Voice of America, 26 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE EDITORIALIZING ON A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOPICS THIS FRIDAY, AS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW YEAR SLIPS AWAY. THEY INCLUDE THE RESIGNATION OF POLAND'S PRIME MINISTER; NEW CHINESE THREATS AGAINST TAIWAN; HILLARY CLINTON TO GIVE TESTIMONY TO A GRAND JURY, A FIRST FOR AN AMERICAN FIRST LADY; THE ON-GOING FEDERAL BUDGET BATTLE, AND COLOMBIA'S POLITICAL CRISIS. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE RESIGNATION THIS WEEK OF POLAND'S PRIME MINISTER, THE FORMER COMMUNIST JOZEF OLEKSY, FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS THAT HE PASSED STATE SECRETS TO SOVIET AND, LATER, RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE, IS HIGH AMONG TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN U-S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FRIDAY. "THE BALTIMORE SUN" CALLS IT, "POLAND'S COMMUNIST SCANDAL," ADDING:

VOICE: "LAST MARCH, THE FORMER COMMUNIST JOZEF OLEKSY BECAME PRIME MINISTER. HE WAS POISED TO BECOME EVEN MORE POWERFUL AFTER A FORMER COMMUNIST ALLY, ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IN NOVEMBER, OUSTING THE ANTI-COMMUNIST LECH WALESA. INSTEAD, MR. OLEKSY HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION TO FIGHT CHARGES OF HAVING BEEN A SOVIET AND RUSSIAN SPY UP TO LAST YEAR. IT IS A POLITICAL CRISIS FOR THE COALITION AND FOR MR. KWASNIEWSKI. IT IS ALSO A CRISIS FOR RUSSIAN-POLISH RELATIONS, WHICH HAD BEEN SLOWLY IMPROVING... NOBODY IS QUITE SURE HOW FAR THE FALLOUT [REPERCUSSIONS] FROM THIS CASE WILL SPREAD."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, UNDER THE HEADLINE,"BAD MEMORIES IN POLAND," TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE ESPIONAGE SCANDAL ... DOES NOT SIGNIFY A RETURN TO THE TOTALITARIAN PAST. BUT THE REVELATION THAT POLISH SECURITY AGENTS MONITORED [MR.] OLEKSY'S CONTACTS WITH SOVIET AND RUSSIAN SPIES FROM 1981 UNTIL RECENTLY DOES SUGGEST THAT FLASHBACKS FROM THE COMMUNIST ERA CAN STILL RETURN TO HAUNT POLISH POLITICS. [OPT] ... TO PREVENT RECURRENCES OF COMMUNISM'S BAD DREAM, POLAND, RUSSIA AND OTHER NATIONS WILL HAVE TO SEVER THE OLD TOTALITARIAN CONNECTION BETWEEN POLITICS AND THE SECRET SERVICES."

TEXT: AND HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS:

VOICE: "POLES ARE NOW GRAPPLING WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS AFFAIR PERMITS OR REQUIRES A POLITICAL REALIGNMENT, WITH OR WITHOUT EARLY ELECTIONS. IT IS THEIR BUSINESS. OUTSIDERS, HOWEVER, CANNOT FAIL TO BE STUNNED AT THE VERY NOTION THAT A POLISH PRIME MINISTER COULD BE RECRUITED AS AN INFORMER FOR MOSCOW, AND NOT JUST IN THE OLD DAYS BUT ALSO AS RECENTLY AS LAST YEAR."

TEXT: HALF A WORLD AWAY, RECENT THREATS BY CHINA TOWARDS TAIWAN BRINGS THIS REACTION FROM TODAY'S "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND, WHICH PROCLAIMS, "SHAME ON CHINA FOR BULLYING TAIWAN."

VOICE: "WITH ITS THREAT TO LOB ONE MISSILE EACH MONTH AT TAIWAN TO PREVENT ITS GOVERNMENT FROM SEEKING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, CHINA IS BEHAVING LIKE EAST ASIA'S REGIONAL BULLY. AND BY NOTIFYING WASHINGTON OF ITS THREAT AGAINST TAIWAN, BEIJING IS ALSO TRYING TO DISCOURAGE CLOSER U-S TIES WITH TAIPEI. CAN CHINA GET AWAY WITH THIS? SADLY, YES... WASHINGTON LACKS THE NECESSARY LEVERAGE TO FORCE BEIJING TO BACK OFF [STOP THE ACTION]."

TEXT: IN A LONG, LEAD EDITORIAL, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CALLS THE CHINA-TAIWAN SITUATION POSSIBLY "AS PERILOUS AS ANY THE WORLD HAS FACED SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR."

VOICE: "[OPT] CHINA HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY BELLIGERENT OVER PRESIDENT LEE TEN-HUI'S EFFORTS TO SEEK GREATER INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HIS ISLAND REPUBLIC. ..... [END OPT] WHETHER CHINA'S THREAT IS A BLUFF OR A SIGNALED INTENTION TO TEST WASHINGTON'S REACTION, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD WASTE NO TIME IN UNEQUIVOCALLY DENOUNCING ANY MILITARY MOVES AGAINST TAIWAN... THIS IS A TIME TO TREAT CHINA WITH FIRMNESS BUT ... UNDERSTANDING..."

TEXT: ONE OF THE TOP DOMESTIC SUBJECTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIALS IS THE SCHEDULED APPEARANCE LATER TODAY OF FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON BEFORE A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING THE ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE VENTURE KNOWN AS WHITEWATER. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE NATION'S 220-YEAR-HISTORY ANY SITTING PRESIDENT'S WIFE HAS BEEN SUBPOENAED TO GIVE TESTIMONY TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY, CAUSING "THE WASHINGTON POST" TO REMARK:

VOICE: "THIS IS AN EVENT WITHOUT PRECEDENT, AND REGARDLESS OF THE BRAVE FACE PUT ON IT BY THE WHITE HOUSE, A CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL AND POLITICAL EMBARRASSMENT TO THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON. WE HOPE THEIR DIFFICULTIES WILL BE LIMITED TO JUST THAT."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SUGGESTS MRS. CLINTON SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER TELLING HER STORY PERSONALLY TO CONGRESS.

VOICE: "SHE IS SATISFYING THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BY TESTIFYING BEFORE THE GRAND JURY TODAY. SHE WOULD DO WELL TO DEAL WITH THE POLITICAL DEMANDS, TOO, BY APPEARING BEFORE THE SENATE WHITEWATER COMMITTEE. [OPT] ...VOTERS NEED TO KNOW WHETHER WHITEWATER SHOULD SHAPE THEIR JUDGMENT ABOUT THE CLINTONS IN THE POLLING BOOTH. FOR THEM TO REACH A CONCLUSION, HILLARY CLINTON'S TESTIMONY [BEFORE CONGRESS ALSO] IS A MUST."

TEXT: IT NOW APPEARS THE U-S GOVERNMENT WILL AVOID ANOTHER SHUTDOWN DUE THE ONGOING BUDGET BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS. THE SENATE IS SET TO VOTE ON ANOTHER TEMPORARY SPENDING MEASURE THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS INDICATED HE WILL SIGN. THE CONTINUING BUDGET DISPUTE DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES", WHICH NOTES THE NEW CONCILIATORY TONE OF THE PREVIOUSLY BELLICOSE HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.

VOICE: "IT IS NOT HARD TO SEE WHY MR. GINGRICH FELT HE HAD TO TRIM BACK. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SURPRISED EVEN HIS OWN SUPPORTERS BY STANDING FIRM AGAINST REPUBLICAN THREATS TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT AND LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO ISSUE DEBT. POLLS SHOW THE PUBLIC IS FED UP WITH [TIRED OF AND ANNOYED BY] REPUBLICAN MANEUVERS AND BLAMES THE REPUBLICANS MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT FOR THE BUDGET DEADLOCK. [OPT] EVEN WALL STREET WAS GETTING JITTERY AS MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS CONSIDERING LOWERING ITS RATINGS FOR TREASURY BONDS BECAUSE OF FEARS THE POLITICAL GRIDLOCK WOULD LEAD TO DEFAULT." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" OFFERS THIS ADVICE TO BOTH SIDES IN THE BUDGET FEUD:

VOICE: "ONLY COMMITMENT TO A BALANCED BUDGET CAN PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BASE LINE FOR MEASURING SOUND PUBLIC CHOICES OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS... LET POLITICAL PRUDENCE KEEP GOVERNMENT OPEN. LET FISCAL PRUDENCE KEEP GOVERNMENT OUT OF COSTLY DEFAULT."

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" COMMENTS ON THE POLITICAL FUNDING SCANDAL SHAKING COLOMBIA, IN WHICH PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER IS ACCUSED OF TAKING SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CALI DRUG CARTEL:

VOICE: "COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ... SAMPER HAS DISPLAYED A CASE OF WILLFUL BLINDNESS... FOR MR. SAMPER DOES NOT CARE TO TAKE THE TIME TO SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS REFUSAL TO RESIGN FROM THE PRESIDENCY. HIS AVOWED INTENTION TO HOLD ON TO POWER AT ALL COSTS DEBILITATES HIS COUNTRY, [OPT] DEEPENING ALREADY WIDE FAULT LINES IN COLOMBIAN SOCIETY AND INSTITUTIONS. [END OPT] .... IF HE TRULY CARES FOR COLOMBIA'S BEST INTERESTS, HE WILL RESIGN -- FORTHWITH."

TEXT: CONCERNING THE STALLED PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS OVER NORTHERN IRELAND, "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE DREAM OF A LASTING PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILL REMAIN JUST THAT IF BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR CONTINUES HIS NASTY HABIT OF THROWING UP OBSTACLES TO SERIOUS TALKS. (MR.) MAJOR'S LATEST MISTAKE WAS HIS (NEGATIVE) RESPONSE TO THE U-S-LED (MITCHELL) PEACE COMMISSON ... (WHICH) RECOMMENDED A SENSIVE TWIN TRACK PROCESS. (MR.) MAJOR INSTANTLY BECAME A NAYSAYER, INSTEAD PROPOSING THAT TALKS BE POSTPONED UNTIL A NEGOTIATING TEAM COULD BE ELECTED."

TEXT: ON THE WEST COAST, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS OF THE MITCHELL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS:

VOICE: "REACTIONS TO THE MITCHELL REPORT ASIDE, MOMENTUM TOWARD A PERMANENT PEACE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED... OLD ENEMIES SHOULD PICK UP THE PIECES AND MOVE AHEAD IN THE POLITICAL REALM... COOL AND PATIENT HEADS ARE NEEDED."

TEXT: AND LASTLY ON BOSNIA AND THE PEACEKEEPING EFFORT THERE, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" NOTES:

VOICE: "THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA HAS THREE MAJOR TRACKS, NONE OF WHICH LACKS TWISTS AND HAZARDS. BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEGUN; THAT IN ITSELF STIRS HOPE... IT WOULD BE WRONG TO VIEW BOSNIA AS AN ETHNIC PIT WHERE THE BLOOD-LETTING WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESUME ONCE OUTSIDE AUTHORITY IS LIFTED."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL REACTION TO THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.

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26-Jan-96 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BACK TO THE FUTURE IN BOSNIA PART 3 BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE FORMER WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE AGREED TO IMPLEMENT TWO KEY PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD: THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS AND CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES. AGREEMENTS REACHED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN VIENNA AND PALE ARE SEEN BY ANALYSTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE AS ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY STEPS NEEDED TO INSURE THE SURVIVAL OF MULTI-ETHNIC

TEXT: AMERICAN OFFICIALS FIRST BECAME ALARMED WHEN THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FAILED TO MEET THE JANUARY 19TH DEADLINE FOR EXPELLING ALL FOREIGN FORCES. U-S INTELLIGENCE REPORTS SAY ABOUT 300 OUT OF AN ESTIMATED TWO-THOUSAND SO-CALLED MUJAHADEEN FIGHTERS FROM COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN STILL REMAIN IN BOSNIA. OTHER REPORTS SAY SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN OFFERED CITIZENSHIP, WHICH IS FORBIDDEN BY THE DAYTON ACCORD. BUT JOHN LAMPE [LAMP-EE], DIRECTOR OF EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES AT THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER IN WASHINGTON D-C, THINKS THE PRESENCE OF SUCH FIGHTERS IS LESS WORRYING THAN REPORTS THAT SARAJEVO IS RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM TEHERAN:

TAPE: CUT # 1 LAMPE RUNS [:40] "WE MAY BE MAKING TOO MUCH OF THOSE (MUSLIM) TROOPS OR MEN OR DOGS-OF-WAR (MERCENARIES), WHATEVER YOU WOULD CALL THEM, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SMALL. OF COURSE THE AMERICAN MEDIA ARE READY TO RESPOND TO ANY TERRORIST THREAT OR POSSIBILITY WHICH WOULD BE ILL-CONSIDERED IN THE EXTREME ON THE PART OF ANY OF THOSE FOLKS. I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS FUNDING FROM IRAN AND ELSEWHERE IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD. AND I THINK ALL OF THIS IS A REFLECTION THAT THE NON-MILITARY, CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT IS OFF TO A SLOW START."

TEXT: IN AN ATTEMPT TO PRESSURE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT INTO COMPLIANCE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE BOTH WARNED THAT PROMISED AID WILL BE WITHHELD UNTIL THERE IS FULL COMPLIANCE ON ALL SIDES. THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO THREATENED TO WITHHOLD TRAINING THE BOSNIAN ARMY UNTIL ALL TIES WITH IRAN AND ITS PROXIES ARE ENDED.

STEPHEN WALKER, A FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT BALKAN ANALYST, NOW DIRECTOR OF THE 'AMERICAN COMMITTEE TO SAVE BOSNIA', THINKS PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC MAY FEEL HE STILL NEEDS ISLAMIC SUPPORT AS HE LOOKS DOWN THE ROAD TO THAT DAY WHEN AMERICAN TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM HIS COUNTRY:

TAPE: CUT # 2 WALKER RUNS [:43] "I THINK THE PARTIES ON THE GROUND, PARTICULARLY THE SERBS AND THE CROATS, UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TRANSITION AND THAT THIS IS NOT A FINAL SETTLEMENT AND THAT THE ASPECTS IMPLEMENTED SO FAR TEND TO WORK TO THEIR ADVANTAGE IN MANY RESPECTS, AND THAT THE U-S IS ONLY COMMITTED TO BEING INVOLVED FOR A YEAR. SO, FINE, LET THE UNITED STATES COME IN AND SEPARATE THE PARTIES AND LET THEM GO HOME AND SERBIA AND ITS PROXIES, AND CROATIA AND ITS PROXIES, WILL BE A STRONGER POSITION, POLITICALLY, MILITARILY AND ECONOMICALLY IN A YEAR AND BOSNIA WILL BE IN JUST AS WEAK OR WEAKER POSITION IN MOST RESPECTS"

TEXT: HOW TO SAVE BOSNIA AS A MULTI-ETHNIC STATE OR AS ANY STATE AT ALL HAS ALSO CAUSED A RUPTURE WITHIN THE INCREASINGLY ISLAMIST SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT. EARLIER THIS WEEK PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILADJZIC OFFERED HIS RESIGNATION FOR A SECOND TIME OVER DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE RULING MUSLIM S-D-A PARTY. JOHN LAMPE SAYS THIS ONLY FURTHER UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR DAYTON ADVISORS TO SPEED UP THE NON-MILITARY PROVISIONS OF THE PEACE ACCORDS, LIKE BUILDING DEMOCRATIC, CIVILIAN POLICE FORCES AND MULTI-PARTY INSTITUTIONS:

TAPE: CUT # 3 LAMPE RUNS [:] "THE FAMOUS AMERICAN IMPATIENCE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE WELL UNDERWAY BY THANKSGIVING (NOVEMBER). BUT IF SOME KIND OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING, EXCHANGES, MOVEMENT OF GOODS, (WHICH) MIGHT BE EASIER THAN MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE INITIALLY, IF SOME OF THESE STARTING POINTS CAN BE PUT IN PLACE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THEN, I THINK PRIME MINISTER SILADJZIC'S VISION OF A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA HAS STILL GOT A LONGER TERM CHANCE. TO SIMPLY SURVIVE IN THAT INLAND TERRITORY OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SUCH CONNECTIONS JUST FOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL."

TEXT: ON THIS, MR. LAMPE AND MR. WALKER AGREE. AND MR. WALKER SAYS ONE WAY TO LOOK AT THE DIVISIONS BETWEEN PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC AND PRIME MINISTER SILAJDZIC IS AS ANOTHER POST-COMMUNIST POWER STRUGGLE:

TAPE: CUT # 4 WALKER RUNS [1:21] "[OPT] PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC IS COMMITTED TO A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA BUT THEN THERE'S THE QUESTION WITHIN THE PARTY CONTEXT: DO IZETBEGOVIC AND OTHER S-D-A LEADERS WANT TO SEE THE S-D-A REMAIN ONE OF, IF NOT THE DOMINANT POLITICAL PARTY WITHIN BOSNIA? THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. [END OPT] YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN EFFORT BY THE S-D-A AND THE OTHER LEADING NATIONALIST PARTIES, H-D-Z IN (CROAT CONTROLLED) HERZEG-BOSNA AND (BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN) KARADZIC'S PEOPLE IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TO TRY AND INSTITUTIONALIZE AND SOLIDIFY THEIR CONTROL WITHIN THE EMERGING POLITICAL SYSTEM. [END OPT] YOU HAVE BOSNIA'S JUST EMERGING FROM A FAIRLY CENTRALIZED, AUTHORITARIAN SYSTEM SO THE TENDENCY IS GOING TO BE TO STICK TO A LOT OF THOSE PRACTICES AND WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS. I THINK WHAT SILAJDZIC IS RESPONDING IS TO S-D-A EXERTING TOO MUCH CONTROL AND MAKING POLICY DECISIONS AND PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS TOO MUCH BASED ON PARTY LOYALTY. AND I THINK WHAT HIS RESIGNATION MAY DO IS OFFER A CHANCE TO CREATE A REAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE S-D-A IN THE FORM OF A MULTI-ETHNIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IF HE MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION WHICH INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT HE WILL."

TEXT: BOTH ANALYSTS AGREE THAT SUCH A PLURALISTIC VISION OF BOSNIA WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION-BUILDING AND THAT ELECTIONS SCHEDULED IN SIX MONTHS DO NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO PREVENT THE OUTCOME FROM BEING DECIDED ALONG ETHNIC LINES. (SIGNED)

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26-Jan-96 5:02 PM EST (2202 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE HELD UNPRECEDENTED, HIGH-LEVEL TALKS IN THE SERB STRONGHOLD OF PALE. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE TALKS COULD SOON RESULT IN THE FINAL RELEASE OF WAR PRISONERS. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS

TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, KRESIMIR ZUBAK, MET IN PALE WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE SELF-DECLARED BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT, MOMCILO KRAJISNIK. AFTERWARD, BOTH MEN MADE GENERALLY CONCILIATORY STATEMENTS ABOUT THEIR DETERMINATION TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE PEACE AGREEMENT THAT DIVIDES BOSNIA ROUGHLY IN HALF BETWEEN THE SERB REPUBLIC AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.

MR. KRAJISNIK SAYS THEY AGREED ON THE RELEASE OF REMAINING BOSNIAN WAR PRISONERS.

THE SERBS SAY THEY WILL UNILATERALLY FREE THE 180 MUSLIMS AND CROATS THEY STILL HOLD AS SOON AS THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS CAN TAKE THEM.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS LINKED THE RELEASE OF ITS PRISONERS TO AN ACCOUNTING OF THOUSANDS OF MISSING MUSLIMS. BUT, THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE NOT TO LINK PRISONER RELEASES TO ANY OTHER ISSUE.

IN ANOTHER POSITIVE SIGNAL, MR. ZUBAK AND THE SERB PARLIAMENTARY LEADER SAY THEY WILL TRY TO RESOLVE TENSIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE IN SERB-HELD AREAS OF SARAJEVO.

MR. ZUBAK CALLED ON SARAJEVO SERBS TO STAY WHERE THEY NOW LIVE EVEN THOUGH THE SERB DISTRICTS WILL COME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION AS PART OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

MR. ZUBAK SAYS THE SERBS WILL BE TREATED THE SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE IN SARAJEVO. BUT, MR. KRAJISNIK APPEARS TO STILL DOUBT THAT.

HE SAYS SARAJEVO SERBS WANT TO LIVE UNDER SERB AUTHORITY. HE SAYS IT WILL ONLY BE FEASIBLE FOR THE SERBS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES IF THERE IS MUTUAL RESPECT AND IF THEIR INTERESTS ARE GUARANTEED. MEANWHILE, THE SERBS' PRIME MINISTER, RAJKO KASAGIC, HAS MADE ANOTHER VISIT TO SARAJEVO, THIS TIME TO BE INTERVIEWED BY GOVERNMENT TELEVISION.

MR. KASAGIC MET EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL WITH OUTGOING BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC AND WITH HIS DESIGNATED SUCCESSOR HASAN MURATOVIC.

HIS TALKS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WERE SAID TO HAVE GONE WELL. ALTHOUGH NO AGREEMENTS WERE ANNOUNCED, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A SENIOR SERB LEADER VISITED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)

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26-Jan-96 1:06 PM EST (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / BOSNIA (S-O) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO START SENDING HOME ITS 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES. THE REPATRIATIONS WILL BE COMPLETED IN GRADUAL STAGES, WITH THE FIRST GROUP TO BE SENT BACK IN JULY. IT'S A MOVE OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE GERMANY HAS TAKEN IN MORE BOSNIAN REFUGEES THAN ANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY. MORE FROM V-O-A'S THOMAS ANDERSSEN.

TEXT: SINGLE PEOPLE AND CHILDLESS COUPLES WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE SENT HOME TO BOSNIA. 200-THOUSAND OF GERMANY'S BOSNIAN REFUGEES FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY. BUSES AND TRAINS WILL START FERRYING THEM TO BOSNIA IN JULY. IT'S HOPED THEY WILL HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY BY MAY OF NEXT YEAR, ALLOWING STAGE TWO OF THE REPATRIATIONS TO BEGIN: THE RETURN OF BOSNIAN FAMILIES, WHO MAKE UP ANOTHER 120-THOUSAND PEOPLE.

THE DECISION WAS MADE AT A SPECIAL CONFERENCE BY THE INTERIOR MINISTERS OF GERMANY'S 16 STATES AND THE FEDERAL MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER.

IN ANNOUNCING THE NEWS, MR. KANTHER SAID BOSNIAN REFUGEES HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY GERMANY FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS. THEY WERE GUESTS OF THE STATE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME, HE SAID, AND NOW THAT TIME WAS NEARING ITS END.

NOW THAT THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD HAS BROUGHT A DURABLE CEASEFIRE TO BOSNIA, THE GERMAN MINISTERS APPEALED TO THE REFUGEES TO VOLUNTARILY RETURN HOME AND HELP IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THEIR COUNTRY.

AS A FORM OF ENCOURAGEMENT, BONN WILL ORGANIZE TRANSIT VISITS HOME FOR THEM. THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY FOR UP TO TWO MONTHS WITH PROMISE OF BEING GRANTED A VISA TO RETURN TO GERMANY IF NEED BE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY, HOWEVER, THEY WON'T BE FORCIBLY REPATRIATED AT A LATER DATE.

THE MINISTERS SPOKE OF A "HUMANE DECISION." IT GOES AGAINST UNITED NATIONS WISHES THOUGH. LAST WEEK, THE U-N'S HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES APPEALED TO GERMANY NOT TO ACT PREMATURELY, SAYING THAT CERTAIN MILITARY AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS STILL HAD TO BE MET BEFORE THE SAFETY OF BOSNIAN RETURNEES COULD BE GUARANTEED.

THE COST OF FEEDING, HOUSING AND CLOTHING 320-THOUSAND PEOPLE THOUGH IS WEIGHING HEAVILY ON THE GERMAN PUBLIC PURSE. NINE-BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR, MAINLY BY THE STATES AND INDIVIDUAL CITIES WHERE THE REFUGEES ARE LIVING. THE AUTHORITIES ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE FOREIGNER-ISSUE IS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE ONE IN GERMANY. BUT IF THE SITUATION REMAINS STABLE IN BOSNIA OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE REPATRIATIONS WILL GO AHEAD AS PLANNED.(SIGNED)

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26-Jan-96 4:35 PM EST (2135 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER OPERATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AND LIBERIA, WHERE PEACE ACCORDS ARE MOVING SLOWLY; DIPLOMATS TRY TO SHORE UP SUPPORT FOR PEACE IN SOMALIA BUT NO NEW INTERVENTION IS BEING CONSIDERED; AND, GOVERNMENTS ARE MOVING TO DEAL WITH THE U-N'S CRITICAL FINANCIAL SITUATION -- WITH ARREARS BY WASHINGTON CONSIDERED A CENTRAL PROBLEM. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS IN AFRICA IS DOMINATING THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA LATELY. A REFERENDUM ON THE FUTURE OF MOROCCAN-CONTROLLED WESTERN SAHARA HAS BEEN POSTPONED YET AGAIN BECAUSE OF UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS OVER VOTER REGISTRATION. SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI HAS RECOMMENDED THE RENEWAL OF THE MANDATE OF OVER 200 MILITARY OBSERVERS IN THE TERRITORY, WARNING A U-N PULL-OUT COULD DESTABILIZE THE AREA.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS AN OPTION TO START PHASING DOWN IN WESTERN SAHARA -- THOUGH SOME DIPLOMATS BELIEVE IT IS UNLIKELY. HOWEVER, IT MAY DECIDE TO SET FIRM CONDITIONS AND DEADLINES FOR SETTLING THE VOTER DISPUTE.

A REFERENDUM WAS FIRST SCHEDULED IN EARLY 1992. VOTERS ARE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INCORPORATION INTO MOROCCO OR INDEPENDENCE.

MOROCCO'S MAIN RIVAL -- THE POLISARIO FRONT -- HAS ACCUSED RABAT OF TRYING TO LOAD VOTER LISTS WITH ITS SUPPORTERS. THE TWO SIDES FOUGHT FOR OVER 15 YEARS IN WESTERN SAHARA UNTIL A CEASEFIRE IN 1991.

-0- MEANWHILE, THE SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATED THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN LIBERIA, WHERE LAST YEAR'S PEACE ACCORD AIMS AT ENDING SIX YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. THE U-N HAS A SMALL OBSERVER FORCE IN LIBERIA WHICH IS ASSISTING THOUSANDS OF WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS.

U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT RECENTLY VISITED THE COUNTRY. SHE REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL A MIXED PICTURE. THE AMERICAN ENVOY SAID WHILE GUNMEN ARE STILL ROVING AROUND LIBERIA AND SPORADIC FIGHTING BREAKS OUT, THE RULING NATIONAL COUNCIL SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE COUNCIL HAS WARNED LIBERIA IT WILL NOT SUSTAIN ITS INVOLVEMENT INDEFINITELY.

THE DEBATE CAME AMID GROWING BITTERNESS AMONG AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS WHICH CHARGE THE UNITED NATIONS HAS NOT WORKED HARD ENOUGH TO END CONFLICTS IN THE REGION. THEY SAY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- DOMINATED BY THE WEST -- HAS INVESTED MUCH MORE IN BRINGING PEACE TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

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THE U-N HAD TRIED TO ENFORCE PEACE IN SOMALIA. THE OPERATION FAILED AND THE U-N PULLED OUT LAST YEAR. IT WAS ABLE TO AVERT FAMINE IN SOMALIA BUT COULD NOT IMPOSE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT.

SECURITY COUNCIL DIPLOMATS SAY THEY HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN SOMALIA AND EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR A U-N OFFICE IN NAIROBI THAT MONITORS DEVELOPMENTS THERE. U-N REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ALSO TRIED TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS WITH THE RIVAL GROUPS. BUT IT SEEMS CLEAR ANOTHER MASSIVE OPERATION TO SAVE SOMALIA IS NOT IN THE PLANNING.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOMALIA HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY A DEBILITATING STALEMATE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.

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THE U-N'S TOP FINANCIAL OFFICER -- JOSEPH CONNOR -- HAS WARNED THE U-N'S CASH SHORTAGE IS SO SEVERE THAT THE ORGANIZATION TEETERS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY. A MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HUGE DEBT BY THE UNITED STATES -- OVER A BILLION DOLLARS -- WHICH IS BEING HELD UP BY U-N DETRACTORS IN THE U-S CONGRESS.

U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGED U-S RESPONSIBILITIES AGAIN THIS PAST WEEK. BUT SHE QUICKLY POINTED OUT THAT THE UNITED STATES IS ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOTING THAT ONLY ABOUT ONE-HALF OF U-N MEMBER STATES PAID THEIR DUES IN FULL LAST YEAR.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS OFFERED A PLAN IT HOPES COULD BREAK THROUGH THE DILEMMA. A SWEEPING NEW PROPOSAL WOULD REDUCE COSTS FOR THE UNITED STATES, RAISE THEM FOR JAPAN AND CONSIDER IMPOSING PENALTIES ON THOSE WHO DO NOT PAY. THE UNITED STATES -- THE U-N'S LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR -- HAS ARGUED IT BEARS TOO MUCH OF THE BURDEN WHILE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE GROWN RICH AFTER WORLD WAR TWO PAY TOO LITTLE.

IN ANY CASE, DEBATE IS IN FULL SWING AT HEADQUARTERS -- WITH U-N OFFICIALS DETERMINED TO FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE CASH CRISIS THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/EJ/GPT
26-Jan-96 12:49 PM EST (1749 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO TALKS (L) -- CORRECTED BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE NEARING A FRIDAY NIGHT DEADLINE TO AGREE ON A SERIES OF MEASURES TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AMONG THEM. THE DEADLINE MAY BE MISSED. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM VIENNA.

TEXT: THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO CONCLUDE AN ACCORD ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES, REQUIRED BY THE NEW PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

AS THE FRIDAY NIGHT (0000 SATURDAY) DEADLINE APPROACHES, AN ACCORD IS SAID TO BE 95 PERCENT COMPLETE. THE SERBS SAY THEY ARE READY TO INITIAL IT. BUT, AN OFFICIAL OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, WHICH IS SPONSORING THE TALKS, SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE NEGOTIATORS HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO FINISH THE AGREEMENT.

IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS ARE PREPARED TO EXCHANGE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR ARMIES. THAT EXCHANGE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MOVE.

ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WAS FACING THE NEGOTIATORS WAS A PROCEDURAL ONE. THE SERBS WERE CHALLENGING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO INITIAL AN AGREEMENT. THE TALKS, THAT BEGAN HERE EARLY THIS MONTH, ARE TECHNICALLY BETWEEN THE SERBS AND THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION.

IF THE DEADLINE FOR AN AGREEMENT ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING STEPS IS MISSED, IT WOULD FOLLOW THE FORMER WARRING FORCES' FAILURE TO RELEASE ALL THEIR PRISONERS ON TIME. SO FAR, BESIDES NOT ATTACKING EACH OTHER, THE MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE BOSNIAN PEACE TREATY BY WITHDRAWING THEIR TROOPS FROM LINES OF SEPARATION.

THEY HAVE GENERALLY COOPERATED WITH THE NATO-LED PEACE FORCE WHICH DEMANDS THE RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT BOSNIA, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS ATTACKS ON NATO TROOPS. BUT, CONCLUDING AND IMPLEMENTING A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING AGREEMENT AND CARRYING OUT CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ARE LIKELY TO TAKE MORE TIME THAN EXPECTED.

IF MANY DEADLINES ARE MISSED, IT WOULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE FORMER WARRING FORCES REALLY WANT PEACE OR WHETHER THEY MIGHT INTEND TO RESUME FIGHTING AFTER NATO TROOPS LEAVE BOSNIA IN A YEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/JM
26-Jan-96 10:21 AM EST (1521 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America