Voice of America, 28 December 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS (CORRECTED VERSION) BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S DAILY NEWSPAPERS TODAY (THURSDAY) ARE FOCUSING ON SEVERAL TOPICS THAT HAVE ATTRACTED WIDE ATTENTION IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK. THEY INCLUDE ISRAELI-SYRIAN NEGOTIATIONS, DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONDURAS. NOW, HERE IS ____________ WITH DETAILS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: DIPLOMATS FROM ISRAEL AND SYRIA ARE NOW MEETING IN MARYLAND. THE WASHINGTON TIMES NOTES THAT ISRAEL "HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED NOT ONLY THAT IT INTENDS TO RELINQUISH THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS BUT RECOGNIZES SYRIA'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TERRITORY IN QUESTION." THEN, THE NEWSPAPER WONDERS WHAT SYRIA'S PRESIDENT, HAFEZ ASSAD PLANS TO OFFER IN RETURN.

VOICE: "THE CLOSEST THING MR. ASSAD HAS COME TO SPELLING OUT WHAT HE INTENDS TO GIVE TO THE ISRAELIS IS LESS THAN ONE WOULD HAVE HOPED. BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE FROM THE BEGINNING. 'THERE ARE SOME GENERAL IDEAS AND GENERAL CONCEPTS, THE AIM OF WHICH IS TO ACCELERATE THE PEACE PROCESS, AND SYRIA SUPPORTS THIS'. SO SAID MR. ASSAD IN CAIRO (EGYPT) THIS PAST WEEK. NOW ISN'T THAT JUST THE MOST RINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR A FULL AND COMPREHENSIVE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE EVER HEARD?"

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY SAYS THAT "THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED FOR SYRIA."

VOICE: AS ISRAELI AND SYRIAN OFFICIALS BEGAN A NEW ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS YESTERDAY...THERE COULD BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS EFFORT WOULD REPRESENT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY EVER FOR SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD TO FINALLY AND IRREVOCABLY COMMIT HIMSELF TO PEACE WITH ISRAEL. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IF ASSAD DOES NOT COME AROUND NOW, HE NEVER WILL....THE NEXT STEP IS FOR ASSAD TO SAY THAT HE IS WILLING TO MAKE PEACE. ISRAEL HAS, IN ESSENCE, CALLED ASSAD'S BLUFF. IT'S HIS MOVE NOW."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, AGREES THAT "ISRAEL AND SYRIA CAN SETTLE IF SYRIA IS WILLING."

VOICE: "IF ISRAEL CAN COMPLETE THE CIRCLE OF PEACE -- WHICH NOW INCLUDES EGYPT, PALESTINE AND JORDAN -- IT WILL BE MORE SECURE THAN AT ANY TIME IN ITS HISTORY. THAT IS A PRIZE WORTH TWO THREE-DAY NEGOTIATING SESSIONS ON THE BANKS OF THE WYE RIVER, OR AS MANY MORE AS IT TAKES."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOTH DISCUSS PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE IN TERRITORY ONCE OCCUPIED BY ISRAELI TROOPS. THE GLOBE SAYS THAT "PROUDLY, JUSTLY, PALESTINIANS HAVE LONG INSISTED THAT ONCE THEY WERE FREE OF ISRAELI OCCUPATION THEY INTENDED TO CONSTRUCT" A POLICY DIFFERENT FROM "THE POLICE STATES SURROUNDING THEM IN THE ARAB WORLD."

VOICE: "YASSER ARAFAT HIMSELF COMMONLY BOASTED THAT HIS PEOPLE WERE BEING PREPARED FOR LIFE IN A PLURALIST SOCIETY BY WHAT HE CALLED THE DEMOCRACY OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION. SOME PALESTINIAN INTELLECTUALS EVEN EXPLAINED, WITH RELISH FOR THE IMPLIED PARADOX, THAT OPPRESSION AT THE HANDS OF ISRAELI DEMOCRACY HAD INSTILLED IN THEIR COMMUNITY THE HUNGER FOR A SIMILARLY OPEN SOCIETY. SO THERE IS SOMETHING DESOLATING ABOUT THE ARREST OF A PALESTINIAN NEWSPAPER EDITOR FOR NOT PLACING A FLATTERING ARTICLE ABOUT ARAFAT ON PAGE 1. MAHER AL-ALAMI, EDITOR OF THE MOST-READ PALESTINIAN PAPER, AL-QUDS, WAS SUMMONED TO ARAFAT'S SECURITY SERVICE, JIBRIL RAJOUB, BECAUSE A STORY ABOUT ARAFAT'S AUDIENCE WITH THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH HAD APPEARED ON AN INSIDE PAGE....THE PETTINESS OF THIS ATTEMPT TO BULLY THE PALESTINIAN PRESS INTO THE SUBSERVIENT POSTURE OF A PROPAGANDA ORGAN FOR ARAFAT'S CULT OF PERSONALITY BELIES EARLIER HOPES AND PROMISES. SADLY, IT HAS BECOME PART OF A PATTERN OF AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT. BUT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT POLITICAL TYRANNY TO BECOME THE PRICE FOR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE."

TEXT: AND, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITORIALIZES THAT "TO SOME, ARAFAT'S PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY LOOKS SHAKY."

VOICE: "IN RAMALLAH WEDNESDAY, AS ISRAELI TROOPS LEFT, A CELEBRATING PALESTINIAN WOMEN'S ACTIVIST SAID SHE EXPECTED SOON TO BE BACK ON THE STREETS 'TO STRUGGLE FOR MY RIGHTS'. HER FEAR IS THAT PALESTINIAN RULE COULD BRING SIMPLY 'A STATE THAT RESEMBLES ALL THE OTHER ARAB STATES', MEANING STRONGMAN RULE AND TOO LITTLE RESPECT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS....THIS IS NOT THE ROAD THAT WILL TAKE PALESTINIANS TO THEIR LONG-PROMISED DEMOCRATIC STATE."

TEXT: THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA IS THE SUBJECT OF AN EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S EDITION OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT "THE REUNIFICATION OF SARAJEVO UNDER THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT -- WHICH SERB NEGOTIATORS AGREED TO AT PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON (OHIO) -- WILL TEST WHETHER DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS CAN STILL LIVE TOGETHER IN BOSNIA."

VOICE: "BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS ARE ALREADY TRYING TO DELAY THAT STEP BY MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, HINTING THAT OTHERWISE THEIR INITIAL COOPERATION WITH NATO FORCES COULD SOUR. (///OPT///) U.S. NAVY ADM. LEIGHTON W. SMITH, WHO COMMANDS THE NATO PEACE FORCE, HAS THE POWER TO MODIFY TREATY DEADLINES, BUT ANY LONG DELAYS IN THE SARAJEVO CHANGEOVER WOULD BE A MISTAKE. (///END OPT///) IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT MUSLIM CONTROL OF SEVERAL SARAJEVO SUBURBS POPULATED WITH ABOUT 70,000 SERBS. IT WAS FROM THESE SUBURBS THAT BOSNIAN SERB FORCES POUNDED DEFENSELESS CIVILIANS IN MUCH OF THE CITY PROPER FOR THREE YEARS, KILLING ABOUT 10,000. IT WAS FROM HIGH-RISES IN THESE SUBURBS THAT SERB SNIPERS PICKED OFF SARAJEVANS AS THEY WALKED THE STREETS BELOW. THAT'S HARD TO FORGET OR FORGIVE, BUT IT'S IN NO ONE'S INTEREST FOR VENGEANCE TO RULE SARAJEVO, FORCING BOSNIAN SERBS TO FLEE THE CITY IN FEAR."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES OFFERS THE VIEW THAT "THE PROSPECTS FOR TURNING THE DAYTON AGREEMENT INTO A REAL PEACE DEPEND AT LEAST AS MUCH ON THE BEHAVIOR OF BOSNIAN CROATS AND CROATIA."

VOICE: "THIS CROATIAN CONNECTION IMPOSES A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE UNITED STATES. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BUILT UP CROATIAN MILITARY POWER TO ROLL BACK THE SERBS, WITHOUT COMPLAINING TOO LOUDLY ABOUT CROATIAN MISTREATMENT OF SERBIAN AND MUSLIM CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN THE CROATIAN ADVANCE. NOW WASHINGTON MUST SPEAK UP CLEARLY SO THAT CROATIA'S PRESIDENT, FRANJO TUDJMAN, UNDERSTANDS THAT HIS GOAL OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ALLIANCE WITH THE WEST DEPENDS ON CROATIAN COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS REQUIREMENTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. (///OPT///) .... SEEING THAT CROATIA AND THE BOSNIAN CROATS COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERATION AND HONOR THEIR COMMITMENTS ON FREE MOVEMENT, REFUGEES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROSECUTION OF WAR CRIMINALS IS NOT A MILITARY TASK. IT IS A POLITICAL ONE, REQUIRING A FIRM AND CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES THAT CROATIA'S STANDING WITH THE WEST TOMORROW LARGELY DEPENDS ON ITS CONDUCT IN BOSNIA TODAY." (///END OPT///)

TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN THE MIAMI HERALD NOTES THAT HONDURAS IS PROBING TIES BETWEEN SOME OF ITS ARMY OFFICERS AND THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

VOICE: "THE HONDURANS RECEIVED VARIOUS FORMS OF AMERICAN SUPPORT IN EXCHANGE FOR COOPERATING IN WASHINGTON'S BATTLES DURING THE 1980S AGAINST COMMUNIST SALVADORAN GUERRILLAS AND NICARAGUA'S SANDINISTA REGIME. THE HONDURAN PEOPLE ARE NOW BEING MADE PRIVY TO THE DETAILS OF ACTS OF TORTURE, KILLINGS, AND KIDNAPPINGS THAT THE HONDURAN MILITARY CARRIED OUT; SOME OF THE OFFICERS GIVING THE ORDERS WERE PAID CIA AGENTS. THIS ONCE ALL-POWERFUL CENTRAL AMERICAN ARMY NEVER IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD SOMEDAY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS CRIMES. BUT HONDURAS IS NOW A FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY, AND TRUE DEMOCRACIES HAVE A WAY OF BRINGING THE RULE OF LAW TO BEAR ON THE ACTS OF BOTH THE WEAK AND THE POWERFUL. SO IT IS THAT HONDURAS'S POWERFUL ARMED FORCES ARE BEING FORCED TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RECENT PAST....WASHINGTON MUST BACK THE HONDURAN PEOPLE'S QUEST FOR JUSTICE." TEXT; AND WITH THAT EDITORIAL OPINION FROM THE MIAMI HERALD WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE TOPICS BEING ANALYZED TODAY BY THE DAILY PRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

NEB/DN/NES
28-Dec-95 10:30 AM EST (1530 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA (S-O'NITER) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE FIRST KEY DEADLINE IN NATO'S BOSNIAN PEACE KEEPING MISSION PASSED WITH BAD WEATHER POSING MORE OF A THREAT THAN THE RIVAL ARMIES OF THE NEARLY FOUR YEAR OLD WAR. SARAJEVO V-O-A 'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE FOR RIVAL SERB AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES TO PULL BACK FROM KEY POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO HAS PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENT. NATO OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE WITHDRAWAL HAVE BEEN MET. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, THE RIVAL FACTIONS HAD TO PULL BACK FROM ALL FRONT LINE POSITIONS DESIGNATED BY THE FRENCH TROOPS WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE AREA.

THINGS WERE NOT GOING AS SMOOTHLY FOR FRENCH FORCES IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF MOSTAR, WHERE FLASH FLOODS THREATENED TO SWEEP AWAY A GROUP OF THE RENOWNED FOREIGN LEGION. HELICOPTERS HAD TO BE USED TO PLUCK ABOUT SIXTY OF THE TROOPS TO SAFETY.

MEANWHILE IN NORTHERN BOSNIA HIGH WATERS THREATENED TO SET BACK PLANS TO COMPLETE WORK ON A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SAVA RIVER. U-S MILITARY ENGINEERS HAD HOPE TO COMPLETE WORK ON THE BRIDGE THIS WEEKEND SO THE BULK OF THE U-S CONTINGENT TO THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE CAN ENTER BOSNIA FROM AN INTERMEDIATE STAGING BASE IN HUNGARY. (SIGNED)

NEB/KK/GT/LWM
27-Dec-95 7:33 PM EST (0033 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / NATO (S) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST PHASE OF THEIR BOSNIAN PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, THE NATO FORCES ARE CAUTIOUSLY EXPANDING THEIR EFFORTS TO SEPARATE THE WARRING FACTIONS.

TEXT: FRENCH TROOPS WERE PROUDLY SHOWING OFF THE NEWLY OPENED VERBANJA BRIDGE IN SARAJEVO, AFTER SERB AND MUSLIM FORCES COMPLETED THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM A SERIES OF SNIPER POSITIONS AND STRATEGIC ZONES ALONG THE CITY'S ONCE BLOODY FRONT LINE.

OFFICIALS CALL THE WITHDRAWAL BY THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE AN IMPORTANT BOOST FOR THE WEEK-OLD NATO OPERATION.

BRITISH GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER, THE COMMANDER OF NATO GROUND TROOPS IN BOSNIA, SAYS THERE HAS BEEN COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ACCORD, DESPITE SOME MINOR INCIDENTS.

BUT THESE HAVE ARISEN FROM IGNORANCE AND MISUNDERSTANDING, RATHER THAN DELIBERATE AND CONCERTED ACTS.

U-S TROOPS IN CROATIA EXPERIENCED ONE SUCH INCIDENT WEDNESDAY, WHEN AN UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN SPRAYED AUTOMATIC RIFLE FIRE INTO AN AREA WHERE THEY WERE BASED NORTH OF THE SAVA RIVER.

OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO GUNFIRE WAS RETURNED. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
28-Dec-95 8:46 AM EST (1346 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA PRESIDENT (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE BELIEVES THE WAR IN HIS COUNTRY IS NOW OVER. BUT, HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE GENERATIONS TO FORGET THE SUFFERING IT CAUSED. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN SARAJEVO, MR. IZETBEGOVIC SAID THE SERBS LOST THEIR BEST CHANCE TO DEFEAT HIS GOVERNMENT WHEN THE WAR BEGAN NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO. HAVING SURVIVED THAT BATTLE AND DEVELOPED AN ARMY OF ITS OWN, HE DOES NOT BELIEVE HIS COUNTRY WILL BE ATTACKED AGAIN. MR. IZETBEGOVIC RENEWED HIS CALL FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SERB CONTROLLED SECTIONS OF THE CITY TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME. BUT, HE SAYS, REFUGEES EXPELLED IN THOSE AREAS MUST BE ALLOWED TO RETURN.

IT IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT CAN BE USED IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF SARAJEVO.

SERB LEADERS HAVE BEEN FURIOUSLY TRYING TO REVERSE THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT AND PREVENT THE SERB CONTROLLED AREAS FROM EVER COMING UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. THEY HAVE ALREADY ASKED THE COMMANDER OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO DELAY THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY. SOME EXPERTS SAY THEY MAY TRY TO FORCE A MASS EXODUS FROM THE CITY IF THEY FAIL. (SIGNED)

NEB/KK/CB-T/PT 28-Dec-95 3:26 PM EST (2026 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ELECTIONS IN TURKEY RAISE CONCERNS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TURKISH POLITICS WAS SHAKEN THIS PAST SUNDAY WHEN THE FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY (RP) FINISHED FIRST IN THAT COUNTRY'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS WITH 21 PERCENT OF THE VOTES. THE NATION'S TWO LARGEST SECULAR POLITICAL PARTIES, WHICH FINISHED SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY, HAVE NOW BEGUN THE PROCESS OF FORMING A COALITION GOVERNMENT TO MINIMIZE THE POWER OF THE FUNDAMENTALISTS.

MANY NATIONS CONSIDER TURKEY A LINCHPIN [KEY NATION] OF DEMOCRACY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD.

TURKEY'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER, AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO FILL THAT POSITION, TANSU CILLER, WAS FORCED TO CALL EARLY ELECTIONS AFTER HER COALITION GOVERNMENT CRUMBLED. A MINORITY GOVERNMENT SHE FORMED FAILED TO WITHSTAND A PARLIAMENTARY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

THE LEADER OF THE MOTHERLAND PARTY, MESUT YELMAZ, WARNED IN A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW THAT HE AND MRS. CILLER MAY HAVE TO SELECT A THIRD CANDIDATE AS PRIME MINISTER IF THEY CANNOT AGREE WHICH OF THEM SHOULD HAVE THE POST.

THE WORLD'S PRESS HAS PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE TURKISH ELECTION AND WE HAVE A SAMPLING, BEGINNING WITH THE DOMESTIC NEWSPAPER "ZAMAN", WHICH CHALLENGED THE POLITICAL TREATMENT RECEIVED BY THE WELFARE PARTY.

VOICE: "IF THE CHANCE TO ESTABLISH THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GIVEN TO RP, WHICH EMERGED AS THE FIRST PARTY IN THE ELECTIONS, IT MEANS THAT TOMORROW, IF RP RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES (IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS), IT WILL NOT BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A GOVERNMENT THEN, EITHER. CAN SUCH A SYSTEM BE CALLED DEMOCRACY?"

TEXT: MEANWHILE, IN EUROPE, THE GERMAN "SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG" OF MUNICH, WAS CLEARLY WORRIED AS IT WROTE:

VOICE: "IT IS .... TIME TO THINK THE UNTHINKABLE: TO INCLUDE THE WELFARE PARTY IN THE GOVERNMENT - - IF ONLY AS A JUNIOR PARTNER. A COALITION WITH THE FUNDAMENTALISTS WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE RISKY. THE WELFARE PARTY ADVOCATES TURKEY LEAVING NATO AND OTHER WESTERN ORGANIZATIONS AND IS GENERALLY OPPOSED TO THE 'SLAVISH IMITATION OF THE WEST.' ... LET US HOPE ...THIS IS MORE ELECTION CAMPAIGN RHETORIC THAN DEEP CONVICTION..."

TEXT: NEARBY, IN FRANCE, "LE MONDE" REMARKED UNDER AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE TRANSLATED AS "LET'S REMAIN CALM, THOUGH VIGILANT":

VOICE: "NO WONDER THAT THE TEMPTATION OF A CONQUERING ISLAM SURFACES IN TURKEY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT EUROPE IS CONTINUOUSLY RELUCTANT (TO COME CLOSER TO TURKEY) AND THAT KEMALIST INSTITUTIONS ARE OBSOLETE. NEVERTHELESS, ONE SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT."

TEXT: IN ROME, ITALY'S MAJOR DAILY "LA REPUBBLICA" SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "THE MORE THE POLITICAL FORCE OF THE ISLAMIC PARTY GROWS, THE STRONGER ARE THE CHANCES OF A RETURN OF THE MILITARY TO POWER: THAT IS THE EQUATION WHICH PREVAILS IN THE FRAIL TURKISH DEMOCRACY ... WITH THE VICTORY OF THE REFAH (WELFARE) PARTY ... TURKEY IS AGAIN FACED WITH THE BASIC DILEMMA OF THE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN POLITICAL ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: AND IN BELGIUM, THE VOTE WAS ALSO VIEWED WITH ALARM AT "DE STANDAARD", WHICH SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "..... IN THE COMING YEARS THE ISLAMIST ADVANCE WITHIN A NATO MEMBER STATE WILL INFLUENCE THE WESTERN LEADERS AGAINST TURKEY. MORE SO BECAUSE THAT ADVANCE HAS ALSO BEEN NOTICED AMONG THE MILLIONS OF TURKISH CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN WESTERN EUROPE.... THE OUTSIDE WORLD CAN BEST SUPPORT TURKEY'S IMPORTANT SECULAR MODEL BY NOT ENFORCING ANY POLICY WHICH MIGHT UNDERMINE THE SOCIAL SITUATION. AND ADVANCE IS NOT YET A VICTORY, BUT IF THE SITUATION DETERIORATES, THERE REMAINS (THE POSSIBILITY OF) A DISASTROUS CHOICE BETWEEN AN ISLAMIST REGIME OR A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP....."

TEXT: TURNING TO SPAIN, THERE WAS THIS COMMENT IN ONE OF THAT NATION'S LEADING DAILIES, "EL PAIS", FROM MADRID.

VOICE: "DESPITE THE FAVORABLE VOTE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR CUSTOMS UNITY WITH THE EU (EUROPEAN UNION) THE ISLAMIST ADVANCE APPEARS TODAY, IF NOT UNSTOPPABLE, AT LEAST WORRISOME. ..... HOWEVER, THE FUTURE OF THE GREAT EURASIAN COUNTRY WILL DEPEND TO A GREAT EXTENT ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS, HOW THE AGREEMENT WITH THE EU WILL DEVELOP....."

TEXT: WHILE IN BARCELONA, "LA VANGUARDIA" SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "THE ADVANCE OF THE ANTI-WESTERN FORCES IS A WARNING BUT WE MUST NOT MAGNIFY IT. THE ORIENTATION OF THE TURKISH STATE, PRO-WESTERN AND NON-RELIGIOUS, HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATE, AND CONTINUITY IS GUARANTEED WHOEVER BECOMES THE NEW PRIME MINISTER."

TEXT: TURNING TO SCANDINAVIA, SWEDEN'S "SVENSKA DAGBLADET" IN STOCKHOLM, CONCLUDED AN EDITORIAL THIS WAY:

VOICE: "A COALITION OF THREE SECULARIZED PARTIES WOULD STOP THE ISLAMISTS FROM ASSUMING POWER WITHOUT THREATENING THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE LEADERS OF THE SECULARIZED PARTIES MANAGE TO LOOK BEYOND THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND FOCUS ON THE INTERESTS OF TURKEY."

TEXT: HOWEVER, IN IRAN, THE VICTORY WAS GREETED WITH PLEASURE BY THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE "KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL" WHICH NOTED:

VOICE: "THE VOTE FOR REFAH (THE WELFARE PARTY) ... ESTABLISHED THAT DESPITE OVERT ENEMY PROPAGANDA AND NON-STOP CONSPIRACIES TO ERADICATE TURKEY'S ISLAMIC THOUGHT AND CULTURE, AND THE REALITY THAT THE COUNTRY'S SECULARIST FORCES LITERALLY SPARED NO EFFORT TO FORGE DEEPER INTERACTION BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE WEST, THE PEOPLE'S RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND DIRECTION ... REMAINED INTACT."

TEXT: IN ASIA, ONE OF JAPAN'S LARGEST DAILIES, "YOMIURI SHIMBUN", ADDED:

VOICE: "WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY NOW IS TO ESTABLISH A DEMOCRATIC AND STABLE COALITION GOVERNMENT WHICH CAN SEPARATE RELIGION FROM POLITICS."

TEXT: WHILE TOKYO'S "ASAHI SHIMBUN" NOTED:

VOICE: "VOTERS SUPPORTED THE WELFARE PARTY NOT BECAUSE OF ITS RADICAL POLICY BUT BECAUSE OF ITS GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES. IT IS ONLY NATURAL THAT A DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED PARTY PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT, EVEN IF WESTERN NATIONS DO NOT SUPPORT IT. WE SHOULD LEARN LESSONS FROM RELIGION-RELATED POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN ALGERIA AND EGYPT."

TEXT: AND LASTLY IN LATIN AMERICA, COLUMNIST WALTER GOOBAR IN THE BUENOS AIRES DAILY "PAGINA 12", SUGGESTED:

VOICE: "THE RESULT OF THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS ENTAILS THE BEGINNING OF A STAGE OF GREAT POLITICAL INSTABILITY."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF WORLD PRESS OPINION REGARDING SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN TURKEY.

NEB/ANG/NL 28-Dec-95 4:16 PM EST (2116 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO / BOSNIA (L) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-S TROOPS SLATED TO TAKE PART IN THE BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION HAVE LANDED IN BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA, OPENING WHAT AMOUNTS TO A NEW TRANSPORTATION ROUTE. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS THE TROOPS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY U-S GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN, THE COMMANDER OF ALL NATO FORCES IN EUROPE.

TEXT: GENERAL JOULWAN FLEW INTO BELGRADE ON ONE OF FOUR GIANT C-17 MILITARY TRANSPORTS THAT BROUGHT MEN AND EQUIPMENT FOR NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE TROOPS WILL DRIVE OVERLAND TO TUZLA, THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE U-S CONTINGENT.

THE FLIGHT TO BELGRADE WAS A FIRST FOR NATO, WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN AT ODDS WITH THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORTING SERBS FIGHTING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

GENERAL JOULWAN SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE NATO PEACE MISSION IN BOSNIA, WHICH IS NOW BEING HAMPERED BY FLOODING AND BAD WEATHER.

DESPITE THE DELAYS IN THE ARRIVAL OF SOME TROOPS, THE COMMANDER OF NATO GROUND TROOPS IN BOSNIA, GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER, SAYS THE OPERATION IS LARGELY ON SCHEDULE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY MINOR PROBLEMS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TREATY.

BUT THESE HAVE ARISEN FROM IGNORANCE AND MISUNDERSTANDING RATHER THAN DELIBERATE CONCERTED ACTS.

GENERAL WALKER SAYS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS NATO TROOPS NOW FACE IS A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PEACE TREATY HIS TROOPS ARE TRYING TO ENFORCE.

INDEED THERE IS EVIDENCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT THE TERMS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ARE NOT WIDELY KNOWN AMONG THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE.

TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM, NATO IS PRINTING TRANSLATIONS AND COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

IN SARAJEVO, WHERE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE BETTER KNOWN, NATO TROOPS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING SERB AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS TO PULL BACK FROM KEY POSITIONS ALONG THE FRONT LINES.

WITH THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION ENTERING ITS SECOND WEEK, GENERAL WALKER SAYS THERE IS EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL SERB COMPLIANCE.

THERE IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT SERBIAN FORCES ARE WITHDRAWING FROM OTHER LOCATIONS ALONG THE PROBABLE ZONE OF SEPARATION, AND WE ARE AWARE THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE ANXIETIES AMONGST THE SERB POPULATION OF SARAJEVO AS TO THEIR FUTURE UNDER THE FEDERATION ADMINISTRATION.

DESPITE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS RESIDENTS OF THE SERB-HELD DISTRICTS OF THE CITY ARE WELCOME TO STAY, MANY ARE PACKING UP TO LEAVE BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY.

WITH THAT NEW DEADLINE APPROACHING, NATO TROOPS HAVE THE TASK OF TRYING TO REASSURE PEOPLE IN THE SERB-HELD DISTRICTS, AND TO PREVENT THE POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION OF KEY PUBLIC WORKS BY SERB FORCES WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW IN THE COMING WEEKS. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
28-Dec-95 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] TURKISH ELECTIONS

VOICE:

VOTERS IN TURKEY WENT TO THE POLLS RECENTLY TO ELECT MEMBERS TO A NEWLY-EXPANDED PARLIAMENT. THE ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY FINISHED FIRST IN THE BALLOTING WITH ABOUT TWENTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE VOTE. TWO CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES, MOTHERLAND AND TRUE PATH, FOLLOWED WITH MORE THAN NINETEEN PERCENT EACH. THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY WAS FOURTH WITH ABOUT FOURTEEN PERCENT, AND THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY WAS FIFTH WITH TEN PERCENT. BECAUSE NO SINGLE PARTY GOT ENOUGH VOTES TO GAIN A MAJORITY IN THE FIVE-HUNDRED-FIFTY-SEAT PARLIAMENT, IT IS EXPECTED THAT TURKEY WILL BE RULED BY A COALITION GOVERNMENT.

THE UNITED STATES CONGRATULATES THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY ON A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION IN A REGION WHERE PEACEFUL AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE UNFORTUNATELY RARE. IN TERMS OF WHAT GOVERNMENT MAY EMERGE, IT IS UP TO THE TURKISH PEOPLE TO DECIDE THAT THROUGH THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES.

THE U.S. ALSO CONGRATULATES TURKEY FOR RECENTLY WINNING THE APPROVAL OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR A CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT. THE ACCORD WILL STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIES OF TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES AND PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURKISH-AMERICAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT. ECONOMIC INTEGRATION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TURKEY WILL ENCOURAGE AN EVEN CLOSER POLITICAL AND SECURITY PARTNERSHIP.

TURKEY HAS LONG BEEN A LOYAL NATO ALLY OF THE U.S. TURKEY IS AT THE CENTER OF MANY CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON THE EURASIAN CONTINENT, INCLUDING THE SITUATION IN THE BALKANS, STABILITY IN THE AEGEAN SEA, CYPRUS, CONTAINMENT OF IRAN, AND SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. TURKEY IS IMPORTANT IN REGARD TO RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES IN THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA, AND FOR ROUTES TO THE WEST FOR CASPIAN SEA OIL. WHATEVER GOVERNMENT EMERGES IN ANKARA, THE U.S. LOOKS FORWARD TO COOPERATING WITH TURKEY IN PURSUIT OF SHARED INTERESTS. ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

28-Dec-95 3:41 PM EST (2041 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America