Voice of America, 9 April 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE DISQUIETING NORTH KOREAN MILITARY MANEUVERS IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE THAT DIVIDES THE PENINSULA IS A FAVORITE TOPIC OF EDITORIAL WRITERS IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS. OTHER SUBJECTS ON THIS TUESDAY INCLUDE: REMEMBERING COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN AND HIS WORK; A MEMORIAL TO FORMER CLEVELAND MAYOR CARL STOKES, AND THE DANGERS OF UNAUTHORIZED CHARTER FLYING IN THIS COUNTRY. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THREE OF THE NATION'S MOST READ, AND MOST INFLUENTIAL DAILIES, "THE WASHINGTON POST," "LOS ANGELES TIMES" AND "WALL STREET JOURNAL", ARE ALL COMMENTING ABOUT THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED NORTH KOREAN MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE D-M-Z SEPARATING THE TWO KOREAS. SAYS "THE POST:"

VOICE: "FOR THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW, NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS PENETRATED THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE IN NUMBERS AND WITH WEAPONS NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE ARMISTICE AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN FORCE SINCE THE KOREAN WAR ENDED IN 1953. THEN, YESTERDAY, THERE WAS NO VIOLATION. BECAUSE OF THE CLOSED NATURE OF THE STALINIST REGIME IN NORTH KOREA, OFFICIALS AND ANALYSTS ARE NO MORE CERTAIN OF THE REASON FOR THE VIOLATIONS THAN THEY ARE OF WHY THEY STOPPED, AT LEAST FOR NOW... SOME SUGGEST NORTH KOREA IS WHIPPING UP CONFRONTATION TO DISTRACT ITS PEOPLE FROM FOOD SHORTAGES AND OTHER DIRE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS... NORTH KOREA IS OPERATING FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS ... BUT VIGILANCE IS WARRANTED."

TEXT: ALONG SIMILAR LINES, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: "A SOCIETY AS TIGHTLY SEALED AS NORTH KOREA'S DOES NOT GIVE UP ITS SECRETS EASILY. WHAT IS KNOWN -- EVEN ADMITTED -- IS THAT THE LAST OF THE WORLD'S STALINIST STATES NOW FACES AN IMPLODING ECONOMY, WITH FOOD AND FUEL SHORTAGES BECOMING INCREASINGLY SEVERE. SOME FEAR THAT A RISING SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS COULD NUDGE PYONGYANG INTO AN ATTACK ON THE SOUTH. THE IMPORTANT THING AT THIS POINT IS NOT TO LET THAT CONCERN PROMPT POLITICAL MISJUDGMENTS THAT COULD WEAKEN THE U-S - SOUTH KOREA RELATIONSHIP."

TEXT: A SOMEWHAT TOUGHER LINE IS SUGGESTED BY "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL", WHICH SAYS IT IS TIME TO RETHINK THE KOREA STRATEGY:

VOICE: "WHEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE U-S, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN RESUME DISCUSSIONS LATER THIS WEEK ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT NORTH KOREAN MISSILES, THEY SHOULD WEIGH THE COSTS OF CONTINUING TO LET PYONGYANG PLAY THE GAME OF BEING BAD JUST SO IT CAN CLAIM A REWARD WHEN IT PRETENDS TO BE GOOD."

TEXT: A DIFFERENT VIEW FROM FLORIDA, WHERE TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" PREACHES PATIENCE.

VOICE: "THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT CONFLICT IS BREWING, THOUGH, OR THAT U-S FOREIGN POLICY SHOULD BE CHANGED. CAREFUL MONITORING SHOULD BE ENOUGH... THE NORTH'S TIRADE SHOULD PASS."

TEXT: MANY PAPERS ARE STILL COMMENTING ON THE DEATH OF COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN, AND THE WAY HE REVITALIZED THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS IN TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "[SECRETARY] BROWN'S LEGACY [IS] WORTH SAVING":

VOICE: "RON BROWN LIKED TO CALL HIS BAILIWICK [DEPARTMENT] 'THE DEPARTMENT OF THE FUTURE.' THE QUESTION IS, AFTER HIS TRAGIC DEATH LAST WEEK, DOES HIS AGENCY HAVE A FUTURE? NOT IF REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE THEIR WAY. THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REMAINS AT THE TOP OF THEIR LIST OF CABINET OFFICES TO BE ELIMINATED... COMMERCE'S FOUR-BILLION-DOLLAR-A-YEAR BUDGET SHOULD NOT BE IMMUNE TO CUTS, BUT NEITHER SHOULD IT BE GUTTED. THE LESSON TO DRAW FROM [SECRETARY] BROWN'S TENURE IS THAT HIS DEPARTMENT, GIVEN DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP, PERFORMS WORK FOR AMERICA THAT IN THESE COMPETITIVE TIMES IS ESSENTIAL."

TEXT: IN BOSTON, THE ACTIVIST SECRETARY IS REMEMBERED THIS WAY BY "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR."

VOICE: "[MR.] BROWN'S TYPE OF SALESMANSHIP SURGED FORWARD, CUTTING THROUGH FLAK [CRITICISM] ABOUT COSTLY TRAVEL, PROTESTS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN HIS OWN PARTY, AND REPUBLICAN THREATS TO CANCEL NOT ONLY HIS TRIPS BUT THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT ITSELF. POLITICALLY, THE SECRETARY'S ACTIVISM WON THE ADMINISTRATION A GOOD DEAL OF BUSINESS FAVOR. U-S FIRMS LOOKING OVERSEAS HAD FOUND A CHAMPION -- AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL WHO WOULD DO FOR THEM WHAT SO MANY OTHER NATIONS' OFFICIALS DO FOR THEIR COMPANIES: PAVE THE WAY POLITICALLY INTO A NEW MARKET."

TEXT: FORMER CLEVELAND MAYOR CARL STOKES, THE LATE U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE SEYCHELLE ISLANDS, AND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED MAYOR OF A MAJOR U-S CITY, IS REMEMBERED IN TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN."

VOICE: "THE APRIL THIRD DEATH OF MR. STOKES, AT AGE 68, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT HIS ELECTION HAD ON AMERICA. WITHIN THREE YEARS THE NATION HAD 48 BLACK MAYORS; TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 350... THE STORY OF CARL STOKES AND HIS OLDER BROTHER LOUIS, WHO HAS SERVED 14 TERMS IN CONGRESS, IS ONE OF INSPIRATION. THEIR GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS A SLAVE. MR. STOKES WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT WHO, AFTER SERVING IN THE ARMY DURING WORLD WAR TWO, WENT ON TO EARN A LAW DEGREE AND SERVE IN THE OHIO LEGISLATURE. HIS ELECTION AS MAYOR OF CLEVELAND SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WORTH IS NOT CALCULATED BY RACE."

TEXT: FOLLOWING UP A FRONT PAGE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ABOUT THE NUMEROUS CRASHES OF ILLEGAL CHARTER FLIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, "USA TODAY" SAYS IN A LEAD EDITORIAL ON THE SAME SUBJECT:

VOICE: "TRYING TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS, YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO BARGAIN HUNT WHENEVER THE NEED ARISES FOR A CHARTERED PLANE. RUN FROM THAT TEMPTATION... AN INVESTIGATION BY USA TODAY ... FINDS THAT AN ESTIMATED 70 BUSINESS TRAVELERS DIE EACH YEAR ON ILLEGAL CHARTERS -- GENERALLY SMALLER PLANES FLYING PASSENGERS FOR PAY WITHOUT MEETING FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS. IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, THAT'S ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF ALL SMALL-PLANE FATALITIES. YET THE GOVERNMENT DOES PITIFULLY LITTLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, OR EVEN TO MONITOR IT... AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT OF ILLEGAL OPERATORS IS MISSING."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, A JESTING EDITORIAL FROM "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND, TITLED: "LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT ..... JUST KIDDING," COMMENTING ON THE SNOWFALL THAT BROKE THE ALL-TIME ACCUMULATION RECORDED FOR THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT.

VOICE: "ABOUT THIS SNOW THING... WE DON'T NEED THIS. A QUARTER OF AN INCH [ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF ONE CENTIMETER] OR SO ON SUNDAY TO BREAK THE SEASONAL RECORD WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH... OUR CLOCKS SPRANG FORWARD LAST WEEKEND RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. [AT THE START OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IN THE UNITED STATES.] SPRING SHOULD DO THE SAME. [COME IN ON SCHEDULE]"

TEXT: AND ON THAT PLAINTIVE NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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09-Apr-96 11:06 AM EDT (1506 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON / SIMITIS (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET WITH GREEK PRIME MINISTER CONSTANTINE SIMITIS AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO PERSONALLY APPEAL FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO DISPUTES BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY. TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO U-S ALLIES HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF CONCERN TO THE ADMINISTRATION. V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON OPENED HIS MEETING WITH GREEK PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS BY EXPRESSING HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD HELP RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN ITS TWO NATO PARTNERS.

EARIER THIS YEAR, U-S MEDIATION HELPED AVERT HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES DURING A DISPUTE OVER AN ISLET IN THE AEGEAN SEA.

THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO SEEKING TO REVIVE EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OVER CYPRUS, AN ISLAND IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DIVIDED INTO GREEK AND TURKISH ZONES.

MR. CLINTON CALLED FOR SUCH DISPUTES TO BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY.

I THINK ALL THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHOUT THE USE OF FORCE OR THE THREAT OF FORCE, WITH BOTH PARTIES AGREEING TO ABIDE BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND WITH MUTUAL RESPECT FOR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

MR. CLINTON HAD A SIMILAR MESSAGE FOR TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL WHEN HE MET WITH HIM TWO WEEKS AGO.

AT THE TIME, MR. DEMIREL HAD OFFERED TO OPEN TALKS WITH THE GREEKS WITHOUT CONDITIONS.

BUT IN A SPEECH AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB HERE IN WASHINGTON MONDAY, THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER DISMISSED THE TURKISH OFFER, SAYING GREECE WAS NOT PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN SUCH TALKS, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT THE PROSPECT OF WHAT HE CALLED A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION.

ON TUESDAY, MR. SIMITIS CALLED FOR GREEK-TURKISH DISPUTES TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE.

AS FAR AS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ARE CONCERNED, WE BOTH SAID THERE SHOULD BE NO VIOLENCE, NO THREAT OF VIOLENCE, NO THREAT OF FORCE, THAT IF THERE ARE DISPUTES, THESE DISPUTES MUST BE SOLVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. THIS MEANS THAT INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL TREATIES MUST BE APPLIED.

IT IS A POSITION THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/E-U (L ONLY-CORRECTION) BY JOHN FRASER ( BRUSSELS )

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS ANNOUNCED A DONORS CONFERENCE TO RAISE A FURTHER ONE-POINT-TWO-BILLION DOLLARS FOR BOSNIA IS TO BE HELD FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN BRUSSELS. BUT, THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON THE GUEST LIST, BECAUSE OF THEIR REFUSAL TO RELEASE THEIR LAST REMAINING PRISONERS OF WAR. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A NEWS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE DECISION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE EVENT FOLLOWS THE ADVICE OF U-N SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CARL BILDT. HE INFORMED THE EUROPEAN UNION MONDAY HE BELIEVES THE CONDITIONS ARE NOW RIGHT FOR THE EVENT TO PROCEED.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS CO-HOSTING THE DONORS' CONFERENCE WITH THE WORLD BANK. THE AIM OF THE TWO-DAY GATHERING IS TO BRING THE TOTAL AID FOR THIS YEAR FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA UP TO ONE-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS. ONE-THIRD OF THIS SUM WAS PLEDGED AT A CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS IN DECEMBER.

THE MONEY WILL GO TO A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING ROAD REPAIRS, WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS.

INVITED ARE AID DONORS FROM 50 NATIONS AND A DOZEN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH INCLUDE THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS 15 MEMBERS, THE WORLD BANK, THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, AND THE MUSLIM NATIONS.

MOST OF THE KEY PLAYERS IN THE REGION WILL ALSO BE INVITED, WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS. EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESMAN NICO WEGTER SAYS THEY ARE BEING LEFT OFF THE GUEST LIST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT MADE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS IN RELEASING PRISONERS OF WAR.

MR. WEGTER HAS NOT RULED OUT A LAST-MINUTE INVITATION TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS, IF THEY DO RELEASE THE REMAINING PRISONERS OF WAR. E-U OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE AUTHORITIES IN PALE TO HAND OVER THE REMAINING CAPTIVES.

THEY WARN IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE DONORS' CONFERENCE, THEY MIGHT HAVE PROBLEMS WINNING ALL THE SUPPORT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE EXPECTED.

WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THE BRUSSELS DONORS' CONFERENCE, IT REPRESENTS JUST THE START OF A DIFFICULT BATTLE. E-U OFFICIALS SAY IT IS ONE THING SECURING PLEDGES OF CASH FOR BOSNIA, BUT IT HAS PROVED FAR MORE DIFFICULT TO PERSUADE THOSE GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE OFFERED MONEY -- TO HAND IT OVER. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA/REFUGEES BY JOLYON NAEGELE ( BANJA LUKA)

INTRO: ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTIES IN RECONSTRUCTING BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS EXPECTED TO BE REPATRIATING NEARLY HALF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION MADE HOMELESS BY THE WAR. JOLYON NAEGELE RECENTLY VISITED BANJA LUKA AND SENDS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND REFUGEES CURRENTLY INHABIT THE WESTERN PORTION OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, THE SERB CONTROLLED PART OF BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA.

BEFORE FIGHTING ERUPTED IN 1992, ABOUT 925-THOUSAND PEOPLE, HALF THEM SERBS, INHABITED THE AREA STRETCHING WEST FROM MODRICA AND DOBOJ. POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IS HIGHLY UNEVEN WITH SOME RURAL AREAS WHICH HAD BEEN HOME MAINLY TO MUSLIMS OR CROATS NOW SEVERELY DEPOPULATED WHILE IN LARGE TOWNS SUCH AS IN BANJA LUKA, PRIJEDOR AND BOSANSKI NOVI, THE INFLOW OF REFUGEES HAS MORE THAN OUTWEIGHED THE OUTFLOW.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BANJA LUKA OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAYS THAT OF THE REGION'S PREWAR NON-SERBIAN POPULATION, ONLY 25-THOUSAND STILL INHABIT THE WESTERN DISTRICTS OF WHAT IS NOW REPUBLIKA SRPSKA. THE REST EITHER FLED, WERE EXPELLED OR KILLED.

U-N-H-C-R AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THESE CROAT AND MUSLIM RESIDENTS ARE NO LONGER EVICTED BY RECENTLY ARRIVED SERB REFUGEES, AS WAS THE CASE LAST YEAR. SPOKESMAN MANS NYBERG SAYS REPORTS CONTINUE TO SURFACE OF ISOLATED SERBIAN EVICTIONS OF MUSLIMS.

THE MOST RECENTLY REPORTED ATTEMPT OCCURRED IN LATE FEBRUARY. FOLLOWING THE NATURAL DEATH OF AN ELDERLY MUSLIM IN BANJA LUKA, HIS WIDOW WAS APPROACHED BY SERB REFUGEES WHO THREATENED HER AND TOLD HER TO VACATE HER HOME. THE MUSLIM WOMAN IMMEDIATELY INFORMED U-N-H-C-R, WHICH IN TURN CONTACTED THE MUNICIPAL POLICE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AS A RESULT OF POLICE INTERVENTION, THE HARASSMENT CEASED AND THE ELDERLY WOMAN WAS ABLE TO STAY IN HER HOME.

INTERNATIONAL AID OFFICIALS IN BANJA LUKA SAY MAYOR RADIC WANTS TO SHOW THAT LAW AND ORDER HAVE BEEN RESTORED IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S MOST POPULOUS TOWN. SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT LATE LAST YEAR, MR. NYBERG SAYS, BANJA LUKA COURTS HAVE DECIDED IN FAVOR OF 34 MUSLIM FAMILIES WHO WERE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES BY SERBS. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN BACK THEIR HOMES BY COURT ORDER. THESE FAMILIES -- RATHER THAN FLEEING THE CITY LIKE MOST NON-SERBS AFTER BEING EVICTED -- STAYED BEHIND, LIVING WITH FRIENDS OR RELATIVES, HIRED LAWYERS AND FOUGHT IN THE COURTS FOR THE RETURN OF THEIR HOMES.

NON-SERBS MADE UP 45 PERCENT OF THE BANJA LUKA DISTRICTS POPULATION OF NEARLY 200-THOUSAND, ACCORDING TO THE 1991 CENSUS. MAYOR RADIC LINKS THE RIGHT OF NON-SERBS TO RETURN TO BANJA LUKA, THOUGH PROVIDED FOR BY THE DAYTON ACCORDS, TO THE REPATRIATION OF SERB KRAJINA REFUGEES, 60 THOUSAND OF WHOM ARRIVED IN THE AREA LAST YEAR WHEN CROATIA CONQUERED KRAJINA. FOR THE TIME BEING, OFFICIALS SAY, NO PROVISION EXISTS FOR REPATRIATING THESE SERBS FROM REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TO CROATIA.

A FURTHER 120 THOUSAND REFUGEES SETTLED IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA LAST YEAR AFTER FLEEING WEST BOSNIAN DISTRICTS THAT WERE OVERRUN BY CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES.

THE HUGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN THE REGION EXPLAINS WHY REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RELOCATED SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF THE 70-THOUSAND SERBS WHO FLED IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH FROM THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS. THE SARAJEVO SERBS HAVE LARGELY SETTLED IN THE DRINA VALLEY AND IN BRCKO ON THE SAVA RIVER, IN COMMUNITIES WHICH FORMERLY HAD LARGE MUSLIM MAJORITIES.

THE HOSTILITY OF SERB REFUGEES TOWARD BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN CROAT AUTHORITIES IS SO GREAT THAT ANY CHANCE OF RFPATRIATING THESE REFUGEES IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE IS UNLIKELY. THIS VIEW WAS REPEATEDLY CONFIRMED IN CONVERSATIONS THIS CORRESPONDENT HAD WITH SERB REFUGEES FROM WESTERN BOSNIA. FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER WHO FLED DRVAR DURING LAST YEAR'S CROATIAN OFFENSIVE, NOTES HIS HOMETOWN WAS NEARLY 100 PERCENT SERBIAN BEFORE THE WAR. NOW, AS HE PUTS IT, THE CROATS HAVE IT AND THERE IS NO WAY BACK.

IN CONTRAST, MANY MUSLIMS IN OTHER PARTS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL BOSNIA ARE EAGER TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, PARTICULARLY AROUND DOBOJ AND TESLIC. U-N-HC-R AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THEIR REPATRIATION. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 11:36 AM EDT (1536 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA / GULF (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: BOSNIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MOHAMED SACIRBEY, IS SEEKING INVESTMENTS FROM THE RICH GULF NATIONS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF HIS COUNTRY. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS MANY OF THE MUSLIM STATES HAVE ALREADY CONTRIBUTED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

TEXT: AMBASSADOR SACIRBEY USED THE OCCASION OF AN ECONOMIC FORUM IN BAHRAIN TO CALL FOR HELP TO REBUILD BOSNIA. THE TWO-DAY MEETING HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER FINANCE OFFICIALS, BANKERS, BUSINESSMEN, AND DIPLOMATS FROM THE SIX-MEMBER GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL AND NEIGHBORING ARAB STATES.

THE BOSNIAN DIPLOMAT STRESSED THAT HIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD RELY MORE ON PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAN ON GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS. HE SUGGESTED HIS COUNTRY HAD A LOT TO OFFER -- FROM A SKILLED LABOR FORCE AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION CLOSE TO EUROPEAN MARKETS AND A STABLE CURRENCY, WHICH IS LINKED TO THE GERMAN MARK.

THE CALL FOR HELP COMES JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE A DONOR MEETING, WHICH HAS BEEN ORGANIZED IN BRUSSELS BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE WORLD BANK. THE GROUP HAS SET A ONE-BILLION DOLLAR GOAL IN FIRST-YEAR PLEDGES FOR A RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS IN ALL. MR. SACIRBEY SAYS IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO COVER ALL BOSNIA'S NEEDS. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 11:02 AM EDT (1502 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: NATO SAYS THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE FAILED TO HONOR A COMMITMENT TO MOVE THEIR AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS TO COLLECTION SITES. NATO WARNS THAT THESE WEAPONS WILL BE CONFISCATED IF THEY ARE NOT MOVED. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA HAVE MISSED A SECOND DEADLINE TO MOVE THEIR AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS TO COLLECTION SITES, AND NATO GENERAL ANDREW CUMMINGS SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

SPEAKING IN SARAJEVO, GENERAL CUMMINGS SAYS THE RIVAL ARMIES HAVE BEEN WARNED THEIR ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS WILL BE CONFISCATED IF THEY ARE NOT PUT IN THE COLLECTION AREAS.

FOLLOWING A SERIES OF INSPECTIONS, HE SAYS NATO KNOWS WHERE MANY OF THESE WEAPONS ARE EVEN THOUGH THE FORMER WARRING FORCES HAVE NOT SUBMITTED ACCURATE NUMBERS OF THEM.

IN SOME CASES, HE SAYS, THE NUMBERS SUBMITTED HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY DECEPTIVE. IN OTHER CASES, HE SAYS, INACCURATE NUMBERS REFLECT CARELESS PAPERWORK.

NATO FEARS THAT UNACCOUNTED-FOR AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS WILL DELAY THE REOPENING OF AIRPORTS IN BOSNIA FOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS. THE RESTORATION OF THESE FLIGHTS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE COUNTRY'S POST-WAR RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE.

THE SERBS HAVE THE MOST AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS. THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN ARMY, PROBABLY, HAS THE FEWEST. MEANWHILE, THE SERBS HAVE FREED THREE WAR PRISONERS IN A MOVE INTENDED TO GET THEM A SEAT AT A MAJOR CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA'S POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION LATER THIS WEEK.

THE SERBS STILL HOLD AT LEAST 13 WAR PRISONERS. THERE IS SAID TO BE EVIDENCE THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES. IF SO, THE SERBS ARE ENTITLED TO HOLD THEM.

THE TOP INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN SARAJEVO, CARL BILDT, WILL DECIDE ON WEDNESDAY WHETHER THE RELEASE OF THE THREE PRISONERS SHOULD ENABLE THE SERBS TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE OF DONOR NATIONS.

IF THE SERBS ARE BANNED FROM THE CONFERENCE, THEY COULD LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INTERNATIONAL AID. THE SERBS, MUSLIMS AND CROATS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FREED ALL THEIR WAR PRISONERS BY JANUARY 19TH, EXCEPT FOR SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS RECENTLY COMPLIED, UNDER STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, WITH THAT PROVISION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 1:12 PM EDT (1712 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES SUSPECT (L ONLY) BY GILLIAM SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE NOW HAS CUSTODY OF ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO BE CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS A BOSNIAN CROAT -- ZDRAVKO MUCIC -- WAS ARRESTED BY AUSTRIAN POLICE IN MARCH AND HANDED OVER TO THE TRIBUNAL EARLY TUESDAY.

TEXT: ZDRAVKO MUCIC ARRIVED AT AMSTERDAM'S SCHIPOL AIRPORT, FLANKED BY AUSTRIAN POLICE OFFICERS. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE U-N DETENTION CENTER JUST OUTSIDE THE HAGUE.

MR MUCIC WAS ARRESTED IN AUSTRIA LAST MONTH AFTER HIS NAME WAS NOTICED ON A LIST OF PEOPLE WANTED BY THE TRIBUNAL. A BOSNIAN CROAT, HE IS AMONG A GROUP OF FOUR PEOPLE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERB POPULATION -- THE FIRST SUCH INDICTMENT ISSUED BY THE TRIBUNAL.

WITH ONLY LIMITED RESOURCES, IT IS TRIBUNAL'S POLICY TO INDICT THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. ZDRAVKO MUCIC WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CELEBICI CAMP IN CENTRAL BOSNIAN BETWEEN MAY AND NOVEMBER OF 1992. THOSE UNDER HIS COMMAND ARE SAID TO HAVE MURDERED AT LEAST 14 DETAINEES, TORTURED AND RAPED OTHERS, AND FORCED PRISONERS TO PERFORM ORAL SEX ON EACH OTHER.

SINCE THE TRIBUNAL WAS SET UP -- THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE CLAIMED IT IS BIASED AGAINST THEM AND WAS NOT INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING WAR CRIMES CARRIED OUT AGAINST SERBS. BUT PROSECUTORS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS THEMSELVES AND THE AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE. INVESTIGATORS IN THE CELEBICI CASE HAD TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES AND VICTIMS OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

OF THE OTHERS CHARGED IN THE INDICTMENT, ONE MAN WAS ARRESTED IN GERMANY IN MARCH AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR HIS EXTRADITION TO THE HAGUE. THE OTHER TWO ARE THOUGHT TO BE STILL IN BOSNIA, CLOSE TO WHERE THE ALLEGED CRIMES TOOK PLACE. THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THEY WILL BE ARRESTED AND HANDED OVER TO THE TRIBUNAL, ALTHOUGH THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

THE DETENTION OF MR. MUCIC BRINGS TO FOUR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HELD IN THE U-N DETENTION CENTER. BUT 53 OTHER WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS ARE STILL AT LARGE. (SIGNED)

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09-Apr-96 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN ( ANKARA )

INTRO: THOUSANDS OF TURKISH TROOPS ARE KEEPING UP THEIR BATTLE AGAINST KURDISH REBELS IN THE FOURTH DAY OF A MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST TURKEY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS AT LEAST 30 SOLDIERS AND OVER 100 REBELS HAVE DIED IN THE CLASHES.

TEXT: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ SAYS 300 REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY OR P-K-K, HAVE BEEN ENCIRCLED BY GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THE TRIANGLE FORMED BY THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROVINCES OF BINGOL, TUNCELI, AND DIYARBAKIR IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION.

THE FIGHTING WHICH BEGAN LATE FRIDAY IS BEING DESCRIBED AS SOME OF THE HEAVIEST SINCE THE P-K-K LAUNCHED ITS ARMED DRIVE FOR KURDISH INDEPENDENCE 11 YEARS AGO. MR. YILMAZ SAYS THE OFFENSIVE IS TO CONTINUE UNTIL ALL 300 REBELS EITHER TURN THEMSELVES IN OR IN HIS WORDS ARE DESTROYED.

THE CLASHES COME AMID PLEDGES FROM TURKEY'S NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE THE KURDISH ISSUE THROUGH NON-MILITARY MEANS. THESE INCLUDE PROMISES BY MR. YILMAZ TO LIFT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY -- A WATERED DOWN FORM OF MARTIAL LAW IN 10 MAINLY KURDISH PROVINCES. HE ALSO HAS CALLED FOR THE EASING OF CURRENT BANS ON BROADCASTING AND EDUCATION IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE.

BUT MR. YILMAZ WAS ADAMANT (MONDAY) THAT, IN HIS WORDS, NO SON OF TURKEY WOULD ALLOW TERROR GROUPS THAT HAD DESIGNS ON TURKEY'S NATIONAL EXISTENCE TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY'S BORDERS.

SECURITY EXPERTS FEAR THE LATEST OFFENSIVE COULD PROMPT P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON HIS THREATS TO SEND SUICIDE BOMBERS INTO TURKEY'S WESTERN CITIES IF ANKARA WERE NOT TO HEED HIS UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE DECLARED LAST DECEMBER.

THE DAMASCUS-BASED P-K-K CHIEF ALSO HAS WARNED FOREIGN TOURISTS AGAINST TRAVELING TO TURKEY THIS SUMMER, SAYING IN HIS WORDS, THAT IF THEY WERE TO DO SO THEY WOULD GO BACK HOME IN COFFINS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/JM
09-Apr-96 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America