Voice of America, 97-04-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT-ROMANIA (L ONLY) BY RON PE4MSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

[03] FRANCE CHIRAC (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[04] LONDON BOMB ALERT (S UPDATE) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

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

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

[07] SOFIA HOSPITAL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (SOFIA)

[08] U-S / EUROPE / IRAN (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

[01] ALBRIGHT-ROMANIA (L ONLY) BY RON PE4MSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS MET WITH ROMANIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADRIAN SEVERIN TO DISCUSS ROMANIA'S DESIRE TO BE INVITED AS A MEMBER OF NATO. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER SEVERIN HAS MADE NO SECRET OF HIS GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WHEN NATO DECIDES TO ENLARGE NEXT JULY IN MADRID.

I'M HERE TO STRESS THE FACT THAT WE ARE AND WE COULD BE A RELIABLE PARTNER. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT ROMANIA HAS ACTED IN FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN HER OWN GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. WE HAVE IMPROVED, WE HAVE STABILIZED, WE HAVE NORMALIZED, WE HAVE STENGTHENED THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS, TRYING TO BUILD STRUCTURES OF STABILITY AND SECURITY EVEN BEFORE THE NATO SUMMIT IN MADRID WILL MAKE ITS FINAL DECISION.

ROMANIA BELIEVES ITS BID FOR MEMBERSHIP WILL GET SUPPORT FROM SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BUT THE UNITED STATES HAS KEPT ITS OPTIONS OPEN. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TELLS REPORTERS BEFORE THE MEETING, ROMANIA SHOULD NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IF IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRST ROUND THIS YEAR.

NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE YET ON WHO WILL ENTER NATO IMMEDIATELY BUT I HAVE ALSO SAID THE DOOR TO NATO MEMBERSHIP WILL REMAIN OPEN, THE FIRST SHALL NOT BE THE LAST AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE PARTNERSHIP (FOR PEACE) ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ROMANIA ALREADY.

THE UNITED STATES HAS PRAISED THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES PURSUED BY ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU BUT HAS NOT ENDORSED ROMANIA'S NATO MEMBERSHIP IN THE TERMS IT HAS RESERVED FOR POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY MADE CLEAR IN ADVANCE OF SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER PAVEL HAMZIK'S MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON WEDNESDAY THAT SLOVAKIA CANNOT EXPECT AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR IMMEDIATE NATO MEMBERSHIP. WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE THERE IN ECONOMIC REFORM, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE CONTINUING AMERICAN CONCERNS WITH THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVES. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 5:56 PM EDT (2156 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING MONDAY ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: TRADERS IN PARIS WERE JITTERY, WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION THAT PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC WOULD DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT AND CALL AN EARLY ELECTION. THE CAC-40 INDEX WAS OFF ALMOST 25 POINTS, NEARLY ONE PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S VALUE.

PRICES WERE MIXED IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY UP MORE THAN THREE POINTS, ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT. BUT, IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE PRICES IN FRANKFURT DROPPED SHARPLY -- ALMOST ONE PERCENT. IN LONDON, PRICES ROSE FOR A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE DAY. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 18 POINTS, ABOUT FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR LOST VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 1:24 PM EDT (1724 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] FRANCE CHIRAC (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC HAS DISSOLVED PARLIAMENT AND CALLED NEW ELECTIONS NINE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. HE SAYS FRANCE NEEDS A FRESH FIVE-YEAR LEGISLATURE TO FACE THE CREATION OF A NEW EUROPEAN CURRENCY AND PUSH THROUGH REFORMS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: IN A 10-MINUTE TELEVISION ADDRESS, PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC TOLD THE FRENCH THEY NEED A NEW PARLIAMENT WITH A FRESH MANDATE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE MONTHS AHEAD.

HE SAID THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY MAY 25TH, WITH THE SECOND AND DECISIVE ROUND FOLLOWING ON JUNE FIRST.

IN CALLING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NINE MONTHS EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED, THE CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT SAID ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FRANCE FACES IS THE CREATION OF THE NEW SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY, THAT WILL BE CALLED THE EURO.

MR. CHIRAC SAID THE EUROPEAN UNION NEEDS ITS OWN CURRENCY TO COMPETE WITH THE DOLLAR AND THE JAPANESE YEN IF IT IS TO BECOME A MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE.

THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES FOR THE NEW CURRENCY WILL BE CHOSEN NEXT APRIL, AND MANY FRENCH POLITICIANS FEARED THAT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO HOLD THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS JUST AT THE TIME THE RATES FOR THE NEW CURRENCY ARE ABOUT TO BE FIXED.

A REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE FRENCH PRESS LAST WEEK SUGGESTED THAT THE FRENCH CURRENCY IS UNLIKELY TO BE READY TO JOIN THE EURO UNLESS SOME URGENT MEASURES ARE TAKEN.

HINTING AT WHAT MAY TURN OUT TO BE A HARSH AUSTERITY PROGRAM TO HELP THE FRENCH FRANC MEET THE EUROPEAN UNION'S CRITERIA FOR ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE, MR. CHIRAC SAID HE FAVORS DEEP REFORM OF THE STATE COMBINED WITH HUGE CUTS IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

HE SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS EMBARKED ON A SERIES OF REFORMS SINCE HIS OWN ELECTION TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THAT PARLIAMENT NEEDS A FRESH START AND A NEW FIVE-YEAR TERM TO PUSH THROUGH OTHERS.

ALTHOUGH HE NEVER MENTIONED THE EXTREME-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY BY NAME, MR. CHIRAC SAID HE WAS WORRIED BY EXTREMIST IDEAS. HE SAID FRANCE NEEDS TO REAFFIRM ITS TRADITIONAL VALUES.

THE NATIONAL FRONT, CREDITED WITH ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF VOTER SUPPORT, BLAMES IMMIGRATION FOR ALL OF FRANCE'S SOCIAL PROBLEMS. MR. CHIRAC DESCRIBED THIS AS INCITEMENT TO HATRED AND SAID ALL CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIGNITY AND PROTECTION. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 3:48 PM EDT (1948 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] LONDON BOMB ALERT (S UPDATE) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: LONDON COMMUTERS MONDAY FACED NEAR-CHAOTIC CONDITIONS FOLLOWING BOMB THREATS WHICH CLOSED MAJOR RAILROAD STATIONS AND AIRPORTS. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS WHILE POLICE FOUND NO BOMBS, THE TEMPERS OF MANY COMMUTERS WERE REPORTED SERIOUSLY FRAYED.

TEXT: AUTHORITIES SUSPECT THE I-R-A, THE PARAMILITARY IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, WAS BEHIND THE BOMB THREATS WHICH CLOSED FOUR NORMALLY-BUSY RAILWAY STATIONS AND FORCED MOTORISTS INTO GRIDLOCK AS THEY TRIED DESPERATELY TO GET AROUND POLICE ROADBLOCKS.

THE I-R-A HAS TAKEN CREDIT IN RECENT WEEKS FOR BOMB THREATS THAT HAVE DISRUPTED VULNERABLE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS THROUGHOUT ENGLAND. THE ACTION COMES AS BRITAIN PREPARES FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS MAY FIRST. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THE I-R-A ACTIONS ARE CLEARLY INTENDED TO EMBARRASS THE GOVERNMENT.

EXPRESSING CONTEMPT FOR THE ACTIONS, PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR PRAISED THE PUBLIC FOR NOT SURRENDERING TO TERRORIST THREATS.

BUT BEYOND THAT, IF I MAY THANK THE PUBLIC FOR THE STOICISM AND GOOD HUMOR WITH WHICH THEY HAVE DEALT WITH THIS DISRUPTION IN LONDON AND ELSEWHERE THIS MORNING. IT IS, THOUGH, ESSENTIAL TO TAKE THESE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY.

BRITISH AUTHORITIES ANTICIPATED DISRUPTIONS BY THE I-R-A DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN PERIOD AND REMAIN ON HEIGHTENED ALERT, FEARING A MAJOR ATTACK, PROBABLY IN ENGLAND, BEFORE VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS A WEEK AND A HALF FROM NOW. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 12:57 PM EDT (1657 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF MOSTLY DOMESTIC TOPICS CAN BE FOUND WHEN GLANCING AT THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF SOME OF THE NATION'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY. AMONG THE TOPICS OF INTEREST: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S LEGAL PROBLEMS; A FORTHCOMING TRIP BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO MEXICO: THE LINGERING MYSTERY OF TRANS WORLD AIRLINES FLIGHT 800; AND THE ATTEMPT BY CONGRESS TO ENACT CAMPAIGN FINANCING REFORMS.

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

TEXT: MONDAY'S MIAMI HERALD LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH A HEADLINE DECLARING THAT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WHILE NOT INDICTED, HAS SUFFERED "SERIOUS POLITICAL DAMAGE" DUE TO POLICE CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.

VOICE: "ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ... NETANYAHU YESTERDAY ESCAPED THE WORST POSSIBLE POLITICAL FATE - - INDICTMENT FOR FRAUD AND BREACH OF TRUST. BUT AFTERWARD, EVEN HE IMPLICITLY CONCEDED THE OBVIOUS - - THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS DAMAGED - - AS HE TOLD THE ISRAELI PEOPLE VIA TELEVISION: 'I WISH TO LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND YOUR TRUST. .....THOUGH MR. NETANYAHU HAS AVOIDED PROSECUTION, HE HAS SUFFERED GREAT LOSS OF PRESTIGE AND MORAL AUTHORITY. [OPT] SHIMON PERES, WHO TWO WEEKS AGO HAD OFFERED TO BRING THE LABOR PARTY INTO MR. NETANYAHU'S LIKUD GOVERNMENT, NOW SAYS THAT CHANCES OF SUCH A COALITION ARE 'ALMOST NONEXISTENT.' .....AND SO, AT SUNDOWN TODAY, ISRAEL AND JEWS EVERYWHERE BEGIN THE HOLY SEASON OF PASSOVER, IN WHICH THEY CELEBRATE THE DELIVERANCE OF JEWS FROM EGYPT CENTURIES AGO. AT THIS PASSOVER, ISRAELIS' HOPES FOR A NEW DELIVERANCE - - FROM TURMOIL AND TERRORISM VIA A TRUE MIDEAST PEACE - - AGAIN ARE PUSHED FURTHER FROM REALIZATION." [END OPT]

TEXT: CLOSER TO HOME, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES FEELS THE TIME IS RIPE FOR MENDING RELATIONS WITH MEXICO AND URGES PRESIDENT CLINTON TO DO SO ON HIS FORTHCOMING TRIP.

VOICE: "WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITS MEXICO NEXT MONTH JEERS MAY DROWN OUT CHEERS, FOR THESE ARE HARDLY THE BEST OF TIMES BETWEEN AMERICANS AND MEXICANS. THE REASONS ARE MANY AND EMOTIONAL, AND THIS TRIP, [MR.] CLINTON'S FIRST TO MEXICO, HOLDS LITTLE HOPE OF ERASING THEM. ..... A DARK PANOPLY OF ISSUES - - THE DRUG WAR, TRADE PROBLEMS, CORRUPTION CHARGES, IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWNS - - HAS GATHERED OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL MISSION. .....IN MAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE TO THE MEXICANS THAT DEMOCRACY IS A MESSY POLITICAL SYSTEM IN WHICH EVERYBODY CAN SPEAK HIS OR HER MIND. BUT HIS BELATED VISIT TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR WILL REQUIRE MUCH MORE THAN THAT. .... LIKE ANY NEIGHBORS, AMERICANS AND MEXICANS NEED TO WORK ON THE RELATIONSHIP. [MR.] CLINTON'S TRIP PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST IS AGAIN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING AND HOW THE CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE YET TO AGREE ON A PLAN FOR REFORMS.

VOICE: "THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT THE COST OF CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN FOR FEDERAL OFFICE HAS BEEN BID UP TO A POINT THAT IS DESTRUCTIVE OF THE VERY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IT IS SAID TO REPRESENT. THE COST AT BOTH THE CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL LEVELS IS OBSCENE. .....[HOWEVER] THE POLITICIANS - - BOTH PARTIES - - ARE CONDUCTING A KIND OF MOCK DEBATE ABOUT THE LESSER ISSUES AS A DIVERSION AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO DEALING WITH THE CENTRAL ONE. THAT'S THE ULTIMATE SCANDAL, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "THE LINGERING MYSTERY OF TWA 800." THAT'S THE PARIS-BOUND AIRLINER THAT CRASHED MYSTERIOUSLY INTO LONG ISLAND SOUND SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING KENNEDY AIRPORT IN NEW YORK LAST JULY.

VOICE: "BY THE TIME IT'S OVER, THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT CAUSED THE CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION OF TWA FLIGHT 800 LAST JULY WILL HAVE COST TAXPAYERS MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. THE JOINT F-B-I - NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD PROBE IS THE MOST COMPLICATED FORENSIC INQUIRY AND LARGEST ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION IN HISTORY. THIS OUTLAY OF EFFORT IS QUITE APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE WORST CRIME IN AMERICA'S HISTORY, WITH A DEATH TOLL OF 230. NO EXPENSE SHOULD BE SPARED IN THE SEARCH FOR AN EXPLANATION. STILL, IT IS DISCOURAGING THAT EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE DISASTER, THE INVESTIGATORS ARE NO CLOSER TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY THAN THEY WERE THE DAY IT HAPPENED."

TEXT: NEWSDAY (NEW YORK) CONTINUES A THEME VOICED BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PAPERS, THAT SENATOR JESSE HELMS [R-N.C.] SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BLOCK SENATE RATIFICATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY, DUE TO GO INTO EFFECT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

VOICE: ".... IT OUGHT TO BE AN EASY CALL FOR THE SENATE NOW THAT FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS (REPUBLICAN OF NORTH CAROLINA) HAS FINALLY AGREED TO LET THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY COME TO A VOTE. BUT DON'T COUNT ON RATIFICATION. ....[MR.] HELMS AGREED ONLY TO ALLOW A VOTE ON THE ...PACT, NOT TO SUPPORT IT. AND HE HAS ATTACHED FIVE KILLER CONDITIONS FOR RATIFICATION THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY NULLIFY U-S SUPPORT FOR THE TREATY UNLESS THE SENATE VOTES THEM DOWN. .....[MR.] HELMS HAS ALREADY PREVENTED THE UNITED STATES FROM TAKING THE LEAD AMONG CIVILIZED NATIONS IN RATIFYING THIS PACT. HE MUSTN'T PREVENT IT FROM GETTING IN UNDER THE WIRE [AT THE LAST MINUTE]."

TEXT: USA TODAY SUMS UPS ITS EDITORIAL SUPPORTING THE TREATY THIS WAY:

VOICE: "THEY [OPPONENTS] ARGUE ...THE TREATY IS IMPERFECT. IT WON'T RID THE WORLD OF ALL CHEMICAL WEAPONS, THEY SAY, BECAUSE ITS CONDITIONS APPLY ONLY TO NATIONS THAT SIGN IT. FURTHER, THEY POINT OUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THOSE THAT SIGN IT WILL COMPLY. THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. BUT SIMILAR CONCERNS WERE VOICED ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS TREATIES THAT HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CUTTING U-S AND RUSSIAN ARSENALS IN HALF. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION IS: WOULD WE BE BETTER OFF WITH THIS TREATY OR WITHOUT IT? THE ANSWER SEEMS OBVIOUS."

VOICE: BUT DOUGLAS FEITH, WRITING IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES, ARGUES THAT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY DESERVES TO BE BLOCKED.

TEXT: "EVERYONE AGREES THAT THE TREATY WILL NOT ACTUALLY ELIMINATE CHEMICAL WEAPONS FROM THE WORLD. IT IS A MORAL STATEMENT AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS...ALTHOUGH SOME SUCH STATES HAVE SIGNED, SPECIFICALLY RUSSIA, CHINA, IRAN AND CUBA, NONE OF THESE..FOUR HAVE YET RATIFIED...THE TREATY IS AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE UNLESS AND UNTIL THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, CHINA AND OTHER WEAPONS STATES ARE PARTIES...THE CWC'S CRITICS HAVE THE INTELLECTUAL HIGH GROUND ON THIS CWC ISSUE AND THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS PUT FORWARD A GOOD CHEMICAL WEAPONS BILL OF ITS OWN. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE A BLOW AGAINST JUNK ARMS CONTROL AND TO UPHOLD THE REAGAN LEGACY ON NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY."

TEXT: AND ON THAT ISSUE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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21-Apr-97 11:21 AM EDT (1521 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (MONDAY) IN SOME APPARENT PROFIT-TAKING AFTER LAST WEEK'S STRONG RALLY. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 66 HUNDRED 60, DOWN 43 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 760, DOWN SIX POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY PROFIT-TAKING ACCELERATED AS THE SESSION WORE ON. HOWEVER, CONSIDERING THE RECORD 312 POINT RISE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LAST WEEK, THEY SAY A SELL-OFF WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

TRADERS CONTINUE TO STUDY NUMEROUS CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS FOR THE LATEST QUARTER. THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY SAYS ITS PROFITS FELL BY 17 PERCENT. A-T AND T CITES INCREASING COMPETITION IN THE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE MARKET AND INVESTMENTS IN NEW BUSINESSES. BUT THE EXXON OIL COMPANY ENJOYED A 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN EARNINGS, WELL AHEAD OF WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.

IN OTHER BUSINESS NEWS, I-T-T INDUSTRIES WILL PAY 815 MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH TO ACQUIRE THE GOULD PUMPS COMPANY. GOULD IS A GLOBAL SUPPLIER OF PUMPING EQUIPMENT FOR BOTH INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USE.

TALKS ARE CONTINUING IN AN EFFORT TO END A STRIKE AT THE GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY. THIRTEEN THOUSAND GOODYEAR WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE AT NINE PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PHILIP MORRIS COMPANY SAYS IT WILL INCREASE ITS INVESTMENT IN POLAND BY ABOUT 40 PERCENT. THE COMPANY WILL SPEND 200 MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE A CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN KRAKOW, POLAND.

THE HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS IT EXPECTS TO DOUBLE ITS SALES IN CHINA TO ONE BILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR. THE COMPANY HAS MADE A MAJOR COMMITMENT IN CHINA, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMPUTER MARKETS IN THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
21-Apr-97 5:08 PM EDT (2108 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] SOFIA HOSPITAL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (SOFIA)

INTRO: BULGARIA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS AFFECTED ALL OF THE COUNTRY'S EIGHT-MILLION PEOPLE, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN MORE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THAN THE ELDERLY AND THE SICK. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD VISITED A HOSPITAL IN SOFIA, WHERE MEDICINE SUPPLIES ARE SHORT AND PATIENTS BRING ALONG THEIR OWN FOOD.

TEXT:

THIS OUTPATIENT WARD AT SOFIA'S FIRST CITY POLYCLINIC HOSPITAL RESEMBLES A WAITING ROOM AT A TRAIN STATION. DOZENS OF MOSTLY ELDERLY PEOPLE SIT HUNCHED OVER AND SICK ON THE OVERSIZED BENCHES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TALL, CEILINGED ROOM. FROM DOORS ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS CAVERNOUS CHAMBER, NURSES OR DOCTORS IN WHITE SMOCKS OCCASIONALLY EMERGE TO ESCORT A WAITING PATIENT INSIDE.

RADOSVET GORNEV IS A 35-YEAR-OLD SURGEON ASSIGNED TO THE HOSPITAL. HE EARNS THE EQUIVALENT OF LESS THAN 35 DOLLARS A MONTH. BUT HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF LUCKY -- COMPARED TO THE PATIENTS. DR. GORNEV SAYS THE STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN BULGARIA IS BROKE AND THERE IS A DESPERATE SHORTAGE OF MEDICINES, PARTICULARLY ANTI-BIOTICS.

IF I NEED ANTIBIOTICS FOR 10 PATIENTS I MAY HAVE ENOUGH FOR TWO PATIENTS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM. WE HAVE HELP FROM OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NOW, FROM GERMANY AND ENGLAND. (BUT IT ISN'T ENOUGH).

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. BUT YES, I HEAR THAT THEY MUST BRING THEIR OWN FOOD. THEIR RELATIVES COME AND BRING THEM FOOD BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HERE.

ALL OF THE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ADJUSTING THEIR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FROM THE OLD MODEL WHERE EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR BY THE STATE. BUT HERE IN BULGARIA, WHERE THE OLD SYSTEM IS STILL PRETTY MUCH IN PLACE, THE STATE HAS RUN OUT OF MONEY. DR. GORNEV SAYS THE SITUATION WAS WORSE TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT SHORTAGES REMAIN. HE IS HOPEFUL THAT THE PRO-WESTERN, PRO-REFORM GOVERNMENT THAT HAS JUST BEEN ELECTED IN BULGARIA WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 7:55 AM EDT (1155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / EUROPE / IRAN (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: AN AMERICAN ENVOY -- FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL PETER TARNOFF -- IS TOURING WESTERN EUROPE TO TRY TO COORDINATE THE U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAN WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING FOR CHANGES IN THE WAKE OF A GERMAN COURT VERDICT.

TEXT: MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR AMBASSADORS FROM IRAN AND ARE RECONSIDERING THEIR CRITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THAT COUNTRY. THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS PURSUED HARSH SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN, IS SEEING IF THE EUROPEANS ARE INTERESTED IN COORDINATING POLICIES NOW THAT A GERMAN COURT HAS RULED THAT IRANIAN LEADERS ORDERED THE MURDERS OF THREE KURDISH DISSIDENTS AND THEIR INTERPRETER (IN GERMANY).

PETER TARNOFF HAS VISITED THE HAGUE FOR TALKS ON POLICY TOWARD IRAN AND WILL HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN BONN, PARIS AND LONDON. UNTIL LAST FRIDAY, MR. TARNOFF HAD BEEN UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, THE DEPARTMENT'S NUMBER-THREE POSITION.

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TELLS REPORTERS, MR. TARNOFF'S TRIP DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY CHANGE IN THE TOUGH AMERICAN POLICY TOWARD IRAN.

WHAT UNDERSECRETARY TARNOFF HAS GONE TO EUROPE TO DISCUSS IS COOPERATION IN LIGHT OF THE MYKONOS (RESTAURANT) TRIAL VERDICT IN GERMANY AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT OUR POLICY WILL REMAIN AS IT IS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENDS THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM DAMAGES BOTH EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN INTERESTS. (SIGNED)
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21-Apr-97 4:16 PM EDT (2016 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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