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Voice of America, 96-12-04 (2 of 2)Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BOSNIA CONFERENCE (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207036 CONTENT=_ VOICED AT: INTRO: A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA HAS OPENED IN LONDON. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS WILL SET TARGETS FOR FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS SIGNED ONE YEAR AGO. TEXT: REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA ARE FOCUSING THEIR ATTENTION ON SUCH ISSUES AS HUMAN RIGHTS, ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION, AND HOW TO GET INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS HANDED OVER TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE CONFERENCE IS TO REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS SIGNED ONE YEAR AGO. MANY EXPERTS AGREE BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN LESS THAN FORTHCOMING IN FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS THEY ACCEPTED AT DAYTON. IN OPENING THE TWO-DAY MEETING, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR MADE CLEAR TO BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES THAT ANY ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL HELP WILL DEPEND ON FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS. /// MAJOR ACT ///WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A SERIES OF DETAILED POLITICAL UNDERTAKINGS FROM BOSNIA'S LEADERS. AND WHAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN RETURN? I THINK IN RETURN, WE WILL UNDERTAKE TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL FURTHER HELP AND RESSOURCES -- BOTH HUMAN AND FINANCIAL. BUT I BELIEVE THIS INTERNATIONAL HELP WILL BE CONDITIONAL UPON THE WILLINGNESS WITHIN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO IMPLEMENT ALL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT. /// END ACT ///BRITISH OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT MUSLIMS, SERBS AND CROATS HAVE BEEN VIOLATING THE DAYTON ACCORDS BY SEVERELY RESTRICTING THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT HANDING IN INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS, AND NOT COMPLYING WITH ARMS REDUCTIONS AGREEMENTS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN HAS LARGELY FALLEN ON THE 60-THOUSAND-MEMBER NATO-LED FORCE THAT IS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE BOSNIA LATER THIS MONTH. THAT FORCE IS EXPECTED TO BE REPLACED BY A SMALLER UNITED -- CALLED THE STABILIZATION FORCE -- THAT IS TO NUMBER ABOUT 30-THOUSAND. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND TOLD BRITISH RADIO HE DOES NOT EXPECT THOSE SOLDIERS TO BE IN BOSNIA INDEFINITELY. /// RIFKIND ACT ///WE WANT TO SEE THE TROOPS OUT. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A LONG-TERM PRESENCE THERE. THE MILITARY SIDE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESFUL. ALL THE TARGETS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE SET ITSELF HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. IT IS THE CIVIL RECONSTRUCTION THAT IS HOLDING THINGS BACK. /// END ACT ///CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET
INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO TRIAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN
THE HAGUE. THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AS TO WHETHER THE NEW
INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN BOSNIA SHOULD BE MANDATED TO ARREST THOSE
INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. MANY HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY
THEY BELIEVE IF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO
TRIAL, THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENTS WILL MEAN NOTHING. (SIGNED)
[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207043 CONTENT=_ VOICED AT: INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE WEDNESDAY ALL REGISTERED DECLINES. FOR A SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY, HERE'S V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH FROM OUR OFFICE IN LONDON. TEXT: THE 30 BLUE-CHIP SHARES TRACKED BY THE GERMAN "DAX" INDEX IN FRANKFURT CLOSED DOWN ALMOST 21 POINTS FOR THE DAY -- THIS, FOLLOWING A RECORD HIGH SET ON TUESDAY. SOME TRADERS SAY A TURN-AROUND WEAKENING OF THE DOLLAR AGAINST THE MARK PROMPTED SOME GERMAN INVESTORS TO TAKE PROFITS FROM STOCKS WEDNESDAY. IN PARIS, THE "CAC-40" INDEX CLOSED DOWN MORE THAN 40 POINTS FOR THE DAY. SHARES OF "EUROTUNNEL" MOVED FORWARD, FOLLOWING BIG DECLINES IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. LIMITED PASSENGER SERVICE THROUGH THE SECOND EUROTUNNEL BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND RESUMED WEDNESDAY. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 SHARES CLOSED
DOWN JUST OVER 16 POINTS. GOLD IN LONDON ADVANCED SOMEWHAT
WEDNESDAY, FOLLOWING A RECENT DECLINE TAKING PRICES TO A
THREE-YEAR LOW. AN OUNCE OF GOLD WAS FIXED AT
369-DOLLARS-50-CENTS. (SIGNED)
[03] HUMAN RIGHTS / EAST EUROPE (L-ONLY-RERUN) BY JILL MOSS (WASHINGTON)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207047 CONTENT=_ // RERUNNING TO ADD DROPPED WORD, GRAF 3 OF TEXT //INTRO: AMONG THE 74 COUNTRIES MENTIONED (WEDNESDAY) IN THE SEVENTH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, TWO REGIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE STAND OUT. V-O-A'S JILL MOSS REPORTS EXTENSIVE COVERAGE IS GIVEN TO ABUSES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC OF CHECHNYA. TEXT: KENNETH ROTH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE U-S BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CONTINUE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA DESPITE THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES. HE SAYS ETHNICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS, EXPULSION AND EVICTION OF CIVILIANS, POLICE BRUTALITY AND RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT REMAIN A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, MR. ROTH SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SQUANDERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE FOR PROSECUTING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAR CRIMES. THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DIRECTOR REPEATED CRITICISM OF THE NATO FORCE IN BOSNIA FOR FAILING TO TAKE STEPS TO CAPTURE CRIMINALS WANTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE. // ROTH ACT //ESTABLISHING THE TRIBUNAL WAS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD, BUT THAT EFFORT WILL BE DEEMED A FAILURE UNLESS THE LEADERS OF THE GENOCIDE IN BOSNIA ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY KNOWS EXACTLY WERE THESE PEOPLE ARE. THEY SIMPLY HAVE LACKED THE POLITICAL WILL AND VISION TO ASSUME THE RISK OF GOING OUT AND ARRESTING THESE PEOPLE. // END ACT //IN THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC OF CHECHNYA, MR. ROTH SAYS, THE FAILURE TO PROSECUTE MILITARY OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED OF CIVILIANS IS ALSO A MAJOR CONCERN. // ROTH ACT //WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING FOR THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROSECUTE AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE MILITARY OFFICIALS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HORRENDOUS SLAUGHTER THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE COURSE OF THE CHECHEN WAR -- PARTICULARLY THE INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING OF GROZNY AND OTHER CHECHEN CITIES. THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SORT OF MAKES NOISES (TALKS) AS IF THEIR DOING THAT, BUT IN FACT THEY'VE DONE NOTHING. // END ACT //THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST SAYS HE FEARS THE WORLD COMMUNITY IS REINFORCING WHAT HE CALLED MOSCOW'S ATTITUDE -- THAT NO PRICE WILL BE PAID FOR THE ATROCITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, EARLIER THIS YEAR THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND GRANTED MOSCOW A 10-BILLION DOLLAR LOAN, AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ADMITTED RUSSIA AS A NEW MEMBER. // OPT //// OPT // ROTH ACT //WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT WITH THE FIRST PROVOCATION, THERE COULD BE RENEWED CONFLICT. AND AT THAT STAGE, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THAT CONFLICT WILL BE ABUSIVE ONCE MORE. (AND) THAT MANY CIVILIANS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TERRIBLE WAY IN WHICH THE WAR WAS FOUGHT. // END ACT // END OPT //TO END HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, MR. ROTH SAYS STRONGER LEADERSHIP IS
NEEDED WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY -- AND EUROPE, JAPAN
AND THE UNITED STATES MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT. (SIGNED)
[04] SERBIAN DEMONSTRATIONS BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-35116 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: DEMONSTRATORS CONTINUE TO FILL THE STREETS OF BELGRADE, PROTESTING THE GOVERNMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE SERBIAN LEADER HAS SHUT DOWN THE INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS AND MADE SOME ARRESTS, WHILE THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED HIM NOT TO CRACK DOWN ON THE LARGELY STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS. ED WARNER REPORTS THE VIEWS OF SOME U-S ANALYSTS. TEXT: ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN NOW IN THIS VOLATILE SITUATION, SAYS MARCO PRELEC OF YALE UNIVERSITY. GRIEVANCES HAVE REACHED A BOILING POINT IN SERBIA. /// PRELEC ACTUALITY ///RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A KIND OF STALEMATE, WITH MILOSEVIC ADOPTING A STRATEGY OF IGNORING THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND HOPING EVENTUALLY THE OPPOSITION WILL TIRE OF THEM AND GIVE UP, AND THE OPPOSITION DAY IN AND DAY OUT BRINGING PEOPLE OUT INTO THE STREETS. AND IT IS SERIOUS BECAUSE EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED TO A DEGREE THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR EITHER SIDE TO BACK DOWN WITHOUT COSTING ITSELF AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRESTIGE. /// END ACT ///A SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT RAND, MARTEN VAN HEUVEN, SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S CANCELLATION OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WON BY THE OPPOSITION MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THE PROTESTS, BUT MUCH MORE IS AT STAKE. /// VAN HEUVEN ACTUALITY ///IN A WAY IT IS SURPRISING THAT WE HAVE NOT RUN INTO THIS EARLIER. THAT IN FACT THERE WAS NOT AN EARLIER MANIFESTATION OF POPULAR DISCONTENT WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN BELGRADE BECAUSE SERBIANS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A VERY BAD PERIOD. AND IT HAS LASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR MOST OF THEM NOW TO HAVE GOT OVER THE HUBRIS OF FEELING THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST THEM AND DOWN TO THE UGLY REALIZATION THAT THEIR LIFE IS A LOT WORSE THAN IT USED TO BE. AND IT IS NOT UNNATURAL TO ASK ONESELF-- WHY AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? /// END ACT ///PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS PUSHED SERBIA'S AGGRESSIVE POLICIES SINCE THE BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAVIA. HE NOW FACES HIS MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE. MR. VAN HEUVEN SAYS THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT HAS THE POLITICAL SKILLS TO SURVIVE, BUT HIS POWER MAY BEGIN TO WANE -- LEADING TO A POLITICAL FUTURE FOR SERBIA THAT IS HARD TO PREDICT. /// VAN HEUVEN ACTUALITY ///THE ONE CERTAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT AND TODAY'S IS THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE MILOSEVIC IN IT. AND MILOSEVIC CARRIES A HUGE AMOUNT OF BAGGAGE THAT HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING OVER THE PAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS. HOWEVER, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG SERBIAN NATIONALISM, AND OTHER SERBIAN LEADERS MIGHT WELL RIDE THAT PARTICULAR TIGER IN AN EFFORT TO PULL SERBIA TOGETHER. SO WE MAY NOT BE RID OF THE PHENOMENON OF SERB NATIONALISM ALL THAT SOON. /// END ACT ///MR. VAN HEUVEN SAYS THERE ARE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS IN SERBIA WHICH SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. BROOKINGS INSTITUTION MILITARY ANALYST MICHAEL O'HANLON AGREES, NOTING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MAY HAVE OUTLIVED HIS USEFULNESS. /// O'HANLON ACTUALITY ///PERHAPS WHEN MILOSEVIC COULD ACTUALLY DELIVER A PEACE ACCORD, HE WAS NECESSARY AND WE HAD TO KIND OF HOLD OUR NOSE AND DEAL WITH HIM. AT THIS POINT WHEN THE PEACE ACCORD IS ALREADY ACHIEVED AND WHEN THE PROSPECTS FOR BOSNIAN RE-INTEGRATION SEEM PRETTY POOR, WITH OR WITHOUT MILOSEVIC, IT MAY BE TIME TO RECONSIDER WHATEVER IMMEDIATE BENEFITS HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE AND START RE-AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC RULE RATHER THAN TO AN INDIVIDUAL. /// END ACT ///MR. O'HANLON SAYS ADHERING TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE MAY BE THE
BEST PRACTICAL POLICY FOR DEALING WITH SERBIA. (SIGNED)
[05] TRIBUNAL / BOSNIA CONFERENCE (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207032 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: JUDGES AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAVE CRITICIZED AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA, CHARGING THAT CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS HAVE DOWNGRADED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRIBUNAL. GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE. TEXT: AS INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES GATHERED IN LONDON WEDNESDAY TO TAKE STOCK OF THE YEAR-OLD BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS, THE TRIBUNAL'S 11 JUDGES MADE KNOWN THEIR DEEP CONCERN THAT THE ISSUE OF COOPERATION WITH THE TRIBUNAL HAD NOT EVEN BEEN INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA. THE TRIBUNAL HAS ISSUED 74 WAR CRIMES INDICTMENTS BUT HAS ONLY SEVEN PEOPLE IN CUSTODY. WITH NO ENFORCEMENT ARM OF ITS OWN, IT MUST RELY ON THE FORMER WARRING PARTIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ROUND UP SUSPECTS. SO FAR, NEITHER HAS BEEN WILLING TO DO THAT. AT THE FIRST BOSNIA PEACE CONFERENCE IN FLORENCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE TRIBUNAL WAS INVITED TO SEND A FULL DELEGATION. THIS TIME, THE JUDGES SAID IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE TRIBUNAL WAS ONLY OBSERVING -- NOT PARTICIPATING. IT SHOWED, THEY SAID, HOW THE TRIBUNAL HAD BEEN DOWNGRADED. THERE WAS ANOTHER SETBACK FOR THE TRIBUNAL WEDNESDAY WHEN ITS SECOND TRIAL -- DUE TO BEING JANUARY 8TH -- WAS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY TO ALLOW PROSECUTORS TO COLLECT MORE EVIDENCE. A BOSNIAN CROAT GENERAL, TIHOMIR BLASKIC, SURRENDERED TO THE TRIBUNAL EIGHT MONTHS AGO. BUT NOW PROSECUTORS SAY THEY NEED MORE TIME TO INVESTIGATE AMENDED CHARGES AGAINST HIM. A DEFENSE LAWYER FOR THE GENERAL TOLD REPORTERS THIS WAS REALLY AN ADMISSION THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AGAINST HIS CLIENT. A FURTHER TRIAL -- THE FIRST INVOLVING ALLEGED BOSNIAN SERB VICTIMS -- IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN LATER IN JANUARY. BUT ONCE IT AND THE TRIAL OF GENERAL BLASKIC ARE FINISHED, THE TRIBUNAL WILL HAVE NO MORE SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY. OBSERVERS SAY IT IS PERHAPS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE NORMALLY
MEDIA-SHY JUDGES FELT THE NEED TO MAKE SUCH A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO
EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE LONDON CONFERENCE. (SIGNED)
[06] U-S/BALKANS (S & L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207041 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS SPONSORING TALKS THURSDAY IN GENEVA, AIMED AT BOOSTING ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION AMONG THE NATIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. BUT THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING, AS WE HEAR FROM DOUGLAS ROBERTS. TEXT: YUGOSLAVIA WAS AMONG THE DOZEN NATIONS INITIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE AT THE U-S DIPLOMATIC MISSION HERE. BUT WASHINGTON WITHDREW THE INVITATION AFTER THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ANNULLED OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN LAST MONTH'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL, BRIEFING REPORTERS WEDNESDAY IN GENEVA, SAID WASHINGTON HOPES YUGOSLAVIA WILL EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO JOIN WHAT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE. BUT HE SAID YUGOSLAV PARTICIPATION AT THIS TIME WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, GIVEN THE POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN BELGRADE AND FEARS THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD RESORT TO VIOLENCE TO END THE MASS STREET DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE PAST TWO-AND-ONE-HALF WEEKS. /// REMAINDER OPT FOR LONG C-R ///U-S OFFICIALS SEE THE MEETING HERE AS THE START OF A DIALOGUE AMONG SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN STATES ON WAYS TO BOOST REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION, AND MAKE THE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FOREIGN INVESTORS. THE INITIATIVE GREW OUT OF AMERICAN POLITICAL AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA, AND THE NEED -- AS ONE SENIOR OFFICIAL PUT IT -- TO LOOK AT THE REGIONAL CONTEXT AND WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS OF DISUNITY AND INSTABILITY THAT HAVE LONG PLAGUED THAT CORNER OF EUROPE. // OPT //THE EUROPEAN UNION IS BACKING THE U-S INITIATIVE, AND E-U
OFFICIALS WILL ATTEND THE MEETING, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE U-N'S ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE WHICH HAS ALREADY
IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS FOR THE SOUTHEAST
EUROPEAN REGION. (SIGNED)
[07] U-S / SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=12/4/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207064 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS RAISING ITS RHETORIC TOWARD THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AND V-O-A WILL BE RELAYING PROGRAMS FROM THE INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION CLOSED DOWN BY THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE AMERICAN RESPONSE TO THE SERB GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN. TEXT: LISTENERS TO THE INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION BEE-92 HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE NOW THAT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS SHUT THE STATION DOWN. THE SERBIAN LANGUAGE BROADCASTS OF V-O-A WILL NOW CARRY BEE-92 PROGRAMMING INCLUDING THE SAME REPORTS THE SERB GOVERNMENT TRIED TO SILENCE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS IS THE LEAST THE UNITED STATES CAN DO FOR SERBS WHO HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE GOVERNMENT MEDIA THAT HAVE IGNORED THE DAILY STREET PROTESTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THE SERB GOVERNMENT WILL NOT TRY TO INTERFERE WITH V-O-A AND OTHER FOREIGN BROADCASTS INTO SERBIA. /// BURNS ACT. ///JAMMING ENDED PROBABLY A LONG, LONG TIME AGO IN THE MIDST OF THE COLD WAR AND I DON'T THINK THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DARE TO JAM VOICE OF AMERICA, DEUTSCHE WELLE OR RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL OR B-B-C, THE FOUR INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS WHICH ARE STILL HEARD FREELY UNJAMMED IN SERBIA. IF THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SHUT OFF ACCESS TO INFORMATION BY SERBIAN RADIO AND T-V STATIONS, THEY GOT TO CONTEND WITH THE FOUR RADIOS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. /// END BURNS ACT. ///MR. BURNS TOOK PART IN AN INTERVIEW WITH BEE-92 CORRESPONDENTS THAT WILL BE HEARD THROUGH THE EXPANDED V-O-A SERBIAN LANGUAGE BROADCASTS. IN LONDON, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT MET WITH SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUTINOVIC AND HAD WHAT MR. BURNS DESCRIBES AS A TOUGH MEETING. /// 2ND BURNS ACT. ///DEPUTY SECRETARY TALBOTT MADE CLEAR TODAY IN LONDON TO MR. MILUTINOVIC THAT THE RECENT ANNULMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IS OBJECTIONABLE. HE WARNED THE FOREIGN MINISTER THAT SERBIA WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE FAMILY OF NATIONS UNTIL THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED DEMOCRATIC REFORMS AND RESPECTED THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS, WHICH INCLUDES FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA. /// END 2ND BURNS ACT. ///MR. BURNS SAYS THE FOREIGN MINISTER PROMISED THAT THE SERBIAN
GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT USE FORCE AGAINST THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT
DEMONSTRATIONS. TO WHICH MR. TALBOTT REPLIED, ACTIONS SPEAK
LOUDER THAN WORDS. (SIGNED)
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