Voice of America, 97-06-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA TRIAL BY COLIN SOLOWAY (SARAJEVO)

[02] FRANCE AIR SHOW (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[03] ISLAMIC / SUMMIT (S&L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[04] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[01] BOSNIA TRIAL BY COLIN SOLOWAY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A SARAJEVO COURT HAS REJECTED CALLS FOR A RETRIAL OF A BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIER CONVICTED OF MURDERING TWO MUSLIMS EVEN THOUGH THEY LATER TURNED OUT TO BE ALIVE. COLIN SOLOWAY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: SRETKO DAMJANOVIC WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING TWO BROTHERS, KASIM AND ASIM BLEKIC ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER MUSLIMS IN BOSNIA'S FIRST DOMESTIC WAR CRIMES TRIAL IN 1993.

TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER SERB SOLDIER, BORISLAV HERAK, DAMJANOVIC WAS FOUND GUILTY OF GENOCIDE AND WAR CRIMES, AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. IN 1996 HIS LAWYER DISCOVERED THE BLEKIC BROTHERS WERE STILL ALIVE, BUT THE COURT THIS WEEK REFUSED HIS APPEAL FOR A RETRIAL ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO UPHOLD THE CONVICTION ON THE OTHER CHARGES. THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE AGAINST DAMJANOVIC DURING THE ORIGINAL TRIAL WAS THE TESTIMONY OF HERAK THAT TOGETHER THE TWO MEN HAD RAPED AND MURDERED NUMEROUS MUSLIM CIVILIANS AND PRISONERS OF WAR, INCLUDING THE BLEKIC BROTHERS

DAMJANOVIC CLAIMED HE HAD BEEN TORTURED INTO CONFESSING DURING THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS. HIS LAWYER ARGUED THE DISCOVERY THAT THE BLEKIC BROTHERS ARE ALIVE CASTS DOUBT ON ALL OF HERAK'S TESTIMONY AND PROVIDES GROUNDS FOR A RETRIAL ON ALL CHARGES.

DAMJANOVIC'S LAWYER SAYS HE WILL PRESS FOR A RETRIAL WITH THE F SUPREME COURT OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.(SIGNED)
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14-Jun-97 12:59 PM EDT (1659 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] FRANCE AIR SHOW (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: THE LE BOURGET AIR SHOW, ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AICRAFT INDUSTRY DEMONSTRATIONS, OPENED SATURDAY NEAR PARIS. THE FOCUS THIS YEAR IS ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN FIRMS AND WHETHER THEY CAN SURVIVE COMPETITION FROM THEIR HUGE AMERICAN RIVALS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE LE BOURGET AIR SHOW OPENED AT THE AIRPORT WHERE THE AMERICAN PILOT CHARLES LINDBERGH LANDED 70 YEARS AGO AFTER THE FIRST SOLO FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

NOW AMERICAN AVIATION DOMINATES THE SHOW, WHICH TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO YEARS. JUST BEFORE IT OPENED THIS YEAR, JEAN PIERSON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN AIRBUS CONSORTIUM, WARNED THAT THE RECENT MERGER BETWEEN THE AMERICAN PLANEMAKERS BOEING AND MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS ENDANGERS THE SURVIVAL OF HIS COMPANY.

THE CLIMAX TO THE SHOW WILL COME WHEN FRANCE'S NEW SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN MAKES A SPEECH WHEN THE SHOW CLOSES IN ONE WEEK. THEN HE WILL EXPLAIN HIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE AIR AND DEFENSE INDUSTRIES.

THIS IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE, BEFORE HIS SURPRISE ELECTION ON JUNE 1, MR. JOSPIN SAID A LEFTWING FRENCH GOVERNMENT WILL SUSPEND PLANS TO PRIVATIZE FRANCE'S AEROSPATIALE AND DASSAULT PLANE-MAKERS AS WELL AS OTHER DEFENSE FIRMS.

AEROSPATIALE AND DASSAULT WERE ALREADY BEING MERGED AHEAD OF PRIVATIZATION. ONCE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE NEW COMPANY WAS EXPECTED TO STRIKE ALLIANCES WITH OTHER EUROPEAN FIRMS SUCH AS BRITISH AEROSPACE AND GERMANY'S DAIMLEZ BENZ. THE BRITISH AND GERMAN FIRMS AND AEROSPATIALE ARE ALREADY PARTNERS IN THE AIRBUS CONSORTIUM.

OPENING THE LE BOURGET SALON, THE CONSERVATIVE FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC STRESSED HIS OWN PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO PRIVATIZING FRANCE'S PLANEMAKERS AND THE REST OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.

ACCOMPANIED BY FRANCE'S NEW COMMUNIST TRANSPORT MINISTER, JEAN-CLAUDE GAYSSOT, WHO IS A DECLARED OPPONENT OF PRIVATIZATION, MR. CHIRAC SAID DURING A VISIT TO THE STAND OF DASSAULT, THE MAKER OF THE FAMOUS FRENCH MIRAGE FIGHTER, THAT FRANCE MUST KEEP ITS CAPACITY TO MAKE COMBAT AIRCRAFT.

DURING A TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION, PRESIDENT CHIRAC MADE A POINT OF ALSO VISITING BRITISH, GERMAN, CHINESE AND RUSSIAN STANDS. HE DID NOT, HOWEVER, PAY CALLS ON THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS WHO MAKE UP THE GREATER PART OF THE SHOW. (SIGNED)
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14-Jun-97 12:55 PM EDT (1655 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ISLAMIC / SUMMIT (S&L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, HAS INAUGURATED A MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF EIGHT MUSLIM NATIONS AHEAD OF A SUMMIT OF THEIR LEADERS TO BE HELD SUNDAY IN ISTANBUL. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: ADDRESSING THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NEWLY FORMED DEVELOPING EIGHT GROUP OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES -- D-8 FOR SHORT PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN SAID THE ASSOCIATION WOULD ASSUME AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF HUMANITY. THE D-8 BRINGS TOGETHER TURKEY, IRAN, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, EGYPT AND NIGERIA. IT WAS INITIATED BY MR. ERBAKAN WHO HAS LONG SPOKEN OF HIS VISION OF A KIND OF COMMONWEALTH OF ISLAMIC STATES.

THE AIM OF THE NEW GROUPING IS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL TIES AMONG ITS MEMBERS -- A GOAL THAT HAS NOT ELICITED MUCH SUPPORT FROM TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT THAT SEES TURKEY'S FUTURE AS LYING WITH THE WEST.

CRITICS OF THE NEW ORGANIZATION DESCRIBE ITS GOALS AS IMPOSSIBLE TO REALIZE BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DISTANCES SEPARATING MEMBERS AND, IN THE CASE OF MOST, A LOW LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THEY BELIEVE HE AND HIS ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY ARE SEEKING TO SUBSTITUTE TURKEY'S TRADITIONAL PRO-WESTERN POLICIES WITH HIS OWN PRO-ISLAMIC WORLD VIEW. SUNDAY'S SUMMIT IS WIDELY VIEWED BY THE PRO-SECULARISTS AS YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY MR. ERBAKAN TO STEER THE COUNTRY AWAY FROM EUROPE.

BUT MR. ERBAKAN INSISTS THAT D-8 SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS OPPOSING THE WORK OF OTHER GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS. HE SAID COOPERATION BETWEEN ITS MEMBERS CAN YIELD MANY BENEFITS FOR TURKEY, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF TRADE, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. (SIGNED)
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14-Jun-97 11:26 AM EDT (1526 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT A NEW DEAL IN WASHINGTON AIMED AT PAYING OFF MOST OF THE U-S DEBT TO THE ORGANIZATION; SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN APPOINTS THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND AS HIS NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS; THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FORMALLY INVITES GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS TO MEET NEAR NEW YORK JULY NINTH TO ATTEMPT TO SETTLE THEIR DECADES-LONG DISPUTE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE UNITED STATES OWES IT ONE-POINT-FOUR-BILLION DOLLARS. U-S LEGISLATORS SAYS THE U-S DEBT IS JUST OVER 800-MILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS MERELY THE TIP OF THE CONTROVERSY PITTING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGAINST WASHINGTON.

THE U-S SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE STRUCK A DEAL THIS PAST WEEK ARRANGING FOR PAYMENTS OVER THREE YEARS, PROVIDED THE UNITED NATIONS MEETS SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ALONG THE WAY. THE ENTIRE CONGRESS EVENTUALLY IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT AND MAKE IT U-S LAW.

SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE PLAN. HE CAUTIONS THAT THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS THAT BELONG TO THE UNITED NATIONS MAY NOT FIND IT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION AND MAY WELL RESENT BEING DICTATED TO BY THE CONGRESS.

MY SENSE IS, ON QUITE A LOT OF ISSUES, THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE TO COME AND NEGOTIATE AND DISCUSS WITH THE OTHER MEMBER STATES. IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR U-S DIPLOMACY. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE EXPECTS THAT CONGRESS CAN MAKE DECISIONS AND IMPOSE THEM UNILATERALLY ON THE OTHER 184-MEMBER STATES.

U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON AGREES IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE. HE IS PLANNING ON VISITING VARIOUS CAPITALS TO TRY TO GARNER SUPPORT FOR THE U-S POSITION. HE SAYS IT'S THE BEST AGREEMENT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION COULD GET FROM THE CONGRESS.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE PERSUASION. BUT IT'S OUR VIEW NOW WE HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CONGRESS TO PAY THE ARREARS THAT WE CAN MOVE AHEAD ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE U-S OBJECTIVES. ADMITTEDLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL.

THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE IT PAYS OF THE U-N BUDGET. GOVERNMENTS AT THIS POINT ARE SAYING WASHINGTON MUST FIRST PAY ITS DEBT BEFORE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE ANY CHANGES.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN HAS SELECTED IRISH PRESIDENT MARY ROBINSON AS THE NEXT HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE OTHER SINCE THE JOB WAS CREATED THREE YEARS AGO JOSE AYALA LASSO OF ECUADOR, WHO RESIGNED TO BECOME FOREIGN MINISTER.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MADE CLEAR HE WAS LOOKING FOR A STRONG LEADER WITH INTERNATIONAL STATURE WHO CAN DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS THAT I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING DURING MY TERM. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

MARY ROBINSON IS STILL PRESIDENT OF IRELAND. HER TERM DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL DECEMBER. BUT SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN HAS ASKED HER TO ASSUME HER NEW POST BY SEPTEMBER. APPARENTLY, MRS. ROBINSON IS WILLING TO DO THAT.

THE UNITED NATIONS HOLDS UP THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S JOB AS A SIGN THAT IT PLANS TO PURSUE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS WITH INCREASING VIGOR AS THE ORGANIZATION MOVES TOWARD THE 21ST CENTURY.

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IT IS NOW OFFICIAL. THE CYPRIOTS ARE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES IN JULY TO TRY TO END THE DIVISION OF THEIR ISLAND-NATION. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SENT OUT FORMAL INVITATIONS TO THE LEADERS OF THE GREEK AND TURKISH COMMUNITIES ON CYPRUS, FIXING A YET UNDISCLOSED, SECLUDED LOCATION OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY FOR THE TALKS.

PREVIOUS SECRETARIES-GENERAL HAVE TRIED TO MEDIATE A SETTLEMENT TO NO AVAIL. THE TWO COMMUNITIES REMAIN DIVIDED ETHNICALLY SINCE TURKISH TROOPS INVADED IN 1974 IN RESPONSE TO A GREEK CYPRIOT COUP IN THE CAPITAL, NICOSIA, SUPPORTED BY GREECE.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN HAS SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE CYPRUS TOWARD A SOLUTION THIS YEAR. NEXT YEAR, CYPRUS ENTERS INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE EUROPEANS ARE DEMANDING A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FIRST. (SIGNED)
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13-Jun-97 7:10 PM EDT (2310 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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