Voice of America, 2 October 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THIS MONDAY, THE MAJORITY OF EDITORIALS IN MANY OF THE LEADING DAILY PAPERS ARE CONCERNED WITH DOMESTIC ISSUES. AMONG THE LEADING TOPICS ARE THE WITHDRAWAL OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PETE WILSON FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND THE GUILTY VERDICT FOR TEN RADICAL MUSLIMS IN THE TERRORIST CONSPIRACY TRIAL IN NEW YORK. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE ANGUISH IN THE PHILIPPINES OVER THE RIGHTS OF ITS NATIONALS WORKING ABROAD; CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS' BUDGET-CUTTING PLANS AND THE U-S SUPREME COURT OPENING ANOTHER SESSION. NOW HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE MOST COMMON TOPIC AMONG THE PAPERS REVIEWED THIS MONDAY IS THE WITHDRAWAL LATE FRIDAY OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PETE WILSON AS A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. SUFFERING FROM VERY LOW RATINGS IN THE POLLS AND RUNNING DEEPLY IN DEBT, THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN HAD NOT MADE MUCH PROGRESS IN THE MONTH SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY. HIS WITHDRAWAL DREW THIS REACTION FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

VOICE: "... HIS SHORT-LIVED PRESIDENTIAL RACE [33 DAYS] DESERVES COMMENT, FOR IT ILLUSTRATES HOW A CANDIDATE SHOULD NOT TRY TO WIN OVER SKEPTICAL VOTERS. ... IN HIS BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE HE TRIED TO REMAKE HIMSELF INTO A SOMEWHAT SOFTER VERSION OF PAT BUCHANAN, MR. NIXON'S OLD SPEECHWRITER. HE TOOK HARD-EDGED POSITIONS ON TAXES, IMMIGRATION, WELFARE AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, BUT VOTERS HAD TROUBLE BELIEVING IT WAS FOR REAL [HIS GENUINE POSITION.] ..... [OPT] THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BECOME BOTH MORE CONSERVATIVE AND MORE OPTIMISTIC SINCE PETE WILSON ENTERED POLITICS. HE NOTICED AND TRIED TO ADAPT, BUT TOO LATE AND PERHAPS TOO OBVIOUSLY."

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" GREETED GOVERNOR WILSON'S DECISION THIS WAY:

VOICE: "FOR THOSE WHO'D PAID ATTENTION TO HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE, HIS QUITTING WASN'T A BIG SURPRISE. THERE'D BEEN A CAMPAIGN POWER STRUGGLE THAT LED TO KEY RESIGNATIONS; THE MONEY WASN'T FLOWING IN; BIGGER, BRIGHTER NAMES WERE HOGGING [MONOPOLIZING] THE NATIONAL LIMELIGHT [THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION]."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" TENDS TO AGREE, SAYING THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S CANDIDACY WAS UNLUCKY FROM THE BEGINNING.

VOICE: "MR. WILSON'S CANDIDACY HAS A CERTAIN SURREAL QUALITY. BAD OMENS, THAT SORT OF THING. THERE WAS THE APRIL KICK-OFF TO HIS CAMPAIGN THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THE SAME THROAT TROUBLE THAT MADE HIM PUT OFF HIS ANNOUNCEMENT LED TO FURTHER CURIOUS POSTPONEMENTS. BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, NO ONE COULD REMEMBER WHEN MR. WILSON HAD ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS A CANDIDATE. ... DURING HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, MR. WILSON SWORE TO THE VOTERS OF HIS STATE THAT HE WOULD NOT RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 1996. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS UNTIL THE GOVERNOR FORMED HIS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE. ... NO AMOUNT OF TALK WOULD HAVE PERSUADED CALIFORNIA VOTERS AND MONEYMEN TO GET BEHIND A CANDIDATE WHO HAD JUST ABANDONED A PROMINENT CAMPAIGN PROMISE WITH SUCH BOLD NONCHALANCE."

TEXT: IN ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SURE TO DRAW ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL COMMENT, THE CONVICTION OF TEN RADICAL MUSLIMS IN NEW YORK ON TERRORISM CHARGES, "USA TODAY" WRITES:

VOICE: "JUST THREE DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON CELEBRATED THE FRUITS OF U-S DIPLOMACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, A JURY IN NEW YORK DISPENSED WITH ITS BITTER CONSEQUENCES IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM. SUNDAY, THE JURORS CONVICTED TEN RADICAL MUSLIMS, INCLUDING SHEIK OMAR ABDEL-RAHMAN, OF PLOTTING TO WAGE OF WAR OF URBAN TERRORISM IN THE U-S -- IN THE HOPES OF ALTERING U-S POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST... THE CRISP MESSAGE SENT BY THEIR VERDICT IS AS FAMILIAR AS IT IS IMPORTANT: THE U-S WILL NOT BE BULLIED WITH BLOODSHED."

TEXT: IN THE PHILIPPINES, THERE IS ANGER AND ANGUISH OVER THE LATEST TRIAL OF ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF FILIPINA WOMEN WORKING ABROAD AS MAIDS AND HOUSEHOLD WORKERS. "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SUMS UP THIS WAY":

VOICE: "THE CASE OF SARAH BALABAGAN HAS ONCE AGAIN DRAWN WORLD ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS. A COURT IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SENTENCED MS. BALABAGAN TO DEATH FOR MURDERING HER EMPLOYER. SHE WAS REPORTEDLY 15 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SAYS SHE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE AFTER HER EMPLOYER RAPED HER. AN EARLIER COURT VERDICT SENTENCED HER TO SEVEN YEARS BUT AWARDED HER DAMAGES FOR THE RAPE. THE DEATH SENTENCE ... HAS CAUSED A FUROR IN THE PHILIPPINES, WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL ANGRY OVER THE MARCH EXECUTION IN SINGAPORE OF A FILIPINA MAID FOR DOUBLE MURDER... THE PHILIPPINES MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF ITS CITIZENS ABROAD."

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER," IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, CRITICIZES REPUBLICANS IN THE CONGRESS FOR CUTTING AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR THE WORKING POOR, WHICH IS MONEY POOR PEOPLE RECEIVE FROM THE GOVERNMENT IF THEIR SALARIES ARE BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL. THE PAPER SAYS THE PLAN "MESHES POORLY WITH ITS [THE REPUBLICANS] RHETORIC IN PRAISE OF WORK."

VOICE: "... YOU'D THINK THIS WOULD BE ONE PROGRAM REPUBLICANS WOULD PROTECT AS THEY TRY TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF WELFARE AND INTO WORK. ... NAH. [BUT NO.] THIS SENSIBLE, SIMPLE TAX BREAK, EXPANDED UNDER TWO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS, IS UNDER FIRE. ... THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ... HAS VOTED TO CUT THE PROJECTED COST OF THIS TAX CREDIT BY SIX BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS... JUST TO BE CLEAR: DEFICIT REDUCTION IS THE NATION'S MOST VITAL FISCAL GOAL. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANY STEP TAKEN IN ITS NAME IS JUSTIFIED -- PARTICULARLY WHEN THE REPUBLICANS PLAN TO GIVE THE PENTAGON BILLIONS MORE THAN IT ASKED FOR AND TO DO BILLIONS IN TAX CUTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND (ESPECIALLY) FOLKS ON EASY STREET [THE WEALTHY]."

TEXT: TODAY, THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER, IS TRADITIONALLY THE DAY WHEN THE SUPREME COURT BEGINS ITS NEW TERM. AND THAT EVENT DRAWS THIS SOMEWHAT NERVOUS LEAD EDITORIAL FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: "THE KEEN SENSE OF ANTICIPATION THAT CUSTOMARILY GREETS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SUPREME COURT TERM IS TEMPERED THIS FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER BY A SENSE OF ANXIETY OVER THE SCOPE AND VELOCITY OF THE COURT'S SHIFT OF DIRECTION ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND FEDERAL AUTHORITY. TROUBLING DECISIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE LAST TERM ANNOUNCED THE EMERGENCE OF AN EMBOLDENED CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY THAT SEEMS READY, INDEED ANXIOUS, TO RE-EXAMINE BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES. NOT THE LEAST OF THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT INSURE RACIAL EQUALITY AND DEFINE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. ... THE MOST URGENT BUSINESS FOR THIS TERM IS REACTIVATING THE COURT'S FAST-DISAPPEARING CENTER."

TEXT: FINALLY, SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE BUDGET-BALANCING PROGRAM OF CONGRESS IS IMPACTING STUDENT COLLEGE LOANS.

[OPT]

FIRST "THE WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: "THE BUDGET-BALANCING RESOLUTION THAT CONGRESS ADOPTED IN MAY CALLED FOR A CUT OF ABOUT ELEVEN BILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS IN THE COLLEGE STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS. HIGHER EDUCATION GROUPS AND OTHER CRITICS, INCLUDING A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, SAID THAT WAS A DEEPER CUT THAN HIGHER EDUCATION OUGHT TO BE MADE TO BEAR. IT SEEMED TO US THAT IT WAS A REASONABLE AMOUNT SO LONG AS THE CUTTING WAS DONE RIGHT. RIGHT MEANT PARTICULARLY PRESERVING IF NOT EXPANDING THE SO-CALLED DIRECT LENDING PROGRAM IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MAKES STUDENT LOANS ITSELF RATHER THAN SUBSIDIZING AND GUARANTEEING LOANS MADE BY BANKS. ..... THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES, HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF PRESERVING THE DIRECT LENDING CUSHION, HAVE BOWED TO THE BANKS AND PROPOSED TO CUT IT EITHER BACK OR OUT OF THE BUDGET ENTIRELY. ..... HERE'S A CASE WHERE THE BUDGET PROCESS IS DOING HARM....."

TEXT: HERE'S WHAT "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," HAS TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT.

VOICE: "THE BUDGET-CUTTING IN CONGRESS IS BEING DONE IN THE NAME OF FUTURE GENERATIONS -- WHO WOULD PRESUMABLY HAVE AN EVEN LARGER DEBT TO PAY OFF IF FEDERAL DEFICIT SPENDING WENT UNCHECKED. THAT RATIONALE GOES DOWN HARDER WHEN THE CUTS COME OUT OF OTHER INVESTMENTS IF THE FUTURE, SUCH AS HIGHER EDUCATION. IT BECOMES UNPALATABLE IF LEGISLATORS DOING THE CUTTING ARE ALSO PROTECTING PET, PORK-BARREL PROJECTS [UNNECESSARY OR OVERAMBITIOUS SPENDING IN THEIR OWN LOCAL DISTRICTS]. BUT SOME SQUEEZING BACK OF A PROGRAM THE SIZE OF FEDERAL STUDENT AID IS NOT UNREASONABLE."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT COMMENT FROM BOSTON'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF THE NATION'S EDITORIALS FOR THIS FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER.

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02-Oct-95 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
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[02] BOSNIA SITREP (S UPDATE-RERUN) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS BEEN TRAVELING IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TRYING TO BRING ABOUT A NATIONWIDE CEASE-FIRE, AS HEAVY FIGHTING IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA CONTINUES. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: THE WARRING FORCES ARE FAR APART ON CEASE-FIRE TERMS. AND UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS IN ZAGREB REPORTS HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN ARMY AND SERB FORCES IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

WE ASSESS THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE TOWARD THE TOWN OF BOSANSKA KRUPA. WE ASSESS THAT THE CONFRONTATION LINE HAS MOVED, ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH. WE BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT TWO KILOMETERS TO THE EAST OF OTOKA.

FIGHTING AND SHIFTING FRONTLINES ALSO ARE REPORTED SOUTH OF BOSANSKA KRUPA AROUND THE TOWN OF MRKONJIC GRAD. THE SERBS ARE TRYING TO STOP A BOSNIAN ARMY ADVANCE IN THAT AREA AND TO REGAIN LOST TERRITORY. (SIGNED)

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02-Oct-95 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
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[03] E-U / NUKES (S ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS SAY THEY ASKED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ON FRIDAY TO POSTPONE ITS SECOND NUCLEAR TEST IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. BUT FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IGNORED THE DEMAND. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: A EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESMAN SAYS THE E-U ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER, RITT BJERREGAARD, WROTE TO FRENCH EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTER MICHEL BARNIER ON FRIDAY. SHE TOLD HIM THE PARIS GOVERNMENT HAD STILL _NOT_ SUPPLIED ALL THE NECESSARY DATA FOR THE E-U TO ASSESS THE SAFETY OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS PROGRAM.

UNDER A TREATY CALLED EURATOM, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION NEEDS TO GIVE PRIOR CONSENT FOR DANGEROUS SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS, AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE FRENCH TESTS ARE THEREFORE COVERED BY THE TREATY. MRS. BJERREGAARD ASKED THAT ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION SHOULD BE RECEIVED AND ANALYZED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BEFORE THE SECOND TEST.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DEPLORES THE FACT THAT THE FRENCH WENT AHEAD WITH THE SECOND TEST, WITHOUT HAVING SUPPLIED THE E-U WITH THE INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED. A TEAM OF E-U SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS RETURNED FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC AT THE WEEKEND, AND WILL BE DRAWING UP A REPORT ON THE FIRST FRENCH NUCLEAR TEST. MEANWHILE, THE ISSUE IS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE A MEETING OF E-U COMMISSIONERS IN BRUSSELS ON WEDNESDAY.

SOME E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS -- FROM SPAIN, SWEDEN, DENMARK AND LUXEMBOURG -- CONDEMNED THE LATEST FRENCH TESTS, AS THEY ARRIVED FOR E-U TALKS IN LUXEMBOURG.

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02-Oct-95 9:29 AM EDT (1329 UTC)
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[04] TURKEY / QUAKE (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: AT LEAST 52 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND MORE THAN 200 HAVE BEEN INJURED BY AN EARTHQUAKE WHICH ROCKED WESTERN TURKEY SUNDAY NIGHT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: RESCUE WORKERS ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH FOR DOZENS OF PEOPLE THOUGHT TO BE TRAPPED IN THE RUBBLE IN DINAR, A TOWN IN WESTERN TURKEY. ABOUT FOUR-THOUSAND HOMES AND BUILDINGS WHICH COLLAPSED AFTER THE QUAKE, WHICH MEASURED SIX ON THE (OPEN-ENDED) RICHTER SCALE.

WITNESSES SAY THEY HEARD CRIES OF HELP FROM THOSE TRAPPED UNDER THE DEBRIS. HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS HAVE JOINED THE SEARCH. MANY HAVE BEEN USING THEIR BARE HANDS TO DIG AWAY THE RUBBLE SEPARATING THEM FROM THEIR LOVED ONES.

THE TURKISH MINISTER IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC WORKS, HALIL CULHAOGLU, SAID 45-PERCENT OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN HAD BEEN BADLY DAMAGED IN SUNDAY'S QUAKE. THESE INCLUDE THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, POLICE STATION, AND GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

MR CULHAOGLU SAID SEVEN-THOUSAND TENTS, BLANKETS, AND FOOD HAD ARRIVED IN THE TOWN, WHERE MOST RESIDENTS SPENT THE NIGHT OUTDOORS IN THE POURING RAIN.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER TOURED DINAR MONDAY AND PLEDGED, IN HER WORDS, TO HEAL THE TOWN'S WOUNDS.

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS HERE SAY THE TIMING OF THE QUAKE COULD _NOT_ HAVE BEEN WORSE FOR THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER. MRS CILLER HAS BEEN SEEKING TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT SINCE HER FORCED RESIGNATION LAST MONTH OVER DIFFERENCES WITH HER SOCIAL DEMOCRAT COALITION PARTNERS.

HER ATTEMPTS TO STITCH TOGETHER A COALITION WITH THE MAIN OPPOSITION RIGHT WING MOTHERLAND PARTY FAILED LAST WEEK. SHE IS NOW EXPECTED TO TRY TO FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

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02-Oct-95 12:37 PM EDT (1637 UTC)
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[05] U-N/CROATIA (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY ( ZAGREB )

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE MISTREATMENT OF ETHNIC SERBS IN CROATIA AND THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF THEIR ABANDONED HOMES ARE CONTINUING DESPITE STRONG U-N PROTESTS. IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT, REMAINING SERBS IN CROATIA ARE NOW BEING ROBBED. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: EVER SINCE THE CROATIAN ARMY RECAPTURED MOST SERB HELD TERRITORY IN AUGUST, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS REPORTED THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF ABANDONED SERB HOMES.

U-N SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS SAYS MEN IN ARMY UNIFORMS ARE NOW ROBBING SERBS WHO HAVE REMAINED IN CROATIA.

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTERS NOW SAY THE LOOTING IS MOVING INTO A NEW AND MORE DISTURBING PHASE. WE ARE NOW RECEIVING REPORTS OF ROBBERY, OFTEN BY MEN IN MILITARY UNIFORMS, AS OPPOSED TO THE LOOTING OF ABANDONED HOUSES. UNITED NATIONS CIVILIAN POLICE HAVE REPORTED AT LEAST 10 CASES OF THIS IN THE LAST WEEK.

OVER THE WEEKEND, THE HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PREDOMINANTLY CATHOLIC COUNTRY OF CROATIA JOINED INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF THE MISTREATMENT OF THE SERBS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR PROPERTY. (SIGNED)

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02-Oct-95 9:29 AM EDT (1329 UTC)
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[06] U-S-NATO (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES IS IN WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ABOUT AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN A NATO-LED FORCE TO PROTECT A PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: INITIAL CONGRESSIONAL REACTION TO THE PROSPECT OF AMERICAN TROOPS BEING SENT TO BOSNIA HAS BEEN NEGATIVE. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS PROMISED TO SEND A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS AS PART OF A NATO-LED FORCE IF A PEACE AGREEMENT CAN BE ARRANGED.

NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES SAYS IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL HOW MANY AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE REQUIRED BUT HE AGREES AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GIVE A FIGURE AT THIS MOMENT. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PEACE AGREEMENT TEXT. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MAP. SO, HOW DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A FIGURE? ONE THING IS CLEAR. WHAT WE NEED IS A ROBUST PRESENCE FROM THE BEGINNING BUT I CANNOT GIVE ANY GLOBAL FIGURE AND I CANNOT GIVE ANY AMERICAN FIGURE (ON TROOPS), OF COURSE.

THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE TOLD PRESIDENT CLINTON AMERICAN TROOPS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF THE OPERATION IN BOSNIA AND TO MAINTAIN THE UNITY OF THE 16 NATO COUNTRIES. UNTIL A TRUCE IS AGREED TO AND LINES BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE SERBS ARE CLEAR, THE QUESTION OF NATO GROUND TROOPS REMAINS THEORETICAL. (SIGNED)

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02-Oct-95 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
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[07] YUGO/CROATIA BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS ( GENEVA)

INTRO: AS U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE CONTINUES HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS, ATTENTION REMAINS FOCUSED LARGELY ON THE SEARCH FOR A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT THE U-S OFFICIAL AND EUROPEAN MEDIATORS ARE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA -- THE LAST STRIP OF CROATIAN TERRITORY STILL HELD BY REBEL SERB FORCES. MANY ANALYSTS BELIEVE FIGHTING THERE COULD WELL PROVOKE A WIDER BALKAN WAR, AS WE HEAR IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA.

TEXT: JUST FIVE-MONTHS AGO, REBEL SERBS IN CROATIA HELD NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNTRY. NOW, THEY CONTROL LESS THAN FIVE-PERCENT, AFTER ZAGREB GOVERNMENT TROOPS STORMED ACROSS U-N CEASEFIRE LINES IN TWO SEPARATE OFFENSIVES; RECAPTURING WESTERN SLAVONIA AND THEN THE MOUNTAINOUS KRAJINA REGION THAT PARALLELS THE ADRIATIC COASTLINE. CROATIAN LEADERS HAVE WARNED REPEATEDLY THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MILITARY OFFENSIVE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT UNLESS THE CURRENT BALKAN PEACE INITIATIVE LEADS TO A RESTORATION OF CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE REMAINING REBEL BASTION, EASTERN SLAVONIA. IT IS A NARROW STRIP OF FERTILE FARMLAND, WITH SIGNIFICANT OIL DEPOSITS, ON THE WEST BANK OF THE DANUBE RIVER THAT FORMS THE BORDER BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERBIA. SERB REBELS, BACKED BY THE POWERFUL YUGOSLAV ARMY, SEIZED THE AREA AT THE OUTSET OF THE BALKAN CONFLICT FOUR-YEARS AGO. POLITICAL ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE SAY IT IS VIRTUALLY INEVITABLE THE YUGOSLAV ARMY WOULD AGAIN INTERVENE IN THE EVENT OF A CROATIAN ATTACK ON EASTERN SLAVONIA. FOR THE U-S AND EUROPEAN MEDIATORS, THAT IS A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO. MR. HOLBROOKE HAS MADE IT CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET OF HIS BALKAN SHUTTLE A SOLUTION OF THE EASTERN SLAVONIA ISSUE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

WE ALL RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM IS BOTH SEPARABLE AND LINKED. AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AS A TOP PRIORITY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT.

ANALYSTS IN BELGRADE SAY SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS ALSO EAGER TO RESOLVE THE EASTERN SLAVONIA QUESTION. THE SERBIAN LEADER HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE FROM OPPOSITION GROUPS FOR FAILING TO RESPOND TO THE EARLIER CROATIAN OFFENSIVES. BUT SERBIAN ANALYSTS SAY THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ORDER YUGOSLAV TROOPS INTO ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A CROATIAN ATTACK ON EASTERN SLAVONIA. THESE ANALYSTS BELIEVE MR. MILOSEVIC IS PREPARED TO ENDORSE A SETTLEMENT THAT WOULD RESTORE CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE AREA IN RETURN FOR INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES FOR THE PROTECTION OF ITS SERB RESIDENTS. CROATIAN OFFICIALS HAVE PLEDGED TO RESPECT SERB RIGHTS, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED SUGGESTIONS FROM BELGRADE THAT EASTERN SLAVONIA BE GIVEN A SPECIAL STATUS. DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS, U-S AND U-N OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT AND THE REBEL-SERB LEADERSHIP. THE FIRST DIRECT ENCOUNTER IS NOW SET FOR TUESDAY IN THE SLAVONIAN TOWN OF ERDUT. CROATIAN OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEY WOULD ACCEPT A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA AND WOULD ALLOW U-N TROOPS TO REMAIN FOR UP TO TWO-YEARS IF SERB LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, RECOGNIZE CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE REGION. THE REBEL LEADERSHIP WANTS A LONGER TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, AND SAYS THE REGION'S FINAL STATUS SHOULD ONLY BE DETERMINED AT THE END OF THE PROCESS. MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS ALL MEMBERS OF THE BALKAN CONTACT GROUP RECOGNIZE EASTERN SLAVONIA IS PART OF CROATIAN TERRITORY.

EASTERN SLAVONIA IS CLEARLY PART OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA. THAT IS WHAT IT IS ON THE MAPS AND THAT IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE. BUT THE SOLUTION MUST BE PEACEFUL.

AS THE MEDIATION EFFORTS CONTINUE, SOME WESTERN AND BALKAN ANALYSTS FEAR ZAGREB MAY LOSE PATIENCE WITH DIPLOMACY. THE CROATIANS ARE FEELING EUPHORIC AND INVINCIBLE AFTER THEIR BATTLEFIELD VICTORIES OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS, SAYS ONE OBSERVER, AND THERE IS A REAL DANGER ZAGREB MAY AGAIN OPT FOR A MILITARY SOLUTION. BUT WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY CROATIAN LEADERS HAVE GIVEN FIRM PLEDGES THERE WILL BE NO NEW OFFENSIVES AS LONG AS THE MEDIATION EFFORTS REMAIN ON TRACK. (SIGNED)

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02-Oct-95 12:26 PM EDT (1626 UTC)
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[08] YUGO SITREP (L-RERUN) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS BEEN TRAVELING IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, IN PURSUIT OF A CEASE-FIRE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HEAVY FIGHTING IS REPORTED IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA WHERE SERB FORCES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AGAINST GOVERNMENT TROOPS. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: NEITHER THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN ARMY NOR THE SERBS APPEARS READY TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT OVER TERRITORY IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS IN ZAGREB SAYS THE SERBS HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA TO RETAKE LAND LOST EARLIER TO MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES.

WE ASSESS THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE TOWARDS THE TOWN OF BOSANSKA KRUPA. WE ASSESS THAT THE CONFRONTATION LINE HAS MOVED, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH. WE BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT TWO KILOMETERS TO THE EAST OF OTOKA.

OTHER FIGHTING IS REPORTED NEAR BOSNIA'S BORDER WITH CROATIA. SERB FORCES IN THAT AREA HAVE APPARENTLY PUSHED GOVERNMENT TROOPS FURTHER AWAY FROM A SERB-HELD TOWN WHICH HAD BEEN THREATENED.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE ALSO ARE CONTINUING CLASHES SOUTH OF THE KEY SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA. THE SERBS ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRYING TO STOP A BOSNIAN ARMY ADVANCE TO THE TOWN OF MRKONJIC GRAD. WHILE _NO_ CEASEFIRE APPEARS IMMINENT IN BOSNIA, THERE COULD BE A SMALL BUT PROMISING STEP TOWARD THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS. THE MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT, KIRO GLIGOROV, WAS VISITING BELGRADE. HE AND THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT WHERE TO DISCUSS RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND YUGOSLAVIA. MEANWHILE, U-N SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS SAYS THE MISTREATMENT OF SERB CIVILIANS AND THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF ABANDONED SERB PROPERTY IN CROATIA IS NOW BEING ACCOMPANIED BY THE ROBBERY OF PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTERS NOW SAY THAT THE LOOTING IS MOVING INTO A NEW AND A MORE DISTURBING PHASE. WE'RE NOW RECEIVING REPORTS OF ROBBERY, OFTEN BY MEN IN MILITARY UNIFORMS, AS OPPOSED TO THE LOOTING OF ABANDONED HOUSES.

THE UNITED NATIONS, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER IN PREDOMINANTLY CATHOLIC CROATIA HAVE CONDEMNED THE MISTREATMENT OF THE SERBS, FOLLOWING THE ARMY'S TAKEOVER OF MOST SERB-HELD TERRITORY. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/ART
02-Oct-95 2:46 PM EDT (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America