Voice of America, 25 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TUESDAY COMES IN FOR A FULL RANGE OF COMMENTARY IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THURSDAY'S U-S NEWSAPERS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE RESTRICTION OF ECONOMIC NEWS INTO CHINA; CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN; JUSTICE IN SOUTH KOREA, AND A GLIMMER OF REALISM IN IRAQ. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ____________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THERE IS MUCH LIVELY DEBATE ON HOW PRESIDENT CLINTON PERFORMED IN HIS MAJOR ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS TUESDAY ON THE STATE OF THE NATION -- AN ADDRESS MANDATED BY THE CONSTITUTION. "THE WASHINGTON POST" HEADLINES ITS EDITORIAL, "EAST COAST OSCAR NIGHT", A REFERENCE TO THE BIG AWARD CEREMONIES HELD EACH YEAR IN CALIFORNIA HONORING THE YEAR'S BEST U-S FILMS. IN PART, TODAY'S "POST" SAYS THE SPEECH, TO ITS DETRIMENT, HAS BECOME MORE AN EVENT, THAN A SERIOUS ANALYSIS OF THE COUNTRY'S OVERALL CONDITION.

VOICE: "OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE GHASTLY RITE AS IT HAS COME TO BE EVER MORE ELABORATELY PRACTICED IN RECENT YEARS. WE CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER IT'S THE POLITICAL EQUIVALENT OF OSCAR NIGHT OR THE GODCHILD OF THOSE OLD SOVIET PARTY CONFERENCES IN WHICH UNANIMITY ... WAS SO UTTERLY MECHANICAL AND GRIM. THE EVENT IS ENTIRELY STAGED, CONTRIVED WITH A VIEW TO ITS MEDIA COVERAGE AND THE IMAGERY IT PROJECTS... CAN'T THEY JUST GO BACK TO, SAY, A SERIOUS SPEECH AND AN AUDIENCE THAT BEHAVES AS IF ITS MEMBERS WERE GROWN-UP, RESPONSIBLE, NORMAL PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH THE WAY THE COUNTRY IS GOVERNED?"

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" VIEWED THE SPEECH, AND THE EVENING, AS A POLITICAL VEHICLE, WITH MR. CLINTON THE WINNER, AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BOB DOLE THE LOSER.

VOICE: "AS POLITICAL THEATER, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LEFT THE STAGE STREWN WITH REPUBLICAN DEAD AND WOUNDED -- THEIR DREAMS OF A BALANCED BUDGET IN TATTERS AND CONSERVATIVE ISSUES THEY THOUGHT THEY OWNED BRAZENLY PURLOINED BY THE ORATOR FROM ARKANSAS. AN ADDED BONANZA FOR THE DEMOCRATS WAS THE SPECTACLE OF A CONFRONTATIONAL BOB DOLE, HERETOFORE THE CHIEF G-O-P CONCILIATOR, BEING RENDERED IRRELEVANT BY [NEWT] GINGRICH REVOLUTIONARIES SUDDENLY EAGER TO DO A DEAL. [OPT] ... MR. CLINTON, DRAWING A 70 PERCENT FAVORABLE RESPONSE IN QUICKIE OPINION POLLS, MADE THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY. SENATOR DOLE, WHO DID NOT, MAY HAVE HURT HIS BID FOR THE G-O-P NOMINATION."

TEXT: IN THE FAR NORTHEAST, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SUGGESTS IT WAS AN OLD, BUT SUCCESSFUL, VERSION OF THE PRESIDENT WHO SPOKE.

VOICE: "[MR.] CLINTON'S SPEECH WAS LESS A REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION ... THAN THE OPENING SPEECH OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN... FOR NOW ... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON HAS DRAMATICALLY GRASPED THE INITIATIVE. HE CHAMPIONS REDUCING THE SIZE AND COST OF GOVERNMENT AND PRESERVING FOR AMERICAN VOTERS ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS HE BELIEVES THEY SUPPORT. NO ONE WILL FIND IT EASY TO THROW HIM OFF COURSE."

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW IS EXPRESSED BY "THE NEW YORK POST", WHICH SAYS IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT BILL CLINTON WHO ADDRESSED THE NATION TUESDAY:

VOICE: "HAD BILL CLINTON GOVERNED DURING HIS FIRST THREE YEARS IN A MANNER THAT RESEMBLED HIS TUESDAY NIGHT MESSAGE, HE WOULD NOW DOMINATE THE CENTER OF AMERICAN POLITICAL LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESIDENT WHO DELIVERED THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AND THE PRESIDENT WHO'S BEEN RUNNING THE COUNTRY ARE DIFFERENT POLITICAL PERSONALITIES. ... AFTER THREE YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, [MR.] CLINTON HAS A RECORD ... WHICH ... DOESN'T MATCH THE CENTRIST VISION HE PURPORTS TO ESPOUSE."

TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, AND IN ITS VERY OWN COLLOQUIAL WAY, THE NEW YORK "DAILY NEWS" GAVE HIGH MARKS TO MR. CLINTON, WHOM IT CALLS "BUBBA."

VOICE: "IF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SENATOR BOB DOLE'S BACK-TO-BACK T-V SPEECHES ... WERE BEING SCORED LIKE A CAMPAIGN DEBATE, THE WINNER WOULD BE [MR.] CLINTON. BY A LANDSLIDE. .... DESPITE ITS SHORTFALLS, THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH SOARED OVER THE SOUR-GRAPES REJOINDER FROM THE NOT-SO-LOYAL OPPOSITION."

TEXT: INTERNATIONAL TOPICS THIS DAY CONCERN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ORIENT, AND CHINA FOREMOST. THE "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY CHINA IS RESTRICTING THE INFLOW OF ECONOMIC NEWS, AS IT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED.

VOICE: "CHINA'S AGING POLITICAL LEADERS WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT FAIL TO GRASP THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF FREE SPEECH. INVESTORS WON'T PUT MONEY INTO MARKETS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AND FILLED WITH UNKNOWN RISKS. ESTABLISHING PRICES FOR STOCKS, FOR EXAMPLE, REQUIRES INVESTORS TO HAVE AS MUCH FAIR AND RELIABLE INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE RISKS AND POTENTIAL REWARDS. PREVENTING CHINESE CITIZENS FROM GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT BUSINESS WILL ONLY STUNT THE NATION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT."

TEXT: ANOTHER ASPECT OF CHINESE POLICY, ITS RENEWED AGGRESSIVE STANCE TOWARD TAIWAN, DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: "BEIJING POUNCED ON AN UNOFFICIAL VISIT TO AMERICA LAST YEAR BY TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT, LEE TENG-HUI, TO REGISTER ITS STRONG OBJECTION TO ANY POTENTIAL CHANGE IN TAIWAN'S STATUS. BUT CHINA HAS NOW ESCALATED TENSIONS BY RECKLESSLY RAISING THE PROSPECT THAT IT MIGHT USE MILITARY FORCE TO INTIMIDATE TAIWAN. THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES MUST MAKE CLEAR THAT SUCH A STEP WOULD UNRAVEL BEIJING'S RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND UNDERMINE CHINA'S PRIZED ECONOMIC BOOM. [OPT] TAIWAN IS TOO BIG TO BE TREATED AS A MERE PAWN IN RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING." [END OPT]

TEXT: STILL OVERSEAS, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" REMARKS THAT SOUTH KOREAN JUSTICE IS UNDERGOING A "WATERSHED" [EXTREMELY MAJOR EVENT] IN THE PROSECUTION OF TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS.

VOICE: "IF THE 1980 KWANGJU MASSACRE WAS A WATERSHED IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH KOREA'S REPRESSIVE MILITARY RULE, THEN CERTAINLY THIS WEEK'S DECISION BY KIM YOUNG SAM'S GOVERNMENT TO PROSECUTE TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS FOR THEIR ROLES IN THAT ATROCITY IS A WATERSHED IN THE LONG QUEST TO BRING TO JUSTICE THOSE RESPONSIBLE. [OPT] THE KWANGJU MASSACRE REMAINS A DEEP WOUND IN THE KOREAN BODY POLITIC. THE IMPERATIVE NOW IS NOT SIMPLY TO PUT ON TRIAL THOSE WHO CAUSED IT BUT TO EXPOSE EVERY KNOWABLE FACT RELATED TO THAT CRIME SO THE WOUND MAY AT LAST BE HEALED."

TEXT: OF THE PEACE TALKS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC OVER PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" FEELS THE SITUATION IS AT YET ANOTHER CROSSROADS.

VOICE: "FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PERSUADE THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY AND OTHER MEN OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO GIVE UP WEAPONS. THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT NOW FACE A CHOICE: LET THE ARMS IMPASSE HOLD DIPLOMACY HOSTAGE OR BEGIN TALKS AIMED AT A PERMANENT PEACE. "

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" TODAY SEES "A GLIMMER OF REALISM IN IRAQ."

VOICE: "IRAQI STRONGMAN SADDAM HUSSEIN FINALLY SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN A REALISTIC STANCE REGARDING MONEY PROBLEMS... MR. HUSSEIN PROBABLY FIGURED ... HE WOULD SHAME THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL INTO BACKING DOWN FROM THE SANCTIONS THAT WERE SLAPPED ON IRAQ AS A RESULT OF ITS AGGRESSION AGAINST KUWAIT IN 1990... EARLY ON, THE SECURITY COUNCIL MADE PROVISIONS FOR IRAQ TO SELL SOME OF ITS OIL UNDER U-N GUIDELINES. (SADDAM) HUSSEIN REPEATEDLY REFUSED -- UNTIL LATELY, THAT IS. TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO START SOON. THAT HE APPEARS TO BE COMING AROUND IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT -- ESPECIALLY FOR THE LONG-SUFFERING IRAQIS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF THE EDITORIALS IN SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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25-Jan-96 11:10 AM EST (1610 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA/WAR CRIMES LONG BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY WILL NOT PROTECT POSSIBLE MASS GRAVES UNTIL WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS REQUEST PROTECTION WHEN THEY START DIGGING AT THE SITES IN THE SPRING. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS NATO OFFICIALS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHETHER SOME POSSIBLE GRAVE SITES WILL BE WATCHED BY AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE.

TEXT: THE ISSUE OF WAR CRIMES AND MASS GRAVES IS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL AND EXPLOSIVE ISSUES IN BOSNIA AND IN THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. THERE ARE DOZENS, PERHAPS HUNDREDS OF POTENTIAL MASS GRAVES IN BOSNIA, MOST OF THEM ON BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY. IN RECENT WEEKS THE SERBS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN TRYING TO DESTROY EVIDENCE OF WHAT SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS CALL THE WORST WAR CRIMES IN EUROPE SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

DESPITE GROWING PRESSURE ON NATO TO GUARD SUSPECTED MASS GRAVES, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE WAR CRIMES ALLEGEDLY TOOK PLACE, NATO COMMANDERS ARE ADAMANT THEIR FORCES WILL NOT BE DRAWN INTO SUCH AN OPERATION, UNLESS WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS SPECIFICALLY REQUEST PROTECTION WHILE THEY DIG AT THE SITES, AND THEN, AS NATO SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK RAYNOR SAYS, ONLY IF NATO SOLDIERS DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO.

WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. WHEN IT REQUESTS AND REQUIRES FOR ASSISTANCE COMMENSURATE WITH OUR PRIMARY ROLE IT WILL BE CONSIDERED, AND A PLAN WILL BE DRAWN UP.

ON WEDNESDAY, LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAYNOR INSISTED THERE WAS NO NATO ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT EVEN LIMITED RECONNAISSANCE OF SUSPECTED SITES TO PREVENT SERB TAMPERING. BUT LATER, NATO OFFICIALS SAID A FEW SITES ARE BEING WATCHED BY DAILY NATO AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS OVER BOSNIA.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE ONLY MONITORING SPECIFIC SITES WHERE THE EXACT COORDINATES ARE KNOWN, SUCH AS THE LJUBIJA MINE COMPLEX IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA, WHERE SERBS HAVE REPORTEDLY BURIED BODIES DUG UP FROM OTHER MASS GRAVES. DOZENS OF OTHER SITES ARE NOT BEING WATCHED AT ALL. SO FAR, NATO COMMANDERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY UNDERESTIMATED THE IMPACT THE QUESTION OF MASS GRAVES AND WAR CRIMES PROSECUTIONS WOULD HAVE ON THEIR MISSION. MILITARY LEADERS INSIST ON THE NARROWEST INTERPRETATION OF THEIR MISSION IN BOSNIA, AND ARE ANXIOUS TO AVOID WHAT THEY CALL "MISSION CREEP," THE SLOW ADDITION OF NEW TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO MILITARY UNITS HERE. BUT THE QUESTIONS OF WAR CRIMES AND THE FATE OF THOUSANDS OF MISSING PEOPLE ARE CENTRAL TO ANY LONG-TERM PEACE IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

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25-Jan-96 10:43 AM EST (1543 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (S) UPDATE BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: AN ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSION THAT KILLED THREE NATO SOLDIERS IN SARAJEVO WAS CAUSED BY A FRAGMENTATION BOMB. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE WEAPON WAS, APPARENTLY, TAKEN BY A PORTUGUESE SOLDIER INTO A ROOM IN VIOLATION OF NATO REGULATIONS.

TEXT: TWO PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS AND ONE ITALIAN SOLDIER WERE KILLED BY THE FRAGMENTATION BOMB THAT ACCIDENTALLY EXPLODED AT THEIR JOINT BASE IN SARAJEVO. SEVERAL OTHER PORTUGUESE AND ITALIAN TROOPS WERE INJURED.

A PORTUGUESE SOLDIER IS SAID TO HAVE FOUND THE BOMB OUTSIDE THE BASE AND BROUGHT IT INTO A ROOM TO INSPECT IT IN VIOLATION OF NATO REGULATIONS.

THE THREE SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED ARE THE FIRST NATO TROOPS TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SINCE THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL FORCE REPLACED UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS THERE.

IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, THREE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRES WERE INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY, WHEN A WEAPON BLEW UP DURING A TRAINING SESSION ON EXPLOSIVES AT A MILITARY CAMP NEAR SARAJEVO.

THE INCIDENTS STRENGTHEN NATO FEARS THAT ACCIDENTS ARE A GREATER THREAT TO THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE THAN ARE POSSIBLE ATTACKS BY THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (SIGNED)

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25-Jan-96 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EUROPE/RUSSIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER ( BRUSSELS )

INTRO: RUSSIA IS TO BECOME THE 39TH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE -- A DEMOCRATIC FORUM EMBRACING EAST AND WEST EUROPE NATIONS. THE COUNCIL'S PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY VOTED TO ADMIT RUSSIA DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHECHNYA. THE VOTE WAS 164 IN FAVOR, WITH 35 AGAINST AND 15 ABSTENTIONS. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR VOA FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE WAS SET UP IN 1949 TO FULFILL THE VISION OF EUROPEAN LEADERS, WHO INCLUDED WINSTON CHURCHILL. THEY SAW IT AS A WAY OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE NATIONS OF A CONTINENT WHICH WAS RAVAGED AND TORN APART BY THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE WAS ALSO SEEN AS A FORCE FOR DEFENDING WESTERN EUROPE FROM COMMUNISM, AS ITS ESTABLISHMENT COINCIDED WITH THE OUTBREAK OF THE COLD WAR.

IT IS ONLY RECENTLY THAT THE FORMER COMMUNIST NATIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN HAVE BEEN WELCOMED AS MEMBERS. NOW THAT RUSSIA IS TO JOIN THE OTHER 38 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, IT MUST AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION, AS WELL AS A SERIES OF OTHER ACCORDS ON SUBJECTS RANGING FROM EXTRADITION TO SPORTS TO ANIMAL WELFARE.

THE VOTE FOLLOWED A LONG AND DIFFICULT DEBATE, IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S ASSEMBLY EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN AT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHECHNYA. HOWEVER, A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY IN FAVOUR WAS OBTAINED, AS WAS REQUIRED BY THE RULES.

MOST COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DECIDED THAT IT WILL BE EASIER TO INFLUENCE MOSCOW WITH RUSSIA INSIDE THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE THAN IT HAS BEEN UNTIL NOW.

AN AUSTRIAN SOCIALIST DELEGATE PETER SCHIEDER TOLD THE ASSEMBLY THAT A VOTE FOR RUSSIAN MEMBERSHIP IS A VOTE FOR HOPE IN EUROPE.

BUT FEARS WERE ALSO EXPRESSED DURING THE DEBATE THAT A REJECTION OF RUSSIA'S APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP COULD DESTABILIZE PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, AND TURN RUSSIA AGAINST ITS NEIGHBORS, THUS ALSO DESTABILIZING THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE.

IN CONTRAST, A NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN HALLGRIM BERG ARGUED THAT RUSSIA IS A COUNTRY WHERE THERE ARE DAILY VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND HE WARNED THAT THE ADMISSION OF RUSSIA WILL DEVALUE THE STATUS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE. (SIGNED)

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25-Jan-96 2:48 PM EST (1948 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] IMPACT OF TURKEY'S ELECTIONS BY ED WARNER ( WASHINGTON)

INTRO: IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST DECEMBER, THE ISLAMIST PARTY WON THE MOST VOTES, THOUGH FAR FROM A MAJORITY. NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOW UNDERWAY TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT INCLUDE THE ISLAMISTS. VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES WERE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING IN WASHINGTON. V-O-A'S ED WARNER ATTENDED AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE ISLAMISTS DESPITE THE GAINS THEY MADE IN THE RECENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, SAID ILNUR CEVIK, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE "TURKISH DAILY NEWS." ALTHOUGH THE REFAH, OR WELFARE PARTY WON THE MOST NUMBER OF VOTES - 21 PER CENT - IT WOULD HAVE TO JOIN A COALITION TO GOVERN. THAT MEANS IT WOULD HAVE TO COMPROMISE.

AT A DISCUSSION OF THE TURKISH ELECTIONS IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, MR. CEVIK SAID IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO GIVE REFAH SOME ROLE IN GOVERNMENT TO SEE HOW ITS MEMBERS PERFORM:

MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO TEST, GIVEN A CHANCE OF HOW FAR THEY CAN GET AND WHAT THEY CAN DO. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BRING IN SHARIA THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE SAFETY VALVES: FIRST, YOU HAVE THE COALITION PARTNER; SECONDLY, YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT THERE WHO CAN VETO BILLS. THEN YOU HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS IN OUR COUNTRY WHICH CAN ANNUL ANY KIND OF LAW. THIS IS PERFECTLY DEMOCRATIC.

MR. CEVIK NOTED THAT IF REFAH DOES NOT PERFORM WELL, THE COALITION CAN BE DISSOLVED, AND THE ISLAMISTS REMOVED FROM POWER.

TURKEY'S DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IS STRONGER THAN ANY PARTY, SAID HENRI BARKEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. THE LARGER VOTE FOR REFAH WAS IN PART A PROTEST AGAINST THE FAILINGS OF THE CURRENT CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNMENT.

BEYOND THAT, SAID PROFESSOR BARKEY, REFAH EARNED ITS VOTE BY ITS SERVICES TO CONSTITUENTS:

THESE GUYS ARE WELL ORGANIZED. THESE GUYS HAVE COMPUTERS. THESE GUYS KNOW WHERE THE VOTERS ARE -EXACTLY IN WHAT STREET, IN WHAT BUILDING, HOW MANY VOTERS THERE ARE, WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES, HOW OLD THEY ARE, HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY HAVE. THEY DO WHAT A POLITICAL PARTY SHOULD DO. THAT IS, THEY WORK.

AS AN EXAMPLE, PROFESSOR BARKEY RECALLED AN EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED IN A WORKING CLASS DISTRICT IN ISTANBUL. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE DIED, BUT THE CITY GOVERNMENT HAD NO IDEA WHO THEY WERE. SO IT TURNED TO REFAH, WHICH HAD THE NAMES ON A COMPUTER. SUBSEQUENTLY, REFAH WON THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN ISTANBUL.

IT IS POSSIBLE REFAH WOULD MODERATE IN A COALITION GOVERNMENT, SAID SABRI SAYARI, EXECUTIVE DRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN WASHINGTON. BUT THAT MIGHT NOT LAST. ITS MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT COMING TO POWER WITH BLOODSHED, IF NECESSARY. ITS SIMPLISTIC ECONOMIC PROGRAM OPPOSES THE PRIVATIZATION NEEDED FOR TURKEY'S DEVELOPMENT:

THE ISLAMISTS ARE A DETERMINED LOT. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN A GOVERNMENT SIMPLY FOR ITS SYMBOLIC VALUE. ONE ALREADY HEARS VOICES FROM ITS RANKS THAT REFAH SHOULD NOT ABANDON ITS VIEWS SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF PRAGMATIC POLITICS. BEING IN A GOVERNMENT AS THE STRONGEST PARTY WILL PROVIDE IT WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO BE USED FOR POLITICAL PATRONAGE, ALWAYS A CRITICAL FACTOR IN TURKISH POLITICS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ANOTHER GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT ITS FOLLOWERS IN THE GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND STATE AGENCIES.

MR. SAYARI SAID THE TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES, EACH OF WHICH RECEIVED ALMOST AS MANY VOTES AS REFAH, SHOULD FORM A COALITION SINCE THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM. (SIGNED)

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25-Jan-96 6:44 PM EST (2344 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: BOSNIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS TOLD THE UNITED STATES HIS GOVERNMENT WILL SPEED UP THE DELAYED EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO SEE SOME ACTION RATHER THAN PROMISES.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS FROM PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC ON DOWN, THE UNITED STATES HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WILL PROCEED WITH THE RELEASE OF BOSNIAN SERB PRISONERS. THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT REQUIRED THE RELEASE OF ALL PRISONERS BY JANUARY 19TH. BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMMED SACIRBEY GAVE RENEWED ASSURANCES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HERE THAT A LARGER EXCHANGE IS IMMINENT, BUT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS WAS NOT IMPRESSED.

THERE HAVE BEEN COMMITMENTS MADE TODAY, YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE, LAST FRIDAY, LAST THURSDAY, LOTS OF COMMITMENTS, NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACTION.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE WHOLE PEACE AGREEMENT WILL UNRAVEL IF ONE PARTY IS ALLOWED TO VIOLATE THE AGREEMENT.

THE PROSECUTOR OF THE BOSNIA WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL RICHARD GOLDSTONE MET WITH LEADING U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS HIS INVESTIGATIONS IN BOSNIA. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS MR. GOLDSTONE TOLD SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MORE CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. (SIGNED)

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25-Jan-96 5:39 PM EST (2239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America