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Voice of America, 99-01-11Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO ASSASSINATION (L/S) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244036 CONTENT= VOICED AT: //EDS: CAN CUT OPTS TO MAKE A SHORT CR ///INTRO: A TOP AIDE TO THE LEADER OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMUNITY WAS KILLED FOLLOWING A SHOOTING NEAR HIS HOME MONDAY IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. THE KILLING COMES AS TENSIONS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE ARE RUNNING HIGH OVER A CONTINUING HOSTAGE SITUATION. MORE FROM REPORTER PHILIP SMUCKER IN PRISTINA. TEXT: ENVER MALJOKU, HEAD OF THE INFORMATION WING OF THE KOSOVO GOVERNMENT RUN BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN PRESIDENT IBRAHIM RUGOVA, WAS SHOT LATE IN THE DAY AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. MR. RUGOVA IS KNOWN FOR HIS NON-VIOLENT STANCE IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS WHICH THREATENS TO EXPLODE INTO AN ALL OUT WAR. AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO CLEAR MOTIVE FOR MR. MALJOKU'S KILLING. HE NARROWLY ESCAPED ANOTHER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LAST JULY. THE KILLING COMES AS NEGOTIATORS ARE TRYING TO FREE SERBIAN ARMY HOSTAGES TAKEN CAPTIVE LAST FRIDAY BY THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A. //OPT//ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLA REPRESENTATIVES DID SAY ON MONDAY THAT THEY MIGHT BE PREPARED TO RELEASE SOME OF THE HOSTAGES -- BUT THEY DEMANDED ETHNIC ALBANIAN PRISONERS IN EXCHANGE. //REST OPT//FROM A BASE IN NORTHERN KOSOVO, THEY PLAYED A VIDEOTAPE FOR JOURNALISTS, SHOWING THE EIGHT SERBIAN PRISONERS WERE SAFE AND WELL-TREATED. WESTERN OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE CONFIRMED THAT THE SERBIAN SOLDIERS WERE IN GOOD HEALTH AND WERE BEING TREATED WELL. ONE AMERICAN AND ONE BRITISH NEGOTIATOR ARE STAYING WITH THE PRISONERS HELD IN THE MOUNTAIN BASE. WESTERN VERIFIERS FROM THE O-S-C-E ARE WARNING SERBIA'S ARMY AND
POLICE NOT TO STORM THE BASE, SAYING SUCH ACTION IS LIKELY TO END
WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. (SIGNED)
[02] KOSOVO CAPTIVES (L/S VER) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BARE, KOSOVO)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244023 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS HOLDING EIGHT YUGOSLAV ARMY HOSTAGES SAY THEY WANT TO TRADE THEM FOR NINE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO WERE CAPTURED BY SERBIAN FORCES LAST MONTH WHILE CROSSING INTO YUGOSLAVIA FROM ALBANIA. FROM THEIR BASE IN BAJGORA, KOSOVO, ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS SHOWED JOURNALISTS MONDAY A VIDEOTAPE OF THE CAPTURED SERBS AND WESTERN OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE SAID THAT THE PRISONERS WERE BEING TREATED WELL. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM THE KOSOVO TOWN OF BARE. TEXT: A COMMANDER OF THE REBEL "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY" IN BAJGORA, KOSOVO, SAYS THAT EIGHT YUGOSLAV ARMY PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED WHEN -- AND IF -- SERBIAN OFFICIALS HAND OVER NINE K-L-A GUERRILLAS CAPTURED LAST MONTH WHILE ENTERING KOSOVO FROM ALBANIA. THE COMMANDER SHOWED WESTERN JOURNALISTS A RECENTLY FILMED VIDEO TAPE OF THE EIGHT PRISONERS -- IN WHICH ONE SOLDIER DESCRIBED HOW THEY WERE CAPTURED WHEN THEIR JEEP WAS ON A MISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH AN OVERTURNED ARMY TRUCK. //OPT//WESTERN OFFICIALS WITH THE KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION CONFIRMED THAT THE SERBIAN SOLDIERS WERE IN GOOD HEALTH AND BEING TREATED WELL. ONE AMERICAN AND ONE BRITISH NEGOTIATOR ARE STAYING WITH THE PRISONERS IN THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN KOSOVO MONITORING THEIR CONDITION AND TRYING TO PERSUADE THE ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS TO RELEASE THEM. SERB OFFICIALS WARNED THAT THE TIME FOR THE PRISONERS' RELEASE IS GROWING SHORT. ARMY AND POLICE OFFICERS IN THE NEARBY MINING TOWN OF STARI TRG WARNED THAT A MAJOR BATTLE WOULD ENSUE IF THE PRISONERS WERE NOT HANDED OVER. ///REST OPT FOR LONG VERSION///THE INTENSE HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH ARE BEING BROKERED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, ARE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR TESTS FOR THE UNARMED KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION. UP TO TWO-THOUSAND WESTERN MONITORS ARE SLATED TO ARRIVE IN KOSOVO IN THE COMING WEEKS TO TRY TO CALM TENSIONS. SEVERAL WESTERN GOVERNMENTS -- INCLUDING FRANCE, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES -- ARE PUTTING INTENSE PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES IN THE STANDOFF IN ORDER TO AVERT A MAJOR BATTLE. SERBIAN TANKS AND HEAVY ARTILLERY REMAIN POISED AT THE BOTTOM OF A MOUNTAIN IN NORTHERN KOSOVO, NEAR STARI TRG. SEVERAL HUNDRED SERB SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARY POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED IN FOR THE MISSION. THE EIGHT YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE LAST FRIDAY WHEN THEIR JEEP CROSSED INTO REBEL TERRITORY. WESTERN VERIFIERS HAVE WARNED SERBIAN ARMY AND POLICE OFFICIALS NOT TO STORM THE MOUNTAIN REFUGE. THE HOSTAGES ARE BEING HELD IN RUGGED TERRAIN THAT IS APPROACHED ONLY BY STEEP ROADS NOW COVERED WITH ICE. THE WESTERN VERIFIERS ALSO WARN THAT ANY EFFORT TO TAKE THE
HOSTAGES BACK BY FORCE RAISES THE PROSPECT THAT THEY WILL KILLED
BY THEIR CAPTORS. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO/HOSTAGES (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BELGRADE)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244020 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (THE O-S-C-E) HAS HELD WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS FRANK AND OPEN TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. BUT IN BELGRADE, THE O-S-C-E CHIEF ALSO WARNED TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO RESOLVE THE CURRENT HOSTAGE CRISIS IN KOSOVO -- AN ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROVINCE IN SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL. TEXT: O-S-C-E CHAIRMAN KNUT VOLLEBAEK SAYS TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS ARE HOLDING EIGHT SERB SOLDIERS HOSTAGE. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT ///I ASKED TODAY (MONDAY) FOR SOME EXTENSION FOR THE TIME AND I WAS GIVEN THAT BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC -- THAT HE WOULD EXTEND THE DEADLINE. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE K-L-A (KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY) KNOWS THAT WE ARE VERY SHORT OF TIME. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT AND WE HAVE TO SEE AN IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES, IF WE SHOULD AVOID A MAJOR CONFLICT. /// END ACT ///MR. VOLLEBAEK REFUSES TO OFFER ANY DETAILS ON O-S-C-E MEDIATION EFFORTS OR ANY DEADLINE FOR THE HOSTAGE CRISIS TO END. BUT HE URGES MAXIMUM RESTRAINT ON BOTH SIDES TO PREVENT A TOTAL COLLAPSE OF THE FRAGILE CEASEFIRE. // OPT //MR. VOLLEBAEK DID COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS TO RESOLVE THEIR CONFLICT PEACEFULLY. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT TWO ///IF THERE IS NO WILL OR COOPERATION FROM EITHER SIDE IN A CONFLICT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE THE MEDIATOR CAN DO. THE MEDIATOR CAN FACILITATE THINGS BUT IT CANNOT FORCE SOLUTIONS. /// END ACT ///// OPT //MR VOLLEBAEK REFUSES TO CHARACTERIZE THE IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS
AS A "DEADLOCK." BUT HE WARNS THAT NATO'S THREAT OF INTERVENTION
REMAINS A REALITY, IF THE TWO SIDES REJECT PEACE TALKS AND RETURN
TO THE BATTLEFIELD. (SIGNED)
[04] TURKEY/GOVERNMENT (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244019 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: LEFTIST LEADER BULENT ECEVIT HAS TAKEN OVER AS TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER AFTER THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT, SULEYMAN DEMIREL, APPROVED HIS PLAN TO FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA TEXT: DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY LEADER BULENT ECEVIT'S APPOINTMENT AS PRIME MINISTER ENDS OVER SIX WEEKS OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY TRIGGERED BY THE COLLAPSE LAST NOVEMBER OF CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER'S MESUT YILMAZ'S MINORITY COALITION. MR. ECEVIT WAS ASKED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE ONSET OF THE POLITICAL CRISIS. EARLIER, AN INDEPENDENT LAWMAKER FAILED IN HIS EFFORTS TO PULL TOGETHER A BROAD BASED COALITION. MR. ECEVIT'S SUCCESS IN A PARLIAMENTARY CONFIDENCE VOTE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT SUNDAY WAS VIRTUALLY ASSURED AFTER BOTH MR. YILMAZ AND CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH" PARTY LEADER TANSU CILLER SAID THEY WOULD BACK HIS SINGLE PARTY MINORITY GOVERNMENT. MR. ECEVIT WHO SERVED AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN THE OUTGOING COALITION SAYS HE KEEP WILL MOST OF HIS FORMER MINISTERS IN THEIR PREVIOUS CABINET POSTS, INCLUDING FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM, WHO IS WIDELY RESPECTED BY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS. MR. ECEVIT WILL ONLY REMAIN IN OFFICE UNTIL APRIL. GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE THAT MONTH. //OPT// MR. ECEVIT IS BEST KNOWN ABROAD AS THE TURKISH PREMIER WHO ORDERED TURKEY'S 1974 MILITARY INTERVENTION IN CYPRUS. //END OPT// EFFORTS TO FORM A GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY HAVE CENTERED ON THE
EXCLUSION OF THE ISLAMISTS, WHO COMMAND THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
SEATS IN THE PARLIAMENT BUT REMAIN OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE
COUNTRY'S POWERFUL AND RIGIDLY PRO-SECULAR MILITARY. (SIGNED)
[05] EUROPE MIGRATION (L-O) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244027 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A NEW STUDY SHOWS FEW PEOPLE IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE WANT TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND SETTLE PERMANENTLY IN WESTERN COUNTRIES. THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE GENEVA-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION SURVEYED 12-THOUSAND PEOPLE IN 11 COUNTRIES -- THE SURVEY DOES NOT INCLUDE ALBANIA, BOSNIA, OR RUSSIA. LISA SCHLEIN HAS DETAILS. TEXT: THE STUDY SAYS WESTERN COUNTRIES NEED NOT WORRY THEY WILL BE DELUGED BY A FLOOD OF UNWANTED IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. IT FINDS MOST PEOPLE WANT TO WORK ABROAD FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES. INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION, JEAN-PHILIPPE CHAUZY, SAYS IT IS LIKELY A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM FORMER SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES WILL BE LOOKING FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT IN WESTERN EUROPE. /// CHAUZY ACT ///IT SEEMS THAT THE GENERAL TREND TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE DO CROSS-BORDER COMMUTING OR GO FOR SHORT-TERM LABOR MIGRATION. THAT IS BASICALLY, PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED BY HIGH WAGES IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES OF EUROPE SUCH AS GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. THESE PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT PLANNING TO SETTLE IN WESTERN EUROPE, BUT JUST TO GO AND WORK, AND GET HIGH WAGES, AND GET BACK HOME. /// END ACT ///THE REPORT DISMISSES FEARS BY WEST EUROPE THAT PLANS FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, POLAND, AND SLOVENIA TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL LEAD TO AN UPSURGE IN MIGRATION. IT CALLS THESE FEARS UNFOUNDED. MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE 12-THOUSAND PEOPLE SURVEYED SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN WEALTHIER WESTERN COUNTRIES FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN GO HOME WITH THE MONEY THEY HAVE EARNED. THEY RULE OUT LIVING IN THE WEST ON A PERMANENT BASIS. MR. CHAUZY SAYS THE BIG EXCEPTIONS ARE YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA. HE SAYS TWO-THIRDS OF THE CITIZENS OF THOSE COUNTRIES SAY THEY WOULD LEAVE IF THEY COULD. /// CHAUZY ACT ///IN THESE TWO COUNTRIES THERE IS A STRONG DESIRE TO LEAVE AND TO EMIGRATE PERMANENTLY. OBVIOUSLY, TO FLEE ETHNIC TENSION, TO FLEE A FALL IN LIVING STANDARDS. BASICALLY, POST-WAR DISILLUSIONMENT IS PUSHING PEOPLE TO START NEW LIVES ABROAD AND MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE NEW WORLD. IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, AND CANADA. /// END ACT ///THE STUDY PREDICTS CONTINUED ETHNIC TENSION AND CIVIL WAR IN THE
BALKAN COUNTRIES WILL MOST LIKELY LEAD TO MORE MIGRATION FROM
THIS REGION. BUT THE STUDY EXPECTS MIGRATION FROM EASTERN AND
CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO DECREASE AS THEIR ECONOMIES GROW
STRINGER. (SIGNED)
[06] GERMAN DUAL CITIZENSHIP (L-O) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BONN)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244028 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMANY'S OPPOSITION PARTY, THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, IS DENYING CHARGES IT IS CONTRIBUTING TO RACIAL HATRED BY PROTESTING THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO GRANT DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO MILLIONS OF FOREIGNERS. AS SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM BONN, THE HEATED ISSUE IS FORCING THE OPPOSITION PARTY TO CLARIFY IT IS MESSAGE. TEXT: CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION LEADER WOLFGANG SCHAUEBLE EMERGED FROM THREE-DAYS OF TALKS WITH PARTY LEADERS SAYING THE C-D-U SUPPORTS THE INTEGRATION OF FOREIGNERS, BUT REMAINS OPPOSED TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP. THE OPPOSITION PARTY SAYS FOREIGNERS MUST CHOOSE ONE NATIONALITY OVER ANOTHER. CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER'S COALITION GOVERNMENT IS MOVING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO GRANT DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO MANY FOREIGNERS -- THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE THIRD-GENERATION WORKERS FROM TURKEY. THE TURKS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS HAVE BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT TO HOLD A GERMAN PASSPORT UNLESS THEY WOULD FIRST SURRENDER THEIR CURRENT PASSPORTS SOME MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION C-D-U SAY THEY WILL LAUNCH A MILLION SIGNATURE PETITION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW MEASURE. BUT PLANS FOR THE PETITION DRIVE HAVE PROMPTED OTHER C-D-U MEMBERS TO WARN AGAINST TAKING STEPS THAT COULD BE SEEN AS ENCOURAGING FAR-RIGHT AND ANTI-FOREIGNER GROUPS IN GERMANY. C-D-U NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN, FORMER GERMAN PRESIDENT RICHARD VON WEIZSAECKER, SAID EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, SUCH A CAMPAIGN CANNOT AVOID ROUSING "FOREIGNERS-OUT INSTINCT". THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS HAVE OFTEN APPEARED DIVIDED SINCE -- UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HELMUT KOHL -- THEY SUFFERED THEIR WORST DEFEAT IN 50-YEARS DURING LAST SEPTEMBER'S FEDERAL ELECTION. NOW, THE PARTY IS AROUSING THE ANGER OF MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S SEVEN-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION FOREIGNERS OVER THE ISSUE OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP. THE C-D-U'S THREE-DAY LEADERSHIP TALKS WERE AIMED AT DETERMINING
POLITICAL STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. (SIGNED)
[07] EUROPEAN COMMISSION (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244017 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMANY HAS GIVEN ITS SUPPORT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. THAT E-U EXECUTIVE BODY IS FACING A CENSURE MOTION IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OVER MISMANAGEMENT ALLEGATIONS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, GERMANY HAS OFFERED A WAY TO AVOID DISMISSAL OF THE 20-MEMBER EXECUTIVE. TEXT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER HAS RECEIVED THE IMPORTANT SUPPORT OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER. IT COMES AS HE TRIES TO PERSUADE THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NOT TO CENSURE HIM AND HIS 19 FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IN A VOTE LATER THIS WEEK. AT A MEETING IN BONN TO SET THE AGENDA FOR GERMANY'S SIX-MONTH PRESIDENCY OF THE UNION, CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SAYS GERMANY NEEDS A STABLE COMMISSION. THE PARLIAMENT -- THE ONLY INSTITUTION DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- OPENS DEBATE ON A MOTION TO DISMISS THE COMMISSION, FOLLOWING ITS VOTE LAST MONTH TO REJECT THE COMMISSION'S BUDGET AMID ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD. CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SUGGESTS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT JOIN AN ANTI-FRAUD TASK FORCE ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED BY PRESIDENT SANTER. /// SCHROEDER WI INTERPRETER ACT ///I AM HAPPY THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS HAS TO BE DONE AND I ALSO CONSIDER THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO DIMINUTION ,( A LESSENING), AT LEAST, OF THE RESERVATIONS. AND I HOPE THAT THIS ACCOMMODATION TOWARDS THE PARLIAMENT WILL MEAN THAT THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WHICH HAVE ARISEN CAN BE SOLVED IN A CALM AND DOWN TO EARTH MANNER. I UNDERSCORE THIS MOST FIRMLY, THE COMMISSION IS CLARIFYING THESE ACCUSATIONS. THEY ARE TAKING A VERY SENSIBLE APPROACH AND IF THERE IS THIS WORKING GROUP OF THE PRESIDENCY, THE COUNCIL, THE PARLIAMENT AND THE COMMISSION -- WHICH WE WILL SET UP -- THEN THAT IS ADDITIONAL PROOF OF THE FACT THAT ALL ACCUSATIONS ARE BEING PURSUED SERIOUSLY AND EMPHATICALLY. /// END ACT ///CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER DECLINES TO SAY IF HE WILL GIVE THIS ADVICE TO FELLOW SOCIAL DEMOCRATS IN THE PARLIAMENT WHO MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO DISMISS THE 20-MEMBER COMMISSION. PRESIDENT SANTER LEFT BONN WITH THE COMMISSION TO APPEAL TO THE PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG, FRANCE. THROUGH AN INTERPRETER MR. SANTER TELLS REPORTERS IN BONN THE COMMISSION IS THE VICTIM OF ITS OWN REPORTING. /// SANTER ACT WI INTERPRETER ///WE HAVE TAKEN ACTION IN THIS RESPECT AND, TO SOME EXTENT, WE ARE A VICTIM OF OUR OWN TRANSPARENCY POLICIES BECAUSE WE UNCOVERED THE CASES OURSELVES WHEN IT CAME TO FRAUD. AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT QUITE CLEAR WITHOUT GOING INTO THE CONTENT OF THE DEBATE. ALL CASES OF FRAUD WHICH HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED UNDER THIS COMMISSION COME FROM EARLIER TIMES. /// END ACT ///THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAS THREATENED CENSURE AGAINST THE
COMMISSION FOUR TIMES SINCE 1979, BUT NONE HAS EVER SUCCEEDED IN
WINNING A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. DESPITE THE ALLEGATIONS OF
MISMANAGEMENT IN THE 1996 COMMISSION BUDGET, THE GERMAN
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT IS LIKELY TO ENSURE THAT THIS YEAR'S EFFORT
FAILS AS WELL. (SIGNED)
[08] EUROPEAN COMMISSION UPDATE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244040 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER HAS APPEALED TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NOT TO DISMISS HIM AND HIS 19 FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ON CHARGES OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE COMMISSION IS LIKELY TO SURVIVE WITH CRITICISM. TEXT: PRESIDENT SANTER DREW HECKLING FROM THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHEN HE TRIED TO DEFEND HIS COMMISSION FROM CHARGES OF MISMANAGEMENT AND FRAUD. IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM FROM ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE DEBATE IN STRASBOURG FRANCE, MR. SANTER PRESENTED AN EIGHT POINT PROGRAM OF FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL REFORMS. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, PRESIDENT SANTER TELLS THE PARLIAMENT HE DOES TAKE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD SERIOUSLY. ///SANTER ACT W/INTERPRETER///EACH OF THESE CASES CUTS ME TO THE QUICK. EUROPE IS THE BIG LOSER IN EACH OF THESE CASES. WE HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR THE WAY WE HANDLED THESE CASES AND I ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FOOT DRAGGING HERE. WE HAVEN'T TRIED TO HIDE ANYTHING AT ALL. ///END ACT///BEFORE MR. SANTER SPOKE, TWO MOTIONS OF CENSURE WERE TABLED AGAINST HIS COMMISSION. ONE WAS PHRASED MORE LIKE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE WHILE THE OTHER WAS PROMOTED AS A REAL CENSURE MOTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE RESIGNATION OF THE ENTIRE COMMISSION. OTHER PROPOSALS SUGGESTED TWO OR MORE COMMISSIONERS RESIGN BUT PARLIAMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DISMISS INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. THE PARLIAMENT IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. IT VOTES THURSDAY MORNING ON THE TWO MOTIONS TO DISMISS THE COMMISSION WHICH IS THE UNION'S EXECUTIVE BODY. THIS FOLLOWS THE PARLIAMENT'S VOTE LAST MONTH TO REJECT THE COMMISSION'S 1996 BUDGET AMID ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD. WHILE THE DEBATE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE COMMISSION IN A PARLIAMENT THAT FACES A NEW ELECTION IN JUNE, THERE IS LITTLE DANGER THE 20 MEMBER GROUP WILL BE DISMISSED. IT TAKES A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO DO THAT AND MAJOR FACTIONS IN PARLIAMENT SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT THE COMMISSION IN THURSDAY'S VOTE NOW THAT MR. SANTER HAS PROMISED TO CARRY OUT THE REQUIRED REFORMS. ONE OF THOSE REFORMS WAS SUGGESTED BY GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SHROEDER WHO MET PRESIDENT SANTER AND HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IN BONN BEFORE THE DEBATE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. MR. SCHROEDER WANTS AN INDEPENDENT TASK FORCE COMBINING THE COMMISSION, THE PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO REPORT ON WAYS TO FIGHT FRAUD. A CHASTENED PRESIDENT SANTER TELLS THE PARLIAMENT HIS ATTITUDE IS NOW OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD SAYING EUROPE'S REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE BEYOND REPROACH. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAS ONLY TRIED TO PASS A MOTION OF
CENSURE FOUR TIMES AGAINST THE COMMISSION SINCE 1979. THIS ONE
IS NOT LIKELY TO PASS EITHER. (SIGNED)
[09] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)DATE=1/11/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244047 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S STOCK PRICES CLOSED MOSTLY LOWER TODAY (MONDAY) AFTER SETTING RECORDS LAST WEEK. BUT THE INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS CONTINUED THEIR UPWARD TREND. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK: TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST A FRACTION OF ONE PERCENT, CLOSING DOWN 23 POINTS, AT 96 HUNDRED 20. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX WAS OFF 11 POINTS, CLOSING AT 12 HUNDRED 64. THE "HIGH-FLIERS" ON THE MARKET AGAIN -- AT LEAST ON THE WEEK'S FIRST DAY OF TRADING -- WERE THE INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS. THE NASDAQ INDEX SET A NEW RECORD FOR THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT DAY, CLOSING UP OVER 39 POINTS. SOME ANALYSTS SAY INTERNET PRICES EVENTUALLY WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN. BUT, AS BILL ALLEN OF JEFFRIES INVESTMENTS, ANALYSTS MARVEL AT THE FAST CLIMB: //ALLEN ACT//EVERYDAY THEIR STOCK IS UP 30 TO 50 TO 100 POINTS IN A DAY. BROADCAST DOT COM WAS UP 95 POINTS AT ONE TIME ON FRIDAY. THESE STOCKS ARE TRADING OUT OF CONTROL. //END ACT//IF WHAT GOES UP -- WAY UP -- MUST COME DOWN, NO ONE IS PREDICTING WHEN INTERNET PRICES WILL REACH THEIR CEILING OR HOW FAR THEY COULD FALL. FOR NOW, ANALYSTS AGREE THEY ARE DRIVING THE U-S STOCK MARKET AT AN UNPRECEDENTED PACE. //REST OPT////BATTAPAGLIA ACT//WE'RE GOING IN TWO WAYS. ONE IS THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, THE TRADITIONAL GROWTH COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR EARNINGS MOMENTUM AND THEY'RE BEING REWARDED FOR IT. THE REST OF THE MARKETPLACE, HOWEVER, IS STRUGGLING WITH A NON-INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE PRICE CONTROL, WHERE THERE'S EXCESS CAPACITY AND FOREIGN COMPETITION. THE STRATEGISTS MIGHT SAY "LOOK, WE STILL HAVE AN EARNINGS PROBLEM." THE BOTTOMS-UP ANALYSTS WILL POINT TO THEIR WINNERS AND TRY TO AVOID THEIR LOSERS. BUT ON BALANCE INVESTORS WILL STAY FULLY COMMITTED BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO STRONG. //END ACT//THE CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY, THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAKER OF SOUP, SAYS ITS EARNINGS FOR 1999 WILL FALL SHORT OF ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS. CAMPBELL IS CUTTING COSTS AND LIKELY WILL REDUCE SHIPMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE U-S COMPANY HAS DIVERSIFIED IN RECENT YEARS. BUT 80 PERCENT OF ITS BUSINESS REMAINS CONDENSED SOUP. AND, REVLON -- THE LARGEST U-S MAKER OF COSMETICS SOLD IN DISCOUNT CHAINS AND DRUGSTORES -- IS FACING SLUMPING SALES AND SAYS IT PLANS TO CUT ABOUT ONE THOUSAND TO 12-HUNDRED JOBS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL ALSO CLOSE THREE PLANTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND RE-ORGANIZE ITS NON-U-S WORKFORCE. IN CORPORATE ACTIVITY -- LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, THE LARGEST MAKER
OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, IS BUYING
SOFTWARE PROVIDER KENAN SYSTEMS FOR ABOUT ONE POINT FIVE BILLION
DOLLARS IN STOCK. LUCENT IS ALSO SAID TO BE ON THE VERGE OF A
MUCH LARGER DEAL TO ACQUIRE ASCEND COMMUNICATIONS, A COMPUTER
NETWORKING SUPPLIER BASED IN CALIFORNIA. THE DEAL COULD BE WORTH
AS MUCH AS 15-BILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/PT
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