Voice of America, 24 July 1996

Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA / ABSENTEE VOTING (S/L) BY MELISSA WINKLER (WASHINGTON)

[03] BOSNIA AGREEMENT (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA ELECTION / REFUGEES BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

[05] BOSNIA ELECTION/INTERNET BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

[06] E-U TRADE (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[07] GERMANY / ATTACKS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[08] ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[09] TURKEY / PRISONS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[10] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[11] U-S/BOSNIA ARMS (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[12] U-S / BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

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

INTRO: CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FRENCH ABORTION PILL AWAITING GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR USE IN THE UNITED STATE TOPS THE LIST OF POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPICS IN THE NATION'S NEWSPAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY. OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER THE PUBLIC OPINION MICROSCOPE INCLUDE: RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC WOES; LAGGING JUSTICE IN ARGENTINA; THE GLOBAL INCOME GAP; DISCONTENT IN INDONESIA; THE RADOVAN KARADZIC SAGA IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND SOME ADVICE FOR ASIA'S EMERGING NATIONS. NOW, FOR SOME SELECTED QUOTES ON THESE MATTERS, HERE IS _________________ WITH THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE JOINS THE EDITORIAL FRAY CONCERNING THE PENDING ACCEPTANCE BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OF THE FRENCH ABORTION PILL KNOWN AS RU-486 WITH THIS APPROVING NOTE:

VOICE: "WITH F-D-A APPROVAL EXPECTED THIS FALL, R-U-486 COULD BE IN PHARMACIES NEXT YEAR. AT THAT POINT, OPTING FOR LEGAL ABORTION WILL CEASE TO BE A PASSAGE THROUGH A GAUNTLET OF POLITICAL PROTEST AND AGAIN BECOME THE PRIVATE MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT IT OUGHT, IN LAW AND IN PRACTICE, TO BE."

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE SCIENTIFIC PANEL WHICH FOUND THE DRUG "SAFE AND EFFECTIVE" AND WHICH URGED THE F-D-A TO APPROVE ITS USE HERE, U-S-A TODAY SAYS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "... IF SCIENCE RULES, AND THERE'S NO STARTLING NEW EVIDENCE, (AMERICAN) WOMEN MAY HAVE A MORE PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE TO SURGICAL ABORTION BY FALL. ABORTION FOES DON'T LIKE THAT PROSPECT, FOR GOOD REASON. BY PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE, NONSURGICAL METHOD TO TERMINATE PREGNANCIES EARLY, THE PILL MAKES ABORTION MORE PRIVATE AND PROTEST MORE DIFFICULT."

TEXT: HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, THE WASHINGTON POST OFFERS THIS APPROVING OBSERVATION:

VOICE: "EVEN IF APPROVED, THE NEW ... PILL WILL BE NO MAGICAL SOLUTION... STILL, BY CHANGING ABORTION FROM A PROCEDURE DONE AT CLINICS STAKED OUT BY DEMONSTRATORS, PERFORMED BY SPECIALISTS WHOSE NUMBERS ARE DWINDLING BECAUSE OF THE DANGER AND HARASSMENT METED OUT TO DOCTORS ... THE AVAILABILITY OF NON-SURGICAL ABORTION MIGHT WELL RETURN THE EXERCISE OF THIS LEGAL RIGHT TO THE PRIVATE SPHERE WHERE [THE SUPREME COURT DECISION LEGALIZING ABORTION] ROE V.[VERSUS] WADE [TITLE IN ITALICS] AND THE LATER WEBSTER [ITALICS] DECISION AFFIRMED IT BELONGS."

TEXT: TO WHICH TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES ADDS, REGARDING THE PENDING GOVERNMENT DECISION:

VOICE: "THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH STUDY (OF THE ABORTION PILL) AND MORE THAN ENOUGH DEBATE... IT IS TIME FOR THE FINAL GO-AHEAD THAT WILL PERMIT ITS RESPONSIBLE USE."

TEXT: INTERNATIONALLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES LEADS ITS EDITORIAL PAGE WITH WHAT IT CALLS "A POLITE WARNING" TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

VOICE: "THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND DELIVERED AN APPROPRIATELY GENTLE WAKE-UP CALL TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK. IT DELAYED A 330-MILLION-DOLLAR DISBURSEMENT IN LOANS PENDING MOSCOW'S ACTION TO RAISE TAX COLLECTIONS TOWARD PREVIOUSLY AGREED LEVELS. THE DELAY WAS ENTIRELY WARRANTED... THE FUND COULD NOT HAVE LET THE BUDGET SHORTFALL GO UNCHALLENGED IF IT HOPED TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF ITS AGREEMENTS TO LEND MONEY TO GOVERNMENTS THAT PROMISE TO UNDERTAKE FISCALLY PRUDENT ECONOMIC REFORMS. "

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES COMPLAINS ABOUT THE LAGGING, TWO-YEAR-OLD INVESTIGATION OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER BOMBING IN BUENOS AIRES, THAT KILLED 87 PEOPLE, AND CALLS THE INQUIRY "DESULTORY":

VOICE: "... THOSE WHO ORDERED THE BOMBING ARE STILL AT LARGE. PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM MUST GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAGEDY AND PUNISH ALL WHO ARE FOUND GUILTY IN THE COURTS."

TEXT: IN A WEEK-LONG SERIES OF EXPANDED EDITORIALS, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION EXAMINES THE GROWING GAPS BETWEEN THE WORLD'S RICH AND POOR PEOPLE, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DISPARITY. TODAY, THE PAPER CRITICIZES THE DECLINING U-S FOREIGN AID EXPENDITURE AND THE HUGE INCOME GAP BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIALIZED AND THE DEVELOPING NATIONS. STIMULATING THESE MARKETS WITH MORE AID, THE CONSTITUTION SAYS, MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE.

VOICE: "IN FACT, EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES OF ALL KINDS COMPRISE THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR IN THE U-S ECONOMY. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE AMONG AMERICA'S BEST NEW CUSTOMERS, ACCOUNTING FOR A 100-BILLION SURGE IN EXPORTS BETWEEN 1990 AND 1995 AND AN ESTIMATED ONE-POINT-NINE MILLION ADDITIONAL AMERICAN JOBS. PERHAPS THOSE WHO CRITICIZE AMERICA'S FOREIGN-AID SPENDING (LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET THESE DAYS) WOULDN'T MIND IT SO MUCH IF THEY THOUGH OF IT AS INSURANCE AGAINST EPIDEMICS OR GLOBAL WARMING OR OUTBREAKS OF CHAOS."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN, NOTING THE GROWING POLITICAL DISCONTENT IN INDONESIA, LED BY THE DAUGHTER OF THE FORMED DICTATOR GENERAL SUKARNO, COMMENTS:

VOICE: "IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO THAT GENERAL SUHARTO SEIZED POWER IN INDONESIA ... HE HAS RULED EVER SINCE, AS PRESIDENT SINCE 1968, AND HE WINS ELECTIONS IN WHICH THE PHONY OPPOSITION SUPPORTS HIM. THIS HAS PRODUCED AN AUTHORITARIAN STATE IN WHICH PROSPERITY AND CAPITALISM ARE BOOMING ... DEMOCRACY IS NOT A NECESSARY PRECONDITION FOR A ROBUST FREE MARKET, BUT CAPITALIST GROWTH PRODUCES PRESSURES FOR DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: CONCERNING ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA, THE ASEAN MEETING OF ASIAN NATIONS, THERE IS THIS ADVICE FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE, UPSET BY THE GROUP'S GRANTING OF OBSERVER STATUS TO THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP IN BURMA.

VOICE: "BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES HAS A SECURITY PRESENCE IN ASIA AND THE EUROPEANS DO NOT, ASEAN MEMBERS SAY THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION TO U-S VIEWS. THEY SHOULD HEAR FROM WASHINGTON THAT DEMOCRACY IS AS CRUCIAL TO ASIANS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND AS CHERISHED..."

TEXT: REGARDING THE LATEST MOVES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO ELIMINATE RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE FORMER BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT, AS A FORCE IN OFFICIAL POLICY, THE WASHINGTON POST SUGGESTS THE NEXT STEP:

VOICE: "THE BETTER COURSE IS STILL TO ARREST THE KARADZIC-MLADIC [GENERAL RADKO] DUO, TO ENCOURAGE THE MORE MODERATE ELEMENTS AMONG THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND TO ARRANGE SOME SEQUEL TO THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN ORDER TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE WHILE THE COUNTRY'S INSTITUTIONS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED. OTHERWISE, IT WILL APPEAR THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DOMINANT INTEREST IS BOSNIA IS SIMPLY TO GET IT OFF THE SCREEN BY THE TIME OF THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS, NO MATTER WHAT WAS AGREED AT DAYTON AND WHAT HAPPENS TO BOSNIA."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, SOME SARCASTIC COMMENTS BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ABOUT THE HUGE TRASPORTATION TROUBLES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PLAGUING BOTH VISITORS AND PARTICIPANTS AT THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATLANTA.

VOICE: "BUSSES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO CARRY ATHLETES TO THEIR VENUES HAVE OFTEN ARRIVED LATE, STRAYED FAR AFIELD, BROKEN DOWN OR NEVER EVEN SHOWN UP AT ALL. SOME COMPETITORS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES DISQUALIFIED FOR FAILING TO APPEAR ON TIME. MEANWHILE, THE SYSTEM THAT RELAYS SCORES AND RESULTS TO ... THE PRESS HAS HAD AN UNFORTUNATE TENDENCY TO CHURN OUT [PRODUCE] WRONG INFORMATION... THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE SAYS IT'S READY TO SPEND WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO FIX THE TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS AND PROMISES THINGS WILL SOON GET BETTER. WE HOPE SO."

TEXT: AND WITH THOSE CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
24-Jul-96 11:21 AM EDT (1521 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / ABSENTEE VOTING (S/L) BY MELISSA WINKLER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO REGISTER BOSNIAN REFUGEES LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA GENERAL ELECTION SET FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH. THE REGISTRATION DRIVE WAS LAUNCHED (WEDNESDAY) BY A NON-PARTISAN AMERICAN VOTER EDUCATION GROUP AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. SIMILAR EFFORTS ARE TAKING PLACE IN 21 OTHER COUNTRIES. V-O-A'S MELISSA WINKLER HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE U-S LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS TRYING TO GET 20-THOUSAND ELIGIBLE BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES TO PRE-REGISTER BY JULY 31ST. THAT PROCESS ENTAILS CALLING A FREE, MULTI-LINGUAL TELEPHONE NUMBER AND REQUESTING REGISTRATION FORMS AND BALLOTS FOR A PARTICULAR BOSNIAN MUNICIPALITY.

THE EFFORT IS TARGETING 25 CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF REFUGEES. MOST OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS LIVE IN CHICAGO, LOS ANGELAS, NEW YORK, AND ST. LOUIS.

THE NUMBER OF BOSNIANS IN THE UNITED STATES IS VERY SMALL COMPARED TO EUROPE, WHERE THERE ARE ABOUT ONE-MILLION REFUGEES ELIGIBLE TO CAST ABSENTEE VOTES. BUT MARILYN BRILL OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAYS IN THIS ELECTION, EVERY ABSENTEE BALLOT IS CRUCIAL.

BETWEEN ONE QUARTER AND ONE-HALF OF THE POPULATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA HAS BEEN DISPLACED BY WAR. ABSENTEE BALLOTS, THEREFORE, ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

REGISTRATION BEGAN IN SOME COUNTRIES AS EARLY AS JUNE. ANY CITIZEN OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AGED 18 OR OLDER, WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON A 1991 CENSUS TAKEN THERE, IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

THE ABSENTEE VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN AUGUST 26TH AND SEPTEMBER FIRST. THE BALLOTS WILL BE HAND CARRIED TO SARAJEVO AND COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH.

ADMIRELA BALIC, A YOUNG BOSNIAN WORKING WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, URGED FELLOW BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTION. SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, SHE SAID IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR BOSNIAN REFUGEES TO ENSURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR HOMELAND.

THE ONLY ONES WHO REALLY HAVE POWER TO PROMOTE LIFE, PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ARE WE, THE CITIZENS OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. THE ELECTION THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, WILL GIVE US THE PRIVILEGE OF VOICING OUR OPINIONS AND CHOOSING OUR LEADERS. WE ARE NOT VOICELESS ANYMORE. OUR VOICES CAN FINALLY BE HEARD.

THE U-S LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS STRESSING THAT THE ABSENTEE VOTING IS COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT BOSNIAN CITIZENS ABROAD CAN VOTE WITHOUT RISKING THEIR REFUGEE STATUS.

BOSNIAN VOTERS WILL BE CHOOSING A THREE-MEMBER PRESIDENCY, A PARLIAMENT, REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJW/MMK
24-Jul-96 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA AGREEMENT (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM SERBIA AND BOSNIA HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO RESTORE TELEPHONE AND TRANSPORT LINKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENS TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ALSO HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN BELGRADE AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY VISIT BY SENIOR BOSNIAN OFFICIALS, THE FIRST SUCH VISIT SINCE WAR BROKE OUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

TEXT: AFTER THE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN BELGRADE, BOSNIAN VICE PRESIDENT EJUP GANIC HAILED THEM AS AN IMPORTANT STEP. AND HE SAID A NEW CHAPTER WAS NOW OPEN BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS OFTEN BLAMED SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR THE WAR IN BOSNIA. BUT ON TUESDAY, MR. GANIC MET WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, AND AFTERWARDS HE SAID IT IS NOW TIME TO START BUILDING PROSPERITY.

THE AGREEMENT WAS WELCOMED IN SARAJEVO. DUNCAN BULLIVANT, A SPOKESMAN FOR CARL BILDT, THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, SAYS THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED.

WE ARE NOW SEEING EFFORTS MADE BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TO REACH RECONCILIATION THEMSELVES WITHOUT BEING PUSHED INTO IT, WITHOUT BEING SHOEHORNED (PRESSURED) INTO IT BY EXTERNAL AGENCIES.

BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS ARE ANGRY THAT THE VISIT, ORGANIZED BY AMERICAN DIPLOMATS, TOOK PLACE AT ALL. THEY SEE IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO SIDELINE THE ISOLATIONIST BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP. MR. BULLIVANT SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS CANNOT IGNORE THE REGIONAL TREND TOWARD RECONCILIATION.

THEY HAVE GOT TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE THE FACTS ARE THAT LIFE MOVES ON, AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO SIT IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, EXPECTING TO BE LEFT OUT OF THE REST OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY.

THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL REACTION FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO THE AGREEMENTS, WHICH CALL FOR TELEPHONE, AIR, RAIL AND BUS LINKS TO BE RESTORED.

THE BOSNIAN SERB'S TERRITORY LIES BETWEEN SERBIA AND BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AREAS. AND SOME OBSERVERS SAY HARD-LINE NATIONALISTS MAY WELL TRY TO DISRUPT ANY TRADE, OR MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE ACROSS BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY.

DESPITE SUCH FEARS, MR. BULLIVANT SAYS SOME BOSNIAN SERBS OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH, AND PARTICIPATE IN, TRADE WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AREAS.

ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IF THEY INSIST ON PUSHING THEMSELVES INTO ISOLATIONISM.

[04] BOSNIA ELECTION / REFUGEES BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WHERE A WAR ENDED ONLY MONTHS AGO, THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING ELECTIONS IS A NIGHTMARE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTERS REGISTERED BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN ARE NOW PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOME TOWNS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE REFUGEES ABROAD. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND VOTER REGISTRATION IS BEING SUPERVISED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE). V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVANS HAYS IN SARAJEVO SPOKE WITH THE O-S-C-E'S JUDY THOMPSON ABOUT VOTING BY SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

TEXT: JUDY THOMPSON, OPERATING OUT OF THE COMPLEX OF O-S-C-E OFFICES OVERLOOKING THE RIVER IN DOWNTOWN SARAJEVO, HAS HER HANDS FULL THESE DAYS. SHE'S COORDINATING THE REGISTRATION AND THE SENDING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND BOSNIANS IN ABOUT 100 COUNTRIES. IT IS A DAUNTING TASK.

THERE ARE ABOUT ONE-POINT-FOUR MILLION REFUGEES, OUT OF WHICH 800-THOUSAND WOULD BE VOTERS, AND THEY ARE SPREAD OVER MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. WE HAVE SET UP A VOTING MECHANISM IN ABOUT 25 COUNTRIES AND THAT COVERS OVER 95 PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES. SO IT'S THE COUNTRIES WHERE THE LARGEST GROUPS ARE LOCATED.

BUT SHE SAYS ANY COUNTRY WITH EVEN A SMALL NUMBER OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES IS BEING INCLUDED IN O-S-C-E PLANNING.

ANY COUNTRIES THAT HAVE SMALLER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE -- AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM PAKISTAN TO LICHTENSTEIN, JUST ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD -- KENYA WE HAVE HEARD FROM. WE ARE HANDLING THOSE APPLICATIONS THROUGH OUR VIENNA OFFICE SO THAT THERE IS A WAY FOR ANYONE TO APPLY TO VOTE AND TO GET A BALLOT.

JUDY THOMPSON SAYS PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO VOTE, BUT MOST WILL FILE ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

MOSTLY THEY'LL BE USING ABSENTEE FORMS, AND IT'S THE SAME AS IN-COUNTRY. THE BASIC LIST IS THE 1990 CENSUS -- IF THEY'RE ON IT, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. THERE IS A PROCEDURE ALSO FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME BACK AND VOTE IN PERSON. BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY NOW LIVE, IT WILL BE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND THE BALLOT WILL BE COUNTED IN THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THEY LIVED IN 1991.

SHE SAYS INFORMATION BEING SENT OUT BY THE O-S-C-E INCLUDES ALL THE RULES OF VOTING, WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND OTHER DETAILS. THIS DISTRIBUTION IS BEING HANDLED BY INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES WHERE THE REFUGEES LIVE. SHE SAYS THE O-S-C-E HAS ALSO SET UP A WORLD-WIDE COMPUTER LINK FOR THE REFUGEES ON THE INTERNET. INTERNATIONAL NEWS MEDIA ARE ALSO HELPING.

OF THE OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED SO FAR IN THE PROCESS, SHE SAYS TIME IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.

I THINK THE INFORMATION IS GETTING OUT, NOW. OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS TIME. IT'S BEEN SLOW GETTING STARTED AND WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. IN THE REGION, WHICH INCLUDES CROATIA AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, THEY ARE JUST STARTING TO REGISTER, AND IT DOES CLOSE THE 31ST OF JULY, SO WE ARE HAVING TIME PROBLEMS.

TO SPEED THINGS UP, THE O-S-C-E IS HOPING THE INTERNET AND ITS WORLD-WIDE COMPUTER OUTLETS WILL HELP.

WE ARE USING A SITE ON THE INTERNET TO PUBLICIZE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW REFUGEES CAN APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. WE REALIZE NOT ALL REFUGEES WILL HAVE THE THE INTERNET, BUT WE'RE HOPING. THE MESSAGE IS TARGETED TO ANYONE WHO KNOWS A BOSNIAN, TO GIVE THE INFORMATION TO THEM AND IT PROVIDE THE ADDRESSES OF OFFICES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS WHERE THEY CAN REGISTER. IT PROVIDES MAPS WITH THE BOUNDARIES OF THE MUNICIPALITIES. IT PROVIDES CONTACT NAMES, BASIC VOTER INFORMATION AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ELECTION.

WITH ALL THIS SAID, THE QUESTION REMAINS: WILL THE ELECTION SUCCEED IN ITS GOAL OF ESTABLISHING COMMON INSTITUTIONS FOR A POST-WAR BOSNIAN FEDERATION? SKEPTICS ABOUND, ESPECIALLY IN SARAJEVO. WITH THE WAR AND THE BRUTAL SIEGE OF SARAJEVO NOT EVEN A DISTANT MEMORY YET, NO ONE IS PLACING ANY BETS. BUT JUDY THOMPSON IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS WILL AT LEAST GET PEOPLE -- ESPECIALLY REFUGEES -- INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH/PCF/CF
24-Jul-96 2:52 PM EDT (1852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA ELECTION/INTERNET BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: COMPUTERS AND THEIR INTERNATIONAL LINKS ARE MAKING RAPID INROADS INTO DAILY LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE. AND WAR-TORN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- WHERE FOOD, WATER AND ELECTRICITY ARE STILL A MAJOR PRIORITY -- IS NO EXCEPTION. THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ("O-S-C-E"), WHICH IS SUPERVISING THE CAMPAIGN FOR BOSNIA'S GENERAL ELECTION IN SEPTEMBER, HAS GONE ON THE WORLD-WIDE INTERNET TO HELP REFUGEES IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES VOTE ABSENTEE. VOA'S EVANS HAYS SPOKE WITH THE O-S-C-E'S ROGER PLATH, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF GETTING BOSNIA ON LINE, ABOUT THIS NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO VOTING.

TEXT: MR. PLATH SAY WHAT THE O-S-C-E HAS DONE IS TO CREATE A WEB SITE -- BASICALLY A COMPUTER AND TELEPHONE INFORMATION CENTER -- THAT CAN BE REACHED BY ANYONE IN THE WORLD WHO HAS A COMPUTER AND THE RIGHT CONTACT NUMBER.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO GIVE ACCESS TO REFUGEES -- EITHER THE REFUGEES THAT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS OR THE COORDINATION CENTERS OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE REFUGEES THAT MAY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS -- A WAY TO GET CURRENT INFORMATION VERY EASILY.

HE SAYS THE CONNECTION IS MAINLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, BUT IT CAN BE USED AS WELL TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE SITE PRIMARILY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A WAY FOR THE REFUGEES TO PUT IN THEIR ADDRESS AND THEN A REGISTRATION FORM WILL BE SENT TO THEM BY MAIL.

IN THE MALL OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THIS O-S-C-E BUILDING WHERE ROGER PLATH WORKS, A COMPUTER SCREEN IS LIT. ON THE SCREEN IT SAYS "O-S-C-E, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, OFFICIAL ELECTION WEB SITE." ON THE SCREEN ARE SMALL BOXES, EACH WITH A PHRASE INDICATING THE INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY OPENING THAT POINT. WE ASKED MR. PLATH TO EXPLAIN JUST WHAT INFORMATION PEOPLE CAN GET BY CALLING THIS COMPUTER SITE.

THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED THE HOME PAGE, AND THIS IS THE ENGLISH VERSION. WE ALSO OFFER A VERSION IN BOSNIAN, CROATIAN AND A CYRILLIC OR SERBIAN VERSION. AND THE FIRST CHOICE ON HERE (CALLS UP TEXT) ... IS REFUGEE VOTING. AND THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION, IF YOU'RE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. AND THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS, BASICALLY IT'S JUST ASKING THEM FOR THEIR IDENTITY NUMBER, THEIR NAME AND THEIR CURRENT ADDRESS. AND THE THE FORM IS FORWARDED TO VIENNA WHERE IT'S PROCESSED AND AN APPLICATION IS SENT BACK BY MAIL.

OTHER INFORMATION THAT CAN BE GAINED THROUGH HE INTERNET SITE AT O-S-C-E INVOLVES PRESS RELEASES, FACT SHEETS THAT DEAL WITH CURRENT ISSUES INVOLVING BOSNIA, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULES FOR THE ELECTION.

WELL, ALL THE SITES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, WILL BE UPDATED AS NEW RULES COME OUT. THEY WILL BE PLACED AT THIS LOCATION ON THE SITE AND THEN WE'VE GOT AGREEMENT. THIS IS JUST THE TEXT OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, THE VIENNA AGREEMENT AND BUDAPEST AGREEMENT... MAPS. THE CONNECTION WE HAVE HERE IS KIND OF SLOW, SO IT MAKE TAKE A WHILE TO COME DOWN, BUT JUST SOME BASIC MAPS OF THE COUNTRY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

PLATH SAYS THERE IS ALSO VOTER EDUCATION -- JUST BASIC INFORMATION THAT VOTERS MAY NEED.

SO HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE O-S-C-E IN SARAJEVO'S NEW COMPUTER WEB SITE?

ROGER PLATH OFFERS YOU THE COMPUTER ADDRESS.

THE ADDRESS IS HTTP://WWW-OSCE.AUSTRIA.EU.NET

AND THAT IS ALL BOSNIAN REFUGEES, OR PERHAPS THE INTERNET-CURIOUS NEED, TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VOTING IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH/PCF/LWM
24-Jul-96 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] E-U TRADE (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERN ON WEDNESDAY ABOUT IMPENDING AMERICAN TRADE LEGISLATION WHICH WILL PUNISH FIRMS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES FOR INVESTING IN THE PETROLEUM SECTORS IN IRAN AND LIBYA. THE E-U HAS ALREADY REACTED ANGRILY TO THE HELMS-BURTON ACT WHICH ALLOWS SANCTIONS AGAINST NON-AMERICAN COMPANIES WHICH DO BUSINESS WITH CUBA. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A NEWS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: E-U OFFICIALS SAY THE EUROPEAN UNION SHARES AMERICAN CONCERNS ABOUT CUBA, LIBYA, AND IRAN. HOWEVER, THEY ADDED, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR AMERICA TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ITS ENEMIES BY PUNISHING COMPANIES WHICH ARE BASED IN FRIENDLY NATIONS, SUCH AS THE 15 E-U STATES.

BRUSSELS OFFICIALS ARE STILL WORKING ON OPTIONS FOR RETALIATION AGAINST WASHINGTON OVER THE HELMS-BURTON LEGISLATION REGARDING CUBA. HOWEVER, NO DECISION IS NOW EXPECTED FROM THE 15 E-U GOVERNMENTS BEFORE SEPTEMBER, WHEN THE DIPLOMATS AND OFFICIALS RETURN FROM THE AUGUST HOLIDAY BREAK.

FOUR IDEAS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION. THEY ARE FIRST, THE SETTING UP OF A BLACK LIST OF AMERICAN COMPANIES WHICH TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW LEGISLATION TO SEEK SANCTIONS AGAINST THEIR EUROPEAN RIVALS. SECOND, A COMPLAINT TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. THIRD, VISA RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN. AND FOURTH, LEGISLATION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION TO SHIELD EUROPEAN FIRMS FROM THE EFFECTS OF ANY JUDGMENT IN THE AMERICAN COURTS CONCERNING TRADE WITH CUBA.

BRITAIN HAS EXPRESSED DOUBTS ON THE LATTER TWO IDEAS. BUT BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NONETHELESS PREPARED TO CONSIDER THEM. HOWEVER, THE BRITISH REMAIN TO BE CONVINCED THAT ACTION AT THE EUROPEAN UNION LEVEL IS APPROPRIATE, AND SAY, INSTEAD, THAT COORDINATED NATIONAL ACTION BY THE 15 E-U STATES MIGHT POSE FEWER LEGAL PROBLEMS.

EUROPEAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. AMERICA MAY BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRADING NATION, BUT IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO PASS LEGISLATION AFFECTING TRADE BETWEEN NATIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/BD-T/JM
24-Jul-96 4:31 PM EDT (2031 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY / ATTACKS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: POLICE IN GERMANY SAY A NEW WAVE OF ARSON ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH PROPERTIES MAY BE RELATED TO THE DEATHS OF SEVERAL HUNGER STRIKERS IN TURKISH PRISONS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: UNIDENTIFIED ATTACKERS SET FIRE TO THREE MORE TURKISH PROPERTIES OVERNIGHT NEAR THE SOUTHERN CITY OF STUTTGART.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN ANY OF THE ATTACKS, AND POLICE HAVE NOT YET ESTABLISHED A FIRM MOTIVE. BUT THE ATTACKS ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER FIREBOMBINGS ACROSS GERMANY ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY SUSPECT THE ARSON ATTACKS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY SUPPORTERS OF LEFTIST TURKISH PRISONERS WHO HAVE BEEN STAGING HUNGER STRIKES TO PROTEST CONDITIONS IN TURKISH JAILS. LAST WEEK, POLICE INVESTIGATING AN ATTACK ON A TURKISH PRAYER CENTER IN FRANKFURT, FOUND THE WORDS, "THE HUNGER STRIKE LIVES," SCRAWLED ACROSS A BED SHEET FOUND AT THE SCENE.

POLICE SAY THE FOLLOWERS OF OUTLAWED TURKISH LEFTIST ORGANIZATIONS FREQUENTLY TARGET TURKISH BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS IN GERMANY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE OWNERS ARE LOYAL TO THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
24-Jul-96 8:27 AM EDT (1227 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD PROVIDES FOR THE REMOVAL OF FIGHTERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, AND IT IS GENERALLY AGREED MANY HAVE LEFT. BUT SOME REMAIN, IN PARTICULAR MILITANT ISLAMISTS WHO DREAM OF A FUNDAMENTALIST STATE IN THE BALKANS. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT: BOSNIA MAY SOON BE ANOTHER LEBANON FILLED WITH SECTARIAN STRIFE. THAT IS THE WARNING OF GUIDO OLYMPIO, A REPORTER ON TERRORISM FOR THE "CORRIERE DELLA SERRA" NEWSPAPER IN MILAN, ITALY. HE TOLD A U-S CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE ON TERRORISM THAT ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN BOSNIA OPERATE ON A MASTER PLAN CONCEIVED IN IRAN.

FOR IRAN, ISLAMIC GROUPS, THERE IS A BIG CHANCE TO CREATE A NETWORK OF SAFE HOUSES, TRAINING CAMPS TO STRIKE IN EUROPE OR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. IN BOSNIA NOW, YOU CAN FIND MUSLIM FIGHTERS FROM SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN, ALGERIA AND OTHER GROUPS. THE INFLUENCE OF THIS MOVEMENT NOW IS AMAZING. THEY USE BOSNIA AS A BRIDGEHEAD TO WESTERN COUNTRIES.

THAT THREAT IS OVERSTATED, SAYS KENNETH KATZMAN, AN ANALYST AT THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AND AUTHOR OF "THE WARRIORS OF ISLAM: IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD." HE SAYS IRAN CAN USE ITS OWN EMBASSIES IN EUROPE IF IT WANTS TO CAUSE TROUBLE IN THE WEST. IN FACT, AN IRANIAN SHIP RECENTLY WAS INTERCEPTED AS IT WAS TRYING TO CARRY ARMS TO MUNICH THROUGH ANTWERP. BOSNIA WAS NOT INVOLVED.

MR. KATZMAN SAYS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SOME TWO THOUSAND ISLAMIST FIGHTERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN BOSNIA. NOW HE ESTIMATES THERE ARE 200, MOSTLY FROM IRAN, THOUGH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR NUMBERS SUGGEST.

THE IRANIANS ARE WELL DUG IN REPORTEDLY IN THE MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT, AND THEY ARE WELL PLACED TO CARRY OUT POSSIBLE ATTACKS AGAINST U-S FORCES IF THEY SHOULD CHOOSE TO TO SO. THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN DEUTCH MADE A VISIT OUT THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO TO CHECK ON THE POSSIBLE THREAT RIGHT AFTER THE BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA. THERE WAS A FEAR THAT PERHAPS THESE IRANIANS OR OTHERS COULD CARRY OUT SOME SORT OF ATTACK IN BOSNIA.

WHILE ISLAMIST MILITANTS FROM ALGERIA, SUDAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARRIVE IN SMALL GROUPS WITH NO REAL PLAN, MR. KATZMAN SAYS THE IRANIANS ARE WELL FUNDED AND STRICTLY ORGANIZED.

THEY ARE NOT EASILY EXTRICATED BECAUSE THEY ARE BLENDED IN. IN MANY CASES THEY HAVE MARRIED LOCAL WOMEN. SOME OF THEM ARE WORKING AS DIPLOMATS IN THE IRANIAN EMBASSY OR EMPLOYEES OF THE NEW IRANIAN CULTURAL CENTER IN SARAJEVO. YOU HAVE IRANIANS COMING IN FROM CROATIA THROUGH IRAN'S EMBASSY IN CROATIA. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM ALL OUT.

MR. KATZMAN SAYS THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE THE FOREIGN MILITANTS WILL TURN THE MORE SECULAR-MINDED BOSNIANS INTO FUNDAMENTALISTS. BUT THE CONTINUING SECRET ALLIANCE BETWEEN BOSNIA AND IRAN IS WORRISOME.

JIM SCHEAR, A RESIDENT SCHOLAR AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR PEACE, RECENTLY RETURNED FROM BOSNIA. HE SAYS THE ISLAMIST THREAT MUST BE KEPT IN PERSPECTIVE.

THERE IS STILL AN ISLAMIC INFLUENCE. IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT IMPACT IT IS HAVING. I GENERALLY THINK THAT MOST OF THE BOSNIA PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY SECULAR AND NOT PRONE TO RADICAL ISLAM. I DO NOT NECESSARILY THINK WE HAVE TO FEAR THIS PRESENCE, BUT IT DOES BEAR CLOSE WATCHING AND ESPECIALLY IN THE HARDER LINE SECTION OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO KEEP GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONS WITH BOSNIA AND STEER IT IN A WESTERN ORIENTATION.

JIM SCHEAR SAYS CONTINUED PEACE IN BOSNIA IS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST ISLAMIC MILITANTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/JM
24-Jul-96 12:19 PM EDT (1619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] TURKEY / PRISONS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: A TWO-MONTH-OLD NATIONWIDE HUNGER STRIKE IN TURKISH PRISONS TOOK A THIRD VICTIM WEDNESDAY, WITH THE DEATH OF A MAN JAILED FOR ALLEGED MEMBERSHIP IN AN ILLEGAL LEFTIST GROUP. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, OVER 300 LEFTIST PRISONERS HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THE STRIKES IN 33 JAILS IN PROTEST OVER PRISON CONDITIONS.

TEXT: LAWYERS FOR ILGINC OZKESKIN SAY THE 35-YEAR-OLD MEDICAL DOCTOR DIED WEDNESDAY MORNING IN ISTANBUL'S BAYRAMPASA JAIL AFTER FALLING INTO A COMA TUESDAY NIGHT. OZKESKIN HAD BEEN AWAITING TRIAL SINCE 1994 ON CHARGES OF ALLEGED MEMBERSHIP OF AN ILLEGAL EXTREME LEFT-WING GROUP.

NEWS OF OSKESKIN'S DEATH COINCIDED WITH REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD LOST CONTROL OVER THREE JAILS -- BAYRMAMPASA AND UMRANIYE IN ISTANBUL AND BUCA IN IZMIR.

TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER SEVKET KAZAN FLEW TO ISTANBUL WEDNESDAY TO SEEK A SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS WHICH ANALYSTS SAY HAS BECOME THE NEW ISLAMIST LED GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST DOMESTIC HEADACHE (PROBLEM) SINCE COMING TO POWER THREE WEEKS AGO.

MR. KAZAN SAID THE PRISONS HAD, IN HIS WORDS, BECOME "TERRORISM TRAINING CENTERS" AND THAT THE HUNGER STRIKES WERE BEING ORCHESTRATED BY TERRORIST GROUPS.

TURKISH OFFICIALS WARNED THERE WOULD BE RIOTS AND CLASHES WITH INMATES IF THE AUTHORITIES ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE PRISONS.

THREE LEADING TURKISH WRITERS, INCLUDING NOBEL PRIZE NOMINEE YASAR KEMAL, CALLED ON AUTHORITIES TO HELP END THE STRIKES. THE WRITERS SAID THE DEATHS WERE, IN THEIR WORDS, "THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WHOLE TURKISH NATION."

THE STRIKES BEING CARRIED OUT BY WHAT NEWS REPORTS DESCRIBE AS MAINLY EXTREME LEFT-WING POLITICAL INMATES BEGAN AFTER THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT LARGE-SCALE TRANSFERS OF PRISONERS TO REMOTE PARTS OF THE TURKEY. THE MOVE WAS APPARENTLY AIMED AT PREVENTING INMATES FROM ORGANIZING AN OPPOSITION. MR. KAZAN, A MEMBER OF PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN'S PRO- ISLAMIC "WELFARE PARTY", HAS EASED SOME OF THE PRISON RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING GIVING BACK VISITATION RIGHTS. BUT PRISONERS SAY THIS IS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/MMK
24-Jul-96 9:08 AM EDT (1308 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A U-S DIPLOMATIC TEAM HEADED BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHN KORNBLUM IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO THE BALKANS NEXT WEEK TO SEEK FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO WELCOMING THE FIRST VISIT BY BOSNIAN OFFICIALS AND BUSINESSMEN TO BELGRADE SINCE THE BALKANS WAR BROKE OUT IN 1992.

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE TEAM WILL SEEK FULL IMPLEMENTATION ON PROVISIONS OF THE ACCORD RELATING TO WAR CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. HE ALSO SAYS AMBASSADOR KORNBLUM WILL SEEK ASSURANCES AN AGREEMENT REACHED WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS LAST WEEK REMOVING LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, FROM POWER AND INFLUENCE IS CARRIED OUT:

AMBASSADOR KORNBLUM WILL BE TALKING TO THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AND TO OTHERS IN THE REGION ABOUT MAKING SURE THE AGREEMENT REACHED LAST FRIDAY WITH RADOVAN KARADIZ IS CARRIED OUT TO THE 'T' (COMPLETELY), MEANING THAT KARADZIC IS OUT OF INFLUENCE, OUT OF POWER AND THAT NO ATTEMPT IS MADE BY KARADZIC TO INSERT HIMSELF INTO THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, INTO THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN THAT IS NOW UNDERWAY.

REMOVAL OF MR. KARADZIC IS A PRE-CONDITION FOR HIS POLITICAL P/A/R/T/Y'S PARTICIPATION IN SEPTEMBER 14 ELECTIONS.

MR. BURNS ALSO CALLED "SIGNIFICANT" THE ARRIVAL IN BELGRADE OF BOSNIAN VICE PRESIDENT EYUP GANIC WHO HELD TALKS (TUESDAY) WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND OTHER SERB OFFICIALS ON WAYS TO BRING BACK NORMAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO DELIVERING THE FIRST EQUIPMENT TO HELP START UP THE OPEN BROADCAST NETWORK AIMED AT SUPPORTING AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
23-Jul-96 9:32 PM EDT (0132 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] U-S/BOSNIA ARMS (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY, THE U-S ORGANIZED PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND EQUIP THE ARMED FORCES OF BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION HAS MOVED INTO HIGH-GEAR. FORMER U-S ARMY EXPERTS -- WORKING FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY -- ARE ARRIVING IN SARAJEVO TO RUN THE OPERATION. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT 170 FORMER ARMY OFFICERS LED BY RETIRED FIRST ARMORED DIVISION COMMANDER GENERAL WILLIAM BOYCE WILL RUN THE PROGRAM -- AIMED AT BRINGING THE FEDERATION ARMED FORCES INTO ROUGH BALANCE WITH THOSE OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

GENERAL BOYCE -- WHO IS ALREADY IN SARAJEVO -- WILL OVERSEE THE 360-MILLION DOLLAR OPERATION UNDERWRITTEN BY THE UNITED STATES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES INCLUDING TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI.

THE TRAIN-AND-EQUIP PROGRAM WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED A WEEK AGO, WHEN THE FEDERATION SIGNED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH THE PRIVATE COMPANY --MPRI (MILITARY PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES INCOPORATED)-- BASED NEAR WASHINGTON THAT EMPLOYS THE U-S ADVISERS AND WILL DO THE TRAINING.

THE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED UNDER THE DAYTON ACCORDS HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR MONTHS -- UNTIL THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS FINALLY AGREED ON A JOINT DEFENSE STRUCTURE EARLY THIS MONTH, AND THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT MET ITS OBLIGATION TO EXPEL IRANIAN AND OTHER FOREIGN ADVISERS.

BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE TRAIN-AND-EQUIP EFFORT, JAMES PARDEW, INSISTS THERE IS STILL ENOUGH TIME -- BEFORE NATO'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE I-FOR (INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE) LEAVES BOSNIA AT THE END OF THE YEAR -- TO CREATE A FEDERATION ARMY STRONG ENOUGH TO DETER A RENEWED WAR:

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CREATE AN ARMY UP TO NATO STANDARDS OVERNIGHT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT IN SIX MONTHS. NOT IN A YEAR. BUT WE DO THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CAPABILITY BY THE TIME I-FOR DEPARTS.

MR. PARDEW SAYS THAT WHILE THE TRAINING WILL BE DONE BY THE PRIVATE CONTRACTOR -- INDEPENDENT OF IFOR -- MOST WEAPONRY FOR THE FEDERATION WILL COME DIRECTLY FROM U-S MILITARY STOCKPILES AND INCLUDE TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, SMALL ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

NONE OF THE U-S HARDWARE HAS BEEN YET BEEN DELIVERED BUT SOME WEAPONS PROVIDED BY TURKEY ARRIVED IN SARAJEVO EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE ADMINISTRATION IS SOLICITING ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ABROAD, INCLUDING ANTI-TANK AND AIR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT.

MR. PARDEW SAID MUSLIM BRIGADES IN THE FEDERATION ARE MORE POORLY EQUIPPED THAN THEIR CROAT COUNTERPARTS ARE WILL LIKELY GET A LARGER SHARE OF THE NEW ARMAMENTS.

BOSNIAN SERB FORCES RETAIN THE HEAVY WEAPONRY THEY INHERITED WITH THE BREAK-UP OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FEAR A RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING UNLESS THE IMBALANCE FAVORING THE SERBS IS REDRESSED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/PT
24-Jul-96 5:48 PM EDT (2148 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] U-S / BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

INTRO: U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY AN INTERNATIONAL AND POSSIBLY AMERICAN FORCE MUST STAY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AFTER THIS YEAR TO KEEP THE COUNTRY FROM SLIDING BACK INTO WAR. SENATE CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SAY THE WHITE HOUSE IS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE TIMETABLE.

TEXT: THE C-I-A AND DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SAY THE ALLIED PEACEKEEPING ARMY (IFOR) HAS ACHIEVED ITS MILITARY GOALS -- KEEPING THE FACTIONS APART AND ENFORCING THEIR CEASEFIRE. BUT AT A SENATE HEARING, OFFICIALS TESTIFIED THE PROSPECTS FOR STABLE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT ARE STILL DOUBTFUL.

THE HEAD OF THE D-I-A, GENERAL PATRICK HUGHES, SAYS FURTHER BLOODSHED IS ALL BUT CERTAIN UNLESS SOME INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE REMAINS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

WITHOUT SUCH CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IT IS IN MY OPINION LIKELY THE FORMER WARRING FACTIONS WILL TURN ONCE AGAIN TO VIOLENT CONFLICT IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS ONGOING PRESENCE WILL INCLUDE AMERICANS HAS BECOME POLITICALLY SENSITIVE. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE 18-THOUSAND U-S TROOPS SERVING IN BOSNIA SHOULD BE GONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR AS SCHEDULED.

BUT REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE WHITE HOUSE IS HIDING ITS INTENTIONS UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER (U-S) ELECTION. AS GENERAL HUGHES POINTS OUT, THE EUROPEAN ALLIES SAY THEY WILL NOT STAY ON WITHOUT AMERICAN HELP.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT IF THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT PRESENT, THE PROSPECTS FOR A VIABLE INTERNATIONAL FORCE WOULD BE MUCH REDUCED.

THE GENERAL SAYS BOSNIA APPEARS TO BE SLIDING TOWARD A DE FACTO PARTITION INTO TWO OR THREE SMALLER STATES -- WHICH THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT. ELECTIONS FOR A NEW BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARE SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE OUTLOOK REMAINS CLOUDED BY THE PRESENCE OF BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS GIVEN UP HIS POWER. DEPUTY C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN GANNON SAYS THE EFFECT OF THAT MOVE IS UNCERTAIN.

EVEN IF KARADZIC STAYS OFF THE POLITICAL STAGE, AND IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL IF HE WILL, THAT WOULD BE ONLY THE BEGINNING OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

MR. GANNON SAYS NONE OF THE LEADING SERB, CROAT, OR MUSLIM POLITICAL PARTIES IS DOING MORE THAN THE MINIMUM NEEDED TO GIVE THEIR OPPOSITION PARTIES A FAIR CHANCE IN THE ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
24-Jul-96 12:12 PM EDT (1612 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next Article