Voice of America, 98-08-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[02] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] RAIDS REACTION FRANCE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[06] U-S ATTACKS / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[01] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, IS CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF ABOUT 230-THOUSAND PEOPLE DISPLACED BY FIGHTING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA ALSO REPORTS SENIOR REFUGEE AGENCY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE APPALLED AT THE LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION THEY HAVE SEEN DURING A TOUR OF THE PROVINCE.

TEXT: A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE U-N-H-C-R, MAKI SHINOHARA SAYS THE AGENCY'S ASSISTANT HIGH COMMISSIONER AND HIS ASSOCIATES WERE SURPRISED AND SHOCKED BY THE MAKESHIFT CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN KOSOVO. SHE SAYS THEY WERE UPSET AT THE LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION -- FINDING MANY HOUSES BURNED DOWN AND MANY VILLAGES TURNED INTO GHOST TOWNS.

MS. SHINOHARA SAYS YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TOLD THE U-N TEAM THAT THEIR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO ARE ALMOST OVER. AND, THEY ASKED THE AGENCY TO ASSIST ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO RETURN TO THE VILLAGES THEY HAD FLED.

WE ARE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE RETURNING TO THE VILLAGES. BUT, WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT WE CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE TO RETURN WHEN THEY ARE STILL AFRAID. SO, WE INDICATED THAT WE CANNOT FORCE THESE PEOPLE TO RETURN UNLESS THEY THEMSELVES FEEL SECURE AND THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES WILL INSURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THEN FOLLOW IT UP WITH THEIR ACTIONS.

MS. SHINOHARA SAYS THE SIGHT OF HOUSES BEING BURNED DOWN BY SERB SECURITY FORCES DOES NOT INSPIRE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN SERB PROMISES OF SAFETY. SHE SAYS THE REFUGEE AGENCY IS CONCERNED BY THE RAPID APPROACH OF WINTER WHICH SHE SAYS TENDS TO BE VERY HARSH.

WE ARE VERY MUCH CONCERNED THAT THESE PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY DO GO BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES MANY OF THESE HOUSES NEED REPAIRS. SO WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO IS TO SEE THESE PEOPLE GO BACK TO SAFE AREAS, TO VILLAGES IN SAFETY SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH WINTER STOVES. HEATING OIL AND THEN PERHAPS SOME PLASTIC SHEETINGS TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES.

THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES AT LEAST 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS IN KOSOVO. AND, ANOTHER 70-THOUSAND HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

ON A RECENT TRIP TO KOSOVO, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, EMMA BONINO, WARNED THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SHELTER WOULD PERISH THIS WINTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
21-Aug-98 10:05 AM EDT (1405 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE SHARPLY LOWER IN TRADING FRIDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: EUROPEAN EXCHANGES SUFFERED THEIR BIGGEST ONE-DAY LOSSES IN FIVE WEEKS. ANALYSTS SAID INVESTORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND FEAR THE ECONOMIC CRISIS COULD SPREAD TO LATIN AMERICA.

ON EUROPE'S MAJOR MARKETS, THE BIGGEST LOSS WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX FELL 296 POINTS, FIVE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 144 POINTS, THREE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT.

AND IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF 190 POINTS, THREE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN. BUT IT WAS DOWN AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/SP
21-Aug-98 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 33, DOWN 77 POINTS, OR ALMOST ONE PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK THOUGH, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 108 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT ONE THOUSAND 81, DOWN 10 POINTS.

THE CLOSING AVERAGES DO NOT REFLECT THE DEEP SELL-OFF WHICH OCCURRED IN THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. AT ONE TIME, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS DOWN ALMOST 300 POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT SHARP DECLINE REFLECTED TRADERS BELATED CONCERN ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE STEPPED-UP ANTI-TERRORIST ACTION BY THE UNITED STATES. THERE WAS ALSO WORRY ABOUT HUGE SELL-OFFS IN LATIN AMERICAN MARKETS. THE FEAR AMONG AMERICAN TRADERS IS THAT THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN ASIA AND RUSSIA ARE SPREADING CLOSER TO HOME.

HUGH JOHNSON OF THE FIRST ALBANY INVESTMENT COMPANY SAYS THE WEAKNESS IN WORLD STOCK MARKETS APPEARS TO BE CONTAGIOUS.

THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WHICH ARE GOING THROUGH THE MINDS OF INVESTORS AS THEY SEE DEFLATIONARY PRESSURES TRANSMITTED AROUND THE GLOBE. IT IS REALLY CONCERNING INVESTORS AND SHOWING UP IN SHARP DECLINES IN STOCK PRICES HERE AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

MUCH OF THE MONEY TAKEN OUT OF STOCKS WAS PUT INTO THE U-S TREASURY MARKET, WITH THE YIELDS ON THE BENCHMARK 30-YEAR U-S GOVERNMENT BOND FALLING TO HISTORIC LOWS.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE AMP CORPORATION, A MAJOR PRODUCER OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICES, HAS FORMALLY REJECTED A 10 BILLION DOLLAR HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FROM THE ALLIED SIGNAL COMPANY. AMP ALSO SAYS IT HAS ENHANCED ITS ANTI-TAKEOVER DEFENSES BUT ALLIED SIGNAL SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO BUY AMP. MONSANTO, A CHEMICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANY, SAYS IT HAS DEVELOPED A STRAIN OF MAIZE WHICH EFFECTIVELY RESISTS ROOTWORM. ROOTWORM IS AN INSECT WHICH DESTROYS ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MAIZE CROP EACH YEAR.

THE STOCK OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE MAKER PEERLESS SYSTEMS LOST 70 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE AFTER THE COMPANY ISSUED AN EARNINGS WARNING. PEERLESS SAYS QUARTERLY PROFITS WILL BE WELL BELOW WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.

A STRIKE AT U-S WEST, A MAJOR REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY, MOVED INTO ITS SIXTH DAY WITH NO END IN SIGHT AND NO NEW NEGOTIATIONS SCHEDULED.

THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY IS RELISHING THE INITIAL SALES OF ITS NEW LOW PRICED I-MAC (EYE-MAC) MODEL. A SURVEY SHOWS MANY STORES ARE UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND AND THAT 15 PERCENT OF I-MAC CUSTOMERS ARE FIRST-TIME COMPUTER BUYERS. APPLE IS HOPING THE EASY TO USE I-MAC WILL ATTRACT CONSUMERS WHO, THOUGH INTERESTED IN COMPUTERS, ARE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
21-Aug-98 5:32 PM EDT (2132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S MISSILE ATTACKS ON SUSPECTED TERRORIST TARGETS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE SUDAN, FACILITIES LINKED U-S OFFICIALS SAY, BY INTELLIGENCE REPORTS TO THE U-S EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN EAST AFRICA, DRAW AN AVALANCHE OF SUPPORTIVE EDITORIALS IN FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.

THERE ARE ALSO EDITORIALS COMMENTING ON THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE ACTUAL SITUATION WITH THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE AND A RECENT U-S MOVIE CALLED "WAG THE DOG" IN WHICH A F I C T I O U S PRESIDENT, CAUGHT UP IN A SEX SCANDAL, ORDERS A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER TO CREATE A FICTIONAL WAR WITH ALBANIA IN ORDER TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM HIS TROUBLES.

OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS AND NORTH KOREA'S ALLEGED UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: NEWSPAPERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE EXPRESSING STRONG SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ATTACKS AGAINST SUSPECTED TERRORIST FACILITIES IN THE SUDAN AND AFGHANISTAN. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUTRY, "THE TOPEKA CAPITOL-JOURNAL" IN THE KANSAS CAPITAL, SAYS "WE STAND TOGETHER," ADDING:

VOICE: CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY MAY NOT AGREE WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S DECISION TO ORDER MILITARY STRIKES ON SUSPECTED TERRORIST FACILITIES THURSDAY. SO WHAT? AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO QUIT CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS AND DEFEND YOURSELF. /// OPT /// ... YES, WE ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT RETALIATING -- ALMOST TO A FAULT. YES, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY SCANDAL. BUT IN THESE MATTERS WE AMERICANS STAND AS ONE. /// END OPT /// WE STAND WITH OUR PRESIDENT.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT'S ADMISSIONS OF MISLEADING THE PUBLIC IN THE MONICA LEWINSKY MATTER COME UP IN THE ASSESSMENT OF HIS CREDIBILITY OVER THE MISSILE STRIKES IN FRIDAY'S "KANSAS CITY [MISSOURI] STAR."

VOICE: MANY AMERICANS WATCHING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ADDRESS TO THE NATION THURSDAY NO DOUBT WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT ATTACKS EARLIER THAT DAY AGAINST TERRORIST FACILITIES .... IS THIS A CASE OF A PRESIDENT, MIRED IN SCANDAL, SEEKING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT? AS SENATOR DAN COATS OF INDIANS OBSERVED, 'THE TIMING IS CERTAINLY SUSPECT.' INDEED, IT IS. YESTERDAY'S EVENTS PROVIDE ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE PIVOTAL IMPORTANCE OF CREDIBILITY. ... AS LONG AS THIS PRESIDENT REMAINS IN OFFICE, HIS MOTIVES IN TIMES OF CRISIS WILL BE QUESTIONED. IT IS A CURSE HE HAS PLACED ON HIMSELF. ... FOR NOW, WE THINK IT'S BEST TO SKIP OVER THAT AND MOVE TO THE BOTTOM LINE: RETALIATION AGAINST TERRORISM HAD BEEN LONG OVERDUE.

TEXT: "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS THE ATTACKS, ALTHOUGH PROBABLY WARRANTED:

VOICE: ... COMING AS THEY DID ON THE HEELS OF PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S ADMISSION OF HAVING LIED ABOUT AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN, THE ATTACKS INEVITABLY RAISED QUESTIONS. THE DEVELOPMENTS CALLED TO MIND THE RECENT FILM **WAG THE DOG,** [ITALICS FOR FILM TITLE] IN WHICH A FICTITIOUS U-S PRESIDENT CREATES AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CRISIS TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM HIS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE REAL-LIFE SITUATION IS THAT THE MOTIVATION FOR ANY DECISION OF THAT KIND MADE BY MR. CLINTON - - EVEN A LEGITIMATE ONE -- WILL BE QUESTIONED. .... ALL THE MORE REASON FOR GETTING A DETAILED ACCOUNTING OF THE MILITARY ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" CHEERS THE ATTACKS, EVEN AS IT SUGGESTS THEY MIGHT -- POSSIBLY -- HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR THE WRONG REASONS.

VOICE: AMERICANS HAVE EVERY REASON, THIS WEEK ABOVE ALL OTHER WEEKS, TO SUSPECT BILL CLINTON'S MOTIVES. BUT IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, **ACTIONS** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ARE WHAT MATTER -- NOT MOTIVES. ... PRESIDENTS CAN HAVE BAD MOTIVES ( SEE: LEWINSKY, MONICA) FOR ACTING IN WAYS THAT DO GOOD FOR AMERICA. ... FOR WHATEVER REASON, BILL CLINTON HAS CHANGED THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM -- AND CHANGED IT FOR THE BETTER.

TEXT: IN NEBRASKA, SUPPORT FROM "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" IS UNQUALIFIED.

VOICE: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION GAVE GOOD REASONS FOR GOING AFTER THE BIN LADEN ORGANIZATION. IT WAS A MATTER OF SELF-DEFENSE, COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED BY WHAT THE TERRORIST GROUP HAS DONE, WHAT IT ADVOCATES AND WHAT IT HAS BEEN PLANNING.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALLS THE ATTACKS "CORRECT," AND SAYS THE PRESIDENT "HAS TAKEN THE RIGHT STEP," WHILE "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" "STRONGLY SUPPORTS" THE "U-S AIR RAIDS" CALLING THEM "NECESSARY." "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS THEY ARE "THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO TERRORISTS," WHILE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ADDS, THIS COUNTRY HAS "EVERY RIGHT TO ATTACK SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IF THERE IS CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THEY WERE INVOLVED IN ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS," BUT SUGGESTS:

VOICE: MR. CLINTON CAN DISPEL ANY LINGERING DOUBTS ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION BY PROVIDING THE HOUSE AND SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES WITH A COMPLETE BRIEFING ON THE BIN LADEN INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTING HIS AIDES TO FILL OUT THE PARTIAL ACCOUNTS THEY HAVE GIVEN ABOUT THE RAIDS.

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS, RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL CRISIS, INCLUDING MONDAY'S DEVALUATION OF THE RUBLE, AND THE DEBT REPAYMENT FREEZE, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE NEW YORK POST."

VOICE: THESE WERE EXTREMELY RISKY MOVES AND THEY CAUSED A CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE AMONG FOREIGN BANKERS, MANY OF WHOM STAND TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY AND WERE FOOLISH TO LEND TO RUSSIA IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT THE DEVALUATION MAY WELL BUY [MR.] YELTSIN THE TIME HE NEEDS TO STAVE OFF A BANKING COLLAPSE THAT COULD EASILY LEAD TO TOTAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN.

TEXT: AS FOR THE RECENTLY DETECTED NORTH KOREAN UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION FACILITY, POSSIBLY WORKING ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: ... THE NEWS COMES AS SOMETHING OF AN EMBARRASSMENT. FOR THE NUCLEAR MENACE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN 1994, WHEN THE NORTH KOREANS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO FREEZE ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR MILLIONS OF TONS OF FREE HEAVY-FUEL OIL AND TWO NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS WHOSE BYPRODUCTS ARE NOT EASILY USED IN PRODUCING BOMBS. ... IT MAY TURN OUT ... THE COMPLEX IS NOT A NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PLANT AFTER ALL. EVEN SO, THE ADMINISTRATION'S TIMELY RETALIATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE SUDAN WILL HAVE TWO BENEFICIAL EFFECTS. IT WILL SIGNAL THE NORTH KOREANS THAT AMERICA'S PATIENCE IS NOT UNLIMITED, AND THAT CONSEQUENTLY THEY MAY WISH TO RETHINK THEIR CURRENT STRATEGY ... AND IT WILL REMIND AMERICANS TRYING DESPERATELY TO DRAW A LINE BETWEEN A PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL AND POLITICAL SITUATION THAT OUR ENEMIES UNFORTUNATELY MAKE NO SUCH DISTINCTION.

TEXT: LASTLY, REGARDING CANADA'S SUPREME COURT DECISION THURSDAY TELLING QUEBEC IT MAY NOT SIMPLY SECEDE FROM CANADA WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CONSENT, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" WRITES:

VOICE: ...THE COURT MADE CLEAR TO QUEBECKERS WHAT IS OBVIOUS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD - - THAT INDEPENDENCE IS NOT THERE JUST FOR THE ASKING. NOR SHOULD IT BE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM FRIDAY'S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS.
NEB/ANG/KL
21-Aug-98 10:43 AM EDT (1443 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] RAIDS REACTION FRANCE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN RAIDS ON ALLEGED TERRORIST TARGETS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN, BUT INSISTS ANY RETALIATION MUST BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS ALSO REPORTS THE RAIDS ARE CERTAIN TO DOMINATE A VISIT TO IRAN THIS WEEKEND BY FRANCE'S FOREIGN MINISTER.

TEXT: IN A RARE JOINT STATEMENT SIGNED BY BOTH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN, FRANCE EXPRESSED ITS SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN RAIDS.

THE STATEMENT SAID THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA THIS MONTH COULD NOT BE LEFT WITHOUT A RESPONSE AND THEIR INSTIGATORS HAD TO BE PUT OUT OF ACTION.

WHILE EXPRESSING HIS BACKING FOR WHAT HE CALLED DETERMINED AND FIRM RESPONSES, MR. JOSPIN ALSO SAID FRANCE IS CONCERNED SUCH RETALIATION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THE AMERICAN RAIDS AND FRANCE'S SUPPORT ARE CERTAIN TO BE A MAIN TOPIC IN TALKS THIS WEEKEND BETWEEN FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE AND IRANIAN OFFICIALS IN TEHRAN.

MR. VEDRINE, SIGNALING A GROWING EUROPEAN OPENNESS TOWARD IRAN, IS EXPECTED TO HOLD TALKS WITH IRANIAN LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, THAT WILL CONCENTRATE ON TRADE RELATIONS. FRANCE IS BELIEVED TO BE TRYING TO ENSURE FRENCH COMPANIES ARE WELL REPRESENTED IF AND WHEN COMMERCIAL TIES BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST START TO EXPAND. THE VISIT, THE FIRST TO TEHRAN BY A FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER IN EIGHT YEARS, COMES AFTER FRENCH JUSTICE AUTHORITIES RELEASED AN IRANIAN JAILED FOR HELPING ORGANIZE THE ASSASSINATION OF FORMER IRANIAN PRIME MINISTER SHAHPUR BAKHTIAR NEAR PARIS IN 1991. THE DECISION TO PAROLE THE IRANIAN LAST MONTH WAS SEEN AS A CONCILIATORY GESTURE AHEAD OF MR. VEDRINE'S TEHRAN VISIT.

THE EUROPEAN OPENING TOWARD IRAN FOLLOWS SIGNS OF A SLIGHT THAW BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES SINCE MR. KHATAMI BECAME PRESIDENT LAST YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/RAE
21-Aug-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S ATTACKS / BRITAIN (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN'S LEADERSHIP WAS WARNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON JUST BEFORE THE U-S MISSILE ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN AND HAS GIVEN ITS FULL SUPPORT TO THE MILITARY ACTION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT BRITISH DAILIES ARE MORE CYNICAL.

TEXT: DEPUTY PRIME PRIME MINISTER JOHN PRESCOTT SAYS BRITAIN STRONGLY SUPPORTS WASHINGTON'S ATTACK AGAINST SUSPECTED POSITIONS OF TERRORISTS U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE MASTERMINDED THE BOMBINGS IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAM.

THE AMERICANS HAVE ACTED AGAINST AN ACTION THAT CAN CLEARLY THREATEN THEM. THEY'VE TAKEN THAT ACTION. THE PRIME MINISTER BELIVES THAT TO BE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND HE IS IN DISCUSION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO SAY AT THE MOMENT.

IN CONTRAST, SEVERAL BRITISH DAILIES CYNICALLY QUESTION IF THE U-S MILITARY ACTION IS NOT REALLY AIMED AT DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SEX SCANDAL BACK HOME. ONE HEADLINE READS "WAS THE PRESIDENT'S REAL TARGET ARAB TERRORISTS OR MONICA LEWINSKY'S TESTIMONY." THE MILITARY ACTION CAME ON THE DAY MISS LEWINSKY APPEARED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY AND JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PUBLIC ADMISSION OF THE EXTRAMARITAL RELATIONSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/KL
21-Aug-98 8:01 AM EDT (1201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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