Voice of America, 29 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BASQUE TERRORIST CAPTURED

[03] BOSNIA SERBS (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[04] BOSNIA/MOSTAR (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[05] BOSNIAN ELECTION RULES BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[06] GYMNASTICS / S BY PARKE BREWER (ATLANTA)

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

INTRO: THE TERRORIST BOMBING SATURDAY AT THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC UNDER DISCUSSION IN MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY. OTHER TOPICS IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS INCLUDE: THE MOVES TOWARD PEACE OF THE NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT; THE POLITICAL FATE OF BOSNIA'S RADOVAN KARADZIC; INDIA'S DERAILING OF THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY; AND U-S INVOLVEMENT IN THE LATIN AMERICAN ARMS RACE. NOW, HERE WITH A QUOTE OR TWO AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE TALKS ABOUT THE COMMON AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY, NOW BEGINNING TO CHANGE, THAT TERRORISM DOES NOT HAPPEN HERE.

VOICE: "AMERICANS ARE SO UNUSED TO THE PRESENCE OF TERRORISM THAT SOME ATLANTA CONCERTGOERS ASSUMED THE SOUNDS OF SATURDAY'S EXPLOSION WERE PART OF THE SHOW. THE POSSIBILITY OF A BOMB JUST WASN'T IN THEIR COLLECTIVE KEN [THINKING], DESPITE SPECULATION ABOUT TWA FLIGHT 800, DESPITE THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND OKLAHOMA CITY. THIS IS A BIG COUNTRY; FOR MOST, 'IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME' HAS BEEN A SAFE ASSUMPTION - - AND LIKELY WILL REMAIN ONE."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL SAYS THE NATION SHOULD NOT "YIELD TO TERRORISM," ADDING:

VOICE: "PEOPLE MUST GO ON WITH THEIR LIVES, MOURNING THOSE WHO ARE LOST BUT CLINGING STEADFASTLY TO FREEDOM. YIELDING TO TERROR GIVES TERROR ITS REWARD - - END ENSURES THAT MORE WILL FOLLOW. ..... FOR IT IS FREEDOM, ULTIMATELY, THAT TERRORISM WOULD STEAL."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] THE BALTIMORE SUN SAYS THAT WHILE IT IS EASIER FOR TERRORISTS TO MAKE THEIR LETHAL DEVICES, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK AS BEST IT CAN.

VOICE: "BECAUSE THE MEANS FOR INFLICTING APPALLING DAMAGE ARE SO EASILY AVAILABLE TO SOPHISTICATED GUERRILLAS AS WELL AS LONE LOONIES [CRAZY PEOPLE], IT IS FECKLESS TO ASSUME A MAGIC METHOD CAN [BE] FOUND TO STOP TERRORISM. BUT THAT IN NO WAY SHOULD INHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM FIGHTING BACK IN WAYS THAT STILL PROTECT AMERICAN FREEDOMS." [END OPT]

TEXT: USA TODAY, THE NATIONAL WEEKDAY PAPER, WONDERS "HOW MUCH [TERRORISM] CAN WE PREVENT?, GOING ON TO SUGGEST THAT TOTALLY PREVENTING TERRORIST ATTACKS IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

VOICE: "IN ATLANTA, 30-THOUSAND [POLICE] OFFICERS, A WEB OF HIGH-TECH SECURITY SYSTEMS AND A 227-MILLION BUDGET COULDN'T STOP THE CRUDE BOMBING IN A PUBLIC OLYMPIC PARK. NOR, IN A MORE GLARING EXAMPLE OF THE SYSTEM'S FLAWS, DID IT PREVENT A MAN WITH A LOADED GUN FROM ENTERING THE OPENING CEREMONIES. IN ATLANTA, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE SHEER BULK OF THE SECURITY APPARATUS. ..... THE SYSTEM WORKED WELL TO CATCH THE GUNMAN AND TO MINIMIZE THE BOMB'S HARD, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK PERFECTLY. PERHAPS IT COULDN'T. ..... IN A FREE SOCIETY, YOU CANNOT ANTICIPATE THE ACTIONS OF EVERY LUNATIC."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS ASSESSING ISRAELI NEW PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S "CAUTIOUS DIPLOMACY," AS THE PAPER CALLS IT, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: "[OPT] ..... MR. NETANYAHU HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT HIS CAUTION DOES NOT AMOUNT TO A FREEZING OF MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL'S ARAB NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIANS. MODERATE ARAB LEADERS WHO GAMBLED THEIR OWN POLITICAL FIGURES ON CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE HAVE RESPONDED WITH PALPABLE RELIEF. [END OPT] .... HAVING CALMED ARAB FEARS THAT THE PEACE PROGRESS WOULD BE ABRUPTLY DROPPED, MR. NETANYAHU WILL NOW TRY TO TAME AN UNRULY COALITION AND AVOID AN ECONOMIC SLUMP. BUT BY THE YEAR'S END AT THE LATEST, HE WILL NEED TO RESUME THE ACTIVE SEARCH FOR PEACE."

TEXT: TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL TAKES A PESSIMISTIC VIEW OF THE RECENTLY BROKERED DEAL BY FORMER SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THAT SUPPOSEDLY REMOVES BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC FROM POWER. THE JOURNAL WRITES:

VOICE: "DESPITE THE CONTRACT, MR. KARADZIC WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT FROM HIS HIDEAWAY IN THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OF PALE AS SURE AS A MAFIA DON CONTROLS HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FROM HIS PRISON CELL. THE ONLY WAY TO HONESTLY DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IS TO ENFORCE INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ARREST THE CRIMINAL."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] INDIA COMES IN FOR SOME CRITICISM FROM THE WASHINGTON POST FOR ITS REFUSAL TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY, CURRENTLY IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DRAFTING. ACCORDING TO THE POST:

VOICE: "THE STICKING POINT IS INDIA'S RESISTANCE TO A NOW-AGREED TREATY COMPLETING THE BAN BY EXTENDING IT TO UNDERGROUND TESTS. INDIA SAYS IT WON'T TAKE THE PLEDGE UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD IS DISARMED. THIS HAS POSED FOR OTHERS A CHOICE BETWEEN MOVING TO PUT THE TREATY INTO EFFECT WITHOUT DELHI, OR WAITING FOR DELHI. ....... THE IDEA OF PLAYING THE INTERNATIONAL GADFLY AND ENGAGING IN NUCLEAR POLITICS SEEMS TRITE,IRRELEVANT AND DANGEROUS."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] IN FLORIDA, TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD IS UPSET WITH WASHINGTON, AND SPECIFICALLY DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, FOR MOVING TO END A BAN ON THE SALE OF SOPHISTICATED U-S WEAPONS TO LATIN AMERICA BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO MR. PERRY, DEMOCRACY HAS SPREAD EVERYWHERE BUT CUBA.

VOICE: "MR. PERRY'S FLAWED ARGUMENTS SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ARE NOT EMBROILED IN DISPUTES THAT CAN LEAD TO ARMED CONFLICT. IT ASSUMES THAT FLEDGLING DEMOCRACIES IN COUNTRIES STRUGGLING TO IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS UNDER AUSTERITY CONDITIONS ARE IN A POSITION TO BUY EXPENSIVE U-S (OR OTHER) WEAPONS. IT ASSUMES ALSO THAT LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIAN GOVERNMENTS EXERT EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER THEIR ARMED FORCES. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
29-Jul-96 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BASQUE TERRORIST CAPTURED

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

THIS MONTH FRENCH POLICE TOOK INTO CUSTODY ONE OF THE TOP LEADERS OF THE BASQUE FATHERLAND AND LIBERTY TERRORIST GROUP, OR E-T-A. JULIAN ACHURRA EGURROLA, THE E-T-A'S CHIEF OF WEAPONS AND LOGISTICS, WAS ARRESTED JULY 23RD AT A FARMHOUSE NEAR LASSEUBE, IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. FOUR OTHERS CONNECTED WITH THE TERRORIST GROUP WERE ALSO ARRESTED.

AT THE TERRORISTS' HIDEOUT, FRENCH POLICE FOUND ARMS, AMMUNITION, EXPLOSIVES, DETONATORS, AND FALSE DOCUMENTS. SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, JOSE MARIA AZNAR, PRAISED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FOR ITS COOPERATION WITH SPANISH AUTHORITIES. "IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM," HE SAID.

THE ARREST CAME LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER AN E-T-A BOMB WOUNDED THIRTY-FIVE PEOPLE, MOSTLY BRITISH TOURISTS, AT REUS AIRPORT NEAR BARCELONA. FOUNDED IN 1959, THE E-T-A IS A MARXIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WITH THE AVOWED AIM OF CREATING AN INDEPENDENT BASQUE HOMELAND IN NORTHERN SPAIN. SINCE 1968, IT HAS TAKEN THE LIVES OF MORE THAN SEVEN-HUNDRED MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. IN 1995, SPANISH AND FRENCH AUTHORITIES FOILED AN E-T-A PLOT TO MURDER THE SPANISH KING, JUAN CARLOS. BECAUSE OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S COOPERATION WITH SPAIN'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS, THE E-T-A ALSO TARGETS FRENCH INTERESTS.

THE E-T-A FINANCES ITS ACTIVITIES THROUGH ROBBERIES, KIDNAPPINGS, AND EXTORTION. IT HAS RECEIVED EXTERNAL AID AT VARIOUS TIMES FROM LIBYA, LEBANON, AND NICARAGUA. THE E-T-A ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE CLOSE TIES TO THE PROVISIONAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TERRORIST GROUP.

THE U.S. HAS LONG HAD A POLICY OF COOPERATION WITH OTHER NATIONS THREATENED BY INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THE ARREST THIS MONTH OF ONE OF THE MOST WANTED E-T-A TERRORISTS IS FURTHER PROOF THAT WHEN NATIONS WORK TOGETHER, THEY CAN BRING TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
29-Jul-96 3:19 PM EDT (1919 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SERBS (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC HAS ARRIVED IN THE HAGUE FOR TALKS AT THE U-N'S WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE DELEGATION, HEADED BY THE JUSTICE MINISTER MARKO ARSOVIC IS THE FIRST FROM REPUBLIKA SRBSKA TO VISIT THE TRIBUNAL. FROM THE HAGUE GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS.

TEXT: THIS VISIT IS A CONSIDERABLE COUP FOR THE TRIBUNAL, WHICH HAS IN THE PAST COMPLAINED ABOUT A COMPLETE LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THE PALE AUTHORITIES. BUT WHILE THE VERY FACT OF THE MEETING IS IMPORTANT, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT IT WILL NOT BE AN EASY ONE. BOSNIAN SERB JUSTICE MINISTER MARKO ARSOVIC HAD THIS TO SAY ON HIS ARRIVAL

THERE IS NO OFFICIAL WORD ON WHETHER THE FATE OF RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC WILL BE DISCUSSED, ALTHOUGH TRIBUNAL OFFICIALS ARE ALMOST CERTAIN TO BRING THE ISSUE UP. BOTH MEN HAVE BEEN INDICTED TWICE ON GENOCIDE CHARGES. MR. ARSOVIC SAYS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO EXTRADITE EITHER MAN TO THE HAGUE TO STAND TRIAL -- PARTLY, HE SAYS, BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION OF REPUBLIKA SRBSKA DOES NOT ALLOW IT AND PARTLY, HE SAYS, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SIMPLY WOULD NOT STAND FOR IT.

THE TRIBUNAL WILL NOT HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO HEAR MR. ARSOVIC REFER TO MR. KARADZIC AS "PRESIDENT," A POST HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE RESIGNED EARLIER THIS MONTH. MR. ARSOVIC IS ACCOMPANIED BY BELGRADE-BASED LAWYERL, IGOR PANTELIC. MR. PANTELIC BRIEFLY REPRESENTED RADOVAN KARADZIC AT PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM, HELD LAST MONTH. MR. PANTELIC RESIGNED AFTER HE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE TRIBUNAL'S COURTROOM. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF /MMK
29-Jul-96 8:50 AM EDT (1250 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA/MOSTAR (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY WILL NOT TOLERATE A CROAT BOYCOTT OF ELECTION RESULTS IN THE SOUTHERN BOSNIAN CITY OF MOSTAR. CROATS LOST THE ELECTION TO MUSLIM PARTIES AND REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY OF THE NEW MOSTAR CITY COUNCIL. BUT AS DAVID FOLEY REPORTS, INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS HAVE THREATENED TO USE UNITED NATIONS POLICE, BACKED BY NATO TROOPS, TO ENFORCE THE ELECTION RESULT.

TEXT: THE CROATS ARE CONTINUING TO IGNORE THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH EUROPEAN ELECTION ORGANIZERS HAVE DISMISSED CROAT CLAIMS OF VOTING IRREGULARITIES. THE CROATS REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE JOINT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL FOR MOSTAR WHICH IS BITTERLY DIVIDED BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS.

THE DEPUTY TO THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA SAYS A CROAT "MAFIA" (ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP) CONTROLS WEST MOSTAR, AND HE'S WARNING THAT NATO TROOPS, BACKING UNARMED U-N POLICE, WILL ENFORCE THE NEW CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY, IF NECESSARY. OFFICIALS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH HAS SPENT MILLIONS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE ETHNIC RECONCILIATION IN MOSTAR, SAY THEY WILL LEAVE IF THE CROATS DO NOT END THE BOYCOTT BY AN AUGUST FOURTH DEADLINE.

THE CROAT BOYCOTT COULD FORESHADOW PROBLEMS WITH NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA THIS SEPTEMBER. OFFICIALS SAY THE CROAT BOYCOTT COULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR ANY LOSING PARTY TO IGNORE ELECTION RESULTS. JOANNA VAN VLIET, THE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E, WHICH IS ORGANIZING SEPTEMBER'S ELECTION, SAYS IT IS A "VERY SERIOUS" PROBLEM.

THE ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR ARE VALID. (AND THAT) THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS.

THE UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS NEIGHBORING CROATIA MUST CONVINCE THE BOSNIAN CROAT HARD-LINERS TO END THE BOYCOTT.

MUCH MORE COULD BE DONE BY CROATIA ITSELF, WHICH IS A SIGNATORY TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. WE THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION IN WEST MOSTAR.

THE INCREASED TENSIONS HAVE LED TO RENEWED VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL BOSNIA. A NUMBER OF MUSLIM HOMES IN CROAT AREAS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY EXPLOSIONS, AND A SERIES OF TIT-FOR-TAT ARSON ATTACKS AGAINST MOSQUES AND CHURCHES HAVE OCCURRED. IN THE LATEST INCIDENTS, A BOMB EXPLODED ON SUNDAY OUTSIDE A MUSLIM'S HOUSE BEING USED BY THE U-N POLICE, AND A CAR BELONGING TO A MUSLIM AID AGENCY WAS ALSO BLOWN UP.

MR. IVANKO SAYS THIS COULD BECOME A VERY DESTABILIZING PATTERN.

THESE ARE VERY WORRYING DEVELOPMENTS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE MONITORING THE SITUATION IN CENTRAL BOSNIA.

SENIOR OFFICIALS SAY A SOLUTION MUST BE FOUND, BECAUSE ETHNIC PARTITION, THEY SAY, WILL QUICKLY LEAD TO ANOTHER WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/PCF/MMK
29-Jul-96 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIAN ELECTION RULES BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- OR OSCE -- HAS ISSUED THE OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 14 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE OSCE'S RULES HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY DRAWN UP TO MKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR BOSNIANS TO VOTE NO MATTER WHERE THEY HAPPEN TO BE LIVING ON ELECTION DAY. IN OTHER WORDS, VOTERS MAY VOTE IN THEIR PLACE OF ORIGIN, NO MATTER WHAT ITS CURRENT ETHNIC MAKEUP -- AN ACT ELECTION OBSERVERS HOPE MAY IN AND OF ITSELF RESTORE MULTI-ETHNICITY -- OR THEY CAN OPT TO VOTE IN A NEW ETHNICALLY PURE AREA, THUS SATISFYING THE SEPARATIST CONCERNS. ACCORDING TO RULE NUMBER ONE, THOSE PLANNING TO VOTE HAVE UNTIL MONDAY, AUGUST 5TH TO REGISTER AND VERIFY THAT THEIR NAME APPEARS CORRECTLY ON THE VOTER LIST. THAT LIST IS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN MUNICIPALITIES IN THE FEDERATION AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AS WELL AS IN VOTING PLACES OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WHERE REFUGEES ARE LIVING.

FIRST, IF THEY CHANGED THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE BETWEEN THE 1991 CENSUS AND APRIL 6, 1992. IN THIS CASE, THEY MAY CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THEY LIVED AS OF APRIL 6, 1992 -- AGAIN -- EITHER IN PERSON OR BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.

SECONDLY, IT SAYS THAT CITIZENS WHO CHANGED THEIR RESIDENCE AFTER APRIL 6, 1992 EITHER BY FORCE OF WAR OR VOLUNTARILY, MAY REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THEY NOW LIVE. IN THIS CASE THEY MUST VOTE IN PERSON AND NOT BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.

AND THIRD -- REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS WHO DO NOT WISH TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT ACCORDED TO THEM UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, TO "FREELY RETURN TO THEIR HOMES OF ORIGIN", MAY REGISTER TO VOTE IN ANY MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THEY INTEND TO LIVE IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, IN THIS CASE, THEY MUST VOTE IN PERSON AND NOT BY ABSENTEE BALLOT. PT: WELL THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF BOTH THOSE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND THOSE WHO DO NOT DO NOT, DON'T YOU THINK?

NOW, RULE NUMBER FOUR MAKES AN IMPORTANT POINT. IT SAYS THAT THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY A REFUGEE WILL BE INTERPRETED AS CONFIRMATION OF A PERSON'S INTENTION TO RETURN. WHEREVER POSSIBLE REFUGEES WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN AND VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY WITHOUT LOSING THEIR STATUS AS REFUGEES ELSEWHERE AND WITHOUT OBLIGING THEM TO REMAIN IN BOSNIA. IN OTHER WORDS, EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ALLOW REGUGEES TO RETURN SIMPLY TO VOTE IN PERSON WITHOUT FORCING THEM TO STAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THEY CAST THEIR VOTE BEFORE IT IS CONSIDERED SAFE TO DO SO.

IVICA, TELL US ABOUT NUMBER FIVE - THE RULE WHICH APPLIES TO THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION BOSNIAN REFUGEES LIVING OVERSEAS. HOW THEY VOTE MAY BE CRITICAL. IP: YES, THAT'S TRUE. WELL, NUMBER FIVE SAYS THAT REFUGEES NOW LIVING OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA MAY VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY SOUGHT REFUGE. THE DEADLINES FOR VOTING ARE DIFFERENT IN EACH COUNTRY.

I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING: IT SAYS THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE COUNTRY OF REFUGE, BUT RATHER RETURNED TO BOSNIA WHERE THEY WILL BE MIXED WITH THE BALLOTS THAT ARE CAST LOCALLY. THE DOCUMENT SAYS THIS IS SO THAT HOW SOMEONE VOTES CANNOT BE DETERMINED BY HIS OR HER FOREIGN LOCATION. HOST: VOA'S PAMELA TAYLOR SAYS THE FINAL RULE STIPULATES THAT ANY CITIZEN NOT LISTED IN THE 1991 CANSUS MAY STILL VOTE AS LONG AS HE OR SHE APPLIES TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION BY AUGUST 5TH. IN THIS REPORT MS. TAYLOR WENT OVER THE VOTING RULES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 14 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WITH IVICA PULJIC OF THE BOSNIA SHOW AND DRAGANA MILIC OF THE SERBIAN SERVICE.
NEB/PAM/NES
29-Jul-96 2:53 PM EDT (1853 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] GYMNASTICS / S BY PARKE BREWER (ATLANTA)

INTRO: THE FIRST APPARATUS FINALS IN GYMNASTICS WERE HELD SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS. V-O-A SPORTS EDITOR PARKE BREWER REPORTS THERE WAS A SURPRISE WINNER IN THE MEN'S FLOOR EXERCISES.

TEXT: IOANNIS MELISSANIDIS OF GREECE GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS LIFE, TO CLAIM A STARTLING VICTORY IN THE MEN'S FLOOR EXERCISES. IT WAS THE FIRST OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS GOLD FOR GREECE IN 100 YEARS.

THE SLIGHTLY-BUILT GYMNAST SAYS HE IMAGINED HIMSELF IN ATHENS INSTEAD OF THE UNITED STATES. ATHENS HAD HOPED TO STAGE THESE CENTENNIAL GAMES, BUT LOST OUT TO ATLANTA. MELISSANIDIS TUMBLED BRILLIANTLY, PERFORMING DIFFICULT COMBINATIONS WITH ORIGINALITY AND DREW GASPS FROM THE AUDIENCE WITH HIS SUDDEN CHANGE OF DIRECTION ON THE FLOOR MAT.

HIS SCORE WAS NINE-POINT-EIGHT-FIVE-ZERO, HIS HIGHEST IN ANY MAJOR COMPETITION. ALL-AROUND CHAMPION LI XIAOSHUANG OF CHINA WON THE SILVER MEDAL AHEAD OF RUSSIAN ALEXEI NEMOV.

IN A DECISION THAT BROUGHT SOME JEERS FROM THE CROWD, RUSSIAN SVETLANA CHORKINA WON THE WOMEN'S UNEVEN BARS OVER CHINA'S BI WENJING AND AMERICAN AMY CHOW, WHO TIED FOR THE SILVER. BI WAS THE FINAL PERFORMER AND EXECUTED THREE VERY DIFFICULT MOVES AND HAD A CLEAN LANDING. IT WAS APPARENT THAT MANY BELIEVED SHE EARNED THE GOLD. // OPT // NO BRONZE MEDAL WAS AWARDED. // END OPT //

ROMANIAN SIMONA AMANAR WON GOLD IN THE WOMEN'S VAULT.

ON THE MEN'S POMMEL HORSE, LI DONGHUA OF SWITZERLAND WON THE GOLD AND THE MEN'S RINGS CHAMPION IS ITALIAN YURI CHECHI.

THE POMMEL HORSE SILVER MEDALIST WAS ROMANIAN MARIUS URZICA, AND RUSSIAN ALEXEI NEMOV WON THE BRONZE. THE RINGS SILVER MEDALIST WAS HUNGARIAN SZILVESZTER CSOLLANY, WITH DAN BURINCA OR ROMANIA GETTING BRONZE. NEB / SPTS / PARKE / WOD
29-Jul-96 2:19 AM EDT (0619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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