Voice of America, 96-12-06

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] EDITORIAL: SERBIAN DEMANDS FOR DEMOCRACY

[03] E-U / BELGRADE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-UPDATE) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[05] MILOSEVIC / WEST BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[06] NATO AND THE SECURITY OF EUROPE - SHORT #1

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[08] U-S/BALKANS (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

[09] U-S-SERBIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FIRST CABINET APPOINTMENTS -- INCLUDING THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE -- DOMINATES THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FRIDAY. AMONG OTHER TOPICS, THERE ARE COMMENTS ON THE NATION'S CLEAN AIR LAWS; SAME SEX MARRIAGES, THE FEDERAL GUN CONTROL LAW, AND DEALING WITH WAR CRIMINALS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, REPORTING ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CABINET ANNOUNCEMENTS, PHRASES IT THIS WAY:

VOICE: "IN NAMING HIS NEW NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM, [MR.] CLINTON SIMPLY SHUFFLED THE DECK AND ADDED ONE NEW FACE CARD... AFTER WEEKS OF DELIBERATIONS, THE PRESIDENT ... CHOSE A REPUBLICAN, RETIRING SENATOR WILLIAM COHEN OF MAINE, TO BE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE... MR. CLINTON NAMED ANTHONY LAKE, THE CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, TO BE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AND PICKED SAMUEL BERGER, MR. LAKE'S DEPUTY TO SUCCEED MR. LAKE IN THE WHITE HOUSE JOB."

TEXT: THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT ALL FOUR OF THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEES WILL MEET EASY SENATE APPROVAL AND BE APPOINTED. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES NOTES THAT MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS A STRONG BELIEVER IN AN ACTIVIST FOREIGN POLICY, AND SUGGESTS THAT ALL THE NEW APPOINTEES "SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVIST APPROACH" TO RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: "[MR.] CLINTON'S SECOND-TERM DOMESTIC AGENDA PROMISES TO BE FAR MORE MODEST THAN HIS FIRST, MEANING THAT HE SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE TIME TO FOCUS SHARPLY ON FOREIGN AND STRATEGIC INTERESTS. THAT AT ANY RATE IS SOMETHING [MS.] ALBRIGHT AND HER COLLEAGUES MUST BE READY TO INSIST UPON... THE NEW TEAM KNOWS ITS WAY AROUND THE ISSUES. BY NOW ITS BOSS SHOULD AS WELL."

TEXT: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CONTINENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS GENERALLY PLEASED WITH THE CABINET APPOINTMENTS.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SELECTED A SOUND IF LARGELY FAMILIAR NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM FOR HIS SECOND TERM, MAKING SOME HISTORY WHILE HE WAS AT IT. MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PROMISES TO BE AN ARTICULATE DEFENDER OF AMERICAN INTERESTS AND PRINCIPLES AS SECRETARY OF STATE. SENATOR WILLIAM COHEN, A MODERATE REPUBLICAN SELECTED TO BE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, HAS LONG CHAMPIONED SENSIBLE PENTAGON BUDGETS AND RESTRAINT IN THE USE OF AMERICAN MILITARY FORCE. THEY ARE LIKELY TO BRING ADJUSTMENTS BUT NO DRASTIC CHANGES IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, HOWEVER, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL FEELS THE PRESIDENT MISSED THE MARK, SAYING IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "AFTER FOUR YEARS OF INEPT FOREIGN-POLICY MANAGEMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON APPEARS INTENT ON FOLLOWING UP WITH MORE REACTIVE, INAPPROPRIATE DIPLOMACY." THE SENTINEL GOES ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS NEW NATIONAL-SECURITY CHOICES ... UNDERSCORED HIS CAVALIER POST-ELECTION ATTITUDE -- ESPECIALLY IN HIS SELECTION OF A SUCCESSOR TO SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER... ALTHOUGH MS. ALBRIGHT LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER, HER CONTRIBUTIONS HARDLY HAVE BEEN STELLAR. SHE'S KNOWN MORE FOR HER DOGGEDNESS [STUBBORNNESS] THAN FOR HER ABILITY TO CRAFT A FOREIGN-POLICY VISION. ONE OF HER BIG CAUSES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN THE BOSNIAN BOONDOGGLE [FAILURE]... LIKE MR. CHRISTOPHER, SHE'S A MEDIOCRE RERUN FROM THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION... NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE, WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, AND SANDY BERGER, WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO TAKE OVER THE NATIONAL-SECURITY POST, APPEAR TO BE REASONABLE CHOICES."

TEXT: TAKING A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW IS THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ... KNOWS AS A REFUGEE FROM EUROPE WHAT AMERICAN VALUES AMERICAN POLICY MUST REPRESENT. IN AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAD TROUBLE CLOSING ON THE LITMUS BOSNIA ISSUE, SHE WAS MORE RIGHT -- AND FORCEFUL -- THAN MOST; IN THE BOUTROS-GHALI AFFAIR, SHE WAS PERHAPS TOO FORCEFUL... SENATOR COHEN CAN BRING TO THE PENTAGON ... A MODEL OF BIPARTISANSHIP ESSENTIAL TO A PRESIDENT FACING AN OPPOSITION CONGRESS STILL SUSPICIOUS OF HIS DEFENSE CREDENTIALS."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD CALLS MR. CLINTON'S NEW SECURITY TEAM "ALL SOUND, SEASONED CHOICES" ... THAT "SHOULD MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER FOR HIM AS HE DEALS WITH CONGRESS." WHILE IN BOSTON, THE GLOBE SAYS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, "IS A PARTICULARLY PROMISING CHOICE AS SECRETARY OF STATE" BRINGING TO THE "INNER CIRCLE OF [MR.] CLINTON'S FOREIGN POLICY TEAM QUALITIES THAT WERE LACKING DURING HIS FIRST TERM..." INCLUDING "A LUCID UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPER WAY TO DEAL WITH DICTATORS AND AGGRESSORS." ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, HOWEVER, NEWSDAY IS NOT AS IMPRESSED.

VOICE: "FOR ALL THE STURM UND DRANG [GERMAN: LOOSELY "ANGUISHED DELIBERATIONS"] SURROUNDING PRESIDENT ... CLINTON'S SECOND-TERM NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM, THERE IS A DISQUIETING SENSE THAT HE MANAGED TO BOX HIMSELF INTO HIS SELECTIONS BY EMPHASIZING SYMBOLIC POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OVER QUALITY. HE GOT HIS HIGH-LEVEL REPUBLICAN APPOINTEE IN DEFENSE SECRETARY-DESIGNATE WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS HIGH-LEVEL FEMALE APPOINTEE IN ... MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. BUT ARE THESE THE BEST PEOPLE FOR THOSE JOBS? ... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON IS NOT A FOREIGN-POLICY THINKER HIMSELF, AND NOW HE HAS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT MAKE UP FOR THAT DEFICIENCY... IF FOREIGN POLICY IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN A SECOND CLINTON TERM, WHY DID [MR.] CLINTON OPT FOR [CHOSE] POLITICAL BALANCE OVER BRILLIANCE...?

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO OTHER CONCERNS, THE NEW, STRICTER CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY DRAW THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: "CLEAN AIR IS A POLICY GOAL THAT NO ONE CAN FAULT. BUT THE MEANS OF ATTAINING IT CAN DRAW SHARP CRITICISM. BUSINESSES PINCHED BY EFFORTS TO REDUCE POLLUTION COMPLAIN. POLITICANS INTENT ON DEREGULATION HOWL. AND DEMURS ALSO COME FROM MORE OBJECTIVE ANALYSTS WHO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY GOVERNMENT DEVISES AND TRIES TO IMPLEMENT AIR-QUALITY STANDARDS... CLEAN AIR REMAINS A PRIORITY. THE NEW STANDARDS, EVEN IF NOT IMPLEMENTED IN TOTAL, SHOULD HELP THE U-S REMAIN A LEADER IN THIS CRUCIAL REALM."

TEXT: REGARDING A HAWAIIAN COURT RULING THIS WEEK THAT THERE IS NO COMPELLING STATE REASON TO PREVENT SAME-SEX MARRIAGES IN THAT STATE, THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS:

VOICE: IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT AS THIS HIGHLY CHARGED AND CONTROVERSIAL MATTER WENDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, PEOPLE WILL RESPOND WITH TOLERANCE AND COMMON SENSE.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS THE HAWAIIAN JUDGE'S DECISION "A BREAKTHROUGH FOR FAIRNESS."

ON ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL MATTER, THAT OF HANDGUN CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION FEARS THE SO-CALLED BRADY HANDGUN LAW, THAT MANDATES A WAITING PERIOD FOR BUYING SOME GUNS WHILE A PERSON'S BACKGROUND IS CHECKED, MAY BE OVERTURNED.

VOICE: "THE BRADY LAW, IN EFFECT SINCE 1994 HAS STOPPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CONVICTED FELONS FROM BUYING HANDGUNS. IN GEORGIA ALONE, IN THE FIRST YEAR THE LAW WAS IN EFFECT MORE THAN 22-HUNDRED FELONS WERE PREVENTED FROM BUYING HANDGUNS AFTER THEY FAILED A REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECK... IN THE TWO YEARS AFTER THE BRADY LAW TOOK EFFECT, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS KILLED WITH HANDGUNS FELL BY TWO-THOUSAND-TWELVE OR FIFTEEN PERCENT. DESPITE THAT SUCCESS, IT NOW APPEARS POSSIBLE ... THE SUPREME COURT WILL THROW OUT THE BRADY LAW. ... IF THE BRADY ACT IS INDEED OVERTURNED, IT WOULD MEAN THAT CONVICTED CRIMINALS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO WALTZ INTO ANY GUNSHOP, PICK OUT THE FIREARM OF THEIR CHOICE AND WALTZ OUT AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES ARMED FOR FURTHER MAYHEM."

TEXT: FINALLY, A DECISION BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO FORBID 16 ALLEGED JAPANESE WAR CRIMINALS FROM ENTERING THE U-S DRAWS THIS UNDERSTANDING COMMENT FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

TEXT: "THE ... DECISION ... HAS ANGERED MANY JAPANESE AND TAKEN EVEN MORE OF THEM BY SURPRISE. THE SURPRISE, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, MAY BE UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT THE ANGER IS ILL-PLACED. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID VERY BAD THINGS, ALTHOUGH MANY JAPANESE STILL HAVE A HARD TIME ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, AND THE UNITED "STATES HAS A RIGHT TO SAY THEY ARE NOT WANTED HERE... THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ... SAID THAT THE 16 EITHER EXPERIMENTED ON HUMAN PRISONERS OR FORCED KOREAN, FILIPINO AND OTHER CAPTURED WOMEN INTO PROSTITUTION. FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, THE WORD 'HEINOUS' DOES NOT BEGIN TO DO JUSTICE. "

TEXT: ON THAT HISTORIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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06-Dec-96 10:27 AM EST (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EDITORIAL: SERBIAN DEMANDS FOR DEMOCRACY

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS LAST MONTH, OPPOSITION CANDIDATES WON CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF A NUMBER OF SERBIA'S MAJOR CITIES, INCLUDING BELGRADE, THE CAPITAL. BUT WITHIN DAYS, THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE ANNULLED BY COURTS CONTROLLED BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. SINCE THEN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBIANS HAVE MARCHED DAILY THROUGH THE STREETS OF BELGRADE TO PROTEST THE MILOSEVIC REGIME'S BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER.

IN A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE SERBIAN PEOPLE FROM LEARNING ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT CRACKED DOWN EVEN FURTHER ON THE NEWS MEDIA. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND HIS RULING SOCIALIST PARTY ALREADY CONTROL NEARLY ALL OF SERBIA'S RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS. BUT UNTIL RECENTLY, THE POPULAR RADIO B-92 IN BELGRADE WAS ABLE TO BROADCAST INDEPENDENTLY. AS THE PROTESTS GREW STRONGER, THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN JAMMING B-92 AND THEN ORDERED IT OFF THE AIR. AFTER STRONG INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS, B-92 WAS AGAIN ALLOWED TO BROADCAST.

THE VOICE OF AMERICA HAS LONG HAD A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH B-92, AND WITH RADIO STATIONS IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. THE BELGRADE RADIO STATION USES MATERIAL PROVIDED BY V-O-A, AND SOME B-92 REPORTERS PROVIDE INFORMATION TO V-O-A. DURING THE PERIOD THAT B-92 WAS OFF THE AIR, V-O-A'S SERBIAN LANGUAGE SERVICE INCREASED ITS USE OF INFORMATION GATHERED BY B-92 REPORTERS.

THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS THE SUPPRESSION OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA. ALONG WITH THE ANNULMENT OF THE ELECTION RESULTS, THIS SHOWS THE MILOSEVIC REGIME'S FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES. THE U.S. CALLS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA TO RESPECT THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 17TH ELECTIONS, AND TO ALLOW INDEPENDENT MEDIA TO OPERATE WITHOUT RESTRICTION OR HARASSMENT.

ANY VIOLENT REPRESSION OF PEACEFUL PROTESTS BY THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WILL SET BACK EVEN FURTHER ITS ATTEMPTS TO BE INCLUDED IN EUROPEAN TRADE AND POLITICAL MATTERS. IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE TO LISTEN TO THE SERBIAN PEOPLE AND MEET THEIR DEMANDS FOR DEMOCRACY.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
06-Dec-96 11:14 AM EST (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / BELGRADE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BELGRADE AND HAVE DELAYED A DECISION TO OFFER TRADE CONCESSIONS TO SERBIA AND ITS NEIGHBORING ALLY, MONTENEGRO. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS SAY THEY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANNULMENT OF RESULTS OF LOCAL ELECTIONS IN SERBIA. THEY NOTE THIS HAS SPARKED MASS PROTESTS IN SERBIA, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING DAILY.

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY, MALCOLM RIFKIND, SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION MUST MAKE UNAMBIGUOUSLY CLEAR TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THE NEED TO RESPECT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. HOWEVER, HE SAYS IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT A RADIO STATION SHUT DOWN BY THE AUTHORITIES WAS ALLOWED TO RESUME BROADCASTING, AND HE SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE SOME SIGNS OF A REALIZATION IN BELGRADE THAT AUTHORITIES MAY HAVE GONE TOO FAR.

HE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE ON SERBIAN LEADERS.

BECAUSE OF CONTINUING CONCERNS, HOWEVER, THE E-U FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDED TO PRESERVE TRADE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID ANY CONCESSIONS WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE, GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION.

THE E-U MINISTERS REJECTED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE PUT SERBIA AND MONETENEGRO ON THE SAME TRADE FOOTING AS OTHER STATES FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, SUCH AS CROATIA AND BOSNIA. IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS WOULD HAVE INVOLVED RELAXING TARIFFS AND QUOTAS ON EXPORTS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE U-N ENVOY FOR BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, DISCUSSED THE SERBIAN SITUATION WITH THE E-U MINISTERS. HE SAID THERE MUST BE NO RETURN TO BUSINESS AS USUAL WITH SERBIA UNTIL THE PROBLEM OF LOCAL ELECTIONS HAS BEEN RESOLVED, AND HE WARNED THERE IS A DANGER THE CRISIS COULD ESCALATE.

HE COMPARED THE SITUATION IN SERBIA WITH THAT IN SOME FORMER EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BEFORE THE OVERTHROW OF COMMUNISM.

THE EUROPEAN UNION WANTS SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO RESPECT THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 17TH LOCAL ELECTIONS. IT ALSO WANTS SERBIA TO SHOW MORE WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IN BRINGING WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE, AND IN ASSISTING THE PROCESS OF RECONSTRUCTION AND RECONCILIATION IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
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06-Dec-96 12:36 PM EST (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-UPDATE) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES FELL SHARPLY FRIDAY ON WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES IN WESTERN EUROPE WERE DOWN SHARPLY FROM THE RECORD HIGHS SET EARLIER THIS WEEK. BUT THE MARKETS IN LONDON AND PARIS REGAINED SOME OF THEIR EARLIER LOSSES AFTER THE U-S GOVERNMENT REPORTED WEAK JOBLESS FIGURES -- HELPING TO EASE CONCERNS ABOUT INFLATION. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS DOWN MORE THAN FOUR PERCENT, BUT RECOVERED AFTER THE U-S UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT TO END THE DAY DOWN ABOUT TWO-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. IN PARIS, PRICES ALSO WERE DOWN BEFORE STRENGTHENING, WITH THE CAC-40 INDEX CLOSING DOWN ABOUT TWO-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

IN GERMANY, THE FRANKFURT MARKET CLOSED BEFORE THE U-S REPORT WAS RELEASED. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE DAY DOWN FOUR PERCENT, BUT IT ROSE A BIT IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY MARKET, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN SHARPLY IN EARLY TRADING, BUT THEN REGAINED STRENGTH TO END UP AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN, DOWN ONLY A LITTLE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, AND DOWN ABOUT TWO CENTS AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.
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06-Dec-96 1:10 PM EST (1810 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MILOSEVIC / WEST BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAVE FORCED WESTERN GOVERNMENTS TO REASSESS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT. AS CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON, BRITISH EXPERTS BELIEVE THE PROTESTS HAVE PLACED WESTERN GOVERNMENTS IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION WITH REGARDS TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC.

TEXT: WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE WARNED SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC NOT TO USE MILITARY FORCE AGAINST THE DEMONSTRATIONS. THE INITIAL WESTERN RESPONSE WAS GUARDED CRITICISM OF THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT -- BUT IT CULMINATED WITH THE UNITED STATES WARNING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IF FORCE IS USED.

BRITISH EXPERTS ON THE BALKANS POINT OUT THE CRITICISM IS LEVELED AT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AND NOT DIRECTLY AT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. THESE EXPERTS SAY THAT POINTS TO THE FACT WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ARE FACED WITH A MAJOR DILEMMA WHEN DEALING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC.

JAMES GOW -- OF LONDON'S KING'S COLLEGE -- SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC REPRESENTS STABILITY IN THE REGION AND THE WEST REMEMBERS HIS ROLE IN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS ON BOSNIA.

THEY DEPEND ON HIM FOR MAINTAINING A DEGREE OF ORDER IN THE REGION, NOT ONLY IN SERBIA OF COURSE BUT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA WHERE MILOSEVIC HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE (DAYTON) AGREEMENT AND INDEED IN ARRIVING AT THE AGREEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO ON THE ONE HAND, THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE MILOSEVIC GO TOO EASILY BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME KIND OF DISORDER AND CHAOS WOULD FOLLOW, NOT ONLY IN SERBIA BUT PERHAPS ALSO WITH IMPLICATIONS IN BOSNIA.

THAT VIEW IS SHARED BY PROFESSOR SPYROS ECONOMIDES FROM THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS. HE SAYS THE WEST DOES NOT WANT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO BE REMOVED FROM -- WHAT MR. ECONOMIDES CALLS -- THE DAYTON EQUATION.

HE IS A VITAL FIGURE -- NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE HE CONTROLS VAST PARTS OF THE MILITARY MACHINE, THAT HE EXERTS SOME KIND OF CONTROL OVER THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- BUT ALSO BECAUSE IF HE WERE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SCENE AS A STRONG MAN, THIS COULD BE SEEN AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS IN THE SERBIAN RANKS AND ONE WHICH COULD BE EXPLOITED BY THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND EVEN THE CROATS FURTHER AFIELD. SO HE IS A KEY FIGURE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

EXPERTS SAY THE DILEMMA FACING THE WEST IS HOW TO ENSURE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC STAYS IN POWER WHILE PRODDING HIM TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE DEMOCRACY. PROFESSOR GOW SAYS IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THE WEST WANTS TO SEE MORE DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN SERBIA.

MILOSEVIC IS NOT A PERSON WHO IS HELD AS A BASTION OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- AND IF THEY CAN FORCE HIM TO ADAPT FURTHER, TO MAKE FURTHER CONCESSIONS INTERNALLY IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATIZATION, THEN I THINK THEY WOULD SEEK TO EXPLOIT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

EXPERTS SAY IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE WEST MUST FIND WAYS TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM MR. MILOSEVIC'S INTERNAL POLICIES, WHILE MAKING SURE THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT DISAPPEAR FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. (SIGNED)
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06-Dec-96 9:54 AM EST (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO AND THE SECURITY OF EUROPE - SHORT #1

ANNCR: ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.

THIS WEEK, " NATO AND THE SECURITY OF EUROPE." HERE IS YOUR HOST, ---------. HOST: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON THE LINE.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS CALLED FOR A NATO SUMMIT NEXT YEAR TO TAKE STEPS TO ADAPT AND ENLARGE THE ALLIANCE. MR. CLINTON HAS SAID THAT THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY 1999 -- THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATO ALLIANCE. MEANWHILE, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM PERRY HAS CALLED FOR STRENGTHENING THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE MILITARY AND POLITICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN NATO AND FORMER SOVIET-BLOC COUNTRIES.

BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT OSTERTHALER IS DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR EUROPEAN AND NATO AFFAIRS. HE SAYS THAT NATO ENLARGEMENT IS IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST.

OSTERTHALER: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT AN INCREASE IN STABILITY IN CENTRAL EUROPE IS FUNDAMENTALLY IN THE INTEREST OF RUSSIA, JUST AS IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STATES. THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STATES THEMSELVES ARE VERY KEEN TO JOIN NATO, AND THAT'S WITH GOOD REASON. NATO HAS BOUND TOGETHER THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES OF THE WEST WITH THE UNITED STATES OVER THE PAST FORTY YEARS, HAS LED TO STABILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRONG MULTILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES OF THE WEST. THE CENTRAL EUROPEANS SEE THAT AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

CHARLES FENYVESI IS A REPORTER FOR U.S NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. HE CONTENDS THAT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE MEETS CURRENT NEEDS AND THAT THE EXPANSION OF NATO WOULD BE A MISTAKE. FENYVESI: I THINK THAT FIVE OR TEN YEARS FROM NOW, JOINING NATO WILL BE SEEN AS AN UNNECESSARY AND WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE OF MONEY, ENERGY, RESOURCES THAT CAN BE MUCH BETTER USED ELSEWHERE. IT WILL BE A DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE WEST BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE UP TO NATO MEMBERSHIP. AND IT WILL BE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE COUNTRIES IN THE ?EAST BECAUSE OF THE EXPECTATIONS, WHICH ARE WHOLLY UNREALISTIC.

WILLIAM ODOM IS DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES AT THE HUDSON INSTITUTE. HE SAYS THAT NATO ENLARGEMENT IS NECESSARY FOR EUROPEAN SECURITY. ODOM: THE OBJECTIVE REASONS, WHICH GENERAL OSTERTHALER POINTED OUT, OF SECURING CENTRAL EUROPE, WHICH IS NOW A STRATEGIC VACUUM, ARE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH A NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS I'M SURE MAY WRITE VERY INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT HOW DISILLUSIONED PEOPLE ARE. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE WHAT THE INTER-WAR HISTORY WAS. THE INTER-WAR HISTORY WAS THAT THESE SUCCESSION STATES BECAME A REGION OF DIPLOMATIC AND STRATEGIC COMPETITION AMONG MOSCOW, BERLIN, PARIS, BRITAIN -- AND IT LED TO WAR.

GENERAL OSTERTHALER OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THE NATO SUMMIT WILL TAKE PLACE NO LATER THAN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR AND THAT SEVERAL COUNTRIES WILL BE NAMED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO JOIN NATO. FOR ON THE LINE, THIS IS ------.

ANNCR: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS IS ------.
06-Dec-96 1:08 PM EST (1808 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI STEPS ASIDE MOMENTARILY IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR RE-ELECTION; THE U-N LEADER SALUTES MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, THE U-S AMBASSADOR NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY OF STATE; AND, THE UNITED NATIONS PREDICTS IRAQI OIL WILL START FLOWING NEXT WEEK UNDER A SPECIAL DEAL TO RAISE MONEY FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI HAS SUSPENDED HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, THUS OPENING THE WAY FOR AFRICA TO SUBMIT ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATES. IT WAS THE FIRST BREAK IN THE STALEMATE AFTER THE UNITED STATES VETOED MR. BOUTROS-GHALI'S CANDIDACY LAST MONTH.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL APPEALED TO AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF NAMES, WARNING THE SELECTION PROCESS WOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER REGIONS IF THEY FAIL TO ACT. AFRICAN DIPLOMATS AT THE UNITED NATIONS SEEMED TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR MINISTRIES BACK HOME.

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FRANCESCO FULCI OF ITALY SAYS THE AFRICANS HAVE SOME CANDIDATES IN MIND, BUT HE SAYS THEY ARE MOVING VERY, VERY SLOWLY:

AT TIMES IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE OPERA "AIDA." I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT. IN THE "AIDA," THE TROOPS SAY "PARTIAM ... PARTIAM ... PARTIAM." (WE GO, WE GO, WE GO). BUT THEY ALWAYS REMAIN ON THE STAGE. THEY NEVER COME.

SENEGAL HAS SAID IT PLANS TO OFFER ITS FOREIGN MINISTER. BUT CHINESE SOURCES HERE SAY CHINA WOULD VETO ANYONE FROM SENEGAL BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN -- WHICH CHINA CONSIDERS A RENEGADE PROVINCE.

THE COUNCIL IS RUSHING TO COMPLETE THE SELECTION PROCESS BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS DECEMBER 17TH, SO THE NOMINEE CAN BE FORMALLY APPROVED BY THE ENTIRE U-N MEMBERSHIP. BUT HOPES ARE NOT ESPECIALLY HIGH ABOUT MEETING THAT DEADLINE.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI PUBLICLY HAS SHOWN NO ILL-WILL TOWARD THE AMERICAN OFFICIAL MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS RE-ELECTION CRISIS. U-N SPOKESWOMAN SYLVANA FOA SAYS HE CALLED AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TO CONGRATULATE HER ON HER NOMINATION AS SECRETARY OF STATE:

HE TOLD HER HOW HAPPY HE WAS AT HER APPOINTMENT. WE ALL KNOW THAT AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT HAS BEEN A REALLY PASSIONATE SUPPORTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR US. WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR HER AND FOR THE U-N BECAUSE WE HAVE A REAL ADVOCATE THERE.

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS KNOWN AS A STAUNCH BELIEVER IN MULTILATERALISM -- THE BASIS OF U-N DIPLOMACY.

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IRAQI OIL MAY FINALLY BEGIN FLOWING -- AFTER SIX YEARS OF U-N SANCTIONS. U-N OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE THE PAPERWORK AND LAST-MINUTE DETAILS RELATED TO VERIFICATION WILL BE COMPLETED SHORTLY. BAGHDAD PREDICTS OIL EXPORTS WILL START NEXT TUESDAY. THE U-N IS LESS PRECISE.

SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI HAS CALLED IN THE FOUR OVERSEERS WHO WILL APPROVE OIL CONTRACTS. THEY WERE TOLD TO BE IN NEW YORK EARLY NEXT WEEK.

UNDER A SPECIAL OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL, IRAQ WILL BE ALLOWED TO SELL TWO-BILLION DOLLARS OF OIL OVER SIX MONTHS -- UNDER U-N SUPERVISION -- TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HUMANIARIAN PURCHASES.

U-S DEPUTY AMBASSADOR EDWARD GNEHM SAID THE UNITED STATES FIRMLY BACKS THE OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WARNED IRAQ NOT TO VIEW THIS AS A SOFTENING OF THE U-S POSITION:

WE WILL RESPOND FIRMLY TO IRAQI PROVOCATIONS AND THAT REMAINS A MESSAGE THAT WE HOPE THE IRAQIS WILL HEAR AND THAT THEY WILL NOT MISCALCULATE, AND THAT WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD IN ONE AREA THAT WE WOULD BE LESS RESOLUTE IN OTHERS.

IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. THE OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL -- WHICH CAN BE RENEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS -- IS AN EXCEPTION TO THE SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/RRM
06-Dec-96 3:59 PM EST (2059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S/BALKANS (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: A NEW REGIONAL ASSOCIATION HAS COME INTO BEING IN GENEVA. AT THE URGING OF THE UNITED STATES, NINE SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN NATIONS AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.

TEXT: THE IDEA BEHIND THE U-S SPONSORED PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE COOPERATION AMONG SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN STATES AND FACILITATE THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE BROADER EUROPEAN ECONOMY.

A STATEMENT TO THAT EFFECT WAS SIGNED (FRIDAY) BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINE NATIONS AFTER A TWO-DAY MEETING AT THE U-S DIPLOMATIC MISSION HERE.

CROATIA AND SLOVENIA ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE NEW GROUPING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FOR THE TIME BEING BECAUSE OF BELGRADE'S DECISION TO ANNUL OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN LAST MONTH'S SERBIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

U-S ENVOY RICHARD SCHIFTER TOLD REPORTERS YUGOSLAV PARTICIPATION IS ENVISAGED ONCE THE ELECTION CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

IF THAT ISSUE IS SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED, THE IDEA OF WHAT IS DECIDED HERE IS THAT THEY WILL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

BUT MR. SCHIFTER MADE IT CLEAR BELGRADE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AS LONG AS IT REMAINS UNDER THE SO-CALLED OUTER WALL OF SANCTIONS RELATED TO THE WAR IN NEIGHBORING BOSNIA.

THE GENEVA TALKS PRODUCED AGREEMENT ON WHAT IS BEING CALLED AN AGENDA COMMITTEE -- A PANEL OF GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMIC EXPERTS THAT ARE TO BEGIN MEETING EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE REGIONAL PROJECTS.

MR. SCHIFTER SUGGESTED THE COMMITTEE LOOK FIRST AT WAYS TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS ACROSS REGIONAL FRONTIERS WHERE CHRONIC DELAYS AND BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES ARE SEEN AS A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO TRADE.

OTHER PROPOSALS CIRCULATED AT THE MEETING FOCUS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AS WELL AS ENERGY CONSERVATION AND A COMMON APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LIKE THE POLLUTION OF THE DANUBE RIVER.

MR. SCHIFTER STRESSED REPEATEDLY THE NEW ASSOCIATION CANNOT EXPECT A MAJOR INFUSION OF WESTERN ECONOMIC AID, AND HE URGED THE PARTICIPANTS TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO PROMOTE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT.

THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH THIS REGION IS GOING TO GET OFF THE GROUND WILL BE THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN THE AREA, AND THE ACTIVITY OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE U-N ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE NEW GROUPING. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN SECURITY ORGANIZATION IS BEING ASKED TO DESIGNATE A SENIOR OFFICIAL TO COORDINATE THE EFFORTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/RAE
06-Dec-96 11:41 AM EST (1641 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S-SERBIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLED ON THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TO OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH ITS POLITICAL OPPONENTS AS THE NEXT STEP TO RESOLVING A CRISIS THAT HAS SEEN DAILY PROTESTS IN THE STREETS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SAYS RECENT MOVES TO ALLOW INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS TO RESUME OPERATIONS IS ENCOURAGING BUT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO FARTHER.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT SINCE YOU'VE NOW LET TWO RADIO STATIONS OPERATE WE'RE SOMEHOW GOING TO CONGRATULATE YOU. WE EXPECT MORE OF THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT AND WE SUGGEST THAT AN OPEN DIALOGUE IS A LOGICAL NEXT STEP.

SERBIA'S POLITICAL OPPOSITION HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING ON THE STREETS FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS, PROTESTING THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S ANNULMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS WON NOVEMBER 17TH BY OPPOSITION PARTIES. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE OPPOSITION SHOULD NOW BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE INTO THE HALLS OF POWER.

THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLED ON SERBIA TO REVERSE THE ANNULMENT OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS. WHILE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT WANT TO MICRO-MANAGE THE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/AC/KL
06-Dec-96 6:17 PM EST (2317 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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