Voice of America, 98-09-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA UNREST (L-ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (TIRANA)

[02] SPAIN / ETA CEASEFIRE (L ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

[03] BOSNIA VOTE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[04] CHECHNYA MODEL FOR KOSOVO? BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[05] EURO BAROMETER (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[06] KURDS AGREE (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[07] RUSSIA/EU (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (MOSCOW)

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

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

[10] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ALBANIA UNREST (L-ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (TIRANA)

INTRO: SUPPORTERS OF ALBANIA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, SALI BERISHA, STAGED ANOTHER PROTEST MARCH THROUGH THE HEART OF TIRANA THURSDAY, AMID A CONTINUING STANDOFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO. BUT WHILE TENSIONS ARE CONTINUING TO RUN HIGH IN THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THERE ARE SIGNS THAT BOTH SIDES ARE SEEKING A WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS.

TEXT: /// SOUND OF DEMO -- IN FULL, THEN UNDER AND OUT ///

THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A LETUP IN THE OPPOSITION'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT. SEVERAL THOUSAND SUPPORTERS OF MR. BERISHA'S "DEMOCRATIC PARTY" STAGED ANOTHER MARCH THROUGH TIRANA'S SKANDERBEG SQUARE ON THURSDAY, AFTER A NOISY RALLY IN FRONT OF THE NEARBY PARTY HEADQUARTERS.

INSIDE THE BUILDING, MR. BERISHA ADDRESSED A PACKED NEWS CONFERENCE THAT WAS RELAYED TO THE PARTY FAITHFUL VIA LOUDSPEAKERS. HIS FACE FLUSHED AND HIS VOICE HOARSE, MR. BERISHA'S LATEST DIATRIBES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT WERE FREQUENTLY DROWNED OUT BY THE CHEERS AND CHANTS FROM THE CROWD OUTSIDE.

BUT WHILE HE CONTINUES TO DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER NANO, THE OPPOSITION LEADER IS ALSO SIGNALING A DESIRE TO FIND A PEACEFUL WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS. CHANTS OF "SVELJE POLITKIA" -- "POLITICAL SETTLEMENT" -- WERE AMONG THOSE HEARD AT THURSDAY'S DEMONSTRATION HERE.

MR. BERISHA IS VOWING THAT HIS SUPPORTERS WILL NOT SEEK CONFRONTATION WITH THE POLICE, AND HE IS CALLING FOR THE FORMATION OF AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT OF TECHNOCRATS TO RESTORE STABILITY.

PRIME MINISTER NANO HAS DISMISSED CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION, AND HAS VOWED TO USE ALL CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS TO RESTORE ORDER.

THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM TO HAND OVER ITS WEAPONS, //OPT// AND MR. BERISHA HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE PARLIAMENT TO EXPLAIN HIS ROLE IN MONDAY'S VIOLENT UNREST WHEN ARMED OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS SEIZED SEVERAL KEY BUILDINGS IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLED AN ATTEMPTED COUP. //END OPT//

BUT THE LEGISLATORS THURSDAY AGAIN DELAYED A MOVE TO STRIP MR. BERISHA OF HIS PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO ATTEMPTS TO ENFORCE EITHER ITS BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS, OR ITS DECISION TO SEIZE ARMS FROM OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS. MEANWHILE, WESTERN ENVOYS HERE ARE CONTINUING BEHIND-THE-SCENES TALKS WITH BOTH SIDES IN A BID TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS.

MR. BERISHA SAYS THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED THE MURDER. ALBANIA'S PROSECUTOR-GENERAL WILL SAY ONLY THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. (SIGNED)
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17-Sep-98 10:20 AM EDT (1420 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] SPAIN / ETA CEASEFIRE (L ONLY) BY GIL CARBAJAL (MADRID)

INTRO: THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED CAUTIOUSLY TO A CEASEFIRE DECLARATION BY THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP E-T-A. GIL CARBAJAL IN MADRID REPORTS THE UNCONDITIONAL TRUCE IS TO GO INTO EFFECT FRIDAY.

TEXT: SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER JAIME MAYOR OREJA EXPRESSED DEEP SKEPTICISM WITH THE E-T-A ANNOUNCEMENT. MR. MAYOR OREJA CALLED FOR CAUTION AND PRUDENCE. AND HE REITERATED THE GOVERMENT'S DEMAND THAT E-T-A LAY DOWN ITS WEAPONS BEFORE ANY NEGOTIATIONS CAN TAKE PLACE.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF SPAIN'S MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTY, THE SOCIALISTS, MADE SIMILAR COMMENTS.

E-T-A DECLARED THE CEASEFIRE -- THE FIRST UNCONDITIONAL TRUCE BY THE SEPARATIST GROUP -- LATE WEDNESDAY. MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN 30 YEARS OF ARMED ACTIVITY BY THE ORGANIZATION.

IN A FOUR-PAGE COMMUNIQUE PUBLISHED IN THE RADICAL BASQUE NEWSPAPER EUSKADI INFORMACION, E-T-A SAID THE PRESENT POLITICAL SITUATION IN SPAIN IS THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR ACHIEVING ITS GOAL OF BASQUE SELF-DETERMINATION SINCE THE SPANISH TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY 20 YEARS AGO.

NATIONALIST PARTIES IN THE BASQUE REGION LAST WEEKEND SIGNED A DECLARATION CALLING FOR MULTILATERAL PEACE TALKS WITH E-T-A. IT WAS SIGNED BY 23 BASQUE POLITICAL PARTIES, LABOR UNIONS, AND OTHER GROUPS. THE DECLARATION FOLLOWED MONTHS OF SECRET TALKS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL BASQUE PARTY -- WHICH CONTROLS THE BASQUE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT -- AND OF HERRI BATASUNA, THE POLITICAL WING OF E-T-A.

THE CEASEFIRE COMES JUST WEEKS BEFORE BASQUE REGIONAL ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 25TH. IN PREPARATION FOR THOSE ELECTIONS, THE E-T-A POLITICAL WING CHANGED ITS NAME AND SOUGHT TO BROADEN ITS BASE OF SUPPORT TO ATTRACT MORE MODERATE BASQUE NATIONALISTS.

E-T-A HAS NOT CARRIED OUT A TERRORIST ACT SINCE JUNE 25TH WHEN IT MURDERED A COUNCILMAN FROM THE RULING POPULAR PARTY. HOWEVER, ITS YOUTH GROUPS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE, CARRYING OUT ACTS OF ARSON AND VANDALISM. IN JULY, THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN THE PRO-E-T-A NEWSPAPER EGIN, SEIZING DOCUMENTS THE GOVERNMENT SAYS CONFIRM DIRECT COLLABORATION BY MEMBERS OF THE NEWSPAPER STAFF IN THE FINANCIAL, INFORMATION GATHERING, AND TERRORIST ACTS OF E-T-A. (SIGNED)
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17-Sep-98 11:29 AM EDT (1529 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA VOTE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SERBIAN HARDLINERS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE ACCUSING INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OFFICIALS OF WITHHOLDING EMBARRASSING VOTING RESULTS FROM ELECTIONS LAST WEEKEND. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: HARDLINE BOSNIAN SERBS FROM THE RADICAL AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES ARE ACCUSING INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OFFICIALS OF DELIBERATELY WITHHOLDING THE RESULTS THAT THEY SAY WOULD CONFIRM THEIR CLAIM OF VICTORY IN A NUMBER OF RACES, INCLUDING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN PART OF BOSNIA, KNOWN AS THE SERB REPUBLIC.

THE WESTERN POWERS HAVE SUPPORTED THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE SERB REPUBLIC, BILJANA PLAVSIC, WHO HAS ENDORSED THE DAYTON PRINCIPLES. THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, WHICH ENDED THE FIGHTING IN BOSNIA, AIMS TO REDUCE ETHNIC DIVISIONS THERE.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E, WHICH SUPERVISED THE ELECTION -- WAS SUPPOSED TO RELEASE PRELIMINARY RESULTS TUESDAY. BUT O-S-C-E OFFICIALS DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL FINAL RESULTS WERE AVAILABLE -- PROBABLY NEXT WEEK.

IN WASHINGTON, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY ADMITS THAT MANY RACES ARE CLOSE. BUT HE SAYS PRELIMINARY RESULTS COULD BE MISLEADING. ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THE VOTES WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THOSE PRELIMINARY RESULTS, AND IN MANY CLOSE RACES THAT COULD BE DECISIVE. THE PRELIMINARY VOTE TALLY WOULD NOT INCLUDE VOTES FROM REFUGEES ABROAD WHO SOME ANALYSTS SAY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT MODERATE CANDIDATES.

WESTERN OBSERVERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE HARDLINERS MAY HAVE GAINED IN THIS ELECTION. THEY SAY IT WOULD BE A SETBACK IN THE POSTWAR NORMALIZATION OF BOSNIA.

THE PRESENCE OF MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND NATO-LED TROOPS HAS BROUGHT PEACE AND STABILITY TO BOSNIA, AND INTERNATIONAL AID HAS BEEN HELPING REBUILD THE STILL-FRAGILE BOSNIAN ECONOMY. BUT ETHNIC TENSIONS ARE NEVER FAR FROM THE SURFACE, AND THE CONFLICT IN NEARBY KOSOVO BETWEEN SERBS AND MOSTLY-MUSLIM ALBANIANS HAS HELPED FUEL RENEWED NATIONALISM IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
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17-Sep-98 5:34 AM EDT (0934 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CHECHNYA MODEL FOR KOSOVO? BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MANY BALKANS ANALYSTS SAY THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS A POLITICAL CRISIS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS. THE CONFLICT REFLECTS THE CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER KOSOVO SHOULD REMAIN PART OF SERBIA, AS THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE INSISTS, OR WHETHER KOSOVO SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT, AS THE 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN KOSOVO INSISTS. ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES ON THE FINAL STATUS OF KOSOVO THAT SOME ANALYSTS HAVE PROPOSED IS THE SO-CALLED "CHECHNYA MODEL." THE CHECHENS FOUGHT A WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AGAINST RUSSIA FROM 1994 TO 1996. THE ACCORD ENDING THE WAR POSPONED A DECISION ON FINAL

TEXT: JANUSZ BUGAJSKI [YAHN-USH BOO-GYE-SKEE], DIRECTOR OF EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN WASHINGTON, D-C, SAYS KOSOVO'S FINAL STATUS OUGHT TO BE DECIDED BY THE REGION'S POPULATION, PARTICULARLY ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- BUGAJSKI (0:47) "BUT I THINK ONE HAS TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS -- EVERYTHING FROM AUTONOMY FROM WITHIN SERBIA, AND I MEAN GENUINE AUTONOMY, NOT A MR. MILOSOVIC-TYPE AUTONOMY, TO A THIRD REPUBLIC STATUS, IN WHICH CASE THE MONTENEGRINS WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE DISCUSSIONS, OR SOME KIND OF A SPECIAL STATUS OUTSIDE OF YUGOSLAVIA, WHERE THEY'RE UNDER SOME KIND OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTORATE, OR MAYBE EVEN EVENTUAL STATEHOOD. IF WE COMPARE IT TO THE SITUATION IN CHECHNYA, THE IDEA IS THAT THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE WOULD BE PUT OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. [IN] CHECHNYA, THE INDEPENDENCE QUESTION IS PUT OFF FOR FIVE [YEARS]. IN THE MEANTIME, CHECHNYA IS BASICALLY GOVERNED BY THE CHECHENS, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MILITARY, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECURITY FORCES, THEY BASICALLY HAVE THEIR OWN ECONOMY, AND CONTROL OF THEIR OWN LOCAL AFFAIRS, WITHOUT HAVING DECLARED STATEHOOD, INDEPENDENCE, AND SEPARATION AT THIS POINT."

TEXT: BUT, MR. BUGAJSKI SAYS, THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SITUATION OF RUSSIA AND THE CHECHENS IN CHECHNYA AND THAT OF SERBIA AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- BUGAJSKI (1:07) "THE DIFFERENCE WITH KOSOVO IS THAT THE CHECHENS WERE IN A MUCH STRONGER POSITION. IN EFFECT, THEY HAD DEFEATED THE RED ARMY, PARTICULARLY IN GROSNY AND SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES, AND WERE IN A MUCH BETTER BARGAINING POSITION VIS-A-VIS MOSCOW. THE KOSOVARS, THE K-L-A [KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] HAS BASICALLY LOST TERRITORY, LOST AT LEAST THIS PHASE OF THE WAR TO THE SERB SECURITY FORCES. HENCE, THEY'RE IN A WEAKER NEGOTIATING POSITION. [OPT] I THINK THE ONE CARD THEY DO HAVE IS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND PARTICULARLY THE UNITED STATES. IF THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE IS PUT OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME SOME GENUINE FORM OF AUTONOMY, LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, IS INSTITUTED, THEN I'D BE ALL FOR IT. I THINK THAT'S A POTENTIALLY VIABLE SOLUTION, PARTICULARLY IF IT STOPS THE VIOLENCE. IN PRACTICE I FEAR IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK AS SMOOTHLY AS I'VE OUTLINED -- BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF ANOTHER FACTOR. THE GROWTH OF THE K-L-A, EVEN THOUGH THE GUERRILLAS ARE AT THE MOMENT NOT VERY ACTIVE, HAS IN FACT RADICALIZED THE POPULATION. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT AFTER THIS MAJOR SERB ONSLAUGHT IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT THE POPULATION WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT [IBRAHIM] RUGOVA SIGNS THAT ISN'T VERIFIED, IMPLEMENTED, AND OVERSEEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY." [END OPT]

TEXT: PAUL WILLIAMS IS A PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D-C. HE SAYS THE CHECHNYA MODEL OF INTERMEDIATE SOVEREIGNTY MIGHT WORK WELL FOR KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- WILLIAMS (1:07) [OPT] "I THINK THE MOST SENSIBLE APPROACH TO RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS IN A PEACEFUL WAY IS A LEVEL OF INTERMEDIATE SOVEREIGNTY FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS. AND [END OPT] THIS WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE KOSOVO WOULD REMAIN A PART OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, BUT IT WOULD EXERCISE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ITS OWN INTERNAL AFFAIRS, EDUCATION, TAXATION, HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS BEGIN TO DEVELOP AN INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY, WHERE IT COULD ENTER INTO VARIOUS TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER STATES. AND, OVER THIS PERIOD OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS, IT WOULD MAKE GOOD ON CERTAIN COMMITMENTS -- TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE SERBIAN MINORITY POPULATION IN KOSOVO, TO RESPECT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF MACEDONIA AND TO REJECT ANY POLITICAL OR TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION WITH ALBANIA. [OPT] AND IF IT HAS DONE THAT, IT WILL HAVE EARNED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, AND THEN IT CAN SEPARATE OUT FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, BECOME AN INDEPENDENT STATE, BUT ALSO STILL BE BOUND BY THESE ASSURANCES NOT TO AFFECT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA AND TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE SERBIANS IN KOSOVO, AND THEREBY YOU'D HAVE REGIONAL STABILITY." [END OPT]

TEXT: FOR THIS KIND OF "FRAMEWORK FOR INTERMEDIATE SOVEREIGNTY" TO WORK IN KOSOVO, PROFESSOR WILLIAMS SAYS, WESTERN GOVERNMENTS WOULD NEED TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- WILLIAMS (0:35) "QUITE FRANKLY THIS WOULD BE LAID OUT BY THE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. AND ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE RATHER THAN HAVING SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY, TO HAVE A DAYTON TWO, IN LONDON, PARIS, OR VIENNA, AND TO BRING THE PARTIES TOGETHER, SPEND THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, AND HAMMER OUT THE SPECIFICS OF A PROCESS FOR THE EARNED RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO. [OPT] AND THIS COULD BE COMPLETE WITH THE OBLIGATION OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TO PERMIT INTERNATIONAL MONITORS FROM THE O-S-C-E [ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE] OR THE E-U [EUROPEAN UNION] TO COME INTO KOSOVO, AND MONITOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MINORITY RIGHTS OF THE SERBIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO, TO MONITOR THE BORDERS SO THERE IS NO TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION." [END OPT]

TEXT: REACHING AN INTERIM AGREEMENT ON THE FINAL STATUS OF KOSOVO IS DOUBTFUL, PAUL WILLIAMS SAYS, IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE BECAUSE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL JOHN FOX, WHO DIRECTS THE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE, IS ALSO SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR AN AGREEMENT. FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS, TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR NEGOTIATIONS, AND DISASTER LOOMS -- FOR THE KOSOVARS AND FOR THE WEST.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- FOX (1:30) [OPT] "I THINK IF WE HAD A SERIOUS NEGOTIATING PROCESS THAT WAS NOT OCCURRING IN THE MIDDLE OF A KILLING FIELD, AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT COULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF VERY SKILLFUL AND CREATIVE SCENARIOS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD ON FINAL STATUS, BUT THESE ARE REALLY SO ACADEMIC AT THIS POINT. THEY'RE IMPORTANT IF YOU'VE GOT A SERIOUS FRAMEWORK, BUT THE SECURITY FRAMEWORK DOESN'T EXIST, AND THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO TIME LEFT. WE HAVE A MATTER OF WEEKS, NOT MONTHS, UNTIL THE WINTER COMES TO THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS AND FIELDS OF KOSOVO WHERE WE HAVE THESE TENS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS STRUGGLING TO HANG ON. [END OPT] THE MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE ALREADY DYING OF EXPOSURE AND MALNUTRITION. THIS IS SET TO BECOME A FULL-FLEDGED TECHNICOLOR DISASTER IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. AND THERE IS NOTHING -- REPEAT, NOTHING -- REMOTELY SERIOUS UNDERWAY IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON, TO FACE THIS DISASTER. WASHINGTON IS STILL IN A STATE OF DENIAL AND SELF-SPINNING ON THIS. AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE REGION, FOR A LOT OF CIVILIANS OUT THERE, AND FOR U-S LEADERSHIP IN EUROPE AND FOR NATO AND FOR EUROPEAN SECURITY ARE AS DISASTROUS IN THEIR OWN WAY AS THE RESULTS ON THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE ARE ALREADY PROVING TO BE."

TEXT: JOHN FOX, PAUL WILLIAMS, JANUSZ BUGAJSKI, AND OTHER BALKAN ANALYSTS SAY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, WILL ULTIMATELY NEED TO BACK UP DIPLOMACY WITH THE CREDIBLE USE OF FORCE, IF ANY AGREEMENT ON THE FINAL STATUS OF KOSOVO IS TO BE REACHED.
17-Sep-98 2:19 PM EDT (1819 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO BAROMETER (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION HAS ISSUED ITS LATEST OPINION SURVEY ON ATTITUDES RANGING FROM THE UPCOMING SINGLE CURRENCY TO THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF PROSPECTIVE NEW E-U MEMBERS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS ON THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN EUROPEAN OPINION.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE EUROPEAN UNION BEGAN TAKING SURVEYS, 60-PERCENT OF EUROPEANS POLLED SAYS THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE SINGLE CURRENCY, THE "EURO," IN PLACE OF THEIR OWN. ITALIANS ARE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC -- 83-PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED APPROVED. RESIDENTS OF LUXEMBOURG AND THE NETHERLANDS ARE ALSO HEAVILY IN FAVOR OF THE EURO, WHICH BECOMES A LEGAL CURRENCY ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THOSE MOST OPPOSED TO THE EURO ARE PEOPLE IN DENMARK, SWEDEN AND BRITAIN. THOSE THREE COUNTRIES HAVE DECIDED NOT ADOPT THE EURO COME JANUARY FIRST. ON THE OTHER HAND IN GREECE -- WHICH DOES NOT YET MEET ECONOMIC QUALIFICATIONS TO ADOPT THE EURO -- 67-PERCENT OF ITS CITIZENS FAVOR A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY.

ANNA MELICH LEADS THE UNIT WHICH CONDUCTS THE TWICE-YEARLY SURVEYS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION.

WE ARE MEASURING THE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE EURO SINCE 1993 AND THEN IT WAS UNKNOWN, SO THERE WAS NOT MUCH ENTHUSIASM FOR THE EURO. THEN STARTING TWO-YEARS AGO, MORE KNOWLEDGE, MORE ENTHUSIASM -- BUT NOT IN EVERY COUNTRY. SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT GERMANS WERE VERY RETICENT TOWARD A SINGLE CURRENCY, AUSTRIANS WERE VERY RETICENT. NOW IN THIS VERY LAST SURVEY ... THE ... POSITIVE ATTITUDES OF THE GERMANS HAVE PASSED OVER 50-PERCENT ... ALSO IT HAPPENED IN DENMARK AND AUSTRIA. SO IT IS THE MOST POSITIVE SURVEY WE'VE EVER HAD ON THE EURO.

MS. MELICH'S UNIT ALSO ASKS ABOUT ATTITUDES TOWARD PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS. THE FAVORED COUNTRIES ARE HUNGARY, POLAND, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. RESIDENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE SPLIT MORE EVENLY WHEN THEY ARE ASKED ABOUT SLOVENIA AND ROMANIA.

SCANDINAVIANS AND THE DUTCH ARE MOST IN FAVOR OF ADDING NEW MEMBERS. AUSTRIANS AND BELGIANS, HOWEVER, ARE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC.

THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES WHO STARTED CONTACTS WITH THE UNION, THE FIRST ONES WHO BECAME DEMOCRATIC, THE FIRST WHO ARE WELL KNOWN, THAT ARE BIG, THAT ARE RICHER, ET CETERA. SO THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE THREE OF THEM. NOW, IF THERE (IS) A LITTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PERCENTAGES OF THESE THREE, THIS IS NOT VERY IMPORTANT.

THE IRISH AND THE DUTCH ARE THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. BUT IN SWEDEN, MORE BELIEVE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP IS A BAD THING -- RATHER THAN GOOD. (SIGNED)
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17-Sep-98 11:35 AM EDT (1535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] KURDS AGREE (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: TWO KURDISH LONG-TIME BITTER RIVALS HAVE AGREED IN WASHINGTON TO WORK TOWARD REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MASSOUD BARZANI AND JALAL TALIBANI WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AFTER TWO DAYS OF FACE TO FACE MEETINGS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT.

TEXT: THEY WERE THE FIRST SUCH MEETINGS IN FOUR YEARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL LEADERS. THE MEETINGS WERE FOSTERED BY THE UNITED STATES AND A BEAMING SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PRESIDED IN THE ORNATE TREATY ROOM OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT AS THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE.

THE RENEWED SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN MR. BARZANI AND MR.TALABANI EXEMPLIFIED BY THEIR JOINT MEETING AND JOINT STATEMENT TODAY WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS TO HELP THEIR PEOPLE.

SHE SAID THERE CAN BE NO MORE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS TO ERADICATE WHOLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS LAUNCHED IN THE PAST. MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE UNITED STATES IS INTENSIFYING ITS EFFORTS TO HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE--ARAB AND KURD--DEVELOP WHAT SHE CALLED A DEEPER SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE AND TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING A FUTURE DEMOCRATIC AND PLURALISTIC IRAQ.

A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAID THE ASSURANCE OF AMERICAN CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE WILL BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRAQ.

MR. BARZANI, SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, SAID THE AGREEMENT WILL HELP INSURE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR THE KURDISH PEOPLE AND HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE IS NOT SEEKING TO BREAK UP IRAQ.

HERE I WOULD LIKE TO AFFIRM AND INTEREST FOR THE UNITY OF IRAQ. (KURDISH) WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS NOT AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION.

OFFICIALS HERE EXPLAIN THAT THE KURDISH REGION OF IRAQ ALWAYS HAD A DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND THE KURDS FEEL SAFER WITH THAT SO LONG AS THE PRESENT REGIME IS IN POWER IN BAGHDAD. JALAL TALABANI SPOKE IN ENGLISH AND EXPRESSED SIMILAR FEELINGS.

OUR PEOPLE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A UNITED, DEMOCRATIC (SOMETHING) IRAQ AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE NOT A SEPARATIST FORCE, WE ARE A FORCE STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL UNITY OF IRAQ.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT ALSO COMMENTED ON THE LATEST IRAQI DECLARATION OF DEFIANCE AGAINST UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. SHE SAID THE CREDIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ARE ON THE LINE AND IRAQ CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GAIN THROUGH WHAT SHE CALLED YET ANOTHER CYCLE OF DEFIANCE AND THREATS.

NO DETAILS OF THE KURDISH AGREEMENT WERE ANNOUNCED, BUT A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL TOLD REPORTERS IT WAS FORMALLY SIGNED AND WITNESSED. IT APPARENTLY SETS UP A MECHANISM FOR POWER AND REVENUE SHARING AND ELECTIONS BY NEXT SUMMER WITH A TRANSITIONAL ARRANGMENT FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNTIL THEN.

THE OFFICIAL SAID THERE WAS ALSO AGREEMENT TO HALT UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY ELEMENTS NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER. A REFERENCE TO THE KURDISH PEOPLES PARTY OR P-K-K--WHICH TURKEY, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS CONSIDER A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.(SIGNED)
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17-Sep-98 7:31 PM EDT (2331 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA/EU (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: A EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION MET THURSDAY WITH RUSSIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND HIS TOP ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS TO DISCUSS HOW EUROPE MIGHT HELP RUSSIA OUT OF ITS CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THE EUROPEAN DELEGATION HAS OFFERED MORAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT -- BUT NO FINANCIAL HELP, JUST YET.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN MINISTERS CAME TO TALK -- BUT ALSO TO LISTEN. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHUESSEL SAYS THEY DID GET SOME INFORMATION, BUT HE WILL RESERVE JUDGMENT UNTIL THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY IS MORE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT.

I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC. WE GOT THE MESSAGE. WE REACTED. WE SAID OPENLY WHAT WE EXPECTED THEM TO DO AND I THINK THIS IS THE WAY PARTNERS SHOULD COOPERATE. BUT GIVE THEM A CHANCE, THIS IS MY ADVICE.

E-U MEMBERS HAVE INSISTED ALL ALONG THEY ARE NOT ABOUT TO END THEIR SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA. GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS OFFERED TO SEND IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL EXPERTS. BUT SO FAR EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS ARE HOLDING BACK ANY MORE FINANCIAL AID FROM RUSSIA, UNTIL THEY SEE WHICH DIRECTION THE NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES.

THE DAY BEFORE THE EUROPEAN UNION MEETINGS IN MOSCOW, E-U PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER WARNED RUSSIA AGAINST TURNING INWARD OR ADOPTING PROTECTIONIST POLICIES.

E-U FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER HANS VAN DEN BROEK ECHOES THAT MESSAGE, AND SAYS RUSSIA MUST REMAIN COMMITTED TO ITS FULL INTEGRATION IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.

... WHICH MEANS RUSSIA MOVING TOWARDS A MEMBERSHIP ALSO OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND ABIDING NOTABLY BY THE RULES, AND TRY TO PREVENT A SLIPPAGE BACK INTO, LET US SAY, TOO MANY PROTECTIONIST MEASURES

EUROPE REPRESENTS ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF RUSSIA'S OVERALL TRADE AND ABOUT 40-PERCENT OF ITS FOREIGN INVESTMENTS. BUT MANY INVESTORS HAVE STARTED TO REDUCE STAFF OR CLOSE THEIR OFFICES IN RUSSIA AS CONFIDENCE FADES.

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

INTRO: SHARE PRICES IN WESTERN EUROPE FOLLOWED A GLOBAL TREND (THURSDAY), FALLING SHARPLY IN THE WAKE OF NEGATIVE ECONOMIC NEWS. PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS ON THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: DISCOURAGING REMARKS WEDNESDAY BY U-S CENTRAL BANK CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN REGARDING EFFORTS BY MAJOR ECONOMIES TO CUT THE COST OF BORROWING WAS SEEN AS ONE FACTOR FOR THE MARKET DOWNTURN, WHICH SPREAD FROM WALL STREET TO ASIA TO EUROPE.

BY THE CLOSE OF TRADING, THE MAJOR STOCK INDICES IN WESTERN EUROPE FELL BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT IN VALUE.

THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX WAS DOWN THE MOST. ITS 204-POINT DECLINE -- REPRESENTING ABOUT FIVE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT IN VALUE -- WAS TRIGGERED BY OTHER MARKET DECLINES AND PROFIT WORRIES OVER A BIG FRENCH ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY.

GERMANY'S "DAX" INDEX IN FRANKFURT WAS OFF 243-POINTS -- ABOUT FIVE-PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS CLOSED DOWN ABOUT 159-POINTS, THREE-PERCENT FOR THE DAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
17-Sep-98 2:41 PM EDT (1841 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (THURSDAY) ALONG WITH MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78 HUNDRED 73, DOWN 216 POINTS OR TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 18, DOWN 26 POINTS.

STOCK TRADERS SAID THEY HAD PLENTY TO WORRY ABOUT. STOCK MARKETS IN ASIA, EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA TUMBLED. THERE WAS GENERAL DISAPPOINTMENT THAT U-S CENTRAL BANK CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN SAID WEDNESDAY THAT THERE IS NO COORDINATED STRATEGY AMONG THE MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS TO LOWER INTEREST RATES. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NEW CONCERN ON WALL STREET OVER THE POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON.

FEAR AND DESPAIR REACHED A CRESCENDO LAST WEEK, VERY ATTRACTIVE BUYING OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOPED AND ON THIS PULLBACK, WE THINK OPPORTUNITIES WILL AGAIN BE ATTRACTIVE FOR THE INTERMEDIATE AND LONG TERM.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS CONSUMER PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE BY TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN AUGUST. ENERGY PRICES CONTINUED TO FALL BUT THE COST OF CLOTHING AND MEDICAL CARE ROSE.

THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT ROSE BY JUST OVER TWO PERCENT IN JULY, SLIGHTLY BELOW EXPECTATIONS. ANALYSTS SAY CHEAPER OIL PRICES HELPED KEEP THE TRADE DEFICIT IN CHECK.

THE CHIRON COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL SELL ITS DIAGNOSTICS TESTING BUSINESS TO THE BAYER COMPANY OF GERMANY FOR ONE POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS. CHIRON SAYS THE MOVE WILL ALLOW IT TO CONCENTRATE ON ITS CORE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH BUSINESS.

THE R-J-R TOBACCO COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES HAS SUSPENDED CIGARETTE PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL TURMOIL THERE. R-J-R HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 400 MILLION DOLLARS IN RUSSIAN PRODUCTION FACILITIES.

THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN SAYS IT PLANS TO OPEN UP TO 60 NEW LOCATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THE COMPANY SAYS MCDONALD'S HAMBURGERS AND FISH SANDWICHES ARE QUITE POPULAR IN THE REGION WHERE THE COMPANY ALREADY OPERATES 157 RESTAURANTS.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/PT
17-Sep-98 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SAME TWO TOPICS THAT DOMINATED WEDNESDAY'S U-S EDITORIALS REAPPEAR TODAY, WITH NEW THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT HEARING IN THE HOUSE AND THE CONTINUING WORRY ABOUT THE WORLD RECESSION.

THERE ARE OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION, AND THEY INCLUDE: GROWING TENSION BETWEEN IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN AS EACH NATION MASSES TROOPS ON THEIR COMMON BORDER: RUSSIA'S TROUBLED ECONOMY; AND BETTER LABELING FOR THE NATION'S FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. NOW, JOINING US AT THE V-O-A MICROPHONE IS _________________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO DELIBERATE AT THIS WRITING, WHETHER TO RELEASE A VIDEOTAPE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON TESTIFYING BEFORE THE WHITEWATER GRAND JURY ON THE MONICA LEWINSKY INVESTIGATION. "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" FAULTS THE WAY THE WHITE HOUSE IS HANDLING ITS RESPONSE TO THE SCANDAL.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S HANDLING OF THE SCANDAL THAT THREATENS HIS HOLD ON THE WHITE HOUSE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE DAY BY DAY, AND YESTERDAY HE OFFERED A GLIMMER OF HOPE HE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT IS, IN THE DIRECTION OF TALKING PLAINLY AND DIRECTLY ABOUT THE CRISIS ...NO EVASIVE LANGUAGE, NO LEGAL HAIR-SPLITTING. GONE YESTERDAY WAS THE DEFIANT BILL CLINTON WHO LIED STRAIGHTFACED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN HIS TELEVISED ADDRESS ... IF ANYONE CAN WITHSTAND THIS CHALLENGE, IT IS BILL CLINTON. HE REMAINS THE QUINTESSENTIAL COMEBACK KID. IN THE LATEST NEW YORK TIMES / CBS NEWS POLL, AN IMPRESSIVE 62-PERCENT OF AMERICANS SAID THEY APPROVE OF THE WAY HE'S DOING HIS JOB. ... BUT, AFTER THE PUBLIC ABSORBS THE SEAMY DETAILS OF THE KENNETH STARR REPORT AND SEE CLINTON'S VIDEO-TAPED GRAND JURY PERFORMANCE, THOSE RATINGS ARE APT TO CHANGE. AND NOT FOR THE BETTER.

TEXT: IN NEBRASKA, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" POINTS OUT THAT CRITICISM OF HIS POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT IS FLAWED.

VOICE: SOME PEOPLE CONTEND THAT IMPEACHING BILL CLINTON WOULD BE OUT OF THE QUESTION. REMOVING HIM FROM OFFICE, THEY CONTEND, WOULD OVERTURN THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED [MR.] CLINTON IN 1996 DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW NOW, HOWEVER. SUPPOSE SOMETHING LIKE THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL HAD PLAYED OUT IN 1996 INSTEAD OF 1998. ... IF THIS WERE THE FALL OF 1996, WOULD THE ELECTION TURN OUT THE SAME WAY? /// OPT /// ... [MR.] CLINTON'S AFFAIR WITH MONICA LEWINSKY WAS NO GARDEN-VARIETY ADULTEROUS FLING. IT WAS A BIZARRE, DISTURBING, LOATHSOME, JUVENILE, CONTEMPTIBLE VIOLATION OF THE PRESIDENCY, NOT TO MENTION [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S WEDDING VOWS AND THE COMMANDMENT AGAINST COMMITTING ADULTERY. IT ALSO WAS A VIOLATION OF A YOUNG WOMAN, WHOM [MR.]F CLINTON TREATED LIKE A LOVE SLAVE, HAVING HER SERVICE HIM ON ALMOST THEIR FIRST PRIVATE MEETING.

TEXT: WITH SPECIFIC REGARDS TO THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEOTAPE TESTIMONY OF THE PRESIDENT, "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS SOME SERIOUS MISGIVINGS.

VOICE: // OPT // THE LAST THING NEEDED NOW IS FOR AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY CONSUMED WITH POLITICAL ADVANTAGE. IT IS IN THAT LIGHT THAT THE HOUSE SHOULD CONSIDER THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEOTAPE OF THE PRESIDENT'S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY. /// END OPT /// ... MR. CLINTON WAS GIVEN SPECIAL CONSIDERATION; INSTEAD OF APPEARING AT THE COURTHOUSE, HE TESTIFIED IN THE WHITE HOUSE ... VIA CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION. ... THIS WAS A PRIVILEGE FREELY GRANTED BY MR. STARR IN PROPER DEFERENCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY. IT WOULD NOT BE WISE NOW TO TURN THE RESULT ... INTO A POLITICAL WEAPON TO WIELD AGAINST THE OFFICE'S CURRENT INCUMBENT. ... CONGRESS ... NEEDS TO WEIGH CAREFULLY THE COMPETING INTERESTS OF FAIRNESS AND FULL DISCLOSURE.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE WORLD ECONOMIC ILLS, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT ON A SOLUTION.

VOICE: THE MAIN DANGER TO PROSPERITY HAS SHIFTED, PRESIDENT CLINTON DECREED, FROM INFLATION TO -- THOUGH HE AVOIDED THE WORD -- DEPRESSION. IN HIS SPEECH MONDAY, THE PRESIDENT MADE AS FORCEFUL A CASE AS CAN BE MADE THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD SHOULD LOWER INTEREST RATES IN CONCERT WITH RATE REDUCTIONS ELSEWHERE TO END THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SUDDENLY POORER IN ASIA, RUSSIA AND LATIN AMERICA. WHETHER CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN AGREES, HOWEVER, WILL NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29TH. /// OPT /// ... THE OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD. JAPAN'S POLITICIANS PROBABLY CANNOT INITIATE THE POLICIES NEEDED TO RESTART GROWTH THERE WITHIN A YEAR, THOUGH MUCH OF ASIA DESPERATELY NEEDS IT. RUSSIA IS UNLIKELY TO MAKE THE REFORMS DEMANDED BY CREDITORS. /// END OPT /// ... WASHINGTON MUST DO ITS SHARE TO HELP. REPLENISHING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ... IS AN URGENT NEED. /// OPT /// THE WORLD IS LOOKING FOR U-S LEADERSHIP IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. MR. CLINTON UNDERSTANDS IT MUST BE PROVIDED, OR THE WORLD'S RECESSION COULD REACH OUR SHORE. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AS REGARDS RUSSIA' S ECONOMIC TROUBLES, "USA TODAY" COMMENTS THAT THINGS APPEAR TO BE WORSENING, DESPITE THE NEW PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV'S EFFORTS.

VOICE: WHILE A DEEPENING ECONOMIC CRISIS CONFRONTS PENSIONERS AND WORKING FOLKS WITH THE PROSPECT OF NO PAY, RISING PRICES, LITTLE FOOD AND A HARSH WINTER, BORIS YELTSIN REMAINS HOLED UP [SECLUDED] OUTSIDE MOSCOW, LESS AND LESS ENGAGED. ... BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM JULY'S 22-BILLION-DOLLARS IN INTERNATIONAL AID HAVE VANISHED IN A FUTILE DEFENSE OF THE CRASHING RUBLE. ... RUSSIA IS IN WEEK-FOUR OF DEFAULT ON 347-MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT. THE INTEREST, OWED TO THE U-S AND SIX OTHER CREDITORS, IS THE TIP OF 100-BILLION DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL DEFAULT, THE BIGGEST IN WORLD HISTORY. GLOBAL MARKETS ARE SHIVERING. [MR.] PRIMAKOV HASN'T YET TACKLED [ADDRESSED] THE SOURCE OF THESE TROUBLES -- THE FACT THAT KREMLIN COFFERS LEAK AND THAT PALTRY TAX COLLECTIONS CAN NOT REFILL THEM.

TEXT: WITH TROOPS MASSING ON THEIR COMMON BORDER, IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN GIVE INDICATIONS THEY SOON GO TO WAR, DRAWING THIS CONCERN FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: ... RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES ARE NOW AT A FLASH POINT. ETHNIC, POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE RECENT KILLINGS OF AT LEAST EIGHT IRANIAN DIPLOMATS BY AFGHAN TALIBAN FIGHTERS. IRAN ... THREATENS MILITARY ACTION UNLESS ITS DEMANDS FOR AMENDS ARE MET. THERE IS IRONY HERE, SINCE NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO IT WAS IRAN THAT HELD 52 AMERICAN DIPLOMATS HOSTAGE FOR 444 DAYS. THIS TIME, IRAN HAS A LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCE. CARRYING OUT ITS MILITARY THREATS, HOWEVER, WOULD UNDERMINE THE EFFORTS OF PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI TO REASSURE THE WORLD THAT IRAN NO LONGER SEEKS TO THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS OR EXPORT REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY AGAIN, "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT FEELS IS THE INEFFECTIVE LABELING OF IMPORTED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AS A RESULT OF BROADENING WORLD TRADE.

VOICE: SOUTH FLORIDA'S PRODUCE GROWERS HAVE TAKEN A BEATING SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. HELPING THEM NOW TO BUILD A NEW DOMESTIC MARKET FOR SAY, 'FLORIDA FRESH,' IS A GOOD REASON FOR CONGRESS TO PASS COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING LAWS. HERE IS A SECOND REASON: IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR CONSUMERS, TOO. ... LABELING FACILITATES CONSUMERS' CHOICES AND ALERTS THEM WHEN THERE IS A NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS -- WASHING, PEELING, OR COOKING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. IT IS A CHEAP, SIMPLE, FOOD-SAFETY MEASURE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
17-Sep-98 10:39 AM EDT (1439 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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