Voice of America, 97-12-10

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] CLINTON/HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

[03] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THE URGENCY OF KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

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

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

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

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

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

INTRO: A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA HAS ENDED IN BONN WITH A WALKOUT BY SERB DELEGATES. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, THE SERBS WERE UPSET BY THE FINAL CONFERENCE DECLARATION WHICH EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT MINORITY RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAVIA AS WELL AS CALLING FOR TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST THOSE WHO OBSTRUCT PEACE EFFORTS IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL, THE HOST OF THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA, SAID HE REGRETTED THE SERB DELEGATES WALKED OUT OF THE GATHERING. BUT HE SAID HE DID NOT EXPECT THE PROTEST TO DAMAGE THE POSITIVE RESULTS OF THE SESSION.

DURING THE CONFERENCE, DELEGATES FROM 51 NATIONS AGREED TO GIVE MORE AUTHORITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, CARLOS WESTENDORP.

MR. WESTENDORP IS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE AGREEMENT THAT ENDED THE WAR TWO YEARS AGO. HE WILL NOW HAVE GREATER POWER TO RESOLVE DISPUTES THAT HAVE BLOCKED PROGRESS ON A RANGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES..

U-S SPECIAL ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD LAID MUCH OF THE BLAME ON BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS WHO HE SAID HAD BLOCKED PROGRESS ON NEW LAWS ON CITIZENSHIP, PASSPORTS, AND CURRENCY.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS TAKEN A HALF A YEAR TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A PASSPORT AND ON THE CITIZENSHIP LAW IS LUDICROUS. THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T AGREE ON LICENSE PLATES FOR CARS IS DUMB. THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T AGREE ON A FLAG IS INSULTING. WHY IS ALL THIS HAPPENING? THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE. THE SERBS DON'T WANT THE CONCEPT OF THE STATE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE FINAL DECLARATION AT THE CONFERENCE ALSO BACKED AN EXTENSION OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA BEYOND JUNE OF NEXT YEAR AND CALLED FOR CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO MONITOR ELECTIONS AND CREATE AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

BUT IT WAS EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN ABOUT ETHNIC TENSIONS OUTSIDE BOSNIA -- IN YUGOSLAVIA'S MOSTLY ALBANIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO -- THAT TRIGGERED A SERB WALKOUT FROM THE MEETING.

THE HEAD OF THE BOSNIAN SERB DELEGATION, BOSNIAN SERB LEADER MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, ACCUSED THE CONFERENCE OF TRYING TO SNEAK THE KOSOVO ISSUE IN THROUGH WHAT HE CALLED THE BACK DOOR.

U-S ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD SAYS SERB UNWILLINGNESS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE WILL ONLY MAKE TENSIONS IN THE REGION WORSE. HE ACCUSED SERBS OF OVERREACTING. BUT WHEN ASKED IF ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST BELGRADE WOULD BE CONSIDERED, HE SAID "NO."

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA OVERREACTED DRAMATICALLY AND DEEPLY UNFORTUNATELY. I WOULD NOT SAY ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS WOULD BE UNDER CONSIDERATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS HAS HELPED THE CAUSE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA ACHIEVE ANY FORM OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, ACCEPTANCE OR SUPPORT.

MR. GELBARD SAID THE UNITED STATES AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT A DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO, WHERE ETHNIC TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN RECENT MONTHS BETWEEN SERBS AND THE MAJORITY ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/WFR
10-Dec-97 12:45 PM EST (1745 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON/HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL (L-O) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

INTRO: IN NEW YORK TUESDAY, U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON CALLED FOR A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL TO PROSECUTE THE PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAID HE IS PROUD OF HIS ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS. BUT HE SAID THE UNITED STATES MUST CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN COUNTRIES WHERE CIVIL SOCIETY IS FRAGILE, SUCH AS HAITI AND BOSNIA.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES MUST ALSO STRIVE TO BRING THOSE WHO HAVE CAUSED BLOODSHED TO JUSTICE.

OUR NATION IS NOW THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNALS. WE WILL INCREASE OUR SUPPORT NEXT YEAR. WE MUST BRING BOSNIA'S WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. AND I BELIEVE THAT BEFORE THIS DECADE AND THIS CENTURY END, WE SHOULD ESTABLISH A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL COURT TO PROSECUTE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

MR. CLINTON -- IN NEW YORK TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- SAID HE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

MR. CLINTON SAID NEW FORMS OF INJUSTICE -- SUCH AS DRUG CARTELS, ORGANIZED CRIME AND ETHNIC STRIFE -- HAVE EMERGED TO VIOLATE PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS. AND TOO OFTEN, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, EVEN IN DEMOCRACIES, HUMAN RIGHTS MEANS MINORITY RIGHTS.

WHILE WE CELEBRATE THE END OF COMMUNISM AD THE FACT THAT IT HAS ENABLED SO MANY PEOPLE TO AFFIRM THEIR SPECIAL DIFFERENCES -- RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC AND CULTURAL -- WE HAVE ALSO SEEN FROM BOSNIA TO RWANDA THAT OLD HATREDS CAN BECOME THE NEWEST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

MR. CLINTON SPOKE IN NEW YORK AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE, A NEW MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE VICTIMS OF THE WOLD WAR TWO NAZI HOLOCAUST. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BJS/KL
09-Dec-97 10:31 PM EST (0331 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THE URGENCY OF KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS WEEK [12/10/97] SERB DELEGATES FROM YUGOSLAVIA AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WALKED OUT OF A CONFERENCE ON THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS TO PROTEST THE MENTION OF THE TROUBLED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO IN THE FINAL DECLARATION. AND, THEY CALLED KOSOVO AN INTERNAL YUGOSLOV ISSUE NOT TO BE RAISED IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS. INCREASING INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE ATTRIBUTED TO THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AND STEPPED-UP REPRESSION BY SERBIAN POLICE AGAINST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE FOCUSED GREATER INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON KOSOVO IN RECENT WEEKS. SEVEN YEARS AGO THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT ABOLISHED KOSOVO'S AUTOMOMY AND INSTALLED SERBIAN POLICE, COURTS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO REACTED BY BOYCOTTING THE 1991 SERBIAN ELECTIONS AND ELECTING THEIR OWN "SHADOW" GOVERNMENT, LED BY IBRAHIM RUGOVA [ROO-GOH-VAH], WHICH THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PARALLEL SYSTEMS IN KOSOVO -- A STATE SYSTEM OPERATED BY THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND A SYSTEM OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED BY THE ALBANIAN POPULATION. AND THIS WEEK, KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADERS REITERATED THEIR DEMANDS FOR INDEPENDENCE.

TEXT: DAVID PHILLIPS OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY SAYS LACK OF PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND THE RESULTING FRUSTRATION OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS IS LEADING TO "INCREASED MILITANCY," WHICH IS MANIFEST THROUGH ACTIVITIES OF GROUPS SUCH AS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. MR. PHILLIPS IS DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA AND IS AN EXPERT ON SERBIAN-ALBANIAN RELATIONS IN KOSOVO. HE IS ALSO DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH BALKAN PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE ACTION AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. MR. PHILLIPS CALLS FOR ACTIVE, INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO AVOID CONFLICT IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- PHILLIPS (0:42) "IT'S HIGH TIME THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED THAT ALL OF ITS POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN BOSNIA WILL BE AT RISK IF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO LEADS TO THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT AND TO VIOLENCE. AT THE SAME TIME, COUNTRIES LIKE MACEDONIA, WHICH ARE A LINCHPIN FOR STABILITY IN THE REGION, AND IN FACT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE SOUTH BALKANS, WHICH HAS LARGE NUMBERS OF MINORITY POPULATIONS, REQUIRE THERE TO BE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS. THAT CAN ONLY OCCUR IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, BECOMES FULLY ENGAGED IN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY TO STOP THE CONFLICT BEFORE IT WORSENS."

TEXT: MR. PHILLIPS SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS NEED TO TAKE JOINT ACTION. THE FIRST STEP, HE SAYS, IS APPOINTING A SPECIAL ENVOY FOR KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- PHILLIPS ();42) "THERE SHOULD BE DESIGNATED A KOSOVO COORDINATOR IN THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT WHO WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO AMBASSADOR BOB GELBARD [THE U.S. PEACE FACILITATOR]. THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL ENVOY FOR KOSOVO HAS BEEN CALLED FOR IN NUMEROUS CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS, AND IT WOULD ENJOY WIDE SUPPORT ON CAPITOL HILL. AT THE SAME TIME, U.S. LEADERSHIP IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE ACTIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, AT A MINISTERIAL LEVEL, THERE SHOULD BE AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONFLICT PREVENTION IN KOSOVO CONVENED, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS NOT TO IMPOSE A SETTLEMENT, BUT TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR TRANSATLANTIC COOPERATION AND POLITICAL STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM."

TEXT: NEXT, SAYS MR. PHILLIPS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIAL KOSOVO TASK FORCE THAT WOULD REGULARLY MONITOR THE SITUATION THERE. DAVID PHILLIPS OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HAS SEVERAL OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- PHILLIPS (1:07)

THIRD, A CONSULTATIVE GROUP OF BELGRADE-BASED AMBASSADORS AND CHIEFS OF MISSION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE SPECIFIC MANDATE OF WORKING ON CONDITIONS IN KOSOVO. THERE SHOULD BE A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS WITH DIRECT REPORTING FROM THOSE AMBASSADORS AND CHIEFS OF MISSION TO THEIR FOREIGN MINISTERS. FOURTH, THERE SHOULD BE REAFFIRMATION OF THE LINKAGE BETWEEN RELIEF FROM THE 'OUTER WALL OF SANCTIONS' [ON SERBIA] AND THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN KOSOVO. AND FIFTH, SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS BENCHMARKS SHOULD BE ENUMERATED, DRAWING ON THE EXISTING BODY OF LANGUAGE IN VARIOUS U-N RESOLUTIONS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONCERNING THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITION IN KOSOVO. IF THOSE BENCHMARKS ARE NOT SATIFIED BY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITION WITHIN SPECIFIED TIME FRAMES, THERE SHOULD BE TARGETED SANCTIONS ADDED TO THE OUTER WALL OF SANCTIONS."

TEXT: MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE HUMANITARIAN FRONT, MR. PHILLIPS SAYS, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE KOSOVARS AND TO EASE SOME OF THEIR FRUSTRATION.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- PHILLIPS (0:53) "THERE ARE 130,000 KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES BEING REPATRIATED FROM GERMANY AND 40,000 FROM SWITZERLAND. THE SCHEDULE OF THEIR REPATRIATION SHOULD BE DECELERATED, AND THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO CUSHION THEIR RETURN. ON THE HUMANITARIAN FRONT, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, WHICH EMPHASIZE SELF-RELIANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. THESE SHOULD BE PURSUED. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR INTERNATIONAL N-G-O'S. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT DIALOGUE IS IMPORTANT, BUT DIALOGUE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT ENOUGH. THERE NEEDS TO BE DIALOGUE LEADING TO CONTACT, LEADING TO COOPERATION, IN THE FORM OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS, WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS TO INTERACT, AND TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND."

TEXT: MR. PHILLIPS BELIEVES THERE IS NOW GREATER AWARENESS AMONG POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ESCALATING VIOLENCE, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF STEPPED-UP ACTIVITIES BY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. HE SAYS ADDRESSING THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS URGENT, AND HE HOPES THE BOSNIAN TRAGEDY WILL SERVE AS A WARNING.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- PHILLIPS (0:40) "THERE IS A TENDENCY AMONG POLICYMAKERS TO BE REACTIVE. I THINK ANYBODY WHO MONITORS INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IS WELL AWARE OF THAT TENDENCY. CERTAINLY THE SLOW START IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS IN BOSNIA ALLOWED THE CONFLICT TO ESCALATE THERE, AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE RESULTING HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY. KOSOVO IN MANY WAYS IS A TEST CASE FOR PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY. THE L-D-K [KOSOVAR POLITICAL PARTY] AND DR. [IBRAHIM] RUGOVA HAVE RATHER REMARKABLY BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PEACE THERE. THEY WANT TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE POLICY OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE AND NON-VIOLENCE WILL REALIZE TANGIBLE BENEFITS."

TEXT: LJILJANA SMAJLOVIC [LIL-EE-AHN-AH SMY-LOH-VICH], FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR WITH THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE "VREME" [VRAY-MAY], PUBLISHED IN BELGRADE, SAYS THE KOSOVARS "WAITED PATIENTLY" FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE OTHER WARS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. BUT, NOW THEIR PATIENCE IS EXHAUSTED.

TAPE: CUT SIX -- PHILLIPS (0:52) "I THINK THE KOSOVARS HAD HOPED THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE SOME KIND OF BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN KOSOVO. I THINK THESE HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED BY THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN BOSNIA, WHERE THE U.S. HAS LED THIS MORE AGGRESSIVE STANCE TOWARDS REUNIFYING BOSNIA OR AT LEAST NOT ALLOWING BOSNIA TO DRIFT INTO TWO PARTS. THIS IS NOW A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THE KOSOVARS, AND THEY'RE NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW STRATEGY. AND MR. RUGOVA IS IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE HIS PEOPLE ARE TELLING HIM, 'LOOK, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY RESULTS FROM YOUR PACIFIST AND PATIENT STANCE.' SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING INTO IS A VIOLENT CYCLE IN KOSOVO, AND THEN I'M SURE THE KOSOVO ISSUE WILL HAVE TO BE INTERNATIONALIZED."

TEXT: MOST ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE WORSENING SITUATION IN KOSOVO REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IF A CRISIS IS TO BE AVERTED. AND, AREA SPECIALISTS ARE GENERALLY AGREED THAT ARMED CONFLICT IN KOSOVO COULD EASILY SPREAD TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
10-Dec-97 4:18 PM EST (2118 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN IN TRADING WEDNESDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. EDITOR JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES IN EUROPE CLOSED OFF -- AS WEAK ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT AND ADDITIONAL LOSSES ON WALL STREET ENCOURAGED PROFIT TAKING.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 67-POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-AND-ONE-HALF-PERCENT OF THE FRANKFURT MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX DROPPED MORE THAN 46-POINTS, ABOUT NINE-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 27-POINTS, ALSO ABOUT NINE-TENTHS-PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, BUT IT WAS OFF AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/RAE
10-Dec-97 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED DOWN WEDNESDAY ABOUT ONE PERCENT ON CONCERNS ABOUT CORPORATE PROFITS AND THE EFFECT OF ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ON HIGH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE WIDELY-FOLLOWED DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED DOWN 71 POINTS AT 79-HUNDRED-79, WHILE THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 CLOSED DOWN SIX POINTS AT 970.

HARDEST HIT WERE THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS. THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE, WHERE MANY TECHNOLOGY STOCKS TRADE, WAS OFF ABOUT ONE AND ONE HALF PERCENT.

TRADING VOLUME WAS HEAVY IN TECHNOLOGY ISSUES AND MORE THAN 60 MILLION SHARES OF THE ORACLE SOFTWARE COMPANY CHANGED HANDS. ORACLE WAS UP SLIGHTLY FOR THE DAY COMPARED TO A DAY EARLIER WHEN IT LOST ONE-THIRD OF ITS VALUE.

THE BANKING FIRM OF J-P MORGAN SET OFF THE SELLING WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ITS PROFITS WOULD BE LOWER THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF THE ASIAN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. J-P MORGAN STOCK DROPPED FOUR PERCENT.

ONE SENIOR WALL STREET ANALYST, BRIAN FINNERTY, SAYS ONE FACTOR IN THE PRICE DECLINE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY STOCKS IS SO-CALLED "INSIDER SELLING" BY EXECUTIVES OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.

A LOT OF THESE GUYS TAKE THOSE SALES OF STOCK AND THAT'S PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION AND A LARGE PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION IN A LOT OF THEIR COMPANIES. THAT'S HOW A LOT OF THESE SILICON VALLEY MILLIONAIRES HAVE BEEN MADE. THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR MONEY WRAPPED UP IN THESE COMPANIES. THEY HAVE TO DIVERSIFY THEIR MONEY.

ANALYST BRIAN FINNERTY SAYS WHILE MANY OF THESE SILICON VALLEY EXECUTIVES ARE QUITE WEALTHY ON PAPER, THAT WEALTH IS SOMETIMES TOO CONCENTRATED IN THE STOCK OF THEIR OWN COMPANIES.

SOME OF THESE EXECUTIVES, MR. FINNERTY SAYS, SELL STOCK PERIODICALLY TO LOCK IN THEIR PROFITS AND, TO DIVERSIFY THEIR INVESTMENTS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/WFR
10-Dec-97 5:15 PM EST (2215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS DELAYED UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY ITS DELIBERATIONS ON WHETHER TO BAN THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY, THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE PARTY WHICH TOOK POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR IS FACING CLOSURE OVER CLAIMS THAT IT SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE TURKEY'S SECULAR SYSTEM.

TEXT: AFTER A ONE-HOUR SESSION, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SAID THE COURT NEEDS FURTHER TIME TO EXAMINE EVIDENCE AGAINST THE WELFARE PARTY. THE EVIDENCE INCLUDES TELEVISION TAPES OF WELFARE PARTY OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY ATTACKING THE SECULAR TENETS OF THE MODERN TURKISH REPUBLIC, WHICH WAS FOUNDED MORE THAN 70 YEARS AGO BY KEMAL ATATURK.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE, YEKTA GUNGOR OZDEN, HAS BECOME A TOP TARGET OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC PRESS IN TURKEY. MANY ACCUSE HIM OF BOWING TO PRESSURE FROM TURKEY'S MILITANTLY PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES, WHICH PRESSURED WELFARE PARTY CHAIRMAN NECMETTIN ERBAKAN TO RESIGN AS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER IN JUNE.

MR. ERBAKAN AND HIS PARTY FELL AFOUL OF THE MILITARY AFTER REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH A SET OF DIRECTIVES THAT WERE ISSUED BY THE MILITARY-DOMINATED NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. THE DIRECTIVES WERE AIMED AT CURBING THE INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL ISLAM.

MR. ERBAKAN'S OVERTURES TOWARDS COUNTRIES SUCH AS IRAN, LIBYA, AND SUDAN ALSO WORRIED TURKEY'S PRO-WESTERN ELITE ABOUT THE COURSE THE COUNTRY WAS TAKING UNDER ITS ISLAMIST LEADERS.

THE PRO-SECULAR COALITION WHICH CAME TO POWER IN JULY -- HEADED BY CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ -- HAS ADOPTED A SERIES OF MEASURES THAT ARE MEANT TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF THE ISLAMISTS. THESE INCLUDE PHASING OUT JUNIOR HIGH SECTIONS OF ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS TRAINING SCHOOLS, WHERE CRITICS CHARGE YOUNG TEENAGERS ARE BRAINWASHED AGAINST ATATURK AND SECULARISM.

WELFARE PARTY OFFICIALS ARGUE THAT IT IS ISLAM AND NOT THE WELFARE PARTY WHICH IS ON TRIAL. WELFARE PARTY SPOKESMAN ABDULLAH GUL CHARGED (ON WEDNESDAY) THAT THE COURTS WERE BEING LED BY WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS DIRECTIVES FROM EXTERNAL FORCES.

SOME OBSERVERS AGREE THAT THE COURT CASE IS MERELY PROCEDURAL AND THAT THE PARTY'S CLOSURE IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. SHOULD THE PARTY BE BANNED, ITS LEADER, MR. ERBAKAN, WILL LIKELY BE BANNED FROM POLITICS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. HOWEVER, MANY ALSO SAY THAT SHUTTING DOWN WELFARE WILL NOT REDUCE THE PARTY'S STRENGTH. UNLIKE ISLAMIST GROUPS IN OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES, WELFARE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY ARMED GROUPS. RATHER IT IS IN MANY WAYS A TRADITIONAL MAINSTREAM PARTY. ITS CLEAN IMAGE AND ITS ADVOCACY OF THE POOR AND WHAT IT TERMS A JUST SOCIAL ORDER HAS HELPED THE PARTY STEADILY INCREASE ITS SHARE OF THE POPULAR VOTE IN THE PAST DECADE. WELFARE WON ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT OF THE VOTES IN THE LATE 1980'S BUT GOT MORE THAN 20 PERCENT IN THE 1995 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
10-Dec-97 10:27 AM EST (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TUESDAY'S CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON THE CONTINUING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING SCANDAL DRAWS CONFLICTING COMMENTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS. OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE: THE GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE IN JAPAN; THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT SHAKE UP; SUPPORT FOR NAMING BILL LANN LEE TO HEAD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE; AND MORE APPLAUSE FOR GETTING RID OF A DAM IN THE NORTHEAST STATE OF MAINE THAT HARMED THE ENVIRONMENT. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IS _____________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TESTIFIED BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE YESTERDAY ON WHY SHE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING ABUSES. WITH HER WAS FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH, WHO DISAGREES WITH HER ON THE ISSUE. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CRITICIZED THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE::

VOICE: OVER A SPAN OF FIVE HOURS TUESDAY, HOUSE REPUBLICANS GRILLED ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO WITH QUESTIONS THEY KNEW [MS.] RENO COULD NOT, AND WOULD NOT, ANSWER. ALONG THE WAY, [MS.] RENO WAS THREATENED WITH BOTH CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS AND IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS. THIS WAS NOT AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE PROPER USE OF CONGRESS'S INVESTIGATING POWERS... IF REPUBLICANS HOPED TO DRIVE AN EMBARRASSING WEDGE BETWEEN [MS.] RENO AND [DIRECTOR] FREEH, THE EFFORT WAS IN VAIN.

TEXT: TAKING A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW, "THE NEW YORK TIMES," WHICH HAS CONSISTENTLY CALLED FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REQUEST A SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION, TALKS BOTH ABOUT THE HEARING AND SOME NEW WHITE HOUSE MATERIAL THAT HAS JUST BEEN TURNED OVER TO CONGRESS.

VOICE: THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE STORY IS NOT BREAKING LIKE SOME WASHINGTON NEWS. IT IS OOZING. THAT IS WHY JANET RENO WAS BACK ON CAPITOL HILL CARRYING OUT HER ROLE IN THE CLINTON CABINET: OOZE CONTROL. BUT MS. RENO'S SPECIOUS TESTIMONY ABOUT ACTUAL AND APPARENT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST SHOULD NOT DETRACT US FROM THE MORE IMPORTANT EVENTS GOING ON OUTSIDE THE HEARING ROOM, WHERE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS JOINED F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH ON THE LONG AND HONORABLE LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAILED TO EXPLAIN THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ACT TO MS. RENO. ..... THIS IS A STORY THAT NEVER QUITE DIES, FOR THE PRECISE REASON THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FULLY INVESTIGATED IT, AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NEVER FULLY DISCLOSED THE EVIDENCE ...IT IS HOLDING.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE GLOBAL WARMING CONFERENCE, ENDING IN KYOTO, JAPAN, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS ENCOURAGED, REMINDING READERS THAT, WHATEVER IS ACHIEVED BY TREATY IN JAPAN, THE EFFORT TO REDUCE SO-CALLED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS WELL UNDERWAY. AND IT HAS THESE SUGGESTIONS.

VOICE: WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN BEST MOVE THIS EFFORT ALONG BY FOUR MEANS: CREATING TAX INCENTIVES FOR EMISSION-RELATED BUSINESS RESEARCH. FUNDING UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND ITS FLOW TO BUSINESSES. QUICKLY CUTTING TRADE BARRIERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT. NEGOTIATING A GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR TRADABLE EMISSIONS CREDITS TO HELP EVEN OUT ... NATIONAL FUEL DEPENDENCIES AND TRANSPORT NEEDS.

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" IS NOT PLEASED WITH THE PROSPECT OF A GLOBAL WARMING TREATY THAT WILL COMMIT THE UNITED STATES TO REDUCING SUCH GASES AT THE EXPENSE OF ITS ECONOMY, AND ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE SCIENCE ON THIS SUBJECT -- THE EARTH'S WARMING IS NOT DEFINITIVE.

VOICE: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AS WE GO TO PRESS OVERNIGHT, [TUESDAY NIGHT / WEDNESDAY MORNING] THE DELEGATES TO THE KYOTO GLOBAL WARMING SUMMIT WILL HAVE SOMEHOW FOUND ENOUGH CONSENSUS TO SIGN A BINDING AGREEMENT REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES. AND HOW, EXACTLY, DO POLITICIANS FIND IT WITHIN THEIR POWER TO REDUCE SUCH EMISSIONS? BY RAISING TAXES ON SOMETHING. HERE THAT SOMETHING IS ENERGY.

TEXT: THE RECENT TURMOIL IN THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT, WHICH FELL WHEN THE CONGRESS PARTY DROPPED OUT OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER I-K GUJRAL, WHO THEN RESIGNED, DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR."

VOICE: ..... INDIA, THE WORLD'S SECOND MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY, IS IN MID-TRANSITION. THE ERA OF CONGRESS [PARTY] DOMINANCE AND STATIST, PROTECTIONIST ECONOMICS IS PAST. BUT ITS SUCCESSOR IS STILL TAKING SHAPE. ..... ANOTHER PIECE OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS LEFT BY THE GUJRAL GOVERNMENT IS RAPPROCHEMENT WITH PAKISTAN.... INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE CRUCIAL PARTS OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY -- BOTH BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC VIBRANCY AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO SLIP INTO WAR. THEY NEED LEADERSHIP THAT CAN LOOK BEYOND PETTY POLITICS TO REALIZE THE FORMER, AND AVERT THE LATTER."

TEXT: AN UNPRECEDENTED DECISION BY THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, TO REMOVE A 160-YEAR-OLD HYDROELECTRIC DAM ON THE KENNEBEC RIVER IN MAINE BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IT DOES TO SPAWNING FISH, IS DRAWING APPLAUSE FROM SOME PAPERS. "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: IN THIS CASE, THE OLD TEXTILE MILL DAM WAS COSTING MORE IN DAMAGE TO THE RIVER AND ITS FISHERIES THAN THE WORTH OF THE POWER IT PRODUCED..... THE SEARCH FOR CLEANER SOURCES OF POWER TODAY IS FOCUSED ON OTHER ALTERNATIVES: WIND AND SOLAR AND BIOMASS. WHILE GIANT WATER-DRIVEN TURBINES ARE STILL IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INEXPENSIVE POWER FOR PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA, THE FUTURE OF HYDROELECTRIC DAMS IS LIMITED BY A GROWING RECOGNITION THAT THEY CAN HAVE SERIOUS EFFECTS ON WATERSHED ENVIRONMENTS.

TEXT: LASTLY, MORE HOPEFUL SIGNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, AS "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" COMMENTS:

VOICE: IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, THERE WILL BE A HISTORIC MEETING TOMORROW AT [NUMBER] 10 DOWNING STREET. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 76 YEARS, A BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WILL TALK THERE WITH A LEADER OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. THIS TIME AROUND, IT'S TONY BLAIR AND GERRY ADAMS. LAST TIME, IN 1921, IT WAS DAVID LLOYD GEORGE AND MICHAEL COLLINS. ADDS A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE TO THE SEEMING ENDLESSNESS OF THE TROUBLES OF NORTHERN IRELAND, DOESN'T IT? ..... BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENCE IN THE WANING DAYS OF 1997 IS A RENEWED COMMITMENT, BY THE SANER FORCES ON BOTH SIDES, TO VIEW PEACE AS AN ACTUAL POSSIBILITY. AND TO VIEW CONCESSIONS WITH THE SAME CLARITY OF VISION. YOU CAN THANK [MR.] BLAIR FOR THAT. AND [MR.] ADAMS, TOO.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
10-Dec-97 11:32 AM EST (1632 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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