Voice of America, 98-10-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO TANKS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[03] E-U/U-S TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[04] BRITAIN / NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[05] BRITAIN/IRELAND (L UPDATE) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[06] NY ECON WRAP (S & L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

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

[08] TWO IRISH PEACEMAKERS WIN NOBEL PRIZE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO TANKS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV TANKS TOOK UP POSITIONS NEAR ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLA BASES MONDAY -- ONLY ONE DAY AFTER RE-DEPLOYING INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE. REFUGEES IN A NEARBY CAMP (EDS: THE KISNA REKA CAMP) SAID THAT FRESH FIGHTING HAD FRIGHTENED THEM AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES ON SATURDAY. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: WHILE YUGOSLAV FORCES RE-DEPLOYED, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FRONT LINE, ALBANIAN GUERRILLA FIGHTERS IN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR K-L-A -- PEERED NERVOUSLY THROUGH SNIPER RIFLES AT THE TANKS.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES SAID THAT VILLAGES NEAR THEIR CAMP WERE SHELLED BY SERBIAN FORCES SUNDAY NIGHT. ON MONDAY, NEW REFUGEES ARRIVED IN THE CAMP ON TRACTORS.

REFUGEES AND REBELS SAID THEY FEARED MORE SERBIAN ATTACKS, BUT WESTERN OFFICIALS EXPRESSED RELIEF THAT THE REFUGEE CAMP HAD NOT BEEN HIT BY SHELLING.

OVER TWO DOZEN YUGOSLAV ARMY TANKS AND AT LEAST SEVEN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS WERE DEPLOYED INTO VILLAGES ACROSS KOSOVO LATE SUNDAY.

THE MOVEMENT OF THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY -- USED TO PUMMEL VILLAGES ACROSS KOSOVO IN RECENT MONTHS -- APPEARED TO CONTRAVENE AN AGREEMENT MADE BY U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THE AGREEMENT, COMPLETED ONE WEEK AGO, POSTPONED THREATENED NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE YUGOSLAV ARMY. MR. HOLBROOKE SAID AFTER THAT AGREEMENT THAT MR. MILOSEVIC HAD AGREED TO PUT THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY IN WHAT THE ENVOY CALLED "COLD STORAGE."

THIS PAST WEEKEND, NATO PLANES BEGAN AN AERIAL SURVEILLANCE MISSION OVER KOSOVO, USING U-2 SPY PLANES TO MONITOR THE PROMISED DRAWBACK OF YUGOSLAV FORCES. WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNS OF COMPLIANCE. THEY CALLED THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS AND REFUGEES SUNDAY AND MONDAY A LIKELY RESPONSE TO THE KILLING OF THREE SERBIAN POLICEMEN IN AN APPARENT SURPRISE ATTACK SATURDAY NIGHT.

THAT KILLING WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DISAPPEARANCE MONDAY OF TWO SERBIAN JOURNALISTS WORKING IN KOSOVO. SERBIAN JOURNALISTS EXPRESSED ALARM OVER THE TWO COLLEAGUES WHO WENT MISSING NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ORLATE WHERE THE POLICEMEN WERE KILLED. //OPT// THE JOURNALISTS SAID BOJSA RADOSEVIC AND VLADIMIR DOBRICIC HAD LIKELY BEEN KIDNAPPED BY THE K-L-A, THOUGH THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION. //END OPT//

TWO MONTHS AGO, TWO SERBIAN JOURNALISTS WITH RADIO PRISTINA DISAPPEARED IN A SIMILAR WAY AND HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD FROM SINCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/PCF/KL
19-Oct-98 2:05 PM EDT (1805 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF TURKEY'S SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, P-K-K, SAYS HE IS NO LONGER IN SYRIA. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TURKISH KURD REBEL LEADER COULD EASE TENSIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA.

TEXT: IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE THROUGH THE GERMAN-BASED PRO-KURDISH NEWS AGENCY DEM, P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN SAID HE HAS -- IN HIS WORDS -- BEEN IN SYRIA FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT THAT HE IS NO LONGER THERE.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHERE EXACTLY THE REBEL LEADER IS. HE SAYS HE IS "SOMEWHERE IN KURDISTAN." THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE IN A WIDE AREA OF SYRIA, IRAN, IRAQ, TURKEY, AND ARMENIA -- ACROSS WHICH AN ESTIMATED 30 MILLION KURDS ARE SCATTERED.

THE P-K-K LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENT CAME HOURS BEFORE SENIOR TURKISH AND SYRIAN OFFICIALS HELD SECRET TALKS AT AN UNKNOWN LOCATION ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA. SYRIAN OFFICIALS WERE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY CALL DETAILED EVIDENCE TO TURKISH OFFICIALS SHOWING THAT THE P-K-K AND ITS LEADER NO LONGER OPERATE OUT OF SYRIAN TERRITORY.

ARAB DIPLOMATS SAY THEY HOPE THE MOVES WILL PROVE ENOUGH TO SATISFY ANKARA AND HEAD OFF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA. EGYPT AND IRAN HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS.

FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS, TURKEY HAS BEEN THREATENING TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA OVER ITS SUPPORT FOR THE P-K-K. TURKEY SAYS SYRIA IS USING THE P-K-K TO PRESS ITS CLAIMS OVER A SOUTHERN PROVINCE, HATAY, AND TO PRESSURE TURKEY INTO SIGNING AN AGREEMENT TO SHARE THE WATERS OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO SYRIAN FARMING. SYRIA DENIES THE CLAIMS.

TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN REPEATED WARNING LATE SUNDAY THAT TURKEY WOULD TAKE WHAT HE TERMED "ALL NECESSARY MEASURES WHERE DIPLOMACY FAILS." NEARLY 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE P-K-K LAUNCHED ITS ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF-RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES IN 1984. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/JO
19-Oct-98 10:21 AM EDT (1421 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U/U-S TRADE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S TOP OFFICIAL ON TRADE MATTERS, CHARLENE BARCHEFSKY, BEGAN A TRIP TO WESTERN EUROPE MONDAY BY CONFRONTING THE EUROPEAN UNION ABOUT SOME OF ITS TRADE PRACTICES. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT A KEY MISSION OF TRADE REPRESENTATIVE BARCHEFSKY'S TRIP WILL BE TO GET THE EUROPEANS TO DO MORE TO REVIVE THE WORLD ECONOMY.

TEXT: THE THEME WILL ACCOMPANY THE AMERICAN TRADE REPRESENTATIVE AS SHE VISITS GERMANY, FRANCE AND BRITAIN HOPING TO SEE THE EUROPEAN UNION DO MORE TO HELP TROUBLED ECONOMIES.

CHARLENE BARCHEFSKY MET WITH EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS HERE IN BRUSSELS, URGING THEIR COUNTRIES TO STEP UP IMPORTS OF JAPANESE CARS AND RUSSIAN STEEL -- PRODUCTS FROM TWO COUNTRIES AT THE HEART OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS. SHE TELLS REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES EUROPE HAS TO DO BETTER.

USING STEEL AS AN EXAMPLE, THE E-U IMPORTS HALF OF WHAT THE U-S DOES IN STEEL FROM RUSSIA. THE E-U IMPORTS ONE-TENTH THE VOLUME OF STEEL FROM JAPAN AS THE UNITED STATES DOES. WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE E-U TO LIBERALIZE RESTRICTIONS THAT IT MAY HAVE IN PLACE -- WHETHER STEEL OR AUTOS OR OTHER AREAS -- SO IT CAN ACT MORE FULLY AS AN ENGINE OF GROWTH.

EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES LIMIT JAPANESE CARS TO ABOUT 11 PERCENT OF THE NEW CAR MARKET. THE E-U PROMISES TO INCREASE THE FIGURE BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, BUT ON THE CONDITION THAT JAPAN OPENS ITS DOORS TO MORE E-U EXPORTS. MS. BARCHEFSKY IS URGING THE E-U TO MOVE FASTER ON THE DEAL.

ON THE MATTER OF RUSSIAN STEEL, MS. BARCHEFSKY IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM AMERICAN STEEL COMPANIES THAT ACCUSE RUSSIA OF EXPORTING TO AMERICA AT LESS THAN PREVAILING PRICES. THE U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE URGED E-U COUNTRIES TO ABSORB MORE RUSSIAN EXPORTS.

AS I HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, RIGHT NOW THE U-S IS NOT ONLY THE MARKET OF LAST RESORT, IT IS THE MARKET OF FIRST RESORT AND THAT, I THINK, WILL BECOME POLITICALLY MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN. WE ARE DETERMINED TO RESIST PROTECTIONIST PRESSURE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE E-U TAKE MORE OF THE BURDEN.

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ALSO UNDER PRESSURE FROM ITS 15 MEMBER STATES TO RESIST CHEAP IMPORTS. THAT PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE, AS E-U MEMBERSHIP EXPANDS EASTWARD OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. EUROPEAN UNION TRADE COMMISSIONER LEON BRITTAIN TOLD 12 TRADE MINISTERS FROM PROSPECTIVE MEMBER COUNTRIES THEY SHOULD COORDINATE THEIR TRADE POLICIES TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN MARKET APPROACH.

[04] BRITAIN / NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IS MEETING SEPARATELY WITH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC LEADERS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND TO TRY TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK OVER DISARMING REPUBLICAN PARAMILITARIES. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE DEADLOCK IS STALLING EFFORTS TO SET UP NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW CABINET.

TEXT: THE PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, DAVID TRIMBLE, INSISTS THE "IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY" MUST START DISARMING IF ITS POLITICAL WING, "SINN FEIN", IS TO JOIN THE NEW CABINET.

AFTER HIS TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR, SINN FEIN'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR MARTIN MCGUINESS HAS NOT CHANGED HIS VIEW THAT DISARMING PARAMILITARIES IS NOT A PRECONDITION TO JOINING THE NEW CABINET.

AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED WHEN WE SIGNED OFF ON THE "GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT", WE GAVE OUR WORD. WE HAVE KEPT OUR WORD, AND WE NOW EXPECT ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO KEEP THEIR WORD TO MOVE ON TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT, WHICH ALL OUR PEOPLE ARE HOPING AND EXPECTING THAT WE DO.

MR. MCGUINESS SAYS MR TRIMBLE HAS TO DEAL WITH THOSE IN HIS OWN PARTY WHO DISAGREE WITH THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

I THINK CLEARLY THERE IS AN EXPECTATION NOW THAT THOSE PEOPLE WITHIN THE ULSTER UNIONIST (PARTY) MUST BE TOLD THAT THE GAME IS UP AND THAT WE ARE PRESSING ON DECISIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THE FULL AGREEMENT. DAVID TRIMBLE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE PROCESS, HAS TO KEEP THE WORD HE GAVE ON GOOD FRIDAY.

MR. MCGUINESS EXPRESSES HOPES THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND SHOULD SPUR EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES. BUT HE SHOWS LITTLE SIGNS OF COMPROMISE AND WARNS THE END-OF-OCTOBER DEADLINE FOR SETTING UP THE CABINET MAY NOT BE KEPT.

PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE MEETS SEPARATELY WITH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR LATER IN THE DAY. (SIGNED)
NEW/LMK/JWH
19-Oct-98 9:01 AM EDT (1301 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BRITAIN/IRELAND (L UPDATE) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS MET SEPARATELY (MONDAY) WITH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC LEADERS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND TO TRY TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK OVER DISARMING REPUBLICAN, PRO-IRISH PARA-MILITARIES. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE DEADLOCK IS STALLING EFFORTS TO SET UP NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW CABINET.

TEXT: THE PROTESTANT FIRST MINISTER DAVID TRIMBLE INSISTS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY MUST START DISARMING ITS PARA-MILITARIES, IF ITS POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN, IS TO JOIN THE NEW CABINET.

BUT AFTER HIS TALKS IN LONDON WITH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR, SINN FEIN'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, MARTIN MCGUINESS, INSISTED DISARMING PARA-MILITARIES IS NOT A PRECONDITION TO JOINING THE NEW CABINET.

AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, WHEN WE SIGNED OFF ON THE GOOD FRIDAY (NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE) AGREEMENT, WE GAVE OUR WORD. WE HAVE KEPT OUR WORD AND WE NOW EXPECT ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO KEEP THEIR WORD TO MOVE ON TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT, WHICH ALL OUR PEOPLE ARE HOPING AND EXPECTING THAT WE DO.

MR. MCGUINESS WARNED THE END-OF-OCTOBER DEADLINE FOR SETTING UP THE NEW CABINET MAY NOT BE KEPT.

PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE SOUNDED PESSIMISTIC AS HE HEADED IN FOR HIS OWN TALKS (MONDAY) WITH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR.

THE TRUCULENT AND INTRANSIGENT ATTITUDE ADOPTED BY MARTIN MCGUINESS AFTER HIS MEETING THIS MORNING DOES NOT LOOK TOO HOPEFUL, BUT WE WILL SEE IF THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ANY BETTER NEWS FOR US WITH REGARD TO PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.

BRITISH AND IRISH OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED HOPE NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEWLY-AWARDED NOBEL PEACE PRIZE COULD SPUR NEW EFFORTS TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND GET THE PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF/RAE
19-Oct-98 1:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NY ECON WRAP (S & L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE UP TODAY (MONDAY) IN THE UNITED STATES AS THE RALLY CONTINUED FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S CUT IN U-S INTEREST RATES. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK:

TEXT: AFTER FLIRTING THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH THE 85-HUNDRED LEVEL, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FINALLY SETTLED DOWN TO CLOSE AT 84 HUNDRED 66 -- A GAIN OF 49 POINTS. STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX ALSO CLOSED UP, NEARLY SIX POINTS.

IT WAS GENERALLY A LACKLUSTRE DAY ON WALL STREET. VOLUME WAS MODERATE. NOTHING MUCH WAS STIRRING INTERNATIONALLY. ANALYSTS SAID THE MARKET IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINS QUIETLY OPTIMISTIC. MANY ON WALL STREET BELIEVE THE MARKET IS RE-GAINING ITS HEALTH.

MONDAY'S RALLY WAS CLEARLY A CONTINUING REACTION TO LAST WEEK'S CUT IN U-S INTEREST RATES -- THE SECOND IN THREE WEEKS. INVESTORS ARE HOPING THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL MAKE A THIRD CUT BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.

IT WAS A RELATIVELY BIG DAY FOR MERGERS -- ACTIVITY THAT HAD BEEN DORMANT WITH THE DOWNTURN IN THE MARKET SINCE AUGUST. DRUG WHOLESALER MCKESSON AND MEDICAL SOFTWARE PROVIDER H-B-O ANNOUNCED PLANS TO JOIN FORCES. ALSO, KROGER -- THE U-S SUPERMARKET CHAIN SAID IT WOULD MERGE WITH FRED MEYER, ANOTHER GROCERY STORE FIRM. ANALYSTS, INCLUDING FRANK LASALLA, TAKE THIS AS A SIGN OF CONFIDENCE IN THE MARKET:

THE FACT THAT DEALS ARE NOW COMING BACK AND THAT THE CURRENCY OF CHOICE ARE EQUITIES AND THE FACT THAT BUSINESSPEOPLE NOW VIEW THE CLIMATE AS BEING MORE POSITIVE THAN NEGATIVE, I THINK IS VERY, VERY BULLISH FOR STOCKS.

BUT INVESTORS WERE SKEPTICAL. THE SHARES OF MCKESSON, H-B-O, KROGER AND FRED MEYER ALL SKIDDED IN MONDAY TRADING.

THIRD-QUARTER CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS ARE COMING IN. THE NEWS IS MIXED. IBM SAID PROFITS WERE BETTER THAN EXPECTED. DRUG-MAKER WARNER LAMBERT'S EARNINGS WERE ALSO SLIGHTLY MORE THAN WALL STREET HAD FORECAST. BUT J.P. MORGAN -- THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST BANKING COMPANY -- REPORTED A SHARP DECLINE IN THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS. IT BLAMED LOSSES ON THE EMERGING MARKETS, ESPECIALLY RUSSIA. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/JC/WFR
19-Oct-98 5:29 PM EDT (2129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE AWARD OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO THE MEN WHO HELPED BRING PEACE TO NORTHERN IRELAND IS A KEY TOPIC OF EDITORIALS IN MANY U-S PAPERS THIS MONDAY. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE POPE'S LATEST ENCYCLICAL; DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN; THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IN CONGRESS; AN UNEXPECTED INTEREST RATE CUT BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND THE I-M-F MOVES TO HELP BRAZIL. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK, IS ____________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS PLEASED WITH THE NEWS DURING THE WEEKEND THAT JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE, LEADERS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

VOICE: AT LAST A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE THAT IS WITHOUT DISSENT AND THE TINGE OF SPECIAL-INTEREST LOBBYING AND THAT CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENT ON THE LEVEL -- THE POLITICAL LEVEL -- WHERE THE FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS ON PEACE IN A DEMOCRACY ARE NECESSARILY MADE. THIS YEAR'S AWARD GOES TO TWO OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS WHO BROUGHT IN A HISTORIC ACCORD LAST APRIL. OTHERS PLAYED A ROLE, NOT LEAST AMERICAN MEDIATOR GEORGE MITCHELL AND FORMER I-R-A LEADER GERRY ADAMS, BUT JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE WERE AND ARE STURDY PERFORMERS IN A NEGOTIATION THAT IS STILL NOT AT AN END.

VOICE: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" ALSO CELEBRATES THE AWARD.

VOICE: JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE HAVE GIVEN EVERY INDICATION OF DESPISING EACH OTHER. THIS HAS NOT PREVENTED THEIR GREAT COOPERATION IN BRINGING THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT TO THE BRINK OF REALITY. REASON ENOUGH FOR THEIR JOINT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. ... THE JOINT AWARD IS FOR WHAT MR. HUME HAS DONE, AND FOR WHAT MR. TRIMBLE IS UNDERTAKING TO DO, TO MAKE THEIR AGREEMENT WORK. MR. HUME MIGHT HAVE DESERVED THE AWARD ALONE. ADDING MR. TRIMBLE FOR BALANCE ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY IN THE PROVINCE, WHICH REMAINS OF TWO MINDS ABOUT THE GOOD FRIDAY ACCORD AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" HAS READ THE LATEST ENCYCLICAL ABOUT THE INTERRELATION OF FAITH AND REASON AND CALLS POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND, "THE PHILOSOPHER POPE."

VOICE: IN THE TWO CENTURIES SINCE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, FAITH AND REASON HAVE OFTEN BEEN DEPICTED AS BEING AT WAR WITH ONE ANOTHER. POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND BEGS TO DIFFER. ON FRIDAY, THE POPE CELEBRATED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ELECTION AS SUPREME PONTIFF WITH THE PUBLICATION OF FIDES ET RATIO ('FAITH AND REASON'), THE 13TH AND PROBABLY MOST AMBITIOUS ENCYCLICAL OF HIS REIGN. ...'FAITH AND REASON' IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEMS OF ATHEISTIC RELIANCE ON REASON ALONE AND OF WHAT THE PONTIFF CALLS 'FIDEISM,' OR BLIND RELIANCE ON FAITH ALONE. NEITHER BY ITSELF, HE ARGUES, IS A RELIABLE GUIDE FOR THE RELEVANT FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN GOAL: THE SEARCH FOR UNIVERSAL TRUTH. .... SHOULD JOHN PAUL'S WORDS MOVE SOCIETY BACK TOWARD THE PURSUIT OF ULTIMATE TRUTHS, HIS OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS -- HISTORIC THOUGH THEY ARE -- WOULD SEEM INSIGNIFICANT IN COMPARISON.

TEXT: THE SEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING TASK OF IMPROVING U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAQ AND SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DICTATORSHIP, AGAIN OCCUPIES "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH TODAY QUESTIONS THE WISDOM OF THE LATEST MOVES BY CONGRESS.

VOICE: CONGRESS'S DESIRE TO HASTEN THE REMOVAL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER IN BAGHDAD IS UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT THROWING MONEY AND WEAPONS AT IRAQ'S FEEBLE AND FRACTIOUS OPPOSITION WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE INTENDED RESULTS. ... THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF AMERICAN SUPPORT INCLUDE THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS, WHICH REPRESENTS ALMOST NO ONE AND HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE RESULTS WITH AID IT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED FROM WASHINGTON. ALSO INCLUDED ARE THE TWO MAIN KURDISH MILITIAS, WHICH HAVE SPENT MORE ENERGY FIGHTING EACH OTHER THAN BATTLING MR. HUSSEIN. ... /// OPT /// INSTEAD OF DREAMING ABOUT MILITARY REBELLIONS, WASHINGTON SHOULD DEVOTE ITS ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO PREVENTING BAGHDAD FROM REBUILDING AN ARSENAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THAT WORK HAS ALL BUT CEASED IN THE FACE OF IRAQI RESISTANCE AND AN EROSION OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON THE TOPIC OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS IN CONGRESS AND HOW THAT INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED, "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, SUGGESTS THE FASTER THE BETTER.

VOICE: MINDFUL OF POLLS THAT SHOW LITTLE PUBLIC APPETITE FOR OUSTING PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN HENRY HYDE (REPUBLICAN) TALKS OF 'STREAMLINING' THE COMMITTEE'S IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND WRAPPING IT UP BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR THIS IF WE COULD BE CONFIDENT THAT [MR.] HYDE REALLY MEANS IT -- AND CAN KEEP HIS COMMITTEE'S REPUBLICAN ZEALOTS IN LINE [UNDER CONTROL] LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TEXT: THAT SURPRISING ONE-QUARTER PERCENT CUT IN THE INTEREST RATE MADE LAST WEEK BY THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK, THE FEDERAL RESERVE, DRAWS PRAISE FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES."

VOICE: IN A BOLD MOVE MORE THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S POLICY MAKING COMMITTEE WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN AND LESS THAN THREE WEEKS SINCE ITS LAST MEETING, FED CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN ORDERED THURSDAY A QUARTER-PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE THE ... INTEREST RATE BANKS CHARGE ONE ANOTHER FOR OVERNIGHT LOANS. THAT RATE, WHICH WAS LOWERED A QUARTER-POINT AT THE FED'S POLICY-MAKING COMMITTEE'S SEPTEMBER 29 MEETING, WAS FURTHER REDUCED TO FIVE-PERCENT THURSDAY. ... THE MOVE THURSDAY SUGGESTED THAT MR. GREENSPAN AND THE FED WERE DETERMINED TO PREVENT AN EVOLVING CREDIT CRUNCH FROM EXPLODING INTO A FULL-BLOWN LIQUIDITY CRISIS.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, STILL ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, THERE IS THIS FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" AS REGARDS THE ON-GOING AID TO BRAZIL, TO HELP THAT COUNTRY'S GIANT ECONOMY FEND OFF THE WORLD-WIDE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

VOICE: AS THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND DRAWS CLOSER TO PUTTING TOGETHER A RUMORED 30-BILLION LINE OF CREDIT FOR BRAZIL, PRIVATE BANKS ARE BACKING OFF FROM AN EARLIER WILLINGNESS TO PUT THEIR OWN MONEY BEHIND A RESCUE PLAN. COINCIDENCE? WE DO NOT THINK SO. ... PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT MAYBE AN I-M-F BLESSING IS A KISS OF DEATH. HAVING LET THINGS GET SO BAD, THE I-M-F AND THE U-S TREASURY NOW FACE A KIND OF FINANCIAL KOSOVO: NO SOLUTION IS APPEALING. ONE OF THE BIG DIFFICULTIES IS THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN FINANCIAL SECTOR STABILITY AND MORAL HAZARD. BRAZIL IS PERHAPS TOO BIG TO FAIL; NO ONE WANTS THE MONEY-CENTER BANKS FALLING APART, AND THUS WE HAVE WHAT AMOUNTS TO A BANK BAILOUT. ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH MORAL HAZARD SO RAMPANT, A FAT 30-BILLION WITH NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF THE LENDERS SETS YET ANOTHER BAD PRECEDENT. ... THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ASIAN RERUN IS WHAT TERRIFIES INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF MONDAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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19-Oct-98 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TWO IRISH PEACEMAKERS WIN NOBEL PRIZE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE AWARDING OF THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO A PAIR OF NORTHERN IRISH LEADERS WHO HELPED BRING ABOUT THE SO-CALLED GOOD FRIDAY ACCORD, BRINGING TENTATIVE PEACE TO THAT EMBATTLED LAND, HAS CAUSED A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT IN THE U-S PRESS.

WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ___________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE NOBEL COMMITTEE HONORED JOHN HUME, A ROMAN CATHOLIC, AND HEAD OF THE "SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC" AND "LABOR PARTY", AND DAVID TRIMBLE, THE PROTESTANT HEAD OF THE "ULSTER UNIONISTS", FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CURRENT PEACE PLAN. A LEADER OF A THIRD PROMINENT PARTY, GERRY ADAMS OF "SINN FEIN", THE POLITICAL ARM OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, WAS NOT NAMED AS A PRIZE WINNER, ALTHOUGH HE TOO CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THE PROCESS.

THE COMMITTEE ALSO SAW FIT NOT TO MENTION FORMER U-S SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GEORGE MITCHELL, HIMSELF OF IRISH DESCENT, WHO CHAIRED THE MORE THAN TWO-YEARS OF OFTEN ACRIMONIOUS TALKS, THAT LED TO THIS YEAR'S ACCORD.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING WITH A PAPER THAT, POSSIBLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR DAILY, WATCHED AND COMMENTED ON THIS ISSUE, DURING THE LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS; "THE [CLEVELAND, OHIO] PLAIN DEALER."

VOICE: EACH [MAN] HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO CHANGE MINDS ON HIS OWN SIDE. [MR.] HUME, WHO HAD BEEN NOMINATED TWICE BEFORE FOR THE PRIZE, PUSHED THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TOWARD A CEASE-FIRE IN ITS STRUGGLE FOR A UNITED IRELAND FREE OF BRITISH RULE. [MR.] TRIMBLE HAS HELD TOGETHER A FRACTIOUS COALITION OF PROTESTANT GROUPS WHOSE REACTION TO PEACE TALKS WITH THE [ROMAN] CATHOLICS HAVE RANGED FROM NERVOUSNESS TO OUTRAGE. ... TERRORISM'S MONSTROUSNESS HAS BEEN UNMASKED THIS YEAR IN BLOODY ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE WORK OF THE PEACEMAKERS. AND TO THEIR CREDIT, BOTH UNIONISTS AND NATIONALISTS HAVE FREELY EXPRESSED THEIR REVULSION. THE CLIMATE OF NORTHERN IRELAND IS MUCH LESS HOSPITABLE TO THOSE WHO WOULD MAKE POLITICAL POINTS WITH THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

TEXT: FAR TO THE NORTHEAST, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" IS HEARTILY PLEASED WITH THE AWARD, THOUGH SLIGHTLY SADDENED THAT ITS NATIVE SON, SENATOR MITCHELL WAS LEFT OUT OF THE AWARD AND THE AWARD CITATION.

VOICE: PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IS NEVER DISAPPOINTING, AND THEREFORE IT WAS GOOD THAT THE NOBEL PRIZE COMMITTEE AWARDED THE 1988 PRIZE TO ... JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE, RESPECTIVELY THE LEADERS OF THE MAJOR CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT POLITICAL PARTIES ... [WHO] HAVE OVERCOME MANY OBSTACLES -- NOT LEAST THE STRONG BELIEFS OF MANY OF THEIR STAUNCHEST SUPPORTERS -- TO WORK TOWARD AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD END 'THE TROUBLES.' [HOWEVER] WITHOUT THE LONG LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE AND PATIENT MEDIATION OF FORMER SENATE MAJORITY-LEADER GEORGE MITCHELL OF MAINE, THE GOOD FRIDAY ACCORD WOULD HAVE TAKEN MUCH LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH, IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AT ALL.

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" CALLS IT A WELL-DESERVED AWARD FOR THE TWO MEN, ADDING:

VOICE: ... OVER THE LAST YEAR, WITH CRUCIAL HELP FROM BRITAIN, THE IRISH REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED STATES, MESSERS HUME AND TRIMBLE HAVE GIVEN HOPE TO ORDINARY CITIZENS OF NORTHERN IRELAND WHO ARE FED UP WITH THE EXTREMISTS. ... TOGETHER THEY MADE POSSIBLE THE GOOD FRIDAY ACCORDS THAT PROVIDE FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT WILL ESTABLISH LINKS TO THE REST OF IRELAND. THEY HAVE OPENED UP THE POSSIBILITY THAT A NORTHERN IRELAND STEEPED IN VICTIMHOOD AND HATRED MAY BE ABLE TO OVERCOME ITS EXTREMIST PAST AND OPT FOR A NEW MIDDLE GROUND. THE NOBEL COMMITTEE COULD HAVE BROADENED THE AWARD. ... BUT [IT] MADE A CRUCIAL POINT BY CONFINING THE AWARD TO THE TWO KEY CENTRISTS. IT WAS MR. HUME'S NONVIOLENT ETHOS THAT GAVE HIM THE CREDIBILITY TO BRING [SINN FEIN PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS] INTO THE TALKS;' IT WAS MR. TRIMBLE'S CENTRIST CONVICTIONS THAT ENABLED HIM TO FEND OFF EFFORTS TO SINK THE ACCORD BY PROTESTANT EXTREMISTS LIKE IAN PAISLEY.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" SAYS BOTH LEADERS ... ARE COURAGEOUS MEN WHO RICHLY DESERVE THE AWARD, WHILE "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND NOTED THAT SINN FEIN PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS AND THE IRISH PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO BE PRAISED. AND IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS:

VOICE: AT LAST A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE THAT IS WITHOUT DISSENT AND THE TINGE OF SPECIAL-INTEREST LOBBYING AND THAT CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENT ON THE LEVEL -- THE POLITICAL LEVEL -- WHERE THE FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS ON PEACE IN A DEMOCRACY ARE NECESSARILY MADE. THIS YEAR'S AWARD GOES TO TWO OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS WHO BROUGHT IN A HISTORIC ACCORD LAST APRIL. OTHERS PLAYED A ROLE, NOT LEAST AMERICAN MEDIATOR GEORGE MITCHELL AND FORMER I-R-A LEADER GERRY ADAMS, BUT JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE WERE AND ARE STURDY PERFORMERS IN A NEGOTIATION THAT IS STILL NOT AT AN END.

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, CELEBRATES THE AWARD AND TALKS OF WHAT EACH MAN HAD TO OVERCOME FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE.

VOICE: JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE HAVE GIVEN EVERY INDICATION OF DESPISING EACH OTHER. THIS HAS NOT PREVENTED THEIR GREAT COOPERATION IN BRINGING THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT TO THE BRINK OF REALITY. REASON ENOUGH FOR THEIR JOINT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. ... THE JOINT AWARD IS FOR WHAT MR. HUME HAS DONE, AND FOR WHAT MR. TRIMBLE IS UNDERTAKING TO DO, TO MAKE THEIR AGREEMENT WORK. MR. HUME MIGHT HAVE DESERVED THE AWARD ALONE. ADDING MR. TRIMBLE FOR BALANCE ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY IN THE PROVINCE, WHICH REMAINS OF TWO MINDS ABOUT THE GOOD FRIDAY ACCORD AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE AWARDING OF THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO JOHN HUME AND DAVID TRIMBLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND.
NEB/ANG/RAE
19-Oct-98 12:29 PM EDT (1629 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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