Voice of America, 99-01-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-S / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[02] ALBRIGHT/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[03] KOSOVO/MONITORS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (PRISTINA)

[04] U-S / BOSNIA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[05] ROMANIA ECONOMY BY RON PEMSTEIN (BUCHAREST)

[06] GERMANY NUCLEAR (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

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

[08] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY LAVON/WASHINGTON

[01] U-S / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS AUTHORIZING 25 MILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING TO HELP REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS OFFICIALS SAY THE PRESIDENT WOULD CONSIDER SENDING U-S PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO IF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT WERE REACHED. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE AIDES SAY MR. CLINTON IS ASKING THAT UP TO 25 MILLION DOLLARS BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE U-S EMERGENCY REFUGEE AND MIGRATION FUND TO ASSIST REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

THEY SAY THE MONEY WOULD BE SENT AS A CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THE AID WAS ANNOUNCED AS U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAID MR. CLINTON IS LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO DEPLOYING U-S TROOPS IN KOSOVO AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IS REACHED THERE.

BUT MR. BERGER - IN A MEETING WITH DEFENSE WRITERS - SAID THE PRESIDENT WOULD OPPOSE SENDING TROOPS IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AN AGREEMENT.

THE MASSACRE OF 45 ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN RACAK EARLIER THIS MONTH HAS INTENSIFIED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO REACH A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT -- AND PROMPTED WARNINGS OF NATO AIR STRIKES.

YUGOSLAV SECURITY FORCES AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS, WHO ARE SEEKING INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO, HAVE CLASHED FOR NEARLY A YEAR. BOTH SIDES AGREED TO A CEASE-FIRE LAST OCTOBER, BUT THE TRUCE HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY VIOLATED OVER THE PAST MONTH. MEANWHILE, AS HE RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF SENDING U-S PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO, MR. BERGER ANNOUNCED THAT THE NUMBER OF U-S PEACEKEEPERS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WOULD BE REDUCED SLIGHTLY IN THE COMING WEEKS.

HE SAYS THE U-S CONTINGENT WOULD SHRINK FROM THE CURRENT 69- HUNDRED TO 62-HUNDRED TROOPS BY MARCH, A REDUCTION OF 10 PERCENT.

MR. BERGER SAYS THE DECISION REFLECTS THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARD ESTABLISHING A MORE STABLE PEACE IN BOSNIA - ALTHOUGH HE SAID CIVILIAN ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL FACING DIFFICULTIES REBUILDING THE WAR-TORN NATION.

THE TOTAL NATO PEACEKEEPING PRESENCE IN BOSNIA NOW NUMBERS ABOUT 30-THOUSAND. (SIGNED)
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26-Jan-99 2:26 PM EST (1926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBRIGHT/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES ARE CONSIDERING A "WIDE RANGE" OF MEASURES, INCLUDING MILITARY PRESSURE, TO BRING ABOUT A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT MS. ALBRIGHT MADE THE COMMENT TUESDAY, AFTER DISCUSSING THE KOSOVO SITUATION WITH RUSSIAN LEADERS.

TEXT: THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY THAT MEMBERS OF THE (SIX NATION) "CONTACT GROUP" (ON YUGOSLAVIA) ARE CONCERNED AT WHAT SHE CALLED THE VERY DANGEROUS STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT MASSACRE OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS.

SHE SAID THAT CONCERN WAS PROMPTED BY THE OVERLY LARGE NUMBER OF YUGOSLAV FORCES AND SPECIAL POLICE IN THE REGION -- IN VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN U-S AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. SHE ALSO CRITICIZED WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS "PROVOCATIVE ACTS" BY THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, AND KILLINGS IN GENERAL.

WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV STANDING BY HER SIDE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID MILITARY ACTION IS AMONG THE OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.

THE U-S AND THE ALLIES ARE EXAMINING A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR APPLYING A COMBINATION OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY PRESSURE ON MILOSEVIC AND THE SERBIAN AND F-R-Y (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA) AUTHORITIES IN ORDER TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE, AND IN ORDER TO MOVE BOTH SIDES TOWARD SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS ON A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR KOSOVO.

FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV TOLD THE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE RUSSIA STILL HOPES FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. BUT HE ADMITTED THE OUTLOOK IS GRIM.

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CALLS FOR NATO MILITARY ACTION. RUSSIA, A TRADITIONAL SERB ALLY, HAS BEEN SOLIDLY OPPOSED TO MILITARY ACTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
26-Jan-99 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO/MONITORS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE THE O-S-C-E -- HAS MOUNTED A VERIFICATION MISSION IN KOSOVO TO MONITOR THE SHAKY CEASEFIRE BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REBELS. EVERY DAY THE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE DISPATCHED TO THE FIELD TO MONITOR THE MOVEMENTS OF SERB TROOPS AND ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REBELS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY THE K-L-A. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TALKED WITH SOME MONITORS ABOUT THEIR WORK.

TEXT: KEEPING THE K-L-A REBELS AND SERB FORCES APART IS NOT AN EASY JOB FOR THE UNARMED MONITORS. THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS REPORT EVERYTHING THEY SEE THAT VIOLATES THE OCTOBER CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AND RADIO BACK THE INFORMATION TO HEADQUARTERS.

THIS DAY A TEAM OF OBSERVERS IS PERCHED ON A HILLTOP OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE OF RACAK. FIGHTING HAS INTENSIFIED AND AMERICAN MONITOR ED SULLIVAN AND HIS TEAM ARE TRACKING THE SERB FORCES KNOWN AS THE V-J, AND SERB POLICE KNOWN AS THE MUP.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS OBSERVE WHAT THE MUPS AND THE V-J ARE GOING FROM WHATEVER POSITION WE HAVE. WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF MILITARY TO BACK US UP LIKE IN BOSNIA.

THE MONITORS ARE UNARMED, WHICH CAN PUT THEM AT THE MERCY OF THE FIGHTERS. A BRITISH MONITOR AND HIS INTERPRETER WERE LIGHTLY WOUNDED BY REBEL SNIPERS WHEN THEY TRAVELED RECENTLY BEHIND A SERB MILITARY CONVOY IN WESTERN KOSOVO.

WHEN K-L-A REBELS NABBED EIGHT SERB SOLDIERS, INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WERE DISPATCHED TO NEGOTIATE THEIR RELEASE. THEY PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK AND REMAINED WITH THE HOSTAGES UNTIL THEY WERE FREED UNHARMED.

OBSERVERS ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.

VETERAN U-S DIPLOMAT WILLIAM WALKER, WHO HEADS THE VERIFIERS IN KOSOVO, RECENTLY WAS ORDERED TO LEAVE YUGOSLAVIA AFTER HE ACCUSED SERB FORCES OF THE MASSACRE OF 45 ETHNIC-ALBANIAN VILLAGERS IN KOSOVO. INTENSE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS FINALLY PERSUADED YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO FREEZE THE EXPULSION ORDER.

SANDRA MITCHELL, A FORMER CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER WHO HELPED DESIGN AND SET UP THE O-S-C-E'S HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION, SAYS THE GOAL IS TO REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND INTERVENE WHEN POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS. THE OBSERVERS ARE ALSO WORKING WITH LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS -- BOTH SERB AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- TO SET UP MORE PERMANENT MECHANISMS TO TRACK AND PUNISH VIOLATIONS.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO GIVE THEM SOME TRAINING AS TO WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS ARE THAT THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE RATIFIED.

FORMER POLICE OR MILITARY OFFICERS MAKE UP THE BULK OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS. MISS MITCHELL SAYS THEY MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT STATES OF EUROPE AND AMERICA, BUT THEY SHARE A COMMON STANDARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

ONE THING THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY SIGNED ON TO MOST OF THE U-N CONVENTIONS, SO THEY ARE PRACTICING SIMILAR PROCEDURES IN THE WAY THEY APPROACH CASES AND THE WAY THEY TREAT DETAINEES, MAN THEIR PRISONS, AND HOW THEY QUESTION PEOPLE.

MOST OF THE O-S-C-E OBSERVERS HAVE COME TO KOSOVO AFTER TOURS OF DUTY IN OTHER CONFLICT ZONES.

WHY DO WE DO THESE THINGS? I DO NOT KNOW. BUT THERE IS REALLY NO OTHER PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW THAN HERE IN KOSOVO WHERE I WORK WITH SOME GREAT PEOPLE AND I VERY MUCH FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND I WANT WHAT THEY WANT -- PEACE TO BE BROUGHT HERE.

THE O-S-C-E MISSION SO FAR NUMBERS ABOUT 750, LESS THAN HALF THE PROPOSED TWO THOUSAND LIMIT. THERE ARE GRUMBLINGS ABOUT BEING UNDER-STAFFED AND UNDER-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT DEPUTY SPOKESMAN SANDY BLYTH SAYS MORE ARE ON THE WAY.

AS FAR AS THE MISSION IS CONCERNED, WE WILL TRY TO BUILD UP THOSE NUMBERS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, HOPEFULLY CIRCA 1500 TO TWO-THOUSAND. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ENABLES US TO PUT MORE VERIFIERS AND MORE VEHICLES ON THE GROUND AND GIVE BETTER COVERAGE AND THEREFORE KEEP THE SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE AT A LEVEL, AS I SAID, WHERE THE POLITICIANS CAN CONTINUE THE POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS.

PROSPECTS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE DIMMED AS THE FIGHTING INTENSIFIES -- AND THAT MAKES THE WORK OF THE VERIFIERS MORE URGENT AND MORE DIFFICULT. (SIGNED)
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26-Jan-99 9:30 AM EST (1430 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S / BOSNIA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES PLANS TO REDUCE ITS PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BY 10 PERCENT IN THE COMING WEEKS. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER ANNOUNCED THE U-S INTENTION TO CUT THE SIZE OF THE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA FROM THE CURRENT 69-HUNDRED TROOPS TO 62-HUNDRED BY MARCH.

MR. BERGER TOLD REPORTERS THE DECISION IS A REFLECTION OF THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARD ESTABLISHING A MORE STABLE PEACE IN BOSNIA ALTHOUGH HE SAID CIVILIAN ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL FACING DIFFICULTIES REBUILDING THE WAR-TORN NATION.

THE NATO MULTINATIONAL FORCE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 30-THOUSAND STRONG, HAS BEEN PATROLLING BOSNIA SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS WERE SIGNED AT THE END OF 1995. MEANWHILE, MR. BERGER SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD CONSIDER SENDING U-S PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO, IF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED THERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/KL
26-Jan-99 12:36 PM EST (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ROMANIA ECONOMY BY RON PEMSTEIN (BUCHAREST)

INTRO: ROMANIA FACES A CREDIT CRUNCH OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS COMPLICATED BY CONCESSIONS MADE LAST WEEK TO STRIKING COAL MINERS. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT, V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN IN BUCHAREST EXPLAINS THAT THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC REFORM IN ROMANIA FACES A SERIES OF OBSTACLES.

TEXT: THE ARITHMETIC IS DAUNTING. ROMANIA HAS SOME TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN RESERVES AND FACES THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS BY THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HAVE REPEATEDLY DELAYED COMING TO BUCHAREST TO NEGOTIATE A LOAN TO HELP ROMANIA MEET ITS FOREIGN OBLIGATIONS. THE INTERNATIONAL LENDERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT TO PASS A CREDIBLE BUDGET THAT LIMITS THE DEFICIT.

THE COAL MINERS' STRIKE LAST WEEK THREATENED ROMANIA WITH A STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT WOULD HAVE SUSPENDED CIVIL RIGHTS. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SETTLED THE VIOLENT STRIKE PEACEFULLY, THE TRUE COST OF THE CONCESSIONS REMAINS UNCLEAR.

PRIME MINISTER RADU VASILE INSISTS SOCIAL PEACE WAS IMPORTANT. BUT HIS GOVERNMENT IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC REFORM. THE COST OF THE SOCIAL PEACE BOUGHT THROUGH CONCESSIONS APPEARS TO REVERSE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CLOSE MONEY-LOSING COAL MINES. NOW COAL MINERS' WAGES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND COSTLY DAY CARE CENTERS WILL BE SET UP FOR THE CHILDREN OF MINERS.

OVER THE NEXT MONTH, THE UNIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN PLAN TO CUT LOSSES IN THE COAL INDUSTRY. NONE OF THESE CONCESSIONS IS INCLUDED IN THE 1999 BUDGET THAT THE ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT IS CONSIDERING.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HAS BEEN FORCED TO POSTPONE A TRIP THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK. THE GOVERNMENT'S PEACEFUL HANDLING OF THE COAL MINERS HAS BEEN PRAISED BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

WHAT IS AT STAKE, BANKERS AND DIPLOMATS HERE SAY, IS THE CREDIBILITY OF REFORM PLANS BY THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT. EVEN IF THE I-M-F GIVES ROMANIA THE LOAN TO MEET THIS YEAR'S CREDIT CRUNCH, THEY QUESTION WHETHER ROMANIA CAN STICK TO THE LOAN'S REQUIREMENTS TO CLOSE LOSS-MAKING FIRMS. THE EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCESSIONS TO THE MINERS IS NOT ENCOURAGING.

SOME OBSERVERS THOUGH SAY THE COAL MINERS MAY REPRESENT A SPECIAL CASE. THEY NOTE THERE WERE NO SYMPATHY STRIKES BY ROMANIAN OIL WORKERS OR THE STEEL WORKERS. THOSE WORKERS FACE SIMILAR THREATS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT JOIN THE COAL MINERS IN DEMANDING GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS.

THE MINERS DID RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL PEOPLE DURING THEIR MARCH FROM THE WESTERN JIU VALLEY TO CENTRAL ROMANIA, GETTING FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS. FOREIGN ANALYSTS HERE REGARD THIS SUPPORT AS RELATED MORE TO THE MOMENTUM OF THE MARCH, RATHER THAN PART OF A BROADER PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT REFORMS.

ADDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S WOE IS RECENT OPINION POLL DATA SHOWING MORE THAN HALF OF ROMANIANS BELIEVE LIVING STANDARDS WERE BETTER UNDER COMMUNISM THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

I UNDERSTAND MY PARENTS WHO ARE SAYING THAT IT WAS GOOD THEN BECAUSE 'WE HAD A JOB' AND 'WE WERE SURE THAT TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT AND HAVE REALLY A JOB.' IT IS NOT THE SAME THING NOW. BUT I THINK IT IS BETTER ... TOMORROW YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT SAME JOB, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

WHILE LIVING STANDARDS ARE TOUGH IN ROMANIA, SOME SEGMENTS OF THE ECONOMY PROSPER. IT IS DIFFICULT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO FIND A SEAT AT LUNCH TIME AT THE MC DONALD'S HAMBURGER RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL BUCHAREST. THAT MAY BE BECAUSE THE PRICE THERE IS RIGHT FOR WORKERS, WHOSE MONTHLY WAGE AVERAGES 100 U-S DOLLARS. BUT FOR THE GREATER ECONOMY, ROMANIANS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT FACE THE TEST OF MAKING REFORMS REAL, WHILE MANAGING THEIR SHORT-TERM CREDIT CRUNCH. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF/GE
26-Jan-99 10:49 AM EST (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GERMANY NUCLEAR (L-ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)

INTRO: A DECISION TUESDAY BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO DELAY ITS PROMISED BAN ON REPROCESSING NUCLEAR FUEL HAS SERIOUSLY DIVIDED THE FLEDGLING, GOVERNING COALITION OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GREENS. SUZANNE KELLY HAS MORE IN THIS REPORT FROM BONN.

TEXT: CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER DELAYED HIS GOVERNMENT'S BAN ON THE REPROCESSING OF NUCLEAR WASTE FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME SAYING GERMANY DOESN'T YET HAVE ADEQUATE STORAGE FACILITIES.

THE DELAY IS LIKELY TO SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW DOWN GERMANY'S PHASE OUT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY. NUCLEAR FIRMS HAD LOBBIED HEAVILY AGAINST ANY BAN. THE MINORITY "GREENS" PARTY, HOWEVER, HAS FOR YEARS HOPED TO GAIN A STRONG ENOUGH POLITICAL POSITION IN GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT THIS LONG-PROMISED BAN.

WEIGHING HEAVILY ON CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER'S MIND WERE POTENTIAL LAWSUITS -- BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD -- FROM NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES WITH LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS TO REPROCESS THE WASTE. IF THE CONTRACTS WERE CANCELLED WITH CUSTOMERS IN BRITAIN AND FRANCE, THE DAMAGE SETTLEMENTS COULD COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE DECISION TO DELAY THE BAN DREW IMMEDIATE CRITICISM FROM PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE CHANCELLORY IN BONN. BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE CHANCELLOR WAS THE CRITICISM FROM THE COALITION PARTNER "GREENS" PARTY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF THEIR AGENDA SINCE THEIR START IN THE 1960S.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AND A LEADER OF THE GREENS PARTY, JURGEN TRITTIN, LASHED OUT AT THE CHANCELLOR'S DECISION TO DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BAN. MANY MEMBERS OF THE GREENS PARTY HAVE SAID THAT THE DECISION IS A VIOLATION OF THE COALITION AGREEMENT ITSELF, AND CALLS INTO QUESTION THE JUNIOR PARTNER'S SUPPORT FOR THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR.

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) AS OPTIMISM SEEMED TO RETURN TO WALL STREET. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 93 HUNDRED 24, UP 121 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 52, UP 18 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH, REFLECTING CONTINUED STRENGTH IN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

ANALYSTS SAY WORRIES ABOUT THE BRAZILIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS SEEMED TO FADE AS TRADERS CONCENTRATED ON SIGNS THAT THE U-S ECONOMY REMAINS STRONG.

THE ECONOMY IS GREAT AND THE MARKET IS JUST ACTING GREAT. THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL HAS NOT SEEMED TO HAVE HAD A NEGATIVE EFFECT, THE PRICE OF OIL NOT ACTING WELL HAS BEEN DIGESTED. TEXACO'S EARNINGS WERE OFF 10 CENTS BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO STOP THIS MARKET.

MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE STOCK MARKET IS STILL "LIQUIDITY DRIVEN," MEANING THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF INVESTMENT MANAGERS WHO WANT TO PUT CASH INTO STOCKS.

A MONTHLY INDEX OF U-S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WAS UP MODESTLY IN JANUARY. THE SURVEY SHOWS THE STRONG JOB MARKET CONTINUES TO INSPIRE OPTIMISM AND SPENDING BY AMERICANS.

AS EXPECTED, THE I-B-M COMPUTER COMPANY ANNOUNCED A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT. THE ACTION CAME ONE DAY AFTER THE MICROSOFT CORPORATION DID LIKEWISE.

THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY WILL SPIN OFF ITS ALTAVISTA INTERNET SEARCH UNIT INTO A SEPARATE COMPANY. COMPAQ ALSO ANNOUNCED A DEAL WITH MICROSOFT WHICH WILL MAKE ALTAVISTA THE MAIN SEARCH ENGINE ON MICROSOFT'S M-S-N INTERNET SERVICE.

U-S BANK REGULATORS HAVE ISSUED NEW GUIDELINES FOR BANKS THAT DO BUSINESS WITH HIGH RISK CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY HEDGE FUNDS. THE GUIDELINES WERE INSPIRED BY LAST YEAR'S NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE LONG TERM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT HEDGE FUND.

THE EARNINGS SEASON CONTINUED WITH SEVERAL LARGE CORPORATIONS REPORTING THEIR QUARTERLY RESULTS.

THE MERCK PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS JUMPED 13 PERCENT, BOOSTED BY STRONG SALES OF ZOCOR, ITS NEW CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG.

COCA-COLA SAYS TROUBLE IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS LED TO A 27 PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS BUT THE RESULTS WERE IN LINE WITH WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.

AND BOEING, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRCRAFT COMPANY, EARNED ALMOST ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS WELL ON THE WAY TO RESOLVING PRODUCTION PROBLEMS WHICH LED TO AN ALMOST ONE HALF-BILLION DOLLAR LOSS IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1997.

THE LONGER LIFE SPANS ENJOYED BY AMERICANS ARE KILLING PROFIT EXPECTATIONS AT SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL, THE LARGEST FUNERAL AND CEMETERY COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE COMPANY'S STOCK LOST MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE AFTER THE SERVICE CORPORATION REPORTED DISAPPOINTING EARNINGS. COMPANY PRESIDENT WILLIAM HEILIGBRODT SAYS "DECLINING DEATH RATES DO POSE A CHALLENGE" TO THE COMPANY. (SIGNED)
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26-Jan-99 5:31 PM EST (2231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY LAVON/WASHINGTON

INTRO: THE U-S SUPREME COURT'S DECISION ON THE CENSUS, REACTION TO REFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, AND THE ONGOING DEBATE ON MISSILE DEFENSE...THOSE WERE SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS IN MAJOR AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. HERE WITH THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP IS VOA'S________.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT SAID THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT USE STATISTICAL SAMPLING TO DETERMINE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION WHEN TAKING THE NEXT U-S CENSUS IN THE YEAR 2000. ACCORDING TO THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE USE OF SOME LIMITED SAMPLING TECHNIQUES WOULD MORE ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS MINORITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THAT USING SUCH SAMPLING TECHNIQUES WOULD LEAD TO POLITICAL MANIPULATION OF THE FIGURES FOR PARTISAN GAIN. IN ITS 5-4 OPINION, THE COURT WAS UNCLEAR IF SAMPLING COULD BE USED FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT STATISTICAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS REDISTRICTING CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES OR DETERMINING LEVELS OF FUNDING.

THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THE COURT DECISION DODGED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER STATISTICAL SAMPLING IS CONSTITUTIONAL. THE POST WRITES:

VOICE: THE DECISION WAS ... LIMITED TO THE FIGURES THAT WILL BE USED IN THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF HOUSE SEATS AMONG THE STATES AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION. ITS APPLICATION TO THE REDISTRICTING THAT WILL FOLLOW WITHIN THE STATES IS NOT CLEAR... THE SUPREME COURT DIDN'T GET TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION. OUR SENSE IS THAT THE FIGURES OUGHT TO BE AS ACCURATE AS THE STATISTICAL PROFESSION CAN PRODUCE. AN UNDERCOUNT OF VULNERABLE GROUPS IS ESPECIALLY INDEFENISBLE. CONGRESS OUGHT TO FIX THE LAW."

ANNCR: BUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS THE COURT'S DECISION A 'BACKWARD STEP', AND WORRIES THAT THE WESTERN STATE OF CALIFORNIA, IN WHICH LOS ANGELES IS LOCATED, WILL BE A BIG LOSER.

VOICE: "THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION MONDAY TO BLOCK THE USE OF SAMPLING TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF THE DECENNIAL CENSUS IS AKIN TO INSISTING THAT CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS BE WRITTEN WITH QUILL PENS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THEY WERE DONE WHEN THE CONSTITUTION WAS DRAFTED. CALIFORNIA LOST OUT BIG IN TERMS OF HOUSE SEATS AND FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE 1990 CENSUS TAKERS USING OUTDATED METHODS UNDERCOUNTED THE STATE'S POPULATION. NOW, WITHOUT THE USE OF SAMPLING METHODS IN OBTAINING COUNTS THAT WILL BE USED FOR REAPPORTIONMENT, CALIFORNIA COULD BE AN EVER BIGGER LOSER IN THE 2000 CENSUS."

ANNCR: : THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, IN AN EDITORIAL TITLED "CAUTION ON MISSILE DEFENSE," SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD TREAD CAREFULLY BEFORE DEVELOPING A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BUILD ONE, WHEN SUCH A SYSTEM IS FOUND TO BE FEASIBLE. THE MONITOR NOTES:

VOICE: "MISSILE DEFENSE ADVOCATES SAY THAT WITH THE INCREASED POSSIBILITY A ROGUE STATE WILL OBTAIN BALLISTIC MISSILES...A DEFENSE SYSTEM MUST BE DEPLOYED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST OBSTACLE IS THAT SUCH A SYSTEM DOESN'T EXIST YET...BUT THERE'S ANOTHER HURDLE: THE ANTIBALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY (ABM) SIGNED WITH THE SOVIET UNION IN 1972...THE U-S SHOULDN'T JUST NONCHALANTLY DRAG THE ABM TREATY INTO THE RECYCLE BIN. THE TREATY IS A KEYSTONE OF ARMS-CONTROL EFFORTS...IT'S TIED TO THE FATE OF THE START TWO STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTIONS PACT...SECOND, DUMPING THE ABM ACCORD UNILATERALLY COULD HAVE SERIOUS POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS IN RUSSIA... IF IT'S NOT CAREFUL, BY TRYING TO PROTECT ITSELF FROM ROGUE STATES, THE U-S COULD END UP CREATING A NEW ONE."

ANNCR: IN A RELATED EDITORIAL ON DEFENSE MATTERS, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE SAYS THE U-S MILITARY AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD RE-EVALUATE WHAT STRATEGIC MISSIONS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES. THIS REASSESSMENT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN LIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL TO ADD 110 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS TO THE DEFENSE BUDGET. THE TRIBUNE ARGUES:

VOICE: "WITH THE COLD WAR OVER AND NO FORMIDABLE FOE ON THE HORIZON...CRITICS ASK, WHY DOES THE NATION NEED THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN MILITARY SPENDING? WHY, INDEED...OTHERS QUESTION WHY EUROPEAN ALLIES DON'T SHOULDER A GREATER BURDEN OF COSTS FOR MISSIONS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, SUCH AS THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THEY ALSO ASK, QUITE REASONABLY, WHY THE U-S NEEDS ALL THE COSTLY BIG-TICKET (EXPENSIVE) ITEMS LEFT OVER FROM THE COLD WAR...CONGRESS SHOULD GET DOWN TO WORK TO...RE-EVALUATE THE MISSIONS BEING TASKED TO THE MILTARY. AND LET THE DOLLARS MATCH THEM.'

ANNCR: FINALLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMMENTS ON THE SCANDAL INVOLVING THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GRAFT AND CORRUPTION IN ITS PROCESS OF SELECTING SITES FOR THE SUMMER AND WINTER GAMES. WHILE THE I-O-C IS SEEKING TO REMOVE A HALF-DOZEN MEMBERS IMPLICATED IN THE BRIBERY SCANDAL, THE TIMES SAYS THE LONGTIME I-O-C PRESIDENT, JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH, SHOULD ALSO STEP DOWN. THE TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: IN POWER SINCE 1980, MR. SAMARANCH WOULD PREFER TO RETIRE IN 2001. BUT ALL THOSE WITH AN IMPORTANT INTEREST IN THE OLYMPICS, INCLUDING PROMINENT ATHLETES, SPORTS FEDERATIONS, GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATIONS THAT SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS ON THE GAMES TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTS, SHOULD PRESS FOR HIS IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION...AN UNYIELDING DEVOTION TO CLEAN AND TRANSPARENT BUSINESS PRACTICES SHOULD MATCH THE ATHLETES' PURSUIT OF THE OLYMPIC IDEAL.

ANNCR: AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS EDITION OF THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. (SIGNED).
NEB/NL/KL
26-Jan-99 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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