Voice of America, 96-11-28

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[03] HUNGARY / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

[04] PERRY/BOSNIA/THANKSGIVING (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TUZLA)

[05] SERBIA PROTESTS BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

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

INTRO: THIS IS THE AMERICAN HARVEST FESTIVAL HOLIDAY OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN THE PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER IN THEIR HOMES FOR A BIG MEAL OF TURKEY AND CRANBERRY, AND GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THEIR BLESSINGS. SOME NEWSPAPERS DO NOT PUBLISH, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF EDITORIALS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THOUGHT, TO GO ALONG WITH THE HOLIDAY MEAL. AMONG THE TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION ARE THE POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS IN SERBIA AND CROATIA; AN ANALYSIS ON THE COST OF COMMUNISM; THE PROMISE OF FREE TRADE WITH CHINA; A PROMISE OF BETTER TELEVISION PICTURES; AND OF COURSE SOME THOUGHTS ON THE HOLIDAY OF THANKSGIVING. NOW, HERE IS _______________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE INCREASING PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS OF BOTH SERBIA AND CROATIA ARE HIGH IN THURSDAY'S HEADLINES. IN BALTIMORE, THE SUN SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: UNREST IN BELGRADE, CAPITAL OF SERBIA, AND ZAGREB, CAPITAL OF CROATIA, UNDERMINES THE STRONG MEN WHO BROUGHT WARS TO YUGOSLAVIA. AND SINCE THEY AGREED TO THE PEACE, IT UNDERMINES THAT. ..... SUDDENLY SERBIA LOOKS LIKE ITS EASTERN EUROPEAN NEIGHBORS IN 1989. THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE APPEAR MORE FUNDAMENTALLY AIMED AT OVERTURNING THE REGIME THAN THOSE IN ZAGREB. MR. MILOSEVIC IN THE PAST SENT TANKS FOR LESS. ALL OF WHICH PUTS WASHINGTON IN A QUANDARY. AT FIRST IT REGARDED THESE RULERS AS THE PROBLEM. THEN, IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS, IT SAW THEM AS THE SOLUTION. THAT GIVES WASHINGTON A STAKE IN THEIR CONTINUED RULE, BUT AT WHAT COST? WASHINGTON IS ON RECORD THINKING THAT DEMOCRACY WAS A GOOD THING FOR POLAND, HUNGARY, EAST GERMANY, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND EVEN ALBANIA. IT OUGHT TO THINK THE SAME FOR CROATIA AND SERBIA. ESPECIALLY IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THEIR PEOPLES DO, TOO."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS ALSO WATCHING THE SITUATION CAREFULLY, AND SAYS:

VOICE: WESTERN EFFORTS TO REHABILITATE THE IMAGE OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THE SERBIAN DICTATOR WHO BEARS PRIME RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNLEASHING FOUR YEARS OF BLOODY WAR IN THE BALKANS, WERE BADLY DAMAGED BY MR. MILOSEVIC HIMSELF THIS WEEK. BY BRAZENLY VOIDING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN WHICH HIS SOCIALIST PARTY WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED BY AN OPPOSITION COALITION, THIS POLITICAL SURVIVOR OF THE COMMUNIST ERA HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR ANY WESTERN GOVERNMENT TO SAY HE IS A CHANGED MAN. WASHINGTON SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXCLUDE THE MILOSEVIC REGIME FROM EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNTIL THERE IS REAL EVIDENCE IT HAS REFORMED ITS WAYS. ..... [OPT] THE SERBIAN LEADER CONTINUES TO BE A NECESSARY DIPLOMATIC PARTNER. BUT WESTERN COUNTRIES SHOULD NOT EMBRACE HIM TOO CLOSELY." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST HAS AN INTERESTING EDITORIAL TODAY ON A NEW ANALYSIS OF JUST HOW MUCH THE COMMUNIST SYSTEM COST THE NATIONS OF EASTERN EUROPE THAT CHOSE TO FOLLOW IT.

VOICE: "FOR YEARS THE WEST KNEW THAT THE COMMUNIST WORLD WAS LAGGING, BUT NOT UNTIL THE IRON CURTAIN SHREDDED DID IT BECOME CLEAR JUST HOW POORLY THE COMMUNIST ECONOMIES HAD PERFORMED. .... NOW, A HALF-DECADE INTO THOSE COUNTRIES' STRUGGLE TO CATCH UP, SEVERAL ECONOMISTS HAVE QUANTIFIED HOW MUCH TIME THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT COST THEM -- AND HOW MANY YEARS THEY WILL NEED TO RECOVER. IN 1937 CZECHOSLOVAKIA WAS MORE PROSPEROUS THAN SPAIN OR GREECE AND NEARLY ON A LEVEL WITH AUSTRIA, ITALY AND IRELAND. AFTER TWO GENERATIONS UNDER COMMUNISM, CZECHOSLOVAKIA REMAINED THE MOST PROSPEROUS OF THE EAST-BLOC NATIONS -- BUT IT WAS NOW POORER THAN THE POOREST OF WESTERN EUROPE, ITS STANDARD OF LIVING BARELY A THIRD OF NEIGHBORING AUSTRIA. EVERY OTHER COMMUNIST NATION SIMILARLY LOST GROUND. [OPT] .... THE NUMBERS DO MAKE YOU WONDER -- ABOUT RUSSIA, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH STARTED FARTHER BEHIND AND SPENT THREE GENERATIONS UNDER COMMUNISM, NOT TWO. AND ABOUT THOSE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ECONOMIC TRAVESTIES -- - THE COMMUNIST APPARATCHIKS ..... WHO SEEM TO BE THRIVING IN THE TRANSITION, WHILE ORDINARY PEOPLE GO ON PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES TALKS ABOUT HOW, IN MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, THE BASIC CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINS AN UNREALIZED DREAM.

VOICE: "FROM CHINA'S VAST PRISON WORLD TO THE DANK CELLS OF LATIN AMERICA AND STEAMY COMPOUNDS OF AFRICA, THE VOICES OF POLITICAL PROTEST ARE MUZZLED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. WANG DAN, A LEADER OF CHINA'S TIANANMEN SQUARE PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN 1989, REMAINS BEHIND BARS, HIS LATEST APPEAL CONTEMPTUOUSLY REJECTED EARLY THIS MONTH. IN PERU, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTS, HUNDREDS OF PEASANTS PASS THROUGH SO-CALLED 'FACELESS COURTS' ON DUBIOUS CHARGES OF TERRORISM. .... NOWHERE HAS JUSTICE BEEN MORE SKEWED THAN NIGERIA, WHOSE ONCE VIBRANT AND ROBUST FREE PRESS HAS BECOME A CASUALTY OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA'S CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL REGIME. DURING ITS THREE YEARS IN POWER, NUMEROUS JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN JAILED AND PUBLICATIONS SILENCED. THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP HAS NAILED THE DOOR SHUT ON DEMOCRATIC DEBATE. ..... THESE EXAMPLES OF JUSTICE DENIED SHOULD BE NOTED BY AMERICANS. ..... LIKE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ABROAD WHO CHRONICLE SUCH MATTERS, WE SHOULD KEEP WATCH."

TEXT: IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THE OREGONIAN, IN PORTLAND, LOOKING AT THE JUST-COMPLETED APEC SUMMIT, SAYS THE U-S MUST LINK ANY EXPANSION OF TRADE WITH ASIA, AND A CONTINUING CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

VOICE: "A TRULY FREE MARKET FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN ASIA COULD, OF COURSE, GREATLY BENEFIT OREGON AND THE NORTHWEST IN THE LONG RUN. ..... AMERICAN EXPORTS HAVE INCREASED 52 PERCENT IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT LOW-AND-NO-TARIFF CONDITIONS HAVE APPLIED TO OTHER WORDS MARKETS. BUT IF THIS IS, AS [MR.] CLINTON SUGGESTS, PART OF A BROADER AMERICAN STRATEGY OF 'CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT' WITH CHINA THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THE ADMINISTRATION OUGHT TO KEEP IN MIND. ..... IF THE PRESIDENT SEES APEC AS A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION WITH ASIA, AND ESPECIALLY WITH CHINA, HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHINA'S OBLIGATIONS AS PART OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE HIGH ON THE LIST OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT."

TEXT: A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF TELEVISION SETS WITH GREATLY ENHANCED PICTURES AND SOUND IS COMING TO AMERICA AS THE RESULT OF AN AGREEMENT THIS WEEK BETWEEN THE COMPUTER AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES, CAUSING THE NEW YORK TIMES TO COMMENT:

VOICE: "... TWO THANKSGIVINGS (YEARS) FROM NOW, A NEW GENERATION OF TELEVISION SETS WILL MAKE THE VIEWING MUCH SHARPER -- WITH PICTURES OF FOOTBALL PLAYS AS VIVID AS MOVIES AND SOUNDS OF MARCHING BANDS AS VIBRANT AS CD'S [COMPACT DISCS]. [THE] AGREEMENT ..... WILL FINALLY BREAK THE LOGJAM [HOLDUP] THAT HAS KEPT DIGITAL TELEVISION, A MAJOR ADVANCE OVER TODAY'S ANALOGUE TECHNOLOGY, FROM THE AIRWAYS. .... CONSUMERS WILL BE WELL SERVED BY THE SETTLEMENT."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, TO THE HOLIDAY ITSELF, WHICH WAS BEGUN IN 1621, THE AUTUMN AFTER THE PILGRIMS LANDED AT WHAT IS NOW PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS. BEFRIENDED BY THE NATIVE [INDIAN] PEOPLE, WHO TAUGHT THEM TO GROW MAIZE, THE EARLY SETTLERS SURVIVED A VERY DIFFICULT WINTER, AND, THE NEXT AUTUMN, GATHERED TOGETHER WITH THE NATIVE PEOPLE FOR A BIG FEAST TO CELEBRATE THE HARVEST. TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SUGGESTS THAT BY EATING A MEAL WITH PEOPLE, YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DISLIKE THEM.

VOICE: "TODAY, AMERICANS GATHER IN THANKSGIVING, CELEBRATING THE POWER OF SHARED FOOD TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BUILD A SENSE OF UNITY AND COMMUNITY. IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS, VISITING RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WILL BRING A DISH OF THEIR OWN MAKING, AS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DAY'S FEAST. IN A WAY, THEY ARE MIMICKING ON AN INDIVIDUAL SCALE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THEIR ANCESTORS TO THE NATION AS A WHOLE."

[REST OPTIONAL]

TEXT: IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN RAISES AN INTERESTING QUESTION IN ITS THANKSGIVING EDITORIAL: WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN NO FIRST THANKSGIVING AND, NO PILGRIMS.

VOICE: "SUPPOSE .... THE PILGRIMS HAD NEVER CHOSEN GOD OVER HOUSE AND HOME, OVER COMFORT AND SECURITY? HAD THEY NOT PLACED GOD FIRST, THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE UNDERTAKEN A PERILOUS JOURNEY TO THESE SHORES. THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT NO THANKSGIVING, AND MORE. NO PILGRIMS MEANS NO PILGRIM THEOLOGY, AND THAT MEANS NO AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY .....THAT LEADS TO SOBERING QUESTIONS, INDEED: CAN A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC SURVIVE WITHOUT RELIGIOUS ROOTS? .... REFLECT ON THE PILGRIMS, AND THEIR GIFTS TO US.... HOW 100 BRAVE SOULS SAID 'YES' TO GOD, AND OF HOW GOD, IN HONORING THEM, SAID 'YES' TO A NEW NATION."

TEXT: AND IN CONNECTICUT'S CAPITAL, THE HARTFORD COURANT SAYS, AS IT CONTEMPLATES "THANKSGIVING, 1996," THAT "TRADITION IS THE THREAD THAT BINDS."

VOICE: "IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS, THE BIOLOGICAL HEADS OF THE FAMILY WILL BE EATING AT SEPARATE TABLES IN SEPARATE HOMES, EVEN IN SEPARATE STATES. THE CHILDREN GATHERED 'ROUND THE GROANING BOARD [DINNER TABLE] MIGHT BE HIS, HERS AND THEIRS [THE CHILDREN OF DIVORCED AND REMARRIED PEOPLE]. AND IT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT THE COOK. THAT CHORE [JOB] DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY FALL TO [IS NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO] GRANDMA AS IT DID IN THE PAST. GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN DINNER WAS A SHORT DISTANCE OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS TO [GRANDMOTHER'S] HER HOUSE. ... NOW ... FAMILY MEMBERS CONVENE FROM FARFLUNG PLACES ..... [THEIR] INSTRUCTIONS ... RECEIVED ... ON WHAT TO BRING VIA E-MAIL [COMPUTERS] AND CAR PHONE. .... THANKSGIVING ILLUMINATES THE CHANGING TIMES PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HOLIDAY. YET IT REMAINS COMFORTINGLY PREDICTABLE, AN ANCHOR IN A SEA OF CULTURAL CHANGE. .... IN A BRAVE NEW WORLD OF HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATION AND GLOBAL TRAVEL ..... AND SHIFTING VALUES, TRADITION IS THE THREAD THAT BINDS."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY, WE CONCLUDE THIS THANKSGIVING EDITION OF EDITORIAL DIGEST WITH A SMALL SAMPLING OF HOLIDAY EDITORIALS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
28-Nov-96 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ADVANCED THURSDAY ON KEY WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES, BUT GOLD CONTINUED TO FALL. FOR A QUICK REVIEW OF MARKET ACTIVITY, HERE'S V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: GERMANY'S "DAX" INDEX OF 30 LEADING SHARES CONTINUES TO SOAR, AND ON THURSDAY ANOTHER RECORD WAS SET WITH THE INDEX CLOSING UP FOR THE DAY MORE THAN 20 POINTS. ANALYSTS SAY STRENGTH IN THE GERMAN BOND MARKET AND A MORE FAVORABLE EXCHANGE RATE BETWEEN THE MARK AND THE DOLLAR HELPED BOOST SHARES IN FRANKFURT.

THE PARIS "CAC 40" INDEX WAS UP ANOTHER 19-AND-A-HALF POINTS AT THE END OF TRADING. BUT HERE IN LONDON, THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES 100" INDEX ZIG-ZAGGED, CLOSING UP BY JUST ONE POINT.

THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED STRENGTH AGAINST THE MARK, BUT SLIPPED A BIT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD SLIPPED ANOTHER 70-CENTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING IN LONDON THURSDAY. IT'S NOW AT 372-DOLLARS-60-CENTS ($372.60) AN OUNCE -- THE LOWEST PRICE FOR GOLD IN RECENT YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RRM
28-Nov-96 1:39 PM EST (1839 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] HUNGARY / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY -- U-N-H-C-R -- HAS CRITICIZED HUNGARY'S GOVERNMENT FOR THE WAY IT DEALS WITH NON-HUNGARIAN REFUGEES. STEFAN BOS IN BUDAPEST REPORTS A U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL MADE THE COMMENT AT A TIME WHEN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF AFRICAN REFUGEES ARE ENTERING HUNGARY.

TEXT: THE BUDAPEST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, PHILIPPE LABREVEUX, SAYS HUNGARY IS CONTINUING WHAT HE CALLS ITS ISOLATIONIST POLICY FROM THE COMMUNIST ERA BY CLOSING ITS BORDERS TO NON-HUNGARIAN REFUGEES.

MR. LABREVEUX SAYS EVEN NON-HUNGARIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS BOSNIA RECEIVE ONLY A TEMPORARY RESIDENT STATUS OF SIX MONTHS AND FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. BUT HE SAID HE IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HUNGARY'S TREATMENT OF AFRICANS AND OTHER NON-EUROPEANS WHO ARE ARRIVING AT THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICE IN BUDAPEST.

MR. LABREVEUX SAYS HUNGARY IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE WHICH REFUSES TO DEAL WITH NON-EUROPEAN REFUGEES. AND HE SAID HE IS OUTRAGED THAT ETHNIC HUNGARIANS COMING FROM NEIGHBORING STATES RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

IN HUNGARY YOU HAVE A TWO-TIER SYSTEM. YOU HAVE THE PROPER REFUGEE SYSTEM FOR HUNGARIANS, AND ANOTHER SYSTEM WHICH GUARANTEES ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHTS FOR NON-HUNGARIANS, INCLUDING NON-EUROPEANS. THAT IS NOT EXACTLY A GOOD SITUATION. I DON'T THINK THAT FOR A COUNTRY THAT LIVED UNDER 40 YEARS OF COMMUNISM AND WANTS TO ESTABLISH THE RULE OF LAW, WELL THIS IS NOT A RULE OF LAW. THIS IS MANIPULATION OF THE LAW.

THE COMMENTS BY MR. LABREVEUX HAVE ANGERED HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE HEAD OF THE HUNGARIAN OFFICE FOR REFUGEE AND MIGRATION AFFAIRS, BELA JUNGBERT, SAYS HUNGARY'S PARLIAMENT WILL DISCUSS THE SITUATION OF REFUGEES ONLY AFTER THE ADOPTION OF A NEW CONSTITUTION -- PROBABLY NEXT YEAR. AND MR. JUNGBERT SAID HE IS FURIOUS THAT U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS ARE CAUSING A PUBLIC DEBATE ABOUT THE ISSUE NOW.

THE U-N-H-C-R IS AGAIN ACTING OUT OF ITS MANDATE. THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HUNGARY AND THE U-N-H-C-R WAS MADE TO GET ASSISTANCE ON THE PART OF THE U-N-H-C-R TO FACE THE NECESSARY ASSISTANT FOR REFUGEES. TO CONSIDER THE DIFFERENT POLITICAL STRATEGY OF ANY COUNTRY IS NOT THE MANDATE OF THE U-N-H-C-R.

BUT THE DISPUTE BETWEEN HUNGARY AND THE U-N-H-C-R MEANS LITTLE TO THE HUNDREDS OF AFRICAN REFUGEES WHO IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS CROSSED LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY INTO HUNGARY FROM NEARBY COUNTRIES.

SOME OF THE REFUGEES ARE STAYING AT THE REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTER OF THE HUNGARIAN RED CROSS IN BUDAPEST. THEY SAY THEY WENT TO THE RED CROSS AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED POLICE BRUTALITY AT THE AIRPORT OR SPECIAL CAMPS ELSEWHERE IN HUNGARY.

A REFUGEE FROM ZAIRE, NAMED PAUL, SAID HE FEARS THAT HUNGARIAN AUTHORITIES MAY DEPORT HIM AS SOON AS HIS HIS RESIDENT STATUS EXPIRES. HE SAID HE IS A FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER, AND FEARS FOR HIS LIFE.

I WAS PERSECUTED FOR MY POLITICAL BELIEFS, HE SAYS. I LOST EVERYTHING I HAD -- MY SHOP AND EVEN MY FAMILY. I WAS EVEN IN THE PRISON THERE. IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DICTATORSHIP. TO ARRIVE HERE, HE SAYS, I HAD TO CROSS THE RIVER CONGO, REACH BULGARIA, AND THEN BY TRUCK I WAS BROUGHT TO HUNGARY. HE SAYS, NOW I AM HERE BEGGING FOR FOOD WITH ALMOST NO FUTURE.

HUNGARIAN RED CROSS SOCIAL WORKER CITA MONTYAN TRIES TO GIVE PEOPLE LIKE PAUL MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP. BUT MS. MONTYAN SAYS SHE WILL NEVER GET USED TO THE FACT THAT MANY REFUGEES ARE ARRIVING WITH LITTLE PROSPECT OF A BETTER FUTURE.

IF THEY ARE REFUSED, IT MEANS THEY HAVE TO LEAVE OUR SHELTER CENTER AND CANNOT STAY IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE SECURITY. MOST OF THEM ARE IN PANIC AND LOOK IN DESPAIR.

IT APPEARS THE SITUATION WILL NOT CHANGE SOON. THE U-N-H-C-R SAYS IT IS STILL TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH HUNGARIAN AUTHORITIES, BUT FOR NOW IT APPEARS UNLIKELY THAT PROGRESS WILL BE MADE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/CF
28-Nov-96 7:07 AM EST (1207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] PERRY/BOSNIA/THANKSGIVING (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TUZLA)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SPENT HIS AMERICAN THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IN BOSNIA -- MEETING U-S TROOPS AND PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING OPERATION THERE. A SLIMMED-DOWN FORCE OF 31-THOUSAND SOLDIERS WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE -- I-FOR -- AT THE END OF THE YEAR. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM U-S HEADQUARTERS IN TUZLA.

TEXT: MR. PERRY HAD HIS THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH TROOPS AT CAMP DOBOL -- A U-S PATROL BASE ABOUT 20 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF TUZLA. HE WAS BRIEFED THERE ON PLANS FOR THE NEW BOSNIA STABILIZATION FORCE BY NATO'S TOP COMMANDER -- U-S ARMY GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN.

THE UNITED STATES WILL BE CONTRIBUTING 85-HUNDRED SOLDIERS TO THE STABILIZATION FORCE, WHICH WILL REMAIN IN BOSNIA FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR POLITICAL RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION IN THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY TOLD REPORTERS HERE THE STABILIZATION FORCE LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR -- IS NOT EXPECTED TO MEET ORGANIZED RESISTANCE, WITH THE BOSNIAN FACTIONS HAVING BEEN SEPARATED AND THEIR TROOPS MOVED TO CANTONMENTS. HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT THE MISSION OF THE STABILIZATION FORCE WILL NOT BE WITHOUT PROBLEMS -- PROMINENT AMONG THEM THE RESETTLEMENT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES:

AS THOSE RESETTLEMENTS TAKE PLACE, THAT IS GOING TO CREATE SECURITY PROBLEMS. THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THIS IN THE FACE OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WHICH ARE COMING UP IN THE SPRING. AND THAT COULD CAUSE SECURITY PROBLEMS. THERE MAY BE -- THERE WILL BE ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON CAN CREATE CONDITIONS WHICH WILL PUT A DEMAND ON THE STABILIZATION FORCE TO MAINTAIN THE SECURITY IN A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT. SO I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE SEE THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT TASK.

THE NATO COMMANDER, GENERAL JOULWAN, SAID THE STATUS OF THE STABILIZATION FORCE WILL BE REVIEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS OR MORE FREQUENTLY IF NECESSARY -- AND FORCES COULD BE ENLARGED OR RECONFIGURED, IF NECESSARY.

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY ALSO MET AT CAMP DOBOL WITH A SENIOR RUSSIAN DELEGATION HEADED BY DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER GENERAL VLADIMIR TOPOROV.

RUSSIA CONTRIBUTED AN AIRBORN BRIGADE OF 15-HUNDRED TROOPS TO THE ORIGINAL PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN ITS FIRST JOINT OPERATION WITH NATO. GENERAL TOPOROV SAID THE SAME UNIT, BUT WITH PERHAPS 200 OR 300 FEWER SOLDIERS, WILL TAKE PART IN THE FOLLOW-ON PEACE FORCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PCF/MMK
28-Nov-96 8:57 AM EST (1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] SERBIA PROTESTS BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS TOOK TO THE STREETS AGAIN IN THE SERBIAN CAPITAL, BELGRADE, TODAY (THURSDAY). V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT TENSION IS SAID TO BE INCREASING.

TEXT: AS MANY AS 30-THOUSAND STUDENTS AND OTHER PROTESTERS WERE AGAIN ON THE STREETS OF BELGRADE. OPPOSITION LEADERS CALLED FOR THE PROTESTS TO REMAIN PEACEFUL AND FOR DEMONSTRATORS TO REFRAIN FROM THE STONE-THROWING THAT LEFT WINDOWS BROKEN IN THE STATE TELEVISION BUILDING ON WEDNESDAY.

THE PROTESTERS, PROCEEDING IN A COLUMN SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS LONG, AGAIN CHANTED ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS. //OPT// IN A REFERENCE TO PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THEY SHOUTED "SLOBO MUST GO" AND "SLOBO SADDAM." //END OPT// PROTEST LEADERS SAY THE OPPOSITION NOW SEEKS THE OUSTER OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN 10 DAYS AGO TO PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNULMENT OF THE VOTE RESULTS OF LOCAL ELECTIONS, REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN WON BY THE OPPOSITION. A COURT-ORDERED THIRD ROUND OF VOTING EARLIER THIS WEEK WAS BOYCOTTED BY MOST CITIZENS IN BELGRADE.

AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO STEPPED-UP THEIR CRACKDOWN ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. BELGRADE'S ONLY INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION, "B 92," WENT OFF THE AIR SEVERAL TIMES TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN NEWS REPORTS WERE BEING BROADCAST. MUSIC PROGRAMMING WAS NOT INTERFERED WITH. //OPT// STATION MANAGERS SAY THE SIGNAL WAS BEING JAMMED BY THE AUTHORITIES. //END OPT// THE CITY'S FEW INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS HAVE HAD THEIR PRINT RUNS REDUCED AND HAD DIFFICULTY WITH DISTRIBUTION. STATE-RUN TELEVISION HAS FOCUSED ON THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE DONE DURING WEDNESDAY'S MASSIVE MARCH THROUGH BELGRADE.

WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE COMMUNICATED THEIR DISSATISFACTION TO THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT. THE UNITED STATES DELIVERED A STRONG MESSAGE, URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERTURN THE ANNULMENT OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS AND WARNING AGAINST THE UNDUE USE OF FORCE.

OPPOSITION LEADERS SAY THEY ARE WORKING WITH TRADE UNIONS TO PREPARE FOR STRIKES AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PCF/RRM
28-Nov-96 1:18 PM EST (1818 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: AFTER A SIX-MONTH TRIAL THAT INCLUDED MORE THAN A HUNDRED WITNESSES, JUDGES AT THE UNITED NATIONS' FIRST YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAVE BEGUN DELIBERATIONS ON A VERDICT. THE DEFENDANT -- BOSNIAN SERB DUSAN TADIC -- IS ACCUSED OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND OTHER ATROCITIES IN AND AROUND THREE PRISON CAMPS IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. HE DENIES ALL CHARGES. FROM THE HAGUE, GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS.

TEXT: THROUGHOUT THREE AND A HALF DAYS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS, DUSAN TADIC HAS LISTENED CLOSELY -- BUT WITHOUT VISIBLE EMOTION. EACH SIDE HAS PRESENTED PICTURES OF HIM THAT ARE ALMOST DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED. THE DEFENSE SAYS HE IS A SCAPEGOAT, A VICTIM OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. BUT PROSECUTOR BRENDA HOLLIS SAYS HE IS SOMETHING RATHER DIFFERENT.

THIS IS THE MAN WHO COMMITTED THE OFFENSES IN OPSTINA PRIJEDOR, THIS IS NOT THE COMMON MAN, THE REFUGEE HE WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE HE WAS. THIS IS THE SERB NATIONALIST WHO SAW THE PERSECUTION THERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SERB AIM OF ETHNIC DOMINANCE IN THE REGION, AND AT THE SAME TIME TO ENHANCE HIS OWN STATUS IN THE AREA -- PARTICULARLY IN (THE TOWN OF) KOZARAC. HE IS ALSO A MAN WHO IS WILLING TO USE VIOLENCE TO GET WHAT HE WANTS AND TO PAY BACK THOSE WITH WHOM HE DISAGREES.

HE POINTED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO WHAT WAS A MAJOR SETBACK FOR THE PROSECUTION -- A WITNESS WHO ADMITTED LYING IN COURT. THE MAN -- DRAGAN OPACIC -- SAID HE HAD BEEN A PRISON GUARD AND HAD SEEN MR. TADIC RAPE AND KILL. BUT IT LATER EMERGED MR. OPACIC HAD BEEN LYING. THAT, SAID MR. WLADIMIROFF, SHOULD RAISE SERIOUS DOUBTS IN THE MINDS OF THE JUDGES ABOUT THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE OTHER PROSECUTION WITNESSES.

LET'S FACE IT, DIDN'T THE TESTIMONY OF DRAGAN OPACIC SOUND VERY CONVINCING? DIDN'T HIS STATEMENT FIT NEATLY INTO THE PROSECUTION'S PICTURE? WASN'T HIS STATEMENT EFFECTIVELY CORROBORATED BY THE PROSECUTION WITH ALL SORTS OF EXHIBITS AND WASN'T THIS THE PERFECT FINAL WITNESS IN THE PROSECUTION CASE? THAT IS THE PICTURE, YOUR HONORS -- THE PROSECUTION BELIEVES ALL ITS WITNESSES WITHOUT QUERY. THAT'S WHAT THE PROSECUTION'S CASE IS -- NO CLEAR INVESTIGATION, BUT THE GATHERING OF ACCUSATIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUP IN THE CONFLICT.

MORE THAN 20 PROSECUTION WITNESSES SAY THEY SAW MR. TADIC IN SERB-CONTROLLED PRISON CAMPS, SUCH AS OMARSKA -- PLACES HE DENIES EVER VISITING. BUT MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN CIRCUMSTANTIAL PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY SAW MR. TADIC SHORTLY BEFORE OR SHORTLY AFTER A CRIME WAS COMMITTED. // OPT // ACCORDING TO PROSECUTOR BRENDA HOLLIS, MR TADIC'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN SOME INCIDENTS HAS BEEN PROVED. AS FOR THE OTHERS, SHE SAYS, HE CANNOT ESCAPE BLAME.

THE ACCUSED IS CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEATHS WHETHER HE COMMITTED ALL THE MURDERS DIRECTLY, OR WHETHER HE AIDED AND ABETTED IN THE COMMISSION OF SOME OF THEM, OR WHETHER HE TOOK PART IN EARLIER ACTS AND NEVER WITHDREW FROM THIS ONGOING TRANSACTION. WITH ALL OF THESE SERBS AROUND, CHEERING, YELLING AND FIRING GUNS INTO THE AIR, THE VICTIMS WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO FLEE, TO TRY TO ESCAPE THEIR FATE -- EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY MOMENTARILY. THE ACCUSED PRESENCE, AS WELL AS THE PRESENCE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, ASSISTED IN CREATING AN INTIMIDATING AND TERRORIZING SITUATION WHICH RENDERED THESE VICTIMS COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

DEFENSE LAWYERS DISPUTE THE IDENTIFICATION OF MR. TADIC IN THE CAMPS. THEY SAY WITNESSES ARE EITHER MISTAKEN OR ARE LYING. MR. WLADIMIROFF TOLD THE COURT THAT HIS CLIENT HAD BEEN CAUGHT UP IN SOMETHING BIGGER THAN HIMSELF -- THE CHAOS THAT WAS A CIVIL WAR.

THIS HAS HAPPENED ALL OVER THE WORLD WHEN LOCAL CONFLICTS HAVE TURNED INTO CIVIL WARS. INDEED, CIVIL WARS ARE NOT ONLY ABOUT ARMED CONFLICTS BUT ALSO ABOUT RETALIATION AND FALSE ALLEGATIONS. THESE INGREDIENTS ARE A PERFECT RECIPE FOR A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY, YOUR HONORS, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THIS CASE.

PRESIDING JUDGE GABRIELLE MCDONALD THANKED BOTH SETS OF LAWYERS FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR. IT WOULD, SHE SAID, MAKE THE JOB OF THE JUDGES EASIER. A VERDICT IS NOT EXPECTED BEFORE FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF/RRM
28-Nov-96 9:58 AM EST (1458 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article