Voice of America, 97-02-06

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBANIA UNREST (L) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

[03] ALBANIAN FUNDS (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

[04] BOSNIA LOOKS AT BRCKO BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

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

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

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

INTRO: AFTER A DAY TO CONSIDER BOTH EVENTS, THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS ARE FILLED WITH REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE TUESDAY AND THE VERDICT IN THE O-J SIMPSON CIVIL TRIAL.

THERE ARE ALSO COMMENTS ON NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S BACKGROUND; SOME NEWS FROM SERBIA AND THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

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

TEXT: MANY PAPERS THAT CHOSE NOT TO RUSH AN EDITORIAL INTO PRINT AFTER THE LATE EVENING CONCLUSION OF THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH AND THE ALMOST COINCIDENTAL RELEASE OF O-J SIMPSON VERDICT, ARE COMMENTING ON THEM TODAY.

FIRST, AS REGARDS THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, MR. CLINTON IS DRAWING MIXED REVIEWS FROM SECOND-DAY EDITORIALS. THE ORLANDO SENTINEL CALLS IT "AN INSPIRING MESSAGE," WHILE THE WASHINGTON POST CONCLUDES THE ADDRESS WAS "A DISAPPOINTING SPEECH." WE BEGIN WITH THE BOSTON GLOBE, WHICH HAS A UNIQUE SUGGESTION FOR THE PRESIDENT'S QUEST TO IMPROVE EDUCATION.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD PICK A HIGH SCHOOL, A PLACE WHERE HOPE ISN'T, AND GO THERE. HE SHOULD WALK THROUGH THIS SCHOOL'S CROWDED HALLS, PAST ANY METAL DETECTORS AND INTO CASH-STARVED CLASSROOMS AND TALK TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY MASTERS OF CYNICAL DISGUST. A MAN WHO LOVES CROWDS AND KNOWS HARD TIMES, [MR.] CLINTON IS WELL QUALIFIED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OBSTACLES BUT STILL LOOK STUDENTS IN THE EYE AND TALK ABOUT HOPE. HE SHOULD GO WHERE MOST POLITICIANS DON'T BOTHER TO TREAD TO SHOW THAT HIS IDEAS ARE MORE THAN POLITICAL MUZAK [BACKGROUND MUSIC]."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD IS GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS [MR.] CLINTON'S "CALL TO ACTION."

VOICE: "HIS VISION - - LARGE IN SCOPE AND DOTTED WITH PRAGMATIC DETAILS SUCH AS BANNING 'DRIVE-THROUGH' MASTECTOMIES - - WAS AMBITIOUS - - INDEED PERHAPS OVERREACHING. AS IF HEARING THE ANGST OF A MIDDLE CLASS SADDLED WITH MOST OF GOVERNMENT'S BILLS, HE PROPOSED TAX CUTS AND TAX CREDITS, NOT TAX INCREASES. HIS SPEECH TURNED POIGNANT WITH ITS PLEAS TO TREAT IMMIGRANTS FAIRLY AND TO CREATE JOBS FOR THOSE NOW ON WELFARE. IT TURNED UPLIFTING WITH TRIBUTES TO AMERICANS WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. HIS CONVICTION THAT AMERICA FINDS ITS STRENGTH IN ITS DIVERSITY WAS COMPELLING. "

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SUGGESTS THAT:

VOICE: " ..... THIS WAS A STATE OF THE UNION THAT ACTUALLY SPOKE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION AND SKETCHED A USEFUL POLITICAL VOCABULARY FOR DEALING WITH IT. WOULD IT BE BETTER IF THE FELLOW STAKING OUT THE 'VITAL CENTER' OF AMERICAN POLITICS WERE A MORE RELIABLE LEADER, ONE WHOSE ETHICS DIDN'T MAKE EVEN FRIENDS WINCE? SURE WOULD. BUT BILL CLINTON ON THE JOB IS PREFERABLE TO A PRESIDENT WHO WOULDN'T EVEN SEE THIS AS THE JOB TO BE DONE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST WAS LESS ENTHUSIASTIC:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON CHOSE .... TO GIVE A FEEL-GOOD SPEECH THAT MOSTLY SWEPT PAST THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS HE AND THE CONGRESS FACE. HE BUNCHED THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ADDRESS UNDER THE HEADING, 'UNFINISHED BUSINESS.' ..... WE DON'T WISH TO SOUND CHURLISH ABOUT IT, AND NO PRESIDENT SHOULD BE CALLED UPON TO OFFER THE PUBLIC NOTHING BUT TOOTHACHE. BUT MR. CLINTON IS CURRENTLY IN ABOUT AS STRONG A POSITION AS HE IS EVER LIKELY TO BE TO ACHIEVE IMPORTANT RESULTS. IF HE DOESN'T GET IT DONE NOW, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHEN HE WILL - - AND BY THAT STANDARD IT WAS ... A DISAPPOINTING SPEECH."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, FROM FLORIDA, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL SAYS:

VOICE: "WHEN A LEADER TALKS AS FORCEFULLY AND PERSUASIVELY AS PRESIDENT CLINTON DID IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH TUESDAY, YOU CAN'T HELP SITTING UP AND NODDING YOUR HEAD IN AGREEMENT. MR. CLINTON'S SUBSTANTIVE, CENTRIST IDEAS DREW REGULAR BIPARTISAN APPLAUSE. IF THAT IS TO BE THE NATIONAL POLITICAL FACE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WONDERFUL. .... THERE WAS MUCH TO LIKE; THERE ALSO IS AS MUCH TO QUESTION."

TEXT: ALMOST CONCURRENT WITH THE END OF THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN LOS ANGELES, THAT A C I V I L JURY HAD FOUND FORMER FOOTBALL STAR AND BROADCASTER O-J SIMPSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF HIS EX-WIFE NICOLE AND HER FRIEND RON GOLDMAN. THERE ARE MANY EDITORIALS ON THIS VERDICT, THE OPPOSITE OF THE CRIMINAL TRIAL RESULT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO THAT PRONOUNCED MR. SIMPSON NOT GUILTY OF MURDER. TODAY'S MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "HOW CAN IT BE? ..... HOW CAN ANYONE BE BOTH NOT GUILTY OF AND LIABLE FOR THE SAME DEATHS? HOW CAN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DISH OUT [PRODUCE] SUCH A CONTRADICTION, AND HOW CAN AMERICANS SWALLOW [COMPREHEND] IT? .....THE PUZZLE PRESENTED .... IS NOT AS MYSTIFYING AS IT SEEMS, NOR AS TROUBLING. IT'S THE BYPRODUCT OF A SYSTEM WHOSE IMPERFECTIONS ARE RIGHTLY VALUED AS ASSETS. ..... CRIMINAL AND CIVIL TRIALS ARE GOVERNED BY DIFFERENT RULES, AND FOR GOOD REASON. CRIMINAL TRIALS ARE TILTED IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANTS .... THAT APPROACH GUARDS AGAINST CONVICTION OF THE INNOCENT ...."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST CALLED THE JURY'S JUDGMENT "EXHILARATING" AND "DEEPLY SATISFYING" WHILE PORTLAND'S OREGONIAN, SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT "RACE ISN'T THE ISSUE". THE OREGONIAN SAYS:

VOICE: "IT WOULD BE EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OUTCOMES OF THE TWO O-J SIMPSON TRIALS AS THE RESULT OF THE JURIES' RACIAL MAKEUP. THAT WOULD BE TRAGIC. .... WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE VERDICT TURNED ON RACE. .... THE TWO SIMPSON CASES ....... STAND AS A CHALLENGE TO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM TO RETURN A GREATER SENSE OF FAIRNESS AND TRUST TO THE PEOPLE. IF THE PUBLIC TAKES THE VIEW THAT THE VERDICTS WERE ABOUT RACE, THEN WE HAVE ALL LOST."

TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION LOOKS TOWARD THE FUTURE, WITH MORE PESSIMISM THAN THE OREGONIAN.

VOICE: "THE SOCIAL DIVISION OVER THE SIMPSON CASE WILL NOT GO AWAY. IT WON'T BE A MATTER OF CALLING IT A DRAW AFTER THE MOSTLY BLACK JURY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FOUND [MR.] SIMPSON INNOCENT OF MURDER AND A MOSTLY WHITE JURY IN [THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUBURB OF] SANTA MONICA FOUND HIM LIABLE FOR A WRONGFUL DEATH. THOSE WHO BELIEVE [MR.] SIMPSON WAS THE INNOCENT VICTIM OF A FRAME-UP BY RACIST COPS WILL CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IT. THOSE WHO BELIEVE HIS HIGH-PAID LAWYERS [IN THE CRIMINAL CASE] GOT HIM OFF EASY WILL STILL BELIEVE IT. AND THE ARGUING WON'T STOP ANY TIME SOON."

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER ISSUES, BRIEFLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NOTES THE RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S JEWISH HERITAGE, AS IT SAYS:

VOICE: "MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, STILL SETTLING INTO HER NEW JOB AS SECRETARY OF STATE, HAS BEEN HIT BY A THUNDERBOLT FROM THE PAST. SHE RECENTLY LEARNED .... THAT ...... HER PARENTS WERE BORN JEWISH AND THAT THREE OF HER FOUR GRANDPARENTS DIED IN NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS. SHE NOW FACES THE DIFFICULT AND BEWILDERING TASK OF RECONCILING THE LIFE SHE HAS LIVED WITH THE WORLD HER PARENTS HID FROM HER. MS. ALBRIGHT AND HER FRIENDS SAY SHE NEVER HAD AN INKLING OF HER JEWISH ROOTS. "

TEXT: ABOUT THE WORSENING ECONOMIC AND HUNGER SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS "NORTH KOREA'S SURVIVAL MATTERS," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE WORRY, AS ADMIRAL JOSEPH PRUEHER, COMMANDER OF THE U-S PACIFIC COMMAND, PUT IT THIS WEEK, IS THAT A COLLAPSE COULD PRODUCE A RECKLESS LASHING OUT AGAINST SOUTH KOREA - - AND THE 37-THOUSAND AMERICAN TROOPS STATIONED THERE. ..... THE DECISION MADE IN WASHINGTON AND SEOUL IS TO TRY TO KEEP NORTH KOREA AT LEAST MINIMALLY VIABLE WHILE HOPING THAT EVENTS WILL FORCE IT TO MODERATE ITS HARSH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICIES. THAT'S A SOUND APPROACH, GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVES."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES SEES "A GLIMMER OF DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA WITH THE LATEST NEWS.

VOICE: "SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS A WILY, UNFORGIVING POLITICIAN, AND HIS OPPONENTS IN SERBIA ARE WISE TO WONDER ABOUT HIS INTENT IN BELATEDLY AGREEING TO HONOR LAST NOVEMBER'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS. ...... BUT HIS ACTION, WHILE WELCOME, DOES NOT TRANSFORM SERBIA INTO A DEMOCRACY OR END THE POLITICAL CRISIS THERE. .....[THE] SERBS CAN BE PROUD OF A NONVIOLENT PROTEST MOVEMENT THAT BRAVED POLICE TRUNCHEONS AND THE COLD FOR ELEVEN WEEKS TO INSIST THAT ITS VOTES BE RESPECTED."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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06-Feb-97 10:43 AM EST (1543 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA UNREST (L) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

INTRO: THERE WAS A SECOND DAY OF PROTESTS THURSDAY IN THE SOUTHERN ALBANIAN PORT CITY OF VLORE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IN TIRANA REPORTS THE PROTESTERS BLAME THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE COLLAPSE OF A GET-RICH-QUICK OPERATION BASED IN THE CITY.

TEXT: THE BIGGEST PROTEST WAS IN THE MORNING WHEN A CROWD EXCEEDING TEN THOUSAND SWEPT PAST POLICE BARRICADES TO MOVE INTO VLORE'S MAIN SQUARE.

THE CROWD SHOUTED ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS AND DEMANDED THAT PROTESTERS ARRESTED A DAY EARLIER BE RELEASED. SOME DEMONSTRATORS MOVED TO A SCHOOL, PERSUADING STUDENTS TO JOIN THE PROTESTS.

IN THE AFTERNOON, PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE POLICE STATION WHERE THEY AWAITED THE SUBSEQUENT RELEASE OF SEVERAL PROTESTERS WHO HAD BEEN HELD OVERNIGHT.

MANY OF THE DEMONSTRATORS HAD GIVEN THEIR SAVINGS TO THE VLORE BASED GJALLICA COMPANY WHICH DECLARED BANKRUPTCY EARLIER IN THE WEEK. THE FIRM, WHICH OPERATES GAS STATIONS AND A HOTEL, HAD GAINED LEGITIMACY BY SPONSORING A EUROPEAN-WIDE BEAUTY CONTEST IN TIRANA ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO.

IN DECLARING ITSELF INSOLVENT, THE COMPANY SAID IT COULD NOT PAY BACK DEPOSITORS ON THURSDAY AS HAD BEEN PROMISED. THAT STATEMENT TRIGGERED THE VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN VLORE ON WEDNESDAY WHEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED. IN TIRANA, THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HELP THE POOREST INVESTORS IN GJALLICA, THOSE WHO HAD SOLD THEIR HOMES IN ORDER TO ATTRACT RETURNS OF EIGHT TO TEN PERCENT A MONTH.

THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAS BEGUN TO PROVIDE PARTIAL COMPENSATION TO INVESTORS IN TWO OTHER PYRAMID SCHEMES WHOSE ASSETS WERE SEIZED BY THE AUTHORITIES. THE PAYOUTS OF 50 TO 60 PERCENT OF THE MONEY INVESTED HAS PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

INVESTORS ARE BEING COMPENSATED AT OFFICES OF THE STATE SAVINGS BANK CLOSEST TO THEIR HOMES. THE PAYOUT SCHEDULE HAS BEEN ARRANGED SO THAT LARGE CROWDS DO NOT GATHER.

WHILE HOLDING OUT THE PROMISE OF LIMITED ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A TOUGH LINE ON MAINTAINING ORDER. STIFF PENALTIES ARE PROMISED FOR THOSE INCITING VIOLENCE.

ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA BLAMES THE LEFT WING OPPOSITION FOR EXPLOITING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN AN EFFORT TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. MR. BERISHA'S CENTER RIGHT DEMOCRATIC PARTY OBTAINED A LARGE MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT IN CONTROVERSIAL ELECTIONS NINE MONTHS AGO. (SIGNED)
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06-Feb-97 1:52 PM EST (1852 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIAN FUNDS (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (TIRANA)

INTRO: THE FOUR LARGEST REMAINING INVESTMENT FUNDS IN ALBANIA DENY THAT THEY ARE PYRAMID SCHEMES AND SAY THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER IN AN EFFORT TO BOLSTER THEIR CHANCES FOR SURVIVAL. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA.

TEXT: THESE FOUR REMAINING FUNDS ARE THE BIGGEST PRIVATE COMPANIES IN ALBANIA.

EACH DENIES IT IS ENGAGED IN FRAUDULENT PYRAMID OPERATIONS. EACH SAYS TAKING DEPOSITS FROM INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN ONLY A SMALL PART OF ITS BUSINESS.

THE HEAD OF THE BIGGEST COMPANY, VEFA HOLDINGS, SAYS THE FOUR COMPANIES HAVE FORMED A UNION OF ALBANIAN INDUSTRIALISTS. VEFA PRESIDENT, VEHBI ALIMUCAJ, WARNED THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO INTERFERE WITH ANY OF THE FOUR COMPANIES. HE SAYS IF THEY ARE DESTROYED, ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL SUFFER GRIEVOUS SETBACKS.

THE FOUR COMPANIES SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO PAY GENEROUS MONTHLY DIVIDENDS TO INVESTORS BECAUSE OF COMPETITION FROM PYRAMID FUNDS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE COLLAPSED OR BEEN CLOSED. HOWEVER, SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL ECONOMISTS IN TIRANA SAY EVEN THOUGH THE FOUR BIG COMPANIES MAY HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES, THEY OPERATE IN A MANNER VERY SIMILAR TO THE PYRAMID FUNDS.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, INVESTORS HAVE BEEN LINING UP SEEKING THEIR MONEY AT THE OFFICES OF THE FOUR BIG COMPANIES -- VEFA, KAMBERI, SILVA, AND CENAJ.

THE FOUR COMPANIES HAVE COMPLIED WITH A GOVERNMENT ORDER TO HALT EXCESSIVE INTEREST OR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS. MR. ALIMUCAJ SAYS HIS COMPANY HAS ALREADY REDUCED MONTHLY INTEREST PAYMENTS TO TWO-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT, DOWN FROM 10 PERCENT ONLY WEEKS AGO. HE SAYS HE CANNOT SAY WHEN INVESTORS WILL GET THEIR MONEY BACK. HE SAYS HE IS NOT WILLING TO SELL HIS PERSONAL REAL ESTATE TO SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF CREDITORS.

THAT THE FOUR COMPANY PRESIDENTS REMAIN IN ALBANIA IS CONSIDERED A POSITIVE SIGN. SOME PYRAMID SCHEME OPERATORS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE FLED THE COUNTRY, TAKING SUITCASES OF MONEY WITH THEM. MEANWHILE, ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA ACCUSES THE LEFT WING POLITICAL OPPOSITION OF TRYING TO USE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. MR. BERISHA TOLD THE FRENCH NEWSPAPER LE MONDE THAT THE FRAGMENTED AND DIVIDED OPPOSITION WANTED A BLOODBATH IN ALBANIA. HE PLEDGED TO MAINTAIN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STABILITY. (SIGNED)
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06-Feb-97 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA LOOKS AT BRCKO BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE MOST BITTER DISPUTES INHERITED FROM BOSNIA'S WAR IS NEARING RESOLUTION. AN INTERNATIONAL PANEL HEADED BY AN AMERICAN LAWYER IS TO RULE WITHIN LESS THAN TWO-WEEKS ON THE FATE OF THE NORTHEASTERN BOSNIAN TOWN OF BRCKO. BUT AS V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS, THERE IS CONCERN THE RULING MAY LEAD TO RENEWED FIGHTING.

TEXT: IT WAS A MAJORITY MUSLIM AND CROAT TOWN BEFORE BOSNIA'S THREE-AND-ONE-HALF-YEAR WAR. BUT ITS ETHNIC MAKEUP DRAMATICALLY CHANGED IN 1992. THAT YEAR, SERB FORCES CAPTURED THE TOWN AND SUBJECTED IT TO RIGOROUS ETHNIC CLEANSING.

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, EJUP GANIC, SAYS AT LEAST THREE-THOUSAND OF BRCKO'S FORMER MUSLIM AND CROAT RESIDENTS WERE KILLED. OTHERS WERE EXPELLED.

THE MUSLIMS WANT THE TOWN BACK, WITH MR. GANIC CASTING HIS APPEAL IN MORAL TERMS.

THIS TRIBUNAL ON BRCKO IS A HISTORIC ONE. IT WILL SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT THE VIRUS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD GET RID OF? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS PROFITABLE TO SOME DICTATORS?

BUT SOME BOSNIAN-SERB POLITICIANS, INCLUDING THEIR FORMER LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, HAVE THREATENED TO GO TO WAR, IF THE PANEL RULES AGAINST THEM.

EXPERTS SAY THAT IS BECAUSE AS THE WAR PROGRESSED, BRCKO TOOK ON TRULY STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE. THE TOWN STRADDLES A NARROW CORRIDOR LINKING LARGE SERB-CONTROLLED TERRITORIES IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN BOSNIA. WASHINGTON POLITICAL SCIENTIST OBRAD KESIC SAYS ITS RETURN TO THE MUSLIMS WOULD THREATEN THE EXISTENCE OF THE SERB REPUBLIC IN BOSNIA.

IF THAT TOWN IS CUT OFF AND IF THE CORRIDOR IS BROKEN, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE SERBS DO NOT CONTROL THE SUPPLY LINES. THEY DO NOT CONTROL ACCESS TO BOTH HALVES OF THEIR OWN REPUBLIC, AND FOR THEM IT IS A QUESTION OF "DO OR DIE". IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SEE THAT THE VIABILITY OF THEIR ENTITY WITHIN BOSNIA, AS RECOGNIZED UNDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, IS IN QUESTION WITH THIS ENTIRE ARBITRATION PROCESS.

THE DISPUTE TURNED OUT TO BE SO SENSITIVE DAYTON PEACE NEGOTIATORS SHIED AWAY FROM TRYING TO SETTLE IT BACK IN 1995, DEFERRING IT INSTEAD TO INTERNATIONAL ARBITERS. THE ARBITERS POSTPONED DELIBERATION AGAIN IN DECEMBER.

WITH ANOTHER DEADLINE SET FOR FEBRUARY 15TH AND PASSIONS ON THE RISE, ANALYSTS HAVE TERMED THE DISPUTE A CLASSIC NO-WIN SITUATION. NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS REPORTEDLY MOVED SOME OF THEIR UNITS CLOSER TO THE AREA IN ANTICIPATION OF TROUBLE. BUT JANUSZ BUGAJSKI, TOP EAST EUROPE EXPERT AT WASHINGTON'S CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, SAYS THERE MAY BE A THIRD WAY TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE.

I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD NOT SATISFY EITHER SIDE AT THIS POINT. IN OTHER WORDS, TO LEAVE THE TOWN, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, UNDER SOME KIND OF INTERNATIONAL ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD PLACE IT UNDER SOME KIND OF JOINT U-N / NATO ADMINISTRATION, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. AGAIN, AS I SAID, THIS WILL NOT SATISFY EITHER SIDE, BUT AT LEAST IT WILL AVOID WAR.

BUT MR. BUGAJSKI AND OTHER EXPERTS ACKNOWLEDGE THE THIRD OPTION HAS A DOWNSIDE THAT MAY NOT PLEASE MANY POLITICIANS IN THE WEST. IT WILL REQUIRE A PROTRACTED INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN THE AREA, PROBABLY GOING BEYOND THE 18-MONTH MANDATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL STABILIZATION FORCE. (SIGNED)
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06-Feb-97 10:21 AM EST (1521 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING THURSDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ENDED THE DAY AT NEW RECORD HIGHS IN BOTH FRANKFURT AND PARIS. BUT LONDON FINISHED DOWN.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX CLOSED AT A NEW HIGH, UP MORE THAN SIX POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

PRICES ALSO ENDED THE DAY AT A NEW HIGH IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX FINISHED UP MORE THAN 17 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

BUT IN LONDON, EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET, PRICES WERE OFF FROM WEDNESDAY'S RECORD HIGH. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS DOWN MORE THAN 15 POINTS, ABOUT THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY MARKET, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, THE BRITISH POUND, AND MOST OTHER MAJOR CURRENCIES.
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06-Feb-97 1:31 PM EST (1831 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA PAID A ONE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ANKARA THURSDAY AMID FURTHER WARNINGS FROM THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT THAT IT MIGHT BLOCK THE ALLIANCE'S PLANS TO EXPAND EASTWARD. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING HIS TALKS WITH NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN HINTED THAT TURKEY -- AS A FULL NATO MEMBER -- MIGHT USE ITS VETO POWERS TO BLOCK THE ENTRY OF EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INTO THE ALLIANCE.

THAT POSSIBILITY WAS FIRST RAISED BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TANSU CILLER DURING TALKS LAST WEEK WITH HER EUROPEAN UNION COUNTERPARTS IN ROME. MRS. CILLER SAID THAT NATO EXPANSION AND EUROPEAN UNION EXPANSION WERE, IN HER WORDS, "INTERLINKED," AND THAT ONLY IF TURKEY WERE ADMITTED INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION WOULD IT ALLOW OTHER COUNTRIES INTO NATO.

MR. ERBAKAN SAID THURSDAY THAT MRS. CILLER'S WORDS REFLECTED TURKISH GOVERNMENT POLICY AND NOT HER PERSONAL OPINIONS. TURKEY IS ANGERED BY THE E-U'S REFUSAL TO INCLUDE IT ON A LIST OF 11 POSSIBLE NEW COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE GROUP.

SOME WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY WASHINGTON, IN PARTICULAR, IS DEEPLY WORRIED BY ANKARA'S DECISION TO LINK NATO EXPANSION TO EXPANSION OF THE E-U AT A TIME WHEN THE DEFENSE ALLIANCE IS PREPARING TO ADMIT NEW MEMBERS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET BLOC. ALTHOUGH FEW OBSERVERS BELIEVE TURKEY WILL CARRY OUT ITS THREAT, SOME ARGUE THAT ANKARA'S STANCE COULD SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT.

CONCERNS OVER ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, THE FRAGILITY OF THE TURKISH ECONOMY AND ITS LARGE POPULATION, E-U OFFICIALS SAY, MAKE IT UNLIKELY THAT TURKEY WILL ACCEPTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE ONGOING DISPUTE BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE OVER CYPRUS IS ALSO A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO TURKEY'S ACCESSION, THE OFFICIALS ADD.

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