Voice of America, 98-08-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (ORAHOVAC, YUGOSLAVIA)

[02] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[03] U-S / KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[04] TURKEY MILITARY (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

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

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

[01] KOSOVO UNREST (L) BY ART CHIMES (ORAHOVAC, YUGOSLAVIA)

INTRO: RESIDENTS ARE STARTING TO RETURN TO A TOWN IN KOSOVO THAT SAW SOME OF THE WORST FIGHTING IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS. BUT V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS, THE TOWN IS FAR FROM RETURNING TO NORMAL.

TEXT: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVO RESIDENTS FLED THEIR HOMES IN THE PAST WEEK, AND AID AGENCIES WARN OF DISASTER SINCE MOST ARE LIVING OUT IN THE OPEN.

IN ORAHOVAC, A FEW RESIDENTS HAVE STARTED TO RETURN HOME, TWO WEEKS AFTER SERB FORCES TURNED BACK A REBEL ATTEMPT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE TOWN. BUT DESTRUCTION IS WIDESPREAD, AND A RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE WILL BE DIFFICULT.

ALMOST ALL THE SHOPS WERE SMASHED OR LOOTED. AN OLD ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAN SOLD VEGETABLES IN THE TOWN SQUARE, AND NEARBY, ONE SHOP WAS NEWLY-STOCKED WITH SOME PACKAGED FOODS AND CLEANING SUPPLIES. BUT THE SERB MANAGER, VESNA MILJKOVIC, SAID SHE WAS DOUBTFUL THAT SERBS AND ALBANIANS WOULD LIVE TOGETHER AGAIN. SHE SAID THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS CONSIDER THE TOWN ALBANIAN. BUT HOW CAN IT BE ALBANIAN, SHE SAYS, WHEN IT'S SERBIA.

ORAHOVAC IS NOT THE GHOST TOWN IT WAS A WEEK AGO, BUT RELATIVELY FEW OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS HAVE RETURNED. MOST REMAIN IN THE NEARBY HILLS, WITH LITTLE FOOD OR WATER. CHRISTOPHER HILL, THE AMERICAN ENVOY WHO CAME FOR A VISIT TUESDAY, SAID KOSOVO IS ON THE EDGE OF A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE UNLESS THE REFUGEES RETURN HOME.

SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DISTRIBUTED LEAFLETS GUARANTEEING SAFE RETURN FOR THOSE REFUGEES WHO GO HOME. BUT FIGHTERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AT ONE CHECKPOINT RIDICULED THE GUARANTEE. AND IN ORAHOVAC, ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE AFRAID TO BE SEEN WITH REPORTERS ON THE STREET, LEST THEY BE HARASSED BY SERB POLICE.

FIGHTING CONTINUED IN KOSOVO TUESDAY, AND FRESH FIRES WERE SEEN IN AREAS FIRMLY UNDER SERB CONTROL. REPORTERS DRIVING THROUGH CENTRAL KOSOVO SAW ONE VILLAGE JUST OFF KOSOVO'S MAIN EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN FLAMES. // EDS NOTE -- NOT VOICED, THE VILLAGE IN FLAMES WAS *PROBABLY* DJURDICE, SEVERAL KILOMETERS WEST OF THE KOMORANE CHECKPOINT ON THE PRISTINA-PEC HIGHWAY. // END NOTE //

POLICE GUARDING THE ENTRANCE OF THE VILLAGE THREATENED THE JOURNALISTS AT GUNPOINT AND TRIED TO SEIZE THEIR EQUIPMENT. THEY CONFISCATED RECORDINGS FROM TWO RADIO REPORTERS. BEHIND THEM HOUSES OF THE VILLAGE WERE IN FLAMES AS SMOKE FILLED THE SKY.

IN CENTRAL KOSOVO SERB FORCES WERE DUG INTO NEW TRENCHES ALONG A MOUNTAIN ROAD (NORTH OF ORAHOVAC). THEY WATCHED OVER THE BROAD VALLEY BELOW FROM OUTPOSTS ALONG THE HILLS. SHELL CASINGS LITTER THE ROAD, WHICH IS SCARRED BY TANK TRACKS.
NEB/ART/WDC/KBK
04-Aug-98 4:23 PM EDT (2023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS FIGHTING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE HAS DISPLACED ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE PROVINCE'S POPULATION. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS IT IS NOT ABLE TO BRING NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO CIVILIAN VICTIMS BECAUSE OF THE FIGHTING.

TEXT: THE REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS SHELLING CONTINUES IN THE DRENICA AREA OF KOSOVO, FORCING MORE PEOPLE TO FLEE. EYEWITNESSES SAY ROADS ARE PACKED WITH PEOPLE ON THE MOVE IN HORSE CARTS, TRACTORS, AND PRIVATE VEHICLES.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS U-N WORKERS ARE TRYING TO FIND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT THEIR HOMES TO ASSIST THEM. BUT HE SAYS THE WORKERS ARE BEING PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY THE FIGHTING, WHICH IS WIDESPREAD AND UNPREDICTABLE.

WE HAD A TEAM ACTUALLY GOING TO SOUTH OF SRBICA AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE PEOPLE ARE FLEEING, HOUSES ARE BURNING. THE REFUGEES WHO FLEE THE FIGHTING SAY HOUSES ARE BEING SET ON FIRE AND PILLAGED BY THE SERB PARAMILITARIES OR SERB FORCES.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES AT LEAST 130-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS IN KOSOVO. ABOUT 40-THOUSAND OTHERS HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING MONTENEGRO AND ALBANIA. OTHER AID AGENCIES PUT THE FIGURES MUCH HIGHER.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THERE IS NO MILITARY JUSTIFICATION FOR BURNING AND DESTROYING CIVILIAN HOMES. HE SAYS THESE TACTICS ARE REMINISCENT OF THOSE USED BY BOSNIAN SERBS DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS BIG PARTS OF KOSOVO ARE BEING EMPTIED OF PEOPLE, AND ALL THAT IS LEFT ARE EMACIATED ANIMALS AND BURNING HOUSES.

WHETHER THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE KOSOVO ALBANIANS OUT OF KOSOVO. WELL, I HOPE NOT. THAT WOULD BE TOTAL LUNACY. THE RESULT IS MANY AREAS ARE EMPTY OF PEOPLE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOW TERRIFIED.

[03] U-S / KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: HERE IN WASHINGTON, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO AND THE WORSENING PLIGHT OF REFUGEES THERE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: OFFICIALS HERE SAY THEY ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO, AND ARE ACCUSING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF RENEGING ON A PROMISE TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL ACCESS TO REFUGEES.

AID AGENCIES ESTIMATE THAT SOME 35-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IN THE FACE OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN FORCES -- BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER DISPLACED IN THE PROVINCE TO 200-THOUSAND.

MR. MILOSEVIC PLEDGED LATE LAST WEEK TO ALLOW GREATER ACCESS BY INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS TO THE REFUGEES, MANY OF THEM SAID TO BE LIVING IN THE OPEN WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER. BUT WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN P-J- CROWLEY TOLD REPORTERS HERE THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT'S WORDS HAVE THUS FAR NOT BEEN BACKED BY ACTIONS.

MR. CROWLEY SAID U-S OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IS A NEGOTIATED ONE THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC-ALBANIAN MAJORITY. HE ALSO SAID CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE NATO MILITARY ACTION CONTINUES AND IS AT AN ADVANCED STAGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/KL
04-Aug-98 12:25 PM EDT (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY MILITARY (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ARMED FORCES TUESDAY DISMISSED 28 OFFICERS -- MANY OF WHOM ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LINKS WITH PRO-ISLAMIC GROUPS. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE DECISION COMES ON THE SECOND DAY OF A SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL MEETING.

TEXT: TURKEY'S STAUNCHLY PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES ARE DUE TO SELECT A NEW COMMANDER IN CHIEF DURING THE COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH END THURSDAY, TO REPLACE THE CURRENT CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF, ISMAIL HAKKI KARADAYI. GENERAL KARADAYI, WHO RETIRES THIS WEEK, IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED BY THE LAND FORCES COMMANDER GENERAL HUSEYIN KIVRIKOGLU. MILITARY EXPERTS SAY THE CHOICE OF A NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE FUTURE COURSE OF TURKISH POLITICS.

THE MILITARY -- WHICH VIEWS ITSELF AS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE SECULAR REPUBLIC FOUNDED BY KEMAL ATATURK -- HAS BEGUN TO PLAY AN OPENLY-POLITICAL ROLE IN ORDER TO COMBAT WHAT MILITARY OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS THE GROWING THREAT POSED BY ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ISLAMISTS BEGAN 18 MONTHS AGO AFTER THE PRO-ISLAMIC "WELFARE" PARTY CAME TO POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TURKEY'S MODERN HISTORY. //OPT// WELFARE'S OVERTURE TO COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN AND LIBYA AND ITS ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE A MORE ISLAMIC TONE TO DAILY LIFE TRIGGERED PANIC AMONG TURKEY'S PRO-WESTERN TURKS. //END OPT//

SO MANY TURKS WERE GREATLY RELIEVED AFTER PRESSURE FROM THE MILITARY FORCED THE ISLAMISTS TO STEP DOWN LAST YEAR. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BANNED WELFARE, AND BARRED ITS LEADER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, FROM POLITICS FOR FIVE YEAR.

THE GENERALS HAVE SINCE KEPT UP PRESSURE ON THE RULING MINORITY COALITION, LED BY THE CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, TO CARRY OUT ANTI-FUNDAMENTALIST REFORMS. //OPT// THESE INCLUDE A LAW THAT SHUT DOWN HUNDRED OF ISLAMIC CLERICAL TRAINING SCHOOLS WHICH THE MILITARY SAYS HAD BECOME FERTILE RECRUITING GROUND FOR ISLAMIC MILITANTS. //END OPT//

LAST MONTH THE MILITARY DISMISSED A RECORD 164 OFFICERS ACCUSED OF FUNDAMENTALIST LINKS. BUT ACCORDING TO SOME ANALYSTS, BOTH THE MILITARY AND MR. YILMAZ MAY HAVE OVERPLAYED THEIR HANDS. THEY CITE NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH ERUPTED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF BANS ON THE ISLAMIC HEADSCARF IN STATE UNIVERSITIES. RECENT OPINION POLLS SHOW THAT MR. YILMAZ'S RIGHT-WING "MOTHERLAND" PARTY IS RAPIDLY LOSING SUPPORT AMONG ITS RELIGIOUSLY CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUENTS.

THE ISLAMISTS, WHO HAVE REGROUPED AS THE "VIRTUE" PARTY, ARE LEADING THEIR PRO-SECULAR RIVALS IN OPINION POLLS.

THE KEY QUESTION IN ANKARA NOW, IN THE WORDS OF ONE ANALYST, IS JUST HOW WILL GENERAL KIVRIKOGLU RESPOND, SHOULD THE ISLAMISTS RETURN TO POWER AGAIN? (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
04-Aug-98 9:15 AM EDT (1315 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AFTER AN INITIAL RISE, WEST EUROPE'S BIGGEST STOCK MARKETS CLOSED LOWER TUESDAY. VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: MARKET PRICES ZIG-ZAGGED IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS, STARTING SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER, BUT ENDING DECIDEDLY LOWER. ONE-DAY DECLINES FOR EACH MARKET WERE ALL IN THE VICINITY OF ONE PERCENT, CONTINUING THE TREND OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS, SPARKED LARGELY BY DISMAL ECONOMIC NEWS FROM THE FAR EAST AND SIGNS THAT EUROPEAN ECONOMIES MAY BE HEADING TOWARD RECESSION.

EUROPE'S MARKETS CLOSED BEFORE THE SHARP DROP TUESDAY ON WALL STREET. THE BIGGEST DECLINE WAS HERE IN LONDON, WITH THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX OFF ALMOST 74 POINTS -- MORE THAN ONE-AND-ONE-QUARTER PERCENT. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX CLOSED ALMOST 56 POINTS LOWER AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX WAS OFF JUST OVER 47 POINTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
04-Aug-98 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) IN A WAVE OF WHAT ANALYSTS CALL "TECHNICALLY-RELATED" SELLING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 84-HUNDRED-87, DOWN 299 POINTS -- OR MORE THAN THREE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE-THOUSAND-72, DOWN 40 POINTS. THE VOLUME OF MORE THAN 800 MILLION SHARES TRADED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST IN HISTORY.

TRADING WAS EXTREMELY VOLATILE WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE RISING ABOUT 60 POINTS IN THE FIRST HOUR. BUT WHEN STOCKS HEADED DOWN, THE SELLING BEGAN TO ACCELERATE.

ANALYSTS SAY MUCH OF THE SELLING SEEMED TO BE TECHNICALLY-RELATED, RATHER THAN THE RESULT OF ANY SPECIFIC NEWS.

WHEN BOTH THE TRANSPORTATION AVERAGE AND THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE SWING IN UNISON, THE PRIMARY TREND OF THE MARKET IS CLEARLY INDICATED.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE STAGE HAS BEEN SET FOR FURTHER SELLING, ESPECIALLY IF STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS ARE FORCED TO LIQUIDATE THEIR HOLDINGS TO MEET REDEMPTION ORDERS.

THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE IS NOW 850 POINTS -- OR MORE THAN NINE PERCENT -- BELOW ITS HIGH WHICH WAS SET LAST MONTH.

THE INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS WAS DOWN IN JUNE FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW. HOWEVER, ANALYSTS SAY MUCH OF THE JUNE DECREASE WAS THE RESULT OF THE STRIKES AT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE INDEX IS NOT FORECASTING A RECESSION IN THE UNITED STATES.

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED TO SPIN OFF ITS DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE PARTS UNIT WITH G-M STOCKHOLDERS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE NEW COMPANY. ANALYSTS SAY THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER AN INDEPENDENT DELPHI WILL HAVE BETTER RELATIONS WITH ITS UNION WORK FORCE. ONE OF THE STRIKES THAT RECENTLY SHUT DOWN G-M'S NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS OCCURRED AT A DELPHI PLANT.

G-M ALSO ANNOUNCED IT PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE ITS NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE SALES, SERVICE AND MARKETING OPERATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO CUT COSTS.

THE BOWATER PAPER COMPANY SAYS IT WILL SELL A CANADIAN SHEET PAPER MILL TO THE WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY FOR 520 MILLION DOLLARS. BOWATER SAYS THE SALE WILL ALLOW IT TO CONCENTRATE ON ITS CORE NEWSPRINT BUSINESS.

THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS, WHICH HAS ALREADY IMPACTED SOME AMERICAN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, IS NOW HURTING AT LEAST ONE U-S GAMBLING CASINO FIRM. THE MIRAGE CASINO COMPANY WITH OPERATIONS IN LAS VEGAS SAYS ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS PLUNGED BY 31 PERCENT AND THAT THE LACK OF HIGH ROLLING GAMBLERS FROM ASIA WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
04-Aug-98 5:28 PM EDT (2128 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A CALL FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON TO HELP MEDIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE KASHMIR DISPUTE; CUBA'S FIDEL CASTRO VISITS GRENADA; AND ADVICE FOR MR. CLINTON. WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: INDIAN AND PAKISTANI FORCES HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING ARTILLERY FIRE IN THE DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION. /// OPT /// ABOUT 100 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE FIGHTING BEGAN LAST THURSDAY. /// END OPT /// THE UNITED STATES (MONDAY) REPEATED ITS WILLINGNESS TO HELP SETTLE THE CONFLICT, BUT INSISTED IT WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE UNLESS INDIA AND PAKISTAN REQUEST SUCH ASSISTANCE. AN EDITORIAL IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE" URGES PRESIDENT CLINTON TO BECOME CLOSELY INVOLVED IN SETTLING THE DISPUTE.

VOICE: THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI DETONATION OF ATOMIC DEVICES IN MAY TRANSFORMED THEIR DISPUTE FROM A REGIONAL SQUABBLE TO A CONFLICT WITH INTERNATIONAL REPERCUSSIONS. ... TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE, PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD BE WISE TO EMULATE THE CAMP DAVID EXAMPLE, INVITING INDIAN AND PAKISTANI LEADERS TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE KASHMIR CONFLICT. THE CAMP DAVID MODEL WOULD ALLOW FOR BOTH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASSISTANCE FROM A SUPERPOWER SPONSOR THAT PAKISTAN DESIRE.

TEXT: CUBAN LEADER FIDEL CASTRO PAID A TWO-DAY VISIT (OVER THE WEEKEND) TO GRENADA, THE FINAL STOP OF A THREE-NATION CARIBBEAN TOUR THAT INCLUDED VISITS TO JAMAICA AND BARBADOS. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS THIS EDITORIAL COMMENT ABOUT THE VISIT.

VOICE: A DICTATOR WHO RULES A COUNTRY AS LONG AS FIDEL CASTRO HAS GOVERNED CUBA SOMETIMES GETS TO EDIT THE HISTORY HE HELPED CREATE. MR. CASTRO DID JUST THAT ... WHEN HE VISITED GRENADA, THE TINY CARIBBEAN ISLAND THE UNITED STATES INVADED ALMOST 15-YEARS AGO IN THE NAME OF PREVENTING CUBAN CONTAMINATION IN THE HEMISPHERE. MR. CASTRO CLEARLY SAVORED THE IRONY OF HIS WARM OFFICIAL GREETING BY THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER KEITH MITCHELL.

TEXT: U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OF AN ALLEGED PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIR. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY AND TRYING TO COVER IT UP ILLEGALLY. "THE MIAMI HERALD" NOTES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THAT -- FRIENDS AND FOES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON WERE ON T-V OVER THE WEEKEND EXHORTING HIM TO 'TELL THE TRUTH.' THE "HERALD" GOES ON TO ASK:

VOICE: BUT WHAT IF THE PRESIDENT IS AND HAS BEEN TELLING THE TRUTH? WHAT IF THERE ARE NO INCRIMINATING STAINS ON THE DRESS? WHAT IF MS. LEWINSKY IS JUST A FLIRTATIOUS GROUPIE, SCARED THAT SHE AND HER MOTHER COULD WIND UP IN PRISON? ... /// OPT /// THE BEST ADVICE GIVEN ANYONE -- BE IT PRESIDENT CLINTON OR MONICA LEWINSKY -- TESTIFYING BEFORE A GRAND JURY IS: TELL THE TRUTH. /// END OPT /// BUT IN THIS CASE, IS ANYONE PREPARED TO LISTEN OR ACCEPT THE TRUTH? MUCH OF WASHINGTON ALREADY SEEMS TO HAVE MADE UP, AND CLOSED, ITS MIND AS TO WHAT THE TRUTH REALLY IS.

TEXT: THE "NEW YORK POST" LOOKS AHEAD TO AUGUST 17TH WHEN MR. CLINTON IS SCHEDULED TO GIVE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. THE NEWSPAPER WRITES:

VOICE: IN TWO WEEKS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL GO BEFORE [SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KENNETH] STARR'S GRAND JURY -- AN EVENT WITHOUT PARALLEL IN AMERICAN HISTORY -- AND FACE AN UNPRECEDENTED CHOICE: EITHER ADMIT THAT HE LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, OR ACCUSE SOMEONE ELSE, MONICA LEWINSKY, OF COMMITTING PERJURY.

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/GE/RAE
04-Aug-98 10:51 AM EDT (1451 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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