Voice of America, 98-07-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[02] KURDISH BROADCASTING (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (DIYARBAKIR)

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

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

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

[06] WORLD BASKETBALL WRAP(L) BY DAVID B. BYRD (ATHENS, GREECE)

[01] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS OFFERED TO ALLOW FOREIGN DIPLOMATS TO ESCORT REFUGEES HOME IN SERBIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, ONE DIPLOMAT IS NOT SURE THE OFFER IS ENOUGH TO PERSUADE THE REFUGEES.

TEXT: THE OFFER CAME IN A TWO-HOUR MEETING IN BELGRADE FRIDAY BETWEEN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND CHRISTOPHER HILL, AN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO BRING SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

HE PROPOSED A COUPLE OF THINGS -- ONE, THAT IF THE DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS ARE PREPARED TO DO THIS, THEY COULD ESCORT REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES AND TOWNS. HE ALSO SAID THAT IF HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS WISH, THEY MAY ESTABLISH A PRESENCE ANYWHERE IN KOSOVO, INCLUDING IN MALESEVO AND ORAHOVAC.

THOSE ARE THE TOWNS THAT BORE THE BRUNT OF A SERB OFFENSIVE THAT DEALT A MAJOR SETBACK TO THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY DURING THE PAST WEEK.

ONE WESTERN DIPLOMAT WAS SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL ABOUT MR. MILOSEVIC'S PROMISES, SAYING THE ONLY THING TO BELIEVE IS WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND.

IN ANY EVENT, AMBASSADOR HILL SAYS HE IS NOT SURE HOW PRACTICAL THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE. THE DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS, FOR ONE, HAVE NOT YET FULLY STAFFED THEIR MONITORING MISSION, AND ESCORTING REFUGEES HOME WOULD INCREASE THEIR BURDEN. HE ALSO SAID IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE PRESENCE OF THE DIPLOMATS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE THE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME.

THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES ABOUT 150-THOUSAND KOSOVO RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING DURING THE PAST FIVE MONTHS. MOST REMAIN IN KOSOVO, LIVING WITH STRANGERS OR RELATIVES, OR JUST OUT IN THE OPEN.

DIPLOMATIC SOURCES SAY THE MONITORING MISSION OF BELGRADE-BASED DIPLOMATS HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED FULL ACCESS THROUGHOUT KOSOVO IN RECENT DAYS AS THE SERB FORCES WAGED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS. UNDER A DEAL BROKERED BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, THE DIPLOMATS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN KOSOVO. ON FRIDAY, HOWEVER, OBSERVERS AGAIN HAD UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO LARGE PARTS OF KOSOVO, INCLUDING AREAS OF RECENT FIGHTING. AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS GUARANTEED THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY FULL ACCESS. (SIGNED)
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31-Jul-98 1:49 PM EDT (1749 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KURDISH BROADCASTING (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (DIYARBAKIR)

INTRO: THE GROWING NUMBER OF PRIVATE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS IN TURKEY HAS HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR A FREER DEBATE OF MANY SENSITIVE ISSUES IN A COUNTRY THAT IS FREQUENTLY CRITICIZED BY THE WEST FOR CURBS ON ITS MEDIA. IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES, LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE EVEN TURNING A BLIND EYE TO SOME BROADCASTS IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE, WHICH ARE OFFICIALLY BANNED. YET AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM DIYARBAKIR, BROADCASTING IN KURDISH REMAINS A RISKY BUSINESS.

TEXT: /// KURDISH MUSIC -- IN FULL BRIEFLY, THEN UNDER TEXT AND OUT///

THIS KURDISH SONG TALKS ABOUT WORKERS MARCHING THROUGHOUT VARIOUS PROVINCES IN THE KURDISH DOMINATED SOUTHEAST REGION ... A THINLY-DISGUISED REFERENCE TO REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY OR P-K-K -- WHICH HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR SELF RULE FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. SO NOT SURPRISINGLY, WHEN A LOCAL RADIO STATION, CALLED "METRO F-M," AIRED THE TUNE EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT GOT ITSELF INTO DEEP TROUBLE.

GOKHAN KOCYIGIT -- WHO OWNS "METRO F-M" AS WELL AS "METRO TELEVISION" -- SAYS HIS RADIO STATION WAS SHUT DOWN ON JULY 10TH FOR A WHOLE YEAR FOR BROADCASTING MATERIAL WHICH AUTHORITIES SAID "UNDERMINED THE UNITY OF THE TURKISH STATE."

MR. KOCYIGIT SAYS HIS TELEVISION BROADCASTS WERE BANNED FOR TWO MONTHS AS WELL -- FOR SIMILAR REASONS. HE AND HIS BROTHER, WHO HELPS RUN THE STATION, NOW FACE TRIAL IN A STATE SECURITY COURT FOR PROMOTING SEPARATISM. BOTH MEN COULD END UP IN JAIL.

MR KOCYIGIT SAYS HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE IS BEING PUNISHED. HE SAYS HE ONLY PLAYED KURDISH MUSIC, AND THAT ALL HIS OTHER PROGRAMS -- BOTH ON RADIO AND TELEVISION -- WERE IN TURKISH.

MR. KOCYIGIT SAYS MOST OF THE MUSIC HE PLAYS ON THE AIR IS FREELY AVAILABLE IN RECORD STORES ACROSS TURKEY. //OPT// FACED WITH SUCH CONSTRAINTS, MR KOCYIGIT SAYS HE NO LONGER BROADCASTS NEWS PROGRAMS ON HIS T-V STATION BECAUSE HE IS WORRIED THAT THESE TOO MAY ALSO LAND HIM IN COURT. //END OPT//

NEVZAT BINGOL -- WHO USED TO OWN THE FIRST RADIO AND T-V STATIONS EVER TO BROADCAST IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE HERE -- SAYS THE ONLY KIND OF KURDISH MUSIC TOLERATED BY AUTHORITIES ARE FOLK TUNES DEVOID OF ANY POLITICAL SUGGESTIONS. MR. BINGOL DESCRIBES THIS AS A POSITIVE STEP, YET HE SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO GIVE UP HIS BUSINESS AFTER HIS TRANSMITTER WAS DESTROYED IN A BOMB ATTACK LAST YEAR.

MR. BINGOL SAYS HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS DEATH THREATS FROM ANONYMOUS CALLERS WHILE HE WAS STILL BROADCASTING. HE SAYS HE ALSO RECEIVED VARIOUS WARNINGS FROM THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNING THE CONTENT OF HIS PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDED LIVE DEBATES ON THE KURDISH ISSUE.

WHAT IS IRONIC, ACCORDING TO MR. BINGOL, IS THAT A PRIVATE KURDISH TELEVISION CHANNEL -- CALLED "MED T-V," BEAMED VIA SATELLITE FROM EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA -- IS WATCHED BY MILLIONS OF ETHNIC KURDS IN THE REGION. LOCAL AUTHORITIES MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IN THE PAST TO STOP PEOPLE FROM WATCHING MED T-V BY CONFISCATING SPECIAL SATELLITE DISHES REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE BROADCASTS. BUT THE AUTHORITIES HAVE GIVEN UP THE BATTLE. //OPT// TODAY THOUSANDS OF SATELLITE DISHES DOT ROOFTOPS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. //END OPT//

THE SATELLITE T-V CHANNEL MAKES NO SECRET OF ITS POLITICAL LEANINGS. P-K-K LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, IS A FREQUENT GUEST ON MED T-V DEBATE PROGRAMS, WHERE HE BITTERLY ATTACKS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OVER WHAT HE AND THE STATION DESCRIBE AS THE "DIRTY WAR" IT IS WAGING IN THE SOUTHEAST. THE CHANNEL NEVER COMMENTS ON ATTACKS CARRIED OUT BY THE P-K-K AGAINST CIVILIANS. THESE INCLUDE MURDERING WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS UNARMED STATE EMPLOYEES.

ON MED T-V NEWS, THIS ITEM IS ABOUT TURKISH KURDS WHO ARE SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM IN ITALY BECAUSE -- ACCORDING TO THE NEWSCASTER THEY WANT TO ESCAPE OPPRESSION THEY SAY THEY FACE IN TURKEY. TURKISH NEWS CHANNELS, HOWEVER, TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. THESE KURDS, THE TURKISH NEWS CHANNELS SAY, ARE SIMPLY SEEKING BETTER ECONOMIC CONDITIONS LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER ILLEGAL MIGRANTS WHO MAKE THEIR WAY FROM TURKEY TO EUROPE EVERY YEAR. (SIGNED)
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31-Jul-98 10:10 AM EDT (1410 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS STILL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE JAPANESE ECONOMY. THE NEW JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN NO SPECIFIC INDICATION OF IMMEDIATE FIRM ACTION. AND THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS ALL CLOSED DOWN AFTER A SLOW OPENING ON WALL STREET.

THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 74 POINTS, ONE-AND-ONE-QUARTER PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX WAS OFF 45 POINTS, THREE-QUARTERS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL 20 POINTS, ONE-HALF PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/KL
31-Jul-98 1:52 PM EDT (1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES CLOSED DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) AS TRADERS CONTINUED TO WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN JAPAN. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88-HUNDRED-83, DOWN 143-POINTS OR ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 54-POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 11-HUNDRED-20, DOWN 22 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY A BETTER THAN EXPECTED REPORT ON U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS NOT ENOUGH TO OFFSET NEW CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT JAPAN. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE U-S ECONOMY GREW AT A ONE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT ANNUAL RATE IN THE SECOND QUARTER. MANY ECONOMISTS HAD EXPECTED NO GROWTH.

REGARDING JAPAN, SOME WALL STREET TRADERS WORRIED THE NEW GOVERNMENT THERE MAY NOT TAKE EFFECTIVE STEPS TO REMEDY THAT NATION'S ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THAT THE VALUE OF THE YEN COULD DRIFT LOWER.

IN A STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC SITUATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK NOTE OF CONDITIONS IN JAPAN.

IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR ASIA AND FOR OUR ECONOMY THAT THE NEW JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO STRENGTHEN ITS FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND STIMULATE AND OPEN ITS ECONOMY.

IN ADDITION TO WORRIES ABOUT JAPAN, WALL STREET WAS NOT PLEASED BY A COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORT WHICH SAYS THE RATE AT WHICH AMERICANS SAVE, FELL TO JUST SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT OF INCOME IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE I-B-M COMPUTER COMPANY HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO BREAKING U-S LAW BY EXPORTING SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO A RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABORATORY. THE I-B-M EAST ASIA UNIT WAS ORDERED TO PAY EIGHT AND ONE-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES.

WORKERS AT THE LARGEST BEER COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES WILL KEEP ON BREWING, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE. THE UNION REPRESENTING WORKERS AT THE ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANY SAYS IT WILL NOT STRIKE RIGHT NOW, DESPITE REJECTION OF THE COMPANY'S LATEST CONTRACT OFFER. KELLOGG, THE LARGEST BREAKFAST CEREAL COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORTS A 12-PERCENT DROP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS. THE COMPANY SAYS INCREASED COMPETITION CAUSED IT TO INCREASE PROMOTIONAL SPENDING. KELLOGG IS CONSIDERING SOME SELECTIVE PRICE CUTS IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE SALES VOLUME. STARBUCKS, THE POPULAR U-S COFFEE BAR CHAIN, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY THAT FAILS TO LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS IN THE CURRENT STOCK MARKET ENVIRONMENT. THE COMPANY REPORTED ITS SALES ARE STILL GROWING, BUT AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER RATE THAN ANALYSTS HAD FORECAST. STARBUCKS STOCK DROPPED BY MORE THAN 11 PERCENT. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/KBK
31-Jul-98 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE ONGOING LEGAL DRAMA SURROUNDING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY CONTINUES TO FASCINATE THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS. THE PRESIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED ON ALLEGATIONS THAT HE HAD A SEXUAL AFFAIR WITH MS. LEWINSKY AND THEN URGED HER TO LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH.

ANOTHER MAJOR TOPIC FRIDAY IS / WAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS' SPEECH TO A GROUP OF BLACK LAWYERS IN WHICH HE EXPLAINED HIS OFT-CRITICIZED CONSERVATIVE PHILOSOPHY. OTHER EDITORIALS DEAL / DEALT WITH THE ASSAULT ON BURMA'S DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST AUNG SAN SUU KYI; CHINA'S DECISION TO TAKE THE ARMY OUT OF THE BUSINESS WORLD; AND A NEW DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE BY CUBA'S LEADER. NOW, HERE IS _____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK, TOGETHER WITH A FEW QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A SITTING PRESIDENT BEING FORCED TO GIVE TESTIMONY BEFORE A GRAND JURY WOULD BE A HISTORICAL FIRST FOR THIS NATION, AND NOW, A COMPROMISE HAS BEEN WORKED OUT SO THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THAT. HIS TESTIMONY WILL BE GIVEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE, VIA VIDEO TAPE, TO KENNETH STARR'S PANEL PROBING WHETHER THE PRESIDENT AND MONICA LEWINSKY HAD SEX, AND THEN AGREED TO LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH. LONG ISLAND'S "NEWSDAY" WONDERS WHETHER THERE "IS AN END IN SIGHT FOR [THE] WHITE HOUSE SOAP OPERA?

VOICE: UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, A PRESIDENT'S PUTATIVE DALLIANCE WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN SHOULDN'T BE GRIST FOR THE LEGAL MILL. BUT THE BIZARRE CONVERGENCE OF PAULA JONES' SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT AGAINST [MR.] CLINTON (NOW DISMISSED) AND LINDA TRIPP'S TAPED PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH [MS.] LEWINSKY HAS INEXORABLY TURNED A PRIVATE MATTER INTO THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS. BEST GET THROUGH IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS THIS AFFAIR IS SERIOUS, NOTING THAT IF MS. LEWINSKY TESTIFIES THAT BOTH SHE AND MR. CLINTON LIED UNDER OATH IN DENYING THEIR SEXUAL ACTIVITY -- THAT IS PERJURY AND A FEDERAL CRIME.

VOICE: SHOULD [MR.] STARR SUBMIT A REPORT OFFERING EVIDENCE OF SUCH CRIMES TO CONGRESS, THAT WOULD INSTITUTE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS NOT SEEN IN THIS NATION SINCE THE DARK DAYS OF WATERGATE IN 1974. /// OPT /// PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON WAS FORCED TO RESIGN FROM OFFICE UNDER THREAT OF IMPEACHMENT. /// END OPT /// ALL AMERICANS CAN ONLY HOPE ... OUR NATION DOES NOT HAVE TO UNDERGO SUCH A DIVISIVE SITUATION AGAIN.

TEXT: AND HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS: "THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ARE FAR TOO SERIOUS, AND THE IMPLICATIONS ... ARE FAR TOO GRAVE. ONLY THE TRUTH WILL DO NOW." ON A RELATED MATTER, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" REMARKS ON HOW THE WHITE HOUSE LOST ITS BATTLE TO PREVENT CLOSE CLINTON AIDE, AND WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL, BRUCE LINDSAY FROM APPEARING BEFORE A A GRAND JURY.

VOICE: THE COURT RULING WAS EXPECTED. IT WAS SOUND. ... THE JUDGE ... SAID THE [ATTORNEY-CLIENT] PRIVILEGE DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE THE SUBJECT OF THE DISCUSSION WAS A PRIVATE MATTER RATHER THAN A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY. ... THE PEOPLE DO NOT PAY WHITE HOUSE LAWYERS TO BE A PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE CRIMINAL-DEFENSE TEAM.

TEXT: LEAVING THE TROUBLED CLINTON PRESIDENCY, WE TURN TO ANOTHER, HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNMENT FIGURE, BLACK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS. HE HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY SCORNED BY BLACK ACTIVISTS AND JURISTS FOR HIS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS. RECENTLY, MR. THOMAS DELIVERED A SPEECH AT A BLACK BAR ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, EVOKING LOTS OF COMMENT IN THE PRESS. LIKE THIS FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: CLARENCE THOMAS UNLOADED [ATTACKED] HIS CRITICS THE OTHER DAY, TWISTING THE CASE AGAINST HIM JUST AS HE DID SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE SENATE WAS CONSIDERING HIS NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT. ... HE CHARGED CRITICS WITH VILIFYING HIM BECAUSE HE IS A BLACK WHO DOES NOT HOLD THEIR LIBERAL VIEWS. ... THE FACT THAT HE HIMSELF BENEFITED FROM PROGRAMS [HE NOW GENERALLY OPPOSES IN HIS DECISIONS ON THE HIGH COURT] THAT OPENED UP EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITIES ADDS TO THE RESENTMENT. ...THE SPEECH WAS RECEIVED POLITELY, BUT HIS IMPACT ON AMERICAN LAW REMAINS A BITTER MATTER FOR THOSE WHO SEE ADVANCES IN SOCIAL POLICY BEING STEADILY ERODED.

TEXT:"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," HOWEVER, FEELS IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE JUSTICE AIR HIS VIEWS, SUMMING UP ITS COMMENTS THUSLY:

VOICE: JUSTICE THOMAS SAID ... HIS ADDRESS ... WAS INTENDED 'TO ASSERT MY RIGHT TO THINK FOR MYSELF.' IT IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR TIMES THAT A MEMBER OF THE U-S SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE SUCH AN ASSERTION. IF MORE PEOPLE DON'T MAKE MORE EFFORT THAN THEY HAVE TO PROTECT CLARENCE THOMAS'S ENTITLEMENT TO HIS OPINIONS, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE FREEDOM TO INTIMIDATE GAINS YET MORE GROUND OVER THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK.

TEXT: OVERSEAS, IN ASIAN NEWS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SALUTES BURMESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FOR CONTINUING HER STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND MOVEMENT.

VOICE: FOR SIX DAYS LAST WEEK, ON A HOT, MOSQUITO-INFESTED ROAD WEST OF RANGOON, SUU KYI DEFIED THE MILITARY BOSSES WHO [WERE] PREVENTING HER FROM GOING TO MEET MEMBERS OF HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY. SHE WAS DEPRIVED OF WATER, BECAME DEHYDRATED, AND WAS RUNNING A TEMPERATURE ... FINALLY ... SHE WAS REMOVED BY FORCE FROM HER CAR ... AND DRIVEN BACK TO RANGOON. ... AFTER THE STANDOFF ... [U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE] ALBRIGHT PUT HER FINGER ON [IDENTIFIED] A PRINCIPLE THE JUNTA HAD VIOLATED ... [THE] BASIC HUMAN RIGHT ... TO TRAVEL FREELY IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY.' THE JUNTA WAS ALSO VIOLATING THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE FREELY.

TEXT: STILL IN ASIAN AFFAIRS, "NEWSDAY" (IN NEW YORK) IS PLEASED AT THE MOVE BY CHINA'S GOVERNMENT TO FORCE THE CHINESE ARMY OUT OF ITS MANY BUSINESS VENTURES.

VOICE: REORGANIZING CHINA'S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS A DAUNTING TASK, AND NO DOUBT [PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN] JIANG WILL MEET WITH STIFF RESISTANCE FROM MANAGERS IN THE UPPER AND MIDDLE RANKS OF THE ARMY WHO HAVE THE MOST TO LOSE DAY-TO-DAY. BUT IF HE SUCCEEDS IN BREAKING DOWN THEIR CONTROL, HE WILL HAVE BEGUN TO MOVE CHINA CLOSER THAN EVER TO THE MODEL OF A MODERN INDUSTRIAL STATE THAT CAN COMPETE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THE GLOBAL MARKET.

TEXT: TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS" UPSET AT THE CONTINUING STARVATION IN SOUTHERN SUDAN, SAYS A WIDER AID APPROACH FOR MUCH OF AFRICA IS NEEDED.

VOICE: WITH THE SAD EXCEPTION OF SUDAN, HUNGER IN AFRICA DOESN'T OCCUPY HEADLINES THE WAY IT ONCE DID. THAT'S GOOD NEWS: CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED IN MANY FORMERLY DESPERATE COUNTRIES SUCH AS ETHIOPIA. YET POVERTY, MALNUTRITION, DISEASE, ILLITERACY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STILL PLAGUE MANY AFRICAN NATIONS. ... A HOUSE BILL COULD HELP AFRICAN SUBSISTENCE FARMERS ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. TITLED "AFRICA: SEEDS OF HOPE ACT," THE BILL WOULD REDIRECT SOME AID TO RURAL AREAS AND MAKE IMPROVED AGRICULTURE A TOP GOAL OF U-S AID. ... THE FULL HOUSE SHOULD PASS THE BILL AS IS. IF BUDGETERS BALK AT THE COST, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST APPROVE PARTS OF THE BILL THAT ARE BUDGET-NEUTRAL. AFRICAN NATIONS WANT TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND THEN, PERHAPS, START HELPING OTHER NATIONS IN NEED.

TEXT: LASTLY, A NEW DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE BY CUBA'S FIDEL CASTRO, DRAWS THIS REFLECTION FROM "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE.

VOICE: FIDEL CASTRO HAS HEADED OFF ON A SUMMIT VISIT TO THREE CARIBBEAN NATIONS, JAMAICA, GRENADA AND BARBADOS. HE WILL MAKE SPEECHES AND HAVE A FEW LAUGHS AT U-S EXPENSE. THE POLICY OF ISOLATING COMMUNIST CUBA IS NOT WORKING. ...GUATEMALA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RESTORED FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER AND COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT VISITED. THERE ARE SIGNS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, SURREPTITIOUSLY, IS JOINING THE PARADE. WHEN HARD-LINE CUBAN-AMERICANS CRY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS SOFTENING ON HAVANA, THEY ARE NOT PARANOID BUT OBSERVANT. ...THIS DOES NOT MEAN FRIENDSHIP OR EVEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. ... THE FADING COMMUNIST DICTATOR NEEDS BAD RELATIONS WITH THE U-S. THE U-S POLICY OF ISOLATING CUBA IS HIS LAST PROP. IF THERE IS ONE THING HE COULD NOT SURVIVE IT WOULD BE UNFETTERED CUBAN-U-S COMMUNICATIONS. ... THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS STARTING TO CATCH ON [UNDERSTAND THIS].

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM FRIDAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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31-Jul-98 12:11 PM EDT (1611 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] WORLD BASKETBALL WRAP(L) BY DAVID B. BYRD (ATHENS, GREECE)

INTRO: FIRST ROUND ACTION IS OVER AT THE WORLD MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHENS, GREECE. AS V-O-A'S DAVID BYRD REPORTS,LITHUANIA, RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA HAVE ALL MADE IT THROUGH TO THE SECOND ROUND.

TEXT: THE U-S MEN CAME INTO FRIDAY'S GAME NEEDING A WIN TO GUARANTEE A PLACE IN THE SECOND ROUND. IN THE END, THE AMERICANS STEPPED UP THEIR GAME AND BEAT GROUP-C OPPONENT SOUTH KOREA 88-62. COACH RUDY TOMJANOVICH SAID HIS PLAYERS TOOK NOTHING FOR GRANTED IN THE GAME.

IF WE DID NOT GIVE SOUTH KOREA RESPECT, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE GAME (WINNING) WITH A WIDE MARGIN, IF WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM RESPECT, THEY COULD HAVE BEATEN US. AND THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT SPORTS.

THE U-S MEN END THE FIRST ROUND SECOND IN THEIR GROUP BEHIND LITHUANI WITH TWO WINS AND ONE LOSS. LITHUANIA FINISHED THE FIRST ROUND UNDEFEATED WITH A 66-62 IN OVER BRAZIL.

ANOTHER UNDEFEATED TEAM, YUGOSLAVIA, WON GROUP-B WITH A 99-54 VICTORY OVER JAPAN. RUSSIA DEFEATED PUERTO RICO 86-73. BOTH RUSSIA AND PUERTO RICO ADVANCED TO THE SECOND ROUND.

IN GROUP-A, GREECE FINISHED UNDEFEATED WITH A 68-57 WIN OVER SENEGAL AND ITALY FINISHED SECOND WITH A 79-69 WIN OVER CANADA.

IN GROUP-D, SPAIN WON THE GROUP WITH A 68-67 OVERTIME WIN OVER ARGENTINA. AUSTRALIA MADE THE SECOND ROUND WITH A 70-64 WIN OVER NIGERIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
31-Jul-98 6:11 PM EDT (2211 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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