Voice of America, 31 August 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 8/31/95 !!!

NATO / BOSNIA -- NATO SAYS ITS AIR ATTACKS ON SERB POSITIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE BEEN GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THE UNPRECEDENTED MILITARY OPERATION IS CONTINUING. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/31)

YUGO / TALKS -- AN AMERICAN ENVOY SAYS HE BELIEVES SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS ON A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE NOW POSSIBLE. THE ENVOY, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, SPOKE AS HE CONTINUES SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / BOMBING -- THE NATO AND UN OPERATION AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS IS CONTINUING, AND NATO WARPLANES ARE AGAIN FLYING OVER SARAJEVO, BUT THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS IN THE AREA. NATO JETS HAVE ATTACKED TARGETS ACROSS BOSNIA AND UN ARTILLERY HAS FIRED HUNDREDS OF SHELLS AT BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. (8/31)

BOSNIA / FRANCE / BRITAIN REACT -- BRITISH AND FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTERS SAY THE NATO OPERATION AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS COULD LAST FOR SOME TIME YET. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / HUMANITARIAN -- THE ON-GOING NATO AIR OPERATIONS OVER BOSNIA HAVE FORCED A HALT TO HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERIES TO SARAJEVO. AND UN OFFICIALS SAY FOOD STOCKS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ARE RUNNING LOW. BUT, SPOKESMEN AT THE GENEVA-BASED UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARE HOPEFUL THE NATO ACTION WILL HELP LIFT THE SIEGE OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. FROM GENEVA, CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO AIRCRAFT AND UN ARTILLERY ARE CONTINUING TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS ACROSS BOSNIA. BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WELCOMED THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN, AND UN OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE THREAT TO UN SAFE AREAS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IS HALTED. THE BOSNIAN SERBS RESPONDED BY TARGETING UN BASES IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, AND ONE NATO AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTS. (8/30)

BOSNIA / US DIPLOMACY -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DEFENDING THE MILITARY ACTION IN BOSNIA AS NECESSARY TO PROMOTE ITS POLITICAL GOAL OF BRINGING THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (8/30)

SERB REACT / NATO RAIDS -- THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE CONDEMNED THE UNPRECEDENTED NATO AIR RAIDS ON THEIR MILITARY POSITIONS. BUT THE NATO ACTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE UNDERMINING THE PEACE PROCESS FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND MAY EVEN BE SPEEDING IT UP. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/30)

US / BOSNIA -- AS NATO WARPLANES CONTINUE ATTACKS ON SERB TARGETS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, A SENIOR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE PLANES ARE INFLICTING SERIOUS DAMAGE. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS DETAILS. (8/30)

CHINA / NGO FORUM -- THE FIRST OFFICIAL WORKING DAY OF A LARGE MEETING FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TOOK PLACE THURSDAY IN THE BEIJING SUBURB OF HUAIROU. AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HELD A DEMONSTRATION PROTESTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OUTSIDE A CROWDED PLENARY SESSION. (8/31)

SAF / WOMEN -- SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN ATTENDING THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING HAVE A LENGTHY WISH LIST. BUT THEY SAY DECISIONS MADE AT THE CONFERENCE WILL HAVE LIMITED EFFECT UNLESS THE CONFERENCE MOVES FROM ADVOCACY TO IMPLEMENTATION. STRINGER DELIA ROBERTSON SPOKE WITH SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY WELFARE MINISTER GERALDINE FRASER-MOLEKETI BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR BEIJING. (8/31)

CHINA / TIBET -- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORMAL CHINESE CONTROL OF TIBET. CHINESE NEWS MEDIA HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH GLOWING ACCOUNTS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS IN THOSE 30 YEARS. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER CONTRASTS THE WAY CHINA DESCRIBES TIBET WITH EXILE REPORTS OF REPRESSION AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. (8/31)

ENDEAVOR / SCRUB -- THE LAUNCH OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR HAS BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SHUTTLE'S THREE FUEL CELLS. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, NASA MANAGERS DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, JUST HOURS BEFORE THE SHUTTLE WAS SUPPOSED TO LIFT-OFF ON AN 11-DAY VOYAGE. (8/31)

ENDEAVOUR / PRE-LAUNCH -- THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, NASA, IS PREPARING TO LAUNCH ITS FIFTH SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION OF 1995. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER THE ENDEAVOUR'S FIVE ASTRONAUTS ARE SCHEDULED TO LIFT OFF FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY FOR AN ELEVEN DAY MISSION. (8/30)

LANKA / FERRY -- THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IS TRYING TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF MORE THAN 120 PASSENGERS WHO WERE ON BOARD A SRI LANKAN FERRY WHEN IT WAS HIJACKED BY TAMIL SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. (8/31))

ALGERIA / BOMB -- A CAR BOMB HAS EXPLODED IN THE ALGERIAN CAPITAL, KILLING AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE AND INJURING 16. PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (8/31)

KAZAKH / REFERENDUM -- KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENT HAS HAILED HIS PEOPLE FOR APPROVING A NEW CONSTITUTION AND HAS DISMISSED WESTERN CRITICISM HE ABANDONED DEMOCRACY IN FAVOR OF A POWER-GRAB. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S UPBEAT ASSESSMENT, OPPOSITION GROUPS SAY THERE WERE WIDE-SPREAD VOTING IRREGULARITIES IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM. (8/31)

INDIA BLAST -- INDIAN NEWS AGENCIES SAY A BOMB HAS KILLED THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PUNJAB STATE, WHERE SIKH SEPARATISTS HAD BEEN ACTIVE. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE FROM NEW DELHI. (8/31)

INDIA / ENRON -- ENRON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS OFFERING TO RENEGOTIATE TERMS OF A MAJOR POWER PROJECT THAT WAS SCRAPPED EARLIER THIS MONTH BY THE GOVERNMENT IN INDIA'S MAHARASHTRA STATE. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE IN NEW DELHI REPORTS. (8/31)

SAF / NIGERIA -- NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, TOM IKIMI WAS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE SOUTH AFRICA THURSDAY AFTER A VISIT AIMED AT CONVINCING LEADERS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA HIS COUNTRY IS MOVING TOWARD DEMOCRACY. AS CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON REPORTS FROM JOHANNESBURG, HE CAME INTO MUCH CRITICISM DURING THE VISIT. (8/31)

UGANDA / REBELS -- A UGANDAN REBEL GROUP CLAIMS TANZANIA HAS SENT THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO UGANDA TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI QUELL THE THREAT POSED BY INSURGENTS. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS UGANDAN AND TANZANIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. (8/31)

KENYA / POLITICS -- KENYAN PRESIDENT DANIEL ARAP MOI HAS CATEGORICALLY RULED OUT ANY DIALOGUE BETWEEN HIS RULING KANU PARTY AND THE UNREGISTERED SAFINA OPPOSITION MOVEMENT, WHOSE LEADERS INCLUDE CONSERVATIONIST RICHARD LEAKEY. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM NAIROBI. (8/31)

LIBERIA / PEACE -- LIBERIANS ARE CELEBRATING THE ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL IN MONROVIA OF FACTIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING THE ARRIVAL OF NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FRONT OF LIBERIA LEADER CHARLES TAYLOR. CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM MONROVIA THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME MR. TAYLOR HAS COME TO THE CAPITAL SINCE HE STARTED THE CIVIL WAR NEARLY SIX-YEARS AGO. (8/31)

LIBERIA / AID -- THE BRITISH CHARITY, SAVE THE CHILDREN, SAYS NEARLY HALF THE PEOPLE IN LIBERIA ARE SEVERELY MALNOURISHED AND COULD STARVE IF AID DOES NOT REACH THEM SOON. MANY OF THE WORST AFFECTED AREAS ARE BEHIND THE FRONT LINES OF THE VARIOUS WARRING FACTIONS, CUT OFF FROM WESTERN AID DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. REPORTER CHRISTINE FURNELL SPOKE WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN'S' PROGRAM MANAGER IN LIBERIA, WHO SAYS NOW THAT A PEACE ACCORD HAS BEEN AGREED IN LIBERIA, AID AGENCIES MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO THESE OUTLYING AREAS IN TIME TO AVERT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. (8/31)

RWANDA / GOVERNMENT -- RWANDAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NAMED A NEW PRIME MINISTER TO REPLACE FAUSTIN TWAGIRIMUNGU, WHO WAS RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES EARLIER THIS WEEK. CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA IS MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS FROM NAIROBI. (8/31)

SAF / SCHOOLS -- SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA MET WITH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THURSDAY TO DISCUSS RECENT INCIDENTS OF RACIAL TENSION. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS PROBLEMS ERUPTED AT SEVERAL SCHOOLS THIS WEEK. (8/31)

MIDEAST / FILIPINO MAIDS -- ABOUT FOUR-MILLION FILIPINOS DRIVEN FROM THEIR COUNTRY BY LOW WAGES AND UNEMPLOYMENT ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, MANY OF THEM WORKING AS DOMESTICS. KIM REID IN CAIRO SAYS AN ESTIMATED 750-THOUSAND -- MOSTLY WOMEN -- WORK IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE THE WAGES ARE HIGH AND JOBS PLENTIFUL, BUT THEY HAVE NO PROTECTION UNDER THE LAWS OF MIDDLE EAST STATES. (8/31)

GLOBAL SLAVERY -- THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF THAI CITIZENS WORKING IN VIRTUAL SLAVERY IN THE US STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS OUTRAGED AND STUNNED MANY AMERICANS. HOWEVER, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE IS QUITE PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WORLD. REPORTER LAURI NEFF HAS DETAILS FROM NEW YORK. (8/31)

FRANCE / BOMB -- FRENCH POLICE HAVE ROUNDED UP ABOUT 20 SUSPECTED ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO BOMBINGS THAT HAVE KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE IN THE PAST SIX WEEKS. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (8/31)

GERMANY / ABORTION -- BIRTH CONTROL AND ABORTION ARE SURE TO BE AMONG THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES DISCUSSED AT THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON WOMEN TO BE HELD IN BEIJING. STRINGER DAGMAR BREITENBACH IN BONN TAKES A LOOK AT GERMANY'S NEW ABORTION LAW, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO RECONCILE THE LIBERAL ABORTION-ON-DEMAND LAW IN THE FORMER EAST GERMANY AND THE STRICT LAW IN THE WEST. (8/31)

NORTHERN IRELAND / CEASEFIRE -- THURSDAY MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CEASE-FIRE. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT ONE MAJOR OBSTACLE WHICH REMAINS TO SECURE A LASTING PEACE IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE. (8/31)

POLAND / ECONOMICS -- THE POLISH INDUSTRY MINISTRY HAS SET UP A PANEL TO EXAMINE SOUTH KOREAN DAEWOO CONGLOMERATE'S OFFER TO BUY CONTROLLING INTEREST IN WARSAW'S FSO AUTO MAKER. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE PANEL COULD PRESENT ITS REPORT NEXT WEEK. (8/31)

RUSSIA / BANKS -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS HANDED OUT BLAME FOR A FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT PARALYZED RUSSIAN MARKETS LAST WEEK. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS NEITHER PRIVATE NOR GOVERNMENT BANKERS ESCAPED MR. YELTSIN'S CRITICISM. (8/31)

ROMANIAN / ECONOMY -- THE WORLD BANK HAS APPROVED A 110-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN FOR ROMANIA TO IMPROVE ITS ELECTRICITY GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. BUT CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS A MUCH-BIGGER WORLD BANK LOAN IS IN PREPARATION AND WILL BE APPROVED, PROVIDED ROMANIA CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE PRIVATIZATION. (8/31)

KING / STATE VISIT -- CAMBODIA'S KING NORODOM SIHANOUK REINSTATED TO THE THRONE IN 1993 FOLLOWING YEARS OF WAR AND REVOLUTION FLEW TO INDONESIA THURSDAY ON HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT AS HEAD OF STATE. STRINGER TRICA FITZGERALD REPORTS FROM PHNOM PENH ON THE MAN WHO HAS DOMINATED CAMBODIAN POLITICS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. (8/31)

US / LAOS BOMBS -- A US MILITARY SURVEY TEAM HAS COMPLETED A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO LAOS TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM OF UNEXPLODED BOMBS FROM THE INDOCHINA WAR. AS CORRESPONDENT DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, THE LAO GOVERNMENT HAD PREVIOUSLY OPPOSED SUCH A VISIT, BUT LATER GAVE ITS APPROVAL FOR THE TEAM OF EXPERTS TO COME TO LAOS. (8/31)

SOUTHEAST ASIA / BUSINESS BRIEFS -- SINGAPORE THIS WEEK FORMALLY OPENED A NEW 464-MILLION-DOLLAR CONVENTION CENTER AIMED AT MAKING THE ISLAND-CITY THE CONVENTION CAPITAL OF ASIA. FROM BANGKOK, DAVID BUTLER REPORTS ABOUT THE SINGAPORE PROJECT AND OTHER TOPICS IN THIS ROUNDUP OF REGIONAL BUSINESS NEWS. (8/31)

PHILIPPINES / CONTRACEPTION -- PHILIPPINE FIRST LADY, AMELITA RAMOS, SAYS THE COUNTRY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CARDINAL SHOULD STOP CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT'S FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM AND INSTEAD WORK TO SLOW THE POPULATION GROWTH. FROM MANILA, MARIE ORARA REPORTS ON MRS. RAMOS' CHALLENGE TO CARDINAL JAIME SIN. (8/31)

CLINTON / VACATION -- PRESIDENT CLINTON, CONCLUDING HIS VACATION IN THE WESTERN US STATE OF WYOMING, FLIES TO HAWAII LATER THURSDAY TO PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONIES MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR LL. DURING HIS 17-DAY VACATION MR CLINTON KEPT AN ACTIVE SCHEDULE, ENJOYING A RANGE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE SCENIC ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESORT OF JACKSON HOLE. BUT HIS VACATION WAS ALSO INTERRUPTED A FEW TIMES BY EVENTS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE TAKES A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS AND THE LOW POINTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VACATION. (8/31)

CLINTON / HAWAII -- PRESIDENT CLINTON ARRIVES IN HONOLULU, HAWAII LATE THURSDAY TO TAKE PART IN CEREMONIES MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR LL. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE IS TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HAS A PREVIEW OF THE VJ DAY EVENTS. (8/31)

BRAZIL / PALESTINE -- BRAZIL HAS BECOME THE FIRST COUNTRY IN LATIN AMERICA TO GRANT OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO PASSPORTS ISSUED BY THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF PALESTINE. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. (8/30)

CENTAM / HEALTH MEET -- COSTA RICAN PRESIDENT JOSE MARIA FIGUERES HAS CALLED FOR A CENTRAL AMERICAN CRUSADE TO COMBAT AN OUTBREAK OF DENGUE FEVER IN THE REGION. CORRESPONDENT BILL RODGERS REPORTS WEDNESDAY'S APPEAL CAME AT THE OPENING OF A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE IN SAN JOSE OF CENTRAL AMERICAN HEALTH OFFICIALS. (8/30)

NY / ECON / STOCKS -- STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED WEDNESDAY AND ANOTHER MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY MERGER IS UNDER DISCUSSION. CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS. (8/30)

TERRORISM TRIAL -- THE TERRORISM CONSPIRACY TRIAL OF SHEIK OMAR ABDEL-RAHMAN AND NINE OTHER MEN IN NEW YORK ENTERED A NEW PHASE AS PROSECUTORS CALLED REBUTTAL WITNESSES TO THE STAND, TRYING TO PROVE THE DEFENDANTS PLANNED A WAR OF URBAN TERRORISM IN NEW YORK. STRINGER MONA GHUNEIM REPORTS. (8/30)

CATERPILLAR / TALKS -- TALKS BETWEEN THE BIG EARTH-MOVING EQUIPMENT COMPANY CATERPILLAR AND THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION HAVE RESUMED IN THE MIDWEST CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ILLINOIS, SOME 200 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO. THE TALKS ARE AIMED AT SETTLING A LINGERING STRIKE AGAINST THE COMPANY, WHICH BEGAN MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT PAUL FRANCUCH. (8/30)

NORTHEAST DROUGHT CONTINUES -- THE FIFTH-LONGEST DROUGHT IN THE HISTORY OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES CONTINUES. REPORTER MARTIN BUSH REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (8/31)

US OPEN / DAY THREE -- AT THE US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN NEW YORK, THE MEN'S FOURTH SEED, BORIS BECKER AND THE WOMEN'S TOP SEED, STEFFI GRAF CRUISED INTO THE THIRD ROUND WEDNESDAY. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS. (8/31)

INSIDE USA:

MANAGEMENT / LABOR / TALK TO AMERICA -- IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING GLOBAL ECONOMY, ALL THE OLD RULES ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND LABOR ARE CHANGING. COMPANIES CAN'T EXPECT THE LIFE LONG LOYALTY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. WORKERS CAN'T EXPECT PATERNALISM FROM MANAGEMENT. THURSDAY'S 'TALK TO AMERICA' EXPERT IS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, PAUL WEINSCHEL. HE DISCUSSES THESE ISSUES AND THE INGREDIENTS FOR PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE WORKPLACE. (8/31)

WINDOWS '95 -- STAFFER HANA PALEC INTERVIEWS ANDREW SIMON, A CZECH-SPEAKING PROGRAMMER FOR A PHILADELPHIA FIRM "BDP INTERNATIONAL" ABOUT THE NEW "WINDOWS '95" SOFTWARE. MR SIMON EXPLAINED THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE NEW SOFTWARE, ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH LOWER GRADE COMPUTERS, UPGRADE POSSIBILITIES AND THE LIKE. (CZECH 8/29)

CHICAGO / SMALL PLANES RALLY -- CORRESPONDENT WOJTEK MINICZ PARTICIPATED IN THE YEARLY RALLY OF SMALL PLANES IN CHICAGO, SERVING AS A NAVIGATOR. HE HAS A LIVELY REPORT ON HIS EXPERIENCE. (POLISH 8/28)

ETHNIC GROUPS IN AMERICA / POLES -- JAROSLAW ROKICKI FROM THE JAGELLONIAN UNIVERSITY IN KRAKOW, COMPARED POLES IN AMERICA WITH OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, POLONIA IN AMERICA IS NOT PARTICULARLY FRAGMENTED AND IS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER JAROSLAW ANDERS. POLISH 8/29)

HAWAII / SANSKRIT SCHOLAR -- STAFFER KEDAR SHARMA INTERVIEWS RAMA NATH SHARMA, PROFESSOR OF SANSKRIT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. PROFESSOR SHARMA DISCUSSED INDIAN-AMERICAN YOUTH AND INDIAN TRADITIONS AND CULTURAL VALUES. (HINDI 8/30)

CONFLICT ANALYSIS / RESOLUTION -- STAFFER KEN VARTANIAN INTERVIEWS GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS ON CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND RESOLUTION. THEY DISCUSSED DIVERSE CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD, GMU ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING EFFORTS IN THE CAUCASUS AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH, AND POSSIBLE PEACEFUL WAYS TO RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT. (ARMENIAN 8/28, 8/29, 8/30)

US / FORMER TEACHER OF THE YEAR -- IN ORANGE COUNTY, STRINGER NAM ANH TALKED WITH NGUYEN TRAN HUONG, 1994 TEACHER OF THE YEAR. MS. NGUYEN WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AS A SENIOR OFFICIAL AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (VIETNAMESE 8/31)

IRANIAN FILM DIRECTOR -- STAFFER KATAYOUN BEGLARI INTERVIEWS POURAN DERAKHSHANDEH, ONE OF THE IRANIAN WOMAN FILM DIRECTORS HONORED AT THIS YEAR'S LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL IN SWITZERLAND. MS. DERAKHSHANDEH TALKS ABOUT TWO OF HER FILMS, 'LOST TIME' AND 'THE RELATIONSHIP.' (FARSI 8/31)

ROUNDTABLE / FARSI -- STAFFERS AHMAD BAHARLOO, KATAYOUN BEGLARI AND FEREIDOUN FARAHANDOUZ PREVIEW FRIDAY'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DR KARIMI HAKKAK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, AND LONDON-BASED POET ISMAIL KHOIE ON IRANIAN LITERATURE IN EXILE. (FARSI 8/30)

INSIDE AFRICA:

SAO TOME / NEW DEFENSE MINISTER -- A NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE WAS NAMED THURSDAY IN SAO TOME. CARLOS CARNEIRO DA SILVA , A 52-YEAR-OLD RETIRED CAPTAIN, WAS APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE TO BE THE NEXT DEFENSE MINISTER FOLLOWING THE MILITARY COUP OF AUGUST 15TH. MR. CARNEIRO DA SILVA HAD A COMPULSORY RETIREMENT IN 1982 ALLEGEDLY FOR CIRCUMVENTING MILITARY REGULATIONS WHEN BUYING A MILITARY CAR. STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO REPORTS. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 8/31)

SAO TOME / CORRUPTION -- CORRUPTION HAS BEEN LABELED AS THE MAIN REASON BEHIND THE MILITARY COUP IN SAO TOME ON AUGUST 15TH. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER OVIDIO PEQUENO, PRIME MINISTER CARLOS DA GRACA AND JOAO BONFIM OF PARTIDO DA CONVERGENCIA DEMOCRATICA DISCUSS THE ISSUE. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 8/31)

RWANDA / POLITICS -- THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED NEW APPOINTMENTS FOLLOWING THE SACKING OF SEVERAL MINISTERS EARLIER THIS WEEK, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER. PRESIDENTIAL AIDE EMMANUEL GASSANA TELLS REPORTER JOE DECAPUA THAT A HUTU, CELESTINE RWIGYEMA, IS THE NEW PM (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/31)

RWANDA / POLITICS -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWED JEAN-BAPTISTE NKULIY-NGOMA, ONE OF THE FOUR RWANDAN MINISTERS THAT WERE RELIEVED OF THEIR POSTS EARLIER THIS WEEK FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER. MR. NKULIY-NGOMA, WHO HEADED THE INFORMATION MINISTRY, SPOKE OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS MINISTERIAL RESHUFFLE. (FRENCH 8/30)

RWANDA / REFUGEES / REACT -- STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA INTERVIEWED INNOCENT BUTARE, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE RALLY FOR THE RETURN AND DEMOCRACY, A PARTY CREATED RECENTLY BY RWANDAN REFUGEES. MR. BUTARE WAS ASKED HOW THE RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER FAUSTIN TWAGIRAMUNGU FOLLOWING A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE WAS VIEWED BY THE REFUGEES OUTSIDE RWANDA AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT THEIR FUTURE. (FRENCH 8/30)

RWANDA / POLITICS / AFTERMATH -- IDRISSA SEYDOU DIA ASKED EMMANUEL MUGUNGA, DIRECTOR OF RADIO KIGALI TO DESCRIBE THE SITUATION IN THE RWANDAN CAPITAL FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S MINISTERIAL RESHUFFLE. WHILE PRESIDENT PASTEUR BIZIMUNGU HAD PROMISED TO NOMINATE A NEW PRIME MINISTER WITHIN HOURS, NO OFFICIAL NOMINATION HAS YET BEEN MADE PUBLIC. (FRENCH 8/30)

RWANDA / PRISONS -- IN A SPECIAL REPORT PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS, STAFFER FERDINAND FERELLA DESCRIBED THE SITUATION IN RWANDAN PRISONS. MR. FERELLA, WHO VISITED SEVERAL PRISONS, INTERVIEWED INMATES WHO SPOKE OF EXTREME OVERCROWDING. THE RWANDAN JUSTICE SYSTEM, DEVASTATED BY LAST YEAR'S CONFLICT, IS OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF INMATES SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE GENOCIDE. ALSO INTERVIEWED WAS AN EDUCATOR WHO TALKED ABOUT THE CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS SEVEN YEARS, WHO ARE ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE. IN THOSE PRISONS, WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS AND AN 84-YEAR-OLD BLIND WOMAN WAS ALSO BEING HELD ON SUSPICION OF GENOCIDE. (FRENCH 8/30)

SOUTH AFRICA / NIGERIA MEETING -- A NIGERIAN DELEGATION MET WITH SOUTH AFRICAN GENERALS AND ACADEMICS THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS AND SECURITY ISSUES. REPORTER WILLIAM EAGLE SPOKE WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AT PRETORIA UNIVERSITY, CHRISTOF HEYNS; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR APPLIED LEGAL STUDIES, SHADRAK DUTTO; AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL, JAN D'OLIVIERA. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/31)

TRANSAFRICA DEMO / NIGERIAN EMBASSY -- A DEMONSTRATION TO PROTEST AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA OF NIGERIA WAS HELD IN FRONT OF THE NIGERIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC. IN HIS SPEECH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSAFRICA, RANDALL ROBINSON CALLED FOR IMPOSITION OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA. HAUSA STAFFER, MOHAMMED USMAN REPORTS ON THE EVENT. (HAUSA 8/30)

NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR / REACT -- THE NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, MAHMOUD KAZAURE REACTED TO THE CALL FOR IMPOSITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HAUSA STAFFER MOHAMMED USMAN, AMBASSADOR KAZAURE SAYS NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE BY TRANSAFRICA WOULD FORCE GENERAL ABACHA TO CHANGE HIS PLANS FOR THE RETURN TO DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA. THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED, IS ALREADY PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE A NEW POLITICAL AGENDA FOR THE COUNTRY IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR. (HAUSA 8/30)

LIBERIA / GBARNGA -- LIBERIANS ARE HOPEFUL THE NEW PEACE PACT SIGNED AMONG LIBERIA'S WARRING FACTIONS HOLDS. WEST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK HAS JUST RETURNED FROM GBARNGA, THE STRONGHOLD OF THE MAIN FACTION LEADER, CHARLES TAYLOR. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/30)

WOMEN / NGO'S -- THE WASHINGTON-BASED INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ALSO KNOWN AS IFPRI, RECENTLY RELEASED A STUDY ON BARRIERS THAT WOMEN FACE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. AGNES QUISUMBING IS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT. SHE SPOKE TO REPORTER LUISA PIETTE. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 8/30)

BEIJING / WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- AMHARIC STAFFER KONJIT TAYE INTERVIEWED THE HEAD OF THE WOMEN'S UNIT AT THE OAU AND ONE OF THE DELEGATES TO THE BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE, MRS. HIRUT BEFEKADU. SHE EXPLAINED THE ROLE OF NGOS AT THE CONFERENCE. (AMHARIC 8/30)

ETHIOPIA / OPPOSITION -- THE ETHIOPIAN ALTERNATIVE FORCES FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY HAS COMPLAINED THAT THE ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL ELECTION BOARD HAS DENIED IT LEGAL STATUS. THE NATIONAL ELECTION BOARD SAID THAT THIS OPPOSITION GROUP DOES NOT FULFILL THE CRITERIA FOR LEGAL RECOGNITION. AMHARIC STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 8/31)

MOZAMBIQUE / UN CONFERENCE -- IN A INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ANA GUEDES, FILIPA BALTAZAR, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE MOZAMBICAN WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION, TALKED ABOUT THE UPCOMING UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. SHE ALSO STRESSED THE DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS THAT MOZAMBICAN WOMEN FACE TO OVERCOME SOCIAL INJUSTICES. (PORTUGUESE TO AFRICA 8/31)

INSIDE MIDEAST:

IRAQ / NUKES -- DAVID KYD, SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, TOLD STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN THAT ONE MONTH AFTER THE INVASION OF KUWAIT, IRAQ HAD LAUNCHED A CRASH PROGRAM TO BUILD A NUCLEAR BOMB AND POSSIBLY TESTING IT ON ENEMY TROOPS. (ARABIC 8/30)

KUWAIT / EGYPT / IRAQ -- KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER, SHEIKH SABAH AL-AHMAD AL-SABAH, DELIVERED A MESSAGE TO EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK IN ALEXANDRIA. KUWAIT IS CONSULTING OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ AND JORDAN. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/30)

IRAQ / JORDAN -- BAGHDAD SAYS THAT NEW SECURITY MEASURES WERE TAKEN BY IRAQI LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING THE DEFECTION OF SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIALS TO JORDAN. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/30)

IRAQ / KUWAIT -- KUWAITI AND IRAQI EXPERTS CONCLUDED TWO-DAY MEETINGS AIMED AT DISCLOSING THE FATE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MISSING PERSONS SINCE THE GULF CRISIS. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/30)

GAZA ARRESTS -- THE PLO SAYS A MUSLIM SUICIDE BOMBER HAS BEEN ARRESTED HOURS BEFORE HE PLANNED TO BLOW HIMSELF UP AT THE CENTRAL BUS STATION IN TEL AVIV. PALESTINIAN POLICE ALSO ARRESTED 30 OTHER HAMAS ACTIVISTS. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZEINAB ABDELRAHMAN, FREIH ABOU MEDAIN, PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY JUSTICE MINISTER DESCRIBES THE PALESTINIAN POLICE ACTION AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. (ARABIC 8/30)

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY / HAMAS -- A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SAID PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A PERSON SAID TO HAVE DIED DURING INVESTIGATIONS BY THE PALESTINIAN POLICE. STRINGER KHALIL ASSALI REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. (ARABIC 8/30)

SOUTH LEBANON / CLASHES -- HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS HAVE SHELLED ISRAELI TROOPS IN THE THE ISRAELI-OCCUPIED ZONE IN SOUTH LEBANON. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 8/30)

LEBANON / HARIRI -- LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RAFIC HARIRI DENIED NEWS REPORTS THAT HE WANTS TO RESIGN. STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI REPORTS. (ARABIC 8/30)

EGYPT / MILITANTS -- FOUR CHRISTIANS WERE KILLED IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN EGYPT DURING THE LAST 24 HOURS. THE VICTIMS WERE ATTACKED BY MEN BELIEVED TO BE FUNDAMENTALISTS. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 8/30)

IRAN / RUSSIA / NUCLEAR DEAL -- STAFFER HAMID OUDJI REPORTS ON AN INTERFAX ARTICLE WHICH SAID IRAN IS TO PAY TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS TO RUSSIA THIS YEAR FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUSHEHR NUCLEAR PLANT. (FARSI 8/30)

ALGERIA / BOMB -- CAIRO STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS ON A CAR BOMB EXPLOSION IN THE ALGERIAN CAPITAL. HE SAYS NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALGERIAN EXTREMISTS HAVE BEEN INCREASING THEIR USE OF CAR BOMBS IN THEIR WAR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. (FARSI 8/31)

TURKEY / IRANIAN REFUGEES -- STAFFER ALI B FARHOODI INTERVIEWS ALI FARSHAD HOSSEINI, SPOKESPERSON FOR A GROUP OF IRANIANS IN ISTANBUL STAGING A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST THE POSSIBLE REPATRIATION OF A GROUP OF IRANIAN REFUGEES. HOSSEINI SAID THE UNHCR HAD REFUSED TO GIVE REFUGEE STATUS TO THE IRANIANS. HOSSEINI FEARS THAT TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER MAY MAKE A DEAL ON THE REFUGEES DURING HIS VISIT TO TEHRAN. (FARSI 8/31)

AFGHAN EDUCATION -- A FORMER AFGHAN EDUCATOR, ISLAMUDDIN MUSLIM, SAYS HIS COUNTRY NEEDS WIDE-RANGING EDUCATIONAL REFORM TO RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF RECONSTRUCTING ITS WAR-DEVASTATED ECONOMY. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ABDUL WAHAB HADI, MR. MUSLIM ALSO SPOKE ABOUT EDUCATIONAL METHODS USED IN THE PAST AND HOW THEY CAN BE ADAPTED TO THE CURRENT SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN. (DARI 8/31)

INSIDE CENTRAL ASIA:

AZERBAIJAN / IRAN -- STAFFER BULUT MIHMANDARLI INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR MUBRIZ QAHRAMANOV, AN AZERI SCHOLAR AND POLITICIAN, ON RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN AND THE ISSUE OF THE AZERI MINORITY IN IRAN. QAHRAMANOV WAS VISITING WASHINGTON AS A USIA IV. (AZERI 8/31)

INSIDE SOUTH ASIA:

BEIJING CONFERENCE / INDIAN PROTESTS -- WOMEN ACTIVISTS, ESPECIALLY EXILED TIBETAN WOMEN IN INDIA, ARE COMPLAINING THAT CHINA HAS DENIED VISAS TO NGOS REPRESENTING TIBETAN WOMEN IN INDIA AND ELSEWHERE, THUS SHUTTING THEM OUT OF THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. STRINGER VIJAY KRANTI COVERED THEIR PROTEST RALLY AND INTERVIEWED TWO TIBETAN ACTIVISTS. (HINDI 8/30)

BANGLADESH / BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA WILL JOIN WORLD LEADERS TO ATTEND THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. TWO OTHER WOMEN LEADERS OF SOUTH ASIA, PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER BHUTTO AND SRI LANKA'S PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE. SEVERAL NGO REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING PROFESSOR YUNUS OF THE GRAMEEN BANK ARE ALREADY IN BEIJING ATTENDING THE NGO FORUM WHICH OPENED WEDNESDAY. STAFFER IQBAL BAHAR CHOUDHURY INTERVIEWED THE BANGLADESH AMBASSADOR IN BEIJING, MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN BY TELEPHONE AND REPORTS ON THE CONFERENCE. (BANGLA 8/31)

BEIJING CONFERENCE / ISSUES -- SARLA GOPALAN, SECRETARY FOR WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT IN INDIA'S MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, WHO IS HEADING A GOVERNMENTAL DELEGATION TO THE BEIJING CONFERENCE, IS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER NIRMALA JOSHI. STAFFER BHAGWAN PRAKASH INTERVIEWED GERTRUDE MONGELLA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. THEY DISCUSSED ISSUES EXPECTED TO BE RAISED AT THE CONFERENCE. (HINDI 8/30)

ANDHRA POL -- ANDHRA PRADESH, THE HOME STATE OF PRIME MINISTER RAO, IS FACED WITH A POLITICAL CRISIS. MOVIE ACTOR TURNED POLITICIAN NT RAMARAO, WHO SCORED A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN LAST YEAR'S STATE ELECTIONS, APPEARS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING HIS CHIEF MINISTERSHIP DUE TO DEFECTIONS IN HIS TELAGU DESAM PARTY. STRINGER VIKRAN RAO REPORTS. (HINDI 8/30)

BANGLADESH / CHILD LABOR -- STAFFER ROQUIA HAIDER INTERVIEWED PHARIS HARVEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FUND, REDWAN AHMED, CHAIRMAN, BANGLADESH GARMENTS MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION KNOWN AS BGMEA, AND STAFFER IQBAL BAHAR CHOUDHURY INTERVIEWED BANGLADESHI FOREIGN MINISTER MOSTAFIZUR RAHMAN, FOR THIS SPECIAL REPORT ON CHILD LABOR IN BANGLADESH. THE REPORT INCLUDES COMMENTS OF SENATOR HARKIN AND ALSO COMMENTS OF NAZMA AKHTAR, A CHILD WORKER-ACTIVIST FROM BANGLADESH. BANGLADESH HAS RECENTLY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON CURBING CHILD LABOR. (BANGLA 8/30)

BANGLA POLITICS -- PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH KHALIDA ZIA WILL ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT MEETING OF BNP THE RULING PARTY FRIDAY AND ACCORDING TO SPECULATIONS SHE MIGHT OFFER SOME FORMULA AS SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS. MEANWHILE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE TO HOLD A 32 -HOUR STRIKE BEGINNING SATURDAY. STRINGER MATIUR RAHMAN CHOUDHURY REPORTS FROM DHAKA. (BANGLA 8/31)

BANGLA / POLITICAL SITUATION -- THE SITUATION IN DINAJPUR IN NORTHERN BANGLADESH IS NOW PEACEFUL, CURFEW HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND LIFE HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL. SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED EARLIER THIS WEEK, AFTER A CLASH BETWEEN LOCAL RESIDENTS AND POLICE. MEANWHILE THE OVERALL POLITICAL SITUATION IS STILL CONFUSING AND CRISIS CONTINUES. PRIME MINISTER KHALIDA ZIA WILL ADDRESS A PUBLIC ME

[02] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SUBJECT DRAWING THE MOST ATTENTION THIS THURSDAY IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE U-S PRESS IS THE USE OF NATO WARPLANES AND ARTILLERY TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND THE CITIES OF SARAJEVO AND PALE. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: VIEWS ON TAPES CONTAINING RACIAL SLURS PLAYED AT THE MURDER TRIAL OF RETIRED AMERICAN FOOTBALL STAR O-J SIMPSON, AND COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. NOW, HERE IS ___________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE AND OTHER STORIES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES MAKES THE POINT THAT WEDNESDAY'S "WESTERN MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE BALKAN WAR MAY LEAD TO WIDER FIGHTING AND BOSNIAN SERB REPRISALS AGAINST CIVILIANS, BUT" -- ADDS THE NEWSPAPER -- "THERE IS ALSO A CHANCE IT WILL HELP PRODUCE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT."

VOICE: "IT WAS A RISK WORTH TAKING IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING THE SPECIFIC DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE NOW UNDER WAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT BEGAN THREE YEARS AGO, AMERICA AND ITS ALLIES USED PUNISHING FORCE AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS, LAUNCHING MULTIPLE AIR AND ARTILLERY STRIKES. AFTER MONDAY'S DEADLY SHELLING OF THE CENTRAL SARAJEVO MARKET, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, WITH IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN BACKING, DECIDED THAT WESTERN MILITARY CREDIBILITY HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED SO THAT THE CURRENT AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE COULD PROCEED."

TEXT: RICHARD HOLBROOKE, A U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, IS NOW IN BELGRADE SEEKING A WAY TO SECURE PEACE IN THE REGION. PART OF A PROPOSED SOLUTION IS A PLAN FOR THE ETHNIC PARTITIONING OF BOSNIA. HOWEVER, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS THAT "THE WEST SHOULD ACCEPT THE FACT THAT BELGRADE HAS REALLY BEEN INTENT ON CONTINUING THE WAR."

VOICE: "THERE IS LITTLE POINT AND NO MORAL JUSTICE IN ATTEMPTING TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT BELGRADE FINDS ACCEPTABLE. THE U-S PEACE INITIATIVE SHOULD SPARE NO EFFORT TO HELP THE BOSNIAN STATE REGAIN ITS SOVEREIGNTY. THAT MEANS CONTROL OVER ITS TERRITORY IN ITS CURRENT BORDERS WITHOUT SPECIAL CONFEDERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT COULD ONLY CREATE NEW PROBLEMS LATER. THIS MAY WELL MEAN RESORTING TO FORCE, BUT AS THE ATTACK ON SARAJEVO MONDAY AND NATO'S RESPONSE TUESDAY SHOW, FORCE IS STILL VERY MUCH THE NAME OF THE GAME IN THIS CONFLICT."

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, USA TODAY HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL: "NATO SENDS A MESSAGE BUT WILL THE SERBS GET IT?" THE NEWSPAPER PROVIDES THIS ANSWER:

VOICE: "THERE'S MORE REASON THAN USUAL TO BELIEVE THEY WILL. THIS MISSION WAS AN UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SHARP RESPONSE TO SERBIAN BRUTALITY... THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS THE U-S AND ITS NATO ALLIES DELIVERED EXACTLY WHAT THEY THREATENED -- PROMPT AND VIGOROUS RETALIATION. THE PRICKLY UNKNOWN IS WHAT WILL FOLLOW. HOW WILL THE BOSNIAN SERBS RESPOND AND WHAT ARE THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES WILLING TO DO ABOUT THAT RESPONSE? RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE PIT BULL LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, WEDNESDAY WARNED OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF THE DEVASTATING NATO ATTACK. BUT SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CALLED FOR CONTINUED TALKS ON A U-S PEACE PLAN PREVIOUSLY REJECTED. MILOSEVIC ALSO PERSUADED BOSNIAN SERBS TO JOIN A JOINT NEGOTIATING TEAM, EFFECTIVELY WINNING VETO POWER OVER ANY OF THEIR OBJECTIONS TO ANY DEAL. THAT PROVIDES AT LEAST A THREAD OF HOPE. BUT WITH RISK."

TEXT: AND, THE BALTIMORE SUN EDITORIALIZES THAT "MUCH DEPENDS ON THE RESPONSE OF BOSNIAN SERBS' OUTSIDE PATRONS."

VOICE: "MR. MILOSEVIC SEEMS SO DESPERATE TO BE FREED OF U-N SANCTIONS CHOKING HIS ECONOMY THAT HE HAS DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM THE KARADZIC FACTION. BUT HE HAS TO WORRY THAT NATO AIR STRIKES COULD LEAD TO A MUSLIM OFFENSIVE SENDING TENDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES INTO SERBIA. RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN DEPLORED NATO'S 'CRUEL BOMBARDMENT' AND MOSCOW COMPLAINED IT WAS NOT CONSULTED, ONLY INFORMED, BEFORE THE WESTERN RAIDS. WASHINGTON OBVIOUSLY IS FIGURING THAT RUSSIA'S NEED FOR WESTERN HELP OUTWEIGHS ANY OBLIGATIONS TO FELLOW SLAVS IN THE BALKANS. U-S FORCES ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE INVOLVED IN A BALKAN WAR IN WHICH AMERICAN VITAL INTERESTS ARE NOT AT STAKE. THUS THE NEED FOR A QUICK AND FAVORABLE ACCEPTANCE OF THE U-S PARTITION PLAN."

TEXT: FORMER AMERICAN FOOTBALL STAR O-J SIMPSON IS ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF HIS FORMER WIFE AND A MALE COMPANION. ONE OF THE MAJOR PROSECUTION WITNESSES IS MARK FUHRMAN, A LOS ANGELES POLICE DETECTIVE, WHO'S NOW RETIRED. THIS WEEK -- WITH THE JURY ABSENT -- THE COURT LISTENED TO TAPES OF DETECTIVE FUHRMAN THAT WERE LOADED WITH RACIAL EPITHETS AND EXAMPLES OF POLICE MISBEHAVIOR. THE WASHINGTON POST COMMENTS THAT "WITH THE PUBLIC PLAYING OF THE FUHRMAN TAPES, THE SIMPSON TRIAL HAS VEERED OFF INTO AN EQUALITY TROUBLING SUBJECT -- THE STATE OF DISCIPLINE AND BASIC MORALITY IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS."

VOICE: "THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FAR FROM THE COUNTRY'S WORST. BUT IN A COUNTRY THAT CHERISHES THE IDEAL OF EQUAL JUSTICE, THESE REVELATIONS CANNOT BE IGNORED. THE TRIAL OF O-J SIMPSON IS THE COURT'S BUSINESS, BUT THE CONDITION AND THE INTERNAL OPERATION OF BIG-CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE THE PUBLIC'S -- IN THE MOST URGENT SENSE. THE TAPES BEAR THE MESSAGE TO THE HUGE AUDIENCE OF THE SIMPSON TRIAL THAT, IN REGARD TO THE STATE OF LOS ANGELES POLICE, THEY NEED TO STOP WATCHING LIKE SPECTATORS AND START THINKING LIKE VOTERS AND CITIZENS."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES SAYS OF THE FURMAN TAPES, THAT "NO REBUILDING OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE CAN BEGIN WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION."

VOICE: "AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A CRIMINAL TRIAL UNDER WAY, AND IT MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN. IT SEEMS CERTAIN THAT THE JURY WILL HEAR ENOUGH OF THE TAPE RECORDINGS TO DISCREDIT THE DETECTIVE'S VERACITY ON HIS PERSONAL CONDUCT. THE JUDGE WILL ALSO INSTRUCT THE JURY THAT IF IT FINDS A WITNESS TO HAVE BEEN UNTRUTHFUL IN ONE AREA, IT MAY ALSO QUESTION HIS CREDIBILITY IN OTHER AREAS. ALL OF THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN MR. SIMPSON IS INNOCENT. THE JURY'S TASK IS TO WEIGHT THE EVIDENCE IN ITS ENTIRETY. IT IS PROBABLY TRUE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS TRIAL HAVE NOT BEEN TERRIBLY CONDUCIVE TO THAT TASK. IT IS ALSO PROBABLY TRUE THAT THIS NEED NOT HAVE BEEN SO. THAT TOO, IS A SUBJECT FOR THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION."

TEXT: TURNING TO AMERICAN POLITICS, THE DENVER POST TELLS READERS: "GIVE CALIFORNIA GOV. PETE WILSON CREDIT -- HE KNOWS HOW TO TAKE A MAJOR POLITICAL GAMBLE."

VOICE: "HE CERTAINLY TOOK ONE THIS WEEK WITH HIS SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT. AMID APPROPRIATE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, WITH THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AS A BACKDROP, WILSON OUTLINED A CAMPAIGN BASED UPON WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED THREE POLITICALLY EXPLOSIVE THEMES. THEY ARE: A HALT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, THE ELIMINATION OF AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION PROGRAMS AN A DRASTIC OVERHAUL OF THE NATION'S WELFARE SYSTEM. THE POLITICAL EMBRACE OF ANY OF THESE ISSUES POSES SOME RISK. THE EMBRACE OF ALL THREE AT THE SAME TIME IS ESPECIALLY RISKY BECAUSE IT RAISES THE SUSPICION THAT WILSON IS BEING NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL OPPORTUNIST SEEKING OUT THE MOST VOLATILE OF ISSUES ONLY BECAUSE THEY PROMISE TO GIVE HIM THE VISIBILITY HE SEEKS."

TEXT: GEORGE WILL, WHOSE SYNDICATED COLUMN APPEARS IN NEWSPAPERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, ALSO HAS SOME THOUGHTS ON POTENTIAL G-O-P PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. ONE, MISTER WILL DISCUSSES, IS AN UN-ANNOUNCED POSSIBILITY -- COLIN POWELL, A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL AIDE AND ONE-TIME CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.

VOICE: "THE MORE HE PERSISTS AS THE NATION'S FOREMOST POLITICAL TEASE -- WHICH IS A POLITICAL ACT -- THE MORE A TRANSFORMATION ADVANCES: WHAT WAS SEEMLY RETICENCE IN A MILITARY OFFER BECOMES ARROGANCE IN A POLITICIAN. A POLITICIAN WHO SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE IS HIMSELF, PERIOD, IS SETTING HIMSELF UP AS A NATIONAL RORSCHACH TEST, IN WHICH EVERYONE SEES IN HIM WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SEE. THAT SETS THE NATION UP FOR MANIFOLD DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DEEPENING CYNICISM. BECAUSE POWELL IS SO MISERLY WITH HIS THOUGHTS WHILE CALCULATINGLY TANTALIZING THE COUNTRY, ONE MUST MAKE INFERENCES FORM SCRAPS OF INFORMATION, SUCH AS: HE IS RELIABLY REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT HE THINKS AMERICA'S TWO LARGEST PROBLEMS ARE RACISM AND THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. THOSE VIEWS ARE SHARED BY MILLIONS OF GOOD CITIZENS. THEY ARE CALLED DEMOCRATS."

TEXT: AND, FINALLY, THE OREGONIAN, PUBLISHED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, EDITORIALIZES THAT "THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GREAT COMET SPREADING ACROSS THE COSMOS TO GIVE EARTHLY SPECTATORS THEIR PROPER PERSPECTIVE IN TIME AND SPACE."

VOICE: "COMET HALE-BOPP -- DISCOVERED LAST MONTH BY ALAN HALE OF NEW MEXICO AND THOMAS BOPP OF ARIZONA -- HAS STIRRED ASTRONOMERS' HOPES THAT IT WILL BECOME A SENSATIONAL CELESTIAL EVENT IN THE SPRING OF 1997... EVEN IF IT'S NO BRIGHTER THAN A MERE PLANET, HALE-BOPP CARRIES WITH IT THE THRILL OF THE VETERAN PLAYER HITTING THE BOARDS ONCE MORE AFTER A LONG ABSENCE. FOR THIS IS NO STRANGER IN COSMIC TERMS; IT LAST REPRISED ABOUT 3,000 YEARS AGO. YOUNG DAVID, PRACTICING HIS STONE-SLINGING, JUST MIGHT HAVE GAZED ON IT BEFORE HE VENTURED FORTH TO MEET GOLIATH AND IT HEADED OUT ONCE AGAIN TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM'S STICKS. WHAT HE SAW, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW. THE REVIEWS ARE MISSING. BUT HALE-BOPP HAS ANOTHER CHANCE AT THE LIMELIGHT, AND WHEN YOUR ROLES COME 3,000 YEARS APART, YOU NEED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEM."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS IN MAJOR U-S DAILIES THIS LAST THURSDAY IN AUGUST.

NEB/DN/PCH
31-Aug-95 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT !!!

NATO / BOSNIA -- NATO SAYS ITS AIR ATTACKS ON SERB POSITIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE BEEN GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THE UNPRECEDENTED MILITARY OPERATION IS CONTINUING. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/31)

YUGO / TALKS -- AN AMERICAN ENVOY SAYS HE BELIEVES SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS ON A PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE NOW POSSIBLE. THE ENVOY, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, SPOKE AS HE CONTINUES SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / BOMBING -- THE NATO AND UN OPERATION AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS IS CONTINUING, AND NATO WARPLANES ARE AGAIN FLYING OVER SARAJEVO, BUT THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS IN THE AREA. NATO JETS HAVE ATTACKED TARGETS ACROSS BOSNIA AND UN ARTILLERY HAS FIRED HUNDREDS OF SHELLS AT BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. (8/31)

BOSNIA / FRANCE / BRITAIN REACT -- BRITISH AND FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTERS SAY THE NATO OPERATION AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS COULD LAST FOR SOME TIME YET. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / HUMANITARIAN -- THE ON-GOING NATO AIR OPERATIONS OVER BOSNIA HAVE FORCED A HALT TO HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERIES TO SARAJEVO. AND UN OFFICIALS SAY FOOD STOCKS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ARE RUNNING LOW. BUT, SPOKESMEN AT THE GENEVA-BASED UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARE HOPEFUL THE NATO ACTION WILL HELP LIFT THE SIEGE OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. FROM GENEVA, CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. (8/31)

BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO AIRCRAFT AND UN ARTILLERY ARE CONTINUING TO ATTACK BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS ACROSS BOSNIA. BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WELCOMED THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN, AND UN OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE THREAT TO UN SAFE AREAS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IS HALTED. THE BOSNIAN SERBS RESPONDED BY TARGETING UN BASES IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, AND ONE NATO AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTS. (8/30)

BOSNIA / US DIPLOMACY -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DEFENDING THE MILITARY ACTION IN BOSNIA AS NECESSARY TO PROMOTE ITS POLITICAL GOAL OF BRINGING THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (8/30)

SERB REACT / NATO RAIDS -- THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE CONDEMNED THE UNPRECEDENTED NATO AIR RAIDS ON THEIR MILITARY POSITIONS. BUT THE NATO ACTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE UNDERMINING THE PEACE PROCESS FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND MAY EVEN BE SPEEDING IT UP. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (8/30)

US / BOSNIA -- AS NATO WARPLANES CONTINUE ATTACKS ON SERB TARGETS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, A SENIOR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE PLANES ARE INFLICTING SERIOUS DAMAGE. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS DETAILS. (8/30)

SARAJEVO / BOMBING -- STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTS ON THE SITUATION IN SARAJEVO DURING THE SECOND DAY OF NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB MILITARY TARGETS. HE QUOTES NATO SPOKESMAN JIMMIE SHEEN AS SAYING THAT THE SIMILAR ACTION COULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT THE OTHER SAFE AREAS IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 8/31)

BOSNIA / GERMANY -- STRINGER IVICA LOVRIC REPORTS ON THE MEETING BETWEEN BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL. MR SILAJDZIC SAID THE GERMAN MINISTER TOLD HIM THAT EVERY PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AID. (CROATIAN 8/31)

US ENVOY HOLBROOKE / CROATIA -- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE MET IN ZAGREB WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMED SACIRBEGOVIC. STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS THAT MR HOLBROOKE EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE PROCEDURAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR NEGOTIATIONS. (CROATIAN 8/31)

US / BOSNIA / BELGRADE TALKS -- BELGRADE STRINGER JADRANKA KRONJA REPORTS ON ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S TALKS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. MR HOLBROOKE CALLED THE NEGOTIATIONS VERY PRODUCTIVE. WHILE MR HOLBROOKE TRAVELS TO ZAGREB FOR TALKS WITH CROATIAN COUNTERPARTS, A PART OF THE US DELEGATION REMAINS IN BELGRADE TO WORK OUT DETAILS. (CROATIAN 8/31)

UN / BOSNIA / NATO -- UN SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI SUPPORTS AIR STRIKES OVER BOSNIA, BUT STRESSES THAT THE KILLING SHOULD FINALLY STOP. HE SAYS THE UN IS NOT IN WAR WITH ANY SIDE. THE UN COMMANDER, GENERAL JALVIER ASKED THE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMANDER MLADIC TO WITHDRAW HEAVY WEAPONRY FROM THE EXCLUSION ZONE 20 KILOMETERS AROUND SARAJEVO. STRINGER IVICA PULJIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (CROATIAN 8/31)

UN / NATO / BOSNIA -- UN SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS GHALI SAID THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOT AT WAR WITH THE BOSNIAN SERB PEOPLE. SOME MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDER NATO AIR STRIKES A DEPARTURE FROM CURRENT UN RESOLUTIONS. STRINGER BOSKOVIC REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. (SERBIAN 8/30)

NATO GOALS / BOSNIA -- NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA EXPLAINED THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM GOALS OF JOINT NATO-UN ACTION IN BOSNIA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER D MILIC. HE STRESSED THAT CURRENT MISSION WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS GIVE UP ON MILITARY OPTION AND TURN TO NEGOTIATIONS. (SERBIAN 8/30)

CHINA / NATO BOMBING -- CHINA REACTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO NATO'S BOMBING OF SERB FORCES IN BOSNIA BY SAYING IT DID NOT FAVOR THE USE OF FORCE. EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT BEIJING'S ATTITUDE IS IN LINE WITH ITS THEME OF ANTI-HEGEMONY. IT IS MOSTLY SYMBOLIC, BECAUSE BEIJING HAS VERY LITTLE LEVERAGE IN THE BALKANS. AN INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR RICHARD CHU OF ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY AND MILITARY RESEARCHER PING KEFU. (MANDARIN 8/31)

SARAJEVO / NATO RAIDS -- A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY SAYS THE NATO AIR STRIKES ON BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP DENOUNCED THE ACTION, CALLING IT A PROOF THAT THE WEST IS SIDING WITH THE MUSLIMS IN THE CONFLICT. STRINGER B KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 8/30)

IZETBEGOVIC / CHIRAC -- AFTER HIS TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT J CHIRAC, BOSNIAN PRESIDENT A IZETBEGOVIC SAID THAT FRANCE SUPPORTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. THE BOSNIAN LEADER PRAISED THE NATO ALLIANCE FOR ITS AIRSTRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS. STRINGER R SEBEK REPORTS FROM PARIS. (SERBIAN 8/30)

MILOSEVIC / HOLBROOKE -- PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC OF SERBIA HELD A LONG MEETING WITH US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE R HOLBROOKE ON US PEACE PLAN FOR BOSNIA. AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS, MR HOLBROOKE SAID THE US DELEGATION WILL CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS, AND IS SPLITTING INTO TWO PARTS: ONE WILL STAY IN BELGRADE AND THE OTHER WILL TRAVEL TO ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO. STRINGER M KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 8/30)

KENNEY / NATO ATTACK -- FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL GEORGE KENNEY SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT THE CURRENT NATO OPERATIONS AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS ARE GOING TO DERAIL THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, AT LEAST FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND THAT THE SERBS WILL NOT CAPITULATE THE WAY WASHINGTON EXPECTS. MR KENNEY SPOKE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER D POPOVIC. (SERBIAN 8/30)

MANES / NATO / BOSNIA -- WILLIAM MANES, THE CHIEF EDITOR OF FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE, SAID THE US IS ATTEMPTING VERY DIFFICULT TASK BECAUSE THE BOSNIAN SERBS COULD SEETHE NATO ACTION AS A COMMITMENT TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SIDE IN THE WAR. HE SPOKE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER D MILIC. (SERBIAN 8/30)

NATO STRIKES / BOSNIA -- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PROFESSOR WINSTON NAGAN SAID THAT STRIKES ON BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS IN SARAJEVO WILL HELP THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE LONG RUN, EVEN IF IT CAUSES A TEMPORARY ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES. REPORT BY NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT ALEXANDER BATCHAN. (RUSSIAN 8/30)

NATO MILITARY RESPONSE / SARAJEVO -- STAFFER WOLODYMYR BILAJIW INTERVIEWS VICTOR BASIUK, PRIVATE CONSULTANT ON NATIONAL SECURITY. ACCORDING TO DR BASIUK THE SUSTAINED NATO AIR STRIKES ARE SO FAR THE STRONGEST MILITARY RESPONSE BY NATO ALLIES AND ARE DESIGNED TO PUNISH BOSNIAN SERBS FOR THEIR ATTACK ON CIVILIANS AND TO FORCE THEM TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE. THIS IS ONE INSTANCE WHEN DIPLOMACY IS FORCED TO EMPLOY MILITARY POWER TO ACHIEVE PEACEFUL ENDS, SAID DR BASIUK. (UKRAINIAN 8/30)

BOSNIA / NATO -- STAFFER MAHAMAT AHMAT ADAMOU ASKED UNPROFOR SPOKESPERSON MAJOR MYRIAM SOCHACKI ABOUT THE UN AND NATO'S DECISION TO USE AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB-HELD POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO AND PALE. THE STRIKES WERE IN REACTION TO THE SHELLING OF SARAJEVO'S CENTRAL MARKET BY SERB FORCES THAT LEFT 37 CIVILIANS DEAD AND DOZENS INJURED. (FRENCH 8/30)

BOSNIA / FRANCE / REACT -- YVES DUTRIO, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY TOLD STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE HIS GOVERNMENT VIEWED THE NATO RAIDS ON SERB-HELD POSITIONS AS NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE UN SAFETY AREA AROUND SARAJEVO. HE ADDED THAT FRANCE HOPED THEY WILL ENCOURAGE BOSNIAN SERBS TO NEGOTIATE. (FRENCH 8/30)

BEIJING CONFERENCE / TURKEY / BOSNIA -- SEVERAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM TURKEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE NGO'S MEETING WHICH BEGAN NEAR THE CHINESE CAPITAL IN ADVANCE OF THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. THE TURKISH ASSOCIATION FOR CONTEMPORARY LIVING IS AMONG THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. STAFFER HULYA POLAT INTERVIEWED TURKAN SAYLAN, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION, WHO SAID TURKISH DELEGATES WOULD RAISE, AMONG OTHER ISSUES, THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN BOSNIA. (TURKISH 8/31) 31-Aug-95 6:41 PM EDT (2241 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO AIRSTRIKES ON BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS HAVE RESUMED AS THE BOSNIAN SERBS CONTINUE TO RESIST NATO AND U-N DEMANDS TO REMOVE HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO, BUT THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS THE BOSNIAN SERBS MAY BE READY TO TALK PEACE. NATO AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR RAIDS AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR, AND WILL CONTINUE INDEFINITELY. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: NATO AIR RAIDS RESUMED NEAR THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL JUST BEFORE SUNSET AND A LARGE EXPLOSION FROM THE NEARBY HILLS COULD BE HEARD IN THE CITY. OVER 300 NATO SORTIES HAVE NOW BEEN FLOWN AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY MOST SERB COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, RADARS, AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSES NEAR SARAJEVO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR BADLY DAMAGED, AND SEVERAL SERB COMMAND POSTS HAVE ALSO BEEN DESTROYED.

BAD WEATHER AND LOW CLOUDS HAMPERED AIR OPERATIONS FOR MOST OF THE DAY, AND OFFICIALS SAY MUCH OF THE NATO AIR OPERATION WAS DIRECTED TOWARD RESCUING TWO FRENCH AIRMEN WHOSE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER SERB TERRITORY NEAR SARAJEVO ON WEDNESDAY. NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE MEN ARE ALIVE, BUT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECOVERED.

OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE HEAVY GUNS OF THE RAPID REACTION FORCE DEPLOYED NEAR SARAJEVO HAVE DESTROYED 23 BOSNIAN SERB GUNS AND AMMUNITION SITES AROUND THE CITY.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS AGREE TO REMOVE THEIR HEAVY GUNS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO, BUT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF UN AND NATO DEMANDS. U-N OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY THE ONLY GOAL IS TO LIFT THE THREAT THE BOSNIAN SERB GUNS POSE TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, BUT U-N OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB AND NATO OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE BOSNIAN SERBS MUST ALSO OPEN ROADS INTO U-N SAFE AREAS, RE-OPEN SARAJEVO'S AIRPORT AND END ALL ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN TARGETS.

SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY RESPONSE TO THE NATO AND U-N ATTACKS. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THIS MAY BE BECAUSE THE SERB FORCES ARE TOO DISORGANIZED AND DAMAGED TO LAUNCH ATTACKS ON U-N FORCES, BUT THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS MAY JUST BE HOLDING BACK.

UP TO NOW THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE INSISTED THEY WILL NOT COMPLY WITH U-N DEMANDS, BUT THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS THAT POSITION IS CHANGING. BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC HAS SAID, "IT IS NOW TIME TO TALK ABOUT PEACE," BUT U-N AND NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE SERBS MUST DO MUCH MORE THAN TALK ABOUT PEACE. THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT ONLY CONCRETE DEEDS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL LEAD TO A SUSPENSION OF THE AIR AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS. (SIGNED) NEB/MMK 31-Aug-95 3:57 PM EDT (1957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA / FRANCE / BRITAIN REACT (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: BRITISH AND FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTERS SAY THE NATO OPERATION AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS COULD LAST FOR SOME TIME YET. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY MICHAEL PORTILLO SAYS THE NATO OPERATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SARAJEVO IS SAFE. IN PARIS, FRANCE'S DEFENSE MINISTER, CHARLES MILLON, SAID HE DOES NOT SEE ANY REASON TO STOP THE RAIDS YET.

IN A RADIO INTERVIEW, MR. PORTILLO SAID NATO PLANS MORE RAIDS. HE SAID NATO MILITARY COMMANDERS PLAN TO ASSESS THE SITUATION ON THURSDAY. THE MILITARY CHIEFS WANT TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH ARTILLERY HAS BEEN DESTROYED, AS WELL AS DETERMINE WHETHER THE SERBS ARE NOW READY TO PULL THEIR REMAINING GUNS FAR AWAY FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

THE BRITISH MINISTER SAID THE SERBS' REACTION SO FAR HAS BEEN MIXED. HE SAID THE SERBS ARE WAVERING BETWEEN DEFIANCE AND A WILLINGNESS TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS CONDITIONS FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT.

MR. MILLON TOLD A FRENCH RADIO STATION THAT THE NATO ALLIES WANT TO GET THE WARRING PARTIES TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH WHAT HE CALLED FORCE AND DETERMINATION. HE SAID THAT AT THE MOMENT THERE IS NO REASON TO HALT THE MILITARY OPERATIONS.

THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER ALSO SAID THAT TWO FRENCH PILOTS WHOSE MIRAGE 2000 FIGHTER WAS SHOT DOWN WEDNESDAY ARE ALIVE AND WELL. MR. MILLON SAID THEIR PLANE WAS FLYING OVER THE BOSNIAN SERB CAPITAL, PALE, WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE DURING A LOW-FLYING MISSION.

CITING SECURITY REASONS, MR. MILLON DECLINED TO GIVE PRECISE DETAILS. BUT THE FRENCH MINISTER HINTED THAT THE PILOTS HAVE NOT BEEN CAPTURED. IN PALE, BOSNIAN SERBS EARLIER SAID THE TWO MEN HAD BEEN LOCATED AND WOULD SOON BE IN THEIR HANDS. MR. MILLON SAID THE PILOTS HAD BEEN IN CONTACT, PRESUMABLY BY RADIO.

MR. MILLON SAID HE HOPES FOR AN OPERATION IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO RESCUE THE AIRMEN. IN JUNE, AN AMERICAN PILOT WAS RESCUED SIX DAYS AFTER HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MR. MILLON SAID THE FRENCH PILOTS WERE CARRYING TRACKING DEVICES SIMILAR TO THOSE USED BY THE AMERICAN PILOT. (SIGNED)

NEB/JN/JWH/BG
31-Aug-95 6:21 AM EDT (1021 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] BOSNIA / GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC SAYS HE HOPES BOSNIAN SERBS WILL NOW FINALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A MONOPOLY ON THE USE OF FORCE. SPEAKING IN BONN AFTER TALKS WITH GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL, MR. SILAJDZIC SAID HE BELIEVES THE NATO AIR STRIKES THAT BEGAN WEDNESDAY HAVE INCREASED THE CHANCES OF PEACE IN THE REGION. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER SILAJDZIC WAS PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE NATO AIR STRIKES AS HE ADDRESSED AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON GENOCIDE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE AIR RAIDS YESTERDAY, WE BELIEVE THOSE ARE RAIDS FOR PEACE, RETURNED THE FAITH IN SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED THE HUMAN SOCIETY AND THAT WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE HUMANS, THAT WE ALL LIVE IN ONE BIG PLACE, BUT ONE PLACE THAT WE SHARE THE DESTINY OF EACH OTHER.

MR. SILAJDZIC SAID HE HOPES SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC WOULD NOW EXERT ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO BRING THEM TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

MR. SILAJDZIC ALSO SAID HE AND FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL HAD AGREED A PEACE SETTLEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOIVNA SHOULD INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL AID FOR ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION.

FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL SAID HE THOUGHT THERE IS NOW A POSITIVE CHANCE FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT IN THE WAKE OF WHAT HE CALLED NATO'S MEASURED AND CORRECT ANSWER TO THE RECENT SERB MORTAR ATTACK ON SARAJEVO.

MR. KINKEL ANNOUNCED THE SO-CALLED CONTACT GROUP OF WESTERN NATIONS THAT HAS BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THE CONFLICT WOULD BE MEETING SATURDAY IN BONN TO DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.

U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE ONE-DAY SESSION. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH
31-Aug-95 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] BOSNIA / HUMANITARIAN / L-O BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE ON-GOING NATO AIR OPERATIONS OVER BOSNIA HAVE FORCED A HALT TO HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERIES TO SARAJEVO. AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY FOOD STOCKS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ARE RUNNING LOW. BUT, SPOKESMEN AT THE GENEVA-BASED U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARE HOPEFUL THE NATO ACTION WILL HELP LIFT THE SIEGE OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. FROM GENEVA, V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.

TEXT: THE U-N-H-C-R AND OTHER RELIEF AGENCIES SUSPENDED HUMANITARIAN DELIVERIES TO SARAJEVO SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE NATO AIRSTRIKES BEGAN. U-N OFFICIALS DESCRIBE IT AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE -- APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE NO RELIEF WORKERS WERE HARMED OR TAKEN HOSTAGE BY SERB FORCES, IN RETALIATION FOR THE NATO ATTACKS.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAYS ABOUT 750 TONS OF FLOUR AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS WERE TRUCKED INTO SARAJEVO IN THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE NATO OFFENSIVE -- IRONICALLY THROUGH SERB-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAD BEEN AUTHORIZING USE OF THE SO-CALLED SIERRA-ONE CHECKPOINT INTO THE CITY WHICH ACTUALLY GOES ACROSS SERB TERRITORY, SO WE WERE MANAGING TO GET THESE CONVOYS IN ALMOST DAILY. BUT THAT NOW, OF COURSE, HAS STOPPED. WE ARE NOT SENDING ANY CONVOYS THROUGH BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY. ALSO, OF COURSE, THE AIRLIFT HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE APRIL EIGHTH AND THAT WAS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR SARAJEVO.

THE AIRLIFT WAS SUSPENDED AFTER SERB COMMANDERS WITHDREW SECURITY GUARANTEES FOR INCOMING PLANES. MR. REDMOND SAYS THE U-N-H-C-R HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF AID BY ROAD TO KEEP PACE WITH SARAJEVO'S NEEDS.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF STOCK IN SARAJEVO, BECAUSE SARAJEVO....THE TARGET (AMOUNT) THAT WE LIKE TO GET IN THERE PER DAY IS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED METRIC TONS. SO, OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE GETTING IN THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 20 PERCENT, 30 PERCENT AT THE MOST.

WITH NATO WARPLANES CONTINUING TO SEEK OUT SERB MILITARY TARGETS IN AND AROUND SARAJEVO, FRENCH LEADERS SAY THE OPERATION SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE SIEGE OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL IS EFFECTIVELY LIFTED OR BROKEN.

MR. REDMOND DECLINED SPECIFIC COMMENT ON THE FRENCH DEMAND, BUT HE LEFT NO DOUBT THAT U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS SUPPORT IT.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES -- FROM U-N-H-C-R'S PERSPECTIVE -- CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED IN PARTS OF BOSNIA OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. TWO OF WHAT WERE THE MOST INACCESSIBLE MUSLIM ENCLAVES -- ZEPA AND SREBRENICA -- FELL TO SERB FORCES LAST MONTH, AND THEIR RESIDENTS WERE EXPELLED TO GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. THE SIEGE OF A THIRD MUSLIM ENCLAVE, BIHAC, WAS BROKEN AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST DURING THE CROATIAN ARMY'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST SERB REBELS IN THE NEIGHBORING KRAJINA REGION.

[08] BOSNIA DIPLOMACY ON'ITE (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE MEETS AGAIN WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE FRIDAY TO TRY TO ARRANGE PEACE TALKS IN THE BALKANS. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, U-S OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED NEGOTIATIONS COULD START.

TEXT: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HAUNTING THE PREVIOUS FAILED ATTEMPTS AT NEGOTIATING PEACE IN BOSNIA HAS BEEN, WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS ? AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED BY ASSURANCES FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THAT IF NEGOTIATIONS DO BEGIN, THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT WILL EXERCISE THE DECISIVE VOICE FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS THIS A PROCEDURAL BREAKTHROUGH. IN HIS TALKS FRIDAY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE WILL BRING TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THE VIEWS OF CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMMED SACIRBEY ON THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING A NEW ROUND OF PEACE TALKS STARTED.

THIS WEEKEND, MR. HOLBROOKE WILL BRIEF MEMBERS OF THE BOSNIAN CONTACT GROUP IN BONN AND THE NATO COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS ON HIS PROGRESS BEFORE DECIDING ON HIS NEXT DIPLOMATIC MOVES. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS PREDICTS LENGTHY PEACE TALKS IF THEY EVER START.

WE HAVE TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO BE A LITTLE BIT EUPHORIC BECAUSE THERE IS GOOD NEWS FOR CHANGE OUT OF BOSNIA, THE BOSNIAN WAR. THERE IS NO DOUBT GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SITUATION, HISTORICALLY, ETHNICALLY AND POLITICALLY, THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS, IF THEY CAN BEGIN IN THE FUTURE, WILL BE EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT ONES. THEY WILL BE LABORIOUS AND THEY WILL PROBABLY BE VERY MUCH TIME-CONSUMING,LENGTHY NEGOTIATIONS.

THE FIVE-NATION BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP MAP, GIVING THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS 51 PERCENT OF BOSNIA AND THE SERBS 49 PERCENT, APPEARS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A STARTING POINT FOR NEGOTIATIONS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL LEAVE IT UP TO THE PARTIES TO DEFINE THEIR AGENDA FOR PEACE TALKS. DESPITE THE PROCEDURAL BREAKTHROUGH IN BELGRADE, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE WILLING TO COMPLY WITH NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR ENDING AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 31-Aug-95 5:13 PM EDT (2113 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] BOSNIA/SERBS (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THERE ARE INDICATIONS THE BOSNIAN SERBS MAY BE BEGINNING TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS AND NATO CONDITIONS FOR STOPPING NATO AIRSTRIKES ON SERB TARGETS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT,WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: WITH NATO PLANES IN ACTION AGAINST THE SERBS FOR A SECOND DAY, THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, SAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE AIR RAIDS TO CONTINUE.

IN A LETTER TO UNITED NATIONS ENVOY YASUSHI AKASHI, MR. KARADZIC MAKES SOME PREDICTABLY DEFIANT STATEMENTS. BUT, HE SAYS HE IS TAKING STEPS TOWARD PEACE AND THAT SERB ARTILLERY WILL NOT SHELL SARAJEVO OR OTHER UNITED NATIONS/DECLARED SAFE AREAS. AT THE SAME TIME, U-N PEACE-KEEPERS IN SARAJEVO SAY THREE SERB TANKS COULD BE MOVING OUT OF THE HEAVY WEAPONS EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO ARE DEMANDING THE END OF SERB ATTACKS ON THE SAFE AREAS AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB HEAVY WEAPONS FROM THE REGION AROUND SARAJEVO.

NATO OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS HOPE THE ALLIANCE'S AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SERBS WILL LEAD TO THE LIFTING OF THE SERB SIEGES OF SARAJEVO AND OTHER GOVERNMENT-HELD MUSLIM ENCLAVES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.(SIGNED)

NEB/WC/PT
31-Aug-95 5:57 PM EDT (2157 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] NATO / BOSNIA (S-O) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO WARPLANES HAVE ATTACKED SERB MILITARY TARGETS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOR THE SECOND DAY. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: U-N SOURCES SAY NATO WARPLANES HAVE RESUMED ATTACKS ON SERB POSITIONS AFTER A LULL, PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO BAD WEATHER.

THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE INDICATION OF THE NATURE OF THE TARGETS OR WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED. THE SERBS EARLIER SAID NATO PLANES LAUNCHED AN ATTACK NEAR THEIR HEADQUARTERS AT PALE. A NATO SPOKESMAN DENIES THAT.

THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN SOUTHERN EUROPE -- ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- SAYS ATTACKS CARRIED OUT WEDNESDAY WERE GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL. SPEAKING AT HIS HEADQUARTERS IN NAPLES, ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS THE SERBS' ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN CRIPPLED.

NATO AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE WARNED THE SERBS THE U-N / BACKED NATO ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SERB FORCES WITHDRAW HEAVY WEAPONS FROM SARAJEVO AND END THEIR THREAT TO OTHER U-N / DECLARED SAFE AREAS.

THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COMMANDER -- GENERAL RATKO MLADIC -- SAYS HIS FORCES WILL MAINTAIN THEIR POSITIONS. U-N SOURCES SAY THERE IS NO SIGN OF A SERB PULLBACK. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/WOD/RAE
31-Aug-95 1:19 PM EDT (1719 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

DATE=08/31/95 TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-09148
TELEPHONE=619-1014
EDITOR=PHIL HAYNES
CONTENT=

INTRO: THIS WEEK NATO WARPLANES ATTACKED BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY POSITIONS AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO, THE SERB STRONGHOLD AT PALE, AND SEVERAL OTHER AREAS. THE ATTACKS ARE PART OF AN EFFORT TO FORCE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS TO END THE SHELLING OF MUSLIM-HELD CITIES AND TO BRING ABOUT A SOLUTION TO A CONFLICT THAT HAS LASTED FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS. THE NATO RAIDS DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS. WE GET A SAMPLING OF THAT COMMENT NOW FROM ______________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: "JUSTICE FOR SARAJEVANS" IS THE HEADLINE OF THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S EDITION OF THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. THE GEORGIA NEWSPAPER TELLS READERS THAT, "FOR THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO, ACTIONS THIS WEEK PROVIDE ONE OF THE RARE REDEEMING MOMENTS OF THEIR...ORDEAL." IT CONTINUES:

VOICE: "LIFE REMAINS A STRUGGLE, BUT THE SIGHT OF SMOKE RISING OUTSIDE THEIR BESIEGED CITY MUST GIVE THEM SOME SENSE OF SATISFACTION THAT THEIR LONGTIME TORMENTORS ARE FINALLY PAYING A PRICE FOR THEIR BRUTALITY. THE BOSNIAN SERBS, WHO HAVE HEMMED IN SARAJEVO, LEVELED OTHER CITIES AND CONDUCTED A DESPICABLE CAMPAIGN AGAINST UNARMED CIVILIANS, NO LONGER HOLD AN UPPER HAND. AS THEY DIG THEMSELVES OUT OF THE RUBBLE THAT NATO AIRSTRIKES HAVE MADE OF THEIR FORTIFICATIONS AROUND SARAJEVO AND ALSO NEAR MOSTAR, GORAZDE AND TUZLA, THEY FINALLY MAY BE COMING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SITUATION."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER CALLS THE NATO ACTION "THE LAST BEST HOPE TO BRING ABOUT A NEGOTIATED PEACE SETTLEMENT."

VOICE: "...THE U.S.-LED AIR STRIKES HAVE FINALLY SENT THE BOSNIAN SERBS A MESSAGE THAT THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR AGGRESSION, LEAVING THEM A CHOICE OF NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH, OR FACING MORE AIR STRIKES."

TEXT: THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD COMMENTS THAT, "THREE YEARS AND 200-THOUSAND CORPSES LATER, THE MASSIVE NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB TARGETS IN BOSNIA SHOW WESTERN REVOLVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 MONTHS OF" -- WHAT THE MAINE NEWSPAPER DESCRIBES AS -- "SERB RAPE, PILLAGE, MURDER AND 'ETHNIC CLEANSING'."

VOICE: "THIS TIME, WORDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY BOMBS FROM U-S, FRENCH, BRITISH AND DUTCH WARPLANES.... THE CRITICAL THING NOW IS TO KEEP UP THE AIR AND GROUND STRIKES, HITTING THE ENEMY AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL HE NO LONGER CAN DESTROY PEOPLE'S LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS AT WILL. NATO SHOULD DO THIS WITH FULL AMERICAN PARTICIPATION, DESPITE THE CONGRESSIONAL CRYBABIES WHO ARE SURE TO SOON BEGIN THEIR LAMENT THAT U-S FORCES SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED, THAT CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE SOME SAY IN THE ACTION, THAT MORE WORDS, NOT BOMBS ARE NEEDED. BALONEY. THE WEST IS FINALLY SPEAKING THE ONLY LANGUAGE THAT AGGRESSORS, FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME, HAVE UNDERSTOOD. BRUTE FORCE MUST BE MET BY SUPERIOR FORCE, AND THE LATTER MUST BE SUSTAINED."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO AN EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, THE DECISION TO USE MILITARY FORCE MAY HAVE SOBERED UP THE SERBS INTO "SERIOUSLY BARGAINING" OVER AN AMERICAN-PROPOSED PEACE SETTLEMENT.

VOICE: "THE PROBLEM FACING THE U-S PLAN FOR SETTLING BOUNDARIES AND BUFFERING THEM WITH U-N FORCES IS THAT ALL THREE TERRITORY-SEEKERS NEED TO BE CORRALLED AT THE SAME TIME. THAT MEANS THE BOSNIAN SERBS MUST CALCULATE THAT THEY HAVE MORE TO LOSE THAN GAIN BY PROLONGING THE CONFLICT. THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS MUST REALIZE THAT NATO'S MUSCLE-FLEX WAS LIMITED TO DEFENDING THEIR CAPITAL AS A UN-DECLARED SAFE AREA. IT'S NOT A LICENSE TO EXPECT NATO SUPPORT FOR AN OFFENSIVE. AND CROATIA'S FRANJO TUDJIMAN MUST NOT BE LED TO ASSUME HE WILL GET FURTHER WINKS FROM WASHINGTON IF HE ATTEMPTS TO SWALLOW MORE TERRITORY. A TALL ORDER. BUT NATO'S SUDDEN DECISIVENESS JUST MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF MAKING IT WORK."

TEXT: THE SAINT LOUIS POST DISPATCH OFFERS THE COMMENT THAT "THE WESTERN POWERS ALSO SEEM MORE UNIFIED". IN THE PAPER'S VIEW: "THE BICKERING AMONG THE AMERICANS, THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH, WHICH HAD RESULTED IN THE WEST'S DIVIDED AND WISHY-WASHY APPROACH, HAS STOPPED, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT" - AND IT CONTINUES:

VOICE: "PERHAPS MORE SURPRISING, THE EUROPEANS SEEM TO BE COALESCING BEHIND PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S RATHER DECISIVE LEADERSHIP. RUSSIA HAS APPARENTLY BEEN DEALT OUT OF THE DECISION-MAKING. PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS PROTESTED BOTH THE SERBIAN ATTACK ON THE MARKETPLACE IN SARAJEVO AS WELL AS NATO'S RETALIATORY AIR STRIKES. HIS OUTRAGE AT THE AIR STRIKES SEEMED SOMEWHAT PERFUNCTORY, HOWEVER, AND THAT'S GOOD. RUSSIAN HELP WILL EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE BARGAINING TABLE."

TEXT: BUT, THE MIAMI HERALD IS OF THE OPINION THAT "THE BOMBING WON'T ACHIEVE ANYTHING NEAR WHAT IT WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED THREE YEARS AGO. AND," ADDS THE FLORIDA DAILY, "IT MAY BRING NEARLY AS MUCH DANGER AS PROGRESS."

VOICE: "IN WAR, TIMING IS EVERYTHING. YET THROUGHOUT THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT, TIMING HAS BEEN THE WEST'S MORAL AND STRATEGIC DOWNFALL. SLUGGISH TIMING HAS WROUGHT NOT ONLY A SERIES OF MILITARY DEBACLES FOR THE DEFENDING MUSLIMS, BUT A COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS'S MORAL AUTHORITY... NATO'S CURRENT BARRAGE MUST THEREFORE ACCOMPLISH ONE OF TWO ENDS: EITHER DEBILITATE THE SERBS SO SWIFTLY THAT THEY GIVE IN, OR FRIGHTEN THEM INTO NEGOTIATIONS BY THE THREAT OF A WIDER WAR. NEITHER IS A SAFE BET. AND THE ALTERNATIVE -- ACTUALLY HAVING TO WAGE THE WIDER WAR -- IS THE STUFF OF CATASTROPHE."

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM THE MIAMI HERALD WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP, TODAY FOCUSING ON THE NATO AIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST SERB MILITARY EMPLACEMENTS IN BOSNIA.

NEB/DN/PCH

31-Aug-95 11:44 AM EDT (1544 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

DATE=08/31/95 TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-09149
TELEPHONE=619-1014
EDITOR=NEAL LAVON
CONTENT=

INTRO: THE THREE-YEAR CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS BEING HEAVILY DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT WAS THIS WEEK'S ATTACK BY NATO WARPLANES AGAINST SERBIAN MILITARY POSITIONS. IT WAS REPORTEDLY THE BIGGEST AIR OPERATION IN NATO HISTORY. WE GET A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE SITUATION NOW FROM ______________ IN THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: "FINALLY," COMMENTED THE WASHINGTON POST, "NATO PLANES AND U.N. GROUND TROOPS HAVE REPLIED WITH HEAVY AND SUITABLE FORCE TO A DEADLY ATTACK SEEN AS COMING FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS." THE POST CONTINUED:

VOICE: "THIS DOES NOT ERASE THE ABIDING SHAME OF PAST REFUSALS TO HONOR PROMISES OF REPRISAL. BUT IT SETS A STANDARD FOR ALLIED PERFORMANCE NOW. THE MONDAY ATTACK HAD KILLED 37 CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO. IT CAME AS NATO AND THE UNITED NATIONS, LED BY THE UNITED STATES, WERE CRANKING UP A NEW DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN AND STATING IT COULD NOT SUCCEED WITHOUT MILITARY BACKUP. TO HAVE LEFT THE SLAUGHTER OF THE 37 UNANSWERED WOULD HAVE SHREDDED NOT ONLY THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE BY THE SLIGHT RESIDUAL DIGNITY OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS SAID THAT "WITH EACH BOMB THAT FALLS, THE GUILT OF INACTION IS BEING LIFTED FROM THE BACKS OF THE U.S. AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES. DECENT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE A RIGHT TO SAVOR THIS FIRM, IF BELATED, RESPONSE TO YEARS OF SERB GENOCIDE." THE NEWS CONCLUDED:

VOICE: "THE NATO STRIKES SPEAK LOUDLY. FOLLOWING THE RECENT CROATIAN COUNTER-ATTACK, THE STRIKES PUT SERB AGGRESSORS AT PROBABLY THEIR LOWEST POINT. THAT MEANS THAT DREAMS OF A GREATER SERBIA, BUILT ON THE CORPSES OF CROATS AND BOSNIANS, ARE NOW DEAD AND THE CHANCE FOR PEACE IMPROVED. FOR SURE, A SETTLEMENT WILL REMAIN ELUSIVE. AIR POWER ALONE CANNOT PERMANENTLY CHANGE THE FACTS ON THE GROUND, UNLESS THE SERBS AGREE TO A CEASEFIRE. EVEN THEN, THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE MANY CROATS AND BOSNIAN MUSLIMS WHO WANT TO EXACT REVENGE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES NOTED THAT WHILE THE NATO AIR ATTACK WAS BELATED, "IT CERTAINLY COULD NOT BE CALLED MERELY SYMBOLIC":

VOICE: "AS A RESULT OF THE ACTION, IT WAS ANNOUNCED FROM BELGRADE THAT THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS MILITARY COMMANDER GEN. RATKO MLADIC WERE NOW WILLING, EVEN EAGER, TO NEGOTIATE, AND WOULD ACCEPT WHATEVER POSITION IS TAKEN BY THEIR SERBIAN MASTER, PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. UNDOUBTEDLY, THEIR HOPE IS TO AVERT FURTHER MILITARY ACTION. THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH SUCH PEOPLE IS FAIRLY APPALLING IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT, PERHAPS NOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CONTINUED ATROCITIES WILL CARRY A HEAVY PRICE, THERE IS A CHANCE FOR AN EVENTUAL RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS. IT'S ODD, BUT THERE IT IS, THAT THE LESSON OF APPEASEMENT HAS TO BE LEARNED OVER AND OVER AGAIN."

TEXT: AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES DISCUSSED A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT OF THE LENGTHY CONFLICT:

VOICE: "IN TANDEM WITH THE MILITARY RESPONSE, A U.S. PEACE INITIATIVE IS UNDER WAY, EMOTIONALLY SPURRED BY THE DEATHS OF THREE AMERICAN PEACEMAKERS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT EARLIER THIS MONTH IN SARAJEVO. RICHARD HOLBROOKE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, HELD TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN PARIS WITH ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT. THE AMERICAN THEN HEADED FOR BELGRADE, CAPITAL OF YUGOSLAVIA, TO DISCUSS PEACE POSSIBILITIES WITH PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WHOSE SERB EXPANSIONIST POLICIES TRIGGERED THE WAR AND WHO NOW FINDS HIS COUNTRY STRANGLED BY U.N. SANCTIONS. MILOSEVIC HAS LOST SOME CONTROL OVER HIS BOSNIAN SATRAP, RADOVAN KARADZIC, BUT STILL HOLDS THE PURSE THAT KEEPS THE SERBIAN REBELLION GOING IN BOSNIA."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO AN EDITORIAL IN THE BOSTON GLOBE, "FORCE ALONE, OF COURSE, CANNOT END THE BALKAN NIGHTMARE":

VOICE: "THE DIPLOMATIC OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY NATO'S DISPLAY OF FORCE MUST BE SEIZED.... THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE SERB AND CROATIAN LEADERS MUST BE SHEPARDED INTO ACCEPTANCE OF A MAP OF THREE VIABLE DEFENSIBLE STATES."

TEXT: NEWSDAY, A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, WAS OF THE OPINION THAT A SURE RESULT OF THE BOMBING WILL BE THE LOSS OF NATO'S NEUTRALITY:

VOICE: "A UNITED NATIONS COMMANDER CALLED TUESDAY'S MASSIVE NATO AIR AND ARTILLERY STRIKES ON BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS A 'TRULY DEFINING MOMENT'. IT MAY BE. BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THE MOMENT WOULD DEFINE: THE FIRST STEP ONTO THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF DEEP WESTERN INVOLVEMENT IN THE BALKAN WAR, OR THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS. IF EITHER EVENTUALLY OCCURS, THE WAR WILL HAVE TAKEN A FATEFUL TURN. OR -- A POSSIBILITY NOT TO BE DISCOUNTED IN THIS INFURIATING CONFLICT -- THE US PRONOUNCEMENT COULD BE FLAT WRONG. THE AIR STRIKES MAY CHANGE NOTHING EITHER ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. ONE KEY ELEMENT HAS CHANGED, HOWEVER: NEITHER THE WESTERN ALLIES NOR THE UN CAN CREDIBLY HIDE BEHIND THE FIG LEAF OF NEUTRALITY ANY LONGER."

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM NEWSDAY, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF THE U.S. OPINION ROUNDUP.

31-Aug-95 12:26 PM EDT (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] NATO AIRSTRIKES IN BOSNIA (PART ONE) BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S OFFICIAL WHO IS LEADING A PEACE INITIATIVE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SAYS HE BELIEVES SERIOUS PEACE NEGOTIATIONS FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE POSSIBLE. BUT ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO RAISE FALSE HOPES ABOUT PEACE PROSPECTS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS HE IS PLEASED WITH WHAT HE CALLS A PROCEDURAL BREAKTHROUGH -- AN AGREEMENT FOR SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HEAD A JOINT SERBIAN/BOSNIAN-SERB DELEGATION AT PEACE TALKS.

THE U-S ENVOY SAYS THE ROAD IS OPEN FOR SERIOUS AND SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT, HE SAYS RENEWED NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT TERRITORIAL DISPUTES AMONG THE WARRING FORCES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND HE SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO CREATE FALSE OPTIMISM ABOUT A BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS DEMANDED THE BOSNIAN SERBS ACCEPT THE BIG POWERS' PEACE PLAN ON WHICH THE NEW U-S DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE IS BASED. BUT, THE AGREEMENT FOR MR. MILOSEVIC TO BE THE SENIOR NEGOTIATOR FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS IS VAGUE. THE SERBS APPEAR TO HAVE GIVEN HIM LIMITED AUTHORITY TO COMPROMISE ABOUT SOME ISSUES.

WITH AT LEAST SOME MOVEMENT ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, MR. HOLBROOKE IS CONTINUING HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY. HE HAS MET IN ZAGREB WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND WITH THE BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (MUHAMED SACIRBEY).

THE U-S ENVOY IS RETURNING TO BELGRADE FOR MORE TALKS WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT. MR. HOLBROOKE DESCRIBED HIS PAST TWO MEETINGS WITH MR. MILOSEVIC AS PRODUCTIVE AND VERY USEFUL. MEANWHILE, THE BIG POWER CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA IS EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN SATURDAY, THIS TIME IN BONN. THE UNITED STATES WILL BRIEF ITS CONTACT GROUP PARTNERS, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND RUSSIA, ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MR. HOLBROOKE'S PEACE MISSION. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
31-Aug-95 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America