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Voice of America, 98-06-05Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233419 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TALKS ON ENDING THE AIR FRANCE PILOTS' STRIKE THAT THREATENS TO DISRUPT THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT MAY DRAG INTO THE WEEKEND. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS LABOR UNIONS SAY THEY ARE MAKING LITTLE PROGRESS. TEXT: IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE AIR FRANCE PILOTS' STRIKE, THE PILOTS' UNIONS WERE LESS OPTIMISTIC THAN BEFORE ABOUT THE CHANCES OF A QUICK SOLUTION. THE ISSUE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY URGENT SINCE THE PILOTS' ACTION COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DISRUPTION TO THE FIVE-WEEK WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT THAT OPENS IN FRANCE WEDNESDAY. AFTER ALL-NIGHT TALKS THAT BROKE UP AT DAWN FRIDAY, BOTH AIR FRANCE MANAGEMENT AND THE PILOTS SAID THEY WOULD CONTINUE. THE UNIONS, HOWEVER, AFTER EXPRESSING SOME OPTIMISM EARLIER, SAY THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TO START AGAIN FROM SCRATCH. THEY SAY AIR FRANCE HAS COME UP WITH NO NEW PROPOSALS TO CALM THEIR FEARS ABOUT COST-CUTTING MEASURES. AS THE AIR FRANCE STRIKE CONTINUED, SOME RAILROAD WORKERS ALSO STOPPED WORK FOR A LIMITED, 24-HOUR ACTION, TO PUSH PAY CLAIMS. OFFICIALS FEAR THAT IF THE STATE-OWNED AIR FRANCE GIVES IN TO THE PILOTS, WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF BLACKMAIL BY POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA, THEN A WHOLE RANGE OF OTHER WORKERS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WORLD CUP TO REAP NEW BENEFITS. AT AIR FRANCE, THE MAIN STICKING POINT NOW IS A MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL TO EXCHANGE SOME OF THE PILOTS' SALARY FOR STOCK IN THE AIRLINE. THE PILOTS SAY THIS WILL MEAN A PAY CUT OF AROUND 15 PERCENT. AIR FRANCE, WHICH HAS TAKEN HUGE STATE SUBSIDIES TO STAY OUT OF THE RED IN RECENT YEARS, IS NOW SHOWING AN OPERATING PROFIT. THE MANAGEMENT SAYS ITS PILOTS, WHO ARE THE BEST PAID IN EUROPE,
HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES IF THE AIRLINE IS TO BECOME COMPETITIVE
AND FACE THE CHALLENGES OF DEREGULATION IN THE WORLD'S SKIES.
(SIGNED)
[02] BRITAIN / KOSOVO BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-40609 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE LEADER OF BRITAIN'S OPPOSITION "LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY" HAS WARNED OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR EUROPE IF LEADERS DO NOT TAKE STRONG ACTION AGAINST YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND STOP THE KOSOVO CONFLICT FROM ESCALATING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE WITH LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC LEADER PADDY ASHDOWN AS HE PREPARES TO LEAVE FOR A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO KOSOVO. TEXT: THE LEADER OF BRITAIN'S OPPOSITION LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- PADDY ASHDOWN -- HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF HAVING EUROPEAN LEADERS USE STRONG MEASURES IF DIPLOMATIC ATTEMPTS FAIL TO RESOLVE A SPECIFIC FLASHPOINT. HE CALLED FOR MILITARY ACTION TO END THE BOSNIAN WAR AND HE IS CALLING FOR SIMILAR MEASURES TO STOP THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. MR. ASHDOWN SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS RUN OUT OF TIME WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. /// ASHDOWN ACT ///ALL THE BLANDISHMENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENTS, ALL THE SANCTIONS, ALL THE VEILED THREATS HAVE ACHIEVED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN THAT ANY OF THE ACTIONS WE HAVE SO FAR TAKEN HAVE ENCOURAGED PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO BE IN THE SLIGHTEST MORE RESTRAINED. HE IS NOW USING TANKS, HEAVY ARTILLERY -- THE MAXIMUM WEAPONS OF WAR. /// END ACT ///MR. ASHDOWN IS CALLING FOR STRENGTHENING THE U-N FORCES IN MACEDONIA AND PLACING A LARGELY AIR-MOBILE FORCE ALONG THE ALBANIAN BORDER. IN ADDITION, THE FORMER PARATROOPER SAYS EUROPEAN LEADERS WILL HAVE TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT OTHER MILITARY OPTIONS -- SUCH AS AIRPOWER. /// 2ND ASHDOWN ACT ///IT IS WHAT I CALLED FOR IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. IT IS WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN THEN TOLD ME WAS IMPOSSIBLE. BUT IT IS WHAT IN THE END WE DID. AND I AM BOUND TO SAY WE DID IT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES. AND THAT I VERY DEEPLY REGRET. THESE ARE EUROPE'S PROBLEMS AND EUROPE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THEM. /// END ACT ///DURING THE BOSNIA CONFLICT, MR. ASHDOWN TRAVELED MANY TIMES TO THE REGION TO GAIN FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE. HE HOPES TO LEAVE FOR KOSOVO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. AS FOR THE CONVENING OF AN "EMERGENCY CONFERENCE ON KOSOVO" NEXT FRIDAY HERE IN LONDON, MR. ASHDOWN SEES SOME WORRYING PARALLELS WITH BOSNIA. /// 3RD ASHDOWN ACT ///I SEE PARALLELS IN THE DRAGGING OF THE FEET OF THE WEST. I SEE PARALLELS IN THE FACT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS YET AGAIN THE PRESIDENCY OF EUROPE AS WE WERE IN 1992 AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S CHOICE OF ACTION IS YET AGAIN, JUST AS IT WAS IN 1992, TO CALL A CRISIS CONFERENCE. YOU REMEMBER THE LONDON CONFERENCE OF 1992 AND THAT CONFERENCE DID A LOT OF TALKING AND A LOT OF RESOLUTION PASSING -- BUT VERY LITTLE ACTION. I HOPE WE HAVE LEARNED THOSE LESSONS. /// END ACT ///MR. ASHDOWN SEES WHAT HE CALLS DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOUTHERN EUROPE IF THE WEST SIMPLY STANDS BY, PASSES MEANINGLESS RESOLUTIONS, THREATENS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC -- ONCE AGAIN - AND LETS THE KOSOVO CONFLICT ESCALATE FURTHER. /// 4TH ASHDOWN ACT ///WE KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DELAY, TO FESTER AT THE SIDELINES, TO RUB YOUR HANDS, TO CONCENTRATE ON CROCODILE TEARS INSTEAD OF TAKING ACTION. WE SAW IT IN BOSNIA AND EVEN IN A MORE DANGEROUS CONFLAGRATION : JUST REMEMBER, BOSNIA IS FAR LESS DANGEROUS THAN KOSOVO COULD BE. A KOSOVAN CONFLICT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BRING IN ALBANIA, AND IF ALBANIA THEN GREECE, AND IF GREECE THEN TURKEY. IT IS IMMENSELY MORE DANGEROUS. AND THE CHOICE IS -- QUITE SIMPLY - YOU FIND THE WILL AND FIND THE MEANS TO DO IT NOW OR YOU MAY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FAR MORE SEVERE AT A FAR GREATER COST LATER. /// END ACT ///FOR PADDY ASHDOWN, THE LEADER OF BRITAIN'S OPPOSITION LIBERAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE -- EUROPEAN LEADERS MUST
ACT NOW -- DECISIVELY -- TO GUARANTEE PEACE IN THE FUTURE.
(SIGNED)
[03] U-N / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233439 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TODAY (FRIDAY) STRONGLY CONDEMNED SERBIAN FORCES FOR THEIR ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. TEXT: THE STATEMENT IS THE STRONGEST TO DATE FROM THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNING THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. IN IT, HE CONDEMNS THE LATEST VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO AND WARNS AGAINST ETHNIC CLEANSING. U-N SPOKESMAN JUAN-CARLOS BRANDT: /// BRANDT ACT ///THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IS DEEPLY DISTURBED BY THE LATEST REPORTS OF AN INTENSIFYING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE UNARMED, CIVILIAN POPULATION OF KOSOVO. HE REITERATES IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS HIS CONDEMNATION OF THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY SERBIAN MILITARY AND PARA-MILITARY FORCES. THEY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO REPEAT THE CAMPAIGN OF '"ETHNIC CLEANSING" AND INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS THAT CHARACTERIZED THE WAR IN BOSNIA. /// END ACT ///THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ALSO DISCUSSED THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO FRIDAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION AND ARE CONSIDERING PUNITIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND ENCOURAGE DIALOG BETWEEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE FLED FROM KOSOVO THIS MONTH.
THEY SAY SERB POLICE HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT ATTACKS AGAINST THEM,
MOTIVATED BY ETHNIC RIVALRY. YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES BLAME ETHNIC
ALBANIAN TERRORISTS FOR THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. THEY SAY ETHNIC
ALBANIANS ARE USING VIOLENCE TO PURSUE THEIR DEMAND FOR
INDEPENDENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
[04] CRISIS IN KOSOVO BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-10751 TELEPHONE=619-3940 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE TO TRY TO END VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION, AND WE GET A SAMPLING OF THEIR COMMENTS FROM _________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: U-S DIPLOMAT CHRISTOPHER HILL HAS BEEN IN THE KOSOVO CAPITAL PRISTINA MEETING WITH ETHNIC-ALBANIAN AND SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO TRY TO RE-START NEGOTIATIONS. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASKS WETHER KOSOVO COULD BECOME ANOTHER BOSNIA? VOICE: KOSOVO IS A SMALL BALKAN ENCLAVE UNDER ASSAULT FROM SERBIA'S SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO RAPED AND PILAGED BOSNIA. THE U-S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO EXPRESS CONCERN AND THREATEN TO RENEW ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA, WHICH IT RECENTLY SUSPENDED. BIG DEAL. THE SERBIAN THUG HAS BEEN PLAYING GAMES WITH BILL CLINTON FOR SIX YEARS, AND SO FAR THE AMERICAN HASN'T LAID A GLOVE ON HIM [I.E. HASN'T HURT HIM]. ... MR CLINTON CLAIMS NOT TO WANT ANOTHER BOSNIA. BUT IF HE CONTINUES HIS LIMP-WRISTED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THAT'S WHAT HE IS LIKELY TO GET. TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR WRITES THAT "KOSOVO IS AT THE BRINK." VOICE: REPORTS OF ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THE SOUTHERN SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO SUGGEST ETHNIC CLEANSING AGAIN IS ON THE MIND OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. ... ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT NEED TO BE QUICKLY REINSTATED. THE SERB LEADER MUST BE PRESSED FOR REAL PROGRESS, NOT STALLING.... THE U-S AND THE WORLD COMMUNITY MAY HAVE LITTLE TIME LEFT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO IF [MR.] MILOSEVIC DECIDED TO PURSUE A SUMMER 'CLEANSING.' TEXT: NEWSDAY [FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK] URGES PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SEEK HELP FROM RUSSIA TO HALT THE VIOLENCE. VOICE: /// OPT /// KOSOVO IS NOT YET THE SORT OF HOUSEHOLD WORD FOR ETHNIC SLAUGHTER THAT ITS BALKAN NEIGHBOR, BOSNIA, HAS BECOME. BUT /// END OPT /// KOSOVO COULD JOIN THE LEXICON OF POLITICIAL HORRORS IF THE SERBIAN ARMY DOESN'T STOP ITS CAMPAIGN OF MASSACRES AND ARTILLERY BARRAGES, WHICH ARE DRIVING THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUT OF THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO INTO REFUGEE CAMPS BEYOND ITS BORDERS. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SHOULD CONSIDER REINVOKING SUSPENDED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND ENLISTING RUSSIAN HELP TO DISSUADE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FROM WAGING HIS BRUTAL REPRESSION OF KOSOVO'S SEPARATIST MOVEMENT. TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST CRITICIZES THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING WHAT IT CALLS, 'EMPTY THREATS.' VOICE: /// OPT /// THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID TIME AND AGIN THAT IT WON'T PERMIT SERB LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO EXTEND HIS BRUTAL ETHNIC CLEANSING TACTICS TO THE INDEPENDENCE-MINDED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. NOW MR. MILOSEVIC'S TROOPS ARE CONDUCTING PRECISELY SUCH ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO, AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS' RESPONSE SO FAR: MORE TALK. /// END OPT /// ... U-S POLICY IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS HAS BEEN A CONFUSING MIXTURE OF SANCTIONS THREATENED, IMPOSED AND WITHDRAWN. SUCH SANCTIONS ARE IN ANY CASE MOSTLY BESIDE THE POINT: ONLY THE CREDIBLE USE OF FORCE, AND THE USE OF FORCE IF NECESSARY, CAN DETER MR. MILOSEVIC. TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM THE WASHINGTON POST, WE CONCLUDE
THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS.
[05] KOSOVO KILLINGS (L) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BELGRADE)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233422 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGERS IN WESTERN KOSOVO SAY SERB FORCES SHELLED THEIR TOWN ON SUNDAY AND EXECUTED AT LEAST FIVE MEN. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR WENT TO THE TOWN, PROKLEK, 25 KILOMETERS WEST OF KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, TO TALK TO SURVIVORS. TEXT: THE VILLAGERS FROM PROKLEK SAY AFTER THE SHELLING, SERB SOLDIERS ENTERED THE VILLAGE AND BURNED ALL THE HOUSES. THEY SAY THE SOLDIERS THEN SEPARATED WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM THE MEN, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE. ONE MAN WHO HID DURING THE ATTACK SAID HE SAW HIS BROTHER KILLED EXECUTION STYLE ALONG WITH OTHERS. HE SAID THE SOLDIERS PUSHED THEM INTO THE STREET AND SHOT THEM IN THE BACK. ONE OF THOSE REPORTED KILLED WAS THE HUSBAND OF A WOMAN CALLED DITA. SHE SAID (THROUGH AN INTERPRETER) THE GUNMEN FIRST BEAT HER HUSBAND AND THEN TOOK HIM AWAY. /// DITA ACT - ALBANIAN AND TRANSLATION ///THEY BEAT HIM IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE, HIS MOTHER, AND HIS CHILDREN. /// END ACT ///ALTHOUGH THE REPORTS COULD NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED, WESTERN REPORTERS SAW THE DESTRUCTION OF PROKLEK, AND SOME OF THE DETAILS REPORTED BY THE VILLAGERS PARALLEL ACCOUNTS OF OTHER SERB ATTACKS IN THE WESTERN KOSOVO REGION. THE PEOPLE OF PROKLEK SAID THE SOLDIERS FIRST LOOTED THEIR HOMES FOR ANYTHING OF VALUE, BEFORE SETTING THEM ON FIRE. BUT DITA SPOKE OF SOMETHING MOST OF THE REPORTERS HAD NOT HEARD UNTIL NOW. SHE SAYS (THROUGH THE INTERPRETER) THE SERBS COMMUNICATED WITH EACH OTHER IN SIGN-LANGUAGE: /// DITA ACT - ALBANIAN AND TRANSLATOR ///THEY COMMUNICATED WITH EACH OTHER USING ONLY THEIR FINGERS. /// END ACT ///DITA SAID THE SOLDIERS ALSO TRIED TO TAKE TWO BOYS AWAY, ONE AGED NINE, THE OTHER TEN, BUT AFTER THE VILLAGERS PLEADED, THEY DID NOT. ASKED IF THE MEN OF THE VILLAGE WERE EITHER ARMED OR PROTECTED BY THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A), THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SAFE, BEING SO CLOSE TO THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA. REPORTERS PASSED THREE ARMED GUERRILLAS IN CAMOUFLAGE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE VILLAGE. ONE OLD MAN SAID HE IS READY TO JOIN THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT. BUT
THE OTHER VILLAGERS SAID THEY ONLY WANT PEACE, NOT WAR.
(SIGNED)
[06] EURO STOCKS (-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233436 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE FRIDAY CLOSED THE WEEK ON A HIGH NOTE. V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING NUMBERS FROM OUR OFFICES IN LONDON. TEXT: HIGHER NUMBERS ON WALL STREET, COMBINED WITH MARKET ENTHUSIASM OVER THE APPROVAL OF VOLKSWAGEN'S TAKEOVER OF BRITAIN'S ROLLS ROYCE MOTORCARS, AND SEEMING INDIFFERENCE OVER THE LATEST INTEREST RATE HIKE IN BRITAIN ALL COMBINED TO BOOST EUROPEAN STOCK PRICES AT THE WEEK'S END. THE NUMBERS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER. PARIS' "CAC 40" STOCK INDEX WAS UP MORE THAN TWO PERCENT FOR THE DAY WITH A GAIN OF OVER 119 POINTS. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX ADDED 66 POINTS WHEN TRADING CLOSED, BOOSTING THE VALUE OF THAT INDEX BY MORE THAN A PERCENT AND AN HALF. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 87 POINTS -- A GAIN OF ONE-AND-HALF PERCENT. //UNVOICED OPT//GOLD IN LONDON TRADING LOST ABOUT A HALF DOLLAR, AND WAS SELLING
AROUND 292 DOLLARS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
[07] EURO STOCKS WEEKEND (S-ONLY) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233435 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AFTER A TURBULENT WEEK'S TRADING, THE EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS ARE SET TO RESUME BUSINESS (MONDAY) ON A RELATIVE HIGH. WE HAVE MORE FROM V-O-A'S CHRISTINE FURNELL IN LONDON. TEXT: ALL THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS REPORTED GAINS AT THE END OF TRADING FRIDAY, AFTER A WEEK WHICH INCLUDED SOME RECORD HIGHS. A HOLIDAY ACROSS MUCH OF EUROPE MONDAY ESTABLISHED A SLOW TRADING PACE. BY MIDWEEK, STRONG PERFORMANCES WERE SEEN IN LONDON, FRANKFURT AND PARIS, BUT AN UNANTICIPATED RISE IN THE BRITISH BASE LENDING RATE CURTAILED THAT SURGE. BUOYED FRIDAY BY OVERNIGHT GAINS BY WALL STREET, EUROPE'S RECOVERY WAS SWIFT. SOME STOCK INDEXES CLOSED THE WEEK ON A RECORD HIGH. IN PARIS,
THE "CAC-40" WAS UP 143 POINTS FOR THE WEEK, A RISE OF
THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" DID WELL TOO -- UP
168 POINTS, A THREE PERCENT GAIN. BUT THE LONDON "FOOTSIE 100"
WAS MORE CAUTIOUS WITH AN OVERALL GAIN OF 76 POINTS, AN INCREASE
FOR THE WEEK OF ONE-POINT-TWO PERCENT. (SIGNED)
[08] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10750 TELEPHONE=619-3940 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= // DO NOT USE AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T TODAY // INTRO: A CALL FOR SOUTH ASIAN TALKS; WARNINGS ABOUT IRAQ; A POSSIBLE END TO SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA; AND THOUGHTS ABOUT ROBERT KENNEDY, WHO WAS KILLED ON JUNE 5TH, THREE DECADES AGO. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. NOW, WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, HERE IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: THE WORLD'S FIVE ESTABLISHED NUCLEAR STATES -- THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, FRANCE, CHINA AND RUSSIA -- URGED IN A GENEVA COMMUNIQUE THURSDAY THAT PAKISTAN AND INDIA HALT NUCLEAR TESTS AND OPEN NEGOTIATIONS. THE NEW YORK TIMES AGREES, WRITING THAT IT IS "TIME TO TALK IN SOUTH ASIA." THE EDITORIAL ADDS: VOICE: /// OPT /// ...A NEWLY NUCLEAR SOUTH ASIA STILL CRACKLES WITH DANGER. INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE BOTH WORKING TO MINIATURIZE THEIR NUCLEAR BOMBS TO FIT ON MISSILES; THEIR TROOPS TRADE FIRE ACROSS A TENSE BORDER, AND THEY CANNOT EVEN AGREE ON A FORMAT FOR DISCUSSING THEIR CONFLICTING CLAIMS TO KASHMIR. /// END OPT /// INDIA AND PAKISTAN MUST BE COAXED INTO SIGNING THE INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR TREATIES. IN RETURN THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY THAT ESTABLIED NUCLEAR POWERS USE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DETONATIONS AND THEFT. TEXT: U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, BILL RICHARDSON, SAID THIS WEEK (THURSDAY, 6/4) THAT HE BELIEVES IRAQ MAY STILL POSSESS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING NERVE GAS -- DESPITE IRAQI DENIALS. THE NEW YORK POST IS NOT PLEASED BY THE DEVELOPMENTS. VOICE: GUESS WHAT? [IRAQI PRESIDENT] SADDAM HUSSEIN IS LYING, CHEATING, HIDING, VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS AND IN GENERAL BEHAVING LIKE SADDAM HUSSEIN. WHILE [PRESIDENT CLINTON] FRETS OVER THE NUCLEAR DEVICES IN THE POSSESSION OF TWO SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN KNOWN NUCLEAR POWERS FOR MANY YEARS, HE [CLINTON] IS CONSPICUOUSLY SILENT ABOUT THE ROGUE DICTATOR WHOSE OWNERSHIP OF ANY OFFENSIVE WEAPONS VIOLATES THE AGREEMENT HE MADE WITH THE U-N AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR. THE PRESIDENT IS SILENT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TEXT: SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG WILL VISIT THE UNITED STATES NEXT WEEK [EDS: DEPARTS SOUTH KOREA SATURDAY]. IT WILL BE MR. KIM'S FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES AS PRESIDENT. /// OPT /// END OPT ///VOICE: IN HIS MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, [PRESIDENT] KIM WILL PROPOSE THAT THE UNITED STATES TERMINATE TRADE SANCTIONS THAT HAVE ISOLATED PYONGYANG SINCE THE END OF THE KOREAN WAR. THAT'S A MAJOR SHIFT IN POSTURE FOR SOUTH KOREA. IT REFLECTS [PRESIDENT] KIM'S REFRESHING NOTION THAT DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT AND A GRADUAL RETURN TO NORMAL RELATIONS WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH PYONGYANG'S HERMIT REGIME THAN A FROZEN SNARL OF MUTUAL PARANOIA ACROSS THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE DIVIDING THE TWO KOREAS. HE'S RIGHT, AND HIS CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSAL IS OWED AN ATTENTIVE HEARING. TEXT: FINALLY, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER RECALLS THE LIFE OF SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED IN A CALIFORNIA HOTEL AFTER WINNING THE CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ON JUNE 5TH, 1968. THE INQUIRER WRITES THAT "ROBERT KENNEDY'S CALL TO BROTHERHOOD, FAITH AND RESPONSIBILITY RING TRUER THAN EVER." VOICE: IT IS HARD, ACROSS THE SAD, MORTAL, OFTEN SORDID DISTANCE THE KENNEDY CLAN HAS TRAVELED OVER 30 YEARS, TO RECONSTRUCT THE IDEALIZED HOPES THAT BOBBY KENNEDY CAME TO EMBODY FOR MANY AMERICANS IN THE VIVID SPRING OF 1968. ... THE POOR AND THE SCORNED HEARD IN HIS VOICE THE GENUINE TIMBRE OF CARING, BUT ALSO A CANDOR THAT SPOKE MORE ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND FAMILY THAN ABOUT RESENTMENT OR OUTSIDE AID. TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF
TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
[09] GERMAN TRAIN CRASH (L ONLY) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (BONN)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233428 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RESCUE WORKERS ARE STILL CLEARING WRECKAGE FROM GERMANY'S WORST TRAIN CRASH. THOMAS ANDERSSEN IN BONN REPORTS WORKERS FOUND THREE MORE BODIES ON FRIDAY, BRINGING THE DEATH TOLL TO 96. TEXT: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE A BROKEN WHEEL ON ONE OF THE CARRIAGES CAUSED THE TRAGEDY. FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND NEXT TO THE TRACK SIX KILOMETERS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT SCENE, SUGGESTING THE CARRIAGE WAS DRAGGED ALONG BEFORE HITTING A SIGNAL POINT AND JACKKNIFING. THE REST OF THE CARS -- MOVING AT A SPEED OF 200-KILOMETERS AN HOUR -- WERE THEN CATAPULTED INTO ONE ANOTHER, SLAMMING HEADLONG INTO A NEARBY BRIDGE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE TRAIN'S COMPUTER WARNING SYSTEM FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. IT MEASURES OVERHEATING BUT NOT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OR IF ALL THE TRAIN'S WHEELS ARE STILL IN CONTACT WITH THE TRACK. THE TRAIN'S DRIVER, THEREFORE, RECEIVED NO ALARM SIGNAL. OFFICIALS SAY INITIAL CHECKS HAVE SHOWN THE DRIVER WAS EXPERIENCED, WELL-RESTED, AND DOES NOT SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRASH, SEVERAL RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ALSO WERE KILLED. THEY WERE BENEATH A CONCRETE BRIDGE PULLED DOWN BY THE TRAIN. BUT, CONTRARY TO FIRST REPORTS, THEY WERE NOT DOING TRACK WORK. MANY OF THE DEAD SUFFERED HORRIFIC INJURIES AND HAVE STILL NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. A REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN THEIR HONOR LATER THIS MONTH. ALL 60 OF GERMANY'S HIGH-SPEED INTER-CITY TRAINS HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF THE TRACKS FOR MECHANICAL INSPECTIONS. NO DEFECTS HAVE BEEN FOUND SO FAR. OTHER TRAINS STILL AWAITING INSPECTION HAVE BEEN LIMITED TO A TOP SPEED OF 160 KILOMETERS AN HOUR, COMPARED TO THEIR USUAL 280. RAIL TRAVEL HAS BEEN PLUNGED INTO TURMOIL BY THE ACCIDENT. IN
MANY CASES, PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN LEFT ON PLATFORMS WAITING FOR
TRAINS THAT WERE DELAYED OR CANCELLED AT THE LAST MINUTE.
(SIGNED)
[10] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=6/5/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233443 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (FRIDAY) AS TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE LATEST U-S EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT NINE THOUSAND 37, UP 167 POINTS, OR ALMOST TWO PERCENT AND THE LARGEST ONE-DAY GAIN SINCE FEBRUARY SECOND. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 138 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 11 HUNDRED 13, UP 19 POINTS. THE STRONG RALLY LED SOME ANALYSTS TO SAY THE RECENT DOWNWARD CORRECTION PHASE IN STOCK PRICES IS NOW OVER. OTHERS ARE NOT SO SURE, SAYING FRIDAY'S RALLY WAS NOT AS BROADLY-BASED AS WOULD BE EXPECTED IN AN END TO THE CORRECTIVE PHASE. THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE U-S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HELD STEADY IN MAY AT FOUR POINT THREE PERCENT, A 28-YEAR LOW. THE ECONOMY CREATED ALMOST 300 THOUSAND NEW JOBS WITH LITTLE SIGN OF WAGE INFLATION. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///ECONOMIC RESEARCHER GARY CIMINARO SAYS THE FIGURES ARE ANOTHER SIGN OF ON-GOING ECONOMIC STRENGTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND COULD PUT PRESSURE ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, TO RAISE INTEREST RATES. ///CIMINARO ACT///WE ARE GROWING FASTER THAN MOST ECONOMISTS THOUGHT WE WOULD AT THIS POINT. A LOT OF THE OTHER DATA THAT WE ARE SEEING COMING IN IS STRONG. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A FED THAT IS A LITTLE MORE ATTUNED TO TIGHTEN (INTEREST) RATES AND WILL ONLY BE FORESTALLED BY CONTINUED TROUBLE IN EASTERN ASIA. ///END ACT///UNION WORKERS STRUCK A KEY GENERAL MOTORS STAMPING PLANT IN FLINT, MICHIGAN. IF THAT STRIKE IS NOT RESOLVED SOON, IT COULD CAUSE SHUTDOWNS AT 15 ASSEMBLY PLANTS. IN ADDITION, THE UNION IS THREATENING ANOTHER STRIKE AT A PARTS PLANT AND THAT COULD HALT VIRTUALLY ALL OF G-M'S NORTH AMERICAN VEHICLE PRODUCTION. STOCKHOLDERS IN THE VICKERS CORPORATION OF BRITAIN HAVE APPROVED THE SALE OF ROLLS-ROYCE MOTORS TO VOLKSWAGEN OF GERMANY FOR 703 MILLION DOLLARS. THE SHAREHOLDERS REJECTED COMPETING BIDS FROM B-M-W OF GERMANY AND FROM CREWE MOTORS, A GROUP OF ROLLS ENTHUSIASTS IN BRITAIN. ANALYSTS ARE TAKING A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO THE TWO BILLION DOLLAR RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY THE MOTOROLA ELECTRONICS COMPANY. AS MANY AS 15 THOUSAND JOBS -- 10 PERCENT OF MOTOROLA'S WORK FORCE -- WILL BE ELIMINATED AS THE COMPANY TRIES TO IMPROVE ITS POSITION IN A WEAK SEMICONDUCTOR MARKET. MANY ANALYSTS SAY IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL HOW MUCH EFFECT THE RESTRUCTURING WILL HAVE. U-S TRADE REGULATORS (F-T-C) WILL DECIDE MONDAY WHETHER TO START
AN ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE INTEL MICROPROCESSOR
COMPANY. CURRENTLY, INTEL CONTROLS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE MARKET
FOR MICROPROCESSORS USED IN PERSONAL COMPUTERS.(SIGNED)
NEB/BY/BA/LSF/PT
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