Voice of America, 99-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE AFTERMATH OF KOSOVO:PEACE IN THE BALKANS? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] RUGOVA/KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

[03] RUSSIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[04] US TROOPS/KOSOVO (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (GNJILANE, KOSOVO)

[05] COHEN KOSOVO LESSONS - L BY JIM RANDLE (COPENHAGEN, DENMARK)

[06] COMMISSIONER / TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

[08] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] THE AFTERMATH OF KOSOVO:PEACE IN THE BALKANS? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE REFUGEE CAMPS JUST OUTSIDE THE YUGOSLAVIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO ARE RAPIDLY EMPTYING AS TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF WAR-DISPLACED KOSOVO ALBANIANS RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. IN SERBIA, DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE LEADERSHIP OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAVE BEGUN, AFTER CONDEMNATION FROM THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

AND IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ELSEWHERE, THERE IS ASSESSMENT OF THE AIR WAR ON BEHALF OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, AND HOW IT HAS ALTERED THE PERCEPTION OF THIS COUNTRY IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD. THOSE ISSUES AND OTHERS, ALL TIED TO THE BALKAN CONFLICT ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COLUMNS. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, WHERE THERE IS AN ACTIVE SERBIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND SEVERAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES, AND WHERE "THE PLAIN DEALER" NOTES CONCERNING THE OPPOSITION OF THE DOMINANT RELIGION IN SERBIA:

VOICE: SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH LEADERS LAST WEEK FOLLOWED UP A WELCOME DEMAND FOR THE RESIGNATION OF ... PRESIDENT ... MILOSEVIC WITH A POWERFUL DENUNCIATION OF HIS POLICIES THAT, THEY SAY, LED TO CALAMITOUS EVENTS IN KOSOVO. U-S POLICYMAKERS, WHO WANT TO TRY [MR.] MILOSEVIC AS A WAR CRIMINAL AND WHO INSIST HE MUST GO IF YUGOSLAVIA IS TO RECEIVE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION AID, SHOULD TAKE CAREFUL NOTE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT REACTION IN FAVOR OF CHANGE IT MIGHT PROVOKE IN THE SERBIAN POPULACE. THEY SHOULD BE HEARTENED ... THAT A DAY LATER ... A MAJOR ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION TOOK PLACE IN THE SERBIAN CITY OF CACAK, WHERE U-S BOMBS DESTROYED FACTORIES AND KILLED FIVE CIVILIANS. ...

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER SUBTOPIC OF THE STORY: VIOLENCE, "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND WARNS THAT WHILE THE WAR IS OVER, THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT PEACE HAS BROKEN OUT.

VOICE: ... WHAT THE WAR ACCOMPLISHED IS BEING THREATENED IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD. ... THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES REPORTED THAT ITS WORKERS BELIEVE ATTACKS ON KOSOVAR SERBS AND ... GYPSIES, ARE ON THE INCREASE. THE PROPAGATORS ... APPEAR TO BE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WHO ARE RETURNING EN MASSE FROM REFUGEE CAMPS ABROAD AND ... THE ... COUNTRYSIDE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THAT TREND CONTINUE. ... PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUED A PLEA FOR KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO REFRAIN FROM REVENGE. HE SHOULD DEMAND COOPERATION, NOT PLEAD FOR IT. PEACEKEEPERS SHOULD RESPOND AS VIGOROUSLY TO ATTACKS ON SERBS AS THEY WOULD TO ATTACKS BY SERBS.

TEXT: IN MAINE, "PORTLAND'S PRESS HERALD" STATES UNEQUIVOCALLY, THAT "[MR.] MILOSEVIC [IS] STILL A DANGER TO PEACE IN THE BALKANS," ADDING:

VOICE: THOUGH HE HAS RELENTED IN THE FACE OF AN OVERWHELMING AIR CAMPAIGN CONDUCTED BY NATO, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC STILL HAS THE CAPACITY AND THE WILL TO DESTABILIZE THE BALKANS. MOREOVER, WITH HIS DOMESTIC POSITION WEAKENED BY EMBOLDENED POLITICAL OPPONENTS, THE YUGOSLAVIAN DICTATOR COULD BE CONTEMPLATING RASH ACTION. ... AS AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, FACING A TRIAL AND POSSIBLE PRISON ... [MR.] MILOSEVIC HAS TO FEEL CORNERED. INDEED, HIS BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS THIS. HE HAS FALLEN BACK ON HIS TENDENCY TO TALK IN STATESMANLIKE TERMS AND ACT LIKE A THUG. ... THE WEST SHOULD KEEP THE PRESSURE ON [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC, MAKING CLEAR THAT RECONSTRUCTION AID FOR YUGOSLAVIA IS CONTINGENT UPON HIS DELIVERY TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. PEACE AND STABILITY WILL NOT COME TO THE BALKANS UNTIL [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS GONE.

TEXT: REGARDING ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE WAR'S AFTERMATH, THE PERCEPTION THAT A NEW U-S FOREIGN POLICY IS EMERGING, "THE TOPEKA [KANSAS] CAPITOL-JOURNAL" NOTES:

VOICE: SOME ARE CALLING IT THE CLINTON DOCTRINE -- THIS RELATIVELY NEW PHENOMENON IN WHICH, AS ONE WRITER PUT IT, 'HUMAN RIGHTS AND MORALITY CARRY AS MUCH WEIGHT AS STRATEGIC OR ECONOMIC INTEREST. ...IT IS AT WORK IN KOSOVO. AND IF IT IS JUDGED SUCCESSFUL THERE, IT MAY BE ONE OF THE UNDERPINNINGS OF FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY. CERTAINLY IT IS HIGH-MINDED -- THE THIS NOTION THAT THE WORLD, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT GENOCIDE.

TEXT: AND IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST," AS IN THE MAINE PAPER, THERE IS TALK OF THE CONTINUING THREAT THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC POSES TO RECONCILIATION IN THE BALKANS:

VOICE: AS LONG AS MR. MILOSEVIC IS IN POWER, THERE WILL BE NO STABILITY IN THE BALKANS AND LITTLE PROSPECT OF DRAWING DOWN U-S TROOPS. ... DELIVERING MR. MILOSEVIC TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT IN THE HAGUE WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN THAT PROCESS. THE WEST SHOULD DO WHATEVER IT CAN TO HELP SERBS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT REQUIREMENT.

TEXT: LASTLY, IN A HUGE EDITORIAL IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE" THE PAPER EXPLORES THE VALIDITY OF FIGHTING A NEW KIND OF WAR.

VOICE: THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SERBS HAS BEEN TOUTED AS A HARBINGER OF THINGS TO COME -- WAGING WAR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RATHER THAN TO DEFEND TRADITIONAL NATIONAL INTERESTS. VACLAV HAVEL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC SAID: 'THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST WAR THAT HAS NOT BEEN WAGED IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL INTERESTS, BUT RATHER IN THE NAME OF PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. KOSOVO HAS NO OIL FIELDS TO BE COVETED ... [NATO] IS FIGHTING OUT OF THE CONCERN FOR THE FATE OF OTHERS.' BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAID: 'THIS IS A JUST WAR, BASED NOT ON ANY TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS BUT ON VALUES.' ... IN THE OPPOSITE CORNER IS HENRY KISSINGER, THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, WHO WROTE ... MORAL PRINCIPLES ARE EXPRESSED IN ABSOLUTES. BUT FOREIGN POLICY MUST FOREVER BE CONCERNED WITH RECONCILING ENDS AND MEANS. AT EVERY STAGE OF THE KOSOVO TRAGEDY, OTHER MIXES OF DIPLOMACY AND FORCE WERE AVAILABLE.' THE RESULT, HE WRITES, PRODUCED 'MORE REFUGEES AND CASUALTIES THAN ANY CONCEIVABLE ALTERNATIVE' AND 'DESERVES TO BE QUESTIONED ON BOTH POLITICAL AND MORAL GROUNDS.'

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE AFTERMATH OF NATO'S WAR AGAINST SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIAN FORCES IN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN, YUGOSLOVIAN, PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.
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08-Jul-99 1:29 PM EDT (1729 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] RUGOVA/KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

BUT NOW THINGS ARE IMPROVING. THEY ARE MUCH BETTER, HE SAID, SINCE NATO FORCES ENTERED THE PROVINCE.

I AM VERY HAPPY ACTUALLY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE START TO RETURN IN KOSOVO. KOSOVO NOT EMPTY. I AM VERY HAPPY. THIS IS ONE MIRACLE. IT COME FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, FROM NATO, EUROPE, FROM THE UNITED STATES."

MR. RUGOVA LOOKS RESTED, TANNED AND READY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO. HE IS OPTIMISTIC AND SAID KOSOVO AND ITS PEOPLE HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.

MR. RUGOVA SAID HE WANTS TO BE PRESENT IN KOSOVO AS THE PROVINCE PREPARES ITS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION. ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING NOT EVERYONE MAY WANT HIM BACK HE SAID HE IS PREPARED TO COLLABORATE WITH ALL GROUPS AND ALL PEOPLE. BUT HE MADE CLEAR HIS ULTIMATE GOAL CONTINUES TO BE THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
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08-Jul-99 5:06 PM EDT (2106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] RUSSIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS PRAISED THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN KOSOVO AND SAYS RUSSIA WILL CHART A MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD COURSE WITH NATO. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, MR. YELTSIN MADE THOSE COMMENTS DURING A MEETING WITH SENIOR RUSSIAN MILITARY LEADERS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN THANKED THE MILITARY CHIEFS FOR THEIR ROLE IN GETTING RUSSIA TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN NATO'S PEACEKEEPING EFFORT IN KOSOVO.

SHAKING HANDS WITH ONE MILITARY LEADER AFTER ANOTHER DURING A RECEPTION LINE IN THE KREMLIN, THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT ESPECIALLY PRAISED GENERAL VLADIMIR ZAVARZIN -- ONE OF RUSSIA'S MAIN NEGOTIATORS WITH NATO. "WE MUST GIVE MEDALS TO OUR SOLDIERS IN KOSOVO" SAID THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT -- A REFERENCE TO THE 200 SOLDIERS WHO TOOK OVER PRISTINA'S AIRPORT LAST MONTH BEFORE NATO PEACEKEEPERS EVEN ENTERED THE SERB PROVINCE. THE RUSSIAN TROOPS WERE PART OF NATO'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA AND THEIR PRESENCE IN PRISTINA TOOK SENIOR NATO OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE.

SOME RUSSIAN COMMENTATORS HERE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE OF 200 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN PRISTINA FORCED NATO TO INCORPORATE RUSSIA INTO ITS PEACEKEEPING FORCE. LAST MONTH, RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN NEGOTIATORS REACHED AN ACCORD CALLING FOR 36-HUNDRED RUSSIAN TROOPS TO BE DISPATCHED TO KOSOVO AS PART OF NATO'S PEACEKEEPERS.

ON THE ISSUE OF NATO, PRESIDENT YELTSIN TOLD THE GENERALS AND ADMIRALS, RUSSIA SEEKS NEITHER FRIENDSHIP NOR CONFRONTATION WITH THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO AND THE UNITED STATES, SAID PRESIDENT YELTSIN, IS A VERY SENSITIVE, DELICATE AND DIFFICULT ISSUE. MR. YELTSIN WENT ON TO SAY "OF COURSE WE WILL NOT QUARREL WITH NATO BUT WE WILL NOT FLIRT WITH IT EITHER."

RUSSIA WAS VERY CRITICAL OF NATO'S 78-DAY BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. TO SHOW ITS DISPLEASURE, RUSSIA RECALLED ITS PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ALLIANCE. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SAID RECENTLY THAT RELATIONS WILL REMAIN FROZEN UNTIL NATO ANSWERS SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. MEANWHILE, RUSSIA CONTINUES TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO. THREE SHIPS LEFT (THURSDAY) FROM PORTS ON THE BLACK SEA AND TWO MORE ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE FRIDAY. THE SHIPS WILL LAND IN GREECE AND FROM THERE, THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS WILL MAKE THEIR WAY OVERLAND TO KOSOVO. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE CONTINGENT IS EXPECTED IN KOSOVO JULY 16TH. (SIGNED)
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08-Jul-99 10:36 AM EDT (1436 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] US TROOPS/KOSOVO (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (GNJILANE, KOSOVO)

INTRO: TWO-THOUSAND UNITED STATES MARINES WILL BEGIN TO LEAVE KOSOVO FRIDAY, WHILE THE LAST OF A GROUP OF SIX-THOUSAND U-S ARMY TROOPS CONTINUE TO SETTLE INTO THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN KOSOVO CITY OF GNJILANE, WHERE THE MARINES HAVE BEEN BASED.

TEXT: THE TRANSITION MARKS A TURNING POINT IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF U-S FORCES AS PART OF NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION. THE MARINES ARRIVED ABOUT THREE-WEEKS AGO TO HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHER ALLIANCE TROOPS WHICH ENTERED SOUTHERN KOSOVO FROM MACEDONIA.

FIRST LIEUTENANT MATTHEW EZZO HAS BEEN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE TWO-THOUSAND MEMBER U-S MARINE CONTINGENT. HE SAYS THE FIRST STEPS OF THE FORMAL TURNOVER PROCESS BEGAN LAST WEEK, TO HELP GIVE THE INFANTRY A SOLID START.

WHAT THEY WILL SEE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TO TEST THEM. THEY ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE NEW GUYS IN TOWN AND THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE LESS UNDERSTANDING IN SITUATION AWARENESS -- WHAT IS GOING ON ... SO WE GIVE THEM HERE, WE GIVE THEM A LOT THEIR KEY LEADERS SITTING AT OUR POSTS AND HAVING THEIR SOLDIERS SIT ON THE POST WITH OUR MARINES ... SO THAT THERE IS NO GAP, THEY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON BEFORE THEY EVEN REALLY ASSUME THE MISSION.

FIRST LIEUTENANT EZZO SAYS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF THE MISSION AT THIS POINT IS POLICE WORK.

SO WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT -- YOU KNOW, GUYS BREAKING INTO STORES AND HOMES, AND WE ARE PROBABLY CATCHING, FROM MY COMPANY ALONE YESTERDAY, WE HAVE PROBABLY DETAINED SEVEN OR EIGHT GUYS THAT WE CAUGHT LOOTING OR STEALING STUFF LIKE THAT.

AT LEAST ONE RESIDENT OF THE GNJILANE REGION SAYS HE WILL BE SORRY TO SEE THE MARINES GO. TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD ARBEN DUSHICA, WHO IS FROM A VILLAGE IN THE AREA WHERE THE U-S MILITARY HAS BEEN OPERATING, SAYS THE U-S MARINES WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED WHEN THEY ARRIVED SOON AFTER YUGOSLAVIA AGREED TO WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS LIKE THE MARINES HERE.

THE MARINE MISSION DURING THE PAST MONTH OR SO HAS INCLUDED MORE THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY SAY THEY ALSO PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN GETTING THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT BACK UP AND RUNNING THIS PAST WEEK. (SIGNED)
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08-Jul-99 1:37 PM EDT (1737 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] COHEN KOSOVO LESSONS - L BY JIM RANDLE (COPENHAGEN, DENMARK)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE RECENT KOSOVO CONFLICT SHOULD SHOW NATO MEMBERS THEY NEED TO SPEND MORE ON DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY, HIGH TECH WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT. HE SAYS SOME ALLIANCE MEMBERS BORE MORE THAN THEIR SHARE OF THE AIR WAR OVER YUGOSLAVIA, BUT MAY FIND IT POLITICALLY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE SUCH BURDENS IN THE FUTURE. MR. COHEN IS HOLDING TALKS WITH DEFENSE MINISTERS ACROSS EUROPE THIS WEEK, WITH THE FIRST STOP IN DENMARK. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM COPENHAGEN.

TEXT: SECRETARY COHEN SAYS DURING THE KOSOVO CONFLICT, SERB FORCES WERE ABLE TO OVERHEAR RADIO MESSAGES BETWEEN ALLIANCE PILOTS BECAUSE SOME NON-U-S WARPLANES LACKED THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO ENCODE SUCH CONVERSATIONS. MILITARY EXPERTS SAY THAT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN SERBIAN AIR DEFENSES CLUES ABOUT NATO TACTICS AND RAISED RISKS FOR ALLIANCE PILOTS.

MR. COHEN SAYS KOSOVO ALSO SHOWED THAT THE ALLIANCE NEEDS MORE PRECISION GUIDED WEAPONS, PARTICULARLY THE NEWEST GENERATION OF SMART BOMBS THAT CAN ACCURATELY HIT TARGETS HIDDEN BY CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. THE WAR ALSO DEMONSTRATED A NEED FOR MORE TRANSPORT PLANES TO SPEED THE ARRIVAL OF TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT.

U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF MISSIONS WITH SMART BOMBS, SPY PLANES, AND CARGO AIR CRAFT FELL ON U-S FORCES, SPARKING CRITICISM FROM SOME IN THE U-S CONGRESS.

WASHINGTON IS PLANNING TO ADD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR TO ITS DEFENSE BUDGET. BUT SECRETARY COHEN, A FORMER U-S SENATOR, SAYS IT MAY BE HARD TO GET PARLIAMENTS OF SOME OTHER NATO MEMBERS TO APPROVE SPENDING BOOSTS WHEN THEY WERE HOPING TO CUT MONEY FOR THE MILITARY.

WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS PERSUADE THEM THAT THE SO CALLED PEACE DIVIDEND WAS SPENT DURING THE END OF THE 80'S AND THE EARLY 90'S NOW THEY HAVE TO REINVIGORATE THEIR DEFENSE PROCUREMENT (WEAPONS PURCHACES).

MR. COHEN TOLD REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM TO DENMARK, THAT NATO LEARNED MILITARY LESSONS FROM THE KOSOVO CONFLICT, WHILE SOME SERBS DREW POLITICAL LESSONS. HE SAYS PROTESTS IN YUGOSLAVIA AGAINST PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ARE GROWING LARGER AND MORE FREQUENT AND ARE A STEP TOWARD REMOVING HIM FROM OFFICE.

MR. COHEN SAYS A GROWING NUMBER OF SERBS BLAME PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC FOR PUSING HIS COUNTRY INTO A SERIES OF DISASTROUS WARS THAT ISOLATED THE COUNTRY INTERNATIONALLY AND WRECKED THE ECONOMY. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY PREDICTED THAT MR. MILOSEVIC MIGHT CRACK DOWN ON THE PROTESTS TO HELP HIM HANG ON TO POWER, AT LEAST FOR THE SHORT TERM.

ACCORDING TO MR. COHEN THE KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY REBUILDING KOSOVO WILL BE TO QUICKLY ESTABLISH CIVIL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING LOCAL POLICE TRUSTED BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS. HE SAYS ALMOST ALL THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO FLED KOSOVO WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN BEFORE WINTER, BUT MANY OF THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN BURNED SO THEY WILL NEED HELP FINDING SHELTER FROM THE BRUTAL BALKAN WINTER. (SIGNED).
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08-Jul-99 3:02 PM EDT (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] COMMISSIONER / TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS APPROVED ITS NEGOTIATING STRATEGY FOR THE MILLENNIUM-ROUND OF WORLD TRADE TALKS THAT BEGINS NEXT NOVEMBER IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT THE MILLENNIUM ROUND WAS EUROPE'S IDEA AND IT PLANS TO LOWER TRADE BARRIERS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION BEGAN CAMPAIGNING IN MARCH 1996 TO BEGIN A NEW ROUND OF TALKS, STRETCHING INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, AIMED AT REDUCING BARRIERS TO WORLDWIDE TRADE. THE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW ROUND -- APPROVED BY THE OUTGOING EUROPEAN COMMISSION CALL FOR THE RICHER COUNTRIES TO LOWER THEIR TARIFFS AGAINST TEXTILE IMPORTS FROM POORER COUNTRIES.

THE COMMISSION -- THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- WANTS A STRONGER WORLD TRADE SYSTEM THAT WILL PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND LABOR STANDARDS.

LEON BRITTAIN -- THE EUROPEAN TRADE COMMISSIONER -- DENIES THE EUROPEAN DEMAND FOR HIGHER LABOR STANDARDS IS ANOTHER WAY TO BLOCK IMPORTS FROM ASIAN COUNTRIES.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE PUT FORWARD IS A POSITIVE APPROACH WHICH DOES NOT IN ANY WAY RAISE THE SPECTER OF PROTECTIONISM BUT ENABLES US TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF IMPROVING LABOR STANDARDS, WHICH IS ONE THAT IS SHARED BY THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND US. THE ANXIETY HAS BEEN ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH WE MIGHT DO IT. I THINK WE CAN DISPEL THE ANXIETY BUT BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN ADVANCING IT AND THE DOCUMENT SEEKS TO SET OUT HOW.

THE EUROPEAN DOCUMENT ALSO PROMISES TO LIBERALIZE PRICES FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE MILLENNIUM ROUND. FARM PRICES WERE CONSIDERED TOO DIFFICULT TO INCLUDE IN THE LAST ROUND OF GLOBAL TRADE TALKS. DESPITE THE DOCUMENT'S GOOD INTENTIONS, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS NOT LIKELY TO ADVANCE BEYOND ITS RESTRICTED PLANS TO REDUCE THE GROWTH IN SUBSIDIES TO FARMERS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS CRITICIZED EUROPEAN EXPORT AND INTERNAL SUBSIDIES FOR AGRICULTURE AND PLANS TO URGE EUROPE TO PHASE THEM OUT IN THE NEW TRADE TALKS.

MR. BRITTAIN WILL NOT BE RETAINED AS EUROPEAN TRADE COMMISSIONER WHEN THE MILLENNIUM-TRADE ROUND BEGINS IN NOVEMBER. DESPITE THE CARETAKER STATUS OF THE CURRENT RESIGNED COMMISSION, MR. BRITTAIN PRAISES ITS AGREEMENT ON EUROPE'S NEGOTIATING STRATEGY FOR THE NEW TRADE TALKS.

I BELIEVE THAT OUR CAPACITY TO PRODUCE A SUBSTANTIAL DOCUMENT OF THIS KIND, GOING INTO DETAIL ON A NUMBER OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AND TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMAL COUNCIL SHOWS THAT THIS COMMISSION IS NOT DEAD. IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT IS CONSTRUCTIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF EUROPE.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONER MARTIN BANGEMAN HAD TO BE DROPPED BECAUSE HE TOOK A JOB IN THE PRIVATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY THAT HE HAD BEEN REGULATING. TWO OTHER COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER, WILL BE LEAVING THE COMMISSION LATER THIS MONTH TO TAKE THE SEATS THEY WON IN THE NEWLY ELECTED EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
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08-Jul-99 10:05 AM EDT (1405 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (THURSDAY) BUT STRENGTH IN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS LIFTED THE NASDAQ INDEX TO ANOTHER RECORD HIGH. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 11-THOUSAND-126, DOWN 60 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13-HUNDRED-94, DOWN ONE POINT. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ONE PERCENT TO CLOSE AT A RECORD HIGH 27-HUNDRED-71.

THERE WAS SOME PROFIT-TAKING BUT TECHNOLOGY STOCKS REMAINED VERY STRONG, ESPECIALLY AMONG INTERNET-RELATED ISSUES. MANY TRADERS ARE AWAITING MORE CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS BEFORE MAKING NEW COMMITMENTS TO NON-TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE GOOD EARNINGS, MAYBE EVEN BETTER THAN A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS. THE PROBLEM THOUGH IS ONE OF VALUATION AND IF INTEREST RATES GO UP, THE VALUE OF THOSE EARNINGS IS VULNERABLE.

TOBACCO COMPANY STOCKS WERE GENERALLY DOWN IN REACTION TO A DECISION WEDNESDAY BY A JURY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE JURY SAID THE COMPANIES ARE LIABLE FOR SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. HOWEVER, INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY THE COMPANIES WILL APPEAL AND WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO ABLE TIE-UP THE CASE IN COURT FOR YEARS.

AMERICAN CONSUMERS CONTINUE ON A SPENDING SPREE. MOST MAJOR U-S RETAIL CHAINS REPORTED BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED SAME STORE SALES LAST MONTH, LED BY STRONG DEMAND FOR CLOTHING. SAFEWAY, THE SECOND-LARGEST FOOD AND DRUG CHAIN IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORTED BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS WITH GAINS FUELED BY RECENT ACQUISITIONS.

GENERAL ELECTRIC REPORTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS OF TWO POINT 82 BILLION DOLLARS, THE HIGHEST EVER. G-E SAYS ITS FINANCIAL SERVICES AND BROADCAST OPERATIONS WERE ESPECIALLY STRONG.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, A LEADING HOTEL OPERATOR, REPORTED PROFITS WHICH WERE IN-LINE WITH WALL STREET ESTIMATES. ANALYSTS SAY MARRIOTT'S PERFORMANCE WAS GOOD IN LIGHT OF A TREND TOWARD LOWER REVENUES IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

U-S CEREAL AND BREAD COMPANIES WILL HAVE A NEW MARKETING TOOL BECAUSE OF A DECISION BY FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG REGULATORS. THE COMPANIES WILL NOW BE ABLE TO PROMOTE RESEARCH FINDINGS WHICH INDICATE THAT WHOLE GRAIN BREAD AND CEREAL PRODUCTS ARE USEFUL IN PREVENTING MANY FORMS OF CANCER AND HEART DISEASE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
08-Jul-99 5:31 PM EDT (2131 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER AND THE RENEWED HOPES FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE DISCUSSED IN NUMEROUS DAILY NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS THIS THURSDAY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

OTHER TOPICS GARNERING ATTENTION, INCLUDE: THE PRESIDENT'S ROAD TRIP VISITING AMERICA'S POOREST REGIONS; HILLARY CLINTON'S FIRST MAJOR POLITICAL TRIP TO NEW YORK; DEALING WITH AFGHANISTAN'S TALIBAN; AND TRYING TO ESTABLISH STABILITY IN THE BALKANS AFTER KOSOVO. NOW, HERE WITH AN EXCERPT OR TWO AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MANY MORE PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, EHUD BARAK, WHO, AFTER SEVEN LONG WEEKS OF NEGOTIATING WITH VARIOUS SMALLER PARTIES, HAS FORMED A COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT WAS SWORN IN TUESDAY. "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS:

VOICE: IN THE FORGING OF HIS COALITION GOVERNMENT AND IN A SPEECH TUESDAY PRESENTING IT TO THE ISRAELI KNESSET, PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK HAS DEMONSTRATED A MUCH-NEEDED DETERMINATION TO REVIVE THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS.

TEXT: DOWN THE COAST, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SUMS UP ITS VIEW IN THIS HEADLINE: "POISED FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST."

VOICE: /// OPT /// BEYOND THE RHETORIC, MR. BARAK WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME NOT ONLY MR. NETANYAHU'S LEGACY OF TENSION BUT ALSO THE EFFECT OF EXTREMIST ELEMENTS ON THE ARAB SIDE WHO HAVE UNLEASED TERRORISM TO UNDERMINE PEACE. BEFORE THOSE COMBINED NEGATIVE FORCES THWARTED THE EFFORTS OF PEACEMAKERS, BOLD NEGOTIATIONS IN THE EARLY 1990S HAD ACHIEVED GRAND RESULTS. /// END OPT /// ... MR. BARAK'S POLICIES REPRESENT A WELCOME CHANGE OF DIRECTION THAT, FINALLY, COULD LET THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST LIVE IN HARMONY.

TEXT: AND IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH SAYS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER IS "ACTING LIKE A STATESMAN" THERE IS THIS.

VOICE: MR. BARAK HAS SET AN AMBITIOUS THOUGH APPROPRIATE AGENDA. PEACEMAKING IS SURE TO BE DIFFICULT. ISRAELIS AND ARABS ALIKE WILL HAVE TO MAKE PAINFUL COMPROMISES ON SENSITIVE ISSUES. BUT MR. BARAK IS RIGHT TO EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE AND DESERVES STRONG AMERICAN SUPPORT.

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, TODAY'S "TULSA [OKLAHOMA] WORLD" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FATE OF 13 PROMINENT IRANIAN JEWS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: AS IRAN'S NEW LEADER TRIES TO MEND RELATIONS WITH THE WEST, HIS HARD-LINE OPPONENTS TRY TO SABOTAGE HIS PROGRESSIVE PLANS. THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO EMBARRASS AND WEAKEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS THE RIDICULOUS ESPIONAGE CHARGES AGAINST 13 IRANIAN JEWS. /// OPT /// ... THESE CHARGES ARE AN OBVIOUS ATTEMPT BY HARD-LINERS TO INFLUENCE THE UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. /// END OPT /// ... [MR.] KHATAMI ... CANNOT ALLOW THE REFORMS HE HAS MADE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER HELP FOR HIS COUNTRY TO BE DERAILED BY A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SPY CASE.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP THIS WEEK TO AN INDIAN RESERVATION AND OTHER CENTERS OF U-S POVERTY IS DRAWING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION, AND, IN THIS CASE, PRAISE FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: WHEN BILL CLINTON TACKLES THE PEOPLE-RELATED ISSUES DEAR TO HIS ... PHILOSOPHY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, HE IS AT HIS BEST AS PRESIDENT. ... THIS WEEK, THEN, COUNTS AS A GOOD WEEK FOR THE PRESIDENT -- AND FOR THE POOR COMMUNITIES ALONG HIS ROAD TRIP TO LURE INVESTMENT TO THE NATION'S IMPOVERISHED AREAS. /// OPT /// ... THE PRESIDENT HAS SET THE GOAL AND PRIMED THE PUMP. IT IS UP TO INTERESTED COMMUNITIES TO SHOW THE BUSINESS SECTOR WHY THEY'RE WORTH THE ATTENTION AND INVESTMENT. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS ALSO TRAVELING AND WENT TO NEW YORK STATE WEDNESDAY TO LAUNCH HER CAMPAIGN FOR SENATOR FROM THAT STATE, WITH THIS RESULTING COMMENT FROM LONG ISLAND'S "NEWSDAY."

VOICE: [MRS.] CLINTON ... SHOWED AN UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY OF MANY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL POLICY MATTERS ... BUT OF THE RESERVATIONS MANY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HER DECISION TO RUN IN A STATE WHERE SHE HAS NEVER LIVED. AND IN A 90-MINUTE EXCHANGE ON EDUCATION, SHE SHOWED BOTH PASSION AND EXPERTISE. ... BUT HER BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT MAY HAVE BEEN IN DEMONSTRATING THAT SHE IS AS PERSONABLE AS SHE IS KNOWLEDGEABLE.

TEXT: A SOMEWHAT MORE CRITICAL VIEW OF HER CAMPAIGN COMES FROM "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE," WHICH MENTIONS CRITICISM OF HER USING A WHITE HOUSE AID TO OVERSEE HER COMPUTER WEB SITE, AND ADDS:

VOICE: MRS. CLINTON'S USE OF WHITE HOUSE AIRCRAFT [U-S AIR FORCE TRANSPORTS] FOR TRIPS THAT LOOK MUCH LIKE CAMPAIGN STOPS ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS. THERE IS NO REASON SHE CANNOT CHARTER A PLANE LIKE OTHER CANDIDATES, /// OPT

TEXT: QUICKLY OVERSEAS AGAIN, THERE IS SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RECENTLY-ANNOUNCED SANCTIONS AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTALIST MUSLIN, TALIBAN MILITIA IN AFGHANISTAN, FROM "THE HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN," WHICH SUGGESTS:

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES SHOULD USE ALL MEANS AVAILABLE TO RETALIATE AGAINST TERRORISTS AND COUNTRIES THAT HARBOR THEM. ... OSAMA BIN LADEN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE MASTERMINDED THE AUGUST 1988 BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA, KILLING 200 PEOPLE AND INJURING THOUSANDS. ... AFGHANISTAN'S TALIBAN REGIME HAS REFUSED TO EXTRADITE BIN LADEN, WHO IS REPORTED TO HAVE MOVED TO A NEW BASE IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN.

TEXT: AS FOR THE AFTERMATH IN KOSOVO, AND REFLECTIONS ON THE USE OF U-S MILITARY POWER FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD, THE TOPEKA [KANSAS] CAPITOL JOURNAL" MUSES:

VOICE: SOME ARE CALLING IT THE CLINTON DOCTRINE -- THIS RELATIVELY NEW PHENOMENON IN WHICH, AS ONE WRITER PUT IT, 'HUMAN RIGHTS AND MORALITY CARRY AS MUCH WEIGHT AS STRATEGIC OR ECONOMIC INTEREST. ...IT IS AT WORK IN KOSOVO. AND IF IT IS JUDGED SUCCESSFUL THERE, IT MAY BE ONE OF THE UNDERPINNINGS OF FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY. CERTAINLY IT IS HIGH-MINDED -- THE THIS NOTION THAT THE WORLD, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT GENOCIDE.

TEXT: AND IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" THERE IS TALK OF THE CONTINUING THREAT THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC POSES TO RECONCILIATION IN THE BALKANS:

VOICE: AS LONG AS MR. MILOSEVIC IS IN POWER, THERE WILL BE NO STABILITY IN THE BALKANS AND LITTLE PROSPECT OF DRAWING DOWN U-S TROOPS. ... DELIVERING MR. MILOSEVIC TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT IN THE HAGUE WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN THAT PROCESS. THE WEST SHOULD DO WHATEVER IT CAN TO HELP SERBS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT REQUIREMENT.

TEXT: DEALING WITH ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT, NORTHERN IRELAND, WHERE THE PEACE PROCESS HAS STALLED OVER THE ISSUE OF DISARMING THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" WRITES:

VOICE: IT IS NOT THE DEAL THEY WANTED, BUT THE ULSTER UNIONISTS SHOULD ACCEPT THE COMPROMISE PUT FORWARD BY TONY BLAIR, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. THE PLAN WOULD PERMIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT WHILE CHALLENGING THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TO DESTROY ITS WEAPONS. ... NORTHERN IRELAND HAS BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THE PEACE RATIFIED BY THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT, BUT IT STILL HAS ABOUT IT THE AURA OF AN ARMED TRUCE ... SINN FEIN AND THE ULSTER UNIONISTS NEED TO MAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TOGETHER.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE INFECTION OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BY ITS GUTSY WOMEN'S FOOTBALL [SOCCER] TEAM IN THE CURRENT WORLD CUP, "THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE" MUSES:

TEXT: SCREAMING, FRENZIED, ECSTATIC AMERICAN FANS ARE FILLING BIG PROFESSIONAL SPORTS VENUES TO WATCH NOT JUST SOCCER, BUT WOMEN'S SOCCER. AND THEY ARE GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH. THE GAMES ARE FAST AND EXCITING, THE PLAY POWERFUL, AND THE ENTHUSIASM LEVEL IS OFF THE CHARTS. THE RESPONSE HAS EXCEEDED EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC PREDICTIONS BY ANXIOUS PROMOTERS. ... PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE ... TEAM USA ... SEEM SO WHOLESOME AND PLAY SO HARD AND SO WELL ... THEY ARE NOT SPOILED OR ARROGANT NOR DO THEY TAKE THEIR NEW-FOUND FAME FOR GRANTED. THEY ARE EASY TO ROOT FOR.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
08-Jul-99 11:40 AM EDT (1540 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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