Voice of America, 98-11-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / SECURITY (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] BOSNIA LASER ATTACK (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[03] IRAQ / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[04] RUSSIA / KURDS (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[05] E-U ENLARGEMENT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

[01] KOSOVO / SECURITY (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: SECURITY FOR VILLAGERS REMAINS A KEY ISSUE IN KOSOVO. AND THE TOP ETHNIC ALBANIAN PEACE NEGOTIATOR SAYS THE DRAFT OF A NEW U-S PEACE PROPOSAL LACKS DETAILS DEFINING THE MAKE-UP OF LOCAL SECURITY FORCES. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE SENIOR ETHNIC ALBANIAN PEACE NEGOTIATOR, FEHMI AGANI, SAYS A NEW U-S PEACE PROPOSAL NEEDS MORE WORK TO DEAL WITH THE SECURITY SITUATION IN KOSOVO.

THE DRAFT PEACE PROPOSAL BY U-S MEDIATOR CHRISTOPHER HILL CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF NEW ALBANIAN-RUN INSTITUTIONS IN KOSOVO.

BUT MR. AGANI SAID THE DRAFT IS NOT YET ACCEPTABLE AS A NEGOTIATING DOCUMENT. HE SAYS HE WANTS CONCRETE GUARANTEES THAT ETHNIC ALBANIANS WILL HAVE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN VILLAGE AND CITY POLICE FORCES. HE SAYS SUCH REPRESENTATION WOULD ELIMINATE MUCH OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE K-L-A, WHICH IS DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO.

IN THIS CASE THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE KLA. ... IF WE ARE GOING TO FORM OUR OWN POLICE FORCES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR K-L-A.

MR. AGANI HAS BEEN MEETING WITH K-L-A POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE ADEM DEMACI. THE REBEL GROUP HAS NO FORMAL ROLE IN THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS, BUT WESTERN DIPLOMATS HAVE STRENGTHENED THEIR TIES WITH THE SEPARATIST ORGANIZATION IN RECENT WEEKS.

U-S AND EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS ARE ARRIVING IN KOSOVO THIS WEEK TO BEGIN EFFORTS THAT WOULD INVOLVE THE K-L-A IN LOCAL PEACE INITIATIVES. THE DIPLOMATS ALSO WILL BE WORKING TO CREATE MUNICIPAL AND VILLAGE SECURITY FORCES ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SERBS AND ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/JWH/GE
04-Nov-98 2:42 PM EST (1942 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA LASER ATTACK (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE PILOT AND A CREWMAN ON AN AMERICAN HELICOPTER WERE HURT RECENTLY (OCTOBER 24) WHEN SOMEONE FIRED A LASER AT THEIR AIRCRAFT PATROLLING OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE MEN WERE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY BUT THIS, AND SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE BALKANS, HAVE SPARKED CONCERN AMONG U-S AIR CREWS. U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS AND POLICE IN BOSNIA ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENTS, AND THE U-S ARMY SAYS IT IS NOW CHANGING THE WAY IT USES ITS HELICOPTERS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY U-S HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN HIT BY LASERS FOUR TIMES IN BOSNIA. OFFICIALS SAY ONE CASE CAUSED 'MILD TO MODERATE' EYE INJURIES WHEN THE LASER LIGHT STAYED ON THE AIRCRAFT FOR FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS. THE PILOT AND A SERGEANT WERE BOTH TREATED FOR EYE INJURIES, AND BOTH ARE EXPECTED TO RECOVER AND BE ABLE TO RESUME FLYING.

NEVERTHELESS, PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE ARMY IS CHANGING THE WAY IT USES HELICOPTERS OVER BOSNIA TO LESSEN THE DANGER TO PILOTS -- BUT WILL GIVE FEW DETAILS.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY DID SAY PILOTS NOW HAVE SOME PROTECTION FROM THE LASER THREAT.

WHAT WE'VE DONE TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION IS TO PROVIDE HELICOPTER CREWS WITH EITHER SPECIAL GLASSES OR GOGGLES THAT PROTECT THEIR EYES IN THESE SITUATIONS.

AN EXPERT IN WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY SAYS THE PILOTS HAVE GOOD REASON FOR CONCERN. JOHN PIKE STUDIES STRATEGIC ISSUES FOR THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS. HE SAYS FOUR THOUSAND IRANIAN SOLDIERS SUFFERED EYE INJURIES, INCLUDING BLINDNESS, WHEN IRAQI FORCES SWEPT POWERFUL LASERS ACROSS THEIR RANKS DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR.

IT WAS A LOT EASIER FOR THEM TO INJURE THOSE SOLDIERS USING A LASER THAN IT WAS TO KILL THEM BY HITTING THEM WITH A BULLET. AND THE THING IS THAT AN INJURED SOLDIER IS A LOT MORE OF A BURDEN TO A MILITARY THAN A DEAD SOLDIER IS BECAUSE EVERY INJURED SOLDIER REQUIRES SEVERAL MORE TO GET HIM BACK TO THE HOSPITAL.

MR. PIKE SAYS THE IRANIAN BATTLEFIELD LASERS WERE THOSE USED BY TANKS TO DETERMINE THE RANGE TO A TARGET. OTHER LASERS ARE USED TO GUIDE BOMBS AND SHELLS TO TARGETS WITH GREAT PRECISION.

LASERS ARE USED BY MANY NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IN TANKS, ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS AND TO DISRUPT ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

MR. PIKE SAYS RECENT TREATIES LABELED WEAPONS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BLIND SOLDIERS AS 'INHUMANE' AND BANNED THEIR USE. BUT HE SAYS WITH SO MANY LASERS PLAYING SO MANY BATTLEFIELD ROLES, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THE BAN ON THESE WEAPONS. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/JO
04-Nov-98 6:31 PM EST (2331 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] IRAQ / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF ONE OF THE MAIN KURDISH GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAS OPENED TALKS IN ANKARA WITH SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (K-D-P), MASSOUD BARZANI, SAYS HE WANTS TO REASSURE TURKISH OFFICIALS A PEACE DEAL HE SIGNED LAST MONTH WITH THE LEADER OF A RIVAL GROUP IS NOT A STEP TOWARD KURDISH INDEPENDENCE.

TEXT: MR. BARZANI -- WHO ARRIVED IN ANKARA AFTER A MONTH-LONG TOUR OF THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN CAPITALS -- MET WEDNESDAY WITH TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT.

TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY MR. BARZANI EXPLAINED THE CONTENTS OF A PEACE AGREEMENT HE SIGNED LAST MONTH IN WASHINGTON WITH HIS RIVAL, JALAL TALABANI OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN (P-U-K). THE TWO KURDISH LEADERS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET IN ANKARA FOLLOWING MR. TALABANI'S ARRIVAL SATURDAY IN TURKEY.

TURKEY WAS ANGERED BY THE U-S/BROKERED AGREEMENT WHICH ENDS FOUR-YEARS OF FIGHTING BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND P-U-K, IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS EXCLUDED FROM ITS PREPARATION. TURKEY IS ESPECIALLY UPSET BY A PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH CALLS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRAQ AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS THAT ARE TO BE HELD NEXT MAY.

TURKISH OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH GOVERNMENT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD KURDISH INDEPENDENCE. ANALYSTS SAY SUCCESSFUL SELF-RULE IN NORTHERN IRAQ COULD ENCOURAGE SIMILAR ASPIRATIONS AMONG TURKEY'S ESTIMATED 12-MILLION KURDS.

IN A RETALIATORY MOVE, TURKEY LAST MONTH SAID IT WOULD BE SENDING AN AMBASSADOR TO BAGHDAD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990.

U-S AND KURDISH OFFICIALS HAVE SINCE SOUGHT TO REASSURE TURKEY THAT AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE IS NOT ON THEIR AGENDA. U-S OFFICIALS SAY RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND P-U-K IS PART OF A BROADER U-S STRATEGY OF CONTAINING IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSAIN.

NORTHERN IRAQ HAS REMAINED UNDER KURDISH CONTROL SINCE THE END OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. THE SO-CALLED KURDISH SAFE HAVEN IS PROTECTED BY U-S-LED ALLIED WAR PLANES BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
04-Nov-98 10:32 AM EST (1532 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA / KURDS (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT IS ASKING PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO GRANT ASYLUM TO A KURDISH REBEL LEADER WANTED ON TERRORISM CHARGES IN TURKEY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: THE DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE, WEDNESDAY OVERWHELMINGLY THREW ITS SUPPORT BEHIND AN APPEAL FOR ASYLUM FROM ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE LEADER OF THE REBEL KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (P-K-K). THE VOTE WAS 298 TO ZERO, WITH ONE ABSTENTION.

EVEN THOUGH THE RESOLUTION IS NON-BINDING, THE VOTE IS CERTAIN TO IRRITATE TURKEY, WHICH CONSIDERS MR. OCALAN ITS MOST WANTED CRIMINAL.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK ASKED RUSSIA TO EXTRADITE MR. OCALAN. UNOFFICIAL SOURCES SAY TURKEY HAD SOLID INFORMATION THE KURDISH LEADER WAS HIDING IN A MOSCOW SUBURB. BUT THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING SECURITY FORCES HAD FAILED TO TURN UP ANY TRACE OF MR. OCALAN.

MORE RECENT TURKISH MEDIA REPORTS SUGGEST THE REBEL LEADER HAS LEFT MOSCOW FOR ARMENIA, WHICH HAS NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY. BUT AN ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DENIED THOSE REPORTS.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV TRAVELLED TO ANKARA LAST WEEK FOR TALKS WITH TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ ABOUT THE OCALAN MATTER. NEWS AGENCIES QUOTED THE TURKISH LEADER AS SAYING HE HAD BEEN ASSURED RUSSIA WOULD NOT ALLOW MR. OCALAN TO OPERATE FROM ITS SOIL.

THE DUMA RESOLUTION PASSED WEDNESDAY CONDEMNS TURKEY'S RAIDS AGAINST KURDISH REBELS, AND DEMANDS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM KURDISH REGIONS.

THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THE RESOLUTION FROM RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY. BUT THE MINISTRY HAS IN THE PAST ISSUED STATEMENTS CRITICAL OF TURKISH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST KURDS.

NEWS AGENCIES ESTIMATE AT LEAST 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TURKEY'S LONG-RUNNING KURDISH CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH
04-Nov-98 9:33 AM EST (1433 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] E-U ENLARGEMENT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS ISSUED PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE SIX COUNTRIES THAT ARE NEGOTIATING MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND THE OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO START NEGOTIATIONS TO BECOME MEMBERS. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: LATVIA HAD HOPED TO JOIN THE SIX COUNTRIES NEGOTIATING MEMBERSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK WHEN TALKS RESUME IN VIENNA. AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS, HANS VAN DEN BROEK, REPORTED TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT THAT LATVIA HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF ANY COUNTRY NOT ALREADY ON THE SO-CALLED "FAST TRACK" TO MEMBERSHIP.

OUR ASSESSMENT DOES NOT LEAD US TO PROPOSE THE EXTENSION OF NEGOTIATIONS TO ANY FURTHER CANDIDATES THIS YEAR. BUT IN THE CASE OF LATVIA, LITHUANIA, AND SLOVAKIA, WE DO CONCLUDE THAT THE RATE OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TO HOLD OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE OPENING OF NEGOTIATIONS AT THE END OF 1999 FOR LATVIA.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAYS MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH LITHUANIA AND SLOVAKIA COULD START WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD IF THEY MAINTAIN THE PROMISED PACE OF REFORMS. BUT HE DID NOT GIVE A DATE FOR EITHER COUNTRY. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT BULGARIA AND ROMANIA ARE FAR BEHIND THE OTHERS -- BULGARIA BECAUSE IT HAS SO FAR TO GO AND ROMANIA BECAUSE ECONOMIC REFORMS THERE HAVE STOPPED.

AS FOR THE COUNTRIES ON THE 'FAST TRACK," MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAYS THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVENIA MAY HAVE TROUBLE MEETING EUROPEAN UNION STANDARDS.

WE ISSUE A STERN REMINDER TO THE NEGOTIATING COUNTRIES AND IN PARTICULAR, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVENIA THAT NEED TO SPEED UP IMPLEMENTATION AND ADOPTION OF THE ACQUIS (REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP). THE SLOWDOWN WE HAVE OBSERVED SINCE THE OPINIONS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

THE COMMISSIONER TELLS PARLIAMENT THAT TRANSITION PERIODS ALONE WILL NOT HELP THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVENIA MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS FOR EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP. AND HE DOES NOT RULE OUT THAT SOME COUNTRIES NOW BEHIND, SUCH AS LATVIA AND SLOVAKIA, COULD EVENTUALLY PASS THE FRONT RUNNING SIX WHO ALSO INCLUDE POLAND, HUNGARY, ESTONIA, AND CYPRUS.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN ANY OF THE COUNTRIES ACTUALLY WILL JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE FRONT RUNNING SIX ARE HOPING FOR THE YEAR 2002 OR 2003. TO THOSE PREDICTIONS, MR. VAN DEN BROEK CAN ONLY SAY, "I HOPE SO. " (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/JO
04-Nov-98 12:59 PM EST (1759 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY), ALTHOUGH THEY CLOSED WELL BELOW SESSION HIGHS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 87 HUNDRED 83, UP 77 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 18, UP SEVEN POINTS.

STOCK PRICES ROARED AHEAD EARLY IN THE DAY WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINING MORE THAN 130 POINTS. ANALYSTS SAY IT WAS EUPHORIA ABOUT TUESDAY'S U-S ELECTION RESULTS. THE STRONG SHOWING BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVINCED MANY TRADERS THAT IT IS NOW LESS LIKELY THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE IMPEACHED.

BUT A WAVE OF SELLING CAME INTO THE MARKET LATE IN THE DAY. ANALYSTS SAY PART OF THE SELLING WAS SIMPLY PROFIT-TAKING AFTER THE EARLY GAINS AND PART MAY HAVE BEEN A RE-ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE ELECTION RESULTS. A REPORT (BEIGE BOOK) FROM THE U-S CENTRAL BANK SAYS THERE ARE NOW DEFINITE SIGNS OF AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. HOWEVER, THAT REPORT ALSO SAYS THERE CONTINUES TO BE VIRTUALLY NO INFLATIONARY PRESSURE IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

CENTRAL BANK CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN WILL TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AT A SPEECH ON THURSDAY. SOME ON WALL STREET ARE HOPING MR. GREENSPAN WILL AT LEAST HINT THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER INTEREST RATE CUT WHEN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS MEET LATER THIS MONTH.

JOHN LONSKI OF THE MOODY'S INVESTMENT RESEARCH COMPANY BELIEVES MR. GREENSPAN WILL DO JUST THAT.

EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUANCE OF CORPORATE BONDS PICKED UP IN OCTOBER AND HAS DONE WELL IN EARLY NOVEMBER, THE FACT IS THAT THE U-S IS NOT SAFELY DISTANCED FROM A CREDIT CRUNCH AND THEREFORE GREENSPAN WILL PROBABLY HINT THAT ANOTHER INTEREST RATE CUT AT THE NOVEMBER 17TH MEETING IS VERY MUCH IN ORDER.

THE FIRST AND SECOND LARGEST AUTOMAKERS IN THE UNITED STATES REPORTED SALES INCREASES IN OCTOBER. GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH IS REBOUNDING FROM RECENT STRIKES, SAYS ITS SALES ROSE SIX PERCENT AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPORTED AN ALMOST TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES INCREASE LAST MONTH. SEAGRAM, THE CANADIAN-BASED BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, REPORTED A FOUR PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS, LARGELY BECAUSE OF WEAKNESS IN ITS SPIRITS AND WINE SALES.

THE STOCK OF BOSTON SCIENTIFIC, THE FAST-GROWING MAKER OF MEDICAL DEVICES, LOST 10 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE AFTER THE COMPANY REVEALED ACCOUNTING IRREGULARITIES WHICH CAUSED IT TO MIS-STATE REVENUES.

U-S-X CORPORATION SAYS IT WILL REDUCE OUTPUT AT A KEY STEEL PLANT BY 70 PERCENT AND BLAMES UNFAIR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. U-S-X ALONG WITH OTHER AMERICAN STEEL COMPANIES AND THEIR UNION, CLAIM STEEL COMPANIES IN JAPAN, BRAZIL AND RUSSIA ARE ILLEGALLY "DUMPING" STEEL IN THE U-S MARKET. DUMPING MEANS SELLING A PRODUCT IN THE UNITED STATES AT PRICES BELOW THAT IN HOME MARKETS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
04-Nov-98 5:00 PM EST (2200 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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