Voice of America, 1 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A PAIR OF DOMESTIC STORIES ARE LEAD EDITORIAL TOPICS IN MANY OF THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS -- THE FIRST EVER ELECTION OF A U-S SENATOR THROUGH VOTE-BY-MAIL, AND THE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL COMEBACK OF A POPULAR SUPERSTAR INFECTED WITH THE AIDS VIRUS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE DEFUSING OF A MILITARY CONFRONTATION IN THE AEGEAN SEA; THE FRENCH PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON, AND A U-S PLAN TO TOPPLE THE MULLAHS IN IRAN. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE STATE OF OREGON HAS JUST COMPLETED THE FIRST MAIL-IN BALLOT FOR AN ELECTION TO THE U-S SENATE, CLOSELY WON BY THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, FORMER HOUSE MEMBER RON WYDEN. THE VOTE IS NEWSWORTHY, BOTH FOR THE FORM OF BALLOTING, AND BECAUSE OBSERVERS VIEWED IT AS A REGIONAL BACKLASH AGAINST THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN POLITICAL REVOLUTION IN CONGRESS. "THE BOSTON GLOBE" MAKES THESE OBSERVATIONS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL.

VOICE: "THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN WITH A HEALTHY CHECKBOOK AND A CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OF CRITICIZING HIS OPPONENT, A WASHINGTON INSIDER, LOST A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE U-S SENATE IN OREGON ON TUESDAY. BY ITSELF, THE ... ELECTION NEED NOT SPELL TROUBLE FOR [PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STEVE FORBES... BUT THE CAMPAIGN DID SEND UP SOME WARNING FLAGS THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND OTHER OFFICE-SEEKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ... WOULD DO WELL TO HEED. ONE CONCERNED NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING... [MR.] WYDEN GAVE A NEW DIMENSION TO THE PROBLEM EARLY IN JANUARY WHEN HE UNILATERALLY HALTED NEGATIVE ADVERTISING AND MADE HIS MORE POSITIVE CAMPAIGN AN ISSUE IN ITSELF. THE EXPERIMENT WORKED... ANOTHER LESSON FROM OREGON WAS ONE OF MODERATION..."

TEXT: HOWEVER, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS THE OREGON VOTE MAY NOT REFLECT NATIONAL THINKING, AND ADVISES: "DON'T BRING OUT THE VICTORY DONKEYS JUST YET."

VOICE: "OREGON ... IS NOT A MICROCOSM OF THE COUNTRY. IT'S LOADED WITH TREE-HUGGERS [ENVIRONMENTALISTS] AND LIGHT ON CHURCHGOERS. THERE'S 'A SENSE THAT THIS SPLENDID PLACE IS VERY FAR FROM ALMOST ALL OF THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES,' SAYS THE ALMANAC OF AMERICAN POLITICS 1996... SO THIS SPECIAL ELECTION ISN'T NECESSARILY A PORTENT OF THE NOVEMBER OUTCOME..."

TEXT: DEALING WITH THE VOTE-BY-MAIL ASPECT OF THE ELECTION, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE SIZE OF THE TURNOUT -- WELL ABOVE THE 50 PERCENT OR SO IN RECENT NATIONAL ELECTIONS -- AND THE MONEY THE STATE SAVED USING THIS METHOD DESERVE THE NOTICE OF OTHER STATES. [OPT] AMERICANS HAVE BEEN VOTING BY MAIL, VIA ABSENTEE BALLOTS, FOR A LONG TIME. CALIFORNIA SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT THE BENEFITS OF MAIL VOTING BY EVERYONE." [END OPT]

TEXT: TURNING TO THE RETURN OF POPULAR BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON TO THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS, AFTER A FIVE-YEAR RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF INFECTION FROM THE AIDS VIRUS, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE ON-COURT IMPACT OF JOHNSON'S COMEBACK IS OBVIOUS. THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS' SAGGING ATTENDANCE WILL PICK UP AND OVERALL INTEREST IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION WILL GET A BOOST. THE OFF-COURT SIGNIFICANCE OF JOHNSON'S MAKING MAGIC WITH A BASKETBALL AGAIN IS MORE SUBTLE AND OF GREATER POTENTIAL IMPORTANCE... IN RETURNING TO BASKETBALL HE HAS A RENEWED OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE WHO FACE THE STRUGGLE AGAINST AIDS AND TO EDUCATE THE WORLD ABOUT THE DISEASE... AT CENTER STATE ONCE AGAIN, MAGIC JOHNSON HAS A CHANCE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SPOKESMAN ON AIDS."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AGREES, ADDING:

VOICE: "...A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. JOHNSON HAS BEEN PLAYING EXHIBITION GAMES WITH NO ILL EFFECTS FOR ANYONE. THE PLAYERS HAVE GRADUALLY LEARNED THAT THE CHANCE OF TRANSMITTING THE AIDS VIRUS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IS INFINITESIMAL, AND THE N-B-A HAS BEEN POUNDING HOME THAT LESSON THROUGH EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS. [OPT] IF ONLY CONGRESS COULD BE SO ENLIGHTENED. THE LATEST ATROCITY FROM THE ANTI-AIDS BIGOTS WAS A BILL, FASHIONED BY [CALIFORNIAN CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ROBERT] MR. DORNAN AND APPROVED AS PART OF A BROAD MILITARY FUNDING BILL BY CONGRESS, THAT WILL FORCE OUT OF THE ARMED SERVICES ALL THOSE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES AIDS AND DEPRIVE THEM OF VALUABLE BENEFITS. ..... MAGIC JOHNSON .... KNOWS BETTER THAN MR. DORNAN THAT INFECTION SHOULD NOT BE A CAREER-BREAKER."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" SAYS: "THAT (MAGIC) JOHNSON HAS BEEN WELCOMED BACK INTO PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS NATION HAS COME TO ACCEPT H-I-V AS A PART OF LIFE." [END OPT]

TURNING OVERSEAS, TO THE UGLY CONFRONTATION OVER A TINY, ROCKY ISLAND, THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN VIOLENCE IN THE AEGEAN SEA, BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" NOTES;

VOICE: "AT PRESENT, BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO SURGES OF JINGOISTIC PASSION BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC POLITICS. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER OF TURKEY IS SERVING IN AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT UNTIL A NEW COALITION CAN BE FORMED. COSTAS SIMITIS, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE, REPLACED THE AILING ANDREAS PAPANDREOU ONLY LAST MONTH AND CAN HARDLY AFFORD TO BE SEEN SURRENDERING EVEN A SINGLE GOAT DROPPING TO THE TURKS. [OPT] THE CRISIS DIPLOMACY CARRIED OFF BY [PRESIDENT] CLINTON AND [ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD] HOLBROOKE WAS A NECESSARY AND WELCOME IMPOSITION OF REASON ON UNREASONABLE NEIGHBORS....."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE AGEAN DISPUTE DREW THIS REACTION FROM "USA TODAY."

VOICE: "WITH UNSTABLE GOVERNMENTS, NEITHER GREEK NOR TURKISH LEADERS COULD CONCEDE TO THE OTHER. THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNALED WEAKNESS. ..... AS A TRIUMPH, IT'S NOT GERMAN UNIFICATION. BUT IT'S A FINE EXAMPLE OF WHY WE REMAIN AN ACTIVIST SUPERPOWER."

TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" TODAY PUBLISHES A LONG OPEN LETTER TO FRENCH PRESIDENT JAQUES CHIRAC, CRITICIZING HIS DECISION TO CONDUCT NEW NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

VOICE: "YOUR COUNTRY ORIGINALLY PLANNED EIGHT TESTS AND STOPPED AT SIX. STILL, THAT WAS SIX TOO MANY. AS A RESULT, THE TESTING AND ITS AFTERMATH ARE LODGED FIRMLY UNDER AMERICA'S SKIN. THIS NEWSPAPER JOINED IN A PROTEST ABOUT YOUR DECISION ... TO RESUME TESTING... LAST WEEK, FRENCH OFFICIALS ADMITTED THAT SOME RECENT TESTS HAD LED TO RADIOACTIVE LEAKS. PREDICTABLY, THAT STATEMENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER THAT SOUGHT TO MINIMIZE THE EXTENT OF THE DANGER... WHEN IS THIS BLATHER [MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS] GOING TO END? WHAT OTHER DISTURBING INFORMATION COULD COME TO LIGHT? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EFFECTS OF THOSE WRONGHEADED NUCLEAR TESTS." TEXT; TURNING TO ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, THE REPORTED PLANS FOR AN 18-MILLION-DOLLAR U-S EFFORT, BY THE C-I-A, TO UNDERMINE THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR."

VOICE: "THE IDEA THAT THE C-I-A CAN GO INTO A COUNTRY AS SOPHISTICATED AND NATIONALISTIC AS IRAN AND ENGINEER A COUP OR OTHER GOVERNMENT SHIFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCREDITED LONG AGO. SUCH OPERATIONS ARE NOT ONLY FRAUGHT WITH DANGER, THEY HAVE A VERY UNPLEASANT WAY OF BACKFIRING, LEAVING THE U-S STRATEGIC POSITION WORSE OFF THAN BEFORE..... PRESIDENT CLINTON AND DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE JOHN DEUTSCH SHOULD HALT THIS EFFORT IMMEDIATELY."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, SOME THOUGHTS FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY AS IT CONCERNS THE BUDGET BATTLE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE CONGRESS:

VOICE: "CONGRESS HAS DECIDED TO TAKE THE MONTH OFF, MAINLY TO CAMPAIGN. YOU HAVE TO WONDER AT THE DECISION, GIVEN THE BUSINESS THAT REMAINS UNDONE... MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT IS OPERATING ON A STOPGAP BUDGET FOUR MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR. THE TREASURY SECRETARY SAYS HE NEEDS AN INCREASE IN THE DEBT CEILING OR THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY HAVE TO DEFAULT; THEY COULD WORK ON THAT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FARM BILL SO THAT FARMERS AND THEIR BANKERS WILL KNOW WHAT THE RULES WILL BE IN THE YEAR AHEAD; THEY COULD WORK ON THAT, TOO. ....THERE ISN'T ALL THAT MUCH TIME TO LEGISLATE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS ANYWAY. BY SHUTTING DOWN FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH, IT SEEMS TO US THEY COMPLICATE WHAT WAS ALREADY A MESS."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, A WORD FROM "PORTLAND'S [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD'S QUARTER PERCENT CUT IN THE KEY INTEREST RATE, ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY:

VOICE: "... THE FED REVERSED ITS ANTI-INFLATION DRIVE LAST JULY WITH A RATE CUT, AND NOW HAS CUT THE FUNDS RATE TWICE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS... OUR STRUGGLING NATION BADLY NEEDS A BOOST, AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE CAN'T ALWAYS BE ADJUSTED BY THE VOTE OF FIVE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON. STILL, WITH LUCK, A BOOST IS WHAT WE'LL GET WHEN THE EFFECTS OF THIS LATEST CUT HIT EVERY LOCAL BANK'S LOAN DESK. MAYBE WE CAN'T BORROW CONFIDENCE, BUT BORROWING WOULD BE A GOOD SIGN IT'S [CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY] IT'S BACK."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF EDITORIAL CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN THE U-S PRESS ON THIS FIRST DAY IN FEBRUARY.

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01-Feb-96 11:28 AM EST (1628 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ADMIRAL SMITH/BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN BOSNIA -- U-S NAVY ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- SAYS HE IS WELL-PLEASED BY COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL SOON BEGIN CONSIDERING A DRAW-DOWN OF FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS 45-DAYS INTO THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION HE REMAINS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SUPPORT BEING GIVEN TO THE PEACE PROCESS BY THE BOSNIAN PARTIES.

DURING A PENTAGON INTERVIEW, HE SAID NATO FORCES SHOULD BE FULLY DEPLOYED IN THE COUNTRY IN LITTLE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. HE SAYS AFTER ALL THE TROOPS ARE IN PLACE, COMMANDERS WILL BEGIN CONSIDERING DRAWING DOWN A FORCE HE SAYS WAS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO BE SOMEWHAT LARGER THAN NEEDED IN ORDER TO MEET MILITARY CONTINGENCIES:.

THE IDEA WAS TO BRING IN A FORCE THAT WAS KIND OF HEAVY AND THEN LIGHTEN UP. SO WE MAY SEE FIRST A RESTRUCTURING OF THAT FORCE -- A LIGHTENING UP OF THE FORCE. WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT, AND OF COURSE I AM GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO THE GROUND COMMANDER BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT HIS MISSION IS. HE KNOWS WHAT THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT IS LIKE AND HE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT JUDGEMENT. AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO SECOND-GUESS HIM. BUT EXPECT THAT WE WILL SEE THAT LIGHTENING UP IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE. AFTER THAT, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT BY "D" PLUS 366 -- WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 10-AND-ONE-HALF MONTHS AWAY -- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THERE SOMETIME IN THE LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL. BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS VERY NICE GOING IN. I DO NOT WANT TO GET CAUGHT BY THE WEATHER COMING OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE MISSION.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAID A DRAW-DOWN OF AIR AND NAVAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. HE SAID HE SEES NO INDICATION THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION WILL HAVE TO LAST ANY LONGER THAT THE ONE-YEAR U-N MANDATE.

THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE CHIEF SAID HE BELIEVES VIRTUALLY ALL FOREIGN TROOPS, INCLUDING ISLAMIC VOLUNTEERS, HAVE LEFT BOSNIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DAYTON ACCORDS. BUT HE SAID HE REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY IRANIAN AGENTS MAY HAVE REMAINED IN THE COUNTRY BEYOND LAST MONTH'S DEPARTURE DEADLINE, AND MAY BE PLANNING TERRORIST ATTACKS:

TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY ALTOGETHER. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND ELEMENTS. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS. THE IRANIANS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PLAYER WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FOR SOME TIME. I, AGAIN, HAVE NO DIRECT EVIDENCE. I CAN NOT WALK UP TO A BUILDING AND SAY THESE GUYS ARE HERE. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ON THE ALERT FOR THEM. SHOULD WE SEE OR HEAR OF THEM, WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY AND WHATEVER ACTION WE THINK IS REQUIRED TO NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT, IF IN FACT THERE IS A THREAT. OTHERWISE WE WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT THEM.

ADMIRAL SMITH HAILED THE COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP HE HAS ESTABLISHED WITH JUSTICE RICHARD GOLDSTONE AND THE BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. HE SAID NATO FORCES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GUARD ALL SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES IDENTIFIED BY THE TRIBUNAL. HE SAID NATO IS CONDUCTING INTENSIVE AIR SURVEILLANCE OF A NUMBER OF THOSE LOCATIONS TO HELP INSURE THERE IS NO TAMPERING WITH POTENTIAL WAR CRIMES EVIDENCE:

WE ARE FLYING DAILY RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOPING INTELLIGENCE ON SITES THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR US BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. BETWEEN THE 12TH OF JANUARY AND THE 27TH OF JANUARY THERE WERE 45 DIFFERENT EVENTS -- J-STARS, TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE, OVERHEAD STUFF -- THAT WE ARE USING TO WATCH THESE SITES. AND I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHICH ONES. BUT I HAVE ASKED JUDGE GOLDSTONE AND HIS PEOPLE TO PROVIDE TO US A LIST OF THOSE SITES WHICH THEY CONSIDER TO BE PRIORITY. AND WE WILL, TO THE DEGREE WE CAN, DEVELOP PACKAGES ON ALL OF THOSE WITH THESE SITES. SO IF ANYBODY IS MESSING AROUND WITH THEM, I MEAN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT PRETTY QUICK. AND WILL WILL CERTAINLY MAKE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM.

ADMIRAL SMITH, WHO RETURNS TO BOSNIA FRIDAY AFTER A WEEK OF CONSULTATIONS IN WASHINGTON, ALSO PLEDGED SWIFT RETALIATION BY NATO FORCES AGAINST SNIPERS IN SARAJEVO AND ELSEWHERE, AND SAID SPECIAL ANTI-SNIPING TEAMS ARE BEING SENT TO TROUBLE SPOTS. (SIGNED)

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01-Feb-96 1:16 PM EST (1816 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN TROOPS, ALONG WITH SOLDIERS FROM OTHER NATO COUNTRIES, ARE NOW IN BOSNIA HELPING TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE WARRING PARTIES IN DAYTON, OHIO. NEWSPAPER COLUMNS IN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE REGION. HERE IS A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THEIR RECENT COMMENTS. OUR READER IS _______________.

TEXT: THURSDAY'S EDITION OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR FEATURES THE VIEWS OF PHILIP H. GORDON. MISTER GORDON IS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES IN LONDON. HE WRITES THAT NATO MUST PLAN NOW FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PEACEKEEPERS. ACCORDING TO MR. GORDON: "AS THE WORLD FOCUSES ON THE MASSIVE NATO-LED FORCE THAT HAS JUST SET UP IN BOSNIA, IT MAY BE WORTH PAUSING FOR A MOMENT TO CONSIDER IF AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT FORCE IS GOING TO GET OUT." MISTER GORDON STATES THAT "THERE ARE ONLY THREE MAIN POSSIBILITIES: A CALM AND ORDERLY WITHDRAWAL WITHIN A YEAR AS PLANNED, A DISORDERLY WITHDRAWAL UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS, OR A DECISION TO MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF PEACEKEEPING FORCE." AND, CONTINUES THE LONDON-BASED SCHOLAR: "TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE AMONG NATO ALLIES OVER THESE OPTIONS, IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN LEADERS TO AGREE NOW ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT IS OSTENSIBLY TIME TO LEAVE. IF THEY DO NOT DO SO, WHAT SHOULD BE A PRIVATE, INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATION AMONG ALLIES WILL LIKELY BE A VERY PUBLIC ROW, POSSIBLY WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES."

THE VIEWS OF PHILIP GORDON APPEARED IN THURSDAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

HARRY G. SUMMERS, JUNIOR, IS A RETIRED U-S ARMY COLONEL WHOSE SYNDICATED COLUMN APPEARS IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES AND OTHER NEWSPAPERS. COLONEL SUMMERS SAYS THAT "SO FAR AMERICAN MILITARY DEPLOYMENT TO THE BALKANS HAS GONE WELL, BUT THERE ARE STORM CLOUDS GATHERING." HE SEES SOME OF THOSE CLOUDS FORMING IN THE REGION ITSELF, BUT SAYS "BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS ARE GATHERING STRENGTH HERE AT HOME." TO MAKE THE POINT, COLONEL SUMMERS QUOTES FROM RECENT REMARKS BY REP. IKE SKELTON, MISSOURI DEMOCRAT, ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHO SAID: "THERE CONTINUES TO BE CONCERN REGARDING OUR PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA. FIRST, THERE IS THE ENDURING PRESENCE OF MUSLIM EXTREMISTS IN THAT COUNTRY'.... THE COLONEL CONTINUES, "MR. SKLETON'S SECOND CONCERN -- THAT OF 'MISSION CREEP' -- IS EVEN MORE SERIOUS, FOR IT GOES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE U-S. MILITARY MISSION. 'RECENTLY', HE SAID, 'THE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN URGED TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR INVESTIGATIONS LOOKING INTO SERB ATROCITIES'. MR. SKELTON WENT ON TO COMMEND LEIGHTON SMITH, THE COMMANDER OF FORCES IN THE REGION, 'FOR HIS RESISTANCE TO DEEPER AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS'."

WILLIAM PFAFF, A SYNDICATED COLUMNIST WRITING FROM PARIS, OFFERS HIS VIEW OF THE SITUATION. HE TELLS READERS THAT "CRIME PAYS, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT RUN. WHETHER IT DOES SO IN THE LONG TERM IS OPEN TO DEBATE, AND TO HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATION AND SPECULATION. IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, IT HAS PAID." SAYS MISTER PFAFF: "CRIME HAS NOT PRODUCED THE GREATER SERBIA SOUGHT BY SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS ASSOCIATES, BUT IT HAS PRODUCED WHAT AMOUNTS TO A GREATER CROATIA, AND IT HAS PURGED -- PROBABLY FOR GOOD -- THE THREE MAJOR SUCCESSOR-STATES OF YUGOSLAVIA OF THEIR ETHNICALLY UNDESIRABLE CITIZENS. IT HAS EVEN DONE THAT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WHICH DECLARED THAT IT WANTED TO REMAIN AN ETHNICALLY HETEROGENEOUS STATE." MISTER PFAFF TELLS READERS THAT "IF ANYONE GOES TO PRISON FOR THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMMITTED IN THE COURSE OF THIS AFFAIR, IT WILL BE THE ODD EXECUTIONER, THE FREE-LANCE SADIST OR FANATIC, OR THE LOCAL COMMANDER (WHO SAYS HE IS) 'FOLLOWING ORDERS'. THE MAJOR CRIMINALS ARE LIKELY TO ESCAPE."

AND, JIM HOAGLAND, OF THE WASHINGTON POST DISCUSSES A DECISION AFFECTING AMERICAN TROOPS. HE WRITES THAT "IT WILL BE THE DRIEST OF YEARS FOR THE 20-THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS SERVING IN BOSNIA'S HEAVY SNOWS AND RAINS. IN A HOTLY DEBATED DECISION, PENTAGON MISSION PLANNERS HAVE RULED THAT THESE TROOPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE IN THAT BALKAN NATION. THIS MAY SEEM AN OVERREACTION TO MUSLIM SENSITIVITIES ABOUT WESTERN TIPPLING. ALCOHOL WAS ALSO BANNED FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM UNITS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT, COUNTRIES THAT ARE FAR STRICTER ON ALCOHOL THAN IN BOSNIA'S MUSLIM POPULATION. BUT," NOTES MR. HOAGLAND, "DECLARING BOSNIA A DRY ZONE IS ROOTED IN PENTAGON PRAGMATISM, NOT IN EXAGGERATED POLITESSE. THE BRASS IS WORRIED ABOUT MIXING ALCOHOL, THIS MISSION'S ASSERTIVE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE HEAVY FIREPOWER THE AMERICANS CARRY. THAT MAKES A LETHAL COCKTAIL, THE GENERALS FEAR. DRINKING IN AN UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENT IS EVEN DUMBER THAN DRINKING WHILE DRIVING, THEY ANALOGIZED." HOWEVER, JIM HOAGLAND IS OF THE OPINION THAT -- IN HIS WORDS -- "IN ITS OWN SMALL WAY, THE BAN ON ALCOHOL EVEN WHEN TROOPS ARE OFF DUTY UNDERLINES HOW THE AMERICAN MILITARY MISSION IN BOSNIA CONCERNS CONTROLLING HUMAN NATURE MORE THAN CONTROLLING STRATEGIC GROUND. THE 60-THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS AND THE WARRING SERB, CROAT AND BOSNIAN FACTIONS ARE ALL BEING ASKED TO GIVE UP INGRAINED HABITS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF WAR AND PEACE IN A BOLD AND STILL UNCERTAIN EXPERIMENT IN RE-ENGINEERING HUMAN RELATIONS BY DEPLOYING MASSIVE FORCE."

THOSE WORDS, WRITTEN BY JIM HOAGLAND OF THE WASHINGTON POST, CONCLUDE ANOTHER ROUND-UP OF U-S PRESS OPINION ON AMERICA'S ROLE IN BOSNIA.

NEB/DN/PCH
01-Feb-96 11:51 AM EST (1651 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / KILLINGS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SAYS SHE WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF MORE MASS GRAVES ARE UNCOVERED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS THE COMMENTS BY SPECIAL ENVOY ELISABETH REHN, ARE PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST EDITION OF STERN, THE GERMAN WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE.

TEXT: THE SPECIAL U-N HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTATIVE, ELISABETH REHN, SAYS SHE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF MORE THAN 200 TO 300 MASS GRAVES WERE DISCOVERED IN BOSNIA.

ALTHOUGH MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE KILLING AND DISAPPEARANCE OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN AROUND THE SO-CALLED U-N SAFE ZONE OF SREBRENICA, MS REHN SAID PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING MANY OTHER AREAS.

BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF MOSTAR AND THE SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA, THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY SAYS THERE ARE MANY NORMAL CEMETERIES WITH LARGE MOUNDS OF FRESHLY TURNED SOIL.

THE MOUNDS, MEASURING IN SOME CASES MORE THAN 20 SQUARE METERS, ARE BELIEVED TO CONTAIN THE UNMARKED GRAVES OF COUNTLESS VICTIMS OF THE CONFLICT.

MS. REHN SAYS SHE AND HER SMALL STAFF ALSO HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THREE MASS GRAVES AROUND VUKOVAR, WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE 1991 SERB TAKEOVER OF THE AREA.

AS LONG AS THE GROUND IN BOSNIA IS STILL FROZEN FROM THE WINTER COLD, MS. REHN SAYS THE SEARCH FOR MASS GRAVES WILL HAVE TO WAIT. IN THE MEANTIME, THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY SAID THERE MUST BE AN END TO THE DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE THAT MAY BE USEFUL TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

MS. REHN WAS CRITICAL OF THE NATO PROTECTION FORCE FOR FAILING TO MONITOR THE SITES OF SUSPECTED MASS GRAVES, SOMETHING THE U-S COMMANDER SAYS HE CAN DO ONLY WHEN HE HAS ADEQUATE FORCES.

U-N EXPERTS HAVE SO FAR IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 29 MASS GRAVES BELIEVED TO CONTAIN THE VICTIMS OF SERB FORCES, INCLUDING A MINING COMPLEX NEAR BANJA LUKA WHERE THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED.

EXPERTS SAY CROAT FORCES ARE THOUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST THREE MASS GRAVES. MUSLIM FORCES ARE SUSPECTED OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE OTHERS. FOR NOW, SHE SAYS ALL THE FACTIONS IN THE CONFLICT SHOULD BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY DO NOT COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AID -- A SUGGESTION THAT HAS ALSO BEEN MADE BY OTHER EUROPEAN OFFICIALS. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
01-Feb-96 9:03 AM EST (1403 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA / MINE (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BY A LANDMINE EXPLOSION IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS BOTH MEN ARE LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE LATEST IN A STRING OF LANDMINE INJURIES TO NATO TROOPS.

TEXT: UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, THE FORMER WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DANGEROUS JOB OF CLEARING MINE FIELDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE SIDES. NORMALLY THE WORK IS CONDUCTED UNDER NATO SUPERVISION AND FINALLY APPROVED BY NATO EXPERTS.

THE TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS, MEMBERS OF AN ENGINEERING BATTALION, WERE CONDUCTING A JOINT INSPECTION WITH BOSNIAN-SERB SOLDIERS OF A MINE FIELD SOUTHEAST OF TUZLA. THE MINE FIELD, BELIEVED TO BE INSIDE THE ZONE OF SEPARATION, HAD SUPPOSEDLY BEEN CLEARED.

ONE SOLDIER STEPPED ON THE LANDMINE, INJURING HIS RIGHT FOOT. THE OTHER SOLDIER SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS TO HIS LEG, ALTHOUGH HE WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY. BOTH MEN WERE EVACUATED BY HELICOPTER TO A U-S ARMY HOSPITAL IN TUZLA WHERE THEY ARE LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION.

IT IS THE SECOND TIME AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN WOUNDED BY LANDMINES IN BOSNIA, WHICH IS PERHAPS THE MOST HEAVILY-MINED TERRITORY ON EARTH, WITH BETWEEN THREE-MILLION AND SIX-MILLION MINES IN PLACE.

MORE THAN 30 NATO SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BY LANDMINES SINCE THE NATO MISSION BEGAN IN DECEMBER, AND NATO COMMANDERS HAVE LONG SAID LANDMINES POSE THE GREATEST THREAT TO THEIR FORCES IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/RAE
01-Feb-96 2:11 PM EST (1911 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: AMERICAN AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO MAKE A SHOW OF FORCE IN BOSNIA, AFTER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS REFUSED TO LEAVE THE ZONE OF SEPARATION. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT FIRE, AS THE BOSNIAN SOLDIERS SURRENDERED AFTER THE NATO PLANES SWOOPED LOW OVER THEIR POSITION.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BOSNIA, NATO FORCES CALLED ON AIR POWER TO FORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE ACCORD ESTABLISHED A FOUR KILOMETER WIDE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN SERB FORCES AND NO ARMED SOLDIERS FROM EITHER SIDE ARE ALLOWED IN THE ZONE. SPANISH NATO TROOPS (WEDNESDAY EVENING) SPOTTED ABOUT 30 BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS DRIVING VEHICLES IN THE SEPARATION ZONE NEAR MOSTAR IN SOUTHERN BOSNIA.

NATO SPOKESMAN MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

INITIALLY THEY REFUSED TO LEAVE AND THEY REFUSED TO PUT DOWN THEIR WEAPONS, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT A PAIR OF A-10'S WERE CALLED WHO FLEW PASSES OVER THE AREA TO SHOW A DISPLAY OF FORCE. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED. THE OFFENDING TROOPS LEFT AND THEIR WEAPONS WERE CONFISCATED.

MAJOR HASELOCK SAID THE 30 BOSNIAN SOLDIERS WERE FOUND TO HAVE ALMOST ENOUGH WEAPONS FOR A BATTALION, INCLUDING 300 RIFLES, SIX MORTARS, EIGHT ROCKET LAUNCHERS, AND A LARGE SUPPLY OF GRENADES AND AMMUNITION.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO EXPLANATION YET WHY THE BOSNIAN SOLDIERS WERE IN THE ZONE OR WHY THEY HAD SO MANY WEAPONS. BUT OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THE WEAPONS WERE CONFISCATED AND WILL BE DESTROYED.

ALSO WEDNESDAY EVENING, SERB GUNMEN SPRAYED NATO VEHICLES WITH MACHINE GUN FIRE IN ILIDZA, A SERB-HELD SUBURB OF SARAJEVO. AN AMERICAN HUMVEE JEEP WAS STRUCK IN THE FENDER BY ONE ROUND, BUT THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS INSIDE WERE NOT HURT. A SHORT TIME LATER, A BRITISH ARMY JEEP WAS ALSO SHOT AT, ALTHOUGH NOT HIT. ANOTHER NATO SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK RAYNOR, WARNED IN THE FUTURE NATO TROOPS WILL SHOOT BACK.

ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO INCREASE PATROLLING IN THIS AREA AS THIS SENSELESS BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

COLONEL RAYNOR SAID THE NATO CHIEF OF STAFF HAS ALSO SPOKEN TO THE MAYOR OF THE SERB SUBURB WHERE THE SHOOTINGS ARE TAKING PLACE. HE SAID THE MAYOR HAS PROMISED TO GO ON THE RADIO TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE HIS PEOPLE TO COOPERATE WITH NATO.

NATO COMMANDERS DO NOT BELIEVE THE LATEST ATTACKS HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED OR AUTHORIZED BY SERB OFFICIALS. BUT TENSIONS AROUND SARAJEVO ARE GROWING BEFORE THE SATURDAY DEADLINE FOR SERB TROOPS TO WITHDRAW FROM SERB-HELD AREAS AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/CF
01-Feb-96 10:14 AM EST (1514 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] CHRISTOPHER-BALKANS SCENESETTER (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS LEAVING WASHINGTON TONIGHT (11 P-M) FOR ZAGREB, THE FIRST STOP ON HIS TOUR OF THE BALKANS. VOA'S RON PEMSTEIN WILL BE TRAVELING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND REPORTS HE WILL EMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CIVILIAN PORTIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE MORE TIME THAN EXPECTED IN ZAGREB BECAUSE HIS DEPARTURE FROM WASHINGTON WAS MOVED UP TO AVOID THE EXPECTED FRIDAY MORNING ICE STORM. THIS GIVES HIM SEVERAL HOURS IN THE CROATIAN CAPITAL TO MEET PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC.

MR. CHRISTOPHER'S MISSION IS DESIGNED TO GET THE CROATIAN, BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN GOVERNMENTS TO CONFORM TO THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED THAT ALL SIDES HOLD 100 PRISONERS OF WAR PAST THE JANUARY 19TH DEADLINE, THAT 200 TO 400 FOREIGN FORCES HAVE STILL NOT LEFT BOSNIA BY THAT DEADLINE AND THAT NO SIDE HAS TURNED OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO HE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE THREE GOVERNMENTS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT THEY PLAN TO HONOR.

ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT. ALL OF THE AGREEMENT. YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE PARTS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT AND DISREGARD THE REST. YOU'VE GOT TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF IT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL DISCUSS WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN CROATIA'S FAILURE TO TURN OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS AND THE FUTURE HANDLING OF THE AGREEMENT ABOUT EASTERN SLAVONIA ON CROATIA'S BORDER WITH SERBIA. CROATIA IS AGAIN THREATENING TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION TO CAPTURE THE AREA UNLESS LOCAL SERBS START TO RECOGNIZE CROATIAN AUTHORITY THERE. THE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY MR. CHRISTOPHER CALLS FOR A ONE YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD WITH A SECOND YEAR IF NECESSARY.

MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL VISIT AMERICAN TROOPS IN TUZLA ON SATURDAY BUT MUCH OF HIS DAY WILL BE SPENT IN MEETINGS WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IN SARAJEVO. HE IS LIKELY TO REPEAT WARNINGS THAT UNLESS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CARRIES OUT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, THE UNITED STATES MAY FAIL TO EQUIP AND TRAIN BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES AND WITHHOLD ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AID.

MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES WILL BE RAISED WITH PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE ON SUNDAY. MR. BURNS SAYS PARTICULAR ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY SERBIA'S LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE NO MEETINGS PLANNED WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

FOLLOWING THE TRIP TO THE BALKANS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MOVES ON TO JERUSALEM AND DAMASCUS FOR HIS 17TH MIDDLE EAST PEACE MISSION. HE ENDS HIS TRIP IN HELSINKI ON FEBRUARY 9TH AND 10TH FOR MR. CHRISTOPHER'S FIRST MEETING WITH THE NEW RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/GPT
01-Feb-96 3:36 PM EST (2036 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NATO / SOLANA (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS ALLIANCE TROOPS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY MORE SHOOTING INCIDENTS LIKE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS MR. SOLANA MADE THE COMMENTS IN BONN, WHERE HE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH GERMAN LEADERS.

TEXT: MR. SOLANA TOLD REPORTERS HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT SNIPING INCIDENTS IN SARAJEVO.

IN COMMENTS THAT RE-INFORCED THOSE OF NATO'S MILITARY COMMANDER IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, MR. SOLANA SAID THERE WILL BE AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER IF THE INCIDENTS CONTINUE. BUT OVERALL, THE NEW NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION IN BOSNIA WITH LESS TROUBLE THAN EXPECTED.

MR. SOLANA ALSO CALLED FOR NATO MEMBER STATES GREECE AND TURKEY TO END THEIR DISPUTE OVER A SMALL AEGEAN SEA ISLAND. THE SECRETARY GENERAL SAID THE DISPUTE THREATENED TO DISRUPT THE ALLIANCE'S EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA, BY GIVING THE IMPRESSION TWO NATO MEMBER STATES WERE READY TO FIGHT OVER SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY NOT WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

MR. SOLANA SAID THE ALLIANCE COULD NOT ALLOW SUCH DISPUTES TO HARM NATO'S REPUTATION AS AN INSTITUTION OF HOPE AND PEACE. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
01-Feb-96 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] SARAJEVO / BRIDGE (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A KEY BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IN DIVIDED SARAJEVO HAS BEEN RE-OPENED, AND HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE CROSSED OVER TO VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY, IN MANY CASES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: IT WAS A SCENE REMINISCENT OF THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL.

SARAJEVO'S IRONICALLY NAMED BRIDGE OF BROTHERHOOD AND UNITY HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION DURING THE LONG WAR HERE. BUT, LATE WEDNESDAY, FRENCH NATO TROOPS CLEARED AWAY BARRIERS AND OBSTRUCTIONS, AND THURSDAY MORNING, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT EACH END OF THE BRIDGE.

POLICE ON BOTH SIDES LOOKED CONFUSED AND UNCERTAIN. BUT AFTER A SHORT DELAY, PEOPLE BEGAN TO CROSS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, GIVING ONLY THEIR NAMES TO THE AUTHORITIES ON BOTH ENDS OF THE BRIDGE.

MOSTLY IT WAS WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OLD MEN WHO CROSSED, AND THERE WERE TEARFUL SCENES AS SOME FAMILY MEMBERS SAW EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS. ONE YOUNG MUSLIM MAN HAD CROSSED TO THE SERB SIDE TO SEE HIS OLD APARTMENT AND HE DESCRIBED HIS FEELINGS.

TODAY IS A VERY GOOD DAY FOR EVERY PEOPLE FROM OTHER SIDE AND THIS SIDE. PEOPLE WALKING TO OTHER SIDE. PEOPLE FROM BOSNIAN SIDE GO TO SERBIAN SIDE. THE SITUATION IS VERY GOOD.

UNDER THE DAYTON PLAN, BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS MUST LEAVE SERB- HELD AREAS OF SARAJEVO BY THIS SATURDAY. EVEN THOUGH GOVERNMENT TROOPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AREAS UNTIL MID-MARCH, AND ARMED SERB POLICE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL THE HAND-OVER, MANY SERBS HAVE ALREADY LEFT AND MOST OTHERS SAY THEY WILL SOON LEAVE.

THE PROBLEM IS MOST MEN ON THE SERB SIDE WERE IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY AND IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE IN GOVERNMENT HANDS. THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED AN AMNESTY FOR ALL SOLDIERS NOT GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES. BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS A WAR CRIME.

DESPITE THESE CONCERNS, THERE IS GROWING HOPE THAT AS CIVILIANS CROSS THE FRONT LINES AND THESE SORT OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SIDES INCREASE, MANY SERBS WILL EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO REMAIN IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. MOST SERBS HAVE NO PLACE TO GO AND BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY IS ALREADY FULL OF DISPLACED PEOPLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/GPT
01-Feb-96 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S/BOSNIA MINES (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA -- U-S NAVY ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- IS WARNING THAT BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN CASUALTIES FROM MINES LIKELY WILL INCREASE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING IN BOSNIA. TWO MORE U-S SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCES WERE WOUNDED BY A MINE EXPLOSION THURSDAY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS THAT WHILE THE BOSNIAN PARTIES ARE BEING AS HELPFUL AS THEY CAN IN IDENTIFYING MINEFIELDS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF UNMARKED MINED AREAS THAT WILL BE INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AS DISPLACED BOSNIANS TRY TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES THIS SPRING.

THE I-FOR COMMANDER SPOKE TO REPORTERS HERE FOLLOWING REPORTS FROM BOSNIA THAT TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE WOUNDED BY A DETONATION IN WHAT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED A CLEARED MINEFIELD SOUTH OF TUZLA.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAID HE HAS TOLD BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC THAT MINES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE HIS COUNTRY YEARS AFTER THE PEACEKEEPING FORCES DEPART.

THE MINES ARE GOING TO BE A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE PROBLEM FOR US. AND I TOLD PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC THAT HE'S GOING TO BE CLEANING UP MINES IN HIS COUNTRY 10 YEARS FROM NOW. WE HAVE OVER SEVEN THOUSAND MARKED MINEFIELDS NOW. AND THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS MORE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW EXIST. THE LINES OF CONFRONTATION CHANGED SO RAPIDLY DURING THAT CONFLICT. AND MINEFIELDS WERE SOWN, FRANKLY, INDISCRIMINATELY ON THE PART OF SOME.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS HE IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT CIVILIAN MINE CASUALTIES IN THE TOWNS OF MRKONJIC GRAD AND SIPOVO IN NORTH-CENTRAL BOSNIA -- NOW UNDER CONTROL OF CROAT FORCES -- THAT ARE BEING HANDED OVER TO THE SERBS IN A PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED IN MARCH.

THEY WERE KIND OF ON THE FRONT EDGE. AND THE LINE OF CONFRONTATION SORT OF WENT TO AND FRO BACK IN THERE. THERE COULD VERY WELL BE BOOBY-TRAPPED HOUSES. SO WHEN DISPLACED PERSONS OR REFUGEES BEGIN COMING BACK IN TO CLAIM THEIR HOMES OR ESTABLISH A RESIDENCE IN THIS RECENTLY TURNED-OVER AREA, I FEAR GREATLY THAT WE'LL SEE AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF MINE ACCIDENTS. THE SPRINGTIME WILL BRING EVEN MORE.

ADMIRAL SMITH REITERATED THAT NATO FORCES WILL NOT BECOME ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MINE-CLEARING, EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE ITS OPERATIONS ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED. BUT HE SAID I-FOR IS MOUNTING AN INTENSIVE MINE-AWARENESS PROGRAM -- DISTRIBUTING MAPS OF MINEFIELDS TO CIVILIANS, AND BROADCASTING WARNINGS TO THE PUBLIC ON RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/CB/JM
01-Feb-96 4:30 PM EST (2130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] U.S. / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

INTRO: A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SAYS HE FOUND CLEAR EVIDENCE OF TRULY HORRENDOUS WAR CRIMES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA LAST WEEK. AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING -- BUT AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THERE IS CONTROVERSY ABOUT HOW MUCH THE NATO PEACE FORCE SHOULD DO TO HELP.

TEXT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN SHATTUCK SAYS HIS TRIP CONFIRMED WHAT HE HEARD LAST YEAR FROM SURVIVORS OF MASS EXECUTIONS IN SREBRENICA.

THE SECRETARY TOLD CONGRESS HE VISITED THE NOW DECIMATED TOWN AND OTHER SITES WHERE THE CRIMES TOOK PLACE. THESE INCLUDE TWO MASS GRAVES (IN GLOGOVA), THE SOCCER FIELD WHERE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS WERE HELD BEFORE BEING KILLED, AND A CROSSROADS WHERE VICTIMS WERE LINED UP AND SHOT BY ARMORED TROOP CARRIERS.

THE STARKEST SITE OF ALL WAS A LARGE WAREHOUSE IN KRAVICA, BLOODSTAINED AND RIDDLED WITH BULLET HOLES AND EVIDENCE OF GRENADES, WHERE THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS WERE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD AFTER THEY WERE COAXED DOWN OUT OF THE HILLS BY MEN WEARING STOLEN U-N UNIFORMS WHO TOLD THEM WITH BULLHORNS THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKEN TO SAFETY.

AS MANY AS SEVEN-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE SAID TO BE MISSING FROM SREBRENICA, WITH MANY IF NOT ALL PRESUMED DEAD. AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IS INVESTIGATING WAR CRIMES THROUGHOUT BOSNIA.

MR. SHATTUCK SAYS WASHINGTON PUSHED VERY HARD FOR SERBIA AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO COOPERATE WITH THE TRIBUNAL. BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTS OF CONFLICT BETWEEN ITS LEADER (RICHARD GOLDSTONE) AND THE HEAD OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE, AMERICAN ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH. THOUGH THE ADMIRAL AGREED TO HELP, HIS TROOPS WILL NOT STAND GUARD OVER GRAVESITES. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN LEE HAMILTON SAYS THIS WILL HURT THE INVESTIGATION.

AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THESE GRAVESITES, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE KIND OF CAREFUL INVESTIGATION THAT IS NECESSARY TO BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE, WE'RE A LONG WAY IT SEEMS TO ME FROM PROVIDING SUFFICIENT SECURITY.

OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY U-S AND ALLIED SOLDIERS SHOULD NOT TAKE ON EXTRA DUTIES, AND SHOULD LIMIT THEMSELVES TO THE GOAL OF KEEPING THE FACTIONS APART. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/CF
01-Feb-96 1:34 PM EST (1834 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America