Voice of America, 97-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-U / CURRENCY (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[02] EDITORIAL: CROATIA HANDS OVER WAR CRIMINALS

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

[04] FRANCE / RESIGNATION (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

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

[06] RUSSIA POL (L) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] E-U / CURRENCY (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NEW ECONOMIC FORECASTS SUGGEST THAT ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN EUROPE'S PLANNED SINGLE CURRENCY WHEN IT BEGINS IN JANUARY OF 1999. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: NEW ECONOMIC FORECASTS ON THE STATE OF THE 15 E-U ECONOMIES -- PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- PREDICT THAT ALL E-U NATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR ADOPTING THE NEW SINGLE CURRENCY, THE EURO.

THIS INVOLVES BRINGING DOWN ANNUAL PUBLIC BORROWING TO WITHIN THREE PERCENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. THE STUDIES SUGGEST THAT THIS YEAR, ONLY FRANCE AND GREECE WILL HAVE PUBLIC BORROWING ABOVE THAT FIGURE. NEXT YEAR, ONLY ITALY WILL BE ABOVE THREE PERCENT. HOWEVER, EUROPE'S FINANCE COMMISSIONER, YVES DE SILGUY, SAYS ITALY STILL CAN MEET THE BORROWING TARGET IN 1998 -- IF THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL TURMOIL IS ENDED AND A PROPOSED TOUGH NATIONAL BUDGET IS IMPLEMENTED.

ONLY A FEW E-U COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO MEET THE TARGET OF BRINGING DEBT TO WITHIN 60 PERCENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WITH ITALY AND BELGIUM AT TWICE THAT LEVEL. HOWEVER, THE 60 PERCENT TARGET IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE INTERPRETED STRICTLY. COUNTRIES WILL NOT BE DISQUALIFIED AS LONG AS THEIR DEBT BURDEN IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, EVEN IF THE FIGURE REMAINS ABOVE THE 60 PERCENT LEVEL.

INFLATION IS THE OTHER KEY CRITERIA, AND MOST E-U COUNTRIES -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SPAIN -- ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP TO AROUND TWO PERCENT.

ECONOMIC DATA WILL BE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT IN DECIDING WHICH COUNTRIES WILL QUALIFY FOR THE SINGLE CURRENCY.

DECISIONS WILL BE TAKEN ON THE BASIS OF ACTUAL DATA FOR THIS YEAR, COMBINED WITH POLICIES CONTAINED IN NEXT YEAR'S NATIONAL BUDGETS. UPDATED FIGURES WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE AT A SPECIAL E-U SUMMIT IN BRITAIN IN APRIL OR MAY NEXT YEAR. THE SINGLE CURRENCY IS SET TO BE LAUNCHED ON JANUARY FIRST OF 1999.

THE FORECASTS ALSO SHOW THAT EUROPE'S ECONOMIC GROWTH IS CONTINUING -- WITH A FORECAST GROWTH RATE FOR THIS YEAR OF TWO-POINT-SIX PERCENT RISING TO THREE PERCENT IN 1998. IRELAND HAS EUROPE'S FASTEST-GROWING ECONOMY, WITH A FORECAST GROWTH RATE OF EIGHT-POINT-ONE PERCENT IN 1998. FORECASTS SAID BRITAIN WILL EXPERIENCE THE SLOWEST GROWTH. (SIGNED)
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14-Oct-97 9:24 AM EDT (1324 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: CROATIA HANDS OVER WAR CRIMINALS

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, TEN CROATS SURRENDERED TO THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE SUSPECTS HAD BEEN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF DIRECTING AND CARRYING OUT A SYSTEMATIC MURDER CAMPAIGN AGAINST MUSLIM CIVILIANS IN SEVERAL CENTRAL BOSNIAN VILLAGES IN EARLY 1993. IN THE BLOODIEST ATROCITY, BOSNIAN CROAT MILITIAMEN KILLED MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED MUSLIM CIVILIANS, INCLUDING THIRTY-THREE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IN THE VILLAGE OF AHMICI. NEARLY TWO-HUNDRED HOUSES AND TWO MOSQUES WERE DESTROYED. SOME CIVILIANS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BURIED ALIVE IN THEIR HOMES.

U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD SAID THE SURRENDER OF THE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS WAS A "POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT [THAT] SIGNALS A NEW DETERMINATION BY THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN CROAT LEADERS. . .TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES" UNDER THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. THE BOSNIAN SERBS MUST ALSO LIVE UP TO THEIR DAYTON COMMITMENTS. SO FAR, FIFTY-SIX OF SEVENTY-EIGHT INDICTED MEN REMAIN AT LARGE, INCLUDING THE MOST NOTORIOUS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, BOTH BOSNIAN SERBS. IN FACT, ALL BUT FOUR OF THE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS STILL TO BE APPREHENDED ARE SERBS.

TWENTY WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS ARE NOW IN THE THE HAGUE. SEVEN ARE ON TRIAL, AND THIRTEEN AWAIT TRIAL. ONE SERB SUSPECT WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN JULY WHEN HE RESISTED ARREST BY BRITISH TROOPS.

THE U.S. VIEWS THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF ALL THOSE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CREATING A LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA. BRINGING TO JUSTICE THOSE WHO COMMITTED BRUTAL ACTS OF TERROR AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS WILL HELP HEAL THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND LAY A FOUNDATION FOR A UNIFIED BOSNIAN STATE.

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.
14-Oct-97 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: SHARE PRICES WERE UP A BIT IN PARIS, BUT WERE DOWN IN BOTH LONDON AND FRANKFURT.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED THE FLOOR-TRADING DAY OFF MORE THAN 29 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE FRANKFURT MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. PRICES FELL EVEN MORE IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING.

PRICES WERE DOWN FRACTIONALLY IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FINISHED OFF A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE POINT.

BUT SHARE PRICES ROSE IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS UP MORE THAN FOUR POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND, AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
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14-Oct-97 1:35 PM EDT (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE / RESIGNATION (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE HEAD OF FRANCE'S EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION HAS RESIGNED TO PROTEST A GOVERNMENT DECISION TO CUT THE WORKING WEEK BY LAW. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE SURPRISE RESIGNATION HAS CLEARLY EMBARRASSED FRENCH LABOR UNIONS.

TEXT: JEAN GANDOIS, WHO HAS BEEN HEAD OF FRANCE'S EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION FOR JUST UNDER THREE YEARS, SAID HE WAS STEPPING DOWN BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE WHAT HE CALLED THE "PROFILE" NEEDED TO NEGOTIATE WITH LABOR UNIONS AND FRANCE'S SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT.

MR. GANDOIS SAID THE NEXT HEAD OF THE FEDERATION SHOULD BE WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS "A KILLER." HE SAID HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF MORE OF A NEGOTIATOR, AND HE SAID HE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONALITY TO REPRESENT FRENCH BUSINESS AT FUTURE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND UNIONS.

MR. GANDOIS' STATEMENT IS A REFLECTION OF DEEP-FELT RESENTMENT IN MUCH OF FRENCH BUSINESS AT THE GOVERNMENT'S TRADITIONAL INTERVENTIONIST ROLE IN THE ECONOMY.

WITH FRENCH UNEMPLOYMENT STANDING AT MORE THAN 12 PERCENT, MANY FRENCH INDUSTRIALISTS ARGUE THAT IT IS TIME FOR DEREGULATION AND LESS GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE TO GET THE ECONOMY ROLLING.

THE REASON FOR MR. GANDOIS' ANGER CAME LAST FRIDAY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT INVITED THE EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS TO A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE ON EMPLOYMENT.

ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYERS HAD WARNED THE GOVERNMENT THAT IT WOULD NOT TOLERATE NEW LEGISLATION, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN ANNOUNCED EARLY IN THE MEETING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON INTRODUCE A NEW LAW TO CUT THE LEGAL WORKING WEEK TO 35 HOURS BY THE YEAR 2000. THE 35-HOUR WEEK WAS ONE OF THE PLANKS IN MR. JOSPIN'S PLATFORM WHEN HE CAMPAIGNED SUCCESSFULLY FOR ELECTION LAST JUNE. MEMBERS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION ARGUE THAT IT SHOULD HELP THE CREATION OF NEW JOBS. MANY ECONOMISTS AND INDUSTRIALISTS DISAGREE, SAYING IT WILL BRING LITTLE OR NO CHANGE.

SOME SOURCES PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE SAY MEMBERS OF MR. GANDOIS' DELEGATION ENCOURAGED HIM TO WALK OUT OF THE MEETING. HE REMAINED, HOWEVER, UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY.

ON THE STEPS OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, MR. GANDOIS PROTESTED THAT -- IN HIS WORDS -- "IDEOLOGY HAS TRIUMPHED OVER COMMON-SENSE".

SEVERAL UNION LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED UNEASE AT HIS DEPARTURE. IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF THEM, FRANCE'S LABOR RELATIONS ARE NOW ENTERING "THE ICE AGE." (SIGNED)
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14-Oct-97 10:01 AM EDT (1401 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 (TUESDAY) IN A VOLATILE SESSION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT EIGHT THOUSAND 96, UP 24 POINTS. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 970, UP TWO POINTS.

MAJOR STOCK INDEXES WERE DOWN FOR MOST OF THE DAY BEFORE BUYING PRESSURE CAUSED A REVERSAL LATE IN THE SESSION.

AS EXPECTED, PROFITS ARE STRONG FOR U-S BANKS AND BROKERAGE FIRMS. THE MERRILL LYNCH INVESTMENT COMPANY REPORTED A RECORD QUARTERLY PROFIT, UP ALMOST 50 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR. AND NATIONSBANK, THE FIFTH-LARGEST BANK IN THE UNITED STATES, SAID ITS EARNINGS JUMPED BY 26 PERCENT.

BUT GENERAL MOTORS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTO MAKER, REPORTED A 16 PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS. EVEN SO, THE G-M RESULT WAS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS. KODAK, THE HUGE PHOTOGRAPHIC FIRM, REPORTED ITS EARNINGS DROPPED 43 PERCENT. KODAK SAYS IT WILL SOON ANNOUNCE FURTHER RESTRUCTURING MOVES.

THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN SAYS IT WILL OPEN ITS FIRST LOCATION IN LEBANON NEXT YEAR. MCDONALD'S ALREADY OPERATES IN 105 NATIONS.

THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS HALTED ALL OF THE STATE'S DEALINGS WITH SWISS BANKS. THE TREASURER'S OFFICE IS AWAITING A FULL DISCLOSURE FROM THE BANKS ON THEIR HANDLING OF FUNDS STOLEN FROM HOLOCAUST VICTIMS.

TWO AMERICANS WON THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR ECONOMICS. ROBERT MERTON OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND MYRON SCHOLES OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY WERE HONORED FOR THEIR WORK IN DEVELOPING A FORMULA TO VALUE DERIVATIVES. DERIVATIVES ARE CONTRACTS WHICH ARE DERIVED OR LINKED TO UNDERLYING ASSETS SUCH AS STOCKS, BONDS OR COMMODITIES. DERIVATIVES HAVE BECOME AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WORLD FINANCIAL MARKETS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
14-Oct-97 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] RUSSIA POL (L) BY MICHELE KELEMEN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HE WILL STEP DOWN IF THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT APPROVES A NO- CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT. AS V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, LAWMAKERS ARE PREPARING TO VOTE ON THE MEASURE WEDNESDAY.

TEXT: MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HE IS NOT TRYING TO THREATEN ANYONE. BUT ON THE EVE OF THE NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE, HE MADE CLEAR HE IS READY TO TAKE ACTION.

THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WILL NOT WORK IN WHAT HE CALLS THIS STATE OF SUSPENSE. HE ADDS EVERYTHING WILL BE RESOLVED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CONSTITUTION -- NOT IN THREE MONTHS, BUT MUCH SOONER.

THREE MONTHS IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE DUMA HAS TO PASS TWO NO-CONFIDENCE MOTIONS. THAT WOULD FORCE PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO EITHER DISSOLVE THE GOVERNMENT OR THE DUMA. PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S SPOKESMAN SAYS THE RUSSIAN LEADER STILL HOPES FOR COMPROMISE.

THE SPOKESMAN, SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKY, SAYS THE DUMA HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE VOTE. BUT HE SAYS IT WILL NOT RESOLVE THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS.

SOME OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE PREDICTING THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION WILL BE APPROVED. TO PASS, 226 OF THE 450 DEPUTIES MUST VOTE FOR IT. BUT EVEN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV, WHO INTRODUCED THE MOTION, SAYS IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THE VOTE WILL GO. ALREADY, MEMBERS OF THE DUMA HAVE MADE COMPROMISES IN THEIR BATTLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER TIGHT BUDGET CUTS. LAST WEEK, THE DUMA AGREED TO SET UP A JOINT COMMISSION WITH THE CABINET AND THE UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT TO REVISE THE DRAFT 1998 BUDGET. PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN TOOK PART IN A COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY AND EXPRESSED OPTIMISM ALL SIDES CAN REACH AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
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14-Oct-97 11:50 AM EDT (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE FALLING CRIME RATES COME IN FOR SOME ATTENTION IN TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS, AS DOES THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES INCLUDE: THE CONTROVERSY ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE IRREGULARITIES IN THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN AND THE MOVE IN CONGRESS TO REFORM THE SYSTEM; THE LAND- MINE ARGUMENT; AND MORE PRAISE FOR THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS COMMENTING ON THE RECENT F-B-I STATISTICS THAT SERIOUS CRIME IS DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, IN ALMOST ALL CATEGORIES.

VOICE: "CRIME RATES HAVE DECLINED FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. F-B-I STATISTICS SHOW THAT VIOLENT CRIMES FELL SIX PERCENT IN 1966 FROM 1995, AND NATIONAL MURDER RATES REACHED THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1969. PROPERTY CRIME RATES CONTINUE TO FALL STEADILY, WITH BURGLARY DOWN BY NEARLY HALF SINCE 1980. ..... CRIMINOLOGISTS OFFER MANY GUESSES FOR WHY CRIME IS DROPPING, BUT IN THIS FIELD ....... FEW AGREE ON WHICH FACTORS HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT OR HOW LONG THE TREND CAN LAST. ..... WHATEVER THE NATIONAL DATA SUGGEST, THE EVIDENCE OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY ARGUES THAT BETTER POLICING HELPS."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR APPLAUDS THE DROP, BUT DEPLORES THE APPARENT RISE IN SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.

VOICE: "IN ..... NEW JERSEY, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY... WAS KILLED WHILE SELLING CANDY AND WRAPPING PAPER DOOR-TO-DOOR TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE P-T-A [PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION]. IN ...... CONNECTICUT, A 13-YEAR-OLD .....WAS LURED AWAY BY AN OLDER TEENAGER AND MURDERED. AND ANOTHER TEN-YEAR-OLD .... FROM ..... MASSACHUSETTS WAS KILLED BY TWO MEN WHO ... BEFRIENDED HIM. ..... THOUGH SERIOUS REPORTED CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES DECLINED IN 1996 FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, ACCORDING TO F-B-I STATISTICS, THE VIOLENT DEATH OF EVEN ONE CHILD IS UNACCEPTABLE."

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IN BRASILIA, THE CAPITAL OF BRAZIL, THE SECOND STOP ON HIS LATIN AMERICAN VISIT, AND IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN COMMENTS ON THE TRIP.

VOICE: "[OPT] SOUTH AMERICA HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST U-S PRESIDENT, GEORGE BUSH, VISITED IN 1990. IT IS MORE DEMOCRATIC, MORE PROSPEROUS, MORE MODERN AND HAS FREER MARKETS. [END OPT] PRESIDENT CLINTON['S] ...... MISSION DIFFERS FROM PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL DESCENTS ON THE CONTINENT. .......... WHEN MR. CLINTON TOUTS [ENCOURAGES] FREE TRADE TO SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS, HE IS PREACHING TO A NEWLY CONVERTED CHOIR. MR. CLINTON'S TARGET AUDIENCE IS BACK ON CAPITOL HILL. CONGRESS IS RELUCTANT TO EXTEND THE 'FAST TRACK' TRADE NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY THAT MR. CLINTON AND PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND NIXON ENJOYED. ..... FAST TRACK .... IS VITAL FOR THE COMPLEX MATTERS COMING FROM THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GRANDSTAND IN SOUTH AMERICA TO GET IT."

TEXT: TO THIS DEBATE, NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND ADDS, "ROOT FOR [MR.] CLINTON TO WIN 'FAST TRACK' TRADE LEGISLATION. IT'LL BE GOOD FOR OUR REGION." [END OPT] BACK DOMESTICALLY, AND REGARDING THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEMOCRATIC FUND RAISING PROBLEMS, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, JANET RENO, IS BECOMING MORE AGGRESSIVE TOWARD THE WHITE HOUSE'S ROLE.

VOICE: "SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH COULD EMERGE AS A PIVOTAL DATE IN THE INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1966 FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. ON THAT DATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO MADE THE FIRST TENTATIVE EFFORTS TOWARD TURNING THE ["] BATTLESHIP ["] OF HER OWN STUBBORNNESS. MS. RENO IS STILL RESISTING THE APPROPRIATE STEP OF USING HER DISCRETIONARY POWERS TO APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. BUT HER REMARKS ON NBC'S 'MEET THE PRESS' SUGGEST THAT SHE IS COMING INTO BETTER CONTACT WITH THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL REALITIES OF THE CAPITOL."

TEXT: THE AWARD OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BAN LANDMINES ..... HAS INTENSIFIED AN ALREADY LIVELY DEBATE. TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES SIDES WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN REFUSING TO JOIN THE BAN BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL SITUATION IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE BETWEEN THE KOREAS.

VOICE: "..... WASHINGTON'S REFUSAL TO SIGN THE TREATY IS BY NO MEANS AS UNCARING AS SOME CRITICS WOULD HAVE IT. WHAT MOST WORRIES THE PENTAGON AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS THAT A BAN ON LAND MINES WOULD MAKE IT FAR HARDER AND MORE COSTLY FOR SOUTH KOREA AND THE 37-THOUSAND AMERICAN TROOPS ...... STATIONED THERE TO DEFEND AGAINST A NORTH KOREAN INVASION. FOR THAT REASON WASHINGTON SOUGHT AN EXCEPTION TO THE BAN ON LAND MINES ..... AN EXCEPTION .... WARRANTED, SINCE VIRTUALLY NO UNINTENDED THREAT TO KOREAN CIVILIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES, HOWEVER, DISAGREES:

VOICE: "A BAN ON LAND MINES HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY MANY RETIRED GENERALS AND 60 AMERICAN SENATORS, INCLUDING EVERY MEMBER OF THE SENATE WHO SAW COMBAT IN VIETNAM. MR. CLINTON SHOULD CHANGE HIS MIND AND SIGN THE TREATY IN DECEMBER. IT WILL SAVE LIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS."

TEXT: TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, ESPECIALLY BY YOUTHS, AFTER A SERIES OF ALCOHOL POISONINGS RECENTLY KILLED SEVERAL COLLEGE STUDENTS.

VOICE: "COLLEGE DRINKING MADE HEADLINES THIS FALL AFTER FRATERNITY PLEDGES [PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS] AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DIED FROM [BINGE DRINKING]. .... THE TRAGEDIES HAVE PROMPTED COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RE-EXAMINE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS REGARDING ALCOHOL USE. BUT EDUCATION ON THE RISKS OF BINGE DRINKING CANNOT WAIT UNTIL FRESHMAN ORIENTATION. ..... EVERYONE MUST TAKE UNDERAGE DRINKING MORE SERIOUSLY, SINCE IT'S CLEAR THAT TEENAGERS ARE DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT DRINKING."

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD, CONTAINS THIS TRIBUTE TO THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE AND ITS RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS.

VOICE: "WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, WHOOPS OF JOY AND GLEE ARE HEARD FROM THE INNER SANCTUMS OF NORMALLY STAID SCIENTIFIC LABS ...... SCIENTISTS STUDYING DATA GATHERED BY THE TWO-BILLION-DOLLAR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE ARE UNCORKING AUDACIOUS, INCONCEIVABLE, WONDROUS THINGS, UNHEARD-OF CONCEPTS, IMPLAUSIBLE CONVERGENCES OF SPACE, TIME, AND MATTER. .... WITH EACH NEW DISCOVERY, SCIENCE INCHES EVER CLOSER TO UNRAVELING A MYSTERY OF THE UNIVERSE. .... THERE IS NO DENYING HUBBLE'S CENTRAL ROLE. IT HAS UNLEASHED THE WORLD'S IMAGINATION AND ENERGIZED COSMOLOGY .... THE RESULTS ARE POURING IN ..... HUBBLE IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME FAREWELL COMMENTS FOR THE POPULAR COUNTRY AND FOLK SINGER JOHN DENVER WHO WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH OF HIS SMALL, EXPERIMENTAL PLANE OVER THE WEEKEND. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES LAMENTS HIS PASSING:

VOICE: "AS A SONGWRITER, JOHN DENVER DEFINED A SPECIFIC SENSIBILITY OF THE AMERICAN WEST. HE ALSO REINVENTED HIS MUSIC FOR DIFFERENT AMERICAN DECADES, AFTER REINVENTING HIMSELF. .... AS THE FIRST AMERICAN ARTIST TO TOUR IN CHINA, VIETNAM AND THE SOVIET UNION WHEN THE COLD WAR BEGAN EASING, [MR.] DENVER USED HIS MUSIC AS A KIND OF DIPLOMACY. .... HE WAS CHASING ANOTHER LOVE, AVIATION, WHEN HE DIED SUNDAY IN THE CRASH OF A SMALL PLANE HE WAS PILOTING. JOHN DENVER MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS LIVED UP TO THE IDEALS OF HIS LYRICS. BUT HE STRUCK A SOOTHING, UPBEAT CHORD DURING THREE TURBULENT DECADES OF AMERICAN LIFE."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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14-Oct-97 10:48 AM EDT (1448 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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