Voice of America, 97-02-19

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BRITAIN / U-S / NATO (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[03] CROATIA / TRIBUNAL (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

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

[05] NATO EXPANSION / COSTS BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

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

[07] U-S/EUROPE/ IRAN ARMS (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE)

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

INTRO: THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS OF U-S DAILY PAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY ARE FILLED WITH COMMENTS ON THE UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT ON MONDAY FROM KENNETH STARR THAT HE IS STEPPING DOWN AS HEAD INDEPENDENT COUNSEL INVESTIGATING THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS SECRETARY OF STATE; BIG CHANGES IN THE WORLD'S TELEPHONE SERVICE; THE HEALTH OF DENG XIAO-PING; A POSSIBLE ASTEROID THREAT; AND DEALING WITH THE CIVIL WAR IN ZAIRE. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: KENNETH STARR IS THE LAWYER WHO, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED MATTERS COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS WHITEWATER INVOLVING PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON AND MANY OF THEIR ARKANSAS ASSOCIATES. MUCH OF THE EVENTS MR. STARR HAS BEEN PROBING FOR POSSIBLE WRONG DOING HAPPENED BEFORE BILL CLINTON BECAME PRESIDENT. NOW, MR. STARR SAYS HE IS RESIGNING HIS POST TO BECOME DEAN OF A CALIFORNIA COLLEGE'S LAW SCHOOL. THE ANNOUNCEMENT SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT, IF NOT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. HERE'S WHAT THE WASHINGTON POST HAS TO SAY.

VOICE: "THE LAST THING WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR CAN WANT IS TO GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE FELLOW WHO WALKED AWAY FROM THE ENORMOUS PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY OF INVESTIGATING A SITTING PRESIDENT WHEN THE JOB WAS ONLY HALF DONE. ...... THAT'S WHY WE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE HE WON'T SOMEHOW WRAP UP HIS INQUIRY ....... HE WOULD BE ABANDONING AND TO SOME EXTENT STRANDING THE INQUIRY WERE HE TO DO OTHERWISE."

TEXT: [OPT] IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THE OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND HAS THIS VIEW OF THE NEWS.

VOICE: "..... KENNETH STARR'S DECISION ..... RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE THREE-YEAR INVESTIGATION IS GOING AND WHEN IT WILL END. ..... AND [MR.] STARR ... SEEMED AT PAINS TO DISCOURAGE ANY SPECULATION THAT HIS DEPARTURE MEANS THAT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OR FIRST LADY IS UNLIKELY. ..... AT SOME POINT, HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR A PUBLIC PROGRESS REPORT FROM THE PROSECUTOR AS TO WHAT IS AND ISN'T STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION ..... THE WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION ...... NEED NOT BE ENDLESS." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS UPSET AT WHAT IT PERCEIVES AS A LACK OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

VOICE: "KENNETH STARR'S DECISION TO LEAVE HIS POST ..... REFLECTS A SELFISH INDIFFERENCE TO HIS IMPORTANT CIVIC OBLIGATIONS. MR. STARR IS NOT INVESTIGATING SOME OBSCURE TOWN COMMISSIONER. .....THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROSECUTORIAL JOBS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, AND MR. STARR SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN IT UNLESS HE WERE WILLING TO SEE IT THROUGH ...... MR. STARR SHOULD RECONSIDER HIS DEPARTURE."

TEXT: [OPT] WHILE IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE MR. STARR WILL RELOCATE AS HEAD OF PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY'S LAW SCHOOL, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES WONDERS: "ARE [THE] CLINTONS OFF THE HOOK? [NO LONGER LIABLE FOR PROSECUTION] MAYBE, BUT DON'T SWITCH THE DIAL. [DON'T COUNT ON THAT ASSESSMENT AS BEING CORRECT]" [END OPT]

TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS THE NATION'S FIRST FEMALE SECRETARY OF STATE, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE.

VOICE: "IF APPEARANCES CAN BE TRUSTED, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S FLASH VISIT TO PARIS SUGGESTS A GOOD BEGINNING TO THE REHABILITATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES. WITHOUT YIELDING ON MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE ..... [MRS.] ALBRIGHT MADE THE DIPLOMATIC CASE FOR COOPERATION. .... IF [MRS.] ALBRIGHT CAN MEND RELATIONS WITH PARIS, BOTH COUNTRIES WILL BENEFIT, AS WILL THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE."

TEXT: [OPT] IN CALIFORNIA, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, ADDS:

VOICE: "LET NO ONE ACCUSE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT OF DIFFIDENCE IN HER NEW JOB. HER FIRST VENTURE ABROAD AS SECRETARY OF STATE IS TAKING HER TO NINE COUNTRIES IN TEN DAYS, AND HER DATE BOOK IS FILLED NOT WITH COURTESY CALLS BUT DISCUSSIONS OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO DEMAND HER TIME IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. ..... THIS JOURNEY COULD BE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE IN SETTING THE TONE OF U-S RELATIONS WITH KEY NATIONS, ALLIED AND OTHERWISE, IN A TIME OF TRANSITION." [END FOPT]

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD IS REMARKING A A QUIET REVOLUTION THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE WORLD'S TELEPHONE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.

VOICE: "THE WORLDWIDE REVOLUTION THAT SOME HAVE BEEN PREDICTING FINALLY HAS HAPPENED. IT CAME WITHOUT A SHOT BEING FIRED. THE EFFECT OF THE LANDMARK AGREEMENT OPENING THE GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET, HOWEVER, IS BROADER THAN THE GAINS WON ON ANY BATTLEFIELD. WHEN 69 NATIONS AGREED .... TO ALLOW COMPETITION IN WHAT HAD BEEN, IN MANY CASES, STATE-PROTECTED TELEPHONE AND SATELLITE MONOPOLIES, IT WAS A SWEEPING VICTORY FOR ECONOMIC FREEDOM. [OPT] ..... IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT OPENING MARKETS MAY SAVE CONSUMERS WORLDWIDE AS MUCH AS ONE TRILLION DOLLARS BY [THE YEAR] TWENTY-TEN. THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, AND THIS COUNTRY CAN BE PROUD IT LED THE WAY." [END FOPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN WONDERS ABOUT THE REPORTS - - OR ARE THEY MERELY RUMORS - - THAT CHINA'S SENIOR LEADER DENG XIAOPING MAY BE DYING.

VOICE: " A HONG KONG NEWSPAPER SAID HE HAD A MASSIVE STROKE. PERHAPS HE DID. ..... EVERYONE WONDERED. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN? ON THE SURFACE, NOTHING. JIANG ZEMIN WAS HIS CHOICE AS HEIR, IS THE TOP POWER FIGURE AND HOLDS THE OFFICES OF STATE, PARTY AND MILITARY THAT CONSOLIDATED POWER FOR THE LATER MAO TSE-TUNG. ..... BUT PERSONALITY IS NOT THE POINT. POLICY IS. ..... IMMEDIATELY AFTER MR. DENG'S DEPARTURE, JIANG ZEMIN IS LIKELY TO REMAIN HEAD OF EVERYTHING. BUT THEN QUESTIONS WILL ARISE AND EYES WILL BE WATCHING THE EVERY MOVE OF RIVAL LI PENG. AND THAT WATCHFUL WAITING WILL GO ON AND ON."

TEXT: [OPT] IN AFRICAN TOPICS, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS THAT URGENT TALKS ARE NEEDED ON THE EVER-LARGER CIVIL WAR IN ZAIRE.

VOICE: "THE ZAIREAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD LISTEN TO ITS AFRICAN NEIGHBORS. ..... IF ZAIRE IGNORES THE ADVICE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF KENYA, CAMEROON, TANZANIA, SOUTH AFRICA, CONGO, AND ZIMBABWE, WHO LEFT FOR THE ZAIREAN CAPITAL KINSHASA FEBRUARY 18TH TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD TALKS ..... IT DOES SO AT ITS OWN PERIL." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS UPSET ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "INTOLERABLE DELAYS" IN THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ESTABLISHED TO FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDAL MASSACRE IN RWANDA TWO YEARS AGO.

VOICE: "THE .... TRIBUNAL ....CREATED .... IN 1994 IS BARELY FUNCTIONING TWO YEARS LATER. .....THE U-N MOST NOT TOLERATE THIS. [SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI] ANNAN WILL PASS A MAJOR TEST IF HE CAN QUICKLY EMPOWER THE TRIBUNAL AND FINALLY STAUNCH THIS STAIN IN AFRICA."

TEXT: [OPT] AND LASTLY ON THE SUBJECT OF GIANT ASTEROIDS WHICH MAY COLLIDE WITH THE EARTH, AS RECENTLY PORTRAYED ON A U-S TELEVISION DRAMA, USA TODAY COMMENTS:

VOICE: "SOME THINK WE CAN USE ATOMIC WEAPONS TO DIVERT INCOMING OBJECTS - - A HANDY RATIONALE FOR THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS INDUSTRY. BUT REALLY, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO, AND THAT'S ALL RIGHT. UNCERTAINTY GIVES THE THREAT A PERVERSE VALUE. IT PROVIDES A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR NEAR-EARTH ASTRONOMERS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR ACTORS WILLING TO RUN AROUND THE SET LIKE DINOSAURS WITH THEIR HEADS CUT OFF."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
19-Feb-97 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BRITAIN / U-S / NATO (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS ENDED HER TALKS IN LONDON WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND. THEY FOCUSED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST PROCESS AND BOSNIA. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, THE MAIN ISSUE DISCUSSED WAS ENLARGEMENT OF THE 16-MEMBER NATO MILITARY ALLIANCE.

TEXT: FOLLOWING TALKS IN LONDON WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND, MRS. ALBRIGHT MADE CLEAR THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS AGREE NATO ENLARGEMENT WILL PROCEED AS SCHEDULED.

HOWEVER NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION IS STRONGLY OPPOSED BY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, WHO SAY IT REPRESENTS A THREAT TO THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY. NATO AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ARE NOW TRYING TO WORK OUT A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO BE OUTLINED IN A CHARTER.

MS. ALBRIGHT'S NEXT STOP ON HER TOUR IS MOSCOW -- AND SHE TOLD REPORTERS IN LONDON WHAT SHE HOPES TO ACHIEVE IN HER TALKS THERE.

MY PURPOSE IN GOING TO MOSCOW IS TO LAY OUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF A PACKAGE THAT WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE RUSSIANS THAT THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO IS SOMETHING THAT IS POSITIVE, THAT SHOWS A NEW NATO THAT IS BASED ON CREATING A SENSE OF STABILITY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE -- WHICH THEY WOULD BE BENEFICIARIES AS WELL AS WE.

FOR HIS PART, MR. RIFKIND SAID A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD TO ALLAY RUSSIAN FEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/RRM
19-Feb-97 5:19 PM EST (2219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CROATIA / TRIBUNAL (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE NETHERLANDS APPEARED WEDNESDAY AT THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE TO EXPLAIN HIS GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO HAND OVER SUBPOENAED DOCUMENTS. AMBASSADOR BRANKO SALAJ SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE TRIBUNAL'S RIGHT TO ISSUE A SUBPOENA. AS GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING BATTLE TO CONVINCE THE STATES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO COOPERATE.

TEXT: PROSECUTORS AT THE TRIBUNAL SAY THEY NEED CROATIAN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS TO PREPARE THE CASE AGAINST BOSNIAN CROAT GENERAL, TIHOMIR BLASKIC. A FORMER MILITIA COMMANDER, HE IS ACCUSED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATROCITIES CARRIED OUT AGAINST THE MUSLIM, CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THE CENTRAL BOSNIA LASVA VALLEY.

THE GENERAL SURRENDERED TO THE TRIBUNAL LAST YEAR AND HIS TRIAL IS DUE TO START IN APRIL. JUDGE GABRIELLE MACDONALD HAD ISSUED A SUBPOENA AGAINST CROATIA AND ITS DEFENSE MINISTER, ORDERING THAT THE DOCUMENTS BE HANDED OVER. CROATIA SAYS THE TRIBUNAL HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DO THIS AND REFUSED TO COMPLY.

JUDGE MACDONALD WAS CLEARLY FRUSTRATED. CROATIA HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN CRITICIZED FOR PAYING ONLY LIP SERVICE TO THE IDEA (ONLY SAYING IT WOULD OBSERVE IT) OF COOPERATION WITH THE TRIBUNAL.

AT ONE POINT, THE HEARING WAS SUSPENDED WHILE THE CROATIAN AMBASSADOR CONSULTED OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB BY PHONE. JUDGE MACDONALD STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING A SOLUTION.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH REAL COOPERATION, THIS TRIBUNAL WILL BE CRIPPLED. WE HAVE 74 INDICTEES, SEVEN ARE IN CUSTODY, AND IF WE DON'T GET COOPERATION FROM COUNTRIES -- NOT A WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE, NOT A DESIRE TO COOPERATE BUT ACTUAL COOPERATION -- THEN WE ALL FAIL, WE ALL FAIL TOGETHER.

IN THE END, A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED. THE SUBPOENA WAS SUSPENDED AND CROAT OFFICIALS ARE TO MEET WITH TRIBUNAL REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE HANDING OVER OF THE DOCUMENTS.

IT WAS ONLY BY LIFTING THE SUBPOENA THAT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AGREED TO COOPERATE. THERE COULD NOT, THE AMBASSADOR SAID, BE ANY SUGGESTION THAT CROATIA HAD GIVEN IN TO THREATS. ALTHOUGH THE SUBPOENA WAS LIFTED, THE FACT THAT A CROATIAN GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE WAS REQUIRED TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF BEFORE THE COURT SEEMS TO INDICATE A NEW, TOUGHER LINE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF
19-Feb-97 1:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE SHARPLY IN LONDON, BUT WERE OFF IN BOTH FRANKFURT AND PARIS. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 25 POINTS -- ABOUT SIX-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

BUT LONDON WAS THE ONLY MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKET TO SHOW GAINS. SHARE PRICES DROPPED SHARPLY IN BOTH GERMANY AND FRANCE.

IN FRANKFURT, THE TRADING DAY ENDED WITH THE DAX-30 INDEX OFF MORE THAN 42 POINTS -- ABOUT ONE-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT. AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FINSHED DOWN ALMOST 23 POINTS -- ABOUT NINE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND, THE GERMAN MARK AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
NEB/JWH
19-Feb-97 1:48 PM EST (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NATO EXPANSION / COSTS BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HOLDING INTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS IN EUROPE ON NATO EXPANSION, THE DEBATE HERE IN WASHINGTON OVER THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF BROADENING THE ALLIANCE IS HEATING UP. THERE ARE POLITICAL, FINANCIAL -- EVEN PSYCHOLOGICAL -- FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED. A REPORT FROM V-O-A DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST.

TEXT: WHILE U-S AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS ARE PRE-OCCUPIED WITH POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE, THE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE WILL NOT BE WITHOUT TANGIBLE COSTS.

IN A STUDY PARTLY UNDERWRITTEN BY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, A PRIVATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE -- THE RAND CORPORATION -- SAYS THE COSTS OF MODERNIZING WEAPONS OF THE PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS AND IMPROVING THE MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURES THERE COULD EXCEED 100-BILLION DOLLARS DURING THE NEXT DECADE.

PENTAGON OFFICIALS INSIST THE RAND CORPORATION ESTIMATE IS EXCESSIVE, GIVEN -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- THE DIMINISHED MILITARY THREAT IN CENTRAL EUROPE WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THAT VIEW IS SHARED BY MICHAEL O'HANLON, A POLICY ANALYST AT BROOKINGS INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON, WHO SAYS THE RAND ESTIMATE IS BASED ON A WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

THERE'S KIND OF TWO POLES TO THINK ABOUT -- THE EXTREME OF BELIEVING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SOMEHOW GOING TO FIGHT A MAJOR WAR ON CZECH TERRITORY AGAINST A HOSTILE INVADER. IF YOU TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, AND YOU BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT TO PREPARE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW -- WHICH I WOULD ARGUE NO ONE DOES AND NO ONE WILL -- IF YOU WERE TO DO THAT, THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG EXPENSES TO DEPLOY FORCES THERE AND PROBABLY ADD FORCES TO THE U-S MILITARY SO THAT THEY COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT MISSION IN GENERAL. THAT WOULD BE IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR. MUCH MORE LIKELY, I THINK, IS SIMPLY AN EXPANSION OF THE NATO INFRASTRUCTURE FUND -- WHICH IS A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OR A LITTLE LESS.

DOV ZAKHEIM, A FORMER SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, SAYS NATO IS LIKELY TO BE LENIENT IN ANY FINANCIAL DEMANDS ON CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEMBERS. MR. ZAKHEIM -- NOW AN ANALYST WITH WASHINGTON'S CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES -- SAYS THE COSTS TO PROSPECTIVE MEMBER STATES LIKE POLAND WOULD BE FAR OUTWEIGHED BY THE "MASSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFIT" OF, IN EFFECT, BEING BROUGHT UNDER THE U-S DEFENSE UMBRELLA.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARY MEAN THAT WE'D BE FIGHTING IN THE SUBURBS OF WARSAW AGAINST SOME INVADER. WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY, THEY WOULD BE LINKED TO A COUNTRY THAT HASN'T LET THEM DOWN. THEY WERE AFTER ALL, LET DOWN BY THE WESTERN ALLIES IN WORLD WAR TWO WHO CAME IN WITH TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. AND IT'S THAT MEMORY THAT HAUNTS THEM. THE CZECHS NEVER EVEN GOT TO THE WAR. THEY WERE LET DOWN BEFORE THEN. SO THERE'S THIS MEMORY IN EASTERN EUROPE OF INCONSTANCY ON THE PART OF WESTERN EUROPE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AMERICAN LEADERSHIP OF NATO WOULD FINALLY DO AWAY WITH. AND THAT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTOR THAT GOES WELL BEYOND ANY SPECIFIC MILITARY OBLIGATION.

MR. ZAKHEIM, A STRONG ADVOCATE OF NATO EXPANSION, FAULTED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR -- AS HE PUT IT -- BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO TRY TO ASSUAGE RUSSIAN CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS. HOWEVER, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION'S MR. O'HANLON SAYS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN EUROPE TODAY CONCERN THE SAFETY OF RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND UNREST IN FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS -- BOTH OF WHICH, HE SAYS, WOULD BE EXACERBATED BY NATO EXPANSION:

I JUST DON'T SEE THE POINT OF JEOPARDIZING U-S / RUSSIAN RELATIONS OVER AN EXPANSION THAT'S ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY AT THIS POINT, AND SETTING UP ANOTHER LINE IN EUROPE THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE FURTHER TO THE EAST. IF WE HAD MADE AN EXPLICIT DECISION TO SOMEDAY WELCOME RUSSIA IN ONCE THEY DID CERTAIN THINGS WITH THEIR MILITARY, I WOULD SAY O-K, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START THIS STEP-BY-STEP, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THIS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE. BUT EVERYONE KNOWS -- AND HALF OF THE HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS WILL SAY IN THEIR LESS DISCREET MOMENTS -- THAT THIS AN ANTI-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE IN MANY WAYS.

MR. O'HANLON HAILED EFFORTS BY SECRETARY ALBRIGHT TO INCLUDE RUSSIA IN THE EUROPEAN SECURITY STRUCTURE -- EVEN IF THEY COME AT THE EXPENSE OF DILUTING NATO'S TRADITIONAL ROLE AS A TIGHTLY-WOVEN MILITARY ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RRM
19-Feb-97 2:28 PM EST (1928 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT VOTED WEDNESDAY AGAINST SENDING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER TO THE SUPREME COURT ON CHARGES THAT SHE HAD ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PERSONAL FORTUNE. THE VOTE WAS NARROW -- WITH 270 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT CASTING BALLOTS AGAINST SENDING MRS. CILLER TO THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT AND 263 OTHERS VOTING IN FAVOR. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT: THIS WAS THE THIRD IN THE A SERIES OF VOTES WHICH TOOK PLACE IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER BY MRS. CILLER DURING HER TIME AS PRIME MINISTER.

ON TUESDAY, MRS. CILLER -- WHO IS ALSO FOREIGN MINISTER -- WON VOTES ON TWO CORRUPTION CHARGES CONCERNING THE SALE OF A STATE-OWNED CAR MANUFACTURER AND AN ELECTRIC COMPANY.

MRS. CILLER WAS CLEARED, MAINLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF DEPUTIES FROM THE PRO-ISLAMIC "WELFARE" PARTY, WHICH HAS BEEN SHARING POWER WITH MRS. CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH" PARTY SINCE LAST JUNE.

IRONICALLY, IT WAS THE WELFARE PARTY WHICH BROUGHT THE CORRUPTION CASES AGAINST MRS. CILLER IN THE PARLIAMENT LAST YEAR. //OPT// IT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BY THE TURKISH MEDIA THAT THE WELFARE PARTY ALLEGEDLY PLEDGED TO DROP CHARGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MRS. CILLER'S POLITICAL BACKING, THEREBY ENABLING THEM TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH ONLY 21 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL VOTE. //END OPT//

TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT FACES FURTHER PRESSURE NEXT WEEK WHEN THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO PRESENT PARLIAMENT WITH CENSURE MOTIONS, ACCUSING THE CURRENT ISLAMIST-LED COALITION OF SEEKING TO UNDERMINE SECULARISM IN THE COUNTRY.

SINCE COMING TO POWER, THE COUNTRY'S FIRST EVER ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, HAS ATTEMPTED TO MAKE CHANGES WHICH MANY PRO-SECULARISTS VIEW AS ALTERING TURKEY'S PRO-WESTERN STANCE. THESE INCLUDE PROPOSED LAWS TO LIFT CURRENT BANS ON THE ISLAMIC HEADSCARF IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND ALLOWING CIVIL SERVANTS TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS. THE GOVERNMENT DEFENDS THE ACTIONS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THESE ARE AIMED AT ENHANCING TURKEY'S DEMOCRACY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
19-Feb-97 12:17 PM EST (1717 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/EUROPE/ IRAN ARMS (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE)

INTRO: THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS PRAISING THE EFFORTS OF POLAND, SLOVENIA AND BULGARIA TO PHASE OUT EXISTING WEAPONS CONTRACTS WITH COUNTRIES REGARDED BY THE UNITED STATES AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE CHARGES AND THE RESPONSE.

TEXT: POLAND, A LEADING CANDIDATE TO BE INVITED TO JOIN NATO, IS ACCUSED OF DELIVERING T-72 TANKS TO IRAN WITH THE LAST DELIVERY TAKING PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF 1996. SLOVENIA, ALSO MENTIONED AS AN EARLY CANDIDATE FOR NATO IS ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN A DEAL TO SEND M-60 TANK PARTS TO IRAN. BULGARIA, WHICH IS STARTING TO TALK OF APPLYING FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP, IS ACCUSED OF SELLING EQUIPMENT FOR A WEAPONS FACTORY IN SUDAN AND SHIPPING MIG-29 AIRCRAFT BATTERIES TO IRAQ.

ALL OF THESE CHARGES ARE CONTAINED IN AN AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE REPORT LEAKED TO A WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER (TIMES). A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL DISMISSES THESE CHARGES AS "OLD NEWS" INDICATING THE REPORT WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON WHICH COUNTRIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN NATO AT THE SUMMIT MEETING NEXT JULY.

POLAND'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT DENYING ANY NEW CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED WITH IRAN SINCE 1993 FOR SUPPLIES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WAS TOLD BY POLAND IN 1995 THAT EXISTING CONTRACTS WERE BEING PHASED OUT.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE THAT POLAND HAS VIOLATED THAT COMMITMENT.

SINCE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, THE POLISH GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD IN OUR EYES IN CARRYING OUT THIS COMMITMENT. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE POLISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS COMMITMENT.

MR. DAVIES SAYS SLOVENIA STOPPED THE SALE OF M-60 TANK TRANSMISSIONS TO IRAN WHEN THE UNITED STATES MADE THE REQUEST. HE PRAISES THE SLOVENE GOVERNMENT FOR CLOSELY INSPECTING OTHER ARMS SHIPMENTS TRANSITING ITS TERRITORY.

AS FOR BULGARIA, THE C-I-A REPORT MENTIONS BULGARIAN MILITARY SALES LAST YEAR TO SUDAN, IRAQ AND NORTH KOREA. ALL THREE COUNTRIES ARE REGARDED AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM BY THE UNITED STATES. HERE AGAIN, THE STATE DEPARTMENT POINTS OUT BULGARIA IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXPORT CONTROL REGIME AND HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO AMERICAN EFFORTS TO CUT OFF WEAPONS SUPPLIES TO THESE COUNTRIES.

THE WASHINGTON TIMES NEWSPAPER, EVEN WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE SALES BY POLAND, SLOVENIA AND BULGARIA, SAYS THEY ARE NOT THE PRIMARY SUPPLIERS OF WEAPONS TO TERRORIST STATES. THE PRIMARY STATES, NOT CHALLENGED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ARE RUSSIA, UKRAINE, CHINA AND KAZAKHSTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/LWM
19-Feb-97 4:52 PM EST (2152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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