Voice of America, 98-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[02] EUROPE/ ASIA SUMMIT BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[03] FORMER YUGOSLAVIA / TRIBUNAL (L ONLY) BY VALONDA BRUINTON (WASHINGTON)

[04] GERMANY / EURO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] KOSOVO / K-L-A BY GIL BUTLER (DRENICA, YUGOSLAVIA)

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

[07] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE BIG STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE CONTINUED THIS WEEK'S UPWARD RALLY WITH ANOTHER STRONG SHOWING AT THE CLOSE THURSDAY. FOR THOSE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN OUR LONDON OFFICE.

TEXT: MARKET ANALYSTS IN EUROPE WERE AT A LOSS FOR CITING ANY ONE DETERMINING FACTOR FOR WHY STOCK MARKETS IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS CONTINUED THEIR UPWARD COURSE. THE MAJOR INDEXES IN EACH MARKET THURSDAY CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH.

IN FRANKFURT, ELECTRONIC TRADING ON THE "DAX" INDEX CLOSED ALMOST 44 POINTS HIGHER -- THAT'S MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF A PERCENT GAIN FOR THE DAY. THE DAILY GAIN WAS ONE-AND-A-THIRD PERCENT ON THE PARIS "CAC 40," WHICH ADDED 52-AND-A-HALF POINTS TO ITS TOTAL. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 STOCK INDEX CLOSED UP 35 POINTS -- A DAILY VALUE GAIN OF A HALF OF ONE PERCENT.

ON CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR ENDED THE DAY TRADING UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST BOTH THE DEUTSCHEMARK AND BRITISH POUND.

GOLD IN LONDON CLOSED UP A DOLLAR-AND-A-HALF FROM THE WEDNESDAY FIX. GOLD WAS PRICED AT 302-DOLLARS-55-CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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02-Apr-98 1:24 PM EST (1824 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EUROPE/ ASIA SUMMIT BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: LEADERS FROM EUROPE AND ASIA ARE GATHERING IN LONDON FOR A SUMMIT MEETING (EDS: OPENS FRIDAY) KNOWN AS "A-S-E-M" (ASIAN-EUROPEAN MEETING) -- AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT BY V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL.

TEXT: THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT, BRINGING TOGETHER 25 HEADS OF GOVERNMENT FROM BOTH CONTINENTS. THE LAST ONE WAS HELD TWO YEARS AGO IN BANGKOK.

ANALYSTS SAY VARIOUS TRADE AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED TO IMPROVE COMMERCIAL TIES BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE AND SEVERAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS WILL ALSO BE ANNOUNCED.

GERALD SEGAL IS ASIAN EXPERT WITH LONDON'S "INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES." HE SAYS SUMMIT LEADERS WILL INEVITABLY FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE ONGOING FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS IN ASIA.

THAT WAS NOT OBVIOUS WHEN THE ORIGINAL PLANNING BEGAN FOR THIS MEETING. BUT IT HAS BEEN CLEAR AND THE ASIANS HAVE WANTED A FIRM STATEMENT FROM EUROPE OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN -- AND CERTAINLY, A STATEMENT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CRISIS. AND THAT WILL CLEARLY HAPPEN.

MR. SEGAL SAYS BY COMING OUT WITH A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO HELP ASIA RECOVER FROM ITS FINANCIAL WOES, THIS SUMMIT WILL ACHIEVE FAR MORE THAN LAST NOVEMBER'S MEETING OF THE "ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION" -- OR A-P-E-C -- IN VANCOUVER, CANADA, WHICH -- HE SAYS -- FAILED TO DO EVEN THAT.

THE ASIAN EXPERT SAYS THERE IS A WIDELY-HELD MISCONCEPTION THAT THE UNITED STATES IS ASIA'S DOMINANT ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL PARTNER.

EUROPE TOO -- LIKE THE AMERICANS -- HAS DEVELOPED MASSIVE TRADE RELATIONS. IN FACT, EUROPE DOES NOW VIRTUALLY AS MUCH TRADE WITH ASIA AS THE U-S DOES, AND WE (EUROPE) CERTAINLY DO MORE TRADE WITH ASIA THAN WE DO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT IN INVESTMENT TERMS, EUROPEANS INVEST VASTLY MORE THAN THE AMERICANS DO IN ASIA. //OPT// SO THERE IS AN INTERESTING, STRONG, BUT CLEAR MISCONCEPTION THAT EUROPEANS DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMIC STAKE. //END OPT//

MR. SEGAL SAYS THIS ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT WILL ALSO MARK THE DEBUT ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE OF CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI, WHO ASSUMED THE POST ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO.

ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE 'A-S-E-M' PROCESS IS TO HELP PROVIDE ANOTHER FORUM IN WHICH CHINA IS HELPED TO BECOME MORE INTERDEPENDENT WITH THE GLOBAL SYSTEM. AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS IN 'A-S-E-M,' BECAUSE UNLIKE 'A-P-E-C' -- WHERE EVERYBODY PARTICIPATES AS INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES -- IN THE ASIA-EUROPE RELATIONSHIP THERE ARE TENDENCIES TO SEE IT AS BLOC-TO-BLOC. AND SO THE CHINESE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GET ON WITH OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT, LONG-TERM ATTEMPT TO SOCIALIZE CHINA, TO TEACH IT HOW TO BECOME INTERDEPENDENT.

VARIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HERE HAVE CALLED ON EUROPEAN LEADERS TO PRESS CHINA ON ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD -- ESPECIALLY IN TIBET. THEY SAY THE EUROPEAN UNION IS SO ANXIOUS TO INCREASE TRADE WITH CHINA THAT IT IS WILLING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY BEIJING. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARGUE TRADE SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED ABOVE HUMAN RIGHTS. (SIGNED)
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02-Apr-98 11:34 AM EST (1634 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] FORMER YUGOSLAVIA / TRIBUNAL (L ONLY) BY VALONDA BRUINTON (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SAYS UNITED NATIONS MEMBER-STATES HOLD THE KEY TO THE TRIBUNAL'S SUCCESS. JUDGE GABRIELLE KIRK MCDONALD SAYS NO MATTER HOW MANY SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS ARE TRIED AND CONVICTED FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE BALKAN CONFLICT, THE EFFORTS ARE A WASTE UNLESS STATES COOPERATE WITH THE TRIBUNAL. FROM WASHINGTON, V-O-A'S VALONDA BRUINTON HAS MORE.

TEXT: MS. MCDONALD SAYS THE U-N TRIBUNAL LACKS THE BASIC POWERS AND TOOLS TO DO ITS JOB EFFECTIVELY. IN A LECTURE IN WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY), SHE EXPLAINED THIS IS BECAUSE THE TRIBUNAL IS A CRIMINAL SYSTEM NOT BASED IN ANY ONE COUNTRY, AND THEREFORE IS DENIED CRUCIAL BENEFITS MOST NATIONAL SYSTEMS TAKE FOR GRANTED.

SHE SAID THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEM IS THE ABSENCE OF A FACILITY TO INCARCERATE PEOPLE CONVICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL. SHE SAYS ANOTHER IS GETTING U-N MEMBER STATES TO AGREE TO ENFORCE SENTENCES.

JUDGE MCDONALD EXPLAINS THE TRIBUNAL NEEDS U-N MEMBERS TO SUPPORT IT FULLY IN BOTH WORDS AND DEEDS -- OR THE COURT WILL ULTIMATEY FAIL.

TO ENSURE THAT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAS A FUTURE, WE NEED ACTIVE ASSISTANCE BEYOND WHAT STATES ARE REQUIRED TO DO. COMPLIANCE MUST BECOME THE NORM. STATES MUST EXECUTE OUR ORDERS, STATES MUST ARREST INDIVIDUALS, STATES MUST RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS FOR FACILITIES FOR CONVICTED PERSONS AND FOR VULNERABLE WITNESSES. STATES MUST PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT WE REQUIRE TO BE TRULY EFFECTIVE.

THE JUDGE SAYS ONLY SIX MEMBER STATES HAVE BEGUN NEGOTIATIONS ON ENFORCING SENTENCES, AND JUST 13 HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT CONVICTED WAR CRIMINALS.

FOR A LONG TIME BELGRADE AND CROATIA DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE TRIBUNAL'S RIGHT TO HEAR SUCH CASES OR THEIR JUSRIDICTION AND HAD REFUSED TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTS TO THE COURT.

IN HER SPEECH, MS. MCDONALD ALSO DISCUSSED SOME OF THE SUCCESSES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA INCLUDING THE COMPLETION OF ITS FIRST FULL TRIAL LAST MAY. IN THAT CASE, DUSKO TADIC WAS FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 20 INDICTED SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY AND JUDGE MCDONALD SAYS MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN AWAITING TRIAL FOR TOO LONG. SHE SAYS THE TRIBUNAL NEEDS MORE THAN 11 JUDGES TO INSURE SPEEDY TRIALS.

IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THESE CASES ARE TRIED EXPEDITIOUSLY, THE TRIBUNAL NEEDS ADDITIONAL JUDGES. LAST MONTH I ADDRESSED THE (U-N) SECURITY COUNCIL URGING MEMBERS TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD AMEND THE TRIBUNAL'S STATUTE BY PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL JUDGES TO CREATE A THIRD TRIAL CHAMBER.

THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WAS SET-UP TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND DETERMINE INDIVIDUAL REPSONSIBLY FOR ATROCITIES AND GENOCIDE -- BOTH IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA. SINCE ITS CREATION THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT -- SO THAT CRIMES AGINST HUMANITY MAY BE PUNISHED, NO MATTER WHERE THEY OOCCUR.

THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FOR SUCH A BODY. A DRAFT STATUTE IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED AT A DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE IN ROME IN A FEW MONTHS TIME. JUDGE MCDONALD SAYS STATE COOPERATION WITH THE CURRENT U-N TRIBUNAL WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR FOR WHETHER A PERMANENT COURT WILL WORK. (SIGNED)
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01-Apr-98 7:05 PM EST (0005 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / EURO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY'S HIGHEST COURT HAS REFUSED TO HEAR A LEGAL CHALLENGE BROUGHT BY FOUR PROFESSORS WHO HAD SOUGHT TO BLOCK THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW EUROPEAN CURRENCY. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE GERMAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SAID IN ITS DECISION THAT IT WOULD NOT HEAR THE TWO PETITIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE, IN THE COURT'S WORDS, CLEARLY UNGROUNDED.

THE LEGAL EFFORT TO BLOCK GERMANY FROM TAKING PART IN THE PLANNED SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY WAS MOUNTED BY SEVERAL ACADEMICS, KNOWN AS THE "GANG OF FOUR PROFESSORS."

IN TWO PETITIONS THEY FILED WITH THE COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE PROFESSORS ARGUED THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE TOUGH GUIDELINES FOR ADOPTION OF THE NEW CURRENCY, CALLED THE EURO.

THEY HAD SOUGHT TO HAVE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO DELAYED BEYOND JANUARY OF 1999, WHEN IT IS TO BEGIN REPLACING THE GERMAN MARK AND OTHER EUROPEAN CURRENCIES.

THE COURT RULED THE GOVERNMENT HAD THE AUTHORITY TO JUDGE FOR ITSELF IF THE CRITERIA FOR THE CURRENCY SET BY THE MAASTRICHT TREATY HAD BEEN MET. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COURT SAID THE DECISION TO THROW OUT THE PETITIONS WOULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER SIMILAR CHALLENGES.

MANY ANALYSTS SAID THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED BY THE RULING, WHICH NOW CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE NEW CURRENCY TO GO INTO USE, ON TIME. (SIGNED)
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02-Apr-98 9:31 AM EST (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO / K-L-A BY GIL BUTLER (DRENICA, YUGOSLAVIA)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO HAS BEEN EXTREMELY TENSE SINCE LATE FEBRUARY, WHEN SERBIAN SPECIAL POLICE FORCES SWEPT THROUGH ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGES BELIEVED TO BE HIDING MEMBERS OF THE GUERRILLA GROUP KNOWN AS THE "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY." V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER TRAVELED TO A RURAL AREA IN DRENICA -- THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN HEARTLAND -- AND SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE GUERRILLAS. HERE'S HIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A, IS KNOWN HERE BY ITS ALBANIAN ACRONYM U-C-K, PRONOUNCED OO-CHE-KA. ITS EXISTENCE WAS FIRST REPORTED IN 1997. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF DEADLY ATTACKS ON SERBIAN POLICE, WHICH MANY ETHNIC ALBANIANS CONSIDER AN OCCUPYING FORCE IN KOSOVO.

IT WAS A K-L-A AMBUSH OF A SERBIAN POLICE PATROL THAT PRECEDED THE LATEST SERBIAN GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN THAT, IN THE PAST MONTH, HAS LEFT MORE THAN 80 ETHNIC ALBANIANS DEAD.

REPORTERS GET TO K-L-A TERRITORY BY PASSING THROUGH ROADBLOCKS MANNED BY INCREASINGLY SURLY (ARROGANT & RUDE) SERBIAN POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT DOWN A POT-HOLED GRAVEL ROAD, YOU COME TO ANOTHER KIND OF CHECKPOINT. THIS ONE IS MANNED BY APPARENT K-L-A MEMBERS. THEY INTENSELY QUESTION REPORTERS' CREDENTIALS AND MOTIVES AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NO CAMERAS OR TAPE RECORDINGS ARE ALLOWED. THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE, HOWEVER, IS CORDIAL -- THEY OFFER TURKISH COFFEE, WHICH IS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.

AFTER A SHORT WAIT BESIDE THE ROADBLOCK, REPORTERS -- NERVOUSLY SCANNING THE SKIES FOR SERBIAN AIRCRAFT -- SEE A BATTERED WHITE CAR WITH NO LICENSE TAGS ROAR UP IN A CLOUD OF DUST. FOUR MEN EMERGE -- A GUERRILLA COMMANDER WEARING A BLACK SKI MASK AND A NYLON JOGGING SUIT, AND THREE BODYGUARDS ARMED WITH A-K-47 ASSAULT RIFLES. THE GUARDS WEAR NO MASKS.

THE LOCAL COMMANDER -- EMPHASIZING HIS POINTS BY WAVING A MACHINE PISTOL IN THE AIR -- INSISTS THE K-L-A (OO CHE KA) IS NOT A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, AS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT DESCRIBES IT. HE SAYS, "WE ARE NOT BARBARIANS. WE NEVER KILLED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. EVEN TODAY, WE WILL NOT ATTACK SERBIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN."

WHAT HE IS REFERRING TO IS THE SERBIAN POLICE SWEEP OF SUSPECTED SEPARATIST VILLAGES THAT BEGAN IN LATE FEBRUARY. OF THE MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE KILLED IN THOSE OPERATIONS, MANY WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

NOT ONLY GUERRILLAS, BUT ORDINARY ETHNIC ALBANIANS HERE LOOK ON THOSE POLICE KILLINGS AS A TURNING POINT IN THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE KOSOVO CRISIS. MANY MODERATES SAY THEY HAVE BEGUN TO BELIEVE NEGOTIATIONS AND NON-VIOLENCE WILL NOT SUCCEED WITH SERBIAN AUTHORITIES. INDEED, THIS K-L-A COMMANDER SAYS HE RETURNED TO KOSOVO FROM HIS RESIDENCE IN AN UNNAMED FOREIGN COUNTRY TO TAKE UP ARMS AFTER WHAT HE CALLS "THE FEBRUARY 28TH MASSACRE." THOUGH HE GIVES NO DETAILS OF HOW MANY MEN HE HAS OR WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED, HE SAYS THEY ARE READY, WELL-TRAINED AND ABLE TO DEFEND ALBANIAN HOMES. INTERNATIONAL ANALYSTS SAY THE POROUS BORDER WITH ALBANIA MEANS SMUGGLED WEAPONS ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

WHAT THE K-L-A WANTS, HE SAYS, IS AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OPPOSES THAT, BUT SAYS KOSOVO MUST BE GRANTED A LARGE DEGREE OF SELF-ADMINISTRATION. VERY FEW CIVILIAN ALBANIANS WANT TO GO BACK TO THE AUTONOMY THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TOOK AWAY IN 1989.

SOME INTELLECTUALS SAY AN IDEAL SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR KOSOVO TO BECOME THE THIRD REPUBLIC IN YUGOSLAVIA, ALONG WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.

BUT THE GUERRILLAS IN THE HILLS OF DRENICA SAY EVEN REPUBLIC STATUS WITHIN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION IS NOT AN OPTION. THEY SAY THEY WANT FULL INDEPENDENCE AND WILL FIGHT UNTIL THEY GET IT, EVEN IF ALL THEY HAVE LEFT IS KNIVES.

AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE COMMANDER AND HIS MEN JUMP BACK INTO THE BEAT-UP OLD CAR AND SPEED BACK INTO THE HILLS, TRAILING DUST.

REPORTERS DRIVE TO A VILLAGE WHERE A BLUE ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER OF THE SERBIAN POLICE -- ITS SIREN BLASTING -- PATROLS UP AND DOWN THE DIRT STREETS. ITS MERE PRESENCE ELICITS LOOKS OF ANGER AND DISDAIN FROM GROUPS OF MEN ON THE STREETS OF THIS ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGE. (SIGNED)
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02-Apr-98 12:39 PM EST (1739 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 UP STRONGLY TODAY (THURSDAY) WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE AT A RECORD HIGH BUT JUST SHORT OF NINE THOUSAND. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 89 HUNDRED 86, UP 118 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ELEVEN HUNDRED 20, UP 11 POINTS.

FOR MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON WALL STREET TRADERS WATCHED WITH ANTICIPATION AS THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE NEARED THE NINE THOUSAND LEVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. AT ONE POINT, THE INDEX CAME WITHIN EIGHT POINTS OF THAT MARK BUT DID NOT GO BEYOND IT.

SOME ANALYSTS, SUCH AS MICHAEL CLARK OF THE C-S FIRST BOSTON INVESTMENT COMPANY, SAY THAT ALTHOUGH NINE THOUSAND IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT, THE REAL TEST OF STOCK VALUES WILL BE THE COMING CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1998.

I THINK WHAT IS REALLY MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE NOT SERIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED AS WE COME INTO THIS EARNINGS PERIOD.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS U-S FACTORY ORDERS DROPPED IN FEBRUARY, LARGELY BECAUSE OF WEAK AIRCRAFT DEMAND. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LAST WEEK FELL BY FIVE THOUSAND, INDICATING A CONTINUED TIGHT LABOR MARKET.

THE WOOLWORTH CORPORATION IS CHANGING ITS NAME TO THE VENATOR GROUP. THE COMPANY, WHICH OWNS SEVERAL SPECIALITY FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING CHAINS, IS SHEDDING THE WOOLWORTH NAME AFTER CLOSING ALL THE REMAINING WOOLWORTH STORES IN THE UNITED STATES.

A COALITION OF CONSUMER GROUPS IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO CHANGE U-S PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY LAWS. CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR AMERICANS TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEBTS BY FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER GROUPS ARGUE THE CHANGE WOULD MEAN MANY AMERICANS WOULD BE FORCED TO SELL THEIR HOMES TO PAY CREDITORS.

BRITAIN HAS NOW SURPASSED JAPAN AS THE LARGEST HOLDER OF U-S GOVERNMENT DEBT. THE U-S TREASURY REPORTS THAT, AT THE END OF JANUARY, BRITAIN HELD 300 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF U-S DEBT COMPARED TO 293 BILLION FOR JAPAN. FOR MANY YEARS JAPAN HAD BEEN THE LARGEST HOLDER OF U-S DEBT BUT, BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THERE, JAPAN HAS BECOME A HEAVY SELLER OF U-S SECURITIES.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
02-Apr-98 5:55 PM EST (2255 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DECISION BY A FEDERAL JUDGE TO THROW OUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE AGAINST PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS CAUSED A TIDAL WAVE OF REACTION ACROSS THE EDITORIALS PAGES OF THE COUNTRY THIS THURSDAY.

OTHER TOPICS ARE, HOWEVER, FINDING THEIR WAY INTO THE COMMENTARY SECTIONS, INCLUDING: THE NUCLEAR POLICY OF INDIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT; THE IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH IRAN; THE FAILURE OF CONGRESS TO PASS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM; AND THE STALEMATED MID EAST PEACE TALKS.

NOW WE ARE JOINED BY ____________________WHO HAS A SAMPLING, COMPLETE WITH SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, WASHINGTON-TIME WEDNESDAY, JUDGE SUSAN WEBBER WRIGHT DECLARED IN A SUMMARY JUDGMENT FORMER ARKANSAS STATE EMPLOYEE PAUL CORBIN JONES DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PROOF OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. JUDGE WRIGHT THREW OUT THE CASE, AND THAT NEWS SITS ATOP VIRTUALLY EVERY FRONT PAGE IN THE NATION, BECAUSE IT DRAMATICALLY CHANGES THE WHOLE BALANCE OF VARIOUS SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, NOT JUST THE ONES MS. JONES RAISED.

IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, "THE DENVER POST" GREETED THE NEWS THIS WAY:

VOICE: ...[THE] DISMISSAL ... PROVIDES YET ANOTHER REASON FOR KENNETH STARR TO WRAP UP HIS FOUR-YEAR, 35-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTIGATION OF WHAT USED TO BE CALLED 'WHITEWATER.' ... WITH THE JUSTIFIED DISMISSAL OF THIS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CASE, THE CHARGES AGAINST [PRESIDENT] CLINTON MOVE EVEN MORE FIRMLY INTO THE AREA OF 'NO HARM, NO FOUL.'

TEXT: TAKING A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW IS "THE NEW YORK POST," WHICH CALLS THE JUDGE'S DECISION -- SHOCKING AND QUESTIONABLE -- AND ACCUSES THE JUDGE OF -- JURIST NULLIFICATION.

VOICE: USUALLY, SUMMARY JUDGMENTS ARE ONLY ISSUED WHEN BOTH SIDES ARE IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE CASE. AT THAT POINT, A JUDGE CAN RULE ON WHETHER THE LAW HAS IN FACT BEEN BROKEN, AND IF SHE IS SURE IT HAS NOT, SHE CAN END THE PROCEEDING. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE. ... THE NINE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY STYMIED [JUDGE] WRIGHT'S EFFORTS TO DELAY PRESIDING OVER A CASE SHE CLEARLY HATES RIGHT INTO THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. HAS SHE, WE WONDER, TRIED TO GO ABOVE THEIR HEADS BY GETTING RID OF THE CASE ALTOGETHER?

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS THE RULING ... RAISES AS MANY QUESTIONS AS IT ANSWERS ... INCLUDING:

VOICE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS ANY EVIDENCE THAT MR. STARR HAS DERIVED FROM THE NOW-DISMISSED PAULA JONES LAWSUIT USABLE IN MR. STARR'S EFFORT TO SHOW THAT THE PRESIDENT LIED AND SUBORNED OTHERS' PERJURY IN MATTERS ARISING FROM IT? RATHER THAN REMOVING OR EVEN LIMITING THE PRESIDENT'S QUAGMIRE, THIS LEGAL TANGLE ONLY DEEPENS IT. BUT ON THE INSTANT CASE, THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT: PAUL CORBIN JONES NEVER HAD A CASE. ... SHE FAILED ALL TESTS [IN TRYING TO PROVE SEXUAL ASSAULT].

TEXT: OMAHA'S [NEBRASKA] "WORLD-HERALD" SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON CAN LEGITIMATELY CLAIM LITTLE VINDICATION FROM THE JUDGE'S ACTION, ADDING:

VOICE: THE RULING DOES NOT MEAN ... [MS.] JONES WAS LYING WHEN SHE SAID THAT [MR.] CLINTON, WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS ...INVITED [MS.] JONES TO A ...HOTEL ... ROOM ... DROPPED HIS TROUSERS AND MADE A CRUDE SEXUAL REQUEST. /// OPT /// NOR DOES THE RULING MEAN AN END TO THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION OF CONTRADICTIONS THAT EXIST IN THE SWORN TESTIMONY AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS OF [MR.] CLINTON AND OTHERS REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR WITH MONICA LEWINSKY, KATHLEEN WILLEY AND OTHER WOMEN. /// END OPT /// [HOWEVER,] ... FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HAPPENED IN LITTLE ROCK IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE -- A MATTER THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH NEW VIGOR NOW THAT THE DISTRACTION OF THE JONES LAWSUIT HAS BEEN REMOVED.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST"S ASSESSMENT SUMS UP WITH THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS WON A BIG POLITICAL VICTORY THAT SURELY WILL BE USED BY THE WHITE HOUSE AS AMMUNITION AGAINST ALL THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM. BUT THAT VICTORY DOES NOT CHANGE THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN ON MR. STARR'S PLATE [ AGENDA] -- CONCERNING ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, PERJURY AND THE REST -- LET ALONE ANSWER THEM. WE ASSUME THAT COMES NEXT.

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS AMONG OTHER THINGS:

VOICE: .... WE ARE SATISFIED THAT MS. JONES WAS TREATED RESPECTFULLY BY THE COURT, THAT SHE HAD VIGOROUS REPRESENTATION AND THAT MR. CLINTON AND HIS LAWYER, ROBERT BENNETT, ENJOYED NO UNEARNED ADVANTAGE IN SECURING THEIR VICTORY.

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO THE OTHER TOPICS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, THERE IS CONCERN IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT THE INTEREST IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS BY INDIA'S NEW GOVERNING PARTY, THE B-J-P.

VOICE: LURKING IN THE OTHERWISE REASONABLE AMERICAN WELCOME OF INDIA'S NEW HINDU NATIONALIST-LED COALITION GOVERNMENT IS A TINGE OF CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE OF INDIAN NUCLEAR POLICY. PAST PARTY PRONOUNCEMENTS HAVE FAVORED ENDING THE MAINTENANCE OF WHAT INDIANS HAVE CALLED, SINCE THEIR LONE WEAPONS TEST OF 1974, A NUCLEAR OPTION. INSTEAD THE NOW-GOVERNLNG PARTY WOULD AT THE LEAST DECLARE INDIA A NUCLEAR POWER AND PERHAPS MOVE ON TO MISSILE FLIGHT TESTING, WEAPONS TESTING AND ULTIMATELY DEPLOYMENT. ANY ONE OF THESE STEPS COULD ESCALATE INDIAN-PAKISTANI TENSIONS. ANY ONE COULD CONFOUND THE GLOBAL AMERICAN EFFORT TO CONTAIN PROLIFERATION.

TEXT: TODAY'S "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS ENCOURAGING BOTH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESS TO CONTINUE, THE GRADUAL, DELICATE PROCESS OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH IRAN, WHICH BEGAN WITH A U-S WRESTLING TEAM VISITING TEHERAN.

VOICE: THIS WEEKEND, AN IRANIAN WRESTLING TEAM WILL COMPETE IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. BUT THE HOLDS AND GRAPPLING OF THE ATHLETES IN STILLWATER LIKELY WILL NOT WORK THE INSTANT MAGIC OF THE FAMOUS PING-PONG BALLS. [A REFERENCE TO THE PING-PONG DIPLOMACY OF 1971 BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA] PRESIDENT KHATAMI MAY NOT BE IN POSITION TO PURSUE A SPEEDY RAPPROCHEMENT WITH AMERICA; IRANIAN CONSERVATIVES, LED BY CHIEF SPIRITUAL LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, STILL RAIL AGAINST THE SINS OF 'THE GREAT SATAN.' ... HOWEVER AS THE CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF CHANGES IN IRANIAN BEHAVIOR ACCUMULATES, RECIPROCAL GESTURES BY WASHINGTON ARE IN ORDER.

TEXT: STILL IN THE REGION, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TAKES NOTE OF THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS IN THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS.

VOICE: ALTHOUGH THEY AGREE ON LITTLE ELSE, THE PRINCIPALS IN THE MIDEAST PEACE TALKS CONCUR IN CALLING THE CURRENT SITUATION A STALEMATE. IF THEY ARE TO BE LUCID ABOUT THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS, ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS, AND U-S MEDIATORS SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT A PROTRACTED STALEMATE HARMS ALL PARTIES. WITNESS YESTERDAY'S DISCOVERY OF THE BULLET RIDDEN BODY OF A SUSPECTED HAMAS BOMBER AND THE VOWS OF VENGEANCE FROM THAT ORGANIZATION.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS UPSET AT CONGRESS FOR FAILING TO PUSH THROUGH CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION.

VOICE: NO ONE WAS FOOLED BY THE DECEPTION PRACTICED EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE ... SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH MAY ARGUE THAT HE GAVE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ITS PROMISED FLOOR VOTE. BUT WHAT HE REALLY GAVE IT WAS THE BACK OF HIS HAND. /// OPT ///... THE SOFT MONEY LOOPHOLE ALLOWS UNLIMITED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARTY ORGANIZATIONS -- ON THE SPECIOUS ASSUMPTION SUCH MONEY WILL NOT GO TO HELP INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES. CLOSING IT WOULD RESTORE MEANING TO LAWS FORBIDDING POLITICAL MONEY FROM CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS, AND LIMITING DONATIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES. /// END OPT

TEXT: AND WITH THOSE COMMENTS, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF TOPICS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
02-Apr-98 10:38 AM EST (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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