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Voice of America, 98-09-10Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (SARAJEVO)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238403 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: VOTERS IN BOSNIA ARE PREPARING TO GO TO THE POLLS AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH TIME SINCE THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. AT STAKE ARE SEATS IN THE COUNTRY'S THREE-MEMBER PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL AS WELL AS IN THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE AND THE SEPARATE ASSEMBLIES IN THE SERB ENTITY AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- LED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E) -- HAS MOUNTED A MASSIVE EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR THE VOTING. TEXT: VOTERS IN THE TWO PARTS OF POST-WAR BOSNIA FACE A DIZZYING ARRAY OF CHOICES IN THE TWO-DAY WEEKEND BALLOT. MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND CANDIDATES FROM 83 PARTIES ARE VYING FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL OFFICES, RANGING FROM THE THREE-MEMBER PRESIDENCY TO CANTONAL ASSEMBLIES IN THE FEDERATION. INTERNATIONAL TEAMS OF ELECTION MONITORS ARE FANNING OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO OBSERVE AND CONTROL THE VOTING. DARDAN GASHI IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E. /// GASHI ACT ///THESE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA ARE THE MOST MONITORED, THE CLOSEST MONITORED ELECTIONS I THINK MAYBE WORLD-WIDE. ONLY FROM OUR SIDE THERE ARE TWO-THOUSAND, 700 PEOPLE WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN MONITORING, SUPERVISING. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND OTHER EUROPEAN -- AND FROM OTHER PLACES -- INDEPENDENT MONITORS, WHO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US, WHO REPRESENT POLITICAL PARTIES OR PARLIAMENTS OR GOVERNMENTS, OR N-G-O'S, LOTS OF JOURNALISTS, AND EVERY SINGLE POLITICAL PARTY IN BOSNIA HAS THE RIGHT TO SEND AN OBSERVER FOR EACH POLLING STATION AND COUNTING CENTER. /// END ACT ///BOSNIA'S NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE -- KNOWN AS S-FOR -- IS TASKED WITH INSURING SECURITY DURING THE ELECTIONS. THE ATMOSPHERE HERE IN SARAJEVO AND ELSEWHERE SEEMS MUCH MORE RELAXED DURING THE INITIAL POST-WAR VOTING TWO YEARS AGO. BUT CHRIS BENNETT -- OF A MONITORING ORGANIZATION CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP -- SAYS THE PEACEKEEPERS ARE TAKING NO CHANCES. /// BENNETT ACT ///S-FOR IS ACTUALLY VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THESE ELECTIONS. INDEED, THEY HAVE REINFORCED THE TROOP PRESENCE HERE. /// END ACT ///S-FOR SPOKESWOMAN LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SHEENA THOMSON SAYS NATO HAS ADOPTED A "BUSINESS-AS-USUAL" APPROACH TO THESE ELECTIONS. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FORCE COMMAND HAS DRAFTED A LIST OF POTENTIAL "HOT SPOTS." AND S-FOR RECENTLY WAS BOLSTERED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF A NEW UNIT OF SPECIALISTS IN RIOT CONTROL AND CIVIL DISTURBANCES. IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN URGING VOTERS TO GIVE THEIR SUPPORT TO THOSE CANDIDATES COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ACCORD, THE REINTEGRATION OF BOSNIA'S THREE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES. DURING A VISIT HERE LAST MONTH, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MADE IT CLEAR THAT ONLY THOSE WHO BACK THE DAYTON ACCORD CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL AID. WESTERN AND BOSNIAN ANALYSTS SAY THAT MESSAGE APPEARS TO BE GETTING THROUGH, ESPECIALLY IN THE SERB ENTITY. AND THEY ARE FORECASTING A SUBSTANTIAL SHIFT IN THE SERB POLITICAL MAP, WITH MODERATES SUPPORTING PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC EXPECTED TO SOLIDIFY THEIR CONTROL AT THE EXPENSE OF RADICALS LOYAL TO FORMER BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC. IN ADDITION, A NEWLY-FORMED CROAT OPPOSITION GROUP IS EXPECTED TO MAKE SOME INROADS AGAINST THE LONG-DOMINANT CROAT NATIONALIST PARTY. MUSLIM LEADER ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IS VIRTUALLY UNCHALLENGED, AND
HIS SUPPORTERS ALLIED IN A NEW FIVE-PARTY COALITION ARE EXPECTED
TO MAKE A STRONG SHOWING. (SIGNED)
[02] BOSNIA ELECTIONS / SERBS (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238433 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE BOSNIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN DREW TO A CLOSE LATE THURSDAY WITH A SERIES OF RALLIES BY THE MAIN PARTIES IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SERB REPUBLIC. AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND VOTING, ANALYSTS SAY THE KEY RACES ARE IN THE SERB ENTITY, WHERE A MODERATE ALLIANCE LED BY PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC IS FACING OFF AGAINST A TWO-PARTY COALITION OF HARD-LINE NATIONALISTS LOYAL TO THE WARTIME SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN FORMALLY INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. THE HARD-LINERS STAGED THEIR FINAL RALLY OF THE CAMPAIGN IN BANJA LUKA, THE SEAT OF THE SERB GOVERNMENT AND THE STRONG-HOLD OF THE MODERATES. VOA'S DOUG ROBERTS HAS MORE FROM BANJA LUKA. TEXT: /// DEMO ACT /// SEVERAL THOUSAND SUPPORTERS OF THE SERB DEMOCRATIC AND RADICAL PARTIES GATHERED IN ONE OF THIS CITY'S MAIN SQUARES ON A WARM AUTUMN EVENING FOR THEIR FINAL CAMPAIGN RALLY. GROUPS OF ANGRY LOOKING YOUNG MEN LED THE PROCESSION INTO THE SQUARE CARRYING FLAGS AND BANNERS PROCLAIMING THE UNITY OF THE SERBS AND PICTURES OF THE PARTY LEADERSHIP. THE MAIN CANDIDATES FOLLOWED ONE ANOTHER TO THE PODIUM DELIVERING EMOTIONAL APPEALS TO SERB NATIONALISM AND URGING THE CROWD NOT TO FORGET THE SERBS WHO DIED DURING THE LONG BOSNIAN CONFLICT. THE SPEAKERS PROCLAIMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, BUT WITH A DISTINCT EMPHASIS ON THE NEED TO MAINTAIN WHAT THEY TERMED THE INTEGRITY OF THE SERB REPUBLIC. THEY REPEATEDLY CONDEMNED BOSNIA'S MUSLIM PRESIDENT, ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, ALLEGING THAT HIS GOAL IS TO DESTROY THE SERB ENTITY AND TAKE OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. BUT THEIR HARSHEST CRITICISM WAS RESERVED FOR THEIR MAIN ELECTION OPPONENTS, THE BANJA LUKA-BASED ALLIANCE OF MODERATE SERB LEADERS, HEADED BY PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC. EACH MENTION OF MRS. PLAVSIC'S NAME DREW BOOS AND CHEERS FROM THE HARD-LINE SUPPORTERS, AND THAT PROMPTED MORE THAN A FEW GRUMBLES FROM THE EDGE OF THE CROWD, WHERE SOME EVIDENT SUPPORTERS OF MRS. PLAVSIC HAD STOPPED BY TO LISTEN TO THE SPEECHES. THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAITORS, MUMBLED ONE WOMAN TO A WESTERN REPORTER AS SHE WALKED QUICKLY AWAY FROM THE RALLY. THE HARD-LINERS STILL HOLD THE LARGEST BLOC OF SEATS IN THE SERB ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY LOST THEIR ABSOLUTE MAJORITY IN A SPECIAL ELECTION LAST NOVEMBER, AND MRS. PLAVSIC AND HER SUPPORTERS WERE ABLE TO SOLIDIFY THEIR CONTROL OVER THE GOVERNMENT. ANALYSTS LIKE CHRISTOPHER BENNETT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP BELIEVE THE MODERATES' POWER WILL BE FURTHER ENHANCED AS A RESULT OF THIS WEEKEND'S VOTING. /// BENNETT ACT ///THE ELECTIONS NOW WILL RATIFY THE PROGRESS WHICH HAS BEEN MADE AND WILL FINALLY AND EFFECTIVELY KILL OFF THE SERB NATIONALIST PARTY, WHICH PROSECUTED THE WAR. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY LOST POWER IN WHAT HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE PRETTY MEAN TURF WARS, WHICH HAVE INVOLVED ASSASSINATIONS AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS AND WHICH ARE ACTUALLY STILL ONGOING. /// END ACT ///THE PLAVSIC ALLIANCE HAS STRONG INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, WITH THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS URGING VOTERS HERE TO
BACK ONLY THOSE PARTIES GENUINELY COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF
THE DAYTON ACCORD, THE RE-INTEGRATION OF BOSNIA'S ETHNIC
COMMUNITIES AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
[03] BOSNIA PRISONERS BY LAUREN COMITEAU (PRIJEDOR)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-41341 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: JUST HOW FAR TODAY'S BOSNIA IS FROM BEING THE MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY WHICH WESTERN LEADERS HOPE FOR IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN TOWNS LIKE PRIJEDOR, IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. SOME OF THE WORST ATROCITIES OF THE CIVIL WAR OCCURRED THERE, INCLUDING THE SETTING UP OF PRISON CAMPS -- LIKE OMARSKA WHERE AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS DIED. REPORTER LAUREN COMITEAU HAS JUST VISITED PRIJEDOR TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEIR PROSPECTS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S ELECTIONS -- AND THEIR MULTI-ETHNIC FUTURE. TEXT: // OPEN WITH ACT RADIO FREE PRIJEDOR STATION I-D; FADE AFTER "RADIO PRIJEDOR"... AND OUT // A STATION CALLED "RADIO FREE PRIJEDOR" BROADCASTS FROM THE SMALL VILLAGE OF LUSCI PALANKA. THIS TOWN -- WHERE THE PHONES DON'T OFTEN WORK AND WHERE BASIC SERVICES ARE HARD TO COME BY -- IS NOW HOME TO MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM NEARBY PRIJEDOR. MANY OF THEM, LIKE RADIO JOURNALIST EMIR KAHRIMANOVIC, DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. A FORMER PROFESSOR, HE SAYS AFTER BEING EXPELLED FROM HIS CITY AND SURVIVING A SERB-RUN PRISON CAMP, BEING RELOCATED TO THE MIDDLE OF WHAT HE CALLS "NOWHERE" IS JUST THE LATEST PUNISHMENT. //OPT// // KAHRIMANOVIC ACT IN SERBO-CROATIAN -- FADE UNDER//LIKE MANY REFUGEES, EMIR DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. HIS FORMER HOME TOWN IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST HARDLINE SERB AREAS IN BOSNIA, WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MEN INDICTED BY THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. HARDLY ANY MUSLIMS HAVE RETURNED. IN THE STREETS OF PRIJEDOR, THE TOWN'S POLICE CHIEF WAS SHOT DEAD BY NATO TROOPS TRYING TO BRING HIM TO THE HAGUE TO FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES. PRIJEDOR'S FORMER HOSPITAL DIRECTOR WAS ON TRIAL FOR GENOCIDE IN THE DUTCH CITY -- UNTIL HE DIED IN HIS HOLDING CELL LAST MONTH. ALTHOUGH HE WAS A SICK MAN BEFORE HE EVEN ARRIVED, THE PEOPLE OF PRIJEDOR SEE THE DOCTOR'S DEATH AS MORE PROOF THAT THE WORLD IS AGAINST THEM. THIS COUPLE SAYS THAT SERBS WHO GO TO THE TRIBUNAL NEVER MAKE IT BACK ALIVE. AND THIS COUPLE, WHO CALL THEMSELVES THE YOUTH OF PRIJEDOR, SAY THE TRIBUNAL IS USELESS. //OPT// //ALL NATIONS ARE PROTECTED BY THEIR PRESIDENTS," THEY SAY. "THE MUSLIMS HAVE IZETBEGOVIC AND THE CROATS HAVE TUDJMAN. BUT WE SERBS NO LONGER HAVE OUR RADOVAN." THEY'RE REFERRING TO RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WHO REMAINS THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S MOST-WANTED MAN. ALTHOUGH THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS MAY HAVE KEPT HIM FROM BEING ON THIS WEEKEND'S ELECTION BALLOT, IT'S HARD TO FIND ANY OTHER CONCRETE SIGNS OF THE AGREEMENT IN THE STREETS OF PRIJEDOR. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE HOW MOST RESIDENTS WANT TO KEEP IT. //END OPT// INCUMBENT PRIME MINISTER MILORAD DODIK MADE AN ELECTION RUN THROUGH PRIJEDOR RECENTLY. ALTHOUGH HE'S NOT THAT POPULAR HERE, MR. DODIK SPOKE BEFORE A SMALL CROWD AT A LOCAL GYM. IN ADDRESSING THE CROWD, MR. DODIK SPEAKS PROUDLY OF HIS SERBIAN HERITAGE. PLAYING-UP SERB CREDENTIALS GETS VOTES IN PRIJEDOR. BUT JUST HOW FAR THIS CITY IS FROM SUPPORTING A CANDIDATE WHO SAYS HE'S FOR THE DAYTON AGREEMENT BECAME CLEAR FROM A SHORT INCIDENT INVOLVING THE TOWN'S DEPUTY MAYOR, MUHAREM MURSELOVIC, A PRIJEDOR MUSLIM NOW LIVING IN A NEIGHBORING TOWN. HE WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE BY REFUGEES ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME TO VOTE. BUT WHEN THIS MUSLIM DEPUTY MAYOR TRIES TO ENTER HIS OFFICE BUILDING WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE SERBIAN MAYOR, THE SERBIAN GUARD FORBIDS HIM FROM ENTERING I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM ON HIS WAY INTO THE OFFICE. ///MURSELOVIC ACT IN SERBO-CROATIAN -- IN FULL AND UNDER ///A FORMER PRISONER OF THE SERB-RUN OMARSKA CAMP, MR. MURSELOVIC WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO ONCE HELD HIM CAPTIVE. WHILE HIS OFFICE IS LOCATED ONLY FIVE METERS FROM THE MAYOR'S, THE MAYOR DOESN'T LET HIS DEPUTY KNOW ABOUT IMPORTANT MEETINGS. BUT MR. MURSELOVIC STILL SHOWS UP FOR WORK, BECAUSE HE WANTS MUSLIMS AND SERBS TO LIVE TOGETHER AGAIN. //ACT OF CAR LEAVING -- ESTABLISH, UNDER AND OUT //PRIJEDOR'S DEPUTY MAYOR MUHAREM MURSELOVIC SEES US OUT OF THE
BUILDING, SAYING "MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN." BUT IN AN OBVIOUS
REFERENCE TO THIS BOSNIAN TOWN'S UNEASY COHABITATION BETWEEN
MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS, HE ADDS, "IF THE MAIN DOOR ISN'T OPEN,
IT'S NOT MY FAULT." (SIGNED)
[04] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (ISTINIC, KOSOVO)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238421 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SERB SECURITY FORCES BURNED HOMES THURSDAY AND SURROUNDED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN A SMALL AREA IN WESTERN KOSOVO. SERB OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CLEANING UP AFTER CRUSHING THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, BUT REFUGEES SAY THE GUERRILLAS HAVE ALREADY FLED INTO THE HILLS. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM ISTINIC, KOSOVO. TEXT: SERB SECURITY FORCES BURNED HOMES AND FORCED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES INTO THE TOWN OF ISTINIC IN WESTERN KOSOVO ON THURSDAY. AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND REFUGEES IN ISTINIC SAID THEY HAD BECOME EASY PREY FOR THE SERB SECURITY FORCES WHOM THEY ACCUSED OF BEATING AND HARASSING THEM. NEARBY VILLAGES, CONTROLLED BY THE SERB FORCES, WERE SEEN BURNING WITH FRESHLY LIT FIRES. THE CONCENTRATION OF REFUGEES IN ONE SPOT APPEARS TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE SIX MONTH GUERRILLA CONFLICT. THE WAR PITS THE SERB SECURITY FORCES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AGAINST SCATTERED BANDS OF ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS ROVING IN THE HILLS. REFUGEES SAID SERB SECURITY FORCES HAVE ALREADY ENTERED THE ISTINIC AREA AND BEATEN YOUNG MEN OF FIGHTING AGE WITH WOODEN STICKS IN AN EFFORT TO EXTRACT CONFESSIONS ABOUT GUERRILLA LINKS. A CONVOY OF AMERICAN DIPLOMATS -- ESCORTED BY SERB ARMY AND POLICE UNITS -- PASSED THROUGH THE AREA ON THURSDAY. AT ONE POINT, THEY PASSED A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO LAY BESIDE HIS MOTHER, HIS STOMACH SHOT OPEN. SHE SAID HER SON HAD BEEN SHOT WHILE TRYING TO TEND TO CATTLE. ETHNIC ALBANINA WOMEN IN THE AREA ACCUSED THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OF ATROCITIES AGAINST THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN CIVILIAN POPULATION. MEANWHILE, IN GREECE, YUGOSLAVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC, SAID SERB FORCES HAVE CRUSHED ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS IN KOSOVO. HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S SAFEGUARDING OF ETHNIC RIGHTS WOULD
PROVIDE NEW GROUNDS FOR A DIALOGUE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER
IBRAHIM RUGOVA ABOUT KOSOVO'S STATUS. (SIGNED)
[05] NEGOTIATING WITH MILOSEVIC OVER KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS FEATURE NUMBER=7-30467 TELEPHONE=619-3464 EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES) INTRO: INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO END THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO HAVE LARGELY FOCUSED ON BRINGING BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. AND U-S SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY BETWEEN BELGRADE AND PRISTINA HAS CONCENTRATED ON GETTING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YUGOSLAV GOVERMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. BUT, SOME BALKAN ANALYSTS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE WISDOM OF EXPECTING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO COOPERATE IN BRINGING ABOUT ANY SOLUTION TO THE STATUS OF KOSOVO OR IN ENDING THE MILITARY CONFLICT. VOA'S JUDITH LATHAM HAS TALKED WITH BALKAN SPECIALISTSTEXT: CHRISTOPHER BENNETT, AUTHOR OF "YUGOSLAVIA'S BLOODY COLLAPSE" AND DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP'S BALKANS PROJECT IN SARAJEVO, SAYS IT IS "TIME TO RECOGNIZE" THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HIMSELF IS "THE PROBLEM." MR. BENNETT SAYS, IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WARS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE INTERNATIONAL APPROACH TO THE CONFLICT HAS NOT CHANGED. AND, HE ADD, WESTERN ENVOYS CONTINUE TO SHUTTLE BACK AND FORTH FROM THEIR CAPITALS TO BELGRADE, HOPING THAT MR. MILOSEVIC WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION, DESPITE HIS TRACK RECORD TO THE CONTRARY. TAPE: CUT ONE -- BENNETT (0:31) "THIS IS IN MANY WAYS THE TRAGEDY, AND THE TRAGEDY IS THAT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THRIVES ON CONFLICT. AS LONG AS THERE IS THE GREAT CONFLICT IN KOSOVO, AS LONG AS HE IS ONCE AGAIN AT THE HEAD OF A NATIONAL CRUSADE, HIS POSITION IS SECURE. NOW, THIS IS A TEMPORARY SUCCESS. ALL OF MILOSOVIC'S SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN TEMPORARY. THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES HAVE INVARIABLY, OF COURSE, BEEN TRAGIC FOR SERBS, THE PEOPLE WHOM HE CLAIMS TO REPRESENT." TEXT: MR. BENNETT SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC BENEFITS POLITICALLY FROM THE WAR IN KOSOVO, JUST AS HE BENEFITED FROM THE WARS IN SLOVENIA, CROATIA, AND BOSNIA. THAT'S BECAUSE CONFLICT DIVERTS ATTENTION FROM SERBIA'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WHICH HIS MILITARY ADVENTURES HAVE AGGREVATED. TAPE: CUT TWO -- BENNETT (0:48) "SERBIA IS INCREDIBLY WEAK AT PRESENT AND GETTING WEAKER ALL THE TIME. ECONOMICALLY IT IS SO CLOSE TO COLLAPSE, AND YET NEVERTHELESS THEY ATTEMPT DESPERATELY TO HANG ON TO KOSOVO. IT IS A POSITION IN WHICH MILOSEVIC IS THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARY BECAUSE HIS REGIME DOESN'T COME UNDER THE THREAT THAT ANY OTHER REGIME WOULD. HOWEVER, IT JUST ISN'T TENABLE. THERE IS NOT A SOLUTION, CERTAINLY NOT A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION, THAT IS ON THE HORIZON. [OPT] RATHER WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PROSPECT OF GUERRILLA WARFARE IN WHICH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY REGROUPS AND COMES BACK TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. [END OPT] THE BOTTOM LINE IS: THERE IS NO SOLUTION WITH SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC." TEXT: CHRISTOPHER BENNETT SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS POINTLESS TO NEGOTIATE WITH MR. MILOSEVIC BECAUSE, IN HIS WORDS, "FUTILE TALKS ACHIEVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING." MORTON ABRAMOWITZ, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, AGREES THAT MR. MILOSEVIC THRIVES ON CONFLICT, BUT HE THINKS THE WEST SHOULD ADOPT A TOUGHER POLICY TOWARD THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT. TAPE: CUT THREE -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:34) "I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO GREAT PRESSURE. HE NEGOTIATED AFTER THE CROATIAN FORCES HAD DESTROYED THE CROATIAN SERB FORCES AND WERE READY TO DESTROY THE BOSNIAN SERB FORCES, AND NATO BOMBING ENSUED, AND HE DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS -- IN TERMS OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA. WHILE HE SURVIVES ON THIS PATTERN, THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT WITH MASSIVE PRESSURE ON HIM, WE COULD IMPOSE A SETTLEMENT IN THE KOSOVO ISSUE." TEXT: AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ, WHO WAS FORMERLY PRESIDENT OF THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SERVED AS AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY AND TO THAILAND, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ENGAGING IN A "PSEUDO-DIPLOMATIC EFFORT" TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. TAPE: CUT FOUR -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:38) "IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING EXCEPT THE DESTRUCTION OF A LARGE NUMBER OF ALBANIAN VILLAGES AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF ALMOST ONE-FIFTH THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO. IT'S BEEN A CATASTROPHE FOR THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO AND A CATASTROPHE FOR OUR POLICY. OUR POLICY IS TO TRY TO GET [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO THROW A BONE [EDS: MAKE AN INSIGNIFICANT OFFER] TO THE ALBANIANS, GET THEM TO ACCEPT IT, BUT IT WILL NOT SOLVE THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. THE WAR WILL CONTINUE, AND WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTION. THE POSSIBILITIES OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION EVAPORATED OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, AND OUR POLICY SEEMS TO BE TO BEG MILOSEVIC TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM." TEXT: AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS TWO THINGS MUST BE DONE. ONE IS TO GET THE DISPLACED PEOPLE IN KOSOVO TO RETURN HOME; THE OTHER IS TO PRESSURE MR. MILOSEVIC -- IN A FORCEFUL WAY -- TO REACH A SETTLEMENT. TAPE: CUT FIVE -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:58) "PEOPLE WILL NOT GO HOME FROM THE FOREST UNLESS THEY FEEL SECURE. SO, THE QUESTION IS, WHO'S GOING TO PROVIDE THAT SECURITY? ARE THEY GOING TO GO HOME WITH SERB POLICE IN CONTROL? VERY UNLIKELY. THE ONLY SECURITY RUBRIC THAT SEEMS POSSIBLE IS AN ALLIED SECURITY RUBRIC. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY, TO PREVENT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A MAJOR ALLIED EFFORT TO PERSUADE HIM ON THE SETTLEMENT. AND THE ONLY WAY I BELIEVE THEY CAN NOW PERSUADE HIM THAT HE CANNOT CALL THE TUNE IS FOR A MAJOR MILITARY EFFORT -- I'VE SAID THIS FOR THREE MONTHS NOW, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN -- WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE DESTRUCTION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF SERBIA'S LOGISTIC AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES. IT'S NOT A DESIRABLE COURSE, BUT IT'S TO ME RIGHT NOW THE ONLY VIABLE COURSE TO ESTABLISH A SITUATION IN KOSOVO WHERE THE REFUGEES CAN GO HOME AND YOU CAN REACH SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT." TEXT: [OPT] AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS, WITH THE WINTER COMING ON, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND BASIC NECESSITIES FOR THOSE DISPLACED BY THE WAR. TAPE: CUT SIX -- ABRAMOWITZ (0:17) "THE QUESTION BASICALLY IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO CLAMP DOWN ON THIS HUMANITARIAN DISASTER, AND THAT REQUIRES, I BELIEVE, AN URGENT SOLUTION. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN GET AN URGENT SOLUTION BY BEGGING [MR.] MILOSEVIC, WHICH IS WHAT OUR DIPLOMACY HAS BEEN." [END OPT] TEXT: AMBASSADOR ABRAMOWITZ SAYS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION CANNOT
BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT "MASSIVE WESTERN INVOLVEMENT" THAT
PRODUCES REAL POLITICAL CHANGE IN KOSOVO. AND, HE ADDS,
A SOLUTION HAS TO BE ACHIEVED QUICKLY -- BEFORE THE
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO DETERIORATES FURTHER
AND BEFORE THE SITUATION IN MACEDONIA BETWEEN ETHNIC
MACEDONIANS AND THE ALBANIAN MINORITY WORSENS.
[06] U-N / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238434 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD TALKS TODAY (THURSDAY) ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO, AND WARNED THAT A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IS DEVELOPING THERE AS WINTER APPROACHES. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED A REPORT ON KOSOVO PREPARED BY U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. AFTER THE DISCUSSION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT HANS DAHLGREN OF SWEDEN SAID COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GREATLY CONCERNED BY THE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES OF FIGHTING IN KOSOVO. HE SAID A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IS ALREADY DEVELOPING THERE CONCERNING ABOUT 50 THOUSAND CIVILIANS DISPLACED INTERNALLY BECAUSE OF THE FIGHTING. HE SAID CONDITIONS FOR REFUGEES AND OTHERS LEFT HOMELESS WILL WORSEN RAPIDLY AS WINTER APPROACHES AND THE TEMPERATURE BECOMES COLDER. MR. DAHLGREN SAID COUNCIL MEMBERS URGE ALL PARTIES IN THE CONFLICT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP FIGHTING. /// DAHLGREN ACT ///COUNCIL MEMBERS REITERATED THEIR CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS AND THE START OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS. THEY DEMANDED AN IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF ALL HOSTILITIES AND ALL VIOLENT OR REPRESSIVE ACTION AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION INCLUDING RECENT REPORTS OF WANTON DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES, WHICH IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, CREATING NEW FLOWS OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS. /// END ACT ///THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S STATEMENTS ARE THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF CALLS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS FOR AN END TO FIGHTING BETWEEN SERBIAN POLICE AND THE UNDERGROUND KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. ETHNIC ALBANIANS SAY THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, MOTIVATED BY ETHNIC RIVALRY, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE. THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT REJECTS THAT CHARGE AND BLAMES ETHNIC ALBANIANS FOR THE UNREST, SAYING THEY ARE USING TERRORISM TO PURSUE SEPARATIST GOALS. THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN HIS REPORT TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL,
SAYS BOTH SIDES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNREST. BUT HE PLACES
MOST OF THE BLAME ON THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. EARLIER THIS
MONTH, HE SENT A LETTER TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC
SAYING SERBIAN FORCES ARE OBSTRUCTING HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO KEY
AREAS IN NEED OF AID. HE CHARGED SERB POLICE WITH DELIBERATLY
TARGETING AID WORKERS AND URGED MR. MILOSEVIC TO WITHDRAW SPECIAL
POLICE UNITS FROM KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[07] BULGARIA - RUSSIA (S/L) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238435 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER IVAN KOSTOV SAYS HIS COUNTRY WILL SUFFER SOME EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN RUSSIA, BUT SAYS THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE NOT LINKED ECONOMICALLY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN PRAGUE, WHERE MR. KOSTOV IS ATTENDING A MEETING OF REGIONAL PRIME MINISTERS. TEXT: BULGARIA'S IVAN KOSTOV HAD HARSH WORDS FOR THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, NOTING THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS PLUNGED. BUT HE SAID BULGARIA EXPORTS LESS THAN SEVEN PERCENT OF ITS PRODUCTION TO RUSSIA -- SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN GERMANY'S FOUR PERCENT, BUT LESS THAN SOME OF RUSSIA'S CLOSER NEIGHBORS. FOR NOW, HE SAYS, BULGARIA IS NOT SUFFERING. /// KOSTOV ACTUALITY IN BULGARIAN ////// REST OPT FOR LONG VERSION //////OPT//AS RUSSIA DEALS WITH ITS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND THE COLLAPSING LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, SOME ANALYSTS ARE PREDICTING THE COMMUNISTS COULD RETURN TO POWER IN MOSCOW. ALTHOUGH BULGARIA SPENT FOUR DECADES UNDER THE COLD WAR THUMB OF THE SOVIET UNION, PRIME MINISTER KOSTOV TOLD REPORTERS HE IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPANSIONIST RUSSIA. /// KOSTOV ACTUALITY IN BULGARIAN ///I THINK THAT WHOEVER MAY BE IN POWER IN MOSCOW WILL HAVE TO FOCUS ALL THEIR RESOURCES ON SOLVING DOMESTIC ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS ARE SO GRAVE, HE SAYS, THAT RUSSIA CERTAINLY COULD NOT BE AGGRESSIVE TOWARD COUNTRIES LIKE BULGARIA. MR. KOSTOV IS IN PRAGUE FOR A MEETING OF PRIME MINISTERS OF CEFTA THE CENTRAL EUROPE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. ON THE CRISIS IN THE NEARBY SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, PRIME
MINISTER KOSTOV SAID THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO
HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES -- MOSTLY ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- PRESENT A
HUGE HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGE. HE SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN
MILOSEVIC IS THE PROBLEM IN KOSOVO, BUT HE SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. (SIGNED)
[08] IRISH TALKS (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238391 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS GETS ANOTHER BOOST WITH THE FIRST-EVER DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE AND GERRY ADAMS, WHO HEADS THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON. TEXT: ULSTER UNIONIST DAVID TRIMBLE SAYS DON'T EXPECT A HAND SHAKE. SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS SOUNDS A NOTE OF CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM. /// ADAMS ACT ///I DON'T WANT TO BE RECITING TOO MANY CLICHES BUT A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES STARTS WITH ONE STEP -- (TO START) THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON GROUND AND A SHARED FUTURE, OF A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT FUTURE. /// END ACT ///MR ADAMS AND MR TRIMBLE ARE TALKING ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND'S
FUTURE POLITICAL STRUCTURE. BUT THE DISCUSSION IS SURE TO FOCUS
ON THEIR SHARP DIVISIONS OVER THE ISSUE OF DISARMING
PARAMILITARIES. MR TRIMBLE SAYS THE PROCESS SHOULD START BEFORE
SINN FEIN CAN TAKE PART IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT. SINN FEIN SAYS
THAT IS NOT A PRE-CONDITION OF THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT.
(SIGNED)
[09] NORTHERN IRELAND TALKS (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238397 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS GOT ANOTHER BOOST WITH THE FIRST-EVER DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE AND GERRY ADAMS, WHO HEADS THE POLITICAL WING OF THE "IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY". CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS ON THE RESULTS OF THE HOUR-AND-ONE-HALF MEETING. TEXT: ONE KEY ISSUE DIVIDING THE TWO MEN REMAINS THE DISARMING OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS. MR TRIMBLE WANTS THAT TO START BEFORE "SINN FEIN" TAKES PART IN THE NEW CABINET. BUT SINN FEIN SAYS THAT IS NOT A PRE-CONDITION. AFTER THE TALKS IN BELFAST, DAVID TRIMBLE SAYS HE IS SATISFIED GERRY ADAMS UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR PROGRESS ON THAT ISSUE. /// TRIMBLE ACT ///THE QUESTION WE HAVE IS WHEN. WHEN WILL WE START TO SEE PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT, AND THE DIFFICULTY THAT FLOWS IF WE DO NOT SEE PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT. AND THERE IS A CHICKEN-AND-EGG PROBLEM HERE THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE. NOW THE TASK FOR US ALL IS TO SEE WHAT CONTRIBUTION WE CAN MAKE TO THE RESOLUTION OF THAT AND I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE WORKMANLIKE TONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND I HOPE THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED THROUGH IN THE WEEKS TO COME. /// END ACT ///GERRY ADAMS SAYS HE CANNOT DELIVER AN I-R-A DISARMAMENT. BUT HE EXPLAINED TO MR. TRIMBLE WHAT HE CAN DO. /// ADAMS ACT ///WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS PERSUADE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ARMED ACTIONS THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE, AND MOVE FORWARD ALONG THE LINES OF A CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS. BUT THAT HE HAD TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND OF COURSE I HAD TO UNDERSTAND AND HE SPELT OUT IN A FRANK WAY HIS POSITION ON THIS MATTER. /// END ACT ///MR TRIMBLE SAYS PROBLEMS STILL REMAIN, BUT MR ADAMS SAYS THEY ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE AS LONG AS THERE IS A POLITICAL WILL TO RESOLVE THEM. THE TWO LEADERS ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEW POLITICAL STRUCTURES OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT. BOTH MEN DESCRIBE THE TALKS AS CONSTRUCTIVE AND USEFUL.
(SIGNED)
[10] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238419 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE SHARPLY LOWER IN TRADING THURSDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON. TEXT: ANALYSTS SAID EUROPEAN INVESTORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. THE EXPERTS ALSO CITED FEARS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS. THESE ISSUES COMBINED TO CREATE A DISASTROUS DAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. THE BIGGEST LOSS AMONG EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED OFF 173 POINTS, FOUR-AND-SIX-TENTHS PERCENT. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX FELL 214 POINTS, FOUR-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT. AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED DOWN 175 POINTS, THREE-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT. ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS
DOWN SHARPLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE
BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
[11] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=9/10/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-238439 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (THURSDAY) AS TRADERS ADDED LATIN AMERICA TO THEIR LIST OF WORRIES. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 76 HUNDRED 15, DOWN 249 POINTS OR MORE THAN THREE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT NINE HUNDRED 80, DOWN 25 POINTS. THERE WAS RENEWED CONCERN ON WALL STREET ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND WHETHER THE REPORT FROM THE SPECIAL COUNSEL WILL LEAD CONGRESS TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. IN ADDITION, TRADERS WORRIED ABOUT ONGOING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. ///BEGIN OPT//////FEINMAN ACT///I THINK THE TURMOIL IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. IT IS CLAIMING NEW VICTIMS ALL THE TIME AND THE LATEST ONE SEEMS TO BE BRAZIL. THEY ARE FEELING THE WRATH OF THE GLOBAL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY. ///END ACT & OPT///BRAZIL'S STOCK MARKET WAS ESPECIALLY HARD HIT BUT MARKETS IN ARGENTINA, MEXICO, CHILE AND VENEZUELA ALSO WERE DOWN SHARPLY. MANY LARGE U-S BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL COMPANIES ARE HEAVILY COMMITTED TO LATIN AMERICA AND SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THERE COULD CAUSE TROUBLE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE STOCKS OF U-S BANKS AND FINANCIAL COMPANIES WERE AMONG THE BIGGEST LOSERS. ///REST OPT///THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE UNITED STATES CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT SOARED 21 PERCENT TO A RECORD 56 AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. THE CURRENT ACCOUNT FIGURES ARE THE BROADEST MEASURE OF THE NATION'S TRADE PERFORMANCE. THE NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANY REPORTS IT LOST ALMOST 105 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LATEST QUARTER, BUT THE LOSS WAS SMALLER THAN ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED. OLDE (OLDIE), A DISCOUNT STOCK BROKERAGE FIRM, WILL PAY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE CHARGES OF FRAUD. U-S GOVERNMENT REGULATORS CHARGED OLDE WITH LYING TO CUSTOMERS AND CONDUCTING UNAUTHORIZED TRADING IN THEIR ACCOUNTS. THE N-C-R CORPORATION TODAY UNVEILED WHAT IT CALLS THE "MICROWAVE
BANK" WHICH PROVIDES TELEVISION, INTERNET ACCESS AND ALSO COOKS
FOOD. N-C-R SAYS IT WILL NOW DO SOME MARKET RESEARCH TO DETERMINE
IF THERE WOULD REALLY BE A DEMAND FOR THAT PRODUCT. (SIGNED)
[12] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=09/10/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10904 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= ////////INTRO: TALES OF TWO MEN, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND MARK DAVID MCGWIRE, DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THIS COUNTRY THURSDAY. ONE IS A STORY OF THE FALL FROM GRACE, SYMBOLIZED BY THE ARRIVAL AT CONGRESS OF THE STARR REPORT ON BILL CLINTON'S SEXUAL AFFAIR WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN. THE OTHER IS A TALE OF THE COUNTRY'S NEWEST HERO, BASEBALL'S MARK MCGWIRE OF THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. ON TUESDAY, HE BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE MOST HOME RUNS IN A SINGLE SEASON, ECLIPSING THE IMMORTAL BABE RUTH AND THE LAST HOLDER OF THAT RECORD, THE LATE NEW YORK YANKEE ROGER MARIS. THERE ARE ALSO COMMENTS ON ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO'S GROWING INVESTIGATION OF CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL FUND-RAISING; THE STORY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN CONGRESS; THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD; AND CHAOS IN RUSSIA. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR'S OFFICE DELIVERED TO CONGRESS THE REPORT ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN LATE WEDNESDAY. SINCE IT MAY CONTAIN GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT, THE STARR REPORT IS OF GREAT HISTORIC AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND MANY PAPERS ARE ALREADY RESPONDING WITH COMMENTS. IN NEW YORK, "THE DAILY NEWS" SUGGESTS THAT "HISTORY HANGS IN THE BALANCE." VOICE: WITH A CASUAL RHYTHM THAT BELIED THE GRAVITY OF THE EVENT, WHITE-SHIRTED CAPITOL HILL POLICE OFFICERS HEFTED WHITE BOXES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, INTO TWO WAITING BLUE VANS. IT SEEMED STARTLINGLY LIKE PALLBEARERS CARRYING COFFINS TO HEARSES IN THE AFTERMATH OF A TERRIBLE DISASTER. THE IMPRESSION, SAD TO SAY, MAY BE APT. FOR THE BOXES CONTAINED THE PRODUCT OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ... STARR'S TORTUOUS FOUR-YEAR INQUISITION INTO THE LIFE AND BEHAVIOR, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON. /// OPT /// ... WITH THE TRANSFER OF BOXES, THIS DRAMA SHIFTS FROM THE LEGAL STAGE TO POLITICAL THEATER. [MR.] CLINTON'S 'LEGALLY ACCURATE' PREVARICATIONS WILL NOT CARRY MUCH WEIGHT IN A CONGRESS WHERE EVEN MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY HAVE BEGUN TO TURN AGAINST HIM. BUT BECAUSE FREE, UNFETTERED ELECTIONS ARE THE BACKBONE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, REVERSING THE PROCESS CANNOT BE DONE LIGHTLY. .... HISTORY IS WATCHING. /// END OPT /// TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS EQUALLY SOMBER. VOICE: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DECLARING WAR, CONGRESS HAS NO MORE EXACTING CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY THAN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO REMOVE A PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE THROUGH IMPEACHMENT. ONLY TWICE IN OUR HISTORY, ONCE IN THE LAST CENTURY AND ONCE IN THIS, HAS THAT SOLEMN PROCESS BEEN PURSUED. .... NOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS PREPARING TO CONSIDER WHETHER ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST A PRESIDENT ARE WARRANTED. NOW, ONCE AGAIN, IT BECOMES CONGRESS' DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT FAIRNESS AND A SENSE OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY PREVAIL OVER PARTISANSHIP. TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS THE ARRIVAL OF THE REPORT ON CAPITOL HILL, "A SOMBER DAY IN WASHINGTON" WHILE "USA TODAY" REMARKS: VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS FINALLY LEARNING TO APOLOGIZE. OR AT LEAST HE'S LEARNING TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. /// OPT /// AT A HASTILY ARRANGED MEETING WITH HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS WEDNESDAY, [MR.] CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS 'DEEP SORROW' OVER THE PAIN THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL HAS CAUSED HIS FAMILY AND THE NATION. ..... EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THOSE WORDS - - PLUS FULL DISCLOSURE OF HIS TRANSGRESSIONS - - MIGHT HAVE SUFFICED. TODAY, THEY ONLY GRATE [AGGRAVATE]. /// END OPT /// WHEN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL ... STARR SENT A VANLOAD OF DOCUMENTS CONTAINING 'SUBSTANTIAL AND CREDIBLE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONSTITUTE GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT' TO CAPITOL HILL .... ANY CHANCE FOR QUICK FORGIVENESS PASSED. TEXT: AS ONE MAN'S STATURE FALLS, ANOTHER'S RISES, LIKE SO MANY OF THE BASEBALLS HE HAS HIT INTO THE CROWDS WATCHING THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PLAY. MARK MCGWIRE IS THE NEW NATIONAL HERO, AND SEVERAL PAPERS ARE TAKING THE OCCASION OF HIS 62ND HOME RUN, WHICH BROKE A LONG-STANDING RECORD, TO CONTRAST HIS DEMEANOR WITH THAT OF THE PRESIDENT. "A HERO WHEN WE NEEDED ONE" IS THE HEADLINE ON THE MCGWIRE EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION": VOICE: /// OPT /// TO HIT A BASEBALL SQUARELY WHEN IT SPEEDS BY AT MORE THAN 144-KILOMETERS-AN-HOUR ... AND TRANSPORT IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK IS A NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR AN ORDINARY MORTAL. .... /// END OPT /// BUT WHAT MADE THIS FEAT A JOYOUS OCCASION FOR THOUSANDS OF ST. LOUIS CARDINALS FANS AND MILLIONS OF TV ONLOOKERS WAS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE MCGWIRE PERSONA. HE HAS HANDLED THE HOOPLA AND HYPE SURROUNDING HIS ASSAULT ON THE HOME-RUN RECORD WITH GOOD HUMOR, MODESTY AND A DISARMING EAGERNESS TO SHARE ACCOLADES WITH HIS TEAMMATES AND HIS CHIEF RIVAL IN THE CHASE: CHICAGO CUB SAMMY SOSA, [OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC] ANOTHER GOOD GUY. ... OFF THE FIELD, THEY ARE LIKABLE AND GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME AND THEIR RECENTLY ACQUIRED WEALTH. IN THESE CYNICAL TIMES, THIS IS THE STUFF OF LEGENDS. TEXT: "THE OMAHA [NEBRASKA] WORLD-HERALD" CHIMES IN: VOICE: BECAUSE MCGWIRE CAME ALONG AT A TIME WHEN THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER IN PUBLIC LIFE IS BEING DEBATED, MCGWIRE'S GOOD CHARACTER HAS ATTRACTED ATTENTION. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE TRIES TO BE DECENT, MODEST, PATIENT AND SELF-DISCIPLINED. CERTAINLY HIS GOOD QUALITIES ... CAN BE APPRECIATED BY A BROADER PUBLIC FOR WHOM GOOD ROLE MODELS CURRENTLY ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. /// OPT ///TEXT: AND, CONTINUING THAT DUAL THEMES OF IGNOMINY AND HEROISM, "THE NEW YORK POST" CONCLUDES ITS COMMENT ON THE NEW HOME RUN KING THIS WAY: VOICE: IT IS ONE OF THE TRAGEDIES OF THE CURRENT MOMENT THAT RARELY IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS THIS COUNTRY BEEN SO SORELY IN NEED OF A GOOD EXAMPLE FROM A MAN IN THE VERY PUBLIC EYE. AS BILL CLINTON SHAMES AMERICA, SO MARK MCGWIRE HONORS HIS COUNTRY WITH HIS ACHIEVEMENT AND HIS EXEMPLARY CONDUCT. /// END OPT ///TEXT: BRIEFLY ON OTHER TOPICS, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" APPLAUDS ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO FOR FINALLY, AFTER TWO YEARS, NEARING THE "IMPORTANT THRESHOLD" OF ORDERING A "FULL-FLEDGED INVESTIGATION BY AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL OF ALLEGED WHITE HOUSE FUND-RAISING ILLEGALITIES" IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. IN A RELATED EDITORIAL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALLS ON THE COURAGE OF INDIVIDUAL SENATE MEMBERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, WHICH THE LEADERSHIP IS TRYING TO KILL, BUT WITH WHICH, "THE POST" POINTS OUT, MANY RANK AND FILE SENATORS AGREE. TEXT: AND LASTLY TO THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHAOS BESETTING RUSSIA. "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" NOTES THAT WHAT THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE REALLY NEED IS "HOPE, NOT THREATS OF STRIFE." THE PAPER WRITES: VOICE: BORIS YELTSIN'S CRITICS SHOULD GUARD THEIR TONGUES IN THE PERILOUS DAYS AHEAD. INCENDIARY REMARKS CAN TOUCH OFF A REAL CONFLAGRATION, AND NOT EVEN [MR.] YELTSIN'S MOST STRIDENT ENEMIES SHOULD WANT THAT. .... THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE, HAVING COME SO FAR, DESERVE BETTER THAN THEY'VE BEEN GETTING. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM
THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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