Voice of America, 97-06-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONGRESS/BOSNIA (S) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[02] CROATIA PULL-OUT (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

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

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

[05] TURKEY-KURD CONFLICT BY AL PESSIN (DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY)

[06] TURKEY POLITICS (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] CONGRESS/BOSNIA (S) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WANTS A FIRM DATE FOR AN AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL FROM BOSNIA. THEY ADDED THEIR DEMAND TO A BILL SETTING GUIDELINES FOR DEFENSE SPENDING. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS OPPOSED, AND THE WISHES OF THE HOUSE MAY NEVER BECOME LAW.

TEXT: THE HOUSE BILL CUTS OFF ALL FUNDING FOR THE BOSNIA MISSION ON JUNE 30TH, 1998.

THAT IS THE TENTATIVE WITHDRAWAL DATE PUT FORWARD BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO MAINTAIN SOME FLEXIBILITY, AND FEELS A HARD AND FAST DEADLINE WOULD BE WRONG.

REPUBLICAN FLOYD SPENCE -- CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE -- SAYS ITS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO TAKE CHARGE.

THE REASON THIS THING COMES UP TODAY AS AN ISSUE IS BECAUSE SO MANY OCCASIONS BEFORE, THE PRESIDENT HAS SET A DEADLINE AND THEN DID NOT GO BY IT.

BUT THE HOUSE LANGUAGE MAY NEVER BE APPROVED BY THE SENATE. THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VETO THE ENTIRE DEFENSE SPENDING BILL IF THE BOSNIA PROVISION IS INCLUDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
25-Jun-97 2:01 PM EDT (1801 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CROATIA PULL-OUT (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS OFFERED A TWO-PHASE EXIT STRATEGY FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF U-N TROOPS FROM EASTERN SLAVONIA IN CROATIA. IN A REPORT TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL, HE ADVISED CAUTION, SAYING TOO RAPID A DEPARTURE COULD LEAD TO A MASS FLIGHT OF LOCAL SERBS. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL RECOMMENDS CUTTING THE FIVE-THOUSAND MAN FORCE IN CROATIA IN HALF BY MID-AUGUST AND DOWN TO 720 BY MID-OCTOBER. 450 CIVILIAN POLICE IN EASTERN SLAVONIA WILL REMAIN UNTIL A TRANSITIONAL POLICE COMPONENT CAN BE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE CROATIAN POLICE FORCE -- ALSO IN OCTOBER. EVENTUALLY THEY TOO WILL BE CUT TO ABOUT 250 -- ENOUGH REMAINING TO PUT OFFICERS IN EVERY STATION TO MONITOR THE NEW POLICE STRUCTURE.

DURING THIS TIME, THE UNITED NATIONS WILL START PHASING IN CROATIAN CONTROL OVER EASTERN SLAVONIA. BUT U-N ADMINISTRATOR JACQUES KLEIN WILL REMAIN THE CHIEF AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE TRANSFER TO OVERRULE CROATIAN DECISIONS AND INTERVENE SHOULD THE SITUATION START TO DETERIORATE.

MR. ANNAN NOTES IN HIS REPORT THAT CROATIA HAS NOT TAKEN ADEQUATE STEPS TO RE-ASSURE THE LOCAL SERB POPULATION. HIS SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD TOLD REPORTERS HE FEARS A REVIVAL OF ETHNIC TENSIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION IF THE U-N FORCE LEAVES BEFORE CROATIA HAS DEMONSTRATED SUFFICIENT GOOD WILL:

AND THE EARLY WITHDRAWAL OF UNTAES COULD LEAD TO A MASS EXODUS OF SERBS, WHICH ITSELF COULD CREATE A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND WITHIN BOSNIA, OF COURSE, PARTICULARLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBSKA.

EASTERN SLAVONIA IS PART OF THE MOSTLY-SERB INHABITED REGION OF CROATIA THAT BROKE AWAY AFTER ZAGREB DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA. CROATIA FORMALLY WILL START STEPPING IN ON JULY 15TH, WHEN THE CURRENT U-N MANDATE RUNS OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/EH
25-Jun-97 1:33 PM EDT (1733 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE UP SHARPLY IN TRADING WEDNESDAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES ROSE WEDNESDAY IN WESTERN EUROPE, WITH RECORD CLOSING HIGHS SET IN PARIS, FRANKFURT, ZURICH, AND AMSTERDAM, AND A NEAR-RECORD HIGH IN MILAN.

ON THE PARIS MARKET, THE CAC-40 INDEX SOARED MORE THAN 82-POINTS, ALMOST THREE-PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX-30 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 42-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-ONE-TENTH-PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ENDED UP MORE THAN 43-POINTS, NEARLY ONE-PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR LOST VALUE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, BUT GAINED A LITTLE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/RAE
25-Jun-97 2:10 PM EDT (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON RENEWED CONCERN ABOUT THE U-S BOND MARKET. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 76 HUNDRED 90, DOWN 68 POINTS. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 889, DOWN SEVEN POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY STOCKS FOLLOWED BOND PRICES DOWN AND THAT A STATEMENT BY U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN MAY HAVE HAD AN EFFECT OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE INTENDED. MR. RUBIN SAID THAT IF ANOTHER NATION SOLD ITS U-S GOVERNMENT BONDS, IT WOULD NOT HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON AMERICAN DEBT MARKETS. SOME TRADERS SEEMED TO THINK MR. RUBIN WAS SUGGESTING SUCH A SALE MIGHT HAPPEN, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE SAID HE HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE IT WILL. ON MONDAY, U-S MARKETS WERE UPSET BY A REMARK FROM JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER HASHIMOTO THAT HIS NATION MIGHT CONSIDER SELLING SOME U-S DEBT SECURITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED MIXED ECONOMIC STATISTICS. SALES OF EXISTING HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE IN MAY WHILE ORDERS FOR EXPENSIVE FACTORY GOODS SLOWED.

THE U-S SUPREME COURT HAS UPHELD THE LAW WHICH PROHIBITS SECURITIES TRADING BASED ON INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE COURT RULED THAT THE SO-CALLED "INSIDER TRADING" LAW APPLIES EVEN IF THE OFFENDER IS NOT AN OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF A CORPORATION.

THE STOCK OF THE LIPOSOME PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY PLUNGED BY ABOUT 70 PERCENT AFTER THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED THAT TESTS OF ITS NEW DRUG TO TREAT RESPIRATORY DISEASE SHOW THE DRUG TO BE USELESS.

THE BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY SAYS IT WILL EXPAND ITS RESEARCH STAFF BY TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE, DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF DRUG RESEARCHERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY.

A GROUP OF LEADING PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES IN THE UNITED STATES HAS STRONGLY REJECTED THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. THE HEALTH ADVOCATES SAY THAT THE PART OF THE DEAL WHICH LIMITS THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO REGULATE NICOTINE IS UNACCEPTABLE. ANALYSTS SAY THE OPINION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS MAY LEAD MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO REJECT THE PROPOSED TOBACCO DEAL. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/KL
25-Jun-97 5:05 PM EDT (2105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY-KURD CONFLICT BY AL PESSIN (DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY)

INTRO: TURKEY SAYS IT HAS ENDED ITS LATEST MAJOR INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, AFTER WIPING OUT 15 BASES OF A KURDISH REBEL GROUP WHICH IS FIGHTING A GUERRILLA WAR TO CREATE A KURDISH STATE IN EASTERN TURKEY. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN VISITED THE MAIN CITY IN EASTERN TURKEY, DIYARBAKIR, AND (IN THIS FIRST OF TWO REPORTS) LOOKS AT THE CONFLICT WHICH IS NOW IN ITS 13TH YEAR.

TEXT:

THE MUSLIM CALL TO PRAYER ECHOES THROUGH THE MAIN MARKET IN DIYARBAKIR. BUT FEW PEOPLE RESPOND, GOING ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.

THIS IS OLD KURDISH MUSIC, AND THE MAN WHO OFFERS IT SAYS HE SELLS 10 OR 15 TAPES A DAY.

HE GIVES ONLY HIS FIRST NAME, TATAR, AND SAYS HE IS BETWEEN 70 AND 75

YEARS OLD -- HE IS NOT SURE. TATAR SAYS THE MUSIC GIVES THE ETHNIC KURDS, VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS REGION, A CONNECTION TO THEIR CULTURE, WHICH THESE DAYS IS OTHERWISE HARD TO COME BY.

THERE ARE NO KURDISH SCHOOLS OR CULTURAL CENTERS. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WANTS KURDS TO IDENTIFY WITH TURKEY, TO BE LIKE OTHER TURKISH CITIZENS, AND NOT TO HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE REBELS. TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE EFFORT WORKS. YOUNG KURDS CAN SPEAK KURDISH, BUT MOST PREFER TURKISH, EVEN WHEN SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, AND MOST CANNOT READ OR WRITE KURDISH.

BUT IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THE KURDISH POLITICAL PARTY, HADEP, RECEIVED MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF THE VOTE IN THIS REGION.

HUSSEIN BORA IS THE SECRETARY OF THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE PARTY. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT MUST OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE KURDISH CULTURAL IDENTITY AND GIVE KURDS MORE POLITICAL RIGHTS. MANY KURDS HAVE SIMILAR SENTIMENTS,. BUT THERE IS APPARENTLY LESS UNANIMITY OVER EXACTLY WHAT "CULTURAL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS" MEANS.

FEW KURDS ARE WILLING TO GO MUCH FURTHER IN A POLITICAL DISCUSSION. BUT HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER OSMAN BAYDEMIR IS.

MR. BAYDEMIR WAS A MEMBER OF A HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION THE GOVERNMENT CLOSED IN MAY. HE SAYS THE SEPARATISTS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF EASTERN TURKEY'S PROBLEMS, BUT RATHER ARE THE RESULT OF PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT -- MAINLY WHAT HE CONSIDERS BRUTAL REPRESSION OF KURDS BY THE ARMY.

MR. BAYDEMIR SAYS HE OPPOSES DIVIDING TURKEY. BUT HE SAYS KURDS CANNOT TRULY BE EQUAL TO OTHER TURKISH CITIZENS IF THEY CANNOT PRACTICE THEIR CULTURE AND DECIDE THEIR OWN POLITICAL FUTURE.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS DONE MUCH TO BOTH CRACK DOWN ON THE GUERRILLAS AND TO LIBERALIZE ITS POLICIES TOWARD KURDISH CULTURE. AND IN DIYARBAKIR, IT GETS SOME CREDIT FOR BOTH. BUT OFFICIALS REFUSE TO TOLERATE SEPARATISM, AND OFFER REPORTERS PICTURES AND VIDEOTAPES GRAPHICALLY SHOWING THE BRUTALITY OF ATTACKS BY THE GUERRILLAS, KNOWN AS THE P-K-K, IN WHICH WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUNG TEACHERS ARE AMONG THE VICTIMS.

MANY KURDS AND SOME TURKS SAY THE SOLUTION IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO LIBERALIZE MORE, TO GRANT KURDS MORE RIGHTS, TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE MORE KURDS BELIEVE INDEPENDENCE IS SIMPLY NOT NECESSARY.

BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS WARY OF GIVING TOO MANY OF THOSE ILL-DEFINED "CULTURAL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS," FOR FEAR MORE KURDISH IDENTITY WOULD LEAD TO MORE DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE, RATHER THAN LESS.

AT A SQUATTER CAMP ON THE EDGE OF DIYARBAKIR, 59-YEAR-OLD ENVER AYDIN SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENT, BUT DISAGREES ON THAT POINT.

MR. AYDIN SITS UNDER A MAKE-SHIFT ARBOR IN THE SCRUFFY GARDEN OF HIS SIMPLE BRICK HOUSE AND, SPEAKING KURDISH, LAMENTS THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS VILLAGE (ALACA IN THE KULP REGION) BY THE ARMY FOUR YEARS AGO. LIKE MANY OTHERS, THE VILLAGE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CONFLICTING DEMANDS OF THE ARMY AND THE GUERRILLAS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE ARMY DECIDED TO BURN THE VILLAGE TO PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING A SOURCE OF SUPPLIES FOR THE REBELS, AND MADE MR. AYDIN AND HIS FAMILY REFUGEES, HE SAYS HE WOULD CHOOSE TURKEY OVER 'KURDISTAN' ANY DAY. AS IF TO PROVE IT, MR. AYDIN PROUDLY TELLS VISITORS TWO OF HIS SONS ARE IN THE TURKISH ARMY. (SIGNED)

[06] TURKEY POLITICS (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE MESUT YILMAZ HAS RECEIVED A BOOST IN HIS EFFORTS TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT, WITH THE RESIGNATION OF A DEPUTY FROM THE RIVAL CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY. BUT AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MR. YILMAZ STILL FACES A TOUGH BATTLE IN GAINING ENOUGH PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD KEEP THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY OUT OF POWER.

TEXT: MR. YILMAZ' PLAN TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT HINGES ON THE EXPECTATION HE CAN WIN THE SUPPORT OF AT LEAST 12 DEPUTIES FROM ACTING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY IN A CONFIDENCE VOTE SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, HASAN DENZKURDU, SAID WEDNESDAY HE IS LEAVING THE TRUTH PATH PARTY BECAUSE OF MRS. CILLER'S CONTINUED ALLIANCE WITH NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY. ANALYSTS SAY THE RESIGNATION OF MR. DENZKURDU IS A SIGN MR. YILMAZ' EFFORT COULD SUCCEED.

BUT SENIOR TRUE PATH OFFICIALS VIGOROUSLY REJECT SUCH CLAIMS. THEY SAY MRS. CILLER CONTINUES TO COMMAND THE FULL SUPPORT OF HER PARTY. TUESDAY, ALL BUT TWO TRUE PATH DEPUTIES PLEDGED TO JOIN THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY TO VOTE AGAINST MR. YILMAZ IN THE UPCOMING CONFIDENCE VOTE.

MR. YILMAZ SHRUGGED OFF SPECULATION HIS EFFORTS WOULD FAIL, SAYING HE WOULD -- IN HIS WORDS -- WIN COMFORTABLY. HE HAS ALREADY SECURED THE SUPPORT OF TWO LEFT-WING PARTIES IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT.

MR. YILMAZ IS ALSO WIDELY KNOWN TO ENJOY THE TACIT BACKING OF TURKEY'S POWERFUL MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT, WHICH HAS EXPLICITLY STATED ITS WISHES FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD EXCLUDE ISLAMISTS. MOUNTING TENSION BETWEEN THE PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES AND THE ISLAMISTS CULMINATED IN MR. ERBAKAN'S RESIGNATION LAST WEEK.

THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCUSED OF SEEKING TO OVERTURN MORE THAN 70-YEARS OF RIGIDLY PRO-SECULAR RULE INTRODUCED BY THE FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY, KEMAL ATATURK.

ANALYSTS SAY DESPITE RECENT SETBACKS BY THE ISLAMISTS, MR. ERBAKAN AND HIS PARTY REMAIN A DOMINANT FORCE IN TURKISH POLITICS. THEY SAY SHOULD MR. YILMAZ'S EFFORTS FAIL, TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL COULD WELL BE OBLIGED ASK EITHER THE ISLAMIST LEADER OR HIS CONSERVATIVE ALLY, MRS. CILLER, TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
25-Jun-97 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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