28-May-98 10:14 AM EDT (1414 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] CLINTON / KOSOVO O'NITE (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS WITH KOSOVO SEPARATIST LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA AT THE WHITE HOUSE LATER TODAY (FRIDAY). V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: CONCERNED THAT CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN THE BREAKAWAY SERB PROVINCE COULD SPILL OVER KOSOVO'S BORDERS AND IGNITE A WIDER CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS, MR. CLINTON IS TAKING THE EXTRAORDINARY STEP OF MEETING WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER TO LEND SUPPORT TO HIS PEACE EFFORTS.

MR. RUGOVA OPENED TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC EARLIER THIS MONTH.

MR. RUGOVA IS EXPECTED TO CALL ON MR. CLINTON TO RENEW A THREAT OF SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA IF THE GOVERNMENT THERE FAILS TO END A POLICE CRACKDOWN ON ETHNIC-ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS THAT BEGAN IN KOSOVO IN FEBRUARY.

MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE VIOLENCE.

THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES -- IN AN EFFORT TO REWARD MR. MILOSEVIC FOR AGREEING TO THE FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH MR. RUGOVA SUSPENDED PLANS TO IMPOSE A BAN ON INVESTMENT IN SERBIA. THE BAN REMAINS SUSPENDED, EVEN THOUGH MR. MILOSEVIC HAS INTENSIFIED THE CRACKDOWN IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
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28-May-98 7:31 PM EDT (2331 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] ALBANIAN-AMERICANS / KOSOVO BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARE WATCHING CLOSELY THE TALKS JUST BEGUN BETWEEN SERBIA AND SERBIA'S RESTLESS KOSOVO PROVINCE. DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE ALBANIAN-DOMINATED PROVINCE ARE SUSPENDED THIS WEEK WHILE COMMUNITY LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA VISITS THE UNITED STATES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON HAS SPOKEN WITH A PROMINENT ALBANIAN-AMERICAN IN NEW YORK CITY AND REPORTS THE TALK IN THE COMMUNITY LATELY HAS BEEN MORE ABOUT SENDING GUNS THAN ABOUT DIALOGUE.

TEXT: THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- A GROUP OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS WHO SEEK KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE -- IS FIGHTING AS BELGRADE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT SEPARATION. A CLASH OF CULTURES BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS IS NOTHING NEW FOR KOSOVO. BUT THE SERBS HAVE CRACKED DOWN AGAIN RECENTLY. VIOLENCE IS ALMOST DAILY FARE. AND ALBANIANS LIVING OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY ARE GROWING IMPATIENT.

ISUF HAJRIZI (EE SOOF' HIY'REE ZEE) -- MANAGING EDITOR OF AN ALBANIAN-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN NEW YORK CALLED "ILLYRIA" -- SAYS MANY EX-PATRIATES FROM KOSOVO ARE SIMPLY GETTING TIRED OF THE WAIT AND WHAT THEY SEE AS SERBIA'S DECEPTION. HE SAYS ALBANIAN COMMUNITY LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON TO SOFTEN HIS DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE AS A WAY OF GETTING THE TALKS WITH SERBIA STARTED:

THIS TIME AROUND THEY HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING CONCRETE HAPPENING. THERE IS A SENSE OUT THERE THAT THESE TALKS ARE A KIND OF JOKE. WE ALL KNOW HOW (SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC CAN DANCE AROUND THESE TALKS AND AGREEMENTS. SO ALBANIANS ARE NOT VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS -- ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SEE THAT 10, FIVE, 15, 30 PEOPLE GET KILLED EVERY DAY.

KOSOVO-ALBANIANS WANT A MEDIATOR IN THE TALKS, PREFERABLY AN AMERICAN. THEY WOULD LIKE A U-S BROKERED AGREEMENT, LIKE THE DAYTON ACCORD THAT ENDED THE WAR IN BOSNIA. THEY ARE CALLING FOR TOTAL INDEPENDENCE. BUT IF NOT THAT, THEN PERHAPS REPUBLIC STATUS WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA. ANALYSTS SAY NONE OF THIS SEEMS LIKELY AT THIS POINT.

NEWSPAPER EDITOR HAJRIZI SAYS ALBANIAN-AMERICANS -- MOST OF WHOM HAVE RELATIVES IN THE BALKANS -- ARE LOSING FAITH IN MR. RUGOVA'S PEACEFUL APPROACH TOWARD THE SERBS AND ARE STARTING TO FOCUS MORE ON GUERRILLA ACTIVITY. A FEW IN THE ALBANIAN COMMUNITY ARE SIGNING UP TO FIGHT IN KOSOVO. MANY ARE PAYING TO SEND GUNS. OTHERS ARE ARRANGING TO SHIP THE WEAPONS:

ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS VERY CLOSE FAMILY THERE. I MEAN MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS IN ONE OF THE VILLAGES WHICH IS BEING ATTACKED RIGHT NOW. SO THOUGH THE COMMUNITY IS NOT THAT BIG, THE DONATIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASING. BEFORE THEY USED TO DONATE ABOUT THREE PERCENT TO THE KOSOVO FUND AND THIS WAS TO PAY THE TEACHERS, THE SERVICE-PEOPLE...IT IS NOW BEING SAID THIS MONEY IS FOR WEAPONS AND PEOPLE ARE DONATING MONEY FOR THAT BECAUSE NOW THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. THEY KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING AND THEY FEEL THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEIR MONEY CAN BUY RIGHT NOW.

SMUGGLING WEAPONS INTO KOSOVO WOULD VIOLATE AN INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. BUT, ACCORDING TO MR. HAJRIZI, ALBANIAN-AMERICANS ARE NOT TOO CONCERNED AT THE MOMENT ABOUT EVADING "THE LAW":

THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THE U-S IS DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE CONFLICT AND NOW THERE'S TALKS ABOUT BUILDING FIRE-WALLS AROUND KOSOVO. THEY SAY IF THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US BEING KILLED, THEN WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LAWS. ROGOVA'S PARTY HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT HERE UNTIL LATELY. NOW THAT SUPPPORT IS ERODING AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS GAINING SUPPORT PRETTY FAST HERE.

ANALYSTS SAY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY MAY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO REACH THE LEVEL OF IMPACT THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- FOR EXAMPLE -- HAS HAD ON THE POLITICS OF NORTHERN IRELAND. BUT THE LONGER A SETTLEMENT OVER KOSOVO IS DEFERRED, MANY OBSERVERS BELIEVE, THE MORE LIKELY THE K-L-A WILL GAIN ENOUGH STATURE, OR NOTORIETY, TO ADD A NEW COMPLICATION TO THE SEARCH FOR A DURABLE PEACE IN THE BALKANS. (SIGNED)
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28-May-98 4:44 PM EDT (2044 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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