Voice of America, 9 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THIS IS THE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES, HONORING THE EXPLORER WHO DISCOVERED THE NEW WORLD ON THIS DATE IN 1492. IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS HOLIDAY MONDAY ARE A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING: THE POPE'S TOUR; THE TENUOUS PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST; CHANGES IN U-S CUBAN POLICY; AND UNCOVERING OLD ABUSES IN HONDURAS. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: HERE IN WASHINGTON, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS OF THE POPE'S JUST-COMPLETED VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES;

VOICE: "POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND RAISED MATTERS THAT OUGHT TO BE OF URGENT CONCERN NOT ONLY TO CATHOLICS, BUT TO ALL AMERICANS. HIS THEME SEEMED TO BE THAT WE NEED TO RECOVER AND REINVIGORATE SOME OF THE CORE BELIEFS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THIS COUNTRY TO PROSPER AND TO SERVE AS A BEACON OF LIBERTY IN THE WORLD. AT THE HEART OF THE POPE'S CONCERN WAS THE MORAL EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. ..... AS THE POPE OBSERVED, 'THERE CAN BE NO LIFE WORTHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON WITHOUT A CULTURE -- AND A LEGAL SYSTEM -- THAT HONORS AND DEFENDS MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, WHERE "THE SUN" DEVOTES MOST OF ITS FRONT PAGE TO THE POPE'S VISIT THERE YESTERDAY, THE PAPER COMMENTS:

VOICE: "FROM THE MASS AT (THE BASEBALL STADIUM) CAMDEN YARDS UNDER GLORIOUS OCTOBER SKIES TO AN ECUMENICAL EVENING PRAYER SERVICE AT THE CATHEDRAL OF MARY OUR QUEEN, POPE JOHN PAUL'S VISIT TO BALTIMORE NOT ONLY PAID TRIBUTE TO HISTORY BUT ALSO POINTED TOWARD A FUTURE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES. ...... THE POPE'S VISIT OFFERED LESSONS AND INSPIRATION TO MODERN-DAY MARYLANDERS, AS THEY TRAVEL TOWARD A FUTURE THAT SOMETIMES SEEMS FRAUGHT WITH CONFUSION AND THREATENED BY CHANGE. " TEXT; TURNING TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND THE DELICATE PEACE EMERGING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "ALTHOUGH HE WASN'T REQUIRED TO SO SO, PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN CHOSE TO SUBMIT TO ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT THE WEST BANK AUTONOMY AGREEMENT THAT GREATLY EXPANDS THE AREA FOR PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE, AND HE SAID HE WOULD REGARD THE VOTE AS A TEST OF CONFIDENCE IN HIS COALITION. ....... THE 61-59 VOTE COMES VERY CLOSE TO REFLECTING WHAT OPINION POLLS INDICATE IS THE PUBLIC MOOD ....... ISRAELIS SUPPORT THE STEPS THEIR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TAKING, BUT SO NARROWLY AS TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S FREEDOM OF ACTION WHEN TALKS ON A FINAL ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SETTLEMENT BEGIN NEXT MAY."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE ISSUE OF CUBA AND A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND THE COMMUNIST ISLAND, TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SAYS:

VOICE: "AFTER A SERIES OF FLIP-FLOPS, PRESIDENT CLINTON DESERVES CREDIT FOR STEERING U-S FOREIGN POLICY REGARDING CUBA ON TO THE RIGHT TRACK. THE LATEST GESTURE CAME FRIDAY, AS MR. CLINTON ANNOUNCED THE EASING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO CUBA AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR U-S NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO SET UP BUREAUS ON THE ISLAND. [OPT] ..... IT MAKES SENSE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA. THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN [WHEN] MORE CUBAN-AMERICANS, ACADEMICS, JOURNALISTS AND OTHERS HEAD THERE. [END OPT] ..... WITH THE ADDITION OF THIS WEEK'S CHANGES, U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA HAS BECOME MORE COHERENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS ALSO PLEASED:

VOICE: "... PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS RIGHT TO EASE TRAVEL AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE HINDERED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CUBANS AND AMERICANS FOR DECADES. FAR FROM SIGNALING CAPITULATION TO FIDEL CASTRO, THE NEW RULES ARE A SIGN OF CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE OF THAT COUNTRY AND AN INVITATION TO A FULLER EXCHANGE OF VIEWS BETWEEN CUBANS AND AMERICANS THAT CAN ONLY STRENGTHEN THIS COUNTRY'S HAND IN THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO PROMOTE REFORM IN THAT COUNTRY. [OPT] .... NEWS MEDIA AND THEIR READERS AND VIEWERS WILL BENEFIT BY THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO ALLOW AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS TO OPEN BUREAUS IN CUBA. ... THERE CAN BE NO BETTER WAY TO PROVIDE UNBIASED INFORMATION TO AMERICANS AND TO ALLOW CUBANS TO LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN OTHER NEWS OF THE REGION, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS CONCERNED ABOUT EFFORTS BY THE HONDURAN MILITARY TO INFLUENCE THAT NATION'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

VOICE: "IN JULY THE HONDURAN GOVERNMENT FILED CHARGES AGAINST TEN ACTIVE AND RETIRED MILITARY OFFICERS, AMONG THEM SEVEN COLONELS, ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND THE ILLEGAL DETENTION OF SIX HONDURAN CITIZENS. THE SOLDIERS WERE PART OF THE NOTORIOUS BATTALION 316, A UNIT THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY FINANCED AND TRAINED IN THE EARLY 1980'S. HONDURAN INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE BATTALION 316 WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE OF 140 PEOPLE WHOSE BODIES HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND. IF THE TRIAL OPENS AS EXPECTED THIS FALL, HONDURAS WILL BECOME THE FIRST LATIN AMERICAN NATION TO TRY A GROUP OF POWERFUL, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY OFFICERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE. .... BOTH TO GIVE A SIGNAL TO THE MILITARY AND TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR THE TRIAL, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PROVIDE THE HONDURANS WITH ANY SECRET REPORTS C-I-A AND AMERICAN EMBASSY OFFICIALS SENT BACK TO WASHINGTON ABOUT BATTALION 316'S CRIMES."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE CELEBRATING THE AWARDING OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE TO THE IRISH POET SEAMUS HEANEY, A WRITER "THE BALTIMORE SUN" CALLS IRELAND'S ROBERT FROST.

VOICE: "IN AWARDING THE ... PRIZE .... THE SWEDISH ACADEMY ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF IRELAND TO ENGLISH LETTERS, BUT STRUCK A BLOW FOR POETRY. [OPT] ..... IT IS A SMALL ISLAND OF SOME FIVE MILLION SOULS, BUT THIS IS IRELAND'S THIRD NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE ..... THE FOURTH IF THE PLAYWRIGHT-ESSAYIST GEORGE BERNARD SHOW ... IS CREDITED TO THE COUNTRY OF HIS BIRTH. IRELAND'S CONTRIBUTION OF TALENT THAT GLORIFIED THE ENGLISH MORE THAN THE IRISH LANGUAGE FOR CENTURIES IS IMMENSE. [END OPT] ..... MR. HEANEY DOES NOT RESEMBLE ..... EARLIER IRISH BARDS SO MUCH AS THE AMERICAN POET OF NEW ENGLAND SOIL, ROBERT FROST, WHO DIED IN 1963 UN-NOBELED."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER," THIS ABOUT MR. HEANEY:

VOICE: "WITH HIS BROAD SMILE, DEEP EYES AND WILD HAIR, DOES ANYONE LOOK MORE THE IRISH POET THAT SEAMUS HEANEY? WITH A POETRY ROOTED IN THE HISTORY OF HIS NATIVE LAND, WITH VERSE THAT RISES AND FALLS LIKE THE LUSH LANDSCAPE, DOES ANYONE SOUND MORE THE IRISH POET THAT SEAMUS HEANEY? AND YET, AS BEFITS THE LATEST RECIPIENT OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS LITERARY AWARD, MR. HEANEY'S WORK TRANSCENDS NATIONALITY AND PLACE TO TOUCH A UNIVERSAL LONGING."

TEXT: AND ON THAT LITERARY NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE TOPICS PUT BEFORE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BY THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY, COLUMBUS DAY, IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANG//MMK 09-Oct-95 1:04 PM EDT (1704 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA/CEASE-FIRE (LONG) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO GO INTO EFFECT HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED AFTER GAS SUPPLIES WERE NOT RESTORED TO SARAJEVO IN TIME. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE TO ARRANGE A NEW START TO THE CEASE-FIRE ONCE GAS SUPPLIES ARRIVE IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, AND IN THE MEANTIME THEY ARE URGING ALL THE WARRING PARTIES TO SHOW RESTRAINT. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: SENIOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS MET AT SARAJEVO'S U-N CONTROLLED AIRPORT JUST HOURS BEFORE THE BOSNIA-WIDE CEASE-FIRE WAS TO GO INTO EFFECT, BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAID THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT PRE-CONDITIONS FOR THE CEASE-FIRE HAD NOT YET BEEN MET, AND THE CEASE-FIRE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.

IT WAS THE FAILURE OF GAS SUPPLIES TO ARRIVE IN SARAJEVO THAT HAS DELAYED THE CEASE-FIRE. THE GAS FLOWS DOWN A PIPELINE FROM RUSSIA, AND PASSES THROUGH HUNGARY, SERBIA AND BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY BEFORE REACHING SARAJEVO, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE GAS HAS EVEN BEGUN FLOWING FROM RUSSIA.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING BILL OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OWED FOR GAS ALREADY DELIVERED TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN RECENT YEARS, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE GAS WILL BE SWITCHED ON. ACCORDING TO UN EXPERTS EVEN IF THE GAS WERE TO BEGIN FLOWING IMMEDIATELY IT WOULD TAKE A MINIMUM OF 36 HOURS TO REACH SARAJEVO, AND THAT IS IF EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN. THE EXPERTS SAY A MORE REASONABLE ESTIMATE IS BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR DAYS.

BETTER PROGRESS, HOWEVER HAS BEEN MADE ON RESTORING ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES TO SARAJEVO. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO MAIN ELECTRICAL LINES INTO SARAJEVO HAVE NOW BEEN REPAIRED, WITH THE FULL COOPERATION OF ALL SIDES, AND THE LINES SHOULD BE ENERGIZED SHORTLY. THE ELECTRICITY WILL ALSO POWER THE CITY'S WATER PUMPS, RESTORING WATER SUPPLIES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CALL FOR A MEETING BETWEEN THE SIDES TO ARRANGE A NEW START FOR THE CEASE-FIRE ONCE THE UTILITIES SITUATION IS RESOLVED, BUT IN THE MEANTIME THE OFFICIALS ARE URGING ALL THE WARRING PARTIES TO SHOW MAXIMUM RESTRAINT.

ALTHOUGH THE CEASE-FIRE IS ONLY POSTPONED AT THE MOMENT ANY DELAY INCREASES THE RISK THAT MORE HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN THE SIDES, OR ANOTHER INCIDENT SIMILAR TO SUNDAY'S CLUSTER BOMB ATTACK ON A MUSLIM REFUGEE CAMP WHICH KILLED AND INJURED A NUMBER OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, COULD SCUTTLE THE CEASE-FIRE ALL TOGETHER.

UN OFFICIALS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A CEASE-FIRE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE STRONG ACTION IN RESPONSE TO ANY ATTACKS ON U-N PEACE KEEPERS OR UN DECLARED SAFE AREAS. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 09-Oct-95 7:08 PM EDT (2308 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/FIGHTING (S UPDATE) BY DAVID FOLEY ( SARAJEVO )

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS SAY GAS SUPPLIES FOR SARAJEVO HAVE NOT BEGUN FLOWING THROUGH THE PIPELINE TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, LESS THAN 12-HOURS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED START OF THE REPUBLIC-WIDE CEASEFIRE. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, THERE HAS BEEN MORE BOSNIAN-SERB SHELLING NEAR TUZLA IN NORTHERN BOSNIA AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONSULTING WITH NATO COMMANDERS TO CONSIDER A RESPONSE.

TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY GAS SUPPLIES FOR SARAJEVO HAVE NOT BEGUN FLOWING TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND THEY SAY GAS COULD ONLY REACH THE CITY BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE IF THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS, WHICH APPEARS UNLIKELY. BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAID EARLIER THE CEASEFIRE WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNLESS ALL UTILITIES ARE RESTORED.

MEANWHILE FIGHTING IS CONTINUING IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, AND U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAS BEEN MORE SHELLING AROUND TUZLA, THE SCENE OF SUNDAY'S CLUSTER-BOMB ATTACK ON A MUSLIM REFUGEE CAMP. U-N OFFICIALS NOW SAY 10 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND DOZENS INJURED IN THAT ATTACK, MOST OF THEM CHILDREN.

NATO PLANES ATTEMPTED TO ATTACK BOSNIAN-SERB GUNS, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE TARGETS BEFORE NIGHTFALL SUNDAY. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONSULTING WITH NATO ON ANY RESPONSE TO THE SHELLING. BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC HAS SAID IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT RESPOND TO ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS THERE IS NO POINT IN FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/MH/RAE
09-Oct-95 8:20 AM EDT (1220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA/UTILITIES BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: AS THE COUNTDOWN TO THE SCHEDULED CEASEFIRE APPROACHES IT APPEARS THE RETURN OF GAS SUPPLIES TO SARAJEVO MAY BE THE MAIN STICKING POINT. MUCH OF THE CITY'S GAS INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AND EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO REPAIR SYSTEMS SO THE GAS CAN BE USED FOR WINTER HEATING BY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: /// ACT 1 - WORKERS TALKING ///

AS WORKERS TRY TO REPAIR SARAJEVO'S GAS SYSTEM, THEY DISCUSS WHICH FITTINGS WOULD WORK BEST IN THIS HOUSE. GAS SUPPLIES ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO SARAJEVO SOON AS PART OF THE BOSNIA-WIDE CEASE-FIRE, BUT AFTER THREE-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS OF WAR MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE. A U-S-BASED HUMANITARIAN AGENCY, THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE IS LEADING THE EFFORT TO RESTORE HEATING TO THE CITY. THE GROUP'S DIRECTOR IN SARAJEVO, MARK JOHNSON EXPLAINS:

THE MAIN PART OF THE PROJECT IS FIXING 23 BOILER HOUSES IN THE CITY, AND THE REASON THAT'S A MAIN PRIORITY IS THAT THOSE 23 BOILER HOUSES SERVE 33-THOUSAND APARTMENTS, AND THE BOILER HOUSES ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT USERS OF ENERGY.

THE BOILER HOUSES ARE LARGE, COMPLICATED TANGLES OF PIPES AND VALVES, MUCH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS PART OF ORGNIZATION'S SIX-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

IZUDIN ALATOVIC IS IN CHARGE OF REBUILDING ONE OF THE BOILER HOUSES, WHICH WILL HEAT TWO LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH HUNDREDS OF APARTMENTS OR FLATS. HE SHOWED ME A NUMBER OF PIPES WITH HOLES BLOWN IN THEM FROM SHRAPNEL.

THERE ARE MANY FLATS HERE WHICH ARE DESTROYED. RADIATORS, OR THE PIPE NETWORKS, OR THE PUMPS WERE DESTROYED BY THE GUNFIRE OR BY THE SHELLS, SHELLING, AND WE ARE NOW GOING FLAT BY FLAT MAKING, REPAIRING IT, AND PREPARING THE INSTALLATION FOR THE FINAL PUTTING INTO OPERATION.

HE THINKS THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE DURING THE COMING WINTER

REALLY, IT IS A LIFE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT IS THE FOURTH WINTER WE ARE WITHOUT HEATING.YOU MAY JUST IMAGINE HOW IT IS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, WITHOUT HEATING, WITHOUT GAS, WITHOUT WATER IN THIS TOWN, THREE YEARS, MORE THAN THREE YEARS CONTINUOUS.

MR. JOHNSON SAYS THE WORK IS SLOW GOING, BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN REPAIRING THE BOILER HOUSES.

WELL SOME OF THEM SHOULD COME ON LINE THIS MONTH, WHICH WILL BE VERY WELCOME, AS YOU SEE THE WEATHER IS GETTING COLDER. MORE OF THEM WILL COME ON IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN WE EXPECT TO BE FINISHED WITH ALL 23 SOMETIME IN DECEMBER.

BUT MANY HOMES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE BOILER HOUSES, AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO MAKE ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS TO THE GAS SYSTEM. THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE INEFFICIENT AND VERY DANGEROUS. SANSHO RAMHORST, THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF THE GAS PROJECT TOOK ME TO SEE SOME OF THE ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS BEING REPLACED.

THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE. WHEN THE GAS PRESSURE GOES BELOW A CERTAIN PRESSURE IT WILL SHUT THE GAS FLOW INTO THIS HOUSE OFF. SO THIS IS TO PREVENT EXPLOSIONS.

WHEN THE GAS WAS TURNED ON LAST WINTER IN SARAJEVO, MANY HOMES AND APARTMENTS WERE DESTROYED BY ACCIDENTAL GAS EXPLOSIONS.

SR--THERE WERE 30 CASUALTIES FROM GAS EXPLOSIONS AND THEN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS WITH PEOPLE ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

DF--HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INJURED BECAUSE OF WAR ACTIVITIES LAST WINTER?

SR--I THINK LESS PEOPLE WERE INJURED FROM WAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE CEASEFIRE THAN FROM GAS EXPLOSIONS DURING THE WINTER SEASON.

HE SHOWED ME OLD ROTTING GARDEN HOSES THAT WERE BEING USED TO CARRY GAS, AND THE RISK OF EXPLOSIONS WAS OBVIOUS. INSIDE THE HOUSE A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN EXPLAINED WHAT THE NEW CONNECTION WOULD MEAN TO HER.

IT WILL BE SAFER WITH THIS EQUIPMENT AND WE WILL HAVE AN EASIER JOB TO HEAT UP THE APARTMENT AND TO COOK.

BUT EVEN IF GAS, ELECTRICITY, AND WATER IS RESTORED TO SARAJEVO, IT WILL STILL BE A DIFFICULT WINTER FOR THE PEOPLE HERE. THE NEEDS ARE GREAT AND MR. JOHNSON MADE A GRIM FORECAST.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH NATURAL GAS WILL BE COMING INTO SARAJEVO. LAST WINTER IT WAS EVERY OTHER DAY, AND I THINK WE WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE THAT AGAIN. I WOULD NOT EXPECT EVERY DAY.

PEOPLE IN SARAJEVO ARE TIRED OF THE WAR AND WHILE THEY ARE HOPEFUL THE UTILITIES REALLY WILL RETURN, NO ONE IS SURE HOW LONG THEY WILL LAST. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/MH/RAE
09-Oct-95 12:44 PM EDT (1644 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA SITREP (L-UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO WARPLANES HAVE ATTACKED A SERB MILITARY POSITION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. IN SARAJEVO, A SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAYS A NEW CEASE-FIRE IN THE COUNTRY WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT EARLY TUESDAY MORNING BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CONDITIONS FOR THE TRUCE HAVE NOT BEEN MET. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO SAYS ALLIANCE WARPLANES DROPPED LASER-GUIDED BOMBS ON A SERB COMMAND AND CONTROL BUNKER NEAR THE TOWN OF TUZLA IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THE SERB POSITION WAS ATTACKED AFTER THE SERBS SHELLED UNITED NATIONS BASES AND TOWNS IN THE TUZLA REGION. MANY CIVILIANS AND A NORWEGIAN PEACE-KEEPER WERE KILLED. A NATO SPOKESWOMAN IN NAPLES TOLD V-O-A NO ADDITIONAL SERB POSITIONS HAVE BEEN TARGETED. SHE SAYS NATO WARPLANES ARE NOW CARRYING OUT THEIR NORMAL OPERATIONS OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. NATO PLANES WENT INTO ACTION HOURS BEFORE A NEW NATIONWIDE CEASE-FIRE IS DUE TO TAKE EFFECT IN BOSNIA. A SENIOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN SARAJEVO, HASAN MURATOVIC, SAYS THE TRUCE WILL NOT GO INTO FORCE AS WAS HOPED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT TUESDAY MORNING (LOCAL TIME). MR. MURATOVIC SAYS THE CEASE-FIRE WILL BE DELAYED BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CONDITIONS FOR IT HAVE NOT BEEN MET. THE MAIN GOVERNMENT CONDITION IS THE FULL RESTORATION OF ELECTRICITY, WATER AND NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES FOR THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. WHETHER THERE IS A CEASE-FIRE OR NOT, THE SERBS ARE EXPELLING THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS FROM SERB-HELD TOWNS IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. U-N OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY MEN ARE BEING SEPARATED FROM WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY TO UNKNOWN DESTINATIONS AS THE SERBS SPEED UP THEIR ETHNIC-CLEANSING CAMPAIGN. MEANWHILE, AT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, THE FIRST WITNESSES HAVE TESTIFIED AT A HEARING CONCERNING THE CASE OF A BOSNIAN SERB, DRAGAN NIKOLIC. MR. NIKOLIC, WHO IS STILL IN BOSNIA, IS ACCUSED OF RUNNING A PRISON CAMP WHERE ATROCITIES WERE COMMITTED AGAINST BOSNIAN MUSLIMS. A BOSNIAN MUSLIM CLERIC, MUNIB AHMETOVIC, TESTIFIED ABOUT THE BRUTAL TREATMENT HE RECEIVED WHEN SERBIAN-LED FORCES CAPTURED A TOWN (VLASENICA) IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. HE DESCRIBED HOW A SERB ORTHODOX PRIEST TRIED BUT FAILED TO HELP HIM TO FLEE. HE EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO REACH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TERRITORY. THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, JAMES GOLDSMITH OF SOUTH AFRICA, BEGAN THE HEARING BY PRAISING WITNESSES WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO TESTIFY ABOUT MR. NIKOLIC. MR. GOLDSMITH SAYS THE WITNESSES' TESTIMONY WILL BE THE FIRST VOICES OF THE VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO BE HEARD. HE SAYS THESE VOICES WILL BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS ALREADY INDICTED THE BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND THE ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. THEY REMAIN AT LARGE IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/SKH
09-Oct-95 3:32 PM EDT (1932 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] BOSNIA SITUATION (L) BY WAYNE COREY ( VIENNA )

INTRO: NATO WARPLANES HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT TO ATTACK SERB ARTILLERY POSITIONS IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA, HOURS BEFORE A NEW CEASE-FIRE IS TO TAKE EFFECT THROUGHOUT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT BAD WEATHER IS PREVENTING NATO PILOTS FROM FINDING THE SERB ARTILLERY THAT FIRED SHELLS NEAR TWO UNITED NATIONS BASES. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS ASKED NATO TO ATTACK SERB ARTILLERY POSITIONS THAT FIRED SHELLS CLOSE TO U-N PEACEKEEPERS AROUND THE TOWN OF TUZLA.

NATO PILOTS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE SERB ARTILLERY. BUT, BAD WEATHER IS PREVENTING THEM FOR FINDING AND ATTACKING THEIR TARGETS.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SHELLED GOVERNMENT-HELD TOWNS IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA AFTER KILLING AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE IN TWO SEPARATE SHELLING ATTACKS ON SUNDAY.

HEAVY FIGHTING IS ALSO REPORTED FOR THE SECOND DAY BETWEEN SERB AND MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN THE NORTHWEST. THE SERBS SAY ONE CIVILIAN WAS KILLED BY CROATIAN ARMY ARTILLERY IN AN ATTACK ON THE SERB-HELD TOWN OF MRKONJIC GRAD.

BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW NATIONWIDE CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS NOT LIKELY TO GO INTO EFFECT JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT TUESDAY MORNING SARAJEVO TIME. THE OFFICIALS SAY GOVERNMENT CONDITIONS FOR THE TRUCE ARE NOT BEING MET.

THE CONDITIONS ARE THE COMPLETE RESTORATION OF SARAJEVO'S WATER, NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES; AND THE OPENING OF ROADS TO THE BESIEGED MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE. MEANWHILE, AT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, THE FIRST WITNESS HAS TESTIFIED AT A HEARING CONCERNING THE CASE OFA BOSNIAN SERB, DRAGAN NIKOLIC.

MR. NIKOLIC, WHO IS STILL IN BOSNIA, IS ACCUSED OF RUNNING A PRISON CAMP WHERE ATROCITIES WERE COMMITTED AGAINST BOSNIAN MUSLIMS. IN HIS TESTIMONY, BRITISH SCHOLAR JAMES GOW OUTLINED THE RECENT HISTORY OF WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA.

CHIEF PROSECUTOR JAMES GOLDSMITH OF SOUTH AFRICA BEGAN THE HEARING BY PRAISING WITNESSES WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO TESTIFY ABOUT MR. NIKOLIC. MR. GOLDSMITH SAYS THE WITNESSES' TESTIMONY WILL BE THE FIRST VOICES OF THE VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO BE HEARD BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. HE SAYS THESE VOICES WILL BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE MOST IMPORTANT BOSNIAN SERBS TO BE INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMESTRIBUNAL ARE THE SERB POLITICAL LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND THE ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. THEY REMAIN AT LARGE IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/MMK
09-Oct-95 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] CZECH/NATO (L ONLY) BY ALENA KENCLOVA ( PRAGUE )

INTRO: THE CZECH REPUBLIC SAYS IT WANTS TO BE AMONG THE FIRST OF THE FORMERLY COMMUNIST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO, AND HAS OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED THE TWO-WEEK OLD STUDY ON ENLARGING THE ALLIANCE. ALENA KENCLOVA REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE CZECH REPUBLIC WANTS TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH NATO, PARTICIPATING IN ITS POLITICAL AND MILITARY STRUCTURES. THE AMBASSADORS OF 16 NATO MEMBER STATES WERE BRIEFED ABOUT THE CZECH POSITION MONDAY AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN PRAGUE. IT WAS PRAGUE'S FIRST OFFICIAL REACTION TO THE RECENT NATO STUDY, WHICH OPENS THE WAY FOR ONE-TO-ONE NEGOTIATIONS WITH NATO MEMBERSHIP APPLICANTS. A NATO TEAM IS EXPECTED FOR TALKS NEXT WEEK IN PRAGUE.

IT IS BELIEVED THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND ARE FRONT RUNNERS FOR MEMBERSHIP AMONG FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. ALMOST 30 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING RUSSIA, HAVE APPLIED FOR THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM OF MILITARY COOPERATION WITH NATO, BUT THE PROGRAM GIVES NO SECURITY GUARANTEES. CZECH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDR VONDRA TOLD JOURNALISTS HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE AMBASSADORS NATO EXPANSION WAS ON TRACK AND THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL ALLIANCE DECISION TO STALL THE DISCUSSIONS. CZECH OFFICIALS APPEAR TO BE RESIGNED TO THE POSSIBILITY PROGRESS IN MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS MAY BE SLOWED DURING 1996, THE YEAR OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES. THEY EMPHASIZE THERE MUST BE NO VETO OF THE PROCESS BY ANY THIRD COUNTRY. RUSSIA HAS WARNED NATO AGAINST ENLARGEMENT SAYING IT WOULD BE A THREAT TO ITS SECURITY. BUT U-S OFFICIALS HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID TALKS ABOUT NATO EXPANSION SHOULD BE PARALLEL TO NEGOTIATIONS ON SPECIAL RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, AND ON AN OVERALL SECURITY STRUCTURE IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)

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09-Oct-95 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] NATO / CLAES (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: A BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE IS STUDYING A REQUEST THAT THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION. IF SUCH A TRIAL IS HELD, IT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY FORCE MR CLAES' RESIGNATION FROM HIS TOP JOB. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR VOA FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: LAST WEEK BEGAN WELL FOR NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES.

HE WAS WELCOMED TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THEN ATTENDED A POSITIVE MEETING OF NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, AT WHICH THERE WAS BROAD AGREEMENT THAT THE ALLIANCE MUST PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SECURING PEACE IN BOSNIA.

THEN CAME THE DRAMATIC NEWS FROM BRUSSELS.

NEWS LEAKED THAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR IN BELGIUM'S HIGHEST COURT HAD CALLED FOR MR. CLAES TO BE PUT ON TRIAL.

WILLY CLAES IS A FORMER BELGIAN MINISTER, AND HIS COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT IT IS THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT WHICH WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE MAY BE TRIED. AN 11-STRONG PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE IS DUE TO MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATION TUESDAY, AFTER WHICH THE FULL PARLIAMENT WILL TAKE A FINAL DECISION.

THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR. CLAES DATE BACK TO THE LATE 1980'S WHEN HE WAS THE BELGIAN ECONOMICS MINISTER.

THE MOST DRAMATIC CASE INVOLVES THE PURCHASE OF 45 HELICOPTERS FOR THE BELGIAN MILITARY FROM AN ITALIAN FIRM AUGUSTA.

THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE COMPANY PAID BRIBES OF MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO WIN THE CONTRACT. THE MONEY WENT TO MR. CLAES' FLEMISH SOCIALIST PARTY - BUT THE KEY QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT HE KNEW THE BRIBE HAD BEEN PAID.

HE HAS ALWAYS CLAIMED HE IS INNOCENT, AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO REASON WHY HE SHOULD RESIGN HIS NATO POST. HOWEVER, IF THE BELGIAN PARLIAMENT DECIDES THAT WILLY CLAES DOES HAVE A CASE TO ANSWER, THE BELGIAN MEDIA IS IN NO DOUBT THAT THIS WILL SPELL THE END OF HIS ALLIANCE CAREER.

THE SECOND BRIBERY SCANDAL INVOLVES A SUM OF AROUND TWO MILLION DOLLARS WHICH WAS PAID BY A FRENCH FIRM TO WIN CONTRACTS FOR MODERNISING BELGIUM'S F-16 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.

AGAIN THE FLEMISH SOCIALISTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PAID THE MONEY, AND AGAIN MR. CLAES IS SUSPECTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFFAIR.

THE RESURGENCE OF THIS SCANDAL COULD NOT COME AT A WORSE TIME FOR NATO.

THE ALLIANCE IS PLANNING TO TAKE CHARGE OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA - ASSUMING THAT A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE COULD BE SECURED.

IT IS A SIGN OF THE NERVOUSNESS INSIDE NATO THAT DISCUSSION HAS ALREADY BEGIN BEHIND THE SCENES OF WHO SHOULD SUCCEEED WILLY CLAES, IF HE IS, INDEED, FORCED TO RESIGN THIS WEEK. (SIGNED)

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09-Oct-95 6:47 AM EDT (1047 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] WORLD BANK/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL OFFICIALS, MEETING IN WASHINGTON, HAVE EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE BOTH DEBT RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION AID TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IF AND WHEN A PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK EXPECT BOTH AGENCIES TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN SUCH ASSISTANCE:

TEXT: WORLD BANK VICE-PRESIDENT WILFRIED THALWITZ SUGGESTS BOSNIA'S GOVERNMENT WILL NEED AT LEAST THREE BILLION DOLLARS TO REBUILD ITS ECONOMY AND CREATE A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING. HE SAYS THE MONEY WOULD BE NEEDED FOR SUCH TASKS AS REBUILDING HOMES, REPAIRING THE COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSISTING BUSINESSES AND FACTORIES BECOME OPERATIONAL AGAIN.

THE WORLD BANK FIGURE IS LOWER THAN THAT CALLED FOR EARLIER BY BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC WHO SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NEED 12-BILLION DOLLARS IN POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION AID.

THE GROUP OF SEVEN RICHEST ECONOMIES -- MEETING ON THE SIDELINES OF THE IMF-WORLD BANK ANNUAL SESSION -- URGES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ASSESS BOSNIA'S FINANCIAL NEEDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT SAYS THAT WOULD FACILITATE A QUICKER RESPONSE AS SOON AS CONDITIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WARRANT.

FRANCE HAS ALSO PROPOSED OFFERING SARAJEVO DEBT RELIEF OF UP TO 35 MILLION DOLLARS ON OVERDUE LOANS AND INTEREST PAYMENTS OWED PARIS BY BOSNIA. UNDER THE FRENCH PROPOSAL, OTHER WESTERN NATIONS WOULD ALSO FORGIVE MOST OF WHAT BOSNIA OWES THEM AND PROVIDE MORE FAVORABLE REPAYMENT TERMS FOR THE REMAINING DEBT. (SIGNED)

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08-Oct-95 10:37 PM EDT (0237 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America