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Voice of America, 97-09-14Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BOSNIA VOTE (L) O'NITER BY ART CHIMES (SARAJEVO)DATE=9/14/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-219863 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE TWO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS COME TO AN END AND THE INTERNATIONAL THAT SUPERVISED THE VOTE SAYS THAT DESPITE RELATIVELY MINOR PROBLEMS IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. TEXT: OFFICIALS SAY THE TURNOUT WAS VERY HIGH, THOUGH THE EXACT NUMBER WANT BE KNOW UNTIL LATER, AND IT WILL BE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL TALLY IS AVAILABLE BUT THE MAN IN CHARGE ROBERT FROWRICK CREDITS THE SUCCESSFUL VOTE TO THE CONCEPTS OUTLINE IN THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. /// FROWRICK ACT ///IN POLITICES IS THE WILL TO DRIVE THE PROCESS FORWARDLY, HAPPILY DEMONSTRATED THAT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. /// END ACT ///DESPITE SCATTERED INCIDENTS MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S TWO AND A HALF MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. ELECTIONS SPOKESMAN DAVID FOLEY SAYS THERE WAS NO ELECTIONS RELATIVE VIOLENCE AGAINST ANYONE WHICH HE DESCRIBE AS "SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE." THE FOCUS IS NOW ON IMPLEMENTING THE RESULTS OF THE TWO DAY BALLOTING. IN MANY MUNICIPALIZES MEMBERS OF ONE ETHNIC GROUP WILL HAVE THE MAJORITY EVEN THOUGH CURRENT POPULATION IS DOMINATED BY ANOTHER GROUP. THAT'S BECAUSE VOTERS WERE ABLE TO VOTE IN THEIR PREWAR HOME AND ETHNIC CLEANSING HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE ETHNIC MAKE-UP OF MANY MUNICIPALIZES. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THESE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS WILL BE ABLE TO GOVERN. AMBASSADOR FROWRICK IS PERHAPS UNDER STATING THE DIFFICULTIES
WHEN HE SAYS A "FORMABLE CHALLENGE" LIES AHEAD. (SIGNED)
[02] BOSNIAN SERB / ELECTION ASSESSMENT (L) BY PAM TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)DATE=9/14/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-219859 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ELECTION OFFICIALS IN THE SERB REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WERE NEARLY EUPHORIC IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THIS WEEKEND'S TWO-DAY MUNICIPAL ELECTION. OF THE FEW DISRUPTIONS REPORTED, NONE WAS SAID TO BE VIOLENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS FROM BANJA LUKA. TEXT: // NATURAL SOUND, FADES UNDER TEXT //OUTSIDE A POLLING STATION IN A BRITISH-BUILT SCHOOL IN MRKONIC GRAD IN THE WESTERN SERB REPUBLIC, A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN EVIDENT GOOD HUMOR STOOD PATIENTLY IN LINE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS. BEFORE THE WAR, MRKONIC GRAD HAD A SMALL POPULATION OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS. EACH GROUP FOUGHT THE OTHER AT DIFFERENT PHASES IN THE WAR, UNTIL THE SERBS CONQUERED THE REGION. TODAY, AMERICAN ELECTION MONITOR PEGGY JANE BARKER OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, SAYS THEY HAVE NEARLY BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TO VOTE. MS. BARKER SAYS THE YOUNG, THE ELDERLY AND EVEN SOME WHO APPEARED TOO SICK TO VOTE ON A COLD AND RAINY DAY (SUNDAY) ALL SEEMED DETERMINED TO EXERCISE THIS DEMOCRATIC RIGHT IN THE HOPE THAT A CHANGE OF POLITICIANS WILL CHANGE THEIR BITTER LUCK. // BARKER ACT //AND HERE TODAY, THEY (THE VOTERS) STARTED COMING BEFORE 7 O'CLOCK WHEN WE OPENED -- AND IT HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY 100 PER HOUR. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT HAS NOT STOPPED THE ENTIRE DAY. // END ACT //MRKONIC GRAD IS LOCATED HALFWAY BETWEEN BANJA LUKA AND THE TOWN OF DRVAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BOSNIA'S INTER-ETHNIC BOUNDARY. THE MOST SERIOUS POLLIING DISTRUPTIONS WERE NOTED IN DRVAR, WHICH HAD A SERB MAJORITY BEFORE THE WAR BUT IS NOW IN CROAT HANDS. NATIONALIST LEADERS THERE STAGED A VOTING SLOWDOWN THIS WEEKEND TO TRY TO PREVENT SERBS FROM VOTING. THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E -- RESPONDED TO THE VOTING IRREGULARITIES BY ADDING TWO EXTRA POLLING STATIONS AND KEEPING THE POLLS OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THE DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR THE O-S-C-E -- JOHAN VERHEGEN -- SAID PRE-ELECTION REGISTRATION FIGURES SHOW WHAT HE BELIEVES THE FINAL ELECTION RESULTS WILL PROVE. AND THAT IS, HE SAYS, THAT THE MAJORITY OF BOSNIANS WANT TO RETURN TO THE PLACES TO WHERE THEY LIVED BEFORE THE WAR. // VERHEGEN ACT //THE NATIONALISTS, THE UN-DEMOCRATIC FORCES, THE PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, THEY ALL HAVE RESISTED THIS PROCESS. THEY HAVE TRIED TO BLOCK THE ELECTIONS, THEY TRIED TO BOYCOTT THESE ELECTIONS AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO DISRUPT THESE ELECTIONS. BUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WILL BE HEARD. // END ACT //MR. VERHEGEN SAYS THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVE ETHNIC DIVIDES ARE AS
DEEP AS EVER IN BOSNIA ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO THINK AGAIN.
(SIGNED)
[03] BOSNIAN SERB VOTE (S ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (BANJA LUKA)DATE=9/14/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-219843 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: DAY TWO OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BEGAN QUIETLY AND PEACEFULLY, WITH A RELATIVE HIGH TURNOUT OF VOTERS IN THE SERB REPUBLIC. ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SINGLE REPORT OF VIOLENCE, SO FAR. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION REMAINS TENSE AROUND THE CROAT HELD TOWN, DRVAR, SOUTH OF BANJA LUKA AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR: TEXT: ABOUT ONE THOUSAND SERB REFUGEES REMAIN STRANDED IN BUSES ON THE ROAD TO DRVAR ON THIS COLD AND RAINY SUNDAY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE SERB REPUBLIC. THE BANJA LUKA SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E -- JOHAN VERHEGEN, SAYS THE PROBLEM IS NATIONALIST CROAT LEADERS IN DRVAR. HE SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO PREVENT SERB REFUGEES FROM VOTING AND, THEREBY, POSSIBLY RETURNING SOME DAY. // VERHEGEN ACTUALITY //THIS WAS A MASSIVE EXERCISE IN THE RIGHT TO RETURN, BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO DRVAR TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE FEDERATION WHERE THEY CAME FROM. // END ACTUALITY //MR. VERHEGEN SAYS AN EXTRA MOBILE POLLING STATION HAS BEEN SET UP
OUTSIDE DRVAR AND VOTING HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED TO INSURE THOSE
WHO ARE LEGALLY REGISTERED MAY VOTE. (SIGNED)
[04] NORTHERN IRELAND (S-ONITER) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (BELFAST)DATE=9/14/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-219854 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POLITICAL TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND BEGIN LATER TODAY (MONDAY), AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA IN BELFAST. TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, REPRESENTATIVES OF SINN FEIN -- THE POLITICAL WING OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY -- WILL TAKE PART IN TALKS ON NORTHERN IRELAND. THE PARTY SECURED ITS PLACE AFTER THE I-R-A CEASE-FIRE IN JULY AND AFTER SINN FEIN OFFICIALS SIGNED UP TO PRINCIPLES OF NON-VIOLENCE AND DEMOCRACY. HOWEVER, TWO SMALL PRO-BRITISH -- OR UNIONIST -- PARTIES SAY THEY WILL BOYCOTT THE NEGOTIATIONS. THEY BELIEVE SINN FEIN IS NOT SINCERE IN ITS COMMITMENT TO FOREGO VIOLENT METHODS TO SECURE ITS POLITICAL GOALS. THE LARGEST PARTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND -- THE ULSTER UNIONISTS --
STILL HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TAKE PART -- AND IT WILL DO SO
JUST HOURS BEFORE THE TALKS BEGIN. SENIOR PARTY OFFICIALS HAVE
SIGNALED THEY WILL PARTICIPATE -- BUT THEY ARE STILL DECIDING
WHETHER THEIR PARTICIPATION WILL INCLUDE FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH
SINN FEIN REPRESENTATIVES. (SIGNED)
[05] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=9/13/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-219832 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AS VOTING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS CONTINUES TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR A SECOND DAY, THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS LOOKING FOR WIDESPREAD PARTICIPATION AS AN AFFIRMATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE CHIEF AMERICAN ARCHITECT OF THE ACCORDS WARNS THE PEACE PROCESS REMAINS BEHIND SCHEDULE: TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKEMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOSNIA'S TWO AND ONE-HALF MILLION ELIGIBLE VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OFT-DELAYED ELECTORAL PROCESS. THE ELECTIONS ARE A KEY TEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A MULTI-ETHNIC, DEMOCRATIC BOSNIA. MR. FOLEY SAYS THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB PREPARING FOR AND OVERSEEING THE FIRST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN POST-WAR BOSNIA: ///FOLEY ACTUALITY///WE URGE ALL THE VOTERS IN BOSNIA -- BOSNIAN, CROAT AND SERB -- TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR PREFERENCE IN A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC FASHION. ///END ACTUALITY///MR. FOLEY DECLINED TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME WHEN ASKED WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE OF AN ELECTION WHERE PEOPLE VOTED STRICTLY ALONG ETHNIC LINES: ///FOLEY ACTUALITY///WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS WIDESPREAD PARTICIPATION AS AN AFFIRMATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS ITSELF AND AS A VALIDATION OF THE PROCESSES THAT WERE LAUNCHED BY DAYTON. ///END ACTUALITY///MR. FOLEY SAYS THE AIM OF THE PROCESS IS A CONSOLIDATION OF THE PEACE AND OF A SINGLE BOSNIAN STATE. U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE WARNS THE PEACE PROCESS IS A YEAR
BEHIND SCHEDULE, LARGELY BECAUSE OF A BOSNIAN SERB DREAM OF
CREATING A SPARATE STATE. THAT, HE SAYS, IS UNACCEPTABLE.
(SIGNED)
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