Voice of America, 29 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] MONDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS IN MONDAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS, INCLUDING THE FLAT TAX PROPOSAL OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STEVE FORBES; U-S POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA; THE FEDERAL BUDGET FIGHT; CONCERN OVER THE PRICE OF GOLD, AND GROWING THREATS TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" DISCUSSES THE FEDERAL FLAT TAX BEING TOUTED BY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STEVE FORBES, ALONG WITH TAX REFORMS PROPOSED BY CANDIDATE SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR, WHO SUGGESTS A NATIONAL RETAIL-SALES TAX, AND FORMER CONTENDER ARLEN SPECTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. "THE MONITOR" ENDORSES NONE OF THE PLANS BUT MAKES THESE SUGGESTIONS:

VOICE: "ESTABLISH A LOWER AND FLATTER TAX RATE, WHICH PAST EXPERIENCE SHOWS ... ACTUALLY INCREASES GOVERNMENT REVENUES AND ENCOURAGES THE RICH TO PAY MORE. PRESERVE THE HOME MORTGAGE AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION DEDUCTIONS, BUT ELIMINATE MOST OTHERS. ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO DEDUCT PAYROLL TAXES SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE... ENSURE THAT LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES -- SAY, THOSE MAKING LESS THAN 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS -- PAY NO TAX... SIGNIFICANTLY SIMPLIFY FILING. REDUCE THE POWER OF THE I-R-S (INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE)...."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THIS MONDAY IS CONCERNED ABOUT U-S POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA, AND SUGGESTS WASHINGTON TAKE A HARDER LINE.

VOICE: "WITH BORIS YELTSIN CLUMSILY TRYING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM HIS REFORM RECORD TO PLACATE VOTERS AS RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS APPROACH, PRESIDENT CLINTON FACES A DELICATE AND DIFFICULT TIME IN MANAGING RELATIONS WITH MOSCOW. THE DAYS OF BEAR HUGS AND POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RUSSIAN LEADER ARE OVER. WASHINGTON NOW OWES MR. YELTSIN A BLUNT CONDEMNATION OF HIS DRIFT AWAY FROM ECONOMIC REFORM, AND A FIRM POLICY DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER EROSION BY MR. YELTSIN OR A SUCCESSOR. [OPT] ... THE MEASURE OF AMERICAN POLICY IN THE DAYS AHEAD WILL BE WHETHER MR. CLINTON DOES ALL HE CAN TO KEEP MR. YELTSIN AND RUSSIA ON THE PATH TO REFORM." [END OPT]

TEXT: BACK TO A DOMESTIC ISSUE, A PAIR OF LEAD EDITORIALS, IN FLORIDA AND ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, DEAL WITH THE PROTRACTED BUDGET DISPUTE BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT, WHICH HAS HAS BEEN EASED SOMEWHAY WITH ANOTHER CONTINUING [FUNDING] RESOLUTION. "THE MIAMI HERALD" WRITES, IN PART: VOICE "THE NEW REASONABLENESS -- IF IT LASTS -- IS A WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE 'DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES, NO COMPROMISE' RANTINGS OF THE LAST SIX MONTHS. CONGRESS HAS NO MORE URGENT RESPONSIBILITY THAN TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING... MILLIONS ... WOULD SUFFER IF CONGRESS LET THE U-S GOVERNMENT SLIDE INTO DEFAULT."

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" IS PLEASED THAT A THIRD SHUTDOWN OF THE GOVERNMENT WAS AVERTED, BUT SAYS A FULL SETTLEMENT STILL NEEDS TO BE REACHED.

VOICE: "CREDIT THE PRESIDENT WITH MORE BACKBONE [RESOLVE] THAN [REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE HOUSE] HAD EXPECTED FROM HIM, AND TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN FOR INGENIOUS DEFAULT-AVOIDANCE TACTICS THAT LEFT FRUSTRATED REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR HIS IMPEACHMENT. AND CREDIT THE PUBLIC FOR PLACING PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BUDGET IMPASSE WHERE IT BELONGED: WITH CONGRESS, NOT THE PRESIDENT... THAT SAID, BOTH SIDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE TALKING ABOUT A TAX CUT AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF RESOLVING A DISPUTE THAT PURPORTS TO BE ABOUT DEBT REDUCTION AND A BALANCED BUDGET."

TEXT: THERE IS A WARNING IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ABOUT A POSSIBLE SURGE IN INFLATION, JUDGING FROM THE RECENT JUMP IN THE PRICE OF GOLD ON WORLD MARKETS.

VOICE: "WHEN GOLD RISES, WE SUGGEST, IT'S TIME FOR THE FED [FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD] TO THINK ABOUT TIGHTENING -- THAT IS, CONSTRICTING THE SUPPLY OF DOLLARS... WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT INFLATION IS A MONETARY PHENOMENON, TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS. TO ACT IN TIME, THE FED NEEDS SOME ADVANCE WARNING, AND SENSITIVE COMMODITIES TEND TO MOVE IN ADVANCE OF OTHER PRICES. THE WORLD'S STOCK OF GOLD IS RELATIVELY CONSTANT, OUR THEORY RUNS, SO THAT ITS PRICE MOVEMENTS MOSTLY REFLECT MONETARY POLICY."

TEXT: IN BOSTON, THERE IS A COMMENT IN MONDAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" ABOUT THE U-S ARMY SOLDIER, SPECIALIST MICHAEL NEW, WHO WAS COURT MARTIALLED FOR REFUSING TO WEAR A UNITED NATIONS BLUE HAT WHILE ON DUTY IN MACEDONIA. WHILE SOME CRITICS OF THE VERDICT SEE HIM AS A HERO, "THE GLOBE" THINKS OTHERWISE.

VOICE: "HIS SUPPORTERS -- INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL PAT BUCHANAN -- SAY AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS COMPROMISES THE NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY. THEY ARE DEEPLY MISTAKEN. SOVEREIGNTY DOES NOT MEAN REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH ALLIES ABROAD. SOVEREIGNTY DOES NOT MEAN SUFFERING EVERY UNDERTAKING ALONE. SOVEREIGNTY DOES NOT MEAN ABANDONING THE CONCEPT OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY... SPECIALIST NEW'S OATH TO THE U-S CONSTITUTION REQUIRED HIM TO DON THEM AND TO PROTECT U-S INTERESTS BY HELPING PREVENT THE SPREAD OF WAR IN CENTRAL EUROPE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "USA TODAY" OFFERS SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW COMPUTERS AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE FREE FLOW INFORMATION, AS SOME GOVERNMENTS HAVE TRIED. THE PAPER REFLECTS ON HOW THE FRENCH ATTEMPTED TO BAN A BOOK BY THE LATE PRESIDENT MITTERAND'S DOCTOR, BUT ACTED ONLY AFTER ALL 40-THOUSANDS COPIES WERE SOLD OUT, AND THE ENTIRE TEXT WAS POSTED ON THE INTERNET.

VOICE: "...IF THE COURT THOUGHT IT WAS STOPPING FURTHER PUBLICATION, THINK AGAIN: THE BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD, POSTED AT LE WEB, A CYBERCAFE IN BESANCON, EASTERN FRANCE. A THOUSAND PEOPLE AN HOUR HAVE SWAMPED ITS SITE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB... IF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BAN -- OR BURN - - LEGITIMATE BOOKS, THAT'S A LONG-OVERDUE BLOW FOR FREEDOM AROUND THE GLOBE."

TEXT: AND ON THAT SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME EDITORIALS IN MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.

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29-Jan-96 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA/PRISONERS (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: WHILE MOST WAR PRISONERS HAVE NOW BEEN FREED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, IT HAS BEEN REVEALED MORE THAN 600 BOSNIAN-GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS REMAIN IN YUGOSLAVIA. BUT, THEY ARE BEING ALLOWED TO LEAVE AND SOME HAVE BEEN RE-SETTLED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: BELGRADE TELEVISION SAYS 620 TROOPS OF THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN ARMY REMAIN IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA. THEY ARE SAID TO BE AMONG NEARLY 800 BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS WHO FLED LAST AUGUST TO SERBIA.

MOST OF THEM CROSSED THE BOSNIAN/SERBIAN BORDER AND SURRENDERED TO THE YUGOSLAV ARMY TO AVOID BEING CAPTURED AND POSSIBLY KILLED BY BOSNIAN-SERB FORCES.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS KNOWN SOME BOSNIAN-GOVERNMENT TROOPS FLED TO YUGOSLAVIA BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE PROPERLY TREATED. BUT, THERE WAS NO CLEAR INDICATION OF THE NUMBER OF TROOPS INVOLVED.

AFTER REACHING THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF YUGOSLAVIA, SOME OF THEM TRIED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO MACEDONIA.

ACCORDING TO BELGRADE TELEVISION, THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FOOD, SHELTER, AND MEDICAL CARE FOR THE BOSNIAN-ARMY PRISONERS DURING THE FIRST MONTH THEY WERE IN SERBIA.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS THEN STEPPED IN, REGISTERED THE PRISONERS IN TWO RECEPTION CENTERS AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FOOD AND OTHER AID. SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION HAS BEEN HELPING RE-SETTLE SOME OF THOSE PRISONERS.

SIXTY-EIGHT PRISONERS HAVE GONE TO THE UNITED STATES, IRELAND, AND AUSTRALIA. MORE THAN 100 OTHERS ARE NOW SAID TO BE PREPARING TO LEAVE SERBIA FOR THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, AND SWEDEN.

IF THE SOLDIERS RETURNED TO BOSNIA, THEY COULD BE PUNISHED FOR DESERTION. BUT IF THEY DID NOT FACE THAT CHARGE, THOSE WITHOUT FAMILIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WOULD PROBABLY PREFER TO BE RESETTLED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 7:44 AM EST (1244 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/RED CROSS (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A RED CROSS OFFICE IN NORTHERN BOSNIA HAS BEEN STORMED BY ANGRY REFUGEES FROM SREBRENICA. THE REFUGEES ARE DEMANDING INFORMATION ON THE FATE OF UP TO EIGHT-THOUSAND MEN WHO WENT MISSING WHEN SREBRENICA FELL TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS LAST SUMMER. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: TWO THOUSAND REFUGEES, MOSTLY WOMEN, SURROUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS OFFICE IN TUZLA IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, SHOUTING SLOGANS AND HONKING CAR HORNS. LATER, DOZENS OF THE DEMONSTRATORS BROKE INTO THE BUILDING, DESTROYING OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND SMASHING WINDOWS. RED CROSS OFFICIALS SAY MANY OF THE DEMONSTRATORS ARE REFUSING TO LEAVE UNTIL THEY RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THOUSANDS OF THEIR MISSING RELATIVES WHO WERE BELIEVED KILLED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS DURING THE FALL OF SREBRENICA LAST JULY.

RED CROSS OFFICIALS COMPLAIN THE LOCAL POLICE WERE INFORMED THE DEMONSTRATION COULD TURN VIOLENT, BUT REFUSED TO INTERVENE.

THE RED CROSS HAS SAID THE VIOLENCE WAS A REACTION TO WHAT IT CALLED "AGGRESSIVE AND IRRESPONSIBLE" STATEMENTS MADE BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT BLAMING THE RED CROSS FOR THE SREBRENICA TRAGEDY. RED CROSS OFFICIALS SAY THEY SYMPATHIZE WITH THE FAMILIES, BUT THEY INSIST THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED THE BOSNIAN SERBS FOR INFORMATION ON THE MISSING PEOPLE, BUT SO FAR THEIR REQUESTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

THE RED CROSS IS CONTINUING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SIDES TO RELEASE ALL REMAINING PRISONERS OF WAR. OVER FIVE HUNDRED P-O-W'S WERE RELEASED OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT THE RED CROSS SAYS OVER A HUNDRED P-O-W'S ARE STILL HELD. SIXTY-THREE OF THE P-O-W'S WILL NOT BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY ARE HELD AS SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS. THIS IS ALLOWED UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION, AS LONG AS THEY ARE HELD ONLY FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THEY ARE HANDED OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE BOSNIAN SERBS RELEASED 13 MORE MUSLIM PRISONERS ON MONDAY, BUT RED CROSS OFFICIALS SAY THE SERBS ARE STILL HOLDING 30 MORE P-O-W'S. OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING SIX MORE P-O-W'S AND MAY BE HOLDING DOZENS MORE SERBS. THE RED CROSS IS INSISTING THE GOVERNMENT ALLOW ACCESS TO A PRISON IN TUZLA WHERE "SEVERAL DOZEN" SERBS MAY BE HELD. RED CROSS MONITORS HAVE BEEN REFUSED ACCESS TO THE PRISON SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 5:14 PM EST (2214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA / GERMANY (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY HAS BEGUN DEPLOYING THE MAIN BODY OF ITS TROOP CONTINGENT FOR PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, GERMANY HAS OFFERED TO SUPPLY ABOUT FOUR-THOUSAND TROOPS FOR THE MISSION, WHICH MARKS THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST FOREIGN MILITARY DEPLOYMENT SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

TEXT: IN A BRIEF DEPARTURE CEREMONY AT THE BONN / COLOGNE AIRPORT, GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE CALLED ON THE TROOPS TO REMAIN ALERT AS THEY EMBARK ON WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A GREAT MISSION.

ALTHOUGH THE WAR IS OVER, HE TOLD THE TROOPS THEY WILL BE GOING TO A DEVASTATED LAND WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN NEED AND WHERE DANGER LURKS ALONG THE ROADS.

OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, GERMANY WILL BE SENDING ABOUT 14-HUNDRED TROOPS TO THE CROATIAN PORT CITY OF SPLIT.

TOGETHER WITH ADVANCE UNITS ALREADY IN PLACE, THE TROOPS WILL PROVIDE SUPPLIES, MEDICAL CARE, ENGINEERING AND BACK-UP FOR THE MAIN NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA.

MOST OF THE GERMAN TROOPS TAKING PART IN THE NATO-LED MISSION WILL REMAIN OUTSIDE OF BOSNIA, WHERE MANY SERBS STILL REMEMBER THE BRUTAL NAZI OCCUPATION DURING WORLD WAR TWO.

IN HIS REMARKS TO THE DEPARTING SOLDIERS, MR. RUEHE SAID GERMANY IS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING EFFORT, SOMETHING HE SAID THE TROOPS CAN BE PROUD OF. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 7:47 AM EST (1247 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BRITAIN / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA ( LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND SAYS EVERYONE CONCERNED MUST REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO RID BOSNIA FROM MINEFIELDS. VOA CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, MR. RIFKIND COMMENTED FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT IN WHICH A BRITISH ARMORED VEHICLE CARRYING THREE SOLDIERS HIT A LANDMINE IN BOSNIA AND BLEW UP.

TEXT: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND SAYS ALL MILITARY GROUPS IN BOSNIA MUST PROVIDE FULL INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION OF LANDMINES THEY SET OUT IN THE BOSNIAN COUNTRYSIDE. MR. RIFKIND SAYS THE VARIOUS GROUPS ARE TRYING TO COOPERATE -- BUT A LOT MORE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED.

THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY SPOKE IN BRUSSELS FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY INVOLVING THREE BRITISH SOLDIERS SERVING WITH NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA. THEIR ARMORED VEHICLE HIT A LANDMINE AS THEY WERE PATROLLING AN APPARENTLY UNMARKED MINEFIELD. THE THREE SOLDIERS ARE PRESUMED DEAD -- BRITISH FORCES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER.

MR. RIFKIND -- ATTENDING A EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS -- SAYS THE MINISTERS WILL DISCUSS RECOGNIZING SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO AS THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

RECOGNITION OUGHT TO BE OBVIOUSLY PART OF THE PEACE PROCESS. THERE IS NOW A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS RELATIVE PEACE. A PEACE TREATY HAS BEEN SIGNED. FOR THE MOST PART THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED ARE COMPLYING WITH THEIR AGREEMENTS. THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO BE DONE -- AND THEREFORE RECOGNITION IS REALLY PART OF THAT PROCESS AND FLOWS LOGICALLY FROM WHERE WE NOW ARE.

MR. RIFKIND DID NOT WANT TO SPECULATE AS TO WHETHER RECOGNITION WILL BE APPROVED DURING THE CURRENT MEETING. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 6:04 AM EST (1104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS MET IN WASHINGTON AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WITH CORNELIO SOMMARUGA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. V-O-A'"S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, MR. CHRISTOPHER IS DISTRESSED THAT PRISONERS REMAIN IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE RED CROSS HAS TOLD THE UNITED STATES, 113 PRISONERS REMAIN IN BOSNIA, JUST 17 IN BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HANDS AND THE REST HELD BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND CROATS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS DISPLEASED THAT PRISONERS REMAIN HELD AFTER THE JANUARY 19TH DEADLINE FOR THEIR RELEASE AND HE PLANS TO CONFRONT THE BALKAN PARTIES DIRECTLY ON HIS TRIP AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

IF THIS PRISONER RELEASE IS NOT COMPLETE BY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER WILL BE RAISING THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY WITH THE PARTIES WHEN HE VISITS SARAJEVO AND BELGRADE AND ZAGREB.

MR. BURNS SAYS ALL SIDES HAVE INCENTIVES TO COMPLY WITH THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. BOSNIA WANTS AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, SERBIA WANTS ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CROATIA WANTS ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. THIS GIVES THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE SOME LEVERAGE IN GETTING THESE COUNTRIES TO CARRY OUT THEIR COMMITMENTS. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 4:09 PM EST (2109 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] CLINTON-SMITH BOSNIA (S &L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: IN WASHINGTON, THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA -- U-S NAVY ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- HAS TOLD PRESIDENT CLINTON HE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BOSNIA'S FUTURE, BUT THREATS TO NATO FORCES REMAIN. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT: ADMIRAL SMITH BRIEFED PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE JUST A DAY AFTER A U-S SOLDIER WAS WOUNDED IN AN APPARENT SNIPER ATTACK IN BOSNIA AND THREE BRITISH SOLDIERS AND ONE SWEDISH SOLDIER WERE KILLED IN ACCIDENTS.

HE TOLD REPORTERS HE GAVE THE PRESIDENT AN UPBEAT -- BUT REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE OF THE CURRENT THREATS TO NATO FORCES -- LAND MINES, ROAD ACCIDENTS, AND THE PRESENCE OF WHAT HE CALLED ROGUE ELEMENTS.

THOSE THREATS REMAIN. WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR FORCES AND ALL OF THE OTHER NATO AND NON-NATO FORCES IN THESE DANGERS. WE TRY TO DO THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY, NOT ONLY THAT, WE ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA, PARTICULARLY TO THE MINE THREAT.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAID HE DOES NOT SEE A DIRECT THREAT FROM THE FORMER WARRING PARTIES.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE MILITARIES OF THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS ARE COMPLYING AND COOPERATING WITH WHAT WE ARE OVER THERE TO DO. I CAN NOT GUARANTEE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE CASUALTIES BECAUSE OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OR MINES OR THE SNIPER. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COOPERATION THAT WE ARE SEEING TELLS ME THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE A FORCE-ON-FORCE SITUATION.

ADMIRAL SMITH AND THE PRESIDENT LAST MET MORE THAN TWO-WEEKS AGO, WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON PAID A BRIEF VISIT TO BOSNIA.

SEVEN NATO SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ACCIDENTS SINCE THE FORCE DEPLOYED LAST MONTH IN BOSNIA. THE THREE BRITISH SOLDIERS WERE THE FIRST TO DIE THERE SINCE THE NATO MISSION BEGAN.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAID HE WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT FACTION MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SNIPER ATTACK ON THE U-S SOLDIER-- THE SECOND AMERICAN TO BE WOUNDED DURING THE NATO MISSION.

AS FOR WHAT HE CALLED ROGUE ELEMENTS, ADMIRAL SMITH SAID HE BELIEVED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REMOVED ALL BUT NINE MEMBERS OF A MUJAHADEEN GROUP FROM THE COUNTRY. HE SAID IT IS UNCLEAR -- A MATTER OF CONJECTURE -- WHETHER THOSE REMAINING REPRESENT A DIRECT THREAT TO THE NATO FORCE.

BUT HE SAID HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ARMED MUJAHADEEN UNITS. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 1:35 PM EST (1835 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] YUGO / RECOGNITION (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE BREAKAWAY REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE DIPLOMATIC MOVE BY BELGRADE COULD RESULT IN EUROPEAN UNION RECOGNITION OF THE YUGOSLAV STATE.

TEXT: THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT HAS APPROVED A TREATY ON THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS RECOGNITION AND THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND SKOPJE WILL TAKE EFFECT AFTER THE TREATY IS SIGNED.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED SOON, POSSIBLY DURING A VISIT TO MACEDONIA BY A SENIOR YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT DELEGATION AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV VISITED BELGRADE LAST YEAR. HIS TRIP WAS AN IMPORTANT INDICATION OF PROGRESS TOWARD MUTUAL RECOGNITION.

YUGOSLAVIA COULD PROBABLY RECOGNIZE MACEDONIA WITHOUT SERIOUSLY HARMING THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S GOOD RELATIONS WITH GREECE, DEPENDING ON THE EXACT DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE USED.

GREECE AND MACEDONIA BASICALLY RESOLVED A MAJOR DISPUTE LAST YEAR ABOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC'S NAME AND GREEK SYMBOLS ON ITS FLAG. BUT, GREECE BELIEVES MACEDONIA SHOULD STILL BE CALLED THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA RATHER THAN JUST THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA.

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF ALL THE STATES THAT EMERGED FROM THE VIOLENT BREAKUP OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN 1991 IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE BALKANS.

THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. THAT PART OF THE PEACE PROCESS IS MOVING VERY SLOWLY.

THE EUROPEAN UNION COULD RECOGNIZE YUGOSLAVIA AS A REWARD FOR BELGRADE'S RECOGNITION OF SKOPJE AND FOR THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT'S VITAL ROLE IN THE CONCLUSION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (SIGNED)

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29-Jan-96 9:29 AM EST (1429 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America