Voice of America, 99-07-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO RECONSTRUCTION (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[02] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (S) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[03] U-S FORCES / KOSOVO / ARMY (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (UNROSHEVAC, KOSOVO)

[04] UNHCR / YUGO SERBS (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[05] DENMARK KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (OSLO)

[06] EDITORIAL: WAR CRIMES IN THE BALKANS

[07] RUSSIA / BELARUS BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[08] EUROPE-COMMISSION (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

[10] FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE/ ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO RECONSTRUCTION (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS FOCUSSING NOW ON THE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF KOSOVO. BUT TASK FORCES ARE ALSO ASSESSING THE MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM RECONSTRUCTION NEEDS OF THE SERB PROVINCE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SPOKE (BY PHONE) WITH THE WORLD BANK'S SARAJEVO-BASED SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE, WHO IS HEADING UP THE JOINT WORLD BANK-EUROPEAN UNION TASK FORCE FOR KOSOVO.

TEXT: A U-N DISASTER ASSESSMENT OF KOSOVO SAYS THE OVERALL DAMAGE IS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED. ALTHOUGH 40 PERCENT OF KOSOVO'S WATER SUPPLY HAS BEEN POLLUTED, ONLY ABOUT ONE FOURTH OF THE HOUSES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED.

FOR RORY O'SULLIVAN, HEAD OF THE WORLD BANK--EUROPEAN UNION JOINT TASK FORCE ON KOSOVO, THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

IT MEANS THAT THE EMERGENCY WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE MAY BE LESS THAN ANTICIPATED SO IT MEANS THAT MORE TIME CAN BE SPENT ON BUILDING UP THE ECONOMY AND GETTING PERMANENT JOBS FOR PEOPLE.

MR O'SULLIVAN SAYS THE AIM OF THE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT IS TO GET KOSOVO'S ECONOMY UP AND RUNNING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THAT INCLUDES THE PROVINCE'S AGRICULTURE SECTOR.

WHY AGRICULTURE? BECAUSE IN KOSOVO AGRICULTURE IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF EVERYBODY'S WAY OF LIFE. AND PROBABLY 60 PERCENT OF THE ECONOMY IS DEVOTED AT THE MOMENT TO AGRICULTURE BECAUSE OF THE STAGNATION OF INDUSTRY AND EVEN THE COLLAPSE OF INDUSTRY.

FOREIGN DONORS AND INVESTORS WILL HELP PROVIDE LIVESTOCK, TRACTORS, SEEDS, FERTILIZERS AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET FARMS OPERATING AGAIN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

MR O'SULLIVAN SAYS ANOTHER TARGET AREA IS KOSOVO'S SOCIAL SECTOR EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

THIS IS A TOUGH AREA TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE THERE IS NO BUDGET. THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE COUNTRY, THERE IS NO INCOME. SO THERE ARE NO TAXES BEING RAISED. THERE IS A WHOLE AREA TO BE WORKED ON TO GET TAXES LEVIED TO GET MONEY AVAILABLE TO PAY DOCTORS AND TEACHERS, AND DENTISTS AND SCHOOL WORKERS.

A FOURTH TARGET AREA IS THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, INCLUDING DEVISING A BUDGET AND BANKING SYSTEM TO SUSTAIN KOSOVO'S DEVELOPMENT.

RORY O'SULLIVAN SAYS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WAR-TORN BOSNIA-HERZOGOVINA HAS PROVIDED SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS. FOR ONE, HE EXPECTS THE CONTRACT BIDS FOR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL BE SIMPLIFIED IN KOSOVO TO SPEED UP THE PROCEDURE.

ANOTHER LESSON WILL BE THE NEED TO INTRODUCE POLICY REFORMS AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN SO THAT THE ECONOMY CAN TAKE OFF AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN COME IN QUICKLY.

THE WORLD BANK AND EUROPEAN UNION ARE ONLY ONE PART OF THE PICTURE. MR O'SULLIVAN CAN RECITE A LONG LIST OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, U-N AGENCIES, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENTS HELPING TO FUND LARGE-SCALE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS. HE EXPECTS SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FIRMS FROM KOSOVO AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE BIDDING ON SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS TOO. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 12:44 PM EDT (1644 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (S) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: MILITARY OFFICIALS IN KOSOVO FRIDAY ARE REPORTING THE DISCOVERY OF HUNDREDS OF BODIES IN SEVERAL MASS GRAVES. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: NATO SAYS THIS MAY BE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF WAR CRIMES EVIDENCE UNCOVERED IN ANY ONE KOSOVO LOCATION.

RESIDENTS OF THE AREA OF LJUBINIC CONTACTED NATO THURSDAY NIGHT TO TELL THEM THEY HAD FOUND UP TO 350 BODIES IN AN AREA SPREAD OVER A FEW KILOMETERS.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LOUIS GARNEAU, NATO SPOKESMAN IN KOSOVO, SAYS THE AREA WHERE THE BODIES WERE FOUND WAS ALSO THE SCENE OF MAJOR HOME DAMAGE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S LIKE EVERY SECOND HOUSE THAT HAS BEEN BURNED DOWN ... QUITE A TERRIBLE SIGHT TO SEE.

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IS INVESTIGATING. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 8:53 AM EDT (1253 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-S FORCES / KOSOVO / ARMY (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (UNROSHEVAC, KOSOVO)

INTRO: THE U-S ARMY OFFICIALLY TAKES OVER KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING DUTIES FROM THE MARINES ON SATURDAY. TIM BELAY VISITED THE ARMY'S BASE CAMP AND HEADQUARTERS NEAR THE SOUTHERN KOSOVO TOWN OF UNROSHEVAC (EURO SAY VICH) AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE CAMP HAS BEEN A VERY HOT, VERY DUSTY PLACE TO BE AT TIMES THIS WEEK. NOISE FROM HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT FILLS THE AIR AS U-S ARMY ENGINEERS MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO WHAT IS NOW THE MAIN BASE CAMP AND HEADQUARTERS FOR 6-THOUSAND U-S SOLDIERS.

THE ARMY WILL BE THE ONLY U-S FORCE ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO, IN MANY CASES TAKING OVER JOBS WHICH HAVE BEEN FILLED FOR THE PAST MONTH BY U-S MARINES. 2-THOUSAND U-S MARINES BEGAN LEAVING FRIDAY, THEIR MISSION OF SETTING UP THE U-S SECTOR COMPLETE.

COLONEL STEVE HICKS IS THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE U-S FORCES WHICH HAVE JOINED THE NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN KOSOVO. COLONEL HICKS SAYS THE TERRITORY UNDER THE CONTROL OF U-S FORCES IS BECOMING SAFER, BUT THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS.

IN TERMS OF A LOT OF FIRE (I.E. SHOOTING) BACK AND FORTH, I THINK IT HAS BEEN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS NOW SINCE WE HAVE HAD AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE THE WAY WE HAD IN THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS THAT WE WERE HERE.

COLONEL HICKS SAYS TROUBLE BECAUSE OF JOBLESSNESS COULD KEEP U-S SOLDIERS BUSY IN THE COMING WEEKS. ALBANIANS WHO LOST THEIR JOBS TEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT REPLACED THEM WITH ETHNIC SERBS ARE GETTING THEIR JOBS BACK, BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

THAT'S STILL A CONFLICT AREA, AN AREA THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH AND FIND A WAY TO ALLOW ALBANIANS TO COME BACK INTO THE WORK FORCE WITHOUT HURTING SERBS WHO DON'T HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS.

NATO TROOPS, INCLUDING THE U-S SOLDIERS, ARE ALSO WORKING TO DEMILITARIZE -- OR DEMOBILIZE -- THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE K-L-A. COLONEL HICKS SAYS THAT PROCESS IS GOING ALONG AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

MY BELIEF, (AND) THE COMMANDER'S BELIEF, IS THAT IN EVERY CASE THERE IS SINCERITY IN DEMOBILIZATION, AND THERE IS AN EARNEST PUSH TO DEMOBILIZE. IN FACT, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT (DEMOBILIZE) 30 DAYS EARLY.

WHILE COLONEL HICKS AND OTHER NATO LEADERS EXPRESS FAITH IN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY'S GOOD INTENTIONS, MANY K-L-A MEMBERS CONTINUE TO WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS AND CARRY ARMS IN PUBLIC, CONDUCTING ROADSIDE CHECKS IN AREAS OF THE PROVINCE WHERE THEY ARE ESPECIALLY STRONG. K-L-A LEADERS HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT PROHIBITING SUCH BEHAVIOR. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 6:54 AM EDT (1054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] UNHCR / YUGO SERBS (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, IS ACCUSING YUGOSLAVIA OF TRYING TO FORCE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBS WHO FLED KOSOVO TO RETURN TO THE PROVINCE. IT SAYS AUTHORITIES ARE PUTTING BUREAUCRATIC PRESSURE ON THE SERBS TO GET THEM TO GO BACK. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS ABOUT 100-THOUSAND SERBS HAVE FLED TO SERBIA PROPER FROM KOSOVO. IT ESTIMATES AROUND 30-THOUSAND SERBS REMAIN IN THE PROVINCE, BUT SAYS THAT BOTH THEY AND GYPSIES ARE VICTIMS OF REPRISAL ATTACKS FROM ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WANTS TO GET RID OF THOSE WHO FLED TO SERBIA PROPER, AND IS USING BUREAUCRATIC PROCEDURES TO MAKE THEM FEEL BOTH UNWELCOME AND UNWANTED.

THE SERBS IN SERBIA ARE AN EYE-SORE FOR THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AND WALKING EVIDENCE OF THE DEBACLE THAT THEY HAVE STAGED IN KOSOVO. AND THEY ARE QUITE KEEN ON HAVING THEM IN KOSOVO RATHER THAN IN BELGRADE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN SERBIA.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES ARE USING BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE (PROCEDURES) TO PRESSURE THE SERBS TO RETURN TO KOSOVO. FOR INSTANCE, HE SAYS ELDERLY PEOPLE CANNOT RECEIVE THEIR PENSIONS IN SERBIA BECAUSE THEY STILL LEGALLY RESIDE IN KOSOVO. HE SAYS THE DISPLACED SERBS ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN FUEL. AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SERBIA HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REJECT ENROLLMENT OF PUPILS FROM KOSOVO.

A GROUP OF EIGHT-THOUSAND KOSOVO SERBS WHO FLED WHEN SERB FORCES PULLED OUT RETURNED TO THE PROVINCE JUST UNDER TWO WEEKS AGO. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THERE ARE VERY VERY STRONG SUSPICIONS THAT THEY WERE COERCED TO GO BACK. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 10:39 AM EDT (1439 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] DENMARK KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (OSLO)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SHOULD GO ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES, NOT HEAD INTO POLITICAL ASYLUM IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. THE PENTAGON CHIEF'S COMMENTS (TODAY/FRIDAY) FOLLOW PUBLISHED REPORTS THAT SEVERAL NATIONS ARE BEING ASKED TO OFFER SHELTER TO MR. MILOSEVIC, WHO FACES WAR-CRIMES CHARGES ARISING FROM ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST ETHNIC-ALBANIAN CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE, TRAVELING WITH SECRETARY COHEN, REPORTS FROM OSLO:

TEXT: THE REPORT SAYS SEVERAL NATIONS WERE APPROACHED BY UN-NAMED GROUPS IN YUGOSLAVIA ABOUT OFFERING POLITICAL ASYLUM TO MR. MILOSEVIC. SUPPORTERS OF THE IDEA SAY IT WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO LEAVE OFFICE. WESTERN GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY WILL NOT SEND RECONSTRUCTION AID TO YUGOSLAVIA UNTIL MR. MILOSEVIC IS OUT OF OFFICE.

DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS POLITICAL ASYLUM FOR THE SERBIAN LEADER IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

IF THERE IS ANY PLACE IN WHICH HE SEEKS SANCTUARY, PERHAPS I WOULD RECCOMEND THE HAGUE, WHERE HE COULD FACE TRIAL ON THE MERITS OF HIS CASE AND THEN DECIDE HIS FUTURE.

MR. MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMES AND WOULD FACE A TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE IF HE COULD BE ARRESTED.

MR. COHEN SAYS REMOVING YUGOSLAVIA'S LEADER IS A TASK FOR THE SERB PEOPLE, NOT A JOB FOR WASHINGTON. HE SAYS SERBS HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE ANGRY WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, WHO MR. COHEN BLAMES FOR STARTING SEVERAL WARS THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF PEOPLE, SEVERELY DAMAGED THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY AND WRECKED HIS NATION'S ECONOMY.

MR. COHEN SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING MR. MILOSEVIC'S RULE IN YUGOSLAVIA ALREADY, AND HE EXPECTS THE SIZE, FREQUENCY AND FEROCITY OF THE PROTESTS TO GROW.

MR. COHEN SPOKE IN COPENHAGEN AFTER TALKS WITH DENMARK'S MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. NIELS HELVEG PETERSEN, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS IT WILL BE A LONG AND DIFFICULT JOB TO REBUILD KOSOVO PHYSICALLY, AND TO ENCOURAGE DEMOCATIC INSTITUTIONS THERE. HE SAYS HIS NATION IS CONTRIBUTING 200-MILLION DOLLARS IN HUMANITARIAN AID AND 850 TROOPS TO HELP KOSOVO.

MR. COHEN JOINED DANISH MILITARY OFFICIALS AT A REMOTE TRAINING BASE IN WESTERN DENMARK FRIDAY TO WATCH DANISH TROOPS GETTING READY TO JOIN THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO.

THE FIRST DANES WILL JOIN FRENCH FORCES PATROLING A SECTOR OF NORTHERN KOSOVO BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. THEY ARE HEAVILY ARMED, WITH TANKS, MORTARS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

DANISH AND U-S OFFICIALS ALSO DISCUSSED RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. MR. PETERSON SAYS THE WEST MAY NOT FULLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH THE RECENT AIR ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA UPSET OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW. MR. COHEN SAYS HE EXPECTS WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW TO REPAIR RELATIONS NOW THAT THE YUGOSLAV AIR WAR IS OVER.

DENMARK WAS MR. COHEN'S FIRST STOP ON A VISIT TO SIX EUROPEAN NATIONS, TO DISCUSS RECONSTRUCTION IN KOSOVO AND RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. HE IS NOW IN NORWAY, AND LATER TRAVELS TO ALBANIA, HUNGARY, TURKEY AND GREECE. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 2:50 PM EDT (1850 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EDITORIAL: WAR CRIMES IN THE BALKANS

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

WITH THE ARREST OF RADOSLAV BRDJANIN BY BRITISH NATO TROOPS, THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE HAS TIGHTENED THE NOOSE AROUND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEN YEARS OF MURDER AND MAYHEM IN THE BALKANS.

BRDJANIN IS AMONG THE HIGHEST-RANKING BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS TO BE APPREHENDED SO FAR. HE IS ACCUSED OF LARGE-SCALE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS IN BOSNIA. HE WAS ARRESTED IN BANJA LUCA, THE BOSNIAN SERB STRONGHOLD. THE LAW, EVEN IN THE BALKANS, CAN HAVE A LONG ARM.

IT IS TRUE THAT THE TOP BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP, NOTABLY RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, REMAIN AT LARGE. RUTHLESS EXECUTIONERS OF THE POLICY OF RIDDING BOSNIA OF MUSLIMS, THEIR FREEDOM IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE TO JUSTICE. AS IS THAT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE AND FOUR OTHER SENIOR SERB LEADERS WERE CHARGED IN MAY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MASSACRES AND DEPORTATIONS OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS.

INDIVIDUALS WHO KILL CIVILIANS, RAPE WOMEN, MURDER PRISONERS, AND ORDER THEIR SNIPERS TO TAKE AIM AT CHILDREN MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. SUCH DEEDS HAVE BEEN TERMED CRIMINAL UNDER INTERNATIONAL NORMS, PUNISHABLE BY THE LEGALLY INSTITUTED COURTS OF CIVILIZED NATIONS.

ESTABLISHED IN 1993, THE U-N TRIBUNAL DID NOT STOP WAR CRIMES FROM BEING COMMITTED IN KOSOVO. BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THE CRIMES WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE, ABSENT THE THREAT OF PROSECUTION. THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL MUST CONTINUE ITS WORK AND BRING TO JUSTICE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES IN THE BALKANS.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
09-Jul-99 11:47 AM EDT (1547 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA / BELARUS BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN SAYS A TREATY TO MERGE RUSSIA AND BELARUS INTO A SINGLE STATE WILL BE READY FOR SIGNATURE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA IN MOSCOW LOOKS AT THE LATEST ATTEMPTS TO FASHION A BELARUS-RUSSIAN UNION.

TEXT: EFFORTS TO MERGE RUSSIA AND BELARUS INTO ONE ENTITY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. JUST LAST DECEMBER, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND BELARUS PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO SIGNED A DECLARATION CREATING A UNION GOVERNED BY SUPRANATIONAL BODIES.

BUT VERY FEW CONCRETE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER THE YEARS TO UNITE THE TWO COUNTRIES OTHER THAN VAGUE DECLARATIONS OF INTENT.

BELARUS OFFICIALS HAVE ACCUSED RUSSIA OF FOOT-DRAGGING. IN A FIERY SPEECH LAST WEEK (IN MINSK) TO A MEETING OF BELARUS AND RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS, PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO SAID HE WILL REVIEW HIS COUNTRY'S FOREIGN POLICY IF RUSSIA CONTINUES TO DELAY.

PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO SAID HE HAS ORDERED THE FOREIGN MINISTRY TO ESTABLISH THE CLOSEST RELATIONS WITH ALL NEIGHBORS OF BELARUS, INCLUDING WESTERN STATES. HE SAID BELARUS MADE A BIG MISTAKE IN FOCUSING ONLY ON MOSCOW. AND, HE ADDED, CONSIDER THIS MY LAST APPEAL FOR INTEGRATION WITH RUSSIA.

THOSE STRONG WORDS BROUGHT A QUICK RESPONSE FROM SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN SAID THERE ARE VIRTUALLY NO DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND BELARUS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF A UNION TREATY -- AND THAT TEXT WILL BE READY FOR SIGNATURE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

AS FOR BELARUS TRYING TO FORGE CLOSER RELATIONS WITH THE WEST -- MR. STEPASHIN SAID -- "MOSCOW WELCOMES IT."

SEVERAL COMMENTATORS HERE HAVE INDICATED MR. LUKASHENKO'S ATTEMPT TO TURN TOWARD THE WEST WAS ONLY A PLOY TO STIR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS INTO ACTION ON THE BELARUS-RUSSIAN MERGER. SOME OBSERVERS SAY WESTERN DEMOCRACIES MAY BE RELUCTANT TO DEAL WITH THE BELARUS PRESIDENT GIVEN HIS APPALLING RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

SOME RUSSIAN REGIONAL LEADERS HAVE VOICED CONCERN ABOUT A POTENTIAL UNION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND MINSK. THE PRESIDENT OF TATARSTAN -- MINTIMER SHAIMIYEV -- SAID HE IS CONFUSED.

WHAT KIND OF UNION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, ASKED MR. SHAIMIYEV. IF IT IS A UNION OF TWO SOVEREIGN STATES, THEN WE CAN FORGE A POLITICAL AGREEMENT. BUT MR. SHAMIYEV SAID IF THERE IS TALK OF SETTING UP A NEW STATE, THEN TATARSTAN WILL WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS NEW STATE. IN ANY EVENT, MR. SHAMIYEV SAID ANY UNION TREATY MUST BE PUT TO A REFERENDUM.

QUESTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN RAISED AS TO WHO WILL BE THE LEADER OF THIS EVENTUAL STATE UNITING BELARUS AND RUSSIA. ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO HAS MADE CLEAR HIS ASPIRATION TO BECOME THE ENTITY'S NEW PRESIDENT -- IF SUCH A POST IS CREATED. AND SOME RUSSIAN COMMENTATORS HAVE FLOATED THE IDEA THAT SINCE BORIS YELTSIN CANNOT RUN NEXT YEAR FOR A THIRD TERM AS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, HE MAY STAY IN POWER BY BECOMING PRESIDENT OF THIS NEW STATE.

BUT UP TO NOW, THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SILENT ON THAT ISSUE. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 1:01 PM EDT (1701 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] EUROPE-COMMISSION (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S EXECUTIVE BOARD, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, HAS UNVEILED HIS NEW 19-MEMBER TEAM WHICH NOW MUST WIN APPROVAL FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS ON THE CHOICES MADE BY THE COMMISSION'S PRESIDENT, FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI.

TEXT: MR. PRODI SAYS HIS TEAM IS BALANCED POLITICALLY BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT.

IN MAKING HIS CHOICES, MR. PRODI HAS TRIED TO MAKE A CLEAR SEPARATION BETWEEN HIS TEAM AND THE CURRENT COMMISSION LED BY JACQUES SANTER THAT WAS FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT.

MR. PRODI SAYS HE HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WITH EVERYONE DESIGNATED FOR POSITIONS THAT THEY WILL RESIGN IF ANY QUESTIONS ARE RAISED ABOUT THEIR INTEGRITY. ONLY FOUR COMMISSIONERS ARE RETAINED FROM THE CURRENT CARETAKER COMMISSION AND ONLY ONE, AUSTRIA'S FRANZ FISCHLER, IS RETURNING TO HIS PREVIOUS POSITION AS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER.

IN RESHAPING THE COMMISSION, MR. PRODI STILL HAS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. HE HAS NAMED BRITAIN'S CHRISTOPHER PATTEN AS THE NEW COMMISSIONER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. MR. PATTEN HAD TENSE RELATIONS WITH CHINA WHEN HE WAS BRITAIN'S LAST GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. MR. PRODI SAYS HE IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE REACTION IN BEIJING TO MR. PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT.

I THOUGHT HE WAS THE BEST SUITED MAN IN ORDER TO COORDINATE THE FOREIGN RELATIONS ... REGARDING CHINA, HE (PATTEN) HAS ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS, CHINA INCLUDED. CHINA IS NOT PART OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND IT IS PART OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS.

THERE ARE FIVE WOMEN IN THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- THE SAME NUMBER AS IN THE OLD ONE -- AND MORE COME FROM THE POLITICAL LEFT THAN FROM THE POLITICAL RIGHT.

THE NEWLY ELECTED EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL HAVE A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE (RIGHT-WING) DEPUTIES. DESPITE THE POLITICAL CHANGE, MR. PRODI IS CONFIDENT HIS APPOINTEES WILL WIN APPROVAL WHEN THE PARLIAMENT VOTES ON THEM SEPTEMBER 16TH.

MR. PRODI WAS SELECTED BY THE EUROPEAN LEADERS TO INTRODUCE A NEW ERA OF CHANGE AND REFORM IN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE LEADERS WANT TO AVOID IS THE CASE OF THE OUTGOING TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONER MARTIN BANGEMANN.

MR. BANGEMANN HAS TAKEN A JOB WITH THE SAME INDUSTRY HE HAD BEEN REGULATING SINCE 1989. AMBASSADORS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE CALLED FOR LEGAL ACTION TO AGAINST MR. BANGEMANN TO PREVENT HIM FOR COLLECTING HIS PENSION. IT IS THEIR WAY OF CALLING FOR A NEW STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR. (SIGNED)
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09-Jul-99 9:48 AM EDT (1348 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) AS MAJOR AVERAGES ENDED THE WEEK AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 11-THOUSAND-193, UP 66 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 54 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 14- HUNDRED-THREE, UP NINE POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED AT 27-HUNDRED-92, UP 21 POINTS. ALL THREE AVERAGES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE BUYING STOCKS, IN ANTICIPATION OF STRONG CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER, MANY OF WHICH WILL BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK.

I THINK WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE A FOLLOW-THROUGH [MORE RISING PRICES] NEXT WEEK. BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE HAD A BIG MOVE, A 500- OR 600-POINT MOVE [IN THE DOW-JONES AVERAGE] OVER A TWO-WEEK PERIOD, SO STOCKS MAY GO SIDEWAYS A LITTLE BIT [PRICES MAY SHOW LITTLE MOVEMENT].

THE FINANCING UNIT OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED EIGHT-POINT-SIX-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BONDS, THE LARGEST SINGLE CORPORATE DEBT OFFERING IN HISTORY. THERE WAS STRONG DEMAND FOR THE BONDS WHICH CARRY YIELDS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN U-S GOVERNMENT DEBT.

FORD HAS FORMALLY SIGNED A JOINT-VENTURE AGREEMENT TO BUILD AN AUTO-ASSEMBLY PLANT NEAR SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA. FORD WILL INVEST 150-MILLION DOLLARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A RUSSIAN FIRM. THE PLANT WILL BE READY FOR PRODUCTION WITHIN TWO YEARS.

DRUG-MAKER ABBOTT LABORATORIES REPORTED AN ALMOST 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS, IN-LINE WITH WALL STREET FORECASTS. ALLSTATE, A DIVERSIFIED INSURANCE COMPANY, WILL PAY ONE-POINT-ONE-BILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE AMERICAN HERITAGE, A LIFE, DISABILITY AND HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY.

LITTON INDUSTRIES HAS WITHDRAWN ITS ONE-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLAR OFFER TO BUY THE NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY. LITTON SAYS IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE U-S GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. THE PENTAGON SAYS THE DEAL WOULD SERIOUSLY REDUCE COMPETITION IN THE U-S MILITARY SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY.

THE STOCK OF LIQUID AUDIO, AN INTERNET MUSIC FIRM, BEGAN TRADING FRIDAY, AND PROMPTLY GAINED 220 PERCENT. THE COMPANY PROVIDES SOFTWARE USED FOR THE DIGITAL PLAYBACK OF MUSIC ON THE INTERNET.

DONALD TRUMP, THE NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION MAGNATE, HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A NEW CASINO-HOTEL IN ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. MR. TRUMP, WHO ALREADY OWNS THREE CASINO PROPERTIES THERE, SAYS THE NEW HOTEL WILL HAVE UP TO FOUR-THOUSAND ROOMS AND COST ABOUT 750-MILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
09-Jul-99 5:58 PM EDT (2158 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE/ ERIKA EVANS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A BREAKTHROUGH JURY VERDICT REGARDING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF U-S TOBACCO COMPANIES FOR THE HEALTH OF SMOKERS IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TOPICS IN FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS COLUMNS.

OTHER COMMENTARIES FOCUS ON THE DELAY BY SENATE IN APPROVING THE NOMINATION OF U-S BALKAN NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE TO BE NEW U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, HILLARY CLINTON'S RUN FOR THE U-S SENATE FROM NEW YORK, AND THE FOUNDERING PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS ALSO PROMINENT

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE FUTURE OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND PRAISE FOR THE U-S WOMEN'S FOOTBALL (SOCCER) TEAM AS IT PREPARES TO MEET CHINA IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL SATURDAY IN CALIFORNIA. NOW HERE IS _______ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, THIS WEEK, A SIX-PERSON MIAMI JURY DECIDED IN FAVOR OF TWO FORMER SMOKERS SEEKING 200-BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES FROM AMERICAN CIGARETTE MAKERS. IN WHAT THE "MIAMI HERALD" CALLED "THE MOST SWEEPING DEFEAT FOR THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY," THE JURY FOUND THAT CIGARETTES ARE UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS, AND SAID THAT TOBACCO COMPANIES MADE FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH EFFECTS. THE VERDICT, WHICH HAS YET TO INCLUDE MONETARY DAMAGES, ELICITS THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS."

VOICE: A FLORIDA JURY HAS BLAZED AN IMPORTANT NEW LEGAL PATH FOR SMOKERS, WHO FEEL THEIR HEALTH PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE DECEPTIONS OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. ... IF THE JURY'S CONCLUSION HOLDS UP ... TOBACCO COMPANIES ARE CERTAIN TO FACE A WAVE OF LITIGATION CONCERNING PRODUCT SAFETY AND DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING.

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" ALSO SEES THE VERDICT AS A WATERSHED DECISION AGAINST CIGARETTE MAKERS.

VOICE: .AS THE FLORIDA DECISION SHOWS, THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY SECRET RECORDS ON INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND MARKETING TACTICS IS CONVINCING SOME CITIZENS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SMOKING'S ILLS IS N O T STRICTLY LIMITED TO THOSE WHO LIGHT UP.

TEXT: IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE "BOSTON GLOBE" HAS THIS ANGRY COMMENT ON THE SENATE'S DELAY IN VOTING ON THE NOMINATION OF FORMER BALKAN ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE TO BE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

VOICE: A SKILLFUL DIPLOMAT WHO SERVED AS AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY AND AS LEAD NEGOTIATOR AT THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE CONFERENCE TO END THE WAR IN BOSNIA, CERTAINLY DOES NOT LACK QUALIFICATIONS. MOREOVER, HOLBROOKE'S NOTORIOUS DRIVE TO GET HIS WAY IN ANY ARGUMENT OUGHT TO BE EXACTLY THE PERSONALITY TRAIT DESIRED BY SENATORS WHO WISH TO IMPOSE BUDGETARY DISCIPLINE ON THE U-N.

TEXT: THERE ARE ALSO PRESS COMMENTS ON HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AND HER EXPECTED RUN FOR U-S SENATOR. THE NEW YORK "DAILY NEWS" CONSIDERS WHETHER A NON-NEW YORKER CAN EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.

VOICE: THAT SHE'S NEVER LIVED OR WORKED OR GONE TO SCHOOL IN NEW YORK SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR HER TO REPRESENT NEW YORKERS IN WASHINGTON. THE POINT OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, AFTER ALL, IS THAT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT STATES AND DISTRICTS ELECT ONE OF THEIR OWN TO SEE THEIR INTEREST IN THE CAPITOL. ...ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN THOUGH: IF ALL HER OPPONENTS HAVE ON HER IS HER OUT-OF-STATE STATUS, THEIR ARSENAL IS GOING TO DRY UP FAST.

TEXT: OVERSEAS, THE PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS ANOTHER TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN U-S EDITORIALS. IN OHIO, THE "AKRON BEACON JOURNAL" SAYS THAT IF NORTHERN IRELAND'S LEADERS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENDING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE, NOW IS THEIR CHANCE TO SHOW IT.

VOICE: THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND, NORTH AND SOUTH, WANT PEACE. STRONG MAJORITIES SAID SO IN VOTING FOR THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT. NOW IT IS UP TO THE POLITICAL LEADERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS DEVASTATING SORE TO MEND DIFFERENCES AND IMPLEMENT THAT PEACE.

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT, THE BALKANS, SEVERAL U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE RESISTANCE TO SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN SERBIA. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THE RECENT RALLIES CALLING FOR MR. MILOSEVIC TO STEP DOWN ARE UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN A QUICK CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN BELGRADE.

VOICE: HE HAS FACED WIDESPREAD PROTESTS IN THE PAST AND OUTWITTED HIS OPPOSITION, AND HE HOLDS THE POWER TO DO IT AGAIN. ...THE OPPOSITION MUST LEARN FROM ITS MISTAKES.

TEXT: AND FINALLY, U-S EDITORIALISTS ARE CLOSE TO EUPHORIC IN THEIR COMMENTS ON THE U-S WOMEN'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL (SOCCER) TEAM, WHICH WILL PLAY CHINA ON SATURDAY IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" IN CALIFORNIA WRITES ABOUT THE WOMEN:

VOICE: THE TEAM'S PLAYERS HAVE REACHED THE CUP FINAL AT THE ROSE BOWL FOR A SIMPLE REASON: THEY HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF, THE TEAMWORK, THE DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION. ... AT LONG LAST IN AMERICA, THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR SPORT IS THE TALK OF THE NATION, AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT DID IT.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM FRIDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/ENE/KL
09-Jul-99 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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