Voice of America, 97-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[02] COHEN-IRAQ-BOSNIA L BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

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

[04] GERMANY / JOBLESS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND / SMITH (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

[06] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

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

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

[01] BOSNIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM 51 NATIONS ARE MEETING IN GERMANY FOR TWO DAYS OF TALKS ABOUT WAYS TO BRING LASTING PEACE TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL OPENED THE SESSION BY SAYING BOSNIA'S MUSLIM, CROAT, AND SERB FACTIONS NEED TO DO MORE IF THEY WANT THE HELP OF THE WEST.

MR. KINKEL TOLD DELEGATES THAT FACTIONS WHO SEEK RECONCILIATION WILL BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE, BUT THOSE WHO OBSTRUCT THE PEACE PROCESS WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS ENDED THE WAR IN BOSNIA, THE COUNTRY REMAINS SHARPLY DIVIDED.

SERB REGIONS, WHICH MAKE UP 49 PERCENT OF BOSNIA, HAVE RECEIVED LITTLE OUTSIDE AID BECAUSE WARTIME LEADERS REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS FROM THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SERB REPUBLIC HAVE FAILED TO REACH EVEN BASIC DECISIONS ON CURRENCY DESIGN, A COMMON FLAG, CAR LICENSE PLATES, OR PASSPORTS.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, FORMER SPANISH DIPLOMAT CARLOS WESTENDORP, TOLD DELEGATES HE NEEDS MORE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE PEACE PLAN.

MR. WESTENDORP, WHO FAVORS A CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA, SAID THAT TOO OFTEN, DECLARATIONS OF GOOD FAITH BY THE PARTIES PROVE TO BE OF FACE VALUE ONLY.

DELEGATES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO DECIDE AT THIS MEETING HOW LONG INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING TROOPS WILL STAY IN BOSNIA. BUT THEY COULD DECIDE TO GIVE MR. WESTENDORP MORE POWER TO SOLVE DISPUTES THAT ARE HOLDING UP RECONSTRUCTION AND RECONCILIATION. (SIGNED)
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09-Dec-97 8:47 AM EST (1347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] COHEN-IRAQ-BOSNIA L BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE CRISIS IN IRAQ HAS EASED, THERE IS NEW HOPE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND THERE IS WORK TO DO IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN IS PUTTING OFF A PLANNED TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST, CITING THE UNCERTAIN SITUATION IN IRAQ AND THE NEED TO STAY CLOSE TO HIS ADVISORS AND CONSULT WITH THE PRESIDENT. BUT MR. COHEN SAYS THERE IS NO SPECIFIC EVENT IN IRAQ THAT PROMPTED THE CHANGE.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE CRISIS HAS EASED SOMEWHAT, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN DEFERRED. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SADDAM HUSSEIN AGREES THERE IS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO UNSCOM INSPECTORS, WE CAN NOT SAY THE CRISIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

MR. COHEN SPOKE WITH REPORTERS AFTER TALKS AT THE PENTAGON WITH SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE MINISTER KIM DONG JIN. MINISTER KIM TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON FOR THE TALKS AFTER MR. COHEN DELAYED AN EARLIER TRIP TO EAST ASIA, ALSO CITING UNCERTAINTIES IN IRAQ.

DEFENSE MINISTER KIM SAYS NORTH KOREA -- WITH A MORE THAN ONE MILLION MAN ARMY -- STILL THREATENS THE SOUTH. BUT MR. KIM SAYS THERE IS NO UNUSUAL TENSION AT THE MOMENT.

SECRETARY COHEN CRITICIZED NORTH KOREA FOR SPENDING MONEY TO FINISH DEVELOPING A NEW, LONGER RANGE MISSILE AT A TIME WHEN MANY IN THAT ISOLATED COUNTRY ARE GOING HUNGRY. AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH MINISTERS SAY THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE START OF PEACE TALKS IN GENEVA BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS, THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART IS THE PROCESS IS ON TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE. AND THAT THEY ARE MEETING AND TALKING, AND NOT SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER AND NOT SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

THOSE TALKS ARE DESIGNED TO REPLACE THE ARMISTICE THAT ENDED THE KOREAN WAR WITH A PERMANENT PEACE TREATY.

MR. COHEN ALSO SAYS MILITARY PLANNERS HAVE WORK TO DO IN BOSNIA. THE MANDATE FOR THE CURRENT NATO-LED STABILIZATION FORCE IN BOSNIA EXPIRES IN JUNE. MR. COHEN SAYS HE MUST CONSULT WITH THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS TO DEVELOP GUIDANCE FOR WHATEVER PEACE KEEPING OPTIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE NEXT. (SIGNED)
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09-Dec-97 2:33 PM EST (1933 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 ON EUROPEAN MARKETS TUESDAY. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE CLOSED MOSTLY DOWN AFTER A SHAKY START ON WALL STREET.

THE ONLY MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKET TO FINISHED UP WAS PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE ALMOST 27 POINTS, ABOUT NINE-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE PARIS MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

BUT PRICES WERE OFF SHARPLY IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 38 POINTS, ABOUT NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, PRICES CLOSED DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR TRADING SESSIONS. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF MORE THAN 10 POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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09-Dec-97 1:47 PM EST (1847 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / JOBLESS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: NEW JOBLESS FIGURES FROM GERMANY SHOW ANOTHER INCREASE LAST MONTH, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE WORST MAY FINALLY BE OVER. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: THE FIGURES FROM THE GERMAN FEDERAL LABOR OFFICE SHOW 31-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE ADDED TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS IN NOVEMBER.

MORE THAN FOUR-POINT-THREE MILLION GERMANS ARE NOW OUT OF WORK NATIONWIDE, ONE OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTALS IN THE COUNTRY'S POST-WAR HISTORY.

THE FORMER EAST GERMAN STATES CONTINUE TO BE WORST OFF, WITH AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF MORE THAN 18 PERCENT -- FAR ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 11-POINT-THREE PERCENT.

BUT DESPITE THE RISING NUMBERS, SOME INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS SAY THEY HAD EXPECTED THE MONTHLY FIGURES TO BE EVEN WORSE IN NOVEMBER.

IN REMARKS ECHOED BY GERMAN OFFICIALS, SOME ANALYSTS SAY THEY NOW BELIEVE GERMANY'S WORST POST WAR UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM MAY BEGIN TO EASE BY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY CANNOT RULE OUT FURTHER MONTHLY JUMPS IN THE JOBLESS NUMBERS. BUT THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE SLOWLY INCREASING ECONOMIC OUTPUT COMBINED WITH THE IMPACT OF RECENTLY APPROVED ECONOMIC REFORMS WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN TO EASE THE PROBLEM. (SIGNED)
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09-Dec-97 8:43 AM EST (1343 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND / SMITH (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

INTRO: IN NEW YORK TODAY (TUESDAY), THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND, JEAN KENNEDY SMITH, SAID SHE BELIEVES THE MAJOR OPPONENT TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- PROTESTANT LEADER IAN PAISLEY -- WILL EVENTUALLY JOIN THE TALKS. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS.

TEXT: AMBASSADOR SMITH SAID THAT DEEP DISTRUST CONTINUES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FACTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE INITIAL PEACE TALKS. BUT SHE BELIEVES THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL MOMENTUM. AND SHE SAID SHE EXPECTS THE DETAILED FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS TO BE READY BY ITS TARGET DATE OF DECEMBER 15TH.

THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY, THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY, HAS BOYCOTTED THE TALKS SINCE THEY BEGAN ONE-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS AGO. BUT AMBASSADOR SMITH SAID SHE EXPECTS MR. PAISLEY TO TAKE A SEAT AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE SOON.

I THINK BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE HIM IN THE TALKS AND THEY CONTINUE TO THINK HE MAY COME INTO THE TALKS AT SOME JUNCTURE WHEN THEY GET CLOSER TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT. SO THAT IS THE PRESENT HOPE. I THINK THAT HE WILL WANT TO BECOME PART OF THE EVENTUAL NEGOTIATIONS SO I THINK IT IS HOPEFUL THAT HE WILL COME IN.

AMBASSADOR SMITH, THE SISTER OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN POLICY, A PRIVATE NEW YORK GROUP THAT HAS BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN BRINGING ABOUT THE PEACE TALKS. THE U-S ENVOY ASKED THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO REACH OUT TO GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN LITTLE ACCESS TO THE PEACE PROCESS.

WOMEN HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST IN THE "TROUBLES." MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS, DAUGHTERS AND SISTERS. THEY HAVE NOT HAD A FAIR SAY. AT FIRST THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO MAKE THEIR OPINIONS HEARD. AND THEN, WHEN THE WOMEN'S COALITION TOOK ITS SEAT AT THE TABLE, ITS MEMBERS WERE TAUNTED, BELITTLED, IN SOME CASES, VERBALLY ABUSED. THIS MUST CHANGE. AND I ENCOURAGE THIS COMMITTE TO GIVE THESE WOMEN A VOICE AND A PLATFORM IN 1998.

YOUNG PEOPLE, THE FUTURE OF IRELAND, ALSO NEED A MORE VISIBLE PRESENCE IN THE PROCESS. YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE NEVER KNOWN PEACE. PERHAPS THIS MAKES THEM MORE RELUCTANT TO BECOME INVOLVED. I URGE YOU TO ENCOURAGE THEM AS WELL.

AMBASSADOR JEAN KENNEDY SMITH SAID AMERICAN INPUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAS GIVEN AN ENORMOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOST TO PARTICIPANTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/RRM
09-Dec-97 5:55 PM EST (2255 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NY ECON WRAP (L ONLY) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED DOWN NEARLY ONE PERCENT IN A SELLOFF LED BY HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE DRIVEN DOWN BY A SELLOFF OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS. THE WIDELY-FOLLOWED DOW-JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 61 POINTS AT EIGHT-THOUSAND-50 WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD-AND-POOR'S 500 WAS DOWN 70 POINTS AT 976.

BUT WALL STREET'S ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE WHICH CLOSED DOWN 31 AT 16-HUNDRED-21. MANY OF THE NASDAQ HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN MOVING UP GRADUALLY FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO, CLOSED AT LOWER PRICES.

ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN COMPANIES FROM CALIFORNIA'S SILICON VALLEY, ORACLE SOFTWARE, SAW MORE THAN 160 MILLION SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S STOCK CHANGE HANDS. THAT SET A ONE DAY TRADING RECORD FOR ALL STOCKS WITH ORACLE LOSING ABOUT ONE THIRD OF ITS VALUE IN A SINGLE DAY.

LARRY ELLISON, THE BRASH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ORACLE WHO IS KNOWN FOR HIS FEUD WITH WILLIAM GATES OF THE MICROSOFT COMPANY, IS THE LARGEST HOLDER OF ORACLE STOCK WITH 227 MILLION SHARES. ON PAPER MR. ELLISON'S LOSS IN ONE DAY OF TRADING IS WELL OVER TWO-BILLION DOLLARS.

THE SELLOFF OF ORACLE STOCK CAME AFTER THE COMPANY REPORTED EARNINGS THAT WERE LOWER HAN EXPECTED BY STOCK ANALYSTS. STRANGELY ENOUGH, AT 18 CENTS A SHARE, ORACLE PROFITS NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO, BUT ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED A GAIN OF 23 CENTS A SHARE. ORACLE SAYS ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS HURT THE COMPANY'S SALES RESULTS.

THE DOW-JONES COMPANY, PUBLISHER OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, KNOWN AS N-B-C, SAY THEY WILL MERGE THEIR INTERNATIONAL CABLE FINANCIAL CHANNELS. N-B-C PRESIDENT BOB WRIGHT SAYS THE TWO MEDIA GIANTS WILL COMBINE THEIR FINANCIAL CABLE CHANNELS IN EUROPE AND ASIA.

INTERNATIONALLY, N-B-C AND DOW-JONES WILL MERGE THEIR EXISTING TELEVISION OPERATIONS IN EUROPE AND ASIA. THE COMBINED SERVICE WILL CARRY THE CNBC BRANC NAME IN THE U-S, IN EUROPE AND ASIA. AND ON THE INTERNET WE WILL DEVELOP A SERIES OF BUSINESS NEWS AND INFORMATION INITIATIVES.

BOTH DOW JONES AND N-B-C ARE BELIEVED TO BE LOSING MONEY ON THEIR RIVAL INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. COMPANY OFFICIALS OF BOTH FIRMS SAY THEY BELIEVE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE LOSSES IN THE NEAR TERM AND BECOME PROFITABLE AS EARLY AS 1999. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
09-Dec-97 4:46 PM EST (2146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MOST POPULAR TOPICS AMONG SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY OF DECEMBER IS MAKING THE U-S MEAT SUPPLY SAFER BY IRRADIATING IT. NOT EVERYONE FEELS THE PUBLIC IS READY TO ACCEPT IT. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE GLOBAL WARMING SUMMIT; THE PROMISE OF SLIGHTLY IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE KOREAS; A CHANGE IN NUCLEAR WARFARE GUIDELINES; THE SHAME OF WINNIE MANDELA; AND THE CONTINUING SCRUTINY OF JANET RENO FOR HER HANDLING OF THE CAMPAIGN FINANCING SCANDAL. NOW, HERE IS _____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE REACTING TO A RECENT DECISION BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW FOOD PROCESSING COMPANIES TO IRRADIATE MEAT TO KILL BACTERIA AND OTHER HARMFUL ORGANISMS, JUST AS THEY NOW DO WITH SOME OTHER FOODS. THE DECISION IS GENERALLY SUPPORTED BY THE PRESS, BUT SOME PAPERS WORRY ABOUT HOW THE PUBLIC WILL REACT. TAKE "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, FOR INSTANCE. ITS HEADLINE SAYS: "IRRADIATING MEAT MAKES SENSE,' BUT THE PAPER ADDS:

VOICE: PEOPLE WHO MIGHT POP A BUN INTO A MICROWAVE OVEN [AN OVEN THAT USES RADIO WAVES TO HEAT FOOD RATHER THAN FUEL] TO MAKE IT TASTE FRESH DON'T WANT THEIR GROUND BEEF IRRADIATED BEFORE PURCHASE. THEIR GROUNDLESS FEAR OF EATING RADIOACTIVE MEAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AMERICANS' MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING NUCLEAR, EVEN WHEN ITS USE PROMOTES FOOD SAFETY.... IRRADIATION OF POULTRY WAS APPROVED YEARS AGO, BUT IT IS RARELY USED BECAUSE OF THE SAME FEAR THAT CONSUMERS WON'T BUY PRODUCTS THEY CONSIDER DANGEROUS. IRONICALLY, IT IS IRRADIATION THAT WILL REDUCE THE DANGER OF FOOD POISONING.... PERHAPS THE FOOD INDUSTRY SHOULD LAUNCH A NATIONAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO DISPEL THE MYTHS ABOUT IRRADIATION AND EXPLAIN ITS BENEFITS.

TEXT: THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" ADDS:

VOICE: RADIATING FOOD IS ONE MORE TOOL TO PUT INEXPENSIVE AND PLENTIFUL FOOD ON AMERICA'S TABLES.... IRRADIATION IS NOT EXACTLY MOTHER NATURE, ["A NATURAL PROCESS,"] BUT NEITHER ARE TODAY'S FOOD SUPPLIES, WHICH ARE SUBJECTED TO PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, ANTIBIOTICS, HORMONES, FACTORY PROCESSING AND LONG-DISTANCE SHIPPING, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: WITH MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SICKENED BY THEIR FOOD, AND 9-THOUSAND KILLED BY FOOD-POISONING EACH YEAR, FOOD SAFETY MERITS MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN IT GETS. AND IT MERITS A FULL SET OF WEAPONS AGAINST THE BACTERIA, VIRUSES, AND FUNGI THAT MAY MAKE FOOD HARMFUL. THAT'S WHY THE ... DECISION TO PERMIT IRRADIATION ... IS WELCOME. THOSE WHO WOULD RUSH TO THE BARRICADES TO FIGHT THE ... DECISION SHOULD BE HEARD WITH A WARY EAR.

TEXT: ON TO KYOTO, JAPAN NOW, AND THE GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE THERE. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-BULLETIN CAUTIONS AGAINST AN OVERLY AMBITIOUS PLAN UNTIL THE SCIENCE IS MORE EXACT.

VOICE: [OPT] RESEARCHERS KNOW REMARKABLY LITTLE ABOUT THE 'GREENHOUSE EFFECT.' ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE IS FIENDISHLY COMPLICATED ... WHETHER ACTIONS BY MEN, SUCH AS THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS, ACTUALLY THREATEN DANGEROUS CLIMATIC CHANGE IS UNKNOWN. THUS, THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN KYOTO ... FACES A HUGE CHALLENGE IN FORGING AGREEMENTS TO MITIGATE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY MAN. QUANTIFICATION IS BRUTALLY DIFFICULT. [END OPT] .... TO IMPOSE A DRAMATIC PROGRAM OF EMISSION CUTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE SCIENCE WOULD IRRESPONSIBLY THREATEN ECONOMIES AROUND THE WORLD AND CAUSE MUCH UNNEEDED SUFFERING.... THINGS CAN BE DONE NOW TO DEAL WITH IT WITHOUT UNDULY JEOPARDIZING LIVING STANDARDS AROUND THE WORLD.... THIS APPROACH BEST FITS THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES OF THE REAL WORLD.

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" HAILS THE START OF PEACE TALKS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA IN GENEVA AS "A LONG-OVERDUE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION."

VOICE: AS NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA -- FLANKED BY THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA -- SIT DOWN TO TALK PEACE TODAY, THE OUTCOME IS FAR FROM GUARANTEED. BUT THIS MUCH IS CLEAR ... IN THIS EVER-SHRINKING, INCREASINGLY INTER-DEPENDENT WORLD ... WHAT HAPPENS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA AFFECTS THE LIVES OF AMERICANS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.... NORTH KOREA ... AT THE PEACE TABLE ... WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PLEASED AT SOME CHANGES IN THE NATION'S NUCLEAR WAR SCENARIO.

VOICE: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SENSIBLY REVISED AMERICA'S NUCLEAR WARFARE GUIDELINES TO CATCH UP WITH THE DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY CHANGES SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THE NEW DOCTRINE, APPROVED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST MONTH [PROVIDES] ... AN IMPROVED NUCLEAR PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT TAKES ACCOUNT OF ARMS CUTS ALREADY AGREED TO AND LEAVES ROOM FOR FURTHER REDUCTIONS.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE RECENT, DAMAGING TESTIMONY AT SOUTH AFRICA'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, REGARDING WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA'S ROLE IN MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND TORTURE, "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND SAYS "WINNIE MANDELA OWES HER FOLLOWERS THE TRUTH," ADDING:

VOICE: ..... HER POLITICAL PARTY, THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, OUGHT TO CUT SHORT ANY ILLUSIONS SHE STILL HARBORS FOR NATIONAL OFFICE. [MS.] MADIKIZELA-MANDELA, ULTIMATELY, FELL PREY TO HER OWN TERRIBLE ZEAL.

TEXT: ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO AND F-B-I CHIEF LOUIS FREEH BEGAN TESTIFYING BEFORE CONGRESS TODAY ON THEIR DISAGREEMENT OVER THE QUESTION OF APPOINTING A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO PROBE CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL WRONG DOING IN LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE. "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" HAS THESE THOUGHTS ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S PAST AND PRESENT PERFORMANCE.

VOICE: WHEN JANET RENO TESTIFIES IN CONGRESS TODAY, SHE WILL HAVE ONE STRONG THING GOING FOR HER [IN HER FAVOR]. SHE ACTUALLY BELIEVES THERE ARE NO GROUNDS FOR APPOINTING AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND [FORMER ENERGY SECRETARY] HAZEL O'LEARY. .... THE WHOLE INTENT OF THIS [SPECIAL COUNSEL] LAW IS THAT IF HIGH OFFICIALS 'MAY HAVE VIOLATED' FEDERAL LAW, ANY ONGOING INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. YET NO DOUBT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL GRIT (FORGE) HER WAY THROUGH THIS LOGICAL MINEFIELD, TELLING US THAT BLACK IS WHITE WITH ALL OF HER USUAL STEELY RECTITUDE.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE DISPUTE BETWEEN MS. RENO AND F-B-I CHIEF LOUIS FREEH OVER APPOINTING THE COUNSEL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS:

VOICE: WE AGREED WITH MS. RENO'S DECISION NOT TO SEEK AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, AND WE DISAGREED WITH MR. FREEH'S OBJECTIONS TO THAT DECISION. AT THE SAME TIME, SHE IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFIT OF HIS HONEST COUNSEL, INCLUDING HIS ANXIETIES ABOUT HER ANALYSIS.... IF THE WHITE HOUSE DOES NOT LIKE WHAT MR. FREEH HAS TO SAY, IT SHOULD NONETHELESS RESPECT THE INDEPENDENCE OF HIS OFFICE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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09-Dec-97 10:41 AM EST (1541 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKISH TROOPS ARE CONTINUING THEIR CROSS BORDER OPERATION AGAINST TURKISH KURD REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE TURKISH CAMPAIGN AGAINST REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (P-K-K) IS CONCENTRATED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS KHARKURK TRIANGLE WHERE THE BORDERS OF IRAN, IRAQ, AND TURKEY MEET.

TEXT: A SPOKESMAN OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (K-D-P), WHICH IS HELPING THE TURKISH FORCES, SAYS P-K-K REBELS HAD INCURRED HEAVY CASUALTIES SINCE FRIDAY WHEN THE OFFENSIVE BEGAN. THE K-D-P IS ONE OF THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTION IN THE WESTERN PROTECTED ENCLAVE AND IS CLOSELY ALLIED TO TURKEY, WHICH REMAINS THE MAIN SUPPLY ROUTE FOR INCOMING AID THE REGION.

KURDISH OFFICIALS SAY THE KHARKURK TRIANGLE -- ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE BECAUSE OF ITS HARSH, FORBIDDING TERRAIN -- IS ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING STRONGHOLDS OF THE P-K-K. TURKISH FIGHTER JETS ARE CONTINUING TO POUND THE REGION AS K-D-P FORCES CONTINUE TO FLUSH OUT THEIR P-K-K RIVALS ON THE GROUND.

THE TURKISH KURD REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS. THEY USE ITS BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO HIT TURKISH MILITARY TARGETS ACROSS THE BORDER.NEARLY 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT.

TURKEY HAS LAUNCHED SIMILAR OPERATIONS IN THE PAST AIMED AT DRIVING THE P-K-K OUT OF NORTHERN IRAQ PERMANENTLY -- BUT WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. ANALYSTS SAY THE TURKISH OFFENSIVES HAVE BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE EVER SINCE K-D-P FORCES JOINED THE BATTLE AGAINST THE REBELS, BECAUSE THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN.

THE TURKISH OPERATION HAS ONCE AGAIN DRAWN CONDEMNATIONS FROM TURKEY'S ARAB NEIGHBORS, NOTABLY IRAQ WHICH DESCRIBED THE INCURSION AS A VIOLATION OF ITS TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY.

IRAQ LOST CONTROL OVER ITS KURDISH NORTH AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR WHEN THE ALLIES SET UP A NO-FLY ZONE OVER THE REGION TO PROTECT IRAQI KURDS FROM POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORCES.

IRAQI KURDS REMAIN A KEY COMPONENT IN THE ANTI-BAGHDAD COALITION. BUT INTERNAL FIGHTING BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND THE RIVAL THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN (P-U-K) HAS WEAKENED THE ANTI- SADDAM ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)
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09-Dec-97 10:02 AM EST (1502 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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