Voice of America, 7 June 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA / SMITH (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[03] BOSNIA ELECTIONS BY JENNIFER BRANDT (WASHINGTON)

[04] TURKEY/POLITICS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[05] U-S BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[06] YUGO ARMS TALKS (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: COMMENTS ON REDUCING THE THREAT POSED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND DEALING WITH THE THREAT THE DEADLY AIDS VIRUS POSES TO NEWBORN INFANTS ARE AMONG THE EDITORIAL TOPICS DISCUSSED TODAY IN SOME OF AMERICA'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN INDIA, AND SANCTIONS AGAINST COLOMBIA. NOW, HERE WITH A SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________AND FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, THE WASHINGTON POST REMINDS READERS THAT "FOUR YEARS AGO, THE THIRD-RANKING NUCLEAR POWER, AFTER THE UNITED STATES, WAS UKRAINE, WITH 19-HUNDRED STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WARHEADS, MOST OF THEM AIMED AT NORTH AMERICA." BUT, "LAST WEEKEND," NOTES THE EDITORIAL WRITER, "UKRAINE BECAME A NON-NUCLEAR NATION, HAVING SHIPPED THE LAST OF ITS WEAPONS TO RUSSIA."

VOICE: "THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT FOR UKRAINE AND FOR U-S FOREIGN POLICY. THE BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION IN 1991 LEFT THOUSANDS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE TERRITORIES OF WHAT SUDDENLY WERE FOUR SEPARATE COUNTRIES -- RUSSIA, UKRAINE, BELARUS AND KAZAKHSTAN. IT WAS FAR FROM CLEAR THEN THAT ANY OF THEM WOULD GIVE UP THOSE NUCLEAR ARMS, WHICH MANY POLITICIANS IN THE FLEDGLING STATES SAW AS BADGES OF SOVEREIGNTY AND GUARANTORS OF BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY ON THE WORLD STAGE. IT ALSO WAS FAR FROM CLEAR THAT THE NEW COUNTRIES HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO KEEP THEIR WEAPONS UNDER SECURE CONTROL. A BIPARTISAN TEAM IN THE SENATE, DEMOCRAT SAM NUNN OF GEORGIA AND REPUBLICAN RICHARD LUGAR OF INDIANA, PRODDED CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO TAKE THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. AFTER A SLOW START, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DID SO, WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IN PARTICULAR DEVOTING TIME AND ENERGY TO CONVINCING THE THREE SMALLER REPUBLICS THAT THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF NUCLEAR-FREE. KAZAKHSTAN BECAME SO LAST YEAR, AND BELARUS SHOULD -- IF ITS UNPREDICTABLE PRESIDENT DOES NOT RENEGE ON PAST COMMITMENTS -- BE RID OF THE LAST OF ITS MISSILES BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. UKRAINE, DESPITE ANXIETIES ABOUT RUSSIA PUSHING IT AROUND IN THE FUTURE, OPTED FOR THE TRUE SECURITY OF INTEGRATION INTO EUROPE, RATHER THAN THE FALSE SECURITY OF NUCLEAR STATUS."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES LOOKS AT THE BROADER ISSUE OF NEGOTIATING A TREATY THAT WOULD BAN ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS. "SUCH AN ACCORD," SAYS THE TIMES, "COULD SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE, WHICH HAS DIVERTED HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CIVILIAN NEEDS AND HEIGHTENED THE RISK OF NUCLEAR WARFARE."

VOICE: "THAT DREAM IS NOW CLOSER TO REALIZATION THAN EVER BEFORE. YESTERDAY, CHINA DROPPED ITS INSISTENCE ON MAKING AN EXCEPTION FOR SO-CALLED 'PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS'. THAT MEANS ALL FIVE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED NUCLEAR POWERS -- THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE AND CHINA -- NOW SUPPORT A COMPLETE TEST BAN. OTHER DIFFERENCES REMAIN AMONG THE 38 NATIONS NEGOTIATING IN GENEVA. THEY INVOLVE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES, TEST SITE INSPECTIONS AND HOW MANY COUNTRIES MUST RATIFY THE TREATY BEFORE IT GOES INTO EFFECT. BUT ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISES SEEM WITHIN REACH BEFORE THE JUNE 28TH NEGOTIATING DEADLINE. THE NEXT THREE WEEKS WILL REQUIRE AN INTENSIVE PUSH BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, WHICH DESERVES CREDIT FOR PRESSING FOR COMPLETION OF A TREATY."

TEXT: "SUFFER THE CHILDREN NO MORE," IS THE HEADLINE OF AN EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. THE PAPER IS COMMENTING ON LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACT OF THE DEADLY AIDS VIRUS ON THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

VOICE: "FIFTEEN YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER AMERICA LEARNED OF A MYSTERIOUS, LIFE-SAPPING DISEASE KNOWN AS AIDS, STATE LEADERS FINALLY HAVE TAKEN A VITAL STEP TOWARD STEMMING THE EPIDEMIC -- MANDATORY TESTING OF NEWBORNS FOR AIDS. BABIES WILL BE TESTED. THE RESULTS WILL BE GIVEN TO THEIR MOTHERS. IF THE RESULTS ARE POSITIVE, TREATMENT WILL BEGIN. AND AN INFANT'S LIFE -- MANY INFANTS' LIVES -- WILL BE SAVED.... THE NEW ACCORD COMES AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL RYAN WHITE ACT. IT REQUIRES MANDATORY BABY TESTING BY THE YEAR 2000 IF H-I-V RATES DON'T FALL BY 50 PERCENT OR IF FEWER THAN 95 PERCENT OF PREGNANT WOMEN VOLUNTEER FOR TESTING. GOOD LUCK ACHIEVING EITHER GOAL."

TEXT: WHILE SUPPORTING THE STATE'S POSITION, NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY SAYS THAT EVEN MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, ARGUING THAT HEALTH AUTHORITIES SHOULDNOT WAIT UNTIL A CHILD IS BORN TO CHECK FOR THE AIDS VIRUS.

VOICE: "...AS THE CULTURE WAR AROUND THIS ISSUE HAS INTENSIFIED, THE CASE FOR TESTING A BABY AFTER BIRTH HAS SHRUNK AND THE CASE FOR TESTING MOTHERS BEFORE DELIVERY HAS GROWN IMMENSELY. IF AN H-I-V-POSITIVE WOMAN GETS A-Z-T TREATMENTS EARLY IN HER PREGNANCY, SHE CAN REDUCE BY TWO-THIRDS THE CHANCE THAT HER CHILD WILL BE INFECTED. BUT A CHILD CANNOT BE UNINFECTED AFTER BIRTH. PERHAPS TELLING THE MOM WILL PREVENT A LIMITED NUMBER OF NEW INFECTIONS -- SAY, IF INFECTED MOTHERS AVOID BREAST-FEEDING. NEVERTHELESS, THE REAL CHALLENGE NOW IS TO IDENTIFY H-I-V-POSITIVE MOTHERS-TO-BE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BEGIN A-Z-T TREATMENT QUICKLY."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR OFFERS THE VIEW THAT "INDIA'S DAYS-OLD COALITION GOVERNMENT IS BREAKING NEW GROUND POLITICALLY". THE NEWSPAPER CREDITS PRIME MINISTER H-D DEVE GOWDA AS HAVING "NURTURED A NIGH-TECH BOOM IN HIS SOUTHERN STATE OF KARNATAKA."

VOICE: "...THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A CREDIBLE START AT COMPROMISE POLICYMAKING, OUTLINING PRIORITIES THAT INCLUDE A FAIRLY STRONG COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THE ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION BEGUN BY (THE CONGRESS PARTY'S P.V. NARASIMHA) RAO. MOST FOREIGN INVESTMENT WILL STILL BE WELCOME, ESPECIALLY IN THE REALM OF INFRASTRUCTURE. PRIVITIZATION OF STATE-RUN INDUSTRY MAY BE SLOWED, HOWEVER, AT THE BEHEST OF COMMUNIST MEMBERS OF THE COALITION. THE COALITION HAS ALSO OUTLINED AMBITIOUS PLANS TO UPGRADE THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND REDUCE POVERTY. CLEARLY, IT HOPES TO STICK AROUND FOR AWHILE. THE TIME BOMB FOR DEVE GOWDA'S GOVERNMENT MAY BE ITS INCLINATION TO PURSUE CORRUPTION PROBES THAT HELPED TOPPLE CONGRESS FROM POWER AND COULD REACH RAO HIMSELF. ON THAT ISSUE, THE UNITED FRONT AND CONGRESS COULD PART WAYS."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD CALLS AMERICANS SANCTIONS AGAINST COLOMBIA WRONG IF THAT COUNTRY'S CONGRESS CLEARS PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER OF DRUG-RELATED CHARGES.

VOICE: "...MR. SAMPER PROPERLY REMINDED HIS PEOPLE THAT COLOMBIA HAD ACHIEVED AT LEAST AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. COLOMBIANS INTERPRETED WASHINGTON'S DECERTIFICATION AS A SLAP IN THE FACE THAT DIDN'T MAKE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE LAW-ABIDING MAJORITY IN COLOMBIA AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS. NOW, AS COLOMBIA'S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEBATES WHETHER OR NOT TO SEND MR. SAMPER'S CASE TO THE SENATE FOR AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WILL IMPOSE TRADE SANCTIONS ON COLOMBIA IF THE COLOMBIAN HOUSE EXONERATES MR. SAMPER. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS THE PREROGATIVE TO TAKE SUCH PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST ANY COUNTRY THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS DECERTIFIED. IF THE WHITE HOUSE IS SERIOUSLY THINKING OF HITTING COLOMBIA WITH TRADE SANCTIONS, IT OUGHT TO THINK AGAIN. DECERTIFYING COLOMBIA WAS BY ITSELF COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND SHORTSIGHTED. IMPOSING TRADE SANCTIONS WOULD BE EVEN MORE HARMFUL. SANCTIONS WOULD PUNISH THE COLOMBIAN PEOPLE WHILE DOING LITTLE HARM TO THE NARCOTICS MAFIAS AND THEIR CORRUPT POLITICAL ALLIES."

TEXT: JUNE IS THE TRADITIONAL MONTH FOR SCHOOL GRADUATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL COMMENTS THAT IT'S ALSO BECOMING THE TIME OF YEAR FOR HEATED BATTLES OVER PRAYER IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN RECENT DAYS, THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA VETOED A BILL PERMITTING STUDENT-LED PRAYER AT VOLUNTARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. AND, IN MISSISSIPPI LAST WEEK, A FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUED A DECISION BARRING MOST VOLUNTARY RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY IN ONE OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE JOURNAL TAKES THIS VIEW:

VOICE: "IN THIS GRADUATION SEASON, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT A YOUNG PERSON NEEDS MORE THAN A DIPLOMA TO GET ALONG IN LIFE. MOST OF US EVENTUALLY FIND THAT LIFE'S JOURNEY IS EASED BY SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE AND THE FREEDOM TO CALL UPON IT DURING MOMENTS OF NEED OR THANKSGIVING. THAT'S A PLAIN AND SIMPLE MESSAGE THAT IT DOESN'T HURT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS OF FLORIDA AND PONTOTOC COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO HEAR AT COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES -- OR, FOR THAT MATTER, ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR."

TEXT: THAT COMPLETES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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07-Jun-96 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / SMITH (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE NATO COMMANDER IN BOSNIA HAS RULED OUT ANY MOVES TO CAPTURE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE NATO COMMANDER, AMERICAN ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, ALSO SAID SOME NATO TROOPS WOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA PAST THE END OF THE NATO MISSION ON DECEMBER 20TH.

TEXT: ADMIRAL SMITH TOLD NEWS REPORTERS IN SARAJEVO THAT NATO SOLDIERS WOULD NOT HUNT DOWN PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, INCLUDING BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC.

THE MANDATE HAS NOT CHANGED. IT IS ONE THAT WAS GIVEN AN AWFUL LOT OF THOUGHT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, AND I DON'T SEE ANY APPETITE (NEED) TO CHANGE IT RIGHT NOW.

CITING FEARS OF POSSIBLE RETRIBUTION FROM ANGRY SERBS IN RESPONSE TO A NATO ARREST OF MR. KARADZIC, ADMIRAL SMITH CALLED FOR INCREASED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON THE PARTIES TO LIVE UP TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. AND HE SAID HE HOPED THE BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD EVENTUALLY COOPERATE.

SOONER OR LATER, THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE GOING THEMSELVES TO DETERMINE THAT THESE GUYS ARE NOT BEING VERY HELPFUL, AND MY HOPE IS THAT THAT WOULD COME SOONER THAN LATER.

ADMIRAL SMITH, WHO WILL BE REPLACED AS THE NATO COMMANDER IN BOSNIA LATER THIS SUMMER, ALSO CONFIRMED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NATO TROOPS WOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA BEYOND THE DECEMBER 20TH FINISH OF THE ONE-YEAR NATO MISSION. HE SAID NATO WOULD STILL HAVE WHAT HE CALLED "AN EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE" IN BOSNIA ON DECEMBER 20TH.

WE WANT TO KEEP FORCES HERE UNTIL THE 20TH OF DECEMBER, AFTER WHICH WE THEN BEGIN THE DRAW-DOWN IN EARNEST. SO THERE WILL BE FORCES HERE BEYOND A YEAR, BUT THE MISSION AFTER 20 DECEMBER WILL BE ONE MORE OF WITHDRAWAL, RATHER THAN CONTINUING THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.

HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS -- AS HE PUT IT -- "ZERO" POLITICAL WILL ON THE PART OF THE PARTIES, PARTICULARLY THE BOSNIAN SERBS, TO MAKE ANY MOVE TOWARD RECONCILIATION, AND HE SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT.

WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE. WE'RE FURTHER THAN WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE IN SOME AREAS, AND NOT AS FAR ALONG, BUT ON BALANCE, FRANKLY WE SHOULD BE FURTHER.

WITH ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA ADOPTING MORE HARD-LINE AND OBSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDES TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, OFFICIALS SAY THERE NOW SEEMS LITTLE CHANCE OF IMPROVEMENT HERE UNTIL AFTER ELECTIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE HELD THIS SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
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07-Jun-96 11:24 AM EDT (1524 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA ELECTIONS BY JENNIFER BRANDT (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SINCE THE RECENT GENEVA MEETING BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND THE SERBIAN, CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN PRESIDENTS TO ASSESS THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS, THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS HAS TURNED ATTENTION TO THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS SCHEDULED THIS SEPTEMBER. NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE COMMENTING ON THE WORRISOME POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE WAR-TORN LAND, VOICING CONCERN OVER WHETHER IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE ELECTIONS IN A TRULY DEMOCRATIC FASHION. HERE TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW THE SITUATION IS BEING VIEWED AROUND THE GLOBE IS _________WITH THIS EDITION OF WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: SOME JOURNALISTS ARE STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF CAPTURING ACCUSED BOSNIAN SERB WAR CRIMINALS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RADKO MLADIC, NOTING THAT UNLESS CAPTURED AND TRIED, THEY WILL RETAIN THEIR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION RESULTS. SUCH IS THE VIEW OF THE HINDU, IN INDIA:

VOICE: "THE FACT REMAINS THAT ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WILL BE A FRAUD SO LONG AS KARADZIC AND MLADIC RUN THE SHOW FROM THE SIDELINES....AND IF THE U-S IS BANKING ON THE FRESH WARNINGS IT HAS ISSUED AGAINST SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO FORCE HIM TO HAND OVER THE BOANISAN SERB LEADERS, IT IS NOTHING BUT WISHFUL THINKING."

TEXT: THERE HAD BEEN SPECULATION PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MIGHT PRESENT SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER WITH MR. KARADZIC'S RESIGNATION LETTER IN GENEVA, BUT AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT HE INTENDS TO STEP DOWN. MEANTIME, THE BRITISH DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORTS THE EMERGENCE OF ANOTHER POTENTIAL OBSTACLE TO THE PRECARIOUS BOSNIAN PEACE:

VOICE: "IN BLATANT DEFIANCE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, GANGS OF BOSNIAN SERBS ARE ONCE AGAIN PERSECUTING MUSLIMS IN A NEW CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. AFTER SIX MONTHS OF RELATIVE TRANQUILITY, GANGS OF DRUNKEN SERBS WEARING MASKS AND CARRYING GUNS HAVE ONCE AGAIN BEGUN TERRORIZING BOSNIAN MUSLIMS INTO LEAVING TRHEIR HOMES...THE RECENT NOCTURNAL EVENTS AROUND TESLIC REPRESENT THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN BOSNIA SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE DEAL WAS SIGNED."

TEXT: IN CROATIA, THE DAILY VECERNJI LIST COMMENTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PURPOSE OF THE GENEVA TALKS WAS TO SOLIDIFY PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, OTHER LESS PHILANTHROPIC MOTIVES ARE ALSO INVOLVED:

VOICE: "IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MEETING WAS ALSO HELD BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN ELECTION NEEDS: BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN ELECTIONS, THE AMERICANS NEED THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUSLY PLANNED SCHEDULE, BEFORE SEPTEMBER 14. THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WILL BE HELD BY THAT DATE...AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING THE CONDITIONS IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE THREE PRESIDENTS, MEANING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DISASSOCIATES ITSELF FROM ANY FORMAL GUILT. THE ELECTIONS WILL PASS, BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT AFTER THE ELECTIONS, AT LEAST UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS, WILL NOT BE ANY HIGHER."

TEXT: THE BERNER ZEITUNG, A SWISS DAILY, SEES THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS HAS AFFECTING NOT ONLY THE BOSNIAN ELECTION, BUT ALSO THAT IN THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: "THE CONTROVERSIAL REQUEST BY THE U-S FOR THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA TO BE HELD SOON IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S [REELECTION] IMAGE AS PEACEMAKER ... THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS WOULD MEAN THAT THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA IS NOT AS STEADY AS OFFICIALLY ADMITTED...VERY INCONVENIENT FOR CLINTON IN AN ELECTION YEAR."

TEXT: A RECURRING SCENARIO ELABORATED IN WORLDWIDE PAPERS IS THAT OF A HELPLESS BOSNIA, POWERLESS TO RESOLVE ANY OF THE ISSUES IT FACES WITHOUT THE OVERBEARING INFLUENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES. IN CANADA, THE FRENCH LANGUAGE LE DEVOIR RATHER CYNICALLY OBSERVED:

VOICE: "THE LEADERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE FACED WITH THE FOLLOWING DILEMMA: SHOULD THEY PLAN SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS WHILE THE BASIC CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACY ARE NOT ALL PRESENT OR SAY 'NO' TO THE GREAT POWERS THAT INSIST ON SUCH A CONSULTATION?...BOSNIA IS NOT A SOVEREIGN STATE WHERE THE CONDUCT OF NATIONAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS IS DECIDED ACCORDING TO DOMESTIC DEMOCRATIC RULES. IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYGROUND WHERE THE INTERESTS AND PRESTIGE OF THE GREAT POWERS CLASH."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.
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07-Jun-96 4:31 PM EDT (2031 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY/POLITICS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY WAS GIVEN A FRESH CHANCE TO LEAD SECULAR TURKEY FRIDAY AFTER PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL ASKED ITS LEADER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA

TEXT: THE MOVE FOLLOWS THE COLLAPSE THURDSAY OF THE SHAKY COALITION BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ'S CENTER-RIGHT MOTHERLAND PARTY AND TANSU CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY.

THE ALLIANCE WAS FORMED 13 WEEKS AGO TO SHUT OUT THE ISLAMISTS BUT SUCCUMBED TO THE BITTER RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO RIGHT WING LEADERS AND CULMINATED IN MR YILMAZ'S RESIGNATION, THURDSAY.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING WITH PRESIDENT DEMIREL, THE WELFARE PARTY LEADER SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH ALL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN ORDER TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ANALYSTS SAY THE PROSPECT OF A PRO-ISLAMIC PRIME MINSTER LEADING NATO'S ONLY MUSLIM MEMBER IS DEEPLY UNSETTLING FOR TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES.

MR ERBAKAN'S FREQUENT PRAISE FOR IRAN, HIS DISPARAGING REFERENCES TO JEWS AND ARMENIANS, AND HIS PLANS TO LEAD TURKEY AWAY FROM EUROPE AND INTO AN "ISLAMIC COMMON MARKET," HAVE NOT HELPED MATTERS.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS CLAIM IT IS UNLIKELY, HOWEVER, THAT MR ERBAKAN WILL SUCCEED IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT.

REFAH CAME IN FIRST IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD LAST DECEMBER BUT WITH ONLY 21 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IT DOES NOT COMMAND ENOUGH SEATS IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO RULE ON ITS OWN.

ANALYSTS SAY NEITHER MRS. CILLER NOR MR. YILMAZ IS LIKELY TO DARE INCURRING THE WRATH OF TURKEY'S FIERCELY PRO-SECULAR MILITARY BY ENTERING A PARTNERSHIP WITH MR. ERBAKAN.

MR. YILMAZ HAS ALREADY RULED OUT WORKING WITH REFAH AND HAS CALLED FOR NEW ELECTIONS. MRS. CILLER SAYS SHE WANTS A BROAD- BASED COALITION THAT WOULD BRING TOGETHER THE TWO LEFT-WING PARTIES REPRESENTED IN THE PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
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07-Jun-96 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING A SENIOR OFFICIAL TO ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO THIS WEEKEND TO RESOLVE A LAST MINUTE DISPUTE OVER A JOINT DEFENSE LAW. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: JAMES PARDEW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE AMERICAN PLAN TO EQUIP AND TRAIN THE BOSNIAN ARMY, IS TRAVELING TO ZAGREB AND SARAJEVO TO TRY TO GET THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS TO AGREE ON A UNIFIED DEFENSE MINISTRY AND ARMY.

THE ISSUE WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN A FEDERATION MEETING HERE IN WASHINGTON LAST MONTH AND WAS NOT AT DISPUTE LAST SUNDAY IN GENEVA WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MET THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA AND CROATIA. HOWEVER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS LAST MINUTE PROBLEMS HAVE DEVELOPED THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH AMERICAN PLANS TO SUPPLY AND TRAIN A JOINT BOSNIAN ARMY.

MR. BURNS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT ANOTHER ISSUE, THE PRESENCE OF IRANIAN FORCES IN BOSNIA, WILL SOON BE RESOLVED. HE SAYS THE NUMBER OF FIGHTERS HAS BEEN REDUCED TO FOUR AND PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC HAS PLEDGED TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOUR IRANIANS LEAVE BOSNIA IN THE NEXT DAYS.

THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN FORCES HAS HELD UP THE AMERICAN PLAN TO TRAIN THE BOSNIAN ARMY. MR. PARDEW'S TRIP THIS WEEKEND IS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE LAST OBSTACLES BLOCKING A JOINT DEFENSE LAW BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND THE CROATS. (SIGNED)
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07-Jun-96 5:36 PM EDT (2136 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO ARMS TALKS (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT AN ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY IN VIENNA REPORTS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OBJECTS THAT THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT CLEARLY REFER TO SERB-HELD TERRITORY AS PART OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

TEXT: ALL REMAINING SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED HOURS AFTER YUGOSLAV, CROATIAN, AND BOSNIAN MUSLIM, SERB AND CROAT NEGOTIATORS MISSED A DEADLINE FOR THE ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT TO BE COMPLETED. BUT, THE AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN INITIALED, BECAUSE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OBJECTS TO A REFERENCE TO THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC AS A PARTY TO THE ACCORD.

THIS MAY APPEAR TO BE A MINOR TECHNICALITY, BUT IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATOR MAHIR HADZIAHMETOVIC SAYS CROATIA IS A STATE, YUGOSLAVIA IS A STATE, AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS A STATE. WITHIN BOSNIA, HE SAYS, THERE ARE TWO ENTITIES -- THE SERB REPUBLIC AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION -- AND HE SAYS THE ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT SHOULD MAKE THIS CLEAR.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE HAPPY ABOUT BEING DESCRIBED AS A PARTY TO THE ACCORD. THEY COULD CONCEIVABLY ARGUE THIS IMPLIES A SEPARATE STATUS FOR THEM.

THE SERBS HAVE NEVER RENOUNCED THEIR INTENTION OF BREAKING AWAY FROM BOSNIA AND BECOMING PART OF A SINGLE SERB NATION.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ARMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS, VIGLEIK EIDE OF NORWAY, IS WARNING THAT FAILURE TO APPROVE A FINAL AGREEMENT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SETBACK TO THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS. HE SAYS THERE COULD BE A NEW ARMS RACE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

MR. EIDE IS CALLING ON THE NEGOTIATORS AND ON OTHERS TO MAKE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO SAVE THE AGREEMENT. THE ACCORD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNED IN OSLO NEXT TUESDAY.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, YUGOSLAVIA, THE BOSNIAN SERBS, AND CROATIA WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF THEIR MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND HEAVY WEAPONS. THE EXCESS PLANES AND WEAPONS COULD BE EXPORTED OR DESTROYED.

THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA WOULD HAVE TO MAKE NO CUTS. IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BUILD UP ITS MILITARY STRENGTH TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE OF POWER AMONG THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
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07-Jun-96 11:19 AM EDT (1519 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: ONE OF THE FIRST WESTERN JOURNALISTS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE INFAMOUS OMANKA AND TRNOPOLJE PRISON CAMPS IN NORTH WEST BOSNIA HAS BEEN DESCRIBING THE EXPERIENCE TO THE U-N'S WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. ED VULLAMY, A REPORTER FOR THE BRITISH GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, WAS TESTIFYING IN THE TRIAL OF DUSAN TADIC -- A BOSNIAN SERB ACCUSED OF MURDER AND TORTURE AT THREE PRISON CAMPS, INCLUDING OMARSKA AND TRNOPOLJE. FROM THE HAGUE GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS.

TEXT: IT WAS TELEVISION PICTURES OF THE SKELETAL FIGURES PRESSED AGAINST BARBED WIRE AT TRNOPOLJE AND OMARSKA CAMPS WHICH SO SHOCKED WORLD PUBLIC OPINION. THE IMAGES WERE REPLAYED IN COURT, GIVING THE JUDGES A FIRST-HAND VIEW OF WHAT LIFE HAD BEEN LIKE THERE.

IT TOOK ED VULLIAMY AND HIS COLLEAGUES DAYS OF NEGOTIATIONS TO GAIN ENTRY. THEY WERE FACED WITH MEN WHO HAD ALMOST NO FLESH ON THEIR BONES, WITH EYES BULGING FROM THEIR HEADS. PRISONERS AT OMARSKA WERE FOR THE MOST PART TOO SCARED TO SPEAK, BUT ONE MAN DID SAY, I DO NOT WANT TO TELL ANY LIES BUT I CANNOT TELL THE TRUTH.

THE STARES THAT THEY GAVE US TOLD US MORE THAN THEY TOLD US. I MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING INIMITABLE ABOUT SOMEBODY STARING AT YOU IN THAT WAY AND SAYING, LOOK AT ME, AND TRY TO WORK OUT FOR YOURSELF WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH IT'S GILDING THE LILY. IT ISN'T. THAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE IN THAT PLACE.

THE REPORTERS WERE REFUSED ENTRY TO MOST PARTS OF THE CAMP BUT WERE ABLE TO TALK TO FORMER INMATES OF OMARSKA WHO HAD BEEN TRANFERRED TO TRNPOLOJE. THEY TOLD STORIES OF BRUTALITY AND VIOLENCE. ONE MUSLIM DOCTOR MANAGED TO SMUGGLE A FILM TO THE JOURNALISTS WHICH CONTAINED EVIDENCE OF THE BEATINGS. WHEN THE PICTURES AND ARTICLES WERE PUBLISHED, THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE FURIOUS. THE PICTURES, THEY SAID WERE FORGERIES.

ED VULLIAMY IS THE LAST PROSECUTION WITNESS DESIGNED TO PROVE THAT ALLEGED BOSNIAN SERB ATROCITIES WERE WIDESPREAD. THE PROSECUTION NEEDS TO ESTABLISH THAT TO MAKE SOME OF THE CHARGES STICK WHEN THE COURT RECONVENES ON TUESDAY WHEN DUSAN TADIC WILL FACE PEOPLE WHO DIRECTLY ACCUSE HIM. AFTER WEEKS OF PAYING LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS, MR. TADIC IS NOW LISTENING CLOSELY TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND BUSILY TAKING NOTES. THE TRIAL AGAINST HIM IS ABOUT TO REALLY BEGIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/MH/CF
07-Jun-96 1:31 PM EDT (1731 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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