Voice of America, 24 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] CROATIA APPEAL (S ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HAS REPROACHED THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT FOR CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ITS SERBIAN MINORITY. THE U-N HAS BEEN TRYING TO COAX ZAGREB TO SHOW GREATER GENEROSITY TOWARD LOCAL SERBS TO KEEP LAST YEAR'S PEACE ACCORD FROM COLLAPSING. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNED THE OFFICIAL STALLING IN ZAGREB OVER REQUESTS BY SERB REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. THEY FLED CROATIA WHEN THE CROATIAN ARMY DECIDED LAST YEAR TO RE-CLAIM TERRITORY HELD BY THE SERBS.

THE COUNCIL ALSO SUGGESTED CROATIA CONSIDER GRANTING AMNESTY TO LOCAL SERBS DETAINED ON CHARGES RELATED TO THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONFLICT.

IN A FORMAL STATEMENT, THE COUNCIL URGED CROATIA TO SET UP A PROVISIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COURT AND EXPRESSED DISMAY AT AN EARLIER DECISION TO SUSPEND CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES FOR MINORITIES. THE COUNCIL REMINDED CROATIA THAT IT IS BOUND BY THE PEACE ACCORD TO SHOW STRICT RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF CROATIAN SERBS.

WHILE THE SECURITY COUNCIL CONCEDED THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CROATIA HAS IMPROVED OVERALL -- IT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER REPORTS OF ISOLATED KILLINGS AND OTHER VIOLATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/EJ/SKH
23-Feb-96 8:21 PM EST (0121 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] KOSCHNICK / MOSTAR (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION'S ADMINISTRATOR IN THE DIVIDED BOSNIAN CITY OF MOSTAR HAS TOLD A GERMAN NEWSPAPER HE PLANS TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS POST IN JULY. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, THE COMMENTS CONTRADICT EARLIER REPORTS THAT HE HAD AGREED TO STAY ON THE JOB UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.

TEXT: IN AN INTERVIEW RELEASED AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S EDITION OF THE NEWSPAPER 'BILD AM SONNTAG', HANS KOSCHNICK SAID HE HAD PROMISED HIS FAMILY HE WOULD STEP DOWN FROM HIS POST BY JULY 23RD.

THE E-U ADMINISTRATOR CHARACTERIZED REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS SAYING HE HAD AGREED TO REMAIN ON THE JOB UNTIL THE END OF 1996 AS A MISUNDERSTANDING.

MR. KOSCHNICK SAID A NEW PHASE HAS TO START IN MOSTAR NOW BY BUILDING UP A COMMON ADMINISTRATION. FOR THAT HE SAID FRESH FACES WERE NEEDED.

DESPITE THEIR ALLIANCE, CROATS AND MUSLIMS IN MOSTAR HAVE VIEWED EACH OTHER WITH DEEP SUSPICION SINCE THE TWO SIDES FOUGHT A VICIOUS 10-MONTH BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE CITY IN 1993.

MR. KOSCHNICK, WHOSE CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO RE-UNITE THE DIVIDED CITY FINALLY CAME INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK, WAS ATTACKED BY ANGRY CROATS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IN HIS LATEST NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW HE SAID HE MIGHT STEP DOWN FROM HIS POST EVEN EARLIER THAN JULY, IF A SATISFACTORY SUCCESSOR COULD BE FOUND. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/TMS/RKS
24-Feb-96 7:43 AM EST (1243 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH ISLAMISTS AND THE CENTER-RIGHT MOTHERLAND PARTY HAVE FAILED TO AGREE ON FORMING A COALITION GOVERNMENT AFTER WEEKS OF BARGAINING. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: NEECMETTIN ERBAKAN, THE LEADER OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, BLAMED THE MOTHERLAND PARTY FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE TALKS, SAYING HE AND HIS PARTY HAD DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE ITS DEMANDS.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MORE THAN THREE HOURS OF TALKS WITH MOTHERLAND LEADER MESUT YILMAZ, MR. ERBAKAN APPEARED UPSET BY THEIR FAILURE TO AGREE UPON A NEW GOVERNMENT. MR. ERBAKAN SAID THE MOTHERLAND PARTY HAD EXPECTED TO DICTATE GOVERNMENT POLICY, WHILE HIS PARTY REMAINED, IN HIS WORDS, MERE SPECTATORS. MR. ERBAKAN SAID THE MOTHERLAND PARTY'S DEMANDS WERE UNACCEPTABLE.

AT A SEPARATE NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. YILMAZ ADOPTED A MORE CONCILIATORY TONE, THANKING MR. ERBAKAN FOR WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS AND GOOD WILL IN TRYING TO FORGE A COALITION GOVERNMENT.

THE MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER DENIED REPORTS THE TALKS HAD COLLAPSED OVER WHO WOULD BE GIVEN CONTROL OF THE FINANCE MINISTRY AND THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS PERTAINING TO RELIGION.

MR. YILMAZ SAID FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO PARTIES' POLICIES HAD STOOD IN THE WAY OF THE PARTNERSHIP. MR. YILMAZ MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE PRO-ISLAMIC PARTY'S ANTI-SECULAR VIEWS REMAINED THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO THE ALLIANCE. ONLY DAYS AGO THAT PARTNERSHIP APPEARED SECURE AFTER THE TWO PARTY LEADERS ANNOUNCED THEY HAD AGREED, IN PRINCIPLE, TO FORM A GOVERNMENT.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. YILMAZ MAY HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM THE COALITION AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE OF MOUNTING OPPOSITION FROM LIBERALS WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY AS WELL AS FROM THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS ELITE AND THE MILITARY.

NEWS OF THE PENDING PARTNERSHIP HAD ALSO PROVOKED SHARP REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC WITH THOUSANDS OF TURKS REPORTEDLY SENDING MESSAGES OF PROTEST TO THE MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. YILMAZ WILL LIKELY HAND BACK HIS MANDATE TO FORM THE GOVERNMENT TO TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL. THE QUESTION OF WHAT PRESIDENT DEMIREL WILL DO NEXT REMAINS OPEN SINCE ALL THE MAIN PARTY LEADERS, INCLUDING CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER, HAVE FAILED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, PARLIAMENT HAS ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE THE TIME-FRAME EXPIRES ON FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT. SHOULD IT FAIL TO DO SO, THE PRESIDENT CAN THEN CALL NEW ELECTIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/CB-T/SKH 24-Feb-96 5:51 PM EST (2251 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America