Voice of America, 2 April 1996 (2 of 2)

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] E-U BEEF (L-UPDATE) BY JOHN FRASER (LUXEMBOURG)

INTRO: AGRICULTURE MINISTERS FROM THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION NATIONS WILL RESUME TALKS LATER TODAY (TUESDAY) IN LUXEMBOURG, TRYING TO AGREE ON A PACKAGE OF MEASURES TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN BRITISH BEEF. A MEETING WAS ADJOURNED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TUESDAY MORNING -- WITHOUT AGREEMENT. THE MINISTERS ARE CONSIDERING THE MASS SLAUGHTER AND INCINERATION OF AROUND FOUR MILLION BRITISH CATTLE, WHICH COULD COST AS MUCH AS SIX BILLION DOLLARS TO IMPLEMENT. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A NEWS FROM LUXEMBOURG.

TEXT: THE LATEST SCARE CAME WHEN BRITISH SCIENTISTS UNCOVERED TEN NEW CASES OF THE HUMAN EQUIVALENT OF MAD COW DISEASE, OR B-S-E. THE EUROPEAN UNION RESPONDED BY BANNING ALL EXPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF, AND THE BRITISH ARE NOW ENGAGED IN A DIFFICULT NEGOTIATION TO GET THAT BAN LIFTED.

THE UNITED KINGDOM'S AGRICULTURE MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG TOLD A CRISIS MEETING OF EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE MINISTERS MONDAY THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO ORDER THE SLAUGHTER OF ALL CATTLE OVER 30 MONTHS OF AGE, WHEN THEY COME TO THE END OF THEIR WORKING LIVES. THE ANIMALS WILL BE INCINERATED, SO THEIR MEAT DOES NOT ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN. HE IS PREDICTING THAT AROUND 15-THOUSAND ANIMALS WILL BE KILLED PER WEEK FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

MR. HOGG HAS APPEALED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION TO HELP FUND THIS SLAUGHTER PROGRAM, WITH AN 80 PERCENT CONTRIBUTION. BRITAIN IS ALSO SEEKING EUROPEAN UNION INTERVENTION PURCHASES OF BEEF, TO SHORE UP THE MARKET PRICE, AND IS NEGOTIATING AN ADDITIONAL REDUCTION OF EVEN MORE CATTLE FROM THOSE HERDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY B-S-E. WHILE THE OTHER 14 EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE SHOWN SYMPATHY FOR THE BRITISH PROBLEM, NONE BELIEVES THE BRITISH HAVE YET COME UP WITH AN ADEQUATE PACKAGE OF MEASURES. TALKS WENT ON FOR 12 HOURS BEFORE ADJOURNING AT THREE IN THE MORNING AND THE MEETING WILL BE RESUMED AFTER MINISTERS HAVE TIME TO PAUSE AND REFLECT.

THERE IS LITTLE OPTIMISM THAT ALL THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES CAN BE AGREED UPON, BUT THERE IS AGREEMENT THAT UNLESS THE EUROPEAN UNION CAN UNITE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THERE IS LITTLE HOPE OF A SPEEDY RESUMPTION OF CONFIDENCE IN BRITISH BEEF. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/CB/SKH
01-Apr-96 10:14 PM EST (0314 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] EAST EURO GROWTH (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS UPDATED ITS REPORT ON ECONOMIC CHANGES IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE BANK SAYS THE PROGRESS IS EVEN BETTER THAN EARLIER REPORTED.

TEXT: THE E-B-R-D IS HAVING TROUBLE FINDING ENOUGH GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION IN THE FORMER EAST BLOC.

AHEAD OF ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN SOFIA LATER THIS MONTH, THE E-B-R-D SAYS PROGRESS IN BRINGING DOWN INFLATION IN EASTERN EUROPE HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. IN SOME COUNTRIES, SAYS THE REPORT, RECENT DEVELOPMENTS PARALLEL THE ASTONISHING PROGRESS OF EAST ASIA WHERE SUSTAINED HIGH GROWTH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.

THE RECESSION THAT FOLLOWED THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IS OVER. POLAND THIS YEAR, SAYS THE REPORT, BECOMES THE FIRST COUNTRY TO REGAIN THE PRE-RECESSION OUTPUT LEVEL OF 1990. SLOVENIA WILL FOLLOW IN 1997.

THE BANK REPORTS THAT FOUR COUNTRIES LAST YEAR ACHIEVED OUTPUT GROWTH OF FROM SIX TO SEVEN PERCENT. THEY ARE ALBANIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND SLOVAKIA. THREE OTHERS -- THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, AND SLOVENIA -- ACHIEVED FOUR TO FIVE PERCENT GROWTH. THIS YEAR, SAYS THE BANK, EASTERN EUROPE WILL AVERAGE GROWTH OF FIVE PERCENT. BY CONTRAST WESTERN EUROPE WILL EXPAND BY ONLY TWO PERCENT.

OF COURSE THE EAST IS WELL BEHIND THE WEST IN ALMOST ALL ECONOMIC MEASURES. MONTHLY INCOMES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ARE HIGHEST IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND POLAND. BUT AT UNDER 450 DOLLARS PER MONTH, THEY ARE ONLY A FRACTION OF WEST EUROPEAN LEVELS.

JACQUES DE LAROSIERE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE E-B-R-D. AT A RECENT MEETING IN SWITZERLAND, MR. LAROSIERE PRAISED THE PROGRESS OF THE EAST EUROPEANS.

I AM ACTUALLY VERY MUCH AMAZED AT THE SPEED OF THIS PROGRESS. WHEN I LOOK AT THE COUNTRIES OF WESTERN EUROPE, AND MY OWN COUNTRY -- I MUST SAY, THAT KEPT PRICE CONTROLS UNTIL THE EARLY 80'S, THE END OF THE 70'S. AND WHEN I SEE THAT THESE COUNTRIES (IN THE EAST) IN THE LAST SIX YEARS HAVE PRACTICALLY DISMANTLED PRICE CONTROLS, HAVE CONSIDERABLY OPENED UP THEIR TRADE AND RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WHEN I LOOK AT THE PROGRESS OF PRIVATIZATION AND THE STRUCTURE NOW OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THESE ECONOMIES -- I THINK THAT WHEN YOU SEE ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED IN FIVE YEARS, I THINK THAT IS A FANTASTIC TRIBUTE TO THE POLITICAL COURAGE AND DETERMINATION OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

THE E-B-R-D EXAMINES 25 POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMIES STRETCHING FROM GERMANY TO THE CAUCUSES.

SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BANK SEES GROWTH THIS YEAR IN RUSSIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM. IT SAYS THE BEST PERFORMANCE ON INFLATION -- UNDER TEN PERCENT ANNUALLY -- IS IN ALBANIA, CROATIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, MACEDONIA, SLOVENIA AND SLOVAKIA. THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES, WHERE SIX PERCENT GROWTH IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR, ARE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, SLOVAKIA, AND POLAND. RIGHT BEHIND WITH FIVE PERCENT GROWTH ARE ALBANIA, CROATIA AND SLOVENIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
02-Apr-96 11:20 AM EST (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] GERMANY / KURDS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY HAS INTENSIFIED HIS THREAT TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS IN GERMANY IF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPLY TURKEY WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: REBEL KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN MADE HIS LATEST THREAT AGAINST GERMANY IN AN INTERVIEW SET TO APPEAR IN THURSDAY'S EDITION OF THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DIE ZEIT.

MR. OCALAN, WHO LAST WEEK THREATENED TO START KILLING GERMAN TOURISTS AND TO SEND SUICIDE BOMBERS INTO GERMANY, NOW SAYS DYNAMITE CHARGES WILL EXPLODE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IF AND WHEN HE GIVES THE ORDER.

GERMAN OFFICIALS ARE TAKING THE THREATS SERIOUSLY, BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF BOWING TO TERRORIST DEMANDS.

SEDES KORAY, AN ANALYST WHO HAS BEEN EXAMINING THE KURDISH PROBLEM AT THE CENTER FOR TURKISH STUDIES IN ESSEN, SAYS SHE DOES NOT EXPECT A WAVE OF KURDISH SUICIDE BOMBINGS.

THE P-K-K IS AN IDEOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION AND IT IS NOT A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, SO I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT MANY WILL BE WILLING TO COMMIT SUCH SUICIDE ACTIONS ON GERMAN TARGETS.

GERMAN AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY HAS ABOUT 75-HUNDRED HARD-CORE FOLLOWERS AMONG THE NEARLY ONE-HALF-MILLION KURDS THAT LIVE PEACEFULLY IN GERMANY.

MS. KORAY SAYS THE ANGER AMONG THIS HARD-CORE GROUP WAS INCREASED LAST MONTH, PLANS FOR A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS BACKFIRED, AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN CLASHES WITH POLICE.

THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY MISCALCULATED. THEY HOPED THERE WOULD BE SOME PRESSURE FROM THE GERMAN SIDE ON TURKEY, THAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE MORE INTERNATIONALIZED. I ALSO THINK THEY AIMED WITH THE ACTIONS, THE VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS, THEY AIMED AT SOME KIND OF STRENGTHENED INTERNAL DYNAMIC WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF.

FOLLOWING LAST MONTH'S VIOLENT KURDISH PROTESTS, THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT MOVED TO TIGHTEN LAWS THAT WOULD SPEED THE EXPULSION OF FOREIGNERS WHO USE POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

MS. KORAY SAYS AUTHORITIES SHOULD MAINTAIN STRICT CONTROL OVER THE OUTLAWED P-K-K, BUT SHE SAYS AN OVERREACTION COULD SIMPLY MAKE THINGS WORSE.

IF GERMANY INTENDS TO TAKE SUCH ACTIONS AGAINST KURDS OR AGAINST FOREIGNERS, SO TO SAY, OF DEPORTATION OF EXPATRIATION TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN -- IT WOULD, I BELIEVE, LEAD TO RADICALIZATION AMONG THE KURDISH POPULATION IN GERMANY AND WOULD INVOLVE FEELINGS OF SOLIDARITY AND RADICAL NATIONALISM AMONG KURDS IN GERMANY, AND THIS IS A SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

ANALYSTS SAY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MANY THOUSANDS OF KURDS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING PEACEFULLY IN GERMANY, IN SOME CASES FOR GENERATIONS, AND RADICAL KURDISH PROTESTERS WHO ARE OFTEN IN THE COUNTRY SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
02-Apr-96 9:29 AM EST (1429 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] PERRY / ALBANIA (S UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (TIRANA)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY HAS COMPLETED A TWO-DAY VISIT TO ALBANIA AND MEETINGS WITH DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM SOUTHERN BALKAN NATIONS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS MR. PERRY NOW FLIES TO CAIRO FOR SECURITY TALKS WITH EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS.

TEXT: MR. PERRY MET WITH ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA AND WAS GIVEN THE ORDER OF SCANDARBEG, THE HIGHEST AWARD ALBANIA CAN GIVE TO A FOREIGNER, FOR HIS EFFORTS IN HELPING THE COUNTRY IN ITS RECOVERY FROM DECADES OF STALINIST-STYLE DICTATORSHIP.

ALBANIAN OFFICIALS GIVE MR. PERRY PERSONAL CREDIT FOR ARRANGING A CRUCIAL PROGRAM OF MILITARY AID TO THE STRUGGLING BALKAN NATION, INCLUDING TRAINING PROGRAMS AND JOINT EXERCISES, A FIELD HOSPITAL, CLOTHING FOR ITS SOLDIERS, AND SURPLUS VEHICLES.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. PERRY SAID THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF SURPLUS U-S MILITARY HARDWARE GIVEN TO ALBANIA MAY BE IN EXCESS OF 100-MILLION DOLLARS. BUT HE REJECTED REPORTS THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING TO SET UP A MILITARY BASE HERE.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PLANS AT THIS TIME FOR ESTABLISHING MILITARY BASES IN ALBANIA. IF THAT BECAME APPROPRIATE SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD CONSIDER IT ONLY BY THE INVITATION OF THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING A TRAINING AREA THAT COULD BE USED BY NATO COUNTIES AND ITS PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM, OF WHICH ALBANIA IS A MEMBER. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/JWH
02-Apr-96 6:37 AM EST (1137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] SERBIA / MEDIA CENSORSHIP BY ANDRE DE NESNERA ( LONDON)

INTRO: SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS CONTINUING HIS CAMPAIGN OF HARASSING AND SUPPRESSING INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS AND BROADCASTERS. SERBIA'S SUPREME COURT HAS RECENTLY CLOSED DOWN OFFICES OF THE SOROS FOUNDATION WHICH PROVIDED HELP TO INDEPENDENT MEDIA. IN THIS CLOSEUP REPORT FROM LONDON, V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE INCREASING PRESSURE FACING INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS IN SERBIA.

TEXT: SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BALKAN CONFLICT IN THE SUMMER OF 1991, THE WARRING FACTIONS HAVE BEEN VERY AWARE OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE. SERBIAN, CROATIAN AND MUSLIM LEADERS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC OPINION IN WESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA -- PUBLIC OPINION FASHIONED ESSENTIALLY BY THE MEDIA.

THE WARRING FACTIONS COULD NOT CENSOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE PER SE -- OTHER THAN TO PROHIBIT JOURNALISTS FROM TRAVELLING TO SPECIFIC AREAS OR REFUSING TO GRANT INTERVIEWS. BUT THE BALKAN LEADERS COULD CENSOR THEIR MEDIA. ARGUABLY, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN SILENCING THOSE INDEPENDENT VOICES HE CONSIDERS TO BE HARMFUL HAS BEEN SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE LONDON-BASED INTERNATIONAL CENTER AGAINST CENSORSHIP -- BETTER KNOWN AS ARTICLE 19 -- PUBLISHED A BOOK ENTITLED "FORGING WAR: THE MEDIA IN SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA." IN ITS PREFACE, WILLIAM SHAWCROSS WROTE: "IN SERBIA, THE MILOSEVIC REGIME HAS DONE ITS BEST TO LIMIT IF NOT DESTROY INDEPENDENT MEDIA BY IMPOSING TAXES, RESTRICTING ACCESS TO MORE POWERFUL BROADCASTING TRANSMITTERS AND CUTTING SUPPLIES OF NEWSPRINT AND FUEL TO THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. IN ADDITION, THREATS AGAINST BOTH FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN BELGRADE HAVE BECOME MORE STRIDENT."

THOSE WORDS WERE WRITTEN TWO YEARS AGO. NOW THAT THE BALKAN CONFLICT HAS EASED, ONE MIGHT PRESUME PRESSURES ON THE MEDIA WOULD EASE, ALSO. BUT MANY ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE SITUATION IS EVEN WORSE.

SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN OVER CONTROL OF SERBIA'S ONLY PRIVATELY-OWNED TELEVISION STATION -- BELGRADE'S STUDIO-B. BROADCASTS OF THE INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION B-92 HAVE BEEN JAMMED AND NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES HAVE CONTINUED TO BE HARASSED.

BUT ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO, SERBIAN AUTHORITIES DEALT ANOTHER SERIOUS BLOW TO THOSE ATTEMPTING TO FOSTER INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA. THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD A CULTURE MINISTRY DECISION TO REVOKE THE REGISTRATION OF THE AMERICAN-BASED SOROS FOUNDATION, FORCING IT TO SHUT DOWN ITS OPERATIONS IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.

THE SOROS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY HUMANITARIAN ENDEAVORS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WAS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION PROVIDING SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THAT POINT WAS EMPHASIZED BY GEORGE SOROS TO REPORTERS HERE IN LONDON.

TAPE: CUT # 1 - SOROS "THE SOROS FOUNDATION IS VULNERABLE BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA -- AND THEREFORE THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND THE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS OUGHT TO EXERT THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA THROUGH OTHER MEANS AND THAT WILL RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE SOROS FOUNDATION. AND THAT IS A POINT I DO NOT MIND MAKING AT ANY TIME."

TEXT: THE SERBIAN DECISION TO SHUT DOWN THE SOROS FOUNDATION WAS BASED ON A COMPLICATED LEGAL TECHNICALITY.

BUT SONJA LICHT -- PRESIDENT OF THE SOROS YUGOSLAVIA FOUNDATION -- SAYS SHE BELIEVES IT WAS CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION WAS PERCEIVED AS A THREAT.

TAPE: CUT # 2 - LICHT "THE SOROS FOUNDATION WAS -- I AM CONVINCED -- CLOSED DOWN NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA, IT WAS CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE IT SUPPORTED HUNDREDS, VIRTUALLY HUNDREDS OF INDEPENDENT INITIATIVES IN ALL FIELDS OF PUBLIC LIFE -- AND IT HAD VERY SERIOUS PROGRAMS OF ITS OWN, ESPECIALLY DIRECTED TOWARDS CHILDREN AND YOUTH, DIRECTED TOWARDS REFUGEES."

TEXT: THE SOROS FOUNDATION HAS REAPPLIED FOR REGISTRATION AND SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE UNTIL MID-APRIL TO DECIDE WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE.

MEANWHILE, INDEPENDENT BROADCASTERS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY THE CLOSING. VERAN MATIC ESTABLISHED THE INDEPENDENT BELGRADE RADIO STATION KNOWN AS B-92. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. MATIC SAYS INDEPENDENT MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAVE TO BE SPURRED ON.

TAPE: CUT # 3 - MATIC "ALL OF THIS OF COURSE IS NOW JEOPARDIZED WITH THE CLOSING OF THE SOROS FOUNDATION THAT WAS A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF THESE ACTIVITIES. (MATIC IN SERBIAN) OTHER FOUNDATIONS THAT WERE INITIALLY HELPING US ARE NOW MUCH LESS KEEN ON GIVING SUPPORT. (MATIC IN SERBIA) ON THE OTHER HAND, TO EXPECT OF US TO SUPPORT OURSELVES THROUGH COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF AN ECONOMY THAT IS TOTALLY DESTROYED, IS A PIOUS WISH."

TEXT: JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, A SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT THE INFORMATION BLOCKADE WHICH PREVAILS IN THE BALKAN REGION SHOULD BE BROKEN. IT WENT ON TO SAY SUPPORT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO INITIATIVES TAKEN BY INDEPENDENT GROUPS -- BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- WHICH AIM TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE INFORMATION.

MANY ANALYSTS SAY GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION IN SERBIA, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE EVEN MORE VALID TODAY. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/PCH
02-Apr-96 2:23 PM EST (1923 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America