Voice of America, 98-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO PROPOSAL (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] GERMANY / ITALY / KURDS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

[04] BRITAIN / PINOCHET (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[05] BRITAIN/CHILE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[06] FRENCH / AFRICA (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] KOSOVO PROPOSAL (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE POLITICAL LEADER OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS SAYS HIS ARMY IS WILLING TO DEFER ITS DREAM OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSIDER AN AMERICAN PROPOSAL TO GIVE KOSOVO EQUAL STATUS WITH THE TWO OTHER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS -- SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. PHILIP SMUCKER INTERVIEWED KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY SPOKESMAN ADEM DEMACI IN PRISTINA, AND FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: WARMING TO THE PEACE INITIATIVE, MR. DEMACI SAID THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A, WOULD SETTLE FOR THE STATUS OF A THIRD REPUBLIC IN YUGOSLAVIA -- RATHER THAN OUTRIGHT INDEPENDENCE.

BUT IN THIS SITUATION, WHEN WE HAVE SERBIA (AND MONTENEGRO) AS A REPUBLIC ... IT IS NECESSARY (AT) MINIMUM (THAT) ALBANIANS ALSO ... BE THE THIRD REPUBLIC. AFTER THREE YEARS, LET (THE) PEOPLE DECIDE.

A NEW AMERICAN-AUTHORED PEACE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR VIRTUALLY SEVERING THE PROVINCE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, WHILE GRANTING IT SELF-RULE -- BUT WITHIN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. THE K-L-A HAD PREVIOUSLY INSISTED ON COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO. BUT MR. DEMACI TOLD U-S PEACE MEDIATOR CHRISTOPHER HILL ON FRIDAY THAT THE K-L-A WOULD SETTLE FOR LESS THAN INDEPENDENCE AFTER AN INTERIM THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

WHILE THE K-L-A GENERAL STAFF SAYS IT NEITHER ACCEPTS NOR REJECTS THE LATEST AMERICAN PEACE PROPOSAL, MR. DEMACI SAYS HE HOPES THE UNITED STATES WILL DO MORE IN THE COMING MONTHS BY, AS HE PUT IT, SUPPORTING ITS OWN IDEAL OF THE LIBERTY OF OPPRESSED PEOPLES.

WHILE WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THEY'RE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT THEY CALL A NEW PRAGMATISM WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE K-L-A, MANY STILL DOUBT THE GROUP'S SINCERITY AND WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, THE K-L-A FRIDAY RELEASED FOUR PEOPLE TWO KIDNAPPED SERBIAN JOURNALISTS AND TWO MODERATE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICIANS. THE K-L-A CALLED THE RELEASE A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." A K-L-A SPOKESMAN SAID THE RELEASE WAS CARRIED OUT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF ALBANIANS ARE STILL MISSING OR IMPRISONED ON FALSE CHARGES.

IN HIS INTERVIEW, MR. DEMACI ALSO EXPRESSED REMORSE OVER ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE K-L-A AGAINST UNARMED SERBS IN KOSOVO, AND SAID THE GROUP'S GENERAL STAFF ADAMANTLY DISAPPROVES OF SUCH ACTIONS. (SIGNED)
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27-Nov-98 12:33 PM EST (1733 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] GERMANY / ITALY / KURDS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: GERMANY HAS REFUSED ITALY'S REQUEST TO EXTRADITE THE TURKISH REBEL KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. V-O-A WEST EUROPE CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS ON THE MEETING BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF ITALY AND GERMANY.

TEXT: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA WENT TO BONN TO TRY TO CONVINCE GERMANY TO ASK FOR THE EXTRADITION OF KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN . ITALY ARRESTED HIM NOVEMBER 12TH IN RESPONSE TO A GERMAN ARREST WARRANT.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT GERMANY WILL NOT ENFORCE ITS TWO ARREST WARRANTS.

HE SAYS GERMANY IS THE COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS THE MOST KURDISH -- OFTEN REFUGEES -- AND TURKISH CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, AND HE SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE PEACE IN GERMANY.

THERE ARE TWO-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION TURKS AND KURDS IN GERMANY, AND THOUSANDS OF MR. OCALAN'S SUPPORTERS GATHERED ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER FROM THE CHANCELLERY WHERE THE TWO LEADERS MET. THE KURDS WANT SOME COUNTRY IN EUROPE TO GRANT THE KURDISH WORKERS' PARTY LEADER POLITICAL ASYLUM.

ITALY REFUSED TURKEY'S REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF MR. OCALAN ON THE GROUNDS THAT TURKEY PERMITS THE DEATH PENALTY. GERMANY DOES NOT. THE ITALIANS WANTED GERMANY TO TAKE THE KURDISH LEADER OFF THEIR HANDS.

WHILE GERMAN PROSECUTORS HAVE ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST MR. OCALAN, IT IS UP TO THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE THEM.

THE GOVERNMENT INITIALLY SAID MR. OCALAN IS ITALY'S PROBLEM TO SOLVE. RECENTLY, GERMAN OFFICIALS BLAMED ITALIAN POLITICIANS FOR ENCOURAGING MR. OCALAN TO GO TO ROME. HE APPARENTLY WAS INVITED BY ELEMENTS IN ITALY'S REFORMED COMMUNIST PARTY. MR. OCALAN REMAINS FREE IN ITALY UNDER POLICE SURVEILLANCE.

WHILE TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRY TO PUT MR. OCALAN ON TRIAL, CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER HAS MADE CLEAR TO ITALY THAT GERMANY IS NOT THAT COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/GE
27-Nov-98 11:07 AM EST (1607 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 UP TODAY (FRIDAY) IN AN ABBREVIATED POST-HOLIDAY SESSION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 93 HUNDRED 33, UP 18 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 174 POINTS OR ALMOST TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT A RECORD HIGH 11 HUNDRED 92, UP FIVE POINTS.

VOLUME ON THE NEW YORK EXCHANGE WAS A LIGHT 260 MILLION SHARES, THE LOWEST OF THE YEAR. FINANCIAL MARKETS CLOSED THREE HOURS EARLY BECAUSE MANY TRADERS DO NOT WORK ON THE DAY AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND THOSE WHO DO WORK WANT TO LEAVE EARLY.

MANY AMERICANS TOOK THE DAY OFF TO BEGIN THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. ANALYSTS SAY THEY EXPECT THIS SEASON TO BE A GOOD ONE, WITH STRONG CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND A RISING STOCK MARKET. HOWEVER, SOME RETAILERS ARE A BIT CAUTIOUS AND ARE USING DEEP DISCOUNTS TO LURE SHOPPERS INTO THEIR STORES.

THE EXXON AND MOBIL OIL COMPANIES CONFIRM THEY ARE IN MERGER TALKS, WHICH, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL CREATE THE LARGEST OIL COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

THE EXXON ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ON TOP OF THE TAKEOVER OF THE NETSCAPE COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY BY AMERICA ONLINE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THE CONFIRMATION OF MERGER TALKS INVOLVING GERMAN'S DEUTSCHE BANK AND BANKERS TRUST OF THE UNITED STATES.

BRAD WEEKS OF THE D-L-J INVESTMENT COMPANY SAYS THE WAVE OF MERGER TALK IS GOOD FOR STOCKS.

IT IS MAINLY THE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS WHICH ARE GOING AHEAD ON TOP OF LOW INTEREST RATES AND BASICALLY THE FOREIGN MARKETS SEEM TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR WORST PERIODS.

A MERGER OR ACQUISITION TENDS TO LIFT OTHER STOCKS IN THAT INDUSTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AMERICA ONLINE/NETSCAPE DEAL SPARKED BUYING OF OTHER INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS. OIL COMPANY STOCKS IN GENERAL ROSE ON NEWS OF THE EXXON/MOBIL TALKS.

A MERGER IN THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG INDUSTRY MAY BE IN THE WORKS. SOURCES SAY RHONE OF FRANCE AND HOECHST OF GERMANY WILL ANNOUNCE A MERGER AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. THE COMPANIES HAD NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT.

THE MICROSOFT COMPANY HAS RELEASED CHINESE-LANGUAGE SOFTWARE FOR PALM-SIZE COMPUTERS. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEVELOPMENT GIVES MICROSOFT A SOLID LEAD IN CHINA WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMPUTER MARKETS IN THE WORLD.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
27-Nov-98 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BRITAIN / PINOCHET (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: CHILE'S FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MIGUEL INSULZA IS IN LONDON TO ASK BRITAIN TO HELP STOP THE EXTRADITION OF FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET TO SPAIN WHERE HE WOULD FACE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE AND TORTURE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THAT BRITAIN'S HOME SECRETARY (JUSTICE MINISTER) MUST DECIDE ON SPAIN'S REQUEST BY DECEMBER 11TH.

TEXT: CHILE'S FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVERED HIS GOVERNMENT'S FORMAL PROTEST TO FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND TRIED TO PERSUADE BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE TO STOP THE EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MR. PINOCHET. BUT MR. COOK SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INTERFERE IN WHAT IT CONSIDERS A PURELY LEGAL MATTER.

IN A STATEMENT RELEASED AFTER THE HOUR-LONG MEETING, MR. COOK SAYS HE TOLD HIS CHILEAN COUNTERPART THAT THE ARREST OF MR. PINOCHET AND THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED ARE NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

RELATIONS BETWEEN CHILE AND BRITAIN AND SPAIN HAVE SOURED SINCE GENERAL PINOCHET'S ARREST. THERE HAS EVEN BEEN TALK IN CHILE OF IMPOSING TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST THE EUROPEAN STATES, BUT MR COOK SAYS HE AND MR. INSULZA EXPRESSED THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING TRADITIONALLY GOOD DIPLOMATIC TIES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHILE..

MR. INSULZA HAS NOT MET HOME SECRETARY JACK STRAW, WHO NOW HAS TO DECIDE WHAT ACTION HE WILL TAKE ON SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST. HIS DECISION WAS DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY. BUT THE HIGH COURT HAS GIVEN HIM ANOTHER WEEK TO MULL OVER THE LEGAL ISSUES.

MR. PINOCHET WILL HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT ON DECEMBER 11TH TO HEAR MR. STRAW'S DECISION. IT WILL BE HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE HIS ARREST SIX WEEKS AGO.

THE FORMER GENERAL HAS BEEN UNDER POLICE GUARD AT A PRIVATE LONDON CLINIC WHILE HE RECUPERATES FROM BACK SURGERY. HIS LAWYERS HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL ARGUE THE 83-YEAR-OLD FORMER GENERAL IS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNFIT TO FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DURING HIS 17-YEAR REIGN IN CHILE. (SIGNED)
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27-Nov-98 12:12 PM EST (1712 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BRITAIN/CHILE BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THE BRITISH RULING AGAINST GRANTING FORMER CHILEAN DICTATOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET IMMUNITY FROM EXTRADITION HAS SPARKED MIXED REACTIONS BOTH IN CHILE AND BRITAIN. CHILE'S GOVERNMENT HAS FORMALLY PROTESTED THE DECISION, WHICH HAS STRAINED ITS RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A LOOK AT THE WIDER IMPACT OF THE DECISION ON CHILE'S TIES WITH EUROPE.

TEXT: MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL FIGHT HIS EXTRADITION TO SPAIN, PERHAPS ARGUING THE 83-YEAR-OLD FORMER GENERAL IS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL. THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO ACT ON SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST IS UP TO BRITAIN'S JUSTICE MINISTER, HOME SECRETARY JACK STRAW.

CHILE HAS DISPATCHED ITS FOREIGN MINISTER TO LONDON AND MADRID TO DELIVER CHILE'S FORMAL PROTEST AND TO ARGUE THE CASE FOR LETTING MR. PINOCHET GO HOME. BUT THE CHILEAN MINISTER WILL ONLY MEET HIS DIPLOMATIC COUNTERPARTS -- MEETING BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK, NOT MR. STRAW, NOR THE SPANISH JUDGE WHO FILED THE EXTRADITION REQUEST IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LATIN AMERICA EXPERT, PAULO WROBEL, SAYS DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO INFLUENCE LEGAL JUDGMENTS. MR. WROBEL IS A RESEARCH FELLOW AT LONDON'S ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.

THEY CAN CERTAINLY PUT SOME PRESSURE UNDER THE NAME OF GOOD AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, UNDER THE NAME OF THE MAINTENANCE OR CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY IN CHILE AND POSSIBLY UNDER THE NAME OF HUMANITARIAN REASONS, BECAUSE HE IS QUITE AN OLD MAN. /// OPT /// I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF MR. STRAW'S CONSIDERATION, BUT NOT THE CENTER OF HIS CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAINLY ALL THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS' DECISION. /// END OPT ///

THE POLITICAL FALLOUT HAS ALREADY BEGUN. THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN SANTIAGO HAS BECOME A TARGET OF VIOLENT PROTESTS. CHILE HAS RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR FROM MADRID.

DIPLOMATS AND ANALYSTS ALIKE PREDICT THE LENGTHY EXTRADITION PROCESS AND A POSSIBLE TRIAL IN MADRID WILL SEVERELY STRAIN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SEEKING MR. PINOCHET'S EXTRADITION. /// OPT /// BUT MR. WROBEL DOES NOT SEE MUCH DAMAGE TO ECONOMIC TIES.

I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO TAKE A LOT OF DIPLOMATIC AND LEGAL CONCLUSIONS FROM A CASE THAT IS EVOLVING. CERTAINLY IT WILL PUT SOME STRAIN ON THE RELATIONS. BUT I DON'T SEE IT AFFECTING ECONOMIC RELATIONS IN THE SHORT TERM, BECAUSE SPAIN IS A BIG PLAYER IN TERMS OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN SOUTH AMERICA.

EVEN IF CHILE'S LONG-TERM RELATIONS WITH EUROPE DO NOT SUFFER SO MUCH, SOME ANALYSTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE RULING AGAINST MR. PINOCHET ON CHILE ITSELF.

CRITICS OF THE RULING WARN THAT CHILE'S FRAGILE DEMOCRACY COULD SUFFER FROM WHAT THEY SEE AS OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. MR. WROBEL DISAGREES.

CHILE HAS TRIED TO FORGET ITS PAST, TO BURY ITS PAST AND START A NEW ERA TRYING TO FORGET ABOUT THE PINOCHET ERA. AND IT HAS BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMICALLY. BUT IT'S NOT THE CASE POLITICALLY. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS EPISODE IS HELPING AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATION OF CHANGING THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF CHILE.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SEE THE RULING AGAINST MR. PINOCHET AS A VICTORY FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND A BOOST IN RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTIONS. ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD ENCOURAGE LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST MORE FORMER LEADERS ACCUSED OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. AND THAT, THEY SAY, MIGHT FORCE THE PEOPLE AND LEADERS OF THOSE COUNTRIES TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THEIR TROUBLED PAST. (SIGNED)
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27-Nov-98 9:14 AM EST (1414 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] FRENCH / AFRICA (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: AFRICAN LEADERS AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC HAVE EXPRESSED HOPES THAT THE 20TH BI-ANNUAL FRENCH-AFRICAN SUMMIT NOW UNDERWAY IN PARIS MIGHT HELP BRING AN END TO FIGHTING IN CONGO-KINSHASA. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: OF ALL THE CONFLICTS IN AFRICA, PERHAPS THE MOST MENACING TO REGION IS THE REBELLION RAGING IN CONGO-KINSHASA.

CONGO PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA IS AMONG THOSE IN PARIS FOR THE MEETING. AND, FRANCE'S COOPERATION MINISTER, CHARLES JOSSELIN, SAID HE HOPES THAT WHAT HE CALLS "HOTEL DIPLOMACY," OR TALKS ON THE SIDELINES, WILL HELP BRING COUNTRIES IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION TOGETHER TO HELP END THE FIGHTING.

IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC STRESSED FRANCE'S VIEW THAT AFRICAN COUNTRIES MUST SEEK WAYS OF PREVENTING CRISES BEFORE THEY BEGIN, NOT JUST WAYS OF RESTORING PEACE ONCE WAR HAS BROKEN OUT.

UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ALSO SPOKE AT THE OPENING SESSION -- BEFORE THE OFFICIALS FROM 49 COUNTRIES WENT INTO CLOSED TALKS. MR. ANNAN MADE AN APPEAL FOR AFRICANS THEMSELVES TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THEIR PROBLEMS BASED ON THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

MR. ANNAN CITED RECENT PROGRESS IN NIGERIA.

NIGERIA'S EXPERIENCE WILL ENABLE US TO TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT, YES, WE DID CHOOSE PEACE, WE DID CHOOSE DEMOCRACY, WE DID CHOOSE HUMAN RIGHTS. LET US PRAY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL THEM THAT IN OUR TIME.

MR. ANNAN'S WORDS UNDERLINED TENSIONS AROUND CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT KABILA IN BOTH FRANCE AND BELGIUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS GROUNDS.

ALTHOUGH MR. KABILA HAS BEEN GUARANTEED IMMUNITY DURING HIS STAY IN PARIS, THE LEFT-WING FRENCH DAILY LIBERATION, REFERRING TO THE DETENTION OF THE FORMER CHILEAN PRESIDENT AUGUSTO PINOCHET IN LONDON, SAID OVER A FRONT-PAGE PICTURE OF PRESIDENT KABILA, THAT IT WAS TIME FOR OTHER LEADERS TO FACE JUDGMENT FOR THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC, WHO WILL HOLD TALKS WITH MR. KABILA WHEN THE PARIS SUMMIT ENDS SATURDAY, SAID THAT TRUE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY REQUIRE GOOD GOVERNMENT WITH FULL RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS.

ALTHOUGH THE PARIS SUMMIT IS THE BEST ATTENDED OF ANY FRANCO-AFRICAN CONFERENCE SINCE THE MEETINGS WERE INAUGURATED IN 1973, THIS HAS PROMPTED TENSIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND SOME OF ITS FORMER COLONIES. THE ORIGINAL MEETINGS BROUGHT TOGETHER JUST FRENCH LEADERS AND THOSE OF FRENCH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES. NOW, THEY INCLUDE FORMER BRITISH AND PORTUGUESE-RULED TERRITORIES AS WELL AS SOME ARAB COUNTRIES, LIKE EGYPT.

OMAR BONGO OF GABON EVEN REFUSED TO ATTEND ALONGSIDE ENGLISH-SPEAKING NEIGHBORS. TO REASSURE FRANCE'S FORMER COLONIES OF THEIR PLACE IN FRANCE'S HEART, PRESIDENT CHIRAC HELD A SPECIAL DINNER ON THE EVE OF THE CONFERENCE FOR FRENCH-SPEAKING LEADERS ONLY. (SIGNED)
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27-Nov-98 10:48 AM EST (1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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