Voice of America, 29 August 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON MONDAY, THE CHEMICAL BANKING CORPORATION ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MERGE WITH CHASE MANHATTAN. THE RESULT WOULD BE THE CREATION OF THE BIGGEST BANK IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH ASSETS ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN 290 BILLION DOLLARS. TODAY, THE ACTION IS THE SUBJECT OF EDITORIAL OPINION IN A NUMBER OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS. OTHER TOPICS DRAWING COMMENT INCLUDE CONTINUED VIOLENCE IN BOSNIA AND SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS. NOW, WITH A CLOSER LOOK HERE IS ___________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS THAT "AMERICAN BANKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN PECULIAR, COMPARED WITH THE BANKS OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY. FROM THE BEGINNING IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DECENTRALIZED AND FRAGMENTED, WITH VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF INDEPENDENT BANKS -- A PATTERN REFLECTING DEEP AMERICAN SUSPICIONS OF WALL STREET AND HOSTILITY TO CONCENTRATIONS OF FINANCIAL POWER. BUT NOW," CONTINUES THE "POST", "UNDER THE INTENSE PRESSURE OF COMPETITION FROM BANKS ABROAD AND FROM OTHER KINDS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, A MASSIVE PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATION IS UNDER WAY."

VOICE: "OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE BUSINESS KNOWN AS TRADITIONAL BANKING HAS RAPIDLY SHRUNK. IT CONSISTED OF TAKING DEPOSITS FROM THE PUBLIC AND LENDING THE MONEY BACK MOSTLY TO BUSINESSES AND HOMEBUYERS. BUT MOST OF THE BEST BUSINESS CUSTOMERS CAN NOW GO DIRECTLY TO THE FINANCIAL MARKETS TO BORROW, AND MORTGAGES ARE PACKAGED INTO SECURITIES. FOR DEPOSITORS, MONEY MARKET FUNDS AND MUTUAL FUNDS CAN NOW OFFER HIGHER INTEREST. THAT PUSHES THE BANKS MORE DEEPLY INTO OTHER KINDS OF BUSINESS LIKE DEALING IN CURRENCIES AND SECURITIES, MANAGING MONEY AND -- AS IN THEIR CREDIT CARD OPERATIONS -- ACTING AS BOOKKEEPERS AND BILL COLLECTORS FOR OTHERS. HERE, MANY BANK STRATEGISTS BELIEVE, SIZE CAN BE CRUCIAL. IT MAKES POSSIBLE MORE SOPHISTICATED TRADING OPERATIONS AND, ABOVE ALL, MORE EFFICIENT COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT CHASE MANHATTAN AND CHEMICAL HAVE IN MIND."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, THE BALTIMORE "SUN" SAYS THAT THE BANK MERGER TREND IN THE UNITED STATES IS -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S OPINION -- "FED BY FEAR AND DERRING-DO, A POTENT COMBINATION."

VOICE: "BALTIMORE HAS SEEN THIS PHENOMENON IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BANKS THAT WERE ONCE CONSIDERED AS PERMANENT A PART OF THE LOCAL SCENE AS MOUNT VERNON PLACE AND THE SHOT TOWER. AND THE PROCESS IS NOT OVER BY ANY MEANS.... BANKS THAT ONCE RULED SUPREME IN MAJOR CITIES HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN GOBBLED UP BY REGIONAL BANKS THAT, IN TURN, ARE GOBBLED UP BY HUGE NATIONAL AND SUPER-REGIONALS. AT PRESENT, THE ONLY SMALLER INSTITUTIONS WITH SOME KIND OF FUTURE ARE BELIEVED TO BE COUNTRY BANKS AND SO-CALLED BOUTIQUE BANKS WITH A SPECIALIZED NICHE... WHETHER ALL THIS ACTIVITY WORKS TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE CUSTOMER REMAINS CONJECTURAL. BUT TIMES CERTAINLY ARE TOUGH ON BANK EMPLOYEES AND ON COMMUNITIES WHERE LOCAL BANKS WERE LONG AT THE FOREFRONT OF BUSINESS...LEADERSHIP."

TEXT: RICHARD HOLBROOKE, AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, IS ONCE AGAIN IN EUROPE RENEWING AMERICA'S PUSH FOR A NEGOTIATED PEACE IN BOSNIA. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THAT THE MISSION, WHICH WAS HALTED NINE DAYS AGO BY THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF THREE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS, NOW HAS "BEEN COMPLICATED BY THE MURDEROUS ARTILLERY SHELLING OF SARAJEVO YESTERDAY, THE WORST IN OVER A YEAR..."

VOICE: "...THAT HAS LED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO THREATEN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE TALKS UNLESS NATO WARPLANES RESPOND WITH AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB INSTALLATIONS. YET THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS FOR A DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH ARE ALMOST AS FAVORABLE AS THEY WERE THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN THE AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE BEGAN. THE CROATIAN ROUT OF SERBIAN MILITIAS AND CIVILIANS IN THE KRAJINA REGION OF SOUTHERN CROATIA, AND THE EARLIER SERBIAN SACK OF TWO ISOLATED GOVERNMENT-HELD CITIES IN EASTERN BOSNIA, INFLICTED TERRIBLE SUFFERING. BUT THEY ALSO TRANSFORMED THE MILITARY BALANCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC MAP. WHATEVER HOPE REMAINED OF MULTI-ETHNIC COMMUNAL COEXISTANCE HAS BEEN SHATTERED. BUT AT THE SAME TIME A ROUGH OUTLINE OF DEFENSIBLE ETHNIC FRONTIERS HAS BEGUN TO EMERGE. IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER FOR ALL CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY THE CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN THE CONFLICT, TO CONSOLIDATE THESE FRONTIERS THROUGH AN INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED PEACE RATHER THAN MONTHS OF FURTHER WARFARE."

TEXT: IN A LEAD EDITORIAL ON THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA, "THE NEW YORK POST" TAKES THE POSITION THAT, "IT'S NOT AMERICA'S WAR."

VOICE: "NO NEAT AND CLEAN OUTCOME TO THIS TRAGIC WAR IS POSSIBLE. ETHNIC ANIMOSITIES -- REGULARLY ERUPTING INTO SAVAGE CONFLICT -- HAVE CHARACTERIZED THE REGION FOR CENTURIES. AND NEITHER THE U-N NOR NATO -- TO SAY NOTHING OF THE U-S -- IS CAPABLE OF MAKING ANY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME AROUND. WE'VE LONG FELT THAT THE ONLY REASONABLE COURSE OF ACTION IS TO REMOVE THE ARMS EMBARGO THAT PREVENTS THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FROM DEFENDING THEMSELVES -- AND THEN LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE; NOTHING WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY PERSUADES US OTHERWISE. MEANWHILE, HOWEVER, ALL THE OUTSIDE PARTIES WOULD DO WELL NOT TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE. LOOSE WORDS CAN HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES -- AS IS APPARENT FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWS OUT OF SARAJEVO'S MAIN MARKET SQUARE."

TEXT: WITH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR A SUMMIT MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND JIANG ZEMIN, THE CHINESE HEAD OF STATE, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" OFFERS THIS ADVICE TO THE AMERICAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE:

VOICE: "BEHIND THEIR INVETERATE BLUSTERING ON THE ISSUES OF TAIWAN, MISSILE SALES AND HUMAN RIGHTS, THE BOSSES OF BEIJING ARE PLAYING A WEAK HAND. MOREOVER, THEY ARE COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL THE PARAMOUNT LEADER DENG XIAOPENG DIES AND AN INEVITABLE POWER STRUGGLE COMMENCES. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS A CHANCE TO REVIVE AN INDISPENSABLE DIALOGUE WITH CHINA WITHOUT CEDING TO THE BULLYING OR BLUFFING OF A RULING CLIQUE THAT FINDS ITSELF FLAILING AGAINST POWERFUL HISTORICAL CURRENTS. HENCEFORTH CLINTON NEEDS TO RESIST MISCHIEF OF REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WHO HAVE BEEN IGNORANTLY TOYING WITH THE ISSUE OF INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN. HENRY KISSINGER, GEORGE BUSH AND JAMES BAKER COULD BE MOBILIZED TO EXPLAIN TO THE MISCHIEF MAKERS THAT THE U-S-CHINA ENTENTE OF THE PAST TWO DECADES WAS BUILT UPON AMERICAN ACCEPTANCE OF THE ONE-CHINA CONCEPT. BUT CLINTON MUST BE ADAMANT ON THE PEDDLING OF CHINESE MISSILES, THE TORTURING OF TIBETAN NUNS, THE EXPORT OF SLAVE-LABOR PRODUCTS ... AND BEIJING'S BELLICOSE BEHAVIOR TOWARD NEIGHBORS. CLINTON NEEDS TO PLAY THE STRONG HAND HE HOLDS."

TEXT: CRIME IS ON THE RISE IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. ARIEL COHEN, OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, POINTS OUT IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" THAT "THE EMERGENCE OF HIGHLY CRIMINALIZED SOCIETIES AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IS NOT SURPRISING."

VOICE: "THE HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND SELFLESS 'NEW SOVIET MEN' DESCRIBED IN COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA NEVER MATERIALIZED. HOWEVER, COMMUNIST PARTIES WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DESTROYING RELIGION, THE RULE OF LAW AND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES THAT KEEP SOCIETIES FROM SLIDING INTO VIOLENT CHAOS. UNDERNEATH THE OFFICIAL LIES AND BRAINWASHING, THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD, WITH ROOTS PREDATING THE BOLSHEVIKS, SURVIVED FOR OVER 70 YEARS.... CORRUPT RUSSIAN OFFICIALS AND CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF ILLICIT ACTIVITIES THAT GENERATE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PROFITS... BY CRIMINALIZING BUSINESS PRACTICES, RUSSIA BECOMES A FORBIDDEN LAND FOR WESTERN TRADE AND INVESTMENT. THE CHANCES FOR RUSSIAN STABILIZATION AND ECONOMIC REVIVAL ARE SEVERELY JEOPARDIZED."

TEXT: LAWRENCE K. GROSSMAN IS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF NBC NEWS AND OF THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM. ON TUESDAY'S OPINION PAGE IN THE "USA TODAY" NEWSPAPER, MISTER GROSSMAN OFFERS HIS THOUGHTS ON HIGH-TECH DEMOCRACY.

VOICE: "UNTIL THE PAST DECADE, THE TECHNOLOGY BY WHICH DEMOCRACY OPERATED HAD CHANGED SURPRISINGLY LITTLE SINCE THE DAYS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS 2,500 YEARS AGO. EVEN THE CONVERSION TO VOTING MACHINES WAS MERELY A WAY TO GET AN HONEST AND MORE EFFICIENT HEAD COUNT, NOT ESSENTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE LONGSTANDING USE OF THE VOICE VOTE, THE RAISED HAND AND THE PAPER BALLOT. TODAY, ELECTRONIC VOTING AND OPINION-REGISTERING TECHNOLOGIES MAKE A TWO-WAY FLOW OF WHAT WAS ONCE A ONE-WAY PIPELINE, WITH INFORMATION NO LONGER GOING JUST FROM THE TOP DOWN, FROM THE LAWMAKERS TO THE PEOPLE, BUT NOW ALSO FROM THE BOTTOM UP, FROM THE PEOPLE BACK TO THE LAWMAKERS.... THE ELECTRONIC REPUBLIC WILL BE A FAR CRY FROM THE CAREFULLY CRAFTED SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL FATHERS TO PROTECT THE NEW NATION FROM AN UNRULY GOVERNMENT AND AN UNRULY MAJORITY. IN THE FUTURE, AN INFORMED, ENGAGED, PUBLIC-SPIRITED ELECTORATE WILL BE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH OF THE NATION AS GOOD POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. OR PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT."

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIAL TOPICS APPEARING IN THE TUESDAY EDITION OF SOME OF AMERICA'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS.

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29-Aug-95 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / MARKET (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY BOSNIAN SERBS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONDAY'S SHELLING OF THE CITY'S MAIN MARKET WHICH LEFT 37 PEOPLE DEAD AND 85 WOUNDED, THE WORST ATTACK IN THE CITY IN 18 MONTHS. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE OFFICIALS SAY U-N MILITARY COMMANDERS ARE HOLDING URGENT CONSULTATIONS AND ARE "REVIEWING ALL OPTIONS" REGARDING A RESPONSE.

TEXT: THE U-N'S MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRIS VERNON, LEFT NO DOUBT WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR MONDAY'S ATTACK.

FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE U-N INVESTIGATION WHICH CONCLUDED EARLY THIS MORNING, IT HAS BEEN ASSESSED THAT THE ROUNDS THAT FELL IN SARAJEVO YESTERDAY CAUSING CONSIDERABLE CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY.

HE SAID THE INVESTIGATION USED EVIDENCE FROM MORTAR-DETECTING RADAR, CRATER ANALYSIS, AND BOTH MECHANICAL AND HUMAN ACOUSTICAL EVIDENCE, AND DESCRIBED THE EVIDENCE AS "OVERWHELMING." THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE VERDICT IS "BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT." ON MONDAY, THE SENIOR U-N ENVOY IN THE REGION, YASUSHI AKASHI, WARNED THAT "VERY STRONG ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN" IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE FOUND TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

IN THE WAKE OF THE DECISION, OFFICIALS SAY THE U-N'S MILITARY COMMANDER IN BOSNIA, GENERAL RUPERT SMITH, IS HOLDING URGENT TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE U-N'S OVERALL MILITARY COMMANDER IN ZAGREB, FRENCH GENERAL BERNARD JANVIER, TO CONSIDER THE U-N RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK. OFFICIALS SAY THE USE OF NATO AIR POWER AND THE HEAVY ARTILLERY OF THE U-N'S RAPID REACTION FORCE NEAR SARAJEVO IS BEING CONSIDERED.

THE LAST TIME THE U-N CALLED IN AIR STRIKES ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS, IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, HUNDREDS OF U-N PERSONNEL WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE. BUT NOW, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEIR SOLDIERS ARE THE LEAST VULNERABLE TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN THE HISTORY OF THE U-N PRESENCE HERE. THE OFFICIALS SAY ALL U-N PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN WARNED NOT TO CROSS BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY, AND WITH THE PULLOUT OF U-N PEACEKEEPERS FROM THE EASTERN ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE NOW COMPLETE, THE WAY IS CLEAR FOR POTENTIAL AIR STRIKES.

U-N OFFICIALS ADMIT, HOWEVER, THAT AIR OR ARTILLERY STRIKES ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS MAY HAVE LITTLE IMPACT. EARLIER AIR STRIKES, VERY LIMITED IN THEIR SCOPE AND DURATION, SERVED ONLY TO STIFFEN BOSNIAN SERB RESOLVE, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION FROM U-N SOURCES THAT A MUCH WIDER OR MORE SUSTAINED BOMBING CAMPAIGN IS NOW BEING CONTEMPLATED.

BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE CREDIBILITY OF THE U-N FORCE IS NOW ON THE LINE AND SAY SOME RESPONSE MUST BE MADE AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. (SIGNED)

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29-Aug-95 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / DIPLOMATIC (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP -- MEETING IN PARIS -- HAS ENDORSED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS FOR MONDAY'S ATTACK ON SARAJEVO THAT KILLED 37 PEOPLE. EARLIER, BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC THREATENED TO WITHDRAW FROM PEACE TALKS UNTIL THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RETALIATES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAID BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WOULD LEAVE THE NEGOTIATING TABLE UNTIL THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO MONDAY'S ATTACK ON SARAJEVO AND DESTROYS BOSNIAN SERB ARTILLERY AROUND THE CITY.

HE SAID THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS COULD NOT NEGOTIATE WITH WHAT HE CALLED "A GUN POINTED AT OUR HEADS." HE SAID THE SERB ARTILLERY WAS USED AGAINST A DEFENSELESS CIVILIAN POPULATION.

MR. IZETBEGOVIC WAS IN PARIS TO ATTEND TALKS OF THE EIGHT-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON THE BOSNIAN WAR. THE CONTACT GROUP EXPRESSED ITS "FULL SUPPORT" FOR A MILITARY RESPONSE TO MONDAY'S ATTACK.

MR. IZETBEGOVIC SAID HE WILL ASK HIS GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE HIS DECISION TO LEAVE THE PEACE TALKS WHEN HE RETURNS TO SARAJEVO LATER THIS WEEK. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT IS PLANNING REPRISALS FOR THE SHELLING. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HERVE DE CHARETTE SAID THE NEW RAPID REACTION FORCE, CONSISTING MAINLY OF BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS, MIGHT BE CALLED INTO ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SILENCE THE SERB ARTILLERY. (SIGNED) NEB / JN / BD/SP 29-Aug-95 4:44 PM EDT (2044 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S / BOSNIA / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A U-S AIRCRAFT CARRIER RECENTLY MOVED FROM THE ADRIATIC SEA TO THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HAS BEEN ORDERED BACK TO THE ADRIATIC IN ADVANCE OF POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS APPARENTLY BELIEVE THE SITUATION IN IRAQ IS SUFFICIENTLY STABLE TO WARRANT REMOVING THE SHIP FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

TEXT: THE PENTAGON HAS ORDERED THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER THEODORE ROOSEVELT TO CANCEL A SCHEDULED PORT CALL IN GREECE AND SAIL DIRECTLY TO THE ADRIATIC SEA OFF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE SHIP HAD BEEN SENT TO THE ISRAELI PORT OF HAIFA EARLIER THIS MONTH AS U-S OFFICIALS MONITORED MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ. REPORTS SUGGESTED IRAQ MIGHT BE PLANNING AN OFFENSIVE AIMED AT SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT OR JORDAN.

BUT DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN CAPT. MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS IRAQI MILITARY UNITS APPEAR TO BE ENGAGING ONLY IN ROUTINE OPERATIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR MOVEMENTS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TOWARD EITHER TOWARD JORDAN OR TOWARD KUWAIT. ... THERE HAS BEEN NO DRAMATIC CHANGE IN ANY OF THAT, AND AS RESULT OF THOSE MILITARY MOVEMENTS THAT WE SAW, WE WERE CONCERNED BUT NOT ALARMED AND WE TOOK CERTAIN STEPS TO MOVE SOME MILITARY UNITS INTO THE AREA. AND THOSE UNITS FOR THE MOST PART REMAIN THERE. THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS CHANGED IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER WHICH HAS LEFT THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN.

THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ROOSEVELT WILL BE POSITIONED IN WATERS NEAR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN ANTICIPATION OF POSSIBLE U-S MILITARY ACTION IN VIEW OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION IN BOSNIA. THE PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE ARE THREE POSSIBLE SITUATIONS WHERE U-S TROOPS MIGHT BE INVOLVED: ONE WOULD BE TO HELP EVACUATE PEACEKEEPING FORCES, ANOTHER WOULD BE IF U-S TROOPS ARE THEMSELVES ASSIGNED A PEACEKEEPING ROLE, AND A THIRD POSSIBILITY WOULD BE IF AMERICAN PLANES ARE INVOLVED IN AN AIR CAMPAIGN IF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION FAIL. (SIGNED)

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29-Aug-95 2:48 PM EDT (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S / BOSNIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN A POSITIVE REACTION TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS' PROPOSALS FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS SENT TO FORMER U-S PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES WILL FOLLOW UP THOSE POSITIVE ELEMENTS WHILE STILL PUSHING FOR A MILITARY RESPONSE TO MONDAY'S SHELLING IN SARAJEVO.

TEXT: AS NATO AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONSIDER WHAT MILITARY RETALIATION IS NECESSARY FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS' MARKETPLACE SHELLING IN DOWNTOWN SARAJEVO, THE UNITED STATES IS GIVING ENCOURAGING SIGNALS TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS' SUDDENLY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS SENT A LETTER TO FORMER U-S PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WELCOMING THE CURRENT AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE AND ASKING FOR MR. CARTER TO DO ALL HE CAN TO RESUME PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA. THE LETTER SAYS THE DIVISIONS OF TERRITORY SUGGESTED BY THE INITIATIVE--A 51-49 SPLIT--WILL REMAIN THE BASIS FOR A SETTLEMENT.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS HOLD 70 PERCENT OF BOSNIAN TERRITORY AND HAVE EARLIER REJECTED THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP PLAN TO REDUCE THEIR TERRITORY TO 49 PERCENT OF BOSNIA. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE KARADZIC PROPOSAL NEEDS CLARIFICATION BUT IT APPEARS POSITIVE.

I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY UPON AN INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE LETTER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WILL NEED CLARIFICATION BUT THERE ARE SOME POTENTIALLY POSITIVE ELEMENTS IN IT WHICH WE ARE EXAMINING CAREFULLY.

THE SPOKESMAN CITES THE BOSNIAN SERBS' WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE CURRENT U-S PEACE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING THE CONTACT GROUP'S MAP, AS A POTENTIALLY POSITIVE SIGN. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE WILL BE SEEKING CLARIFICATIONS WHEN HE MEETS SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF ANY BOSNIAN SERB REPRESENTATIVES WILL JOIN THOSE TALKS IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. HOLBROOKE WILL NOT OBJECT TO THEIR PRESENCE.

THE UNITED STATES HAD HOPED TO BRING THE BOSNIAN SERBS BACK TO THE PEACE TABLE BUT QUICKLY BLAMED THEM FOR THE SARAJEVO MARKET ATTACK. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN INSISTS THE ATTACK DESERVES AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE DESPITE THE IMMEDIATE PEACE OFFER FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE, AS I SAID EARLIER AT THE BRIEFING, THAT BOSNIAN SERBS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MURDEROUS ATTACK ON SARAJEVO AND AS YOU KNOW U-N AND NATO OFFICIALS, INCLUDING OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES, ARE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS WHAT AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE SHOULD BE. THAT IS ONGOING.

U-S OFFICIALS DISCOURAGE REPORTERS FROM BELIEVING THAT THE SUDDEN INTEREST BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN RESUMING PEACE TALKS WILL DISMISS ALL CHANCES OF A MILITARY RESPONSE BY NATO. STILL, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE MADE PEACE OFFERS WHEN FIRM MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THEM APPEARED LIKELY. (SIGNED) NEB / RP / BD / SKH 29-Aug-95 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO SITREP (L-UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS FACE THE THREAT OF INTERNATIONAL RETALIATION FOR SHELLING SARAJEVO AND KILLING NEARLY 40 PEOPLE ON MONDAY. IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO AVOID UNITED NATIONS OR NATO ACTION AGAINST THEM, THE SERBS ARE MAKING CONCILIATORY STATEMENTS ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS ON A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: AFTER BLAMING THE SERBS FOR THE DEADLY MORTAR ATTACK ON SARAJEVO, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS WARNED THEM TO EXPECT A STRONG REACTION. THE U-N ENVOY TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, YASUSHI AKASHI PREDICTS DRAMATIC ACTION AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. A FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THE BIG POWER CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA, WHICH MET IN PARIS, SUPPORTS MILITARY REPRISALS AGAINST THE SERBS. AN AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER CANCELLED A PORT CALL IN GREECE. THE VESSEL WAS RETURNING TO THE ADRIATIC SEA OFF THE COAST OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT BELIEVE MILITARY RETALIATION AGAINST THE SERBS WOULD JEOPARDIZE ITS NEW DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE TO END THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE IS NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PEACE PROCESS UNTIL THE SERBS ARE PUNISHED FOR KILLING MORE MUSLIM CIVILIANS. THE SERBS FACE POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON SOME OF THEIR POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO FROM FRENCH HEAVY ARTILLERY, RECENTLY BROUGHT INTO BOSNIA, OR NATO AIRSTRIKES OR EVEN A COMBINATION OF U-N AND NATO ACTION. WITH THE PRESSURE ON THEM MOUNTING, THE SERBS ARE SENDING OUT CONCILIATORY MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. FORMER U-S PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WHO MEDIATED A CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA LAST WINTER, SAYS HE HAS RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC. ACCORDING TO MR. CARTER, MR. KARADZIC SAYS HE IS READY TO ACCEPT THE CONTACT GROUP'S PEACE PLAN AS THE BASIS FOR A PEACE ACCORD. BUT, MR. KARADZIC IS SAID TO HAVE INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN WOULD HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED. IN ANOTHER GESTURE, THE BOSNIAN SERB ASSEMBLY WELCOMED THE U-S PEACE INITIATIVE. THE ASSEMBLY SAYS IT IS READY TO CONCLUDE A JUST AND LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA. BUT, THE ASSEMBLY SAYS NOTHING ABOUT DROPPING SERB DEMANDS THAT HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND TO THE MAJOR POWERS. (SIGNED)

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29-Aug-95 5:45 PM EDT (2145 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America