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Voice of America, 98-06-10Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] E-U / MAD COW (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233645 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS VOTED TO EASE THE WORLDWIDE BAN ON BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. TEXT: THE 20-MEMBER EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A PROPOSAL FROM EUROPE'S AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER FOR BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS TO RESUME. THE EXPORTS WILL BE LIMITED TO MEAT FROM ANIMALS BORN AFTER AUGUST 1996 THAT ARE FREE OF THE MAD COW DISEASE, B-S-E. THAT WAS THE DATE WHEN BRITAIN INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THE DISEASE. E-U FARM COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER SAID THE E-U EXPORT PLAN WILL APPLY TO MEAT OFF THE BONE, FROM ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED IN APPROVED SLAUGHTER HOUSES. HE SAID THE E-U WILL STRICTLY MONITOR AND CONTROL THE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT BRITAIN.. /// OPT ///THE PROPOSAL GOES FRIDAY TO A COMMITTEE OF E-U VETERINARIANS. THE VETERINARY EXPERTS HAVE THE POWER TO APPROVE IT. BUT IF THEY FAIL TO AGREE, THE PROPOSAL WILL THEN GO TO THE 15 E-U FARM MINISTERS, POSSIBLY AT THE END OF THE MONTH. ONCE THE PLAN IS APPROVED, THE E-U WILL SEND INSPECTORS TO BRITAIN TO MAKE SURE THE EXPORT PROGRAM CAN BE RUN PROPERLY, AND A DATE WILL THEN BE SET FOR THE EXPORTS TO RESUME. BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND FARMING OFFICIALS PRAISED THE E-U ACTION, CALLING IT VERY GOOD NEWS. THE EUROPEAN UNION IMPOSED THE BAN ON BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO IN RESPONSE TO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SUGGESTING THAT HUMANS COULD DEVELOP A FATAL BRAIN DISEASE FROM EATING INFECTED MEAT. /// REST OPT ///BRITAIN FOUGHT HARD TO GET THE BAN ON ITS BEEF EXPORTS REVERSED.
AT ONE POINT, THE PREVIOUS BRITISH GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO
COOPERATE WITH THE E-U, BLOCKING OR SLOWING MANY E-U ACTIONS.
BRITAIN ENDED THE SO-CALLED PROGRAM OF NON-COOPERATION IN JUNE
1996, AFTER E-U LEADERS AGREED TO A FRAMEWORK FOR ENDING THE BAN.
(SIGNED)
[02] EURO STOCKS OVERNITER (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233664 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// FOR THURSDAY USE, PRIOR TO 0730 U-T-C ///INTRO: IN WESTERN EUROPE TODAY, STOCK TRADERS START THE DAY WITH PRICES UP IN TWO OF THE THREE MAJOR MARKETS. MORE FROM V-O-A'S KEVIN LYNCH IN LONDON. TEXT: HERE IN LONDON THE FINANCIAL TIMES 100 INDEX ENDED TRADE WEDNESDAY DOWN 32 POINTS, A DROP OF HALF A PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC 40 INDEX ENDED ON THE PLUS SIDE, BUT JUST BARELY, GAINING SEVEN POINTS OR LITTLE MORE THAN A TENTH OF A PERCENT. GERMANY'S DAX WAS THE BIG WINNER, CLOSING UP 25 POINTS, A RISE OF ALMOST HALF OF ONE PERCENT. EUROPEAN MARKETS ENDED TRADE WEDNESDAY WITH GOOD NEWS FROM U-S
CENTRAL BANK CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN, WHO SAID HE SAW NO REASON
TO TIGHTEN U-S MONETARY POLICY. THAT COMMENT SHOULD GIVE
EUROPEAN TRADERS CONFIDENCE WHEN MARKETS OPEN THURSDAY. (SIGNED)
[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233680 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A LATE SESSION SELL-OFF. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 71, DOWN 78 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 12, DOWN SIX POINTS. ALAN GREENSPAN, THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, TOLD CONGRESS THE OVERALL U-S ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS IN THE BEST CONDITION HE HAS EVER SEEN. ///GREENSPAN ACT//////OPT//////END ACT///MR. GREENSPAN SAYS IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE CENTRAL BANK TO RAISE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES IF THE U-S ECONOMY SHOULD START TO EXPAND TOO QUICKLY, BUT HE INDICATED THAT IS NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW. THE BOND MARKET RALLIED STRONGLY ON MR. GREENSPAN'S REMARKS WITH THE YIELD ON THE 30-YEAR U-S GOVERNMENT BOND REACHING ITS LOWEST POINT THIS YEAR. STOCKS ALSO RALLIED INITIALLY, BUT SELLING PRESSURES INCREASED LATE IN THE SESSION ESPECIALLY IN SEVERAL COMPANIES WHICH MAKE UP THE 30 STOCK INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. /// REST OPT FOR LONG VERSION ///A JURY IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF FLORIDA HAS FOUND THE BROWN AND WILLIAMSON TOBACCO COMPANY IS LIABLE FOR THE LUNG CANCER DEATH OF A LONG-TIME SMOKER. THE JURY AWARDED THE DEAD MAN'S FAMILY MORE THAN ONE-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN ACTUAL DAMAGES. BROWN AND WILLIAMSON IS A SUBSIDIARY OF B-A-T INDUSTRIES OF BRITAIN. THE STOCK OF THE WESTERN DIGITAL COMPANY DROPPED TO A 52-WEEK LOW AFTER THE MAKER OF COMPUTER HARD DRIVES SAID IT EXPECTS TO REPORT A 100 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY LOSS. THE COMPANY SAYS A GLUT OF DRIVES ON THE MARKET HAS CAUSED PROFITS TO EVAPORATE. A BIG CONSOLIDATION IN THE U-S LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. THE HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT COMPANY WILL ACQUIRE THE MANOR CARE CORPORATION IN A DEAL WORTH FIVE BILLION DOLLARS. THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE HAS REACHED A MERGER AGREEMENT WITH
THE PHILADELPHIA STOCK EXCHANGE. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL WILL
SOLIDIFY THE AMERICAN EXCHANGE'S POSITION AS THE SECOND LARGEST
U-S MARKET FOR STOCK OPTIONS. THE AMERICAN EXCHANGE IS ALSO IN
THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A MERGER AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS WHICH RUNS THE NASDAQ (NAS-DAK)
COMPUTERIZED STOCK MARKET.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
[04] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10756 TELEPHONE=619-3940 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= // DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T TODAY //INTRO: THE DEATH OF NIGERIA'S LEADER SANI ABACHA; THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS; AND THE U-S CONGRESS AND ITS HEATED DEBATE OVER TOBACCO LEGISLATION ARE SOME OF THE TOPICS ON U-S EDITORIAL PAGES. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK , IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WRITES THAT THE -- THE DEATH ... OF SANI ABACHA, THE CORRUPT AND ABUSIVE NIGERIAN MILITARY DICTATOR, IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AFRICAN GIANT TO LIFT ITSELF FROM POVERTY, FEAR AND DECAY. THE "TIMES" ADDS: VOICE: OUTSIDERS CAN HELP WITH A CLEAR CALL FOR DEMOCRATIC, CIVILIAN RULE. A HIGH-LEVEL AMERICAN DELEGATION BEARING SUCH AN UNAMBIGUOUS MESSAGE WOULD BE USEFUL. [OIL] COMPANIES LIKE MOBIL, CHEVRON AND SHELL, WHICH PROFIT FROM NIGERIAN OIL, HAVE DONE LITTLE IN THE PAST TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC RULE. MR. ABACHA'S DEATH OFFERS THEM A CHANCE TO USE THEIR CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE TO DISCOURAGE CONTINUED DICTATORSHIP. THE ONE FAVOR THAT MR. ABACHA MAY HAVE DONE THIS COUNTRY IS TO CLARIFY THAT MILITARY RULE IS MISRULE. TEXT: REPRESENTATIVES OF MORE THAN 150 COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN MEETING IN NEW YORK AT THE U-N INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONFERENCE. /// OPT ///VOICE: THIS WEEK'S SESSION ... AT LEAST BEGINS TO POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PROPOSALS WE ARE HEARING ARE FOR A MORE CROSS-BORDER APPROACH TO A CROSS-BORDER PROBLEM. UP TO NOW, MOST COUNTRIES HAVE FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS INTERNALLY, WITH A MORE GLOBAL APPROACH MOSTLY BREEDING RECRIMINATIONS. THIS TIME THE HEADS OF STATE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND PERHAPS SOMETHING USEFUL WILL SLOWLY COME FROM THIS SESSION. /// OPT ///TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," HOWEVER, CONCLUDES -- THE WAR ON DRUGS IS NOT GOING WELL. VOICE: THREE-DAYS OF SPEECH-MAKING AND BEHIND THE SCENE DISCUSSION OF THE DRUG WAR [DOES] NOT CONCENTRATE NEARLY ENOUGH ON PREVENTING ADDICTION IN DRUG CONSUMING SOCIETIES. THAT INVOLVES NOTHING LESS THAN CHANGING THINKING IN MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS. ... /// OPT /// THERE IS ONE MORE HUGE, LITTLE-NOTED COST OF DRUGS. THAT IS THE PERNICIOUS IMPACT THEY HAVE ON WORLD THINKING ABOUT ADDICTION. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUBTLY PERSUADED THAT ADDICTIONS OF VARIOUS KINDS ARE BEYOND INDIVIDUALS' CONTROL. /// END OPT /// /// END OPT ///TEXT: FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS, THE U-S SENATE HAS DEBATED TOBACCO LEGISLATION. THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HEATED AND THE FATE OF THE LEGISLATION IS UNCERTAIN. /// OPT /// THE LEGISLATION WOULD RAISE CIGARETTE TAXES BY ONE-DOLLAR, 10-CENTS A PACK OVER FIVE YEARS. IT WOULD ALSO SEVERELY RESTRICT TOBACCO ADVERTISING AND GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY TO REGULATE NICOTINE. /// END OPT VOICE: SENATORS THEMSELVES HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE ALLURE OF POWER AND MONEY. MANY BEGAN TO LARD [I.E. FILL] THE BILL WITH AMENDMENTS TOUTING THEIR FAVORITE CAUSES, /// OPT /// INCLUDING TAX CUTS, ANTI-DRUG PROGRAMS, SCHOOL VOUCHERS, AND A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE SO-CALLED MARRIAGE PENALTY. /// END OPT /// ... THE BILL NOW SEEMS DESTINED TO BE CHOKED TO DEATH BY A PLETHORA OF GOOD-CAUSE AMENDMENTS. ... EVERY DAY THAT PASSES WITHOUT THE THE LAW'S STRICTURES ON TOBACCO, ANOTHER 3,000 CHILDREN BECOME SMOKERS AND HUNDREDS OF ADULTS DIE FROM SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS U-S FORCES USED DEADLY NERVE GAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. /// OPT /// THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK AND "TIME" MAGAZINE REPORTED SUNDAY U-S FORCES USED NERVE GAS IN A SECRET 1970 RAID TO KILL AMERICAN DEFECTORS IN LAOS. THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS A SEARCH OF RECORDS HAS UNCOVERED NO INDICATION A NERVE AGENT WAS USED IN VIETNAM. /// END OPT /// THE "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE DISTURBING AND ADDS: VOICE: DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN IS TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH TO [THE] ALLEGATIONS.... AS THE UNITED STATES TRIES TO CONVINCE NATIONS TO HALT THE SPREAD OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, ITS CREDIBILITY WILL SUFFER IF IT IS PROVEN THAT IT FAILED TO LIVE UP TO AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BANNING THE USE OF NERVE GAS. ... THE BEST WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO SHOW IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT HALTING THE SPREAD OF THESE WEAPONS IS TO TREAT THE ALLEGATIONS OF NERVE GAS USE IN VIETNAM WITH GREAT SERIOUSNESS. TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF TODAY'S
EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
[05] KOSOVO'S SERBS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-40654 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND ALBANIANS MARCHED PEACEFULLY WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA, IN THE 60TH DAY OF DEMONSTRATIONS PRESSING FOR THE AREA'S INDEPENDENCE. BUT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT APPEARS DETERMINED TO KEEP KOSOVO, EVEN THOUGH SERBS ARE OUTNUMBERED NINE TO ONE IN THE PROVINCE. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR TAKES A LOOK AT THE SERB VIEW OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT IN THIS REPORT FROM PRISTINA: TEXT: THE RALLY ON WEDNESDAY, LIKE ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES, WAS LARGELY PEACEFUL, DESPITE ONE MINOR INCIDENT BETWEEN SERB AND ALBANIAN STUDENTS WHICH WAS BROKEN UP BY SERB POLICE. BUT TO THE USUAL SHOUTS OF 'UCHEKA, UCHEKA' -- THE ALBANIAN LETTERS FOR K-L-A -- THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE DEMONSTRATORS ADDED A NEW CALL: // ACT ONE OF DEMO (FADE UNDER) //THEY SHOUTED 'DECANI, DECANI,' THE NAME OF THE TOWN IN WESTERN KOSOVO WHICH HAS NEARLY BEEN DECIMATED BY SERB ATTACKS IN RECENT DAYS. BUT MOST SERBS LIVING IN PRISTINA DON'T BELIEVE THE REPORTS OF CARNAGE WHICH JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS ARE BRINGING BACK FROM DECANI. SERB LEADERS IN KOSOVO SAY THE POLICE ACTION IN DECANI WAS NECESSARY TO BREAK THE BACK OF WHAT THEY CALL THE TERRORIST K-L-A. VELIKO ODALOVIC, THE SENIOR SERBIAN OFFICIAL IN PRISTINA, SAYS THE ALBANIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION IN DECANI: // ACT TWO //A LOT OF ALBANIANS BURNED THEIR HOMES JUST TO SHOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT SOMETHING WAS BEING DONE TO THEM. // END ACT //MR. ODALOVIC ALSO DENIED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE FLED INTO ALBANIA. HE SAYS MANY OF THOSE WHO DID LEAVE LEFT ONLY TEMPORARILY AND ARE NOW RETURNING -- SOME TO TAKE UP ARMS WITH THE K-L-A. WHEN TOLD SEVERAL FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS HAVE SEEN DECANI AND SOME OF THE BURNING VILLAGES AROUND IT, MR. ODALOVIC SAID HE VISITED THE AREA HIMSELF LAST SUNDAY: // ACT THREE //I ALSO VISITED THESE VILLAGES AND SAW FOR MYSELF AND THAT'S TRUE, I CAN AGREE SOME VILLAGES WERE BURNED AND DESTROYED. BUT THERE ARE JUST A FEW (DESTROYED) VILLAGES AND NOT THE WHOLE TERRITORY AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THE FIRING WAS COMING FROM THESE PARTICULAR VILLAGES AND THAT WAS THE REASON THE POLICE HAD TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM. MR. ODALOVIC SAID AS FAR AS SERBIA IS CONCERNED, THE FIGHTING WILL STOP AS SOON AS THE K-L-A STOPS ATTACKING SERB POLICE. FEHMI, ONE OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN DEMONSTRATORS AT WEDNESDAY'S RALLY IN PRISTINA. AGREED THAT THE K-L-A IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. FOR THAT REASON HE SAID, HE AND HIS FRIENDS FAVOR THE NON-VIOLENT POLICIES OF IBRAHIM RUGOVA, THE LEADER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS OVER THE VIOLENT TACTICS OF THE K-L-A: // ACT THREE //BECAUSE HE IS AGAINST VIOLENCE. AND MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE DYING. // END ACT //// ACT FOUR //I THINK WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER. IN PRISTINA WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER. I CAN GO TO HIS RESTAURANT AND DRINK A COFFEE ANYTIME. // END ACT //AT THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, A STATE OF NEAR APARTHEID EXISTS IN PRISTINA WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS SITTING IN THEIR OWN CAFES AND SERBS IN THEIRS. IT IS NOT YET AS BAD IN PRISTINA AS IN PEC, THE SECOND LARGEST TOWN IN KOSOVO, WHERE THERE IS NOW TOTAL APARTHEID. AND THE DISTRUST WHICH GOES ALONG WITH IT. DESPITE THE ATMOSPHERE IN PRISTINA, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF
SERBS WHO AGREED TO TALK TO REPORTERS SAID THEY WILL NEVER
LEAVE KOSOVO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. ASKED IF THIS INCLUDED
REMAINING IN AN INDEPENDENT STATE OF KOSOVO, THE SERBS SAID THEY
DON'T BELIEVE THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES
SUPPORTS THE SERBS ON THE QUESTION OF SECESSION. BUT IN THE
UNLIKELY EVENT OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, THESE SERBS SAY THEY WILL
STAY AS LONG AS THE ALBANIANS ALLOW IT.
AFTER ALL, JELENA EXPLAINED, THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE MOSTLY
VERY NICE PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
[06] U-S/KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233683 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS JOINING U-S EUROPEAN ALLIES IN STEPPING UP PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODON MILOSEVIC TO CURB VIOLENCE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AND IS PROPOSING A NATO MILITARY SHOW OF FORCE IN ALBANIA TO UNDERLINE DETERMINATION TO STOP THE KILLING IN KOSOVO. THE SANCTIONS, WHICH HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED MONDAY IN CONNECTION WITH SIMILAR ACTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION, INCLUDE A FREEZE ON SERBIAN ASSETS IN THE UNITED STATES AND A BAN ON U-S INVESTMENTS IN THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC. U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM THE REST OF NATO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS THURSDAY TO REVIEW POSSIBLE MILITARY STEPS IN RESPONSE TO THE DETERIORATING KOSOVO SITUATION. CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID THE ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING FOR THE EXERCISES IN ALBANIA -- TO INCLUDE DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT -- TO UNDERLINE HOW SERIOUSLY THE ALLIES VIEW THE VIOLENCE AGAINST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS: ///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///WE ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING CLEAR TO THE AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE THE DANGER THAT EXISTS OF A WIDER, ESCALATING BALKAN CONFLICT BECAUSE OF TAKING THE WRONG STEPS IN KOSOVO IS OF URGENT CONCERN NOT ONLY TO THE UNITED STATES BUT TO THE ENTIRE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ALLIANCE. AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AND WILL DO, I THINK THAT MESSAGE WILL BE CLEARLY RECEIVED. ///END ACT///WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THE NATO DEFENSE CHIEFS WILL REVIEW ALL OPTIONS, INCLUDING MILITARY ACTIONS IN KOSOVO ITSELF, BUT STRESS THE ALLIANCE PREFERS A POLITICAL SOLUTION. THEY ALSO SAY U-S DIPLOMATS ARE PROPOSING CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
STEPS BETWEEN THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS AND SERB AUTHORITIES IN AN
EFFORT TO RENEW THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE WHICH BEGAN LAST MONTH IN
BELGRADE, BUT BROKE DOWN AMID MUTUAL CHARGES OF BAD-FAITH.
(SIGNED)
[07] ITALY-KOSOVO-COHEN-L BY JIM RANDLE (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233667 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ITALY'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS SERB ATTACKS WITH HEAVY WEAPONS ON CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO MUST BE STOPPED. HIS COMMENTS FOLLOW TALKS WITH U-S DEFENSE MINISTER WILLIAM COHEN IN ROME. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS SEEM PREPARED TO SUPPORT STRONG ACTION AS THEY GATHER FOR TALKS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER BENIAMINO ANDREATTA SAYS NO NATION IN EUROPE WOULD TOLERATE THE SCALE OF VIOLENCE USED BY SERB FORCES TO "RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER" IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. /// ANDREATTA ACT ///WE FIND IT SCANDALOUS THAT WEAPONS OF WAR, ARTILLERY, TANKS, ARE BEING USED AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING JUSTICE. THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS IS AN IMPLICIT RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, AND NOT A CIVIL WAR. /// END ACT ///MINISTER ANDREATTA ARGUES THAT THE EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF VIOLENCE JUSTIFIES SWIFT, FIRM, EFFECTIVE ACTION BY SERBIA'S NEIGHBORS TO STOP THE KILLING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. /// OPT ///MR. ANDREATTA, A COLLEGE PROFESSOR-TURNED POLITICIAN, SAYS NATO GOVERNMENTS SHOULD LEARN A LESSON FROM THE WAR IN BOSNIA. HE SAYS IN THAT CASE THE NATO COUNTRIES WERE "TOO TIMID AND TOO DIVIDED" TO INTERVENE PROMPTLY TO STOP SERB ATTACKS. THE WAR IN BOSNIA LASTED SEVERAL YEARS AND TOOK THOUSANDS LIVES. U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT MILITARY ACTION IN KOSOVO, AND THE MESSAGE IT MIGHT SEND TO KOSOVARS AS THEY SEEK INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA. /// COHEN ACT ///IT IS IMPORTANT, AS MINISTER ANDREATTA SAID, TO END THIS SCANDAL, THE BOMBING AND SHELLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. AND WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THAT, AT EVERY LEVEL, DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC, AND HOPEFULLY NOT MILITARY, BUT NOT RULING IT OUT. BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE KOSOVARS UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT EVER ACTION IS TAKEN, THAT IT NOT BE SEEN AS AN ENDORSEMENT TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. /// END ACT ///// OPT //SECRETARY COHEN AND MINISTER ANDREATTA WILL BE JOINED HERE IN
BRUSSELS BY THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF RUSSIA AND THE NATO NATIONS.
GERMANY'S VOLKER RUEHE SAYS IT IS CRITICAL FOR NATO MINISTERS TO
EXAMINE MILITARY PLANS TO SUPPLEMENT ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC
EFFORTS TO END THE VIOLENCE. ON AN EARLIER VISIT TO WASHINGTON
HE WARNED AGAINST TAKING MERELY SYMBOLIC MEASURES THAT 'WOULD
MAKE MATTERS WORSE' IN THE LONG RUN. (SIGNED)
[08] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (S) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=6/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233631 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STRIKING AIR FRANCE PILOTS HAVE AGREED TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER ACCEPTING A NEW SALARY ACCORD. AS JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS, THE STRIKE HAD THREATENED TO DISRUPT THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT. TEXT: THE AIR FRANCE ANNOUNCEMENT THE PILOTS AGREED TO GO BACK TO WORK CAME AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE AIRLINE AND THE PILOTS' UNION SINCE SATURDAY. IN A SHORT STATEMENT, AIR FRANCE SAID THE PILOTS AGREED TO A PAY CUT IN EXCHANGE FOR STOCK IN THE STATE-OWNED AIRLINE. THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE 10--DAY WALKOUT. IN THE ABSENCE OF FULL DETAILS OF THE NEW AGREEMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE A LOSS FOR THE PILOTS. AIR FRANCE HAD BEEN PLANNING TO OFFER A NEW PAY ACCORD TO ALL AIRLINE STAFF, AN OFFER LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED SINCE THE PILOTS' STRIKE HAS BEEN HIGHLY UNPOPULAR WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES. THE AGREEMENT TO RETURN TO WORK MEANS AIR FRANCE CAN RESUME
NORMAL SERVICES BY FRIDAY TO FERRY SOCCER TEAMS AND FANS AROUND
FRANCE DURING THE FIVE-WEEK WORLD CUP. (SIGNED)
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