Voice of America, 23 September 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA/GRAVE (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS HIS FORCES HAVE DISCOVERED A MASS GRAVE IN TERRITORY RECAPTURED LAST WEEK FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS. HE SAID THE GRAVE CONTAINED THE BODIES OF 540 MUSLIMS EXECUTED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THEY SEIZED CONTROL OF THE AREA AT THE START OF THE WAR. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER, HARIS SILAJDZIC, SAID THE THREE-YEAR-OLD GRAVE WAS DISCOVERED TWO DAYS AGO NEAR THE RECENTLY RECAPTURED TOWN OF KLJUC, IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA. HE SAID AFTER THE BOSNIAN SERBS SEIZED CONTROL OF THE AREA AT THE START OF THE WAR, THEY EXECUTED ALL THE MUSLIM INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN -- AN ACT HE DESCRIBED AS GENOCIDE.

MR SILAJDZIC SAID GOVERNMENT EXPERTS WERE STILL EXAMINING THE GRAVE. THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED PREVIOUS CHARGES OF MASS EXECUTIONS. MEANWHILE, U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY CONFRONTATION LINES IN NORTHERN BOSNIA HAVE LARGELY STABILIZED, BUT THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE LAUNCHING LIMITED COUNTER-ATTACKS AROUND SERB-HELD BANJA LUKA. BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO REGAIN TERRITORY LOST TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT ALLIANCE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPEL MUSLIMS FROM THE SERB HELD TOWN OF DOBOJ, IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. IN WHAT THE OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A PARTICULARLY BRUTAL OPERATION, MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/DW/BG
23-Sep-95 1:25 PM EDT (1725 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA/REFUGEES (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY IS LAUNCHING COUNTER-ATTACKS IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, AND U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPEL MUSLIMS FROM AROUND THE TOWN OF DOBOJ. THE OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE EXPULSIONS AS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY CONFRONTATION LINES IN NORTHERN BOSNIA HAVE LARGELY STABILIZED, BUT THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE LAUNCHING LIMITED COUNTER-ATTACKS AROUND SERB-HELD BANJA LUKA TO EXPLOIT WHAT THE OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS "GAPS IN THE LINES" BETWEEN GOVERNMENT ARMY UNITS AND CROAT FORCES. BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO REGAIN TERRITORY LOST TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT ALLIANCE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. MEANWHILE, EXPULSIONS OF MUSLIMS FROM THE SERB-HELD TOWN OF DOBOJ, IN CENTRAL BOSNIA, ARE CONTINUING. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESMAN, KRIS JANOWSKI, SAYS THE EXPULSIONS ARE PARTICULARLY "NASTY."

WE HAVE REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING GIVEN AS LITTLE AS FIVE MINUTES TO PACK UP AND GET OUT OF THE SERB-CONTROLLED AREA -- ABOUT THEIR BELONGINGS, THEIR OTHERWISE VERY MEAGER BELONGINGS, BEING STOLEN, LOOTED, ABOUT PEOPLE BEING BEATEN UP.

HE SAYS WELL OVER ONE THOUSAND REFUGEES WERE FORCED TO WALK 22 KILOMETERS TO REACH GOVERNMENT TERRITORY AND THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS A NUMBER OF OLD PEOPLE DIED ON THE MARCH. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/DW/BG
23-Sep-95 8:37 AM EDT (1237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] CLINTON / BOSNIA (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT PEACE PROSPECTS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IN HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS, THE PRESIDENT SAYS RECENT NATO AIRSTRIKES IN BOSNIA, ALONG WITH U-S DIPLOMACY IN THE REGION, HAVE BROUGHT THE WARRING PARTIES CLOSER TO ACCEPTING A PEACE AGREEMENT. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THERE IS A REAL CHANCE FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA AS A RESULT OF PERSISTENT U-S DIPLOMACY AND NATO BOMBING ATTACKS THAT PROMPTED BOSNIAN SERBS TO REMOVE THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS AWAY FROM SARAJEVO.

OVER THE PAST WEEKS, AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND THE DETERMINATION DEMONSTRATED BY NATO AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE HELPED TO BRING BOSNIA CLOSER TO PEACE THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE WAR BEGAN THERE FOUR YEARS AGO. LET ME BE CLEAR: THERE ARE MANY TOUGH OBSTACLES STILL TO OVERCOME, BUT WE ARE DETERMINED TO PRESS FORWARD FOR A LASTING PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT.

MR. CLINTON MADE HIS COMMENTS AS U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE PREPARES TO MEET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA, AND YUGOSLAVIA, AS WELL AS WITH U-S ALLIES, IN NEW YORK ON TUESDAY TO MOVE PEACE TALKS FORWARD.

MR. CLINTON SAYS HE HAS INSTRUCTED AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE AND HIS NEGOTIATING TEAM TO RETURN TO THE REGION AFTER THE MEETING TO CONTINUE THEIR INTENSE SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS ONCE THE PARTIES REACH A SETTLEMENT, THE UNITED STATES WOULD WORK THROUGH NATO TO HELP IMPLEMENT IT.

MR. CLINTON ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE U-S AND NATO PILOTS AND CREWS WHO CARRIED OUT AIRSTRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS, AND WARNED THE BOSNIAN SERBS THAT THE AIR CAMPAIGN WOULD RESUME IF THEY ATTACKED SARAJEVO OR OTHER U-N SAFE AREAS AGAIN.

THE PRESIDENT RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE VERY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FROM A WEEK-LONG POLITICAL TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA, FLORIDA, COLORADO, AND CALIFORNIA.

DURING THE TRIP, HE RAISED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND USED A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TO ATTACK REPUBLICAN PLANS TO CUT SPENDING FOR EDUCATION, CRIME PREVENTION, AND MEDICARE -- GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE ELDERLY. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/CB/BG
23-Sep-95 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] TURKEY/POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER IS EXPECTED TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF HER COALITION EARLIER IN THE WEEK. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: MRS. CILLER BEGAN CONSULTATIONS WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF HER CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY -- OR D-Y-P -- TO DISCUSS VARIOUS FORMULAS FOR A NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT.

THE FOUR YEAR-LONG COALITION BETWEEN MRS. CILLER'S D-Y-P AND ITS SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTNERS LED BY DENIZ BAYKAL COLLAPSED WEDNESDAY OVER POLICY DIFFERENCES.

THERE IS MOUNTING PRESSURE ON MRS. CILLER NOW TO CALL EARLY ELECTIONS. MESUT YILMAZ, THE LEADER OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION CONSERVATIVE MOTHERLAND PARTY, HAS ALREADY CALLED FOR EARLY ELECTIONS AS A CONDITION FOR FORMING A JOINT GOVERNMENT WITH MRS. CILLER.

THE ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR A YEAR FROM NOW AND POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY MRS. CILLER IS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO CHANGING THAT DATE. IN A TELEVISED ADDRESS TO THE NATION THURSDAY NIGHT, MRS. CILLER SAID SHE HAS, IN HER WORDS, IMPORTANT WORK TO FULFILL BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. THIS INCLUDES, SHE SAYS, FINISHING A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNIION, PRIVATIZING STATE-OWNED COMPANIES AND COMPLETING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.

BOTH WESTERN DIPLOMATS AND THE TURKISH MEDIA AGREE THAT MOST LIKELY MRS. CILLER WILL FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT BACKED BY THE SMALLER RIGHT WING PARTIES IN THE 450 MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT MRS. CILLER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESIST PRESSURE FOR ELECTIONS FOR LONG. TURKEY'S INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS CIRCLES HAVE EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR A STRONG GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY BELIEVE CAN ONLY EMERGE AFTER FRESH POLLS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/CF
22-Sep-95 9:26 AM EDT (1326 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America