Voice of America, 97-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[02] ALBANIA / POL (L ONLY) CQ BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[03] ALBRIGHT / CROATIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[04] BOSNIAN COOPERATION (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[05] COMPUTERS AND HUMANS BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

[07] GERMANY / IRAN (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[09] NATO AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[10] RUSSIA / NATO / U-N (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[11] THE PATH TO NATO EXPANSION IS CLEARED BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[14] U-S / NATO ACCORD BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[01] ALBANIA / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KOSOVO -- A PREDOMINATELY-ALBANIAN PROVINCE OF SERBIA -- HAS CALLED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PRESSURE SERBIA TO GRANT INDEPENDENCE TO THE REGION. THE APPEAL CAME IN BONN, WHERE A DELEGATION FROM KOSOVO ACCUSED THE SERBS OF TRYING TO DRIVE ETHNIC ALBANIAN'S OUT OF THE REGION. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT OF KOSOVO'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, MARK KRASNIQI, SAYS THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC IS THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR KOSOVO. HE SAYS THE SERB TREATMENT OF THE ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN KOSOVO, PROVES THE CONCEPT OF AUTONOMY CAN NOT WORK.

THE POLITICAL GOAL OF SERBIA, MR. KRASNIQI SAYS, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO AND THE EXPULSION OF THE ALBANIANS WHO LIVE THERE.

MR. KRASNIQI SAYS WHAT WE WANT FROM GERMANY AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS FOR THEM TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERBIA TO SIT DOWN AT THE BARGAINING TABLE AND FIND A SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS.

BALKAN EXPERTS HAVE LONG WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO, WHERE ALBANIAN'S VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SECEDE FROM SERBIA AND YUGOSLAVIA IN 1992.

TO COUNTER THOSE SENTIMENTS, SERB AUTHORITIES HAVE EXERTED TIGHT CONTROL OVER THE REGION.

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ACCUSE THE SERBS OF JAILING DISSIDENTS, FIRING ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM JOBS AND SHUTTING DOWN SCHOOLS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

MR. KRASNIQI, WHOSE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS ARE THE SECOND LARGEST POLITICAL FORCE AMONG THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, SAYS INDEPENDENCE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. (SIGNED)
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15-May-97 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA / POL (L ONLY) CQ BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN MEDIATOR ON ALBANIA, FRANZ VRANITZKY, HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS IN TIRANA ON PROCEDURES FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS DUE TO BE HELD AT THE END OF JUNE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. VRANITZKY MET WITH LEADERS OF ALBANIA'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS WITH OFFICIALS OF MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES INCLUDING THE SOCIALISTS AND PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S DEMOCRATS.

THE SPOKESWOMAN OF THE FORMER AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR SAID THE TALKS HAD BEEN DIFFICULT. THIS WAS MR. VRANITZKY'S SECOND VISIT TO TIRANA IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

OVER THE WEEKEND, HE PUT TOGETHER A SIX-POINT AGREEMENT ON ELECTION PROCEDURES WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY ALL OF ALBANIA'S POLITICAL PARTIES. BUT THAT DEAL APPEARED TO FALL APART ON TUESDAY WHEN MR. BERISHA PRESENTED HIS OWN ELECTION PROPOSAL TO THE OUTGOING PARLIAMENT IN WHICH HIS PARTY HAS A LARGE MAJORITY.

AFTER THE SOCIALISTS THREATENED TO BOYCOTT THE JUNE 29TH ELECTION, MR. BERISHA PULLED BACK FROM HIS PROMISE TO IMMEDIATELY DISSOLVE THE PARLIAMENT AND BEGIN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

A PRIMARY ISSUE IS HOW MANY SEATS WILL BE APPORTIONED ON THE BASIS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND WHAT WILL BE THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL VOTE REQUIRED FOR SMALL PARTIES TO BE ADMITTED TO PARLIAMENT. MR. BERISHA'S DEMOCRATS FAVOR SINGLE MEMBER MEMBER DISTRICTS. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE PARLIAMENT FROM 155 FROM THE CURRENT 140.

A MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE OF SIX-THOUSAND TROOPS IS IN ALBANIA. BUT THE FORCE SAYS IT WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DISARM REBELS OR SEARCH FOR MISSING WEAPONS. THE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN ALBANIA DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. (SIGNED)
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15-May-97 1:50 PM EDT (1750 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBRIGHT / CROATIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC HAS MET SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IN WASHINGTON FOR A DISCUSSION OF CROATIA'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT AND OF THE WAY MINORITY SERBS IN CROATIA ARE TREATED. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS A TOUGH MEETING.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC BROUGHT FLOWERS TO SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TO MARK HER 60TH BIRTHDAY -- BUT THE GIFT DID NOT PREVENT A TOUGH MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO MINISTERS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD MINISTER GRANIC CROATIA MUST TURN OVER MORE CROATIANS WANTED BY THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

WHILE TWO PROMINENT CROATIANS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE HAGUE, SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CITED THOSE WHO HAVE NOT. SHE WAS QUOTED AS ASKING, "WHERE IS KORDIC?" REFERRING TO POLITICAL LEADER DARIO KORDIC. HE IS WANTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR GIVING ORDERS TO ATTACK TOWNS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. MINISTER GRANIC INSISTED MR. KORDIC IS IN BOSNIAN FEDERATION TERRITORY, OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS TELLS REPORTERS THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT EXCUSE.

I CAN'T SAY THAT THE SECRETARY WAS SATISFIED THAT ALL OF HER QUESTIONS HAD BEEN ANSWERED. SHE SENT A VERY STRONG SIGNAL THAT WE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE LACK OF COMMITMENT, FRANKLY, ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA TO FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT ALSO CALLED FOR ETHNIC SERBS FROM CROATIA TO BE ABLE TO RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES.

WHEN MINISTER GRANIC LAUNCHED A VIGOROUS DEFENSE OF CROATIA'S POLICY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SECRETARY OF STATE RESPONDED WITH A DETAILED LIST OF CASES WHERE SERBS IN CROATIA HAVE BEEN BEATEN OR INTIMIDATED BY MOB VIOLENCE.

SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED AT THE MEETING BY JACQUES KLEIN, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, THE AREA WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE RE-INTEGRATED INTO CROATIA AFTER SIX YEARS OF SERBIAN CONTROL.

MR. KLEIN GAVE EXAMPLES WHERE CROATIAN OFFICIALS ARE ALLEGEDLY INCITING ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SERBS. IN THE KRAJINA REGION, RECAPTURED BY THE CROATIAN ARMY IN 1995, REMAINING SERBS HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND FORMERLY SERB HOMES HAVE BEEN RE-OCCUPIED BY CROATS.

SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS CROATIA HAS BEEN WARNED ITS INTEGRATION IN THE WEST IS AT STAKE.

THE SECRETARY DID SAY THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE OVERARCHING FOREIGN POLICY AMBITION OF THE STATE OF CROATIA IS TO BECOME A FULL PART OF EUROPE INSTITUTIONALLY, THROUGH ASSISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS AND OTHERWISE. AND WE SAID WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR A GOOD YEAR AND A HALF ON THAT ISSUE -- THAT WE ALSO SHARE THAT AMBITION, BUT THAT FULFILLING IT WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON THE ACTIONS OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE DAYTON ACCORDS AND, RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE COMING UP SHORT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HOPES CROATIA WILL IMPROVE ITS RECORD AND THAT SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT WILL FOLLOW UP HER MEETING WITH A TRIP TO THE BALKANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (SIGNED)
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15-May-97 5:33 PM EDT (2133 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIAN COOPERATION (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: BOSNIA'S CO-PRIME MINISTERS, MUSLIM HARIS SILAJDZIC SAID THURSDAY HE BELIEVES BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS PROCEEDING SLOWLY TOWARD REINTEGRATION. HE MADE THE COMMENTS AT A GATHERING OF REPORTERS AND BALKAN ANALYSTS SPONSORED BY THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER FOR PEACE IN WASHINGTON. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR WAS THERE:

TEXT: MR. SILAJDZIC, WHO ALONG WITH HIS SERB COUNTERPART IN THE JOINT PRIME MINISTERSHIP (BORO BOSTIC) HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON ALL WEEK PRIMARILY TO DISCUSS INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WITH THAT IN MIND, HE SAID WESTERN CONCERNS THAT BOSNIA IS IN DANGER OF BEING DIVIDED AMONG ITS THREE ETHNIC GROUPS IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

BOSNIA WILL STAY TOGETHER, WILL STAY DEMOCRATIC, WILL STAY MULTI-ETHNIC AND IT NOW SO WITH A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES. THERE IS SLOW IMPROVEMENT THERE BUT THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT AND BOSNIA IS VERY FAR FROM FALLING APART.

HE SAID REPORTS THAT ALL THREE SIDES CONTINUE TO RESIST EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH COMMON INSTITUTIONS ARE TRUE BUT THAT AS TIME GOES BY THIS IS BECOMING EASIER AND EASIER. HE SAID COOPERATION AT THE COMMON INSTITUTION LEVEL IS RELATIVELY GOOD CONSIDERING ALL THE TENSIONS, MISTRUST AND EVEN HATRED CAUSED BY FOUR YEARS OF BRUTAL AND BITTER FIGHTING.

WE ARE ACTUALLY PAST THE DANGER OF BEING DIVIDED, THAT IS ANACHRONICISTIC, THAT'S DONE, WE ARE BEYOND THAT POINT. THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO IMPROVE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. THAT IS, ONE STATE COMPRISING TWO ENTITIES, MULTI-ETHNIC ENTITIES.

MR. SILAJDZIC SAID IN HIS OPINION SERB INTERESTS ARE BEST SERVED IN BOSNIA BY WORKING THROUGH THE COUNTRY'S FRAGILE COMMON INSTITUTIONS. AND HE BELIEVES MANY SERBS ARE COMING TO REALIZE THIS, JUST AS THEY REALIZE, HE SAID THAT PEOPLE LIKE CO-PRIME MINISTER BORO BOSTIC ARE UPHOLDING SERB INTERESTS BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.

IN A SEPARATE INTERVIEW WITH VOA'S SERBIAN SERVICE (THURSDAY), MR. BOSTIC EXPRESSED SIMILAR VIEWS, SAYING SERBS KNOW THAT THEIR ECONOMIC INTEREST IN JOINING EUROPE AND THE WORLD ARE THROUGH BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AND HE SAID SERBS INTEND TO GO THROUGH THAT DOOR. MR. BOSTIC ALSO AGREED WITH MR. SILAJDZIC THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE PROBLEMS BETWEEN BOSNIAN CROATS AND MUSLIMS (IN THE MOSTAR REGION) THAN BETWEEN SERBS AND MUSLIMS. (SIGNED)
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15-May-97 5:56 PM EDT (2156 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] COMPUTERS AND HUMANS BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: A LEADING AMERICAN COMPUTER SCIENTIST SAYS THE DEFEAT LAST SUNDAY (5/11) OF CHESS CHAMPION GARRY KASPAROV BY A CHESS-PLAYING SUPERCOMPUTER IN NEW YORK ON SUNDAY IS SIMPLY EVIDENCE OF SOME VERY IMPORTANT HUMAN PROGRESS ... AND POOR PLAYING BY KASPAROV. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: PROFESSOR CHARLES LEISERSON (LEE-SIR-SON) OF THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY -- M-I-T -- SAYS THAT IT IS HUMANS WHO DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY OF I-B-M'S "DEEP BLUE" COMPUTER OVER GARRY KASPAROV. PROFESSOR LEISERSON IS A HIGHLY REGARDED EXPERT ON CHESS PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTERS.

PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS KASPAROV, THE HIGHEST RATED WORLD CHAMPION IN THE HISTORY OF CHESS, WAS CLEARLY UNNERVED BY THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO "DEEP BLUE" IN THE LAST YEAR. BUT HE SUGGESTS KASPAROV SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO PROGRESS IN THE COMPUTER FIELD.

IT'S NOT AS IF THIS WAS A TREMENDOUS SURPRISE TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE TECHNOLOGY UNDERLYING THE CHESS COMPUTERS, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ADVANCING AT A TREMENDOUS RATE IN HAVING PROGRAMS THAT ARE BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER.

KASPAROV DEFEATED ANOTHER COMPUTER LAST YEAR, BUT I-B-M SCIENTISTS SPEEDED UP THEIR SUPERCOMPUTER AND CHANGED THEIR PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE DEEP BLUE'S PLAY. PROFESSOR LEISERSON, WHO CONDUCTS RESEARCH AT M-I-T'S LABORATORY FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE, SAYS RELIABILITY IS SOMETIMES A PROBLEM WITH SINGLE PURPOSE SUPERCOMPUTERS, BUT NOT WITH DEEP BLUE.

WE SAW A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RELIABILITY OUT OF DEEP BLUE WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO DO WITH ANY SINGLE PURPOSE SYSTEM, TO ACHIEVE HIGH LEVELS OF RELIABILITY.

SOME PEOPLE INSIST ON CHARACTERIZING THE CHESS MATCH BETWEEN KASPAROV AND DEEP BLUE AS A BATTLE OF MAN AGAINST MACHINE. PROFESSOR LEISERSON AND HIS COLLEAGUES DO NOT AGREE, NOTING THAT SO FAR, ONLY HUMANS ARE REALLY CAPABLE OF PROGRAMMING COMPUTERS.

THE THREAT TO HUMANS IS REALLY MINIMAL HERE. GARRY KASPAROV PROBABLY DOESN'T FEEL THIS WAY. BUT FOR MOST HUMANS I THINK THIS JUST SHOWS ... THE FACT THAT A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS CAN GET TOGETHER AND PRODUCE A MACHINE OF THIS CAPABILITY ... SPEAKS TO TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR THE HUMAN RACE.

ACTUALLY PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS GARRY KASPAROV SHOULD HAVE WON THE SIX-GAME MATCH --- IF ONLY HE HAD CONTROLLED HIS EMOTIONS AND DONE HIS HOMEWORK. BUT THE COMPUTER SCIENTIST BELIEVES KASPAROV CRACKED UNDER THE STRESS.

I THINK GENERALLY HE PLAYS STRONGER THAN THE MACHINE DOES. I THINK HE FOLDED. I THINK HAD HE BEEN IN A BETTER FRAME OF MIND AND HAD HE DONE A BIT BETTER PREPARATION AGAINST COMPUTERS ... (HE MIGHT HAVE WON). FOR EXAMPLE HE DIDN'T PLAY OUR COMPUTER HERE AT M-I-T WHICH IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST CHESS PLAYING PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD.

COULD THE CHESS PROGRAM AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY HAVE PROVIDED AN ADEQUATE WARMUP (PREPARATION) FOR KASPAROV? ALL THE CHESS CHAMPION HAD TO DO WAS ASK, PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS, ADDING THAT IN THE MOST RECENT COMPUTER CHESS TOURNAMENT TWO YEARS AGO, M-I-T FINISHED SECOND, I-B-M'S DEEP BLUE THIRD. PROFESSOR LEISERSON ALSO SUGGESTS THAT KASPAROV LEARN MORE ABOUT COMPUTERS AND HOW THEY WORK.

HE CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE GIVE HIM A GOOD SOLID LECTURE ON HOW COMPUTERS PLAY CHESS, BECAUSE THE COMMENTS HE WAS MAKING, SHOWED A COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, OF HOW SIMPLE IN SOME SENSE THESE ALGORITHMS (MATHEMATICAL RULES) ARE THAT ARE BEING USED TO PROGRAM AND WHAT THEIR WEAKNESSES ARE.

KASPAROV'S RESIGNATION IN THE SIXTH AND FINAL GAME GAVE DEEP BLUE ITS VICTORY. KASPAROV ALSO RESIGNED IN THE SECOND GAME, THEN LEARNED HE COULD EASILY HAVE HAD A DRAW. BOTH DEEP BLUE WINS, EXPERTS AGREE, RESULTED FROM KASPAROV'S POOR PLAY. DEEP BLUE INTIMIDATED KASPAROV BY PLAYING MUCH BETTER THAN LAST YEAR AND, BY NOT MAKING HUMAN MISTAKES.

PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS ALTHOUGH THE CHESS MATCH WAS SOMETHING OF A STUNT, THE DEEP BLUE VICTORY IS A TRIUMPH FOR RESEARCH SCIENTISTS -- AND FOR THE I-B-M COMPANY.

I THINK THAT ALL THEY'VE POURED IN, THEY'VE DEFINITELY GOTTEN BACK IN THIS ONE MARKETING VENTURE. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE SPINOFF TECHNOLOGY.

I-B-M HAS SOLD TWO-THOUSAND COMPUTERS OF THE MODEL USED BY THE DEEP BLUE TEAM, BUT PROFESSOR LEISERSON BELIEVE THE COMPANY CAN SELL MORE OF ALL MODELS NOW, THANKS TO THE PUBLICITY. PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS MORE PROGRESS IS AHEAD IN THIS KIND OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING. THESE COMPLEX COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMS, PROFESSOR LEISERSON SAYS, ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE IN HUMAN TERMS.

FOR HUMAN INNOVATORS, THE SCIENTIST ADDS, THAT IS NOT A CAUSE FOR FEAR, BUT OPTIMISM THAT HUMANS CAN KEEP MAKING BETTER AND BETTER TOOLS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/KL
15-May-97 1:13 PM EDT (1713 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED THURSDAY IN TRADING IN MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE SLIGHTLY IN PARIS, BUT WERE DOWN IN BOTH LONDON AND FRANKFURT. IN PARIS, FRENCH SHARES EDGED UP TO A NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGH, APPARENTLY HELPED BY POSITIVE REACTION IN U-S FINANCIAL MARKETS TO INFLATION AND OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS. THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED UP JUST OVER ONE POINT. IN LONDON, PRICES WERE OFF. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS DOWN MORE THAN FIVE POINTS, ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT.

PRICES ALSO WERE DOWN IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 11 POINTS, ABOUT THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR DROPPED IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT ROSE A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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15-May-97 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY / IRAN (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN PROSECUTORS HAVE ISSUED ARREST WARRANTS FOR THREE FORMER IRANIAN SECRET SERVICE OFFICIALS SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE KILLING OF SEVERAL KURDISH DISSIDENTS. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE SUSPECTS HELPED PLAN AN ATTACK AGAINST FOUR KURDISH IRANIAN DISSIDENTS WHO WERE SHOT AT A BERLIN RESTAURANT IN 1992.

LAST MONTH, IN A DECISION THAT HAS STRAINED TIES BETWEEN IRAN AND EUROPE, A BERLIN COURT CONVICTED FOUR PEOPLE, AN IRANIAN AND THREE LEBANESE, OF CARRYING OUT THE ATTACK.

THE COURT ALSO CONCLUDED THE ASSASSINATION WAS DIRECTED BY TOP IRANIAN OFFICIALS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT ALI AKBAR HASHIMI RAFSANJANI AND IRAN'S SPIRITUAL LEADER.

A STATEMENT ISSUED BY GERMAN PROSECUTORS SAID IT WAS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE OFFICIALS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE ORDERED THE ATTACK. HOWEVER, THE STATEMENT SAID AUTHORITIES WOULD CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE ARREST OF IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTER ALI FALLAHIYAN. AUTHORITIES PROBING THE CASE ISSUED A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST LAST YEAR. TWO OTHERS WERE NAMED IN THE NEW ARREST WARRANTS. (SIGNED)
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15-May-97 12:03 PM EDT (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (THURSDAY), WITH MAJOR INDEXES AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: T HE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP 47 POINTS AT A RECORD HIGH 73-HUNDRED-33. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 841, UP FIVE POINTS, ALSO A RECORD HIGH.

ANALYSTS SAY CONFIRMATION THAT THE U-S INFLATION RATE REMIANS LOW RENEWED OPTIMISM THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES AT ITS MEETING NEXT WEEK.

CONSUMER PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT IN APRIL, IN LINE WITH WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS AND ANOTHER INDICATION THAT INFLATION IS STILL NO PROBLEM.

U-S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WAS UNCHANGED LAST MONTH, THE FIRST MONTH IT HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE LAST JULY. ECONOMISTS SAY STRIKES AND AN OVERALL SLOWING OF THE U-S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WERE THE REASONS FOR THE LACK OF GROWTH IN PRODUCTION.

THE FIRST STOCK OFFERING BY THE AMAZON DOT COM COMPANY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, WITH THE PRICE OF AMAZON SHARES SOARING FROM AN 18-DOLLAR ISSUE PRICE TO 30 DOLLARS. AMAZON SELLS BOOKS VIA THE COMPUTER INTERNET SYSTEM AND, ALTHOUGH THE 2-YEAR-OLD COMPANY HAS YET TO EARN A PROFIT, MANY INVESTORS BELIEVE IT HAS AN EDGE IN WHAT WILL BE A FAST GROWING BUSINESS.

THE ONLY U-S TOBACCO COMPANY TO BREAK RANKS WITH THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY IS NOW WARNING THAT SMOKING IS ADDICTIVE. THE WARNING LABELS ON CIGARETTE BRANDS MADE BY THE BROOKE GROUP ARE PART OF ITS AGREEMENT TO SETTLE HEALTH-RELATED LAWSUITS. THE LARGER AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANIES ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT.

THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS INVESTIGATING 19 SMALL INVESTMENT FIRMS ON COMPLAINTS OF POSSIBLE STOCK MANIPULATION AND FRAUD. A SPOKESMAN SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY IF THERE WILL BE ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROBE.

THE LARGEST SINGLE STOCK TRANSACTION IN HISTORY HAS BEEN EXECUTED BY THE GOLDMAN SACHS INVESTMENT FIRM. THE GOVERNMENT OF KUWAIT SOLD TWO-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STOCK IN THE BRITISH PETROLEUM CORPORATION. EVEN WITH THE SALE, KUWAIT STILL OWNS MORE THAN SIX PERCENT OF BRITISH PETROLEUM. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
15-May-97 5:43 PM EDT (2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] NATO AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A WATERSHED AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA, MOSCOW AGREED WEDNESDAY TO THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO EXPAND THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) TO INCLUDE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS.

THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS PORTENDS "THE MOST DRAMATIC UPHEAVAL IN THE 48-YEAR-OLD HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY ALLIANCE", WAS AGREED TO IN MOSCOW YESTERDAY [5/14].

THE STORY LEADS MOST NATIONAL DAILY FRONT PAGES, AND ALSO AVAILABLE IS AN EARLY SAMPLING OF OPINION AND ANALYSIS.

WE TURN TO ______________________FOR SOME EXAMPLES, IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE AGREEMENT CAME AFTER MONTHS OF WHAT THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS "POINTED DEBATE AND PRIVATE WRANGLING". IT SEEKS TO BALANCE SEEMINGLY INCOMPATIBLE GOALS: PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE ALLIANCE'S PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS WHILE PRESERVING THE WEST'S COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA.

THE ACCORD WAS ANNOUNCED IN MOSCOW BY NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE SIGNED IN PARIS ON MAY 27TH.

ITS TERMS INCLUDE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW NATO-RUSSIAN COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES, AND AN AGREEMENT THAT BOTH THE DEPLOYMENT AND STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE THREE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS WHICH ARE PRIME MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATES, WILL NOT TAKE PLACE. THOSE PRIME CANDIDATES ARE: POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES WHICH IS WORRIED THAT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH DEBATE ABOUT THE PROPOSED NATO EXPANSION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THE PAPER POINTS OUT THAT THE U-S CONSTITUTION GIVES THE FINAL WORD ON ALL FOREIGN TREATIES TO THE U.S. SENATE, INCLUDING THE TREATY [N O T YESTERDAY'S AGREEMENT] THAT WOULD FORMALLY EXPAND NATO.

THE PAPER SAYS WEDNESDAY'S BILATERAL AGREEMENT HAS NOT REMOVED THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THAT IT FEELS ARE INHERENT IN THE EXPANSION, AND LEAVES RUSSIA'S SPECIFIC ROLE IN THE NEW RELATIONSHIP "VERY MUCH IN DOUBT.... THE NEW YORK TIMES CONTINUES:

VOICE: "AT BEST, THE ACCORD MERELY PAPERS OVER [AVOIDS] VITALLY IMPORTANT DISAGREEMENTS. BY MASKING THEM, IT MAY END UP EXACERBATING THE DIFFERENCES IN THE FUTURE. FOR ONE THING, THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING ON NATO AND WILL NOT REQUIRE APPROVAL BY THE SENATE. ..... THE ONLY REAL COMMITMENT THE RUSSIANS WON WAS AGREEMENT BY NATO TO CONSULT REGULARLY WITH MOSCOW ON POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES AND TO WORK TOGETHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE ON MATTERS LIKE PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS. EVEN HERE, RUSSIA WILL LACK THE POWER TO BLOCK NATO ACTIONS IT OPPOSES. NONE OF THIS SEEMS LIKELY TO ASSUAGE RUSSIAN CONCERNS THAT A NEW DIVIDING LINE IS BEING DRAWN ACROSS EUROPE AND THAT THIS TIME IT WILL BE CLOSER TO ITS DOORSTEP. IT REMAINS HARD TO SEE HOW THE EXPANSION OF A COLD-WAR MILITARY ALLIANCE WILL HELP CONSOLIDATE DEMOCRACY AND FREE MARKETS IN RUSSIA, WHICH SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF EUROPE AND AMERICA."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST, ON THE OTHER HAND, SUPPORTS THE EXPANSION PLAN, AND REMINDS READERS OF THE RATIONALE FOR KEEPING NATO ALIVE IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA. NATO DID NOT COLLAPSE AS DID THE WARSAW PACT AND HAS, THE POST SAYS, REMAINED A FORCE FOR STABILITY IN EUROPE. IT HAS KEPT AMERICA ANCHORED TO THE CONTINENT, AND ENSURED A GERMANY "PEACEFULLY ANCHORED TO ITS NEIGHBORS."

THERE IS DISTINCT VALUE IN THAT, SAYS THE POST, AND WHEN ONE RECOGNIZES NATO'S VIABILITY, THERE IS "NO JUSTIFICATION FOR EXCLUDING THOSE REBORN DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE". THE DIFFICULT PART IS OF COURSE, THE PAPER CONCEDES, EXPANDING NATO WITHOUT FEEDING LATENT NATIONALISM AND PARANOIA IN RUSSIA.

VOICE: "TO ACCOMPLISH ENLARGEMENT WITHOUT UNDERCUTTING RUSSIA'S DEMOCRATS OR STRENGTHENING ITS NATIONALISTS, WHO STILL SEE NATO AS A THREAT, HAS BEEN THE GOAL OF THE PAST MONTHS OF DIPLOMACY. ALTHOUGH THE TEXT HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND MERITS CLOSE SCRUTINY, NATO AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION APPARENTLY HAVE PERSUADED RUSSIA TO JOIN A NEW CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL WITHOUT GIVING MOSCOW ANY POWER OVER NATO ACTIONS IN NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES OR ELSEWHERE. ENGAGEMENT IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH RUSSIA AND THE WEST, BUT MANY POLITICIANS IN RUSSIA DO NOT SEE IT THAT WAY; MR. YELTSIN DESERVES CREDIT FOR NOT SULKING AND STALKING AWAY, AS THEY WOULD HAVE HIM DO.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NATO, IN YESTERDAY'S AGREEMENT, ACCEPTED NO LIMITATIONS ON FUTURE EXPANSION. THAT MEANS THAT NATIONS THAT WON'T QUALIFY FOR THE FIRST ROUND .... INCLUDING FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS SUCH AS UKRAINE AND THE THREE BALTIC STATES, WILL STILL BE POTENTIAL NATO APPLICANTS. ENSURING THEIR SECURITY REMAINS ONE OF THE TRICKY CHALLENGES AS THIS PROCESS MOVES FORWARD." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN A FRONT-PAGE NEWS ANALYSIS, R.W. APPLE JUNIOR, NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, REMAINS SKEPTICAL AS HE WRITES OF THE ACCORD:

VOICE: "....THE KEY QUESTION IS ONLY NOW BEING POSED: WILL THIS MOMENTOUS DECISION ENHANCE AND ENLARGE THE DEMOCRATIC EUROPE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE HALF-CENTURY SINCE WORLD WAR TWO OR WILL IT DRAW A NEW SCAR-LIKE LINE ACROSS THE CONTINENT, EAST OF THE OLD IRON CURTAIN, AND HINDER RUSSIA'S RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE WEST? TODAY'S AGREEMENT VINDICATES THE INSISTENCE OF THE [CLINTON] ADMINISTRATION THAT IT COULD REACH AN ACCOMMODATION OF SORTS WITH THE RUSSIANS, WHICH ITS CRITICS HAD DOUBTED WAS POSSIBLE. BUT THE JURY MAY BE OUT FOR YEARS ON WHAT THE ACCOMMODATION WILL COST IN OBLIGING MOSCOW TO ACCEPT AN ARRANGEMENT IT CLEARLY DETESTS."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST ALSO RUNS A FRONT PAGE ANALYSIS IN WHICH ITS EUROPEAN EXPERT, WILLIAM DROZDIAK, SAYS FROM BERLIN:

VOICE: "PESSIMISTS, ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN EUROPE, FEAR THAT THE NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL - - TO BE RUN JOINTLY BY THE ALLIANCE'S SECRETARY GENERAL, RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR AND A ROTATING REPRESENTATIVE OF CURRENT NATO MEMBERS - - WILL ENABLE RUSSIA TO OBSTRUCT THE ALLIANCE'S QUEST FOR CONSENSUS ON TRICKY SECURITY ISSUES AND WILL INEVITABLY UNDERMINE ITS COHESION. BUT OPTIMISTS SAY THE MOSCOW AGREEMENT PROVIDES NATO WITH A NEW LEASE ON LIFE AFTER BEING DEPRIVED OF ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR. IF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA EVOLVES SUCCESSFULLY, NATO COULD EMERGE AS THE CENTERPIECE OF A NEW CONTINENTAL SECURITY ORDER AND THE PRINCIPAL GUARANTOR OF EUROPEAN STABILITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EARLY EDITORIAL REACTION AND NEWS ANALYSIS CONCERNING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE PENDING EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE.
NEB/ANG/NL
15-May-97 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] RUSSIA / NATO / U-N (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS KEEPING UP HIS STRONG DEFENSE OF THE NEWLY AGREED SECURITY PACT WITH NATO, SAYING IT WILL HELP IMPROVE WORLD STABILITY. BUT AS V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, ONE OF THE CHIEF ARCHITECTS OF THE DEAL SAYS MR. YELTSIN ORIGINALLY OVERSTATED ITS TERMS.

TEXT: AS THE SECURITY DEAL WAS BEING ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT YELTSIN WAS SEEN ON STATE-RUN TELEVISION PROCLAIMING RUSSIA HAD WON MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM THE NATO ALLIANCE.

IT IS BINDING, MR. YELTSIN SAID, ADDING THAT THE PACT WOULD IN EFFECT GIVE RUSSIA A VETO OVER ANY FUTURE NATO DECISIONS.

THOSE STATEMENTS TOUCHED OFF A WAVE OF SPECULATION ABOUT JUST WHAT CONCESSIONS NATO LEADERS MIGHT HAVE MADE TO SETTLE THE DEAL.

BUT IN COMMENTS TO REPORTERS THURSDAY, RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV CLARIFIED MR. YELTSIN'S REMARKS. AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, MR. PRIMAKOV INDICATED THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAD MIS-SPOKEN.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID, "NOT BEING A NATO MEMBER, RUSSIA CANNOT EXERCISE VETO POWER OVER THE DECISIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION."

THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL SAID HE HAD BEEN FULLY BRIEFED ON THE PACT BY MR. PRIMAKOV, AND EXPECTED IT TO WIN WORLDWIDE ACCLAIM.

IF THE AGREEMENT CONTRIBUTES TO ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, THEN I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD WELCOME IT.

PRESIDENT YELTSIN CONTINUED TO PRAISE THE PACT THURSDAY. IN A TELEPHONE CALL TO GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, HE CALLED THE DEAL A MAJOR STEP TOWARD EUROPEAN AND WORLD SECURITY.

BUT RUSSIAN COMMENTATORS SAY MR. YELTSIN'S COMMENTS ARE INTENDED MAINLY TO HEAD OFF THE EXPECTED BARRAGE OF CRITICISM FROM COMMUNIST AND NATIONALIST LAWMAKERS. THE CHAIRMAN OF SECURITY COMMITTEE IN PARLIAMENT THURSDAY CALLED THE PACT "ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE BETRAYAL OF RUSSIA'S INTERESTS".

BUT A LEADING MOSCOW NEWSPAPER SAYS THE PRESIDENT AND THE LAWMAKERS MAY BE TALKING ONLY TO THEMSELVES. THE NEWSPAPER SEGODNYA SAID MOST RUSSIANS HAVE NO INTEREST AT ALL IN THE NATO EXPANSION ISSUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/KL
15-May-97 12:53 PM EDT (1653 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] THE PATH TO NATO EXPANSION IS CLEARED BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE PLANET, MOST DAILY PAPERS HAILED WHAT SOME ARE CALLING THE "HISTORIC" AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) AND RUSSIA ON THE EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE INTO THE FORMER WARSAW PACT.

MOST DESCRIBE IT AS THE LAST MAJOR HURDLE TO THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE ALLIANCE, WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" WRITES THAT "THE BIGGEST WINNER IS WASHINGTON, WHICH ..... GAMBLED THAT IT COULD SATISFY EASTERN EUROPE'S DESIRE FOR INCLUSION INTO THE WEST WITHOUT OVERLY ALLIENATING THE RUSSIANS."

ACCORDING TO VARIOUS PAPERS, THER WERE MANY OTHERS WHO COULD VIEW THEMSELVES AS WINNERS IN THE DEAL: THE RUSSIANS, THE CENTRAL EUROPEANS WHO HOPE TO ENTER NATO IN THE FUTURE, AND THE WESTERN EUROPEANS FOR HELPING SECURE THE ACCORD."

SOME JOURNALISTS NOTED THAT THE COMPROMISE ARRANGEMENT CAREFULLY SPARED RUSSIA FURTHER HUMILIATION AND SALVED HER PRIDE THROUGH OTHER INCENTIVES SUCH AS ECONOMIC AID AND A SEAT AT THE SO-CALLED GROUP OF SEVEN - - THE WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMIC POWERS.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN RUSSIA ITSELF, WITH THIS REACTION FROM "PRAVDA" COLUMNIST IVAN BOLTOVSKY ANALYZING A ROUND-TABLE CONFERENCE HELD LAST TUESDAY IN MOSCOW ON THIS SUBJECT.

VOICE: "ACCORDING TO THE FORMER K-G-B CHIEF VLADIMIR KRYUCHKOV, NATO ADVANCE AND THE KREMLIN'S SURRENDER LEAD HUMANITY TO A THIRD WORLD WAR. INDEED, THE RUSSIAN BEAR, HIS HANDS UP, IS BACKING DOWN, CONFRONTED BY NATO. STILL, [MR.] KRYUCHKOV DOESN'T SEEM QUITE RIGHT ABOUT NATO ENLARGEMENT THREATENING A WAR. ISN'T THAT WAR ABOUT TO BE OVER?"

TEXT: ACROSS THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL, "NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA" RAN THIS EVEN MORE ENTHUSIASTIC, FRONT PAGE ASSESSMENT.

VOICE: "WHILE A DETAILED ANALYSIS IS STILL AHEAD, [THE ACCORD SIGNING] ... EASILY QUALIFIES FOR A DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS. NOT ONLY DID THEY AVOID GETTING THE TALKS DEADLOCKED - - THIS DANGERPERSISTING THROUGHOUT THE CONSULTATIONS - - BUT THEY COMPROMISED ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE FUTURE ACCORD, SO IT WILL CERTAINLY BE SIGNED BY BORIS YELTSIN AND THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF NATO MEMBER-COUNTRIES IN PARIS ON MAY 27TH. .... THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY AND [MR. VLADIMIR, THE FOREIGN MINISTER] PRIMAKOV PROVED UP TO A RATHER DIFFICULT TASK BY HAVING MET THE DEADLINE AND DEFENDED RUSSIA'S SECURITY INTERESTS."

TEXT: QUICKLY TO CENTRAL EUROPE, WHERE THE GERMAN DAIL,Y "FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU", EDITORIALIZED:

VOICE: "THE PRICE FOR THIS QUESTIONABLE ENLARGEMENT REMAINS UNCLEAR, BECAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO FORCES AND MAINLY THE NUMBER AND MOVABILITY OF RUSSIAN FORCES - - FOR INSTANCE, IN THE CAUCASUS - - CAN BE SETTLED ONLY IN NEW TALKS ABOUT THE CFE TREATY .... RUSSIA'S NEGOTIATING STRATEGY WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE GOVERNMENT IN MOSCOW CONTINUES TO REJECT ENLARGEMENT TO THE EAST .... BUT RECEIVES, NEVERTHELESS, COMPENSATION."

TEXT: WHILE ACROSS THE GERMAN BUSINESS CENTER, "THE FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE" WONDERS:

VOICE: "WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO ACCEPT EVEN MORE STATES IN THIS 'FIRST WAVE,' BECAUSE WE CAN EXPECT RUSSIA .... TO TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER ENLARGEMENTS?"

TEXT: ACORSS THE CHANNEL, "THE LONDON TIMES" SEES IT THIS WAY:

VOICE: "THE DEAL WITH RUSSIA MARKS A PERSONAL TRIUMPH FOR SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA. ....THE DEAL .... HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LESSEN THE STRATEGIC RISK ACCOMPANYING NATO ENLARGEMENT TO CENTRAL EUROPE. THIS, HOWEVER, IS AT SOME COST TO NATO'S COHESIVENESS AS A MILITARY ALLIANCE. THIS COST MUST BE BORNE AS THE PRICE OF AN ILL-JUDGED DECISION."

TEXT: IN FRANCE, "LE FIGARO" OF PARIS SAYS IT IS A TRUE COMPROMISE, WITH EACH SIDE GETTING SOMETHING IT WANTED.

VOICE: "IN THE END, HAVING UNDERSTOOD THAT RUSSIA WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP NATO'S ENLARGEMENT, [MR. YELTSIN] DECIDED TO SPEED THINGS UP. HIS AIM HAS BEEN TO TRANSFORM WHAT HE CALLED 'THE WEST'S GREATEST ERROR' INTO A PERSONAL SUCCESS STORY ..... AS COMPENSATION, HE ALSO WANTED RUSSIA'S INTEGRQTION INTO EVERY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION, BEGINNING WITH THE G-7. HE SEEMS TO HAVE WON HIS WAGER ON BOTH COUNTS."

TEXT: THERE WAS EARLY AGREEMENT THAT A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED IN ITALY, WHERE GIORGIO TORCHIA, WRITING IN ROME'S "IL TEMPO", SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE AGREEMENT .... REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP ALONG THE ROAD OF A NEW EQUILIBRIUM IN EUROPE. THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE IS CHANGING ITS ROLE, APPEARANCE AND GOALS, EVEN THOUGH ITS MILITARY STRUCTURE REMAINS ESSENTIALLY THE TRADITIONAL ONE ... NATO IS BECOMING AN INSTRUMENT TO CONTROL CONFLICTS, A MILITARY ARM OF THE U-N AND AN ANCHOR FOR EASTERN EUROPEAN EQUILIBRIUM."

TEXT: HOWEVER, ACROSS TOWN, IN "LA REPUBBLICA", THAT DAILY'S MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT [ENRICO FRANCESCHINI] ECHOED MANY OF THE SAME DOUBTS OF TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "IS YESERDAY'S AGREEMENT INDEED A VICTORY FOR ALL? .... THE RUSSIA-NATO PACT LEAVES SEVERAL KEY QUESTIONS UNRESOLVED. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS IN THE BALTICS, THAT WILL NOT BE PART OF THE FIRST GROUP OF NATIONS JOINING NATO? WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE APPROXIMATELY 40-BILLION [U-S] DOLLARS NEEDED TO ADJUST NATO TO ITS NEW, EXPANDED DIMENSION? AND, MOST OF ALL, HOW WILL RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT AND PUBLIC OPINION REACT? ....NATO EXPANSION MARKS A TURNING POINT IN EAST-WEST RELATIONS: IT DOES NOT HAVE ITS ROOTS IN RUSSIA'S AGREEMENT, BUT IN ITS [RUSSIA'S] EXTREME WEAKNESS. ...... WAS IT REALLY SO URGENT, AND SO INDISPENSABLE, TO UNDERSCORE THAT [THEIR NEW WEAKNESS] FOR THE RUSSIANS?"

TEXT: IN HUNGARY, ONE OF THE NATIONS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR ITS INVITATION TO JOIN NATO, THE BUDAPEST DAILY "NEPSZABADSAG" HAD THIS REACTION:

VOICE: "THE DEVELOPMENTS MUST BE SEEN AS A BREAKTHROUGH, THE VICTORY OF COMMON SENSE.... RUSSIA IS NOT IN THE POSITION OF CHOOSING CONFRONTATION WITH THE WEST .... AND IT CANNOT FORCE ITS WILL ON THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE, EITHER ..... [MR.] YELTSIN, OF COURSE WILL BE CRUCIFIED BY HIS OPPOSITION, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE. ..... HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO INDICATE THT RUSSIA SUFFERED A DEFEAT BY GIVING ITS CONSENT TO THE DOCUMENT."

TEXT: NEST TO WARSAW, WHERE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON COMES IN FOR SOME PRAISE FROM POLAND'S "GAZETA WYBORCZA."

VOICE: "THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO IS THE CROWNING OF (BILL CLINTON'S) ERA IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, THE FIRST AND ACTUALLY UNDISPUTED EVIDENCE OF THE VICTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE WEST IN THE COLD WAR. ONE COULD EVEN SAY ..... THAT YESTERDAY IN MOSCOW THE WEST CONVINCED RUSSIA THAT IT IS HIGH TIME TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GENUINELY CLOSING THE CHAPTER IN HISTORY TITLED YALTA ...."

TEXT: AND WHAT OF EARLY REACTION IN ASIA. WELL IN TOKYO, THE "ASAHI SHIMBUN" HEADLINED ITS FINAL EDITIONS THURSDAY, "U-S SCORES BIG DIPLOMATIC WIN" WHILE ACROSS TOWN, "TOKYO SHIMBUN'S MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT HAD THIS RESPONSE:

VOICE: "IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT RUSSIA'S INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE WILL DECLINE FURTHER YET. IF [MR.] YELTSIN'S ECONOMIC PLICIES FAIL TO REVIVE RUSSIA, THE CONSERVATIVES ARE SURE TO CHALLENGE THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL CONTROL."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, IN SOUTH KOREA, SEOUL'S "DONG-A ILBO" RUNS THIS APPRAISAL:

VOICE: "NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION HAS FINALLY BEEN ACHIEVED. THE DRAMATIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA WILL BRING ABOUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MILITARY AND POLITICAL CHANGES EUROPE HAS SEEN SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE BERLIN WALL. THE EXPANSION WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE CENTRAL EUROPE COUNTRIES WITH A RUSSIAN SECURITY GUARANTEE, IT WILL ESTABLISH A STRONG SECURITY MECHANISM TO FILL THE POWER VACUUM LEFT BY THE END OF THE COLD WAR."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EARLY WORLD PRESS REACTION TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NATO ON THE ALLIANCE'S EASTWARD EXPANSION.
NEB/ANG/NL
15-May-97 4:08 PM EDT (2008 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS ARE FILLED WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS AGAIN TODAY, WITH NO ONE SUBJECT DOMINATING.

INCLUDED AMONG THE SUBJECTS ARE: THE SIMMERING LEGAL BATTLE OVER DISCLOSURE OF FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S NOTES ON A MEETING WITH LAWYERS; THE AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA OVER EXPANDING NATO; THE ON-GOING ABORTION FIGHT; ISRAEL SHUNS A FORMER LEADER; AND THE STORY OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN COPENHAGEN COMPARED TO APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN NEW YORK CITY.

NOW, HERE WITH MORE IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: OUT IN THE HEARTLAND OF THE NATION, READERS OF TODAY'S OMAHA [NEBRASKA'S] WORLD-HERALD ARE CONTEMPLATING THE MOUNTING LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE COURTS. AT ISSUE IS THE RELEASE OF SOME NOTES TAKEN BY FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AT WHITE HOUSE MEETINGS CONCERNING THE THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR. THE WORLD-HERALD SAYS THE "BATTLE .... COULD REDEFINE [THE] FIRST LADY'S ROLE."

VOICE: "HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON HAS INSISTED ALL ALONG THAT HER LEGAL WORK ON THE ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE SCAM [FRAUD] KNOWN AS WHITEWATER WAS INNOCENT. WHY, THEN, ARE MRS. CLINTON AND THE WHITE HOUSE FIGHTING TOOTH-AND-NAIL [VERY HARD] TO CONCEAL HER ROLE IN WHITEWATER? ..... THE WHITE HOUSE ACKNOWLEDGED HAVING THE NOTES IN QUESTION BUT REFUSED TO PRODUCE THEM ON GROUNDS OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT AND WORK-PRODUCT PRIVILEGES. .... A KEY ISSUE ... IS WHETHER THE FIRST LADY CAN BE CONSIDERED A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL...... [SO] IN HER TENACIOUS FIGHT TO KEEP UNDER WRAPS [SECRET] INFORMATION RELATED TO [MR. VINCENT FOSTER, DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL WHO KILLED HIMSELF] FOSTER AND THE MISSING BILLING RECORDS, MRS. CLINTON MAY YET ACHIEVE HER GOAL OF DRAMATICALLY REDEFINING THE POSITION OF FIRST LADY."

TEXT: BACK EAST, THE WASHINGTON POST AND NEW YORK TIMES ARE ALREADY REACTING TO THE NEW NATO AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA SIGNED YESTERDAY IN MOSCOW WHICH WILL GOVERN RUSSIA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALLIANCE. THE NEW YORK TIMES STILL QUESTIONS THE EXPANSION'S EFFICACY.

VOICE: "... AS MR. CLINTON DECLARES THE IMMINENT ARRIVAL OF A NEW ERA OF PEACE, UNITY AND DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE SENATE HAVE REASON TO WONDER WHETHER NATO EXPANSION IS NECESSARY OR WISE. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DEBATE THE ISSUE BEFORE IT IS SETTLED. .... NEITHER THE AGREEMENT NOR NATO'S INVITATION [TO POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC] WILL REMOVE THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INHERENT IN EXPANSION. RUSSIA'S ROLE ITSELF REMAINS VERY MUCH IN DOUBT DESPITE YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. AT BEST, THE ACCORD MERELY PAPERS OVER [AVOIDS CONFRONTING] VITALLY IMPORTANT DISAGREEMENTS. BY MASKING THEM, IT MAY END UP EXACERBATING THE DIFFERENCES IN THE FUTURE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS MUCH MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE INITIATIVE, AND WEDNESDAY'S AGREEMENT, NOTING:

VOICE: "IT'S WORTH RECALLING THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS EFFORT. WHEN THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS WARSAW PACT COLLAPSED, NATO ALSO WAS DEPICTED AS A COLD WAR RELIC. BUT NATO REMAINS A FORCE FOR STABILITY, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR FIVE DECADES. IT KEEPS AMERICA ANCHORED TO EUROPE AND GERMANY PEACEFULLY ANCHORED TO ITS NEIGHBORS. AND ONCE YOU RECOGNIZE NATO'S VALUE, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR EXCLUDING THOSE REBORN DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, WHICH THE SOVIET UNION FORCIBLY CORDONED OFF AND WHICH NOW WANT TO RESUME THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACES."

TEXT: ON ANOTHER MATTER, THE POLITICAL SQUABBLE IN CONGRESS THAT HELD UP MILLIONS IN FLOOD RELIEF TO THE UPPER MIDWEST, THE POST IS UPSET AT THE TOTALLY UNRELATED MATTERS REPUBLICAN LEADERS ALLOWED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE FLOOD RELIEF BILL. THESE "RIDERS", SAYS THE POST, CAUSED THE BILL TO FAIL.

VOICE: "THE RULE SETTING TERMS OF DEBATE THAT WAS VOTED DOWN .... ALSO MADE, IN ORDER, PROPOSALS TO SET A DATE CERTAIN FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM BOSNIA AND TO PAY FOR PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS IN PART BY CANCELING FUNDS TO DISMANTLE FORMER SOVIET NUCLEAR WEAPONS RATHER THAN CUTTING LESSER DEFENSE PROGRAMS. THE SECOND OF THOSE [RULES] WOULD BE AN ESPECIALLY GREAT MISTAKE, BUT NEITHER IS A DECISION THAT OUGHT TO BE MADE ON THE FLOOR AS A FOOTNOTE TO A [CRITICAL FLOOD RELIEF FOR THE UPPER MIDWEST] BILL SUCH AS THIS."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD CRITICIZES THE LATEST ATTEMPT BY ABORTION FOES IN CONGRESS TO PASS A LAW FURTHER RESTRICTING THE PRACTICE. TWO BILLS RESTRICTING CONTROVERSIAL, LATE-TERM ABORTIONS, KNOWN AS "PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS", ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEBATED IN THE SENATE. SAYS THE PRESS HERALD:

VOICE: "ONE EITHER SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM OR ONE DOES NOT. ONE EITHER BELIEVES ABORTION IS A MEDICAL DECISION TO BE MADE BY A WOMAN, HER DOCTOR AND HER FAMILY, INSTEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT, OR ONE DOES NOT. ONE EITHER SUPPORTS THE U-S SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN ROE VERSUS WADE [THE 1973 DECISION MAKING ABORTION LEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY] THAT ABORTION MAY BE BANNED AFTER THE POINT OF VIABILITY ONLY IF AN EXCEPTION IS MADE FOR CASES IN WHICH THE WOMAN'S LIFE OR HEALTH IS AT RISK - - OR ONE DOES NOT."

TEXT: AND THE PAPER CRITICIZES THE PRESIDENT FOR SUPPORTING THE LATEST EFFORT AT RESTRICTING ABORTIONS. BUT WRITING ON THE EVE OF THE SENATE PARTIAL-ABORTION DEBATE, THE WASHINGTON TIMES SAYS THAT SUPPORT FOR PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS HAS BEEN BASED ON MISREPRESENTATIONS.

VOICE: "IT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE, AS OPPONENTS OF THE BAN HAVE INSISTED, THAT THE PROCEDURE IS RARE AND USED ONLY IN EMERGENCIES. IN FACT, [RON FITZSIMMONS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COALITION OF ABORTION PROVIDERS] WROTE IN AN AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION, THOUSANDS OF PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED IN THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR, WITH HEALTHY BABIES....WHEN THE BILL WAS REINTRODUCED, AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT THE FIRST TIME SHOWED SIGNS OF RECONSIDERING IN LIGHT OF THE NOW-OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED TRUTH THAT PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION IS NEITHER RARE NOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE IS SURPRISED AND SADDENED BY THE ISRAEL'S LABOR PARTY TO ABRUPTLY END THE POLITICAL CAREER OF ITS ELDER STATESMAN AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER, SHIMON PERES.

VOICE: "BY DENYING [MR.] PERES EVEN A FIGUREHEAD POSITION AS PRESIDENT OF THE PARTY HE LED IN POWER AND OUT, LABOR SOUGHT TO PREPARE ITSELF FOR NEW LEADERSHIP AND A NEW COURSE. .... SUCH A CASTING OFF OF YESTERDAY'S CHIEFTAINS CAN BE ONE OF THE PARADOXICAL STRENGTHS OF A DEMOCRACY.... BUT THE VISIONARY QUALITY OF HIS STATECRAFT IS AUTHENTIC, AND HIS COMPATRIOTS ARE IN DIRE NEED OF LEADERS LIKE [MR.] PERES WHO, IN THE MANNER OF CHESS MASTERS, ARE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE LOOK OF THE BOARD SEVERAL MOVES INTO THE FUTURE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY THE CASE OF THE DANISH WOMAN AND HER AMERICAN BOYFRIEND DRINKING IN A NEW YORK CITY CAFE WHILE THEY LEFT THEIR BABY IN HER STROLLER JUST OUTSIDE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, THEN ARRIVED AND TOOK THE BABY TO CHILD WELFARE AUTHORITIES. THEY ALSO ARRESTED THE COUPLE FOR CHILD NEGLECT. SAYS TODAY'S ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL:

VOICE: "TALK ABOUT CULTURE SHOCK. A DANISH COUPLE WAS THROWN INTO JAIL FOR TWO NIGHTS, AND THEIR SCREAMING TODDLER WAS RIPPED FROM THEIR ARMS BY POLICE - - ALL BECAUSE THEY DID WHAT IS QUITE COMMON IN THEIR NATIVE LAND. IN DENMARK, IT'S PERFECTLY REASONABLE FOR PARENTS TO LEAVE THEIR SMALL CHILDREN SNOOZING IN STROLLERS OUTSIDE RESTAURANTS ..... THERE WAS ONLY ONE PROBLEM: THEY WEREN'T IN DENMARK. THEY WERE IN NEW YORK ....NO PEOPLE IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS [SANE] WOULD LEAVE AN UNATTENDED CHILD ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY. IT JUST ISN'T DONE. THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THOUGH, APPEARED TO INVOLVE A CLASH OF CULTURES. A SIMPLE EXPLANATION BY POLICE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED IN NEW YORK CITY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SUFFICED."

TEXT: BUT THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS REMINDS ITS READERS:

VOICE: "BEFORE YOU START CONDEMNING THE POLICE AND THE CHILD WELFARE AUTHORITIES FOR OVERREACTING, THERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. NAMELY, THAT THIS TIME, THE SYSTEM WORKED. ORDINARY NEW YORKERS GOT INVOLVED, THE COPS CAME, OFFICIALS MOVED IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT THE CHILD. EVEN THE FAMILY COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE OPENED TO THE PRESS. OKAY, THE SYSTEM MAY HAVE WORKED A BIT TOO WELL ..... BUT .... THERE 'S PLENTY TO CELEBRATE HERE. .... IN A CITY FULL OF MAD CABBIES AND DEMENTED VAGRANTS, A LONELY STROLLER IS NO PLACE FOR A 14-MONTH-OLD. [HOWEVER] CITY OFFICIALS .... MIGHT INVESTIGATE WAYS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY. ONE CAN'T HELP BUT COMPARE THE DRACONIAN REACTION TO THIS CASE WITH THE NON-FEASSANCE IN TRULY HORRIFIC CHILD-ABUSE CRIMES."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE END THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SOME U-S PAPERS THIS MAY THURSDAY.
NEB/ANG/NL
15-May-97 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKISH TROOPS KEPT UP THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ THURSDAY. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 50 REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE OPERATION BEGAN.

TEXT: TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF TURKISH TROOPS BACKED BY TANKS, HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS, AND FIGHTER JETS CONTINUED THEIR DRIVE AGAINST ABOUT FOUR-THOUSAND P-K-K REBELS SCATTERED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS SEPARATING TURKEY FROM IRAQ.

TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THE FIGHTING IS CONCENTRATED IN A REGION CALLED SARISVAKLAR, SOUTH OF THE TURKISH BORDER PROVINCE OF SIRNAK. TURKISH TROOP REINFORCEMENTS ARE REPORTED TO BE STILL POURING IN FROM ANOTHER BORDER PROVINCE, HAKKARI. BUT THE PRECISE NUMBER OF TROOPS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION -- DESCRIBED BY IRAQI KURDISH SOURCES AS MASSIVE -- REMAIN UNKNOWN.

JOURNALISTS CONTINUE TO BE BARRED FROM ENTERING NORTHERN IRAQ BY THE TURKISH MILITARY, WHICH HAS DENIED TURKISH MEDIA REPORTS THAT ABOUT 50-THOUSAND TROOPS ARE TAKING PART IN THE ANTI- REBEL DRIVE. ANALYSTS SAY IF THIS FIGURE IS ACCURATE, THIS WOULD MAKE THE OPERATION THE LARGEST MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN MODERN TURKISH HISTORY.

A SECOND FRONT HAS BEEN OPENED AGAINST THE P-K-K BY FORCES OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE K-D-P, WHICH CONTROLS NEARLY HALF OF THE WESTERN PROTECTED KURDISH ENCLAVE IN IRAQ, INCLUDING THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BORDERING TURKEY.

K-D-P OFFICIALS CONFIRMED FIERCE CLASHES WERE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THEIR FIGHTERS AND THE P-K-K IN THE BEGOVA AND DERKAR AREAS NORTHEAST OF ZAKHO, THE MAIN IRAQI TOWN ALONG THE TURKISH BORDER. THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING A 13-YEAR ARMED CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH A KURDISH STATE, CARVED MAINLY OUT OF SOUTHEAST TURKEY AND INCORPORATING BITS OF IRAN, SYRIA, AND IRAQ.

THE K-D-P ACCUSES THE TURKISH KURD REBELS OF SEEKING TO BECOME THE MAIN POWER IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHICH HAS BEEN PROTECTED BY A U-S-LED ALLIED FORCE BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY SINCE THE END OF THE 1990 GULF WAR. FACTIONAL FIGHTING BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND ITS ARCH RIVAL IN THE REGION, THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN HAS ENABLED THE P-K-K TO INCREASE ITS SUPPORT AMONG ABOUT THREE-MILLION IRAQI KURDS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED BY THE SQUABBLES AMONG THEIR OWN LEADERS.

U-S SPONSORED PEACE TALKS TO RECONCILE THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A CEASEFIRE THAT HAS BEEN HOLDING SINCE LAST YEAR. BUT LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED TOWARDS LASTING PEACE.

TURKEY DENIES IT HAS ANY TERRITORIAL CLAIMS ON IRAQ, AND TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER TURHAN TAYAN SAID WEDNESDAY TURKISH TROOPS HAD ENTERED IRAQ FOLLOWING APPEALS FOR HELP FROM THE K-D-P LEADER MASSOUD BARZANI.

THE TURKISH OFFICIAL MAKE THE COMMENT WHILE RESPONDING TO IRAQ'S HARSH CONDEMNATION OF THE OFFENSIVE.

THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID IT SUPPORTS WHAT IT TERMS TURKEY'S LEGITIMATE BATTLE AGAINST A TERRORIST GROUP. BUT IT HAS URGED TURKEY TO KEEP THE OFFENSIVE LIMITED BOTH IN TIME AND SCOPE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
15-May-97 10:23 AM EDT (1423 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] U-S / NATO ACCORD BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: RUSSIA AND THE NATO ALLIANCE HAVE CONCLUDED AN ACCORD ENDING NEARLY FIVE DECADES OF HOSTILITY AND CLEARING THE WAY FOR NATO EXPANSION. BUT THE TWO SIDES APPEAR TO DISAGREE SHARPLY ON JUST WHAT THE NEW "FOUNDING ACT" ON NATO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS MEANS IN PRACTICE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS A REPORT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE ACCORD -- FINALIZED IN MOSCOW AFTER MONTHS OF DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS -- IS AIMED AT EASING RUSSIAN CONCERNS ABOUT NATO'S PLANS TO ACCEPT AS NEW MEMBERS FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE. THE 16-PAGE FOUNDING ACT -- AS IT IS NOW BEING CALLED -- CREATES A PERMANENT JOINT COUNCIL PROVIDING FOR AN OFFICIAL RUSSIAN PRESENCE AT NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

THE NEW COUNCIL WILL BE A FORUM FOR NATO-RUSSIAN CONSULTATIONS ON EUROPEAN SECURITY ISSUES. THIS WILL BE SEPARATE FROM NATO'S NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS THE ALLIANCE'S DECISION-MAKING BODY.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN STRONGLY IMPLIED IN REMARKS WEDNESDAY THAT THE JOINT COUNCIL WILL EMPOWER MOSCOW TO BLOCK NATO INITIATIVES WITH WHICH IT DISAGREES. HOWEVER, PRESIDENT CLINTON -- WHO HAILED THE ACCORD AS A HISTORIC STEP TOWARD ENDING EUROPE'S DIVISIONS -- SAID MOSCOW WILL HAVE ONLY AN ADVISORY ROLE IN NATO AFFAIRS.

NATO AND RUSSIA WILL CONSULT AND COORDINATE REGULARLY. WHERE THEY ALL AGREE, THEY WILL ACT JOINTLY AS THEY ARE DOING TODAY IN BOSNIA. RUSSIA WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH NATO -- BUT NOT WITHIN NATO, GIVING RUSSIA A VOICE IN, BUT NOT A VETO OVER NATO'S BUSINESS.

THE KEY ISSUE IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE FOUNDING ACT WAS RUSSIA'S INSISTENCE THAT THE ALLIANCE NOT MOVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE INTO NEWLY ADMITTED MEMBER STATES.

THE DOCUMENT THAT FINALLY EMERGED REITERATES NATO'S STATEMENT IN DECEMBER THAT IT HAS NO INTENTION, PLAN OR REASON TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEMBERS. IT ALSO REAFFIRMS THE ALLIANCE STANCE THAT IT SEES NO NEED TO DEPLOY SUBSTANTIAL COMBAT FORCES IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT YELTSIN, IN HIS MOSCOW REMARKS, CAST THOSE PROVISIONS AS PERMANENT NATO COMMITMENTS, SENIOR OFFICIALS HERE SAID THE ALLIANCE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE DEPLOYMENT ISSUES IF EUROPEAN SECURITY CONDITIONS CHANGE.

MR. CLINTON, UNDER QUESTIONING FROM REPORTERS, DECLINED TO CONTRADICT PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S INTERPRETATION OF THE AGREEMENT -- WHICH HE SAID PROVIDES RUSSIA WITH AMPLE ASSURANCES ABOUT NATO'S INTENTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE EXPANSION PROCESS:

NATO HAS NO PLANS, NO INTENTIONS AND HAS MADE CLEAR THAT ITS MISSION IS NOT TO THREATEN, CONFINE, OR IN ANY WAY UNDERMINE RUSSIA -- THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PARTNERSHIP HERE BETWEEN A DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA AND THE DEMOCRACIES THAT ARE IN NATO. AND THAT THIS, IN FACT, WILL STRENGTHEN RUSSIA'S SECURITY AND REDUCE THE SENSE OF ANXIETY THAT IT MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE FELT.

THE NATO-RUSSIAN ACCORD IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING, THOUGH RUSSIA HAD BEEN SEEKING SUCH STATUS FOR THE AGREEMENT. BUT U-S OFFICIALS INSIST THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE LEADERS OF THE 15 OTHER NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES, IN ADDITION TO MR. YELTSIN, WILL GIVE IT ENORMOUS POLITICAL IMPORTANCE -- PUTTING IT ON A PAR WITH THE 1970'S HELSINKI AGREEMENTS ON EUROPEAN SECURITY.

THE SIGNING WILL OCCUR AT THE MAY 27TH NATO-RUSSIAN SUMMIT IN PARIS. THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED ONLY SIX WEEKS LATER BY NATO'S EXPANSION SUMMIT IN MADRID -- WIDELY EXPECTED TO PRODUCE INVITATIONS TO POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RRM
15-May-97 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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