Voice of America, 98-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO / RUSSIA KOSOVO BY RON PEMSTEIN (LUXEMBOURG)

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

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

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

[05] DENMARK / E-U VOTE (S AND L VERSION) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] CLINTON/KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[07] CLINTON / IRELAND (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[01] NATO / RUSSIA KOSOVO BY RON PEMSTEIN (LUXEMBOURG)

INTRO: NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE MET WITH THEIR PARTNER MINISTERS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. THE NATO MINISTERS AGREED THURSDAY TO SEND ADVISERS AND HOLD JOINT EXERCISES WITH TWO OF THE PARTNERS -- ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA -- TO HELP THEM SECURE THEIR BORDERS AGAINST VIOLENCE FROM THE SERBIAN PROVINCE, KOSOVO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG THAT RUSSIA AND NATO ARE FINDING A COMMON INTEREST IN PREVENTING A WIDER CONFLICT IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: THE NATO RUSSIA COUNCIL IS DESIGNED TO COORDINATE POLICIES AND CREATE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE AND MOSCOW. IF THE COUNCIL WAS DESIGNED TO EASE RUSSIAN MISTRUST OF NATO'S EXPANSION, IT HAS NOT DONE THAT. NATO WILL EXPAND TO THREE FORMER SOVIET ALLIES NEXT APRIL AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV SAYS RUSSIA STILL THINKS ENLARGEMENT OF NATO IS A BAD IDEA.

RUSSIA NORMALLY DISAGREES WITH THE WESTERN ALLIES ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE CAUSES OF THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. THEREFORE, IT COMES AS A MILD SURPRISE THAT NATO CAN TALK ABOUT EXPANDING ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA AND RUSSIA CAN SAY IT DOES NOT QUESTION TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV SPOKE HERE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER ABOUT NATO'S DECISION.

THE FIRST BLOCK OF THESE DECISIONS, SO TO SAY, IS SEEN IN TRAINING EXERCISES IN TRAINING LOCAL PERSONNEL TO MONITOR ABROAD TO MONITOR THE BORDERS ALONG THE MACEDONIAN AND THE ALBANIAN BORDERS AND THIS ALSO INVOLVES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CORRESPONDING (UNITED NATIONS) SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO EMBARGO ARMS SALES TO THE REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, INCLUDING THE SEPARATIST GROUPS IN KOSOVO.

RUSSIA SUPPORTED THE SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION IN THE HOPES OF CUTTING OFF SUPPLIES TO THE ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS THAT ATTACK SERBIAN POLICE IN KOSOVO. IF NATO WANTS TO HELP KOSOVO'S NEIGHBORS BETTER PATROL THEIR BORDERS, RUSSIA HAS NO OBJECTION.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NATO ON THE LONG-TERM PLANNING ASPECT OF NATO'S DECISION. THE ALLIANCE ASKED ITS MILITARY ADVISERS TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR POSSIBLE DETERRENTS, IF THE SITUATION REQUIRES. MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS ANY NATO MILITARY TROOP DEPLOYMENTS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA OR IN KOSOVO ITSELF SHOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THE NATO MILITARY OPTIONS SHOULD BE READY BY THE END OF JUNE AND THE ALLIANCE DOES NOT NEED TO CONSULT THE SECURITY COUNCIL IF NATO LEADERS DECIDE STRONGER MEASURES ARE NEEDED.

ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT A STRONGER NATO PRESENCE IN THE BALKANS CAN HELP ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA DO WHAT THEY ARE TOO WEAK TO DO NOW -- CUT OFF THE SUPPLIES OF WEAPONS TO THE KOSOVO GUERRILLAS. NATO MILITARY LEADERS BELIEVE MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND TROOPS WOULD BE NEEDED TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF SECURITY.

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS NATO WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

THERE IS A DETERMINATION NOT TO LET THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO GROW TO DIMENSIONS THAT ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT MIGHT, IN FACT, SPILL OVER INTO THE REGION AND ALSO UNDERMINE AND IN SOME WAY THE VERY IMPORTANT AND WELL CARRIED OUT MISSION OF S-FOR IN BOSNIA.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS, IN STUDYING THE MILITARY OPTIONS FOR KOSOVO, NATO SHOULD NOT PROMISE MORE THAN IT HAS THE POLITICAL WILL TO DELIVER. RUSSIA -- WHILE UNITED WITH NATO NOW IN PREVENTING AN ESCALATION IN KOSOVO -- IS ALSO SIGNALING RESISTANCE TO ANY SIGNIFICANT DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS IN THE BALKANS. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD
29-May-98 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NEWS THAT PAKISTAN HAS FOLLOWED INDIA BY TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS SENDING SHOCK WAVES AROUND THE WORLD, AND BRINGING COMMENT IN THE MAJORITY OF EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF AMERICA'S DAILY NEWSPAPERS.

THERE ARE OTHER EDITORIAL SUBJECTS THIS FRIDAY, AND THEY INCLUDE: STILL UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT MR. CLINTON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY; AND HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH STIRS CONTROVERSY IN ISRAEL. NOW, ____________________ JOINS US IN THE STUDIO WITH A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: NEWSPAPERS ARE EXPRESSING OUTRAGE AND CONCERN THAT A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IS UNDERWAY IN THE SUBCONTINENT WITH POTENTIALLY DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE WORLD. FROM THE U-S WEST COAST, PORTLAND'S "OREGONIAN" SAYS, DESPITE THE IMMEDIATE EUPHORIA FROM PAKISTAN'S PEOPLE, THE LONG RANGE EFFECTS ARE BOUND TO CAUSE THEM MORE HARDSHIP.

VOICE: .... HOWEVER POPULAR THE TESTS WERE IN PAKISTAN - - AS INDIA'S TESTS WERE IN THAT COUNTRY - - THEY PROBABLY WILL WEAKEN RATHER THAN STRENGTHEN PAKISTAN'S SECURITY. SYMBOLIC AS THEY ARE, THE TESTS REALLY DON'T HELP PAKISTAN'S MILITARY POSITION. BUT THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IMMEDIATELY AND APPROPRIATELY ANNOUNCED COULD HURT AN ALREADY DISTRESSED ECONOMY.

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" WORRIES THAT INTENSE RELIGIOUS RIVALRY, AND FUNDAMENTALIST ZEAL, MAY OVERRIDE COMMON SENSE.

VOICE: IT'S A DANGEROUS THING WHEN WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ARE INTRODUCED INTO ANCIENT BLOOD FEUDS. INDIA, A LARGELY HINDU COUNTRY, AND PAKISTAN, A LARGELY ISLAMIC COUNTRY, HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS IN 50 YEARS, CONTINUING A STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY AND SURVIVAL ON THE SUBCONTINENT THAT THE TWO CULTURES HAVE WAGED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. ...... NONETHELESS, THE PROSPECT OF A NUCLEAR WAR MUST TERRIFY BOTH COUNTRIES ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM SEE REASON.

TEXT: /// OPT /// THE NATION'S LARGEST TABLOID, NEW YORK'S "DAILY NEWS" HEADLINES ITS COMMENTARY: "WORLD PEACE GOING TO PIECES," ADDING:

VOICE: THIS ONE-UPMANSHIP IS SCARY BUSINESS. UNLIKE THE FIVE ESTABLISHED NUCLEAR POWERS - - THE U-S, BRITAIN, FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA - - PAKISTAN HAS A HISTORY OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND RELIGIOUS FANATICISM. EVEN INDIA, WHICH OPENLY JOINED THE NUCLEAR CLUB THIS MONTH, HAS THE ADDED RESTRAINT THAT COMES WITH BEING A STABLE DEMOCRACY. ..... THE THREAT OF AN ISLAMIC BOMB IS NO LONGER MERE THEORY. AS SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN [SAID] ..... 'SO WE NOW HAVE AN ISLAMIC BOMB .... AND IT IS FITTED WITH A MISSILE, WHICH CAN MEAN THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL.' HE ALSO RAISED THE SPECTER THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS SOON COULD MAKE THEIR WAY TO OTHER ROGUE STATES, INCLUDING IRAN. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WRITES:

VOICE: PAKISTAN'S FOOLISH ACTION .... MAKES THE WORLD, NOT JUST SOUTH ASIA, A MORE DANGEROUS PLACE. ..... NOW WASHINGTON HAS TO PRESSURE BOTH ISLAMABAD AND NEW DELHI NOT TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP OF PUTTING NUCLEAR WARHEADS ON THEIR MISSILES OR BUILDING NUCLEAR BOMBS FOR THEIR AIRPLANES.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THE TIME TO STOP THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE, WITH THE HELP OF THE MAJOR DEMOCRACIES, IS NOW.

VOICE: HITCHING NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO THE BRISTLING HOSTILITY BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAS LONG BEEN A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT. ...... THE TWO NATIONS HAVE NOW ACHIEVED A FEARFUL SYMMETRY THAT, IF MANAGED CARELESSLY, COULD PRODUCE A NUCLEAR CONFRONTATION. TO AVOID THAT DEADLY RESULT, PAKISTAN AND INDIA, WITH THE HELP OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS, MUST MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO LIMIT THEIR NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. ......THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT A CLASH IS TO STOP THE NUCLEAR PROGRAMS NOW, BEFORE THEY RUN OUT OF CONTROL.

TEXT: FOR ITS PART, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS THE TWO NATIONS CAN ILL AFFORD TO ENGAGE IN AN EXPENSIVE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE, BUT MUST NOW BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES. HOWEVER THE "POST" SUGGESTS THE FALLACY OF USING SANCTIONS TO TRY TO CONTROL THE ACTIONS OF OTHER NATIONS.

VOICE: IN A KINDER WORLD, THE UNITED STATES WOULD TREAT DIFFERENT SORTS OF TESTS DIFFERENTLY. UNFORTUNATELY, CONGRESSIONAL MICROMANAGERS HAVE LEFT THE PRESIDENT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO APPLY THE SAME STERN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SANCTIONS TO ALL OFFENDERS. A POOR COUNTRY, INDIA KNEW WHAT THESE PENALTIES WOULD BE BUT, CAUGHT UP IN ITS NEW PHASE OF HINDU-NATIONALIST PRIDE, TESTED. POORER PAKISTAN ALSO KNEW AND, IN ITS FEAR, ALSO TESTED. SO MUCH FOR THE EFFICACY OF SANCTIONS, AT LEAST WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED RIGIDLY.

TEXT: IN SOUTH FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS DISGUSTED.

VOICE: WHAT IS THIS, A CONTEST BETWEEN EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS? WITH ONE-POINT-ONE BILLION LIVES AT STAKE? HOW SHORTSIGHTED, AND HOW FOOLISH. ..... [PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ] SHARIF MAY ENJOY THE JINGOISTIC EGO-STROKING FOR THE MOMENT. BUT HE AND THOSE CELEBRATING IN THE STREETS OF ISLAMABAD WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THE PLEASURE.

TEXT: THERE ARE OTHER EDITORIAL TOPICS, AND THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN "USA TODAY" SAYS THERE ARE THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. IT SAYS THE COUNTRY IS WAITING FOR ANSWERS.

VOICE: FOUR MONTHS AGO, PRESIDENT CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE SOME LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS THAT NEEDED ANSWERING ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP ... AND THAT HE'D TRY TO ANSWER THEM SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THEN HILLARY CLINTON WENT ON TV AND SAID INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR WAS PART OF A VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY. SINCE THEN, NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC BUT ALSO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IMPANELED TO INVESTIGATE PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN LEFT WAITING FOR THOSE ANSWERS. .... AS MORE TIME GOES BY, THE MORE LAME [WEAK] AND DEPENDENT ON LEGAL STALLING TACTICS THE WHITE HOUSE EXCUSES ARE REVEALED TO BE.

TEXT: ANOTHER NATIONAL LEADER, HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH IS COMING IN FOR SOME INTENSE CRITICISM FOR COMMENTS MADE DURING HIS CURRENT VISIT TO ISRAEL. TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" OFFERS SOME DEFENSE.

VOICE: /// OPT /// NEWT GINGRICH SPENT THE PAST WEEK IN ISRAEL ..... ON A TOUR CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEWISH STATE. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT MR. GINGRICH MANAGED TO MAKE WAVES [STIR CONTROVERSY] NOT ONLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BY OFFENDING THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY LEADERSHIP, BUT ALSO BACK HOME, BY OFFENDING THE PRO-P-A [PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY] CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, HE MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. ........ IT PROBABLY WASN'T MR. GINGRICH'S REMARKS, AS SUCH, THAT ANGERED THE ADMINISTRATION ..... RATHER, /// END OPT /// MR. GINGRICH'S TRIP DEMONSTRATED A SIMPLE FACT THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO SEE GO AWAY: NAMELY, THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MAINSTREAM VIEWS ON ISRAEL AND THE PEACE PROCESS. ..... IN REALITY, MR. GINGRICH REPRESENTS A CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 'MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY' ATTITUDE. [SLANG FOR: MY WAY OR NOTHING AT ALL] THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS ACTING ON THE CONVICTION THAT ISRAEL IS OUR ALLY AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IS NOT, AND ..... FOR THAT, WE CAN ALL BE THANKFUL.

TEXT: RUSSIA'S CURRENT FINANCIAL TROUBLES COMES IN FOR SOME SCRUTINY FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD." THE PAPER SAYS THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY STILL MERITS THE WORLD'S CONFIDENCE.

VOICE: /// OPT /// [PRESIDENT BORIS] YELTSIN, WHO SEEMS ALWAYS TO DO BEST IN A CRISIS, WENT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TO DECLARE FLATLY THAT NO MARKET CRASH WOULD OCCUR AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROTECT THE RUBLE FROM COLLAPSE.

TEXT: /// OPT /// THE EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED ISSUE OF ABORTION CONTINUES TO CAUSE CONTROVERSY IN CONGRESS, AND ON THIS LATEST SKIRMISH, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS:

VOICE: REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS, EAGER TO PLACATE SUPPORTERS FROM THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT, ARE PROMOTING CRUEL AND CONSTITUTIONALLY SUSPECT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE LIVES OF FRIGHTENED YOUNG WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS. THE G-O-P CALLS THIS NEW MEASURE, WHICH PLAYS CLEVERLY ON THE ISSUE OF PARENTAL CONSENT, THE CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT. IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE TEEN ENDANGERMENT ACT. ...... TWENTY-TWO STATES HAVE LAWS REQUIRING TEENAGERS TO NOTIFY OR CONSULT THEIR PARENTS BEFORE GETTING AN ABORTION OR ELSE SEEK A JUDGE'S PERMISSION. THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD EFFECTIVELY EXTEND THE REACH OF THESE LAWS INTO OTHER STATES. ..... UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEGISLATION SEEMS TO BE ON A FAST TRACK TO PASSAGE IN BOTH HOUSES. PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO LAST YEAR BLOCKED CONGRESS'S EFFORT TO IMPOSE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON SO-CALLED PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTIONS, MUST AGAIN STAND READY TO WIELD HIS VETO PEN. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS ON THE DAY'S EVENTS FROM THE PAGES OF FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
29-May-98 11:24 AM EDT (1524 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ROSE IN TRADING FRIDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN MARKETS CLOSED UP, BUT WELL BELOW THEIR HIGHS REACHED EARLIER IN THE DAY. TRADING WAS SLOW, WITH BUYERS APPARENTLY STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATIONS IN ASIA AND RUSSIA.

THE BIGGEST GAIN WAS IN FRANKFURT, WITH THE DAX INDEX CLOSING UP ALMOST 50 POINTS, NINE-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE 26 POINTS, SIX-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP EIGHT POINTS, JUST OVER ONE-TENTH PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE A BIT AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/JO
29-May-98 1:47 PM EDT (1747 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE BEGIN THE TRADING WEEK (MONDAY) AFTER POSTING A MIXED BUT MOSTLY LOSING RECORD FOR ALL OF LAST WEEK. WE GET MORE FROM LONDON AND VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH.

TEXT: ONLY FRANKFURT ENDED LAST WEEK WITH A GAIN, AS THE "DAX" CLAWED BACK SHARP MIDWEEK LOSSES. THAT STOCK INDEX WAS UP 27 POINTS FOR THE WEEK WHEN TRADING CLOSED FRIDAY -- A GAIN OF ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT. PARIS AND LONDON, HOWEVER, DID NOT FARE SO WELL. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX ENDED THE WEEK 85 POINTS LOWER ALTOGETHER -- A LOSS OF TWO-THIRDS OF ONE PERCENT. THE PARIS "CAC 40" LOST A TOTAL OF JUST UNDER NINE POINTS -- ONLY ABOUT TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN VALUE.

THE MARKETS LAST WEEK WERE HIT HARD BY LOSSES IN ASIA, WORRY OVER THE NUCLEAR THREAT IN SOUTH ASIA, AND THE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE BY INVESTORS IN THE RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET BEFORE GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND INTERVENTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/KL
29-May-98 1:23 PM EDT (1723 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] DENMARK / E-U VOTE (S AND L VERSION) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: VOTERS IN DENMARK THURSDAY APPROVED A KEY EUROPEAN UNION TREATY AIMED AT ENLARGING THE 15 NATION GROUP. BUT, AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS, RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM SHOW CONTINUED DANISH UNEASE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION.

TEXT: IN A MAJOR VICTORY FOR SUPPORTERS OF EUROPEAN UNION EXPANSION PLANS, 55-PERCENT OF DANISH VOTERS SAID "YES" TO THURSDAY'S REFERENDUM ON THE E-U'S AMSTERDAM TREATY.

E-U OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE DANISH REFERENDUM, BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE FACT THAT NEARLY 45 PERCENT VOTED AGAINST THE TREATY UNDERSCORES A DEEP SPLIT IN PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT THE EUROPEAN UNION.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS HAD BEEN CLOSELY WATCHING THE DANISH VOTE BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S INITIAL REJECTION OF ANOTHER KEY E-U TREATY.

DANISH VOTERS INITIALLY REJECTED THE E-U'S MAASTRICHT TREATY ON EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION. IT WAS FINALLY APPROVED IN 1993, BUT ONLY AFTER THE DANISH GOVERNMENT OPTED OUT OF THE NEW SINGLE CURRENCY PROJECT AND NEGOTIATED OTHER EXCEPTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PCF
29-May-98 7:20 AM EDT (1120 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] CLINTON/KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO -- IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND URGED URGENT U-S ACTION TO HELP STEM THE VIOLENCE IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE MEETING CAME AMID A RESURGENCE OF CLASHES BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE PROVINCE. AND MR. RUGOVA TOLD REPORTERS AFTER SEEING THE PRESIDENT THAT SECURITY CONDITIONS IN KOSOVO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IF THE U-S-BROKERED DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ETHNIC-ALBANIANS AND SERB AUTHORITIES IS TO CONTINUE.

MR. RUGOVA SAID HE CALLED FOR URGENT ACTION TO END THE VIOLENCE UNDERWAY AND FOR AN INCREASE IN THE LIMITED U-S PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. HE ALSO SAID THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS INDEPENDENCE FOR THE MAJORITY-ALBANIAN AREA AFTER A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD IN WHICH A POLITICAL SOLUTION CAN BE PURSUED PEACEFULLY. EARLIER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY CALLED KOSOVO A BALKANS FLASHPOINT EVERY BIT AS VOLATILE -- OR EVEN MORE SO -- THAN BOSNIA. BUT HE SAID THE UNITED STATES FAVORED A SOLUTION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A FEDERAL YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC -- RATHER THAN KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE. THE MEETING INCLUDED U-S ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD, WHO HELPED ARRANGE THE OPENING OF THE TALKS BETWEEN THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS AND AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE TWO WEEKS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LTD/KL
29-May-98 11:44 AM EDT (1544 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] CLINTON / IRELAND (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON DROPPED IN ON THE MEETING BETWEEN HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AND GERRY ADAMS LEADER OF SINN FEIN -- THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING FRIDAY CAME EXACTLY ONE WEEK AFTER VOTERS IN THE BRITISH-RULED PROVINCE AND IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND RATIFIED A PEACE ACCORD FOR NORTHERN IRELAND.

ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ISSUES IN THE TALKS THAT LED TO THE AGREEMENT IS THE DISARMING OF PARAMILITARIES, AND IT APPEARS THE ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

SINN FEIN MAINTAINS IT CANNOT DISARM UNTIL BRITISH TROOPS BEGIN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PROVINCE. MR. ADAMS SAYS HE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH MR. CLINTON.

I RAISED THE ENTIRE ISSUE OF DEMILITARIZATION. I LIVE THERE. I DON'T WANT TO SEE BRITISH SOLDIERS LIVING ON MY STREETS.

BUT PROTESTANT LEADERS SAY THEY FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN A PLANNED NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY IF THE PARAMILITARIES -- ESPECIALLY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- RETAIN THEIR WEAPONS.

UNDER THE ACCORD, DISARMING OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS MUST TAKE PLACE WITHIN TWO YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/SP
29-May-98 5:30 PM EDT (2130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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