Voice of America, 96-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] EURO REACT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[04] NATO / GERMANY (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] TURKEY / GERMANY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[07] YUGO ELECTION BY BARRY WOOD (PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION VICTORY HEADS THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS OF MOST LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS, BUT THERE IS ALSO CONSIDERABLE COMMENT ON RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S HEART BY-PASS SURGERY AND THE POLITICAL TURMOIL IN PAKISTAN. OTHER EDITORAL TOPICS INCLUDE: THE STALLED MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS AND ALLEGED RACIAL BIGOTRY IN THE TEXACO CORPORATION. WE HAVE A SAMPLING NOW FROM __________________, WITH TODAY'S EDITORIALS DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VICTORY IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS, AS EXPECTED, THE MAIN EDITORIAL TOPIC IN MANY PAPERS. WE BEGIN WITH THE NATION'S LARGEST TABLOID, THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.

VOICE: "BILL CLINTON'S RESOUNDING VICTORY IS A VICTORY FOR ALL AMERICANS. ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROSPERITY AND PEACE. THEY ARE REAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND, WHEN THE POLITICAL SMOKE AND INNUENDO ARE CLEARED AWAY, THEY ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THEY ARE NOW THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE AS THE NATION ADVANCES TO THE BRINK OF A NEW CENTURY. ... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON AND [AL] GORE EARNED THEIR SECOND TERM. THE GAINS OF THEIR FIRST FOUR YEARS WERE OFTEN OBSCURED BY THE RELENTLESS ATTACKS BY REPUBLICANS WHO NEVER ACCEPTED THE 1992 ELECTION."

TEXT: NOT ALL THE PAPERS ARE AS PLEASED WITH THE CLINTON VICTORY AS THE DAILY NEWS. ACROSS TOWN, THE NEW YORK POST CONGRATULATED MR. CLINTON, THEN WENT ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "THIS [CONGRATULATIONS] ISN'T TO SUGGEST THAT OUR CONCERNS ABOUT CLINTON TWO HAVE ABATED. WE REMAIN CONVINCED THAT UNRESOLVED SCANDALS -- FROM WHITEWATER TO TRAVELGATE TO FILEGATE TO INDOGATE [THE ALLEGEDLY ILLEGAL DONATIONS FROM THE INDONESIAN LUPPO GROUP TO THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN] -- WILL PARALYZE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH... ALL IN ALL, THERE'S REASON TO EXPECT SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TO FOCUS THEIR ENERGIES IN COMING MONTHS ON TESTIFYING AT GRAND JURIES, APPEARING BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES, FORMING DEFENSE FUNDS AND CUTTING DEALS WITH PROSECUTORS. THIS CLIMATE HARDLY SEEMS CONDUCIVE TO SETTING SOUND PUBLIC POLICY."

TEXT: IN BOSTON, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR TALKS ABOUT HOW AMERICANS CAN TURN NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN INTO A POSITIVE.

VOICE: "HERE'S A WAY ALL AMERICANS CAN BE WINNERS AFTER THE ELECTIONS, WITH GOOD RESULTS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD, TOO: EVERYONE GETS BEHIND THE BEST IDEAS OF ALL THE CANDIDATES. THEN EVERYONE BECOMES A ONE-PERSON OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT PROPER REPRESENTATION AND CHALLENGE IMPROPER REPRESENTATION BY ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE GOAL IS GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE BEYOND ELECTION DAY."

TEXT: USA TODAY, THE NATIONAL WEEKDAY PAPER, CALLS TUESDAY'S VOTE A BIG VICTORY FOR MR. CLINTON, "BUT A FRAGILE MANDATE."

VOICE: "AFTER ANGRILY TOSSING OUT INCUMBENTS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE ELECTIONS, THE VOTERS SEEM TO HAVE FOUND A GOVERNMENT THEY'RE WILLING TO TRY A LITTLE LONGER. ONE THAT'S DIVIDED. ONE THAT'S LIKELY TO SCALE BACK FEDERAL SPENDING AND INTERVENTION. BUT ONE THAT'S UNLIKELY TO DO EITHER AT A FRIGHTENING PACE. IT'S AN OUTCOME THAT WILL DISHEARTEN IDEOLOGUES ON BOTH SIDES. BUT IT IS ONE THAT SENDS A MESSAGE THE WHITE HOUSE OR CONGRESS CAN IGNORE ONLY AT GREAT PERIL."

TEXT: AND SPEAKING OF THE ELECTIONS AS A WHOLE -- THE PRESIDENTIAL, CONGRESSIONAL AND LOCAL CONTESTS -- THE ORLANDO SENTINEL DEPLORES THE QUALITY OF MANY CAMPAIGNS.

VOICE: "WHAT A RELIEF! TUESDAY'S ELECTION FINALLY PUT AN END TO A BARRAGE OF POLITICAL ADVERTISING THAT HAD BECOME NEARLY UNBEARABLE. IT WASN'T THE VOLUME OF ... ADVERTISING THAT WAS OFFENSIVE. THE PROBLEM WAS THE INCESSANT NAME-CALLING, LYING AND ACCUSATIONS OF LYING... THE POLITICIANS HAVE THE POWER TO VETO ADVERTISING THAT IS MISLEADING OR MEAN-SPIRITED... BETTER TO LOSE WHILE STANDING ON THE TRUTH THAN TO WIN WHILE HIDING BEHIND A VEIL OF MEANNESS AND MISINFORMATION."

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS BRIEFLY, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S HEART BY-PASS OPERATION DID NOT BECOME OBSCURED BY THE AMERICAN FIXATION ON THE ELECTION. TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS THE SURGERY OFFERS MORE PROOF OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TAKING HOLD IN RUSSIA.

VOICE: "BORIS YELTSIN'S MULTIPLE-BYPASS OPERATION ... WAS PERFORMED ROUTINELY, OR AS ROUTINELY AS MAJOR SURGERY CAN EVER BE. WHAT ALSO WENT ROUTINELY WAS THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S TRANSFER OR AUTHORITY, INCLUDING CONTROL OVER THE NATION'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS, TO PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN. THE TRANSFER IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT MARKS THE FIRST TIME POLITICAL POWER HAS BEEN CEDED UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION IN 1991... [MR.] YELTSIN WAS REPORTED TO BE PLANNING TO RESUME HIS CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS WITHIN A FEW DAYS... SO THERE IS PROGRESS ... A MARK OF DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: THE OUSTER OF PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO HAS RAISED CONCERN ABOUT THE FATE OF DEMOCRACY IN THAT SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRY AND DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:

VOICE: "A GRIM SENSE OF DEJA VU SURROUNDS THE SUDDEN OUSTER OF PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO OF PAKISTAN. WITH MS. BHUTTO UNDER HOUSE ARREST, AND THE CAPITAL OF ISLAMABAD RINGED WITH ARMY TROOPS, DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS ARE CLEARLY ONCE AGAIN IN PERIL. TO PREVENT THE COUNTRY'S LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS FROM LEADING TO GREATER TURMOIL, THE NEW CARETAKER GOVERNMENT INSTALLED BY PAKISTAN'S PRESIDENT MUST FULFILL THE PROMISE TO CALL NEW ELECTIONS, WITH MRS. BHUTTO AND HER POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. ANY CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AGAINST HER OR HER ENTOURAGE MUST BE MADE, AND PROVED, IN COURT."

TEXT: THE STATUS OF THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS REMAINS A MATTER OF EDITORIAL CONCERN FOR THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, WHICH IS CALLING FOR AN END TO WHAT IT TERMS "THE MIDEAST STALL."

VOICE: "SPECULATION ABOUNDS THAT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS HAS BEEN HOSTAGE TO THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BUT THAT'S DOUBTFUL... PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT WAS THOUGHT BY SOME ISRAELIS TO BE AWAITING A CLINTON VICTORY BEFORE PUSHING FOR GREATER AMERICAN PRESSURE ON ISRAEL. BUT THE PROBABILITY OF SUCH PRESSURE ... IS NOT GREAT. MORE LIKELY, MR. ARAFAT HAS DUG IN HIS HEELS AGAINST ANY FURTHER SECURITY CONCESSIONS REGARDING HEBRON BECAUSE OF MISGIVINGS CONCERNING THE INTENTIONS OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. THOSE MISGIVINGS DEEPENED THIS WEEK WHEN PLANS OF ISRAELI INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER ARIEL SHARON TO NEARLY DOUBLE THE JEWISH POPULATION OF THE WEST BANK WERE MADE PUBLIC."

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY IS ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MR. SHARON'S ANNOUNCEMENT, AND SAYS:

VOICE: "[MR.] SHARON'S WOEFULLY MISGUIDED PLAN CALLS FOR BUILDING TWO NEW CITIES IN THE WEST BANK -- THE TWO COMMUNITIES WOULD ADD 100-THOUSAND JEWISH SETTLERS TO THE 140-THOUSAND ALREADY LIVING THERE. THE PRESENCE OF THOSE VERY SETTLERS IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN THE PEACE PROCESS... IF [MR.] SHARON INTENDED TO CREATE MISCHIEF, HE SUCCEEDED... [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU MUST NOW QUASH [MR.] SHARON'S PLAN FIRMLY AND PUBLICLY -- UNLESS HE IS MORE CYNICAL ABOUT THE PEACE PROCESS THAN EVEN HIS PALESTINIAN ADVERSARIES BELIEVE HIM TO BE."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE MIAMI HERALD SPEAKS OUT REGARDING TAPES OF A HIGH LEVEL MEETING AT THE TEXACO OIL COMPANY IN WHICH THE TREASURER ALLEGEDLY USED EXTREMELY DEROGATORY LANGUAGE ABOUT THE FIRM'S BLACK EMPLOYEES. THE HERALD CALLS THE REMARKS SHAMEFUL AND SHOCKING.

VOICE: "THE TAPED CONVERSATION LAYS IT BARE, IN PLAIN ENGLISH: SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF TEXACO APPARENTLY CONSPIRING TO COMMIT A FELONY AND IN THE PROCESS, VILIFYING MINORITY EMPLOYEES WITH SICKENING RACIAL EPITHETS... IT IS DEPRESSING BECAUSE CORPORATE AMERICA HAS MADE MANY NOBLE EFFORTS TOWARD ENSURING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ITS MILLIONS OF EMPLOYEES. AND IT IS UNFAIR TO LET THE PATHETIC COMMENTS OF A FEW TAINT AN ENTIRE INSTITUTION."

TEXT: THOSE REMARKS BY THE MIAMI HERALD CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S LEADING DAILY PAPERS.
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06-Nov-96 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO REACT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: LEADERS THROUGHOUT EUROPE HAVE CONGRATULATED BILL CLINTON ON HIS RE-ELECTION AS U-S PRESIDENT. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, WHATEVER EUROPEAN LEADERS MAY THINK OF MR. CLINTON, THEY BELIEVE HIS RE-ELECTION REPRESENTS FOUR MORE YEARS OF CONTINUITY AND STABILITY.

TEXT: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR WERE AMONG THE FIRST EUROPEAN LEADERS TO SEND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES TO MR. CLINTON.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC WAS EFFUSIVE, SAYING MR. CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION WAS JOYFUL NEWS AND GUARANTEED FRANCE A FRIENDLY, CLEAR-SIGHTED, COMPETENT, AND GENEROUS PARTNER. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HERVE DE CHARETTE EXPRESSED THE HOPE MR. CLINTON WILL DEVOTE MOST OF HIS SECOND TERM IN OFFICE TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAJOR SAID THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD GIVEN MR. CLINTON A RESOUNDING VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. MR. MAJOR TOLD THE BRITISH SKY NEWS NETWORK HE LOOKS FORWARD TO A SECOND CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK WE HAVE A WHOLE STACK OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS -- THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT -- BUSINESS IN NATO, BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUSINESS IN THE GULF. SO I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK WITH BILL CLINTON.

BILL CLINTON OFFERED HIS COUNTRY A STRONG VISION OF THE FUTURE. I THINK HE SHOWED IT IS POSSIBLE TO RUN AND TO GOVERN FROM A CENTER-GROUND POSITION THAT IS NEITHER THE OLD LEFT NOR THE POLITICS OF THE NEW RIGHT. AND IN THAT SENSE, I SUPPOSE THERE ARE PARALLELS. BUT I THINK ABOVE ALL ELSE, IT IS A PERSONAL TRIUMPH FOR HIM AND HE THOROUGHLY DESERVES IT.

NATO'S SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA ALSO SENT A TELEGRAM TO MR. CLINTON. FROM BRUSSELS, NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- MR. SOLANA -- HAS FORMED A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. HE HAS ALREADY MADE THREE VISITS TO WASHINGTON, AND SO IN HIS TELEGRAM, HE EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE IN THE SECOND TERM.

IN BELGRADE, THE OFFICIAL TANJUG NEWS AGENCY QUOTED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT ZORAN LILIC AS SAYING HE BELIEVES THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF GOOD COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
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06-Nov-96 9:04 AM EST (1404 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES MADE STRONG GAINS WEDNESDAY ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE -- LONDON, PARIS, AND FRANKFURT -- ALL SHOWED GAINS. TRADERS SAY INVESTORS SAW THE OUTCOME OF THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS AS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE WELL OVER ONE PERCENT TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE YEAR. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP ALMOST ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT.

THE GAIN WAS SMALLER IN LONDON, WHERE TRADERS SAY INVESTORS STILL ARE WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE MORE INTEREST RATE HIKES. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON EUROPEAN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR LOST A LITTLE IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK. BUT THE DOLLAR GAINED A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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06-Nov-96 1:48 PM EST (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NATO / GERMANY (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS HE HOPES ALL THE COUNTRIES TAKING PART IN THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION TO BOSNIA WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NEW FORCE WHEN THE CURRENT MISSION EXPIRES. THE NATO CHIEF MADE THE COMMENTS IN BONN, WHERE HE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH GERMAN OFFICIALS. KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: MR. SOLANA SAYS HE IS HOPING ALL 33-NATIONS TAKING PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION TO BOSNIA WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN 1997.

THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION, WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN 58-THOUSAND TROOPS, IS DUE TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 20TH OF THIS YEAR.

NATO OFFICIALS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON PLANS FOR A FOLLOW-ON FORCE, WHICH MOST ANALYSTS AGREE WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT A NEW CONFLICT (AFTER DECEMBER 20TH).

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL, WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH MR. SOLANA, SAID HE WAS OPTIMISTIC THE UNITED STATES WOULD CONTRIBUTE TROOPS TO THE NEW FORCE. BUT U-S OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET SAID IF THEY WILL DO SO.

ON THE SUBJECT OF NATO EXPANSION PLANS, MR. SOLANA SAID THE ALLIANCE WAS MOVING AHEAD AND WOULD NOT BE STOPPED.

HE ALSO SAID NATO WANTS TO BUILD A SOLID AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA, WHICH HAS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO NATO PLANS TO ACCEPT NEW MEMBERS. (SIGNED)
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06-Nov-96 12:03 PM EST (1703 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / GERMANY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL HAS CALLED FOR GERMAN OFFICIALS TO MAKE A GREATER EFFORT TO INTEGRATE THE MORE THAN TWO-MILLION TURKS WHO LIVE IN GERMANY. KYLE KING REPORTS THE TURKISH PRESIDENT MADE THE APPEAL IN BONN, WHERE HE HAS ALSO BEEN PRESSING TURKEY'S CASE FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER TALKS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, MR. DEMIREL SAID HE THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE TURKEY BECAME A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

TURKEY APPLIED FOR E-U MEMBERSHIP IN 1987, BUT ITS APPLICATION HAS BEEN SLOWED BY ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND STRAINED RELATIONS WITH GREECE, WHICH IS ALREADY AN E-U MEMBER.

GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TURKEY TO BE PART OF EUROPE. BUT THEY SAY THERE MUST BE PROGRESS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, AND ESPECIALLY THE PLIGHT OF SEPARATIST KURDS.

MR. DEMIREL SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO DEAL WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. HE SAID IT IS UNFAIR TO DESCRIBE TURKEY AS A PLACE OF TORTURE BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS TORTURED THERE ONCE.

AN ANALYST AT THE CENTER FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN ESSEN, YASEMIN OZBEK, SAYS PART OF THE PROBLEM CONCERNING EUROPE'S RELATIONS WITH ITS EASTERN NEIGHBOR HAS BEEN ONE OF COMMUNICATIONS.

THE PROBLEM WITH EUROPE IS THAT IT ALWAYS TALKS "ABOUT" TURKEY, BUT IT NEVER TALKS "WITH" TURKEY -- THAT IS THE PROBLEM, I THINK.

ASIDE FROM THE ISSUE OF TURKISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, MR. DEMIREL HAS ALSO USED HIS VISIT TO PUSH GERMANY TO MAKE A GREATER EFFORT TO INTEGRATE ITS MINORITY TURKISH POPULATION.

THE TURKISH PRESIDENT SAID IT IS IMPORTANT THE TWO-MILLION TURKS IN GERMANY NOT BE TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.

ALTHOUGH ATTACKS AGAINST TURKS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS IN GERMANY HAVE SUBSIDED SINCE THEY REACHED A PEAK IN THE AFTERMATH OF GERMAN UNIFICATION, MR. DEMIREL SAID MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF TURKS. (SIGNED)
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06-Nov-96 11:18 AM EST (1618 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: ONE OF THE MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAS CALLED FOR THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO STOP WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS -- UNWANTED ASSAULTS AGAINST KURDISH VILLAGES. THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAID THE TURKISH ARMY HAD LAUNCHED A THREE-PRONGED ATTACK INTO NORTHERN IRAQ THREE-DAYS AGO. BUT AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS DENY THE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE K-D-P SAID IN A STATEMENT (WEDNESDAY) TURKISH MILITARY AIRCRAFT HAD BOMBED THREE VILLAGES IN THE BARZAN REGION AND TURKISH FORCES HAD REPEATEDLY LAUNCHED ARTILLERY ATTACKS AGAINST OTHER VILLAGES DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS.

THE K-D-P SAID THE TURKISH ASSAULTS HAD RESULTED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF MANY HOUSES AND THE DEATH OF PRECIOUS LIVESTOCK. THE KURDISH GROUP LED BY MASSOUD BARZANI ALSO ACCUSED TURKISH FORCES OF SUMMARILY ARRESTING 16 CIVILIANS AND CONFISCATING THEIR PROPERTIES.

TURKISH FORCES ROUTINELY CONDUCT SO-CALLED HOT PURSUIT OPERATIONS AGAINST REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY. THE REBELS, WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE PAST 12-YEARS FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE CARVED MAINLY OUT OF TURKEY, ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BASES AS WELL AS SYMPATHIZERS IN NORTHERN IRAQI TERRITORY.

TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS DENY A LARGE-SCALE CROSS-BORDER OFFENSIVE IS BEING CARRIED OUT AT THIS TIME. THEY SAY THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY IS CONCENTRATED WITHIN TURKEY.

ANALYSTS SAY THE KURD'S STATEMENT WILL NOT HELP RELATIONS BETWEEN ITS LEADER, MASSOUD BARZANI, AND THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. TIES BETWEEN ANKARA AND THE KURDS HAVE SOURED IN RECENT DAYS OVER MR. BARZANI'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT TURKISH DEMANDS TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TURKISH KURD REBELS BASED IN HIS TERRITORY. (SIGNED)
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06-Nov-96 9:26 AM EST (1426 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] YUGO ELECTION BY BARRY WOOD (PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO)

INTRO: IN YUGOSLAVIA, VOTES ARE NEARLY ALL IN AND THEY SHOW THE RULING COALITION OF LEFTISTS LED BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC EASILY RETAINS POWER. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS BEEN IN YUGOSLAVIA FOR THE ELECTIONS, AND FILED THIS REPORT FROM THE SOUTHERN REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO.

TEXT: CYNICISM ABOUT SUNDAY'S ELECTION RUNS HIGH IN PODGORICA AND BAR IN MONTENEGRO. THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS, TIGHTLY ALIGNED WITH SERBIA'S PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, WON A RESOUNDING MAJORITY, BOTH IN THE MONTENEGRO REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY AND FOR THE 30 MONTENEGRIN SEATS IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

IN BELGRADE, SPOKESMEN FOR THE RULING LEFT COALITION CLAIMED A RESOUNDING VICTORY, SAYING ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARY SEATS HAVE GONE TO THE LEFT. THE FRAGMENTED, WEAK OPPOSITION DID WELL ONLY IN SCATTERED LOCAL ELECTIONS IN SERBIA.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY NO SUBSTANTIAL POLICY CHANGES ARE EXPECTED. MARKET BASED REFORMS, WHICH HAVE HARDLY BEGUN IN YUGOSLAVIA, WERE NOT SPOKEN OF ENTHUSIASTICALLY BY THE COALITION. INDEED, SOME OBSERVERS SAY THE MARXIST YUGOSLAV UNITED LEFT, LED BY MR. MILOSEVIC'S WIFE, HAS INCREASED POWER WITHIN THE COALITION. THE MARXIST GROUP IS EVEN MORE OPPOSED TO PRIVATIZATION AND MARKET BASED REFORM THAN MR. MILOSEVIC'S SOCIALISTS.

HERE IN MONTENEGRO, AS IN SERBIA, THE OPPOSITION IS CHARGING VOTING IRREGULARITIES.

AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER TEAM WILL NOT ISSUE ITS REPORT FOR ANOTHER WEEK. BUT SOME U-S ELECTION OBSERVERS REPORTED PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SERBIAN CITY OF NIS. A U-S EMBASSY STATEMENT SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE ELECTION DID NOTHING TO ALLAY THOSE CONCERNS.

THE STATEMENT CALLED ATTENTION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL OF THE MEDIA, WHICH PREVENTED THE OPPOSITION FROM GETTING ITS MESSAGE OUT. VOTER TURNOUT WAS PUT AT MORE THAN 60-PERCENT.

OPPOSITION POLITICIANS ARE CRITICAL OF THE ELECTION BOYCOTT BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. THEY SAY THE BOYCOTT PLAYED INTO THE HANDS OF MR. MILOSEVIC AND GREATLY INCREASED HIS COALITION'S SHARE OF THE VOTE. OPPOSITION PARTIES ALSO ALLEGE WESTERN COUNTRIES FAILED TO MOUNT A FULL SCALE VOTE MONITORING EFFORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE MR. MILOSEVIC THEIR PARTNER IN BRINGING PEACE TO THE BALKANS AND PRIVATELY WANTED HIS COALITION TO WIN. THESE CHARGES ARE VIGOROUSLY REJECTED BY WESTERN DIPLOMATS.

IN THE ADRIATIC PORT TOWN OF BAR, THE WATERFRONT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE NOW THAT SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN ENDED AND FULL FERRY SERVICE TO ITALY HAS BEEN RESTORED. NONETHELESS, WAGES REMAIN LOW AND UN-EMPLOYMENT VERY HIGH. WHILE PEOPLE EXPRESS RELIEF THAT THERE IS NO FIGHTING IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA, THERE IS LITTLE EXPECTATION OF SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC RECOVERY OR AN END TO THE INFORMAL CONTROLS THAT LIMIT POLITICAL DEBATE. (SIGNED)
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06-Nov-96 7:37 AM EST (1237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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