Voice of America, 97-05-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-S/ALBANIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] U-S/NATO REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] U-S/ALBANIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AS ALBANIA'S SOCIALIST PARTY MEETS LATER TODAY (SATURDAY) TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO BOYCOTT A NEW ELECTION LAW, MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN-LED MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE ARE THREATENING TO PULL OUT OVER THE BALKAN COUNTRY'S LATEST POLITICAL IMPASSE. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED ITS OWN CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW LAW PASSED WITH NO OPPOSITION PARTICIPATION:

TEXT: THE OPPOSITION HAS REJECTED THE LAW SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA SAYING IT FAVORS MR. BERISHA'S RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY. MR. BERISHA HAS DISSOLVED PARLIAMENT AND SET AN ELECTION DATE OF JUNE 29TH.

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI SAYS BECAUSE THE NEW LAW DOES NOT HAVE BROAD CONSENSUS AMONG ALBANIA'S POTICAL PARTIES, ITALY WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER THE USEFULNESS OF A SIX-THOUSAND-PERSON FORCE SENT IN MARCH TO HELP RESTORE ORDER.

U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS EXPRESSES CONCERN THE LAW WAS APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF THE OPPOSITION. MR. BURNS REFERS TO EUROPEAN MEDIATOR FRANZ VRANITSKY WHO IS LEADING EFFORTS TO END UNREST IN ALBANIA:

THE UNITED STATES SHARES THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF DR. VRANITSKY AND THE ELECTION GAINSMANSHIP BY SOME OF THESE POLITICAL PARTIES IN ALBANIA.

MR. BURNS CRITICIZES ALBANIA'S MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES FOR WHAT HE CALLS AN INSUFFICIENT EFFORT TO REACH A COMPROMISE THAT INCLUDES THE OPPOSITION. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
16-May-97 10:32 PM EDT (0232 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-S/NATO REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES CALLS "IMPORTANT" THE APPROVAL FRIDAY OF A NEW SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA BY NATO'S POLICY-MAKING COUNCIL. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, HOWEVER, AN AMERICAN ANALYST ON NATO SAYS THE KIND OF CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP WHICH EVOLVES BETWEEN THE ALLIANCE AND MOSCOW MAY RAISE QUESTIONS IN THE WEST:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS DESCRIBES NATO'S UNANIMOUS DECISION REGARDING THE SO-CALLED FOUNDING ACT AS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT:

THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR FORMAL SIGNATURE OF THE DOCUMENT BY THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT IN PARIS ON MAY 27TH AND, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE THERE.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND THE EUROPEAN LEADERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO ATTEND.

THE NON-BINDING ACCORD ASSURES RUSSIA WILL BE CONSULTED, BUT NOT GIVEN A VETO, ON NATO DECISIONS. NATO HAS PROMISED NOT TO STATION NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE SOIL OF NEW MEMBER STATES NEAR THE RUSSIAN BORDER.

ANALYST ROBERT ZOELLICK OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SAYS A KEY QUESTION WILL BE THE NATURE OF THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS:

THERE'S SOME ANXIETY THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF NATO AS A DEFENSE AND ALLIED SECURITY ORGANIZATION NOT BE CHANGED BY THAT.

MR. ZOELLICK SAYS IT APPEARS RUSSIAN LEADERS AND NATO MEMBERS HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW OFTEN MOSCOW WILL BE CONSULTED. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
16-May-97 8:18 PM EDT (0018 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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