Voice of America, 96-08-02

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BLINKEN ON NATO EXPANSION

[03] BOSNIA / ELECTIONS (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIAN PHOTO PROJECT (L-ONLY) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

[05] HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[06] MILITARY OUTLOOK IN BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

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

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

INTRO: REACTION TO WELFARE REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE SUBJECT OF MUCH COMMENT IN TODAY'S AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT'S IN BURUNDI, AND THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON OF PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN OF CROATIA. NOW, HERE WITH A SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________ WITH FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION THIS WEEK TO REFORM THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE BILL SETS A LIFETIME LIMIT OF FIVE YEARS OF WELFARE PER FAMILY. AND, IT REQUIRES "AN ABLE-BODIED ADULT TO WORK AFTER TWO YEARS." ALSO, STATES "WILL BE GIVEN BLOCK GRANTS TO RUN WELFARE PROGRAMS AND TO SET MANY OF THE RULES AS WELL." THE NEW YORK POST HEADLINES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL: "WELFARE'S END AS WE KNOW IT."

VOICE: "IT WON'T SURPRISE READERS TO LEARN THAT WE SUPPORT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO SIGN THE WELFARE REFORM BILL. INDEED, WE WOULD HAVE LIKED IT IF THE PRESIDENT HAD SIGNED EARLIER BILLS HE CHOSE TO VETO. BUT WE CONGRATULATE BILL CLINTON ON HIS DETERMINATION TO STARE DOWN THE FOES OF WELFARE REFORM BOTH IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WITHIN HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION. IT'S CLEAR THE PRESIDENT DECIDED FINALLY THAT HE NO LONGER WANTED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAD COME... CRITICS WHO CLAIM THAT THE PRESIDENT IS ANIMATED BY POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY MISS THE POINT. EFFECTIVE POLITICIANS ARE ALWAYS ATTUNED TO POPULAR SENTIMENT. IN FACT, THE GROWING NATIONAL IMPATIENCE WITH THE EXISTING SYSTEM CREATED THE CLIMATE THAT FACILITATED THIS MEASURE."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SEES WELFARE REFORM A BIT DIFFERENTLY. THE NEWSPAPER OFFERS THE VIEW THAT WHILE "EVERYBODY AGREES THAT WELFARE SHOULD BE A SECOND CHANCE, NOT A WAY OF LIFE," THE CONCEPT OF SHIFTING PEOPLE FROM WELFARE TO WORK IS "UNDERFUNDED BY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS."

VOICE: "HOW WILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WELFARE RECIPIENTS, MOST WITH LOW SKILLS, FIND JOBS? ONLY BY GOVERNMENT SERVING AS THE EMPLOYER OF LAST RESORT... BUT BOTH SIDES OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE ARE PRETENDING OTHERWISE. ANOTHER FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IN THE PLAN IS ITS BELT-TIGHTENING ON FOOD STAMPS. IT CUTS PROJECTED SPENDING ON FOOD STAMPS BY MORE THAN FOUR-BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. EARTH TO CONGRESS: NEXT TIME YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WRETCHED EXCESS, TRY THE DEFENSE BUDGET."

TEXT: AND, A.M. ROSENTHAL, IN HIS "ON MY MIND" COLUMN IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, HAS THIS THOUGHT ON THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM ON A PORTION OF YOUNGER AMERICANS.

VOICE: "FOR THE CHILDREN OF AMERICA'S POOREST AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM, THE WELFARE BILL OF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT IS A SHAME AND SORROW. BUT FOR MR. CLINTON AND MR. DOLE IT IS A POLITICAL COP-OUT THAT BRINGS APPLAUSE AT ONCE AND PENALTY NEVER -- THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF POLITICAL CYNICISM."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR USES ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TO DISCUSS THE FACT THAT SINCE 1993, "FIGHTING BETWEEN BURUNDI'S HUTU MAJORITY AND TUTSI ELITE HAS KILLED MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND PEOPLE." THE MONITOR SETS ITS COMMENTS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF LAST WEEK'S COUP, WHEN THE TUTSI-LED ARMY OVERTHREW THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT AND INSTALLED ITS OWN LEADER, MAJ. PIERRE BUYOYA."

VOICE: "WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE RIGHTLY CONDEMNED THE COUP, AND AFRICAN REGIONAL LEADERS, WHO MET WEDNESDAY, RESOLVED TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THE NEW REGIME. [OPT] IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW EFFECTIVE SANCTIONS WOULD BE IN STOPPING THE MOST IMMEDIATE THREAT TO THIS CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRY: ETHNIC SLAUGHTER BETWEEN HUTU AND TUTSI. IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS AGO THAT HUTU HARDLINERS KILLED HALF A MILLION TUTSIS IN NEIGHBORING RWANDA... [END OPT] A MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCK IS THE BURUNDIAN ARMY'S RESISTANCE TO THE IDEA OF A FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE, AS WELL AS BUYOYA'S OWN RELUCTANCE. MANY QUESTION THE WISDOM OF SENDING TROOPS IF THE GOVERNMENT REJECTS THEM. BUYOYA HAS BEEN MEETING WITH EAST AFRICAN LEADERS, TRYING TO ESTABLISH HIS CREDIBILITY. THOSE LEADERS AND OTHER DIPLOMATS WOULD BE MORE WILLING TO ACCEPT HIM IF HE, IN TURN, WOULD ACCEPT OUTSIDE HELP. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES MAY DEPEND ON IT."

TEXT: T-R-B IS AN OPINION COLUMN OF THE NEW REPUBLIC, WRITTEN BY DAVID RIEFF. HIS WORK APPEARS IN THE BALTIMORE SUN, AND TODAY HE TALKS ABOUT POSSIBLE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN BURUNDI.

VOICE: "IF THE WEST, THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES OR THE U-N ARE NOT GOING TO ACT, IT WOULD BE KINDER NOT TO PRETEND THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY. NOT ONLY KINDER, BUT MORE MORAL. BECAUSE DELUDING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT HELP THEY CAN EXPECT, AS THE CITIZENS OF SARAJEVO LEARNED TO THEIR COST, CAN PROVE AS GREAT A DANGER TO THEIR SURVIVAL AS ANY THREAT THEY FACE FROM THOSE THEY KNOW TO BE THEIR ENEMIES. PEOPLE WHO EXPECT THE CAVALRY TO COME RESCUE THEM TEND TO WAIT FOR ITS ARRIVAL. BUT IN BURUNDI, AS IN OTHER PLACES WHERE THE FANTASY OF RESCUE PERSISTS, THE CAVALRY IS PROBABLY NOT COMING, AND CERTAINLY IS NOT STAYING. IT IS HIGH TIME THE U-S AND THE OTHER FOREIGN ACTORS IN THIS STORY ADMITTED AS MUCH."

TEXT: CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS WILL BE UNDER DISCUSSION TODAY AS FRANJO TUDJMAN, PRESIDENT OF CROATIA, VISITS WASHINGTON. "BUT," ASKS THE WASHINGTON POST, "WILL THE FOLKS BACK HOME BE ABLE TO READ ABOUT IT?"

VOICE: "CROATIA'S TAME PARLIAMENT IN MARCH APPROVED A PRESS LAW OPENING JOURNALISTS TO PROSECUTION FOR PUBLISHING 'STATE SECRETS' AND ALLOWING OFFICIALS TO SUE FOR LIBEL IF THEY FELT 'INSULTED'. AN EARLY TARGET WAS THE SATIRICAL WEEKLY TERAL TRIBUNE, WHOSE EDITOR THE GOVERNMENT HAD EARLIER TRIED TO DRAFT INTO THE ARMY AND THEN WAS HIT WITH A 'PORNOGRAPHIC TAX'... PRESIDENT TUDJMAN IS NOT THE ONLY FOE OF A FREE PRESS NOW HOLDING POWER IN THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA. SERBIA'S SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS HIS FAITHFUL COMPANION IN SQUEEZING INDEPENDENCE AND DISSENT OUT OF THE MEDIA. AND YUGOSLAVIA IS NOT THE ONLY FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRY WHOSE NEW LEADERS HAVE FALLEN COMFORTABLY INTO THE OLD REPRESSIVE WAYS. BUT WHAT ALL OF THESE UNRECONSTRUCTED CENSORS-IN-CHIEF ARE DOING IS INIMICAL TO THE MAKING OF A NEW SOCIETY. THEY CANNOT EXPECT TO BE ACCEPTED AS FULL PARTNERS IF THEY DENY VOICE TO THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM."

TEXT: JOURNALISM IS THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER EDITORIAL. PRAVDA, THE ORGAN OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY, WAS FOUNDED IN 1912 BY VLADIMIR LENIN. THIS WEEK, THE NEWSPAPER CEASED PUBLICATION. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SAYS THAT "NEITHER RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS NOR READER SHED A TEAR."

VOICE: "THE WORD 'PRAVDA' MEANS TRUTH, BUT APPLIED TO THE PARTY PAPER IT WAS A MISNOMER AND A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNISTS' OWN DELUSIONS. AT ITS PEAK, PRAVDA PUBLISHED 11 MILLION COPIES DAILY, BUT NO ONE EVER CONFUSED IT WITH A REAL NEWSPAPER. AT THE MOST, THE DEPRIVED CITIZENS OF THE SOVIET UNION WOULD GLANCE AT PRAVDA TO TRY TO DISCERN THE PARTY LINE AND MEASURE THE ANIMOSITIES AMONG PARTY LEADERS. AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN 1991, TWO GREEK ENTREPRENEURS ARRIVED IN MOSCOW WITH THE BALMY IDEA THAT THEY COULD TURN THE DISCREDITED PUBLICATION INTO A LEGITIMATE NEWSPAPER, BUT IT PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO SHAKE OFF 84 YEARS OF INERTIA. THE EDITORS, REPORTERS AND READERS WERE NOT THERE. PRAVDA HAS DIED A DESERVING DEATH."

TEXT: THAT COMPLETES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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02-Aug-96 10:53 AM EDT (1453 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BLINKEN ON NATO EXPANSION

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:

AS DONALD BLINKEN, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY SAID, NATO ENLARGEMENT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT BOTH TO AMERICA AND TO NEW DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL EUROPE. THE U.S. HAS LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT IT CANNOT CONTROL WHEN OR WHERE CONFLICT MAY BREAK OUT ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT. NATO HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE THE MOST POLITICALLY COHESIVE, COST EFFECTIVE, AND MILITARILY RESPONSIVE INSTITUTION YET DEVISED. THAT IS WHY IT MAKES SENSE TO EXPAND THE FRONTIERS OF STABILITY AND DEMOCRACY EASTWARD.

ENLARGEMENT OF NATO WOULD OFFER NEWLY FREE NATIONS OF THE FORMER SOVIET BLOC THE SAME BENEFITS THE ALLIANCE HAS PROVIDED WEST EUROPEAN NATIONS FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY: THE SECURITY ESSENTIAL FOR DEMOCRACY, FREE MARKETS, AND PEACE TO FLOURISH. CENTRAL EUROPEAN NATIONS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS MORE TO SECURITY THAN A MILITARY ALLIANCE: IT HAS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL COMPONENTS, TOO. TRUE SECURITY REQUIRES THE FULL OBSERVANCE OF WESTERN VALUES.

LAST SEPTEMBER, NATO COMPLETED A STUDY TO DEFINE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW NATO MEMBERS. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP, A COUNTRY MUST HAVE ESTABLISHED A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, ENACTED SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC REFORM, ACHIEVED CIVILIAN CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY, AND DEMONSTRATED PEACEFUL INTENTIONS TOWARDS ITS NEIGHBORS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WILL ENSURE THAT NATIONS THAT DO NOT JOIN NATO WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP STRONG TIES TO THE ALLIANCE.

AMBASSADOR BLINKEN SAID EVERY EUROPEAN NATION SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE ITS SECURITY WITHIN A COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE. THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST NATO, BUT ALSO AN ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION, A STRENGTHENED ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, AND THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. FOR THE U.S., SAID AMBASSADOR BLINKEN, "SUCH AN APPROACH IS THE BEST MEANS FOR PROTECTING ITS INTERESTS AND VALUES IN AN UNPREDICTABLE AND OFTEN DANGEROUS WORLD."

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.
02-Aug-96 3:57 PM EDT (1957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / ELECTIONS (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE SENIOR OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA SAYS WORK TO CREATE NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR THE VOTE IS ONLY BEGINNING. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THAT WITH ONLY SIX WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE ELECTION, THE OFFICIAL, ROBERT FROWICK, SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TWO YEARS TO PREPARE. AND HE SAY IS NOW AIMING ONLY AT MAKING THE ELECTIONS "REASONABLY DEMOCRATIC."

TEXT: AMBASSADOR FROWICK IS IN CHARGE OF NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN BOSNIA ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, AND HE SAYS THERE ARE STILL "MONUMENTAL PROBLEMS" TO BE OVERCOME.

WE STILL HAVE BARELY STARTED ON THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE CREATED FOR THESE ELECTIONS.

MR. FROWICK SAYS THERE COULD BE VIOLENCE ON POLLING DAY WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO CROSS ETHNIC LINES TO VOTE IN THEIR FORMER TOWNS AND VILLAGES. EVEN THOUGH THE DAYTON AGREEMENT GIVES PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, MR. FROWICK SAYS HE CANNOT TURN BACK THE CLOCK TO A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA USING ONLY DIPLOMACY.

THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY TURN EVERYTHING AROUND AGAIN, IN MY VIEW FRANKLY, WOULD BE MILITARY ACTION -- AND I DON'T SEE ANY READINESS TO RESORT TO THAT, EITHER FROM WITHIN THIS COUNTRY, FORCES HERE, OR FORCES OUTSIDE.

DESPITE THE PROBLEMS, MR. FROWICK SAYS VOTING WILL GO AHEAD AS SCHEDULED. BUT HE SAYS HOLDING "FREE AND FAIR" ELECTIONS, AS CALLED FOR IN THE PEACE ACCORD, IS UNREALISTIC; AND HE NOW HOPES ONLY FOR A "REASONABLY DEMOCRATIC" VOTE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A LOT MORE TIME, MAYBE TWO YEARS FROM THE ELECTIONS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER. WE'D HAVE A REASONABLE BASE FOR MORE OF THE KIND OF OBJECTIVE THAT WAS LAID OUT IN THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

IN A SIGN OF THE STILL STRONG ETHNIC TENSIONS IN BOSNIA, UNITED NATIONS POLICE WERE INVOLVED IN SEVERAL VIOLENT INCIDENTS ON THURSDAY. A U-N SPOKESMAN, PATRICK SVENSSON, SAYS U-N POLICE WERE CALLED TO ASSIST A SERB MAN VISITING HIS WEEKEND HOME IN MUSLIM TERRITORY NEAR SARAJEVO WHEN TROUBLE BROKE OUT.

THE PATROL WAS CONFRONTED BY A LARGE HOSTILE CROWD CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM THREW STONES.

THREE HOURS LATER, U-N POLICE WERE AGAIN PELTED WITH STONES WHEN A CROWD OF MUSLIMS TRIED TO STOP TWO SERB MEN IN A TAXI, ALSO NEAR SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)
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02-Aug-96 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIAN PHOTO PROJECT (L-ONLY) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

INTRO: BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY, 50 REFUGEES FROM THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT LIVING IN CROATIA OR OTHER PARTS OF BOSNIA ARE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS TO DOCUMENT THEIR DAILY LIVES. THE PROJECT IS CALLED "THROUGH OUR EYES," AND IT IS ORGANIZED BY AN INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ORGANIZATION BASED IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST. V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND TELLS US, THE PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BECOME PART OF A TRAVELING EXHIBIT IN THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: "THROUGH OUR EYES" IS DESIGNED TO REMIND AMERICANS THAT WHILE THE FIGHTING IN BOSNIA HAS STOPPED, THE WAR IS NOT OVER FOR THE ESTIMATED TWO MILLION PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES, AND WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RETURN. TONY KOZLOWSKI IS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN REFUGEE COMMITTEE, BASED IN THE MIDWESTERN CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THROUGH THIS PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT IS TO ILLUSTRATE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS HOW THE REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS SEE THE SITUATION TODAY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE UNDERTAKING A SURVEY OF THREE-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK OF THE CURRENT SITUATION, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT WILL FACILITATE THEM GOING BACK.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE TAKEN IN AREAS NEAR ZENICA, TRAVNIK, SANSKI MOST AND VLASIC. IN ZENICA, PROJECT WORKER DIANA BESIC SAYS THE PICTURES WILL DEPICT LIFE IN PRIVATE HOMES AND COLLECTIVE CENTERS -- AND SHOW THAT THE REFUGEES ARE TRYING TO LIVE AS NORMAL LIVES AS POSSIBLE, WHILE STILL AWAY FROM THEIR OLD HOMES.

OUR FIRST PARTICIPANT WAS OUR HEAD OF OFFICE, DONALD GRIMES. HE GOT MARRIED TO A LOCAL GIRL HERE. SO HE MADE PICTURES OF HIS WEDDING, AND DONALD AND HIS WIFE WILL WRITE CAPTIONS FOR THE PHOTOS.

THE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE SENT BACK TO MINNEAPOLIS, AND THE BEST WILL BE CHOSEN FOR AN EXHIBIT THAT WILL TRAVEL TO SEVERAL U-S CITIES OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. TONY KOZLOWSKI SAYS HE HOPES THE EXHIBIT WILL SHOW AMERICANS THAT THERE IS MORE TO ENDING A WAR THAN SIGNING AN AGREEMENT TO STOP FIGHTING.

ONE GETS THE IDEA THAT THE SITUATION IS SOLVED AND WHEN THE (U-S PEACEKEEPING) TROOPS COME BACK AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, EVERYTHING IS WELL AND GOOD. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SITUATION IS NOT AS ROSY AS THAT. AND ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IS THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OR REFUGEES HAVE NOT GONE BACK RIGHT NOW.

THE AMERICAN REFUGEE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES SINCE 1993. DIANA BESIC IN BOSNIA SAYS MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS HOPE THE PROJECT WILL REMIND THOSE WHO SEE THE PHOTO EXHIBIT THAT MANY BOSNIANS STILL NEED HELP REBUILDING THEIR PRE-WAR LIVES. (SIGNED)
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02-Aug-96 12:55 PM EDT (1655 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES IN ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN LATE MAY HAVE SPARKED BOTH CRITICISM AND INVESTIGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. DURING RECENT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE ISSUE [7/25/96], BENJAMIN GILMAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, DESCRIBED THE ALLEGED ABUSES BY THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE ELECTIONS. CONGRESSMAN GILMAN CALLED THE SITUATION EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING FOR AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THEIR RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALBANIA AND THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN

TEXT: THE HEARINGS ON "HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA" BEGAN WITH A STATE DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT OF THE REPORTED ELECTION IRREGULARITIES AND VARIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. A PANEL OF EXPERT WITNESSES -- REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS -- ALSO TESTIFIED. RUDOLF PERINA [PEH-REE-NAH], A SENIOR DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, EXPRESSED STRONG U-S CONCERN OVER HOW THE ALBANIAN ELECTIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED. HE NOTED THAT SINCE 1991 THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 200-MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT ALBANIA'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSITION TO A FREE-MARKET DEMOCRACY.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- PERINA (0:39) "IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN NOTE OF SERIOUS SETBACKS TO THIS YOUNG DEMOCRACY IN RECENT MONTHS. WE ARE ACUTELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD IN MAY WERE CONDUCTED IN A FASHION WHICH WEAKENED -- RATHER THAN STRENGTHENED -- CONFIDENCE IN ALBANIAN INSTITUTIONS. THE SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES WHICH MARRED THE ELECTIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO TAKE ADEQUATE MEASURES TO CORRECT THEM CAST A SHADOW ON THE PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS, WHICH REMAINS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALBANIA."

TEXT: SECRETARY PERINA WAS CHALLENGED BY CONGRESSMAN TOM LANTOS, A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE. CONGRESSMAN LANTOS HAS OFTEN VISITED ALBANIA, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE FALL OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN TIRANA, AND HE HAS LONG BEEN A CHAMPION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE AND IN MACEDONIA, WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE. HE RECALLED HIS MOST RECENT VISIT TO ALBANIA, WHEN HE SAID HE WAS MISTREATED BY POLICE AUTHORITIES. AND, HE ATTACKED SECRETARY PREINA'S STATEMENT AS BEING "INCREDIBLY GENTLE AND OVERLY DIPLOMATIC" TOWARD THE BERISHA GOVERNMENT.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- LANTOS (1:06) "WHAT THE BERISHA REGIME DEMANDS OF THE UNITED STATES -- AND IT WILL GET IT FROM THE CONGRESS, AND I'M SURE IT WILL GET IT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION -- IS UNQUALIFIED OUTRAGE. YOU USED THE WORD 'REGRET' IN YOUR PREPARED STATEMENT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS ANYWHERE NEAR STRONG ENOUGH. I VISITED ALBANIA JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO. I WAS SUBJECTED AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS POLICE SURVEILLANCE. I WAS SUBJECTED TO HAVING THE AUTOMOBILE IN WHICH I TRAVELLED REPEATEDLY STOPPED, THE DRIVER THREATENED, AND I HAD A SINGULARLY DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN CITIZEN OF GREEK ANCESTRY WHO WAS GOING TO VISIT WITH ME -- THE AUTHOR NICHOLAS GAGE -- PREVENTED FROM ENTERING ALBANIA. I FIND THE BERISHA REGIME TOTALLY REPREHENSIBLE, AND I WILL COMMENCE A MOVE IN THIS CONGRESS TO SUSPEND ALL AID UNTIL NEW ELECTIONS ARE HELD, AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITION UNDERGOES A DRAMATIC CHANGE."

TEXT: CONGRESSMAN LANTOS DECLARED HIS INTENTION TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, "DEMANDING THAT AID TO ALBANIA BE SUSPENDED, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF ONGOING HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS INVOLVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES."

FORMER FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT NICHOLAS GAGE, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE PANEPIROTIC [PAN-I-PER-OT-IK] FEDERATION, ALSO TESTIFIED AT THE HEARING. MR. GAGE HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THE EFFORT TO ASSURE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE GREEK MINORITY LIVING IN ALBANIA.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- GAGE (0:52) "WHILE ALL CITIZENS SUFFER UNDER DESPOTIC GOVERNMENT, THOSE WHO SUFFER THE MOST ARE THE MINORITIES. ETHNIC GREEKS ARE THE MOST UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF SALI BERISHA'S RULE. ON A DAILY BASIS THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE ROBBED, THEIR SCHOOLS ARE BURNED DOWN, AND THEIR CHURCHES ARE DESECRATED BY THUGS WHILE THE AUTHORITIES LOOK THE OTHER WAY. THE BERISHA GOVERNMENT HAS CLEANSED GREEKS FROM ALL POSITIONS OF POWER -- FROM THE POLICE, FROM THE JUDICIARY, FROM THE COURTS, SO THE MINORITY WILL FEEL TOTALLY HELPLESS. IN THE FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS OF MAY 26 SALI BERISHA DEMONSTRED THAT HE CARES NOTHING ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND HIS ONLY CONCERN IS MAINTAINING HIS OWN POWER, USING ANY MEANS NECESSARY. THAT IS WHY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST ACT TOGETHER TO COMPEL SALI BERISHA TO HOLD NEW NATIONAL ELECTIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

TEXT: BLENDI GONXHJA [BLEN-DEE GHON-JAH] WAS A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING COMMITTEE OF THE ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HE IS NOW DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FOR THE OPPOSITION ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE. MR. GONXHJA TOLD THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE HE WAS PREVENTED FROM HOLDING ANY ELECTORAL MEETINGS BEFORE THE MAY 26TH PARLIAMENTARY VOTE. TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN THE OPPOSITION CALLED FOR A PROTEST RALLY IN TIRANA'S MAIN SQUARE, HE SAID HE WAS ARRESTED AND BEATEN.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- GONXHJA (0:41) "IN A DISPLAY OF BRUTALITY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS OF THE WORLD MEDIA, RIOT POLICE BEAT WITH TRUNCHEONS THE LEADERS OF THE OPPOSITION AND DRAGGED THEM TO POLICE VANS. RESOLUTIONS BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AND DECLARATIONS BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE CALLED FOR A REPEAT OF THE ELECTIONS OF 26 MAY. BERISHA HAS SO FAR TURNED A DEAF EAR, AND HAS DECLARED THAT THE NEXT ALBANIAN ELECTIONS WILL BE IN THE YEAR 2000. UNLESS DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS ARE RESTORED, ALBANIA FACES A WRETCHED FUTURE UNDER AN INCREASINGLY CORRUPT, AUTHORITARIAN, AND ADVENTURIST TYRANNY. WE ASK THE UNITED STATES TO INCREASE ITS PRESSURE TO ENSURE THAT ALBANIA DOES NOT FALL BACK INTO THE DARKNESS OF DICTATORSHIP."

TEXT: IN CONTRAST, SHIRLEY CLOYES [KLOYZ], DIRECTOR OF THE ALBANIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION, VOICED SUPPORT FOR THE SALI BERISHA GOVERNMENT AND NOTED ITS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- CLOYES (0:35) "WHY HAVE WE RUSHED TO THE JUDGMENT THAT, IN VIEW OF THE MAY ELECTIONS, ALBANIA MUST NOW BE ISOLATED, EXPELLED FROM THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, AND SUBJECT TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS? WHY DO WE WANT TO UNDERMINE A DEMOCRATIC REGIME THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO GET A DEVASTATED COUNTRY ON ITS FEET? IN THE ORCHESTRATED CONDEMNATION OF ALBANIA THAT ENSUED AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, NO CREDIT WAS GIVEN TO THE BERISHA GOVERNMENT FOR THE ABIDING COOPERATION THAT IT HAS GIVEN THE UNITED STATES IN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT A SPILLOVER OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA AND THE DESTABILIZATION OF THE SOUTHERN BALKANS."

TAPE: FRED ABRAHAMS, A CONSULTANT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/HELSINSKI, WHO RECENTLY RETURNED FROM ALBANIA AND IS THE AUTHOR OF TWO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTS ON ALBANIA, WAS CRITICAL OF THE RULING PARTY AND ITS ROLE DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

TAPE: [OPT] CUT SIX -- ABRAHAMS (0:54) "SINCE COMING TO POWER IN 1992, PRESIDENT BERISHA AND HIS RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY TURNED AGAINST THOSE WITH VIEWS DIFFERENT FROM THE STATE. CRITICS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WERE CONSIDERED ENEMIES OF DEMOCRACY OR, BY DEDUCTION, FRIENDS OF COMMUNISM. PRESIDENT BERISHA UTILIZED ALBANIANS' FEAR OF A RETURN TO THE PAST TO JUSTIFY THE ELIMINATION OF HIS RIVALS. AS A RESULT, THE EXECUTIVE POWER IS FIRMLY IN CONTROL OF THE MEDIA, THE JUDICIARY, AND -- AFTER THESE ELECTIONS -- THE PARLIAMENT. SINCE 1992, A LARGE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS, INCLUDING FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS, HAVE BEEN HARASSED, ARRESTED, OR BEATEN AFTER WRITING ARTICLES THAT WERE CRITICAL OF THE STATE. THE PROBLEM NOW IS TO PUT DEMOCRACY BACK ON TRACK IN ALBANIA. THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE GRADUALLY FALLING APART WHILE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS CONSOLIDATING POWER. I DO NOT DOUBT THAT ALBANIA WILL SOON BE FACING A ONE-PARTY STATE." [END OPT]

TAPE: AMONG THE OTHER PANELISTS TESTIFYING BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL PANEL WERE BIANCA JAGGER [BEE-YAHN-KAH JAG-GER], OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ADVISORY BOARD, AND GUEST SCHOLAR GRAMOZ PASHKO [GRAM-OHZ PAHSH-KOH], WITH THE WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL OF EASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES IN WASHINGTON, D-C. MR. PASHKO WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA, BUT HE WAS EXPELLED FROM THE RULING PARTY AND SUBSEQUENTLY CO-FOUNDED THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY.
NEB/JL/PCH
02-Aug-96 1:50 PM EDT (1750 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MILITARY OUTLOOK IN BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, 170 AMERICAN MILITARY ADVISERS WILL ARRIVE IN BOSNIA TO TRAIN THE COMBINED MUSLIM-CROAT FORCES. THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS ARE ALSO SUPPLYING THE FEDERATION WITH 240 MILLION DOLLARS IN ARMS. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS ON THE MILITARY OUTLOOK FOR BOSNIA AS SEEN BY TWO ANALYSTS.

TEXT: THIS IS AN HISTORICAL MOMENT, SAYS ED SOYSTER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR OPERATIONS AT MILITARY PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES INC., WHICH HAS RECENTLY SIGNED A 13 MONTH CONTRACT TO TRAIN THE MUSLIM AND CROAT FORCES IN BOSNIA.

HE SAYS M-P-R-I, CONSISTING OF RETIRED U-S GENERALS AND ADMIRALS, IS WELL EQUIPPED FOR ITS JOB:

WE ARE GOING TO ASSIST IN TRAINING AND EQUIPPING THE ARMED FORCES. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN TEACH THEM ABOUT BEING BRAVE. THEY ARE BRAVE SOLDIERS AND WITH PATRIOTISM, DETERMINATION, DEDICATION. THESE TRAITS HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN WITH THEM. WHAT WE WILL DO IS BUILD ON THOSE SOLDIERLY QUALITIES WITH A TRAINING PROCESS WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO FOCUS THEIR INHERENT CAPABILITIES IN A MORE UNIFIED MILITARY FORCE.

GENERAL SOYSTER SAYS TRAINING WILL CONCENTRATE ON JOINT OPERATIONS OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS, WHOSE FORCES HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT UNEASILY MERGED. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THEM ABLE TO DETER AGGRESSION OR, IF FIGHTING RESUMES, MOUNT AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE.

THAT IS QUITE POSSIBLE, GIVEN PROPER TACTICS AND STRATEGY SAYS ARNOLD KANTER, A SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT THE FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY:

I THINK THAT THEY CAN MORE THAN HOLD THEIR OWN, IN PART BECAUSE THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE NOT PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE FIGHTERS. THEY ARE FRANKLY NOT A VERY WORTHY OPPONENT. THEIR SUCCESS BEFORE THE DAYTON AGREEMENTS HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BEING SUPPLIED AND SUPPORTED BY THE SERBIAN ARMY DIRECTLY AND THE FACT THAT THE MUSLIMS FIRST HAD NO ARMY TO SPEAK OF AND THEN HAD VERY LIMITED CAPABILITIES IN CREW-SERVED (LARGER THAN INDIVIDUAL ARMS) WEAPONS.

MR. KANTER SAYS THE NEED IS TO ACHIEVE A MILITARY BALANCE THAT WILL KEEP EITHER SIDE FROM STARTING TO FIGHT AGAIN.

IF WAR DOES RESUME, HE ADDS, THERE IS A DANGER OF ESCALATION BY OUTSIDE FORCES:

IF THE SERBS IN SERBIA DECIDE THAT THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE BOSNIANS SERBS TO BE DISADVANTAGED AND THEY START RESUPPLYING THEM, THEN ALL WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED IS TO RAISE THE INTENSITY OF THE VIOLENCE IF AND WHEN THE FIGHTING OCCURS. IT IS NOT SOLELY IN OUR POWER TO ESTABLISH A MILITARY BALANCE. IT WILL REQUIRE THE COOPERATION OF THE OTHER OUTSIDERS. IF THEY DO NOT COOPERATE, THEN A POLICY OF ARMING THE MUSLIMS CANNOT SUCCEED.

ARNOLD KANTER CAUTIONS THAT THE MILITARY OUTCOME IN BOSNIA IS UNCERTAIN AS LONG AS THERE IS NO GENUINE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/CF
02-Aug-96 12:43 PM EDT (1643 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL WARNS LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR QADDAFI NOT TO DEFY AN INTERNATIONAL AIR BAN; THE U-N WAITS IMPATIENTLY FOR U-S APPROVAL OF PROCEDURES THAT WOULD ALLOW IRAQ TO EXPORT OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS; THE CHIEF CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA APPEALS FOR WIDER INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT TO PREVENT A BACKSLIDING INTO WAR; AND, SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI CONSULTS WITH HIS TOP AIDES ON WAYS THE U-N CAN DEAL WITH TERRORISM. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS TOLD LIBYA'S LEADER THAT HIS INTENTION TO FLY ANYWHERE HE WISHED IN VIOLATION OF A U-N AIR BAN IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE COUNCIL REACTED THIS PAST WEEK TO A LETTER FROM MR. QADDAFI IN WHICH HE SAID SOME MATTERS REQUIRE HIM TO FLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

THE AIR BAN IS A KEY PART OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON LIBYA IN 1992 FOR FAILING TO SURRENDER TWO SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. THE TWO MEN WERE INDICTED IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. THE WESTERN ALLIES ARE DEMANDING THEY STAND TRIAL IN AN AMERICAN OR SCOTTISH COURT.

MUAMMAR QADDAFI DEFIED THE AIR BAN IN JUNE WHEN HE FLEW TO AND FROM AN ARAB SUMMIT IN CAIRO.

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A DEAL THAT WOULD ALLOW IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED QUANTITIES OF OIL OVER SIX MONTHS TO RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES IS ON HOLD WHILE THE UNITED STATES PONDERS WHETHER THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE ADEQUATE. THE UNITED NATIONS IS TO SUPERVISE ALL ASPECTS OF THIS SPECIAL EXEMPTION FROM TRADE SANCTIONS, INCLUDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS INSIDE IRAQ.

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE NUMBER OF MONITORS THE PLAN CALLS FOR IS SUFFICIENT TO GUARANTEE THAT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROFIT FROM THE OPERATION.

ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAVE ALREADY APPROVED THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROCEDURES AND HAVE EXPRESSED IMPATIENCE WITH THE DELAY.

IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER U-N SANCTIONS SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. U-N AGENCIES HAVE REPORTED GROWING HEALTH AND POVERTY PROBLEMS AMONG IRAQI CIVILIANS AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO.

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SWEDISH DIPLOMAT CARL BILDT -- THE U-N'S TOP CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA -- BRIEFED THE SECURITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK ON THE PROGRESS OF PEACE IN THE BALKAN STATE. HE GAVE MIXED REVIEWS. HE SAID THE LOT OF CIVILIANS HAS IMPROVED REMARKABLY SINCE LAST YEAR'S PEACE ACCORD. BUT HE URGED WIDER INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT TO PREVENT A RETURN TO WAR:

STILL THE POLITICAL TENSIONS ARE THERE AND THE CAUSES OF WAR HAVE NOT GONE AND THE BASIC POLITICAL DIVISIONS ARE AS DEEP AS THEY'VE BEEN AND THAT IS WHY I'M SAYING WE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE TO PREVENT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AGAIN.

THE NATO-LED MILITARY OPERATION IN BOSNIA IS DUE TO END IN DECEMBER. THE SWEDISH ENVOY SAID BOSNIA WILL NEED AN INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE AS WELL AS OTHER ASSISTANCE WHILE IT RE-BUILDS ITS INSTITUTIONS AND ECONOMY.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI BEGAN CONSULTATIONS THIS PAST WEEK WITH HIS TOP ADVISORS TO ASSESS HOW THE UNITED NATIONS CAN HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

THE STUDY BEGAN AFTER THE RECENT EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK OF AN AMERICAN PASSENGER PLANE EN ROUTE TO PARIS AND THE EVEN MORE RECENT BOMBING AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATLANTA.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAD ITS OWN SCARE THIS PAST WEEK. THE NEW YORK POLICE BOMB SQUAD BROUGHT IN A MECHANICAL ROBOT TO EXAMINE A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE RESTING AGAINST A U-N GATE. U-N SPOKESWOMAN SYLVANA FOA LATER CALLED IT A FALSE ALARM:

WELL, THE ROBOT CHOMPED ON THE PACKAGE, SPIT IT OUT. IT WAS THEN PICKED UP BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO DISCOVERERD THAT IT CONTAINED -- AS WE PUT POLITELY -- SOILED BABY WIPES. AND THE SPOILED BABY WIPES WERE THEN DISPOSED OF IN A LITTLE BASKET.

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

INTRO: FOUR MEN ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE APPEARED BEFORE A COURT AT THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. AS GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS, THREE OF THE ACCUSED WANT TO BE TRIED SEPARATELY ON AT LEAST SOME OF THE CHARGES -- OTHERWISE, THEY SAY, THEIR RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL IS IN DOUBT.

TEXT: THE FOUR MEN SAT IN THE DOCK, FLANKED BY U-N GUARDS AND CAREFULLY AVOIDED EACH OTHER'S EYES.

THE SO-CALLED CELEBICI INDICTMENT IS THE TRIBUNAL'S ONE AND ONLY CHARGE DEALING WITH ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS. TWO OF THE FOUR ARE ACCUSED OF WHAT IS CALLED COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN ATMOSPHERE OF TERROR AT THE JOINTLY MUSLIM-CROAT RUN CELEBICI PRISON CAMP. THE OTHER TWO ARE CHARGED WITH DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN ACTS OF MURDER AND TORTURE.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE MAN WITH OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAMP IS ZEJNIL DELALIC -- A MILITARY COMMANDER IN THE AREA. MR DELALIC WANTS A SEPARATE TRIAL. HIS LAWYER -- EDINA RESIDOVIC -- SAYS HE HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAMP. HER WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

THIS QUESTION OF THE STATUS OF MY CLIENT CAN BE SOLVED IN IN A JUST AND FAIR WAY, CAN BE SOLVED ONLY IN A SEPARATE TRIAL. BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE, THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T LIE WITH THE VICTIMS BUT IN THE AUTHORITIES, THE DOCUMENTS, PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT DETAINEES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE ISSUE OF COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY HAS COME UP IN THE CONTEXT OF A TRIAL. THE TRIBUNAL'S POLICY IS TO PROSECUTE THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THOSE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH DOING THE KILLING AND THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE STOPPED IT CAN BE TRIED AT THE SAME TIME.

PROSECUTORS AT THE TRIBUNAL SAY ALL FOUR MEN WERE CHARGED TOGETHER AND THEY SHOULD STAND TRIAL TOGETHER. PROSECUTOR THERESA MCHENRY SAYS SEPARATE TRIALS WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO THE WITNESSES.

THEY WERE IMPRISONED FOR MONTHS OR YEARS. THEY WERE BEATEN, TORTURED, SUFFOCATED, BURNED, IMPRISONED IN VATS OF WATER, MADE TO ACT LIKE ANIMALS, MADE TO COMMIT FELLATIO AGAINST EACH OTHER. THEY WERE RAPED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, AND MORE. THE VICTIMS SAW FRIENDS AND FAMILY DIE FROM MISTREATMENT AT THE CAMP, AND AT EVERY MOMENT THEY WERE AFRAID THAT THEY WOULD BE NEXT. THE WITNESSES ARE UNDERSTANDABLY TRAUMATIZED, AND MANY WERE RELUCTANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE TRIBUNAL IN ANY WAY. THESE WITNESSES WOULD NOT BE WILLING OR ABLE TO TESTIFY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

IT MUST ALSO BE IN THE MINDS OF PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES THAT THE TRIBUNAL HAS ONLY ONE COURTROOM, AND THERE ARE ALREADY SIX PEOPLE WAITING FOR TRIAL. THE TRIBUNAL'S FIRST TRIAL -- OF BOSNIAN SERB DUSAN TADIC -- COULD GO ON UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR -- SEVEN MONTHS AFTER IT STARTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH/MMK
02-Aug-96 9:44 AM EDT (1344 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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