Voice of America, 97-06-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN ELECTION FLAWED

[02] ERBAKAN STEPS DOWN, BUT WHAT'S SETTLED IN TURKEY? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

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

[06] RUSSIA/NATO UPDATE (S ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[07] THE NEW ROMANIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[08] TURKEY POLITICS (L) BY AL PESSIN (ANKARA)

[09] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[10] U-S/ROMANIA NATO (S) BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)

[01] EDITORIAL: CROATIAN ELECTION FLAWED

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, A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS HELD IN CROATIA. IN A THREE-WAY RACE, PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN WAS REELECTED TO ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM BY A WIDE MARGIN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ELECTION PROCESS WAS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED. AS THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, OR O-S-C-E, REPORTED, THE BALLOTING "DID NOT MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR A MEANINGFUL AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTION."

AS THE O-S-C-E SAID, "SERIOUS AND SUBSTANTIVE DEFICIENCIES" MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S ELECTION OPPONENTS -- SOCIAL DEMOCRAT ZDRAVKO TOMAC AND SOCIAL LIBERAL VLADO GOTOVAC -- TO CAMPAIGN FREELY AND ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH TUDJMAN. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE STATE-OWNED TELEVISION MONOPOLY, CONTROLLED BY PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S RULING CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, SEVERELY RESTRICTED THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO TELEVISION VIEWERS. IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN, SAID THE O-S-C-E, "THE MAIN DAILY NEWS PROGRAM PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TO TWELVE TIMES MORE COVERAGE" OF PRESIDENT TUDJMAN THAN OF THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES COMBINED.

THE O-S-C-E ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MORE THAN THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA VOTED IN THE ELECTION. IT SAID THE PARTICIPATION OF BOSNIAN CROATS IN THE CROATIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNDERMINES CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO A UNIFIED BOSNIAN STATE.

THE UNITED STATES SHARES THE O-S-C-E CONCERNS ABOUT THE CROATIAN ELECTION. AS SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID, THERE WAS AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH DID NOT ALLOW THE OPPOSITION A FULL VOICE. THE U.S. CALLS ON THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO OPEN UP ITS MEDIA SO THAT FUTURE ELECTIONS WILL BE FAIR. CROATIA MUST ALSO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE DAYTON ACCORDS ON BOSNIA AND DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO MAKE THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION IN BOSNIA MOVE FORWARD SPEEDILY. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ISSUES THAT THE U.S. WILL CONSIDER IN REGARD TO ANY FUTURE ASSISTANCE TO CROATIA.

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.
20-Jun-97 3:13 PM EDT (1913 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ERBAKAN STEPS DOWN, BUT WHAT'S SETTLED IN TURKEY? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE TURKISH POLITICAL SCENE REMAINS CONFUSED AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, WITH THE RESIGNATION OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, AFTER A NEARLY YEAR-LONG FEUD WITH THE NATION'S MILITARY.

ON FRIDAY, TURKEY'S PRESIDENT NAMED AN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER, MESUT YILMAZ, TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT, BUT OBSERVERS SAY PROSPECTS FOR HIS SUCCESS ARE MIXED.

MEANWHILE, THE U-S PRESS IS REACTING TO THE OUSTER OF MR. ERBAKAN, AND _______________________HAS THIS SAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: IT IS NO SECRET THAT TURKEY'S MILITARY HAS BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE NATION'S FIRST ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST PRIME MINISTER SINCE HE BEGAN A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH HIS PREDECESSOR, TANSU CILLER ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

THE TENSION CAME TO A BOIL RECENTLY WHEN THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP HELD A SERIES OF OPEN BRIEFINGS FOR VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, INCLUDING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, EDUCATORS, AND THE NEWS MEDIA, DISCUSSING WHAT IT SAID WAS THE THREAT TO THE STATE POSED BY MR. ERBAKAN'S ACTIONS.

WITH GROWING TALK OF A POSSIBLE MILITARY COUP, THE PRIME MINISTER STEPPED DOWN WEDNESDAY, AFTER BROKERING A DEAL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED HIS WELFARE PARTY TO KEEP KEY GOVERNMENT POSTS AND CALLED FOR ELECTIONS IN 90 DAYS. IT WAS WIDELY EXPECTED THAT THE SCANDAL-TARNISHED FORMER PRIME MINISTER, MS. CILLER, THE FIRST WOMAN EVER TO HOLD THAT JOB, WOULD TAKE OVER.

THAT CHANGED WITH FRIDAY'S (6/20) ANNOUNCEMENT BY TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL, THAT HE WAS TURNING TO MR. YILMAZ, AND HIS MOTHERLAND PARTY, TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. IT ALSO CAUSED SKEPTICISM FROM SOME POLITICAL OBSERVERS WHO POINT OUT HE HAS A LIMITED CHANCE OF SUCCESS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MS. CILLER AND HER TRUTH PATH PARTY. SHE HAS ALREADY SAID SHE WILL NOT JOIN HIM IN A COALITION, AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL COALITION BETWEEN THE TWO LAST YEAR.

TURNING TO U-S REACTION TO THE ERBAKAN RESIGNATION, WE BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE WEST WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

VOICE: "[OPT] IN FORCING THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER .... ERBAKAN, TURKEY'S GENERAL HAVE RID THEMSELVES OF A GOVERNMENT THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T LIKE. IT WILL BE A BIT HARDER, ONE SUSPECTS, TO BRING TO HEEL THAT SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE TURKISH POPULATION WHO, IN LEGITIMATE DEMOCRATIC FASHION, BROUGHT [MR.] ERBAKAN AND HIS WELFARE PARTY TO POWER AND, HE PREDICTS, WILL DO SO AGAIN IF NEW ELECTIONS ARE HELD. [END OPT] ......THE MILITARY ... FEARED HE WAS TRYING TO TURN TURKEY INTO AN ISLAMIST STATE AND PULL IT OUT OF ITS MODERN, SECULAR, WESTERN-ORIENTED ORBIT. BUT WHAT THIS EPISODE HAS REVEALED IS THE EXISTENCE IN TURKEY OF A KIND OF SECULAR FUNDAMENTALISM THAT IS, IN ITS WAY, EVERY BIT AS UN-WESTERN AND DANGEROUS AS RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM. HEAVY-HANDED [STRONG] ATTEMPTS AT SUPPRESSION OF RELIGION COULD, IF PURSUED FAR ENOUGH, END UP RADICALIZING ISLAMIC ADHERENTS OF THE WELFARE PARTY, MUCH AS HAS HAPPENED IN ALGERIA. [OPT] BUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENS , THIS CLASH BETWEEN TWO APPARENTLY INCOMPATIBLE IDEOLOGIES MAY SOON CONFRONT THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY'S OTHER ALLIES IN THE WEST WITH SOME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE CHOICES. [END OPT] ..... WHILE THE MILITARY WAS STAGING WHAT AMOUNTED TO A 'SOFT COUP' AGAINST [MR.] ERBAKAN, A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WAS SEEKING TO HAVE HIS WELFARE PARTY BANNED AS SUBVERSIVE. BOTH ACTIONS ARE UNWISE AND REFLECT NOT A RATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF A GENUINE THREAT BUT A KIND OF SECULARIST HYSTERIA."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF TURKEY'S SECULAR POLITICIANS TO PROVIDE AN IMPROVED STANDARD OF LIVING AND FURTHER CONNECTION TO THE WEST, AND OF THE WEST'S FAILURE TO FULLY EMBRACE TURKEY. THE GLOBE SEES THOSE AS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS - - AND - - THE ROOT CAUSES OF GROWING FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAM.

VOICE: "WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE LONG HELD AMBIVALENT ATTITUDES TOWARD MODERN TURKEY MUST AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO STRIKE HYPOCRITICAL POSES IN RESPONSE TO THE LATEST DUST-UP [FIGHT] BETWEEN POLITICAL ISLAMISTS AND THE KEMALISTS, OR SECULARISTS, WHO RUN TURKEY'S RESPECTED MILITARY. .....THE MILITARY OFFICERS TALKED TOUGH, AND THEY PLAYED POLITICS IN A MANNER THAT EUROPE HAS NOT SEEN SINCE THE END OF FRANCE'S ALGERIAN WAR IN THE EARLY 1960S. BUT THEY DID NOT USE FORCE, AND THEY DID NOT STAGE A COUP D'ETAT. THEIR RELATIVE RESTRAINT REFLECTS AN AWARENESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC RULES THEY ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW IF THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAM OF GAINING ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE RUB [PARADOX] IS THAT THEY SAME EUROPEAN STATES THAT WELCOME TURKEY'S 650-THOUSAND-MAN ARMED FORCES INTO NATO HAVE BEEN ADAMANT IN REFUSING IT ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. .... THE WESTERN POWERS HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND DEMOCRATIC BEHAVIOR FROM TURKEY. .... BUT THE BEST WAY FOR THE WEST TO ENCOURAGE TURKISH DEMOCRACY WOULD BE TO GIVE TURKISH SECULARISTS WHAT THEY MOST DESIRE: MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNION OF SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC EUROPEAN STATES."

TEXT: TURNING TO YET ANOTHER VIEW, THAT OF PHILIP GORDON, A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, WHO WRITES IN THE U-S OWNED INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, PICKS UP THE CONCERN OF THE GLOBE'S WRITER.

VOICE: "THIS WHOLE SITUATION PRESENTS A TERRIBLE DILEMMA FOR TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES, ONE THAT WOULD GET IMMEASURABLY WORSE IF THE MILITARY WERE TO FEEL OBLIGED TO ACT. WHILE THERE IS SOME SYMPATHY IN THE WEST FOR THE TURKISH MILITARY'S ROLE IN PREVENTING A MINORITY ISLAMIST PARTY FROM IMPOSING ITS RADICAL POLICIES ON A COUNTRY WHOSE MAJORITY REMAINS SECULAR AND PRO-WESTERN, IT IS ALSO INCREASINGLY AWKWARD FOR U-S AND EUROPEAN LEADERS TO TURN A BLIND EYE [OFFICIALLY IGNORE] TO SUCH BLATANT INTERVENTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SOLUTIONS TO TURKEY'S PROBLEMS LIE PRIMARILY WITH THE COUNTRY'S ESTABLISHED POLITICAL PARTIES, WHOSE CORRUPTION, CRONYISM AND PETTY PERSONAL STRUGGLES ARE AMONG THE MAIN REASONS FOR GROWING SUPPORT FOR MR. ERBAKAN. ..... THE WEST CAN HELP. .... THE WEST, AND PARTICULARLY THE EU, SHOULD ADOPT A MORE INCLUSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD TURKEY, AND IN PARTICULAR AVOID THE UNHELPFUL AND INSULTING SUGGESTION THAT TURKEY MUST BE EXCLUDED FROM EUROPE BECAUSE OF ITS CULTURE OR RELIGION. ..... [AND] MOST IMPORTANT, WESTERN COUNTRIES SHOULD CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT TURKISH ECONOMIC REFORM AND INTEGRATION WITH THE WORLD ECONOMY. ...... WITH ITS POPULATION OF MORE THAN 60-MILLION, BORDERS WITH IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, AND THE CAUCASUS AND A KEY ROLE AS THE WEST'S MAIN ALLY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD THE STAKES COULD HARDLY BE HIGHER."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES TAKES A NEGATIVE VIEW OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, SUGGESTING THAT TO THWART THE RISE OF ISLAM IN POLITICS ONLY CAUSES ITS FOLLOWERS IN TURKEY AND ELSEWHERE TO OFTEN BECOME MORE RADICAL AND BEGIN OPERATING OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.

VOICE: "THERE IS REASON TO BAN MOVEMENTS THAT USE TERRORISM OR SEEK TO SEIZE POWER SO AS TO IMPOSE DICTATORSHIP. BUT MANY DO NOT. THE ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT IN JORDAN, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPETES IN ELECTIONS. TURKEY'S ISLAMIC PARTY PLAYED BY DEMOCRATIC RULES. IT WON 21-PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND GOVERNED IN COALITION WITH A SECULAR PARTY. THERE WAS LITTLE DANGER THAT MR. ERBAKAN WOULD MAKE TURKEY AN ISLAMIC NATION, GIVEN FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION TO THAT COURSE IN TURKISH SOCIETY. YET THE MILITARY, WHICH HAS STAGED THREE COUPS SINCE 1960, PRESSED MR. ERBAKAN TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR YEARS AND TO CRACK DOWN ON RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION, SUCH AS THE WEARING OF HEAD SCARVES IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES. .... THE RISK OF BANNING MODERATE ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS AND EXPRESSION IS THAT SUCH STEPS CAN END UP RADICALIZING THEM."

TEXT: LASTLY, THIS COMMENT FROM NEWSDAY, ON LONG ISLAND.

VOICE: "AMERICANS MAY HEAR ONLY ITS ECHOES, BUT THE POLITICAL CLASH THAT OUSTED TURKEY'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED ISLAMIST LEADER IS SENDING SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE MIDEAST - - AND ELICITING SIGHS OF RELIEF IN WESTERN CAPITALS. AFTER A YEAR AS THE FIRST ISLAMIC PARTY LEADER TO HEAD THIS STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT MEMBER OF NATO ....... HE WAS PUSHED OUT BY TURKEY'S MILITARY, ALARMED BY THE DIRECTION HE WAS THREATENING TO TAKE A SOCIETY RULED BY SECULARIST PRINCIPLES SINCE MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK FOUNDED THE MODERN TURKISH REPUBLIC IN 1923. TURKEY IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT [MR.] ERBAKAN. ...... IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT [MR.] ERBAKAN'S WELFARE PARTY WILL MANAGE TO WIN AGAIN AT THE POLLS. BUT AT LEAST TURKEY'S VOTERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO PONDER WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING UNDER ISLAMIC RULE MAY BE."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS ON THE FORCED RESIGNATION THIS WEEK OF MODERN TURKEY'S FIRST ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST PRIME MINISTER.
NEB/ANG/EH
20-Jun-97 2:02 PM EDT (1802 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: IT WAS ANOTHER DOWN DAY FOR STOCKS IN LONDON FRIDAY, BUT ON THE OTHER BIG WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES, PRICES WERE UP. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: WORRIES ABOUT ANOTHER INTEREST RATE BOOST AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A RETREAT ON PLANS TO GIVE BRITISH INVESTORS A TAX BREAK SENT LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CONTINUING ON THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL IT FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. THE "FOOTSIE" ENDED THE DAY DOWN ALMOST 60 POINTS. BUT A STRONGER DOLLAR GAVE CONFIDENCE TO GERMAN INVESTORS FRIDAY, AND THE "DAX 30" INDEX OF STOCKS IN FRANKFURT CLOSED UP 39 POINTS -- A NEW RECORD. MEANWHILE IN PARIS, STOCKS TRACKED ON THE "CAC 40" INDEX CLOSED UP FRIDAY AS WELL -- ADDING 17-AND-A-HALF POINTS -- ALTHOUGH VOLUME WAS THIN.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE DOLLAR WAS UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE MARK -- BUT DOWN MORE THAN A HALF-CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD IN LONDON CLOSED DOWN 35 CENTS AN OUNCE AT 339-DOLLARS-25 CENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
20-Jun-97 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

(UNEDITED)

INTRO: THE IMMINENT FALL OF CAMBODIAN GUERRILLA LEADER POL POT IS A POPULAR TOPIC IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF FRIDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. OTHER SUBJECTS ELICITING COMMENTS INCLUDE THE RESIGNATION OF TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER; THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN DENVER; THE IRA KILLINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND; AND A NEW THREAT TO THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT.

NOW HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIALOGUE.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE SAVORING REPORTS FROM THE JUNGLES OF CAMBODIA THAT POL POT'S OWN KHMER ROUGE FIGHTERS HAVE TURNED AGAINST THEIR LONG-TIME LEADER AND ARE NOW PURSUING HIM WITH THE IDEA OF BRINGING HIM TO JUSTICE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE FORCE THAT TOOK OVER CAMBODIA IN THE 1970S AND MURDERED MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE DURING FORCED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SOCIAL ORDER. TODAY'S NEW YORK POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING AROUND POL POT. PURSUED BY HIS OWN KHMER ROUGE GUERRILLAS AND BY SOLDIERS OF THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT, ONE OF THIS CENTURY'S GREATEST CRIMINALS COULD BE NEARING THE END OF THE LINE. ..... IF POL POT ACTUALLY WERE BROUGHT TO TRIAL FOR HIS CRIMES, IT COULD PROVIDE A UNIQUE OCCASION FOR DISSECTING AN ASIAN COMMUNIST REGIME AND DOCUMENTING ITS DEEDS. A TRIAL COULD BEGIN A PROCESS OF HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE KHMER ROUGE'S VICTIMS, AND SERVE - - AS THE NUREMBERG TRIALS DID FOR NAZISM - - AS A WARNING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS."

TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE PICKED UP THE SAME THEME:

VOICE: "A SHOW TRIAL OF POL POT, ONE OF THE GREAT VILLAINS OF THIS CENTURY, IS NOT ASSURED. ..... RUMORS OF HIS DEATH ABOUNDED A YEAR AGO. NOW HE IS REPORTED VARIOUSLY DEAD, CAPTURED OR ON THE RUN. THE FINAL COLLAPSE OF THE KHMER ROUGE IS A MERCY TO THE KHMER PEOPLE. BUT THE REBIRTH OF CAMBODIA CANNOT OCCUR UNTIL THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN RULING FACTIONS IS RESOLVED IN A HARMONIOUS REGIME THAT WOULD PUT RECONSTRUCTION AND HEALING AHEAD OF ITS OWN AGGRANDIZEMENT."

TEXT: IN BOSTON, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, APPLAUDS THE POSSIBILITY OF POL POT BEING PUT ON TRIAL IF HE EVER IS ACTUALLY CAPTURED ALIVE, BUT THEN WONDERS ABOUT CAMBODIA'S FUTURE AFTER THE POL POT ERA.

VOICE: "WHAT NEXT FOR CAMBODIA? THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT IN CAMBODIAN PEACE AND DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE PROTECTED. CAMBODIA MAY NO LONGER OCCUPY A KEY GEOPOLITICAL NICHE. BUT IT'S A CRUCIAL TEST OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY'S WILL TO PROMOTE HARMONY AND REDRESS TERRIBLE WRONGS. DUE PRESSURE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON PHNOM PEHN'S LEADING POLITICIANS TO TEMPER THEIR DIFFERENCES AND LET THE PEOPLE'S VOICE BE HEARD AT THE POLLS NEXT YEAR."

TEXT: ANOTHER OF THE WEEK'S MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, THE RESIGNATION OF TURKEY'S ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, WHO HAS FEUDED WITH THE SECULAR MILITARY FOR HIS ENTIRE TERM, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM NEWSDAY.

VOICE: "AMERICANS MAY HEAR ONLY ITS ECHOES, BUT THE POLITICAL CLASH THAT OUSTED TURKEY'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED ISLAMIST LEADER IS SENDING SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE MIDEAST - - AND ELICITING SIGHS OF RELIEF IN WESTERN CAPITALS. AFTER A YEAR AS THE FIRST ISLAMIC PARTY LEADER TO HEAD THIS STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT MEMBER OF NATO ....... HE WAS PUSHED OUT BY TURKEY'S MILITARY, ALARMED BY THE DIRECTION HE WAS THREATENING TO TAKE A SOCIETY RULED BY SECULARIST PRINCIPLES SINCE MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK FOUNDED THE MODERN TURKISH REPUBLIC IN 1923. TURKEY IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT [MR.] ERBAKAN. [OPT] WHILE RADICAL ISLAMIST LEADERS MAY LAMENT HIS PASSING FROM POWER, FEW OTHERS WILL SHARE THAT SENTIMENT..... IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT [MR.] ERBAKAN'S WELFARE PARTY WILL MANAGE TO WIN AGAIN AT THE POLLS. BUT AT LEAST TURKEY'S VOTERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO PONDER WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING UNDER ISLAMIC RULE MAY BE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST IS NOT NEARLY SO SANGUINE ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THE BOSPORUS, HEADLINING ITS EDITORIAL: "TURKEY'S TROUBLES."

VOICE: "TURKEY'S RESOLUTELY SECULAR MILITARY ON WEDNESDAY FORCED THE RESIGNATION OF THAT NATION'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, HEIGHTENING FEARS OF A COUP OR FURTHER INSTABILITY IN A VITAL U-S ALLY. [OPT] THE POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY REFLECTS CONTINUING TENSIONS BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND ARMY MANDATE, BETWEEN WEST AND EAST, BETWEEN TOLERANCE AND FUNDAMENTALISM IN A NATION OF 61 MILLION MUSLIMS THAT STRADDLES EUROPE AND ASIA. [END OPT] TURKEY'S FRIENDS IN THE WEST MUST SYMPATHIZE WITH THE GENERALS' FEARS OF A NON-DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT COMING TO POWER DEMOCRATICALLY. BUT THE SAME FRIENDS ARE RIGHT TO WARN THAT SHORT-CIRCUITING DEMOCRACY NOW IS LIKELY ONLY TO POSTPONE AND THEN EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM."

TEXT: TURNING TO THIS WEEKEND'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT OF THE LEADING INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES IN DENVER, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD SAYS THE MEETINGS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THEIR 22 YEARS OF EXISTENCE.

VOICE: "WHERE ONCE THE FOCUS WAS ON STANDING FIRM AGAINST THE PRESSURES OF WORLD COMMUNISM, THIS YEAR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ATTENDS AS THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADER OF HIS NATION. ....... THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA WILL BE A PRINCIPAL SUBJECT OF THE TALKS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE JAPAN'S INCREASING TRADE SURPLUS, THE CONTINUING MULTINATIONAL EFFORT TO BRING STABILITY TO BOSNIA ...... AND HANDLING THE STRAINS AGING POPULATIONS ARE PLACING ON THE INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES. ..... IT'S A FULL AGENDA, BUT IT SHOWS HOW MUCH THINGS HAVE CHANGED - - MOSTLY FOR THE BETTER - - SINCE 1975."

TEXT: A DIFFERENT VIEW IS EXPRESSED BY THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WHICH FINDS THE WHOLE IDEA ALMOST SILLY, AND ASKS:

VOICE: "DOES THE WORLD REALLY NEED ANOTHER SUMMIT OF INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS LIKE THE ONE STARTING TONIGHT IN DENVER? ..... THE WHOLE CONCEPT HAS EVOLVED INTO A STAGE-MANAGED PRODUCTION ...... A MORE SUBSTANTIVE AGENDA MIGHT GIVE THE SUMMIT MORE HEFT [IMPORTANCE] THAN THE NORMAL ROUND OF STAGED PHOTO OPS. IT MIGHT EVEN PROVIDE A GOOD REASON FOR CONTINUING THE G-7 TRADITION."

TEXT: TODAY'S DALLAS MORNING NEWS IS CHEERING A FINE WEEK FOR U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WITH THE ARRIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY OF TWO VERY WANTED MEN.

VOICE: "THE F-B-I AND THE C-I-A DESERVE TO CROW [BRAG] OVER THE APPREHENSION OF 33 YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI CITIZEN MIR AMAL KANSI. ..... AFTER THE FATAL 1993 SHOOTINGS OF TWO C-I-A EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE THAT AGENCY'S SUBURBAN WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS, THE LONG ARM OF U-S LAW REACHED TO THE AFGHAN-PAKISTAN BORDER. ....AS MIR AMAL KANSI WAS BEING FLOWN FROM PAKISTAN ..... SAUDI CITIZEN HANI ABDEL RAHIM AS-SAYEGH WAS ARRIVING IN WASHINGTON AFTER BEING DEPORTED FROM CANADA. MR. SAYEGH MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LAST YEAR'S ATTACK IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, THAT KILLED 19 U-S AIRMEN."

TEXT: THE KILLINGS OF TWO NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE OFFICERS BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY THIS WEEK IS DEPLORED BY THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN GREAT RISKS IN PROMOTING RECONCILIATION. GRANTING A VISA TO GERRY ADAMS AND COUNSELING HIM TO COMPROMISE WAS NOT A POPULAR STEP HERE. SENDING FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GEORGE MITCHELL TO LEAD THE PEACE TALKS WAS EVIDENCE OF THIS COUNTRY'S GOOD FAITH, NOW BETRAYED BY ..... SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAM'S FAILURE TO CONDEMN THE LURGAN [A BELFAST SUBURB] KILLINGS."

TEXT: LASTLY, A LAMENT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, ABOUT A CHANGE IN THE RULES REGARDING AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY TUSKS, COMING OUT OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONVENTION IN ZIMBABWE THIS WEEK.

VOICE: ".... AFTER DAYS OF BITTER DEBATE ..... CONVENTION MEMBERS HAVE AMENDED THAT PACT [CITIES - - THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES] TO ALLOW THREE SOUTHERN AFRICAN STATES TO BEGIN SELLING LESS THAN HALF THEIR STOCKPILES OF IVORY TO JAPAN IN 21 MONTHS. THE THREE, ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA AND NAMIBIA, HAVE LARGE ELEPHANT POPULATIONS AND SOLID CONSERVATION RECORDS. .....THE AGREEMENT RE-OPENS WHAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WORLD'S MOST INSATIABLE IVORY MARKET, JAPAN. THIS IN TURN PROVIDES A POWERFUL INCENTIVE FOR POACHERS THROUGHOUT AFRICA TO RESUME THE KILLING IN THE HOPE THAT THEIR ILLEGAL IVORY CAN SAFELY BE COMMINGLED WITH THE LEGAL IVORY ..... THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT HAS LATELY BEEN SPARED THE SLAUGHTER OF THE 80'S. BUT IN MOST AFRICAN NATIONS, IT IS A LONG WAY FROM RECOVERY."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM SOME OF FRIDAY'S U-S DAILY NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/EH
20-Jun-97 10:38 AM EDT (1438 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRICES ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ROSE TODAY (FRIDAY) IN HEAVY TRADING. V-O-A'S MARTIN BUSH REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WENT UP FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE SESSION, RISING 19 POINTS, TO CLOSE AT A NEW HIGH, 77-HUNDRED-97. THE SESSION WAS VOLATILE. AT ONE POINT, THE DOW ROSE MORE THAN 50 POINTS, AND THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE INVOKED ITS ROUTINE TRADING RESTRICTIONS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX MOVED ALMOST ONE POINT -- TO 899, A RECORD HIGH.

IN TRADING FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLIMBED 34 POINTS. THE MOOD ON WALL STREET LATE IN THE WEEK TURNED POSITIVE WITH REPORTS OF RECORD U-S EXPORTS AND AN INCREASE IN WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, REDUCING THE THREAT OF INFLATION..

A CONTINUED DECLINE IN LONG-TERM INTEREST RATES ALSO HELPED RAISE SHARE PRICES.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, THERE WAS GOOD NEWS FOR AIRBUS INDUSTRIE, THE EUROPEAN AIRPLANE MANUFACTURING CONSORTIUM. NORTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCED IT WILL BUY 50 A-310 AIRBUS JETS AT A COST OF TWO-BILLION DOLLARS. THE AIRLINE HAS ALSO OPTIONED ANOTHER 100 AIRCRAFT, WHICH SEAT 125 PASSENGERS. SHOULD NORTHWEST ORDER THE OPTIONED 100 A-310'S, IT WOULD PAY AIRBUS INDUSTRIE SIX-BILLION DOLLARS. MEANTIME, BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS BUYING FIVE WIDE-BODIED, TWO-ENGINE JETLINERS FROM BOEING, AN AMERICAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER. BRITISH AIRWAYS WILL PAY BOEING APPROXIMATELY ONE-BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE B-777 PLANES.

TWO MAJOR COMMODITIES EXCHANGES MAY MERGE. THE NEW YORK SUGAR AND COCOA EXCHANGE AND THE NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE HAVE INSTRUCTED THEIR TOP EXECUTIVES TO BEGIN UNIFICATION TALKS. COCOA EXCHANGE TRADERS DEAL IN FUTURES AND OPTIONS IN SUCH COMMODITIES AS COCOA, COFFEE, MILK AND SUGAR. COTTON EXCHANGE INVESTORS DEAL IN FUTURES AND OPTIONS IN COTTON AND ORANGE JUICE. LAST YEAR, THE COCOA EXCHANGE TRADED MORE THAN 11-MILLION CONTRACTS. THE COTTON EXCHANGE TRADED SIX-MILLION CONTRACTS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MAB/LSF/RRM ..
20-Jun-97 5:33 PM EDT (2133 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] RUSSIA/NATO UPDATE (S ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, AS HE PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR DENVER, SAID HE HAS DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND THE NATO SUMMITIN MADRID NEXT MONTH. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN HAS MORE FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: MR. YELTSIN SAID HE BELIEVES RUSSIANS WOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ATTENDING THE MEETING AT WHICH NATO INVITES SOME OF MOSCOW'S FORMER WARSAW PACT ALLIES TO JOIN. HE TOLD A GROUP OF JOURNALISTS HE WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THE MADRID GATHERING, BUT EMPHASIZED HIS ABSENCE SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS A SNUB TO ALLIANCE MEMBERS.

RUSSIA CONTINUES TO OPPOSE NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION PLAN, BUT ACCEPTED THE INEVITABILITY OF THE MOVE IN RETURN FOR SECURITY GUARANTEES. THE ACCORD SIGNED IN PARIS LAST MONTH GIVES THE KREMLIN A SAY IN ALLIANCE DECISION-MAKING. BUT MR. YELTSIN'S COMMUNIST AND NATIONALIST OPPONENTS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF SELLING OUT TO THE WEST BY FAILING TO FIGHT HARDER AGAINST ENLARGEMENT. HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE INVITATIONS TO JOIN NATO IN MADRID, AND OTHER EAST EUROPEAN STATES COULD BE INVITED LATER. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PT
19-Jun-97 7:34 PM EDT (2334 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] THE NEW ROMANIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRODUCTION: ROMANIA IS ALMOST A NEW COUNTRY, SAY ADMIRING OBSERVERS, NOTING THE RAPID PACE OF CHANGE SINCE DEMOCRATIC FORCES CAME TO POWER IN ELECTIONS LAST NOVEMBER. THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS PUSHED THROUGH A FAR-REACHING ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAM AND STRENGTHENED ITS TIES TO THE WEST. THESE POINTS WERE EMPHASIZED BY THE ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER IN A RECENT SPEECH IN WASHINGTON. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT: ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CIORBEA SAID IN A RECENT SPEECH AT WASHINGTON'S HERITAGE FOUNDATION THAT THE WEST IS VITAL TO HIS COUNTRY. THAT IS WHY ROMANIA WANTS TO JOIN THE NATO ALLIANCE AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

ACTUALLY, THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR INTEGRATION INTO THE ALLIANCE HAS ALREADY PRODUCED SOME EFFECTS WHICH WE CONSIDER VERY POSITIVE. IN FACT, THE CHANGE WHICH HAPPENED LAST YEAR IN THE ROMANIAN POLITICAL ARENA, WHICH BROUGHT TO POWER THE DEMOCRATIC FORCES, IS ALSO THE RESULT OF THE FACT THAT WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO OUR INTEGRATION INTO THE WESTERN WORLD, INTO THE EURO-ATLANTIC STRUCTURES.

MR. CIORBEA CREDITED WESTERN INFLUENCE WITH SPEEDING THE ECONOMIC REFORMS THE NEW ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN. A FLOOD OF LEGISLATION IS LIBERALIZING A STAGNANT ECONOMY AND BRINGING A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN BADLY NEEDED FOREIGN INVESTMENT.

THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE, SAYS CHARLES KING, PROFESSOR OF ROMANIAN STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON:

ALREADY WE HAVE SEEN MASSIVE CHANGES IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS MORE FRIENDLY TO FOREIGN INVESTORS, AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS IN ELIMINATING CORRUPTION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND IN ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES, A REAL COMMITMENT TO PRIVATIZATION AND A SHOCK THERAPY PROGRAM THAT IS AT LEAST AS RADICAL AS THOSE THAT WE SAW IN POLAND SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

PROFESSOR KING CAUTIONS THAT THE RISE IN PRICES ACCOMPANYING ECONOMIC REFORM WILL BE HARD ON MANY PEOPLE AND ERODE SOME SUPPORT FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THE TRADE UNIONS ARE BEGINNING TO GRUMBLE, AND THE MINERS ARE ON STRIKE.

HE ADDS THAT THE WEST SHOULD NOW RETURN THE COMPLIMENT BY BEING MORE ATTENTIVE TO ROMANIA. BUT THE COUNTRY IS NOT EXPECTED TO AMONG THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS OF AN EXPANDED NATO.

WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS, PRIME MINISTER CIORBEA SAID ROMANIA IS AT PEACE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS AND WELL PLACED ON NATO'S SOUTHERN FLANK TO HELP WITH PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST OR THE CAUCASUS:

THAT IS WHY WE CONSIDER AT THIS HOUR WE CAN BE HELPFUL TO THE ALLIANCE. WE CAN BE AN EXPORTER OF SECURITY FOR THE ALLIANCE AND NOT ONLY A SECURITY CONSUMER. THE ROMANIAN SOLDIERS HAVE ALWAYS RESPONDED POSITIVELY WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR BRINGING PEACE IN TROUBLED REGIONS, INCLUDING THE RECENT PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION IN ALBANIA.

PRIME MINISTER CIORBEA SAID ROMANIA WANTS TO JOIN NATO NOT JUST FOR REASONS OF DEFENSE BUT TO SHARE MORE FULLY WESTERN CULTURE AND VALUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH
20-Jun-97 3:07 PM EDT (1907 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TURKEY POLITICS (L) BY AL PESSIN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PRESIDENT HAS ASKED CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN MESUT YILMAZ TO TRY TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT, REJECTING A PLAN WHICH HAD A GUARANTEED PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY BUT WOULD HAVE KEPT THE ISLAMIST PARTY IN POWER. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT:

MR. YILMAZ EMERGED FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FRIDAY EVENING WITH THE MANDATE IN HAND TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER FOR THE THIRD TIME. HE SAID THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAD INCREASED SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TENSION AND SAID HE WILL TRY TO START REDUCING THAT TENSION BY FORMING A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE NEXT TEN DAYS.

BUT HE HAS AN UPHILL BATTLE ON HIS HANDS. HIS TWO MAIN POLITICAL RIVALS, WHO HAVE LED THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO STICK TOGETHER, AND HAVE A SMALL RIGHT WING PARTY WITH THEM. THAT AGREEMENT, IF IT HOLDS, WOULD BLOCK MR. YILMAZ FROM GAINING A MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT.

BUT A SENIOR MEMBER OF HIS MOTHERLAND PARTY, KAMRAN INAN, SAYS THAT COULD CHANGE.

WE ARE VERY CLOSE (TO A MAJORITY). THE OTHER AGREEMENT IS VERY RISKY BECAUSE THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES, TRUE PATH PARTY, WELFARE PARTY, FORMING A GOVERNMENT, THEY WILL BECOME A HOSTAGE OF AN EIGHT-SEAT TINY PARTY, WHICH WILL NOT GET INTO THE GOVERNMENT. THAT MEANS EACH TIME THEY WILL HAVE TO ASK THEIR APPROVAL TO CARRY THAT ACTION OR THAT INITIATIVE. THIS IS NOT VIABLE AND WORKABLE. AND I THINK WE ARE NOT VERY FAR TO HAVE A MORE OR LESS EQUAL MAJORITY.

TURKISH NEWSPAPERS SAY THE LEADERS OF TWO CENTER-LEFT PARTIES TOLD PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL THURSDAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT MR. YILMAZ, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A CENTER-RIGHTIST. MR. YILMAZ HAS 45 DAYS TO WIN A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, OR HE MUST RETURN THE MANDATE TO THE PRESIDENT, WHO CAN THEN APPOINT A GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE EARLY ELECTIONS.

PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S DECISION REFLECTS HIS APPARENT ANGER AT HIS FORMER PROTEGE TANSU CILLER, LEADER OF THE TRUE PATH PARTY, WHO FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISLAMISTS A YEAR AGO. SHE WAS SLATED TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER IN A NEW COALITION WITH THEM, WHICH THE PRESIDENT REJECTED.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES AND ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION INVOLVING MRS. CILLER AND OTHER TRUE PATH PARTY LEADERS LED TO A SERIES OF DEFECTIONS BY PARTY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION ON WEDNESDAY.

THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION IS LIKELY TO BE WELCOMED BY MILITARY LEADERS, WHO HAVE SHARPLY CRITICIZED THAT GOVERNMENT AND THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY WHICH LED IT FOR TRYING TO MAKE TURKISH SOCIETY MORE ISLAMIC. THE GENERALS BELIEVE SUCH MOVES THREATEN TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONALLY-MANDATED SECULAR DEMOCRACY AND HAVE LABELED ISLAMIZATION A THREAT EQUAL TO KURDISH SEPARATISM, WHICH THE ARMY HAS FOUGHT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IN A STRING OF BLOODY BATTLES IN EASTERN TURKEY AND NORTHERN IRAQ.

EVEN IF MR. YILMAZ SUCCEEDS IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT, ANALYSTS SAY IT WILL HAVE A SLIM MAJORITY AND WILL BE MADE UP OF FRACTIOUS POLITICAL RIVALS. EXPERTS SAY THAT IS NOT WHAT IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS TURKEY'S PROBLEMS, AND MR. YILMAZ SAID FRIDAY HE WILL CALL EARLY ELECTIONS.

THEN TURKISH VOTERS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SIGNAL HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE ISLAMISTS AND THE OTHER PARTIES. BUT THE ANALYSTS DO NOT EXPECT NEW ELECTIONS TO RESULT IN A MUCH CLEARER MANDATE FOR ANY PARTY THAN CAME OUT OF THE LAST ELECTIONS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH/EH
20-Jun-97 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES THE APPOINTMENT OF IRISH PRESIDENT MARY ROBINSON AS THE NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS; SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN LAUNCHES A NEW BID TO RESOLVE THE LONG-STANDING DISPUTE BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA OVER EAST TIMOR; THE U-N CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR COMPLAINS AGAIN THAT IRAQ IS INTERFERING WITH HIS MISSION TO FERRET OUT MATERIAL OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION; AND THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY PREPARES TO RECEIVE HEADS OF STATE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK.

TEXT: THE WORLD'S GOVERNMENTS -- WITHOUT A VOTE -- DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND AS THE UNITED NATIONS' TOP HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL. MRS. ROBINSON IS CONSIDERED A STRONG LEADER IN THE AREA. SHE WAS THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE TO VISIT RWANDA AFTER THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN THAT COUNTRY.

ONLY COSTA RICA WAS VISIBLY UNHAPPY WITH THE CHOICE. COSTA RICA HAD BEEN PROMOTING ITS AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON FOR THE JOB AND ANNOUNCED IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE CONSENSUS THAT ENDORSED PRESIDENT ROBINSON.

MARY ROBINSON SUCCEEDS THE FIRST U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER -- JOSE AYALA LASSO OF ECUADOR -- WHO RESIGNED TO BECOME FOREIGN MINISTER OF HIS COUNTRY. MR. AYALA LASSO WAS APPOINTED TO THE NEWLY CREATED POST IN 1994.

-0-

IN ACTIVE PURSUIT OF A SETTLEMENT OF THE DISPUTE OVER EAST TIMOR, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OPENED TWO DAYS OF TALKS THIS PAST WEEK WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA. NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE EMERGED. U-N OFFICIALS CONCEDE BOTH SIDES REMAIN FAR APART. HOWEVER, INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL AGREED TO TALK MORE FREQUENTLY ND MORE REGULARLY. WORKING GROUPS FROM BOTH SIDES WILL MEET AGAIN IN NEW YORK AT THE END OF JULY. THE INDONESIANS SAY THE AGENDA REMAINS FLUID. BUT FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS SIGNALED THE CONCEPT OF AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR IS NOT OPEN FOR NEGOTIATION AT THIS POINT.

INDONESIA INVADED EAST TIMOR IN 1975 AND ANNEXED THE FORMER PORTUGESE COLONY SEVEN MONTHS LATER -- A MOVE THE UNITED NATIONS HAS NEVER RECOGNIZED.

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE JOSE RAMOS-HORTA -- A NATIVE SON OF EAST TIMOR -- CAME TO NEW YORK A FEW DAYS EARLIER TO PROTEST INDONESIA'S OCCUPATION. HE BLAMED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR ALLOWING THE SITUATION TO CONTINU.:

THE UNITED NATIONS ITSELF, PORTUGAL, INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA, THE U-S, JAPAN AND WE -- THE EAST TIMORESE POLITICAL LEADERS -- MUST SHARE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE TRAGEDY THAT HAS AFFECTED THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR. WE HAVE ALL FAILED THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR.

INDONESIA HAS BEEN CHARGED REPEATEDLY WITH WIDE-SCALE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN EAST TIMOR.

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SWEDISH DIPLOMAT ROLF EKEUS HAS AGAIN CHARGED IRAQ WITH DELIBERATELY IMPEDING WEAPONS INVESTIGATIONS. HE TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL IRAQ CANNOT CONTINUE DENYING ACCESS TO SITES HIS INSPECTORS BELIEVE MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL RELATED TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

MR. EKEUS HEADS THE SPECIAL COMMISSION SET UP TO MONITOR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ AFTER ITS ARMY WAS ROUTED FROM KUWAIT IN 1991.

MR. EKEUS SAID IRAQI ACTIONS MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE U-N COMMISSION.

IF IRAQ IS ALLOWED NOW TO DECIDE WHAT WE SHOULD INSPECT, WHEN WE SHOULD INSPECT IT, I THINK THE VALUE OF THE WHOLE MECHANISM AFTER THE GULF WAR WOULD BE PUT INTO QUESTION. THIS IS CHALLENGE TO THE WHOLE CEASE-FIRE ARRANGEMENT AND A CHALLENGE TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WANTED THE COUNCIL TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAQ -- WHICH ALREADY IS UNDER A STRICT TRADE EMBARGO. BUT SEVERAL KEY COUNCIL MEMBERS OPPOSED ADDITIONAL BANS ON IRAQI ACTIVITY -- THOUGH THEY AGREE IRAQ'S BEHAVIOR TOWARD THE INSPECTIONS IS A VIOLATION OF U-N RESOLUTIONS.

INSPECTORS RECENTLY WERE TURNED AWAY FROM THREE SITES, INCLUDING A UNIVERSITY WHERE PROFESSORS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS.

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THE UNITED NATIONS IS PREPARING FOR A FIVE-DAY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STARTING MONDAY THAT WILL BRING HEADS OF STATE TO NEW YORK TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

THE MEETING IS CALLED EARTH SUMMIT PLUS FIVE -- A REFERENCE TO A LANDMARK MEETING IN RIO DE JANEIRO IN 1992 DURING WHICH GOVERNMENTS AGREED TO BAND TOGETHER TO REVERSE THE DEGRADATION OF THE EARTH. THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GREW OUT OF IT ECONOMIC GROWTH LINKED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

NATIONAL LEADERS WILL ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS SCARCE FRESH WATER SUPPLIES, POLLUTION AND FOREST MANAGEMENT. ENVIRONMENTALISTS -- SEEING LITTLE PROGRESS IN FIVE YEARS -- CHARGE GOVERNMENTS WITH LETTING THE MOMENTUM OF RIO SLIP AWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/RRM
20-Jun-97 2:17 PM EDT (1817 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S/ROMANIA NATO (S) BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: ROMANIA'S PRIME MINISTER HAS MET WITH U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TO CONTINUE TO PRESS HIS COUNTRY'S CASE FOR EARLY ADMISSION TO NATO. LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE CLEAR THE UNITED STATES WILL INSIST ON INVITING ONLY HUNGARY, POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO JOIN IN THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION WHEN THE ALLIANCE HOLDS A SUMMIT NEXT MONTH IN MADRID. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE AT THE PENTAGON REPORTS, ROMANIA IS HOPING TO CHANGE SOME MINDS.

TEXT: AS HE GREETED PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CIORBEA ON THE STEPS OF THE PENTAGON, DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN TOLD REPORTERS ROMANIA REMAINS A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR FUTURE NATO MEMBERSHIP, BUT NOT FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO BE INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE NEXT MONTH.

PRIME MINISTER CIORBEA SAYS HE IS SADDENED BY THE U-S POSITION BUT HAS NOT COME HERE TO CREATE NEW PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE. STILL, HE SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO WHAT IT CAN TO PUSH FOR EARLY ADMISSION. HE SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

WE WILL TRY TO ACT UNTIL THE TIME OF THE MADRID MEETING (ROMANIAN TRANSLATION) TO HAVE A VERY WISE DECISION TAKEN THERE, AS WISE AS POSSIBLE.

MUCH OF FRIDAY'S DISCUSSIONS WERE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON STEPS TO PREPARE ROMANIA FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP BY THE TIME A SECOND ROUND OF COUNTRIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN. SECRETARY COHEN HAS SAID ROMANIA FIRST NEEDS TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON DEMOCRACY, CIVILIAN CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/GKT/KL
20-Jun-97 2:10 PM EDT (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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