Voice of America, 7 November 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE FUNERAL OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN AND THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM WORLD LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE IS THE PRINCIPAL EDITORIAL TOPIC AMONG MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY. THIS IS ELECTION DAY IN MANY STATES AND SEVERAL PAPERS ARE DEVOTING EDITORIAL SPACE TO SUPPORT PARTICULAR CANDIDATES AND DEBATE ISSUES IN THEIR REGIONS. OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS IN OHIL; THE LATEST TROUBLES AT THE C-I-A, AND A DISPUTE OVER NATIVE AMERICAN GAMBLING CASINOS. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE MOST COMMON TOPIC OF THE LEADING U-S DAILIES IS THE FUNERAL FOR ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN AND WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR ISRAEL. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OFFERS THESE COMMENTS:

VOICE: "THE EYES OF ISRAEL AND MUCH OF THE WORLD WERE ON MOUNT HERZL IN JERUSALEM YESTERDAY AS YITZHAK RABIN -- SOLDIER, POLITICAL LEADER, PEACEMAKER AND THE LAST REPRESENTATIVE OF A FOUNDING GENERATION THAT LITERALLY CREATED THE STATE OF ISRAEL WITH ITS BARE HANDS -- WAS LAID TO REST... KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN CAPTURED IN HIS PRESENCE AND HIS WORDS MR. RABIN'S FINAL CONTRIBUTION AS A PIONEER OF REGIONAL PEACE. HE SPOKE OF 'A BROTHER, A COLLEAGUE, A FRIEND, A MAN, A SOLDIER,' A MAN WHOM HE TRUSTED, THOUGH THEY STOOD FOR SO LONG ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A GREAT DIVIDE."

TEXT: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE BURIAL OF MR. RABIN, "A TIME FOR ISRAEL TO MARK ITS GAINS", ADDING:

VOICE: "THE EXTRAORDINARY INTERNATIONAL TRIBUTE PAID TO YITZHAK RABIN IN JERUSALEM ON MONDAY WAS BOTH A DESERVED HONOR TO A COURAGEOUS AND ADMIRED WARRIOR-STATESMAN AND A STRONG DISPLAY OF SUPPORT FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO MAKING PEACE WITH ISRAEL'S ENEMIES. THE FUNERAL ... DREW MORE THAN 40 HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ... INCLUDING EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK, AN OBVIOUSLY GRIEVING KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN AND MINISTERS FROM [FOUR OTHER ISLAMIC STATES] MAURITANIA, MOROCCO, OMAN AND QATAR... THE IMPLICIT MESSAGE OF THIS GLOBAL SHOW OF RESPECT WILL NOT BE LOST ON MOST ISRAELIS. HERE WAS A PORTION OF THE PEACE DIVIDEND."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" LOOKS TO ISRAEL'S FUTURE AND TALKS OF THE BURDEN SHIFTED TO THE SHOULDERS OF ACTING PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES.

VOICE: "FEW COUNTRIES HAVE SUCH A FORMIDABLY EQUIPPED NUMBER TWO STANDING BY. YET, THOUGH HE HAS OCCUPIED ISRAEL'S HIGHEST POLITICAL POSTS AND ENJOYS INTERNATIONAL STATURE, MR. PERES FACES A CHALLENGE EVEN WITHIN HIS OWN LABOR PARTY. ONLY IN SECURITY-HYPERCONSCIOUS ISRAEL COULD THIS RESULT BEFALL THE ARCHITECT OF A NATIONAL NUCLEAR BOMB PROGRAM... DON'T COUNT ON THE MARTYRDOM OF YITZHAK RABIN TO GIVE HIS SUCCESSOR A RESPITE AT HOME. "

TEXT: AND IN NEW ENGLAND, TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SPEAKS OF WHAT IT CALLS, "NEW REALITIES IN JERUSALEM":

VOICE: "THE FUNERAL ... WAS A UNIQUE CEREMONY, AN OCCASION OF STATE THAT BECAME SIMULTANEOUSLY AN EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL GRIEF FROM ISRAELIS AND FOREIGN GUESTS WHO HAD KNOWN THE TOUGH OLD SOLDIER AND ADMIRED HIS LEADERSHIP AS A PEACEMAKER. ABOVE ALL, THE EVENT DEMONSTRATED THE TRUTH OF WHAT [PRIME MINISTER] RABIN HAD TOLD ISRAELIS WHEN HE ASSUMED POWER THREE YEARS AGO: THAT THEY COULD CEASE CONCEIVING OF THEIR COUNTRY AS WEAK AND ISOLATED. 'NO LONGER ARE WE NECESSARILY A PEOPLE THAT DWELL ALONE,' HE SAID THEN, 'AND NO LONGER IS IT TRUE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST US.' [OPT]..... THE LEADER OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT, SHIMON PERES, MIGHT ... WANT TO CREATE A RENEWED MANDATE FOR PEACE BY CALLING ELECTIONS WHILE THERE IS A POPULAR DISPOSITION TO AFFIRM [MR.] RABIN'S POLITICAL LEGACY. IF [MR.] PERES WAITS UNTIL THE SCHEDULED DATE OF NOVEMBER 1996, HE WILL RISK HAVING ... SUPPORT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE FRITTER AWAY ..."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" REMEMBERS MR. RABIN WITH THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "YITZHAK RABIN'S KILLER FIRED BULLETS THAT RIPPED THROUGH THE SOUL OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. NOW FREE, PLURALISTIC SOCIETIES MOURN THE PASSING OF A REMARKABLE LEADER WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO RISK PURSUING FIERCELY UNPOPULAR POLICIES. .... FOR THIS HE WAS REVILED, CONDEMNED, AND FINALLY ASSASSINATED. MR. RABIN IS A MARTYR TO THE RULE OF LAW, PRINCIPLED COMPROMISE, AND THE COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE. ... MR. RABIN'S DEATH .... IS A CALL TO SANITY IN A NATION THAT CAN NEVER ALLOW ITS SECTARIAN POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO ERUPT IN ACTS OF FRATERNAL VIOLENCE THAT ARE AIMED AT ITS VERY EXISTENCE - - JUST AS SURELY AS ARE THE BOMBS OF SYRIA, IRAQ, OR PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS."

[END OPT]

TEXT: AMONG TUESDAY'S OTHER EDITORIAL TOPICS IS CONCERN THAT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES PROCEEDINGS IN THE NETHERLANDS MIGHT AFFECT THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS UNDERWAY IN OHIO. "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: "THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES IN BOSNIA [HERZEGOVINA] IS ABOUT TO THROW A GIANT MONKEY WRENCH IN THE CLANKING GEARS OF THE BALKAN PEACE PROCESS NOW UNDERWAY IN DAYTON, OHIO. THE ABSURDITY OF IT IS BREATHTAKING. THE UNITED NATIONS TRIBUNAL HAS MADE A FORMAL REQUEST ... THAT ANY PEACE ACCORD ... BE MADE CONTINGENT ON THE SURRENDER OF WAR-CRIMES SUSPECTS. ONE SUCH SUSPECT -- ... NOT YET INDICTED -- IS SERB PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, A KEY PLAYER IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. WITHOUT [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S COOPERATION, EVERYONE MAY AS WELL PACK UP AND GET THE FIRST FLIGHT FROM DAYTON."

TEXT: IN TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL", THERE IS CONCERN OVER ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE BOSNIAN TALKS -- THE AMBITIONS OF CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN.

VOICE: "BOLSTERED BY MILITARY VICTORY AND NEAR ABSOLUTE CONTROL OVER HIS COUNTRY, MR. TUDJMAN'S SHEEP'S CLOTHING IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY FRAYED. HE HAS CONTINUALLY THREATENED TO DISPATCH HIS FORCES TO RECAPTURE SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA AND HAS MADE LITTLE EFFORT TO HIDE HIS AMBITIONS FOR SEEING A GOOD CHUNK OF BOSNIA FALL UNDER CROATIAN CONTROL. NO WONDER THE BOSNIANS DON'T MUCH TRUST MR. TUDJMAN."

TEXT: ON THE LATEST DISCLOSURES FROM THE C-I-A THAT THE AGENCY KNOWINGLY SENT SUSPECT INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION TO SEVERAL PRESIDENTS RATHER THAN ADMIT ITS FOREIGN OPERATIONS HAD BEEN COMPROMISED, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WRITES:

VOICE: "THE U-S, LIKE ANY OTHER MAJOR NATION, NEEDS A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. IT MUST BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ON TOP OF THE NEEDS OF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM. BUT THE C-I-A IS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, A SERVICE AGENCY, FULFILLING WASHINGTON'S QUEST FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION -- NOT A SECRET SUB-GOVERNMENT SERVING ITS OWN ENDS."

TEXT: FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SEVERAL NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES HAVE BEEN MAKING MONEY WITH GAMBLING CASINOS THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO U-S LAWS BECAUSE MANY INDIAN TRIBES ARE SOVEREIGN NATIONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. NOW CONGRESS WANTS TO TAX THE PROFITS FROM THESE CASINOS, DRAWING THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES":

VOICE: "THE WAY THE TAX IS WRITTEN, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE TREATED AS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GAMING REVENUES ARE TREATED AS 'UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME'. IT MUST BE NEWS TO THE TRIBES THAT THEY ARE MERE CHARITIES, RATHER THAN SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. ON RESERVATIONS, TRIBAL AUTHORITIES ARE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BOTH IN FACE AND IN WELL-ESTABLISHED LAW... IF FOR NO BETTER REASON THAN THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT BE ... INCREASING ANYBODY'S TAXES, [HOUSE AND SENATE] CONFEREES SHOULD ... JETTISON THE HOUSE TAX ON INDIAN GAMING."

TEXT: AND ON THAT DOMESTIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS AMERICANS ARE PONDERING THIS ELECTION DAY IN THE UNITED STATES. NEB/ANG/PCH 07-Nov-95 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] PERRY BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (HOHENFELS)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IS IN GERMANY VISITING AMERICAN TROOPS DUE TO BE DEPLOYED FOR PEACEKEEPING DUTY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE MEETS RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PAVEL GRACHEV WEDNESDAY FOR ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO FIND A ROLL FOR RUSSIA IN THE NATO-LED IMPLEMENTATION FORCE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM HOHENFELS, GERMANY.

TEXT: MR. PERRY JOINED U-S FORCES IN THE FIELD AMID FROSTY WEATHER IN SOUTHERN GERMANY TO OBSERVE EXERCISES INTENDED TO SIMULATE CONDITIONS AND SITUATIONS THEY MIGHT CONFRONT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE TROOPS FROM THE U-S ARMY'S FIRST ARMORED DIVISION AND FIFTH CORPS WILL MAKE UP THE BULK OF THE 20-THOUSAND SOLDIER FORCE THE UNITED STATES HAS PLEDGED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS.

THE NATO FORCE OF ABOUT 60-THOUSAND TROOPS IS TO BEGIN MOVING INTO BOSNIA BY AIR, SEA, AND LAND IMMEDIATELY UPON THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS UNDERWAY AT DAYTON, OHIO. THE TRAINING EXERCISES -- INCLUDING SUCH ACTIVITIES AS POLICING MILITARY ZONES, CLEARING MINE FIELDS AND CONFRONTING URBAN TERRORISTS -- ARE TAKING ON SOME URGENCY.

THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY TOURED TRAINING FACILITIES WITH HIS GERMAN COUNTERPART, VOLKER RUHE. MR. PERRY SAID HE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSURE AN AMERICAN PUBLIC AND CONGRESS LEERY ABOUT BOSNIAN INVOLVEMENT U-S TROOPS WILL BE WELL TRAINED FOR THE MISSION.

I PLAN WHEN I RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES TO DESCRIBE TO CONGRESS AND TO THE PUBLIC, THE LEVEL OF TRAINING, THE LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY WHICH OUR TROOPS HAVE. SO ANYBODY WHO WAS CONCERNED THAT WE MAY NOT BE READY, WE MAY NOT BE TRAINED, A VISIT HERE WOULD CERTAINLY REMOVE THAT IMPRESSION. THESE TROOPS ARE GOING TO BE AS WELL TRAINED FOR A MILITARY OPERATION AS ANY TROOPS IN HISTORY HAVE BEEN.

MR. PERRY FLIES TO BRUSSELS WEDNESDAY FOR WHAT HE SAYS WILL BE ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE STALEMATE OVER RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING. RUSSIA HAS SAID IT WANTS TO TAKE PART IN THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, BUT IT REJECTS PLACING ITS TROOPS UNDER A UNIFIED NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE. THE UNITED STATES INSISTS THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE BE UNDER NATO COMMAND.

LAST MONTH IN KANSAS, MR. PERRY AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART AGREED TO CREATE A JOINT NON-COMBAT FORCE OF MILITARY ENGINEERS AND TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS OUTSIDE NATO TO SUPPORT THE BOSNIA PEACEKEEPERS. BUT THEY DID NOT DEVISE A FORMULA THAT WOULD ALLOW RUSSIANS TO JOIN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

MR. PERRY SAYS HAVING RUSSIANS TAKE PART WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO FUTURE SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE. BUT, HE SAYS IF THE ISSUE CANNOT BE SOLVED AT THE BRUSSELS MEETING, THEN ALL OPTIONS WILL HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/MH/RAE
07-Nov-95 10:43 AM EST (1543 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] U-S / BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS COOPERATING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR GETS EVERYTHING HE NEEDS FOR PROSECUTION OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS CONFIRMED JUDGE RICHARD GOLDSTONE HAS WRITTEN THE UNITED STATES COMPLAINING THERE IS A LAG TIME IN PROVIDING VITAL INFORMATION THE TRIBUNAL NEEDS TO PROSECUTE SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE LETTER ALSO PRAISES U-S COOPERATION WITH THE TRIBUNAL BASED IN THE NETHERLANDS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM ALL AGENCIES OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF INFORMATION IN SOME CASES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REQUESTS THAT SOMETIMES ARE DIFFICULT TO FERRET OUT OF A GOVERNMENT THAT IS AS LARGE AS OURS AND WE'RE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO COMPLY WITH A REQUEST AS WELL AS WE CAN.

THE TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR HAS ASKED FOR U-S INFORMATION TO CONFIRM A REPORT IN THE NEWSDAY NEWSPAPER THE UNITED STATES HAS INTERCEPTED CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, AND GENERAL MOMCILO PERISIC, THE HEAD OF THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL ARMY. THE CONVERSATIONS CONCERN THE BOSNIAN-SERB CONQUEST OF THE U-N DESIGNATED SAFE HAVEN OF SREBRENICA. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/BD/RAE
07-Nov-95 3:20 PM EST (2020 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] U-S / RUSSIA / BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, PAVEL GRACHEV, ARE TO MEET (WEDNESDAY) IN BRUSSELS IN ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIND A WAY TO BRING RUSSIAN TROOPS INTO BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS. MOSCOW CONTINUES TO RESIST THE U-S DEMAND ALL PEACEKEEPING UNITS BE UNDER NATO COMMAND. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE BELGIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: MR. PERRY AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART MEET FOR THE THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN A MONTH AS THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR A FORMULA THAT WILL GIVE RUSSIAN TROOPS A ROLE IN BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING.

SECRETARY PERRY SAYS U-S/RUSSIAN COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING PEACE IN BOSNIA IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE SECURITY OF EUROPE. BUT RUSSIA HAS RESISTED PUTTING FORCES IT CONTRIBUTES UNDER NATO CONTROL. AS HE VISITED U-S TROOPS TRAINING TUESDAY IN GERMANY FOR DUTY IN BOSNIA, MR. PERRY SAID THE U-S DEMAND FOR A UNIFIED COMMAND OF THE 60-THOUSAND MEMBER FORCE HAS NOT CHANGED.

WE HAVE A SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT AND IT IS THAT NATO MUST HAVE A CLEAN, UNITARY LINE OF COMMAND. WE WELCOME RUSSIAN FORCES AS WE DO FORCES OF OTHER NATIONS, BUT IT HAS TO BE A SINGLE LINE OF COMMAND.

WHILE MR. PERRY HAS SAID HIS MEETING WITH GENERAL GRACHEV AT THE U-S MISSION TO NATO IN BRUSSELS WILL BE THEIR LAST ON THE SUBJECT, U-S OFFICIALS SAY BOTH SIDES HAVE NEW IDEAS AND AN AGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/BD/RAE
07-Nov-95 3:14 PM EST (2014 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] YUGO SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ATTEMPTS TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR CROATIA HAVE STALLED, AMID CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE CHIEF U-S MEDIATOR IS GOING TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER HE AND THE U-N NEGOTIATOR FAILED TO PERSUADE CROATIAN SERBS TO ACCEPT REVISED PEACE PROPOSALS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: FOLLOWING THE CROATIAN-SERBS REJECTION OF THE LATEST PEACE PROPOSALS, U-S MEDIATOR PETER GALBRAITH WILL FLY TO THE UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY.

MR. GALBRAITH, THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA, AND U-N MEDIATOR THORVALD STOLTENBERG, HAD UNSUCCESSFUL TALKS WITH THE CROATIAN SERBS LAST WEEKEND.

THE LACK OF PROGRESS AT THE PEACE TALKS IN CROATIA IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCUSSED AT SUMMIT-LEVEL NEGOTIATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN PLANS TO RETURN SOON TO THE U-S AIR FORCE BASE WHERE NEGOTIATIONS ARE BEING HELD. HE HAS SET A NOVEMBER 30TH DEADLINE FOR AN AGREEMENT FOR SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA TO BE REINTEGRATED WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. THE U-N PEACE-KEEPING MANDATE IN CROATIA EXPIRES NOVEMBER 30TH.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS TAKE SERIOUSLY MR. TUDJMAN'S THREAT TO RECAPTURE EASTERN SLAVONIA BY FORCE IF HIS DEADLINE IS NOT MET. NEGOTIATORS FEAR A CROATIAN ARMY ATTACK ON THE REGION COULD LEAD TO YUGOSLAV INTERVENTION.

A SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT IN CROATIA IS CRUCIAL TO A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR NEIGHBORING BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING WELL. BUT, SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO IS ALSO IN OHIO, IS APPARENTLY NOT SO PLEASED.

MR. MILOSEVIC IS SAID TO BE RESISTING U-S AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT DEMANDS WAR CRIMINALS NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD OFFICE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COMMANDER GENERAL RATKO MLADIC HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
07-Nov-95 10:10 AM EST (1510 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] YUGO TRIBUNAL APPEAL (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- ANTONIO CASSESSE -- HAS APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT IN BRINGING SUSPECTS TO JUSTICE. IN A SPEECH (TUESDAY) TO THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MR. CASSESSE COMPLAINED THE FAILURE OF GOVERNMENTS TO COOPERATE AND TO FINANCE THE TRIBUNAL IS HAMPERING ITS WORK. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL NOTED ONLY 15 OF THE UNITED NATIONS' 185 MEMBERS HAVE ENACTED LAWS TO HELP THE COURT FUNCTION PROPERLY. HE SAID, THE COURT HAS NO ENFORCEMENT POWERS TO PURSUE SUSPECTS, AND DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE COOPERATION OF GOVERNMENTS:

OUR TRIBUNAL IS LIKE A GIANT WHO HAS NO ARMS AND NO LEGS. TO WALK AND WORK, HE NEEDS ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. THESE ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. THESE ARTIFICIAL LIMBS ARE THE STATE AUTHORITIES. WITHOUT THEIR HELP, THE TRIBUNAL CANNOT OPERATE.

MR. CASSESSE NOTED BELGRADE AND BOSNIAN-SERB AUTHORITIES IN PALE HAVE TOTALLY BLOCKED EFFORTS TO TURN OVER ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS. HE SAID POSSIBLE WITNESSES FROM THOSE AREAS FEAR REPRISALS AND ARE RELUCTANT TO COME FORWARD.

THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS INDICTED 43 PEOPLE -- ALMOST ALL LIVING ON TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY SERBIA OR THE SERBS OF BOSNIA.

THE U-N FINANCIAL CRISIS IS ALSO AFFECTING THE TRIBUNAL. ITS PRESIDENT STRESSED INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRE MONEY THE COURT DOES NOT READILY HAVE:

ALL OF THESE UNDERTAKINGS ARE COSTLY. OF THAT, THERE IS NO DOUBT. BUT IF THE UNITED NATIONS WANTS TO HEAR THE VOICE OF JUSTICE SPEAK LOUDLY AND CLEARLY, THEN THE MEMBER STATES MUST BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE.

MR. CASSESSE WARNED THE FAILURE OF THE TRIBUNAL WOULD DEAL A FATAL BLOW TO THE ONE SET UP TO TRY CRIMES OF GENOCIDE IN RWANDA -- AND TO HOPES FOR A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

MR. CASSESSE TRIED TO DE-LINK THE TRIBUNAL'S WORK FROM THE BALKAN PEACE TALKS. HE SAID A PERMANENT PEACE AGREEMENT MUST BE BASED ON JUSTICE. THE TALKS BEING HELD NOW IN THE UNITED STATES ARE REPORTED NEAR DEADLOCK OVER THE WAR CRIMES ISSUE. (SIGNED) NEB/RAE 07-Nov-95 12:55 PM EST (1755 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America