Voice of America, 8 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE EDITORIALIZING ON A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOPICS TODAY. SEVERAL EDITORIAL WRITERS OFFER THOUGHTS ON THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROSPECTS. OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE CUBA'S FIDEL CASTRO, CUTTING AID TO COLOMBIA, AND THE BITTER STALEMATE IN CHECHNYA. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST, IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY, NOTES THAT "AFTER REJECTING A RENEWAL OF THE CEASEFIRE IT ABROGATED LAST MONTH, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- THROUGH ITS PROPOGANDISTS -- PREDICTED 25 MORE YEARS OF TERROR ON THE EMERALD ISLE. NEVERTHELESS," CONTINUES THE POST, "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED TO LET GERRY ADAMS, THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL FRONT MAN, CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN NEW YORK CITY."

VOICE: "IN LIGHT OF THE IRA'S DECISION TO RETURN TO TERROR -- EVEN THOUGH BOTH LONDON AND DUBLIN CONSIDER A CEASEFIRE AN ABSOLUTE PREREQUISITE TO ANY I-R-A PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE TALKS -- WASHINGTON'S STANCE ON ADAMS MAKES LITTLE SENSE... WE'D URGE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS -- AND TO REVOKE ADAMS' VISA."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS TELLS READERS THAT "BY REFUSING TO REINSTATE ITS CEASEFIRE IN EXCHANGE FOR A PLACE AT THE PEACE TABLE, THE I-R-A MISSED ITS CLEAREST OPPORTUNITY YET TO MOVE TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND." AND, ADDS THE DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL:

VOICE: CLEARLY, THE BLOCKS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR REPEATEDLY THREW IN THE PATH TO PEACE PUSHED THE I-R-A TO ITS HORRIFIC RETURN TO TERROR AFTER A SELF-IMPOSED 17-MONTH CEASEFIRE. BUT AFTER BOMBING MAJOR BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, THE I-R-A IS NOT HELPING ITS CAUSE BY STAMPING ITS FEET LIKE A PETULANT CHILD. NOR IS SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS HELPING HIMSELF WITH HIS REFUSAL TO CONDEMN THE BOMBINGS AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS. IT SHOWS JUST HOW WRONG PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS TO GRANT HIM A VISA TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY HERE. SUPPORT FOR A CEASEFIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR THE VISA."

TEXT: THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL SAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND IS STILL POSSIBLE.

VOICE: "THE 17-MONTH CEASE-FIRE THAT ENDED LAST MONTH UNDERSCORED THE POSITIVE SIDE OF PEACE TALKS. RESIDENTS OF ENGLAND, IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND HAD COME TO KNOW A NORMAL LIFE. THERE IS NO REASON TO GIVE THAT UP. AN OBSTACLE IS THE I-R-A'S ARSENAL -- AND HOW AND WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISMANTLED. THAT'S THE KEY REASON THE LAST ROUND OF TALKS BROKE DOWN AND ALL-PARTY NEGOTIATIONS WEREN'T SCHEDULED. BRITAIN HAD INSISTED THAT THE TURNING IN OF I-R-A ARMS BEGIN BEFORE INCLUSIVE SESSIONS. THE I-R-A WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE TALKS CONCLUDE. A MEDIATION PANEL HAS RECOMMENDED SOME SENSIBLE MIDDLE GROUND -- THAT THE I-R-A SCRAP ITS WEAPONS AS TALKS PROCEED."

TEXT: FRIDAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THT CHINA, BY FIRING UNARMED MISSILES IN WATERS OF TAIWAN, "CROSSES A NEW AND DANGEROUS THRESHOLD." THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT THE ACT "RISKS BADLY DAMAGING CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD."

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS BET HEAVILY ON EXPANDING UNITED STATES ECONOMIC AND EVEN MILITARY COOPERATION WITH CHINA, MUST QUICKLY COME UP WITH WORDS AND DEEDS THAT WILL GIVE BEJIING PAUSE, WHILE NOT ESCALATING THE MISSILE TESTS INTO AN EXPLOSIVE CRISIS. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS CALLED THE TESTS 'PROVOCATIVE AND RECKLESS'. IN PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHINA'S LEADERS, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD MAKE HIS CONCERNS EVEN CLEARER. HE SHOULD DISPATCH ELEMENTS OF THE SEVENTH FLEET THROUGH THE TAIWAN STRAITS, THOUGH NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE TESTS, TO DEMONSTRATE HIS COMMITMENT TO ASSURING FREEDOM OF INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION."

TEXT: THE RECENT SHOOTING DOWN BY CUBA OF TWO UNARMED, PRIVATE AIRPLANES FROM THE UNITED STATES LED TO PASSAGE THIS WEEK BY THE U-S CONGRESS OF THE CUBAN LIBERTY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLIDARITY ACT. IN THE WORDS OF THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THE LEGISLATION, KNOWN AS THE HELMS-BURTON BILL, "ADDS SOME TEETH TO THE ALMOST 40-YEAR-OLD U-S EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA." THE TIMES NOTES THAT SEVERAL U-S ALLIES HAVE STRONGLY OBJECTED TO THE LEGISLATION. IT SAYS, "FROM THE WHINING SOUNDS EMANATING FROM OUR DEAR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH AND OUR DEAR ALLIES IN EUROPE, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS JUST ANNOUNCED A NATIONWIDE BAN ON CANADIAN BEER AND FRENCH CHAMPAGNE."

VOICE: "WHAT MAKES THE HELMS-BURTON BILL SO EFFECTIVE IN CUTTING OFF FOREIGN TRADE WITH CUBA IS THAT ITS MAIN PROVISION ALLOWS U-S CITIZENS WHOSE PRIVATE PROPERTY (WORTH MORE THAN $50,000) HAS BEEN CONFISCATED BY CUBA'S COMMUNIST REGIME TO SUE FOR DAMAGES IN U-S COURT FROM FOREIGN COMPANIES TRAFFICKING IN THAT PROPERTY IN CUBA... THE EUROPEANS AND THE CANADIANS ARGUE THAT ENGAGEMENT RATHER THAN ISOLATION WILL LEAD TO DEMOCRACY IN CUBA. THAT THEORY WAS TESTED BY SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MANUEL MARIN, WHO RECENTLY SPENT 10 HOURS TRYING TO CONVINCE MR. CASTRO THAT A COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION WOULD DEPEND ON HIS EASING UP ON POLITICAL DISSENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS. MR. CASTRO'S ANSWER TO MR. MARIN WAS TO THROW THE MEMBERS OF CONCILIO CUBANA INTO JAIL AND SHOOT DOWN BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE. NOW, MR. MARIN WANTS TO TRADE WITH CUBA ANYWAY. FOR SHAME."

TEXT: THE DENVER (COLORADO) POST OFFERS THIS REACTION TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO CUT OFF AID TO COLOMBIA. THE REASON CITED, NOTES THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN DAILY, WAS COLOMBIA'S FAILURE TO FIGHT EFFECTIVELY AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS.

VOICE: "ALLEGATIONS OF DRUG-RELATED CORRUPTION HAVE SO PERMEATED COLOMBIA'S GOVERNMENT THAT EVEN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CALI CARTEL. DESPITE THE POLICE KILLING OF ESCAPED DRUG KINGPIN JOSE SANTACRUZ LONDONO ON TUESDAY, COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES STILL SHOULD HAVE FELT EMBARRASSED THAT SANTACRUZ HAD BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THEIR PRISON SIX MONTHS AGO AND HAD TO BE TRACKED DOWN AND CORNERED AT ALL. YET IT'S UNLIKELY THAT DRUG LORDS WILL BE AFFECTED BY WASHINGTON'S DECISION; IN FACT, U-S DECERTIFICATION MAY MAKE COLOMBIA'S ECONOMY EVEN MORE DEPENDENT ON THE COCAINE TRADE. THE AID CUTOFF AFFECTS ONLY LEGITIMATE COMMODITIES, SO COCAINE SMUGGLERS WILL GO ABOUT THEIR SLEAZY BUSINESS UNMOLESTED. IN CONTRAST, PRODUCERS OF COLOMBIA'S LAWFUL GOODS, RANGING FROM CUT FLOWERS TO COFFEE, MAY BE HARMED SIGNIFICANTLY."

TEXT: AND, FINALLY, THE WASHINGTON POST OFFERS THIS VIEW ON RENEWED FIGHTING IN RUSSIA'S BREAKAWAY REGION OF CHECHNYA.

VOICE: "ASTONISHINGLY, RUSSIAN TROOPS FIND THEMSELVES ONCE MORE PINNED DOWN IN BRUTAL COMBAT IN THE RUBBLE-STREWN CAPITAL OF GROZNY, WHICH THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD SECURED 13 MONTHS AGO... PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN BUNGLED INTO THIS CIVIL WAR IN DECEMBER 1994 AFTER HIS DEFENSE MINISTER ASSURED HIM THAT THE CHECHEN INSURRECTION COULD BE SUPPRESSED IN A MATTER OF HOURS. NOW HE IS STUCK IN A WAR THE RUSSIAN ARMY IS HUMILIATINGLY INCAPABLE OF WINNING BUT FROM WHICH HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DISENGAGE."

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

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08-Mar-96 10:49 AM EST (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA SITREP (L UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR A CROATIAN SERB LEADER, MILAN MARTIC. AS V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS, MR. MARTIC ORDERED DEADLY CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON ZAGREB LAST YEAR.

TEXT: THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ISSUED THE INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT AFTER IT RECONFIRMED ITS INDICTMENT OF MR. MARTIC.

THE REBEL CROATIAN SERB LEADER ORDERED CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON ZAGREB LAST MAY. AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED, AND MANY OTHERS WERE INJURED.

MR. MARTIC HAS BEEN GIVEN SANCTUARY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BY THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND BY THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC.MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC ARE ALSO INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. TO GET EVEN MORE EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM, THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WANTS YUGOSLAVIA TO EXTRADITE TWO DETAINED FORMER SOLDIERS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY TO THE HAGUE.

THE TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, RICHARD GOLDSTONE, SAYS A REFUSAL TO HAND OVER THE MEN WOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL AND IMPORTANT VIOLATION OF YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.

ONE OF THE TWO FORMER SOLDIERS (DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC) IS SAID TO HAVE ADMITTED TO INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY'S MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS FROM THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF SREBRENICA LAST YEAR. IN BOSNIA, UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY AN ELDERLY MUSLIM WOMAN HAS BEEN MURDERED IN ONE OF THE REMAINING SERB-HELD SARAJEVO SUBURBS DUE TO REVERT TO MUSLIM AND CROAT RULE.

THE OFFICIALS REPORT GROWING CHAOS AND THREATS BY GANGS TO SERB AND NON-SERB RESIDENTS TO LEAVE THE SUBURBS BEFORE THE HANDOVER.

AT THE SAME TIME, NATO SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO HELP IMPLEMENT CERTAIN CIVIL ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT NATO OFFICIALS WHO HAVE VISITED SARAJEVO, DENY THAT THE ALLIANCE'S MANDATE IN BOSNIA IS EXPANDING.

ANY CLEAR EXPANSION OF THAT MANDATE COULD PROVOKE STRONG OPPOSITION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

NATO IS UNDER PRESSURE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN CIVIL PROJECTS FROM THE TOP INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN SARAJEVO, CARL BILDT.

HE WOULD LIKE NATO MILITARY TECHNICIANS OR ENGINEERS TO HELP RESTORE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS, POWER STATIONS, AND SEWAGE WORKS IN BOSNIA. HE WOULD ALSO LIKE A NATO PLANE FOR HIS USE.

MR. KOSCHNICK IS UNHAPPY THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION DID NOT FIRMLY BACK HIS PLAN, OPPOSED BY CROATS, TO REUNITE THE MUSLIM AND CROAT SECTORS OF MOSTAR. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 2:09 PM EST (1909 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] CYPRUS / HIJACK (S-2ND UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: A HIJACKED TURKISH CYPRIOT AIRLINER, WITH MORE THAN 100 PASSENGERS ABOARD, IS NOW ON ITS WAY TO MUNICH, GERMANY, AFTER BEING REFUELLED IN THE BULGARIAN CAPITAL, SOFIA. THE FOUR HIJACKERS ARE BELIEVED TO BE EITHER CHECHENS OR ETHNIC TURKS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE TURKISH CYPRIOT BOEING AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING FROM NORTHERN CYPRUS TO ISTANBUL WHEN THE PILOT RADIOED THAT THE PLANE WAS BEING HIJACKED. THE PLANE LANDED SAFELY IN SOFIA AND WAS REFUELLED THERE WHILE THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA NEGOTIATED WITH THE HIJACKERS. THE AIRLINER THEN TOOK OFF FOR MUNICH. THE HIJACKERS ARE BELIEVED TO BE PRO-CHECHEN TURKISH ACTIVISTS ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS CHECHENS. PASSENGERS ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT INCLUDE EUROPEANS, IRANIANS, ETHNIC TURKS AND AT LEAST ONE AMERICAN. THERE ARE NO REPORTS THAT ANY PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN HARMED. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST TIME A TURKISH CYPRIOT AIRLINER HAS BEEN HIJACKED. TURKEY INVADED CYPRUS IN 1974. TURKISH CYPRIOTS LATER DECLARED NORTHERN CYPRUS INDEPENDENT FROM GREEK CYPRIOT RULE AND FORMED THEIR OWN STATE. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 5:12 PM EST (2212 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS AWAY FROM MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN BURUNDI; A U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION COMES TO AN END IN RWANDA; CUBA TAKES ITS GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND, U-N OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF OIL TALKS WITH IRAQ. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS RESPONDED TO ETHNIC TENSIONS IN BURUNDI WITH A CALL FOR RESTRAINT AND DIALOGUE. IT URGED U-N OFFICIALS TO CONSIDER SETTING UP A U-N RADIO STATION IN THE COUNTRY TO COUNTER LOCAL BROADCASTS PROMOTING ETHNIC HATRED. AND IT ASKED SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI TO START CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR A RAPID HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE SHOULD BURUNDI START SLIDING TOWARD CIVIL WAR.

BUT THE COUNCIL STOPPED FAR SHORT OF ENDORSING MILITARY INTERVENTION. THE GOVERNMENT OF BURUNDI HAS WARNED THE COUNCIL IT WOULD OPPOSE A U-N FORCE. IT SAID EVEN A HINT THAT THE U-N MIGHT SEND TROOPS COULD PUSH EXTREMISTS TOWARD MORE VIOLENCE.

THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS A U-N PROPOSAL TO PUT TROOPS ON STANDBY FOR EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT. BUT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS -- NOTABLY CHINA AND FRANCE -- OPPOSE IT.

WHILE THE U-N PEACEKEEPING DEPARTMENT IS QUIETLY SURVEYING GOVERNMENTS FOR POSSIBLE TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS -- THE IDEA REMAINS ACADEMIC WITHOUT BURUNDI'S CONSENT.

-0- MEANWHILE, IN NEIGHBORING RWANDA -- A CONTROVERSIAL U-N MISSION PREPARED TO PULL OUT FRIDAY AS ITS MANDATE EXPIRED. THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA INSISTED THE U-N DISCONTINUE ITS MILITARY PRESENCE-- STILL BITTER THAT U-N TROOPS HAD FAILED TO STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RWANDANS IN 1994.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO LEAVE A SMALL POLITICAL OFFICE BEHIND -- WITH RWANDA'S APPROVAL. SOME 12-HUNDRED TROOPS AND ABOUT 150 MILITARY OBSERVERS WILL BE WITHDRAWN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

U-N OFFICIALS HAVE APPEALED ONCE AGAIN TO GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE THE CASH NEEDED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIEF WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY. PROGRAMS IN RWANDA -- AS ALMOST EVERYWHERE ELSE -- ARE CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED.

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CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA TOLD THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS PAST WEEK THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS BEING PROVOKED REPEATEDLY BY CUBAN EXILES BASED IN FLORIDA AND WAS JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING DOWN TWO OF THEIR AIRCRAFT LAST MONTH. CUBA TOOK THE ISSUE TO THE ASSEMBLY, AFTER THE SECURITY COUNCIL STRONGLY DEPLORED THE CUBAN ATTACK.

THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINS SHOOTING AT UNARMED CIVILIAN PLANES IS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW -- NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE CUBAN OFFICIAL HAD NOT ASKED THE ASSEMBLY FOR ANYTHING BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HAVANA'S SIDE OF THE STORY. THE MEETING LASTED LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR FROM BOTH CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.

WHILE MOST GOVERNMENTS VIEW WITH DISCOMFORT THE COURSE OF U-S/CUBAN RELATIONS -- ESPECIALLY U-S TRADE RESTRICTIONS THAT IMPACT ON THIRD COUNTRIES -- MANY HAVE ALSO PUBLICLY DENOUNCED HAVANA FOR VIOLATING RULES ON CIVIL AVIATION.

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OIL TALKS BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND IRAQ RESUME MONDAY -- AS PRESSURE INCREASES ON BAGHDAD TO ACCEPT A PLAN ALLOWING A LIMITED EXPORT OF ITS OIL. IRAQ IS UNDER U-N SANCTIONS SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT OVER FIVE YEARS AGO. BUT THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS OFFERED AN OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL TO ENABLE IRAQ TO BUY ESSENTIAL FOOD AND MEDICINE.

A FIRST ROUND OF TALKS ENDED LAST MONTH WITHOUT AGREEMENT. BOTH SIDES HAVE SIGNALLED THERE ARE STILL AREAS OF CONTROVERSY AND KEY TECHNICAL ISSUES TO NEGOTIATE.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK RENEWED ITS SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ, SAYING BAGHDAD HAS STILL NOT FULFILLED ALL U-N RESOLUTIONS. WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF AN EARLY LIFTING OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO, COUNCIL DIPLOMATS ARE URGING IRAQ TO TAKE THEIR OFFER OF BEING ALLOWED TO SELL OIL TO BUY FOOD AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.

THE PARTIAL LIFTING OF THE OIL BAN WOULD BE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SANCTIONS PROGRAM. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 3:32 PM EST (2032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S / BOSNIA DIPLOMAT (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF IMPLEMENTING THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT IS LEAVING THE U-S GOVERNMENT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE PLANS FOR REPLACING ROBERT GALLUCCI.

TEXT: AMBASSADOR GALLUCCI IS LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT TO BECOME THE DEAN OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE HERE IN WASHINGTON, EFFECTIVE, MAY FIRST. THE CAREER DIPLOMAT HAD BEEN NAMED LATE LAST YEAR AS THE AMERICAN OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. MR. GALLUCCI NEGOTIATED THE U-S NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR FRAMEWORK IN 1994. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS READ SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S NOTE OF APPRECIATION.

BOB GALLUCCI IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH WHOM I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK. THE SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE, ITS FACULTY AND ITS STUDENTS ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE SERVICES OF THIS FINE SCHOLAR AND DIPLOMAT.

AMBASSADOR GALLUCCI'S DUTIES IN BOSNIA WILL BE ASSUMED BY JOHN KORNBLUM, THE DEPARTMENT'S TOP EUROPEAN EXPERT WHO WILL BE TRAVELING TO BELGRADE, ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO BEGINNING ON SUNDAY. HE WILL BE ASSISTED BY WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, THE FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA AND RUDY PERINA, THE FORMER CHARGE OF THE U-S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 3:21 PM EST (2021 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] U-S / ITALY TERRORIST (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ANGERED BY THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A PALESTINIAN TERRORIST FROM AN ITALIAN JAIL. THE PALESTINIAN HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF KILLING AN AMERICAN TOURIST IN 1985. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES WANTS A MANHUNT.

TEXT: YOUSSEF MAGIED AL-MOLQI DISAPPEARED LATE LAST MONTH ON A 12-DAY FURLOUGH PASS FROM HIS ITALIAN HIGH-SECURITY PRISON. HE HAD BEEN SERVING A 30-YEAR SENTENCE FOR THE 1985 MURDER OF AMERICAN LEON KLINGHOFFER, A TOURIST CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR ON THE CRUISE SHIP ACHILLE LAURO.

ITALIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DEFENDED THE DECISION TO OFFER FURLOUGHS TO PRISONERS SERVING LONG PRISON TERMS. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS CALLS ON ITALY TO LAUNCH A NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR THE ESCAPED MURDERER.

I FRANKLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE. IT WAS THE WRONG DECISION AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO BRING THIS GUY BACK TO JUSTICE. THIS IS A BOTTOM LINE ISSUE I THINK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

THE UNITED STATES IS CONSIDERING OFFERING A REWARD FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE ESCAPED PALESTINIAN. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 3:56 PM EST (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L) (CORRECTS 193980) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS ISSUED AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT FOR THE CROATIAN SERB LEADER, MILAN MARTIC. GILIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS MR. MARTIC IS ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES IN CONNECTION WITH CLUSTER BOMB ATTACKS ON ZAGREB LAST YEAR.

TEXT: CROATIAN SERB LEADER MILAN MARTIC MAY STILL BE A FREE MAN -- BUT HIS ABILITY TO MOVE FREELY WILL NOW BE LIMITED. THE INTERNATIONAL WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST, ISSUED IN THE HAGUE, EFFECTIVELY MAKES HIM A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE.

MR. MARTIC WAS PRESIDENT OF THE NOW-DEFUNCT, SELF-PROCLAIMED SERB REPUBLIC OF KRAJINA.

THE TRIBUNAL INDICTMENT CHARGES HIM WITH HAVING ORDERED THE USE OF CLUSTER BOMBS AGAINST CIVILIANS IN ATTACKS AGAINST THE CROATIAN CAPITAL, ZAGREB, LAST YEAR. THE ATTACKS KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE AND WOUNDED AT LEAST 200, HITTING A SCHOOL AND A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

JUDGE CLAUDE JORDA SAID AT FRIDAY'S HEARING THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE, HE WAS SATISFIED THAT THOSE INDICTMENTS SHOULD BE CONFIRMED. SPEAKING TO THE COURT THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, JUDGE JORDA SAID THAT NONE OF THOSE KILLED HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN MILITARY DUTIES.

THE ATTACKS KILLED AND WOUNDED MANY CIVILIANS. IN RESPECT OF ITS ACCURACY AND STRIKING FORCE, THE USE OF THE ORKAN ROCKET IN THIS CASE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HIT MILITARY TARGET, BUT DESIGNED TO TERRORIZE THE CIVILIANS OF ZAGREB.

AN INTERNATIONAL WARRANT OF ARREST HAS NOW BEEN ISSUED AGAINST MILAN MARTIC. AS WELL AS BEING SENT TO INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES, THE WARRANT WILL ALSO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE NATO-LED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA, I-FOR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I-FOR HAS BEEN GIVEN WHAT AMOUNTS TO A SPECIFIC MANDATE TO ARREST A SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINAL.

MILAN MARTIC -- SPEAKING BEFORE FRIDAY'S HEARING -- DEFIANTLY DEFENDED THE ATTACKS, SAYING THEY WERE IN RESPONSE TO CROATIAN ACTIONS AGAINST THE SERB POPULATION. BUT, JUDGE JORDA -- SPEAKING AT FRIDAY'S HEARING -- SAID THAT NO PROVOCATION COULD JUSTIFY THE DELIBERATE TARGETING OF CIVILIANS. (SIGNED)

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08-Mar-96 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America