Search

BAIKALSK, Russia -- When the aging paper mill in this Siberian town is transforming logs into rolls of cardboard that resemble giant thread spools, Eduard Merkulov not only has a paycheck but also faith in the future. Maybe there is a place in the new Russia for a middle-aged laborer like him, calloused hands and all. His wife, brother-in-law and many of his neighbors also work there, and feel the same way. ''There is nothing else here,'' Mr. Merkulov said. ''Without the factory, I don't know what we would do.'' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents world news briefs as of April 23, 1999. Bombing of Slobodan Milosevic's villa in Belgrade, Yugoslavia; Dispute between Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu and a news paper over resuming talks with Syria on the future of the Golan Heights; Lazaro de Betancourt's request for political asylum at the Unites States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Violence in Haiti as a result of the shooting death of a political activist.

Reports on the reactions of the European press to the war between Serbia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization for Kosovo. Information on the editorial which appeared at `La Repubblica of Rome,' about the war; Comments from the Belgian paper `Le Soir'; Common concern expressed by supporters of the bombings.

Looks at `Koha Ditore,' the Albanian-language newspaper published in Pristina, Yugoslavia, in the region known as Kosovo. How the newspaper is shaping Western opinion about Kosovo; The international respect that the newspaper receives; How it competes with `Bujku,' the official newspaper of the Democratic League of Kosovo; What `Koha Ditore' covers in Kosovo; Criticism for the paper from some for its bent toward sensationalism.