Voice of America, 98-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: RETURNING ETHNIC GERMANS BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[02] E-U / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

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

[05] SENATE-NATO (L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

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

[07] TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: RETURNING ETHNIC GERMANS BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: GERMANY IS THE ONLY MAJOR WESTERN NATION THAT BASES CITIZENSHIP ON BLOODLINES, OR THE ETHNICITY OF ONE'S PARENTS. GERMAN LAW GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO THOSE OF GERMAN PARENTAGE, BUT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR "FOREIGNERS" AND THEIR CHILDREN TO ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP. GERMAN AND AMERICAN SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE EXPERIENCE OF "AUSSIEDLER" [OWS-SEED-LER], OR THOSE OF GERMAN LINEAGE WHO -- FOR POLITICAL OR HISTORICAL REASONS -- GREW UP OUTSIDE GERMANY BUT ARE NOW RETURNING

TEXT: IN SOME COUNTRIES, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES, A PERSON'S BIRTHPLACE IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR CITIZENSHIP. IN OTHER COUNTRIES, "NATIONALITY" IS SYNONYMOUS WITH ETHNIC ORIGIN AND IS MORE IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING IDENTITY THAN IS PLACE OF BIRTH OR RESIDENCE. IN GERMANY, FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE OF GERMAN DESCENT WHO GREW UP -- OR WHOSE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS GREW UP -- IN RUSSIA, POLAND, OR ROMANIA MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR GERMAN CITIZENSHIP. (OPT) AND, IN ISRAEL, JEWS WHO HAVE GROWN UP OUTSIDE THE HISTORICAL JEWISH HOMELAND HAVE CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS UNDER THE SO-CALLED "LAW OF RETURN." (END OPT)

SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, GERMANY HAS BEEN THE MAJOR IMMIGRANT-RECEIVING COUNTRY IN EUROPE. (OPT) TODAY ALMOST 9 PERCENT OF GERMANY'S POPULATION OF 82 MILLION ARE FOREIGNERS, FAR AHEAD OF THE EUROPEAN AVERAGE OF 5 PERCENT. FOR EXAMPLE, FRANCE HAS A FOREIGN POPULATION OF 5.7 PERCENT, AND BRITAIN, A FOREIGN POPULATION OF 3.8 PERCENT. (END OPT) PETER BENDA IS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MIGRATION, ETHNICITY, AND CITIZENSHIP, BASED AT THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH IN NEW YORK CITY. MR. BENDA SAYS HIS SCHOOL AND THE INSTITUTE OF DEMOGRAPHY AT HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY IN BERLIN ARE COLLABORATING ON A SPECIAL PROJECT IN THE FIELD OF ETHNICITY AND CITIZENSHIP.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- BENDA (0:42) "ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR CENTER AT THE NEW SCHOOL IS VERY INTERESTED IN DOING IS COMPARING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER IMMIGRANT-RECEIVING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING GERMANY. PARTICIPANTS HAVE ORGANIZED THEMSELVES INTO DIFFERENT SO-CALLED 'FOCUS GROUPS' DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR PARTICULAR INTEREST IS. SOME OF THEM ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW IMMIGRANTS ORGANIZE THEMSELVES FOR POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MOBILIZATION IN THE U-S AND GERMANY. (OPT) OTHERS ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN MIGRATION POLICY. SOME OF THE (END OPT) OTHERS ARE INTERESTED IN QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE INSERTED INTO LABOR MARKETS, WHAT KINDS OF POSITIONS THEY OCCUPY, [AND] WHAT KINDS OF DIFFICULTIES THEY EXPERIENCE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BECOME INTEGRATED INTO THE RECEIVING COUNTRY."

TEXT: AMANDA KLEKOWSKI [KLEH-KOW-SKEE] IS A RESEARCHER FROM THE CENTER FOR GERMAN AND EUROPEAN STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D-C. SHE WORKS ON THE POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF ETHNIC GERMAN MIGRANTS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION INTO GERMAN SOCIETY.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- KLEKOWSKI (0:35) "THESE ARE ETHNIC GERMAN MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN EASTERN EUROPE SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS OR LONGER AND SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK TO GERMANY IN GREAT NUMBERS. THEY WERE JUDGED TO HAVE SUFFERED MORE THAN THE OTHER ETHNIC GERMANS BECAUSE THEY WERE DEPORTED IN 1941 FROM THEIR SETTLEMENTS IN RUSSIA TO KAZAHKSTAN AND TO SIBERIA WHERE THEY WERE KEPT IN CAMPS UNTIL 1956, PURELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR GERMAN ETHNICITY. PRIOR TO 1993, A LOT CAME FROM POLAND AND FROM ROMANIA. THOSE ARE THE THREE LARGEST GROUPS, BUT SOME ALSO COME FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SOME FROM SLOVAKIA, SOME FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA."

TEXT: MS. KLEKOWSKI SAYS THE DEGREE TO WHICH ETHNIC GERMANS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN INTEGRATING INTO GERMAN SOCIETY VARIES ENORMOUSLY. IT DEPENDS, SHE SAYS, ON THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY FORMERLY LIVED AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- KLEKOWSKI (0:24) "IN MANY CASES THE ROMANIAN GERMANS SPEAK GERMAN MUCH BETTER THAN THE ETHNIC GERMANS FROM THE OTHER TWO COUNTRIES. THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROBLEMS -- THAT MANY OF THE ETHNIC GERMAN MIGRANTS DON'T SPEAK GERMAN. THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK GERMAN IN THE SOVIET UNION, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO IN POLAND. YOU WERE CALLED NAMES ON THE STREET. 'FASCIST PIG' WAS ONE OF THE FAVORITES. AND SO, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT, WHEN THE ETHNIC GERMANS COME BACK, THEY HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY SETTLING IN."

TEXT: DESPITE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT POLICY UNDER WHICH ETHNIC GERMANS ARE WELCOME TO RETURN, MS. KLEKOWSKI SAYS, THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THEM HAS "CHANGED RADICALLY" IN RECENT YEARS.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- KLEKOWSKI (0:47) "IN '93, WE SAW THE HEAD OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE CENTER LEFT PARTY, SAYING, 'WE SHOULDN'T LET THESE PEOPLE IN ANYMORE. THEY'RE NOT GERMAN. WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE.' THERE'S BEEN A REAL TURN AGAINST THE ETHNIC GERMANS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF LAWS PASSED, STARTING IN 1990, REALLY RESTRICTING THE RIGHTS OF ETHNIC GERMANS IN GERMANY. SO, WE'RE REALLY ARRIVING AT WHAT I WOULD CALL A SHIFT AWAY FROM DESCENT OR ETHNICITY TOWARD LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AS THE DEFINING ELEMENT. THIS NEW EASIER CITIZENSHIP, NATURALIZATION, FOR YOUNG FOREIGNERS INCLUDES THOSE BETWEEN 16 AND 23, WHO MUST HAVE LIVED IN GERMANY FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN IN GERMAN SCHOOLS FOR 6 YEARS. THIS GERMAN SCHOOLING REQUIREMENT ENSURES THAT THEY SPEAK GERMAN FLUENTLY, THAT THEY ARE SOCIALIZED INTO GERMAN CULTURE."

TEXT: RAINER OHLIGER [RY-NER OH-LI-GHAIR], A RESEARCHER AT HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY IN BERLIN, WORKS IN THE FIELD OF ETHNIC GERMAN MIGRATION FROM ROMANIA, WHOSE MIGRANTS HAVE FARED BETTER THAN OTHERS.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- OHLIGER (1:11) (OPT) "ETHNIC GERMANS WERE NOT EXPELLED [FROM ROMANIA] AFTER WORLD WAR II AND COULD CONTINUE CULTURAL AUTONOMY, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE GOVERNED THE SCHOOLS. AND IT LED TO THE FACT THAT ETHNIC GERMANS WHO CAME AS IMMIGRANTS TO GERMANY WERE STILL BILINGUAL AND HAD BETTER CHANCES FOR INTEGRATION INTO GERMAN SOCIETY, WHEREAS ETHNIC GERMANS FROM, LET'S SAY, RUSSIA OR KASAHKSTAN USUALLY DON'T SPEAK ANY GERMAN ANYMORE AND ARE CONFRONTED WITH OBSTACLES ETHNIC GERMANS FROM ROMANIA DON'T FACE. PLUS, (END OPT) ETHNIC GERMANS FROM ROMANIA CAME EARLIER, THAT IS TO SAY BEFORE GERMAN UNIFICATION AND THE LABOR MARKET SITUATION WAS NOT AS TIGHT AS IT BECAME IN THE EARLY '90'S AND MID-'90'S, SO CHANCES FOR INTEGRATION WERE MUCH BETTER. THE RECEIVING POPULATION IN GERMANY OFTEN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LABOR MIGRANTS AND PEOPLE WHO COME ON AN ETHNIC TICKET, AND THEY'RE PERCEIVED USUALLY AS 'FOREIGNERS' OR 'AUSLANDER,' OR 'STRANGERS,' AND GERMAN SOCIETY HAS BECAME KIND OF HOSTILE IN THE '90'S TOWARDS THESE GROUPS OF STRANGERS. AND THEY'RE PERCEIVED COLLECTIVELY AS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VERY MUCH LIKED."

TEXT: IN THE PAST DECADE, PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD "FOREIGNERS" AND "OUTSIDERS" HAVE GROWN MORE SKEPTICAL IN MANY COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. IN ADDITION, INCIDENTS OF ATTACKS ON "FOREIGNERS" BY LARGELY YOUNG NEO-NAZI "SKINHEADS" IN THE REGION HAVE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN GERMANY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVAKIA, AND SERBIA.
03-Mar-98 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY WILL STEP UP DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAVIA'S SERBIAN LEADERSHIP, FOLLOWING RENWED VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. BUT AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS, TOP DIPLOMATS FROM THE 15 E-U NATIONS -- AT TALKS TUESDAY IN BRUSSELS -- FAILED TO AGREE ON ANY NEW IDEAS FOR PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP.

TEXT: THE 15 E-U GOVERNMENTS ISSUED A STATMENT THAT EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN AT THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO AND CONDEMNED WHAT THE STATEMENT CALLS THE REPRESSION BY AUTHORITIES OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS BY KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN COMMUNITY.

THE STATEMENT EXPRESSES REGRET THAT POLICE ACTION DIRECTLY LED TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. IT ALSO URGES ALL SIDES TO SHOW RESTRAINT, TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER VIOLENCE, AND TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION PEACEFULLY THOUGH DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE AND THE KOSOVO ALBANIAN COMMUNITY.

SENIOR EUROPEAN UNION DIPLOMATS MET TUESDAY TO REVIEW THE CRISIS, AND GAVE THEIR SUPPORT TO BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK WHO IS VISITING THE BALKANS. MR. COOK -- WHO WILL VISIT BELGRADE ON BEHALF OF THE FULL EUROPEAN UNION -- IS EXPECTED TO MEET THURSDAY WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

E-U FOREIGN POLICY COMMISSIONER HANS VAN DEN BROEK SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS WORRIED THAT THE UNREST IN KOSOVO COULD SPREAD AND DESTABILIZE THE ENTIRE REGION.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK HAS MET WITH THE SERBIAN TRADE MINISTER, AND WARNED THAT THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF EUROPE ENDING ITS ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OF YUGOSLAVIA UNLESS THE AUTHORITIES AGREE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES AND FREEDOM OF THE MEIDA, AND AGREE TO ALLOW FULL DEMOCRACY.

MR. VAN DEN BROEK SAYS THE E-U DOES NOT SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO -- BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESTORATION OF SOME POLITICAL AUTONOMY IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE.

THE E-U ADMITS THAT IT HAS ALREADY IMPOSED VIRTUALLY ALL THE SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WHICH ARE AT ITS DISPOSAL. AS ONE OFFICIAL PUT IT -- WE HAVE SANCTIONED THE HELL OUT OF THEM.

EUROPE IS NOW CALLING ON THE UNITED NATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES TO JOIN IN THE DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
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03-Mar-98 12:53 PM EST (1753 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED DOWN IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPEAN MARKETS RETREATED FROM THE RECORD HIGHS RECORDED IN RECENT DAYS. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE DAYS. IT WAS OFF ALMOST 13 POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, PRICES ROSE DURING THE FLOOR TRADING DAY. BUT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, THE DAX INDEX DROPPED 22 POINTS, ALMOST ONE-HALF PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED DOWN 32 POINTS, NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND.
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03-Mar-98 1:46 PM EST (1846 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 UP TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH MAJOR INDEXES AGAIN AT RECORD HIGHS. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 84, UP 34 POINTS. THIS WAS THE FIFTH STRAIGHT SESSION THAT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 52, UP FOUR POINTS, ALSO A RECORD HIGH.

STOCK PRICES WERE UP AND DOWN DURING THE DAY BEFORE THE MAJOR INDEXES FINALLY CLOSED UP. HOWEVER, TECHNOLOGY ISSUES WERE GENERALLY WEAK AFTER A MAJOR BROKERAGE FIRM (MERRILL LYNCH) DOWNGRADED THE STOCK OF THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY.

THERE IS ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE RATE OF U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH MAY BE SLOWING. AN INDEX DESIGNED TO FORECAST FUTURE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WAS UNCHANGED FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW.

BUT THE U-S HOUSING MARKET IS STILL BOOMING. SALES OF NEW HOMES IN JANUARY SURGED BY MORE THAN 10 PERCENT.

THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS IT WILL COMPLETE THE SPIN-OFF (ETSABLISH AS SEPARATE COMPANY) ITS "ASSOCIATES FIRST CAPITAL" DIVISION BY EARLY APRIL. FORD SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE ALMOST 26 BILLION DOLLARS IN STOCK AND CASH IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CORPORATE SPIN-OFFS IN HISTORY.

GENERAL ELECTRIC SAYS IT WILL CUT ITS POWER SYSTEMS WORK FORCE BY 12 HUNDRED PEOPLE, OR FIVE PERCENT. THE COMPANY SAYS COMPETITIVE PRESSURES ARE FORCING IT TO CUT COSTS.

BILL GATES, CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER OF THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY, IS STRONGLY DENYING THAT HIS COMPANY IS HEADED FOR MONOPOLY CONTROL OF ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER INTERNET. TESTIFYING BEFORE A U-S SENATE COMMITTEE, MR. GATES SAID HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE INTERNET EVEN IF HE WANTED TO.

THE BEAUTY OF THE INTERNET IS ITS OPENNESS. IT CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED, DOMINATED OR CUT OFF BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLY A CONSTANTLY CHANGING SYSTEM OF LINKAGES.

BUT OTHER WITNESSES AT THE SENATE HEARING ARGUED THAT MICROSOFT, BECAUSE IT CONTROLS MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF PERSONAL COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEMS, HAS ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT DOMINANCE TO CONTROL INTERNET ACCESS. "TITANIC," THE MOVIE ABOUT THE ILL-FATED OCEAN LINER, HAS BECOME THE FIRST FILM IN HISTORY TO GROSS MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS. TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, THE FILM'S DISTRIBUTOR, SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF TITANIC'S REVENUES SO FAR HAVE COME FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.(SIGNED)
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03-Mar-98 4:56 PM EST (2156 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] SENATE-NATO (L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE PLAN TO ENLARGE THE NATO ALLIANCE HAS EASILY CLEARED ITS FIRST HURDLE IN THE U-S SENATE, WHICH, LIKE THE PARLIAMENTS OF ALL MEMBER STATES, MUST RATIFY THE PROPOSAL. THAT VOTE IS EXPECTED THIS MONTH, BUT NOT WITHOUT DEBATE AND DISSENT. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAME OUT STRONGLY FOR NATO EXPANSION AS THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MEASURE BY A VOTE OF 16 TO TWO. THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE FULL SENATE TO DECIDE IF THE ALLIES SHOULD TAKE IN POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY. THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN JESSE HELMS, SAYS THE PLAN IS LIKELY TO PASS BY ANOTHER WIDE MARGIN.

IT APPEARS THAT THE SENATE APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL OCCUR ON A SUBSTANTIAL POSITIVE VOTE, WHICH WILL BE AN OBVIOUS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE DEMOCRACIES OF EASTERN EUROPE WHO, HAVING BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT FREEDOM IN THIS CENTURY, HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PRICE THEY MUST PAY TO PRESERVE IT.

MR. HELMS TOLD HIS COLLEAGUES THE PLAN HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY REVIEWED AND FOUND WORTHY. BUT SOME ARGUE NATO IS MOVING TOO QUICKLY, WITHOUT CLARIFYING ITS ROLE IN A POST-COLD WAR WORLD. DEMOCRAT PAUL WELLSTONE VOTED AGAINST EXPANSION, IN WHAT HE CALLS THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION OF HIS SENATE CAREER.

BUT I AM VERY VERY WORRIED. IT IS ALMOST JUST A KIND OF PRICKLING IN MY FINGERTIPS, JUST A KIND OF SENSE OF FOREBODING ABOUT A RE-DIVISION OF EUROPE. I AM WORRIED THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS EXPANSION WILL LEAD TO. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A POISONING OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, ESPECIALLY IN A POST-YELTSIN PERIOD (AFTER PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN LEAVES OFFICE).

OTHER SENATORS FEAR THE UNITED STATES MAY END UP PAYING MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF THE COST OF ENLARGEMENT. SOME SAY RATIFICATION SHOULD NOT COME WITHOUT CONDITIONS, OR SHOULD BE PUT OFF, TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR DEBATE. HOWEVER, THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO ACT ON EXPANSION SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.(SIGNED)
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03-Mar-98 6:06 PM EST (2306 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE U-S PRESS CONTINUES TO COMMENT ON THE U-N AGREEMENT WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN, AVERTING A MILITARY CONFRONTATION OVER WEAPONS INSPECTION. CURRENTLY, THE FOCUS IS ON HOW THE U-S CONGRESS IS REACTING TO THE AGREEMENT AND DISCUSSING FUTURE POLICY TOWARDS IRAQ. OTHER TOPICS UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE THE BREWING UNREST AND VIOLENCE IN THE AUTONOMOUS YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO; THE NEW CHALLENGER TO GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL; THE POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL; AND THE ON-GOING KENNETH STARR INVESTIGATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE. HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE REACTING TO THE LATEST SURGE OF INTEREST IN CONGRESS TOWARD OVETHROWING SADDAM HUSSEIN, IN THE WAKE OF THE U-N AGREEMENT. "USA TODAY" PUTS IT THIS WAY IN A HEADLINE: "ONCE-QUIET CONGRESS NOW WAVES BIG STICK AT SADDAM."

VOICE: AS IRAQ'S THREAT ESCALATED TO CRISIS LEVEL IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, FEW IN CONGRESS DARED RAISE THEIR HEADS FROM THE FOXHOLES. AND THE FEW WHO DID DISHED UP MORE CRITICISM THAN VIABLE ALTERNATIVES. NOW, THANKS TO THE NEW ARMS INSPECTION REGIME .... LIPS HAVE COME UNZIPPED. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT GOT THE BALL ROLLING LAST WEEK BY CONDEMNING THE DEAL AS 'APPEASEMENT' OF SADDAM, THOUGH [MR.] LOTT COULDN'T FIND TIME TO MEET WITH [MR.] ANNAN WHEN HE OFFERED TO GO TO WASHINGTON..... THE NEW YORK TIMES, MEANWHILE, HAS REPORTED THAT THE CIA IS COOKING UP A MAJOR NEW PLAN OF SABOTAGE AND SUBVERSION WITH THE INTENT OF OVERTHROWING [MR.] SADDAM.... THE IRAQI OPPOSITION, WHILE DESERVING OF INVIGORATED U-S SUPPORT AND FUNDING, REMAINS A TIGER WITH NO TEETH. THE REASON: NEITHER THE CIA NOR ANY OTHER U-S HEAVYWEIGHT CAME TO ITS RESCUE WHEN SADDAM PUSHED HIS TANKS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN 1996 TO WIPE OUT A REBEL STRONGHOLD, SLAUGHTERING SCORES OF OPPOSITION LEADERS.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" ALSO SEES THE CURRENT CRITICISM OF SADDAM HUSSEIN IN CONGRESS AS BELATED AND SELF-SERVING, AIMED PRIMARILY AT A DOMESTIC AUDIENCE. WHILE ADMITTING SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, "NEWSDAY" ADDS:

VOICE: .....THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WAITING SKEPTICALLY TO SEE IF THE POLICY WILL WORK AND BLATANT POLITICAL POSTURING. SENATOR JESSE HELMS, REPUBLICAN - NORTH CAROLINA, CALLED THE POLICY 'DISGRACEFUL' AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, REPUBLICAN - MISSISSIPPI, LABELED IT 'APPEASEMENT.' THOSE ARE BOTH OVERSTATEMENTS. THEY ARE PREMATURE AND THEY RUN COUNTER TO THE TRADITION OF KEEPING OBVIOUS PARTISANSHIP OUT OF FOREIGN POLICY. .... BEFORE ABANDONING [MR.] ANNAN'S PACT, THERE MUST BE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO SEE IF IT CAN WORK.

TEXT: AND FROM CALIFORNIA, THESE MISGIVINGS ABOUT ANY PLOT TO OVERTHROW OR WEAKEN SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WHICH POINTS OUT THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IS BITTERLY DIVIDED, AND SADDAM'S INTELLIGENCE IS RUTHLESSLY EFFICIENT.

VOICE: THOSE WHO PUT THEIR FAITH IN COVERT ACTION AS AN ANSWER TO THE HUSSEIN PROBLEM ARE MISPLACING THEIR CONFIDENCE. WORSE, THEY ARE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. THE CIA HAS TRIED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE TO ENCOURAGE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD END [MR.] HUSSEIN'S TYRANNICAL RULE..... IF SADDAM HUSSEIN IS OVERTHROWN ANY TIME SOON IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE BY A FACTION IN HIS MILITARY OR SECURITY SERVICES, PROBABLY ACTION OUT OF MOTIVES NO MORE NOBLE THAN THE LUST FOR SUPREME POWER ......

TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER LONG-ANTICIPATED TROUBLE SPOT, THE AUTONOMOUS YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, WHERE THE SERBIAN MINORITY RULES AN INCREASINGLY RESENTFUL ALBANIAN MAJORITY.

VOICE: SERBIAN NATIONALISTS HAVE CONSTRUCTED A POLITICAL MYTH OF KOSOVO, ENSHRINING IT AS THE PLACE WHERE IN 1389 THEIR FOREFATHERS FOUGHT A GLORIOUS, LOSING BATTLE AGAINST THE OTTOMANS, DEFENDING CHRISTIAN EUROPE AGAINST THE ENCROACHMENT OF A MUSLIM EMPIRE..... [CURRENTLY] SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE GONE BERSERK IN THE PROVINCE. THEY HAVE REACTED TO TERRORIST ACTS MOUNTED BY THE SMALL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BY ASSAULTING VILLAGES WITH HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS. THE WESTERN POWERS OUGHT TO INTERVENE DIPLOMATICALLY, PREFERABLY WITH THE COOPERATION OF MOSCOW. THERE SHOULD BE NO BRIEF FOR ALBANIAN TERRORISM, BUT [SERB PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC SHOULD BE TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT A DEMAGOGIC RESORT TO BLIND REPRESSION IN KOSOVO WILL INDUCE STIFF SANCTIONS ON SERBIA.

TEXT: ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE, LONG-TIME GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL NOW HAS A YOUNGER AND MORE ANIMATED POLITICAL OPPONENT. SEVERAL PAPERS ARE TAKING NOTE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE.

VOICE: HELMUT KOHL'S DREAM OF BREAKING OTTO VON BISMARCK'S RECORD AS THE LONGEST-SERVING GERMAN CHANCELLOR MAY REMAIN A DREAM, UNLESS HE CAN BEAT GERHARD SCHROEDER IN SEPTEMBER. 'THE KOHL ERA IS OVER,' MR. SCHROEDER, 53, DECLARED SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER BEING OVERWHELMINGLY RE-ELECTED TO THE GOVERNORSHIP OF LOWER SAXONY. INDEED, PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOW HE WOULD HANDILY BEAT MR. KOHL, 68, IF GERMANS WERE TO ELECT THEIR NEXT CHANCELLOR TODAY. WITH MORE THAN SIX MONTHS OF CAMPAIGNING REMAINING, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BUT .... AFTER 16 YEARS IN POWER THE CHANCELLOR'S TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT.

TEXT: TURNING AGAIN TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THERE IS CONCERN IN "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" ABOUT A POSSIBLE NEW U.S. PLAN TO PRESSURE ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS INTO BREAKING THE PEACE PROCESS DEADLOCK.

VOICE: IT LOOKS AS IF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO TOP ITS RECENT IMPRESSIVE STRING OF FOREIGN POLICY FAILURES WITH A NEW AND EVEN MORE STUNNING MISTAKE, AT LEAST IF THE RUMBLINGS COMING OUT OF FOGGY BOTTOM [THE PART OF WASHINGTON WHERE THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS LOCATED] ARE FOR REAL. THE WASHINGTON TIMES' EDITORIAL PAGE IS HEARING ABOUT AN ADMINISTRATION PLAN UNDER CONSIDERATION TO ISSUE AN ULTIMATUM TO ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK IN THE PEACE PROCESS.... PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD STICK WITH THE POSITION THAT THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS MUST BE UP TO THE PARTIES INVOLVED. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE UNITED STATES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OSLO ACCORDS. .... IT IS UP TO ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS TO MAKE PEACE. NO ONE ELSE CAN DO IT FOR THEM .....

TEXT: AND LASTLY, TO THE EVER-POPULAR INVESTIGATION BY SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR INTO WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD AN AFFAIR WITH INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY AND TOLD HER TO LIE ABOUT IT UNDER OATH. LONG-TIME CLINTON FRIEND VERNON JORDAN WAS FACING MR. STARR'S GRAND JURY TUESDAY. SAYS "THE NEW YORK POST" OF WHITE HOUSE EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S EFFORTS:

VOICE: THE PRESIDENT'S MEN ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE AS HIS POLL NUMBERS SOLIDIFY AND KENNETH STARR'S CONTINUE TO PLUMMET. AND YET FOR A GROUP REPRESENTING A MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE INNOCENT IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL, [MR.] CLINTON'S DESIGNATED SPEARCATCHERS ARE ACTING LIKE A VERY SCARED BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH SOMETHING AWFUL TO HIDE.

TEXT: ADDS "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER," ABOUT MR. JORDAN'S TESTIMONY:

VOICE: AFTER DAYS OF SMALL-FRY [MINOR] INTERROGATIONS INSIDE THE GRAND-JURY ROOM AND BITTER BICKERING OUTSIDE IT, HERE COMES TESTIMONY FROM A CENTRAL CHARACTER IN THE CLINTON-LEWINSKY SAGA: VERNON JORDAN. PERHAPS HIS APPEARANCE TODAY WILL HELP INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR ESCAPE THE CLUTCHES OF A FORMIDABLE ADVERSARY: KENNETH STARR. AS MR. STARR HAS INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE PERJURY .... AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, HE FOOLISHLY HAS GIVEN LIFE TO CRITICISM THAT HE IS PARTISAN AND UNPROFESSIONAL. ..... NOW, SOME OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S MOST OUTSPOKEN DEFENDERS ARE SUGGESTING THAT MR. STARR HAS SO MANGLED HIS DUTIES THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO OUGHT TO FIRE HIM FOR CAUSE. THIS IS DANGEROUS NONSENSE. SUCH AN ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT WOULD BEAR THE STENCH OF WATERGATE, WITH ITS INFAMOUS 'SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE,' [A REFERENCE TO THE INFAMOUS RICHARD NIXON FIRING OF SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ARCHIBALD COX, A MOVE PRECEDED BY A SERIES OF RESIGNATIONS OF TOP OFFICIALS WHO REFUSED TO FIRE THE PROSECTOR.] EVEN MORE THAN IT WAS BORNE BY TWO STAFFERS' SHAKY CLAIM OF 'EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE' TO AVOID QUESTIONS BEFORE THE GRAND JURY.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE DAY'S EDITORIALS PAGES.
NEB/ANG/MMK
03-Mar-98 11:24 AM EST (1624 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR COALITION GOVERNMENT CAME TO POWER NINE MONTHS AGO WITH PLEDGES TO CURB WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. BUT AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRONT HAS BEEN MIXED.

TEXT: TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD HAS LONG BEEN THE FOCUS OF CRITICISM BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD -- NOT LEAST BECAUSE TURKEY, A MEMBER OF NATO, HAS APPLIED FOR FULL EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN CLUB IS A FULLY FUNCTIONING WESTERN STYLE DEMOCRACY --SOMETHING CRITICS SAY TURKEY DOES NOT YET HAVE.

OBSERVERS SAY TURKEY'S IMAGE HAS NOT BEEN HELPED BY THE DECISION LAST MONTH TO BAN TURKEY'S LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY, THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, OR REFAH. THE PARTY WAS BANNED BY TURKEY'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ON THE GROUNDS THAT WHILE IN POWER IT SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE THE PRO-SECULAR PROVISIONS OF THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION. REFAH LEADER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN WAS BANNED FROM POLITICS FOR THE COMING FIVE YEARS AND LOST HIS PARLIAMENTARY SEAT.

THE NEW PRO-SECULAR COALITION LED BY CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ HAS SINCE BEEN CRACKING DOWN ON ISLAMIC RADICALISM. MEASURES INCLUDE RESTRICTING ATTENDANCE AT ISLAMIC CLERICAL TRAINING SCHOOLS AND KORAN CLASSES, AND ENFORCING BANS ON ISLAMIC-STYLE ATTIRE IN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOLS.

BUT CRITICS CHARGE THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS CONTRAVENE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY. A LAWMAKER FROM THE BANNED ISLAMIST REFAH PARTY, HASHIM HASHIMI, IS AMONG THE CRITICS.

MR. HASHIMI SAYS HE BELIEVES THE BAN ON REFAH HAS DISENFRANCHISED A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE TURKISH POPULATION WHO VOTED FOR THE PARTY IN THE LAST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD IN 1995. REFAH WON THOSE ELECTIONS -- ALBEIT NARROWLY -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TURKEY'S HISTORY.

THE U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, JOHN SHATTUCK, TOLD V-O-A DURING A RECENT TRIP TO TURKEY THAT OUTLAWING ANY POLITICAL PARTY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH AMERICAN VIEWS ON DEMOCRACY.

I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT AMERICANS HAVE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING HOW FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CAN ON THE ONE HAND BE EXPANDED AND ON THE OTHER HAND POLITICAL PARTIES BE BANNED OR SERIOUSLY LIMITED.

BUT SOME OBSERVERS SAY TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT IS FAR MORE SERIOUS ABOUT CRACKING DOWN ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAN ANY OF ITS PREDECESSORS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW-YORK-BASED COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, WILLIAM ORME, IS ONE OF THEM.

WE ARE, ON BALANCE, QUITE ENCOURAGED. WE THINK THAT THERE IS A GENUINE TURNING POINT UNDERWAY AT THE MOMENT IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND ALSO TO EXPRESS DISSIDENT OPINIONS AND CRITICISMS OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES, INCLUDING IN SOME OF THE MOST SENSITIVE AREAS INVOLVING KURDISH SEPARATISM, ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM, AND OTHER SUBJECTS.

U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN SHATTUCK SHARES SOME OF MR. ORME'S VIEWS

THE OVERWHELMING IMPRESSION THAT I HAVE FROM THIS TRIP IS THAT THERE IS A GREATER DEMAND THEN EVER WITHIN TURKISH SOCIETY FOR AN EXPANSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIZATION -- IN THE AREAS, PARTICULARLY OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. AND I THINK THAT DEMAND IS CERTAINLY MEETING RESISTANCE IN SOME AREAS.

WHILE IN TURKEY, MR. SHATTUCK MET WITH THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY GENERAL STAFF, CEVIK BIR. HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TURKISH MILITARY, WHICH HAS LONG BEEN ACCUSED OF OPPOSING REFORMS, IS NOW RECEPTIVE TO FREE DISCUSSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.

THESE SUBJECTS NOW CAN BE DISCUSSED WITH EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE MILITARY. AND I HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING WITH GENERAL BIR. IT WAS A VERY EXPLICIT MEETING. IT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC DISCUSSION OF ISSUES OF THE CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST, THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES, SERIOUS LIMITATIONS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THAT TURKISH CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FACE, (AND) THE PROBLEMS OF UNPUNISHED INSTANCES IN WHICH TORTURE HAS BEEN USED.

MANY HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY THE REAL TEST OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S SINCERITY WILL BE A PROPOSED REFORM PACKAGE THAT COULD INCLUDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. MANY SAY THE ROOT OF TURKEY'S PROBLEMS LIE IN THE 1980 CONSTITUTION THAT WAS DRAWN UP BY GENERALS AFTER THEY SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODLESS COUP 18 YEARS AGO. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION CONTAINS PROVISIONS WHICH EFFECTIVELY ALLOW PUNISHING NON VIOLENT CRIMES -- INCLUDING SO CALLED CRIMES OF THOUGHT.

ANY CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT. OBSERVERS SAY THAT GIVEN THE FRAGMENTED MAKE-UP OF THE TURKISH POLITICAL SCENE, SECURING CONSENSUS ON ANY PROPOSED CHANGES WILL BE THE TOUGHEST TASK OF ALL. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
03-Mar-98 11:59 AM EST (1659 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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