Voice of America, 98-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / NATO (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

[02] E-U / ASIA ECONOMIES (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

[05] TURKEY / EUROPE BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[01] BOSNIA / NATO (S ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRAGUE)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED AT STRATEGIC POINTS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S SERB REPUBLIC (MONDAY), ONE DAY AFTER THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT SELECTED A MODERATE AS PRIME MINISTER. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE SITUATION FROM OUR BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THE TROOPS TOOK UP POSITIONS IN THE HARDLINE STRONGHOLD PALE (PAH'-LAY), AND IN BIJELJINA (BEE-UH-LEEN'-AH), WHERE THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT SUNDAY ELECTED MILORAD DODIK AS PRIME MINISTER.

MR. DODIK'S ELECTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER HARDLINE DEPUTIES WALKED OUT OF THE CHAMBER. HIS SUPPORT CAME FROM MEMBERS ALLIED WITH THE MORE MODERATE FACTION LEADER, BILJANA PLAVSIC, ALTHOUGH MR. DODIK HIMSELF IS AN INDEPENDENT.

HE PROMISED TO END DIVISIONS WITHIN THE SERB REPUBLIC. BUT THE HEAD OF THE HARDLINE FACTION IN PARLIAMENT, ALEKSA BUHA, SAID HIS GROUP WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE ANY DECISION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE SERB PART OF BOSNIA HAS BEEN SPLIT BETWEEN SUPPORTERS OF INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC. SHE TOO IS AN ARDENT SERB NATIONALIST, BUT HER SUPPORT FOR THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT HAS WON HER BACKING FROM THE WESTERN POWERS. (SIGNED)
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19-Jan-98 8:07 AM EST (1307 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] E-U / ASIA ECONOMIES (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN FINANCE MINISTERS HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT THEY CANNOT STAND ASIDE AND JUST WATCH THE SO-CALLED "TIGER" ECONOMIES OF ASIA SLIDE INTO CHAOS. THE WARNING WAS DELIVERED BY BRITISH CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER GORDON BROWN AT E-U TALKS IN BRUSSELS MONDAY. FROM THERE, JOHN FRASER REPORTS....

TEXT: GORDON BROWN WAS OPENING AN ECONOMIC DEBATE AMONG E-U FINANCE MINISTERS IN BRUSSELS, TO LAUNCH BRITAIN'S SIX-MONTH PRESIDENCY OF EUROPE.

HE TOLD THE OTHER 14 FINANCE MINISTERS THAT THE E-U IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AND MOST OPEN AREA FOR BUSINESS -- WITH A LARGER GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT THAN EITHER THE UNITED STATES OR JAPAN.

HE SUGGESTED THAT EUROPE HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN HELPING RESOLVE ASIA'S CURRENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, CLAIMING THAT IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY, A CRISIS IN ONE PART OF THE WORLD WILL HAVE A KNOCK-ON EFFECT ELSEWHERE.

MR. BROWN ARGUED THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN ASIA IS OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE FOR JOBS AND PROSPERITY IN EUROPE AS WELL, AND HE ADDED THAT IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY WHAT HAPPENS ANYWHERE AFFECTS PROSPERITY EVERYWHERE.

THE BRITISH MINISTER NOTED THAT THE E-U HAS ALREADY HELPED IN RESCUE EFFORTS FOR THE KOREAN ECONOMY, THROUGH BODIES SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. AND HE ADDED THAT THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE RECENT ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. HE SAID THERE MUST BE GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN BUDGETARY AND MONETARY POLICY, BETTER BANKING SUPERVISION, AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY AMONG PRIVATE SECTOR LENDERS.

TURNING TO THE E-U ITSELF, MR. BROWN SAID THE TWO GREATEST INTERNAL CHALLENGES FACING EUROPE ARE THE DECISION IN MAY ON WHICH COUNTRIES WILL JOIN THE NEW SINGLE CURRENCY, "THE EURO," AND PREPARATIONS FOR ADMITTING NEW EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES TO THE CLUB. HE ADDED THAT THE DECISIONS NOW BEING PREPARED WILL NOT JUST SHAPE EUROPEAN HISTORY, BUT WILL HAVE A WORLDWIDE IMPACT.

HE STRESSED, TOO, THAT THE REFORM OF EUROPE'S WASTEFUL COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY WILL BE NECESSARY TO RELEASE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE ADMISSION OF NEW EASTERN EUROPEAN MEMBERS TO THE CLUB. THE 15 EUROPEAN FINANCE MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN A CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO EFFORTS BY ITALY TO QUALIFY FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE NEW SINGLE CURRENCY, AND THEY URGED THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO STICK TO ITS PROMISES FOR BUDGETARY RIGOR.

GERMANY AND HOLLAND HAD BOTH EARLIER EXPRESSED DOUBTS THAT THE ITALIAN ECONOMY IS SUFFICIENTLY ROBUST TO ADOPT THE EURO, AND THEY FEAR THAT A WEAK ITALY COULD POISON THE WHOLE PROJECT. HOWEVER, OFFICIALS SAY THAT NO FINAL DECISION ON WHICH COUNTRIES WILL JOIN WILL BE TAKEN BEFORE MAY THIS YEAR, SO THE ITALIANS HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO PROVE THAT THEY CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IN MANAGING THEIR ECONOMY TO BRING DOWN PUBLIC BORROWING AND REDUCE PUBLIC DEBT.

ITALY IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF 11 E-U COUNTRIES WHICH WILL ADOPT THE EURO FROM ITS LAUNCH NEXT JANUARY 1ST -- WHILE BRITAIN, DENMARK, SWEDEN AND GREECE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO JOIN FROM THE START. (SIGNED)
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19-Jan-98 9:12 AM EST (1412 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ROSE IN TRADING MONDAY ON EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES ROSE ON ALL THREE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS, BOOSTED BY STRONG GAINS IN ASIA EARLIER IN THE DAY.

THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE FLOOR TRADING DAY UP MORE THAN 100 POINTS, TWO-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT OF THE GERMAN MARKET'S TOTAL VALUE. THE FRANKFURT MARKET ROSE EVEN MORE IN LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX ROSE MORE THAN 10 POINTS, ABOUT TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ADVANCED ALMOST 11 POINTS, ALMOST FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. BUT IT WAS DOWN A LITTLE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE JAPANESE YEN.
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19-Jan-98 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THIS IS THE DAY AMERICA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR, WITH A NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION. A FEW PAPERS DO NOT PUBLISH, BUT IN THOSE ON THE NEWSTANDS, THERE ARE MANY EDITORIAL TRIBUTES TO REVEREND KING. OTHER EDITORIALS DISCUSS SUCH TOPICS AS U-S POLICY TOWARD AFRICA; THE ROLE OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL; THE PRESIDENT'S DEPOSITION IN THE PAULA JONES CASE; AND DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN MAINE, REVEREND KING IS REMEMBERED IN THIS COMMENT FROM "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD."

VOICE: DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, A TIME FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN TO REFLECT ON THE LIFE OF ONE WHO CHANGED THE WORLD FOREVER. SUCH WAS THE POWER OF HIS MESSAGE THAT HE STILL IS CHANGING IT. VINCENT HARDING, PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, WRITES IN HIS BOOK, 'MARTIN LUTHER KING: THE INCONVENIENT HERO,' OF WHAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE TOLD TODAY ABOUT THIS MAN. WE SHOULD, HE SAYS, 'TELL THE CHILDREN THAT [REVEREND] KING LIVES. LET THEM KNOW THAT WE SAW HIM FACING THE TANKS IN TIANANMEN SQUARE, DANCING ON THE CRUMBLING WALL OF BERLIN, SINGING IN PRAGUE, ALIVE IN THE GLISTENING EYES OF NELSON MANDELA. TELL THEM THAT HE LIVES WITHIN US, RIGHT HERE, WHEREVER THAT MESSAGE IS EXPANDED AND CARRIED OUT IN OUR DAILY LIVES, WHEREVER HIS UNFINISHED BATTLES ARE TAKEN UP BY OUR HANDS.'

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" FIRST CONTRASTS THE RELATIVE PEACE IN THE COUNTRY TODAY WITH THE TUMULTUOUS SITUATION IN 1968 WHEN REVEREND KING WAS ASSASSINATED. CITIES WERE IN FLAMES, A SECOND KENNEDY HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION MARRED BY RIOTS AND POLICE VIOLENCE. THEN THE PAPER SPEAKS OF HOW THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE FORWARD IN THE AREA OF RACE.

VOICE: ..... AMERICA IN 1998 IS TRYING - - HALTINGLY IN SOME CASES BUT TRYING NONETHELESS - - TO GET AT RACIAL, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC DIVISIONS, AND THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN DIFFERENT AND MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS. AND TODAY, MORE VOICES ARE BEING HEARD ON THE MATTER OF ACHIEVING DR. KING'S CIVIL RIGHTS VISION. NOTIONS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE NO LONGER CONFINED TO THE PUBLIC SPIRITED ENGAGED IN PUBLIC ENDEAVORS. FOR EXAMPLE, WALL STREET, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY, WILL BE CLOSED TODAY. BUT EQUALIZING OPPORTUNITY AND REALIZING DR. KING'S DREAM WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN SYMBOLIC HONORS. .... AND THAT IS WHERE THE NATION IS ON THIS KING DAY: STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE BURDEN OF RACE - - MUCH FURTHER ALONG ON THE JOURNEY TO RACIAL EQUALITY, BUT STILL STRUGGLING.

TEXT: FINALLY, "THE [NEW YORK] DAILY NEWS" VIEWS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.

VOICE: TWELVE YEARS AGO, THE NATION MADE ITS FIRST OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLIDAY HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR, THE MAN ASSASSINATED WHILE LEADING THE GREATEST CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN HISTORY. WHILE IT WAS SLOW IN CATCHING ON, THE HOLIDAY HAS SPREAD. THIS YEAR IS THE BIGGEST EVER. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WILL NOT TRADE TODAY. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, THERE IS A PRESIDENT WHO HAS MADE ACHIEVING [REVEREND] KING'S DREAM A PRIORITY. FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON, BRIDGING THE RACIAL CHASM SEEMINGLY ISN'T JUST A PLOY TO SECURE A PLACE IN HISTORY, BUT A HEARTFELT EFFORT TO EXORCISE 'AMERICA'S CONSTANT CURSE ' FROM THE NATION'S SOUL. ... IT IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE NATION'S RENEWED DETERMINATION TO KEEP [REVEREND] KING'S DREAM ALIVE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE MANY VIEWS OF HOW BEST TO DO THAT.

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS, "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS CALLING FOR DEBT RELIEF FOR SELECTED AFRICAN STATES LIKE MOZAMBIQUE, WHICH ARE IMPROVING FISCAL AND SOCIAL POLICY, BUT STILL ENCUMBERED BY HUGE INTERNATIONAL DEBT.

VOICE: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS PUTTING AFRICA NEAR THE TOP OF ITS PRIORITY LIST FOR FOREIGN POLICY THIS YEAR. PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VISIT THE CONTINENT, AND OFFICIALS ARE WORKING WITH CONGRESS TO FORGE AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD REWARD - - MOSTLY WITH INCREASED TRADE AND INVESTMENT - - THOSE NATIONS THAT ARE PURSUING SOUND ECONOMIC POLICIES AND MAKING PROGRESS ON THEIR OWN. DESPITE THE POVERTY AND CIVIL CONFLICT THAT STILL GRIP SO MANY AFRICAN NATIONS, SUCH RELATIVE SUCCESS STORIES DO EXIST, THOUGH THEY DON'T GET MUCH ATTENTION, AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS RIGHT TO REACH OUT TO THEM. BUT A KEY PLANK OF ANY SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN POLICY - - DEBT RELIEF - - IS IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW, IN NEED OF A DECISIVE PUSH. TOO MANY COUNTRIES ... FIND THEMSELVES BURDENED BY OLD DEBTS, ASSUMED BY LONG-GONE DICTATORS TO PAY FOR LONG-PAST WARS AND LONG-FORGOTTEN MONUMENTS.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" IS COMMENTING ON THE SATURDAY DEPOSITION HEARING IN WHICH PRESIDENT CLINTON CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE WOMAN ACCUSING HIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PAULA JONES.

VOICE: ALL IN ALL, IT WAS NOT A GREAT DAY. THAT MR. CLINTON WAS DEPOSED AS A DEFENDANT - - A FIRST FOR A U-S PRESIDENT - - WAS SHABBY ENOUGH IN ITSELF. AND THE NATURE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PRESIDENT - - [OPT] THAT HE DROPPED HIS TROUSERS TO A LOW-RANKING STATE EMPLOYEE WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS AND ASKER HER TO PERFORM ORAL SEX - - [END OPT] TOP OF SHABBINESS WITH SQUALOR. ..... THOSE WHO LOOK BEYOND THE POLITICS OF THE MOMENT AND HOPE FOR MORAL LEADERSHIP; .... FROM THE PRESIDENT CAN'T HELP FEELING THAT WHAT REALLY TOOK THE WORST BEATING SATURDAY WAS THE DIGNITY AND HONOR OF THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS CALLING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL LAW WHICH ALLOWS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN OUTSIDE LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING.

VOICE: THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL LAW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DIE NEXT YEAR. IT CAN AND SHOULD, HOWEVER, BE IMPROVED, AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROPOSALS WORTH CONSIDERING TO FIX IT. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED CREATING A PERMANENT OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL - - A KIND OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE TOP LEVEL OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THIS IDEA HAS CERTAIN OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES BUT SERIOUS FLAWS AS WELL. HOW LONG WOULD THE OFFICE REMAIN INDEPENDENT IF IT WERE A PERMANENT FIXTURE OF WASHINGTON POLITICS? CONGRESS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO NAME THE INDEPENDENT COUNSELS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE THREE-JUDGE PANEL - - RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE JUDGES TO CHOOSE THE PROSECUTORS. THIS WOULD PLACE THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL MORE SQUARELY WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WITHOUT UNDULY COMPROMISING HIS INDEPENDENCE.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY IN DEALING WITH IRAQ'S DICTATOR, SADDAM HUSSEIN.

VOICE: SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS ISSUED THE UNITED NATIONS AN ULTIMATUM. LIFT THE SANCTIONS, OR IRAQ WILL CEASE COOPERATING WITH THE U-N INSPECTION TEAMS. SADDAM IS GIVING **US** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ULTIMATUMS? THIS FELLOW HAS SOME GALL. ..... YESTERDAY, HE EVEN CALLED FOR HOLY WAR AGAINST THE UNITED NATIONS, AND URGED THE IRAQIS TO FORM A MILLION-MAN STRONG 'PEOPLE'S ARMY' FOR THE FIGHT. THERE IS SOMETHING DESPERATELY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. SURELY BY NOW, THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE THE ONES DRAWING THE LINE IN THE SAND, AND LETTING THE IRAQI DICTATOR KNOW IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT HE WOULD BE INVITING A MASSIVE MILITARY RESPONSE IF HE CROSSES THAT LINE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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19-Jan-98 10:36 AM EST (1536 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / EUROPE BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: TURKEY'S DECISION TO BAN THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY HAS FURTHER COMPLICATED ANKARA'S ALREADY-STRAINED TIES WITH EUROPE. BUT AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, SOME ANALYSTS SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE TURKISH ACTION WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE COUNTRY'S LONG-STANDING GOAL OF FORGING CLOSER TIES WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION.

TEXT: WHEN THE TURKISH CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BANNED FORMER PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN'S PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY (LAST FRIDAY), THE EUROPEAN UNION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CRITICIZED THE DECISION. BRITAIN, WHICH CURRENCY HOLDS THE E-U'S ROTATING PRESIDENCY, EXPRESSED WHAT IT CALLED CONCERN AT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. OFFICIALS SAID THEY EXPECTED E-U MEMBER STATES TO URGENTLY DISCUSS THE TURKISH ACTION.

BUT SOME EXPERTS, LIKE SEDEF KORAY AT THE CENTER FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN ESSEN, GERMANY, SAY THE INCIDENT WILL PROBABLY TURN OUT TO BE LITTLE MORE THAN ANOTHER BUMP ALONG WHAT HAS BEEN A SOMETIMES ROCKY ROAD TOWARD CLOSER TIES BETWEEN TURKEY AND EUROPE.

IN A WAY, TURKEY IS USED TO BEING CRITICIZED AT ALL LEVELS AND ALMOST IN ALL SUBJECTS BY EUROPE. SO ONE DOES NOT REALLY PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION IN TURKEY TO WHAT EUROPE SAYS AND THINKS ON THIS SUBJECT.

THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN CRITICISM OF TURKISH DOMESTIC POLITICS IS TEMPERED BY THE FACT THAT RELATIONS WITH EUROPE ARE ALREADY AT A LOW POINT FOLLOWING THE E-U DECISION TO EXCLUDE TURKEY FROM A LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR E-U MEMBERSHIP.

STUNG BY THE SETBACK IN TURKEY'S LONG TERM GOAL OF JOINING THE E-U, SECULARIST PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ, RESPONDED BY ANNOUNCING A CUT IN POLITICAL TIES WITH THE E-U. ANY RESUMPTION OF THE DIALOGUE HE SAID, WILL ONLY CONTINUE ON TURKEY'S TERMS.

MS. KORAY SAYS SHE BELIEVES SOME POLITICAL LEADERS IN TURKEY -- ANXIOUS TO TRY TO WIN OVER WELFARE PARTY VOTERS -- MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANTI-EUROPEAN FEELINGS WHEN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE HELD.

BUT, THERE ARE ALSO TENDENCIES, COMING FROM BUSINESS CIRCLES NATURALLY, WITH REGARD TO THE OPENING OF THE DIALOGUE, OR THE STRENGTHENING OF THE DIALOGUE WITH EUROPE AGAIN. BUSINESSMEN HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT, SO AFTER THE AIR COOLS DOWN, ONE MIGHT EXPECT THAT POLITICAL DIALOGUE WILL BE ESTABLISHED AGAIN. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE BANNING OF THE WELFARE PARTY WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS.

ANALYSTS POINT OUT THAT MOST OF THE EUROPEAN CRITICISM OF TURKEY HAS BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES TOWARD THE KURDS IN THE SOUTHEAST, ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, AND THE ONGOING DISPUTE WITH GREECE OVER THE ISSUE OF CYPRUS.

THEY SAY THE DECISION TO BAN THE WELFARE PARTY IS REGRETTABLE AND HAS HURT RELATIONS WITH EUROPE. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THEY DO NOT EXPECT IT TO HAVE A SERIOUS LONG TERM IMPACT. (SIGNED)
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19-Jan-98 1:50 PM EST (1850 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE FORMER SERBIAN MAYOR OF VUKOVAR HAS GONE ON TRIAL MONDAY AT THE YUGOSLAV TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES. SLAVKO DOKMANOVIC IS ACCUSED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 1991 MASSACRE OF A LEAST 200 MEN TAKEN FROM THE TOWN'S HOSPITAL. HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. FROM THE HAGUE, GILLIAN SHARPE HAS MORE.

TEXT: PROSECUTORS SAY WHAT HAPPENED AT VUKOVAR PLANTED THE SEEDS OF GENOCIDE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. SIX YEARS LATER, SLAVKO DOKMANOVIC WAS IN THE HAGUE, WHERE HE LISTENED WITHOUT EMOTION TO THE OUTLINE OF THE CASE AGAINST HIM.

ACCORDING TO THE CHARGES, ABOUT 200 MEN -- MAINLY CROATIANS -- WERE TAKEN BY FORCE FROM VUKOVAR HOSPITAL ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 20TH, 1991. SOME WERE FORMER SOLDIERS; OTHERS WERE PULLED FROM THEIR SICK BEDS, STILL CONNECTED TO THEIR I-V DRIPS. THEY'D BEEN SHELTERING THERE AS REBEL SERBS, BACKED BY THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAV ARMY, TOOK OVER THE CITY.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE VICTIMS WERE DRIVEN TO A NEARBY FARM, WHERE THEY WERE BEATEN FOR HOURS BY SOLDIERS WHO TOOK TURNS UNTIL THEY BECAME TIRED. FINALLY, THEY WERE GUNNED DOWN -- EXECUTION-STYLE AND BULLDOZED INTO A MASS GRAVE. TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATORS EXHUMED 200 BODIES FROM THE GRAVE IN 1996. PROSECUTOR GRANT NIEMANN SAID THIS CRIME WAS ON SUCH A SCALE THAT IT HAD SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD.

THE VICTIMS WERE CHOSEN BY THEIR EXECUTIONERS FOR KILLING BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT OF THE SAME ETHNIC GROUP AS THE PERPETRATORS. THESE INNOCENT VICTIMS WERE NOT CASUALTIES OF WAR KILLED IN THE COURSE OF ARMED CONFLICT, BUT MANY OF THEM WERE CIVILIANS OR NON-COMBATANTS, REMOVED FROM THEIR HOSPITAL BEDS AND SLAUGHTERED VICTIMS OF REMOVED AND SLAUGHTERED.

PROSECUTORS SAY NOT ONLY DID MR. DOKMANOVIC DO NOTHING TO STOP THE KILLINGS, BUT HE HELPED TO CHOOSE THE FARM AS THE SITE. THE INDICTMENT ALSO SAYS HE TOOK PART IN THE BEATINGS OF PRISONERS BEFORE THEY WERE KILLED. MR. DOKMANOVIC DENIES THE CHARGES. BELGRADE-BASED ATTORNEY TOMA FILA SAYS HIS CLIENT HAS AN ALIBI.

MR. DOKMANOVIC, HE SAYS, WASN'T EVEN MAYOR IN NOVEMBER OF 1991, AND ON THE DAY OF THE KILLINGS HE WAS OUT OF TOWN. MR. FILA ACCUSES THE TRIBUNAL OF CHARGING THE WRONG MAN AND SAYS HE CAN ONLY SEE POLITICAL MOTIVES.

MR. DOKMANOVIC IS CHARGED ALONG WITH THREE FORMER YUGOSLAV ARMY OFFICERS. ONE OF THEM IS STILL ACTIVE IN THE COUNTRY'S PRESENT-DAY ARMY. BUT DESPITE INTERNATIONAL WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARRESTS, THE BELGRADE AUTHORITIES HAVE REFUSED TO HAND THEM OVER.

THIS IS THE FIRST TRIAL WHICH DEALS WITH CRIMES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY REGULAR ARMY TROOPS. AS SUCH, IT REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF EMBARRASSMENT FOR BELGRADE. (SIGNED)
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19-Jan-98 11:41 AM EST (1641 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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