Voice of America, 19 October 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS TURNED UP IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS THIS THURSDAY. SUBJECTS INCLUDE AN EXAMINATION OF IRAQ'S RECENT PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM AND INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S NATION; A CRITICAL LOOK AT AMERICAN CIGARETTE COMPANIES, AND THE CHANGE OF HEART BY U-S SENATOR -- AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE -- BOB DOLE ABOUT ACCEPTING A CONTRIBUTION FROM A HOMOSEXUAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

NOW HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THREE IMPORTANT NEWSPAPERS ZEROED IN ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S NEARLY UNANIMOUS POPULAR RE-ELECTION TO ANOTHER SEVEN-YEAR TERM AS IRAQ'S PRESIDENT. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" POINTS OUT THAT AT THE SAME TIME MANY IRAQIS LIVE IN SQUALOR . . .

VOICE: "[MR.] HUSSEIN AND HIS FAVORED FRIENDS CONTINUE TO LIVE IN ROYAL SPLENDOR. . . . BUT DESPITE THE HARDSHIP FOR [MOST] IRAQIS, THERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS TO KEEP [INTERNATIONAL] ECONOMIC SANCTIONS INTACT. NOT THE LEAST OF THEM IS A UNITED NATIONS REPORT THAT BAGHDAD MAY BE EMBARKED ON SECRET NEW EFFORTS TO BUILD PROHIBITED WEAPONS, INCLUDING LONG-RANGE MISSILES EQUIPPED WITH CHEMICAL AND PERHAPS BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS."

TEXT: UNLESS BAGHDAD CHANGES ITS WAYS, WRITES "THE TIMES," THE INTERNATIONAL EMBARGO ON IRAQI OIL WILL NOT END ANYTIME SOON. NOR SHOULD IT, AGREES FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL," WHICH SCOFFS AT THE NOTION THAT THE EMBARGO AMOUNTS TO GENOCIDE BY DEPRIVING OR EVEN STARVING THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

VOICE: "FORTUNATELY, EXCEPT FOR A FEW GULLIBLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SWALLOWED THE IRAQI LINE WITHOUT CRITICAL EVALUATION, THE ATTEMPT TO PROJECT BLAME IS QUITE TRANSPARENT. THE UNITED NATIONS IS NOT PUNISHING THE IRAQI PEOPLE. MR. HUSSEIN IS. U-N PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE MORE THAN ONCE TO ALLOW IRAQ TO SELL SOME OIL FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, AND OTHER NEEDS."

TEXT: NOR DOES IRAQ'S PLIGHT ENGENDER MUCH SYMPATHY FROM "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS," WHICH WRITES . . .

VOICE: "TRUE TO HIS TYRANNICAL FORM, MR. HUSSEIN HAS BEEN SPENDING TENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS, OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REBUILD HIS WAR MACHINE. . . . HIS MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE AND THE UNITED NATIONS: I WILL PURSUE MY MILITARISTIC GOALS AT EVERY TURN AT ANY COST, AND NO ONE WILL STOP ME."

TEXT: NOW, MORE THAN EVER, CONCLUDES THE TEXAS NEWSPAPER, SANCTIONS ARE THE KEY TO TOPPLING MR. HUSSEIN.

THREE OTHER NEWPAPERS WERE INTRIGUED BY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE'S CHANGE OF MIND ON ACCEPTING A 1-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN DONATION FROM A POLITICAL GROUP OF GAY (HOMOSEXUAL) REPUBLICANS. AT FIRST, HIS STAFF ANNOUNCED THAT SENATOR DOLE HAD REJECTED THE GIFT, BUT THEN -- SAYING HIS AIDES HAD NOT CONSULTED HIM -- MR. DOLE STATED HE WOULD TAKE THE MONEY AFTER ALL. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES," "THE WASHINGTON POST," AND "THE NEW YORK POST" ALL AGREE THIS WAS A CLASSIC CASE OF POLITICAL TIGHT-ROPE WALKING IN AN EFFORT TO OFFEND NO ONE. THE CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER WRITES . . .

VOICE: "THESE EVENTS WILL WIN DOLE NO SUPPORT FROM THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY, WHICH JUSTIFIABLY WAS HURT BY THE CANDIDATE'S INSENSITIVITY. THEY WILL WIN NO SUPPORT FROM THOSE ON THE RIGHT WHO HAD APPLAUDED HIS REJECTION OF THE CONTRIBUTION. AND SURELY THEY WILL GENERATE NO SURGE OF APPROVAL FROM THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, WHO ARE SMART ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE A TEXTBOOK CASE OF FLIP-FLOP POLITICS WHEN THEY SEE ONE."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES THAT MR. DOLE WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR WISER TO SAY HE'D CHANGED HIS MIND, RATHER THAN BLAMING THE INCIDENT ON HIS STAFF.

VOICE: "HIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER THAT ANYONE SUSPECTED HIM OF INTOLERANCE. ON THE CONTRARY, HIS PAST RECORD OF OPENNESS WAS PRECISELY WHY THE [GAY] REPUBLICANS GAVE HIM THE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE. INSTEAD, MR. DOLE HAS CAUSED HIMSELF TROUBLE BY ALL THIS TWISTING AND TURNING ON ISSUES IN PURSUIT OF VOTES."

TEXT: INDEED, AGREES "THE NEW YORK POST," MR. DOLE EXECUTED THE KIND OF FLIP-FLOP (CHANGE OF OPINION) THAT HE'S OFTEN ACCUSED PRESIDENT CLINTON OF PULLING.

VOICE: "WE SUGGEST THAT THE MAJORITY LEADER CONSULT HIS HEART -- AND NOT THE POLLSTERS -- ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES OF PRINCIPLE. THE YEARING FOR LEADERSHIP THAT DEFINES THIS POLITICAL SEASON TURNS ON PERSONAL CREDIBILITY. A CANDIDATE WHO TRIES TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE WILL NOT SATISFY THE ELECTORATE. MOREOVER, THE PAST MASTER OF THIS APPROACH TO POLITICS RESIDES IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW."

TEXT: ON THE SUBJECT OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, "THE MIAMI HERALD" LOOKS SOUTH AND SEES THAT COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT, ERNESTO SAMPER, IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTING FINANCIAL BACKING FROM THE DEADLY CALI DRUG CARTEL. IT'S A CHARGE MR. SAMPER VIGOROUSLY DENIES, AND HE ACCUSES HIS FORMER CAMPAIGN TREASURER OF SPREADING MALICIOUS LIES. WRITES THE "HERALD" . . .

VOICE: "THE PRESIDENTIAL CRISIS IS BATTERING BOTH MR. SAMPER'S STANDING AND HIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMY. INVESTORS ARE HOLDING OFF ON INVESTMENT DECISIONS AS THEY AWAIT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESIDENT'S DRAMA. . . . RECENTLY INTERIOR MINISTER HORACIO SERPA SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT'S TROUBLES WERE THE RESULT OF A U.S.-LED CONSPIRACY . . . TO OVERTHROW MR. SAMPER. . . . IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL AND UNPARDONABLE IF TRUE. BUT WASHINGTON DENIES EVERYTHING. AND FOR NOW, AT LEAST, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DESERVES TO BE TAKEN AT ITS WORD ON THIS. [BEGIN OPT] COLOMBIA HAS NOT PRESENTED CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF WASHINGTON'S ROLE IN ANY CONSPIRACY. AND ANYWAY, WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF SUCH A PLOT? AS IT IS, MR. SAMPER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING JUST FINE UNDERMINING THEMSELVES. [END OPT]"

TEXT: FINALLY, THE "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" HAS DETECTED THE ODOR OF WHAT IT CALLS A "NEW STINK" FROM AMERICA'S TOBACCO COMPANIES.

VOICE: "NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED THAT TOBACCO COMPANIES LACE CIGARETS WITH CHEMICALS TO BOOST NICOTINE DELIVERY. . . . IRONICALLY, THE EVIDENCE COMES TO LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS EXTENDED FOR TWO MONTHS PUBLIC COMMENT ON TOUGH RULES AIMED AT STOPPING CIGARET COMPANIES FROM PITCHING THEIR PRODUCTS AT KIDS. BEFORE THE TWO MONTHS ARE UP, 180-THOUSAND KIDS WILL HAVE STARTED SMOKING. A THIRD WILL EVENTUALY DIE OF TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESS. . . . AMERICANS ALREADY KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT TOBACCO AND SMOKING. THAT ANY COMMENT PERIOD SHOULD EXIST IS RIDICULOUS. TO EXTEND IT ONLY PLAYS INTO THE HANDS OF DEATH MERCHANTS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS IN THE AMERICAN PRESS THIS THURSDAY.

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19-Oct-95 11:02 AM EDT (1502 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT -- OCTOBER 19, 1995 !!!

VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT -- 10/19/95 THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF SIGNIFICANT REPORTING ON BOSNIA BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA THAT HAD BEEN BROADCAST OR FIRMLY SCHEDULED AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. THIS SELECTION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE EXHAUSTIVE, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LATE-BREAKING NEWS OR THE MANY REPORTS IN ALL VOA LANGUAGES THAT ARE BASED ON COMMERCIAL WIRE SERVICES OR OTHER SECONDARY SOURCES. WE REGRET THAT WE CANNOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF SPECIFIC BROADCASTS OR PROGRAM SEGMENTS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT VOA, OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. TELEPHONE: +1-202-619-2538. ELECTRONIC MAIL: [email protected] (FOR CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES); [email protected] (FOR CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES).

BOSNIA / UN -- UN OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA HAVE ISSUED A 24-HOUR DEADLINE TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN CROATS TO ALLOW UN OBSERVERS ACCESS TO THEIR TERRITORY TO MONITOR CEASE-FIRE COMPLIANCE. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN PROMISED ACCESS WOULD BE GRANTED, BUT TEAMS OF OBSERVERS ARE BEING BLOCKED. (10/19)

PERRY / BOSNIA FORCE -- DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS HE BELIEVES CONGRESS WILL EVENTUALLY SUPPORT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN TO COMMIT MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND US TROOPS TO IMPLEMENT A PEACE ACCORD IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTED FROM THE PENTAGON, INITIAL CONGRESSIONAL REACTION HAS BEEN NEGATIVE. (10/19)

YUGO TALKS -- INTERNATIONAL PEACE ENVOYS ARE HOLDING MORE TALKS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, IN BELGRADE. EARLIER, IN ZAGREB, CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN GAVE ASSURANCES THAT A GOVERNMENT ATTACK ON REBEL SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA IS NOT IMMINENT. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (10/19)

YUGO / WAR CRIMES -- THE TOP US HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS APPEAR TO HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES DURING THEIR LATEST ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE SAYS THE SERBS MAY HAVE MURDERED HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS. CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (10/19)

FRANCE / BOSNIA -- FRANCE HAS REJECTED A BOSNIAN-SERB CLAIM THAT TWO FRENCH PILOTS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM A HOSPITAL IN A SERB-HELD AREA OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTED FROM PARIS THE PILOTS WERE SHOT DOWN OVER BOSNIA SIX WEEKS AGO. (10/19)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON AND TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE BRIEFED WEDNESDAY BY THE TOP NATO MILITARY COMMANDER IN EUROPE ON PLANS FOR A PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. THE BRIEFING CAME AS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS CONTINUED MAKING THEIR CASE FOR A US PRESENCE IN THAT FORCE. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (10/18)

US / BOSNIA / PEACEKEEPING -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN TO SEND US TROOPS TO HELP IMPLEMENT A BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD IS ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RESISTANCE IN CONGRESS. TOP ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS SPENT A SECOND DAY IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS WEDNESDAY TRYING TO SELL THE PLAN. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS. (10/18)

CHRISTOPHER / AIR BASE -- THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS WILL OPEN OCTOBER 31ST AT THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OUTSIDE DAYTON, OHIO. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS ON HOW THE SITE IS SUPPOSED TO INFLUENCE THE PEACE TALKS. (10/18)

BOSNIA / FRENCH PILOTS -- BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC SAYS TWO FRENCH PILOTS WHO WERE BEING HELD BY THE SERBS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED. HE CLAIMS HE DOES NOT KNOW WHO KIDNAPPED THEM OR WHY. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (10/18)

RUSSIA / YELTSIN / NATO -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS HE WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT NATO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FROM BEING DEPLOYED IN EASTERN EUROPE. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS MR YELTSIN IS ALSO RULING OUT RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM SERVING UNDER NATO COMMAND IN A BOSNIA PEACEKEEPING FORCE. (10/18)

BOSNIA / HOLBROOKE -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO ON US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S VISIT TO SARAJEVO. MR HOLBROOKE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY RUSSIAN AND EUROPEAN UNION MEDIATORS FOR DISCUSSIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE AGREEMENTS. (CROATIAN 10/18)

HOLBROOKE / MILOSEVIC -- AFTER TALKS WITH US ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER I IVANOV, AND EU NEGOTIATOR K BILDT, SERBIAN PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC ALSO MET WITH FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER H DE CHARETTE. THEIR DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE PEACE CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA, PLANNED FOR THE END OF THE MONTH IN UNITED STATES. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/18)

HOLBROOKE / BOSNIA -- US NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE ANNOUNCED THAT BOSNIA AND YUGOSLAVIA WOULD SOON OPEN LIAISON OFFICES. BOSNIAN SERB LEADER R KARAZDIC SAYS RUMORS ABOUT A NEW RIFT BETWEEN SERBIAN POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS ARE SPREAD BY FOREIGN MEDIA. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 10/18)

YUGOSLAVIA / HOLBROOKE -- STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTED FROM BELGRADE ON THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE MISSION VISIT TO BELGRADE. US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE WARNED THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT PEACE AGREEMENTS FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. (CROATIAN 10/18)

BOSNIA / MASS GRAVES -- STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS THE DISCOVERY BY BOSNIAN AND CROAT TROOPS OF SEVERAL MASS GRAVES IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. MS MILISA REPORTED FROM SANSKI MOST THAT THE GRAVES ARE INVESTIGATED AS EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES. (CROATIAN 10/18)

CROATIA / HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS ON THE NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE CROATIAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OF SERBIAN MINORITY IN KRAJINA REGION. INTERIOR MINISTER IVAN JARNJAK CONDEMNED VIOLATIONS, AND PROMISED THAT THE PERPETRATORS WILL BE PUNISHED. (CROATIAN 10/18)

UN / FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK THAT CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC SAID CROATIA IS READY FOR SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS WITH REBEL SERBS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. RUSSIA WARNED THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT THERE IS A BUILD UP OF CROATIAN TROOPS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. SERBIA WANTS UN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS RECONSIDERED. (CROATIAN 10/18)

BOSNIA -- SVEN ALKALAJ, BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER MOHAMED ABDEL-KARIM, ABOUT THE CONDENSED PEACE TALKS TAKING PLACE IN BOSNIA. (ARABIC 10/18)

UN / EASTERN SLAVONIA -- UN SOURCES IN ZAGREB DENY A REPORTED BUILD UP OF CROATIAN FORCES IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. HOWEVER, CROATIAN NEWS MEDIA ESTIMATE THAT, AFTER THE SECOND DELAY OF TALKS WITH SERBS FROM THAT AREA, PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE SEEMS MORE REMOTE AND THE PROSPECT FOR WAR GREATER. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/18)

UN / CROATIA -- UN SECURITY COUNCIL WARNED CROATIA AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF THE SERBIAN MINORITY, CHARACTERIZING THEM AS PERSISTENT AND SYSTEMATIC. CROATIA WAS ALSO WARNED AGAINST BUILD UP OF ITS FORCES IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. STRINGER DRAGISA BOSKOVIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SERBIAN 10/18)

CROATIA / EUROPEAN COUNCIL -- STRINGER ZALJKO MATIC INTERVIEWS ZARKO DOMLJAN, OF THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT. MR DOMLJAN PREDICTS THAT CROATIA WILL BECOME MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL IN JANUARY 1996. (CROATIAN 10/18)

ALBANIA / NATO -- ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAFET ZHULALI, CALLED ON NATO TO ACCEPT ALBANIA'S REQUEST FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP. IN AN ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WASHINGTON DC, THE ALBANIAN OFFICIAL SAID THE MAIN DANGER TO SECURITY IN EUROPE COMES FROM THE SOUTH, I.E., THE BALKANS, AND NOT FROM THE NORTH. HE SAID NATO EXPANSION SHOULD BEGIN WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF BALKAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS ALBANIA, WHICH, HE SAID, HAS BEEN A FACTOR OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. ALBANIA WAS THE FIRST FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRY TO REQUEST MEMBERSHIP IN NATO. STAFFER AGIM FETAHAJ REPORTS. (ALBANIAN 10/18) 19-Oct-95 4:32 PM EDT (2032 UTC)
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[03] BELGIUM/CLAES (S) BY JOHN FRASER ( BRUSSELS )

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES SHOULD LEARN TODAY WHETHER HIS INTERNATIONAL CAREER IS TO END IN DISGRACE. THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT IS HOLDING A SPECIAL SESION TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT MR CLAES SHOULD BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION WHILE HE WAS SERVING AS A BELGIAN MINISTER. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR VOA FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: A BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY RECOMMENDED THAT WILLY CLAES SHOULD BE TRIED FOR CORRUPTION. HOWEVER, IT IS THE FULL PARLIAMENT WHICH NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER HIS IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION SHOULD BE LIFTED.

THE CHARGES AGAINST MR CLAES DATE BACK TO THE LATE 1980'S WHEN HE WAS THE BELGIAN ECONOMICS MINISTER. HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE AWARDING OF DEFENSE CONTRACTS TO AN ITALIAN AND A FRENCH COMPANY. THESE COMPANIES PAID BRIBES TOTALING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MR CLAES' FLEMISH SOCIALIST PARTY TO SECURE THE CONTRACTS.

THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID HE IS INNOCENT, AND IS ADDRESSING THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TO TRY TO WIN ITS SUPPORT. HOWEVER, NATO GOVERNMENTS BELIEVE THIS IS A BATTLE HE WILL NOT WIN, AND TALK HAS ALREADY BEGUN OF WHO SHOULD SUCCEED HIM. THE MOST FAVORED CANDIDATE IS FORMER DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER UFFE ELLEMANN-JENSEN. (SIGNED)

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19-Oct-95 8:15 AM EDT (1215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA-DIPLOMACY (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER FINISHING ANOTHER ROUND OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN ZAGREB, BELGRADE AND SARAJEVO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT MR. HOLBROOKE MADE PREPARATIONS FOR BOSNIA PEACE TALKS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

TEXT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS TOLD THE STATE DEPARTMENT HE HAS ESTABLISHED AN AGENDA FOR THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS TO BE HELD NEAR DAYTON, OHIO ON OCTOBER 31ST.

THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA WILL MEET WITH MR. HOLBROOKE AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS TO DISCUSS TERRITORIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE CASE OF THE SERB PARAMILITARY LEADER KNOWN AS "ARKAN" WAS DISCUSSED WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE.

HE SPECIFICALLY RAISED THE CASE OF ARKAN, THE CRIMINAL ARKAN, WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND HE REAFFIRMED THE INTEREST THE UNITED STATES HAS IN SEEING THAT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT STOP THE ACTIVITIES OF ARKAN.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS ENCOURAGED BY THE PLEDGE OF CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN NOT TO TAKE SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA BY FORCE WHILE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE. THAT REASSURANCE WAS RELAYED BY MR. HOLBROOKE TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. (SIGNED)

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19-Oct-95 3:26 PM EDT (1926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA / U-N (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA HAVE ISSUED A 24-HOUR DEADLINE TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN CROATS TO ALLOW U-N OBSERVERS ACCESS TO THEIR TERRITORY TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, NOW IN ITS EIGHTH DAY. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN PROMISED ACCESS WOULD BE GRANTED, BUT TEAMS OF OBSERVERS ARE BEING BLOCKED.

TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS ARE INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED BY THE INABILITY OF U-N OBSERVERS TO MOVE OUTSIDE THEIR BASES IN GOVERNMENT-HELD TERRITORY IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

THE U-N MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRIS VERNON, SAYS NOTHING HAS CHANGED -- DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM THE HIGHEST BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES.

IF WITHIN 24 HOURS WE DO NOT GET A FAR BETTER LEVEL OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, WE WILL THEN BEGIN TO CONDEMN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS MILITARY AUTHORITIES FOR NOT ALLOWING UNPROFOR TO MOVE FREELY TO MONITOR THE CONFRONTATION LINE AS IS PART OF OUR MANDATE.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S NEGOTIATOR, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, RAISED THE ISSUE WITH BOSNIAN LEADERS DURING TALKS WEDNESDAY IN SARAJEVO. BUT THEY ADMIT OTHER THAN CONDEMNATION AND -- WHAT THEY CALL -- INCREASED RHETORIC, THERE IS LITTLE THE UNITED NATIONS CAN DO IF THE DEADLINE IS IGNORED.

THE OFFICIALS SAY THE SERBS ARE GRANTING ACCESS ON THEIR SIDE OF THE FRONTLINE, AND SUGGEST THE RESTRICTIONS CAN ONLY MEAN THE BOSNIAN AND CROAT FORCES HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE. (SIGNED)

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19-Oct-95 9:12 AM EDT (1312 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] BOSNIA FIGHTING (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE RETAKEN SOME TERRITORY IN FIGHTING WITH GOVERNMENT FORCES IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: FIGHTING APPEARS TO HAVE INCREASED IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA, DESPITE THE CEASEFIRE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE SERBS ARE SAID TO HAVE RETAKEN ABOUT SIX KILOMETERS OF TERRITORY NEAR THE GOVERNMENT-HELD TOWN OF SANSKI MOST. IF SO, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR VIOLATION OF THE TRUCE.

THE UNITED NATIONS CANNOT CONFIRM THE SERB TERRITORIAL GAINS. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE NO U-N MONITORS IN THE SANSKI MOST AREA, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME EUROPEAN UNION OBSERVERS THERE.

THE CEASEFIRE HAS NEVER TAKEN HOLD IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. THE WARRING FORCES HAVE ACCUSED EACH OTHER OF CONTINUING TRUCE VIOLATIONS, BUT FIGHTING IN THAT REGION WAS BELIEVED GRADUALLY DYING DOWN.

A U-N SPOKESMAN IN ZAGREB SAYS HE HOPES THE LEVEL OF FIGHTING CAN BE CONTAINED BECAUSE IT COULD AFFECT PEACE TALKS DUE TO BEGIN IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. (SIGNED)

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19-Oct-95 3:44 PM EDT (1944 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] CLAES VOTE (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE PARLIAMENT IN BELGIUM HAS VOTED TO LIFT THE IMMUNITY OF NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES, CLEARING THE WAY FOR HIS INDICTMENT ON CORRUPTION CHARGES. AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A FROM BRUSSELS, THE VOTE IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO MR. CLAES' RESIGNATION FROM THE NATO POST.

TEXT: AFTER A 10-HOUR SESSION, THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT VOTED BY 97 TO 52 THAT NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES MUST BE PUT ON TRIAL IN THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT.

THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL IS ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN A DEFENSE CONTRACTS SCANDAL DATING BACK TO THE 1980'S WHEN HE WAS BELGIUM'S ECONOMICS MINISTER.

ITALIAN AND FRENCH CONTRACTORS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE PAID BRIBES WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SECURE LUCRATIVE GOVERNMENT ORDERS. MUCH OF THE MONEY WENT TO THE FLEMISH SOCIALIST PARTY -- OF WHICH MR. CLAES IS A LEADING MEMBER.

ALTHOUGH THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL APPEARED IN PERSON BEFORE A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE BRUSSELS PARLIAMENT THURSDAY TO PROCLAIM HIS INNOCENCE, OBSERVERS SAY HE HAS FAILED TO SAVE HIS CAREER. HE IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RESIGNATION FROM NATO (FRIDAY).

ALLIANCE MINISTERS WILL BE IN NEW YORK THIS WEEKEND FOR CELEBRATIONS TO MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS. IT IS LIKELY THEY WILL USE THE OCCASION TO TRY TO AGREE ON A SUCCESSOR TO MR. CLAES. THE FAVORITE IS SAID TO BE FORMER DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER UFFE ELLEMANN-JENSEN.

TWO PAST AND ONE PRESENT BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARIES HAVE ALSO BEEN MENTIONED. THEY ARE MALCOLM RIFKIND, DAVID OWEN AND DOUGLAS HURD. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NAMES FLOATED FROM NORWAY, HOLLAND, GERMANY, AND PORTUGAL.

THIS IS CRUCIAL TIME FOR NATO, AND THERE WILL BE PRESSURE TO FIND A SWIFT REPLACEMENT FOR WILLY CLAES. THE ALLIANCE IS PREPARING TO MASTERMIND AN OPERATION TO SECURE THE PEACE IN BOSNIA. IT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE INTENSELY DIFFICULT PROCESS OF PREPARING TO ADMIT NEW MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. (SIGNED) NEB/JF/CB-T/JM 19-Oct-95 7:12 PM EDT (2312 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] CLINTON-BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS OPTIMISTIC THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS WILL ULTIMATELY APPROVE THE USE OF 20-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS IN A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM LAWMAKERS. USING AMERICAN TROOPS TO ENFORCE A PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA IS A TOUGH MILITARY AND POLITICAL CALL FOR THE PRESIDENT. BUT AS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS, THE PRESIDENT IS INSISTING IT IS THE BEST WAY TO SAVE LIVES.

TEXT: SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FACED TOUGH QUESTIONS DURING TWO DAYS OF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ABOUT USING U-S TROOPS IN A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CONFIDENT:

I EXPECT THAT OUR PEOPLE WILL BE ASKED AND WILL HAVE TO ANSWER DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE CONGRESS. BUT I BELIEVE IN THE END THE CONGRESS WILL SUPPORT THIS OPERATION.

AT A BRIEF NEWS CONFERENCE, HE EXPLAINED WHY IT SHOULD:

THE REASON WE NEED TO DO THIS IS PRECISELY TO AVOID THE KIND OF CONVULSIVE CONFLICT WITH MASSIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT DRUG US INTO EUROPE TWICE BEFORE, AND GOT HUGE NUMBERS OF AMERICANS KILLED IN THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.

THE PRESIDENT SAID WITH A PEACE AGREEMENT BEING NEGOTIATED, HE COULD NOT MAKE A FIRM PLEDGE U-S TROOPS WOULD BE DEPLOYED FOR JUST ONE YEAR. BUT HE SAID, THAT IS THE TIME FRAME HE ENVISIONS. EARLIER, VISITING AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT THOMAS KLESTIL PRAISED PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR HELPING TO END THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/RAE
19-Oct-95 1:07 PM EDT (1707 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] CLINTON-AUSTRIA-BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BOSNIA POLICY HAS WON AN UNEQUIVOCAL ENDORSEMENT FROM VISITING AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT THOMAS KLESTIL. THE TWO HELD A THIRTY MINUTE MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE THURSDAY. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: AFTER THEIR MEETING, PRESIDENT KLESTIL TOLD REPORTERS HE PRAISED PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR HIS ROLE IN MEDIATING THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT.

IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY IF THIS WOULD CONTINUE. THERE ARE, UP TO NOW IN THE REGION, ABOUT THREE MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS. THIS TRAGEDY HAS TO COME TO AN END. EUROPE ALONE WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IT. SO I WAS HAPPY THAT THE UNITED STATES TOOK UP THE LEADERSHIP AGAIN IN THE FOREIGN POLICY FIELD, NOT ONLY IN BOSNIA BUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND LAST YEAR IN HAITI.

THAT ENDORSEMENT WAS WARMLY WELCOMED HERE, AS THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO CALL FOR ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORLD DESPITE SOME CALLS IN CONGRESS FOR A MORE ISOLATIONIST INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO WORKING TO CONVINCE A SKEPTICAL CONGRESS TO FUND A U-S PRESENCE IN A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA, SHOULD A PEACE AGREEMENT BE REACHED. CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID PRESIDENT KLESTIL TOLD PRESIDENT CLINTON AUSTRIA WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE PART IN THAT FORCE. AUSTRIA HAS ALSO PROVIDED CONSIDERABLE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN BOSNIA.

SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAID THE TWO PRESIDENTS HAD A GOOD MEETING, ONE WHICH GAVE THE UNITED STATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW FRIENDSHIP WITH AUSTRIA AND TO PUT THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP ON WHAT HE CALLED A "MORE FIRM FOOTING."

PRESIDENT KLESTIL AGREED, SAYING HE VIEWED THE MEETING AS A REDISCOVERY OF A NEW FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP. IN ADDITION TO BOSNIA, HE SAID EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND SECURITY WERE DISCUSSED. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/MMK
19-Oct-95 2:52 PM EDT (1852 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[10] CLINTON / BOSNIA (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS U-S TROOPS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO STAY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR TO ENFORCE AN EVENTUAL PEACE AGREEMENT -- BUT HE IS RELUCTANT TO SET A TIME LIMIT ON THE MISSION UNTIL A PEACE ACCORD IS REACHED. MR. CLINTON MADE HIS COMMENTS AT A BRIEF NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH U-S COMMANDERS SAY U-S PEACEKEEPERS COULD COMPLETE THEIR WORK IN BOSNIA IN A YEAR, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS REFUSING TO SET A TIME LIMIT ON THE DURATION OF SUCH A MISSION UNTIL THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT.

BEFORE I MAKE THAT PLEDGE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PEACE AGREEMENT IS FINALLY, AND I WANT TO HAVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL CONFIDENCE THAT I CAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT AND KEEP IT. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMMITMENT IN THE RANGE OF A YEAR.

THE UNITED STATES HAS PLEDGED TO SEND UP TO 25-THOUSAND TROOPS TO BOSNIA TO MONITOR AN EVENTUAL PEACE ACCORD.

ALTHOUGH CONGRESS REMAINS SKEPTICAL ABOUT COMMITTING TROOPS TO BOSNIA, MR. CLINTON SAYS HE BELIEVES LAWMAKERS WOULD EVENTUALLY SUPPORT THE OPERATION.

BUT HE INDICATED HE WOULD NOT RELINQUISH HIS AUTHORITY TO SEND TROOPS ABROAD WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO EASE LAWMAKERS' CONCERNS ABOUT SENDING AMERICAN FORCES INTO HARMS WAY, REPEATING THAT TROOPS WOULD NOT BE SENT INTO COMBAT.

HE SAID THE NEXT BIG STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE WOULD OCCUR AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHEN THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT MEET IN THE UNITED STATES TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS FORWARD.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THE THING THAT WILL REDUCE DANGER TO EVERYBODY IS IF THESE LEADERS AGREE TO AN HONORABLE PEACE AND THEN DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN IN GOOD FAITH TO KEEP IT. I AM SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THE CEASE-FIRE SEEMS TO BE TAKING HOLD, INCIDENTS SEEM TO BE DROPPING THROUGHOUT BOSNIA, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ATMOSTPHERE OF MUTUAL COMMITMENT TAKING HOLD, AND WE HOPE THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED.

THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT ARE TO MEET OCTOBER 31ST AT A U-S AIR FORCE BASE NEAR DAYTON, OHIO. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/MMK
19-Oct-95 3:39 PM EDT (1939 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[11] EURO MONEY (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: HUNGARY IS SAID TO BE CLOSE TO SATISFYING INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND CONDITIONS FOR A NEW LOAN. BUT, AS V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS, OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE UKRAINE, RUSSIA, ROMANIA, AND BULGARIA NEED I-M-F MONEY BUT HAVE YET TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE MULTI-LATERAL LENDER.

TEXT: THE I-M-F REPRESENTATIVE IN BUDAPEST SAYS HUNGARY IS NOW VERY CLOSE TO COMPLETING A DEAL WHICH WOULD LEAD TO A NEW 300-MILLION-DOLLAR STAND-BY LOAN. HUNGARY HAS NOT HAD A DEAL WITH THE I-M-F SINCE 1993, AND EXPERTS SAY ONE IS NEEDED IF HUNGARY IS REGAIN ITS CREDIT-WORTHY STANDING ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.

THE I-M-F HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO LEND MORE TO HUNGARY UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT SHOWS THAT IT HAS A PLAN FOR HALTING THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY'S TRADE AND BUDGET DEFICITS. HUNGARY HAS BEEN BORROWING FROM THE I-M-F FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE COUNTRY'S STATUS AS A CHRONIC BORROWER WITH AN EXCESSIVE DEBT LOAD.

WHILE HUNGARY'S FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS ARE STILL OUT OF BALANCE, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN NEIGHBORING POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AND SLOVAKIA. THE CZECH REPUBLIC PAID BACK ITS I-M-F LOANS EARLY AND SAYS IT HAD NO NEED FOR FUTURE BORROWINGS. POLAND, WHICH LIKE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HAS PAID BACK THE I-M-F EARLY AND IS MAKING ITS CURRENCY CONVERTIBLE, ALSO SAYS IT NO LONGER NEEDS I-M-F FINANCING.

SLOVAKIA IS IN A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT POSITION, NOT NEEDING LOANS AT THE MOMENT BUT NOT HAVING CONVINCED CAPITAL MARKETS THAT ITS ECONOMIC POLICIES WILL ASSURE FINANCIAL BALANCE AND NON-INFLATIONARY GROWTH.

OTHER COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO NEED I-M-F HELP BUT SHOW NO SIGN OF REACHING EARLY LOAN AGREEMENTS. ROMANIA AND BULGARIA NEED TO HAVE THEIR I-M-F LENDING AGREEMENTS EXTENDED, BUT PROBLEMS OVER THE PACE OF PRIVATIZATION AND THE CONDITION OF BANKS REMAIN. UKRAINE LAST MONTH GOT A FURTHER INSTALLMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY AGREED LOAN, BUT I-M-F OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RECENT SLOW DOWN BOTH IN PRIVATIZATION AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE BUDGET DEFICIT.

AN I-M-F MISSION IS CURRENTLY IN MOSCOW NEGOTIATING AN EXTENSION OF RUSSIA'S MAJOR LENDING PROGRAM FROM MULTI-LATERAL LENDERS. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
19-Oct-95 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[12] FRANCE / BOSNIA (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE HAS REJECTED A BOSNIAN SERB EXPLANATION THAT TWO FRENCH PILOTS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM A HOSPITAL IN A SERB-HELD AREA OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS THE PILOTS ARE MISSING AFTER HAVING BEEN SHOT DOWN OVER BOSNIA SIX WEEKS AGO.

TEXT: FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HERVE DE CHARETTE TRAVELED TO BELGRADE THIS WEEK IN PART TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE FATE OF THE TWO FRENCH PILOTS WHO HAVE BEEN MISSING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOR SIX WEEKS.

THE PILOTS WERE IN A MIRAGE 2000 BOMBER THAT WAS SHOT DOWN ON AUGUST 30TH, THE DAY NATO STARTED AN INTENSIVE BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO. THE TWO MEN WERE SEEN TO PARACHUTE TO SAFETY NEAR THE BOSNIAN SERB CAPITAL, PALE. LATER, A FRENCH NEWSMAGAZINE OBTAINED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEM IN THE HANDS OF BOSNIAN SERB MILITIAMEN.

ONLY ONE OF THE PILOTS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURY, A BROKEN LEG. THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE TWO MEN. NATO HAS TRIED AT LEAST THREE TIMES TO RESCUE THE MEN. IN ONE ATTEMPT IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, TWO AMERICAN COMMANDOS WHO LANDED BY HELICOPTER WERE WOUNDED IN A BRIEF BATTLE WITH SERB FORCES.

WHILE MR. DE CHARETTE WAS IN BELGRADE ON WEDNESDAY, BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC SAID THE PILOTS HAD DISAPPEARED. HE SAID THEY WERE KIDNAPPED FROM A HOSPITAL. HE BLAMED THEIR DISAPPEARANCE ON BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, TERRORISTS, OR COMMON CRIMINALS HOPING TO EARN A RANSOM.

A SENIOR FRENCH OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THIS VERSION AS "GROTESQUE." THE OFFICIAL SAID THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FEARS THE PILOTS MAY BE DEAD AND THAT MR. KARADZIC DOES NOT WANT TO SAY SO OPENLY.

THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTRY MEANWHILE NOTED THAT MR. KARADZIC HAS ALWAYS DENIED KNOWING WHERE THE PILOTS WERE, SAYING THAT THEY WERE IN THE HANDS OF HIS MILITARY CHIEFS. FRANCE, WITH THE BIGGEST CONTINGENT OF TROOPS IN THE UNITED NATIONS PROTECTION FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, HAS SUFFERED MORE CASUALTIES THAN ANY OTHER CONTRIBUTING NATION. FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THAT, WITH A CEASE-FIRE NOW IN FORCE ON THE GROUND, THEY HAD HOPES OF OBTAINING THE RELEASE OF THE TWO PILOTS.

YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC RECEIVED MR. DE CHARETTE FOR A TOTAL OF THREE HOURS TO DISCUSS THE PEACE PROCESS AND A FORTHCOMING PEACE CONFERENCE IN PARIS. MR. MILOSEVIC SAID EVEN HIS OWN SECURITY SERVICES HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PILOTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/JN/JWH/CF
19-Oct-95 9:11 AM EDT (1311 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[13] PERRY/BOSNIA FORCE (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS HE BELIEVES CONGRESS WILL EVENTUALLY SUPPORT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN TO COMMIT MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS TO IMPLEMENT A PEACE ACCORD IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, INITIAL CONGRESSIONAL REACTION HAS BEEN NEGATIVE.

TEXT: DESPITE A CRITICAL REACTION FROM CONGRESS THIS WEEK, MR. PERRY SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION'S CASE FOR THE BOSNIA FORCE IS COMPELLING AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE SUPPORTED.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY, SPOKE TO REPORTERS AS HE WELCOMED EGYPTIAN DEFENSE MINISTER MOHAMMED HUSSEIN TANTAWI TO THE PENTAGON, SAID THE UNITED STATES CANNOT AFFORD TO ALLOW THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT TO CONTINUE:

WHILE WE HAVE BEEN VERY CANDID WITH THE CONGRESS THAT THERE ARE RISKS INVOLVED WITH THIS OPERATION, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT ALLOWING THE WAR TO CONTINUE HAS EVEN GREATER RISKS AND EVEN GREATER COSTS ASSOCIATED. THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE CASE WE ARE MAKING. WE HAVE SOME WEEKS AHEAD OF US TO MAKE THIS CASE. WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TIME.

MR. PERRY SAID EFFORTS CONTINUE TO ACCOMMODATE RUSSIA'S DESIRE TO JOIN THE PEACE FORCE, BUT HE REITERATED THAT ANY NON-NATO COUNTRIES TAKING PART WILL HAVE TO BE UNDER NATO COMMAND AND CONTROL -- A CONDITION MOSCOW SAYS IS UNACCEPTABLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/RAE
19-Oct-95 10:03 AM EDT (1403 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[14] PERRY / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS HE IS DISAPPOINTED BY THE CRITICAL REACTION IN CONGRESS TO PLANS TO SEND SOME 20-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS TO BOSNIA AS PART OF A NATO-LED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE WARNING THE ADMINISTRATION THAT FUNDING FOR THE PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT COULD BE VOTED DOWN.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS HE IS DISAPPOINTED BY THE APPARENT INCLINATION OF SOME CONGRESSMEN TO REJECT A U-S ROLE IN BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING OUT OF HAND. BUT HE SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SEVERAL MORE WEEKS TO MAKE A CASE FOR TROOP DEPLOYMENT THAT HE DESCRIBES AS COMPELLING.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SPOKE TO REPORTERS HERE AFTER TWO DAYS OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS MARKED BY ANGRY CRITICISM OF ADMINISTRATION PLANS AND REPUBLICAN WARNINGS THAT FUNDING FOR THE TROOP COMMITMENT MIGHT BE REJECTED.

WHILE CONGRESSMEN WARNED THAT AMERICAN TROOPS RISK BEING DRAGGED INTO RENEWED BOSNIA FIGHTING, MR. PERRY CONTENDED THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO EVEN GREATER DANGERS, IF IT DID NOT DO EVERYTHING IT COULD TO END THE CONFLICT:

IT WILL BE NO SURPRISE TO YOU THAT GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI AND I HAVE THOUGHT VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE RISK THAT IS INVOLVED. WE DO NOT MINIMIZE THAT FOR A MINUTE. WE'VE ALSO THOUGHT VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE RISKS INVOLVED IN ALLOWING THIS WAR TO CONTINUE. IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF THE CASUALTIES AND THE KILLINGS THAT GO ON IN BOSNIA. IT IS THE RISK THAT THIS WAR WILL EXTEND -- EXPAND TO OTHER PARTS -- AND TRULY AFFECT THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF EUROPE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IF AFFECTS THE VITAL INTERESTS, THE VITAL SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MR. PERRY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A LONG WAY TO GO TOWARD CONVINCING CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE NEED FOR THE DEPLOYMENT, AND SAID LAWMAKERS NEED TO RISE ABOVE POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DECIDING THE ISSUE.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT KEEPING THE U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA FOR THE ENVISAGED YEAR OF PEACE IMPLEMENTATION DUTY COULD COST AT LEAST ONE-POINT-FIVE BILLION DOLLARS.

MR. PERRY INDICATED THE ADMINISTRATION WILL PROPOSE TO PAY FOR THE OPERATION BY TAPPING DEFENSE MONEY CONGRESS MAY APPROVE THIS YEAR -- BEYOND THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN BUDGET REQUEST -- FOR THE B-TWO STRATEGIC BOMBER AND ADDITIONAL NAVY SHIPS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/MMK
19-Oct-95 3:25 PM EDT (1925 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[15] U-N YUGO NEGOTIATOR (S ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS ITS NEGOTIATOR FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- THORVALD STOLTENBERG OF NORWAY -- IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN HIS POST BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. MEANWHILE, THE U-N ENVOY IS BUSILY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO SETTLE CROAT-SERB DIFFERENCES OVER EASTERN SLAVONIA -- THE LAST SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN CROATIA. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE U-N DESCRIBED PRESS REPORTS OF MR. STOLTENBERG'S IMMINENT DEPARTURE AS PREMATURE. A STATEMENT ISSUED LATE THURSDAY SAYS MR. STOLTENBERG BELIEVES A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE IN EASTERN SLAVONIA AND HAS INTENSIFIED HIS EFFORTS IN RECENT WEEKS.

MR. STOLTENBERG IS LIKELY TO RESIGN AFTER THE END OF NOVEMBER, WHEN THE U-N PEACEKEEPING MANDATE IN CROATIA EXPIRES. CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN HAS ALREADY SIGNALED HE EXPECTS EASTERN SLAVONIA -- BY THAT TIME -- WILL BE SETTLED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THUS ENDING THE NEED FOR U-N INTERVENTION.

THE U-N IS SLOWLY SHIFTING ITS PEOPLE IN THE BALKANS IN ANTICIPATION OF A NATO-LED OPERATION TO ENFORCE A SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA. LONG-TIME CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR YASUSHI AKASHI IS LEAVING NOVEMBER FIRST. HE IS BEING REPLACED TEMPORARILY BY THE U-N'S TOP PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL, KOFI ANNAN, WHO WILL ALSO SERVE AS ENVOY TO NATO. (SIGNED)

NEB/EJ/JM
19-Oct-95 5:56 PM EDT (2156 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[16] U.S. ROLE IN BOSNIA BY TED LANDPHAIR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S SECRETARY OF STATE, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ALL APPEARED BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. THEY ALL ARGUED IN FAVOR OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN FOR SENDING 20-THOUSAND OR MORE U-S GROUND FORCES TO BOSNIA AS PART OF A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. EDITORIAL WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS ACROSS THE NATION SAT UP, TOOK NOTICE, AND BEGAN TO WRITE.

WITH A SAMPLING OF THEIR REACTION, HERE IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: IF THERE IS SUCCESS IN THE PEACE TALKS, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH, THE UNITED STATES WILL LIKELY BE ASKED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON A COMMITMENT MADE IN 1993 TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF MILITARY PEACEKEEPERS FOR BOSNIA. ALMOST EVERYONE AGREES THERE WILL BE CASUALTIES AMONG THESE FORCES, AND THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SENTIMENT IN THE U.S. CONGRESS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS LITTLE DIRECT INTEREST AT STAKE IN THAT WAR-RAVAGED NATION AND SHOULD REFRAIN FROM PUTTING ITS YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN PERIL.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY "THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE" SEES IT. TO THAT NEWSPAPER, IT'S A MATTER OF SIMPLE LOGIC: THE UNITED STATES IS THE LEADER OF NATO, AND THIS WOULD BE A NATO OPERATION.

VOICE: "TO ABANDON THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ABANDON OUR LEADERSHIP OF THE ALLIANCE. . . . IF NATO HAS A [FUTURE] ROLE [IN THE WORLD], AND ALL 16 MEMBER NATIONS AGREE IT DOES, THEN SURELY RESTORING PEACE IN THE CAULDRON OF THE BALKANS IS CENTRAL TO IT. . . . AND PLEASE, CONGRESS -- NO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. FOREIGN POLICY DESERVES BIPARTISAN APPROVAL."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, CARL LEUBSDORF [LOOBS-DORF], NOTES THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME THESE DAYS ON GLOBAL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE WAR IN BOSNIA THAT IS IN ABEYANCE DURING AN UNEASY CEASE-FIRE.

VOICE: "ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS PREDICT THAT ANY PEACEKEEPING FORCE WOULD BE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FOR UP TO A YEAR. THAT RAISES THE PROSPECT THAT [AMERICAN] TROOPS WOULD BE THERE IN THE WEEKS PRECEDING NEXT YEAR'S [U-S PRESIDENTIAL] ELECTION -- A RISKY ENDEAVOR AT BEST. . . . THE POLITICAL DILEMMA FOR MR. CLINTON IS THAT DOMESTIC ISSUES ARE LIKELY TO DOMINATE IN 1996, SO IT WILL BE HARD FOR HIM TO GAIN MUCH POLITICALLY FROM ANY INTERNATIONAL SUCCESSES. BUT HE COULD LOSE HEAVILY IF PROGRESS IN PLACES LIKE . . . BOSNIA IS REVERSED, ESPECIALLY IF AMERICAN FORCES ARE KILLED."

TEXT: WHATEVER THE MISSION'S MERITS, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" BELIEVES THE IDEA OF SENDING GROUND TROOPS TO BOSNIA IS NOT POPULAR ON CAPITOL HILL.

VOICE: "THIS IS THE MOST ISOLATIONIST, PARTISAN CONGRESS IN HALF A CENTURY, AND EVEN BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION STATED ITS CASE, REPUBLICN LEADERS . . . WERE DECLARING THAT THEY WERE NOT BUYING ANY LEVEL OF DIRECT U-S PARTICIPATION. [BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE] A CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN. FOR IN THE END, CONGRESS WILL DO WHAT IT ALMOST ALWAYS DOES: STAND ON THE SIDELINES AND CARP. UNWILLING TO ASSUME POLITICAL RISK ITSELF, IT WILL NEITHER FORMALLY SUPPORT NOR OPPOSE THE SENDING OF U-S FORCES TO BOSNIA, BECAUSE TO DO SO WOULD BE TO MAKE ITSELF POLITICALLY VULNERABLE TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ACTIONS."

TEXT: "THE CHRONICLE" ADVISES PRESIDENT CLINTON SOMETIME SOON TO GO BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN A TELEVISION ADDRESS AND EXPLAIN WHY A PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN THE BALKANS WOULD BE WORTH SPILLING AMERICAN BLOOD.

HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE POWERFUL ARGUMENTS TO CONVINCE SOME MEDIA OUTLETS. FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL," FOR INSTANCE, EDITORIALIZES THAT SENDING A MASS OF TROOPS TO BOSNIA WOULD BE RISKIER THAN PREVIOUS OPERATIONS IN HAITI, SOMALIA, OR EVEN IRAQ.

VOICE: "INDEED, COMPARISONS TO THE VIETNAM DEBACLE ARE NOT OFF THE MARK, WITH AN ADDED CAUTION: THIS COULD BE EVEN WORSE, CONSIDERING THE MULTITUDE OF COMBATTING GROUPS AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. . . . BROADLY SPEAKING, YES, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SHOULDER THE NUMBER-ONE LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY IN THE WORLD. . . . THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN BOSNIA, THOUGH. THE LEADING ROLE SHOULD FALL TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WHICH HAVE AMPLE MILITARY RESOURCES. . . . FAR FEWER U-S TROOPS SHOULD BE CONTEMPLATED."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" AGREES THAT IF THE NATION'S VITAL SECURITY INTERESTS WERE STRICTLY DEFINED, THEY WOULD NOT INCLUDE INTERVENTION IN BOSNIA.

VOICE: "YET A BROADER DEFINITION INCLUDES KEEPING TO AGREEMENTS MADE WITH OUR CLOSEST ALLIES, HOLDING NATO TOGETHER AND BRINGNING ABOUT A PEACE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ROLE IN BROKERING. . . . [U-S] SENATORS SHOULD NOT LET A MODISH ISOLATIONISM OR PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS PREVENT THEM FROM APPROVING A MISSION THAT IS WORTH THE RISKS IT WILL ENTAIL."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF OPINIONS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSAL TO CONTRIBUTE ONE-THIRD OR MORE OF A PROPOSED 60,000-TROOP PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA.

NEB/TL/
19-Oct-95 3:32 PM EDT (1932 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[17] YUGO / WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE TOP U-S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS APPEAR TO HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES DURING THEIR LATEST ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE SAYS THE SERBS MAY HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: SPEAKING IN ZAGREB AFTER ANOTHER VISIT TO BOSNIA, U-S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL JOHN SHATTUCK SAYS EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF RECENT BOSNIAN-SERB WAR CRIMES.

HE SAYS THESE ACCOUNTS OF THE KILLING OF MUSLIMS AND OF THE EXPULSION OF MUSLIMS FROM THEIR HOMES IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA COULD LEAD TO MORE INDICTMENTS OF SERBS BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

MR. SHATTUCK REFERS TO WHAT HE CALLS UNCONFIRMED, BUT SIGNIFICANT AND CREDIBLE REPORTS OF MASS KILLINGS BY PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN TWO TOWNS.

HE SAYS SEVERAL-HUNDRED NON-SERB CIVILIANS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SANSKI MOST BEFORE THE BOSNIAN ARMY RECAPTURED THE TOWN FROM THE SERBS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

HE SAYS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES IN BOSANSKI NOVI -- ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN BOSNIA AND CROATIA.

BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, HAVE ALREADY BEEN INDICTED FOR EARLIER WAR CRIMES BY THE WAR-CRIMES TRIBUNAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
19-Oct-95 12:30 PM EDT (1630 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[18] YUGO TALKS (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL PEACE ENVOYS ARE HOLDING MORE TALKS WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, IN BELGRADE. EARLIER, IN ZAGREB, CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN GAVE REASSURANCES THAT A GOVERNMENT ATTACK ON REBEL SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA IS NOT IMMINENT. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: AMERICAN ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ARE AGAIN DISCUSSING PREPARATIONS FOR YUGOSLAV PEACE TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TALKS ARE TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31ST.

THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY, TANJUG, SAYS MR. HOLBROOKE AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WERE ALSO EXPECTED TO DISCUSS CROATIAN GOVERNMENT THREATS TO RECAPTURE THE REBEL SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION OF CROATIA.

YUGOSLAVIA HAS INDIRECTLY WARNED IT WOULD INTERVENE IF THE CROATIAN ARMY ATTACKS EASTERN SLAVONIA. THE TERRITORY LIES ALONG THE YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN BORDER.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN REASSURED HIM DURING A MEETING IN ZAGREB THAT THERE WILL BE NO ATTACK ON EASTERN SLAVONIA WHILE THE REGION'S FUTURE IS NEGOTIATED. BUT, MR. TUDJMAN HAS SET A NOVEMBER 30TH DEADLINE FOR AN AGREEMENT TO BE REACHED ON THE TERRITORY'S REINTEGRATION WITH THE REST OF CROATIA.

IF EASTERN SLAVONIA CANNOT BE PEACEFULLY REINTEGRATED, MR. TUDJMAN HAS SAID IT WILL BE FORCIBLY RETURNED TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

WHILE CALLING FOR RESTRAINT OVER THE EASTERN SLAVONIA QUESTION, MR. HOLBROOKE ALSO ASKED PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO DO WHAT HE CAN TO HELP STABILIZE THE CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THOUSANDS OF CROATIAN TROOPS ARE IN BOSNIA. THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ETHNIC CROATS AND, IN SOME CASES, THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS IN FIGHTING AGAINST THE SERBS.

UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB REPORT FRESH FIGHTING IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. THAT IS THE ONE AREA IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THE TRUCE HAS NOT YET REALLY TAKEN HOLD. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/GPT
19-Oct-95 11:10 AM EDT (1510 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America