Voice of America, 20 March 1996 (2 of 2)

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / U-N POLICE BY JOLYON NAEGELE (TUZLA)

INTRO: THE U-N INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE (IPTF) CONTINUES TO DEPLOY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN A ROLE DIFFERENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (I-FOR). UNDER AN ARRANGEMENT CALLED THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICERS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO MONITOR, TRAIN AND ASSIST LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN BOTH THE MUSLIM CROAT-FEDERATION AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA. JOLYON NAEGELE SPOKE WITH SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE POLICE TASK FORCE AND SENDS THIS REPORT FROM TUZLA.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS ESTABLISHED THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE -- OR I-P-T-F -- IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA LAST DECEMBER WITH A ONE YEAR MANDATE AS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. UNDER DAYTON, I-P-T-F IS TO ASSIST THE PARTIES IN PROVIDING A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

I-P-T-F'S TASKS INCLUDE MONITORING AND INSPECTING BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS TRAINING, ADVISING, AND ASSISTING LOCAL POLICE FORCES, ASSESSING THREATS TO PUBLIC ORDER AND ADVISING LOCAL POLICE ON WAYS OF DEALING WITH THESE THREATS. IN ADDITION I-P-T-F OFFICERS CAN ACCOMPANY LOCAL POLICE ON THEIR PATROLS.

AMONG THE DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING THE I-P-T-F OFFICERS IS THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF POLICE ALL ACROSS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE NO FORMAL POLICE TRAINING. IN THE WORDS OF ONE HORRIFIED I-P-T-F OFFICER FROM DENMARK, "THEY LACK EDUCATION, APPARENTLY HAVING BEEN SIMPLY HIRED OFF THE STREET DURING THE WAR WHEN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT."

ONE-THOUSAND-700 UNARMED CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE DUE TO BE STATIONED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BY EARLY MAY, AND A FURTHER 500 IN EASTERN SLAVONIA, THE LAST PART OF CROATIA STILL OCCUPIED BY SERB FORCES. THE FORCE IS BASED IN SARAJEVO AND HAS ADDITIONAL REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN TUZLA AND BANJA LUKA AS WELL AS NUMEROUS LOCAL OFFLCES.

I-P-T-F IS CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTING WANTED POSTERS OF WAR CRIMINALS SOUGHT BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES AT THE HAGUE. BUT IN TUZLA, I-P-T-F LIAISON OFFICER NOEL CAUGHLIN NOTES NO EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO DETAIN ANY OF THE WANTED MEN.

WHILE WE ARE AWARE AND THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR EVERY POLICEMAN -- I-P-T-F POLICEMAN -- TO SEE, AT THE MOMENT IT IS NOT IN OUR MANDATE TO DO ANYTHING IN RELATION TO THOSE WAR CRIMINALS, I-E, ARREST THEM OR DETAIN THEM. IT IS NOT A PART OF OUR MANDATE. (NAEGELE) NOR IS IT A PART OF I-FOR'S MANDATE SO FOR THE TIME BEING, THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL ABLE TO MOVE ABOUT FREELY. (CAUGHLIN) THAT IS CORRECT, YES. IT IS NOT A PART OF I-FOR'S MANDATE. IT IS NOT OUR MANDATE. I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AT A LATER DATE RATHER THAN EARLIER.

IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUE OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS NOTED BY OFFICER CAUGHLIN, A FURTHER UNRESOLVED ISSUE BETWEEN I-FOR AND I-P-T-F IS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF CIVILIANS BETWEEN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA.

IN BANJA LUKA, I-P-T-F SPOKESMAN PETER HELWEG SAYS IT REMAINS TO BE RESOLVED WHICH ORGANIZATION -- I-FOR OR I-P-T-F -- IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. AS HE PUTS IT, "WE ARE HANDLING THIS ISSUE DELICATELY. IT IS NOT EASY FOR THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THEY HAVE TO GET USED TO IT."

BUT OFFICER HELWEG SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE DOES NOT WANT TO PUT RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY ON I-FOR FOR ENSURING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. AS HE PUTS IT, BOTH I-P-T-F AND I-FOR HAVE TO BE PRESENT. SO FAR, I-FOR IS MAINTAINING A HIGHLY VISIBLE PRESENCE, PARTICULARLY AT CROSSING POINTS THROUGH THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FEDERATION AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA. MEANWHILE I-P-T-F CONTINUES TO SET UP OFFICES AND DEPLOY ITS FORCES, WHICH STILL NEED TIME TO ACCLIMATIZE.

THE U-N'S INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE IS ESTABLISHING STATIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE MAP OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION BEING PLACED ON SITES WHERE TENSION EXISTS OR IS GROWING.

ONE SUCH PLACE IS KULEN VAKUF ON THE BORDER WITH CROATIA. MUSLIMS HAVE THREATENED TO TAKE THE TOWN BY FORCE FROM BOSNIAN CROAT (H-V-O) FORCES. I-P-T-F IS MONITORING CASES IN BANJA LUKA DATING BACK TO LAST AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WHEN SERBS EXPELLED MUSLIMS AND CROATS FROM THEIR HOMES TO MAKE WAY FOR A FRESH WAVE OF SERB REFUGEES. COURT HEARINGS CONCERNING THESE EVICTIONS WERE DELAYED AND ARE ONLY NOW BEING HELD. IN MR. HELWEG'S WORDS, "WE LOOK INTO EVERY RUMOR OF EVICTION."

I-P-T-F'S TUZLA REGIONAL LIAISON OFFICER NOEL CAUGHLIN SAYS HIS FORCE FACES A VARIETY OF PROBLEM AREAS, INCLUDING LARGE NUMBERS OF MUSLIM REFUGEES, WHO WANT TO RETURN TO TESANJ AND MAGLAJ.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY FOUR-THOUSAND BOSNIAN MUSLIMS IN TESANJ WHO WISH TO RETURN TO TESLIC. AND ALSO SOME OF THEM WISH TO RETURN TO DOBOJ. AND AT THOSE CROSSINGS INTO DOBOJ AND TESLIC, AS I HAVE STATED, THEY HAVE BEEN STOPPED BEFORE, BECAUSE, WHILE THERE IS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, THE SERBS HAVE CERTAIN ANXIETIES ABOUT THE RETURN OF SUCH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO THEIR AREAS.

OFFICER CAUGHLIN SAYS I-P-T-F IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO ARRANGE MEETINGS BETWEEN LOCAL POLICE AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS IN TESLIC AND TESANJ IN A BID TO OPEN A DISCUSSION ON THE REFUGEES' DESIRE TO RETURN.

I WAS AT A MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE THE CHIEF OF POLICE RAISED A CONCERN OVER THE VILLAGES IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION IN THE SATNA REGION, WHICH IS JUST NORTHWEST OF ZVORNIK, AND HIS CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF VILLAGES THERE, TOTALLY MUSLIM VILLAGES, WHICH WILL BE GOING BACK INTO SERB CONTROLLED AREA. AND IN RELATION TO THOSE VILLAGES OBVIOUSLY HE IS CONCERNED, GIVEN THAT THE WAR HAS JUST CEASED. AND WE ARE TRYING TO ARRANGE A MEETING BETWEEN THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF TUZLA AND THE ZVORNIK CHIEF OF POLICE TO DISCUSS HOW THESE VILLAGES CAN BE PATROLLED IN THE FUTURE. OF COURSE, TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COOPERATION OF THE ZVORNIK POLICE AND ALSO POSSIBLY THE MAYOR, AND THE MAYORS ON BOTH SIDES. AND IT IS PROBLEMS LIKE THIS THAT IN ONE SENSE WE ARE MEDIATORS, AND WE ORGANIZE MEETINGS.

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20-Mar-96 8:24 AM EST (1324 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] CHRISTOPHER-CENTRAL EUROPE (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN PRAGUE, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS LAID OUT THE AMERICAN VIEW OF NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION AND ITS INTEREST IN INTEGRATING, NOT ISOLATING RUSSIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM PRAGUE ON THE MAJOR SPEECH OF MR. CHRISTOPHER'S TRIP THROUGH EUROPE.

TEXT: FOR THOSE IN CENTRAL EUROPE WHO DOUBT NATO WILL EVER DECIDE WHEN TO EXPAND -- AND TO WHICH COUNTRIES -- AND FOR THOSE IN RUSSIA WHO ARE SUSPICIOUS OF ANY EASTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE, SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER HAD A CLEAR MESSAGE FOR BOTH AUDIENCES.

SPEAKING TO LISTENERS AT THE CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY THAT INCLUDED THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF 12 NATO CANDIDATES, MR. CHRISTOPHER PROMISES THAT NATO WILL DECIDE THIS YEAR ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED AND LEAVES NO AMBIGUITY ABOUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

NATO HAS BEGUN INTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTNERS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY MUST DO AND WHAT NATO MUST DO TO PREPARE FOR ENLARGEMENT. BASED UPON ON THE RESULTS, WE WILL DECIDE ON NEXT STEPS IN DECEMBER BUT WE ARE DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD. NATO HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO TAKE IN NEW MEMBERS AND IT MUST NOT AND WILL NOT KEEP THE DEMOCRACIES IN THE WAITING ROOM FOREVER.

CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE CONFIRMED NATO'S SCHEDULE EVEN IF HE DID NOT SINGLE OUT THIS COUNTRY AS ONE OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

IN HIS SPEECH SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER WARNS AGAINST SOME COUNTRIES USING MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ESCAPE TO THE WEST.

THE PROCESS WILL BE INCLUSIVE. IT WILL NOT BUILD NEW WALLS ACROSS THE CONTINENT. IT WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ANY FUNDAMENTAL DIVIDE BETWEEN CATHOLIC, ORTHODOX AND ISLAMIC PARTS OF EUROPE. THAT KIND OF THINKING FUELED THE KILLING IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND IT MUST HAVE NO PLACE IN THE EUROPE THAT WE ARE BUILDING. THE ENLARGEMENT OF WESTERN INSITUTIONS NATURALLLY WILL BEGIN WITH THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES, IF IT DID NOT START WITH THEM, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. BUT OUR GOAL IS NOT TO HELP THESE NATIONS ESCAPE FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. ON THE CONTRARY, THOSE WHO COME IN FIRST WILL HAVE OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THEIR MEMBERSHIP HELPS KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN FOR OTHERS.

IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM HIS AUDIENCE, MR. CHRISTOPHER RULES OUT MAKING ANY DEALS WITH RUSSIA ABOUT EXCLUDING COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE BALTIC STATES. U-S OFFICIALS SAY HIS REMARKS HERE AIM TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS IN RUSSIA WHILE EXCLUDING THE COMMUNIST-AGRARIAN ELEMENTS IN THE RUSSIAN DUMA THAT VOTED LAST WEEK TO RECONSTITUTE THE SOVIET UNION.

I APPLAUD PRESIDENT YELTSIN FOR OPPOSING THE DUMA RESOLUTION. HE AND MOST RUSSIANS UNDERSTAND THAT RUSSIA'S INTERESTS LIE IN TREATING ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS AS EQUALS, AS SOVEREIGN PARTNERS IN AN INTEGRATED EUROPE.

FOR HIS AUDIENCE, THE REASSURANCE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL REMAIN IN EUROPE AND PROTECT THEM FROM A NEW SOVIET UNION WAS WELCOME. WHEN SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER MET THE 12 CENTRAL EUROPEAN MINISTERS AT THE U-S AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE, CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER JOZEF ZIELENIEC BETRAYED THE NERVOUSNESS ALL THEM FEEL ABOUT THE DUMA'S VOTE.

THIS MEETING IS THE EVIDENCE THAT SECURITY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IS INDIVISIBLE. THIS MEETING IS THE EVIDENCE OF THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN EUROPEAN SECURITY. I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT FOR US IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN NATO AND SOVIET UNION IS A DISCUSSION IN WHICH WE ARE EQUAL PARTNERS. THAT THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION WITHOUT US.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER BEGINS A THREE-DAY VISIT TO MOSCOW ON THURSDAY TO PREPARE FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT THERE NEXT MONTH. HIS POLICY SPEECH HERE WAS INTENDED TO SERVE AS SUPPORT FOR REFORMERS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND AS A WARNING TO THOSE WHO WANT TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK IN RUSSIA. (SIGNED)

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20-Mar-96 9:37 AM EST (1437 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] GERMANY / KURDS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN POLICE HAVE BEEN PLACED ON INCREASED ALERT AFTER REPORTS THAT KURDISH EXTREMISTS MAY BE PLANNING TO STEP UP THEIR CAMPAIGN OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN OFFICIALS FEAR VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS MAY ERUPT THURSDAY, WHEN KURDS CELEBRATE THEIR NEW YEAR.

TEXT: AUTHORITIES IN SEVERAL GERMAN CITIES HAVE BROUGHT IN POLICE REINFORCEMENTS AND BANNED KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS FROM ORGANIZING RALLIES ON THURSDAY.

ALTHOUGH SOME CITIES HAVE AGREED TO LET PLANNED DEMONSTRATIONS GO AHEAD ON THE KURDISH NEW YEAR, OFFICIALS IN OTHER AREAS FEAR THE RALLIES COULD TURN VIOLENT. LAST WEEK, HUNDREDS OF KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS AND A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED DURING CLASHES THAT ERUPTED WHEN AUTHORITIES BANNED A PLANNED KURDISH RALLY IN DORTMUND.

STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS NOW SAY THEY HAVE INDICATIONS THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, KNOWN AS THE P-K-K, IS PLANNING TO USE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. THE GROUP, WHICH IS ALSO OUTLAWED IN TURKEY, HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT HOMELAND IN SOUTHERN TURKEY SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S.

ONE GERMAN OFFICIALS SAYS HE EXPECTS P-K-K DEMONSTRATIONS TO TURN VIOLENT JUST AS THEY DID LAST WEEK.

POLICE IN AND AROUND THE SOUTHERN CITY OF STUTTGART HAVE DETAINED 77 SUSPECTED KURDISH MILITANTS IN AN EFFORT TO HALT THEM FROM ORGANIZING VIOLENT PROTESTS DURING THURSDAY'S CELEBRATIONS.

GERMAN BORDER POLICE HAVE BEEN PUT ON HEIGHTENED ALERT AND ROADBLOCKS HAVE BEEN SET UP IN SOME AREAS TO PREVENT LARGE NUMBERS OF KURDS FROM GATHERING IN ANY ONE PLACE.

LAST WEEK'S CLASHES HAVE PROMPTED TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, TO CALL FOR A CRACKDOWN ON KURDISH EXTREMISTS AND THE EXPULSION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN VIOLENT PROTESTS.

TURKEY IS URGING GERMANY TO EXTRADITE RADICAL KURDS AND TO HONOR AN AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRES THE DEPORTATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN CRIMES. (SIGNED)

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20-Mar-96 10:00 AM EST (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] U-S / U-N / HUMAN RIGHTS (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TRAVELLED TO THE U-N'S EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA WEDNESDAY, TO ADDRESS THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WORLD BODY'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. LATER, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT CONFIRMED THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL AGAIN SEEK A RESOLUTION CRITICAL OF CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. BUT V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS IT IS NOT CERTAIN THAT THE MOVE WILL BE APPROVED BY THE U-N COMMISSION.

TEXT: OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, CHINESE DIPLOMATS HAVE MOUNTED A SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING CAMPAIGN TO AVOID ANY FORMAL CRITICISM FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. IN 1993 AND 1994, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT IN THE 53-NATION BODY EVEN FOR A DEBATE ON CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. BUT LAST YEAR, THE SITUATION BEGAN TO CHANGE. A RESOLUTION ON CHINA WAS FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION. IT WAS ULTIMATELY DEFEATED, BUT BY THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS.

AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT TOLD WEDNESDAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE HERE THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN POWERS WILL TRY AGAIN DURING THE CURRENT SESSION.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE CLEAR OUR POSITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE ARE LARGE PORTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT ALSO VIEW THE LACK OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. AND WE WILL PURSUE GETTING THE RESOLUTION PASSED WITH VIGOR, AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT COMES OUT.

THE CHANCES OF ANY FORMAL CRITICISM OF CHINA EMERGING FROM THE MEETING HERE COULD WELL HINGE ON THE POSITION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

MEDIA REPORTS SAY NEITHER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL NOR FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IS IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION ON CHINA. BOTH ARE INSTEAD QUIETLY URGING CHINA TO TAKE SPECIFIC STEPS TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.

AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT DENIED ANY SUBSTANTIVE RIFT BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND THE E-U.

I THINK A POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE VERY CLEAR HERE IS THAT WHAT WE ARE ALL AFTER -- THE EUROPEANS AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES -- IS A CHANGE IN THE BEHAVIOR OF CHINA ON A SET OF ISSUES TO DO WITH HUMAN RIGHTS. THAT IS WHAT CHANCELLOR KOHL AND PRESIDENT CHIRAC ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN, AND THEY HAVE IN FACT MOVED TO TRY TO GET THE CHINESE TO LIVE UP TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STEPS IN ORDER TO OBVIATE THE NEED FOR A RESOLUTION (BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION).

MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THAT IF BEIJING RESPONDS TO THE FRANCO-GERMAN DEMARCHE, IT WOULD BE A STEP FORWARD. "THE UNITED STATES IS NOT SIMPLY SEEKING U-N CRITICISM OF CHINA," SHE SAID, "WHAT WE ARE AFTER IS A CHANGE IN CHINA'S BEHAVIOR." (SIGNED)

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20-Mar-96 1:28 PM EST (1828 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SIGNED LEGISLATION EXTENDING TAX BENEFITS TO U-S SOLDIERS SERVING IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA AND MACEDONIA. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: UNDER THE LEGISLATION, WAGES THE SOLDIERS EARN WHILE KEEPING THE PEACE IN THE REGION WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL INCOME TAX. IT IS THE SAME TAX BENEFIT GRANTED TO U-S SOLDIERS WHO SERVED IN PAST WARS IN VIETNAM AND IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT RELEASED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE LEGISLATION RECOGNIZES THE UNIQUE HARDSHIPS AND RISKS MEMBERS OF THE U-S ARMED FORCES FACE IN NON-COMBAT MISSIONS LIKE THE ONE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

EIGHTEEN-THOUSAND-400 U-S SERVICE MEMBERS ARE IN BOSNIA, TWO-THOUSAND ARE IN CROATIA AND 500 ARE IN MACEDONIA.

PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITED U-S TROOPS IN THE REGION IN JANUARY. FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON PAYS A VISIT IN COMING DAYS.

IN ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON NOTES THAT THE U-S PACKAGE OF URGENT AID TO BOSNIA--WHICH HE ANNOUNCED IN PARIS IN DECEMBER-- HAS BROUGHT QUICK RESULTS. HE SAYS NEARLY ALL OF THE 85-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS HE PLEDGED HAS BEEN AWARDED AND MOST PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR ARE WELL UNDERWAY. THE AID WAS AIMED AT STIMULATING RECOVERY. LAST MONTH THE PRESIDENT ASKED CONGRESS TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL 200 MILLION DOLLARS FOR MORE RELIEF EFFORTS. (SIGNED) NEB/PT NEB/BORG 20-Mar-96 5:14 PM EST (2214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] U-S CENTRAL EUROPE BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WEDNESDAY HELD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS IN PRAGUE WITH FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM TWELVE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN NATIONS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC WERE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF SECRETARY'S CHRISTOPHER'S MEETINGS WITH PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS AND PRESIDENT VACLAV HAVEL. THEY SAID THERE IS A CLEAR SIMILARITY OF VIEW BETWEEN THE CZECHS AND AMERICANS CONCERNING SECURITY ISSUES IN EUROPE.

CZECH OFFICIALS WERE ALSO HEARTENED BY MR. CHRISTOPHER'S REASSERTION OF THE NATO COMMITMENT TO EXPAND ITS MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL EUROPE. FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONVINCED THAT THE CZECH REPUBLIC WILL BE A NATO MEMBER BY THE YEAR 2000. THEY APPLAUDED THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COMMITMENT TO EXPAND DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM RUSSIA.

THERE WERE 12 FOREIGN MINISTERS PRESENT FOR THE MEETINGS IN PRAGUE. THEY CAME FROM THE COUNTRIES MOST LIKELY TO BE THE FIRST TO JOIN NATO -- POLAND, HUNGARY AS WELL AS THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THE THREE BALTIC STATES WERE PRESENT AS WERE SLOVAKIA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, ALBANIA, MACEDONIA AND SLOVENIA.

IN HIS REMARKS, SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER CALLED FOR SLOVAKIA AND ROMANIA TO RATIFY FRIENDSHIP TREATIES WITH HUNGARY. GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING STATES AND PROTECTION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE CONDITIONS FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP. AT A SUBSEQUENT BRIEFING STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS ELABORATED.

THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STATES THEMSELVES NEED TO DEAL PRODUCTIVELY AND WE HOPE SUCCESSFULLY WITH THEIR HISTORICAL ENMITIES. AND CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY. AND HE (CHRISTOPHER) GAVE SOME EXAMPLES WHERE WE HOPE TO SEE PROGRESS AND IN THE PRIVATE MEETINGS I THINK WE HEARD SOME INDICATION THAT THERE WILL BE MOVEMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

MR. BURNS SAID THE VISITING FOREIGN MINISTERS WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMERICAN COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN SECURITY AND NATO EXPANSION. HE SAID THERE WAS ALSO UNIVERSAL SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF THE U-S COMMITMENT TO AN INDEPENDENT UKRAINE AND UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA'S VOTE LAST WEEK CALLING FOR THE SOVIET UNION TO BE RECONSTITUTED. (SIGNED)

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20-Mar-96 4:34 PM EST (2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS BEGUN SIX DAYS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS INTO EVIDENCE AGAINST THREE FORMER YUGOSLAV ARMY OFFICERS ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN MASS-MURDER. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS A TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR SAYS THE THREE WERE INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF MORE THAN 200 NON-SERBS TAKEN FROM A HOSPITAL IN CROATIA -- AN INCIDENT WHICH HE SAYS MARKED THE START OF "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN THE REGION.

TEXT: THE THREE MEN WERE INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL LAST NOVEMBER FOR WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

AFTER A BLOODY THREE-MONTH SIEGE IN 1991, THE CROATIAN TOWN OF VUKOVAR WAS OVERRUN BY THE YUGOSLAV ARMY. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE INDICTMENT SAYS, BUSLOADS OF MEN AND BOYS WERE HURRIEDLY REMOVED FROM THE HOSPITAL. TWO-HUNDRED-SIXTY-ONE OF THEM WERE KILLED IN WHAT PROSECUTOR GRANT NIEMAN DESCRIBED TO THE COURT AS AN "ORGY OF VIOLENCE."

THERE THEN FOLLOWED A SERIES OF EVENTS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS TERRIBLE WAR -- SO SIMILAR IN DETAIL THAT THE ONLY CONCLUSION AVAILABLE IS THAT IT WAS PART OF SOME PLAN. THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN VUKOVAR WERE THE VERY BEGINNING OF WHAT WAS LATER TO BE KNOWN AS ETHNIC CLEANSING, THUS PLANTING THE SEEDS OF GENOCIDE IN THE CONFLICT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE THREE MEN REMAIN BEYOND THE REACH OF THE TRIBUNAL. DESPITE A NEW SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION, THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE REFUSES TO HAND THEM OVER.

PUBLIC HEARINGS LIKE THIS ONE ARE DESIGNED TO REVIEW THE EVIDENCE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ACCUSED. AFTER THE END OF THE PROCESS, A JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ISSUE AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT FOR THE THREE.

BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, THE HEARINGS GIVE VICTIMS A VOICE AND RECORD THEIR TESTIMONY. THE TRIBUNAL WILL BE HEARING FROM A TOTAL OF 11 WITNESSES IN THIS CASE, INCLUDING A DOCTOR FROM VUKOVAR HOSPITAL AND SOME OF THOSE WHO ESCAPED THE KILLING. (SIGNED)

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20-Mar-96 12:27 PM EST (1727 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America