Voice of America, 99-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] OCALAN / GREECE (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

[02] OCALAN / PROTESTS (S) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[03] OCALAN PROTEST UPDATE (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[04] BERLIN KURDS SHOOTING (L UPDATE) BY JONATHAN BRAUDE (BERLIN)

[05] ISRAEL / KURD SHOOTING (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

[06] ISRAEL/KURD SHOOTING (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

[07] ISRAEL/KURD SHOOTING (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

[08] JUSTICE AND THE KURDS***CORRECTED BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

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

[10] TURKEY / P-K-K / IRAQ (S) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[11] TURKEY CAPTURES OCALAN; EUROPE'S KURDS REVOLT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[12] TURKEY CAPTURES OCALAN; EUROPE'S KURDS REVOLT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[13] KOSOVO / U-S (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[14] KOSOVO TALKS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[15] NATO AND KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[16] ROMANIA STRIKE (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[17] EUROPE-DUTY FREE (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

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

[01] OCALAN / GREECE (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVA (ATHENS)

INTRO: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS COMING UNDER STRONG CRITICISM FROM POLITICAL FRIENDS AND FOES FOR WHAT THEY CALL GREEK COMPLICITY IN THE ARREST OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM ATHENS.

TEXT: MYSTERY CONTINUES TO SURROUND THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES OF ABDULLAH OCALAN'S ARREST IN KENYA. BUT EIGHT SENIOR LAWMAKERS IN ATHENS HAVE ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSISTING IN THE ARREST OF THE KURDISH LEADER -- DESPITE GUARANTEES THAT HE WOULD REMAIN IN SAFE HANDS AT THE GREEK EMBASSY IN NAIROBI.

MUCH OF THE CRITICISM IS TARGETED AT FOREIGN MINISTER THEODORE PANGALOS WHO ORCHESTRATED THE OPERATION FOR MR. OCALAN'S SAFE HAVEN IN KENYA.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE EIGHT SOCIALIST LAWMAKERS DEMAND MR. PANGALOS' RESIGNATION, SAYING HE BOWED TO STRONG U-S AND TURKISH PRESSURE, AND SO HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KURDISH LEADER'S ARREST.

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DEFENDED THE FOREIGN MINISTER, BLAMING KENYAN AUTHORITIES INSTEAD. GREECE SAYS KENYAN OFFICIALS CONVINCED MR. OCALAN TO LEAVE THE GREEK EMBASSY IN EXCHANGE FOR ASSURANCES OF A SAFE FLIGHT TO THE NETHERLANDS WHERE HE WOULD SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM. INSTEAD, MR. OCALAN ENDED UP IN TURKEY. AND THAT, GREEK CRITICS SAY, IMPLIES COMPLICITY IN HIS TURKISH ARREST.

CRITICS ALSO ARE ASKING WHY GREEK INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SENT MR. OCALAN TO KENYA WHEN THEY KNEW THERE IS A STRONG PRESENCE OF U-S AGENTS THERE WHO WERE LIKELY TO LEARN THE KURDISH LEADER WAS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS IT SECRETLY HARBORED MR. OCALAN FOR 12 DAYS IN NAIROBI. BUT IT HAS PROVIDED LITTLE INFORMATION TO ANSWER THE CRITICS' QUESTIONS.

THE CRITICS ALSO NOTE THAT FOR YEARS, TURKEY HAS ACCUSED GREECE OF AIDING AND ABETTING MR. OCALAN AND HIS KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY. BUT THEY NOTE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS REMAINED VIRTUALLY SILENT IN ITS CRITICISM -- SINCE THE ARREST OF THE KURDISH LEADER. CRITICS SAY THIS TURKISH SILENCE IS A CLEAR SIGN OF GREEK COMPLICITY IN THE ARREST OF MR. OCALAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/JWH/JO
17-Feb-99 12:19 PM EST (1719 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] OCALAN / PROTESTS (S) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT EUROPE REMAIN ON ALERT FOR MORE POTENTIAL VIOLENCE BY KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS, PROTESTING THE ARREST OF REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN AND HIS RETURN TO TURKEY. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: POLICE HERE IN LONDON CONTINUE TALKING WITH PROTESTERS WHO TOOK OVER THE GREEK EMBASSY ON TUESDAY. A FEW PROTESTERS SURRENDERED OVER NIGHT AND WERE ARRESTED. KURDISH PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY CONTINUE TO BLOCK A BUSY LONDON STREET.

IN GENEVA WEDNESDAY, A GROUP OF KURDISH PROTESTERS FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THE U-N REFUGEES OFFICE.

IN GERMANY, HOME TO WESTERN EUROPE'S LARGEST COMMUNITY OF ETHNIC KURDS, SEVERAL VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST MAINLY-TURKISH TARGETS WERE REPORTED OVERNIGHT.

DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT 20 CITIES AROUND EUROPE TUESDAY -- MOSTLY OUTSIDE GREEK DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS.

PROTESTERS WHO TOOK OVER THE GREEK AMBASSADOR'S HOUSE IN THE HAGUE SURRENDERED WITHOUT INCIDENT EARLY WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB / PCF / WD
17-Feb-99 5:09 AM EST (1009 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] OCALAN PROTEST UPDATE (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THREE KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS WERE SHOT DEAD IN BERLIN WEDNESDAY WHEN PROTESTERS TRIED TO STORM THE ISRAELI CONSULATE THERE. DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN CITIES AS ANGRY KURDS PROTEST THE ARREST OF REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. MOST DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN AGAINST GREEK DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS BECAUSE OF REPORTED GREEK LINKS TO THE ARREST -- A CHARGE GREECE HAS DENIED. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: // SOUND OF CHANTING AND FADE -- ESTABLISH AND UNDER //

KURDS CHANT SLOGANS AND SING KURDISH SONGS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR VIGIL FOR A SECOND DAY OUTSIDE THE GREEK EMBASSY HERE IN LONDON. AN ESTIMATED 80 KURDS REMAIN INSIDE, THREATENING A HUNGER STRIKE IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT PROMISE TO PROTECT ABDULLAH OCALAN'S RIGHTS AS HE FACES TRIAL IN TURKEY ON CHARGES OF TERRORISM.

WHEN NEWS OF THE BERLIN KILLINGS REACHED THE LONDON CROWD, THE DEMONSTRATORS BOWED THEIR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

DEMONSTRATIONS LIKE THIS ONE IN LONDON -- SOME OF THEM VIOLENT -- ERUPTED FOR A SECOND DAY WEDNESDAY ACROSS EUROPE AS KURDS CONTINUE THEIR PROTEST AGAINST TURKEY'S ARREST OF THE KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER.

KURDISH PROTESTERS HERE IN LONDON SAY THEY ARE ANGRY AT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR ABANDONING THE KURDISH CAUSE. ONE DEMONSTRATOR CRITICIZES THOSE WHO DESCRIBE MR. OCALAN AS A TERRORIST.

WHEN BRITAIN OR AMERICA GO IN WAR, THEY KILL PEOPLE. SO IN WAR THERE IS KILLING. SO WHY SHOULD ONLY WE PAY THE PRICE WHEN WE KILL AND THE OTHERS NOT?

FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS, ABDULLAH OCALAN AND HIS KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY HAVE WAGED A GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST TURKISH RULE OF OVER THE MOSTLY KURDISH-POPULATED SOUTHEASTERN AREA OF TURKEY. AN ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE CONFLICT. MR. OCALAN NOW FACES THE DEATH PENALTY ON CHARGES OF TERRORISM.

AT THE GREEK EMBASSY IN LONDON, MORE KURDS KEEP ARRIVING AS THE DAY WEARS ON. THEY SAY THEY ARE COMING TO SHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH THE PROTESTERS STILL INSIDE THE EMBASSY.

DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS SIT ON THE GROUND, WRAPPED IN HEAVY BLANKETS, SINGING KURDISH SONGS AND PASSING ON NEWS OF DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES. MOST SAY THEY WILL STAY AS LONG AS THE OTHER PROTESTERS REMAIN INSIDE THE GREEK EMBASSY. SOME SAY THEY WANT TO STAY AS LONG AS ABDULLAH OCALAN REMAINS IN CUSTODY IN TURKEY. (SIGNED)

[04] BERLIN KURDS SHOOTING (L UPDATE) BY JONATHAN BRAUDE (BERLIN)

INTRO: THREE KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN BERLIN, AS THEY AND OTHERS TRIED TO STORM THE ISRAELI CONSULATE (WEDNESDAY). JONATHAN BRAUDE REPORTS BERLIN POLICE SAY ALL DEMONSTRATORS HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING AND THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL.

TEXT: REPORTS SAY THE MEN WERE SHOT BY ISRAELI GUARDS AS THEY TRIED TO STORM THE CONSULATE. THIS HAS NEITHER BEEN CONFIRMED NOR DENIED IN BERLIN, BUT IN ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID THE SHOOTING OCCURRED WHEN DOZENS OF KURDS TRIED TO ENTER THE BUILDING USING HAMMERS AND CLUBS.

BERLIN POLICE ARE PROVIDING NO INFORMATION AT THIS STAGE AS TO HOW THE PROTESTERS MANAGED TO GET PAST THEIR OWN GUARDS POSTED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. ONE REPORT SAID THE FIRST MAN WAS SHOT AFTER HE TRIED TO GRAB THE WEAPON OFF AN ISRAELI GUARD. THE KURDS, WHO HAD EARLIER TAKEN A HOSTAGE IN THE CONSULATE, BUT LATER RELEASED HER, WERE PROTESTING ALLEGED ISRAELI INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARREST OF ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE LEADER OF THE P-K-K, THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY.

ISRAEL HAS DENIED ANY ROLE IN MR. OCALAN'S CAPTURE IN NAIROBI OR HIS TRANSFER TO TURKEY. BUT A KURDISH SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED BY GERMAN RADIO AS SAYING THE DEMONSTRATION WAS IN ANGER OVER NEWS TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT HAD THANKED ISRAELI AUTHORITIES AFTER THE ARREST.

WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, MANY OF THE DEMONSTRATORS QUICKLY DISPERSED INTO THE SURROUNDING STREETS. BUT AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, INCLUDING SOME POLICE OFFICERS, ACCORDING TO INITIAL REPORTS.

OTHER KURDS HAVE ALSO TAKEN OVER A BUILDING BELONGING TO GERMANY'S RULING SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN HAMBURG, HOLDING A HOSTAGE AND CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. (SIGNED) NEB/JB/PCF/RAE/JO
17-Feb-99 1:08 PM EST (1808 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ISRAEL / KURD SHOOTING (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: THREE PEOPLE -- APPARENTLY KURDISH PROTESTORS -- HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SEVERAL OTHERS WOUNDED IN A CLASH AT THE ISRAELI CONSULATE IN BERLIN. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST IN JERUSALEM REPORTS ISRAEL HAD BEEN BRACING FOR TROUBLE AFTER TURKEY'S CAPTURE OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN, AND HAS NOW CLOSED ITS DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN EUROPE.

TEXT: ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD HAD BEEN ON A SECURITY ALERT FOLLOWING NEWSPAPER REPORTS -- VEHEMENTLY DENIED BY OFFICIALS HERE -- THAT ISRAEL'S MOSSAD INTELLIGENCE AGENCY HAD HELPED TURKISH AGENTS TRACK DOWN MR. OCALAN.

ISRAEL IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS ESTABLISHED CLOSE MILITARY AND SECURITY TIES WITH TURKEY, AND ALSO HAD BEEN NO FRIEND OF MR. OCALAN'S P-K-K GUERRILLA ORGANIZATION, WHICH HAD CLOSE TIES WITH ISRAEL'S ENEMY, SYRIA. HOWEVER, A SPOKESMAN FOR PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID THERE WAS NO ISRAELI INVOLVEMENT IN ANY WAY IN THE APPREHENSION OF THE GUERRILLA LEADER. A REPORT LINKING ISRAEL TO THE CAPTURE HAD BEEN PUBLISHED BY A GERMAN NEWSPAPER. AND NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST WILLIAM SAFIRE REPORTED EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT BOTH ISRAELI AND U-S INTELLIGENCE HAD BEEN HELPING TURKEY IN THE CASE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/JWH
17-Feb-99 9:36 AM EST (1436 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ISRAEL/KURD SHOOTING (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: ISRAEL IS BOLSTERING SECURITY AT ITS OVERSEAS MISSIONS AFTER AN ATTACK BY KURDISH PROTESTERS (WEDNESDAY) ON ITS BERLIN CONSULATE. THREE KURDS WERE KILLED BY ISRAELI GUARDS. MEANWHILE, PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS AGAIN SAID ISRAEL HAD NO ROLE IN TURKEY'S CAPTURE OF P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST IN JERUSALEM.

TEXT: MR. NETANYAHU HAS EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE CASUALTIES IN BERLIN. BUT HE SAID THE BERLIN MISSION HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO BY MEMBERS OF A CLUB-AND-HAMMER-WIELDING CROWD, AND ISRAELI SECURITY GUARDS HAVE STANDING ORDERS TO USE FORCE, IF NECESSARY, TO PROTECT MISSIONS AND THEIR STAFF MEMBERS.

HE SAID A WOMAN STAFF MEMBER OF THE CONSULATE HAD BEEN BRIEFLY TAKEN HOSTAGE AND ONE OF THE DEATHS OCCURRED WHEN A RIOTER TRIED TO STRIP A WEAPON FROM ONE OF THE GUARDS.

ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC POSTS HAD BEEN BRACING FOR TROUBLE AFTER A GERMAN NEWSPAPER EARLIER THIS WEEK CARRIED A REPORT -- QUOTING WESTERN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES -- THAT ISRAEL'S MOSSAD SECURITY AGENCY HAD HELPED TURKISH AUTHORITIES TRACK DOWN P-K-K LEADER OCALAN.

AT AN IMPROMPTU NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. NETANYAHU DENIED ISRAEL HAD HAD ANY ROLE IN EITHER LOCATING OR CAPTURING THE KURDISH LEADER. GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MOSHE FOGEL SAID LATER THAT DENIAL APPLIES TO ALL AGENCIES AND ELEMENTS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT:

I HAVE TO MAKE THIS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF RUMORS THAT JUST HAVE NO BASIS IN FACT. ISRAEL, AND ALL THE ISRAELI AGENCIES INVOLVED, HAVE NO PART IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM IN HIS (OCALAN'S) CAPTURE, OR ANY THE ACTIONS LEADING TO HIS CAPTURE.

ISRAEL HAS ESTABLISHED CLOSE DEFENSE AND SECURITY RELATIONS WITH TURKEY IN RECENT YEARS, AND THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE STAGED JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES.

MR. NETANYAHU SAID BOTH COUNTRIES ARE FIGHTING TERRORISM. BUT HE SAID PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DRAW FROM THIS THAT THERE HAS BEEN COOPERATION ON THE OCALAN CASE, AND HE SUGGESTED PARTIES HOSTILE TO ISRAEL ARE EXPLOITING THE ISSUE.

[07] ISRAEL/KURD SHOOTING (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (JERUSALEM)

INTRO: ISRAEL IS BOLSTERING SECURITY AT ITS OVERSEAS MISSIONS AFTER THE ATTACK ON ITS BERLIN CONSULATE BY KURDISH PROTESTERS WEDNESDAY (TODAY), IN WHICH THREE KURDS WERE KILLED BY ISRAEL GUARDS. PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS AGAIN SAID ISRAEL HAD NO ROLE IN TURKEY'S CAPTURE OF P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST IN JERUSALEM.

TEXT: MR. NETANYAHU HAS EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE CASUALTIES IN BERLIN. BUT HE SAID BERLIN MISSION HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO BY MEMBERS OF A CLUB-AND-HAMMER-WIELDING CROWD, AND THAT SECURITY GUARDS HAVE STANDING ORDERS TO USE FORCE, IF NECESSARY, TO PROTECT MISSIONS AND THEIR STAFF MEMBERS.

ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC POSTS HAD BEEN BRACING FOR TROUBLE AFTER PRESS REPORTS THIS WEEK THAT ISRAEL'S MOSSAD SECURITY AGENCY HAD HELPED TURKISH AUTHORITIES TRACK DOWN P-K-K LEADER OCALAN.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. NETANYAHU REPEATEDLY DENIED ISRAEL HAD ANY ROLE IN EITHER LOCATING OR CAPTURING THE KURDISH LEADER, AND SAID ISRAEL HAS NO CONFLICT WITH THE KURDS.

ISRAEL IS REINFORCING SECURITY AT ITS OVERSEAS MISSIONS AND SENDING A TEAM OF EXPERTS TO JOIN GERMAN OFFICIALS IN INVESTIGATING THE BERLIN ATTACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PCF/RAE
17-Feb-99 10:58 AM EST (1558 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] JUSTICE AND THE KURDS***CORRECTED BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

CORRECTED COPY: NOTE: TEXT BEGINS AT TOP OF PAGE TWO. ALL ENGLISH ACTUALITIES ARE TAPE A. THE SINGLE TURKISH ACTUALITY IS TAPE B.

INTRO: THE CASE OF ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE FUGITIVE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, HAS PUT THE KURDISH ISSUE ON THE FRONT PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD. (OPT) THE REBEL LEADER, WHO HAD BEEN ON THE RUN SINCE LAST OCTOBER, WAS SEIZED ON TUESDAY [2/16] IN AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION IN KENYA, WHERE HE HAD TAKEN REFUGE IN THE GREEK EMBASSY. MR. OCALAN WAS FLOWN BACK TO TURKEY, WHERE HE FACES A POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE. TURKEY INSISTS HE WILL RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL, BUT TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAVE REFUSED TO ALLOW THREE OF MR. OCALAN'S DUTCH ATTORNEYS TO ENTER THE COUNTRY. ENRAGED BY TURKEY'S CAPTURE OF THEIR REBEL LEADER, KURDISH PROTESTERS HAVE STORMED GREEK AND KENYAN DIPLOMATIC POSTS THROUGHOUT EUROPE, TAKING HOSTAGES, BURNING EMBASSIES, AND EVEN SETTING THEMSELVES ON FIRE. THREE PROTESTERS WERE KILLED IN A CLASH AT THE ISRAELI CONSULATE IN BERLIN ON WEDNESDAY. (END OPT)

TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN TRYING TO ARREST ABDULLAH OCALAN FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS. THEY CHARGE HIM WITH TERRORIST ACTIVITIES STEMMING FROM THE STRUGGLE FOR KURDISH AUTONOMY. WHILE KURDS FORM A SUBSTANTIAL MINORITY IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE NO COUNTRY OF THEIR OWN. SOME KURDS -- AND SOME OBSERVERS -- THINK IT IS THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. JUDITH LATHAM HAS TALKED WITH REGIONAL SPECIALISTS ABOUT JUSTICE AND THE KURDS. HERE'S _____ WITH A REPORT.

TEXT: THE KURDS ARE AN ANCIENT PEOPLE. THEY ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE COME TO THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHWESTERN ASIA MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THEIR HILLY HOMELAND IS NOW DIVIDED AMONG TURKEY, SYRIA, IRAQ, AND IRAN. IN TURKEY, THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAS WAGED A VIOLENT STRUGGLE FOR KURDISH AUTONOMY. A TURKISH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IN NEW YORK SAYS TURKEY HAS NO PROBLEM WITH ITS KURDISH CITIZENS AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM. HOWEVER, HE ADDS, ANKARA WILL NOT TOLERATE WHAT IT CALLS THE "TERRORIST ACTIVITIES OF THE KURDISH COMMUNISTS" -- THE P-K-K.

GRAHAM FULLER IS AN ANALYST WITH THE RAND CORPORATION, A WASHINGTON-BASED POLICY INSTITUTE. HE IS ALSO A FORMER U-S DIPLOMAT WHO SERVED IN TURKEY AND IN VARIOUS ARAB COUNTRIES. HE EXPLAINS THE SOMEWHAT COMPLEX POSITION OF KURDS IN TURKISH SOCIETY. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- FULLER (1:00) "IF YOU'RE A KURD IN TURKEY, YOU CAN BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY OR CHIEF OF STAFF, OR FOREIGN MINISTER -- AND INDEED THEY HAVE -- AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE A KURD AND PUSH YOUR KURDISH IDENTITY. I THINK FOR A LONG TIME THAT HAD BEEN A SUCCESSFUL FORMULA, AND KURDS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY WELL-INTEGRATED INTO TURKISH SOCIETY. BUT, IN THE CONTEMPORARY ERA OF THE WORLD WHERE WE FIND ETHNICITY ON THE RISE, KURDS THEMSELVES HAVE FOUND THEIR ISSUES OF IDENTITY GROWING AND THE DESIRE TO EXPRESS THAT IDENTITY LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY. AND, IT IS THAT INSISTENCE IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS VIOLENTLY OPPOSED. A VERY RADICAL, ORIGINALLY MARXIST-LENINIST, MOVEMENT ERERGED IN THE EARLY '80' -- THE SO-CALLED P-K-K -- WHICH UNDERTOOK A GUERRILLA OPERATION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. RECENTLY THE FEAR OF THE KURDISH PROBLEMS AND KURDISH SEPARATISM HAS CAUSED THE GOVERNMENT TO CRACK DOWN VERY HARSHLY, NOT ONLY AGAINST THE KURDS BUT AGAINST THOSE WHO SPEAK UP IN DEFENSE OF THEIR RIGHTS."

TEXT: ROJBIN TUGAN [ROHSH-BIN TOO-GHAN] PAINTS A MUCH GRIMMER PICTURE. MS. TUGAN IS A LAWYER FROM TURKEY. SHE RECENTLY TOLD A MEETING OF THE NEW YORK-BASED LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THAT TURKEY IS A VIOLENT LAND AND THAT IT IS PARTICULARLY SO IN KURDISH AREAS. HER CASES DEAL WITH TORTURE, INTIMIDATION, AND VILLAGE EVACUATION. MS. TUGAN SAYS SHE HAS BEEN HARRASSED, THREATENED, HER PHONES TAPPED, AND HER MAIL OPENED BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES. NEVERTHELESS, MS. TUGAN SAYS, SHE INTENDS TO CONTINUE HER LEGAL OBLIGATIONS: TAPE B: CUT ONE -- TUGAN (ESTABLISH TURKISH 0:05 AND FADE UNDER) TAPE A: CUT TWO -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:16) "WHILE DEFENDING THE RULE OF LAW, I AM VULNERABLE TO UNLAWFULNESS. I GO ON WITH MY WORK THERE AS A LAWYER, KNOWING THAT ONE DAY I MIGHT BE THE VICTIM OF AN EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING OR I MIGHT DIE IN A TORTURE ROOM."

TEXT: IN IRAQ, CONDITIONS ARE REPORTEDLY MUCH WORSE. IRAQ CONTINUES TO DEPORT HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC KURDS AND OTHER NON-ARAB MINORITIES TO NORTHERN IRAQ, MUCH OF WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY KURDISH GROUPS. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS REPEATEDLY WARNED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO STOP THIS PRACTICE.

GRAHAM FULLER OF THE RAND CORPORATION SAYS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE KURDS IN IRAQ IS FAR WORSE IN PRACTICE THAN IT IS IN THEORY: TAPE A: CUT THREE -- FULLER (0:49) "ON PAPER IT IS NOT BAD, IN THE SENSE THAT THE BA'ATHI REGIME IN PRINCIPLE AGREED TO A DEGREE OF CULTURAL AND EVEN POLITICAL AUTONOMY TO THE KURDS IN THE NORTH. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NEVER REALLY HONORED, AND THE BA'ATHI REGIME HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY BRUTAL THAT IT VERY QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT TO IRAQI KURDS THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE USEFUL. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE COUNSELS OF POWER, AND OF COURSE THE HORRENDOUS MILITARY OPERATIONS, ALMOST GENOCIDAL OPERATIONS, AGAINST THEM BY SADDAM HUSSEIN IN THE LATE '80'S WAS DESIGNED TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM A HUGE SWATH OF TERRITORY, TO DE-KURDICIZE IT, AND ALLOW ARABS TO MOVE IN AND ELIMINATE THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION. SO, IT'S CERTAINLY THE WORST REGIME IN THE ENTIRE ARAB WORLD."

TEXT: JALAL AMIN ALI WOULD PROBABLY AGREE. MR. ALI, WHO IS KURDISH, WAS A FARMER IN THE KIRKUK REGION OF IRAQ, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT. HE SAYS HE WAS NOT AT HOME WHEN IRAQI POLICE CAME TO ORDER HIS FAMILY TO LEAVE. SO, THEY TOOK HIS WIFE AND BABY TO PRISON AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVEN FOOD UNTIL HE CAME TO GET THEM AND LEFT KIRKUK FOR GOOD. TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- ALI (KURDISH, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION) (0:21) "MR. ALI SAYS THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER, NO HEAT, AND NO ELECTRICITY IN THIS DERELICT HOTEL, WHICH HE NOW CALLS HOME. HE SAYS WITH NO JOB HE CAN BARELY FEED HIS FAMILY AND HAS LITTLE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. FELLOW DEPORTEES FROM 120 FAMILIES SHELTERED HERE TELL MUCH THE SAME STORY."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO KURDISH OFFICIALS, ABOUT 250 THOUSAND ETHNIC KURDS HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY EVICTED FROM AREAS UNDER IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONTROL SINCE THE KURDS' FAILED UPRISING AGAINST BAGHDAD FOLLOWING THE 1991 GULF WAR.

GRAHAM FULLER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE DISPARITY IN THE WAY THAT IRAQI KURDS AND TURKISH KURDS ARE VIEWED BY THE UNITED STATES. TAPE A: CUT FIVE -- FULLER "I WOULDN'T WANT TO USE THE WORD 'DOUBLE STANDARD,' BUT I WOULD SAY THERE ARE DIFFERING GOALS. THE FIRST U-S GOAL IN IRAQ IS TO DISLODGE SADDAM HUSSEIN, TO WEAKEN HIM, TO DELEGITIMIZE HIM, AND TO BRING ABOUT HIS FALL. AND THEREFORE THE UNITED STATES HAS SUPPORTED KURDISH AUTONOMY TO DENY THE REGION TO SADDAM. IN TURKEY, WHICH IS OF COURSE AN EXTREMELY CLOSE ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON HAS BEEN DISTURBED BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEM, BUT HAS HOPED THAT A GENTLE APPROACH TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WOULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN A HEAD-ON CONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH. I THINK BASICALLY THE U-S NEEDS TO REMIND TURKEY THAT FAILURE TO SOLVE THE KURDISH PROBLEM IS EXACTING VERY HIGH COSTS ON TURKEY. ECONOMICALLY IT'S AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE MILITARY OPERATION. DIPLOMATICALLY IT HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY. IT'S SEVERELY DAMAGED TURKEY'S PROSPECTS FOR ENTERING THE EUROPEAN UNION. IT HAS DAMAGED TURKEY'S REPUTATION AS A STATE COMMITTED TO DEMOCRACY AND WESTERNIZATION."

TEXT: (OPT) GRAHAM FULLER SAYS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE KURDS SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN STATE IS SOMETIMES RAISED. TAPE A: CUT SIX -- FULLER (0:37) "FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE VERY CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES AMONG KURDS NOW, AND THEY'VE BEEN SOCIALIZED IN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. [THE] MORE IMPORTANT [QUESTION] IS: CAN GOOD GOVERNANCE CONVINCE THE KURDS THAT THEY ARE WELL OFF IN A COUNTRY LIKE TURKEY? I WOULD ARGUE, IF GOVERNMENTS CAN COME UP WITH GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE SENSE OF SATISFYING THEIR MINORITIES AND THEIR CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS, THEN I DON'T THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR AUTONOMY. BUT, AS LONG AS THOSE RIGHTS ARE DENIED, AS LONG AS VIOLENCE IS USED AGAINST THEM, THESE STATES ARE SIMPLY HASTENING THE DAY WHEN SEPARATION WILL BE A REALITY. (END OPT)

TEXT: THE KURDISH PROBLEM HAS ATTRACTED RELATIVELY LITTLE WORLDWIDE ATTENTION UNTIL NOW. THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN MAY CHANGE THAT.
17-Feb-99 1:28 PM EST (1828 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKISH TELEVISION HAS SHOWN THE FIRST PICTURES OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN AFTER HIS SEIZURE IN KENYA BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS PICTURES OF THE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (P-K-K) WERE TAKEN DURING HIS FLIGHT TUESDAY ON A PRIVATE JET THAT BROUGHT HIM TO TURKEY.

TEXT: FLANKED BY HOODED MEMBERS OF TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES, MR. OCALAN WAS SHOWN FIRST WITH HIS EYES BLINDFOLDED, ARMS CROSSED, WRISTS HANDCUFFED, SITTING IN THE PRIVATE JET WHICH FLEW HIM TO TURKEY.

MR. OCALAN WINCED AS THE BANDAGE WAS SLOWLY REMOVED. HE LOOKED DAZED AND IN PAIN, AND COULD BARELY SPEAK. ASKED IF HE NEEDED MEDICAL HELP BY A DOCTOR ON THE PLANE, MR. OCALAN DEMURRED. HE SPOKE IN BARELY AUDIBLE TONES. BUT, TURKISH T-V REPORTED HIS FIRST WORDS WERE THAT HE WANTS TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE TURKISH PEOPLE AND THAT HE LOVES THE TURKISH PEOPLE.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT RENEWED PLEDGES OF A FAIR AND JUST TRIAL FOR TURKEY'S MOST WANTED MAN. THE P-K-K LEADER IS BLAMED FOR THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE DURING A 14-YEAR ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF-RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES.

TURKISH TELEVISION SHOWED A FAKE DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT ISSUED TO ABDULLAH OCALAN BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT IN 1995 IN THE NAME OF MAVROS LAZAROS WHICH BORE A KENYAN VISA STAMP.

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT CONFIRMED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE C-N-N NEWS CHANNEL THE P-K-K LEADER IS BEING HELD AT A PRISON ON THE ISLAND OF IMRALI ON THE MARMARA SEA. HE SAID MR. OCALAN'S TRIAL WOULD NOT LIKELY LAST TOO LONG.

THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER IS BEING CHARGED WITH TREASON, AN OFFENSE THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY EXECUTION IN TURKEY. MR. ECEVIT TOLD C-N-N HE PERSONALLY IS OPPOSED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND POINTED OUT LEGISLATION IS PENDING IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO END THE DEATH PENALTY. BUT MR. ECEVIT SAID THERE IS STILL RESISTANCE TO ITS BEING BANNED. EARLIER, THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD REPORTERS HE WOULD PUSH FOR INVESTMENT IN THE IMPOVERISHED KURDISH REGIONS WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT AND ILLITERACY REMAINS WIDESPREAD. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP COUPLED WITH WIDESPREAD DISAFFECTION WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT CREATED A FERTILE RECRUITING GROUND FOR THE KURDISH REBELS.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, TURKISH OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAVE RELIABLE INFORMATION A LEADERSHIP STRUGGLE ERUPTED WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE REBEL GROUP FOLLOWING MR. OCALAN'S ARREST. HIS BROTHER OSMAN IS SAID TO HAVE DECLARED HIMSELF THE NEW P-K-K CHIEF, BUT IS BEING CHALLENGED BY TWO OTHER SENIOR PARTY COMMANDERS, MURAT KARAYILAN AND CEMIL BAYIK. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
17-Feb-99 9:16 AM EST (1416 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] TURKEY / P-K-K / IRAQ (S) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: SEVERAL-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS HAVE LAUNCHED A CROSS-BORDER OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ IN WHAT TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A LIMITED OPERATION. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS WORD OF THE INCURSION COMES A DAY AFTER KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS BROUGHT TO TURKEY AFTER BEING CAPTURED BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES IN KENYA.

TEXT: TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS SAID THE OPERATION WOULD BE BRIEF AND LIMITED IN SCOPE AND WAS AIMED AT ELIMINATING POCKETS OF P-K-K REBELS HIDING OUT IN THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS SEPARATING TURKEY FROM IRAQ.

THE OPERATION WAS ANNOUNCED JUST AS TURKISH TELEVISION BEGAN BROADCASTING PICTURES OF THE P-K-K LEADER AFTER HIS CAPTURE BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES IN KENYA ON MONDAY.

TURKISH FORCES ROUTINELY CROSS INTO KURDISH-HELD NORTHERN IRAQ WHERE THE P-K-K IS BELIEVED TO HAVE NUMEROUS MOBILE UNITS.

THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING A 14-YEAR ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES. MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
17-Feb-99 2:08 PM EST (1908 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] TURKEY CAPTURES OCALAN; EUROPE'S KURDS REVOLT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: VIOLENCE ERUPTED AT MIDWEEK IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE AS KURDS DEMONSTRATED VIOLENTLY AT THE CAPTURE OF THE MAN KNOWN AS "APO," ABDULLAH OCALAN.

FOR MORE THAN TWO-DECADES, MR. OCALAN HAS LED THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K AS IT IS KNOWN, IN A VIOLENT CAMPAIGN FOR A SEPARATE KURDISH STATE IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY.

U-S NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO RESPOND, SUGGESTING MR. OCALAN'S ARREST AND PENDING TRIAL GIVES TURKEY THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVERSE ITS DECADES-OLD POLICY OF KURDISH REPRESSION. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY _______________ WHO HAS ASAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: AT LEAST 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED DURING THE PAST 15-YEARS AS TURKEY RELENTLESSLY REPRESSED THE MILITANT KURDS, AND THE P-K-K HARASSED TURKISH MILITARY UNITS IN THE REGION. MR. OCALAN WAS CAPTURED MONDAY IN KENYA, AFTER SEEKING ASYLUM AT THE GREEK EMBASSY, AND RETURNED TO TURKEY TO STAND TRIAL FOR TERRORISM.

HIS DEPORTATION SET OFF VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AT GREEK, KENYAN, AND ISRAELI EMBASSIES THROUGHOUT EUROPE. ISRAEL BECAME A TARGET WHEN IT WAS RUMORED IT AIDED TURKEY IN HIS APPREHENSION.

IN THE U-S PRESS, THERE IS A RECURRING THEME TURKEY CAN SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN RESOLVING ITS LONG-STANDING PROBLEM OF KURDISH RIGHTS AND AUTONOMY.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN MARYLAND, WHERE "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SEES A PARALLEL WITH ANOTHER WANTED, INERNATIONAL FUGITIVE.

VOICE: U-S INTELLIGENCE HUNTING THE ELUSIVE TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN WILL EAT ITS HEART OUT AT TURKEY'S PURSUIT OF THE KURDISH REBEL ABDULLAH OCALAN FROM SYRIA TO THE GREEK EMBASSY IN KENYA. HIS CAPTURE AND RETURN TO STAND TRIAL FOR TERROR HE ORGANIZED FROM EXILE THE PAST 15-YEARS IS A GREAT FEAT OF COUNTER-TERRORISM. ... THE APPARENT COMPLICITY OF GREECE IS ALSO POSITIVE. GREECE AND TURKEY, BOTH NATO MEMBERS, HAVE LONG BEEN ADVERSARIES. THEIR NATURAL SYMPATHIES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE KOSOVO TRAGEDY IS THE GREATEST DANGER THERE. ANYTHING THAT BRINGS THE TWO COUNTRIES CLOSER IS GOOD FOR EUROPE AND FOR PEACE. ... [HOWEVER] THE CAPTURE OF MR. OCALAN WILL NOT END THE HUMAN RIGHTS SPOTLIGHT ON TURKEY'S FAILINGS. HIS SHOW TRIAL WILL MAKE THAT SPOTLIGHT BRIGHTER.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WHICH BEGINS WEDNESDAY'S [2/17] LEAD EDITORIAL, DISCUSSING THE LONG CIVIL WAR IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY BETWEEN KURDS AND THE TURKISH MILITARY, MAKES THIS POINT NOW THAT TURKEY HAS MR. OCALAN, IT ALSO HAS THE DILEMMA OF WHAT TO DO WITH HIM.

VOICE: IT CAN SUBMIT ABDULLAH OCALAN TO AN ACCUSED TRAITOR'S LIKELY SECURITY-CODE TRIAL, RATHER THAN A CIVILIAN TRIAL. THE PROCESS MIGHT MOCK WESTERN JUSTICE, BUT WOULD SHOW THE GOVERNMENT WREAKING STERN VENGEANCE. OR IT CAN SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO SEEK ANOTHER WAY THAN TOUGHNESS AND REPRESSION TO DEAL WITH A CANCER THAT NEARLY 80-YEARS OF TREATMENT IN THE MODE OF KEMAL ATATURK HAVE FAILED TO REDUCE.

TEXT: PICKING UP THE SAME THEME, THAT HIS CAPTURE PRESENTS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE UNDERLYING QUESTION OF KURDISH RIGHTS WITHIN TURKEY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: MR. OCALAN'S CAPTURE AND TRIAL SHOULD BE USED TO HELP DIMINISH THIS TERRIBLE CONFLICT, NOT INFLAME IT. TURKEY'S TREATMENT OF ITS KURDISH MINORITY HAS UNDERCUT ITS DEMOCRACY AND DAMAGED ITS INTERNATIONAL STANDING. KURDISH VIOLENCE AND TERROR,INCLUDING THE VIOLENCE OF OCALAN SUPPORTERS NOW LIVING IN EUROPE, HAVE PROVIDED EXCUSES FOR TURKEY'S ACTIONS. KURDISH TERRORISM HAS OBSCURED THE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES SUFFERED BY MILLIONS OF NONVIOLENT KURDS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AND BEEN SUBJECTED TO TURKISH ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS KURDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. BOTH SIDES NOW NEED TO BEHAVE MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" TAKES A HARDER LINE, REMINDING READERS OF THE TOLL KURDISH TERRORISM HAS TAKEN IN TURKEY.

VOICE: WHAT SHOULD NOT BE IN DISPUTE, HOWEVER, IS THE MONSTROUS AND CRIMINAL NATURE OF MR. OCALAN'S CAMPAIGN FOR A KURDISH HOMELAND. TURKEY, AFTER ALL, IS A DEMOCRATIC (IF IMPERFECT) COUNTRY -- FAR AND AWAY THE MOST DEMOCRATIC STATE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD -- IN WHICH KURDS PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HIKMET CETIN IS KURDISH. ... BUT ... MR. OCALAN DECLINED TO BRING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH RIGHTS TO THE ELECTORAL ARENA. ... SINCE ... 1984 ... THE CAMPAIGN OF THIS 'FREEDOM FIGHTER' HAS COST NEARLY 40-THOUSAND LIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MANY KURDS WHO ... FAILED TO SUPPORT HIS CAUSE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EARLY PRESS REACTION TO THE CAPTURE OF THE KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER FROM TURKEY, ABDULLAH OCALAN.
NEB/ANG/RAE
17-Feb-99 1:21 PM EST (1821 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] TURKEY CAPTURES OCALAN; EUROPE'S KURDS REVOLT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: VIOLENCE ERUPTED AT MIDWEEK IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE AS TURKISH KURDS DEMONSTRATED VIOLENTLY AT THE CAPTURE OF THE MAN KNOWN AS "APO," ABDULLAH OCALAN.

FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, MR. OCALAN HAS LED THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K AS IT IS KNOWN, IN A VIOLENT CAMPAIGN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, PRESSING DEMANDS FOR A SEPARATE KURDISH STATE.

U-S NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO RESPOND, SUGGESTINGTHAT MR. OCALAN'S ARREST AND PENDING TRIAL GIVES TURKEY THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVERSE ITS DECADES OLD POLICY OF KURDISH REPRESSION, AS IT METES OUT JUSTICE TO THE P-K-K LEADER. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY _______________ WHO HAS ASAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: AT LEAST 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE DIED DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS THE TURKISH MILITARY RELENTLESSLY REPRESSED THE MILITANT KURDS, AND THE P-K-K HARASSED TURKISH MILITARY UNITS IN THE REGION, ALSO KILLED KURDS WHO FAILED TO SUPPORT THEM. AFTER BEING FORCED OUT OF SYRIA WEEKS AGO, MR. OCALAN HAS BEEN CAPTURED IN KENYA, AFTER SEEKING ASYLUM AT THE GREEK EMBASSY THERE, AND RETURNED TO TURKEY TO STAND TRIAL FOR TERRORISM.

HIS DEPORTATION SET OFF VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AT GREEK, KENYAN, AND ISRAELI EMBASSIES THROUGHOUT EUROPE. ISRAEL BECAME A TARGET WHEN IT WAS RUMORED THAT THE ISRAELI SECRET SERVICE, [THE MOSSAD] AIDED TURKEY IN HIS APPREHENTION.

IN THE U-S PRESS, THERE IS A RECURRING THEME THAT TURKEY CAN SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN RESOLVING ITS LONG-STANDING PROBLEM OF KURDISH RIGHTS AND AUTONOMY, WHICH STEMS FROM THE BIRTH OF MODERN TURKEY AT THE HANDS OF KEMAL ATTATURK IN THE 1920S.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN MARYLAND, WHERE "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE SEES A PARALLEL WITH ANOTHER WANTED, INERNATIONAL FUGITIVE.

VOICE: U-S INTELLIGENCE HUNTING THE ELUSIVE TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN WILL EAT ITS HEART OUT AT TURKEY'S PURSUIT OF THE KURDISH REBEL ABDULLAH OCALAN FROM SYRIA TO THE GREEK EMBASSY IN KENYA. HIS CAPTURE AND RETURN TO STAND TRIAL FOR TERROR HE ORGANIZED FROM EXILE THE PAST 15 YEARS IS A GREAT FEAT OF COUNTER-TERRORISM. ... THE APPARENT COMPLICITY OF GREECE IS ALSO POSITIVE. GREECE AND TURKEY, BOTH NATO MEMBERS, HAVE LONG BEEN ADVERSARIES. THEIR NATURAL SYMPATHIES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE KOSOVO TRAGEDY IS THE GREATEST DANGER THERE. ANYTHING THAT BRINGS THE TWO COUNTRIES CLOSER IS GOOD FOR EUROPE AND FOR PEACE. ... [HOWEVER] THE CAPTURE OF MR. OCALAN WILL NOT END THE HUMAN RIGHTS SPOTLIGHT ON TURKEDY'S FAILINGS. HIS SHOW TRIAL WILL MAKE THAT SPOTLIGHT BRIGHTER.

[NEW MATERIAL]

TEXT: IN THE MIDWEST, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: [MR. OCALAN'S ARREST FOCUSED WORLD ATTENTION ON THE SITUATION OF UP TO 25 MILLION KURDS SPREAD OUT ACROSS TURKEY, SYRIA, IRAQ AND IRAN. [MR.] OCALAN'S FOLLOWERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE 1984 FOR KURDISH INDEPENDENCE,MAINLY IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, AND, NOT WITHOUT REASON, THE GOVERNMENT BLAMES HIM FOR A CONFLICT THAT HAS COST 37-THOUSAND LIVES. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CONDEMNED HIS BLOODY METHODS. EVEN EX-P-K-K REBELS FOUND HIM TREACHEROUS, ACCUSING HIM OF HAVING SCORES OF RIVALS HUNTED DOWN AND EXECUTED. .... THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WILL NOW FACE ITS OWN KIND OF PUBLIC TRIAL AS THE WORLD WATCHES HOW FAIRLY IT TRIED AND SENTENCES [MR.] OCALAN. ... TURKISH DEMOCRACY TOOL OFTEN HAS BEEN A SHAM. AN ARROGANT, SECULARIST MILITARY ELITE HAS OVERTURNED THE RESULTS OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS AS RECENTLY AS 1997, WITH IT FEARED ISLAMIC INFLUENCE WAS GROWING TOO GREAT. THE KURDS HAVE LONG BEEN A PEOPLE INS EACH OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY .... AND THEIR CLAIMS GO BACK TO 1920. IT IS ONE MEASURE OF TURKEY'S UNBENDING APPROACH TO DISSENT THAT THE SEPARATIST REBELLION HAS GONE SO LONG WITHOUT A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. AT FIRST BLUSH, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT [MR.] OCALAN'S ARREST WILL MAKE SUCH A SETTLEMENT ANY MORE LIKELY.

[END NEW MATERIAL]

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" BEGINS WEDNESDAY'S [2/17] LEAD EDITORIAL, DISCUSSING THE LONG CIVIL WAR IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY BETWEEN KURDS AND THE TURKISH MILITARY, THEN MAKES THIS POINT: NOW THAT TURKEY H A S MR. OCALAN, IT ALSO HAS THE DILEMMA OF WHAT TO D O WITH HIM.

VOICE: IT CAN SUBMIT ABDULLAH OCALAN TO AN ACCUSED TRAITOR'S LIKELY SECURITY-CODE TRIAL, RATHER THAN A CIVILIAN TRIAL. THE PROCESS MIGHT MOCK WESTERN JUSTICE BUT WOULD SHOW THE GOVERNMENT WREAKING STERN VENGEANCE. OR IT CAN SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO SEEK ANOTHER WAY THAN TOUGHNESS AND REPRESSION TO DEAL WITH A CANCER THAT NEARLY 80 YEARS OF TREATMENT IN THE MODE OF KEMAL ATATURK HAVE FAILED TO REDUCE.

TEXT: PICKING UP THE SAME THEME, THAT HIS CAPTURE PRESENTS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE UNDERLYING QUESTION OF KURDISH RIGHTS WITHIN TURKEY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: MR. OCALAN'S CAPTURE AND TRIAL SHOULD BE USED TO HELP DIMINISH THIS TERRIBLE CONFLICT, NOT INFLAME IT. TURKEY'S TREATMENT OF ITS KURDISH MINORITY HAS UNDERCUT ITS DEMOCRACY AND DAMAGED ITS INTERNATIONAL STANDING. KURDISH VIOLENCE AND TERROR,INCLUDING THE VIOLENCE OF OCALAN SUPPORTERS NOW LIVING IN EUROPE, HAVE PROVIDED EXCUSES FOR TURKEY'S ACTIONS. KURDISH TERRORISM HAS OBSCURED THE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES SUFFERED BY MILLIONS OF NONVIOLENT KURDS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AND BEEN SUBJECTED TO TURKISH ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS KURDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. BOTH SIDES NOW NEED TO BEHAVE MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" TAKES A HARDER LINE, REMINDING READERS OF THE TOLL KURDISH TERRORISM HAS TAKEN IN TURKEY.

VOICE: WHAT SHOULD NOT BE IN DISPUTE, HOWEVER, IS THE MONSTROUS AND CRIMINAL NATURE OF MR. OCALAN'S CAMPAIGN FOR A KURDISH HOMELAND. TURKEY, AFTER ALL, IS A DEMOCRATIC (IF IMPERFECT) COUNTRY - - FAR AND AWAY THE MOST DEMOCRATIC STATE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD - - IN WHICH KURDS PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HIKMET CETIN IS KURDISH. ... BUT ... MR. OCALAN DECLINED TO BRING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH RIGHTS TO THE ELECTORAL ARENA. ... SINCE ... 1984 ... THE CAMPAIGN OF THIS 'FREEDOM FIGHTER' HAS COST NEARLY 40-THOUSAND LIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MANY KURDS WHO ... FAILED TO SUPPORT HIS CAUSE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EARLY PRESS REACTION TO THE CAPTURE OF THE KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER FROM TURKEY, ABDULLAH OCALAN.
NEB/ANG/PT
17-Feb-99 4:43 PM EST (2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] KOSOVO / U-S (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT STILL HAS TIME TO SEE THE LIGHT AND ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN KOSOVO. BUT WITH JUST THREE DAYS TO GO BEFORE SATURDAY'S DEADLINE AT THE PEACE TALKS IN FRANCE, NEGOTIATORS SAY TIME IS RUNNING OUT. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S LATEST REFUSAL TO ACCEPT NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN KOSOVO IS THE FINAL WORD ON THE SUBJECT.

DURING A MEETING WITH U-S ENVOY CHRISTOPHER HILL ON TUESDAY, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REITERATED HIS OPPOSITION TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THAT POSITION MAY CHANGE.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS STILL AGAINST THE IDEA BUT HE STILL HAS TIME TO SEE THE LIGHT, AS I INDICATED, TO SEE THAT IT IS IN HIS COUNTRY'S INTEREST TO ALLOW PEACE TO COME TO KOSOVO AND TO ALLOW HIS COUNTRY THE PROSPECT OF A DIFFERENT FUTURE AND A FUTURE ULTIMATELY OF REINTEGRATION INTO EUROPE AND INTO WESTERN INSTITUTIONS AND A FUTURE THAT IS FREE OF THE VIOLENCE AND BARBARITY THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN KOSOVO.

NEGOTIATORS AT THE PEACE TALKS IN FRANCE SAY THE TWO SIDES APPEAR TO BE MAKING SOME PROGRESS TOWARD AN AGREEMENT.

ONE OF THE CO-HOSTS OF THE TALKS, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAID HE HOPES A POLITICAL ACCORD ON THE PRINCIPALS FOR WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO CAN BE REACHED SOON.

BUT WITH THE DEADLINE FOR THE TALKS FAST APPROACHING, THE SERB AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES STILL HAVE MAJOR MILITARY ISSUES TO OVER COME.

WHILE THE SERBS BALK AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO PEACEKEEPERS, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS YET TO AGREE TO DISARM ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN FIGHTERS.

NEGOTIATORS AT THE TALKS SAY ITS POSSIBLE TO REACH A DEAL BY THE SATURDAY DEADLINE, BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT. NATO HAS THREATENED TO CARRY OUT AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE SERBS IF THEY REJECT THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

BUT IF A SETTLEMENT IS FINALLY REACHED, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS IT COULD LEAD TO AN EASING OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

THOSE SANCTIONS THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY GEARED TO SERB REPRESSION IN KOSOVO, MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT IF THERE WERE NOT SERB REPRESSION IN KOSOVO, BUT RATHER A PEACE AGREEMENT AND AN IMPLEMENTATION FORCE.

IN THE EVENT AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED, NATO HAS SAID IT IS WILLING TO SEND NEARLY 30-THOUSAND TROOPS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED THREE YEAR SETTLEMENT.

WITH THE THREAT OF NATO AIR STRIKES JUST THREE DAYS AWAY, SERB PRESIDENT MILAN MILUTINOVIC IS EXPECTED TO FLY TO FRANCE TO BE NEAR THE TALKS.

MR. MILUTINOVIC IS A CLOSE ALLY OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THE MAN WHO WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE PEACE PLAN OR NOT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC/PT
17-Feb-99 5:16 PM EST (2216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] KOSOVO TALKS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIANS AT THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS NEAR PARIS SAY THEY ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR SUCCESS BY THE SATURDAY DEADLINE. MEANWHILE, AS JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS, THE SERBS ARE EMPHASIZING THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE DISPATCH OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO KOSOVO.

TEXT: THE AMERICAN MEDIATOR AT THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS, HELD AT RAMBOUILLET JUST OUTSIDE PARIS, HAS RETURNED FROM A BRIEF TRIP TO BELGRADE. BUT TIME IS RUNNING SHORT FOR FINDING A SOLUTION WITHIN THE LIMIT SET BY THE SIX-NATION "CONTACT GROUP" ON YUGOSLAVIA.

U-S AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL, ONE OF THREE MEDIATORS AT THE TALKS, RETURNED FROM BELGRADE EARLY WEDNESDAY. PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REPEATED TO MR. HILL THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY OPPOSED TO NATO PLANS TO SEND IN A 30-THOUSAND-STRONG PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO HELP IMPLEMENT A PEACE AGREEMENT IN KOSOVO.

IN RAMBOUILLET, WHERE NEWS ABOUT THE TALKS HAS BEEN SCARCE IN THE 10 DAYS SINCE THEY STARTED, BOTH SIDES HAVE NOW BEGUN A PROPAGANDA OFFENSIVE. FIRST, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHICH HAS FIVE DELEGATES IN THE KOSOVAR DELEGATION, HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO SAY THEY BELIEVE THERE WILL BE NO AGREEMENT AT RAMBOUILLET. LAST SUNDAY, THE CONTACT GROUP, COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND ITALY, GAVE NEGOTIATORS UNTIL NOON SATURDAY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT, NATO SAYS IT WILL START AIR STRIKES ON MILITARY POSITIONS IN SERBIA.

THE BRITISH AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS, WHO ARE CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE CONTACT GROUP, VISITED THE CHATEAU OF RAMBOUILLET (ON WEDNESDAY) TO INCREASE THE DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON THE TWO NEGOTIATING TEAMS.

AT THE SAME TIME, A SENIOR YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL SAID BELGRADE WILL NEVER ACCEPT A PEACE FORCE. YUGOSLAV INFORMATION MINISTER MILAN KOMNENIC SAID THE ISSUE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. HE REPEATED THE SERBIAN VIEW THAT IF THERE IS A SATISFACTORY POLITICAL ACCORD, THEN THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR PEACEKEEPING TROOPS.

ETHNIC ALBANIANS INSIST THAT THEY NEED NATO TROOPS TO GUARANTEE SECURITY IN THE THREE-YEAR INTERIM PERIOD COVERED BY THE CONTACT GROUP'S DRAFT PEACE ACCORD. DURING THE PAST YEAR, MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN KOSOVO AND MANY THOUSANDS MORE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.

DESPITE THE APPARENTLY GLOOMY OUTLOOK, FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE MR. HILL'S TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE WERE USEFUL BECAUSE THEY GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERLINE THE CONTACT GROUP'S VIEWS TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH
17-Feb-99 12:57 PM EST (1757 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] NATO AND KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: KOSOVO HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A BATTLEGROUND BETWEEN SERBS AND ALBANIANS. IT NOW HAS INVOLVED EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES IN A FUNDAMENTAL REASSESSMENT OF THEIR MILITARY RESPONSIBILTIES. HOW FAR SHOULD THE NATO ALLIANCE INTERVENE IN THE CRISIS, AND IS THIS INDEED THE ROLE OF NATO? THESE QUESTIONS WERE SHARPLY DEBATED AT A MEETING OF WASHINGTON'S CATO INSTITUTE (TUES., FEB. 16). VOA'S ED WARNER ATTENDED AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: DURING THE COLD WAR, NATO, THE BULWARK AGAINST POSSIBLE SOVIET ATTACK, HAD MANY ANXIOUS MOMENTS. BUT IT NEVER HAD TO FIRE A SHOT IN ANGER, SAID TED CARPENTER AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE CATO INSTITUTE, A PRIVATE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON.

NOW WITH THE COLD WAR OVER, NATO IS CLOSER TO WAR THEN EVER BEFORE, SAID MR. CARPENTER, CATO'S DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN POLICY STUDIES. IS THIS WHAT THE ALLIANCE SHOULD BE DOING? HE ASKED GUEST SPEAKERS, WHO WERE SHARPLY DIVIDED.

STAY OUT OF THE FRATRICIDAL BALKANS, SAID COLONEL HARRY SUMMERS, A NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST AND DECORATED VETERAN OF THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS. INTERVENTION IS NOT IN THE STRATEGIC INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IF IT LEADS TO AMERICAN DEATHS, IT WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED:

THE ADMINISTRATION KNOWS THAT THEY CANNOT STAND THAT COST IN CASUALTIES BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S SUPPORT FOR IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAR IT. SO THE ADMINISTRATION IS RIDING THE BACK OF A TIGER, AND IT HAS MADE ITSELF HOSTAGE TO SOME EXTENT TO THOSE WHO WOULD IMPOSE CASUALTIES ON U-S FORCES.

COLONEL SUMMERS SAID EUROPE HAS OVER A MILLION MEN UNDER ARMS. LET THEM ASSUME WHAT IS A EUROPEAN BURDEN.

BUT THE EUROPEANS WILL NOT TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, SAID IVO DAALDER, WHO COORDINATED BOSNIA POLICY FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND IS NOW AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON:

UNLIKE COLONEL SUMMERS, I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN MANY OF OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES. OTHER THAN THE BRITISH FORCE IN PARTICULAR, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MODE OF OPERATING AND THE STANDARDS OF OPERATIONS BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE EUROPEANS THAT ARE GOING TO DEPLOY FORCES THERE - LET ALONE THE RUSSIANS - IS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF ROBUSTNESS THAT IS NECESSARY IN THE SITUATION.

SO THE UNITED STATES MUST TAKE THE LEAD, SAID MR. DAALDER. AS NATO'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY APPROACHES IN APRIL, ITS CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE. IMAGINE THE COMING CELEBRATION IF NATO ABANDONS KOSOVO. WITH THE THREAT OF BOMBING, SAID MR. DAALDER, NATO MUST FORCE THE SERBS TO COMPROMISE ON KOSOVO AND BEYOND THAT, GET RID OF THEIR UNCOMPROMISING LEADER, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THAT IS THE KIND OF IMPERIAL MEDDLING ONCE PRACTICED BY THE SOVIET UNION, SAID COLONEL SUMMERS. NOW THE UNITED STATES IS SUPPOSED TO FOMENT REVOLUTION AND OVERTHROW NATIONAL LEADERS NOT TO ITS LIKING.

THIS INTERVENTION THAT WILL NOT HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT, WARNED FATHER SAVA JANJIC, AN ORTHODOX PRIEST AND A LEADER OF A KOSOVO PEACE MOVEMENT. HE SAID ATTACKING MILOSEVIC WILL STRENGTHEN HIM WITH THE SERBS:

IN FACT, NATO COULD BE DRAGGED INTO A PROLONGED CONFRONTATION WITH SERBIAN GUERRILLA GROUPS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF GROWING ANTI-AMERICAN FEELINGS AMONG THE SERBS. IT WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO BE FOUND IN THE POSITION OF AN OCCUPATION FORCE IN AN INCREASINGLY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT NATO INTERVENTION STOPPED THE KILLING IN BOSNIA, SAID MR. DAALDER, AND THAT WAS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT. IT CAN BE DUPLICATED IN KOSOVO WITH SUFFICIENT ENDURANCE:

WE HAVE BEEN IN JAPAN FOR FIFTY YEARS, AND IT WORKED. WE HAVE BEEN IN GERMANY FOR FIFTY YEARS, AND IT WORKED. WE HAVE BEEN IN BOSNIA FOR THREE, AND ARE WE READY TO THROW UP OUR HANDS?

COLONEL SUMMERS REPLIED THAT IT WAS WORTH THE RISK AND THE EXPENSE BECAUSE GERMANY AND JAPAN ARE IN THE VITAL INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES. THE BALKANS ARE NOT. MR. DAALDER COUNTERED THERE ARE TIMES THE UNITED STATES SHOULD INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF ITS VALUES, IF NOT OF ITS INTERESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
16-Feb-99 10:15 PM EST (0315 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] ROMANIA STRIKE (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: STRIKING COALS MINERS HAVE CLASH WITH POLICE, AS ROMANIAN AUTHORITIES ARREST THEIR MILITANT LEADER, MIRON COZMA, FOR HIS ROLE IN A VIOLENT PROTEST EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE ARREST COMES AFTER THE SUPREME COURT SENTENCED COZMA MONDAY TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN, WHO WAS RECENTLY IN BUCHAREST, REPORTS THE STRUGGLE OF WILLS BETWEEN COZMA AND THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT GOES ON.

TEXT: THE SECOND COAL MINERS MARCH OF 1999 TOWARD BUCHAREST HAS ITS GENESIS IN THE 1991 RIOTS LED BY COZMA, WHICH BROUGHT DOWN THE ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER. COZMA WAS CONVICTED OF UNDERMINING STATE AUTHORITY IN THE 1991 PROTESTS WHEN COAL MINERS INVADED PARLIAMENT AND SET GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ON FIRE.

ROMANIA'S SUPREME COURT SENTENCED COZMA TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON ON MONDAY, REVERSING A LOWER COURT RULING THAT REDUCED THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. THE COAL MINERS STARTED THEIR DEFIANT MARCH TUESDAY FROM NORTHWEST ROMANIA TO TRY TO PREVENT THEIR LEADER'S ARREST.

COZMA HAS LED FOUR PREVIOUS ANTI-GOVERNMENT MARCHES. LAST MONTH, HE CALLED OFF A VIOLENT MARCH AFTER THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO DELAY A DECISION TO CLOSE DOWN MONEY-LOSING COAL MINES. THE SETTLEMENT AVOIDED AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS CLASH WITH ROMANIAN TROOPS. BUT IT ALSO PUT INTO QUESTION THE BUDGET AGREEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO WIN A LOAN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

THE COAL MINERS ARE BETTER PAID THAN MOST ROMANIAN WORKERS. AND LED BY COZMA, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT USING VIOLENT TACTICS TO FORCE THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT TO GIVE IN TO THEIR DEMANDS.

BY IMPRISONING COZMA, THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO FEEL IT CAN DEPRIVE THE COAL MINERS OF THEIR LEADERSHIP AND PROCEED WITH ECONOMIC REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN HOBBLED EVERY TIME THE COAL MINERS MARCHES ON BUCHAREST. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/JO
17-Feb-99 11:08 AM EST (1608 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] EUROPE-DUTY FREE (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- IS RECOMMENDING ITS MEMBER STATES GO AHEAD WITH A 1991 E-U DECISION END DUTY-FREE SALES BY JULY FIRST. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE ARGUMENT OF PRESERVING JOBS IN DUTY-FREE RETAILING LOST OUT TO AN ARGUMENT FOR A SINGLE EUROPEAN MARKET.

TEXT: THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, SENSITIVE TO THE LOSS OF JOBS IN THE DUTY-FREE INDUSTRY, ASKED THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO SEE IF A LIMITED EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE PAST JULY COULD BE JUSTIFIED. THE COMMISSION'S ANSWER IS NO.

UNLESS THE LEADERS IGNORE THE OPINION, DUTY-FREE SALES OF ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION'S 15 COUNTRIES WILL END JULY FIRST. THE COMMISSION ARGUES THE ESTIMATED TWO-BILLION DOLLARS COLLECTED IN DUTY TAXES CAN BE USED BY THE MEMBER STATES TO CREATE JOBS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES.

DUTY-FREE SALES ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONCEPT OF A SINGLE MARKET. E-U INTERNAL MARKET COMMISSIONER MARIO MONTI TELLS REPORTERS HE DOES NOT WORRY ABOUT BECOMING PERHAPS THE MOST UNPOPULAR MAN IN EUROPE.

I WILL BE FRANKLY SURPRISED IF ONE WERE TO BECOME THE MOST UNPOPULAR MAN IN EUROPE ON THE DAY IN WHICH HE PROPOSED CONCRETE MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE THE TAX BURDEN ON LABOR, ON ONE HAND, AND ALONG WITH HIS COLLEAGUES PROPOSED A SMOOTH WAY OUT OF A SYSTEM WHICH, IS PRESENTLY APPLYING COSTS TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF EUROPEAN TAXPAYERS, WHICH THEY ARE NOT EVEN AWARE THEY ARE BEARING.

THE COMMISSION MAINTAINS DUTY-FREE SALES SUBSIDIZE WEALTHY TRAVELERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY WANTS ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR DUTY-FREE SALES. FRANK O'CONNELL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DUTY-FREE CONFEDERATION, SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENTS IN THE PAST SEVEN-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS ABOUT MAKING THE TRANSITION.

YOU CANNOT END THIS BUSINESS OVERNIGHT WITHOUT HAVING SERIOUS IMPACTS, BECAUSE THIS BUSINESS IMPACTS ON (AFFECTS) THE GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE, THEIR TRANSPORT POLICIES, IT IMPACTS ON (AFFECTS) THEIR TOURISM POLICIES, IT IMPACTS ON (AFFECTS) SOCIAL POLICIES, IF YOU START CLOSING DOWN ROUTES OR YOU START REDUCING FREQUENCIES TO CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. // OPT // IT IMPACTS ON (AFFECTS) THEIR EMPLOYMENT POLICIES. DURING THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND UP TO VERY RECENTLY, NO GOVERNMENT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INDUSTRY AS TO HOW TO RESOLVE THAT. // END OPT //

CENTER-LEFT GOVERNMENTS IN BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND GERMANY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A FURTHER DELAY IN ENDING DUTY-FREE SALES WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE COMMISSION SAYS THE 1991 DECISION TO ELIMINATE THESE SALES WAS UNANIMOUS AND ANY ADDITIONAL DELAY REQUIRES ALL E-U GOVERNMENTS TO AGREE.

DENMARK CONTENDS MORE JOBS WILL BE CREATED IF DUTY-FREE SALES ARE ELIMINATED. DENMARK'S OPPOSITION WILL KILL ANY EXTENSION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION DAY, WHICH IS WANTED BY THE DUTY-FREE INDUSTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF/RAE
17-Feb-99 10:17 AM EST (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS TECHNOLOGY STOCKS CONTINUED TO BE ESPECIALLY WEAK. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 91 HUNDRED 95, DOWN 101 POINTS OR MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 24, DOWN 17 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST 64 POINTS OR THREE PERCENT, REFLECTING CONTINUED WEAKNESS IN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS, INCLUDING SUCH MAJOR COMPANIES AS MICROSOFT AND DELL COMPUTER.

IF WE LOSE THE LEADERSHIP IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, THE WHOLE MARKET COULD GO INTO A DOWNTREND BECAUSE THERE ARE NO OTHER AREAS THAT APPEAR TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK (LEADERSHIP POSITION).

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES WAS UNCHANGED IN JANUARY, REFLECTING CONTINUED WEAKNESS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR WHICH HAS BEEN HURT BY GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THE U-S HOUSING INDUSTRY REMAINS VERY STRONG WITH NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION RISING LAST MONTH TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 10 YEARS.

THE DELL COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS IT HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN WHICH FORD WILL STANDARDIZE ALL ITS PERSONAL COMPUTER NEEDS WITH DELL. HOWEVER, DELL DID NOT DISCLOSE THE VALUE OF THE DEAL. DELL'S STOCK FELL ALMOST 10 PERCENT AFTER SOME ANALYSTS SAID THE COMPANY'S RAPID GROWTH RATE MAY BE SLOWING.

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAKER OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, ANNOUNCED A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT EFFECTIVE IN APRIL. IT IS LUCENT'S SECOND STOCK SPLIT IN A YEAR. LUCENT HAS NOW BECOME THE SECOND MOST WIDELY OWNED STOCK IN THE UNITED STATES, BEHIND A-T AND T, ITS FORMER PARENT.

A-T AND T STOCKHOLDERS HAVE APPROVED THE COMPANY'S PLANNED 48 BILLION DOLLAR PURCHASE OF THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY T-C-I. THE DEAL IS NOW AWAITING FINAL APPROVAL BY U-S REGULATORS.

THE H-J HEINZ FOOD COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CLOSE UP TO 20 FACTORIES AND LAY OFF AS MANY AS FOUR THOUSAND WORKERS, OR 10 PERCENT OF ITS WORLDWIDE WORK FORCE. HEINZ SAYS THE RESTRUCTURING WILL SAVE THE COMPANY 200 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

TRANS WORLD AIRLINES REPORTED ITS TENTH CONSECUTIVE ANNUAL LOSS. THE COMPANY IS FACING HUGE EXPENSES AS IT REPLACES ITS AGING FLEET WITH NEW AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, MICHAEL PALUMBO, T-W-A'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SAYS HE SEES A PROFIT "ON THE HORIZON."(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
17-Feb-99 5:24 PM EST (2224 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: KURDS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE VIOLENTLY PROTESTING THE ARREST IN KENYA OF TURKEY'S KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN, AND HIS RETURN TO TURKEY WHERE HE FACES TERRORISM CHARGES. MANY PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON HIS PLIGHT, AND THE BROADER QUESTION OF THE HISTORIC KURDISH DILEMMA.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE DEBATE OVER SENDING TROOPS TO KOSOVO PROVINCE; DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN; THE DIFFICULT QUESTION OF RESUMING AID TO A CAMBODIA RUN BY HUN SEN; AND HILLARY CLINTON'S POTENTIAL SENATE RUN IN NEW YORK STATE; NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: AFTER MONTHS OF SEARCHING FOR A SAFE HAVEN, KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN [KNOWN AMONG KURDS AS "APO"] HAS BEEN CAPTURED IN KENYA AND RETURNED TO TURKEY. HE WILL STAND TRIAL ON TERRORISM CHARGES AND COULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH. HIS ARREST SET OFF VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS BY KURDS IN MANY PLACES.

THERE ARE COMMENTS IN THE U-S PRESS, INCLUDING AN EDITORIAL IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" WHICH DISCUSSES THE LONG CIVIL WAR IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY BETWEEN KURDS AND THE TURKISH MILITARY. "THE POST" SAYS, NOW THAT TURKEY H A S MR. OCALAN, IT ALSO HAS THE DILEMMA OF WHAT TO DO WITH HIM.

VOICE: IT CAN SUBMIT ABDULLAH OCALAN TO AN ACCUSED TRAITOR'S LIKELY SECURITY-CODE TRIAL, RATHER THAN A CIVILIAN TRIAL. THE PROCESS MIGHT MOCK WESTERN JUSTICE BUT WOULD SHOW THE GOVERNMENT WREAKING STERN VENGEANCE. OR IT CAN SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO SEEK ANOTHER WAY THAN TOUGHNESS AND REPRESSION TO DEAL WITH A CANCER THAT NEARLY 80 YEARS OF TREATMENT IN THE MODE OF KEMAL ATATURK HAVE FAILED TO REDUCE.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: MR. OCALAN'S CAPTURE AND TRIAL SHOULD BE USED TO HELP DIMINISH THIS TERRIBLE CONFLICT, NOT INFLAME IT. TURKEY'S TREATMENT OF ITS KURDISH MINORITY HAS UNDERCUT ITS DEMOCRACY AND DAMAGED ITS INTERNATIONAL STANDING. KURDISH VIOLENCE AND TERROR, INCLUDING THE VIOLENCE OF OCALAN SUPPORTERS NOW LIVING IN EUROPE, HAVE PROVIDED EXCUSES FOR TURKEY'S ACTIONS. KURDISH TERRORISM HAS OBSCURED THE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES SUFFERED BY MILLIONS OF NONVIOLENT KURDS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AND BEEN SUBJECTED TO TURKISH ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS KURDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. BOTH SIDES NOW NEED TO BEHAVE MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" TAKES A HARDER LINE, REMINDING READERS OF THE TOLL KURDISH TERRORISM HAS TAKEN IN TURKEY.

VOICE: WHAT SHOULD NOT BE IN DISPUTE, HOWEVER, IS THE MONSTROUS AND CRIMINAL NATURE OF MR. OCALAN'S CAMPAIGN FOR A KURDISH HOMELAND. TURKEY, AFTER ALL, IS A DEMOCRATIC (IF IMPERFECT) COUNTRY -- FAR AND AWAY THE MOST DEMOCRATIC STATE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD -- IN WHICH KURDS PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HIKMET CETIN IS KURDISH. ... BUT ... MR. OCALAN DECLINED TO BRING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH RIGHTS TO THE ELECTORAL ARENA. ... SINCE ... 1984 ... THE CAMPAIGN OF THIS 'FREEDOM FIGHTER' HAS COST NEARLY 40-THOUSAND LIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MANY KURDS WHO ... FAILED TO SUPPORT HIS CAUSE.

TEXT: A LARGE NUMBER OF KURDS ALSO LIVES IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHERE THEY ARE PROTECTED BY A U-S-AND BRITISH-ENFORCED NO-FLY ZONE AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN. RECENT IRAQI MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THOSE ALLIED JETS ELICITS A MESSAGE FOR BAGHDAD FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DECISION TO CHALLENGE THE OVERFLIGHTS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN YET ANOTHER MISCALCULATION BY A CHRONIC BLUNDERER. /// OPT /// WITH THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DEADLOCKED OVER WHAT TO DO AFTER IRAQ BARRED ANY DEALINGS WITH THE U-N ARMS INSPECTORS, [MR.] HUSSEIN CHOSE TO PRESS HIS LUCK (CONTINUE TO ACT RASHLY) BY FIRST SENDING PLANES INTO THE NO-FLY ZONES AND THEN FIRING ON THE ALLIED PATROLS. /// END OPT /// ... RATHER THAN SHOWING STRENGTH BY PROVOKING THIS CONFRONTATION, [MR.] HUSSEIN HAS EXPOSED IRAQ'S TACTICAL WEAKNESSES.

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER ISSUE, THAT OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAV'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" TODAY SUPPORTS THE U-S POSITION OF GIVING SERB LEADERS AN ULTIMATUM.

VOICE: AMERICAN-LED MEDIATORS WERE RIGHT TO SET A NOON SATURDAY DEADLINE FOR A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. LIKE GEORGE MITCHELL WHEN HE IMPOSED THE DEADLINE IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT LED TO THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT THERE, THEY KNEW PEACE WOULD NEVER COME TO KOSOVO IF THEY LET MATTERS DRIFT. ... THE PEACE PLAN MEANS AN INITIAL CONTINGENT OF 22-HUNDRED U-S MARINES COULD BE IN KOSOVO WITHIN HOURS OF THE AGREEMENT'S SIGNING. NEARLY FOUR-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS COULD BE THERE EVENTUALLY, PART OF A MULTINATIONAL FORCE OF AS MANY AS 30-THOUSAND. THE ALTERNATIVE IS MORE KILLING, AND RISKING ANOTHER WAR IN THE HEART OF EUROPE.

TEXT: TAKING A SOMEWHAT MORE SKEPTICAL VIEW, "THE NEW YORK POST" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON SENDS IN THE MARINES, HOWEVER, HE NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING WHY THIS IMPENDING DEPLOYMENT IS NECESSARY -- AND OF PREPARING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR CASUALTIES.

NOBODY -- LEAST OF ALL THE WARRING PARTIES -- SHOULD HAVE ANY DOUBTS WHATSOEVER ABOUT AMERICA'S SERIOUSNESS OF PURPOSE.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS MORE ENCOURAGED, NOTING:

VOICE: THE EFFORTS BY WASHINGTON AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES TO IMPOSE A PEACE AGREEMENT IN THE WAR-TORN SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO HAVE ALREADY YIELDED PROMISING RESULTS. AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS HAVE PERSUADED THE RUSSIANS TO ACCEPT THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS TO KEEP WHATEVER PEACE THE WARRING PARTIES FORGE IN THEIR CURRENT TALKS .... RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTEDLY INDICATED THAT RUSSIAN TROOPS MIGHT EVEN PARTICIPATE IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS ALONGSIDE NATO. THAT LEAVES TWO OTHER INDISPENSABLE PARTIES THAT MUST BE PERSUADED TO ACCEPT ... A NATO PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT IN KOSOVO ... YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ... AND ... THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. ... [MR.] CLINTON AND HIS SENIOR OFFICIALS MUST EXPLAIN TO AMERICANS IN THE COMING DAYS WHY THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN UNIFORM SHOULD BE SENT TO ANOTHER BALKAN WAR ZONE.

TEXT: THERE IS CONCERN AT "THE WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT WHETHER THE INDUSTRALIZED DEMOCRACIES SHOULD RESUME FINANCIAL AID TO CAMBODIA, NOW BEING LED BY FORMER KHMER ROUGE LEADER HUN SEN.

VOICE: NOT SO FAST. CAMBODIA IS AN EXAMPLE OF A NATION THAT, IN LARGE PART TO SATISFY RICH DONOR COUNTRIES, FOLLOWS THE FORMS OF DEMOCRACY WITHOUT INFUSING THEM WITH MUCH SUBSTANCE. THOSE EFFORTS MERIT SOME APPRECIATION, SINCE DEMOCRATIC FORM OFTEN PROMOTES DEMOCRATIC SUBSTANCE EVEN DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF AN AUTHORITARIAN LEADER SUCH AS HUN SEN. BUT NO ONE SHOULD GO OVERBOARD WITH ENTHUSIASM; THE GOAL IS REAL CHANGE, NOT FACE-SAVING DECORATIONS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" IS AGAIN ATTACKING CUBA'S LACK OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, NOTING:

VOICE: FOR THIS EDITORIAL, A WRITER IN CUBA COULD BE SENT TO PRISON FOR 30 YEARS. THAT IS THE UPSHOT OF MEASURES THAT FIDEL CASTRO PUSHED BEFORE THE ISLAND'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. THESE PENAL 'REFORMS' ALSO BRING BACK THE FIRING SQUAD FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND STIFF SENTENCES FOR THEFT, PROSTITUTION AND PEOPLE-SMUGGLING. BUT THE ULTIMATE THREAT CAME IN A 'LAW' DESIGNED TO SMOTHER CUBA'S DISSIDENTS AND INDEPENDENT PRESS. ... IF IT WASN'T PLAIN BEFORE, IT SHOULD BE NOW: [MR.] CASTRO WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO HANG ON TO POWER.

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME DOMESTIC POLITICAL SPECULATION, THAT HILLARY CLINTON MIGHT -- JUST POSSIBLY -- RUN FOR THE U-S SENATE FROM NEW YORK TO REPLACE THE RETIRING DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN. SAYS NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY":

VOICE: ... SENATOR ... MOYNIHAN, WHOSE DEPARTURE WILL CREATE THE VACANCY IN QUESTION, WAXED ELOQUENT ABOUT THE FIRST LADY'S 'MAGNIFICENT, YOUNG, BRIGHT, ABLE, ILLINOIS-ARKANSAS ENTHUSIASM.' HOLD IT RIGHT THERE FOR A MINUTE. IN A CHARACTERISTICALLY ARTFUL WAY, THIS CANNY INCUMBENT HAS PUT HIS FINGER ON ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT A HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON CAMPAIGN FOR HIS SEAT IN TWO-THOUSAND: WHAT HAS SHE GOT TO DO WITH **NEW YORK** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS.]

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
17-Feb-99 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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