Voice of America, 98-11-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA VOTES ON CONSTITUTION

[02] KOSOVO NEGOTIATIONS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[03] KOSOVO VERIFICATION BY RON PEMSTEIN (MONS, BELGIUM)

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

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

[01] ALBANIA VOTES ON CONSTITUTION

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

ON SUNDAY, ALBANIANS GO TO THE POLLS TO VOTE IN A REFERENDUM ON A NEW CONSTITUTION. ALBANIA HAS BEEN GOVERNED UNDER A SUBSTANTIALLY AMENDED CONSTITUTION FROM THE COMMUNIST ERA. IN A 1994 REFERENDUM, ALBANIAN VOTERS REJECTED A NEW CONSTITUTION THAT SOME THOUGHT ALLOTTED TOO MUCH POWER TO THE PRESIDENCY. VOTERS WILL NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO ADOPT A NEW VERSION DRAFTED BY A PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION AND APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT.

THE LATEST DRAFT CONSTITUTION REFLECTS THE EFFORT MADE TO INVITE INPUT FROM ALL PARTS OF THE ALBANIAN POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SPECTRUM. THE RESULT HAS BEEN JUDGED BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS. THIS REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD STRENGTHENING THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA.

ALBANIA NOW NEEDS MORE DEMOCRATIC ORDER AND PROCESS, NOT LESS. THE QUESTION OF A CONSTITUTION IS A BASIC ONE THAT AFFECTS EVERY ALBANIAN. CITIZENS SHOULD CONSIDER THE DRAFT DOCUMENT, MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS, AND THEN VOTE AS THEY SEE FIT.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
18-Nov-98 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO NEGOTIATIONS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: A NEGOTIATING TEAM REPRESENTING ETHNIC ALBANIANS REFUSED TO SHOW UP TODAY/WEDNESDAY IN PRISTINA FOR TALKS WITH SERBIA'S PRESIDENT, MILAN MILUTINOVIC, OVER THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY. MEANWHILE, THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SAID A PARALLEL AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE WOULD VIOLATE SERBIA'S CONSTITUTION, AND THAT KOSOVO REMAINED A SERBIAN INTERNAL ISSUE. MORE FROM REPORTER PHILIP SMUCKER IN PRISTINA.

TEXT: IN THE CLOSED MEETING -- NOT ATTENDED BY THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SIDE -- THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT REJECTED A NEW AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE FOR KOSOVO. HE SAID THE AMERICAN DRAFT PEACE PROPOSAL, AUTHORED BY U-S DIPLOMAT CHRISTOPHER HILL, VIOLATED SERBIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND GAVE TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO THE ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN KOSOVO.

MR. HILL WAS INVITED -- IN AN OBSERVER ROLE --TO THE TALKS BUT DID NOT TURN UP.

THE ALBANIANS HAVE -- SO FAR -- REFUSED FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH THE SERBIAN SIDE AND ARE COOL TO AN AMERICAN PLAN FOR TEMPORARY AUTONOMY.

WHILE SERBIA'S REJECTION OF THE AMERICAN PLAN CAME AS A SURPRISE, PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC SAID THAT THE SERBIAN SIDE WAS NOT RUNNING FROM THE AMERICAN PEACE PROCESS BUT STRESSED THAT KOSOVO REMAINS IN HIS GOVERNMENT'S VIEW -- AN INTERNAL ISSUE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE OUTSIDE MEDIATION.

SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SAID THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH THE ALBANIANS. HE SAID THE AMERICAN PLAN WOULD GIVE TOO MUCH POWER TO THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MINORITY IN SERBIA.

THE AMERICAN PLAN CALLS FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN KOSOVO WHICH WOULD GIVE ETHNIC ALBANIANS MORE POLITICAL POWER -- BUT NOT OUTRIGHT INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA. IT AIMS TO PUT A LID ON THE SPIRALING VIOLENCE IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE.

U-S AMBASSADOR HILL MET TUESDAY WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR K-L-A. HE WAS WELL RECEIVED AT THEIR REBEL HIDEAWAY BUT THE K-L-A REPRESENTATIVES SAID THEY ARE STILL ONLY CONSIDERING THE DRAFT AMERICAN PLAN -- PARTS OF WHICH WERE PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY IN A LEADING KOSOVO ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/PCF
18-Nov-98 10:25 AM EST (1525 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO VERIFICATION BY RON PEMSTEIN (MONS, BELGIUM)

INTRO: NATO IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK TO ACTIVATE A TWO THOUSAND PERSON STRONG RAPID REACTION FORCE BASED IN MACEDONIA DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE UNARMED VERIFIERS OF THE CEASEFIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE MISSION AT NATO'S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN MONS, BELGIUM AND SENDS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: WHEN FIRST CONCEIVED, THE RAPID REACTION FORCE WAS EXPECTED TO NUMBER 750 EUROPEAN TROOPS WHO WOULD RUSH ACROSS THE BORDER AND EXTRACT ANY OF THE UNARMED INTERNATIONAL VERIFIERS IN KOSOVO WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE.

THAT WAS UNTIL FRANCE SUGGESTED LEADING THE FORCE WITH A 300 TROOP HEADQUARTERS STAFF AND 750 PARATROOPS OF ITS OWN. THEN GREECE, GERMANY, BRITAIN, ITALY AND THE NETHERLANDS AGREED TO SEND IN SIZABLE CONTINGENTS OF THEIR OWN TROOPS. WHEN THE RAPID REACTION FORCE IS READY TO GO ON DECEMBER FIRST IN MACEDONIA, IT WILL NUMBER BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 SOLDIERS.

THE UNARMED VERIFIERS FROM THE 54-NATION ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E) WILL ALSO NUMBER AROUND 2000 BUT THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE ALL IN PLACE BY DECEMBER FIRST. THAT MEANS THERE MAY BE MORE ARMED RESCUERS 100 KILOMETERS FROM KOSOVO'S PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF PRISTINA THAN THERE WILL BE PEOPLE TO RESCUE.

THE EXPECTATION OF PLANNERS AT NATO'S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IS THAT THE RAPID REACTION FORCE IN MACEDONIA WILL NOT HAVE MUCH TO DO. AMERICAN COLONEL DOUGLAS MCGREGOR EXPLAINS THAT IF THE KOSOVO CEASEFIRE HOLDS, THE FORCE MAY BE CUT BACK.

IF WE GO THROUGH SEVERAL MONTHS AND NOT A GREAT DEAL OCCURS, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY THAT THIS EXTRACTION FORCE WILL REMAIN AT THAT LEVEL. IN OTHER WORDS, HERE AT NATO, WE LOOK CONSTANTLY AT BOSNIA, WE LOOK AT DEPLOYMENTS ALL OVER EUROPE AND WE'RE ALWAYS ASKING THE QUESTION DO WE NEED THIS MANY FORCES AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME? AND IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE DON'T, THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE FORCE I'M QUITE CERTAIN BECAUSE IT COSTS MONEY TO MAINTAIN THOSE TROOPS.

THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY AMERICAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE GIVES PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE UNARMED VERIFIERS. NATO'S RAPID REACTION OR EXTRACTION FORCE WILL ONLY CROSS THE BORDER IF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTION ITSELF. IN MOST CASES, IT IS ANTICIPATED THE REACTION FORCE WILL NORMALLY BE USED FOR MEDICAL EVACUATIONS. COLONEL MCGREGOR SAYS THE FORCE WILL BE READY TO ACT.

A FORWARD ELEMENT, NOT MORE THAN 25 OR 30 KILOMETERS FROM THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO, WILL BE ON A 24 HOUR ALERT BASIS. THIS WILL BE ROUGHLY A COMPANY SIZE ELEMENT WITH HELICOPTERS. IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CAPABILITY TO REACT WITHIN 30 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR. THE PROBLEM IS, IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY IN THE WINTER AND EARLY SPRING, THE WEATHER USUALLY ISN'T VERY GOOD, WHICH COMPELS YOU TO OPERATE ON THE ROADS AND THAT SLOWS DOWN YOUR PROGRESS CONSIDERABLY.

THE EXTRACTION FORCE IS THE ONLY ARMED ELEMENT INVOLVED IN THE KOSOVO CEASEFIRE VERIFICATION AND IS THE ONLY ELEMENT THAT WILL CONTAIN NO AMERICAN TROOPS. AMERICANS ARE TAKING PART AS

O-S-C-E CIVILIAN VERIFIERS AND IN THE UNARMED SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT. THAT MEANS PRESIDENT CLINTON DID NOT HAVE TO ASK CONGRESS TO APPROVE ANOTHER DEPLOYMENT OF ARMED AMERICANS BEYOND THOSE ALREADY SERVING AS PART OF THE NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA.

WHILE NATO WILL BE FULLY READY TO GO BY DECEMBER FIRST IN MACEDONIA, THE FEELING AMONG MILITARY PLANNERS AT NATO'S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IS THAT THE RESCUERS WILL ONLY BE CALLED ON AS A LAST RESORT IF KOSOVO'S CEASEFIRE EVAPORATES. (SIGNED)
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18-Nov-98 3:00 PM EST (2000 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS TRADERS AND INVESTORS CONTINUED TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF TUESDAY'S INTEREST RATE CUTS. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 41, UP 54 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 44, UP FIVE POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT ALTHOUGH TRADERS CONTINUED TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT TUESDAY'S INTEREST RATE CUT BY THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, THERE WAS SOME CAUTION. THERE IS NOW A FEELING ON WALL STREET THAT TUESDAY'S ACTION MAY BE THE LAST INTEREST RATE CUT FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE BIG QUESTION IS: "ARE INTEREST RATES NOW LOW ENOUGH TO BOOST THE U-S ECONOMY AND CAUSE CORPORATE PROFITS TO RISE?"

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT FELL IN SEPTEMBER FROM A RECORD HIGH IN AUGUST. A SURGE IN U-S AIRCRAFT EXPORTS WAS THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.

I THINK THIS IS A TEMPORARY SITUATION. AS WE GO FURTHER INTO THE REMAINDER OF 1998 AND 1999 WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A DETERIORATING DEFICIT POSITION.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY REPORTED A SEVEN PERCENT PROFIT GAIN IN THE THIRD QUARTER, FUELED BY NEW PRODUCTS AND A STRONGER MARKETING PROGRAM.

EURO DISNEY, WHICH OPERATES THE HUGE THEME PARK NEAR PARIS, REPORTS A 34 PERCENT PROFIT INCREASE IN THE LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY ROYALTIES AND MANAGEMENT FEES TO THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY. THOSE CHARGES WERE WAIVED FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS AS EURO DISNEY STRUGGLED TO BECOME PROFITABLE.

THE MICROSOFT CORPORATION HAS SUFFERED A LEGAL SETBACK, WITH A FEDERAL JUDGE RULING THE COMPANY VIOLATED AN AGREEMENT WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS INVOLVING THE JAVA COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE. THE JUDGE ORDERED MICROSOFT TO MODIFY ITS WINDOWS 98 OPERATING SYSTEM WHICH USES JAVA OR REMOVE WINDOWS 98 FROM THE MARKET. MICROSOFT IS CONSIDERING AN APPEAL OF THE RULING.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WFR
18-Nov-98 5:21 PM EST (2221 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE UPROAR OVER VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S REMARKS ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN MALAYSIA ARE DRAWING A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS. OTHER TOPICS TO BE FOUND IN THE COMMENTARIES, INCLUDE THE STARR INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND THE RELEASE OF TAPE RECORDED TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS OF MONICA LEWINSKY; THE U-S CENTRAL BANK'S INTEREST RATE REDUCTION; AND ANOTHER DEAL BETWEEN THE STATES AND THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: VICE PRESIDENT GORE IS IN MALAYSIA, ATTENDING THE ASIAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN PLACE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON WHO'S TRIP WAS DELAYED BY THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ. MR. GORE'S BLUNT CRITICISM OF THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS INCENSED HIS HOSTS, BUT MOST OF THE U-S PRESS IS BEHIND HIM. ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" CALL THE COMMENTS -- UNDIPLOMATIC BUT SOUND -- ADDING:

VOICE: VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE PUT HIS BULLY PULPIT TO GOOD USE WHEN HE TOOK TO TASK HIS MALAYSIAN HOSTS AT THE PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN KUALA LUMPUR FOR REASSESSING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN THEIR COUNTRY. BY PRAISING THE LEADERS OF THE GROWING PROTEST MOVEMENT IN MALAYSIA, [MR.] GORE MADE IT CLEAR WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STOOD. IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A DIPLOMATIC MOVE, AND IT UPSTAGED IN THE WORLD'S EYES THE SUMMIT'S MAIN FOCUS -- A 10-BILLION INITIATIVE BY JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES TO SPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE REGION. BUT IT SENT THE THRILLING AND SALUTARY MESSAGE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT WILLING TO SUBORDINATE ITS CORE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL VALUES EVEN TO CRITICAL ECONOMIC GOALS.

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, HOWEVER, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CONSIDERED THE REMARKS A FAUX PAS.

VOICE: THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE CHOSE THE WRONG TIME AND THE WRONG PLACE TO ISSUE A U-S DENUNCIATION OF THE ... GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MOHAMAD. ... NOT ONLY DID [MR.] GORE'S RHETORICAL POSING APPEAR RUDE AND SANCTIMONIOUS TO ATTENDING OFFICIALS FROM COUNTRIES EVERY BIT AS DEVOTED TO DEMOCRACY AS THE UNITED STATES; IT ALSO PAINTED AMERICA AS AN ARROGANT AND HYPOCRITICAL SUPERPOWER, THE ULTIMATE BULL IN A CHINA SHOP.

TEXT: WHILE IN WEDNESDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" WE READ THIS SUMMATION.

VOICE: DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOL CALLS FOR SPEAKING POSITIVELY OF ONE'S HOSTS. MR. GORE, MS. ALBRIGHT AND THE OTHERS WERE RIGHT TO BE RUDE. AMERICA'S INTEREST IN ASIA IS TO ENCOURAGE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC CHANGE, NOT TO FLATTER EMBATTLED AUTOCRATS.

TEXT: CALLING THE ANGER AT MR. GORE'S REMARKS -- OUT OF LINE -- "THE WASHINGTON POST" NOTES THAT MR. CLINTON'S DELAYED ASIA VISIT IS BY NO MEANS A PLEASURE TRIP.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON LEAVES TODAY FOR AN IRAQ-DELAYED TRIP TO ASIA. HE MAY HAPPILY MISS KEN STARR'S TESTIMONY TOMORROW, BUT THIS WILL NOT BE ONE OF THOSE TRIPS TO BASK IN OVERSEAS APPLAUSE. JAPAN HAS DISAPPOINTED, YET AGAIN, ON AN IMPORTANT TRADE MATTER. MALAYSIANS ARE ANGRY ... AT HIS REPLACEMENT, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, FOR TOUTING DEMOCRACY ON THEIR SOIL. IN JAPAN AND KOREA ALIKE, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DURABILITY OF U-S POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA. AND THROUGHOUT ASIA A DEEPENING ECONOMIC DECLINE PROVIDES A GLOOMY BACKDROP.

TEXT: AS REGARDS THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS, KENNETH STARR IS DUE TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TOMORROW, AND TODAY, SOME PAPERS ARE REACTING TO THE RELEASE OF TAPED TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MR. CLINTON'S WHITE HOUSE INTERN LOVER, MONICA LEWINSKY, AND HER CONFIDANT LINDA TRIPP. FIRST, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ON THE IMPEACHMENT HEARING.

VOICE: WHEN THE ... HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONVENE[S] TOMORROW ... REPUBLICANS WILL BE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF RECOMMENDING IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS TO THE FULL HOUSE WILL DAMAGE THEM POLITICALLY. DEMOCRATS WILL BE TRYING TO DEFEND A PRESIDENT WHOSE CONDUCT THEY FIND DISTASTEFUL AND SHIFT CRITICISM TO AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL THEY WILL DEPICT AS DANGEROUS. ... THE QUESTION FOR THE REST OF US ... IS WHAT OUTCOME WOULD SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST. ... AFTER LISTENING TO THE LIVELY DEBATE AMONG POLITICIANS AND CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS, WE ARE MORE FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT CONGRESSIONAL CENSURE IS NOT ONLY ALLOWABLE BUT ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE REPUBLIC. ... CONGRESS WILL HAVE FAILED IN ITS DUTY AS A GUARDIAN OF THE AMERICAN FUTURE IF IT DOES NOT FORMALLY CONDEMN HIS FAILURE TO RESPECT AND UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW.

TEXT: AND "THE DAILY" NEWS SAYS OF THE MONICA LEWINSKY TAPE RECORDING RELEASE:

VOICE: AS PATHETIC AS THEY ARE, THEY ALSO ARE A STARK REMINDER OF JUST WHAT THE MOVE TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ABOUT. IT IS A SEX SCANDAL PUMPED UP BY A PARTISAN, AND PURITAN, PROSECUTOR. NOTHING MORE. ... BUT TOMORROW, [MR.] STARR WILL TRY TO TRANSFORM THIS SEAMY SOAP OPERA INTO AN EPIC MORALITY PLAY THAT WILL BRING DOWN THE PRESIDENT.

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS OF THE AGREEMENT FROM IRAQ TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO RESUME THEIR WORK UPON THREAT OF U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY ATTACK:

VOICE: THE TEST OF THAT [AGREEMENT] COULD COME VERY SOON. RICHARD BUTLER, THE AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT WHO HEADS THE U-N ARMS INSPECTION PROGRAM, HAS ASKED IRAQ TO HAND OVER TWO KEY DOCUMENTS DEALING WITH ITS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE EFFORTS. ... U-S OFFICIALS SAY ... IRAQ HAS ABOUT A MONTH TO DEMONSTRATE IT IS AT LAST READY TO GIVE THE ARMS INSPECTORS THE INFORMATION THEY MUST HAVE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY. BUT THERE IS NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO HAND OVER THE DOCUMENTS THAT WILL SHOW WHAT IRAQ IS HIDING AND WHERE. THAT CAN BE DONE AT ONCE, AND AT ONCE IS EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD BE DEMANDED.

TEXT: SPEAKING OF THE ONE-QUARTER PERCENT REDUCTION IN A KEY INTEREST RATE MADE TUESDAY BY THE U-S FEDERAL RESERVE, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT -- A PRUDENT MOVE BY THE FED. AND AS REGARDS THE LATEST PROPOSED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND SEVERAL STATES, CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE COSTS OF PROLONGED CIGARETTE SMOKING, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES," AFTER RECOMMENDING ACCEPTANCE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SUMS UP:

VOICE: THIS SETTLEMENT OF COURSE DOES NOT SOLVE ALL THE ISSUES OF TOBACCO USE. AND NOTHING CAN DETER SOME YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PUFFING ON THAT FIRST CIGARETTE. BUT THE PLAN STRIKES A SIZABLE BLOW AGAINST THE TOBACCO COMPANIES' ABILITY TO SELL TOBACCO USE AS GLAMOROUS WHEN IT IS IN FACT AN INVIDIOUS AND DEADLY ADDICTION. THAT IS A WORTHY ACHIEVEMENT.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS PLEADING WITH THE WEST NOT TO GIVE UP ON RUSSIA, NOTING:

VOICE: THE ECONOMIC NEWS FROM RUSSIA CONTINUES TO BE GLOOMY. PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV'S GOVERNMENT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY ITS FOREIGN DEBTS NEXT YEAR. THE FINANCE MINISTRY PROJECTS THAT, AT BEST THE ECONOMY WILL SHRINK THREE-PERCENT NEXT YEAR ON TOP OF THE FIVE-PERCENT IT HAS CONTRACTED IN 1998. WORSE, IT COULD SLIDE NINE-PERCENT. REPORTS SAY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARE ON SHORT RATIONS. THE RUSSIAN FAR NORTH FACES THE PROSPECT THAT IT WON'T BE ABLE TO IMPORT THE FUEL AND FOOD PEOPLE NEED TO SURVIVE THE WINTER. ... [HOWEVER] THERE ARE, INDEED, HOPEFUL SIGNS IN THE GLOOM. YOUNGER RUSSIANS WHO REPRESENT THE FUTURE SHOW A MUCH GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH DEMOCRACY AND MARKET ECONOMICS. RUSSIANS ARE NOT FLOCKING BACK TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY. ... THE WEST SHOULD NOT ABANDON RUSSIA. A BETTER POLICY IS PATIENT ENGAGEMENT ON MANY LEVELS AND CONSTANT ASSURANCE TO RUSSIANS THAT THE WEST CARES ABOUT THEIR WELFARE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION FROM THE PAGES OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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18-Nov-98 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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