Voice of America, 98-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO DEVASTATION (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)

[02] COHEN-ITALY-KOSOVO (L) BY JIM RANDLE (ROME)

[03] CLINTON/KOSOVO (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[04] U.S. RESPONSE TO KOSOVO CRISIS BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[07] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVINLYNCH (LONDON)

[08] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] KOSOVO DEVASTATION (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)

INTRO: A GROUP OF REPORTERS ACCOMPANIED THE U-S REPRESENTATIVE IN BELGRADE TO THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT ZONE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TODAY/TUESDAY. THE TOWN OF DECANI IN WESTERN KOSOVO HAD BEEN CLOSED UNTIL THIS WEEK WHEN YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES DECIDED TO ALLOW A FEW DIPLOMATS AND REPORTERS TO VISIT THE BATTLE ZONE. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR WAS AMONG THEM AND FILED THIS REPORT:

TEXT: THE TOWN OF DECANI HAS BEEN DECIMATED. MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE GUTTED WITH A COMBINATION OF HEAVY ARTILLERY ATTACKS BY SERBIAN FORCES AND DELIBERATELY SET FIRES. IT WAS ONCE A TOWN OF 20-THOUSAND; IT ITS NOW IS NOW A GHOST TOWN. THE INHABITANTS ARE EITHER DEAD, WOUNDED, FLEEING IN ALL DIRECTIONS AS REFUGEES, OR MISSING.

THE U-S CHARGE D'AFFAIRS IN BELGRADE, RICHARD MILES, TOOK NINE JOURNALISTS ALONG WITH HIM TO VIEW THE DAMAGE AND SAYS WHAT HE SAW REMINDED HIM OF SARAJEVO:

HOMES TOTALLY BURNED OUT, BUSINESSES BURNED OUT, ALL WINDOWS BROKEN, PEOPLE GONE. IT WAS A DEPRESSING SIGHT.

MR. MILES SAID GETTING FIRST HAND EVIDENCE IS ALWAYS USEFUL WHEN NEGOTIATING IN THE BALKANS.

ASKED IF SEEING SUCH EVIDENCE OF FIGHTING WON'T MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO PERSUADE THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SERBS, MR. MILES SAID THE U-S POSITION IS THAT NEGOTIATION IS THE ONLY SOLUTION POSSIBLE.

IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO TALK THAN NOT TO TALK. I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO COME TO THE TABLE WHEN A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF FIGHTING, KILLING AND DESTRUCTION IS GOING ON, THAT LEVEL SEEMS TO HAVE DIMINISHED IF NOT ENTIRELY DISAPPEARED. AND I WOULD HOPE THE ALBANIAN SIDE WILL FIND IT POSSIBLE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BUT I WON'T TRY TO PREJUDGE WHAT THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT DO.

THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT SIT AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH SERBS AS LONG AS FIGHTING IS GOING ON. ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY TO RESOLVE THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE PROVINCE. THE ALBANIANS ARE DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA, WHILE THE SERBS ARE DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE WHAT THEY CALL THE CRADLE OF SERBIAN NATIONHOOD.

MR. MILES SAID HE HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE THAT THE PARTICULAR POLICE ACTION WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION IN DECANI HAS ENDED. SERB AUTHORITIES SAY THE VIOLENCE WAS NECESSARY TO DESTROY WHAT THEY CALL THE TERRORIST MOVEMENT KNOWN AS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. (SIGNED)
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09-Jun-98 4:36 PM EDT (2036 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] COHEN-ITALY-KOSOVO (L) BY JIM RANDLE (ROME)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS IN ITALY FOR TALKS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND OTHER MATTERS. HE IS MAKING THE STOP ON HIS WAY TO BRUSSELS FOR URGENT TALKS WITH FELLOW NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS ABOUT MILITARY OPTIONS IN THE TROUBLED SERBIAN PROVINCE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM ROME.

TEXT: SECRETARY COHEN SAYS BLOODSHED IN KOSOVO IS SPEEDING UP CONSIDERATION OF MILITARY OPTIONS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO STOP SERB ATTACKS. HE SAYS NATO GOVERNMENTS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE KIND OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY CONSENSUS NEEDED TO TAKE ACTION.

I THINK IT WILL HAVE TO BE RELATIVELY SOON. THIS KIND OF SLAUGHTER AND SHELLING OF VILLAGES IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TOLERATED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

SERBIAN POLICE AND ARMY UNITS HAVE BEEN SHELLING AND BURNING VILLAGES IN KOSOVO ALONG THE BORDER WITH ALBANIA. NINETY PER CENT OF THE RESIDENTS OF KOSOVO ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS RUN BY SERBS. SERB OFFICIALS CALL THE ATTACKS A RESPONSE TO ATTACKS BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS, BUT U-S OFFICIALS AND OTHERS SAY THEY ARE A NEW CAMPAIGN OF "ETHNIC CLEANSING."

MR COHEN SAYS DIPLOMACY IS THE BEST OPTION FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO AND REFUSES TO SAY WHAT MILITARY OPTIONS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

IN AN INTERVIEW ON HIS FLIGHT TO ITALY, MR. COHEN SAID ITALIAN OFFICIALS HAVE WELL-FOUNDED FEARS THAT CHAOS IN NEARBY KOSOVO MIGHT SPARK A FLOOD OF REFUGEES INTO ITALY, OR WORSE, A WIDER WAR.

IF THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO SPREAD AND YOU HAVE TENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLACED, MOVING INTO COUNTRIES WHO CAN NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE THEM. AND IF THE FIGHTING WERE TO ENGAGE OTHER COUNTRIES, SPREADING DOWN THROUGH SOUTHEAST EUROPE, POSSIBLY INVOLVING CONFLICTS WITH GREECE, TURKEY.

AFTER WEDNESDAY'S TALKS WITH ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER BENIAMINO ANDREATTA MR COHEN HEADS FOR BRUSSELS, WHERE HE WILL MEET WITH NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS AS WELL AS THE HEAD OF RUSSIA'S MILITARY.

MR. COHEN SAYS THIS MEETING MAY BE A CRUCIAL ONE BECAUSE MOSCOW'S TRADITIONALLY STRONG TIES TO SERBIA MAY MEAN THE RUSSIANS CAN PERSUADE THE SERBS TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.(SIGNED).
NEB/JR/TMD/PT
09-Jun-98 5:34 PM EDT (2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON/KOSOVO (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE NATO ALLIES ARE NOT RULING OUT ANY OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE WORSENING SITUATION IN KOSOVO. HE SPOKE AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KOSOVO AND THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA BEFORE NATO FORCES MOVED IN. BUT AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE, HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION IS SEEKING THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE U-N RESOLUTION CONDEMNING SERBIAN ACTIONS IN THE PROVINCE -- AND IS DETERMINED TO PREVENT BOSNIA-STYLE MASS BLOODSHED THERE:

I AM DETERMINED TO DO ALL THAT I CAN TO STOP A REPEAT OF THE HUMAN CARNAGE IN BOSNIA AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING. AND I HAVE AUTHORIZED, AND I AM SUPPORTING AN ACCELLERATED PLANNING PROCESS FOR NATO. AND AS I BELIEVE BOTH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SAID YESTERDAY, WE HAVE EXPLICTLY SAID THAT WE DO NOT BELEIVE ANY OPTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.

NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS WILL DISCUSS MILITARY OPTIONS AT A MEETING LATER THIS WEEK IN BRUSSELS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/WDC/PT
09-Jun-98 7:10 PM EDT (2310 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U.S. RESPONSE TO KOSOVO CRISIS BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND NATO CONTINUE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE ESCALATING CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES HAVE POURED INTO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA. TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED WITHIN KOSOVO AND MAY SEEK SAFE HAVEN IN ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO, OR MACEDONIA IN THE COMING

TEXT: JIM HOOPER, DIRECTOR OF THE BALKAN INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, D-C, SAYS INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY HAS FAILED TO AVERT A CRISIS IN KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- HOOPER (0:54) "THIS IS WAR. MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN THREATENING TO DO THIS FOR YEARS. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THE DANGER OF THIS ERUPTING INTO A WAR SINCE 1989 WHEN SERBIA TOOK AWAY KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY. AND IT WAS CERTAINLY HEADED TOWARD A VIOLENT ESCALATION WHEN IN LATE FEBRUARY SERBIA BEGAN ITS CRACKDOWN AGAINST THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS BY ATTACKING VILLAGES IN CENTRAL KOSOVO. (OPT) WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC USING ETHNIC CLEANSING AS A POLICY TOOL TO DRIVE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO INTO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO A BROADER CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS. IT IS GOING TO DESTABILIZE NOT ONLY THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO, OF COURSE, WHICH IS ALREADY A WAR, BUT IT IS GOING TO DESTABILIZE ALBANIA AND, I THINK, EVEN WORSE, MACEDONIA." (END OPT)

TEXT: MR. HOOPER SAYS THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS AMONG BALKAN ANALYSTS THAT THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO COULD DESTABILIZE NEIGHBORING STATES. IF THAT HAPPENS, JIM HOOPER SAYS, THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE TO BECOME INVOLVED.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- HOOPER (0:45) "THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CREDIBLY THREATEN FORCE AGAINST SERBIA TO ENSURE THAT SERBIAN FORCES STOP THEIR ATTACKS AND THAT NEGOTIATIONS CAN RESUME THAT CAN LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL INTERIM SETTLEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT THE ADMINISTRA-TION IS DOING IS OPTING OUT OF CONFLICT PREVENTION AND FOCUSING ITS EFFORTS MORE ON CONFLICT CONTAINMENT. THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE CONTINUED ETHNIC CLEANSING, GENOCIDE, AND A BROADER BALKAN CONFLICT THAT, I BELIEVE, WILL INEVITABLY INVOLVE AMERICAN AIR POWER AND AMERICAN TROOPS IN THIS CONFLICT, INCLUDING IN SERBIA ITSELF, IN KOSOVO."

TEXT: JIM HOOPER OF THE BALKAN INSTITUTE SAYS, AS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO HAS DETERIORATED, SO HAVE ANY REALISTIC CHANCES FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, MR. HOOPER SAYS, HAS MADE CLEAR HIS INTENTION TO SEEK A MILITARY SOLUTION. AND, HE ADDS, IN THE ABSENCE OF A CREDIBLE THREAT OF WESTERN MILITARY INTERVENTION, THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE HIS APPROACH OF "ENGAGING IN SYMBOLIC DIALOGUE WHILE CONTINUING HIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN."

TAPE: CUT THREE -- HOOPER (0:58) "NO ONE IS SEEKING MILITARY INVOLVEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CONFLICT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT SEEKING IT. (OPT) WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE INEVITABLE IF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO AVOID CONFLICT PREVENTION. THERE WERE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED MILITARILY IN BOSNIA. BUT, AS THE CRISIS GREW THERE AND PEOPLE SAW THE EXTENT OF THE GENOCIDE, CONSIDERABLE POPULAR SUPPORT GREW FOR MILITARY INVOLVEMENT THERE. MY SENSE IS THAT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IS PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP. (END OPT) AND, WHILE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TROOPS IN THE BALKANS, THEY ALSO WANT TO MAINTAIN NATO. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF NATO IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY ERODED, IF NATO STANDS BY AND WATCHES ETHNIC CLEANSING TAKE PLACE AND WATCHES ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA DESTABILIZED AS WELL. I THINK OUR LEADERSHIP IS AT STAKE HERE. THE FUTURE OF NATO IS AT STAKE, AS WELL AS THE FUTURE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT."

TEXT: JIM HOOPER SAYS ANY U-S OR NATO INVOLVEMENT NEEDS TO FOCUS ON ENDING THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO ITSELF, NOT JUST ON PREVENTING ITS SPREAD TO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- HOOPER (0:39) (OPT) FIRST, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR NATO AND AMERICAN TROOPS TO BE SENT TO THE ALBANIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO, BECAUSE THIS WILL SIGNAL MILOSEVIC THAT HE CAN CONTINUE ETHNIC CLEANSING INSIDE KOSOVO, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP HIM THERE. I THINK THAT'S THE WRONG MESSAGE TO BE SENDING. AND, THE SAME I WOULD ARGUE FOR MACEDONIA. A NATO BORDER FORCE IN MACEDONIA IS NOT GOING TO STOP THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO ITSELF. IT IS THE FIGHTING THAT IS DRIVING INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES ACROSS THE BORDER, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESTABILIZATION OF THESE TWO COUNTRIES. AND THEREFORE WE NEED TO STOP THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO ITSELF." (END OPT)

TEXT: THE DIRECTOR OF THE BALKAN INSTITUTE SAYS TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO AVOID A CATASTROPHE ON THE SCALE OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA -- OR GREATER. THE CHOICE AT THIS JUNCTURE, HE ADDS, IS NOT BETWEEN "CONTAINING" OR "RESOLVING" THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. IT IS BETWEEN INTERVENING NOW OR INTERVENING LATER, AFTER THE CRISIS HAS SPILLED OVER INTO NEIGHBORING STATES.
09-Jun-98 9:19 AM EDT (1319 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AN INTELLIEGENCE LAPSE BY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IS A PRIME TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THE NATION'S EDITORIALS COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN YUGOSLOVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE; AND A NEW REPORT ABOUT THE POSSIBLE USE OF NERVE GAS BY U-S SPECIAL FORCES IN THE VIET NAM WAR. NOW, JOINING US FOR A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE FAILURE OF THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TO KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT INDIA WAS PLANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS HAS BEEN ONLY THE LATEST DIFFICULTY TO ASSAULT THE SPY AGENCY, FURTHER DAMAGING ITS REPUTATION. SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE RESULTS OF AN INDEPENDENT STUDY, BY RETIRED ADMIRAL DAVID JEREMIAH, INTO THE FAILURE. HERE IS COMMENT FROM "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR."

VOICE: ADMIRAL JEREMIAH FOUND DEEP SEATED SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITHIN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY THAT GO FAR BEYOND THE FAILURE IN INDIA. [MR.] JEREMIAH TOLD REPORTERS ... THE CIA HAD EFFECTIVELY NO SPIES IN INDIA, THAT ITS ABILITY TO GET INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WORLDWIDE IS WEAK, AND THAT OVERWORKED ANALYSTS ARE OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF DATA FROM U-S SPY SATELLITES. .....HE FOUND, BOTH ADMINISTRATION POLICY MAKERS AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS WHO SERVE THEM HAD ACCEPTED AN 'UNDERLYING MIND-SET' THAT INDIA WOULD NOT TEST ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAIN. SO THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE SEA CHANGE WHEN THE NEW HINDU-NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT TOOK OFFICE WITH A PROMISE TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

TEXT: "THE MONITOR" SUPPORTS SPECIFIC STEPS FOR IMPROVING THE AGENCY BEING SUGGESTED BY CONGRESS. "USA TODAY" SAYS THE AGENCY NEEDS BETTER, MORE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT, RATHER THAN JUST A SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR THIS LATEST FIASCO.

VOICE: THE AGENCY'S FUMBLING IN THESE MATTERS ISN'T ALL ITS OWN FAULT. THE C-I-A'S DIRECTORSHIP HAS BECOME A TURNSTILE, WITH FIVE DIRECTORS IN EIGHT YEARS, NONE LASTING LONG ENOUGH TO SEE ANY REFORM PROGRAM THROUGH. /// OPT /// A BIG REASON FOR THE RAPID CHANGES IS THE FIGHTING BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE OVER WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE. NEITHER HAS MADE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT ... A TOP PRIORITY. ..... THE INDIAN OVERSIGHT EXPOSED THE AGENCY'S ANALYSTS AS UNDERTRAINED, UNINCISIVE AND JUST PLAIN BLIND. THE ... ALDRICH AMES ....[RUSSIAN SPY] SCANDAL EXPOSED ASTONISHING BUNGLING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SPIES. SO THE AGENCY HAS NOW PROVED INEPT BOTH AT GATHERING INTELLIGENCE AND AT ANALYZING IT. WHAT ELSE IS THERE? /// END OPT /// THE C-I-A HAS HAD ENOUGH 'SCRUBBINGS.' IT'S TIME THE AGENCY GOT REAL MANAGEMENT.

TEXT: THERE IS CONSIDERABLE EDITORIAL WORRY THAT THE SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE MAY LEAD TO A REPEAT OF THE BOSNIAN CIVIL WAR OR WORSE. "NEWSDAY" IS SUGGESTING THAT NATO TROOPS BE USED TO KEEP THE WARRING PARTIES APART.

VOICE: MAJOR NATO POWERS WITH TROOPS IN THE BALKANS CAN NO LONGER REMAIN PASSIVE IN THE FACE OF SERBIAN ATTACKS ON THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION OF KOSOVO, SERBIA'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE. THEY MUST TRY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CIVIL WAR INTO A WIDER CONFLICT THAT COULD SUCK IN ALBANIA AND ETHNIC SEPARATISTS IN MACEDONIA. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SUPPORT THE BRITISH CALL FOR A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO TAKE 'ALL NECESSARY MEASURES,' INCLUDING THE USE OF FORCE, TO END THE SLAUGHTER OF KOSOVARS AND THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES INTO NEIGHBORING NATIONS. /// OPT /// THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS PLEDGED TO MAINTAIN PEACE IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA, HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO DOES NOT SPREAD TO IGNITE A WIDER BALKAN WAR. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" SAYS STRONGER ACTION IS CALLED FOR, NOTING:

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE DETAILS OF [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT] SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S LATEST OUTRAGE ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGE: 250 DEAD, HUNDREDS MORE INJURED, 50-THOUAND LEFT HOMELESS.

TEXT: A NEWS REPORT ON CABLE NEWS NETWORK AND IN "TIME MAGAZINE" CLAIMS THAT SPECIAL U-S FORCES IN THE VIETNAM WAR USED NERVE GAS IN LAOS TO KILL SEVERAL U-S MILITARY DESERTERS AND THEIR COMMUNIST COMPANIONS IN SEVERAL SECRET OPERATIONS. THE REPORT HAS DRAWN REACTION FROM "THE STAR TRIBUNE" IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH SAYS, YOU HAVE TO READ THE REPORT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 1970 SITUATION AND NOT BY TODAY'S STANDARDS OF REPUGNANCE TOWARD CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

VOICE: /// OPT /// NEWS REPORTS SUNDAY WERE MORE THAN A BIT BREATHLESS IN DESCRIBING U-S USE OF NERVE GAS IN VIETNAM....... THE ACTUAL STORY, AS REPORTED BY C-N-N--"TIME MAGAZINE," IS LESS DRAMATIC. THE GOVERNMENT NOW NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FULLY. BUT IF THE C-N-N-TIME REPORT TURNS OUT TO BE FULLY ACCURATE, WHAT OCCURRED WAS ONE SORRY EXCESS IN A WAR FULL OF MUCH LARGER ONES. ..... /// END OPT /// AT THE TIME ... U-S LEADERS HAD CONCLUDED .... THE ACTION IN VIETNAM WAS A DISASTROUS MISTAKE AND WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO WITHDRAW. ..... HOWEVER BIZARRE, AN ATTEMPT TO KILL DEFECTORS FITS THAT PATTERN, AS DOES OBSESSIVE EFFORTS TO PROTECT DOWNED PILOTS AND RECOVER THOSE MISSING IN ACTION.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" ALSO URGES READERS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THIS SENSATIONAL REPORT, AND SUGGESTS THE GAS MAY HAVE BEEN EXTRA-STRONG TEAR GAS, NOT NERVE GAS. THE NEWSPAPER ADDS:

VOICE: IF TRUE, THIS IS SHOCKING. IF SARIN WAS ACTUALLY USED - - AS C-N-N--TIME ALLEGES - - ON 'BLACK [SUPER SECRET] OPERATIONS IN LAOS, AMERICA NEEDS TO KNOW WHO GAVE THE ORDER AND WHY. WAS THE WHITE HOUSE INVOLVED IN WHAT COULD BE A HORRIFYING WAR CRIME? BUT THE KEY WORD IS, AT THIS POINT, 'IF.' THERE IS A GREAT DEAL IN THIS REPORT THAT SEEMS, TO PUT IT MILDLY, IMPROBABLE.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS CONCERNED WITH U-S COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SAFETY AND A VERY NEAR MISS OF TWO JETLINERS AT NEW YORK'S LA GUARDIA AIRPORT RECENTLY, IN WHICH A PLANE THAT WAS LANDING MISSED A PLANE TAKING-OFF BY ONLY ABOUT SIX METERS. "THE HERALD" ACKNOWLEDGES A RETRAINING PROGRAM OF ALL 10-THOUSAND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WHO HANDLE LANDINGS AND TAKE-OFFS, BUT ADDS:

VOICE: THE NEAR-COLLISION WAS BAD ENOUGH. BUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT - - RATHER, WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN - - MADE MATTERS WORSE. A SUPERVISOR FAILED TO ACT ON THE CONTROLLER'S REPORT. LIKEWISE THE U-S AIRWAYS PILOT'S REPORT SAT UNHEEDED FOR WEEKS. ..... A SYSTEM THAT MEASURES FAILURE ONLY WHEN A CATASTROPHE OCCURS IMPLY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. FINALLY, THE F-A-A SHOULD TIGHTEN ITS INTERNAL REPORTING PROCEDURES.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, A WORD ABOUT HOW NAZI GOLD, STOLEN FROM JEWS AND OTHERS DURING WORLD WAR TWO, WAS USED BY THE NAZIS WITH THE COMPLICITY OF SEVERAL NEUTRAL NATIONS, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: THE INQUIRY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING INTO NAZI GOLD CONSTITUTES A MORAL SEMINAR. .....HITLER EXCHANGED THE GOLD FOR SWISS FRANCS AND PURCHASED CRITICAL WAR MATERIALS FROM SUPPOSEDLY NEUTRAL PORTUGAL, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TURKEY AND ARGENTINA. CHROMATE, IRON ORE, WOLFRAM AND OTHER GOODS THUS ACQUIRED WERE INDISPENSABLE TO GERMANY'S WAR EFFORT. DELIVERIES CONTINUED DESPITE AMERICAN WARNINGS AGAINST ACCEPTING TRANSFERS OF LOOTED ASSETS AND PAST THE POINT WHERE A FEAR OF GERMAN ATTACK COULD PLAUSIBLY BE CITED IN DEFENSE OF COMMERCE.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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09-Jun-98 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (TUESDAY) IN DIRECTIONLESS TRADING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 49, DOWN 19 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 18, UP TWO POINTS.

THERE WAS NO ECONOMIC NEWS TO MOVE THE MARKET AND NONE IS EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY EITHER. HOWEVER, ALAN GREENSPAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, IS SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON WEDNESDAY AND SOME TRADERS DO GET NERVOUS IN ADVANCE OF ANY COMMENTS FROM MR. GREENSPAN.

THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY HAS RECEIVED A TWO BILLION DOLLAR ORDER FROM KOREAN AIRLINES FOR 27 7-37 MODEL JETLINERS. THE AIRLINE SAYS IT NEEDS INCREASED CAPACITY UNDER A NEW "OPEN SKIES" AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA WHICH PROVIDES AIRLINES FROM BOTH COUNTRIES GREATER ACCESS TO EACH OTHER'S MARKETS.

THE FIVE-DAY OLD STRIKE AT A GENERAL MOTORS STAMPING PLANT IS CAUSING MORE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PLANTS TO BE SHUT DOWN. G-M, WHICH HAS THE HIGHEST COST STRUCTURE OF THE THREE MAJOR U-S AUTO COMPANIES, SAYS IT MUST CUT COSTS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.

THE POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY SAYS ITS SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS WILL BE LOWER THAN WALL STREET HAD EXPECTED. POLAROID SAYS IT IS BEING HURT BY HIGHER INVENTORIES AND THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN RUSSIA. THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS ESTABLISHED A 10 MILLION DOLLAR RESERVE FUND AGAINST POSSIBLE UNCOLLECTABLE DEBTS IN RUSSIA.

NETWORK ASSOCIATES, A U-S COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY, WILL PAY 640 MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE THE DOCTOR SOLOMON GROUP, A LEADING BRITISH-BASED MAKER OF ANTI-COMPUTER VIRUS SOFTWARE.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS CONTINUE TO GAIN POPULARITY AMONG AMERICANS. A SURVEY SHOWS THE NUMBER OF U-S HOUSEHOLDS WITH AT LEAST ONE COMPUTER IS NOW 45 PERCENT. ANALYSTS SAY DECLINING COMPUTER PRICES IS A BIG REASON FOR THE GAIN.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
09-Jun-98 5:06 PM EDT (2106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVINLYNCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS REGISTERED SMALL LOSSES (TUESDAY) IN A RELATIVELY LIGHT TRADING DAY. V-O-A'S KEVIN LYNCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK MARKETS IN LONDON, FRANKFURT, AND PARIS ALL DECLINED SLIGHTLY, WITH PROFIT-TAKERS REAPING THE REWARDS OF GAINS MADE YESTERDAY. A WEAK EARLY START ON WALL STREET ALSO ADDED TO THE CAUTIOUS MOOD IN EUROPE. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES 100 INDEX WAS UNABLE TO BUILD ON TWO STRONG TRADING SESSIONS, FINISHING 18-POINTS LOWER. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 20-POINTS, WHILE IN PARIS THE CAC-40 INDEX ALSO POSTED A SMALL DECLINE, DROPPING ALMOST THREE POINTS. BUT DOWNWARD PRESSURE WAS LIGHT IN ALL THREE MARKETS AND TRADERS REMAIN CONFIDENT, SAYING THE MARKETS COULD SOON TURN BULLISH.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE PRICE OF GOLD CLOSED AT 296-DOLLARS AN OUNCE, UP FOUR-DOLLARS-10 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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09-Jun-98 2:50 PM EDT (1850 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE STRIKE BY AIR FRANCE PILOTS IS CASTING A SHADOW OVER THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT THAT BEGINS WEDNESDAY. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS AIR FRANCE MANAGEMENT TUESDAY FORMALLY REJECTED A PILOTS' OFFER TO FLY SOCCER FANS WITHOUT PAY.

TEXT: IN THE NINTH-DAY OF THE AIR FRANCE PILOTS' STRIKE, THE AIRLINE'S MANAGEMENT REJECTED AN OFFER BY PILOTS TO FLY FANS WITHOUT SALARY. IT SAYS SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE ILLEGAL, IN PART BECAUSE THE PILOTS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY INSURANCE.

AIR FRANCE IS APPARENTLY SET ON A TOUGH LINE, WITH A PLAN TO PUT A NEW PAY ACCORD FOR PILOTS TO THE VOTE BY ALL AIR FRANCE EMPLOYEES. OFFICIALS AT THE AIRLINE SAY THE MANAGEMENT IS NONETHELESS SEEKING A WAY OF PERSUADING THE PILOTS TO SUSPEND THEIR STRIKE DURING THE FIVE-WEEK WORLD CUP.

THE MAIN PILOTS' UNION HAS REPEATEDLY SAID IT WILL NOT ENTER INTO ANY SUCH AGREEMENTS AND IT WANTS THE TOTAL WITHDRAWAL OF AIR FRANCE'S PROPOSALS TO SLASH ITS SALARY BILL.

WITH ANALYSTS NOW SPECULATING THE STRIKE PUTS THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE STATE-OWNED FRENCH AIRLINE IN DANGER, OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE AIRLINE HAVE CREATED A NEW ASSOCIATION CALLED "LET AIR FRANCE LIVE."

THE GROWING DISCONTENT WITH THE STRIKE AMONG AIR FRANCE EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE NOT PILOTS, INDICATES MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE PUSHING THROUGH ITS PLAN WHEN IT MEETS WITH STAFF REPRESENTATIVES LATER THIS WEEK.

NICOLE NOTAT, THE LEADER OF THE C-F-D-T LABOR UNION FEDERATION, FRANCE'S BIGGEST, HAS ATTACKED THE PILOTS FOR THEIR ACTION, SAYING THEY SHOULD NOT DISRUPT SUCH AN IMPORTANT FESTIVAL.

AS PARIS CELEBRATES THE WORLD CUP WITH A HUGE PARADE -- WITH FOUR GIANT ROBOTS, EACH 20-METERS HIGH, THE CENTER-PIECE -- OTHER STRIKES THREATEN TO MAR THE OPENING OF THE TOURNAMENT.

A MINOR TRAIN-DRIVERS' UNION HAS CALLED ITS MEMBERS OUT, AND IN THE PROVINCES, URBAN TRANSPORT WORKERS IN LYON AND BORDEAUX ARE THREATENING STRIKES ON MATCH DAYS IN THOSE CITIES. .

AIR FRANCE IS STILL OPERATING ONE FLIGHT IN FOUR WITH NON-STRIKING CREWS. AND IT SAYS IT WILL USE THESE TO GUARANTEE THE TRANSPORT OF THE 32 SOCCER TEAMS TAKING PART IN THE WORLD CUP.

AS FOR FANS, THE TWO OTHER MAIN FRENCH DOMESTIC AIRLINES -- ONE OF THEM OWNED BY AIR FRANCE'S RIVAL, BRITISH AIRWAYS -- SAY THEY CAN PROVIDE EXTRA PLANES. THE STATE RAILROAD IS PLANNING 200 EXTRA SERVICES ON MATCH DAYS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/RAE
09-Jun-98 8:41 AM EDT (1241 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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