Voice of America, 17 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AMERICA'S DAILY PAPERS ARE DISCUSSING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS, WITH CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE DEEPENING MILITARY STANDOFF IN CHECHNYA. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE: U-S POLICY IN BOSNIA; THE ON-GOING FEDERAL BUDGET IMPASSE; THE FAILED U-S ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY, AND THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY OVER FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RENEWED AND NOW BITTER FIGHTING IN THE BREAK-AWAY RUSSIAN REGION OF CHECHNYA HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SEVERAL EDITORIAL BOARDS, INCLUDING "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR," WHICH SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "IT'S CLEARER THAN EVER THAT THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE REBELLIOUS SOUTHERN REPUBLIC OF CHECHNYA COULD DRAG ON INTERMINABLY, AND TRAGICALLY, UNLESS SOME AVENUE OF NEGOTIATION IS FOUND. AT THIS POINT, IN THE AFTERMATH OF YET ANOTHER CHECHEN RAID INTO RUSSIA AND ANOTHER RUSSIAN MILITARY RESPONSE, NO SUCH AVENUE IS IN SIGHT... OPTIONS EXIST, EVEN IF THEY'RE FAR FROM ANY THEORETICAL NEGOTIATING TABLE IN MOSCOW OR GROZNY. A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY, MAYBE FINLAND OR SWEDEN, ... COULD TRY TO BRING THE SIDES TOGETHER... RUSSIAN FACE-SAVING WOULD BLOCK SUCH OUTCOMES. BUT FACE-SAVING IS WHAT ESCALATED THE CRISIS TO BEGIN WITH."

TEXT: TUESDAY'S HIJACKING OF A RUSSIA-BOUND TURKISH FERRY BY CHECHEN SUPPORTERS CAME TOO LATE FOR EDITORIAL COMMENT. HOWEVER, IN COMMENTING ON DEVELOPMENTS UP TO THAT POINT, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE VIOLENT FIREFIGHT BETWEEN RUSSIAN TROOPS AND CHECHEN REBELS ... IS MORE THAN THE LATEST SKIRMISH IN A WAR THAT NEITHER SIDE SEEMS WILLING TO END. THE ATTACK ... INTENDED TO FREE HOSTAGES ... SEEMS TO BE BORIS YELTSIN'S CONVULSIVE WAY OF PREPARING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AS PRESIDENT. [OPT] ... LIKE MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, WHO SLOWED REFORM AND EMBRACED ITS OPPONENTS IN A FUTILE EFFORT TO SAVE HIS JOB AND THE SOVIET UNION, MR. YELTSIN SEEMS BEDAZZLED BY THE ILLUSION THAT ACCOMMODATING THE OPPOSITION IS THE WAY TO OVERCOME IT."[END OPT]

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" CALLS THE SITUATION A "BIG POLITICAL CRISIS FOR [MR] YELTSIN."

CONCERNING ANOTHER EUROPEN CONFLICT, THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SUGGESTS THE UNITED STATES IS MAKING A BIG MISTAKE BY SENDING RETIRED U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL TO TRAIN BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-LED ARMY, AND ASKING TURKEY TO SUPPORT THE MOVE.

VOICE: "IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A WORSE PLAN FOR THE BALKANS THAN WASHINGTON'S SCHEME TO ARM AND TRAIN THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS... THE STATED GOAL IS TO BUILD UP THE MUSLIM FORCES TO COUNTER THE BETTER-ARMED BOSNIAN SERB ARMY. ... MIXING THE TURKS INTO THE BOSNIAN STEW WOULD INFLAME AND EMPOWER CHRISTIAN ZEALOTS -- BOTH CROATIAN CATHOLICS AND ORTHODOX SERBS -- WHO ROUTINELY USE THE CENTURIES OF TURKISH DOMINATION TO THROW GASOLINE ON NATIONALIST FIRES... THE UNITED STATES ... SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN PROVOKING A BALKAN ARMS RACE AND SOWING THE SEEDS OF FUTURE CONFLICT."

TEXT: THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS STILL OPERATING WITHOUT A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER 1ST, 1995, AND TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS "IT'S TIME TO STRIKE A DEAL."

VOICE: "THE RESUMPTION TODAY OF BUDGET DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS COULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF D-DAY IN TERMS OF RESCUING THE NATION FROM AN ABSURD, EMBARRASSING IMPASSE... PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESS ARE NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM A BUDGET SOLUTION, BUT MORE BENDING IS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE... THE EMPHASIS [AT THE TALKS] SHOULD BE ON FINDING A SOLUTION, NOT MORE OBSTRUCTIONISM."

TEXT: TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE DENVER POST" IS ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT, BUT SELDOM DISCUSSED, TOPIC -- THE NATION'S ENERGY POLICY, AND THE NATIONAL FAILURE TO CONSERVE ENERGY. UNDER THE HEADING, "A LESSON UNLEARNED", THE "POST" LAMENTS:

VOICE: "FIVE YEARS AGO, AMERICA WENT TO WAR TO FEED ITS OIL ADDICTION. THAT'S THE HISTORICAL REALITY OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. BUT TODAY, THE UNITED STATES IS MORE DEPENDENT ON IMPORTED CRUDE OIL THAN EVER... THERE ARE MANY THINGS THE UNITED STATES COULD HAVE DONE IN THE PAST HALF-DECADE TO ENSURE THAT ITS YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM NEVER AGAIN HAVE TO TRADE THEIR LIVES FOR PETROLEUM. THE NATION COULD HAVE PUSHED FOR MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS. IT COULD HAVE SUPPORTED RESEARCH INTO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SUPPLIES... BUT AMERICA DID NONE OF THESE THINGS. AND SO THE UNITED STATES FAILED TO ABSORB THE GULF WAR'S REAL LESSON: NEVER GROW TOO DEPENDENT ON A COMMODITY YOU CANNOT CONTROL."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE CARIBBEAN, THE "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS UPSET AT WHAT IT SEES AS MEDDLING IN HAITI'S REBUILDING EFFORT BY CONGRESSMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN.

VOICE: "REPRESENTATIVE ... GILMAN, REPUBLICAN OF NEW YORK, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, IS TAKING CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT TO EXCESS. HE GOT MAD AT HAITIAN PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE AND SIMPLY PULLED THE PLUG ON [ENDED] FUNDING. [MR.] GILMAN WAS OUTRAGED LAST MONTH WHEN [PRESIDENT] ARISTIDE DECIDED VETERANS OF HAITI'S DISBANDED ARMY COULD JOIN THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL POLICE FORCE-IN-TRAINING... THIS IS PARTISAN GRANDSTANDING... THERE WAS NO NEED TO JERK AROUND U-S CONTRACTED INSTRUCTORS AND THEIR THREE-THOUSAND HAITIAN TRAINEES IN A PROGRAM ON WHICH THE BELEAGUERED COUNTRY WILL FOUND ITS SYSTEM OF LAW AND ORDER."

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SUGGESTS THAT FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON SHOULD TAKE THE STAND AGAINST HER MANY ACCUSERS IN THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: "SPARE THE SYMPATHY FOR MRS. CLINTON. SHE LAID HERSELF OPEN TO DIRE SUSPICIONS WITH HER OBSESSION ABOUT PRIVACY, HER LAWYERLY EVASIONS AND INCREDIBLY BAD LUCK IN PRODUCING DOCUMENTS. BUT SHE ALSO HAS THE WIT AND GRIT [TOUGHNESS] TO STAND UP TO HER INQUISITORS AND PUNCTURE THEIR WORST-CASE IMAGININGS. SHE SAID TUESDAY SHE'S PREPARED TO DO SO. WHAT'S SHE WAITING FOR?"

TEXT: TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS SADDENED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY VETERAN REPUBLICAN SENATOR WILLIAM COHEN OF MAINE, A THREE-TERM MODERATE, THAT HE WILL RETIRE, BECOMING THE 13TH MEMBER DECIDING NOT TO RETURN.

VOICE: "COME JANUARY, THE SENATE WILL LOSE WHAT IT CAN ILL-AFFORD TO SPARE, ANOTHER VOICE OF REASONED GOOD SENSE... IN ANOTHER TIME, A DECISION TO QUIT BY A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE GENERALLY IN THE WIDE MIDDLE OF CONGRESS' POLITICAL SPECTRUM WOULD PERHAPS NOT BE PERCEIVED AS A DANGER SIGN. IN OUR OWN TIME, WHEN THE PRACTICE OF POLITICS THREATENS TO BECOME INCREASINGLY POLARIZED, IT IS A CLEAR MATTER OF CONCERN."

TEXT: ON A FINAL POLITICAL NOTE, THE "NEW YORK POST" COMES TO THE DEFENSE OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL STEVE FORBES, WHO HAS FACED SHARP CRITICISM FROM LEADING CANDIDATE BOB DOLE AND OTHER CONTENDERS BECAUSE OF HIS BIG-SPENDING CAMPAIGN:

VOICE: A MAN OF INDEPENDENT MEANS -- AND A HIGHLY-SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE -- STEVE FORBES IS RUNNING A LARGELY SELF-VINANCED NATIONAL CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCED TAXES AND FREE MARKETS. AND AS THE ONLY 'PRO-GROWTH' CANDIDATE IN THE FIELD, (MR.) FORBES ... SEEMS TO BE SURGING AHEAD OF ALL HIS RIVALS, SAVE FOR THE FRONTRUNNER, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE... UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF (MR.) FORBES' OPPONENTS HAVE OPTED FOR THE TACTIC OF DENIGRATING HIM PERSONALLY, RATHER THAN DEBATING HIS IDEAS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL TOPICS TO BE FOUND IN WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.

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17-Jan-96 11:05 AM EST (1605 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / BILDT (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS PROMISED MAJOR FINANCIAL AID FOR HIS MISSION TO REBUILD THE WAR-SHATTERED COUNTRY. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS MR. BILDT MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER MEETING WITH THE 16 NATO AMBASSADORS.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT GIVE A FIGURE, CARL BILDT WELCOMED WHAT HE CALLED ASSURANCES FROM THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIS MISSION MR BILDT, A FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER, HAS BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE IMPLEMENTATION -- FOCUSING ON REBUILDING THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY, ON GETTING THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER, AND ON PREPARING FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.

HE SAYS THAT, CONTRARY TO SOME MEDIA REPORTS, HE KNOWS HE HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT -- FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN.

MR. BILDT SAYS HIS MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR HAS BEEN TO BRING TOGETHER THE SERBS AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS LIMITED TALKS.

THERE HAD BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES -- I AM TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERATION AND THE REPUBLIC, THE SERBS -- ON ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRADUALLY BRING THEM TOGETHER TO DISCUSS SOME ISSUES. WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THAT AS WELL, BUT WE ARE GRADUALLY MOVING FORWARD, AND I HOPE THAT THAT PROCESS WILL BE CONTINUED.

MR. BILDT ADDED THAT RECONCILIATION BETWEEN FORMER ENEMIES IS THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW BOSNIA.

IF THEY WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THEIR COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER AFTER THIS BITTER WAR, THERE ARE ENORMOUS THINGS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN DO TO HELP AND ASSIST. BUT IF THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK TOGETHER ON THEIR OWN, WE CAN'T DO IT FOR THEM. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO FACE DIFFICULTIES ON THE MILITARY AS WELL AS ON THE POLITICAL-CIVILIAN SIDE. RECONCILIATION IS REALLY THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN BUILDING PEACE IN BOSNIA.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA PROMISED MR. BILDT HIS FULL COOPERATION AND SUPPORT. (SIGNED)

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17-Jan-96 9:02 AM EST (1402 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] PERRY/BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA WILL BE PROVIDING SECURITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS SEEKING EVIDENCE OF MASSACRES AND WAR CRIMES. AND THE U-S DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS IT WILL NOT REPRESENT AN EXPANSION OF DUTIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE BEYOND ITS INTENDED MANDATE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS NATO TROOPS WILL NOT DO ANY POLICE WORK OR ACTUAL INVESTIGATING OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMES. BUT HE SAYS PEACEKEEPERS WILL PROVIDE SECURITY AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR THE INVESTIGATORS FROM THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY, WHO SPOKE AT AN IMPROMPTU PENTAGON NEWS CONFERENCE, SAID NATO TROOPS WILL BEGIN PROVIDING SUCH SUPPORT AS SOON AS SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF SOLDIERS CAN BE SPARED FROM THE IMMEDIATE TASK OF SEPARATING THE OPPOSING BOSNIAN FORCES.

THE ISSUE OF SECURITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PERSONNEL AROSE LAST WEEK AMID REPORTS THAT BOSNIAN SERBS WERE USING A VAST OPEN-PIT MINE IN NORTHERN BOSNIA AS A MASS GRAVE FOR MUSLIM AND CROAT VICTIMS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

MR. PERRY SAID PROVIDING FREEDOM OF ACCESS FOR RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS AND OTHERS IS AN INTENDED PART OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD, AND WOULD NOT BE SO-CALLED "MISSION CREEP" OR AN UNANTICIPATED EXPANSION OF THE NATO ROLE:

WE ARE ASKING I-FOR (IMPLEMENTATION FORCE) TO ENFORCE THE MILITARY ANNEX OF THE DAYTON ACCORD. THAT DOES CALL FOR ESTABLISHING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY IN BOSNIA WILL BENEFIT FROM ESTABLISHING THAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE UNDERTAKING POLICE FORCES. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE DOING THE TASK OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. WE WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATING OR CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS OF THESE MASS GRAVES. THAT WILL BE A FUNCTION OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

MR. PERRY SAID THE IMMEDIATE FOCUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IS FRIDAY'S DEADLINE FOR THE BOSNIAN SIDES TO PULL BACK FROM FRONT-LINE POSITIONS AND CREATE THE FOUR-KILOMETER WIDE ZONE OF SEPARATION TO BE PATROLLED BY NATO.

HE SAID THE PARTIES APPEAR TO BE MEETING THEIR OBLIGATIONS VOLUNTARILY AND THAT FORCE WILL NOT BE NEEDED TO SEPARATE THEM -- WHICH HE CALLED THE MOST POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT SINCE NATO TROOPS BEGAN ARRIVING IN BOSNIA A MONTH AGO. (SIGNED)

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17-Jan-96 3:55 PM EST (2055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY/ CHECHYNA (S-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: CRECHEN REBELS, WHO SEIZED A PASSENGER FERRY IN TURKEY'S BLACK SEA PORT OF TRABZON ARE REPORTED TO BE HEADING FOR ISTANBUL. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THE FERRY, WHICH WAS SEIZED LATE TUESDAY BY A GROUP OF ARMED CHECHEN GUNMEN WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY TWO TURKISH COASTGUARD VESSELS AS IT HEADED WESTWARDS TOWARDS ISTANBUL. THE OFFICIALS DENIED EARLIER REPORTS THAT ONE OF THE 180 PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE FERRY HAD BEEN KILLED.

IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH A TURKISH TELEVISION STATION, KANAL D, A CHECHEN COMMANDO, WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF ONLY AS MUHAMMAD THREATENED TO BLOW UP THE FERRY WHICH DOES REGULAR RUNS BETWEEN TRABZON AND RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA RESORT OF SOCHI. SOME 130 PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE FERRY ARE RUSSIANS ACCORDING TO TURKISH OFFICIALS, WHO SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE CHECHEN COMMANDOS WILL CARRY OUT THEIR THREAT TO KILL THE HOSTAGES IF RUSSIAN TROOPS DO NOT WITHDRAW FROM CHECHNYA.

A RUSSIAN WOMAN WHO MANAGED TO FLEE THE VESSEL BEFORE IT LEFT PORT TOLD THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY THAT THE COMMANDOS HAD ROUNDED UP THE RUSSIANS ON BOARD AND HAD BEGUN TO BEAT THEM. THEY REPORTEDLY TOLD SOME 30 TURKS ON BOARD THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HARMED. (SIGNED)

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16-Jan-96 8:13 PM EST (0113 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / HIJACK (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (TRABZON)

INTRO: TURKISH OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMED CHECHEN SYMPATHIZERS WHO SEIZED A FERRY CARRYING 150 PASSENGERS -- MOST OF THEM RUSSIANS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE TURKISH BLACK SEA PORT OF TRABZON.

TEXT: IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH TURKISH STATE TELEVISION, THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN, MUSTAFA TUNCAY, DESCRIBED THE SITUATION ON BOARD AS NORMAL.

HE SAID NO ONE HAD BEEN HURT SINCE THE CHECHEN SYMPATHIZERS -- LED BY A TURKISH-BORN ETHNIC CHECHEN IDENTIFIED ONLY AS MOHAMMED -- SEIZED THE FERRY LATE TUESDAY IN THE TURKISH BLACK SEA PORT OF TRABZON .

THE MASKED GUNMEN CLAIMED TO NUMBER 50, BUT ARE WIDELY BELIEVED TO TOTAL ONLY SIX MEN. THEY HAVE THREATENED TO BLOW UP THE FERRY, ITS RUSSIAN PASSENGERS, AND THEMSELVES IF RUSSIA DOES NOT HALT ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN CHECHNYA.

THE CAPTAIN SAID THE FERRY -- WHICH NORMALLY CARRIES PASSENGERS BETWEEN TRABZON AND THE RUSSIAN SEASIDE RESORT OF SOCHI -- WAS HEADING FOR ISTANBUL AND WOULD LIKELY REACH THERE EARLY FRIDAY.

TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SEEKING TO PERSUADE THE GUNMEN TO SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES AT THE TURKISH BLACK SEA PORT OF SAMSUN, WEST OF TRABZON.

THE GUNMEN HAVE SAID THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO RELEASE ABOUT 30 TURKISH HOSTAGES ON THE FERRY. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHEN AND WHERE THEY PLAN TO DO SO.

SECURITY HAS BEEN TIGHTENED AT THE MAIN BLACK SEA PORTS BETWEEN TRABZON AND ISTANBUL, AND TWO TURKISH COAST GUARD VESSELS CONTINUE TO TRAIL THE FERRY. (SIGNED)

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17-Jan-96 10:20 AM EST (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S-BOSNIA OVERNIGHTER (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS PRESSURING THE SIGNATORIES OF THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT TO MEET FRIDAY'S DEADLINES ON PRISONER EXCHANGES AND SEPARATION OF FORCES. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE TAKING PART IN THE CONTACT GROUP MEETING TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE.

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND JOHN SHATTUCK ARE TAKING PART IN THE SARAJEVO CONTACT GROUP MEETING THAT IS ASSESSING HOW WELL THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE UNITED STATES IS CALLING ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO BE REASONABLE, TO GIVE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SOME SATISFACTION IN ITS DEMAND FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MISSING BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

THE ISSUE HAS BLOCKED THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS OF WAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS WHILE THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S DEMAND IN PRINCIPLE, FRIDAY'S DEADLINES SHOULD NOT BE MISSED.

WHILE WE SUPPORT THE WISH OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO GET THIS INFORMATION, WE WANT TO SEE THESE PRISONER SWAPS TAKE PLACE BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 19TH. WE CANNOT BE IN A POSITION OF GRANTING EXTENSIONS TO DEADLINES AS WE SEEK TO IMPLEMENT THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF SARAJEVO AND I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE EXTENSIONS IN THAT REGARD.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT WILL FALL APART IF THE 30 DAY DEADLINES FOR PRISONER EXCHANGES, ZONES OF SEPARATION, EXCHANGE OF MILITARY INFORMATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES ARE NOT MET.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SHATTUCK WILL BE IN CHARGE OF GETTING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE SERBS TO COMPROMISE ON THE PRISONER EXCHANGES.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO STARTED TO WELCOME BOSNIAN MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM THE SERBIAN CONQUEST OF SREBRENICA AND ZEPA IN EASTERN BOSNIA. A GROUP OF 50 REFUGEES LANDED IN NEW YORK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THEY ARE THE FIRST GROUP OF 214 THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCEPTED FROM THE CAMP IN SERBIA. THEY HAD FLED TO SERBIA FROM EASTERN BOSNIA IN AUGUST AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY WERE HELD IN APPALLING CONDITIONS. MR. BURNS SAYS THE 790 REFUGEES WERE BEATEN AND MALNOURISHED.

BESIDES THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE AND IRELAND HAVE TAKEN IN OTHER MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM THAT SERBIAN CAMP. (SIGNED)

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17-Jan-96 5:53 PM EST (2253 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America