Voice of America, 97-08-12

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

CONTENTS

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

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

[03] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[04] TURKEY / ISLAM (CQ) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

[06] U-S / WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

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

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

TEXT: PRICES MADE HEALTHY GAINS ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN LONDON, EUROPE'S BIGGEST MARKET. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE ALMOST 44 POINTS, ABOUT NINE-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

STOCK PRICES ALSO ROSE SHARPLY IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED FLOOR TRADING UP 30 POINTS, ABOUT SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. THE FRANKFURT MARKET GAINED ANOTHER ONE PERCENT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED UP MORE THAN 15 POINTS, ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/KL
12-Aug-97 1:29 PM EDT (1729 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) AS TRADERS AWAITED KEY ECONOMIC DATA. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 60, DOWN 101 POINTS, OVER ONE PERCENT. THE MORE INCLUSIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 926, DOWN 10 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS A GROWING NERVOUSNESS ON WALL STREET IN ADVANCE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTS ON RETAIL SALES AND PRODUCER PRICES WHICH WILL BE RELEASED WEDNESDAY. A PRIVATE REPORT (JOHNSON REDBOOK) ON RETAIL SALES WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

THERE WERE NO NEGOTIATIONS IN THE NINE-DAY OLD STRIKE AT THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE BUT BOTH UNION AND MANAGEMENT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THEIR CASES IN THE NEWS MEDIA. MANAGEMENT SAYS AS MANY AS 15 THOUSAND WORKERS COULD LOSE THEIR JOBS IF THE STRIKE LASTS TWO WEEKS AND THE UNION SAYS OTHER U-S LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFFERING FINANCIAL AID TO THE STRIKERS.

THE STRIKE IS CAUSING HARDSHIP TO THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT RELY ON U-P-S TO DELIVER MILLIONS OF PACKAGES EACH DAY.

TWO MAJOR AMERICAN RETAILERS HAD MIXED QUARTERLY PROFIT RESULTS. WAL-MART, THE HUGE DISCOUNT CHAIN, REPORTED A SHARP EARNINGS INCREASE. BUT THE J-C PENNEY DEPARTMENT STORE COMPANY SUFFERED A DROP IN PROFITS. PENNEY SAYS MUCH OF THE EARNINGS FALL WAS RELATED TO THE COSTS OF ACQUIRING THE ECKERD DRUG STORE CHAIN.

THE BANKRUPT MONTGOMERY WARD DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN HAS OBTAINED A COURT ORDER TO STOP THE SEARS COMPANY FROM RECRUITING WARD'S EMPLOYEES. WARD CHARGES THAT RIVAL SEARS WAS HURTING WARD'S CHANCES OF EMERGING FROM BANKRUPTCY BY HIRING AWAY SOME OF ITS BEST MANAGERS.

THE STOCK OF THE QUICK AND REILLY INVESTMENT FIRM JUMPED ON REPORTS THAT THE COMPANY IS FOR SALE. ANALYSTS SAY QUICK AND REILLY, ONE OF THE FIRST DISCOUNT COMMISSION BROKERAGE FIRMS IN THE UNITED STATES, COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS ONE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/LWM
12-Aug-97 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON MADE HISTORY MONDAY AND TODAY THE DAILY PAPERS ARE FILLED WITH COMMENTARY ON IT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL USE OF THE LINE ITEM VETO, IN WHICH A PRESIDENT CAN "LINE OUT," OR CANCEL A PARTICULAR SECTION OF A PROPOSED BILL, WITHOUT VETOING THE ENTIRE BILL. IT IS A POWER WHICH MANY GOVERNORS HAVE AND WHICH PRESIDENTS HAVE REQUESTED FOR ABOUT A CENTURY.

ELSEWHERE IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS OF SUCH TOPICS AS THE FALTERING PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS; U-S ENERGY POLICY; GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS FROM SPAIN; AND A RIFT AMONG THE KENNEDYS.

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

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON BECAME THE FIRST U-S PRESIDENT TO USE THE LINE ITEM VETO, GIVEN TO HIM LAST YEAR BY CONGRESS, AS HE CROSSED OUT THREE SPECIFIC ITEMS FROM THE SWEEPING TAX AND SPENDING MEASURES HE SIGNED LAST WEEK. THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE CHALLENGED IN COURT BY CONGRESSIONAL OPPONENTS, AND THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE LINE ITEM VETO WILL BE EVENTUALLY DECIDED BY THE U-S SUPREME COURT.

THE PAPERS ARE ALREADY FILLED WITH REACTION, AND WE BEGIN WITH THIS FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, CREDITING RONALD REAGAN FOR PROVIDING THE IMPETUS FOR CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF THE NEW VETO POWER.

VOICE: "PRESIDENTS HAVE WANTED LINE-ITEM POWER AT LEAST SINCE U-S GRANT. [OPT] BUT THE MODERN DEBATE BEGAN TO GET HOT IN THE MID-1970S WHEN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSES CHOSE TO ROB PRESIDENT NIXON OF HIS POWER TO IMPOUND, OR REFUSE TO SPEND, FEDERAL FUNDS. WEAKENED BY WATERGATE, [MR.] NIXON COULDN'T RESIST THE RAID ON PRESIDENTIAL POWER [END OPT] ..... EVEN THE POPULAR RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESENTED, BY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSES, WITH GIGANTIC BUDGET BILLS THAT HE HAD TO TAKE OR LEAVE IN TOTO [TOTAL] THEY DENIED HIM THE POWER TO LINE OUT SPECIFIC TAX AND SPENDING ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE 1980'S, BUT THE GIPPER [MR. REAGAN'S NICK NAME] PUT THE ISSUE FRONT-AND-CENTER IN OUR POLITICS. .... MR. CLINTON .... OUGHT TO THANK THE GIPPER AND OTHER REPUBLICANS FOR GIVING HIM THE POWER TO APPEAR FISCALLY FRUGAL."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION "LINE ITEM MISCHIEF," AND PREDICTS A SHORT LIFE FOR THE NEW AUTHORITY.

VOICE: "IF THE SUPREME COURT DOES ITS JOB, AND REJECTS THE NEW LINE ITEM VETO LAW AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THE FIRST EVER WILL ALSO BECOME THE LAST EVER. THE PROBLEM WITH YESTERDAY'S VETOES IS NOT THAT THE THREE ITEMS WERE EXAMPLES OF MARVELOUS PUBLIC POLICY. THE TROUBLE LIES WITH THE LINE ITEM VETO ITSELF, WHICH UNCONSTITUTIONALLY SHIFTS POWER OVER SPENDING AND TAXATION FROM CONGRESS TO THE PRESIDENT."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ALSO WONDERS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE AUTHORITY.

VOICE: "WITH [MR.] CLINTON'S ACTION, THE BALANCE OF POWERS SO DELICATELY CRAFTED BY THE AUTHORS OF THE CONSTITUTION 210 YEARS AGO SHIFTED TOWARD THE PRESIDENCY AND AWAY FROM CONGRESS BUT WAS IT JUST A MODEST NUDGE? DID IT MERELY ENHANCE THE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY TO NOT SPEND CERTAIN FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS? OR DID IT ALTER THE FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT?

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THIS HISTORIC ISSUE, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL WONDERS WHAT ALL THE WHINING [COMPLAINING] IS ABOUT?

VOICE: "THE DEBATE SURROUNDING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S USE OF THE LINE-ITEM VETO MONDAY HAS RANGED FROM CURIOUS TO ABSURD. ..... REPUBLICANS MADE SOME OF THE LOUDEST NOISES ..... REPUBLICANS? AS A GROUP, THEY HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE STAUNCHEST ADVOCATES OF THAT PRACTICE. .... ALSO, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED CONGRESS DELIVERED THE AUTHORITY TO EXERCISE THE LINE-ITEM VETO TO MR. CLINTON, A DEMOCRAT. NOW TO SUGGEST - - AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE - - THAT MR. CLINTON COULD BE USING THE LINE-ITEM VETO FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS LAME [A WEAK ARGUMENT]."

TEXT: TURNING TO OVERSEAS ISSUES, THE FALTERING PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS IS NEVER FAR FROM THE FRONT BURNER OF U-S EDITORIAL OBSERVATION. THE OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND SAYS THE PROCESS HAS SURVIVED TERRORIST BOMBINGS BEFORE, AND NEEDS TO AGAIN.

VOICE: "RIGHT NOW .... THE JULY 30 SUICIDE BOMBING IN A JERUSALEM MARKET HAS BLOWN APART THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS - - TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY - - PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN VISIONS OF THE BLAST, INSERTING IT INTO CLASHING OUTLOOKS THAT CAN PREVENT ANY ADVANCE. ....... UNLESS BOTH PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS CAN GET BEYOND THEIR OWN EXPLANATIONS OF LAST MONTH'S BOMBING, THE ONLY LIKELY OUTLOOK WILL BE FOR MORE OF THEM."

TEXT: ACROSS THE NATION, IN PORTLAND, MAINE, THE PRESS HERALD URGES THE PARTIES TO PICK UP THE PACE OF THE PEACE PROCESS, AND SAYS OF YESTERDAY'S MEETINGS BY U-S ENVOY DENNIS ROSS WITH YASSER ARAFAT AND ISRAELI SECURITY OFFICIALS:

VOICE: "EVERYONE INVOLVED IN SEEKING A PERMANENT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAS APPARENTLY REALIZED THAT THE LONGER THE PROCESS TAKES, THE MORE CHANCES ITS ENEMIES HAVE TO DERAIL IT. ....... THE MEETING, SEEN AS A PRECURSOR TO RESUMING TOP-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN [MR.] ARAFAT AND ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SHOWS THAT THE IMPETUS TOWARD PEACE 98N THIS TROUBLED AREA IS STILL IN PLACE. IT REMAINS STRONGER THAN THE EVIL PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO END IT WITH VIOLENCE."

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NEW EMPHASIS ON INSURING PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA COMES IN FOR SOME PRAISE FROM TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SHOWING A NOTICEABLY MORE ENERGETIC BOSNIA POLICY. HIS LATEST STEP WAS THE DISPATCH OF THE FORMER DIPLOMAT WHO NEGOTIATED THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, TO BOOST A PROCESS THE ADMINISTRATION HAD LET SLIDE. ....... CURRENTLY IN BOSNIA, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING TWO HARD CHOICES. THE FIRST IS TO REENGAGE WITH THE DAYTON ACCORDS, RATHER THAN DRIFT AWAY. .... THE SECOND CHOICE IS TO REAFFIRM AS PARTNERS IN THIS BOSNIAN ENTERPRISE SERBIA AND CROATIA. BOTH, AND ESPECIALLY THEIR LEADERS, CARRY A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOSNIA'S CURRENT DISTRESS. BUT BOTH COUNTRIES AND LEADERSHIPS ALSO HAVE STRONG REASON TO MAKE THEMSELVES PART OF NATO'S SOLUTION OF THE BOSNIA PROBLEM. THESE DECISIONS AMOUNT TO A JUDGMENT CALL, BUT IN OUR VIEW THE RIGHT ONE."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS NOT AT ALL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OPENING OF FOUR PARTY TALKS ON A PERMANENT PEACE TREATY FOR THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND SAYS OF THE OPENING ROUND:

VOICE: "IF LAST WEEK'S FIRST ROUND OF PRELIMINARY TALKS ON A KOREAN PEACE AGREEMENT WAS S SIGN OF THINGS TO COME, THE SECOND ROUND, SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH, MIGHT AS WELL BE CANCELED NOW. ..... BY CONTINUING TO REFUSE TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH SOUTH KOREA AND SO RECOGNIZE ITS LEGITIMACY, PYONGYANG CLINGS TO THE SAME PERVERSE POLITICAL RATIONAL THAT SENT ITS INVADING ARMY CRASHING INTO SOUTH KOREA 47 YEARS AGO. THE WORLD HAS CHANGED GREATLY SINCE THEN, BUT NORTH KOREAN THINKING REMAINS FROZEN IN TIME."

TEXT: TODAY'S SUN IN BALTIMORE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE NATION'S GROWING THIRST FOR OIL, AS AMERICANS TURN TO BIGGER AND BIGGER CARS.

VOICE: "DURING THE ARAB OIL BOYCOTT OF 1974, AMERICANS WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THEIR OIL CAME FROM ABROAD. BUT NOW, HALF DOES. ....... AMERICANS ARE DRIVING BIGGER GAS-GUZZLERS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT DEMANDS [IN THE WAY OF FUEL EFFICIENCY] OF DETROIT, SHIFTING TO FUEL-INEFFICIENT TRUCKS AND VANS. [OPT]EVERY YEAR, THE NATION'S STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE EQUALS FEWER DAYS OF IMPORTS - - CURRENTLY 67 - - AS THE MILES DRIVEN BY AMERICANS RISES TWO PERCENT TO THREE PERCENT. AS DEPENDENCY GROWS, FOREIGN POLICY COULD BECOME HOSTAGE TO IT. [END OPT] ..... AS A SOCIETY, WE HAVE LEARNED NOTHING FROM PREVIOUS OIL SHOCKS, AND ARE JUST SITTING DUCKS [EXTREMELY VULNERABLE] FOR THE NEXT."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IS PRAISING SPAIN AND ITS YEAR-OLD GOVERNMENT FOR SHOWING THE REST OF EUROPE THE RIGHT ECONOMIC PATH.

VOICE: "CERTAINLY, NOT MUCH WAS EXPECTED WHEN UNASSUMING FORMER TAX INSPECTOR JOSE MARIA AZNAR BECAME SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR AGO. BUT ONE YEAR LATER, SPAIN IS POSTING SOME OF THE BEST ECONOMIC NUMBERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, OF A RIFT THAT HAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN SOME OF THE YOUNGEST GENERATION OF KENNEDYS, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: "WHEN ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY CHIDES ANOTHER IN PRINT, ATTENTION WILL INEVITABLY BE PAID ...... JOHN KENNEDY JUNIOR'S REFERENCE TO HIS COUSINS JOSEPH AND MICHAEL AS 'POSTER BOYS FOR BAD BEHAVIOR' IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF [HIS] GEORGE MAGAZINE IS A TRANSPARENT MARKETING PLOY. BUT IT MAY ALSO FURTHER THE FRACTURING OF AN UNHEALTHY PUBLIC FANTASY. ..... THE IDEA OF BELONGING TO A CLOSE-KNIT CLAN THAT ALWAYS STICKS TOGETHER ....... JOHN KENNEDY'S LITTLE ESSAY IS ANOTHER SIGN OF THE END OF THE KENNEDYS AS AN ENTITLED POLITICAL CLASS."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL PAGES.
NEB/ANG/EH
12-Aug-97 10:40 AM EDT (1440 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY / ISLAM (CQ) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER TURKEY'S FIRST ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT FELL FROM POWER UNDER MILITARY PRESSURE, THE COUNTRY'S TOP COURT IS INVESTIGATING THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, INCLUDING CHARGES THE PARTY TRIED TO ESTABLISH AN ISLAMIC STATE. IF FOUND GUILTY, BOTH THE PARTY AND ITS LEADER, FORMER PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, COULD BE BANNED FROM POLITICS. BUT AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, SUCH MOVES COULD BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S ISLAMIST MOVEMENT AS WELL.

TEXT: THAT IS CERTAINLY THE PREVALENT VIEW AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, OR "REFAH," AS IT'S KNOWN AMONG TURKS. IT EMERGED AS TURKEY'S LARGEST POLITICAL FORCE BACK IN 1995. ABDULLAH GUL IS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF REFAH AND WAS A TOP CABINET MINISTER DURING THE PARTY'S YEAR-LONG TERM IN POWER. HE ARGUES THAT EVEN IF THE PARTY IS SHUT DOWN, IT WILL BE RESURRECTED UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME ... AND GROW EVEN STRONGER.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT OUR POPULARITY IS AROUND 30 PERCENT. IF THEY CLOSE OUR PARTY, WELL, WE WILL BE HAPPY, YOU SEE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TREND IT MEANS THAT OUR NEXT PARTY WILL HAVE MORE SUPPORT FROM THE TURKISH PEOPLE.

WESTERN OBSERVERS AGREE THAT SHUTTING DOWN REFAH WOULD STRENGTHEN THE ISLAMISTS WHILE FURTHER DAMAGING WHAT THE ANALYSTS DESCRIBE AS TURKEY'S TARNISHED HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. MANY POINT TO THE WIDESPREAD INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM TURKEY FACED THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE PRO-KURDISH "DEMOCRACY" PARTY WAS BANNED AND SCORES OF ITS MEMBERS JAILED FOR ALLEGEDLY COOPERATING WITH KURDISH SEPARATISTS.

OF COURSE, THE UNITED STATES IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS THE ONLY SUPERPOWER AT THE MOMENT. AND WE GAVE A SPECIAL ATTENTION AS FAR AS THE PARTY IS CONCERNED, AND AS FAR AS TURKEY IS CONCERNED. WE TOOK MANY DECISIONS, VERY CRITICAL DECISIONS TOGETHER AND THEY SATISFIED BOTH SIDES. I HAVE THIS IMPRESSION AT LEAST, (THE) U-S ADMINISTRATION, THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS.

MR. GUL LABELS AS "UTTERLY RIDICULOUS" THE COURT CHARGES THAT REFAH WAS TRYING TO USE DEMOCRACY IN ORDER TO SET UP AN IRANIAN-STYLE ISLAMIC STATE IN TURKEY. //END OPT//

OTHER COMMENTATORS POINT OUT THAT IF ANYTHING, BANNING REFAH COULD FURTHER RADICALIZE THE ISLAMIST MOVEMENT AND MIGHT EVEN DRIVE SOME OF ITS MORE EXTREME ELEMENTS UNDERGROUND.

THAT VIEW IS SHARED BY REFAH LEGISLATOR HASHIM HASHIMI, WHO WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT FROM THE MAINLY KURDISH PROVINCE OF DIYARBAKIR IN TURKEY'S SOUTHEAST.

MR. HASHIMI BELIEVES THAT THE MILITARY-LED SECULARIST ESTABLISHMENT HELPED STRENGTHEN HIS PARTY BY FORCING IT OUT OF OFFICE.

MR. HASHIMI POINTS OUT THAT DURING HIS YEAR-LONG TERM IN OFFICE, PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN FAILED TO KEEP MOST OF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. THESE INCLUDE ANNULLING A MILITARY TRAINING AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL AND FORCING A U-S-LED ALLIED FORCED STATIONED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY TO PROTECT THE KURDS OF NORTHERN IRAQI TO LEAVE TURKISH SOIL. MR. HASHIMI SAYS HIS LEADER'S POPULARITY WAS BEGINNING TO WANE AMONG GRASS ROOTS SUPPORTERS. NOW, MR. HASHIMI SAYS THAT THANKS TO THE PRO-SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT, HIS PARTY CAN TELL VOTERS THAT IT WAS NOT ALLOWED ENOUGH TIME TO CARRY OUT ITS PROGRAM. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/KL
12-Aug-97 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: U-S BALKANS ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THERE WILL BE NO RESUMPTION OF WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IN HIS WORDS, STAYS THE COURSE. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES DISAGREES WITH ASSESSMENTS MR. HOLBROOKE'S TRIP LAST WEEK FAILED TO ACHIEVE MAJOR PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS:

TEXT: APPEARING ON THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK (MONDAY), MR. HOLBROOKE CALLS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA " I/S A BIG SUCCESS STORY" ADDING THAT THE PARTIES ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE. HE SAYS WHILE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE ACCORDS IS BEHIND SCHEDULE HE DOES NOT FORESEE RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES AS LONG AS THE WEST REMAINS INVOLVED.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN WAS EQUALLY UPBEAT ABOUT THE MOMENTUM THE TRIP OF MR. HOLBROOKE AND ENVOY TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ROBERT GELBARD UNDERTOOK:

WE SEE A PATTERN OF PROGRESS. WE SEE THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. BUT, IN BOSNIA, NO MATTER HOW MUCH PROGRESS YOU MAKE YOU STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. WE'VE BEEN VERY CANDID AND FRANK ABOUT THAT.

MR. RUBIN CITES WHAT HE CALLS "A NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION" BETWEEN CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND BOSNIAN LEADER ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC WHICH PRODUCED A SERIES OF CONCRETE COMMITTMENTS.

HE SAYS CONCESSIONS ON WORLD BANK LOANS, CURRENCY, POLICE AND REFUGEE ISSUES BY THE BOSNIAN SERB MEMBER OF THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY ARE WHAT HE CALLS "POSITIVE STEPS" REINFORCING THE MOMENTUM OF PEACE. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
11-Aug-97 9:21 PM EDT (0121 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS WARNING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IT IS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO APPREHEND AND PROSECUTE THEM FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMES. MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR NEW YORK BUREAU.

TEXT: THE WARNING CAME FROM U-S AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR WAR CRIMES DAVID SCHEFFER, WHO IS IN NEW YORK FOR TALKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE CREATION OF A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT. DISCUSSIONS ON THE PROPOSED NEW COURT COME AMID CALLS FOR STRONGER MEASURES TO APPREHEND AND PROSECUTE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE, WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MR. SCHEFFER WOULD NOT DISCUSS SPECIFIC MEASURES UNDERWAY TO APPREHEND INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, WHO INCLUDE FORMER PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC. BUT, MR. SCHEFFER INDICATED THAT STRENGTHENING THOSE MEASURES IS A HIGH PRIORITY.

THOSE WHO ARE INDICTED SHOULD BE FEELING UNEASY. THEY SHOULD WONDER WHAT IT MEANS WHEN WE SAY STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF THE TRIBUNAL TO DO ITS JOB. BECAUSE WE ARE DETERMINED THAT THE TRIBUNAL WILL BE ABLE TO FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.

MR. SCHEFFER DESCRIBED TALKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AS ENORMOUSLY COMPLEX. HE SAID TALKS ARE NOW FOCUSSING ON HOW CASES WOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT, WHETHER THEY COULD BE DEFERRED TO NATIONAL COURTS, AND THE RIGHTS AND INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES FOR PROSECUTORS.

TALKS WILL CONTINUE EVERY FEW MONTHS UNTIL A CONFERENCE IN ROME IN JUNE NEXT YEAR, WHEN NEGOTIATORS HOPE TO PRODUCE A FINAL DOCUMENT OUTLINING THE TASKS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE COURT. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/LWM
12-Aug-97 5:31 PM EDT (2131 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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