Voice of America, 98-09-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA RESIGNATION (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] KOSOVO NATO (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[03] KOSOVO-COHEN-MOROCCO-L BY JIM RANDLE (RABAT, MOROCCO)

[04] GERMANY ELECTION (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

[05] GERMAN GOVERNMENT MOVE BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

[06] GERMANY-KOHL BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

[07] GERMANY/EUROPE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[08] RUSSIA / GERMANY (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

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

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

[01] ALBANIA RESIGNATION (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO HAS RESIGNED (MONDAY) AFTER POLITICAL VIOLENCE EARLIER THIS MONTH. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: MR. NANO RESIGNED AFTER HE FAILED TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH HIS COALITION PARTNERS ON A NEW CABINET.

A SPOKESMAN SAYS THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE RULING SOCIALIST PARTY -- PANDELI MAJKO <MYKO>-- WOULD BE NOMINATED AS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER.

THE GOVERNMENT CRISIS COMES TWO WEEKS AFTER RIOTING ERUPED IN THE CAPITAL, TIRANA, FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF A POPULAR OPPOSITION POLITICIAN (AZEM HAJDARI). SUPPORTERS OF THE OPPOSITION LEADER -- FORMER PRESIDENT, SALI BERISHA -- STORMED THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING.

PRIME MINISTER NANO CAME TO POWER LAST YEAR, AFTER ALBANIANS RIOTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO PROTEST THE COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT SCHEMES. THE ANARCHY TOPPLED MR BERISHA'S GOVERNMENT. BUT MR. NANO HAS FAILED TO REASSERT GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, AND ALBANIA REMAINS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 5:45 PM EDT (2145 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO NATO (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: DURING A ROWDY PARLIAMENTARY SESSION IN BELGRADE MONDAY, SERBIA'S PRIME MINISTER DECLARED THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS WAS OVER IN KOSOVO -- EVEN AS FIGHTING CONTINUED TO RAGE. IN THE MEANTIME, THE TOP SERBIAN OFFICIAL IN KOSOVO SAID THAT NATO COULD EXPECT SERBS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST ANY BOMBARDMENT. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: FIGHTING RAGED IN KOSOVO MONDAY EVEN AS SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER MIRKO MARJANOVIC DECLARED AN END TO THE BATTLE AGAINST KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, KOSOVO'S TOP CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR, VELJKO ODALOVIC, SAYS HE EXPECTS WHAT HE CALLS THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM TO CONTINUE. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAYS SERBIA IS FIGHTING TO DEFEND ITS OWN SOVEREIGN TERRITORY AND WOULD STAND UP AND FIGHT AGAINST THREATENED NATO AIR STRIKES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTENTION TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE TERRITORIES OF OTHER SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES -- LIKE AMERICA DOES. WE HAVE OUR TERRITORY AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT ON OUR OWN TERRITORY AGAINST EVERY AGGRESSOR ... AND EVEN AGAINST NATO.

MR. ODALOVIC SAYS SERBIA WOULD RATHER SUFFER A DEFEAT BY NATO FORCES THAN FALL TO WHAT HE TERMS "ALBANIAN TERRORISM."

MR. ODALOVIC'S WORDS ECHOED FURIOUS REMARKS BY SERBIAN LAWMAKERS SPEAKING IN THEIR PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY. THEY ACCUSED ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS IN KOSOVO OF KILLING THEIR OWN ETHNIC KIN AS A WAY TO FORCE NATO TO INTERVENE IN KOSOVO.

THE WESTERN ALLIANCE HAS CALLED ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HALT ALL ONGOING POLICE AND MILITARY OFFENSIVES IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE KOSOVO, WHERE MOST OF THE POPULATION IS ETHNIC ALBANIAN. WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE ACCUSED THE SERB FORCES OF RAMPAGING THROUGH VILLAGES AND SHELLING CIVILIANS. //END OPT//

SERBS IN BOTH GREATER SERBIA AND IN KOSOVO PROVINCE SAY NATO SHOULD BE HELPING THEM FIGHT THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS WHO THEY CALL "TERRORISTS" -- RATHER THAN THREATEN PUNISHMENT FOR DOING SO. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 2:36 PM EDT (1836 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO-COHEN-MOROCCO-L BY JIM RANDLE (RABAT, MOROCCO)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS WASHINGTON HAS NOT SEEN EVIDENCE THAT SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE STOPPED THEIR ASSAULT IN KOSOVO. EARLIER, THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SAID THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN FORCES HAD BEEN DEFEATED, AND THAT YUGOSLAV FORCES WERE ENDING THEIR ATTACKS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM RABAT MOROCCO, WHERE MR. COHEN IS HOLDING TALKS WITH KING HASSAN ON MANY ISSUES, INCLUDING KOSOVO.

TEXT: SERBIA'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE WAR IS FINISHED AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS CAN GET AMNESTY IF THEY TURN THEIR WEAPONS INTO OFFICIALS WITHIN 10 DAYS.

KOSOVO'S CIVIL WAR IS THE FOCUS OF UNITED NATIONS DEMANDS AND NATO THREATS AIMED AT STOPPING ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS. FIGHTING HAS KILLED MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE SINCE FEBRUARY AND FORCED 300 THOUSAND TO FLEE THEIR HOMES. ANOTHER FIFTY THOUSAND ARE SAID TO BE HIDING IN KOSOVO'S MOUNTAINS WITH OUT SHELTER AS WINTER APPROACHES.

LAST THURSDAY, NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS SAID WITHOUT QUICK ACTION, THE DISPLACED PEOPLE FACED A HUMANATARIAN DISASTER. THEY TOLD THEIR GENERALS TO PREPARE FOR AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAV MILITARY TARGETS IN KOSOVO, UNLESS THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND POLICE STOPPED SHELLING VILLAGES AND BURNING HOMES. NATO MEMBERS SAY REFUGEES ARE MORE LIKELY TO RETURN HOME WHEN THE SHOOTING STOPS.

DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN --- SOUNDS SKEPTICAL OF THE LAST SERB OFFER TO STOP THE FIGHTING -- SAYING THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS HEARD A LOT OF SERB RHETORIC IN THE PAST, BUT SEEN LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE.

WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY KIND OF STRATEGIC DRAWBACK AT THIS POINT AND WE WILL INSIST THAT WHATEVER WORDS HE ISSUES BE FOLLOWED UP BY CONCRETE STEPS AND DEEDS.

CONCERNS ABOUT KOSOVO HAVE DOMINATED MR. COHEN'S MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN LEADERS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. HE IS FINISHING A FIVE NATION TRIP THAT HAS TAKEN HIM TO TALKS WITH NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS IN PORTUGAL, AND TO MEET OFFICIALS AND PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND BOSNIA. MONDAY, HE DISCUSSED MANY ISSUES WITH MOROCCO'S KING HASSAN, AND CAME AWAY PRAISING THE WARM RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND RABAT. TUESDAY HE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 3:02 PM EDT (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY ELECTION (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

INTRO: THE VICTOR IN GERMANY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, GERHARD SCHROEDER, MET THE NEWS MEDIA IN BONN MONDAY, ONE DAY AFTER HIS SOCIAL DEMOCRATS INFLICTED THE WORST DEFEAT IN FOUR DECADES AGAINST CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS. RON PEMSTEIN IN BONN HAS DETAILS ON THE NEW CHANCELLOR'S PLANS TO FORM A STABLE GOVERNMENT IN EUROPE'S DOMINANT POWER.

TEXT: THE FIRST ACTION WAS TO CHANGE THE ELECTION POSTERS. INSTEAD OF SAYING GERMANY NEEDS A NEW CHANCELLOR WITH A PICTURE OF GERHARD SCHROEDER, THE POSTERS NOW READ, GERMANY HAS A NEW CHANCELLOR, WITH THE SAME PICTURE DOMINATED BY MR. SCHROEDER'S BLUE EYES. HOWEVER, THE COLOR OF THE DAY WAS RED AND GREEN. RED FOR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, AND GREEN FOR THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT GREENS PARTY. DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL WARNED VOTERS AGAINST THIS RED-GREEN COALITION. NOW, THE NEW CHANCELLOR HAS CONFIRMED IT.

MR. SCHROEDER SAYS THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GREENS WILL BEGIN ON FRIDAY. THE ELECTION RESULT SHOWS A "RED-GREEN" COALITION IN PARLIAMENT WOULD HAVE A 21 SEAT MAJORITY. THE GREENS SAY THEY WANT TO EMPHASIZE TAX REFORM. FRANZ-JOSEF MEIERS OF BONN'S FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE SAYS THE GREENS MAY PROVE TO BE DIFFICULT PARTNERS FOR MR. SCHROEDER.

THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE ... ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE GREENS. AND HERE QUESTIONS COME UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE HOW A GERMAN GOVERNMENT WILL REACT TO THE INQUIRY OF NATO SECRETARY GENERAL (JAVIER) SOLANA TO PROVIDE E-C-R-TORNADO (MILITARY AIRCRAFT) FOR AN AIR STRIKE WITH OR WITHOUT A U-N MANDATE AND THIS PEACE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED BY THE GREENS. SO WE WILL HAVE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE A CLASH BETWEEN THE S-P-D (SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY) AND THE GREENS ON A POTENTIAL AIR STRIKE IN KOSOVO. THIS I THINK IS A HARBINGER OF THINGS TO COME IN A RED-GREEN COALITION.

THE GREENS' JOSCHKA FISCHER IS EXPECTED TO BE GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER'S GOVERNMENT. MR. FISCHER TELLS REPORTERS HE DOES FAVOR A UNITED NATIONS MANDATE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN BY GERMAN SOLDIERS ABROAD. MR. SCHROEDER SAYS HE WILL MAINTAIN CONTINUITY IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND WILL REMAIN IN CHARGE.

MR. MEIERS SAYS RAPID CHANGES IN FOREIGN POLICY SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED FROM GERHARD SCHROEDER.

THERE WAS NO TIME IN GERMAN HISTORY WHERE THERE WAS SUCH A BROAD, BI-PARTISAN CONSENSUS ON THE BASIC PREMISES OF OUR FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY. THERE WILL BE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES IN EMPHASIS CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN AXIS. //OPT// CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER, THE FORTHCOMING NEW CHANCELLOR SAID HE WILL WORK TOWARD A WORKABLE TRIANGLE INCLUDING LONDON. BUT THE QUESTION TO WHAT EXTENT GREAT BRITAIN WILL PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN EUROPEAN POLITICS DEPENDS ON THE DECISION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO ENTER THE EURO ZONE. //END OPT//

THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS SUFFERED THEIR LARGEST LOSSES IN ECONOMICALLY-DEPRESSED EASTERN GERMANY. OUTGOING CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL TOLD HIS PARTY HE WILL LEAVE ITS LEADERSHIP TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFEAT. THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS WILL CHOOSE A NEW LEADER NEXT MONTH TO PICK UP THE LEGACY OF HELMUT KOHL. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 1:07 PM EDT (1707 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] GERMAN GOVERNMENT MOVE BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

INTRO: THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE PAST HALF CENTURY NESTLED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RHINE RIVER IN THE WESTERN TOWN OF BONN. BUT COME THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, THE PARLIAMENT AND MANY KEY MINISTRIES MOVE TO THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST CITY AND FORMER CAPITAL, BERLIN. THE PROJECT IS ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY. SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM BONN ON HOW IT IS GOING, SO FAR.

TEXT: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FORMER FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY OR WEST GERMANY, AS IT WAS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN -- MOVED TO BONN IN 1949, JUST FOUR YEARS AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO. THE NEWLY CREATED "BUNDESTAG" -- THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT AND MAIN LEGISLATIVE BODY -- CHOSE THE LOCATION, BUT VOWED IT WAS ONLY TO BE A PROVISIONAL CAPITAL, PROMISING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SOMEDAY RETURN TO BERLIN, THEN ISOLATED BEHIND THE METAPHORICAL "IRON CURTAIN."

AT THE TIME, IT WAS A PROMISE MANY THOUGHT MIGHT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP. BUT WITH THE OPENING OF THE BERLIN WALL IN LATE 1989, AND THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE QUESTION OF A UNITED GERMAN CAPITAL IN BERLIN CAME UP ONCE AGAIN. ON JUNE 20, 1991, GERMAN PARLIAMENTARIANS DECIDED -- BY A NARROW VOTE -- TO MAKE THE MOVE.

THE ENTIRE GERMAN PARLIAMENT AND MANY MINISTRIES MUST BE MOVED OVER A FOUR-WEEK PERIOD DURING A SUMMER BREAK NEXT YEAR. DEEP INSIDE A BUILDING IN BONN'S GOVERNMENT QUARTER, IS THE NERVE CENTER FOR PLANNING THE MOVE. HERE, ROGER CLOES MUST FIND A WAY TO MOVE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND THEIR STAFFS WHO NOW OCCUPY 81 BUILDINGS IN BONN AND FIT THEM INTO JUST 10 IN BERLIN.

THE HALLWAYS LEADING TO MR. CLOES' OFFICE ARE COVERED WITH CHARTS AND SCHEDULES. THEY CONTAIN DETAILS ABOUT WHAT OFFICES WILL MOVE WHEN.

WE WILL HAVE TO TRANSFER EQUIPMENT FOR 53-HUNDRED PERSONS. THESE ARE 672 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, 15-HUNDRED ASSISTANTS TO THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, 860 ASSISTANTS IN THE FACTIONS OF THE GERMAN BUNDESTAG. AND THEN WE HAVE OF COURSE, THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE BUNDESTAG: THERE ARE 23-HUNDRED PEOPLE, STAFF MEMBERS.

BUT EVEN WITH THE LEGENDARY EFFICIENCY OF GERMAN PLANNING, THE MOVE IS STILL MEETING WITH RESISTANCE IN BONN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DECISION TO MOVE WAS MADE, THOUSANDS BEGAN TO GATHER IN BONN'S CENTRAL MARKET FOR WEEKLY PROTESTS. ALBERT BRANCATO IS A TRANSLATOR FOR THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND SAYS THE PLANNED MOVE IS A BIG MISTAKE.

I WORK IN THE ECONOMICS MINISTRY AND I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY SITTING IN AN OFFICE IN A BUILDING THAT WAS USED DURING THE THIRD REICH FOR THINGS THAT I DON'T APPROVE OF. //OPT// THE DEFENSE MINISTRY, FOR INSTANCE, WAS BUILT BY ADMIRAL TIERPITZ, WHO IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR DECLARED UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE.

BUT NOT EVERYONE SHARES MR. BRANCATO'S VIEWS. PEOPLE LIKE PETER KERNAL -- VISITING POTSDAMER PLATZ, A HUGE BUILDING SITE IN THE CENTER OF BERLIN -- ARE EXCITED BY THE ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S THE CENTER OF THE CITY, ITS THE CENTER OF BERLIN. BERLIN WAS THE CAPITAL BEFORE THE WAR AND NOW IT IS AGAIN THE CAPITAL. AND WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITIES IN BERLIN FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AND WE HAVE A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE HERE WE HAVE A GOOD PUBLIC TRAFFIC SYSTEM, GOOD ROADS.

THE QUESTION FOREMOST ON THE MIND'S OF PEOPLE WHO PLAN TO STAY IN BONN IS WHAT THE CITY WILL LOOK LIKE, ONCE THE GOVERNMENT HAS LEFT. MONIKA HOERING, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE BONN MAYOR'S OFFICE, SAYS THAT IN TERMS OF POPULATION, IT WON'T LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT DOES NOW.

WE ARE LOSING 21-THOUSAND FEDERAL JOBS -- SEVEN-THOUSAND WILL BE MOVED FROM BERLIN AND FRANKFURT TO BONN, (WHICH) MAKES A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 14-THOUSAND THAT WE WILL LOSE. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE NEARLY 15-THOUSAND NEW JOBS IN AREAS SUCH AS TELECOMMUNICATION AND MULTI-MEDIA. SO I DON'T THINK BONN WILL BE MUCH SMALLER THAN IT IS NOW.

MS HOERING IS CONCENTRATING ON THE BONN'S STRENGTHS, HOPING IT WILL DRAW ATTENTION BY A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESSES.

WE ARE A CITY OF CULTURE, OF COURSE, BEING THE BIRTHPLACE OF BEETHOVEN, HAVING NEW AND INTERNATIONAL BEETHOVEN FESTIVALS EVERY YEAR STARTING IN 99.

THE CENTER OF BONN, WITH ITS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE VENDORS AND COBBLESTONE WALKWAYS, IS VASTLY DIFFERENT FORM THE THRIVING METROPOLIS OF BERLIN. IT IS A QUIET TOWN, AND PROBABLY WILL REMAIN AS SUCH, WITH OR WITHOUT THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT. BUT IT WILL ALSO BE ONE, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, IN SEARCH OF A NEW ECONOMIC MAINSTAY. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GERMANY-KOHL BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS CONCEDED DEFEAT AFTER 16 YEARS IN OFFICE FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. HE WILL BE REPLACED AS CHANCELLOR BY SOCIAL DEMOCRAT GERHARD SCHROEDER. RON PEMSTEIN IN BONN ANALYSES THE REASONS FOR THE DEFEAT -- AND REVIEWS MR. KOHL'S POSSIBLE PLACE IN HISTORY.

TEXT: HISTORY WILL REMEMBER HELMUT KOHL AS THE CHANCELLOR OF GERMAN UNITY. HE WAS THE LEADER OF WEST GERMANY WHEN THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN AND HE WON TWO MORE ELECTIONS WITH THE SUPPORT OF FORMER EAST GERMANS.

BUT WHEN HIS CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS SUFFERED THEIR WORST DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF GERHARD SCHROEDER, CHANCELLOR KOHL OFFERED NO EXCUSES.

IT WAS A GREAT TIME, CHANCELLOR KOHL SAYS, WE ACHIEVED A LOT BUT AS DEMOCRATS, WE ACCEPT THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS.

HELMUT KOHL WAS THE LEADER OF THE PARTY AND HE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DEBACLE. HE HAS TOLD HIS PARTY HE WILL NO LONGER BE THEIR LEADER. THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, MR. KOHL SAYS HE WILL FULFILL HIS DUTY AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS SUFFERED THEIR BIGGEST LOSSES IN AREAS WHERE THEY HAD BEEN SO STRONG IN CHANCELLOR KOHL'S TWO PREVIOUS VICTORIES -- IN THE FORMER STATES OF COMMUNIST EAST GERMANY. PEOPLE THERE WERE THANKFUL TO HELMUT KOHL FOR THEIR FREEDOM, BUT ACCUSED HIM THIS YEAR OF BREAKING HIS PROMISES. "HE PROMISED TO MAKE US BETTER OFF," ONE WOMAN IN THE EAST TOLD ME, "INSTEAD FACTORIES ARE BANKRUPT AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED." IN THE FORMER EAST GERMANY THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 17 PERCENT COMPARED TO 10 PERCENT IN THE WEST.

THE NEW CHANCELLOR, GERHARD SCHROEDER, PAYS TRIBUTE TO HELMUT KOHL FOR HIS 16 YEARS OF SERVICE AND HIS ROLE IN CREATING THE EUROPEAN UNION. HELMUT KOHL BOASTS THAT GERMANY NEVER HAD SUCH GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, RUSSIA AND BRITAIN AT THE SAME TIME AS IT HAS TODAY. MR. SCHROEDER CAN ONLY SAY HE PLANS CONTINUITY IN FOREIGN POLICY. FRANZ-JOSEF MEIERS OF BONN'S FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE AGREES FOREIGN POLICY WILL BE CHANCELLOR KOHL'S LEGACY.

I THINK HIS MAIN LEGACY IS THAT HE FIRMLY ANCHORED A UNIFIED GERMANY IN A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS EUROPE. I THINK THIS IS THE FINAL LEGACY OF CHANCELLOR KOHL.

THE SO-CALLED "ETERNAL CHANCELLOR" BEGAN HIS FIRST TERM IN 1982 BY DEFYING PROTESTS AGAINST THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN MISSILES IN EUROPE. HE RESPONDED TO OFFERS OF FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS MITTERRAND AND PARTICIPATED IN SYMBOLIC CEREMONIES OF RECONCILIATION WITH FRANCE. HE INVITED WORLD LEADERS SUCH AS GEORGE BUSH, BILL CLINTON AND BORIS YELTSIN TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LUDWIGSHAFEN ON THE RHINE RIVER. HE NEGOTIATED THE REUNIFICATION OF THE TWO GERMANYS AND AGREED TO PAY THE COSTS OF SENDING HOME THE RUSSIAN TROOPS. HELMUT KOHL'S VISION OF A UNITED EUROPE PUSHED THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ADOPT A COMMON CURRENCY.

BUT WHILE HIS POLICIES BROUGHT EUROPE TOGETHER, THEY HURT HIM AT HOME. THE COSTS OF REUNIFICATION HAVE BEEN RESENTED BY WEST GERMAN TAXPAYERS AND HAVE MADE EASTERN GERMANS DEPENDENT ON WELFARE. CHANCELLOR KOHL HAS NOT SPOKEN OUT STRONGLY AGAINST RIGHT-WING ATTACKS AGAINST TURKS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS LIVING IN GERMANY. SO ON SUNDAY, THE GERMAN VOTER DECIDED THAT AFTER 16 YEARS IN OFFICE, THE "ETERNAL CHANCELLOR" HAD TO GO. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY/EUROPE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THE END OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S 16 YEARS IN POWER SIGNALS CHANGES AS WELL FOR EUROPE. GERHARD SCHROEDER'S ELECTION ADDS ANOTHER YOUNG SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER TO THE CORE OF EUROPEAN UNION LEADERSHIP. AND CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT ANALYSTS ARE ALREADY PREDICTING A SHIFT IN PRIORITIES FOR GERMANY AND THE POSSIBLE END OF THE SPECIAL FRENCH-GERMAN RELATIONSHIP.

TEXT: NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES TALK OF THE END OF AN ERA THE END OF CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S VISIONARY PUSH FOR EUROPEAN UNITY. BUT MR. SCHROEDER'S VICTORY ALSO SIGNALS A NEW ERA WHEN YOUNG, SOCIAL DEMOCRATS NOW GOVERN THE THREE KEY POWERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- BRITAIN, FRANCE AND GERMANY.

PROFESSOR RICHARD WHITMAN OF THE (EDS: BRITISH) UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER'S CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACY SAYS MR. SCHROEDER'S EUROPEAN ROLE IS STILL NOT CLEAR.

MR SCHRODER IS THE LEAST KNOW-ABLE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN IN (HIS) POLITICAL CAREER THE MOST PRAGMATIC AND SOME WOULD SAY OPPORTUNISTIC POLITICIANS. I THINK WE DON'T KNOW AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL WHAT KIND OF LEADER HE WILL BE AS CHANCELLOR.

BASIC EUROPEAN POLICIES -- LIKE THE SINGLE CURRENCY AND ENLARGEMENT -- ARE NOT EASILY CHANGED AND ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE ALTERED BY THE NEW SCHROEDER GOVERNMENT. BUT AS PROFESSOR WHITMAN NOTES, GERMANY TAKES OVER THE REVOLVING E-U PRESIDENCY NEXT JANUARY AND WILL HAVE TO STEER THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SOME URGENT AND SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS.

THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS THAT NEED ATTENTION VERY, VERY QUICKLY. NOT JUST RUSSIA (EDS: THE ECONOMIC CRISIS) BUT ALSO THESE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ENLARGEMENT FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD ... THINGS TO BE SORTED OUT LIKE THE REFORM OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY. I THINK HE IS IN FOR PRETTY ROUGH RIDE VERY EARLY ON.

HOW MR. SCHROEDER DEALS WITH THOSE CHALLENGES WILL RELY A LOT ON HIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITAIN'S LABOR PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND THE CONSERVATIVE FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. CHANCELLOR KOHL HAD FORGED A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS MITTERAND BUT OFTEN WRANGLED WITH BRITISH LEADERS. MR. WHITMAN SUGGESTS GERMANY'S NEW SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO FORGE CLOSER TIES WITH BRITAIN'S LABOR GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, MR. SCHROEDER IS EXPECTED TO PAY A QUICK VISIT LATER THIS WEEK TO THE BRITISH LABOR PARTY CONVENTION NOW UNDERWAY.

THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN, FRANCE AND GERMANY IS VERY FLUID. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT. AND, IN TERMS OF THE PLAY OF NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE POLICY NEGOTIATIONS MOVING EUROPE INTEGRATION FORWARD, I THINK THERE IS REALLY EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR AT THE MOMENT.

MOST ANALYSTS PREDICT MR. SCHROEDER WILL FOCUS HIS ENERGY ON DOMESTIC ISSUES AND FULFILLING CAMPAIGN PLEDGES TO TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT AND TAX REFORM.

CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER HAS PLEDGED AN ACTIVE GERMAN POLICY TOWARD EUROPE BUT MOST ALLIES AND ANALYSTS EXPECT HE WON'T TRY TO COMPETE WITH THE VISIONARY ROLE OF HIS PREDECESSOR. (SIGNED)
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28-Sep-98 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] RUSSIA / GERMANY (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS MAIN OPPOSITION COMMUNIST PARTY HAVE REACTED TO GERHARD SCHROEDER'S ELECTION VICTORY IN GERMANY. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: A RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN EXPRESSED THE HOPE THE NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT WILL WORK TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN BONN AND MOSCOW.

THE SPOKESMAN -- QUOTED BY THE "INTERFAX" NEWS AGENCY -- SAID THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY DETERMINED TO COOPERATE WITH THE NEW GERMAN LEADERSHIP. HE WENT ON TO SAY HE HOPES DIRECT CONTACTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHOUT DELAY.

RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER GENNADI ZYUGANOV SAID HE IS SURE GERMANY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CONCRETE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMS IN RUSSIA. BUT HE ALSO CRITICIZED THE CURRENT RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP, SAYING GERMANS ARE DISAPPOINTED BILLIONS OF AID DOLLARS TO RUSSIA HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HANDS OF WHAT MR. ZYUGANOV CALLED -- CHEATS AND SWINDLERS.

COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY ACCUSED RUSSIAN OFFICIALS OF CORRUPTION -- A CHARGE REJECTED BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF/RAE
28-Sep-98 7:50 AM EDT (1150 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 UP TODAY (MONDAY), REFLECTING CONFIDENCE THAT U-S INTEREST RATES ARE HEADED DOWN. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 81 HUNDRED EIGHT, UP 80 POINTS, ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 48, UP ALMOST FOUR POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THE BUYING SPREE WAS FUELED BY OPTIMISM THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL CUT SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES AT ITS MEETING ON TUESDAY.

MANY ANALYSTS, SUCH AS AL GOLDMAN OF THE A-G EDWARDS INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAY A U-S INTEREST RATE CUT WOULD HAVE A GOOD EFFECT BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

IF THERE WAS EVEN A SMALL RISK OF A RECESSION NEXT YEAR, A RATE CUT WOULD REDUCE THE RISK OF RECESSION IN 1999. ALSO, IT WOULD HELP, AT LEAST PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THOSE COUNTRIES IN ASIA THAT ARE HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

WALL STREET ANALYSTS DEBATED THE SIZE OF THE EXPECTED CENTRAL BANK RATE CUT. THE GENERAL FEELING IS THAT A QUARTER PERCENT IS LIKELY AND WOULD BE GOOD BUT THAT THE LESS LIKELY ONE-HALF PERCENT RATE CUT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

THE STOCK OF AMERICA ONLINE, A COMPUTER SERVICE PROVIDER, CLIMBED BY FIVE PERCENT AFTER THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH U-S GOVERNMENT REGULATORS ON AN ACCOUNTING DISPUTE.

THE HASBRO TOY COMPANY WILL PAY 220 MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH FOR THE GALOOB TOY FIRM WHICH PRODUCES THE POPULAR "STAR WARS" AND "SPICE GIRLS" DOLLS.

THERE IS AN UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF AMP, THE GIANT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MANUFACTURER. AMP IS FIGHTING A 10 BILLION DOLLAR HOSTILE TAKEOVER ATTEMPT BY THE ALLIED SIGNAL COMPANY WHICH IS OFFERING 44 AND ONE-HALF DOLLARS FOR EACH SHARE OF AMP. NOW, AMP SAYS IT WILL BUY UP TO 14 PERCENT OF ITS OWN STOCK AT 55 DOLLARS A SHARE.

NO ONE IS TRYING TO TAKE OVER MCDONALD'S BUT THE RESTAURANT CHAIN SAYS IT WILL BUY BACK THREE AND ONE HALF BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ITS STOCK BY THE END OF THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND ONE.

SMITH CORONA, THE U-S BASED MAKER OF ELECTRIC TYPEWRITERS, WILL ELIMINATE 45 PERCENT OF ITS WORK FORCE BECAUSE OF PLUMMETING DEMAND FOR TYPEWRITERS. SMITH CORONA IS ATTEMPTING TO DIVERSIFY ITS BUSINESS BY ADDING OFFICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
28-Sep-98 5:34 PM EDT (2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS IS UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE NATION'S EDITORIALS PAGES AS THE NEW WEEK BEGINS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY INCLUDE THE WORLD'S SHAKY FINANCIAL SITUATION; THE GERMAN ELECTION, TURNING OUT LONG-RULING HELMUT KOHL; STOPPING THE VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE; DEALING WITH HAITIAN REFUGEES; PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TROUBLES AND THE CONTINUING MODERATION OF IRAN. NOW, HERE IS __________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL SITUATION, WITH ECONOMIES FALTERING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GLOBE, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: THE WORLD'S TOP FINANCE OFFICIALS GATHER IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK FOR THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. THOUGH THE PARTIES MAY BE AS LAVISH AS EVER, OR NEARLY SO, THE MOOD WILL BE SOMBER. FACED WITH FINANCIAL MELTDOWNS AND ECONOMIC SLUMPS IN MUCH OF THE WORLD, THE INSTITUTIONS FACE THREE MAJOR CHALLENGES: HOW TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF SUFFERING NATIONS SUCH AS INDONESIA AND THAILAND; HOW TO PREVENT THE CRISIS FROM SPREADING TO THREATENED NATIONS SUCH AS BRAZIL; AND HOW TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WORLD ECONOMY IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE SLUMPS. NONE OF THESE IS EASY.

TEXT: "THE POST" GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS MUST ALSO DEAL WITH DEBT RELIEF FOR THE WORLD'S "VERY POOREST NATIONS," AS THEY HAVE ALREADY PROMISED TO DO. MEANWHILE, IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" TALKS OF A POSSIBLE INTEREST RATE CUT DUE THIS WEEK, AND WARNS:

VOICE: IF, AS EXPECTED, THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S POLICY-MAKING COMMITTEE LOWERS INTEREST RATES ON TUESDAY, IT WON'T SOLVE THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. ... CUTTING U-S INTEREST RATES WILL HELP IN A NUMBER OF WAYS... [BUT] THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT LOWERING SHORT-TERM RATES WILL NOT DO ... IT WOULD NOT MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR JAPANESE BUSINESSES TO GET A LOAN. ... LOWER U-S INTEREST RATES ALSO WILL NOT PREVENT RUSSIA FROM TAKING THE DISASTROUS STEP OF PRINTING MORE MONEY TO PAY OFF ITS FOREIGN DEBTS, AN ACTION LIKELY TO SET OFF HYPERINFLATION. ... A RATE CUT FROM THE FED IS OVERDUE, AND POSES LITTLE RISK OF INFLATION. STILL, IT IS ONLY ONE SMALL STEP TOWARD RESOLVING THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB OF LEADING THE WORLD IN THIS TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS.

VOICE: IN A RECENT SPEECH BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, PRESIDENT CLINTON DESCRIBED THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE WORLD ECONOMY AS 'THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL CHALLENGE FACING THE WORLD IN A HALF CENTURY.' ... GIVEN HIS ALARM, THEN, WHY HAS IT TAKEN MR. CLINTON SO LONG TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM? AND WHY HAS HE DELAYED HIS CALL TO ACTION? EVEN SOME OF MR. CLINTON'S SENIOR ADVISERS, GIVEN THEIR BOSS' GRAVE ASSESSMENT, ADMITTED HIS SPEECH ... SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED EARLIER. CLEARLY, THE CRISIS OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON MR. CLINTON'S ABILITY TO LEAD, NOTWITHSTANDING HIS LOFTY RHETORIC.

TEXT: THERE IS SOME EARLY REACTION FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" TO THE WATERSHED ELECTION SUNDAY IN GERMANY. VOTERS CAST OUT HELMUT KOHL, CHANCELLOR FOR THE PAST 16-YEARS, IN FAVOR OF GERHARD SCHROEDER, A STATE GOVERNOR. SAYS "THE TIMES":

VOICE: MR. KOHL DEFTLY DIRECTED THE PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION OF GERMANY, HELPED FASHION THE POLITICAL ARCHITECTURE FOR A UNITED EUROPE AND LED THE WAY TO ECONOMIC COOPERATION ON THE CONTINENT AND THE ADOPTION OF A COMMON CURRENCY., IN GERMANY ITSELF HE INSTILLED A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT HELPED OVERCOME THE BURDEN OF GERMANY'S ROLE IN WORLD WAR TWO AND THE HOLOCAUST. ... MR. KOHL'S DEPARTURE PORTENDS NO GREAT CHANGE IN GERMANY'S RELATIONS WITH EUROPE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. IT MAY NOT EVEN MEAN MUCH ALTERATION IN DOMESTIC POLICY, THOUGH POWER WILL NOW PASS TO A MORE LEFT-LEANING GOVERNMENT LED BY GERHARD SCHROEDER AND THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. ... HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE TO DEAL WITH THE ECONOMIC DRAG PRODUCED BY GERMANY'S GENEROUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS.

TEXT: REGARDING THE LATEST OFFENSIVE BY GOVERNMENT FORCES AGAINST THE MAJORITY ETHNIC-ALBANIANS IN YUGOSLOVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, "USA TODAY" SAYS:

VOICE: ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO THREATENS THE FRAGILE PEACE OF SERBS, CROATS, AND MUSLIMS IN BOSNIA. MORE OMINOUSLY, NEARBY ALBANIA IS EAGER TO HELP ITS ETHNIC KIN IN KOSOVO. IF IT DOES, THAT COULD TRIGGER ENTRY INTO THE WAR BY TURKEY, WHICH TRAINS FELLOW MUSLIMS IN ALBANIA'S ARMY. AND THAT, IN TURN, COULD INFLAME ITS RELATIVELY DORMANT DIFFERENCES WITH GREECE. A SIMILAR BALTIC MELTDOWN LED TO WORLD WAR ONE, AS MAJOR POWERS BACKED OPPOSING SIDES. THAT HISTORY HAS SLOWED A MILITARY RESPONSE TO [MR.] MILOSEVIC, AS NATO COUNTRIES AND RUSSIA SOUGHT A UNITED FRONT. THE RISK IN FURTHER DELAY IS A REPEAT OF THE EXPERIENCE IN BOSNIA, WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS WERE SLAUGHTERED, MOSTLY BY THE SERBS, IN 'ETHNIC CLEANSING.'

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC ISSUES, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS UPSET ABOUT THE WAY HAITIAN REFUGEES ARE BEING TREATED IN THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT 40-THOUSAND OF THEM WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY SINCE 1995.

VOICE: THE SENATE HAS INCLUDED IN ITS TREASURY-POSTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL A PROVISION TO ALLOW [THE] HAITIAN REFUGEES ... TO STAY PERMANENTLY. THE HOUSE, WHICH HAS NOT INCLUDED SIMILAR LANGUAGE IN ITS BILL, SHOULD ACCEPT THIS MEASURE WHEN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETS TO PRODUCE A COMPROMISE BILL THIS WEEK. ... THE HAITIANS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE PROPOSED MEASURE HAVE REBUILT THEIR LIVES AND DEVELOPED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY TIES HERE. COMPASSION AND FAIRNESS DICTATE THAT THEY BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO STAY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW BITTER RELATIONS BETWEEN CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS AND PRESIDENT CLINTON ARE AFFECTING THE TIMELINESS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET PROCESS, POSSIBLY CAUSING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

VOICE: .... SUCH BEHAVIOR IS NOTHING NEW. CONGRESS -- WHETHER RUN BY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS -- ROUTINELY FAILS TO FINISH ITS WORK ON TIME. SINCE 1950, LAWMAKERS HAVE DONE SO ONLY TWICE. ... THERE IS LITTLE QUESTION THAT PARTISANSHIP PLAYED A ROLE IN MANY OF THOSE DELAYS. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CONFRONTATION, THOUGH, EARNS A SIGNIFICANT DISTINCTION. ONE OF THE WORST PRESIDENTIAL SCANDALS IN HISTORY ENSURES THAT THERE IS NOTHING ROUTINE ABOUT IT. ... STILL, THE NATION'S BUSINESS DESERVES PRIMARY ATTENTION NOW. EVEN AS THE FATE OF THE PRESIDENCY HANGS IN THE WIND, THE NATION'S BILLS MUST BE PAID.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, AS IRAN REMOVED THE DEATH THREAT AGAINST BRITISH AUTHOR SALMAN RUSHDIE, "THE BALTIMORE SUN" HAD THESE THOUGHTS.

VOICE: IRAN'S RULERS, EXTREMIST AND MODERATE, HAVE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE WEST, BEYOND SEEKING CAPITAL FOR OIL DEVELOPMENT. THEY APPEAR TO BE PREPARING FOR WAR WITH ISLAMIC RIVALS IN NEIGHBORING AFGHANISTAN. EVEN FANATICS VALUE PRAGMATISM WHEN DECIDING HOW MANY ENEMIES TO ENGAGE AT ONE TIME.

TEXT: ON THAT GEOPOLITICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/CEM/RAE
28-Sep-98 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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