Voice of America, 12 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND SLEET STORM WORKS ITS WAY UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD, CLOSING THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER INSTITUTION AGAIN, MOST NEWSPAPERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING COPIES TO THEIR READERS. BUT FOR THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET PAPERS, A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IS UNDER DISCUSSION IN FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL PAGES. MOST OF THEM ARE DOMESTIC, INCLUDING THE SPECTER OF A U.S. GOVERNMENT DEFAULT ON ITS DEBTS; ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT WHITEWATER AND THE CLINTONS; AND THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN MANY MONTHS. ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE: ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT THE LATE FRENCH PRESIDEAN FRANCOIS MITTERAND, AND A DEMOCRAT WINS ONE IN GUATEMALA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, RUNNING IN TANDEM WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN CAUSED BY THE BUDGET DISPUTE BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS, THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM - - THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEDERAL DEFAULT. BECAUSE THE CONGRESS HAS REFUSED TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT IN THE ABSENCE OF A BUDGET AGREEMENT, THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS TECHNICALLY RUN OUT OF MONEY TO PAY ITS DEBTS. TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN HAS KEPT THE GOVERNMENT FROM DEFAULT SO FAR BY BORROWING FROM TRUST FUNDS NOT SUBJECT TO THE DEBT LIMIT. BUT THAT HAS LED SOME HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO THREATEN TO SEEK IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SECRETARY RUBIN. WITH THAT BACKGROUND, HERE'S AN EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST."

VOICE: "HIS SIN [RUBIN'S] IS THAT HE IS DOING WHAT A TREASURY SECRETARY OUGHT TO DO: TRYING TO AVERT A THREATENED DEFAULT. THE THREAT EXISTS BECAUSE THESE SAME REPUBLICANS [CONGRESSMEN] ARE GRANDSTANDING ON THE DEBT-CEILING ISSUE. THE CEILING HAS TO GO UP, OR THE GOVERNMENT WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PAY ITS BILLS. .... IT'S A DANGEROUS AND WRONG TO USE THE DEBT CEILING AS A POLITICAL PROP IN THE BUDGET BATTLE. THEY [REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN] OUGHT TO CUT IT OUT."

TEXT: WHILE IN NEARBY BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: "[OPT] WITH IDEOLOGUES IN BOTH PARTIES EAGER TO SIDESTEP A BUDGET AGREEMENT EVEN IF IT MEANS GOVERNMENT-BY-STOP-GAP UNTIL THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THE SPECTER OF A FEDERAL DEFAULT GROWS GREATER BY THE DAY. [END OPT] THIS WHOLE PROSPECT [OF NATIONAL DEFAULT] RENDERS EVEN MORE INEXCUSABLE THE TENDENCY AMONG EXTREME PARTISANS IN BOTH PARTIES TO SEEK POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS BY ABANDONING EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A BUDGET AGREEMENT."

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE WIDER ISSUE, THE BUDGET DISPUTE AS A WHOLE, TODAY'S "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" NOTES;

VOICE: "HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH SUGGESTED THIS WEEK THAT A LONG IMPASSE OVER THE FEDERAL BUDGET COULD CONTINUE FOR MONTHS, MAKING THE NOVEMBER ELECTION A REFERENDUM ON POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. IT'S A RISKY VENTURE, AS WALL STREET RAPIDLY INDICATED. 'THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE FIRING A VERY CLEAR SHOT ACROSS THE WASHINGTON BOW,' SAYS HUGH JOHNSON, A MARKET STRATEGIST. ..... PRESIDENT CLINTON AND REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE WITHIN STRETCHING DISTANCE OF A CREDIBLE BALANCED BUDGET AGREEMENT. [MR.] CLINTON AFFIRMED THAT ON THURSDAY. THEY SHOULD MAKE THAT STRETCH WHEN SCHEDULED BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS RESUME..."

TEXT: STILL IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" REMARKS:

VOICE: "THEIR ARGUMENT [BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS] HAS THE WRONG THRUST. THE QUESTION IS NOT HOW FAR EACH SIDE HAS COME BUT WHERE WE AS A NATION ARE GOING. [OPT] AN AGREEMENT ON A PLAN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IN SEVEN YEARS WOULD GIVE STRENGTH AND DIRECTION TO NATIONAL POLICY AND WOULD HELP ALL OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS INVOLVED, SINCE IT WOULD SHOW VOTERS THAT WASHINGTON CAN ACT." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN ANOTHER FRIDAY EDITORIAL "THE BALTIMORE SUN" HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE LATE FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS MITTERRAND, WHO WAS BURIED YESTERDAY:

VOICE: "THE FRENCH WERE READY TO DUMP [VOTE OUT OF OFFICE] MR. MITTERRAND HAD HE SOUGHT A THIRD TERM, BUT HE WAS DYING LAST YEAR. ALREADY THEY MISS HIM. HIS LEGACY WILL BE DEBATED IN FRANCE AS LONG AS CLEMENCEAU'S AND DE GAULLE'S."

TEXT: TURNING BACK TO DOMESTIC ISSUES, AND THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR, THERE IS AGAIN PLENTY OF COMMENT. TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL "WHITE HOUSE CREDIBILITY" AND GOES ON TO SAY, IN PART:

VOICE: "THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO BE OUTDOING SENATOR ALFONSE D'AMATO ..... AT KEEPING WHITEWATER GOING. THE STONEWALLING [WQITHHOLDING OF INFORMATION] AND, AT BEST, INADEQUATE SEARCH FOR SUBPOENAED DOCUMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT'S STAFF HAVE ENSURED THAT WHITEWATER WILL BE AN ISSUE INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. ..... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON AND HIS STAFF HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME."

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ADDS:

VOICE: "...WHY IS THE WHITE HOUSE ACTING AS IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE? DEFENDERS HAVE ADVANCED TO A STATE OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, AN AWARENESS THAT BELIEFS CONFLICT WITH EVIDENCE. .....THE CLINTONS HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE FAST LANES IN ARKANSAS, AND THE WHOLE CROWD TRAFFICKED IN POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND MONEY. NEARLY ALL OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THESE AFFAIRS, IN WASHINGTON AND BACK IN ARKANSAS, ARE IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF SERIOUS LEGAL TROUBLE OR PERSONAL AND POLITICAL RUIN. BUT BILL AND HILLARY ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE .....UNSMUDGED AND UNSULLIED."

TEXT: STILL WITH THE CLINTONS, THERE IS EDITORIAL COMMENT IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FIRST FULL-BLOWN, TELEVISED NEWS CONFERENCE IN MANY MONTHS, WHICH FOLLOWED SOME GRUMBLING IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE LACK OF SUCH EVENTS.

VOICE: "AS IT WAS, MR. CLINTON USED HIS TIME YESTERDAY FAIRLY WELL AND PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT PRESIDENTS ARE GENERALLY BETTER OFF, NOT WORSE, FOR THESE EXTENDED ENCOUNTERS WITH THE PRESS."

TEXT: BRIEFLY, ONCE AGAIN ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES SOME PROGRESS ON POLITICAL REFORM IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

VOICE: "EVEN AFTER DISCOUNTING FOR A SLIM MARGIN AND A LOW TURNOUT, IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT ALVARO ARZU IRIGOYEN, A DEMOCRAT, DEFEATED A STAND-IN FOR EFRAIN RIOS MONTT, A FORMER MILITARY DICTATOR, IN GUATEMALA'S RUNOFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THIS WEEK. GUATEMALAN DEMOCRACY, HOWEVER, REMAINS PERILOUSLY INSECURE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, TODAY'S SECOND MAJOR EAST COAST SNOWFALL NOTWITHSTANDING, "THE DENVER POST" IS CONCERNED ABOUT NEW EVIDENCE OF GLOBAL WARMING.

VOICE: "UNCERTAINTY IS DROPPING EVEN AS THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING: A KEY RECORD KEEPER CONFIRMS THAT THE EARTH WAS SLIGHTLY WARMER LAST YEAR THAN IT WAS DURING 1990, WHICH HELD THE PREVIOUS HIGH RECORD. ..... THE BRITISH METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE ... WHICH REPORTED THE FINDING .... HAS RECORDS DATING BACK MORE THAN A CENTURY. ..... THE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT WARMING TOOK PLACE EVEN IN THE FACE OF OTHER FACTORS THAT SHOULD HAVE LOWERED TEMPERATURES. ..... THE EVIDENCE HAS BECOME QUITE CLEAR THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS A REAL PHENOMENON, AND DATA ARE MOUNTING THAT HUMANS ARE AT LEAST PLAYING A SUPPORTING ROLE IN THE ALARMING WORLDWIDE DRAMA."

TEXT: AND ON THAT SCIENTIFIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES THIS JANUARY FRIDAY.

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12-Jan-96 12:38 PM EST (1738 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / NATO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, ON A VISIT TO SARAJEVO, HAS REJECTED BOSNIAN SERB DEMANDS FOR CHANGES TO THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. HE SAID IT WAS TIME TO START REBUILDING BOSNIA, AND HE SAID BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS SHOULD TELL SERB RESIDENTS OF SARAJEVO THEY WILL BE SAFE LIVING UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, JAVIER SOLANA, ON A VISIT TO SARAJEVO WITH THE MILITARY COMMANDER OF NATO, WASTED NO TIME IN ENDING SERB HOPES FOR SOME SORT OF A REPRIEVE. UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT SERB AREAS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL WILL COME UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN MID-MARCH.

BOSNIAN SERBS LEADERS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING DELAYS, AND WARNING OF VIOLENCE AND A MASS EXODUS OF THEIR PEOPLE IF THE DEADLINE IS NOT EXTENDED. AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN SARAJEVO MR. SOLANA SAID HE HAD MET WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND GIVEN THEM A CLEAR MESSAGE.

THE DAYTON AGREEMENTS ARE HERE TO BE COMPLIED WITH, AND THAT NOBODY IS GOING TO CHANGE THEM.

HE SAID IT WAS TIME FOR THE SERBS TO START THINKING ABOUT PEACE, AND NOT ABOUT WAR.

ALONG THESE LAST YEARS, TOO MUCH SUFFERING HAS TAKEN PLACE HERE, AND IN PARTICULAR IN THIS CITY, AND THAT IT'S TIME TO CHANGE, AND IT IS TIME TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION, AND IT'S TIME FOR A CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE.

MR. SOLANA SAID HE WAS FRUSTRATED BY THE FAILURE OF SERB LEADERS TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR PEOPLE THEY WOULD BE SAFE IN BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HANDS. HE SAID THE SERBS HAD SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM NATO AND THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND AN INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE WOULD SOON BE DEPLOYED IN THE AREA, BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO CONVINCE PEOPLE.

I THINK THE WHOLE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT IS TO BUILD A BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN WHICH PEOPLE LIVE TOGETHER. IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ATTAINED IN ONE YEAR, OR ONE MONTH, OR ONE DAY. TO CHANGE THE MIND OF PEOPLE WILL TAKE MORE TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO START PREPARING THAT.

BUT TIME IS IN SHORT SUPPLY IN BOSNIA UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT ALL SIDES MUST WITHDRAW FROM THE FRONT LINES BY "D" PLUS 30, OR 30 DAYS AFTER NATO TOOK OVER HERE. THAT DEADLINE IS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY AND NATO HAS ONLY HALF IT'S FORCE OF 60-THOUSAND SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA.

THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF NATO, GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN, SAID HE WAS SATISFIED HE HAD ENOUGH MANPOWER TO DO THE JOB.

WE DO HAVE SUFFICIENT FORCES AT "D" PLUS 30 TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION REQUIRED AT THE ZONE OF SEPARATION. WE HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION. AND WE HAVE EVERY INDICATION THAT THAT IS OCCURING ALONG THE ENTIRE ZONE OF SEPARATION.

BUT MR. SOLANA AND THE GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO PEACE IS HERE IN SARAJEVO. MOST SERBS HAVE REMAINED IN THE CITY, IN HOPES THE PEACE PLAN WOULD BE CHANGED, BUT NOW THE EXODUS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN. WHILE IT WILL LIKELY TAKE WEEKS FOR EVERYONE TO LEAVE, SERBS SAY THEY EXPECT MANY PEOPLE TO BURN THEIR HOMES AS THEY GO, AND A FEW SERBS STILL INSIST THEY WILL STAY BEHIND AND FIGHT. (SIGNED)

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12-Jan-96 1:52 PM EST (1852 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA MESSAGE BY BILL CLINTON (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: HERE IS THE TEXT OF AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA TAPED BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA: LET ME SAY I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU TOMORROW (SATURDAY) IN A LAND WHERE THE WASTE OF WAR IS FINALLY GIVING WAY TO THE PROMISE OF PEACE.

AS I VISIT WITH AMERICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCES STATIONED IN BOSNIA, I URGE YOU TO SEIZE THAT PROMISE -- TO TURN THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED ONE MONTH AGO FROM WORDS INTO DEEDS.

FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS, THE WAR THAT TORE BOSNIA APART DRAMATIZED YOUR DIFFERENCES. BUT FOR ALL THAT DIVIDES YOU, SO MUCH MORE UNITES YOU. OF COURSE, YOU ARE PROUD TO BE MUSLIMS, OR CROATS, OR SERBS. BUT ALL OF YOU ARE ALSO CITIZENS OF BOSNIA, BOUND TOGETHER BY MARRIAGE AND CULTURE, BY LANGUAGE AND WORK, BY SHARED LOVE IN A PLACE YOU ALL CALL HOME.

I BELIEVE THAT DEEP DOWN, YOU ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS: TO LIVE AND RAISE YOUR FAMILIES WITHOUT FEAR, TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. IF THESE DESIRES ARE EVER TO BECOME REALITY, THERE MUST BE PEACE.

THE UNITED STATES AND COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SENT YOU THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES TO HELP SAFEGUARD THE PEACE SO MANY OF YOU HAVE WANTED FOR SO LONG. OUR TROOPS ARE WELL PREPARED AND HEAVILY ARMED. BUT THEY COME IN PEACE. THEIR MISSION IS TO SUPERVISE THE WITHDRAWAL OF YOUR ARMIES BEHIND THE AGREED SEPARATION LINE, TO HELP ASSURE THAT WAR DOES _NOT_ BREAK OUT AGAIN, TO CREATE A MORE SECURE CLIMATE THROUGHOUT BOSNIA SO THAT YOU CAN REBUILD YOUR TOWNS AND ROADS, YOUR FACTORIES AND YOUR SHOPS, YOUR PARKS AND YOUR PLAYGROUNDS.

WE CAN HELP YOU DO ALL THESE THINGS. BUT WE CAN _NOT_ GUARANTEE THAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA WILL COME TOGETHER -- AND STAY TOGETHER -- AS CITIZENS, EQUAL CITIZENS, OF A COMMON LAND WITH A SHARED DESTINY. ONLY YOU CAN DO THAT -- WITH THE COURAGE OF AN OPEN MIND AND THE GENEROSITY OF AN OPEN HEART.

AFTER SO MANY LIVES LOST AND FUTURES DESTROYED, I KNOW THAT REBUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND TRUST MAY BE THE VERY HARDEST TASK YOU FACE. BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY. _NOT_ BECAUSE OTHER NATIONS WANT YOU TO DO IT. _NOT_ EVEN BECAUSE YOUR LEADERS WANT YOU TO DO IT. YOU MUST DO THAT FOR YOURSELVES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

IT IS SAID THAT EVERY CHILD IS THE CHANCE FOR A NEW BEGINNING. NOW, THIS PEACE GIVES TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF BOSNIA -- AND TO ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES -- THE CHANCE FOR A NEW BEGINNING.

SEIZE THIS CHANCE FOR PEACE. WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE IF YOU DON'T. WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE SORROW AND SUFFERING YOU HAVE ENDURED ALREADY OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

BUT JUST IMAGINE THE FUTURE IF YOU DO SEIZE THIS MOVEMENT -- IF YOU DO REBUILD YOUR LAND AND YOUR LIVES TOGETHER. FOR SO MUCH OF YOUR HISTORY, YOU FOUND STRENGTH IN YOUR DIVERSITY. MUSLIMS, CROATS AND SERBS FLOURISHED SIDE BY SIDE IN SARAJEVO, IN TUZLA, IN MOSTAR AND THROUGHOUT BOSNIA. SOME OF YOU PRAYED IN CHURCHES, SOME IN MOSQUES, SOME IN SYNAGOGUES. BUT YOU LIVED AND WORKED TOGETHER, BUILDING SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, TRADING GOODS AND SERVICES, CREATING PLAYS AND MUSIC. YOU WERE NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILIES. AND YOU CAN BE AGAIN, IF YOU SEIZE THE BEST CHANCE FOR PEACE YOU HAVE HAD -- AND WHAT COULD BE THE LAST CHANCE FOR PEACE YOU WILL HAVE FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHO KNOW FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE THE HARD WORK IT TAKES TO FORGE A COMMUNITY FROM A NATION OF SO MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS. MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, WE FOUGHT A FIERCE CIVIL WAR OVER RACE AND SLAVERY.

STILL TODAY, WE STRUGGLE WITH THE LEGACY OF THAT WAR, AND THE CHALLENGE OF OUR PRESENT MAKEUP. WE HAVE SO MANY RACES AND RELIGIONS AND ETHNIC GROUPS ALL OVER AMERICA. BUT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE GREAT BENEFITS WHICH COME FROM FINDING COMMON GROUND. OUR NATION IS STRONGER AND THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE ARE MORE PEACEFUL, MORE PROSPEROUS, MORE FILLED WITH HOPE -- WHEN WE BRIDGE THE VALLEY OF OUR DIFFERENCES TO BECOME A REAL COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WITH NATIONS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD, WE HAVE COME HERE TO BOSNIA TO HELP YOU DO THE SAME. SO, PEOPLE OF BOSNIA, YOU HAVE ENDED YOUR WAR. BUT NOW, YOU MUST BUILD YOUR PEACE. I BELIEVE THE GREATEST STRUGGLE YOU FACE IS _NOT_ AMONG MUSLIMS AND SERBS AND CROATS. IT IS BETWEEN THOSE WHO EMBRACE PEACE AND THOSE WHO REJECT IT, THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND THOSE WHO ARE BLINDED BY THE PAST, THOSE WHO OPEN THEIR ARMS AND THOSE WHO STILL CLENCH THEIR FISTS. SO, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU MUST CHOOSE. YOU HAVE SEEN THE HORROR OF WAR. YOU KNOW THE PROMISE OF PEACE. CHOOSE PEACE. MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA.

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12-Jan-96 2:45 PM EST (1945 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA / RUSSIA (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW )

INTRO: AT AN AIR FORCE BASE IN CENTRAL RUSSIA, A BATTALLION OF ELITE COMMANDOS HAS BEGUN MOVING OUT TO JOIN THE NATO-LED BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. PETER HEINLEIN AT VOA'S MOSCOW BUREAU REPORTS THE RUSSIAN CONTINGENT WILL BE UNDER COMMAND OF AN AMERICAN GENERAL.

TEXT: IT WAS A HISTORIC OCCASION, AND THE SMARTLY DRESSED TROOPS FROM RUSSIA'S 98TH AIRBORNE DIVISION WERE CLEARLY EXCITED AS THEY BOARDED BIG TRANSPORT PLANES FRIDAY FOR THE TRIP TO BOSNIA. THEY HELD THE RUSSIAN FLAG ALOFT AND POSED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND SIGNS FILLED WITH SLOGANS SUCH AS "PEACE FOR THE BALKANS, AND GLORY FOR RUSSIA."

THESE ELITE TROOPS ARE THE FIRST OF ABOUT 15-HUNDRED RUSSIANS BEING SENT TO SERVE ALONGSIDE AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE NATO-LED BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. IT WILL BE THE FIRST JOINT OPERATION BETWEEN AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN ARMIES IN A COMBAT ZONE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

UNDER A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT, HOWEVER, THE RUSSIANS WILL NOT BE DIRECTLY WITHIN THE NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE, BUT WILL TAKE ORDERS FROM AN AMERICAN GENERAL. THAT DEAL WAS WORKED OUT TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS TAKING ORDERS FROM NATO, WHICH MANY RUSSIANS STILL SEE AS THE ENEMY.

A RUSSIAN GENERAL TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FRIDAY HIS FORCES WERE READY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE AMERICAN CONTINGENT, SAYING HE FORESEES NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMMAND ARRANGEMENT. HE SAID THE ONLY PROBLEM WOULD BE ESTABLISHING PEACE IN THE BALKANS.

RUSSIA'S UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK APPROVED A SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE BOSNIA FORCE. THE 40-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET EASED FEARS RUSSIA'S CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED ARMY WOULD LOOK LIKE POOR STEPCHILDREN ALONGSIDE TROOPS FROM BETTER-FINANCED WESTERN COUNTRIES.

AS A RESULT, RUSSIANS IN THE BOSNIA FORCE WILL EARN AT LEAST FOUR TIMES THEIR NORMAL SALARY. AND AS ONE SOLDIER HAPPILY ADDED, THEY ARE BEING PAID IN DOLLARS.

THE TROOPS FLYING OUT OF IVANOVO AIR BASE FRIDAY WERE AN ADVANCE FORCE BRINGING WITH THEM TRUCKS, JEEPS, WEAPONS AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. THAT GEAR WILL BE IN PLACE BY THE TIME THE MAIN CONTINGENT MOVES OUT SOMETIME LATER THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)

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12-Jan-96 7:38 AM EST (1238 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA / WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE NATO FORCE IN BOSNIA HAS RAISED HOPES AMONG UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING ALLEGED WAR CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE BALKAN CONFLICT. BUT A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICATED FRIDAY IT MAY BE WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS BEFORE INVESTIGATORS GAIN ACCESS TO SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY. FROM GENEVA, V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.

TEXT: BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS HAVE LONG PREVENTED U-N INVESTIGATORS FROM VISITING SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES. BUT THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT STIPULATES THAT ALL SIDES WILL COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

DEPUTY PROSECUTOR GRAHAM BLEWITT TOLD REPORTERS HERE FRIDAY HE EXPECTS THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO TAKE CONTROL OF AREAS IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN BOSNIA WHERE SERB FORCES ALLEGEDLY MASSACRED AND BURIED THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH NATO AND IFOR. AND FOLLOWING THEIR SUFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL GAIN ACCESS TO THE SITES THAT WE HAVE _NOT_ BEEN ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS BEFORE.

THE NATO FORCE IS _NOT_ EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS DEPLOYMENT IN BOSNIA UNTIL SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. AND JUDGE BLEWITT SAID THE TRIBUNAL'S FORENSIC EXPERTS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE WINTER SNOWS MELT BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN AN EXAMINATION OF THE SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE SITES AT SREBRENICA IN EASTERN BOSNIA AND AROUND THE SERB-HELD TOWN OF PRIJEDOR IN THE NORTH.

JUDGE BLEWITT SAID ACCESS TO BOTH SITES IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE HAGUE-BASED TRIBUNAL.

U-S NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING "THE NEW YORK TIMES," REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT SERB FORCES HAVE BURIED THOUSANDS OF MASSACRE VICTIMS IN AND AROUND AN ABANDONED IRON MINE AT LJUBIJA, IN THE PRIJEDOR REGION.

JUDGE BLEWITT SAID THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS LONG KNOWN ABOUT THE REPORTED SERB ACTION.

IT IS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC ARENA FROM THE (U-N) COMMISSION OF EXPERTS FINAL REPORT THAT THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS AND STATEMENTS THAT BODIES WERE DISPOSED OF IN EARTH MOVING AND EARTH CRUSHING EQUIPMENT; AND THE REMAINS OF THOSE BODIES DISPOSED OF IN THE MINES THROUGHOUT THE PRIJEDOR REGION.

BRITISH TROOPS OF THE NATO FORCE HAVE VISITED THE AREA, BUT HAVE YET TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT PRESENCE. FOLLOWING THE LATEST NEWSPAPER REPORTS, U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS PROMISED STEPPED UP SURVEILLANCE AND INTELLIGENCE GATHERING EFFORTS IN THE PRIJEDOR REGION.

IT WAS AMERICAN MILITARY SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHS OF APPARENT MASS GRAVES IN SREBRENICA THAT FIRST DREW ATTENTION TO THE ALLEGED MASSACRES THERE AFTER SERB FORCES OVER-RAN THE ENCLAVE LAST SUMMER.

U-N SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR ELIZABETH REHN SAID BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS HAVE PROMISED HER ACCESS TO SREBRENICA DURING HER NEXT MISSION TO BOSNIA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. AT FRIDAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE HERE, SHE SAID SHE WILL ALSO REQUEST PERMISSION TO VISIT THE ALLEGED MASS GRAVE SITES IN THE PRIJEDOR REGION. (SIGNED)

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12-Jan-96 1:01 PM EST (1801 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (NASHVILLE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON LEAVES FOR EUROPE SHORTLY ON A TRIP AIMED AT BOOSTING THE MORALE OF U-S TROOPS SERVING AS NATO PEACEKEEPERS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MR. CLINTON DEPARTS FROM THE SOUTHERN U-S CITY OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, WHERE EARLIER FRIDAY HE DEFENDED THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION -- ALTHOUGH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE OPERATION CONTINUES TO LAG. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: THERE WAS A REASON PRESIDENT CLINTON STOPPED AT THE PETERBILT TRUCK FACTORY BEFORE LEAVING ON HIS TRIP.

THREE EMPLOYEES AT THE PLANT ARE NOW SERVING IN GERMANY IN SUPPORT OF THE U-S MISSION IN BOSNIA.

MR. CLINTON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE THREE, SAYING THEY ARE WORKING FOR A BETTER, SAFER, WORLD.

AWARE THAT HE STILL HAS NOT WON MUCH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HIS DECISION TO SEND U-S TROOPS TO BOSNIA, MR. CLINTON DID HIS BEST TO DEFEND THE MISSION.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD, NOT TO TRY TO FIGHT A WAR, BUT TO BRING A PEACE, FOR THE HUMANITARIAN REASONS THAT INVOLVE THE PEOPLE THERE AND TO KEEP THAT WAR FROM SPREADING IN WAYS THAT COULD HURT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE. THIS IS A VERY GOOD THING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR FRIENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE DOING, AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN BOSNIA.

MR. CLINTON WILL FIRST STOP AT AVIANO AIR BASE IN ITALY TO MEET WITH U-S TROOPS THERE BEFORE GOING TO TUZLA IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. HE WILL ALSO VISIT A STAGING AREA IN HUNGARY BEFORE RETURNING TO WASHINGTON SUNDAY. (SIGNED)

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12-Jan-96 1:16 PM EST (1816 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: ATTENTION AT THE UNITED NATIONS FOCUSED ON EUROPE THIS WEEK -- WHERE SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI WAS TRAVELING AND NATO WAS CONSOLIDATING ITS PEACE MISSION IN BOSNIA. MEANWHILE, THE SECURITY COUNCIL PREPARED TO LAUNCH A NEW OPERATION IN THE LAST SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN CROATIA. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL MONDAY CONDEMNED VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN CROATIA. WHILE THE COUNCIL IN THE PAST FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST MUSLIMS IN THE BALKANS, THIS LATEST STATEMENT NAMED THE SERBS OF CROATIA AS THE VICTIMS OF ABUSE.

THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE REPORTED HARASSMENT, IN PARTICULAR, OF ELDERLY SERBS IN AREAS WHERE THE CROATIAN ARMY HAS TRIED TO RE-ASSERT ITS CONTROL. IT NOTED EXTENSIVE LOOTING AND BURNING OF SERB PROPERTY AND DEMANDED THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY PUT A STOP TO SUCH ACTIVITIES. MEANWHILE, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS READY TO APPROVE JANUARY 15TH A NEW OPERATION IN EASTERN SLAVONIA -- THE LAST AREA IN CROATIA STILL HELD BY REBEL SERBS. THE PLAN IS TO STATION UP TO FIVE THOUSAND U-N TROOPS THERE, WHO WILL IMMEDIATELY START DISARMING SERB MILITIAS AS PART OF AN OVERALL PEACE ACCORD SIGNED LAST NOVEMBER.

THE U-N WILL ADMINISTER EASTERN SLAVONIA FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, WHEN THE TERRITORY IS EXPECTED TO REVERT TO CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

EASTERN SLAVONIA WILL HAVE A LINK TO THE NATO OPERATION IN BOSNIA. U-N TROOPS CAN ASK FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IF THEY RUN INTO TROUBLE.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI HAS BEEN VISITING SEVERAL EUROPEAN CAPITALS. IN LONDON, PARIS AND AT THE VATICAN -- HE DISCUSSED THE U-N'S CONTINUING FINANCIAL CRISIS. MR. BOUTROS-GHALI IS PRESSING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE MEANS OF FUNDING THE ORGANIZATION.

GOVERNMENTS WILL LIKELY REMAIN THE BACKBONE OF U-N CONTRIBUTIONS. BUT THEIR FAILURE TO PAY DUES ON TIME AND IN FULL HAS CREATED A MONTH-BY-MONTH CRISIS IN U-N OPERATIONS. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ACCUSED UNNAMED GOVERNMENTS OF BEING DISHONEST BY REFUSING TO PAY BECAUSE THE U-N IS TOO SLOW TO REFORM ITSELF.

THE UNITED STATES TOOK THE CRITICISM PERSONALLY, BEING THE U-N'S LARGEST DEBTOR. U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT REBUKED MR. BOUTROS-GHALI, SAYING AS U-N LEADER HE SHOULD CHOOSE HIS WORDS MORE CAREFULLY. SHE TOOK UMBRAGE AT THE TERM "DISHONEST". A U-N SPOKESWOMAN SUGGESTED WASHINGTON MIGHT BE REACTING TOO HARSHLY.

U-N CRITICS IN THE U-S CONGRESS ARE HOLDING UP MONEY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, REBUFFING A STANDING REQUEST BY PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR FULL PAYMENT.

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THE SECURITY COUNCIL AT WEEK'S END RENEWED A SMALL U-N OBSERVER FORCE IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA -- DESPITE A LACK OF PROGRESS IN ENDING THE COUNTRY'S INTERNAL DISPUTE. TALKS BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT AND ABKHAZ SEPARATISTS REMAIN DEADLOCKED.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL THAT RUSSIA'S BEST EFFORTS TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE ESSENTIALLY HAVE FAILED. RUSSIA IS LEADING NEGOTIATIONS TO PUT IN PLACE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A MORE DETAILED AGREEMENT. SOME 250-THOUSAND GEORGIANS FLED ABKHAZIA IN 1993 WHEN SEPARATISTS -- BACKED BY MERCENARIES AND ARMS FROM RUSSIA'S NORTHER CAUCAUSUS REGION -- DROVE OUT GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN A LIGHTNING CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)

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12-Jan-96 4:18 PM EST (2118 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America