Voice of America, 97-03-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] A DIFFERENT VIEW ON NATO ENLARGEMENT BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASH)

[03] ALBANIA / NATO (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[04] ALBANIA UNREST (L ONITER) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

[05] ALBANIA UNREST (L) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

[06] DEBRIEFER: TIRANA SITREP BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

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

[08] REBUILDING BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (TUZLA)

[09] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[10] U-S / ALBANIA (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO RECERTIFY MEXICO'S STATUS "AS A LOYAL ALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS" IS DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE OF SOME AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.

OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED TODAY ARE CONDITIONS IN ALBANIA, AND A HOUSECLEANING IN THE CIA.

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

TEXT: LAST WEEK, THOMAS CONSTANTINE, THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, APPEARED BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MR. CONSTANTINE SAID THAT "THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTION" IN MEXICO WITH WHOM HIS AGENCY "HAS A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP." THE WASHINGTON TIMES ASKS: "NOW THAT MEXICO HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN CERTIFIED, WITH WHOM WILL THE UNITED STATES COOPERATE?"

VOICE: "THE MEXICAN DRUG CZAR, AN ARMY GENERAL, WAS ARRESTED LAST MONTH, CHARGED WITH HAVING PROTECTED THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST COCAINE CARTEL FOR SEVEN YEARS. SO UNCOOPERATIVE WERE THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES THAT THEY FAILED TO INFORM U.S. OFFICIALS FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS AFTER DETAINING THE GENERAL. EVEN AS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WAS DEBATING THE STATUS OF MEXICO'S CERTIFICATION...THE CHIEF MONEY LAUNDERER OF ONE OF THE NATION'S BIGGEST COCAINE CARTELS 'INEXPLICABLY' ESCAPED POLICE CUSTODY, A FACT MEXICAN AUTHORITIES FAILED TO MAKE PUBLIC UNTIL HOURS AFTER THE PRESIDENT RECERTIFIED MEXICO. (///OPT///) MEXICO'S DESCENT TOWARD THE STATUS OF A CORRUPT NARCO-STATE SEEMS TO HAVE ACCELERATED OVER THE YEARS. STILL, THE STATE DEPARTMENT CANNOT BRING ITSELF TO DECERTIFY MEXICO'S POLITICAL LEADERSHIP'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS." (///END OPT///)

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL NOTES THAT WHILE THE UNITED STATES RECERTIFIED MEXICO, COLUMBIA WAS DECERTIFIED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW "BECAUSE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER IS SUSPECTED OF HAVING ACCEPTED CAMPAIGN FINANCING FROM NARCOTRAFFICKERS."

VOICE: "THE CONTRAST BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND MEXICO IS INSTRUCTIVE. COLOMBIA IS A SMALL COUNTRY OF 38 MILLION, GEOGRAPHICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. LOGICALLY, THE U.S. CAN THREATEN TO LIMIT ACCESS TO U.S. MARKETS AND GET SOME PRETTY GOOD LEVERAGE. TURN TO MEXICO, INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS A NARCOTICS THREAT, BUT ALSO A COUNTRY OF 95 MILLION, IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR A $50 BILLION BAILOUT DURING THE PESO CRISIS, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST TRADING PARTNERS, AND ATTACHED AT THE HIP FOR 2,000 MILES. IT'S NOT SO EASY TO THREATEN MEXICO WITH DECERTIFICATION AND GET AWAY WITH IT. INDEED, WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT? (///OPT///) OF COURSE, IN MEXICO, AS IN COLOMBIA BEFORE, THE PULLULATING POISON OF ILLEGAL DRUG PROFITS HAS INFILTRATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE ARMY, THE JUDICIARY AND PROSECUTORS TO THE POINT WHERE NEITHER MEXICANS NOR AMERICANS KNOW WHOM TO TRUST. BUT THREATENING TO PUT MEXICO IN THE DOGHOUSE (ACT NEGATIVELY AGAINST MEXICO) WON'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS SYMBOLIC ACTION IS WORTH THE PRICE TO THE U.S. IN TERMS OF BAD FEELING AND ULTIMATELY TRADE IF ACTUAL SANCTIONS ARE EVENTUALLY INVOKED." (///END OPT///)

TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THAT "BARELY SEVEN YEARS AFTER IT SHED A FANATICAL COMMUNIST REGIME, ALBANIA VEERS BETWEEN ANARCHY AND A BRUTAL NEW DICTATORSHIP." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS THAT "EITHER WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR EUROPE'S POOREST NATION AND THE VOLATILE BALKAN REGION SURROUNDING IT."

VOICE: "WASHINGTON AND OTHER WESTERN GOVERNMENTS MUST DO THEIR BEST TO BROKER A POLITICAL COMPROMISE AS A PRECONDITION FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL RELIEF. THAT WILL NOT BE EASY. THE MOST PROMISING WAY OUT OF ALBANIA'S DEEPENING CRISIS WOULD BE FOR PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA TO FORM A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT INCLUDING OPPOSITION LEADERS AND PREPARE FOR NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD BY EARLY NEXT YEAR. BUT MR. BERISHA YESTERDAY IGNORED THE WARNINGS OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS AND PROCEEDED WITH HIS OWN RE-ELECTION BY A PARLIAMENT OF POLITICAL LOYALISTS. THAT BRAZEN ACTION IS UNLIKELY TO PLACATE THE THOUSANDS OF ENRAGED ALBANIANS WHO HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO PROTECT THEIR SAVINGS FROM PYRAMID SCHEMES."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, ARGUES THAT WHILE "THE OSTENSIBLE TARGET OF THE RIOTERS' WRATH WAS A GROUP OF STATE-PROTECTED FRAUDULENT PYRAMID INVESTMENT SCHEMES THAT COLLAPSED," THE REAL TARGET "WAS THE STRONG-MAN RULE" OF ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT.

VOICE: "AFTER A MONTH OF PROTESTS, RIOTERS HAVE LOOTED ARSENALS, SEIZED WEAPONS, KILLED PEOPLE, TORCHED BUILDINGS. GREECE AND ITALY ARE TERRIFIED, AS WHEN COMMUNISM COLLAPSED IN 1991, OF HORDES OF REFUGEES. THEY TAKE A SOFT VIEW TOWARD MR. BERISHA. DISTANT REGIMES, INCLUDING THE U.S. ARE TOUGHER IN DEMANDING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS. MR. BERISHA WEAKENED THE MILITARY BUT NOW RELIES ON THE SECRET POLICE FROM THE COMMUNIST PERIOD. HE HAS SOUGHT FOREIGN HELP TO CHAMPION THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE KOSOVO PROVINCE OF SERBIA. BUT NOW HE HAS SHUT DOWN THE SOLE TELEVISION NEWS OPERATION REPORTING FOR MOST EUROPEAN NETWORKS. NEW RESTRICTIONS ARE CLAMPED ON OTHER FOREIGN JOURNALISTS. IT IS AN IRONY THAT THE OPPOSITION MR. BERISHA FEARS ARE SOCIALISTS WHO USED TO BE COMMUNISTS. HE IS ACTING LIKE A COMMUNIST DICTATOR HIMSELF. IN THE INTEREST OF THE DEMOCRACY HE CLAIMS TO ESPOUSE, ALBANIA NOW NEEDS FAIR NEW ELECTIONS AND A FRESH START."

TEXT: THE ORLANDO SENTINEL DISCUSSES THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING CHILE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA). THE FLORIDA NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT THE MOVE "WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE NEXT STEP."

VOICE: "NAFTA HAS CAUSED TARIFFS TO BE REDUCED AND HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATE: THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO.... OF COURSE, DETRACTORS ARE FOND OF DREDGING UP THE TIRED ARGUMENT THAT NAFTA ISN'T WORKING. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULDN'T CONSIDER BRINGING IN CHILE OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY.... ALTHOUGH SOME U.S. JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE OF NAFTA, EVEN MORE HAVE BEEN CREATED.... MR. CLINTON COMMITTED LONG AGO TO BRING CHILE INTO NAFTA. MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY WHEN HE TRAVELS TO LATIN AMERICA IN A FEW MONTHS. IT WOULD MAKE GOOD ECONOMIC SENSE."

TEXT: THE "CIA GIVES ITSELF A MUCH-NEEDED HOUSECLEANING" IS THE HEADLINE OF AN EDITORIAL IN NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY.

VOICE: "IT WOULD BE NICE BUT NAIVE TO THINK THAT A SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY LED THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TO CUT LOOSE 100 FOREIGN AGENTS IMPLICATED IN MURDER, TORTURE, TERROR AND OTHER REPREHENSIBLE ACTS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS PRAISEWORTHY PURGE WAS MOTIVATED LARGELY BY A PRAGMATIC COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: THOSE AGENTS HAD BECOME LIABILITIES. THEIR DWINDLING USEFULNESS WAS OUTWEIGHED BY THEIR POTENTIAL TO CAUSE GREATER DAMAGE THROUGH BAD PUBLICITY TO THE TARNISHED CIA IMAGE.... (///OPT///) WHAT WOULD BE SURPRISING, THOUGH HIGHLY UNLIKELY -- AND POLLYANNA-ISH (TO WISH FOR -- IS IF THE CIA DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH COVERT FOREIGN AGENTS ALTOGETHER). LIKE POLICE IN ANY LARGE CITY RIDDEN WITH CRIME WHO MUST RELY ON UNSAVORY SNITCHES FOR LEADS, ANY INTELLIGENCE AGENCY MUST DEAL WITH DUBIOUS CHARACTERS AS INFORMANTS AND COVERT AGENTS. IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. BUT AN OCCASIONAL SPRING-CLEANING IS GOOD TO CLEAR THE AIR." (///END OPT///)

TEXT: LAST WEEK, OFFICIALS WITH THE GOVERNMENTS CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, ANNOUNCED THE FIRST NATIONWIDE DECLINE IN AIDS-RELATED DEATHS. BUT, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES COMMENTS THAT "THE BATTLE AGAINST AIDS IS STILL FAR FROM OVER."

VOICE: "FOR EXAMPLE, THE CDC STUDY SHOWS THAT THE RATES OF DECLINES IN DEATHS DIFFERED DRAMATICALLY ACROSS REGIONAL LINES AND ETHNIC GROUPS. WHILE AIDS DEATHS DECLINED BY 13% NATIONALLY, FOR INSTANCE, THE DROP WAS FAR SHARPER IN THE WEST (16%) THAN IN THE SOUTH (8%). MOREOVER, THE DROP WAS GREATER AMONG WHITES (21%), THAN AMONG BLACKS (2%) OR LATINOS (105). AIDS ACTIVISTS SAY THAT A PRINCIPAL REASON FOR THESE STRIKING DISPARITIES IS THAT NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE SHARING EQUALLY IN THE BOUNTY OF RECENT MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS."

TEXT: ON THAT HEALTH NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PAPERS OF TUESDAY, MARCH FOURTH.
04-Mar-97 10:07 AM EST (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] A DIFFERENT VIEW ON NATO ENLARGEMENT BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASH)

INTRO: WITH A SUMMIT MEETING OF NATO COUNTRIES SET FOR JULY, THE PUBLIC DEBATE FOR AND AGAINST ENLARGEMENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION HAS HEATED UP SHARPLY. DAVID ABSHIRE, THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO NATO FROM 1983 TO 1987, SUGGESTS THAT THE THREE POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS -- POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC -- BE ADMITTED TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL, NATO'S POLITICAL ARM, BUT NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE MILITARY STRUCTURE OF THE ALLIANCE. VOA'S FRANK RONALDS HAS TALKED TO AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE, WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN WASHINGTON.

HOST: AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE POINTS OUT THAT ADMITTANCE TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL WOULD GIVE THE NEW MEMBERS PROTECTION UNDER ARTICLE FIVE OF THE NATO TREATY, WHICH STATES THAT AN ATTACK AGAINST ONE WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ATTACK AGAINST ALL. BUT, HE SAYS, IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE THE COSTLY OUTLAYS NECESSARY TO BRING THEIR MILITARY FORCES UP TO THE LEVEL OF THE 16 CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE. HE POINTS OUT THAT SPAIN WAS ADMITTED ON THIS BASIS IN 1982, LARGELY DUE TO COST CONCERNS:

TAPE: CUT ONE -- ABSHIRE "MY SUGGESTION WAS THAT THESE FIRST THREE COUNTRIES NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE MILITARY SIDE OF THE ALLIANCE IMMEDIATELY. GET THEM INTO THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE. THAT GIVES THEM THE ARTICLE FIVE PROTECTION, JUST LIKE FRANCE AND SPAIN HAD WITHOUT BEING IN THE MILITARY SIDE, AND TAKE MORE TIME ON THE MILITARY INTEGRATION. IT IS COSTLY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DILUTE ANY CAPABILITIES OF NATO, POLITICALLY OR MILITARILY, AS WE EXPAND. I WANT TO SEE IT AN AGILE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN MAKE DECISIONS."

HOST: JUST LAST WEEK, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM CONGRESS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATED THE COSTS OF NATO EXPANSION AT FROM 27 TO 35 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS. LAST FALL, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF 60 TO 125 BILLION DOLLARS OVER A FITEEN YEAR PERIOD. IN ANY CASE, AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE SAYS, THE BURDEN WOULD BE HEAVY, ESPECIALLY UPON THE NEW MEMBERS, WHOSE ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY. HE IS EVEN MORE CONCERNED THAT ENLARGEMENT WOULD WEAKEN THE ABILITY OF THE ALLIANCE TO MAKE EFFECTIVE DECISIONS:

TAPE: CUT TWO -- ABSHIRE "WHEN I WAS IN NATO, 16 PEOPLE SAT AROUND THE TABLE, TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS. AND THOSE DECISIONS IN NATO HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS. SO WHEN YOU GET TO 19 MEMBERS, AND THEN TO 23 MEMBERS, AND NOW THERE ARE 11 COUNTRIES THAT HAVE INDICATED THEY'RE INTERESTED, YOU GET TO 27 MEMBERS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS THAT CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE IN MAKING SECURITY DECISIONS. SO WHAT WE WILL HAVE DONE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO DESTROY THE GREATEST ALLIANCE IN HUMAN HISTORY, THE MOST EFFECTIVE ONE, THAT PREVENTED WORLD WAR THREE, BECAUSE OF A MISTAKEN IDEA THAT BLIND EXTENSION AND EXPANSION AND ENLARGEMENT OF NATO SOMEWAY IS GOING TO BRING BETTER SECURITY TO EVERYBODY."

HOST: GEORGE KENNAN, THE FATHER OF AMERICA'S CONTAINMENT POLICY, WHO IS NOW 93-YEARS-OLD, HAS RECENTLY COME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST ANY NATO EXPANSION, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE POLITICAL IMPACT IN RUSSIA. THIS IS NOT AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE'S VIEW:

TAPE: CUT THREE -- ABSHIRE "I DIFFER WITH GEORGE KENNAN, BECAUSE HE IS AGAINST ANY NATO EXPANSION, AND I AM VERY MUCH FOR A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THAT EVENTUALLY ENVISIONS EUROPE IN NATO -- IN OTHER WORDS, THESE KEY COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE -- MAYBE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX COUNTRIES -- AS IN NATO, AND EVENTUALLY, EVENTUALLY, IN THE MILITARY SIDE OF IT. BUT I THINK THAT TO KEEP IT EXPANDING DILUTES IT. I THINK THAT THERE ARE VERY SERIOUS GEOPOLITICAL PROBLEMS THAT UKRAINE CONFRONTS, OR THAT THE BALTIC STATES CONFRONT, BUT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF THOSE THROUGH SEPARATE SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND NOT THROUGH NATO MEMBERSHIP."

HOST: DUE TO DECADES OF COOPERATION, AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE SAYS, THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF NATO HAVE TAKEN EFFECTIVE ACTION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND UNITED TO OPPOSE IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT:

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- ABSHIRE "MY CONCERN ABOUT KEEPING A VIABLE COHERENT NATO IS NOT SIMPLY RELATED TO RUSSIA. AFTER ALL, IT WAS NATO TROOPS TRANSPORTED TO THE (PERSIAN) GULF THAT ENABLED US TO WIN THE GULF WAR. THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS OTHER THAN JUST RUSSIA THAT WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE SECURITY OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. SO TO KEEP THAT COHERENT ALLIANCE, CAPABLE OF MAKING DECISIONS, IS KEY TO GIVING SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE AREA, FAR BEYOND THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN IT."

HOST: AT THE NATO SUMMIT IN JULY, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THREE MORE COUNTRIES WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE, AFTER WHICH THE DECISION MUST BE RATIFIED BY 16 DIFFERENT PARLIAMENTS. IN THE INTERVENING MONTHS, THE QUESTION OF COSTS AND MANY OTHER CONCERNS, INCLUDING THOSE EXPRESSED BY AMBASSADOR ABSHIRE, ARE LIKELY TO BE SUBJECTS OF FIERCE DEBATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/FSR/NES
04-Mar-97 8:17 AM EST (1317 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA / NATO (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS A POLITICAL SOLUTION IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS FACING ALBANIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA TOLD REPORTERS DIPLOMACY MUST PLAY ITS ROLE IN FINDING A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN ALBANIA. HE CATEGORICALLY RULED OUT ANY NATO INTERVENTION.

IN ALBANIA THIS MOMENT, POLITICS HAS TO BE DONE AND DIPLOMACY HAS TO BE DONE. IT IS NOT FOR ANY MILITARY OPERATION BY NATO OR BY ANYBODY ELSE. BUT IT IS TRUE THAT QUESTION, PROBABLY, LET US SAY FIVE-YEARS AGO, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSED. NOW PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT IT (MILITARY INTERVENTION) IS A POSSIBILITY, THAT IT MAY TAKE PLACE. LET US MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT NATO IS ABOUT -- NATO IS NOT THE POLICE OF THE WORLD. NATO IS AN ORGANIZATION FOR COMMON SECURITY AND ALSO WITH NEW MISSIONS OF PEACE-KEEPING, PEACE-ENFORCING, LIKE WE ARE DOING, I THINK SUCCESSFULLY, IN BOSNIA.

MR. SOLANA SAID AFTER BOSNIA, EXPECTATIONS WERE RAISED THAT NATO COULD CONTROL AND INFLUENCE PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING. BUT HE STRESSED AGAIN AND AGAIN -- NATO IS NOT THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. (SIGNED)
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04-Mar-97 11:21 AM EST (1621 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ALBANIA UNREST (L ONITER) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S GOVERNMENT HAS EASED SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON MEDIA FOLLOWING THE IMPOSITION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY SUNDAY NIGHT. BUT V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IN TIRANA REPORTS THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY REMAINS TENSE.

TEXT: SHORTLY BEFORE THE CURFEW WENT INTO EFFECT TUESDAY EVENING, ALBANIA'S GOVERNMENT EASED ITS RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN JOURNALISTS.

REBROADCASTS OF WESTERN RADIO NEWS REPORTS RESUMED, AND TELEVISION REPORTERS ARE AGAIN BEING ALLOWED TO SEND PICTURES FROM ALBANIA. LIMITED TRAVEL IS BEING PERMITTED OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL.

WESTERN GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE CIVIL UNREST.

THE TOP EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIAL IN DEALING WITH FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, HANS VAN DEN BROEK, SAID PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SHOULD HOLD EMERGENCY TALKS WITH THE OPPOSITION WITH A VIEW TO HOLDING EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S CREDIBILITY HAS BEEN BADLY DAMAGED BY ITS HANDLING OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS BROUGHT ON BY THE COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

THE E-U IS THE BIGGEST AID DONOR TO ALBANIA. THE 15-NATION BODY IS HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING ON ALBANIA WEDNESDAY AND WILL DISPATCH AN EMERGENCY MISSION TO TIRANA.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAID THE WESTERN MILITARY ALLIANCE DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE CURRENT ALBANIAN CRISIS. HE SAID THE SITUATION REQUIRES A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.

THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA REMAINS CHAOTIC AND POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE. GOVERNMENT TROOPS WITH TANKS HAVE MOVED INTO THE REGION. BUT DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH ARMED PROTESTERS HAS THUS FAR BEEN AVOIDED. THERE HAVE BEEN TENSE STANDOFFS IN SARANDE NEAR THE GREEK BORDER AND IN THE PORT VLORE, A CENTER OF THE PROTESTS. IN TIRANA, MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR CURFEW VIOLATIONS MONDAY NIGHT. NORMAL LIFE HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTED BY THE STATE OF EMERGENCY. BUT SOME BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CLOSE EARLY, AND BREAD PRODUCERS ARE UNDER ORDERS TO MAKE SURE DELIVERIES REACH RETAIL OUTLETS. (SIGNED)
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04-Mar-97 2:15 PM EST (1915 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ALBANIA UNREST (L) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

INTRO: IN ALBANIA TUESDAY, PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA FIRED HIS ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF AS TANKS AND TROOPS WERE DISPATCHED SOUTHWARD IN AN EFFORT TO RETAKE COASTAL TOWNS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF IS GENERAL ADEM COPANI, WHO HAS BEEN PRESIDENT BERISHA'S MILITARY ADVISOR. THE GOVERNMENT IS HANDING INCREASED POWER TO THE MILITARY AS IT ATTEMPTS TO RECLAIM COASTAL TOWNS FROM WHICH POLICE AND ARMY UNITS EARLIER WITHDREW. WITH THE SECURITY SITUATION HIS TOP PRIORITY, PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS ALSO GIVEN EXPANDED AUTHORITY TO BASHIM GAZIDEDE, THE HEAD OF THE SECRET POLICE -- KNOWN AS SHIK.

NEWS REPORTS FROM THE SOUTH OF ALBANIA REMAIN SKETCHY. ARMY UNITS WITH TANKS HAVE BEEN SEEN NEAR THE GREEK BORDER. A NAVAL BASE WAS EARLIER OVERRUN BY PROTESTERS AND TWO TORPEDO BOATS SEIZED.

IN THE TOWN OF GJIROKASTRA, A HOTEL COMPLEX OWNED BY A FAILED INVESTMENT SCHEME HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN LOOTED AND BURNED. LOCAL REPORTERS SAY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH TOWNSPEOPLE ARE ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS SEIZED FROM GOVERNMENT ARSENALS.

LATE SUNDAY, THE EDITORIAL OFFICE OF "KOHA JONE", THE BIGGEST ALBANIAN DAILY AND ONE WHICH IS FIERCELY ANTI-GOVERNMENT, HAD ITS OFFICES LOOTED AND BURNED. F-M RADIO BROADCASTS BY B-B-C AND VOICE OF AMERICA WERE SUSPENDED, ALTHOUGH V-O-A RESUMED LOCAL BROADCASTING TUESDAY.

OBSERVERS SAY PRESIDENT BERISHA IS IN AN UN-COMPROMISING MOOD, ONE DAY AFTER TURNING ASIDE OPPOSITION PROTESTS AND BEING SWORN IN TO A SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM. SOME OPPOSITION POLITICIANS ARE SAID TO HAVE GONE INTO HIDING.

IN WASHINGTON, GRAMOZ PASHKO, A FORMER ALLY OF PRESIDENT BERISHA WHO IS NOW A SCHOLAR AT THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER, BLAMED THE PRESIDENT FOR THE UNREST. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVED TO BE INCOMPETENT IN DEALING WITH THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT TOUCHED-OFF THE UNREST AND HAS LOST CREDIBILITY WITH THE PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
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04-Mar-97 11:31 AM EST (1631 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] DEBRIEFER: TIRANA SITREP BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

INTRO: VOA NEWS CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD IS IN ALBANIA'S CAPITAL, TIRANA, AND DESCRIBES THE SITUATION TUESDAY MORNING.

TEXT OF ENGLISH DEBRIEFER: WELL OUTWARDLY, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD SAY IT'S NORMAL, ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY IF YOU STEP OUT INTO THE STREETS YOU SEE A LOT MORE POLICE VEHICLES CRUISING PAST AND MORE SOLDIERS THAN NORMAL GUARDING ALL OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. AND INDEED, AS I LOOK OUT OF THE BUILDING HERE I SEE SOLDIERS AT THE UNIVERSITY. AND IT'S CASUAL, BUT BENEATH THE SURFACE THERE'S TENSION.

PERHAPS THE MOST PALPABLE CHANGE SINCE THREE WEEKS AGO, WHEN I WAS LAST HERE, IS THAT IN A RICH NEWSPAPER ENVIRONMENT LIKE TIRANA WITH MORE THAN 10 DAILY NEWSPAPERS, THERE'S ONLY ONE AVAILABLE THIS MORNING AND THAT, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IS THE PRO-GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER. THE BIGGEST CIRCULATION PAPER HAD ITS OFFICES RANSACKED AND BURNED ON SUNDAY NIGHT. PEOPLE (MEMBERS OF GENERAL PUBLIC) DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT. THERE ARE SUSPICIONS. AND THE OTHER NEWSPAPERS HAVE DECLINED TO PUBLISH IN SOLIDARITY WITH THAT PAPER.

AND OF COURSE THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR USUAL BROADCAST OF NEWS ON THE VOA ALBANIAN SERVICE AND THE BBC ALBANIAN SERVICE, WHICH ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR IN F-M, REBROADCAST HERE. THEY HAVE BEEN OFF THE AIR SINCE SUNDAY NIGHT.

AND THERE'S, OF COURSE, LITTLE SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THE NEWS BLACKOUT AND THE CURFEW HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT.

LAST NIGHT WAS A KIND OF SURREAL SITUATION. AT DUSK -- LITERALLY, AT SIX P-M -- TRAFFIC HALTED AND PEOPLE VANISHED FROM THE STREETS. AND THIS IS A CITY WHERE VENDORS AND PEOPLE ARE VERY CASUALLY DOING THINGS LATE INTO THE NIGHT, NORMALLY, AND THERE WAS LITERALLY NOT A SOUL, NOT A BICYCLE, NOT A HORSE CART OR CAR, MOVING. AND LIKEWISE, I DIDN'T SEE ANY POLICE VEHICLES CRUISING TO ENFORCE THAT. IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY IN EFFECT. SO THE CITY CAME BACK TO LIFE AT DAWN -- BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE THAN THAT AT THE MOMENT.
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04-Mar-97 5:34 AM EST (1034 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SHARE PRICES ROSE SHARPLY IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK MARKETS SOARED TO RECORD OR NEAR-RECORD CLOSES IN EUROPEAN TRADING TUESDAY. ANALYSTS CITED THE CONTINUING STRENGTH OF THE U-S DOLLAR AND ENCOURAGING DOMESTIC ECONOMIC NEWS.

IN LONDON -- EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET -- THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FINISHED UP MORE THAN 50 POINTS -- ABOUT ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT -- A RECORD HIGH CLOSE.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ALSO ENDED AT A NEW RECORD HIGH -- UP ALMOST 57 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

PRICES IN PARIS FINISHED JUST SHORT OF THE RECORD HIGH SET LAST MONTH -- UP MORE THAN 51 POINTS, ALMOST TWO PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE GERMAN MARK, AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
NEB/JWH
04-Mar-97 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] REBUILDING BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (TUZLA)

INTRO: FIFTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BOSNIAN DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT BROUGHT AN END TO ONE OF EUROPE'S BLOODIEST CONFLICTS IN RECENT YEARS, PEOPLE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR SHATTERED LIVES. AS JULIA GLYN-PICKETT REPORTS FROM TUZLA, AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA IN THE CROAT-MUSLIM FEDERATION, THIS MEANS SERBS, MUSLIMS AND CROATS ARE LEARNING TO LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE, RATHER THAN TOGETHER AS THEY DID BEFORE THE WAR.

TEXT: /// ACT OF SONG "BOSNA MOJA," ESTABLISH, FADE TO ...///

SAFE NOW IN A REFUGEE CENTER IN TUZLA, ONE MUSLIM WOMAN WHO WAS EVICTED BY THE SERB ARMY FROM HER HOME TOWN OF SREBRENICA SINGS OF A UNITED BOSNIA. WITHOUT THAT UNITED BOSNIA, SHE HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF AGAIN SEEING HER HOME TOWN, NOW UNDER SERB CONTROL. BUT WHILE MANY LIKE HER STILL HOPE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DIVIDED BOSNIA, THROUGH ACTION KNOWN AS "ETHNIC CLEANSING," OTHERS LIKE MIRZA KUSLJUGIC, ARE MORE REALISTIC.

THE PURPOSE OF DAYTON WAS TO STOP THE FIGHTING, NOT TO BRING THE JUSTICE.

NONETHELESS, A HALT TO FOUR YEARS OF WAR AND DESTRUCTION HAS ENABLED SOME PEOPLE TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

ALL THESE CHANGES IN THE TOWN, EVERYTHING -- BUILDING, REPAIRING, EVEN IF YOU ARE EVERY DAY IN THE TOWN -- SOMETIMES YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IS NEW, THAT IS BETTER.

MEVLIDA KUNOSIC-VLAJIC IS A BOSNIAN MUSLIM. SHE HAS AN ETHNICALLY-MIXED MARRIAGE. IN TUZLA, SUCH MARRIAGES STILL NUMBER AS HIGH AS 24-PERCENT.

MY HUSBAND HAS A SERB NAME AND MY SON HAS A SERB NAME, MY HUSBAND IS NAMED VLADISLAV AND MY SON IS NAMED BOSKO AND THEY DID NOT HAVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF NAMES BECAUSE OF SERBS NAMES HERE IN TUZLA. AND BECAUSE OF THAT I LIKE TUZLA MORE THAN ANOTHER TOWNS.

LIKE THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN CHILDREN, MEVLIDA'S SON BOSKO SPENT SOME OF THE WAR ABROAD. THE DAYTON ACCORD MEANT HE COULD COME HOME.

I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO SPAIN, OR TO AMERICA, FOR A MONTH YES, BUT FOR LONGER, NO, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR HOME, YOUR COUNTRY, YOU FEEL BETTER.

TUZLA IS THE ONLY BOSNIAN TOWN WITH A NON-NATIONALIST LOCAL GOVERNMENT. DURING THE WAR, THE NUMBER OF MIXED MARRIAGES REMAINED CONSTANT. TUZLA IS ALSO ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING TOWNS WHERE THE MINARET OF A MUSLIM MOSQUE CAN STILL BE SEEN ALONGSIDE THE STEEPLES OF SERBIAN ORTHODOX AND CROAT CATHOLIC CHURCHES. THAT IS WHY MEVLIDA AND HER FAMILY ARE STILL IN TUZLA.

I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE I CAN NOT HEAR NAMES, SERBS OR CROATS NAMES. I AM AFRAID OF THAT.

AS A RESULT OF THE WAR THERE ARE MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND THOUSAND REFUGEES IN TUZLA, MOST OF WHOM ARE BOSNIAN-MUSLIM WOMEN FROM SREBRENICA. ONE OF THEM, SEMSA, HELPS MEVLIDA WITH THE WASHING AND IRONING. SEMSA SAYS THERE IS STILL NO TRACE OF EITHER HER HUSBAND OR SON, BOTH OF WHOM DISAPPEARED IN THE WAR, AND SHE HAS NOT HEARD FROM HER PARENTS IN FIVE YEARS.

SEMSA ADDS SHE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ACCEPT TUZLA AS HER HOME, AND ALL SHE WANTS IS TO RETURN TO HER OWN HOME.

COMPARED TO SEMSA, MEVLIDA AND HER FAMILY ARE RELATIVELY FORTUNATE. THEIR HOME IS IN A TOWN THAT MANAGED TO DEFEND ITSELF FROM ETHNIC DIVISION BY HOSTILE FORCES THROUGHOUT THE WAR.

WE ARE BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE, WE ARE INVESTING IN EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. BUT THESE PEOPLE, THESE REFUGEES, I HAVE TO SAY, THEY DO NOT HAVE FUTURE.

A YEAR WITHOUT WAR HAS SEEN SOME POSITIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS. SIXTY-KILOMETERS NORTH OF TUZLA IN THE INTER ETHNIC BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA AND THE MUSLIM CROAT FEDERATION, A LONG LINE OF CARS WITH MUSLIM LICENSE PLATES STANDS WAITING. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NATO TANKS, WHICH STAND GUARD AT THAT CHECKPOINT, ARE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF CROAT AND SERB LICENSE-PLATED CARS. EVERY DAY, FOR MONTHS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM EVERY SIDE MEET AT THIS FORMER FRONT-LINE, SURROUNDED BY BURNED-OUT HOUSES, TO TRADE AT AN IMPROMPTU MARKET PLACE.

THIS MARKET IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY PART OF THE CIVIL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD.

MEVLIDA'S SERB HUSBAND, VLADISLAV, FOUGHT TOGETHER WITH MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN THE BOSNIAN ARMY TO DEFEND HIS COUNTRY FROM ETHNIC PARTITION BY WHAT HE SAW AS EXTERNAL AGGRESSORS. TODAY, WITH THE COUNTRY GOVERNED BY THE NATIONALIST POLITICIANS HE SAYS STARTED THAT WAR, VLADISLAV HAS LOST SIGHT OF EVER SEEING THAT COUNTRY UNITED AGAIN.

I BELIEVE THAT REALITY IS ... THAT REAL COMMON LIFE TOGETHER IS NOT POSSIBLE ANYMORE. IT IS JUST REALITY THAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE.

THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER BOSNIA'S THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES, ON ALL SIDES, WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT NEW REALITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JGP/PCF/RAE
04-Mar-97 8:25 AM EST (1325 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED REGRET THAT THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT RE-ELECTED EMBATTLED PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAYING IT WILL LIKELY INCREASE POLARIZATION, RATHER THAN LEAD TO A SOLUTION TO THE EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRY'S UNREST. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS AN AMERICAN ANALYST ON ALBANIA QUESTIONS WHETHER MR. BERISHA CAN SURVIVE IN POWER IF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PLIGHT IS NOT IMPROVED:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER THE DETERORIATING SITUATION FOLLOWING WEEKS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS OVER FAILED INVESTMENT SCHEMES. MR. BURNS CALLS PARLIAMENT'S RE-ELECTION (MONDAY) OF MR. BERISHA TO ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM "REGRETTABLE:"

THIS STEP IS LIKELY TO INCREASE POLARIZATION RATHER THAN FACILITATE A SOLUTION. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PARLIAMENT IS BEING USED TO STIFLE LEGITIMATE, FREE EXPRESSION.

MR. BURNS CONDEMNS THE DECISION TO IMPOSE CENSORSHIP SAYING IT CAN BE USED TO REPRESS LEGITIMATE DISSENT. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS TRIED TO BEING THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION TOGETHER, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE HAS OFFERED TO SEND AN ENVOY TO ALBANIA SHOULD ONE BE REQUESTED.

ALBANIAN ANALYST JAMES CROSS (HEIDELBERG COLLEGE, OHIO) SAYS MR. BERISHA'S POLITICAL FUTURE MAY BE LINKED TO HIS ABILITY TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CAUSING THE UNREST:

IF THE PEOPLE ARE PUSHED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE ECONOMICALLY THE REPERCUSSIONS COULD BE DISASTROUS ALSO FOR THE PRESIDENT.

MR. CROSS SAYS A RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT BERISHA MUST NOW RESTORE ORDER AND ADDRESS WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE HORRIFIC ECONOMIC CONDITIONS FACED BY MANY ALBANIANS. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
03-Mar-97 9:59 PM EST (0259 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S / ALBANIA (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS PRESSURING THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT NOT TO USE ITS DECLARED "STATE OF EMERGENCY" TO INTIMIDATE THE OPPOSITION. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: DESPITE ITS CONCERN WITH THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS REJECTING A CALL BY THE NEW YORK TIMES (NEWSPAPER) TO CUT OFF ALL AMERICAN AID TO ALBANIA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF 27-MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT A REWARD TO THE BERISHA GOVERNMENT.

ALL OF THAT MONEY IS DIRECTED NOT TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT OF ALBANIA, BUT TOWARD NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DEMOCRATIZATION, ON THE RULE OF LAW, ON FREE-MARKET ECONOMICS AND ON HELPING INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS, FOR INSTANCE. ALL OF THAT MONEY IS DIRECTED TO BUILDING A DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS WHEN DEMOCRACY IS THREATENED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY, IT IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT. INSTEAD, THE UNITED STATES IS COORDINATING ITS POLICY WITH GREECE AND ITALY TO TRY TO PRESSURE THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ITS OPPOSITION. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/RRM
04-Mar-97 4:12 PM EST (2112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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