Voice of America, 98-07-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND TENSION (L-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[02] KOSOVO / DIPLOMACY (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[03] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN OPPOSITION VISITS U.S.

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

[05] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND TENSION (L-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HOPES AN OFFER OF INDIRECT TALKS BETWEEN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS WILL QUELL VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. THE OFFER FOLLOWS A WEEK OF VIOLENCE IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE AND PRECEDES A POTENTIALLY BLOODY CLASH AS PROTESTANTS PREPARE FOR TRADITIONAL MARCHES THROUGH CATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOODS ON MONDAY. DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH.

TEXT: SUNDAY MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY WHEN PROTESTANT KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE DEFEATED CATHOLIC KING JAMES THE SECOND IN THE "BATTLE OF THE BOYNE" MORE THAN 300 YEARS AGO. THE PROTESTANT "ORANGE ORDER," AS IT IS KNOWN, CELEBRATES THE EVENT EACH YEAR BY MARCHING THROUGH OR NEAR CATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOODS OF NORTHERN IRELAND. THE MARCHES HAVE A BLOODY AND DEADLY HISTORY. AND DESPITE THIS YEAR'S NEW PEACE SETTLEMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND, TENSION IS AGAIN RUNNING HIGH.

VIOLENCE BROKE OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN ORANGE ORDER MEMBERS WERE BLOCKED BY POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES FROM MARCHING THROUGH A CATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE TOWN OF PORTADOWN. CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS IN PORTADOWN REFUSE DIRECT CONTACT TO DISCUSS A COMPROMISE. PRIME MINISTER BLAIR HOPES THEREFORE TO START INDIRECT CONTACTS. NORTHERN IRELAND'S TOP POLITICAL LEADER -- FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE -- WELCOMES THE MOVE.

I VERY MUCH WELCOME THIS INITIATIVE . . . I HOPE THERE WILL BE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM BOTH SIDES. AND I HOPE THAT THIS CAN GO SOME WAY TO BRING ABOUT AN ACCOMMODATION AND I HOPE THAT THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED AT VARIOUS MEETINGS AND CONTACTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FORTNIGHT (TWO WEEKS) CAN BEAR FRUIT.

MONDAY IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND, AND THOUSANDS OF PROTESTANT ORANGEMEN ARE GETTING READY TO PARTICIPATE IN MARCHES MOST OF WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO PASS WITHOUT VIOLENCE.

BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE HAVE CONDEMNED THE RECENT WAVE OF VIOLENCE. MOST HAVE EXPRESSED HOPE THAT A COMPROMISE CAN BE REACHED TO DEFUSE TENSION WHILE PRESERVING THE HISTORIC COMMEMORATION OF THE EVENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/JWH/MMK
10-Jul-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / DIPLOMACY (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: DIPLOMATS ARE CONTINUING A NEW INTERNATIONAL MONITORING MISSION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, AS SPORADIC VIOLENCE CONTINUES BETWEEN SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE MONITORS ARE MOVING AROUND KOSOVO ON DAILY TRIPS AIMED AT GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS AND THE SECURITY SITUATION. MANY OF THE DIPLOMATS ARE EXPERTS ON MILITARY ISSUES. THE MONITORS ALSO HOPE THEIR PRESENCE WILL DETER VIOLENCE.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA SAID THE DIPLOMATIC MISSION IS USEFUL AND IMPORTANT, BUT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT SHOULD MOVE FROM MONITORING THE SITUATION TO PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO.

FIGHTING IN KOSOVO FLARED UP MORE THAN FOUR MONTHS AGO AS SERBIAN FORCES HAVE TRIED TO PUT DOWN AN INCREASINGLY POWERFUL SEPARATIST GUERRILLA MOVEMENT CALLED THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. KOSOVO IS A ONCE-AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE WHOSE 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY IS NOW RULED FROM BELGRADE. THE FIGHTING HAS DRIVEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, AND LEFT MORE THAN 350 DEAD.

DIPLOMATS FROM WESTERN EUROPE, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY URGED BOTH SERB FORCES AND SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS TO ACCEPT A CEASEFIRE, TO GIVE NEGOTIATORS A CHANCE TO END THE CONFLICT PEACEFULLY. THEY ALSO CALLED FOR COUNTRIES TO STOP ARMS SHIPMENTS TO THE REBELS AND URGED BELGRADE TO HELP REFUGEES RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. BUT ANALYSTS NOTE THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP APPARENTLY STRUGGLED FOR CONSENSUS AS IT FAILED TO TAKE ANY NEW STEPS TO BRING THE PARTIES TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ARE HAMPERED BY A LACK OF UNITY ON THE ALBANIAN SIDE. THERE IS NO ONE GROUP THAT SPEAKS FOR ALL KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS. AND EVEN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS SEVERAL FACTIONS AND NO ONE LEADER.

MR. RUGOVA -- THE MAN ONCE REGARDED AS THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER, AND NOW CONSIDERED JUST ONE OF SEVERAL -- TOLD REPORTERS THE CONTACT GROUP SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER.

WE SUPPORT PEACEFUL EFFORTS AND PEACEFUL STEPS TOWARD A SOLUTION IN KOSOVO, HE SAID, AND I URGED THE CONTACT GROUP TO DO MORE TO THAT END. THE BEST SOLUTION, HE SAID, WOULD BE INDEPENDENCE. BELGRADE, INSISTS KOSOVO MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGREES.

I CAN ONLY REPEAT AND CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD WHICH SUPPORTS ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN A SOLUTION FOR KOSOVO WITHIN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. BUT OF COURSE WE ALSO THINK THE STATUS QUO IS UNTENABLE, SO A SOLUTION HAS TO BE FOUND.

[03] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN OPPOSITION VISITS U.S.

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:

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT RECENTLY MET WITH FIVE CROATIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. THEY REPRESENT FIVE OF CROATIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES.

MRS. ALBRIGHT EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR FURTHER REFORMS IN CROATIA -- PARTICULARLY THE NEED TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR GENUINELY FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA. ALTHOUGH THE CROATIAN CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, IN PRACTICE THE GOVERNMENT STRONGLY INFLUENCES THE MEDIA THROUGH STATE OWNERSHIP OF MOST PRINT AND BROADCAST OUTLETS. ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S LATEST HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, GOVERNMENT INTIMIDATION HAS LED TO A SYSTEM OF FREQUENT SELF-CENSORSHIP. JOURNALISTS ARE RELUCTANT TO CRITICIZE THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IN PUBLIC FORUMS FOR FEAR OF HARASSMENT, JOB LOSS, OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS "SERIOUSLY INFRINGED UPON THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO CHANGE THEIR GOVERNMENT PEACEFULLY." ELECTIONS HELD IN JUNE 1997 WERE JUDGED TO BE "FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED" AND "FREE BUT NOT FAIR" BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. IN 1996, THE RULING PARTY, THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, ENGINEERED ELECTORAL CHANGES FAVORING ITS INTERESTS AND ACCESS TO POWER. IN ADDITION, ACCESS TO STATE-OWNED ELECTRONIC MEDIA BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES WAS SEVERELY RESTRICTED. THE U.S. HAS URGED THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO RESCIND THE UNFAIR ELECTORAL LAWS AND MEDIA RESTRICTIONS AND TO SPEED UP POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM. AS SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT STRESSED, THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEMOCRATIC AND STABLE CROATIA INTEGRATED INTO THE EURO-ATLANTIC COMMUNITY.

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.
10-Jul-98 1:09 PM EDT (1709 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE ENDED THE WEEK FRIDAY ON A MOSTLY LOWER NOTE. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: WHILE THE MARKETS TURNED IN A GENERALLY STRONG PERFORMANCE FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK, TRADING FRIDAY SAW PROFIT-TAKING.

FRANKFURT'S "DAX" CLOSED UP ONLY A FRACTION OF A POINT. BUT IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX LOST 40 POINTS -- OR TWO-THIRDS OF ONE PERCENT -- AT THE CLOSE, AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" WAS OFF 63 POINTS. IN VALUE TERMS, THAT REPRESENTS A DROP OF ABOUT ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT.

MARKET ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTE THE DECLINES IN PART TO WORRIES OVER ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN JAPAN AND RUSSIA.

IN CURRENCY TRADING FRIDAY, THE U-S DOLLAR HELD STEADY AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, BUT WAS DOWN ABOUT TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK.

GOLD TRADING IN LONDON CLOSED DOWN 75 CENTS AT 290-DOLLARS-45 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
10-Jul-98 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED FRACTIONALLY HIGHER IN NEW YORK TODAY (FRIDAY) IN LIGHT TRADING AMID CONCERNS ABOUT U-S CORPORATE EARNINGS. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP 16 POINTS AT NINE-THOUSAND-106, WHILE THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX WAS UP SIX POINTS AT 11-HUNDRED-64. FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS ROSE 81 POINTS.

THE MARKET OPENED HIGHER, BUT PLUNGED IN THE SECOND HOUR OF TRADING ON RENEWED NERVOUSNESS ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS. SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS REPORTS ARE FLOODING WALL STREET FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET WAS DRIVEN FIRST BY DEFENSIVE SELLING AND THEN BY DEFENSIVE BUYING AS INVESTMENT MANAGERS TRIED TO STRUCTURE THEIR PORTFOLIOS FOR THE WEEKEND. TRADING WAS LIGHT AS IT FREQUENTLY IS ON FRIDAYS DURING SUMMER MONTHS.

THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW, UP THREE POINTS AT 19-HUNDRED-43. THE EGGHEAD COMPANY, WHICH SELLS COMPUTER SOFTWARE ON THE INTERNET AS WELL IN STORES, CLOSED UP ABOUT 25 PERCENT.

SOME ANALYSTS HAVE PREDICTED A SUMMER RALLY WILL TAKE THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS TO RECORD LEVELS ONCE THE QUARTERLY EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE COMPLETED. THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT CORPORATE PROFIT WILL BEGIN TO IMPROVE.

BUT LARRY WACHTEL, ONE OF WALL STREET'S MOST SEASONED ANALYSTS, SAYS STOCKS HAVE ALREADY REACHED HIGH LEVELS INCLUDING RECORD HIGHS FOR THE STANDARD-AND-POOR'S 500. MR. WACHTEL EXPECTS FAIRLY CHOPPY TRADING UNTIL THE EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT PERIOD IS OVER. AFTER THAT, HE BELIEVES THE MARKET IS LIKELY TO TRADE IN A FAIRLY NARROW RANGE FOR A TIME.

WE ALREADY HAD A NEW HIGH IN THE S-AND-P (STANDARD AND POOR'S 500) AND THE DOW IS JUST ABOUT AT A NEW HIGH. SO GIVEN THAT, IF WE COME TO EARNINGS THAT ARE JUST ABOUT IN LINE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR SPUR TO THE MARKET. WE MAY HAVE TO BACK AND FILL FOR A WHILE.

A WARNING OF AN EARNINGS SHORTFALL BY DUPONT, THE BIG CHEMICAL COMPANY THAT IS A COMPONENT OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, SURPRISED WALL STREET ON THURSDAY. ANALYSTS SAY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO LOWER PRICES NOT ONLY FOR DUPONT BUT FOR OTHER STOCKS AND INCREASED CONCERN AMONG INVESTORS ABOUT PROFITS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
10-Jul-98 5:01 PM EDT (2101 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS ARE DRAWING COMMENTS IN FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL PAGES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF MOSHOOD ABIOLA, CONTINUES TO DRAW ATTENTION, AS DOES THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.

OTHER SUBJECTS FINDING THEIR WAY INTO TODAY'S COMMENTARIES INCLUDE: THE CAMBODIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN; PERU'S PRESS UNDER ATTACK; THE UPCOMING U-S RUSSIAN SUMMIT; THE U-N VOTEGIVING THE PALESTINIANS MORE POWER; AND THE TENSION-LADEN SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY'S" EDITORIAL HEADLINE SAYS THAT "TO SAVE ITSELF, NIGERIA MUST RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE."

VOICE: NIGERIA IS POISED ON THE EDGE OF CHAOS. THE SUDDEN DEATH OF MOSHOOD ABIOLA ..... HAS THROWN THE RESTIVE POPULATION INTO A SPASM OF RIOTING AND ARSON. ONLY A SWIFT MOVE BY THE RULING MILITARY JUNTA TO HAND OVER POWER TO CIVILIANS AND RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS IS LIKELY TO FORESTALL A SLIDE INTO ANARCHY AND MAYHEM. ...... THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE STABILITY OF THIS KEY AFRICAN NATION MUST CONVINCE [THE CURRENT MILITARY LEADER, MAJOR GENERAL ABDULSALAM] ABUBAKAR NOT TO WASTE A SINGLE DAY IN EFFECTING THE TRANSITION. A DELAY COULD BE RUINOUS .......

TEXT: ANOTHER LONG-RUNNING STORY GETTING ATTENTION FROM "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, IS THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS, WITH THE DAILY WORRIED ABOUT THE EFFECTS HERE AT HOME OF JAPAN'S CONTINUING VACILLATION TOWARD BASIC REFORMS.

VOICE: IN THE YEAR SINCE THAILAND INAUGURATED THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS BY LETTING ITS CURRENCY FLOAT AND SINK, THE U-S ECONOMY HAS HELD UP BEAUTIFULLY. THE FLIGHT TO QUALITY INVESTMENTS OF TRANSIENT CAPITAL HAS BOLSTERED BOTH STOCKS AND BONDS ON WALL STREET. ..... BUT THE CRISIS WASN'T GOING TO END UNTIL IT ENDED IN JAPAN, WHERE IT IS JUST COMING TO A HEAD [CONCLUSION]. ....... THE SLOWDOWN GATHERING FORCE THERE COULD CAST MORE PALL HERE THAN ANYTHING YET. ..... THE ASIAN SLOWDOWN IS BEGINNING TO MAKE ITSELF FELT MORE PALPABLY IN THE U-S ECONOMY ....... IF THE ASIAN CRISIS GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, THIS EFFECT WILL GROW.

TEXT: STILL IN ASIA, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY CAMBODIA'S CO-PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN IS RUNNING THE FORTHCOMING [26 JULY] NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

VOICE: HIS PARTY RUNS THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTION COMMISSIONS. HIS IMAGE AND PROPAGANDA MONOPOLIZE THE MEDIA EXCEPT FOR A FIVE-MINUTE DAILY AD PERMITTED EACH OPPOSITION GROUP. ...... HIS SUPPORTERS MENACE OPPOSITION ACTIVIST ..... AND ARE SUSPECTED OF POLITICAL KILLINGS. YET THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS PRETENDING THAT AN ACCEPTABLY FAIR ELECTION CAN BE HELD IN THIS CLIMATE OF INTIMIDATION.

TEXT: ACROSS THE PACIFIC NOW TO LATIN AMERICA. "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS AN ASSAULT IS BEING WAGED ON INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS IN PERU'S MAINSTREAM PRESS BY THE TABLOID PRESS, APPARENTLY WITH THE COMPLICITY AND EVEN ASSISTANCE OF THE FUJIMORI GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: FOR THREE MONTHS NOW, FOUR TABLOIDS THAT SPECIALIZE IN SEX SCANDALS AND GORY CRIME HAVE BEEN PRINTING ARTICLE AFTER ARTICLE ACCUSING THESE FEARLESS REPORTERS OF BEING TRAITORS, COMMUNISTS, AND TERRORISTS. /// OPT /// ..... NOT COINCIDENTALLY, THE TABLOID ATTACKS BEGAN AFTER ... [ONE OF THE REPORTERS, ANGEL] PAEZ REPORTED ON MILITARY BRIBES AND QUESTIONABLE PURCHASES OF MATERIAL. ..... IRONICALLY, MANY OF THE ARTICLES IN SUPPOSEDLY COMPETING TABLOIDS ARE IDENTICAL, DOWN TO THE HEADLINES AND TEXTUAL ERRORS. /// END OPT /// ..... MANY IN PERU AND ELSEWHERE SUSPECT VLADIMIRO MONTESINOS, THE SHADOWY HEAD OF STATE-INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND COUNSELOR TO [PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALBERTO] FUJIMORI, OF DIRECTING SUCH ANTI-PRESS REPRISALS. .....WHAT IS NOT CLEAR, SADLY, IS PRESIDENT FUJIMORI'S COMMITMENT TO EITHER A FREE PRESS OR DEMOCRACY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" IS PRAISING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO GO TO MOSCOW FOR A SUMMIT WITH BORIS YELTSIN, EVEN THOUGH THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT HAS FAILED, SO FAR, TO RATIFY THE START TWO TREATY. ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS, SAYS "THE GLOBE" OVERSHADOW THE NEED FOR THE TREATY RATIFICATION.

VOICE: THE SUMMIT IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR EARLY SEPTEMBER AND HAS TAKEN ON ASPECTS OF A RESCUE MISSION ON THE HIGH SEAS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. WITHIN A DECADE, RUSSIA HAS GONE FROM BEING A SUPERPOWER THAT BESTOWED WEAPONS AND CREDIT ON TINPOT [SMALL, BUT POMPOUS] DICTATORS TO BEING AN INCORRIGIBLE DEADBEAT [UNFAITHFUL] BORROWER. ..... INTEREST RATES ARE BOUNCING ABOUT 100 PERCENT. THE STATE CANNOT FIND BUYERS FOR ROSNEFT, THE LAST GOVERNMENT-OWNED OIL COMPANY SLATED TO BE PRIVATIZED. AND [MR.] YELTSIN'S MINISTERS ARE DESPERATELY BEGGING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOR A BAILOUT LOAN OF TEN BILLION OR MORE TO STAVE OFF A FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. ..... [MR.] CLINTON NEEDS TO TELL [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN THAT ..... HE MUST THROW HIS WEIGHT BEHIND THE REFORMERS, WHO ARE IN DANGER OF BEING SWEPT AWAY AS THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS WASHES OVER RUSSIA. THERE ARE TOTALITARIANS WAITING TO TAKE RUSSIA BACKWARDS SHOULD THE REFORMERS FAIL.

TEXT: "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT MOVE TO GIVE THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MORE POWER AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: JUST AS THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S RECENT DECISION TO EXTEND JERUSALEM'S MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO INCLUDE CERTAIN ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ANTAGONIZED THE PALESTINIANS, ENHANCING THE PALESTINIANS' STATUS AT THE UNITED NATIONS IS HAVING A SIMILAR EFFECT ON THE ISRAELIS. ..... AS U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON NOTED APTLY, 'THIS IS THE WRONG RESOLUTION AT THE WRONG TIME.' BOTH THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS SHOULD FOCUS ON A RESUMPTION OF PEACE TALKS, NOT ON GESTURES THAT MAKE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TALKS MORE REMOTE.

TEXT: LASTLY TO EUROPE, WHERE A TENSE STANDOFF BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT ORANGEMEN MARCHING ORDER AND BRITISH TROOPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND CONTINUES, WITH MORE VIOLENCE ANTICIPATED THIS WEEKEND. IN CONNECTICUT'S CAPITOL, "THE HARTFORD COURANT" LAMENTS:

VOICE: THERE'S ONE FACT THE TANTRUMS OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S PROTESTANT EXTREMISTS CAN'T OBSCURE: AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PROVINCE'S VOTERS ENDORSED THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT IN A MAY REFERENDUM AND THEN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO AN ASSEMBLY IN WHICH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS SHARE POWER. DESPITE THE CURRENT RIOTS, IT'S A GOOD BET THAT MOST RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN IRELAND STILL WANT AN END TO VIOLENCE. ....... BUT, THOUGH THEY SEEM FEWER IN NUMBER AND HAVE LESS PUBLIC SUPPORT THAN BEFORE, THE MILITANT ORANGEMEN AND THE TURMOIL THEY CAUSE ARE A THREAT TO THE PEACE PROCESS. PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON BOTH SIDES MUST NOT LET THEM SUCCEED IN WRECKING IT.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM AMONG THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES THIS FRIDAY.
10-Jul-98 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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