Voice of America, 98-07-20

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY/CYPRUS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[02] COHEN-KOSOVO (S) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

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

[04] KOSOVO DISPUTE BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[05] PARTITION KOSOVO?: A SERBIAN-AMERICAN VIEW BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[08] CLINTON/IRELAND (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (NEW ORLEANS)

[01] TURKEY/CYPRUS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ VISITED NORTHERN CYPRUS MONDAY TO TAKE PART IN CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S MILITARY INTERVENTION. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MR. YILMAZ USED THE OCCASION TO ACCUSE GREECE AND GREEK CYPRIOTS OF FAILING TO DRAW LESSONS FROM THE ISLAND'S VIOLENT PAST.

TEXT: ADDRESSING REPORTERS UPON HIS ARRIVAL ON THE DIVIDED MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND, PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DESCRIBED GREEK CYPRIOT PLANS TO SOON DEPLOY RUSSIAN-MADE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES AS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. HE CALLED THE DECISION PART OF WHAT HE TERMED A JOINT GREEK CYPRIOT AND GREEK DEFENSE PACT AIMED AT TURKEY. THE TURKISH LEADER SAID HIS COUNTRY WOULD TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO PROTECT THE TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITY FROM GREEK AGGRESSION -- A THINLY VEILED REFERENCE TO EARLIER TURKISH THREATS TO DESTROY THE MISSILES, IF AND WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED.

MR. YILMAZ ALSO CRITICIZED THE EUROPEAN UNION OVER ITS DECISION LAST DECEMBER TO OPEN MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT -- WHILE FAILING TO DO SO WITH TURKEY. ANKARA APPLIED FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE E-U 11 YEARS AGO.

ON SATURDAY, TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL TRAVELS TO ISLAND TO WATCH THE ARRIVAL OF A HUGE BALLOON CARRYING WATER FROM THE TURKISH MAINLAND. TURKEY HAS PLEDGED TO SUPPLY THE TURKISH NORTH WITH URGENTLY NEEDED WATER AND IS PLANNING TO BUILD A PIPELINE TO CARRY THE WATER ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN TO THE TURKISH NORTH.

A U-S-LED INITIATIVE TO REVIVE THE PEACE PROCESS FALTERED EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER THE TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH INSISTED THAT HIS COMMUNITY BE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A POLITICAL ENTITY AS A PRECONDITION FOR RESUMING INTER-COMMUNAL TALKS. BUT THE DEMAND WAS REFUSED BY THE GREEK CYPRIOTS.

THE UNITED STATES REMAINS DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT CONTINUING TENSION BETWEEN THE CYPRIOTS AND BETWEEN NATO MEMBERS GREECE AND TURKEY COULD LEAD TO A FRESH CONFLICT IN THE REGION. U-S MEDIATION EFFORTS NOW FOCUS ON PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT OF THE RUSSIAN-MADE MISSILES.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAID NATO WOULD BE PREPARED TO MONITOR A NO-FLY ZONE OVER CYPRUS. GREECE AND THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION SAY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE RUSSIAN-MADE S-300 MISSILES COULD BE CANCELLED, IF A NO-FLY ZONE WERE DECLARED. BUT TURKEY SAYS THE THE MISSILES CANNOT BE MADE THE SUBJECT OF BARGAINING OR POLITICAL PRESSURE, AND OFFICIALS IN ANKARA SAY THE REAL OBJECTIVE OF THE NO-FLY ZONE PROPOSED BY THE GREEKS IS TO END TURKEY'S AIR SUPERIORITY OVER THE ISLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
20-Jul-98 9:33 AM EDT (1333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] COHEN-KOSOVO (S) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS WASHINGTON IS 'CONCERNED' BY THE RECENT UPSURGE IN FIGHTING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. SPEAKING AT THE PENTAGON MONDAY, MR. COHEN URGED BOTH SIDES TO STOP SHOOTING AND START TALKING. VOA'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT: NEWS REPORTS SAY UP TO 100 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED IN NEW FIGHTING BETWEEN THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND THE U-C-K OR KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. MR.COHEN IS URGING BOTH THE U-C-K AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP THE KILLING.

TO INDICATE TO MR. MILOSEVIC THAT HE SHOULD RESIST ANY TEMPTATION TO USE DISPROPORTIONATE FORCE AND TO SHELL INNOCENT PEOPLE AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO CONVEY THE SAME MESSAGE TO THE U-C-K THAT WE WANT RESTRAINT ON THEIR PART.

FIGHTING OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS HAS BEEN CENTERED ABOUT 50 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF PRISTINA. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/LTD/WFR
20-Jul-98 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: UNCONFIRMED REPORTS FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE SAY MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE MAY HAVE DIED IN THE PAST TWO DAYS OF INTENSIVE FIGHTING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE CASUALTY FIGURES COME FROM SERBIAN AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN SOURCES, AND CAN NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED. BUT THEY DO REFLECT THE INTENSITY OF FIGHTING AROUND ORAHOVAC -- A TOWN ABOUT 50 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA AND ALONG THE ALBANIAN BORDER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BATTLED FOR CONTROL OF ORAHOVAC AGAINST SERB POLICE AND -- ACCORDING TO SOME REPORTERS ON THE SCENE -- YUGOSLAV ARMY TROOPS.

BOTH SIDES CLAIMED THEY CONTROLLED MOST OF THE TOWN ON SUNDAY, BUT AS FIGHTING RAGED IT WAS UNCLEAR WHO HAD PREVAILED.

IN SEPARATE FIGHTING ALONG THE BORDER, MEANWHILE, SERB AUTHORITIES SAY THEY REPELLED UP TO ONE-THOUSAND GUERRILLAS AND KILLED ABOUT 50 IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AS THE FIGHTERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS FROM ALBANIA.

AS THE FIGHTING RAGED, A DELEGATION OF DIPLOMATS FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE WAS IN KOSOVO ON A FACT-FINDING MISSION. THE O-S-C-E IS TRYING TO PERSUADE BELGRADE TO ACCEPT MEDIATION BY FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ, WHO HAS ALSO BEEN NAMED AN ENVOY BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/WTW
20-Jul-98 6:36 AM EDT (1036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO DISPUTE BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FIGHTING HAS AGAIN INTENSIFIED IN YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS ARE BATTLING SERB FORCES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REVIEWS THE KOSOVO DILEMMA IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: ABOUT TWO MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN KOSOVO -- A PROVINCE IN SOUTHERN SERBIA WHOSE POPULATION IS ABOUT 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIANS. KOSOVO ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE AUTONOMY UNTIL 1989, WHEN IN A SURGE OF POST-TITO SERBIAN NATIONALISM, KOSOVO WAS EFFECTIVELY STRIPPED OF SELF-RULE AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN RULED FROM BELGRADE.

IN THE EARLY 90'S, AS ETHNIC-BASED WAR RAGED IN NEARBY BOSNIA, KOSOVO REMAINED QUIET. THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY PUT ITS STOCK IN THE QUIET, DIGNIFIED LEADERSHIP OF IBRAHIM RUGOVA, THEIR SORBONNE-EDUCATED LEADER WHO ADVOCATES A NON-VIOLENT APPROACH TO KOSOVO'S POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

MOST OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS FELT THAT WAY, BUT NOT ALL. SOME LIGHTLY-ARMED MEN CALLING THEMSELVES THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BEGAN TO FIGHT BACK. THEY CONCENTRATED ON POLICE TARGETS, AND KILLED A NUMBER OF SERB POLICEMEN.

SERBIAN FORCES FOUGHT BACK, AND FOUR MONTHS AGO THEY LAUNCHED AN ASSAULT ON A VILLAGE (EDS: PREKAZ), IN A REGION (EDS: DRENICE) WEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. SERBS USED HEAVY WEAPONS TO DESTROY THE VILLAGE, KILLING SCORES OF RESIDENTS. THEY SAID THEY WERE AFTER TERRORISTS, BUT MOST OF THOSE KILLED WERE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OLD MEN. AMONG THE VICTIMS WAS ADEM JASHARI, SAID TO BE A LEADER OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE K-L-A.

THE ASSAULT GALVANIZED KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A MORE EFFECTIVE RECRUITING TOOL FOR THE GUERRILLAS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLED FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE SERB OFFENSIVE IN MARCH, AND OTHER FIGHTING SINCE THEN. SOME HAVE MOVED IN WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ELSEWHERE IN KOSOVO, BUT MANY HAVE FLED ACROSS THE BORDER TO MACEDONIA -- WHICH ALSO HAS A SIZABLE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION -- AND TO ALBANIA ITSELF. //OPT// REBEL SPOKESMAN JAKUB KRASNIQI TALKS OF UNITING ALL ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE REGION IN ONE STATE. //END OPT// THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FEARS THE CONFLICT COULD SPILL OUT OF KOSOVO AND UPSET THE STATUS QUO IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. THAT'S ONE REASON THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS' DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE. SO FAR, DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE CRISIS HAVE MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. AMERICAN TROUBLESHOOTER RICHARD HOLBROOKE DOWNPLAYS THE FAILURE, BUT IN HIS MOST RECENT BALKAN SHUTTLE HE FAILED TO FIND ANYONE ON THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SIDE WHO COULD SPEAK FOR ALL THE FACTIONS. EVEN THE K-L-A GUERRILLAS LACK A UNIFIED COMMAND.

IN A DEAL BROKERED BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, SERBIA HAS AGREED TO LET BELGRADE-BASED DIPLOMATS ESTABLISH A MONITORING MISSION IN KOSOVO. IT'S PARTLY FACT-FINDING, PARTLY DETERRENCE. AND THE "ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE" WANTS TO GET INVOLVED TOO. BUT FOR NOW THE FATE OF KOSOVO SEEMS MORE IN THE HANDS OF THE ARMED MEN THAN THE DIPLOMATS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/PCF/WFR
20-Jul-98 12:30 PM EDT (1630 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] PARTITION KOSOVO?: A SERBIAN-AMERICAN VIEW BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS TO PARTITION THE REGION BETWEEN THE MAJORITY KOSOVAR ALBANIAN POPULATION AND THE MINORITY SERBIAN POPULATION. A MODEL FOR SUCH A SOLUTION ALREADY EXISTS IN BOSNIA -- THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.

TEXT: DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OPTIONS FOR RESOLVING THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO HAVE GENERALLY FOCUSED ON TWO SOLUTIONS, EACH WITH MAJOR DRAWBACKS. FIRST IS EXPANDED AUTONONY FOR KOSOVO WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA. THIS OPTION IS SUPPORTED BY MUCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, BUT IS CURRENTLY UNACCEPTABLE BOTH TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND TO THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. SECOND IS INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO. ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACED BY THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, THIS OPTION IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE TO SERBIA. FURTHERMORE, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REFUSES TO ENDORSE IT FOR FEAR OF DESTABILIZING THE ENTIRE BALKAN REGION. A THIRD OPTION THAT IS SOMETIMES SUGGESTED IS "CONFEDERAL STATUS" WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA, SIMILAR TO THE RELATIONSHIP OF MONTENEGRO AND SERBIA. THIS OPTION, PROPOSED BY A NUMBER OF BALKAN SPECIALISTS BUT EMBRACED BY NEITHER PARTY TO THE CONFLICT, RAISES ISSUES OF RIGHT TO SECESSION FROM YUGOSLAVIA AT SOME LATER DATE. A FOURTH OPTION THAT SOME BALKAN SPECIALISTS HAVE PROPOSED IS THE PARTITION OF KOSOVO INTO SEPARATE AREAS FOR SERBS AND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. IT, TOO, HAS SUPPORTERS AND DETRACTORS.

NIKOLA KOSTIC [NEE-KO-LAH KOS-TICH], PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA, IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN UNITY CONGRESS, THE LARGEST UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF SERBS IN NORTH AMERICA. MR. KOSTIC SAYS ONLY A MINORITY OF SERBS ENDORSE PARTITIONING THE PROVINCE. BUT, HE ADDS, IT MAY BE THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT IMPASSE OVER THE STATUS OF KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- KOSTIC (0:32) "BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT INDEPENDENCE IS AN ANSWER. I DO NOT THINK THAT AUTONOMY AND CONFEDERATION ARE WORKABLE BECAUSE IT IS ONLY A STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE AND THE ALBANIANS' TAKING THE WHOLE AREA AWAY FROM SERBIA AND THE SERBS. AND, THEREFORE, I FEEL THAT PARTITION WOULD BE THE MORE APPROPRIATE STEP. THE ONLY ISSUE AND PROBLEM THERE IS THAT, IF YOU DO TALK ABOUT PARTITION, THEN YOU MAY HAVE TO ENLARGE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE NEARBY."

TEXT: MR. KOSTIC SAYS THE GOVERNMENTS OF MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, AND MONTENEGRO MIGHT ALSO NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN NEGOTIATIONS, IF KOSOVO WERE TO BE PARTITIONED.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- KOSTIC (0:27) "BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT ALL OF THOSE CONSTITUENT ALBANIANS WANT IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE SOME TYPE OF A PARTITION WHICH IS EQUITABLE TO EVERYONE. BECAUSE, REMEMBER, A LOT OF THE RESOURCES IN THE AREA ARE STATE-OWNED, HISTORICALLY. AND THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A DISCUSSION OF WHO SUCCEEDS TO THEM, AND SO ON. NOT TO MENTION THE NATURAL RESOURCES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF IT IS, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE [SERBIAN ORTHODOX] CHURCHES AND THE MONASTERIES, AND ALL OF THAT."

TEXT: MR. KOSTIC ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SERBIAN HISTORICAL SITES, SUCH AS THE BATTLEFIELD OF KOSOVO POLJE, WHICH IS ONLY A FEW KILOMETERS FROM THE CAPITAL CITY OF PRISTINA, WOULD POSE A MAJOR PROBLEM, IF KOSOVO WERE TO BE PARTITIONED. [OPT] THE 600-YEAR-OLD BATTLEFIELD MARKS THE SITE WHERE THE ARMY OF THE SERBIAN PRINCE LAZAR CLASHED WITH THE ARMY OF THE TURKISH SULTAN MURAD I. THE BATTLE SIGNALED THE VICTORY OF THE MUSLIM TURKS OVER THE CHRISTIAN SLAVS IN THE REGION. [END OPT]

TAPE: CUT THREE -- KOSTIC (0:15) "I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. BUT YOU KNOW, LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, THERE WAS A PARTITION OF BOSNIA, AND YOU HAVE THE SERB ENTITY AND THE OTHER ENTITY [MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION], AND IT WAS A PILL THAT WAS SWALLOWED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE."

TEXT: MR. KOSTIC ADMITS THAT A PARTITION OF KOSOVO MIGHT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE -- BOTH SERBS AND ALBANIANS -- WHO HAVE BEEN RENDERED HOMELESS BY THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- KOSTIC (0:09) "BUT I DO THINK, BY THE WAY, HISTORICALLY AND IN THE LONG RUN, PARTITION AND MOVEMENT OF POPULATIONS IS A MUCH EASIER WAY TO HANDLE THIS THAN ANY OTHER WAY."

TEXT: NIKOLA KOSTIC OF THE SERBIAN UNITY CONGRESS SAYS PARTITION MAY NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF MANY OF KOSOVO'S TWO MILLION ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND ITS NEARLY 180,000 TO 200,000 ETHNIC SERBS. BUT, FOR THE SERBS, HE BELIEVES, IT MAY BE THE BEST OF THE FOUR LESS THAN IDEAL OPTIONS.
20-Jul-98 12:56 PM EDT (1656 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED MOSTLY HIGHER MONDAY, BUT TRADING ON MANY MARKETS WAS LIGHT. MORE FROM VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: LACK OF DIRECTION FROM THE CLOSED STOCK MARKET IN TOKYO, A WEAKER U-S DOLLAR AND OTHER RATHER NEUTRAL ITEMS OF ECONOMIC NEWS KEPT EUROPEAN MARKETS IN THE DOLDRUMS, HOWEVER FRANKFURT AND LONDON GAINED ENOUGH TO CLOSE AGAIN AT RECORD HIGHS. SMALLER STOCK MARKETS IN AMSTERDAM, MILAN AND ZURICH ALL CLOSED HIGHER MONDAY AS WELL. PARIS CLOSED LOWER.

HERE IN LONDON, THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS ADDED FIVE POINTS -- OR LESS THAN A TENTH OF ONE PERCENT IN VALUE. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" CLOSED UP 23 POINTS, OR A THIRD OF ONE PERCENT IN VALUE. BUT IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX LOST JUST UNDER 20 POINTS -- OR ABOUT A HALF OF ONE-PERCENT -- ON MONDAY. DECLINES WERE LEAD BY A BIG DROP IN SHARE PRICES OF FRENCH TELECOM. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
20-Jul-98 2:04 PM EDT (1804 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NO SINGLE TOPIC DOMINATES THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF U-S NEWSPAPERS AS THE NATION BEGINS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WORK WEEK, BUT A WIDE ARRAY OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC SUBJECTS IS BEING DISCUSSED.

ONE IS THE ISSUE OF REQUIRING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY BEFORE A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING HIS ALLEGED RELATIONSHIP WITH MONICA LEWINSKY. ANOTHER CONCERNS TURNING PERU'S COCA FARMERS INTO CACAO FARMERS; THERE IS ALSO COMMENT ON THE NEED FOR AN ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE OF THIS COUNTRY; AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR MATERIAL FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" COMES DOWN FIRMLY ON THE SIDE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR WHO HAS GOTTEN THE SUPPORT OF CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM REHNQUIST IN HIS EFFORT TO FORCE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS CLOSEST TO PRESIDENT CLINTON TO TESTIFY ON HIS PERSONAL BEHAVIOR IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

VOICE: THAT DECISION, ENTIRELY CORRECT UNDER BOTH LAW AND LEGAL PRECEDENT, REMOVED THE LAST BARRIER TO SUCH TESTIMONY. ..... [MR.] STARR'S VICTORY IN COURT ALLOWS HIM TO PURSUE HIS INVESTIGATION OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT LIED UNDER OATH ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH MONICA LEWINSKY, A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN, AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO COVER THAT UP. ..... HOWEVER, FAR MORE SERIOUS CHARGES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING ALLEGATIONS OF TRADING DEFENSE INFORMATION WITH THE CHINESE IN EXCHANGE FOR ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, STILL REMAIN TO BE INVESTIGATED BY A SEPARATE SPECIAL COUNSEL. ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO, TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SENATE LAST WEEK, REFUSED ONCE AGAIN TO APPOINT SUCH AN INVESTIGATOR ..... [HER] RELUCTANCE IS TAKING ON THE APPEARANCE OF STONEWALLING, AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF TURNING PERU'S DRUG FARMERS INTO CHOCOLATE PRODUCERS AND CALLS THE U-S PLAN PLAN "A SWEET SOLUTION."

VOICE: CHOCOHOLICS PROBABLY FIND NO SURPRISE IN THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY'S PLAN TO FIX THE COCA PROBLEM. CHOCOLATE, THEY SAY, CAN CURE ANYTHING. THAT SHOULD PROVE GOOD NEWS TO SEVERAL SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES WHERE THE COCA PLANT GROWS IN GREAT ABUNDANCE. COCA, USED TO MAKE COCAINE, HAS PLAGUED SOCIETIES FROM LATIN AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES WITH DRUG ADDICTION ....... WEANING COCA FARMERS IN PLACES SUCH AS BOLIVIA, COLOMBIA AND PERU AWAY FROM THAT CROP POSES CHALLENGES, THOUGH, BECAUSE POVERTY REMAINS WIDESPREAD IN THOSE NATIONS. .... ENTER CACAO - - THE SOURCE OF CHOCOLATE. CHOCOLATE DEMAND APPEARS INSATIABLE, OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY. THAT SHORTFALL THREATENS TO DEEPEN AS NEWLY AFFLUENT CONSUMERS IN PLACES SUCH AS THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION EAT ALL THE CHOCOLATE THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON. ALSO, CACAO-GROWING IS PROFITABLE, LEGAL AND IDEALLY SUITED TO THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE MAIN COCA-GROWING AREAS. ..... IT'S A COURSE WORTH EXPLORING - - PROPELLING A GLOBAL ADDICTION THAT'S LAWFUL AND TASTY.

VOICE: ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, WITHIN FIVE YEARS SOME STATES, SUCH AS IRAQ AND NORTH KOREA, MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIRE NUCLEAR MISSILES THAT WOULD HIT THE LOWER 48 UNITED STATES. THE REPORT HAS PROVOKED MUCH COMMENT IN THE U-S PRESS. AT LEAST ONE PAPER, NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY," SAYS THERE IS NO NEED FOR ALARM.

VOICE: ..... IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO PANIC OR OVERREACT, EITHER. THE UNITED STATES' ABILITY TO DETER A NUCLEAR ATTACK BECAUSE OF ITS OVERWHELMING ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS AS GOOD A DEFENSE AS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS NASTY WORLD. IT IS THE CONDITION CALLED MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION: YOU HIT US WITH YOUR MISSILES, WE CAN RESPOND WITH DOZENS OR HUNDREDS AND WIPE YOU OUT. IT'S NOT PRETTY, BUT IT WORKED TO COUNTER THE FORMER SOVIET UNION FOR DECADES. ..... THE ANSWER IS TO CONTINUE RESEARCH INTO MISSILE DEFENSES AT A REASONABLE PACE, AS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED, AND NOT ALLOW THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL TYPES TO SCARE US INTO RIDICULOUS EXPENDITURES OF MONEY OR A NEW ARMS RACE WITH RUSSIA.

TEXT: CONTINUING WITH THE TOPIC OF NUCLEAR SECURITY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS A MOVE BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING IT MORE LIKELY THAT RUSSIA'S VAST STORE OF WEAPONS GRADE NUCLEAR FUEL MAY FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS.

VOICE: AN INGENIOUS ARRANGEMENT THAT HAS ENCOURAGED RUSSIA TO CONVERT ITS STOCKPILES OF BOMB GRADE URANIUM INTO MUCH LESS DANGEROUS CIVILIAN REACTOR FUEL AND EARN PRECIOUS CASH IN THE PROCESS COULD SOON BE UNDONE. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, IN A MOVE THAT COULD EASILY DISABLE THE ARRANGEMENT, IS PLANNING TO SELL OFF THE UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORPORATION, THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANY IN CHARGE OF BUYING THE RUSSIAN URANIUM. ..... THERE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE SELL-OFF BECOMES FINAL. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, WHO HELPED NEGOTIATE THE RUSSIAN URANIUM DEAL, OR PRESIDENT CLINTON, COULD STOP IT AND SHOULD.

TEXT: TURNING TO FINANCIAL DOINGS, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE PONDERS THE IMPACT OF THE NEW, COMMON EUROPEAN CURRENCY, THE EURO.

VOICE: THE IMPACT OF THE EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION HAS ALREADY HIT. ON JANUARY FIRST, ELEVEN OF THE 15 COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL SCRAP THEIR CENTRAL BANKS, ACCEPTING A SINGLE CENTRAL BANK MAINTAINING THEIR SEPARATE CURRENCIES AS ONE. THE STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE FRANKFURT AND LONDON [STOCK] EXCHANGES WILL START WORK IMMEDIATELY TO CREATE A COMMON STOCK MARKET FOLLOWS ON THE HEELS OF A RAFT OF BUSINESS MERGERS ACROSS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES. ....... AS THE MAJOR COMPANIES OF EURO-LAND BECOME MORE IMPORTANT, SO WILL THE EXCHANGE WHERE THEIR STOCKS ARE TRADED. AN EXCHANGE THAT MAY SOMEDAY RIVAL THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE IS BEING DESIGNED. IT MAY WELL MATERIALIZE.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S LATEST BAILOUT OF RUSSIA, AND OF THE U-S CONGRESS FOR ACQUIESCING BY LOANING THE FUND MORE MONEY.

VOICE: WITH THE I-M-F TELLING US AT EACH STEP THAT THE WORST IS NOW OVER, THE FUND'S VENTURES HAVE MUSHROOMED THIS PAST YEAR TO INCLUDE BAILOUT PACKAGES TOTALING 140-BILLION FOR THAILAND, SOUTH KOREA, INDONESIA AND NOW RUSSIA. IT'S A TOTAL THAT MIGHT MAKE EVEN CONGRESS WINCE, EXCEPT THAT U-S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE I-M-F -- ALREADY TOTALING 43-BILLION, EVEN BEFORE THE NEW MONEY -- ARE CONVENIENTLY TREATED AS OFF-BUDGET. IT'S REAL MONEY AT RISK ALL RIGHT, BUT BECAUSE CONGRESS DOESN'T HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR IT, THERE'S A TEMPTATION TO TREAT IT AS A FREE LUNCH.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE OF FRUSTRATION, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
20-Jul-98 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON/IRELAND (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (NEW ORLEANS)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC IN EARLY SEPTEMBER TO STRESS THE ON-GOING U-S COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS THERE. IT WILL FOLLOW THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO RUSSIA AND SUMMIT WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM NEW ORLEANS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS TRAVELLING WITH THE PRESIDENT HERE SAY MR. CLINTON WILL MAKE THE IRELAND STOPS TO UNDERSCORE U-S SUPPORT FOR THE FOR WHAT THEY CALL "NEW BEGINNING" IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- FOLLOWING LAST APRIL'S BELFAST ACCORD AND ITS OVERWHELMING APPROVAL IN THE MAY REFERENDUMS.

MR. CLINTON HAD MADE THE SEARCH FOR PEACE THERE A TOP FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY. HIS SPECIAL ENVOY, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GEORGE MITCHELL, HELPED MEDIATE THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT AND THE PRESIDENT WAS IN FREQUENT PERSONAL CONTACT WITH THE PARTIES AS THE HISTORIC DEAL TOOK SHAPE.

HE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO MAKE THE IRISH VISITS IN MAY IN CONNECTION WITH HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE G-EIGHT SUMMIT IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND. BUT HE WAS DISSUADED BY BRITISH AND IRISH LEADERS WHO SAID HIS PRESENCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SEEN AS MEDDLING IN ADVANCE OF THE REFERENDUMS LATER THAT MONTH.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MONITORING WITH CONCERN THE RECENT INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE CONNECTED TO PROTESTANT MARCHES IN ULSTER, AND MR. CLINTON WAS DESCRIBED AS DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE DEATHS OF THREE YOUNG CATHOLIC BROTHERS IN AN ARSON ATTACK ON THEIR HOME A WEEK AGO.

AIDES SAY THE PRESIDENT WILL MEET IN SEPTEMER WITH IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN AND THE CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT PARTIES TO THE PEACE ACCORD IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

IT WILL BE A RETURN VISIT FOR MR. CLINTON -- THE PRESIDENT HAVING VISITED BELFAST AND DUBLIN IN LATE 1995.

MR. CLINTON'S VISIT TO MOSCOW WILL ALLOW FOR THE FIRST FULL-SCALE U-S/RUSSIAN SUMMIT SINCE HE AND MR. YELTSIN MET LAST MARCH IN HELSINKI, THOUGH THEY DID HAVE A PRIVATE TALK ON THE SIDELINES OF THE BIRMINGHAM MEETING.

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE GOES TO MOSCOW THIS WEEK TO LAY GROUNDWORK FOR THE SUMMIT, EXPECTED TO BE DOMINATED BY THE RUSSIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND FUTURE OF NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL IN THE FACE OF THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT'S FAILURE TO RATIFY THE 1993 START-TWO TREATY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG
20-Jul-98 6:47 PM EDT (2247 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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