Voice of America, 19 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THIS IS THE NATIONAL, PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY, TO HONOR THE MEMORIES OF BOTH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN. SOME PAPERS DO NOT PUBLISH TODAY, BUT IN THOSE THAT DO A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS IS UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS. INCLUDED IS THE SO-CALLED V-CHIP DEVICE TO REGULATE VIOLENCE ON HOME TELEVISION SETS; THE FLAWED ELECTION IN BANGLADESH; THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF BORIS YELTSIN AND REFLECTIONS ON FRIDAY'S TRAIN WRECK. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TWO OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL DAILIES, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" ARE LEADING THEIR EDITORIAL COLUMNS TODAY WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE V-CHIP, A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS TO BE INSTALLED IN ALL NEWLY-PRODUCED TELEVISION SETS SOLD IN THE U-S. THE V-CHIP ALLOWS PARENTS TO CANCEL THE VIEWING OF OBJECTIONABLE PROGRAMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CHIP, THE NETWORKS ARE ALSO WORKING TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO VIEWERS ON PROGRAM CONTENT.

VOICE: "THIS NEW WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF THE NETWORKS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO HELP GUIDE PARENTS IN CHOOSING SHOWS FOR THEIR CHILDREN IS WELCOME. ... THE IDEA OF USING TECHNOLOGY TO LET PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR OWN HOMES IS APPEALING, AND SURELY FAR PREFERABLE TO CENSORING WHAT BROADCASTERS MAY TRANSMIT. FOR THE V-CHIP TO WORK [HOWEVER] REQUIRES SOMEONE TO DRAW UP A RATINGS SYSTEM. ... IDEALLY, THE NETWORKS WILL DO A GOOD JOB WITH THEIR RATINGS, REMOVING ANY TEMPTATION FOR THE F-C-C [THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION] TO STEP IN."

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, HOME STATE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS, "WISELY, THE TV INDUSTRY MOVES TOWARD POLICING ITSELF" IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL HEADLINE, ADDING:

VOICE: "UNEASY OVER VIEWER DISCONTENT WITH SEX AND VIOLENCE ON T-V, NETWORK BOSSES APPEAR POISED TO OFFER A RATING SYSTEM ON THE CONTENT OF THEIR PROGRAMS. SOME CRITICS ARE DISMISSING THE MOVE AS SELF-SERVING OR A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED RATINGS. HOWEVER, RATINGS COULD MARK A HISTORIC SHIFT FOR THE NETWORKS, WHICH TRADITIONALLY HAVE MADE CONTENT DECISIONS ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS -- WHAT SELLS -- RATHER THAN ON TASTE AND QUALITY."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA "THE MIAMI HERALD" INTERJECTS A WORD OF CAUTION.

VOICE: "LET US NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT THE MOVEMENT BY THE NETWORKS TO ADOPT A RATINGS SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO USE V-CHIPS TO BLOCK VIOLENT SHOWS FROM THEIR T-V'S. IT MAY HELP, BUT IT IS NO PANACEA. ... A RATINGS SYSTEM WILL NOT BE EASY. FIRST, THERE IS THE SHEER VOLUME OF PROGRAMS, NEW AND OLD, THAT MUST BE RATED. SECOND, THERE IS THE COMPLEX QUESTION OF HOW TO RATE SHOWS. ... WHATEVER THE NETWORKS DO, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PARENTS WHO TREASURE SOLID VALUES."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, THE FLAWED ELECTION LAST WEEK IN BANGLADESH ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES.'"

VOICE: "BANGLADESH'S ELECTION ... IS LIKELY TO PROLONG, RATHER THAN RESOLVE, AN UNSETTLED COUNTRY'S POLITICAL CRISIS. BECAUSE AN ORGANIZED BOYCOTT KEPT OPPOSITION VOTERS AWAY IN DROVES, PRIME MINISTER KHALEDA ZIA'S RULING BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY WAS ABLE TO CLAIM VICTORY. BUT BECAUSE THE TURNOUT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN 10-PERCENT OR LESS, WHILE ELECTION VIOLENCE TOOK AT LEAST A DOZEN LIVES, SHEIKH HASANI WAZED OF THE OPPOSITION AWAMI LEAGUE COULD CLAIM A MORAL VICTORY. SADLY, THE REAL LOSERS IN THIS ABORTIVE VOTE WERE THE PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH ... [WHO] DESERVE BETTER."

TEXT: COMMENTING ON ANOTHER ELECTION, ONE THAT HAS NOT YET TAKEN PLACE, TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN" HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT BORIS YELTSIN'S CHANCES IN RUSSIA'S JUNE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.

VOICE: "THE ODDS SEEM SUICIDAL. IF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WERE TO BE HELD TODAY, BORIS ... YELTSIN COULD COUNT ON SEVEN-PERCENT OF THE VOTE, ACCORDING TO OPINION POLLS. CAN HE RECOUP BEFORE THE JUNE 16 VOTE? IN ANNOUNCING THAT HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION, MR. YELTSIN CLEARLY THINKS SO. ... THE WEST HAS A MAJOR STAKE IN THE OUTCOME BECAUSE OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR MIGHT. WHETHER THE WEST CAN PLAY ANY ROLE IS ANOTHER MATTER. THIS ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED ON INTERNAL ISSUES THAT RANGE FROM THE DISASTROUS MILITARY EXCURSION INTO CHECHNYA TO THE GROWING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY WITHIN RUSSIA."

TEXT: ON THE SUBJECT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND THE WEEKEND CONFERENCE IN ROME TO SHORE-UP THE PEACE PROCESS WHICH HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF DISINTEGRATION, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: "FIRST IT WAS DAYTON, NOW IT IS ROME. THE SURROUNDINGS FOR THE WEEKEND SUMMIT ... CERTAINLY ARE A LITTLE GRANDER THAN THE FIRST TIME AROUND, BUT THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED ... ARE AS PERSISTENT AS EVER. WITH THE DAYTON ACCORD IN SERIOUS DANGER OF UNRAVELING, U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAD TO BE CALLED IN AGAIN. ... AND, AGAIN, HE APPEARS TO HAVE MANAGED TO SALVAGE THE DAYTON ACCORD. ... THE QUESTION IS OF COURSE WHETHER THIS REDEDICATION ... WILL LAST ANY LONGER THAN IT TAKES FOR MR. HOLBROOKE TO GET ON THE PLANE AGAIN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. AS THINGS LOOK NOW, THE PROSPECTS ARE NOT PROMISING."

TEXT: AND FINALLY SOME COMMENTS ON THE FATAL TRAIN WRECK FRIDAY NIGHT NEAR WASHINGTON, D-C, BETWEEN AN AMTRAK PASSENGER TRAIN BOUND FOR CHICAGO, AND A LOCAL MARYLAND COMMUTER TRAIN HEADING FOR WASHINGTON. TWELVE PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM YOUNG ADULTS, WERE KILLED AND SCORES INJURED, ALTHOUGH MOST NOT SERIOUSLY. FIRST "USA TODAY" WHICH SAYS THE NATION'S RAILWAYS CAN BE MADE SAFER.

VOICE: "HAD THE [MARC - COMMUTER] TRAIN AND TRACKS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, THE TRAGEDY ALMOST SURELY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. ... BY FEDERAL LAW, ALL TRAINS THAT OPERATE ON NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TRACKS FROM WASHINGTON TO BOSTON MUST HAVE SIGNAL EQUIPMENT THAT WILL TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM AN ENGINEER SPEEDING, MISSING, OR IGNORING SIGNALS. COLLISIONS OF TRAINS WITH THAT EQUIPMENT ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. BUT THOSE SAFETY DEVICES WERE NOT ON THE PRIVATELY OWNED TRACKS WHERE FRIDAY'S CRASH OCCURRED FOR TWO REASONS: INDECISION AND DOLLARS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THESE THOUGHTS FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT THE HEROICS OF SEVERAL YOUNG MEN ON THE TRAIN WHO RESCUED FELLOW PASSENGERS, AND ABOUT THOSE FROM A NEARBY APARTMENT WHO RUSHED TO THE SCENE TO HELP.

VOICE: "PERHAPS THE GREATER LESSON ... HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE ACT WHEN OUR BIG MACHINES AND COMPLEX PLANNING COME CRASHING DOWN ON US: HOW SOME OF THEM GO SCRAMBLING INTO FUME-FILLED, SHIFTING, CREAKING WRECKAGE WITH A SORT OF NOBLE DISREGARD FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, AND HOW EVERYONE WHO HELPS SEEMS TO FEEL AT ONE WITH THE INJURED AND THE DYING AND THE DEAD. " TEXT; AND WITH THAT EMOTIONAL IMAGE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS APPEARING IN U-S PAPERS ON THIS PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY.

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19-Feb-96 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / REACT (S / 2ND UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE FAILED TO ATTEND A PLANNED MEETING OF SENIOR SERB, MUSLIM, AND CROAT MILITARY OFFICERS. IT IS A SETBACK TO HOPES PROBLEMS FACING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN OVERCOME. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS THE HOPES HAD BEEN RAISED AT A WEEKEND CONFERENCE IN ROME.

TEXT: THE DEPUTY SERB ARMY COMMANDER (GENERAL ZDRAVKO TOLIMIR) DID NOT GO TO THE U-S AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE ADRIATIC SEA WHERE HE WAS TO MEET WITH THE BOSNIAN-ARMY AND CROAT MILITARY COMMANDERS.

A SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO TOLD V-O-A NATO WAS INFORMED THE SERB GENERAL WOULD NOT ATTEND THE MEETING. HE SAYS NO REASON WAS GIVEN, BUT THE SERB ARMY IS ANGRY ABOUT THE EXTRADITION OF TWO OF ITS OFFICERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

BY STAYING AWAY FROM THE MILITARY TALKS, THE SERBS HAVE FAILED THE FIRST TEST OF A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT -- A PROMISE MADE AT THE WEEKEND SUMMIT IN ROME.

THE BOYCOTT MEANS BOSNIAN-SERB POLITICAL LEADERS AND THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, ARE EITHER NOT WILLING OR NOT ABLE TO PERSUADE THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY TO COMPLY WITH THE PEACE TREATY.

THE BOYCOTT COULD DELAY PLANS TO SUSPEND INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS THIS WEEK. (SIGNED)

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19-Feb-96 10:22 AM EST (1522 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA / SUMMIT (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (ROME)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATORS IN ROME HAVE ANNOUNCED BREAKTHROUGHS ON A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES THAT HAD THROWN THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA INTO DOUBT. OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL NOW BE UP TO THE PARTIES TO COMPLY WITH THEIR COMMITMENTS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM ROME.

TEXT: AFTER A FRANTIC 28 HOURS OF TALKS, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN, ANNOUNCED WITH SOME RELIEF THAT A DEAL HAD BEEN MADE, AND A CRISIS HAD BEEN AVERTED.

THE AGREEMENTS AGREED TO THIS WEEKEND HERE IN ROME REPRESENT SOLID PROGRESS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. HOWEVER, PROGRESS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE MUST BE BACKED UP BY ACTS ON THE GROUND.

THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA, AND CROATIA WILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO ACCOMPLISH. UNDER THIS LATEST AGREEMENT, THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL IMMEDIATELY RESUME ALL CONTACTS WITH THE OTHER PARTIES REQUIRED UNDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT AND COOPERATE WITH THE TRANSFER OF SERB-HELD PARTS OF SARAJEVO TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

THE CROATS HAVE AGREED TO A EUROPEAN UNION PLAN TO END THE ETHNIC DIVISION OF MOSTAR, AND ALL SIDES HAVE AGREED TO PROMPTLY RELEASE ANY REMAINING PRISONERS.

MR. HOLBROOKE ALSO ANNOUNCED ALL THE PARTIES HAD AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE BOSNIAN SERBS CAN ALSO EXPECT THE ALMOST IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ONCE THEY RE-JOIN NEGOTIATIONS.

THE CHIEF CIVILIAN MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, WELCOMED THE PARTY'S ACCEPTANCE OF HIS PROPOSAL FOR THE HANDOVER OF SARAJEVO, AND FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION'S MOSTAR PLAN.

BUT HE URGED THE PARTIES TO GET ON WITH THE JOB OF MAKING PEACE.

WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO, AND WE HAVE LOST TIME DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE TIME. WE MUST GO FORWARD.

AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE MOOD OF THE ROME TALKS WAS MUCH BETTER THAN AT DAYTON. AFTER THREE MONTHS WITHOUT WAR, THE THREE BALKAN LEADERS WERE VISIBLY MORE AT EASE WITH EACH OTHER, BUT HE SAID THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS.

THEY ARE STILL INCREDIBLY DISTRUSTFUL, AND THE ISSUE WHICH KEEPS THE DISTRUST HIGH IS THE FACT THAT IN PALE THERE IS STILL AN ORGANIZATION, A REGIME, LED BY TWO INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS WHICH STILL OBJECTS TO EVERY ASPECT OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENTS, AND ONLY COMPLIES UNDER PRESSURE FROM BELGRADE.

DESPITE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S APPARENT PROMISE TO COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID HE DOESN'T EXPECT THE TWO INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE WAR CRIME'S TRIBUNAL RIGHT AWAY. HE SAID THE TWO MEN WILL ONE DAY FACE JUSTICE.

HE ALSO SAID HE COULDN'T SAY WHAT THE EXACT RESPONSE WOULD BE IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS DON'T IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE ROME AGREEMENT.

BUT IT WOULD BE A MILITARY RESPONSE, HE SAID, DECIDED BY THE NATO COMMANDER IN BOSNIA.

I WILL LEAVE THE SPECIFIC ANSWER TO ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH. BUT THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE NON-COMPLIANCE, NOT ONLY WITH DAYTON, BUT WITH THE AGREEMENTS REACHED HERE TODAY.

THE IMMINENT LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALLOW RADOVAN KARADZIC TO LET BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RETURN TO TALKS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WITHOUT LOSING FACE.

ATTENTION WILL NOW SHIFT TO THE TRANSFER OF SERB-HELD SARAJEVO TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL DURING THE NEXT MONTH. THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE PROMISED TO COOPERATE, BUT GIVEN PAST PERFORMANCES, THE ROAD TO PEACE IN BOSNIA WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE A BUMPY ONE. (SIGNED) NEB / DF / BD-T / SKH 18-Feb-96 8:23 PM EST (0123 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA TALKS UPDATE (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB ARMY COMMANDER FAILED TO ATTEND A KEY MEETING OF MILITARY COMMANDERS FROM ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA. THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO TEST COMMITMENTS MADE BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS AT A WEEKEND SUMMIT IN ROME TO RESUME PARTICIPATION IN THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. AS DAVID FOLEY REPORTS THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE ALSO SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL PLANS FOR SERB-HELD SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE MEETING OF MILITARY COMMANDERS FROM ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA WAS TO BE HELD ON AN AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE ADRIATIC, BUT THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY, MAJOR GENERAL ZDRAVKO TOLIMIR, NEVER SHOWED UP. AT A BALKAN SUMMIT MEETING ON SUNDAY IN ROME THE BOSNIAN SERBS AGREED TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS.

BUT AN AIDE TO GENERAL TOLIMIR TOLD NATO THERE WOULD BE NO MEETING UNTIL TWO SERB OFFICERS SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES ARE RELEASED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE NATO COMMANDER IN BOSNIA, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, DISMISSED THE DEMAND AND BLAMED BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS FOR OBSTRUCTING THE MEETING.

[05] BOSNIA/MOSTAR (S ONITER) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: THE FUTURE OF THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS FACING A KEY TEST (TUESDAY). MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN THE DIVIDED TOWN OF MOSTAR ARE TO FINALLY ENJOY THE RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: BEGINNING ON TUESDAY, A COMBINED POLICE FORCE IS SUPPOSED TO PATROL THE STREETS OF MOSTAR TO ENSURE THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. THE POLICE FORCE WILL CONSIST OF MUSLIM AND CROAT OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. POLICEMEN FROM CROATIA WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO THE E-U ADMINISTRATOR IN MOSTAR, HANS KOSHNICK. MR. KOSHNICK SAYS A REVISED MUSLIM/CROAT AGREEMENT, REACHED AT THE WEEKEND SUMMIT CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA IN ROME, MARKED THE EFFECTIVE START OF MOSTAR'S RE-UNIFICATION. MR. KOSHNICK SAYS HE BELIEVES CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN WILL NOW USE HIS INFLUENCE OVER THE BOSNIAN CROATS TO MAKE SURE THEY COOPERATE IN SHARING POWER WITH THE MUSLIMS IN MOSTAR. MOSTAR'S PEACEFUL RE-UNIFICATION IS CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION. IF THE FEDERATION DOES NOT SURVIVE, DIPLOMATS SAY THE PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WOULD COLLAPSE. (SIGNED)

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19-Feb-96 1:10 PM EST (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] TURKEY / POLITICS (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ISLAMISTS WERE POISED TO RETURN TO POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS MONDAY AFTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, THE LEADER OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, REFAH, AND MESUT YILMAZ, THE LEADER OF THE CENTER-RIGHT MOTHERLAND PARTY (ANAP), ANNOUNCED THEY HAD AGREED TO CONTINUE TALKS TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: FOLLOWING THREE HOURS OF TOUGH BARGAINING WITH THE REFAH LEADER IN THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING, MR. YILMAZ TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE TWO PARTIES HAD AGREED ON MANY ISSUES. HE SAID THE MAIN PROBLEM STANDING IN THE WAY OF A FINAL AGREEMENT IS THAT OF THE ALLOCATION OF MINISTRIES.

MR. YILMAZ SAID THE TWO SIDES HAD APPOINTED A COMMISSION TO DECIDE WHICH PARTY WOULD BE GIVEN WHICH CABINET PORTFOLIOS. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REACH AGREEMENT BY FRIDAY AT THE LATEST (AFTER WHICH THE SIDES WOULD OUTLINE A COALITION PROTOCOL TO BE INITIALED AHEAD OF OFFICIALLY FORMING THE GOVERNMENT).

OFFICIALS FROM BOTH PARTIES CONFIRM DIFFERENCES REMAIN OVER WHICH SIDE WILL BE HANDED CONTROL OVER THE STRATEGIC MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE INTERIOR. BOTH THE FOREIGN AND INTERIOR MINISTERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE POLICYMAKING NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT, THE PRIME MINISTER AND TURKEY'S TOP GENERALS.

ANAP INSISTS THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN IN CHARGE OF BOTH MINISTRIES, ARGUING THAT TURKISH PUBLIC OPINION IS _NOT_ YET READY TO SEE THE ISLAMISTS IN SUCH SENSITIVE POSTS.

USING THE SAME ARGUMENT, MR. YILMAZ HAS ALREADY GAINED MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM REFAH, INCLUDING A ROTATING PREMIERSHIP. HE WILL BECOME THE PRIME MINISTER FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COALITION EVEN THOUGH REFAH WITH 158 MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT, HAS 25 MORE SEATS THAN ANAP.

THE AGREEMENT WOULD BRING TO AN END THE TWO-AND-A-HALF YEAR GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER, TANSU CILLER.

WARMING UP TO HER IMPENDING ROLE AS THE MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER, MRS. CILLER ACCUSED MR. YILMAZ -- IN HER WORDS -- OF DRAGGING THE COUNTRY INTO "DARKNESS," SAYING THE TURKISH PEOPLE WOULD NEVER FORGIVE HIM FOR HIS BETRAYAL.

MR. YILMAZ HAD THROUGHOUT HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN PLEDGED TO KEEP RADICAL ISLAM AT BAY.

MANY OPINION MAKERS, HOWEVER, ACCUSE MRS. CILLER OF DRIVING MR YILMAZ INTO THE ARMS OF REFAH. IT WAS HER INSISTENCE ON REMAINING THE PRIME MINISTER, THEY SAY, WHICH SEALED THE FATE OF A RIGHT-WING ALLIANCE BETWEEN HER CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH" PARTY AND ANAP -- WHICH THE MAJORITY OF TURKS, THE MILITARY, BIG BUSINESS AND WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAD BEEN PRESSING FOR.

MANY WESTERN DIPLOMATS EXPRESSED DISMAY AT THE OUTCOME OF THE POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS. MR. ERBAKAN'S ASSERTIONS THAT HE WANTS AN ISLAMIC UNITED NATIONS AND AN ISLAMIC NATO AND THAT HE WANTS TO DO AWAY IN HIS WORDS WITH WORLD IMPERIALISM AND ZIONISM, AS WELL AS ISRAEL, HAVE _NOT_ HELPED CALM WESTERN FEARS.

MR. ERBAKAN TWICE SERVED AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN COALITION GOVERNMENTS IN THE 1970'S, AND ANALYSTS SAY HIS RECORD INDICATES THAT HE WOULD _NOT_ DARE PROVOKE A MILITARY INTERVENTION BY TAMPERING WITH THE COUNTRY'S PRO-SECULAR WESTERN POLICIES. (SIGNED)

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19-Feb-96 1:40 PM EST (1840 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS WELCOMED THE COMMITMENT BY BALKAN LEADERS SUNDAY TO COMPLY WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE IS ESPECIALLY PLEASED BY PLEDGES OF CLOSER CONTACTS AMONG OFFICIALS FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA AND SERBIA:

TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN ROME RESULTED IN PLEDGES OF FULL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN CONTACTS AT ALL LEVELS. HE SAYS HE IS PLEASED BY THE PROMISES OF CLOSER PERSONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL TIES, INCLUDING REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC AND HIS SERBIAN COUNTERPART, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

SPEAKING FOR THE SECRETARY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN PHYLLIS YOUNG SAYS MR. CHRISTOPHER IS ALSO PLEASED OVER PROGRESS CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF THE DIVIDED CITY OF MOSTAR:

AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN AND CROAT COMMUNITIES TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PEACE UNIFICATION OF AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF MOSTAR.

MOSTAR WAS THE SITE OF SOME OF THE MOST BITTER BATTLES BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS DURING NEARLY A YEAR OF FIGHTING. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEES THE REUNIFICATION OF MOSTAR AS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT TO ACHIEVING PEACE IN BOSNIA. THE CITY IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER MET WITH BALKAN LEADERS EARLIER THIS MONTH IN A BID TO PUSH FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. (SIGNED)

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18-Feb-96 8:38 PM EST (0138 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America