Voice of America, 1 October 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / FOREIGN POLICY BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHOSE FOREIGN POLICY HAS COME UNDER REPEATED ATTACK FROM CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, ENJOYED A RARE WEEK OF SUCCESS LAST WEEK. HE HOSTED A WHITE HOUSE SIGNING CEREMONY FOR A MIDDLE EAST PEACE AGREEMENT AND ANNOUNCED PROGRESS IN U-S-BROKERED PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS A LOOK AT WHETHER THE PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESSES CAN TRANSLATE INTO POLITICAL POINTS AT HOME.

TEXT: IT WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST THURSDAY AS HE WELCOMED THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL, JORDAN, EGYPT AND THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE SIGNING OF A LANDMARK AGREEMENT EXTENDING PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE WEST BANK.

ALL THOSE WHO DOUBT THE SPIRIT OF PEACE SHOULD REMEMBER THIS DAY AND THIS EXTRAORDINARY ARRAY OF LEADERS WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO BRING A NEW ERA OF HOPE TO THE MIDDLE EAST. THE UNITED STATES IS PROUD TO STAND WITH ALL OF THEM.

TWO DAYS EARLIER, MR. CLINTON WAS ANNOUNCING A BREAKTHROUGH IN U-S-BROKERED PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA.

THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BALKANS AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- WHICH FOLLOWED INTENSE U-S MEDIATION ON BOTH FRONTS -- WERE ESPECIALLY WELCOME NEWS FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHOSE FOREIGN POLICY HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN ATTACKED BY MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE -- WHO IS SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR -- HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY CRITICAL, SAYING ADMINISTRATION FOREIGN POLICY HAS BEEN LACKING IN BOTH FOCUS AND ASSERTIVENESS. IT IS A CLAIM THE PRESIDENT DISMISSES, AS HE DID IN A RECENT SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS IN WHICH HE DISCUSSED PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN BOSNIA.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY IN BOSNIA DEMONSTRATES ONCE AGAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AROUND THE WORLD AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR. JUST THINK OF THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR -- DEMOCRACY RESTORED TO HAITI; GREATER PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN NORTHERN IRELAND; RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS NO LONGER AIMED AT OUR PEOPLE; THE INDEFINITE EXTENSION OF A NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY; REAL PROGRESS TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY; NORTH KOREA'S AGREEMENT TO END ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. EACH ONE OF THESE IS A PRODUCT OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP. IN THE NEW AND CHANGING WORLD WE LIVE IN, AMERICA IS THE ONE COUNTRY THAT CAN NEARLY ALWAYS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MAKING SUCH COMMENTS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AS HE PREPARES TO FOCUS GREATER ATTENTION ON HIS RE-ELECTION BID NEXT YEAR. BUT FOREIGN POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS ALONE MAY NOT HELP HIM WIN A SECOND TERM.

IT IS A POINT HE MADE IN HIS RECENT RADIO ADDRESS ON BOSNIA.

WE MUST NOT LET OUR FOREIGN POLICY AND AMERICA'S PLACE IN THE WORLD FALL VICTIM TO PARTISAN POLITICS OR PETTY FIGHTS. EVERY AMERICAN -- DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS -- ALL OF US -- SHOULD AGREE ON THE NEED FOR AMERICA TO KEEP BEING A LEADER AROUND THE WORLD.

IN THE CASE OF BOSNIA, MR. CLINTON HOPES SUCCESS IN U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS THERE WILL CONVINCE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HIS COMMITMENT TO SEND U-S TROOPS TO THE REGION TO ENFORCE A PEACE AGREEMENT WHEN ONE IS REACHED.

WHILE FOREIGN POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS ALONE MAY NOT HELP MR. CLINTON'S STANDING WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, PROVING HE CAN WORK WITH CONGRESS TO GET HIS INITIATIVES THROUGH MIGHT DO SO. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/SKH/RAE
01-Oct-95 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] DOLE - BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY JANE BERGER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE SAYS IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA TO SEND U-S PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BOSNIA IF THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT. CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS MR. DOLE'S COMMENTS CAME (SUNDAY) IN A U-S TELEVISION INTERVIEW (C-B-S FACE THE NATION).

TEXT: MR. DOLE SAID HE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PROMISE MADE BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO PROVIDE 25-THOUSAND U-S PEACEKEEPING TROOPS, FOLLOWING A SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MR. DOLE SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS NOT YET CONVINCED CONGRESS SENDING TROOPS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

I THINK HE HAS TO MAKE THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE TO CONGRESS. THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT. IT IS PREMATURE. THERE IS NO CEASEFIRE. WHAT WE HAVE IS A PARTITION OF BOSNIA. THEY ARE GOING TO SLICE IT UP.

MR. DOLE SAID CONGRESS COULD DECIDE TO WITHHOLD FUNDS FOR PEACE-KEEPING TROOPS, BUT HE SAID THAT ISSUE HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED.

IN A SEPARATE INTERVIEW, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER SAID HE UNDERSTANDS THE RELUCTANCE OF REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF U-S GROUND TROOPS IN BOSNIA. MR. BAKER SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CONTRIBUTE NAVAL AND AIR ASSETS FOLLOWING A BOSNIAN SETTLEMENT, BUT SHOULD LET THE EUROPEANS PROVIDE THE GROUND TROOPS. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/RAE
01-Oct-95 12:34 PM EDT (1634 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] U-S / CROATIA (S-ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST ETHNIC SERBS IN CROATIA. HE WARNS OF A POSSIBLE LOSS OF AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR CROATIA UNLESS THE RIGHTS OF THE SERBS ARE PROTECTED. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S TOP HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL, JOHN SHATTUCK, SAYS CROATS CLEARLY COMMITTED ATROCITIES AGAINST SERBS IN THE NOW-DEVASTATED KRAJINA REGION OF CROATIA. SPEAKING IN ZAGREB AFTER VISITING THE REGION, MR. SHATTUCK SAYS THERE IS DRAMATIC EVIDENCE OF THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF SERB HOMES. UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS HERE SAY THE LOOTING AND BURNING IS CONTINUING.

THE AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL CALLS ON THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO REPEAL LEGISLATION THAT RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF SERB PROPERTY ABANDONED WHEN THE CROATIAN ARMY RECAPTURED MOST SERB-HELD TERRITORY. AT THE SAME TIME, MR. SHATTUCK WARNS THAT AMERICAN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR CROATIA COULD BE IN DANGER UNLESS CROATIA PROSECUTES THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES AGAINST THE SERBS.

THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD THE UNITED NATIONS 375 CROATIANS HAVE BEEN DETAINED SO FAR. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THAT IS A MODEST NUMBER IN VIEW OF THE SCALE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTRY'S SERB MINORITY. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/CB-T/SKH 01-Oct-95 12:00 AM EDT (0400 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] YUGO TALKS (S) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS HOLDING TALKS TODAY (SUNDAY) WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN. ONE ISSUE BELIEVED BEING DISCUSSED IS THE STILL FRAGILE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND ETHNIC CROATS. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE AND PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ARE MEETING HERE AFTER THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY CRITICIZED THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TOWARD ETHNIC SERBS WHO HAVE BEEN FLEEING FROM THIS COUNTRY. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE CRITICISM OF THE KILLING OF ETHNIC SERBS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOMES WILL EFFECT TALKS ON STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND ETHNIC CROATS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY FLEW TO ZAGREB AFTER TALKS WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING BOTH MEN BELIEVE A CEASEFIRE AMONG ALL THE WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA IS ESSENTIAL AT THIS STAGE OF THE PEACE PROCESS.

MR. HOLBROOKE HAS DISCOURAGED HOPES OF A CEASEFIRE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. HE SAYS THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, CROATS AND SERBS WANT A TRUCE BUT DISAGREE ON THE TERMS. ACCORDING TO MR. HOLBROOKE, MAJOR DIFFERENCES REMAIN ON OTHER FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES TOO. SO AFTER GETTING TWO IMPORTANT FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS, HIS PEACE MISSION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA APPEARS TO BE SLOWING DOWN. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/TMS-T/WJK 01-Oct-95 7:23 AM EDT (1123 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America