Voice of America, 2 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: ON THIS FIRST BUSINESS DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, EDITORIAL WRITERS FOR THE LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS, MOST OF THEM ABOUT DOMESTIC ISSUES. THEY INCLUDE THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN; THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR AMERICANS AND CONCERNS ABOUT JOB INSECURITY. OVERSEAS SUBJECTS INCLUDE CHINA'S 'HARD LINE' FOREIGN POLICY; THE BIG TRIALS IN SOUTH KOREA AND THE EXCPLOITATION OF CASPIAN SEA OIL AND GAS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" TAKES ISSUE WITH PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER, WHO IS TOURING OVERSEAS DESPITE THE FEDERAL BUDGET CRISIS AND THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IT HAS CAUSED. THE INQUIRER'S LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS: "IF IT'S TUESDAY AND YOU'RE IN CONGRESS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN CAIRO."

VOICE: "WHAT A HOLIDAY SEASON FOR FEDERAL WORKERS. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM WERE MISSING A PAYCHECK -- WHILE PRESIDENT CLINTON AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, OF COURSE, WERE BEING PAID IN FULL FOR PLENTY OF DO-NOTHING DAYS. INSULT WAS ADDED TO INJURY AS THE WELL-PAID LAWMAKERS STARTED JETTING OVERSEAS ON QUOTE- FACT-FINDING MISSIONS. ... ONE OF THE FIRST POLITICIANS TO TAKE OFF WAS PENNSYLVANIA'S OWN ARLEN SPECTER, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, WHO LEFT THURSDAY ON A TRIP TO AFRICA, ISRAEL AND EGYPT. [OPT] ...... A STATE DEPARTMENT CABLE REPORTEDLY INFORMED U-S EMBASSIES: 'SENATOR SPECTER IS AN AVID SQUASH PLAYER ... REQUEST MATCHES BE ARRANGED ... IN EACH LOCATION WITH LOCAL OPPONENT.'"[END OPT]

TEXT: WRITING ON THE GROWING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN THIS COUNTRY, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" CALLS IT "THE MOST TROUBLING CHANGE NOW OVERTAKING AMERICAN SOCIETY", AND ADDS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "IT'S NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE ANYONE INTENDED IT, BUT RATHER BECAUSE OF THE PROFOUND CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY THAT HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE PREMIUM PAID FOR EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. THE REMEDY IS PRESUMABLY MORE AND BETTER EDUCATION FOR MORE PEOPLE. BUT FOR FAMILIES WITHOUT MUCH MONEY, ACCESS TO GOOD EDUCATION IS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. [OPT] ... THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO BEWARE OF THE TRAP IN WHICH STAGNATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION LEADS TO A STAGNATION OF OPPORTUNITY AND IN TURN TO STAGNATION OF THE ECONOMY." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" DEALS WITH A CLOSELY RELATED TOPIC -- JOB INSECURITY FOR INCREASING NUMBERS OF AMERICAN WORKERS:

VOICE: "IN 1995, THE STOCK MARKET ENJOYED A SPECTACULAR RUN, WITH SHARE PRICES MOVING UP MORE THAN 32 PERCENT. .. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, THE VERY FACTORS THAT WILL FUEL THE 1996 MARKET ALSO ARE LIKELY TO LENGTHEN UNEMPLOYMENT LINES. HOW CAN TIMES BE SO GOOD FOR BUSINESSES, YET SO TOUGH FOR WORKERS? BECAUSE THE MOVES COMPANIES MAKE TO BOOST PROFITS AND ENHANCE STOCK VALUES OFTEN RESULT IN JOB CUTBACKS... THIS COMING WAVE OF MERGERS WILL BE VERY UNSETTLING FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAD THOUGHT THEIR JOBS WERE SECURE... EVENTUALLY ... THAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE MAY CAUSE A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN CONSUMER SPENDING."

TEXT: TURNING TO AN OVERSEAS TOPIC -- CHINA'S CONTINUING HARD LINE POLICY ON MANY ISSUES -- TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" SUGGESTS IT IS VERY MUCH TIED INTO EFFORTS OF POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS TO DENG XIAOPING NOT TO APPEAR SOFT.

VOICE: "THE RESULT IS A HARD-EDGED POLICY THAT CUTS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES -- IRONICALLY, ACROSS THE LINE ONCE RECOMMENDED BY DENG XIAOPING HIMSELF... THE UNITED STATES IS IN A TOUGH PLACE... PRESIDENT CLINTON DE-LINKED TRADE FROM RIGHTS ON THE THEORY THAT ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT WOULD MELLOW THE CHINESE. BUT THE CHINESE HAVEN'T MELLOWED -- NOT SO FAR ANYWAY."

TEXT: STILL IN THE ORIENT, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE IS WATCHING THE TRIALS OF TWO EX-PRESIDENTS OF SOUTH KOREA WITH INTEREST, NOTING:

VOICE: "[OPT] SOUTH KOREA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT ECONOMIC POWERS AND SUCCESS STORIES. THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT WAS BUILT UNDER THE DICTATORSHIP OF PARK CHUNG HEE. THAT SUCCESS DEMANDED THE DEMOCRACY THAT NOW PREVAILS. [END OPT] PRESIDENT KIM (YOUNG SAM), WITH NOT A LITTLE VENGEANCE, IS GOING AFTER THE DICTATORS OF THE INTERIM PERIOD, WHEN THE ECONOMIC MOMENTUM WENT FORWARD AND HE WAS SUPPRESSED. IT IS A RISKY AND COURAGEOUS COURSE... THE PRIZE SOUGHT IS LEGITIMACY IN THE EYES OF THE RULED."

TEXT: MOVING TO WHAT USED TO BE CALLED SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA, TO THE CASPIAN SEA AND ITS SO FAR UNTAPPED CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS RESERVES, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS ABOUT THE GEOPOLITICAL DEALING NOW UNDERWAY TO DEVELOP AND CONTROL THE ENERGY RESERVES OF THE REGION.

VOICE: "WHILE FEW HAVE NOTICED, CENTRAL ASIA HAS AGAIN EMERGED AS A MURKY BATTLEGROUND AMONG BIG POWERS ENGAGED IN AN OLD AND ROUGH GEOPOLITICAL GAME... THE OBJECT OF THE REVIVED GAME IS TO BEFRIEND LEADERS OF THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS CONTROLLING THE OIL, WHILE NEUTRALIZING RUSSIAN SUSPICIONS AND DEVISING SECURE ALTERNATIVE PIPELINE ROUTES TO WORLD MARKETS. TO PREVAIL WILL REQUIRE PERSISTENCE AND TACT, BUT THE RESOURCES JUSTIFY THE ATTEMPT. [OPT] ... THE OIL, HOWEVER, IS MORE LIKELY TO REMAIN UNDERGROUND FOR YEARS AS VARIOUS PIPELINE SCHEMES REMAIN PIPE DREAMS [UNFULFILLED IDEAS WITH LITTLE CHANCE OF HAPPENING]. SO BALANCED ARE CONTENDING PARTIES, SO DISORGANIZED ARE THE NEW CASPIAN REPUBLICS, AND SO ABUNDANT ARE KNOWN RESERVES ELSEWHERE, THAT DRIFT IS MORE LIKELY THAN DECISION." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, A NEW YEAR'S ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE:"

VOICE: "A NEW YEAR IS UPON US, FULL OF OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES... BUT 1996 HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BEING A BANNER YEAR. MOST OF THE WORLD IS AT PEACE. WAR LINGERS IN THE CAUCASUS AND THREATENS IN AFRICA, BUT THE FURY OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE THAT SWEPT RWANDA AND BOSNIA IN 1995 HAS ABATED. THERE ARE NO MAJOR CONFLICTS IN SIGHT. WASHINGTON IS RIVEN, BUT AMERICA IS PROSPEROUS... IN BOSNIA A BARBARIC WAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO AN END, THANKS TO THE MUSCULAR DIPLOMACY OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION... ALSO CERTAIN TO BE MOMENTOUS ARE THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR RUSSIA, ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS THE UNSCHEDULED BUT ANTICIPATED DEPARTURE OF THE CHINESE GODFATHER, DENG XIAOPING."

TEXT: AND ON THAT CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE NATION'S EDITORIALS ON THIS FIRST BUSINESS DAY OF THE NEW YEAR.

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02-Jan-96 10:22 AM EST (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIAN BUREAUCRATS BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: LIFE IS RETURNING TO NORMAL IN THE STREETS OF SARAJEVO. BUT -- AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE CITY -- SOLDIERS AND CHECKPOINTS ARE BEING REPLACED BY BUREAUCRATS.

TEXT:

THE SOUND OF MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE FIRE -- THE MUSIC THAT, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, ACCOMPANIED THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO TO SLEEP AS THEY FOUGHT OFF THE COLD AND THE HUNGER THAT CAME WITH THE WAR IS NOW A FADING MEMORY.

THE STREETS -- ONCE FILLED WITH TERROR -- NOW ECHO WITH THE SOUNDS OF ROCK MUSIC, AS CHILDREN AND SHOPPERS STARE INTO THE STORE WINDOWS AND SAUNTER ALONG IN THE PARK.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK IN SARAJEVO, THINGS ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL. CAFES ARE FULL, ELECTRICITY IS ON, PEOPLE ARE SELLING THINGS, AND -- SPORADIC AS IT MAY BE -- WATER NOW FLOWS THROUGH THE ONCE-DRY FAUCETS. BUT, ON THE FRONTIERS OF EUROPE'S WORST WAR IN A HALF-CENTURY, BUREAUCRATS ARE ALREADY CHALLENGING BOSNIA'S NEW-FOUND PEACE. ON THE SARAJEVO BRIDGE LEADING TO WHAT IS BOSNIAN-SERB TERRITORY, ONLY JOURNALISTS ARE BEING ALLOWED PAST THE FRENCH MILITARY CHECKPOINT

DOCUMENTS EXAMINED AND NUMBERS ENTERED INTO A LEDGER, WE ARE ESCORTED TO THE BOSNIAN-SERB POLICE POST FOR YET ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR DOCUMENTS.

TWO-WEEKS AGO, A SIMPLE PHONE CALL MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A PASS INTO THE AREA. NOT THIS TIME.

DESPITE THE FREEDOM-OF-MOVEMENT PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, SERB AUTHORITIES SEEM INTENT ON CREATING NEW FORMS OF BUREAUCRACY TO PREVENT ACCESS TO AREAS THEY CONTROL.

AT THE BORDER WITH THE SERB REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, JOURNALISTS ARE TOLD THE VISAS COST 60 OR 70 MARKS AND MUST BE APPROVED BY BOSNIAN-SERB OFFICES IN BELGRADE -- A PROCESS THAT CAN TAKE SEVEN TO TEN DAYS.

MAJOR SIMON HAZLEOFF -- A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN SARAJEVO -- SAYS IT IS EASY FOR NATO TROOPS TO EXERCISE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. BUT, FOR CIVILIANS, IT IS SOMETHING ELSE.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS PREDICATED UPON INTERPRETATION OF WHAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS. TO ASK UNIFOR, IT MEANS FREEDOM TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT, CULTURALLY TO SOCIETY IN THE BALKANS, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE TO THEM. IT MEANS THE ABILITY TO PASS THROUGH CHECKPOINTS, AS LONG AS THE PAPERS ARE IN ORDER. IT IS A SORT OF CULTURAL DIFFICULTY BORNE OUT OF THE POST-COMMUNIST ERA. THEREFORE, IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR US TO CREATE CONDITIONS WHICH WILL ENABLE ONE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE AND ALSO TO HAVE THE CHANGE IN CULTURAL BELIEF SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE ANYWHERE THEY WANT AT ANY TIME THEY WANT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED OVERNIGHT. IT IS A MATTER OF CONFIDENCE BUILDING, IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

UNTIL THEN,

JOURNALISTS WILL HAVE TO LEARN BALKAN WAYS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN INCREASINGLY-COMPLICATED WEB OF NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS. (SIGNED).

NEB/WOD-T/RAE
02-Jan-96 9:11 AM EST (1411 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] PERRY-BOSNIA OVERNITER (S ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TASZAR, HUNGARY)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BECOMES THE FIRST SENIOR CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO VISIT BOSNIA SINCE U-S TROOPS BEGAN DEPLOYING THERE IN MID-DECEMBER. THE SECRETARY SPENT TUESDAY TOURING THE STAGING AREAS FOR U-S PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT IN ITALY AND HUNGARY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM TASZAR, HUNGARY.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS THAT, DESPITE DELAYS CAUSED BY BAD WEATHER AND LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS, THE NATO PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT REMAINS ON TRACK TO MEET ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE -- SEPARATING THE WARRING FORCES BY THE JANUARY 19TH DEADLINE.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY DELIVERED A SERIES OF PEP TALKS TO U-S FORCES AT THEIR STAGING AREAS IN ITALY AND HUNGARY, AND TOLD REPORTERS THAT MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE PLANNED U-S CONTINGENT OF 20-THOUSAND TROOPS WILL BE ON STATION BY THE TIME PEACEKEEPERS BEGIN PATROLLING THE ZONES OF SEPARATION.

MR. PERRY FLEW INTO THIS SNOW-BOUND AIRBASE IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY TO MEET HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GYORGY KENETI AND THANK HIM PUBLICLY FOR THE BUDAPEST GOVERNMENT'S HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORT FOR THE NATO OPERATION. HE SAID HUNGARY'S ROLE WITHOUT QUESTION DEMONSTRATES ITS RAPID QUALIFICATION FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP WHEN THE ALLIANCE EXPANDS EASTWARD. IN BOSNIA, THE DEFENSE SECRETARY AND JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI WILL MEET PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IN SARAJEVO AND TOUR THE BURGEONING REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR U-S PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN TUZLA. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/GPT
02-Jan-96 3:03 PM EST (2003 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] PERRY/HUNGARY (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TASZAR, HUNGARY)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IS IN HUNGARY TOURING THE STAGING AREAS FOR U-S FORCES BEING DEPLOYED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IS ON TRACK DESPITE POOR WEATHER AND LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE TASZAR AIRBASE IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY.

TEXT: MR. PERRY TOURED NATO AIRBASES IN ITALY AND THEN FLEW TO HUNGARY, WHERE THOUSANDS OF U-S GROUND TROOPS ARE ASSEMBLING AT TWO STAGING AREAS FOR THE MOVE SOUTH INTO BOSNIA.

HE IS WARNING U-S PERSONNEL AGAINST COMPLACENCY AND SAYS A DIFFICULT YEAR LIES AHEAD. HE SAYS THE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON ACCORDS BY THE PARTIES THUS FAR -- AND THEIR COOPERATION WITH NATO FORCES -- HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE BOSNIANS WANT PEACE.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY -- WHO WEDNESDAY BECOMES THE FIRST SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO VISIT U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- SAYS THE OUTCOME OF THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS IS UNCERTAIN. IN A DIRECT WARNING TO THE PARTIES, THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID -- THIS IS YOUR CHANCE FOR PEACE, DO NOT BLOW (DESTROY) IT.

MR. PERRY HELD TALKS HERE WITH HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GYORGY KELETI AND PUBLICLY THANKED HUNGARY FOR MAKING ITS FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO U-S FORCES. HE SAID THIS SUPPORT BY HUNGARY, AN ASPIRING MEMBER OF NATO, WITHOUT QUESTION DEMONSTRATES WHAT HE CALLED ITS RAPID QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/RAE
02-Jan-96 11:01 AM EST (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] PERRY / BOANIA / L BY DAVID GOLLUST (AVIANO AIR BASE, ITELY)

INTRO: TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DEFENSE OFFICIALS ARE IN EUROPE. PREPARING TO MAKE THE FIRST SENIOR-LEVEL VISIT TO U-S TROOPS IN BOSNIA SINCE THE PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT BEGAN LAST MONTH. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI SAY THE RECEPTION GIVEN TO NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA BODES WELL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORT FROM NATO'S AVIANO AIRBASE IN ITALY.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY PERRY AND GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI ARE TOURING STAGING AREAS FOR THE BOSNIAN DEPLOYMENT IN ITALY AND HUNGARY. WEDNESDAY, THEY GO TO BOSNIA, ITSELF, FOR MEETINGS WITH LEADERS IN SARAJEVO AND A VISIT TO THE U-S REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS AT TUZLA.

MR. PERRY SAYS THE WARM RECEPTION GIVEN TO NATO AND AMERICAN TROOPS BY THE BOSNIAN PARTIES AND THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH PEACE ACCORDS ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY WANT PEACE. BUT, HE SAYS THE ULTIMATE TEST IS NOT WHETHER THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH NATO, BUT WHETHER THEY CAN WORK WITH EACH OTHER ON DISARMAMENT STEPS AND OTHER CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES.

THE BOSNIAN VISIT BY THE TWO MEN WILL BE THE FIRST BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SINCE U-S TROOPS BEGAN ARRIVING IN MID-DECEMBER. ALTHOUGH LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS HAVE SLOWED DEPLOYMENT OF 20 THOUSAND U-S COMBAT TROOPS, THE COMPLETION OF THE BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER HAS PUT THE OPERATION IN HIGH GEAR.

GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI SAYS MORE THAN HALF THE U-S CONTINGENT WILL BE IN PLACE JANUARY 19TH -- AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED -- WHEN AMERICAN AND OTHER NATO TROOPS ARE TO BEGIN PATROLLING THE FOUR KILOMETER ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN OPPOSING FORCES.

SECRETARY PERRY AND GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI ARE TO MEET HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GYORGI KELETI. THEY WILL TOUR HUNGARIAN BASES AT TASZAR AND KAPOSVAR WHICH HAVE BEEN OPENED TO U-S FORCES HEADING TO BOSNIA FROM GERMANY.

IN AN AIRBORNE NEWS CONFERENCE, BOTH MEN HAD HIGH PRAISE FOR THE HUNGARIAN ROLE IN BOSNIA AND SUGGESTED IT WOULD ADVANCE HUNGARY'S CAMPAIGN FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI SAYS THE BUDAPEST GOVERNMENT SOME TIME AGO BEGAN ALLOWING AWACS RADAR PLANE OVERFLIGHTS AND OTHER ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF NATO IN BOSNIA, DESPITE POLITICAL RISKS.

THE GENERAL SAID -- IN HIS WORDS -- WITHIN THEIR MEANS THEY HAVE BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING AND NATO OWES THEM A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE. IN ADDITION TO GIVING ACCESS TO ITS BASES, HUNGARY IS PROVIDING A 500-MEMBER MILITARY ENGINEERING UNIT FOR SERVICE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / WOD / WOD
02-Jan-96 4:32 AM EST (0932 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / HUNGARY / BOSNIA / S-O BY DAVID GOLLUST (AVIANO AIR BASE , ITALY)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI TODAY ARE TOURING THE STAGING AREAS IN HUNGARY FOR U-S TROOP DEPLOYMENTS IN BOSNIA. HUNGARY'S WILLINGNESS TO OPEN ITS BASES FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS HAS ENHANCED THE CANDIDACY OF THE FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRY FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM AVIANO AIRBASE IN ITALY.

TEXT: SECRETARY PERRY AND GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI MEET WITH HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GYORGI KELETI AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS. SUCH MILITARY COOPERATION WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT -- IN A DECISION ENDORSED NEARLY-UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENT -- IS ALLOWING U-S FORCES TO USE BASES AT TASZAR AND KAPOSVAR AS STAGING AREAS FOR THEIR MOVE INTO BOSNIA.

IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS EN ROUTE TO EUROPE, BOTH MR. PERRY AND GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI HAD HIGH PRAISE FOR THE HUNGARIAN ROLE. THEY STRONGLY INDICATED IT WOULD ADVANCE THE DRIVE BY BUDAPEST FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS SAYS THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF NATO EFFORTS IN BOSNIA -- EVEN AT TIMES WHEN IT WAS POLITICALLY DIFFICULT. THE GENERAL SAID -- IN HIS WORDS -- THEY HAVE BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING AND NATO OWES THEM A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

HUNGARY IS ALREADY CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE FRONT RANK OF CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP WHEN NATO GOES AHEAD WITH ITS PROMISED EASTWARD EXPANSION -- PERHAPS AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / WOD / WOD
02-Jan-96 4:50 AM EST (0950 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America