Voice of America, 96-10-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] U.S. / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[03] BOSNIA BOYCOTT (L) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

[04] FRANCE BOMB (S ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] ITALY/POPE (S&L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

[06] WORLD FORUM (L) BY JAN SLUIZER (SAN FRANCISCO)

[01] U.S. / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY HAS ORDERED THE DISPATCH OF FIVE-THOUSAND SOLDIERS FROM BASES IN GERMANY TO ACT AS A COVERING FORCE FOR THE EVENTUAL WITHDRAWAL OF U-S NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INSISTS THE SOLDIERS ARE NOT THE VANGUARD OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN BOSNIA:

TEXT: U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE TROOPS, LARGELY PART OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION, WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH 300 TANKS, 100 ARMORED VEHICLES AND 40 HELICOPTERS. THEY WILL BEGIN MOVING OUT NEXT WEEK AND BE DEPLOYED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

MR. PERRY INSISTS THE TROOPS WILL BE PHASED OUT BY MID-MARCH. HOWEVER, APPEARING BEFORE A HOSTILE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE (THURSDAY), THE SECRETARY DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF U-S PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE NEXT YEAR.

MR. PERRY SAYS THE MATTER OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IS BEING STUDIED BY THE NATO DEFENSE CHIEFS:

WHAT I SAID TO THEM IS THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER U-S PARTICIPATION IF THE STUDY SHOWS IT IS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY.

THE DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN BOSNIA HAS NOT ENDED. FRIDAY, MR. PERRY CITED PUBLISHED REPORTS AS MANY AS 75-HUNDRED U-S TROOPS WILL BE IN BOSNIA AS LATE A MID-MARCH ARE INCORRECT. HE SAYS ONLY ABOUT SEVEN-THOUSAND WILL BE IN COUNTRY BY THE END OF JANUARY, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID REDUCTION TO ABOUT THREE-THOUSAND BY MARCH FIRST AND NONE LEFT BY MID-MONTH. (SIGNED)
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05-Oct-96 12:48 AM EDT (0448 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE DECISION MADE BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO BOYCOTT SATURDAY'S INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE NEW INTER-ETHNIC PARLIAMENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS CARL BILDT, THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR BOSNIA, CALLS IT A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND ACCUSES THE BOSNIAN SERBS OF PLAYING GAMES:

TEXT: A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION VIEWS THE BOSNIAN SERB DECISION AS A MINOR SETBACK TO THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. THE SENIOR U-S ENVOY TO BOSNIA, JOHN KORNBLUM, SAID HE WAS EXTREMELY UNHAPPY AND DISPLEASED BY THE BOSNIAN-SERB DECISION WHICH CARRIES WITH IT CONSEQUENCES:

IT WILL CAUSE US TO RECONSIDER HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE. IT WILL ALSO, OF COURSE, LEAVE A VERY BAD IMPRESSION OF THE COMMITMENT OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA TO THIS PROCESS.

THIS CEREMONY WAS REALLY PRIMARILY IN THEIR (BOSNIAN SERB) INTEREST. IT WAS THEIR POSSIBILITY OF JOINING THE WORLD.

AFTER A DELAY OF SEVERAL HOURS, CROAT AND MUSLIM OFFICIALS WENT AHEAD WITH THE CEREMONY SIGNING AN OATH OF OFFICE COMMITTING THEMSELVES TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND PROTECTING THE INTERESTS AND EQUALITY OF ALL PEOPLES AND CITIZENS. THE 42-MEMBER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE THREE-MAN COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY WERE CHOSEN IN GENERAL ELECTIONS SEPTEMBER 14TH, NINE MONTHS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. (SIGNED)
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05-Oct-96 8:14 PM EDT (0014 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA BOYCOTT (L) BY KAREN COLEMAN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOYCOTT ON SATURDAY OF THE INAUGURAL PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR BOSNIA-HERZAGOVINA PUTS IN DOUBT THE FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS. AND IT DEALT AN EMBARRASSING SETBACK TO THE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE BOSNIAN-SERBS. KAREN COLEMAN REPORTS.

TEXT: THE CEREMONIES FOR BOTH THE THREE MAN PRESIDENCY AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR BOSNIA-HERZAGOVINA WERE DUE TO START SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT SARAJEVO'S NATIONAL THEATER, BUT THEY WERE DELAYED FOR ALMOST THREE AND A HALF HOURS WHILE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS NEGOTIATED WITH MEMBERS OF THE MAIN BOSNIAN SERB PARTY, THE S-D-A (SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY), TO TRY AND PERSUADE THEM TO ATTEND THE EVENT.

A MEMBER OF CARL BILDT'S, INTERNATIONAL MEDIATING TEAM SPENT HOURS WITH THEM THIS MORNING AT PALE, THEIR SELF-STYLED CAPITAL NEAR SARAJEVO, TO TRY AND GET AN AGREEMENT. HE FAILED. SECURITY WAS THEIR EXCUSE. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE COMING TO SARAJEVO.

THE S-D-A MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BOYCOTTED THE EVENT, ALONG WITH THE BOSNIAN-SERB MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENCY MOMCILO KRAJSINIK. CHIEF NEGOTIATOR BILDT DID NOT ACCEPT THEIR EXCUSE.

THEY ARE PLAYING GAMES, BUT THEY HAVE THIS MARVELOUS TENDENCY FOR SHOOTING THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT (TAKING ACTIONS THAT ARE AGAINST THEIR OWN SELF-INTEREST). IT'S REALLY A NATIONAL TALENT. THIS CEREMONY WAS REALLY PRIMARILY IN THEIR INTEREST. IT WAS THEIR POSSIBILITY OF JOINING THE WORLD.

MR. BILDT SAYS IT IS UP TO THE SERBS NOW TO BRING THEMSELVES BACK TO THE PROCESS. HE SAID AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION, THAT COMING TO SARAJEVO IS A MOUNTAIN YET TO CLIMBED OR A VALLEY YET TO BE ENTERED.

THE U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM WAS ALSO PRESENT FOR THE CEREMONIES. HE TOO WAS EXTREMELY ANNOYED AT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND SAID ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN IF THEY CONTINUED WITH THAT ATTITUDE.

THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THIS PEACE PROCESS. IT IS THE BASIS FOR THE BUILDING OF A SOCIETY AND FOR THE BUILDING OF ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AND FOR THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

THE CEREMONIES DID GO AHEAD IN THE END, BUT WITHOUT THE SERB MEMBERS AND THEIR ABSENCE LED TO A SENSE OF SADNESS IN THE THEATER HALL. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT EVENT, AN HISTORIC COMING TOGETHER OF FORMER ENEMIES.

IRONICALLY THOUGH PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC'S INAUGURAL SPEECH WAS A STARK CONTRAST TO THE STAND-OFF POSITION TAKEN BY THE SERBS. HE WELCOMED EVERYONE TO SARAJEVO, INCLUDING THE SERB MEMBERS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT. HE SAID THIS IS YOUR TOWN TOO, SINCE IT IS THE CAPITAL OF BOSNIA-HERZAGOVINA AND HE ANNOUNCED THE DAYS OF EVIL AND MISFORTUNE WERE BEHIND THEM.

BUT THE SERB POSITION TAKEN ON SATURDAY NOW MEANS THE FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS IS IN DOUBT AND IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THE GOVERNMENT BODY CREATED BY THE RECENT ELECTIONS WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AS LONG AS THE SERBS TAKE SUCH A HARDLINE ATTITUDE. (SIGNED)
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06-Oct-96 3:43 PM EDT (1943 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE BOMB (S ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: A BOMB HAS CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CITY HALL OF THE CAPITAL OF THE FRENCH BORDEAUX-WINE-GROWING AREA WHERE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE ALSO SERVES AS MAYOR. NO ONE HAS SO FAR CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY. TWO BOMBS DEFUSED IN THE CITY OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS WERE BLAMED ON BASQUE SEPARATISTS BUT POLICE SAY THEY HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE BASQUES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS RECENT ATTACK. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE BOMB EXPLODED IN THE PALAIS ROHAN, BORDEAUX'S ELEGANT 18TH CENTURY CITY HALL LATE SATURDAY, JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER THE MAYOR, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, HAD BEEN IN THE BUILDING.

MR. JUPPE FLEW BACK TO BORDEAUX FROM PARIS EARLY SUNDAY TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE THAT POLICE SAID WAS CAUSED BY PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES. THEY SAID THREE RECEPTION HALLS WERE GUTTED. AND SOME WORKS OF ART ON DISPLAY IN THE CITY HALL WERE DESTROYED.

FOR MR. JUPPE, IT ADDED TO A LIST OF WORRIES HE HAS TO FACE. LAST WEEK, AN OPINION POLL GAVE HIM 70 PERCENT OF NEGATIVE OPINIONS -- THE LOWEST POPULARITY SCORE EVER REGISTERED FOR A SERVING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER. INSIDE HIS RULING COALITION, SEVERAL LEADING POLITICIANS ARE CALLING FOR HIM TO RESIGN.

BUT IN BORDEAUX, IT WAS THE OPPOSITION SOCIALISTS WHO WERE THE FIRST TO EXPRESS THEIR SYMPATHY AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.

MR. JUPPE BECAME MAYOR OF BORDEAUX IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, JUST A MONTH AFTER HE WAS APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER BY PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. BUT HE HAS HAD TROUBLE OVERCOMING A STIFF PERSONAL STYLE AND HAS NEVER ACHIEVED GREAT POPULARITY WITH THE FRENCH EITHER LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY. (SIGNED)
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06-Oct-96 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ITALY/POPE (S&L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

INTRO: POPE JOHN PAUL HAS ASKED THE WORLD'S ROMAN CATHOLICS TO PRAY FOR HIM AS HE PREPARES TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE HIS APPENDIX. AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS FROM ROME, THE POPE MADE THE APPEAL AT A CEREMONY IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE ONLY HOURS BEFORE HE WAS SCHEDULED TO ENTER A ROME HOSPITAL.

TEXT: THE POPE'S LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE BEFORE ENTERING GEMELLI HOSPITAL WAS AT AN OUTDOOR MASS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE WHERE HE BEATIFIED 16 CANDIDATES FOR SAINTHOOD. THE 76-YEAR-OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC PONTIFF LOOKED TIRED AT TIMES DURING THE CEREMONY LASTING ALMOST THREE HOURS. HE COUGHED WHILE READING HIS HOMILY, HIS VOICE QUIVERED AND HIS LEFT HAND TREMBLED NOTICEABLY.

THE VATICAN HAS NOT COMMENTED ON REPORTS IN ITALY AND FRANCE RECENTLY THAT THE TREMBLING OF HIS HAND MAY BE CAUSED BY A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER SUCH AS PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

THE POPE IS EXPECTED TO UNDERGO SURGERY TUESDAY TO REMOVE HIS APPENDIX, BLAMED FOR THREE BOUTS OF "INTESTINAL FEVER" HE HAS SUFFERED SINCE CHRISTMAS.

ADDRESSING THE MANY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS WHO HAD GATHERED IN WARM AND SUNNY WEATHER, HE SAID, "I AM ASKING YOU TO ACCOMPANY ME WITH YOUR PRAYERS." AND HE SENT HIS WARM GREETINGS TO PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.

JOHN PAUL -- WHO WILL MARK THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PAPACY THIS MONTH -- HAS BEEN A PATIENT AT GEMELLI HOSPITAL FIVE PREVIOUS TIMES.

HE WAS RUSHED THERE IN MAY OF 1981 WHEN A TURKISH GUNMAN WOUNDED HIM DURING AN AUDIENCE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE. HE TWICE UNDERWENT ABDOMINAL SURGERY AT THAT TIME. IN 1992, DOCTORS AT GEMELLI HOSPITAL REMOVED A PRE-CANCEROUS TUMOR FROM HIS COLON. HE RETURNED TO THE HOSPITAL IN 1993 TO HAVE HIS DISLOCATED RIGHT SHOULDER RESET AND AGAIN IN 1994 FOR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY.

DURING THE MASS SUNDAY, THE POPE PROCLAIMED 13 POLISH MARTYRS, A SPANISH AND A POLISH NUN AND THE IRISH FOUNDER OF THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TEACHING ORDER BLESSED -- THE LAST STEP BEFORE SAINTHOOD. (SIGNED)
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06-Oct-96 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] WORLD FORUM (L) BY JAN SLUIZER (SAN FRANCISCO)

INTRO: ABOUT 600 DELEGATES FROM 55 COUNTRIES ARE GATHERED IN SAN FRANSISCO TO EXPLORE GLOBAL ISSUES. THE EVENT IS CALLED THE STATE OF THE WORLD FORUM AND IS SPONSORED BY THE GORBACHEV FOUNDATION. JAN SLUIZER ATTENDED THE SESSIONS SATURDAY AND REPORTS WHAT WAS ON THE MIND OF THE DELEGATES.

TEXT: THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF HAITI, JEAN BERTRAND ARISTIDE, PUT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO A PANEL HE MODERATED.

WHY DEMOCRACY DOESN'T WORK IN SOME COUNTRIES? WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO MAKE IT WORK? HOW CAN WE EMPOWER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THEM WORKING AND MAKE DEMOCRACY MOVE AHEAD?

SITHEMBISO NYONI, HOUSING MINISTER IN ZIMBABWE, SAID THE WORLD WOULD BE MORE DEMOCRATIC IF WOMEN HAD A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN GOVERNMENT AND SHE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL SECURITY.

THAT SECURITY HAS A WAY OF MENDING AND HEALING RELATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN, BEEN BROKEN BETWEEN TWO PARTIES. AND WE CAN'T DO THAT BY SHARPENING AND CREATING MORE ARMS. WE CAN ONLY DO THAT BY CREATING AND SHARPENING RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

AMERICAN MANSOOR IJAZ IS A NUCLEAR PHYSICIST WHO HAS SET UP A FOUNDATION TO HELP IMPROVE THE STANDARD LIVING IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. MANSOOR IJAZ SAYS CORRUPTION IS THE GREATEST THREAT IN THE POST COLD WAR ERA AND A ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEMS.

IT IS MY JUDGMENT THAT THE PROPER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES -- BE THEY MATERIAL OR INTELLECTUAL OR GEOGRAPHICAL -- IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES WE WILL FACE. TOO OFTEN WE HAVE SEEN POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE THIRD WORLD USE THE PLATFORM OF DEMOCRACY TO GET ELECTED, THEN RETURN TO THEIR PATTERNS OF FASCISM TO RULE THEIR FIEFDOMS. // OPT // THE PROBLEM AGAIN STEMS FROM OUR MORAL BANKRUPTCY. THEY CLEARLY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT WE COULD HELP THEM WITH THAT PROBLEM IF WE JUST STRENGTHENED OURSELVES A BIT. // END OPT // WHY DO WE GIVE MONEY TO COUNTRIES WHOSE GOVERNMENTS WE KNOW ARE CORRUPT?

PANELIST ETHAN NADLEMANN DECLARED THE GLOBAL WAR ON DRUGS WASTEFUL AND HARMFUL TO DEMOCRACY.

HE SAYS IT COSTS HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR, HAS EMPOWERED CRIMINAL GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IS BRINGING DOWN GOVERNMENTS AND RIPPING APART COUNTRIES FROM MEXICO AND COLUMBIA TO THE NATIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND THROUGHOUT ASIA AND AFRICA.

DRUGS ARE HERE TO STAY. WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE A DRUG-FREE SOCIETY. INDEED THERE HAS ALMOST NEVER BEEN A DRUG FREE SOCIETY IN CIVILIZED HUMAN HISTORY // OPT //

VIRTUALLY EVERY SOCIETY HAS HAD POWERFUL PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS IN ITS MIDST AND THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE SOCIETIES HAS BEEN NOT TO LEARN HOW TO ERADICATE THOSE DRUGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEM. // END OPT // THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN HOW TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THESE POWERFUL SUBSTANCES. HOW DO WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH DRUGS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY CAUSE THE LEAST POSSIBLE HARM?

THE PANELISTS AGREED THAT EDUCATION IS A KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF DEMOCRACY. THEY SAID THAT MONEY WHICH IS NOW GOING TOWARDS DEFENSE AND WAR SHOULD BE SPENT ON PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO CO-EXIST, TO BE TOLERANT OF EACH OTHER AND TO CREATE JOBS TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THE WORLD'S RICH AND THE WORLD' POOR. (SIGNED)
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06-Oct-96 4:06 AM EDT (0806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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