Voice of America, 12 September 1995

From: [email protected] (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SUBJECTS OF EDITORIAL INTEREST IN SOME OF AMERICA'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS TODAY INCLUDE DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL, DOMESTIC POLITICS, AND THE DALAI LAMA'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON. NOW, _______________ HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE AND OTHER TOPICS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES TELLS READERS THAT "MILITANT JEWISH SETTLERS IN THE WEST BANK HAVE BEEN AMONG THE MOST IRRECONCILABLE OPPONENTS OF ISRAEL'S PEACE AGREEMENTS WITH THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION. AS CITIZENS OF A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, THAT IS THEIR RIGHT. BUT, CONTINUES THE NEWSPAPER'S EDITORIAL, "LAST WEEKEND, TWO GANGS OF SETTLER MILITANTS TOOK THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE POINT OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE." THE TIMES ADDED:

VOICE: "ON FRIDAY, MASKED MEN DRESSED AS ISRAELI SOLDIERS MURDERED A PALESTINIAN IN HIS HOME NEAR HEBRON. A MILITANT GROUP LATER CLAIMED CREDIT. THEN, ON SUNDAY, A GROUP OF SETTLERS ANGERED BY THE DISPLAY OF A PALESTINIAN FLAG ON A GIRLS' SCHOOL IN HEBRON ATTACKED THE SCHOOL, BEATING UP ITS HEADMISTRESS AND SEVERAL STUDENTS. THESE PROVOCATIONS TOOK PLACE JUST AS PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN WAS PRESSING THE P.L.O. TO ACCEPT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS DESIGNED TO PROTECT JEWISH SETTLERS IN THE HEBRON AREA IN THE NEXT PHASE OF PALESTINIAN AUTONOMY. AS MR. RABIN RIGHTLY POINTS OUT, JEWISH ATTACKS ON PALESTINIANS GREATLY COMPLICATE HIS TASK. SETTLER VIOLENCE, LIKE ITS MORE DEADLY PALESTINIAN COUNTERPART, CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DESTROY THE PROMISE OF PEACE."

TEXT: ON A RELATED TOPIC, THE WASHINGTON TIMES NOTES THAT "NOW IT SEEMS AS IF PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN HAS GOT MORE PROBLEMS THAN HE BARGAINED FOR...." AND THE TIMES CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE IN THE REGION:

VOICE: "THE LATEST ROUND OF TALKS GOING ON IN TABA IS TRYING TO SETTLE THE QUESTION OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES' FINAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WEST BANK. THAT RETREAT IS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE HEBRON, BUT THE CITY OF 100,000 ARABS AND THE 400 ISRAELIS WHO LIVE IN THEIR MIDST IS STALLING PROGRESS. DEMONSTRATIONS AND RISING VIOLENCE HAVE MADE MATTERS MORE DIFFICULT.... TERRITORIAL DECISIONS ARE ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. NEGOTIATIONS ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE REAL NITTY-GRITTY AS ISRAEL SLOWLY TURNS MORE AND MORE WEST BANK CITIES OVER TO PALESTINIAN CONTROL. BUT EVERY STEP TOWARD A 'FINAL SETTLEMENT' SEEMS TO FORCE ISRAEL INTO A POSITION OF LEGITIMIZING ITSELF. THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING AN END TO WAR BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS -- NOT ERODE ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE OR ITS RIGHTS TO EXIST."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC POLITICAL AFFAIRS, GRAHAM YOUNG, A COMPARATIVE POLITICS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN'S MADISON CAMPUS, HAS SOME COMMENTS ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A THIRD MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES. HIS VIEWS APPEAR IN AN OPINION COLUMN PUBLISHED IN TUESDAY'S EDITION OF USA TODAY:

VOICE: "MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THIRD PARTIES DON'T WANT A MULTIPARTY SYSTEM; THEY WANT EITHER TO REPLACE ONE OF THE PARTIES WITH A NEW PARTY OR TO PUT PRESSURE ON ONE OF THE EXISTING PARTIES TO CHANGE. [BEGIN OPT] THE MAJOR ROLE OF THE THIRD PARTIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS BEEN TO PUSH ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES TO ADOPT ITS POLICIES. THE DEMOCRATS ABSORBED THE PROGRESSIVES' IDEAS, AND DOING SO HELPED TO MAKE THE DEMOCRATS THE DOMINANT PARTY FOR A GENERATION. REPUBLICANS REPLACED THE WHIGS IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY, BUT IT TOOK THE DEEP DIVIDE OVER SLAVERY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. [END OPT] BUT THOSE WHO WANT TO REPLACE REPUBLICANS OR THE DEMOCRATS WITH A NEW PARTY SHOULD REMEMBER TWO POINTS. FIRST, IT IS MUCH EASIER NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, THANKS TO THE PRIMARY SYSTEM, FOR A POPULAR MOVEMENT WITH WIDESPREAD SUPPORT TO TAKE OVER ONE OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES. SECOND, COMPETITION BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOR VOTES AT ALMOST EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT HAS RARELY BEEN SO INTENSE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GENERATIONS, EITHER PARTY HAS A REALISTIC CHANCE OF CONTROLLING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS THAT "THE PUBLIC IS FED UP...ANGRY WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, MAD THAT NOTHING GETS DONE. CONGRESS IS TOO INVOLVED IN 'PLAYING POLITICS'. 'SPECIAL INTERESTS' BLOCK LEGISLATION THAT THE PUBLIC CLEARLY FAVORS. THEN, THE MONITOR ADDS THIS THOUGHT:

VOICE: "WAIT A MINUTE. YES, IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO CHANGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT ISN'T THAT PRECISELY WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD IN MIND? THEY PURPOSELY BUILT A GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM THAT WAS CUMBERSOME AND REQUIRED A BROAD CONSENSUS FOR A CHANGE. MAYBE INSTEAD OF DECRYING THAT, WE OUGHT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO APPRECIATE ITS BENEFITS. AMERICA IS NOT A MONOLITH .... WHAT UNITES AMERICANS IS THE SHARED IDEALS SET FORTH IN THE CONSTITUTION -- AND A SENSE THAT FAIRNESS COMES FROM THE INCESSANT BARGAINING AND COMPROMISE INHERENT IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM UNITING THE DIVERSE NATION'S DIVERSE PARTS." [END OPT]

TEXT: TIBET'S DALAI LAMA IS IN WASHINGTON, ON WHAT THE WASHINGTON POST DESCRIBES AS "A DIFFICULT MISSION."

VOICE: "THIS SHREWD AND PIOUS BUDDHIST MONK IS TRYING TO CRANK UP THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO PUT CHINA'S TREATMENT OF TIBET HIGHER ON THE LIST OF AMERICAN PRIORITIES. HIS CONTENTION IS THAT THIS TIME OF LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION IN BEIJING, AND OF TENSION BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING, IS A GOOD TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE A 'FIRM AND PRINCIPLED' POSITION ON TIBET.... THE DALAI LAMA BELIEVES THAT IN THE SHORT RUN, THINGS DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR TIBET, BUT IN THE LONG RUN THEY LOOK BETTER. HE FINDS HOPE IN THE TENACITY AND SPIRITUALITY OF HIS LONG-SUFFERING PEOPLE AND IN THE EXAMPLE OF COMMUNISM'S COLLAPSE IN THE FORMER SOVIET EMPIRE. HE IS CERTAINLY RIGHT IN THINKING THE PROCESS WILL MOVE MORE QUICKLY AND -- SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORT TO ONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN VIOLENCE -- MORE PEACEFULLY IF OTHER COUNTRIES USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO HELP IT ALONG."

VOICE: AND, THE BALTIMORE SUN COMMENTS ON AN UPCOMING VOTE TO BE HELD IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.

VOICE: "QUEBEC'S SEPARATIST PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT KEPT ITS PROMISE AND DELIVERED A REFERENDUM ON SOVEREIGNTY FOR QUEBEC VOTERS TO DECIDE OCT. 30. BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN A STEADY LOSER IN THE POLLS, PREMIER JACQUES PARIZEAU MADE IT AS WEASEL-WORDED [AMBIGUOUS] AS POSSIBLE. A RINGING CALL FOR INDEPENDENCE THIS IS NOT; IT IS APOLOGETIC AND AMBIGUOUS. VOTERS WILL BE ASKED 'DO YOU AGREE THAT QUEBEC SHOULD BECOME SOVEREIGN, AFTER HAVE MADE A FORMAL OFFER TO CANADA FOR A NEW ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE BILL RESPECTING THE FUTURE OF QUEBEC AND OF THE AGREEMENT SIGNED ON JUNE 12, 1995?" .... TREMENDOUS CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN QUEBEC PROVINCE AND FOR FRENCH-SPEAKERS THROUGHOUT CANADA IN THE PAST THREE DECADES. THE BEST BET IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF QUEBECERS ARE PROUD OF THOSE CHANGES, OF BEING QUEBECER AND OF BEING CANADIAN, AND WOULDN'T GIVE UP ANY OF THAT."

VOICE: WITH THAT EDITORIAL APPEARING IN TUESDAY'S BALTIMORE SUN, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITORIAL US EDITORIAL ROUNDUP. 12-Sep-95 10:29 AM EDT (1429 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] A NEW PLAN FOR BOSNIA BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ON FRIDAY LAST WEEK, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WARRING FACTIONS IN THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT AGREED IN GENEVA ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THE FRAMEWORK OSTENSIBLY PRESERVES BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WITHIN ITS PRESENT INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS WHILE INTERNALLY DIVIDING IT INTO TWO ROUGHLY EQUAL 'ENTITIES': ONE CALLED BOSNIA, THE OTHER 'REPUBLIKA SRPSKA' [SERB-SKA]. [OPT] WHILE DIPLOMATS CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO FINALIZE THE THORNY ISSUES OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION, CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAP ARRANGEMENTS, NATO CONTINUES ITS NEARLY NON-STOP BOMBING OF BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY TARGETS. [END OPT] OA'S PAMELA TAYLOR TALKED WITH SOME BALKAN EXPERTS ABOUT THE LATEST PEACE PLAN FOR BOSNIA AND WHAT'S BEHIND THE STRATEGY OF TALKING PEACE WHILE DROPPING BOMBS:

TEXT: SOME U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE CONTINUED BOMBING OF SERB TARGETS IS TO EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD SO THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL ACCEPT THE 51-49 PERCENT DIVISION OF BOSNIA -- INSTEAD OF THE 70 PERCENT THEY NOW HOLD. BUT OTHERS SAY THE SERBS HAD ALREADY AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO THIS DIVISION AT THE TIME THEY AGREED TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE GENEVA NEGOTIATIONS BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF SERBIA. BRITISH AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST MISHA GLENNY, WHO IS CURRENTLY A VISITING FELLOW AT THE WOODROW WILSON INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SUGGESTS THE REALREASON FOR THE BOMBING WAS TO BRING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO GENEVA:

TAPE: CUT # 1 GLENNY RUNS [:28] "JUST BEFORE THE BOMBING STARTED, THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE CLEARLY MORE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THESE NEGOTIATIONS THAN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT, WHOSE PRESIDENT, ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC WAS INDICATING QUITE OPENLY THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO WITHDRAW FROM ALL NEGOTIATIONS. AND IT WAS CLEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ON BOARD, THAT THE AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR, HAD TO GIVE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SOMETHING, VERY BIG AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN THEM. THEY'VE GIVEN THEM THE BOMBING. "

TEXT: MR. GLENNY THINKS THE CONTINUED BOMBING OF SERB TARGETS IS WHAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN IN RETURN FOR A DE-FACTO PARTITION OF THEIR COUNTRY AND FOR CALLING THE BOSNIAN SERB ENTITY THE 'REPUBLIKA SRPSKA' [SERB-SKA] FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT HAD BEEN REFERRED TO BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS THE 'SO-CALLED' OR 'SELF-PROCLAIMED' REPUBLIC UNTIL FRIDAY'S ACCORD IN GENEVA. MANY HAVE INTERPRETED THIS AS A SIGNIFICANT, IF SYMBOLIC, CONCESSION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE SERBS. MISHA GLENNY SAYS IN A LAND WHERE SYMBOLS ARE OFTEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN REALITY, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MAY ALSO FIND THE CONTINUED BOMBARDMENT OF THE ENEMY SYMBOLICALLY IMPORTANT:

TAPE: [OPT] CUT # 2 GLENNY RUNS [:41] "THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BOMBING IS ACTUALLY OF NO REAL USE TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT UNLESS IT IS ABLE TO EXPLOIT IT TO LAUNCH INFANTRY OFFENSIVES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND WERE NATO TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, THEN I THINK YOU WOULD SEE A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AND A POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF THE WAR. SO ALTHOUGH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS GAINED A SORT OF SATISFACTION AT SEEING THE BOSNIAN SERBS GET A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE, IT HASN'T ACTUALLY HELPED THEM PRACTICALLY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR STRATEGIC GOALS ARE." [ END OPT]

TEXT: FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT BALKAN SPECIALIST, STEPHEN WALKER, SAYS THE PRESENT BOMBING CAMPAIGN -- HAS A VERY SPECIFIC AND OPENLY STATED OBJECTIVE -- TO CONVINCE BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL RATKO MLADIC TO PULL HIS HEAVY WEAPONS BACK FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. BUT HE AGREES THIS WAS A CONCESSION TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO BRING THEM TO GENEVA:

TAPE: CUT # 3 WALKER RUNS [:20] "THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAD AT LEAST ONE BOTTOM LINE IN ENTERING THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT WAS EITHER THAT AT LEAST THE SIEGE OF SARAJEVO WAS LIFTED OR THAT NATO AND THE U-N WOULD TAKE SERIOUS STEPS TO LIFT THE SIEGE. AND THAT'S WHAT NATO IS DOING ALTHOUGH IN A VERY LIMITED AND SOMEWHAT FEEBLE FASHION AT THIS POINT."

TEXT: MR. WALKER, WHO RESIGNED FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IN 1992 IN PROTEST AGAINST THE U-S BOSNIA POLICY AT THE TIME, NOW HEADS THE WASHINGTON-BASED BALKAN INSTITUTE. HE IS CONCERNED THAT IF GENERAL MLADIC REFUSES TO PULL BACK FROM SARAJEVO, OUT OF HIS STATED FEAR OF A BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT COUNTER-OFFENSIVE, NATO MAY FIND A WAY TO WIGGLE [MANEUVER] OUT OF ITS COMMITMENT:

TAPE: CUT # 4 WALKER RUNS [:47] "WE'VE WIGGLED OUT OF IT IN THE PAST. WE MADE A SIMILAR COMMITMENT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO GET THE SERBS TO PULL THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS OUT OF SARAJEVO. BUT THIS ONE IS A BIT MORE SERIOUS. HAVING ENGAGED IN SOME BOMBING THAT LOOKS MORE SERIOUS THAN IT IS, NATO HAS REALLY LIMITED ITS WIGGLE ROOM. IT HAS ONE OF TWO CHOICES: TO EXTEND THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN TO REALLY STRATEGIC BOMBING OF SUPPLY ROUTES. BUT TO DO THAT, NATO HAS INDICATED THEY NEED TO SECURE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION AND OF COURSE THE RUSSIANS HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL VETO THAT. SO THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO ACTUALLY TAKE OUT SOME OF THE HEAVY WEAPONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY RINGING SARAJEVO AND DO MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE SERBIAN FORCES AROUND SARAJEVO."

TEXT: BOTH MR. GLENNY AND MR. WALKER ADMIT THEY DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AGREED TO GO ALONG WITH FRIDAY'S GENEVA ACCORD. THE PLAN ALLOWS BOTH ENTITIES TO HAVE THEIR OWN 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS' WITH NEIGHBORING STATES -- BOSNIA WITH CROATIA, THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WITH SERBIA PROPER. MANY SEE THIS AS ONE DAY LEADING TO THE CREATION OF A GREATER SERBIA AND A GREATER CROATIA. SO WHY DID THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AGREE? STEPHEN WALKER OFFERS ONE EXPLANATION:

TAPE: CUT # 5 WALKER RUNS [:35] "THE BOSNIANS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT FAITH AND HOPE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT WE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. AND IF THE UNITED STATES IS FINALLY TAKING THE INITIATIVE AND EXERTING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BOSNIANS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR BOSNIA, WHICH IS STILL BESIEGED, STILL SURROUNDED BY SERBIAN FORCES, TO SAY 'NO' TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT FINALLY DOING AT LEAST SOME LIMITED BOMBING. AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING TO THEM, 'LOOK YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEST DEAL WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU'."

TEXT: BUT THE DEAL IS A LONG WAY FROM BEING SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED. MR. WALKER THINKS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MAY BE HOPING THE SERBS WILL BACK OUT OF THE GENEVA ACCORD -- AS HE SAYS, THEY HAVE BACKED OUT OR BROKEN EVERY PREVIOUS CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT BEFORE THIS ONE. (SIGNED)

NEB/PAM/NES
12-Sep-95 4:41 PM EDT (2041 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BALKAN PEACE HOPES BY ED WARNER ( WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A COMBINATION OF EVENTS HAS BROUGHT THE WAR TORN BALKANS CLOSER TO PEACE, OR SO IT IS HOPED. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS HOW THE PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA AND A FORMER TOP U.S. POLICY MAKER ASSESS THE CONFLICT.

TEXT: CHARLES GATI QUIT A TOP POST IN THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WAS AVOIDING ACTION IN BOSNIA. NOW A FELLOW AT JOHNS HOPKINS FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE, MR. GATI APPLAUDS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE AIR ATTACKS ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND A NEW PROPOSAL FOR A TERRITORIAL SETTLEMENT:

THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT IS UNSATISFACTORY TO ALL SIDES, AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE INITIAL COMMENTS INDICATE THAT THEY MAY -- I EMPHASIZE THE WORD "MAY" -- BE WILLING TO LIVE WITH IT. I HAVE BEEN A VERY STRONG CRITIC OF AMERICAN NON-POLICIES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I FIND THESE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN ARE QUITE PROMISING.

MR. GATI SAYS ATROCITIES OF WAR, LIKE THE SERB ASSAULT ON SREBRENICA, HELPED BUILD PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR A FIRMER POLICY IN BOSNIA:

THERE WAS ETHNIC CLEANSING -- THE MEN IN ONE DIRECTION, CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN ANOTHER -- AND THAT HAD A CERTAIN IMPACT ON PUBLIC OPINION IN THIS COUNTRY. THEN, THE BALANCE OF FORCES IN YUGOSLAVIA WAS CHANGED WITH THE SOMEWHAT SURPRISING AND IMPRESSIVE CROATIAN ADVANCE. AND I WOULD SAY ONE OUGHT TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO THE VERY ENERGETIC RESPONSE BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE, WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY GIVEN QUITE A BIT OF LATITUDE HERE TO BRING THE PARTIES TO NEGOTIATIONS.

MR. GATI SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN GREDIT FOR PERSUADING ITS NATO ALLIES TO APPROVE THE AIR ATTACKS. HE SAYS HE THINKS THE U-S CONGRESS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN VOTING TO LIFT THE ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST BOSNIA.

ON A VISIT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, SALI BERISHA, PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA, PRAISED THE NATO ACTION IN A SPEECH TO THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS):

WE BELIEVE THAT AN ARMS BALANCE IN THE REGION IS THE PARAMOUNT CONDITION FOR ESTABLISHING PEACE AND STABILITY. RIGHT FROM THE START, WE CONSIDERED AIR RAIDS AGAINST THE ENTIRE SERB MILITARY CAPABILITY AS THE EFFICIENT AND SURE WAY OF ACHIEVING AND REESTABLISHING THE ARMED BALANCE IN THE REGION. THIS IS WHY PERSISTENCE IN CONTINUING THE NATO AIR RAIDS WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO BRING A JUST PEACE CLOSER.

PRESIDENT BERISHA WENT ON TO SAY THAT HIS COUNTRY HAD OFFERED ITS FACILITIES TO NATO FORCES, WHO INDEED WERE LAUNCHING MISSIONS FROM ALBANIAN HARBORS AND AIR BASES.

SOME SERBS FEAR A WIDER MUSLIM COALITION EVENTUALLY ENGULFING THEM. THEY COMPLAIN THAT THE WEST IS SACRIFICING ITS OWN INTERESTS BY ESTABLISHING A FERVENT ISLAMIC STATE IN THE BALKANS WHICH WILL LINE UP WITH MUSLIM TURKEY AND ALBANIA.

ALSO ADDRESSING C-S-I-S, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ZBIGNIEV BRZEZINSKI, SAID ALBANIA, ONCE A BLEAK COMMUNIST STATE AKIN TO NORTH KOREA, HAS EVOLVED INTO A MODEL FOR THE BALKANS:

WHAT IS SOMETIMES NOT NOTICED IN ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT TURBULENCE IN THE BALKANS IS THE FACT THAT ALBANIA HAS A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO BY ORIGIN ARE OF THE MUSLIM FAITH AND LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THEIR NON-MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN BY ORIGIN, FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. THIS IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN IN ALL OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT BOSNIA AND ALLEGEDLY THE APPEARANCE OF A NEW FIRST MUSLIM STATE IN EUROPE. ALBANIA IS ALREADY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT INTER-RELIGIOUS COLLABORATION CAN SUSTAIN.

OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE AGREED ALBANIA COULD SET A STANDARD, BUT FIRST THERE MUST BE PEACE. (SIGNED)

NEB/EW/CF
12-Sep-95 9:47 AM EDT (1347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / BOMBING (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO WARPLANES HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR MOST SUSTAINED ATTACK SO FAR ON BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO, AND THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, HAS ACCUSED NATO OF DECLARING WAR ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: NATO JETS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOOD WEATHER, HAVE CONTINUED TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO, FOLLOWING OVERNIGHT RAIDS THAT ROCKED THE CITY. THE LATEST AIRSTRIKES HAVE BEEN THE MOST SUSTAINED BOMBING OF BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND THE CITY IN THE TWO WEEK OLD NATO AIR CAMPAIGN.

U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAID A SERB AMMUNITION FACTORY NORTH OF THE CITY, WHICH WAS BADLY DAMAGED ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF NATO ATTACKS, WAS RE-ATTACKED BEFORE DAWN AFTER RECONNAISSANCE REVEALED UNDAMAGED AMMUNITION BUNKERS. A NUMBER OF OTHER TARGETS AROUND THE CITY WERE ALSO ATTACKED, AND PLUMES OF SMOKE COULD BE SEEN WEST OF THE CITY AFTER NATO JETS FLEW OVER THE AREA.

THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, IN AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICAN, BRITISH AND RUSSIAN LEADERS, HAS SAID THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN COULD WRECK THE ONGOING BALKAN PEACE PROCESS AND HE ACCUSED NATO OF DECLARING WAR ON THE SERBS. U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS DENY THE CLAIM, SAYING THEY ARE CAREFULLY CHOOSING TARGETS ONLY TO PRESSURE THE SERBS TO COMPLY WITH U-N AND NATO DEMANDS.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED INDICATIONS IN RECENT DAYS THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT POLITICAL LEADERS WISH TO COMPLY WITH THE DEMANDS, BUT THE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMANDER, RATKO MLADIC, HAS REMAINED DEFIANT.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN NO SIGN THE SERBS ARE WITHDRAWING THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS FROM THE 20-KILOMETER EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND SARAJEVO, THE PRINCIPAL U-N AND NATO DEMAND. OTHER DEMANDS INCLUDE AN END TO ATTACKS ON U-N DECLARED SAFE AREAS AND ALLOWING FREE ACCESS TO SARAJEVO FOR U-N AND HUMANITARIAN AID AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE OPENING OF SARAJEVO'S AIRPORT.

THE U-N HAS UNILATERALLY OPENED A ROAD INTO THE CITY ACROSS THE U-N CONTROLLED AIRPORT, AND OFFICIALS SAY ONE-THOUSAND TONS A DAY OF CONSUMER GOODS ARE COMING INTO THE CITY. THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY U-N ARTILLERY ATTACKS HAVE LARGELY STOPPED ALL BOSNIAN SERB SHELLING OF SARAJEVO, BUT THE OFFICIALS SAY NATO BOMBING WILL NOT END UNTIL THE SERBS HEAVY GUNS ARE WITHDRAWN.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE WARNED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN, BY LAUNCHING ATTACKS AROUND SARAJEVO, BUT THE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT INSISTED THAT ATTACKS SHOULD NOT BE LAUNCHED ELSEWHERE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/CF
12-Sep-95 11:44 AM EDT (1544 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA / NATO / SERBS (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: NATO SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS COMPLY WITH THE DEMAND TO WITHDRAW HEAVY GUNS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS SAYS NATO'S ACTIONS ARE TANTAMOUNT TO A DECLARATION OF WAR.

TEXT: NATO WARPLANES ONCE AGAIN HIT BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS -- AND AS NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS, THE TARGETS WERE THE SAME AS IN PREVIOUS NATO STRIKES.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO OPERATE AGAINST ESSENTIALLY BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY TARGETS IN THE SARAJEVO AREA, ALTHOUGH ALSO IN SOUTHEASTERN BOSNIA. WE ARE LOOKING AT AMMUNITIONS DUMPS, WEAPONS STORAGE POINTS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS -- IN SOME CASES BRIDGES, ALSO ARMAMENTS, MUNITIONS FACTORIES.

MR. SHEA SAYS THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THE BOSNIAN MILITARY IS COMPLYING WITH THE NATO AND UNITED NATIONS DEMAND TO WITHDRAW HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THIS DEMAND IS MET.

WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO BACK DOWN. THE BOSNIAN SERBS OBVIOUSLY, GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, HAVE DOUBTED THE POLITICAL WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND PROBABLY HOPE THAT OUR NERVES WOULD CRACK BEFORE THEIRS WOULD. BUT I THINK NOW THAT THIS OPERATION IS WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK, WE ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT WE DO -- THIS TIME -- HAVE THE STAMINA TO CONTINUE.

MR. SHEA SAYS NATO IS NOT AT WAR WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- BUT THAT VIEW IS DISPUTED BY MISHA GAVRILOVIC FROM LONDON'S SERBIAN INFORMATION CENTER.

THEY (NATO WARPLANES) ARE HITTING NOT JUST MILITARY TARGETS AS IS BEING STATED. IN FACT THE MILITARY TARGETS ARE NOT THAT EASY TO HIT: WE ARE TALKING AFTER ALL OF TANKS AND THINGS THAT ARE ON LORRIES (TRUCKS) AND MOVE AROUND. MUCH EASIER TO HIT HAS BEEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE: THE BRIDGES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE ELECTRICITY, POWER STATIONS HAVE BEEN HIT. WATER PLANTS HAVE BEEN HIT. THIS IS AN ATTACK AGAINST THE INFRASTRUCTURE -- AND ONE GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AIM IS TO REALLY DESTROY THE POSSIBILITY FOR THIS BOSNIAN SERBIAN REPUBLIC TO OPERATE AS A VIABLE ECONOMIC UNIT.

MR. GAVRILOVIC ASKS WHETHER NATO WANTS A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- OR PEACE? HE SAYS IF NATO WANTS PEACE IN THE REGION, THAT IS NOT ACHIEVED BY BOMBING PEOPLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/JWH/MMK
12-Sep-95 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA / U-S (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S BOSNIA NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE LEAVES WASHINGTON THIS EVENING FOR BELGRADE TO RESUME HIS PEACE MISSION IN THE BALKANS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO RESOLVE DOUBTS IN RUSSIA ABOUT NATO'S MILITARY ACTION.

TEXT: RUSSIA IS ACCUSING NATO OF CONDUCTING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS GOING TO MOSCOW THIS WEEK TO TRY TO WORK OUT DIFFERENCES WITH RUSSIA OVER NATO'S AIR STRIKES.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS IT IS UP TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO COME TO THEIR SENSES, AND HE EXPECTS RUSSIA TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA.

DEPUTY SECRETARY TALBOTT REGULARLY MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, AND THIS SEEMED TO BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO COMPARE NOTES ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON -- THAT IS, THE DESIRE TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT AND TO MAKE THE POINTS THAT I HAVE JUST MADE HERE THIS MORNING, THAT IT IS UP TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BRING THIS BOMBING CAMPAIGN TO AN END.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE MADE HIS COMMENTS BEFORE A MEETING WITH CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC. MR. GRANIC SAYS CROATIA SUPPORTS THE U-S PEACE INITIATIVE AND IS EXERCISING MILITARY RESTRAINT WHILE THE INITIATIVE CONTINUES. (SIGNED)

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12-Sep-95 11:10 AM EDT (1510 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] CLINTON-BOSNIA (S & L UPDATE) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SENDING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE BACK TO EUROPE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO CONTINUE DIPLOMATIC TALKS AIMED AT SECURING A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN BOSNIA. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS THE LATEST.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE LEAVES WASHINGTON FOR EUROPE TUESDAY FOR TALKS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONTACT GROUP TO ADVANCE PROGRESS ON A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. THE U-S DIPLOMAT--WHOSE SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS HELPED BROKER THE AGREEMENT-- MET MONDAY WITH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. AFTER MR. HOLBROOKE MET AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FOREIGN POLICY ADVISERS, CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY TOLD REPORTERS THE PRESIDENT WELCOMES THE PROGRESS MADE TO DATE TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. AND HE EXPRESSED HOPE THE NEXT HOLBROOKE MISSION COULD LEAD TO THE KIND OF SETTLEMENT THAT WOULD, IN HIS WORDS, PROVIDE A "VIABLE FUTURE" FOR ALL SIDES IN THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. UNDER THE AGREEMENT ANNOUNCED IN GENEVA LAST WEEK, THERE WOULD BE ONE BOSNIA WITH TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES--FOR BOSNIAN SERBS AND A MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. YET MANY DETAILS STILL REMAIN TO BE WORKED OUT-- A POLITICAL REALITY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE PARTIES AND STRESSED REPEATEDLY BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. EARLIER IN THE DAY, CLINTON SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAID THE PRESIDENT FULLY SUPPORTS THE DECISION BY NATO MILITARY COMMANDERS TO USE TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILES TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE SITES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID USING THE CRUISE MISSILES--LAUNCHED FROM A U-S WARSHIP-- MINIMIZED RISK TO U-S AND ALLIED PILOTS. HE TOLD REPORTERS PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD APPROVED THE GENERAL PARAMETERS OF THE BOMBING PLAN AND AIR CAMPAIGN, AND WAS AWARE THE MISSION COULD INCLUDE USE OF THE CRUISE MISSILES. PRESIDENT CLINTON DID NOT GIVE SPECIFIC APPROVAL FOR USING THE CRUISE MISSILES--THAT WAS LEFT UP TO THE NATO MILITARY COMMANDERS. MR. MCCURRY SAID THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE AIR CAMPAIGN MIGHT ADVERSELY AFFECT DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS. HOWEVER, HE SAID U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE BOSNIAN SERBS CAN WITHDRAW HEAVY WEAPONS FROM SARAJEVO-- WHICH NATO IS DEMANDING--WITH NO IMPACT ON THE TALKS. HE ALSO SAID HE EXPECTS NATO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA TO CONTINUE IN WHAT HE CALLED A "CLIMATE OF NO SURPRISES." IT WAS A CLEAR REFERENCE TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S WARNING HE WOULD REASSESS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALLIANCE BECAUSE OF THE NATO STRIKES AGAINST THE SERBS, RUSSIA'S TRADITIONAL ALLY. TUESDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH VISITING ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA, AND BOSNIA IS LIKELY TO BE ON THE AGENDA. (SIGNED)

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11-Sep-95 8:48 PM EDT (0048 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] CROATIA / HARASSMENT -- PART 1 BY KYLE KING (KNIN)

INTRO: IT HAS BEEN FIVE WEEKS SINCE THE CROATIAN ARMY RECAPTURED THE SERB-HELD KRAJINA AREA AND FORCED MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND SERBS TO FLEE. EVEN AFTER THE ARMY'S CLEAR VICTORY, U-N OFFICIALS SAY CROATIAN TROOPS CONTINUE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CAMPAIGN OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST THE ELDERLY SERB CIVILIANS WHO REMAINED BEHIND. V-O-A'S KYLE KING HAS BEEN IN THE KRAJINA, WHERE HE TRAVELED WITH A U-N TEAM TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE SERB VILLAGERS.

TEXT: MARKO AND MANDA TINTOR, AN ELDERLY SERB COUPLE WHO LIVE IN A TINY VILLAGE JUST A FEW KILOMETERS OUTSIDE KNIN, SAY THEY ARE READY TO GIVE UP THEIR SMALL FARM AND GO TO A UNITED NATIONS CAMP WHERE THEY WILL BE SAFE.

ALMOST EVERY DAY, CIVILIANS ARE COMING, BUT THEY ARE DRESSED IN UNIFORMS AND THEY ARE STEALING AND SEARCHING HOUSES, STEALING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE FOUND.

LIKE THE REMAINING HANDFUL OF SERBS IN OTHER VILLAGES AROUND THE PLEVNO VALLEY, 65-YEAR-OLD MARKO TINTOR AND HIS WIFE STAYED BEHIND WHEN CROATIAN TROOPS RETOOK THE REGION LAST MONTH. NOW THEY SAY THEY LIVE IN FEAR OF THE TROOPS.

FIRST, WHEN THEY COME INSIDE THE HOUSES THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WEAPONS, THEN THEY TRIED, THEY SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR DEUTSCH MARKS, DOLLARS.

A UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN WHO HAS BEEN MONITORING THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION AROUND KNIN, ALUN ROBERTS, SAYS THE TINTORS, LIKE THE OTHER REMAINING SERBS HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE AFRAID.

CERTAINLY WHEN WE WERE HERE ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, VERY SIMILAR STORY OF PEOPLE COMING. ON ONE OCCASION THEY SAID THEY HAD GUNS AND THREATENED THEM AGAINST THE WALL. SAYING THEY WOULD COME BACK LATER. THIS WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

PETRO ROMASSEV A UNITED NATIONS CIVILIAN POLICE MONITOR, PETRO ROMASSEV, SAYS THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR CASES.

I CANNOT EVEN COUNT ABOUT THESE CASES, BUT YOU CAN SEE ANY VILLAGE, ANYWHERE YOU MEET PEOPLE, YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND EVEN IF YOU GO TO THE VILLAGES, YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN EYES, PEOPLE COMING, TAKING THINGS.

FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, SOLDIERS CAN BE SEEN LOOTING A GARAGE IN PLAIN SIGHT. NEARLY EVERY HOUSE HAS BEEN BURNED, THE CONTENTS SPILLED OUT ONTO THE YARD AND PICKED THROUGH.

CROATIAN AUTHORITIES DENY THEIR TROOPS ARE BURNING OR LOOTING THE HOMES OF SERBS. THEY BLAME SUCH INCIDENTS ON SERB PARAMILITARY GROUPS OR ENRAGED CROATIAN REFUGEES WHO HAVE COME BACK TO THE AREA FOUR YEARS AFTER THEY WERE EXPELLED BY THE SERBS.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT ITS TROOPS ARE DOING IN THE KRAJINA, AND THEY ARE CALLING ON MILITARY COMMANDERS TO BRING IT TO AN END. (SIGNED)

NEB/KDK/JWH/CF
12-Sep-95 1:24 PM EDT (1724 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] CROATIA / HARASSMENT -- PART 2 BY KYLE KING (KNIN)

INTRO: FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE CROATIAN ARMY RECAPTURED TERRITORY IN SERB-HELD KRAJINA, THE HANDFUL OF ELDERLY SERB VILLAGERS WHO DECIDED NOT TO FLEE SAY THEY ARE BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BY CROATIAN TROOPS. IN HIS FINAL REPORT FROM THE REGION, V-O-A'S KYLE KING LOOKS AT THE PLIGHT OF THE VILLAGERS AND WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD LIKE TO DO ABOUT IT.

TEXT: IN NEARLY EVERY REMAINING SERB VILLAGE IN THE PLEVNO VALLEY, THE STORY IS MUCH THE SAME. MOST OF THE HOUSES ARE DESTROYED, THE BLOATED CARCASSES OF CATTLE LIE IN THE FIELDS, AND CROATIAN TROOPS AND CIVILIANS ROAM THE AREA, STEALING ANYTHING OF VALUE.

ELDERLY SERB VILLAGERS SAY SOLDIERS COME REPEATEDLY TO HARASS THEM, AND TRY TO FORCE THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

ONE OF THE SOLDIERS TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD GO TO LIVE IN THE BUSH, THAT IF THEY WANT TO SURVIVE THIS PLACE THEY SHOULD LEAVE THEIR HOUSES AND GO TO THE BUSHES.

CROATIAN OFFICIALS DENY THEY ARE TRYING TO FORCE ALL THE SERBS OUT OF THE AREA. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, VESNA SKARE OZBOLT, SAYS THOSE WHO LEAVE DO SO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING, NOBODY THROWS THEM OUT, SERBIAN POPULATION OUT OF THEIR HOMES, THEY VOLUNTARILY WANT (TO) GO TO SERBIA, BOSNIA.

U-N SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS DISAGREES.

THAT IS PALPABLE NONSENSE REALLY, THE CROATIAN'S KNOW VERY WELL THIS IS GOING ON. THEY HAVE BLOCKED OUR ACCESS TO AREAS WHERE IT IS GOING ON IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A QUIET WELL ORCHESTRATED CAMPAIGN TO STOP US SEEING THE FULL HORROR OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING IN THE KRAJINA.

DESPITE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF CROATIAN TROOPS LOOTING AND SETTING FIRE TO SERB HOUSES, THE CROATIAN SPOKESWOMAN SAYS IT IS LARGELY THE SERBS THEMSELVES WHO ARE DOING IT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS WHO ARE BURNING THESE HOUSES. SERB PARAMILITARY, THE GROUPS STILL IN THE MOUNTAINS. WE HAVE REFUGEES WHO CAME BACK. THIS IS NOT CROATIAN POLICY, DEFINITELY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO BURN THESE HOUSES, BECAUSE WE NEED EVERY HOUSE.

U-N SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS SAYS THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS GOOD REASON TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE.

THEY HAVE TO SAY IT PUBLICLY BECAUSE SOON THERE WILL BE TALK ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION MONEY. THERE WILL BE TALK ABOUT REBUILDING THE KRAJINA. THEY CAN NOT ADMIT THEIR ARMY IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL IN AREAS WHICH ARE BEING DESTROYED BY THAT ARMY, IN WHICH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IS LIKELY TO BE ASKED TO REBUILD VERY SOON.

A HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT AT THE U-N CRISIS CELL IN ZAGREB, PEGGY HICKS, SAYS ONE OF THE THINGS THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT COULD DO NOW TO END ABUSES IN THE KRAJINA WOULD BE TO BRING CIVILIAN POLICE IN TO TAKE OVER FROM THE MILITARY.

THE SECOND IS TO GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL OF THEIR COMMANDERS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. TO MAKE A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE EFFORT, THAN THEY HAVE TO DATE, TO STOP THE CIVILIAN LOOTING AND BURNING OF HOUSES THAT IS GOING ON AS WELL.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, THE FEW REMAINING SERBS IN THE KRAJINA WILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES OR DEPEND ON THE UNITED NATIONS FOR PROTECTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
12-Sep-95 1:18 PM EDT (1718 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] NATO / BOSNIA (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO HAS CARRIED OUT ITS MOST INTENSE AIR ATTACKS AGAINST BOSNIAN-SERB MILITARY TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO. AT THE SAME TIME, NATO DENIES A RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ITS AIR OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AMOUNT TO GENOCIDE AGAINST THE SERBS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO WARPLANES HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BETTER WEATHER OVER BOSNIA TO LAUNCH WAVES OF ATTACKS ON SERB MILITARY FACILITIES AROUND SARAJEVO.

THEY HAVE BEEN THE MOST INTENSIVE ATTACKS IN THE SARAJEVO REGION. THEY FOLLOW NATO'S MISSILE ATTACK EARLIER IN THE WEEK ON A SERB AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA.

IN A STATEMENT REPORTED BY THE ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY RUSSIA, ACCUSES NATO OF CARRYING OUT A CAMPAIGN OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

A NATO SPOKESMAN IN BRUSSELS, FLORENT SWIJSEN, SAYS THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENT IS NONSENSE.

WELL, THIS IS TOTALLY, COMPLETELY WRONG, AND I CAN ONLY SAY THAT THIS STATEMENT IS REALLY TAKING EVERYTHING OUT OF CONTEXT. WHAT NATO IS DOING IS SIMPLY RESPONDING TO A REQUEST FROM THE UNITED NATIONS THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS (ON BOSNIA) BE RESPECTED.

THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THE BOSNIAN SERBS MUST STOP THREATENING SARAJEVO AND OTHER U-N/DECLARED SAFE AREAS.

THE SERBS ARE REFUSING TO WITHDRAW THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, TO ALLOW THE SARAJEVO AIRPORT TO RE-OPEN, OR TO ALLOW U-N PERSONNEL FREE ACCESS IN THE CITY.

WHILE IT HAS INTENSIFIED ITS AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB FACILITIES AROUND SARAJEVO, NATO DENIES ALLIANCE AIRCRAFT WILL START TO ATTACK SERB GROUND FORCES.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS THE REPORTED COMMENT BY BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEY OF A CHANGE IN NATO TARGETING POLICY IS WRONG AND MISLEADING.

BY THE WAY, MR. SACIRBEY HAS ALSO INFORMED NATO THAT HE MADE NO SUCH ASSERTION. AND, I CAN ADD TO THAT THAT IT IS NOT NATO'S PRACTICE TO DISCUSS ITS TARGETING POLICY WITH ANY PARTY TO THE CONFLICT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HAS TOLD REPORTERS IN BRUSSELS HE BELIEVES PEACE IS VERY CLOSE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE SAYS THIS IS THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM. BUT, HE SAYS IF BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC REMAINS IN CHARGE, THE STORM WILL CONTINUE FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. GENERAL MLADIC HAS SAID HE WILL NOT DISCUSS SERB COMPLIANCE WITH U-N AND NATO DEMANDS UNTIL THE AIR ATTACKS ON THE SERBS HAVE ENDED. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
12-Sep-95 12:12 PM EDT (1612 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA MEETS PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY (TUESDAY) AS HE CONTINUES A U-S VISIT HIGHLIGHTED BY TALKS ON THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND ECONOMIC AID. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. BERISHA IS OFFERING TO ALLOW NATO BASES IN HIS COUNTRY-- ONCE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED COMMUNIST-RULE LANDS IN THE WORLD:

TEXT: MR. BERISHA'S TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE THE ALBANIAN LEADER'S CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO -- A PROVINCE IN SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA. MR. BERISHA SAYS THEIR PLIGHT SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA MADE UP OF THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. BERISHA MET (MONDAY) WITH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER:

PRESIDENT BERISHA IS HERE AT THE INVITATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SECRETARY (OF STATE WARREN) CHRISTOPHER TO TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE BALKANS, TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ALBANIA HAS IN MANY OF THE QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE WAR IN THE BALKANS AND TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC REFORM IN ALBANIA AND AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN ALBANIA.

THE ALBANIAN LEADER IS ALSO TO MEET TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.

HE MET WITH WORLD BANK OFFICIALS AND TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN (MONDAY). HE IS TO MEET WEDNESDAY WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY. THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA CONDUCTED JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES IN JULY. THE ALBANIAN LEADER HAS OFFERED NATO PORTS AND AIRFIELDS IN HIS COUNTRY.

ALBANIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE WEST HAVE IMPROVED SINCE IT SHED COMMUNISM IN 1991. (SIGNED)

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11-Sep-95 10:56 PM EDT (0256 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] U-S-BOSNIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S BOSNIA NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE RESUMES HIS BALKAN PEACE MISSION BY FLYING TO BELGRADE THIS EVENING FOR TALKS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT THE DIPLOMATIC SCHEDULE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE RUSSIAN CONCERNS.

TEXT: RUSSIA IS ACCUSING NATO OF GENOCIDE IN ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE UNITED STATES IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW MOVEMENT ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT IS SENDING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBOOKE DIRECTLY TO BELGRADE BEFORE A MEETING OF THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS GOING TO MOSCOW IN A QUICKLY SCHEDULED MEETING TO DISCUSS RUSSIA'S DISPLEASURE WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE MEETING THE CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYS RUSSIA SHOULD DIRECT ITS CRITICISM TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

THE POINT I WOULD STRESS IS THAT IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS AS TO WHEN THIS CAMPAIGN CAN COME TO AN END. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NECESSARY TO BRING IT TO AN END. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO STRESS IN OUR DEALINGS WITH THE RUSSIANS, AND FOR THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED WITH THEM TO THE PEACE PROCESS. THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PEACE PROCESS.

THE RUSSIANS WILL BE THE HOST IN GENEVA FOR THURSDAY'S MEETING OF THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP THAT WILL SET THE STRATEGY FOR STARTING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES AGREED LAST WEEK AMONG BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIAN-DOMINATED YUGOSLAVIA. IN ADVANCE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THE PROSPECT FOR KEEPING THE BOSNIAN SERBS INVOLVED IN THE PEACE PROCESS DESPITE THE BOMBING.

THE RUSSIANS WANTED MR. HOLBROOKE TO RESUME HIS PEACE INITIATIVE EVEN BEFORE THE CONTACT GROUP MEETING IN THE HOPE CONDITIONS CAN BE CREATED TO STOP THE BOMBING. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS FIRST.

NATO IS DETERMINED TO TAKE FIRM ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS SO LONG AS THEY ARE IN OPEN VIOLATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. THIS CAMPAIGN THAT'S GOING ON THERE NOW, THIS AIR CAMPAIGN, IS TAKEN PURSUANT TO UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS AND BEING CONDUCTED BY NATO WHICH YESTERDAY AGAIN REAFFIRMED OUR DECISION TO GO FORWARD. I HOPE THAT THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES AND REALIZE THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE THE STEPS THAT CAN BRING THIS BOMBING CAMPAIGN TO AN END.

BEFORE HIS MEETING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC, TOLD REPORTERS, HIS COUNTRY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESUMPTION OF THE AMERICAN PEACE INITIATIVE. MR. GRANIC SAYS CROATIA IS STOPPING ALL MILITARY ACTIONS SO LONG AS THE INITIATIVE CONTINUES.

CROATIA HAS RECOVERED MOST OF THE SERBIAN-CONTROLLED PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BUT STILL WANTS TO RECAPTURE EASTERN SLAVONIA AND OTHER AREAS ON THE SERBIAN BORDER. THE GENEVA NEGOTIATIONS INCLUDE EASTERN SLAVONIA AS ONE TOPIC TO BE SETTLED BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERBIA. CROATIA HAS THREATENED MILITARY ACTION IF THE NEGOTIATIONS DO NOT SUCCEED. (SIGNED)

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12-Sep-95 12:51 PM EDT (1651 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] U-S / BOSNIA (L-O) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEGUN PRELIMINARY CONSULTATIONS WITH THE U-S CONGRESS OVER A CONTRIBUTION TO A POSSIBLE BOSNIA RECONSTRUCTION FUND. U-S OFFICIALS HOPE IT WOULD GIVE THE WARRING PARTIES MORE INCENTIVE TO AGREE TO A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE SETTLEMENT. YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE ADMINISTRATION IS CONTINUING TO PURSUE NATO'S MILITARY STRATEGY, WHICH WAS ENDORSED TUESDAY BY A VISITING EUROPEAN LEADER. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT: CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY IS CONFIRMING PRELIMINARY TALKS HAVE BEEN HELD BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS OVER A U-S CONTRIBUTION TO A POSSIBLE BOSNIA RECONSTRUCTION FUND. HE IS NOT RULING OUT A REPORTED FIGURE OF 500 MILLION DOLLARS. BUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH, OVER HOW LONG A PERIOD-- THESE ARE QUESTIONS HE SAYS HAVE NOT AND CANNOT YET BE ANSWERED.

IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY BEFORE THE UNITED STATES WILL BE PAYING FOR ANY RECONSTRUCTION IN BOSNIA. THERE'S A WAR GOING ON THERE STILL. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS TO TRY TO BRING THE WAR TO AN END. CERTAINLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE AN INDUCEMENT TO THE PARTIES TO END THE CONFLICT IS THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A SERIOUS ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT THAT COULD COME TOGETHER ONCE THEY AGREE TO STOP FIGHTING. (BUT) THEY HAVEN'T AGREED TO STOP FIGHTING YET.

THE NATO AIR STRIKES WERE ALSO ENDORSED BY VISITING ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA.

DEFINITELY, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY BECAUSE THESE AIR STRIKES ARE UNDOING WHAT THE EMBARGO DID WRONG (ED NOTE: IN LEAVING THE MUSLIMS DEFENSELESS).

HE CALLED THE GENEVA AGREEMENT ON A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR A BROADER SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA "A GOOD BEGINNING."

THE ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HELD WHAT A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN CALLED A VERY POSITIVE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON.

A U-S OFFICIAL NOTED WHAT HE CALLED THE TREMENDOUS STRIDES ALBANIA HAS MADE, FOR EXAMPLE, TRIPLING ITS PER CAPITA INCOME SINCE ITS CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. HE CALLED PRESIDENT BERISHA A STRONG PROPONENT OF NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. WASHINGTON IS TO EQUIP AND OUTFIT THE ALBANIAN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT.

FOR HIS PART, THE VISITING ALBANIAN PRESIDENT CALLED HIS TALKS "FRIENDLY AND OPEN." PRESIDENT BERISHA SAID HE WAS ASSURED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON THE UNITED STATES FULLY SUPPORTS THE RESTORATION OF HUMAN AND NATIONAL RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)

NEB / BORG / BD / SKH
12-Sep-95 3:44 PM EDT (1944 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America