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Voice of America, 98-10-23Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] EFFECT OF SERBIA'S NEW INFORMATION LAW BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS FEATURE NUMBER=7-30730 TELEPHONE=619-3464 EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES) INTRO: ON TUESDAY [10/20/98], THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSED A NEW LAW IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON THE MEDIA, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES LIFTED THE BAN ON SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS IT HAD SHUT DOWN LAST WEEK. THE NEW LAW IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST, AND IT BANS BROADCASTS IN SERBIA OF PROGRAMS PRODUCED BY FOREIGN OUTLETS LIKE THE VOICE OF AMERICA. IT ALSO IMPOSES A HEAVY FINE TO PUNISH WHAT IT CALLS "ANTI-STATE INFORMATION." VOA'S JUDITH LATHAMTEXT: DUSAN MASIC ['DOO-SHAHN 'MAH-SICH] IS THE COORDINATOR OF ANEM ['AN-NEM], OR THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT ELECTRONIC MEDIA, IN BELGRADE. MR. MASIC SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW RESTRICTIONS WILL DAMAGE JOURNALISM THROUGHOUT SERBIA. TAPE: CUT ONE -- MASIC (0:29) "THE RULES WE HAVE IN THE NEW LAW ARE SO BROAD THAT THE GOVERNMENT PRACTICALLY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE [OPPORTUNITY] TO DECIDE WHICH MEDIA IT LIKES AND WHICH MEDIA IT DOES NOT LIKE, AND THEN IN THE NEXT PERIOD OF 24 OR 48 HOURS [IT CAN] DESTROY WITH PUNISHMENTS WHICH ARE ABOUT $100,000 OR EVEN MORE. NO ONE WILL GO TO JAIL, BUT THEY WILL TAKE PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, AND ONLY IN 48 HOURS." TEXT: MR. MASIC SAYS THE THREE NEWSPAPERS BANNED LAST WEEK -- "DANAS," "DNEVNI TELEGRAF," AND "NASA ['NAH-SHAH] BORBA" -- WILL START PUBLISHING AGAIN ON MONDAY. BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW, SAYS MR. MASIC, BROADCASTERS, EDITORS, AND PUBLISHERS FACE A DILEMMA. TAPE: CUT TWO -- MASIC (0:41) (OPT) "BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS IN FRONT OF [FACES] ALL MEDIA. THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. SHOULD THEY TRY TO WORK ACCORDING TO THE LAW, WHICH WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS EVERYONE HAS TO PUBLISH ONLY THE TRUTH. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY IN THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA, WE WORK LIKE THAT. BUT (END OPT) THE PROBLEM IS: WHO WILL JUDGE WHAT IS TRUE, AND WHAT IS NOT, AND WHAT CAN DAMAGE THE NATIONAL INTEREST OF SERBIA, AND WHAT CANNOT? IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DECIDE WHAT IS CORRECT AND WHAT IS NOT. OUR SUGGESTION IN ANEM AND IN MEETINGS WITH ALL EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF THE PRINT MEDIA IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK LIKE WE WERE WORKING BEFORE. THEN WE WILL SEE. THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONE THAT WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEP." TEXT: DUSAN MASIC SAYS A GOVERNMENT TEAM WILL MONITOR ALL NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS. AND, HE ADDS, IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY READ OR HEAR, THEY CAN ORDER A CONFISCATION OF ALL EQUIPMENT, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND EVEN THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS OF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF AND GENERAL MANAGERS. (OPT) ACCORDING TO MR. MASIC, THERE IS NO MEDIA OUTLET THAN CAN AFFORD THE HUGE FINES, WHICH MEANS THE NEW LAW IS POTENTIALLY EVEN MORE PUNITIVE THAN THE ORIGINAL BAN THAT CLOSED DOWN THE THREE NEWSPAPERS LAST WEEK. (END OPT) FOREIGN BROADCASTERS WILL ALSO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE NEW LAW, MR. DUSAN SAYS, BECAUSE ONLY LISTENERS OR VIEWERS WITH SHORTWAVE OR MEDIUM-WAVE RADIOS OR TELEVISION SATELLITE DISHES WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE OVERSEAS BROADCASTS. TAPE: CUT THREE -- MASIC (0:18) "IN THE NEW MEDIA LAW, THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT STRINGERS, SO I CAN CONTINUE TO WORK FOR VOICE OF AMERICA, BUT RADIO B-92 IS BANNED FROM REBROADCASTING VOICE OF AMERICA. ALL REBROADCASTERS IN SERBIA ARE BANNED, SO THERE IS NO TELEVISION AND RADIO STATION WHICH CAN REBROADCAST PROGRAMS OF FOREIGN SERVICES." TEXT: MR. MASIC SAYS THE NEW INFORMATION LAW REPRESENTS A "HUGE SETBACK" FOR THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION IN SERBIA, AND HE THINKS ITS NET EFFECT MAY BE TO DESTROY ALL MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY ITSELF. (OPT) MR. MASIC SAYS HE BELIEVES THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE KOSOVO AGREEMENT. TAPE: CUT FOUR -- MASIC (0:49) "THIS IS SOMETHING WE WERE WORRYING ABOUT BEFORE -- A MONTH AGO, TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT NO ONE WAS LISTENING TO US. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ALL INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON KOSOVO AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE. SO, NOW, YOU HAVE KOSOVO AS AN EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. I THINK YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THE MEDIA, WITH UNIVERSITIES, OR WHATEVER. JUST DON'T TOUCH KOSOVO. AND NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO PRESENT THE KOSOVO AGREEMENT AS ITS VICTORY, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE MOST OF THE MEDIA WILL JUST TRY TO INFORM PEOPLE WHAT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, WHY THEY MADE THAT PACT. AND THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT, AND THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE A PICTURE OF OUR PRESIDENT, OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AS THE PEOPLE WHO AVOIDED A THIRD WORLD WAR." (END OPT) TEXT: DUSAN MASIC SAYS MOST PEOPLE IN SERBIA ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHETHER THEY'LL LOSE THEIR JOBS, HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT, OR WHETHER BOMBS WILL FALL, THAN THEY ARE ABOUT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. TAPE: CUT FIVE -- MASIC (0:43) (OPT) "BUT THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, AND THAT NO ONE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION, 'WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT?' MAYBE THEY WILL BAN BUYING BREAD IN THE SHOPS. OR, WHO KNOWS WHAT? AND (END OPT) WE THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS JUST TESTING THE NATION, TESTING THE PEOPLE TO SEE HOW FAR IT CAN GO. THE INFORMATION LAW, I'M TELLING YOU, IS NOT JUST A QUESTION OF THE MEDIA, IT'S A QUESTION OF PROFESSIONALISM. NOW YOU HAVE EVERY JOURNALIST IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAS A DILEMMA. SHOULD I CONTINUE TO WORK AS A JOURNALIST, OR I DON'T KNOW, I CAN GROW FLOWERS OR WHATEVER -- DO SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE, IF THIS LAW STANDS, THERE WON'T BE ANY REAL JOURNALISTS HERE." TEXT: JOHN FOX, DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE, SAYS THERE WERE FEARS LAST WEEK THAT SOME OF THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN KOSOVO WOULD BE CLOSED. TAPE: CUT SIX -- FOX (0:41) "THERE WAS A STRONG INTERNATIONAL REACTION DIPLOMATICALLY TO THE PROSPECT OF THOSE CLOSURES. IT WOULD CERTAINLY INFLAME THE SITUATION TERRIBLY IF SUCH A THING WERE TO BE TRIED BECAUSE OF THE EVEN GREATER POLITICAL IMPORTANCE IN KOSOVO OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND THE VITAL ROLE THEY'VE PLAYED IN TRACKING DEVELOPMENTS THERE, THE HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE, THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR. THEY OCCUPY POLITICALLY AN EVEN GREATER ROLE THAN THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA DO IN BELGRADE. SO IT WOULD BE A MUCH MORE POLITICAL ACT AND A MUCH MORE INFLAMATORY ACT TO APPLY SUCH RESTRICTIONS AND TO FORCE THE CENSORSHIP OF THE KOSOVAR MEDIA." TEXT: MR. FOX SAYS IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE TO PROTECT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. TAPE: CUT SEVEN -- FOX (0:59) "I THINK THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HERE IS ALWAYS VITAL, AND THE BELATED, BUT INCREASINGLY STRONG, REACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE CLOSURE OF THE BELGRADE DAILIES AND TO THE MEDIA RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN PUT INTO LAW -- CERTAINLY THERE'S A CRESCENDO OF OPPOSITION TO THAT. I THINK THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT FOR THE BELGRADE AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. I THINK THERE'S ALSO A GROWING UNDERSTANDING IN WASHINGTON AND EUROPE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY KOSOVO AGREEMENT CANNOT BE DIVORCED FROM THE ATTACKS ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. (OPT) THAT WOULD MAKE A FARCE OF THIS ALREADY SHAKY AGREEMENT -- FOR INTERNATIONAL MONITORS TO BE ROLLING IN IN THEIR FANCY VEHICLES TO MONITOR A SITUATION IN WHICH THE REALLY BRAVE MONITORS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN AND THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES OF INFORMATION, BOTH ON THE SERBIAN AND THE ALBANIAN SIDES, HAVE BEEN SILENCED." (END OPT) TEXT: JOHN FOX OF THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE SAYS IT IS A
MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT
DEMOCRACY AND THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN THE REGION.
[02] KOSOVO BURIAL (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (GRCINA, KOSOVO)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-240647 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THREE CHILDREN AND AN ADULT RELATIVE -- ALL KILLED IN A MILITARY AMBUSH GONE WRONG ALONG THE TENSE BORDER BETWEEN ALBANIA AND KOSOVO -- WERE BURIED FRIDAY FOLLOWING EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED FUNERALS IN THE KOSOVO VILLAGE OF GRCINA. WHILE YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS SAY THE VICTIMS WERE CAUGHT IN CROSS-FIRE WITH KOSOVO REBELS, SURVIVORS OF THE SHOOTINGS SAY THEY WERE TARGETED BY YUGOSLAV TROOPS. PHILIP SMUCKER WAS AT THE FUNERALS TEXT: /// SOUND OF WAILING WOMEN AT FUNERAL -- AND UNDER ... /// WOMEN WAILED AS MUSLIM CLERICS CHANTED PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS DURING THE BURIAL CEREMONY. ALL FOUR OF THE VICTIMS WERE FROM THE SAME FAMILY. THEY WERE KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THEIR KOSOVO VILLAGE AFTER FLEEING EARLIER TO ALBANIA TO SEEK REFUGE FROM THE ONGOING FIGHTING. SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS SAID THEY ATTEMPTED THE TREK BACK TO THEIR VILLAGE FOLLOWING THE HOPEFUL AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO NEGOTIATED TWO WEEKS AGO BY U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. BELGRADE HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO PULL BACK ITS SECURITY REINFORCEMENTS IN KOSOVO. THREATEN AIR STRIKES BY NATO WAR PLANES ARE ON HOLD PENDING YUGOSLAV COMPLIANCE. BUT REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY INCIDENTS SUCH AS THURSDAY'S KILLING OF THE RETURNING KOSOVO REFUGEES RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPLIANCE. SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE VICTIMS' FAMILY SAY THEY HAD DECIDED TO RETURN FROM NEIGHBORING ALBANIA WEDNESDAY WHEN THEY HEARD THAT IT MIGHT BE SAFE UNDER THE U-S-BROKERED AGREEMENT. ABOUT 20 VILLAGERS TREKKED OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS FOR SEVEN HOURS AND MADE IT TO WITHIN A KILOMETER OF THEIR HOME WHEN THE VILLAGER SAID SOLDIERS SPRUNG FROM THE BUSHES ONLY A FEW METERS AWAY AND BEGAN FIRING. ///VOICE OF WOMAN SPEAKING IN ALBANIAN -- IN FULL AND UNDER ///THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS SAYS HER FATHER WAS SHOT DEAD ALONG WITH HER BROTHER. AS THE CHILDREN WERE PREPARED FOR BURIAL, EXPRESSIONS OF THEIR FINAL MOMENTS OF LIFE WERE ETCHED ON THEIR FACES -- TWO WITH THE LOOK OF AGONY, THE OTHER SOMEWHAT SERENE. SURVIVORS SAID AFTER THE FIRST ROUND OF SHOOTING ENDED, A SEARCH LIGHT CAME ON, STARTLING THE RETURNING VILLAGERS. THEY SAID ONE MAN, HOLDING A DEAD CHILD IN HIS ARMS, SCREAMED AT THE SOLDIERS TO HOLD THEIR FIRE. YUGOSLAVIA'S ARMY ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT, SAYING
THOSE KILLED WERE VICTIMS CAUGHT IN A SHOOT-OUT BETWEEN BORDER
GUARDS AND ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS WHO WERE SMUGGLING WEAPONS INTO
KOSOVO AND WHO USED WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS HUMAN SHIELDS. THE
YUGOSLAV ARMY SAYS THEY WERE WARNED TO STOP, AND THAT THE
GUERRILLAS FIRED THE FIRST SHOT. (SIGNED)
[03] SPECIAL ENGLISH IN THE NEWS #349 - Kosovo BY Nancy Steinbach (Washington)DATE=10-24-98TYPE=Special English Feature NUMBER=7-20106 TELEPHONE=619-2585 EDITOR=Shelley Gollust CONTENT= This is _____________ with the V-O-A Special English program IN THE NEWS. NATO has given Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic until October twenty-seventh to honor a new peace agreement for Kosovo province or face air attacks. The agreement is aimed at ending seven months of fighting in Kosovo between ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbs. Kosovo is part of the Republic of Serbia. Serbia is one of the two republics of Yugoslavia. Before Nineteen-Ninety-One, Yugoslavia included Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia all declared independence. That left Yugoslavia with only two republics, Serbia and Montenegro. The province of Kosovo is about twelve percent of Serbian territory within Yugoslavia. Many Serbs consider it the center of the Orthodox Christian people because of a battle fought against the Ottoman Turks in Thirteen-Eighty-Nine. The Serbs also believe that their people were the first to settle in Kosovo hundreds of years ago. Ethnic Albanians also believe they were the first people to settle in Kosovo. Two-million people live in Kosovo today. Ninety percent of them are ethnic Albanian. However, the Serbs control all government in Kosovo, including the police and army. Many ethnic Albanians want independence for Kosovo. Others want peace and self-rule. The people of Kosovo had some self-rule while Josip Tito ruled Yugoslavia. But ethnic nationalist feeling began to increase after Mister Tito died in Nineteen-Eighty. Rioting took place in Kosovo in Nineteen-Eighty-One. Slobodan Milosevic came to power in Yugoslavia and ended Kosovo's self-rule in Nineteen-Eighty-Nine. The present conflict in Kosovo began in February when ethnic Albanian rebels started demanding independence. President Milosevic sent police and army troops to Kosovo. Hundreds of people have died in the fighting. More than two-hundred-fifty-thousand others have been forced from their homes in Kosovo. Political experts fear that the conflict in Kosovo could spread to Albania, and to other areas in which Albanians live, such as Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece. The peace agreement for Kosovo calls for an end to the fighting, and the withdrawal of Serb forces. It also seeks to give ethnic Albanians in Kosovo limited self-rule within Serbia. It calls for new elections within nine months for Kosovo's Parliament. About two-thousand civilian observers will be in Kosovo for one year to make sure the agreement is being honored. Some experts do not believe the agreement will hold. They say the ethnic Albanians will accept nothing less than independence, and the Serbs will not accept separation of the province. This IN THE NEWS program was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is _______________. 23-Oct-98 9:59 AM EDT (1359 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [04] THE KOSOVO DILEMMA: WHEN TO USE FORCE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-10974 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: THE CLOCK CONTINUES TICKING ON YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS MILITARY BUILDUP IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE UNITED NATIONS IS INSISTING THAT YUGOSLAVIA REDUCE ITS FORCES IN KOSOVO BY NEXT TUESDAY [10/27]. MEANWHILE, THE DEBATE OVER WHAT TO DO CONTINUES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AS WE LEARN NOW FROM __________________ WHO JOINS US WITH EXAMPLES OF THE LATEST EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: /// OPT /// PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON FINDING A SOLUTION WITH WINTER CLOSING IN AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES STILL HIDING IN THE WOODED MOUNTAINS OF KOSOVO PROVINCE AFRAID OF SERB RETALIATION IF THEY RETURN TO THEIR BOMBED-OUT VILLAGES. /// END OPT /// WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING WITH THE LEADING PAPER ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY," WHICH SAYS THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT, IN THE LONG TERM IT WILL TAKE WESTERN TROOPS ON THE GROUND TO KEEP THE PEACE IN KOSOVO. VOICE: /// OPT /// NO ONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS TO ADMIT IT NOW, BUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF A CREDIBLE CONTINGENT OF ARMED PEACEKEEPERS - - TROOPS, IN OTHER WORDS - - ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO. /// END OPT TEXT: IN CONNECTICUT, "THE HARTFORD COURANT" REMINDS ITS READERS THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GET RESULTS FROM SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, AND THAT WILL PROBABLY HOLD TRUE IN THIS LATEST CASE. VOICE: /// OPT /// SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THE AUTOCRATIC RULER OF YUGOSLAVIA, YIELDS ONLY WHEN HE THINKS HE'S GOING TO GET A THUMPING. ..... THANKS TO NATO MUSCLE AND THE JAWBONING OF U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD ... HOLBROOKE, A MILITARY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN YUGOSLOVIA AND THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES HAS BEEN AVERTED - - FOR NOW. /// END OPT ///TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" COMPARES MR. MILOSEVIC TO IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN AND SAYS BOTH RESPECT SUPERIOR MILITARY FORCE. VOICE: MR. MILOSEVIC SHARES IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CONTEMPT FOR DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENTS AND FOR THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE. /// OPT /// HUNDREDS OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED - - AND SOME 300-THOUSAND OTHERS DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES - - SINCE FEBRUARY 28TH [1998] WHEN MR. MILOSEVIC BEGAN HIS LATEST CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE GUISE OF PUTTING DOWN A SEPARATIST REVOLT. /// END OPT /// .... YET SERBIA'S CRUEL LEADER ALSO SHARES ANOTHER TRAIT WITH IRAQ'S [LEADER]: A GRUDGING RESPECT FOR SUPERIOR MILITARY FORCE. MR. MILOSEVIC AGREED TO DEAL WITH MR. HOLBROOKE ONLY AFTER NATO MADE A CREDIBLE THREAT TO BOMB SERBIAN STRONGHOLDS. .... WILL THIS AGREEMENT SOLVE KOSOVO'S PROBLEMS, WHICH HAVE FESTERED FOR CENTURIES BEFORE WORSENING AFTER THE BREAKUP OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA? PERHAPS IT WILL - - BUT ONLY IF IT'S STRICTLY ENFORCED. TEXT: "PORTLAND'S [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS "NATO OUGHT TO HOLD [THE] SERBS TO [A] FIRM WITHDRAWAL" ADDING: VOICE: /// OPT /// ... NOBODY KNOWS IF THEY WILL HAVE ANY WITHDRAWALS TO MONITOR BY NEXT TUESDAY'S DEADLINE. IN FACT, THERE'S SPECULATION THE DEADLINE - - ALREADY EXTENDED ONCE - - WILL BE PUSHED BACK AGAIN. IT SHOULDN'T BE. /// END OPT /// THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN RESIDENTS OF KOSOVO ... HAS TO BE HELD TO HIS AGREEMENTS THIS TIME. SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ... AGREED TO WITHDRAW MOST OF HIS FORCES, AND ALSO PLEDGED TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES TO HELP REFUGEES AND TO AGREE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS ON A TIMETABLE FOR RESTORING A DEGREE OF SELF-RULE. .... NATO SHOULDN'T GIVE HIM ANY MORE TIME. THIS DEADLINE MUST BE MET - - OR THE BOMBERS WILL FLY. /// REMAINDER OPT ///TEXT: AND LASTLY, IN A CLOSELY RELATED EDITORIAL, "THE NEW YORK TIMES," WORRIES ABOUT THE STIFLING OF DISSENT WITHIN SERBIA BY MR. MILOSEVIC, WHILE THE WEST'S ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. VOICE: ON TUESDAY [10/20], SERBIA'S PARLIAMENT PASSED A SUFFOCATING NEW LAW ON THE MEDIA, THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF THREATS AND ACTIONS AGAINST DISSENTERS THERE. AS ALWAYS, MR. MILOSEVIC'S TIMING IS DIABOLICALLY CLEVER. WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CRITICIZED THESE ATTACKS ON SERBIA'S CIVIL SOCIETY, AFRAID TO ANGER THE LEADER THEY NEED TO DELIVER A DEAL ON KOSOVO. WASHINGTON HAS NOT YET REALIZED THAT THESE INDEPENDENT ACTIVISTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMOCRATIC SERBIA, THE BEST WAY TO BREAK MR. MILOSEVIC'S POWER. THE NEW ... LAW BANS THE BROADCAST OF SERBIAN-LANGUAGE FOREIGN PROGRAMS FROM SERVICES SUCH AS ....THE VOICE OF AMERICA OR B-B-C, WHICH NEED LOCAL TRANSMISSIONS TO REACH LISTENERS WITHOUT SHORTWAVE RADIOS. TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIAL
COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS ON THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE WEST AND
SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ON TROOP WITHDRAWAL IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.
[05] TURKEY/U-S/OIL PIPELINE (L ONLY) (CQ) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-240636 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS USING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PRESSURE OIL COMPANIES TO BUILD A CASPIAN SEA OIL PIPELINE ALONG A U-S-BACKED ROUTE. THE UNITED STATES WILL GIVE MORE THAN 800-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ANKARA TO HELP FUND THE PLANNING FOR TURKEY'S PART OF THE PROPOSED PIPELINE. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS. TEXT: UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT HAS ANNOUNCED AN 823-THOUSAND-DOLLAR GRANT TO SHORE UP PLANS FOR A PROPOSED CASPIAN OIL PIPELINE THROUGH TURKEY. THE MONEY -- FROM THE U-S TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY -- WILL FUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING FOR A PIPELINE ROUTE THAT THE U-S FAVORS. AN AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE GRANT AGREEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO BE SIGNED IN TURKEY TUESDAY (10/27). SHE SAYS IT WILL ALSO COVER FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND LEGAL MATTERS FOR THE PIPELINE PROPOSAL. THERE ARE SEVERAL ROUTES PROPOSED FOR GETTING OIL TO WORLD MARKETS FROM THE CASPIAN SEA REGION. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A ROUTE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA FROM THE AZERBAIJANI CAPITAL, BAKU. THE PIPELINE WOULD PASS THROUGH ARMENIA TO THE TURKISH CITY OF CEYHAN. BUT OIL COMPANIES HAVE COMPLAINED THAT ROUTE IS TOO EXPENSIVE, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF BETWEEN TWO-BILLION AND FOUR-BILLION DOLLARS. OTHER PROPOSED DESTINATIONS INCLUDE TWO PORTS ON THE BLACK SEA -- ONE IN GEORGIA, THE OTHER IN RUSSIA. THE UNITED STATES PREFERS THE TURKISH ROUTE BECAUSE OF CIVIL CONFLICT IN GEORGIA AND INSTABILITY IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHERN CAUCASUS REGION. IN SPITE OF UNCERTAINTY OVER THE OIL COMPANIES' PENDING DECISION, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE WILL BE BUILT. PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ IN ANKARA THURSDAY SAID HE THINKS THE INTERESTED PARTIES WILL REACH A FINAL AGREEMENT SOON. THE LEADERS OF FOUR OF THE REGION'S OIL-RICH NATIONS --
AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN, GEORGIA AND TURKMENISTAN -- ARE EXPECTED
TO TRAVEL TO ANKARA AT THE END OF THE MONTH TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE BAKU-CEYHAN
ROUTE ON OCTOBER 29TH, AT CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC. (SIGNED)
[06] NY ECON WRAP (S & L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-240659 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE WEAKER TODAY (FRIDAY). PRICES CLOSED DOWN AFTER SEVEN STRAIGHT DAYS OF A RALLY. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK: TEXT: THERE WAS NO MAJOR NEWS DRIVING THE MARKET UP OR DOWN. IT SIMPLY OPENED DOWN AND STAYED THERE. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 84 HUNDRED 52, DOWN 80 POINTS OR JUST UNDER ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED DOWN NEARLY EIGHT POINTS AT ONE THOUSAND SEVENTY. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF U-S COMPANIES SO FAR HAVE RELEASED THEIR EARNINGS REPORTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER. BASICALLY, MOST HAVE BEEN IN LINE WITH LOWER WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. ANALYSTS SAY THEY ANTICIPATED SOME NEGATIVE SPIN-OFF FOR U-S COMPANIES DUE TO WEAKER SALES IN ASIA. THE GOOD NEWS, ANALYSTS SAY, IS THAT MONEY IS NOT LEAVING THE MARKET, SIMPLY MOVING AROUND. DESPITE SOME WEAKNESS IN THE DOW'S BLUE CHIP STOCKS BY WEEK'S END, SMALL STOCKS HAVE MADE STEADY GAINS. //REST OPT//ANALYSTS TURNED THEIR ATTENTION FRIDAY ONCE AGAIN TO INTEREST RATES, SPECULATING ON WHETHER THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WOULD MAKE ANOTHER CUT DURING ITS NEXT MEETING NOVEMBER 17TH. MANY ARE BETTING IT WILL. WALL STREET WAS UPBEAT AFTER THE RATE CUT LAST WEEK, WHICH SPURRED THE LATEST RALLY. COURTNEY SMITH OF THE ORBITEX INVESTMENT FIRM SAYS EUROPE ALSO IS MOVING TOWARD LOWER RATES AND ALL OF THIS BODES WELL FOR THE MARKET'S FUTURE: //SMITH ACT//WE'RE NOW GOING INTO A PERIOD WHERE ALL OF THEM, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE (GERMAN) BUNDESBANK, ARE GOING ON TO THE EASING SIDE. THERE'S NO CASE IN HISTORY, WHERE IF I'VE GOT ALL GEE-SEVEN (G-7) COUNTRIES EASING MONETARY SUPPLY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF BULL MARKET. NOW, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF DEFLATION OUT THERE. THAT'S STILL GOING TO IMPACT EARNINGS. BUT THE FACT THAT LIQUIDITY IS COMING BACK INTO THE MARKET, I THINK, WILL TURN THE TIDE IN THE BULL'S FAVOR. //END ACT//OTHER ANALYSTS SEE THE "BEAR" IN THE ASCENDANCY AND STOCK PRICES RETREATING, AS THE U-S ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN. THEY CALL THE MARKET'S RECENT UPSURGE SIMPLY A "RELIEF RALLY." IN ANTI-TRUST ACTION, THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS FILED A SUIT TO
BLOCK A MERGER BETWEEN THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST AIRLINE --
NORTHWEST -- AND FIFTH-RANKED CONTINENTAL AIRLINES. THE
GOVERNMENT SAYS NORTHWEST'S PLAN TO BUY A CONTROLLING STAKE IN
CONTINENTAL WOULD HURT COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO CARRIERS, AS
WELL AS LEAD TO HIGHER TICKET PRICES AND WORSE SERVICE FOR
PASSENGERS. OVER FOUR MILLION PEOPLE TRAVEL ON NORTHWEST AND
CONTINENTAL ROUTES. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/GE
[07] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=10/23/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10973 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= ////////INTRO: A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS ARE DRAWING COMMENT IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NATION'S DAILY PAPERS THIS AUTUMN FRIDAY. AMONG THEM ARE SIGNS OF CHANGE IN SPAIN'S DECADES-LONG BASQUE CONFLICT; A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN ITALY; /// OPT /// A RENEWED LEGAL ATTACK ON FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL AND CLINTON FRIEND WEBSTER HUBBELL; /// END OPT /// AND MORE RECRIMINATIONS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PAY ITS BACK UNITED NATIONS DUES. AND LASTLY, SEVERAL TRIBUTES TO WHAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST TEAM EVER IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL, THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPION NEW YORK YANKEES. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. VOICE: AFTER DECADES OF BLOODSHED, BASQUE SEPARATISTS APPEAR READY TO ABANDON VIOLENCE IN FAVOR OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN. IT SEEMS THE RECENT PROGRESS IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS MAY DESERVE SOME CREDIT FOR INSPIRING BASQUE GUERRILLAS TO END THEIR BOMBINGS AND KIDNAPPINGS IN FAVOR OF TALKS. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" HAD THIS TO SAY: VOICE: THE WINDS OF PEACE BLOWING IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE MOVED SOUTH TO THE BASQUES IN SPAIN. EARLY LAST MONTH, ETA, THE BASQUE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BEST KNOWN FOR BLOWING UP PEOPLE, CARS AND BUILDINGS, JOINED WITH 23 OTHER BASQUE POLITICAL PARTIES AND UNIONS TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT LOOKING TOWARD A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF THE SEPARATISTS' CONFLICT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN. BORROWING FROM THE PEACE MODEL OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND ASSISTED BY SINN FEIN (AND IRISH NATIONALIST) PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS, THE MAIN BASQUE NATIONALIST POLITICAL GROUPS PROMISED TO SEEK A NONVIOLENT AND DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION TO THE STRUGGLE. ... WITH POLITICAL COURAGE ON ALL SIDES, THINGS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. TEXT: STILL IN EUROPE, ITALY HAS A NEW GOVERNMENT AND FRIDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS CALLING THE SELECTION OF A NEW, EX-COMMUNIST PRIME MINISTER: "ITALY'S POLITICAL EXPERIMENT." VOICE: MASSIMO D'ALEMA, WHO HEADS ITALY'S FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY, SEEMS LIKELY TO WIN PARLIAMENTARY CONFIRMATION AS PRIME MINISTER, MAKING HIM THE FIRST EX-COMMUNIST TO LEAD A MAJOR WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRY. BUT WASHINGTON, WHICH WORKED HARD DURING THE COLD WAR TO EXCLUDE ITALIAN COMMUNISTS FROM GOVERNMENT, HAS LITTLE TO WORRY ABOUT. /// OPT ////// END OPT ///TEXT: TURNING TO ASIA, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS PLEASED WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GRADUALLY IMPROVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN. VOICE: TALKS HELD RECENTLY IN CHINA BETWEEN DELEGATIONS FROM TAIWAN AND THE MAINLAND PRODUCED NO BREAKTHROUGH IN A DISPUTE THAT THREATENS ASIAN SECURITY, BUT THE RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO ANTAGONISTS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT. ... THE TALKS CULMINATED LAST SUNDAY WITH AN UNSCHEDULED, HOURLONG MEETING BETWEEN THE CHIEF OF TAIWAN'S NEGOTIATING TEAM, BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN KOO CHEN-FU, AND JIANG ZEMIN, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. THEIR CHAT, ... IMPLIED THAT NOTHING HAD GONE AMISS IN TALKS AT A LOWER LEVEL AND THAT DESPITE THE STATIC POSITIONS OF THE TWO SIDES, BEIJING WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE AND CONTINUE THEIR RENEWED CONTACTS. /// OPT /// INDEED, THE PRINCIPAL REASON TO BE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE REVIVED CONTACTS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND MAINLAND CHINA ARE DOMESTIC CONSIDERATIONS PUSHING THE TWO SIDES TOWARD A LESS CONFRONTATIONAL, MORE COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP. /// END OPT /// TEXT: STILL WITH ASIAN AFFAIRS, FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS HEARTENED BY THE LATEST NEWS FROM TOKYO ABOUT A PLAN TO DEAL WITH JAPAN'S FAILING COMMERCIAL BANKS. VOICE: JAPAN'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A 500-BILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO RESOLVE ITS BANKING CRISIS AND SHORE UP ITS ECONOMY SENT SOME POSITIVE ENERGY SPINNING AROUND THE GLOBE. AMERICANS HAD GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HEARING PURELY BAD ECONOMIC NEWS FROM THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. ... THE 500-BILLION DOLLAR JAPANESE PACKAGE UNDERSCORES HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM OF BAD LOANS HAS BECOME AND HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO FIX. BUT IT ALSO SIGNALS THAT JAPAN FINALLY MAY BE READY TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT TACKLING THAT PROBLEM. /// OPT ///TEXT: HERE AT HOME, FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, AND LONG-TIME BILL CLINTON FRIEND, WEBSTER HUBBELL IS STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KEN STARR. MR. STARR IS ARGUING IN COURT TO HAVE FEDERAL CHARGES -- DROPPED EARLIER IN THE YEAR REINSTATED AGAINST MR. HUBBELL. "THE WASHINGTON POST" CRITICIZES MR. STARR'S JUDGMENT. VOICE: THE TWO MAJOR LEGAL QUESTIONS PRESENTED BY THIS MATTER ARE DIFFICULT ONES, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MR. STARR IS RIGHT ON EITHER OR BOTH OF THEM. YET EVEN IF HE IS RIGHT, MR. STARR'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE MR. HUBBELL ARE MISPLACED; THEY ARE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MR. STARR'S UNFORTUNATE TENDENCY TO CONFUSE THINGS HE IS LEGALLY PERMITTED TO DO WITH THINGS HE OUGHT TO DO. MR. STARR CARRIES A BURDEN, SO FAR UNMET, TO DEMONSTRATE WHY THIS CASE IS ... NOT MERELY PROSECUTORIAL VENGEFULNESS AGAINST AN UNCOOPERATIVE WITNESS. /// END OPT ///TEXT: FRIDAY'S "OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" IS UPSET THAT CONGRESS FORCED PRESIDENT CLINTON TO VETO A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PAID THIS COUNTRY'S BACK UNITED NATIONS DUES BECAUSE IT CONTAINED ANTI-ABORTION LANGUAGE, INSERTED BY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS. SAYS NEBRASKA'S LARGEST DAILY: VOICE: THE PRESIDENT PROMISED TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS NEXT YEAR TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE. HE SAID HE WOULD ALSO WORK WITH THEM ON A PACKAGE OF UNITED NATIONS REFORMS THAT REPUBLICANS FAVOR. IN RETURN, THE REPUBLICANS WHO ADDED THE ABORTION RIDER TO THE BILL OUGHT TO BACK AWAY FROM THAT PROVISION AND FIND ANOTHER WAY TO PURSUE THEIR AGENDA. THIS EDITORIAL PAGE HAS LONG OPPOSED THE TACTIC OF INSERTING IN A NEEDED PIECE OF LEGISLATION A PROVISION THAT LACKED SUFFICIENT SUPPORT TO SURVIVE ON ITS OWN. THE TECHNIQUE CONSTITUTES A PERNICIOUS FORM OF MINORITY RULE. IT DISTORTS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS RESISTED IT. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS ALSO UPSET WITH CONGRESS, AND NOTES: VOICE: THE CURRENT ... STANDOFF MEANS THAT MANY OF THE DIVERSE U-N ACTIVITIES THAT HELP THE WORLD WORK BETTER WILL REMAIN UNDERFUNDED. EVEN CLOSE U-S ALLIES ARE DISGUSTED. WHEN THE NEXT CONGRESS MEETS, CONSTITUENTS SHOULD PRESS ITS MEMBERS TO KEEP THE ISSUES OF U-N DUES AND ABORTION SEPARATE. TEXT: FINALLY, SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING ALL THOSE IN THE NEW YORK AREA, ARE HAILING THE NEW YORK YANKEES, WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE WORLD SERIES, AS POSSIBLY THE BEST-EVER TEAM IN BASEBALL, IN ADDITION TO A GOOD BUNCH OF YOUNG MEN. "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND SUMS IT UP THIS WAY: VOICE: SOMEDAY, MAYBE IN TEN OR 25 YEARS OR EVEN 50 YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN THAT WE WATCHED THE '98 YANKEES PLAY. THAT IS THE MEASURE OF HOW GOOD THIS TEAM HAS BEEN. BY COMPLETING A SWEEP OF THE WORLD SERIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN SAN DIEGO, THE NEW YORK YANKEES BASEBALL TEAM HAS PUT ITSELF INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS [WINNING] 125 GAMES. ... NO TEAM HAS EVER WON MORE GAMES IN A SEASON. ... BUT IT IS A NOTABLE TEAM FOR ANOTHER REASON, TOO. THIS WAS AN ENSEMBLE PIECE. EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE 25-MAN SQUAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFORT. THERE ARE NO YANKEE SUPERSTARS. ... IN THIS ERA OF BIG-TIME MONEY AND EVEN BIGGER EGOS, IT WAS REFRESHING, IF NOT DOWNRIGHT INSPIRING, TO WATCH A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COME TOGETHER IN A MANNER THAT MADE THE WHOLE MUCH GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. ... WELL DONE, NEW YORK YANKEES. TEXT: ON THAT CONGRATULATORY NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF
OPINIONS TO BE FOUND IN FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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