Voice of America, 97-05-31

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT-CROATIA UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

[02] ALBRIGHT / CROATIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

[03] ALBRIGHT / SERBIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

[04] ALBRIGHT / TUDJMAN BY RON PEMSTEIN (ZAGREB)

[05] FRANCE ELECTIONS (S/L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] ALBRIGHT-CROATIA UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS MET SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE AND CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN IN ZAGREB. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, SHE BROUGHT BOTH OF THEM TOUGH MESSAGES.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT BEGAN HER DAY IN ZAGREB, TELLING PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO LET CROATIAN SERB REFUGEES SAFELY RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA.

SHE THEN FLEW TO A VILLAGE IN NORTHERN KRAJINA WHERE SHE HEARD STORIES FROM SERBS OF INTIMIDATION AND BEATINGS FROM CROATS WHEN THEY TRIED TO RETURN HOME EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT LATER CONFRONTED CROATIA'S MINISTER OF RECONSTRUCTION ABOUT A LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN PROTECTING REFUGEES.

IT IS THE FACT THE GOVERNMENT AT THE TOP IS THINKING THAT THESE KIND OF THINGS ARE NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FLEW HERE TO TELL SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THAT SERBIA CANNOT HAVE NORMAL RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES UNTIL IT COOPERATES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KL
31-May-97 12:58 PM EDT (1658 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBRIGHT / CROATIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS MEETING SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE AFTER EARLIER IN THE DAY CONFRONTING CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN ABOUT LETTING CROATIAN SERBS RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE USED PUBLIC PRESSURE ON HER VISIT TO CROATIA.

TEXT: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS BEEN A REFUGEE IN HER LIFETIME AND SHE COULD IDENTIFY WITH THE STORIES SHE HEARD FROM THE TWO MIXED MARRIAGE COUPLES WHO DECIDED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME VILLAGE IN NORTHERN KRAJINA.

THEY HAVE BEEN BEATEN, INTIMIDATED AND HARASSED BY BOSNIAN CROATS WHO MOVED INTO THE VILLAGE IN 1995 WHEN CROATIA RE-CAPTURED KRAJINA FROM REBEL SERBS. THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE LISTENED WITH EVIDENT HORROR TO THEIR STORY AND TOLD THEM THEY ARE WHAT CROATIA NEEDS TO BUILD A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY.

AFTER THE SADNESS, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT BECAME ANGRY. SHE STORMED OUT OF THE FARMHOUSE AND WITH FURY CONFRONTED CROATIA'S MINISTER OF RECONSTRUCTION WHO HAD BEEN WAITING FOR HER OUTSIDE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD LET THIS HAPPEN. THESE PEOPLE HAVE A VERY SIMPLE STORY. THEY DID NOT PROVOKE. THEY CAME HERE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD COME FROM THIS PLACE AND I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.

MINISTER JURE RADIC PROTESTED, TELLING THE SAME STORY PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN HAD GIVEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE EARLIER IN THE DAY. HE CONTENDS THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE INTIMIDATION OF THE COUPLE AND THAT THEY ARE SAFE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE REJECTED THE MINISTER'S EXPLANATION.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING. IT'S WORSE THAN THAT. IT IS THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AT THE TOP IS THINKING THAT THESE KIND OF THINGS ARE NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN IN ZAGREB WAS DESCRIBED BY HER AIDES AS TOUGH AND FRANK. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS COULD NOT REMEMBER SUCH A VIGOROUS ARGUMENT DURING MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S FOUR MONTHS IN OFFICE. WHEN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TOLD REPORTERS SERBS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN SAFELY TO CROATIA, THE SECRETARY OF STATE QUICKLY INSISTED AFTER THE INTERPRETATION THAT SHE DISAGREED.

HAD THAT BEEN THE CASE, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, THE CROATIAN AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED, OR AT LEAST WOULD HAVE ENDEAVORED TO PREVENT, SUCH UNTOWARD DEVELOPMENTS BUT AS A WHOLE, AND LET ME REMIND YOU OF THE EXAMPLE OF 14 THOUSAND SERBS WHO ALREADY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK WE CAN BE SATISFIED WITH THE STATE OF AFFAIRS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN NO MAJOR INCIDENTS, SUCH AS THE ONE IN KOSTUNICA.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CAME BACK QUICKLY.

I DISAGREED WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ON THIS SUBJECT AS A PART OF WHAT WAS CLEARLY A VERY FRANK DISCUSSION AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND CROATIAN SERBS WHO WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES ARE ABLE TO DO SO.

IF THERE IS NO CHANGE IN CROATIAN POLICY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANRNED PRESIDENT TUDJMAN, THERE WILL BE A DELAY IN CROATIA WINNING COMPLETE SOVREIGNTY OVER EASTERN SLAVONIA. THE UNITED STATES MAY ALSO TRY TO BLOCK INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND LOANS FOR CROATIA. THE SECRETARY OF STATE CALLED ON PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO EXERCISE HIS "MORAL LEADERSHIP" IN ALLOWING CROATIAN SERBS TO RETURN. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/CB/KL
31-May-97 12:56 PM EDT (1656 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBRIGHT / SERBIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BELGRADE)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAD TWO TOUGH MEETINGS SATURDAY, THE FIRST WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CROATIA, THE SECOND WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SERBIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, SHE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT DESCRIBES HER MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AS PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST SHE HAS HAD WITH ANY PRESIDENT. ON THE ISSUE OF COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SHE SAYS THE SERBIAN LEADER AVOIDED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS SHE WILL NOT GO AWAY.

OUR CONCERNS ARE NOT GOING AWAY. WE WILL NOT BE DETERRED BY THE POLITICS OF DENIAL AND DELAY IN BELGRADE. WE WILL PRESS AS HARD AS IT TAKES AND AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO, PROTECT THE GAINS OF PEACE IN THIS REGION AND TO MAKE THEM LAST.

[04] ALBRIGHT / TUDJMAN BY RON PEMSTEIN (ZAGREB)

INTRO: VISITING SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT HAS HAD WHAT HER AIDES CALL A TOUGH AND FRANK MEETING WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN ABOUT CROATIA'S POLICY TOWARD THE RETURN OF SERB REFUGEES. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM ZAGREB THEY ARGUED PUBLICLY ABOUT THE FACTS.

TEXT: CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN PLEDGES TO ALLOW ALL SERBS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA, BUT SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT OPENLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BURNING OF HOUSES AND ATTACKS ON SERBS WHO TRY TO RETURN.

I DISAGREE WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ON THE SUBJECT AS A PART OF WHAT WAS CLEARLY A VERY FRANK DISCUSSION AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THAT CROATIAN SERBS WHO WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES ARE ABLE TO DO SO.

PRESIDENT TUDJMAN SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RECENT ATTACKS ON SERBS, BUT SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT QUICKLY RESPONDED THAT PRESIDENT TUDJMAN MUST SHOW MORAL LEADERSHIP

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT NOW VISITS THE KRAJINA REGION WHERE THE ATTACKS OCCURRED BEFORE DELIVERING AN EQUALLY TOUGH MESSAGE TO SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVICH IN BELGRADE. (SIGNED)
NEB/TM/KL
31-May-97 8:10 AM EDT (1210 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] FRANCE ELECTIONS (S/L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE VOTES SUNDAY TO CHOOSE A NEW PARLIAMENT IN THE FINAL ROUND OF ELECTIONS THAT LOOK LIKE BEING A CLOSE DUEL BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: NEVER IN RECENT HISTORY HAS FRANCE KNOWN SUCH A TENSE VOTE. WHEN FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC DISSOLVED PARLIAMENT IN APRIL AND CALLED EARLY ELECTIONS, IT SEEMED CERTAIN THAT HIS CONSERVATIVE COALITION WOULD WIN.

BUT TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE THE SOCIALIST-COMMUNIST OPPOSITION ALLIANCE TOOK A LEAD OF SIX POINTS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF ELECTIONS TO THE 577-SEAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAST SUNDAY. NOW, AFTER PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION, THE BATTLE IN THE SECOND AND FINAL ROUND WILL BE BETWEEN LIONEL JOSPIN, THE SOCIALIST PARTY CHIEF, AND PHILIPPE SEGUIN, THE SPEAKER OF THE OUTGOING PARLIAMENT. MR. SEGUIN EMERGED TO TAKE OVER THE RIGHT'S CAMPAIGN WHEN MR. JUPPE DROPPED OUT. HE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE PRIME MINISTER IF THE CONSERVATIVES DO FINALLY WIN. (OPT FOR LCR) THE PUBLICATION OF OPINION POLLS IS BANNED (BY LAW) IN THE FINAL WEEK OF ANY FRENCH ELECTION CAMPAIGN BUT TWO NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE FLOUTED THIS LAW IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. ALL THE POLLS THEY PUBLISH GIVE THE LEFT AN ADVANTAGE. THE SAME POLLSTERS WERE PREDICTING A CONSERVATIVE VICTORY UNTIL A WEEK AGO.

BY THE END OF CAMPAIGNING FRIDAY, SOME OF THE POLLS SHOWED A SLIGHT SWING TO THE RIGHT. THE KEY TO THE VOTE COULD BE IN THE HANDS OF THE 32 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO ABSTAINED LAST WEEK, AS WELL AS THE NEARLY 15 PERCENT WHO VOTED FOR THE EXTREME RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT AND THE FIVE PERCENT WHO CAST BLANK BALLOTS.

THOUGH THE CAMPIGN OFFICIALLY ENDED FRIDAY, THE POLITICIANS DID NOT DISAPPEAR FROM VIEW.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC HAD LONG PLANNED TO ATTEND THE FINAL OF FRANCE'S RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP IN PARIS. TO BOOST MR. SEGUIN'S CHANCES IN THE VOTE, HE INVITED HIM ALONG TOO. WHEN MR. JOSPIN HEARD OF THIS, HE ALSO REQUESTED A PLACE IN THE PRESIDENT'S TRIBUNE. THE RESULT WAS THAT LEADERS OF THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SAT TOGETHER IN FULL VIEW OF TELEVISION CAMERAS FOR TWO HOURS ON THE EVE OF THE VOTE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/DW/KL
31-May-97 10:24 AM EDT (1424 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article