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Voice of America, 7 September 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

  • [01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 9/7/95 !!!

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

  • [03] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT !!!

  • [04] BOSNIA / BOMBING (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

  • [05] BOSNIA DIPLOMACY (S-O'NITER) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

  • [06] BOSNIA / RAIDS (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (ZAGREB)

  • [07] THE GREEK-MACEDONIAN DISPUTE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

  • [08] YUGO TALKS (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)


  • [01] !!! VOA DIGEST - 9/7/95 !!!

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=ADVISORY
    CONTENT

    VOA DIGEST - 9/7/95

    THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF SIGNIFICANT REPORTING BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA THAT HAD BEEN BROADCAST OR FIRMLY SCHEDULED AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. THIS SELECTION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE EXHAUSTIVE, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LATE-BREAKING NEWS OR THE MANY REPORTS IN ALL VOA LANGUAGES THAT ARE BASED ON COMMERCIAL WIRE SERVICES OR OTHER SECONDARY SOURCES. WE REGRET THAT WE CANNOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF SPECIFIC BROADCASTS OR PROGRAM SEGMENTS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT VOA, OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. TELEPHONE: +1-202-619-2538. ELECTRONIC MAIL: LETTERS@VOA.GOV (FOR CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES); LETTERS-USA@VOA.GOV (FOR CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES).

    REPORTS BY VOA CENTRAL NEWS SERVICE:

    BOSNIA / RAIDS -- NATO PLANES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A BREAK IN THE WEATHER AND ARE POUNDING BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS TO PUNISH THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED REFUSAL TO REMOVE HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (9/7)

    BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO JETS CONTINUE TO BOMB BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO, AND EXPLOSIONS AND LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THE HILLSIDES AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. CORRESPONDENT DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS UN OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE STILL SEEN "NO TRACE" OF BOSNIAN SERB COMPLIANCE WITH UN DEMANDS. (9/7)

    RUSSIA / NATO -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS LASHED OUT AT NATO, SAYING CONTINUED AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD LEAD MOSCOW TO RECONSIDER ITS RELATIONS WITH THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (9/7)

    US RUSSIA -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS ASSURING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, RUSSIA REMAINS A KEY VOICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA. THE ASSURANCE COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION OVER NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/7)

    BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO JETS HAVE RESUMED BOMBING TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO AFTER BAD WEATHER FORCED DELAYS IN THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN. THE SENIOR NATO COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION SAID THE AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, AND WARNED THE BOSNIAN SERBS IT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE TO DOUBT NATO'S RESOLVE. AND BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS SAID NATO AND THE UN MUST NEGOTIATE WITH HIM TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (9/6)

    US / BOSNIA -- THE UNITED STATES HAS DISMISSED BOSNIAN SERB CLAIMS THAT THE RESUMPTION OF NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA INTERRUPTED SERBIAN ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THEIR WEAPONS AWAY FROM SARAJEVO. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (9/6)

    BOSNIA / NATO RAIDS -- NATO HAS CARRIED OUT MORE AIR ATTACKS AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE ATTACKS CONTINUED WEDNESDAY NIGHT DESPITE AN APPEAL BY THE SERB LEADER FOR A HALT IN THE BOMBING. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (9/6)

    WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / THURSDAY -- IN CHINA, THE UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE AND A PARALLEL NON-OFFICIAL WOMEN'S FORUM CONTINUED DISCUSSING WOMEN'S RIGHTS, EDUCATION, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND A WHOLE RANGE OF WOMEN'S ISSUES. AMERICAN FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON LEFT CHINA EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, BUT CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM BEIJING THERE IS STILL DISCUSSION OF HER REMARKS TO THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCES, WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN AS CRITICISM OF CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (9/7)

    WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / US / VATICAN -- THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS NEGOTIATING THE LANGUAGE OF ITS FINAL DOCUMENT. CURRENT AFFAIRS' JANE KUCZYNSKI REPORTS THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AMONG DELEGATIONS ABOUT THE EMPHASIS THE DOCUMENT SHOULD PLACE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES AND ON THE DEFINITION OF WOMEN'S EQUAL RIGHTS. (9/7)

    WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT -- THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM SAYS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN, AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED AT THE ONGOING WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR OF UNEP AT THE CONFERENCE IN BEIJING, AND HAS THIS REPORT. (9/7)

    CHINA / US / HILLARY -- CHINA HAS GIVEN ITS FIRST OFFICIAL REACTION TO CRITICISM OF ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD BY PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MEETINGS. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER IN BEIJING REPORTS THAT THE CRITICISM DID NOT MENTION AMERICAN FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON BY NAME AND A FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ALSO REVEALED SEVERAL HIGH LEVEL US-CHINESE MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT DAYS. (9/7)

    CLINTON / HILLARY / CHINA -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S FORCEFUL DEFENSE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN BEIJING WILL HURT US-CHINA RELATIONS. AND HE IS DENYING THE SPEECH REPRESENTED A DIRECT CRITICISM OF CHINA'S POLICIES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/6)

    FRANCE / TAHITI -- FRANCE IS SENDING POLICE AND MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS TO TAHITI TO CALM THE VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED THE RESUMPTION OF FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE PACIFIC. STRINGER JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (9/7)

    TAHITI / RIOTING -- REACTION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC CONTINUES TO BE STRONG FOLLOWING TUESDAY'S RESUMPTION OF NUCLEAR TESTS BY FRANCE. ALONG WITH A FLOOD OF DIPLOMATIC PROTESTS, THERE HAS BEEN A RIOT IN FRENCH POLYNESIA, AS STRINGER JULIAN O'BRIEN REPORTS FROM WELLINGTON. (9/7)

    TAHITI /RIOTS -- A CROWD IN THE FRENCH POLYNESIAN CAPITAL OF PAPEETE SET FIRE TO THE TERMINAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN PROTEST OF THE RESUMPTION OF FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. REPORTS FROM PAPEETE SAY A PLANE WAS STRANDED ON THE RUNWAY, SURROUNDED BY PROTESTERS. STRINGER JULIAN O'BRIEN REPORTS. (9/6)

    CHILE / NUKE -- CHILE HAS RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR FROM PARIS FOLLOWING NEWS OF THE FRENCH NUCLEAR EXPLOSION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND IS OBSERVING SEPTEMBER 6TH AS A NATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTING. STRINGER REBECCA CARR REPORTS FROM SANTIAGO. (9/6)

    CHINA / VIETNAMESE -- CHINA SAYS IT WILL NOT ALLOW VIETNAMESE REFUGEES LIVING IN HONG KONG TO REMAIN THERE AFTER THE BRITISH COLONY REVERTS TO CHINESE RULE ON JULY FIRST, 1997. AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ISSUED THIS STATEMENT THURSDAY AT HIS REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING (9/7)

    VIETNAM / BUSH VISIT -- FORMER US PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH IS WINDING UP A FOUR-DAY SPEAKING TOUR OF VIETNAM -- THE FIRST PEACETIME VISIT TO THE COUNTRY BY A FORMER OR SERVING AMERICAN PRESIDENT. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS MR. BUSH THURSDAY URGED VIETNAM TO BE PREPARED FOR SCRUTINY OF ITS HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IF IT HOPES TO ESTABLISH STRONGER AND MORE FAVORABLE TRADE TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES. (9/7)

    RUSSIA / N KOREA TREATY -- SOUTH KOREA SAYS IT HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT A DEFENSE TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NORTH KOREA WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED NEXT YEAR. SHIN NA HAS THIS REPORT FROM SEOUL. (9/7)

    RUSSIA / NAVY -- THE RUSSIAN NAVY IS UNDER SIEGE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN BOTH ITS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PORTS FOR FAILURE TO PAY ITS BILLS. CORRESPONDENT PETER COLLINS REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THE NAVY, NEVERTHELESS, HAS JUST DEMONSTRATED IT CAN STILL FIRE NUCLEAR MISSILES. (9/7)

    PHILIPPINE / FLOODS -- MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE ARE CONFIRMED DEAD AND AS MANY AS 500 PEOPLE ARE REPORTED MISSING AFTER FLASH FLOODS SWEPT AWAY HOMES NEAR A VOLCANO IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES. MARIE ORARA IN MANILA REPORTS PHILIPPINE VOLCANOLOGISTS ARE PLANNING TO FLY OVER THE VOLCANO TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER IT HAS ERUPTED OR IS ABOUT TO ERUPT. (9/7)

    ISRAEL / PLO -- ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS WILL MEET AGAIN IN THE EGYPTIAN RED SEA RESORT OF TABA THURSDAY AFTER THEIR MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRODUCED NO RESULTS. STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (9/7)

    ARAFAT / SPEECHES -- ISRAELI LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE RULING PARTY, ARE OBJECTING TO SOME RECENT SPEECHES BY THE PALESTINIAN LEADER, YASSER ARAFAT. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THE LAWMAKERS SAY THE SPEECHES ARE INFLAMMATORY AND COULD CAUSE THE ISRAELI PARLIAMENT TO REJECT THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PEACE ACCORD, EXPECTED TO BE READY THIS MONTH. (9/7)

    ISRAEL / IRAQIS -- ISRAEL'S POLICE MINISTER HAS PROPOSED A PLAN FOR THE RELEASE OF 31 IRAQIS WHO FLED THEIR HOMELAND AND ENDED UP IN ISRAELI JAILS. CORRESPONDENT AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM THE MINISTER ANNOUNCED THE PLAN AFTER MEETING WITH THE PRISONERS ON THURSDAY. (9/7)

    LAWYER / ALGERIA -- A DEFENSE LAWYER IN THE TRIAL OF 13 SUSPECTED ISLAMIC MILITANTS HAS BLAMED THE RECENT SPATE OF BOMBINGS IN FRANCE ON THE ALGERIAN SECRET SERVICE. THE ALLEGATION WAS MADE IN COURT IN BELGIUM, WHERE THE TRIAL IS TAKING PLACE. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR FROM BRUSSELS. (9/7)

    ENDEAVOUR / LIFTOFF -- THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR LIFTED OFF THURSDAY ON AN ELEVEN DAY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MISSION. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, ENDEAVOUR'S LIFTOFF IS A RELIEF FOR NASA BECAUSE BECAUSE THE SHUTTLE'S LAUNCH HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. (9/7)

    PANAMA / US -- PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO PEREZ BALLADARES IS PROPOSING THAT ONE OF THE US MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN HIS COUNTRY BECOME A REGIONAL ANTI-NARCOTICS INFORMATION AND OPERATIONS CENTER AFTER THE YEAR 1999. HE TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING IS AMONG THE LEADING ITEMS ON HIS AGENDA IN WASHINGTON AS HE MEETS WITH SENIOR US OFFICIALS. CORRESPONDENT ERIN BRUMMETT REPORTS. (9/6)

    CLINTON / BALLADARES --THE UNITED STATES AND PANAMA ARE CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING SOME US MILITARY PRESENCE IN PANAMA AFTER 1999, WHEN ALL US MILITARY FACILITIES IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE ARE TURNED OVER TO PANAMA. THE IDEA WAS DISCUSSED AT THE WHITE HOUSE DURING A MEETING WEDNESDAY BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VISITING PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO PEREZ BALLADARES. CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/6)

    HURRICANE LUIS -- AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE ARE REPORTED DEAD IN THE CARIBBEAN AFTER HURRICANE LUIS BROUGHT 225 KILOMETERS PER HOUR WINDS ACROSS THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. AS STRINGER MARTY DELFIN REPORTS FROM SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, THE DESTRUCTION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLIER. (9/7)

    INDIA / WEDDING -- THE CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIA'S SOUTHERN STATE OF TAMIL NADU IS THROWING A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR WEDDING THURSDAY FOR HER FOSTER SON ,AN EXTRAVAGANZA THAT HAS PROVOKED OUTRAGE FROM INDIAN SOCIAL ACTIVISTS. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS ON THE ELABORATE FESTIVITIES. (9/7)

    SUDAN / RIGHTS -- A HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP BASED IN THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WANTS SUDAN TO FREE SEVEN POLITICAL PRISONERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED BY THE LATEST GOVERNMENT AMNESTY. STRINGER PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS. (9/7)

    SAF / HEALTH STRIKE -- SOUTH AFRICA'S HEALTH CARE CRISIS MOUNTED AS NURSES CONTINUED THEIR STRIKE THURSDAY WITH NO IMMEDIATE END IN SIGHT. CORRESPONDENT MALLORY SALESON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS NURSES HAVE DEFIED A GOVERNMENT ULTIMATUM TO RETURN TO WORK OR RISK LOSING THEIR JOBS. (9/7)

    GALAPAGOS / STRIKE -- ECUADOR'S GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, ARE A TOURIST MAGNET BECAUSE OF THEIR GIANT TURTLES, IGUANAS, AND OTHER EXOTIC WILDLIFE. TOURISM IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE ISLANDS, LOCATED ONE THOUSAND KILOMETERS OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA. BUT A WEEK-OLD STRIKE, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE, THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN TOURISM FOR THE GALAPAGOS. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN QUITO. (9/7)

    HUNGARY / BUSES -- THE PROBLEM OF INDUSTRIAL RESTRUCTURING IS COMMON TO ALL THE TRANSFORMING ECONOMIES OF EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS, IKARUS -- THE BIG FORMER MONOPOLY BUS PRODUCER IN HUNGARY -- IS HAVING A PARTICULARLY TOUGH TIME IN RESTRUCTURING. (9/7)

    HUNGARY / ECON -- OFFICIALS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ARE IN BUDAPEST -- HOLDING DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HUNGARIAN FINANCE MINISTRY ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE BUDGET AND FOREIGN TRADE DEFICITS. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE IMF TEAM IS LIKELY TO BE IMPRESSED BY RECENT PROGRESS MADE BY THE HUNGARIANS. (9/7)

    FRANCE / SCHOOL -- A CAR BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE A JEWISH SCHOOL NEAR LYON, FRANCE, INJURING AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE. THE EXPLOSION FOLLOWS THREE OTHER BLASTS IN FRANCE DURING THE PAST SIX WEEKS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. (9/7)

    CLINTON / REINVENTING GOVT -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IN KEEPING ITS PLEDGE TO MAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER AND COST LESS. AND HE CONTINUES TO URGE THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS NOT TO MAKE DEEP CUTS IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS THE TWIN PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGES WERE DELIVERED ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO REINVENTING GOVERNMENT. (9/7)

    SENATE / PACKWOOD -- US SENATOR BOB PACKWOOD IS BEING URGED TO RESIGN FOLLOWING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE THAT HE BE EXPELLED FOR SEXUAL AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS THAT SO FAR SENATOR PACKWOOD IS RESISTING THE CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION. (9/7)

    SENATE / WEAVER HEARING -- A US SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE OPENED HEARINGS WEDNESDAY INTO THE CASE OF SEPARATIST RANDY WEAVER WHO WAS INVOLVED IN AN ELEVEN-DAY STANDOFF WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AT HIS IDAHO MOUNTAIN CABIN IN 1992. MR. WEAVER'S WIFE AND SON WERE KILLED DURING THE SIEGE, ALONG WITH A DEPUTY US MARSHAL. SENATE CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE IS FOLLOWING THE SENATE HEARINGS. (9/6)

    TAX REFORM --SEVERAL PLANS TO DRAMATICALLY OVERHAUL THE COMPLEX US TAX SYSTEM ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY CONGRESS. MOST CALL FOR A DRAMATIC SIMPLIFICATION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM. TO HELP SORT THROUGH THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS, REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS NAMED A COMMISSION TO HELP DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT IS FAIRER AND WOULD HELP STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE PANEL IS HOLDING HEARINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS. (9/6)

    OJ SIMPSON / FUHRMAN RULING -- THE JUDGE IN THE LOS ANGELES MURDER TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON HAS DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST TO SUPPRESS OR THROW OUT CRITICAL EVIDENCE DISCOVERED AT THE DEFENDANT'S ESTATE. THE FORMER AMERICAN SPORTS STAR IS ACCUSED OF KILLING EX-WIFE NICOLE SIMPSON AND HER FRIEND, RONALD GOLDMAN, IN JUNE 1994. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS ON THE RULING ISSUED THURSDAY MORNING. (9/7)

    US OPEN / MEN'S QUARTERFINALS -- DEFENDING US OPEN CHAMP ANDRE AGASSI AND FOURTH SEED BORIS BECKER WERE AMONG THE WINNERS ADVANCING INTO THE SEMIFINALS WEDNESDAY AT THE US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN NEW YORK. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS HAS HIGHLIGHTS. (9/7)

    RIPKEN RECORD -- BASEBALL STAR CAL RIPKEN OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOW HOLDS THE ALL-TIME MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE GAMES PLAYED WITH 2,131. WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT HIS HOME STADIUM IN BALTIMORE, HE SURPASSED THE 56-YEAR-OLD MARK HELD BY FORMER NEW YORK YANKEES STAR LOU GEHRIG. REPORTER PARKE BREWER WAS AT THE RECORD-BREAKING GAME AND HAS A REPORT. (9/7

    RIPKEN / RECORD -- BASEBALL STAR CAL RIPKEN OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES HAS BROKEN THE ALL-TIME MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE GAMES PLAYED OF 2,130 HELD BY FORMER NEW YORK YANKEES STAR LOU GEHRIG. SPORTS EDITOR PARKE BREWER WAS AT THE RECORD-BREAKING GAME WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT CAMDEN YARDS STADIUM IN BALTIMORE AND HAS A REPORT. (9/7)

    IRAQ / BEYOND SADDAM -- THE DEFECTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S TWO DAUGHTERS AND THEIR HUSBANDS, ESPECIALLY GENERAL HUSSEIN KAMEL, HAS BEEN VIEWED BY MANY OBSERVERS AS SIGNALING THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE IRAQI STRONGMAN'S RULE. SOME EXPERTS SAY THE ONLY REAL UNKNOWN IS WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN. CURRENT AFFAIRS' ERICA BENIS LOOKS AT IRAQ BEYOND SADDAM. (9/7)

    ENVIRONMENT -- ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, MORE THAN 200,000 VOLUNTEERS IN ABOUT 60 COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO PICK UP DEBRIS FROM SHORELINES ALONG STREAMS, RIVERS, LAKES AND OCEANS. THE OCCASION IS THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP. CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY HAS DETAILS. (9/7)

    AGRICULTURE TODAY / US FARM POLICY AT A CROSSROAD -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ROB SIVAK DESCRIBES HOW SIXTY-YEAR-OLD FEDERAL FARM SUBSIDIES ARE BEING CHALLENGED AS NEVER BEFORE IN THE DEBATE OVER NEW, FIVE-YEAR FARM LEGISLATION. HE INTERVIEWS FORMER SENATOR HOWARD METZENBAUM, HOUSE AG COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR DALE MOORE, AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S CAROLINE ANDERSON, AND SENATOR KENT CONRAD. (9/7)

    SPOTLIGHT / MONTANA -- A CROW INDIAN RECALLS HIS GREAT UNCLE'S TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AT THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN. HIS UNCLE WAS A SCOUT FOR COLONEL CUSTER. AFTERWARDS, HE WALKED THE BATTLEFIELD DAILY, CHANTING PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD. CURRENT AFFAIRS' CAROL PEARSON REPORTS. (9/7)

    BACK TO SCHOOL -- THIS IS THE TIME THAT AMERICAN SCHOOLS REOPEN AFTER THE LONG SUMMER RECESS. PARENTS ARE USUALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL, BUT WHAT DO THE KIDS THEMSELVES THINK ABOUT IT? CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY HAS THE VIEWS OF THREE YOUNG TEENAGERS. (9/7)

    TEENS -- YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SEEK WAYS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND HAVE ADULTS LISTEN. ONE OUTLET FOR AMERICAN TEENAGERS TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS AND LEARN A LOT THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS IS CALLED "CHILDREN'S EXPRESS." CURRENT AFFAIRS' MARILYN SILVEY HAS A REPORT ABOUT THREE YOUNG TEENS WHO ARE ON THE STAFF OF THE WASHINGTON, DC, BUREAU OF "CHILDREN'S EXPRESS." (9/7)

    US / PROFANITY -- CURRENT AFFAIRS' ANDREW BAROCH EXAMINES THE GROWING USE OF PROFANITY IN THE UNITED STATES, ON TELEVISION DRAMAS, IN THE WORKPLACE, AMONG RICH AND POOR, AND PERVASIVE ON THE STREETS OF URBAN AMERICA. HE INTERVIEWS SOCIOLOGISTS, LINGUISTS AND ETHICS EXPERTS TO EXPLORE WHAT LANGUAGE SAYS ABOUT AMERICANS AND WHERE THE NATION MAY BE HEADED. (9/7)

    OJ SIMPSON / WEDNESDAY -- IN THE LOS ANGELES MURDER TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON, TESTIMONY CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE CREDIBILITY OF KEY PROSECUTION WITNESS MARK FUHRMAN. THE DEFENSE ACCUSES THE FORMER POLICE DETECTIVE OF BEING A RACIST WHO COULD HAVE PLANTED INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE TO FRAME THE CELEBRITY DEFENDANT FOR KILLING HIS EX-WIFE AND HER FRIEND IN JUNE 1994. CORRESPONDENT ALAN SILVERMAN REPORTS. (9/6)

    RIPKEN / 2,131 -- BASEBALL STAR CAL RIPKEN OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES HAS BROKEN THE MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE GAMES PLAYED OF TWO-THOUSAND-ONE-HUNDRED-THIRTY HELD BY FORMER NEW YORK YANKEE'S GREAT LOU GEHRIG. STAFFER PARKE BREWER WAS ON HAND WITH THE HISTORIC MOMENT WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN BALTIMORE, AND FILED THIS REPORT. (9/6)

    US / OPEN / DAY 10 -- FIFTH SEED CONCHITA MARTINEZ FROM SPAIN HAD TO COME FROM TO BEHIND TO BEAT 16TH SEED BRENDA SCHULTZ-MCCARTHY 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, AT THE US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN NEW YORK WEDNESDAY. CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS HAS HIGHLIGHTS. (9/6)

    VOA REPORTS IN INDIVIDUAL LANGUAGES:

    INSIDE USA:

    NEW ORLEANS / AMERICAN CITY -- 'TALK TO AMERICA' HOSTS BARBARA KLEIN AND MEREDITH BUEL TAKE THE PROGRAM ON THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A TRIP TO A ONE-OF-A-KIND AMERICAN CITY, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. THEY WELCOME TWO NEW ORLEANS CELEBRITIES, CHEF PAUL PRUDHOMME AND PERSONALITY RON SWOBODA WHO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ABOUT THIS FASCINATING TOWN. (ENGLISH 9/7)

    US FIRM / CZECH MARKET -- THE GIANT US FIRM 'KIMBERLY-CLARK,' WELL KNOWN FOR KLEENEX, HUGGIES AND FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, BOUGHT THE CZECH FIRM 'INOVA IDEAL', AS PART OF ITS GLOBAL EXPANSION EFFORT. THE NEW CZECH COMPANY WILL BE KNOWN AS 'KIMBERLY-CLARK INOVA' AND WILL BECOME THE FIRM'S BASIS FOR EXPANSION NOT ONLY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA BUT ALSO IN SURROUNDING MARKETS. REPORT BY STAFFER ZENNY SADLON. (CZECH 9/8)

    RUSSIAN AMERICANS -- NATALIE BELIKH, AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE US TWO YEARS AGO AND NOW LIVES IN ALABAMA TALKS ABOUT HER LIFE HERE AND HER SON'S EDUCATION IN AN AMERICAN SCHOOL WITH STAFFER AVIVA LEKUCH. (RUSSIAN 9/6)

    BANGLADESH CONFERENCE -- THE THREE DAY NORTH AMERICA BANGLADESH CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN MONTREAL, CANADA DURING THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND. VARIOUS SOCIO-CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS OF BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA JOINED THE CONFERENCE. THERE WERE SEMINARS ON BANGLA LITERATURE, BANGLA THEATER MOVEMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC ISSUES. POET SHAMSUR RAHMAN, PROFESSOR KABIR CHOUDHURY, AND WRITER SYED SHAMSUL HUQ FROM BANGLADESH ATTENDED. STAFFER IQBAL BAHAR CHOUDHURY REPORTED ON THE CONFERENCE. (BANGLA 9/5)

    BENGALI ACTRESS -- POPULAR STAGE, FILM, AND TV ACTRESS OF WEST BENGAL, ALOKA GANGULI, WAS INTERVIEWED BY STAFFER ASIM CHAKRABARTI ON HER US VISIT AND ALSO ON HER EXPERIENCE AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTRESS. (BANGLA 9/5)

    INSIDE AFRICA:

    WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / GHANA -- STAFFER HADIZA WADA REPORTS FROM BEIJING ON THE SPEECH BY GHANAIAN FIRST LADY NANA KONADU AJIMAN RAWLINGS AT THE ON-GOING CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. MRS. RAWLINGS' SPEECH FOCUSED ON HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS. SHE ALSO URGED DEVELOPED NATIONS TO FORGIVE THE DEBTS OWED BY AFRICAN NATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD ECONOMICALLY. (HAUSA 9/6) NIGERIA / US ENVOY-- STRINGER BABANGIDA JIBRIL REPORTS FROM ABUJA ON THE SEVENTH ROUND OF SECRET SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY BY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO NIGERIA DONALD MCHENRY. BUT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH VOA, AN OFFICIAL OF NIGERIA'S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY WHO REQUESTED ANONYMITY, SAID THE US ENVOY DID NOT MEET WITH NIGERIAN MILITARY LEADER SANI ABACHA AND NEITHER SIDE IS DISCUSSING DETAILS OF THE TRIP. (HAUSA 9/6)

    NIGERIA / NADECO -- NEWS REPORTS IN NIGERIA SAY THE PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP NADECO IS PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE A GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE AHEAD OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA'S EXPECTED OCTOBER 1 ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TIMETABLE FOR A TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE. REPORTS SAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS SIGNED BY NADECO'S US REPRESENTATIVE, RALPH OBIOHA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER SCOTT STEARNS, CHIEF OBIOHA DENIED ANY SUCH PLAN. REPORTER CHINEDU OFFOR HAS DETAILS ON REACTION FROM LAGOS. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/6)

    ETHIOPIA / FREE PRESS -- THE PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA, MELES ZENAWI SAID IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH TO THE NEWLY ELECTED FEDERAL PARLIAMENT THAT MOST OF THE FREE PRESS DID NOT FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN PROMOTING THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN FREE PRESS JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION, KEFALEW MAMO RESPONDED BY DENYING THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE PRIME MINISTER. STRINGER TAFESSE KIFLE REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA. (AMHARIC 9/7)

    WOMEN / IVORY COAST -- THIRTY-ONE WOMEN WERE INJURED WHEN POLICE ATTEMPTED TO BREAK UP A DEMONSTRATION BY THE MOVEMENT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN IVORY COAST. THE WOMEN WERE PROTESTING THE ALLEGED RAPE OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN POLICE CUSTODY. THE MOVEMENT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S SECRETARY, KANDIA CAMARA TOLD STAFFER ROGER-GUY FOLLY THE DEMONSTRATION WAS BRUTALLY DISPERSED. (FRENCH 9/6)

    BURUNDI / TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRIKE -- DESPITE THE FACT THAT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH BURUNDI HAS BEEN RE-ESTABLISHED THURSDAY , EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY ARE CONTINUING WITH THEIR MONTH-OLD STRIKE AND CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE MANAGER AND GOVERNING BOARD. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE IN THE CAPITAL, BUJUMBURA. WEDNESDAY, GUNMEN ATTACKED A BUS KILLING THREE PASSENGERS AND INJURING THREE OTHERS. STRINGER AMRANI BARUTWANAYO REPORTS FROM BUJUMBURA. (SWAHILI 9/7)

    BURUNDI / MASSACRE -- THE US AMBASSADOR TO BURUNDI, ROBERT KRUEGER, SAYS THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT UP TO 50 HUTU IN BUJUMBURA HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED. HE TOLD REPORTER CATHERINE MADDUX SURVIVORS SAY THEY WERE ATTACKED BY SOLDIERS OF BURUNDI'S TUTSI-DOMINATED ARMY. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

    TANZANIA / RWANDA REFUGEES -- TANZANIA HAS ASKED THREE UNHCR OFFICIALS WORKING IN REFUGEE CAMPS ALONG THE BORDER WITH RWANDA TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THEIR BEHAVIOR AS UNETHICAL. THE THREE OFFICIALS, A BELGIAN, A SOMALIAN AND AN AMERICAN ARE ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN A SCHEME TO SMUGGLE BURUNDIAN AND RWANDAN REFUGEES ACROSS THE BORDER. STRINGER EVEREST MWITUMBA. (SWAHILI 9/7)

    ZANZIBAR / VOTER REGISTRATION CRITICIZED -- A NON-GOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN ZANZIBAR HAS CRITICIZED THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR REFUSING TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR VOTERS TO REGISTER AS WAS ALLOWED FOR VOTERS IN THE MAINLAND. STRINGER ABDUL MALIK REPORTS FROM ZANZIBAR. (SWAHILI 9/7)

    RWANDA / TRIBUNAL -- THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON RWANDA CONTINUES TO GATHER EVIDENCE AGAINST THOSE SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE. ALAIN SIGG IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PROSCECUTOR'S OFFICE IN KIGALI. HE GAVE REPORTER JOE DE CAPUA AN UPDATE ON THE TRIBUNAL'S WORK. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/7)

    GAMBIA / INVESTIGATION -- MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THE DEATH OF GAMBIAN FINANCE MINISTER OUSMAN KORO CEESAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. REPORTER CHIKELUBA KENECHUKU HAS DETAILS FROM BANJUL. (ENGLISH TO AFRICA 9/6)

    ICRC / APPEAL -- THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS IS APPEALING FOR FUNDS. IT ESTIMATES IT NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL 132 MILLION DOLLARS TO CARRY OUT IT'S 1995 OPERATIONS. STAFFER JEAN-CLAUDE ANDRE SPOKE TO TONY BURGENER OF THE ICRC, WHO SAID THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS AND THE FUNDS ARE VITAL TO FACE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISES IN THE WORLD. (FRENCH 9/6)

    INSIDE MIDEAST:

    BEIJING CONFERENCE ISSUES -- STAFFER AMINA BISHLAWI INTERVIEWS KUWAITI ACTIVIST FATIMA HUSSEIN ON ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN BEIJING. (ARABIC 7/8)

    WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / NGOS -- HILLARY CLINTON UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NGOS' ROLE IN MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT. STAFFER WASSILA BELDI FROM BEIJING REPORTS. (ARABIC 9/6)

    HILLARY. CLINTON / CHINA -- STAFFER WASSILA BELDI HIGHLIGHTS THE SPEECH OF HILLARY CLINTON AT THE NGO MEETING IN BEIJING. REPORTER HAYAT ALKHATEEB HAS DETAILS. (ARABIC 9/6)

    BEIJING CONFERENCE / KURDS -- STAFFER MOTABAR SHIRWANI INTERVIEWS ACTIVIST NUVEEN HERSAN AT THE CONFERENCE. KURDISH WOMEN NEED TO FIGHT FOR MORE RIGHTS. MANY GIRLS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GO TO SCHOOL BY THEIR FAMILIES. THESE OLD IDEAS MUST CHANGE. (KURDISH 9/6)

    BEIJING CONFERENCE / KURDS / TURKEY / IRAQ -- STAFFER HAIDER KARIM INTERVIEWED KURDISH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST PARI KARADAGHI OF KURDISH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE US DELEGATION AT THE CONFERENCE. SHE SAID KURDISH WOMEN IN TURKEY ARE OFTEN TORTURED WHEN DETAINED OR ARRESTED; IN IRAQ, MANY WOMEN WERE RAPED BY IRAQI FORCES; KURDISH SOCIETY TENDS TO LOOK DOWN ON WOMEN; EDUCATION IS NOT ENCOURAGED FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE VILLAGES; BLOOD EXCHANGE OR THE PRACTICE WHERE A WOMEN IS GIVEN TO THE FAMILY OF A MAN KILLED BY THE WOMEN'S FAMILY, SHOULD BE ENDED; RAPISTS SHOULD BE PUNISHED, INSTEAD OF RAPED WOMEN BEING KILLED SINCE THEY SUPPOSEDLY SHAME THEIR FAMILIES. (KURDISH 9/7)

    WOMEN CONFERENCE / NGOS -- WOMEN DELEGATES FROM ARAB, AFGHAN AND PAKISTANI NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO THE BEIJING FORUM DISCUSSED SOME OF THE MAJOR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN IN THEIR COUNTRIES. IN A REPORT FROM THE CHINESE CAPITAL, SPOZHMAI MAIWANDI SAYS MOST OF THE DELEGATES UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN RAISING THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS ABOUT THE WOMEN RIGHTS IN THEIR COUNTRIES. (DARI 9/7)

    BEIJING CONFERENCE -- FARSI STAFFER FARAH JAHANGIRI INTERVIEWED JUDY WOODRUFF OF CNN ABOUT COVERING THE CONFERENCE. SHE ALSO SPOKE WITH THE EDITOR OF A BANGLADESH WOMEN'S JOURNAL. MS. JAHANGIRI DISCUSSES THE IRANIAN WOMEN AT THE NGO MEETING AND HOW THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE STATEMENT IRAN IS TRYING TO GET INTO THE FINAL DOCUMENT, GIVING CHILD CUSTODY TO THE FATHER. SHE ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE IRANIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE COME TO BEIJING AND THE NGO MEETING, FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. (FARSI, 9/6, 9/7)

    LEBANON HUNTING / BARDOT -- FRENCH STAR BRIGITTE BARDOT IS AT ODDS WITH LEBANESE MERCHANTS FOR SELLING SHOTGUNS FOR HUNTING. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/6)

    EGYPT / US BUSINESSMEN -- THE US AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT TOLD A MEETING OF BUSINESSMEN IN CAIRO THAT THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN EGYPT DISCOURAGES US INVESTORS. USAMA FARAG REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/6)

    EGYPT / TERRORISTS -- EGYPTIAN POLICE HAVE ARRESTED MORE ISLAMIC MILITANTS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO REVIVE THE ISLAMIC JIHAD. IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/6)

    EGYPT / ISRAEL / POWS -- OPPOSITION PAPERS IN EGYPT ASSAILED ISRAEL FOR REFUSING TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED KILLINGS OF EGYPTIAN PRISONERS OF WAR. REPORTERS IBRAHIM ABDIN AND MOHAMED SETOUHI HAVE DETAILS. (ARABIC 9/6)

    BEIJING / EGYPT / SILENT IMAGE -- FROM CAIRO, IMAN RAFIE REVIEWS A BOOK WRITTEN BY EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGIST ZAHI HAWWASH FORWARDED BY MRS. MUBARAK CALLED "SILENT IMAGES OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT EGYPT. THE BOOK IS BEING WIDELY READ IN BEIJING. (ARABIC 9/6)

    ARAFAT-PERES / TABA -- PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT AND ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES ARE MEETING IN TABA, THE GULF OF AQABA RESORT, TO DISCUSS THE EXPANSION OF SELF-RULE IN THE WEST BANK. USAMA FARAG REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/6)

    TABA MEETING -- PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI LEADERS ARE MEETING IN TABA ON THE RED SEA TO DISCUSS WAYS OF PROTECTING JEWISH SETTLERS IN PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE AREAS. AN INTERVIEW WITH ISRAELI DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH, NAWAF MASALHA, WAS CONDUCTED BY HAYAT ALKHATEEB. (ARABIC 9/6)

    IRAN / TURKEY / SYRIA / IRAQ -- STAFFER JUMANA TAMIMI IN AMMAN SAYS THAT TEHRAN BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR A MEETING OF IRANIAN, TURKISH AND SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN IRAQ. (ARABIC 9/6)

    IRAQ / KURDS -- THE TWO RIVAL KURDISH GROUPS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ SAID THEY WILL RESUME THEIR PEACE TALKS IN IRELAND NEXT WEEK IN A FRESH ATTEMPT TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES. CORRESPONDENT MAHMOUD ZAWAWI REPORTS FROM AMMAN. (ARABIC 9/6)

    KURDS / IRAN -- STAFFER SERBEST MIRAN INTERVIEWED HASSAN RASTGAR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF KDPI (KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRAN) REVOLUTIONARY BRANCH. HE SAID THE TWO IRANIAN KURDISH FACTIONS (KDPI AND KDPI-RB) HAVE LEARNED A LESSON FROM THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TWO KURDISH PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AND DECIDED TO RECONCILE. KDPI WANTS TWO PARTIES IN A COALITION: KDPI REVOLUTIONARY BRANCH WANTS UNIFICATION. RASTGAR SAYS THEY DO NOT NEED MEDIATION TO SOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. (KURDISH 9/7)

    AFGHANISTAN / PAKISTAN -- IN A NOTE TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL, AFGHAN MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NAJIBULLAH LAFRAI, COMPLAINED OF WHAT IT CALLS PAKISTANI PROVOCATION OF ARMED CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN. THE NOTE SPECIFICALLY ACCUSES ISLAMABAD OF SUPPORTING THE RIVAL TALEBAN FIGHTERS IN THEIR SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN HERAT AGAINST FORCES LOYAL TO PRESIDENT RABANI. HASHMAT GOBAR REPORTED THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATEMENT ALONG WITH PAKISTANI DENIAL OF THE CHARGES. (DARI 9/7)

    AFGHAN SITUATION -- REPORTER RAUF MEHRPORE SPOKE WITH STAFFER OMAR MALIKYAR, ABOUT REACTION OF THE AFGHAN GROUPS


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

    DATE=09/07/95
    TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-09159
    TELEPHONE=619-3335
    EDITOR=NEAL LAVON
    CONTENT=
    // EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS PERISHABLE MATERIAL AND BECOMES DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-S-T ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER SEVENTH //

    INTRO: TURNING TO THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF AMERICA'S MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPERS THIS THURSDAY, WE SEE AMONG THE TOPICS: FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S SPEECH IN CHINA TO THE UNITED NATIONS FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN; CONDEMNATION OF FRANCE'S NUCLEAR TEST IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC; AND PRAISE FOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER CAL RIPKEN WHO SET A RECORD BY PLAYING IN 2-THOUSAND 1-HUNDRED-31 CONSECUTIVE GAMES. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

    TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINEL SAID MRS. CLINTON'S SPEECH TO THE FOURTH U-N CONFERENCE ON WOMEN WAS "RIGHT ON TARGET" AND ADDED:

    VOICE: "HER SPEECH TUESDAY ... AND TALKS AT OTHER SESSIONS HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NOT A U-S OFFICIAL, MRS. CLINTON'S ATTENDANCE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS A U-S INTEREST AND OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS, IN PARTICULAR. ..... MRS. CLINTON FOLLOWED A PRINCIPLED, MODERATE COURSE. SHE INCLUDED IN HER PRESENTATION INDIRECT CRITICISM OF CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS A GROUP FOR FAMILY-PLANNING EXCESSES SUCH AS FORCED STERILIZATION. ... THE CRITICISM WAS WARRANTED BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, THIS IS A HUMAN-RIGHTS FORUM. MRS. CLINTON'S REMARKS WERE JUST RIGHT."

    TEXT: SOME PAPERS CRITICIZED THE CONTENT AND DIRECTION OF THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, "THE NEW YORK POST" WHICH CALLED IT "BIZARRE":

    VOICE: "NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE UNITED NATIONS FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN HAS BECOME A HUGE CIRCUS. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE - - ITS AGENDA AND ITS GOALS - - HAS BEEN ACCORDED LIMITED NOTICE. ... IT'S HARD TO DISCERN FROM THE TOPICS TREATED AT THE CONFERENCE - - LESBIAN FLIRTING TECHNIQUES; 'BLACK WOMEN AND O-J SIMPSON'; 'BANNING BEAUTY PAGEANTS IN JAPAN' - - HOW THIS GATHERING ADVANCES THE LARGER PURPOSES OF THE U-N ....... "

    TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" INDULGED IN SELF-CRITICISM AS IT APPLAUDED THE FIRST LADY'S APPEARANCE:

    VOICE: "HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S SUPERB PERFORMANCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN BEIJING SHOULD SATISFY THE CRITICS, INCLUDING THIS EDITORIAL BOARD, WHO DOUBTED THE WISDOM OF HER ATTENDANCE. HER SPEECHES FORTHRIGHTLY EXPLAINED WHY THIS CONFERENCE IS SO IMPORTANT TO ALL WOMEN, NO MATTER THEIR POLITICS OR NATIONALITY. [OPT] .... MRS. CLINTON CONFOUNDED THE CHINESE BY DEMONSTRATING THE FALSENESS OF THEIR ATTEMPT TO SEPARATE THE CONCEPTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. WITHOUT NAMING ANY NATION, SHE LISTED THE SOCIAL ABUSES OF WOMEN THAT VIOLATE THEIR ESSENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS ..... SHE ALSO CLEVERLY INSERTED A WOMEN'S RIGHT TO BE HEARD ON SOCIAL ISSUES, AND THEN ATTACKED CHINA DIRECTLY FOR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY WOMEN TO ATTEND THE NONGOVERNMENTAL SESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE.

    TEXT: AND THE "WASHINGTON TIMES" PRAISED MRS. CLINTON BY QUOTING HARRY WU, THE CHINESE-BORN AMERICAN WHO WAS ARRESTED IN CHINA EARLIER THIS YEAR AS HE AGAIN TRIED TO DOCUMENT SLAVE LABOR PRACTICES. HIS DETAINMENT ALMOST FORCED MRS. CLINTON TO CANCEL HER TRIP. HIS RELEASE JUST BEFORE THE CONFERENCE BEGAN WAS FOLLOWED BY MRS. CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SHE WOULD ATTEND. THE "TIMES" WROTE:

    VOICE: "FIRST LADY HILLARY ... CLINTON'S SPEECH THIS WEEK ..... IN BEIJING DIDN'T MINCE WORDS [WAS CANDID AND FRANK]. THOUGH SHE DID NOT MENTION THE HOST COUNTRY BY NAME, SHE DID SPEAK OUT ELOQUENTLY AGAINST THE VIOLENT ABUSES OF WOMEN THAT ARE COMMONPLACE IN CHINA. ..... MR. WU HIMSELF, WHO HAD PUBLICLY VOICED HIS OPPOSITION TO MRS. CLINTON'S TRIP ... WAS CLEARLY MOVED AND HEARTENED BY HER SPEECH. ..... HER TOUGH RHETORIC CAUSED MR. WU TO MUSE, 'HER CHINESE COMMUNIST HOSTS HAD TO WONDER IF IT WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA TO HOLD THE CONFERENCE IN BEIJING AFTER ALL.'

    TEXT: AND ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, "NEWSDAY" HAS THIS MIXED REACTION:

    VOICE: "FROM AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE, HILLARY ... CLINTON'S TOUGH, FORTHRIGHT SPEECH CRITICIZING THE ABUSE OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS. ..... HER STRONGLY WORDED, ELOQUENTLY DELIVERED CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST WOMEN REFLECTED DEEPLY HELD AMERICAN VALUES. ..... BUT WHILE HER ADDRESS WAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BY THE CONFERENCE ... ITS RECEPTION IN CHINA IS FAR LESS PREDICTABLE. CRITICIZING THE CHINESE SO PUBLICLY AND IN SUCH A MORALISTIC MANNER HAS NOT USUALLY BEEN AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF INFLUENCING OFFICIAL CHINESE BEHAVIOR." [END OPT]

    TEXT: "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" WROTE THAT THE FIRST LADY'S MANNER OF CRITICIZING CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD WAS RIGHT ON THE MARK:

    VOICE: "SHE BECAME NOT MERELY THE FIRST AMERICAN DIGNITARY TO PUBLICLY CONDEMN CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES WHILE VISITING CHINA, BUT SHE DID SO WITH A COMBINATION OF PASSION, SUBTLETY AND PLAIN SPEAKING THAT REFLECTS ADMIRABLY ON THE UNITED STATES."

    TEXT: WHILE THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN CHINA GENERATED THE BULK OF COMMENT IN THE U.S. PRESS ON ASIA-PACIFIC ISSUES, THE FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE REGION ALSO DREW COVERAGE. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED THE TEST "MR. CHIRAC'S NUCLEAR BLUNDER," AND ADDED:

    VOICE: "THIS UNJUSTIFIED BLAST, AND THE FIVE TO SEVEN EXPECTED TO FOLLOW OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WILL ISOLATE FRANCE FROM IMPORTANT ALLIES AND TRADING PARTNERS AND WEAKEN THE FIGHT AGAINST NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION. WITH NO NUCLEAR-ARMED ENEMIES, FRANCE HAS NO PRESSING NEED FOR A NUCLEAR ARSENAL."

    TEXT: WHILE IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" WAS EVEN MORE OUTSPOKEN:

    VOICE: "THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF NAURU THIS WEEK SUSPENDED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FRANCE, AND THE WORLD TOOK NOTICE. [BEGIN OPT] NAURU, A DOT ON THE EQUATOR IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC NEAR WAR-FAMED TARAWA, IS A TINY ISLAND COUNTRY. ON WEDNESDAY, HOWEVER, NAURU SPOKE WITH A BIG VOICE. [END OPT] IN BREAKING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FRANCE, IT SPOKE AS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD. ..... FRANCE DETONATED MORE THAN A DEVASTATING NUCLEAR BOMB. IT OBLITERATED A THREE-YEAR NATIONAL MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTING THAT HAS HELPED LEAD THE WORLD TOWARD REALIZING A COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. ..... NOTHING FRANCE HAS SAID OR DONE JUSTIFIES EITHER THE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION OR ITS INTRUSION ON A DISTANT PART OF THE WORLD."

    TEXT: AND IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" CALLED THE BLAST "A SORRY SPECTACLE."

    IN U.S. DOMESTIC POLITICS, AN ETHICS PANEL OF THE U.S. SENATE RECOMMENDED EXPULSION FOR OREGON REPUBLICAN BOB PACKWOOD, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSING NUMEROUS WOMEN WHO SERVED ON HIS STAFF AND AS VOLUNTEERS. TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" TOOK NOTE OF THE PANEL'S UNANIMOUS VOTE:

    VOICE: "MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S SIX - NOTHING VOTE YESTERDAY TO EXPEL SENATOR ... PACKWOOD..... HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE MEMBERS' OUTRAGE OVER MR. PACKWOOD'S BEHAVIOR TOWARD THEM THAN ON BEHALF OF THE 19 WOMEN HE IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY HARASSING AND INTIMIDATING. ..... IF THE SENATE OUSTS HIM, AS IT SHOULD, THEN IT CAN BEGIN TO RECOUP FROM A PATTERN OF TAWDRY BEHAVIOR...."

    TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] "THE DENVER POST" TOOK A STAND ON A CONTROVERSIAL CANADIAN PROPOSAL TO BUILD A GOLD MINE JUST NORTH OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. "THE DENVER POST" SAYS THE PROPOSED MINE "THREATENS ... DISASTER" ADDING "UNCLE SAM [THE U-S GOVERNMENT] SHOULD SAY NO TO" THE PLANNED MINE, ADDING:

    VOICE: "AS THE MINE DIGS OUT THE ORE, IT WOULD EXPOSE SULFUR-LACED PYRITE ROCK. ..... AS SPRING WATER SEEPS THROUGH THE MINE, IT COULD PICK UP THE SULFUR AND TURN IT INTO SULFURIC ACID, WHICH THEN COULD FLOW INTO NEARBY CREEKS WHOSE WATERS RUN TOWARD YELLOWSTONE."

    TEXT: TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A SENATE BILL THAT WOULD COMBINE THE U-S-I-A, V-O-A'S PARENT AGENCY AND TWO OTHER AGENCIES [A-I-D. THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND A-C-D-A ARMS CONTROL AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY) INTO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. "THE MONITOR" CALLS THE BILL, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, "UNWISE" ADDING:

    VOICE: "THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SHOULD ... FOCUS MORE ON INTELLIGENT BUDGET TRIMMING AND LESS ON IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED REORGANIZATION FOR REORGANIZATION'S SAKE."

    [END OPT]

    TEXT: AND FINALLY, THE TRIBUTES CONTINUE TO POUR IN FROM EDITORIAL PAGES ALL AROUND THE NATION FOR CAL RIPKEN, JUNIOR, THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES SHORTSTOP WHO WEDNESDAY BROKE THE U-S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ENDURANCE RECORD OF 2-THOUSAND -1-HUNDRED 30 CONSECUTIVE GAMES, (THE JAPANESE PROFESSIONAL RECORD OF 2,215 BY SACHIO KINUGASA STILL STANDS). THE OLD MARK WAS SET 57 YEARS AGO BY THE LATE LOU GEHRIG, THE LEGENDARY FIRST BASEMAN OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES. IN "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS", THE LEAD EDITORIAL NOTED THAT MR. RIPKEN HAS NOT ONLY ACHIEVED A HISTORIC GOAL FOR HIMSELF, BUT HIS CLEAN-CUT PERSONALITY WAS HELPING TO RESTORE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL'S BADLY TARNISHED IMAGE:

    VOICE: "GEHRIG, THE YANKEE LEGEND, PLAYED IN 2-THOUSAND-1-HUNDRED-30 CONSECUTIVE GAMES WHEN BASEBALL WAS STILL A GAME. ONLY THE ILLNESS THAT EVENTUALLY WOULD KILL HIM COULD STOP HIM. [MR.] RIPKEN NOW HAS PLAYED IN 2-THOUSAND-1-HUNDRED-31 GAMES STRAIGHT. IN A SPORT THAT IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO KILL ITSELF. [CAL] RIPKEN'S ACHIEVEMENT IS NO MERE RECORD CHASING. IT IS THE PRODUCT OF A SOLID WORK ETHIC, SO RARE IN PRO SPORTS THAT IS APPROACHES HEROISM. IN THAT, [MR.] RIPKEN HAS MORE IN COMMON WITH [MR.] GEHRIG THAN MERE LONGEVITY. HE IS A THROWBACK TO THOSE DISTANT DAYS WHEN ATHLETES WORKED HARD AND CARED ABOUT THEIR FANS. ....HE IS AN INSPIRATION. LIKE [LOU] GEHRIG."

    TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE COMPLETE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

    ANG/NL

    07-Sep-95 11:32 AM EDT (1532 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [03] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT !!!

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=ADVISORY
    CONTENT=

    VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT

    9/7/95

    THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF SIGNIFICANT REPORTING ON BOSNIA BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA THAT HAD BEEN BROADCAST OR FIRMLY SCHEDULED AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. THIS SELECTION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE EXHAUSTIVE, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LATE-BREAKING NEWS OR THE MANY REPORTS IN ALL VOA LANGUAGES THAT ARE BASED ON COMMERCIAL WIRE SERVICES OR OTHER SECONDARY SOURCES. WE REGRET THAT WE CANNOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF SPECIFIC BROADCASTS OR PROGRAM SEGMENTS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT VOA, OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. TELEPHONE: +1-202-619-2538. ELECTRONIC MAIL: LETTERS@VOA.GOV (FOR CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES); LETTERS-USA@VOA.GOV (FOR CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES).

    REPORTS BY VOA NEWS SERVICES:

    BOSNIA / RAIDS -- NATO PLANES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A BREAK IN THE WEATHER AND ARE POUNDING BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS TO PUNISH THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED REFUSAL TO REMOVE HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (9/7)

    BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO JETS CONTINUE TO BOMB BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO, AND EXPLOSIONS AND LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THE HILLSIDES AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. CORRESPONDENT DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS UN OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE STILL SEEN "NO TRACE" OF BOSNIAN SERB COMPLIANCE WITH UN DEMANDS. (9/7)

    RUSSIA / NATO -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS LASHED OUT AT NATO, SAYING CONTINUED AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD LEAD MOSCOW TO RECONSIDER ITS RELATIONS WITH THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. CORRESPONDENT ELIZABETH ARROTT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (9/7)

    US RUSSIA -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS ASSURING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, RUSSIA REMAINS A KEY VOICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA. THE ASSURANCE COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION OVER NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS. (9/7)

    BOSNIA / NATO RAIDS CONTINUE -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILI?C REPORTS HEAVY AIR STRIKES THURSDAY ESPECIALLY AROUND SARAJEVO, BUT ALSO NEAR GORAZDE AND IN EASTERN HERZEGOVINA. HE QUOTED THE UN SPOKESMAN AS SAYING THAT NO SIGNIFICANT WITHDRAWAL OF THE SERB WEAPONRY WAS NOTICED SO FAR. (CROATIAN 9/7)

    GENEVA TALKS / CROATIA -- ON THE EVE OF THE GENEVA TALKS, MIOMIR ZUZUL, CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN IN GENEVA AND MEMBER OF CROATIAN DELEGATION SAYS THAT BIG RESULTS SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI, AMBASSADOR ZUZUL SAID THAT NATO AIR-STRIKES AND RAPID REACTION FORCE ATTACKS ON SERBIAN POSITIONS WILL SPEED UP THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA. (CROATIAN 9/7)

    CROATIA / FRANCE -- THE CROATIAN DELEGATION TO THE GENEVA TALKS VISITED FRANCE THURSDAY. CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC MET WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND HIS COUNTERPART HERVE DE CHAVRETTE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI, A CROATIAN EMBASSY OFFICIAL SAID DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CROATIA AND FRANCE ARE NARROWING. (CROATIAN 9/7)

    BOSNIA / BOMBING -- NATO JETS HAVE RESUMED BOMBING TARGETS AROUND SARAJEVO AFTER BAD WEATHER FORCED DELAYS IN THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN. THE SENIOR NATO COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION SAID THE AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, AND WARNED THE BOSNIAN SERBS IT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE TO DOUBT NATO'S RESOLVE. AND BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS SAID NATO AND THE UN MUST NEGOTIATE WITH HIM TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS. STRINGER DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (9/6)

    US / BOSNIA -- THE UNITED STATES HAS DISMISSED BOSNIAN SERB CLAIMS THAT THE RESUMPTION OF NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA INTERRUPTED SERBIAN ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THEIR WEAPONS AWAY FROM SARAJEVO. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS. (9/6)

    BOSNIA / NATO RAIDS -- NATO HAS CARRIED OUT MORE AIR ATTACKS AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE ATTACKS CONTINUED WEDNESDAY NIGHT DESPITE AN APPEAL BY THE SERB LEADER FOR A HALT IN THE BOMBING. CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS. (9/6)

    SARAJEVO / NATO BOMBINGS -- AFTER A LULL DUE TO BAD WEATHER, NATO WARPLANES RESUMED STRIKING AT BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS AROUND THE CITY. MEANWHILE, THE BOSNIAN ARMY ADMITTED THAT RENEGADE SOLDIERS FIRED TWO SHELLS AT SERBIAN POSITIONS WEDNESDAY PROVOKING SERBIAN ARTILLERY RESPONSE. STRINGER BORO KONTIC REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO. (SERBIAN 9/7)

    NATO AIR STRIKES / CASUALTIES -- THE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMAND REPORTS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES CAUSED BY NATO AIR STRIKES ON SERB-HELD POSITIONS. SOME OPPOSITION PARTIES IN SERBIA DENOUNCED THE RAIDS WHILE OTHERS CALL ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO COMPLY WITH UN AND NATO DEMANDS. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 9/7)

    YELTSIN / GONZALEZ / BOSNIA -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CRITICIZED NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA SAYING IT WILL SLOWLY PULL THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTO THE WAR ON THE SIDE OF ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS. VISITING SPANISH PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ REPLIED THAT RUSSIA AND WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE WAR IN BOSNIA. STRINGER RISTO BAJALSKI REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. (SERBIAN 9/7)

    GENERAL MACKENZIE / NATO RAIDS -- FORMER UNPROFOR COMMANDER IN BOSNIA, GENERAL LEWIS MACKENZIE SAYS THAT EVEN IF THE BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL LEADERSHIP WANTED TO COMPLY WITH NATO DEMANDS, THE MILITARY WOULD NOT GO ALONG BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF A SIZEABLE SERBIAN POPULATION AROUND SARAJEVO WOULD BE JEOPARDIZED. GENERAL MACKENZIE IS CRITICAL OF NATO STRIKES AND WONDERS WHETHER THERE IS A PLAN IN CASE THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, ENCOURAGED BY MILITARY ACTION, DECIDE TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE. INTERVIEW BY STAFFER MAJA DRUCKER. (SERBIAN 9/7)

    KUPCHAN / BOSNIA PRESSURE -- CHARLES KUPCHAN, SENIOR FELLOW FOR EUROPE ON THE COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, SAYS THE PRESSURE ON BOSNIAN SERBS SHOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT TIME IS WORKING AGAINST THEM. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER DRAGANA MILIC, MR KUPCHAN ALSO SAID IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT US AND OTHER COUNTRIES DID NOT CRITICIZE CROATIA ABOUT ITS ACTION IN KRAJINA. (SERBIAN 9/6)

    EGYPT / BOSNIA / PARIS MEETING -- EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOUSA IS HEADED FOR PARIS TO ATTEND A JOINT MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUPS ON BOSNIA. IBRAHIM ABDIN REPORTS FROM CAIRO. (ARABIC 9/6)

    TUZLA / SITUATION -- STRINGER SAMIR HASSAN REPORTS FROM TUZLA ON RECENT MILITARY AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN BOSNIA-HERZOGOVINA. (ARABIC 9/6)

    BOSNIA / AIR STRIKES -- NATO WARPLANES RESUMED BOMBING SERBIAN TARGETS TO END THE SIEGE OF SARAJEVO. STRINGER SAMIR HASSAN AND STAFFER MOHAMED SETOUHI REPORT. (ARABIC 9/6)

    RUSSIA / BOSNIA / NATO BOMBINGS -- LEOPOLD UNGER, AN INTERNATIONAL COMMENTATOR FOR THE BELGIAN NEWSPAPER "LE SOIR" DISCUSSED RUSSIA'S ROLE IN THE BALKAN CRISIS AND THE GROWING RIFT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WESTERN COUNTRIES. STAFFER MACIEJ WIERZYNSKI HAS DETAILS. (POLISH 9/7)

    CROATIA / EU -- CROATIAN VICE PRIME MINISTER IVICA KOSTOVIC VISITED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN BRUSSELS. I N AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER LADA STIPIC-NIZETEO, MR KOSTOVIC SAID THAT EU OFFICIALS PLEDGED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN CROATIA. (CROATIAN 9/7)

    CROATIA / OPPOSITION CHARGE -- DRAZEN BUDISA, LEADER OF THE MAIN CROATIAN OPPOSITION PARTY, HSLS, CLAIMED IN ZAGREB THAT HE HAS EVIDENCE THAT ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DESTABILIZE HIS PARTY AND ITS LEADERSHIP. STRINGER SLAVICA LUKIC REPORTS. (CROATIAN 9/7)

    CROATIA / EARLY ELECTIONS -- OPPOSITION PARTIES IN CROATIA ARE BRACING FOR AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE EARLY ELECTIONS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE SOCIAL LIBERAL PARTY ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF USING THE VICTORY IN KRAJINA TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM GRAVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 9/7) 07-Sep-95 5:58 PM EDT (2158 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] BOSNIA / BOMBING (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-184924
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: NATO JETS HAVE STRUCK BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO, AND LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE CAN BE SEEN NEAR THE CITY. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH U-N AND NATO DEMANDS.

    TEXT: CLEAR SKIES HAVE RETURNED TO BOSNIA AND NATO JETS HAVE ATTACKED TARGETS NEAR SARAJEVO.

    HUGE EXPLOSIONS ROCKED THE BOSNIAN SERB LUKAVICA BARRACKS COMPOUND WEST OF THE CITY, DESTROYING A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS, AND DAMAGING THE INSTALLATION. TOWERING PLUMES OF SMOKE COULD ALSO BE SEEN TO THE NORTH OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, AND TARGETS NEAR THE BOSNIAN SERB HEADQUARTERS AT PALE WERE ALSO ATTACKED. U-N OFFICIALS SAY AIRSTRIKES ARE NOW CONTINUING ACROSS WHAT THEY CALL "A WIDER AREA" OF BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY, AND ARE SLOWLY DEGRADING THE BOSNIAN SERB'S MILITARY CAPABILITY.

    U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE DAY AFTER DAY UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS COMPLY WITH U-N AND NATO DEMANDS TO REMOVE HEAVY WEAPONS OUTSIDE THE 20 KILOMETER EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND SARAJEVO.

    NATO JETS HAVE NOW FLOWN ALMOST TWO-THOUSAND SORTIES AND U-N ARTILLERY HAS FIRED 13-HUNDRED SHELLS AT BOSNIAN SERB POSITIONS. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN NO TRACE OF BOSNIAN SERB COMPLIANCE, AND SUGGEST NATO HAS YET TO INFLICT ENOUGH DAMAGE ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS. U-N MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT ATTACKING BOSNIAN SERB HEAVY WEAPONS THAT DID NOT FIRE ON SARAJEVO IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE THE BOSNIAN SERBS A CHANCE TO COMPLY, BUT THEY SAY THAT POLICY COULD CHANGE SOON.

    U-N OFFICIALS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHO IS IN COMMAND OF BOSNIAN SERB POLICY. THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY HAD BEEN ORDERED TO COMPLY WITH THE NATO AND U-N DEMANDS BY THEIR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING IT. AND ON WEDNESDAY, THE BOSNIAN SERBS FIRED FOUR SHELLS INTO THE U-N DECLARED SAFE AREA OF BIHAC, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA.

    DESPITE CLAIMS OF SERB DISARRAY BY U-N OFFICIALS, THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, HAS INSISTED HE IS STILL FIRMLY IN CHARGE OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND ARMY. HE HAS CALLED FOR THE AIRSTRIKES TO END, SAYING HIS FORCES HAD WITHDRAWN AS MANY OF THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT RISKING THE SECURITY OF SERB-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE CITY. HE WARNED SERB CIVILIANS WOULD BE DEFENSELESS IN THE FACE OF ANY RENEWED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARMY ATTACKS.

    U-N OFFICIALS HAVE DISMISSED THIS ARGUMENT, SAYING NO SERB WEAPONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE EXCLUSION ZONE. THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT THEY SHOULD NOT TRY TO TAKE MILITARY ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION, AND THEY SAY THE U-N AND NATO DEMANDS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE. (SIGNED)

    NEB/DF/JWH/CF
    07-Sep-95 11:34 AM EDT (1534 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [05] BOSNIA DIPLOMACY (S-O'NITER) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-184960
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: AS THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA AND SERBIA ARE DUE TO MEET IN GENEVA FRIDAY, NATO AND ISLAMIC COUNTRIES AGREED IN PARIS THAT AIR STRIKES SHOULD CONTINUE AROUND SARAJEVO UNTIL THE BOSNIAN SERBS PULL BACK THEIR ARTILLERY. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

    TEXT: AT A BRIEF PARIS MEETING OF THE ORIGINAL BIG POWERS' CONTACT GROUP AND THE ISLAMIC CONTACT GROUP, ONLY RUSSIA DISSENTED FROM THE VIEW THAT THE AIR STRIKES SHOULD CONTINUE.

    THIS REFLECTED A STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN EARLIER IN MOSCOW THAT RUSSIA WOULD REVIEW ITS RELATIONS WITH THE WESTERN ALLIANCE UNLESS THE AIR STRIKES STOPPED.

    THE PARIS MEETING BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME DIPLOMATS FROM THE ORIGINAL "CONTACT GROUP" ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA INCLUDING SEVEN NATO MEMBERS AND RUSSIA AND THE EIGHT-NATION "ISLAMIC CONTACT GROUP." FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HERVE DE CHARETTE SAID THAT ONLY RUSSIA DID NOT AGREE THAT THE AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB ARTILLERY SHOULD CONTINUE.

    THE PARIS TALKS WILL BE FOLLOWED FRIDAY BY MORE DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN, CROATIAN AND SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS. THEY ARE DUE TO DISCUSS THE LATEST, AMERICAN-INSPIRED PEACE INITIATIVE. (SIGNED)

    NEB/JN/LTJ/LWM
    07-Sep-95 5:56 PM EDT (2156 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [06] BOSNIA / RAIDS (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (ZAGREB)

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-184917
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: NATO PLANES, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A BREAK IN THE WEATHER, HAVE RESUMED THEIR AIR STRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB TARGETS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING IN ZAGREB REPORTS U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE RAIDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET.

    TEXT: U-N COMMANDER, GENERAL BERNARD JANVIER SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS MUST PULL THEIR WEAPONS BACK FROM SARAJEVO AND COMPLY WITH ALL U-N DEMANDS BEFORE THE AIR STRIKES WILL BE HALTED.

    UNTIL U-N DEMANDS ARE MET, THE GENERAL SAID NATO PLANES WILL CONTINUE TO GO AFTER SERB MUNITIONS DUMPS AS WELL AS COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.

    NATO JETS SWOOPED DOWN AGAINST SERB TARGETS NEAR THEIR STRONGHOLD OF PALE THIS MORNING. WITNESSES SAY MOMENTS LATER, LOUD EXPLOSIONS SHOOK THE TOWN AND AN ENORMOUS CLOUD OF SMOKE ROSE INTO THE SKY.

    NATO LIAISON OFFICER MIKE RUDD SAYS BAD WEATHER OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS HAS BEEN HAMPERING THE OPERATION, BECAUSE OFFICIALS WANT TO AVOID COLLATERAL DAMAGE.

    /// RUDD ACT ///

    THE BAD WEATHER REALLY PUSHES ON US THE CONSTRAINT THAT WE ARE VISUALLY IDENTIFYING THE TARGETS -- IT IS A SELF IMPOSED CONSTRAINT. THE U-N AND NATO AGREED THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY SURE OF WHAT WE ARE HITTING.

    /// END ACT ///

    NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS CLEARING, OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT ANOTHER FULL DAY OF AIR STRIKES. (SIGNED)

    NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
    07-Sep-95 8:34 AM EDT (1234 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America

    DATE=9/7/95 TYPE=CLOSEUP
    NUMBER=4-08579
    TELEPHONE=619-1101
    EDITOR=PHIL HAYNES
    CONTENT= // VOICER, TAPE INSERTS AVAILABLE FROM AUDIO SERVICES //

    INTRO: THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA -- OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS FRYOM BUT COMMONLY KNOWN AS MACEDONIA -- HAVE AGREED TO RESOLVE THEIR FOUR-YEAR-OLD DISPUTE. U-N MEDIATOR AND FORMER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE CYRUS VANCE ANNOUNCED THAT GREECE HAS AGREED TO LIFT THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO IT IMPOSED ON MACEDONIA WHEN THE YOUNG REPUBLIC ADOPTED GREEK SYMBOLS FOR ITS FLAG AND CHOSE TO CALL ITSELF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA. THE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED IN NEW YORK NEXT WEEK (WEEK OF 9/11) BY THE

    FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES. VOA'S PAMELA

    TAYLOR TALKED WITH BALKAN ANALYSTS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE, WHICH AT TIMES THREATENED TO FLARE INTO ANOTHER BALKAN CONFLICT, AND BACKGROUND TO THE AGREEMENT:

    TEXT: MACEDONIA DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA IN 1991, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF SLOVENIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA. IT WAS ADMITTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONAL NAME OF THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA FOLLOWING GREEK PROTESTS OVER THE NAME MACEDONIA.

    ANDREW MANATOS IS PRESIDENT OF A WASHINGTON-BASED PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPANY (MANATOS & MANATOS) WHICH LOBBIES THE U-S CONGRESS ON MEASURES AFFECTING AMERICA'S LARGE GREEK COMMUNITY. HE EXPLAINS WHY GREEKS ARE SO OPPOSED TO ANOTHER COUNTRY USING THE NAME 'MACEDONIA'. HE QUOTES FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO GREECE, BOB KEELEY, AS HE HAS MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHEN PLEADING GREECE'S CASE BEFORE U-S OFFICIALS: TAPE: CUT # 1 MANATOS RUNS [:39] "IF THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO WERE TO DIVIDE INTO 6 REPUBLICS AND THE NORTHERNMOST REPUBLIC WERE TO CALL ITSELF TEXAS, TO PRINT MONEY SHOWING THE ALAMO AT THE CENTER OF THE DOLLAR BILLS AND TO CREATE A FLAG THAT HAD THE LONE STAR ON IT, WHICH SYMBOLIZES TEXAS, THEN A LOT OF AMERICANS WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED AND WORRIED ABOUT THIS IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WERE TO ACCEPT THAT NORTHERN MEXICAN REPUBLIC WITHOUT HAVING THEM FIRST REMOVING THOSE KINDS OF SYMBOLS FROM IT."

    TEXT: A LOT OF AMERICAN POLITICIANS EVIDENTLY AGREED. BOTH THE BUSH AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATIONS BACKED AWAY FROM GRANTING FULL DIPLOMATIC RIGHTS TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC. THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE NEVER EXCHANGED AMBASSADORS AND THE NEW REPUBLIC IS REPRESENTED IN WASHINGTON BY A MACEDONIAN-BORN U-S CITIZEN WITH NO DIPLOMATIC STATUS (MS. LJUBICA ACEVESKA).

    MARSHALL FREEMAN HARRIS IS A FORMER U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO HELPED CREATE THE FIRST PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY MISSION TO THE BALKANS TO HELP BLOCK THE SPREAD OF THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT TO MACEDONIA. THE MISSION ARRANGED FOR THE DISPATCH OF U-N MONITORS TO MACEDONIA, INCLUDING NEARLY 600 U-S SOLDIERS, 300 OF WHOM PATROL THE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA. MR. HARRIS SAYS THE SLAVS OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC ARE PROUD OF BEING MACEDONIAN AND WANT TO ASSERT THIS IN THE NAME OF THEIR NEW COUNTRY. BUT HE AGREES THEY WENT TOO FAR IN PUTTING THE 16-POINT STAR OF REGINA ON ITS FLAG -- WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL FOR GREEKS: TAPE: CUT # 2 HARRIS RUNS [:25] "I THINK THEY MADE A VERY BAD DECISION IN PUTTING THE STAR OF REGINA ON THE FLAG. I THINK THAT WAS UNNECESSARILY INFLAMMATORY AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER SYMBOLS WHICH WERE CLEARLY THEIRS AND INDICATIVE OF THEIR OWN TERRITORY AND CULTURE THAT THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN INSTEAD. IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A STICKING POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS AND OUGHT BE ONE (ON WHICH) THE MACEDONIANS SHOULD SHOW SOME MOVEMENT."

    TEXT: MR. HARRIS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OF MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV [GLEE-GO-ROV] HAS NO TERRITORIAL DESIGNS ON GREECE AND THAT IT IS NOW WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON SOME OF THE SYMBOLS CONSIDERED PROVOCATIVE BY ATHENS. IN FACT, U-N NEGOTIATOR VANCE SAID HE EXPECTS AGREEMENT TO BE CONCLUDED IN NEW YORK WILL CONCERN THE NEW REPUBLIC'S FLAG, CONSTITUTION AND BORDERS IN RETURN FOR A LIFTING OF THE GREEK-IMPOSED ECONOMIC EMBARGO. THE MORE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF THE REPUBLIC'S NAME IS TO BE DEALT WITH AT A LATER DATE.

    MR. HARRIS BELIEVES THE TWO PARTIES AGREED TO TRY TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS RECENTLY TAKEN A MORE ACTIVE DIPLOMATIC ROLE IN THE REGION: TAPE: CUT # 3 HARRIS RUNS [:35] "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE WHOLE OF THE BALKAN REGION AND HAS BEEN LOOKING MORE AT THE BIG PICTURE. THEY SEEM TO HAVE COME INCREASINGLY TO THE REALIZATION THAT A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE INTER-LINKED AND THAT THEY CAN'T JUST KEEP CONCENTRATING ON THE SMALLER POINTS. THEY HAVE GIVIEN MORE ATTENTION TO MACEDONIA IN RECENT MONTHS AND THAT COMBINED WITH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD: FATIGUE, ON THE PART OF THE GREEKS AND MACEDONIANS HAS MOVED THE PROCESS FORWARD."

    TEXT: FATIGUE AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED THAT THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO IMPOSED BY GREECE IN FEBRUARY 1994 IS PLACING HEAVY STRAINS ON THE YOUNG, LAND-LOCKED REPUBLIC. THE FEAR IS ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS COULD SPARK CONFLICT AMONG MACEDONIA'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN, SERB AND MACEDONIAN POPULATIONS. THE REPUBLIC HAS ALSO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA & MONTENEGRO, ITS NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH.

    MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT GLIGOROV HAS REPEATEDLY WARNED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF KEEPING ETHNIC TENSIONS UNDER CONTROL IN A COUNTRY WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC SCARCITY. WITH RAIL ROUTES TO YUGOSLAVIA CUT, MANY ANALYSTS SAY IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR MACEDONIA TO HAVE AN OUTLET TO THE WORLD VIA THE GREEK PORT OF SALONIKA. BUT TO GET IT, SKOPJE [SKOW-PEE-YA] AND ATHENS MUST FIRST RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. (SIGNED)

    NEB/PAM/PCH
    07-Sep-95 5:17 PM EDT (2117 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [07] THE GREEK-MACEDONIAN DISPUTE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

    DATE=9/7/95
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-184940
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: BALKAN PEACE TALKS ARE SCHEDULED IN GENEVA FRIDAY, WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA MEETING WITH THE BIG-POWER CONTACT GROUP. DELEGATES WILL BE SEEKING AGREEMENT ON A SET OF PRINCIPLES TO SETTLE THE 41-MONTH WAR IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THE TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE CONTINUING NATO AIR STRIKES ON SERB TARGETS IN BOSNIA.

    TEXT: U-S AND WEST EUROPEAN OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE AIR STRIKES COULD WELL CONTINUE -- EVEN AFTER THE TALKS GET UNDER WAY HERE. BUT U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE INSISTS THE NATO ATTACKS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO AFFECT THE NEGOTIATIONS. NATO'S SOLE AIM, HE SAYS, IS TO COMPEL SERB COMMANDERS TO WITHDRAW HEAVY WEAPONS FROM THE SARAJEVO REGION AND TO CEASE ALL ATTACKS ON THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL AND OTHER SO-CALLED SAFE AREAS.

    THE U-S ENVOY HAS SPENT THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS IN A VIRTUAL NON-STOP ROUND OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY AIMED AT PREPARING FOR THE MEETING HERE. BUT, ON THE EVE OF THE TALKS, HE ACKNOWLEDGED PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESS ARE UNCERTAIN, AT BEST.

    IN A STATEMENT TO A BRITISH TELEVISION NETWORK (W-T-N), MR. HOLBROOKE SAID SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES HAVE YET TO BE RESOLVED. HE SAYS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE WHAT HE TERMS THE LIMITED OBJECTIVES SET OUT FOR THE MEETING -- ADDING, ALTHOUGH HE IS HOPEFUL, HE CANNOT SAY HE IS OPTIMISTIC.

    THE U-S OFFICIAL WOULD NOT COMMENT ABOUT DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

    THE BOSNIAN, CROATIAN AND YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE SEEKING A CONSENSUS ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA. IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL, THE GENEVA MEETING COULD LEAD TO A FULL-SCALE PEACE CONFERENCE.

    MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA NOW AGREE ON THE OUTLINE OF A TERRITORIAL COMPROMISE THAT WOULD GIVE BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS AND CROATS CONTROL OF 51 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY. THE REMAINDER WOULD BE LEFT TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS. BUT THE DETAILS OF THAT TERRITORIAL SPLIT REMAIN HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS. MR. HOLBROOKE HAS CAUTIONED REPORTERS NOT TO EXPECT ANY AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE MAP OF BOSNIA AT FRIDAY'S MEETING.

    // OPT //

    DIPLOMATIC ANALYSTS HERE SAY PERHAPS THE MOST-CRUCIAL ISSUE FOR THIS ROUND OF TALKS WILL REVOLVE AROUND WHAT ARE KNOWN AS CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS -- SPECIFICALLY, THE FUTURE STATUS OF SERB-CONTROLLED TERRITORY IN BOSNIA AND WHAT, IF ANY, LINK IT WILL HAVE WITH THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC.

    // OPT //

    IN THE PAST, BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS HAVE DEMANDED THE RIGHT TO FORM A CONFEDERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA -- SIMILAR TO THE ARRANGEMENT ALREADY AGREED BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-CROAT ALLIANCE. BUT BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS SINCE ALTERED HIS STAND AND IS NOW DEMANDING FULL INDEPENDENCE FOR TERRITORY UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS FORCES.

    // OPT //

    THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT WILL NEVER AGREE TO EITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS. // END OPT // (SIGNED)

    NEB/DBR/WOD/CF
    07-Sep-95 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America

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