Voice of America, 17 April 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ASIA TRIP IS A FAVORITE SUBJECT FOR THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS THIS WEDNESDAY IN MID-APRIL. OTHER TOPICS UNDER THE EDITORIAL MICROSCOPE INCLUDE A CALL BY THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR WHITEWATER INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR KENNETH STARR TO STEP DOWN BECAUSE OF CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST CONCERNS; ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL POLICE SHOOTING, THIS TIME IN DENVER; THE FIGHTING IN LEBANON; AND REPORTS ON THE RED-EYED CHUPACABRAS "MONSTER" FROM PUERTO RICO. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: AS PRESIDENT CLINTON CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO JAPAN, MANY PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON HIS BRIEF VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA AND HIS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM. SAYS TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE"

VOICE: "DURING HIS MINISUMMIT WITH KIM YOUNG SAM ... PRESIDENT CLINTON OFFERED NORTH KOREA PEACE TALKS THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES AND BEIJING AS WELL AS SEOUL AND PYONGYANG. ALTHOUGH THE FIRST REACTION FROM NORTH KOREA WAS NEGATIVE, THE CLINTON OFFER REPRESENTS A CLEVERLY CRAFTED RESPONSE TO A LOOMING CRISIS... [MR.] CLINTON'S OFFER ... SHREWDLY OFFERS SOMETHING ATTRACTIVE TO ALL PARTIES. PYONGYANG WOULD RECEIVE THE PRESTIGE OF IMPLICIT RECOGNITION ... SEOUL WOULD AVOID EXCLUSION ... BEIJING WOULD GET A CHANCE TO SHOW THAT IT IS INDISPENSABLE TO REGIONAL STABILITY, AND WASHINGTON WOULD PROVE TO THE REST OF ASIA THAT IT IS ABLE TO PROMOTE PEACE AND SECURITY FOR ALL."

TEXT: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" VIEWS THE KOREAN LEG OF THE JOURNEY FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE:

VOICE: "THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS SPOKEN BY PRESIDENT CLINTON ... IN SOUTH KOREA THIS WEEK WERE A PLEDGE THAT THE UNITED STATES 'WILL NOT NEGOTIATE A SEPARATE PEACE WITH NORTH KOREA' AND HIS REAFFIRMATION THAT 'THE KOREAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE PEACE FOR THEMSELVES... [MR.] CLINTON SOUGHT TO LEAVE NO DOUBTS IN ANY MIND ABOUT WHERE THE UNITED STATES STANDS IN RELATION TO THE TWO KOREAS. IF HE FAILED, IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF PLAIN SPEAKING."

TEXT: DISCUSSING THE PRESIDENTIAL MISSION IN BROADER TERMS, TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP ... IS CRITICAL TO PROMOTE U-S INTERESTS IN THREE IMPORTANT AREAS."

VOICE: "THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT SHOULD HELP PROMOTE U-S INTERESTS BY: SIGNALING THE UNITED STATES' CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SOUTH KOREA AND TO A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE KOREAN IMBROGLIO... REINFORCING THE MESSAGE THAT TIES WITH JAPAN ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TWO-WAY RELATIONSHIP THE UNITED STATES HAS... BOLSTERING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S POSITION... HIS PRESTIGE SHOULD BE FURTHER HELPED BY THIS WEEK'S NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY SUMMIT MEETING IN MOSCOW, WHICH MR. CLINTON WILL ATTEND."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" CALLS THE KOREA PEACE TALKS PROPOSAL "A PROMISING MOVE TOWARD MULTI-LATERALISM, " WHILE SUGGESTING "PERHAPS RUSSIA AND JAPAN SHOULD ALSO SIT AT THE TABLE." WHILE IN WASHINGTON, "THE WASHINGTON POST" SUGGESTS A BROADER DIPLOMATIC ROLE FOR THE JAPANESE:

VOICE: "FINALLY, JAPAN MUST CONTINUE TO FIND NEW WAYS, CONSISTENT WITH ITS CONSTITUTION AND THE ANXIETIES OF ITS ONCE-CONQUERED NEIGHBORS, TO EXPAND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO REGIONAL PEACE. GIVEN THE HISTORY, THAT PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE SUDDEN. JAPAN HAS TAKEN A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THIS WEEK, AND SMALL STEPS ARE PRECISELY WHAT IS NEEDED."

TEXT: LOOKING AT DOMESTIC POLITICS, THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF INDEPENDENT WHITEWATER SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KENNETH STARR DUE TO CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SINCE MR. STARR REPRESENTS SOME TOBACCO INTERESTS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL CLIENTS, "THE TIMES" SAYS HIS GROWING LIST OF BUSINESS CLIENTS CASTS DOUBT ON HIS OBJECTIVITY IN PROSECUTING THE WHITEWATER CASE.

VOICE: "THIS PAGE HAS STEADILY ADVOCATED THE CONTINUATION OF THE WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION IN THE BELIEF THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE FULL FACTS ABOUT THE CLINTONS' BUSINESS DEALINGS AND RELATED MATTERS. BUT AT THE VERY OUTSET, WE ASKED MR. STARR TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE HIS ENTANGLEMENT WITH CONSERVATIVE JUDGES CAST A SHADOW OVER HIS OBJECTIVITY. WHEN THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, WE URGED HIM TO TAKE A LEAVE FROM HIS LAW FIRM... THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MR. STARR COULD HAVE AMELIORATED ... DOUBTS WITH OPENNESS AND A SENSITIVITY TO HIS OBLIGATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."

TEXT: TODAY'S "DENVER POST" IS DEALING WITH A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY -- THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A CITIZEN BY A PAIR OF OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS. SAYS "THE DENVER POST:"

VOICE: "... JEFF TRUAX ... WAS INTOXICATED AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, WAS NOT ARMED WHEN HE WAS SHOT SEVEN TIMES BY TWO OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS MARCH 20TH. THE PUBLIC WILL NEVER KNOW IF EITHER OF THE TWO OFFICERS INVOLVED HAD BEEN DRINKING, BECAUSE DENVER POLICE DID NOT ASK THEM TO TAKE A BLOOD TEST... LOOK AS ONE MIGHT, IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW EITHER THE POLICE OR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE AN ABSOLUTELY IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION IN THESE CASES. THE POLICE ARE BEING ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES."

TEXT: THE CONTINUED FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON'S HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLAS CAN ONLY BE BLAMED ON SYRIA'S PRESIDENT ASSAD, ACCORDING TO "NEWSDAY" OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK:

VOICE: "THREE POINTS SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS TRANSPIRING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON: ONE IS THAT ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT -- INDEED, AN OBLIGATION TO ITS POPULATION -- TO DO WHAT IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO PROTECT IT FROM ATTACK. NO NATION WOULD DO OTHERWISE. SECOND, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACKS RESTS WITH SYRIA. HAFEZ AL-ASSAD CAN CONTROL THE AREA IF HE WANTS TO... THIRD, THE ISRAELI ATTACKS ON LEBANON ARE DESIGNED TO FORCE LEBANON AND THEREFORE SYRIA TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE HEZBOLLAH FORCES."

TEXT: AGAIN, BACK IN THIS COUNTRY, THE NEWS THAT CONTROVERSIAL POPULAR SINGER MADONNA IS PREGNANT, THOUGH UNMARRIED, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE NEW YORK POST."

VOICE: "MADONNA, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, IS A ROLE MODEL FOR MANY TEENAGE GIRLS... OUT-OF-WEDLOCK PREGNANCY RATES HAVE LONG BEEN HIGH AMONG BLACK AND HISPANIC TEENS; NOW, THEY ARE RISING MORE QUICKLY AMONG WHITES THAN IN ANY OTHER GROUP. MADONNA, AND THOSE WHO CELEBRATE HER, ARE MAKING THEIR OWN CONTRIBUTION TO THIS UNHAPPY REALITY. "

VOICE: "CHUPACABRAS HAS ENTERED THE INTERNATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS FROM CANOVANAS TO MOSCOW BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE TO BE SCARED THE WAY THEY WERE BY THE BROTHERS GRIMM. THE ... FIVE-FOOT, RED-EYED, GRAY-SKINNED, REPTILIAN, BLOOD-SUCKING MONSTER ... JOINS THE RANKS OF THE GREAT ONES THAT COME TO MIND ON SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WHEN AN OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION HEARS WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A STRANGE NOISE IN THE BACK YARD. WHO WANTS TO GO OUT AND CHECK [INVESTIGATE]?"

TEXT: AND ON THAT FRIGHTENING NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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17-Apr-96 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BALKAN POLICY REVIEW BY ZLATICA HOKE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: BALKAN POLICY ANALYSTS SAY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS AND THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (IFOR) IN BOSNIA HAVE NOT TAKEN THE NECESSARY ACTION TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. EXPERTS AT A RECENT BALKAN POLICY REVIEW CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON WARNED THAT FAILURE TO PROPERLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE DAYTON AGREEMENT COULD LEAD TO RENEWED FIGHTING IN BOSNIA. ZLATICA HOKE REPORTS.

TEXT: FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE (NOVEMBER 10) SIGNING OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS, THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE -- OR IFOR -- HAS ACHIEVED MOST OF ITS STRICTLY MILITARY OBJECTIVES IN BOSNIA. BUT ANALYSTS SAY LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN CREATING CONDITIONS FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES, AND FOR THE CONDUCT OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THEY ALSO FEEL NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO APPREHEND SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS AND TO GATHER VITAL EVIDENCE FOR THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

SEVERAL PROMINENT AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN EXPERTS PARTICIPATING IN A RECENT BALKAN POLICY REVIEW CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D-C, SAID THE UNITED STATES IS, IN EFFECT, COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL IT CAN WITHDRAW FROM BOSNIA -- EVEN THOUGH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CANNOT YET DEFEND ITSELF. THE EXPERTS AGREED THAT SELF-DEFENSE AND THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER ARE AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS FOR A LASTING PEACE.

BALKAN INSTITUTE MEMBER, AND FORMER U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE RICHARD PERLE, NOTED THE UNITED STATES HAD MADE A VERBAL COMMITMENT TO TRAIN AND EQUIP THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION FORCES, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT TAKEN A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. IN FACT, HE SAID, BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SIGNED THE DAYTON AGREEMENT ONLY AFTER THE UNITED STATES PROMISED TO HELP DEVELOP THE BOSNIAN ARMY.

TAPE: CUT ONE - PERLE (:50) "THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW AND SO FAR NOT A SINGLE BULLET IS MOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE ARSENALS OF THE FEDERATION OR BOSNIAN FORCES. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOT A DIME HAS BEEN RAISED TO FINANCE ARMING AND EQUIPPING OF THE BOSNIAN FORCES AND THE AMERICAN COMMITMENT EXPRESSED SO UNAMBIGUOUSLY AT DAYTON HAS NOW BEEN RE-WRITTEN. IT IS NOW A COMMITMENT NOT TO ARM AND EQUIP, NOT TO ARM AND TRAIN THE BOSNIAN FORCES, OR THE FEDERATION FORCES, BUT RATHER TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL. AND THIS CONSISTS OF THE U.S. MAKING THUS FAR INEFFECTIVE APPEALS TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO DO WHAT THE U.S. PLEDGED AT DAYTON IT WOULD DO ITSELF."

TEXT: RICHARD PERLE SAYS TURNING AWAY FROM THIS PLEDGE SHOWS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP BY THE UNITED STATES WHICH MAY ENCOURAGE A RENEWAL OF FIGHTING IN BOSNIA ONCE THE IFOR WITHDRAWS.

PANELISTS AT THE BALKAN POLICY REVIEW CONFERENCE WHO HAVE RECENTLY VISITED BOSNIA SAID THAT MEMBERS OF THE LARGE U-S FORCE DEPLOYED IN THE TUZLA AREA ARE LARGELY BORED BECAUSE OF INACTIVITY. THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES CONSIST OF LITTLE MORE THAN KEEPING THE WARRING PARTIES SEPARATED -- THE TASK EARLIER PERFOMED, WITH LITTLE SUCCESS, BY UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY LECTURER MARK ALMOND, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, "EUROPE'S BACKYARD WAR", WAS CRITICAL OF THE IFOR ROLE IN BOSNIA. HE SAID WHILE THE NATO FORCE HAS SUCCEEDED IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE CEASEFIRE, IT HAS ALSO FACILITATED AND CEMENTED THE ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT RESULTED FROM THE WAR. TAPE; CUT TWO - ALMOND (:27) "FOR NOT ONLY HAS IFOR FAILED TO RESTORE BOTH FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO OR THREE PARTS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, IT HAS FAILED IN FACT TO DISMANTLE MANY OF THE CHECKPOINTS AND TO GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. IT CERTAINLY HAS ALSO NOT ONLY FAILED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND PROTECTED TO DO SO, IT HAS ACTUALLY FACILITATED THE FURTHER ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PEOPLE."

TEXT: MR. ALMOND ALSO SAID THE UNITED STATES AND NATO FORCES MUST TAKE MEASURES TO GUARANTEE OPEN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING FOR BOSNIA'S UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND TO DEFEND OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. OTHERWISE, HE SAID THE IFOR TOOPS THEMSELVES WILL BECOME TARGETS OF ATTACK AS THE TIME FOR THEIR WITHDRAWAL APPROACHES. IN WHICH CASE, HE ADDS, COME NOVEMBER, THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOST WANTED TO AVOID A MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIA WILL FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT EASILY.

GERMAN PANELIST TILMAN ZULCH, THE PRESIDENT OF SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PAOPLE, POINTED TO THE LINGERING BOSNIA REFUGEE PROBLEM. HE SAID GERMANY ACCEPTED ABOUT 320-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM THE WAR IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, BUT NOW WOULD LIKE TO SEND THEM BACK BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THEY HAVE CREATED. BUT, HE NOTES, MANY OF THE REFUGEES HAVE NO HOMES TO RETURN TO AND CONDITIONS FOR THEIR RETURN ARE FAR FROM SAFE.

TAPE: CUT THREE - ZULCH (:48) "EIGHTY PERCENT OF THESE REFUGEES (IN GERMANY), LIKE THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES FROM OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ARE FROM SERBIAN-CONTROLLED AREAS, FIVE TO TEN PERCENT FROM CROATIAN CONTROLLED AREAS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE TO STATE THAT THE REGIME WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR BECOMING REFUGEES, THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE OF PERHAPS 200-THOUSAND CIVILIANS, IS IN THE SERBIAN- CONTROLLED AREAS STILL IN POWER. [OPT] (AS) FOR THE CROATIAN-CONTROLLED AREA, THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER (KLAUS) KINKEL CALLED THE LEADERSHIP THERE POLITICAL MAFIA." [END OPT]

TEXT: TILMAN ZULCH SAYS THE ZENICA CENTER FOR DOCUMENTATION OF GENOCIDE HAS A LIST OF ABOUT ONE-THOUSAND-350 SUSPECTED SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS WHO CONTINUE TO POSE A THREAT. THE SOCIETY FOR THE THREATENED PEOPLES ESTIMATES THAT AT LEAST THREE-THOUSAND PEOPLE KNOWN TO HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE ETHNIC KILLING ARE NOW EMPLOYED BY THE LOCAL COUNCILS AND POLICE IN THE ZONES UNDER SERBIAN CONTROL. [OPT] ALSO, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TWO TOP BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS ACCUSED OF INCITING THE GENOCIDE POLICY IN BOSNIA -- RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC -- ARE STILL IN POWER AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ATTEMPT BY THE NATO FORCES TO BRING THEM BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. [END OPT] MR. ZILCH SAYS UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES WOULD AMOUNT TO DEPORTATION.

BRITISH POLITICAL ANALYST NOEL MALCOM, AUTHOR OF "BOSNIA: A SHORT HISTORY", SAYS WESTERN POLICY IN THE BALKANS CONTINUES TO FAIL PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON THE FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG PREMISE THAT THE WAR WAS CAUSED BY ANCIENT ETHNIC HATREDS. THUS, IN MR. MALCOM'S WORDS, THE WAR HAS BEEN APPROACHED WITH THE DOCTRINE OF EQUIVALENCE AND THE SENSE THAT ALL SIDES ARE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. HE SAYS THE WEST HAS LOOKED FOR A SOLUTION TO THE BALKAN CONFLICT IN TERMS OF "DAMPING DOWN" AND "CONTAINING", AS IF IT WERE A FOREST FIRE. AND AS A RESULT THE ETHNIC PARTITION, WHICH HE SAYS IS A PART OF THE DAYTON PLAN, IS BEING ACCEPTED AS A DESIRABLE SOLUTION.

TAPE: [OPT] CUT FOUR - MALCOLM (:43) "AND THIS IS-- WILL BE -- THE FUNDAMENTAL MISTAKE OF OUR POLICY FROM NOW ON, IF WE THINK THAT SEPARATING THESE POPULATIONS AND LEAVING HALF THE POPULATIONS LIVING IN TENTS AND REFUGEE CAMPS FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE, IF WE THINK THAT THAT IS PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN I AM AFRAID WE ARE GETTING THINGS EXACTLY THE WRONG WAY AROUND. IF YOU REGARD THIS WAR AS [BEGIN OPT] YOU SHOULD DO, AS A TEXTBOOK CLAUSEWITZIAN WAR [END OPT] PURSUED FOR WAR AIMS, FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, ABOVE ALL TERRITORY AND POWER, THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT ETHNIC SEPARATION AND THE CREATION OF A SERB ENTITY THAT HAS SOME LONG-TERM POSSIBILITY OF SECESSION FROM BOSNIA, THAT THIS IS IN FACT A WAY OF HELPING THOSE WAR AIMS TO REACH ACHIEVEMENT." [END OPT]

TEXT: NOEL MALCOLM SAYS THE CREATION OF A SERB ENTITY IN BOSNIA WOULD LEAD TO MUCH GREATER LONG-TERM INSTABILITY. SO, HE SAYS, IT IS VERY WRONG TO ASSUME THAT PAST ANALYTICAL MISTAKES ARE NOW HISTORY AND THAT ONLY TODAY'S PRACTICAL PROBLEMS HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH.

PARTICIPANTS OF THE BALKAN POLICY REVIEW CONFERENCE CALLED FOR URGENT U-S ACTION TO ENFORCE ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THEY ASKED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE UNITED STATERS FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS PLEDGE TO HELP TRAIN AND EQUIP THE BOSNIAN ARMY, AND TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND THE CONDUCT OF FREE ELECTIONS. UNLESS THESE CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE FULFILLED BEFORE THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCES LEAVE BOSNIA AT THE END OF THE YEAR, ANALYSTS PREDICT THE PRESENT PEACE-IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS IN THE BALKANS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER FAILURE.

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17-Apr-96 8:19 AM EDT (1219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / U-N (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: A TOP RANKING OFFICIAL OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN WILL FAIL UNLESS BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC ARE REMOVED FROM POWER AND HANDED OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THE WARNING CAME FROM BOSNIAN JUSTICE MINISTER HILMO PASIC, IN A SPEECH (WEDNESDAY) TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

TEXT: UNDER TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN, NO ONE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES CAN HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN BOSNIA. BUT NOW, FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED, BOTH MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC REMAIN IN POWER.

IN A SPEECH TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HERE WEDNESDAY, BOSNIAN JUSTICE MINISTER PASIC SAID THE PEACE PLAN CANNOT BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS AND OTHER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS ARE REMOVED.

WE HAVE CLEARLY STATED THAT WITHOUT REMOVING THE MOST IMPORTANT WAR CRIMINALS, THERE IS NO CHANCE FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR PEACE, NOT ONLY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BUT ALSO IN THE BROADER REGION.

MR. PASIC SAID IT IS IMPOSSIBLE EVEN TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION IN BOSNIA AS LONG AS THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING ACTS OF GENOCIDE AND OTHER WAR CRIMES REMAIN IN POWER.

HE SAID THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO ENSURE THAT MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. BUT HE SAID THEIR FATE DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE BIG POWERS THAT HELPED FORGE THE DAYTON AGREEMENT.

THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IS EMPOWERED TO ARREST INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA, BUT TO DATE IT HAS NO MANDATE TO PURSUE THEM. AND WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ENSURE THAT THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS ARE REMOVED.

IN HIS SPEECH TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HERE, JUSTIC MINISTER PASIC URGED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO VIGOROUSLY PURSUE EFFORTS TO BRING TO JUSTICE ALL THOSE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES DURING THE LONG BOSNIAN CONFLICT.

HE HANDED OVER DOCUMENTATION PREPARED BY SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATORS THAT OUTLINES 671 SEPARATE ACTS OF MASS MURDER DURING THE WAR.

THE DOCUMENT ALSO CONTAINS INFORMATION ON 161 MASS GRAVE SITES, AS WELL AS ABOUT 400 CONCENTRATION CAMPS THAT WERE IN OPERATION DURING THE CONFLICT. (SIGNED)

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17-Apr-96 9:51 AM EDT (1351 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE EXPECTED TO MISS A THURSDAY NIGHT DEADLINE TO COMPLY WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MILITARY PROVISIONS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH IT WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS DOUBT THAT THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA WILL MEET THE THURSDAY DEADLINE, TO RETURN ALL THEIR REGULAR TROOPS TO BARRACKS AND TO MOVE ALL THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS TO DESIGNATED AREAS. BUT, A NATO SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO, MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK, SAYS THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS APPEAR TO BE MAKING A GENUINE EFFORT TO COMPLY WITH THIS CRUCIAL PROVISION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

OTHER NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE FORMER WARRING FORCES CAN COMPLETE TROOP AND HEAVY WEAPONS WITHDRAWALS IN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

MAJOR HASELOCK POINTS OUT THAT MOVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REGULAR TROOPS TO BARRACKS AND THOUSANDS OF HEAVY WEAPONS TO NATO-APPROVED AREAS IS A HUGE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE.

THE COMMANDER OF NATO'S GROUND FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BRITISH GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER SAYS THE TROOP AND WEAPONS RELOCATIONS AMOUNT TO ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPLEX MOVEMENTS OF MILITARY FORCES IN SUCH A CONFINED AREA IN RECENT HISTORY.

ASSUMING THIS STAND-DOWN OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES TAKES PLACE SOON, NATO BELIEVES IT WILL MEAN THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS, EFFECTIVELY, OVER.

ONCE THE TROOPS ARE BACK IN THEIR BARRACKS AND HEAVY WEAPONS ARE IN THE DESIGNATED PLACES, REGULAR SOLDIERS CAN ONLY GO BACK OUT INTO THE FIELD FOR TRAINING EXERCISES, ENDORSED BY NATO.

AN ESTIMATED 150-THOUSAND RESERVE SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE DEMOBILIZED. HELPING TO FIND OR CREATE USEFUL JOBS FOR THEM WILL BE A MAJOR TASK OF INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT CIVIL ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT HAS BEEN EASIER, SO FAR, TO IMPLEMENT MILITARY PROVISIONS THAN THE CIVIL ELEMENTS OF THE PEACE ACCORD.

NATO HAS PROMISED TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO HELP IMPLEMENT NON-MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ONCE ITS MILITARY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN LARGELY ACHIEVED. (SIGNED)

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17-Apr-96 10:39 AM EDT (1439 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] GERMANY/BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH ( BONN )

INTRO: THE SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES IS URGING THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER A PLAN TO BEGIN SENDING BOSNIAN REFUGEES BACK HOME. MANY OF THE REFUGEES FROM THE WAR-TORN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FOUND SHELTER IN GERMANY. FROM BONN, V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS THE GERMAN HUMAN RIGHTS SOCIETY STRESSED ITS APPEAL BY PRESENTING A REPORT ON GENOCIDE IN PRIJEDOR, A DISTRICT IN NORTH-WESTERN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES, TILMAN ZUELCH, SAYS WITH 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES, GERMANY HAS WELCOMED MORE THAN ANY OTHER WESTERN COUNTRY.

BUT MR. ZUELCH TOLD REPORTERS IN BONN, THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS ALSO THE TOUGHEST IN SENDING THE REFUGEES HOME. GERMANY'S INTERIOR MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED THAT BEGINNING IN JULY, MOST BOSNIAN REFUGEES WILL GRADUALLY BE REPATRIATED.

WE THINK A REPATRIATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. IF GERMANY INSISTS ON REPATRIATION, IT WOULD LEAD TO DEPORTATION. WHY? HALF OF BOSNIA IS CONTROLLED NOT ONLY BY SERBIAN TROOPS AND POLICE, BUT IS CONTROLLED BY THOSE PERPETRATORS WHO ARE INDICTED IN DEN HAAG, WHO ARE ACCUSED OF HAVING COMMITTED GENOCIDE. AT LEAST 200-THOUSAND MUSLIMS WERE KILLED OR MURDERED THERE. NONE OF THE 80-PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES WHOSE HOMETOWNS ARE IN THE SERB-OCCUPIED AREAS CAN RETURN, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNREALISTIC. (REST OF ACT IS OPT) CONCERNING THE CROATIAN-CONTROLLED AREAS WE SEE THERE THAT CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN OBVIOUSLY IS ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF APARTHEID IN THESE REGIONS. MUSLIM BOSNIANS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN THERE. AND FINALLY CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED THIRD OF BOSNIA, IT IS OVERCROWDED WITH REFUGEES FROM THE OTHER MENTIONED PARTS, ON THE ONE HAND. ON THE OTHER HAND, A BIG PERCENTAGE OF THE HOUSES THERE ARE IN RUINS, PEOPLE LIVE IN CELLARS, IN RUINS, AND THERE IS NOT A POSSIBILITY THAT THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES COULD RETURN THERE.

THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM THE DISTRICT OF PRIJEDOR IN NORTH-WESTERN BOSNIA LIVE IN GERMANY. ON APRIL 28TH, ABOUT ONE HUNDRED OF THEM WILL ACCOMPANY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO RETURN THERE FOR TWO DAYS TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.

WE WANT TO SHOW TO THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC THAT FIRST OF ALL THE REFUGEES --OR MOST OF THEM -- WANT TO GO HOME, BUT THAT THEY CANNOT GO HOME BECAUSE THOSE WAR CRIMINALS ARE STILL IN POWER THERE. IN PRIJEDOR, THE DISTRICT, MANY INSTITUTIONS SAY THAT ABOUT 25-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED THERE. THOSE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE ARE MANAGING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TOWN. AND THIS AREA IS FULL OF MASS GRAVES, FULL OF DESTROYED VILLAGES, TOWNS AND QUARTERS.

THE MAN SAYS HE HAD TO GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND CLEAR AWAY THE CORPSES. T HEY WERE VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN SLAUGHTERED, OR SHOT. HE SAYS HE ALSO HAD TO PICK UP CORPSES BY THE TRUCKLOAD AT SEVERAL PRISON CAMPS IN THE AREA. THE CORPSES WERE BURIED IN MASS GRAVES IN CEMETERIES, HE SAYS, BUT THOUSANDS WERE ALSO BURIED IN THE CITY DUMP. THE MAN SAYS HE STILL SEES DETAILS OF MASSACRES HE WITNESSED. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/MH/RAE
17-Apr-96 10:58 AM EDT (1458 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GINGRICH-BOSNIA-IRAN (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CONGRESS)

INTRO: THERE HAS BEEN NO ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HEARINGS IN THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS REGARDING IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS TO BOSNIA. BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON TELLS US, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS LEAVING NO DOUBT IT IS ANGRY WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: SO FAR, MOST OF THE INFORMATION REACHING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT THE ARMS SHIPMENTS HAS COME IN THE FORM OF REPORTS IN U-S NEWSPAPERS.

HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH HAS BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THOSE REPORTS -- ESPECIALLY THOSE DETAILING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHILE THE ARMS WERE MAKING THEIR WAY TO BOSNIA. AND THE SPEAKER IS FURIOUS.

DURING AN APPEARANCE BEFORE A CONVENTION OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS, MR. GINGRICH QUOTED EXTENSIVELY FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES. THE ARTICLE -- BASED ON ANONYMOUS SOURCES -- PROVIDED A SKETCH OF THE DIPLOMATIC BACK-AND-FORTH THAT ACCOMPANIED THE 1994 DECISION TO DO NOTHING ABOUT THE ARMS SHIPMENTS.

THIS ONE (THIS ARTICLE) IS PARTICULARLY GOOD AT TWO LEVELS. ONE, FOR WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S, I THINK, EXTRAORDINARILY UNSTRUCTURED AND UNPROFESSIONAL FOREIGN POLICY SYSTEM. AND THE OTHER IS, FOR WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT THEIR LACK OF THINKING THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS.

THE SPEAKER SAID AT THE SAME TIME THE WHITE HOUSE WAS SENDING OUT SIGNALS TO CROATIA ABOUT THE IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENTS....A VERY DIFFERENT MESSAGE WAS GOING TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS OPENLY, PUBLICLY TELLING DOLE AND ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE "OH, WE WOULD LIKE TO LIFT THE EMBARGO TO BOSNIA BUT WE CAN'T LIFT THE EMBARGO BECAUSE THE EUROPEAN ALLIES WON'T LET US LIFT THE EMBARGO, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THE EMBARGO.

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION OBVIOUSLY BELIEVED IT COULD KEEP THE DECISION TO TOLERATE THE ARMS SHIPMENTS A SECRET. MR. GINGRICH CALLED THAT ASSUMPTION WRONG AND DANGEROUS -- OVERLOOKING THE THREAT POSED BY IRAN.

THE FACT (IS) THAT HERE YOU HAVE A STATE VERY MUCH OUTSIDE OUR SYSTEM, A STATE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, A STATE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET MISSILE CAPABILITY, CLEARLY THE GREATEST THREAT TO ISRAEL'S SURVIVAL AND A STATE WHICH IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM AROUND THE WORLD. AND TO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION DECEIVE THE CONGRESS, DECEIVE ITS ALLIES, INVITE IRAN INTO EUROPE, UNDERMINES ALL OF OUR POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

MR. GINGRICH SAID THE UNITED STATES WILL NOW HAVE A TOUGH TIME CONVINCING OTHER COUNTRIES TO SHY AWAY FROM ANY DEALINGS WITH THE IRANIANS.

HOW DO YOU GO TO THE JORDANIANS AND THE LEBANESE AND SAY "PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THE IRANIANS IN YOUR COUNTRY...IT IS OKAY IN BOSNIA BUT THEY ARE REALLY DANGEROUS IN YOUR COUNTRY." HOW DO YOU SAY TO THE GERMANS "PLEASE DON'T DEAL WITH THE IRANIANS...THEY ARE OKAY IN EUROPE...BUT YOU SHOULDN'T SELL THEM ANYTHING.

THE SPEAKER SEEMED PARTICULARLY INCENSED ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S REFUSAL TO PROVIDE CONGRESS WITH DOCUMENTS RELATING TO AN INTERNAL PROBE OF ITS BOSNIA ARMS POLICY. HE SAID THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO STOP AN INVESTIGATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/GKT/PT
17-Apr-96 3:47 PM EDT (1947 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] ROMANIA / NUCLEAR (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ONE OF EUROPE'S POOREST NATIONS, ROMANIA, HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS INTERNATIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER IN EASTERN EUROPE, THE NEW ROMANIAN POWER PLANT USES WESTERN TECHNOLOGY AND IS BELIEVED TO BE QUITE SAFE.

TEXT: ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU AND CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN HELD THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ON THE DANUBE RIVER EAST OF BUCHAREST.

THE NUCLEAR POWER FACILITY USES CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY. THIS TECHNOLOGY IS CONSIDERED UNUSUALLY SAFE.

THE ADVANCED CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY IS NOT USED IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ANYWHERE ELSE IN EASTERN EUROPE. INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS FEAR NUCLEAR REACTORS, LIKE THE ONE THAT EXPLODED AT CHERNOBYL 10 YEARS AGO, ARE A THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH IN THE REGION.

THE FIRST REACTOR AT ROMANIA'S NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IS EXPECTED TO START GENERATING ELECTRICITY NEXT MONTH. THE PLANT HAS COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HAS TAKEN 16 YEARS TO BUILD.

PRIME MINISTER CHRETIAN SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE ENTIRE PLANT WILL BE OPERATING BEFORE LONG. HE SAYS THE PROJECT IS A SYMBOL OF THE VAST POTENTIAL FOR CANADIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ROMANIA.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE PLANT OCCURRED A DAY BEFORE A HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE BEGINS IN MOSCOW ON THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER.

SAFETY CONCERNS DOMINATED A RECENT MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HERE IN VIENNA. NUCLEAR EXPERTS CALLED FOR DANGEROUS NUCLEAR REACTORS, MAINLY IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, TO BE UPGRADED OR CLOSED.

UKRAINE HAS REPEATEDLY OFFERED TO SHUT DOWN ITS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT CHERNOBYL, THE SITE OF THE WORLD'S WORST NUCLEAR ACCIDENT. BUT, THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DEMANDED SUBSTANTIAL INTERNATIONAL AID TO ELIMINATE SAFETY THREATS POSED BY THAT PLANT, AND IT SAYS THE AID PLEDGED, SO FAR, IS NOT ADEQUATE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/MMK
17-Apr-96 12:29 PM EDT (1629 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] SENATE-BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

INTRO: THE U-S SENATE WILL INVESTIGATE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO LET IRAN SUPPLY WEAPONS TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS DESPITE THE GLOBAL ARMS EMBARGO ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE SAYS THE INTELLIGENCE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEES WILL HOLD HEARINGS ON THE POLICY. THE CONTROVERSY ERUPTED WHEN IT WAS LEARNED THE WHITE HOUSE GAVE TACIT, QUIET APPROVAL FOR WEAPONS TO FLOW TO BOSNIAN TROOPS THROUGH CROATIA, STARTING IN 1994.

MR. DOLE AND OTHER LAWMAKERS SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF HELPING BOSNIA FIGHT THE WAR. BUT HE SAYS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE IN SECRET.

AND FINALLY, HAD WE LIFTED THE ARMS EMBARGO ON BOSNIA, THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASON. AND WE'D HAVE DONE IT OPENLY AND HONESTLY. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS EXAMINATION AND THESE HEARINGS WILL BE ABOUT.

MR. CLINTON ARGUES HE DID NOTHING WRONG BY NOT PUSHING CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO BLOCK THE ARMS TRAFFIC. THE ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINS IT WAS NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE SHIPMENTS AND THUS DID NOT VIOLATE THE U-N EMBARGO, WHICH IT PUBLICLY SUPPORTED.

OFFICIALS ALSO SAY CONGRESS KNEW ABOUT THE EFFORT ALL ALONG AND DID NOT OBJECT. SENATOR DOLE SAYS HE WAS NEVER TOLD THE UNITED STATES APPROVED THE PLAN.

THIS DUPLICITOUS POLICY HAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED OUR CREDIBILITY WITH OUR ALLIES. IT HAS ALSO PRODUCED ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS THREATS TO OUR MILITARY FORCES IN BOSNIA, AND ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO THE ARM-AND-TRAIN PROGRAM FOR THE BOSNIANS --- I AM TALKING ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF IRANIAN MILITARY FORCES AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SO FAR REFUSED TO GIVE CONGRESS AN INTERNAL REPORT ON THE POLICY. THE ADMINISTRATION MUST NOW PREPARE TO DEFEND ITS DECISIONS IN PUBLIC, IN THE MIDST OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/GKT/MMK
17-Apr-96 3:06 PM EDT (1906 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S / BOSNIA ARMS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS GULF COUNTRIES HAVE COMMITTED ABOUT 100-MILLION DOLLARS TO THE U-S-LED EFFORT TO TRAIN AND EQUIP BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-LED ARMY. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM CANNOT GO FORWARD UNTIL U-S OFFICIALS ARE SATISFIED THAT THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT HAS EXPELLED ALL IRANIAN AND OTHER FOREIGN FORCES. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY A VISIT TO THE GULF LAST WEEKEND BY A DELEGATION LED BY TOP WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR MACK MCLARTY PRODUCED ABOUT 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN PLEDGES FOR THE TRAIN AND EQUIP PROGRAM. THEY DESCRIBE THE MCLARTY MISSION AS A "CRITICAL TURNING POINT" IN THE U-S-LED EFFORT TO CREATE A MILITARY BALANCE IN BOSNIA BY BUILDING UP FORCES OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.

MR. MCLARTY AND HIS DELEGATION WENT TO SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DURING THE LITTLE-PUBLICIZED TRIP. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL JAMES PARDEW, THE ADMINISTRATION'S COORDINATOR FOR THE MILITARY AID PROGRAM, SAYS THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION MEANS THE OPERATION CAN NOW MOVE FORWARD ON SCHEDULE:

THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAIN AND EQUIP PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION THE MILITARY CAPABILITY IT NEEDS TO DETER ATTACKS IN THE FUTURE AND TO DEFEND ITS PEOPLE AND TERRITORY SHOULD THAT DETERRENCE FAIL. THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION WILL ENABLE THE TRAINING ELEMENT OF THE TRAIN-AND-EQUIP PROGRAM TO MOVE AHEAD IN A TIMELY MANNER.

MR. PARDEW WOULD GIVE NO BREAKDOWN OF THE PLEDGES FROM THE GULF STATES BUT INDICATED THAT ALL THREE COUNTRIES VISITED BY MR. MCCLARTY WILL CONTRIBUTE FUNDS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO PROVIDE BOSNIA WITH NEARLY $100-MILLION IN SURPLUS WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDING TANKS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

TURKEY AND SEVERAL OTHER ISLAMIC STATES ALSO MADE COMMITMENTS AT A CONFERENCE IN ANKARA LAST MONTH. EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE THUS FAR REFUSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS AIMED AT CREATING A ROUGH PARITY BETWEEN FEDERATION AND SERB FORCES IN BOSNIA. BUT SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE THAT WILL CHANGE, GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF THE MCLARTY MISSION.

THE INFUSION OF FUNDS WILL ALLOW THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION TO CHOOSE A PRIVATE AMERICAN DEFENSE CONTRACTOR TO CONDUCT THE TRAIN-AND-EQUIP OPERATION. BUT THE SENIOR OFFICIALS STRESSED THAT THE TRAINING ITSELF CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL THE UNITED STATES IS SATISFIED THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXPELLED FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS AND OTHERS AS PROVIDED IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THIS, THEY SAID, WILL INCLUDE TERMINATING INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDING IRAN AND REDUCING IRAN'S OFFICIAL PRESENCE IN SARAJEVO TO WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF A NORMAL EMBASSY.

THE OFFICIALS WOULD NOT SAY HOW MANY IRANIANS OR OTHERS REMAIN IN BOSNIA IN VIOLATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. BUT THEY SAID THE TREND WITH REGARD TO EXPULSIONS HAS BEEN POSITIVE, AND THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN GIVEN ASSURANCES AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS THAT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE. (SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / BD/PK
17-Apr-96 5:43 PM EDT (2143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America