Voice of America, 26 April 1996

Voice of America Directory

From: News Distribution Manager <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AMERICAN EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE PROFUSE IN THEIR PRAISE FOR THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL'S RENUNCIATION THIS WEEK OF ITS HISTORIC ANTI-ISRAEL CHARTER PROVISIONS. ACCOMPANYING THOSE EDITORIALS ARE SEVERAL SOMBER COMMENTARIES ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DISASTER. IN ADDITION, THERE IS COMMENT ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT A PURPORTED LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT; THE LATEST I-R-A BOMBING IN LONDON, AND PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE PEACE IN BOSNIA. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLS IT SIMPLY "A MIRACLE IN GAZA", WHILE "THE WASHINGTON POST" CHORTLES: "MR. ARAFAT DELIVERS," AND "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS IT IS "A HISTORIC REVISION" IN MIDEAST RHETORIC. WHAT THEY, AND SCORES OF OTHERS U-S DAILIES, ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WEDNESDAY'S VOTE BY THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, A KIND OF PARLIAMENT-IN-EXILE, TO EXPUNGE ALL ITS ANTI-ISRAEL LANGUAGE FROM THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL COVENANT. HERE'S SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BEGINNING WITH "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: "AFTER 32 YEARS -- A GENERATION OF TERRORISM, MUTUAL HATRED, AND FINALLY, A TENTATIVE BEGINNING AT PEACE -- THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION HAS REVOKED ITS CHARTER'S CALL FOR ISRAEL'S DESTRUCTION... THE VOTE WAS GOOD NEWS ALL AROUND. [OPT] IT BUOYS MR. ARAFAT'S STANDING AMONG THOSE WHOM HE ASPIRES TO LEAD -- AND THOSE WITH WHOM HE MUST NEGOTIATE. [END OPT] ... TODAY THE PRIZE [PEACE] IS CLOSER, IF ONLY BY A MILLIMETER, THAN EVER BEFORE."

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUMS UP ITS THOUGHTS THIS WAY, IN THE PAPER'S LEAD EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "THIS WEEK'S EVENTS IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN RELATIONS HAVE BEEN OF MAJOR SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE. BUT HISTORY MOVES AHEAD QUICKLY. HOWEVER MUCH HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR, THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DIVISIVE ISSUES ARE STILL TO BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" SUGGESTS THAT:

VOICE: "... IT WAS A CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL FEAT FOR MR. ARAFAT TO DELIVER A PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT WHOSE MAJORITY, THOUGH IT SEES NO ALTERNATIVE TO PEACE, STILL ENTERTAINS DEEP SUSPICIONS OF ISRAEL AND WHOSE MINORITY IS CONSUMED BY TOTAL DISTRUST."

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" POINTS TO THE LONG-TERM RAMIFICATIONS OF THE PALESTINIAN MOVE:

VOICE: "IN FINALLY REMOVING FROM ITS CHARTER THE GOAL OF DESTROYING ISRAEL, THE PALESTINE NATIONAL COUNCIL TOOK A LONG OVERDUE BUT NONETHELESS IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD CEMENTING TRUST BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, AND GIVING THE FRAGILE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS A MUCH-NEEDED REASON TO MOVE FORWARD."

TEXT: A LEADING NEW ENGLAND DAILY, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" IN MAINE, CALLS THE ACTION...:

VOICE: ".... A VICTORY FOR BOTH YASSER ARAFAT, LEADER OF THE PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION, AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES... SUPPORT FROM EVEN SUCH DISTASTEFUL SOURCES AS ... MOHAMMED ABBAS, MASTERMIND OF THE 1985 ACHILLE LAURO TRAGEDY, AND ABU DAOUD, BELIEVED TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE 1972 ... OLYMPIC ... MASSACRE (IN MUNICH) ... CAN'T TARNISH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VOTE."

TEXT: FLORIDA'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS THE PALESTINIAN DECISION IS "A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO PEACE," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE ... CHARTER CHANGES ARE ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE IN LIGHT OF THE FIGHTING IN LEBANON. ALTHOUGH THAT IS A SERIOUS MATTER, IT IS SEPARATE FROM THE ISSUE OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN RELATIONS. PALESTINIANS HAVE SHOWN SOPHISTICATION IN THEIR ABILITY TO SET LEBANON ASIDE AND PRESS ON WITH PEACE."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE DAY'S OTHER POPULAR TOPIC -- THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD'S WORST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DISASTER AT THE UKRAINIAN CITY OF CHERNOBYL -- THERE IS MUCH SOMBER REFLECTION. "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUMS UP THIS WAY:

VOICE: "TEN YEARS AFTER A REACTOR EXPLODED AT THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN UKRAINE, THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE STILL BEING FELT... THE DISASTER IS A HUMBLING LESSON FROM A CARELESS APPROACH TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY. [OPT] ... THE SOVIETS ... BUILT NO CONTAINMENT OVER THEIR REACTORS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THERE WOULD NEVER BE AN ACCIDENT TO CONTAIN. AS THE SOVIET UNION BEGAN TO OPEN UP ... MUCH MORE BECAME KNOWN ABOUT THE ACCIDENT'S EFFECTS [END OPT] ... DOCTORS SAY MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AREA HAVE SKYROCKETED. THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN UKRAINE AND BELARUS ARE WORTHLESS FOR AGRICULTURAL USE, AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS... THE WORLD CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CHERNOBYL."

TEXT: TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "ANOTHER CASUALTY OF CHERNOBYL WAS TECHNOLOGY'S HUBRIS. THE UNTHINKABLE HAD HAPPENED. GRANTED, THE CHERNOBYL REACTOR HAD A FAULTY DESIGN, SHODDY WORKMANSHIP, AND A POORLY TRAINED CREW. IN MUCH OF THE WORLD, NUCLEAR POWER REMAINS A RELATIVELY SAFE ENERGY SOURCE... [OPT] AS IF TO REMIND THE WORLD OF TODAY'S ANNIVERSARY, A BRUSH FIRE NEAR CHERNOBYL BURNED OUT OF CONTROL THIS WEEK. IT SENT RADIOACTIVE DUST AND DEBRIS OVER A WIDE AREA. THE REACTOR IS ENTOMBED, BUT ITS GHOST STILL STALKS THE LAND." [END OPT]

TEXT: YET ANOTHER CHILLING THOUGHT COMES FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES," WHICH POINTS OUT A CHERNOBYL-LIKE DANGER THAT LOOMS JUST 144 KILOMETERS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: "OF EVEN GREATER CONCERN FOR AMERICANS ... IS THAT CHERNOBYL COULD HAPPEN AROUND HERE. THE CULPRIT ... TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS THAT ARE ... BEING ERECTED BY THE RUSSIANS IN CUBA, IN ... CIENFUEGOS. THE DESIGN ... IS UNSAFE, THE COMPONENTS DEFECTIVE, QUALITY CONTROL INADEQUATE, AND JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE, A SEISMIC SITE IN THE AREA IS ACTIVE... THESE REACTORS ... ARE A CATASTROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN."

TEXT: LOOKING BRIEFLY AT OTHER TOPICS -- "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SUGGESTS THAT WASHINGTON SHOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER USING A NUCLEAR BOMB TO DESTROY A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL-WEAPONS FACTORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDERNEATH A LIBYAN MOUNTAIN, ADDING:

VOICE: "WITHOUT DOUBT, WASHINGTON CANNOT ALLOW THE LIBYANS TO HAND OUT CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO ROGUE REGIMES AND TERRORISTS WORLDWIDE. BUT THE PENTAGON MUST EXCLUDE A NUCLEAR SOLUTION."

TEXT: OF THE RENEWED BOMBING CAMPAIGN BY THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY IN ENGLAND, TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE BOMBS WERE APPARENTLY PLANTED TO COMMEMORATE THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1916 EASTER UPRISING AGAINST BRITISH FORCES IN DUBLIN, ONE OF THE MOST HALLOWED EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF IRISH REBELLION. THIS IS A TIME WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH ON BOTH SIDES... SINN FEIN IS PLAYING A HIGH-STAKES GAMBLE."

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" WORRIES THAT SO-CALLED "IRANIAN ADVISERS" ARE UNDERMINING THE BOSNIA PEACE PROCESS," SUGGESTING:

VOICE: "WHEN SEVERAL HUNDRED IRANIAN MILITARY 'ADVISERS' WERE DISCOVERED TO HAVE TRICKLED INTO BOSNIA ALONG WITH COVERT SHIPMENTS OF ARMS TO THE MUSLIM ARMY, NATO ALLIES WORRIED THAT THE CAMEL'S NOSE WAS UNDER THE EUROPEAN TENT AND TROUBLE WOULD ENSUE. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG: IRANIAN-TRAINED COMMANDOS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO GUN DOWN POLITICAL FOES OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. UNLESS THIS NEW BALKAN WRINKLE [PROBLEM] IS IRONED OUT IMMEDIATELY BY EXPELLING ALL THE REMAINING IRANIAN AGENTS ... THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD COULD BE THREATENED."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE VAST SUMS OF MONEY BEING SPENT AT A NEW YORK AUCTION HOUSE FOR MEMORABILIA FROM THE ESTATE OF JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" REMARKS:

VOICE: "... THE ONASSIS ESTATE SALE HAS BEEN VERY MUCH DRIVEN BY 'PROVENANCE' -- TO USE A WORD POPULAR IN THE AUCTIONEERING COMMUNITY -- WHICH IS TO SAY THAT IT'S WHO USED A THING AND WHERE IT COMES FROM THAT DETERMINES THE VALUE AND NOT WHAT IT IS. BUT EVEN SOTHEBY'S WAS STUNNED BY THE INTEREST THE CAMELOT LEGEND EVOKED. "

TEXT: AND WITH THAT HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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26-Apr-96 11:30 AM EDT (1530 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO AND UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE PREPARING FOR MORE POSSIBLE VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN MUSLIM AND SERB CIVILIANS THIS WEEKEND. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS NATO WILL MONITOR AND, IF NECESSARY, INTERVENE IF THERE IS TROUBLE WHEN CIVILIANS TRY TO VISIT THEIR FORMER HOMES OR GRAVES OF RELATIVES.

TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, MANS NYBERG, SAYS AT LEAST TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO TEST THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT PROVISION ON SATURDAY.

HE SAYS HE EXPECTS SIX ATTEMPTS MAINLY BY MUSLIM REFUGEES OR DISPLACED PEOPLE TO VISIT THEIR FORMER HOMES OR RELATIVES' GRAVES IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY ON SUNDAY.

IF ALL THESE VISITS TAKE PLACE, MR. NYBERG SAYS IT WILL BE A HECTIC AND, POSSIBLY, DANGEROUS WEEKEND IN BOSNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL VIOLENT CLASHES, INVOLVING MUSLIM, SERB, OR CROAT CIVILIANS, THIS WEEK.

ALL OF THEM HAVE INVOLVED ATTEMPTS BY MEMBERS OF ONE ETHNIC GROUP TO ENTER TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY ANOTHER.

NATO INTENDS TO MAKE WHAT A SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO CALLS A HEAVY COMMITMENT OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO MONITOR THE SITUATION OVER THE WEEKEND.

NATO IS PREPARED TO INTERVENE AGAIN IF THERE IS VIOLENCE. BUT, NATO HOPES CIVILIANS, WHO CONFRONT EACH OTHER, WILL BE RESTRAINED.

THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE IN BOSNIA ALSO WILL BE ON HAND. BUT, WITH INADEQUATE FUNDING AND LIMITED PERSONNEL, THE INTERNATIONAL POLICEMEN HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN CARRYING OUT THEIR INTENDED POST-WAR ROLE IN THE COUNTRY.

THE SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, SAYS MUSLIM CIVILIANS ARE NOT EXERCISING FREE MOVEMENT AS MUCH AS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A FIGHT. HE SAYS THE SERBS HAVE A LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO CONTROL THE NUMBER OF MUSLIMS WHO ENTER SERB TERRITORY. BUT, THE TOP INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, SAYS THE FACT THAT MR. KARADZIC AND HIS ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, STILL HOLD POWER IS PARTICULARLY PROVOCATIVE. MR. BILDT SAYS THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED FOR LONG.

THE SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES AND ARE SUPPOSED TO STEP DOWN AND FACE TRIAL BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. NEITHER MAN HAS SHOWN ANY SIGN HE IS WILLING TO DO THAT. (SIGNED)

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26-Apr-96 10:16 AM EDT (1416 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CROATIA DEBT (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (LONDON)

INTRO: CROATIA IS SAID TO BE CLOSE TO A DEBT REFINANCING DEAL WITH SOME 400 COMMERCIAL BANKS WHO HOLD OVER FIVE BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT FROM THE OLD SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS ZAGREB IS EAGER TO NORMALIZE ITS RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD FINANICAL COMMUNITY.

TEXT: THE TALKS HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN LONDON AND ARE BELIEVED TO BE NEAR CONCLUSION. CROATIA HAS ACCEPTED AN INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FORMULA UNDER WHICH IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 29 PERCENT OF THE DEBTS OF THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA. UNDER THE PROPOSED ACCORD, THE CROATS WOULD ISSUE GOVERNMENT BONDS TO THE BANKS WHICH HOLD THE OLD DEBT. MOST OF THAT DEBT HAS GONE INTO DEFAULT AND TRADES AT A LARGE DISCOUNT ON THE SECONDARY MARKET. THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA RAN UP DEBTS OF ABOUT 15 BILLION DOLLARS. CREDITOR BANKS AND GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PAID SINCE 1988.

CROATIA HOPES TO JOIN SLOVENIA AS THE FIRST OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS TO RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL CREDIT MARKETS. THE SLOVENES HAVE ALREADY REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE LONDON CLUB OF CREDITOR BANKS. SLOVENIA IS TAKING AN 18 PERCENT SHARE OF THE OLD YUGOSLAV OBLIGATIONS. IT PLANS TO ISSUE BONDS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DEBT. THE ACCORD IS DUE TO COME INTO EFFECT IN MID-JUNE.

YUGOSLAVIA HAS CHALLENGED THE SLOVENIAN DEBT AGREEMENT. BELGRADE FEARS IT COULD BE STUCK WITH MORE THAN ITS ASSIGNED 37 PERCENT SHARE OF THE OLD DEBT. UNDER A 1988 AGREEMENT, 10 BANKS FROM THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA WERE MADE JOINT AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMERCIAL DEBT. TWO OF THOSE BANKS ARE IN SLOVENIA. THE SUCCESSOR REPUBLICS ARE ALSO COMPETING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE OVER TWO BILLION DOLLARS OF GOLD AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE HELD BY THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA WHICH HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY WESTERN CREDITORS.

BELGRADE LAUNCHES ITS OWN DEBT RESCHEDULING TALKS IN NEW YORK NEXT WEEK. EXPERTS SAY THERE ARE SIGNS BELGRADE IS RECONSIDERING ITS TOUGH POSITION AGAINST UNILATERAL RESCHEDULINGS BY CROATIA AND SLOVENIA. IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, YUGOSLAV CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR DRAGOSLAV AVRAMOVIC HAS BEEN FORCED TO RELINQUISH HIS ROLE AS BELGRADE'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR ON READMISSION TALKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. (SIGNED)

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26-Apr-96 11:10 AM EDT (1510 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / ECONOMY (S ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAS PROPOSED A PLAN TO REVIVE GERMANY'S FAILING ECONOMY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN GERMANY'S GENEROUS SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH IN BONN REPORTS THE CHANCELLOR OUTLINED DETAILS (FRIDAY) IN PARLIAMENT.

TEXT: CHANCELLOR KOHL SAYS THE CUTS ARE NECESSARY TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, REDUCE RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT, AND MAKE SURE GERMANY QUALIFIES FOR THE PLANNED EUROPEAN UNION'S CURRENCY UNION. THIS YEAR, THE GERMAN ECONOMY IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY ONLY THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT.

THE UNPOPULAR MEASURES PRESENTED FRIDAY INCLUDE REDUCING SICK PAY, RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR WOMEN, CUTTING DISABILITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR GERMAN COMPANIES TO FIRE WORKERS, AND FREEZING PUBLIC SECTOR WAGES. LABOR UNIONS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE CRITICIZED THE PROPOSALS BECAUSE THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM WOULD BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE COST-CUTTING.

IN PARLIAMENT, CHANCELLOR KOHL POINTED OUT THAT GERMANS HAVE SHORTER WORKING HOURS AND LONGER VACATIONS THAN WORKERS IN NEARLY ALL OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. THE CHANCELLOR SAID TOO MANY GERMANS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A GENEROUS WELFARE SYSTEM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

THE STEADY INCREASE IN LABOR COSTS MUST STOP, MR. KOHL SAID, IF GERMANY WANTS TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE NEXT CENTURY. HE SAID GERMANS MUST CHANGE THEIR WAYS. THE PROPOSALS ARE DESIGNED TO CUT ABOUT 16-BILLION DOLLARS IN 1997 FEDERAL SPENDING. (SIGNED)

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26-Apr-96 7:36 AM EDT (1136 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] POLAND / NATO (L ONLY) BY ANDREW BAIRD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: POLAND'S TOP FOREIGN POLICY OFFICIAL HAS CONTINUED HIS CAMPAIGN TO DRUM UP SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES FOR POLAND'S EARLY MEMBERSHIP IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION, OR NATO. V-O-A'S ANDREW BAIRD HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER DARIUSZ ROSATI IS IN WASHINGTON FOR MEETINGS WITH TOP U-S OFFICIALS, AND AT EVERY STOP HE HAS BEEN HAMMERING HOME THE MESSAGE THAT POLAND WANTS MEMBERSHIP IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IN A NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, MR. ROSATI SAID POLAND HAS FULFILLED ALL CONDITIONS FOR JOINING NATO, INCLUDING PUTTING POLAND'S MILITARY FORCES UNDER THE CONTROL OF CIVILIAN LEADERS.

WE SHARE THE SAME VALUES THAT ARE AT THE HEART OF THE WASHINGTON TREATY AND AT THE HEART OF THE NATO ALLIANCE. WE SHARE THE VALUE OF DEMOCRACY, OR RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. WE ARE ALSO IN FAVOR OF FREE MARKET ECONOMY, AND THESE ARE THE SAME VALUES WHICH ARE SHARE BY ALL NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES. WE WANT SIMPLY TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT GROUP.

MR. ROSATI SAID THE 16 NATO COUNTRIES ARE DUE TO DECIDE ON ENLARGING NATO BY EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND ADDED THAT HE HOPED POLAND COULD JOIN THE ALLIANCE BY LATE 1997 OR EARLY 1998.

MR. ROSATI SAID POLAND WANTS TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA -- WHICH HAS OPPOSED NATO ENLARGEMENT -- BUT SAID THAT POLAND COULD NO LONGER AFFORD TO BE SEEN AS A POTENTIAL CONTESTED AREA. HE SAID THAT POLAND'S MEMBERSHIP WOULD NOT THREATEN RUSSIA IN ANY WAY.

AS FAR AS EXISTING ECONOMIC TIES WITH RUSSIA, MR. ROSATI SAID THESE HAD DIMINISHED TO THE POINT THAT IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA WERE ONLY FIVE PERCENT OF POLAND'S TOTAL IMPORTS, AND POLAND'S EXPORTS TO RUSSIA WERE ONLY SEVEN PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL EXPORTS. STILL, HE NOTED THAT POLAND STILL RELIED EXCLUSIVELY ON RUSSIA FOR ALL OF ITS NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES AND TWO-THIRDS OF ITS OIL.

THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID THAT SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN ON THE SIDE OF RUSSIAN SUPPLIES. WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF SUCH A SCENARIO FOR THE TIME BEING. BUT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, WE WOULD LIKE TO DIVERSIFY OUR SOURCES OF SUPPLY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO LINK OUR NETWORK TO A SYSTEM OF PIPELINES WITH WESTERN EUROPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO IMPORT GAS FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES, FROM NORWAY, FOR INSTANCE.

MR. ROSATI SAID THAT POLAND WAS ALSO REFURBISHING ITS BALTIC PORTS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON MORE OIL SUPPLIES BY TANKERS. (SIGNED)

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(SIGNED) 26-Apr-96 3:57 PM EDT (1957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY / ISRAEL BY PHIL KURATA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE EASTERN DIPLOMACY IS THE GROWING ALLIANCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY. V-O-A REPORTER PHIL KURATA TELLS US BOTH COUNTRIES FACE TERRORIST THREATS AND COMMON ENEMIES.

TEXT: THE ISRAELI / TURKISH CONNECTION WAS FIRST HIGHLIGHTED IN MARCH WHEN TURKEY'S PRESIDENT SULEIMAN DEMIREL MADE A STATE VISIT TO ISRAEL. IT WAS THE FIRST STATE VISIT BY A LEADER OF MUSLIM TURKEY TO THE ZIONIST STATE. IN A SPEECH TO THE ISRAELI PARLIAMENT, MR. DEMIREL SAID ISRAEL AND TURKEY NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT TERRORISM.

DURING HIS FOUR DAYS IN ISRAEL, THE TURKISH PRESIDENT MET WITH AEROSPACE EXECUTIVES FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TURKEY'S 600-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH ISRAEL TO MODERNIZE 54 TURKISH FIGHTER PLANES. HE SAID TURKEY IS LOOKING TO EXPAND ITS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL. TURKEY CURRENTLY ALLOWS ISRAELI WARPLANES TO TRAIN IN ITS AIRSPACE AND ISRAELI WARSHIPS TO DOCK AT ITS PORTS.

THE MILITARY LINK BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL HAS PROVOKED EXPRESSIONS OF ALARM FROM SYRIA, IRAN, IRAQ, EGYPT AND THE ARAB LEAGUE. THEY SAY THE NEW CONNECTION THREATENS REGIONAL STABILITY.

FROM ISRAEL, MR. DEMIREL WENT TO THE SUMMIT OF THE PEACEMAKERS IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT AND CALLED FOR TOUGH INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM. HE RECOMMENDED A GLOBAL AGREEMENT FOR UNCONDITIONAL EXTRADITION OF TERRORISTS TO THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY COMMIT THEIR CRIMES. HE SAID ECONOMIC SANCTIONS SHOULD BE APPLIED TO COUNTRIES THAT TRAIN AND SHELTER TERRORISTS. IN ISRAEL, HE FOUND HEARTY SUPPORT. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES CALLED TURKEY A LONGTIME FRIEND AND A CURRENT ALLY. TURKEY AND ISRAEL FACE COMMON ENEMIES IN SYRIA AND IRAN.

IN THE BEKAA VALLEY IN SYRIAN-OCCUPIED LEBANON, HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS LIVE AND TRAIN WITH MONEY AND SUPPLIES FROM IRAN. HEZBOLLAH ROCKET ATTACKS INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL HAVE TRIGGERED A MASSIVE ISRAELI RETALIATION. U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER CURRENTLY IS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA TO TRY TO ARRANGE A CEASEFIRE.

SYRIA IS ALSO SAID TO BACK A KURDISH INSURGENCY AGAINST TURKEY. GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, KNOWN AS THE P-K-K, TRAIN IN THE BEKAA VALLEY AND MAINTAIN THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN DAMASCUS. CLOSE TO 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE 1984 WHEN THE P-K-K BEGAN ITS CAMPAIGN FOR AN INDEPENDENT HOMELAND IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY.

A COLUMNIST FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, WILLIAM SAFIRE, WRITES THAT SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD IS CONDUCTING TWO PROXY WARS WITH IRANIAN CASH AND CHINESE MISSILES WITH NO APPARENT COST TO HIMSELF. THE COLUMNIST SAYS SYRIA IS SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN ITS REGIONAL INFLUENCE BY WEAKENING ISRAEL AND TURKEY.

PRESIDENT ASSAD HAS SOUGHT TO COUNTER THE ANKARA / JERUSALEM ALLIANCE BY APPROACHING GREECE, TURKEY'S LONGTIME FOE. THE SYRIAN LEADER HAS TALKED OF HELPING GREECE IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT WITH TURKEY.

BUT IN ADDITION TO MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL, TURKEY HAS A POTENT WEAPON TO DETER SYRIAN AND IRAQI ADVENTURISM. BY MEANS OF A SERIES OF DAMS CALLED THE GREATER ANATOLIA PROJECT, TURKEY CONTROLS THE FLOW OF WATER INTO SYRIA AND IRAQ. (SIGNED)

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25-Apr-96 8:29 PM EDT (0029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-N / TURKEY / IRAN (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TODAY (FRIDAY) PROTESTED TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OVER THE EXPULSION OF AN IRANIAN ASYLUM-SEEKER. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS SAY THE DEPORTEE COULD BE IN DANGER IN IRAN BECAUSE OF HIS PAST OPPOSITION TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: THE IRANIAN DISSIDENT, MEHRDAD KAVOSI, WAS DEPORTED BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES IN THE EASTERN BORDER TOWN OF AGRI, WHERE HE HAD GONE TO PRESENT HIS APPLICATION FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM ON THE ADVICE OF U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAID MR. KAVOSI WAS A BONA FIDE REFUGEE, WHOSE LIFE COULD NOW BE ENDANGERED BECAUSE OF HIS PAST OPPOSITION TO THE FUNDAMENTALIST GOVERNMENT IN IRAN.

MR. KAVOSI WAS CONVICTED IN IRAN FOR NON-VIOLENT POLITICAL OPPOSITION, AND SPENT TEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN THE NOTORIOUS EVIN PRISON, WHERE HE SAYS HE WAS FREQUENTLY TORTURED.

MR. REDMOND DID _NOT_ IDENTIFY MR. KAVOSI'S POLITICAL AFFILIATION. BUT NEWS REPORTS SAY HE IS A SUPPORTER OF THE IRAQ-BASED DISSIDENT GROUP, MUJAHEDIN-E-KHALQ.

HE CROSSED SECRETLY INTO TURKEY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, STAYING INITIALLY WITH TWO OTHER IRANIAN DISSIDENTS, WHO WERE MURDERED IN ISTANBUL IN FEBRUARY. MUJAHEDIN-E-KHALQ OFFICIALS BLAMED THE KILLINGS ON AGENTS OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. LATER, MR. KAVOSI WENT TO THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICE IN ANKARA, WHERE HE WAS ADVISED TO TRAVEL TO AGRI TO PRESENT HIS APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM. BUT TURKISH AUTHORITIES IN THE BORDER TOWN REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT AND DEPORTED MR. KAVOSI BECAUSE HE HAD FAILED TO FILE THE APPLICATION WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF HIS ARRIVAL IN THE COUNTRY.

MR. REDMOND SAID 78 IRANIAN AND IRAQI REFUGEES WERE DEPORTED FROM TURKEY ON THE SAME GROUNDS LAST YEAR. AND 26 HAVE BEEN EXPELLED SO FAR THIS YEAR.

MR. REDMOND SAID THE FIVE-DAY DEADLINE IS TOO SHORT. AND HE SAID MANY OF THE IRANIAN REFUGEES ARE AFRAID TO SUBMIT ASYLUM APPLICATIONS IN TURKISH BORDER TOWNS BECAUSE THEY FEAR IRANIAN AGENTS ARE ACTIVE IN THE AREA.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID U-N-H-C-R HAS REPEATEDLY ASKED TURKEY TO RELAX ITS TOUGH ASYLUM REGULATIONS, ADOPTED TWO YEARS AGO.

WE ARE APPEALING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY TO REVIEW ITS ASYLUM PROCEDURES TO AVOID PLACING MORE REFUGEES AT RISK.

MR. REDMOND SAID U-N-H-C-R HAS SUBMITTED DETAILED PROPOSALS TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO BRING ITS ASYLUM PROCEDURE INTO CONFORMITY WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. BUT ANKARA, HE ADDED, HAS YET TO RESPOND. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/ART
26-Apr-96 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS ISRAEL FOR SHELLING SOUTH LEBANON -- ONE DAY BEFORE DIPLOMACY ACHIEVES A CEASEFIRE; THE SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSES LIMITED SANCTIONS ON SUDAN FOR ITS ALLEGED SHELTERING OF TERRORISTS; THE COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER REPORTED ARMS SHIPMENTS TO SOLDIERS OF THE FORMER RWANDAN ARMY; AND, TALKS IN NEW YORK ON THE LIMITED EXPORT OF IRAQI OIL ARE IN RECESS, WITH SOME OUTSTANDING ISSUES STILL TO BE RESOLVED. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: LEBANON RECOVERED SLIGHTLY ON THURSDAY FROM A DIPLOMATIC SETBACK IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK. IT TOOK ITS CASE AGAINST ISRAEL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH VOTED TO CONDEMN THE ISRAELI SHELLING IN SOUTH LEBANON AND DEMANDED REPARATIONS FOR DAMAGES. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF NORTHERN ISRAEL BY LEBANESE GUERRILLAS.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAD DEFEATED A SIMILAR RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY ARAB GOVERNMENTS AND CALLED INSTEAD ON ALL PARTIES TO SHOW RESTRAINT. IT ALSO UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR ON-GOING DIPLOMACY TO ACHIEVE A CEASEFIRE. HOWEVER, LEBANON FAILED TO GET THE SO-CALLED "BIG VOTES" IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE UNITED STATES VOTED AGAINST IT, AS DID ISRAEL. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ABSTAINED. THE FINAL TALLY WAS 64 TO TWO, WITH 65 ABSTENTIONS. OVER 50 COUNTRIES DID NOT PARTICIPATE.

IN ANY CASE, A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FRIDAY AND ANNNOUNCED IN THE REGION BY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER. THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSED SATISFACTION.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO IMPOSE LIMITED SANCTIONS ON SUDAN -- WHICH INCLUDE A DOWNSIZING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON SUDANESE OFFICIALS. THE SANCTIONS WILL TAKE EFFECT MAY 10TH.

THE ACTION CAME AFTER SUDAN FAILED TO COMPLY WITH A COUNCIL APPEAL TO SURRENDER THREE SUSPECTS WANTED FOR THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK LAST YEAR IN ETHIOPIA. SUDAN MAINTAINS IT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR WHEREABOUTS.

THE COUNCIL EARLIER HAD CONSIDERED STRICTER SANCTIONS -- POSSIBLY AN ARMS EMBARGO. BUT EGYPT SAID THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF SUDAN, WHICH IS FIGHTING A CIVIL WAR WITH REBELS IN THE SOUTH.

IN OTHER ACTION -- THE SECURITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE REPORTED SHIPMENT OF WEAPONS TO FORMER RWANDAN SOLDIERS LIVING IN ZAIRE, IN VIOLATION OF A U-N ARMS EMBARGO. IT ADOPTED A RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY URGING ZAIRE TO ALLOW U-N OBSERVERS TO MONITOR AIRFIELDS AND OTHER TRANSPORT POINTS AROUND BORDER AREAS.

ZAIRE IS HOME TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF HUTU RWANDANS WHO FLED WHEN THE MINORITY TUTSIS WON A CIVIL WAR AND TOOK POWER IN 1994.

ZAIRE HAS DENIED ARMING OR SUPPORTING IN ANY WAY THE FORMER HUTU FORCES, WHICH THE PRESENT RWANDAN GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO REGAIN POWER. MANY OF THE RWANDANS NOW IN ZAIRE HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA TWO YEARS AGO THAT KILLED NEARLY ONE MILLION TUTSIS AND MODERATE HUTUS. HOWEVER, A U-N COMMISSION OF INQUIRY SAYS IT HAS STRONG EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT ZAIRE PLAYED A PART IN SHIPPING ARMS TO THE EXILED HUTUS.

THE WORLD MARKET WILL HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE LONGER FOR IRAQI OIL. A THIRD ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS TO PERMIT LIMITED EXPORTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES WERE SUSPENDED. HOWEVER, TALKS WILL RESUME IN EARLY MAY. BOTH SIDES SAY THEY HOPE TO CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT AT THAT TIME.

THE TALKS RAN INTO TROUBLE THIS PAST WEEK AFTER THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN SUBMITTED NEW PROPOSALS TO TIGHTEN LOOPHOLES IN THE DEAL, WHICH CALLS FOR U-N CONTROL OVER MUCH OF THE OPERATION.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI CALLED BAGHDAD SAYING ENOUGH PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE TO WARRANT A FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS. IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ APPARENTLY AGREED.

IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER U-N SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING AN EXPORT BAN -- SINCE ITS ARMY INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. (SIGNED)

NEB/PT
26-Apr-96 6:29 PM EDT (2229 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] YUGO / WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY GENERAL FREED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SAYS HE STILL WANTS TO FACE TRIAL IN THE HAGUE TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE -- IF HIS HEALTH PERMITS. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE GENERAL'S HEALTH MAY _NOT_ BE QUITE AS BAD AS THE TRIBUNAL SUGGESTED.

TEXT: GENERAL DJORDJE DJUKIC FLEW FROM THE HAGUE TO BELGRADE ABOARD A REGULAR YUGOSLAV AIRLINER. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL, HE WALKED SLOWLY TO A WAITING AMBULANCE AND WAS TAKEN TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL.

THROUGH ONE OF HIS LAWYERS, THE SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICER SAID HE WILL RETURN TO THE HAGUE TO FACE A WAR CRIMES TRIAL AND TO CLEAR HIS NAME -- IF HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION PERMITS.

GENERAL DJUKIC IS SAID TO HAVE PANCREATIC CANCER. THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FREED HIM FOR HEALTH REASONS, BUT IT DID _NOT_ DROP ITS CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

A DOCTOR IN BELGRADE SAID GENERAL DJUKIC DID _NOT_ RECEIVE PROPER FOOD OR MEDICAL CARE WHILE IN A DUTCH PRISON. BUT THE DOCTOR SAID THE GENERAL IS _NOT_ AS SICK AS DUTCH DOCTORS INDICATED.

LAWYERS FOR GENERAL DJORDJE DJUKIC HAVE REPEATEDLY ARGUED THERE IS _NOT_ ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY HIS INDICTMENT OR TO CONVICT HIM OF WAR CRIMES.

AS THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY'S CHIEF LOGISTICS OFFICER, GENERAL DJUKIC IS ACCUSED OF AIDING SERB SHELLING ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/ART
26-Apr-96 7:17 AM EDT (1117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America