Voice of America, 97-02-13

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] ASEAN / E.U. (L ONLY) BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] THE LATEST FROM SERBIA: CAPITULATION OR TRICK? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] TURKEY/MILITARY (S/L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

INTRO: THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE U-S ARMY, NOW IN THE FORM OF ALLEGATIONS FILED AGAINST THE SERVICE'S HIGHEST-RANKING NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, IS A PRIME TOPIC IN THE DAY'S EDITORIALS COLUMNS.

OTHER COMMENTARIES DEAL WITH POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CHECHNYA; THE PRESIDENTIAL TURMOIL IN ECUADOR; NEW AIR TRAVEL SAFETY RULES IN THIS COUNTRY AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON.

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

TEXT: UNDER THE HEADLINE "BACKWARD, MARCH" TODAY'S OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND TALKS ABOUT THE LATEST ARMY SEX SCANDALS, BUT SAYS SEGREGATING MILITARY TRAINING BY GENDER, AS SOME HAVE SUGGESTED, WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

VOICE: "...THAT SOLUTION ATTACKS THE PROBLEM AT THE EXPENSE OF WOMEN INSTEAD OF THE PERPETRATORS OR THE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED THEM TO COMMIT THEIR CRIMES. BASIC TRAINING SHOULD DO JUST WHAT IT IS MEANT TO DO: PREPARE RECRUITS FOR THE CONDITIONS THEY WILL FACE DURING THE REST OF THEIR SERVICE. THAT INCLUDES LIVING AND WORKING RESPONSIBLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. [OPT] TO CURTAIL SEX ABUSE AND HARASSMENT, THE MILITARY MUST ENFORCE ITS OWN RULES BETTER AND CREATE OR STRENGTHEN INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW WOMEN TO REPORT INCIDENTS ..... WITHOUT THREAT TO THEIR CAREERS."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD TALKS ABOUT THE RECENT, BUT SLIGHTLY BELATED, REASSIGNMENT OF THE TOP ARMY NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY GENE MCKINNEY, WHO HAS BEEN ACCUSED BY TWO FORMER COLLEAGUES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. SAYS THE HERALD:

VOICE: "..... THE CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY SHOULDN'T BE SUSPENDED WHEN ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING."

TEXT: BUT LINDA CHAVEZ, WRITING IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES, NOTES THAT INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN OUR ARMED FORCES MAY MASK A GREATER ISSUE--THE EFFECT OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

VOICE: "IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF MALE SUPERIORS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POSITION TO CAJOLE OR COERCE SEXUAL FAVORS FROM FEMALES. IN FACT, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY ACKNOWLEDGE (AT LEAST PRIVATELY) THAT PURELY CONSENSUAL SEXUAL FRATERNIZATION IS NOT ONLY COMMON BUT ENDEMIC THROUGHOUT THE SEX-INTEGRATED SERVICES. THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS--BIG ONES. SEXUAL JEALOUSIES AND RIVALRIES ARE CORROSIVE IN MOST SETTINGS, BUT NOWHERE MORE THAN WHERE UNIT COHESION AND TRUST OF ONE'S COLLEAGUES CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BEWTEEN LIFE AND DEATH. ASKING MEN AND WOMEN TO IGNORE SEXUAL ATTRACTION IN CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY LIVE TOGETHER--WORKING, EATING AND EVEN SLEEPING IN THE SAME CO-ED QUATERS--IS UNNATURAL."

[BEGIN OPT]

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, CHARGES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF THREE WOMEN CADETS AT A STATE-SPONSORED MILITARY COLLEGE, THE CITADEL. HOWEVER, TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES HAILS THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW LEADER AT THE INSTITUTION.

VOICE: "...WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED ARMY BRIG. GENERAL EMORY MACE AS ITS ACTING COMMANDANT OF CADETS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA INSTITUTION'S LEADERSHIP SIGNALED ITS COMMITMENT TO CHANGE. GENERAL MACE, A 1963 CITADEL GRADUATE, HAS THE STRONG MILITARY CREDENTIALS EXPECTED IN THE JOB. ..... BUT THERE IS ANOTHER REASON GENERAL MACE IS A REASSURING CHOICE. AS IT HAPPENS, HE IS THE FATHER OF AN HONORS STUDENT WHO IS ONE OF THE CITADEL'S TWO REMAINING FEMALE CADETS. THAT, NATURALLY, GIVES HIM A POWERFUL PERSONAL INTEREST IN MAKING COEDUCATION WORK. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THE STRONG FAMILY TRADITION THAT IS PART OF THE CITADEL'S MYSTIQUE IS BEING EXTENDED TO INCLUDE WOMEN."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, AND SPECIFICALLY YESTERDAY'S SWEARING IN OF CHECHNYA'S NEW LEADER, ASLAN MASKHADOV, THE SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT MASKHADOV FACES PLENTY OF CHALLENGES. HIS EXTREMIST ISLAMIC OPPONENTS VIEW HIM WITH SUSPICION. ATTEMPTS MAY EVEN BE MADE BY SOME RIVAL HOTHEADS TO ACHIEVE WITH GUNS - - OF WHICH THERE ARE PLENTY - - THE VICTORY THEY COULD NOT GAIN THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX. ..... THE BEST WAY FOR MR. MASKHADOV TO SUCCEED IS TO KEEP HIS COOL AND LET TIME AND EVENTS TAKE THEIR COURSE."

TEXT: IN THE SAME PAPER, THIS COMMENT ABOUT WHAT THE SUN'S HEADLINE IS CALLING "MUSICAL CHAIRS IN ECUADOR," REFERING TO THAT NATION'S PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION CRISIS.

VOICE: "IF THERE IS A HERO IN ECUADOR'S CRISIS..... IT WAS THE ARMED FORCES UNDER GENERAL PACO MONCAYO, FOR REFUSING TO TAKE OVER AND FOR COMPELLING POLITICIANS TO BARGAIN POLITICALLY. ..... THE GOOD NEWS IS NO CIVIL WAR, NO COUP, NOBODY JAILED, NO SEIZURES OF MEDIA, NO SACKING AND PILLAGING. IT'S ALL TOO AMUSING, BUT CIVILIZED COMPARED TO THE WAY THESE MATTERS USED TO BE HANDLED THROUGHOUT SOUTH AMERICA."

TEXT: USA TODAY IS DISAPPOINTED REGARDING WEDNESDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF TIGHTER AIRPORT AND AIRLINE SECURITY MEASURES AS ANNOUNCED BY A PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION HEADED BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE.

VOICE: "VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S ..... COMMISSION HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EFFECT DRAMATIC REFORMS MAKING U-S FLYING SAFER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE COMMISSION OPTED FOR A SLOW FLIGHT AND AN UNCERTAIN LANDING. ..... THE GORE COMMISSION DEFINED A USEFUL SET OF OBJECTIVES. ITS FIVE MONTHS OF WORK RENEWED ATTENTION TO LINGERING AND GROWING PROBLEMS OF AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. LOFTY GOALS WERE SET ON ALL. BUT GOALS ARE HARD TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT SWIFT, SPECIFIC DEADLINES. AND THOSE ARE LACKING IN MUCH OF THE REPORT."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS NOT AS DISAPPOINTED AS USA TODAY.

VOICE: "WEDNESDAY'S REPORT ..... CONTAINED SEVERAL USEFUL RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED AT THE NATION'S AIRPORTS. ....... NOT ALL OF THE COMMISSION'S IDEAS WERE WARMLY RECEIVED, HOWEVER. A TROUBLING ONE IS THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL TO SCREEN AIRPORT PASSENGERS FOR LIKELY TERRORISTS, SO-CALLED 'PROFILING. [OPT] .....AMERICANS HAVE BECOME LESS ENAMORED WITH THE CLAIMED ACCURACY OF TERRORIST PROFILES, PARTICULARLY ON THE HEELS OF THE F-B-I'S RICHARD JEWELL DEBACLE, THE CASE OF THE BOMBING AT ATLANTA'S CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK LAST YEAR." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK POST HAILS THE ARRIVAL OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO WASHINGTON IN THE WAKE OF AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS FORWARD.

VOICE: ".... PRIME MINISTER ... NETANYAHU ARRIVES AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY - - WITH EVERY EXPECTATION OF A WARM RECEPTION. THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT WITH THE PLO LAST MONTH ON REDEPLOYMENT FROM HEBRON REPRESENTS A TANGIBLE SIGN THAT THE PEACE PROCESS BEGUN WITH THE OSLO ACCORDS IS STILL ON TRACK, DESPITE A ROCKY START AND CONTINUING PALESTINIAN VIOLATIONS. [MR.] NETANYAHU'S DECISION THIS WEEK TO RELEASE 31 PALESTINIAN WOMEN FROM ISRAELI PRISONS ..... IS A CASE IN POINT, DEMONSTRATING BOTH THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF THE OSLO PROCESS AND THE DILEMMAS IT POSES FOR ISRAEL."

TEXT: THE OREGONIAN IS SINGING THE PRAISES OF THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, CURRENTLY BEING UPGRADED BY A U-S ASTRONAUT CREW. SAYS THE PORTLAND PAPER:

VOICE: "THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE IS TECHNOLOGY AT ITS MOST IMPRESSIVE AND NOW, IT IS HOPED, ITS NEWEST, BUT USES THAT TECHNOLOGY TO LOOK BACK EVEN FURTHER IN TIME TOWARD THE UNIVERSE'S VERY ORIGIN. CATCHING LIGHT BILLIONS OF YEARS OLD, IT BRINGS AT LEAST AS MANY NEW PUZZLES AS IT DOES ANSWERS. MAY THE TELESCOPE REPAIR SUCCEED. MAY COSMIC DISCOVERIES AND COMETS BOTH KEEP COMING . .... AND MAY BOTH CONTINUE IN THEIR SEPARATE WAYS TO INSPIRE THE WATCHERS OF THE SKIES."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S BRIEF LOOK AT EDITORIALS IN SOME OF THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/NL
13-Feb-97 10:58 AM EST (1558 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ASEAN / E.U. (L ONLY) BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)

INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS, OR ASEAN, OPENED A TWO DAY MEETING IN SINGAPORE THURSDAY. THE TWO BLOCS ARE SET TO ISSUE A DECLARATION THAT WILL CALL FOR STRENGTHENED TIES IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, SUCH AS NARCOTICS CONTROL. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES HAVE ALSO BEEN RAISED.

TEXT: THE TWIN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES OF EAST TIMOR AND BURMA CAST A PALL OVER THE FIRST DAY OF THE TWO-DAY E-U / ASEAN MEETING. WHILE BOTH SIDES SOUGHT TO DOWNPLAY THE ISSUES, THEY WERE FELT NONETHELESS.

INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS ACCUSED PORTUGAL OF BLOCKING THE SIGNING OF A NEW ASEAN / E-U TREATY BECAUSE OF LISBON'S CONCERNS ABOUT EAST TIMOR. THE ASEAN / E-U AGREEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO UPGRADE AN 1980 TREATY BETWEEN THE TWO BLOCS. BUT PORTUGAL IS REPORTED TO HAVE REFUSED TO SIGN THE PACT.

NEVERTHELESS, THE FINAL DECLARATION OF THE MEETING IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE MANY OF THE PROVISIONS EMBODIED IN THE FORMAL TREATY. THE DRAFT DECLARATION CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC LINKS, INCREASING COOPERATION IN FIGHTING CRIME AND THE NARCOTICS TRAFFIC, ELIMINATING TRADE BARRIERS, AND BOOSTING MUTUAL TRADE.

INDONESIA INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY IN 1975 AND ANNEXED IT THE NEXT YEAR. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS NEVER RECOGNIZED THE ANNEXATION AND CONSIDERS PORTUGAL THE ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY OF EAST TIMOR. REPORTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -- AND THE AWARDING OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO TWO EAST TIMOR ACTIVISTS -- INFURIATED THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE ISSUE WAS NOT RAISED IN THE FORMAL TALKS, BUT PORTUGUESE OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL RAISE IT IN THE PRIVATE MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS. HOWEVER, NO MENTION OF EAST TIMOR IS EXPECTED IN THE FINAL DECLARATION.

WITH REFERENCE TO BURMA, THE TWO SIDES DISCUSSED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE DECLARATION REFERS TO IT IN GENERAL TERMS, SAYING THERE WAS AN "EXCHANGE OF VIEWS" ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE CAME UP IN AN IMPLICITLY WHEN SINGAPORE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD THE MEETING THAT "WHAT WORKS IN EUROPE WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK IN THE ASIAN CONTEXT."

ASEAN GROUPS BRUNEI, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM, THAILAND, INDONESIA, AND THE PHILIPPINES. BURMA IS SCHEDULED TO BE ADMITTED AS A MEMBER ALONG WITH LAOS AND CAMBODIA, BUT NO DATE HAS BEEN SET.

BURMA HOPES FULL ASEAN MEMBERSHIP WILL GIVE IT SOME MEASURE OF INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY, AS WELL AS LURING IN MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT. HOWEVER, BURMA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD HAS CAUSED CONCERN IN EUROPE. WHILE ASEAN STATES PREFER CONTACT OVER CONDEMNATION WITH RANGOON'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, E-U MEMBER STATES ARE UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE AT HOME TO HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH BURMA. ANALYSTS SAY BURMA'S ADMITTANCE TO ASEAN COULD COMPLICATE THE E-U / ASEAN RELATIONSHIP, AS WELL AS RELATIONS BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE UNITES STATES.

SOME U-S AND EUROPEAN FIRMS HAVE ALREADY WITHDRAWN FROM BURMA OR SCRAPPED PLANS TO INVEST THERE IN RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR A BOYCOTT. HOWEVER, ASIAN BUSINESSES HAVE READILY STEPPED INTO THE BREACH. SINGAPORE IS THE LEADING FOREIGN INVESTOR IN BURMA. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/CF
13-Feb-97 6:06 AM EST (1106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE CLOSED ON NEW RECORD HIGHS THURSDAY. FOR THE NUMBERS, HERE'S V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTE RECENT GAINS ON WALL STREET FOR THURSDAY'S BOOST IN SALES ON THE MAJOR BOURSES OF WESTERN EUROPE. FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL POSTED NEW RECORDS WHEN TRADING ENDED. THE FRANKFURT "DAX 30" INDEX GAINED MORE THAN 13 POINTS FOR THE DAY, THE PARIS "CAC 40" ADDED 29 POINTS AND HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 BRITISH STOCKS WAS UP ALMOST 23 POINTS.

ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRENGTH, CLOSING UP A FRACTION OF A CENT AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND ALMOST A FULL CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND. AFTER THE RECENT PLUNGE IN GOLD PRICES, THE METAL STABILIZED IN THURSDAY'S LONDON FIX, CLOSING UP THREE-QUARTERS OF A DOLLAR AT 341-DOLLARS-85 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF
13-Feb-97 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] THE LATEST FROM SERBIA: CAPITULATION OR TRICK? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN THE LATEST NEWS FROM WHAT IS STILL CALLED YUGOSLAVIA, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW ONLY SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, UNITED STATES OFFICIALS MAY NOT BE WELCOME AFTER SOME VISITING U-S CONGRESSMEN JOINED ONE OF BELGRADE'S PRO-DEMOCRACY RALLIES. ON ANOTHER FRONT, THE BELGRADE CITY ELECTORAL COMMISSION HAS CERTIFIED THE OPPOSITION AS WINNERS OF LAST NOVEMBER'S CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL. THE NULLIFICATION OF THOSE RESULTS BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAD RESULTED IN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF MASSIVE STREET DEMONSTRATIONS. FOR THE WORLD VIEW OF THESE LATEST GOINGS-ON, WE TURN TO _____________________AND THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT, BASED IN BELGRADE, THIS WEEK PASSED A SPECIAL LAW AT THE REQUEST OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THAT REINSTATES VICTORIES WON BY HIS OPPOSITION IN LAST NOVEMBER'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT WAS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S INVALIDATION OF THESE ELECTIONS THAT CAUSED A PUBLIC OUTCRY WHICH RESULTED IN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF MASSIVE STREET DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE.

HOWEVER, MANY OF THE OPPOSITION LEADERS ARE VERY WARY AND FEAR THE SERBIAN LEADER IS ONLY GIVING IN TO RE-ENTER THE FIELD OF BATTLE LATER WHEN HE HAS MORE SUPPORT AND TRY TO VANQUISH HIS FOES. THE WORLD PRESS SEEMS DIVIDED ON WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. SOME FEEL IT MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR MR. MILOSEVIC, WHILE OTHERS FEEL HE WILL BE ABLE TO, YET AGAIN, OUT-MANEUVER THE OPPOSITION.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO) WITH BELGRADE'S "NASA NORBA" WHICH SAID IN A RECENT ARTICLE:

VOICE: "WHAT THE REGIME AND ITS NUMBER-ONE MAN THINK ABOUT THE PROTESTERS, THE OPPOSITION WHICH HAS BEEN LEADING THEM, AND THE STUDENTS, BECAME VERY CLEAR WHEN THE LATTER ORDERED THE POLICE TO USE CLUBS, WATER CANNONS AND TEAR GAS AGAINST THEM.... THIS WAS NOT ONLY THE DEMONSTRATION OF CONTEMPT FOR EVERYONE WHO THINKS DIFFERENTLY, BUT ALSO THE EXPRESSION OF A WISH TO HUMILIATE THE STUBBORN REBELS."

TEXT: TURNING TO GERMANY, "THE GENERAL-ANZEIGER", IN BONN, QUOTING THE FOREIGN POLICY SPOKESMAN OF THE SPD PARTY IN THE BUNDESTAG (GERMAN PARLIAMENT) SUGGESTED THAT:

VOICE: "[MR.] MILOSEVIC DOES NOT FIT A DEMOCRATIC EUROPE ..... WITH THE SPECIAL BILL THAT HAS NOW BEEN INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT IN BELGRADE, [MR.] MILOSEVIC WILL FINALLY ACCEPT WHAT HIS PEOPLE AND THE WORLD HAVE KNOWN LONG SINCE. HE WANTS TO MAKE A WONT THING RIGHT AS HE MADE A RIGHT THING WRONG BEFORE. HE IS A STATE FALSIFIER. THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HELP HIM WOULD BE TO STEP DOWN AND TO ALLOW ELECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS."

TEXT: CROSSING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL NOW, TO LONDON, WHERE BRITAIN'S "GUARDIAN" SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT MR. MILOSEVIC WILL NOW BE TEMPTED TO PLAY THE KOSOVO CARD - - WHICH HE USED IN THE LATE 1980S TO SUCH EFFECT TO RALLY SERB NATIONALISM BEHIND HIM ..... THE NEW DISORDER ACROSS THE BORDER IN ALBANIA PROPER ONLY MAKES THIS REGION MORE POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE. THE UNITED STATES WAS RIGHT TO REACT QUICKLY, SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE MILOSEVIC REGIME..... THAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE REPEATED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY AND BY ANYONE WHO HAS DEALINGS IN BELGRADE." [EDITORS NOTE: KOSOVO PROVINCE IN SOUTHEASTERN YUGOSLAVIA, HAS UNLIMITED EMOTIONAL APPEAL FOR SERBIANS AS THE SITE, IN 1389, OF A BATTLE IN WHICH A TURKISH ARMY DEFEATED THE SERBS ON THE PLAINS OF KOSOVO ... A BATTLE WHICH HAS BECOME PART OF SERB LORE. MOST OF THE PRESENT POPULATION OF KOSOVO PROVINCE IS ETHNIC ALBANIAN, BUT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE SERBIAN, WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE ALBANIAN MAJORITY. THE PROVINCE IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE A FLASHPOINT OF FUTURE ETHNIC CLASHES IN THE BALKANS, ESPECIALLY, NOW THAT NEIGHBORING ALBANIA IS IN TURMOIL.]

TEXT: TURNING TO FRANCE, IN PARIS, "LE FIGARO" COMMENTED:

VOICE: "YESTERDAY WAS A ROUGH DAY FOR SLOBODAN MILSOEVIC. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SUNNY WEATHER, THE WHOLE OF SERBIA JOINED IN A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE HEAD OF STATE'S OFFICES ..... THE COALITION 'ENSEMBLE ' REMAINS MOBILIZED, EVEN THOUGH THE PARLIAMENT CONFIRMED ITS VICTORY IN THE ELECTION. .....THERE STILL REMAINS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO BE DONE BY THE VERY POWERFUL PRESIDENT OF SERBIA TO BRING PEACE TO HIS COUNTRY."

TEXT: IN ITALY, MILAN'S "IL SOLE 24 - ORE" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE OUTCOME OF THE TUG-OF-WAR BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST PARTY'S HARD LINE FACTION AND MILOSEVIC'S CLOSET SUPPORTERS ... ON THE REPEAL OF THE OPPOSITION VICTORY IN 14 SERBIAN MUNICIPALITIES IS STILL UNCERTAIN ..... IN ANY CASE, THE PROCESS OF CHANGE IN SERBIA CANNOT BE STOPPED ANYMORE. BUT IT WILL BE A VERY SLOW PROCESS."

TEXT: WHILE ACROSS TOWN, CORRIERE DELLA SERA SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "ALBEIT WEAKENED AND ABANDONED BY THE REGIME'S 'PILLARS' - - THE ARMY AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH - - [MR.] MILOSEVIC KNOWS THAT THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES YET TO HIS LEADERSHIP, AND THAT SERB BLUE COLLAR WORKERS AND FARMERS HAVE SIMPLY WATCHED [UNDERSTOOD: "WITHOUT PARTICIPATING"] THE PROTESTS SO FAR. ..... HE CONTINUES TO PLACE HIS HOPES IN THE DAYTON ACCORD, IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WHICH, BEYOND FORMAL CONDEMNATIONS, HAD NOT YET ABANDONED HIM, PREFERRING HIM TO CHAOS."

TEXT: TURNING TO NEARBY HUNGARY, THERE WAS THIS ANALYSIS IN "NEPSZAVA."

VOICE: "THE SITUATION IS MIND-BOGGLING. IT IS LIKE [HANS] KAFKA'S NOVEL 'THE CASTLE.' ...... I CAN ENVISION THREE SOLUTIONS. EITHER {MR.] MILOSEVIC ACKNOWLEDGES HIS FAILURE AND RESIGNS, OR AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED AND EVERYTHING GOES ON AS BEFORE. OR THE SERBIAN POWER HAS ENOUGH OF THE UPBEAT DEMONSTRATING AND ISSUES AN ORDER TO SHOOT."

TEXT: IN THE NETHERLANDS, THERE IS A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW IN "DE VOLKSKRANT FROM AMSTERDAM WHICH SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN THE STREETS OF BELGRADE TRIUMPHED ..... THE SELF-CONTROL AND PERSISTENCE OF THE DEMONSTRATORS PROVED TO BE THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS..... SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT HE LOST THIS BATTLE. ..... THE POSITION OF SERBIA'S AUTOCRATIC REGIME HAS BEEN WEAKENED, BUT HE IS NOT TALLY OUT YET."

TEXT: IN EAST ASIA, JAPAN'S "YOMIURI" IN TOKYO SAYS:

VOICE: "AFTER NEARLY 80 DAYS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS, THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA HAS CHANGED POLICY AND MOVED TOWARD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION BY RECOGNIZING THE RESULTS OF REGIONAL ELECTIONS. THIS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD TOWARD THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE BALKANS."

TEXT: AND IN NEPAL, "GORKHAPATRA, IN KATMANDU, SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS PROPOSED TO ADMIT OPPONENT'S VICTORY IN THE LAST ELECTIONS .... THE UNITED STATES IS NOW LOOKING QT HIS NEW PROPOSAL WITH SUSPICION, AND IS NOT CONVINCED THAT THE PROPOSAL WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO BASIS TO BELIEVE THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT UNTIL IT IMPLEMENTS ITS PLEDGES...."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF WORLD OPINION ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE "NEW" YUGOSLAVIA, CONSISTING OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.
NEB/ANG/NL
13-Feb-97 4:41 PM EST (2141 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/MILITARY (S/L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: OVERRIDING U-S CONGRESSIONAL OBJECTIONS, TURKEY ON THURSDAY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURER SIKORSKY TO PURCHASE FOUR "SEA HAWK" MILITARY HELICOPTERS. THE DEAL IS WORTH 113 MILLION DOLLARS, AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE DEAL TO PURCHASE THE FOUR HELICOPTERS FROM SIKORSKY COMES AMID MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM THE U-S CONGRESS TO EITHER HALT OR DELAY WEAPONS TRANSFERS TO TURKEY BECAUSE OF ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN ITS WAR AGAINST SEPARATIST KURDISH REBELS IN THE COUNTRY'S SOUTHEAST REGION.

THE REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH HOMELAND IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES.

THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CONDITIONS BEING ATTACHED TO U-S WEAPONS SALES TO TURKEY HAS PROMPTED ANKARA IN RECENT MONTHS TO TURN TO OTHER COUNTRIES -- INCLUDING FRANCE, ISRAEL AND RUSSIA -- FOR ITS WEAPONS NEEDS.

ANGERED BY U-S DELAYS, TURKEY CANCELLED A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR DEAL LAST NOVEMBER TO PURCHASE TEN "COBRA" ATTACK HELICOPTERS, ALSO MANUFACTURED BY SIKORSKY. ANKARA OPTED INSTEAD TO SIGN A 430 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO CO-PRODUCE 28 "COUGAR" TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS WITH A GERMAN-FRENCH CONSORTIUM, "EUROCOPTER." THE DEAL WAS SIGNED THURSDAY IN ANKARA, JUST HOURS BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF THE SIKORSKY PURCHASE.

THE FIRST FRANCO-GERMAN COUGAR HELICOPTER IS TO BE BUILT IN 32 MONTHS. NEITHER OF THE HELICOPTERS, HOWEVER, CAN BE USED BY TURKEY FOR ATTACK PURPOSES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
13-Feb-97 10:40 AM EST (1540 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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