Voice of America, 99-01-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO-SITREP (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

[02] KOSOVO/MEDIA BY LAURIE KASSMAN (PRISTINA)

[03] NATO-KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (S/L VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[04] TURKEY/IRAQ/U-S (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[05] IRELAND/ABUSES (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

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

[07] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY NELSON BROWN (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO-SITREP (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS WESTERN ALLIES ARE CONSIDERING WAYS TO COMBINE EFFORTS TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION AND A THREAT OF FORCE TO ACHIEVE A SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO. THE EFFORT IS BEING UNDERTAKEN AS VIOLENCE BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS CONTINUES IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS SERB FORCES ATTACKED KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY GUERRILLAS WITH TANKS AND ARTILLERY IN AN AREA NORTH OF PRISTINA

TEXT: ABOUT 30-KILOMETERS NORTH OF PRISTINA, NEAR THE MAIN HIGHWAY BETWEEN BELGRADE AND THE KOSOVO CAPITAL, SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES USED TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND HEAVY ARTILLERY IN AN APPARENT MOVE AGAINST A K-L-A STRONGHOLD NEAR THE VILLAGE OF MAJANCE.

SERBS FIRED ARTILLERY ROUNDS AT K-L-A BUNKERS AND OBSERVERS COULD SEE FIRES IN THE FORESTED SLOPES. SPORADIC SMALL ARMS FIRE COULD BE HEARD AS SERB TANKS AND ARMORED CARS MOVED STEADILY ALONG A RIDGE.

CIVILIAN TRAFFIC ON THE HEAVILY-USED BELGRADE TO PRISTINA HIGHWAY RUSHED AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE SECTION WHERE THE FIRING WAS TAKING PLACE.

SERBIAN MILITARY AND POLICE ARMORED VEHICLES WERE PARKED ALONG THE HIGHWAY -- THEIR GUNS AIMED AT THE RIDGE LINE.

ACCORDING TO SERBIAN INFORMATION OFFICIALS, A POLICE STATION AT LUZHAN CAME UNDER ATTACK LATE TUESDAY, AND HE SAID THE POLICE HAD TO ACT TO CLEAR THE AREA OF THE HOSTILE FORCES THE SERBS CALL "TERRORISTS".

THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF A K-L-A ATTACK ON THE POLICE STATION AT LUZHAN. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL VERIFICATION MISSION SAID THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATTACK CAME FROM THE SERBIAN SECURITY FORCE.

AN ELDERLY MAN WHO LIVES NEAR THE SCENE OF THE SERBIAN OPERATION, ISMAIL GHOSI, SAID HE KNEW OF NO ATTACK ON POLICE. BUT HE SAID HE AND THE FEW REMAINING PEOPLE IN HOUSES OVERLOOKING THE HIGHWAY ARE VERY FRIGHTENED. THEY HAD BEEN WARNED BY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY THAT A SERBIAN ATTACK WOULD COME SOON.

THEY KNEW FROM THE K-L-A ARMY. BECAUSE THE K-L-A ARMY KNEW THAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED SO MANY TIMES BY SERBIAN FORCES IN THEIR HOUSES.

MR. GHOSI -- WHO IS AN ETHNIC ROMANI GYPSY -- SAID HIS FAMILY IS AFRAID TO RUN AWAY WITH ALL THE SERB FORCES AROUND. THEY STOOD IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE ON A RISE OVERLOOKING THE HIGHWAY, WAITING.

THE SERBIAN INFORMATION CENTER REPORTED ANOTHER INCIDENT OF VIOLENCE FARTHER TO THE WEST. A STATEMENT SAID AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE WAS DIRECTED AT SEVERAL SERB-OWNED HOUSES IN THE VILLAGE OF NEVOLJANE. THE STATEMENT SAID ONE OF THE ATTACKERS WAS ARRESTED AND HAD K-L-A INSIGNIA.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E VERIFICATION FORCE DESCRIBED THE NEW VIOLENCE AS A VERY NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT, THOUGH HE ASSESSED NO BLAME FOR IT.

THE FIGHTING AGAIN VIOLATES THE TERMS OF THE OCTOBER CEASEFIRE AND COMES AT A TIME OF INCREASED DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO BRING SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO SOME SORT OF NEGOTIATIONS AMID INTERNATIONAL FEARS THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RAE/GE
27-Jan-99 12:17 PM EST (1717 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO/MEDIA BY LAURIE KASSMAN (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA HAS EXTENDED BEYOND THE CAPITAL, BELGRADE, TO THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. BUT MANY KOSOVAR JOURNALISTS HAVE FOUND INNOVATIVE WAYS AROUND THE MEDIA BAN. SOME RADIO AND NEWSPAPER OUTLETS ARE RELYING ON HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND LANGUAGE SKILLS TO GET AROUND THE RESTRICTIONS AND DO THEIR JOB, AS V-O-A'S LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: /// SOUND OF "RADIO 21," ON THE INTERNET -- IN FULL AND UNDER ///

THIS IS THE SOUND OF THE ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE RADIO 21 ON THE INTERNET. FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS IT HAS USED HI-TECH COMPUTER LINKS TO GET OUT THE NEWS. BUT ITS HOURLY NEWS UPDATES AND FEATURES CAN ONLY BE HEARD AND READ ON THE INTERNET, WHICH IS NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE TO KOSOVO'S TWO MILLION INHABITANTS.

BUT RADIO 21'S OWNER AND CREATOR, AFERDITA KELMENDI, SAYS THE WORD STILL REACHES KOSOVO. SHE TALKS ABOUT ONE CALLER FROM CENTRAL KOSOVO, ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIGHTING IN ONE TOWN WHERE HIS FATHER HAD TAKEN REFUGE. IN RESPONSE, SHE PROMISED TO PROVIDE MORE NEWS AS SOON AS SHE HAD IT.

AND THEN I REALIZED HE IS CALLING ME FROM KOSOVO AND NOT FROM ABROAD. AND I ASKED, 'HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS? DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET?' AND HE SAYS 'NO, BUT MY RELATIVE FROM SWITZERLAND PHONED ME AND HE PUT THE PHONE UP TO THE COMPUTER SO I COULD LISTEN TO THE NEWS.' SO PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION AND ARE USING ALL FORMS TO GET THEIR INFORMATION.

NOW A NEW SATELLITE LINK GIVES THE ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE RADIO 21 AND AN INDEPENDENT SERB RADIO MORE DIRECT ACCESS TO LISTENERS IN KOSOVO ITSELF. RADIO 21 BEGAN ITS 15-MINUTE SATELLITE BROADCAST ON JANUARY 11TH.

MRS. KELMENDI ESTIMATES THAT 80 PERCENT OF KOSOVO'S POPULATION HAS PUT UP SATELLITE DISHES SINCE THE CRACKDOWN ON THE MEDIA BEGAN THERE NEARLY A DECADE AGO. /// OPT /// SHE REMEMBERS VIVIDLY THE DAY POLICE CLOSED DOWN "RADIO-TV PRISTINA."

WE USED TO WORK AT RADIO AND T-V PRISTINA AS A JOURNALIST WHEN WE WERE EXPELLED FROM OUR JOBS IN 1990, EXACTLY THE 5TH OF JULY. MORE THAN 13-HUNDRED OF US IN RADIO-TV PRISTINA WERE EXPELLED FROM OUR WORK BY ... POLICE FORCE. THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP OF ALL THAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.

IT WAS ABOUT THAT TIME THAT KOSOVO'S OLDEST ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, "RILINDJA" (REE LEEN YA), WAS ALSO CLOSED DOWN. THE GOVERNMENT SAID THE NEWSPAPER HAD NOT PROPERLY RENEWED ITS LICENSE. EDITOR AVNI SPAHIU IS STILL ANGRY.

I THINK THEY WERE BOTHERED BY THE WAY WE WERE REPORTING, AND WE WERE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN KOSOVO AND THIS IS THE TRUE REASON FOR BANNING IT.

WHILE THE NEWSPAPER WAS RESURRECTED UNDER ANOTHER NAME, "BUJKU" (BOOY KOO), IT WAS CLOSED DOWN LAST YEAR. MR. SPAHIU SAYS THE SERB AUTHORITIES OBJECTED TO ARTICLES ABOUT KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS.

FOR THE NEWSPAPER, "KOHA DITTORE" (KOH HA DEE TOR AY), EDITOR VETON SURROI SAYS THE WAY AROUND THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN WAS TO SET UP A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OPERATION TWO YEARS AGO. WITH FINANCIAL HELP FROM INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENT GROUPS, THE DAILY NEWSPAPER WAS ABLE TO SET UP ITS OWN PRINTING PRESS AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.

THIS MONTH, MR. SURROI LAUNCHED AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE EDITION TO REACH AN EVEN WIDER AUDIENCE.

THE REASON WAS THAT KOSOVO WAS BECOMING SO INTERNATIONALIZED THAT WE FELT THERE WOULD BE A READERSHIP. WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE HERE AND IN MACEDONIA AND IN BELGRADE. AND SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS, WE DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD ATTEMPT.

LANGUAGE IS NOT ONLY A FORM OF COMMUNICATION, IT IS A FORM OF CULTURAL CONTEXT IN ITSELF. AND THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE IN ENGLISH ABSORB SOME OF THOSE CULTURAL VALUES.

DIPLOMATS IN BELGRADE CONTINUE TO PROTEST OVER THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S CURB ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND HAVE CALLED FOR GREATER PRESS FREEDOM. IN THE MEANTIME, KOSOVO'S ENTERPRISING JOURNALISTS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CURBS, FIGURING OUT WAYS TO PROVIDE BALANCED NEWS COVERAGE OF THE PROVINCE BOTH TO THOSE AT HOME AND ABROAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/GE
27-Jan-99 9:43 AM EST (1443 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NATO-KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (S/L VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE A MILITARY ULTIMATUM TO YUGOSLAVIA AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE -- TELLING THEM TO ATTEND PEACE TALKS OR FACE MILITARY CONSEQUENCES. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT NATO AMBASSADORS ARE EXPECTED TO ISSUE THE WARNING (THURSDAY (EDS: 1530 UTC) / LATER TODAY).

TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS SAY SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA WILL ISSUE THE MILITARY THREAT AS SOON AS HE RETURNS FROM A QUICK TRIP TO THE NETHERLANDS. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DEMANDING A CREDIBLE MILITARY THREAT THAT WILL BRING THE SERBS AND ALBANIANS TO NEGOTIATE AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO.

BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN RESISTING THAT FORMULA. THE SERBS WANT TO KEEP KOSOVO A PROVINCE OF SERBIA. KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE.

NATO AMBASSADORS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF THE ALLIANCE THREAT. IT IS LIKELY TO GIVE BOTH SIDES A FEW WEEKS TO STOP FIGHTING AND TO ATTEND PEACE TALKS OUTSIDE OF YUGOSLAVIA. IF THE SERBS AND ALBANIANS REFUSE TO ATTEND AND CONTINUE FIGHTING, NATO MILITARY ACTION WILL BEGIN.

SOME EUROPEAN ALLIES OPPOSE AN ULTIMATUM, BUT THE UNITED STATES ARGUES THE THREAT WILL NOT BE CREDIBLE WITHOUT A DEADLINE.

BEFORE MAKING HIS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED CONSULTATION WITH THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT, NATO'S SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL HAVE BREAKFAST WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS. KOFI ANNAN IS LIKELY TO INSIST THAT THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL BE GIVEN A ROLE IN A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO.

NATO HAS ALREADY MOVED SHIPS AND FIGHTER JETS INTO A THREATENING POSTURE TOWARD YUGOSLAVIA. LAST OCTOBER, NATO ACTIVATED ITS FORCES TO INSIST THAT YUGOSLAVIA WITHDRAW TROOPS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM KOSOVO. PROTESTS FROM U-N SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS RUSSIA AND CHINA WERE IGNORED THAT TIME.

A REVIVED NATO ACTIVATION ORDER IS EXPECTED AGAIN AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE SIX-NATION YUGOSLAV "CONTACT GROUP." SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA IS LIKELY TO TELL SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN THAT DECISIONS ABOUT ALLIANCE MILITARY ACTION ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANYONE ELSE'S VETO. (SIGNED).
NEB/RDP/PCF/JO
27-Jan-99 1:25 PM EST (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY/IRAQ/U-S (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM WEDNESDAY REPEATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S WARNING THAT U-S WAR PLANES STATIONED AT A NATO AIR BASE IN SOUTHERN TURKEY COULD NOT TAKE OFFENSIVE ACTION AGAINST IRAQI TARGETS. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT: MR. CEM SAID THE ALLIED PLANES ARE BASED IN TURKEY TO PROTECT THE KURDISH POPULATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ FROM POSSIBLE ATTACK BY IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORCES. THE WAR PLANES, HE SAYS, ARE NOT THERE TO CARRY OUT WHAT HE CALLED UNPROVOKED MILITARY ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI TARGETS.

MR. CEM WAS APPARENTLY RESPONDING TO SOME ALLEGATIONS THAT U-S FIGHTER JETS TAKING OFF FROM TURKEY'S INCIRLIK AIR BASE WERE DOING JUST THAT.

MR. CEM SAID UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FORCE'S MANDATE, THE WAR PLANES CAN RESPOND, HOWEVER, IF ATTACKED. THE MANDATE IS SUBJECT TO RENEWED APPROVAL BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT APPROVAL EVERY SIX MONTHS.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, U-S WARPLANES PATROLLING NORTHERN IRAQ'S SO-CALLED "NO FLY ZONE" HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY IRAQI SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE BATTERIES. ANALYSTS SAY THE ATTACKS ARE IN LINE WITH PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE CHALLENGE TO WESTERN MILITARY PROTECTION OF THE IRAQI KURDS LIVING IN THE NORTH, AND THE SHI'A MUSLIMS LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN "NO FLY ZONE."

TURKEY LAST WEEK ASKED THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR "PATRIOT" ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILES IN ORDER TO SHIELD ITSELF FROM POTENTIAL IRAQI MISSILE ATTACKS. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PATRIOTS AT THE INCIRLIK AIRBASE HAS TRIGGERED ACCUSATIONS FROM THE MAIN OPPOSITION ISLAMIST "VIRTUE" PARTY. THEY CHARGE THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, LED BY THE NEW LEFTIST PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT, IS DRAGGING THE COUNTRY INTO A WAR.

RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ HAVE SOURED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT BAGHDAD IS PROVIDING ARMS AND BASES FOR REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY. THE REBEL GROUP HAS BEEN WAGING AN ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF RULE IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY FOR MUCH OF THE PAST DECADE-AND-A-HALF. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
27-Jan-99 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] IRELAND/ABUSES (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THE PROLIFERATION OF SO-CALLED PUNISHMENT BEATINGS AND SHOOTINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS TERRORIZING THE POPULATION. BUT BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER HAS REJECTED CALLS TO HALT THE EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AS A RESPONSE TO THE VIOLENCE. WE HAVE MORE FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON.

TEXT: CALLS FOR A HALT TO THE PRISONER RELEASE COINCIDE WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF REPORTS OF BEATINGS AND KILLINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, MOST OF THEM BY SO-CALLED PUNISHMENT SQUADS.

PUNISHMENT BEATINGS ARE NOT NEW TO NORTHERN IRELAND WHERE BOTH REPUBLICAN AND LOYALIST RADICALS HAVE OFTEN RULED THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH TERROR.

STATISTICS SHOW MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND WERE KILLED LAST YEAR. SINCE THE START OF THIS YEAR, IRISH POLICE HAVE REGISTERED NEARLY 30-SHOOTINGS AND BEATINGS THEY BLAME ON BOTH REPUBLICAN AND LOYALIST HARDLINERS.

FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS ARE CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION.

IN RESPONSE, CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER WILLIAM HAGUE LED THE CALL IN PARLIAMENT FOR A HALT TO THE EARLY PRISONER RELEASE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

THE GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY HAS THE POWER, BUT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR, AT LEAST, PUTTING ON HOLD THE TERRORIST RELEASES WHICH ARE NOW TAKING PLACE.

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ARGUED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ATTACKS VIOLATE NORTHERN IRELAND'S CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, FREEZING THE PRISONER RELEASE WOULD PROBABLY END THE PEACE PACT.

I ACCEPT THAT THIS OFTEN HAS TO BE AN IMPERFECT PROCESS AND AN IMPERFECT PEACE, BUT IT IS BETTER THAN NO PROCESS AND NO PEACE AT ALL.

BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND HAS PROMISED ACTION AGAINST SPECIFIC PARAMILITARY GROUPS, BUT SAYS SHE NEEDS CONCRETE EVIDENCE. SO FAR, VICTIMS OF THE BEATINGS HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE POLICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/RAE
27-Jan-99 11:49 AM EST (1649 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 DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON APPARENT PROFIT-TAKING. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 92 HUNDRED, DOWN 124 POINTS, OR MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 43, DOWN NINE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS PROFIT-TAKING IN SOME STOCKS AFTER TUESDAY'S RALLY. THE STOCK OF I-B-M, A COMPONENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, FELL AFTER RUNNING UP TUESDAY ON NEWS OF A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT.

ANALYSTS EXPECT MANY MORE STOCK SPLITS THIS YEAR. ALTHOUGH USUALLY SEEN AS A POSITIVE SIGN, ANALYSTS CAUTION THAT A STOCK SPLIT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUE OF A COMPANY.

THIS IS NOT AS EASY TO FIGURE OUT AS IT SOMETIMES CAN BE. SOME OF THE INTEREST-SENSITIVE STOCKS HAVE BEGUN TO ERODE. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW THAT SQUARES WITH (RELATES TO) INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS. THE MARKET IS JUST PLAIN NERVOUS HERE.

LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES AND A STRONG ECONOMY HAVE COMBINED TO CREATE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN U-S HISTORY. THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS MORE THAN 66 PERCENT OF AMERICAN FAMILIES OWNED THEIR OWN HOMES LAST YEAR.

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY SAID ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS FELL 18 PERCENT BECAUSE OF SLOWER HOME VIDEO SALES AND HIGHER PROGRAMMING COSTS AT ITS A-B-C TELEVISION NETWORK.

THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY SURPRISED WALL STREET WITH BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED EARNINGS. COMPAQ SAID IT HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS IN INTEGRATING THE OPERATIONS OF THE DIGITAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, ANOTHER COMPUTER MAKER WHICH COMPAQ ACQUIRED LAST JUNE.

THE WILLIAM WRIGLEY CHEWING GUM COMPANY REPORTED A 13 PERCENT PROFIT INCREASE, AHEAD OF WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. WRIGLEY CITED INCREASED SALES AND LOWER INGREDIENT COSTS FOR THE HIGHER EARNINGS.

PHILIP MORRIS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST TOBACCO COMPANY, REPORTED AN ALMOST 80 PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS. THE COMPANY SAID PROFITS WERE HURT BY AN ALMOST TWO AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLAR CHARGE FOR TOBACCO LITIGATION SETTLEMENTS.

AND TROUBLES FOR AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANIES MAY NOT BE OVER. THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN AN EFFORT TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE GOVERNMENTS OF GUATEMALA AND NICARAGUA HAVE FILED SIMILAR SUITS. THE AMERICAN LAWYER WHO REPRESENTS VENEZUELA SAYS THE GOVERNMENTS OF ECUADOR AND RUSSIA MAY SOON ALSO FILE SUITS AGAINST U-S TOBACCO COMPANIES.

THE U-S FIREARMS INDUSTRY IS FACING TOBACCO STYLE LAWSUITS. ALREADY, FOUR U-S CITIES HAVE FILED SUITS AGAINST GUN MANUFACTURERS TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF GUN-RELATED VIOLENCE AND MORE CITIES ARE EXPECTED TO SUE LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
27-Jan-99 5:03 PM EST (2203 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY NELSON BROWN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PALACE INTRIGUES IN JORDAN, AN EDITORIAL CALL FOR NATO INTERVENTION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, REGRET FOR THE PLANNED DEPARTURE OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCES FROM ANGOLA, AND A NEWSPAPER CALLS FOR COMPROMISE IN HAITI. THOSE WERE SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS IN MAJOR AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. HERE, WITH THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST IS V-O-A'S_______________.

TEXT: JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN HAS RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES TO UNDERGO MEDICAL TESTS AMID FEARS OF A CANCER RELAPSE. BEFORE LEAVING AMMAN, KING HUSSEIN SWORE IN AS REGENT HIS ELDEST SON, PRINCE ABDULLAH IBN HUSSEIN. PRINCE ABDULLAH WAS NAMED CROWN PRINCE ON MONDAY, REPLACING KING HUSSEIN'S BROTHER, HASSAN.

COMMENTING ON THIS DEVELOPMENT, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS HASSAN HAS LONG BEEN A FAVORITE OF WESTERN JOURNALISTS BUT HE DID NOT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE THAT HE COULD EMULATE KING HUSSEIN'S FEAT OF SURVIVING IN POWER WHILE SURROUNDED BY PREDATORY NEIGHBORS. THE BOSTON NEWSPAPER WRITES:

VOICE: THE KING LET IT BE KNOWN THROUGH PALACE SPOKESMEN THAT DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, WHILE HE WAS AT THE MAYOR CLINIC FOR TREATMENT FOR CANCER, HASSAN DEMONSTRATED THAT HE WAS NOT TOUGH ENOUGH TO LEAD JORDAN INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CONCLUDES WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL ABOUT THE SITUATION IN JORDAN WITH THESE WORDS:

VOICE: SOME SKEPTICS MAY DISCOUNT THIS PALACE ACCOUNT OF THE KING'S MOTIVATION AS MERELY A COVER FOR A PATERNAL AMBITION AS TRADITIONAL MONARCHY ITSELF. BUT KING HUSSEIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN POWER...BECAUSE HE HAS NOT ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE CARELESS ABOUT CRUCIAL MATTERS. JORDAN NEEDS ANOTHER KING AS CANNY [WISE] AS HE.

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" TAKES UP THE ROLE OF NATO IN KOSOVO. AN EDITORIAL NOTES THAT THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE WILL CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT APRIL. BUT THE INQUIRER SAYS NATO MEMBERS STILL HAVE NOT COME TO GRIPS WITH THE BLOODY SITUATION IN KOSOVO, WHICH IT SAYS CAN MAKE A MOCKERY OF THEIR ANNIVERSARY CEREMONIES. THE PAPER SAYS NATO MUST MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS AS IT STRUGGLES TO PROMOTE A PEACE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

VOICE: IF NATO LEADERS WANT TO EARN THEIR APRIL CELEBRATION, THEY MUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING BOTH SIDES ALONG...THE NATO POSITION MUST BE SOLID AND UNIFIED, AND THERE MUST BE A WILLINGNESS TO THREATEN BOMBING STRIKES IF MR. MILOSEVIC REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE NATO PLAN...MR. MILOSEVIC CAN'T BE PERMITTED TO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY OR TO DRAG SOUTHERN EUROPE INTO A BITTER WAR.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" EXPRESSES REGRET FOR THE PLANNED DEPARTURE OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCES FROM ANGOLA, WHERE A FRAGILE PEACE HAS DISSOLVED INTO RENEWED CIVIL WAR. AN EDITORIAL IN THE MONITOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAW LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO WITHDRAW FOLLOWING THE RECENT DOWNING OF TWO U-N CHARTERED PLANES IN ANGOLA.

VOICE: WHO FIRED ON THE PLANES REMAINS UNCLEAR, BUT NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT IN LUANDA NOR THE REBELS COOPERATED WITH THE U-N TO FIND THE CRASH SITES. BOTH SIDES APPEAR TO BE TELLING THE U-N TO EXIT, SO THEY CAN GET ON WITH THE FIGHTING.

TEXT: /// OPT /// "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SAYS MUCH IS AT STAKE IN ANGOLA, WHERE THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL HAS WARNED OF A FULL-SCALE HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. IN THE PAPER'S VIEW, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO DEPRIVE ANGOLA'S FLARING CIVIL WAR OF AIR TO BREATHE. /// END OPT /// FINALLY, A NEWSPAPER IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF FLORIDA URGES THE LEADERS OF HAITI TO END WHAT IT CALLS THE POLITICAL BICKERING IN THAT COUNTRY. "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS IT WAS DISTURBED BY THE RECENT MOVE BY HAITI'S PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL TO BY-PASS HIS NATION'S ELECTED LEGISLATURE RULE BY DECREE.

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE LEGISLATURE HAS PROTESTED THAT MOVE AND VOWED TO REMAIN ON THE JOB. /// END OPT /// HAITI'S PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR RAISES THE SPECTER OF THE DREADED DICTATORSHIPS THAT DOMINATED HAITIANS FOR SO LONG. WHAT MR. PREVAL IS DOING IS WRONG, AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD KEEP AFTER HIM TO PUT HAITI'S DEMOCRACY BACK ON TRACK.

TEXT: NOTING THAT HAITIAN LEGISLATORS SHARE SOME OF THE BLAME BY REFUSING TO WORK WITH THEIR PRESIDENT. "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" CONCLUDES THAT HAITIANS MUST COME TO THEIR SENSES AND REALIZE THAT DEMOCRACY REQUIRES COMPROMISE AND COOPERATION.

AND WITH THAT WE END THIS EDITION OF THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.
NEB/NCB/GE
27-Jan-99 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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