Voice of America, 98-08-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (S/L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

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

[03] TURKEY / STRIKE (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[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 ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] EUROS WARY OF HI-TECH SEEDS BY ROB SIVAK (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (S/L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE LEADING ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICIAN IN YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE SAYS CONDITIONS ARE NOT YET RIGHT FOR TALKS ON ENDING THE CONFLICT. HIS COMMENTS CAME ONE DAY AFTER THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS ANNOUNCED A TEAM TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE SERBS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR REGIONAL NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: POLITICAL LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE SERB OFFENSIVE AGAINST SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS MUST END BEFORE A DIALOGUE CAN BEGIN. POLICE AND ARMY UNITS HAVE INTENSIFIED THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS AND HAVE DRIVEN THE REBELS FROM MOST OF THE TERRITORY THEY WON IN A CAMPAIGN THAT BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR.

THE FIVE-MAN NEGOTIATING TEAM THAT WAS ANNOUNCED THURSDAY DOES NOT INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, BUT MR. RUGOVA SAID THE REBELS COULD JOIN AT A LATER DATE.

AT HIS WEEKLY NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. RUGOVA ALSO SAID THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IS ESPECIALLY DESPERATE. AN ESTIMATED 200-THOUSAND OR MORE KOSOVO ALBANIANS HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES, TO ESCAPE THE FIGHTING OR SIMPLY OUT OF FEAR. MANY ARE LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS, OUT IN THE OPEN.

EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO RETURN HOME, MANY HAVE NO HOME TO RETURN TO. FIGHTING HAS DAMAGED MANY HOUSES. MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN BURNED IN ARSON ATTACKS IN AREAS CONTROLLED BY SERB FORCES.

RELIEF AGENCIES HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING AID TO THE DISPLACED PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM ARE CAMPED OUT FAR FROM PAVED ROADS TO AVOID SERB PATROLS. THE AGENCIES ARE ALSO SHORT ON SUPPLIES, AND AN APPEAL BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES FOR 18-MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY AID HAS NOT BEEN FULLY MET. HUMANITARIAN WORKERS SEEM OVERWHELMED BY THE CHALLENGE AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES REMAIN OUT IN THE OPEN WHEN THE HARSH BALKAN WINTER SETS IN. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/LMK/KL
14-Aug-98 8:20 AM EDT (1220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, REPORTS MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE CROSSED FROM SERBIA'S WAR-TORN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE EXODUS, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THURSDAY, IS THE LARGEST IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE REFUGEES HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA TO ESCAPE FIGHTING BETWEEN SERB SOLDIERS AND KOSOVO REBELS IN THE JUNUK AREA.

REFUGEES HAVE TOLD U-N AID WORKERS THAT SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS IN THE BORDER AREA. THE BORDER BETWEEN KOSOVO AND NORTHERN ALBANIA HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY CLOSED FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. SERB SOLDIERS REPORTEDLY HAVE BEEN STATIONED ALONG THE BORDER TO PREVENT WEAPONS FROM BEING SMUGGLED INTO KOSOVO.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN, KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS THE AREA HAS BEEN MINED AND SKIRMISHES OCCUR FREQUENTLY. HE SAYS, ALL THIS HAS DISCOURAGED PEOPLE FROM SEEKING ASYLUM IN NORTHERN ALBANIA.

IT'S STILL VERY RISKY TO CROSS. I GUESS IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON THE STAKES. ONCE IT'S HEATED UP TO THE POINT WHERE THEY BASICALLY HAD TO RUN AND THE FIGHTING REACHED THE AREA WHERE THEY WERE, THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO FOR IT.

MORE THAN 13-THOUSAND REFUGEES FLED INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA EARLIER THIS YEAR. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THEIR PRESENCE IS PUTTING AN ENORMOUS BURDEN ON A COUNTRY THAT HAS DIFFICULTY TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN PEOPLE.

HE SAYS THIS LATEST INFLUX OF REFUGEES WILL STRETCH THE COUNTRY'S LIMITED RESOURCES EVEN FURTHER.

THIS IS NOT A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE -- 13-THOUSAND PLUS. BUT, THEY WENT TO PROBABLY THE POOREST CORNER OF EUROPE AND ONE OF THE POOREST CORNERS ON EARTH. AND IT DOES PUT AN ENORMOUS STRAIN ON THE LOCAL POPULATION THERE WHICH WE ALSO HAVE TO HELP FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE U-N IS STRAPPED FOR CASH. IN JUNE, THE U-N APPEALED FOR 18 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS LESS THAN ONE THIRD OF THAT AMOUNT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

HE SAYS THE U-N AGENCY HAS BEEN TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THE REFUGEES IN BUILDINGS AND IN PRIVATE HOMES. AND, IT IS CURRENTLY PREPARING ANOTHER BUILDING TO HOUSE THE NEW ARRIVALS. BUT, HE SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE U-N WILL DO WHEN THAT TOO GETS FILLED UP.(SIGNED)
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14-Aug-98 11:49 AM EDT (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TURKEY / STRIKE (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: A STRIKE BY TURKISH WORKERS AT A STRATEGIC U-S AIR BASE IN SOUTHERN TURKEY ENTERED ITS 23RD DAY FRIDAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE STRIKE HAS SHUT DOWN THE COMMISSARY, DINING HALLS, GAS STATION AND SOME OTHER FACILITIES AT THE INCIRLIK AIRBASE IN ADANA.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THAT OTHERWISE ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL AT INCIRLIK, WHICH SERVES AS THE NATO BASE FOR U-S, TURKISH AND BRITISH PATROL FLIGHTS OVER KURDISH CONTROLLED-NORTHERN IRAQ. THE OPERATION KNOWN AS "NORTHERN WATCH" BEGAN AFTER THE 1991 PERSIAN GULF WAR TO PROTECT THE IRAQI KURDS AGAINST POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM BAGHDAD. OFFICIALS SAY MILITARY ACTIVITIES HAVE NOT BEEN DISRUPTED BY THE STRIKE, WHICH BEGAN JULY 23RD.

AN AMERICAN EMBASSY SPOKESMAN IN ANKARA SAID THE U-S AIR FORCE HAD OFFERED AROUND 14-HUNDRED TURKISH WORKERS CURRENTLY ON STRIKE A 37 PERCENT WAGE INCREASE EVERY THREE MONTHS. BUT THE WORKERS AFFILIATED WITH TURKISH DEFENSE INDUSTRY WORKERS UNION "HARB-IS" WANT MEMBER WAGES TO BE INCREASED BY 70 PERCENT. THEY ALSO WANT COMPENSATION FOR EARLIER PAY CUTS AND FRINGE BENEFITS.

ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT FAMILY MEMBERS OF U-S SERVICEMEN NOT BE EMPLOYED ON THE BASE. NEGOTIATIONS APPEAR DEADLOCKED FOR NOW AS BOTH SIDES REMAIN ENTRENCHED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.

U-S OFFICIALS DENY MEDIA REPORTS THAT SERVICEMEN AND STRIKING WORKERS HAVE CLASHED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. THEY SAY AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE FIGHTING ALLEGATIONS WERE UNFOUNDED. (SIGNED)
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14-Aug-98 7:22 AM EDT (1122 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE FRIDAY ALL CLOSED HIGHER BUT MARKET ANALYSTS WARN THE TREND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE DOWNWARD. FOR FRIDAY'S CLOSING NUMBERS, HERE'S V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: STRONG WORDS FROM BORIS YELTSIN ON THE RUBLE, A RALLY ON HONG KONG'S MARKET AND OTHER BITS OF ENCOURAGING ECONOMIC NEWS CAUSED MARKETS TO PLATEAU, RATHER THAN FALL -- FOR THE MOMENT -- AFTER THE MOSTLY DOWNWARD MOVEMENT IN RECENT WEEKS. THE KEY STOCK EXCHANGES HERE IN LONDON AND IN PARIS GAINED ONE PERCENT IN VALUE FRIDAY. FRANKFURT WAS UP JUST UNDER TWO PERCENT.

WHEN TRADING CLOSED, THE LONDON "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX WAS UP 55-AND-A-HALF POINTS, THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX UP 43, AND THE FRANKFURT "DAX" UP ALMOST 119 POINTS.

BUT SINCE EACH OF THESE KEY EUROPEAN STOCK INDEXES HIT RECORD HIGHS IN MID-TO-LATE JULY, THE "FOOTSIE" AND "DAX" HAVE LOST MORE THAN 700 POINTS AND THE "CAC" HAS SHED NEARLY 400. (SIGNED)
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14-Aug-98 2:23 PM EDT (1823 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 DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN A VOLATILE SESSION MARKED BY CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT CONDITIONS IN ASIA AND RUSSIA. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 84-HUNDRED-25, DOWN 34-POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 173-POINTS OR TWO-PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT ONE-THOUSAND-62, DOWN 12-POINTS.

STOCKS ROSE AND FELL ALL DAY WITH NO CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION. THERE WAS SOME RELIEF EARLY IN THE SESSION AFTER A RALLY IN THE RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THAT AS THE DAY WORE ON, MANY TRADERS TURNED CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOLDING STOCKS OVER THE WEEKEND.

MY INDICATORS SAY THAT WE ARE WAY OVERSOLD. BUT EVERYBODY IS JUST SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW THAT THE MARKET IS JUST FOLLOWING THE SELLING PRESSURE THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED THREE MAJOR AMERICAN ECONOMIC STATISTICS. WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP BY TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT LAST MONTH, SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF EXPECTATIONS. BUT U-S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DROPPED SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN JULY, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE STRIKES AT GENERAL MOTORS. U-S BUSINESS INVENTORIES EDGED UP SLIGHTLY.

A BIG TAKEOVER IN THE MEDICAL DEVICES INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED. THE STRYKER CORPORATION WILL PAY ONE-POINT-NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH FOR THE HOWMEDICA UNIT OF THE PFIZER CORPORATION. THE DEAL COMBINES THE THIRD AND FIFTH LARGEST MAKERS OF ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANTS.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT HAS DECIDED THAT THE U-S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER TOBACCO PRODUCTS. THE DECISION OVERTURNS A LOWER COURT RULING.

PHILIP MORRIS, THE LARGEST TOBACCO COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYS IT WILL TAKE A 103-MILLION DOLLAR CHARGE TO SETTLE HEALTH-RELATED LITIGATION. THE MOVE MEANS PHILIP MORRIS WILL BE FORCED TO REVISE DOWNWARD ITS SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS.

AMERICAN AIRLINES HAS ORDERED 15 MORE BOEING 777 JETLINERS, IN A DEAL WHICH COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS TWO-BILLION DOLLARS. AMERICAN ALREADY HAS 19 777'S ON ORDER, AND THE AIRLINE SAYS THE NEW PLANES WILL ALLOW IT TO GRADUALLY RETIRE ITS FLEET OF DC-10 JUMBO JETS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/KBK
14-Aug-98 5:54 PM EDT (2154 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE SETTLEMENT BY SWISS BANKS OF NUMEROUS LAWSUITS ARISING FROM HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR CLAIMS THAT JEWISH DEPOSITS WERE LOST DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR TWO IS A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FRIDAY.

THERE IS ALSO TALK ABOUT REPAIRING HURT FEELINGS AT THE SITE OF THE TWO EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST AFRICA AND THE ESCALATING PROBLEMS RUSSIA IS HAVING WITH ITS ECONOMY AND STOCK MARKET.

ROUNDING OUT THE EDITORIALS TOPICS ARE COMMENTS ON THE STANDOFF WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS. NOW, HERE IS _________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" CALLS THE SWISS BANKS SETTLEMENT OFFER "AN ENCOURAGING FIRST STEP."

VOICE: THE ACCORD TO HAVE SWISS BANKS REPAY ONE-POINT 25-BILLION DOLLARS TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IS AN ENCOURAGING FIRST STEP IN WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNCONSCIONABLY LONG EFFORT TO RIGHT THE ACCOUNTS OF HISTORY -- LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. ... THE SETTLEMENT ... HAS BEEN GREETED ENTHUSIASTICALLY, BUT DETAILS HAVE YET TO BE WORKED OUT. THERE IS A WELL-GROUNDED LEGACY OF MISTRUST TO OVERCOME.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE SETTLEMENT "JUST AND WELCOME," /// OPT /// WHILE, ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY'S" EDITORIAL A POTENTIAL BENEFACTOR FROM THE AGREEMENT.

VOICE: 'THIS IS NOT CHARITY FROM THE SWISS,' SAID ONE VICTIM'S DAUGHTER YESTERDAY. NOR IS IT REPARATIONS FOR THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST. ... WHAT IT SHOULD BE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MANY SMALLER DEBTS OWED BY THE BANKS TO THEIR DEPOSITORS AND THEIR HEIRS. WHAT A PITY IT TOOK MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY TO SETTLE THOSE ACCOUNTS.

TEXT: THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST AFRICA CONTINUE TO DRAW COMMENTS, AND IN TODAY'S "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" THERE IS A PLEA FOR AID TO THE HOST NATIONS THAT SUFFERED EVEN WORSE THAN THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO COMMIT IMMEDIATE RESOURCES AND DIPLOMACY TO ADDRESS THE HURT FEELINGS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN KENYA FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST BOMBING ..... BOTH KENYA AND TANZANIA, WHERE A ... BLAST KILLED TEN AND INJURED 75, ARE VALUABLE AND RELATIVELY STABLE FRIENDS OF THE UNITED STATES. /// OPT /// ... THE VALUE OF KENYA'S FRIENDSHIP WAS DEMONSTRATED WHEN ITS GOVERNMENT GRANTED FULL COOPERATION WITH THE F-B-I AND C-I-A IN THE INTERNATIONAL HUNT FOR THE TERRORISTS.

TEXT: IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, PORTLAND'S "OREGONIAN" IS INCENSED THAT WARNINGS AND STUDIES RECOMMENDING A SAFER EMBASSY IN KENYA AND ELSEWHERE WERE IGNORED OR DRAMATICALLY SCALED DOWN BY CONGRESS FOR LACK OF FUNDS.

VOICE: TOMORROW ... AND THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND, WILL THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND ITS TAXPAYERS REMEMBER THE LESSONS AND HEARTBREAK OF TODAY? THEY MUST. AMERICA MUST SAFEGUARD ITS DIPLOMATS. .. IF AMERICA DOES INDEED HAVE A LONG MEMORY, IT SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE SCENE THURSDAY, WHEN THE BODIES OF POORLY PROTECTED U-S EMBASSY WORKERS CAME HOME.

TEXT: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, THE STAGGERING RUSSIAN ECONOMY COMES IN FOR ATTENTION FROM"THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH HOLDS OUT SOME HOPE:

VOICE: THE AILING RUSSIAN ECONOMY SEEMS TO HAVE NINE LIVES, BUT THEY ARE RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT. THE LATEST CRISIS, LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND PROVIDED A NEW BAILOUT, IS BANK-BASED. ..... AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER ... MUST INVOLVE A WILLINGNESS OF FOREIGN BANKS TO BE FLEXIBLE REGARDING THEIR LOANS TO RUSSIAN BANKS ..... THE LONGER-TERM SOLUTION, THOUGH, IS UNCHANGED. THE RUSSIANS MUST PROCEED WITH ECONOMIC REFORM, AND SHOW THE WORLD THEY CAN DO IT SUCCESSFULLY.

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" TAKES A LESS SANGUINE VIEW, MAKING A "HOME SCIENCE" ANALOGY TO THE PROBLEM.

VOICE: ... THE GRIM REALITY IS THAT RUSSIA IS ITSELF A CRISIS. RUSSIA HAS BEEN A CRISIS FOR MOST OF THIS CENTURY. WE ARE NOT DEALING HERE WITH A NORMAL ECONOMY IN TROUBLE. WE ARE DEALING WITH THE CHARRED, SMOKING HULK OF THE FORMER, CENTRALLY PLANNED SOVIET SYSTEM. ... THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE COUNTRY LACKS REAL CHANNELS TO ABSORB FUNDS AND PUT THEM TO WORK AT HOME. SHOVING MONEY INTO RUSSIA IS LIKE POURING WATER ONTO A SHEET OF GLASS: MOST OF IT RUNS RIGHT OFF THE SIDES, INTO PLACES LIKE ZURICH AND LONDON AND NEW YORK. THIS IS UNAVOIDABLE UNTIL THERE ARE FURTHER REFORMS SOLIDIFYING PROPERTY RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW IN GENERAL. .... THE BASIC PROBLEM IN RUSSIA IS THE NEED FOR POLITICAL WILL TO REFORM. FOR THAT, NOTHING TENDS TO CONCENTRATE THE MIND LIKE THE RELENTLESS PRESSURE OF MARKET FORCES.

TEXT: FROM ONE FINANCIAL CRISIS TO ANOTHER, AS "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ASSESSES JAPAN'S LATEST MOVES TO IMPROVE ITS PERILOUS FINANCIAL PICTURE.

VOICE: SPORADIC JAPANESE EFFORTS TO RESTIMULATE THE ECONOMY, EXEMPLIFIED BY LAST WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TAX CUT PACKAGE, HAVE LEFT THE PACIFIC RIM DANGLING - - AND WALL STREET GASPING. WHILE NO ONE EXPECTS THE JOB TO BE EASY, JAPAN SHOULD CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE OF [SOUTH] KOREA, SINCE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. ... KOREA HAS DONE MORE TO ADDRESS FUNDAMENTAL FLAWS IN ITS ECONOMY, /// OPT /// FLAWS THAT HAVE DAMAGED ITS CREDIT RATING AND THREATENED TO TOPPLE ITS FINANCIAL STRUCTURE. /// END OPT /// IT HAS BEGUN THE PAINFUL PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING ITS INDUSTRIES TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS TOP-HEAVY. WEAKER BANKS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY STRONGER INSTITUTIONS, AND THE FLIGHT OF CAPITAL FROM THE COUNTRY HAS APPARENTLY BEEN HALTED. JAPAN, TOO, NEEDS TO BREAK ITS TRADITIONAL PATTERNS OF DOING BUSINESS, THOUGH IT MAY HAVE A MORE FORMIDABLE TASK, GIVEN ITS DEEP CULTURAL ATTACHMENT TO MONOPOLIES AND PROTECTED MARKETS.

TEXT: AS TO THE LATEST STANDOFF BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THE WORLD SHOULD HEED THE WARNING OF RICHARD BUTLER, THE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR, AND THE WARNING OF MOHAMMED EL-BARADEI, THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD THE MEANS TO SUCCESSFULLY MONITOR AND PREVENT IRAQI DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

VOICE: THE WARNING ... MEANS THAT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO KEEP IRAQ FROM REARMING HAVE DETERIORATED SWIFTLY SINCE SADDAM HUSSEIN ENDED COOPERATION WITH INSPECTORS LAST WEEK. IF AGGRESSIVE INSPECTIONS ARE NOT QUICKLY RESUMED, IRAQ MAY SOON REPLENISH ITS SUPPLY OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND TAKE STEPS TO REBUILD A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM THAT WAS FAR ADVANCEDBEFORE THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. ..... MR. CLINTON HAS HAD OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND THIS MONTH ..... BUT HE MUST NOT LET THESE OTHER MATTERS PREVENT HIM FROM DEALING FIRMLY WITH A CRISIS IN IRAQ THAT GROWS MORE DANGEROUS BY THE DAY.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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14-Aug-98 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] EUROS WARY OF HI-TECH SEEDS BY ROB SIVAK (WASHINGTON)

[TAPE INSERTS AVAILABLE FROM AUDIO SERVICES]

INTRO: AFTER DECADES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, GENETICALLY-ENHANCED FOOD CROPS ARE FINALLY EMERGING FROM THE LABORATORY AND BEGINNING TO FIND THEIR WAY INTO FARMERS' FIELDS AND CONSUMER FOOD MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT AS ROB SIVAK REPORTS, THE NEW CROPS CONTINUE TO SPARK HEATED PROTESTS BY FARMERS, CONSUMERS AND POLITICIANS IN EUROPE:

TEXT: OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN A DOZEN GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS -- INCLUDING SEVERAL VARIETIES OF PEST-RESISTANT MAIZE AND COTTON AND HERBICIDE-TOLERANT SOYBEANS -- HAVE WON GOVERNMENT APPROVAL IN THE UNITED STATES. LAST YEAR, GENETICALLY ALTERED SEEDS WERE PLANTED ON MORE THAN 15 MILLION HECTARES OF FARMLAND IN THE U-S AND AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT NONE OF THOSE HECTARES ARE IN EUROPE. DESPITE THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION'S DECISION TO APPROVE LIMITED SALES OF GENE-ALTERED CROPS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, A VOCAL COALITION OF EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND FARM AND CONSUMER GROUPS IS OPPOSING THE TECHNOLOGY. CRITICS FEAR THAT WIDE PLANTINGS OF MODIFIED CROPS COULD TRIGGER UNCONTROLLED GENETIC CHANGES IN PLANT ECOSYSTEMS, OR CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN SENSITIVE CONSUMERS. CATHERINE BUNYAN, THE CHIEF AGRICULTURAL OFFICER AT THE EUROPEAN UNION'S WASHINGTON OFFICE, SAYS EUROPEANS ARE SUSPICIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS WHO PROCLAIM THE SAFETY OF THESE CROPS. SHE BLAMES SOME OF THAT WARINESS ON GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS DURING BRITAIN'S MAD COW OUTBREAK TWO YEARS AGO:

TAPE CUT ONE -- BUNYAN :22 "BECAUSE, ORIGINALLY, THE MESSAGE WAS THAT THERE WAS NO FEAR OF TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE TO HUMANS. AND AS MORE INFORMATION BECAME AVAILABLE, SCIENTISTS SAID, 'WELL, IN LIGHT OF THE NEW INFORMATION, IN FACT THERE IS A RISK.' THIS HAD THE EFFECT OF WEAKENING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN SCIENTIFIC ADVICE."

TEXT: MS. BUNYAN NOTES THERE IS NO EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT TO THE U-S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, A REGULATORY AGENCY WHOSE RULINGS ON THE SAFETY OF GENE-ALTERED CROPS AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE WIDELY TRUSTED BY AMERICAN CONSUMERS. THE E-U OFFICIAL SAYS THERE ARE ETHICAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES, TOO, THAT MAKE GENETIC ENGINEERING REPUGNANT TO MANY EUROPEANS:

TAPE CUT TWO -- BUNYAN :15 "GENETIC MODIFICATION HAS CONNOTATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECOND WORLD WAR THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE. THAT'S NOT TRUE ALL OVER EUROPE AND IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST REASON, BUT IT IS AN ELEMENT, PARTICULARLY IN SOME COUNTRIES."

TEXT: BUT AMERICAN PLANT RESEARCHER ROGER BEACHY SAYS EUROPEAN SCIENTISTS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE GENE-ALTERED CROPS CAN PLAY IN ENHANCING HUMAN HEALTH AND BOOSTING GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION. MR. BEACHY -- WHO IS NOTED FOR HIS WORK ON GENETICALLY-ENHANCED CASSAVA AND RICE CROPS -- SAYS SAFETY CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED WITHOUT HALTING DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW CROPS:

TAPE: CUT THREE -- BEACHY :13 "THERE ARE PERCEIVED PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. THERE ARE NO ACTUAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. LET'S GET TO THE SCIENCE OF THE BIOSAFETY ISSUE, AND LET'S MONITOR SAFETY AROUND THE WORLD AS THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE DEPLOYED."

TEXT: AND THE TECHNOLOGIES ARE BEING DEPLOYED. E-U AGRICULTURE OFFICIAL CATHERINE BUNYAN PREDICTS THE NEXT GENERATION OF NUTRITIONALLY-ENHANCED FOOD CROPS WILL ENJOY A WARMER RECEPTION IN EUROPE, OFFERING BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS AS WELL AS FARMERS. AND SHE BELIEVES EUROPEAN COMMISSION PLANS TO REQUIRE LABELING ON ALL GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD PRODUCTS WILL SATISFY MOST EUROPEANS:

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- BUNYAN :13 "WE WILL BE REQUIRING LABELING, AND IT IS VERY MUCH THE DESIRE OF EUROPEAN CONSUMERS. AND WE ALL THINK IT IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO MANY OBJECTIONS, BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE CAN EXERCISE A CHOICE."

TEXT: THAT'S A CHOICE MANY AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE ALSO DEMANDING. THE U-S AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT HAS OPPOSED LABELING, AND NONE ARE REQUIRED IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT TRADE ANALYSTS SAY THE U-S MIGHT ENDORSE SOME LABELING OF GENETICALLY-ALTERED FOOD PRODUCTS TO ACCOMODATE EUROPE'S WARY CONSUMERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RMS/NES
14-Aug-98 3:51 PM EDT (1951 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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