Voice of America, 97-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT / SLOVENIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LJUBLJANA)

[02] BOSNIA WRAP (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[03] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COPENHAGEN)

[04] CLINTON / EUROPE WRAP (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COPENHAGEN)

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND PARADES BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

[06] TURKEY POLITICS (S) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] ALBRIGHT / SLOVENIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LJUBLJANA)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS MET WITH SLOVENIA'S PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE UNITED STATES BLOCKING SLOVENIA'S IMMEDIATE ENTRANCE INTO NATO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE SLOVENE CAPITAL, LJUBLJANA, SHE GAVE SLOVENIA STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF NATO ENLARGEMENT.

TEXT: SLOVENIA WAS DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT TOTALLY SURPRISED, WHEN THE UNITED STATES INSISTED ON LIMITING NATO'S FIRST ROUND OF EXPANSION TO POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

ON THE FIRST VISIT BY AN AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE TO AN INDEPENDENT SLOVENIA, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS ASSURED SLOVENE LEADERS THEIR COUNTRY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP IN THE SECOND ROUND.

THE UNITED STATES FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT IF SLOVENIA DOES STAY ON THE TRACK IT HAS ESTABLISHED AND WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEMOCRACTIC REFORMS AND ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE STRONGLY ROOTED, THAT THERE IS NO STRONGER CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT ROUND THAN SLOVENIA.

IN THE MILITARY FIELD, THE UNITED STATES WANTS SLOVENIA TO BUILD UP ITS TINY ARMY SO IT CAN CONTRIBUTE MILITARY STRENGTH TO NATO. SLOVENE FOREIGN MINISTER ZORAN THALER SAYS SLOVENIA IS IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING ITS PROFESSIONAL ARMY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SLOVENIA WINS NATO MEMBERSHIP.

IN THE ECONOMY, SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS SLOVENIA NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS LAWS SO ITS MARKET WILL BE MORE OPEN TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT.

ALTHOUGH SLOVENIA HAS CONTRIBUTED SOME TROOPS AND SUPPORT TO PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS IN BOSNIA, ALBANIA AND CYPRUS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE EMPHASIZED SLOVENIA HAS TO THINK MORE ABOUT PLAYING A REGIONAL SECURITY ROLE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SEPARATE ITSELF FROM BALKAN AFFAIRS.

SLOVENIA HAS ONLY BEEN INDEPENDENT SINCE 1991 AND SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE NEW NATO MEMBERS HAVE MORE TO OFFER NATO IN MILITARY STRENGTH AND REGIONAL SECURITY THAN SLOVENIA DOES NOW.

NEW COUNTRIES WOULD NOT WANT TO BE MEMBERS OF NATO IF NATO WEAKENED ITSELF IN THE PROCESS. AND FOR THE ALLIANCE TO EXPAND TO NEW MEMBERS, THE (EXISTING) MEMBERS NEED TO BE ASSURED OF THE FACT THAT EACH COUNTRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COHESIVENESS AND STRENGTH OF NATO.

SLOVENE PRESIDENT KUCAN TOLD REPORTERS HIS COUNTRY WILL WORK ON THE AREAS THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUGGESTED. AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY IN BOTH SLOVENIA AND ROMANIA, THE LEADERS WERE MORE COOPERATIVE AND LESS RESENTFUL ABOUT WAITING FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT HAS FLOWN TO ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, FOR A DINNER MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. THE RUSSIANS REJECT ANY NATO ENLARGEMENT AND ESPECIALLY ANY FUTURE MOVE TO THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL EXPLAIN NATO'S REFERENCE AT THE MADRID SUMMIT TO FUTURE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE BALTIC STATES ALONG WITH ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA. SHE WILL TELL THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER THAT THE BALTICS CANNOT BE EXCLUDED FOREVER, DESPITE MOSCOW'S CONTINUED OBJECTION. SHE PLANS TO TAKE THAT SAME MESSAGE ON SUNDAY TO VILNIUS, LITHUANIA, WHERE SHE MEETS THE THREE BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS. (SIGNED)
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12-Jul-97 12:25 PM EDT (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA WRAP (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: DESPITE RUSSIAN CRITICISM, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEFENDED THE NATO OPERATION IN WHICH ONE WAR CRIMES SUSPECT WAS KILLED AND ANOTHER A/R/R/E/S/T/E/D. SUPPORT FOR THURSDAY OPERATION HAS ALSO COME FROM THE UNITED NATIONS, BUT ONE ANALYST SAYS IT MAY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO APPREHEND FORMER BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC:

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE NATO ACTION WAS MADE IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE THE 1995 DAYTON PEACE ACCORD SAYING IT AS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WITHIN THE STABILIZATION-FORCE'S (S-FOR) MANDATE. THE TOP INTERNATIONAL ENVOY TO BOSNIA SAYS HE FULLY SUPPORTS THE ACTION. AND, U-N SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER IVANKO SAYS IN THE VIEW OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, IT IS ABOUT TIME:

THE TRIBUNAL HOPES THAT SUCH OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE AND THAT ALL THOSE INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL WILL END UP IN THE HAGUE.

THE S-FOR COMMANDER, GENERAL WILLAIM CROUCH, SAYS HIS TROOPS WILL DETAIN ANY INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH.

ANALYST LINCOLN GORDON OF THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE ACTION COULD MAKE IT HARDER TO ARREST MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC:

THEY, THEREFORE, HAVE PROVIDED FOR THEMSELVES VERY SUBSTANTIAL BODYGUARDS AND MY IMPRESSION IS THE NATO FORCES HAVE NOT WANTED TO TAKE ON A DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THEM.

MR. GORDON, WHO OPPOSES ANY ANNOUNCED WITHDRAWAL DATE FOR NATO FORCES, SAYS THE ACTION COULD COMPLICATE LONG-TERM PEACE EFFORTS. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
11-Jul-97 9:19 PM EDT (0119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COPENHAGEN)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A CONTINUED AMERICAN PRESENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AFTER THE SCHEDULED PULLOUT NEXT JUNE OF U-S TROOPS FROM THE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSION. MR. CLINTON MADE HIS COMMENTS DURING A VISIT TO COPENHAGEN SATURDAY. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON HAS LONG REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FOLLOW-ON PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA AFTER U-S TROOPS ARE TO LEAVE THERE NEXT JUNE -- SAYING THE FOCUS INSTEAD SHOULD BE ON WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THOSE TROOPS WITHDRAW.

BUT ON SATURDAY, DURING A MEETING WITH DANISH PRIME MINISTER POUL RASMUSSEN, MR. CLINTON LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A CONTINUED AMERICAN PRESENCE, SAYING -- IN HIS WORDS -- 'WE'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS WHAT, IF ANY, INVOLVEMENT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE THERE' ONCE THE PRESENT MISSION RUNS ITS COURSE. THE (U-S) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST MONTH VOTED TO CUT OFF FUNDING AFTER NEXT JUNE FOR U-S TROOPS SERVING IN BOSNIA. THE ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED THAT ACTION BECAUSE, U-S OFFICIALS ARGUE, IT INTERFERES WITH THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT FOREIGN POLICY.

THE U-S SENATE LAST FRIDAY (DID NOT GO AS FAR AS TO VOTE TO CUT OFF FUNDS, BUT) CALLED ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO WITHDRAW U-S TROOPS FROM BOSNIA BY JUNE 30TH OF NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RRM
12-Jul-97 2:58 PM EDT (1858 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CLINTON / EUROPE WRAP (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COPENHAGEN)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS RETURNING (HAS RETURNED) TO WASHINGTON AFTER AN EIGHT-DAY VISIT TO SPAIN, POLAND, ROMANIA AND DENMARK THAT FOCUSED ON NATO EXPANSION. HE RECEIVED ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIONS AT ALL OF HIS STOPS, EVEN IN ROMANIA, DESPITE HAVING LED THE OPPOSITION TO THAT COUNTRY'S INCLUSION IN NATO AT THE MADRID SUMMIT. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS A LOOK BACK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON REMAINED FIRM IN HIS SUPPORT FOR LIMITING NATO EXPANSION TO JUST THREE COUNTRIES -- POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC -- WHEN THE MADRID SUMMIT OPENED LAST TUESDAY, EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF ALLIES INITIALLY HAD FAVORED ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA FOR EARLY ENTRY.

THE PRESIDENT HAD ARGUED THAT BUCHAREST AND LJUBLJIANA NEEDED TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARD REFORM BEFORE THEY WOULD BE READY FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP.

BECAUSE ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE ALLIANCE MUST BE UNANIMOUS, THE U-S POSITION PREVAILED -- TO THE SATISFACTION OF MR. CLINTON, WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT WHO ERASED THE COLD-WAR DIVISIONS OF EUROPE.

HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS VISION OF A UNIFIED EUROPE AT A POST-SUMMIT NEWS CONFERENCE IN MADRID.

FOR TOO MUCH OF OUR CENTURY, EUROPE HAS BEEN DIVIDED BY TRENCHES AND WALLS. IN TWO WORLD WARS AND A COLD WAR, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE TOLL IN LIVES AND TREASURE. THE WORK WE HAVE DONE THIS WEEK WILL HELP TO BUILD STABILITY AND PEACE IN EUROPE FOR THE COMING CENTURY.

WHILE TOUTING THE BENEFITS OF NATO EXPANSION, HE ALSO ISSUED A SOBER REMINDER TO THE THREE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE THAT MEMBERSHIP CARRIES MILITARY AND FINANCIAL COSTS.

BUT IN A SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE OF WARSAW THURSDAY, HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT NEW NATO MEMBERS WOULD MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS.

WE KNOW YOU ARE READY TO BEAR THE BURDENS OF DEFENDING FREEDOM BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF LOSING FREEDOM.

THROUGHOUT HIS EUROPEAN TRIP, MR. CLINTON MADE CLEAR TO THOSE NATIONS NOT CHOSEN FOR EARLY NATO MEMBERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO BE CONSIDERED IN TWO YEARS.

IT WAS A MESSAGE HE PERSONALLY DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE OF ROMANIA AT A SPEECH IN BUCHAREST.

NATO HAS COMMITTED TO REVIEW ASPIRING MEMBERS IN 1999 -- ROMANIA IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES. AND IF YOU STAY THE COURSE AND MANIFST THE LOVE OF LIBERTY WE ALL SEE HERE TODAY, THERE CAN BE NO STRONGE CANDIDATE. STAY THE COURSE, STAY THE COURSE, THE FUTURE IS YOURS (APPLAUSE -- FADE UNDER)

MR. CLINTON CONCLUDED HIS TRIP IN DENMARK, A CLOSE NATO ALLY. IT GAVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COPENHAGEN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT.

TODAY, AMERICA IS GRATEFUL TO OUR 15 REMARKABLE ALLIES FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE AND FRIENDSHIP; FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN TURNING THE BLOODIEST CONTINENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY INTO A CONTINENT FREE, UNDIVIDED, AT PEACE, AND FULL OF HOPE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE AND FAR BEYOND THESE BORDERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

NOW THAT HIS TRIP IS OVER, MR. CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO STEP UP HIS EFFORTS TO WIN SUPPORT FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT FROM AN INCREASINGLY SKEPTICAL U-S SENATE -- WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED NEW NATO MEMBERS NEXT YEAR.

MANY SENATORS QUESTION THE MILITARY AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF NATO EXPANSION. BUT MR. CLINTON SAYS ENLARGING THE ALLIANCE WILL MAKE EUROPE MORE SECURE. HE USED HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS TO ARGUE NATO EXPANSION IS IN THE U-S INTEREST. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RRM
12-Jul-97 2:09 PM EDT (1809 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NORTHERN IRELAND PARADES BY KEVIN KELLY (BELFAST)

INTRO: SATURDAY'S PROTESTANT PARADES IN NORTHERN IRELAND TOOK PLACE WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS TROUBLE. THE ORANGE ORDER CANCELLED OR RE-ROUTED SOME OF THE MARCHES THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO GO THROUGH OR PAST CATHOLIC AREAS. FROM BELFAST, KEVIN KELLY REPORTS.

TEXT: THERE WAS A DIFFERENT FEEL TO THIS YEAR'S 12TH OF JULY PARADES WHICH COMMEMORATE A VICTORY BY PROTESTANT KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE OVER THE CATHOLIC KING JAMES DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

TO PROTESTANTS, IT'S A SPECIAL DAY DURING WHICH THEY CAN EXPRESS THEIR CULTURE AND HERITAGE. BUT TO CATHOLICS, IT'S A DAY DURING WHICH THEIR PROTESTANT NEIGHBORS USE THE BATTLE OF LONG AGO TO TRY TO PROVE THEIR ASCENDANCY.

CATHOLICS HAVE PROTESTED AGAINST ORANGE PARADES IN YEARS PAST. BUT ON THURSDAY NIGHT THERE WAS AN UNPRECIDENTED DECISION BY THE ORANGE ORDER -- A GROUP SET UP TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE-- TO WITHDRAW FROM OR CANCEL FOUR PARADES.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR PRAISED THE DECISION -- SAYING THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN HOPE AND DESPAIR AND THE ORANGE ORDER HAD OPTED FOR HOPE. U-S PRESIDENT CLINTON ALSO WELCOMED THE DECISION SAYING IT CONFIRMED HIS CONVICTION THAT THE PEOPLE, OF NORTHERN IRELAND WANTED AN END TO VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, GUNMEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND WOUNDED THREE BRITISH SOLDIERS AND TWO POLICEMEN IN BELFAST OVERNIGHT AND THE I-R-A CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VIOLENCE.

THE DECISION REGARDING THE PARADES LEFT MANY PROTESTANTS ANGRY. SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ORANGE ORDER WERE CRITICIZED AND IN BELFAST THE HEAD OF THE ORDER WAS HECKLED BY A CROWD LISTENING TO A SPEECH IN WHICH HE CALLED FOR UNITY WITHIN THEIR MEMBERSHIP. BUT THE 12TH OF JULY -- THE BIGGEST DAY ON THE PROTESTANT MARCHING CALENDAR -- PASSED WITHOUT SERIOUS TROUBLE THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/SD
12-Jul-97 5:55 PM EDT (2155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY POLITICS (S) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ANTI-ISLAMIST COALITION LED BY PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ WON A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT SATURDAY, EASING MONTHS OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY. BUT AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, SATURDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY SESSION WAS MARRED BY FIST-FIGHTS, AND ONE DEPUTY EVEN DREW A PISTOL.

TEXT: THE GOVERMNENT WON THE VOTE COMFORTABLY, 281 DEPUTIES VOTING FOR THE COALITION LED BY THE CONSERVATIVE "MOTHERLAND PARTY" LEADER, MESUT YILMAZ, WITH 256 VOTING AGAINST.

PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DECLARED "A NEW ERA" HAD BEGUN FOR TURKEY. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRST TASK WOULD BE TO RESTORE NORMALITY TO THE COUNTRY. HE SAID THE TURKISH PEOPLE WERE TIRED OF POLITICAL BICKERING.

THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, WAS FORCED TO RESIGN LAST MONTH UNDER PRESSURE FROM TURKEY'S FIERCELY PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES.

TURKEY'S PRO-WESTERN ESTABLISHMENT CHARGED THAT DURING HIS 11 MONTHS IN OFFICE, MR. ERBAKAN WAS TRYING TO STEER TURKEY, A NATO MEMBER, INTO AN ISLAMIST STATE.

BALLOTING SATURDAY WAS INTERRUPTED BY NOISY ARGUMENTS THAT OFTEN BROKE INTO OPEN SCUFFLING, AND AT ONE POINT ONE DEPUTY WAVED A PISTOL (SIGNED)
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12-Jul-97 11:45 AM EDT (1545 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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