Voice of America, 98-03-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / N-IRELAND (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

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

[03] IRELAND-U-S-A (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

[04] KOSOVO / FORENSIC EXPERTS (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

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

[06] PALESTINIANS / EUROPE (L) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

[07] SENATE-NATO (S & L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

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

[01] CLINTON / N-IRELAND (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER TODAY (TUESDAY) HOLDS SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH LEADERS INVOLVED IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS. THEY ARE IN WASHINGTON TO ATTEND ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND ON CAPITOL HILL. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: ON THE EVE OF THE CEREMONIES, MR. CLINTON MET WITH THE HEAD OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S POLITICAL WING, GERRY ADAMS, WHOSE GROUP WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE ULTER TALKS AFTER THE I-R-A WAS BLAMED FOR RECENT KILLINGS IN BELFAST.

MR. CLINTON WAS EXPECTED TO TELL MR. ADAMS THERE IS NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

EMERGING FROM HIS MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, MR. ADAMS SAID HIS GROUP WANT TO SEE AN END TO ALL VIOLENCE BY ALL FACTIONS, SAYING OTHER PARTIES ARE ALSO TO BLAME. AND HE SAID HE LOOKS FORWARD TO SINN FEIN REJOINING PEACE TALKS SOON.

I THINK EVERYONE IS RECONCILED TO INTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS BEGINNING WHEN WE GO BACK TO IRELAND, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE, AND WILL BE, PART OF THAT.

MR. ADAMS SAID HE IS ENCOURAGED BY MR. CLINTON'S COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS. LATER, AT A POLITICAL FUNDRAISER, MR. CLINTON SAID HE HOPES HIS MEETINGS TUESDAY WILL "CLOSE THE GAPS" IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE PEACE EFFORTS ARE AT A CRITICAL STAGE -- WITH AN AGREEMENT POSSIBLE BY NEXT MONTH, FOLLOWED BY A REFERENDUM AS EARLY AS MAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/ENE/PT
16-Mar-98 9:37 PM EST (0237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

TEXT: PRICES ADVANCED TO NEW RECORD CLOSING HIGHS ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS -- FOLLOWING THE HUGE INCREASE MONDAY ON WALL STREET.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 63 POINTS, ONE-AND-EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN FRANKFURT, PRICES WERE UP SHARPLY DURING THE FLOOR TRADING SESSION, AND THEY CONTINUED UP IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING. THE DAX INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 40 POINTS, EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ADVANCED 50 POINTS, ALMOST NINE-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND.
NEB/JWH/PLM
17-Mar-98 1:17 PM EST (1817 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] IRELAND-U-S-A (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON THIS SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, A HOLIDAY UNIQUELY ASSOCIATED WITH IRELAND, MOST OF THE KEY FIGURES IN THE EFFORT TO GET A SETTLEMENT TO THE LONG NORTHERN IRELAND DISPUTE ARE IN WASHINGTON. IN ADDITION TO MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER OFFICIALS, SOME OF THE CONTENDING PARTIES HAVE MET WITH REPORTERS. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE DIFFICULTY OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND QUESTION WAS ILLUSTRATED PLAINLY IN SEPARATE APPEARANCES AT WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL PRESS CLUB BY A (PROTESTANT) UNIONIST LEADER -- AND THE LEADER OF SINN FEIN, THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY.

DAVID TRIMBLE, HEAD OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY, EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR PROGRESS IN ENDING VIOLENCE AND REDUCING WEAPONS. HE SAID WHEN TALKS RESUME NEXT MONDAY, HIS PARTY WILL CALL FOR A FORMAL REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARD DISARMAMENT AND ENDING VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. HE SAID HIS PARTY COULD NOT SUSTAIN SUPPORT FOR A SETTLEMENT IF THERE WAS NO PROGRESS IN ENDING VIOLENCE.

WE CANNOT SIMPLY SLIDE DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARD A SITUATION WHERE A PARTY IS ENGAGED IN THE TALKS -- TALKING; NEGOTIATING WITH US -- AND AT THE SAME TIME, ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE. THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

IN A LATER APPEARANCE AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, SINN FEIN'S GERRY ADAMS SAID HIS PARTY HAD CONDEMNED VIOLENCE -- AND HE SAID MANY CATHOLICS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY PROTESTANT (LOYALIST) VIOLENCE. MR. ADAMS CALLED ON THE ULSTER UNIONISTS TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE WITH SINN FEIN TO SPEED UP A SETTLEMENT TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.

THE WAY TO DO THAT, THE WAY TO INFLUENCE -- TO BRING AN END -- TO THE KILLINGS IS TO BUILD A PROCESS SPEEDILY AND URGENTLY AND TO BUILD AN ALTERNATIVE.

THE SINN FEIN LEADER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS PARTY'S GOAL OF UNITING NORTHERN IRELAND WITH THE REST OF THE ISLAND COULD NOT BE REACHED IMMEDIATELY. HE SAID WHILE NOT ABANDONING UNIFICATION AS AN OBJECTIVE, SINN FEIN WANTS A TRANSITIONAL PROCESS. MOST OF THE LEADERS WHO GATHERED IN WASHINGTON FOR SAINT PATRICK'S DAY SAY THE CURRENT PEACE PROCESS OFFERS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE THE LONG-FESTERING DISPUTE. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/MMK
17-Mar-98 3:39 PM EST (2039 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO / FORENSIC EXPERTS (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A GROUP OF U-S FORENSIC EXPERTS WANTS TO GO TO THE TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE IN YUGOSLAVIA TO INVESTIGATE RECENT KILLINGS BY SERBIAN POLICE. BUT AS V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES WILL ALLOW THIS VISIT TO TAKE PLACE.

TEXT: WHEN SERBIAN AUTHORITIES LAUNCHED A POLICE CRACKDOWN ON INDEPENDENCE-MINDED KOSOVO ALBANIANS EARLIER THIS MONTH, ALBANIAN ACTIVISTS AND WESTERN DIPLOMATS CONTACTED "PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS," A BOSTON-BASED MEDICAL GROUP.

THE CRACKDOWN RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF AN ESTIMATED 80 ETHNIC ALBANIANS. SERBIAN AUTHORITIES INSISTED ON HASTY BURIALS -- GIVING RISE TO SUSPICIONS NOT ALL OF THE VICTIMS MAY HAVE DIED IN BATTLES WITH POLICE, AS SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE SUGGESTED. RICK SOLLOM OF "PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS" SAYS A FORENSIC PROBE BY HIS GROUP MAY BE ABLE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE EVENTS.

WHAT OUR PATHOLOGISTS AND FORENSIC ARCHEOLOGISTS WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS THE NATURE AND CAUSE OF DEATH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, BEING EXPERTS AT, CAN SHOW -- HOW THE PERSON DIED. BY LOOKING AT, FOR EXAMPLE, GUNSHOT WOUNDS, OR IF PEOPLE SUFFERED TORTURE OR WERE RAPED.

BUT THE TIME FACTOR APPEARS NOT TO BE LOST ON SERBIAN AUTHORITIES EITHER. WHEN QUERIED BY V-O-A ON THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION, YUGOSLAV CONSUL-GENERAL IN WASHINGTON ZORAN POPOVIC HAD THIS RESPONSE.

FOR SURE, IT IS NOW UNDER PROCEDURE. AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. THAT IS ALL I CAN TELL YOU.

MR. SOLLOM MAKES NO SECRET THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO BRING HIS TEAM TO KOSOVO INTEND TO FORWARD FORENSIC FINDINGS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

I BELIEVE THEY THINK THAT HAVING THIS TYPE OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE WILL PROVE CONCLUSIVELY THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THERE WERE CIVILIANS INVOLVED AND THAT THERE WERE, FOR EXAMPLE, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO WERE TARGETED, WHICH IS AGAINST THE 1949 GENEVA CONVENTION. AND THIS WOULD CONSTITUTE WAR CRIMES. NOW, IF IT WERE BACKED UP (SUPPORTED) THAT THE ACTUAL SERB POLICE CONDUCTED THESE WAR CRIMES, THEN THIS INFORMATION COULD BE TURNED OVER TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE I-C-T-Y, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR YUGOSLAVIA, WHICH DOES HAVE JURISDICTION OVER KOSOVO.

MR. SOLLOM MADE IT CLEAR EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES FOUND IN THE GRAVES COULD RESULT IN THE INDICTMENT OF SERBIAN OFFICIALS. MEANWHILE, BELGRADE HAS BEEN ADAMANTLY AGAINST ANY OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN KOSOVO, INSISTING RECENT VIOLENT EVENTS ARE STRICTLY AN INTERNAL YUGOSLAV MATTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/MAX/JO
17-Mar-98 5:37 PM EST (2237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] 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 CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 87 HUNDRED 49, UP 31 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 80, UP ONE POINT. BOTH INDEXES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS.

STOCKS WERE DOWN MODESTLY FOR MOST OF THE SESSION. HOWEVER, ANALYSTS SAY WHEN TRADERS SAW NO SIGN OF SIGNIFICANT PROFIT-TAKING, BUYING PRESSURE BEGAN TO LIFT PRICES.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES JUMPED BY SIX PERCENT IN FEBRUARY TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN A DECADE. ///BEGIN OPT/// DANA JOHNSON, AN ECONOMIST AT THE FIRST CAPITAL MARKETS COMPANY, SAYS STRONG CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY MAY TEMPER THE EFFECTS OF THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS ON THE U-S ECONOMY.

U-S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT WAS UNCHANGED LAST MONTH AS U-S AUTO PRODUCTION FELL.

OIL PRICES HAVE DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN NINE YEARS. SOME ANALYSTS SAY PRICES COULD GO BELOW 10 DOLLARS A BARREL IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS UNLESS THE OPEC CARTEL CAN EFFECTIVELY REDUCE PRODUCTION.

CHASE MANHATTAN, THE LARGEST BANK IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYS IT WILL CUT 45 HUNDRED JOBS OR MORE THAN SIX PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL WORK FORCE. CHASE SAYS IT WILL CONSOLIDATE SOME OPERATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE PROFITABILITY. ISPAT (EYE-SPAT) INTERNATIONAL, THE DUTCH-BASED STEEL COMPANY, WILL PAY ALMOST ONE AND ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE INLAND STEEL COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE ACQUISITION WILL MAKE ISPAT THE EIGHTH LARGEST STEEL COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

PERSONAL COMPUTER MAKER MICRON TECHNOLOGY REPORTS A 48 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY LOSS, LARGER THAN MOST ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED. MICRON CITES INTENSE PRICING PRESSURES AND FALLING SALES.

THE INTERIM HEAD OF THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK FROM RECENT FINANCIAL TROUBLES. STEVE JOBS INTRODUCED A NEW ULTRA-FAST DESK TOP COMPUTER AND SAYS THE COMPANY WILL HAVE A VARIETY OF NEW PRODUCTS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
17-Mar-98 5:03 PM EST (2203 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] PALESTINIANS / EUROPE (L) BY AL PESSIN (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK -- REPRESENTING THE EUROPEAN UNION -- HAS CALLED ON ISRAEL TO STOP SETTLEMENT EXPANSION AND HAS TOLD THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO CONTROL MILITANT GROUPS. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM WHERE MR. COOK WAS MOBBED BY ISRAELI PROTESTERS WHEN HE VISITED A CONTROVERSIAL CONSTRUCTION SITE ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY.

TEXT:

MR. COOK HAD PLANNED TO VISIT THE SITE WITH PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS, BUT AGREED TO HAVE ISRAELI ESCORTS INSTEAD. HE MADE A POINT OF MEETING WITH PALESTINIANS SEPARATELY TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. EARLIER, IN GAZA, MR. COOK TOLD PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT TO CONTROL MILITANT GROUPS TO HELP THE PEACE PROCESS MOVE FORWARD. BUT HE INDICATED THE LARGER BURDEN IS ON ISRAEL TO STOP SETTLEMENT EXPANSION.

I HOPE THAT WHAT WILL BE REMEMBERED IS THAT I HAVE CLEARLY STRESSED THE ANXIETY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENTS, AND OUR INSISTENCE THAT IF THE PEACE PROCESS IS TO THRIVE, THEN THERE MUST BE A HALT TO SUCH EXPANSIONS.

BRITAIN HOLDS THE ROTATING EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENCY.

MR. ARAFAT THANKED MR. COOK AND THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PUT PRESSURE ON ISRAEL.

THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE ISRAELIS TO SAY THAT EUROPE CANNOT ACCEPT THE EXPANSION OR BUILDING NEW SETTLEMENTS.

ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT MEDIATION ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST BECAUSE IT IS TOO PRO-PALESTINIAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
17-Mar-98 11:13 AM EST (1613 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] SENATE-NATO (S & L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS OPENED ITS FINAL DEBATE ON NATO EXPANSION - WHICH THE LAWMAKERS ARE WIDELY EXPECTED TO RATIFY. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: SUPPORTERS OF NATO ENLARGEMENT PREDICT THE SENATE WILL EASILY APPROVE THE ADMISSION OF POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY. FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JESSE HELMS SAYS HE ONCE HAD CONCERNS BUT NOW BELIEVES THE IDEA IS RIGHT.

ALL AMERICANS SHOULD WELCOME THESE NATIONS AS THEY FINALLY BECOME EQUAL PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONS, THEREBY ENSURING THAT THEIR NEW DEMOCRACIES SHALL NEVER AGAIN FALL VICTIM TO TYRANNY.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS LOBBIED AGGRESSIVELY FOR THE PLAN, CALLING IT ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S TOP FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. OFFICIALS HAVE SOUGHT TO EASE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST OF EXPANSION. THEY EMPHASIZE THE THREE NEW MEMBERS AND EUROPEAN ALLIES WILL PAY THE BIGGEST SHARE.

CRITICS REMAIN UNCONVINCED. THEY ALSO WORRY THE EASTWARD MOVE WILL DRAW NEW DIVIDING LINES IN POST-COLD WAR EUROPE AND SPARK HOSTILITY IN RUSSIA.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR BOB SMITH SAYS NATO EXPANSION WILL JEOPARDIZE PROGRESS ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL AND EAST-WEST RELATIONS IN GENERAL -- WHICH HE CALLS UNWISE AND SHORT-SIGHTED.

THIS IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT, FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THREE NATIONS, WHO WE'VE PICKED AS WINNERS, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND, IGNORED 14 OR 15 OTHERS WHO COULD ALSO MAKE A COMPELLING CASE TO COME IN.

MR. SMITH AND SEVERAL OTHERS CALLED FOR A DELAY IN THE VOTE TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR STUDY. HOWEVER, SENATE LEADERS DECIDED TO PROCEED. A FINAL, AND FAVORABLE DECISION IS EXPECTED LATER THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/PLM
17-Mar-98 5:56 PM EST (2256 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: REACTION IN TIDAL WAVES OF EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARIES TO A CANDID REPORT ON CBS TELEVISION'S "60 MINUTES" NEWS PROGRAM SUNDAY ABOUT AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON FILLS THE PAGES OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS TODAY.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: ANOTHER CASE OF ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, THIS ONE BY THE FORMER TOP ENLISTED MAN IN THE ARMY, WHO HAS BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY; THE DEATH OF A MOST FAMOUS BABY DOCTOR; INDONESIA'S ON-GOING CRISIS AND SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY -- THE 17TH OF MARCH -- CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY AS ST. PATRICK'S DAY. NOW, HERE IS ______________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS COMING IN FOR SOME OF THE HARSHEST CRITICISM OF HIS PRESIDENCY IN THE WAKE OF ACCUSATIONS BY A FORMER WHITE HOUSE VOLUNTEER AND CLINTON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTOR, KATHLEEN WILLEY, THE PRESIDENT KISSED AND FONDLED HER DURING A WHITE HOUSE MEETING FOUR-YEARS AGO. MS. WILLEY REPEATED TESTIMONY THAT SHE HAS GIVEN, UNDER OATH, TO THE KENNETH STARR GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING THE PRESIDENT. IN "THE WASHINGTON POST," NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST GEORGE WILL HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

VOICE: [MS.] WILLEY'S WORDS MOVED THE FOCUS OF THE CRISIS BEYOND [PRESIDENT] CLINTON, WHO APPARENTLY IS A DEVELOPMENTALLY ARRESTED ADOLESCENT, AND BEYOND THE TAXPAYER-FUNDED CHEST-THUMPING WHITE HOUSE BOYS SENT FORTH TO PROFESS BELIEF IN THEIR STONEWALLING EMPLOYER. AND IT MOVES THE FOCUS BEYOND MONICA LEWINSKY AND HER AGE-APPROPRIATE ATTORNEY-CONSORT, WILLIAM GINSBURG ... THE FOCUS IS NOW ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. ... WHETHER IT STILL THINKS THAT [MR.] CLINTON'S 'PRIVATE' BEHAVIOR ... AND LIES HE TELLS ABOUT THAT BEHAVIOR ARE IRRELEVANT TO HIS PUBLIC STATURE... FOR A FEW YEARS AMERICA CAN PROBABLY FUNCTION FAIRLY WELL, AT LEAST ABSENT A FOREIGN CRISIS, WITH A RIDICULOUS PRESIDENT. WE SEEM EMBARKED ON THAT CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERIMENT.

TEXT: NEW YORK'S "DAILY NEWS" REMINDS READERS NO MATTER HOW SERIOUS MS. WILLEY'S ALLEGATIONS, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE FOR NOW.

VOICE: ... ALLEGATIONS THEY REMAIN, AND WITH [MS.] WILLEY AND [PRESIDENT] CLINTON THE ONLY WITNESSES, PROVING OR DISPROVING THEM IS UNLIKELY. WHILE THAT DOESN'T MAKE [MS.] WILLEY'S TALE OF BEING GROPED BY THE PRESIDENT FALSE, IT DOES FALL INTO THE TRASH-CAN CATEGORY OF CHARGES AGAINST [MR.] CLINTON. CHARGES THAT, EVEN IF TRUE, DON'T ADD UP TO A FEDERAL CASE -- MUCH LESS A BASIS FOR IMPEACHMENT. ...[MR.] CLINTON ... HAS A REPUTATION AS A ROGUE. BUT THE PUBLIC KNEW THIS WHEN IT ELECTED HIM IN 1992 AND REELECTED HIM IN 1996. THOSE WERE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AS HIS RECORD PROVES.

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS OF THE INTERVIEW:

VOICE: ... IF IT IS TRUE AND [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS PERJURED HIMSELF, [HE HAS DENIED UNDER OATH DOING ANYTHING SEXUAL TO MS. WILLEY] HE IS NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT. [MS.] WILLEY'S RECOUNTING OF EVENTS ADDS A NEW MEASURE OF CREDIBILITY TO CHARGES AGAINST [PRESIDENT] CLINTON. IT WILL BE UP TO CONGRESS, HOWEVER, AND BY EXTENSION THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO JUDGE WHETHER THAT CREDIBILITY IS ROCK-SOLID ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" IS CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO COME FORWARD WITH A FULL EXPLANATION.

VOICE: THAT DOES NOT MEAN AN INDIRECT ACKNOWLEDGMENT THROWN OUT AS AN ASIDE DURING A PHOTO-OP OR BEFORE A SPEECH. THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO PRESENT AMERICANS A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF HIS STORY. OTHERWISE, THE PUBLIC REMAINS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONFUSING, R-RATED DRAMA.

TEXT:IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" ADDS:

VOICE: IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT KATHLEEN WILLEY'S DESCRIPTION ... OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BEHAVIOR TOWARD HER IN THE OVAL OFFICE WAS PROFOUNDLY SHOCKING. ... IF MRS. WILLEY IS TELLING THE TRUTH -- AND SHE SURELY SEEMED CONVINCING -- THAT MEANS THE PRESIDENT PERJURED HIMSELF IN HIS DEPOSITION. AND, PERHAPS JUST AS DISTURBING, IF HER STORY IS TRUE, HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A DISTRESSED WOMAN WHO HAD TURNED TO HIM FOR HELP ... WHAT KIND OF MAN WOULD DO THAT?

TEXT: TURNING TO THE OTHER STORY REGARDING ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, THAT OF THE ARMY'S FORMER SERGEANT MAJOR, GENE MCKINNEY, WHO WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF ANY SEXUAL WRONGDOING, INVOLVING SEVERAL WOMEN UNDER HIS COMMAND, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS TODAY:

VOICE: WHETHER OR NOT THE ACQUITTAL OF SGT. MAJOR ... MCKINNEY ON ALL COUNTS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WAS FAIR, THE CASE MAY DISCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN FROM REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT. THAT WOULD BE A SETBACK FOR THE ARMY AND THE WOMEN WHO SERVE IN IT. ... WOMEN MUST BE SHOWN THAT THEIR CHARGES WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, WILL BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT FOR THE HARASSER IF PROVED TRUE.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLS THE COURT-MARTIAL JURY'S DECISION A DISQUIETING VERDICT -- ADDING:

VOICE: GIVEN THE STRONG CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE -- SIX WOMEN INDEPENDENTLY DESCRIBING A SIMILAR PATTERN OF UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES -- THE JURY'S FINDING IS DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND OR TOE EXPLAIN. ... THIS CASE SENDS A DISTURBING MESSAGE: PROVING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN THE ARMY HAS BECOME A HIGH HURDLE, TOO HIGH FOR MANY TO RISK.

TEXT: SERGEANT MCKINNEY WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ONE COUNT OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN THE PROCEEDING, AND WAS REDUCED ONE GRADE IN RANK, BUT NOT SENTENCED TO PRISON TIME.

TURNING TO A NOTABLE DEATH, DR. BENJAMIN SPOCK, THE NATION'S PREMIER PEDIATRICIAN AND AUTHOR OF A WORLD-WIDE BEST SELLER ON RAISING BABIES, "USA TODAY" IS CALLING HIM -- DOC FOR A GENERATION.

VOICE: NOW, THE MAN WHO HELPED BRING THE BABY BOOM INTO THIS WORLD HAS LEFT IT. EVEN AN EXPERT ON BIRTH AND INFANCY MUST GROW OLD AND DIE. THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD EPITAPH FOR A MAN WHO HELPED RAISE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WITH SIMILARLY PLAIN OBSERVATIONS. TRUST YOURSELF, [DOCTOR] SPOCK TOLD THEIR JUMPY [NERVOUS] PARENTS. BE SENSIBLE. LOVE YOUR CHILDREN AND CARE FOR THEM. DO NOT WORRY OVERMUCH. THEY ARE STURDY. ...HIS WAS THE KIND OF WISDOM THAT SURPASSES THE YEARS. ALWAYS TIMELY. ALWAYS SOLID.

TEXT: NOTES "THE NEW YORK TIMES:"

VOICE: BABIES DO NOT ARRIVE WITH OWNER'S MANUALS. BUT FOR THREE GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN PARENTS, THE NEXT BEST THING WAS 'BABY AND CHILD CARE,' WHICH HAS SOLD NEARLY 50 MILLION COPIES SINCE IT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1946.

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" HAS YET ANOTHER COMMENT ON WHAT IT CALLS -- THE UGLY PICTURE IN INDONESIA -- REGARDING THAT NATION'S ON-GOING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISIS.

VOICE: IT WAS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE. PRESIDENT SUHARTO ASSUMED HIS SEVENTH TERM SURROUNDED BY HIS RELATIVES AND CRONIES. THE IMAGE WAS A POWERFUL ILLUSTRATION THAT LITTLE HAS CHANGED IN INDONESIA'S LONGTIME CORRUPTION, ONCE ACCEPTED AMID BOOMING GROWTH BUT NOW PART OF AN ECONOMIC NIGHTMARE. /// OPT /// ... [PRESIDENT] SUHARTO, BY INVOKING NATIONALISM TO RESIST REFORMS, COULD PUT INDONESIA ON A DISASTROUS COURSE. /// END OPT /// THE NATION IS HEADING TOWARD A MELTDOWN OF HIS OWN DOING, AND AT SOME POINT THERE MAY BE NOTHING LEFT ... THE WEST CAN DO.

TEXT: FINALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMENTS RELATED TO THE CELEBRATION TODAY OF SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN IRELAND, WHERE THE NOTABLE CLERIC IS RENOWNED AS THE PATRON SAINT OF THAT TROUBLED ISLAND. ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" SAYS "BOTH SIDES MUST GIVE [THE] IRISH PEACE PROCESS A CHANCE" IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, ADDING:

VOICE: THE WEARING OF THE GREEN IS A FINE CELTIC TRADITION. BUT IN TROUBLED NORTHERN IRELAND, THAT COLOR HAS BEEN AS MUCH A CALL TO ARMS FOR CATHOLICS AS THE COLOR ORANGE HAS BEEN FOR PROTESTANT HARDLINERS. IT WOULD BE GOOD IF EVERYONE OF IRISH DESCENT -- CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT -- COULD BE PROUD THAT THE IRISH NATIONAL FLAG CARRIES BOTH COLORS, JOINED BY THE WHITE BAND OF NEUTRALITY AND PEACE. ...FOR ALL THE FITS AND STARTS -- AND DESPITE THE MUTUAL VIOLENCE THAT HAS LED TO THE SUSPENSION OF BOTH SINN FEIN AND THE PROTESTANT MILITANT PARTIES FROM THE TALKS -- THE PEACE PROCESS IS WORKING.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, ECHOED IN SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" WITH AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS --PEACE IS NEAR ON THIS FEAST OF [THE] IRISH PATRON SAINT-- WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
17-Mar-98 11:00 AM EST (1600 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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