Voice of America, 98-07-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-U/MERCOSUR (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

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

[04] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] SPAIN/ETA (L-ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

[01] E-U/MERCOSUR (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S 20-MEMBER STRONG EXECUTIVE BODY -- BOWED TO PRESSURE WEDNESDAY FROM THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND FROM EUROPE'S FARMERS, WATERING-DOWN PLANS FOR A FREE-TRADE ACCORD WITH LATIN AMERICA. WHILE IT STILL WANTS TO NEGOTIATE A NEW AGREEMENT, IT NOW ARGUES THAT SOME AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROTECTED. JOHN FRASER HAS DETAILS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS CALLED FOR A MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE "MERCOSUR" BLOC -- ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY -- AND ALSO WITH CHILE, WHICH IS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF MERCOSUR.

HOWEVER SPANISH OFFICIAL MANUEL MARIN -- WHO WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF SUCH NEGOTIATIONS -- SAYS THAT SUCH AN AGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO COVER 100 PERCENT OF ALL TRADE. HE BELIEVES THAT WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION RULES WOULD ALLOW EACH SIDE TO MAINTAIN PROTECTION ON 10 PERCENT OF ITS IMPORTS. THEREFORE, SAYS MR. MARIN, THE E-U SHOULD PROPOSE THAT SENSITIVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS BEEF, CEREALS AND SUGAR COULD STILL BE GIVEN SPECIAL PROTECTION BY EUROPE IF AND WHEN A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH LATIN AMERICA COMES INTO FORCE.

MR. MARIN SAYS THAT LATIN AMERICA IS THE E-U'S BIGGEST TRADE PARTNER AND THE LARGEST TARGET FOR ITS INVESTMENT. HE ADDS THAT SOUTH AMERICA IS NOW EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO EUROPE THAN THE UNITED STATES. THE E-U NEGOTIATOR SUGGESTS THAT LATIN AMERICAN STATES COULD BE WON OVER TO HIS PROPOSAL, ONCE IT REALIZES THAT IT, TOO, WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT ITS PRODUCERS FROM SOME E-U IMPORTS.

MR. MARIN ARGUES THAT HE HAS BEEN UNFAIRLY CRITICIZED IN RECENT WEEKS FOR TRYING TO PRESS AHEAD WITH A NEW FREE TRADE ACCORD WITH SOUTH AMERICA. HE NOTES THAT THERE IS ALREADY A 1995 AGREEMENT TO LIBERALIZE TRADE BETWEEN EUROPE, THE MERCOSUR GROUP AND CHILE, AND THIS NEW PROPOSAL IS MERELY A LOGICAL EXTENSION.

EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE WARNED THAT A COMPLETELY FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE E-U AND LATIN AMERICA COULD DEVASTATE THE EUROPEAN BEEF INDUSTRY, WHICH IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE RECENT MAD COW CRISIS.

EUROPEAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL NOT CERTAIN WHETHER THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY MR. MARIN TO THE PLANNED ACCORD WITH MERCOSUR AND WITH CHILE WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO WIN OVER ALL OF THE 15 E-U GOVERNMENTS. //END OPT//

EUROPE'S FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED, AND SUCH A DECISION NEEDS TO BE UNANIMOUS (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF
22-Jul-98 11:50 AM EDT (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: EUROPE'S STOCK MARKETS TOOK THEIR CUE FROM WALL STREET WEDNESDAY, CLOSING DOWN SHARPLY ON FEARS OF HIGHER U-S INTEREST RATES. MORE FROM V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE KEY STOCK INDEXES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL SHED MORE THAN 100 POINTS BY THE END OF TRADING. MARKET ANALYSTS SAY THE FALL CAME AFTER MORE WORRIES THAT INFLATION MIGHT BE HEATING UP IN THE UNITED STATES -- WHICH GENERALLY SUGGESTS HIGHER INTEREST RATES. THAT RAISES BUSINESS COSTS, WHICH HURTS STOCK PRICES.

THE PARIS AND LONDON MARKETS BOTH CLOSED DOWN NEARLY TWO-AND-A-HALF PERCENT FOR THE DAY. FRANKFURT WAS DOWN ABOUT ONE-AND-THREE-QUARTERS PERCENT. THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF BRITISH STOCKS CLOSED DOWN 143 POINTS, THE GERMAN "DAX" INDEX WAS OFF 103 POINTS AND THE FRENCH "CAC 40" DOWN 102.

THE U-S DOLLAR HELD STEADY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND BRITISH POUND WEDNESDAY. GOLD IN LONDON LOST ABOUT A HALF DOLLAR TO CLOSE AT JUST UNDER 295 DOLLARS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/MMK
22-Jul-98 2:24 PM EDT (1824 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS TRADERS RECEIVED ANOTHER WARNING FROM THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 28, DOWN 61 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 64, DOWN ONE POINT.

ANALYSTS SAY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK AGAIN CAUSED SOME NERVOUSNESS AMONG TRADERS BOTH FOR WHAT HE SAID AND WHAT HE DID NOT SAY. IN HIS SECOND DAY OF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, ALAN GREENSPAN AGAIN INDICATED STOCK PRICES MAY BE TOO HIGH AND HE DID NOT INDICATE THERE IS ANY NEAR-TERM CHANCE THE CENTRAL BANK WILL REDUCE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES.

IN DETROIT, AN ARBITRATOR BEGAN A FOUR DAY HEARING TO DETERMINE IF THOSE CRIPPLING STRIKES AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS ARE LEGAL. THE EIGHT-WEEK OLD STRIKES HAVE VIRTUALLY SHUT DOWN ALL OF G-M'S NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS.

LOWER OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO HURT THE PROFITS OF MAJOR OIL COMPANIES. MOBIL, THE SECOND-LARGEST U-S OIL FIRM, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS DROPPED BY 25 PERCENT AND THE AMOCO OIL COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS FELL BY MORE THAN HALF.

BUT LOWER OIL PRICES ARE GOOD FOR THE AIRLINES. UNITED AIRLINES AND U-S AIRWAYS BOTH REPORTED BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED EARNINGS. AND, EVEN FINANCIALLY TROUBLED T-W-A REPORTED A MODEST PROFIT.

THE HOT WEATHER IN MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES IS HELPING COMPANIES WHICH SELL AIR CONDITIONING UNITS AND ELECTRICITY. THE AMERICAN STANDARD CORPORATION SAYS A SURGE IN AIR CONDITIONING SALES PUSHED ITS PROFITS UP IN THE SECOND QUARTER. AND THE DUKE ENERGY COMPANY SAYS HIGH ELECTRICITY DEMAND IN ITS SERVICE AREA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES LED TO A 77 PERCENT EARNINGS INCREASE.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
22-Jul-98 5:29 PM EDT (2129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE RENEWED PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY FOR NIGERIA IS DRAWING SUBSTANTIAL COMMENT IN THE U-S EDITORIAL PAGES, ALONG WITH CONCERN ABOUT NAUTICAL SAFETY AMONG U-S-BASED CRUISE SHIPS AFTER A FIRE IN MIAMI EARLIER THIS WEEK.

OTHER TOPICS DRAWING SCRUTINY INCLUDE: THE ECONOMIC BAILOUT OF RUSSIA; PROBLEMS WITH ALLEGED IRAQI TERRORISTS; CONCERNS ABOUT THAT NEW WORLD COURT AND MORE SORROW OVER THE NEW GUINEA KILLER TSUNAMI WAVE.

JOINING US WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________, WHO HAS TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" RESPONDS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BY GENERAL ABDULSALAM ABUBAKAR, OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

VOICE: ..... NIGERIANS HAVE HEARD SUCH PROMISES MANY TIMES BEFORE. THEY WILL WANT TO SEE QUICK ACTION. THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER INTERESTED NATIONS, WHILE SUPPORTING NIGERIA'S TRANSITION, SHOULD NOT BE TOO QUICK TO REMOVE SANCTIONS. AS AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS NATION AND ONE OF ITS MOST INFLUENTIAL, NIGERIA IS KEY TO THE CONTINENT'S HOPES OF ESCAPING FROM ITS ALL TOO PREVALENT POVERTY AND DICTATORSHIPS. /// OPT /// [IT IS] ..... ESSENTIAL THAT GENERAL ABUBAKAR MOVE QUICKLY TO INCLUDE CIVILIANS FROM ALL REGIONS AND FACTIONS IN THE TRANSITION PROCESS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS EVEN LESS IMPRESSED WITH GENERAL ABUBAKAR'S TELEVISED SPEECH TO THE NATION, NOTING:

VOICE: THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY A UNIFORMED GENERAL THAT DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD NEXT YEAR IN NIGERIA CAN ONLY BE LOOKED UPON WITH SUSPICION BY A POPULACE LONG REPRESSED BY MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS. BUT POLITICAL OPTIMISM DIES HARD ....... NOW COMES A TEST THAT IS CRUCIAL TO MOST NIGERIANS: WHETHER THE NATION WILL MOVE TOWARD THE DEMOCRACY THAT BECAME POSSIBLE WITH INDEPENDENCE IN 1960 OR SLIP FURTHER INTO THE CORRUPTION THAT ACCOMPANIED THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT OIL WEALTH. ..... A CLEANLY RUN NIGERIA WOULD BE A PRIZE FOR ALL OF AFRICA.

TEXT: MONDAY'S CRUISE SHIP FIRE IN THE PORT OF MIAMI, WHICH INJURED NO PASSENGERS, BUT PROVIDED SPECTACULAR TELEVISION PICTURES, IS GETTING PLENTY OF ATTENTION, INCLUDING THIS FROM "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL."

VOICE: AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, NO LIVES WERE LOST .... ABOARD THE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES SHIP .... ECSTASY ..... AND NO ONE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY. ...... WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, THOUGH, HAD THE CRUISE SHIP BEEN FARTHER OUT TO SEA? WOULD THE OUTCOME HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT? THOSE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS LIKELY WILL BE ANSWERED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THE FIRE. ..... INDUSTRY OFFICIALS SAY THAT CRUISING STILL IS THE SAFEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE WORLD. NONETHELESS, THE N-T-S-B HAS INVESTIGATED 24 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PASSENGER SHIPS SINCE JUNE 1979 ... [RESULTING IN] ELEVEN DEATHS, 186 INJURIES AND 140-MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" ADDS THESE VIEWS:

VOICE: IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT CRUISE SHIPS, BY DESIGN, HAVE SAFETY FEATURES THAT THWART AND CONTAIN FIRES - - FROM SPRINKLERS TO FLAME-RETARDANT FIRE WALLS. SHIPS' CREWS UNDERGO RIGOROUS TRAINING IN FIRE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION. PASSENGERS, TOO, PRACTICE EMERGENCY DRILLS BEFORE SETTING SAIL. ..... FORTUNATELY, THE ECSTASY SENT ITS DISTRESS CALL BEFORE IT HAD GONE TOO FAR AT SEA.

TEXT: OVERSEAS AGAIN, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS CALLING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S LATEST LOAN TO RUSSIA: "A NEEDED, BUT RISKY, BAILOUT." THE PAPER WRITES:

VOICE: THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IS AN UNNERVING PROSPECT, SO IT WAS PRUDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TO RELEASE FOUR-POINT-EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS FROM ITS NEW ELEVEN-POINT-TWO BILLION RUSSIAN BAILOUT PACKAGE. BUT IT IS FAR FROM CLEAR THAT THE KREMLIN CAN CARRY OUT THE REFORMS NEEDED TO MAKE THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY MORE STABLE. ....... THE I-M-F IS GAMBLING IN ANOTHER WAY. WITH ITS LATEST COMMITMENT TO RUSSIA, ITS OWN LENDING RESERVES ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW IF ANOTHER CRISIS DEVELOPS SUDDENLY. /// OPT /// ALAN GREENSPAN, .... CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, ADVISED CONGRESS YESTERDAY THAT THE NEED FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO PROVIDE THE REQUESTED 18-BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL I-M-F FUNDING IS CRITICAL. THE HOUSE ..... SHOULD PROMPTLY FOLLOW HIS ADVICE. /// END ///

TEXT: NEBRASKA'S "OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" GETS INTO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER CONGRESS SHOULD CHALLENGE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN TO MAINTAIN NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA, AND HOW MIDWEST FARMERS WOULD BE AFFECTED.

VOICE: TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE IF NOT FOR THE LENGTHY CHINESE 'RAP SHEET' [CRIMINAL RECORD] OF BRUTAL SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AT HOME AND IN CHINESE-OCCUPIED TIBET. ...... THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO BLAST CHINA POLITICALLY. BUT WHETHER TO APPLY PRESSURE AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICAN FARMERS, WHILE FARMERS IN OTHER NATIONS GLADLY FILL THE COMMODITY VOID FOR CHINA, REQUIRES CAREFUL DELIBERATION BY FARM-STATE POLICY-MAKERS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" IS WORRIED ABOUT THE GROWING STRENGTH OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHICH CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE THE SERBIAN PARA-MILITARY POLICE AND YUGOSLAV ARMY UNITS IN THE COUNTRY'S PREDOMINANTLY ETHNIC-ALBANIAN KOSOVO PROVINCE. AS THE BOSTON PAPER SEES IT, THE WEST HAS FIVE OPTIONS:

VOICE: BOMB THE SERBS AND PRESSURE THEM TO GIVE KOSOVO LOCAL AUTONOMY. ..... INTERVENE AGAINST BOTH SIDES, STOP THE FIGHTING, AND DICTATE A SOLUTION. SINCE THE SOLUTION WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO NEITHER THE SERBS NOR THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS, THE OCCUPYING ARMY WOULD BECOME A TARGET OF WRATH FROM BOTH SIDES. STAND ASIDE AND LET THE SERBS MOP UP REBELS. ... [THAT] COULD ALSO INFLAME ALBANIANS EVERYWHERE AND LEAD TO WIDER WAR. SWITCH STRATEGIES, TILT TOWARD THE REBELS, AND ACCEPT A GREATER ALBANIA. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE UNITED STATES DID IN BOSNIA. .... IN KOSOVO A SIMILAR STRATEGY WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO: A WIDER WAR. [AND LASTLY] MUDDLE ON, TRYING TO BROKER NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO AN AUTONOMY SHORT OF INDEPENDENCE THAT NEITHER SIDE IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WANTS. ..... THE GOALS OF BOTH SIDES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT ARE IRRECONCILABLE TO THE COMBATANTS AND UNACCEPTABLE TO THE WEST. THERE ARE NEVER EASY ANSWERS IN THE BALKANS.

TEXT: RESPONDING TO A U-S BACKED PLAN TO SWITCH PERU'S SMALL, COCAINE-PRODUCING COCA FARMS TO ANOTHER, NON-HARMFUL CROP, CACAO, WHICH PRODUCES CHOCOLATE, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" APPLAUDS:

VOICE: CONDITIONS IN PERU SEEM WELL-SUITED TO GROWING THE CROP. ..... AND IT IS A FAR BETTER PRODUCT FOR THE SOUL OF THE FARMER WHO CULTIVATES IT THAN WAS COCA. BESIDES, IT IS DELIGHTFUL TO THINK THAT SOMETHING SO INNOCENT, SOMETHING THAT MAKES SO MANY PEOPLE HAPPY, CAN WIN OUT OVER A SUBSTANCE THAT IS SO DESTRUCTIVE.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS RECENT ADMISSION THAT SECRET AND HIGHLY CLASSIFIED EVIDENCE AGAINST SIX IRAQI MEN - - IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DEPORTED - - WAS MISHANDLED. SAYS THE PAPER:

VOICE: THE USE OF SECRET EVIDENCE IN PURSUING ADVERSE JUDICIAL ACTIONS AGAINST PEOPLE IS A BLIGHT ON OUR LEGAL SYSTEM THAT OUGHT TO BE CHANGED. BUT WHEN THE F-B-I ERRONEOUSLY CLASSIFIES - - AND THEREBY IMPROPERLY DENIES THE DEFENSE THE ABILITY TO CONFRONT - - THE MAJORITY OF THE FACTUAL PREDICATE [EVIDENCE] OF A CASE, THE UNFAIRNESS ..... IS MAGNIFIED MANY TIMES.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, WORDS OF CONDOLENCE FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" TO THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA WHO HAVE LOST THOUSANDS OF MOSTLY CHILDREN TO THE HUGE TSUNAMI WAVE CAUSED BY AN UNDERSEA EARTHQUAKE LAST FRIDAY:

VOICE: THE TRAGEDY IS COMPOUNDED BY THE LOSS OF SO MANY CHILDREN. ..... THE PEOPLE OF MAINE JOIN THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN GRIEVING WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SO MUCH.

TEXT: ON THAT SAD NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL PAGES.
NEB/ANG/KL
22-Jul-98 11:25 AM EDT (1525 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] SPAIN/ETA (L-ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

INTRO: ONE WEEK AFTER CLOSING DOWN THE PRO-BASQUE NEWSPAPER "EGIN," A SPANISH HIGH-COURT JUDGE WEDNESDAY ORDERED THE ARREST OF THE NEWSPAPER'S EDITOR. GIL CARBAJAL REPORTS FROM MADRID THAT COURT ORDER DOCUMENTS SUGGEST THE NEWSPAPER PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES OF THE BASQUE PRO-INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATION ETA.

TEXT: SPANISH HIGH COURT JUDGE BALTASAR GARZON ORDERED THE JAILING OF EGIN'S EDITOR, XAVIER SALUTREGUI. HE IS ACCUSED OF COLLABORATING IN ETA'S TERRORIST ACTIVITY. IN THE ACCUSATION, THE JUDGE REVEALED THAT MR. SALUTREGUI HAD BEEN APPOINTED EDITOR OF EGIN BY A HIGH ETA LEADER IN 1992. INFORMATION DISCOVERED AFTER A RAID AT THE NEWSPAPER'S HEADQUARTERS LAST WEEK SUGGESTS THE EDITOR RECEIVED CODED MESSAGES BY ELECTRONIC MAIL FROM ETA'S HIGH COMMAND IN FRANCE. THIS INFORMATION INCLUDES THE LIST OF POTENTIAL TERRORIST TARGETS AND WARNINGS TO ETA COMMANDOS OF POLICE OPERATIONS.

ON TUESDAY, JUDGE GARZON RELEASED THE 45-PAGE COURT ORDER JUSTIFYING THE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL SHUTTING DOWN OF THE NEWSPAPER. IT MAINTAINS THAT EGIN WAS NOT ONLY THE PROPAGANDA MOUTHPIECE OF ETA, BUT SERVED AS AN ESSENTIAL LINK IN THE FLOW OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP AND ITS GUERRILLA COMMANDOS. ETA NOT ONLY GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS TERRORIST CELLS IN SPAIN VIA EGIN, THE MEMBERS OF THESE CELLS WOULD REPLY VIA THE NEWSPAPER'S WANT ADS.

THE MOVE IS ALSO THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SPAIN'S 20 YEARS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY, AND HAS GENERATED CONSIDERABLE CONTROVERSY. THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS RULED THAT NEWS MEDIA OPERATIONS MAY NOT BE SHUT DOWN EVEN TEMPORARILY BECAUSE SUCH ACTION LIMITS A CITIZEN'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE INFORMATION. JUDGE GARZON, HOWEVER, ARGUES THAT SIMPLY ARRESTING EGIN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EDITORIAL STAFF -- BUT NOT SHUTTING DOWN THE NEWSPAPER -- WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING AS INSTRUMENT FOR CRIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/GC/PCF/JO
22-Jul-98 1:45 PM EDT (1745 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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