Voice of America, 28 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOPHER-BOSNIA SANCTIONS (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (SHANNON, IRELAND)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS FLYING TO JORDAN TO ATTEND THE MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICA ECONOMIC SUMMIT MEETING. VOA'S RON PEMSTEIN IS TRAVELING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND REPORTS FROM A RE-FUELING STOP IN IRELAND, THE UNITED STATES IS SHOWING SOME FLEXIBILITY ABOUT LIFTING SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE DOES NOT PRECLUDE SUSPENDING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA BEFORE A FORMAL BOSNIA PEACE CONFERENCE IS HELD IN PARIS. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM FROM WASHINGTON TO JORDAN, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID HE WANTS TO RETAIN FLEXIBILITY ON THE TIMING OF SANCTIONS RELIEF FOR SERBIA. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID THE BAN ON TRADE WITH SERBIA CANNOT BE SUSPENDED UNTIL A PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED AND WILL NOT BE LIFTED UNTIL AFTER AN AGREEMENT IS ACTUALLY CARRIED OUT. FOR STRATEGIC REASONS, MR. CHRISTOPHER INDICATES THE SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA COULD BE RELAXED EVEN FASTER IF THAT SPEEDS NEGOTIATIONS. MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL OPEN PEACE TALKS NEAR DAYTON, OHIO NEXT WEDNESDAY WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA. SERBIA HAS CALLED FOR THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO TO BE LIFTED SINCE IT WAS IMPOSED IN MAY,1992, WHEN THE UNITED NATIONS BLAMED SERBIA FOR INSTIGATING THE WAR IN BOSNIA. THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO RULES OUT THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT'S DEMAND FOR THE RIGHT OF SECESSION FROM BOSNIA, CONTENDING THE PEACE FRAMEWORK ALREADY AGREED TO BY THE BALKAN LEADERS MAKES THAT POINT CLEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/SKH
28-Oct-95 3:28 PM EDT (1928 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CROATIA/SERBS UPDATE (S ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (ZAGREB)

INTRO: CROATIAN OFFICIALS AND REBEL SERB LEADERS CALLED OFF A PLANNED SESSION OF TALKS SATURDAY ON THE DISPUTED REGION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA -- THE LAST STRIP OF CROATIAN TERRITORY STILL HELD BY SERB FORCES. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN ZAGREB REPORTS IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHEN THE TALKS WILL RESUME.

TEXT: ACCORDING TO WESTERN DIPLOMATS, SERB LEADERS REQUESTED THE POSTPONEMENT OF SATURDAY'S MEETING, SAYING THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO REVIEW THE LATEST PEACE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY U-S AMBASSADOR PETER GALBRAITH AND U-N ENVOY THORVALD STOLTENBERG, WHO HAVE BEEN MEDIATING IN THE TALKS.

THE MOVE APPEARED TO DASH HOPES OF AN IMMINENT BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. MR. GALBRAITH SAID EARLIER HE HOPED FOR A FINAL SETTLEMENT BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S BOSNIAN PEACE CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT SAYS SERB LEADERS HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO RESTORE CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER EASTERN SLAVONIA, A NARROW STRIP OF LAND ALONG THE YUGOSLAV BORDER SEIZED BY SERB REBELS WITH HELP FROM THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AT THE OUTSET OF THE BALKAN CONFLICTS FOUR YEARS AGO.

CROATIAN LEADERS HAVE WARNED THEY WILL USE FORCE TO RECAPTURE EASTERN SLAVONIA UNLESS THE SERBS AGREE TO A PEACEFUL HANDOVER BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH. PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN REPEATED THAT WARNING LATE FRIDAY AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY IN ADVANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HERE.

BUT SERB LEADER MILAN MILANOVIC TOLD REPORTERS HE WILL NOT SUBMIT TO THE PRESSURE OF WHAT HE TERMED AN ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/DW/BG
28-Oct-95 1:42 PM EDT (1742 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America