Voice of America, 98-09-07

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

CONTENTS

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

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

[03] ISRAEL / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY MARK LAVIE (JERUSALEM)

[04] KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (MALISEVO, KOSOVO)

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

[06] TURKEY / URANIUM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[07] TURKEY / URANIUM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ROSE IN TRADING MONDAY IN EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES ROSE SHARPLY IN EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS. THE TALK OF POSSIBLE INTEREST RATE CUTS IN THE UNITED STATES APPARENTLY BOOSTED THE CONFIDENCE OF SOME INVESTORS.

BUT TRADING VOLUME WAS LOW. MANY INVESTORS STAYED OUT OF THE MARKET -- APPARENTLY BELIEVING IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK OF A RECOVERY.

THE BIGGEST GAIN WAS IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX JUMPED 180-POINTS, THREE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX CLOSED UP 81-POINTS, ONE-AND-TWO-THIRDS-PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE FACTIONALLY, JUST MORE THAN TWO-POINTS.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. BUT IT WAS DOWN SHARPLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
07-Sep-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS WILL OPEN TUESDAY WITH INVESTORS HOPING FOR A CONTINUED UPSWING. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE TALK OF INTEREST RATE CUTS IN THE UNITED STATES APPARENTLY BOOSTED INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN EUROPE. AND ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS WERE HIGHER.

BUT ANALYSTS SAID MUCH OF THE GAIN ON MONDAY WAS TECHNICAL -- A NATURAL REACTION AFTER SHARP PRICE DROPS DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS -- AND TRADING VOLUME WAS VERY LIGHT.

THE BIGGEST GAIN IN EUROPE MONDAY WAS IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX JUMPED 180-POINTS, THREE-AND-ONE-HALF-PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX CLOSED UP 81-POINTS, ONE-AND-TWO-THIRDS-PERCENT. AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE FACTIONALLY, JUST MORE THAN TWO-POINTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
07-Sep-98 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ISRAEL / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY MARK LAVIE (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER VISITED ISRAEL MONDAY FOR TALKS ABOUT EXPANDING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. MARK LAVIE IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THAT OFFICIALS FROM THE TWO NATIONS SAY THEIR PARTNERSHIP IS NOT AIMED AT HARMING ANYONE ELSE IN THE REGION.

TEXT: ISRAEL AND TURKEY HAVE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT INCLUDES MILITARY COOPERATION, EXPANDED TRADE, AND HUMANITARIAN AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS. IN JERUSALEM MONDAY, THE TWO COUNTRIES SIGNED AGREEMENTS ON AGRICULTURE, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY.

AFTER MEETING ISRAELI OFFICIALS, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ DISMISSED CRITICISM FROM SYRIA ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL.

FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE HOW SYRIA COMMENTS MY VISIT. EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE HOSTILE INTENTIONS OF SYRIA ON TURKEY. OUR COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL IS AIMED AT STABILITY AND SECURITY OF OUR REGION, AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN THIS COOPERATION IN THE FUTURE.

ISRAEL HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS WITH SYRIA. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL BROKE DOWN TWO YEARS AGO. SYRIA IS THE MAIN POWER IN LEBANON, WHERE GUERRILLAS CONFRONT ISRAELI SOLDIERS PATROLLING INSIDE LEBANON TO GUARD THE BORDER. ISRAEL CHARGES THAT SYRIA ENCOURAGES THE GUERRILLAS AND ALLOWS WEAPONS AND SUPPLIES TO REACH THEM.

BUT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU INSISTED THAT THE TURKEY-ISRAEL ALLIANCE IS NOT MEANT TO HARM ANYONE ELSE IN THE REGION. HE EVEN REFERRED TO THE GROWING ISRAEL-TURKEY RELATIONSHIP AS AN AXIS, THEN CORRECTED HIMSELF WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE AXIS ON SYRIA.

IT IS NOT DIRECTED AGAINST ANYONE. AND SPECIFICALLY, ISRAEL MEANS NO HARM TO SYRIA. ON THE CONTRARY. WE WANT TO RESUME FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS BOTH WITH SYRIA AND LEBANON, IN ORDER TO REACH PEACE WITH SECURITY WITH BOTH OF THEM.

MR. NETANYAHU'S HARD-LINE GOVERNMENT, UNDER FIRE FROM THE ARAB WORLD FOR ITS UNCOMPROMISING STANCE TOWARD THE PALESTINIANS, IS EAGER TO DEVELOP ITS TIES WITH TURKEY, A POWERFUL MUSLIM COUNTRY, AS A CONTRAST TO ARAB COOLNESS.

ON TUESDAY, MR. YILMAZ IS TO VISIT THE WEST BANK AND MEET WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT. SOME PALESTINIANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TURKEY'S RAPIDLY WARMING RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL.

MR. YILMAZ EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE STALEMATE IN TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS, AND SAID THE WAY TO BREAK IT IS TO IMPLEMENT THE U-S PEACE PLAN. THE UNITED STATES OFFERED COMPROMISE PROPOSALS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. THE PALESTINIANS RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED THEM, BUT ISRAEL IS STILL BARGAINING. (SIGNED)
NEB/ML/JWH
07-Sep-98 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (MALISEVO, KOSOVO)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN KOSOVO (IN YUGOSLAVIA'S SERBIAN REPUBLIC) PROVINCE ARE REPORTING MORE ATTACKS BY SERB SECURITY FORCES. MEANWHILE, U-S ENVOYS IN BELGRADE APPARENTLY FAILED TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO EASE THE OFFENSIVE. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM MALISEVO, KOSOVO.

TEXT: REFUGEES NEAR THE KOSOVO TOWN OF OSTRAZUB SAID THEY WERE ATTACKED BY SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO FLEE. THEY SAID 18 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED ALONG ONE ROAD IN CENTRAL KOSOVO DURING THE WEEKEND.

LATE MONDAY, SERB TANKS AND SPECIAL FORCES APPEARED READY TO FORCE THE REFUGEES TO FLEE AGAIN.

REFUGEES SAID THAT DURING THE WEEKEND, HUNDREDS OF ALBANIAN MALES WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THEY SAID 50 YOUNG MEN OF FIGHTING AGE WERE EVENTUALLY TAKEN PRISONER.

A SCHOOL TEACHER WHO ESCAPED THE ATTACK WAS WANDERING ALONG A DIRT ROAD WITH A CRITICAL ARM INJURY. THE MAN, MUHAREM SPAHIL, SAID HE HAD BEEN SHOT WHEN SERB FORCES SURROUNDED A GROUP OF REFUGEES NEAR OSTRAZUB. HE SAID THE MEN WERE LATER DIVIDED FROM WOMEN, AND THEIR POSSESSIONS WERE BURNED BY THE SERB FORCES.

AFTER THREE DAYS I'M WOUNDED. I AM ILL NOW BUT I'D LIKE TO FIND MY FAMILY. I COME HERE TO FIND MY FAMILY BUT ANYBODY NOW DOESN'T KNOW WHERE IS MY FAMILY.

THE NEW ATTACKS CAME AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGAIN CALLED ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HALT THE OFFENSIVE IN CENTRAL KOSOVO. THE TOP U-S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL, JOHN SHATTUCK, MET MR. MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE ON MONDAY BUT APPARENTLY GAINED NO MAJOR CONCESSIONS.

DIPLOMATS PRESSED PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO ALLOW MORE WESTERN ACCESS TO PRISONERS. THEY REPORTED MR. MILOSEVIC DID AGREE TO CONSIDER A U-S REQUEST TO PERMIT INDEPENDENT FORENSICS EXPERTS INTO SERBIA TO EXAMINE ALLEGATIONS OF WAR CRIMES AND MASS GRAVES.

EARLIER U-S AND EUROPEAN THREATS TO USE NATO FORCE TO HALT THE FIGHTING APPEAR TO HAVE ACHIEVED LITTLE. (SIGNED)
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07-Sep-98 1:35 PM EDT (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TODAY - MONDAY - IS THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES, HONORING WORKERS, AND THE TRADE UNIONS TO WHICH MANY BELONG. IT IS ALSO THE UNOFFICIAL END OF THE SUMMER SEASON.

AMONG THE EDITORIAL TOPICS WE FIND: THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH; THE PROBLEM OF WAR REFUGEES IN KOSOVO PROVINCE; THE INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE FRAUD IN MEXICO'S BANKS; ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO'S TARDY RECOGNITION OF POSSIBLE ILLEGALITIES IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; AND SOME THOUGHTS ON LABOR IN AMERICA ON THIS LABOR DAY. _______________________ JOINS US AT THE MICROPHONE NOW, WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TEST OVER THE SEA OF JAPAN LAST WEEK.

VOICE: THE MISSILE .... ADVERTISED THAT STARVING COUNTRY'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN WEAPONS. LUNATIC AS THE REGIME OF KIM JONG IL OFTEN APPEARS, ITS DEPENDENCE ON FOOD AID FROM THE DEMOCRACIES AND NUCLEAR REACTORS AS A BRIBE TO AVOID DEVELOPING WEAPONS-GRADE FUEL DO NOT GUARANTEE GOOD BEHAVIOR. THE COUNTRY THAT IS PERPETUALLY THREATENING TO DISINTEGRATE JUST DEMONSTRATED ITS NEW CAPABILITY TO INFLICT SEVERE DAMAGE TO TARGETS MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY, THAT IS, IN RUSSIA, CHINA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN. /// OPT /// BY DEMONSTRATING MASTERY OF A TWO-STAGE ROCKET, IT SHOWS ITSELF ON THE WAY TO MISSILES THAT COULD HIT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. THIS IS HARDLY REASSURING. /// END OPT /// .... U-S DIPLOMACY HAS TRIED VALIANTLY OVER THE YEARS TO DENY SUCH CAPABILITIES TO ROGUE REGIMES. BUT WORLD SUPPORT IS UNCERTAIN AT BEST.

TEXT: ELSEWHERE, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES THAT THE BALKAN WINTER IS NOT FAR OFF, AND THAT IS NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES LIVING IN THE WOODS.

VOICE: THE TEMPERATURE IN THE KOSOVO HILLS AT NIGHT IS NOW DOWN TO [JUST BELOW FOUR-AND-ONE-HALF-DEGREES CELSIUS], AND THAT MEANS DEATH IS COMING. DESPITE SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S REPEATED DENIALS THAT SERBIAN FORCES ARE CARRYING OUT ETHNIC CLEANSING, MANY VILLAGES IN KOSOVO LOOK LIKE THE WORST PARTS OF BOSNIA, WITH SHELLED CARCASSES OF HOUSES AND EERILY EMPTY STREETS. SO FAR, RELIEF GROUPS SAY, SOME 200-THOUSAND TO 400-THOUSAND PEOPLE, ALMOST ALL WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES AND ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM HAVE NO HOMES TO GO BACK TO. ... BETWEEN 50-THOUSAND AND 150-THOUSAND ARE LIVING IN THE FORESTS. THE WORLD MUST KEEP THEM ALIVE, BUT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A MISTAKE IN AGREEING TO A NEW 'HUMANITARIAN' PROPOSAL FROM MR. MILOSEVIC. IT IS APT TO FAIL AT FEEDING THE DISPLACED, BUT EVEN SUCCESS WOULD COME AT A COST OF MAKING THE UNITED STATES MR. MILOSEVIC'S PARTNER AND THUS BLOCKING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. /// OPT /// ..... AT BOTTOM KOSOVO IS A POLITICAL CRISIS, NOT A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MR. MILOSEVIC IS FORCED TO REFORM, OR IS NO LONGER RUNNING SERBIA. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT A GROWING BANK SCANDAL IN MEXICO.

VOICE: MEXICO'S NATIONAL INTERESTS WILL BE SERVED ONLY WHEN ALL PARTIES TO A SIXTY-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT OF THE BANKING SYSTEM AGREE ON A FAIR SOLUTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOES NOT SEEM PROBABLE, FOR THE AFFAIR HAS BECOME A HOT POTATO [AN EXTREMELY CHARGED POLITICAL ISSUE] THAT NONE OF THE POLITICAL PLAYERS SEEM WILLING TO RESOLVE. ..... THE ZEDILLO ADMINISTRATION BOUGHT DEBT FROM CORRUPT BANKS AND SOUGHT TO TURN IT INTO PUBLIC DEBT, IN EFFECT PLACING THE WRONGS OF A FEW ON THE HEADS OF MANY. ... IF MEXICO WANTS A BRIGHTER FUTURE, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CLEAN UP AND STRENGTHEN THE BANKING SYSTEM. NOTHING LESS CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND ERASE THE STAIN OF RAPACIOUS POLITICS.

TEXT: SPEAKING OF FRAUD, TODAY'S "KANSAS CITY [MISSOURI] STAR" APPLAUDS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S EFFORTS AT UNCOVERING ILLEGALITIES IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION'S FUND RAISING, BUT LAMENTS HER TARDINESS.

VOICE: SLOWLY, MUCH TOO SLOWLY, ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO IS ACTING ON THE WIDESPREAD CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS THAT OCCURRED IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. STILL, HER MOVE COULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL. UNLESS POLITICIANS KNOW THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR ABUSING THE RULES, EVEN WORSE WRONGDOING CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS THIS YEAR AND IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN TWO-THOUSAND. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT [MS.] RENO USE HER AUTHORITY TO PENALIZE LAWBREAKERS AND TO DETER FURTHER VIOLATIONS. ..... THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN CAMPAIGN FINANCE PRACTICES, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE. THE PROBES ARE ABOUT HALTING BRAZEN, MASSIVE PRACTICES THAT COULD BECOME THE NORM IN THE FUTURE. ... OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE CITIZENS IT SERVES ARE THREATENED.

POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO GO UNBRIDLED AND, IF GUILTY, UNPUNISHED.

TEXT: TODAY'S "DAILY OKLAHOMAN" HAS SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT A WHITE HOUSE PLAN TO LINK EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM TO THE COMPUTER INTERNET SYSTEM.

VOICE: WIRING AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THE INTERNET IS PRODUCING MIXED RESULTS, EDUCATORS SAY. AN ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT THIS WEEK SAID KIDS ARE USING SCHOOL-BASED COMPUTERS TO VENTURE INTO CYBERSPACE TO DOWNLOAD PORNOGRAPHY, CHANGE GRADES, SWAP PASSWORDS AND SEND NAUGHTY E-MAIL WHEN NO ONE'S LOOKING. 'YOU'D BE AMAZED AT WHAT THEY CAN DO,' SAID JEANNIE CLARK, AN ASSISTANT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN NEW YORK CITY. .... CYBERSPACE IS BILL CLINTON'S VERSION OF THE 'NEW FRONTIER,' AND HE HAS LOBBIED HARD FOR GETTING U-S SCHOOLS ON LINE. ... BUT IS CYBERSPACE REALLY A PLACE SO VITAL FOR AMERICAN KIDS TO EXPLORE? IT APPEARS NOT.

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THIS LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CHANGING PICTURE FACING AMERICA'S WORKING MEN AND WOMEN FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: AS AMERICA PAUSES FOR LABOR DAY, MORE PEOPLE HAVE JOBS THAN EVER BEFORE AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS CLOSE TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN A GENERATION. AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO KEEP THEIR JOBS FOR LONG PERIODS, AND THE LEVEL OF LAYOFFS IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN EARLIER ECONOMIC CYCLES. THESE FACTS ARE INDICATIVE OF A VIBRANT, COMPETITIVE ECONOMY THAT PROVIDES LESS SECURITY FOR EITHER WORKERS OR THE COMPANIES THAT HIRE THEM, THAN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY SEEMED TO OFFER IN DECADES PAST.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE PAGES OF MONDAY'S NEWSPAPER.
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07-Sep-98 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY / URANIUM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: POLICE IN TURKEY HAVE SEIZED MATERIALS THAT COULD BE USED TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKEY'S SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED EIGHT PEOPLE -- FOUR TURKS, THREE KAZAKHS, AND ONE AZERBAIJANI WERE ARRESTED BY POLICE WHO POSED AS POTENTIAL BUYERS. THE STING OPERATION WAS MOUNTED IN ISTANBUL FOLLOWING A TIP FROM TURKEY'S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

THE NEWS AGENCY QUOTED SECURITY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE SMUGGLERS WERE TRYING TO SELL FOUR-AND-ONE-HALF KILOGRAMS OF UNPROCESSED URANIUM AND SIX GRAMS OF PLUTONIUM. IT REPORTED THEY WERE CHARGING ONE-MILLION U-S DOLLARS FOR THE MATERIALS.

THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM RUSSIA. BUT TURKISH POLICE WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE ORIGIN OF THE SMUGGLED URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM.

THE NEWS AGENCY REPORT SAID THE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO TURKEY'S NUCLEAR ENERGY BOARD.

TURKISH POLICE OFFICIALS SAY THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME A POPULAR TRANSIT ROUTE FOR NUCLEAR MATERIALS BEING SMUGGLED OUT OF RUSSIA AND OTHER FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS SINCE THE FORMER SOVIET UNION COLLAPSED IN 1991.

ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE TURKISH POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAVE BEEN 183 INCIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR INVOLVING THE SMUGGLING OF SUSPECTED RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THE REPORT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE 216 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SMUGGLING INCIDENTS WERE FROM GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND IRAN. (SIGNED)
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07-Sep-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / URANIUM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: POLICE IN TURKEY HAVE SEIZED MATERIALS THAT COULD BE USED TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKEY'S SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED EIGHT PEOPLE -- FOUR TURKS, THREE KAZAKHS, AND ONE AZERBAIJANI WERE ARRESTED BY POLICE WHO POSED AS POTENTIAL BUYERS. THE STING OPERATION WAS MOUNTED IN ISTANBUL FOLLOWING A TIP FROM TURKEY'S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

THE NEWS AGENCY QUOTED SECURITY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE SMUGGLERS WERE TRYING TO SELL FOUR-AND-ONE-HALF KILOGRAMS OF UNPROCESSED URANIUM AND SIX GRAMS OF PLUTONIUM. IT REPORTED THEY WERE CHARGING ONE-MILLION U-S DOLLARS FOR THE MATERIALS.

THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM RUSSIA. BUT TURKISH POLICE WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE ORIGIN OF THE SMUGGLED URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM.

THE NEWS AGENCY REPORT SAID THE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO TURKEY'S NUCLEAR ENERGY BOARD.

TURKISH POLICE OFFICIALS SAY THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME A POPULAR TRANSIT ROUTE FOR NUCLEAR MATERIALS BEING SMUGGLED OUT OF RUSSIA AND OTHER FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS SINCE THE FORMER SOVIET UNION COLLAPSED IN 1991.

ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE TURKISH POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAVE BEEN 183 INCIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR INVOLVING THE SMUGGLING OF SUSPECTED RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THE REPORT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE 216 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SMUGGLING INCIDENTS WERE FROM GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND IRAN. (SIGNED)
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07-Sep-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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