Voice of America, 30 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE WRITING ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS THIS FINAL TUESDAY IN JANUARY INCLUDING; THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS' PROTEST OVER BLOOD DONATIONS IN ISRAEL; THE AFRICAN TRIP OF U-S BLACK MUSLIM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN; COLOMBIA'S POLITICAL FUNDING SCANDAL; THE START TWO TREATY; AND STALLING IN THE BALKANS OVER THE ISSUE OF WAR CRIMES.

NOW, HERE IS ___________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ETHIOPIAN JEWS IN ISRAEL ARE INFURIATED AFTER LEARNING THAT THEIR DONATIONS TO BLOOD BANKS HAD BEEN ROUTINELY THROWN AWAY FOR FEAR IT MIGHT CONTAIN THE AIDS VIRUS. NOW THERE ARE ANGRY DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "[OPT] ISRAEL'S CAREFULLY NOURISHED EGALITARIAN IMAGE HAS BEEN SPLASHED BY OUTRAGE FROM A SELDOM VISITED CORNER OF SOCIETY, THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS. .... THE LONG YEARS OF NEGLECT BROKE VIOLENTLY INTO THE OPEN, ELECTRIFIED BY A NEWSPAPER REPORT, LATER OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED THAT BLOOD DONATIONS BY ETHIOPIAN ISRAELIS HAD BEEN ROUTINELY DESTROYED ON GROUNDS THAT ETHIOPIANS HAD A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF HIV INFECTION...... [END OPT] ISRAEL WAS SHOCKED, AND THE HEALTH MINISTER DECLARED THAT THE BLOOD DONATED BY ETHIOPIANS WILL BE FROZEN, NOT TOSSED, UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT COMES UP WITH A NEW BLOOD BANK POLICY. WELL AND GOOD, BUT ISRAEL MUST ALSO LOOK INTO THE ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM AND NEGLECT. THE PEOPLE AND OFFICIALS OF ISRAEL CANNOT REJECT A PEOPLE THEY REACHED OUT TO SAVE."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE CURRENT TRIP TO AFRICA BY NATION OF ISLAM LEADER MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN. [BEGIN OPT] MINISTER FARRAKHAN IS A CONTROVERSIAL U-S BLACK RELIGIOUS LEADER ACCUSED OF ANTI-SEMITISM, A CHARGE HE DENIES [END OPT]. TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS MINISTER FARRAKHAN'S MEETINGS ACROSS THE CONTINENT SHOW HE MAY BE FAVORING THE WRONG AFRICAN LEADERS.

VOICE: " [OPT]....FOR NOW HE APPEARS SET ON PERPETUATING HIS COURTSHIP WITH THE LIBYAN STRONGMAN [GENERAL KHADAFY] WHILE, LIKE TOO MANY AMERICANS, IGNORING THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT'S [NELSON MANDELA] MOST RECENT EXAMPLES OF MORAL COURAGE. [END OPT] ON HIS WAY .... TO JOHANNESBURG, [MINISTER] FARRAKHAN MET GENERAL SANI ABACHA, BRUTAL DESPOT OF NIGERIA, AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS NATION. [MR.] MANDELA HAS BRAVELY LED THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST [GENERAL] ABACHA - - AND SUFFERED SOME BARBS FOR CRITICIZING ANOTHER BLACK LEADER - - BUT FROM [MINISTER] FARRAKHAN WE HAVE HEARD NOT A WORD OF CONDEMNATION."

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" DRAWS THE SAME DISTINCTION.

VOICE: "NATION OF ISLAM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN SHARING A STAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH NELSON MANDELA SEEMS A CONTRADICTION OF THE FIRST ORDER. ..... MR. MANDELA SAID HE WOULD MEET GENERAL ABACHA ONLY AFTER THE NIGERIAN FREED JAILED POLITICAL DISSIDENTS; MR. FARRAKHAN SHOWED NO SUCH SCRUPLES. YET THE NATION OF ISLAM LEADER CLAIMS HE AGREES WITH NELSON MANDELA'S PRINCIPLES. PROOF OF THAT MUST COME THROUGH DEEDS, NOT IDLE WORDS."

TEXT: AND IN NEW YORK CITY, "THE DAILY NEWS" ADDED:

VOICE: "[PRESIDENT] MANDELA, ONE OF HISTORY'S TRUE HEROES, SPOKE AGAINST RACISM, SEXISM AND FOR THE NEED TO REVERE ALL RELIGIONS. SAID [MINISTER] FARRAKHAN LATER, 'ALL OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT PRESIDENT MANDELA HAS OUTLINED WE AGREE WITH TOTALLY.' GREAT. CAN'T WAIT FOR [MINISTER] FARRAKHAN'S NEXT SPEECH. IT WILL BE EVIDENCE OF HIS NEW-FOUND TOLERANCE. WON'T IT?"

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING POLITICAL FUNDING SCANDAL IN COLOMBIA IN WHICH PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER STANDS ACCUSED OF KNOWINGLY TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DRUG LORDS.

VOICE: "HE [PRESIDENT SAMPER] HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF BEFORE COLOMBIA'S CONGRESS, THE ONLY INSTITUTION CONSTITUTIONALLY EMPOWERED TO TRY HIM. BUT WITH CABINET OFFICERS, AMBASSADORS AND GENERALS DAILY ABANDONING HIS ADMINISTRATION, MR. SAMPER HAS LOST THE CAPACITY TO LEAD EFFECTIVELY, AND HIS REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE THIS THREATENS COLOMBIA'S DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. HE SHOULD TEMPORARILY YIELD HIS POWERS TO HIS ELECTED RUNNING MATE, VICE PRESIDENT HUMBERTO DE LA CALLE....."

TEXT: TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS ON RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT TO RATIFY THE START TWO STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION TREATY, ALREADY RATIFIED BY THE U-S SENATE.

VOICE: ".... THE TREATY'S FATE AT THE HANDS OF RUSSIA'S DUMA, THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, IS SHROUDED IN DOUBT. ..... START TWO'S COMPELLING LOGIC IS THAT IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE SELF-INTEREST OF BOTH COUNTRIES, BECAUSE IT GOES FAR TO EASE TENSIONS AND SAVE RESOURCES AND BECAUSE THE CONTROLS CALLED FOR IN DISMANTLING DISCARDED WEAPONS LESSEN THE CHANCE OF NUCLEAR DIVERSION. ..... START TWO IS CLEARLY IN RUSSIA'S NATIONAL INTEREST, JUST AS IT IS IN THE U-S INTEREST. THE CHALLENGE IS TO GET RUSSIA'S NATIONALISTIC POLITICIANS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACT."

TEXT: IF THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO ASSIST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN OBTAINING PASSAGE OF THE TREATY IN RUSSIA'S DUMA, SAYS TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN", IT COULD TRY THIS SUGGESTION:

VOICE: "IF WASHINGTON REALLY WANTS TO HELP MR. YELTSIN, IT SHOULD PUT ON THE BACK BURNER [REDUCE THE URGENCY OF] PLANS TO EXTEND NATO EASTWARD TO THE RUSSIAN BORDER. [OPT] THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT UNDERSTANDABLY OUTRAGES THE RUSSIAN POPULACE AND CONTRADICTS ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO BOLSTER THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE. ..... THE U-S ITSELF NEEDS A MORE COHERENT RUSSIAN POLICY."[END OPT]

TEXT: LAMENTING THE SLOW PROGRESS OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE NETHERLANDS AGAINST ALL SIDES IN THE BALKAN WAR, "USA TODAY" SAYS:

VOICE: "[OPT] CONDEMNING THE HORRIFIC WORK OF WAR CRIMINALS COMES EASY. BRINGING THEM TO JUSTICE IN BOSNIA IS PROVING MORE DIFFICULT. DESPITE UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION OF MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF RAPE,M TORTURE AND MASS MURDER OF CIVILIANS DURING A FOUR-YEAR WAR, PROSECUTIONS APPEAR STALLED AND THEIR FUTURE VERY MUCH IN DOUBT. [END OPT] ....THE REASONS ARE MULTIPLE: .... NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE THE WILL TO BRING THOSE INDICTED ... TO JUSTICE. .... SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N'S WAR-CRIMES TRIBUNAL ..... BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH COOPERATION OR SUSPECTS,F NOT SURPRISING GIVEN ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN INVOLVEMENT. U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS HAVE BEEN BICKERING AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT HOW MUCH THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE, ESPECIALLY THE U-S TROOPS IN IT, CAN OR SHOULD DO TO ACCELERATE THE WAR-CRIME INVESTIGATIONS."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] AND LASTLY SEVERAL PAPERS LAMENT THE DEATH AT 55 THIS WEEK OF RUSSIAN-AMERICAN POET JOSEPH BRODSKY. "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLED HIM "A SUPERB POET, THE EMIGRE [WHO] FLAYED SOVIET BARBARITIES." AND HERE ARE SOME QUOTES REPEATED IN TODAY'S "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" ABOUT THE WRITER WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AFTER 18 MONTHS IN A SOVIET LABOR CAMP:

VOICE: "HE WAS ONE OF THE 'TWO OR THREE GREATEST LIVING POETS,' SAID HIS PUBLISHER, ROGER STRAUS; THE 'ONLY RUSSIAN POET WHO ENJOYED THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED A 'GREAT' IN HIS LIFETIME,' SAID A RUSSIAN TELEVISION JOURNALIST, YEVGENY KISELYOV." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM SELECTED U-S DAILY NEWSPAPERS FOR TUESDAY.

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30-Jan-96 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / POLITICS (S UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN SARAJEVO HAS CONFIRMED HASAN MURATOVIC AS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS MR. MURATOVIC REPLACES HARIS SILAJDZIC WHO BECAME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AS AN ARTICULATE ADVOCATE OF THE RIGHTS OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS.

TEXT: MR. MURATOVIC WAS OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED BY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTIES FOR THE POST OF PRIME MINISTER.

ASSEMBLY APPROVAL WAS EXPECTED. MR. MURATOVIC WAS EARLIER NAMED PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE WHEN IT WAS CLEAR PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC WAS ON HIS WAY OUT.

THE NEW PRIME MINISTER TOLD DEPUTIES HIS GOVERNMENT WILL STRICTLY RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION AND ALL THE LAWS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

HASAN MURATOVIC HAS BEEN THE SENIOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF DEALING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, MAINLY THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO.

HIS PREDECESSOR, MR. SILAJDZIC, ACTUALLY SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION LAST YEAR, COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT HE CALLED UNDEMOCRATIC TENDENCIES WITHIN THE RULING DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY IN SARAJEVO. HE HAS LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE MIGHT FORM A NEW, OPPOSITION PARTY.

FLUENT IN ENGLISH, MR. SILAJDZIC WAS AN EFFECTIVE SPOKESMAN IN INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION INTERVIEWS FOR THE MUSLIM CAUSE DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

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30-Jan-96 1:10 PM EST (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A COMMISSION HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO OVERSEE NEW ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS OFFICIALS SAY A MASSIVE EFFORT IS REQUIRED IF THE ELECTIONS ARE TO BE HELD ON TIME.

TEXT: THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, O-S-C-E, HAS ANNOUNCED THE MAKE-UP OF THE COMMISSION THAT WILL OVERSEE ELECTIONS DUE TO BE HELD THIS SUMMER IN BOSNIA.

UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, THE TARGET DATE FOR THE BALLOTING IS MID-JUNE. BUT THE ELECTIONS CAN BE DELAYED UP TO THREE MONTHS. THE HEAD OF THE O-S-C-E MISSION IN BOSNIA, ROBERT FROWICK, SAYS EVERYONE CONCERNED WILL BE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET READY.

A MASSIVE EFFORT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND BY THOSE CONCERNED HERE IN THE COUNTRY TO MEET THE DEADLINES THAT ARE SET FORTH IN THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

BUT WITH LESS THAN FIVE-MONTHS TO GO, THERE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE FAIRNESS OF ANY ELECTION. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN OUTSIDE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BY POLLING DAY. WAYS MUST BE FOUND TO ALLOW THOSE REFUGEES TO VOTE AS IF THEY ARE STILL IN THEIR PRE-WAR VILLAGES.

OFFICIALS ALSO SAY IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE MEDIA. ALMOST ALL NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION, AND RADIO ON ALL THREE SIDES IN BOSNIA ARE RIGIDLY CONTROLLED BY THE AUTHORITIES.

AMBASSADOR FROWICK SAYS THE O-S-C-E MAY NEED TO CREATE ITS OWN NETWORK OF RADIO STATIONS. AND HE SAYS NO ONE IS UNDERESTIMATING THE SIZE OF THE JOB.

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD ELECTIONS WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME FRAME. BUT I WOULD EMPHASIZE WE FULLY REALIZE HOW COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT WILL BE THE CHALLENGE.

SOME EXPERTS SAY IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR A CREDIBLE OPPOSITION TO DEVELOP IN THE CURRENTLY POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT, AND THE VOTE WILL SIMPLY SPLIT DOWN ETHNIC LINES, WITH EACH ETHNIC GROUP VOTING FOR ITS OWN RULING PARTY.

BUT THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER IN BOSNIA IS CONTINUING. THE BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER, HARIS SILAJDZIC, IS BEING REPLACED BY A RIVAL, HASAN MURATOVIC, AND MR. SILAJDZIC HAS BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE S-D-A PARTY WHICH CONTROLS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

HE TOLD V-O-A HE COULD NOT CONTINUE AFTER PARTY LEADERS INSISTED BOSNIA HAVE A WEAK CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

I AM FOR THE STRONGEST CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT PARTITION OF BOSNIA OR THE RE-INTEGRATION OF BOSNIA. IN DAYTON OHIO, WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT AT LENGTH AND WE AGREED PRACTICALLY THAT WE HAVE SIX MINISTRIES IN OUR NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, PLUS ONE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO, PLUS THE PRIME MINISTER.

MR SILAJDZIC SAID BACKROOM ARM-TWISTING BY A FEW POWERFUL POLITICIANS FORCED MEMBERS OF THE BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT TO VOTE FOR A WEAK CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, AND HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RESIGN.

OUR DEMOCRACY IS IN DANGER, AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS TO ME, BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE A FUTURE FOR BOSNIA IN NON-DEMOCRACY, IT CAN ONLY BE DEMOCRACY.

MR. SILAJDZIC SAYS HE IS THINKING ABOUT FORMING HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY AND MAY RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE NEW ELECTIONS.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG OPPOSITION PARTIES COULD MAKE THE RESULTS OF THIS SUMMER'S ELECTIONS MORE THAN A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. (SIGNED)

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30-Jan-96 1:18 PM EST (1818 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA LANDMINES BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THREE BRITISH SOLDIERS SERVING WITH THE NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA WERE KILLED RECENTLY WHEN THEIR VEHICLE BLEW UP AFTER HITTING AN ANTI-TANK MINE. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM LONDON, ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE DAUNTING TASK FACING NATO TROOPS -- HOW TO DEFUSE MILLIONS OF LANDMINES IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED SIX-MILLION MINES STREWN ACROSS THE BOSNIAN COUNTRYSIDE -- MINES WHICH HAVE BEEN PLACED BY ALL THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS.

A SENIOR DEFENSE ANALYST WITH THE BRITISH PUBLICATION JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY -- PAUL BEAVER -- SAYS THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO TYPES OF MINES. THE FIRST IS A SMALL MODEL DESTINED TO KILL OR MAIM SOLDIERS -- SO THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO DETONATE THE MINE IS RELATIVELY SMALL. HE SAYS THE SECOND TYPE OF MINE IS MUCH LARGER -- AND IS USED TO DESTROY ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND 60 TON TANKS.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE GOT NOW IS THAT A LOT OF THE MINES THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED -- SOME IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BUT ALSO THOSE IN CHINA, RUSSIA, ITALY, FOR EXAMPLE -- ARE PLASTIC MINES. THEY ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT EXCEPT BY PROBING. THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE ARE JUST LOTS OF THEM AROUND. THEY ARE ALSO VERY CHEAP: THEY COST AS LITTLE AS TWO OR THREE DOLLARS TO MAKE.

A MAJOR TASK FACING NATO'S IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA -- KNOWN AS I-FOR -- IS TO IDENTIFY MINEFIELDS, LOCATE THE INDIVIDUAL MINES AND DEFUSE THEM. BUT ACCORDING TO NATO'S OWN FIGURES, OUT OF THE ESTIMATED SIX-MILLION MINES IN BOSNIA, I-FOR COMMANDERS KNOW THE LOCATION OF ONLY 19-THOUSAND.

MR. BEAVER SAYS THE PROCESS OF LOCATING -- AND THEN DEFUSING THE MINES -- IS VERY TIME CONSUMING.

WITH A LARGE ANTI-TANK MINE -- THESE ARE NOT USUALLY BOOBY-TRAPPED -- AND SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOCATE THEM. A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST SOWN ON THE SURFACE AND NOT NECESSARILY BURIED. IF THEY ARE SOWN ON THE SURFACE, THEY THEN CAN BE DISARMED VERY EASILY AND REMOVED. IF THEY ARE BURIED, THE GROUND HAS TO BE CLEARED AWAY -- THE EARTH AROUND THEM -- AND THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFULLY RAISED AND THEY CAN BE DISARMED.

THE BOSNIA PEACE ACCORD -- SIGNED IN DAYTON, OHIO LATE LAST YEAR -- STIPULATES THE FORMER WARRING PARTIES MUST PROVIDE NATO WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION OF MINES. BUT MR. BEAVER SAYS THAT INFORMATION IS NOT BEING PROVIDED QUICKLY ENOUGH.

ONE OF THE REAL CONCERNS IS THAT THE WARRING FACTIONS -- THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT -- PARTICULARLY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT, HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY HAVE SOWN THE MINES. IN FACT, IN SARAJEVO, THEY ARE BEING SORT OF RETICENT TO TELL THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH EXACTLY WHERE THE MINES ARE BURIED IN THEIR SECTORS. AND I THINK PART OF THE RETICENCE SARAJEVO HAS -- THE GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO HAS, THE BOSNIANS HAVE -- ABOUT TELLING I-FOR EXACTLY WHERE THE MINES ARE, IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TOO INCOMPETENT TO KEEP RECORDS.

THE BRITISH DEFENSE ANALYST SAYS WITH LITTLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE LOCATION OF MINEFIELDS -- EITHER THROUGH INCOMPETENCE OR BECAUSE OF A CONSCIOUS DESIRE TO SUPPRESS IT -- NATO COMMANDERS ARE FORCED TO CALL ON VARIOUS NATIONS TO HELP.

THE SOUTH AFRICANS AND THE BRITISH ARE PROBABLY AMONGST THE WORLD'S LEADERS IN MINE DISPOSAL. THEY ARE BEING CALLED IN. THE U-S ARMY IS ABOUT TO TAKE A BRAND NEW MINE CLEARING SYSTEM FROM THE BRITISH: IT IS BEING FLOWN TO GERMANY THIS WEEK -- AND THAT WILL GO INTO SERVICE IN BOSNIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE DUTCH ARMY IS GOING TO SEND OUT SOME SURPLUS TANKS IN ORDER TO TRY AND CONVERT THOSE TO MINE PLOWING. THEY HAVE GOT A NEW SYSTEM ON BOARD THAT -- THERE IS A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE.

MR. BEAVER SAYS PRACTICALLY EVERY COUNTRY INVOLVED IN I-FOR IS SENDING ITS MINE CLEARING SPECIALISTS TO BOSNIA. BUT THE NATO FORCES ARE TO STAY IN BOSNIA FOR ONLY ONE YEAR -- AND MR. BEAVER SAYS THAT IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME TO RID THE BOSNIAN COUNTRYSIDE OF AN ESTIMATED SIX-MILLION MINES. (SIGNED)

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30-Jan-96 8:51 AM EST (1351 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE MOST-SENIOR SERB LEADER TO VISIT GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED SARAJEVO SINCE THE WAR BEGAN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS HELD TALKS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IS SUSPENDING ITS HUMANITARIAN WORK IN THE TOWN OF TUZLA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS THE RED CROSS BUILDING WAS RANSACKED BY PEOPLE DEMANDING INFORMATION ABOUT MISSING FRIENDS OR RELATIVES.

TEXT: BOSNIAN-SERB VICE PRESIDENT, NIKOLA KOLJEVIC, WENT TO SARAJEVO TO MEET WITH THE BOSNIAN VICE PRESIDENT, EJUP GANIC, AND WITH THE HEAD OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, KRESIMIR ZUBAK.

THE UN-PRECEDENTED HIGH-LEVEL TALKS IN A GOVERNMENT-HELD AREA OF SARAJEVO WERE SPONSORED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE.

ONE ISSUE THAT WAS, APPARENTLY, DISCUSSED WAS THE O-S-C-E MANDATE BY THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO ORGANIZE FREE ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC.

THE SENIOR O-S-C-E OFFICIAL IN SARAJEVO, ROBERT FROWICK, SAYS HE HOPES THE ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD BY SEPTEMBER AS REQUIRED BY THE PEACE TREATY.

BOSNIA'S DAMAGED COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, THE BAD STATE OF THE COUNTRY'S ROADS, AND THE MASS MOVEMENTS OF ITS PEOPLE DURING THE WAR WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS BY THE DEADLINE.

THE WAR'S LEGACY INCLUDES THOUSANDS OF MISSING PEOPLE, MAINLY MUSLIMS WHOSE FATE IS NOT KNOWN. MUSLIMS, WHO FLED FROM SREBRENICA AFTER THE SERBS OVERRAN THE EASTERN ENCLAVE LAST JULY, RANSACKED THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS OFFICE MONDAY IN TUZLA. THEY WERE PROTESTING THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN ACCOUNTING FOR MANY PEOPLE FROM SREBRENICA WHO DISAPPEARED AND MAY HAVE BEEN MASSACRED AND BURIED IN MASS GRAVES BY THE SERBS.

THE RED CROSS IS SUSPENDING ITS OPERATIONS IN TUZLA UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED ITS WORKERS THERE WILL BE SAFE. THERE WAS LITTLE POLICE PROTECTION OF THE RED CROSS BUILDING WHEN THE MUSLIM DEMONSTRATION TURNED VIOLENT.

THE RED CROSS DOES NOT DENY MAKING VERY LIMITED PROGRESS IN ACCOUNTING FOR MISSING MUSLIMS. BUT IT SAYS IT IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO CARRY OUT ITS HUMANITARIAN MISSION. (SIGNED)

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30-Jan-96 10:07 AM EST (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U.S. / AGEAN (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS URGING BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY TO RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO IN THEIR DISPUTE OVER A DESERTED ISLAND IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE TENSIONS ARE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY THERE.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES IS URGING THE GREEK AND TURKISH GOVERNMENTS TO REMOVE THEIR WARSHIPS AND ANY COMMANDOS FROM AN UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE AEGEAN SEA. A U-S OFFICIAL SAYS THERE IS CONCERN THE DISPUTE OVER THE ISLAND COULD BECOME A FLASHPOINT THAT CAN GO THE WRONG WAY.

GREECE CLAIMS THE ISLAND IT CALLS IMIA WHILE TURKEY SAYS THE ROCK ISLAND IT CALLS KARDAK IS REALLY TURKISH. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES WANTS BOTH SIDES TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES PEACEFULLY.

THERE'S SOME TENSION OVER THOSE ISLANDS AND WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT BOTH PARTIES TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TALK ABOUT IT AND NOT ENGAGE IN MILITARY DEMONSTRATIONS OR THREATS OR POSTURING.

THE TENSION BEGAN SATURDAY WHEN TURKISH JOURNALISTS LOWERED A GREEK FLAG ON THE ISLAND AND RAISED THEIR OWN BANNER. TURKEY SAYS IT WILL NOT PERMIT A GREEK FLAG ON THE DESERTED ISLAND WHILE GREECE SAYS THE GREEK FLAG WILL NOT BE TAKEN DOWN. THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO AVOID A REPETITION OF THE 1987 CRISIS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE OVER MINERAL RIGHTS IN THE AEGEAN THAT ALMOST DEVELOPED INTO A WAR BETWEEN THE TWO NATO ALLIES. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/JM
30-Jan-96 3:31 PM EST (2031 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America