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Voice of America, 01-09-10Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>SLUG: 2-280269 War Crimes Tribunal / Bosnia (L Only) DATE: NOTE NUMBER:CONTENTS
[01] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)DATE=09/10/01TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-280269 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Monday was a busy day at the Yugoslav war crimes Tribunal. For the first time, three trials began simultaneously. The seven defendants -- five Bosnian Serbs and two Bosnian Croats -- are charged with crimes against humanity, including persecution. All seven have pleaded not guilty. Lauren Comiteau reports from The Hague. TEXT: Tribunal officials say the arrival of six extra judges in The Hague last week is part of the reason why they're able to speed up proceedings here. /// OPT ////// SCOTT ACT ////// END ACT ////// GROOME ACT ////// END ACT ///NEB/LC/KL/RH SLUG: 2-280270Macedonia/NATO/Weapons DATE: NOTE NUMBER: [02] MACEDONIA/NATO/WEAPONS(L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (KRIVALAK, MACEDONIA)DATE=09/10/01TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-280270 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A Macedonian government official Monday indicated his government, despite earlier opposition, may allow some NATO troops to remain in the country beyond a September 26 deadline for collecting the weapons of Albanian insurgents. V-O-A's Barry Wood reports from Krivalak in the center of Macedonia, where insurgent weapons were destroyed on Monday. TEXT: The possible change in Macedonia's official position comes only a day after top government leaders met in Skopje with NATO's chief commander, General Joseph Ralston. While NATO continues to say that its mission will end September 26th, several member countries fear a premature withdrawal could create a security vacuum and lead to renewed fighting. A government official who asked not to be named says Macedonia might agree to allow some NATO troops to remain in the country as part of a U-N led force. A small U-N force in Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 is credited with helping maintain stability. The peace agreement between Macedonia and ethnic-Albanian insurgents was signed last month. Meanwhile, at the Macedonian army base at Krivalak, Hungarian engineers are destroying weapons turned in during the first phase of the voluntary handover of insurgent weapons. British Major Anna Kimber is a NATO spokeswoman. /// KIMBER ACT ////// END ACT ////// SPEICH ACT ////// END ACT ///NEB/BDW/KL/MAR SLUG: 2-280257 Syria / Turkey Terrorism (L) DATE: NOTE NUMBER: [03] SYRIA / TURKEY TERRORISM (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (DAMASCUS)DATE=09/10/01TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-280257 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Turkey's interior minister has (Monday) signed an agreement with his Syrian counterpart pledging the two countries to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. Amberin Zaman has the story from Damascus, where the agreement was signed. TEXT: There were broad smiles and much applause as the two ministers
signed two separate agreements on cooperation against terrorism and
the extradition of illegal immigrants.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Turkish Interior Minister Rustu
Kazim Yucelen said the signing of the agreements marked a crucial step
toward improving ties and developing what he termed frank and open
dialogue between Turkey and Syria.
His words were echoed by Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed Harba, who
said that Turkey and Syria had much in common historically and
culturally.
Mr. Harba underlined the need to overcome, in his words, the
psychological barrier between the Turkish and Syrian peoples.
Turkey and Syria have long been at odds over a number of issues,
notably Syrian support for rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers
Party, the P-K-K, and Syria's continuing claims over Turkey's southern
province of Hatay.
Syria, in turn, accuses Turkey of diverting the waters of the
Euphrates River, which it says are crucial to the survival of Syrian
agriculture.
Relations between the two countries have dramatically improved since
1998, when, bowing to Turkish military threats, Syria expelled the
P-K-K leader Abdullah Ocalan from Damascus. Ocalan was captured
shortly afterward by Turkish special forces in the Kenyan capital,
Nairobi.
Syria and Turkey now seem determined to set aside the past and to work
on improving ties in all areas, including trade and tourism.
Turkish Interior Minister Yucelen confirmed that Turkey's foreign
minister, Ismail Cem, will be visiting Damascus later this month. That
visit will be followed by a state visit to Turkey by Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad. No date has yet been set for the Syrian leader's
trip. (Signed)
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