Voice of America, 29 April 1996

Voice of America Directory

From: News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER READERS CAN FIND A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY, WITH MANY LOCAL TOPICS GIVEN PRIORITY. AMONG THE MORE COMMON ARE: THE BELATED PASSAGE OF A U-S GOVERNMENT BUDGET; RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA; THE ITALIAN ELECTION; DEMOCRACY IN MALI AND A MASSACRE IN NORMALLY PEACEFUL TASMANIA. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A FEW QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMENTARIES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE RELIEVED THAT CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HAVE FINALLY AGREED ON A SPENDING PLAN FOR THE COUNTRY, ALMOST SIX MONTHS INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" REFLECTS THE GENERAL THINKING IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, EXCLAIMING: "AT LAST, A BUDGET."

VOICE: "BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN CLAIM VICTORY IN THE FINAL COMPROMISE THAT LED TO A 1996 FEDERAL BUDGET SEVEN MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR... BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BUDGET-BALANCING PLANS ON THE TABLE, BUT THEY ARE FAR APART. A USEFUL STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION COULD BE THE CENTRIST PLAN PUT FORWARD BY A BIPARTISAN SENATE GROUP LED BY JOHN CHAFEE ... OF RHODE ISLAND AND JOHN BREAUX ... OF LOUISIANA... THE BUDGET CAN'T BE BALANCED WITHOUT TACKLING [DEALING WITH] THE GROWTH IN ENTITLEMENT SPENDING."

TEXT: THE "NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THIS "WEEK AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE SETTLED ITS BUDGET SQUABBLES WITH CONGRESS IS A GOOD TIME TO ASSESS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STEWARDSHIP OF THE ECONOMY."

VOICE: "...THE RECORD IS MIXED. HE HAD MANY SMALL SUCCESSES AND, IN HEALTH AND WELFARE REFORM, A FEW SPECTACULAR FAILURES. ON BALANCE, MR. CLINTON DID LITTLE HARM AND ALLOWED THE ECONOMY TO PROSPER. THAT IS NOT AN EXCITING GRADE SHEET. BUT IT IS A RESPONSIBLE ONE... HIS ARTFUL PARRYING OF REPUBLICAN EXCESSES PRESERVED THE SAFETY NET OF WELFARE AND MEDICAID. (TO) DO NO HARM IS NOT EXCITING. IT LOOKS PALE NEXT TO THE PROMISES OF HIS CAMPAIGN. BUT THE ACHIEVEMENT IS NO LESS REAL."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS CASTING AN EYE TOWARD THE LATEST RAPPROCHMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA, NOTING:

VOICE: "IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE OLD TIMES IN BEIJING LAST WEEK AS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN RAILED JOINTLY AGAINST 'HEGEMONISM, POWER POLITICS AND REPEATED IMPOSITION OF PRESSURES ON OTHER COUNTRIES' -- AGAINST U-S PUSHINESS, IN OTHER WORDS. MR. YELTSIN, FRESH FROM A U-S-RUSSIA SUMMIT WHERE HE REPEATEDLY HAILED 'MY FRIEND BILL,' BACKED CHINA IN ITS BULLYING OF TAIWAN AND TIBET, WHILE MR. JIANG ENDORSED RUSSIA'S ATTEMPTED SUBJUGATION OF THE CHECHENS. IN THEIR TALK OF A 'STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP,' ONE COULD ALMOST HEAR A NEW AXIS GRINDING INTO PLACE."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS PLEASED AT THE PROSPECTS FOR PROGRESS IN ITALY'S NEW, NEO-COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT AND ITS PREMIER-ELECT ROMANO PRODI.

VOICE: "[OPT] WHETHER THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF ITALY DELIVERS SOCIAL PROGRESS, FISCAL REFORMS AND POLITICAL STABILITY -- THIS LAST VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN IN ROME SINCE WORLD WAR TWO -- WILL DEPEND ON MOVES MADE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BY ROMANO PRODI, THE LIKELY NEW PREMIER. BUT THE PROSPECTS ARE FAR MORE HOPEFUL THAN MANY ITALIANS THOUGHT POSSIBLE A WEEK AGO... [END OPT] AS A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS, [MR.] PRODI CAN OFFER NO GUARANTEE BACKING UP HIS PLEDGE TO SERVE OUT A FULL FIVE-YEAR TERM. YET HE HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED REAL POLITICAL SKILL BY ABSORBING ... THE CURRENT PREMIER, LAMBERTO DINI ... AND HIS NEW PARTY INTO THE OLIVE TREE ALLIANCE ... FORMING A STRONG AND DURABLE GOVERNMENT AFTER PARLIAMENT CONVENES MAY 9TH WILL BE PRODI'S NEXT MAJOR TEST."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CELEBRATES AN UNHERALDED RETURN TO DEMOCRACY IN MALI, AND ACCUSES THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OF ESSENTIALLY IGNORING THE POOR WEST AFRICAN STATE'S TRANSFORMATION FROM MILITARY RULE.

VOICE: "WHILE HARDLY ANYBODY WAS WATCHING, THE PEOPLE OF MALI WERE BURNING SOME THREE-THOUSAND FIREARMS IN A MARCH CEREMONY MEANT TO MARK THE END OF A FIVE-YEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN TUAREG NOMAD REBELS AND THE MALIAN ARMY. THESE 'FLAMES OF PEACE' ARE A SALUTARY AUGURY FOR AFRICA, AND A POINTED REMINDER FOR WASHINGTON. MALI HAS MOVED WITHOUT FANFARE FROM 35 YEARS OF SINGLE-PARTY RULE AND 23 YEARS OF MILITARY DICTATORSHIP TO A MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY. THIS FEAT MIGHT BE BETTER KNOWN IF A SINGLE HIGH-LEVEL AMERICAN OFFICIAL HAD TROUBLED IN RECENT YEARS TO VISIT BAMAKO, MALI'S CAPITAL... THE PEOPLE OF MALI WILL OBVIOUSLY BE THE FINAL ARBITERS OF THIS PROMISING EXPERIMENT, BUT SHOWING THAT THE WORLD CARES CAN IMPROVE THE ODDS. [OPT] THAT IS SOMETHING WASHINGTON MIGHT KEEP IN MIND THE NEXT TIME A TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL GOES TO AFRICA."[END OPT]

TEXT: FINALLY, "USA TODAY" IS AMONG THE FIRST PAPERS TO COMMENT ON SUNDAY'S MASS MURDER OF 32 PEOPLE IN THE AUSTRALIAN RESORT TOWN OF PORT ARTHUR, TASMANIA. ITS HEADLINE READS: "A PLAGUE OF LUNACY":

VOICE: "SUNDAY'S DREADFUL SLAUGHTER IN ... TASMANIA SHOWS AGAIN THAT AMERICAN CULTURE HAS NO SPECIAL CLAIM TO LUNATIC VIOLENCE. INDEED, AUSTRALIA'S RAMPAGING SHOOTER JOINS AT LEAST TWO OTHERS IN A STRING OF RECENT MASSACRES SPANNING THE COMMONWEALTH. [OPT] ON MARCH 13TH, THOMAS HAMILTON WALKED INTO A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN DUNBLANE, SCOTLAND, AND [KILLED] 16 ... WOUNDING 12. AND ON APRIL 5TH, MARK CHAHAL WALKED INTO HIS IN-LAWS' HOME IN VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, KILLING NINE. [END OPT] ... IT WOULD BE COMFORTING TO ASCRIBE THESE HORROR SHOWS TO SOME SHARED CHARACTERISTIC... BUT LOOKING TO GUN-CONTROL LAWS OR MENTAL-HEALTH CARE OFFERS LITTLE SATISFACTION. IN ... TASMANIA ... THE VICTIMS DIED FOR THE LEAST EXPLAINABLE, LEAST CONSOLABLE REASON: THE UNPREDICTABLE LIGHTNING STRIKE OF ANOTHER PERSON'S MADNESS."

TEXT: ON THAT RATHER UNSETTLING NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.

NEB/ANG/PCH
29-Apr-96 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA/SARAJEVO (LONG) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THERE HAVE BEEN CLASHES BETWEEN MUSLIM AND SERB CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. NATO SAYS AT LEAST ONE MUSLIM WAS KILLED, AND SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED, WHEN A CROWD OF MUSLIMS TRIED TO VISIT THEIR OLD VILLAGES IN SERB CONTROLLED TERRITORY. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE VIOLENCE BROKE OUT AFTER A CROWD OF ABOUT 300 MUSLIMS CIVILIANS, CELEBRATING AN IMPORTANT MUSLIM HOLIDAY, TRIED TO VISIT CEMETERIES AND THEIR FORMER HOMES, NOW UNDER SERB CONTROL. THE MUSLIMS WERE STOPPED AT A NATO CHECK-POINT BETWEEN SERB AND GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED TERRITORY NEAR DOBOJ IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. A SMALLER CROWD OF ABOUT 25 SERBS GATHERED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHECKPOINT, WHICH WAS MANNED BY TWO PLATOONS OF SWEDISH SOLDIERS AND MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE.

AFTER SEVERAL HOURS STUCK AT THE CHECK-POINT MOST OF THE MUSLIMS LEFT, BUT A SMALL GROUP BEGAN THROWING STONES. NATO SPOKESMEN SAY SEVERAL PEOPLE, TRYING TO GO AROUND THE NATO POST, BROKE THROUGH BARBED WIRE, AND APPARENTLY WALKED INTO A MINE-FIELD WHERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED BY MINE EXPLOSIONS. NATO SPOKESMEN ALSO SAY AT LEAST ONE PERSON WAS KILLED BY WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE SMALL ARMS FIRE DURING THE CONFRONTATION.

NATO SAYS THE SWEDISH SOLDIERS DID NOT FIRE ON THE CIVILIANS AND BLAME THE INCIDENT ON THE FAILURE OF SERB AND GOVERNMENT POLICE TO CONTROL THEIR CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CHECKPOINT.

SEVERAL OF THE WOUNDED WERE EVACUATED BY AMERICAN HELICOPTERS TO HOSPITAL, BUT PILOTS REPORTEDLY SPOTTED MORE PEOPLE, THEIR CONDITION UNKNOWN, STILL TRAPPED IN THE MINEFIELD.

THIS INCIDENT IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF INCREASINGLY VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS AS CIVILIANS ON ALL SIDES TRY TO VISIT THEIR FORMER HOMES IN AREAS CONTROLLED BY OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS. ALSO ON MONDAY A CROWD OF ANGRY SERBS USED STONES, STICKS AND SHOVELS TO ATTACK BUSSES CARRYING MUSLIMS ON A VISIT TO THEIR OLD HOMES NEAR SARAJEVO. FIFTEEN MUSLIMS WERE INJURED AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TELEVISION SAID ONE PERSON LATER DIED AT A HOSPITAL IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

THIS SERIES OF CLASHES IN RECENT WEEKS IS PROVING TO BE A SERIOUS TEST OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, WHICH CALLS FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR CIVILIANS THROUGHOUT BOSNIA. NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE ORGANIZED MOVEMENT OF LARGE GROUPS OF CIVILIANS IS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, AND HAVE TRIED TO BLOCK SOME OF THE VISITS. NATO OFFICIALS, INSISTING THEIR TROOPS ARE NOT A POLICE FORCE, SAY THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO PROVIDE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITY OF CIVILIANS, AND THEY WANT TO AVOID EXACTLY THESE SORTS OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/CB/PT
29-Apr-96 6:17 PM EDT (2217 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / REFUGEES BY KYLE KING (PRIJEDOR)

INTRO: NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AND BOSNIAN POLICE HAVE BLOCKED A GROUP OF SEVERAL HUNDRED BOSNIAN REFUGEES FROM RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES IN WHAT IS NOW SERB TERRITORY. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS MANY OF THE REFUGEES HAD COME FROM GERMANY IN THE HOPES OF GETTING A LOOK AT THE HOMES THEY'VE FLED DURING THE THREE-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD WAR.

TEXT: THE CROWD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, INCLUDING SOME WHO HAD SURVIVED THE HORRORS OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AROUND PRIJEDOR, GATHERED ALONG A ROAD SEVERAL KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE SERB-HELD CITY.

BOSNIAN POLICE BLOCKED THE GROUP FROM TRAVELING INTO THE CITY, WHERE THE REFUGEES WANTED TO INSPECT THE HOMES THEY'VE FLED DURING THE WAR, AND EVENTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, ALL REFUGEES HAVE THE RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. BUT THE MEMORIES OF THE WAR AND THE HATRED AMONG THE VARIOUS SIDES ARE MAKING THOSE THINGS DIFFICULT.

BOSNIAN POLICE SAY THEY HAVE PREVENTED SOME REFUGEES FROM CROSSING INTO SERB TERRITORY BECAUSE THERE WERE CONCERNS FOR THEIR SAFETY. SERB RADIO HAD BEEN REPORTING THAT AS MANY AS TWENTY-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES WOULD BE TRYING TO ENTER THE CITY, AND FORCEABLE TAKE CONTROL OF SERB-HELD PROPERTY.

A CROWD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED SERBS GATHERED ON THEIR SIDE OF THE DEMARCATION LINE IN AN EFFORT TO BLOCK THE MUSLIMS, BUT THE GROUP DISPERSED AFTER THE BOSNIANS FAILED TO CROSS OVER.

U-N OFFICIAL ALUN ROBERTS EXPLAINS THE SITUATION.

WE'RE HOLDING OFF ABOUT A CROWD OF 250 OR SO LOCALS WHO THEN RAN WHEN THE POLICE WERE PUSHED AND THE CORDON BROKE, WHEN THEY REALIZED THERE WAS NOBODY THERE TO DO ANYTHING TO. IT WAS ALL IFOR AND THE U-N, AND I THINK THE NATIONAL PRESS SERVICE; THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THEM REALLY, BUT, I'M TOLD BY IFOR AND SOME OF THE I-P-D-F U-N POLICE THAT SOME OF THE CROWD WERE MAYBE (COMPOSED OF) LOCAL POLICE: NOT MANY BUT A FEW. OTHERS WERE REFUGEES. WE'RE HEARING THERE WAS A LARGER NUMBER HERE THAN THERE ACTUALLY WAS. (WE) WANT THE MILITIA TO TRY TO TAKE THEM ACROSS TO THEIR SIDE TO MAKE THEIR POINT.

IFOR OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE SOME OF THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN ARRANGING PEACEFUL TRIPS IN THE COMING WEEKS TO SEE THEIR HOMES IN THE AREA AROUND PRIJEDOR. BUT OFFICIALS ARE WARY OF ANY REPEAT OF THE CONFRONTATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN STICK-WIELDING MUSLIMS CLASHED WITH CHAIN-TOTING SERBS OVER THE SAME ISSUE IN ANOTHER REGION.

UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE REFUGEE ISSUE HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE DAYTON ACCORD. BUT IFOR OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE MAKING SLOW PROGRESS IN GETTING THE TWO SIDES TO WORK TOGETHER. (SIGNED)

NEB/KK/BD-T/LWM
28-Apr-96 6:01 PM EDT (2201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / NATO BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (SIPOVO, BOSNIA)

INTRO: THE NATO FORCE IN BOSNIA IS ENCOUNTERING FEW DIFFICULTIES IN KEEPING THE PEACE BETWEEN THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS. BUT IT IS GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN -- POLITICAL RECONCILIATION AND ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION -- ARE LAGGING FAR BEHIND. IN ONE PART OF CENTRAL BOSNIA, BRITISH NATO TROOPS ARE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAP. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS FILED THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM THE TOWN OF SIPOVO.

TEXT: SERGEANT STEVE CLEMENTS SPENDS HIS DAYS CHECKING FOR LANDMINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE IN THE HOMES OF SERB CIVILIANS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO THIS SMALL MARKET TOWN AS A RESULT OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. THE 30-YEAR-OLD BRITISH ARMY MUNITIONS EXPERT WORKS OUT OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER, ESTABLISHED BY THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. IT IS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE SERB RETURNEES, PROVIDING A RANGE OF SERVICES FROM ADVICE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES, TO WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT THEY DISCOVER A LAND MINE IN THEIR KITCHEN OR BEDROOM.

LIKE A FIREMAN, SERGEANT CLEMENTS RACES FROM ONE SUSPECT OBJECT TO ANOTHER. AND LIKE MOST FIREMEN, HE HAS RESPONDED TO HIS SHARE OF FALSE ALARMS.

A COUPLE OF CASES I HAVE HAD RECENTLY -- I WENT UP TODAY TO SORT OUT (DEAL WITH) A FISHING REEL THAT SOMEBODY THOUGHT WAS A MINE. _NO_ PROBLEM. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, DEFINITELY.

SINCE DECEMBER, TROOPS OF BRITAIN'S FOURTH ARMORED BRIGADE AND OTHER UNITS HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SECURITY IN THIS PART OF CENTRAL BOSNIA. THEY ARE OVER-SEEING THE WITHDRAWAL OF CROAT FORCES AND THE RETURN OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF SERB TROOPS, AND MORE RECENTLY, THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY WEAPONS, AND THE RETURN TO BARRACKS OF MOST OF THE FORMER COMBATANTS.

THOSE WERE THE KEY TASKS ASSIGNED TO THE PEACEKEEPERS UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD. BUT BRITISH COMMANDERS HERE CLEARLY FELT MUCH MORE WAS NEEDED TO BOLSTER THE PEACE PROCESS.

BEFORE THEIR WITHDRAWAL LAST DECEMBER, CROAT FORCES WENT ON A RAMPAGE OF LOOTING AND BURNING THAT LEFT MUCH OF SIPOVO AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN RUINS.

BRITISH COMMANDERS EVENTUALLY PERSUADED THE CROATS TO HALT THE CAMPAIGN. AND IT WAS BRITISH ARMY ENGINEERS WHO HELPED RESTORE THE TOWN'S WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES AND THE SEWAGE SYSTEM.

THEY ALSO HELPED REPAIR THE TOWN'S HOSPITAL, AND WORKED NIGHTS TO CLEAR THE PILES OF RUBBLE AND TRASH THAT LITTERED THE STREETS.

U-S ARMY CIVIL AFFAIRS EXPERTS WORK ALONGSIDE BRITISH TROOPS IN THIS SECTOR, ASSESSING THE WAR DAMAGE AND CONDUCTING WHAT ARE KNOWN AS "NORMALITY STUDIES" TO DETERMINE WHAT AID IS REQUIRED TO RESTORE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION TO PRE-WAR LEVELS.

THE FOCUS ON THESE CIVILIAN ENDEAVORS WORRIES SOME ANALYSTS, WHO ARE CONCERNED OVER WHAT IS KNOWN AS MISSION CREEP -- WHEN THE PEACEKEEPERS EXPAND THEIR ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE TERMS OF ITS MANDATE. BUT THE COMMANDER OF THE FOURTH ARMORED BRIGADE, BRIGADIER RICHARD DANNATT, SAYS SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE PEACE PLAN IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE IN THE NATO FORCE.

IF YOU STAY NARROWLY FOCUSING ON JUST THOSE IDENTIFIABLE MILITARY TASKS, MISSION CREEP IS ONE POSSIBLE RESPONSE. THE OTHER SITUATION COULD BE MISSION COLLAPSE, WHEREBY CONFIDENCE IS LOST IN I-FOR. AND THEREFORE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I HAVE ASSESSED THAT WE HAVE NEEDED TO DO THAT ARE TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR MILITARY SECURITY TASKS, BUT ACTUALLY HAVE BUTTRESSED THE OVERALL SUCCESS. CALL THAT MISSION CREEP IF YOU LIKE. I WOULD ACTUALLY SAY IT WAS THE ANTITHESIS OF MISSION COLLAPSE.

BRIGADIER DANNATT AND HIS AIDES HAVE SOUGHT TO REVIVE TIES BETWEEN THE SERBS OF THE SIPOVO REGION AND THE CROATS WHO CONTROL THE ADJOINING AREA.

SIMPLY TO PROVIDE A FORUM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH U-N CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICERS, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, TO GET THESE THREE MUNICIPALITIES TO TALK TOGETHER SEEMS TO MAKE COMPLETE SENSE. JUST TO TRY AND HELP THE PROCESS IN THE COUNTRY _NOT_ TO POLARIZE INTO THE FEDERATION AND (THE) REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, BUT TO TRY AND BLUR THOSE LINES SO THERE IS A NATURAL RELATIONSHIP AND NATURAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN ONE AND THE OTHER.

BUT BRITISH OFFICERS HERE ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE COOPERATION AMONG THE FORMER COMBATANTS.

THE SERB MAYOR OF MRKONJIC GRAD, THEY SAY, STILL OPENLY PRAISES THE ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGNS THAT WERE A GRIM HALLMARK OF THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. CROAT LEADERS IN NEARBY AREAS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EQUALLY FANATIC.

IN ADDITION TO THE CONTINUED MISTRUST AMONG THE FORMER ENEMIES, BRITISH OFFICERS HERE ARE ALSO INCREASINGLY CONCERNED OVER THE SLOW PACE OF INTERNATIONAL AID FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA.

UNLESS THE AID FUNDS BEGIN FLOWING IN SOON, THEY WARN, THE ENTIRE PEACE PROCESS COULD BE THROWN INTO DOUBT. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/ART
29-Apr-96 12:41 PM EDT (1641 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE AND SERB CIVILIANS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE PREVENTED LARGE GROUPS OF MUSLIMS FROM ENTERING SERB-HELD TERRITORY TO VISIT GRAVES OF RELATIVES. NATO SAYS IT HAS TO LIMIT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, GUARANTEED BY THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT, TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: ATTEMPTS BY MUSLIM CIVILIANS TO VISIT FAMILY GRAVES IN SERB TERRITORY HAVE PUT THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION.

SINCE SATURDAY, THE NATO-LED FORCE HAS PREVENTED LARGE GROUPS OF MUSLIMS FROM ENTERING SERB AREAS OF BOSNIA BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS WITH SERB CIVILIANS. INDEED, ELDERLY SERBS, ARMED WITH CLUBS AND SHOVELS, ARE SAID TO HAVE BROKEN THE WINDOWS OF BUSES CARRYING MUSLIMS IN AN AREA SOUTH OF SARAJEVO ON MONDAY. THE BUSES WERE ESCORTED BY FRENCH TANKS, BUT THE TANKS DID NOT INTERVENE.

THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR ALL ETHNIC GROUPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT, NATO SAYS THAT FREEDOM HAS TO BE RESTRICTED FOR THE SAKE OF LAW AND ORDER.

NATO IS ALLOWING ONLY SMALL NUMBERS OF MUSLIMS TO ENTER SERB-HELD REGIONS WHERE THEY USED TO LIVE AT ANY ONE TIME. THIS POLICY HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY.

AN AGENCY SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO SAYS SOME ATTEMPTS BY MUSLIMS TO VISIT FAMILY GRAVES OR THEIR FORMER HOMES MAY HAVE BEEN ORCHESTRATED POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS. LAST WEEK, SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC SAID THE SERBS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THE NUMBER OF MUSLIMS OR ETHNIC CROAT CIVILIANS ENTERING THEIR TERRITORY.

DESPITE THE PROBLEMS WITH FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA, THERE IS OPTIMISM THAT THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN THE BALKANS WILL REACH AN ARMS REDUCTION AGREEMENT BY THE JUNE SIXTH DEADLINE.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ARMS TALKS, NORWEGIAN GENERAL VIGLEIK EIDE, SAYS THE ISSUE OF VERIFICATION HAS NOT YET BEEN RESOLVED. THE TALKS WILL RESUME IN VIENNA ON MAY SIXTH. MEANWHILE, YUGOSLAVIA IS CALLING ON THE WORLD COURT IN THE HAGUE TO REJECT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S COMPLAINT ABOUT ALLEGED YUGOSLAV RESPONSIBILITY FOR GENOCIDE IN BOSNIA.

A YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVE TOLD THE COURT YUGOSLAVIA WAS NOT INVOLVED IN WHAT HE CALLS THE CIVIL WAR IN BOSNIA WHICH ENDED LAST YEAR. HE SAYS THE COURT HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO CONSIDER WHETHER YUGOSLAVIA VIOLATED THE 1948 CONVENTION AGAINST GENOCIDE.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT DIRECTLY LINKS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WITH GENOCIDAL BOSNIAN SERB ACTIONS.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SUBMITTED ITS GENOCIDE COMPLAINT AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA TO THE WORLD COURT IN 1993. THE PURPOSE OF THE COURT'S HEARING THIS WEEK IS TO DETERMINE IF THE COURT SHOULD PROCEED WITH THE CASE. THE CASE, PENDING BEFORE THE WORLD COURT, IS SEPARATE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S PROSECUTION OF ALLEGED INDIVIDUAL WAR CRIMES IN WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/CF
29-Apr-96 11:49 AM EDT (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO / EASTERN EUROPE (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS SAID AGAIN THE ALLIANCE WILL EXPAND, BUT THE TIMING AND PREPARATION FOR THAT EXPANSION IS CRITICAL. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS MR. SOLANA SPOKE IN PRAGUE AT THE BEGINNING OF A TOUR OF NATIONS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

TEXT: PAYING HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC AS NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MR. SOLANA REAFFIRMED NATO WILL EXPAND. BUT HE COULD NOT SAY WHICH OF THE FORMER EAST BLOC COUNTRIES WILL BE THE FIRST TO JOIN OR WHEN.

MR. SOLANA MET WITH THE CZECH PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER, DEFENSE MINISTER, AND FOREIGN MINISTER. RESPONDING TO A REPORTER'S QUESTION, THE FORMER SPANISH DIPLOMAT SAID NEW MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THE PRINCIPLE OF HAVING NUCLEAR WEAPONS BASED ON THEIR TERRITORY. HE SAID NEW APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS FULL MEMBERS, WITH ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS THAT REQUIRES.

LATER MR. SOLANA SPOKE TO A MEETING OF BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS WHERE HE EXPLAINED THE MEASURED AND DELIBERATE PACE OF NATO EXPANSION. HE SAID SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE ALLIANCE HAS ALREADY EVOLVED AND EXPANDED ITS MISSION. HE POINTED TO THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM AND THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA, IN WHICH RUSSIA AND OTHER NON-NATO MEMBERS ARE PARTICIPATING.

MR. SOLANA SAID NATO SEEKS TO BUILD A SECURITY ENVIRONMENT WHICH PROVIDES REASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE TO ALL COUNTRIES, WHETHER THEY BELONG TO NATO OR NOT.

WHAT WE WANT IS A EUROPE WITHOUT THE COLD WAR DIVIDING LINES. IT IS A EUROPE IN WHICH A DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA HAS ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE. IN OUR INTEREST, WE WANT TO SEE A STRONG AND DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA, AS A STABLE AND RELIABLE PARTNER. IF RUSSIA DEVELOPS ALONG THE PATH OF DEMOCRACY AS WE ALL WISH SHE WILL, AND IF WE WORK TOGETHER, THERE IS HARDLY ANY SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE EURO-ATLANTIC AREA THAT WE COULD NOT DEAL WITH. A STRONG BOND BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA MUST BE A KEY ELEMENT OF THE NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY ORDER.

MR. SOLANA REPEATED RUSSIA WOULD NOT HAVE A VETO OVER WHICH COUNTRIES ARE TO EVENTUALLY JOIN NATO. THE EXPANSION TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO GET UNDERWAY NEXT YEAR WITH POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AND HUNGARY EXPECTED TO BE THE FIRST CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION. MR. SOLANA, WHO RECENTLY WAS IN RUSSIA AND THE BALTIC STATES, TRAVELS NEXT TO BRATISLAVA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, AND ALBANIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/RAE
29-Apr-96 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America