Voice of America, 98-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN/MACEDONIA/TROOPS (L-0) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

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

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

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

[01] UN/MACEDONIA/TROOPS (L-0) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TODAY (TUESDAY) TO INCREASE ITS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED TO EXTEND THE MANDATE OF THE UNITED NATIONS PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENT FORCE IN MACEDONIA FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS AND INCREASE ITS TROOP STRENGTH BY 300 TO A TOTAL OF ONE THOUSAND FIFTY.

THE PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENT FORCE -- UNPREDEP -- IS CHARGED WITH MONITORING MACEDONIA'S BORDER AREAS AND REPORTING ON ILLICIT FLOWS OF ARMS.

U-S AMBASSADOR NANCY SODERBERG SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS' PRESENCE IN MACEDONIA HAS BEEN "EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL" DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS IN KEEPING THE TENSION IN THE REGION FROM SPILLING OVER. SHE SAYS THE CURRENT SITUATION IN KOSOVO REINFORCES THE NEED FOR THE EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF UNPREDEP'S CURRENT MANDATE.

THE CURRENT MANDATE CALLS FOR UNPREDEP TO MONITOR THE BORDER AREAS AND REPORT ANY DEVELOPMENTS WHICH COULD POSE A THREAT. THE MANDATE ALSO PROVIDES FOR UNPREDEP TO, BY ITS PRESENCE, DETER SUCH THREATS FROM ANY SOURCES, AS WELL AS HELP PREVENT CLASHES. THUS, HELPING TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE.

AMBASSADOR SODERBERG SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONSIDER A FURTHER INCREASE OF THE U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA IF THE SITUATION IN THE REGION REQUIRES IT. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/BJS/LSF/
21-Jul-98 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: FEARS OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES DEPRESSED STOCK PRICES IN EUROPE TUESDAY. VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM LONDON.

TEXT: REMARKS IN WASHINGTON BY U-S CENTRAL BANK CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN WARNING OF HIGHER INFLATION DEPRESSED LATE TRADING IN EUROPE, WITH MAJOR EXCHANGES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL CLOSING LOWER.

FRANKFURT'S "DAX" INDEX OF GERMAN STOCKS WAS OFF JUST TWO POINTS, BUT IN PARIS, THE KEY "CAC 40" INDEX FELL ALMOST 47 POINTS -- MORE THAN ONE PERCENT FOR THE DAY -- AND HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX CLOSED OFF JUST OVER 46 POINTS OR ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT IN VALUE.

THE GREENSPAN INFLATION WARNING HELPED BOOST THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR IN EUROPEAN TRADING. IT WAS UP ABOUT A HALF PFENNIGE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, UP THREE-QUARTERS OF A YEN AGAINST THE JAPANESE CURRENCY AND UP EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/PLM
21-Jul-98 1:35 PM EDT (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER TRADERS HEARD SOME CAUTIONARY WORDS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 90, DOWN 105 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 65, DOWN 19 POINTS.

ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, TOLD CONGRESS THE U-S ECONOMY SEEMS POISED FOR MODEST GROWTH BUT SAID THE RATE OF INFLATION, WHILE STILL LOW, BEARS WATCHING. IN THE FIRST OF TWO DAYS OF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, MR. GREENSPAN ALSO CAUTIONED U-S BANKS TO BE MORE CAREFUL IN THEIR LENDING POLICIES.

INVESTORS SEEM TO BE EXPECTING THAT LOW INFLATION AND STRONGER PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH WILL ALLOW THE EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH OF PROFITS TO BE EXTENDED INTO THE DISTANT FUTURE.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES SOARED IN JUNE BY FIVE POINT SIX PERCENT, WELL BEYOND WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.

JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, THE U-S-BASED DRUG AND MEDICAL COMPANY, WILL PAY THREE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE DEPUY (DE-PYOO) ORTHOPEDIC DEVICES BUSINESS OWNED BY THE ROCHE HOLDING COMPANY OF SWITZERLAND. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL WILL MAKE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON THE WORLD LEADER IN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICES WHICH ARE USED TO HEAL OR RELIEVE BONE CONDITIONS.

THE STOCK OF I-B-M, THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER COMPANY, SOARED TO A RECORD HIGH BEFORE CLOSING SLIGHTLY BELOW THE RECORD. ANALYSTS SAY THAT DESPITE MODEST PROFITS IN THE LATEST QUARTER, I-B-M IS POISED FOR STRONGER GROWTH IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR.

PLUNGING CRUDE OIL PRICES TOOK THEIR TOLL ON THE PROFITS OF EXXON, THE LARGEST U-S OIL COMPANY. EXXON SAYS ITS EARNINGS SLIPPED 18 PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

NORTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS AN ALMOST 60 PERCENT PROFIT DROP, CITING CONTINUING LABOR DISPUTES FOR THE POOR PERFORMANCE.

TWO U-S DRUG COMPANIES, SCHERLING-PLOUGH AND MERCK, BOTH REPORT SHARPLY HIGHER PROFITS. HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF MERCK, THE 14 PERCENT JUMP IN EARNINGS WAS BELOW ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS AND THE STOCK DROPPED.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
21-Jul-98 5:17 PM EDT (2117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE TSUNAMI DEVASTATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS DRAWING COMMENTS IN THE U-S PRESS THIS TUESDAY MORNING, AS IS THE PLEDGE BY NIGERIA'S NEW MILITARY LEADER TO HOLD FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

OTHER TOPICS DRAWING ATTENTION INCLUDE A CONTROVERSIAL COURT RULING ON THE DANGERS OF SECOND-HAND SMOKE; THE NEW WORLD COURT; AND A PLAN TO GIVE EVERY U-S CITIZEN HIS OR HER OWN HEALTH IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

NOW WE HAVE SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS AS WE WELCOME _____________________ AND OUR EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES," LOCATED IN A CITY THAT OVERLOOKS THE PACIFIC OCEAN, HAS A GRIEVING EDITORIAL ABOUT THE GIANT WAVE THAT HAS DEVASTATED PART OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

VOICE: THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD MORE PRONE TO - - AND LESS PREPARED FOR - - DISASTER THAN THE PACIFIC ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA ..... IT'S A POOR LAND THAT SITS ALONG THE VOLCANIC RING OF FIRE, NEAR THE CONJUNCTION OF FOUR TECTONIC PLATES AND MICROPLATES. OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS SUFFERED ERUPTIONS, CYCLONES, LANDSLIDES, EARTHQUAKES, DROUGHT, FAMINE AND FLOODS. ..... FOR THE INHABITANTS OF THIS SOMETIMES CRUEL ENVIRONMENT, RISK IS A CONSTANT NEIGHBOR. ..... LAST WEEKEND'S [WAVE] WAS THE TYPE THAT OFFERED THE LEAST WARNING, GENERATED BY A MAGNITUDE-7 QUAKE JUST A FEW MILES OFFSHORE. ..... THE SURVIVORS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE BACK TO THE DEVASTATED SPIT OF LAND THEY ONCE CALLED HOME. ..... SEEMS THAT ONLY THE RESIDENTS OF THE MORE 'ADVANCED' NATIONS [IMPLIED: THE U-S RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA] INSIST ON REBUILDING HOMES ON SPOTS, RAVAGED BY FIRES, FLOODS, MUDSLIDES, EARTHQUAKES OR STORMS.

TEXT: TURNING TO AFRICA, THE BIG NEWS WAS THE TELEVISED STATEMENT, ON MONDAY, BY THE NEW MILITARY LEADER OF NIGERIA THAT HE WILL HOLD ELECTIONS FOR A NEW CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAILS THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT ALSO OFFERS SOME WORDS OF CAUTION:

VOICE: BY SETTING ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR AND PROMISING A CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT BY THE END OF MAY, GENERAL ABDULSALAM ABUBAKAR YESTERDAY POINTED HIS COUNTRY TOWARD DEMOCRACY. UNHAPPILY, HE DID NOT REMOVE HIMSELF OR HIS FELLOW GENERALS FROM POWER IMMEDIATELY, LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE MILITARY WILL ONCE AGAIN BETRAY NIGERIA WITH FALSE PROMISES OF REFORM. /// OPT /// ..... IF MR. ABUBAKAR KEEPS THE MILITARY IN POWER UNTIL MAY, HE MUST BE CLOSELY WATCHED. FRANCE'S ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY THAT IT WILL WORK TO END THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SANCTIONS ON NIGERIA IS PREMATURE. ..... IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO GIVE HIM EVERY INCENTIVE TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES./// END OPT

TEXT: FROM MAINE, COMES AN ASSESSMENT OF A NEW COURT RULING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RULINGS AGAINST SECOND HAND SMOKE ARE FAULTY. "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WARNS PEOPLE NOT TO JUMP TO FAULTY CONCLUSIONS. "A JUDGE'S CRITICISM OF A GOVERNMENT REPORT DOES NOT DIMINISH ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF BANNING SMOKING IN PUBLIC," SAYS THE PAPER.

VOICE: NO ONE SHOULD BE SWAYED THAT THE JUDGE'S RULING IN ANY WAY SUGGESTS SECONDHAND SMOKE IS NOT HARMFUL. THE RULING SAYS ONLY THAT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY DID NOT EMPLOY THE PROPER METHODS IN A STUDY. SECONDHAND SMOKE IS STILL PROBABLY QUITE HARMFUL, AND IT IS MOST CERTAINLY OBNOXIOUS.

TEXT: TAKING THE OPPOSITE VIEW IS "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" WHICH SCOFFS AT THE AGENCY'S RULING THE JUDGE ATTACKED AND OVERTURNED.

VOICE: /// OPT /// IT'S A GOOD THING [E-P-A CHIEF] CAROL BROWNER DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE HER LIVING AS A SCIENTIST. OTHERWISE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [E-P-A] ADMINISTRATOR WOULD FIND HERSELF DEPENDENT ON A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE THAN SHE DOES AT PRESENT. LATE LAST WEEK A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE ISSUED A WITHERING RULING ON AGENCY RESEARCH PURPORTING TO LINK SECOND-HAND CIGARETTE SMOKE - - ALSO KNOWN AS ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE - - WITH CANCER IN NON-SMOKERS. /// END OPT /// .... 'IN THIS CASE,' HE [THE JUDGE] WROTE, 'E-P-A PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO A CONCLUSION BEFORE RESEARCH HAD BEGUN, EXCLUDED INDUSTRY BY VIOLATING [STATUTORY] PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS; ADJUSTED ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE AND SCIENTIFIC NORMS TO VALIDATE THE AGENCY PUBLIC CONCLUSIONS, AND AGGRESSIVELY UTILIZED [STATUTORY] AUTHORITY TO DISSEMINATE FINDINGS TO ESTABLISH A DE FACTO REGULATORY SCHEME INTENDED TO RESTRICT PLAINTIFF'S [THE TOBACCO COMPANIES] PRODUCTS AND TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION.' ... UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE AGENCY, EVEN IF ONE IS SOMEHOW ABLE TO OVERLOOK ALL OF THE ERRORS IN THE STUDY, SECOND-HAND SMOKE STILL DOESN'T AMOUNT TO MUCH OF A RISK.

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS LIVID ABOUT THE JUDGE'S RULING, WHICH IT SAYS WAS UNDULY AFFECTED BY QUESTIONABLE SCIENTIFIC PAPERS PAID FOR BY THE CIGARETTE COMPANIES. AND IT DECRIES THE INCREASINGLY POLITICIZED ATTACKS ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

VOICE: INCREASINGLY, SCIENCE AND ITS METHODS ARE BEING DRAGGED INTO THE COURTS AND THE LEGISLATURES. WHENEVER SCIENTISTS REACH FINDINGS THAT OFFEND VESTED INTERESTS - - WHETHER THE TOPIC BE D-N-A EVIDENCE, GLOBAL WARMING OR TOBACCO SMOKE - - THE CIRCUS BEGINS. IT REEKS. IT SAVAGES THE TRUE PURPOSE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. IT IS THE WAY WE LIVE NOW. .....[U-S DISTRICT] JUDGE [WILLIAM] OSTEEN CRITICIZED THE REPORT'S METHODS AND PROCEDURES. HE ALSO RULED THAT THE E-P-A HAD NOT 'DEMONSTRATED' THAT SECOND-HAND SMOKE CAUSES CANCER. WELL, **DUHHHH** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ["DUHHH:" CURRENT SLANG FOR A REJOINDER TO AN INCREDIBLY DUMB REMARK.] ABSOLUTE PROOF IS NOT WHAT EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES CAN GIVE YOU. WHAT THEY **CAN** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] FURNISH IS CORRELATION - - A PRETTY GOOD REASON TO SUSPECT THAT IF YOU INDULGE IN BEHAVIOR A, YOU MAY GET AILMENT B.

TEXT: AT A GLOBAL CONFERENCE THAT HAS JUST ENDED, MORE THAN 150 NATIONS DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A WORLD CRIMINAL COURT, BUT AS THE TREATY MOVED TOWARD COMPLETION, THE UNITED STATES DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT THE MOVE AS IT WAS ORGANIZED. THAT BRING THIS RESPONSE FROM TUESDAY'S "WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: WAS THE UNITED STATES RIGHT TO STAY OUT? THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MADE A DECISION CONSISTENT WITH AMERICAN INTERESTS. THERE IS SOME EMBARRASSMENT IN REJECTING A COURT WHOSE ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN AN AMERICAN GOAL FOR DECADES. BUT THE FORM THIS COURT FINALLY TOOK DID NOT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO JOIN. AMERICAN TROOPS ARE LIABLE TO BE DEPLOYED AROUND THE GLOBE TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF FOREIGN POLICY INTERESTS. TO ENSURE THAT THESE TROOPS ENJOY THE REQUISITE FLEXIBILITY AND ARE NOT VULNERABLE TO MISCHIEVOUS POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS ..... IS A NECESSARY FEATURE OF AMERICAN INTERNATIONALISM.

TEXT: ANOTHER DOMESTIC ISSUE CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DEBATE IS A PLAN BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN HIS OR HER OWN HEALTH IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. WHILE IT MAY MAKE SENSE MEDICALLY, TO INSURE UNIFORM TREATMENT, MANY PAPERS, LIKE "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND WORRY ABOUT ITS PRIVACY IMPLICATIONS.

VOICE: A 'UNIQUE HEALTH IDENTIFIER' IT'S CALLED. IT CAN DO ALL SORTS OF NEAT [USEFUL] THINGS, THEY SAY - - HELP DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS TRACK PATIENTS' HEALTH OVER A LIFETIME, HEALTH BUREAUCRATS RUN DOWN YOUR OLD HEALTH RECORDS IF YOU'VE CHANGED INSURANCE COMPANIES AND RESEARCHERS CREATE A NATIONAL DISEASE BANK. A BIG, BAD IDEA, WE THINK. .... OUR QUAINT VIEW, HOWEVER, IS THAT YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE TOO MUCH PRIVACY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE MOST INTIMATE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE. THAT'S PARTICULARLY SO IN THE AGE OF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY AND COMPUTER HACKERS. IT DOESN'T TAKE A MAD SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THIS HEALTH IDENTIFIER COULD BE MISUSED. /// OPT /// ... THE UNITED STATES IS STILL A LAND OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN KEEP TRACK OF THEIR HEALTH AND HEALTH RECORDS WITHOUT WASHINGTON, D-C STAMPING ANOTHER NUMBER ON THEM AT BIRTH. /// END OPT

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TUESDAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
21-Jul-98 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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