Voice of America, 9 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA CONFERENCE (S-UPDATE) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA ( LONDON)

INTRO: THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IMPLEMENTING THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS HAS ENDED WITH PARTICIPANTS AGREEING ON WAYS TO BEGIN REBUILDING BOSNIA'S ECONOMY AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. WE HAVE MORE IN THIS REPORT FROM VOA CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA IN THE BRITISH CAPITAL.

TEXT: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND SAID BOSNIA NEEDS PEACE -- BUT ALSO ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOUND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, MR. RIFKIND SAID PARTICIPANTS AGREED TO SET UP A PEACE IMPLEMENTATION COUNCIL WHICH WILL HELP GUIDE BOSNIA'S RECONSTRUCTION -- BOTH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC. THE COUNCIL WILL BE HEADED BY CARL BILDT, THE CURRENT EUROPEAN NEGOTIATOR FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

MR. RIFKIND SAID CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO CONTRIBUTE IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY TO BOSNIA'S ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AND AGREED TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NEW BOSNIA.

OUR MEETING HAS ENSURED THAT SOME OF THE CLOUDS SURROUNDING IMPLEMENTATION HAVE PARTED. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOW CLEARER ABOUT THE CHALLENGE IT FACES AND THE WAY IN WHICH THAT CHALLENGE WILL BE MET. AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT BASIS ON WHICH TO MOVE TO SIGNATURE OF THE DAYTON ACCORD IN PARIS NEXT WEEK.

MR. RIFKIND ALSO SAID THE CONFERENCE EXPRESSED ITS FULL SOLIDARITY WITH THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH PILOTS SHOT DOWN IN LATE AUGUST DURING NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/DW/GPT
09-Dec-95 2:29 PM EST (1929 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] HOLBROOKE/CROATIA (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL PROPOSE THAT A RETIRED AMERICAN GENERAL OVERSEE THE RETURN OF THE LAST SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN CROATIA TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL. EARLIER, IN SARAJEVO, MR. HOLBROOKE WELCOMED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES THAT FOREIGN MUSLIM FIGHTERS WOULD NOT THREATEN AMERICAN-LED NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: AFTER TALKS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN IN ZAGREB, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THE NAME OF THE RETIRED AMERICAN GENERAL TO HEAD A TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY IN EASTERN SLAVONIA WILL BE PROPOSED NEXT WEEK.

UNDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL SERBS, THE SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION WILL BE RESTORED TO GOVERNMENT RULE WITHIN TWO YEARS.

AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE WILL REMAIN IN THE REGION DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD. MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THAT FORCE WILL NOT INCLUDE AMERICAN TROOPS.

BEFORE VISITING ZAGREB, THE U-S PEACE ENVOY RECEIVED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES IN SARAJEVO THAT FOREIGN MUSLIM FIGHTERS IN BOSNIA WILL NOT THREATEN AMERICAN FORCES THERE.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO SAID IT WOULD REASSURE SERBS IN SARAJEVO THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR WHEN THEIR AREAS COME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION.

ON SATURDAY, MR. HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS ELEMENTS OF THE NEW BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/LWM
08-Dec-95 7:12 PM EST (0012 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS STAY IN RWANDA -- FOR ONLY A FEW MORE DAYS; THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER THE BURNING OF SERB PROPERTY BY BOSNIAN CROAT FORCES BUT STOPS SHORT OF PROPOSING ACTION; AND THE U-N PROMOTES DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: AFTER ONE WEEK OF INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS, RWANDA AND THE SECURITY COUNCIL FAILED TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF A U-N MISSION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN NATION. WITH THE PEACEKEEPING MANDATE DUE TO EXPIRE MIDNIGHT FRIDAY, THE COUNCIL RENEWED THE FORCE ONLY UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY, WHILE DISCUSSIONS WITH KIGALI CONTINUE.

RWANDA WANTED THE FORCE OF OVER TWO-THOUSAND U-N SOLDIERS AND MILITARY OBSERVERS CUT TO 800. IT FINALY AGREED TO 12-HUNDRED. BUT U-N OFFICIALS INSISTED THEY NEED A MINIMUM OF 14-HUNDRED MEN. RWANDA ALSO WANTS THE FORCE TO CONSIST OF NON-MILITARY PERSONNEL.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HOPES A U-N FORCE CAN ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OVER A MILLION RETURNING REFUGEES.

THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT REMAINS BITTER -- AND DIVIDED -- OVER THE U-N'S ROLE IN THE COUNTRY. A U-N FORCE FAILED TO STOP LAST YEAR'S GENOCIDE OF MOSTLY THE TUTSI MINORITY BY THE ARMY OF THE FORMER HUTU GOVERNMENT.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WAS HORRIFIED BY THE MASSACRES AND PRESSURE IS ON TO HELP PUT RWANDA ON A PEACEFUL, STABLE COURSE.

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THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSED CONCERN THIS PAST WEEK ABOUT THE WIDESPREAD BURNING AND LOOTING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY THE CROATS OF BOSNIA. VILLAGES AND HOMES WERE RAZED ON TERRITORY THE CROATS ARE OBLIGED TO RETURN UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECENT BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD.

BUT THE SECURITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDED NO ACTION ON THE SO-CALLED SCORCHED EARTH POLICY. THE BOSNIAN SITUATION IS ALMOST OUT OF U-N HANDS AS A NATO-LED FORCE MOVES IN. THE PEACE ACCORD WILL BE SIGNED IN PARIS DECEMBER 14TH -- FORMALLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR A NEW OPERATION. MEANWHILE, SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI -- PRESENTLY IN EUROPE -- EXPRESSED RELIEF AT THE HAND-OVER. HE SAID THE U-N WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE, BUT HE IS ONLY TOO HAPPY TO GIVE THE LEAD TO A NEW MULTI-NATIONAL COALITION. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID THE U-N DOES NOT PRETEND TO HAVE ALL THE SOLUTIONS AND WELCOMES ANY GROUP OF COUNTRIES THAT CAN BRING PEACE TO A SITUATION.

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WITH MUCH OF AFRICA STILL IN THE DOLDRUMS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH -- THE UNITED NATIONS PLANS TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM IN JANUARY TO HELP GOVERNMENTS RUN THEIR COUNTRIES DEMOCRATICALLY. NORWAY THIS PAST WEEK MADE THE FIRST CONTRIBUTION OF 10-MILLION DOLLARS TO A SPECIAL FUND.

MORE THAN 30 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE HELD NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE AIM OF THE NEWLY-CREATED TRUST FUND FOR AFRICA IS TO ASSIST THE REGION IN ACQUIRING THE CAPACITY FOR DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE.

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THE U-N IS ALSO PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR HUMAN LIBERTY. IN A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DAY DECEMBER 10TH, SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI SAID ONLY DEMOCRACY CAN GUARANTEE INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS COLLECTIVE RIGHTS.

MR. BOUTROS-GHALI ALSO URGED A GREATER COMMITMENT TO PURSUING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA. HE SAID THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN BOTH AREAS INDICATE THAT THE IMPULSE FOR GENOCIDE IS STILL STRONG.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS SET UP TRIBUNALS FOR THE BALKANS AND RWANDA. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSING PROPOSALS FOR CREATING A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL COURT TO TRY INDIVIDUALS EVERYWHERE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH HUMANITARIAN CRIMES. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 08-Dec-95 7:37 PM EST (0037 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] U-S/YUGO (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS URGED THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO HELP FREE TWO FRENCH PILOTS CAPTURED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS LAST AUGUST. FRANCE HAS WARNED OF WIDE-RANGING CONSEQUENCES AGAINST THE SERBS IF THE PILOTS ARE NOT RELEASED BY ITS SUNDAY DEADLINE. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: AFTER TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE, MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS HE STRESSED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE ATTACH THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE TO THE PILOTS' RELEASE. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS TOLD FRANCE BEFORE THAT HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING HE COULD TO OBTAIN THE PILOTS' FREEDOM. BUT, HE HAS BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HONOR THAT PLEDGE. THE TWO FRENCH PILOTS ARE BELIEVED STILL HELD BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES, LOYAL TO THEIR COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT BELGRADE NEWSPAPER (NASA BORBA), GENERAL MLADIC SAYS HE WILL ONLY FREE THE PILOTS IF INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST HIM ARE DROPPED. THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY, TANJUG, SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND MR. HOLBROOKE HAD CORDIAL AND FRANK TALKS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE NEW PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY EARLIER DISCUSSED PREPARATIONS FOR THE PEACE AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED NEXT THURSDAY WITH THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT (ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC) IN SARAJEVO AND WITH THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT (FRANJO TUDJMAN) IN ZAGREB. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/DW/GPT
09-Dec-95 9:22 AM EST (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S TROOPS / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN )

INTRO: U-S TROOPS ARE STEPPING UP THEIR PREPARATIONS FOR THE BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION THAT WILL BEGIN IN EARNEST LATER THIS MONTH. AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE MISSION IS NOW BEING SHIPPED BY AIR AND RAIL.

TEXT: THE FIRST U-S TROOPS FROM AN ADVANCE TEAM OF LOGISTICS EXPERTS IS NOW IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY AFTER FLYING IN ON BOARD C-130 CARGO PLANE FROM RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY.

U-S ARMY MAJOR LEONARD SHEARER SAYS THE TEAM WILL BE SETTING UP A STAGING AREA, WHERE TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT CAN BE PREPARED FOR DEPLOYMENT INTO BOSNIA.

A PLACE TO FEED AND HOUSE THE SOLDIERS AS THEY COME INTO HUNGARY, MATCH THEM BACK UP WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT, ALLOW THE UNITS TO GET PUT BACK TOGETHER IN LIKE BATTLE PACKAGES, SO THEY CAN DEPLOY ON DOWN TO BOSNIA AND THEY DON'T GO IN PIECEMEAL.

AS LOGISTICS EXPERTS WERE PREPARING THE STAGING BASE IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY THE FIRST TRAIN CARRYING EQUIPMENT AND A SMALL NUMBER OF U-S TROOPS WAS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

THE CZECH GOVERNMENT GAVE ITS PERMISSION FOR THE RAIL SHIPMENTS FROM GERMANY TO BOSNIA EARLIER THIS WEEK. (SIGNED)

NEB/KK/DW/GPT
09-Dec-95 8:42 AM EST (1342 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
Yanni Boston, MA