Voice of America, 98-07-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / O-S-C-E (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] SENATE / MILOSEVIC (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[03] E-U/SOUTH AMERICA (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[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] KOSOVO / O-S-C-E (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE. IN THE LATEST INITIATIVE, DIPLOMATS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E -- ARE IN THE REGION TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: AMBASSADORS FROM THE O-S-C-E ARE TRAVELING IN KOSOVO AFTER MEETING OFFICIALS IN BELGRADE. YUGOSLAVIA HAS REBUFFED MOST O-S-C-E INITIATIVES SINCE THE ORGANIZATION SUSPENDED BELGRADE'S MEMBERSHIP IN 1992.

THE O-S-C-E AND THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE NAMED FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ AS A SPECIAL ENVOY ON YUGOSLAVIA IN GENERAL, AND THE KOSOVO CRISIS IN PARTICULAR. BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO MUCH SINCE BELGRADE HAS NOT AGREED TO HIS MISSION.

O-S-C-E SPOKESPERSON MELISSA FLEMING -- SPEAKING BY PHONE FROM THE ORGANIZATION'S HEADQUARTERS IN VIENNA -- EMPHASIZES THAT THE DIPLOMATS NOW VISITING YUGOSLAVIA ARE NOT THERE TO NEGOTIATE A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

WE ARE NOW THERE TO WORK ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND ON BEHALF OF O-S-C-E COUNTRIES TO CARRY OUT A KIND OF ASSESSMENT OF NOT ONLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN KOSOVO, BUT WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY ITSELF.

OTHER RECENT DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS HAVE FAILED TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS IN KOSOVO. U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE RETURNED EMPTY-HANDED FROM A SHUTTLE MISSION EARLIER THIS MONTH.

ONE ROADBLOCK IS THAT KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY SPEAKS WITH MANY VOICES. IBRAHIM RUGOVA, THE NON-VIOLENT POLITICAL LEADER, USED TO SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BUT WITH THE RISE OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE GUERRILLAS MUST REALISTICALLY BE PART OF ANY NEGOTIATIONS, AND LEADERSHIP OF THE REBEL MOVEMENT IS ITSELF FRAGMENTED.

IN PRISTINA THIS WEEK, THE PARLIAMENT OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS' SELF-PROCLAIMED "REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO" MET FOR THE FIRST TIME. SERB AUTHORITIES BROKE UP THE SESSION AND CONFISCATED DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY MADE NO ARRESTS.

A U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN (JAMES RUBIN ON THURSDAY) SAID THAT WHILE THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KOSOVO REPUBLIC, IT DOES SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF FREE ASSEMBLY. HE DESCRIBED THE SERB ACTION AS "HEAVY-HANDED INTIMIDATION" OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
17-Jul-98 7:36 AM EDT (1136 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] SENATE / MILOSEVIC (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS DECLARED THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SHOULD BE BRANDED A WAR CRIMINAL FOR HIS ACTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND NOW KOSOVO. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: LAWMAKERS PASSED A NON-BINDING MEASURE DENOUNCING THE SERB LEADER AND SEEKING A PUBLIC INDICTMENT. THE RESOLUTION CALLS ON THE UNITED STATES TO TURN OVER ANY EVIDENCE AGAINST MR. MILOSEVIC TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE, AND TRY TO CAPTURE HIM IF HE IS CHARGED.

THE ACTION REFLECTS A GROWING CONCERN THAT THE BOSNIAN WAR IS BEING REPLAYED IN KOSOVO, WITH THE PROVINCE'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY THE LATEST VICTIMS OF SERB AGGRESSION. THE BIPARTISAN MEASURE'S CHIEF SPONSOR, REPUBLICAN SENATOR AL D'AMATO, ACCUSED MR. MILOSEVIC OF CREATING A NEW "KILLING FIELD."

IT IS A RESOLUTION THAT WILL SEND A CLEAR AND CONVINCING SIGNAL TO THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES IS SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY THE WORLD TREATS WAR CRIMINALS, AND THAT THE WORLD COMMUNITY CAN NO LONGER SIT BY IDLY WHILE MILOSEVIC'S KILLING MACHINE CONTINUES.

WHILE THE LEGISLATION PASSED FRIDAY HAS NO FORCE OF LAW, ITS BACKERS HOPE TO PROD THE ADMINISTRATION INTO ACTION. NOT TO TAKE A STAND, THEY SAY, WOULD SIGNAL AMERICAN WEAKNESS, WHICH, (THEY SAY,) HAS ONLY ENCOURAGED MR. MILOSEVIC IN THE PAST. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/LTD/RRM
17-Jul-98 12:45 PM EDT (1645 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U/SOUTH AMERICA (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: A MAJOR RIFT IS DEVELOPING AMONG EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER NATIONS OVER PLANS TO NEGOTIATE A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH A NUMBER OF LATIN AMERICAN STATES. FRANCE IS LEADING THE OPPOSITION, WARNING OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR E-U AGRICULTURE IF SUCH AN ACCORD COMES INTO FORCE. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE PLANNED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WOULD LINK THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION TO THE MERCOSUR BLOC -- WHICH ENCOMPASSES ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY, ALONG WITH ASSOCIATE MEMBERS CHILE AND BOLIVIA.

THE E-U COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR RELATIONS WITH THE REGION, SPANIARD MANUEL MARIN, IS KEEN TO PRESS FORWARD WITH A FREE TRADE ACCORD. HIS STANCE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS STRONG HISTORICAL TIES WITH LATIN AMERICA. HOWEVER, FRANCE AND GERMANY ARE SUSPICIOUS OF THE PLAN, BECAUSE THEY FEAR THAT A MOVE TOWARDS FREE TRADE WOULD LEAD TO A FLOOD OF CHEAP IMPORTS INTO EUROPE, WITH AGRICULTURE BEING PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE.

THE EUROPEAN BEEF INDUSTRY IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE RECENT CRISIS OVER MAD COW DISEASE -- AND THERE ARE DEEP CONCERNS AMONG EUROPEAN FARMERS, WHO FEAR CHEAP BEEF IMPORT COMPETITION FROM LATIN AMERICA. ARGENTINA, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN PRODUCE BEEF AT HALF THE COST OF MOST E-U COUNTRIES. E-U FARMERS SAY THAT EXISTING TRADE BARRIERS ARE NEEDED TO STAVE OFF A RUSH OF CHEAP IMPORTS.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE MASSIVE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR EUROPEAN PRODUCERS OF CEREALS, FOR HOG AND POULTRY FARMERS, AND FOR RICE, DAIRY AND SHEEP PRODUCERS. THUS, WHILE A FREE TRADE ACCORD WITH LATIN AMERICA WOULD PROBABLY BE OF HUGE BENEFIT TO EUROPEAN INDUSTRY, IT COULD DEVASTATE EUROPEAN FARMING.

ONCE AGAIN IN THE CASE OF LATIN AMERICA, EUROPEAN FARMERS ARE DEEPLY ALARMED. FRANCE IS MOST WORRIED THAT THE PLANNED ACCORD WITH THE MERCOSUR GROUP COULD HURT ITS FARMERS. IT WILL SEEK TO TORPEDO THE PLAN ON MONDAY, WHEN THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE MINISTERS MEET IN BRUSSELS.

THAT GET-TOGETHER COMES JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE A PROPOSAL TO FORMALLY LAUNCH NEGOTIATIONS IS DUE TO BE UNVEILED BY E-U OFFICIALS.

OTHER ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE PLANNED ACCORD ARE THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO A RAPID EXPANSION OF BEEF PRODUCTION IN LATIN AMERICA, AND THE LAND NEEDED FOR GRAZING WOULD COME THROUGH FURTHER DESTRUCTION OF THE AMAZONIAN RAIN FOREST. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF/JO
17-Jul-98 9:19 AM EDT (1319 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: EUROPE'S BIG STOCK MARKETS FRIDAY ENDED THE WEEK WITH RECORD-HIGH CLOSING FIGURES. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE NUMBERS FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE COLLECTIVE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF STOCK PRICES WAS TRIGGERED BY OPTIMISM IN NEW YORK THAT INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES WILL REMAIN STEADY. THAT HELPED PROPEL PRICES ON WALL STREET WHICH, IN TURN, GAVE EUROPEAN SHARES A BOOST.

EUROPE'S BIG STOCK INDEXES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL ENDED THE TRADING WEEK ON A RECORD HIGH.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX GAINED NEARLY A PERCENT IN VALUE, CLOSING UP 57-POINTS. THE GERMAN "DAX" INDEX WAS UP NEARLY ONE PERCENT AS WELL WITH A 55-POINT GAIN. AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" ADDED 30-AND-A-HALF POINTS AT THE CLOSE FRIDAY -- A GAIN OF NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT.

FRIDAY'S LONDON CLOSING GOLD FIX PRICED THE PRECIOUS METAL AT AROUND 294 DOLLARS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
17-Jul-98 2:15 PM EDT (1815 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK EDGED HIGHER TODAY (FRIDAY) TO SET NEW RECORD HIGH LEVELS FOR THE THREE MAJOR MARKET INDEXES FOR THE THIRD TIME DURING THE WEEK. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP JUST UNDER 10 POINTS, ENOUGH FOR A RECORD HIGH 93-HUNDRED-38. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX WAS UP NEARLY THREE POINTS AT 11-HUNDRED-86. FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS CLOSED UP 233 POINTS OR ABOUT TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT.

THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE CLOSED UP EIGHT POINTS AT TWO-THOUSAND-EIGHT. MICROSOFT, DELL COMPUTER, AND CISCO SYSTEMS EACH SET NEW ALL TIME HIGHS IN NASDAQ TRADING. THOSE THREE STOCKS ALONG WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS, WHICH GAINED FIVE PERCENT, LED THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE UP TO ITS EIGHTH STRAIGHT RECORD HIGH CLOSE.

OVERALL TRADING WAS FAIRLY LACKLUSTER, BUT ONE NEW STOCK, BROADCAST-DOT-COM, STARTLED WALL STREET TRADERS WITH NEW PROOF THAT INTERNET MANIA IS STILL ALIVE. FIRST OFFERED AT 18 DOLLARS A SHARE, BROADCAST-DOT-COM OPENED FOR TRADING AT MID-SESSION AT ABOUT FOUR TIMES THAT PRICE AND CLOSED AT ABOUT 62 DOLLARS.

ANALYST NED RILEY SAYS COMPANIES HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH EARNINGS UP, NOT ONLY BY INCREASING SALES, BUT ALSO BY CUTTING COSTS, ADJUSTMENTS IN ACCOUNTING AND EFFECTIVE USE OF NEW TAX LAWS. THAT HAS HELPED PUSH PRICES UP, BUT MR. RILEY SAYS SOMETHING HE CALLS THE "NEW BREED OF INVESTOR" IS ALSO HELPING.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS MARKET AND THE NEW BREED OF INVESTOR, THAT IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME INTO THIS MARKET SINCE 1991, HAVE NOT REALLY EXPERIENCED MUCH OF A PROBLEM. THE OLD "BUY ON DIP" MENTALITY IS PREVAILING. AND ANYTIME THE MARKET HAS DIPPED, IT'S MOVED TO MUCH HIGHER GROUND OVER THE SUBSEQUENT 12 OR 18 MONTH PERIOD. SO THIS NEW BREED IS EXPERIENCING A VERY POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STOCK AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.

ANALYST NED RILEY CAUTIONS THAT THIS NEW BREED OF INVESTOR MAY LEARN SOME AGE-OLD LESSONS ABOUT STOCK MARKETS AND THEIR DOWNSIDE AT SOME POINT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
17-Jul-98 5:32 PM EDT (2132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AN INCREASINGLY BITTER DISPUTE BETWEEN THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE AND THE THE OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR OVER THE ISSUE OF SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TELLING A GRAND JURY OF WHAT THEY SAW IN THE WHITE HOUSE IS A KEY EDITORIAL TOPIC IN FRIDAY'S U-S PAPERS.

RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC TROUBLES, AND A LONG-AWAITED FUNERAL THERE -- 80 YEARS AFTER THE DEATHS OF RUSSIA'S LAST ROYAL FAMILY -- ARE ALSO PROMINENT. "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS ONE PAPER TAKING NOTE OF NELSON MANDELA'S 80TH BIRTHDAY; WHILE BOTH "NEWSDAY" AND "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE NOTE THE DEATH OF THREE LITTLE BOYS MAY HAVE HELPED CALM TENSIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EXCLAIMS ABOUT THE KILLER HEATWAVE IN THE SOUTHWEST. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND ONE OR TWO QUOTES, IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN AND AROUND WASHINGTON, ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CLOSEST SECRET SERVICE BODY GUARDS CAN BE FORCED TO TELL A GRAND JURY WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT MR. CLINTON'S CONTACTS WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. "THE WASHINGTON POST" LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THESE THOUGHTS ON THE INCREASINGLY BITTER DISPUTE.

VOICE: ALL SIDES HAVE DONE THEIR PARTS TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL A DISPUTE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED SENSIBLY AND WITH AN EYE TOWARD A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION. THE SECRET SERVICE -- DESPITE HAVING NO LAW SUPPORTING ITS PRIVILEGE -- HAS THROWN DOWN A GAUNTLET [CHALLENGE] BY CLAIMING THAT 'ALLOWING THIS TESTIMONY ..... WILL COMPROMISE THE ENTIRE PROTECTIVE FABRIC ENVELOPING A PRESIDENT.' THIS STAND EFFECTIVELY PRECLUDES COMPROMISE AND HAS FORCED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE LITIGATION THAT IS A SURE LOSER RATHER THAN TO ACCEPT THE FACT, NOW STRONGLY EMPHASIZED BY THREE DIFFERENT COURT OPINIONS, THAT MR. STARR GETS TO HEAR FROM THE AGENTS. .... ANY PROTECTION MUST RECOGNIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO AID CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT'S SIDE GETS NO SUPPORT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EITHER:

VOICE: THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE RULED CORRECTLY THAT MR. STARR HAS THE RIGHT TO COMPEL SECRET SERVICE TESTIMONY. ...... HE SHOULD .... MAKE CLEAR HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT HIS THRESHOLD FOR SUMMONING MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLOSEST DETAIL SHOULD BE HIGH, AND ANY QUESTIONS PUT TO AGENTS SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON CAREFULLY DEVELOPED AREAS OF INVESTIGATION.

TEXT: TO RUSSIA NOW, WHERE BOTH THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE FUNERAL OF CZAR NICHOLAS THE SECOND ARE BOTH MAKING NEWS, AND GENERATING COMMENTARY. ON MONEY, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SUGGESTS CONGRESS SHOULD SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO PUSH THE I-M-F INTO GIVING MOSCOW MORE EMERGENCY AID.

VOICE: FOR MONTHS, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS SCRAMBLED TO SHORE UP HIS NATION'S ECONOMY. HE HAS FEARED -- AS HAVE SOME IN THE UNITED STATES -- THAT RUSSIA COULD FOLLOW INDONESIA DOWN THE TUBES OF ASIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS. SUCH A GRAVE DEVELOPMENT WOULD RUN COUNTER TO U-S INTERESTS AND TO THE PROGRESS THAT RUSSIA HAS MADE IN RECENT YEARS. THUS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TOOK THE RIGHT STEP IN AGREEING THIS WEEK TO A TWENTY-TWO-POINT-SIX BILLION PACKAGE OF LOANS FOR RUSSIA. ... AMERICANS CANNOT AFFORD TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES WHEN ECONOMIC TROUBLE STRIKES OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

TEXT: AS FOR THE FUNERAL TODAY IN ST. PETERSBURG FOR CZAR NICHOLAS THE SECOND AND HIS FAMILY -- KILLED 80 YEARS AGO BY THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTIONARIES -- "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" LAUDS BORIS YELTSIN'S CHANGE OF HEART, ABOUT ATTENDING THE CEREMONY.

VOICE: THE DECISION TO ATTEND WAS THE RIGHT ONE FOR RUSSIA'S HEAD OF STATE, PARTICULARLY SINCE IT WAS HE WHO HAD PUSHED FOR A DECENT INTERMENT FOR HIS ROYAL PREDECESSOR. ... A TRAGIC CHAPTER FOR A GREAT NATION IS CLOSING, AND THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE WILL BE IN ST. PETERSBURG TODAY.

TEXT: SATURDAY IS NELSON MANDELA'S 80TH BIRTHDAY, AND SEVERAL U-S NEWSPAPERS CARRY FRONT PAGE PICTURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT RECEIVING A PRE-BIRTHDAY KISS FROM HIS DAUGHTER, WHILE "THE BOSTON GLOBE" PONDERS HIS INCREDIBLE CHARACTER.

VOICE: /// OPT /// HONORING [MR.] MANDELA, HOWEVER, RAISES A CHALLENGE THAT HAUNTS GENERATIONS.... THE DAUNTING QUESTION: HOW CAN ONE BECOME LIKE [MR.] MANDELA, RISING, DESPITE LIFELONG OPPRESSION AND NEARLY THREE DECADES IN PRISON, TO THE NEEDS OF ONE'S COUNTRY? /// END OPT /// ..... IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY .... [MR.] MANDELA WROTE: '... ONE MUST FIND CONSOLATION IN BEING TRUE TO ONE'S IDEALS, EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE KNOWS OF IT.' THIS IS THE SECRET OF [MR.] MANDELA'S LEADERSHIP AND THE REASON HE IS A BEACON UNTO THE WORLD.

TEXT: TO NORTHERN IRELAND, NOW, AND THE IDEA, FROM "NEWSDAY" THAT THE TRAGIC ARSON DEATH OF THREE LITTLE BOYS AND THEIR FUNERAL THIS WEEK, HAS FINALLY SOMEWHAT CALMED THE INTER-RELIGIOUS RAGE THERE. THE PAPER NOTES THAT BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC LEADERS URGED RESTRAINT AMONG THEIR FOLLOWERS. THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: AND PERHAPS MORE SIGNIFICANT ARE REPORTS THAT THE I-R-A (CATHOLIC AND ANTI-BRITISH) IS CLOSE TO AGREEMENT TO SURRENDER SOME OF ITS WEAPONS AS PART OF THE BROADER PEACE SETTLEMENT. EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF DISARMAMENT WILL BEGIN BEFORE THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY MEETS IN SEPTEMBER ....

TEXT: WORDS OF PRAISE FOR ROMANIA, ANOTHER EAST EUROPEAN NATION, STRUGGLING TO LOOSE ITSELF FROM THE BONDS OF COMMUNISM'S FAILED ECONOMY LEGACY, IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES."

VOICE: OF ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER EAST BLOC, ROMANIA IS AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THE FARTHEST TO CLIMB OUT OF THE DEPTHS OF COMMUNISM. ...... TODAY, THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. IN 1996, ROMANIANS FOR THE FIRST TIME CHOSE A PRESIDENT IN A GENUINE ELECTION, AND THEIR CHOICE -- GEOLOGIST EMIL CONSTANTINESCU -- IS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK. ON WEDNESDAY, THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSED A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS, SOMETHING ... INCONCEIVABLE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. ... IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE ACCORDED ROMANIA IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

TEXT: FINALLY, A COMMENT ON THE EXTREME HEAT THAT HAS BEEN ROASTING THE SOUTHWEST FOR WEEKS, ESPECIALLY TEXAS, WHERE TEMPERATURES HOVER IN THE 40-DEGREE RANGE, FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: GLOBAL WARMING IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE MEASURED AS AN AVERAGE OVER A LONG SPAN OF TIME, NOT AS A SUDDEN FLATTENING BLAST OF HEAT. YET WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO PUT GLOBAL WARMING OUT OF MIND SINCE THE BRUSH FIRES BEGAN IN FLORIDA? .... [SINCE THE SUMMER SOLSTICE HAS PASSED] .... EACH DAY TAKES THE SUN A LITTLE LOWER IN THE SKY. BUT NONE OF THIS IS CONSOLATION TO RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST.

TEXT: ON THAT SWELTERING NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/JO
17-Jul-98 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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