Voice of America, 96-10-07

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: ROMANI RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[03] GERMANY / STASI ARCHIVES (L) BY KYLE KING (BERLIN)

[04] LEBED / NATO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[05] RUSSIAN MILITARY WEAKNESS: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

[06] TURKEY/LIBYA (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[07] U-S/ BOSNIAN SERBS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

[08] U-S / TURKEY / LIBYA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS REACTED QUICKLY TO THE FIRST OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN DEBATES SUNDAY NIGHT, AND AT LEAST A FEW OF THEM ARE COMMENTING ON THE ENCOUNTER IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION THIS MONDAY INCLUDE THE OPENING OF THE SUPREME COURT'S FALL TERM; WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S TRIP TO AFRICA; A NEW AFRIKANER TREK; THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IN POOR COUNTRIES, AND THE PENDING AVAILABILITY OF A FRENCH ABORTION PILL TO AMERICAN WOMEN. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________________AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE HOST DEBATE CITY -- HARTFORD, CONNETICUT -- TODAY'S COURANT LAMENTS THE HYPE THAT PRECEDED THE DEBATE, WITH THE MEDIA LIKENING IT TO A SPORTING EVENT, WITH A WINNER AND A LOSER.

VOICE: "LOST IN THE PUNDITS' FERVOR TO CROWN A CHAMPION WAS THE OLD-FASHIONED NOTION THAT A DEBATE SHOULD ENLIGHTEN AND ILLUMINATE. THE CHALLENGE ISN'T TO GROUND THE OPPOSITION TO DUST, BUT TO MAKE POINTS COGENTLY AND COHERENTLY SO THAT VOTERS CAN MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ON ELECTION DAY. TO THAT END, SUNDAY'S EVENT WAS LASS THAN SATISFYING..."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES SEES THE DEBATE AS SOMETHING LESS THAN MEMORABLE AND OFFERS THIS ASSESSMENT.

VOICE: "MR. DOLE SEEMED UNFOCUSED AND A LITTLE WEARY AT TIMES AND NEVER CAME CLOSE TO CREATING A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR HIS CANDIDACY. BUT HE DID HIMSELF NO HARM AND PROBABLY CAME AWAY FEELING THAT HE HAD DONE A GOOD JOB OF SKETCHING HIS ROAD MAP FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD... FOR HIS PART, MR. CLINTON GAVE THE SAME SORT OF SKILLED, GENERALITY-FILLED PERFORMANCE HE HAS BEEN DELIVERING SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN. [OPT] MR. DOLE HARDLY PUT A MARK ON HIM, [WAS NOT ABLE TO WOUND HIM WITH CRITICISM] AND THE VOTERS WERE PROBABLY NOT MUCH WISER ABOUT HOW EACH MAN WOULD LEAD THE NATION INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE NATIONAL DAILY, USA TODAY, REMINDS READERS OF WHAT THE CONFRONTATION WAS NOT -- A TRUE DEBATE.

VOICE: "IT WAS MORE A BICKERING BLIZZARD OF INCOMPREHENSIBLE DETAIL, A STRING OF SOUNDBITES, POORLY SUPPORTING FAMILIAR THEMES. [OPT] RESULT: VOTERS LEARNED LESS ABOUT THE CANDIDATES THAN THEY NEEDED TO KNOW. AND MOST OF THE INSTANT ANALYSIS SUGGESTED LITTLE IMPACT ON THEIR DECISIONS. [END OPT] ... FOR [MR.] DOLE, TRAILING IN THE POLLS AND IN NEED OF A BIG WIN, LAST NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE WAS SURELY NOT THE ANSWER. FOR [PRESIDENT] CLINTON, LOOKING TO SOLIDIFY HIS LEAD, THERE WAS NO CLEAR GAIN."

TEXT: SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER, THE SUPREME COURT OPENS ITS NEW TERM TODAY, AND THE MIAMI HERALD TAKES NOTE THIS WAY:

VOICE: "LIKE OTHERS [TERMS] OF RECENT YEARS, THIS TERM HAS THE APPEARANCE OF BEING ONE THAT FINETUNES THE LAW RATHER THAN BREAKS NEW GROUND. OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE HEADLINE GRABBERS. THE COURT JUST ACCEPTED REVIEW OF TWO FEDERAL APPELLATE DECISIONS THAT GIVE MENTALLY COMPETENT, TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS THE RIGHT TO HAVE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANCE IN SUICIDE. THE COURT ALSO IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON WHETHER A SITTING PRESIDENT CAN BE SUED IN CIVIL COURT. THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON BY PAULA JONES. [ALTOGETHER] ... THIS TERM LOOKS A BIT LIKE A CALM SPOT IN THE POLITE BUT PITCHED STRUGGLE IN THE COURT OVER JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE WASHINGTON POST, COMMENTS ON SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S VISIT TO AFRICA, AND THE PROPOSAL FOR AN AMERICAN-BACKED, AFRICAN-MANNED INTERVENTION FORCE.

VOICE: "THE IDEA IS TO FILL A PAINFUL GAP IN INTERNATIONAL CAPABILITIES BY HEADING OFF THE SORT OF VAST CIVILIAN SLAUGHTER THAT BEFELL RWANDA TWO YEARS AGO AND THAT THREATENS BURUNDI NOW. THIS IDEA [OPT] DOES NOT GO TO THE POLITICAL IMPERATIVE OF PREVENTING AND RESOLVING CONFLICT. BUT IT [END OPT] IS A WORTHY NOTION WHOSE TIME CAME WHEN THE COLD WAR ENDED AND MADE HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION THINKABLE. "

TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE COMMENTS ON ANOTHER AFRICAN CONCERN -- THE EXODUS OF WHITE AFRIKANER FARMERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA FOR OTHER, NEARBY NATIONS WHERE THEY CAN STILL LIVE APART FROM BLACKS.

VOICE: "SOME AFRIKANER FARMERS HAVE SOLD THEIR FIELDS AND CATTLE AND MOVED TO AUSTRALIA. OTHERS HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OFFERS OF CHEAP OR FREE LAND FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT WANT SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR, TO MODERNIZE THEIR BACKWARD AGRICULTURE... IN BOTH ZAMBIA AND CONGO, PRESIDENTS HAVE ACTIVELY RECRUITED EXPERIENCED AFRIKANER FARM FAMILIES TO FERTILE REGIONS. THE WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS ARE SEEN AS AGENTS OF IMPROVEMENT AND CHANGE AND NOT AS FORMER ENEMIES."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN THE THIRD WORLD, BUT NOW SAYS, AFTER A DECADE OF EVER-INCREASING NUMBERS, THERE IS A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

VOICE: "... THERE IS AT LEAST REASON FOR CAUTIOUS HOPE THAT ITS RATE OF GROWTH CAN BE STEMMED. RESEARCHERS NOW HAVE EVIDENCE THAT PROGRAMS IN THAILAND HAVE CUT THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION OF H-I-V, THE AIDS VIRUS -- THE FIRST SUCH PROVEN SUCCESS. UGANDA ALSO SHOWS INDICATIONS THAT THE AIDS TRANSMISSION RATE IS SLOWING. WHILE NOT EVERY NATION WILL BE ABLE TO COPY THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, THEY DESERVE TO BE STUDIED AND THEIR LESSONS ADAPTED WORLDWIDE."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER SOCIAL ISSUE, PREVENTING UNWANTED CHILDREN, TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN TALKS ABOUT THE PENDING SALE IN THIS COUNTRY OF THE FRENCH ABORTION BILL, R-U-486 AND THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING IT.

VOICE: "BY PROVIDING A NON-SURGICAL WAY TO END A PREGNANCY, THE DRUG, WHICH THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID IT WILL APPROVE SOON, REMOVES SOME OF THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT'S BEST TOOLS FOR APPEALING TO PUBLIC OPINION... THIS DRUG REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT NEW CHOICE. WOULD THAT IT COULD ALSO SPUR FRESH DIALOGUE ON FINDING WAYS TO HELP WOMEN AVOID PREGNANCIES THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO CARRY TO TERM, RATHER THAN SIMPLY BEING CAUSE FOR MORE CONTENTION."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL LAMENTS THE SUPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN SEVERAL ASIAN NATIONS, INCLUDING THE NEWLY-CHANGED SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

VOICE: "AFGHAN CLERICS AREN'T THE ONLY ASIAN AUTHORITIES DESPERATE TO KEEP THEIR WOMEN UNDER WRAPS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IN BURMA AND INDONESIA, AUTHORITIES HAVE GOT AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI IN POLITICAL PURDAH. AS OBJECTIONABLE AS THE BANISHMENT FROM PUBLIC LIFE OF AFGHAN WOMEN IS, THE OFFICIAL SQUEEZE ON POPULAR LEADERS MS. SUU KYI AND MS. MEGAWATI IS MORE THREATENING."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SELECTED OPINIONS FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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07-Oct-96 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CONFLICT RESOLUTION: ROMANI RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, THE ROMA -- OR GYPSIES, AS THEY ARE INCORRECTLY KNOWN -- OCCUPY A POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LADDER. IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, HOWEVER, THE ROMA HAVE MADE GREATER STRIDES THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE REGION. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MORE ROMA IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATED ROMANI COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD LIVES IN SUTO ORIZARI [SHOO-TOH OR-EE-ZAH-REE], ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF

TEXT: ERAN FRAENKEL [FRANK-EL], ETHNOMUSICOLOGIST AND DIRECTOR OF SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IN SKOPJE, SAYS THE SITUATION OF THE ROMA IN MACEDONIA IS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- FRAENKEL (0:51) "I RECENTLY WAS IN BULGARIA WHERE THERE'S A BULGARIAN N-G-O THAT IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ROMA COMMUNITY, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH POVERTY IN MY LIFE. I'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MACEDONIA ANYWHERE, EVEN IN THE POOREST ROMANI COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THE ROMA HERE ARE DOING WELL -- BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT. THE ROMA HERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE UNDERCLASS. PEOPLE HERE LOOK AT THE ROMA AS BEING DIRTY AND LAZY AND ALL THE STEREOTYPES THAT YOU HEAR THROUGHOUT EASTERN EUROPE, BUT THEY'RE NOT SEEN AS A THREAT. THEY'RE NOT REGARDED AS SUBHUMAN. (OPT) I THINK PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MACEDONIA HAVE GOT A BROADER TOLERANCE OF EACH OTHER THAN PEOPLES OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS THE SAME VARIETY OF ETHNICITIES AND CULTURES AND LANGUAGES LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY." (END OPT)

TEXT: MR. FRAENKEL SAYS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE ROMA IS NOT OFFICIAL POLICY, AS IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. HOWEVER, THE ROMA IN MACEDONIA ARE NOT TREATED WELL BY THE MEMBERS OF OTHER NATIONALITIES. TAPE A: CUT TWO -- FRAENKEL (0:44) "I'M SURE THERE'LL ALWAYS BE INSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION FOR SURE AND PHYSICAL ABUSE SOMETIMES. I'VE SEEN IT UNFORTUNATELY. THERE'S AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON OF EMULATING AND ADMIRING THE ROMA FOR SOME CHARACTERISTICS, WHETHER THEY'RE STEREOTYPICAL OR NOT, AMONG THE POPULATION AT LARGE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF MUSIC.* PEOPLE TEND TO THINK OF THE ROMA AS ALWAYS BEING HAPPY AND ALWAYS DANCING AND ALWAYS SINGING. AND THERE'S BEEN A DEFINITE 'ROMIFICATION' OF A LOT OF THE MUSICAL STYLES HERE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A WEDDING OR SOME KIND OF CELEBRATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MUSIC, WHICH HAS UNDERGONE A LOT OF INFLUENCE FROM THE GYPSY COMMUNITY. AND, OF COURSE, MANY OF THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ARE FROM THE ROMANI COMMUNITY." TAPE B: CUT ONE -- MUSIC ("PODIGNI SI BRE NEVESTE, DULACETO"; SNEAK UP AT *, ESTABLISH 10 SECONDS, FADE, HOLDING TO END OF FOLLOWING GRAPH**)

TEXT: THE ROMA OF MACEDONIA ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO STANDARDIZE THEIR WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ERAN FRAENKEL SAYS MOST ROMA SPEAK ROMANY AT HOME, ALTHOUGH THEY ALSO LEARN MACEDONIAN, ALBANIAN, OR TURKISH IN SCHOOL, AND MANY ARE GIFTED LINGUISTS.** TAPE A: CUT THREE -- FRAENKEL (0:38) "BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER A PEJORATIVE ATTRIBUTE TO BE A 'GYPSY,' TO BE A ROM, MANY OF THE ROMA OVER THE YEARS HAVE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS TURKS OR ALBANIANS, AT LEAST TO OTHERS. AND, IF YOU WANT TO GET AN EDUCATION, YOU CAN'T GET AN EDUCATION IN ROMANY, SO YOU GET AN EDUCATION IN MACEDONIAN OR TURKISH OR ALBANIAN. IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE ROMANI COMMUNITY HAS COME OUT AND ESTABLISHED POLITICAL PARTIES AND HAS STARTED TO MAKE DEMANDS FOR ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY, WHICH I'M SURE EVENTUALLY WILL LEAD TO DESIRES FOR EDUCATION IN ROMANY, ONCE THE LANGUAGE IS CODIFIED."

TEXT: THE MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICIAN IN THE MACEDONIAN ROMA COMMUNITY IS FAIK ABDI [FYK AHB-DEE], THE LEADER OF THE PARTY FOR THE TOTAL EMANCIPATION OF ROMA. AN ECONOMIST BY PROFESSION, MR. ABDI IS NOW SERVING HIS THIRD TERM AS A DEPUTY IN THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT. HE SAYS UNEMPLOYMENT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF SUTO ORIZARI -- OR SUTKA [SHOOT-KAH], AS IT'S KNOWN -- AND HE BELIEVES EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR ROMANI YOUTH. MR. ABDI'S POLITICAL PARTY STRONGLY BACKS THE TEACHING OF ROMANY IN SCHOOL. TAPE B: CUT TWO -- ABDI (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:24) "WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH EDUCATION BECAUSE IN THE BIGGEST ROMANI SETTLEMENT, IN SUTKA, THERE ARE TWO OR THREE SCHOOLS, WHERE THE [MACEDONIAN] TEACHERS ARE MAKING A VERY BIG PROBLEM. THEY WERE SCARED WHEN WE STARTED A SCHOOL IN THE ROMANY LANGUAGE. THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THE ROMANI KIDS WILL START TO HAVE ONE OR TWO CLASSES IN THE ROMANY LANGUAGE, BUT THE LAW IS ON OUR SIDE."

TEXT: ROMANI TEACHER ABDULA BEDRIJA [AHB-DUL-LAH BEH-DREE-YAH] SAYS SHE HAS BEEN WORKING TO OPEN UP THE FIELD OF EDUCATION TO MACEDONIAN ROMA. MRS. BEDRIJA HAS THREE DAUGHTERS. THE FIRST IS A LAWYER, THE SECOND, AN ECONOMIST, AND THE THIRD, A STUDENT AT SKOPJE UNIVERSITY. TAPE B: CUT THREE -- BEDRIJA (ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT FIVE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:20) "THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE EDUCATION OF THE ROMANI PEOPLE IS POVERTY. BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY POOR, WHEN THEY START THEIR PRIMARY EDUCATION, FROM ABOUT A HUNDRED CHILDREN, ONLY ONE OR TWO WILL GET TO THE UNIVERISTY. THERE IS NO DEPARTMENT OF ROMANI STUDIES AT SKOPJE UNIVERSITY, BUT SOON THERE WILL BE BECAUSE IT'S IN THE PROGRAM OF THE PARTY OF FAIK ABDI. ONLY THROUGH EDUCATION CAN WE TRIUMPH."

TEXT: RAMIYA SERBEZOVA [RAH-MEE-YAH SER-BEH-ZOH-VAH], THE MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WHOSE EXTENDED FAMILY LIVES IN SUTKA, SAYS THE DAILY LIFE OF MOST ROMANI YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS IS VERY HARD. TAPE A: CUT SIX -- SERBEZOVA (0:18) "THE SITUATION IN SCHOOL IS VERY BAD. IF YOU DON'T WORK, YOU CANNOT LEAVE [PUT] YOUR CHILD IN SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY BOOKS. A LOT OF CHILDREN, THEY'RE GOING OUTSIDE [SUTO ORIZARI], DOWNTOWN. THEY WORK TO BRING [HOME] MONEY FOR FATHER, FOR MOTHER, TO EAT. THEY'RE VERY POOR PEOPLE HERE IN SUTO ORIZARI."

TEXT: DESPITE THEIR POVERTY, *MRS. SERBEZOVA SAYS, MANY MACEDONIAN ROMA ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE, THEIR CLOSE-KNIT FAMILIES, AND THE COHESIVENESS OF THEIR ROMANI COMMUNITY. TAPE B: CUT FOUR -- MUSIC ("BOLEN MI LEZI MILE POP JORDANOV"; SNEAK UP AT *, ESTABLISH, AND USE AT LIBERTY)
07-Oct-96 3:29 PM EDT (1929 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] GERMANY / STASI ARCHIVES (L) BY KYLE KING (BERLIN)

INTRO: INVESTIGATORS COMBING THROUGH THE MILLIONS OF DOCUMENTS LEFT BEHIND BY THE FORMER COMMUNIST EAST GERMAN SECRET POLICE SAY THE PAPERS ARE SHEDDING SOME NEW LIGHT ON NAZI WAR CRIMES, AS WELL AS ON CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE COMMUNIST EAST GERMAN GOVERNMENT. FROM BERLIN, KYLE KING REPORTS

TEXT: THE COLLAPSE OF THE BERLIN WALL AND THE FALL OF THE EAST GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS LEFT HISTORIANS WITH A TREASURE TROVE OF TOP SECRET DOCUMENTS FROM THE ONCE-FEARED MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY, OR "STASI".

VICTIMS OF THE REGIME, WHO ARE NOW ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THEIR FILES, HAVE IN MANY CASES FOUND THE NAMES OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO SPIED ON THEM.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGENCY MAINTAINING THE FILES, JOHANNES LEGNER, SAYS INVESTIGATORS HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED MILLIONS OF STASI DOCUMENTS RELATING TO CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE NAZI ERA.

WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE COMMUNISTS KNEW ...THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE SORT NOT RESTRICTED TO ANYBODY. IT IS SORT OF A WORLD HERITAGE (IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN) AND NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO KEEP IT SECRET. BUT IN CERTAIN PARTS THEY DID IT.

IN ONE CASE, INVESTIGATORS SAY EAST GERMAN AUTHORITIES HAD INFORMATION A WEST GERMAN MAN HAD ALLEGEDLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF HANS TIELMANN, A COMMUNIST LEADER WHO HAD BEEN IMPRISONED BY THE NAZIS.

THE COMMUNISTS IN EAST BERLIN KNEW THAT ONE GUY WAS INVOLVED IN THIS ACT OF KILLING THIELMAN, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION TO THE WEST TO PROSECUTE HIM, BUT THEY USED HIM AS A SORT OF SPY. THE REASON WAS PERHAPS THAT THEY THOUGHT IT IS MORE USEFUL TO HAVE THIS SPY THAN TO PROSECUTE SOMEBODY WHO DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY ANY NEW INFORMATION UNCOVERED IN THE STASI FILES WILL BE TURNED OVER TO PROSECUTORS AND WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS.

IN THE CITY OF COLOGNE, PROSECUTORS HAVE ALREADY RE-OPENED A PROBE INTO FORMER WEST GERMAN CABINET MINISTER THEODOR OBERLAENDER. WITNESSES ALLEGE MR. OBERLAENDER KILLED PRISONERS AND ORDERED SOLDIERS TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES WHILE SERVING AS AN ARMY OFFICER IN 1941 AND 1942. MR. OBERLAENDER IS NOW 91-YEARS OLD AND HAS DENIED THE CHARGES, WHICH WERE NOT PURSUED EARLIER BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EVIDENCE.

ALTHOUGH THE AUTHENTICITY OF COMMUNIST SECRET POLICE DOCUMENTS HAS SOMETIMES BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION, INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY ARE PIECES OF A MOSAIC THAT MIGHT BE USED AS A BASIS FOR ASKING MORE QUESTIONS. (SIGNED)
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07-Oct-96 11:38 AM EDT (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] LEBED / NATO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: RUSSIAN SECURITY CHIEF ALEXANDER LEBED HAS WARNED NATO HIS COUNTRY MAY SUSPEND -- OR REVERSE -- KEY ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS IF THE ALLIANCE REFUSES TO GIVE MOSCOW A SAY ABOUT THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO NATO. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS MR. LEBED SPOKE AFTER TALKS AT ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS WITH NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA, ALLIANCE AMBASSADORS, AND NATO MILITARY OFFICIALS.

TEXT: THE RUSSIAN SECURITY CHIEF SAID HE WANTS A LEGALLY-BINDING TREATY WHICH WILL INVOLVE MOSCOW IN FUTURE DECISIONS ON THE EXPANSION OF NATO. HE SUGGESTED UNLESS THIS IS CONCEDED, IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RATIFY THE START-TWO NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL TREATY OR AN ARMS CONTROL ACCORD ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

HE THEN MENTIONED START ONE, AN AGREEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN RATIFIED, BUT WHICH HE SAYS RUSSIA MIGHT IGNORE IF IT DOES NOT GET ITS WAY IN DEALINGS WITH NATO.

MR. LEBED SAID THERE IS STRONG CONCERN IN MOSCOW ABOUT NATO'S PLANS, AND HE MADE REFERENCE TO THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT'S BELIEF THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO WILL CHANGE THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT IN EUROPE.

HE SUGGESTED THE MAIN THING IS NOT TO HURRY, OR -- IN HIS WORDS WE MIGHT JUST TRIP UP.

GENERAL LEBED RECENTLY WARNED ALTHOUGH RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE OLD, THEY ARE STILL TARGETED AT THE WEST. HE CRITICIZED NATO'S PLANS TO HOLD A SUMMIT NEXT YEAR TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE ALLIANCE'S NEXT NEW MEMBERS AND WHEN THEY WILL JOIN. HE SUGGESTED THE DECISION BE MADE -- IN HIS WORDS -- BY THE NEXT GENERATION.

NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA REJECTED THE RUSSIAN SUGGESTION NATO CANNOT DECIDE FOR ITSELF WHEN TO EXPAND. BUT HE SAID A DECISION ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA ARE A MATTER HE HOPES WILL BE FINALIZED AT NEXT YEAR'S NATO SUMMIT.

HE SAYS NATO WANTS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO ABOUT RUSSIA AT THE SAME TIME AS IT DECIDES ON ENLARGEMENT, AND ABOUT THE ALLIANCE'S OWN MODERNIZATION. BUT MR. SOLANA NOTED MOSCOW WANTS ITS RELATIONS WITH NATO TO BE DECIDED BEFORE THE ALLIANCE DECIDES ON ENLARGEMENT.

HERE IS ONE OF THE POINTS IN WHICH WE DO NOT AGREE. THE POSITION OF THE RUSSIAN FRIENDS, AS YOU HAVE HEARD IS ONE AFTER THE OTHER. THE LAST ONE TO BE THE DECISION OF OPENING NATO. THE CLASSICAL POSITION OF NATO IS THAT THE THREE VECTORS SHOULD BE IN PARALLEL. I DO THINK THAT WE COULD FIND, BY THIS WAY OF DOING THE THREE THINGS IN A CONVERGENT MANNER, AND PROBABLY FACING TO THE SUMMIT IN 1997, COULD BE A WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM. I DO THINK SO, AND I HOPE SO, AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ABOUT THAT.

NATO DIPLOMATS SAID THE MEETING WAS -- IN THEIR WORDS -- FAIRLY NEGATIVE, WITH GENERAL LEBED EXPRESSING STRONG CONCERN ABOUT THE ALLIANCE'S EXPANSION PLANS. (SIGNED)
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07-Oct-96 1:51 PM EDT (1751 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] RUSSIAN MILITARY WEAKNESS: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES BY FRANCIS RONALDS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS FIRED SIX SENIOR GENERALS AT THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IN MOSCOW. THEY WERE REPORTEDLY OPPOSED TO PLANS FOR CUTTING BACK THE ARMED FORCES AND MOVING TOWARDS AN ALL-PROFESSIONAL ARMY. THE DISMISSALS ARE ONLY THE LATEST CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING

TAPE: CUT ONE -- LIEVEN "SO MANY OF THESE GENERALS, AND INDEED THE ENTIRE GENERAL STAFF AND DEFENSE MINISTRY, HAVE FAILED HORRIBLY IN CHECHNYA. SO IT'S NOT JUST NECESSARY FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF EFFICIENCY TO GET RID OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF RESTORING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE JUNIOR OFFICERS AND THE RANK AND FILE, WHO HAVE DEVELOPED UTTER CONTEMPT FOR THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP." HOST: THE TWO CENTRAL REASONS FOR THE WEAKNESS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES, MR. LIEVEN SAYS, ARE LACK OF MONEY AND LOW MORALE:

TAPE: CUT TWO -- LIEVEN "LACK OF MONEY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO LACK OF MORALE BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT OFFICERS ARE BADLY PAID. THEY'RE OFTEN NOT PAID AT ALL BECAUSE THEIR WAGES ARE IN ARREARS. EQUIPMENT IS NOT BEING REPLACED. THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE GOT SOME PITIFULLY SMALL NUMBER OF NEW AIRCRAFT LAST YEAR. IT ALSO MEANS THAT, TO GO ON WITH THE AIR FORCE, THAT PILOTS CANNOT BE TRAINED. BEFORE THE CHECHEN WAR THEY WERE GETTING ABOUT TEN HOURS OF PRACTICE FLYING TIME A YEAR. THAT IS LESS THAN A TENTH OF THE AMERICAN FIGURE. AND IT IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP EFFICIENCY. WHICH IS WHY, INDEED, RUSSIAN BOMBING IN THE CHECHEN WAR WAS SO INACCURATE, AND KILLED SO MANY CIVILIANS AND SO VERY FEW CHECHEN FIGHTERS." HOST: ANATOL LIEVEN SAYS THE RUSSIAN MILITARY'S LOW MORALE WAS CAUSED PARTLY BY THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH SERIOUSLY HURT THE MILITARY'S SELF-IMAGE. BUT AN EVEN GREATER CONCERN, HE SAYS, IS THE CORRUPTION THAT PERMEATES THE RANKS OF RUSSIAN GENERALS:

TAPE: CUT THREE -- LIEVEN "THE JUNIOR RANKS, WHO HAVE TO DO THE FIGHTING AND DYING, SEE THEIR COMMANDERS BECOMING MILLIONAIRES ON THE STRENGTH OF SELLING OFF MILITARY EQUIPMENT, PETROL AND INDEED, SELLING THEM OFF AS CHEAP LABOR TO COMMERCIAL FIRMS. YOU ARE NOT ENCOURAGED, TO PUT IT MILDLY, TO RISK YOUR LIFE FOR COMMANDERS LIKE THIS. AND FINALLY, THERE'S THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE CULTURAL ATMOSPHERE HAS CHANGED IN RUSSIA. YOU NOW HAVE A MODERNIZED POPULATION, WHICH LIKE THE POPULATIONS OF OTHER MODERN COUNTRIES, IS MUCH LESS LIKELY TO GO AND FIGHT AND DIE THAN WERE THEIR PEASANT ANCESTORS." HOST: THE WEAKNESS OF RUSSIA'S CONVENTIONAL FORCES, MR. LIEVEN SAYS, CREATES THE DANGER THAT KREMLIN LEADERS MIGHT BE ENCOURAGED IN A CRISIS ENVIRONMENT TO USE NUCLEAR FORCES. AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAYS, RUSSIA'S MILITARY WEAKNESS RAISES CONCERN THAT ANOTHER COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER VACUUM, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL ASIA:

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- LIEVEN "RUSSIA'S MILITARY DECLINE WILL BE OF TREMENDOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE IMPORTANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF EURASIA, SIMPLY BECAUSE RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN, PRINCIPALLY, A MILITARILY GREAT POWER. UNLIKE THE AMERICANS, THE BRITISH, THE FRENCH, WHO HAVE ALSO RELIED VERY MUCH ON ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND CULTURAL STRENGTH, RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS RELIED VERY MUCH ON ITS MILITARY TO PROJECT RUSSIA'S INFLUENCE BEYOND ITS OWN BORDERS. IF THE MILITARY CONTINUES TO BE AS WEAK AS IT IS NOW, THEN ONE CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT RUSSIAN INFLUENCE WILL CONTRACT EVEN FURTHER." HOST: ANATOLE LIEVEN SAYS IF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IMPROVES, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO CREATE A PROFESSIONAL ARMY -- BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MUCH SMALLER THAN PAST RUSSIAN ARMIES. AND HE SAYS EVEN IF A PROFESSIONAL ARMY CAN BE BUILT, IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE ACHIEVED BY THE YEAR 2000, AS PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS PROPOSED. (SIGNED)
NEB/FR/PCH
07-Oct-96 11:54 AM EDT (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY/LIBYA (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: LEADING MEMBERS OF THE TURKISH OPPOSITION HAVE CALLED ON TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, TO RESIGN FOR ALLEGEDLY TARNISHING TURKEY'S IMAGE DURING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO LIBYA. THE CONTROVERSY ERUPTED AFTER LIBYAN LEADER, MUAMMAR GADDAFI, CONDEMNED TURKEY'S KURDISH POLICY DURING A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MR. ERBAKAN. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: LEADER OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION CONSERVATIVE "MOTHERLAND" PARTY, MESUT YILMAZ, WHO ACCUSED THE PRIME MINISTER OF HUMILIATING TURKEY PUBLICLY BY, IN HIS WORDS, "GOING TO THE FEET OF A TERRORIST DICTATOR AND ALLOWING HIM TO INSULT TURKEY," SAID MR. ERBAKAN SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

TANSU CILLER, FOREIGN MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH" PARTY, WHICH SHARES POWER WITH MR. ERBAKAN'S PRO-ISLAMIC "WELFARE PARTY," JOINED IN THE CRITICISM OF MR. GADDAFI'S COMMENTS. SHE SAID THAT, IN HER WORDS, "TURKEY'S FRIENDS SHOULD KNOW THE LIMITS OF FRIENDSHIP." BUT SHE STOPPED SHORT OF CONDEMNING THE PRIME MINISTER FOR NOT CUTTING THE TRIP SHORT, AS URGED BY SENIOR OFFICIALS ACCOMPANYING MR. ERBAKAN.

MR. GADDAFI'S REMARKS WERE PROMINENT ON ALL THE FRONT PAGES OF THE MAIN TURKISH DAILIES MONDAY. ALL WERE UNRESERVEDLY CRITICAL OF MR. ERBAKAN'S SILENCE IN THE FACE OF THE LIBYAN LEADER'S CRITICISM.

MOST CONTROVERSIAL OF ALL WAS MR. GADDAFI'S CALL ON TURKEY TO STOP FIGHTING THE KURDS. MR. GADDAFI SAID THAT WHAT HE CALLED THE STATE OF KURDISTAN, IN HIS WORDS, SHOULD TAKE ITS PLACE IN THE SPECTRUM OF NATIONS UNDER THE MIDDLE EASTERN SUN. TURKEY HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE OUTLAWED "KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY" (P-K-K) FOR THE 12 YEARS. MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE INSURGENCY. AND THERE IS LITTLE SYMPATHY IN TURKEY FOR THE REBEL CAUSE.

MR. GADDAFI ALSO SAID HE WAS AGAINST TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP OF NATO AND ITS RECENTLY CONCLUDED MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. GADDAFI'S REMARKS HAVE HELPED FUEL CRITICISM THAT MR. ERBAKAN'S GOVERNMENT IS INCAPABLE OF HANDLING TURKEY'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MR. ERBAKAN WAS STRONGLY ADVISED BY TURKISH DIPLOMATS AND EVEN MEMBERS OF HIS OWN CABINET AGAINST VISITING THE LIBYAN LEADER. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/MMK
07-Oct-96 10:25 AM EDT (1425 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/ BOSNIAN SERBS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS THREATENING TO ASK FOR THE REIMPOSITION OF U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA -- IF BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS FAIL TO COOPERATE WITH MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN BUILDING A NEW GOVERNMENT. U-S OFFICIALS ARE DESCRIBED AS "FURIOUS" OVER THE DECISION BY BOSNIAN SERB LEADER MOMCILO KRAJISNIK AND OTHERS TO BOYCOTT THE INAUGURATION OF BOSNIA'S NEW PRESIDENCY AND PARLIAMENT. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS MORE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT WITH THEIR BOYCOTT, THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE MISSED YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM THAT WAS FLOWING FROM LAST MONTH'S BOSNIAN ELECTIONS.

AND IT SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT HESITATE TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF REIMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS FAIL TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENTS TO SET UP A NEW NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

THE LONG-STANDING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA WERE LIFTED ONLY LAST WEEK AFTER RESULTS OF SEPTEMBER 14TH BOSNIAN ELECTIONS WERE CERTIFIED AS VALID.

MR. KRAJISNIK, THE SERB ELECTED TO THE THREE-MEMBER BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY, REFUSED TO TRAVEL TO SARAJEVO ALONG WITH NEWLY-ELECTED SERB PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR SATURDAY'S INAUGURATION.

THE BOYCOTT IS SEEN AS A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE SHAKY BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS. AND STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS U-S DIPLOMATS HAVE GIVEN MR. KRAJISNIK A TOUGHLY-WORDED LETTER MAKING CLEAR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DISPLEASURE:

THIS LETTER PUTS KRAJISNIK AND HIS COLLEAGUES ON NOTICE THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO TAKE STEPS RAPIDLY -- IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS -- TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT, THE COMMITMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBSKA TO THE PEACE PROCESS, TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS, TO LETTER OF WHAT THEY COMMITTED TO DO WHEN THEY SIGNED THE DAYTON ACCORDS. AND IN PARTICULAR, WE EXPECT ACTIVE COOPERATION BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN WORKING WITH THE OTHERS -- WITH THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND OTHERS -- TO FORM THESE NEW JOINT INSTITUTIONS.

SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TELEPHONED U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM LATE SUNDAY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. AND ACCORDING TO MR. BURNS, HE WAS TOLD "IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS" THAT THE UNITED STATES EXPECTS SERBIA TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO, IN HIS WORDS "PUT THINGS RIGHT."

MR. KORNBLUM, THE ADMINISTRATION'S POINT MAN FOR BOSNIAN DIPLOMACY, IS DUE TO TRAVEL TO LONDON FOR A MEETING THURSDAY OF THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA -- AT WHICH HE IS EXPECTED TO PRESS FOR A TOUGHER STAND TOWARD THE BOSNIAN SERBS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/LWM
07-Oct-96 5:28 PM EDT (2128 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / TURKEY / LIBYA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: IN UNUSUAL DIRECT CRITICISM OF A U-S ALLY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NECEMETTIN ERBAKAN TO TASK FOR HIS VISIT TO TRIPOLI AND MEETING WITH LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE MEETING SUNDAY AND REMARKS BY MR. ERBAKAN SEEMING TO ABSOLVE THE LIBYAN LEADER OF TERRORIST INVOLVEMENT ARE TROUBLING. MORE FROM V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS ARE ANGERED BY THE TURKISH LEADER'S VISIT AT A TIME WHEN EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO TIGHTEN SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GADDAFI GOVERNMENT. AND THEY ARE MOST DISTURBED BY COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE ISLAMIST POLITICIAN SUGGESTING THAT LIBYA OPPOSES TERRORISM AND HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED BY IT.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICOLAS BURNS SAID LIBYA IS ONE OF THE LEADING TERRORIST STATES, AND THAT ITS LEADER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOWNING OF PANAM FLIGHT 103 AND THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS. HE SAID THE ERBAKAN REMARKS ARE PARTICULARLY TROUBLING, GIVEN U-S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BY KURDISH RADICALS OF THE P-K-K:

THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS NOT JUST A U-S FIGHT. THE TURKS ARE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM, AS ARE THE AMERICANS, AS ARE THE FRENCH. AND WE'VE GOT TO STAND TOGETHER. YOU CAN'T JUST GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND MEET A DICTATOR AND ABSOLVE HIM OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A TERRORIST ACT.

CITING OTHER REMARKS BY MR. ERBAKAN THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BOOST TRADE WITH LIBYA, MR. BURNS NOTED U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST THE NORTH AFRICAN STATE AND SAID COMMERCE HAS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT TO THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERROR. (SIGNED)
NEB / DAG / BD/MMK
07-Oct-96 3:57 PM EDT (1957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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