Voice of America, 25 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S&L) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SPENT PART OF THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WEEKEND SPEAKING TO U-S TROOPS STATIONED OVERSEAS AND SENT A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THOSE TAKING PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. CLINTON TOLD THE TROOPS THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE IN BOSNIA FOR AMERICA TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES:

TEXT: MR. CLINTON, IN TAPING A MESSAGE FROM THE OVAL OFFICE FOR BROADCAST ON ARMED FORCES RADIO AND TELEVISION, TOLD THE TROOPS THEIR MISSION OF PEACE AND GOODWILL IS WHAT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT:

IN THIS NEW ERA OF CHALLENGE AND CHANGE, AMERICA'S OBLIGATION TO LEAD FOR PEACE AND HUMAN DIGNITY HAS REMAINED AS IMPORTANT AS EVER. IN BOSNIA, YOU, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES, WILL BEAR THAT CHARGE WITH GREAT HONOR. YOU WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HORROR AND HOPE, BETWEEN A WAR THAT RESUMES AND A PEACE THAT TAKES HOLD. I'M PROUD TO BE YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF YOUR NATION.

THE BROADCAST WAS AIMED AT TROOPS STATIONED IN BOSNIA, CROATIA, HUNGARY AND ITALY, PERSONNEL SUPPORTING THE 60-THOUSAND-STRONG NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN THE BALKANS. THE PRESIDENT, SURROUNDED BY THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF SOME OF THE TROOPS, TOLD THE TROOPS THEY WOULD GET THE JOB DONE, A PEACE MISSION HE DESCRIBES AS THE MOST NOBLE MISSION OF ALL.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO THANKED THE FAMILIES OF THE TROOPS LEFT BEHIND ON CHRISTMAS. HE SAYS THEIR SPECIAL SACRIFICE MAY NOT MAKE THE HEADLINES, BUT SUCCESS COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT IT.

MR. CLINTON ALSO CONTINUED A LONG CHRISTMAS TRADITION AND SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH 10 MEMBERS OF THE U-S ARMED FORCES STATIONED AROUND THE WORLD. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON SAYS MR. CLINTON SPOKE WITH TWO MEMBERS EACH OF THE FIVE BRANCHES OF THE SERVICE -- THE MARINES, ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND COAST GUARD:

AMONG THE SERVICE PERSONNEL HE SPOKE WITH (SUNDAY) WAS AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN KEITH EUGENE KNIGHT REPAIRING COMMUNIATIONS IN SARAJEVO. MR. CLINTON ALSO SPOKE TO SERVICE PERSONNEL STATIONED IN THE PERSIAN GULF, THE ADRIATIC, ON OKINAWA, AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, JOHNSTON ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC, OFF HAITI, IN ALASKA, NEAR ANTARCTICA AND IN TURKEY. (SIGNED)

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24-Dec-95 10:17 PM EST (0317 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] NATO / BOSNIA (S) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY MORE SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED AT NATO AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS CONTINUE SPREADING OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE LATEST SHOOTING INCIDENTS CAME ON CHRISTMAS EVE. ONE HELICOPTER FLYING TO GORNJI VAKUF WAS FIRED AT, BUT WAS _NOT_ HIT. CREW MEMBERS ABOARD TWO BRITISH HELICOPTERS SAW WHAT THEY THINK WAS CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE POSSIBLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOLIDAY.

THE INCIDENTS ARE THE LATEST IN A SERIES WHICH NATO HAS BLAMED ON A LACK OF DISCIPLINE, AND HAS SO FAR _NOT_ BEEN ABLE TO HALT. ELSEWHERE, THE FIRST U-S BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE HAS ARRIVED IN THE NORTHERN BOSNIAN TOWN OF TUZLA, WHERE THE MAIN BODY OF U-S TROOPS WILL BE HEADQUARTERED.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT TO COMPLETE WORK ON A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SAVA RIVER IN THE COMING DAYS, ALLOWING THE BULK OF THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION TANKS AND ARTILLERY TO POUR IN FROM A STAGING BASE IN HUNGARY.

IN SARAJEVO, FRENCH MILITARY COMMANDERS SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED 40 FRONT LINE POSITIONS THAT BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERB TROOPS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM BY WEDNESDAY.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD, NATO TROOPS WILL TAKE OVER THE POSITIONS, WHICH SAW SOME OF THE BLOODIEST FIGHTING IN THE NEARLY FOUR YEAR WAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/ART
25-Dec-95 7:58 AM EST (1258 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] SARAJEVO / CHRISTMAS (L) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BATTLE SCARED CITY OF SARAJEVO IS ENJOYING ITS FIRST PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SINCE THE WAR BROKE OUT NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL

TEXT:

FOR MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GATHERED IN AND AROUND THE CHURCH, THE CHRISTMAS OF 1995 IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.

OTHERS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE.

I THINK THIS PEACE IS GOING TO WORK OUT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE FEELING DIFFERENT IN SARAJEVO, THEY ARE CHANGED NOW, ALL OF THEM, SERBS, CROATS, MUSLIMS, AND ANY OTHER NATIONALITY THAT LIVES IN SARAJEVO THEY ARE ALL THE SAME NOW.

WITHOUT HAVING EXPERIENCED THE LONG AND BLOODY SIEGE THE PEOPLE OF OF THIS CITY SUFFERED THROUGH, IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE HOW HAPPY THEY ARE NOW THAT A GENUINE PEACE SEEMS TO HAVE ARRIVED.

AIDA ALIBALIC, A TRANSLATOR AND SURVIVOR OF THE WAR, SAYS PEOPLE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE SIMPLE THINGS -- THAT THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AND THAT THEY CAN WALK FREELY DOWN THE STREETS.

IT'S A VERY STRANGE FEELING WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY FREE WITHOUT ANY FEAR, AND EVERYTHING IS OPEN, CAFES ARE WORKING, DISCO IS WORKING, STORES ARE WORKING, LIKE IN SARAJEVO THE BEST TIMES. OF COURSE, WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, THE CITY IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND HUMAN SOULS ARE DESTROYED, BUT NOW THEY ARE COMING BACK IN NEW LIFE.

IN HIS CHRISTMAS MASS, THE ARCHBISHOP OF SARAJEVO, CARDINAL VINKO PULJIC, SPOKE ABOUT A WAR SO TERRIBLE IT HAD MADE PEOPLE JEALOUS OF THE DEAD.

IN AN EMOTIONAL APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE CARDINAL SAID IT IS TIME FOR PEACE. HE URGED PEOPLE TO RAISE UP THEIR HEADS AND BELIEVE THAT THIS CHRISTMAS WILL BRING THE END OF THE WAR.

OUT ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY, ONE YOUNG WOMAN HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO DO JUST THAT AS SHE STROLLED AMONG THE OPEN STORES ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

I'M VERY HAPPY AND I HOPE NEXT TIME WILL BE BETTER IN SARAJEVO.

IN ANOTHER SIGN THE PEACE IS TAKING HOLD, NATO OFFICIALS SAY, SERBS AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AROUND THE CITY ARE PREPARING TO VACATE ABOUT 40 KEY POSITIONS ALONG WHAT HAD BEEN THE FRONT LINES.

FRENCH TROOPS FROM THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL TAKE OVER THE POSITIONS, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/PT
25-Dec-95 12:34 PM EST (1734 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY / ELECTION (L / 2ND UPDATE) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY HAS FINISHED FIRST IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WITH MORE THAN 21 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY IS THIRD JUST BEHIND HER CENTER-RIGHT RIVAL, THE MOTHERLAND PARTY. V-O-A'S LAURIE KASSMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE WELFARE PARTY WILL GET AT LEAST 158 OF THE 550 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GOVERN ALONE, AND A COALITION BATTLE WILL SURELY FOLLOW.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAS HANDED IN HER RESIGNATION. AND PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL HAS ASKED HER TO STAY ON UNTIL HE CHOOSES A PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE TO FORM A NEW RULING COALITION THAT CAN GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

MRS CILLER TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY MAY GET THE MANDATE TO TRY TO FORM THAT COALITION, ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE GAME.

THE TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES, WHICH CAME IN SECOND AND THIRD, HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE ISLAMISTS IN A COALITION. TO BLOCK THE WELFARE PARTY, PRIME MINISTER CILLER AND HER ARCH RIVAL, MESUT YILMAZ, WOULD HAVE TO PUT ASIDE THEIR OWN BICKERING TO FORGE AN ALLIANCE. THAT IS WHAT THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS ARE URGING, BUT MRS CILLER SAID ONLY IT IS A CONSIDERATION.

THE WELFARE PARTY FAVORS A CENTRALIZED ECONOMY, IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE FREE MARKET PROGRAMS ADVOCATED BY THE TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES THAT HAVE RUN A SECULAR TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THE ISLAMISTS WANT CLOSE TIES TO THE MUSLIM WORLD, AND CALL ON TURKEY TO GET OUT OF NATO AND TO RENEGOTIATE THE CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH EUROPE, WHICH IT CALLS A BAD DEAL.

A BIG WINNER IN THE ELECTION HAS BEEN THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY OF BULENT ECEVIT, WHICH MANAGED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN PARLIAMENT FROM THREE TO MORE THAN 70.

ANALYSTS SAY THE BIG LOSER IS THE PRO-KURDISH HADEP PARTY, WHICH SCORED VERY HIGH IN THE KURDISH COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. BUT IT COULD NOT MUSTER THE MINIMUM TEN PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL VOTE REQUIRED TO GAIN ACCESS TO PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/JWH/PT
25-Dec-95 12:18 PM EST (1718 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] TURKEY / POLITICS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY FINISHED FIRST IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION (SUNDAY) BY A SLIM MARGIN WITH ABOUT 21-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE. THAT SHOULD GIVE THE PARTY AT LEAST 158 OF THE 550 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY DROPPED TO THIRD PLACE, JUST BEHIND HER CENTER-RIGHT RIVAL, THE MOTHERLAND PARTY. NO ONE PARTY HAS ENOUGH TO GOVERN ALONE, SO A MESSY COALITION BATTLE IS SURE TO FOLLOW. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS TURKEY'S POLITICAL SYSTEM HAS TO DEAL WITH THE NEW FORCE OF THE ISLAMIST MOVEMENT.

TEXT: THE LEADER OF THE WELFARE PARTY, NECMETTIN ERBEKAN, TOLD HIS JUBILANT SUPPORTERS THAT VICTORY SHOWED HIM TURKEY'S VIEW OF THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, AND SO, HE ADDED, WILL THE WORLD'S VIEW OF TURKEY.

THE WELFARE PARTY GOAL OF AN ISLAMIST STATE FOR TURKEY SHARPLY CONFLICTS WITH THE COUNTRY'S LONG-STANDING CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO A SECULAR, WESTWARD-LOOKING POLITICAL SYSTEM. FOR NOW, MR ERBEKAN HAS TO WORRY MORE ABOUT CONSOLIDATING HIS NEWFOUND POWER. HIS PARTY DOES NOT HAVE THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY NEEDED TO RUN A GOVERNMENT ON ITS OWN. THE CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES -- TRUE PATH PARTY AND MOTHERLAND -- CAME IN A CLOSE SECOND AND THIRD IN THE TOTAL VOTE. THEY BOTH SAY THEY WILL NOT DEAL WITH WELFARE IN A COALITION.

THE MORNING NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ARE CALLING FOR A MERGER OF THE TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES. BUT THAT WOULD MEAN PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER AND HER ARCH RIVAL, MESUT YILMAZ, WOULD HAVE TO PUT ASIDE THEIR BITTER BICKERING AND JOIN FORCES. THE QUESTION IS UNDER WHOSE LEADERSHIP ? SO FAR, BOTH PARTY LEADERS SAY ONLY IT IS A POSSIBILITY TO CONSIDER.

TRADITIONALLY, PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL SHOULD CHOOSE A PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE FROM THE PARTY WITH THE MOST SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. THAT WOULD BE THE WELFARE PARTY. BUT MR DEMIREL HAD STRONGLY HINTED HE WOULD NOT TURN TO THE ISLAMIST PARTY EVEN IF IT CAME IN FIRST. SOME ANALYSTS SUGGEST HE MIGHT WAIT TO SEE IF THE CENTER RIGHT CAN FORGE A VIABLE ALLIANCE. THOSE TALKS COULD DRAG ON FOR WEEKS.

THE BIGGEST WINNER IN THE ELECTION APPEARS TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY OF BULENT ECEVIT, WHICH INCREASED ITS NUMBER OF SEATS IN PARLIAMENT FROM THREE TO MORE THAN 70. MR ECEVIT COULD BECOME A POWERBROKER IN THE COALITION BARGAINING THAT WILL DOMINATE TURKISH POLITICS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

IN TURKEY'S COMPLEX VOTING SYSTEM, THE WELFARE PARTY MANAGED TO PICK UP THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SEATS WITH JUST OVER 21 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE RESULTS SHOW THAT 80 PERCENT OF TURKEY' VOTERS DO NOT FAVOR AN ISLAMIST FUTURE. DIPLOMATS SAY THE ELECTION AT LEAST HAS CLARIFIED THE STRENGTH OF THE RADICAL ISLAMISTS.

SOME ANALYSTS ALSO SUGGEST THE FEMINIST VOTE -- CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISE OF THE ISLAMISTS -- GAVE PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S PARTY A BETTER RESULT THAN EARLIER POLLS HAD PREDICTED.

ANALYSTS SAY THE LOSER OF THE ELECTION WAS THE PRO-KURDISH HADEP PARTY. IN HEAVILY KURDISH AREAS OF THE SOUTHEAST, HADEP GAINED NEARLY HALF THE VOTES. BUT IT COULD NOT MUSTER ENOUGH VOTES NATIONWIDE TO GAIN THE MINIMUM TEN PERCENT REQUIRED TO ENTER PARLIAMENT, LEAVING THE KURDISH COMMUNITY WITHOUT A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT.

ANALYSTS AND NEWSPAPER COMMENTATORS SAY TURKISH POLITICS REMAIN AS FRAGMENTED AS EVER. AS ONE NEWSPAPER PUT IT, THE ELECTION HAS DONE NOTHING TO SOLVE THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISIS AND MAY HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT. (SIGNED)

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25-Dec-95 9:22 AM EST (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] TURKEY / ELECTION RESULTS (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: WITH NEARLY ALL THE VOTES COUNTED IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY HAS EMERGED IN FIRST PLACE WITH MORE THAN 21 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY IS THIRD, JUST BEHIND HER CENTER-RIGHT RIVAL THE MOTHERLAND PARTY. THE WELFARE PARTY WILL GET AT LEAST 157 OF THE 550 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GOVERN ALONE. A COALITION BATTLE WILL SURELY FOLLOW. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT WELFARE PARTY SUPPORTERS CELEBRATED THROUGH THE NIGHT.

TEXT: THE WELFARE PARTY'S STRONG SHOWING HAD BEEN WIDELY PREDICTED. BUT NOW THAT IT HAS COME IN FIRST, THE POLITICAL MANEUVERING BEGINS AMONG ITS OPPONENTS TO KEEP THE PARTY FROM TAKING CONTROL.

IT IS UP TO PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL TO CHOOSE A PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE TO FORM A RULING COALITION THAT CAN GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF PARLIAMENT. HE WILL HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT EVEN THOUGH THE WELFARE PARTY CAME IN FIRST WITH JUST OVER 21 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE, THAT ALSO MEANS 80 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS DO NOT FAVOR AN ISLAMIST PROGRAM.

THE TWO CENTER RIGHT PARTIES, WHICH CAME IN SECOND AND THIRD, HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE ISLAMISTS AS A SENIOR PARTNER IN A COALITION. THAT MEANS THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT ASIDE THEIR OWN SQUABBLING TO FORM A POWER BLOC AGAINST WELFARE.

THE WELFARE PARTY FAVORS A CENTRALIZED ECONOMY IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE FREE MARKET PROGRAMS ADVOCATED BY THE TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES THAT HAVE RUN A SECULAR TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THE ISLAMISTS WANT CLOSE TIES TO THE MUSLIM WORLD AND CALL ON TURKEY TO GET OUT OF NATO AND TO RENEGOTIATE THE CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH EUROPE, WHICH IT CALLS A BAD DEAL.

PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAD TRIED TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR HER CENTER RIGHT TRUE PATH PARTY BY URGING VOTERS TO CHOOSE A WESTWARD-LOOKING PARTY RATHER THAN WHAT SHE CALLED THE FORCES OF DARKNESS.

IF THE WELFARE PARTY DOES NOT HEAD THE RULING COALITION IT WILL PROVE A FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION FORCE. PARTY LEADER NECMETTIN ERBEKAN (NECH MET TIN ER BEH KAN) TOLD HIS SUPPORTERS THE VICTORY SHOWS HIM THAT FROM NOW ON TURKEY'S VIEW OF THE WORLD HAS CHANGED.

THE TWO CENTER LEFT PARTIES CAME IN FOURTH AND FIFTH WITH FEWER THAN 80 SEATS EACH. THE PRO-KURDISH HADEP PARTY DID NOT MUSTER ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS THE MINIMUM 10 PERCENT REQUIRED TO GAIN ACCESS TO PARLIAMENT. THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY MAY WELL TRY TO PERSUADE SOME OF THE LEFT OF CENTER DEPUTIES TO WORK WITH IT IN A COALITION, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY MAKE IT A MINORITY GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD HAVE LITTLE CHANCE OF PASSING A CONFIDENCE VOTE. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/TMS/HVS
25-Dec-95 3:15 AM EST (0815 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America