Voice of America, 98-08-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] INTERIM STATUS FOR KOSOVO? BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[03] U-N / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

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

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

[06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[01] INTERIM STATUS FOR KOSOVO? BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO REFLECTS THE OPPOSING GOALS OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. MOST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE SEEKING INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CONSIDERS KOSOVO AN INTEGRAL PART OF SERBIA. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, FAVORS A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT WITH SOME FORM OF EXPANDED AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO, BUT NEITHER PARTY TO THE CONFLICT SO FAR ACCEPTS THAT OPTION. BALKAN SPECIALISTS HAVE SUGGESTED OTHER SOLUTIONS -- FOR EXAMPLE, PARTITION OF KOSOVO INTO SERBIAN AND ALBANIAN ENTITIES, OR ALTERNATIVELY, "CONFEDERAL" -- OR "THIRD REPUBLIC" -- STATUS FOR KOSOVO WITHIN THE FEDERAL

TEXT: DAVID PHILLIPS, A SPECIALIST ON KOSOVO, DIRECTS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY. MR. PHILLIPS SAYS THE TWO SIDES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT ON THE STATUS OF KOSOVO.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- PHILLIPS (0:44) "WHEN YOU LOOK AT SELF-DETERMINATION AND INTERNATIONAL LAW, THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE, RANGING FROM AUTONOMY TO INDEPENDENCE. THE ALBANIANS NEED TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM BELGRADE AND, WITH THE PRESENCE OF A MEDIATOR, WORK,OUT THE LEGAL AND PRACTICAL DETAILS REGARDING A 'MODUS VIVENDI' BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. [OPT] THERE'S GREAT EFFORT BEING MADE TODAY TO ESTABLISH A NEGOTIATING GROUP THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL FACTIONS IN KOSOVO. U-S DIPLOMACY IS WORKING HARD TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR THOSE TALKS AND THEN TO CONVENE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT."

TEXT: AN INTERMEDIATE OPTION SOME BALKAN SPECIALISTS HAVE PROPOSED IS SO-CALLED "CONFEDERAL" STATUS FOR KOSOVO. THIS IS THE TYPE OF REPUBLIC STATUS THAT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO SHARE WITHIN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. BUT, MR. PHILLIPS SAYS, "CONFEDERAL" STATUS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- PHILLIPS (0:45) "THE MONTENEGRINS REJECT IT, IT'S REJECTED IN BELGRADE, AND THE ALBANIANS REJECT IT. IT MAY BE WHERE WE END UP AT THE END OF THE DAY. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE INDEPENDENCE DEMANDS OF THE ALBANIANS WILL NOT BE SETTLED ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THAT ONLY THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS AND DIPLOMACY CAN WE ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE SITUATION. WE'VE PROPOSED IN THE PAST THAT THE PARTIES FOCUS ON AN INTERIM AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A SPECIAL STATUS FOR KOSOVO FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO STABILIZING CONDITIONS IMMEDIATELY, SO THAT COOLER HEADS COULD PREVAIL AND IN THE FUTURE THERE BE A RESOLUTION OF FINAL STATUS ISSUES."

TEXT: JAMES HOOPER, DIRECTOR OF THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL IN WASHINGTON, D-C, SAYS -- AS AN INTERIM MEASURE -- CONFEDERAL STATUS FOR KOSOVO HAS SOME ADVANTAGES.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- HOOPER (0:34) "IT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT U-S NEGOTIATORS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING. ON THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN SIDE, IT WOULD NOT BE THE END RESULT THEY WOULD DESIRE BUT, IF THEY WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT AN INTERIM AGREEMENT THAT WOULD LEAD TO INDEPENDENCE, THEN THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO CONSIDER THE THIRD REPUBLIC OPTION, SO LONG AS IT GAVE THEM GENUINE SELF-GOVERNANCE AND ALL THE REPUBLIC RIGHTS THAT MONTENEGRO, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS AS THE SECOND REPUBLIC IN THE SERBIAN-MONTENEGRIN FEDERATION."

TEXT: THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN INTERIM SOLUTION IS THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WITH WHAT MR. HOOPER CALLS A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF SELF-GOVERNING AUTHORITY.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- HOOPER (0:50) "AND IT WOULD DILUTE THE CONTROL OF BELGRADE OVER KOSOVO'S FUTURE AND OVER ITS PEOPLE. IN THEORY, IF IT WAS APPLIED ON THE SAME BASIS AS IT IS APPLIED TO MONTENEGRO, IT WOULD REVERSE THE DECISION OF 1989 THAT MILOSEVIC MADE IN TAKING AWAY AUTONOMY FROM KOSOVO. THESE ADVANTAGES ARE IN THEORY, BECAUSE FOR THE THIRD REPUBLIC OPTION -- AS FOR ANY AGREEMENT WITH SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- THE KEY IS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT AGREEMENT. AND IF YOU LOOK AT MONTENEGRO AND HOW IT HAS BEEN TREATED, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS REPUBLIC STATUS, THE MONTENEGRINS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF UNWANTED PRESSURE FROM BELGRADE IN THEIR OWN INTERNAL AFFAIRS."

TEXT: THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL IS PROPOSING A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT INTERIM STATUS FOR KOSOVO THAT THEY CALL "EARNED INDEPENDENCE." JAMES HOOPER EXPLAINS.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- HOOPER (1:04) "THAT IS A LEGAL STATUS FOR KOSOVO THAT WOULD TAKE THE PROVINCE FROM SERBIAN SOVEREIGNTY. IT'S BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT SERBIA'S VIOLENT ATTACKS, THE ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT MR. MILOSOVIC'S ORDERS HAVE CARRIED OUT IN KOSOVO, HAVE FORFEITED FOR SERBIA ANY RIGHT TO CONTINUED SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE PROVINCE, BUT THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS THEMSELVES DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF INDEPENDENCE AT THIS TIME, THAT WHAT WE NEED IS A FIVE-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD CALLED 'EARNED INDEPENDENCE.' DURING THIS PERIOD THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WOULD BE SELF-GOVERNING. THEY WOULD BE AN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTORATE, OR A WARD OF A COMPONENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY -- TO GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES LIVING IN KOSOVO, ESPECIALLY KOSOVAR SERBS, AND ALSO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT DESTABILIZING THE REGION BY TRYING TO UNDERMINE NEIGHBORING MONTENEGRO OR MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA BY TRYING TO UNITE WITH THEM."

TEXT: ALTHOUGH BALKAN SPECIALISTS SUCH AS JAMES HOOPER AND DAVID PHILLIPS DIFFER ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS REALISTIC AT THIS TIME, THEY AGREE THAT THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT NEED TO WORK TOWARD AN INTERIM SETTLEMENT ON THE STATUS OF KOSOVO.
07-Aug-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: DIPLOMATS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA ARE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TODAY (FRIDAY), SEARCHING FOR A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE RULING SERBS AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: AMERICAN ENVOY CHRISTOPHER HILL MET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADER IBRAHAM RUGOVA FOR TALKS ON THE PROBLEMS FACING KOSOVO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED BY THE FIGHTING TO FLEE THEIR HOMES. RELIEF AGENCIES ESTIMATE THERE MAY BE 200-THOUSAND OF THEM. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES ARE HAVING TROUBLE REACHING MANY OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING OUT IN THE OPEN IN FIELDS AND FORESTS, AWAY FROM PAVED ROADS.

MANY REFUGEES SAY THEY ARE AFRAID TO RETURN HOME, AND MANY HAVE NO HOME TO RETURN TO. HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS, OF HOUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED, AND MUCH OF THE DESTRUCTION HAS COME AFTER THE FIGHTING ENDED. DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN SERB FORCES WITH GASOLINE CANS NEAR BURNING BUILDINGS. IN MALISEVO, IN CENTRAL KOSOVO, THERE ARE NEW FIRES ALMOST DAILY, AND THE TOWN IS DESERTED EXCEPT FOR SERB POLICE.

AMBASSADOR HILL SAID HE ALSO DISCUSSED THE PEACE PROCESS WITH MR. RUGOVA.

WE ALSO DISCUSSED WHERE WE ARE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND SOME IDEAS FOR MOVING THAT FORWARD, THE NEED TO GET A NEGOTIATION STARTED, A NEGOTIATION THAT WILL LEAD TO SOME RESULTS IN A SHORT ORDER OF TIME.

NATO HAS ANNOUNCED NEW AIR EXERCISES IN NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, TO DEMONSTRATE NATO'S READINESS TO INTERVENE IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. BUT RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NIKOLAI AFANSYEVSKY SAID THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION. HE ALSO MET WITH MR. RUGOVA, AND AFTERWARDS THE RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT SAID THE INTENSE FIGHTING OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAS PUT THE PEACE PROCESS AT RISK, AND HE SAID THERE MUST BE A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

WE BELIEVE THAT, I REPEAT, THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION. IT INCLUDES THE POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIONS FROM OUTSIDE. WE DON'T SEE WHAT GOOD IT COULD ADD TO THIS SITUATION. NO, THE PROBLEM IS HERE.

ONE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING NEGOTIATIONS STARTED IS THAT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON A NEGOTIATING TEAM. IN PART, THAT IS DUE TO DIFFERENCES AMONG THE POLITICAL PARTIES, BUT IT ALSO REFLECTS THEIR DIFFICULTY IN GETTING SOME SORT OF REPRESENTATION ON THE TEAM FOR THE GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IN A WAY THAT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE SERBS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH/RRM
07-Aug-98 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-N / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCIES ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A LARGE RELIEF EFFORT TO ASSIST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS VICTIMIZED BY THE WAR IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS FIGHTING IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AGENCIES TO REACH MANY OF THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

TEXT: HUMANITARIAN AID AGENCIES IN KOSOVO SAY THE SITUATION THERE IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THE U-N CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATES THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE AT AROUND 150-THOUSAND. U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS MANY OF THE DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THE OPEN, UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. HE SAYS MANY VILLAGES IN WESTERN DRENICA HAVE BEEN DESERTED BECAUSE OF HEAVY SHELLING. AND, HE SAYS, MANY HOUSES HAVE BEEN SET ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY MILITARY JUSTIFICATION.

OF COURSE WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION. IF IT IS NOT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER YET, IT'S CERTAINLY ON THE VERGE OF BEING ONE. AND, UNLESS A STOP IS PUT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, THINGS WILL GET WORSE VERY QUICKLY.

AID AGENCIES HAVE BEGUN DELIVERING RELIEF SUPPLIES TO PEOPLE IN AREAS OF KOSOVO WHICH HAVE BECOME CALM. UNFORTUNATELY, OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE HELP TO MANY THOUSANDS OF NEEDY PEOPLE WHO REMAIN CAUGHT IN BATTLE ZONES.

IN ADDITION TO THIS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE U-N IS STARTING TO PLAN AHEAD FOR WINTER. HE SAYS THE AGENCY IS ACCUMULATING STOCKS OF WARM CLOTHING, STOVES AND OTHER WINTER ITEMS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE BURNING OF THE HOUSES, THAT IT REALLY MAY MAKE A LOT OF THE KOSOVO POPULATION HOMELESS. AT THE MOMENT IN SOME VILLAGES, WE HAVE AS MANY AS 100 TO 120 PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO ONE HOUSE. SO IT'S AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS IF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO STABILIZES VERY SOON, THEN IT MIGHT NOT BE TOO LATE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE RETURN HOME AND MAKE THEIR HOUSES WATER-TIGHT. HOWEVER, IF THE BURNING AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY CONTINUES, HE PREDICTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL FACE A VERY GRIM, HARSH WINTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
07-Aug-98 8:21 AM EDT (1221 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: WESTERN EUROPE'S STOCK MARKETS FRIDAY ENDED A GENERALLY DISMAL WEEK WITH A SUBSTANTIAL GAIN. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM LONDON.

TEXT: MARKET ANALYSTS SAY THAT RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN THE FAR EAST, EUROPEAN INVESTORS CHOSE TO TAKE HEART FROM GAINS ON WALL STREET AND POSITIVE INDICATORS ABOUT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

MARKETS IN FRANKFURT, PARIS AND LONDON ALL POSTED GAINS OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO PERCENT FOR THE DAY FRIDAY, BUCKING THE WEEK'S DOWNWARD TREND.

IN FRANKFURT, THE "DAX" INDEX GAINED 70 POINTS. THE PARIS "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX WAS UP 73 POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX POSTED AN 86-POINT GAIN AT THE CLOSE.

ON CURRENCY MARKETS IN EUROPE FRIDAY, THE U-S DOLLAR TRADED ABOUT A HALF-CENT HIGHER AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, ABOUT A PFENNIGE HIGHER AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND ALMOST TWO YEN HIGHER AGAINST THE JAPANESE CURRENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
07-Aug-98 1:35 PM EDT (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) IN ANOTHER VOLATILE SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 98, UP 20 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 285 POINTS OR ABOUT THREE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY UNCHANGED AT ONE THOUSAND 89.

ANALYSTS ARE DIVIDED ABOUT WHETHER THE BIG DOWNWARD CORRECTION IN STOCK PRICES IS NOW OVER. SOME SAY MAJOR INDEXES COULD LOSE ANOTHER FIVE TO 10 PERCENT. OTHERS ARGUE STOCKS ARE NOW FAIRLY VALUED.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE U-S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINED STEADY IN JULY AT FOUR AND ONE HALF PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED WAS DOWN BY MORE THAN 60 PERCENT FROM JUNE. ANALYSTS SAY STRIKES AT GENERAL MOTORS WERE THE MAIN REASON FOR THAT DECLINE.

THE HEAD OF GENERAL MOTORS' NORTH AMERICAN MARKETING OFFICE SAYS IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE COMPANY TO RECOVER FROM THOSE RECENT STRIKES. RONALD ZARELLA EXPECTS G-M'S MARKET SHARE WILL BE LESS THAN 25 PERCENT THIS MONTH. IT HAD BEEN 31 PERCENT BEFORE THE STRIKES.

THE WORLDCOM COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY SAYS IT WILL TAKE UP TO SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IN CHARGES AGAINST PROFITS IN CONNECTION WITH ITS MERGER WITH M-C-I TELECOMMUNICATIONS. A U-S GOVERNMENT AGENCY (F-C-C) IS EXPECTED TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL TO THAT MERGER LATER THIS MONTH. SYQUEST, THE TROUBLED MAKER OF COMPUTER DISK DRIVES, SAYS IT WILL ELIMINATE ALMOST ONE THOUSAND JOBS OR 85 PERCENT OF ITS WORK FORCE. SYQUEST WILL CLOSE ITS PLANT IN CALIFORNIA AND SHIFT ALL MANUFACTURING TO A FACILITY IN MALAYSIA. UNILEVER, THE ANGLO-DUTCH CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS FELL BY 62 PERCENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. UNILEVER EXPECTS PROFITS WILL CONTINUE TO BE WEAK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN ASIA.

THE SAFEWAY SUPERMARKET CHAIN WILL PAY 330 MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE CARR GOTTSTEIN, THE LARGEST FOOD RETAILER IN THE STATE OF ALASKA. I-B-M, THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER COMPANY, WILL END ITS 40-YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF THE OLYMPICS WITH THE YEAR 2000 GAMES IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. I-B-M SAYS IT WAS UNABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE COST OF SPONSORSHIP.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
07-Aug-98 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ABOUT: THE LATEST DIFFICULTIES WITH IRAQ; FIGHTING IN KOSOVO; A CONGRESSIONAL DISPUTE WITH THE NATION'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL; AND STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK, IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IRAQ HAS SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH THE U-N IRAQI DISARMAMENT COMMISSION AND IS BARRING SURPRISE INSPECTIONS OF SUSPECTED CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS SITES. "NEWSDAY [LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK] WARNS THAT [IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM] "HUSSEIN IS MISBEHAVING ANEW AND, IF [PRESIDENT] CLINTON DOESN'T ACT TOUGH, THE GULF ALLIES WILL FALTER."

VOICE: /// OPT /// SADDAM HUSSEIN IS ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON INSPECTIONS OF HIS ARMS PROGRAM, BREAKING THE VERY AGREEMENT THAT NARROWLY AVERTED A BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM LAST YEAR. THE WHITE HOUSE CALLS [PRESIDENT] HUSSEIN'S LATEST MOVE 'UNACCEPTABLE.' FAIR ENOUGH. BUT /// END OPT /// WHAT IS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON PREPARED TO DO ABOUT IT? HE MUST FIND A BETTER WAY TO RESPOND DEFINITIVELY TO [SADDAM] HUSSEIN'S PERENNIAL CHALLENGES. ... WHAT'S [SADDAM] HUSSEIN GOT TO LOSE? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SO WHY NOT TRY IT AGAIN? ESPECIALLY SINCE [MR.] CLINTON, LEADER OF THE GULF COALITION, IS DISTRACTED, HIS ATTENTION FAR MORE FOCUSED ON A STAINED BLUE DRESS [AS PART OF THE LEWINSKY / WHITE HOUSE SCANDAL INVESTIGATION] THAN ON PERSIAN GULF OIL FIELDS. SANCTION FATIGUE IS EVIDENT AT THE U-N AND EVEN IN WASHINGTON.

TEXT: NATO DIPLOMATS SAY THE ALLIANCE IS READY TO ACT QUICKLY TO HALT THE VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. THEY SAY NATO AMBASSADORS ARE CONVINCED THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WILL COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS ONLY IN THE FACE OF A CREDIBLE THREAT OF FORCE. THE "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SUGGESTS THAT THE NATO ALLIANCE GO A STEP FURTHER AND USE FORCE.

VOICE: NATO ANNOUNCED A SET OF MILITARY OPTIONS ... TO BE USED AGAINST THE SERBIAN KILLERS, BUT [MR.] MILOSEVIC KNOWS IT IS BLUFFING. THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO ALL DEMANDED A CEASEFIRE IN KOSOVO ON MONDAY [8/3], BUT THEIR WORDS MEANT NOTHING. /// OPT /// ... ALL THIS IS PATHETICALLY FAMILIAR, [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC DID THE SAME THING IN BOSNIA, AND SO DID THE WEST. NATO BLUSTERED AND RAILED, [MR.] MILOSEVIC TOTALLY IGNORED THEM, AND ONLY WHEN WESTERN FIREPOWER WAS USED TO IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON ACCORDS DID THE ATROCITIES CEASE.

TEXT: A U-S CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE HAS VOTED TO CITE ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO FOR CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR REFUSING TO TURN OVER TWO SUBPOENAED MEMOS ON ALLEGED WHITE HOUSE CAMPAIGN-FINANCE ABUSES. MS. RENO HAS DEFENDED HER REFUSAL TO TURN OVER THE DOCUMENTS, SAYING THE HOUSE PANEL'S ACTION AMOUNTS TO POLITICAL TAMPERING. "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: [THE COMMITTEE VOTE] IS A DANGEROUS POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT DECISION THAT THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION -- AN INTERFERENCE, IRONICALLY, BY THE SAME PEOPLE [I.E. THOSE WHO VOTED TO CITE MS. RENO FOR CONTEMPT] WHO PURPORT TO WANT A VIGOROUS INVESTIGATION.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON [MASSACHUSETTS] GLOBE" IS WRITING TODAY ABOUT RECENT STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY.

VOICE: WIDE PRICE SWINGS ON WALL STREET HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE THESE DAYS. THEY ARE A FEATURE OF INVESTING LIFE THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT UNLESS THEY ARE WILLING TO SPEND SOME SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WORRYING ABOUT EVERY JOLT.

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/GE/KL
07-Aug-98 12:52 PM EDT (1652 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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