Voice of America, 2 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] AMNESTY / BOSNIA BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

[03] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (PALE)

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

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

[06] U-S / BOSNIA TROOPS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: ON TUESDAY, SEVERAL MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUED EDITORIAL DISCUSSION OF THE TERRORIST BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHICH KILLED 19 AMERICANS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE ROLE OF THE C-I-A IN GUATEMALA, AND SEEKING THE TRUTH IN RWANDA. FOR A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, HERE IS _____________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER IS OF THE OPINION THAT -- IN ITS WORDS -- "THE FAILURE OF U-S OFFICIALS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SECURITY FOR U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SAUDI ARABIA HAS BECOME MORE GLARING" SINCE LAST WEEK'S TRUCK BOMBING.

VOICE: "MANY SERVICEMEN EXPECTED SUCH A DISASTER. ONLY LAST NOVEMBER ANOTHER BOMB KILLED FIVE U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL AT A SAUDI TRAINING FACILITY. AFTER THAT BLAST, U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS REQUESTED A DEFENSE PERIMETER OF 100 YARDS FROM THE EDGE OF THE DHAHRAN HOUSING COMPLEX; THE SAUDIS -- APPARENTLY UNWILLING TO SHUT DOWN A PUBLIC PARK AND PARKING LOT -- GAVE THEM ONLY 35 YARDS. THE SAUDIS ALSO FAILED TO GIVE F-B-I OR C-I-A OFFICIALS ACCESS TO THE FOUR MEN WHO CONFESSED TO THE EARLIER BOMBING, BEFORE THEY WERE BEHEADED ON MAY 31. THE U-S MILITARY DIDN'T PROTEST, SO AS NOT TO JEOPARDIZE THE DELICATE U-S-SAUDI RELATIONSHIP... CODDLING SAUDI OFFICIALS HAS BEEN STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR GENERATIONS OF REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE KINGDOM'S COOPERATION ON OIL PRICING AND PUMPING. MILITARY OFFICERS KNOW NOT TO ROCK THE BOAT."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, THE NEW YORK LONG ISLAND DAILY, NEWSDAY, SAYS THAT THERE ARE "TOO MANY PUZZLING QUESTIONS" ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA.

VOICE: "WHY DID THE PENTAGON ACCEDE TO THE SAUDI'S REFUSAL TO LET U-S INVESTIGATORS INTERROGATE THE FOUR SAUDI TERRORISTS BEFORE THEY WERE EXECUTED? WHY DID SAUDI POLICE FAIL TO PASS ON TO U-S OFFICIALS THE DESCRIPTION OF A TRUCK MATCHING THE BOMB VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS REPORTED AS SUSPICIOUS DAYS BEFORE THE ATTACK? ... THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE SAUDI KINGDOM IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE MUTUALLY DESIRED GOALS. THAT IMPLIES MUTUAL RESPECT AND COOPERATION. WHERE WAS IT?"

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN AGREES THAT "SECURITY MEASURES THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED (LAST WEEK'S BOMBING) WERE DENIED."

VOICE: "MUCH IS HEARD ABOUT SAUDI SENSITIVITIES AND THE NEED TO TREAD CAUTIOUSLY WITH THE STRANGE ROYAL HOUSE THAT RUNS THE WORLD'S LARGEST OIL RESERVE AS A FAMILY PROPERTY. IT IS DENOUNCED BY EXTREMISTS AS TOO BEHOLDEN TO THE SECULAR U-S WHILE GUARDING THE SACRED SITES OF ISLAM. JUST STATIONING FIVE-THOUSAND AMERICAN SERVICE PERSONNEL TO PROTECT SAUDI ARABIA FROM EXTERNAL ENEMIES WEAKENS IT AGAINST INTERNAL ONES. BUT THE U-S HAS SENSITIVITIES, TOO. THE WELL-BEING OF ITS YOUNG ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL LOOMS LARGE AMONG THEM... THE U-S FOUGHT A COSTLY WAR IN 1991, PARTLY TO RESCUE KUWAIT BUT ALSO TO PROTECT SAUDI ARABIA. FOR AMERICAN TROOPS TO REMAIN TO PROTECT THIS HAUGHTY BUT MILITARILY WEAK COUNTRY FROM ITS VORACIOUS NEIGHBORS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL REQUIRE CONVINCING REASSURANCE THAT THEY HAVE BETTER PROTECTION THAN HAS BEEN THE CASE."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD USES ITS EDITORIAL PAGE TO DISCUSS A REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK BY A PRESIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT INVESTIGATED THE C-I-A'S RELATIONSHIP TO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES IN GUATEMALA.

VOICE: "ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE C-I-A HAD DOZENS OF GUATEMALAN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS ON ITS PAYROLL. THESE DUBIOUS 'ASSETS' PERPETRATED COUNTLESS CRIMES, INCLUDING MURDER, KIDNAPPING, AND TORTURE. THOUGH THE REPORT DOES NOT PURPORT TO LINK THE C-I-A'S GUATEMALAN AGENTS TO THE 1990 MURDER OF AMERICAN MICHAEL DEVINE OR THE DEATHS OF OTHER AMERICANS IN GUATEMALA, IT DOES DETAIL SOME OF THE WORST CRIMES COMMITTED THERE BY AMERICA'S CRIMINAL 'ASSETS' AGAINST GUATEMALANS. [OPT] WHAT IS MORE, THE REPORT ALSO CONCLUDES THAT CIA OFFICIALS SYSTEMATICALLY WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM CONGRESS ON THE CRIMES PERPETRATED BY ITS GUATEMALAN AGENTS. THE AGENCY ENGAGED IN THIS UNLAWFUL DECEPTION UNTIL 1994. THE C-I-AS'S INSPECTOR GENERAL HAD ALREADY REACHED A SIMILAR CONCLUSION... [END OPT] CONGRESS MUST CONSIDER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE C-I-A TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF KNOWN THUGS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS. THAT OUGHT TO BE A LEGACY OF THE AGENCY'S TRAGIC GUATEMALAN DEBACLE."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE NOTES THAT IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN NATION OF RWANDA, AN ESTIMATED 500-THOUSAND PEOPLE, MOSTLY MEMBERS OF THE TUTSI MINORITY, WERE SLAUGHTERED BY MEMBERS OF THE HUTU MAJORITY "DURING 100 DAYS OF STATE-SPONSORED VIOLENCE IN 1994."

VOICE: "TWO YEARS TO THE MONTH SINCE THE WIDESPREAD CARNAGE ENDED, JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE SLOWLY RETURNING. APPROXIMATELY 20 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, AND SEVERAL OF THE ALLEGED ARCHITECTS OF THE GENOCIDE ARE IN CUSTODY. STILL, THE SITUATION IS PRECARIOUS. LAST WEEK HUTU REBELS MURDERED 27 PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN RWANDA. U-N OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE RAIDERS WERE TRYING TO PREVENT WITNESSES FROM GIVING EVIDENCE AT INQUIRIES INTO GENOCIDE. VISUAL AND STATISTICAL PROOF OF GENOCIDE IS ESSENTIAL TO BOLSTER INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR CRIMES AND LESSEN THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS WILL SEEK REVENGE THROUGH FURTHER LAWLESSNESS.... EACH DISCOVERY, NO MATTER HOW GRUESOME, WILL GIVE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT ON ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."

TEXT: FROM MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD COMMENTS ON THE SECOND ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN RUSSIA.

VOICE: "NOT SINCE THE HAMMER-AND-SICKLE FLAG OF THE OLD SOVIET UNION WAS HAULED DOWN FORM THE RAMPARTS OF THE MOSCOW KREMLIN ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1991 HAVE THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE FACED SUCH A MOMENT. WEDNESDAY, THEY WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO RETURN TO THE DREARY SYSTEM THAT PREVAILED BEFORE, OR ADVANCE INTO THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE THAT CONTINUED DEMOCRACY MEANS. ONE THING IS CERTAIN. THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS AT THE BASE OF BORIS YELTSIN'S FIVE YEARS AS PRESIDENT ARE AIMED AT A BETTER LIFE FOR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. HE HAS MADE GRIEVOUS MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY, AND FEW CAN HONESTLY SAY THEY ARE BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE FIVE YEARS AGO. THEY DO HAVE THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE, THOUGH, AND A RETURN TO COMMUNISM WOULD ROB THEM OF EVEN THAT."

TEXT: AND, WITH THAT COMMENT APPEARING IN TUESDAY'S EDITION OF THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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02-Jul-96 10:24 AM EDT (1424 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] AMNESTY / BOSNIA BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

INTRO: MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING -- ALMOST ONE YEAR AFTER THE BOSNIAN SERB CAPTURE OF THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF SREBRENICA, IN EASTERN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AND IT IS WIDELY BELIEVE SERBIAN FORCES MASSACRED MANY OF THEM. V-O-A'S CHRISTINE FURNELL IN LONDON REPORTS THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS RELEASED A REPORT, URGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO MORE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

TEXT: ON JULY 10TH, 1995, THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY CAPTURED SREBRENICA, A FORMER UNITED NATIONS PROTECTED ENCLAVE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLED INTO THE SURROUNDING WOODS. OTHERS APPEALED TO THE U-N FOR PROTECTION. MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

SINCE THEN, AN AMNESTY DELEGATION HAS TWICE VISITED BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO TALK WITH SURVIVORS FROM SREBRENICA. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS MANY PEOPLE STILL FEAR RETURNING HOME AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONTINUE, AND PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES REMAIN AT LIBERTY.

THE AMNESTY DELEGATIONS RECORDED THOUSANDS OF WITNESS TESTIMONIES FROM FORMER RESIDENTS OF SREBRENICA. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS TEND TO SUPPORT THE BELIEF THAT THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS CAPTURED BY SERB FORCES WERE DELIBERATELY AND UNLAWFULLY KILLED.

RIFET MUJIC, A 34-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM, ESCAPED THROUGH THE WOODS SURROUNDING SREBRENICA WHEN SERB FORCES MOVED IN. HE TOLD AMNESTY HE BELIEVES HIS BROTHER, WHO SURRENDERED TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS, IS AMONG THE MISSING.

THEY CALLED US FROM ACROSS THE ROAD AT KONJEVIC POLJE, AND NO ONE CROSSED. BUT TWO-THOUSAND-500 HAD GONE ACROSS EARLIER. THEY SAID SURRENDER. THEY HAD CAPTURED ONE OF OUR MEN WHO GOT UP ON A UNPROFOR TRANSPORTER AND TRUCKS. 'COME ON' HE SAID, 'SURRENDER, SO WE CAN TAKE YOU WHERE THE WOMEN WENT'. I SAW ONE-THOUSAND-FIVE-HUNDRED PEOPLE GO IMMEDIATELY. I DIDN'T WANT TO. I TOLD PEOPLE, 'WAIT, DON'T GO. YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE SURRENDERING TO.' BUT THAT WAS OUR MAN ON THE TRANSPORTER. THEY HAD CAPTURED HIM AND HE HAD TO SAY WHAT THEY TOLD HIM TO. AND NONE OF THOSE WHO SURRENDERED HAVE APPEARED SINCE THEN.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS IT IS UNLIKELY THAT MANY OF THE MISSING SREBRENICANS WILL EVER BE SEEN ALIVE AGAIN. AMNESTY CAMPAIGNER BRIAN PHILLIPS, WHO WAS PART OF THE DELEGATION TO BOSNIA, SAYS THE FUTURE STABILITY OF THE REGION RESTS VERY MUCH ON THE TRUTH BEING REVEALED.

PHYSICAL REAPPEARANCE IS NOT THE ONLY OBJECTIVE OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S CAMPAIGNING ON BEHALF OF THE DISAPPEARED AND MISSING PERSONS. DISCOVERING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE PEOPLE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF UNDOING AT LEAST A PART OF THE CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED HERE.

THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS BEGUN SEARCHING IN SEVERAL AREAS SURROUNDING SREBRENICA TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THEY WERE USED FOR MASS EXECUTIONS.

BUT AMNESTY SPOKESWOMAN JOHANNA BJORKEN SAYS UNTIL ALL THE BODIES ARE EXHUMED AND ALL SERBIAN DETENTION CENTERS IDENTIFIED, THE EXTENT OF THE TRAGEDY WILL REMAIN UNKNOWN. SHE SAYS AMNESTY IS CALLING ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE INCREASED FUNDING TO ALLOW THE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL VICTIMS.

IN TERMS OF FINDING OUT THE FATE OF INDIVIDUALS, THIS IS A PRESSING HUMAN NEED OF THE RELATIVES AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS WILL BE ABLE TO BE RESOLVED IS THROUGH THE EXHUMATION OF MASS GRAVES. THIS WILL REQUIRE AN ENORMOUS DATA COLLECTION PROJECT AND ANTE-MORTEM INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MISSING FROM SREBRENICA. THAT WILL COST MONEY AND INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT TOWARDS STAFFING, EQUIPMENT AND OF COURSE, FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

AMNESTY IS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE FIRM COMMITMENTS TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM AIMED AT THE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS BURIED IN MASS GRAVES IN BOSNIA. IT SAYS MORE THAN 27-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND IS ALSO CALLING FOR MONEY TO BE PROVIDED TO RESOLVE ALL THESE CASES WITHIN THREE YEARS. (SIGNED)
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02-Jul-96 9:07 AM EDT (1307 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (PALE)

INTRO: THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, HAS CONFIRMED THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, HAS TRANSFERRED HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO HIS VICE-PRESIDENT. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME TUESDAY AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN MR. BILDT AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC, IN THE BOSNIAN SERB'S HEADQUARTERS AT PALE ... FROM WHERE DAVID FOLEY FILES THIS REPORT.

TEXT: SITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MISS PLAVSIC AFTER THEIR MEETING, CARL BILDT SAID RADOVAN KARADZIC HAD TRANSFERRED ALL OF HIS POWERS AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO MISS PLAVSIC. HE SAID THE MOVE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOSNIAN SERB CONSTITUTION AND HAD BEEN SIGNED BY MR. KARADZIC. BUT CONSCIOUS THAT HIS OFFICE HAD MADE A SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENT ON SUNDAY THAT HAD BEEN REPUDIATED BY MISS PLAVSIC, HE SAID THE "PROOF WOULD BE IN THE PUDDING." (IN THE FINAL RESULTS)

THAT MUST BE A TOTAL TRANSFER OF POWERS. WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THAT IS A FACT, AND FROM THE SIDE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WE WILL WATCH DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND CAREFULLY EVALUATE THIS.

MR. BILDT SAID WORLD LEADERS HAD BEEN CLEAR IN THEIR DEMANDS WHICH WERE ISSUED AFTER A SUMMIT MEETING IN FRANCE ON SATURDAY.

IT IS ILLEGAL, AS FROM SUNDAY, FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR ANY INSTITUTIONS OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TO ACCEPT DECISIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS FROM MR. KARADZIC OR PERSONS ACTING ON HIS BEHALF.

BUT MR. BILDT CONTRADICTED DEMANDS MADE ON MONDAY BY HIS OWN DEPUTY THAT MR. KARADZIC MUST ALSO RESIGN AS HEAD OF HIS RULING NATIONALIST POLITICAL PARTY. HE SAID MR. KARADZIC'S POSITION AS PARTY LEADER WAS NOT A PUBLIC OFFICE, AND IT WAS A MATTER FOR THE THE O-S-C-E (ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE), THE INTERNATIONAL BODY ORGANIZING SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS HERE.

SPEAKING VERY CAREFULLY, MISS PLAVSIC WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER MR. KARADZIC WOULD STILL BE CALLED THE "PRESIDENT," SAYING ONLY THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE REFERRED TO AS PRESIDENT, AND THERE WAS NO WORD IN HER LANGUAGE FOR THE TITLE "ACTING PRESIDENT."

THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT DOES GO SOME WAY TO RESTORING MR. BILDT'S BATTERED CREDIBILITY AFTER THE ON AGAIN -- OFF AGAIN RESIGNATION OF MR. KARADZIC OVER THE WEEKEND. BUT IT FALLS FAR SHORT OF INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS FOR MR. KARADZIC TO LEAVE PUBLIC LIFE COMPLETELY AND FACE INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE BEFORE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

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

INTRO: U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE PETER TARNOFF HAS MET WITH TURKEY'S NEW PRO-ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS IT WAS MR. ERBAKAN'S FIRST MEETING WITH A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SINCE TAKING OFFICE LAST WEEK.

TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING MEETINGS WITH THE TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL, PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN, AND FOREIGN MINISTER TANSU CILLER, MR. TARNOFF SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.

THEY INCLUDED POLITICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AS WELL AS WHAT MR. TARNOFF DESCRIBED AS SHARED VALUES, SUCH AS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. MR. TARNOFF SAID TURKEY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES REMAINS STRONG.

THROUGHOUT ALL THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD, I FOUND THERE WAS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING, A GOOD RESONANCE WITH ALL OF MY INTERLOCUTORS ON THESE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.

MR. TARNOFF WAS ALSO OPTIMISTIC THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD RESOLVE DIFFERENCES OVER THE MANDATE OF THE U-S-LED ALLIED FORCE BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY TO PROTECT IRAQI KURDS FROM ATTACK BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.

PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN HAS IN THE PAST OPPOSED THE PRESENCE OF WHAT HE ONCE DESCRIBED AS A CHRISTIAN FORCE ON TURKISH SOIL. BUT AFTER BECOMING PRIME MINISTER LAST WEEK, MR. ERBAKAN SAID HE WOULD NOW DEFER TO THE TURKISH MILITARY'S VIEWS ON THE MATTER.

OBSERVERS SAY THE TURKISH MILITARY STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE ALLIED FORCE, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES TURKISH ARMY PERSONNEL. BUT TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS WANT ITS MILITARY COORDINATION CENTER -- NOW BASED IN NORTHERN IRAQ -- TO BE SHIFTED TO TURKEY BECAUSE THEY FEEL ITS PRESENCE IN IRAQ UNDERMINES IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY.

ANALYSTS BELIEVE SUCH A MOVE WOULD HELP EASE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC FEARS THE ALLIED OPERATION IS AIMED AT OVERSEEING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

MR. TARNOFF SAID THE ISSUE OF TURKEY'S RECENT MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL -- WHICH WAS ALSO STRONGLY CRITICIZED BY THE ISLAMISTS -- HAD COME UP DURING HIS TALKS WITH TURKISH LEADERS.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IN MORE THAN ONE CONVERSATION THIS SUBJECT DID COME UP. I HAD NO SENSE FROM THE PEOPLE I WAS TALKING TO THAT THIS AGREEMENT WOULD BE CANCELLED. I CERTAINLY STATED THE AMERICAN POSITION, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAID WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT IT, THAT IS THAT WE THINK ITS A GOOD THING FOR FRIENDS AND ALLIES TO BE COOPERATING IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE TURKEY HAS BEEN PLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE OF STABILITY AND SEEKING FOR PEACE.

ANALYSTS SAY THE UNITED STATES WOULD WELCOME A SUCCESSFUL ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY. THE ANALYSTS ARGUE IT COULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD -- ONE THAT COULD, PROVE POLITICAL ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY CAN CO-EXIST AND SERVE WESTERN INTERESTS IN THE REGION AT THE SAME TIME. (SIGNED)
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02-Jul-96 1:25 PM EDT (1725 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN BOSNIA COULD BE EXCLUDED FROM ELECTIONS NEXT SEPTEMBER IF RADOVAN KARADZIC REMAINS THE HEAD OF THE PARTY. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS RAISING THE PRESSURE ON RADOVAN KARADZIC TO LEAVE ALL POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. KARADZIC, INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, MUST LEAVE HIS POSITION AS HEAD OF THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY IF HIS PARTY IS TO WIN APPROVAL TO RUN IN THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTION.

SHOULD KARADZIC DECIDE THAT HE WANTS TO STAY IN POWER, THAT HE WANTS TO RETAIN THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HIS POLITICAL PARTY, THE S-D-S, THEN I THINK, THAT PARTY COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGE (THAT) THE O-S-C-E WILL CERTAINLY MAKE TO ITS LEGITIMACY SHOULD THAT PARTY PUT FORWARD CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 14TH.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO PREVENT THE MAJOR POLITICAL GROUPING IN THE SERBIAN PART OF BOSNIA FROM RUNNING IN THE ELECTION. LAST WEEKEND, MR. KARADZIC ANNOUNCED HE WAS TEMPORARILY LEAVING HIS JOB AS PRESIDENT BUT RETAINING HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS MR. KARADZIC MUST LEAVE HIS JOB PERMANENTLY, NOT TEMPORARILY. (SIGNED)
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02-Jul-96 3:26 PM EDT (1926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / BOSNIA TROOPS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S ARMY IS CHANGING THE MAKEUP BUT NOT THE SIZE OF ITS PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MILITARY POLICE ARE MOVING IN AND TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES PULL OUT. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY TWO ARMORED BATTALIONS WILL END THEIR BALKAN TOUR SOON SINCE THE ALLIED PEACE FORCE, OR I-FOR, NO LONGER NEEDS ALL THE FIREPOWER IT BROUGHT. THE TANK CREWS WILL BE REPLACED BY 12-HUNDRED MILITARY POLICE (MP), WHO WILL DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN M-PS IN BOSNIA.

THE MOVE DOES NOT AFFECT OVERALL U-S TROOP STRENGTH, WHICH VARIES FROM ABOUT 16-THOUSAND TO 18-THOUSAND. OFFICIALS SAY IT GIVES THE FORCE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR A CHANGING MISSION. WITH THE BATTLEFIELDS QUIET AND THE BOSNIAN FACTIONS SEPARATED, THE TROOPS ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO CIVILIAN PROBLEMS LIKE REFUGEES AND SECURITY FOR COMING ELECTIONS.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS ANXIOUS FOR THE VOTING TO SUCCEED, SO U-S FORCES CAN LEAVE FOR GOOD BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. IN HUNGARY (TUESDAY), VISITING DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THE OPERATION WILL END ON SCHEDULE.

THE M-PS WILL UNDERGO SPECIAL TRAINING FOR BOSNIA AT BASES IN GERMANY. THEY ARE DUE IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BY THE END OF THE MONTH. (SIGNED)
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02-Jul-96 11:38 AM EDT (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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