Voice of America, 97-07-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA SERBS (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[02] CYPRUS TALKS WRAP (L-ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[03] EDITORIAL: ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

[04] EURO MARKETS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[05] FRANCE / CHIRAC (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[06] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[08] SERB FUNERAL BY KYLE KING (BANJA LUKA1)

[09] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] BOSNIA SERBS (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: AN INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE IN BOSNIA IS INVESTIGATING A BOMB BLAST THAT IS BELIEVED TO BE PART OF A SERB BACKLASH AGAINST NATO'S NEW WILLINGNESS TO GO AFTER SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS IN THE COUNTRY. FROM SARAJEVO, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE BLAST THAT DESTROYED A VEHICLE OWNED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

INTERNATIONAL POLICE SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER IVANKO, SAYS IT IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF INCIDENTS, AROUND THE EASTERN TOWN OF ZVORNIK.

THIS IS AN UPSURGE, YEAH. THIS IS WHAT WE DESCRIBE AS LOW LEVEL HARASSMENT OF INTERNATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS IN THAT AREA.

ZVORNIK IS WIDELY CONSIDERED A STRONGHOLD OF HARD-LINE BOSNIAN SERBS WHO PURGED THE TOWN OF ITS MUSLIM POPULATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS CALL THE BOMBING AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ON GUARD SINCE LAST WEEK'S CAPTURE OF A BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECT AND THE KILLING OF ANOTHER WHO RESISTED ARREST.

THE ACTION BY NATO TROOPS HAS INFURIATED MANY SERBS WHO, LIKE THIS MAN IN BANJA LUKA, SAY THE ARRESTS ARE PUTTING THE STABILITY OF THE FRAGILE BOSNIAN PEACE IN JEOPARDY.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR CRIMES, DURIC BRANKO SAYS, BUT OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE USING THESE SEALED INDICTMENTS.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY THE USE OF SEALED INDICTMENTS LIKE THOSE ISSUED AGAINST THE TWO MEN WHO WERE HUNTED DOWN LAST WEEK, WILL CONTINUE.

BUT DUNCAN BULLIVANT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, SAYS ORDINARY SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.

ONLY THOSE WHO KNOW THAT THE ACTIONS THEY CARRIED OUT MIGHT BRING THEM INTO CONFLICT WITH THE (INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES) TRIBUNAL OUGHT TO FEEL AFRAID. FRANKLY, WE WELCOME THEM FEELING AFRAID. EACH SERB PATRIOT, ACCORDING TO THIS LOGIC, SHOULD FEEL INSECURE BECAUSE THE "HUNTING SEASON" HAS JUST STARTED.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TROOPS TO THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING EFFORT IN BOSNIA, HAVE CONDEMNED THE NEW NATO POLICY AND HARD-LINE SERB LEADERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD POPULAR ANGER AGAINST IT.

BUT DESPITE A FEW MINOR PROTESTS, INTERNATIONAL AID OFFICIALS, LIKE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESMAN CHRIS JANOWSKY, SAY MANY ORDINARY SERBS DO NOT SHARE THE VIEWS OF HARDLINERS.

THEY OFTEN TELL YOU THEY ARE JUST FED UP. THEY DON'T REALLY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THE OFFICIAL (BOSNIAN SERB) POLICY OF ETHNIC DIVISION. THEY DO NOT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THE OFFICIAL POLICY OF TRYING TO ERECT A BERLIN WALL THROUGH BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND I THING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS MANY MORE SUPPORTERS.

BOSNIAN SERB HARD-LINERS, WHO CONTROL THE MEDIA AND REMAIN CLOSE TO FORMER PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, HAVE BEEN WAGING WHAT DIPLOMATS CALL A DELIBERATE CAMPAIGN OF DISINFORMATION AIMED AT STIRRING-UP RESENTMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS.

HOW TO PUT A HALT TO THAT CAMPAIGN IS SOMETHING WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. (SIGNED)
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14-Jul-97 11:29 AM EDT (1529 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CYPRUS TALKS WRAP (L-ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT IS HOPEFUL THAT RECENT TALKS BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS IN NEW YORK WILL LEAD TO A NEW APPROACH IN BREAKING A DECADES-LONG POLITICAL IMPASSE ON CYPRUS -- WHICH HAS BEEN VIRTUALY PARTITIONED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN'S SPECIAL ADVISER, DIEGO CORDOVEZ -- WHO LED LAST WEEK'S MEETINGS -- SAYS THE CYPRIOTS SEEM TO HAVE THE HEART AND THE MIND TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE CYPRUS TALKS AT THIS STAGE ARE ABOUT ESTABLISHING A PROCESS. ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BEGIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR. BUT CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS CLERIDES AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH HAVE AGREED TENTATIVELY TO MEET AGAIN IN SWITZERLAND NEXT MONTH AND TO MEET (SOMETIME) BEFORE THAT IN NICOSIA -- SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT DONE AT LEAST IN THREE YEARS.

U-N ADVISER CORDOVEZ CALLS THE NEXT ROUND IN AUGUST A DEFINING MOMENT WHEN THE CYPRIOTS WILL RESPOND SPECIFICALLY TO HIS PROPOSALS FOR CHANGING THEIR APPROACH TO A SETTLEMENT. HE WANTS THEM TO TACKLE ISSUES ONE AT A TIME, REACHING AGREEMENT INCREMENTALLY UNTIL THEY HAVE A PACKAGE DEAL.

IN THE OLD SYSTEM, THEY USED TO COME TO NEW YORK, OR VIENNA OR WHEREVER THEY WENT AND THEY ALWAYS STARTED WITH ZERO AND WERE TRYING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON EVERYTHING. AND THEY ENDED UP AGREEING ON NOTHING.

THE CYPRIOTS HAVE BEEN FEUDING FOR OVER 30 YEARS. BUT THE ISLAND NATION ACTUALLY BROKE APART WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED IN 1974 IN RESPONSE TO A COUP IN NICOSIA BACKED BY GREECE. THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE SINCE DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE, WHICH THE UNITED NATIONS HOPES TO REVERSE WITH A NEW FEDERAL SYSTEM OF POWER-SHARING.

AS FOR INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT -- - MR. CORDOVEZ SAYS OUTSIDERS ARE USEFUL MOSTLY IN A SUPPORTIVE ROLE. THE PARTIES HAVE MET SEPARATELY WITH U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE AUTHOR OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD FOR BOSNIA.

THE AGREEMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE REACHED BY MR. CLINTON, BY MR. HOLBROOKE OR BY MR. KOFI ANNAN OR BY ME. IT WILL BE REACHED BY MR. CLERIDES AND MR. DENKTASH. AND WE ARE ALL HELPING THEM. AND I WELCOME ANY HELP I CAN GET FROM ANY QUARTER AND CERTAINLY ANY HELP THE UNITED STATES CAN GIVE US AND CAN GIVE THEM IS GOING TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

MR. CORDOVEZ SAYS HE HAS BEEN IN MUCH TOUGHER SITUATIONS -- LIKE WHEN HE HELPED NEGOTIATE A SOVIET WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN IN THE 1980'S. HE SAYS AT LEAST CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES AND MR. DENKTASH -- THOUGH POLITICAL FOES -- ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF LONG-STANDING. THE U-N ADVISER DESCRIBES THE ATMOSPHERE OF LAST WEEK'S MEETINGS AS EXCELLENT, WITH UNPRECEDENTED CORDIALITY. THEY WERE HELD AT A REMOTE RESORT CALLED TROUTBECK.

THE CYPRIOTS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO SETTLE. THE SITUATION -- MONITORED BY U-N PEACEKEEPERS SINCE 1964 -- HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED RECENTLY BY SPORADIC VIOLENCE ACROSS THE BUFFER ZONE. ALSO, CYPRUS WANTS ADMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TRYING TO GET A SETTLEMENT FIRST. MR. DENKTASH OBJECTS TO THE GREEK SIDE APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP ON BEHALF OF HIS BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC. (SIGNED)
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14-Jul-97 2:19 PM EDT (1819 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EDITORIAL: ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

ALBANIA RECENTLY HELD PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE FORMER COMMUNISTS, NOW CALLED SOCIALISTS, WERE THE OVERWHELMING WINNERS, TAKING ONE-HUNDRED TEN OF THE ONE-HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH HAS BEEN IN POWER SINCE 1992, WON ONLY TWENTY-SEVEN SEATS. THE REMAINING SEATS WERE DIVIDED AMONG NINE SMALLER PARTIES. MORE THAN FIVE-HUNDRED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS MONITORED A CROSS-SECTION OF THE VOTING.

ACCORDING TO OBSERVERS SENT BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, OR O-S-C-E, THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD WAS MARRED BY THE UNSTABLE POLITICAL SITUATION IN ALBANIA. POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH, WAS A SERIOUS OBSTACLE TO CAMPAIGNING. SECURITY CONDITIONS MADE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION TO THE ELECTORATE UNEVEN.

OVERALL, THE O-S-C-E DEEMED THE ELECTIONS REASONABLY ORDERLY. THE MAJORITY OF OBSERVERS INDICATED THAT VOTING PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE SERIOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE MURDER OF SEVERAL POLLING STATION OFFICIALS. NEVERTHELESS, MOST ALBANIANS WERE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS WITHOUT FEAR OR INTIMIDATION.

THIS ELECTION WAS A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP TOWARD POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM IN ALBANIA. THE U.S. CALLS ON ALL PARTIES TO RESPECT THE ELECTION RESULTS. ONLY THEN CAN THE WORK OF REBUILDING ALBANIA BEGIN.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
14-Jul-97 3:56 PM EDT (1956 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO MARKETS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: TWO OF WESTERN EUROPE'S KEY STOCK MARKET INDEXES MONDAY SET NEW CLOSING RECORDS. FOR DETAILS, HERE'S PAUL FRANCUCH AT OUR OFFICES IN LONDON.

TEXT: BOTH THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX OF STOCKS HERE IN BRITAIN AND THE "DAX 30" INDEX OF GERMAN STOCKS CONTINUED THEIR UPWARD MOVEMENT WITH RECORD CLOSING HIGHS. THE "FOOTSIE" ADDED NEARLY 58 POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING, WHILE THE DAX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 83 POINTS. THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX CLOSED HIGHER AS WELL -- BUT DID NOT SET A RECORD. THE "CAC" WAS UP 12-AND-A-HALF POINTS.

A STRONG U-S DOLLAR WAS ONE FACTOR ANALYSTS CITED IN BOOSTING THE GERMAN MARKET. THE DOLLAR GAINED NEARLY TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE MARK IN CURRENCY TRADING. IT WAS ALSO UP JUST UNDER ONE-CENT AGAINST THE POUND. GOLD WAS UP 80 CENTS AN OUNCE IN THE LATE FIX IN LONDON, SELLING AT 320-DOLLARS-85 CENTS. (SIGNED)
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14-Jul-97 2:05 PM EDT (1805 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] FRANCE / CHIRAC (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAID TODAY (MONDAY) HE HOPES HIS NEW POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT WITH A SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONSTRUCTIVE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: IN THE PRESIDENT'S TRADITIONAL TELEVISION INTERVIEW TO MARK BASTILLE DAY, FRANCE'S NATIONAL HOLIDAY, JACQUES CHIRAC SAID HE DOES NOT REGRET HIS DECISION TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT AND HOLD EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

THE DECISION RESULTED IN THE RECENT DEFEAT OF MR. CHIRAC'S CONSERVATIVE COALITION. BUT MR. CHIRAC SAID HE BELIEVES THAT THE RIGHT-WING WOULD HAVE LOST THE ELECTIONS, EVEN IF THEY HAD BEEN HELD AT THE SCHEDULED END OF THE LEGISLATURE NEXT MARCH.

SPEAKING OF HIS POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN, MR. CHIRAC SAID HE HOPES THAT THIS "CO-HABITATION," AS THE FRENCH CALL IT, WILL BE CONSTRUCTIVE.

HE SAID HE HOPES THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE WILL SERVE ITS FULL FIVE-YEAR TERM -- A COMMENT PLAINLY DESIGNED TO COUNTER SPECULATION THAT THE CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT MIGHT DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT A SECOND TIME, IF THE LEFT-WING GOVERNMENT IS IN DIFFICULTY.

BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT IN POLICY TERMS, HOWEVER, WAS MR. CHIRAC'S ASSERTION THAT FRANCE CAN AND SHOULD MEET THE (MAASTRICHT) EUROPEAN UNION CRITERIA TO JOIN THE NEW EUROPEAN SINGLE CURRENCY NEXT YEAR.

HE SAID THAT, PROVIDED THERE IS NO NEW SPENDING, FRANCE CAN BRING ITS DEFICIT DOWN TO THE REQUIRED THREE PERCENT FIXED BY THE TREATY BY THE END OF DECEMBER. HE SAID THE DEFICIT IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AT THREE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT.

MR. JOSPIN'S GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PUBLISH AN AUDIT OF THE STATE OF FRANCE'S FINANCES NEXT MONDAY. THE CREATION OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY IS ALMOST UNTHINKABLE WITHOUT FRANCE'S PARTICIPATION AND THE RESULTS OF THIS AUDIT WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.

MR. CHIRAC SAID FRANCE NEEDS TO HOLD DOWN EXPENDITURE AND CONTINUE WITH PRIVATIZATIONS -- CURRENTLY SUSPENDED BY PRIME MINISTER JOSPIN'S GOVERNMENT -- TO MEET THE THREE-PERCENT TARGET.

EARLIER MONDAY, MR. CHIRAC ADDRESSED MILITARY OFFICERS TAKING PART IN THE BASTILLE DAY PARADE, AT WHICH FRANCE SHOWED OFF ITS NEW "LE CLERC" BATTLE TANK FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE SAID THAT AS HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES, HE WILL GUARANTEE THAT THE ARMED FORCES SUFFER NO MORE BUDGET CUTS. THIS WAS SEEN AS AN IMPLICIT WARNING TO THE SOCIALISTS THAT HE COULD FORCE A CRISIS OVER MILITARY MATTERS, IF THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO CUT MILITARY SPENDING.

IN HIS INTERVIEW, MR. CHIRAC SAID HE SEES HIS ROLE AS ENSURING THAT FRANCE KEEPS PACE WITH THE MODERN WORLD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS TELEVISION APPEARANCE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF FOUR-THOUSAND YOUNGSTERS INVITED TO THE BASTILLE DAY RECEPTION AT THE ELYSEE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, MR. CHIRAC INAUGURATED THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY'S NEW INTERNET WEB SITE. (SIGNED)
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14-Jul-97 10:30 AM EDT (1430 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE EDITORIALIZING ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS THIS JULY 14TH, CELEBRATED IN FRANCE AS BASTILLE DAY. AMONG THE TOPICS ARE THE CURRENT SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM; QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO SUGAR FARMERS; THE CONTROVERSY OVER TAX CUTS IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET PACKAGE; THE U-N PROBE OF ATROCITIES IN THE CONGO; AND PRESSURE FROM CONGRESS ON STREAMLINING THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: NOW, HERE IS ____________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES IS CONCERNED THAT THE CURRENT SENATE HEARINGS INTO ALLEGED ILLEGALITIES IN LAST YEAR'S CAMPAIGN FINANCING MAY NOT BE LEADING TOWARD A GENUINE AND MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE SYSTEM.

VOICE: "IF THE FIRST WEEK OF SENATE HEARINGS INTO CAMPAIGN FUND-RAISING EXCESSES FAILED TO PRODUCE A SMOKING GUN, AT LEAST IT GENERATED PLENTY OF HEAT. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE MAY LIE BEHIND THE HEADLINE-GRABBING REVELATIONS OF WIRE TRANSFERS OF FOREIGN MONEY AND SINISTER CHINESE PLOTS TO BUY INFLUENCE. THE LESS-DRAMATIC TESTIMONY IS DOCUMENTING THE HEART OF THE MATTER: THE HUNGER FOR CAMPAIGN MONEY IS INSATIABLE; THE MEANS OF RAISING MONEY CONSTANTLY SKIRTS [TRAVELS ALONG THE BORDERS OF] THE INTENT OF THE LAW AND, AT TIMES, THE LETTER OF THE LAW, AND MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WANT TO DO LITTLE IF ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ..... THE BEST OUTCOME OF THE CURRENT HEARINGS WOULD BE TO GIVE LAWMAKERS THE POLITICAL FORTITUDE TO CHANGE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCING SYSTEM THAT PUT THEM WHERE THEY SIT TODAY."

TEXT: FOR YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A DEBATE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES GIVEN TO SUGAR FARMERS, AND THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CALLING FOR CHANGE.

VOICE: "THE HOUSE WILL VOTE AGAIN SOON ON WHETHER TO ELIMINATE LOAN SUBSIDIES THAT KEEP SUGAR PRICES HIGH WHILE FOSTERING DESTRUCTION OF THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES. A BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL ...... TO PHASE OUT SUGAR SUBSIDIES BARELY LOST LAST YEAR. IT MAY COME UP FOR ANOTHER VOTE THIS WEEK IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THAT WILL GIVE THE HOUSE A SECOND CHANGE TO PUT THE INTEREESTS OF CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT OVER THOSE OF A SMALL CROWD OF POLITICALLY POWERFUL SUGAR GROWERS. ......REPRESENTATIVES WHO CLAIM TO DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF ORDINARY CONSUMERS OUGHT TO VOTE YES."

TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE IS DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE IDEA THAT BOTH CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE PUSHING FOR TAX CUTS WHILE THE BUDGET REMAINS UNBALANCED.

VOICE: "JUST AS ALL THE FISCAL SIGNS POINT TO AN ECONOMY ROBUST ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT WASHINGTON'S CHRONIC FEDERAL DEFICIT IN JUST A FEW YEARS, CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE MOVING TOWARD AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BLOW TO SMITHEREENS [TINY PIECES] HOPES FOR A LONG-TERM BALANCED BUDGET. THEY WANT TO PUT THE PROVERBIAL CART BEFORE THE HORSE. IN THIS CASE, IT MEANS PLACING PRIORITY ON A CHRISTMAS TREE FILLED WITH TAX-CUT GOODIES FOR VOTERS - - EDUCATION TAX INCENTIVES, LOWER CAPITAL GAINS AND ESTATE TAXES ..... ADD THEM UP AND THE TOTAL COMES TO ROUGHLY 137 BILLION DOLLARS OVER FIVE YEARS AND A STAGGERING 360 BILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS. THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BURY HOPES FOR A BALANCED BUDGET OVER THE LONG HAUL."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, REGARDING AFRICA, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT CONCESSIONS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS TO CONGO'S NEW LEADER, LAURENT KABILA, ON A U-N TEAM PROBING WHETHER ATROCITIES WERE COMMITTED DURING THE NATION'S RECENT CIVIL WAR.

VOICE: "AID WORKERS SPECULATE THAT AS COMPENSATION FOR HELPING TO TOPPLE FORMER PRESIDENT MOBUTU SESE SEKO, [MR.] KABILA ALLOWED TUTSIS TO ATTACK HUTUS, KILLING PERHAPS AS MANY AS THREE-THOUSAND PEOPLE. [MR.] KABILA DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS .....[AND] HAS DEMANDED THAT [THE U-N] REPLACE AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF EXPERTS. .... U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS GIVEN IN TO THESE DEMANDS, BRIEFING THE SECURITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK ON HIS PLANS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A NEW TEAM. ..... THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S CONCESSIONS ARE DISAPPOINTING BUT PRACTICAL. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT INVESTIGATORS BE ENABLED TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE: ACCORDING TO REPORTS, FIGHTERS LOYAL TO [MR.] KABILA HAVE BEEN DESTROYING EVIDENCE OF THE ALLEGED MASSACRES IN EASTERN, CENTRAL, AND WESTERN CONGO. .... IT'S BEYOND TIME FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BEGIN."

TEXT: STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF THE UNITED NATIONS, NEWSDAY SAYS THAT INTERNAL RIVALRIES AT THE WORLD BODY SHOULD NOT STOP THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S PLANS FOR STREAMLINING THE BLOATED BUREAUCRACY.

VOICE: "IF THE OVERHAUL DOESN'T PROCEED, CONGRESS WON'T RELEASE THE 819-MILLION IN U-S BACK PAYMENTS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS PLEDGED. THAT COULD MEAN ANOTHER ABRASIVE STANDOFF, GOOD NEITHER FOR THE U-N'S MILLION NOR FOR ITS RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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14-Jul-97 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE NOT MUCH CHANGED TODAY (MONDAY) AFTER A DAY OF MOVING UP AND DOWN -- AND THEN UP AGAIN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79-HUNDRED-23, UP ONE POINT. THE LARGER STANDARD AND POOR'S INDEX OF 500 STOCKS CLOSED AT 918, UP ONE POINT.

STOCKS WERE UP, STOCKS WERE DOWN -- BUT MANY MAJOR INDEXES ENDED CLOSE TO WHERE THEY BEGAN THE DAY. BIG EXCEPTIONS WERE MANY TECHNOLOGY STOCKS, WHICH CONTINUED TO RALLY.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE DUPONT CHEMICAL COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL PAY THREE-BILLION DOLLARS TO BUY THREE BUSINESSES FROM IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES OF BRITAIN. THE ACQUISITION WILL STRENGTHEN DUPONT'S GLOBAL POSITION IN THE POLYESTER AND PIGMENTS BUSINESSES.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS GROWING PRESSURE FROM SHAREHOLDERS OF BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATION TO RENEGOTIATE A PLANNED MERGER WITH M-C-I COMMUNICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE DEAL HAD BEEN WORTH 24-BILLION DOLLARS, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE M-C-I ANNOUNCED THAT ITS LOSSES FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE TWICE AS HIGH AS ORIGINALLY FORECAST.

THE RAYTHEON CORPORATION WILL SELL ITS CONSUMER APPLIANCE BUSINESS TO THE GOODMAN HOLDING COMPANY FOR 750-MILLION DOLLARS. THE MOVE IS PART OF RAYTHEON'S STRATEGY TO CONCENTRATE ON ITS DEFENSE ELECTRONICS BUSINESSES.

THE L-T-V STEEL COMPANY WILL CLOSE ITS OLDEST COKE PLANT, WHICH IS IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO BRING THE PLANT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. L-T-V SAYS MOST OF THE 750 WORKERS AT THE PLANT WILL BE OFFERED RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

THE FIRST MAJOR LAWSUIT BASED ON SO-CALLED "SECOND-HAND SMOKE" OPENED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. A GROUP OF NON-SMOKING AIRLINE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS IS SUING TOBACCO COMPANIES, CLAIMING THAT SMOKE-FILLED CABINS MADE THEM SICK IN THE YEARS BEFORE SMOKING ON U-S AIRLINES WAS BANNED. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
14-Jul-97 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] SERB FUNERAL BY KYLE KING (BANJA LUKA1)

INTRO: THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN SERBS TURNED OUT SUNDAY FOR THE FUNERAL OF A FORMER POLICE CHIEF, WHO WAS SHOT BY BRITISH SOLDIERS THURSDAY WHEN THEY TRIED TO ARREST HIM ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES. FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB CITY OF BANJA LUKA, VOA'S KYLE KING HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: // SOUNDS OF FUNERAL RITES, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

A POLICE HONOR GUARD STOOD AT ATTENTION AS THE ORTHODOX PRIEST PERFORMED THE ELABORATE FUNERAL CEREMONY FOR SIMO DRLJACA.

MR. DRLJACA'S WIFE AND FAMILY WEPT AS THE COFFIN WAS SLOWLY PLACED IN THE GROUND. SENIOR OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MOMCILO KRAIJANIC, THE SERB MEMBER OF THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TOOK PART IN THE FUNERAL, WHICH WAS TREATED AS AN OFFICIAL EVENT ON BOSNIAN SERB TELEVISION.

MR. DRLJACA, THE NOTORIOUS POLICE CHIEF OF THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF PRIJADOR, WAS KILLED BY BRITISH TROOPS WHEN HE TRIED TO RESIST ARREST ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES. ALTHOUGH MR. KRLJACA WAS ACCUSED OF LEADING A BRUTAL CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING DURING THE WAR, MANY SERBS CONSIDER HIM A TRUE PATRIOT, AND THEY ARE ANGRY HE WAS KILLED.

HE WAS KILLED IN AN INHUMAN WAY ONE SPEAKER AT THE FUNERAL SAID. THEY SHOT HIM IN THE BACK BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID TO LOOK HIM IN THE EYES.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY MR. DRLJACA WAS SHOT AFTER HE DREW A GUN AND WOUNDED ONE OF THE NATO SOLDIERS TRYING TO DETAIN HIM.

SOME ANALYSTS, LIKE THIS INDEPENDENT SERB JOURNALIST WHO ATTENDED THE FUNERAL, SAY HARD-LINERS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP ARE USING THE INCIDENT IN AN EFFORT TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND IN AN ONGOING POWER STRUGGLE WITH PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC.

AND TO USE THIS AS SOME SORT OF MESSAGE TO MRS. PLAVSIC, DON'T USE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, BECAUSE IF YOU CONTINUE TO USE IT THEY WILL SHOOT MORE PEOPLE, THEY WILL ARREST MORE PEOPLE, OR WHATEVER.

MS. PLAVSIC TOUCHED OFF THE POWER STRUGGLE BY TRYING TO WEED OUT CORRUPTION AMONG TOP OFFICIALS WHO REMAIN CLOSELY ALLIED WITH FORMER BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC.

SINCE THE KILLING OF MR. DRLJACA, NATO OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CLOSELY WATCHING TO SEE IF A POPULAR BACKLASH AGAINST THE INCIDENT WILL AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE POWER STRUGGLE.

SOME BOSNIAN SERB ANALYSTS, LIKE MLADEN IVANIC, SAY THE INCIDENT HAS HURT MS. PLAVSIC, BUT HE DOES NOT EXPECT IT TO KILL THE FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS.

BUT WITH NATO'S NEW WILLINGNESS TO TRACK DOWN AND ARREST THOSE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW THINKING ABOUT THE TOP WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS, FORMER PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND FORMER ARMY COMMANDER RADKO MLADIC.

ANALYSTS SAY WITHOUT THE ARREST OF THESE SUSPECTS, THE PEACE PROCESS WILL NEVER BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ARRESTS COULD STRENGTHEN THE HAND OF HARDLINERS WHO FOUGHT A WAR TO LIVE SEPARATELY FROM MUSLIMS AND CROATS. (SIGNED)
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13-Jul-97 7:16 PM EDT (2316 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISION WITHIN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON A U-S OR NATO MILITARY ROLE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BEYOND JUNE, 1998. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE PRESENCE OF NATO TROOPS, COMPRISING THE STABILIZATION FORCE, OR S-FOR, WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY A PRESIDENTIAL COMMENT LAST WEEK AND THE CONTROVERSIAL NATO ACTION TO ARREST TWO BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS:

TEXT: SECRETARY COHEN SAYS (SUNDAY) WHAT TAKES PLACE BEYOND THE CURRENT JUNE, 1998 DEADLINE HAS YET TO BE DECIDED. LAST WEEK, IN DENMARK, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID HE BELIEVES THE PRESENT OPERATION WILL HAVE RUN ITS COURSE BY THEN. HOWEVER, MR. CLINTON LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A FURTHER U-S PRESENCE BEYOND THE DEADLINE.

THE COMMENTS FOLLOWED LAST WEEK'S ARREST OF A BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMES SUSPECT AND THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ANOTHER. U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS WAS ASKED IF THE ACTION, UNDERTAKEN BY BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES WITH U-S HELP, IS DESTABILIZING:

I THINK MOST OF US FEEL IT'S A VERY GOOD THING THAT ALL THESE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS STREWN ACROSS THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSCA, OF SERBIA, CROATIA, MAYBE THEY'LL LOSE OF LOT OF SLEEP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND, MAYBE THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING. LET'S KEEP THEM GUESSING.

WESTERN OFFICIALS INSIST NATO WAS ACTING WITHIN ITS CURRENT MANDATE. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE ACTION WAS PART OF AN OVERALL ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. (SIGNED)
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13-Jul-97 7:53 PM EDT (2353 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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