Voice of America, 97-05-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS CONCERT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASAVA (ATHENS)

[02] EDITORIAL: NATO-RUSSIA AGREEMENT

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

[04] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[01] CYPRUS CONCERT (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: IN CYPRUS, TWO MUSICIANS -- A GREEK AND A TURK -- WILL GIVE A "CONCERT FOR RECONCILIATION" TONIGHT IN THE U-N PATROLLED BUFFER ZONE THAT SEPARATES THE GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES ON THE ISLAND. BUT ANTHEE CARASAVA REPORTS THE CONCERT HAS STRUCK A NOTE OF DISCORD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDING LINE.

TEXT: ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND GREEK-CYPRIOT AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE CONCERT TO HEAR POP SINGERS SAKIS ROUVAS (OF GREECE) AND BURAT KUT (OF TURKEY).

IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES THE ISLAND'S GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES WILL COME FACE TO FACE IN AN EVENT OTHER THAN WAR.

ORGANIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS, THE EVENT IS DESIGNED TO BOOST CONTACTS BETWEEN THE ISLAND'S RIVAL COMMUNITIES. THE TWO POP SINGERS WILL PERFORM AT AN ABANDONED FOOTBALL STADIUM IN THE U-N POLICED BUFFER ZONE NEAR THE GREEK CYPRIOT CAPITAL, NICOSIA.

BUT WITH ETHNIC TENSION NEAR AN ALL-TIME HIGH, CRITICS FEAR THE CONCERT MAY ROCK THE ISLAND'S UNEASY PEACE.

AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN STIFF MEASURES TO PREVENT NATIONALIST HOTHEADS FROM PROVOKING CLASHES. ROADS LEADING TO THE CONCERN SITE HAVE BEEN SEALED OFF, AND U-N HELICOPTERS PATROL THE AREA AND POLICE PUT UP BARBED WIRE FENCES AROUND THE ARENA.

HARDLINERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDING LINE ARE SET TO STAGE BOYCOTTS. MOST OF THE HOSTILITY, HOWEVER, COMES FROM THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S UPBEAT SUPPORT OF THE EVENT.

GREEK CYPRIOT EXTREMISTS SAY ETHNIC RECONCILIATION IS NOT POSSIBLE AS LONG AS THE TURKISH SIDE REFUGES TO PERMIT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BACK INTO NORTHERN CYPRUS. NEARLY 200-THOUSAND GREEK CYPRIOTS WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AFTER TURKISH TROOPS INVADED THE ISLAND'S NORTH IN 1974. MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS REMAIN IN NORTHERN CYPRUS, AND TURKEY IS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE THE REGION AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/JWH
19-May-97 7:47 AM EDT (1147 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: NATO-RUSSIA AGREEMENT

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

THIS MONTH, AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON A DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA. THE NATO-RUSSIA FOUNDING ACT DEFINES THE TERMS UNDER WHICH NATO AND RUSSIA WILL CONSULT, COORDINATE, AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, ACT JOINTLY. THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IS PART OF NATO'S EFFORT TO ADAPT TO CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COLD WAR.

FOR FIFTY YEARS, NATO HAS BEEN AT THE CORE OF EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN SECURITY. IN RECENT YEARS, THE U.S. HAS WORKED TO OPEN NATO'S DOORS TO EUROPE'S NEW DEMOCRACIES, STRENGTHEN ITS TIES TO NON-MEMBERS THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, AND FORGE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA. THE U.S. BELIEVES THE NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EUROPE'S STABILITY.

AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID, "IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENLARGE NATO, TO MAINTAIN ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE ALLIANCE IN HISTORY, TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA, AND TO DO ALL THIS IN A WAY THAT ADVANCES OUR COMMON OBJECTIVES OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE AND PROSPERITY. WE CAN BUILD A BETTER EUROPE," SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON, "WITHOUT LINES OR GRAY ZONES, BUT WITH REAL SECURITY, REAL PEACE, AND REAL HOPE FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS. A MORE SECURE, PEACEFUL, AND HOPEFUL EUROPE CLEARLY MEANS A BETTER WORLD FOR AMERICANS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY."

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
19-May-97 3:14 PM EDT (1914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL IN TRADING MONDAY IN LONDON. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FOR WESTERN EUROPE.

TEXT: MOST EUROPEAN MARKETS WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF A PUBLIC HOLIDAY. THE ONLY MAJOR MARKET OPEN WAS IN LONDON, WHERE PRICES WERE DOWN SHARPLY AFTER SETTING A RECORD HIGH LAST FRIDAY. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED OFF MORE THAN 48 POINTS, ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MARKET VALUE.

ANALYSTS SAID TRADERS IN LONDON WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES -- AND THE EXTRA COSTS THAT WOULD MEAN FOR BUSINESSES.

BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGHER U-S INTEREST RATES BOOSTED THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND AND ALL OTHER MAJOR EUROPEAN CURRENCIES.
NEB/JWH/RRM
19-May-97 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE FALL OF ZAIRE'S CAPITAL TO THE REBELS OF LAURENT KABILA AND THE MORE PERPLEXING QUESTION OF HOW WILL HE NOW GOVERN THE HUGE COUNTRY, RE-NAMED THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, IS A TOP EDITORIAL TOPIC THIS MONDAY IN THE U-S PRESS.

THE NATION'S PAPERS ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE WELFARE REFORM BILL; SOUTH AFRICA'S QUEST FOR RECONCILIATION; THE MILITARY POLICY ON SEXUAL CONDUCT; THE DANGERS OF CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST; AND EASING CHINA'S FEARS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ____________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL IS CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - - THE NAME MR. KABILA HAS GIVEN TO ZAIRE SINCE HE TOOK CONTROL OVER THE WEEKEND. SAYS THE JOURNAL:

VOICE: "BY AND LARGE, THE AFRICAN CONTINENT HAS NOT BEEN WELL-SERVED BY ITS POST-COLONIAL LEADERSHIP. THERE IS A SENSE, THOUGH, THAT THIS MAY BE CHANGING AS IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT, ESPECIALLY AMONG SOME YOUNGER AFRICANS WHO'VE SPENT TIME ABROAD, THAT THE CONTINENT MUST LIBERALIZE ITS SYSTEMS IF IT IS TO AT ALL CATCH THE CURRENT WAVE OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION. BUT WHETHER MR. KABILA WILL JOIN THIS TREND REMAINS UNKNOWN. ..... HE SURPRISED THE WORLD WITH THE EASE AND SPEED - - JUST SEVEN MONTHS - - WITH WHICH HE MARCHED HIS ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES FOR THE LIBERATION OF CONGO (ADFL) WESTWARD ACROSS AFRICA'S THIRD LARGEST COUNTRY. MR. MOBUTU'S ARMY SIMPLY RAN, LOOTING ALONG THE WAY. ... AFTER SO MUCH ABUSE, MANY HOPE THAT MR. KABILA WILL INDEED INCLINE TOWARD DEMOCRACY AND FREE-MARKET ECONOMICS. THE ALLIANCE'S RHETORIC SEEMS TO INDICATE IT MAY."

TEXT: IN USA TODAY, THERE IS A HOPE THAT DESPITE AMERICA'S LONG-TIME SUPPORT FOR THE DEPOSED MR. MOBUTU, RELATIONS WILL BE FRIENDLY WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: "THE END OF A DESPICABLE ERA IN AFRICA'S THIRD LARGEST NATION PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE U-S AS WELL. AND PERHAPS WASHINGTON WILL GET IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME AROUND. THREE DECADES AGO, THE U-S JOINED WITH BELGIUM AND FRANCE IN GREASING [MR.] MUBUTU'S ASCENT TO POWER SO HE COULD FURTHER THE WEST'S COLD WAR STRUGGLES FOR THE HEART OF AFRICA. IN RETURN, [PRESIDENT] MOBUTU GAVE THE CIA A BASE FOR ITS SUPPORT OF ANTI-COMMUNIST REBELS IN NEIGHBORING ANGOLA. BUT THE PRICE WAS ENORMOUS: BILLIONS IN AID AND A CLOSED EYE AS [MR.] MOBUTU PLUNDERED ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST PROMISING AND RESOURCE-RICH NATIONS. ..... [MR.] KABILA'S UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF HIMSELF AS PRESIDENT, THE ATROCITIES OF HIS TROOPS DURING THEIR SEVEN-MONTH MARCH TO POWER, AND A DUBIOUS COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT A NATION OF 40-MILLION THAT IS KEY TO STABILITY IN CENTRAL AFRICA. THE LAST THING THE PEOPLE OF ZAIRE NEED IS TO SWAP ONE TYRANT FOR ANOTHER."

TEXT: IF MR. KABILA NEEDS AN OBJECT LESSON IN HOW TO RUN A DEMOCRACY, OBSERVERS SUGGEST HE LOOK TOWARD SOUTH AFRICA AND THE RULE OF PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. TODAY'S NEWSDAY (NEW YORK) IS TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.

VOICE: "AFTER LONG AND BITTER WARS, VICTORS TEND TO REWRITE HISTORY TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE BEST LIGHT. THAT'S WHY THE ADMISSION BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS THAT IT COMMITTED ATROCITIES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID COMES AS SUCH A REFRESHING SURPRISE. THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ALONG WITH PLEAS FOR AMNESTY BY 300 ANC MEMBERS, WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING SALVE THE WOUNDS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S CIVIL WAR. [OPT] GREAT CREDIT FOR THIS GOES TO FORMER ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, WHO HEADS HIS NATION'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, AND TO PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA, LEADER OF THE ANC [AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS] [END OPT] ..... THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL DEFUSE CRITICISM BY SOUTH AFRICA'S WHITE MINORITY THAT THE COMMISSION WAS PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN A PUBLIC AUTO-DA-FE OF WHITE LEADERS FROM THE DEFEATED REGIME, WHO WERE OFFERED AMNESTY IN EXCHANGE FOR FULL CONFESSION OF THEIR ACTS OF TORTURE, MURDER AND TERROR."

TEXT: HERE AT HOME, THE DEBATE OVER WELFARE REFORM AND THE IMPACT OF LAST YEAR'S WELFARE REFORM LAW IS CAUSE FOR THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR TO COMMENT:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLEDGE TO END 'WELFARE AS WE KNOW IT' WAS HONORED NINE MONTHS AGO. OR WAS IT? THE PRESIDENT FAMOUSLY ... ENDED 61 YEARS OF FEDERAL WELFARE LAST AUGUST .... BY SINGING INTO LAW GOP-AUTHORED LEGISLATION TURNING OVER TO THE 50 STATES THE TASK OF MOVING PEOPLE OFF WELFARE TO WORK. THEN MR. CLINTON QUICKLY PLEDGED THAT, IF REELECTED, HE WOULD REFORM THE REFORM - - MAKING IT MORE LENIENT. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE LEGISLATIVELY [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ..... SO THE WHITE HOUSE HAS GONE TO BAD [BEGUN] ADMINISTRATIVELY [ITALICS AGAIN] TO HELP DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURES RESIST REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS' REFORM PLANS IN THE BIGGEST WELFARE STATES. RESULT: THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND THE REFORM PROGRAM HASN'T STARTED ROLLING IN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, AND TEXAS. .... LET TEXAS GO AHEAD WITH ITS TEST PROGRAM, AND WE'LL SEE WHETHER IT WORKS WELL OR NOT."

TEXT: THE QUESTION OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY BY UNMARRIED MEMBERS OF THE U.S. MILITARY ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF THE WASHINGTON POST, AS THE AIR FORCE WRESTLED WITH THE FATE OF FIRST LIEUTENANT KELLY FLINN. LIEUTENTAN FLINN, A YOUNG FEMALE BOMBER PILOT, HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF ADULTERY, AND WILL BE ALLOWED TO RESIGN RATHER THAN FACE COURT-MARTIAL. SAYS THE POST, SOME CHANGES ARE IN ORDER IN MILITARY POLICY:

VOICE: ".... IT DOES SEEM THAT THE AIR FORCE AND THE OTHER SERVICES, IN THE [LT.] FLINN CASE AND ELSEWHERE, HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES TO A PLACE THAT IS OFTEN MORALLY INCONSISTENT AND UNFAIR, A PLACE WHERE THE EDICTS ARE ARBITRARILY APPLIED, AND DUPLICITOUS IN THE SENSE THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY BE PUNISHED FOR BEHAVING IN WAYS THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES - - IN THE MILITARY, NOT THE CIVILIAN SECTOR - - GET AWAY WITH AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. [OPT] THIS DILEMMA ISN'T REALLY ABOUT WOMEN IN THE MILITARY .... IT'A ABOUT DRAFTING THE RULES SO THAT EXPECTATIONS ARE RELEVANT TO THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONING AND WELL-BEING OF THE ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN SO THAT THEY CAN BE BROADLY IGNORED AND ONLY FITFULLY AND ARBITRARILY ENFORCED." [END OPT]

TEXT: BUT SYNDICATED COLUMNIST WILLIAM HAMILTON, WHO SERVED TWO COMBAT TOURS IN VIETNAM, WRITES ON USA TODAY'S EDITORIAL PAGE:

VOICE: "GRANTED, PEOPLE DO LIE, CHEAT AND STEAL AND COMMIT ADULTERY. BUT BECAUSE SOME DO DOES NOT MEAN SOCIETY SHOULD LOWER ITS EXPECTATIONS IN GENERAL. IN PARTICULAR, WE SHOULD NOT LOWER OUR EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE IN WHOM WE PLACE SPECIAL TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY. THAT MEANS MILITARY OFFICERS ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR THAN THE REST OF SOCIETY."

TEXT: A PHYSICAL DANGER THAT SEEMS TO BE ATTRACTING MORE AND MORE UNQUALIFIFD PEOPLE, IS THE SUBJECT OF ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES' EDITORIALS, ABOUT THE WORLD'S TALLEST PEAK, MOUNT EVEREST.

VOICE: "THE UPWARD REACHES OF [MOUNT] EVEREST STILL RESEMBLE A PIECE OF A DIFFERENT PLANET - - A PLACE WHERE HELICOPTERS DO NOT FLY, WHERE AD HOC RESCUE PARTIES BECOME DISORIENTED IN THE THIN AIR AND NEED RESCUE THEMSELVES. IN FACE, THE PEAK STILL RESEMBLES EARTH'S OTHER POLES [NORTH AND SOUTH] AS THEY WERE A CENTURY AGO, WHEN NEITHER ONE HAD BEEN REACHED. IT IS HARD NOT TO WONDER WHERE THE HONOR LIES IN BEING THE 640TH OR 650TH PERSON TO CLIMB EVEREST ON A DAY IN MAY WHEN A LONG LINE OF CLIMBERS IS MOVING TOWARD THE TOP."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, THE MIAMI HERALD IS CONCERNED WITH THE IMMIGRATION REFORM LAW AND SOME RECENT COURT VICTORIES AGAINST ITS STRICTER PROVISIONS.

VOICE: "FLORIDA AND THE NATION'S IMMIGRANTS HAVE SCORED BIG - - TWICE. FIRST, IN MIAMI, SENIOR U-S DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES LAWRENCE KING BARRED THE DEPORTATION OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS - - AT LEAST UNTIL THEY GET THEIR SAY [THEIR STORY EXAMINED] IN COURT. THEN THE U-S HOUSE APPROVED SENATE-PASSED LEGISLATION TO DELAY CUTOFF OF CASH BENEFITS AND MEDICAID TO LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THIS BUYS TIME [CREATES ADDITIONAL TIME] TO TRY TO RESTORE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL AID. NEITHER VICTORY COMPLETELY WON BACK DESERVED RIGHTS AND BENEFITS FOR LAW-ABIDING [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] AND LEGAL [AGAIN ITALICS] IMMIGRANTS. YET AT A TIME WHEN A MEAN-SPIRITED CONGRESS INSISTS ON ATTACKING THOSE IMMIGRANTS, EVEN PARTIAL WINS ARE SIGNIFICANT."

TEXT: LASTLY, THE BOSTON GLOBE IS WORRIED ABOUT SOME RECENT COMMENTS IN BOTH CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES. THE PAPER CHARACTERIZES THESE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS THAT TWO NATIONS PRESENT TO EACH OTHER AS "PARANOID RHETORIC". THE GLOBE NOTES A TIME FOR CALM IS IN ORDER.

VOICE: "TO PREVENT SUCH ANXIETIES FROM BECOMING SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, HAD TO ASSURE AN AUDIENCE AT CHINA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY LAST WEEK THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS NO WISH TO CREATE A NEW COLD WAR, WITH BEIJING REPLACING MOSCOW AS AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE ADVERSARY. ..... THIS IS PRECISELY THE MESSAGE AMERICA'S TOP MILITARY MAN SHOULD BE DELIVERING TO BEIJING."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE END THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM MONDAY'S U-S PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/NL
19-May-97 11:23 AM EDT (1523 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (MONDAY), BUT MANY TRADERS WERE NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL DO TUESDAY ABOUT INTEREST RATES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 72-HUNDRED-28, UP 34 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 833, UP THREE AND ONE-HALF POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOMETHING OF A "REBOUND" EFFECT IN THE STOCK MARKET AFTER FRIDAY'S 138-POINT DROP IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. HOWEVER, MANY TRADERS WERE CAUTIOUS IN ADVANCE OF TUESDAY'S MEETING OF GOVERNORS OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK.

ON WALL STREET, OPINION IS DIVIDED ABOUT WHETHER THE CENTRAL BANK WILL RAISE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES TO SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PREVENT INFLATION. LYLE GRAMLEY, A FORMER CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SAYS THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS OF A SLOWING ECONOMY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDICATORS COMING IN RECENTLY WHICH SUGGEST THAT THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY WILL SLOW CONSIDERABLY DURING THE SECOND QUARTER.

INTERVIEWED BY THE C-N-B-C BUSINESS NETWORK, MR. GRAMLEY SAID HE BELIEVES THE CENTRAL BANK WILL PROBABLY NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES ON TUESDAY.

INFLATION MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM IN THE OVERALL U-S ECONOMY BUT IT CERTAINLY IS IN THE COFFEE MARKET. WORLD COFFEE PRICES ARE SOARING. RETAIL PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE RISEN ALMOST 50 PERCENT SINCE FEBRUARY. TIGHT SUPPLIES IN MANY COFFEE-PRODUCING NATIONS ARE THE REASON.

THE E-W SCRIPPS MEDIA COMPANY WILL PAY MORE THAN 600-MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE SIX DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND A TELEVISION STATION FROM THE HARTE-HANKS COMPANY. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL WILL HELP HARTE-HANKS CONCENTRATE ON ITS DIRECT MARKETING BUSINESS.

THE I-T-T CORPORATION WILL SELL FIVE OF ITS HOTELS TO THE FELCOR COMPANY FOR 200-MILLION DOLLARS. I-T-T IS CURRENTLY FIGHTING A HOSTILE TAKEOVER ATTEMPT BY THE HILTON HOTELS COMPANY.

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY HAS HIRED TIGER WOODS, THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT, AS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMPANY. AMERICAN EXPRESS WILL NOT SAY HOW MUCH IT IS PAYING MR. WOODS TO APPEAR IN ITS TELEVISION AND PRINT ADVERTISING, BUT SOME SOURCES SAY IT IS AS MUCH AS 30-MILLION DOLLARS FOR A FIVE-YEAR DEAL. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM,
19-May-97 5:06 PM EDT (2106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TURKEY'S MASSIVE CROSS-BORDER OFFENSIVE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKISH TROOPS, BACKED BY FIGHTER JETS AND ATTACK HELICOPTERS ARE KEEPING UP THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE P-K-K, FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE DAY. TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY 14 TROOPS HAVE DIED SO FAR IN THE CLASHES.

REBELS SOURCES CLAIM AT LEAST 30 TURKISH FORCES HAVE DIED IN THE FIGHTING. THEY ALSO SAID THE P-K-K SHOT DOWN THREE TURKISH ATTACK HELICOPTERS DURING THE WEEKEND . THE TURKISH ARMY SAYS IT LOST ONLY ONE HELICOPTER DUE TO WHAT IT TERMED TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

NONE OF THE REPORTS COULD BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED AS THE TURKISH MILITARY CONTINUED TO IMPOSE A NEWS EMBARGO ON THE REGION, PREVENTING JOURNALISTS FROM CROSSING THE BORDER INTO NORTHERN IRAQ.

IRAQI KURDISH SOURCES CONFIRMED THE P-K-K SUFFERED WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS HEAVY LOSSES. THEY ADDED CLASHES BETWEEN THE TURKISH KURD REBELS AND FIGHTERS FROM THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAQ, THE K-D-P WHICH CONTROLS NEARLY HALF OF THE WESTERN PROTECTED ENCLAVE, WERE ALSO CONTINUING. THEY SAID THE FIGHTING HAS SPREAD TO THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH TOWN OF ERBIL. MEANWHILE, THE P-K-K HAS STEPPED UP ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH TARGETS WITHIN TURKEY. THE REBELS SET UP A ROADBLOCK ON A MAIN ROAD TO THE NORTHERN IRAQI BORDER OVERNIGHT, SETTING FIRE TO TWO PETROL TANKERS. IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, THE P-K-K LAUNCHED A ROCKET ATTACK ON A TOWN NEAR THE PROVINCE OF MARDIN ON THE SYRIAN BORDER. THE REBELS HAVE BEEN WAGING AN ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE SINCE 1984.

THE TURKISH OFFENSIVE HAS TRIGGERED CRITICISM, NOTABLY FROM IRAQ, WHICH HAS CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PRESSURE TURKEY INTO PULLING ITS TROOPS FROM IRAQI TERRITORY. IRAQ HAS VIRTUALLY LOST ALL CONTROL OVER THE KURDISH NORTH SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR WHEN THE ALLIES LED BY THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED A NO-FLY ZONE OVER THE AREA.

TURKEY DENIES IT HAS ANY TERRITORIAL CLAIMS ON IRAQ AND SAYS THAT TURKISH TROOPS ENTERED IRAQ FOLLOWING APPEALS FOR HELP FROM K-D-P LEADER MASSOUD BARZANI.

THE K-D-P ACCUSES THE TURKISH-KURD REBELS OF SEEKING TO BECOME THE MAIN POWER IN IRAQI KURDISTAN. FACTIONAL FIGHTING BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND ITS ARCH RIVAL IN THE REGION THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN HAS ENABLED THE TURKISH KURDS TO INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT AMONG ABOUT THREE-MILLION IRAQI KURDS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED BY THE SQUABBLES AMONG THEIR OWN LEADERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
19-May-97 10:22 AM EDT (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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