Voice of America, 2 December 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA/SERBS (S-UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: AS AMERICAN AND OTHER NATO FORCES PREPARE TO GO TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, SAYS THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. HE SAYS IT MUST BE RENEGOTIATED, ESPECIALLY ITS PROVISIONS FOR A UNITED SARAJEVO UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: IN HIS FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT, GENERAL MLADIC SAYS THE SERBS CANNOT HAND OVER LAND, WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED FOR CENTURIES, TO THE MUSLIM AND CROATS. HE CALLS ON THE SERB ARMY TO PROTECT THE SERB REPUBLIC'S BORDERS AND FOR THE PEACE AGREEMENT TO BE RENEGOTIATED. HE SAYS A JUST SOLUTION MUST BE FOUND, ESPECIALLY FOR SERBS IN SARAJEVO WHOSE SUBURBS WILL BE PUT UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL. THE BOSNIAN PEACE PLAN IS TO BE SIGNED ON DECEMBER 14TH. THE UNITED STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA HAVE SAID THE PACKAGE CANNOT BE RENEGOTIATED. GENERAL MLADIC'S COMMENTS PUT HIM AT ODDS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO INITIALLED THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND WITH THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED IT. THE GENERAL'S STATEMENTS MAY ALSO RAISE CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE SERB THREATS TO THE 60-THOUSAND NATO TROOPS WHO WILL HELP IMPLEMENT THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD. (SIGNED)

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02-Dec-95 2:32 PM EST (1932 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] CLINTON-SPAIN ARRIVAL (S-ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (MADRID)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON--ARRIVING IN MADRID FOR A EUROPEAN UNION MEETING--HAS THANKED SPAIN FOR ITS COOPERATION IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. THE 60,000-STRONG NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA WILL BE HIGH ON THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA HERE WHEN HE MEETS WITH SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ AND E-U OFFICIALS. THE PRESIDENT ARRIVED IN SPAIN FROM GERMANY, WHERE HE SPOKE TO U-S TROOPS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS THIS REPORT FROM MADRID.

TEXT: THIS E-U MEETING IS MORE THAN ROUTINE. THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE WILL COMMIT TO ACT TOGETHER TO FIGHT CRIME AND LIBERALIZE WORLD TRADE.

BUT BOSNIA IS THE COMPELLING ISSUE HERE. PRESIDENT CLINTON IS PREPARING TO ORDER WHAT IS CALLED AN ENABLING FORCE TO GO THERE. COMPOSED OF LOGISTICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS, IT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR THE LARGER U-S FORCE OF 20-THOUSAND-- TO BE CALLED TASK FORCE EAGLE.

LATER PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL ASK THE E-U COUNTRIES TO PAY ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF THE COST OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA.

IN A DINNER TOAST TO KING JUAN CARLOS, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE CONTINUING U-S PARTNERSHIP WITH SPAIN AS THEY SEEK A LASTING PEACE IN BOSNIA.

WE THANK YOU (KING CARLOS), AND WE THANK YOUR GOVERNMENT, MR. PRIME MINISTER (FELIPE GONZALEZ), FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN BOSNIA TO DATE AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH US AND OUR MANY ALLIES TO CONTINUE IN BOSNIA UNITL WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE PEACE AGREEMENT AND SECURED THE PEACE THERE.

PRESIDENT CLINTON RETURNS TO WASHINGTON LATE IN THE DAY (SUNDAY) AS HE WINDS UP HIS FIVE-DAY EUROPEAN TRIP. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/SKH
02-Dec-95 5:44 PM EST (2244 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] CLINTON-BOSNIA 2ND UPDATE (S & L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS TOLD U-S TROOPS GOING TO BOSNIA THAT WITHOUT THEIR SERVICE IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE, THE WAR WOULD RETURN AND ATROCITIES WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. SPEAKING TO SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE SMITH BARRACKS AT THE U-S ARMY BASE IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY, AND LATER TO LISTENERS OF HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS, THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINED WHY HE WANTS TO DEPLOY TWENTY THOUSAND AMERICANS AS PART OF THE SIXTY THOUSAND NATO FORCE. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA IS (WAS) THERE.

TEXT: WITH AN INITIAL LOGISTICAL FORCE POISED TO GO TO STAGING AREAS NEAR BOSNIA SOON, PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD THE TROOPS THE HUMAN STAKES ARE HIGH - - THAT WITHOUT THEM, PEACE WILL COLLAPSE AND ATROCITIES WILL BEGIN AGAIN.

WELL I WANTED TO COME HERE TO LOOK INTO THEIR FACES AND INTO THE FACES OF THEIR WIVES, THEIR HUSBANDS AND THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO A VERY NOBLE AND IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE WORLD.

REACTION AMONG SOLIDERS OF THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION WHO COULD GO TO BOSNIA WAS COURTEOUS BUT MIXED. SOME COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS DEPLOYMENT, SOME STILL RESENT THE PRESIDENT FOR AVOIDING MILITARY SERVICE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, BUT OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE SAID THEY ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOB.

I WENT TO KUWAIT. . . ALL OF THE SAME. . .IT'S JUST ANOTHER MISSION. I GET PAID TO DO IT, SO I'M GOING TO DO IT.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO MET HERE WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL AND NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER IN EUROPE GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN.

FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE SOLIDERS TO BE DEPLOYED IN "TASK FORCE EAGLE" BRAVED THE WET AND CHILLY TEMPERATURES TO LISTEN TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

THIS WAS THE REACTION OF ONE SOLIDER'S WIFE.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF HIM FOR GOING, BUT WE'LL MISS HIM. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER BABY ON THE WAY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE HARD. BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY, HE'S GOT TO GO AND DO HIS JOB.

BUT FOR HER PART, EIGHT YEAR OLD TONYA WAS NOT HAPPY HER FATHER WAS LEAVING AS THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS APPROACH.

WELL, I DON'T FEEL THAT GOOD, I DON'T LIKE IT. . .

SENIOR U-S MILITARY PLANNERS IN GERMANY SAY THE INITIAL WAVE OF U-S TROOPS INTO BOSNIA --AN ENABLING (ADVANCE) FORCE --WOULD CONSIST OF LOGISTICAL FORCES, NOT COMBAT FORCES. THEY ARE TO MOVE INTO TUZLA THROUGH HUNGARY. FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE ENTIRE U-S FORCE WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 60 DAYS.

THE TROOPS WOULD BE HEAVILY ARMED, AND WILL TAKE WITH THEM TANKS EQUIPPED WITH NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY. THE SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDERS BRIEFING REPORTERS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IN DETECTING ANY POSSIBLE ATTACK. THEY UNDERSCORED THE TROOPS HAVE TRAINED FOR DETECTING LAND MINES AND ARE PREPARED FOR WHAT ONE CALLED "RATHER VICIOUS WEATHER" IN BOSNIA.

BEFORE LEAVING THIS BASE FOR A EUROPEAN UNION MEETING IN MADRID, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD LUNCH WITH SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (SIGNED)

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02-Dec-95 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] CLINTON / GERMANY ARRIVAL (S ONLY) BY BORGIDA (BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS IN GERMANY TO MEET WITH U-S SOLDIERS PREPARING TO GO TO BOSNIA AS PART OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE. HE PLANS TO PERSONALLY EXPLAIN TO THE SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHY HE BELIEVES THE U-S ROLE IS SO IMPORTANT. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS FROM THE U-S ARMY BASE IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT IS SPEAKING WITH SOLDIERS IN "TASK FORCE EAGLE"-- WHICH WILL BE DEPLOYED IN BOSNIA. SINCE MANY LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES HERE AT THIS BASE IN SOUTHWESTERN GERMANY -- THERE IS GRUMBLING ABOUT THE DEPLOYMENT BEGINNING SO CLOSE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

AS REPORTERS ARRIVED, A YOUNG WOMAN HELD A SIGN DESCRIBING PRESIDENT CLINTON AS "THE PRESIDENT WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS." THERE REMAINS HOWEVER MORE DEEPLY-HELD FEELING AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT FOR AVODING THE MILITARY DRAFT AS A YOUNG MAN. ANOTHER WOMAN HELD A SIGN THAT READ "DRAFT DODGER GO HOME."

SOLDIERS OF THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION HERE HAVE BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BEFORE -- MOST RECENTLY DURING THE GULF WAR. THE DIVISION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL OF U-S COMBAT FORCES.

BEFORE LEAVING DUBLIN, IRELAND, FOR GERMANY, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE SAFETY OF THE SOLIDERS IS FOREMOST IN HIS MIND, AND HE SAID THEIR RESPONSE TO ANY PROVOCATION WOULD BE OVERWHELMING. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/TMS/GPT
02-Dec-95 6:41 AM EST (1141 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] REPUBLICANS-BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

INTRO: A LEADING REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD SUPPORT THE USE OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN A NATO PEACE FORCE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BUT THE BOSNIANS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WEEKLY RADIO SPEECH, SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN SAYS CONGRESS CAN NOT STOP THE DEPLOYMENT AND WOULD ONLY HURT THE NATION'S CREDIBILITY IF IT COULD. AT THE SAME TIME, HE ARGUES THE MISSION MUST BE LIMITED, WITH A CLEAR STRATEGY FOR GETTING OUT, AND NO CIVILIAN DUTIES LIKE RESETTLING REFUGEES.

ECHOING OTHER REPUBLICANS, THE SENATOR ALSO SAYS THE ALLIES MUST CREATE A STABLE MILITARY BALANCE AMONG BOSNIAN FACTIONS TO PREVENT NEW BLOODSHED WHEN NATO PEACEKEEPERS LEAVE.

WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE BOSNIANS RECEIVE THE ARMS AND TRAINING WE HAVE DENIED THEM FOR FOUR YEARS. IF WE DO NOT, WAR WILL SURELY RETURN TO BOSNIA AND WHATEVER SACRIFICES OUR SOLDIERS ENDURE FOR THE CAUSE OF PEACE IN BOSNIA WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN.

AN ADVANCE FORCE IS DUE IN BOSNIA SUNDAY OR MONDAY. THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO DEBATE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT THIS WEEK. ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT CAN SEND TROOPS ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BACKING FROM CONGRESS IS CONSIDERED POLITICALLY VITAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/GPT
02-Dec-95 11:01 AM EST (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America