Voice of America, 3 April 1996 (2 of 2)

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] E-U / MAD COW (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: BRITAIN IS AT ODDS WITH ITS EUROPEAN UNION PARTNERS OVER THE BEST STRATEGY FOR TACKLING THE CRISIS INVOLVING MAD COW DISEASE, B-S-E. AFTER A MARATHON MEETING LASTING TWO DAYS AND ONE ENTIRE NIGHT, THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION FARM MINISTERS APPROVED A PLAN TO TACKLE THE CRISIS -- BUT BRITAIN REFUSED TO ENDORSE IT. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THIS WAS BECAUSE THE OTHER 14 NATIONS HAD REFUSED TO END THE EUROPEAN UNION'S EXPORT BAN ON ALL BRITISH BEEF.

TEXT: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR ATTENDED A EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT MEETING LAST FRIDAY IN TURIN, ITALY, AND SAID HE WAS HEARTENED BY THE SOLIDARITY WHICH HIS EUROPEAN UNION COLLEAGUES DISPLAYED WHEN THE B-S-E CRISIS WAS DISCUSSED. HOWEVER, THE BRITISH FOUND LIFE WAS NOT SO EASY WHEN IT CAME TO TRANSLATING THESE WARM WORDS INTO ACTIONS.

THERE IS NOW BROAD AGREEMENT AMONG THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION GOVERNMENTS ON A SERIES OF MEASURES TO TRY TO ERADICATE MAD COW DISEASE. HOWEVER, BRITISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG REFUSED TO AGREE TO THE PACKAGE, IN PROTEST AT THE REFUSAL BY THE OTHER EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES TO LIFT THE EXPORT BAN ON ALL BRITISH BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS, WHICH WAS IMPOSED LAST WEEK.

MR HOGG DESCRIBED THE WAY BRITAIN IS BEING TREATED AS UNFAIR, UNJUSTIFIED, AND UNSCIENTIFIC.

WE FELT THAT WE WERE ENTITLED TO INSIST ON THE REMOVAL OF THE BAN, EITHER ON A CERTAIN DATE, OR ON A VERY CLEAR TIMETABLE TO A RAPID REMOVAL OF THE BAN. THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE IN THE DISCUSSIONS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT THESE CONCLUSIONS.

EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS SAY THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE DIVISION THAN THERE ACTUALLY IS, BECAUSE THE BRITISH SEEM PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT ALL THE MAIN MEASURES IN THE EUROPEAN ACTION PROGRAM ON B-S-E, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO PUBLICLY ENDORSE IT.

THE MOST RADICAL MEASURE WILL BE THE SLAUGHTER AND DESTRUCTION OF AROUND FOUR-MILLION COWS IN BRITAIN, OVER A PERIOD OF UP TO SIX YEARS.

MEAT FROM ANIMALS WHICH ARE OLDER THAN 30 MONTHS WILL NOT BE USED AS FOOD, BUT WILL INSTEAD BE KILLED AND INCINERATED. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PICKING UP 70 PERCENT OF THE BILL FOR THIS MEASURE.

HOLLAND AND SOME OTHER EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES WILL ALSO RECEIVE CASH HELP FOR THE SLAUGHTER AND DESTRUCTION OF VEAL CALVES WHICH WERE IMPORTED FROM BRITAIN.

THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ADDITIONAL SELECTIVE SLAUGHTER IN BRITAIN OF THOSE CATTLE WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO BE MOST AT RISK FROM B-S-E, BUT DETAILS ARE STILL TO BE WORKED OUT.

AND THE BRITISH HERD IS TO BE GIVEN INDIVIDUAL SERIAL NUMBERS, SO IT WILL BE EASIER TO KEEP TRACK OF INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS, ENABLING SWIFT ACTION IN THE FUTURE AGAINST TARGETED GROUPS OF CATTLE WHICH ARE SUSPECTED OF BEING INFECTED WITH B-S-E.

ONCE ALL THESE MEASURES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE BRITAIN COULD GET THE BAN ON ITS BEEF EXPORTS LIFTED. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE A TOUGH BATTLE, WITH COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY AND BELGIUM EXPRESSING RELUCTANCE, AS THEY FEAR A RESUMPTION OF BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS COULD ENDANGER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THEIR COUNTRIES, AND LEAD TO A COLLAPSE IN THE BEEF MARKET ON THE SCALE THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN WITNESSED IN BRITAIN. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/JWH/JM
03-Apr-96 9:47 AM EST (1447 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] E-U BEEF / L-O BY JOHN FRASER (LUXEMBOURG)

INTRO: BRITAIN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WON A DEAL UNDER WHICH THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL FUND 70 PERCENT OF THE COST OF DESTROYING MORE THAN FOUR MILLION CATTLE, TO TACKLE THE CRISIS OF MAD COW DISEASE. HOWEVER, BRITISH FARM MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG REFUSED TO GIVE HIS FULL SUPPORT TO THE E-U ACCORD, BECAUSE THE OTHER 14 EUROPEAN NATIONS REFUSED TO LIFT AN EXPORT BAN ON BRITISH BEEF. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A NEWS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: ALL BUT ONE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FARM MINISTERS FINALLY REACHED AN ACCORD WEDNESDAY MORNING, AFTER MARATHON TALKS LAUNCHED MONDAY AFTERNOON.

THE BRITISH WERE ISOLATED OVER THEIR INSISTENCE EUROPE'S EXPORT BAN ON BRITISH BEEF BE LIFTED.

BRITISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG DID AGREE AT THE MEETING ALL MEAT FROM CATTLE AGED OVER 30 MONTHS WILL BE DESTROYED, INSTEAD OF BEING FED INTO THE FOOD CHAIN.

THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL PAY 70 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM, WITH AN ANNUAL BILL OVER FIVE OR SIX YEARS OF 400 MILLION DOLLARS.

IN ADDITION, BRITAIN WILL AGREE WITH EUROPEAN OFFICIALS -- BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH -- ON A STRATEGY FOR RADICALLY REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF CASES OF MAD COW DISEASE.

THIS WILL BE DONE BY ADOPTING MEASURES FOR SELECTING THOSE HERDS MOST AT RISK FROM THE DISEASE AND SLAUGHTERING ALL THE ANIMALS IN SUCH HERDS.

THE MOST-LIKELY CRITERIA WILL BE THAT HERDS WHICH HAVE HAD FOUR OR MORE CASES OF DISEASE WILL BE ERADICATED.

ALTHOUGH BOTH BRITAIN AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAVE ARGUED MEAT FROM VEAL CALVES CARRIES NO RISK OF MAD COW, HOLLAND HAS WON AROUND 14 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS A PROGRAM FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF 64 THOUSAND VEAL CALVES IMPORTED FROM BRITAIN.

BRITAIN HAD HOPED THE EUROPEAN UNION WOULD SPEEDILY LIFT ITS BAN ON EXPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS. HOWEVER, ALL THAT WAS AGREED WAS THAT THE BAN WILL BE REVIEWED WITHIN SIX WEEKS.

MR. HOGG WAS FURIOUS.

HE CHARGES THE ACTION OF THE OTHER E-U COUNTRIES IS UNJUST AND UNFAIR.

HE SAYS HE REFUSES TO BE BOUND BY ALL ELEMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ACCORD. BRITAIN IS NONETHELESS EXPECTED TO GO ALONG WITH MOST OF ITS PROVISIONS. (SIGNED) NEB / JF / AC-T / WOD 03-Apr-96 6:12 AM EST (1112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] GERMANY / KURDS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY DEATH THREATS FROM THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY. BUT AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, SECURITY AROUND TOP OFFICIALS HAS BEEN STEPPED UP IN THE WAKE OF THE THREATS.

TEXT: SECURITY GUARDS ARE REPORTED TO BE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, WHO IS ON VACATION AT AN AUSTRIAN SPA NEAR THE CITY OF SALZBURG.

THE HEIGHTENED SECURITY FOLLOWS A SERIES OF THREATS FROM THE BANNED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (P-K-K), AND ITS LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO IS DEMANDING GERMANY END ITS SUPPORT OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.

IN THE LATEST EDITION OF THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER "DIE ZEIT", THE SYRIAN BASED P-K-K LEADER SAYS HE COULD UNLEASH A WAVE OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS AGAINST GERMANY IF HIS DEMANDS ARE NOT MET.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL, WHO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVING DEATH THREATS, SAYS GERMAN OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED, BUT THEY ARE TAKING THE THREATS SERIOUSLY.

IN ADDITION TO ANGER OVER GERMAN SUPPORT FOR ITS NATO ALLY TURKEY, SUPPORTERS OF THE KURDISH REBEL GROUP HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED BITTERNESS AT A RECENT GERMAN CRACKDOWN ON VIOLENT KURDISH PROTESTERS.

IN THE WAKE OF SEVERAL BLOODY CLASHES BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE AROUND GERMANY LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOVED TO SPEED THE EXPULSIONS OF KURDS CONVICTED OF ENGAGING IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

SOME ANALYSTS HAVE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTRAIN ITS REACTION TO THE VIOLENCE, AND AVOID RADICALIZING MORE OF THE NEARLY 500-THOUSAND KURDS WHO LIVE PEACEFULLY IN GERMANY.

EXPERTS SAY MOST OF THE VIOLENT PROTESTS IN THE COUNTRY ARE SPARKED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF HARD-CORE KURDISH RADICALS ESTIMATED TO NUMBER ABOUT 75-HUNDRED. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
03-Apr-96 8:11 AM EST (1311 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] PAVAROTTI AIDS BOSNIAN CHILDREN BY BERNIE BERNARD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE MOST FAMILIAR VOICES OF THE MODERN ERA, RENOWNED OPERA STAR LUCIANO PAVAROTTI, JOINED WITH ROCK AND POP ARTISTS FOR ANOTHER IN HIS SERIES OF "PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS" ALBUMS. A CONCERT WAS STAGED IN ITALY TO BENEFIT WAR CHILD, A RELIEF ORGANIZATION FOR THE CHILDREN OF WAR-TORN BOSNIA. PAVAROTTI BLENDED HIS TENOR VOICE WITH SOME OF ROCK'S FAMILIAR NAMES, SUCH AS BONO AND THE EDGE FROM U2, MICHAEL BOLTON, MEAT LOAF AND

TEXT: LUCIANO PAVAROTTI SHARED THE STAGE WITH ROCK AND POP SINGERS TO BENEFIT THE WAR CHILD ORGANIZATION, WHICH PROVIDES FOOD, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR BOSNIAN CHILDREN TRAUMATIZED BY THE HORRORS OF WAR. "PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS - TOGETHER FOR THE CHILDREN OF BOSNIA" WAS RECORDED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1995 BEFORE A CHEERING OUTDOOR CROWD IN PAVAROTTI'S HOME TOWN OF MODENA (MO DEN UH), ITALY. THE TOWN WAS ALSO THE SCENE OF THREE EARLIER BENEFIT ALBUMS BY THE OPERA STAR, WITH PREVIOUS GUESTS INCLUDING POP STARS BRYAN ADAMS AND STING. FOR THE CURRENT ALBUM, POP TENORS SUCH AS MICHAEL BOLTON AND MEAT LOAF MATCHED VOCALS WITH PAVAROTTI. DOLORES O'RIORDAN FROM THE CRANBERRIES PERFORMED A MOVING VERSION OF THE HYMN "AVE MARIA," AND BONO AND THE EDGE FROM IRISH ROCK BAND U2 JOINED WITH BRITISH ARTIST AND PRODUCER BRIAN ENO AND PAVAROTTI FOR THE DEBUT OF THE SONG "MISS SARAJEVO." PAVAROTTI WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE VOCAL RANGE OF SOME OF HIS DUET PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY MICHAEL BOLTON, WHO WAS COACHED IN OPERATIC TECHNIQUE AND ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION JUST FOR THE CONCERT. PAVAROTTI WAS PLEASED TO SHOW HOW OPERA AND POP ARE NOT SUCH UNLIKELY COMPANIONS. TAPE A: CUT 1 -- LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (:36) (FIELD RECORDING) "ARE YOU ARE ASKING IF IT IS GOOD OR BAD MUSIC? I THINK IT IS GOOD. I THINK IT IS NEW. I THINK THE WORLD OF OPERA ITSELF NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT EVERYBODY WILL GO TO SEE, BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE PLEASURE OF A VERY FEW SOPHISTICATED INTELLECTUALS, THEN SOMETIMES THEY FALL ASLEEP ANYHOW. IT'S A SOCIAL DUTY. YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR ALL OF US. AND SO THAT IS THE PRINCIPAL REASON (FOR THE CONCERT), BECAUSE I LIKE THE MUSIC OF THESE KIDS, THAT THEY MAKE TODAY." TAPE B: CUT 2 -- PAVAROTTI & MICHAEL BOLTON - "VESTA LA GIUBBA" FROM "PAGLIACCI" CDP-13227, CUT 11 (LEONCAVALLO/ P.D.) CUE IN 1:56, ESTABLISH UNTIL 2:31, THEN FADE UNDER TEXT

TEXT: "PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS - TOGETHER FOR THE CHILDREN OF BOSNIA" FEATURES ITALIAN SINGERS SUCH AS ROCKER ZUCCHERO (ZOO KER OH), WHO PERFORMED AT THE WOODSTOCK '94 FESTIVAL, AND RAPPER JOVANOTTI (JO VUH NO TEE), WHO IS A FAMILIAR FACE TO (CABLE MUSIC TELEVISION NETWORK) MTV VIEWERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. OTHER GUESTS INCLUDED SIMON LE BON OF DURAN DURAN, IRISH TRADITIONAL GROUP THE CHIEFTAINS AND CROATIAN SINGER NENAD (NAY NAHD) BACH.

SEVERAL PERFORMERS COMMENTED THAT PAVAROTTI WAS UNRELENTING IN SECURING THEIR COMMITMENTS FOR THE CONCERT. THE OPERA STAR FINALLY CONNECTED WITH THE CHIEFTAINS' PADDY MALONEY IN A HOTEL ROOM AT 4 IN THE MORNING, AND HE CALLED U2'S BONO EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH UNTIL HE SAID YES TO THE PROJECT. BACKSTAGE AT THE CONCERT, BONO SAID HE AND THE EDGE WERE CONVINCED BY PAVAROTTI TO JUGGLE THEIR HECTIC SCHEDULES TO APPEAR AT THE CHARITY EVENT AND FIND TIME TO WRITE "MISS SARAJEVO." TAPE A: CUT 2 -- BONO (:12) (VIDEO) "WE WERE MAKING TWO ALBUMS AT THE TIME. WE DIDN'T THINK WE COULD COME UP WITH A SONG OR COME HERE. BUT HE'S A HARD MAN TO SAY NO TO, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE."

TEXT: THE OPERA STAR DONATED ALL OF HIS OWN ROYALTIES FROM "PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS - "TOGETHER FOR THE CHILDREN OF BOSNIA" TO THE WAR CHILD ORGANIZATION. THE CONCERT IS ALSO BEING RELEASED ON HOME VIDEO. HERE'S BONO AND THE EDGE FROM U2, BRIAN ENO AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI WITH THE SONG WRITTEN AND PERFORMED FOR THE OCCASION, "MISS SARAJEVO." (SIGNED) TAPE B: CUT 3 -- PAVAROTTI WITH BONO THE EDGE & BRIAN ENO - "MISS SARAJEVO" CDP-13227, CUT 6 (BONO, THE EDGE/ BLUE MOUNTAIN, POLYGRAM INT'L, OPAL/ ASCAP) SNEAK FOR :30 THEN BRING UP. PLAY AS DESIRED (TOTAL TIME - 6:07)

ACTUALITIES FROM BERNIE BERNARD INTERVIEW AND LONDON/RCA RECORDS 03-Apr-96 3:12 PM EST (2012 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] PENTAGON-BROWN (L) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IS MISSING AND FEARED DEAD AFTER HIS PLANE CRASHED ON A TRIP TO CROATIA. AMERICAN AND CROATIAN SEARCH TEAMS ARE IN THE AREA BUT THERE IS NO DEFINITE WORD ON THE SECRETARY'S FATE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE PLANE WAS INBOUND FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WITH MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE ABOARD, INCLUDING MR. BROWN AND ABOUT A DOZEN AMERICAN BUSINESS EXECUTIVES . U-S GENERAL HOWELL ESTES SAYS THE PILOTS WERE TRYING TO LAND IN THE COASTAL CITY OF DUBROVNIK, IN BAD WEATHER.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH, IT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE TOWER IN DUBROVNIK AIRPORT WHEN CONTACT WAS LOST.

THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS NOT KNOWN. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THE PLANE MAY HAVE DRIFTED OFF COURSE. GENERAL ESTES SAYS IT WAS APPARENTLY NOT BROUGHT DOWN BY ANY OF THE FACTIONS THAT FOUGHT THE BALKAN WAR.

AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY HOSTILE FIRE IN THE AREA. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND OF AN EXPLOSION ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND I THINK AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION WE WOULD RULE ANYTHING OUT OF THAT TYPE.

THE PLANE WAS A MILITARY VERSION OF THE TWIN-ENGINE BOEING SEVEN-37. OFFICIALS SAY DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON APPARENTLY USED THE SAME JET ON THEIR RECENT TRIPS TO THE BALKANS. THE AIR FORCE SAYS IT WENT THROUGH A FULL SAFETY INSPECTION LAST JUNE AND HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN AS MUCH AS CIVILIAN PLANES OF THE SAME AGE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/PT
03-Apr-96 6:40 PM EST (2340 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] YUGO / WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE PLANS TO FORMALLY COMPLAIN TO THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT A LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS IN RESPONSE, THE UNITED NATIONS COULD CONSIDER REIMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST BELGRADE.

TEXT: THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INTENDS TO INFORM THE UNITED NATIONS THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO EXTRADITE THREE YUGOSLAV ARMY SOLDIERS, ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES IN CROATIA.

INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE THREE SOLDIERS, LINKED TO THE KILLING IN 1991 OF HUNDREDS OF CROATIAN CIVILIANS FROM THE TOWN OF VUKOVAR.

VUKOVAR WAS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED BY INTENSE YUGOSLAV ARTILLERY FIRE AND BY A LONG SIEGE. THE TOWNS' CAPTURE SET THE STAGE FOR BRUTAL SERB ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGNS IN CROATIA AND IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

AT RECENT PUBLIC HEARINGS LAST MONTH ON THE ALLEGED MASSACRE, A WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR SAID WHEN A GOVERNMENT GIVES REFUGE AND SUPPORT TO CRIMINALS, THAT GOVERNMENT BECOMES A CRIMINAL TOO. HE SAID THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT BELGRADE HAS DONE IN THIS CASE.

IF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AGREES WITH THAT ASSESSMENT, IT COULD CONSIDER RE-IMPOSING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. A STRONG U-N WARNING TO BELGRADE TO COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WOULD BE A LIKELY FIRST STEP. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/RAE
03-Apr-96 7:14 AM EST (1214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America