Voice of America, 11 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[03] BOSNIAN ELECTIONS BY JENNIFER L. BRANT (WASHINGTON)

[04] SREBRENICA ANNIVERSARY (L ONLY) BY PENELOPE SOUQUET (NEW YORK)

[05] TURKEY/MIDDLE EAST (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

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

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SEVERAL EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS COMMENT ON ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS ALSO CONTINUED EDITORAL DISCUSSION OF THE BOMBING THAT KILLED 19 AMERICAN SERVICE PERSONNEL IN SAUDI ARABIA. NOW, HERE IS __________________ WITH A SAMPLING OF COMMENT IN THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS THAT "DESPITE NUDGING FROM (PRESIDENT) CLINTON, (MR.) NETANYAHU OFFERS NO HINTS OF A POLICY FOR LONG-TERM, REGIONAL PEACE."

VOICE: "MR. NETANYAHU WAS ELECTED, NARROWLY, BY AN ISRAELI PUBLIC FEARFUL THAT THE PEACE PROCESS WAS MOVING TOO QUICKLY. HIS POSTURE IN WASHINGTON OBVIOUSLY REFLECTED THAT OPINION. BUT A POSTURE IS NOT A POLICY. MR. CLINTON IS RIGHT TO REMIND THE ISRAELI LEADER OF HIS NATION'S COMMITMENTS TO CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING THE OSLO ACCORDS. THE U-S HAS A LONG-TERM STAKE IN ENCOURAGING PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MR. NETANYAHU TOLD CONGRESS YESTERDAY THAT HE WANTS 'PEACE FOR ALL TIME'. THEN HE HAS TO SHOW HOW THAT CAN BE REALISTICALLY ACHIEVED."

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD NOTES THAT ONE PART OF MISTER NETANYAHU'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS CONTAINED HIS DECLARED INTENTION TO END -- WHAT HE CALLED -- THE "ERA OF BIG BUSINESS IN ISRAEL."

VOICE: "ECHOING SOME AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES' THINKING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND A FREE MARKET, THE PRIME MINISTER INSISTED THAT ISRAEL WOULD TRY TO ATTAIN ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE BY CUTTING BACK ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND REGULATION. HE NOTED THAT THIS CHANGE IN COURSE ULTIMATELY WOULD ELIMINATE ISRAEL'S NEED FOR AN ANNUAL ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN U-S ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE. THAT MOVE OF COURSE WOULD BENEFIT U-S TAXPAYERS. MR. NETANYAHU'S CALL FOR SMALLER GOVERNMENT WILL GO OVER BETTER IN THE U-S CONGRESS THAN IN ISRAEL, HOWEVER. AND HIS APPARENT REJECTION OF 'LAND FOR PEACE' MAY NOT GO OVER WELL AT ALL WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION -- NOR SHOULD IT -- ESPECIALLY IF IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE PEACE PROCESS'S UNRAVELING AND TO GRAVER MIDDLE EAST TURBULENCE."

TEXT: MR. YETANYAHU TOLD HIS AMERICAN HOSTS THAT HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON WAS, AS HE PUT IT, "WITHOUT A BAG OF GOODIES THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR. WE CAME IN SAYING WE ARE DOING IT ON OUR OWN." THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS THIS TO SAY:

VOICE: "IT IS HARD TO MISS THE IRONY IN THE FACT THAT ISRAEL, A TINY COUNTRY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON SELF-RELIANCE, BECAME THE SINGLE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF U-S FOREIGN AID. PARTLY OWING TO EXPENSIVE DEFENSE NEEDS AND PARTLY TO THE COSTS OF AN INEFFICIENT SOCIALIST ECONOMIC SYSTEM, A PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLOURISHED ECONOMICALLY AROUND THE WORLD DESPITE REPEATED PERSECUTIONS HAVE NOT ACHIEVED SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS A NATION. AS THE WORDS OF NEWLY-ELECTED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ON HIS WASHINGTON VISIT HAVE MADE CLEAR, THAT MAY SOON START TO CHANGE. A CONSENSUS IS FORMING AMONG CONSERVATIVE INTELLECTUALS IN AND AROUND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THAT REDUCED RELIANCE ON U-S FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP IN SECURING ISRAEL'S FUTURE ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC INDEPENDENCE."

TEXT: THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST AMERICANS IN SAUDI ARABIA. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS THAT "DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY CONCEDED THAT U-S OFFICIALS UNDERESTIMATED WHAT TERRORISTS MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN SAUDI ARABIA AND SO WERE ESSENTIALLY UNPREPARED FOR THE ENORMOUS POWER OF THE TRUCK BOMB SET OFF JUNE 25TH AT THE DHAHRAN HOUSING COMPLEX."

VOICE: "(MR.) PERRY CONFIRMED AT THE SENATE HEARING THAT U-S OFFICIALS WILL ASK SAUDI ARABIA TO ALLOW THE RELOCATION OF NEARLY ALL THE FIVE-THOUSAND AMERICAN FORCES IN THE COUNTRY TO MORE REMOTE BASES, WHERE SECURITY AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS CAN BE TIGHTENED... (MR.) PERRY FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT INVESTIGATION OF THE BOMBING NOW SUPPORTS SUSPICIONS OF 'EXTENSIVE SUPPORT' FROM AN 'INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION'. THE SHORT LIST OF SUSPECTS IS PRESUMABLY HEADED BY IRAQ AND IRAN, AND (SECRETARY) PERRY PROMISED THAT ONCE PROOF OF OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT IS NAILED DOWN RETALIATION WOULD FOLLOW. MEANWHILE, AMERICAN FORCES AND SCORES OF U-S FACILITIES IN AND NEAR THE ARABIAN PENINSULA ARE POTENTIAL TARGETS. WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN. TO DELAY ANY FURTHER IN DOING EVERYTHING FEASIBLE TO PROTECT THESE SITES IS INEXCUSABLE."

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL ON THE SAUDI BOMBING, THE WASHINGTON TIMES ASKS: "IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE -- IN A REGION KNOWN FOR ITS EXPERIENCED AND WELL-FINANCED INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS -- THAT THIS CAME AS SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE TO THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT?"

VOICE: "IT IS DISTRESSING TO REALIZE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEEDS TO BE REMINDED THAT AMERICAN SERVICEMEN (AND WOMEN) WHO SERVE IN PLACES LIKE DHAHRAN ARE NEITHER PAWNS IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S REINVENTING-GOVERNMENT SCHEMES, NOR ANTHROPOLOGISTS CHARGED WITH PRESERVING FOREIGN CULTURES, NOR, INDEED, DIPLOMATS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING INTERNATIONAL HARMONY. THEY ARE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY TO PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY -- AND, LET US NOT FORGET, THE SOVEREIGNTY OF NONE OTHER THAN SAUDI ARABIA -- SO THAT THE REST OF US, INCLUDING WILLIAM PERRY, CAN SLEEP SAFELY IN OUR BEDS."

TEXT: THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL TELLS READERS THAT "A SENSE OF SHOCK...IS BEING COMPOUNDED BY CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS" ABOUT THE BOMBING TRAGEDY:

VOICE: "STUNNINGLY, ONE TOP U-S MILITARY OFFICER DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SUCH A LARGE BOMB WOULD BE USED. WHY NOT? EXTREMISTS' ZEAL KNOWS NO LIMITS. ANOTHER SHOCKER WAS THE SAUDI DENIAL OF A U-S MILITARY OFFICER'S REQUEST FOR A WIDER BARRIER AROUND THE BOMBED SITE. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BY HIGHER-LEVEL AMERICAN OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE TERRORISTS HIT ONE OF THE BEST-PROTECTED U-S BASES IN SAUDI ARABIA, THE VULNERABILITY OF THE OTHER SITES MUST HAVE BEEN APPALLING. IT'S ALMOST AS IF U-S MILITARY LEADERS FORGOT WHERE THEY WERE. NOW, AT LEAST, RESPONSIBLE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO DEFEND U-S TROOPS IN SAUDI ARABIA. [OPT THOSE INCLUDE WIDENING BUFFERS, USING BLAST-RESISTANT MATERIAL ON BUILDINGS AND MOVING PEOPLE TO SAFER LOCATIONS. SUCH STEPS MIGHT NOT HAVE PREVENTED LAST MONTH'S HORROR, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN U.S. TROOPS A BETTER CHANCE."

TEXT: [OPT] AN EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S EDITION OF THE WASHINGTON POST, DISCUSSES A WORLD COURT VOTE ON "THE PROPOSITION THAT THE USE OR THREAT OF (NUCLEAR) ARMS GENERALLY RUNS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW, PARTICULARLY HUMANITARIAN LAW."

VOICE: [OPT] "WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR, DETERRENCE HAS NOT BEEN RENDERED IRRELEVANT; IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A NEW DIMENSION. THERE IS NO LONGER A SINGLE OVERWHELMING NUCLEAR MENACE FROM THE SOVIET UNION TO GUARD AGAINST. BUT THERE ARE POSSIBLE LESSER 'ROGUE' STATE MENACES. THE GLOBAL POLITICAL SYSTEM IS RESPONDING TO THESE NEW CONDITIONS WITH PROGRAMS FOR THE FURTHER CONTROL AND REDUCTION OF THE ARSENALS OF NUCLEAR HAVES AND FOR LIMITS ON ACQUISITION OF THESE WEAPONS BY HAVE-NOTS. THE SHAPE AND PACE OF THE RESTRAINTS, AND OF THE WEAPONS PROGRAMS THEMSELVES, ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSION. THIS HAD BEST TAKE PLACE, AND IS TAKING PLACE, IN AVOWEDLY POLITICAL FORUMS. THESE ARE THE PROPER PLACE FOR THE SORT OF ESSENTIALLY POLITICAL ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE HAGUE BY THOSE WHO WANTED TO OUTLAW NUCLEAR ARMS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE WORLD COURT SUPPORTS NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, WHICH IT DOES UNANIMOUSLY. IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS OF COMPETENT GOVERNMENTS WORKING TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL STABILITY AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE NUCLEAR LEVEL." [END OPT]

TEXT: ON TUESDAY,. DONNA SHALALA, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SPOKE AT THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIDS IN VANCOUVER, CANADA. SHE SAID THAT IF THE DISEASE IS TO BE CONQUERED, IT WILL -- IN HER WORDS -- "TAKE LOUD VOICES AND BOLD VISIONS. IT WILL TAKE THE COURAGE OF SCIENTISTS AND ADVOCATES." NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY POSES A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS:

VOICE: "WHY DO SCIENTISTS AND ADVOCATES NEED COURAGE? BRAINS WILL TAKE THEM FURTHER. AND WHY DIDN'T (MS) SHALALA URGE POLITICIANS ONTO THE HIGH GROUND? THAT'S WHERE A LITTLE COURAGE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CASE IN POINT: A FEW HOURS AFTER SHALALA'S TALK, EXPERTS ON DRUG ABUSE DISCUSSED THE LATEST NEEDLE-EXCHANGE DATA. STUDIES CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT U-S NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING NEW H-I-V INFECTIONS AMONG ADDICTS AND DON'T PROMOTE DRUG ABUSE... STILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO COMMIT MONEY TO SUCH PROGRAMS. WHY? OUR GUESS IS THAT SHALALA'S BOSS, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, IS SCARED SILLY ABOUT WHAT THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT WING MIGHT SAY IF HE WERE TO BACK GIVING NEEDLES TO ADDICTS. THIS MAY BE POLITICALLY PRUDENT, BUT COURAGE IT IS NOT."

TEXT: AND ON THAT COMMENT PUBLISHED IN NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/DN/PCH
11-Jul-96 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: WIVES AND MOTHERS OF SOME OF THE MEN WHO DISAPPEARED WHEN BOSNIAN SERB FORCES OVERRAN SREBRENICA GATHERED IN BONN, GERMANY, ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE SO-CALLED U-N SAFE ZONE. V-O-A'S KYLE KING IN BONN REPORTS THE WOMEN ARE STILL DESPERATELY HOPING FOR SOME WORD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONES, .

TEXT: LIKE MANY OF THE DOZEN OR SO WOMEN WHO GATHERED AT A PARK IN BONN, SUHRETA JAKUBOVIC SAW HER HUSBAND FOR THE LAST TIME ONE YEAR AGO WHEN THEY TOOK REFUGE AT A U-N COMPOUND OUTSIDE SREBRENICA.

MRS. JAKUBOVIC ASKS IF THE WORLD HAS SIMPLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN WHO WERE TAKEN AWAY BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

SHE AND OTHER WOMEN WHO GATHERED IN BONN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SREBRENICA, SAY WANT ANSWERS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

THIS WOMAN APPEALS TO ANYONE WHO CAN HELP THEM LOCATE OR FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HUSBANDS, SONS, AND RELATIVES WHO DISAPPEARED IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE EUROPE'S WORST WAR ATROCITY SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

TO PRESS THEIR POINT, THE WOMAN LAID PLACARDS ON THE GRASS OF THE BONN PARK WHERE THEY GATHERED, LISTING THE NAMES OF THOUSANDS OF THE MISSING FROM SREBRENICA.

TILMAN ZULCH, THE HEAD OF A GERMAN BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP THAT HAS BEEN ASSISTING THE REFUGEES SAYS WESTERN GOVERNMENT'S SHOULD TREAT THE CASE OF SREBRENICA DIFFERENTLY.

OUR SUGGESTION IS THAT SREBRENICA AND THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES ARE DECLARED A NEUTRAL ZONE, ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SERBIAN OCCUPIED AREA FOR THE TIME BEING AND LATER IF BOSNIA IS REUNITED AND IS DEMOCRATICALLY RULED THAT THIS NEUTRAL ZONE COULD BE SOLVED.

BUT FOR THE SURVIVORS AND THE RELATIVES OF THE MISSING, THERE IS LITTLE HOPE OF EVER RETURNING. ONE WOMAN SAID SHE IS NOW TRAPPED BY HER FATE AFRAID OF EVER GOING BACK TO THE ONLY PLACE WHERE SHE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A REFUGEE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
11-Jul-96 9:15 AM EDT (1315 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIAN ELECTIONS BY JENNIFER L. BRANT (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ALTHOUGH THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 14, THERE IS GROWING CONCERN IN THE AMERICAN PRESS THAT THEY WILL NOT BE TRULY DEMOCRATIC. IN PARTICULAR, JOURNALISTS ARE FOCUSING ON REPORTED INCREASES IN ETHNIC DIVISIONS, THE UNCLEAR ROLE OF NATO IN THE PEACE PROCESS, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE CONTINUING POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC, NOW SOUGHT UNDER AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT.

THE MAJOR MEDIA IS CALLING FOR THE ARREST AND TRIAL OF THE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER, BUT REMAINS AMBIVALENT ABOUT RISKING AMERICAN LIVES TO DO SO. HERE, WITH MORE ON THE ISSUE, IS ______, WITH THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: ON JULY 8, ROBERT FROWICK, THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE MISSION IN BOSNIA, ANNOUNCED THAT HE PLANNED TO BAN THE 'SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION' PARTY FROM THE VOTE IF MR. KARADZIC REMAINS THE PARTY'S PRESIDENT. MANY PAPERS ARE EXPRESSING HOPE THAT THIS SIGNIFIES A TOUGHER INTERNATIONAL STANCE AGAINST INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. IN AN ARTICLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, HELENA COBBAN WRITES THE FOLLOWING:

VOICE: "THIS [ANNOUNCEMENT] RAISES AN IMPORTANT QUESTION: EXACTLY WHAT ROLE DO NATIONAL ELECTIONS PLAY WHEN...THEY ARE PART OF A BROADER EFFORT AT RESOLVING CONFLICTS OR EFFECTING DEEP-SEATED POLITICAL CHANGE?... IF THE VOTE GOES AHEAD WHILE KARADZIC CONTINUES TO CONTROL ONE OF THE PARTICIPATING PARTIES, THEN WON'T THAT GIVE A VENEER OF INTERNATIONAL 'LEGITIMACY' TO THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ETHNIC DIVISIONS THAT HE HAS ALWAYS SPEARHEADED?... THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD SURELY SUPPORT FORWICK'S FIRM STAND ON THIS ISSUE. IN ADDITION, WE ALL SHOULD REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO... BRING KARADZIC AND OTHER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE."

TEXT: WRITING FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, JONATHAN CLARKE AGREES THAT MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE FAIR, DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. HOWEVER, HE ARGUES THAT THE U-S HAS DONE ITS PART IN RE-ESTABLISHING PEACE IN THE AREA, HOWEVER TENUOUS, AND IT IS NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EUROPEAN NATIONS TO POLICE THE AREA. HE INSISTS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON ADHERE TO THE ESTABLISHED DEADLINE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS:

VOICE: "FOR ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT PREVENTING THE UNNECESSARY WASTE OF AMERICAN LIVES ON FUTILE OVERSEAS ADVENTURES, THE DECEMBER DEADLINE FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM BOSNIA CANNOT COME TOO SOON...IT IS VITAL THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION RESIST SIREN CALLS TO DELAY THE WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS. UNFORTUNATELY, AT RECENT MEETINGS IN EUROPE, BOTH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY OPENED THE DOOR TO A LONGER AMERICAN STAY. THIS WOULD BE A TRAGIC ERROR... [THE UNITED STATES] MUST INSIST THAT EUROPE TAKE ON THE JOB- AND THIS TIME HANDLE THINGS PROPERLY....THE EUROPEANS ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF THIS TASK...[AND] A MAJOR EXTERNAL CHALLENGE IS JUST WHAT EUROPE NEEDS TO CUT SHORT ITS PERENNIAL IDENTITY CRISIS. THE US SHOULD, THERFORE, MAKE AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WITHDRAWAL WILL PROCEED ON SCHEDULE."

TEXT: OTHER WRITERS ARE ALSO REFLECTING THIS UNWILLINGNESS TO EXTEND AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN BOSNIA. RICHARD COHEN, WRITING FOR THE WASHINGTON POST, COMPARES NATO'S INACTION AGAINST RADOVAN KARADZIC WITH PREVIOUS INTERNATIONAL INACTION RGARDING AN INDICTED NAZI WAR CRIMINAL. HE ENCOURAGES THE US TO WORK WITH NATO FORCES TO ARREST KARADZIC AND SHOW THAT WAR CRIMES DO NOT GO UNPUNISHED.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE ELECTION LOOMING, WANTS NO CASUALTIES. NEITHER, OF COURSE, DO I OR OTHERS WHO ADVOCATE ARRESTING WAR CRIMINALS. ...IN THE MEAN TIME, WAR CRIMINALS OF THE LIKES EUROPE HAS NOT SEEN IN A GENERATION OPENLY TAKE THE NOONDAY SUN, AND NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. KARADZIC GOES FROM HIS SKI CHALET TO A TELEVISION STUDIO WITH ABSOLUTE IMPUNITY, SURROUNDED BY LOCAL GUNMEN WHO WOULD BE NO MATCH FOR... ALL OF NATO. MAYBE A SHOW OF FORCE WOULD BE ENOUGH. NATO AND THE UNITED STATES ARE LOSING FACE, [AND] WORSE, ONCE AGAIN THE RULE OF LAW IS BEING FLOUTED."

TEXT: A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DECLARES THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN 'HOODWINKED AGAIN IN BOSNIA'. WRITER GEORGE SOROS COMMENTS ON KARADZIC'S ABILITY TO GET AROUND THE DAYTON ACCORDS, AND CRITICIZES US EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION.

VOICE: "THE DAYTON AGREEMENT COULD HAVE LED TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA, BUT THE WAY IT IS IMPLEMENTED CONFIRMS THE ETHNIC DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY. WHAT IS WORSE, IT WILL LEGITIMIZE THOSE WHO ROSE TO POWER DURING THE FIGHTING...[IN ADDITION], THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE FREEZES THE PRESENT SITUATION AND PREVENTS NORMAL LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT. PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY PROCLAIM THAT THE MISSION OF IFOR HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THIS IS TRUE ONLY IN THE NARROWEST SENSE THAT ACTUAL COMBAT HAS BEEN HALTED, AT LAST TEMPORARILY....THE CIVILIAN PART OF THE MISSION...IS AN UNMITIGATED FAILURE. ...ALLOWING POLITICAL TERRORISM TO GO UNPUNISHED IN BOSNIA WILL ENCOURAGE IT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."

TEXT: A BALTIMORE SUN EDITORIAL ENCOURAGES THE ADMINISTRATION TO REMAIN IN BOSNIA UNTIL THE MISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED, DESPITE THE DECEMBER DEADLINE. HOWEVER, IT QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT THE DAYTON PRECONDITIONS FOR ELECTIONS CAN BE FULFILLED.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PROMISED [THAT THE] 20,000 [AMERICAN] TROOPS WOULD STAY ONLY A YEAR. BUT THEIR WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE IS ALREADY BEING STRETCHED OUT AND OFFICIALS SAY PRIVATELY AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR YEARS TO PREVENT A NEW OUTBREAK OF CIVIL WAR. HOWEVER DUBIOUS THE BOSNIAN INTERVENTION MAY HAVE BEEN AT ITS OUTSET, IT NOW HAS BECOME A TEST OF NATO'S CAPACITY AND US LEADERSHIP THAT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO END IN DISASTER."

TEXT: AN EDITORIAL IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ALSO DECLARES THAT IT IS TIME TO STOP MR. KARADZIC FROM EXERTING POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN BOSNIA. LIKE THE SUN, IT ENCOURAGES THE COMPLETION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS.

VOICE: "RADOVAN KARADZIC, INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL AND POLITICAL LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, IS PLAYING GAMES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE SIGNAL FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE THT THEY WON'T PLAY... IT IS CLEAR...THAT HIS RESIGNATION IS A DEPARTURE FROM OFFICE IN NAME ONLY...SO LONG AS [HE] REMAINS IN POWER, ANY HOPE OF FREE ELECTIONS, A FREE PRESS OR THE RISE OF A MORE MODERATE OPPOSITION PARTY IN SERB-CONTROLLED AREAS OF BOSNIA IS VAIN. THE ELECTION SEPT 14 WILL NOT BE DEMOCRATIC IN ANY GENUINE SENSE. THE USE OF NATO FORCES TO ATTEMPT THE ARREST OF KARADZIC RISKS BLOODSHED OR EVEN THE RESUMPTION OF THE WAR...ULTIMATELY [THIS RISK] MAY BE NECESSARY. OTHERWISE, THE DAYTON ACCORDS WILL PROVE HOLLOW, BOSNIA WILL BE PARTITIONED ALONG EXISTING LINES AND THE SERBS WILL BE PERMANENTLY REWARDED FOR THEIR AGGRESSION AND GENOCIDE."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF AMERICAN MEDIA REACTION TO THE UPCOMING BOSNIAN ELECTIONS.
11-Jul-96 12:48 PM EDT (1648 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] SREBRENICA ANNIVERSARY (L ONLY) BY PENELOPE SOUQUET (NEW YORK)

INTRO: WEDNESDAY MARKED THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE BOSNIAN CITY OF SREBRENICA TO BOSNIAN SERBS, WHO ARE ACCUSED OF KILLING THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN. PENELOPE SOUQUET (SOO-KAY) REPORTS SEVERAL ADVOCACY GROUPS HELD A RALLY IN NEW YORK LATE WEDNESDAY TO REMEMBER THE FALL OF THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE.

TEXT: THE RALLY IN NEW YORK OBSERVED THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF WHAT EYEWITNESSES CALLED A MASSACRE THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN DEAD. THE SERBS SAY THE MUSLIMS DIED IN COMBAT.

SURVIVORS ALSO SAID MUSLIM WOMEN AND GIRLS WERE RAPED IN FRONT OF THEIR FAMILIES BY BOSNIAN-SERB FORCES.

ADVOCATES AT THE RALLY CALLED FOR THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLING TO BE ARRESTED AND TRIED AT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE ... KARADZIC, MLADIC TO THE HAGUE ...

A LAWYER AND MEMBER OF A GROUP CALLED THE COALITION FOR INTERVENTION AGAINST GENOCIDE, BOB SILK, BLAMED THE KILLINGS IN SREBRENICA ON THE BOSNIAN-SERB FORCES.

THE SERB FORCES UNDER GENERAL MLADIC AND LED BY THE POLITICAL LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC INVADED SREBRENICA, DESTROYED ITS CITY, CAPTURED THE MEN AND THE BOYS, SENT THE WOMEN SCURRYING, RAPED THOSE THAT THEY COULD FIND, KILLED EVERYBODY THAT THEY COULD. THEY TOOK THEM AROUND THE VARIOUS BURYING FIELDS IN THE COUNTRY AND IT WAS ALL DONE UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS KARADZIC AND MLADIC.

SOME PEOPLE ATTENDING THE NEW YORK RALLY WERE BOSNIAN REFUGEES, OTHERS WERE MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONS DETERMINED TO HELP BRING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS TO TRIAL, AND STILL OTHERS WERE SIMPLY PASSERS-BY. ONE WOMAN SAID AS A JEWISH PERSON, SHE COULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED.

I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM JEWISH, AND BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN SREBRENICA, WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT BOSNIA WAS GENOCIDE, AND AS JEWS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST GENOCIDE. AND I FEEL THAT JUST AS THEY DID DURING WORLD WAR TWO, PEOPLE CHOSE TO LOOK AWAY AND NOT DO ANYTHING AND WE CAN NOT DO THAT IN THE FACE OF GENOCIDE.

AFTER A FEW SPEECHES, A SONG ABOUT SREBRENICA WAS PLAYED TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE VICTIMS.

THE RALLY WAS ORGANIZED BY SEVERAL GROUPS INCLUDING THE COALITION FOR INTERVENTION AGAINST GENOCIDE, JEWS AGAINST GENOCIDE, WOMEN IN ISLAM, AND EQUALITY NOW. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/PS/LSF/RAE
11-Jul-96 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/MIDDLE EAST (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK HAS ADOPTED A MORE CONCILIATORY TONE OVER A MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL. MR. MUBARAK MADE HIS COMMENTS DURING A ONE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO TURKEY. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL, MR. MUBARAK SAID HE NOW UNDERSTOOD THE AGREEMENT WAS PURELY EDUCATIONAL AND DID NOT CONSTITUTE A MILITARY PACT AIMED AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL LAST FEBRUARY HAD PROVOKED A STORM OF PROTEST FROM THE ARAB WORLD. THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ISRAELI AIR FORCE PILOTS TO TRAIN OVER TURKEY.

SYRIA HAS VOICED THE STRONGEST OPPOSITION TO THE DEAL. IT HAS CALLED ON TURKEY TO CANCEL THE AGREEMENT ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT CONSTITUTES A DIRECT THREAT TO ITS SECURITY.

ANALYSTS SAY THE ELEVATION OF PRO-ISLAMIC "WELFARE PARTY" LEADER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN AS TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER HAS RAISED HOPES IN THE ARAB WORLD ANKARA WILL ADOPT A MORE PRO-ARAB STAND. SYRIA, IN PARTICULAR, IS HOPEFUL TURKEY'S NEW GOVERNMENT WILL AGREE TO ALLOCATE A FIXED SHARE OF WATER FROM THE EUPHRATES' RIVER, ON WHICH SYRIAN AGRICULTURE HEAVILY DEPENDS.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY THERE ARE FEW SIGNS TURKEY WILL SHIFT FROM ITS PRO-SECULAR AND PRO-WESTERN POLICIES UNDER MR. ERBAKAN. THEY DESCRIBE THE ISLAMIST LEADER AS A SHREWD PRAGMATIST WHO IS NOT LIKELY TO JEOPARDIZE HIS CHANCES OF REMAINING IN POWER BY ANTAGONIZING TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR ELITE AND ITS WESTERN ALLIES.

THEY ADD FORMER PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S PRESENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT AS BOTH A JUNIOR COALITION PARTNER AND THE COUNTRY'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER MAY HAVE A MODERATING INFLUENCE ON THE ISLAMISTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
11-Jul-96 11:45 AM EDT (1545 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: JUDGES AT THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAVE ISSUED INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. JUDGE CLAUDE JORDA ALSO ASKED THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA BE REPORTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL FOR ITS FAILURE TO ARREST THE TWO MEN. FROM THE HAGUE IN THE NETHERLANDS, GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS.

TEXT: JUDGE CLAUDE JORDA TOLD THE COURT INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAD A MISSION TO PURSUE THE TRUTH. AFTER REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE AGAINST RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS, HE SAID THE TWO MEN WERE THE UN-CHALLENGED POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

THE JUDGE SAID HE WAS SATISFIED THEY HAD ENDORSED AND PARTICIPATED IN A WIDESPREAD POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. HE ALSO INVITED PROSECUTORS TO LAY ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TWO AND INVESTIGATE WHO AT HIGHER LEVELS WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING DECISIONS. THE JUDGE DID NOT SAY IT, BUT THAT COULD ONLY MEAN THE AUTHORITIES IN BELGRADE.

JUDGE JORDA DETAILED EVIDENCE OF THE DELIBERATE TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO AND THE ALLEGED MASS KILLING OF MUSLIM MEN AFTER THE FALL OF SREBRENICA -- ACTS HE DESCRIBED AS BEING OF EXCEPTIONAL CRUELTY. HIS WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

THE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY TENDERED ALL CONCUR IN DEMONSTRATING THAT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC WERE NOT ONLY INFORMED OF THE CRIMES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY, BUT ALSO, AND IN PARTICULAR, THAT THEY EXERCISED POWER IN ORDER TO PLAN, INSTIGATE, ORDER, OR OTHERWISE AIDE AND ABET IN THE PLANNING, PREPARATION OR EXECUTION OF THE SAID CRIMES.

WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC ALREADY EXIST. THEY ARE HELD BY THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA. THESE INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS WILL ALSO BE SENT TO INTERPOL, ALL U-N STATES, AND IF NECESSARY A FURTHER COPY WILL BE SENT TO THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE. THE IDEA IS TO PUT THE ACCUSED IN A KIND OF OPEN PRISON SO THEY CANNOT MOVE OR OPERATE BEYOND A SMALL AREA.

REPUBLICA SRBSKA HAS NOT HONORED ITS OBLIGATIONS TO THE TRIBUNAL, WHICH ALSO IMPLIES THE FAILURE OF THE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. IN LIGHT OF ALL THE ABOVE, THE TRIAL CHAMBER CONSIDERS THAT THE FAILURE TO EXECUTE THE WARRANTS OF ARREST ISSUED AGAINST RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC MAY BE ASCRIBED TO THE REPUBLICA SRBSKA AND TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA TO COOPERATE WITH THE TRIBUNAL.

JUDGE JORDA ASKED BOTH STATES BE REPORTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. HE MADE NO WIDER COMMENTS, ALTHOUGH OF LATE, TRIBUNAL OFFICIALS HAVE SHARPENED THEIR CRITICISM OF PEACEKEEPERS' FAILURE TO ARREST THE TWO. HAVING ISSUED INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS, THE TRIBUNAL MUST NOW RELY ON OTHERS TO EXECUTE THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF/RAE
11-Jul-96 2:57 PM EDT (1857 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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