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Voice of America, 29 May 1996Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/29/96TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-09598 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST CONTENT= INTRO: THREE TOPICS DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF MAY. THE GUILTY VERDICTS IN THE WHITEWATER TRIAL; THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS; AND A POSSIBLE END TO THE WAR IN CHECHNYA. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE; [OPT] THE MOVE TOWARD PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND; [END OPT] LIMITING THE COST OF ELECTION CAMPAIGNS AND BURMA'S LATEST CRACKDOWN ON DEMOCRATIC DISSENT. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS TUESDAY, A JURY CONVICTED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FORMER BUSINESS PARTNERS OF FRAUD AND OTHER CRIMES DURING THE 1980S. THE JURY CONVICTED THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS, JIM GUY TUCKER, AND TWO OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FORMER BUSINESS PARTNERS IN A FAILED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, JAMES AND SUSAN MCDOUGAL OF VARIOUS COUNTS OF FRAUD AND OTHER OFFENSES. GOVERNOR TUCKER SAID HE WOULD RESIGN OFFICE BY JULY 15 TO PREPARE AN APPEAL OF HIS CONVICTION. DURING THE 12-WEEK TRIAL, PRESIDENT CLINTON TESTIFIED ON VIDEO TAPE FOR THE DEFENSE. ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS THIS COMMENT ABOUT THE TRIAL: VOICE: "AS THE WHITEWATER TRIAL IN ARKANSAS RAN ITS LENGTHY COURSE, WE KEPT READING THAT IT CAME DOWN TO THE WORD OF DAVID HALE, A CONVICTED FELON AGAINST BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THE JURY'S VERDICT IS NOW IN: IT BELIEVED MR. HALE." TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ALSO CALLS FOR THE SENATE WHITEWATER COMMITTEE TO SUBPOENA MR. HALE AS A WITNESS AND GRANT HIM COMPLETE IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR HIS TESTIMONY. THE WASHINGTON POST TAKES A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE VERDICT: VOICE: "PLAINLY THE SHADOW OF THIS JUDGMENT FALLS BEYOND LITTLE ROCK. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THOSE WHO WERE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES WERE THE DEFENDANTS, AND NO ONE ELSE: PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS NOT ON TRIAL .... NOR IS IT CLEAR THAT IN REACHING THEIR VERDICT THE JURORS PAID PARTICULAR HEED TO, OR PASSED JUDGMENT ON, THE PRESIDENT'S VIDEOTAPED TESTIMONY....." TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES, IS PLEASED THAT AFTER THREE YEARS OF ALL MANNER OF INVESTIGATIONS, SOME ANSWERS ARE FINALLY COMING OUT OF THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR. VOICE: "AT LAST THE WHOLE AFFAIR IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF CLARITY RATHER THAN FURTHER CONFUSION. THE VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO SORT OUT WHAT THEY THINK OF MR. CLINTON AND THE OTHER PLAYERS ONCE THE LEGAL RECORD IS ESTABLISHED THROUGH PROPER INVESTIGATION ..... PUBLIC TRIAL AND REASONED VERDICT LIKE THAT RENDERED YESTERDAY BY A JURY THAT TOOK ITS DUTIES VERY SERIOUSLY." [BEGIN OPT] TEXT: IN SUMMING UP, THE WASHINGTON TIMES SUGGESTS: VOICE: "..... [OPT] AFTER DISMISSING THE SERIOUS QUESTIONS RAISED BY THEIR BUSINESS, TAX AND POLITICAL DEALINGS AS FIGMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN IMAGINATION, AND AFTER TRYING TO TAR ANY AND ALL QUESTIONERS WITH A PARTISAN BRUSH, [END OPT] BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON ARE FACED WITH THE PLAIN AND NAKED FACT THAT THEIR GOOD FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND ONE OF THEIR LONGTIME POLITICAL ALLIES, HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF FRAUD AND CONSPIRACY. ..... IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE FIRST COUPLE." TEXT: TURNING TO THE DAY'S OTHER MAJOR TOPIC, THE ISRAELI ELECTION, THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS: VOICE: "ISRAELI VOTERS ARE ..... SIMULTANEOUSLY DECIDING BETWEEN AN INTERNATIONALLY APPROVED NEGOTIATED PEACE AND A POLICY OF EXPANDING SETTLEMENTS IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, RETAINING THE GOLAN HEIGHTS AND DENYING PALESTINIANS THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING THEIR OWN STATE." TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD, NOTES THE NEWLY REVISED ELECTION RULES THAT ALLOWS A SEPARATE VOTE FOR PRIME MINISTER, SUGGESTING: VOICE: "SO, CONCEIVABLY, THE ELECTED PRIME MINISTER COULD COME FROM ONE PARTY AND A WORKING PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY FROM ANOTHER. EITHER WAY, THE UNITED STATES MUST BE PREPARED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THAT EMERGES ..... IT IS UP TO ISRAELI VOTERS TO CHOOSE THE POLITICIAN WHO CAN BEST LEAD THEIR COUNTRY TO A MORE SOLID PEACE AND PROSPERITY." TEXT: THE HARTFORD [CONNECTICUT] COURANT WONDERS ABOUT THE LATEST PEACE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT CHECHNYA FROM RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, RUNNING FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION. VOICE: "IT SAYS SOMETHING OF .... PRESIDENT .... YELTSIN'S PERILOUS POLITICAL STANDING THAT HE WOULD SIT DOWN WITH CHECHEN SEPARATISTS, WHOM HE HAS CONSISTENTLY BRANDED CRIMINALS AND TRAITORS UNWORTHY OF A HEARING IN MOSCOW. ..... BUT, TWO WEEKS BEFORE RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, POLITICAL NECESSITY AND COMMON SENSE CROSSED PATHS. ..... IF HE'S LUCKY, SUCH THEATRICS MAY HELP HIM IN A CLOSE RACE AGAINST COMMUNIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GENNADY ZYUGANOV. ..... BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ... THIS CEASE-FIRE WILL HOLD ANY BETTER THAN PAST TRUCES HAVE." [BEGIN OPT] TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS THE CEASE-FIRE IN CHECHNYA IS "GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYBODY," BUT CAUTIONS: VOICE: "CEASE-FIRES HAVE NOT HELD IN THE PAST, BUT BOTH LEADERS' CREDIBILITY IS ON THE LINE [AT STAKE] THIS TIME. WHETHER THEIR MILITARIES RESPECT THE ACCORD REMAINS TO BE SEEN. IF SO, A START COULD BE MADE TOWARD A COMPROMISE AUTONOMY AGREEMENT FOR CHECHNYA. .... BUT FIRST THE FIGHTING MUST STOP. THE WORLD PRAYS THAT IT WILL." TEXT: ON THE DELICATE STAGE OF PEACE TALKS CONCERNING NORTHERN IRELAND, NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND SUGGESTS: VOICE: "GINGERLY, BUT WITH INCREASING EVIDENCED OF MUTUAL GOODWILL, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT FOES IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S CIVIL WAR ARE PREPARING TO HOLD LONG-STALLED PEACE TALKS. TOMORROW'S ELECTIONS IN ULSTER WILL RESULT IN THE SELECTION OF DELEGATES, THE FIRST STEP TO BRINGING ALL PARTIES TO THE PEACE TABLE. PRESIDENT ... CLINTON ... MUST NOW WORK TO MAKE SURE NO LAST-MINUTE SNAGS BLOCK THE START OF THE TALKS." TEXT: IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, TODAY'S DENVER POST SAYS ITS IS TIME TO REFORM U-S CAMPAIGN SPENDING, NOTING: VOICE: "IF SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE ISN'T WELL ON ITS WAY BY THE END OF JULY, THE HOPES FOR REFORM WILL BE PRETTY MUCH DEAD FOR THIS SESSION. ...... THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE CURRENT CAMPAIGNS, BUT IF OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON CONTINUE TO FIDDLE, [WASTE TIME] WE MAY NEVER SEE THE HARD DEBATE NEEDED TO AT LEAST MAKE THE UNHOLY LIAISON OF MONEY AND POLITICS MORE OPEN AND ABOVE BOARD." TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION AGREES, COMMENTING IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL ABOUT HOW HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH, AND HIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPONENT, A MILLIONAIRE BAKERY COMPANY FOUNDER MICHAEL COLES, WILL EACH LIKELY SPEND 37-DOLLARS FOR EACH VOTE CAST IN THEIR PRIMARY ELECTION. VOICE: "THAT IS ABSURD. THE U-S POLITICAL SYSTEM IS EVOLVING IN SUCH A WAY THAT ONLY TWO TYPES OF CANDIDATES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL: THOSE SUCH AS [MR.] GINGRICH WHO ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO BEG MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPS, WITH ALL THE STRINGS THAT COME ATTACHED, AND MILLIONAIRES SUCH AS [MR.] COLES, .... ROSS PEROT .... AND [CONGRESSMAN] GINGRICH'S FRIEND MICHAEL HUFFINGTON, WHO IN 1994 SPEND 25-MILLION DOLLARS TRYING - - AND FAILING - - TO BUY A SENATE SEAT IN CALIFORNIA." TEXT: LASTLY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, SAYS OF THE LATEST CRACKDOWN BY THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP IN BURMA, AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION OF NOBEL PRIZE WINNER AUNG SAN SUU KYI: VOICE: ".... FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS THE GENERALS TO EASE THEIR POLITICAL REPRESSION OR RISK KILLING THE GOLDEN GOOSE OF INVESTMENT." TEXT: THAT COMMENT ON POLITICAL REPRESSION IN BURMA FROM THE
LOS ANGELES TIMES, CONCLUDES OUR SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS
FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
[02] ALBANIA ELECTIONS (L ALTERNATE) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (TIRANA)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197900 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ALBANIAN SOCIALIST OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE VOWED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH NATIONWIDE CIVIL ACTION AFTER RULING DEMOCRATS ALLEGEDLY TAMPERED WITH VOTES AND INTIMIDATED VOTERS IN SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS. WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN ALBANIA COULD SPELL TROUBLE IN SURROUNDING REGIONS, INCLUDING KOSOVO AND MACEDONIA. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM TIRANA. TEXT: ALBANIA OPPOSITION PARTIES PLEDGED TO STAGE DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ANNUL SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS. OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY RESISTANCE IS THE KEY TO TOPPLING WHAT THEY CALL THE BRUTAL BERISHA DICTATORSHIP. CALLS FOR DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS SOUNDED A DAY AFTER VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN SOCIALIST OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND POLICE IN THE ALBANIA CAPITAL, TIRANA. SOCIALIST PARTY MEMBERS SAY A 24 YEAR OLD ACTIVIST WAS SHOT AFTER THE CLASHES, AND A WOMAN WHO WAS PREGNANT DIED AS A RESULT OF SEVERE INJURIES THAT LEFT HER COMATOSE AT A HOSPITAL. THE TWO ALBANIANS WERE AMONG HUNDREDS WHO TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE IN TIRANA TO PROTEST AGAINST VOTER INTIMIDATION AND IRREGULARITIES DURING SUNDAY'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS. THE ALLEGATIONS PROMPTED EIGHT OPPOSITION PARTIES, LED BY THE SOCIALISTS, TO PULL OUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE VOTING, WHICH THEY DESCRIBED AS A FARCE, CHARADE AND TRAVESTY OF DEMOCRACY. MANY OF THE ACCUSATIONS WERE BACKED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, WHICH SENT 50 OBSERVERS TO ALBANIA TO MONITOR THE THIRD FREE ELECTIONS SINCE THE SMALL BALKAN COUNTRY EMERGED FROM A REPRESSIVE COMMUNIST REGIME IN 1990. IN A STATEMENT, THE O-S-C-E CITED A NUMBER OF VOTING IRREGULARITIES. IT SAID MULTI-PARTY ELECTION GUIDELINES WERE NOT MET. ONE BRITISH OBSERVER SAID THE O-S-C-E REPORT COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR ALBANIA'S SUSPENSION FROM THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO DEFENSE HUMAN RIGHTS. PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS YET TO REACT TO THE O-S-C-E REPORT. WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY ANNULMENT OF THE ELECTIONS COULD DISCREDIT PRESIDENT BERISHA AND GIVE WAY TO DOMESTIC INSTABILITY THAT COULD AFFECT MACEDONIA AND KOSOVO. BOTH CONTAIN LARGE ETHNIC ALBANIA MINORITIES. DIPLOMATS SAY THEY HOPE FOR A COMPROMISE SOLUTION BY WHICH A
SECOND ROUND OF ELECTIONS COULD BE HELD IN ALBANIAN DISTRICTS
WHERE THERE WERE VOTING IRREGULARITIES. (SIGNED)
[03] ALBANIA ELECTION (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197889 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED THE WAY THE ALBANIAN GENERAL ELECTION WAS CONDUCTED LAST SUNDAY. THE O-S-C-E SAYS THERE WERE MANY IRREGULARITIES, AND INTIMIDATION OF VOTERS MARRED THE BALLOTING. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS ALBANIA'S OPPOSITION PARTIES SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST THE ELECTION IN WHICH THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY CLAIMS A MASSIVE VICTORY. TEXT: THE O-S-C-E HEADQUARTERS IN VIENNA ISSUED A PRELIMINARY REPORT OUTLINING DEFECTS IN THE ALBANIAN ELECTION. ALTHOUGH THE REPORT DRAWS NO FINAL CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION, IT IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL OF WHAT IT CALLS WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER ABUSES. IT SAYS ALBANIA'S ELECTION LAW WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED IN MANY CASES. FOR EXAMPLE, IT SAYS DECISIONS OF POLLING STATION COMMISSIONS WERE NOT MADE BY MAJORITY VOTE, BUT WERE MADE ARBITRARILY BY GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED CHAIRMEN AND SECRETARIES. ACCORDING TO THE O-S-C-E MONITORS, BALLOTS WERE ALTERED, LISTS OF REGISTERED VOTERS WERE TAMPERED WITH, AND THE PRESENCE OF ARMED OR UNIDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS INSIDE POLLING STATIONS INTIMIDATED VOTERS AND ELECTION WORKERS. THE O-S-C-E REPORT IS BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY 23 TEAMS OF ELECTION MONITORS. THE MONITORS VISITED 300 POLLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT ALBANIA. IT APPEARS TO BE THE ORGANIZATION'S STRONGEST CRITICISM OF ANY NATIONAL ELECTION HELD IN POST-COMMUNIST EASTERN EUROPE. NO FINAL, OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. BUT, PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CLAIMED VICTORY. OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE VOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR PROTESTS AGAINST AN ELECTION THEY SAY WAS MANIPULATED BY A NEW DICTATORSHIP IN TIRANA. POLICE USED VIOLENCE TO PREVENT AN OPPOSITION RALLY, BANNED IN
ADVANCE, FROM BEING HELD TUESDAY. ALTHOUGH THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL
IS CALM, THE INTERIOR MINISTRY HAS WARNED FIRM ACTION WOULD BE
TAKEN AGAINST ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. (SIGNED)
[04] BOSNIA POLITICIANS PANEL BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CLOSEUP NUMBER=4-09170 TELEPHONE=619-1101 EDITOR=GARY EDQUIST CONTENT= // TAPE INSERTS AVAILABLE FROM AUDIO SERVICES // INTRO: ELEVEN REPRESENTATIVES OF MAINLY MULTI-ETHNIC, DEMOCRATIC PARTIES IN BOTH ENTITIES OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE HERE IN WASHINGTON TO ATTEND THREE WEEKS OF TRAINING ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ELECTIONS. THE SEMINAR IS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE CENTER FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR SPOKE WITH TWO29-May-96 1:51 PM EDT (1751 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [05] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197897 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY BOSNIAN SERBS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPEL MUSLIMS FROM SERB TERRITORY IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FORCING AT LEAST 80 FAMILIES TO LEAVE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. TEXT: U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN-SERB POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IS CONTINUING. THE U-N REFUGEE SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO, KRIS JANOWSKI, SAYS MANY OF THE REMAINING MUSLIMS LEFT IN SERB-HELD NORTHERN BOSNIA ARE BEING FORCED OUT. /// ACT - JANOWSKI ///THERE HAVE BEEN CASES OF PEOPLE RECEIVING THREATENING PHONE CALLS, PEOPLE HAVING EXPLOSIVES THROWN AT THEM. AT THE MOMENT, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 80 TO 86 CASES OF THAT KIND, OF PEOPLE LEAVING UNDER PRESSURE, AND BECAUSE OF HARASSMENT. /// END ACT ///MR. JANOWSKI DESCRIBES THE EXPULSIONS AS EXTREMELY ALARMING AND HE BLAMES THE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST HARD-LINE LOCAL OFFICIALS. UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN SERB TERRITORY. BUT MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. /// ACT - JANOWSKI ///THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING AGAINST THE WHOLE IDEA, THE WHOLE EFFORT, OF TRYING TO PIECE BOSNIA TOGETHER AGAIN AS A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY. /// END ACT ///THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, EVEN JUST TO LOOK AT THEIR OLD HOMES OR VISIT GRAVES, HAS MOSTLY SUCCEEDED ONLY IN PROVOKING VIOLENCE. AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MANY MORE INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING SUCH VISITS. OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE -- WHAT THEY CALL -- GIGANTIC PROBLEMS EVEN IN ARRANGING THE RETURN OF CROATS AND MUSLIMS INTO EACH OTHER'S AREAS WITHIN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SEVERELY CUT ITS PROJECTIONS FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO BOSNIA THIS YEAR. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THERE IS LITTLE HOPE THE SITUATION WILL IMPROVE. /// ACT - JANOWSKI ///THE HOSTILITY THERE IS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL, AND IT WOULD BE RATHER NAIVE TO ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE ANY MAJOR RETURNS BY REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS TO AREAS CONTROLLED BY THEIR FORMER FOES. /// END ACT ///THE PESSIMISM ABOUT A MULTI-ETHNIC FUTURE FOR BOSNIA IS CREATING GROWING PRESSURE ON NATO AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ARREST RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE HARD-LINE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS. OFFICIALS SAY MR. KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, HAS LED HIS GOVERNMENT'S OBSTRUCTION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE IN A DILEMMA. IF THE BOSNIAN-SERB OBSTRUCTION CONTINUES, THE PEACE COULD COLLAPSE AS SOON AS NATO LEAVES AT THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT IF NATO WERE TO ARREST MR. KARADZIC, THE PEACE COULD FAIL IMMEDIATELY IF ANGRY SERBS BEGAN ATTACKING NATO TROOPS. FOR THE MOMENT, NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL WAIT TO SEE IF
POLITICAL PRESSURE CAN FORCE THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO COOPERATE.
(SIGNED)
[06] TURKEY/MUSLIM SOLDIERS (L ONLY-CORRECTION) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197898 CONTENT= VOICED AT: // RERUNNING TO CORRECT NUMBER OF YEARS IN INTRO //INTRO: THE TURKISH MILITARY REMAINS THE BASTION OF SECULARISM IN THE WESTERN-ORIENTED REPUBLIC FOUNDED BY KEMAL ATATURK 63 YEARS AGO. OFFICERS VIEWED AS PROPAGATING ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM ARE SYSTEMATICALLY DISMISSED. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TURKEY'S MODERN HISTORY A GROUP OF EXPELLED OFFICERS HAS DECIDED TO CHALLENGE THE MILITARY'S DECISION TO DISMISS THEM IN COURT. TEXT: BARELY SIX MONTHS AGO, CAPTAIN SULEYMAN OGRETEN HAD A PROMISING CAREER IN THE TURKISH MILITARY. HIS RECORD DURING TEN YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE WAS IMPECCABLE. HE WAS TWICE SENT FOR TRAINING TO THE UNITED STATES. LAST YEAR, HE WAS SENT TO SERVE WITH A UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN KUWAIT. CAPTAIN OGRETEN HAD EVERY HOPE OF RISING TO THE TOP ONE DAY. BUT ALL HIS DREAMS CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WHEN HE WAS SUMMARILY DISMISSED ALONG WITH 49 OTHER OFFICERS BY THE SUPREME MILITARY COMMAND FOR UNDISCIPLINED CONDUCT. CAPTAIN OGRETEN SAYS THE REASON HE WAS DISMISSED WAS BECAUSE HE HAD TAKEN A BUS TRIP TO ISLAM'S SACRED SHRINES IN SAUDI ARABIA DURING HIS MISSION IN KUWAIT. /// ACT OGRETEN ///I WAS A MEMBER OF UNICOM IN KUWAIT. I WAS A MILITARY OBSERVER THERE. WE TOOK A TRIP TO MECCA, TO HOLY PLACES. I THINK IT WAS (THE) MAIN REASON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA TO VISIT SUCH A PLACE DURING MY MISSION. BEFORE (DURING THE PREVIOUS) EIGHT MONTHS, I WAS NUMBER ONE IN ARMORED BRANCH, AND THEN AFTER VISITING HOLY PLACES I BECAME A BAD BOY AND THEY DISCHARGED ME. /// END ACT ////MILITARY EXPERTS SAY MILITANT ISLAMIC GROUPS HAVE LONG SOUGHT TO INFILTRATE THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES. MANY OF THE EXPELLED OFFICERS HAVE WIVES WHO COVER THEIR HEADS IN KEEPING WITH ISLAMIC FAITH. THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE MILITARY FREE OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS HAS BECOME ALL THE MORE PRONOUNCED EVER SINCE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST DECEMBER, WHEN THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY CAME IN FIRST. ALTHOUGH THE ISLAMISTS DID NOT SECURE ENOUGH VOTES TO FORM A GOVERNMENT ON THEIR OWN, THE FACT THAT THEY OUTPERFORMED THE PRO-SECULAR PARTIES WAS ENOUGH TO SEND ALARMS AMONG THE EIGHT PERCENT OF THE TURKISH ELECTORATE WHICH VOTED AGAINST THE WELFARE PARTY. LIKE MANY OF THE EXPELLED OFFICERS, CAPTAIN OGRETEN SAYS HE NEVER VOTED FOR THE WELFARE PARTY. AND LIKE MANY, HE DENIES EVER HAVING PROPAGATED RADICAL ISLAMIC VIEWS. I DON'T SUPPORT ANY KIND OF RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA. I'M NOT A MEMBER OF ANY GROUP. AND DURING MY MISSION IN ARMY I ALWAYS TRIED TO KEEP AWAY MYSELF FROM SUCH KIND OF ACTIVITIES. /// END ACT ///CAPTAIN OGRETEN SAYS BEING A GOOD MUSLIM IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH BEING A GOOD OFFICER. IF HE COMMITTED A CRIME, HE SAYS, HE WANTS A FAIR TRIAL. BUT UNDER TURKISH LAW, DECISIONS MADE BY THE SUPREME MILITARY COMMAND CANNOT BE CHALLENGED IN TURKISH COURTS. FOR THAT REASON, HE AND 26 OTHER OFFICERS WHO WERE EXPELLED LAST YEAR HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR CASE TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN STRASBOURG. BUT POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THEIR DECISION TO SEEK JUSTICE IN
EUROPE WILL NOT GO DOWN WELL WITH MOST TURKS. RATHER IT WILL BE
VIEWED AS AN ACT OF TREASON, THEY SAY. (SIGNED)
[07] U-S / ALBANIA ELECT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197864 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT REPORTS OF IRREGULARITIES DURING ALBANIA'S GENERAL ELECTION SUNDAY AND VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A U-S SPOKESMAN HAS URGED ALL ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES TO TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS RELATED DISPUTES IN A PEACEFUL MANNER: TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYNN DAVIES SAYS OUTSIDE ELECTION MONITORS -- INCLUDING SOME FROM U-S ORGANIZATIONS -- HAVE PROVIDED WHAT HE CALLS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON ELECTION-RELATED ABUSES, SOME OF THEM MR. DAVIES DESCRIBES AS SERIOUS. HE SAYS THOSE ALLEGATIONS GIVE U-S OFFICIALS PAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS U-S OFFICIALS ARE ASSESSING ALL THE INFORMATION BEING COLLECTED FROM THE ALBANIAN ELECTION -- THE THIRD BALLOT SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM IN 1990: ///DAVIES ACTUALITY///WE ARE RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT THOSE RESULTS AND URGING THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN ALBANIA TO TAKE ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE DISPUTES THAT HAVE ARISEN ARE ADDRESSED IN A PEACEFUL FASHION. ///END ACTUALITY///THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA HAS CLAIMED VICTORY AND HAS DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD STEMMING FROM SUNDAY'S BALLOT FOR 140 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. BRITISH AND NORWEGIAN MEMBERS OF A EUROPEAN OBSERVER MISSION SAID
TUESDAY ELECTION LAW GUARANTEES FOR TRANSPARENCY IN THE ELECTION
PROCESS; FREEDOM FROM INTIMIDATION; AND MULTIPARTY
REPRESENTATION IN THE ELECTION COMMISSIONS WERE -- TO A LARGE
EXTENT -- VIOLATED. (SIGNED).
[08] U-S / BOSNIA (S&L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197916 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS NAMED A LONG-TIME POLITICAL ALLY AS U-S COORDINATOR OF THE CIVILIAN RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVIA. THE ADMINISTRATION HOPES THE APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD SKLAR WILL SPEED UP EFFORTS TO REBUILD THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. TEXT: THE APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD SKLAR COMES AMID U-S CONCERN ABOUT THE SLOW PACE OF THE CIVILIAN RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT IN BOSNIA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR, CARL BILDT. IN ANNOUNCING THE APPOINTMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT HIGH PRIORITY MUST BE PLACED ON ACCELERATING EFFORTS TO REBUILD THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF BOSNIAN SOCIETY. MR. SKLAR, WHO LED THE PRESIDENT'S TRANSITION TEAM FOR THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN MR. CLINTON TOOK OFFICE, WILL COORDINATE A 550 MILLION DOLLAR U-S RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. //OPT//WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS MR. SKLAR WILL HAVE MANY DUTIES. /// MCCURRY ACTUALITY /////OPT//// END ACT ///// REST OPT ////// SKLAR ACTUALITY ///THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA HAVE GOT TO SEE THAT PEACE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE ABSENCE OF SHOOTING. AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL TRY TO DO OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS. /// END ACT ///AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY WARREN CHRISTOPHER PRAISED SKLAR'S APPOINTMENT. /// CHRISTOPHER ACTUALITY ///I THINK WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE CIVILIAN IMPLEMENTATION AND RECONSTRUCTION HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH PRIORITY. IFOR HAS DONE ITS MILITARY JOB EXTREMELY WELL, AND AS WE SHIFT EMPHASIS TO CIVILIAN IMPLEMENTATION AND ESPECIALLY RECONSTRUCTION, IT SEEMS DESIRABLE TO HAVE A PERSON IN THAT ROLE WHO HAS REAL EXPERTISE, WHO HAS A NATIONAL REPUTATION AS SOMEBODY WHO GETS THINGS DONE. AND WE SIMPLY THINK THAT WILL BE A HELP THERE IN BOSNIA, WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH TO GET DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AID REACHES PRACTICAL SITUATION OF BEING EFFECTIVE ON THE GROUND. /// END ACT ///THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE U-S EFFORT TO SECURE PEACE IN BOSNIA. THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME CREATING CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER WILL BE FREE AND FAIR. THAT IS DUE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC, BOTH INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, REMAIN IN POWER. THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING AN ENVOY, AMBASSADOR JOHN KORNBLUM TO THE REGION THURSDAY TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODON MILOSEVIC TO ENSURE THAT THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS LEAVE OFFICE. MEANWHILE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BOSNIA HAS CHOSEN A U-S FIRM, M-P-R-I OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, TO BE THE PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FOR LEADING THE U-S EFFORT TO TRAIN AND EQUIP THE BOSNIAN MILITARY. THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO BE SIGNED UNTIL ALL FOREIGN FORCES LEAVE
BOSNIA IN COMPLIANCE WITH PEACE ACCORDS SIGNED LAST DECEMBER.
(SIGNED)
[09] YUGO WAR CRIMES (S) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)DATE=5/29/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-197894 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS CHARGED A FORMER SOLDIER IN THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY WITH KILLING MUSLIMS FROM THE ENCLAVE OF SREBRENICA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS. TEXT: DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC IS THE FIRST SOLDIER TO BE CHARGED WITH CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING MUSLIM CIVILIANS FROM SREBRENICA LAST YEAR. THE BOSNIAN-SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INDICTED FOR THEIR OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AFTER SERB FORCES OVERRAN SREBRENICA, A U-N/PROTECTED AREA, LAST YEAR. MR. ERDEMOVIC, WHO IS ACTUALLY AN ETHNIC CROAT, HAS ADMITTED HE PARTICIPATED IN THE MASSACRE OF AN ESTIMATED 12-HUNDRED UN-ARMED MEN, MAINLY MUSLIMS. IN A FRENCH NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW (LE FIGARO) LAST MARCH, HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE PERSONALLY SHOT AND KILLED ABOUT 70 MEN. HE IS IN THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S CUSTODY. ASSUMING HE FACES A WAR CRIMES TRIAL, THE 24-YEAR-OLD FORMER SOLDIER IN THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COULD BE SENT TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL CANNOT IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY EVEN FOR
THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSES COMMITTED DURING THE WAR IN THE FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
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