Voice of America, 96-12-12

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] 96: PEACE CORPS EUROPE / MIDEAST BY DON HENRY (WASHINGTON)

[03] EURO MARKETS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] GERMANY / E-U (L ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

[05] HEARING ON SERBIA (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[06] ROMANIA / GOVERNMENT (S-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

[07] SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

[08] U-S / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

[09] U-S / SERBIA PROTESTS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

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

INTRO: NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL WRITERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NATION ARE REACTING TO THE CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK. AMONG OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED TODAY: SOME NEW INSIGHTS TO RICHARD NIXON'S PRESIDENCY; THE MYSTERY ILLNESS AFFLICTING GULF WAR VETERANS; NATO'S EASTERN EXPANSION; PRESIDENT CLINTON'S POLITICAL ORIENTATION FOR A SECOND TERM, AND A TINY NEW YORK VILLAGE ADJUSTS ITS NAME TO ITS FAMOUS LITERARY HISTORY. NOW, HERE IS _____________________WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THE OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND TAKES A BALANCED VIEW TOWARD THE WASHINGTON VISIT OF A TOP CHINESE GENERAL.

VOICE: "YOU CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CHOSE TO BOYCOTT A BREAKFAST WITH CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER CHI HAOTIAN... WHEN CHI WAS THE CHINESE ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF IN 1989, HE OVERSAW THE BLOODY MILITARY CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTING STUDENTS IN TIANANMEN SQUARE, THE EVENT THAT SOURED U-S-CHINA RELATIONS... BUT IT'S ALSO UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD CONSIDER IT ADVISABLE TO MEET WITH [GENERAL] CHI. HOWEVER MUCH WE DEPLORE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, CHINA IS TOO BIG, TOO POWERFUL AND TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE... IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE MILITARY LEADERS OF THE TWO NATIONS TO MEET AND TALK."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES TAKES A MUCH HARSHER VIEW OF THE CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER, WRITING UNDER THE HEADLINE: "THE BUTCHER OF TIANANMEN SQUARE." THE PAPER SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH CHINA AS AN EMERGING MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL WORLD POWER. BUT DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO BRING CHINESE GENERALS TO TOWN, FETE THEM AND CELEBRATE THEM IN THIS FASHION? AS WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORABLY USED TO SAY ABOUT THE GERMANS, WE SEEM TO BE EITHER AT THE FEET OF THE CHINESE LEADERS OR AT THEIR THROAT. THIS WEEK THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN GROVELING, AND IT IS ENOUGH TO TURN YOUR STOMACH."

TEXT: RICHARD NIXON, THE LATE PRESIDENT WHO MADE HISTORY GOING TO CHINA AND INITIATING CLOSER DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, IS BACK IN THE NEWS BECAUSE NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT HIS PRESIDENCY. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION COMMENTS ABOUT SOME WHITE HOUSE TAPE RECORDINGS MADE PUBLIC RECENTLY.

VOICE: "NO WONDER RICHARD NIXON AND HIS FAMILY FOUGHT A TWO-DECADE-LONG BATTLE TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE OF ADDITIONAL TAPES OF HIS MEETINGS WITH HIS WHITE HOUSE UNDERLINGS. THE RECORDED CONVERSATIONS MADE PUBLIC RECENTLY ARE NEW BLACK MARKS ON HIS ALREADY SULLIED MEMORY... THE LATEST REVELATIONS, ALL FROM 1971, RECORD [MR.] NIXON ON THREE OCCASIONS BEHAVING MORE LIKE A MAFIA DON [CRIME SYNDICATE BOSS] THAN A PRESIDENT, EITHER ORDERING HIS DEPUTIES TO COMMIT ILLEGAL ACTS OR APPROVING THEIR PLANS TO DO JUST THAT."

TEXT: ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT MEDICAL MYSTERIES IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE SOCALLED GULF WAR SYNDROME, WHICH AFFLICTS MANY VETERANS OF THE WAR WITH IRAQ. NOW, IT IS REVEALED THAT THE DEFINITIVE STUDY MADE FOR THE PENTAGON ON THE ILLNESS BY A NOBEL LAUREATE, JOSHUA LEDERBERG, LACKED THE CRUCIAL INFORMATION THAT U-S TROOPS BLEW UP AN IRAQI NERVE GAS DEPOT, POSSIBLY EXPOSING THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO THE POISON. TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD SAYS IT IS TIME FOR AUTHORITIES TO FIND OUT THE FACTS:

VOICE: "THOUSANDS OF G-I'S MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO LOW LEVELS OF THE GAS. THAT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF A RELEVANT STUDY PUBLISHED IN 1979 BY A TEAM OF THREE DISTINGUISHED MEDICAL RESEARCHERS. THEY CONDUCTED THE STUDY 'FOR THE PENTAGON' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ... THESE SCIENTISTS FOUND THAT LOW-LEVEL EXPOSURE TO NERVE GAS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS -- INCLUDING SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE 'GULF WAR SYNDROME' -- EVEN IF THERE ARE NO ACUTE SYMPTOMS AT THE TIME OF EXPOSURE. DR. LEDERBERG WANTS THE ISSUE REOPENED. HE'S RIGHT. THE HEALTH OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS MAY DEPEND ON GETTING TO THE TRUTH."

TEXT: THERE IS ALSO A GOOD DEAL OF EDITORIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND NATO EASTWARD TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES WARNS:

VOICE: "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS BARRELING [HURRYING] TOWARD AN EASTWARD EXPANSION OF NATO BY THE END OF THE DECADE WITHOUT ADEQUATE DISCUSSION WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS. THOUGH THE ISSUE SEEMS REMOTE AND ABSTRACT TO MANY CITIZENS ... NATO EXPANSION WOULD INVOLVE A CRUCIAL POLITICAL AND MILITARY REALIGNMENT OF EUROPE, THE CONTINENT STILL MOST DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE LIKELY TO BE GREAT AND UNPREDICTABLE. [OPT] ... WITH A SHATTERED, IMPOVERISHED MILITARY AND FALTERING ECONOMY, RUSSIA PRESENTS NO MILITARY THREAT TO ITS NEIGHBORS NOW AND WILL NOT FOR YEARS TO COME. THE PROSPECT OF NATO EXPANSION, IF ANYTHING, IS LIKELY TO PUSH MOSCOW TOWARD PRECISELY THE KIND OF REARMAMENT THE WEST FEARS." [END OPT]"

TEXT: TAKING A DIFFERENT VIEW, TODAY'S OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND, OREGON, SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "IF IT'S ALL CAREFULLY MANAGED, NATO'S GROWTH IS A LOGICAL, HISTORICALLY INEVITABLE DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE ORGANIZATION, PERHAPS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALLIANCE IN HISTORY, SHOULD REMAIN TAILORED TO A COLD WAR EUROPE THAT NO LONGER EXISTS."

TEXT: GAZING INTO THE FUTURE, THE SUN IN BALTIMORE TRIES TO ASSESS HOW PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL MANEUVER ALONG THE POLITICAL CENTER DURING HIS SECOND TERM.

VOICE: "HAVING SEIZED ENOUGH OF 'THE VITAL CENTER' TO WIN A SECOND TERM, PRESIDENT CLINTON IN HIS FIRST POST-ELECTION POLICY SPEECH, HAS CAST HIMSELF AS CHIEF PROPRIETOR OF THAT CRUCIAL POLITICAL TURF [AREA]... HIS WILL BE A GOVERNMENT, HE SAYS, THAT IS HARD TO PIGEONHOLE [CATEGORIZE] AS RIGHT OR LEFT, AND AS SUCH WILL BE A FRUSTRATION FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO COMMUNICATE OR DESCRIBE OR (IMPLICITLY) THWART IT... WELL, WE SHALL SEE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE LIGHTER SIDE, A HISTORIC HUDSON RIVER VILLAGE IN NEW YORK STATE, HOME OF THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN MADE FAMOUS BY AUTHOR WASHINGTON IRVING, HAS A NEW NAME. THE BOSTON GLOBE CELEBRATES THE DECISION:

VOICE: "ON TUESDAY, NORTH TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK, [RESIDENTS] VOTED TO BECOME A FICTIONAL PLACE. TURNING OUT IN GREATER NUMBERS THAN ... FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, RESIDENTS OF THIS VILLAGE (POPULATION EIGHT-THOUSAND-152) WHERE WASHINGTON IRVING SET HIS MOST FAMOUS STORIES, VOTED ... TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO "SLEEPY HOLLOW." PROVING THAT THE POWER OF FANTASY IS STRONGER THAN NATIONAL POLITICS AND THAT THE OLD MAGIC STILL WORK IS IN THE HILLS ALONG THE HUDSON... IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT THESE IMAGININGS ARE BEING GIVEN A SPOT ON THE MAP."

TEXT: ON THAT LITERARY NOTE, WE CLOSE THIS SMALL SAMPLING OF COMMENTARIES FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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12-Dec-96 11:06 AM EST (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] 96: PEACE CORPS EUROPE / MIDEAST BY DON HENRY (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PEACE CORPS WILL OPEN A NEW PROGRAM IN JORDAN NEXT YEAR AND ALSO STARTED ONE THIS YEAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. BUT VOA'S DON HENRY REPORTS THE VOLUNTEER AGENCY ALSO WILL BE PULLING OUT OF TWO EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IT ENTERED WITH GREAT FANFARE ONLY SIX YEARS AGO.

TEXT: THE PEACE CORPS BUDGET TOOK ON A NEW LOOK BACK IN 1990 WHEN THE AGENCY BEGAN SENDING VOLUNTEERS INTO EASTERN EUROPE AND THE REPUBLICS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THE PEACE CORPS WAS WORKING IN 18 NATIONS THAT HAD BEEN OFF LIMITS TO IT DURING THE COLD WAR YEARS. AMONG THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGHS WERE IN HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC, BUT PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR MARK GEARAN SAYS THOSE TWO WILL BE PHASED OUT IN THE COMING YEAR.

I THINK WHEN THE PEACE CORPS FIRST WENT INTO THOSE COUNTRIES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, IT WAS CERTAINLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, GIVEN THE FALL OF THE (BERLIN) WALL, AND THE END OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AS WE'VE KNOWN IT. BUT IT WOULD NEVER BE PARTICULARLY A LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENT, AS THE PEACE CORPS STATED AT THAT TIME, AND THAT'S BORN OUT TO BE QUITE ACCURATE. SO IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY, OUR EFFORTS ARE PROCEEDING FOR EVENTUAL PHASE DOWN.

MR. GEARAN SAYS AS PART OF A THREE-YEAR WITHDRAWAL FROM 12 COUNTRIES, PEACE CORPS PLANS TO DEPART HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN AUGUST. HOWEVER, HE HOPES THE PEACE CORPS WILL BE LEAVING SOMETHING OF ITSELF BEHIND -- HOST COUNTRY COLLEAGUES WHO WILL SUSTAIN THE PROGRAMS OR MAYBE EVEN PEACE CORPS-TYPE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL CARRY ON THE WORK.

IN THE CASE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, WE'RE WORKING THERE TO SET UP A VOLUNTEER SERVICE AGENCY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR PEACE CORPS STAFF, SO WE CAN LEAVE BEHIND THE KIND OF LEGACY THAT THE PEACE CORPS WOULD LIKE TO. AND THAT IS PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, PROMOTING SERVICE, PROMOTING GOOD DEVELOPMENT WORK. AND I THINK IN THE CASE PARTICULARLY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC THAT THE INITIAL EFFORTS ARE BEARING SOME GOOD FRUIT.

THE EUROPE REGION GOT A NEW PEACE CORPS ENTRY IN 1996 WHEN A HALF DOZEN TEACHERS OF ENGLISH AND ONE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. NEW IN 1997 WILL BE A PROGRAM IN JORDAN. AFTER 18 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS. MR. GEARAN AND JORDAN'S MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (HAMMAD ABU JAMOUS) SIGNED AN ACCORD IN OCTOBER CALLING FOR ABOUT 25 VOLUNTEERS TO ARRIVE IN 1997.

THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ASSIST WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS WITH INCOME-GENERATING PROJECTS AND VOLUNTEER IN JORDAN'S NEWLY FORMED NATIONAL PARKS, HELPING MANAGE TOURISM.

PEACE CORPS LOST ONE COUNTRY IN THE EUROPE / MEDITERRANEAN REGION IN 1996. SINCE 1962, ABOUT TWO THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS HAVE SERVED IN TUNISIA, WORKING IN AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND TEACHING ENGLISH AND HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES. BUT THE TUNISIA PROGRAM WAS AMONG SEVERAL SHUT DOWN AROUND THE WORLD AS PART OF MR. GEARAN'S BUDGET-TIGHTENING EFFORT. (SIGNED)
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12-Dec-96 2:21 PM EST (1921 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO MARKETS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: KEY STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE REMAIN IN A CAUTIOUS MOOD, WATCHING OTHER EXCHANGES FOR SIGNS OF DIRECTION. PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON HAS THURSDAY'S CLOSING FIGURES.

TEXT: MANY EUROPEAN STOCK EXCHANGES STARTED OFF RATHER BRISKLY THURSDAY, BUT EARLY GAINS WERE TRIMMED AS TRADING WENT ON. FRANKFURT AND LONDON CLOSED WITH SLIGHT GAINS. PARIS WAS OFF JUST OVER A POINT IN MODERATE TRADING.

THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX FINISHED UP JUST OVER SIX POINTS BUT HAD POSTED HIGHER GAINS EARLIER IN THE DAY. FEARS THE U-S DOLLAR MIGHT WEAKEN FURTHER AGAINST THE MARK AND THEREBY AFFECT GERMAN EXPORTS APPEARED TO BE A FACTOR IN FRANKFURT TRADING. HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES 100" INDEX CLOSED UP JUST OVER EIGHT POINTS -- BUT HAD BEEN UP SOME 27 POINTS IN EARLIER TRADING. THE CITY OF LONDON THURSDAY APPEARED TO BE TAKING CUES FROM MARKET ACTIVITY ON WALL STREET.

IN CURRENCY TRADING HERE IN LONDON, THE DOLLAR CLOSED FRACTIONALLY HIGHER AGAINST THE MARK AND FRACTIONALLY LOWER AGAINST THE POUND. THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE IN THE PRICE OF GOLD, WHICH CLOSED AT 368-DOLLARS-45-CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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12-Dec-96 1:05 PM EST (1805 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / E-U (L ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT NATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL AGREE ON WAYS TO ASSURE THE STABILITY OF THE PLANNED EUROPEAN SINGLE CURRENCY. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH IN BONN REPORTS MR. KOHL MADE THE COMMENTS IN A SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT ON THE EVE OF AN E-U SUMMIT THAT OPENS FRIDAY IN DUBLIN.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO THE LOWER HOUSE OF GERMANY'S PARLIAMENT, CHANCELLOR KOHL STRESSED HIS GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO MEET THE STRICT BUDGET CRITERIA LAID DOWN IN THE MAASTRICHT TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION.

BUDGETARY CONDITIONS HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING OF THE ECONOMIC CRITERIA WHICH MUST BE MET BY WOULD-BE PARTICIPANTS. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO CUT SPENDING BY MORE THAN 30-BILLION DOLLARS TO ENSURE THE BUDGET DEFICIT DROPS BELOW THREE PERCENT IN 1997 -- THE YEAR THAT SUITABILITY FOR THE SINGLE CURRENCY IS TO BE JUDGED.

THE CHANCELLOR ALSO SAID THE PLANNED ECONOMIC AND CURRENCY UNION SHOULD GO AHEAD AS PLANNED IN 1999.

CHANCELLOR KOHL ALSO SAID GERMANY DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE MORE SAY THAN OTHER E-U MEMBER STATES IN PLANNING E-U REFORMS. WE DO NOT , HE TOLD PARLIAMENT, SEEK TO EXERCISE HEGEMOMIC INFLUENCE, AS SOME HAVE CHARGED.

SOME E-U MEMBERS HAVE CRITICIZED GERMANY'S PROPOSAL FOR AUTOMATIC PENALTIES FOR COUNTRIES THAT FAIL TO MEET THE STRICT BUDGET CRITERIA ONCE MONETARY UNION HAS TAKEN EFFECT. HEAVY FINES WOULD BE IMPOSED TO DEFEND THE STABILITY OF THE PLANNED SINGLE CURRENCY, WHICH IS TO BE CALLED THE EURO. GERMANY SAYS ITS PLAN WOULD HELP MAKE THE EURO AT LEAST AS STRONG AS THE GERMAN MARK, EUROPE'S BEDROCK CURRENCY.

THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE E-U WILL FIND A SOLUTION THAT WILL SHOW ALL CITIZENS THE DETERMINATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO CREATE A STRONG EURO WITH LONG-TERM STABILITY.

E-U FINANCE MINISTERS DISCUSSED THE ISSUE THURSDAY IN DUBLIN, AND E-U NATIONAL LEADERS BEGIN THEIR TWO-DAY MEETING FRIDAY MORNING. (SIGNED)
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12-Dec-96 9:24 AM EST (1424 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] HEARING ON SERBIA (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A CONGRESSIONAL PANEL HEARD TESTIMONY IN WASHINGTON (THURSDAY) FROM SERBIAN OPPOSITION OFFICIALS ABOUT THE CURRENT TURMOIL IN THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC. PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS THE SERBIANS OUTLINED PLANNED MEASURES TO FORCE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ACKNOWLEDGE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN NOVEMBER'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

TEXT: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (ALSO KNOWN AS THE HELSINKI COMMISSION), CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH, ASKED THE FOUR PANELISTS HOW LONG SERBIANS CAN CONTINUE MASS DEMONSTRATIONS -- NOW IN THEIR FOURTH WEEK. THE FIRST TO TESTIFY WAS MIODRAG PERISIC [MEE-OH-DRAHG PEAR-ISICH], THE NUMBER TWO MAN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OPPOSITION LEADER ZORAN DJINDJIC [ZOR-AHN GIN-GICH]. MR. PERISIC RESPONDED.

WE HAVE TO THINK AND REDESIGN AND REDEFINE OUR PROTESTS. WE HAVE TO SPARE THE ENERGY OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS MOMENT WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF IN THE FUTURE.

MR. PERISIC'S PARTY IS ONE OF THE FOUR IN THE OPPOSITION COALITION KNOWN AS ZAJEDNO (TOGETHER). HE OUTLINED THE OPPOSITION'S FUTURE STRATEGY, INCLUDING MOVING SOME POWER CENTERS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, BELGRADE.

WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO FORM, AND WE HAVE, AN ASSOCIATION OF FREE CITIES IN WHICH THE OPPOSITION WON -- TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA THERE AND TO MOVE SOME ACTIVITIES THERE -- ORGANIZING PARALLEL ORGANS, PARALLEL FORUMS, AND EVEN A PARALLEL PARLIAMENT IN THE FREE CITY OF KRAGUJEVAC, FOR EXAMPLE, OR UZICE.

APART FROM CREATING AN UNDERGROUND GOVERNMENT, MR. PERISIC SAID THE DEMONSTRATIONS WILL CONTINUE ONCE A WEEK INSTEAD OF ON A DAILY BASIS TO CONSERVE PEOPLE'S ENERGY AND MOTIVATION. HE ALSO SAID OPPOSITION POLITICIANS WOULD BEGIN TRAVELLING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHOSE ONLY KNOWLEDGE OF RECENT EVENTS HAS BEEN FROM THE STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA.

IN OTHER TESTIMONY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE INDEPENDENT RADIO B-92, VERAN MATIC, AND A SERBIAN-AMERICAN EXPERT ON THE BALKAN REGION, OBRAD KESIC, PRAISED RECENT STRONG U-S STATEMENTS SUPPORTING SERBIAN DEMOCRACY.

BUT IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM CHAIRMAN SMITH, THE PRESIDENT OF A CONFEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT SERBIAN TRADE UNIONS, BRANISLAV CANAK [CHAN-AHK], AGREED THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING CONFLICTING SIGNALS. HE SAID WHILE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS WIDELY CONSIDERED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WARS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, TODAY HE IS SEEN AS THE GUARANTOR OF PEACE.

I TELL YOU, WE FEEL BETRAYED. WE ALL FELT BACK IN SERBIA BETRAYED BY SEEING MILOSEVIC IN LONDON, IN GENEVA AND PARIS, VERY WELCOMED BY EVERYONE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE. WE UNDERSTAND THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES IN STOPPING THE WAR IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, BUT WE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY THERE WAS SUCH READINESS TO PAY THAT PRICE, YOU SACRIFICED DEMOCRACY (IN SERBIA) TO STOP THE WAR (IN BOSNIA).

ALL FOUR WITNESSES URGED THE UNITED STATES TO CONTINUE PRESSURING PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC BY ENCOURAGING OPPOSITION EFFORTS AND THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. BUT THEY AGREED A RE-IMPOSITION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WOULD ONLY HURT THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA. (SIGNED).
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12-Dec-96 4:37 PM EST (2137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ROMANIA / GOVERNMENT (S-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: ROMANIA'S NEW, NON-COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT TOOK OFFICE THURSDAY AFTER PARLIAMENT APPROVED ITS PROGRAM. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER, VICTOR CIORBEA, WANTS TO SPEED UP ROMANIA'S INTEGRATION INTO THE NATO ALLIANCE AND EUROPEAN UNION.

TEXT: AFTER TAKING THE OATH (OF OFFICE), ROMANIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER -- VICTOR CIORBEA -- SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WANTS TO MOVE TOWARD INTEGRATION INTO NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

HE ALSO PLEDGED TO FIGHT POVERTY, WHICH HAS PUSHED LIVING STANDARDS BELOW THOSE IN OTHER FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, SUCH AS HUNGARY AND POLAND.

MR. CIORBEAU CAME TO POWER AFTER A COALITION OF CENTRIST PARTIES WON LAST MONTH'S PRESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL ELECTIONS. THE VOTE FORCED FORMER COMMUNISTS FROM OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989.

ALSO FOR THE FIRST TIME, A POST-COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT INCLUDES TWO LEADERS OF ROMANIA'S ESTIMATED TWO-MILLION ETHNIC HUNGARIANS.

HUNGARY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID THE FACT THAT HUNGARIANS ARE INCLUDED IN ROMANIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT MAY BOOST BILATERAL TIES.

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE LONG BEEN STRAINED BECAUSE OF DISPUTES ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF HUNGARIANS LIVING IN ROMANIA. (SIGNED)
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12-Dec-96 5:40 PM EST (2240 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY BARRY WOOD (BELGRADE)

INTRO: ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS CONTINUED THURSDAY IN BELGRADE, WITH POLICE TURNING BACK STUDENT MARCHERS WHO SOUGHT TO REACH THE SUBURBAN HOME OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD IN BELGRADE REPORTS THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WAS IN BELGRADE, URGING DIALOGUE BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: IT WAS A DAY IN WHICH THERE WAS A TENSE STANDOFF BETWEEN STUDENTS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED POLICE.

THE STUDENTS, WHO KEEP THEIR PROTESTS SEPARATE FROM THE ZAJEDNO, OR TOGETHER, POLITICAL OPPOSITION, SOUGHT TO DEPART FROM THEIR USUAL ROUTE TO REACH THE HOME OF MR. MILOSEVIC.

A STUDENT MARSHAL DESCRIBES THE CONFRONTATION WITH THE POLICE.

WE TRIED TODAY TO GO TO MILOSEVIC'S HOUSE. BUT THE POLICE WOULDN'T LET US GO. FIVE HUNDRED POLICE IN A CORDON WERE PROTECTING MILOSEVIC'S HOUSE IN THE PRINCE MILOSA STREET. WE TRIED TO GO AROUND BUT THERE WERE FOUR-THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SURROUNDING STREETS. WE DIDN'T SUCCEED IN GOING AROUND.

THE STUDENTS, LIKE ZEJEDNO, DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HONOR NOVEMBER 17TH LOCAL ELECTION VICTORIES BY THE OPPOSITION.

WHILE THE STUDENTS WERE MARCHING, ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI WAS MEETING FIRST WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND THEN WITH LEADERS OF THE ZAJEDNO COALITION.

OPPOSITION LEADER VESNA PESIC SAID MR. DINI'S VISIT WAS CONSTRUCTIVE, BUT SHE SAID THERE CAN BE NO DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE REINSTATED.

HE HAS SOME GOOD INTENTIONS. THAT'S FINE. BECAUSE HE IS SHARING OPINIONS WITH OTHER MINISTERS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION ABOUT THE CRISIS AND THE PROBLEM WHICH RAISED THIS CRISIS, THE ELECTIONS OF THE NOVEMBER 17TH.

MR. DINI SAID THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S ANNULMENT OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS DAMAGES ITS RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. MR. DINI CALLED FOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

WAYS MUST BE EXPLORED AND FOUND TO OPEN A DIALOGUE AND BRING ABOUT A SOLUTION TO THE IMPASSE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED WITH FULL RESPECT TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES THAT ARE AT THE HEART OF ANY INITIATIVES FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBERS.

MR. DINI SAYS HE OPPOSES A REIMPOSITION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA. (SIGNED)
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12-Dec-96 1:17 PM EST (1817 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY MAXIM KNIAZKOV (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE LEADER OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS LIVING IN YUGOSLAVIA IS IN WASHINGTON, ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR HIS INDEPENDENCE DRIVE. V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS THE MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF A PRESIDENT APPEARS TO BE MAKING LITTLE PROGRESS FOR HIS CAUSE IN THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: IBRAHIM RUGOVA CALLS HIMSELF PRESIDENT, A TITLE U-S DIPLOMATS AVOID. INSTEAD, THEY REFER TO HIM AS THE LEADER OF THE ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.

THIS DIPLOMATIC NUANCE BESPEAKS THE KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND KOSOVO ALBANIANS AND SHEDS LIGHT ON THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MR. RUGOVA'S VISIT. ADDRESSING A WASHINGTON AUDIENCE THURSDAY, MR. RUGOVA MADE CLEAR THAT HIS GOAL IS THE PROVINCE'S INDEPENDENCE. HE SPOKE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO ISSUE IS (TO BECOME) AN INDEPENDENT AND NEUTRAL COUNTRY OPEN TOWARD ALBANIA AND SERBIA WITH ALL THE GUARANTEES FOR SERBS LIVING IN KOSOVO AND FOR THEIR INTERESTS IN KOSOVO.

MR. RUGOVA SAID HE WOULD TRY TO WIN SUPPORT FOR THIS PLAN AT A MEETING LATER THURSDAY WITH U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER.

I HAVE COME TO THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR REGULAR AND FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES TO URGE FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVO ISSUE. AND I ASK, I DEMAND, THAT THE NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO IS REWARDED, AS WELL AS THEIR SACRIFICES.

A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, WHO WISHED TO REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED, TOLD V-O-A MR. RUGOVA IS UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE A U-S ENDORSEMENT OF HIS INDEPENDENCE DRIVE.

HE SAID WASHINGTON HAS ALWAYS SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE UNITED STATES OPENED AN INFORMATION CENTER IN PRISTINA, THE REGIONAL CAPITAL. BUT THE OFFICIAL SAID THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO RECOGNIZE THE BORDERS OF THE NEW YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/MAX/CF
12-Dec-96 12:05 PM EST (1705 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] U-S / SERBIA PROTESTS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: HERE IN WASHINGTON, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY STILL SEE NO SIGN THAT SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODON MILOSEVIC IS PREPARED FOR THE DIALOGUE NECESSARY TO END THE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST HIM. A SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADER WAS GIVEN A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT THURSDAY. DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT CONDEMNED WHAT IT SAYS HAS BEEN THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF JAILED PROTESTERS IN BELGRADE AND EFFORTS TO INTIMIDATE MARCHERS. AND IT SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STREETS OF HIS COUNTRY.

THE DAILY PROTESTS IN BELGRADE SPURRED BY THE CANCELLATION OF OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN LAST MONTH'S LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE NOW BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAR BURNS SAYS THAT BY REFUSING TO DEAL WITH THE OPPOSITION, THE SERBIAN LEADER IS WIDENING THE GAP BETWEEN SERBIA AND THE DEMOCRATIC WEST.

HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOLE THAT HE IS DIGGING FOR HIMSELF GETS DEEPER AND DEEPER EVERY DAY. HE'S ISOLATING HIMSELF.

IN A POINTED GESTURE, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT MET AT HIS OFFICE WITH A MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN OPPOSITION COALITION, MIODRAG PERISIC. SPOKESMAN BURNS SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO STRIKE A SYMBOLIC NOTE THAT IT STANDS BY THE OPPOSITION IN ITS BASIC DEMAND THAT THE PEOPLE BE LISTENED TO IN BELGRADE AND THEIR VOTES COUNTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/RRM
12-Dec-96 6:23 PM EST (2323 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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