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Voice of America, 96-09-08Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BOSNIA / ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)DATE=9/7/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202788 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: OFFICIALS OF BOSNIA'S MUSLIM LED CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAVE CALLED ON THE ORGANIZERS OF THE UPCOMING SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTION TO INVALIDATE THE RESULTS IN SERB DOMINATED AREAS BEFORE THE VOTE IS EVEN HELD. OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAY THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO TAKE SUCH A STEP, DESPITE WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES WITH THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. FROM SARAJEVO, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: BOSNIA'S MUSLIM LED GOVERNMENT SAYS THE PENDING ELECTIONS AND THEIR RESULTS IN THE HALF OF BOSNIA THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE SERBS WILL NOT BE DEMOCRATIC, FREE OR FAIR. SO BOSNIAN OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEP OF CALLING ON THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE TO DECLARE THE UPCOMING VOTE LEGALLY INVALID IN THE SERB PART OF THE COUNTRY. HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS SAY THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF IRREGULARITIES IN THE RUN-UP TO THE SEPTEMBER 14TH VOTE, ESPECIALLY IN SERB REGIONS. BUT TOM LEEREY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E IN SARAJEVO, SAYS ITS IS TOO EARLY TO RESPOND TO SUCH COMPLAINTS. // BEGIN LEEREY ACT //WE ARE HERE TO ORGANIZE, SUPERVISE AND MONITOR ELECTIONS AND IT WOULD BE PREMATURE OF US TO DECLARE ELECTIONS INVALID BEFORE THEY TAKE PLACE. // END ACT //SOME ANALYSTS CALL THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT REQUEST A PRE-ELECTION PLOY TO TRY TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE MAIN SERB PARTY THAT IS EXPECTED WIN A MAJORITY OF VOTES IN THE HALF OF BOSNIA UNDER SERB RULE. O-S-C-E OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WILL BE
FLAWED, BUT THEY SAY THE BALLOTING SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SCHEDULE
SET BY THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. (SIGNED)
[02] BOSNIA SHOOTING UPDATE (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)DATE=9/8/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202806 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///// NEW INFO THRUOUT /////INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SAY A UKRAINIAN SOLDIER SERVING AS A PEACEKEEPER HAS BEEN SHOT AND KILLED WHILE GUARDING A WAREHOUSE FILLED WITH MATERIALS FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. INITIAL REPORTS SAID THE SOLDIER WAS KILLED BY UNIDENTIFIED ATTACKERS, BUT OFFICIALS NOW SAY THEY ARE NOT SO SURE. FROM SARAJEVO, KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF THE UKRAINIAN PEACEKEEPER, WHO DIED AT A HOSPITAL ABOUT A HALF HOUR AFTER THE EARLY SUNDAY SHOOTING. OFFICIALS INITIALLY SAID THE SOLDIER WAS KILLED WHEN THREE UNIDENTIFIED ATTACKERS OPENED FIRE ON THE TROOPS AS THEY GUARDED THE SARAJEVO WAREHOUSE. BUT SUBSEQUENT COMMENTS BY TROOPS AT THE SCENE INDICATE THE FATALLY INJURED SOLDIER WAS IN HIS ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER WHEN HE WAS KILLED, AND MAY HAVE DIED OF A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE SOLDIERS WERE GUARDING A WAREHOUSE BEING USED TO HOLD VOTING MATERIALS FOR THE NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY (9/15). OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, WHO ARE ORGANIZING THE ELECTIONS, SAY THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS ANY OF THE MATERIALS FROM THE BUILDING WERE REMOVED. THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA WILL BE
PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
[03] CHRISTOPHER/TURKEY (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LONDON)DATE=9/7/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202778 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ON A VISIT TO LONDON SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONSIDER TURKEY'S SUGGESTION OF A SECURITY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM LONDON. TEXT: TURKEY WANTS PROTECTION FOR TURKS IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND TO PREVENT ATTACKS BY FIGHTERS OF THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K. SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE REQUEST IS REASONABLE. ///CHRISTOPHER ACT///WE UNDERSTAND THEIR REASONS FOR DOING SO AND WE ARE REASSURED THAT IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE TEMPORARY AND THAT THEIR FORCES WILL NOT BE STATIONED THERE AND THEY HAVE ALSO INDICATED THAT IT WILL BE A VERY THIN ZONE. ///END ACT///THE TURKISH REQUEST FOR A SECURITY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY RUSSIA AS A VIOLATION OF IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND FRANCE HAS ALSO EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN. SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER PRAISES TURKEY'S IMPORTANT ROLE IN
THE REGION AND SAYS TURKEY HAS REASONS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS
BORDER BECAUSE OF ATTACKS BY THE P-K-K. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH
REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM IN WESTERN EUROPE, MR. CHRISTOPHER
SAID AMERICAN RELATIONS WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAVE BECOME
MORE COMPLEX BUT NOT MORE DIFFICULT SINCE THE ELECTION OF PRIME
MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN. (SIGNED)
[04] EGYPT/TURKEY (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)DATE=9/8/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202811 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EGYPT AND OTHER ARAB STATES ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT TURKEY'S PLANS TO ESTABLISH A SECURITY BUFFER ZONE INSIDE NORTHERN IRAQ. LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS ARE COMPARING THE PLAN TO ISRAEL'S CONTROVERSIAL SECURITY ZONE INSIDE SOUTHERN LEBANON. TEXT: EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SUMMONED TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR IN CAIRO TO EXPRESS CONCERN FOR THE BUFFER ZONE, CALLING IT AN UNJUSTIFIED ACTION. THE TURKISH DIPLOMAT WAS TOLD CAIRO WILL ASK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. TURKEY SAYS IT WANTS THE SECURITY ZONE TO CURB CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS BY KURDISH REBELS. TURKEY PERIODICALLY LAUNCHES CROSS-BORDER RAIDS AND BOMBINGS AGAINST THE SEPARATIST REBELS WHO USE NORTHERN IRAQ FOR REFUGE AND SUPPLY ROUTES. EGYPTIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SAYEED AL-MASRI TOLD REPORTERS TURKEY'S MOVES INTO NORTHERN IRAQ WOULD BE A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. HE ADDED IT WOULD ALSO AFFECT NEGATIVELY TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS. SYRIA HAS ISSUED A SIMILAR WARNING. SEVERAL ARAB AND EUROPEAN
STATES HAVE ALSO OPPOSED THE PLAN. SO FAR ONLY WASHINGTON HAS
GIVEN ITS SUPPORT. (SIGNED)
[05] IRAQ/TURKEY (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)DATE=9/8/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202810 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAQ WARNED TURKEY SUNDAY IT WOULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANY TURKISH MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ TO SET UP A SECURITY BUFFER ZONE THERE. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU SYRIA AND OTHER ARAB ALLIES ALSO ARE QUESTIONING THE TURKISH PLANS. TEXT: AN IRAQI PARLIAMENT MEMBER TOLD REPORTERS IN BAGHDAD HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE EVERY NECESSARY ACTION TO PREVENT TURKEY FROM SETTING UP A BUFFER ZONE INSIDE NORTHERN IRAQ. THE FORMER INFORMATION MINISTER, HAMED YOUSSEF HUMMADI, SAYS IF TURKEY WANTS A SECURITY ZONE IT SHOULD ESTABLISH ONE ON THE TURKISH SIDE OF THE BORDER. IRAQ IS NOT ALONE IN OPPOSING THE TURKISH PLANS. STATE-RUN NEWSPAPERS IN SYRIA SAY A TURKISH MOVE INTO NORTHERN IRAQ WOULD HARM TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS. SYRIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY CALLED IN TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR IN DAMASCUS TO WARN ANKARA AGAINST INFRINGING ON ITS NEIGHBOR'S SOVEREIGNTY. TIES BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY HAVE BEEN STRAINED OVER TURKEY'S CHARGES SYRIA ALLOWS TURKEY'S KURDISH REBELS TO USE SYRIAN TERRITORY FOR REFUGE AND TRAINING. TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER, TANSU CILLER, HAS SAID THE MOVEMENT OF TROOPS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ WOULD BE TEMPORARY, TO ESTABLISH THE BUFFER ZONE. SUNDAY SHE SAID THE LONG-TERM PLAN IS FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF THE BORDER TO CURB TURKEY'S KURDISH REBELS. THE ARAB LEAGUE AND GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL -- THE G-C-C -- ALSO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE TURKISH PLAN. SO HAVE A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN STATES AND RUSSIA. // OPT //ARAB NEIGHBORS ALSO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE CONTINUING CLASHES BETWEEN RIVAL KURDISH FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN -- KNOWN AS THE
P-U-K -- SAYS SOME IRAQI TROOPS REMAIN IN NORTHERN IRAQ. HE SAYS
THE TROOPS ARE HELPING ITS RIVAL, THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
TO OUST P-U-K FORCES FROM TOWNS EAST OF IRBIL, NEAR THE DAM THAT
PROVIDES THE CITY WITH WATER AND ELECTRICITY. THE K-D-P CALLED
ON BAGHDAD FOR HELP LAST WEEKEND TO END P-U-K CONTROL OF IRBIL,
THE SEAT OF THE KURDISH PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
[06] TURKEY/IRAQ (S ONLY) BY EDWARD DE MARCO (ISTANBUL)DATE=9/7/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-202792 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY WANTS TO EXPAND WESTERN PROTECTION IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO INCLUDE A TURKIC MINORITY. THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A TURKISH DECISION TO CREATE A SECURITY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO BLOCK CROSS BORDER RAIDS BY SEPARATIST KURDS. EDWARD DE MARCO REPORTS FROM ISTANBUL. TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER TANSU CILLER TOLD REPORTERS IN ANKARA SATURDAY THAT TURKEY WANTS THE 200-THOUSAND TURKOMANS LIVING IN NORTHERN IRAQ BROUGHT UNDER THE SAME ALLIED PROTECTION GIVEN THE IRAQI KURDS. MRS. CILLER'S REMARKS CAME AFTER A MEETING WITH U-S AMBASSADOR MARC GROSSMAN. BUT THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE U-S REACTION TO THE DEMAND. THE IRAQI TURKOMAN PARTY CLAIMS THAT ABOUT TWO THOUSAND TURKOMANS ARE MISSING FROM ARBIL SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE NORTHERN IRAQI CITY A WEEK AGO BY FIGHTERS OF A KURDISH FACTION AND FORCES OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT SOME TURKISH TROOPS HAVE MOVED INTO IRAQ TO PREPARE A FIVE TO NINE-KILOMETER BUFFER ZONE AIMED AT STOPPING SEPARATIST P-K-K REBELS FROM STEPPING UP ATTACKS ON TURKEY. THE P-K-K, WHICH OPERATES APART FROM THE TWO KURDISH FACTIONS FIGHTING IN NORTHERN IRAQ, HAS BATTLED TURKISH SECURITY FORCES FOR 12 YEARS. THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID IT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THE ZONE
AS LONG AS IT IS A TEMPORARY MEASURE BY TURKEY. BUT FRANCE AND
RUSSIA OPPOSE THE MOVE, HIGHLIGHTING THE DIPLOMATIC HURDLES THAT
ANKARA AND WASHINGTON FACE IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
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