Voice of America, 30 & 31 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] CROATIA/WAR CRIMES (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (ZAGREB)

INTRO: A CROATIAN GENERAL -- ACCUSED OF DIRECTING THE MASSACRE OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS IN 1993 -- HAS AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY TURN HIMSELF OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER AN APPEAL TO CROATIAN LEADERS FROM U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: CROATIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GOJKO SUSAK SAYS GENERAL TIHOMIR BLASKIC HAS AGREED TO GIVE HIMSELF UP TO TRIBUNAL OFFICIALS ON MONDAY. THE GENERAL FORMERLY COMMANDED THE BOSNIAN CROAT ARMY AND IS THE MOST PROMINENT AMONG SEVEN CROATS FACING INDICTMENT FOR THE MASSACRE OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS IN 1993.

THE GENERAL HAD IN RECENT DAYS RESISTED CALLS FOR HIS SURRENDER. HIS APPARENT CHANGE OF MIND FOLLOWED A WARNING BY VISITING U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY THAT CROATIA'S FUTURE SECURITY TIES TO NATO AND THE UNITED STATES WERE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, MR. PERRY HAILED THE TURN OF EVENTS AND SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT CROATIA'S ENTRY TO NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE:

THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN REQUESTING THE GENERAL TO TURN HIMSELF OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. WE WELCOME HIS ACTION. WE WELCOME THE ACTION OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IN THAT REGARD.

CROATIAN OFFICIALS SAY APPROVAL OF A CONSTITITONAL AMENDMENT NOW BEFORE PARLIAMENT HERE WOULD ALLOW THE INVOLUNTARY EXTRADITION OF OTHERS FACING INDICTMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/CB/SD
30-Mar-96 1:05 PM EST (1805 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] GREECE/FLAME (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (OLYMPIA)

INTRO: CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE START OF THE RUN-UP TO THE ATLANTA CENTENNIAL OLYMPICS GOT UNDER WAY SATURDAY WITH THE CEREMONIAL LIGHTING OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME IN GREECE. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY U-S FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, CURRENTLY VISITING THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE OLYMPICS. ANTHEE GARASSAVAS REPORTS.

TEXT: THE TORCH-LIGHTING RITUAL TOOK PLACE AT A SPRAWLING ANCIENT GREEK STADIUM WHERE THE FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES WERE HELD TWO-THOUSAND FIVE-HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

AT HIGH NOON, THE FLAME WAS LIGHTED FROM THE SUN'S RAYS BY A CHORUS OF 25 ACTRESSES DRESSED AS ANCIENT PRIESTESSES IN FLOWING WHITE GOWNS.

MORE THAN TEN-THOUSAND PEOPLE WATCHED THE CEREMONY IN SILENCE FROM THE HILL OVERLOOKING THE STADIUM.

THE TORCH-LIGHTING CEREMONY HAS BEEN A FEATURE OF EVERY OLYMPIAD SINCE ADOLF HITLER REVIVED THE ANCIENT CUSTOM IN 1936.

THE FLAME WILL BE RELAYED THROUGH GREECE AND FERRIED TO THE U-S CITY OF LOS ANGELES NEXT MONTH. FROM THERE, THE FLAME WILL BE CARRIED IN AN 87-DAY RELAY TO ATLANTA IN TIME FOR THE OPENING OF THE 1996 GAMES.

MRS. CLINTON REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES AT THE CEREMONY WHILE AMERICAN OLYMPICS CHAIRMAN BILLY PANE TOLD GREEKS, IN GREEK, HE WOULD KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE OLYMPIC FLAME.

GREECE VERY MUCH WANTED TO HOST THE 1996 OLYMPICS WHICH WOULD HAVE MARKED EXACTLY 100 YEARS SINCE THE MODERN OLYMPICS WERE REVIVED IN ATHENS.

ANY RESENTMENT THAT GREEECE MAY HOLD OVER NOT WINNING THE GAMES WAS DISPELLED AT THE CEREMONY BY GREEK OLYMPICS CHAIRMAN ANDONIS TZIKAS. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MODERN OLYMPICS, HE WISHED ATLANTA WELL AT THIS YEAR'S GAMES AND PLEDGED THAT GREECE WOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO HOLD THE OLYMPICS ONE DAY AT THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE BORN. (SIGNED)

NEB/AC/DW/SD
30-Mar-96 10:25 AM EST (1525 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] PERRY/CROATIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (ZAGREB)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS IN BOSNIA PLANS TO TAKE A TOUGHER APPROACH TO ENFORCING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY. MR. PERRY HAS BEGUN A THREE-NATION BALKANS VISIT WITH TALKS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS INCLUDING PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND OTHER CROATIAN OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE CROATION CAPITAL.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BOTH THE SUCCESS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS AND EFFORTS AT CIVIL RECONSTRUCTION IN BOSNIA.

AND HE SAYS THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS ARE PREPARED TO USE FORCE IF NECESSARY TO CLEAR OUT CHECKPOINTS AND OTHER BARRIERS BETWEEN AREAS UNDER CONTROL OF RIVAL FACTIONS.

CHECKPOINTS HAVE BEEN CROPPING UP NOT ONLY ALONG THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN SERB AND GOVERNMENT-HELD AREAS BUT ALSO ALONG ETHNIC BOUNDARIES WITHIN THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

IN BLUNT REMARKS TO REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM TO CROATIA, MR. PERRY SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE AS IT FANS OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE "ZERO TOLERANCE" FOR CHECKPOINTS AND WILL NOT ACCEPT DE FACTO BOUNDARIES INSIDE BOUNDRIES.

WHEN PEACEKEEPERS ENCOUNTER A CHECKPOINT HE SAID, "THEY WILL KNOCK IT OUT AND THEY WON'T BE POLITE ABOUT IT."

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY, WHO VISITS BOSNIA SUNDAY AFTER HIS MEETINGS HERE, SAID HE WILL BE PRESSING BOTH THE CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENTS FOR CONCRETE STEPS TO REENFORCE THE MUSTLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA. HE SAID THE ALLIANCE, CREATED WITH U-S HELP AS A COUNTERWEIGHT TO BOSNIAN SERBS, IS NOT UNRAVELLING AS RECENT NEWS REPORTS HAVE SUGGESTED.

BUT HE CONCEDED IT IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS ANTICIPATED, WITH THE TWO PARTIES QUARRELING OVER DETAILS OF POWERSHARING AND CIVIL COOPERATION.

MR. PERRY ALSO SERVED NOTICE ON THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT THAT U-S/CROATION MILITARY COOPERATION AS WELL AS ITS FUTURE ASSOCIATION WITH NATO DEPENDS ON ITS WILLINGNESS TO HAND OVER INDICTED WAR CRIME SUSPECTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE.

DESPITE REPEATED PLEDGES OF COOPERATION, CROATIA CONTINUES TO SHELTER TWO PROMINENT BOSNIAN CROATS, AN ARMY GENERAL AND A POLITICAL PARTY LEADER, ACCUSED IN A 1993 MASSACRE OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMES.

MR. PERRY HELD A MEETING EN ROUTE TO CROATIA WITH THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE MINISTER, GOJKO SUSAK, WHO RETURNED HOME ON THE SECRETARY'S PLANE AFTER UNDERGOING CANCER SURGEY IN THE UNITED STATES.

MR. PERRY WILL BE PAYING HIS SECOND VISIT TO BOSNIA SINCE NATO-LED FORCES WERE DEPLOYED IN LATE DECEMBER. HE IS TO VISIT SEVERAL CAMPS AND BASES OF U-S FORCES IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, AND WILL VISIT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE RUSSIAN BRIGADE THAT IS SERVING THERE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED EXAMPLE OF POST-COLD WAR COOPERATION.

HE WILL BE IN ALBANIA MONDAY TO JOIN IN A MEETING OF DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM THE SOUTHERN BALKAN REGION. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/DW/SD
30-Mar-96 9:54 AM EST (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] PERRY / ALBANIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TIRANA)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IS IN ALBANIA TO JOIN IN A CONFERENCE OF DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM THE SOUTHERN BALKANS REGION. AS THE CONFERENCE OPENED, THE ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA URGED HELP IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: THE ALBANIAN LEADER MADE THE KEYNOTE SPEECH TO THE SIX- NATION CONFERENCE, CALLING A SOLUTION IN KOSOVO CRUCIAL TO THE BALKANS PEACE AND STABILITY.

ALBANIA ACCUSES SERBIA OF MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN THE REGION. AND PRESIDENT BERISHA SAID DIPLOMATIC HELP FROM THIRD PARTIES WOULD BE INDISPENSABLE IN DIFFUSING THE LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE. HE ALSO SAID ALBANIA SEEKS TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC SECURITY STRUCTURE THROUGH NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE.

SECRETARY PERRY, WHO FLEW TO TIRANA AFTER TALKS ON BOSNIA IN ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO, IS IN ALBANIA TO UNDERSCORE U-S SUPPORT FOR CLOSER DEFENSE COOPERATION IN THE HISTORICALLY UNSTABLE SOUTHERN BALKANS.

THE MEETING BRINGS TOGETHER MR. PERRY AND THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF ALBANIA, BULGARIA, MACEDONIA, ITALY, AND TURKEY, WHILE GREECE SPURNED AN INVITATION TO TAKE PART.

BOTH MR. PERRY AND PRESIDENT BERISHA SAY THEY HOPE THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE CAN PRODUCE A PROGRAM OF REGIONAL CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES AND JOINT EXERCISES IN SUCH AREAS AS DISASTER RELIEF. (SIGNED) NEB/DG/LTJ-T/SKH 31-Mar-96 3:23 PM EST (2023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] PERRY - BOSNIA (L) BY JANE BERGER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS U-S AND NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA ARE NOT SEARCHING FOR FORMER BOSNIAN SERB ARMY CHIEF RATKO MLADIC AND POLITICAL LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO ARE WANTED ON CHARGES OF WAR CRIMES. CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS MR. PERRY, WHO IS ON A VISIT TO BOSNIA, SPOKE ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE (SUNDAY) IN A U-S TELEVISION. INTERVIEW (N-B-C MEET THE PRESS).

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAID U-S AND NATO FORCES WILL APPREHEND THE TWO MEN IF THEY COME ACROSS THEM, BUT THE TROOPS ARE NOT ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIND THEM. MR. PERRY SAID EVEN IF THE TWO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY, THEY WILL NOT AGAIN OCCUPY IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.

THE BEST THAT I CAN TELL YOU AT THIS STAGE ABOUT MLADIC AND KARADZIC IS THAT I AM CONFIDENT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN ANY POSITIONS OF POWER. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN ANY GOVERNMENTAL POSITIONS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE A PEACE IN BOSNIA NOW, BUT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENTS. THE ELECTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP LATER THIS YEAR ARE CRITICAL TO THAT, AND THE ELECTIONS WILL DETERMINE WHO IS GOING TO BE THE LEADERS OF THESE COUNTRIES IN THE FUTURE. AND MLADIC AND KARADZIC WILL NOT BE AMONG THOSE LEADERS.

MR. PERRY SAID THE CIVIL RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT IN BOSNIA IS QUITE A BIT BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUT HE SAID THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE NATO OPERATION WAS TO ENFORCE THE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN WARRING MILITARY GROUPS AND ESTABLISH PEACE. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID ALTHOUGH CIVIL RECONSTRUCTION HAS FALLEN BEHIND, HE STILL EXPECTS U-S TROOPS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE COUNTRY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

MR. PERRY SAID HE IS NOT YET SURE IF BOSNIA CAN BE UNIFIED ONCE AGAIN, BUT HE SAID THAT REMAINS THE GOAL.

A PARTITION OF BOSNIA IS A -- IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN WAR. A UNIFIED BOSNIA WOULD BE THE BEST OF ALL. THE DAYTON AGREEMENT MADE A UNIFIED BOSNIA POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS UP TO THE BOSNIANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT POSSIBILITY.

MR. PERRY SAID NATO TROOPS CANNOT FORCE A UNIFIED BOSNIA. HE SAID THE PEACE AGREEMENT HAS ALREADY PRODUCED A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT -- AND THAT IS THAT THE FIGHTING AND KILLING IN BOSNIA HAS STOPPED. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/RAE
31-Mar-96 11:47 AM EST (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] TURKEY'S REGIONAL ROLE BY ED WARNER ( WASHINGTON)

INTRODUCTION: ON HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON, TURKEY'S PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL HAS STRESSED THE CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN HIS COUNTRY AND THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR MUTUAL INTEREST IN A PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS ZONE IN TURKEY'S SURROUNDING REGION. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT: THOUGH THE CHANTS OF PROTESTORS OUTSIDE DRIFTED IN, TURKEY'S PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL WAS WARMLY GREETED FRIDAY AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND SALUTED FOR HIS EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE PRESIDENT EMPHASIZED THAT THEME IN HIS SPEECH. TURKEY LOOKS BOTH EAST AND WEST, HE SAID, BUT IS FIRMLY GROUNDED IN WESTERN DEMOCRACY:

WE ARE TOLD, FOR INSTANCE, OF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS, THAT IN THE POST COLD WAR CLIMATE, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST COULD BECOME INCREASINGLY VIOLENT. THERE IS ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. TURKEY HAS SHOWN TO THE WORLD THAT SECULARISM AND DEMOCRACY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ISLAM, THAT THESE TWO PILLARS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION CAN ALSO FLOURISH IN A MUSLIM SOCIETY.

TOGETHER WITH THE UNITED STATES, SAID PRESIDENT DEMIREL, TURKEY COMBATS TERRORISM AND SUPPORTS THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. TURKEY IS AT THE CENTER OF AN EVER WIDENING NETWORK OF REGIONAL COOPERATION, EMBRACING EUROPE TO THE WEST, THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA TO THE EAST:

I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT WE SPEND ALL EFFORTS IN GOOD FAITH TO HELP RESOLVE THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE (BETWEEN AZERBAIJANIS AND ARMENIANS). WE HAVE DONE THE SAME WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERNAL PROBLEMS OF GEORGIA. WE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THAT PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS DIRECTLY AFFECTS TURKEY BECAUSE THE CAUCASUS ARE THE GATEWAY TO CENTRAL ASIA, WHERE WE ENTERTAIN GROWING AND DIVERSIFYING RELATIONS. AFTER ALL, WE DO ENJOY A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE NEWLY INDEPENDENT REPUBLICS ROOTED IN COMMON HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC SOURCES.

PRESIDENT DEMIREL DID NOT MENTION CYPRUS, WHICH REMAINS UNEASILY DIVIDED BETWEEN GREEKS AND TURKS. BUT THE PROTESTORS OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY HALL - KURDS, ARMENIANS AND GREEK CYPRIOTS - LOUDLY STRESSED THE ISSUE. AMONG THEM WAS NIKOS NIKOLOAU, A GEORGETOWN STUDENT FROM CYPRUS:

THE U-S SHOULD STOP ASSISTING TURKEY WITH MILITARY AID THAT IS BEING USED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CYPRUS AND IN TURKEY AGAINST THE KURDS. IN CYPRUS SINCE 1974, TURKEY IS OCCUPYING 38 PER CENT OF THE ISLAND, AND THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF MILITARY TROOPS THERE. THE CYPRIOTS THEMSELVES WANT A UNIFIED COUNTRY, BUT TURKEY WILL NOT ALLOW THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THE PARTIES ON THE ISLAND ARE SERIOUSLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO. SO I THINK THE CHANCES OF MAKING ANY PROGRESS ARE EXTREMELY DIM. I DO NOT THINK THAT PROSPECT IS GOING TO STOP THE ADMINISTRATION FROM MAKING ANOTHER EFFORT. SO I WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, BUT I DO NOT EXPECT IT WILL GET VERY FAR.

MR. HARRIS, FORMER DIRECTOR OF ANALYSIS FOR NEAR EAST AND SOUTH ASIA AT THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT, SAYS THE UNITED STATES COUNTS ON TURKEY TO REMAIN A STABLE DEMOCRATIC PRESENCE IN A TROUBLED REGION. (SIGNED) NEB/SD 30-Mar-96 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] U-S=BOSNIA/GRAVESITE (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-S SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA WILL BE PROVIDING SECURITY LATER THIS WEEK FOR INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS EXAMINING SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES AT SREBRENICA. SEVERAL-THOUSAND BOSNIAN MUSLIMS MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED THERE AFTER SERBIAN FORCES OVERRAN THE EASTERN BOSNIAN ENCLAVE LAST JULY. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS IN THIS REPORT FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN TROOPS WILL PROVIDE AREA SECURITY AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATORS, WHO ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EXAMINING POSSIBLE MASS GRAVES AND ATROCITY SITES TUESDAY AROUND SREBRENICA.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THE INVESTIGATORS FROM THE HAGUE WILL BE OPERATING IN THE U-S SECTOR IN BOSNIA, AND SENIOR OFFICERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE OPERATION MAY RAISE TENSIONS IN THE AREA.

U-S NAVY ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, COMMANDER OF THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE, SAYS HE HAS ALREADY DISCUSSED THE INVESTIGATION WITH BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERS AND ADVISED THEM TO COOPERATE. HE SAYS BOSNIAN SERBS IN EFFECT STAND INDICTED BY WORLD OPINION FOR THE SREBRENICA KILLINGS, AND HE SAYS AS SERBS COOPERATE IN FINDING THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE, THEY WILL REMOVE THE BLIGHT THAT HAS UNFAIRLY AFFECTED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AS MANY AS 200 U-S TROOPS WILL SUPPORT THE INVESTIGATORS IN WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A TWO-WEEK OPERATION IN THE FORMER MUSLIM ENCLAVE.

ADMIRAL SMITH STRESSED AMERICAN FORCES WILL NOT BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH FOR GRAVE SITES OR THE EXHUMATION OF VICTIMS, BUT WILL BE CLOSE BY IN CASE TRIBUNAL PERSONNEL ARE THREATENED.

WE WILL NOT GUARD GRAVE SITES. WE WILL NOT EXHUME BODIES. WE WILL NOT PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL SECURITY, BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THE LATTER IS NECESSARY ALTHOUGH I HAVE TOLD THEM ALL BEFORE THERE ARE SOME CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THERE ARE STILL SOME CRAZIES AROUND HERE, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE GUNS.

ADMIRAL SMITH JOINED DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IN A VISIT TO PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN THE TUZLA AREA, INCLUDING THE RUSSIAN BRIGADE, WHICH IS TAKING PART IN THE NATO-LED UNDERTAKING IN AN UN-PRECEDENTED EXAMPLE OF POST-COLD WAR COOPERATION. MR. PERRY, WHO CONFERRED WITH CROATIAN LEADERS IN ZAGREB SATURDAY, IS MEETING ACTING PRESIDENT AJUP GANIC AND OTHER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN AN EFFORT TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE TROUBLED FEDERATION OF BOSNIAN CROATS AND MUSLIMS.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS A VIABLE FEDERATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS AND FOR BOSNIA'S POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/DW/RAE
31-Mar-96 9:22 AM EST (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America