Voice of America, 97-01-15

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BELGRADE ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

[03] BULGARIA / DOCTORS BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

[04] BULGARIA PROTESTS (L) BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[06] SERBIA / DISMISSALS (S-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

[07] TURKEY/CILLER (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[08] U-S / BOSNIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: SCANNING THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SEVERAL OF THE NATION'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY, YOU SEE A NUMBER OF EDITORIALS REGARDING THE ETHICS INVESTIGATION OF HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE EARLY REACTION TO THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PACT ON HEBRON; THE STATE OF RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA AS WE NEAR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT FILED BY PAULA JONES AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON.

NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE ETHICS CASE AGAINST HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH HAS BECOME MORE COMPLICATED DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS WHEN IT BECAME KNOWN THAT A FLORIDA COUPLE ACTIVE IN THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, INTERCEPTED A CELLULAR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. GINGRICH AND SEVERAL TOP REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS.

TRANSCRIPTS HINT THAT THE MEN MAY HAVE BEEN PLOTTING HOW TO HANDLE THE AFTERMATH OF A HOUSE ETHICS CHARGE AGAINST MR. GINGRICH, SOMETHING HE HAD AGREED NOT TO DO. THE COUPLE NOT ONLY HEARD THE TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE CAR, THEY ALSO RECORDED IT ALTHOUGH THAT IS ILLEGAL.

THEY EVENTUALLY GAVE THE TAPE TO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE. THE NEW YORK TIMES AND ATLANTA CONSTITUTION GOT THE TAPE AND PRINTED THE CONVERSATION.

REPUBLICANS CHARGED THAT WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBER JIM MCDERMOTT WAS THE PERSON WHO GOT THE TAPE AND GAVE IT TO THE TWO NEWSPAPERS AND THEY DEMANDED HE BE PUNISHED. MR. MCDERMOTT HAS STEPPED DOWN FROM THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. AND ALL OF THIS IS DRAWING A GOOD DEAL OF ATTENTION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS, SUCH AS THIS IN TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "REPUBLICANS HAVE SEIZED ON THE EPISODE TO TRANSFER ATTENTION FROM MR. GINGRICH TO HIS ACCUSERS, INCLUDING MR. MCDERMOTT, WHOM THEY DESCRIBE AS PARTISAN AND UNFAIR. ..... WHATEVER OFFENSE MAY HAVE OCCURRED WITH REGARD TO THE CELLULAR PHONE CALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OFFENSES OF WHICH THE SPEAKER HAS BEEN ACCUSED, AND TO WHICH HE HAS ADMITTED. .... THE SECOND WRONG NO MORE ERASES OR MITIGATES THE FIRST THAN THE FIRST CAN BE USED TO JUSTIFY THE SECOND. .... THE CLUMSINESS - - AND WORSE - - OF SOME OF THE SPEAKER'S ACCUSERS SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE JUDGMENT STILL TO BE REACHED WITH REGARD TO HIM."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE HEADLINES ITS EDITORIAL ON THE MATTER "TWO WRONGS MAKE TWO WRONGS," [ED NOTE: THERE IS AN OFT QUOTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXPRESSION THAT "TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT" [IN OTHER WORDS DO NOT CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. THIS HEADLINE IS A PLAY ON THAT EXPRESSION] AND THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: "THE TALE OF THE TAPE ..... THREATEN[S] TO PROVIDE A MOCKING SUBPLOT TO THE COMING INAUGURAL WEEKEND. .... THE FACT THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS WRONGLY RECORDED DOES NOT MAKE [MR.] GINGRICH'S REMARKS ANY LESS WRONG. THE PUBLIC'S DECLINING RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT SEEMS ALL TOO JUSTIFIED THIS WEEK."

TEXT: BUT AN EDITORIAL IN THE JANUARY 20TH EDITION OF THE WEEKLY STANDARD, A CONSERVATIVE NEWS MAGAZINE, SAYS THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE TAPE RECORDING DOES NOT SUPPORT THE MEDIA HEADLINES WHICH SAY MR. GINGIRICH WAS VIOLATING HIS WORD.

VOICE: "GIVE THE NEW YORK TIMES SOME CREDIT: ITS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO PUMP UP THE GINGRICH 'SCANDALS' VERGE ON THE HEROIC. FRIDAY MORNING JANUARY 10, THE GRAY LADY (TIMES NICKNAME) GREETED ITS READERS WITH THE HEADLINE 'GINGRICH IS HEARD URGING TACTICS IN ETHICS CASE' OVER THE BYLINE OF ADAM CLYMER, THE PAPER'S DESIGNATED GINGRICH HOUND...CLYMER WROTE THE STORY SO ARTFULLY THAT CASUAL READERS MIGHT CONCLUDE GINGRICH COULD BE HEARD VIOLATING THE AGREEMENT. IN FACT, THE TRANSCRIPT PROVED THAT GINGRICH AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE QUITE METICULOUSLY OBSERVING THE AGREEMENT'S JOTS AND TITTLES (MINOR POINTS). THE STORY, IN OTHER WORDS, WAS PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE TIMES SAID."

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD CALLS THE INCIDENT "THE SMOKING TAPE" IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, THEN ADDS:"LYING AND PLOTTING: AN INTERCEPTED CELL-PHONE CONVERSATION SHOWS WHY NEWT GINGRICH SHOULD NOT BE HOUSE SPEAKER." AND THE NEW YORK TIMES MAKES THIS JUDGMENT:

VOICE: "THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE STUMBLED UPON A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC THAT MAY PLAY WELL INSIDE CONGRESS BUT WILL NOT FOOL A PUBLIC GROWN WEARY OF POLITICIANS WHO WILL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO AVOID FULL DISCLOSURE. HAVING DESTROYED ANY SEMBLANCE OF ORDER IN THE ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONDUCT OF SPEAKER ... GINGRICH, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP NOW ATTEMPTS TO CLOUD THE ISSUE FURTHER BY ATTACKING THOSE WHO HAVE COME FORWARD WITH AN AUDIO TAPE IN WHICH MR. GINGRICH AND HIS COLLEAGUES DISCUSSED WAYS TO LIMIT THE POLITICAL DAMAGE. ..... BUT THESE ISSUES .... ARE FOR ANOTHER DAY. THE CENTRAL MATTER BEFORE THE HOUSE AND NATION IS THE NATURE OF MR. GINGRICH'S VIOLATIONS AND THE PUNISHMENT HE MUST BEAR. TRY AS THEY MIGHT, THE REPUBLICANS CANNOT DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM THOSE QUESTIONS."

TEXT: TURNING OVERSEAS, THERE IS SOME EARLY REACTION TO THE PACT ON ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM HEBRON, ALTHOUGH THE SIGNING CAME VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WEDNESDAY, EAST COAST TIME, LIMITING PAPERS ABILITY TO RESPOND. ON LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY NOTES:

VOICE: "SIGHS OF EXHAUSTED RELIEF SHOULD GO UP THROUGHOUT THE MIDEAST AND IN WASHINGTON NOW THAT ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS HAVE CLOSED A DEAL ON THE REDEPLOYMENT OF ISRAELI TROOPS FROM THE WEST BANK CITY OF HEBRON. IT'S A GOOD AGREEMENT, BASED ON CAUTIOUS COMPROMISES THAT SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO RATIONAL PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES. BUT IT'S NOT SO MUCH A BREAKTHROUGH AS THE ELIMINATION OF JUST ONE MORE OBSTACLE ON THE LONG ROAD TO A DEFINITIVE MIDEAST PEACE AGREEMENT."

TEXT: IN THE SOUTH, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION HAILS THE AGREEMENT AS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL NOTE WORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT WITHIN THE PAST FEW DAYS FOR U-S DIPLOMATS.

VOICE: "AMERICAN FOREIGN-POLICY MACHINERY HAS BEEN HUMMING AND IS HAVING A VERY PRODUCTIVE WEEK. THE HAPPIEST TURN OF EVENTS IS THE AGREEMENT AT LAST BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS OVER ..... HEBRON AND A SCHEDULE FOR WITHDRAWALS ELSEWHERE ON THE WEST BANK. ..... U-S INTERVENTION ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE PAID DIVIDENDS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CYPRUS, SPLIT SINCE 1974 INTO A MOSTLY GREEK CYPRIOT REPUBLIC AND A TURKISH-OCCUPIED SECTOR. BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN UP IN ARMS [ALARMED] SINCE THE CYPRIOTS ANNOUNCED A DEAL .... TO BUY RUSSIAN SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES AND TURKEY COUNTERED WITH A THREAT TO ATTACK IF CYPRUS SET UP AN AIR-DEFENSE SYSTEM. LUCKILY, A U-S TROUBLE-SHOOTING DIPLOMAT WAS ABLE TO PERSUADE BOTH SIDES TO .....REDUCE TENSION ON THE ISLAND. WASHINGTON WAS MUCH MORE IN THE BACKGROUND IN BELGRADE, BUT ALSO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MUCH-DISPUTED MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS."

TEXT: RETURNING TO THE HEBRON DEAL, THE BOSTON GLOBE ADDS:

VOICE: "THE CRUCIAL ELEMENT OF THE NEW DEAL .... LIES NOT IN THE MINUTIA OF THEIR SECURITY ARRANGEMENT FOR HEBRON, BUT IN THE 'NOTE FOR THE RECORD' THAT ACCOMPANIES THE ... AGREEMENT. IN [IT] ..... [MR.] ARAFAT COMMITS HIS SIERE TO MEET SEVERAL OF [PRIME MINISTER] NETANYAHU'S SECURITY DEMANDS AND [MR.] NETANYAHU PLEDGES THAT ISRAEL WILL, WITHIN TWO MONTHS, COMMENCE REDEPLOYMENT FROM RURAL AREAS OF THE WEST BANK AND ENTER FINAL-STATUS TALKS. ... IF EACH SIDE KEEPS ITS PART OF THE BARGAIN, THE PALESTINIANS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR STATE AND ACQUIRE THE SECURITY THAT COMES ONLY WITH COMPREHENSIVE MIDEAST PEACE."

TEXT: STILL IN NEW ENGLAND, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD TALKS OF MONDAY'S SUPREME COURT SESSION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE PAULA JONES SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. SAYS THE PRESS HERALD:

VOICE: "THE CONSTITUTION VESTS EXECUTIVE POWER IN ONE INDIVIDUAL - - THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AT THE SAME TIME, AMERICANS REGARD THEIR PRESIDENT AS A 'FIRST AMONG EQUALS,' A LEADER ACCOUNTABLE TO LAWS THAT GOVERN US ALL. TO HONOR BOTH CONCEPTS, JUSTICES IN THEIR QUESTIONING .... APPEARED TO BE SEEKING A MIDDLE ROAD. .... ONE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW DESPOSITIONS AND OTHER PRE-TRIAL ASPECTS OF JONES' CASE TO GO FORWARD. WITNESSES COULD BE DEPOSED, TESTIMONY PRESERVED AND SEALED UNTIL [MR.] CLINTON LEAVES OFFICE. THEN THE CASE COULD GO FORWARD."

TEXT: THE SAME PAPER, TAKING NOTE OF TODAY'S BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR, NOTES THAT [HE] "MADE AMERICA BETTER," ADDING:

VOICE: "....BECAUSE HE LIVED, AMERICA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AS IT WAS BEFORE HIS SHORT TIME ON THIS EARTH. STILL, AMERICA HAS SO FAR TO GO .....HE LED US, BLACK AND WHITE, OUT OF THE WILDERNESS, BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED THE PROMISED LAND YET."

[OPTIONAL]

TEXT: FINALLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS UPSET THAT THE VICTIMS OF THE HUGE UNION CARBIDE TOXIC GAS LEAK IN BHOPAL, INDIA, IN 1984, ONE OF THE WORST SUCH INCIDENTS EVER RECORDED ON THE PLANET, HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY COMPENSATED EVEN NOW, YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

VOICE: "THE LEAK ... WAS THE WORST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER IN HISTORY, WITH THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL NOW AT NEARLY TEN-THOUSAND. IT HAS ALSO BECOME A CAUTIONARY EXAMPLE OF HOW VICTIMS CAN SUFFER TWICE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE INJURED AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED WAITED A DECADE TO GET FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, AND MANY ARE STILL WAITING FOR MONEY, LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE AND OTHER HELP THEY DESERVE. LAST MONTH THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT REOPENED THE CLAIMS REGISTRY TO ALLOW NEW PEOPLE TO APPLY. THAT MAY CORRECT SOME INJUSTICES, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE...."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME TOPICS FROM TODAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
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15-Jan-97 11:38 AM EST (1638 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

INTRO: IN BELGRADE, EXPERTS SPOKE OUT WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE LEGAL BASIS OF THE CITY ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S DECISION TO RECOGNIZE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN THE DISPUTED NOVEMBER 17TH ELECTIONS. FROM BELGRADE, JULIA GLYN-PICKETT REPORTS.

TEXT: IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OPPOSITION MEDIA, CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGE SLOBODAN VUCETIC DISAGREED WITH THE BELGRADE ELECTORAL COMMISSION ITS DECISION TUESDAY ON THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS NOVEMBER 17TH IN BELGRADE WAS MADE STRICTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.

MR. VUCETIC SAID DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE COMMISSION'S RECOGNITION OF OPPOSITION WINS IN BELGRADE REVEALED, AS HE PUT IT, AN ABSURD AND POLITICALLY DANGEROUS ATTEMPT BY THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP TO MANIPULATE INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION.

JUSTICE VUCETIC SINGLED-OUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E), AS A KEY TARGET OF THE COMMISSION. THE O-S-C-E IS EXPECTED TO COMMENT THIS WEEK ON THE CURRENT ELECTION CRISIS IN SERBIA.

LAW PROFESSOR ZORAN TOMIC ALSO SAID THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS WERE ILLEGAL.

MR. TOMIC STRESSED TUESDAY'S DECISION WAS POLITICAL, RATHER THAN LEGAL. HE EXPLAINED IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN BELGRADE'S CITY ASSEMBLY, THE COMMISSION WOULD NEED TO OVERTURN EARLIER MUNICIPAL COURT RULINGS, AND ONLY THE COURTS THEMSELVES HAD THE RIGHT TO TAKE SUCH ACTION.

OPPOSITION LEADER ZORAN DJINDJIC WAS SIMILARLY SKEPTICAL OF THE COMMISSION'S MOTIVES.

HE DESCRIBED THE DECISION AS A TRICK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE O-S-C-E AND STRESSED THERE WOULD BE NO CAUSE FOR EUPHORIA AND CELEBRATIONS UNTIL THE RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 17TH WERE RE-INSTATED IN FULL.

OPPOSITION LEGAL ADVISER DRAGOR HIBER POINTED OUT THE COMMISSION DECISION COULD BE A POSSIBLE WAY OUT OF THE CURRENT DEADLOCK.

HE SAID THE CURRENT DISPUTE WOULD END IF THE GOVERNING SOCIALISTS DID NOT APPEAL THE COMMISSION DECISION. BUT HE POINTED OUT THIS WOULD BE A POLITICAL -- NOT A LEGAL -- SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

PROTESTS CONTINUED WEDNESDAY ON THE STREETS OF BELGRADE, IN DEFIANCE OF LARGE NUMBERS OF RIOT POLICE. THE GOVERNING SOCIALISTS HAVE 48-HOURS FROM THE TIME OF OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO APPEAL THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION DECISION.

STATE MEDIA REPORTED THE RULING SOCIALISTS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT NOTIFICATION AND LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE DENIED THE COMMISSION'S RIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OPPOSITION VICTORIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JGP/PCF/RAE
15-Jan-97 1:48 PM EST (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BULGARIA / DOCTORS BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

INTRO: DOCTORS IN BULGARIA SAY THE COLLAPSE OF THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS FORCING THEM TO DELAY TREATMENT THAT WAS ONCE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SOFIA, A SHORTAGE OF MONEY AND DRUGS HAS THROWN THE COUNTRY'S MEDICAL SYSTEM INTO CHAOS.

TEXT: DANIEL MINEV HAS BEEN LYING IN A SOFIA HOSPITAL SINCE LAST WEEK, WHEN POLICE BROKE UP AN OPPOSITION DEMONSTRATION AND HE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WITH AN IRON BAR.

NOW UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR A CONCUSSION AND A BLOOD CLOT IN HIS BRAIN, MR. MINEV SAYS DOCTORS HAVE BEEN DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. BUT LIKE OTHER PATIENTS IN SOFIA'S LARGEST HOSPITAL, HIS DIET NOW CONSISTS OF LITTLE MORE THAN THIN SOUP AND BREAD.

IN ADDITION TO A CUP OF BEAN SOUP FOR DINNER, MR. MINEV SAYS, HE GETS SOME SOUP FOR LUNCH AND A KIND OF BREAD FOR BREAKFAST.

BUT MEDICAL EXPERTS DOCTORS SAY THERE ARE FAR MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAN A LACK OF PROPER FOOD.

DOCTOR ALEXANDER TABAKOV -- WHO, AS DIRECTOR OF THE SOFIA HOSPITAL, IS PAID THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 65 DOLLARS A MONTH -- SAYS NEARLY EVERYTHING IS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

IN DECEMBER HE SAYS, A SHORTAGE OF FUEL FORCED A HALT TO ALL SURGERY BECAUSE THE LAUNDRY HAD TO SHUT DOWN.

LESS THAN A KILOMETER AWAY, AT BULGARIA'S LEADING HEART CLINIC, DOCTOR PETER NINKOV SAYS THE SITUATION THERE IS MUCH THE SAME.

WE HAVE THE CAPACITY HERE IN THIS HOSPITAL TO MAKE 600 TO 800 OPEN HEART OPERATIONS AND OTHER GENERAL PROCEDURES EVERY YEAR. BUT THE MONEY WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR WOULD ONLY BE ENOUGH FOR 50 OPERATIONS, NOT MORE.

DOCTOR NINKOV, WHO HAS TRAINED IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE NOW WAITING FOR HEART OPERATIONS THAT CANNOT BE PERFORMED.

BORIS IVANOV, A 50 YEAR OLD ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WHO HAS ALSO BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR INJURIES SUFFERED IN LAST WEEK'S CLASH WITH POLICE, SAYS THE DEMONSTRATIONS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY ARE A MEASURE OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FRUSTRATION.

BUT DESPITE THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BESET THE COUNTRY, DOCTOR NINKOV SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER -- AND NOT ONLY IN THIS HOSPITAL HERE, BUT IN ALL OF BULGARIA -- IS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM. CHANGES ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY -- POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES.

AND LIKE OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN BULGARIA, DOCTOR NINKOV SAYS BOTH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE THERE WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/MMK
15-Jan-97 9:57 AM EST (1457 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BULGARIA PROTESTS (L) BY KYLE KING (SOFIA)

INTRO: FACTORY WORKERS HELD WARNING STRIKES ACROSS BULGARIA (WEDNESDAY) AS PROTESTERS IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF SOFIA CONTINUED WEEK-LONG DEMONSTRATIONS AIMED AT FORCING THE RULING SOCIALISTS FROM POWER. FROM SOFIA, KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: UNION LEADERS SAY WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOOK PART IN THE ONE-HOUR STRIKE, WHICH WAS CALLED AS A WARNING TO THE BELEAGUERED SOCIALISTS. WORKERS, WHO HAVE BEEN HARD-HIT BY THE NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY, ARE DEMANDING THE FORMER COMMUNISTS BOW TO OPPOSITION DEMANDS FOR NEW ELECTIONS. IN SOFIA, STUDENTS, TAXI DRIVERS, DOCTORS, AND OTHER WORKERS KEPT UP THE PRESSURE ON THE SOCIALISTS.

ANTI-SOCIALIST PROTESTERS, WHO MARCHED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND NEAR THE PARLIAMENT CHANTING -- RED GARBAGE, HAVE BEEN HOLDING SIMILAR RALLIES FOR THE PAST WEEK.

A HEAVIER THAN USUAL POLICE PRESENCE FORCED THE PROTESTERS TO CALL OFF PLANS TO DUMP GARBAGE FROM RED BAGS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING.

MANY OF THE DEMONSTRATORS, WHO HAVE BEEN BUOYED BY THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE PROTESTS, SAY THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE MAKING LIFE IN BULGARIA IMPOSSIBLE.

THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS CREATED A VERY BAD SITUATION AND THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE NOW DO NOT WANT MORE TROUBLE AND DO NOT WANT TO LIVE WITH THIS PARTY. THEY WANT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.

DESPITE A WORSENING ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT INCLUDES 300-PERCENT INFLATION, THERE IS STILL NO WORD OF PROGRESS IN TALKS BETWEEN THE SOCIALISTS AND OPPOSITION LEADERS. THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT RESIGNED LAST MONTH.

THE SOCIALISTS, WHO ARE ONLY HALF WAY THROUGH THEIR PARLIAMENTARY TERM, SAY THEY WANT TO FORM AN EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT -- SOMETHING OPPOSITION LEADERS OPPOSE, UNTIL THERE IS A FIRM DATE FOR NEW ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF/RAE
15-Jan-97 12:15 PM EST (1715 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ON KEY MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE WERE MIXED AT THE CLOSE WEDNESDAY. VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE NUMBERS FROM OUR OFFICE IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE MARKETS READ ECONOMIC NEWS DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE DAY AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO BUY MORE SHARES -- BUT AS THE DAY WENT ON, BUYING TURNED TO SELLING, NOTABLY IN LONDON AND PARIS. IN FRANKFURT, PRICES RETREATED FROM EARLY-DAY HIGHS, BUT STILL MANAGED TO CLOSE THE "DAX 30" INDEX OF STOCKS AT A NEW RECORD, UP 39-AND-ONE HALF POINTS FOR THE DAY. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" INDEX LOST JUST OVER 14 POINTS FOR THE DAY AND HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF BRITISH STOCKS WAS OFF JUST OVER NINE POINTS AT THE CLOSE.

THE DOLLAR LOST ABOUT ONE HALF CENT IN VALUE AGAINST THE MARK AND ALMOST ONE FULL CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD CONTINUED TO DECLINE, DOWN ALMOST THREE AND ONE HALF DOLLARS FROM THE TUESDAY FIX, CLOSING IN LONDON AT 354-DOLLARS-15-CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/CF
15-Jan-97 1:15 PM EST (1815 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] SERBIA / DISMISSALS (S-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

INTRO: FOLLOWING TUESDAY'S DECISIONS BY LOCAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS IN (THE CITIES OF) NIS AND BELGRADE TO RECOGNIZE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN THE NOVEMBER 17TH ELECTIONS, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF SERBIA'S GOVERNING SOCIALISTS HAS PUNISHED ITS TOP PARTY MEMBERS IN BOTH TOWNS. JULIA GLYN-PICKETT REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: STATE TELEVISION REPORTED LATE TUESDAY THAT BELGRADE'S MAYOR, NEBOJSA COZIC, HAS BEEN DISMISSED FROM THE RULING SOCIALIST PARTY. THE REPORT EXPLAINED THAT MR. COZIC HAD BEEN SACKED (FIRED), BOTH BECAUSE OF THE UNSATISFACTORY ELECTION CAMPAIGN HE RAN IN NIS IN NOVEMBER AND FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN A RECENT CONFLICT WITH BELGRADE PARTY CHIEF BRANISLAZ IZKOZIC.

MR. IZKOZIC RETAINED HIS PARTY MEMBERSHIP, BUT WAS DEMOTED FROM HIS POST AS LEADER OF THE BELGRADE SOCIALISTS. HE WAS REPLACED BY TOWN PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT, DRAGAN TOMIC.

ANALYSTS POINT OUT THAT MR. TOMIC IS ONE OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT (SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC'S CLOSEST ALLIES AND IS KNOWN FOR HIS HARD-LINE POSITION ON THE OPPOSITION. THE FORMER CHIEF OF SOCIALISTS IN NIS -- MILE ILIC -- WAS ALSO DEMOTED.

THE SOCIALIST STATEMENT MADE NO MENTION OF EARLIER ELECTORAL COMMISSION DECISIONS RE-INSTATING OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN NIS AND BELGRADE. INSTEAD, IT STRESSED THAT IN SPITE OF CURRENT PRESSURE, SERBIAN INSTITUTIONS ALONE WOULD SETTLE THE CURRENT CRISIS.

THE SOCIALISTS HAVE 48 HOURS TO APPEAL TUESDAY'S COMMISSION DECISIONS (RE-INSTATING THE OPPOSITION ELECTORAL VICTORIES). (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/T-BP/RRM
14-Jan-97 8:43 PM EST (0143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY/CILLER (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: A TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY CLEARED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER OF CORRUPTION CHARGES INVOLVING ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD ILLEGAL ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS MRS. CILLER, WHO IS ALSO TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER, WON THE ACQUITTAL WITH THE SUPPORT OF HER POLITICAL COALITION PARTNER, "THE ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY".

TEXT: THE 15-MEMBER INQUIRY BOARD, IN WHICH PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERS FROM THE "WELFARE" PARTY AND MRS. CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH PARTY" (D-Y-P) WERE IN THE MAJORITY, EXAMINED CLAIMS HER MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PERSONAL FORTUNE WAS ACCUMULATED UNLAWFULLY. MRS. CILLER NEVER TESTIFIED TO THE COMMITTEE, BUT INSTEAD SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS WHICH WERE JUDGED CREDIBLE ENOUGH TO CLEAR HER OF GUILT.

OPPOSITION PARLIAMENT MEMBERS EXPRESSED OUTRAGE OVER THE DECISION. SOME TRADED INSULTS AND NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS WITH GOVERNMENT MEMBERS DURING THE INVESTIGATION SESSION. THE OPPOSITION DESCRIBED THE INVESTIGATION AS A SHAM AIMED AT SAVING MRS. CILLER FROM PROSECUTION BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY MRS. CILLER HAS LITTLE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. PARLIAMENTARY BYLAWS PREVENT A NEW INQUIRY ON THE SAME ISSUE FROM BEING CARRIED OUT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR. BY THAT TIME THE CLAIMS CAN NO LONGER BE INVESTIGATED DUE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REQUIREMENTS.

BUT THE ANALYSTS PREDICT MEDIA SPECULATION OVER THE SOURCE OF MRS. CILLER'S ESTIMATED 50-MILLION DOLLAR FORTUNE, WHICH INCLUDES 10-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES, IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE.

IRONICALLY, IT WAS THE SENIOR COALITION ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY WHICH BROUGHT THE CORRUPTION CASES AGAINST MRS. CILLER IN PARLIAMENT LAST YEAR. TURKISH MEDIA HAS WIDELY SPECULATED THE WELFARE PARTY ALLEGEDLY PLEDGED TO BAIL-OUT MRS. CILLER AFTER SHE AGREED TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH THE ISLAMISTS LAST JUNE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
15-Jan-97 11:27 AM EST (1627 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / BOSNIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS DENYING REPORTS IN EUROPE THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTING A DECISION TO AWARD CONTROL OF THE DISPUTED TOWN OF BRCKO IN NORTHERN BOSNIA TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. RON PEMSTEIN HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS DENYING A REPORT THAT A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL HAS PROPOSED AWARDING CONTROL OF BRCKO TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS WHO CAPTURED THE TOWN FROM ITS PRE-WAR MUSLIM-CROAT MAJORITY.

THE REPORT SAYS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM HAS WRITTEN A POLICY STATEMENT URGING THE ARBITRATION PANEL TO GRANT CONTROL OF THE TOWN TO THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE NO SUCH DECISION.

THERE IS NO U-S PROPOSAL FOR A BRCKO SOLUTION. THERE'S NO PAPER BY JOHN KORNBLUM OR INDEED NO PAPER BY ANY OTHER SENIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ADVOCATING A PARTICULAR POSITION BEFORE THE ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL.

U-S OFFICIALS SPECULATE THE REPORT MAY REFER TO A SUMMARY OF POSITIONS AT THE PANEL THAT IS SCHEDULED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF BRCKO BY FEBRUARY 15TH. THE ARBITRATION PANEL WAS THE FINAL COMPROMISE MADE AT THE DAYTON PEACE NEGOTIATIONS THAT ENDED THE WAR IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB / RP / BD/MMK
15-Jan-97 2:49 PM EST (1949 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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