Voice of America, 97-09-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: SCOURGE OF ETHNIC CONFLICT BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] EAST EURO INVESTMENT (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

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

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S ONLY) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: SCOURGE OF ETHNIC CONFLICT BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN MANY OF THE WORLD'S NEW DEMOCRACIES, ETHNIC CONFLICT HAS ESCALATED OVER THE PAST DECADE. FOR EXAMPLE, TENSIONS BETWEEN MAJORITY AND MINORITY POPULATIONS HAVE INCREASED IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM.

TEXT: THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS HAS BEEN WORKING SINCE 1991 WITH LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO ETHNIC PROBLEMS. THE PROJECT ON ETHNIC RELATIONS, OR PER [SOUNDS LIKE PURR], IS A U-S BASED NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, PRINCIPALLY THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, FOR EXAMPLE, PER HAS ORGANIZED ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ALBANIAN LEADERS IN KOSOVO AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY. PER HAS ALSO ADDRESSED THE SITUATION OF THE HUNGARIAN MINORITES IN ROMANIA AND SLOVAKIA, WHICH LED TO THE SIGNING OF STATE TREATIES BETWEEN HUNGARY AND ITS NEIGHBORS. ONE OF THE MAJOR FOCUSES OF PER'S WORK HAS BEEN ON THE SITUATION OF THE ROMA, OR "GYPSIES," WHO IT SAYS CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST MINORITY GROUP IN EUROPE. PER'S PRESIDENT, ALLEN KASOFF, SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION TRIES TO CREATE A CLIMATE IN WHICH CONTENDING PARTIES CAN MEET IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN OPENLY DISCUSS ISSUES WITHOUT COMMITTING THEMSELVES, AS THEY WOULD HAVE TO IN A MORE FORMAL SETTING SPONSORED BY GOVERNMENTS. OFFERING GROUPS A CHANCE TO MEET, MR. KASSOFF BELIEVES, IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S WORLD.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- KASSOF (0:23) "AS THIS CENTURY TURNS, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF INTERGROUP RELATIONS IS GOING TO BE VERY HIGH ON THE WORLD AGENDA -- BY THE WAY NOT JUST IN EASTERN EUROPE AND NOT JUST IN THE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, BUT ON A GLOBAL BASIS. WE SEE IT IN AFRICA, WE SEE IT IN ASIA, WE HAVE OUR OWN VERSION OF IT IN AMERICA. WHAT YOU SEE NOW GOING ON IN EASTERN EUROPE IS ONLY ONE CHAPTER OF A MUCH MORE GENERAL PHENOMENON THAT WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND."

TEXT: ERAN FRAENKEL IS DIRECTOR OF THE MACEDONIAN OFFICE OF SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND, ANOTHER U-S-BASED NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS IN THE FIELD OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION. MACEDONIA IS THE ONLY SUCCESSOR STATE OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO ESTABLISH ITS INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT RESORTING TO WAR. DESPITE SERIOUS TENSIONS BETWEEN ITS MAJORITY ETHNIC MACEDONIAN POPULATION AND ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN AND TURKISH MINORITIES, MACEDONIA HAS THUS FAR AVOIDED THE FATE OF NEIGHBORING BOSNIA. MR. FRAENKEL SAYS THAT FEAR, MISTRUST, AND INTOLERANCE ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES THAT LEAD TO ETHNIC VIOLENCE.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- FRAENKEL (0:36) "EVERYBODY CARRIES A LOT OF FREIGHT [PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS], AND WHAT SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IS TRYING TO DO IS TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO NOT ACT ON THAT FEAR, BUT TO TRY TO MARSHALL THOSE FEELINGS AND THAT ENERGY. WE TRY TO GET THEM TO MARSHALL THOSE ENERGIES TOWARDS CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS WHICH ARE POSSIBLE. YOU NEED INTERVENTION IN MACEDONIA AT VARIOUS LEVELS. THE MACEDONIAN CITIZENRY ITSELF NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT INTERVENTION, NOT JUST THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. BUT PEOPLE WILL ONLY MARSHALL THOSE ENERGIES IF THEY THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE SITUATION."

TEXT: ERAN FRAENKEL SAYS SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IN MACEDONIA HAS LAUNCHED SEVERAL PROJECTS TO DEVELOP A "CULTURE OF PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION." IT HAS BEGUN INSTITUTIONALIZED CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH UNIVERSITY. IT HAS ORGANIZED THE FIRST INTERETHNIC JOURNALISM PROGRAMS IN BOTH PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA TO ALLOW REPORTERS OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE SAME STORY. AND, IT HAS ESTABLISHED AN INTERETHNIC PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND MACEDONIA'S CULTURAL MONUMENTS.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL OBSERVERS HAVE CHARGED THE NEWS MEDIA AND DIPLOMATS WITH CONTRIBUTING TO THE POLITICS OF ETHNIC DISSOLUTION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. AS A RESULT, SAYS IAN WILLIAMS, U.S. EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE "WAR REPORT," MANY ORDINARY CITIZENS AND WESTERN POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE ACCEPTED THE MYTH OF "ANCIENT HISTORICAL HATREDS" AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN CURRENT ETHNIC BATTLES.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- WILLIAMS (0:41) "THE WORST WAS WHEN I HEARD A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TALK ABOUT THE '4,000-YEAR-OLD ANCIENT ETHNIC HATRED IN THE BALKANS.' I ATTACKED HIM WITH IT, AND SAID, 'YOU MEAN THESE PEOPLE WERE HITTING EACH OTHER WITH STONE AXES 3,000 YEARS BEFORE A SLAV EVER TURNED UP IN THE AREA?' AND THEN IT'S DIFFICULT SORTING OUY THE ATROCITY-MONGERING. A SERB NATIONALIST WILL TELL YOU TO IGNORE WHATEVER IS HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT, AND IT CAN BE JUSTIFIED BY WHAT THE CROATS PRO-FASCISTS DID IN 1945, OR THEY'LL REFER TO WHAT THE TURKS DID IN 1380. THERE'S A SORT OF LOADING UP OF MASSACRES ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER THAT EXONERATES WHAT YOU DO AT THE MOMENT. AND OF COURSE THERE ARE A LOT OF HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS FOR THIS."

TEXT: IAN WILLIAMS SAYS, IN SITUATIONS OF ETHNIC CONFLICT, GROUP RIGHTS OFTEN TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. FOR EXAMPLE, POPULATION TRANSFERS LEGITIMIZED BY INTERNATIONAL TREATY HAVE ALLOWED ETHNIC AND NATIONAL GROUPS TO BE FORCIBLY MOVED ACROSS BORDERS, REMOVING FAMILIES FROM THEIR HOMES.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- WILLIAMS (0:43) "AT THE END OF THE WAR BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY IN 1922, THERE WAS A POPULATION TRANSFER. THEY AGREED THAT THEY WOULD JUST SHIFT A FEW MILLION GREEKS ONE WAY AND A FEW MILLION TURKS THE OTHER WAY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN OUR [ANGLO-AMERICAN] CONTEXT IS ALMOST INCONCEIVABLE. YET, IT'S PRECISELY WHAT WE DID WITH THE POLES AND THE SUDETEN GERMANS AT THE END OF THE WAR. AT LEAST, WE CONDONED IT. THE NATIONALISTS IN EACH GROUP ARE CONVINCED THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS OUT TO RAPE THEIR WOMEN, STEAL THEIR LAND, RUIN THEIR NATIONAL PATRIMONY. THE REAL PROBLEM IS, HOW TO STOP THOSE MINORITIES FROM DOMINATING THE SOCIETY. TAKE SOMEWHERE LIKE LEBANON, WHERE PEOPLE HAD BEEN LIVING FAIRLY HAPPILY TOGETHER. ONCE THE CIVIL WAR STARTED, PEOPLE TOOK SIDES BECAUSE THEY HAD TO -- FOR SURVIVAL. YOU'RE FORCED INTO THOSE LOYALTIES FOR SURVIVAL'S SAKE BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO LOOK AFTER YOU."

TEXT: ETHNIC CONFLICT IS RENDING THE SOCIAL FABRIC IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD. IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE WILL FOCUS ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE NEW DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, WHERE SINCE WORLD WAR II COMMUNIST REGIMES HAD SUPPRESSED UNDERLYING ETHNIC TENSIONS. IN THIS REGION, TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY HAS MEANT NOT ONLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FREE MARKET ECONOMY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA, BUT THE UNLEASHING OF NATIONALIST DREAMS AND ETHNIC DISCORDS.
30-Sep-97 1:48 PM EDT (1748 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EAST EURO INVESTMENT (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: EXPERTS ATTENDING A U-N CONFERENCE ON PROMOTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE SAY THOSE COUNTRIES THAT OPEN THEIR MARKETS AND LIBERALIZE THEIR POLICIES WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING MONEY FROM ABROAD. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE EXPERTS ARE URGING THESE COUNTRIES TO SPEND BOTH MORE MONEY AND EFFORT IN MARKETING THEMSELVES TO FOREIGN INVESTORS.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS REPORTS THAT POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY CONSISTENTLY DO BETTER THAN THE OTHER FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. THAT'S DUE IN PART TO THE SPEED OF ECONOMIC REFORM AND LIBERAL PRIVATIZATION POLICIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES. THE EXPERTS SAY THE KEY TO ATTRACTING PRIVATE INVESTMENTS LIES IN DEVISING POLICIES THAT CREATE A GOOD OPERATING CLIMATE FOR BUSINESSES.

CORINNE NAMBLARD IS CHAIRWOMAN OF A GROUP OF PRIVATE-SECTOR EXPERTS WORKING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS. SHE SAYS THE SO-CALLED TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES OF EUROPE MUST LEARN HOW TO MARKET THEMSELVES. SHE SAYS PRIVATE PROMOTERS CAN HELP THESE COUNTRIES, USING SOME BASIC INFORMATION.

HELP US WITH FACTS, DATA, STATISTICS. BE SPECIFIC WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS. PROVIDE US INFORMATION ON A WIDE BASIS. MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS DISSEMINATED CORRECTLY.

INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES DIDN'T EXIST IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE BEFORE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM. AND THAT, SAYS U-N TRADE AND INVESTMENT ADVISER GEOFFREY HAMILTON, SOMETIMES RAISES SKEPTICISM AMONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THERE.

THE CONCEPTS OF MARKETING, AND ADVERTISING, PROMOTING --THOSE CONCEPTS ARE NEW IN THESE COUNTRIES. SO THEY HAVE PROBLEMS IN GETTING RESOURCES. AND, THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE FIGURE THAT HAS COME OUT OF OUR RESEARCH THAT OF A TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL CONTRIBUTION TO ALL THESE INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES, THERE'S A FIGURE OF SEVEN-POINT-EIGHT MILLION U-S DOLLARS.

MR. HAMILTON BELIEVES THESE AGENCIES ARE DOING A REMARKABLE JOB. BUT HE SAYS UNLESS THEY GET MORE MONEY, THE AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR CLIENTS COMPETITIVE WITH WESTERN COUNTRIES IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF/RRM
30-Sep-97 12:05 PM EDT (1605 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRICES ADVANCED ON THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE TUESDAY, AND GOLD STAGED A RALLY. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM LONDON AND V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH.

TEXT: WALL STREET'S STRONG SHOWING ON MONDAY AND STRENGTH OF THE U-S DOLLAR WERE TWO FACTORS CITED BY MARKET ANALYSTS FOR ADVANCES POSTED IN EUROPE TUESDAY.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS ADDED ALMOST 24 POINTS TO CLOSE AT A NEW RECORD HIGH. GERMANY'S "DAX 30" INDEX ON THE FRANKFURT MARKET POSTED A HEALTHY 63-AND-A-HALF POINT GAIN. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 19 POINTS -- OFF SOMEWHAT FROM EARLIER GAINS IN THE DAY.

THE U-S DOLLAR SOLD FOR ALMOST A PFENNIGE MORE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND ADDED A HALF-CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

DEMAND FOR GOLD SENT PRICES SOARING TUESDAY. THE LONDON CLOSING FIX WAS 333-DOLLARS-35 CENTS -- UP SIX-AND-A-HALF DOLLARS AN OUNCE FROM MONDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/MMK
30-Sep-97 1:59 PM EDT (1759 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] N-Y ECON WRAP (S ONLY) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) DESPITE THE U-S CENTRAL BANK'S DECISION TO LEAVE INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 45, DOWN 46 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 947, DOWN SIX POINTS.

THE U-S CENTRAL BANK DECIDED TO LEAVE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAD NO INFLUENCE ON STOCK PRICES BECAUSE THE CENTRAL BANK DECISION WAS EXACTLY WHAT WALL STREET HAD EXPECTED. INSTEAD, ANALYSTS SAID, TRADERS ARE NOW CONCERNED ABOUT COMING REPORTS ON CORPORATE EARNINGS.

A MONTHLY SURVEY OF U-S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WAS UP MODESTLY THIS MONTH. ECONOMISTS SAY THE SURVEY SIGNALS CONTINUED EXPANSION.

NEW HOME SALES IN THE UNITED STATES FELL LAST MONTH BY MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. DESPITE THAT, ANALYSTS SAY THE NATION'S HOUSING MARKET REMAINS HEALTHY.

HOLDERS OF STOCK OF THE I-T-T CORPORATION WILL VOTE NOVEMBER 12TH TO DECIDE WHETHER THE COMPANY SHOULD BE SPLIT INTO THREE SEPARATE FIRMS. I-T-T, A MAJOR HOTEL AND CASINO COMPANY, HAD ANNOUNCED THE BREAK-UP PLAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AS A STRATEGY TO RESIST A HOSTILE TAKEOVER ATTEMPT BY THE HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION. A FEDERAL COURT HAS RULED I-T-T SHAREHOLDERS MUST VOTE ON THE BREAK-UP PLAN FOR IT TO BE VALID.

A U-S TRADE COMMISSION JUDGE HAS RULED THAT THE "TOYS R US" COMPANY USED ITS POSITION AS THE LARGEST U-S TOY RETAILER TO KEEP CERTAIN TOYS OUT OF COMPETITORS' STORES. THE JUDGE ORDERED "TOYS R US" TO STOP MAKING DEALS WITH MANUFACTURERS TO WITHHOLD TOYS FROM OTHER RETAILERS. "TOYS R US" DENIES ANY WRONGDOING AND PLANS TO APPEAL THE RULING.

A NATIONAL STRIKE IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY IN PUERTO RICO TO PROTEST THE PENDING SALE OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE U-S COMMONWEALTH. WORKERS FEAR PRIVATIZATION OF THE PHONE COMPANY WILL MEAN JOB LOSSES. THE PUERTO RICAN GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO RAISE MORE THAN THREE BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE SALE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
30-Sep-97 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S SENIOR MINISTER IN CHARGE OF NORTHERN IRELAND (MS) MO MOWLAN -- SAYS IT IS TIME NOW FOR THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE PROVINCE TO BEGIN SUBSTANTIVE TALKS ON ITS FUTURE. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE AGENDA FOR MULTI-PARTY TALKS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO GET INTO HIGH GEAR (FULL PARTICIPATION) NEXT WEEK.

SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE BRITISH PROVINCE CAN NOW BEGIN AFTER PARTIES LAST WEEK AGREED TO SEPARATE POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS FROM THE ISSUE OF DECOMMISSIONING WEAPONS -- THAT IS, HOW TO GET PARAMILITARY GROUPS SUCH AS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TO HAND IN THEIR WEAPONS. THAT ISSUE WILL NOW BE DEALT WITH BY A SEPARATE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION.

ADDRESSING THE RULING LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE NOW UNDERWAY IN THE BRITISH COASTAL RESORT OF BRIGHTON, THE SENIOR MINISTER IN CHARGE OF NORTHERN IRELAND -- MO MOWLAN -- DESCRIBED TO DELEGATES THE TASK NEGOTIATORS FACE IN BELFAST.

WHAT I HOPE WILL HAPPEN IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD WILL BE NEGOTIATIONS IN THREE KEY AREAS. FIRST WILL BE A FAIR AND BALANCED DEVOLUTION PACKAGE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND. SECOND WILL BE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC. AND THIRDLY WILL BE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS. //OPT// WE HAVE TO REACH AGREEMENTS ON EACH OF THESE THREE TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF THE TALKS.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS SET A MAY, 1998 DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF THE TALKS -- AND THE AGREEMENT REACHED LAST WEEK SEPARATING POLITICAL ISSUES FROM DISARMAMENT KEEPS THE NEGOTIATIONS ON TRACK. //REST OPT// HOWEVER MS. MOWLAN INDICATED THERE WILL BE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD.

WE HAVE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT AND THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD. BUT THERE ARE STILL TIMES IN NORTHERN IRELAND WHEN THE SHEER RAWNESS OF THE SECTARIAN HATRED AND BIGOTRY NEVER CEASES TO SURPRISE ME.

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