Voice of America, 97-01-29 (1 of 2)

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BELGRADE DEMONSTRATORS (S-UPDATE) BY JULIA GLYNN-PICKET (BELGRADE)

[03] BOSNIA / BRCKO (L) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

[04] BULGARIA STRIKE (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[05] CLINTON/BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

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

INTRO: THE QUESTION OF ETHICS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING REMAINS HIGH IN THE LIST OF EDITORIAL CONCERNS THIS WEDNESDAY. IN OTHER TOPICS, THE EDITORIALS COMMENT ON U-S RELATIONS WITH CUBA; NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT THE STEVE BIKO MURDER IN SOUTH AFRICA; THE SWISS / WORLD WAR TWO CONTROVERSY AND SWITZERLAND; CHECHNYA'S VOTE; AND STIRRINGS OF TROUBLE IN ALBANIA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A SENSE OF OUTRAGE AT WHAT SEEMS TO MANY TO BE THE EXCESSES OF BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN SEEKING CAMPAIGN FINANCING DURING THE LAST PRESIDENT ELECTION APPEARS TO BE GROWING IN THE NATION'S EDITORIALS PAGES. TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, TITLED "A SYSTEM BEYOND REPAIR," IS ONE EXAMPLE.

VOICE: "OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WITNESS THE UNRAVELING OF A DISPIRITING AND AT TIMES INFURIATING STORY: A STORY OF BIG MONEY AND SMALL SOULS, OF POLITICIANS WHO AUCTION OFF THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THOSE ABLE TO COUGH UP [GIVE] SUBSTANTIAL FEES FOR SUCH ACCESS. A CENTRAL FIGURE IN THAT STORY WILL BE PRESIDENT CLINTON. DETERMINED TO MINIMIZE HIS FINANCIAL DISADVANTAGE IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, [MR.] CLINTON ..... SET AN AGGRESSIVE, NO-HOLDS-BARRED [UNLIMITED] TONE THAT ENCOURAGED OTHERS IN HIS CAMPAIGN TO CUT ETHICAL AND PERHAPS LEGAL CORNERS. AND ALTHOUGH ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS RESISTED EFFORTS TO APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE THE CLINTON FUND-RAISING CASE, SUCH A STEP SEEMS INEVITABLE AND NECESSARY."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE, IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, CONCURS, SUMMING UP THIS WAY:

VOICE: "THE TRUE SCANDAL OF MONEY IN AMERICAN POLITICS RESIDES NOT JUST IN POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW BUT IN THE OBSCENE SUMS OF MONEY THAT ARE ELICITED AND RECEIVED LEGALLY. [BEGIN OPT] IN LAST FALL'S CAMPAIGN, [MR.] CLINTON AND THE DEMOCRATS RAISED 229-MILLION DOLLARS, WHILE BOB DOLE AND THE REPUBLICANS TOOK IN 312 MILLION. BIG TOBACCO COMPANIES LAVISHED MILLIONS ON THE REPUBLICANS, YET THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SCOFFS AT [ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN] MCCAIN'S BILL TO LIMIT [SO-CALLED] 'SOFT MONEY' CONTRIBUTIONS. [END OPT] BOTH THE LEGAL AND ... LEGISLATIVE ANTIDOTES TO CORRUPT FUND-RAISING MUST BE NONPARTISAN."

TEXT: AT HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE SINCE THE INAUGURATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON TUESDAY WAS ASKED ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE EXCESSES BY THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND HE SEVERAL TIMES SAID THAT MISTAKES HAD BEEN MADE. THE SUN IN BALTIMORE RESPONDS:

VOICE: "[BEGIN OPT] OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STUDIES AVAILABLE, 358 VISITORS WHO DROPPED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A COZY LITTLE CHAT WITH MR. CLINTON REWARDED HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH 27-MILLION-18-THOUSAND-553 DOLLARS IN 'SOFT MONEY' NOT SUBJECT TO LEGAL LIMITATIONS. [END OPT] TO HEAR MR. CLINTON TELL IT AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, HIS WHITE HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE. ..... HAVING WAGED HIS LAST WINNING CAMPAIGN IN A CAREER MARKED BY FUND-RAISING WIZARDRY SINCE HIS EARLIEST POLITICKING IN ARKANSAS, MR. CLINTON MADE IT CLEAR HE IS NOW EAGER FOR REFORMS TO CUT OFF SOME OF THE MONEY FLOW HE HAS BEEN HAPPY TO RECEIVE."

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES IS ALSO CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS DURING HIS NEWS CONFERENCE, NOTING:

VOICE: "....GIVEN SEVERAL CHANCES TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A BOLD LEADER IN THE DRIVE FOR CLEANER POLITICS, MR. CLINTON FELL SHORT, CEDING THE FIELD TO CONGRESS WHILE OFFERING A SERIES OF DEFENSIVE RATIONALIZATIONS FOR HIS PARTY'S SLEAZY [UNETHICAL] BEHAVIOR."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THE MIAMI HERALD DEVOTES MOST OF ITS EDITORIALS SPACE TODAY TO CUBA AND A PAIR OF EDITORIALS DEALING WITH U-S AND CANADIAN POLICY TOWARD THE COMMUNIST-CONTROLLED ISLAND. FIRST THE U-S POLICY COMMENT:

VOICE: "SO FAR IN ITS TEN MONTH LIFE, THE HELMS-BURTON ACT HAS DRAWN MOSTLY CRITICISM FOR THE SOUR PART OF ITS SWEET-AND-SOUR CONTENT. ..... YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON UNCAPPED HELMS-BURTON'S OTHER VESSEL, THE HONEY JAR. FROM IT POURED A STREAM OF PROMISED SWEETENING THAT SHOULD ALLAY MANY A FEAR ABOUT U-S INTENTIONS TOWARD A POST-CASTRO CUBA. ..... [THE] U-S STANDS READY TO PUT UP TO EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS INTO HELPING CUBA ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY AFTER [PREMIER] CASTRO. HE'LL ASSAIL THIS PLEDGE, BUT LET HIM. ITS WORDING IS PLAIN, ITS INTENT CLEAR."

TEXT: AND OF THE RECENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CANADA AND CUBA, TO WORK ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC REFORMS AND FOREIGN-INVESTMENT PROTECTION, IN RESPOND TO HELMS-BURTON THE HERALD ADDS:

VOICE: "[THE CANADIAN] FOREIGN MINISTER'S TRIP CEMENTS RELATIONS WITH CUBA, BUT ... DOES LITTLE TO GET [PREMIER] CASTRO TO LIGHTEN UP [BECOME LESS REPRESSIVE.]

TEXT: IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE REVELATION THAT SEVERAL FORMER POLICE OFFICERS ARE PREPARED TO ADMIT MURDERING BLACK ACTIVIST HERO STEVEN BIKO, IN RETURN FOR AMNESTY, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

VOICE: "WHETHER ... [MR.] BIKO'S KILLERS .... ARE PARDONED OR PUNISHED MAY POINT THE WAY THE NATION WILL FOLLOW IN ITS EFFORTS TO CLOSE ITS WOUNDS AND GET PAST THE EVIL SUFFERED UNDER APARTHEID. ...[OPT] BUT TRUTH, WHILE CARTHARTIC, WILL NOT IN ITSELF SATISFY THOSE SOUTH AFRICANS WHO WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO TRACK DOWN ALL OFFICIALS WHO COMMITTED CRIMES UNDER THE SHADOW OF APARTHEID AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. UNDERSTANDABLY THEY WANT JUSTICE. [END OPT] ... TRUTH CAN CLEANSE, BUT THERE ARE LIMITS TO FORGIVENESS."

TEXT: ON THE CONTINUING REVELATIONS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY THAT SWISS BANKS HOLD MILLIONS BELONGING TO JEWS KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST, AND HOW THE SWISS ARE DEALING WITH THE PROBE, TODAY'S NEW YORK POST SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "NEWS THAT SWITZERLAND'S AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON PRIVATELY URGED HIS GOVERNMENT TO 'WAGE WAR' AGAINST ALLEGATIONS THAT SWISS BANKS HOARDED NAZI LOOT SHOULD CONVINCE EVEN THE MOST DIEHARD SKEPTICS THAT BERN'S STONEWALLING [REFUSAL TO COOPERATE] REFLECTS A DELIBERATE STRATEGY. ...[AMBASSADOR] JAGMETTI'S SENSE THAT THE ENTIRE PROBLEM TURNS ON HIS HAVING 'OFFENDED SENSIBILITIES' DEMONSTRATES THAT THE SWISS STILL DON'T GET IT."

TEXT: ADDS THE WASHINGTON TIMES:

VOICE: "WHAT IS REQUIRED IS FOR THE SWISS GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY TO RECOMMIT ITSELF PUBLICLY TO A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WARTIME ACCOUNTS - - AND NOT A 'WAR' OF ITS OWN AGAINST THOSE RAISING QUESTIONS - - AS WELL AS TO CONCLUDE THE INVESTIGATION AS QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE."

TEXT: NOTING THIS WEEK'S ELECTIONS IN CHECHNYA, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THE WORLD'S NATIONS, THOUGH NOT RECOGNIZING CHECHNYA AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE, SHOULD SALUTE THIS ..... PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTION .... FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT THAT IT IS. ...THE CHECHENS NOT ONLY PUT DOWN THEIR GUNS TO VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS ON MONDAY; THEY APPARENTLY ELECTED, BY A WIDE MARGIN, THE CANDIDATE MOST COMMITTED TO DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA AND TO PEACEFUL RECONSTRUCTION ....."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, OF THE RIOTING AND CIVIL UNREST IN ALBANIA, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE COLLAPSE OF A LARGE AND FRAUDULENT PYRAMID, MONEY-MAKING SCHEME, THE SUN IN BALTIMORE LAMENTS:

VOICE: "ALBANIA REMAINS A SAD COUNTRY OF BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS AND FIERCE PEOPLE .... FACING THE HEEL OF THE BOOT OF ITALY ACROSS THE ADRIATIC SEA. ..... THE MOST ISLAMIC COUNTRY IN EUROPE, MIDDLE EASTERN IN A WAY THE ... MUSLIM POPULATION OF BOSNIA NEVER WAS. IF A GREAT COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA COULD CONFUSE CAPITALISM WITH CRIME, SO CAN ALBANIA."

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE NATION'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY.
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29-Jan-97 12:03 PM EST (1703 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE DEMONSTRATORS (S-UPDATE) BY JULIA GLYNN-PICKET (BELGRADE)

INTRO: ON TUESDAY BELGRADE RESIDENTS RESET THEIR ALARM CLOCKS AS DAILY PROTESTS WERE MOVED TO LATE EVENING HOURS. JULIA GLYNN-PICKET REPORTS THAT THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS WALKED TO THE CENTER OF THE CITY TO ATTEND AN OPPOSITION RALLY FOR THE SEVENTIETH DAY IN THE DISPUTED RESULTS OF LOCAL ELECTIONS LAST NOVEMBER.

TEXT: LATE TUESDAY OLD LADIES BANG SAUCE PANS AS THEY STREAM TO THE CENTER OF BELGRADE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE SERBIAN CAPITAL. WITH THEM MARCH CHILDREN BLOWING WHISTLES, GANGS OF YOUTH, TEACHERS AND FACTORY WORKERS. ALTHOUGH HUNDREDS OF RIOT POLICE WERE WAITING FOR THE MORE THAN FORTY THOUSAND PROTESTERS THE POLICE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP THE MARCHES AND THE OPPOSITION LED PROTEST RALLY FINISH PEACEFULLY.

WHEN RIOT POLICE FIRST BLOCKED THE PROTESTERS FROM WALKING THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN ONE MONTH AGO DEMONSTRATORS SOON FOUND NEW WAYS TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT. EVERY EVENING SINCE THAN PEOPLE HAVE WALKED AROUND THE SUBURBS OF BELGRADE AND BLOWN WHISTLES DURING STATE TELEVISIONS MAIN NEWS PROGRAM TO DROWN OUT WHAT THEY CALL "THE DINNER PROPAGANDA".

TUESDAY EVENING'S MASS PROTEST WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE OPPOSITION TO UNITE THESE SPORADIC CIVIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND RENEW REIGNING SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION ON THE STREETS. OBSERVERS COMMENT THAT MOVING THE PROTEST RALLIES TO THE EVENING MAY BOOST MORALE IN THE SHORT RUN BUT SOMETHING BIGGER WILL BE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE LONG TERM. (SIGNED)
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28-Jan-97 8:17 PM EST (0117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / BRCKO (L) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IS URGING THE UNITED STATES TO BACK THE FEDERATION IN ITS DISPUTE WITH BOSNIAN SERBS OVER THE STRATEGIC CITY OF BRCKO. EJUP GANIC MADE HIS APPEAL AS AN IMPORTANT RULING LOOMS ON THE CITY. V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: MR. GANIC CAME TO WASHINGTON IN ADVANCE OF A CRUCIAL DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF BRCKO IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA.

AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION PANEL CREATED UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON THE DISPUTE BY MID-FEBRUARY. WITH THAT IN MIND, MR. GANIC LAID OUT THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION'S CLAIM TO BRCKO IN STARK TERMS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO BRCKO IS THAT OF TWO COMPETING RIGHTS: THE RIGHT OF A THIEF TO KEEP THE HOUSE, WHICH DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM, AND THE RIGHT OF THE OWNER TO GO BACK TO HIS HOUSE AND TO REGAIN THE PROPERTY. I HOPE THE FIRST ONE DOES NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO KEEP THE HOUSE, WHICH DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM.

MUSLIMS AND CROATS MADE UP A MAJORITY IN BRCKO BEFORE THE BOSNIAN WAR. BUT THE SERBS CAPTURED THE CITY IN 1992. MR. GANIC SAYS THEY KILLED ABOUT THREE THOUSAND OF THE CITY'S NON-SERB RESIDENTS AND EXPELLED THE REST. NOW, THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WANTS BRCKO BACK. BUT RAISING THE STAKES IN THE DISPUTE IS THE FACT THAT BRCKO SITS ASTRIDE A NARROW CORRIDOR LINKING SERB-CONTROLLED TERRITORIES IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN BOSNIA. SERB OFFICIALS SAY THAT LOSING CONTROL OVER BRCKO WILL BE TANTAMOUNT TO LOSING THE CONTIGUITY OF TERRITORY UNDER THEIR CONTROL. THEREFORE, THE SERBS HAVE VOWED TO DEFEND THE CITY -- BY FORCE, IF NEED BE.

MR. GANIC SAYS SERB INTERESTS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. HE PRESENTED HIS VISION OF A FUTURE BRCKO AS A MULTI-ETHNIC CITY OPEN TO ALL OF BOSNIA'S COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE GOING TO BUILD BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND BRCKO ESPECIALLY, TOGETHER WITH SERBS. WE HAVE TO HAVE FREE PASSAGE NORTH AND SOUTH. THE SERBS SHOULD HAVE FREE PASSAGE WEST AND EAST. BUT BRCKO SHOULD BELONG TO THOSE WHO LIVE THERE. AND JURISDICTION OVER BRCKO SHOULD BELONG TO THOSE WHO PROVE THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BUILDING A MULTI-ETHNIC CITY.

MR. GANIC SAID THE PANEL'S DECISION WILL HAVE REPERCUSSIONS THAT WILL EXTEND FAR BEYOND BRCKO ITSELF. HE SAID THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO ACCEPT RESULTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. IN MR. GANIC'S WORDS, THE EXPECTED RULING WILL IN A WAY SHOW, WHICH ROAD EUROPE WILL EMBARK ON NOW THAT THE COLD WAR IS OVER. (SIGNED)
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29-Jan-97 3:43 PM EST (2043 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BULGARIA STRIKE (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS CONTINUED WEDNESDAY IN BULGARIA, AMID SPORADIC WORK STOPPAGES CALLED BY THREE MAJOR LABOR UNIONS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD ALSO REPORTS BULGARIA'S NEW PRESIDENT WAS IN BRUSSELS WHERE HE APPEALED FOR HELP FROM NATIONS IN WESTERN EUROPE.

TEXT: MOST OF THE WORK STOPPAGES WERE BRIEF, MAINLY ONE HOUR. IN SEVERAL CITIES, TRAMS AND BUSES CAME TO A HALT. SOME INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSINGS AND HIGHWAYS WERE BLOCKED. SCHOOLS WERE DISRUPTED AND SOMETIMES CLOSED. IN THE CAPITAL TRAFFIC WAS, FOR A WHILE, PREVENTED FROM GETTING INTO THE CITY CENTER. THERE WERE PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND PROMISES OF LARGER DEMONSTRATIONS TO COME.

IN BRUSSELS, NEWLY INSTALLED BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PETAR STOYANOV APPEALED FOR HELP FROM THE COUNTRY'S FRIENDS. HE TOLD THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BULGARIA NEEDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND AID SO IT CAN GET ITS ECONOMY BACK ON ITS FEET.

HE APPEALED FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ASKED THE EUROPEAN UNION TO HELP BULGARIA OBTAIN THE TWO-BILLION DOLLARS IT IS OWED BY IRAQ. MR. STOYANOV SAID WITHOUT HELP, BULGARIA MAY HAVE TO DEFAULT ON ITS FOREIGN DEBT.

IN A LATER MEETING WITH AMBASSADORS FROM NATO COUNTRIES, THE BULGARIAN PRESIDENT WARNED OF UNPREDICTABLE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES IF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WORSENS. IN SOFIA, THERE WAS A SENSE OF A DEEPENING CRISIS. THERE WERE LINES OUTSIDE THE STATE SAVINGS BANK WHERE DEPOSITORS WAITED TO WITHDRAW THE RAPIDLY DEPRECIATING LEV TO CONVERT INTO HARD CURRENCY. IN STREET MARKETS, THE LEV LOST ANOTHER 30-PERCENT OF ITS VALUE OVERNIGHT -- 13-HUNDRED LEV WERE NEEDED TO BUY ONE U-S DOLLAR.

THE POLITICAL DEADLOCK SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF ENDING, DESPITE THE SOCIALISTS HAVING BEEN ASKED (TUESDAY) TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. THE STRIKERS AND PROTESTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION'S DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE ELECTIONS.

THE SOCIALISTS WON GENERAL ELECTIONS TWO-YEARS AGO, AND UNTIL LAST MONTH, WHEN SOME OF ITS MEMBERS BEGAN TO LEAVE THE PARTY, HAD A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
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29-Jan-97 12:21 PM EST (1721 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CLINTON/BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON DISCUSSED BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING AND OTHER MILITARY ISSUES (WEDNESDAY) AT A MEETING WITH TOP U-S COMMANDERS AT THE PENTAGON. MR. CLINTON MADE CLEAR HE DOES NOT FAVOR EXPANDING THE MISSION OF THE NATO-LED BOSNIA FORCE TO INCLUDE ACTIVE PURSUIT OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS. DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT HAS AGAIN RULED OUT USING NATO PEACEKEEPERS TO TRACK DOWN INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA. BUT HE SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF MERIT TO THE IDEA OF HAVING THE JOB DONE BY POLICE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE AT THE PENTAGON, WHERE HE CONFERRED WITH HIS NEW DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN, AND SENIOR U-S MILITARY OFFICERS -- INCLUDING NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF U-S ARMY GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF THE MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES IN THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE TRIBUNAL. THOSE AT LARGE INCLUDE FORMER BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND MILITARY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC. THERE IS CONCERN IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE THEIR CONTINUED PRESENCE IN THE REPUBLIC COULD THREATEN THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS.

MR. CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS USING NATO TROOPS TO APPREHEND WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS IS EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC, SINCE THE BOSNIA PEACE FORCE HAS BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE. HE SAID THE ANSWER MIGHT BE TO MAKE THE WAR CRIMES ORGANIZATION PERMANENT, AND TO GIVE IT ENFORCEMENT POWERS.

WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SOME SORT OF WAY OF CARRYING OUT ITS MANDATE. BUT IF WE DO THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT NOT JUST IN TERMS OF BOSNIA BUT OVER THE LONG RUN.

MR. CLINTON SAID NATO TROOPS ARE STILL READY TO ARREST INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS -- IF THEY HAPPEN TO ENCOUNTER THEM IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES. BUT HE SAID IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACTIVELY SEEK OUT THE SUSPECTS, WHILE ALSO CONDUCTING PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

THE PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED ON SECURITY ISSUES BY TOP OFFICERS FROM THE VARIOUS U-S MILITARY COMMANDS AROUND THE WORLD.

THEY ARE GATHERED FOR A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI. THE CONFERENCE IS TO DISCUSS GLOBAL READINESS AND THE PROTECTION OF U-S TROOPS DEPLOYED ABROAD.

BOTH GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI AND NATO CHIEF GENERAL JOULWAN WILL BE RETIRING LATER THIS YEAR -- CLEARING THE WAY FOR A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE TOP RANKS OF THE U-S MILITARY. (SIGNED)
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29-Jan-97 1:31 PM EST (1831 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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