Voice of America, 98-07-28

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] U-S/KOSOVO PEACE TALKS (S-ONLY) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

[05] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[06] U-S/BOSNIA WAR CRIMINALS (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: NEW FIGHTING IS REPORTED IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE AS SEPARATIST REBELS STRIKE BACK AFTER A RECENT SERB OFFENSIVE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE THAT AS THE FIGHTING RAGES, THERE ARE SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT.

TEXT: ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAVE LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AT KIJEVO, ON THE MAIN ROAD WEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. THE COUNTERATTACK CAME AFTER SERB FORCES OPENED THE ROAD WHICH HAD BEEN CONTROLLED BY REBELS FOR TWO MONTHS. SERB FORCES TURNED BACK REPORTERS WHO TRIED TO TRAVEL THE NEWLY-OPEN ROAD ON TUESDAY.

THE FOUR-DAY SERB OFFENSIVE APPARENTLY WAS DESIGNED TO RE-OPEN ROADS AND CUT UP REBEL-HELD TERRITORY.

THE REBELS ARE FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO. BELGRADE -- AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- INSIST THE PROVINCE MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA.

DIPLOMATS FEAR AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO OR CREATION OF A SO-CALLED "GREATER ALBANIA" THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE PART OF MACEDONIA WOULD FURTHER DESTABILIZE THE ALREADY-FRAGILE BALKAN REGION.

ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, MEANWHILE, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO MEET A SENIOR EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION THURSDAY, AFTER THEY TOUR KOSOVO AND MEET ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE A CEASEFIRE HAVE FAILED, IN PART BECAUSE THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THEMSELVES DO NOT SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE. DIPLOMATS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT, BUT THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ITSELF APPEARS TO BE FRAGMENTED WITH NO UNIFIED COMMAND, AND NO POLITICAL WING TO NEGOTIATE ON ITS BEHALF. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
28-Jul-98 9:17 AM EDT (1317 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-S/KOSOVO PEACE TALKS (S-ONLY) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS WORKING WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TO FORM A TEAM TO NEGOTIATE PEACE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO FIND A SETTLEMENT TO THE CONFLICT THAT HAS ALREADY CLAIMED HUNDREDS OF LIVES.

TEXT: THE GOAL OF THE U-S INITIATIVE WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH A CEASEFIRE IN THE SOUTHERN YUGOSLAV PROVINCE WHERE THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM BELGRADE.

IN WASHINGTON, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN TOLD REPORTERS THE TEAM WOULD BE LED BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA.

ALL VIEWPOINTS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WILL BE REFLECTED AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HOPEFUL WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER VERY SHORTLY.

IF IT WORKS, CREATION OF THE BODY COULD MARK THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGH TOWARD PEACE SINCE FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT FORCES BROKE OUT IN FEBRUARY. ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO OUTNUMBER SERBS NINE TO ONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/PT
28-Jul-98 5:26 PM EDT (2126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS ALL ROSE IN EARLY TRADING. BUT THEY QUICKLY GAVE BACK SOME OF THOSE ADVANCES AFTER A POOR START ON WALL STREET.

THE ONLY GAIN FOR THE DAY WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 13 POINTS, TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

BUT IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 17 POINTS, FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT. AND, IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ALSO WAS DOWN -- ALTHOUGH BARELY, JUST ONE-THIRD OF A POINT. IT WAS THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE DOWN SESSION FOR THE LONDON MARKET.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. BUT THE DOLLAR LOST VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/PLM
28-Jul-98 2:07 PM EDT (1807 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) AS TRADERS WORRIED ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 34, DOWN 93 POINTS OR ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 30, DOWN 17 POINTS.

STOCK PRICES HAD BEEN DOWN ALL DAY BUT PLUNGED IN EARLY AFTERNOON AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT MONICA LEWINSKY WILL TESTIFY BEFORE A GRAND JURY ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST MORE THAN 200 POINTS BEFORE RECOVERING IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TENATIVE AGREEMENT TO END TWO STRIKES AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS CAME AFTER THE CLOSE OF TRADING. THE STRIKES HAVE FORCED G-M TO SHUT DOWN MOST OF ITS NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS AND HAVE COST THE COMPANY ABOUT TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

A WIDELY FOLLOWED INDEX OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS DOWN THREE POINTS THIS MONTH. HOWEVER, THE INDEX IS STILL CLOSE TO A RECORD HIGH.

BELL ATLANTIC AND G-T-E, TWO REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES, PLAN TO MERGE IN A STOCK DEAL WORTH ABOUT 53 BILLION DOLLARS. THE COMBINATION WILL GIVE BELL ATLANTIC ACCESS TO G-T-E'S FAST GROWING COMPUTER INTERNET CONNECTION BUSINESS. THE DEAL COMES ONE DAY AFTER A-T AND T, THE LEADING U-S LONG DISTANCE CARRIER, ANNOUNCED A 10 BILLION DOLLAR JOINT VENTURE WITH BRITISH TELECOM.

THE STOCK OF THE CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA FELL TO A NEW LOW AFTER THE RECENT ESCAPE OF SIX INMATES FROM A PRISON IT OPERATES IN THE MIDWESTERN STATE OF OHIO. SOME U-S STATES HAVE BEEN USING PRIVATE COMPANIES TO RUN PRISONS IN A COST CUTTING MOVE BUT QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED REGARDING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THOSE PRIVATELY-RUN INSTITUTIONS.

THE THREE-COM COMPANY, A MAJOR PRODUCER OF COMPUTER NETWORK EQUIPMENT, WILL INVEST UP TO 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN CHINA. IN A JOINT VENTURE, THREE-COM PLANS TO ESTABLISH A CONSULTING AND RESEARCH DIVISION TO HELP MODERNIZE CHINA'S COMPUTER INFRASTRUCTURE.

LAST MONTH, GERMAN AUTOMAKERS B-M-W AND VOLKSWAGEN BATTLED FOR CONTROL OF ROLLS-ROYCE, THE BRITISH LUXURY CAR MAKER. VOLKSWAGEN WON, PAYING ALMOST 800 MILLION DOLLARS. BUT NOW, B-M-W HAS WON THE RIGHT TO USE THE ROLLS-ROYCE NAMEPLATE STARTING IN THE YEAR 2003, LEAVING VOLKSWAGEN WITH THE ROLLS PLANT AND THE BENTLEY NAMEPLATE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PLM
28-Jul-98 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE EDITORIAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE LOSS OF TWO POLICEMEN IN A SHOOTING INCIDENT IN THE U-S CAPITOL BUILDING, AND NEW MOMENTUM IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESIDENT. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NATION PAUSES (PAUSED TUESDAY) TO MOURN THE LOSS OF THE TWO U-S CAPITOL POLICEMEN GUNNED DOWN LAST WEEK. THE "DENVER [COLORADO] POST" WROTE THAT "AMERICANS SHOULD GIVE THANKS FOR [THE] U-S CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS ... WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS, STAFFERS AND VISITORS FROM A CRAZED GUNMAN." THE ATTACK LAST FRIDAY LEFT THE ALLEGED GUNMAN, RUSSELL WESTON, BADLY WOUNDED. THE "DENVER POST" ADDS:

VOICE: WHILE THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL SENT SHUDDERS THROUGH CITIZENS ACROSS THE NATION, THE SECURITY SYSTEM WORKED EXACTLY AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. /// OPT /// WESTON WAS STOPPED AT THE METAL DETECTOR BUT THEN BARGED THROUGH UNEXPECTEDLY AND WAS STOPPED BY CAPITOL POLICE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND HEADLINES THEIR EDITORIAL, "OPEN GOVERNMENT MUST REMAIN SO."

VOICE: IT MAY BE SMALL CONSOLATION, BUT SECURITY MEASURES AT THE CAPITOL PREVENTED A WORSE CALAMITY LAST FRIDAY. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND BEFORE THEY RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE'S BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: THE TOPEKA, KANSAS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SAYS THE SHOOTING OF THE TWO OFFICERS "WAS EERILY FAMILIAR" TO RESIDENTS OF THAT MIDWESTERN CITY. FIVE YEARS AGO, THE NEWSPAPER WRITES, "A GUNMAN WENT ON A RAMPAGE IN THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE... KILLING AN OFFICER." THE NEWSPAPER QUESTIONS HOW TO MAKE PUBLIC BUILDING SECURE.

VOICE: THE ANSWER: A FEW MORE [SECURITY] STEPS MAY BE CALLED FOR HERE AND THERE.... BUT IN REALITY, NO AMOUNT OF SECURITY WILL STOP A DETERMINED GUNMAN BEFORE HE CAN DO AT LEAST SOME DAMAGE.

TEXT: /// OPT /// IN THE NORTHEASTERN STATE OF MAINE, THE "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" ADVISES THAT THE "CAPITOL MUST STAY OPEN TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES."

VOICE: WE MUST KEEP IT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FREELY AND PROUDLY WALK THE HALLS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT. AND WE MUST NEVER, EVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THE VALUES FOR WHICH IT STANDS OR THE PRICE OF PRESERVING THEM. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: LAWYERS FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SPECIAL PROSECUTORS OFFICE ABOUT THE TERMS OF POSSIBLE GRAND JURY TESTIMONY BY THE PRESIDENT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT. "THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" WRITES THAT "BILL CLINTON IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND, LIKE ANY CITIZEN, HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ANSWER A GRAND JUREY'S SUBPOENA." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS:

VOICE: IN THE END, THE LAW IS PARAMOUNT. IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND JUSTICE. ... IF THE ALLEGATIONS AREN'T TRUE, THEN MR. CLINTON SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE TELLING THE PANEL, WHICH MEETS IN PRIVATE, EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. /// OPT ///... THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR. CLINTON -- PARTICULARLY THAT HE MAY HAVE LIED ABOUT HIS ACTIONS AND ASKED OTHERS TO DO THE SAME -- ARE TROUBLING. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CALLS THE INVESTIGATION AN "UNREASONABLE INQUIRY."

VOICE: IN SUBPOENAING PRESIDENT CLINTON, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KENNETH STARR IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF REASONABLENESS, AS WELL AS THE LAW. ... [MR.] STARR'S CASE LOOKS LIKE AN ATTEMPT ... TO CONCOCT CRIMINAL CHARGES OR PERJURY OR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE....

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/GE/KL
28-Jul-98 12:56 PM EDT (1656 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S/BOSNIA WAR CRIMINALS (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A SOURCE WITHIN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS DECIDED AGAINST PURSUING A NATO-LED MILITARY OPERATION TO CAPTURE FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS ONE TIME MILITARY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC. BOTH HAVE REMAINED FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE AFTER BEING INDICTED IN THE HAGUE ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES FOR ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST MUSLIMS DURING THE BALKAN WAR. BUT AS V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE REPORTS, MANY IN WASHINGTON, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO STEP UP ACTION TO BRING THE TWO SUSPECTS TO JUSTICE.

TEXT: OFFICIALLY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINS ITS POLICY TOWARD SUSPECTED BALKAN WAR CRIMINALS HAS NOT CHANGED: THE UNITED STATES STILL WANTS EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. BUT PRIVATELY, A HIGHLY PLACED WHITE HOUSE SOURCE ADMITS PLANS FOR A NATO OPERATION TO ARREST MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC HAVE BEEN SHELVED, CONCLUDING THE RISKS OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT REPORTS THAT NATO WAS PREPARING A MISSION TO CAPTURE BOTH MEN. RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE AMERICAN DIPLOMAT WHO NEGOTIATED THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS, HAS STRESSED BRINGING THE TWO BOSNIAN SERBS TO JUSTICE REMAINS A CRITICAL PART OF THE UNFINISHED BALKAN PEACE PROCESS. BUT NOW, AN ADMINISTRATION SOURCE SAYS THE WHITE HOUSE BELIEVES BOTH RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC HAVE BECOME SO MARGINALIZED THAT NEITHER IS A SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL FACTOR. ALTHOUGH NATO FORCES HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEIZE THEM, AS ONE UNNAMED OFFICIAL PUT IT, ONE DAY BOTH WILL FALL OFF THE TREE LIKE A PIECE OF DEAD FRUIT (WILL BE CAPTURED).

THAT'S NOT LIKELY, ACCORDING TO GEORGE BIDDLE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP, WHICH HAS ANALYSTS IN THE BALKANS.

ALL THE OTHER WAR CRIMINALS, EXCEPT FOR A FEW WHO HAVE SURRENDERED VOLUNTARILY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND TO ASSUME THAT THEY WILL SUDDENLY APPEAR AT THE HAGUE VOLUNTARILY WOULD, I THINK, SEEM OVERLY OPTIMISTIC. I THINK IT WILL REQUIRE A DIRECT ARREST BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND BY THE S-FOR NATO FORCES.

ON TUESDAY, MORE THAN 80 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALLED ON PRESIDENT CLINTON TO PURSUE THE ARREST OF THE TWO WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

THE LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING DEMOCRAT JOHN OLVER, ALSO WANT MORE PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO SHOW RESTRAINT IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.

IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING PEACE IN BOSNIA, SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND BRINGING AN END TO THE CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING WAGED BY THE MILOSEVIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST ITS CITIZENS IN KOSOVO, THEN WE MUST URGE A STRONGER UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD KOSOVO.

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