Voice of America, 23 April 1996

Voice of America Directory

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

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHOSEN THE MOSCOW SUMMIT AS A PRIME TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THIS TUESDAY. OTHER SUBJECTS RECEIVING COMMENT INCLUDE: THE DIPLOMATIC SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST; A POTENTIAL MAJOR TELEPHONE COMPANY MERGER; SENATOR BOB DOLE'S CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT, AND THE DEATH, IN ENGLAND, OF CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, A MAN MADE FOREVER FAMOUS BY HIS FATHER. NOW HERE WITH SOME EDITORIAL EXCERPTS IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MORE THAN A FEW OF THE NATION'S LARGEST PAPERS ARE FINDING SOME FAULT WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S HIGH-PROFILE VISIT TO MOSCOW, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING HIS COMMENTS ON THE BRUTAL WAR IN CHECHNYA. IN CALIFORNIA, THE EDITORIAL HEADLINE IN TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" READS: "SUMMIT LITE [MEANING HERE, LITERALLY WITHOUT MUCH SUBSTANCE] - CLINTON-YELTSIN TALKS LEAVE SEVERAL KEY AREAS UNEXPLORED."

VOICE: "SUMMIT MEETINGS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS A TRIUMPH OF SHOW OVER SUBSTANCE, AND THE CLINTON-YELTSIN TALKS PROVED FAITHFUL TO THAT PATTERN. [PRESIDENT] CLINTON, NOT WISHING TO EMBARRASS THE RUSSIAN LEADER POLITICALLY, CHOSE NOT TO PUSH [MR.] YELTSIN ON THE BLOODY WAR MOSCOW HAS BEEN WAGING TO SUPPRESS SECESSIONISM IN CHECHNYA. INDEED, HE SEEMED TO MYSTIFY IT WITH AN ILL-CHOSEN COMPARISON TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST", ON THE OTHER HAND, IS CALLING THE CLINTON VISIT, "AN OPPORTUNITY MISSED IN MOSCOW," ADDING:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S EXTENUATION OF RUSSIA'S BLOODY WAR IN BREAKAWAY CHECHNYA REPRESENTED AN UNWORTHY RETREAT FOR U-S DIPLOMACY... [OPT] THE CHECHENS, ETHNICALLY AND RELIGIOUSLY DISTINCT FROM RUSSIANS, WERE CONQUERED BY THE CZARS AND PERSECUTED BY STALIN, AND MANY HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THEIR FATE AS PART OF RUSSIA. [END OPT] ... MR. CLINTON DID NO FAVOR TO DEMOCRACY WHEN HE APPEARED TO ENDORSE RUSSIA'S METHODS IN CHECHNYA. [OPT] ... MR. CLINTON HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT RAPE, TORTURE AND INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING OF CIVILIANS ARE NOT THE WAY ... A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT ... ESTABLISHES AUTHORITY... HE COULD HAVE MADE THE POINT WITHOUT UNDUE EMBARRASSMENT TO HIS HOST." [END OPT]

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS MR. CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION BID PARTIALLY INFLUENCED HIS ACTIONS IN MOSCOW.

VOICE: "BILL CLINTON AND BORIS YELTSIN PROVED AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE DIPLOMACY FROM DOMESTIC POLITICS, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR. IN A SERIES OF STAGE-MANAGED MEETINGS IN MOSCOW, THE TWO PRESIDENTS NUDGED RELATIONS A BIT CLOSER, BUT LEFT A QUEASY FEELING THEY WERE BOTH SHAVING DIFFERENCES TO GIVE THE OTHER A POLITICAL ASSIST. [OPT]

... MR. CLINTON AND MR. YELTSIN HAVE NOW HELD TEN MEETINGS ... USUALLY IMPROVING RELATIONS AND REDUCING MILITARY THREATS EACH TIME THEY TALKED. THEY MADE SOME MODEST ADDITIONS TO THAT RECORD OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT COULD NOT DISGUISE THEIR OTHER PURPOSE. IT WAS TO INSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN NEXT YEAR AS SECOND-TERM PRESIDENTS."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" OFFERS AN EXPLANATION OF WHY PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS NOT MORE POINTED IN HIS CRITICISM OF MR. YELTSIN:

VOICE: "MR. CLINTON HOPES THE DEVIL-HE-KNOWS WILL REMAIN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT. MR. YELTSIN RETURNS THE COMPLIMENT... ALL-IN-ALL, MR. CLINTON BROUGHT A SMOOTHNESS, CONFIDENCE AND POLISH TO THIS FOREIGN POLICY FORAY THAT HAD BEEN CONSPICUOUSLY LACKING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF HIS PRESIDENCY. ... HE LOOKED COMPETENT AND PRESIDENTIAL, WHICH OWES AS MUCH TO AVOIDING SOME SUBJECTS AS TO TACKLING [DEALING WITH] OTHERS."

TEXT: TODAY'S "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD IS PLAYING IN THE INTERNEATIONAL BID TO END THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE LEBANON-BASED HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS.

VOICE: "OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, MR. ASSAD HAS TWICE DELAYED URGENT MEETINGS WITH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SO HE COULD HUDDLE INSTEAD WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV... BUT MR. ASSAD'S CAVALIER TREATMENT OF THE U-S EMISSARY INDICATES THAT SOMETHING IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S MIDEAST POLICY HAS GONE VERY WRONG... INSTEAD OF BEING PENALIZED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING HEZBOLLAH, THE SYRIAN LEADER ... HAFEZ AL-ASSAD ... CAN NOW DEMAND A POLITICAL PRICE FROM AMERICA FOR STOPPING THE GUERRILLA ATTACKS. OR, WORSE, HE CAN PLAY THE ALLIES OFF ONE ANOTHER, BY TURNING TO THE RUSSIANS AND EUROPEANS, WHO ARE EAGER TO INSERT THEMSELVES INTO THE MIDEAST NEGOTIATIONS."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CREDITS PRESIDENT ASSAD WITH -- IN ITS WORDS -- "PLAYING HIS WEAK CARDS SO CRAFTILY ... HE TOOK THE POT FROM PLAYERS HOLDING BETTER CARDS." THE "GLOBE" CONTINUES:

VOICE: "... [PRESIDENT] ASSAD GAMBLED THAT [PRIME MINISTER SHIMON] PERES WOULD RETALIATE NOT AGAINST SYRIAN FORCES IN LEBANON BUT AGAINST THE QUICKSILVER [DIFFICULT TO FIND] MILITIAMEN AND THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF SOUTHERN LEBANON. HE WON HIS GAMBLE, AND NOW THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF RUSSIA, FRANCE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE COMPETING WITH [SECRETARY OF STATE] CHRISTOPHER FOR THE GODFATHER'S FAVOR. WITH ONE SHREWD MANEUVER [MR.] ASSAD HAS ELUDED REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION."

TEXT: THIS DIPLOMATIC COMPETITION FOR MR. ASSAD'S EAR DRAWS THIS RETORT FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST:"

VOICE: "IT IS MISCHIEVOUS OF RUSSIA, FRANCE AND ITALY, NOT TO MENTION IRAN, TO BE RUNNING AROUND THE MIDEAST TOSSING IN PROPOSALS FOR THE CRISIS IN LEBANON... THEIR SEVERAL PLANS ... ARE DILUTING WHAT SHOULD BE A COMMON FOCUS ON A SINGLE PLAN."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS URGING GOVERNMENT CAUTION CONCERNING THE PLANNED MERGER OF TWO OF THE NATIONS'S LARGEST SO-CALLED BABY BELL PHONE COMPANIES.

VOICE: "THE PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN TWO REGIONAL TELEPHONE GIANTS, BELL ATLANTIC AND NYNEX, [FORMERLY THE NEW YORK/NEW ENGLAND BELL] COULD PROVE HELPFUL OR HARMFUL TO RESIDENTS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NEW ENGLAND STATES... THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND FEDERAL REGULATORS OWE CONSUMERS A PROBING INVESTIGATION BEFORE THEY GRANT APPROVAL."

TEXT: PRESUMED REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BOB DOLE IS COMING IN FOR CRITICISM ON TWO FRONTS -- HIS FAILURE TO GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND HIS CRITICISM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS. FIRST TO "THE BOSTON GLOBE."

VOICE: "SENATOR BOB DOLE'S ADMISSION THAT HE WAS AMAZED AT THE DEFECTION OF 20 HOUSE REPUBLICANS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS ITSELF AN ODDITY, SINCE [MR.] DOLE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT LARGELY ON HIS REPUTATION AS THE MASTER OF CONGRESS... BUT OF COURSE IT WAS THE VOTING PUBLIC, NOT A HANDFUL OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, WHO SURPRISED [MR.] DOLE."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CRITICIZES MR. DOLE'S ATTACK ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS, SAYING THE SENATOR IS BEHIND THE TIMES:

VOICE: "SENATOR ... DOLE TOLD THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS THAT ONE OF 'THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE CRIME EXPLOSION' IS THE LIBERAL SLANT OF JUDGES APPOINTED ... BY PRESIDENT CLINTON... THIS PRESIDENT HAS APPOINTED 155 JUDGES AT THE DISTRICT COURT LEVEL, 30 TO THE COURTS OF APPEALS AND TWO TO THE U-S SUPREME COURT. OF THAT NUMBER, SENATOR DOLE HAS FERRETED OUT FOR CRITICISM A HANDFUL OF CASES DECIDED BY FOUR ... JUDGES ... A TRULY INFINITESIMAL FRACTION OF THE THOUSAND AND THOUSANDS OF CASES ... HEARD IN FEDERAL COURTS SINCE JANUARY 1993."

TEXT: LASTLY, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS FICTIONAL BEARS -- WINNIE THE POOH -- WILL PROBABLY STILL HAVE TEARS IN HIS EYES THIS WEEK, SINCE HIS REAL-LIFE BOYHOOD FRIEND HAS DIED. CAUSING "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" TO MOURN:

VOICE: "FOR 70 YEARS, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN HAS LIVED IN STORYBOOK VERSE AND IN THE HEARTS OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN AS WINNIE-THE-POOH'S INQUISITIVE BUDDY ... THE REAL CHRISTOPHER ROBIN DIED THIS WEEK IN ENGLAND AT THE AGE OF 75... THE ONLY CHILD OF BRITISH AUTHOR A-A MILNE, WHO USED HIS SON'S NAME FOR HIS IMMORTAL CHARACTER... TO FUTURE GENERATIONS ... CHRISTOPHER ROBIN SHALL REMAIN BUDDY TO OWL, TIGGER, EEYORE THE DONKEY AND TO THAT LOVABLE BUMBLER, WINNIE-THE-POOH. "

TEXT: AND, BIDDING GOODBYE TO CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, WE ALSO SAY, SO LONG FOR THIS EDITION OF EDITORIAL DIGEST.

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23-Apr-96 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SENIOR NATO MILITARY OFFICERS ARE RECOMMENDING NO REDUCTION IN THE ALLIANCE'S TROOP STRENGTH IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BEFORE ELECTIONS ARE HELD THERE. ELECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELD NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: AT A MEETING IN BRUSSELS, MEMBERS OF NATO'S MILITARY COMMITTEE DECIDED ALL OF THE 60-THOUSAND ALLIANCE-LED TROOPS IN BOSNIA SHOULD REMAIN THERE THROUGH THE PLANNED ELECTIONS.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, SAYS HE AND OTHER NATO MILITARY OFFICERS RECOMMEND THE TROOPS BE KEPT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SECURE CLIMATE FOR THE VOTING.

THERE HAS RECENTLY BEEN TALK ABOUT LIMITED NATO TROOP WITHDRAWALS FROM BOSNIA IN THE COMING MONTHS SINCE KEY MILITARY PROVISIONS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

BUT THERE IS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER GENUINELY DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS -- CONSIDERED THE KEY TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN BOSNIA CAN BE HELD.

ELECTION RULES WERE ANNOUNCED IN SARAJEVO ON MONDAY. TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN OTHER VOTERS IN PARTICIPATING IN THE BALLOTING.

APPARENTLY, NATO'S MILITARY COMMITTEE HAS NOT DISCUSSED WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE SHOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.

GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI, WHO WILL VISIT BOSNIA ON THURSDAY, SAYS IT WAS FELT ANY DISCUSSION NOW OF EXTENDING THE MISSION WOULD BE PREMATURE. MEANWHILE, IN THE HAGUE, THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL CONFIRMS IT HAS SECRETLY INDICTED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE INDICTMENTS ARE BEING KEPT SECRET TO HELP PROTECT WITNESSES AND BECAUSE OF THE LOCATIONS OF SUSPECTS.

FIFTY-SEVEN SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY INDICTED. THEY INCLUDE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC.

THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE SERB ARMY'S CHIEF LOGISTICS OFFICER, GENERAL DJORDJE DJUKIC. UNLIKE THE SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS, GENERAL DJUKIC IS IN THE TRIBUNAL'S CUSTODY.

THE TRIBUNAL IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO DROP ITS CASE AGAINST HIM BECAUSE HE IS SERIOUSLY ILL WITH PANCREATIC CANCER. BUT, THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY, TANJUG, REPORTS GENERAL DJUKIC HAS TOLD ONE OF HIS LAWYERS HE WANTS TO CLEAR HIS NAME AND DIE LIKE A MAN -- IF NECESSARY, IN THE HAGUE.

THE GENERAL HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES THAT HE SUPPORTED DEADLY SERB SHELLING ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)

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23-Apr-96 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CONGRESS-BOSNIA (L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CONGRESS)

INTRO: CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE REMAIN AT ODDS OVER THE WISDOM OF TOLERATING IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS TO BOSNIA. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THEIR DIFFERENCES WERE DRAMATIZED DURING A HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE BOSNIAN SITUATION.

TEXT: ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY FOUND THEMSELVES ON THE DEFENSIVE. JUST MINUTES INTO THE HEARING, COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN BLASTED THE DECISION TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHILE IRANIAN ARMS WERE BEING SMUGGLED INTO BOSNIA.

BY TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLOWED IRAN TO ESTABLISH A SIZABLE BEACHHEAD (PRESENCE) IN THE BALKANS.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE PETER TARNOFF SAID THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE WAS FACED WITH A DILEMMA IN 1994, WHEN BOSNIAN SERBS WERE MAKING GAINS AND THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WAS IN A PRECARIOUS STATE.

IN APRIL 1994, WE WERE ASKED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA WHETHER THE UNITED STATES WOULD OBJECT IF CROATIA WERE TO ALLOW ARMS SHIPMENTS TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING IRAN, TO TRANSIT CROATIAN TERRITORY. GIVEN THE MILITARY URGENCY OF THE SITUATION FACING THE FEDERATION ON THE GROUND, AND THE IMBALANCE IN FAVOR OF THE BOSNIAN SERB FORCES, THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT OBJECT TO POSSIBLE ARMS SHIPMENTS TO THE BOSNIANS THROUGH CROATIA.

BUT COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE UNIMPRESSED AND VOICED CONCERN ABOUT A LINGERING IRANIAN PRESENCE IN THE BALKANS. CHAIRMAN GILMAN SAID MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE STAFF RECENTLY TRAVELLED TO BOSNIA AND FOUND AN IRANIAN CULTURAL CENTER IN SARAJEVO.

MR. TARNOFF DID NOT MENTION ANY NON-MILITARY ACTIVITIES BY IRAN, BUT HE DID SAY THE NUMBER OF IRANIAN MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE ADVISORS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL HAS BEEN REDUCED. HE SAID BOSNIAN LEADERS ARE WELL AWARE A PROGRAM TO HELP TRAIN FORCES OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL ALL IRANIANS WITH MILITARY TIES ARE OUT.

THERE REMAIN A SMALL NUMBER OF IRANIANS IN BOSNIA WHO WE BELIEVE ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THOSE FUNCTIONS. THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF IRANIANS INVOLVED IN THOSE FUNCTIONS.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS TRIED MANY TIMES TO GET MR. TARNOFF TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THAT LED TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO TOLERATE THE ARMS SHIPMENTS. HE SAID HE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADVISORS DISCUSSED THE MATTER...AND LEARNED OF IT DURING A MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

SOME DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE TOOK ISSUE WITH THE REPUBLICAN FIXATION ON THE ISSUE. JAMES MORAN OF VIRGINIA SAID THEIR QUESTIONING WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. HE SAID WHILE THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CROATIA, LAWMAKERS WERE TOLD BY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS THAT IRANIAN ARMS WERE MAKING THEIR WAY TO BOSNIA.

...AND I HAVE TO SAY, I WISH THERE WAS MORE OF THIS MORAL INDIGNANCE SHOWN BY CERTAIN MEMBERS WHEN THEY WERE AWARE OF THE 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE BEING MASSACRED IN BOSNIA OR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN RAPED, OR THE TWO MILLION PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED.

THE HEARING WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS AN OVERVIEW OF U-S OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA. BUT IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, WITH THE MILITARY MISSION PRECEDING ON SCHEDULE, THE DISPUTE OVER THE SECRET ARMS SHIPMENT HAS BECOME THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION ON CAPITOL HILL. SEVERAL COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED THEY WILL JOIN THE HOUSE IN INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. (SIGNED)

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23-Apr-96 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EGYPT / MILITANTS (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: A TOP EGYPTIAN POLICE GENERAL IS AMONG THE PEOPLE KILLED IN A SHOOTOUT TODAY (TUESDAY) BETWEEN POLICE AND SUSPECTED ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN SOUTHERN EGYPT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN CAIRO REPORTS SECURITY FORCES HAVE INTENSIFIED THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MILITANTS SINCE LAST WEEK'S KILLING OF 18 GREEK TOURISTS IN CAIRO.

TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE POLICE FORCES IN SOUTHERN EGYPT, MAJOR GENERAL GAMAL FAYEK, WAS AMONG THE VICTIMS.

THE SHOOTOUT OCCURRED IN THE SUGAR CANE FIELDS OUTSIDE (THE TOWN OF) MALAWI, LONG CONSIDERED AN ISLAMIC MILITANT STRONGHOLD IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF MINYA.

SECURITY FORCES HAVE INTENSIFIED THEIR CRACKDOWN ON SUSPECTED MILITANTS AS THEY PURSUE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHOOTING OF 18 GREEK TOURISTS LAST THURSDAY IN CAIRO. THE RADICAL GROUP GAMA'A ISLAMIYA CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, CALLING IT RETALIATION FOR ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE IN LEBANON.

THE CAIRO HOTEL WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE IS POPULAR WITH ISRAELI TOURISTS, BUT ONLY GREEK TOUR GROUPS WERE STAYING THERE AT THE TIME.

ON SATURDAY, THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SAID IT HAD ROUNDED UP HUNDREDS OF SUSPECTS BUT _NO_ FORMAL ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. (SIGNED)

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23-Apr-96 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] YUGO MONEY (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA NEXT WEEK BEGINS DEBT RESCHEDULING TALKS WITH ITS COMMERCIAL CREDITORS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT NEARLY FIVE MONTHS AFTER SANCTIONS WERE SUSPENDED, THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE STILL HAS NOT GAINED ACCESS TO NEEDED INTERNATIONAL CREDITS.

TEXT: YUGOSLAVIA'S CHIEF DEBT NEGOTIATOR, MIHAJLO NIKOLIC, SAYS THE TALKS WILL TAKE PLACE IN NEW YORK AND WILL CONCERN ABOUT FOUR-BILLION DOLLARS OF COMMERCIAL BANK DEBT.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST CONTACT IN SEVERAL YEARS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND COMMERCIAL BANK CREDITORS. YUGOSLAVIA HAS TO OBTAIN A DEBT RESCHEDULING AGREEMENT BEFORE IT HAS ANY CHANCE OF RECEIVING NEW CREDITS FROM COMMERCIAL BANKS. THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA HAD FOREIGN DEBTS OF ABOUT 15-BILLION DOLLARS.

THERE IS OPEN CONFLICT WITH THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT OVER A RELATED ISSUE, THE COUNTRY'S READMISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

CENTRAL BANK CHIEF DRAGOSLAV AVRAMOVIC SAYS THE I-M-F HAS REJECTED AN INVITATION TO RESUME THE TALKS THAT ENDED IN FAILURE IN PARIS AT THE BEGINING OF APRIL. MR. AVRAMOVIC, BLAMES GOVERNMENT HARDLINERS FOR REJECTING I-M-F TERMS FOR READMISSION.

THE FINANCE MINISTRY, APPARENTLY ON ORDERS FROM SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC, INSISTS THAT BELGRADE IS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA AND THUS DOES NOT HAVE TO APPLY FOR READMISSION.

THE I-M-F HAS OFFERED BELGRADE THE SAME TERMS OF ADMISSION ALREADY ACCEPTED BY THE OTHER FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS. MR. AVRAMOVIC SAYS THE COUNTRY IS DESPERATELY SHORT OF HARD CURRENCY AND MUST GAIN ACCESS TO I-M-F AND WORLD BANK CREDITS.

THE I-M-F AT THE END OF 1992 DECLARED THAT THE SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA NO LONGER EXISTED AND IT DEVISED A FORMULA FOR DIVIDING UP THE GOVERNMENT'S DEBTS AND ASSETS. SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WERE ASSIGNED A 36-POINT-FIVE PERCENT SHARE.

SLOVENIA LAST MONTH BECAME THE FIRST OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS TO CONCLUDE A COMMERCIAL DEBT RESCHEDULING ACCORD. BELGRADE HAS MOUNTED A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THAT AGREEMENT, A MOVE CRITICIZED BY MR. AVRAMOVIC.

OBSERVERS SAY THE CENTRAL BANK CHIEF IS ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. MR. AVRAMOVIC SAYS FOREIGN INVESTORS HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA AND THAT THE COUNTRY CANNOT BE SAVED WITHOUT ACCESS TO FOREIGN CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

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23-Apr-96 11:27 AM EDT (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America