Voice of America (96-08-04)

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

CONTENTS

[01] CROATIA / U-N BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

[02] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] CROATIA / U-N BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SUPERVISING THE RE-INTEGRATION OF THE LAST SERB STRONGHOLDS INTO CROATIA HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER NEW TENSIONS BETWEEN ETHNIC SERBS AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN CROATIA'S EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION. AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO THE REGION, STEFAN BOS REPORTS U-N SOLDIERS ARE ON ALERT IN SOME VILLAGES AFTER SEVERAL VIOLENT INCIDENTS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS OF THE UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA, OR UNTAES, SAY THERE IS AN INCREASE OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS BETWEEN SERBS AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN CROATIA.

MOST REPORTED CASES ARE IN CROATIA'S EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION, WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY SERBIAN FORCES IN 1991. EASTERN SLAVONIA WAS CALM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE U-N MANDATE BEGAN IN JANUARY, BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE SITUATION HAS WORSENED RECENTLY. LAST WEEK CROATIAN REFUGEES RETURNING TO HOMES IN THE REGION WERE REPORTEDLY STOPPED BY SERBIAN DEMONSTRATORS.

IN THE HUNGARIAN VILLAGE OF SEPSE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF U-N SOLDIERS HAVE SURVEILLANCE DUTIES. U-N OFFICER ANDRAS KOS SAYS THIS MOVE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE HUNGARIANS AND OTHER MINORITIES RECEIVED VIOLENT THREATS FROM SERBIAN EXTREMISTS.

SOME HAND GRENADES WERE THROWN INTO HOUSES. ACCORDING TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS VILLAGE, THEY WERE THROWN BY SERB EXTREMISTS. THEY LIVE IN THE NEXT VILLAGE.

BUT SERBS IN THE ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED TOWN OF VUKOVAR TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.

LATE AT NIGHT, AFTER MIDNIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE GET PHONE CALLS IN WHICH PEOPLE MAKE THREATS. THEY SWEAR AND USE BAD WORDS, TELLING US "WHY DON'T YOU GET LOST FROM HERE? WE ARE COMING BACK. DON'T WAIT FOR US". AND SO ON.

THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SERBS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA, VOJSLAV STANIMIROVIC, WANTS THE UNTAES MANDATE TO BE EXTENDED. MR. STANIMIROVIC SAID THIS COULD PREVENT BLOODSHED IN THE AREA FROM TAKING PLACE AGAIN.

HE ALSO WANTS A CONTROVERSIAL AMNESTY LAW FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS TO BE CHANGED SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM SUCH LEGISLATION. HIS VIEW IS SHARED BY U-N OFFICIAL AND FORMER U-S DIPLOMAT PHILIP ARNOLD, CURRENTLY SPOKESMAN AND CLOSE AIDE TO UNTAES ADMINISTRATOR JACQUES PAUL KLEIN.

MR. ARNOLD SAYS THE UNTAES MANDATE MAY BE EXTENDED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

MR. KLEIN HAS SAID THAT HE BELIEVES THE PERIOD WOULD BE MOST USEFULLY EXTENDED THROUGH THE SUMMER FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO THE SPRING OR SUMMER OF 1997. THIS IS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE COMPLICATED TASKS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.

MR. ARNOLD REFERS TO PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE CLEARING OF THE ESTIMATED 650,000 LAND MINES IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. THAT IS WHY MR. ARNOLD AND OTHER OFFICIALS HOPE THAT CROATS AND SERBS WILL WORK TOGETHER AND RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. BUT CROATIAN AUTHORITIES WANT FIRST TO KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS KILLED IN THE HOSPITAL OF VUKOVAR AND OTHER ATROCITIES DURING THE SIEGE OF THE TOWN IN 1991.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY MULTI-ETHNIC LOCAL ELECTIONS WERE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER BUT WILL MOST LIKELY BE POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT YEAR, WHEN UNTAES MAY END ITS MISSION IN CROATIA. (SIGNED)
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02-Aug-96 11:06 PM EDT (0306 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED ITS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE COLLAPSE OF EUROPEAN UNION EFFORTS TO GAIN BOSNIAN CROAT AGREEMENT TO THE RESULTS OF THE JUNE 30TH CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IN THE DIVIDED CITY OF MOSTAR. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE FAILURE CAME JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE VISITING CROATIAN LEADER PLEDGED IN TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO PRESS THE BOSNIAN CROATS TO RESPECT THE RESULTS:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN JULIE RESIDE SAYS U-S OFFICIALS ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE E-U ADMINISTRATOR FOR MOSTAR, SIR MARTIN GARROD, AND CROATIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN. SHE SAYS THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT WANT TO SEE MEDIATION EFFORTS END DESPITE AN E-U THREAT TO PULL OUT OF MOSTAR BY MONDAY AFTER TWO YEARS:

FOR OUR PART, WE URGE AGAIN THAT THE BOSNIAN-CROAT LEADERS ACCEPT THE E-U COMPROMISE. WE CALL ON ALL CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY THE E-U AND THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, TO REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT.

A MUSLIM-LED COALITION NARROWLY WON THE CITY'S JUNE 30TH ELECTION. CROATS REFUSE TO SIT ON THE NEW CITY COUNCIL CHARGING THE ELECTION WAS TAINTED BY VOTING IRREGULARITIES. THE E-U INSISTS THE RESULTS ARE FINAL AND SHOULD BE HONORED. FRIDAY, PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN PLEDGED TO PRESS HIS BOSNIAN-CROAT ALLIES TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS AND DISSOLVE THEIR MINI-STATE AROUND MOSTAR.

THE BREAKDOWN COULD THREATEN NATIONAL BOSNIAN ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER. MS. RESIDE SAYS ZAGREB'S IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ABILITY TO GAIN ACCESS TO WEST EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS DEPENDS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
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03-Aug-96 10:19 PM EDT (0219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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