Voice of America, 20 March 1996 (1 of 2)

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS ARE ADDRESSED IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SOME OF THE NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT PAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY. AMONG THEM ARE THE CONVICTION OF ABORTION-CLINIC KILLER JOHN SALVI IN MASSACHUSETTS; THE PRESIDENT'S 1997 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET PROPOSAL; THE RESETTLEMENT OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS IN SARAJEVO; GETTING TOUGH WITH NIGERIA'S DICTATOR, AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE SCHOOL MASSACRE IN SCOTLAND. WE GET A SAMPLING OF

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON A MASSACHUSETTS JURY'S DECISION MONDAY CONVICTING JOHN SALVI OF MURDER. MR. SALVI LAST YEAR KILLED TWO WOMEN AT A BROOKLINE HEALTH CLINIC THAT PERFORMED ABORTIONS. HE WAS SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS IN PRISON, WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" NOTES;

VOICE: "RESPONSIBLE OPPONENTS OF ABORTION HAVE DENOUNCED VIOLENCE, AND SHOULD DO SO AGAIN BEFORE ANOTHER MISFIT LIKE [MR.] SALVI CONVINCES HIMSELF HE IS ACTING IN THE SERVICE OF A GLORIOUS CAUSE... A GENERALIZED CLIMATE OF HATE CAN NURTURE INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF TERROR..."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" CALLS SALVI'S CONVICTION "THE RIGHT VERDICT", ADDING:

VOICE: "JOHN ... SALVI'S ATTORNEY CONTENDED THAT HIS CLIENT WAS MENTALLY ILL, THAT HIS TRIAL FOR THE MURDERS OF TWO WOMEN AT A MASSACHUSETTS ABORTION CLINIC 'HAD NO MEANING FOR HIM WHATSOEVER.' A MASSACHUSETTS SUPERIOR COURT JURY, HOWEVER, GAVE THE TRIAL A VERY CLEAR MEANING... JURORS SAW SALVI'S HEINOUS ACT FOR EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS: PLANNED, COLD-BLOODED MURDER FUELED BY A CONFUSED, ZEALOUS IDEOLOGY. THEIR'S WAS THE ONLY SENSIBLE VERDICT."

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON TUESDAY UNVEILED HIS 1997 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A CONTINUING FEUD WITH THE CONGRESS THAT HAS KEPT THE 1996 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FROM BEING APPROVED. "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS WORRIED:

VOICE: "PROBABLY NOT EVEN PRESIDENT CLINTON KNOWS WHAT TO MAKE OF THE BUDGET HE SENT TO CONGRESS YESTERDAY. IS IT GOING TO BE MERELY A DUST-COLLECTOR, OR IS THERE STILL THE POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER FAINT, OF SERIOUS BUDGET TALKS THIS YEAR BETWEEN NOT JUST THE PARTIES BUT THE LIKELY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, MR. CLINTON AND BOB DOLE?"

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" DOES NOT NECESSARILY ENDORSE THE PRESIDENT'S 1997 SPENDING PLAN, BUT THINKS IT IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING THE REPUBLICANS CAN OFFER.

VOICE: "A BALANCED BUDGET IS NOT IN THE OFFING. SOME OF THE BUDGET-CUTTING IS MISGUIDED... BUT BUDGETS, ESPECIALLY WITH SEVEN-YEAR HORIZONS, ARE MORE A STATEMENT ABOUT PRIORITIES THAN POLICY. THERE IS MUCH TO BE LEARNED FROM THE DOCUMENT ISSUED YESTERDAY. MR. CLINTON'S POLICIES ARE FAR FROM WHAT HE PROMISED FOUR YEARS AGO. BUT THEY ARE ALSO FAR BETTER THAN WHAT MR. DOLE AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE IN MIND."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" OFFERS A MIXED REACTION:

VOICE: "THE BIG PROBLEM WITH [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S 1997 BUDGET IS ITS PROPOSED TAX CUTS. EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL AMOUNT IS ABOUT HALF OF THE TAX CUTS REPUBLICANS WANT, IT IS TOO MUCH: [MR.] CLINTON HAS TO SCRUB [REMOVE] THEM BY 1999 IN ORDER TO GET TO A BALANCED BUDGET BY 2002."

TEXT: INTERNATIONALLY, TODAY'S "BALTIMORE SUN" SEES THE REUNITING OF RESIDENTS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO, AND ITS SUBURBS AS A HOLLOW VICTORY:

VOICE: "AS THE WALLS THAT DIVIDED SARAJEVO DURING FOUR YEARS OF CIVIL WAR COME TUMBLING DOWN, WHAT REMAINS IS A CRUEL MOCKERY OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS. IT IS NO LONGER THE CITY IT ONCE WAS -- COSMOPOLITAN, TOLERANT, MULTI-ETHNIC -- NOR IS IT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT THE BIG-POWER DIPLOMATS ENVISIONED WHEN THEY MET AT DAYTON (OHIO) LAST YEAR... WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN SARAJEVO IN THESE LAST FEW DAYS MAY BE ANOTHER SIGNAL THAT THIS STRUGGLE WILL GO ON AND ON, EASILY OUTLASTING THE BEST EFFORTS OF WELL-MEANING OUTSIDERS... IN THE BALKANS, GRIEVANCES ARE NURTURED ... FOR CENTURIES."

TEXT: A SIMILAR VIEW IS EXPRESSED BY "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLANDS:

VOICE: "YESTERDAY, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WAR AND THE LONGEST SIEGE IN MODERN HISTORY, SARAJEVO WAS UNITED UNDER MUSLIM-CROAT CONTROL. BUT TERRITORIAL UNITY IS NOT TRANSLATING INTO THE PEACEFUL ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAT EXISTED BEFORE BOSNIA TORE ITSELF APART. FAR FROM IT."

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUGGESTS IT IS TIME FOR THE U-S TO GET TOUGH WITH NIGERIA'S MILITARY DICTATOR, BUT WORRIES THAT NEW SANCTIONS PROPOSED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MAY "PROVE MORE SYMBOLIC THAN PRACTICAL."

VOICE: "AT THE LEAST ... THE THREAT OF NO NEW FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND FROZEN FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS REGISTERS WASHINGTON'S CONTINUED DISGUST FOR A REGIME THAT LAST NOVEMBER HANGED A NUMBER OF DISSIDENTS -- MOST PROMINENTLY WRITER AND OGONI TRIBE ACTIVIST KEN SARO-WIWA -- AFTER A STAGED MILITARY TRIAL... IF THE GOAL IS TO GET [GENERAL SANI] ABACHA'S ATTENTION, THE OBVIOUS SANCTIONS TARGET IS OIL EXPORTS. [OPT] ... THE U-S AND OTHER CONCERNED COUNTRIES SHOULD KEEP THE PRESSURE ON NIGERIA'S CORRUPT LEADERS -- MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IF INTRANSIGENCE CONTINUES, THE OIL OPTION COULD STILL BE USED." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN ANOTHER EDITORIAL, "THE MONITOR" SAYS THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM THE MASSACRE OF 16 SCOTTISH SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHER IN DUNBLANE, SCOTLAND, LAST WEEK.

VOICE: "IN A PERIOD WHEN SUICIDE BOMBERS DESTROY BUSES, REVENGE-SEEKERS TRUCK-BOMB SKYSCRAPERS, AND A NIHLIST SECT GASES SUBWAYS AND PLOTS NUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON, 'THIS' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] DEED WAS SHOCKING BECAUSE IT ATTACKED A HAVEN OF ORDINARINESS. [OPT] EVENING NEWS TELEVIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH SARAJEVO OR THE SOUTH BRONX HAD INCONGRUOUSLY INVADED A BUCOLIC SCENE WERE GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES STAYED PUT, WHERE NEARLY EVERYONE WAS A PARENT, AUNT, UNCLE, OR NEIGHBOR TO THE INNOCENTLY WHOOPING TODDLERS AND CHILDREN AT PLAY... THAT BASIC CIVILITY NEEDN'T BE FORFEITED HELPLESSLY. [END OPT] THERE'S NO REASON THAT A NATION WHICH HAS LONG CHERISHED NONVIOLENT BEHAVIOR CANNOT RIGOROUSLY TIGHTEN GUN OWNERSHP ENFORCEMENT TO AFERT FUTURE DUNBLANES."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, FROM "THE BALTIMORE SUN", AN ODE TO SPRING, WHICH BEGAN TODAY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, A WINTER THAT BROUGHT NEARLY 159 CENTIMETERS OF SNOW TO MARYLAND, AND MUCH OF THE EASTERN U-S:

VOICE: "AT THREE-O-THREE THIS MORNING, WE BADE FAREWELL TO THE WINTER OF '96. MOST MARYLANDERS ARE HAPPY TO DO SO, A FEW SCATTERED WINTER-PHILES AND MASOCHISTS ASIDE... THIS WAS THE WINTER THAT CRUSHED SNOW-REMOVAL BUDGETS; MADE T-V CELEBRITIES OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORS; SPURRED SALES OF FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, SHAVED [REMOVED] DAYS FROM THE SCHOOL CALENDAR... YEARS FROM NOW, FOLKS WILL REMEMBER HOW THEY SPENT THE BLIZZARD OF JANUARY 7-8, WHEN ALMOST 61 CENTIMETERS OF SNOW SHUTTERED HE NORTHEAST."

TEXT: AND ON THAT METEOROLOGICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF THE DAYS EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF THE U-S PRESS. NEB/ANG/PCH 20-Mar-96 11:09 AM EST (1609 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- PART 1 (OF 2) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (STOLAC, BOSNIA)

INTRO: AS THE WINTER SNOWS MELT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THE UNITED NATIONS IS STEPPING UP PLANS TO BEGIN THE REPATRIATION OF SOME OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO FLED OR WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES DURING THE CONFLICT. BUT CONTINUING TENSIONS AMONG THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS COULD SEVERELY HAMPER THE PROCESS. MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS AGREED IN THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN TO A PILOT PROJECT AIMED AT THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF SMALL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES WITHIN THE FEDERATION -- BUT THE PLAN HAS NOT GONE WELL. IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES ON THE REFUGEES, V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS FILED THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM STOLAC IN SOUTHERN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE TWO BUSES MOVED SLOWLY UP THE NARROW COUNTRY ROAD, STOPPING OUTSIDE A SMALL GRAVEYARD IN THE ROCKY HILLS OF SOUTHERN BOSNIA. ON BOARD ARE NEARLY 200 MUSLIMS, INTENT ON PERFORMING AN AGELESS BALKAN RITUAL, A VISIT TO THE GRAVES OF THEIR ANCESTORS.

IT IS DEPICTED AS A CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURE, DESIGNED TO REBUILD LINKS BETWEEN THE MUSLIM AND CROAT COMMUNITIES. THE PILGRIMS ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME REGION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY THREE-YEARS, SINCE CROAT FORCES SEIZED THE AREA, EXPELLING ALL BUT A HANDFUL OF ITS MUSLIM INHABITANTS.

THERE ARE TEARS AND SOBS AS THE GROUP ENTERS THE OVERGROWN CEMETERY, SURROUNDED BY A SMALL STONE FENCE. BUT 56-YEAR-OLD ESMAT SULA SHOWS LITTLE EMOTION. HE QUICKLY PULLS A PAIR OF GARDEN CLIPPERS FROM HIS JACKET POCKET, AND SILENTLY CLEARS THE WEEDS AND BRACKEN FROM THE GRAVE OF HIS COUSIN.

MR. SULA SAYS HE HAS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE VISIT. HE WISHES HE COULD HAVE COME SOONER. BUT, AS HE GAZES AT THE SCATTERED FARMHOUSES, MANY IN RUINS, THAT DOT THE COUNTRYSIDE, HE SAYS THIS IS NOT THE VILLAGE HE LEFT. STILL, MR. SULA AND THE OTHER VISITORS LEAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THEIR WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. BUT THE CROAT POLICEMEN ESCORTING THE PILGRIMS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ONLY A VISIT, AND THEY WATCH CAREFULLY AS THE MUSLIMS GET BACK ON THE BUSES.

BEFORE THE WAR, MUSLIMS FORMED A SLIGHT MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF THE STOLAC REGION, AND PRACTICALLY ALL WANT TO RETURN. IT WILL HAPPEN SOON, PERHAPS EVEN THIS YEAR, SAYS MR. SULA, WITH AN AIR OF GRIM DETERMINATION. BUT OTHERS IN THE GROUP ARE NOT SO CERTAIN.

THAT IS JUST YOUR WISH OLD MAN, ONE OF MR. SULA'S FRIENDS SAY, YOU CANNOT BE SURE THE CROATS WILL ALLOW YOU BACK.

AT LAST YEAR'S BALKAN PEACE CONFERENCE IN DAYTON, IT WAS AGREED 100 MUSLIM FAMILIES WOULD BE ALLOWED BACK INTO STOLAC. NONE HAS YET RETURNED, AND IN A DEMONSTRATION OF CROAT OPPOSITION TO THE MOVE MUSLIM-OWNED HOMES IN STOLAC WERE BLOWN UP, LONG AFTER THE PLAN WAS APPROVED.

THEN LAST MONTH, IN THE PRESENCE OF SENIOR CROAT AND MUSLIM OFFICIALS, THE AGREEMENT ON STOLAC WAS SIGNED AGAIN. ONE-HUNDRED HOUSES IN THE TOWN WERE SET ASIDE FOR MUSLIM RETURNEES. THE U-N APPROVED LIMITED RECONSTRUCTION AID TO MAKE THE HOUSES LIVABLE AGAIN.

THEY ARE LOCATED ON KNEZA DOMAGOJA STREET, ON THE SOUTHEASTERN EDGE OF THE TOWN. MOST ARE BADLY DAMAGED, BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE HOUSES SHOULD BE READY FOR THE MUSLIM RETURNEES WITHIN THE NEXT SIX-WEEKS.

THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME. THE CROAT MAYOR OF STOLAC, MILO MARKOVIC, TOLD A RECENT INTERVIEWER HE WAS NOT CONSULTED ABOUT THE REPATRIATION PLAN. HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE MUSLIMS WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN, THERE WILL BE NO LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

THE REACTION FROM OTHER CROAT RESIDENTS OF STOLAC IS MORE OMINOUS. ASKED HOW HE WILL RESPOND TO THE RETURNING MUSLIMS, MIROSLAV, A TAXI DRIVER, ANGRILY WAVES HIS HAND AND SAYS "GOD HELP THEM". MIROSLAV, WHO HAS BEEN STAYING WITH A CROAT FAMILY ON KNEZA DOMAGOJA STREET, IS A REFUGEE FROM A MUSLIM-HELD TOWN IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. HE SAID LOST EVERYTHING HE OWNED WHEN THE MUSLIMS ATTACKED, SO HOW -- HE ASKS -- CAN HE BE EXPECTED TO LIVE WITH THEM AGAIN?

THOSE SENTIMENTS CAN BE HEARD ACROSS THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. THOSE WHO WERE EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMES ARE ANXIOUS TO RETURN. FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE WHO DID THE EXPELLING HAVE NO WISH TO SEE THEIR FORMER NEIGHBORS AGAIN.

MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS BLAME EACH OTHER FOR THE CONTINUED IMPASSE AND THE SMOLDERING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

WESTERN OFFICIALS AND AID AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES IN THE REGION SAY THE CROAT LEADERSHIP IS THE MOST RESISTANT TO RE-INTEGRATION. BUT THEY SAY THE ACTIONS OF SOME MUSLIM LEADERS ARE ONLY FUELING CROAT FEARS OF DOMINATION BY THE MUSLIM MAJORITY.

ON ONE POINT, ALL SEEM TO AGREE -- IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO RESTORE A SENSE OF COMMUNAL HARMONY BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS OF BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/RAE
20-Mar-96 7:57 AM EST (1257 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA / REFUGEES -- PART 2 (OF 2) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (BUGOJNO, BOSNIA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN PEACE PLAN SET THE STAGE FOR THE RETURN OF HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES, WHO FLED OR WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES DURING THE MORE THAN THREE-YEARS OF WARFARE. BUT THE REPATRIATION EFFORT IS LIKELY TO FACE MANY OBSTACLES, IN A LAND WHERE ENTIRE TOWNS AND VILLAGES WERE ALL BUT TOTALLY DESTROYED AND WHERE MISTRUST AND HATRED STILL SEPARATE THE MUSLIM, CROAT, AND SERB COMMUNITIES. MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS AGREED TO THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF SMALL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES WITHIN THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION, BUT THAT LIMITED EFFORT HAS YET TO BE COMPLETED. IN THE SECOND OF A TWO PART SERIES ON THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES, V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM THE CENTRAL TOWN OF BUGOJNO.

TEXT: STRATEGICALLY LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO A BROAD MOUNTAIN PLAIN, BUGOJNO WAS A FRONT-LINE TOWN THROUGH MUCH OF THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT, FREQUENTLY POUNDED BY SERB GUNNERS IN THE HILLS TO THE NORTH. BUT LOCAL RESIDENTS SAY THE 10-DAYS OF WARFARE BETWEEN MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES INSIDE THE TOWN IN THE SUMMER OF 1993 WAS BUGOJNO'S WORST MOMENT.

TROOPS LOYAL TO BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT WON THE BATTLE. CROAT MILITIAMEN WERE EXPELLED FROM THE TOWN. CROAT CIVILIANS FLED.

BEFORE THE WAR, CROATS MADE UP MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE REGION'S NEARLY 50-THOUSAND INHABITANTS. ONLY ABOUT 12-HUNDRED, MOSTLY ELDERLY CROATS REMAIN, AND MOST HAVE MOVED FROM NEARBY VILLAGES INTO THE CENTER OF BUGOJNO, NEAR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA.

CROAT POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE TOWN SAY THE CROAT COMMUNITY IS CONSTANTLY SUBJECTED TO ABUSE AND HARASSMENT BY THE MUSLIM MAJORITY.

CROATS ARE INSULTED AND ATTACKED IN THE STREETS, SAYS IVO MRCO, LOCAL HEAD OF THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION. HE SAYS CROAT HOMES ARE BEING DESTROYED AND LOOTED AND THE LOCAL POLICE DO NOTHING.

AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, FATHER ANTHONY SVITKOVIC, SAYS HE RECEIVES A STEADY STREAM OF COMPLAINTS FROM CROAT CITIZENS. THE CHURCH CAN HELP FEED AND CLOTHE THEM, HE SAYS, BUT IT CANNOT GIVE THEM THE FREEDOM AND SECURITY THEY ARE SEEKING.

FATHER ANTHONY AND MR. MRCO BLAME ONE MAN FOR WHAT THEY CALL THE ANTI-CROAT ATMOSPHERE HERE -- DZEVAD MLACO, THE MUSLIM MAYOR OF BUGOJNO. HE IS VILIFIED BY CROAT LEADERS THROUGHOUT BOSNIA, AND UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS TRYING TO ENSURE THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION HOLDS TOGETHER.

INTERVIEWED AT HIS OFFICE IN THE MUNICIPALITY BUILDING, MR. MLACO SIMPLY DISMISSES THE CHARGES AS CROAT PROPAGANDA.

UNDER THE TERMS OF AN ACCORD WORKED OUT AT THE DAYTON PEACE CONFERENCE, 200 CROAT FAMILIES WERE TO HAVE RETURNED TO BUGOJNO. BUT MAYOR MLACO HAS RESISTED THE PLAN.

HE CONTENDS THE ONLY THING DELAYING THE RETURN OF THE CROATS IS A SHORTAGE OF SUITABLE HOUSING. BUT U-N OFFICIALS DISPUTE THE ASSERTION, SAYING THERE ARE MANY VACANT APARTMENTS IN THE TOWN.

U-N AND WESTERN OFFICIALS VISITING BUGOJNO HAVE REPEATEDLY WARNED MAYOR MLACO UNLESS HE COMPLIES WITH THE REPATRIATION PLAN, BUGOJNO WILL NOT RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AID.

SENIOR MUSLIM OFFICIALS IN THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT HAVE PUBLICLY TOLD THE MAYOR HE MUST ALLOW THE CROATS TO RETURN. AT A RECENT MEETING WITH WESTERN ENVOYS, MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS AGREED TO DISMISS PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE SEEN AS BLOCKING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

BUT CROATS LEADERS SAY THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT IS TACITLY BACKING THE MAYOR'S HARDLINE STANCE. THEY POINT OUT MR. MLACO HOLDS ONE OF THE MOST SENIOR POSTS IN THE RULING PARTY.

THE MAYOR SEEMS UN-AFFECTED BY THE CONTROVERSY SWIRLING AROUND HIM. HE IS AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF THE CROAT LEADERSHIP, AND KEEPS A DETAILED RECORD OF RESTRICTIONS AND ABUSE OF MUSLIM CITIZENS IN CROAT-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.

WESTERN ENVOYS AND AID AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES IN THIS REGION, WHILE CRITICAL OF THE MAYOR, SAY HIS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CROAT LEADERSHIP ARE LARGELY JUSTIFIED.

THERE ARE MANY MLACO'S ON THE CROAT SIDE, SAYS ONE AID WORKER WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE REGION. SHE SAYS THE CROAT LEADERSHIP IS SIMPLY NOT SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BUILD THE FEDERATION, AND MUSLIMS ARE JUST NOT WELCOME IN CROAT-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/RAE
20-Mar-96 8:09 AM EST (1309 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA AID (S ONLY) BY GARY THOMAS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY THAT ADMINISTERS U-S FOREIGN AID PROGRAMS HAS WARNED AGAINST MAKING RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SUBJECT TO SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. VOA'S GARY THOMAS REPORTS.

TEXT: BRIAN ATWOOD, HEAD OF THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SAID CIVILIAN AID TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SHOULD NOT BE USED AS LEVERAGE TO FORCE BOSNIA TO EXPEL IRANIAN AND OTHER ISLAMIC FIGHTERS -- THE SO-CALLED "MUJAHEDIN."

IN TESTIMONY AT A SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING, MR. ATWOOD SAID SUCH LINKAGE COULD PUT THE BALKAN PEACE PROCESS AT RISK.

MR. ATWOOD SAID THE EXPULSION OF FOREIGN ISLAMIC COMBATANTS SHOULD, INSTEAD, BE THE SUBJECT OF MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE AGREED SETTLEMENT.

WE WOULD SEE THE COMMITTMENT TO EQUIP AND TRAIN THE BOSNIANS TIED TO OUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET THE MUJAHEDIN AND THE IRANIANS OUT OF THAT COUNTRY.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING FOR AN ANNUAL 200 MILLION DOLLAR SUPPLEMENTAL AID APPROPRIATION FOR CIVILIAN AID FOR BOSNIA. HOWEVER, SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL -- BACKED BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE -- LAST WEEK OFFERED AN AMENDMENT MAKING FUNDING CONTINGENT ON THE EXPULSION FROM BOSNIA OF THE ISLAMIC MILITARY VOLUNTEERS.

UNDER THE DAYTON ACCORDS, ALL THE ISLAMIC FIGHTERS WERE TO BE OUT OF BOSNIA BY JANUARY 19TH. (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/CF
20-Mar-96 12:53 PM EST (1753 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO COMMANDERS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY BELIEVE ALL SIDES ARE IN GENERAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT AND HAVE MET THE MOST IMPORTANT DEADLINE IN THE TREATY. DAVID FOLEY IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ALSO REPORTS THERE HAS BEEN SOME VIOLENCE NEAR SARAJEVO, IN A SUBURB THAT IS DIVIDED BY THE NEW BORDER BETWEEN SERB AND GOVERNMENT AREAS.

TEXT: THE COMMANDER OF NATO GROUND FORCES IN BOSNIA, LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER, WAS NOT WILLING TO SAY THAT ALL SIDES WERE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON ACCORD, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THAT WORD WILL HAVE TO COME FROM EVEN HIGHER AUTHORITIES.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I HAVEN'T DETECTED ANYTHING TODAY THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NON-COMPLIANCE.

A LAST MINUTE TRY AT BRINKSMANSHIP BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARMY FIZZLED WHEN ARMY COMMANDERS ORDERED THE LAST MOMENT EVACUATION OF THE MAIN BOSNIAN ARMY BARRACKS IN SARAJEVO. THE BARRACKS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINE AND IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE DAYTON PLAN. A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS IS BEING NEGOTIATED, BUT NEITHER NATO NOR THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SEEM TO QUITE KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

GENERAL WALKER SAID THE NEXT BIG TASK FOR NATO WAS TO ENSURE ARMIES FROM ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA HAD RETURNED TO BARRACKS A MONTH FROM NOW. AND HE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM THAT WOULD HAPPEN AS SCHEDULED. THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR NATO COMMANDERS IS THE CONTINUING INSTABILITY OF THE FEDERATION BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS. GENERAL WALKER SAID NATO WAS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME PATCHING UP QUARRELS WITHIN THE FEDERATION.

WHAT IS NEEDED IN MY VIEW IS A POLITICAL DETERMINATION WITHIN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THE FEDERATION WORK, AND THEN THE REST OF IT WILL, HOPEFULLY, FALL INTO PLACE. IF THAT HAPPENS IT WILL MAKE ALL OF OUR LIVES A LOT EASIER. IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN I BELIEVE THE COUNTRY HAS A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF HEADING DOWN A MUCH FASTER ROUTE TO PEACE.

GENERAL WALKER SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME NATO WOULD BE FORCED TO INTERVENE IF THERE WAS ANY FIGHTING BETWEEN MUSLIM AND CROAT MILITARY UNITS OF THE FEDERATION. BUT HE SAID HE DID NOT THINK SUCH ACTION WOULD BE NECESSARY. MEANWHILE, OFFICIALS HAVE SAID TUESDAY'S HANDOVER OF GRBAVICA, THE LAST SERB DISTRICT OF SARAJEVO, TO THE GOVERNMENT WAS CARRIED OUT WITHOUT THE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION THAT MARRED THE TRANSFER OF ANOTHER SERB SUBURB A WEEK AGO. ONLY ONE INCIDENT OF INTIMIDATION WAS REPORTED, AND OFFICIALS PRAISED THE FEDERATION POLICE.

HOWEVER ALEX IVANKO, THE U-N SPOKESMAN, SAYS THERE WAS SOME VIOLENCE IN DOBRINJA, ANOTHER SUBURB OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL NEXT TO THE CITY'S AIRPORT.

THE SITUATION HAS DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY, BECAUSE OF THE DEMARCATION LINE GOING THROUGH APARTMENT BLOCKS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS YESTERDAY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE REPORTING GUNFIRE IN THE AREA, AND A PERSON WAS BLOWN UP IN A CAR. IT'S NOT YET CLEAR WAS THAT A CAR BOMB OR A GRENADE, BUT THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS INCIDENTS AND THE SITUATION IS PRETTY TENSE THERE.

THE DEMARCATION LINE BASICALLY DIVIDES APARTMENT BLOCKS. MEANING FOR EXAMPLE THAT YOUR LIVING ROOM IS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TERRITORY, AND YOUR BEDROOM MIGHT BE IN THE FEDERATION TERRITORY.

NATO SOURCES SAY TROOPS ARE BEING SENT TO THE AREA TO TRY TO CALM THE RESIDENTS, AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING BETWEEN THE FEDERATION AND SERB AUTHORITIES TO TRY TO REACH A SOLUTION. BUT SO FAR, NO AGREEMENT HAS BEEN FOUND. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/CF
20-Mar-96 2:33 PM EST (1933 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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