Voice of America, 14 October 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA/FIGHTING (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: HEAVY FIGHTING IS CONTINUING IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA AS GOVERNMENT AND CROAT TROOPS PUSH TOWARD KEY SERB-HELD TOWNS, BUT ELSEWHERE IN BOSNIA A CEASE-FIRE IS HOLDING. U-N MILITARY OBSERVERS WILL GO TO SERB-HELD TERRITORY ON SATURDAY TO ASSESS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUED FIGHTING, WHICH RISKS CAUSING THE COLLAPSE OF THE CEASE-FIRE AND THE AMERICAN-LED PEACE PROCESS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: FIERCE FIGHTING IS ONGOING IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA AROUND THE TOWNS OF SANSKI MOST AND PRIJEDOR. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERB CIVILIANS ARE FLEEING THE AREA.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY MILITARY OBSERVERS WILL TOUR SERB HELD AREAS ON SATURDAY IN AN EFFORT TO ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ONGOING FIGHTING WHICH IS IN DEFIANCE OF THE THREE-DAY-OLD TRUCE.

REPORTS FROM THE AREA SAY SANSKI MOST, WHICH FELL TO GOVERNMENT TROOPS EARLIER THIS WEEK, IS SERVING AS A BASE FOR FURTHER ATTACKS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES NORTH TOWARD SERB-HELD PRIJEDOR.

BOSNIAN SERB ARMY OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE HALTED A BOSNIAN ARMY ATTACK EAST FROM SANSKI MOST TOWARDS THE SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA, BUT THERE ARE REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT AND CROAT FORCES ONLY 15 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BANJA LUKA, AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SET UP ROADBLOCKS AROUND THE CITY TO PREVENT CIVILIANS FROM FLEEING.

SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS HAVE THREATENED TO END THE CEASE-FIRE IF THE ATTACKS DO NOT STOP, BUT SENIOR U-N OFFICIALS STILL EXPRESS OPTIMISM THE FIGHTING WILL DIE DOWN AND THE CEASE-FIRE WILL NOT BE CANCELLED. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/DW/SD
14-Oct-95 8:42 AM EDT (1242 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BULGARIA/NUKE (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (SOFIA)

INTRO: BULGARIA IS SET TO RESTART THE TROUBLED NUMBER ONE REACTOR AT THE KOZLODUY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 200 KILOMETERS NORTH OF SOFIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE FROM THE BULGARIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: KOZLODUY IS BULGARIA'S ONLY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AND PROVIDES 40 PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICITY TO A COUNTRY THAT HAS CHRONIC ENERGY SHORTAGES. THE GOVERNMENT IN RECENT DAYS MADE CLEAR THAT IT WILL RESTART THE NUMBER ONE REACTOR, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE SINCE FEBRUARY. A TEAM OF BULGARIAN AND RUSSIAN SPECIALISTS, TOGETHER WITH EXPERTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, INSPECTED KOZLODUY EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE BULGARIANS CLAIM THE REACTOR IS SAFE.

THE BULGARIANS ARE ATTEMPTING TO STEER A COURSE THAT WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY SATISFY WESTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS, WHICH WANT THE REACTOR SHUT AND DOMESTIC INDUSTRY WHICH NEEDS CHEAP ELECTRICITY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO MODERNIZATION OF KOZLODUY WHICH IS A SOVIET DESIGN FACILITY WITH SIX REACTORS LOCATED NEAR THE DANUBE RIVER AND THE ROMANIAN BORDER. THE FOUR OLDER REACTORS WERE OPENED BETWEEN 1974 AND 1982 THE TWO NEWER ONES BETWEEN 1987 AND 1989. THE TWO OLDEST REACTORS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, THE GROUP OF SEVEN WESTERN INDUSTRIAL NATIONS CALLED ON THE BULGARIANS TO CLOSE UNIT ONE AT KOZLODUY PERMANENTLY -- SAYING IT IMPOSES A HAZZARD TO THE REGION. BULGARIA'S ENERGY REGULATORS REJECTED THE G-7 DEMAND, AND CRITICIZED THE FRENCH FOR BEING HYPOCRITICAL. THE BULGARIAN VICE-PREMEIR CALLED ATTENTION BOTH TO THE FRENCH NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND FRENCH RELIANCE ON NUCLEAR POWER FOR 70 PERCENT OF ITS ELECTRICITY.

SEVERAL WESTERN COMPANIES AS WELL AS RUSSIAN FIRMS WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN MODERNIZING KOZLODUY AND BRINGING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH WESTERN SAFETY STANDARDS. LAST MONTH THE SLOVAC GOVERNMENT AWARDED A NUCLEAR UPGRADE CONTRACT NOT TO THE FRENCH WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD THE CONTRACT, BUT TO A CONSORTIUM OF RUSSIAN AND CZECH COMPANIES. (SIGNED) NEB/BW/CB-T/SD 14-Oct-95 2:16 PM EDT (1816 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] NATO / CLAES (S) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILLY CLAES SAYS IT IS TOO SOON TO SAY IF HE WILL RESIGN -- FOLLOWING A BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION HE STAND TRIAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES. MR. CLAES TOLD BELGIAN RADIO HE WAS SURPRISED BY THE COMMISSION'S DECISION ANNOUNCED AFTER AN ALL-NIGHT MEETING IN BRUSSELS. THE FULL BELGIAN PARLIAMENT WILL VOTE NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER HIS IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION SHOULD BE LIFTED. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR V-O-A FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: BELGIAN INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THAT BRIBES TOTALING MORE THAN TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS WERE PAID BY DEFENSE FIRMS TO SECURE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

THE BRIBES WERE PAID TO THE FLEMISH SOCIALIST PARTY IN THE LATE 1980'S, WHEN WILLY CLAES WAS THE BELGIAN ECONOMICS MINISTER AND A LEADING MEMBER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY.

HE HAS CONSISTENTLY DENIED THAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE BRIBES, BUT AN 11-MEMBER BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE HAS VOTED THAT HE DOES HAVE A CASE TO ANSWER, AND SHOULD BE PUT ON TRIAL IN BELGIUM'S HIGHEST COURT (COUR DE CASSATION).

THE FULL BELGIAN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLES IN BRUSSELS THURSDAY TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT MR. CLAES SHOULD BE TRIED.

IT ALONE HAS THE POWER TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT HIS IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION SHOULD BY LIFTED.

IF THE CASE GOES AHEAD, WILLY CLAES WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE TO RESIGN AS NATO'S CIVILIAN CHIEF.

ALREADY NATO GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEGUN DISCREET DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHO SHOULD SUCCEED MR. CLAES IF HE IS FORCED TO STAND DOWN. (SIGNED) NEB/JF/TMS-T/RKS 14-Oct-95 4:08 AM EDT (0808 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America