Voice of America, 98-06-29

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CALLS FOR NATO FORCE TO HALT THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] EDITORIAL: TIME TO END WAR IN KOSOVO

[03] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

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

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

[01] CALLS FOR NATO FORCE TO HALT THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE ON JUNE 25 CONFIRMED THAT NATO IS PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE AIR STRIKES TO HALT THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. THE PREVIOUS DAY FORMER SENATOR BOB DOLE AND AMBASSADOR MORTON ABRAMOWITZ SPOKE BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, URGING THAT THE UNITED STATES USE FORCE TO COMPEL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO WITHDRAW HIS POLICE FORCES FROM

TEXT: SENATOR BOB DOLE, NOW CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON MISSING PERSONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, SAYS THAT -- IF THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO CONTINUES -- THE PRICE WILL NOT ONLY BE PAID BY THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, BUT BY NATO, EUROPE, AND THE UNITED STATES.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- DOLE (0:17) "THE TIME FOR PREVENTION IN MY VIEW HAS ALREADY PASSED. THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE THE STATUS OF KOSOVA [SIC] AT DAYTON WAS MISSED. SO, THERE IS NO OTHER REALISTIC OPTION LEFT THAN TO THREATEN [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC WITH FORCE AND BE PREPARED TO CARRY OUT THAT THREAT. THIS IS THE ONLY MESSAGE THAT I BELIEVE IS WORTH DELIVERING TO BELGRADE."

TEXT: SENATOR DOLE URGED THAT THE UNITED STATES DELIVER AN ULTIMATUM TO MR. MILOSEVIC THAT, IF HE DOES NOT HALT THE ATTACKS ON KOSOVO, NATO WILL CONDUCT AIR STRIKES AGAINST MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN SERBIA.

AMBASSADOR MORTON ABRAMOWITZ, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH, SAYS THAT THE STAKES IN KOSOVO ARE GREAT. AND, HE WARNS, THEY INVOLVE NOT ONLY THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO, BUT SERBIA, MACEDONIA, BOSNIA, ALBANIA, AND PERHAPS EVEN A WIDER AREA INCLUDING GREECE, BULGARIA, AND TURKEY. AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS PROGRESS TOWARDS ENDING THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO REQUIRES AT LEAST TWO THINGS. THE FIRST IS AN IMMEDIATE SERB "STAND-DOWN" IN THEIR MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:08) "BUT THIS HAS TO BE COUPLED WITH, TWO -- A CONCRETE OFFER AND AN URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF SERIOUS POLITICAL CHANGE IN KOSOVO."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ, THE WEST HAS FOUR MAJOR OPTIONS.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- ABRAMOWITZ (1:08) "ONE. THE WEST CAN LABEL THE K-L-A AS TERRORISTS AND HELP CLOSE THE ALBANIAN BORDER TO THEM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INSISTING THAT [MR.] MILOSEVIC ACCOMPANY THESE MOVES WITH A CESSATION OF FIGHTING, IMMEDIATE POLITICAL CHANGE IN KOSOVO, AND SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ALBANIANS. MANY BELIEVE U-S POLICY IS HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION.

SECOND. WE CAN TAKE A CHANCE ON THE FIGHTING NOT ESCALATING TOO MUCH, BEING A LOW-INTENSITY WAR FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AND WAIT FOR MR. MILOSEVIC TO FALL, CHANGING THE WHOLE EQUATION.

THIRD, AND ALTERNATIVELY. WE CAN THREATEN [MR.] MILOSEVIC THAT WE WILL DESTROY MUCH OF HIS MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT, IF HE REFUSES TO HALT THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN AND IMMEDIATELY OFFER REAL POLITICAL CHANGE IN KOSOVO.

FOURTH. IF WE ARE UNWILLING TO USE FORCE, WE CAN MAKE IT CLEAR TO [MR.] MILOSEVIC THAT, IF HE IS NOT PREPARED TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND MAKE QUICK AND SERIOUS CHANGE IN KOSOVO, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING HIM DOWN, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE K-L-A. OBVIOUSLY, IF HE AGREES, WE HAVE TO PRESSURE THE ALBANIANS TO STOP THE VIOLENCE."

TEXT: AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE WEST IS UNLIKELY TO GET SERBIAN AGREEMENT TO REMOVE THEIR FORCES FROM KOSOVO BECAUSE THAT WOULD LEAD, IN HIS WORDS, TO KOSOVAR ALBANIAN CONTROL OF THE PROVINCE. THEREFORE, HE SAYS, THE UNITED STATES "MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, GET TO KNOW THEM, AND TRY TO INFLUENCE THEM." AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ RECOMMENDS THAT THE K-L-A BE BROUGHT INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE PEACE CAN NO LONGER BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT THEM. AND, HE ADDS, THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT MADE UP OF ALL POLITICAL GROUPINGS. AND, FINALLY, AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS, WESTERN FORCES MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SETTLEMENT.

THE RECENT U-S SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON KOSOVO IS PART OF A BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO PUT AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO.
29-Jun-98 1:45 PM EDT (1745 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: TIME TO END WAR IN KOSOVO

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:

THE FIGHTING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO IS ESCALATING. MORE THAN THREE-HUNDRED PEOPLE -- THE MAJORITY OF THEM ETHNIC ALBANIAN CIVILIANS -- HAVE BEEN KILLED. AND AS MANY AS SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND HAVE BEEN UPROOTED FROM THEIR HOMES. THE VIOLENCE BEGAN IN FEBRUARY WHEN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ORDERED A CRACKDOWN BY THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES. A LOOSELY ORGANIZED BAND OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLA FORCES HAS COUNTERED THESE ATTACKS.

THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY INTER-ETHNIC AND IS REMINISCENT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN BOSNIA. NEIGHBOR HAS BEGUN TO FIGHT NEIGHBOR, PITTING ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- NINETY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION -- AGAINST THE MINORITY SERBS. WITH EACH DAY, THE FIGHTING EDGES CLOSER TO THE CAPITAL OF PRISTINA, A CITY COMPOSED OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS, SERBS, MONTENEGRINS, TURKS AND OTHERS. NONETHELESS, AS U.S. AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAID, "IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO AVOID A LARGER, GENERAL WAR."

IN AN EFFORT TO AVERT FULL-SCALE WAR IN KOSOVO, MR. HOLBROOKE RECENTLY MET WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN LEADERS. HE EMPHASIZED THAT THE U.S. AND NATO DO NOT SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT STATE IN KOSOVO. INSTEAD, THE U.S. IS URGING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL GRANT THE PROVINCE SIGNIFICANT AUTONOMY. THE U.S. IS ALSO PRESSING MR. MILOSEVIC TO WITHDRAW MOST OF THE FIFTY-THOUSAND SOLDIERS AND SPECIAL POLICE, LIFT ROADBLOCKS AND ESTABLISH A CEASE-FIRE IN THE REGION. NATO IS CONSIDERING A VARIETY OF MILITARY MEASURES INCLUDING AIR STRIKES IF THE YUGLOSLAV PRESIDENT DOES NOT HALT THE INDISCRIMINATE AND DISPROPORTIONATE ATTACKS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

THE ONLY WAY TO END THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO IS FOR BOTH SIDES TO SIT DOWN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO THREATENS NOT ONLY THOSE LIVING IN THE PROVINCE, BUT THOSE RESIDING IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. AS MR. HOLBROOKE SAID, "THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO POSES THE MOST SEVERE DANGERS TO. . .STABILITY IN EUROPE." NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT AN END TO THE BLOODSHED.

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.
29-Jun-98 4:15 PM EDT (2015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TODAY (MONDAY), SERB FORCES LAUNCHED AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS AT A STRATEGIC COAL MINING TOWN JUST OUTSIDE THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE OPERATION WAS APPARENTLY INTENDED TO DISLODGE FIGHTERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHO MOVED INTO THE AREA ABOUT A WEEK AGO. THE ATTACK APPEARED TO BE AIMED AT SECURING THE BELACEVAC COAL MINE THAT SUPPLIES FUEL FOR NEARBY ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE AREA SAY THEY HEARD EXPLOSIONS AND GUNFIRE FROM THE TOWN, WHICH WAS SURROUNDED BY HEAVY MILITARY VEHICLES.

THIS IS THE CLOSEST THE REBELS HAVE COME TO KOSOVO'S PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA -- IT'S ONLY ABOUT 10-KILOMETERS AWAY. SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN ESCALATING IN MARCH, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE, MOVING FROM HIT-AND-RUN ATTACKS ON SERB POLICE TO MORE SERIOUS MILITARY-TYPE ACTIONS. AND THEY'VE MOVED CLOSER TO SERB POPULATION CENTERS, INCLUDING PRISTINA.

MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN FOUR MONTHS OF FIGHTING, MOSTLY ETHNIC ALBANIANS. DURING THAT TIME AN INCREASINGLY HARSH SERB RESPONSE HAS GIVEN THE REBELS GREATER AND GREATER SUPPORT. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES, BUT MANY OF THE MEN IN THOSE FAMILIES HAVE TAKEN UP ARMS AND JOINED THE GUERRILLA FORCE.

INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS COME AT THE EXPENSE OF IBRAHIM RUGOVA AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A NON-VIOLENT SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE. MOST OF KOSOVO'S 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY WANTS INDEPENDENCE; BELGRADE -- WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- SAYS KOSOVO SHOULD REMAIN IN SERBIA.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE SERBS AND KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. AMERICAN ENVOY CHRISTOPHER HILL HELD TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC BEFORE FLYING TO KOSOVO. UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAID IN VIENNA THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD TRY TO CONTAIN THE CONFLICT, WHICH HE SAID COULD BECOME ANOTHER BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/KL/WFR
29-Jun-98 10:53 AM EDT (1453 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCKS ON ALL OF EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS CLOSED HIGHER MONDAY, WITH PARIS AND FRANKFURT REPORTING PARTICULARLY STRONG GAINS. HERE IS KEVIN LYNCH WITH THE CLOSING QUOTES.

TEXT: CONFIDENCE THE NEWS FROM ASIA WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANY WORSE AND THAT QUARTERLY PROFITS MIGHT BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED DROVE THE BIG MARKETS HIGHER IN EUROPE.

HERE THE THE CLOSING FIGURES. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX CLOSED 63-POINTS HIGHER, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN ONE-PERCENT. IN PARIS THE CAC-40 WAS UP MORE THAN 32-POINTS, JUST ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS-OF-ONE-PERCENT HIGHER. LONDON'S FINANCIAL TIMES 100 INDEX HAD THE POOREST SHOWING, FINISHING UP ONLY SEVEN POINTS.

THE PRICE OF GOLD IN LONDON CLOSED AT 293-DOLLARS, 90-CENTS AN OUNCE -- UP 90-CENTS.

THE U-S DOLLAR IS MIXED AGAINST OTHER MAJOR CURRENCIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/KL/RAE
29-Jun-98 2:09 PM EDT (1809 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (MONDAY) AS A RESULT OF END-OF-THE-QUARTER BUYING, AND NEW CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN JAPAN. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 97, UP 52 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED UP FIVE POINTS AT A RECORD HIGH 11 HUNDRED 38.

ANALYSTS SAY SOME OF THE BUYING WAS SIMPLY END-OF-THE-QUARTER "WINDOW DRESSING." THAT MEANS INVESTMENT MANAGERS ARE BUYING STRONG STOCKS JUST TO MAKE THEIR PORTFOLIOS LOOK GOOD AT THE END OF THE YEAR'S QUARTER. HOWEVER, ANALYSTS ALSO SAY THERE IS NEW CONFIDENCE THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING SOME EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL REFORMS.

THE JAPANESE ARE WORKING WITH THE U-S TREASURY TO SOME DEGREE TO REMEDY SOME OF THEIR LONGER TERM FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. SO THAT TAKES SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE MARKET SHORT TERM.

NEW HOME SALES IN THE UNITED STATES SOARED AHEAD IN MAY TO THEIR HIGHEST ANNUAL LEVEL SINCE THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN TRACKING THEM IN 1963. ANALYSTS SAY RISING INCOMES AND LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES ARE FUELING THE U-S HOUSING MARKET.

THE ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION WILL LAY OFF 38 HUNDRED WORKERS AND SPIN OFF ITS SEMICONDUCTOR UNIT INTO A SEPARATE COMPANY. ROCKWELL, A MAJOR U-S DEFENSE CONTRACTOR, SAYS THE RESTRUCTURING WILL RESULT IN AN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF ABOUT 100 MILLION DOLLARS. MONSANTO, A LARGE CHEMICAL AND BIO-SCIENCES COMPANY, WILL PAY ONE POINT FOUR BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CROP SEED BUSINESSES OF THE CARGILL CORPORATION.

THE METROCALL COMPANY WILL PAY 205 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PAGING UNIT OWNED BY A-T AND T. THE DEAL IS PART OF A-T AND T'S STRATEGY TO SELL ITS NON-CORE OPERATIONS AS ITS PREPARES FOR THE 48 BILLION DOLLAR TAKEOVER OF THE T-C-I CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY.

AIRBUS INDUSTRIES, THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM, SAYS IT IS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS FOR A ONE BILLION DOLLAR ORDER FOR SHORT-RANGE JETLINERS. IF THE DEAL IS CONCLUDED, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS EVER BOUGHT ANYTHING FROM AIRBUS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
29-Jun-98 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHINA TRIP DRAWS CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MONDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. OTHER TOPICS ONE CAN FIND GLANCING AMONG MAJOR DAILIES INCLUDE: A SUPREME COURT RULING ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT; AN ARGUMENT OVER FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND FINALLY, A NEW U-S AMBASSADOR IS ABOUT TO ASSUME HIS POST IN MEXICO. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FROM THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA, WE GET THESE VIEWS ON THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP FROM NEBRASKA'S "OMAHA WORLD-HERALD," WHICH QUOTES A HARVARD PROFESSOR AS SAYING A MORE DEMOCRATIC CHINA MIGHT NOT, NECESSARILY, BE A BETTER CHINA.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT ..... HAS REAWAKENED MEMORIES OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE AND REVIVED SPECULATION ABOUT WHEN AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS DEMOCRACY COULD COME TO THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS NATION. AN ASSUMPTION EXISTS AMONG MANY AMERICANS THAT A DEMOCRATIC CHINA WOULD BE LESS WARLIKE, MORE FRIENDLY TO THE UNITED STATES. SUCH AN OUTCOME IS A POSSIBILITY BUT NOT A GUARANTEE, ACCORDING TO SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, A HARVARD PROFESSOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN STRATEGIC STUDIES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. ..... DEMOCRACY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY, [PROFESSOR] HUNTINGTON SAID, TO PROTECT FREEDOM AND BRING ABOUT CHANGE. BUT IT ISN'T GUARANTEED TO MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN. .... SO A DEMOCRATIC CHINA IS A PROPER THING TO HOPE FOR, SO LONG AS THE HOPES ARE REALISTIC. CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE LIKELY TO BE COMPETITORS REGARDLESS OF HOW CHINA IS GOVERNED.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS MARVELING AT THE LIVE TELECAST OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND JIANG, IN WHICH THEY DEBATED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES.

VOICE: FOR 70 MINUTES, MESSERS. CLINTON AND JIANG LAID OUT NOT JUST DISPARATE DEFINITIONS OF 'DEMOCRACY' BUT OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THAT GOVERNS SOCIETIES OF VASTLY DISPARATE ORIGINS AND HISTORIES. MR. CLINTON, WITHOUT CALLING IT A MASSACRE, RIGHTLY SAID THAT HE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE JUNE 1989 SLAUGHTER OF UNTOLD DEMONSTRATORS IN NEARBY TIANANMEN SQUARE WAS WRONG. MR. JIANG SAID THAT WITHOUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S RESOLUTE' RESPONSE THEN, THE CLINTON-JIANG EXCHANGE MIGHT NEVER HAVE OCCURRED. ..... THIS JOUSTING BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF MILLIONS - - POTENTIALLY BILLIONS, AS VIDEOTAPES CIRCLE THE WORLD - - WAS POLITE BUT MUTUALLY RESOLUTE. IT MARKED THE MEETING OF TWO OPPOSING BUT POWERFUL SYSTEMS, NEITHER ABLE TO IGNORE THE OTHER.

TEXT: "USA TODAY" ECHOES THE COMMENTS OF THE MIAMI HERALD, IN CALLING THE TELECAST "REMARKABLE" AND ALSO PRAISING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CONDEMNATION OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE KILLINGS. BUT IT QUESTIONS THE LONG-TERM SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIVE TELECAST:

VOICE: ..... ONE EVENT, NO MATTER HOW IMPRESSIVE, HAS LIMITED MEANING. THE LINGERING QUESTION IS WHETHER JIANG, NOW SEEMINGLY CONFIDENT OF HIS POWER, IS READY TO RESTORE THE PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRACY THAT THE THE 1989 TIANANMEN MASSACRE INTERRUPTED. ..... IF [MR.] JIANG WISHES TO CEMENT RELATIONS WITH THE U-S FURTHER, HE STILL HAS PLENTY OF ROOM. HE CAN RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS AND GRANT RIGHTS TO PROTECT THE ACCUSED. HE CAN EXPAND POLITICAL FREEDOM. MOST PARTICULARLY, HE CAN FOLLOW ON SATURDAY'S TV APPEARANCE BY ALLOWING FURTHER OPEN, TELEVISED POLITICAL DEBATE.

TEXT: TAKING A MORE CRITICAL VIEW OF THE TELECAST IS "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" WHICH SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: MR. CLINTON RANGED FROM THE SERIOUS TO THE GOOFY [SLANG: SILLY, RIDICULOUS] HE STATED THE AMERICAN VIEW OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE THAT 'THE USE OF FORCE AND THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE WAS WRONG,' THOUGH HE DID NOT, OF COURSE, MENTION WHO USED FORCE AGAINST WHOM. MR. CLINTON ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS, INFORMATION, AND THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, UNEXCEPTIONAL SENTIMENTS TO BE SURE. FOLLOWING A STATEMENT BY MR. JIANG ON TIBET ...... THE U-S PRESIDENT OFFERED A TRUE CLINTONIAN MOMENT, 'I'VE SPENT TIME WITH THE DALAI LAMA ... I BELIEVE IF HE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT JIANG, THEY WOULD LIKE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH.' HMMMM ... REALLY THINK SO?

TEXT: MOVING ON TO DOMESTIC TOPICS, AND LAST WEEK'S SUPREME COURT DECISION, CLARIFYING SEXUAL HARASSMENT. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" HAILS THE RULING AS PROVIDING "SENSIBLE GUIDANCE" IN A HIGHLY CHARGED AREA.

VOICE: THE RULING DREW PRAISE FROM BUSINESS AND WOMEN'S GROUPS ALIKE. MOST PEOPLE HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT CONSTITUTES LOUTISH BEHAVIOR IN THE OFFICE OR ON THE FACTORY LINE. BUT CONSENSUS HAS BEEN ELUSIVE ON WHEN GROSS JOKES AND COMMENTS OR SEXUAL SOLICITATIONS RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HARASSMENT AND WHEN EMPLOYERS BECOME FINANCIALLY LIABLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. ..... IN A PAIR OF 7-2 DECISIONS, THE COURT MADE IT CLEAR THAT SUPERVISORS CAN INDEED BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ..... THE COURT'S CLARITY IS IN WELCOME CONTRAST TO ITS OFTEN TENTATIVE AND PIECEMEAL DECISIONS IN SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE LAW.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS FURIOUS WITH SOME IN CONGRESS WHO WANT TO CUT FUNDS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, URGING AMERICANS TO CONTINUE TO REACH FOR THE STARS AND THE PROMISES OF SPACE.

VOICE: ABORTING THE SPACE STATION WOULD BE A STELLAR ABSURDITY. YET SOMEONE IN CONGRESS MANAGES TO MAKE THAT TIRED EFFORT EVERY YEAR. WHEN WILL THE NAYSAYERS GIVE IT A REST? [SLANG: END THEIR COMPLAINTS PERMANENTLY] /// OPT