Voice of America, 97-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] CYPRUS / MILITARY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[03] E-U EXPANSION (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AFTER THE RUSH OF INAUGURAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS COMMENTARIES, THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL, SCRUTINIZING A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

FOR EXAMPLE TODAY, YOU CAN READ ABOUT SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC AGENDA; THE FIGHT OVER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM; HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH'S FINE AND HOW HE SHOULD PAY IT; THE LAND MINE CONTROVERSY; AND A HARSH PENALTY FOR A LEADING MEDIA ORGANIZATION.

NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MAKES HISTORY TODAY WHEN SHE WILL BE SWORN IN AS THE NATION'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN EVER IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE SENATE CONFIRMED HER APPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES PONDERS HOW THIS FORMER U-N AMBASSADOR WILL SHAPE U-S FOREIGN POLICY.

VOICE: "SHE CAN BE AN ELOQUENT CHAMPION OF FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD. HOW SKILLFULLY SHE BLENDS THAT CALLING WITH THE PRAGMATIC POLITICS OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY WILL DEFINE HER STEWARDSHIP AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. RESTORING AMERICA'S TRADITIONAL INTEREST IN DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW TO THE HEART OF WASHINGTON'S FOREIGN-POLICY AGENDA WOULD BE A SERVICE TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD."

TEXT: ANOTHER POPULAR TOPIC IS THE NEED FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. USA TODAY IS DISTURBED AS THE SLOW PACE OF CHANGE ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS OF BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC WRONGDOING DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

VOICE: "WITH A MIX OF NEWFOUND PIETY AND PARTISAN PETULANCE, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE POSING AS BORN-AGAIN APOSTLES OF CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM. WHAT [MR.] CLINTON AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE OFFERED TUESDAY - - VOLUNTARY LIMITS ON JUMBO CONTRIBUTIONS, REFUSAL OF DONATIONS FROM NONCITIZENS AND SUBSIDIARIES OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS, FOES OF SUPPORT FOR REFORM LEGISLATION - - ALL MAY SOUND ATTRACTIVE. BUT THERE'S LESS THERE THAN MEETS THE EYE. .... TUESDAY'S AFTER-THE-FACT POLICY CHANGES ARE DESIGNED TO DISARM CRITICS AND DEFLECT THE SPOTLIGHT. [OPT] THE HISTORY OF CAMPAIGN REFORM SUGGESTS THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE MORE INTERESTED IN HAVING IT AS AN ISSUE THAN IN CHANGING A SEAMY SYSTEM THEY BOTH EXPLOIT SHAMELESSLY."

TEXT: DISCUSSING ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE SAME DEBATE, THE NEW YORK TIMES EXCORIATES THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COWARDICE IN THIS AREA, CALLING HIM IN ITS HEADLINE "TOO TIMID TO LEAD."

VOICE: "VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, WHOSE BUDDHIST-TEMPLE FUND-RAISER HAS BECOME A NATIONAL JOKE, IS REPORTED TO FEAR THAT FORMER SENATOR BILL BRADLEY [OF NEW JERSEY] COULD WIN THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION NEXT TIME BY RUNNING ON A PLEDGE TO CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN FINANCE. THAT RAISES THE QUESTION WHY MR. GORE DOES NOT TALK PRESIDENT CLINTON INTO PROTECTING HIM BY BUILDING A STRONG RECORD ON THIS ISSUE. [OPT] .... PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE GOING TO CUT THEIR SOFT-MONEY DOSAGE TO 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FROM ONE SOURCE. BUT LOOPHOLES IN THE SELF-IMPOSED RESTRICTION MAY MEAN LITTLE REAL FINANCIAL LOSS FOR THE PARTY. WHY NOT DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOLUNTARILY FORSWEAR ALL SOFT-MONEY DONATIONS TO THE [D-N-C DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL] COMMITTEE?" [END OPT]

TEXT: AND YET ANOTHER RELATED ISSUE: THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE RELATED ETHICS VIOLATION OF HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH COMES WITH A 300-THOUSAND-DOLLAR FINE AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MR. GINGRICH WILL PAY IT. TODAY, HIS HOMETOWN PAPER, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "[MR.] GINGRICH HAS EARNED AN ESTIMATED 450-THOUSAND DOLLARS, AFTER EXPENSES, FROM SALES OF HIS BOOK 'TO RENEW AMERICA.' ROYALTIES FOR THE BOOK HAVE COME TO ROUGHLY ONE-POINT-TWO MILLION DOLLARS, BARELY A QUARTER OF THE FOUR-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLAR ADVANCE THAT [MR.] GINGRICH HAD FIRST ACCEPTED .....UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SEEMS FITTING THAT A FINE SPAWNED BY THE SPEAKER'S COLLEGE COURSE SHOULD BE PAID WITH PROFITS FROM A BOOK ALSO SPAWNED BY THE COURSE."

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD ADDS:

VOICE: "NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED ..... FOR UNETHICAL CONDUCT, THE ETHICAL THING FOR [MR.] GINGRICH TO DO IS TO PAY UP FROM HIS PERSONAL FUNDS."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL SUBJECTS, AND THE BANE OF LAND MINES, WHICH KILL LONG AFTER THE HOSTILITIES FOR WHICH THEY WERE PLANTED ARE OVER, TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THE LATEST OFFICIAL AMERICAN POSITION ON ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES IS DIMINISHED BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S DESIRE TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. IT IS PREPARED TO STIGMATIZE THESE WEAPONS, BUT ONLY UP TO A POINT THAT WILL LET IT KEEP SOME OF THEM AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN AMERICAN MILITARY USES. IT IS PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON MINES, BUT THE FORUM IT HAS NOW CHOSEN - - THE UNITED NATIONS' CONSENSUS-BOUND GENEVA DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE - - PROMISES ONLY SLOW AND UNCERTAIN RESULTS. ..... IT WOULD HELP IF THE MILITARY DEBATE GOT OUT INTO THE OPEN, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD JUDGE BETTER FOR THEMSELVES THE PENTAGON'S PRO-MINE CASE."

TEXT: THINGS ARE IMPROVING IN MEXICO, AT LEAST ECONOMICALLY, NOTES TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN THE BALTIMORE SUN.

VOICE: "PROTECTIONISTS WHO TWO YEARS AGO SEIZED ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE MEXICAN PESO AS PROOF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) WAS A FAILURE HAVE BEEN PROVEN WRONG ONCE AGAIN. ON THE CONTRARY, NAFTA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN EASING THE MONETARY CRISIS AND ENABLING A REBOUNDING MEXICO TO PAY OFF ITS 13-POINT-FIVE BILLION LOAN FROM THE U-S THREE YEARS AHEAD OF TIME. SO MUCH FOR [THAT DISCOUNTS] THE BAILOUT BLUES [PESSIMISM] OF SUCH ECONOMIC NATIONALISTS AS [FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES] ROSS PEROT, PAT BUCHANAN AND [NEW YORK REPUBLICAN SENATOR] ALFONSE D'AMATO."

TEXT: LASTLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMENTS ON A FIVE-MILLION DOLLAR DAMAGE JUDGMENT ISSUED BY A FEDERAL JURY IN NORTH CAROLINA AGAINST THE AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY FOR A TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAM ALLEGING UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AT THE FOOD LION CHAIN OF SUPERMARKETS. THE CASE WAS DECIDED ON THE ISSUE THAT ABC NEWS STAFFERS LIED WHEN THEY TOOK JOBS AT FOOD LION TO SNEAK IN TINY VIDEO CAMERAS TO DOCUMENT THE DIRTY CONDITIONS. USA TODAY CALLS THE VERDICT "OMINOUS, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE JURY AWARDED ONE-THOUSAND FOUR-HUNDRED AND TWO DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION FOR THE WAGES [OF THE FRAUDULENT EMPLOYEES] AND OTHER COSTS - - FAIR ENOUGH BY ITSELF. BUT TO AWARD AN ADDITIONAL FIVE-POINT-FIVE MILLION FOR WHAT AMOUNTS TO SUBMITTING A FALSE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PUTS A NEW WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF COMPANIES THAT ABUSE THE PUBLIC TRUST. [OPT] NELLIE BLY, THE GREAT 19TH CENTURY JOURNALIST WHO FEIGNED INSANITY TO EXPOSE THE SAVAGE ABUSES OF NEW YORK MADHOUSES, IS NO DOUBT TURNING IN HER DUST [HER SOUL WILL BE OUTRAGED AT THIS OUTCOME.] [END OPT]....... REGARDLESS OF THEIR INTENT, THE JURORS ... HAVE SAID THAT FOOD LION WAS VICTIMIZED BY A STORY THAT WAS NOT PROVED FALSE. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UNSCRUPULOUS EARS PRICKED RIGHT UP."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
23-Jan-97 10:56 AM EST (1556 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CYPRUS / MILITARY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY A RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE SYSTEM -- A DECISION WHICH HAS HEIGHTENED TENSIONS IN THE REGION. IN THIS REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE MILITARY RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE AREA.

TEXT: WESTERN DEFENSE EXPERTS SAY THE DIVIDED ISLAND OF CYPRUS IS THE WORLD'S MOST DENSELY MILITARIZED ZONE. IN THE NORTHERN TURKISH SIDE, ABOUT 35-THOUSAND TROOPS ARE BACKED BY TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND HEAVY ARTILLERY. THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE HAS ABOUT 10-THOUSAND MEN AS WELL AS HEAVY ARTILLERY, TANKS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS. BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IS A BUFFER ZONE, KNOWN AS THE -- GREEN LINE -- PATROLLED BY ABOUT 12-HUNDRED U-N PEACEKEEPERS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE GREEK CYPRIOTS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE GOING TO BUY A RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE SYSTEM KNOWN AS "S-300". BRITISH DEFENSE EXPERTS SAY THE SYSTEM IS SIMILAR -- THOUGH NOT AS SOPHISTICATED -- AS THE AMERICAN "PATRIOT MISSILE" USED IN THE GULF WAR SIX YEARS AGO. THE "S-300" WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED BY MOSCOW TO HAVE A MOBILE BATTLEFIELD SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DESTROYING AMERICAN CRUISE MISSILES AND TACTICAL AIRCRAFT BEFORE THEY REACH THE BATTLEGROUND. IT HAS A RANGE OF ABOUT 100-KILOMETERS.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT REACTED SWIFTLY AND ANGRILY TO THE GREEK CYPRIOTS DECISION TO BUY AND THEN DEPLOY THE RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM. ANKARA SAID THE "S-300" IS AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON AND SAID ITS ARMED FORCES WOULD ATTACK THE GREEK CYPRIOTS IF THEY DEPLOY THE MISSILES.

A SENIOR DEFENSE ANALYST WITH THE BRITISH PUBLICATION "JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY" -- PAUL BEAVER -- SAYS THE "S-300" IS A PURELY DEFENSIVE SYSTEM.

THE TURKS ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO AIRFIELDS CURRENTLY BEING CONSTRUCTED IN SOUTHWEST CYPRUS WHERE THE GREEKS WOULD BE ABLE TO BASE TACTICAL STRIKE AIRCRAFT AND AIR DEFENSE AIRCRAFT. IT LOOKS TO ME AS IF THE "S-300'S" ARE GOING TO BE USED AS AN UMBRELLA ACROSS THE TOP OF THAT AREA AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE TURKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT GREEK AIRCRAFT WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE THERE. THE "S-300" IS CAPABLE OF DEFEATING ANY TURKISH AIRCRAFT WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE INVENTORY AND SO THEY FEEL THE ANTE HAS BEEN UPPED NOT BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT MEANS.

BRITISH DEFENSE EXPERTS SAY THE RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM CAN BE DEPLOYED -- AT THE EARLIEST -- 16-MONTHS FROM NOW. THEY SAY NEGOTIATIONS WITH MOSCOW ARE UNDERWAY AND THE MILITARY PACKAGE ALSO INVOLVES PROVIDING THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WITH ATTACK HELICOPTERS.

COLONEL TERENCE TAYLOR -- FROM LONDON'S INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES -- SAYS DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE GREEK CYPRIOTS HAVE BEEN UPGRADING THEIR MILITARY HARDWARE TO DEAL WITH THE VAST NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE ON THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE.

THEY HAVE UPGRADED THEIR OLD AMX-30 FRENCH TANKS AND REPLACED THEM WITH RUSSIAN T-80 TANKS WHICH ARE STILL BEING DELIVERED AT THE MOMENT. THEY HAVE GOT IMPROVED ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS TOO. (AND THERE ARE) NOT ONLY GREEK CYPRIOT FORCES, BUT THERE IS A GREEK MECHANIZED BRIGADE ON THE ISLAND, THAT IS FROM THE GREEK NATIONAL ARMY AS OPPOSED TO THE CYPRIOT SIDE -- AND THEIR ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS HAVE ALSO BEEN UPGRADED.

MILITARY EXPERTS SAY THE LATEST MOVE BY THE GREEK CYPRIOTS TO BUY RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS HAS DEFINITELY HEIGHTENED TENSIONS IN AN ALREADY VOLATILE REGION. COLONEL TAYLOR SAYS THE RECENT THREATS BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND NOT DISMISSED AS MERE SABER-RATTLING.

I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THE TURKISH SIDE AND PARTICULARLY WITH ITS PRESENT GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT SHY AWAY FROM TAKING ANY ACTION THEY PERCEIVE TO BE NECESSARY, ALTHOUGH THEIR ARMED FORCES ARE PRETTY BUSY IN EASTERN TURKEY RIGHT NOW -- AND MAYBE THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE MAY JUST TRY TO EXPLOIT THAT. BUT I THINK HISTORY SHOWS THAT THE TURKS, WHEN NECESSARY, WILL ACT WITH DETERMINATION.

COLONEL TAYLOR AND OTHER MILITARY EXPERTS AGREE IT IS TIME FOR POLITICIANS AND DIPLOMATS TO TRY TO DEFUSE THE TENSE SITUATION IN CYPRUS. THEY ALSO SAY NATO OFFICIALS COULD PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN PREVENTING WHAT DEFENSE EXPERTS HERE CALL A "NIGHTMARE SCENARIO" FOR THE WESTERN MILITARY ALLIANCE -- A WAR BETWEEN TWO NATO ALLIES -- GREECE AND TURKEY -- OVER CYPRUS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH/RAE
23-Jan-97 12:47 PM EST (1747 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U EXPANSION (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF EASTWARD EXPANSION IS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, WHERE HE TOLD A BUSINESS FORUM THURSDAY THE COUNTRY IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO AMONG THE FIRST FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE GROUP. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: E-U VICE-PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS HANS VAN DEN BROEK IS AT THE CENTER OF A CONTROVERSY OVER WHEN THE FIRST EAST EUROPEAN NATIONS WILL JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

WHILE THE FRENCH PRESIDENT AND SOMETIMES THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR SPEAK ENTHUSIASTICALLY OF POLAND AND MAYBE HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC JOINING BY THE YEAR 2000, MR. VAN DEN BROEK REPEATEDLY SCOFFS AT THAT ASSERTION. HE BELIEVES 2002 IS THE EARLIEST DATE BY WHICH THE DETAILED ENTRY NEGOTIATIONS COULD BE COMPLETE.

DURING HIS REMARKS IN PRAGUE, THE DUTCH POLITICIAN WAS CAREFUL TO AVOID SPECIFIC DATES. INSTEAD HE EMPHASIZED THE HARD PREPARATION WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANY OF THE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES CAN JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. HE SPOKE PARTICULARLY OF THE NEED FOR A HARMONIZED LEGAL CODE AND THE TEDIOUS WORK OF BRINGING HUNDREDS OF LAWS INTO COMPLIANCE WITH E-U SPECIFICATIONS.

FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, SLOVENIA AND THE THREE BALTIC STATES HAVE APPLIED TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAID THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ENGAGED IN AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO MAKE ITS DECISION MAKING MORE EFFICIENT. WHAT IS CALLED THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE. WITHIN THE FOLLOWING SIX MONTHS, MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS ARE TO BEGIN WITH MALTA AND CYPRUS AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE EASTERN EUROPEAN APPLICANTS.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAYS THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION MUST DECIDE WHICH APPLICANTS ARE READY FOR MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS.

IT IS THE COMMISSION'S TASK UNDER THE UNION TREATIES TO GIVE AN OBJECTIVE OPINION ON THE READINESS OF EACH APPLICANT TO ASSUME THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP. AND THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION WHERE FURTHER EFFORTS ARE NEEDED ARE THE BEST GUARANTEE THAT THE ENLARGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES WILL PROCEED WITHOUT HINDRANCE.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK IS TO MEET FRIDAY WITH CZECH PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS, A MAN WITH WHOM HE HAS HAD DIFFICULT RELATIONS OVER QUESTIONS OF MEMBERSHIP TIMING AND EUROPEAN UNION REFORM.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC, LIKE THE OTHER EASTERN APPLICANTS, HAS WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS SUBMITTED MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRES DETAILING EVERY ASPECT OF COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL PROCEDURES. THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ALONG WITH HUNGARY AND POLAND, BELIEVES IT HAS MOVED FURTHEST AND FASTEST IN MEETING E-U MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/RAE
23-Jan-97 12:33 PM EST (1733 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SHARE PRICES ROSE THURSDAY ON WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES, AGAIN SETTING NEW RECORDS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES REACHED RECORD CLOSING HIGHS IN TRADING IN FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS. NEW RECORDS ALSO WERE SET IN STOCKHOLM, BRUSSELS, ZURICH, OSLO, AND HELSINKI.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY A STRONG OPENING ON WALL STREET. AND THEY SAID THE CONTINUED STRENGTH OF THE U-S DOLLAR AGAINST EUROPEAN CURRENCIES WILL HELP EUROPEAN EXPORTERS.

IN FRANKFURT, THE TRADING DAY ENDED WITH THE DAX-30 INDEX UP ONLY FRACTIONALLY. BUT THAT WAS ENOUGH TO REACH ANOTHER RECORD CLOSING HIGH. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX SET A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR THE FIFTH TIME THIS YEAR, MOVING AHEAD BY MORE THAN 52 POINTS -- ABOUT ONE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, PRICES HIT A NEW HIGH FOR THE SECOND DAY. THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED THE DAY AHEAD ALMOST 19 POINTS, MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY MARKET, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ACTUALLY WAS DOWN A BIT AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. BUT IT ROSE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/KL
23-Jan-97 1:33 PM EST (1833 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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