Voice of America, 6 December 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: POLITICAL TURMOIL IN TWO NATIONS, CAUSED BY A DEEPENING SCANDAL IN SOUTH KOREA AND LABOR STRIKES IN FRANCE, ARE HIGH AMONG THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE WHITEWATER HEARINGS; HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH'S ON-GOING TROUBLES; THE FEDERAL BUDGET BATTLE AND DEALING WITH AMERICA'S POOR. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK TODAY'S NEWSPAPER COMMENTS IS _________________AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE GROWING SOUTH KOREAN POLITICAL SCANDAL THAT HAS SO FAR SEEN THE NATION'S PAST TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION WHILE IN OFFICE, CONTINUES TO AROUSE THE INTEREST OF AMERICAN PAPERS. TODAY'S "NEW YORK POST" LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: "[OPT] SOUTH KOREA, GEOGRAPHICALLY HALF A WORLD AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES, IS NOT FAR FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF MANY AMERICANS. NEW YORKERS HAVE SEEN A LARGE AND DYNAMIC POPULATION OF KOREAN IMMIGRANTS GROW UP IN THEIR MIDST OVER THE ... LAST 20 YEARS. MEANWHILE, HISTORY STILL RECORDS WITH HONOR THE FACT 54-THOUSAND AMERICAN SERVICEMEN [AND WOMEN] DIED IN KOREA... FOR THESE REASONS, [END OPT] THE EVENTS ... NOW ROCKING SOUTH KOREA -- CULMINATING IN THE RECENT ARREST OF FORMER STRONGMAN CHUN DOO HWAN ON CHARGES RELATED TO HIS ROLE IN THE 1980 KWANGIU MASSACRE -- CANNOT BUT CONCERN AMERICANS... BUT AMERICANS WOULD BE WISE TO HOPE THAT WHEN [FORMER PRESIDENTS] CHUN AND ROH COME TO TRIAL, KOREAN JUSTICE ARRIVES AT A SOLUTION THAT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES AND RESPECTS THE CONTRIBUTION THESE MEN MADE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROSPEROUS AND FREE SOUTH KOREA."

TEXT: ON THE PACIFIC COAST, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" TODAY ADDS THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "WITH THE ARREST OF TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS AND THE INDICTMENT OF A DOZEN LEADING BUSINESSMEN ON CORRUPTION CHARGES, SOUTH KOREA IS BEING BROUGHT INTO A PAINFUL CONFRONTATION WITH ITS RECENT PAST. OUT OF THE PENDING CRIMINAL CASES AND THE INEVITABLE POLITICAL TURMOIL COULD COME A MORE STABLE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND A STRONGER DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE EVER WIDENING LABOR UNREST IN FRANCE, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS:

VOICE: "LIKE THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED HUGE SPENDING CUTS TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. ONLY PARIS WOULD ACCOMPLISH ITS SURGERY OVER ABOUT TWO YEARS, RATHER THAN THE SEVEN THE REPUBLICANS PLAN. LITTLE WONDER, THEN, THAT FRANCE'S PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAVE GONE ON STRIKE, CRIPPLING PARIS FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS... BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT FRENCH VOTERS BROUGHT FISCAL AUSTERITY UPON THEMSELVES WHEN THEY DECIDED IN 1992 TO DROP THE FRANC AND ADOPT A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY."

TEXT: THE FRENCH TURMOIL ALSO DRAWS THIS EDITORIAL RESPONSE FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S LARGEST DAILY, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER":

VOICE: "IF YOU THINK U-S BUDGET-CUTTING IS CAUSING GRIDLOCK, TRY TAKING THE ... PARIS SUBWAY... AMERICANS MADE UNEASY BY CONGRESS' SHREDDING OF THEIR SOCIAL SAFETY NET MAY LOOK WITH AWE AT EUROPE'S SOCIAL DEMOCRACIES. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, POVERTY LEVELS ARE MUCH LOWER. [OPT] CITIZENS OF MOST WEST EUROPEAN NATIONS WILLINGLY PAY HIGH TAXES TO FUND GENEROUS GOVERNMENT PENSIONS, WELFARE BENEFITS, HEALTH PLANS AND STUDENT AID THAT DWARF AMERICAN BENEFITS. [END OPT] ... BUT, LEST AMERICANS FEEL TOO ENVIOUS, THESE EUROPEAN DEFICITS ARE GROWING SO LARGE ... THE CONTINENT IS BEGINNING ITS OWN BATTLE OVER ENTITLEMENTS. IN FRANCE, THE BATTLE HAS TAKEN ON THE TRAPPINGS OF A WAR."

TEXT: IN YET ANOTHER LEAD EDITORIAL, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, VIEWS THE FRENCH SITUATION THIS WAY:

VOICE: "PARIS HAS COME TO A HALT AND FRANCE TO PARALYSIS IN A BRUTAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE 1990S AND THE 1960S, THE NEW RIGHT AND OLD LEFT, THE FUTURE AND THE PAST. IN THE INTEREST OF EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION, A STRONG FRENCH ECONOMY AND A HEALTHY EUROPE, PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SHOULD PREVAIL IN THIS STRUGGLE... THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM IS A POLITICAL BLUNDER BUT AN ECONOMIC NECESSITY. IF MR. CHIRAC CANNOT CONVINCE THE FRENCH PEOPLE OF THE NEED FOR IT, FRANCE WILL BE BACK IN THE 1960S AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE AS POOR AS THEY WERE THEN."

TEXT: THE SECOND ROUND OF THE U-S SENATE'S SO-CALLED WHITEWATER HEARINGS CONTINUE TO GENERATE CRITICAL COMMENT IN SEVERAL DAILY PAPERS. TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" LEAD EDITORIAL SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "THE PRESENT INQUIRY BY THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE INTO THE WHITEWATER MESS HAS ... BEEN HIGHLY INSTRUCTIVE... AT THE VERY LEAST THE HEARINGS HAVE REINFORCED THE IMPRESSION THAT THE WHITE HOUSE AND ITS LOYALISTS IN KEY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WENT TO PUZZLING LENGTHS TO HOBBLE LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THOSE LONG-AGO EVENTS IN ARKANSAS AND THE DEATH OF VINCENT FOSTER, THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL."

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POLITICAL FUND RAISING ORGANIZATION ONCE HEADED BY REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE:

VOICE: "THE KEY YEARS IN THE GINGRICH CASE ARE 1989 AND 1990. THAT WAS WHEN GOPAC IS CHARGED WITH HAVING ILLEGALLY AND SECRETLY FUNNELED 250-THOUSAND FOR 'NEWT SUPPORT' IN A TIGHE ELECTION THE GEORGIAN WON BY ONLY 974 VOTES. HIS OPPONENT HAS CHARGED HE STOLE THE ELECTION. WHETHER THE SPEAKER CAN FOB OFF POLITICAL FRAUD CHARGES MORE EFFECTIVELY THAT DID (FORMER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN) JIM WRIGHT (WHO WAS FORCED TO RESIGN) IS A MATTER OF CONJECTURE. FOR NOW, THE DEMOCRATS ARE RELISHING THE COUTINUED TRUTH OF THAT OLD POLITICAL ADAGE: 'WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.'"

TEXT: ON THE CONTINUED BUDGET STALEMATE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: "SOME REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING IT AS A POSITIVE SIGN THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS FINALLY AGREED TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS IN EARNEST BY OFFERING A SEVEN-YEAR BALANCED-BUDGET PLAN. WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF LEON PANETTA IS PREDICTING THAT THE PRESIDENT'S NEWEST BUDGET PLAN WILL BE DELIVERED BY THE END OF THE WEEK, AT WHICH POINT REPUBLICANS WILL BE EXPECTED TO START WORKING OUT COMPROMISES. BUT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE ANY COMPROMISES BEING WORKED OUT, GIVEN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN BEING LEAKED OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE."

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" TAKES ON TWO FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES TODAY, BOSNIA AND EAST TIMOR. ON THE FORMER, "THE MONITOR" ASKS:

VOICE: "CAN EUROPE, IN THE AGE OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, PUT ITS WARRING PAST FAR ENOUGH BEHIND TO RIVET TOGETHER A COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE THAT COULD MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN SECURITY? ... EUROPE'S DESTINY IS PRIMARILY IN EUROPEAN HANDS, AND THAT SHOULD INCLUDE, ULTIMATELY, THE CAPACITY TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF SECURITY AND PEACE."

TEXT: ON SEPARATIST EAST TIMOR, WHERE AT LEAST 200-THOUSAND LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF INDONESIAN FORCES, "THE MONITOR" PLEADS: "DON'T FORGET EAST TIMOR," AND CALLS FOR A U-N PRESENCE ON THE ASIAN ISLAND.

VOICE: "... THE ABUSES IN TINY EAST TIMOR ALL TOO EASILY FADE FROM VIEW. THAT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED. A U-N RIGHTS-MONITORING PRESENCE IS NEEDED."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" TALKS ABOUT THE POOR IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOW ATTITUDES ABOUT THEM ARE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET DEBATE.

VOICE: "WE CLING TO THE MYTH THAT AMERICA HAS BECOME A PERFECT MERITOCRACY, WHEN ALL FAILURES CAN BE TRACED TO LACK OF CHARACTER... WE CAN'T ABIDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IN THIS INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED WORLD INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SIMPLY LACK THE ABILITY TO COPE. WE CAN'T ACCEPT THAT A STRONG BACK AND A HEALTHY WORK ETHIC ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE OF SELF-CRITICISM, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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06-Dec-95 11:40 AM EST (1640 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT

VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT -- 12/6/95 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).

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE US PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE WOULD BE THREATENED IF THE UNITED STATES TURNS ITS BACK ON ENFORCING PEACE IN BOSNIA. CONTINUING HIS DAILY PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF A US ROLE IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE SEES AS GROWING SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FOR THE COMMITMENT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (12/6)

TUZLA / LANDING -- THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY PLANE HAS ARRIVED IN THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF TUZLA WHERE TWENTY THOUSAND US TROOPS WILL BE DEPLOYED AS PART OF THE NATO PEACE ENFORCEMENT MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (12/6)

GERMANY / BOSNIA -- THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT HAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE DISPATCH OF FOUR THOUSAND TROOPS TO SUPPORT THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN. (12/6)

PERRY / RUSSIA -- US DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THE INCLUSION OF RUSSIA IN THE NATO-LED BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE MAY OPEN A NEW ERA OF SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE. MORE THAN FIFTEEN HUNDRED RUSSIAN COMBAT TROOPS WILL PATROL ALONGSIDE US FORCES IN EASTERN BOSNIA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS. (12/5)

CLINTON / BOSNIA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON WEDNESDAY MEETS WITH FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS TO DISCUSS PLANS TO SEND TWENTY THOUSAND US PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IT IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF WHITE HOUSE EVENTS THIS WEEK AIMED AT WINNING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. (12/5)

CONGRESS / BOSNIA -- TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS HAVE URGED CONGRESS AND THE NATION TO STAND BEHIND PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS THE SENATE IS NOW EXPECTED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. (12/5)

ISLAMIC FIGHTERS / BOSNIA -- AS US TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, ONE CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF MUSLIM FIGHTERS, OR MUJAHEDIN, WHO HAVE COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. REPORTER ED WARNER ASKED THREE ANALYSTS ABOUT THE INFLUENCE AND POSSIBLE DANGER FROM MUSLIM EXTREMISTS. (12/6)

EU / BOSNIA -- NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA, EXPRESSING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP IN THE RESOLUTION OF BOSNIAN CRISIS. THEY ALSO NAMED SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER J SOLANA AS A NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF NATO. STRINGER DRAGAN BLAGOJEVIC REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

UN TROOPS / BOSNIA -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS ON UN OFFICIALS STATEMENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF FRENCH AND BRITISH TROOPS IN BOSNIA WILL STAY AND THE REST WILL START LEAVING AFTER THE FINAL BOSNIAN AGREEMENT IS SIGNED ON DECEMBER 14 IN PARIS. HE ALSO REPORTED ON THE BOSNIAN SERB DECISION TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN SERB-HELD PARTS ON SARAJEVO. HOWEVER, UN OFFICIALS SAID THIS REFERENDUM WILL NOT ALTER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. (CROATIAN 12/5)

NATO / BOSNIA -- WHILE THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION TO THE ARRIVAL OF NATO UNITS IN BOSNIA, BOSNIAN SERB MEDIA CONTINUE THEIR CALL FOR GUARANTEES FOR THE SERBIAN-HELD SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO WHICH ARE TO REVERT TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. AT THE SAME TIME, A UN REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE SERB REFERENDUM, SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 12TH, WAS NOT IMPORTANT. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

US EXPERTS / BOSNIA -- A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS HAVE JOINED TO FORM THE COMMITTEE FOR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN BOSNIA. THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DEPLOYMENT OF US TROOPS TO BOSNIA AND SENT AN OPEN LETTER TO US CONGRESS ASKING FOR CLEAR EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION. STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

HUMAN RIGHTS / CROATIA -- THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SADAKO OGATA CONFERRED WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN AND FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC ABOUT PLANS TO RETURN REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES. MS OGATA AND THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT ALSO RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE MUSLIM REFUGEES, FOLLOWERS OF THE MUSLIM RENEGADE FIKRET ABDIC. THE REFUGEES ARE NOW IN THE KUPLENSKO CAMP ON THE NORTHERN BORDER BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, AND REFUSE TO GO BACK TO BOSNIA. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 12/5)

TUDJMAN / OGATA -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN MET WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, S OGATA. CROATIAN AUTHORITIES URGED THAT THE RESETTLEMENT OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES BEGIN WITH THOSE THAT ARE STILL IN CROATIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FORM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 12/5)

CROATIA / ZAGREB MAYOR -- THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSED THE MOVE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ZAGREB TO NAME THE NEW MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL CITY. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC INTERVIEWED THREE OPPOSITION LEADERS AND ALL OF THEM INSIST THAT THEIR COALITION WON SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE CROATIAN CAPITAL, AND THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE RULING PARTY TO NAME THE NEW MAYOR OF ZAGREB. (CROATIAN 12/5)

SERBS / DAYTON -- THE DAYTON AGREEMENT BRING CHANGES NOT ONLY TO BOSNIA, BUT ALSO TO THE NEIGHBORING STATES OF CROATIA AND SERBIA, ACCORDING TO SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS. THE CHANGES INCLUDE BOTH POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS. (SERBIAN 12/5)

BOSNIA / US INFANTRY -- REPORTER TOM CROSBY TALKED WITH RETIRED US ARMY COLONEL HARRY SUMMERS. NOTING THAT US ARMORED UNITS ARE HEADING INTO BOSNIA FOR PEACEKEEPING, COLONEL SUMMERS SAID HE CONSIDERS BOSNIA'S TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR ARMOR. HE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE AN INFANTRY OPERATION. HOWEVER, HE ALSO THINKS THE US WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IF PEACEKEEPERS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAD BEEN SENT UNDER UN AUSPICES INTO BOSNIA INSTEAD OF PEACEKEEPERS FROM THE MAJOR POWERS, SUCH AS THE US AND RUSSIA. (ENP 12/5) 06-Dec-95 4:46 PM EST (2146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY ( SARAJEVO )

INTRO: AS THE FIRST NATO TROOPS CONTINUE TO TRICKLE INTO BOSNIA, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE BEGUN BURNING HOMES IN TERRITORY NEAR THE EASTERN ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE THAT WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE BOSNIAN CROATS ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT A SCORCHED EARTH POLICY ON LAND IN CENTRAL BOSNIA THEY MUST TURN OVER TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE HANDOVER OF TERRITORY BETWEEN THE SIDES IN BOSNIA IS THE MOST CONTENTIOUS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO BURN HOMES IN TERRITORY AROUND THE GORAZDE ENCLAVE IN EASTERN BOSNIA, WHICH, UNDER THE PEACE PLAN, MUST BE TURNED OVER TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL. U-N OBSERVERS SAY A DOZEN HOUSES IN A VILLAGE SOUTH OF GORAZDE HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, AND THERE ARE GROWING FEARS ALL SIDES WILL PURSUE A SCORCHED EARTH POLICY IN AREAS THAT ARE TO BE HANDED OVER.

THE BURNING BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A BOSNIAN CROAT CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. MEN IN BOSNIAN CROAT UNIFORMS HAVE BEEN LOOTING AND BURNING HOMES AND FACTORIES ON LAND WHICH WILL GO THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

U-N SPOKESMAN ALEX IVANKO SAYS 40 PERCENT OF THE HOUSES IN THE AREA HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, AND THE PACE OF THE OPERATION IS INCREASING.

WE SEE AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TO A DOZEN HOUSES BEING BURNED AND LOOTED EVERY DAY. WE HAVE PROTESTED TO THE CROATIAN AUTHORITIES LOCALLY, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE, THOUGH WE WERE PROMISED THESE ACTIONS WOULD CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS DO CHOOSE TO LAY WASTE TO ANY AREAS THEY MUST TURN OVER, THE GREATEST IMPACT WILL BE IN SARAJEVO. MUCH OF THE AREA AROUND GORAZDE IS ALREADY IN RUINS FROM THE WAR, BUT UP TO 40-THOUSAND SERBS LIVE IN THE PARTS OF SARAJEVO THAT MUST BE HANDED OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT. DESPITE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO REASSURE THE SERBS IN THESE AREAS, IT IS LIKELY MOST WILL CHOOSE TO LEAVE, AND MANY HAVE ALREADY SAID EVERYTHING WILL BE PUT TO THE TORCH BEFORE THE AREAS ARE HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

U-N AND NATO OFFICIALS ARE ANXIOUS TO AVOID PRESIDING OVER THE DESTRUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, INCLUDING DOZENS OF TALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND FACTORIES, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LITTLE THAT CAN BE DONE.

RATHER THAN ACCEPTING THE PEACE PLAN, DAY BY DAY THE RESIDENTS OF SERB-HELD SARAJEVO ARE GROWING MORE RADICALIZED, AND THERE ARE RISING FEARS SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF SERBS MAY FIGHT IF NATO TROOPS TRY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AREA.

WITH SNOW NOW FIRMLY BLANKETING MOST OF BOSNIA, THE FIRST NATO TROOPS ARE CONTINUING TO TRICKLE INTO THE COUNTRY, BUT AFTER THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS OF BITTER WAR HERE IT SEEMS THE NEW SOLDIERS WILL HAVE TO ENFORCE AN EQUALLY BITTER PEACE. (SIGNED)

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06-Dec-95 12:32 PM EST (1732 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY PLANE HAS ARRIVED IN THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF TUZLA WHERE 20-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS WILL BE DEPLOYED AS PART OF THE NATO PEACE-ENFORCEMENT MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: A U-S AIR FORCE PLANE LANDED AT THE TUZLA AIRFIELD IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THE PLANE CARRIED MORE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO ESTABLISH THE AMERICAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN THE REGION.

HEAVY SNOW DELAYED THE ARRIVAL OF UNITED NATIONS AND NATO FLIGHTS IN SARAJEVO. TWO BRITISH PLANES FLEW INTO SARAJEVO WITH ADDITIONAL BRITISH SOLDIERS AND SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT. THE BRITISH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IN WEST-CENTRAL BOSNIA.

THE NATO HEADQUARTERS FOR THE PEACE ENFORCEMENT MISSION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL, INITIALLY, BE IN ZAGREB. DESPITE HEAVY SNOW THERE, 45 NATO SOLDIERS, INCLUDING 20 AMERICANS, FLEW INTO THE CROATIAN CAPITAL TO HELP SET UP THAT HEADQUARTERS.

ONCE THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED ON DECEMBER 14TH, THE MAIN NATO FORCE WILL BE DEPLOYED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AS RAPIDLY AS WEATHER CONDITIONS PERMIT.

AN EXPERIENCED BRITISH SOLDIER IN BOSNIA SAYS THE NATO SOLDIERS HAVE TO BE READY TO ENDURE LONG, COLD NIGHTS AND SHORT, COLD DAYS DURING THE BOSNIAN WINTER.. MEANWHILE, ONE OF THE BRITISH COMMANDERS, GENERAL RICHARD DANNAT, SAYS NATO IS NOT GOING TO TOLERATE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE NEW PEACE AGREEMENT.

UNDER U-N RULES, HE SAYS PEACEKEEPERS CAN ONLY MONITOR, REPORT AND COMPLAIN TO THE WARRING FORCES ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS THE CONTINUING CROAT BURNING AND LOOTING OF SERB HOMES. BUT, UNDER NATO RULES, GENERAL DANNAT SAYS NATO TROOPS WILL USE FORCE, IF NECESSARY, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

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06-Dec-95 10:12 AM EST (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L-O) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CONGRESS)

INTRO: WHEN MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TALK ABOUT BOSNIA, THEY USUALLY LIMIT THEIR CONVERSATION TO DISCUSSIONS OF TROOPS, RISKS AND AGREEMENTS ON PAPER. BUT FOR ONE GROUP OF LAWMAKERS, THE FOCUS IS ON THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR. THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- A U-S GOVERNMENT PANEL THAT MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH THE HELSINKI ACCORDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, WITH VOTES EXPECTED SOON IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON BOSNIA, THEY ARE URGING THEIR COLLEAGUES TO REMEMBER THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE KNOWN NO PEACE.

TEXT: TO CHRISTOPHER SMITH, THE STORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IS A TALE OF UNSPEAKABLE HORROR --- A STORY OF MASS GRAVES...HOMELESS CHILDREN...AND RUINED LIVES.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HELSINKI COMMISSION SAYS THESE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ULTIMATELY MADE BOSNIA A FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY FOR THE UNITED STATES.

WHILE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DEALS WITH THE FORMALITIES OF EXCHANGING TERRITORIES AMONG THE WARRING PARTIES AND POPULATIONS, THE REALITY OF BOSNIA HAS BEEN A LAND IN WHICH PEOPLE -- INNOCENT CIVILIANS -- HAVE BEEN RAPED, TORTURED, EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMES AND EXECUTED BY THUGS.

CONGRESSMAN SMITH -- A REPUBLICAN FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY -- SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP A SPOTLIGHT ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA THROUGHOUT THE PEACE PROCESS. WHILE OTHER LAWMAKERS WERE MEETING WITH DEFENSE AND POLICY EXPERTS, HE CALLED THE COMMISSION TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE LATEST REPORTS OF ATROCITIES.

WE OWE IT TO THE VICTIMS. AND IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE VIOLATIONS IN BOSNIA MAY DETER FUTURE VIOLATIONS.

AMONG THE WITNESSES SPEAKING TO THE COMMISSION WAS DAVID ROHDE, A REPORTER FOR THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR NEWSPAPER WHO WAS CAPTURED BY BOSNIAN SERB MILITANTS WHILE RESEARCHING A STORY ON MASS EXECUTIONS NEAR SREBRENICA. IN PAINSTAKING DETAIL, HE TOLD THE COMMISSION HOW HE CORROBORATED THE STORIES OF SURVIVORS BY VISITING THE ALLEGED SITE OF THE KILLINGS.

...AND THE MOST DAMNING EVIDENCE I FOUND WAS, HERE IN THE WOODS, ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY, WAS A PILE OF CLOTHING. THERE WERE AT LEAST 100 CIVILIAN JACKETS I FOUND THERE. INSIDE THE POCKETS OF THE JACKETS I FOUND TWO I-D'S, ONE HAD A MUSLIM NAME ON IT AND ONE WAS FROM SREBRENICA. AND I THINK THE MOST CHILLING EVIDENCE WAS IN THAT PILE I ALSO FOUND THREE CANES AND ONE CRUTCH.

COMMISSION MEMBERS ALSO HEARD FROM DOCTOR BARBARA WOLF, AN AMERICAN PATHOLOGIST WHO RECENTLY TRAVELED TO BOSNIA AND CROATIA TO HELP IDENTIFY BODIES FOUND IN MASS GRAVES. SHE BEGAN HER TESTIMONY IN A DISPASSIONATE, CLINICAL TONE OF VOICE.

IN CASE I SOUND UNMOVED BY THIS EXPERIENCE, LET ME SAY THAT DESPITE A DECADE IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY AND DEALING WITH DEATH, THERE WERE MANY SIGHTS I WAS UNPREPARED FOR. IN ONE INSTANCE THERE WAS AN 82-YEAR-OLD BLIND WOMAN IN ONE OF THE MASS GRAVES. ALSO, WE WERE BEING ASSISTED BY A SOLDIER WHO, WHILE EXCAVATING ONE OF THE GRAVES, FOUND THE BODY OF HIS MISSING CIVILIAN BROTHER.

DOCTOR WOLF WENT TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AS PART OF AN HUMANITARIAN MISSION ORGANIZED BY A PRIVATE AID GROUP CALLED "AMERICARES." THE GOAL WAS TO HELP FAMILIES GAIN AN ACCOUNTING OF THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY "AMERICARES" IS BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)

NEB / PW / BD / SKH
06-Dec-95 5:42 PM EST (2242 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] CHRISTOPHER / NATO EXPANSION (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS MET WITH CENTRAL EUROPEAN AND BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS TO DISCUSS THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT AND NATO'S PLANS FOR ENLARGEMENT. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER EXPLAINED WHAT IS CALLED THE "WORK PLAN" FOR NATO EXPANSION, WHICH NEXT YEAR WILL FEATURE "ENHANCED DIALOGUE" AS ITS NEXT PHASE.

ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TEODOR MELESCANU EXPRESSED THE GENERAL DESIRE OF THE 27 COUNTRIES TO BECOME MEMBERS. HE TOLD REPORTERS THE SCHEDULE IS NEITHER TOO SLOW NOR TOO FAST.

IF YOU COMPARE IT WITH OUR DESIRES, I THINK IT IS TOO SLOW. IF IT YOU COMPARE IT WITH REAL CONDITIONS, I THINK IT'S PRETTY REALISTIC, IT'S A COMPLEX PROCESS THAT HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A LOT OF OTHER ELEMENTS, NOT ONLY OUR WISHES.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE PARTICIPATION OF MANY OF THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN THE BOSNIA IMPLEMENTATION FORCE WILL HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE, REFERRING TO THEIR PROSPECTIVE MEMBERSHIPS IN NATO. EARLIER, MR. CHRISTOPHER MET WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV. THEY AGREED THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT CANNOT BE RE-NEGOTIATED. BUT BOTH MEN ACKNOWLEDGED BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO SUBURBS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. MR. KOZYREV MAINTAINED RUSSIA'S POSITION ON NATO EXPANSION, SAYING PARTNERSHIP, YES, BUT NATO ENLARGEMENT, NO. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/JWH/GPT
06-Dec-95 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] CLINTON / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE U-S PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE WOULD BE THREATENED IF THE UNITED STATES TURNS ITS BACK ON ENFORCING PEACE IN BOSNIA. CONTINUING HIS DAILY PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF A U-S ROLE IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE SEES AS GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE COMMITMENT IN CONGRESS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS THE LATEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WON THE SUPPORT FOR THE U-S TROOP ROLE FROM TWO KEY REPUBLICANS -- FORMER PRESIDENTS GERALD FORD AND GEORGE BUSH.

BUT WHAT HE REALLY NEEDS IS SUPPORT FROM THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTE IN CONGRESS, AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THIS DEPLOYMENT ON HIS OWN, CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENT WOULD HELP. SO HE CONTINUES HIS DAILY CAMPAIGN FOR VOTES. WEDNESDAY HE SAID THE U-S EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP IS AT STAKE. . .

THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THING IN TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EUROPE AND WHAT WE EXPECT IN TERMS OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

AS FOR THE OUTLOOK IN CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS ENCOURAGED.

I THINK WE'RE BETTER OFF TODAY THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY. WE'RE WORKING ON IT DAY BY DAY.

HIS COMMENTS WERE MADE DURING A MEETING WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP THAT SUPPORTS THE U-S DEPLOYMENT.

ONE MEMBER OF THAT GROUP, ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER IN THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION, TOLD REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING THE PRESIDENT INDICATED THERE WAS SOME FLEXIBILITY IN WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED AS THE ONE YEAR LIMIT OF THE U-S MISSION. SO-CALLED "MISSION CREEP," THE PROLONGING OF THE MISSION, HAS BEEN A KEY CONCERN AMONG LAWMAKERS.

CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID LATER THERE IS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF U-S AND NATO MILITARY COMMANDERS TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION OBJECTIVES IN ABOUT ONE YEAR. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IN THE DISCUSSION WITH MR. BRZEZINSKI AND OTHERS ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL POSSIBILITIES IN BOSNIA THAT FLEXIBILITY WOULD BE NECESSARY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MILITARY MISSION HERE PRECISELY DEFINED, VERY CAREFULLY STRUCTURED, AND SCHEDULED TO LAST ABOUT A YEAR. BUT AS INDICATED EARLIER AT THE PENTAGON THERE IS SOME PROSPECT YOU CAN ADJUST THAT TIMETABLE AS YOU SEE HOW THE MISSION IS PROGRESSING.

CONGRESSIONAL VOTES ON THE BOSNIA DEPLOYMENT ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/CF
06-Dec-95 1:39 PM EST (1839 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] CONGRESS / BOSNIA PEACE BY PAULA WOLFSON (CONGRESS)

INTRO: U-S LAWMAKERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE QUESTION OF HOW TO RESPONSE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN PEACEKEEPERS TO BOSNIA. DIVISIONS ARE EMERGING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND CONSENSUS ON THE ISSUE IS PROVING ELUSIVE. WE HAVE MORE FROM V-O-A CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON.

TEXT: BOSNIA IS VERY MUCH ON THE MINDS OF AMERICAN LAWMAKERS THESE DAYS.

MANY REPORT A DELUGE OF CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS WORRIED THAT A SON OR DAUGHTER COULD BE SENT OFF TO A PLACE FAR FROM HOME -- A PLACE WHERE DANGER IS EVER PRESENT, AND DEATH IS A FACT OF LIFE.

POLLS SHOW MOST AMERICANS STILL OPPOSE THE NOTION OF SENDING GROUND TROOPS TO BOSNIA. AND IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT SO DO MANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.

IN THE SENATE, REPUBLICAN LEADER BOB DOLE IS TRYING TO CRAFT A RESOLUTION THAT COULD WIN GRUDGING APPROVAL FROM HIS COLLEAGUES TO CONDITIONALLY BACK THE MISSION. MR. DOLE -- A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN -- SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CONGRESS TO SHOW ITS SUPPORT FOR THE TROOPS, EVEN THOUGH LAWMAKERS DISAGREE WITH THE POLICY DECISIONS UNDERLYING THE MILITARY OPERATION.

BUT SENATOR DOLE IS HAVING TROUBLE COMING UP WITH THE RIGHT WORDS. AND SEVERAL SENATORS SAY THEY WILL SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN A RESOLUTION THAT EXPRESSES DISAPPROVAL OF THE MISSION. AMONG THEM IS MR. DOLE'S RIVAL FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, PHIL GRAMM OF TEXAS, AND THE NUMBER-TWO REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE, TRENT LOTT OF MISSISSIPPI.

THERE ARE ALSO SIGNS OF A SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN RANKS IN THE HOUSE. SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH HAS SAID LITTLE ABOUT BOSNIA, AMID INDICATIONS HIS VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT ARE AT ODDS WITH A VERY VOCAL GROUP OF CONSERVATIVES OPPOSED TO THE DEPLOYMENT -- LAWMAKERS LIKE MATT SALMON OF ARIZONA.

I GENERALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PRETENSES. I WILL LAY IT ON THE TABLE. I AM DEAD AGAINST SENDING OUR GROUND TROOPS TO BOSNIA.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS INFLUENCING LAWMAKERS AS THEY FORM THEIR POSITIONS ON BOSNIA. SOME REFLECT THE FEARS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. OTHERS RECALL THE VIETNAM WAR AND WORRY THERE IS NO CLEAR STRATEGY FOR AMERICAN FORCES TO LEAVE THE BALKANS. REPUBLICAN JAN MEYERS OF KANSAS SAYS THE U-S INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM DRAGGED ON NEEDLESSLY FOR YEARS.

IN VIETNAM, WE WERE THERE 20 YEARS, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED, FINALLY PEOPLE SAID 'WELL, IT WAS BOUND TO FAIL" AND SO WE CUT OFF FUNDS AND GOT OUT. NOW, IS IT A DISSERVICE TO OUR TROOPS TO CUT OFF FUNDS IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR 20 YEARS?

OPPOSITION TO THE BOSNIAN MISSION IS STRONGER IN THE HOUSE THAN IN THE SENATE. DURING THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS, HOUSE MEMBERS APPROVED RESOLUTIONS THREATENING TO WITHHOLD FUNDS FOR THE MILITARY OPERATION, AND WARNING NEGOTIATORS NOT TO COUNT ON THE PRESENCE OF AMERICAN TROOPS.

ANOTHER HOUSE RESOLUTION IS LIKELY TO COME UP FOR A VOTE BEFORE THE PEACE AGREEMENT IS FORMALLY SIGNED ON DECEMBER 14TH, ALTHOUGH HOUSE MEMBERS ARE ALSO HAVING TROUBLE DRAFTING LANGUAGE THAT COULD WIN ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS. DEMOCRAT TOM LANTOS OF CALIFORNIA SAYS THE LEGISLATURE MUST SIGNAL ITS SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION AND GIVE THE PEACE PROCESS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO SUCCEED.

I FEEL THAT THOSE WHO HAVE SUDDENLY DISCOVERED THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEND A SINGLE SOLDIER AND WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR WILL HAVE 85 PERCENT OF PUBLIC OPINION BEHIND THEM. (FORMER PRESIDENT) HARRY TRUMAN HAD 17 PERCENT SUPPORT FOR THE MARSHALL PLAN (WHICH HELPED REBUILD EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR TWO). AND IN RETROSPECT IT IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE GREAT POST WAR FOREIGN POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS NATION.

FIVE YEARS AGO, CONGRESS FACED A SIMILAR DILEMMA. AMID SIGNS OF SLIM PUBLIC SUPPORT, A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT -- GEORGE BUSH -- ASKED A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONTROLLED CONGRESS TO ENDORSE THE DEPLOYMENT OF U-S FORCES TO THE PERSIAN GULF. THIS TIME, DEMOCRAT CLINTON IS URGING A REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS TO BACK THE 20-THOUSAND TROOPS HE IS SENDING TO BOSNIA. MR. BUSH'S REQUEST WAS ULTIMATELY FULFILLED. BUT WITH PARTISANSHIP AND TENSIONS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN WASHINGTON, IT IS STILL UNCLEAR EXACTLY HOW CONGRESS WILL RESPOND TO A DECISION TO DEPLOY U-S FORCES TO BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB / PW / BD / SKH
06-Dec-95 6:16 PM EST (2316 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] FRANCE / E-U BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: FRANCE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE LABOR UNREST. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON THE STRIKES AND SHUTDOWNS IN FRANCE COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND THE PROJECT OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY.

TEXT: THE CURRENT WAVE OF LABOR UNREST IN FRANCE IS A TEST OF STRENGTH BETWEEN ALAIN JUPPE'S GOVERNMENT AND THE VARIOUS LABOR UNIONS REPRESENTING WORKERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THE WORK STOPPAGES AND DEMONSTRATIONS WERE CALLED TO PROTEST THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S INSISTENCE ON PRESSING AHEAD WITH WELFARE REFORMS -- REFORMS SOME UNIONS SAY ARE UNFAIR.

A FRENCH EXPERT AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS -- PROFESSOR ROBERT BOYCE -- SAYS NOT ALL UNIONS REPRESENTING PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN JOB ACTIONS. AND HE SAYS MOST OF THE UNIONS REPRESENTING WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE REACTING CAUTIOUSLY TO CALLS FOR A GENERAL STRIKE.

THE SITUATION IN FRANCE IS, I THINK, RATHER DECEIVING IN THE SENSE THAT THERE IS RELATIVELY LOW TRADE UNION PARTICIPATION BUT VERY SPECTACULAR STREET DEMONSTRATIONS. I THINK ONE HAS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DRAWING ANY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE STRENGTH AT THIS POINT. I THINK WE ARE SEEING THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS THIS WEEK AND AS OF THE END OF THIS WEEK, THERE WILL BE FAR LESS OF THEM, I THINK.

AT THE ROOT OF THE CONFLICT IS FRANCE'S NEED TO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR MONETARY UNION ESTABLISHED IN THE MAASTRICHT TREATY. BUDGET DEFICITS MUST COME DOWN TO SPECIFIC LEVELS -- AND THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN A REFORM OF THE COUNTRY'S WELFARE SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THOSE GOALS. FRENCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO PUSH THROUGH THE REFORMS, GET THE COUNTRY'S FINANCES IN ORDER -- THUS ENABLING FRANCE TO ENTER THE EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION.

PROFESSOR BOYCE SAYS GIVEN FRANCE'S COMMITMENT TO THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO PRESS AHEAD WITH ITS REFORMS.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE THE VERY ANCHOR OF ITS POLICY A COMMITMENT TO THE FRANCO-GERMAN AXIS, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE MERGING OF THE FRENCH AND GERMAN CURRENCIES. THE WHOLE FUTURE OF THAT PROJECT, OF THAT COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY IS REALLY AT STAKE RIGHT NOW. IF THERE IS ANY SIGN THAT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF UNION OPPOSITION, THE MARKETS WILL TAKE THAT VERY ADVERSELY. THERE WILL BE A RUN ON THE FRANC AND WE WILL PROBABLY SEE NOT ONLY THE END OF FRANCE'S COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE CURRENCY BUT AN UNDERMINING OF THE WHOLE EUROPEAN UNION PROJECT. SO THE STAKES ARE REALLY EXTREMELY HIGH.

PROFESSOR BOYCE SAYS GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL MUST BE LOOKING AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FRANCE WITH SOME DEGREE OF APPREHENSION.

HELMUT KOHL HAS NAILED HIS COLORS TO THE SINGLE-CURRENCY MAST. IF THE WHOLE THING FALLS APART AT THIS POINT, GERMANY IS GOING TO BE IN A STATE OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY AS WELL. I THINK MOST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE ARE WATCHING WITH GREAT APPREHENSION. THE FRENCH ARE FACING THE DIFFICULTIES, BUT I THINK THE CONSEQUENCES ARE RECOGNIZED TO BE IMPORTANT FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. I MIGHT SAY EVEN THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE HOPING TO JOIN IT -- BECAUSE I THINK THEY WILL HAVE TO STAND OUTSIDE EVEN LONGER IF THE MEMBERS RIGHT NOW CANNOT GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

ON THURSDAY, MR. KOHL MEETS FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IN THE GERMAN CITY OF BADEN-BADEN. MONETARY UNION, LABOR UNREST IN FRANCE AND THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S REFORMS ARE EXPECTED TO TOP THE AGENDA. PROFESSOR BOYCE BELIEVES AT THE END OF THE SUMMIT, THE TWO LEADERS WILL COME OUT ARM-IN-ARM AND REAFFIRM THE SOLIDITY OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN AXIS. BUT MANY EXPERTS HERE ALSO BELIEVE THE SO-CALLED "FRANCO-GERMAN LOCOMOTIVE" CAN NO LONGER BE THE DRIVING FORCE IT ONCE WAS IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/JWH/CF
06-Dec-95 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[10] GERMANY / BOSNIA (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT HAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE DEPLOYMENT OF FOUR-THOUSAND TROOPS TO SUPPORT THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: THE PARLIAMENT'S DECISION TO TAKE PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION ENDS, ONCE AND FOR ALL, GERMANY'S POST-WAR TABOO ABOUT LETTING ITS TROOPS GET INVOLVED IN FOREIGN CONFLICTS.

THE LOPSIDED VOTE OF 543 TO 107 WAS A SIGN OF HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SLOWLY EXPANDING BONN'S MILITARY ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

A FEW SOLDIERS, MOSTLY MEDICAL EXPERTS, HAVE TAKEN PART IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS IN CAMBODIA AND SOMALIA, AND GERMAN TORNADO FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN HELPING NATO PATROL THE SKIES OVER BOSNIA FOR MONTHS.

BUT THE DEPLOYMENT OF FOUR-THOUSAND GROUND TROOPS, MARKS THE GERMAN ARMY'S LARGEST DEPLOYMENT EVER OUTSIDE NATO TERRITORY.

IT IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR THAT GERMAN TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, A REGION WHERE MEMORIES OF NAZI ATROCITIES ARE STILL FRESH IN THE MINDS OF MANY OF THE VICTIMS.

IN A BOOST TO CHANCELLOR KOHL, MANY MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE PACIFIST GREENS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE DEPLOYMENT, ARGUING THE GERMAN TROOPS WOULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD PEACE.

SPEAKING TO PARLIAMENT, CHANCELLOR KOHL ACKNOWLEDGED THE MISSION WOULD BE DANGEROUS. BUT HE SAID GERMAN'S CANNOT STAND ON THE SIDELINES DURING AN OPERATION THAT WILL BRING TOGETHER TROOPS FROM THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, RUSSIA, AND ISLAMIC NATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
06-Dec-95 12:44 PM EST (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[11] NATO / SOLANA BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREED THIS WEEK THAT ONE OF THEIR NUMBER SHOULD BECOME THE NEXT SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ALLIANCE. HE IS THE SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, JAVIER SOLANA. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS ON THE NEW NATO LEADER AND THE CHALLENGES HE FACES.

TEXT: THE NATO ALLIES AGREE THAT 53-YEAR-OLD JAVIER SOLANA WILL MAKE A GOOD SECRETARY GENERAL FOR THE ALLIANCE.

NATO OFFICIALS ADMIT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE COME TO A VERY DIFFERENT CONCLUSION EARLIER IN MR. SOLANA'S CAREER. HE WAS ONCE A FIERCE OPPONENT OF SPAIN'S MEMBERSHIP IN NATO, AND CAMPAIGNED TO TRY TO FORCE THE UNITED STATES TO CLOSE ITS BASES IN SPAIN. HOWEVER, LONG MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE SINCE THE OVERTHROW OF FASCISM IN HIS COUNTRY HAS MELLOWED HIS VIEWS. AND, IN RECENT YEARS, AS SPAIN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, HE HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER OF NATO.

THIS PERIOD HAS INCLUDED OVERTURES TO THE ALLIANCE'S FORMER ENEMIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, INCLUDING RUSSIA. MORE RECENTLY, IT HAS INCLUDED NATO'S FIRST-EVER COMBAT OPERATIONS, IN ATTACKING SERB EMPLACEMENTS IN BOSNIA AND MAINTAINING A NO-FLY ZONE OVER THAT TROUBLED STATE.

MR. SOLANA IS HIGHLY POPULAR WITH HIS EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO ALLIES, AND ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES TO EMERGE IN THE RACE FOR THE TOP NATO JOB, HE WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO PROVED ACCEPTABLE TO ALL.

HE IS A PHYSICIST BY TRAINING, AND A KEEN SPORTSMAN, AND IS NO DOUBT GOING TO MISS THE WARMTH OF MADRID WHEN HE MOVES TO WINTRY BRUSSELS, WHICH HAS SEEN THE FIRST SNOWFALLS OF THE SEASON THIS WEEK.

MR. SOLANA HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AS IT IS CURRENTLY SPAIN'S TURN TO HOLD THE EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENCY, FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR. HE WILL CONTINUE IN HIS CURRENT JOB FOR ANOTHER 10 DAYS OR SO, TO BE ON HAND FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT IN MADRID ON THE 16TH AND 17TH OF THIS MONTH.

THEN HE WILL RESIGN FROM THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND TAKE UP HIS NATO DUTIES ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. BY THEN, DEPLOYMENT WILL BE PROCEEDING OF THE 60-THOUSAND-MEMBER NATO-LED FORCE WHICH IS GOING TO BOSNIA TO ENFORCE THE PEACE. THIS IS AN AMBITIOUS OPERATION, FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS, AND WILL BE THE BIGGEST TEST TO DATE OF NATO'S EFFICIENCY.

AS THE CIVILIAN HEAD OF THE MILITARY ALLIANCE, MR. SOLANA WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB DEALING WITH ANY CRISES, AND SEEING THAT THE BOSNIAN ENDEAVOR IS A SUCCESS. MEANWHILE, HE WILL ALSO NEED TO STEER NATO ALONG THE VITALLY IMPORTANT PATH OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE LINING UP TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE.

THE CHALLENGE IS TO PREPARE FOR THEIR ADMISSION, WITHOUT, AT THE SAME TIME, ALIENATING RUSSIA. MOSCOW IS DEEPLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF NATO'S PLANNED EXPANSION EASTWARDS, AND THE ALLIANCE IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING AN EVER-CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIANS TO TRY TO OVERCOME THEIR FEARS.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT A NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS FACED IMPORTANT CHALLENGES. IN THE PAST, THE CHALLENGE WAS TO PRESERVE THE PEACE AND THE SECURITY OF EUROPE. NATO OFFICIALS BELIEVE IT WILL BE VITALLY IMPORTANT NOW TO CONVINCE THE WORLD THAT THE ALLIANCE IS AS RELEVANT IN A EUROPE AT PEACE AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF THE BERLIN WALL AND THE COLD WAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/JWH/BG
06-Dec-95 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[12] NATO MINISTERS (L) CORRECTED BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: IN BRUSSELS, NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE MET WITH COUNTERPARTS FROM RUSSIA, THE BALTICS AND CENTRAL EUROPE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND NATO ENLARGEMENT.

TEXT: THERE WILL BE NO RE-NEGOTIATION OF THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES AGREE. HOWEVER, THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE BEEN LOUDLY COMPLAINING THAT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT PUTS SERB-HELD AREAS OF SARAJEVO UNDER MUSLIM-CROAT CONTROL. FRANCE, BRITAIN AND RUSSIA HAVE SPOKEN OF MAKING SOME ARRANGEMENTS TO MAKE SURE BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO WILL BE PROTECTED. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV SAYS THIS WEEKEND'S CONFERENCE IN LONDON ON CIVILIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT SHOULD TAKE THEIR CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT.

THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS. NO DESIGN COULD IMMEDIATELY ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY IF QUESTIONS OF HUMAN NATURE ARISE, I THINK WE WILL HAVE WISDOM ENOUGH THE CONTACT GROUP, THE PARTIES THEMSELVES, TO PROPERLY ADDRESS.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AGREES WITH MR. KOZYREV THERE IS NO NEED TO RE-NEGOTIATE THE PEACE AGREEMENT BEFORE IT IS SIGNED IN PARIS. AT THE SAME TIME, HE OFFERED THESE WORDS OF ASSURANCE TO THE BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH SENSITIVITY TO THE CONCERNS OF THE PARTIES, CERTAINLY, THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THERE CAN BE NO RE-NEGOTIATION OF THE AGREEMENT ITSELF BECAUSE EACH OF THE SUBJECTS THERE IS VERY CAREFULLY INTERWOVEN AND THE AGREEMENT IS THE REFLECTION A NUMBER OF CAREFULLY-NEGOTIATED POINTS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE EXPRESSED PLEASURE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IS OPENING A FACILITY IN THE SERB HELD SUBURB OF ILIDZA TO MONITOR THE TREATMENT OF BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS.

THE U-S AND RUSSIAN MINISTERS ALSO DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING RUSSIAN ELECTIONS WHERE MR. KOZYREV SAID HE HAS LITTLE TIME TO CAMPAIGN BECAUSE OF HIS HEAVY DIPLOMATIC SCHEDULE. HE ALSO MADE IT CLEAR PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S RECOVERY FROM HEART PROBLEMS WILL PREVENT THE RUSSIAN LEADER FROM ATTENDING THE SIGNING OF THE BOSNIA AGREEMENT IN PARIS.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER EXPLAINED THE NEXT STEP IN NATO'S EXPANSION TO EASTERN EUROPE, A PROCESS OF BRIEFINGS FOR PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE. MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS NO CONCESSIONS ARE BEING MADE IN THE PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE RUSSIA.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO ARRANGEMENT WITH RUSSIA WITH RESPECT TO THIS MATTER, WE'RE CONTINUING ON THE COURSE THAT WE LAUNCHED, JUST EXACTLY THE ONE THAT OUR PRESIDENT HAS TOLD THEIR PRESIDENT WOULD BE FOLLOWED HERE.

THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HIS COUNTRY'S POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED, PARTNERSHIP, YES, NATO ENLARGEMENT, NO. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/LTJ/RAE
06-Dec-95 8:12 AM EST (1312 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[13] SENATE/BOSNIA HEARINGS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE BACK ON CAPITOL HILL WEDNESDAY, SEEKING TO SHORE UP SENATE SUPPORT FOR THE U-S TROOP COMMITMENT IN BOSNIA. THEY ASSURED SENATORS THE UNITED STATES WILL ACT IN THE COMING MONTHS TO REDRESS THE CURRENT ARMS IMBALANCE IN BOSNIA FAVORING THE BOSNIAN SERBS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM SPEND MUCH OF THE HEARING IN THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE TRYING TO REASSURE SENATORS THAT THE U-S COMMITMENT TO HELP RE-ARM AND TRAIN THE MUSLIM LED-GOVERNMENT -- THOUGH ONLY A VERBAL PLEDGE -- IS SOLID AND WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE WERE ALL PRESSED BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE RE-ARMING ISSUE.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROMISED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT THAT THE MILITARY AID WILL BE FORTHCOMING, IF THE ARMS CONTROL AND MILITARY BUILD-DOWN PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD DO NOT ELIMINATE THE BOSNIAN SERBS' HUGE MILITARY ADVANTAGE.

THE ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THIRD PARTIES AND NOT DIRECTLY BY U-S TROOPS OR OTHERS IN THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE.

AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN WARNED THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM IT IS UNLIKELY TO GET AN EXPRESSION OF CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION UNLESS WHAT HE CALLED THE "AMORPHOUS" COMMITMENT TO THE MUSLIMS IS HARDENED UP:

I UNDERSTAND YOUR RELUCTANCE AND THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED WITH USING UNITED STATES TROOPS IN THIS EFFORT. WE WILL HAVE TO BE CONVINCED THAT THERE ARE OTHER TROOPS, AND OTHER COUNTRIES, AND OTHER WAYS OF SUPPLYING THESE MUCH-NEEDED MATERIALS SO THAT, WHEN WE LEAVE, THERE WILL NOT BE A RE-IGNITION OF THE CONFLICT. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE A RELATIVELY PEACEFUL SITUATION DURING THE TIME THAT WE ARE THERE. BUT WITHOUT AN EQUIVALENCE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AND A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR IT -- NOT JUST QUOTE AN ORAL COMMITMENT -- THEN I BELIEVE THIS ENTERPRISE OVER TIME MAY BE DOOMED TO FAILURE.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE, CONSIDERED THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS, SAID THE FACT THE U-S COMMITMENT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE PACKAGE DOES NOT MEAN IT IS SOFT. HE SAID A U-S TEAM HAS JUST RETURNED FROM MAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY NEEDS AND THAT THE AID PROCESS WILL GO FORWARD:

WE ANTICIPATE A DEFICIENCY ON THE PART OF THE FEDERATION. ACCORDINGLY, WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE BOSNIANS THAT WE WILL LEAD AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO INSURE THAT THE BOSNIANS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO DEFEND THEMSLVES ADEQUATELY WHEN I-FOR LEAVES. NOW THAT IS OUR POSITION. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED FOR AND IT IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH BUILD DOWN. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SOPHISTICATED APPROACH TO AN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED PROBLEM -- WHERE YOU BUILD DOWN, AND THEY ALL AGREED ON THIS, AND YOU HAVE ROOM TO STRENGTHEN THE WEAKEST GROUP, THE ONES THAT WERE THE VICTIMS OF THIS HORRENDOUS TRAGEDY.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT OBJECT IF LANGUAGE SPELLING OUT THE U-S COMMITMENT TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS INCLUDED IN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PEACEMAKING MISSION. HE ALSO SAID U-S NEGOTIATORS WILL RETURN TO THE REGION THURSDAY FOR TALKS WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA, AND SERBIA AIMED AT FURTHER ALLAYING CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT TREATY TERMS AND THE SAFETY OF U-S FORCES HEADING FOR BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/BG
06-Dec-95 2:00 PM EST (1900 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[14] U-S / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A U-S AIR FORCE TRANSPORT PLANE HAS LEFT GERMANY FOR BOSNIA WITH A CARGO OF EQUIPMENT AND U-S TROOPS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS AFTER A BRIEF STOP IN ITALY, THE PLANE WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY TO TUZLA, WHERE U-S TROOPS ASSIGNED TO THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL BE BASED.

TEXT: THE BIG C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE TOOK OFF FROM RAMSTEIN AIR FORCE BASE IN GERMANY IS THE FIRST FLIGHT INTO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOR U-S TROOPS TAKING PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION.

A U-S AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PLANE WAS CARRYING MOSTLY COMMUNICATIONS AND LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT.

ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WERE FIVE PALLETS, CONTAINERS, LOADED WITH RUNWAY LIGHTING EQUIPMENT, AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, AND 12 TECHNICIANS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT EQUIPMENT.

THE TROOPS WILL INSTALL THE GEAR AT THE TUZLA AIRPORT. THE TOWN IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE U-S CONTINGENT TO THE NATO MISSION.

A TOTAL OF ABOUT 25-HUNDRED NATO TROOPS, INCLUDING ABOUT 14-HUNDRED AMERICANS, ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE MISSION PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE FULL PEACEKEEPING FORCE.

THE TROOPS WILL BE SETTING UP COMMUNICATIONS, LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES, FOR WHAT WILL BE THE LARGEST NATO MISSION IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)

NEB/KK/JWH/RAE
06-Dec-95 7:40 AM EST (1240 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America