Voice of America, 26 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE LESSENING OF TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE ISLAND'S FIRST DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ARE POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPICS IN TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS TO SENATOR BOB DOLE'S PRESIDENTIAL BID; THE MEANING OF THE GENERAL MOTORS STRIKE; THE COMMUNIST RESURGENCE IN RUSSIA, AND REIGNING IN CENTRAL AMERICA'S GENERALS. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A FEW QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE TAIWANESE ELECTION AND CHINA'S INTIMIDATING MILITARY EXERCISES PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE VOTE, THOUGH NOW IS APPEARS THE TENSIONS MAY BE EASING. IN TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL," THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS GIVEN PRAISE FOR ITS REACTION TO THE SITUATION.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DUE CREDIT FOR HELPING TO EASE WEEKS OF TENSION BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN. BEIJING AND TAIPEI HAD BEEN AT LOGGERHEADS [CONFLICT] OVER THE DESIRE OF MANY TAIWANESE FOR MORE INDEPENDENCE. NOW THE TWO SIDES APPEAR READY TO TALK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES... PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS RIGHT TO SEND U-S NAVAL FORCES TO THE AREA. A STRONG SIGNAL OF U-S RESOLVE WAS WARRANTED. "

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTES CHINA'S RECENT DECISION TO REPLACE HONG KONG'S ELECTED LEGISLATURE WITH AN APPOINTED ONE, UPON REASSUMING CONTROL IN 1997 AND SEES CHINA'S HEAVY-HANDED FOREIGN POLICY IN GENERAL AS A GROWING THREAT.

VOICE: "AS THE WORLD HEADS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, COURSES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS MAY HAVE TO RUMMAGE THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES TO FIND TERMS ADEQUATE TO DESCRIBE CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY. IT SPENT THE WEEK PRIOR TO TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HURLING MISSILES AND RUNNING LIVE-AMMUNITION EXERCISES IN THE (TAIWAN) STRAIT. NOW THAT TAIWANESE PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI HAS WON BIG, CHINA SAYS IT'S WILLING TO EXERCISE NOBLESS AND 'NEGOTIATE' WITH ITS NEIGHBOR. BUT BEFORE TAIWAN DOES ANY DEALS WITH BEIJING, IT SHOULD ASK HONG KONG AND BRITAIN FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CHINA MEANS BY AN AGREEMENT."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" SAYS IN RETROSPECT, "CHINA'S BELLICOSITY BOOMERANGED, YIELDING PERHAPS TO COMMON SENSE":

VOICE: "THE VOTERS OF TAIWAN GAVE A LESSON IN DEMOCRACY TO THE AUTOCRATS OF BEIJING... THE ELECTION WAS FOLLOWED BY CALMING NOISES FROM BOTH SIDES... BETTER RELATIONS BASED ON DIGNITY AND RESPECT BETWEEN THE TWO CHINAS IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR BOTH ..."

TEXT: THIS FINAL THOUGHT ON THE SUBJECT FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES":

VOICE: "CONCILIATORY POST-ELECTION GESTURES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIWAN STRAIT INDICATE, AFTER WEEKS OF RISING POLITICAL ANTIPATHY, THAT BEIJING AND TAIPEI MAY BE READY TO TALK... DURING THIS COOLING-OFF PERIOD, WASHINGTON SHOULD PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN ENCOURAGING CHINA AND TAIWAN TO WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES."

TEXT: TURNING TO U-S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS SOME SYMPATHY FOR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE-DESIGNATE BOB DOLE:

VOICE: "YOU HAVE TO FEEL [SYMPATHY] FOR BOB DOLE. HERE HE IS, IN HIS OWN WORDS, 'FINALLY AT THE FINISH LINE,' WITH ONLY 'AN INCH TO GO.' TODAY'S CALIFORNIA PRIMARY SHOULD PUT HIM OVER THE LINE. BUT WHO SHOULD POP UP IN HIS MOMENT OF TRIUMPH BUT ROSS PEROT, ANNOUNCING THAT HIS NEW REFORM PARTY WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS [OPT] AND, FURTHER THAT THE PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MAY WELL BE ... ROSS PEROT. [END OPT] ... ADD TO A POTENTIAL PEROT ... CHALLENGE A POSSIBLE THIRD-PARTY INSURGENCY FROM PAT BUCHANAN, AND SUDDENLY MR. DOLE FINDS A WHOLE HOST OF PEOPLE NIPPING AT HIS VOTE TOTALS."

TEXT: "USA TODAY" SAYS THERE ARE IMPORTANT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE COSTLY STRIKE THAT IDLED THE GENERAL MOTORS BRAKE PLANT DAYTON, OHIO, FOR 17 DAYS.

VOICE: "THE PRIMARY LESSON: FORGET THINKING ABOUT LABOR-MANAGEMENT CLASHES AS FOOTBALL GAMES WITH ONE WINNER AND ONE LOSER AT THE END. SUCH 'US VERSUS THEM' DOESN'T WORK IN THE MODERN WORKPLACE. IF G-M 'LOST,' IT WOULD BE LESS COMPETITIVE. THAT'S NO 'WIN' FOR WORKERS, BECAUSE THEY THEN LOSE JOB SECURITY. NOT SO OBVIOUSLY, IF WORKERS 'LOST,' G-M WOULDN'T WIN.' NOT IF WORKERS FEEL LESS MOTIVATED TO HELP CUT COSTS AND IMPROVE QUALITY."

TEXT: TUESDAY'S "NEW YORK POST" IS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE VOTE IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT - THE DUMA - CALLING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE SOVIET UNION. THE PAPER SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES AND THE WESTERN DEMOCRATCIES TO FORMULATE A NEW RUSSIA POLICY:

VOICE: "THE DUMA VOTE IS NOT BINDING; CERTAINLY, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A RECONSTITUTED RED ARMY IS ABOUT TO MARCH ON UKRAINE OR THE BALTIC STATES... BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT RUSSIA'S NEWLY RESURGENT COMMUNISTS AREN'T RESIGNED TO THE BREAK-UP OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE; INDEED, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, THEY WILL TRY TO RESTORE IT... IT'S TIME FOR WASHINGTON TO TAKE STOCK... ONE POLICY MEASURE THAT READILY RECOMMENDS ITSELF IS THE INCORPORATION OF THE EAST EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES INTO NATO; THERE'S NO REASON THEY SHOULD BE LEFT DEFENSELESS IN THE EVENT OF RENEWED SOVIET EXPANSIONISM..."

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SEES PROGRESS TOWARD CURBING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OUTRAGES OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S GENERALS.

VOICE: "GUATEMALA'S NEW PRESIDENT, ALVARO ARZU, INAUGURATED IN JANUARY, HAS ACTED TO DIMINISH THE POWER OF THE CORRUPT MILITARY. HE HAS REMOVED SOME OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS ... HONDURAS WAS NEVER DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE KINDS OF GUERRILLA CONFLICTS THAT BATTERED CIVILIAN LIFE IN GUATEMALA AND EL SALVADOR. BUT HONDURAS BECAME A STAGING GROUND FOR AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN THE REGION... NOW HONDURAS'S ELECTED CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN SOME COURAGEOUS STEPS, INCLUDING THE PROSECUTION OF MILITARY MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORST ABUSES DURING THE 80'S... THE UNITED STATES HAS A LONG, IGNOBLE HISTORY OF SUPPORTING REPRESSIVE MILITARY LEADERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA. FOR A CHANGE, IT WOULD BE NICE IF "WASHINGTON HELPED THE VULNERABLE CIVILIAN LEADERS WHO ARE TRYING TO BRING THE GENERALS UNDER CONTROL."

TEXT: AND ON THAT HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS. NEB/ANG/PCH

26-Mar-96 11:16 AM EST (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BRITAIN / MAD COW (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING TO SAY BRITISH BEEF IS SAFE AS THEY ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES AND EVEN SOME FARMERS GROUPS BELIEVE SLAUGHTERING A PERCENTAGE OF THE BRITISH HERD MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO GET BRITISH BEEF BACK ON THE MENUS OF MANY COUNTRIES.

TEXT: SENIOR BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AGREE THEY FACE A DAUNTING TASK OF CONVINCING CONSUMERS TO ONCE AGAIN BUY BRITISH BEEF. THE BRITISH CATTLE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HIT HARD SINCE THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN MAD COW DISEASE AND ITS HUMAN EQUIVALENT -- A FATAL BRAIN ILLNESS KNOWN AS C-J-D. MANY COUNTRIES HAVE BANNED THE IMPORT OF BRITISH BEEF, SEVERAL FAST-FOOD CHAINS NO LONGER SERVE BRITISH BEEF ON THEIR MENUS, AND CATTLE MARKETS HERE ARE DESERTED AS THE PRICE OF A HEAD OF CATTLE HAS GONE THROUGH THE FLOOR.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SENIOR MINISTERS CONTINUED TO SAY THERE IS NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO GUARANTEE CONSUMER SAFETY.

EMOTIONS RAN HIGH AS PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR ANSWERED QUESTIONS DURING HIS REGULAR TUESDAY APPEARANCE BEFORE LAWMAKERS. MOST OF THE QUESTIONS DEALT WITH MAD COW DISEASE AND THE CRISIS SURROUNDING THE BRITISH BEEF INDUSTRY.

PADDY ASHDOWN, LEADER OF THE SMALL OPPOSITION LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SPOKE FOR MANY LAWMAKERS WHEN HE ADDRESSED MR. MAJOR.

WHAT HAS HE GOT TO SAY TO FARMERS, TO ABBATOIR MANAGERS, TO CATTLE-MARKET OPERATORS WHO ALL MORNING HAVE BEEN RINGING TO SAY: MY DOORS ARE CLOSED. MY MARKET IS GONE AND IN TWO WEEKS MY BUSINESS WILL BE IN RUINS. WHAT DO I DO NOW?

MR. MAJOR RESPONDED BY SAYING SCIENTISTS STUDYING MAD COW DISEASE HAVE NOT RECOMMENDED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL MEASURES -- SUCH AS SLAUGHTERING PART OF THE 11-MILLION ANIMAL NATIONAL HERD.

BUT THE MAIN OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY AND MR. ASHDOWN'S LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ARE ADVOCATING EXACTLY SUCH MEASURES IN ORDER TO RE-BUILD CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

THEY HAVE BEEN JOINED BY A NUMBER OF FARMERS GROUPS, INCLUDING BRITAIN'S NATIONAL FARMERS UNION. THE UNION SAYS MANY OLD COWS ARE CURRENTLY SLAUGHTERED ANYWAY, AND THEIR MEAT AND CARCASSES ARE USED IN MANY PRODUCTS. NATIONAL FARMERS UNION SPOKESMAN TREVOR HAYES SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION NOW BELIEVES THESE COWS MUST BE TOTALLY DESTROYED.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCIENCE GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT IS A FAIR BASIS ON WHICH TO MAKE A DECISION, WE ALSO THINK THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO USE ITS JUDGMENT TO SEE THAT THE CONSUMERS ARE STILL NOT SATISFIED -- AND THEREFORE, JUST TO BE EXTRA SAFE -- CAUTIOUS RATHER THAN SAFE -- WE BELIEVE THE COWS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR NORMAL SLAUGHTER AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES, THOSE COWS SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF RATHER THAN GOING INTO THE FOOD CHAIN.

MR. HAYES SAYS UNDER HIS UNION'S PROPOSAL, ABOUT 15-THOUSAND COWS A WEEK WOULD THUS BE SLAUGHTERED AND WOULD NOT RE-ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN. HE SAYS THAT WOULD BE A FIRST STEP TO REGAIN CONSUMER AND MARKET CONFIDENCE -- BUT MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE EVEN MORE DRASTIC MEASURES FOR BRITISH BEEF TO BE ONCE AGAIN SERVED WITHOUT HESITATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/JWH/RAE
26-Mar-96 12:58 PM EST (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] E-U / MAD COW (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS )

INTRO: A COMMITTEE OF EUROPEAN VETERINARY DOCTORS HAS VOTED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION'S BAN ON BRITISH BEEF. A PERSONAL PLEA FROM BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR THAT THE BAN SHOULD BE OVERTURNED WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM E-U HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE BAN IS SET TO BE FORMALLY VOTED ON WEDENSDAY MORNING IN BRUSSELS. THE 28-STRONG EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL MEET THEN TO CONSIDER THE ADVICE FROM A COMMITTEE OF EUROPEAN VETERINARY DOCTORS.

THE BAN COVERS ALL BRITISH BEEF AND VEAL, AND BYPRODUCTS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN SUCH PRODUCTS AS COOKIES AND CANDY.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR HAD APPEARED TO HAVE WON GROUND WHEN HE PERSUADED E-U COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER TO RECONVENE THE EUROPEAN UNION'S STANDING VETERINARY COMMITTEE. THE BRITISH WERE FURIOUS THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAD VOTED 14 TO ONE AGAINST BRITAIN, WITH EVERY ONE OF BRITAIN'S E-U PARTNERS IN FAVOR OF THE BAN.

TWO TOP BRITISH SCIENTISTS -- CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER KENNETH CALMAN AND PROFESSOR JOHN PATTISON -- FLEW TO BRUSSELS TUESDAY TO BRIEF THE COMMITTEE, AND TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE EUROPEAN SCIENTISTS THAT THEIR OPINION ON BRITISH BEEF IS MISTAKEN.

A FEW HOURS LATER, THE BRITISH TEAM EMERGED, GRIM-FACED, FROM THE MEETING, TO REPORT DEFEAT. MR. CALMAN HAS THIS BRIEF STATMENT.

PROFESSOR PATTISON AND I PRESENTED RESEARCH WORK AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. WE RESPONDED TO QUITE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. AT THAT POINT WE LEFT THE MEETING. THE MEETING CONCLUDED, AND I UNDERSTAND -- ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MYSELF -- THAT THEY DID NOT CHANGE THEIR DECISION.

THE BRITISH TEAM THEN FLEW BACK TO LONDON TO BRIEF MINISTERS. THE BRITISH SCIENTISTS ARE FRUSTRATED THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTS THAT BRITISH BEEF IS SAFE.

BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY GAVE A REASONED, SCIENTIFIC REPORT, BUT IT WAS EMOTION AND NOT SCIENCE THAT WON THE DAY. HOWEVER, EUROPEAN VETERINARIANS SAID THE MEETING HAD BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. ONE DUTCH DELEGATE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING NEW IN THE BRITISH PRESENTATION, SO THE BAN STAYS IN FORCE.

BRITAIN'S EUROPEAN UNION PARTNERS APPEAR TO BE WORRIED BY LAST WEEK'S NEW SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS, WHICH SUGGEST THAT THE MAD COW DISEASE -- B-S-E -- MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS.

THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THIS IS THE CASE, BUT UNTIL THERE IS PROOF TO THE CONTRARY, E-U OFFICIALS SEEM DETERMINED TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. OFFICIALS SAY THE BAN ON BRITISH BEEF WILL HAVE BEEN IMPOSED WITHIN A WEEK, BUT IT MAY TAKE YEARS FOR IT TO BE LIFTED AGAIN. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/MH/CF
26-Mar-96 2:24 PM EST (1924 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] HILLARY / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WIFE, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS IN TURKEY FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT AIMED AT UNDERSCORING CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MRS. CLINTON STARTED HER VISIT BY LAYING A WREATH AT THE TOMB OF THE FOUNDER OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC, KEMAL ATATURK.

TEXT: FOLLOWING HER ARRIVAL AT ANKARA'S ESENBOGA AIRPORT, MRS. CLINTON SAID SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH TURKISH WOMEN TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS OF ISSUES AFFECTING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN TURKEY.

SHE SAID SHE HOPED HER STAY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO -- WHAT SHE TERMED -- THE STRONG AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY ENJOY.

MRS. CLINTON, ACCOMPANIED BY HER DAUGHTER CHELSEA, VISITED ATATURK'S MAUSOLEUM WHERE SHE LAID A WREATH -- AS IS CUSTOMARY FOR ALL VISITING FOREIGN DIGNITARIES.

THE U-S FIRST LADY HAD LUNCH WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIRAL, FOLLOWED BY TEA WITH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ. BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF MRS. CLINTON'S VISIT IS A SPEECH SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY IN ISTANBUL ABOUT WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.

MRS. CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO VISIT A CHLDREN'S HOSPITAL WEDNESDAY IN ISTANBUL AND WILL MEET WITH FORMER TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER.

MRS. CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE HER VISIT TO TURKEY BY MEETING THURSDAY WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEUS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
26-Mar-96 11:44 AM EST (1644 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S / BOSNIA MISSION (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE PENTAGON SAYS NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN BOSNIA WILL TAKE PART IN SOME CIVILIAN RECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY. BUT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INSISTS THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE WILL NOT BE EXCEEDING ITS ORIGINAL MANDATE PRESCRIBED IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: OFFICIALS HERE SAY THE PEACEKEEPERS WILL BE INVOLVED IN TASKS SUCH AS BRIDGE BUILDING, ROAD REPAIRS AND RESTORING PUBLIC UTILITIES IN AN EFFORT TO BOOST WHAT THEY CONCEDE IS A LAGGING CIVILIAN RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN BOSNIA.

THE POLICY IS A SHIFT IN EMPHASIS FOR THE NATO-LED PEACE FORCE, WHICH HAS FOCUSSED ITS EFFORTS ON SEPARATING OPPOSING FORCES AND MONITORING REMOVAL OF WEAPONS. BUT PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON DENIES IT AMOUNTS TO SO-CALLED "MISSION CREEP" IN WHICH THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE TAKES ON ROLES BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL MANDATE.

HE SAYS TOP U-S COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA WILL DECIDE WHAT CIVILIAN-RELATED PROJECTS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF NATO TROOPS:

GENERAL JOULWAN, ADMIRAL SMITH, GENERAL NASH AND THE OTHER COMMANDERS WILL BE MAKING THESE DECISIONS AS APPROPRIATE. AS LONG AS THEY DON'T COMPROMISE THEIR MILITARY MISSIONS. AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE'VE STATED THAT AS WELL AS MAINTAINING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA, AND PERFORMING THE TASKS LAID OUT IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS, OUR TOP PRIORITY WAS TROOP PROTECTION. WE WON'T DO ANYTHING THAT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF OUR OWN TROOPS.

MR. BACON SAID PEACEKEEPERS WILL PROVIDE AREA SECURITY FOR SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES SO THAT WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. BUT HE SAID NATO TROOPS WILL NOT DO ANY LARGE-SCALE MINE CLEARANCE.

THE PENTAGON SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY WILL REVIEW THE STATUS OF THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION -- NOW IN ITS FOURTH MONTH -- WHEN HE VISITS BOSNIA SUNDAY ON AN OVERSEAS MISSION THAT WILL ALSO TAKE HIM TO CROATIA, ALBANIA AND EGYPT.(SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / BD/PT
26-Mar-96 6:11 PM EST (2311 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America