Voice of America, 96-09-10

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA / CROATS (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (VITEZ, BOSNIA)

[03] BOSNIA / ELECTION (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA / SERBS RALLY (L-O) BY PAM TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)

[05] BOSNIA FEDERATION BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (STOLAC)

[06] BOSNIA SIT REP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

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

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

INTRO: A COMMON EDITORIAL TOPIC IN MANY OF TODAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS IS THE SITUATION IN KURDISH AREAS OF NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THE CIVIL WAR BETWEEN TWO OF THE THREE MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS. OTHER EDITORIALS COMMENT ON: SENATE CONSIDERATION OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT, INVOLVING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES; THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE TO DEMOCRACY IN HAITI; THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY; MORE PROBLEMS IN MEXICO AND THE BOB DOLE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES TO INTERVENE IN A KURDISH CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ.

VOICE: "WASHINGTON TRIED FOR YEARS TO PERSUADE THE FEUDING KURDISH GROUPS TO FORM A UNITED FRONT AGAINST [SADDAM] HUSSEIN. THAT EFFORT HAVING FAILED, THE U-S INTEREST IN NORTHERN IRAQ NOW IS SIMPLY TO AVOID GETTING ENTANGLED IN THE KURDISH CIVIL WAR. [OPT] HOWEVER, EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO RESCUE THE SEVERAL HUNDRED OR SO KURDS AND IRAQI ARAB DISSIDENTS WHO HAVE COOPERATED WITH U-S INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS AND WHO ARE NOW THREATENED WITH CAPTURE BY (SADDAM) HUSSEIN'S KURDISH ALLIES." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER IS EQUALLY CONCERNED OVER THE PROSPECT OF ANTI-SADDAM INTELLIGENCE FORCES BEING KILLED.

VOICE: "AFTER YEARS OF ENCOURAGING IRAQIS TO OPPOSE SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE UNITED STATES IS ABANDONING THE VERY MEN WHO ANSWERED ITS CALL... BY FAILING TO STRIKE BACK AT MILITARY TARGETS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS ENSURED THE VIRTUAL ELIMINATION OF RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS BASED ON IRAQI SOIL."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN'S GAINS IN THE PRESENT FIGHTING HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL, APPARENTLY UNDETERRED BY THE U-S MISSILE ATTACKS ON IRAQI DEFENSES IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.

VOICE: "SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SUCCESS IN REGAINING EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE KURDISH REGION OF NORTHERN IRAQ EASILY EXCEEDS ANY GAINS THE UNITED STATES MAY HAVE MADE IN EXTENDING ITS SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE AND ATTACKING IRAQI AIR DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS... PRESIDENT CLINTON ... NOW FACES THE FACT THAT THE IRAQI DICTATOR IS AGAIN AN EFFECTIVE TROUBLE-MAKER IN THE WORLD'S MOST ABUNDANT OIL-PRODUCING REGION."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES FAULTS THE UNITED STATES FOR NOT DOING MORE TO PROTECT IRAQI KURDS WHO OPPOSE SADDAM HUSSEIN.

VOICE: "THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ REMAINS COMPLICATED AND DANGEROUS AND IS GETTING WORSE WITH EACH PASSING DAY. MOREOVER, IT COULD ALL HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THERE BEEN A CLEAR POLICY FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES REGARDING THE 'SAFE HAVEN' FOR IRAQI KURDS. BUT EVEN NOW, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, AND AS A RESULT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS WINNING AGAIN."

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, TWO BIG TOPICS IN TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS ARE THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE ACT, AND THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMATION ACT, WHICH THE SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON TODAY. DEALING WITH BOTH, THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS:

VOICE: "...THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT WOULD ALLOW STATES TO NOT RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES SANCTIONED BY OTHER STATES. THIS BILL HAS ALREADY PASSED IN THE HOUSE, AND THE PREDICTIONS ARE ... IT WILL PASS HANDILY IN THE SENATE... THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT IS BAD LAW AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO PASS... FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DECREE THAT ONE STATE DOES NOT HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE MARRIAGE LAWS OF ANOTHER IS CONSTITUTIONALLY DUBIOUS AND COULD CREATE A LUDICROUS SITUATION... THE SECOND BILL, THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMATION ACT, WOULD BAR EMPLOYERS FROM USING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A BASIS FOR HIRING, FIRING, PROMOTION OR DEMOTION. IT ... OUGHT TO BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD ALSO SUPPORTS THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMATION ACT, EXPLAINING:

VOICE: "THE EMPLOYMENT ... ACT ... WOULD DENY EMPLOYERS THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAY MEN AND LESBIANS. OPINION POLLS HAVE SHOWN THAT 84 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THIS VIEW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY MIGHT THINK ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR GAYS... HOW A PERSON PERFORMS HIS OR HER JOB SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR EMPLOYMENT, NOT HOW HE OR SHE CHOOSES A PARTNER."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST MAKES CLEAR ITS STAND ON THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL, DECLARING:

VOICE: "A CONGRESS MANEUVERING TOWARD ADJOURNMENT IN AN ELECTION HEAR IS THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH WHERE SUCH A DISCUSSION OUGHT TO OCCUR."

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD CASTS A WORRIED GLANCE AT INCREASING VIOLENCE IN HAITI.

VOICE: "VIOLENCE IS GROWING WORSE IN HAITI'S STREETS, AND THE COUNTRY'S YOUNG, EVER-FRAGILE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT SEEMS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT... MORE DISTURBING, HOWEVER, ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT MEMBERS OF THE U-S- TRAINED PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY UNIT MURDERED TWO OPPOSITION POLITICIANS."

TEXT: REGARDING A PAIR OF TREATIES COMING UP FOR VOTES IN THE U-S SENATE AND THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THERE IS AMPLE COMMENT. FIRST, ABOUT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGREEMENT, STILL AWAITING A SENATE VOTE, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS RATIFY IT," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE TREATY REMAINS ... PERHAPS EVEN MORE IN THE AMERICAN INTEREST THAN WHEN IT WAS PRIMARILY A SOVIET-AMERICAN PROJECT FOR WORLD ORDER. ...THE TREATY IS NOT A SOLUTION TO CHEMICAL PROLIFERATION, ONLY A LEVER, BUT A POTENTIALLY USEFUL ONE."

TEXT: IN NEW YORK, LONG ISLAND'S NEWSDAY EXHORTS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS NOT TO MAKE THE TREATY A POLITICAL ISSUE.

VOICE: "SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS MAY BE TEMPTED TO BOOST BOB DOLE'S CAMPAIGN BY HANDING PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON A DEFEAT ON A TREATY BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THE STATESMANLIKE AMONG THEM WILL RESIST THE TEMPTATION BECAUSE THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IS A LANDMARK IN ARMS CONTROL."

TEXT: AND REGARDING THE LONG-SOUGHT NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY, OPPOSED MAINLY BY INDIA BUT NOW HEADED FOR A U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE, THANKS TO EFFORTS BY AUSTRALIA, THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS:

VOICE: AUSTRALIA DESERVES THE WORLD'S GRATITUDE FOR LEADING A LAST-MINUTE DIPLOMATIC RESCUE OF THE ... TREATY... THE U-N SHOULD APPROVE THE TREATY, AND AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS IT LATER THIS FALL, THE SENATE SHOULD RATIFY IT."

TEXT: REGARDING MEXICO, AND A NEWLY-SURFACED REVOLUTIONARY GROUP THAT HAS KILLED AT LEAST 17 POLICE AND ARMY TROOPS IN SIX STATES, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS IT "ANOTHER HEADACHE FOR [PRESIDENT] ZEDILLO."

VOICE: "LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS GROUP, INCLUDING ITS NUMBERS. NO ONE IN MEXICO BELIEVES IT HAS THE SOCIAL BASE OR THE MILITARY ABILITY TO DESTABILIZE THE REGIME. BUT THE INSURRECTION SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIGHTLY: IT PRESENTS A POLITICAL CHALLENGE TO [MR.] ZEDILLO IN BOTH THE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS OF BOB DOLE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN:

VOICE: "IT IS NOW OR NEVER FOR THE BOB DOLE CAMPAIGN... THE KANSAS REPUBLICAN REMAINS MIRED AT ABOUT 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS BEHIND PRESIDENT CLINTON IN PUBLIC-OPINION POLLS... TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE G-O-P STANDARD-BEARER. TO HAVE ANY HOPE, HE MUST BEGIN TURNING PUBLIC OPINION AROUND TODAY."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TUESDAY U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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10-Sep-96 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / CROATS (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (VITEZ, BOSNIA)

INTRO: SUPPORTERS OF BOSNIA'S LEADING CROAT POLITICAL PARTY, THE H-D-Z, HAVE DEFIED RULES GOVERNING BOSNIAN ELECTIONS BY DISPLAYING POSTERS OF A FORMER OFFICIAL WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN VITEZ REPORTS THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, O-S-C-E, WHO ARE OVERSEEING THE VOTE.

TEXT: AS THE RALLY BEGAN ON A SUN-SWEPT FOOTBALL FIELD ON THE EDGE OF THIS CENTRAL TOWN, A SMALL GROUP OF H-D-Z MILITANTS MARCHED THROUGH THE CROWD, CARRYING POSTERS OF DARIO CORDIC, THE FORMER H-D-Z LEADER INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE LAST NOVEMBER.

MR. CORDIC AND FIVE OTHER CROATS WERE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MASSACRE OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS IN THE CENTRAL LASVA RIVER VALLEY DURING THE MUSLIM-CROAT WAR IN 1993.

ONE OF THOSE ACCUSED, THE FORMER CROAT MILITIA COMMANDER TIHOMIR BLASKIC, WENT VOLUNTARILY TO THE HAGUE WHERE HE IS AWAITING TRIAL. BUT THE OTHERS REMAIN AT LARGE. MR. CORDIC IS REPORTEDLY LIVING IN AN APARTMENT OWNED BY CROATIA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY IN ZAGREB.

THE O-S-C-E RULES FOR BOSNIA'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN FORBID POSTERS OR OTHER CAMPAIGN PARAPHERNALIA FEATURING THOSE WHO HAVE FORMALLY ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES. AND O-S-C-E OFFICIALS HAVE LODGED REPEATED PROTESTS WITH BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES ABOUT CAMPAIGN POSTERS PICTURING FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC WHO HAS TWICE BEEN INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL. SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FORMAL O-S-C-E COMPLAINTS ABOUT DISPLAYS OF CROATS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, EVEN THOUGH PICTURES OF MR. CORDIC ALSO WERE IN EVIDENCE AT A H-D-Z RALLY IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF BUSOVACA LATE LAST WEEK.

O-S-C-E OFFICIALS MONITORED TUESDAY'S RALLY IN VITEZ, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE IN THE REGION, IAN MITCHELL, TOLD V-O-A HE WILL FILE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT AND SEEK GUIDANCE FROM O-S-C-E HEADQUARTERS IN SARAJEVO.

H-D-Z OFFICIALS WHO SPOKE AT THE RALLY HERE DEFENDED MR. CORDIC AND THE OTHER ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS. THE CROAT LEADER WHO PRESIDES OVER THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, KRESIMIR ZUBAK, DID NOT CONDONE THE POSTERS. BUT HE SAID THE ACCUSED DID NOTHING MORE THAN ORGANIZE THE DEFENSE OF THE CROAT COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL BOSNIA.

SELF DEFENSE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, HE DECLARED, AND NO ONE SHOULD BE INDICTED FOR EXERCISING THAT RIGHT.

THE REMARK DREW A WAR WELCOME FROM ABOUT 15-THOUSAND CROATS WHO ATTENDED THE RALLY. AT ONE POINT, SOME IN THE CROWD BEGAN CHANTING MR. CORDIC'S NAME, AND MANY CROATS HERE SAY THEY CONSIDER THE FORMER PARTY LEADER A NATIONAL HERO. (SIGNED)
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10-Sep-96 2:47 PM EDT (1847 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / ELECTION (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: WITH PLANNING FOR THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS NOW IN THE FINAL PHASE, CRITICS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THE RESULTS MAY NOT BE WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD HOPED FOR. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZERS OF THE ELECTION SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO GET VOTERS SAFELY TO THE POLLS.

PLANS TO BUS REFUGEES ACROSS ETHNIC BOUNDARY LINES HAVE NOW BEEN AGREED TO BY THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SERB REPUBLIC, AND NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING TROOPS WILL HELP SECURE THE PEACE.

BUT CRITICS CONTINUE TO ACCUSE ORGANIZERS OF RUSHING INTO THE ELECTION. THEY SAY THE PRESENCE OF ACCUSED WAR CRIMINALS AND HARDLINE NATIONALISTS HAS POISONED THE ATMOSPHERE FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, AND THEY SAY MANY VOTERS ARE BEING INTIMIDATED BY THE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS CENTER OFFICE IN SARAJEVO, JOHN FAWCETT, SAYS THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE EFFECT OF FREEZING HARDLINERS IN POWER.

OUR POLICIES ARE COMPLETELY WRONG. WE ARE LEADING TOWARD MORE INVOLVEMENT HERE BECAUSE OF THIS PARTITION, MORE TROOPS HERE MORE MONEY BEING SPENT, FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME WHEN DAYTON CALLED FOR IT TO BE OVER AND DONE WITH IN A YEAR.

IN A SIGN OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS, U-N OFFICIAL CHRIS JANOWSKI SAYS IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT EVEN TO ORGANIZE VISITS BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CROSS ETHNIC LINES JUST TO SEE THEIR OLD HOMES.

SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD PRETTY DISCOURAGING EXPERIENCES. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ORGANIZE ASSESSMENT VISITS FOR POTENTIAL RETURNEES, AND IN DOZENS OF NEGOTIATIONS ONLY A FEW WERE ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL, SO IT HASN'T BEEN VERY GOOD.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY EVEN IF THE ELECTION IS HELD WITHOUT ANY MAJOR INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE, IT MAY FACE BOYCOTTS IF THE OUTCOME IS NOT FAVORABLE. ANOTHER DANGER IS THE POSSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT PARALYSIS IN A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO HAVE A COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY MADE UP OF ONE SERB, ONE MUSLIM, AND ONE CROAT.

DESPITE THE BITTER DIVISIONS THAT STILL EXIST BETWEEN THE THREE FACTIONS, THE PRESIDENCY WILL HAVE TO SET POLICY BY UNANIMITY -- SOMETHING CRITICS SAY WILL BE DIFFICULT AT BEST. (SIGNED)
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10-Sep-96 12:03 PM EDT (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / SERBS RALLY (L-O) BY PAM TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)

INTRO: TWO MEN ALLEGEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ETHNIC CLEANSING IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA HAVE HELD POLITICAL RALLIES IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC. BOTH RALLIES WERE BOISTEROUS BUT PEACEFUL, WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED CITIZENS TURNING OUT IN THE WESTERN TOWN OF BANJA LUKA. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM BANJA LUKA.

TEXT:

ZELIKO RAZNATOVIC WAS SMARTLY DRESSED IN A BUSINESS SUIT. HIS PRESENCE AT A POLITICAL RALLY IN BANJA LUKA WAS A FAR CRY FROM THE DAYS THE MAN KNOWN AS "ARKAN" DONNED A BLACK SKI MASK TO LEAD HIS MILITIA AGAINST CROATS AND MUSLIMS.

TO THE CITIZENS OF BANJA LUKA, MOSTLY SERBS NOW, ARKAN IS THE MAN WHO SAVED THEM FROM MUSLIM TERROR, NOT THE FIGURE UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR HIS PART IN THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF TOWNS LIKE BUKOVAR, ZORNIK AND BANJA LUKA.

AS A SERB FROM BELGRADE, ARKAN CANNOT BE A CANDIDATE IN THIS SATURDAY'S ELECTIONS. HE CAME TO BANJA LUKA TO URGE VOTERS TO SUPPORT LJILJANA PERIC, OF THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE SERBIAN UNITY PARTY.

ALTHOUGH THE CROWD APPLAUDED IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES, MAINLY WHENEVER ARKAN CALLED FOR UNITING ALL SERBS IN A SINGLE STATE, THERE WAS DERISIVE LAUGHTER WHEN HE TALKED OF BANJA LUKA AS "HIS TOWN." AND ONE MAN YELLED OUT: "ARKAN, CRIMINAL."

SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THERE WAS A SIMILAR BUT MUCH LARGER AND BETTER ORGANIZED RALLY FOR VOJISLAV SESELJ, A SERB FROM OUTSIDE THE REPUBLIC WHO ALSO IS BARRED FROM RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION.

MR. SESELJ ONCE PROMISED THAT RUSSIA WOULD HELP SERBS REALIZE THEIR DREAM OF A GREATER SERBIA BY GIVING THEM A SECRET WEAPON. TODAY, HE ANNOUNCED HIS SPECIAL GUEST FOR THE RALLY HAD BEEN DETAINED BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AT THE BORDER. THAT SPECIAL GUEST WAS RUSSIAN NATIONALIST VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY.

MR. SESELJ DID PROMISE, HOWEVER, THAT MANY OTHER FRIENDS OF SERBS WOULD COME TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

THOSE BOSNIAN SERBS ATTENDING THE RALLIES APPEAR TO BE UNANIMOUS ON ONE POINT: THE DREAM OF A GREATER SERBIA, WITH ALL SERBS UNITED IN A SINGLE AND SEPARATE STATE. (SIGNED) NEB / PT / BD-T/RRM/
10-Sep-96 4:40 PM EDT (2040 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA FEDERATION BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (STOLAC)

INTRO: THERE HAS BEEN A CLEAR EASING OF TENSIONS BETWEEN BOSNIA'S MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO COUNTRY'S ELECTIONS. SOME REFUGEES FROM THE 1993 MUSLIM-CROAT WAR HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, AND POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM THE CROAT-CONTROLLED TOWN OF STOLAC IN SOUTHERN BOSNIA THAT SOME ANALYSTS SAY THEY DOUBT THIS NEW-FOUND SPIRIT OF COOPERATION WILL LAST MUCH BEYOND THE ELECTIONS SATURDAY.

TEXT: SEVERAL THOUSAND STOLAC RESIDENTS GATHERED IN THE LOCAL FOOTBALL STADIUM THIS WEEK FOR A CAMPAIGN RALLY ORGANIZED BY THE MAIN CROAT POLITICAL PARTY, THE H-D-Z. IT IS THE BOSNIAN BRANCH OF CROATIA'S RULING PARTY, AND CROATIA'S RED AND WHITE CHECKERBOARD FLAG WAS MUCH IN EVIDENCE AT THE RALLY.

THIS IS CROATIAN TERRITORY AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, SAID ONE H-D-Z OFFICIAL. AND THE CROATIAN FLAG MUST ALWAYS FLY ATOP STOLAC'S CLOCKTOWER.

THE RHETORIC IS NOT NEW. BUT WHAT WAS NOTEWORTHY AT THE RALLY WAS THE ABSENCE OF ACCUSATIONS OR DIATRIBES AGAINST BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS. UNTIL THREE YEARS AGO, MULSIMS MADE UP OF SLIGHT MAJORITY OF STOLAC'S 18-THOUSAND RESIDENTS. BUT VIRTUALLY ALL WERE EXPELLED DURING THE YEAR-LONG MUSLIM-CROAT WAR. MOSQUES AND OTHER ISLAMIC MONUMENTS WERE DESTROYED, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM-OWNED HOMES.

LOCAL CROAT AUTHORITIES RESISTED ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE MUSLIMS TO RETURN TO STOLAC, AND AS A RESULT, THE TOWN WAS PLACED UNDER SANCTION, DEPRIVED OF RECONSTRUCTION AID BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THEN, LAST WEEK, AROUND 100 MUSLIM FAMILIES FINALLY WERE ALLOWED BACK INTO STOLAC TO BEGIN REBUILDING THEIR HOUSES WITH AID FROM THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY. IT WAS, SAID ONE U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL, A MINOR BREAKTHROUGH, ONE OF SEVERAL IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

UNDER STRONG PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN POWERS, BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS AND CROAT LEADERS APPEAR TO HAVE CALLED ONE ANALYST TERMS A "TRUCE" IN THEIR LONG-RUNNING FEUD.

THE FIRST TANGIBLE DEMONSTRATION CAME LAST MONTH WHEN SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM THE TWO COMMUNITIES PLEDGED TO ALLOW MUSLIM AND CROAT REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES THROUGHOUT THE FEDERATION. THE STOLAC MUSLIMS WERE THE FIRST TO BENEFIT FROM THE NEW ACCORD.

EUROPEAN OFFICIALS IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL, MOSTAR, REPORTED A NOTICEABLE EASING OF TENSIONS IN WHAT STILL IS A DIVIDED CITY. A MONTH AGO, E-U OFFICIALS WERE VOICING ALARM ABOUT A NEW WAVE OF EXPULSIONS OF MUSLIM FAMILIES FROM CROAT-CONTROLLED WEST MOSTAR. BUT DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS, FIVE OF THOSE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF CROAT POLICEMEN. AND THERE ARE SIGNS OTHER MUSLIM EXPELLEES ALSO WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK.

MUSLIM AND CROAT MUNICIPAL LEADERS IN MOSTAR -- BARELY ON SPEAKING TERMS IN THE PAST -- HAVE FORMED WHAT ONE EUROPEAN OFFICIAL CALLS A REMARKABLY CLOSE PERSONAL AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

THERE ARE SIMILAR SIGNS OF IMPROVED RELATIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE FEDERATION. AND IT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY EVIDENT IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE H-D-Z AND THE MAIN MUSLIM PARTY, THE S-D-A, HAVE STAGED RALLIES IN EACH OTHER'S STRONGHOLDS WITHOUT SERIOUS INCIDENT. AND ANALYSTS SAY THE RHETORIC FROM BOTH SIDES HAS BEEN REMARKABLY MILD.

BUT MANY LOCAL AND FOREIGN OBSERVERS REMAIN SKEPTICAL. THIS COOPERATION BETWEEN THE S-D-A AND THE H-D-Z, SAYS ONE MUSLIM JOURNALIST IN MOSTAR, IS ONLY COSMETIC AND IT WILL NOT LAST. THE TWO PARTIES, HE ADDS, ARE JUST DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD ON TO POWER.

A CROAT WHO MANAGES A SMALL HOTEL IN WEST MOSTAR, MIKOLA CORIC, SAYS HE FAVORS RECONCILIATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE MUSLIMS. BUT HE TOO REMAINS SKEPTICAL. THE MUSLIMS SAY THEY WANT THE FEDERATION TO SUCCEED, SAYS MR. CORIC. BUT IT IS JUST A PLOY TO ENABLE THEM TO DOMINATE THE REGION.

FOR THE LEADER OF THE MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM STOLAC, MEHMED DIZDAR, IT IS BOSNIA'S CROAT LEADERS WHO ARE, AS HE PUTS IT, THE MASTERS OF DECEIT. THEY HAVE ALLOWED A FEW MUSLIMS TO RETURN, HE SAYS, BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAP OF STOLAC, BRINGING IN THOUSANDS OF CROAT SETTLERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. EVEN IF ALL THE MUSLIM REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN, HE ADDS, THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE IN THE MAJORITY.

MR. DIZDAR SAYS THE ORDINARY CROATS OF STOLAC WOULD WELCOME THE RETURN OF MORE MUSLIMS. HE SAYS IT IS THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS THE OBSTACLE, AND THE SAME PEOPLE WHO EXPELLED US AND DESTROYED OUR HOMES REMAIN IN POWER TODAY. STILL, MR. DIZDAR BELIEVES ALL THE REFUGEES EVENTUALLY WILL RETURN TO STOLAC. AND SOME ANALYSTS SAY EVENTS OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS IN THE FEDERATION SAY THAT THAT MAY ONE DAY BE POSSIBLE. THERE IS A SENSE THAT THINGS ARE IMPROVING, SAYS ONE EUROPEAN OFFICIAL, AND THAT THESE TWO COMMUNITIES HAVE FINALLY REALIZED THEY MUST BUILD THEIR LIVES TOGETHER. BUT OTHER ANALYSTS REMAIN DEEPLY PESSIMISTIC, FEARING THAT RESULTS OF THE ELECTION SATURDAY WILL DEMONSTRATE THE RHE ELECTION S

[06] BOSNIA SIT REP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL ELECTION ORGANIZERS IN BOSNIA SAY BOSNIAN SERB CAMPAIGN POSTERS WITH PICTURES OF FORMER PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC ARE IN VIOLATION OF ELECTION RULES. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE ORGANIZERS HAVE REQUIRED THE SERBS TO BROADCAST A STATEMENT ON BOSNIAN SERB TELEVISION REMINDING THEIR PEOPLE THAT NO REFERENCE TO MR. KARADZIC IS ALLOWED WHILE CAMPAIGNING.

TEXT: IN A LONG AWAITED RULING, THE O-S-C-E, RESPONSIBLE FOR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, HAS FINALLY RESPONDED TO FREQUENT USE BY BOSNIAN SERB CANDIDATES OF MR. KARADZIC'S PICTURE AND NAME WHILE CAMPAIGNING.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, THE O-S-C-E SPOKESWOMAN, AGGIE KUPERMAN, READ PART OF THE STATEMENT THAT IS BEING BROADCAST THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW ON BOSNIAN SERB TELEVISION.

THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE POSTERS OF DR. RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO IS FORBIDDEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, CAN JEOPARDIZE THE DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF THE ELECTIONS.

THE RULING HAS BEEN ROUNDLY CRITICIZED AS HARDLY AMOUNTING TO EVEN A SLAP ON THE WRIST (NOT BEING HARSH ENOUGH) FOR THE S-D-S, THE RULING SERB PARTY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY MR. KARADZIC. O-S-C-E OFFICIALS COULD HAVE REMOVED S-D-S CANDIDATES FROM THE BALLOT, OR IMPOSED SUBSTANTIAL FINES ON THE PARTY.

LEADING BOSNIAN SERB CANDIDATES HAVE ALSO OPENLY CALLED FOR THE SECESSION OF SERB CONTROLLED AREAS FROM BOSNIA IN ORDER TO JOIN WITH NEIGHBORING SERBIA. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT SUCH COMMENTS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT AND ELECTORAL RULES.

O-S-C-E OFFICIALS SAY A DECISION ON THOSE COMPLAINTS WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL FRIDAY, LESS THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE POLLS OPEN. MS. KUPERMAN ACKNOWLEDGED SHARP CRITICISM OVER THE DELAY.

IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT IT IS THIS LATE IN THE GAME. I THINK THEY WILL COME TO SOME SORT OF STRONG STATEMENT AS THEY HAVE WITH THIS STATEMENT THAT THE S-D-S WAS FORCED TO AIR TO ITS OWN CONSTITUENCY.

THAT WOULD LEAVE ALMOST NO TIME FOR SUCH A STATEMENT TO HAVE ANY EFFECT. BUT THE HEAD OF THE O-S-C-E IN BOSNIA, ROBERT FROWICK, SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT TO HEAR FURTHER SECESSIONIST REMARKS FROM BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS.

EARLY ON TUESDAY, MR. FROWICK MET WITH THE ACTING BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC. HE SAYS MRS. PLAVSIC ACCEPTED THAT SERB TERRITORY WOULD REMAIN PART OF BOSNIA AS REQUIRED BY THE DAYTON ACCORD. BUT THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE OFTEN TOLD INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, ONLY TO PROMPTLY IGNORE SUCH ASSURANCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
10-Sep-96 12:33 PM EDT (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY MOST OF THE CHARGES AGAINST WAR CRIMES SUSPECT DUSAN TADIC SHOULD BE DROPPED. GILLIAN SHARPE AT THE HAGUE REPORTS THE DEFENSE LAWYERS MADE THE ARGUMENT AS THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL RESUMED ITS TRIAL OF MR. TADIC ON CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND OTHER CRIMES IN AND AROUND THREE PRISON CAMPS IN BOSNIA IN 1992.

TEXT: AFTER A THREE-WEEK BREAK WHILE THE DEFENSE TEAM LOOKED FOR MORE WITNESSES IN BOSNIA, THE TRIAL RE-OPENED TUESDAY, WITH A DEFENSE MOTION TO DROP MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE CHARGES AGAINST DUSAN TADIC.

LEAD DEFENSE LAWYER MIKHAIL WLADIMIROFF ARGUED THE THREE-MONTH PROSECUTION CASE, WHICH HEARD FROM MORE THAN 70 WITNESSES, HAD FAILED TO PRESENT CONVINCING EVIDENCE IN 21 OF THE 31 CHARGES AGAINST HIS CLIENT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE THE TRIBUNAL, MR. WLADIMIROFF CHARACTERIZED THE MOOD IN THE DEFENSE TEAM.

WLADIMIROFF: WELL, SIMPLY LESS PESSIMISTIC. I AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY I AM OPTIMISTIC, BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT APPRAISE THE DAY BEFORE IT IS OVER?

QUESTION: BUT LESS PESSIMISTIC THAN AT THE BEGINNING?

WLADIMIROFF: YES, RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

QUESTION: WHY IS THAT?

WLADIMIROFF: WELL, WE DID NOT EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO FILE THIS MOTION SIMPLY ON THE BASIS OF CROSS-EXAMINATION, AND WE COULD.

THE MOTION -- FOR THE DISMISSAL OF CHARGES -- WILL BE RULED ON BY JUDGES LATER IN THE WEEK.

THE FIRST SO-CALLED FACT WITNESS WILL NOT BE HEARD UNTIL NEXT WEEK BECAUSE NONE OF THEM CAN TRAVEL FROM BOSNIA UNTIL AFTER ELECTIONS SATURDAY.

THE DEFENSE SAYS THESE WITNESSES WILL PROVIDE MR. TADIC WITH AN ALIBI FOR THE EIGHT MONTHS COVERED IN THE CHARGES. A NUMBER OF THEM ACTUALLY ADMIT TO WORKING IN THE SERB-RUN PRISON CAMPS, AND SAY THEY FEAR PROSECUTION THEMSELVES FOR WAR CRIMES. SOME WILL TESTIFY VIA SATELLITE FROM BOSNIA AND OTHERS WILL TRAVEL TO THE HAGUE UNDER TEMPORARY IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION.

MR. WLADIMIROFF SAYS AS FAR AS THE SATELLITE LINK, THERE ARE ONLY MINOR PRACTICAL PROBLEMS TO BE SORTED OUT. HE HAS COMPLAINED IN THE PAST ABOUT THE LACK OF COOPERATION FROM BOSNIAN SERBS. HE SAID THIS HAS CHANGED, BUT IT WAS, IN HIS WORDS, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED STORY. I JUST MENTION SOME TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA. IN THE VIEW OF LOTS OF SERBS, DUSAN TADIC IS SEEN AS A DESERTED. IN THE VIEW OF A LOT OF SERBS, DUSKO TADIS IS SEEN AS AN OFFER BEING GIVEN TO THE TRIBUNAL BY THE SERBS. IN THE VIEW OF A LOT OF SERBS, YOU CANNOT SIMPLY COOPERATE WITH THE TRIBUNAL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE TRIBUNAL. SO, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS AND IT IS A FACT THAT DID NOT SO FAR UNLESS UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

THE DEFENSE EXPECTS TO CALL AT LEAST 40 WITNESSES AND TO FINISH ITS CASE AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

MR. TADIC IS THE FIRST OF SEVEN SUSPECTS IN TRIBUNAL CUSTODY AWAITING TRIAL. SIXTY-SEVEN OTHERS, INCLUDING FORMER BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS MILITARY COMMANDER, RATKO MLADIC, REMAIN FREE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH/RAE
10-Sep-96 1:25 PM EDT (1725 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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