Voice of America, 97-08-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA STRUGGLE (S) BY ART CHIMES (SARAJEVO)

[02] CADILLAC GOES TO GERMANY BY JOHN BIRCHARD (WASHINGTON)

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

[04] GERMAN VERDICT (L) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (BONN)

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

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

[07] U-S / BOSNIA SERBS (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

[01] BOSNIA STRUGGLE (S) BY ART CHIMES (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC MEETS TODAY, (TUESDAY) WITH TOP GENERALS AS THE POWER STRUGGLE INTENSIFIES WITHIN THE SERB REPUBLIC IN BOSNIA'S HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: ARMY TROOPS COULD BE DECISIVE IN THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT AND HER HARD-LINE REVEAL THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND INDICTED WAR-CRIME SUSPECT, RADOVAN KARADZIC.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, MS. P/L/A/V/S/I/C CRITICIZED HARD-LINERS FOR TRYING TO BRING THE ARMY INTO THE DISPUTE. SHE CALLED IT THE WORSE POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

SOME OBSERVERS FEAR THE CONFRONTATION COULD ESCALATE FROM WORDS TO VIOLENCE- POSSIBLY INVOLVING THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY. NATO LED S-4 (STABILIZATION FORCE) PEACE KEEPERS REMAIN ON-DUTY IN BANJA LUKA. WHERE MS. PLAVSIC HAS HER HEADQUARTERS. S-4 SPOKESMAN JOHN BLAKELY SAYS THE TROOPS PRESENCE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH DETERRENT EFFECT TO PREVENT ANY VIOLENCE DIRECTING AGAINST MS. PLAVSIC. (SIGNED)
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25-Aug-97 3:08 PM EDT (1908 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CADILLAC GOES TO GERMANY BY JOHN BIRCHARD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WHEN THE AMERICAN LUXURY CARMAKER CADILLAC NEEDED A NEW ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY SEDAN, THEY TURNED TO THEIR GERMAN COUSINS AT OPEL FOR WHAT BECAME THE CATERA. NOW, A CADILLAC IS HEADED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. V-O-A'S JOHN BIRCHARD REPORTS.

TEXT: WHEN THE FOLKS AT CADILLAC MADE THEIR PLANS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW 1998 SEVILLE, THEY DECIDED TO TAKE THE UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF HOLDING THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING NEXT MONTH AT THE FRANKFURT, GERMANY INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW (SEPTEMBER 8TH).

WHY INTRODUCE WHAT MANY PEOPLE THINK OF AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN LUXURY CAR IN EUROPE? ED BERGER, THE BRAND MANAGER FOR THE SEVILLE MODEL, SAYS IT'S CADILLAC'S WAY OF SENDING A MESSAGE.

IT'S OUR SIGNAL TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE A GLOBAL PLAYER -- AND WE HAVE THE CAR TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN THE WORLD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

IT IS ALSO APPARENTLY A MATTER OF NECESSITY...OF SURVIVAL IN A HOTLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY. ED BERGER EXPLAINS THE AMERICAN LUXURY CAR MARKET IS "FAIRLY FLAT" AT ABOUT A MILLION UNITS SOLD PER YEAR.

ALL OF THE GROWTH IN THE LUXURY END OF THE BUSINESS IS FORECAST TO MATERIALIZE OUTSIDE OF THE U-S. AND, FOR US TO GROW OUR BUSINESS, WE REALLY NEED TO EXPAND OUR HORIZONS AND PLAY IN MARKETS (WHERE) WE'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. THE RIGHT-HAND DRIVE VERSION OF THE SEVILLE GIVES US ACCESS TO MARKETS LIKE GREAT BRITAIN AND, CERTAINLY, A MUCH STRONGER PRESENCE IN JAPAN.

THE SEVILLE WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE JAPANESE MARKET IN TOKYO IN OCTOBER. MISTER BERGER SAYS THIS IS A FIRST STEP IN A NEW PUSH BY GENERAL MOTORS TO BECOME A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FORCE.

G-M STRATEGY REALLY COMPREHENDS THAT CHEVROLET AND CADILLAC ARE OUR GLOBAL BRANDS. AND, WITH THE SEVILLE, IT'S REALLY OUR FIRST BOLD STEP IN REACHING THAT END.

THE FRANKFURT DEBUT FOR SEVILLE IS DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO "THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET" IN THE BATTLE WITH MERCEDES-BENZ AND B-M-W ON THEIR OWN TURF, IT ALSO -- SAYS MISTER BERGER -- IS DESIGNED TO GET ATTENTION HERE AT HOME.

THE CUSTOMER IN THIS (LUXURY) CLASS IS A VERY WELL-TRAVELED CUSTOMER. AND WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY DO TRAVEL ABROAD, IF THEY CAN SEE US BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE BACK YARD OF B-M-W AND MERCEDES IN GERMANY, AS WELL AS OF THE LEXUS LS-400 IN JAPAN, THEN THAT'LL PROVIDE A TREMENDOUSLY POSITIVE "HALO (EFFECT)" FOR CADILLAC BACK HERE IN THE GOOD OLD U-S-OF-A.

IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING STEERING WHEELS ON THE RIGHT FOR THOSE COUNTRIES THAT NEED THEM, CADILLAC HAS DONE ITS HOMEWORK IN DESIGNING A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD APPEAL TO EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE TASTES. THE SEVILLE'S EXPORT VERSION WILL BE SMALLER THAN THE ONE MARKETED IN THE U-S. TO ACCOMODATE THE HIGH SPEEDS OF GERMANY'S AUTOBAHNS, SEVILLE ENGINEERS PRODUCED A WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE AT 200 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.

AND WE HAVE LEARNED THERE IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANADIAN FRENCH AND "FRENCH" FRENCH. WE HAD TO ACCOMODATE BOTH...BOTH "FLAVORS" OF FRENCH.

BECAUSE OF TIGHT PARKING SPACES IN JAPAN, THE NEW SEVILLE WILL HAVE EXTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRRORS THAT FOLD INWARD TO GIVE OWNERS THOSE EXTRA FEW CENTIMETERS OF ROOM TO MANEUVER. //END OPT//

ED BERGER SAYS CADILLAC RESEARCH SHOWS LUXURY CAR CUSTOMERS AROUND THE WORLD DEMAND THREE THINGS: "FRESH, CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSIC STYLING", "THE MOST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE" AND FINALLY "PERFORMANCE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEIR HEARTS POUND". HE SAYS THE NEW SEVILLE HAS THOSE ELEMENTS. NOW, IT'S UP TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE TO DELIVER THE VERDICT. (SIGNED)
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25-Aug-97 3:04 PM EDT (1904 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: ONLY TWO OF THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS WERE OPEN MONDAY. THE LONDON EXCHANGE -- EUROPE'S BIGGEST -- WAS CLOSED FOR A BRITISH HOLIDAY.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX 30 INDEX ENDED DOWN ABOUT 14 POINTS, JUST OVER THREE-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED OFF MORE THAN FIVE POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

LONDON CURRENCY DEALERS WERE CLOSED MONDAY FOR THE HOLIDAY. BUT IN OTHER EUROPEAN CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED IN VALUE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
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25-Aug-97 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMAN VERDICT (L) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (BONN)

INTRO: A COURT IN BERLIN HAS SENTENCED THE LAST HARDLINE COMMUNIST LEADER OF THE FORMER EAST GERMANY TO PRISON FOR SIX-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS. THOMAS ANDERSSEN REPORTS THE FORMER LEADER, 60-YEAR-OLD EGON KRENZ, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER FOR HIS ROLE IN ALLOWING BORDER GUARDS TO SHOOT AND KILL PEOPLE TRYING TO FLEE ACROSS THE BORDER BETWEEN EAST AND WEST GERMANY.

TEXT: EGON KRENZ EXPRESSED REGRET DURING THE TRIAL THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE SHOT DEAD AT THE EAST-WEST GERMAN BORDER. BUT HE INSISTED THE SOVIET UNION DICTATED EAST GERMAN POLICY AND GAVE BORDER GUARDS THEIR SHOOT-TO-KILL ORDER.

THE BERLIN COURT, HOWEVER, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THIS ARGUMENT AND FOUND KRENZ GUILTY ON THREE CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCED HIM TO SIX-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS IN PRISON. TWO OTHER ELDERLY POLITBURO MEMBERS WERE GIVEN JAIL TERMS OF THREE YEARS EACH.

THESE WERE CONSIDERABLY SHORTER PRISON SENTENCES THAN THOSE DEMANDED BY PROSECUTORS, WHO WANTED 11 YEARS FOR KRENZ, BUT THEY STILL REPRESENT A MAJOR VICTORY FOR THEM IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO BRING EAST GERMAN LEADERS TO JUSTICE.

IN HIS HOUR-LONG CLOSING SPEECH, KRENZ REPEATED HIS CLAIM THIS WAS A SHOW TRIAL AND THAT THE WEST WAS USING WHAT HE CALLS "VICTOR'S JUSTICE" TO PUNISH HIM. PRIOR TO GOING ON TRIAL, HE ACCUSED THE COURT OF TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE EAST GERMANY AND TO PUT IT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE THIRD REICH.

KRENZ REPLACED THE OUSTED ERICH HONECKER AS EAST GERMAN LEADER IN OCTOBER 1989, ONLY DAYS BEFORE THE BERLIN WALL WAS OPENED. HE WAS REPLACED JUST SIX WEEKS LATER BY REFORM-COMMUNISTS WHO LED THE WAY TO DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN 1990,

NOW A GREY-HAIRED PENSIONER, EGON KRENZ INSISTS HE IS A MISUNDERSTOOD REFORMER WHO DESERVES A PLACE IN HISTORY SIMILAR TO MIKHAIL GORBACHEV. HE SAYS HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT EAST GERMANY'S POLITICAL REVOLUTION TOOK PLACE WITHOUT BLOODSHED.

VICTIMS GROUPS SAY MOE THAN 900 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BETWEEN 1949 AND 1989 TRYING TO FLEE ACROSS EAST GERMANY'S HEAVILY FORTIFIED BORDER WITH THE WEST. SINCE THEN, NEARLY 200 BORDER SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN TRIED BY CIVIL COURTS FOR THEIR KILLING OF EAST GERMAN REFUGEES. ONLY 11 HAVE GONE TO JAIL. THE REST WERE GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCES. (SIGNED)
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25-Aug-97 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AN EXTREMELY WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS IS BEING ANALYZED THIS FINAL MONDAY IN AUGUST AS ONE GLANCES AT THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS. AMONG THE TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE INVALIDATION OF THE LAST TEAMSTERS UNION ELECTION; CHANGES FOR THE WORSE IN HONG KONG; A CONGRESSMAN'S TRIP TO TIBET; AVIATION SAFETY AFTER THE VALUJET CRASH; AND PRESS RESTRICTIONS IN BELARUS.

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

TEXT: JUST DAYS AFTER THE TEAMSTERS UNION WON A MAJOR VICTORY IN A TWO-WEEK STRIKE AGAINST UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, THE COURT-APPOINTED MONITOR OF THE BIG UNION'S LAST ELECTION HAS VOIDED PRESIDENT RON CAREY'S VICTORY BECAUSE OF FRAUD. THIS HAS CAUSED A GOOD DEAL OF REACTION IN THE PAPERS, INCLUDING THIS SUPPORT FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "TO NULLIFY AND THEREBY IN SOME RESPECTS TO SECOND-GUESS EVEN A TAINTED ELECTION RESULT IS NOT A MINOR STEP NOR EASY THING TO DO. THE FEDERAL MONITOR, BARBARA ZACK QUINDELL, WAS NONETHELESS RIGHT TO CALL FOR A RERUN OF LAST WINTER'S ELECTION OF TEAMSTER UNION OFFICERS. HER JOB WAS TO CERTIFY THAT THE ELECTION HAD BEEN LEGITIMATE, AND BY THAT STANDARD SHE HAD NO CHOICE."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IS UPSET BECAUSE IT FEELS THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE ELECTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE WHEN IT WAS DECIDED, RATHER THAN BEING HELD UP UNTIL AFTER THE U-P-S STRIKE SETTLEMENT.

VOICE: ".... THE FEDERAL MONITOR WHO THREW OUT RON CAREY'S ELECTION ..... SAYS SHE REACHED HER DECISION SHORTLY AFTER THE START OF [THE] STRIKE .... BUT WITHHELD IT BECAUSE 'I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE A FACTOR IN THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT DISPUTE.' HOW CONVENIENT. IT HAS BEEN CLEAR ALL ALONG THAT THE STRIKE WAS PRINCIPALLY ABOUT MR. CAREY'S CAMPAIGN IN THE NEW ELECTION THAT WOULD INEVITABLY BE CALLED. NOW HE CAN BOAST A TEAMSTER 'VICTORY.'

TEXT: BOTH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND U-S-A TODAY ARE ALSO NOTING THE POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN TEAMSTERS UNION CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND ALLEGATIONS OF INFLUENCE-BUYING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON BY THE BIG UNION.

VOICE: "ON [THE TELEVISION NEWS INTERVIEW SHOW] MEET THE PRESS SUNDAY, TEAMSTERS PRESIDENT RON CAREY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF 220-THOUSAND IN ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS 1996 CAMPAIGN. COMPLEX FUND-RAISING SCHEMES ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING THOSE WITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY TIES LED [THE FEDERAL OVERSEER] TO INVALIDATE [MR.] CAREY'S ELECTION FRIDAY. [MR.] CAREY MAY BE RIGHT. BUT HIS EXPLANATION THAT HE WAS 'TOO BUSY' TO NOTICE THAT HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER, JERE NASH, SPENT MANY AFTERNOONS WORKING AS A CONSULTANT TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION BID BEGS FOR A FOLLOW-UP. AS DO OTHER MONEY MATTERS."

TEXT: TURNING TO OVERSEAS TOPICS, THE WASHINGTON POST HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THE NEW WAY LEGISLATORS WILL BE ELECTED IN HONG KONG UNDER CHINESE RULE AND DOES NOT LIKE WHAT IT SEES.

VOICE: "WHEN CHINA TOOK CONTROL OF HONG KONG FROM BRITAIN JULY FIRST, NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE TUNG CHEE-HWA PROMISED THAT THE CITY-STATE WOULD ENJOY MORE DEMOCRACY THAN EVER. THE ELECTION BILL HE JUST INTRODUCED TO HIS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PUTS THE LIE TO THAT ASSURANCE. UNDER BRITISH RULE, HONG KONG WAS NEVER TOTALLY FREE. .... BUT CHRIS PATTEN, BRITAIN'S LAST HONG KONG GOVERNOR, RESPONDED TO PRESSURE IN RECENT YEARS BY GREATLY EXPANDING ELECTORAL FREEDOMS. IF THE COUNCIL ACCEPTS MR. TUNG'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT PROCESS WILL BE THROWN INTO REVERSE. [OPT] ....THE UNITED STATES OF COURSE CANNOT TELL HONG KONG OR CHINA WHAT TO DO. BUT IT CAN MAKE CLEAR, WHEN MR. RUNG VISITS WASHINGTON EARLY NEXT MONTH AND ON EVERY OTHER CONCEIVABLE OCCASION, THAT THE WEST WILL NOT PRETEND HONG KONG IS A DEMOCRACY IF, IN FACT, IT IS NOT." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND SPEAKING OF CHINA, AND ITS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ORIENTATION, MAINE'S PORTLAND PRESS HERALD COMMENTS TODAY ON THE RECENT TRIP TO TIBET BY VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN FRANK WOLFE.

VOICE: THE CONGRESSMAN LEARNED, AS ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE COULD, THE EXTENT OF TIBETANS' SUFFERING UNDER CHINESE OCCUPATION. [OPT] HE AND A STAFF MEMBER, ALONG WITH SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS THE TIBETAN LANGUAGE, BROKE AWAY FROM THE TOURIST GROUP THEY WERE WITH AND SPENT THREE DAYS IN LHASA, THEN ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. [END OPT] ..... HE WAS TOLD, IN HIS UNAUTHORIZED TALKS WITH INDIVIDUAL TIBETANS, OR BRUTAL SUBJUGATION, TORTURE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND AN UNRELENTING DRIVE BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPRESS AND ERASE TIBETAN CULTURE. ..... REPRESENTATIVE WOLF'S VISIT IS HARD FOR BEIJING TO IGNORE. HE HAS SEEN WITH HIS OWN EYES THE CHINESE RAPE OF TIBET, AND IT'S NOT LIKELY HE'LL BE SILENT."

TEXT: BACK AT HOME, ON THE CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT OF AIRLINE SAFETY, FOLLOWING THE VALUJET CRASH INTO THE EVERGLADES LAST YEAR, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL COMMENTS ON THE NEW NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S REPORT ON THE CRASH.

VOICE: "SADLY, THERE WAS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND. ..... NO ONE, THOUGH, SHOULD BE MORE HUMBLED BY THE FINDINGS THAN THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - - THE AGENCY CHARGED WITH SETTING AIRLINE SAFETY STANDARDS. .....IN A CHILLING CONCLUSION, THE REPORT STATED THAT 'FLIGHT 592 WOULD LIKELY NOT HAVE CRASHED' HAD FIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CARGO HOLD. ..... AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AIRLINES SHOULD BE FORCED TO ACCELERATE THE INSTALLATION OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT [BEFORE THE FAA'S CURRENT DEADLINE OF 2001]."

TEXT: MONDAY'S NEWSDAY IS CONCERNED WITH THE CONTINUED ARMS SALES OF HIGH-TECH WEAPONRY BY RUSSIA TO RENEGADE STATES LIKE IRAN, BUT NOTES PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS LITTLE POWER TO STOP IT.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS ARE HELPING IRAN DEVELOP A POWERFUL AND ACCURATE BALLISTIC MISSILE THAT COULD REACH ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA AND AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. BEHIND THE SCENES, AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PRESSURE MOSCOW TO STOP THIS LUCRATIVE PRACTICE. ..... BUT UNLESS [MR.] CLINTON IS WILLING TO TIGHTEN THE SCREWS [INCREASE THE ECONOMIC AND OTHER PRESSURE] ON RUSSIA SEVERELY, IT'S LIKELY THAT NOTHING WILL CHANGE."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE IS NOTING THE MORE AGGRESSIVE STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF THE KREMLIN REGARDING THE CRIME WAVE THAT IS HAMPERING RUSSIA'S TRANSITION TO A FREE MARKET ECONOMY.

VOICE: "THE GREAT INTENSITY WITH WHICH ANATOLY CHUBAIS WARNED THE MURDERERS OF MIKHAIL MANEVICH THAT THEY WOULD BE FOUND AND PUNISHED MARKS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN RUSSIA'S SEARCH FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILITY. ..... IT WAS A STATEMENT AROUND WHICH RUSSIANS MIGHT RALLY IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHAOS CRIME HAS GENERATED IN RUSSIA'S ECONOMY. ..... VIOLENCE IN RUSSIA TODAY IS NOT LIMITED TO OPPOSITION TO ECONOMIC CHANGE. VIOLENCE HAS UNFORTUNATELY BECOME THE WEAPON OF SOME WHO THINK IT BELONGS IN THE TOOL KIT OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL AGE NOW DAWNING. ..... [MR.] MANEVICH WAS SHOT IN NO SMALL PART BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKING OUT OF THE CRIME-RIDDLED MORASS INTO WHICH RUSSIAN ENTERPRISE THREATENS TO FALL ....."

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS THE TYRANNICAL BEHAVIOR OF RUSSIA'S CLOSE NEIGHBOR AND STRONG ALLY, BELARUS, AND ITS DICTATORIAL LEADER, ALEKSANDR LUKASHENKO, WHEN IT COMES TO PRESS CENSORSHIP. THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT WAS THE JAILING OF A RUSSIAN TELEVISION NEWS TEAM TRYING TO REPORT FROM BELARUS.

VOICE: "MR. [ANATOLY] ADAMCHUK AND FOUR OTHER REPORTERS FOR RUSSIA'S STATE-OWNED ORT TELEVISION NETWORK WERE HELD ON CHARGES OF ILLEGALLY ENTERING BELARUS. THEY WERE RELEASED LAST LAST WEEK, AFTER MOSCOW MADE IT CLEAR THAT KEEPING THEM IN CUSTODY WOULD IMPERIL THE PLANNED FEDERATION OF RUSSIA AND BELARUS. SUCH PRESSURE WAS ESPECIALLY WELCOME BECAUSE RUSSIA IS THE ONLY NATION WITH REAL INFLUENCE OVER ALEKSANDR LUKASHENKO, THE STALINIST LEADER OF BELARUS. .... MR. LUKASHENKO'S RELEASE OF THE JOURNALISTS IS A HEARTENING REMINDER THAT HE IS NOT IMMUNE TO PRESSURE. MOSCOW SHOULD TAKE NOTE. NEITHER THE PEOPLE OF RUSSIA NOR THOSE OF BELARUS ARE SERVED WHEN MR. YELTSIN CAVES [GIVES] IN TO THE STALINIST NEXT DOOR."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT RINGING DENUNCIATION, WE COME TO A CLOSE OF THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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25-Aug-97 10:32 AM EDT (1432 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) BECAUSE OF SELLING PRESSURE LATE IN THE SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 78-HUNDRED-59, DOWN 28 POINTS. THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 920, DOWN THREE POINTS.

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT THE EXTREME VOLATILITY OF RECENT SESSIONS, STOCK PRICES WERE INCONSISTENT. PRICES WERE UP FOR MOST OF THE DAY BEFORE SELLING PRESSURE BROUGHT THE MAJOR INDEXES DOWN IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING.

FLORIDA HAS BECOME THE SECOND U-S STATE TO SETTLE HEALTH-RELATED CLAIMS AGAINST THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. THE COMPANIES WILL PAY FLORIDA 11-POINT-THREE-BILLION DOLLARS OVER 25 YEARS TO OFFSET THE STATE'S EXPENSES FOR TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI SETTLED ITS CLAIMS LAST MONTH FOR THREE-POINT-THREE-BILLION DOLLARS.

THE R-J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY IS UNDER ATTACK BY HEALTH GROUPS BECAUSE OF ITS NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR "WINSTON" BRAND CIGARETTES. THE ADVERTISING SAYS THE CIGARETTES ARE PURE TOBACCO AND FREE OF ANY ADDITIVES. THE HEALTH GROUPS SAY REYNOLDS IS ATTEMPTING TO IMPLY THAT "WINSTONS" ARE SOMEHOW LESS DANGEROUS THAN CIGARETTES THAT DO CONTAIN CHEMICAL ADDITIVES.

TWO U-S DRUG AND MEDICAL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTORS ARE MERGING. THE CARDINAL HEALTH COMPANY WILL PAY TWO-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE THE BERGEN BRUNSWIG CORPORATION. HICKS, MUSE, AN INVESTMENT BUYOUT FIRM, WILL ACQUIRE THE S-F-X BROADCASTING COMPANY FOR TWO-POINT-ONE-BILLION DOLLARS. THE TRANSACTION WILL CREATE THE LARGEST RADIO BROADCASTING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 314 RADIO STATIONS IN 79 MARKETS.

THE MCDONALD'S HAMBURGER RESTAURANT COMPANY SAYS STIFF COMPETITION IN THE UNITED STATES MEANS ITS FUTURE GROWTH WILL COME ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. THE COMPANY, WHICH ALREADY OPERATES IN 103 COUNTRIES, SAYS 80 PERCENT OF THE NEW RESTAURANTS IT WILL OPEN THIS YEAR WILL BE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/RRM
25-Aug-97 5:09 PM EDT (2109 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S / BOSNIA SERBS (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS TOLD SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO SUPPORT BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC UNCONDITIONALLY. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT THAT SHE URGED HIM TO GIVE UP HIS NEUTRALITY.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAS TELEPHONED PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE TO URGE HIM IN THE WORDS OF STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN, "TO GET OFF THE FENCE" -- TO MAKE CLEAR HIS SUPPORT FOR MRS. PLAVSIC BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTS THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SIGNED THE 1995 AGREEMENT BUT HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL THAT HAS INDICTED FORMER BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC. THE AMERICAN BOSNIA NEGOTIATOR -- ROBERT GELBARD -- WILL MEET THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT LATE THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA.

SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAYS THE TAKEOVER OF BANJA LUKA TELEVISION BY SUPPORTERS OF MRS. PLAVSIC HURTS HER HARD-LINE OPPONENTS.

THE MORE OUTRAGEOUS THAT PALE'S BEHAVIOR BECOMES, THE MORE THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE DECIDING TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW IN THE PERSON OF MRS. PLAVSIC.

MR. RUBIN PREDICTS THE TIDE (OF PUBLIC OPINION) IS TURNING IN HER FAVOR. (SIGNED)
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25-Aug-97 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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