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Voice of America, 99-02-25Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] SHELTON / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245937 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SAYS U-S FORCES ARE READY TO STRIKE YUGOSLAVIA, IF BELGRADE BALKS AT A PEACE AGREEMENT IN KOSOVO. HOWEVER, AS VOA SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, HE SAYS U-S TROOPS ARE ALSO PREPARED TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE. TEXT: IN A BRIEF MEETING WITH REPORTERS DURING A TRIP TO BANGKOK, GENERAL HENRY SHELTON SAID U-S FORCES ARE PREPARED TO BOTH WAGE WAR AND SECURE PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA. GENERAL SHELTON, THE UNITED STATES' HIGHEST RANKING MILITARY OFFICER, SAID U-S WARPLANES ARE READY TO STRIKE IF SERB LEADERS IN BELGRADE REFUSE TO SIGN ON TO A PEACE DEAL WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR THAT BOTH SIDES NEED TO COME TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. AND IF THE KOSOVARS, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE U-C-K, AGREE TO THE SETTLEMENT, THAN (SLOBODAN) MILOSOVISC NEEDS TO AGREE TO THE SETTLEMENT. AND I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR BY EVERYONE, BY NATO, THAT UNLESS THE SERBS SIGN UP WITH THAT, THEN THEY WILL STILL BE SUBJECT TO BEING STRUCK. // END ACT //ON WEDNESDAY, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WARNED YUGOSLAVIA AGAINST MOUNTING ANY SPRING OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. A PARTIAL PEACE ACCORD WAS WORKED OUT IN TALKS IN FRANCE, BUT REMAINS INCOMPLETE. THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT HAS BALKED AT A PROPOSAL FOR A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. THE TWO SIDES ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET MARCH 15TH IN A BID TO REACH A FINAL AGREEMENT. GENERAL SHELTON SAID U-S FORCES ARE PREPARED TO SERVE IN SUCH A FORCE, /// REST OPT /// EVEN THOUGH TROOPS ARE PRIMARILY TRAINED TO FIGHT WARS, NOT PREVENT THEM. // SHELTON ACT //IF REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A GROUND FORCE, IF THE PRESIDENT COMMITS TO DOING THAT, THEN WE IN FACT WOULD LOOK AT A UNIT THAT HAS JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPLETED A RATHER EXHAUSTIVE TRAINING -- GRANTED, THAT TRAINING ORIENTED ON BEING TRAINED AND READY AS DISCIPLINED WAR-FIGHTING FORCE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEND IN UNTIL IT GETS SORTED OUT. BUT THE LEADERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN TRAINED IN PEACEKEEPING AND PEACE ENFORCEMENT. // END ACT //GENERAL SHELTON SAID THAT MID AND SENIOR LEVEL MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE GETTING THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO HANDLE THE NEW MISSION OF PEACEKEEPING. // SHELTON ACT //SINCE ABOUT THE EARLY '90S, STARTING BACK WITH SOMALIA FOLLOWED BY HAITI, ETCETERA, WE HAVE IN FACT RECOGNIZED AS AN INSTITUTION THAT THERE IS SPECIAL TRAINING THAT IS REQUIRED THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN PEACEKEEPING AND PEACE ENFORCEMENT. // END ACT //SOME MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS -- WHICH MUST AUTHORIZE FUNDS
FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS -- ARE WARY OF SENDING MORE FORCES
INTO THE BALKANS WHEN SEVERAL THOUSAND U-S TROOPS ARE SERVING AS
PEACEKEEPERS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/GC/FC/PLM
[02] U-S/KOSOVO (S) BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245968 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE PENTAGON IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON A SERBIAN MILITARY BUILDUP ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. NATO ALLIES ARE CONCERNED THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAK IN PEACE TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE. TEXT: SERB FORCES ARE MASSING OUTSIDE KOSOVO'S BORDER IN WHAT ONE SENIOR NATO MILITARY PLANNER CALLED AN ALMOST A POWER KEG (EXPLOSIVE) SITUATION. IN WASHINGTON, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON TELLS REPORTERS SOME 45-HUNDRED SERB TROOPS HAVE NOW MOVED INTO POSITION NEAR KOSOVO BACKED BY TANKS AND HEAVY ARMOR. SERB AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS HAVE YET TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT AND U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED A NEW OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE K-L-A (THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY) MAY BE IMMINENT. AGAIN BELGRADE IS BEING PUT ON NOTICE. // BACON ACT //WE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY ACTION TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS AND WE WILL ALSO TAKE ANY NEEDED ACTION TO PROMOTE PEACE. THE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE TROOPS, NOT THE NUMBER OF THE TROOPS. // END ACT //SERB AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS ARE PROMISING TO RETURN TO
FRANCE MARCH 15TH FOR MORE PEACE TALKS. IN THE MEANTIME, NATO
SAYS IT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO BOMB SERB TARGETS IF FIGHTING
ESCALATES. (SIGNED)
[03] U-S KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITAL HILL)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245966 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS URGING BOTH SIDES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT TO USE RESTRAINT AND NOT LOSE THE CHANCE FOR A FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT FOR THE SEPARATIST YUGOSLAV PROVINCE. OFFICIALS ALSO HOPE TO CONVINCE A DOUBTFUL CONGRESS THAT U-S TROOPS SHOULD HELP ENFORCE AN EVENTUAL PEACE DEAL. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS. TEXT: IN A SENATE HEARING (THURSDAY), UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE WALT SLOCOMBE VOICED CONCERN ABOUT A SERBIAN MILITARY BUILDUP IN AND AROUND KOSOVO PROVINCE. MR. SLOCOMBE REPEATED THE ALLIED WARNING TO BELGRADE NOT TO LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE. BUT HE ALSO CALLED ON THE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY TO KEEP ITS OWN FORCES IN CHECK -- AND AS HE PUT IT, NOT GIVE THE SERBS A PRETEXT FOR MORE BRUTALITY. // SLOCOMBE ACT //IF BELGRADE WERE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO ATTACK THE K-L-A IN SOME DELUDED EFFORT TO DESTROY THE INSURGENCY BEFORE AN AGREEMENT TOOK EFFECT, BELGRADE WOULD MEET WITH STRONG NATO MILITARY ACTION. THE K-L-A, FOR ITS PART, MUST SHOW RESTRAINT OR RISK LOSING NATO'S SUPPORT. // END ACT //OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE THIS WOULD BE A MOSTLY EUROPEAN OPERATION, WITH FOUR-THOUSAND AMERICANS IN A 28-THOUSAND STRONG FORCE. DESPITE CONCERNS THE TROOPS WILL BE IN KOSOVO INDEFINITELY, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS PICKERING SAYS THERE WILL BE NO FIXED TIMETABLE FOR THE MISSION. // PICKERING ACT //WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN BOSNIA. ONE KEY LESSON IS THAT IT IS NOT THE TIME TO SET ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES. // END ACT //BUT MANY REPUBLICANS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE DEPLOYMENT, WHICH THEY BELIEVE WOULD BE RISKIER THAN THE ONE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IN A SHARPLY WORDED STATEMENT, SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN SAID U-S POLICY REMAINS UNCLEAR AND DANGEROUSLY INCONSISTENT. // MCCAIN ACT //WE ARE LOSING THE CREDIBILITY THAT WE GAINED OVER MANY MANY YEARS WITH THE SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURE OF AMERICAN BLOOD AND TREASURE. WE'D BETTER GET THIS POLICY ON TRACK AND DO IT VERY QUICKLY. // END ACT //THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST OF THE OPERATION.
OFFICIALS SAY THE AMERICAN SHARE WOULD BE THREE-BILLION TO FOUR-
BILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.(SIGNED)
[04] THE KOSOVO PEACE EFFORT GOES ON HOLD BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=02/00/99TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-11164 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: THE PEACE TALKS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE ARE ESSENTIALLY ON HOLD, WHILE THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN DELEGATION CONSULTS WITH ITS COUNTRYMEN. MEANWHILE, NATO OFFICERS AND OTHER WESTERN OBSERVERS ARE NERVOUSLY WATCHING SERB MILITARY AND PARA-MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN AND NEAR THE WAR-TORN PROVINCE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF NEW CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A) IN THE INTERIM. IN THE UNITED STATES, MANY NEWSPAPERS, EVEN SOME COMMUNITY WEEKLIES, ARE JOINING THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER U-S TROOPS SHOULD BE SENT INTO YET ANOTHER BALKAN TROUBLE SPOT. WE CALL ON _________________ NOW FOR A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION DIGEST. TEXT: AT WEEK'S END, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL HENRY SHELTON SAID IN THAILAND, THAT U-S FORCES ARE READY TO HIT TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA - - OR TO JOIN A NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO, WHICHEVER IS NEEDED. IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PRESS IS VIGOROUSLY DEBATING THE WISDOM AND NECESSITY OF SENDING U-S TROOPS INTO THE MAJORITY ALBANIAN PROVINCE WHICH STILL FORMS THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF WHAT IS LEFT OF YUGOSLAVIA. /// OPT ///VOICE: AMERICAN OPINION CLEARLY IS ON THE SIDE OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF THE PROVINCE'S INHABITANTS. WE SYMPATHIZE WITH THEIR DESIRE FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE THINK THAT A COMMITMENT OF TROOPS, AGAINST THE WISHES OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WOULD BE A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT MIGHT COMMIT UNITED STATES FORCES FOR YEARS, AND RISK THE LIVES OF MANY AMERICAN SOLDIERS. /// OPT /// THAT RISK WOULD GREATLY DIMINISH IF THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT JOINED IN ASKING THE NATO GROUND FORCES (WITH AMERICANS) TO KEEP AN AGREED-UPON PEACE. THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. MOST AMERICANS DO NOT WISH TO SEE THE UNITED STATES JOIN AN INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA. /// END OPT /// ... THE COUNTRY WOULD DISLIKE MILITARY ACTION INVOLVING A LARGE LOSS OF LIFE, WHERE THE DIRECT INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY IS NOT INVOLVED. /// OPT /// IT IS IS GOING TO COME TO ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THE CONSENT OF THE SENATE OUGHT TO BE SOUGHT. /// END OPT /// TEXT: FROM ONE OF THE REGION'S SMALLER WEEKLY PAPERS, TO THE DOMINANT DAILY FOR NEW ENGLAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE," WHICH IS REASONABLY PLEASED WITH THE DEAL EMERGING FROM THE KOSOVO TALKS, CALLING IT "A GOOD COMPROMISE." VOICE: IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS, BUT TO BE FAIR, IT WAS NOT A FAILURE, EITHER. AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC PERSISTENCE DID PERSUADE YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, ALTHOUGH THE DELAY ALLOWS [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS HAVING ONCE AGAIN OUTMANEUVERED THE WEST. ... IF THEY ARE WISE, THE INEXPERIENCED YOUNG COMMANDERS OF THE K-L-A [KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] WILL TAKE THE DEAL. /// OPT /// IF [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS WISE, HE WILL DROP HIS OPPOSITION TO ALLOWING NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO OVERSEE THE DISARMING OF THE K-L-A. AS PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SHREWDLY OBSERVED, THIS BARGAIN ALLOWS KOSOVO TO REMAIN A PART OF SERBIA BY TAKING SERBIA OUT OF KOSOVO. /// END OPT /// TEXT: IN THE WASHINGTON, D-C SUBURBS, "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL DAILY, SAYS "U-S LEADERSHIP BRINGS [A] START TOWARD KOSOVO PEACE." VOICE: ... THE AGREEMENT RELUCTANTLY AND TENTATIVELY ACCEPTED BY OPPRESSIVE SERBS AND REBELLIOUS KOSOVARS IS THE BEST HOPE FOR PEACE IN MONTHS. AN IMMEDIATE BOSNIA-SCALE HUMANITARIAN DISASTER WAS AVERTED. AND IF THE WHEELS DON'T COME OFF (I.E. IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT) IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, THE WAY WILL BE CLEAR FOR LONG-TERM PEACEKEEPING. ... /// OPT /// AS ALWAYS, THERE IS RISK. BUT THE ALTERNATIVE IS NOT TO JUST LEAVE THINGS TO THE EUROPEANS, AS SOME IN THE UNITED STATES NOW ARGUE: TO STAND BY IDLY AND ACCEPT THE GENOCIDAL SLAUGHTER THAT WOULD FOLLOW ... IS A CHOICE NO AMERICAN SHOULD ACCEPT. /// END OPT /// TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PLEASED WITH THE LAST MINUTE REVERSAL BY THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS. THE PAPER FEELS THE CHANGE RESCUED THE DEAL FROM TOTAL FAILURE WHEN THE KOSOVARS SOFTENED THEIR DEMAND FOR AN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM. BUT "THE TIMES WARNS:" VOICE: ... IF THERE IS NEW VIOLENCE ... NATO MAY HAVE TO USE ITS AIR POWER IN THE DAYS AHEAD TO PREVENT GREATER BLOODSHED. THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE ARE NOT GOOD. BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET PERISHED. TEXT: "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" AGREES WITH "THE TIMES," AND WORRIES THAT THE EXTENSIONS OF THE DEADLINE GIVE THE SERBS THE IMPRESSION THAT NATO IS ONLY BLUFFING ABOUT AIR STRIKES. VOICE: ... REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN HAMMERED OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE, THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION MUST RECONSIDER A KEY QUESTION: IS NATO AS UNITED ON THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO AS ITS SIX-MEMBER CONTACT GROUP ON THE BALKANS SAYS IT IS? SADLY, THERE IS REASON TO THINK NATO HAS BEEN BLUSTERING. THE THREAT OF FORCE ALWAYS IMPLIES THE WILLINGNESS TO USE FORCE. IF THE ALLIANCE WAS NOT PREPARED TO CARRY OUT ITS THREATS, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE THEM. ... BALKANS EXPERTS ARE BETTING THAT THE KOSOVARS WILL ACCEPT THE NATO PLAN. LET'S HOPE SO. ... BUT IF MR. [YUGOSLAVIA PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC BALKS, THE ALLIANCE MUST BE WILLING TO DO WHAT IT HAS ALREADY PROMISED. /// OPT ///TEXT: LASTLY, BACK IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE HARTFORD COURANT," IN THE CONNECTICUT CAPITAL, SAYS THAT THE NEW REALITY AMERICAN VOTERS MUST FACE, LIKE IT OR NOT, IS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. VOICE: ... IN MRS. [SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE] ALBRIGHT'S WORDS, PEACE DEPENDS ON THE 4-THOUSAND AMERICANS. [THE TROOPS COMMITTED TO THE PROPOSED NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE]. WHY IS THAT? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THAT WE HAVE BECOME THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. ... THE KOSOVARS INSIST ON AN AMERICAN PRESENCE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS. .... [HOWEVER] UNLESS AMERICA'S SECURITY IS IN IMMINENT DANGER, THE PRESIDENT SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO GET CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL BEFORE SENDING SOLDIERS TO NEW MISSIONS ABROAD. ... AMERICANS WOULD BE MORE ENTHUSIASTIC IN THEIR SUPPORT OF THE KOSOVO MISSION IF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OUTLINES CLEARLY THE NATIONAL SECURITY RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT DOING ANYTHING ... /// END OPT ///TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THE PRESENT
SITUATION IN KOSOVO PROVINCE, WITH THE PEACE TALKS IN
RECESS.
[05] CONGRESS-FOREIGN POLICY (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245970 CONTENT= VOICED AT: *INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS NORTH KOREA POSES A MAJOR THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES. BUT SHE SAYS WASHINGTON SHOULD NOT SUSPEND FOOD AID AT A TIME OF FAMINE. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS DURING AN APPEARANCE ON CAPITOL HILL, MS. ALBRIGHT ALSO FACED TOUGH QUESTIONING ABOUT KOSOVO, AND AMERICA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U-N. TEXT: THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUST BACK FROM THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS - - IS SHUTTLING BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, TRYING TO SELL THE ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY. SENATORS HAVE BEEN POLITE AND RESTRAINED IN THEIR QUESTIONING. NOT SO, MEMBERS OF THE MORE BOISTEROUS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN - A NEW YORK REPUBLICAN - - WELCOMED SECRETARY ALBRIGHT WITH SOME TOUGH TALK ABOUT NORTH KOREA. ///GILMAN ACT///THERE IS GREAT CONCERN, MADAM SECRETARY, IN THE CONGRESS OVER OUR NORTH KOREA POLICY AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, NORTH KOREA HAS BECOME THE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF U-S FOREIGN AID IN ASIA. ///END ACT///MS. ALBRIGHT MADE CLEAR THE ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED ABOUT PYONGYANG'S MISSILE PROGRAM, AND SUSPECTS THE NORTH KOREANS MAY BE CONDUCTING NUCLEAR RESEARCH AT A SECRET SITE. BUT SHE LEFT NO DOUBT U-S HUMANITARIAN AID WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW THROUGH INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES. ///ALBRIGHT ACT///WE DO CONSIDER THIS A HUGE THREAT TO US,AND ARE DEALING WITH IT IN WHAT WE THINK IS THE MOST RATIONAL WAY OF WORKING WITH OUR ALLIES - - THE SOUTH KOREANS AND THE JAPANESE - - WHO ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS. ///END ACT///THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO HEARD FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS WORRIED ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR AN OPEN-ENDED DEPLOYMENT IN KOSOVO. MISSOURI DEMOCRAT PAT DANNER SPOKE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT ON U-S TROOP MORALE. ///DANNER ACT///BECAUSE WE ARE BECOMING A POLICE ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN A MILITARY ORGANIZATION WE ARE FINDING RECRUITING IS DROPPING OFF. ///END ACT///THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RESPONSE WAS BLUNT. ///ALBRIGHT ACT///I HAVE THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR THE U-S MILITARY. THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND THE BEST TRAINED. AND I WOULD NEVER FOR A MOMENT WASTE THEM IN SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT IMPORTANT TO U-S NATIONAL INTERESTS. ///END ACT///HER WORDS WERE EQUALLY STRONG ON THE NEED TO PAY AMERICA'S ARREARS TO THE UNITED NATIONS. CONGRESSIONAL CONSERVATIVES HAVE PUT CONDITIONS ON THE MONEY DEEMED UNACCEPTABLE BY THE WHITE HOUSE. (OPT) NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN CHRIS SMITH SAYS THEY WANT A BAN ON AID TO FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS ABROAD RUN BY GROUPS THAT CAMPAIGN FOR ABORTION RIGHTS. ///SMITH ACT///THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT VIOLATE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF INDIVIDUAL PARLIAMENTS AND COUNTRIES AS REGARDS TO THEIR PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD - - THAT'S WHAT DOES INJURY TO U-S VITAL INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD. ///END ACT (END OPT) ///PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY TOUCH ON THESE ISSUES FRIDAY WHEN HE
DELIVERS A FOREIGN POLICY ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA. DURING HIS
STAY, MR. CLINTON WILL ALSO MEET WITH FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY
WILLIAM PERRY - - A KEY ADVISOR ON NORTH KOREA. (SIGNED)
[06] CLINTON - FOREIGN POLICY O'NITE (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245972 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /////INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON GIVES A MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY ADDRESSTODAY (FRIDAY) IN CALIFORNIA (SAN FRANCISCO). THE WHITE HOUSE IS KEEPING QUIET ABOUTTHE DETAILS. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, MR. CLINTON IS LIKELY TO TOUCH ON THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES SECRETARY OF STATEMADELEINE ALBRIGHT DISCUSSED THURSDAY WITH A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE. TEXT: LAWMAKERS FOCUSED THEIR QUESTIONS ON THREE TOPICS: KOSOVO...NORTH KOREA....AND THE UNITED NATIONS. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT URGED BOTH SIDES IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS TO SHOW RESTRAINT. AND SHE TRIED TO ASSURE SKEPTICAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT U-S PARTICIPATION IN A PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL BE CRUCIAL IF AN INTERIM AGREEMENT IS SIGNED.. /////// ALBRIGHT ACT ////A NEW EXPLOSION OF FIGHTING IN KOSOVO COULD EXPAND INTO REGIONAL HOSTILITIES THAT COULD CAUSE MASSIVE SUFFERING, DISPLACE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, UNDERMINE STABILITY THROUGHOUT SOUTH CENTRAL EUROPE AND DIRECTLY AFFECT KEY NATO ALLIES. //////END ACT//////THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO DEFENDED THE ADMINISTATION'S POLICY
ON NORTH KOREA. AND SHE URGED CONGRESS TO PAY AMERICA'S ARREARS
TO THE UNITED NATIONS. CONSERVATIVES ON THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS COMMITTEE SAY THEY WILL APPROVE THE NEEDED FUNDS FOR
THE U-N IF PRESIDENT CLINTON AGREES TO RESTRICTIONS ON AID TO
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS. MR. CLINTON SAYS SUCH
CONDITIONS ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. (SIGNED)
[07] CHINA / U-N / MACEDONIA (L ONLY) BY ROGER WILKISON (BEIJING)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245945 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA IS POISED TO USE ITS VETO IN THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO PREVENT U-N PEACEKEEPERS FROM STAYING IN MACEDONIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS THE MOVE IS A RESPONSE TO MACEDONIA'S ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BEIJING'S ARCH-RIVAL, TAIWAN. TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED SOON TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR RENEWAL OF A U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS RECOMMENDED THE EXTENSION OF THE FORCE'S MANDATE, BUT CHINA HAS PLEDGED TO VETO THE MEASURE. BEIJING SAYS THE 11-HUNDRED MEMBER U-N PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENT FORCE -- KNOWN AS UNPREDEP -- HAS ACCOMPLISHED ITS MISSION OF MAINTAINING STABILITY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS INDICATED THAT BEIJING SEES NO DANGER OF VIOLENCE ELSEWHERE IN THE BALKANS CROSSING THE BORDER INTO MACEDONIA. FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN ZHANG QIYUE -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- ARGUES THAT, GIVEN THOSE CONDITIONS, THERE IS NO FURTHER NEED FOR A PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA. /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///UNPREDEP HAS ALREADY FULFILLED ITS MANDATE GIVEN BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE UNITED NATIONS FACES A SERIOUS FINANCIAL CRISIS. SO IT SHOULD PUT ITS LIMITED RESOURCES TO USE IN NEEDIER PLACES. THEREFORE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE EXTENSION OF UNPREDEP. /// END ACTUALITY ///ASKED BY A REPORTER WHETHER CHINA WOULD VETO THE EXTENSION IF MACEDONIA HAD NOT ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN, MS. ZHANG SAID BEIJING HAS OFTEN EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT RENEWING THE MANDATE. SHE SAYS THAT, IN THE PAST, CHINA ACCEDED TO MACEDONIAN REQUESTS TO KEEP THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN PLACE. BUT -- WITHOUT REFERRING TO TAIWAN -- SHE SAYS THE SITUATION HAS NOW CHANGED. /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///IN THE PAST, CHINA TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE REQUESTS OF MACEDONIA...WE ADOPTED A VERY FLEXIBLE AND COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE ON THE EXTENSION ISSUE. NOW...FOR REASONS KNOWN TO ALL...THERE'S NO NEED FOR CHINA TO YIELD TO THE REQUESTS OF THE MACEDONIAN SIDE. /// END ACTUALITY ///CHINA -- WHICH REGARDS TAIWAN AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE WITH NO
RIGHT TO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS OF ITS OWN -- WAS INFURIATED WHEN
MACEDONIA SEVERED TIES WITH BEIJING LAST MONTH AND ESTABLISHED
LINKS WITH THE ISLAND. CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE DISMISSED FEARS
THAT -- WITH UNPREDEP GONE -- THE VIOLENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S
KOSOVO PROVINCE WILL SPILL OVER INTO MACEDONIA. (SIGNED)
[08] U-N / MACEDONIA / VETO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245974 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA VETOED A UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THURSDAY THAT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA. IT IS THE FIRST VETO CAST IN THE COUNCIL IN NEARLY ONE YEAR, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON. TEXT: THE VETO IS THE FIRST CAST BY ANY COUNTRY IN THE COUNCIL SINCE MARCH OF 1997, AND ONLY THE FOURTH EVER CAST BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. CHINA IS ONE OF THE THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, ALONG WITH BRITAIN, FRANCE, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. A VETO FROM ANY ONE OF THE PERMANENT MEMBERS IS ENOUGH TO KILL A RESOLUTION. THE COUNCIL USUALLY REFRAINS FROM VOTING ON A RESOLUTION IF IT IS CLEAR THAT ONE OF THE PERMANENT MEMBERS WILL VETO IT. THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE ON THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA IS SEEN AS AN EFFORT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT DIPLOMATS SAY IS CHINA'S UNJUSTIFIED OPPOSITION TO THE PEACEKEEPERS. RUSSIA ABSTAINED IN THE VOTE. THE 13 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ALL VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. CHINA SAYS IT NO LONGER SEES A NEED FOR THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH 1995 TO MONITOR MACEDONIA'S BORDERS AND DETER THE SPREAD OF FIGHTING TO MACEDONIA FROM BOSNIA. BUT DIPLOMATS FROM OTHER NATIONS ON THE COUNCIL SAY CHINA'S OPPOSITION IS A RESULT OF ITS POLITICAL RIVALRY WITH TAIWAN AND HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE ITSELF. THEY SAY CHINA'S VETO APPEARS TO BE AIMED AT PUNISHING MACEDONIA FOR ESTABLISHING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN LAST MONTH. CHINA STRONGLY OPPOSES TAIWAN'S EFFORT TO GAIN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND CONSIDERS IT A CHALLENGE TO BEIJING'S CLAIM TO SOVEREIGNTY OVER ALL OF CHINA. U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS PETER BURLEIGH: /// BURLEIGH ACT ///MY GOVERNMENT VERY MUCH REGRETS THE DECISION BY ONE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TO EXERCISE ITS VETO WITH RESPECT TO THIS RESOLUTION. WE BELIEVE THE OVERALL INTERESTS OF SECURITY IN THE REGION -- PARTICULARLY DURING THIS SENSITIVE PERIOD -- SHOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY COMPELLING TO OUTWEIGH OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. /// END ACT ///THE U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN MACEDONIA IS COMPOSED OF ABOUT 11-HUNDRED TROOPS, MAINLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE NETHERLANDS AND INDONESIA. U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNCIL EXTEND ITS MANDATE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS. DIPLOMATS SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING TRANSFERRING THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO NATO OR SOME OTHER INSTITUTION TO ENSURE IT CONTINUES ITS WORK. THEY SAY THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IS PLAYING A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ROLE AT THIS TIME, PREVENTING UNREST IN THE NEIGHBORING YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO FROM SPILLING INTO MACEDONIA. MACEDONIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS TOLD THE SECURITY
COUNCIL THURSDAY THAT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS DIFFICULT,
DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE. HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD
NOT RUN AWAY FROM THE TROUBLES OR ABANDON THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
[09] TURKEY KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245964 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, VURAL SAVAS, HAS ASKED THE COUNTRY'S TOP COURT TO BAR THE LARGEST KURDISH PARTY FROM TAKING PART IN PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS DUE TO BE HELD ON APRIL 18TH. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, COURT PROCEEDINGS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO SHUT DOWN THE PRO-KURDISH "PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY PARTY," OR "HADEP," ON CHARGES OF ACTING AS THE POLITICAL FRONT FOR AN OUTLAWED KURDISH REBEL GROUP. TEXT: THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAID HADEP SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RUN IN THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE THE COURT CASE LINKING IT TO THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE P-K-K. INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH INTERROGATION OF RECENTLY-CAPTURED P-K-K CHIEF, ABDULLAH OCALAN, HAS REPORTEDLY SUBSTANTIATED THE COURT'S CLAIM THAT HADEP HAD CLOSE TIES WITH THE P-K-K. MR. SAVAS ALSO CHARGED THAT P-K-K MILITANTS HAVE MADE DEATH THREATS AGAINST ETHNIC KURDS IN TURKEY'S LARGELY KURDISH PROVINCE, IF THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR HADEP IN THE ELECTIONS. HADEP OFFICIALS DENY ALL THE CHARGES. BUT ANALYSTS SUGGEST IT IS INCREASINGLY UNLIKELY THE GROUP WILL BE PERMITTED TO RUN CANDIDATES. IF IT IS, THE ANALYSTS ADD THAT HADEP IS UNLIKELY TO WIN THE MINIMUM 10 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL VOTE NEEDED TO GET A SEAT IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT. ANALYSTS NOTE, HOWEVER, THE PARTY WOULD LIKELY SWEEP HUNDREDS OF MAYORAL SEATS IN THE MAINLY KURDISH PROVINCES, IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HELD THE SAME TIME AS THE NATIONAL VOTE. //REST OPT//IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, TWO LAWYERS TRAVELED ON THURSDAY TO THE PRISON ISLAND WHERE THE P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN IS BEING HELD. TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAD EARLIER REJECTED THE LAWYERS' REQUESTS TO MEET WITH MR. OCALAN, WHO WAS CAPTURED IN KENYA LAST WEEK BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES. THE LAWYERS WERE EXPECTED TO MEET WITH MR. OCALAN IN THE PRESENCE OF A JUDGE. DETAILS OF THAT MEETING WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. THE P-K-K LEADER FACES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ESTABLISHING AND
LEADING THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY. THE REBEL GROUP
HAS BEEN WAGING A 14-YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH INDEPENDENCE
FROM TURKEY. OVER 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT.
(SIGNED)
[10] PALESTINIANS / OCALAN (L ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (RAMALLAH, WEST BANK)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245955 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PALESTINIANS DEMONSTRATED IN THE WEST BANK THURSDAY, CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF JAILED KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST IN RAMALLAH REPORTS THE PROTESTERS SAID PALESTINIANS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH KURDS AND THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SELF-DETERMINATION. TEXT: /// DEMONSTRATION SOUNDS ///MARCHERS SAID PALESTINIANS IDENTIFY WITH THE PLIGHT OF KURDS AND REMEMBER THAT KURDISH MILITANTS FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THE P-L-O AGAINST ISRAEL IN LEBANON IN THE 1980'S. THE CROWD INCLUDED SOME OFFICIALS OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, BUT WAS LARGELY MADE OF MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION FACTIONS INCLUDING DAOUD TALHAME, AN ACTIVIST FOR THE RADICAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE. HE REJECTED THE CHARACTERIZATION OF ABDULLAH OCALAN AS A TERRORIST: /// TALHAME ACTUALITY ///FOR US, OCALAN IS A FREEDOM FIGHTER. AND HE HAS TO BE TREATED AS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF HIS PEOPLE AND NOT AS A CRIMINAL, AS HE HAS BEEN UNTIL UNTIL NOW, WHICH IS SOMETHING OUTRAGEOUS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE TERRORISTS ARE NOW GOVERNING STATES LIKE ISRAEL, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE OCALAN IS TREATED IN THIS WAY. /// END ACTUALITY ///RALLY ORGANIZERS SAID THEY WERE DUBIOUS ABOUT ISRAEL'S REPEATED DENIALS OF INVOLVEMENT IN TURKEY'S CAPTURE OF MR. OCALAN, AND ANGRY THAT ISRAELI GUARDS KILLED THREE KURDISH PROTESTERS WHO STORMED THE ISRAELI CONSULATE IN BERLIN LAST WEEK. TURKEY IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE SENT THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY A
MESSAGE ASKING THAT IT PREVENT THE PRO-OCALAN RALLY. BUT
PALESTINIAN POLICE DID NOT INTERVENE AND KEPT THEIR DISTANCE AS
THE MARCHERS MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE NARROW STREETS HERE,
SNARLING MID-AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. (SIGNED)
[11] E-U/SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245952 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: LEADERS FROM THE 15-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION HEAD TO BONN IN PREPARATION FOR A ONE-DAY INFORMAL SUMMIT FRIDAY TO DISCUSS REFORM PROPOSALS. THE AIM IS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A FINAL AGREEMENT AT A FURTHER SUMMIT NEXT MONTH IN BERLIN. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM E-U HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS ON THE PROSPECTS FOR THE SUMMIT. TEXT: THIS PAST MONDAY, AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND EUROPEAN FARMERS CLASHED WITH BATON-WIELDING RIOT POLICE ON THE STREETS OF BRUSSELS. THE FARMERS CAME TO PROTEST AGAINST THE E-U AGRICULTURAL REFORMS, WHICH THEY BELIEVE COULD DESTROY THEIR LIVELIHOODS. EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE AN UNENVIABLE TASK. THEY NOT ONLY MUST AGREE ON AGRICULTURAL REFORMS, BUT ALSO OF PUTTING IN PLACE OTHER PIECES OF THE REFORM JIGSAW. THAT INCLUDES STREAMLINING REGIONAL AID EXPENDITURE AND REVISING THE WAY THE E-U STATES CONTRIBUTE TO THE 80-BILLION DOLLAR BRUSSELS BUDGET EACH YEAR. IN AN OPTIMISTIC EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR FRIDAY'S BONN SUMMIT, THE 15 E-U AGRICULTURE MINISTERS REMAIN ENGAGED IN AN ALL-WEEK MARATHON NEGOTIATION, TO TRY TO PUT IN PLACE THE DETAILS OF FARM REFORMS. THE AIM IS TO FREEZE SPENDING ON AGRICULTURE -- WHICH GOBBLES UP ONE HALF OF THE E-U BUDGET -- BY DISMANTLING PRICE SUPPORT AND BRINGING EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL PRICES DOWN TO WORLD MARKET LEVELS. FOR A WHILE, FARMERS WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOWER SUBSIDIES, BUT MOST E-U GOVERNMENTS WANT TO SEE THESE DIRECT PAYMENTS PHASED OUT OVER TIME. //OPT//NEGOTIATIONS ARE ALSO INTENSIFYING ON REDIRECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN SUBSIDIES INTO ASSISTING THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE, WHICH ARE QUEUING UP TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. SIX COUNTRIES HOPE TO JOIN AFTER THE START OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM. THE OVERALL AIM OF THE REFORM EXERCISE IS TO STREAMLINE EXPENDITURES AND TO MAKE THE WAY IN WHICH THE E-U IS FINANCED MORE FAIR. //OPT//THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE IS THAT ONE GROUP OF COUNTRIES CAN ONLY DO BETTER IF ANOTHER BECOMES WORSE OFF, AND NO E-U GOVERNMENT IS EAGER TO FIND ITSELF IN A POORER POSITION. //END OPT// EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER WARNS THAT IT IS VITAL THAT A DEAL IS REACHED. HE SAYS THERE IS A RISK OF THE WHOLE REFORM PROCESS FALLING APART. IN SUCH AN EVENT, HE BELIEVES EUROPE MAY HAVE TO DELAY THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS FROM EASTERN EUROPE -- WHICH COULD HURT THE E-U'S CREDIBILITY AND WEAKEN THE NEW 11-NATION CURRENCY, CALLED THE EURO, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED ON JANUARY FIRST. MR. SANTER HAS APPEALED TO EUROPE'S LEADERS TO OVERCOME THEIR
DIVISIONS AND DIFFICULTIES, WARNING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE WILL BE
A MAJOR CRISIS. (SIGNED)
[12] E-U/SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245952 (CQ) CONTENT= VOICED AT: // EDS: REMOVING DOLLAR FIGURE IN GRAF 2 OF TEXT //INTRO: LEADERS FROM THE 15-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION HEAD TO BONN IN PREPARATION FOR A ONE-DAY INFORMAL SUMMIT FRIDAY TO DISCUSS REFORM PROPOSALS. THE AIM IS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A FINAL AGREEMENT AT A FURTHER SUMMIT NEXT MONTH IN BERLIN. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM E-U HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS ON THE PROSPECTS FOR THE SUMMIT. TEXT: THIS PAST MONDAY, AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND EUROPEAN FARMERS CLASHED WITH BATON-WIELDING RIOT POLICE ON THE STREETS OF BRUSSELS. THE FARMERS CAME TO PROTEST AGAINST THE E-U AGRICULTURAL REFORMS, WHICH THEY BELIEVE COULD DESTROY THEIR LIVELIHOODS. EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE AN UNENVIABLE TASK. THEY NOT ONLY MUST AGREE ON AGRICULTURAL REFORMS, BUT ALSO OF PUTTING IN PLACE OTHER PIECES OF THE REFORM JIGSAW. THAT INCLUDES STREAMLINING REGIONAL AID EXPENDITURE AND REVISING THE WAY THE E-U STATES CONTRIBUTE TO THE BRUSSELS BUDGET EACH YEAR. IN AN OPTIMISTIC EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR FRIDAY'S BONN SUMMIT, THE 15 E-U AGRICULTURE MINISTERS REMAIN ENGAGED IN AN ALL-WEEK MARATHON NEGOTIATION, TO TRY TO PUT IN PLACE THE DETAILS OF FARM REFORMS. THE AIM IS TO FREEZE SPENDING ON AGRICULTURE -- WHICH GOBBLES UP ONE HALF OF THE E-U BUDGET -- BY DISMANTLING PRICE SUPPORT AND BRINGING EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL PRICES DOWN TO WORLD MARKET LEVELS. FOR A WHILE, FARMERS WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOWER SUBSIDIES, BUT MOST E-U GOVERNMENTS WANT TO SEE THESE DIRECT PAYMENTS PHASED OUT OVER TIME. //OPT//NEGOTIATIONS ARE ALSO INTENSIFYING ON REDIRECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN SUBSIDIES INTO ASSISTING THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE, WHICH ARE QUEUING UP TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION. SIX COUNTRIES HOPE TO JOIN AFTER THE START OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM. THE OVERALL AIM OF THE REFORM EXERCISE IS TO STREAMLINE EXPENDITURES AND TO MAKE THE WAY IN WHICH THE E-U IS FINANCED MORE FAIR. //OPT//THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE IS THAT ONE GROUP OF COUNTRIES CAN ONLY DO BETTER IF ANOTHER BECOMES WORSE OFF, AND NO E-U GOVERNMENT IS EAGER TO FIND ITSELF IN A POORER POSITION. //END OPT// EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER WARNS THAT IT IS VITAL THAT A DEAL IS REACHED. HE SAYS THERE IS A RISK OF THE WHOLE REFORM PROCESS FALLING APART. IN SUCH AN EVENT, HE BELIEVES EUROPE MAY HAVE TO DELAY THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS FROM EASTERN EUROPE -- WHICH COULD HURT THE E-U'S CREDIBILITY AND WEAKEN THE NEW 11-NATION CURRENCY, CALLED THE EURO, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED ON JANUARY FIRST. MR. SANTER HAS APPEALED TO EUROPE'S LEADERS TO OVERCOME THEIR
DIVISIONS AND DIFFICULTIES, WARNING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE WILL BE
A MAJOR CRISIS. (SIGNED)
[13] ITALY / IRAN (L ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245956 CONTENT= VOICED AT: (EDS: MAKE IT READ "REVOLUTION" IN LAST LINE OF INTRO; NO OTHER CHANGES) INTRO: MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS OF ITALY'S PARLIAMENT ARE PROTESTING A PLANNED VISIT TO ITALY BY IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI. AS SABINA CASTELFRANCO REPORTS FROM ROME, THE VISIT WILL BE THE FIRST BY AN IRANIAN LEADER TO EUROPE SINCE THE 1979 ISLAMIC REVOLUTION. TEXT: THERE WAS IMMEDIATE OPPOSITION TO A TRIP TO ITALY BY IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI WHEN IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED EARLY THIS MONTH. AN IRANIAN OPPOSITION GROUP, THE IRANIAN RESISTANCE COUNCIL, URGED A CANCELLATION OF PRESIDENT KHATAMI'S VISIT TO ROME AND FLORENCE BEGINNING ON MARCH EIGHTH. AND THE IRANIAN GROUP WON CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT AMONG ITALY'S POLITICIANS. THREE-HUNDRED-TWENTY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT -- FROM BOTH GOVERNMENT PARTIES AND THE OPPOSITION -- HAVE JOINED THE PROTEST. THE TOTAL IS ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF ITALY'S TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. THEY SAY THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO PROGRESS IN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD SINCE PRESIDENT KHATAMI TOOK OFFICE. ONE PARLIAMENT MEMBER, MARCO TARADASH, SAID FIGURES SHOW THE SITUATION IN IRAN IS GETTING WORSE. /// TARADASH ACT - IN ITALIAN - FADE UNDER ///MR. TARADASH SAID 310 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXECUTED SINCE PRESIDENT KHATAMI TOOK OFFICE, AND MANY MORE ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED IN SECRET. HE SAYS EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STONED TO DEATH, MORE THAN 25 DISSIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED ABROAD, AND NO POLITICAL PARTY OR INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT ITS ACTIVITIES FREELY IN IRAN. MR. TARADASH SAID A DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD IN ROME TO COINCIDE WITH PRESIDENT KHATAMI'S VISIT TO PROTEST WHAT HE CALLS IRAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. ANOTHER MEMBER OF ITALY'S PARLIAMENT, CRISTINA MATRANGA, SAID IRAN IS A COUNTRY WHERE HUNDREDS OF WOMEN, INCLUDING PREGNANT ONES HAVE BEEN EXECUTED. /// MATRANGA ACT - IN ITALIAN - FADE UNDER ///SHE COMPLAINS THAT THE DATE CHOSEN FOR MR. KHATAMI'S ARRIVAL, IS THE VERY SAME DAY ON WHICH THE WEST CELEBRATES WOMEN'S DAY. DESPITE THE OPPOSITION, PRESIDENT KHATAMI WILL MEET ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND MAKE A SPEECH TO THE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE IN FLORENCE. HE ALSO IS SCHEDULED TO MEET AT THE
VATICAN WITH POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND. (SIGNED)
[14] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)DATE=2/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245978 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES TOOK ANOTHER HIT TODAY (THURSDAY) AS BOND PRICES CONTINUED TO FALL. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. THE LOSSES, COMPARED TO WEDNESDAY'S DROP, WERE RELATIVELY SMALL. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 93-HUNDRED-66, DOWN 33 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12-HUNDRED-45, DOWN EIGHT POINTS. AND THE NASDAQ WAS OFF BY 12. THE BOND MARKET CONTINUES TO BE THE STORY ON WALL STREET. FALLING BOND PRICES, WHICH MEANS RISING MARKET INTEREST RATES, ARE PUTTING DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON STOCKS. ANALYSTS SAY INVESTORS ARE WORRIED THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL TIGHTEN CREDIT TO COOL WHAT IS LOOKING TO SOME LIKE AN OVER-HEATED U-S ECONOMY. // OPT ///// SMITH ACT ///NUMBER ONE, THE BREADTH OF THE MARKET -- THE ADVANCES MINUS DECLINES -- IS JUST POOR. IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE UNDERLYING STRENGTH OF THE MARKET IS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY WEAK. THERE'S TOO MUCH BULLISH ENTHUSIASM RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY VERY STRONG. AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO IDEAS THAT THE FED WILL RAISE INTEREST RATES. /// END ACT ///BUT MR. SMITH BELIEVES THIS IS TEMPORARY AND THAT THE STOCK MARKET WILL RESUME ITS BULLISH (UPWARD) RUN. // END OPT // NEW ORDERS TO U-S FACTORIES FOR DURABLE GOODS -- LIKE AUTOMOBILES AND AIRPLANES -- SURGED NEARLY FOUR PERCENT IN JANUARY. AND SALES OF EXISTING HOMES ROSE AT A RECORD PACE LAST MONTH, FUELED BY LOW MORTGAGE RATES AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. /// REST OPT ///THERE IS SOME NORMAL DRAG ON THE BOND MARKET AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. AT LEAST THERE HAS BEEN FOR EIGHT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. EXPERTS SAY THE U-S TREASURY DEPARTMENT ISSUES A LOT OF DEBT IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH TO RAISE MONEY FOR ITS OPERATIONS WHILE IT WAITS FOR TAX PAYMENTS TO COME IN MID-APRIL AND JAPANESE INVESTORS TEND TO TAKE SOME OF THEIR MONEY HOME TO PAD THEIR "BOTTOM LINES" BEFORE THE END OF JAPAN'S FISCAL YEAR MARCH 31ST. BUT ANALYSTS ARE NERVOUS BECAUSE THE PROCESS OF FALLING BOND PRICES SEEMS TO BE ACCELERATING. THE YIELD ON THE 30-YEAR U-S GOVERNMENT BOND ROSE TO FIVE-POINT-SIX PERCENT THURSDAY. SOME EXPERTS SAY THE EFFECT OF HIGHER MARKET INTEREST RATES MAY
BE JUST WHAT U-S FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN HOPES
FOR -- A SLOWING DOWN OF U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS WOULD REDUCE
INFLATIONARY PRESSURE ON THE U-S ECONOMY. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/WTW
[15] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=02/25/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11163 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EST ////INTRO: THE MAJOR TOPIC OF INTEREST IN THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS EDITORIALS APPEARS TO BE THE FATE OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL LAW. IT EXPIRES LATER THIS YEAR, UNLESS CONGRESS VOTES TO RENEW IT. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE:THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS ON HOLD; THE CONVICTION OF A WHITE MAN IN THE HEINOUS MURDER OF A BLACK NEIGHBOR IN EAST TEXAS; RESTRICTING SATELLITE SALES TO CHINA: AND WORRIES OVER THE QUALITY OF NEW U-S ARMY RECRUITS AS THE ALL-VOLUNTEER FORCE FACES A BOOMING ECONOMY. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: TWENTY YEARS AGO, AFTER RICHARD NIXON BECAME THE FIRST U-S PRESIDENT TO RESIGN OFFICE AS A RESULT OF THE WATERGATE SCANDAL, CONGRESS ENACTED THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL LAW. /// OPT /// THE IDEA WAS SIMPLE: TO INVESTIGATE ANY HIGH-RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF A SERIOUS CRIME, WITH A PRIVATE LAWYER, GIVEN TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY AND HELP. THE THEORY WAS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT -- WHOSE CHIEF, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT -- WOULD BE UNABLE TO IMPARTIALLY INVESTIGATE SUCH A HIGH-RANKING OFFICIAL. /// END OPT /// /// OPT ///NOW CONGRESS IS DECIDING WHETHER TO KEEP THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL LAW OR ALLOW IT TO DIE LATER THIS YEAR. "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" FEELS THIS WAY ABOUT THE CONCEPT: VOICE: IN DEFENSE OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL STATUTE, ITS SUPPORTERS ARGUE WITH CONSIDERABLE PERSUASIVE FORCE THAT THE POWERS OF PEOPLE IN POLITICS AND IN HIGH OFFICE TO CONCEAL THEIR ILLICIT BEHAVIOR ARE SIMPLY TOO GREAT, THAT ONLY BY INVESTING AN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY SUCH AS KEN STARR HELD CAN WE EVEN HOPE TO OVERCOME THE POLITICAL CLASS' SKILLS AT DIVERSION AND ESCAPE. TEXT: "THE JOURNAL" CONCLUDES, HOWEVER, BY SAYING THAT THE EXISTING LAWS, INCLUDING IMPEACHMENT BY CONGRESS, ARE SUFFICIENT TO INVESTIGATE WRONG DOING. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OPTS FOR REFORMING IT, SINCE DOING AWAY WITH IT: VOICE: ... WOULD N O T SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST. ... [PROPOSED] CHANGES INCLUDE HAVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A PANEL OF FEDERAL JUDGES SHARE AUTHORITY FOR PICKING A COUNSEL WITHOUT PARTISAN BAGGAGE. OTHER POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COVERED OFFICES, PUTTING TIME LIMITS ON INQUIRIES AND EXCLUDING MATTERS THAT OCCURRED BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL'S TERM OF OFFICE. TEXT: TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES," WHICH FAVORS THE END OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNCIL LAW, STILL WARNS THAT WHILE THE VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW MAY HAVE BEEN FLAWED, IF IT I S DONE AWAY WITH: VOICE: ... THE QUESTION OF HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH POSSIBLE WRONG DOING IN HIGH PLACES REMAINS. ... [HOWEVER] [MR.] STARR'S ABUSES OF POWER HAVE MADE CLEAR WHY IT'S TIME FOR THE STATUTE TO PASS INTO HISTORY. TEXT: TO THE TROUBLED YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO NOW, AND THE REALIZATION BY "THE HARTFORD COURANT" IN THE CONNECTICUT CAPITAL, THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. VOICE: /// OPT /// ... IN MRS. [SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE] ALBRIGHT'S WORDS, PEACE DEPENDS ON THE 4-THOUSAND AMERICANS. [THE TROOPS COMMITTED TO THE PROPOSED NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE]. WHY IS THAT? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THAT WE HAVE BECOME THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. /// END OPT /// OPT ///TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY" WORRIES THAT: VOICE: AS FIGHTING WORSENS, THE HIATUS IS KEEPING THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS ALIVE, BUT JUST BARELY. /// END OPT ///TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS REASONABLY PLEASED WITH THE DEAL THAT APPEARS TO BE EMERGING FROM THE KOSOVO TALKS, CALLING IT "A GOOD COMPROMISE." /// OPT ///VOICE: IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS, BUT TO BE FAIR, IT WAS NOT A FAILURE, EITHER. AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC PERSISTENCE DID PERSUADE YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, ALTHOUGH THE DELAY ALLOWS [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS HAVING ONCE AGAIN OUTMANEUVERED THE WEST. ... IF THEY ARE WISE, THE INEXPERIENCED YOUNG COMMANDERS OF THE K-L-A [KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] WILL TAKE THE DEAL. IF [MR.] MILOSEVIC IS WISE, HE WILL DROP HIS OPPOSITION TO ALLOWING NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO OVERSEE THE DISARMING OF THE K-L-A. AS PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SHREWDLY OBSERVED, THIS BARGAIN ALLOWS KOSOVO TO REMAIN A PART OF SERBIA BY TAKING SERBIA OUT OF KOSOVO. /// END OPT ///TEXT: DOMESTICALLY AGAIN, THE HORRIFIC MURDER OF A BLACK MAN, DRAGGED TO DEATH BEHIND A SMALL TRUCK [LORRY] BY THREE WHITE MEN IN EAST TEXAS, HAS STUNNED THE NATION. NOW, A JURY HAS CONVICTED THE FIRST MAN ON TRIAL OF MURDER AND IS DEBATING WHETHER TO SENTENCE HIM TO DEATH. /// EDS: WATCH CN WIRE FOR NEWS OF THE SENTENCING/// "THE MIAMI HERALD" NOTES: VOICE: JASPER [TEXAS] AND ITS JURY HAVE SHOWN THE WORLD JUST HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY HAS COME IN ITS RACE RELATIONS. [MR. JOHN] KING [THE CONVICTED MURDERER] SHOWED HOW FAR IT STILL MUST GO. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN SUCH CRIMES HOUNDED BLACK CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH. THE SHOOTINGS, THE LYNCHINGS, THE BOMBINGS - - SO MANY WROUGHT BY RACIST PERPETRATORS NEVER BROUGHT TO TRIAL OR AIDED BY A WINKING [COMPLIANT] PROSECUTION AND FORGIVING ALL-WHITE JURIES. BUT JASPER, BLACK AND WHITE, WAS HORRIFIED AT THE CRIME'S BLOODY BRUTALITY, AND PRESENTED A UNITED FRONT OF OUTRAGE AND RESOLVE TO THE WORLD. /// TEXT: TODAY "NEW YORK TIMES" MUSES ABOUT SELLING ADVANCED SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA. VOICE: WASHINGTON'S PAST CARELESSNESS IN LICENSING SATELLITE SALES TO CHINA MAY HAVE DAMAGED AMERICA'S SECURITY. THIS WEEK THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DREW THE RIGHT LESSONS FROM ITS MISTAKES. IT DENIED HUGHES SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL TO SELL A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE TO A COMPANY CLOSELY TIED TO THE CHINESE MILITARY. ... THE ... SALE COULD HAVE IMPROVED THE REACH OF CHINESE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS IN ASIA AND HELPED CHINA REFINE ITS ROCKET TECHNOLOGY. WASHINGTON SHOULD ENCOURAGE AMERICAN CIVILIAN COMMERCE WITH CHINA. BUT IT MUST TIGHTLY CONTROL ADVANCED MILITARY TECHNOLOGY. /// OPT ///TEXT: AND STILL ON A MILITARY THEME, "THE MIAMI HERALD" PONDERS THE DECREASING QUALITY OF RECRUITS FINDING THEIR WAY INTO THE U-S MILITARY, BECAUSE THE NATION HAS LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AND MOST YOUTHS CAN FIND NON-MILITARY JOBS. THE PAPER FINDS A POSITIVE ASPECT TO THE DILEMMA. VOICE: THE RESPECTIVE BRANCHES [OF THE ARMED FORCES] ARE TRYING NEW STRATEGIES TO FILL THEIR PERSONNEL NEEDS FOR 1999. THEY'RE BEEFING UP [STRENGTHENING] THEIR ADS. THE ARMY IS USING YOUNGER PERSONNEL AS RECRUITERS. AND IN A MOVE ALREADY BEING RIDICULED ON LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS, THE ARMY SAYS IT WILL RELAX ITS RULE THAT RECRUITS BE HIGH-SCHOOL (SECONDARY) GRADS. GOOD FOR THE ARMY. MANY KIDS WHO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND DRIFT INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD COULD FIND IN THE MILITARY THE SELF-DISCIPLINE AND STRUCTURE THAT THEY NEED. MOREOVER, THE ARMY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ITS PERSONNEL TO IMPROVE THEIR EDUCATION, SO THE DROPOUTS SOON WOULD FIND THEMSELVES IN A CLASS WORKING ON A DIPLOMA. /// END OPT ///TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE
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