Voice of America, 9 September 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA/HOSPITAL (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR AN ARTILLERY ATTACK WHICH REPORTEDLY HIT A HOSPITAL IN A SERB-CONTROLLED AREA NEAR SARAJEVO. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEIR ARTILLERY ATTACKED A POSITION FROM WHERE A SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILE WAS FIRED AT A NATO JET. THE OFFICIALS SAY WHILE THEY CANNOT CONFIRM SERB REPORTS THE HOSPITAL WAS HIT OR THAT 10 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED, THEY HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS "A TRAGIC INCIDENT." DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE SENIOR FRENCH OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE U-N'S RAPID REACTION FORCE ARTILLERY, GENERAL J.R. BACHELET, SAID "EVERYONE WAS VERY UPSET" BY THE INCIDENT IN WHICH A BOSNIAN SERB HOSPITAL WAS REPORTEDLY HIT WHEN U-N ARTILLERY FIRED ALMOST 40 SHELLS AT A SERB POSITION THAT HAD LAUNCHED A SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILE AT A NATO JET.

THE HOSPITAL IS ALMOST A KILOMETER AWAY FROM THE MISSILE FIRING POSITION AND SERB MEDIA REPORTED TEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE SHELLING ON FRIDAY EVENING. IT WAS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE U-N MISSION TO HIT CIVILIAN TARGETS, THE GENERAL SAID, ADDING THEY HAD NO WISH TO CAUSE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES ON ANY SIDE. HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD PROVIDE ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF WHAT HE CALLED "A TRAGIC INCIDENT."

WHILE U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY STILL CANNOT CONFIRM THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR ACCESS TO THE SITE TO INVESTIGATE, THEY ADMIT PRIVATELY THAT THE REPORTS ARE PROBABLY TRUE. DESPITE THE INCIDENT, THE OFFICIALS SAY THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THEIR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/DW/GPT
09-Sep-95 7:31 AM EDT (1131 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] MALAYSIA/BOSNIA (L) BY DAN ROBINSON (KUALA LUMPUR)

INTRO:: FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM ISLAMIC COUNTRIES WILL MEET IN MALAYSIA MONDAY TO DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM KUALA LUMPUR, BOSNIAN AND CROATIAN REPRESENTATIVES WILL ALSO ATTEND THE TALKS, WHICH MALAYSIAN OFFICIALS SAY WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PEACE PROCESS AIMED AT ENDING THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT:

TEXT: AS NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB POSITIONS IN BOSNIA CONTINUED -- AND AMID THE BREAKTHROUGH IN GENEVA TALKS -- MALAYSIAN OFFICIALS WAITED UNTIL SATURDAY TO CONFIRM THAT THE KUALA LUMPUR MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE.

PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM MALAYSIA HAS BEEN AMONG THE HARSHEST CRITICS OF THE UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN BOSNIA, AND OF WESTERN POLICIES AIMED AT ENDING THE CONFLICT. ON MONDAY, FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS AND MILITARY CHIEFS OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE CONTACT GROUP, AND COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING TROOPS TO THE UNITED NATIONS FORCE IN BOSNIA, WILL BEGIN WHAT COULD BE A WEEK OF TALKS.

AHMAD KAMIL JAAFAR, SECRETARY GENERAL IN MALAYSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY, SAYS THE TALKS WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PEACE PROCESS AND WILL BE AIMED, IN HIS WORDS, AT STRENGTHENING THE POSITION OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT:

I DO HOPE THAT WHATEVER HAS BEEN REACHED, WILL NOT IN ANY WAY BE DETRIMENTAL OR UNDERMINE THE POSITION OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND WILL NOT IN ANY WAY REWARD THE SERBS IN BOSNIA FOR ALL THE BRUTALITIES AND ATROCITIES THEY HAVE CREATED.

MALAYSIAN OFFICIALS SAY BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEY IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE KUALA LUMPUR TALKS. CROATIA HAS ALSO BEEN INVITED.

MR. KAMIL SAID MALAYSIA WILL PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS BASED ON EARLIER CONSULTATIONS WITH O-I-C MEMBERS. HE SAID ONE TOPIC WOULD BE THE QUESTION OF ECONOMIC AID FOR RECONSTRUCTION IF PEACE CAN BE RESTORED IN BOSNIA. HOWEVER, REFERRING AGAIN TO THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN GENEVA, THE MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL INJECTED ANOTHER NOTE OF CAUTION:

THE CRISIS IN BOSNIA WILL NOT END WITH JUST HAVING A PIECE OF PAPER AS AN AGREEMENT TO SOME OF THE ISSUES. IT WILL CONTINUE. AND I THINK BOSNIA REQUIRES A LOT OF ASSISTANCE, NOT LEAST THE QUESTION OF BALANCE OF POWER. BECAUSE AS MR. HOLBROOKE SAID, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE IN PLACE AFTER THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IS TO HAVE A BALANCE OF POWER IN BOSNIA.

IN LINE WITH OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, MALAYSIA SAYS NATO BOMBING SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL BOSNIAN SERBS REMOVE HEAVY GUNS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO.

MR. KAMIL SAID MALAYSIA IS STILL UPSET WITH THE U-N REFUSAL TO ALLOW AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE MALAYSIAN TROOP FORCE IN BOSNIA FROM 15-HUNDRED TO THREE-THOUSAND. THE MALAYSIAN CONTINGENT IS THE LARGEST AFTER BRITAIN AND FRANCE. (SIGNED) /NEB/DR/GPT 09-Sep-95 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] NATO/U-N DEBATE (S ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MET URGENTLY LATE FRIDAY TO HEAR RUSSIA PROTEST CONTINUING NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA. JUST HOURS BEFORE A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ANTI-NATO DEBATE IN THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT SATURDAY -- RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR ACCUSED THE WESTERN ALLIANCE OF ABUSING U-N RESOLUTIONS TO PUNISH THE BOSNIAN SERBS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: DIPLOMATS AGREED THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL WAS MOTIVATED LARGELY BY DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONCERNS. MANY RUSSIAN LEGISLATORS ARE AGGRIEVED OVER WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE NATO'S AND WASHINGTON'S ANTI-SERB POLICY.

RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR (SERGEI LAVROV) ACCUSED THE WESTERN ALLIANCE OF UNDERMINING PROSPECTS FOR PEACE. HE ALSO CHARGED NATO, IN EFFECT, OF HIJACKING THE POLITICAL SUPREMACY OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND OF WITHHOLDING VALUABLE INFORMATION -- SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES INCURRED DURING THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

EXCEPT FOR CHINA, WHICH DENOUNCED THE AIR STRIKES -- RUSSIA FOUND VIRTUALLY NO SUPPORT IN THE COUNCIL. WESTERN DIPLOMATS STRESSED THE POSITIVE RESULTS IN GENEVA FRIDAY -- DESPITE NATO BOMBING -- WHERE THE BALKAN PARTIES AGREED TO BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR A SETTLEMENT.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL LATER ISSUED A STATEMENT APPLAUDING THE GENEVA MEETING AND URGED FOLLOW-UP NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD A LASTING PEACE. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 08-Sep-95 8:08 PM EDT (0008 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA/BOSNIA(S ONLY) BY P COLLINS (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT HAS ASKED PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO SUSPEND MOSCOW'S INVOLVEMENT IN NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM. AS VOA'S PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE ACTION RESULTS FROM THE STATE DUMA'S (PARLIAMENT'S) ANGER OVER NATO AIRSTRIKES IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY AN OVERWHELMING VOTE DURING A SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT SATURDAY IN MOSCOW. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM WAS SET UP AS A MEANS TO IMPROVE COOPERATION BETWEEN NATO AND ITS ONETIME ENEMIES, THE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA.

BUT ANGRY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT -- CALLED BACK TO MOSCOW FOR A SPECIAL DEBATE ON BOSNIA -- IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE ISSUE. COMMUNIST AND NATIONALIST MEMBERS DEMANDED THE RESIGNATION OF FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV, WHOM THEY ACCUSE OF BETRAYING MOSCOW'S LONGTIME FRIENDS AND ALLIES, THE SERBS.

THE STATE DUMA ALSO ASKED PRESIDENT YELTSIN TO PUSH FOR A LIFTING OF UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND IMPOSING THEM INSTEAD ON CROATIA. MEMBERS SAID NATO'S BOMBING OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN THE FACE OFMOSCOW'S OBJECTIONS SHOWED THAT THE ALLIANCE WAS STILL HOSTILE TO RUSSIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/PC/DW/GPT
09-Sep-95 12:43 PM EDT (1643 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ASSISTANT U-S SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- WHO BROKERED A POLITICAL FRAMEWORK AMONG THE WARRING PARTIES FOR A SETTLEMENT TO THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE SOBER ASSESSMENT COMES AS A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL OUTLINES THE ROLE OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE:

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE -- WHO WILL BRIEF PRESIDENT CLINTON BEFORE RETURNING TO THE BALKANS NEXT WEEK -- SAYS ONLY LIMITED POLITICAL GAINS WERE REALIZED (FRIDAY) IN GENEVA TALKS AMONG THE CROAT, BOSNIAN AND YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTERS. HE SAYS FINALIZING THE MAP OF BOSNIA WILL BE AN EVEN TOUGHER OBSTACLE TO CLEAR THAN THE AGREED-TO FRAMEWORK:

I THINK SARAJEVO WILL BE THE TOUGHEST BUT TODAY'S (FRIDAY'S) NEGOTIATIONS WERE SO TOUGH TO GET THE LIMITED GAINS WE GOT TODAY (FRIDAY) -- IT WAS A REAL STEP TOWARD PEACE -- BUT IT WAS SO TOUGH THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED AS HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE.

MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE -- LIKELY COMPRISED OF NATO TROOPS INCLUDING UP TO 25-THOUSAND AMERICANS -- WOULD BE USED TO ENFORCE AGREEMENT HE EXPECTS IT WILL TAKE MONTHS TO CONCLUDE.

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SEUCRITY OFFICIAL ALEXANDER VERSHBOW SAYS SUCH A FORCE WOULD MOVE IN QUICKLY -- IN A MATTER OF WEEKS RATHER THAN MONTHS -- TO ESTABLISH CONTROL ON THE GROUND. HE SAYS IT WOULD EMPLOY TOUGH RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT UNRAVEL BEFORE THE INK IS DRY.

PRESIDENT CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGES MUCH DIPLOMATIC WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE AND SAYS PEACE CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF EACH SIDE SHOWS BOTH FLEXIBILITY AND STATESMANSHIP TO MAKE A POLITICAL AGREEMENT POSSIBLE. (SIGNED).

NEB/VBB/WJK
08-Sep-95 11:06 PM EDT (0306 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America