Voice of America, 3 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THERE IS ONE DOMINANT EDITORIAL SUBJECT THIS TUESDAY MORNING AND IT CONCERNS THE GUILTY VERDICT REACHED SUNDAY IN THE TRIAL OF TEN RADICAL MUSLIMS ACCUSED OF PLOTTING TO BOMB VARIOUS BUILDINGS IN THIS COUNTRY TO FOMENT TERROR. OTHER SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE FIGHT TO TRIM MEDICARE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS; NIGERIA'S DICTATORSHIP EXTENDED; FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING; AND FINALLY AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE THAT COULDN'T STAND MOTHER NATURE. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: AS THE NATION [EAGERLY AWAITS] [DIGESTS] THE VERDICT IN THE O-J SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL, THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS WERE CONCENTRATING ON A TRIAL OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE, THOUGH MUCH LESS PUBLICITY, THAT ENDED IN NEW YORK CITY SUNDAY. TEN RADICAL MUSLIMS, INCLUDING THE WELL-KNOWN SHEIK OMAR ABDEL-RAHMAN, AND NINE OF HIS FOLLOWERS WERE CONVICTED ON 48 OUT OF 50 COUNTS OF CONSPIRING TO CONDUCT NUMEROUS ACTS OF TERRORISM IN THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA. THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE OUTPOURING OF COMMENT FROM NEW YORK AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: "IT WAS A JUSTIFIED VERDICT ... WHEN A SOCIETY IS THREATENED WITH TERROR IS MUST RESPOND AGGRESSIVELY TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF ITS CITIZENS. WHEN THAT SOCIETY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY, IT HAS THE ADDED BURDEN OF RESPONDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND PRINCIPLE, BALANCING CONSIDERATIONS OF SECURITY AND JUSTICE. THE PROSECUTORS AND JURY IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY CASE APPEAR TO HAVE MET THAT DEMANDING TEST."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" APPLAUDS THE VERDICT AND ALSO CONGRATULATES THE PROCEEDINGS AND ALLUDES TO THE TELEVISED O-J SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL.

VOICE: "NEW YORKERS CAN NOW GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS WITH A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY; MEANWHILE, A TRIAL-WEARY NATION HAS SEEN IT DEMONSTRATED THAT A HIGH-PROFILE CRIMINAL PROCEEDING NEED NOT DEGENERATE INTO AN OUT-OF-CONTROL CIRCUS; AND THE WORLD AT LARGE HAS BEEN REMINDED THAT AMERICA CAN DEFEND ITS INTERESTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING ITS DEDICATION TO THE RULE OF LAW."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" CALLS THE DECISION "THE RIGHT VERDICT," WHILE ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" PROCLAIMS, "JUSTICE IS DONE." BUT IN FLORIDA, WHERE REACTION TO THE VERDICT IS TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE MIAMI HERALD," THERE ARE STILL SOME QUESTIONS:

VOICE: "SATISFYING THOUGH SUNDAY'S VERDICT WAS, THE TRIAL STILL LEFT MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED. NOT MUCH WAS LEARNED ABOUT THIS OR OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS, THEIR OPERATIONS, THEIR REACH, OR THEIR LEADERSHIP. WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, FINANCES THE ATTACKS AND DICTATES THE TARGETS? WHAT IS OR WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SHEIK AND RAMZI YOUSEF, ARRESTED IN PAKISTAN? ..... ABDEL RAHMAN AND PRESUMABLY THE U-S CORE OF HIS CONSPIRATORS ARE NOW SIDELINED. YET IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO BELIEVE THAT RELIGIOUS TERRORISM - - OR, FOR THAT MATTER, TERRORISM IN ITS OTHER GUISES - - IS SIDELINED AS WELL."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] IN THE FAR NORTHEAST, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" CAUTIONS:

VOICE: "TO CALL THE 10 WHO WERE CONVICTED 'ISLAMIC TERRORISTS,' AS SOME HAVE DONE, IS BLASPHEMY. ISLAM HAS NO MORE TO DO WITH TERRORISM THAN DOES ANY OTHER MAJOR RELIGION. IT WOULD MAKE AS MUCH SENSE TO REFER TO 'CHRISTIAN TERRORISTS' IF A GROUP CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIAN COMMITTED SOME DASTARDLY DEED. ..... AS FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS, 'THEY CAN RUN, BUT THEY CAN'T HIDE.' THAT DICTUM STILL APPLIES."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CALLS THE VERDICT "AN IMPRESSIVE VICTORY" AGAINST TERRORISM AND LAUDS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR A "WELL PREPARED AND PRESENTED" CASE, LEADING TO "A BIG" .."WIN." [END OPT]

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CONCERNED WITH ANOTHER IMPORTANT STORY, THE FIGHT IN CONGRESS TO REDUCE THE COST OF MEDICARE, FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE ELDERLY.

VOICE: "EACH PARTY CLAIMS THAT ITS PLAN WOULD KEEP THE MEDICARE TRUST FUND THAT PAYS FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR THE ELDERLY FROM GOING BROKE IN TWO-THOUSAND-TWO, AS IS NOW PROJECTED. AFTER THAT DATE, HOWEVER, BOTH CAN PROMISE ONLY ANOTHER SIX YEARS OR SO OF SOLVENCY UNTIL BANKRUPTCY AGAIN LOOMS. ..... MEDICARE'S BASIC STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS ... [ARE] SIMPLY BEING LEFT FOR ANOTHER CONGRESS DOWN THE ROAD [IN THE FUTURE]. THIS IS THE POLITICIANS' TRADITIONAL WAY OF HANDLING POLITICALLY THREATENING DECISIONS. .... A CONGRESS SO OBVIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION WOULD DO WELL NOW TO BEGIN THINKING INSTEAD ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION." [END OPT]

TEXT: ON THE PROPOSED SUMMIT MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CHINA'S LEADER AT THE UNITED NATIONS LATER THIS MONTH, THERE IS THIS FROM "NEWSDAY:"

VOICE: "... AMBIGUOUS, AT BEST, IS A WAY TO DESCRIBE [THE] AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ON THE CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING A SUMMIT MEETING IN NEW YORK - - A MEETING DESIRED BY BOTH GOVERNMENTS..... THE QUESTION IS, EXACTLY WHAT WAS AGREED? WELL, THEY AGREED ON A SUMMIT, AND THEY AGREE THAT TAIWAN IS STILL NOT RECOGNIZED BY WASHINGTON AS A SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT STATE. BEYOND THAT, 'CONSTRUCTIVE AMBIGUITY' REIGNS. PERHAPS THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE."

TEXT: TAKING A HARSH LOOK AT THE LATEST DELAY IN RESTORING EVEN THE BEGINNINGS OF DEMOCRACY TO NIGERIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: "NIGERIA'S UNBENEVOLENT DICTATOR, GENERAL SANI ABACHA, HAS RENEGED YET AGAIN ON A PROMISE TO RESTORE CIVILIAN RULE. HE NOW SAYS HE WILL NOT STEP DOWN IN 1996 AND THAT HE WILL HOLD ONTO POWER FOR THREE MORE YEARS. THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. [GENERAL] ABACHA IS TREATING HIS GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE LIKE A THRONE. ..... THE WORLD CANNOT AFFORD TO LET NIGERIA DISINTEGRATE. [OPT] IT IS AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS NATION, THE HOME OF A PROUD PEOPLE. ONCE AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE, NIGERIA UNDER [GENERAL] ABACHA HAS BECOME A POORHOUSE. HE MUST BE FORCED TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY AND LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT IN GOOD HANDS." [END OPT]

TEXT: FRANCE COMES IN FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CRITICISM FROM TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" FOR ITS CONTINUING NUCLEAR BOMB TESTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC:

VOICE: "WHAT A PENCHANT FOR SETTING OFF NUCLEAR BOMBS, FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IS EXHIBITION A STREAK OF STUBBORNNESS. ..... FRANCE IS CONDUCTING THE TESTS DESPITE KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THERE'S NO REAL NEED FOR THEM. [OPT] IT HAS EXPLODED NUCLEAR DEVICES GALORE. SUCH OBSTINACY MOCKS GLOBAL EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, SETS A DOUBLE STANDARD THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR MR. CHIRAC TO DENY AND CAUSES FRANCE'S COMMITMENT TO A COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TO SEEM LAUGHABLE." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE OLD ADAGE ABOUT LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE IS CITED IN THIS "ORLANDO SENTINEL" EDITORIAL ABOUT THE WORLD'S FIRST COMMERCIAL, WAVE-POWERED GENERATION MACHINE RECENTLY INSTALLED BY SCIENTISTS OFF THE COAST OF SCOTLAND. NAMED OSPREY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CREATE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER 2-THOUSAND HOMES FOR 25 YEARS. AND AS "THE SENTINEL" TELLS IT:

VOICE: "A VERY UNTECHNICAL SCOTTISH FISHERMAN WARNED THE SCIENTISTS, THOUGH, THAT THE SEAS OF NORTH SCOTLAND WERE SO ROUGH THAT A GRANITE LIGHTHOUSE HAD A HARD TIME SURVIVING. SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE LISTENED. ONE MONTH AFTER ITS LAUNCH, THE GENERATOR SANK."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT HIGH-TECH-VERSUS-NATURAL-FORCES STORY, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF A FEW OF THE NATION'S EDITORIALS ON THIS FIRST TUESDAY IN OCTOBER.

ANG/GE 03-Oct-95 11:19 AM EDT (1519 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] MACEDONIA/BOMBING (S UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, KIRO GLIGOROV, HAS SURVIVED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM OUR V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY.

TEXT: PRESIDENT GLIGOROV WAS RIDING IN A CAR IN SKOPJE WHEN A CAR BOMB EXPLODED NEARBY. HIS DRIVER WAS KILLED. MR. GLIGOROV WAS INJURED. HIS INJURIES WERE NOT SAID TO BE SERIOUS, BUT HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE UNDERGONE SURGERY. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER.

A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE ALSO INJURED AND BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED BY THE CAR BOMB EXPLOSION, WHICH WAS SET OFF BY REMOTE CONTROL.

NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT, BUT POLICE IN SKOPJE SAY THE HAVE DETAINED SOME SUSPECTS.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED A DAY AFTER MR. GLIGOROV VISITED BELGRADE TO DISCUSS THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA-MONTENEGRO). THE 78-YEAR-OLD MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED IN 1992, A YEAR AFTER HIS REPUBLIC PEACEFULLY GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/KK-T/PT 03-Oct-95 4:38 PM EDT (2038 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] NATO EXPANSION BY ED WARNER ( WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE MOST INTENSELY DEBATED SUBJECTS IN U-S FOREIGN POLICY IS THE PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF NATO. THIS WEEK AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, A BRITISH-AMERICAN ARMS CONTROL GROUP PRESENTED THE OBJECTIONS TO EXPANSION. V-O-A'S ED WARNER ATTENDED AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: NATO EXPANSION DOES NOT IMPROVE EUROPEAN SECURITY, BUT JEOPARDIZES IT, SAID JONATHAN DEAN, A FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR AND NOW ARMS CONTROL ADVISER TO THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS. SPEAKING AT A MEETING AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WASHINGTON, AMBASSADOR DEAN WARNED RUSSIA WOULD BE DEEPLY ALARMED BY THE ADMISSION TO NATO OF POLAND, HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POSSIBLY SLOVAKIA:

THIS STRATEGY IS BRINGING SERIOUS ENDURING CONFRONTATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST. IF WE PERSEVERE IN IT, IT COULD BE THE WORST MISTAKE IN UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD EUROPE SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO. NOW THE ADMINISTRATION'S JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALE FOR EXPANSION IS UNCONVINCING AND MURKEY. IT IS THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OR POTENTIAL EMERGENCY IN CENTRAL EUROPE THAT REQUIRES THIS ACTION. BUT THERE IS NO CRISIS NOW IN CENTRAL EUROPE NOR ON THE HORIZON.

AMBASSADOR DEAN SAID FREE ELECTIONS AND IMPROVING ECONOMIES IN EASTERN EUROPE ARE INDICATIONS OF STABILITY. THESE NATIONS WANT WESTERN TIES WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A MILITARY ALLIANCE THAT WILL AROUSE RUSSIAN NATIONALISM.

DANIEL PLESCH, DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH-AMERICAN SECURITY INFORMATION COUNCIL, AGREED EASTERN EUROPE NATIONS ARE HARDLY IN DANGER. BY SENDING THEM HIGH-TECH WEAPONRY -- FIGHTER AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS -- NATO MEMBERS ARE ONLY ANTAGONIZING RUSSIA.

EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO MOSCOW IS THE QUESTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS:

POLES, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL BE INVOLVED IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE USE OF UNITED STATES AND BRITISH TRIDENT MISSILES IN CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR CONFRONTATIONS ON THEIR BORDERS. NOW THIS, OF COURSE, IS AN EXTREMELY REMOTE POSSIBILITY, WE WOULD ALL HOPE. BUT IF ONE LOOKS AT WHAT ALLIANCE CORE STRATEGY IS CONCERNED WITH, THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. AS WE IN OUR DEMOCRACIES CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT WE WISH TO COMMIT OUR SECURITY TO THESE COUNTRIES AND PROVIDE MILITARY GUARANTEES, WE HAVE A DUTY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT IS INVOLVED.

A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE, LASZLO SZOKE, COUNSELOR OF THE HUNGARIAN EMBASSY, SAID HIS NATION FAVORS ENLARGEMENT OF NATO. HE THOUGHT THE SPEAKERS WERE EXCESSIVELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT RUSSIA:

THEY WERE LESS CAUTIOUS, NOT CAUTIOUS AT ALL, ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT ENLARGING THE AREA OF EUROPEAN STABILITY. RUSSIAN EXTREMISM AND NATIONALISM WILL BE ENCOURAGED WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE THAT EVEN THE IDEA OF THEIR BEING ENCOURAGED IS ENOUGH TO DISCOURAGE THE WEST FROM TAKING STEPS THAT MOST OF US CONSIDER NECESSARY. IF WE WANT TO CURB NATIONALISM IN RUSSIA, I THINK THE BEST WAY IS TO SHOW WHERE THEIR LIMITS OF INFLUENCE ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD ARE.

MR. SZOKE SAID NATO REMAINS A DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE DEVOTED TO PREVENTING CONFLICTS BEFORE THEY ERUPT. (SIGNED) NEB/RAE 03-Oct-95 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] PERRY / NATO / BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS A PROPOSED NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA SHOULD BE THE BIGGEST, MEANEST, TOUGHEST ARMY IN THE REGION. MR. PERRY MEETS WITH OTHER ALLIED DEFENSE MINISTERS IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA LATER THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE BALKAN WAR AND THE POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF NATO. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THOUGH THE WILLIAMSBURG MEETING WILL FOCUS ON ENFORCING A POTENTIAL BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD, U-S DIPLOMATS ARE STILL TRYING TO PERSUADE THE WARRING FACTIONS TO STOP FIGHTING. MR. PERRY SAYS THIS INCLUDES THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT -- WHOSE TROOPS HAVE FIRED HEAVY WEAPONS FROM INSIDE THE EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND SARAJEVO.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF THE COMBATANTS OVER THERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE MAY BE WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF A CEASE-FIRE, OR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, WHICH WOULD BE TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED.

A CEASE-FIRE AND FORMAL SETTLEMENT WOULD TRIGGER THE DEPLOYMENT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NATO PEACEKEEPERS AND PERHAPS THOUSANDS MORE FROM RUSSIA OR OTHER FORMER SOVIET STATES. SO FAR, THE RUSSIANS REFUSE TO ACCEPT NATO COMMAND AND CONTROL.

MR. PERRY SAYS THEY MIGHT BE GIVEN DUTIES LIKE REBUILDING THE COUNTRY, WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE THEM TO SERVE UNDER ALLIED COMMANDERS. THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE WOULD STAY UNTIL THE BOSNIANS CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.

THE FORCE WOULD NEED TO BE THERE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE BOSNIAN ARMED FORCES WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN DEFENSE AND WE HAVE ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE PERHAPS NINE TO 12 MONTHS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE BOSNIAN ARMED FORCES.

OFFICIALS SAY THE SIZE OF THE PEACEKEEPING ARMY AND THE NUMBER OF U-S FORCES INVOLVED ARE STILL UNCLEAR. THE SECRETARY SAYS NATO WILL BE WELL-ARMED BUT THERE WILL STILL BE DANGERS.

THIS IS A WAR THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ALMOST FOUR YEARS. PASSIONS, HATREDS HAVE BUILT UP. THERE ARE ARMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ALL OF THE PARAMILITARY FORCES THAT ARE OUT THERE. THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT A STRONG FORCE OVER THERE, TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY. THERE IS NO RISK-FREE OPERATION.

MR. PERRY CONCEDES THE ADMINISTRATION MUST STILL PERSUADE THE PUBLIC AND CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE PLAN. MANY LAWMAKERS ALREADY OPPOSE THE USE OF AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB / DS / BD / SKH
03-Oct-95 4:12 PM EDT (2012 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] ROMANIA PRESIDENT / L-A (L-ONLY) BY ALAN SILVERMAN (LOS ANGELES)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA CONTENDS THE BUCHAREST GOVERNMENT IS NOT PERSECUTING THE COUNTRY'S HUNGARIAN MINORITY. HE SPOKE WITH REPORTERS MONDAY IN LOS ANGELES. VOA'S ALAN SILVERMAN WAS THERE AND FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU SAYS OFFICIAL SUPPRESSION OF ETHNIC HUNGARIANS DOES NOT EXIST IN ROMANIA. IN FACT, HE CONTENDS, NATIONAL MINORITIES IN ROMANIA HAVE, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, "THE MOST LIBERAL STATUS" OF ANYWHERE IN EUROPE.

FOR HUNGARIANS, FOR INSTANCE: THEY ARE REPRESENTED IN THE PARLIAMENT AND THE LOCAL COUNCILS. THEY HAVE THEIR SCHOOLS IN THEIR OWN MOTHER TONGUE. THEY HAVE THEIR CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC INSTITUTIONS -- THEIR NEWSPAPERS, RADIO AND T-V STATIONS. YOU SHALL NOT FIND ALL THIS FOR ROMANIANS IN HUNGARY. SOME NATIONALISTIC FORCES FROM THE HUNGARIAN SIDE ARE RAISING SOME PROBLEMS ON IT, BUT THERE DOES NOT EXIST ANY SUPPRESSION OR OPPRESSION OF THE MINORITY OF HUNGARIANS.

NOTING THAT THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM STRETCH BACK SEVERAL GENERATIONS, PRESIDENT ILIESCU URGES HUNGARIAN NATIONALISTS TO SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE "A HISTORIC RECONCILIATION" WITH HUNGARY:

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ROMANIA AND HUNGARY ARE QUITE GOOD. WE CONSIDER RELATIONS TO BE NORMAL AND WE HAVE PROPOSED TO SOLVE EVEN SUCH SENSITIVE PROBLEMS BY POLITICAL AGREEMENT BY A COMMON PROCLAMATION OF THE DETERMINATION OF ROMANIA AND HUNGARY TO SET UP A NEW CLIMATE OF RELATIONS, OF NEIGHBORLINESS, OF COOPERATION AND COMMON INTEGRATION INTO THE NEW EUROPE. THESE ARE THE MAIN POLITICAL PROPOSALS WE HAVE MADE TO THE HUNGARIANS.

PRESIDENT ILIESCU'S STOPS ON THE AMERICAN WEST COAST -- IN LOS ANGELES AND SEATTLE -- COME AT THE END OF AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO PROMOTE TRADE AND COOPERATION WITH ROMANIA.

IN WASHINGTON, HE PURSUED ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT MOST- FAVORED NATION TRADING STATUS, WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS:

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND COMMERCE SECRETARY BROWN EXPRESSED THEIR DECISION TO PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL TO THE CONGRESS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH ALL THE CONGRESSMEN -- WE MET SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES -- AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE WILL BE A CORRECT APPROACH THERE ALSO. WE HOPE THE CONGRESS WILL ACCEPT IT.

ROMANIA'S PERMANENT M-F-N STATUS WAS REVOKED IN 1988 IN RESPONSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES UNDER THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF THE LATE NICOLAE CEAUCESCU. CONGRESS REQUIRES THE REDUCED-TARIFF TRADING STATUS BE RENEWED ON YEARLY BASIS IF THE STATE DEPARTMENT CERTIFIES PROGRESS ON RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADS/SKH
02-Oct-95 8:46 PM EDT (0046 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] ROMANIA ECONOMY (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE ROMANIAN MASS PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM HAS ENTERED ITS SECOND AND PERHAPS MOST CRITICAL PHASE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS ALMOST 18-MILLION ADULT ROMANIANS HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO CHOOSE FROM AMONG FOUR-THOUSAND STATE ENTERPRISES THE COMPANIES IN WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE SHAREHOLDERS.

TEXT: THE LONG-DELAYED ROMANIAN MASS PRIVATIZATION HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A RELATIVELY SMOOTH BEGINNING. THE PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED AUGUST FIRST WHEN THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED THE NAMES OF 39-HUNDRED STATE ENTERPRISES THAT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE STATE SECTOR TO INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS. DURING THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH ENDED DURING THE WEEKEND, ALL ADULT ROMANIANS WERE ABLE TO COLLECT VOUCHERS FREE OF CHARGE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY. NOW, THE VOUCHERS ARE TO BE REGISTERED WITH EACH CITIZEN LISTING THE COMPANY IN WHICH HE WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OWNER. THE REGISTRATION OR BIDDING PROCESS GOES ON UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. IN THE FINAL PHASE, FROM JANUARY FIRST TO APRIL FIRST OF NEXT YEAR, CITIZENS WILL RECEIVE OWNERSHIP SHARES IN THE PRIVATIZED COMPANIES.

ROMANIA HAS A RECENT HISTORY OF FINANCIAL FRAUD AND THUS FAR THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN REMARKABLY FREE OF IRREGULARITIES. NINETY PERCENT OF ADULT ROMANIANS, 17-POINT-EIGHT-MILLION PEOPLE, COLLECTED THEIR VOUCHERS DURING THE FIRST PHASE. BUT, PRIVATE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE COMPLAINING THEY ARE SHUT OUT OF PRIVATIZATION TRANSACTIONS. VOUCHER REGISTRATION CAN TAKE PLACE ONLY AT ONE-THOUSAND OFFICIAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. MOST ARE LOCATED IN POST OFFICES.

PEOPLE HAVE RELATIVELY LITTLE INFORMATION FROM WHICH TO MAKE INTELLIGENT CHOICES. THE 670-PAGE BOOK THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED LISTS ONLY BASIC INFORMATION LIKE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND SALES FIGURES FOR 1994 FOR THE BIG AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES BEING PRIVATIZED.

THE MONETARY VALUE OF THE VOUCHERS IS UNCLEAR. BY SOME ESTIMATES EACH VOUCHER COULD BE WORTH 450-DOLLARS, AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO FOUR TIMES THE AVERAGE ROMANIAN MONTHLY WAGE. TO AVOID FRAUD, THE VOUCHERS ARE NON-TRANSFERRABLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/RAE
03-Oct-95 11:46 AM EDT (1546 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] RUSSIA/BOSNIA (L) BY PETER COLLINS ( MOSCOW )

INTRO: BOSNIA'S PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV HAVE ENDED A MEETING IN MOSCOW SAYING THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AS V-O-A'S PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA HAS TRADITIONALLY SUPPORTED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S ENEMIES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- THE SERBS.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER SILAJDZIC'S VISIT TO RUSSIA REPRESENTS A BIT OF DIPLOMACY WITH THE FRIENDS OF HIS ENEMIES. BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE ETHNIC TIES TO ITS FELLOW SLAVS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, RUSSIA GENERALLY SUPPORTS BELGRADE AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS. ON THE OTHER HAND, BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT GENERALLY LOOKS FOR SUPPORT FROM WASHINGTON, LONDON, PARIS, AND THE ARAB WORLD. AFTER TWO-DAYS OF MEETINGS IN MOSCOW WITH PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV, MR. SILAJDZIC IS PRONOUNCING HIMSELF SATISFIED. HE COMES AWAY WITH A PLEDGE FROM MR. CHERNOMYRDIN THAT RUSSIA WILL RESUME THE DELIVERY OF NATURAL GAS TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO. SUPPLIES WERE SUSPENDED THIS SUMMER AT BOSNIA'S REQUEST BECAUSE SERBS AROUND THE CAPITAL WERE DIVERTING THE GAS FLOW TO THEMSELVES. FOR HIS PART, FOREIGN MINISTER KOZYREV SAYS HE EXPECTS STEPPED UP EFFORTS IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS TO BRING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE IN BOSNIA. HE REPEATED RUSSIA'S LONG-STANDING POSITION THAT A SETTLEMENT MUST BE FAIR TO ALL THREE WARRING PARTIES IN BOSNIA, THE MUSLIMS, CROATS, AND SERBS. HE SAID ANY AGREEMENT IMPOSED BY FORCE WOULD FAIL. HIS COMMENTS WERE MILD COMPARED WITH SOME OF THE HARSH RHETORIC FROM MOSCOW IN DEFENSE OF SERB INTERESTS DURING RECENT NATO AIRSTRIKES IN BOSNIA. MOSCOW HAS WELCOMED THE TENTATIVE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT AGREED TO LAST WEEK BY BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, AND THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. MR. SILAJDZIC SAYS HE HOPES RUSSIA WILL SOON ESTABLISH A DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN SARAJEVO. HE DESCRIBES MOSCOW'S EFFORTS TO WORK TOWARD THE SETTLEMENT AS CONSTRUCTIVE. (SIGNED)

NEB/PC/MH/RAE
03-Oct-95 11:38 AM EDT (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] U-S / CROATIA AGREEMENT (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS HAILING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERBIA ON PRINCIPLES FOR RESOLVING THEIR DISPUTE OVER SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR EVENTUAL RE-INTEGRATION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA UNDER CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY. THE AREA BORDERING SERBIA WAS CAPTURED BY THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IN 1991 AND IS LAST PART OF CROATIA STILL UNDER SERBIAN OCCUPATION.

SPEAKING HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH THE PRINCIPLES AGREED WITH AMERICAN MEDIATION.

IT'S A FIRST STEP BUT I THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ONE AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, IT'S ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PICTURE. THERE WAS A GOOD MEETING THERE TODAY, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS YET BUT I'VE HEARD ENOUGH OF THEM TO KNOW THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT INSISTS THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO IN THE TOWN OF ERDUT CALL FOR RE-CONNECTING EASTERN SLAVONIA WITH CROATIA'S WATER, ELECTRICITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVENTUALLY PUTTING THE AREA UNDER ZAGREB'S POLITICAL CONTROL. (SIGNED)

NEB / RP / BD / SKH
03-Oct-95 4:06 PM EDT (2006 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] YUGO REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (BELGRADE)

INTRO: THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IS DRAWING UP PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT PLANS FOR THE MORE THAN 160-THOUSAND CROATIAN SERB REFUGEES WHO FLOODED INTO THE COUNTRY LAST AUGUST, AFTER CROATIAN ARMY TROOPS RECAPTURED THE FORMER SERB REBEL STRONGHOLD OF KRAJINA. MANY OF THE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN SENT TO ETHNICALLY MIXED AREAS, FUELING LOCAL TENSIONS. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS FILES THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: MORE THAN HALF THE KRAJINA REFUGEES WERE SENT TO THE VOJVODINA REGION -- A BROAD AGRICULTURAL PLAIN NORTHWEST OF BELGRADE THAT IS HOME TO LARGE NUMBERS OF ETHNIC HUNGARIANS AND CROATS AS WELL AS SERBS.

U-N OFFICIALS HERE SAY AROUND 500 CROATS AND SOME HUNGARIANS WERE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES BY THE REFUGEES AND LOCAL SERBS IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE INFLUX.

THE EVICTIONS SPARKED PROTESTS BY ETHNIC HUNGARIAN LEADERS IN VOJVODINA, AND A FORMAL DEMARCHE (DIPLOMATIC COMPLAINT) TO BELGRADE FROM THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT.

WHILE SOME CROATS AND HUNGARIANS ARE CONTINUING TO LEAVE VOJVODINA, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE EVICTIONS APPEAR TO HAVE STOPPED. IKA TODOROVIC, A LEGAL OFFICER WITH THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES HERE, SAYS YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE MADE GENUINE EFFORTS TO EASE THE ETHNIC TENSIONS IN VOJVODINA SPARKED BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE REFUGEES.

NOW, MORE OR LESS, THINGS HAVE STABILIZED. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE POLICE HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE IN PATROLLING THE STREETS, GOING INTO THE VILLAGES, CREATING MORE OF A PERMANENT PRESENCE THAT THEY ARE THERE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION. THE OTHER REASON IS IS THAT MOST OF THESE ETHNIC GROUPS, THE MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS, HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IN REFUGEES.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE IMPROVING SITUATION IN VOJVODINA IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, WHERE ETHNIC ALBANIANS MAKE UP AROUND 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. ABOUT 10-THOUSAND OF THE KRAJINA REFUGEES HAVE BEEN SENT TO KOSOVO SO FAR, AND LOCAL SERB AUTHORITIES SAY THAT FIGURE COULD RISE SHARPLY AS BELGRADE MOVES AHEAD WITH ITS PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.

U-N OFFICIALS, WESTERN DIPLOMATS, AND SERBIAN POLITICAL ANALYSTS HERE SAY THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE ARRIVAL OF THE REFUGEES HAS SEVERELY EXACERBATED AN ALREADY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. AND THEY SAY THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO EASE THE TENSIONS.

BELGRADE RESCINDED KOSOVO'S STATUS AS AN AUTONOMOUS REGION SIX YEARS AGO. THERE IS A HEAVY POLICE AND ARMY PRESENCE IN THE PROVINCE AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE LOCAL ALBANIAN POPULATION WHOSE LEADERS SHARPLY OPPOSE BELGRADE'S RULE.

LOCAL LEADERS SAY ELEVEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY YUGOSLAV POLICE AND TROOPS THIS YEAR ALONE. NINE OTHERS WERE GIVEN LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES LAST MONTH ON CHARGES OF LEADING A SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT.

THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP SEES THE KRAJINA REFUGEES AS COLONIZERS, DISPATCHED TO KOSOVO BY A BELGRADE GOVERNMENT INTENT ON ALTERING THE ETHNIC BALANCE OF THE PROVINCE.

YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES DISMISS THE ALLEGATIONS AS LUDICROUS. THEY SAY THAT EVEN IF ALL THE KRAJINA REFUGEES WERE SETTLED IN KOSOVO, THERE WOULD STILL BE A LARGE ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN THE PROVINCE.

U-N OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE BELGRADE'S RIGHT TO RESETTLE THE REFUGEES WHERE IT SEES FIT. BUT THEY HAVE ALSO QUIETLY URGED YUGOSLAV LEADERS TO CONSIDER THE ETHNIC SENSITIVITIES IN KOSOVO.

THE U-N-H-C-R'S IKA TODOROVIC EXPLAINS THE CONCERN.

THE ALBANIANS, THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THEM THAT ARE RADICALIZED. THESE REFUGEES, THERE COULD BE A SEGMENT -- I AM NOT SAYING ALL OF THEM -- BUT A SEGMENT OF THEM COULD BE QUITE RADICALIZED. YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER IN THE SAME POT, AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXPLOSIVE SOUP. I THINK THAT IS THE CONCERN.

BUT BELGRADE HAS GIVEN NO SIGN IT IS PREPARED TO ALTER ITS RESETTLEMENT POLICY. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS MORE TO OFFER THE REFUGEES -- INCLUDING LAND, HOUSES, AND JOBS -- IN KOSOVO THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY OF THE KRAJINA SERBS WILL BE ENTICED BY THE YUGOSLAV OFFER. U-N OFFICIALS SAY MANY OF THE REFUGEES HAVE PROTESTED OVER THEIR RESETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO. SOME EVEN JUMPED OFF TRAINS WHEN TOLD THAT IT WAS THEIR DESTINATION.

MANY ARE STILL TRAUMATIZED BY THEIR FLIGHT FROM KRAJINA, SAYS ONE U-N OFFICIAL, AND THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO TO ANOTHER TENSE AND TROUBLED REGION. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/CF
03-Oct-95 11:49 AM EDT (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[10] YUGO SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS MEETING IN BELGRADE WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. HOLBROOKE DENIES THAT HIS ATTEMPTS TO END THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE AT AN IMPASSE. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE IS CONTINUING HIS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY -- NOW IN BELGRADE -- AFTER MEETING HERE WITH THE CROATIAN DEFENSE MINISTER.

BEFORE HE LEFT ZAGREB, MR. HOLBROOKE REPEATED THERE ARE STILL MAJOR DIFFERENCES AMONG THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT, BOSNIAN CROATS, AND THE SERBS OVER THE TERMS OF A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

BUT HE SAID A CEASE-FIRE IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE HE IS DISCUSSING WITH KEY FIGURES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HE INDICATED PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON SOME ISSUES, AND THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON A CEASE-FIRE ARE NOT NECESSARILY DEADLOCKED.

PROGRESS ALSO IS REPORTED IN SEPARATE TALKS ON THE RE-INTEGRATION OF THE SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION WITH THE REST OF CROATIA. THESE TALKS INVOLVE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERB REPRESENTATIVES AND AMERICAN AND UNITED NATIONS MEDIATORS.

IF THE CROATIAN SERBS DO NOT PEACEFULLY RETURN EASTERN SLAVONIA TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED IT WILL TAKE MILITARY ACTION TO RECOVER THE TERRITORY. MEANWHILE, HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES NEAR THE TOWN OF BOSANSKA KRUPA IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. GOVERNMENT TROOPS CAPTURED THE TOWN LAST MONTH. THE SERBS WANT TO GET IT BACK.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE SERBS ARE PROVIDING CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF THE FIGHTING. UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS IN ZAGREB DESCRIBE IT AS SEE-SAW (BACK AND FORTH) FIGHTING, AND THEY REPORT NO NEW CHANGES IN THE FRONTLINES. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/MMK
03-Oct-95 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America