Voice of America, 96-12-10

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BELGRADE DEMOS BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

[03] BELGRADE MEDIA (L ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

[04] CLINTON / NATO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[05] CLINTON / SERBIA (S ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[06] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[07] GERMANY / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

[08] NATO / RUSSIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[09] NATO MINISTERS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[10] SERBIA PROTESTS UPDATE (S) BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

[11] TURKEY / MILITARY (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[12] U-S / CROATIA / SERBIA (L-O) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: MORE AND MORE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS IS DEVOTING EDITORIAL SPACE TO THE DAILY ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN SERBIA. OTHER TOPICS THIS TUESDAY INCLUDE: THE DEBATE OVER THE RELIABILITY OF THE U-S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY; LAST WEEK'S STOCK MARKET TUMBLE; THE U-N INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND (UNICEF) CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY, AND IRAQ IS ALLOWED TO BEGIN LIMITED OIL EXPORTS. NOW, HERE IS ______________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE AND ELSEWHERE IN SERBIA CONTINUE TO HOLD THE ATTENTION OF MANY U-S EDITORIALS WRITERS. HERE IS PART OF TODAY'S COMMENT IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

VOICE: "SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS TRIED EVERYTHING SHORT OF FORCE TO CONVINCE THE THRONGS OF PRO-DEMOCRATIC SERBS TO GIVE UP AND GO HOME. BUT WHILE HE CAN ORDER HIS BROADCASTERS TO TUNE OUT THE DEMONSTRATORS, THERE'S NOT MUCH HE CAN DO ABOUT THE STEADY FLOW OF PICTURES AND REPORTS BEING TRANSMITTED ACROSS THE GLOBE BY SATELLITES, REPORTERS AND THE INTERNET. THE DAYS ARE DISAPPEARING WHEN DICTATORS COULD CHOP DOWN PEOPLE IN A FOREST WITHOUT ANYONE HEARING."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, THE MIAMI HERALD CHEERS THE SERB DEMONSTRATORS, BUT WORRIES ABOUT POTENTIAL BLOODSHED AS THE PROTESTS CONTINUE.

VOICE: "... WITH EACH DAY THE MARCHERS' NUMBERS GROW -- AND SO DOES THEIR CONFIDENCE. IN A WAY THAT RECALLS THE STREET DEMONSTRATIONS THAT BROUGHT AN END TO THE SOVIET BLOC, THEY TALK ABOUT A 'DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION.' AND THEY DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF MR. MILOSEVIC, WHO HAS RULED SERBIA WITH A AUTHORITARIAN GRIP FOR EIGHT YEARS... WITH PROTESTERS PLEDGING TO STAY OUT IN THE STREETS AS LONG AS NECESSARY, THE POTENTIAL FOR BLOODSHED BECOMES GREATER EACH DAY."

TEXT: AND IN THE BOSTON GLOBE, THESE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "WHETHER OR NOT [MR.] MILOSEVIC SURVIVES THE PRESENT CRISIS, THE STIRRING OF HIS OWN PEOPLE TO RID THEMSELVES OF A REGIME THAT HAS SO DISCREDITED THEM IS LAUDABLE. THE DAY THEY ARE RID OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MOST UNWANTED CRIMINAL CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH."

TEXT: AMONG U-S NATIONAL ISSUES, ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT IS A RECENT SENATE COMMISSION STUDY THAT SAID ONE OF THE KEY GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (C-P-I), IS INCORRECTLY CALCULATED. TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR COMMENTS ON THAT:

VOICE: "... A COMMISSION OF ECONOMISTS APPOINTED BY CONGRESS HAS FORMALLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE C-P-O BE ADJUSTED DOWNWARD -- TWICE AS FAR AS ENVISIONED BY THE SENATORS' GROUP. THIS PROPOSAL STIRS SOME OPTIMISM AND CONSIDERABLE CAUTION. OPTIMISM BECAUSE A COMPETENT PANEL OF EXPERTS HAS PUBLICLY HIGHLIGHTED AND EXPLAINED SPECIFIC FLAWS IN THE CURRENT INFLATION NUMBER -- THINGS THAT ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT... NOW THE CAUTION. FIRST, THE COMMISSION MEMBERS ... WERE LARGELY AWARE OF THIS VIEW BEFORE THEIR PANEL STARTED ITS WORK. THERE ARE CREDIBLE EXPERTS ON THE OTHER SIDE TOO, WHO THINK THE CURRENT MEASUREMENT WORKS FINE... FURTHER, ANY ADJUSTMENT IN THE C-P-I SHOULD BE BUT ONE ELEMENT, AND BY NO MEANS THE LARGEST, IN A BALANCED-BUDGET STRATEGY."

TEXT: THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, BEGUN AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF THE 1930'S, IS BASICALLY A GOVERNMENT BENEFIT FUND TO HELP PEOPLE AFTER THEY RETIRE FROM WORK. BUT THE PLAN IS RUNNING OUT OF MONEY AS THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY INCREASES, AND PLANS BEING CONSIDERED TO STRENGTHEN IT ARE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "A FEDERAL ADVISORY PANEL ON SOCIAL SECURITY ENDED ITS DELIBERATIONS WITHOUT COMING TO AGREEMENT ON A PLAN TO SHORE UP THE SYSTEM'S FINANCIAL FUTURE. INSTEAD, IT WILL PRESENT THREE DIFFERENT PLANS, NONE WITH MAJORITY SUPPORT. FORTUNATELY, A GOOD PLAN CAN BE STITCHED TOGETHER FROM THE BEST PARTS OF TWO OF THE THREE PLANS. BUT THE LACK OF CONSENSUS PROBABLY WILL DELAY THE DATE THAT CONGRESS SOLVES THE ENTIRE SOCIAL SECURITY PROBLEM."

TEXT: THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL MARKETS HAVE RALLIED FROM A BRIEF BUT SHARP DECLINE THAT WAS BLAMED ON A SPEECH GIVEN LAST WEEK BY ALAN GREENSPAN, HEAD OF THE U-S FEDERAL RESERVE, THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK. NOW, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE SUGGESTING THE MARKETS FAILED TO HEED CHAIRMAN GREENSPAN'S REMARKS. THE SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS, IN A LEAD EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "WALL STREET SEEMS TO BE EXHIBITING JUST THE KIND OF 'IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE' FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN HAS CAUTIONED AGAINST. IT IS ONE THING TO BE BULLISH. IT IS ANOTHER TO BE BULL-HEADED. AS THE DOW JONES AVERAGE SOARED 82 POINTS YESTERDAY, OBLITERATING THE 55-POINT-DROP THAT FOLLOWED MR. GREENSPAN'S COMMENTS, THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON SAID 'A SIGN OF A SERIOUSLY OVERHEATED [MARKET] IS A WILLINGNESS TO BRUSH SUCH WARNINGS ASIDE.' IT CALLED WALL STREET'S 'INSOUCIANCE' PERHAPS 'THE BIGGEST REASON TO WORRY.'"

TEXT: TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES NOTES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF UNICEF, THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND. IT WRITES, IN PART:

VOICE: "UNICEF WAS FOUNDED AFTER WORLD WAR TWO TO DISTRIBUTE POWDERED MILK TO CHILDREN WHEN FAMINE THREATENED EUROPE... ONE OF ITS FIRST CAMPAIGNS WAS A WISESPREADVACCINATION PROGRAM AGAINST DISEASES SUCH AS YAWS AND TUBERCULOSIS... UNICEF SPENDS A QUARTER OF ITS ONE-BILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BUDGET ON EMERGENCY AID IN CONFLICTS. TODAY'S INTRASTATE ETHNIC CONFLICTS ARE FAR MORE DEADLY TO CIVILIANS THAN WAS WORLD WAR TWO... FOR THE MOST PART, CHILDREN TODAY ARE DRAMATICALLY HEALTHIER, BETTER FED, BETTER EDUCATED AND MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE TO ADULTHOOD THAN 50 YEARS AGO. UNICEF IS ENTITLED TO LOOK BACK WITH SATISFACTION AT ITS ROLE IN THESE ACHIEVEMENTS."

TEXT: IT IS PARTLY BECAUSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING FROM ILLNESS AND MALNUTRITION IN IRAQ THAT THE SADDAM HUSSEIN REGIME IS BEING ALLOWED TO RESUME OIL EXPORTS ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS. UNDER TERMS OF A U-N BROKERED DEAL, THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT IS PERMITTED TO SELL OIL ONLY TO PROVIDE THE IRAQI PEOPLE MUCH-NEEDED FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. NEWSDAY ON LONG ISLAND SAYS THE ACTION COULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF LOWERING WORLD OIL PRICES.

VOICE: "[MR.] BOUTROS-GHALI, NOT THE MOST POPULAR OF STATESMEN AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE THESE DAYS, YESTERDAY GRANTED [SADDAM] HUSSEIN HIS WISH TO SELL OIL FOR FOOD. NOT JUST A TRICKLE, EITHER... [SADDAM] HUSSEIN GETS TO SELL TWO BILLION-DOLLARS WORTH OF OIL EVERY SIX MONTHS TO PURCHASE FOOD AND MEDICINES FOR EMBARGO-SAPPED IRAQIS. WHETHER THE OIL COMPANIES WILL THEN ACTUALLY LOWER PRICES AT THE BARRELHEAD IS ANOTHER QUESTION ALTOGETHER... AMERICANS MIGHT BENEFIT AS WELL FROM THE DEAL, PROVIDING OIL COMPANIES GIVE MARKET FORCES HALF A CHANCE TO WORK..."

TEXT: FINALLY, IN OBSERVANCE OF U-N HUMAN RIGHTS DAY TODAY, THE BOSTON GLOBE CELEBRATES THIS YEAR"S NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS.

VOICE: "... THERE ARE TRIUMPHS TO CELEBRATE ON THIS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. THE CONSTITUTION OF A DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA IS TO BE SIGNED TODAY, THE SAME DAY THAT BISHOP CARLOS BELO AND JOSE' RAMOS-HORTA OF EAST TIMOR RECEIVE THEIR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. IN SOUTH AFRICA AND EAST TIMOR, AS IN BURMA, TIBET, SUDAN AND ALL TOO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, HUMAN RIGHTS REMAIN AN IDEAL THAT SHOULD BROOK NO DEFERRAL."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE END THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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10-Dec-96 10:59 AM EST (1559 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE DEMOS BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

INTRO: DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ARE ENTERING A FOURTH WEEK IN THE SERBIAN CAPITAL OF BELGRADE BEAR. THESE PROTESTS ARE SIMILIAR IN SOME WAYS TO THE DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN MARCH, 1991. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD EXAMINES THE CHALLENGES TO THE SERBIAN LEADER IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT.

TEXT: // SOUNDS OF "VUCE, VUCE" ... FROM DEMONSTRATORS --BRING UNDER AND FADE //

THE CROWD IN BELGRADE'S "TERAZIJE SQUARE" SHOUTS "VUCE, VUCE," THE NICKNAME OF VUK DRASKOVIC, THE MOST POPULAR OF THE PROTEST LEADERS. ON THIS RAW WINTER AFTERNOON, MR. DRASKOVIC'S SOARING RHETORIC AGAIN MOVES THE CROWD, AS IT HAS ALMOST EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS.

ANOTHER PROTEST LEADER IS ZORAN DJINDJIC, // OPT // A HANDSOME POLITICIAN, WHO TYPICALLY WEARS A TURTLE NECK SWEATER AND A BLACK LEATHER JACKET. THE BLOND MR. DJINDJIC OFFERS A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE SLIGHTLY OLDER MR. DRASKOVIC, WHO HAS INTENSE EYES, JET BLACK WHISKERS, AND LONG BUT THINNING BLACK HAIR. // END OPT //

LONG-TIME OBSERVERS REMARK ON THE IRONY THAT THESE SAME TWO MEN LED VERY DIFFERENT DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE SAME SPOT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THOSE HIGHLY CHARGED DEMONSTRATIONS IN MARCH, 1991, WERE BRUTALLY SUPPRESSED AFTER ONE WEEK BY MR. MILOSEVIC'S POLICE. TANKS WERE DEPLOYED ON THE STREETS OF BELGRADE. THESE SAME OBSERVERS SAY THAT WHILE TODAY'S PROTESTS ARE MORE RELAXED, THEY ARE SEEMINGLY MORE DETERMINED, AND COULD POSE A MORE SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO MR. MILOSEVIC. UNLIKE BEFORE, THIS TIME THE POLICE HAVE, SO FAR, STAYED AWAY. THE 1991 DEMONSTRATIONS WERE LARGELY STUDENT PROTESTS, DIRECTED PRIMARILY AT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL OVER THE MEDIA. SHORTLY AFTER SERBIA'S FIRST MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS IN 1990, MR. DRASKOVIC PROTESTED THAT HE AND HIS PARTY HAD BEEN SLANDERED BY STATE-CONTROLLED TELEVISION. // OPT // THEN, AS NOW, STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION, AS WELL AS THE "POLITIKA" NEWSPAPER, ARE FIRMLY CONTROLLED BY THE REGIME. // END OPT //

AS IN THE PAST, THE CURRENT DEMONSTRATIONS ARE DIRECTED AGAINST STATE CONTROL OF THE MEDIA. BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS ELECTION FRAUD. INSTEAD OF DEMANDING THE OUSTER OF STATE MEDIA CHIEFS, AS IN 1991, TODAY'S PROTESTERS DEMAND WHAT THEY WON THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX -- A MAJORITY OF THE SEATS IN BELGRADE'S CITY COUNCIL. IF THE NOVEMBER 17TH RESULTS WERE REINSTATED, MR. DJINDJIC WOULD BE BELGRADE'S FIRST NON-COMMUNIST MAYOR IN 50 YEARS.

MIROLJUB LABUS, THE SECOND IN COMMAND IN MR. DJINDIC'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAYS THE CURRENT PROTESTS ARE AIMED AT WINNING THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE WANT TO INTRODUCE REFORMS HERE, STEP-BY-STEP, STARTING WITH THE LOCAL ELECTIONS FOR CITY HALLS IN THE BIG INDUSTRIAL CITIES, AND THEN PREPARING FOR THE COMING REPUBLIC ELECTIONS. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO FREE THE MEDIA.

BUT THERE ARE SOME EXTRAORDINARY DIFFERENCES FROM 1991. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS COLLAPSING, THE OLD YUGOSLAV FEDERATION OF SIX REPUBLICS STILL EXISTED. THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAD YET TO BEGIN. BELGRADE'S DEMONSTRATORS IN 1991 WERE STRIDENTLY NATIONALISTIC. TODAY, AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF CRIPPLING SANCTIONS, THE COLLAPSE OF THE FEDERATION, AND THE FAILURE OF MR. MILOSEVIC TO ACHIEVE HIS AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVES, EXTREME NATIONALISM IN SERBIA IS LARGELY DISCREDITED.

[03] BELGRADE MEDIA (L ONLY) BY JULIA GLYN-PICKETT (BELGRADE)

INTRO: WHILE SERBIA'S OPPOSITION COALITION CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR OFFICIAL APPROVAL OF ITS LOCAL ELECTION VICTORIES, INDEPENDENT MEDIA ALSO ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL. JULIA GLYN-PICKETT REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JOINED THE EFFORT TO PROTECT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA.

THE HEAD OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, KATHI MARTON, HAS MET WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, SEEKING HIS SIGNATURE ON A DOCUMENT TO GUARANTEE AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PROMISE NOT TO REINTRODUCE MEDIA CONTROLS IN THE FUTURE.

SHE SAID THAT DURING A TWO-HOUR MEETING, MR. MILOSEVIC TORE UP THE DOCUMENT, SAYING IT WAS TOO DETAILED. BUT SHE SAID SHE THEN WROTE A NEW STATEMENT FOR HIM TO SIGN.

THIS IS WHAT I HURRIEDLY WROTE AND WHICH HE DID, IN FACT, SIGN. "IN OUR CONVERSATION TODAY, PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND I, KATHY MARTIN, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, REITERATED OUR SUPPORT OF A FREE PRESS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH AND BROADCAST HERE FREELY."

MRS. MARTON SAID THAT BEFORE MR. MILOSEVIC SIGNED THE STATEMENT, HE DELETED THE WORDS, "WITHOUT CENSORSHIP."

THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF "RADIO BOOM 93," MILORAD TADIC, SAYS HE KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL WHAT CENSORSHIP CAN MEAN. LAST WEEK, HIS RADIO STATION WAS BANNED FROM BROADCASTING IN THE TOWN OF POZAREVAC, AT THE SAME TIME AS BELGRADE RADIO STATIONS B-92 AND INDEX.

POZAREVAC IS A PROVINCIAL TOWN ABOUT 80 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BELGRADE. IT IS BEST KNOWN AS THE BIRTH PLACE OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC.

THE TWO BELGRADE RADIO STATIONS WERE ALLOWED BACK ON THE AIR ABOUT 48 HOURS AFTER BEING BANNED. BUT MR. TADIC SAYS BOOM 93 REMAINS CLOSED.

UNTIL LAST WEEK, WE WERE THE ONLY SOURCE OF INDEPENDENT NEWS IN A SOCIALIST-CONTROLLED TOWN. WE WERE BROADCASTING V-O-A, FREE EUROPE, AND B-B-C AND RADIO B-92 -- AND NOW WE ARE SILENT. MILOSEVIC KNEW THAT B-92 WOULD GET FAR MORE ATTENTION THAN A SMALL PROVINCIAL RADIO. WHEN THE EYES OF THE WORLD WERE ON B-92, HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHUT US DOWN, TOO. EVERYONE THINKS THEY DEFEATED MILOSEVIC BECAUSE B-92 IS BACK ON THE AIR NOW. BUT THEY ARE WRONG, BECAUSE HE NOW HAS ONE LESS STATION TO WORRY ABOUT.

THE DIRECTOR OF BELGRADE STATION RADIO B-92, SASA MIRKOVIC, SAYS THE BATTLE WITH SERBIAN AUTHORITIES IS FAR FROM OVER.

WE WERE VERY RELIEVED TO GET OUR FREQUENCY BACK, BUT IN PRACTICE, WE ARE NO BETTER OFF THAN BEFORE. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A CONTRACT TO REGULATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF OUR TRANSMITTER, RADIO-TELEVISION SERBIA, AND SO WE ARE STILL AT THE MERCY OF MR. MILOSEVIC. IF HE WANTS TO SHUT US DOWN AGAIN, HE CAN. THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOW DEMANDING THAT STATE T-V GIVE US A LEGAL CONTRACT. THIS WAY, WE HAVE SOME LEGAL RIGHTS, SHOULD LAST WEEK'S SITUATION HAPPEN AGAIN.

WHEN RADIO B-92 LOST ITS FREQUENCY, AUTHORITIES ADVISED THE STATION IT SHOULD CEASE TO BROADCAST BECAUSE IT WAS ILLEGALLY USING A TRANSMITTER OWNED BY STATE TELEVISION. WHEN RADIO B-92 WENT BACK ON THE AIR, AUTHORITIES EXPLAINED THAT THE STATE TELEVISION TRANSMITTER HAD NOT BEEN TURNED OFF BUT TEMPORARILY DAMAGED BY HEAVY RAIN. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 7:39 AM EST (1239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CLINTON / NATO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WELCOMED THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS OF A SUMMIT IN SPAIN IN JULY TO IDENTIFY THE FIRST CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE ALLIANCE. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: AT A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY TO MARK INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS QUICK TO WELCOME THE DECISION MADE BY NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS.

TOGETHER THEY AGREED TO HOLD AN HISTORIC NATO SUMMIT IN JULY IN MADRID TO CARRY FORWARD OUR GOAL OF BUILDING A EUROPE THAT IS UNDIVIDED, DEMOCRATIC AND AT PEACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, ONE IN WHICH WE WILL WORK TO FORGE A PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA, ADAPT NATO TO THE DEMANDS OF A NEW ERA, AND INVITE THE FIRST ASPIRING MEMBERS FROM AMONG EUROPE'S NEW DEMOCRACIES INTO NATO. MY GOAL IS TO SEE THEM BECOME FULL MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE FOR NATO'S 50TH BIRTHDAY IN 1999.

THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT ANNOUNCED WHICH COUNTRIES IT WOULD LIKE TO SEE JOIN NATO, BUT POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC THREE NATIONS THAT HAVE HAD MUCH SUCCESS IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM -- ARE WIDELY SEEN AS THE FRONT RUNNERS.

WHILE WELCOMING PLANS FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT, MR. CLINTON ALSO TRIED TO EASE RUSSIA'S CONCERNS THAT EXPANDING THE ALLIANCE REPRESENTS A THREAT TO ITS SECURITY.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, MR. CLINTON SAID NATO HAS NEVER THREATENED ANY OTHER NATION, NOR WOULD AN ENLARGED NATO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. HE ADDED THAT -- IN HIS WORDS -- NATO HAS NO INTENTION, NO PLAN AND NO REASON TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEMBERS.

MR. CLINTON SAID RUSSIA MUST BE INCLUDED IN WHAT HE CALLED THE FABRIC OF EUROPE'S EMERGING COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES. HE SAID EUROPE'S INSTITUTIONS THAT NURTURED PEACE, PROSPERITY AND SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE COLD WAR MUST BE OPENED TO THOSE NEW DEMOCRACIES. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 3:59 PM EST (2059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CLINTON / SERBIA (S ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO RESPECT THE RESULTS OF LAST MONTH'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN HIS COUNTRY. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: IN A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA, PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER IF HE HAD A MESSAGE FOR SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO HAS ANNULLED THE RESULTS OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WON BY THE OPPOSITION.

THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED.

ELECTIONS SHOULD BE RESPECTED, AND THAT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE HEARD. THE HUMAN, POLITICAL, AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE RESPECTED. THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE ITS POSITION CLEAR. NEITHER WE NOR ANYONE ELSE WOULD SEEK TO INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL EVENTS IN SERBIA, BUT OUR SYMPATHIES ARE ALWAYS WITH FREE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO EXPRESS THEIR FREEDOM AND WANT TO HAVE THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR ELECTIONS RESPECTED.

MR. CLINTON'S COMMENTS CAME THE SAME DAY NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS ISSUED A SIMILAR APPEAL TO THE SERBIAN LEADER.

THE UNITED STATES AND ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES HAVE WARNED OF POSSIBLE RENEWED SANCTIONS IF SERBIA FAILS TO RE-INSTATE THE RESULTS OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 6:08 PM EST (2308 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE TUESDAY CLOSED MOSTLY HIGHER. THE GAINS HELPED MAKE UP FOR THE BIG DROP LAST FRIDAY, AS VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS.

TEXT: HIGHER FIGURES IN NEW YORK ENCOURAGED MANY INVESTORS IN EUROPE TO PUT THEIR MONEY INTO STOCKS TUESDAY. KEY STOCK INDEXES IN FRANKFURT AND LONDON WERE UP SHARPLY, HOWEVER PARIS REGISTERED A SLIGHT DECLINE.

THE GERMAN "DAX" INDEX OF 30 STOCKS CLOSED UP ALMOST 34 POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" OR "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX GAINED 24 POINTS AT THE CLOSE. HOWEVER THE PARIS "CAC-40" STOCK INDEX CLOSED DOWN FOUR-AND-A-HALF POINTS.

THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR WAS GENERALLY UNCHANGED AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. NOR WAS THERE MUCH CHANGE IN THE PRICE OF GOLD. CRUDE OIL PRICES, HOWEVER, FELL IN THE WAKE OF IRAQ'S TEMPORARY RETURN TO THE OIL EXPORT MARKET. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 1:18 PM EST (1818 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY / TURKEY (L ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: A HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HAS HONORED A TURKISH WOMEN'S GROUP FOR ITS A CAMPAIGN AGAINST ALLEGED TORTURE AND DISAPPEARANCES OF POLITICAL DISSIDENTS IN TURKEY. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS THE CEREMONY WAS HELD IN BERLIN AS PART OF GERMANY'S OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.

TEXT: TWO MEMBERS OF A TURKISH GROUP NAMED "SATURDAY'S WOMEN" ACCEPTED THE CARL-VON-OSSIETZKY MEDAL, AWARDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE TURKISH GROUP -- MADE UP MAINLY OF WIVES AND MOTHERS OF VICTIMS OF ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TURKEY -- HOLDS VIGILS EVERY SATURDAY IN BUSY DOWNTOWN ISTANBUL. THE GROUP'S MEMBERS SAY THEY ARE PROTESTING THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND, SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MEN AND WOMEN. THE GROUP, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 150 MEMBERS, BEGAN HOLDING ITS VIGILS IN MAY OF 1995. SEVERAL TURKISH POLITICIANS AND OTHER WOMAN GROUPS HAVE GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT TO THE GROUP, HELPING "SATURDAY'S WOMEN" PUBLICIZE ITS CONCERNS IN TURKEY AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE MEDAL AWARDED THE GROUP IS NAMED AFTER GERMAN JOURNALIST CARL VON OSSIETZKY, WHO FOUGHT FASCISM AND WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1935. HE WAS INTERNED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP, AND DIED IN 1938. THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAS AWARDED THE MEDAL SINCE 1962.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CHARGE THAT AT LEAST 400 PEOPLE IN TURKEY HAVE DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE IN THE 1990'S, ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN TURKEY. "SATURDAY'S WOMEN" LIST EVEN LARGER NUMBERS, SAYING 827 PEOPLE HAVE DISAPPEARED AFTER BEING SEIZED BY POLICE IN TURKEY DURING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

TURKEY -- WHICH HOPES TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION WITHIN A FEW YEARS -- HAS REPEATEDLY FACED HEAVY CRITICISM FROM THE 15-NATIOIN BODY FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION "AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL" SAID TUESDAY THAT TURKEY BARRED HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST EREN KESKIN FROM ATTENDING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY OBSERVANCES IN GERMANY. THE TURKISH ACTIVIST SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS IN PRISON LAST YEAR FOR HER FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TURKEY.

AMNESTY SAID ANOTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ALI EKBER KAYA, WAS ALLOWED TO TRAVEL FOR TUESDAY'S EVENTS IN GERMANY. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 6:51 AM EST (1151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NATO / RUSSIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV MEETS WITH NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS THE ALLIANCE'S PLAN TO TAKE IN NEW MEMBERS NEXT JULY, AND TO DRAW UP A CHARTER WITH RUSSIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, MR. PRIMAKOV HAS SOME FAMILIAR CONCERNS.

TEXT: WE TREAT THIS NEGATIVELY -- IS WHAT FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV TOLD SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WHEN HE INFORMED HIM ABOUT NATO'S DECISION TO ADD ONE OR MORE NEW MEMBERS AT THE NATO SUMMIT MEETING NEXT JULY IN MADRID.

THE TWO MINISTERS MET IN ADVANCE OF MR. PRIMAKOV'S MEETING WITH ALL 16 NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. PRIMAKOV DID NOT GIVE MR. CHRISTOPHER HIS REACTION TO THE OPENING OF NATO'S TALKS WITH RUSSIA ON A NEW CHARTER OR THE ALLIANCE'S PLEDGE NOT TO STATION NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE TERRITORY OF THE NEW MEMBERS.

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY INTEREST HERE ON THE PART OF RUSSIA AND NATO TO TALK, BUT I THINK THE RUSSIANS WANT TO HEAR FORMALLY FROM NATO TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) BEFORE THEY ARE PREPARED TO SAY MUCH PUBLICLY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. PRIMAKOV LISTENED TO MR. CHRISTOPHER EXPLAIN THE AMERICAN CRITICISM OF SERBIA'S ANNULMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS BUT THE RUSSIAN MINISTER DID NOT OFFER TO JOIN IN THE WESTERN CONDEMNATION OF SERBIA. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 3:29 PM EST (2029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] NATO MINISTERS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF NATO HAVE SET A SUMMIT MEETING FOR NEXT JULY TO ACCEPT NEW MEMBERS AND THEY HAVE DEPLORED EVENTS IN SERBIA. RON PEMSTEIN HAS DETAILS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS, NATO IS READY TO ACCEPT NEW MEMBERS. IN 1982, SPAIN, A NEW DEMOCRACY JOINED THE ALLIANCE. ON JULY 8TH AND 9TH, A NATO SUMMIT MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE SYMBOLICALLY IN MADRID, TO INVITE ONE OR MORE NEW MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE TO JOIN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS, MEETING HERE AT NATO HEADQUARTERS, ALSO STRONGLY DEPLORED SERBIA'S DECISION TO CANCEL LOCAL ELECTIONS OF NOVEMBER 17TH AND CALLED ON THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE THAT DECISION. THE MINISTERS FORMALLY ENDORSED THE FOLLOW ON FORCE FOR BOSNIA THAT WILL TAKE OVER ON DECEMBER 20TH FROM THE LARGER BOSNIA PEACE FORCE THAT IS STATIONED THERE NOW. THE MANDATE OF THE OLD FORCE REMAINS UNCHANGED.

THE FOCUS OF THE MEETING WAS ON SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE 16 NATIONS TO DECIDE WHICH NATIONS TO INVITE AS NEW MEMBERS

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IN HIS 9TH AND LAST APPEARANCE AT A NATO MEETING PUT NEXT YEAR'S SUMMIT MEETING IN PERSPECTIVE WITH A PLEDGE AIMED AT RUSSIAN CONCERNS.

WE WILL INVITE SOME OF EUROPE'S NEWEST DEMOCRACIES TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO JOIN NATO BY 1999, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIANCE. ENLARGEMENT WILL BRING THESE NATIONS -- THESE NEW MEMBERS -- FULLY, FINALLY AND FOREVER IN HISTORY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY ALLIANCE. TODAY'S MEETING STRONGLY REAFFIRMED NATO'S POLICY THAT IN TODAY'S EUROPE, WE HAVE NO INTENTION, NO REASON AND NO PLANS TO STATION NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE TERRITORY OF FUTURE MEMBERS.

THE PLEDGE SUGGESTED BY RUSSIA DOES NOT HAVE ANY PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE NO LAND BASED NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE STATIONED BY NATO ON ANY OTHER MEMBER'S TERRITORY. HOWEVER, SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE BELIEVES NATO'S PLEDGE IS MEANINGFUL FOR RUSSIA.

AT THE NATO SUMMIT MEETING, THE ALLIANCE ALSO INTENDS TO DEFINE ITS NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IN A CHARTER. NATO IS AUTHORIZING SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT BUT RUSSIA HAS NOT YET AGREED TO OPEN THOSE TALKS.

NATO OFFICIALS MAKE CLEAR THEY HAVE THE GOAL OF COMPLETING AN AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA BY THE TIME OF THE SUMMIT IN JULY BUT THE LEADERS WILL GO AHEAD AND INVITE NEW MEMBERS IRREGARDLESS. POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY ARE COMMONLY TALKED ABOUT AS THE FRONT RUNNERS TO BE ACCEPTED IN THE FIRST ROUND. THERE IS NO TIMETABLE FOR A SECOND ROUND. OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IN TOO MANY NEW MEMBERS BOTH FOR PRACTICAL REASONS AND BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO CREATE A NEW DIVIDING LINE WITH THOSE COUNTRIES NOT ACCEPTED IN JULY.

THE NATO MINISTERS ACCEPTED AN AMERICAN PROPOSAL TO CREATE AN ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL THAT WILL COMBINE THE MILITARY ELEMENTS OF THE CURRENT PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WITH THE POLITICAL NORTH ATLANTIC COOPERATION COUNCIL. SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA SAYS THE NEW BODY WILL TAKE THE BEST OUT OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/CF
10-Dec-96 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] SERBIA PROTESTS UPDATE (S) BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

INTRO: HUGE ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN THE SERBIAN CAPITAL BELGRADE CONTINUED ON TUESDAY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IS IN BELGRADE AND FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: ABOUT 100-THOUSAND DEMONSTRATORS BRAVED THE BITTER WIND TO ONCE AGAIN MARCH THROUGH THE STREETS OF BELGRADE. POLITICAL OPPOSITION SPEAKERS TOLD THE CROWD THEY WERE BOYCOTTING THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT'S NEW SESSION. AGAIN, THE CROWD CHANTED "RESIGN, RESIGN" -- THE REFERENCE DIRECTED TOWARD SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

WHILE THE SERBIAN LEADER GOES ON WITH HIS NORMAL BUSINESS, THE STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA HARDLY TAKES NOTE OF THE PROTESTS. PRO-GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPERS TUESDAY GAVE FRONT-PAGE COVERAGE TO MR. MILOSEVIC'S MEETING WITH LEADERS OF THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO AND HIS PLANS TO BUILD A NEW HIGHWAY BETWEEN BELGRADE AND THE ADRIATIC SEA.

ALSO TUESDAY, YUGOSLAVIA'S FEDERAL COURT REFUSED TO REINSTATE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 17TH LOCAL ELECTIONS, WON BY THE OPPOSITION. THAT ENDS ALL LEGAL CHALLENGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PCF/KL
10-Dec-96 2:40 PM EST (1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] TURKEY / MILITARY (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE TURKISH MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT HAS PURGED 70 OFFICERS ACCUSED OF LINKS WITH ISLAMIC RADICALS AND OTHER OUTLAWED GROUPS. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE THE UPHEAVAL IS PART OF A CRACK DOWN ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER A SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL MEETING THAT WAS CHAIRED BY NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, THE FIRST ISLAMIST WHO HAS HELD THE OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEY.

TEXT: THE LATEST PURGE IS DEEPLY EMBARRASSING TO TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, WHO PROMISED VOTERS BEFORE TAKING POWER THAT HE WOULD PUT AN END TO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE PERSECUTION OF MUSLIM BELIEVERS.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. ERBAKAN'S ABSENCE DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE MILITARY SUPREME COUNCIL MEETING WAS A CLEAR INDICATION OF HIS DISCOMFORT ABOUT THE CONTINUED EXPULSION OF OFFICERS KNOWN TO HAVE PRO-ISLAMIC LEANINGS.

MANY OF THE EXPELLED ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH ISLAMIC SECTS THAT WERE BANNED BY THE FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY, KEMAL ATATURK. EXPERTS SAY THE ISLAMISTS HAVE LONG SOUGHT TO PENETRATE THE MILITARY WHICH REMAINS THE MOST UNASSAILABLE BASTION OF THE SECULARISM IN TURKEY.

IN A SIMILAR MOVE EARLIER THIS YEAR, TURKEY'S SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL PURGED 35 OFFICERS ALSO ACCUSED OF PRO-ISLAMIC LEANINGS. MORE THAN 35 OFFICERS HAVE APPEALED TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE TO OVERTURN THE COUNCIL'S DECISION, AS THEY CANNOT APPEAL TO A DOMESTIC COURT.

MR .ERBAKAN WHO PUT HIS SIGNATURE TO THE DISMISSALS TUESDAY SAID THEY WERE FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS.

ANALYSTS WARN THAT MR. ERBAKAN'S CONCILIATORY APPROACH IS LIKELY TO OFFEND EXTREMISTS WITHIN HIS PARTY, WHO ARE ALREADY DISPLEASED BY A SERIES OF CONCESSIONS HE HAS MADE SINCE COMING TO POWER. THESE INCLUDE RENEWING A MILITARY TRAINING AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL. (SIGNED)
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10-Dec-96 10:51 AM EST (1551 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] U-S / CROATIA / SERBIA (L-O) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS CRITICIZED THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT FOR HONORING A GENERAL -- TIHOMIR BLASKIC -- WHO IS FACING TRIAL AT THE HAGUE FOR WAR CRIMES IN BOSNIA. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS CROATIA'S BEHAVIOR RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS DESCRIBED AS "COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE" THE AWARDING OF MEDAL TO GENERAL BLASKIC, WHO IS DUE TO GO ON TRIAL NEXT MONTH IN THE HAGUE ON CHARGES OF KILLING MUSLIM CIVILIANS DURING THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT.

CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN PRESENTED THE AWARD TO THE GENERAL'S WIFE LAST WEEKEND IN ZAGREB, CITING HIM FOR HIS ROLE IN THE CROATIAN ARMY'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST SERBS IN THE KRAJINA REGION IN 1995.

GENERAL BLASKIC, A FORMER COMMANDER OF A BOSNIAN-CROAT MILITIA, TURNED HIMSELF OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL LAST APRIL AMID STRONG U-S PRESSURE ON CROATIA FOR HIS SURRENDER. HE IS ACCUSED BY THE TRIBUNAL OF A LIST OF ATROCITIES AGAINST MUSLIM VILLAGERS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA DURING BITTER FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHNIC CROATS AND MUSLIMS IN 1993.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAID THE DECISION TO DECORATE THE GENERAL IS HIGHLY NEGATIVE AND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO THE OVERALL BALKANS PEACE PROCESS:

IT'S THE SIGNAL THAT IT SENDS. IT'S THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF SENDING SOMEBODY TO THE HAGUE AND THEN ESSENTIALLY TURNING AROUND AND COMMENDING THEM FOR THEIR MILITARY SERVICE. I THINK THE MOST CHARITABLE THING ONE CAN SAY ABOUT GENERAL BLASKIC IS THAT THE JURY IS OUT ON GENERAL BLASKIC. HE HASN'T HAD HIS TRIAL YET. AND WE THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE HANDING HIM MEDALS AFTER HAVING SENT HIM TO THE HAGUE TO FACE TRIAL.

SPOKESMAN DAVIES ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM -- THE ADMINISTRATION'S DIPLOMATIC POINT MAN FOR THE BALKANS -- WILL RETURN TO THE REGION THIS WEEK.

HE SAID MR. KORNBLUM WILL ATTEND A MEETING OF THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION FORUM IN MOSTAR AND VISIT SARAJEVO. BUT HE CONFIRMED THAT THE ENVOY HAS SCRAPPED PLANS TO VISIT BELGRADE -- IN A FURTHER SIGN OF U-S DISPLEASURE OVER SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S ANNULMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS WON BY THE OPPOSITION.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REITERATED A WARNING TO THE SERBIAN LEADER THAT REPRESSION OF THOSE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST HIS HANDLING OF THE ELECTIONS WILL HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, AND "INEVITABLY" LEAD TO HIS ISOLATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/BD/CF
10-Dec-96 3:53 PM EST (2053 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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