Voice of America, 98-06-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] U-S/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[03] WOMEN'S DELEGATION ON KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

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

[06] THURSDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: VOTERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE CASTING BALLOTS FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL IN EFFECT BE THE PROVINCE'S GOVERNMENT. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: POLITICAL LEADERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND SAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LARGE VOTER TURNOUT TO GIVE THE NEW 108-MEMBER ASSEMBLY THE NECESSARY LEGITIMACY IT NEEDS TO EFFECTIVELY GOVERN THE BRITISH PROVINCE. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT ANTICIPATE A REPEAT OF THE 80 PERCENT VOTER TURNOUT IN LAST MONTH'S POLITICAL REFERENDUM WHICH ESTABLISHED THIS ASSEMBLY.

THE ASSEMBLY WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE OVER MANY OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES NOW HELD BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINISTER: SUCH LOCAL ISSUES AS EDUCATION, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS THAT PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILL HAVE A SAY IN RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS -- BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE TRANSITION FROM WESTMINSTER TO BELFAST IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THE LEADER OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S NON-SECTARIAN 'ALLIANCE' PARTY - JOHN ALDERDICE -- SAYS THE NEW ASSEMBLY WILL ALSO HAVE OTHER DIFFICULT ISSUES TO DEAL WITH.

THE ISSUE OF PARADES IS GOING TO BE COMING UP IN JUST A WEEK OR TWO'S TIME: ONE OF THE FIRST TESTS FOR THE NEW ASSEMBLY - ALTHOUGH IT WILL NOT HAVE POWER, IT WILL BE A POLITICAL TEST. THE ISSUE OF POLICING AND HOW THAT IS DEALT WITH. THE PRISONERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE COMMITTED TERRIBLE CRIMES AND YET MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY RELEASES OR ACCELERATED RELEASES. THERE ARE A SERIES OF VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES AND PEOPLE SAY TO THEMSELVES : "WELL, I HOPE IT (THE ASSEMBLY) WORKS AND I AM GOING TO VOTE TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD WORK" -- BUT OF COURSE THE PRESSURES WILL BE VERY CONSIDERABLE AND THERE IS AN ANXIETY AROUND IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT.

THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED LAST MONTH BY NORTHERN IRELAND VOTERS. BUT SOME PRO-BRITISH POLITICIANS - INCLUDING HARDLINER IAN PAISLEY - CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THAT ACCORD AND THEY HAVE VOWED TO BLOCK PROGRESS IN THE WORK OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY, IF THEY ARE ELECTED.

MR. ALDERDICE SAYS ONE CAN NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE STRENGTH OF HARDLINERS SUCH AS IAN PAISLEY.

HE HAS EVERYTHING TO LOSE FROM A HEALING OF THE DIVISIONS. HE KNOWS THAT AND HE WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS FRUSTRATED. AND THERE ARE THOSE ON THE REPUBLICAN (PRO-IRISH) SIDE TOO -- I MAY SAY -- WHO ALSO FEEL THEY HAVE EVERYTHING TO LOSE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT A UNITED IRELAND. IT IS ABOUT A UNITED NORTHERN IRELAND WITH GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WITH THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. THAT IS NOT WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND IT IS NOT WHAT IAN PAISLEY HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR ON THE LOYALIST (PRO-BRITISH) SIDE EITHER.

JOHN ALDERDICE HOPES THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND WILL VOTE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES WHO FAVOR A WORKING, POWER-SHARING ASSEMBLY -- AND THUS MARGINALIZE THOSE VOICES WHO WANT TO STAY WEDDED TO THE PAST. (SIGNED)
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25-Jun-98 12:40 PM EDT (1640 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-S/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: INTENSIVE DIPLOMACY IS UNDERWAY TO TRY TO REACH A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, WHERE INSURGENT ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE FIGHTING SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS THERE ARE SOON LIKELY TO BE POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INSURGENT K-L-A, OR KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

TEXT: ON WEDNESDAY, AMERICAN ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE TOURED ETHNIC ALBANIAN AREAS IN KOSOVO TO SEE FIRST-HAND THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE SERBIAN CRACKDOWN AND THE FIGHTING WITH THE K-L-A.

HE MET FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR WITH K-L-A MEMBERS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT DESCRIBED THE SESSION AS FACT FINDING -- NOT POLITICAL.

BUT STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE POLITICAL TALKS WITH THE K-L-A SOON, HOWEVER MUCH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MIGHT OBJECT.

WE WOULD EXPECT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ALL ELEMENTS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIAN SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. ALTHOUGH THAT (HOLBROOKE'S VISIT) WAS NOT POLITICAL CONTACT -- IT WAS MORE IN THE NATURE OF FACT-FINDING -- I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE POLITICAL CONTACT SOON, AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS JUST GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT FACT. HE HAS RADICALIZED THE POPULATION; HE HAS INCREASED THE SUPPORT AMONG THE POPULATION FOR THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AND THEREFORE THEY ARE A REALITY THERE.

MR. RUBIN SAID AN INTENSIVE DIPLOMATIC EFFORT IS UNDERWAY. U-S ENVOY ROBERT GELBARD HAS BEEN MEETING WITH AMERICAN ALLIES AND WITH KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA; MR. HOLBROOKE HAS MET WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. IT IS A PROCESS THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN CALLED "VIRTUAL NEGOTIATIONS", REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT NO FACE TO FACE MEETINGS BETWEEN MR. RUGOVA AND MR. MILOSEVIC ARE LIKELY UNTIL SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES ARE PULLED BACK.

THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT SPELLED OUT WHAT KIND OF FUTURE IT WOULD LIKE FOR KOSOVO AND ITS MAINLY ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION, EXCEPT TO SAY THERE SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED AUTONOMY. MR. MILOSEVIC EFFECTIVELY ENDED KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY IN 1989. (SIGNED)
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25-Jun-98 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] WOMEN'S DELEGATION ON KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THIS WEEK HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS FROM KOSOVO ARE IN WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, AND BOSTON, TRYING TO CONVINCE U-S LAWMAKERS AND FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALISTS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD RESPOND TO THE ESCALATING BALKAN CRISIS WITH FORCE. ON MONDAY, THE MULTIETHNIC DELEGATION ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE ABOUT THE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND CIVILIANS WHO ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF

TEXT: THE WOMEN'S DELEGATION ON KOSOVO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO REPORT ON THEIR FRONT-LINE WORK IN HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA. JOHN FOX, DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE, MODERATED THE MEETING AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE ON JUNE 22. MR. FOX SAID, UNLIKE THE EARLIER WARS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, WITH THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO, THE WORLD KNOWS VERY LITTLE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- FOX (0:35) "WHAT'S STRIKING TO MANY OF US WHO EXPERIENCED THE BOSNIAN AND CROATIAN AND OTHER WARS IS HOW MUCH WE KNEW AT THE TIME OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. NOW THAT WE SEE THIS WAR UNFOLDING IN KOSOVO, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNEW A GREAT DEAL IN REAL TIME ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT DEVELOPED OUT OF THE CONFLICT IN THE EARLIER WARS, AND THAT WE NOW AT THIS POINT KNOW PERILOUSLY LITTLE. AND OF COURSE THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE SHUTTING OFF OF ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MONITORS, AID AGENCIES, MEDIA."

TEXT: THE WOMEN'S DELEGATION ON KOSOVO ACCUSED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF A CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT IS KILLING PRIMARILY WOMEN AND CHILDREN. DR. VJOSA DOBRUNA [VEE-OH-SAH DO-BROO-NAH], DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PRISTINA, HAS WORKED FOR MANY YEARS AS A PEDIATRICIAN AND TRAUMA CARE SPECIALIST. SHE HAS RECENTLY BEEN PROVIDING COUNSELLING TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND MONITORING THE ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO. DR. DOBRUNA SAYS MANY ROADS ARE BLOCKED AND NO HUMANITARIAN RELIEF CAN REACH CIVILIANS IN TERRITORIES WHERE MOST OF THE SERBIAN ATTACKS AGAINST KOSOVARS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED. SHE SAYS IN AN AREA WITH SIX TO SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND INHABITANTS -- MOST OF WHOM ARE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE DISABLED -- MEDICINE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- DOBRUNA (0:13) "THE BOTTOM LINE -- THIS IS A WAR AGAINST CIVILIANS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE KILLED ARE CIVILIANS. IT IS PROGRESSIVE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF ALL WESTERN KOSOVO AND CENTRAL KOSOVO."

TEXT: DR. DOBRUNA ESTIMATES THERE ARE "MORE THAN 100,000 DISPLACED PEOPLE" -- A FIGURE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS GENERALLY QUOTED IN WESTERN MEDIA. SHE SAYS AS MANY AS 12,000 REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO MAY HAVE REACHED ALBANIA AND ANOTHER 8,000 HAVE SOUGHT SANCTUARY IN MONTENEGRO. DR. DOBRUNA SAYS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO FACT-FINDING IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO IS ON THE MOVE. (OPT) ROADS INTO AREAS UNDER SIEGE ARE BLOCKED, THE DOCTOR EXPLAINS, FORCING HUMANITARIAN WORKERS TO GO ON FOOT AND RISK SNIPER FIRE. DR. DOBRUNA SAYS DOCTORS AND HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR CARRYING MEDICINE OR FOOD IN THEIR CARS, AND SEVERAL ARE NOW MISSING. (END OPT)

EDITOR AFERDITA KELMENDI [AF-ER-DEE-TAH KEL-MEN-DEE] FOUNDED AND DIRECTS THE MEDIA PROJECT, AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN PRISTINA. IT INCLUDES A MEDIA CENTER WITH TELEVISION AND RADIO PRODUCTION, AND AN INTERNET-DELIVERED, INDEPENDENT RADIO SERVICE -- RADIO 21. MS. KELMENDI IS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE KOSOVO SITUATION.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- KELMENDI (0:32) "I WILL DESCRIBE FOR YOU A DAY IN MY LIFE -- AS A JOURNALIST, AS A WOMAN, AND AS A MOTHER. I WORK ALL THE DAY. AT 12 MIDNIGHT I GO HOME AND FINALLY SEE MY CHILDREN, AND IN THEIR EYES I SEE THE QUESTION, 'WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME?' AND I HAVE NO ANSWER. OUR TOMORROW EVERY DAY IS BAD NEWS. EVERY DAY IT'S A WORSE AND WORSE SITUATION, AND EVERY DAY SIGNS THAT THE WAR IS SPREADING."

TEXT: NATASA KANDIC [NAH-TAHSH-AH KAHN-DICH] DIRECTS THE HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER IN BELGRADE, WHICH ALSO HAS A VERY ACTIVE OFFICE IN PRISTINA. HER CENTER HAS DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SINCE 1990. MS. KANDIC SAYS THAT SINCE THE SERBIAN POLICE ACTION IN DRENICA THIS YEAR ON FEBRUARY 28, THE POLICE HAVE REPEATED THEIR ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- KANDIC (0:33) "THE MAIN VICTIMS ARE CIVILIANS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND WOMEN. AFTER EVERY ATTACK [BY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] ON POLICE FORMATIONS IN KOSOVO, THE POLICE RESPONSE IS VERY STRONG, AND IT IS REPRESSION AGAINST CIVILIANS IN VILLAGES. WE REGISTERED MANY SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW. MANY CIVILIANS WERE KILLED WITHOUT ANY REASON. THEY WERE NOT PARTICIPANTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS."

TEXT: MS. KANDIC SAYS THE HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTER HAS PUBLISHED A REPORT ON THESE VIOLATIONS IN BELGRADE'S INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND IN THE ALBANIAN MEDIA THAT REACHES KOSOVO. SHE SAYS SHE BELIEVES THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT MASS KILLINGS OF CIVILIANS IN DRENICA SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. AND, SHE ADDS, UNLESS THERE IS INTERNATIONAL ACTION IN KOSOVO, SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES CAN ONLY SEE A CONTINUATION OF THE ARMED CONFLICT.
25-Jun-98 10:23 AM EDT (1423 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY KEVIN LYNCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCKS IN EUROPE FINISHED AT, OR NEAR, RECORD LEVELS ON THURSDAY, DRIVEN UP ONCE AGAIN BY GOOD NEWS FROM WALL STREET. KEVIN LYNCH IN LONDON HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM EUROPE.

TEXT: IT WAS A VERY GOOD MARKET DAY IN EUROPE, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO WALL STREET, WHERE THE DOW JONES JUMPED WELL OVER TWO HUNDRED POINTS IN 48 HOURS. SHARES IN FRANKFURT REACHED NEW PEAKS, WHILE THE PARIS MARKET CAME VERY CLOSE TO TOPPING ITS ALL-TIME HIGH.

HERE ARE THE CLOSING FIGURES FROM EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS. IN FRANKFURT, THE DAX CLOSED ONE HUNDRED TWO POINTS HIGHER, A GAIN OF ONE AND THREE QUARTERS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 SHARE INDEX FINISHED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 77 POINTS, OR ONE POINT NINE PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES 100 SHARE INDEX CAME CLOSE TO ITS RECORD HIGH IN EARLY TRADING, BUT DROPPED LATER IN THE DAY, FINISHING A STILL RESPECTABLE 54 POINTS HIGHER, A GAIN OF ALMOST ONE PERCENT.

THE PRICE OF GOLD IN LONDON IS 293 DOLLARS AN OUNCE, DOWN 50 CENTS. THE U-S DOLLAR POSTED MIXED RESULTS AGAINST THE MAJOR CURRENCIES IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
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25-Jun-98 2:25 PM EDT (1825 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 MIXED TODAY (THURSDAY) AFTER SOME SELLING LATE IN THE SESSION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 89 HUNDRED 35, UP 11 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 11 HUNDRED 29, DOWN THREE POINTS.

STOCKS WERE UP STRONGLY UNTIL THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING WHEN SELLING PRESSURES DEVELOPED. ANALYSTS SAY THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME PROFIT-TAKING AFTER TWO STRAIGHT DAYS OF STRONG RALLIES.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE U-S ECONOMY GREW BY A VERY STRONG FIVE POINT FOUR PERCENT ANNUAL RATE IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THAT WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND THE STRONGEST GROWTH RATE IN ALMOST TWO YEARS.

SALES OF EXISTING HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES REBOUNDED IN MAY AND A REAL ESTATE GROUP SAYS SALES MAY SET A RECORD OF FOUR POINT FIVE MILLION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS CLAIMING JOBLESS BENEFITS JUMPED BY 34 THOUSAND LAST WEEK. MUCH OF THE INCREASE CAME FROM GENERAL MOTORS WORKERS WHO ARE TEMPORARILY OUT OF WORK BECAUSE OF STRIKES AT TWO G-M PARTS PLANTS.

THE MICROSOFT COMPANY IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF ITS NEW "WINDOWS 98" COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM WHICH WENT ON SALE THURSDAY, PRICED AT ABOUT 90 DOLLARS. MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN BILL GATES EXPECTS MANY COMPUTER OWNERS TO REPLACE OLDER VERSIONS OF "WINDOWS."

PEOPLE USE THEIR COMPUTERS QUITE EXTENSIVELY. SO THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN GET THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEW CAR OR A NEW STEREO FOR LESS THAN 100 DOLLARS. YOU GET BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DEVELOPMENT WORK EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS. I THINK THAT IS AN EXCITING THING.

INTERVIEWED BY THE C-N-B-C BUSINESS NETWORK, MR. GATES SAID MICROSOFT WILL INTRODUCE ANOTHER NEW OPERATING SYSTEM WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I-T-T INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WILL SELL ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BUSINESS TO THE VALEO AUTO PARTS COMPANY OF FRANCE. VALEO WILL PAY ONE POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE U-S CONGRESS ARE PROPOSING A LAW AIMED AT REDUCING CIGARETTE SMOKING BY AMERICAN TEENAGERS. THE BILL EMPHASIZES EDUCATION AND INCREASED PENALTIES. BUT IT WOULD COST TOBACCO COMPANIES ONLY A FRACTION OF THE MORE THAN 500 BILLION DOLLARS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY UNDER A WHITE HOUSE SUPPORTED PROPOSAL RECENTLY ABANDONED BY THE U-S SENATE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
25-Jun-98 5:11 PM EDT (2111 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] THURSDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON BEGINNING HIS HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA, THERE ARE SEVERAL EDITORIALS IN THURSDAY U-S PAPERS ABOUT THE TRIP, INCLUDING ONE ENTITLED "A SOUR SEND-OFF," IN "THE WASHINGTON POST," REFERRING TO THE CHINESE BAN AGAINST THREE RADIO FREE ASIA REPORTERS MAKING THE JOURNEY.

OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST IN TODAY'S PAPERS INCLUDE A MAJOR COURT RULING IN FAVOR OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE GIANT MICROSOFT; THE LATEST ON IRAQI CHEMICAL WEAPONS; THE SCOURGE OF AIDS OVERSEAS, AND SOME THOUGHTS ON THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION TREATIES IN THE WAKE OF INDIAN AND PAKISTANI BOMB TESTS. NOW, HERE AT THE MICROPHONE IS __________________ WITH SOME OF THE EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CRITICIZES BEIJING FOR REFUSING ENTRY TO THREE RADIO FREE ASIA JOURNALISTS.

VOICE: CHINA'S DECISION TO BAR THREE JOURNALISTS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PRESS PLANE CONTRIBUTES TO A LESS THAN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING OF HIS NINE-DAY VISIT, THE FIRST TO CHINA BY A U-S PRESIDENT SINCE THE TIANANMEN MASSACRE ..... ONE WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT CHINA WOULD RESPECT THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT TO TRAVEL WITH A DELEGATION OF PRESS CORPS OF AMERICA'S CHOOSING. ONE WOULD HAVE HOPED, TOO, THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE FOUGHT HARDER FOR THAT RIGHT - - AT LEAST CANCELING THE TOURIST PORTIONS OF HIS VISIT IN PROTEST. INSTEAD, MR. CLINTON ACQUIESCED IN CHINA'S SLIGHT.

TEXT: /// OPT /// "THE POST" ALSO FAULTS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILING TO TAKE THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S TOP COORDINATOR ON TIBET IN A CHINA TRAVELING PARTY OF ABOUT ONE-THOUSAND PEOPLE. /// END OPT ///

RONALD REAGAN'S STIRRING SPEECH ON DEMOCRACY DURING A VISIT TO THE SOVIET UNION IS SUGGESTED AS A MODEL FOR THE PRESIDENT BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: WE WOULD FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE LASTING VALUE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP ..... IF WE KNEW THAT SOMEONE HAD INCLUDED AMONG HIS BRIEFING PAPERS A SUMMARY OF RONALD REAGAN'S EXTRAORDINARY VISIT TO THE SOVIET UNION IN 1988. MR. REAGAN USED THAT TRIP TO MEET WITH PROMINENT DISSIDENTS AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO SOVIET AUDIENCES ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND THE ADVANTAGES OF DEMOCRACY, AND THERE WAS LITTLE THAT HIS HOST, MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, COULD DO ABOUT IT BUT GRUMBLE. ..... BILL CLINTON HAS THE SAME LUXURY. THE CAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE POORER IF HE SQUANDERS IT.

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

VOICE: IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS NOT WHAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON TAKES WITH HIM TO THE SUMMIT MEETING IN CHINA THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT HE BRINGS HOME. THE DUALLY FOCUSED JOB HE HAS SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH IS DIFFICULT, EVEN DICEY, [RISKY] AT BEST. YET HE BEGINS WITH CONSIDERABLE GOOD WILL FROM THE CHINESE, WHO RANK HIM WITH FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND RICHARD NIXON AS AMERICAN PRESIDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND CHINA'S IMPORTANCE IN THE WORLD.

TEXT: AND IN "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" THERE IS A REMINDER THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON LEAVES BEHIND SEVERAL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, ALL RELATED TO CHINA, THAT ARE OCCUPYING CONGRESS.

VOICE: LAST WEEK CONGRESS ESTABLISHED A SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHINA ..... WHICH OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WILL ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE WHETHER LORAL INC. AND HUGHES ELECTRONICS TRANSFERRED SENSITIVE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO THE CHINESE IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING THEIR SATELLITE FROM THAT COUNTRY. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND TIBET ACTIVISTS ARE VOCIFEROUSLY CRITICAL OF MR. CLINTON'S RECORD ....... [AND] AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE CHINESE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY THE ... JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS ELICITING ..... CHARGES FROM FORMER FRIEND OF BILL [CLINTON] JOHNNY CHUNG .......THAT THE D-N-C KEPT SOLICITING FUNDS FROM [MR.] CHUNG EVEN THOUGH IT KNEW FULL WELL .... HE WAS A CONDUIT FOR CHINESE [GOVERNMENT] MONEY.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THE BIG TOPIC IS A COURT DECISION THIS WEEK FAVORING THE GIANT COMPUTER SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER MICROSOFT, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT FEARS HAS TURNED INTO A MONOPOLY. THE RULING OVERTURNS A LOWER COURT FINDING THAT THE COMPANY COULD NOT INCLUDE ITS INTERNET BROWSER SOFTWARE WITH ITS COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM. "THE NEW YORK POST" SUGGESTS THE COMPANY'S POWERFUL POSITION CAN STILL BE ERODED BY MARKET PLACE FORCES RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION.

VOICE: THE IDEA WAS THAT SUCH A MOVE WOULD PRESERVE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET FOR INTERNET BROWSERS. [THESE ARE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE LOCATE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, A LINK-UP OF COMPUTERS AROUND THE WORLD OFFERING DETAILED INFORMATION ON VIRTUALLY EVERY TOPIC IMAGINABLE] ...... TRUE, MICROSOFT HAS A DOMINANT POSITION IN THE SOFTWARE MARKET RIGHT NOW. BUT IT IS A POSITION FRAUGHT WITH PERIL. A FEW MISTAKES - - SUCH AS I-B-M AND APPLE [COMPUTER COMPANY] MADE OVER A DECADE AGO - - COULD LAND THE COMPANY BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, OR WORSE. ..... ALL OF THIS IS SO BLINDINGLY OBVIOUS THAT EVEN BLINKERED JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TYPES OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS UNHAPPY WITH THE LATEST RULING, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: IT IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE COURTS TO GRANT MICROSOFT A PERMANENT CHOKE HOLD OVER THE ENTIRE EXPANDING WORLD OF THE INTERNET.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS UPSET BY THE LATEST REVELATIONS THAT IRAQ HAS NOT ONLY PRODUCED THE NERVE GAS V-X, BUT PLACED IT IN WEAPONS.

VOICE: LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF FRAGMENTS OF MISSILE WARHEADS FOUND IN IRAQI DESERT REVEALED TRACES OF V-X, A COLORLESS AND ODORLESS LIQUID THAT TURNS INTO A GAS WHEN IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH OXYGEN. A FEW DROPS OF V-X ON THE SKIN KILLS WITHIN MINUTES. /// OPT /// RICHARD BUTLER, WHO HEADS THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN TRYING SINCE 1991 TO FERRET OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS, HAS TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT THE EVIDENCE OF V-X ON THE MISSILE SHARDS WAS 'UTTERLY UNAMBIGUOUS.' /// END OPT /// ..... THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE V-X FINDING CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED.

TEXT: A NEW REPORT ON THE SCOURGE OF AIDS, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA, HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION," WHICH SAYS THE ILLNESS IS TAKING ON THE LOOK OF EUROPE'S INFAMOUS BLACK DEATH.

VOICE: OF THE 30 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE INFECTED WITH H-I-V, 21 MILLION ARE AFRICANS, ACCORDING TO A GROUNDBREAKING REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. MOST WILL DIE BECAUSE THE DRUGS THAT HAVE HELD THE DISEASE AT BAY [I.E. HELPED IN CONTROLLING BUT NOT CURE IT] IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BEYOND THEIR FINANCIAL REACH. /// OPT /// ..... EDUCATING THE POPULATION ABOUT THE DANGERS OF UNPROTECTED, HETEROSEXUAL SEX, THE MAIN MEANS OF AIDS TRANSMISSION IN AFRICA, SHOULD TRANSCEND CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS AGENDAS. ..... /// END OPT /// WHILE AIDS RATES SOAR IN AFRICA, THEY ARE STABILIZING AND FALLING IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, DUE IN PART TO NEW TREATMENTS THAT PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF H-I-V FROM MOTHER TO NEWBORN. THIS GAP WILL ONLY WIDEN IF MORE IS NOT DONE TO MAKE TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

TEXT: TO THE SUBCONTINENT NOW, AND SOME THOUGHTS FROM FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO, AS ANALYZED IN TODAY'S "ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL" ON SOLVING THE LATEST NUCLEAR CONFRONTATION BETWEEN HER COUNTRY AND INDIA.

VOICE: MS. BHUTTO URGED HER GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND NEGOTIATE INTERNATIONAL CONTROLS ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS. PAKISTAN AND INDIA SHOULD SIGN THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. UNFORTUNATELY, PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT EYES THAT POSTURE WARILY. IT LOOKS TO INDIA TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP. BUT MS. BHUTTO'S IDEA MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. ......... MS. BHUTTO OFFERED ANOTHER ASTUTE OBSERVATION: PAKISTAN LACKS THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE ON ITS CURRENT COURSE OF OVERSPENDING ON DEFENSE.

TEXT: THE SAME PAPER, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" IS CRITICAL OF RUSSIA FOR ITS LATEST MOVE IN THE NUCLEAR CHESS GAME.

VOICE: WHAT COULD RUSSIA HAVE BEEN THINKING? MERE WEEKS AFTER INDIA ROCKED THE WORLD WITH A SERIES OF NUCLEAR-WEAPONS TESTS - - ECHOED UNFORTUNATELY BY PAKISTAN - - MOSCOW PLANS TO SELL INDIA NUCLEAR-POWER REACTORS. /// OPT /// CAN THIS BE THE SAME COUNTRY THAT JOINED THE UNITED STATES IN CONDEMNING INDIA FOR ITS TESTS? INDIA SHOULD SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNLEASHING UNTOLD DANGERS IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE WORLD. DITTO FOR PAKISTAN.

TEXT: ON MIDDLE EAST TOPICS, TODAY'S "HARTFORD [CONNECTICUT] COURANT" ADVISES THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO "REACH OUT TO IRAN'S MODERATES," ADDING:

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE STATE-RUN RADIO IN IRAN HAS ALREADY DUMPED COLD WATER ON [REACTED NEGATIVELY TO] SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S INVITATION TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TO JOIN THE UNITED STATES IN DRAWING A 'ROAD MAP LEADING TO NORMAL RELATIONS.' TEHRAN WANTS ACTIONS, NOT WORDS, THE OFFICIAL VOICE SAID. /// END OPT /// ..... MANY CONSERVATIVES IN IRAN'S ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT STILL REGARD WASHINGTON AS THE GREAT SATAN ..... MODERATES IN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES WANT TO GET BEYOND SUCH ONE-DIMENSIONAL THINKING. THEY KNOW THAT A THAW IN RELATIONS WOULD BE GOOD FOR BOTH COUNTRIES. ..... IRAN HAS MUCH TO GAIN FROM NORMALIZING RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ITS POTENTIALLY LUCRATIVE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE END OF THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
25-Jun-98 10:45 AM EDT (1445 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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