Voice of America, 98-05-27

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND / WEAPONS BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

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

[04] GREEK STRIKES (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

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

[06] CZECH BORDER PROBLEM BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF SENSITIVE MILITARY INFORMATION ON ROCKET GUIDANCE TO CHINA, AND THE PART THAT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY CHINESE OFFICIALS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE PLAYED IN THE TRANSFER.

IN COMMENTS ON OTHER ASIAN NEWS, THE VOTES FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN HONG KONG'S RECENT ELECTION BRINGS A GOOD DEAL OF REACTION, WHILE A SUPREME COURT DECISION ON ELLIS ISLAND'S LEGAL STANDING IS ALSO A POPULAR TOPIC. THE IRISH VOTE DRAWS MORE RESPONSE, WHILE SPECIAL WHITEWATER COUNSEL KENNETH STARR COMES IN FOR MORE CRITICISM AS TO HIS INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES. THEN THERE IS ALSO CRITICISM OF NEWT GINGRICH ON HIS CURRENT TRAVELS TO ISRAEL.

HERE NOW IS ____________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THERE IS A MOVE IN CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE PERMISSION GRANTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO LAUNCH PRIVATE, U-S COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES ON CHINESE ROCKETS, AND THE LATER PERMISSION TO ALLOW THE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO SHARE U-S INFORMATION ON ROCKET GUIDANCE. WHAT MAKES THE ISSUE ESPECIALLY CONTROVERSIAL IS THE RECENT REPORT OF A 100-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION TO MR. CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FROM A CHINESE MILITARY AND AEROSPACE OFFICER. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER MR. CLINTON MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE CONTRIBUTION TO GIVE VALUABLE ROCKET GUIDANCE INFORMATION TO THE CHINESE. TODAY'S "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS THE MATTER NEEDS CLOSE SCRUTINY.

VOICE: /// OPT /// AS PRESIDENT CLINTON SCROUNGED [SOUGHT] FOR MILLIONS TO WIN REELECTION, DID HE LOWER AMERICA'S GUARD AGAINST CHINA'S MILITARY? /// END OPT /// THIS GRAVE CHARGE CALLS FOR A FULL PROBE BY INVESTIGATORS DEDICATED TO GETTING THE FACTS, NOT FIGHTING POLITICAL WARS OR COVERING THE BOSS' BACK. [MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE PRESIDENT THAT WOULD PROTECT HIM FROM THE CHARGES] .... AND WHY MIGHT THE CHINESE MILITARY DO SUCH A THING? [MAKE THE CONTRIBUTION] PERHAPS TO COAX U-S OFFICIALS TO KEEP RELAXING RESTRICTIONS AGAINST AMERICAN COMPANIES ASKING CHINA TO LAUNCH THEIR SATELLITES. /// OPT /// ..... AT THIS POINT, THIS IS SUSPICION, NOT FACT ...... [BUT IT] SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR INVESTIGATION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO OR, IF NEED BE, AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS SINCE SEVERAL PRESIDENTS HAVE AUTHORIZED U-S SATELLITE LAUNCHES ON CHINESE ROCKETS, DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF U-S LAUNCH VEHICLES, SOME PERSPECTIVE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THESE LATEST ALLEGATIONS. THE PAPER SUGGESTS PARTISAN POLITICS HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL PROTESTS.

VOICE: ...... HERE ARE TWO READILY DISCERNIBLE ISSUES: NATIONAL SECURITY, WHICH WARRANTS CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY, AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. CONGRESS HAS DEMONSTRATED THE THE LATTER IS A SCANDAL DEMANDING ACTION. RATHER THAN PRESSURE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO CANCEL HIS CHINA TRIP, CONGRESS OUGHT TO SEND HIM OFF WITH A SHIELD THAT GUARDS AGAINST BAD POLICY **AND** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] INFLUENCE PEDDLING: CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM THAT INCLUDES A BAN ON 'SOFT MONEY' FROM EVERY SOURCE. AMERICANS COULD THEN REST EASIER.

TEXT: STILL IN ASIAN AFFAIRS, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE PLEASED THAT SEVERAL DEMOCRATS, ALTHOUGH STILL IN THE MINORITY, WERE ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN HONG KONG'S RECENT ELECTIONS, PROBABLY THE ONLY TOTALLY FREE ELECTIONS IN ALL OF CHINA."THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS THE RESULTS "ENCOURAGING," WHILE "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS "DISSENT [IS] ALIVE IN HONG KONG" AND ADDS THAT DESPITE TERRIBLE WEATHER THE ELECTION WAS A SUCCESS.

VOICE: /// OPT /// HONG KONG RESIDENTS BOLDLY SIGNALED THAT THEY ARE NOT APATHETIC, AS WAS WIDELY PRESUMED, OR CONTENT WITH CHINESE RULE. THEY TREASURE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT A FULLY APPOINTED GOVERNMENT. /// END OPT /// ..... THE RESOUNDING MESSAGE IN THE HONG KONG ELECTION: VOTERS WON'T SUBMIT TO CHINA-STYLE GOVERNMENT AND THEY INTEND TO HOLD BEIJING TO ITS PROMISE OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS.'

TEXT: AND AS REGARDS THE PROMISES FOR LIBERALIZATION OF DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA BY THAT NATION'S NEW LEADER, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" COMMENTS:

VOICE: [MR.] HABIBIE HAS PROMISED REFORM, AND THAT'S GOOD, BUT HE HASN'T SAID WHEN THAT REFORM WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THAT'S BAD. DEMONSTRATORS WANT CHANGE SOON, AND UNLESS THE LEADER OF THE WORLD'S FOURTH MOST POPULOUS NATION DELIVERS IT, THERE IS SERIOUS RISK OF RIOTING AND AN ENSUING MILITARY CRACKDOWN. ....... [MR.] HABIBIE ... HAS TO FIRM UP THE TIMETABLE FOR FREE ELECTIONS AND A REWORKING OF INDONESIA'S CONSTITUTION.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THE SUPREME COURT RULES IN A CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHICH STATE, NEW YORK OR NEW JERSEY, ACTUALLY ENCOMPASSES ELLIS ISLAND, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ELLIS IS THE ISLAND IN NEW YORK HARBOR WHICH HOUSED THE IMMIGRATION BUILDINGS, THROUGH WHICH MILLIONS OF EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS WERE PROCESSED IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THIS CENTURY.

THE DECISION, SAYS "NEWSDAY," NOW THAT THE HIGH COURT HAS AWARDED MOST OF THE ISLAND'S TERRITORY TO NEW JERSEY, SAYS NOTHING OF THE ISLAND'S FUTURE.

VOICE: /// OPT /// .... WHAT ISN'T OVER IS THE ARGUMENT ABOUT ELLIS ISLAND'S FUTURE. .... NEW YORK'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS WORKED TO SAVE THE SITE FROM OVERCOMMERCIALIZATION. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME NEW JERSEY POLITICIANS HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS, AND /// END OPT /// YESTERDAY'S EDICT HAS REKINDLED TALK OF USING ELLIS ISLAND FOR A WILLIAMSBURG-STYLE TOURIST COMPLEX OR MAYBE A CONVENTION FACILITY OR PERFORMANCE CENTER. THIS IS WORRISOME. ..... THE ISLAND COULD EASILY BECOME OVERWHELMED BY TOURISTS. WASHINGTON MUST CONTINUE TO SAY NO.

TEXT: LAST WEEK'S IRISH PEACE REFERENDUM VICTORY DRAWS THIS APPRAISAL FROM "THE PROVIDENCE [RHODE ISLAND] JOURNAL-BULLETIN."

VOICE: THE HEARTENING RESULTS OF FRIDAY'S REFERENDUM ON PEACE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND INDICATE THAT SO MANY YEARS OF VIOLENCE MAY BE COMING TO AN END. EVERYONE, WHETHER IRISH OR NOT, HAS REASON TO BE GLAD ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER, IT'S REALISTIC TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS AMID THE INITIAL OPTIMISM. ....... IT TAKES ONLY A HIGHLY DETERMINED AND HEAVILY ARMED MINORITY TO DERAIL PEACE PROCESSES ACCEPTED BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. /// OPT /// PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL NEED TO HOPE ... THE BITTER-ENDERS - - THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT IT ALL THEIR WAY REGARDLESS OF THE COST IN DEATH AND DESTRUCTION - - WILL BE, UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, CHASTENED BY THE CONCILIATORY SPIRIT OF THE REFERENDUM'S RESULTS, EVEN IF NOT CONVINCED BY ITS SUBSTANTIVE MERITS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY AGAIN, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS UPSET WITH THE LATEST TACTICS OF SPECIAL COUNSEL KENNETH STARR AS HE CONTINUES HIS INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ALL HIS ALLEGED WRONG-DOING. HIS LATEST VICTORY IS A FEDERAL COURT RULING THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS ASSIGNED TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE MAY BE FORCED TO TESTIFY TO A GRAND JURY ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE OF THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE BEHAVIOR.

VOICE: WHAT'S EVEN MORE UNSETTLING IS [MR.] STARR'S HEEDLESS TRAMPLING OF FUNDAMENTAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE SAFETY OF FUTURE PRESIDENTS AND THE PRIVACY OF ORDINARY AMERICANS. [MR.] STARR WON A VICTORY OF SORTS LAST WEEK WHEN CHIEF U-S DISTRICT JUDGE NORMA HOLLOWAY JOHNSON RULED THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS MUST ANSWER [MR.] STARR'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW WHILE GUARDING THE PRESIDENT. ..... CLEARLY, SUCH A PRECEDENT COULD DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN A FUTURE PRESIDENT AND HIS SECURITY DETAIL IN SITUATIONS WHERE PROXIMITY AND SPLIT-SECOND REACTIONS COULD BE CRUCIAL IN SAVING A CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S LIFE.

TEXT: BUT IN NEBRASKA, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" SAYS THE JUDGE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN HER RULING.

VOICE: /// OPT /// ..... JUDGE ... JOHNSON CUT THROUGH A LOT OF NONSENSE WHEN SHE RULED AGAINST A CLAIM THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS MUST BE EXEMPT FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE THE WHITEWATER GRAND JURY IN WASHINGTON. ..... JUDGE JOHNSON FOUND NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION, CONGRESSIONAL INTENT OR FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO SUPPORT ANY SUCH IMMUNITY FROM AIDING IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. /// END OPT /// ..... 'WHEN PEOPLE ACT WITHIN THE LAW,' SHE SAID, 'THEY DO NOT ORDINARILY PUSH AWAY THOSE THEY TRUST OR RELY UPON FOR FEAR THAT THEIR ACTIONS WILL BE REPORTED TO A GRAND JURY.' ....A CITIZEN IS ENTITLED TO ASK A MORE BASIC QUESTION. WHY IS THIS PRESIDENT SO INSISTENT ON HAVING THE RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS AND THEN MUZZLE PEOPLE WHO WITNESS IT?

TEXT: HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH IS BEING SOUNDLY CRITICIZED FOR WHAT "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" CALLS "A REMARKABLY DESTRUCTIVE SPEECH," IN WHICH, THE PAPER SAYS, HE "UNDERCUT" THE U-S EFFORT "TO GENTLY RATCHET UP THE PRESSURE ON ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO WITHDRAW ADDITIONAL TROOPS FROM THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. "

VOICE: 'ISRAEL ALONE MUST DETERMINE ITS SECURITY NEEDS,' [MR.] GINGRICH TOLD THE KNESSET. 'WE CANNOT ALLOW NON-ISRAELIS TO SUBSTITUTE THEIR JUDGMENT FOR THE GENERALS' THAT ISRAEL HAS TRUSTED WITH ITS SECURITY. IF ISRAEL IS TO TAKE RISKS FOR PEACE ..... IT MUST BE RISKS SHE ACCEPTS, NOT RISKS THAT ARE IMPOSED UPON HER.' .... THOSE STATEMENTS BY [MR.] GINGRICH CONFIRM WHAT ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAD BEEN TELLING REPORTERS: IN PRIVATE DISCUSSION WITH [MR.] NETANYAHU, [CONGRESSMAN] GINGRICH HAS ENCOURAGED THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONFRONT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON, PROMISING THAT CONGRESS WOULD BACK THE ISRAELI LEADER IN ANY SHOWDOWN [CONFRONTATION] WITH THE PRESIDENT. A FEW YEARS AGO, A CERTAIN FORMER HISTORY PROFESSOR [GINGRICH] WROTE A PASSIONATE ARTICLE FOR THE ... CONSTITUTION IN WHICH HE CONDEMNED SUCH LEGISLATIVE MEDDLING IN FOREIGN POLICY AS DANGEROUS, UNPATRIOTIC AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ...... THE [NEWT] GINGRICH OF 14 YEARS AGO ... WAS IN MANY WAYS FAR WISER THAN THE MAN MAKING HEADLINES NOW.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
27-May-98 11:40 AM EDT (1540 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND / WEAPONS BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: POLITICIANS REPRESENTING NORTHERN IRISH PARAMILITARY GROUPS ARE BEGINNING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO PERSUADE TERRORISTS TO HAND OVER WEAPONS. IN THIS REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN NORTHERN IRELAND: THE ISSUE KNOWN AS "DECOMMISSIONING."

TEXT: "DECOMMISSIONING" IS A WORD USED BY POLITICIANS IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS WHEREBY OUTLAWED PARAMILITARY GROUPS -- SUCH AS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- HAND IN THEIR GUNS, MORTARS AND BOMBS. //OPT// THE ULTIMATE AIM WOULD BE -- AS ONE PARTY LEADER PUT IT -- "TO GET THE GUNS OUT OF IRISH POLITICS." //END OPT//

BUT THAT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. FOR YEARS, POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THIS ISSUE AND FOR YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN THWARTED. UP UNTIL NOW, NOT A SINGLE BULLET OR GUN HAS BEEN HANDED IN -- EITHER BY PRO-IRISH REPUBLICAN OR PRO-BRITISH LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES.

THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REPEATED ITS VIEW THAT IT WILL NEVER DECOMMISSION WEAPONS -- AN ACTION IT CONSIDERS TANTAMOUNT TO SURRENDER. AND THE LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES HAVE RESPONDED BY SAYING: "IF THE I-R-A WILL NOT HAND IN WEAPONS, NEITHER WILL WE."

NEVERTHELESS, THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED IN A REFERENDUM LAST WEEK BY THE PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND SAYS DECOMMISSIONING OF ALL PARAMILITARY WEAPONS MUST BE ACHIEVED WITHIN TWO YEARS, FOLLOWING THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE ACCORD.

AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO FIND WAYS OF PERSUADING PARAMILITARIES TO HAND IN THEIR GUNS. HEADED BY CANADIAN GENERAL JOHN DE CHASTELAIN, IT IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO BRIDGE THE DEEP GAP OF MISTRUST ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SECTARIAN DIVIDE. //OPT// THE TERMS OF A DECOMMISSIONING DEAL MAY INVOLVE PARAMILITARIES BEING GIVEN IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION AND NO FORENSIC TESTS ON THE WEAPONRY HANDED IN, WHICH MIGHT LINK THEM TO UNSOLVED TERRORIST CRIMES. //END OPT//

GEOFF MARTIN IS EDITOR OF THE UNIONIST -- OR PRO-BRITISH -- "BELFAST NEWSLETTER." HE SAYS UNIONISTS ARE VERY LEERY ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS SURRENDERING THEIR WEAPONS.

IF THERE IS NO DECOMMISSIONING, IF THESE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ON BOTH SIDES INSIST ON HOLDING ON TO THEIR WEAPONRY -- WHICH IS QUITE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF GUNS AND BOMBS AND DEVICES: ROCKET LAUNCHERS AND MORTARS AND ALL THE REST OF IT -- IF THE PARAMILITARIES INSIST ON HOLDING ON TO THOSE KINDS OF ARMORIES, THEN IT IS PERHAPS A SIGN THAT THEY ARE NOT QUITE AS COMMITTED IN REALITY TO PEACE AND DEMOCRACY AS THEY SAY THEY ARE.

WHILE THE NORTHERN IRELAND AGREEMENT SAYS DECOMMISSIONING MUST TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE EFFORT WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE NEW NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY. ELECTIONS FOR THAT ASSEMBLY TAKE PLACE NEXT MONTH (EDS: JUNE 25) -- AND THOSE ELECTED TO THE 108-MEMBER BODY WILL CHOOSE NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE ASSEMBLY SAYS THOSE WHO HOLD OFFICE SHOULD GOVERN ONLY BY DEMOCRATIC AND NON-VIOLENT MEANS. JOHN ALDERDICE -- LEADER OF THE NON-SECTARIAN "ALLIANCE" PARTY -- SAYS THAT PUTS SINN FEIN, THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING, IN AN ESPECIALLY AWKWARD POSITION.

ON THE SINN FEIN SIDE, IT HAS BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR, PARTICULARLY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BUT TO SOME EXTENT BY THE IRISH GOVERNMENT TOO, THAT IT IS HARD TO CONCEIVE OF PEOPLE BEING MINISTERS -- NOT ASSEMBLYMEN OR CHAIRMEN -- BUT MINISTERS, WHILE THERE IS STILL SOME QUERY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE INVOLVEMENT IN PARAMILITARISM AND SO ON. //OPT// HOW COULD YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE A MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY KIND OF POLICING OR JUSTICE ISSUES, WHEN YOU WERE NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES HAD PRIVATE ARMIES AND GUNS STASHED AWAY? //END OPT//

MR. ALDERDICE SAYS THE KEY ISSUE IS WHETHER POLITICIANS REPRESENTING PARAMILITARIES ON BOTH SIDES ARE WILLING TO WORK CLOSELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION TO ACHIEVE WEAPONS DECOMMISSIONING. MANY BELIEVE THE COOPERATION WILL ULTIMATELY COME -- BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY QUESTION WHETHER THE MEN OF VIOLENCE WILL RELINQUISH THEIR WEAPONS ANYTIME SOON. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF
27-May-98 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BUT PRICES MADE A STRONG RECOVERY FROM THEIR EARLY LOWS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 36, DOWN 27 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 92, DOWN ONE POINT.

STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN ALL DAY. AT MID-SESSION THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAD LOST MORE THAN 160 POINTS. BUT A STRONG RECOVERY CAME NEAR THE END OF TRADING. THE LATE BUYING SEEMED TO CONFIRM THE VIEWS OF MANY ANALYSTS, SUCH AS AL GOLDMAN OF THE A-G EDWARDS INVESTMENT COMPANY, THAT THE BULL, OR UP, MARKET CONTINUES.

THIS IS ALL PART OF A NORMAL CORRECTIVE PHASE WITHIN A STILL HEALTHY AND FUNDAMENTALLY SUPPORTED BULL MARKET.

ANALYSTS SAY THE EARLIER STRONG SELLING WAS A CARRYOVER FROM TUESDAY'S 150 POINT DROP IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ALONG WITH CONTINUED WORRIES ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA AND THE OUTLOOK FOR U-S CORPORATE PROFITS.

THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY SAYS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA MEANS BOEING WILL REDUCE PRODUCTION OF THE 747 JUMBO JET. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY CONCEDES IT IS STILL FACING SERIOUS PRODUCTION PROBLEMS WITH ITS 737 JETLINER WITH DELIVERY DELAYS EXPECTED UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS IT WILL RECALL MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND OF ITS F-SERIES LIGHT TRUCKS. FORD SAYS THERE IS A POTENTIAL STEERING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLES.

THE SPRINT TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY SAYS IT WILL RESTRUCTURE THE COMPANY BY SPLITTING ITS LONG DISTANCE AND MOBILE TELEPHONE OPERATIONS INTO SEPARATE COMPANIES.

THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN SAYS ITS LATEST "BEANIE BABIES" TOY PROMOTION IN THE UNITED STATES IS A GREAT SUCCESS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS BEEN BREAKING SALES RECORDS SINCE THE LATEST PROGRAM BEGAN ON FRIDAY. LAST YEAR, THE PROMOTION WAS SOMETHING OF AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR MCDONALD'S. CONSUMERS WERE REQUIRED TO BUY A MEAL IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A "BEANIE BABY" DOLL. MANY CUSTOMERS BOUGHT THE MEALS ONLY TO OBTAIN THE DOLLS AND IMMEDIATELY THREW THE FOOD IN THE GARBAGE. THIS YEAR, THE COMPANY IS ALLOWING THE PURCHASE OF "BEANIE BABIES" SEPARATELY FROM MEALS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
27-May-98 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] GREEK STRIKES (L-ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: A 24-HOUR GENERAL STRIKE IN GREECE WEDNESDAY HAS BEEN MARRED BY CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND TRADE UNIONISTS PROTESTING A NEW WAVE OF GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY MEASURES. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORT FROM ATHENS ON THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT'S TOUGH SHOWDOWN WITH AGGRESSIVE UNIONISTS.

TEXT: IT WAS THE LATEST SHOW OF LABOR UNREST IN GREECE, AND ONCE AGAIN IT TURNED VIOLENT.

GREEK RIOT POLICE, WIELDING WOODEN CLUBS AND FIBERGLASS SHIELDS, CLASHED WITH THOUSANDS OF MILITANT UNIONISTS AS THEY MARCHED THROUGH ATHENS TO PROTEST RADICAL FINANCIAL REFORMS.

SIMILAR CLASHES ALSO ROCKED THE PORT CITY OF PIREAUS, WHERE STRIKING TRADE UNION MEMBERS HURLED STICKS AND STONES AT SCORES OF RIOT POLICE.

THE CLASHES MARRED A NATIONWIDE WALK-OUT BY GREEK WORKERS OPPOSED TO THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO AUCTION OFF ABOUT A DOZEN STATE-OWNED COMPANIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC UTILITIES AND BANKS -- AMONG THEM, IONIAN BANK, WHOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN PICKETING FOR WEEKS, DRAWING FIERY CRITICISM FROM INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES EXASPERATED BY WHAT THEY CALL, THE BANK'S "BUSINESS INERTIA."

GREEK TRANSPORT WAS PARALYZED DURING THE NATIONWIDE STRIKE, LEAVING AIRPLANES GROUNDED AT AIRPORTS, TRAINS AND BUSES IDLE, AND BOATS DOCKED AT STATE PORTS.

GREECE IS THE EUROPEAN UNION'S POOREST MEMBER AND IT IS TRYING TO SHRINK ITS PUBLIC DEBTS, CURB INFLATION AND SLIM AN OBESE PUBLIC SECTOR IN ITS BID TO JOIN EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION BY THE YEAR 2001.

BUT MILITANT UNIONISTS -- CONSIDERED THE BACKBONE OF THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENTS BLUE-COLLAR SUPPORT -- ARE BLOCKING GREECE'S PLANNED ROAD TO REFORM AND THREATENING PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS'S STAY IN POWER.

RATED TWO YEARS AGO AS GREECE'S MOST POPULAR-EVER PRIME MINISTER, MR. SIMITIS'S POPULARITY HAS TAKEN A NOSE DIVE SINCE DEVALUING THE NATIONAL CURRENCY BY 14 PERCENT AND UNVEILING HIS PACKAGE OF ECONOMIC REFORMS IN MARCH.

THAT'S ALSO WHEN POLICE BEGAN WIELDING CLUBS AND FIRING TEAR-GAS ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, FANNING THE ANGER OF MILITANT UNIONIST.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE SPLIT OVER THE PROSPECT OF A CABINET RESHUFFLE OR HOLDING SNAP ELECTIONS. STILL, THEY ALL AGREE THAT PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS'S SHOWDOWN WITH THE UNIONISTS WILL MAKE -- OR BREAK -- GREECE'S FUTURE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/PCF
27-May-98 9:26 AM EDT (1326 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL SHARPLY IN TRADING WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE TURMOIL ON WORLD MARKETS HIT ALL THE MAJOR EXCHANGES IN EUROPE. SHARE PRICES CLOSED SHARPLY LOWER, AFTER A BIG DROP TUESDAY ON WALL STREET, A DOWN DAY IN ASIAN MARKETS, AND A FURTHER SELL-OFF ON WALL STREET ON WEDNESDAY.

IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX INDEX FELL 173 POINTS, JUST OVER THREE PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 99 POINTS, TWO-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX FELL MORE THAN 100 POINTS, ONE-AND-SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/WFR
27-May-98 2:10 PM EDT (1810 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] CZECH BORDER PROBLEM BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS BECOMING THE FAVORITE ILLEGAL ENTRY POINT FOR NUMEROUS IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO REACH THE WEST, NOTABLY GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE WARNED THE PRAGUE GOVERNMENT THAT THEIR SUPPORT FOR PENDING CZECH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION DEPENDS, IN PART, ON TIGHTER BORDER CONTROLS TO STEM THIS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRAFFIC. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS MORE FROM PRAGUE:

TEXT: THE PROBLEM IS THE NOTORIOUSLY LEAKY BORDER BETWEEN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA -- A DIVISION RESULTING FROM THE BREAKUP OF THE FORMER CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

IN RECENT MONTHS, CZECH BORDER POLICE HAVE APPREHENDED DOZENS OF AFGHANS, IRANIANS, KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND EVEN TWO ALGERIANS TRYING TO GET INTO GERMANY. ALL HAD MANAGED TO CROSS THE CZECH REPUBLIC FROM SLOVAKIA UNDETECTED BEFORE BEING APPREHENDED AT THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH GERMANY.

CZECH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE DETENTIONS ARE TESTIMONY TO THEIR STEPPED UP BORDER CONTROLS. BUT THEY ADMIT IT IS MORE COMMON FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE DETAINED IN GERMANY AFTER THEY HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER, BEEN ARRESTED BY GERMAN BORDER POLICE AND DEPORTED BACK TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

PAVEL TYCHTL OF THE "ORGANIZATION FOR AID TO REFUGEES" -- OR O-P-U AS ITS KNOWN BY ITS CZECH INITIALS -- SAYS SO FAR, THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PROBLEM OF ITS OWN, SINCE MOST MIGRANTS ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH, ATTEMPTING TO JOIN ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN COUNTRIES:

THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED, AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THEY WILL BE DEVELOPING HERE AT THE MOMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. //OPT// IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR SOMEONE FROM SRI LANKA TO COME HERE AND SET UP A COMMUNITY WHEN THEY HAVE SUCH A COMMUNITY ALREADY IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NETHERLANDS. //END OPT//

MR. TYCHTL SAYS THERE ARE CASES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DEPORTED UP TO FIVE TIMES FROM GERMANY BACK TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC BECAUSE THEY TRY REPEATEDLY TO GET INTO GERMANY.

ALTHOUGH GERMANY RECENTLY TIGHTENED ITS ASYLUM LAW -- ONCE THE MOST LIBERAL IN EUROPE -- IT STILL REMAINS THE EASIEST COUNTRY IN EUROPE TO BE GRANTED REFUGEE STATUS, WHICH ALLOWS A SMALL AMOUNT OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. STATISTICS COMPILED BY O-P-U SHOW THAT LAST YEAR, GERMANY RECEIVED MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND APPLICATIONS FOR ASYLUM, COMPARED WITH LESS THAN HALF THAT NUMBER SEEKING TO ENTER BRITAIN, AUSTRIA AND THE NETHERLANDS. //END OPTS//

PAVEL TYCHTL SAYS WHILE THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS DOING ITS BEST TO HELP STEM THE TIDE OF ILLEGAL ALIENS, CLOSING BORDERS IS NOT THE WAY:

WHAT N-G-O'S (NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS) AND STATE INSTITUTIONS ARE TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN EUROPE SO NO ONE COUNTRY, SUCH AS GERMANY, TAKES THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY.

ONE SUGGESTION, SAYS MR. TYCHTL, IS TO GIVE AID MONEY TO TRANSIT COUNTRIES LIKE ITALY, GREECE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO ALLOW THEM TO RESETTLE REFUGEES WITHIN THEIR BORDERS. ASKED WHETHER CZECHS MIGHT NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE XENOPHOBIA (OR ANTI-FOREIGN SENTIMENT) SWEEPING ACROSS WESTERN EUROPE, MR. TYCHTL REPLIED THAT EUROPE NEEDS TO LEARN A LESSON FROM AMERICA -- WHERE, HE SAYS, IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTED TO AND CREATED THE WEALTH OF THE NATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/PCF/WFR
27-May-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article