Voice of America, 96-09-09

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA / BRCKO (L ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)

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

[04] SARAJEVO GAMES BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[05] TV BOSNIA (L) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[06] YUGOSLAVIA / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

INTRO: A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS GREETS READERS IN TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COLUMNS, INCLUDING BORIS YELTSIN'S HEALTH AND HIS IMPENDING HEART SURGERY. OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE DISQUIETING SIGNS IN HAITI; THE END OF YEAR-CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA; DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN; THE BOB DOLE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND CONTINUED REPRESSION IN BURMA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD IS CONCERNED ABOUT BORIS YELTSIN'S HEALTH, AND WISHES HIM A SUCCESSFUL HEART OPERATION.

VOICE: "LEADING AMERICAN DOCTORS SAY THAT TOP RUSSIAN DOCTORS' SKILLS AND SUCCESS RATES FOR HEART OPERATIONS ARE 'COMPARABLE' TO U-S FIGURES. [MR.] YELTSIN HAS HAD HEART PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, AND OPERATIONS FOR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS COULD INCLUDE BOTH BYPASS PROCEDURES AND VALVE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE RISKY THAN BYPASS SURGERY ALONE. ..... UNLESS [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN RECOVERS QUICKLY, RUSSIA COULD FACE AN ELECTORAL POWER STRUGGLE... THE WORLD SHOULD WISH [MR.] YELTSIN A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION AND A SPEEDY RECOVERY. RUSSIA NEEDS HIM BADLY."

TEXT: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS SIMILAR, IF NOT EVEN GREATER, CONCERNS.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN LOOKED DECIDELY UNWELL WHEN HE MADE A BRIEF TAPED TELEVISION APPEARANCE TO CONFIRM THAT HE HAS HEART DISEAS... IN FACT [MR.] YELTSIN MAY BE VERY SICK INDEED. A FORMER AIDE SAYS THAT BESIDES HEART DISEASE, [MR.] YELTSIN SUFFERS FROM KIDNEY PROBLEMS, A FAILING LIVER, RECURRENT BOUTS OF DEPRESSION AND MEMORY LOSSES. [OPT] ..... [MR.] YELTSIN HAS ALREADY BEATEN THE ODDS BY EXCEEDING THE LIFE SPAN OF THE AVERAGE RUSSIAN MALE BY SEVEN YEARS... [MR.] YELTSIN IS 65. ... HE MAY CONTINUE TO BEAT THEM BY RECOVERING FROM WHAT IS GENERALLY EXPECTED TO BE BYPASS SURGERY ON TWO OR THREE BLOCKED BLOOD VESSELS. [END OPT] AT BEST, THOUGH, HE FACES MONTHS OF RECUPERATION THAT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM CARRYING OUT THE DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE. THE PROSPECT OF A LONG INCAPACITATION RAISES BASIC POLITICAL PROBLEMS."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE CARIBBEAN, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF DEMOCRACY IN HAITI, WHICH IS BEING THREATENED BY INCREASING VIOLENCE.

VOICE: "TWO YEARS AFTER AMERICAN INTERVENTION RID HAITI OF A MURDEROUS DICTATORSHIP, THE SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARY THUGS OF THAT REGIME ARE SHOWING A NEW BOLDNESS THAT THREATENS HAITI'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT... THE HAITIAN NATIONAL POLICE, ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES, NEEDS MORE ATTENTION. WHILE IT IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE MAFIA OF THUGS IT REPLACED, THE NEW FORCE IS INEFFECTIVE... THE EFFORTS OF THE POLICE WILL NOT MATTER WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE AND FAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM. WASHINGTON SHOULD INTENSIFY AND REDESIGN ITS PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD ONE..."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN SURVEYS THE 104TH CONGRESS, WHICH IS ABOUT TO CONCLUDE ITS FINAL SESSION AND NOTES A DRAMATIC TURNABOUT.

VOICE: "THE FIRST REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 40 YEARS IS INTO ITS FINAL MONTH WONDERING HOW IT COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH ONLY TO WIND UP IN A POLITICAL SHAMBLES. THE G-O-P MAJORITY PUT ITS CONSERVATIVE STAMP ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA YET ENDED UP SO LOW IN PUBLIC ESTEEM THAT IT COULD BE RELEGATED TO MINORITY STATUS ONCE AGAIN IN THE NOVEMBER ... ELECTION. [OPT] SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH, ONCE THE HERO OF MILITANT FRESHMEN, WAS IGNORED AT THE PARTY'S CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO. [END OPT] ... EVEN WHEN REPUBLICANS MODERATED THEIR APPROACH TO PASS COMPROMISE LEGISLATION, THEY WERE OUT-MANEUVERED BY A WHITE HOUSE THAT HAD REPLACED BUMBLING WITH AGILITY."

TEXT: IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN IS A RECURRING TOPIC IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS AND THIS MONDAY IS NO EXCEPTION. USA TODAY SAYS EVEN THOUGH "SADDAM IS A BAD GUY, KILLING HIM IS NO SOLUTION."

VOICE: "SADDAM HUSSEIN IS EASY TO LOATHE. THE IRAQI PRESIDENT MURDERS HIS OWN AS CALLOUSLY AS HE MASSACRES KURDS AND KUWAITIS. HE RESPECTS NO BOUNDARIES AND SPITS ON THE MORES OF CIVILIZED NATIONS. SUCH EVIL EXPLAINS, NO DOUBT, WHY SO MANY AMERICANS SEE NO HARM IN ASSASSINATING SADDAM. [HOWEVER] ASSASSINATIONS CANNOT SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY IN IRAQ... IN FACT, WHOEVER GAINED POWER WOULD LIKELY USE AN ASSASSINATION TO RALLY ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT... MURDERING SADDAM WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS, NOT SOLVE THEM."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC POLITICS, THE BOSTON GLOBE ASSESSES THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN REPUBLICAN BOB DOLE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

VOICE: "BOB DOLE FIRED TWO OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT ASSISTANTS LAST WEEK AND REVAMPED HIS ADVERTISING. THE FIVE-POINT-ONE PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ANNOUNCED FOR AUGUST WILL PROBABLY HAVE A FAR GREATER IMPACT ON THE CAMPAIGN THAN 100 AIDES OR ONE-THOUSAND TELEVISION SPOTS [COMMERCIALS], AND IT WILL NOT BENEFIT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE... PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GOOD NEWS... THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AND INVEST IN THE ECONOMY HAD MORE TO DO WITH JOB CREATION THAN SPECIFIC ACTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. BUT [MR.] CLINTON IS RIGHT TO TAKE CREDIT -- ALONG WITH CONGRESS -- FOR MAKING MAJOR INROADS IN THE BUDGET DEFICIT."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MR. DOLE'S CANDIDACY, IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PERSONNEL SHIFT AT THE TOP OF HIS CAMPAIGN SO NEAR THE ELECTION.

VOICE: "... WE'RE PERPLEXED BY THE DEPARTURE OF MR. DOLE'S AD-STRATEGY TEAM 60 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION... ASIDE FROM THE SUGGESTION OF DISORDER IN A CAMPAIGN THAT BY NOW OUGHT TO BE A SMOOTHLY RUNNING MACHINE IF IT'S TO OVERCOME A 15-POINT DEFICIT, WE WONDER WHETHER THIS WILL MEAN A RETURN TO THE LOOK-BACK-OVER-THE-SHOULDER STYLE OF POLITICS THAT HAS LOST SO OFTEN."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, COMMENT ON THE LATEST POLITICAL REPRESSION IN BURMA FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR:

VOICE: "AS THEY HINT OMINOUSLY OF CRACKING DOWN ON DEMOCRAT AUNG SAN SUU KYI, BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS FALL BACK ON THE TYRANT'S TIRED ARGUMENT AGAINST LIBERTY: 'WHAT IS GOOD IN OTHER COUNTRIES CANNOT BE GOOD IN OUR COUNTRY.' ... DEMOCRACY TAKES ON DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL HUES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. ONE MODEL DOES NOT FIT ALL. BUT CERTAIN FUNDAMENTALS ARE UNIVERSAL: FREE SPEECH, FREE ASSEMBLY, THE FRANCHISE, AMONG THEM. THEY ARE GOOD ANYWHERE, BURMA INCLUDED."

TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THE PAGES OF MONDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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09-Sep-96 10:52 AM EDT (1452 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / BRCKO (L ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)

INTRO: ONE KEY AREA IN BOSNIA'S ELECTION ON SATURDAY IS THE NARROW CORRIDOR LINKING TWO PARTS OF BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTING AS MANY AS 60-THOUSAND SERBS TO CROSS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY -- HALF TO VOTE IN THE TOWN OF BRCKO IN THE CORRIDOR, THE OTHERS TO VOTE IN TOWNS IN WHICH THEY HOPE TO LIVE IN A FUTURE SERB REPUBLIC.

TEXT: OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT A TRAFFIC JAM IN BRCKO ON ELECTION DAY, WITH HUNDREDS OF BUSES BRINGING IN BOSNIAN SERB REFUGEES FROM YUGOSLAVIA.

THESE ARE REFUGEES WHO ARE AFRAID TO RETURN TO THEIR FORMER VILLAGES IN WHAT IS NOW THE CROAT-MUSLIM FEDERATION. THEY WANT TO VOTE, INSTEAD, IN TOWNS WHERE THEY HOPE TO LIVE IN A FUTURE SERB REPUBLIC.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E), WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF BOSNIA'S ELECTION, HAS POSITIONED HUNDREDS OF SUPERVISORS AND ELECTION OBSERVERS AT POLLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

THEY WILL BE ASSISTED BY HUNDREDS OF POLICE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE, WHO WILL BE BACKED UP BY THE NATO IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (I-FOR), IF NECESSARY.

THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E IN BRCKO, EDWARD DAWSON-DAMER, SAID HE DOES NOT EXPECT ANY REAL VIOLENCE IN BRCKO BECAUSE HE DOES NOT EXPECT THAT MUSLIMS WILL VENTURE INTO THE AREA TO VOTE WHERE THEY ONCE LIVED.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THIS AREA IS THE POSSIBILITY OF VAST TRAFFIC MOVEMENT, THE NUMBERS CROSSING THROUGH BRCKO TO GET TO THE WEST. IT IS THE CORRIDOR WHICH IS ONLY A THREE-POINT-EIGHT KILOMETER-WIDE GAP, AND THERE'S ONLY ONE ROAD GOING THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN. AND HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO PASS FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE EAST OF REPUBLIKA SRBSKA HAS GOT TO COME THROUGH BRCKO, AND LOGISTICALLY THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

BEFORE THE WAR, BRCKO HAD A MAJORITY MUSLIM POPULATION, WITH SERBS IN THE MINORITY AND CROATS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. WHICH GROUP CONTROLS THIS AREA IN THE FUTURE IS TO BE DETERMINED BY BINDING ARBITRATION.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS HAVE OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SERBS TO STAKE THEIR CLAIM TO A CORRIDOR THEY CONSIDER THEIR ECONOMIC LIFELINE.

WHILE MUSLIMS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO TRY TO VOTE IN THE FACE OF SUCH A MASSIVE SERB PRESENCE, SEVERAL HAVE ADOPTED A TACTIC OF THEIR OWN TO INFLUENCE HOW MUCH THE CORRIDOR MAY BE WIDENED IN THE FUTURE.

SOME ELECTION OBSERVERS SAY THERE IS ALMOST A MINI-COMPETITION GOING ON BETWEEN SERBS AND MUSLIMS TO SEE WHO CAN BUILD THE MOST HOUSES WHICH EACH WOULD THEN CLAIM HAD BEEN INHABITED ALL ALONG BY ITS OWN ETHNIC GROUP.

BUT MR. DAWSON-DAMER DOES NOT THINK THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT.

THERE IS HOUSING AND RECONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN ZONE OF SEPARATION JUST OUTSIDE, VERY CLOSE TO THE I-FOR CAMP AND THERE IS A LOT OF BUILDING OF HOUSES IN THE ZONE OF SEPARATION.

IN THE END, IT IS THE POSTPONED MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS -- NOT SATURDAY'S FEDERAL ELECTIONS -- WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE ETHNIC MAKEUP OF VILLAGES SUCH AS BRCKO. BUT ELECTION OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT ALL SIDES -- ESPECIALLY THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- ARE HOPING THAT WHERE THEY CAST THEIR VOTE IN THIS FEDERAL ELECTION WILL AUTHENTICATE THEIR CLAIM TO WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE IN THE FUTURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT/JWH/CF
09-Sep-96 1:42 PM EDT (1742 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA HAS WARNED THAT FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT POWER-SHARING BETWEEN THE PARTIES AFTER ELECTIONS THIS SATURDAY WILL LEAD TO WAR. HE SAID STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE WILL BE APPLIED TO ENSURE NATIONALIST POLITICIANS FULLY COMPLY WITH THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: WITH ONLY FIVE DAYS TO GO BEFORE NATION-WIDE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR HERE, SAYS POWER-SHARING UNDER THE CONSTITUTION INCLUDED IN THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT MUST TAKE PLACE, "OR PEACE WILL NOT LAST."

IF WE DON'T IMPLEMENT THE CONSTITUTION, WE ARE LOST AND SO IS PEACE.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IS GOING TO BE THE MOST DECENTRALIZED STATE IN EXISTENCE IN THE WORLD

MR. BILDT INSISTS THAT IN PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS THE SERBS ARE PROMISING TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO BE FORMED AFTER THE ELECTIONS. HE ADMITS SUCH COMMENTS CANNOT BE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE. BUT HE SAYS THE SERBS WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT PARTICIPATION IN THE POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENTS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE, THERE IS GOING TO BE A STRONG INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, AND NOTHING THAT IS NOT THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION WILL BE ACCEPTED. THE COMMITMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION IS ROCK SOLID, ROCK SOLID. IT WILL HAPPEN.

WITH A RETURN TO WAR AS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE, MR. BILDT SAYS A PACKAGE OF INCENTIVES AND DIS-INCENTIVES BACKED UP BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO ENCOURAGE COMPLIANCE BY ALL SIDES. (SIGNED) NEB/DF/JWH/RRM/
09-Sep-96 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] SARAJEVO GAMES BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: SARAJEVO'S ONCE BOMBED OUT OLYMPIC STADIUM WAS IN USE BY DOZENS OF WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES TODAY (MONDAY) IN AN AMATEUR TRACK AND FIELD EVENT. V-O-A'S KYLE KING IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE COMPETITION MARKED ANOTHER STEP IN THE CITY'S RETURN TO NORMALCY AND BROUGHT TEARS TO THE EYES OF THE FANS AND PARTICIPANTS ALIKE.

TEXT: // ACT - MUSIC //

IT WAS THE SONG, "SARAJEVO MY LOVE," THAT BROUGHT SOME OF THE LOUDEST CHEERS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE EVENT, WHICH WAS ORGANIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION. LEYLA, A 22-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, WHO STAYED IN THE CITY THROUGH THE DARKEST DAYS OF BOSNIA'S 43-MONTH WAR, COULD BARELY KEEP THE SMILE OFF HER FACE AS THE ATHLETES PREPARED TO TAKE THE FIELD FOR THE 15 EVENTS ON THE SCHEDULE.

ITS VERY NICE BECAUSE FOR FOUR YEARS WE DON'T HAVE THIS MANIFESTATIONS ORGANIZED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND WE FEEL VERY VERY HAPPY.

SPEAKING TO THE CAPACITY CROWD AT THE STADIUM, HARIS SILADJZ, THE HEAD OF THE BOSNIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, SAID THE EVENT SYMBOLIZED THE RESILANCE OF THE CITY, AND THE PRICE IT PAID DURING THE WAR.

FROM THIS PLACE WHERE WE SIT, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER SAID, YOU CAN SEE THE GRAVES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM AND THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL. IMIR, A FORMER SOLDIER WHO LAST SAW SUCH A LARGE CROWD AT A SOCCER GAME BEFORE THE WAR, COULD HARDLY BELIEVE THE HIS EYES.

BECAUSE I WAS AT THE FRONT LINE NEAR HERE, JUST A FEW HUNDRED METERS FROM HERE, AND ALL THE TIME I JUST SAW THE STADIUM EMPTY AND ALL THE GRENADES ALL AROUND AND IN THAT TIME IT WAS A VERY BAD PICTURE, AND ALL THAT TIME I THOUGHT WILL I EVER SEE THE STADIUM FULL OF PEOPLE, FULL OF CROWDS, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH CRITICISM THAT MOST OF THE WORLD'S TOP ATHLETES DECIDED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION, PRIMO NEBIOLO, DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT, SAYING THE ATHLETES THAT CAME WERE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

U-S OLYMPIC HIGH JUMP STAR CHARLES AUSTIN SAID IT WAS EASY FOR HIM TO DECIDE.

YOU KNOW THIS WAS MY PERSONAL DECISION AND YOU KNOW I'M HERE. AND LIKE I SAY, I WANTED TO SEE IT. I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTRY ON TELEVISION, AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, AND I JUST WANTED TO COME. I FELT IN MY HEART THAT I WANTED TO COME AND BE A PART OF IT.

FOR LUDMILA ENGQUIST, THE FORMER RUSSIAN HURDLER WHO NOW LIVES IN SWEDEN, IT WAS MUCH THE SAME.

YESTERDAY, WHEN I CAME HERE AND SAW THIS CITY, AND I WAS JUST TRYING NOT TO CRY, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS HOW IT WAS HERE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT YOURSELF, YOU UNDERSTAND MORE AND YOU WANT TO HELP.

FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHEERING IN THE STADIUM THAT PLAYED HOST TO THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IN 1984, THE SITE OF GREEN GRASS, WAVING FLAGS AND HOPEFUL YOUNG ATHLETES ON THE FIELD, IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
09-Sep-96 2:16 PM EDT (1816 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TV BOSNIA (L) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIA'S FIRST INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NETWORK, TV-IN HAS FINALLY HIT THE AIRWAVES, PROMISING A LIVELY ADDITION TO THE LARGELY STATE RUN MEDIA. BUT AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW NETWORK HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS GROWING PAINS AND ITS FUTURE IS FAR FROM SECURE.

TEXT: // OPEN WITH THEME OF TV PROGRAM, FADE UNDER ANNCR //

IN THE CONTROL ROOM OF BOSNIA'S NEW INDEPENDENT TV NETWORK, THE EYES OF THE YOUNG STAFF WERE GLUED TO THE TELEVISION MONITORS AS THE NEWS PROGRAM BEGAN ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

JUST ONE DAY OLD, THE LONG PLANNED NETWORK FINALLY BEGAN BROADCASTING ON SATURDAY WITH A SOMEWHAT AMATEURISH NEWS PROGRAM AND A CONCERT BY ROCK STAR TINA TURNER

GORAN MILIC, A FORMER YUGOSLAV TELEVISION REPORTER AND NOW ADVISOR TO THE NEW NETWORK, SAYS THE FIRST DAYS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.

THE FIRST DAY WAS NOT VERY PROFESSIONAL AND THE FIRST TWO WEEKS WILL NOT BE PROFESSIONAL. WE HAVE YOUNG ANCHORMEN AND WOMEN, 20 OR 25 YEARS OLD AND PEOPLE HERE ARE USED TO LOOK AT OLDER MORE EXPERIENCED NEWS EDITORS AND JOURNALISTS SO IF YOU PUT ON A 20 YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A TINY VOICE ITS NOT VERY CREDIBLE.

NEVERTHELESS, THE NEW NETWORK IS COMMITTED TO ITS YOUTHFUL STAFF, WHICH IT HOPES WILL GIVE THE NEWS A FRESH AND INDEPENDENT APPEARANCE.

THE NETWORK, BROUGHT ABOUT WITH AID FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, GROUPS FIVE INDEPENDENT STATIONS IN BOSNIA, TWO IN SARAJEVO, ONE IN ZENICA, ONE IN TUZLA AND ONE IN EAST MOSTAR.

NONE OF THE REGIONS CONTROLLED BY SERB OR CROAT SEPARATISTS TOOK PART IN THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS CONCEIVED OF AS A WAY TO PRESENT AN ALTERNATIVE TO OTHER STATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH NATIONALIST GOALS.

MR. MILIC ACKNOWLEDGES IT WON'T BE EASY FOR THE STATION TO PRESENT BALANCED STORIES TO A COUNTRY THAT IS POLARIZED ALONG ETHNIC LINES.

IF YOU RUN A STORY IN WHICH CROATS IN HERZEGOVINA HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING GOOD, THE MUSLIMS FROM EAST MOSTAR WILL NOT LIKE IT. IF YOU SHOW A STORY THAT MUSLIMS FROM EAST MOSTAR HAVE DONE SOMETHING GOOD THEN THE CROATS WILL NOT LIKE IT. NOW IF YOU WATER (DOWN) THE STORY, IF YOU JUST REDUCE THE STORY TO JUST PURE PICTURES LIKE WE ALMOST DID THE FIRST DAY, THEN ALL THE STORIES ARE NOT SO INTERESTING.

ALTHOUGH THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THE NETWORK'S BROADCASTS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH SMALL PRODUCTION ERRORS, LAST MINUTE SHORTAGES OF MICROPHONES AND PLENTY OF BAD CAMERA SHOTS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS PROVIDED THE PROGRAM WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF MODERN EQUIPMENT.

WITH THE NETWORK STATION'S TRANSMITTERS ALREADY ABLE TO REACH MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY, MR. MILIC SAYS HE EXPECTS THE PROGRAMS TO EVENTUALLY CATCH ON WITH VIEWERS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG.

WELL THE FIRST DAY WE HAD A CONCERT WITH TINA TURNER, SHE'S NOT VERY YOUNG, BUT WE THINK SHE STILL ATTRACTS SOME YOUNG PEOPLE, AND WE ARE RUNNING AND BUYING AND BEING SPONSORED TO BUY COMICS, SOAP OPERA'S AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING WHICH WE BELIEVE WHEN SHOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL INTEREST THE PUBLIC.

ASSUMING THE STATION DOES ATTRACT VIEWERS THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT A NETWORK THAT IS IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH THE STATE RUN TELEVISION.

SOME DIPLOMATS IN SARAJEVO SAY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE TRIED TO BLOCK THE START UP OF THE NEW NETWORK BUT STATION WORKERS NOTE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTERVIEWED BY TV-IN'S NEWS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PROGRAM'S VIABILITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/KL
08-Sep-96 8:28 PM EDT (0028 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGOSLAVIA / CROATIA (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA HAVE ESTABLISHED FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, A MOVE THAT PAVES THE WAY TO IMPROVED TIES BETWEEN THE TWO BIGGEST REPUBLICS IN THE OLD YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE IN BOTH ZAGREB AND BELGRADE.

THE TWO COUNTRIES WERE ENGAGED IN A BRUTAL CONFLICT FIVE YEARS AGO AFTER SLOVENIA AND CROATIA WITHDREW FROM THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. EVER SINCE THE DAYTON ACCORD ENDING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA HAVE BEEN GRADUALLY OVERCOMING THEIR MUTUAL HOSTILITY AND EDGING TOWARDS NORMAL RELATIONS. IN LATE AUGUST THE TWO NATIONS FORMALLY RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER AND PROMISED TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITHIN 15 DAYS. IN ZAGREB, THE HEAD OF THE YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE HANDED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO THE CROATIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER. IN BELGRADE, A SIMILAR CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. THE EXCHANGE OF NOTES MEANS THAT THE TWO REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES WILL BE UPGRADED TO EMBASSIES AND AMBASSADORS WILL BE EXCHANGED. CONSULAR RELATIONS WILL BE EXPANDED AND BORDER CROSSINGS EXPEDITED.

THE CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE ACCORD WILL HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, THE YUGOSLAV-OCCUPIED SECTION OF EASTERN CROATIA THAT IS DUE TO BE HANDED BACK TO CROATIA NEXT YEAR.

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN BELGRADE SAID FORMAL RECOGNITION CONTRIBUTES TO BI-LATERAL COOPERATION AS WELL TO AS PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION.

YUGOSLAVIA, NOW COMPRISING ONLY SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, ALREADY HAS ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIAN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, THE SOUTHERN MOST REPUBLIC IN THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/CF
09-Sep-96 10:57 AM EDT (1457 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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