Voice of America, 96-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] RADOVAN KARADZIC BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] PERRY / BOSNIA (S UPDATE ALT) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[03] KARADZIC/MLADIC (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[04] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY DAVE FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[05] KARADZIC "RESIGNATION" BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[06] U-S / KARADZIC (S-O) BY ERIN BRUMMETT (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[07] RUSSIA / ELECTION (S-6TH UP) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[01] RADOVAN KARADZIC BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL UNDERWAY AT THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, IS INVESTIGATING CLAIMS OF A BRUTAL "ETHNIC CLEANSING" CAMPAIGN DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AMONG THE CHARGES: "THAT GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 13 WERE SYSTEMATICALLY RAPED IN BROTHELS RUN BY SERB POLICE AND PARAMILITARY TROOPS." ONE OF THOSE INDICTED IS SELF-PROCLAIMED BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC. MR. KARADZIC IS THE SUBJECT OF A NUMBER OF RECENT EDITORIALS IN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ________________, WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY CALLS RADOVAN KARADZIC, "ONE OF THE MOST STUBBORN OBSTACLES TO PEACE IN BOSNIA. IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS, "HE IS PLAYING THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES FOR FOOLS."

VOICE: "HE HAS MADE A MOCKERY OF DEMANDS FROM NATO LEADERS THAT HE STEP DOWN FROM POWER AND RELINQUISH ALL PUBLIC OFFICES BEFORE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE IN BOSNIA. FOR THEIR PART, THE NATO ALLIES HAVE SHOWN A REMARKABLE LACK OF BACKBONE, QUICKLY ACCEPTING AS PROGRESS KARADZIC'S GESTURE OF HANDING OVER 'TEMPORARY AUTHORITY' TO HIS HAND-PICKED SECOND-IN-DEMAND, BILJANA PLAVSIC. THIS IS NOT CAPITULATION BY KARADZIC; IT'S A CYNICAL GAME. AND WASHINGTON, ALONG WITH THE REST OF NATO, IS FALLING FOR IT, BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVES ARE MORE DIFFICULT. BUT THE GAME IS NOT OVER YET. KARADZIC'S DISINGENUOUS SHOW OF STEPPING DOWN IN TRANSPARENT. HE REMAINS THE LEADER OF THE RULING PARTY. AS SUCH, HE RETAINS CONTROL OF THE POLICE FORCE. HIS TEMPORARY SUCCESSOR IS HIS OWN CREATION AND WILL DO HIS BIDDING. THE OTHER TOP-LEVEL INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, GEN. RATKO MLADIC, REMAINS FIRMLY IN CONTROL OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY. SO WHY IS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SO EAGER TO CLAIM THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY THAT ELIMINATES A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS?"

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST AGREES THAT "RADOVAN KARADZIC IS BRAZENLY DEFYING THE BOSNIA PEACEMAKERS IN HIS EFFORT TO HAND ON TO POWER."

VOICE: "BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THIS WRETCHED FIGURE? THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER THE SPONSORS OF [THE] DAYTON [PEACE ACCORD], AND IN PARTICULAR THE AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS, ARE GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. THE DISMAL POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT MR. KARADZIC FIGURES HE CAN BLUFF HIS WAY THROUGH BY THREATENING THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE WITH CASUALTIES IF IT COMES AFTER HIM IN HIS HOME REDOUBT. SO FAR, ALMOST INCREDIBLY, A MAN WHO IS SEEN TRAVELING ABOUT WITH A GUARD OF 50 OR 60 MEN WITH HAND-CARRIED WEAPONS IS SUCCESSFULLY FACING DOWN A PEACE FORCE OF 50-THOUSAND, INCLUDING 20-THOUSAND AMERICANS AND AN ARRAY OF MODERN MILITARY MACHINES... NATO'S CONSTANTLY REITERATED DETERMINATION TO OUST MR. KARADZIC MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO CONCRETE DEEDS. AT THE LEAST, SANCTIONS SHOULD BE SUMMARILY REIMPOSED. [OPT] PLANS, INCLUDING A TIMETABLE, SHOULD BE DRAWN TO USE FORCE TO PUT INTO EFFECT THE COMMITMENTS THE DAYTON ALLIES IMPOSED ON RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS CRIMINAL GANG." [END OPT]

TEXT: COMMENTING ON RADOVAN KARADZIC'S NOTIFICATION, BY LETTER, OF HIS INTENT TO LEAVE OFFICE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CALLS "A TEMPORARY INABILITY TO PERFORM," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS THAT THE PROMISE IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

VOICE: "ON FRIDAY HE ADDRESSED THE SECOND CONGRESS OF THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHERE 15 DECISIONS WERE MADE UNANIMOUSLY, AND ON SATURDAY HE WAS RE-ELECTED AS PRESIDENT. SUCH LOYALTY MEANS MR. KARADZIC WILL RETAIN ENORMOUS POWER SO LONG AS HE REMAINS FREE, EVEN IF HE EVER DOES OFFICIALLY RESIGN AS PRESIDENT OF THE 'REPUBLIC'. WHAT ROLE THE U-S GOVERNMENT PLAYED IN THIS CHARADE IS UNCLEAR, BUT WITH HIS PEACE PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTHERN IRELAND HAVING BLOWN UP, BILL CLINTON CERTAINLY DOESN'T WANT THE U-S PRESS DESCRIBING A FAILURE IN BOSNIA TOO. AS ONE WESTERN OFFICIAL TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST OF THE KARADZIC LETTER, 'WE'RE ALL DESPERATE FOR GOOD NEWS'. A WESTERN DIPLOMAT IN SARAJEVO DISSENTED FROM THE OFFICIAL VIEW (SAYING THAT): 'THIS EPISODE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR...THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WHO ONCE AGAIN ARE BEING MADE TO LOOK EXTREMELY FOOLISH'. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA CONTINUE TO RUN FREE. THE PHONY KARADZIC RESIGNATION IS 'NOT GOOD NEWS'. IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT."

TEXT: AND, THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIALIZES THAT "WITH JUST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO GO UNTIL THE BOSNIA ELECTIONS, A MORE RESOLUTE DIPLOMATIC CAMPAIGN TO NEUTRALIZE MR. KARADZIC'S INFLUENCE SHOULD BEGIN AT ONCE."

VOICE: "REMOVING THE THREAT HE POSES TO THE ELECTIONS DOES NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE THE DRASTIC AND RISKY STEP OF SENDING NATO TROOPS TO HUNT HIM DOWN AND DELIVER HIM TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. BUT THE EMPTY POSTURING AND PITIABLE RETREATS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS ARE A SAD EXCUSE FOR THE MUSCULAR DIPLOMACY THAT IS REQUIRED... ONLY THE APPLICATION OF FORCEFUL AND SUSTAINED DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE WILL INDUCE THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO REMOVE MR. KARASDZIC FROM POWER AND FROM BOSNIA.... IDEALLY, MR. KARADZIC BELONGS IN THE HAGUE TO ANSWER WAR CRIMES CHARGES. BUT THE URGENT NEED IS TO KEEP HIM FROM INTERFERING IN THE ELECTIONS. IF MR. MILOSEVIC DOES NOT GET THE POINT, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER OR VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE SHOULD GO TO BELGRADE TO MAKE IT CLEAR. HAVING BROUGHT THE BOSNIAN PEACE THIS FAR, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD NOT LET IT SLIP AWAY BECAUSE HIS ADMINISTRATION IS RELUCTANT TO TWIST A FEW ARMS."

TEXT: WITH THAT SUGGESTION FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT ON BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC.
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03-Jul-96 11:05 AM EDT (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] PERRY / BOSNIA (S UPDATE ALT) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IS CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES TO PUSH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO REMOVE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC FROM POWER. MR. IZETBEGOVIC MADE THE APPEAL DURING TALKS WITH MR. PERRY IN SARAJEVO WEDNESDAY. BUT AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY DID NOT APPEAR INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THE NATO MISSION TO INCLUDE CAPTURING SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

TEXT: BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE USED HIS TALKS WITH MR. PERRY TO POINT OUT MR. KARADZIC IS ENDANGERING THE FRAGILE PEACE IN BOSNIA BY REFUSING TO GIVE UP HIS POSITION.

ALTHOUGH THE DAYTON ACCORDS CALL FOR MR. KARADZIC AND OTHERS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES TO FACE TRIAL IN THE HAGUE, NATO TROOPS HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNWILLING TO HUNT DOWN THEM HIM.

MR. PERRY SAYS HE IS SICK AND TIRED (FRUSTRATED) OF HEARING COMPLAINTS ABOUT NATO'S FAILURE TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC.

THE IFOR MISSION DOES NOT INCLUDE SEARCHING OUT INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS.

MR. IZETBEGOVIC SAYS THE HESITATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO REMOVE MR. KARADZIC IS NOT GOOD AND HE WOULD LIKE A MORE ENERGETIC ATTITUDE -- ESPECIALLY, HE SAYS, FROM THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
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03-Jul-96 1:30 PM EDT (1730 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KARADZIC/MLADIC (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: AT THE HAGUE IN THE NETHERLANDS, THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HEARD EVIDENCE ON WEDNESDAY OF WIDESPREAD BOSNIAN-SERB KILLINGS, AFTER THE FALL OF THE U-N SAFE AREA OF SREBRENICA ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE TRIBUNAL IS HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS INTO GENOCIDE CHARGES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS GENERAL, RATKO MLADIC. GILLIAN SHARPE FILED THIS REPORT FROM THE TRIBUNAL SITE.

TEXT: A PROSECUTOR AT THE HEARING DESCRIBES SREBRENICA AS "THE FINAL AND MOST REPULSIVE ACT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN BOSNIA."

THE TRIBUNAL'S INDICTMENT SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN MASS EXECUTIONS AFTER THE BOSNIAN SERBS TOOK OVER THE U-N SAFE AREA ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

THE COURT WAS SHOWN DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF MASS GRAVES. TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATOR GEAN RENE RUEZ SHOWED PHOTOGRAPHS OF BONES STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND, ABANDONED SHOES AND PIECES OF CLOTHING.

IN ONE GRAVE, INVESTIGATORS FOUND MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING PILED ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER. ONE MAN'S HANDS WERE TIED BEHIND HIS BACK WITH HIS OWN SHOE LACES.

WITNESS STATEMENTS, SAYS MR. RUEZ, GAVE A PICTURE OF HOW THE ALLEGED KILLINGS HAD BEEN ORGANIZED. HIS WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

THEY WERE NOT BLINDFOLDED. THERE WERE ALREADY PILES OF BODIES THERE WHEN THEY ARRIVED. THE SOLDIERS WERE DRUNK. THEY WERE JOKING ABOUT THE PRISONERS. THEY WERE TELLING THEM TO CHOSE A FREE PLACE, AN OPEN SPOT AMONG THE BODIES. AS SOON AS THERE WERE ENOUGH OF THE PRISONERS THERE, THE SOLDIERS ALL AROUND OPENED FIRE AND ALSO EXECUTED THOSE PRISONERS.

MR. RUEZ SAID THAT GENERAL MLADIC HAD BEEN SEEN AT SEVERAL OF THE EXECUTION SITES. ON ONE OCCASION, HE SAID, GENERAL MLADIC WAS THERE WHILE THE KILLINGS WERE TAKING PLACE.

AS SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMY, RADOVAN KARADZIC IS CHARGED WITH OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE EVENTS.

THE TRIBUNAL HAS ALSO BEGUN HEARING TESTIMONY FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE DUTCH U-N BATTALION, WHICH WAS PROTECTING THE AREA WHEN IT FELL. COLONEL TON KARREMANS SAID THE BOSNIAN SERB FORCES BLOCKADED THE ENCLAVE, MAKING ITS DEFENSE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE NOT A TRIAL IN ABSENTIA. BUT THE TRIBUNAL HOPES THAT THE DETAILS OF THE CHARGES WILL INCREASE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO BRING MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC TO THE HAGUE FOR TRIAL. (SIGNED)
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03-Jul-96 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY DAVE FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE DIPLOMAT RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA SCHEDULED FOR THIS SEPTEMBER SAYS THAT UNDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC IS NOT ALLOWED TO SERVE AS HEAD OF HIS RULING NATIONALIST POLITICAL PARTY. THE DECISION COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER MAJOR CONFRONTATION BETWEEN MR. KARADZIC AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: ONLY A DAY AFTER IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT RADOVAN KARADZIC HAD TURNED OVER HIS POWERS AS BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT TO A DEPUTY, SENIOR DIPLOMATS SAY ANOTHER CRISIS COULD BE ABOUT TO EXPLODE.

ON THURSDAY (TOMORROW), ALL POLITICAL PARTIES COMPETING IN ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER MUST SUBMIT THEIR LISTS OF CANDIDATES. WHILE RADOVAN KARADZIC'S RULING SERB DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE S-D-S, IS NOT EXPECTED TO PUT HIM FORWARD AS ITS CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, MR. KARADZIC IS PARTY LEADER -- A POSITION HE WAS RE-ELECTED TO ONLY ON SATURDAY.

AMBASSADOR ROBERT FROWICK, THE HEAD OF THE O-S-C-E, THE INTERNATIONAL BODY ORGANIZING THE ELECTIONS, SAYS BECAUSE MR. KARADZIC HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

O-S-C-E IS LOOKING VERY SERIOUSLY AT WHAT MIGHT BE DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION OF THE S-D-S RE-ELECTING RADOVAN KARADZIC AS ITS PRESIDENT, AND IS LOOKING AT WAYS OF DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH THAT PROBLEM.

UNDER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH DO NOT SUPPORT THE PEACE ACCORD AGREEMENT SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE ELECTIONS. AMBASSADOR FROWICK SAID THAT A POLITICAL PARTY WITH AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL AS ITS LEADER WOULD BE VIOLATING THE DAYTON ACCORD.

NO ONE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES AND REFUSING TO GO TO THE TRIBUNAL CAN BE APPOINTED OR ELECTED TO ANY PUBLIC OFFICE. AND SOME DEFINE THAT AS A STATE OFFICE. I WOULD DEFINE IT AS ANY OFFICE, INCLUDING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY.

WHEN ASKED WHETHER HE WAS PREPARED TO BAN THE S-D-S FROM THE ELECTIONS, AMBASSADOR FROWICK REPLIED "STAY TUNED," BUT HE MADE IT CLEAR NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE YET.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE STILL HAVE TO DECIDE EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT.

IF THE S-D-S WERE BANNED, THE SERBS WOULD SURELY BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS, SO MR. FROWICK HAS LITTLE ROOM TO MANUEVER. BUT HE IS SEEN TO HAVE STRONG BACKING FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT, WHICH WANTS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON MR. KARADZIC. (SIGNED)
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03-Jul-96 2:21 PM EDT (1821 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KARADZIC "RESIGNATION" BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

ANNCR: THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN PRESSURING BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC TO LEAVE ALL POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY. THE U-S HAS SAID ECONOMIC SANCTIONS COULD BE RE-IMPOSED ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA IF MR. KARADZIC, CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES, DOES NOT GIVE UP ALL POWER.

ON SUNDAY (JUNE 30), MR. KARADZIC TURNED OVER POWER TO A SUBORDINATE BUT ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS KEEPING THE TITLE OF HEAD OF STATE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS INSISTED THAT MR. KARADZIC WITHDRAW FROM PUBLIC LIFE IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA AS REQUIRED BY THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, WHICH IS AN OPINION THAT MANY EDITORIAL WRITERS SEEM TO AGREE WITH AS WE HEAR IN THIS EDITION OF WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TO BEGIN, THERE IS THIS COMMENT FROM THE GUARDIAN IN BRITIAN:

VOICE: "THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S FAILURE TO LEVER THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER OUT OF POWER IS CASTING A SHADOW OVER THE PROSPECTS FOR LONG-TERM PEACE IN THE BALKANS."

ANNCR: DEUTSCHE TAGESPOST [WUERZBURG, GERMANY] SAYS MR. KARADZIC MUST BE SENT FOR TRIAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE:

VOICE: "IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SHY AWAY FROM THE RISK OF ARRESTING [MR.] KARADZIC... IT WILL PUT EVERYTHING AT RISK IT SO FAR ACHIEVED FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA. BUT THIS WOULD CERTAINLY BE TOO MUCH. THIS IS WHY THERE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION: [MR.] KARADZIC MUST BE EXTRADITED TO THE HAGUE."

ANNCR: THE FINANCIAL TIMES IN BRITAIN WRITES THAT "NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME, RADOVAN KARADZIC... IS MAKING A FOOL OF ALL THOSE IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE 'WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.'" THE NEWSPAPER GOES ON TO WRITE:

VOICE: "ELIMINATING MR. KARADZIC IS BY NO MEANS A SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR RECONCILIATION IN BOSNIA. BUT IT IS A NECESSARY ONE... SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA HELPED BRING ABOUT THE DAYTON ACCORDS. IF THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO ENFORCE IT, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE REIMPOSED, AND SOON."

ANNCR: FROM RUSSIA, THERE IS THIS COMMENT FROM IZVESTIA:

VOICE: "IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL PUT UP WITH THE 'SEMI-RETIREMENT' OF 'DOCTOR RADOVAN.' HE IS CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES AND, IN KEEPING WIHT THE DAYTON ACCORDS, MUST QUIT POLITICS WITHOUT ANY CONDITION. [MR.] KARADZIC IS TOO ODIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE A FIGURE (FOR RUSSIA) TO QUARREL OVER WITH THE AMERICAN AND WESTERN EUROPEANS, ESPECIALLY AS EVEN BELGRADE, THE CHIEF SPONSOR OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, SEEMS TO TURN ITS BACK ON THEM."

ANNCR: AND FINALLY FROM NORWAY, AFTENPOSTEN COMMENTS THAT:

VOICE: "RADOVAN KARADZIC PERSONALLY IS NOT WORTH ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THE MOST POWERFUL STATESMEN OF THE WORLD SPENT DEMANDING HIS RESIGNATION DURING THE G-7 [GROUP OF SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIAL NATIONS] SUMMIT IN LYON [FRANCE] [LAST WEEKEND].... HOWEVER, HIS BEING [IN POWER] IS OF REAL POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE, SYMBOLIZING THE LASTING POWERLESSNESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN INTRODUCING DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE AFTER THE TRAGEDY IN BOSNIA.

ANNCR: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP. /GE/
03-Jul-96 4:23 PM EDT (2023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / KARADZIC (S-O) BY ERIN BRUMMETT (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS NOT LEFT POWER, DESPITE SERB ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT HE HAD TRANSFERRED ALL AUTHORITY TO A SUBORDINATE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS RE-AFFIRMED DEMANDS THAT MR. KARADZIC STEP DOWN, WARNING THAT HIS DAYS OF FREEDOM ARE NUMBERED. V-O-A'S ERIN BRUMMETT REPORTS.

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SERB LEADER HAS TAKEN NO MEANINGFUL ACTION. HE SAYS THE STATUS OF MR. KARADZIC IS QUITE CLEAR.

HE HAS NOT STEPPED DOWN IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY FROM HIS DUTIES, EITHER AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SO-CALLED REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA OR AS LEADER OF HIS POLITICAL PARTY. THIS WAS ALL FANTASY, I THINK, ON HIS PART, TO TRY TO LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW HE HAD TAKEN MEANINGFUL ACTION ON SUNDAY. HE DID NOT TAKE ANY MEANINGFUL ACTION.

MR. BURNS SAYS CHILLING INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TESTIMONY UNDERWAY IN THE HAGUE HAS RE-INFORCED U-S DETERMINATION TO SEE THAT MR. KARADZIC IS PUT ON TRIAL FOR WHAT HE (MR. BURNS) DESCRIBES AS "DESPICABLE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY".

THE U-S SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SERB LEADER IS INCREASINGLY CORNERED, PREDICTING SOONER OR LATER MR. KARADZIC WILL TRIP UP DURING A PUBLIC OUTING AND PAY FOR THE MISSTEP.

MR. BURNS SAYS THAT RE-IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA FOR FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ARE A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY. (SIGNED)
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03-Jul-96 3:52 PM EDT (1952 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA / ELECTION (S-6TH UP) BY ELIZABETH ARROTT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RESULTS FROM RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SHOW INCUMBENT BORIS YELTSIN TAKING A STRONG EARLY LEAD OVER HIS COMMUNIST CHALLENGER GENNADI ZYUGANOV. V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THAT WITH 30 PERCENT OF THE VOTE COUNTED, MR. YELTSIN HAS 54 PERCENT TO MR. ZYUGANOV'S 4O PERCENT.

TEXT: YELTSIN ALLIES ARE SO CONFIDENT OF VICTORY THEY ARE ALREADY DISCUSSING THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR NEXT GOVERNMENT.

THE YELTSIN OFFICIALS ARE RULING OUT A COALITION WITH THE COMMUNIST PARTY -- AN INDICATION THEY THINK THEY WILL KEEP THEIR STRONG EARLY LEAD.

BUT ZYUGANOV AIDES NOTE THERE ARE STILL MILLIONS OF VOTES YET TO BE COUNTED AND WHILE AT LEAST ONE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL SAID IT APPEARED MR. ZYUGANOV WOULD LOSE, THEY ARE ALL CAUTIONING THE MARGIN OF DEFEAT COULD NARROW.

WHILE CASTING HIS VOTE, MR. ZYUGANOV SAID HE WOULD ABIDE BY WHAT HE CALLED THE HONEST RESULTS.

SUPPORTERS OF BOTH CANDIDATES SAY THE VOTING FOR THE MOST PART WENT SMOOTHLY. THIS AFTER BOTH CAMPAIGNS WARNED REPEATEDLY THAT WITH THE STAKES SO HIGH, ELECTION-RELATED VIOLENCE WAS LIKELY.

RUSSIANS WERE OFFERED A STARK CHOICE -- WHETHER TO SEEK THE RELATIVE STABILITY OF THE SOVIET PAST, AS OFFERED BY MR. ZYUGANOV, OR STICK WITH THE OFTEN ROCKY PATH OF REFORM STARTED BY MR. YELTSIN. (SIGNED)
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03-Jul-96 6:22 PM EDT (2222 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: EDITORIAL WRITERS FOR SEVERAL AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON TODAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN RUSSIA. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE BOMBING LAST WEEK THAT KILLED 19 AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA, AND A RECENT UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT DEALS WITH RACE AS A FACTOR IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE AND OTHER SUBJECTS IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITION OF THE BALTIMORE SUN NOTES THAT VOTERS IN RUSSIA -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS -- "HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN AN AILING (PRESIDENT BORIS) YELTSIN AND AN UNREPENTANT LENINIST."

VOICE: "AS VOTERS ACROSS RUSSIA'S 11 TIME ZONES GO TO THE POLLS TODAY, THEY MUST BE UTTERLY CONFUSED. MR. YELTSIN, WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SURVIVED TWO SERIOUS HEART ATTACKS, CLEARLY IS NOT WELL. WHILE PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, WOULD STEP IN AS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE IF MR. YELTSIN WERE TO DIE, GEN. ALEXANDER LEBED, THE PRESIDENT'S NEW NATIONAL SECURITY CZAR, MAKES PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT SUGGEST HE VIEWS HIMSELF AS THE KREMLIN HEIR... IN HIS SHORT TENURE AS THE KREMLIN'S NO. 2 OFFICIAL, GENERAL LEBED HAS EMERGED AS A MAN OF NARROW VISION, WHO IS INTOLERANT OF FOREIGN IDEAS. AS THEY GO TO THE POLLS, ANTI-COMMUNIST DEMOCRATS FACE A QUANDARY. THEY CANNOT VOTE FOR MR. ZYUGANOV. BUT THEY HAVE LESS AND LESS REASON TO VOTE FOR THE YELTSIN LEADERSHIP TEAM, EITHER."

TEXT: JERRY F. HOUGH, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY IN NORTH CAROLINA, CAUTIONS THAT THE YELTSIN-LEBED ALLIANCE "IS ON SHAKY GROUND." PROFESSOR HOUGH'S WORDS APPEAR IN TODAY'S PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.

VOICE: "THE RELATIONS BETWEEN YELTSIN AND LEBED AFTER THE ELECTION ARE SURE TO BE TOUCHY. YELTSIN HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE ABOUT ANY POLITICIAN OR ADVISER WHO MIGHT BE INDEPENDENT, LET ALONE WHO POSED A THREAT. IN 1957, NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV USED MARSHAL GEORGY ZHUKOV TO DEFEAT HIS OPPOSITION IN THE PARTY AND THEN REMOVED HIM IN FOUR MONTHS. UNLIKE ZHUKOV, LEBED IS OPEN IN HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE, AND THE ZHUKOV PRECEDENT WILL SURELY MAKE YELTSIN AND LEBED VERY NERVOUS ABOUT EACH OTHER."

TEXT: IN DISCUSSING THE ELECTION IN RUSSIA, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL LOOKS AT WHAT ITS EDITORIAL PAGE DESCRIBES AS "THE MOST REMARKABLE POST-COLD WAR SUCCESS STORY IN A VERY STORIED PLACE -- MONGOLIA."

VOICE: "THE COUNTRY'S ONE-POINT-TWO MILLION VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, AN UNFORCED TURNOUT OF 90 PERCENT, AND STUNNED EVERYONE BY HANDING A DEFEAT TO THE EX-COMMUNISTS AND A STUNNING VICTORY TO THE FREE MARKET DEMOCRATS. WHILE THE WINNERS ARE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR GREAT GOOD FORTUNE, PERHAPS IT'S A GOOD TIME TO ASK HOW THOSE ROSY-CHEEKED RIDERS OF THE STEPPES GOT SO MUCH SMARTER THAN THE REST OF US. OF COURSE, MONGOLIA DOES HAVE A HISTORY OF POLITICAL DERRING-DO. ASIA'S FIRST COMMUNIST COUNTRY WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO PULL THE PLUG, BEATING THE SOVIET UNION TO MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS IN 1990. [OPT] WITH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS IN THE FIRST GOVERNMENT COALITION, MONGOLIA LEAPT OUT IN FRONT OF THE POST-COMMUNIST PACK WITH BOLD COMMITMENTS TO RAPID FREE MARKET REFORMS AND A SOLID CONSTITUTION ENSHRINING DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.... [END OPT] SO LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THE WISDOM OF THE STEPPES: WHEN YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF FOREIGN DOMINATION AND A FUTURE THREATENING MORE OF THE SAME, WALLOWING WITH A BUNCH OF BURNED OUT BOLSHEVIKS IN CHARGE IS JUST NOT AN OPTION."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK POST, IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL WEDNESDAY, SAYS LATELY VARIOUS U-S MEDIA HAVE DEVOTED CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO THE OSTENSIBLE FRAGILITY OF SAUDI ARABIA'S POLITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT, THE PAPER CONTINUES, "IT WOULD BE UNWISE, SOME ONLOOKERS SUGGEST, FOR WASHINGTON TO CAST TOO LONG A SHADOW IN THE KINGDOM, LEST ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS BE PROVOKED."

VOICE: "WELL, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PROVOKED -- WITNESS THE 19 AMERICAN DEAD BODIES. INDEED, THE NOTION THAT AMERICAN CONDUCT MIGHT, SOMEHOW, TEMPER THEIR HOSTILITY WOULD BE FUNNY IN ANY OTHER CONTEXT. INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT HOW AMERICA BEHAVES, IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON THE HELP SAUDI-BASED TERROR CELLS RECEIVE FROM THE STATES THAT SPONSOR THEM: IRAQ; IRAN; SYRIA; LIBYA; AND THE SUDAN. IT'S ALSO WELL TO CONSIDER THE DISTRESSING FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF SAUDI FUNDING FOR THE ISLAMIC TERROR INTERNATIONALE. WHILE THIS MAY REFLECT THE MANNER IN WHICH A WEALTHY, BUT COWARDLY, STATE ENDEAVORS TO BUY ITSELF A MEASURE OF PROTECTION, IT'S TIME ALSO TO PUT A HALT TO THIS RACKET. [OPT] RIYADH, IT WOULD SEEM, NEEDS TO REVIEW THE BOTTOM LINE: WERE IT NOT FOR THE U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA, THE KINGDOM WOULD LONG SINCE HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WOULD BE LIVING IN EXILE. IN SHORT, AMERICAN PROSPERITY MAY DEPEND -- IN A LIMITED WAY -- ON THE FREE FLOW OF GULF OIL. BUT SAUDI ARABIA'S EXISTENCE TURNS ON U-S SUPPORT." [END OPT]

TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION TAKES A SIMILAR POSITION, SAYING THAT THE SAUDIS MUST ACKNOWLEDGE "THAT U-S FORCES PROTECTED THEM FROM IRAQ'S CAMPAIGN OF AGGRESSION."

VOICE: "THE SAUDIS OWE THOSE FORCES A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SAFETY WHILE THEY ARE STATIONED THERE. AFTER THE DHAHRAN HORROR, WASHINGTON MUST INSIST ON FULL COOPERATION FROM SAUDI AUTHORITIES IN UPGRADING SECURITY, NOT JUST AT THE AIR BASE BUT ALSO AT OTHER THREATENED TARGETS, SUCH AS AN AMERICAN SCHOOL IN RIYADH. [OPT] THE SAUDIS SHOULD NOTIFY U.S. SECURITY IMMEDIATELY OF ANY SUSPECTED TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP, NOT HINDER, THE FBI'S INVESTIGATION OF THE DHAHRAN BOMBING." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIALIZES TODAY THAT FEDERAL ARRESTS EARLIER THIS WEEK IN ARIZONA "MAKE CLEAR THAT NOT ALL OF AMERICA'S ENEMIES ARE ON FOREIGN SOIL."

VOICE: "THE EVIDENCE THAT LED ON MONDAY TO THE ARRESTS...OF A DOZEN MEMBERS OF A SO-CALLED MILITIA MAKE CLEAR THAT THE RABID ENEMIES OF AMERICA AND ITS GOVERNMENT ARE NOT JUST HERE AT HOME, BUT ACTIVELY PLANNING FOR ITS DESTRUCTION. THIS IS NOT A MOVIE'S PLOT, IT'S REAL. WE SAW HOW HORRIBLY REAL IT WAS ON APRIL 19, 1995, IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THAT MEANS THAT THE OUTRAGE AND VIGILANCE THAT AMERICANS VIGOROUSLY DISPLAY WHEN VIOLENTLY BLIND-SIDED BY THE FOREIGNERS WHO DO US DAMAGE HERE OR ABROAD MUST ALSO COME TO BEAR ON THE ENEMIES WITHIN. [OPT] INDEED, IT WAS THE VIPER MILITIA'S WELL-ARMED BULLYING OF A CITIZEN WHO WAS HUNTING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT LED THE MAN TO REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES. THAT TOOK COURAGE AND A STRONG SENSE OF WHAT'S RIGHT. THE SIX-MONTH UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION LED TO THE 12 ARRESTS. THE VIPER MILITIA'S ACTIVITIES SO FAR HAVE BEEN CONFINED TO ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES. THE HAVOC THAT THE GROUP ALLEGEDLY SOUGHT TO WREAK, THOUGH, WOULD HAVE SENT SHOCK WAVES ACROSS THE NATION." [END OPT]

TEXT: LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S TOP ECONOMIES MET LAST WEEK IN LYON, FRANCE. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR EDITORIALIZES THAT THE SO-CALLED GROUP OF SEVEN "FAILED TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE PLANETS TWO BIGGEST QUESTIONS:"

VOICE: "1. HOW TO PROMOTE GLOBAL GROWTH (PROSPERITY AND JOBS) AND STILL PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT? 2. HOW TO CURB GOVERNMENT SPENDING IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED FOR THE HEAVY RETIREMENT-FUNDING DEMANDS OF EARLY NEXT CENTURY? BOTH QUESTIONS FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE KIND OF WORLD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE INTEND TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN. AND THE TWO INTERLOCK. FAILURE TO SOLVE THE GOVERNMENT BUDGETS PROBLEM INEVITABLY RISKS FUTURE JOBLESSNESS AND POVERTY. AND THAT MAKES SOLVING THE PLANET'S GROWING ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS MORE DIFFICULT."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE LOOKS AT A DOMESTIC ISSUE. THE MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPER TELLS READERS THAT "IT HAS BEEN A TROUBLING JUDICIAL SEASON FOR MINORITIES IN THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS."

VOICE: "MANY OF THE GAINS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE PAST YEARS NOW SEEM TO BE SLIPPING AWAY ON A TIDE OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT POSE NEW QUESTIONS BUT OFFER TOO FEW ANSWERS. TWO WEEKS AGO THE SUPREME COURT -- IN A 5-4 RULING -- INVALIDATED THE USE OF RACE IN LEGISLATIVE GERRYMANDERING (MAKING SPECIALLY SHAPED DISTRICTS) IN THREE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS AND ONE IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE DISTRICTS HAD BEEN CREATED TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF BLACKS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. ON MONDAY, ... THE SUPREME COURT LET STAND A 5TH CIRCUIT DECISION THAT PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CANNOT USE RACE AS A FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS POLICIES... THE ESSENTIAL ISSUE TO CONSIDER IN THIS SEASON OF CELEBRATING FREEDOM IS: HOW IS THIS NATION GOING TO PROVIDE AND PROTECT FULL PARTICIPATION AND FREEDOM OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MINORITIES? WHAT MUST WE DO TO PROVIDE AND PROTECT THE RIGHT, NOT OF EQUAL OUTCOME, BUT OF EQUAL ACCESS TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?"

TEXT: AND WITH THAT EDITORIAL APPEARING IN WEDNESDAY'S BOSTON GLOBE, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF U.S. EDITORIAL DIGEST.
NEB/DN/PCH
03-Jul-96 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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