Voice of America, 1 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE VERY NARROW VOTE IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCE OF QUEBEC ON WHETHER TO SECEDE OR NOT DOMINATES U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS THIS FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER. SEVERAL OF THE LARGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL DAILIES ARE LEADING THEIR EDITORIAL COLUMNS WITH THEIR COMMENTS ON THE REFERENDUM. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS GETTING UNDERWAY IN OHIO; THE SAFETY OF THE NATION'S ROAD AND RAILROAD CROSSINGS FOLLOWING THE RECENT FATAL SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS, AND DIFFICULTIES IN RUSSIA. NOW, FOR THE DETAIILS HERE IS ________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: EDITORIALS ABOUT THE QUEBEC ELECTION TAKE SEVERAL APPROACHES. ONE IS TO DISCUSS THE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCE WHICH CHARACTERIZES THE DIFFERENT CANADIAN CULTURES. SOME PAPERS SUGGEST THE UNITED STATES COULD SOON FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS CANADA IF SPANISH CONTINUES TO GROW IN THE U-S AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. OTHER PAPERS TALK ABOUT THE CLOSENESS OF THE VOTE, SUGGESTING THAT IF ENGLISH-SPEAKING CANADA DOES NOT QUICKLY ADDRESS THE CONTINUING CONCERNS OF QUEBECERS, THE NEXT VOTE COULD WELL SUCCEED IN SECESSION. AND STILL OTHERS DWELL PARTLY ON THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES IF QUEBEC SHOULD EVENTUALLY SECEDE. WE BEGIN WITH "THE WASHINGTON POST", WHICH TITLED ITS EDITORIAL "HUNG JURY IN QUEBEC" AND FOCUSES ON THE DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS AHEAD FOR CANADA'S FRENCH-CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, JEAN CHRETIEN.

VOICE: "ONE OF THE SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT'S DEMANDS, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A VETO FOR QUEBEC ON ANY FURTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AFFECTING THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL PROVISIONS THAT CONCERN IT. ... BUT IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE THAT TO QUEBEC WITHOUT OFFERING SIMILAR VETOES TO ALL THE OTHER PROVINCES, A TRULY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. MR. CHRETIEN WILL NOW DEVOTE HIMSELF TO TRYING TO FIND A WAY THROUGH THIS LEGAL AND POLITICAL LABYRINTH. A SIMILAR EFFORT ... EARLIER IN THIS DECADE ... ULTIMATELY ENDED IN FAILURE."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES," CALLING THE ELECTION OUTCOME "SENSIBLE," ADDS THESE THOUGHTS:

VOICE: "QUEBEC'S SEPARATIST MOVEMENT HELPED INSPIRE AND LEAD A 'QUIET REVOLUTION' OF INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC RENEWAL IN A ONCE-SLEEPY PROVINCE. QUEBEC NOW HAS ITS OWN DYNAMIC BUSINESS CLASS. ITS PEOPLE ENJOY AN ENVIABLE LIVING STANDARD AND ITS POLITICIANS HOLD MANY OF CANADA'S TOP NATIONAL POSTS. SEPARATISTS WANT FIRM GUARANTEES FOR QUEBEC'S DISTINCTIVE IDENTITY AS WELL. ACHIEVING THESE GUARANTEES WITHIN THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO MONDAY'S DIVIDED VOTE."

TEXT: HOWEVER, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS THE VOTE, IN ITS WORDS, "POINTS UP CANADA'S DISUNITY":

VOICE: "CANADA REMAINS A UNITED COUNTRY IN THE AFTERMATH OF QUEBEC'S REFERENDUM ON SECESSION, BUT HOW FAR THAT UNITY EXTENDS BEYOND THE INESCAPABLE CONDITIONS OF GEOGRAPHY IS ARGUABLE. THE REFERENDUM ... STARKLY ILLUMINATES THE PROFOUND CULTURAL AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FRENCH-SPEAKING MAJORITY OF CANADA'S LARGEST PROVINCE AND THE REST OF THE SPRAWLING COUNTRY... [OPT] IT'S CLEAR NOW AS IN THE PAST THAT SOME OF THE PROVINCES ARE DETERMINED THAT ANY POLITICAL GAINS MADE BY QUEBEC [IN THE WAKE OF THE ELECTION, AS PROMISED BY THE PRIME MINISTER] DO NOT COME AT THEIR EXPENSE. ALL OF WHICH IS TO SUGGEST THAT THE UNITED STATES' CLOSE ALLY, GOOD FRIEND AND BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER MAY STILL BE A LONG WAY FROM RESOLVING ITS INTERNAL DIFFERENCES AND ACHIEVING REAL NATIONAL UNITY." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN MAINE, WHICH BORDERS QUEBEC, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" NOTES THAT THE CLOCK IS NOW RUNNING ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS THE PAPER SAYS ARE NOT JUST DESIRABLE BUT "NECESSARY."

VOICE: "WHEN THE CHEERING STOPPED AMONG VICTORIOUS 'NO' VOTERS .... A SOBERING REALIZATION SET IN: THE REST OF CANADA HAS A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME IN WHICH TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF QUEBECERS BEFORE THE QUESTION OF 'SOVEREIGNTY ASSOCIATION' IS PUT TO A REFERENDUM AGAIN. ... FOR THOSE WHO WOULD SAVE CANADA, THE HOUR IS LATE AND THE CLOCK IS RUNNING."

TEXT: TO THE SOUTH, IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" ANSWERS A COMMENT BY HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH, COMPARING THE SITUATION IN CANADA TO THAT OF THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: "HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH SAYS THAT QUEBEC'S VOTE ON SECESSION FROM CANADA IS A WARNING TO AMERICANS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF BILINGUALISM. [OPT] 'ALLOWING BILINGUALISM TO CONTINUE TO GROW IS VERY DANGEROUS.' MR. GINGRICH SAID IN ATLANTA. TO COUNTER THIS, MR. GINGRICH TOUTS LEGISLATION PENDING IN CONGRESS TO MAKE ENGLISH THE OFFICIAL U-S LANGUAGE... WE AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT CHILDREN IN AMERICA SHOULD BE TAUGHT ENGLISH... NOWHERE IN AMERICA THAT WE KNOW OF (EXCEPT IN CERTAIN XENOPHOBIC MINDS) IS THERE AN EFFORT TO SUPPLANT ENGLISH FOR OFFICIAL OR BUSINESS OR OTHER PUBLIC USES. [END OPT] ... TO COMPARE QUEBEC'S UNIQUE SITUATION TO BILINGUALISM IN AMERICA IS TO COMPARE APPLES AND NARANJAS. IN ANY LANGUAGE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT."

TEXT: NOT SO, SAYS "THE NEW YORK POST, WHICH COMMENTS:

VOICE: "CANADA DODGED A BULLET [SURVIVED A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH CALAMITY] MONDAY; HERE'S HOPING THE U-S WAS PAYING ATTENTION... WE SHARE [SPEAKER] GINGRICH'S VIEW THAT LANGUAGE IS CENTRAL TO THAT WHICH 'BINDS US TOGETHER.' PERHAPS THE FACT OF CANADA'S NEARLY FRACTURED FEDERATION WILL HELP UNDERSCORE THE POINT. "

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER COMMENTARY ON THE NEWS, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" LEADS WITH SOME THOUGHTS ON THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS, NOTING:

VOICE: "IF THE DAYTON NEGOTIATIONS ARE TO SUCCEED, PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT A SETTLEMENT WILL BE ENFORCED. THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCE, WASHINGTON AND ITS ALLIES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT A PASSIVE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION SUCH AS THAT CONDUCTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS SIMPLY WON'T WORK. [OPT] WHAT THEY ENVISION INSTEAD IS A 'ROBUST' NATO CONTINGENT OF 60-THOUSAND-PLUS TROOPS PREPARED TO DISCOURAGE CONCENTRATIONS OF COMBATANTS AND PUNISH TRUCE INFRACTIONS... AMERICA CANNOT STAND BY AND ALLOW THIS BARBARISM SO CLOSE TO THE HEART OF EUROPE." [END OPT]

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE HORRIBLE TRAIN-SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS, OUTSIDE CHICAGO, LAST WEEK THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF SEVEN STUDENTS, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" WONDERS:

VOICE: "WAS THIS A FREAK ACCIDENT, PECULIAR TO THIS GRADE [RAILROAD] CROSSING...? OR ARE THERE OTHER GRADE-CROSSING TRAGEDIES JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN? FEDERAL RAIL, HIGHWAY AND SAFETY OFFICIALS NEED TO FIND... THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO SURVEY THE NATION'S GRADE CROSSINGS."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, TURNING ONCE AGAIN OVERSEAS, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" LAMENTS THE PROBLEMS FACING RUSSIA AS A MAJOR ELECTION LOOMS.

VOICE: "IT'S HARD TO BE CHEERFUL ABOUT THE CURRENT PROSPECTS OF DEMOCRACY IN RUSSIA. THE TROUBLE GOES FAR BEYOND PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S SECOND HOSPITALIZATION FOR A HEART CONDITION IN FOUR MONTHS -- A TURN THAT ALL BUT ENSURES HE WON'T RUN FOR REELECTION NEXT JUNE. JUST THIS WEEK THE YELTSIN-APPOINTED ELECTORAL COMMISSION ... RULED THE MOST POPULAR REFORM PARTY, YABLOKO, LED BY THE LEADING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY, GRIGORY YAVLINSKY, OFF THE DECEMBER PARLIAMENTARY BALLOT. THESE ARE RECOGNIZED AS MAJOR JOLTS TO A FRAGILE SYSTEM EVEN BY THE RUSSIAN POLITICIANS LIKELIEST TO BENEFIT FROM THEM."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT OBSERVATION FROM THE "WASHINGTON POST", WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE ITEMS DRAWING EDITORIAL COMMENT IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

NEB/ANG/PCH
01-Nov-95 11:01 AM EST (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] !!! VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT -- NOVEMBER 1, 1995

VOA DAILY BOSNIA REPORT -- 11/1/95 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).

BOSNIA / PEACE TALKS -- BOSNIA PEACE TALKS OPEN AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OUTSIDE DAYTON, OHIO. US SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS MEETING SEPARATELY WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM DAYTON. (11/1)

BOSNIA / PEACE PROSPECTS -- AS THE WARRING FACTIONS IN THE BOSNIA WAR OPEN PEACE IN OHIO, CURRENT AFFAIRS' PAMELA TAYLOR HAS ASSEMBLED A PANEL OF BALKAN ANALYSTS, ACADEMICS AND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE PROSPECTS FOR A LASTING AGREEMENT. (10/31)

DAYTON / PREPARATIONS -- STAFFER ZDENKO NOVACKI WAS ONE OF THE MANY JOURNALISTS WHO VISITED FACILITIES IN A MILITARY BASE OUTSIDE DAYTON, OHIO, AND DESCRIBES THE SITE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. (CROATIAN 10/30)

BOSNIAN PRESIDENT / PEACE TALKS -- NEW YORK STRINGER IVICA PULJIC INTERVIEWS THE PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC WHO EXPRESSED HIS HOPES AND FEARS REGARDING THE TALKS IN DAYTON. MR IZETBEGOVIC SAYS HE WILL INSIST ON FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS BECAUSE THERE CAN BE NO PEACE IN BOSNIA AS LONG AS A PART OF THE COUNTRY IS RULED BY WAR CRIMINALS. (CROATIAN 10/31)

CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER / DAYTON TALKS -- ZAGREB STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC INTERVIEWS CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC WHO EXPECTS THE MAJOR ISSUE OF RETURN OF EASTERN SLAVONIA TO BE PEACEFULLY RESOLVED IN DAYTON, OHIO. (CROATIAN 10/31)

NATO / CROATIA -- THE NATO COMMANDER FOR EUROPE, AMERICAN GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN CONFERRED WITH CROATIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GOJKO SUSAK IN ZAGREB ON PROSPECTS FOR THE PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/31)

AKASHI / DAYTON TALKS -- IN HIS LAST SPEECH IN ZAGREB BEFORE LEAVING THE POST, UN SPECIAL ENVOY YASUSHI AKASHI EXPLAINED HIS ROLE IN BOSNIAN CRISIS AND GAVE HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE UPCOMING PEACE TALKS. STRINGER LINDA MILISA REPORTS. (CROATIAN 10/31)

BOSNIA TALKS REACTION -- SARAJEVO STRINGER VLADIMIR BILIC REPORTED THAT ORDINARY SARAJEVANS ARE MOSTLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT COMING PEACE TALKS BETWEEN BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA AND WANT TO BELIEVE THAT FINAL PEACE WILL COME. HOWEVER OPPOSITION PARTIES IN BOSNIA COMPLAIN THAT THE BOSNIAN POSITION IS NOT BASED ON THE WILL OF THE PARLIAMENT, BUT RATHER ON THE WILL OF THE BOSNIAN RULING PARTY. (CROATIAN 10/31)

TUDJMAN / DAYTON TALKS -- CROATIAN PRESIDENT F TUDJMAN MADE A SHORT STATEMENT FOR THE MEDIA BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE TO UNITED STATES TO PARTICIPATE IN PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA. HE EXPRESSED HOPE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PEACE TALKS, INCLUDING THE RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE OVER EASTERN SLAVONIA. STRINGER STEVICA SUSA REPORTS FROM ZAGREB. (SERBIAN 10/31)

MILOSEVIC / DAYTON TALKS -- SERBIAN PRESIDENT S MILOSEVIC ALSO MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING THE FORTHCOMING PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON. BEFORE DEPARTING WITH HIS DELEGATION FROM BELGRADE, THE SERBIAN LEADER EXPRESSED OPTIMISM IN THE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. STRINGER MILICA KUBUROVIC REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. (SERBIAN 10/31)

DAYTON / SCENESETTER -- IN THE PRESS CENTER AT THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, THE ATMOSPHERE BECAME SOMEWHAT MORE TENSE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE DELEGATION OF THREE WARRING SIDES IN BOSNIA. THE FIRST TO ARRIVE WAS THE US NEGOTIATING TEAM, LED BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE R HOLBROOKE. STAFFER DJORDJE PUTIC REPORTS FROM DAYTON. (SERBIAN 10/31)

KESIC / PEACE TALKS -- OBRAD KESIC, PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH IREX (INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND EXCHANGES BOARD) DISCUSSES THE CHANCES FOR THE SUCCESS OF DAYTON PEACE TALKS ON BOSNIA. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STRINGER DRAGANA MILIC, MR KESIC SAID HE BELIEVES THAT BOSNIAN SERBS ARE NOW MORE INTERESTED IN SIGNING SOME KIND OF PEACE AGREEMENT BECAUSE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND HAS CHANGED. (SERBIAN 10/31)

MIHAJLOV / PEACE TALKS -- PUBLICIST AND FORMER YUGOSLAV DISSIDENT, MIHAJLO MIHAJLOV TALKED ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING PEACE NEGOTIATION IN DAYTON IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STAFFER DRAGANA MILIC. MR MIHAJLOV IS CONVINCED THAT THE WARRING SIDES WOULD REACH SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT BECAUSE THEY FEEL IMMENSE PRESSURE TO BRING THE WAR IN BOSNIA TO AN END. (SERBIAN 10/31)

CROATIA / ELECTIONS -- STRINGER ZELJKO MATIC REPORTS THAT THE LATEST RESULTS OF THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SHOW VICTORY OF THE CROATIAN RULING PARTY, HDZ, WITH ALMOST 45 PERCENT VOTES. (CROATIAN 10/31) 01-Nov-95 5:38 PM EST (2238 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BALKAN ARRIVALS OVERNIGHTER (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (DAYTON)

INTRO: WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- OUTSIDE DAYTON, OHIO -- BECOMES THE CENTER OF BOSNIA PEACE EFFORTS TODAY AS SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER OPENS PROXIMITY TALKS WITH THE LEADERS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM DAYTON, THESE TALKS FOLLOW A LINE OF FAILURES.

TEXT: THESE LEADERS HAVE MET FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA BEFORE. THERE WAS THE LONDON PEACE CONFERENCE IN 1992 THAT FAILED. THEN CAME THE VANCE-OWEN PLAN AND THE BALKAN PRESIDENTS MET IN GENEVA AND ATHENS IN 1993. THERE WAS STILL NO PEACE IN BOSNIA. THIS TIME, SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS HERE IN THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS WITH THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE ON THEIR BEHALF. THIS TIME, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT COMES TO PEACE TALKS HOLDING ROUGHLY 51 PERCENT OF BOSNIA -- ABOUT WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP SAYS THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IS ENTITLED TO. THIS TIME, CROATIA HAS RECOVERED ALL BUT FOUR-POINT-SIX PERCENT OF ITS TERRITORY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE UNITED STATES IS LEADING THE NEGOTIATIONS HERE AT THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF ALL SIDES NOT TO LEAVE UNTIL PEACE AGREEMENT IS FOUND.

THE LEAD AMERICAN NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE PROMISES HIS BEST EFFORTS AS HE SHUTTLES AMONG THE THREE PRESIDENTS WITH A DRAFT PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE WORLD'S EYES WILL BE ON DAYTON AND WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE. WE HAVE A VERY TOUGH JOB AHEAD OF US. WE ARE NOT HERE TO PROMISE YOU SUCCESS BUT ONLY OUR BEST EFFORTS. THE PRESIDENTS OF CROATIA, BOSNIA AND SERBIA, REPRESENTING A JOINT YUGOSLAV-BOSNIAN SERB DELEGATION ARE COMING HERE IN A SEARCH FOR PEACE. THEY'VE ALL SAID THEY WILL STAY WITH US UNTIL WE PRODUCE RESULTS.

THE PRESIDENTS -- INCLUDING SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC -- RECEIVED "RED-CARPET" (HONORED-VISITOR) WELCOMES WITH AN AIR FORCE HONOR GUARD AS THEY ARRIVED HERE. THIS MORNING, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER OPENS THE TALKS BY HOLDING BILATERAL MEETINGS WITH ALL THREE LEADERS BEFORE CONVENING THEM AT MIDDAY.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS WIDELY BLAMED FOR INSTIGATING THE WARS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA, BUT THE UNITED STATES CONSIDERS HIS ROLE AS CRUCIAL IN REACHING A PEACE AGREEMENT HERE. MR. MILOSEVIC TOLD REPORTERS HE IS OPTIMISTIC.

I AM AN OPTIMIST. I BELIEVE THE TALKS WILL SUCCEED. WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PEACE INITIATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES AND WE HERE TO JOIN THE PEACE EFFORTS TO BRINGING PEACE TO THE BALKANS.

FOR HIS PART, BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER HARIS SILAJDZIC SAYS HE IS FULL OF HOPE THESE TALKS WILL BRING BOSNIA JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY. HOWEVER, ALL SIDES COME TO THIS MILITARY BASE WITH DEMANDS THAT ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. THE AMERICAN NEGOTIATING TEAM IS HOPING A FEW WEEKS OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY ON THIS MILITARY BASE WILL SUCCEED WHERE THOSE EARLIER BOSNIA PEACE CONFERENCES FAILED. (SIGNED)

NEB / RP / LTJ / WOD
01-Nov-95 4:55 AM EST (0955 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BALKAN TALKS: THE PLAYERS BY MICHELE KELEMEN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RECENT CHANGES ON THE BATTLEFIELDS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA HAVE SHAPED THE BARGAINING POSITIONS OF THE THREE MAIN POWER BROKERS IN THE CURRENT ROUND OF BALKANS PEACE TALKS. AS V-O-A'S MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS, MEDIA IMAGES ARE ALSO AT PLAY AS THE UNITED STATES TRIES TO MEDIATE PEACE AT THE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR BASE IN DAYTON OHIO.

TEXT: THOUGH THERE IS DEBATE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT WHETHER SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT ROUND OF BALKAN PEACE TALKS, SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS INSIST HE HOLDS THE KEY TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT.

MR. MILOSEVIC -- A COMMUNIST TURNED NATIONALIST -- HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR FOMENTING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, BUT U-S MEDIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE NOTES THERE IS NO HARD EVIDENCE LINKING HIM TO SERB WAR CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF U-S MEDIA COVERAGE OF BOSNIA IN RECENT WEEKS. BESIDES, OBSERVERS NOTE, THE 54-YEAR OLD HAS MUCH TO GAIN BY A PEACE AGREEMENT. MR. MILOSEVIC HOPES TO WIN THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AND REVIVE SERBIA'S SHATTERED ECONOMY.

SLOBODAN MILSOEVIC COMES TO THE DAYTON, OHIO, TALKS REPRESENTING THE BOSNIAN SERBS WHO WANT THE RIGHT TO SECEDE AND JOIN SERBIA. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF MR. MILOSEVIC WILL PUSH FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS AGENDA OR HIS OWN. BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS COULD NOT COME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER BEING INDICTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON WAR CRIMES.

CROATIA'S PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN ALSO HAS A TARNISHED IMAGE IN THE WEST, DESPITE HIS POPULARITY AT HOME. WESTERN LEADERS ARE WARNING HIM AGAINST HIS SUSPECTED TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS IN PARTS OF BOSNIA, AND ARE URGING HIM NOT TO USE FORCE TO RETAKE A SERB-HELD AREA IN CROATIA CALLED EASTERN SLAVONIA. MUCH OF HIS POPULARITY STEMS FROM THE STUNNING MILITARY SUCCESSES THIS YEAR, WHEN THE CROATIAN ARMY RETOOK ALMOST ONE THIRD OF CROATIA FROM REBEL SERBS. THE ONE-TIME COMMUNIST OFFICIAL WHO WAS JAILED BY TITO FOR HIS ARDENT CROATIAN NATIONALISM HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICIZED FOR SUPPRESSING A FREE PRESS AT HOME.

THANKS TO BOSNIAN ARMY GAINS IN RECENT MONTHS, BOSNIA'S PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC COMES TO TALKS WITH A STRONGER BARGAINING POSITION THAN EVER BEFORE. GOVERNMENT TROOPS, WHO STRUGGLED TO HOLD JUST 30 PERCENT OF BOSNIA THROUGH MOST OF THE WAR, NOW CONTROL AT LEAST HALF OF THE COUNTRY.

MR. IZETBEGOVIC -- A 70-YEAR OLD LAWYER -- HAS BEEN JAILED TWICE IN COMMUNIST YUGOSLAVIA FOR ISLAMIC ACTIVISM. BUT SINCE HE LED BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA IN 1992, HE FOUGHT TO KEEP THE COUNTRY A UNIFIED, MULTI-ETHNIC STATE. HE HAS RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO A U-S PLAN TO DIVIDE BOSNIA INTO SERB AND MUSLIM-CROAT ENTITIES, WHILE MAINTAINING BOSNIA'S SOVEREIGNTY.

AT THE DAYTON SUMMIT, HE AND THE OTHER BALKAN POWER BROKERS WILL FOCUS ON SEVERAL THORNY ISSUES -- INCLUDING MAPS, THE POST-WAR STATUS OF SARAJEVO AND BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/MK/MMK
01-Nov-95 2:08 PM EST (1908 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA PEACE TALKS UPDATE (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (DAYTON)

INTRO: IN WHAT COULD BE THE TALKS THAT PRODUCE A LASTING BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT, THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA HAVE HEARD APPEALS FROM SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN MEDIATORS AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OUTSIDE DAYTON, OHIO. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM DAYTON, THE TALKS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.

TEXT: THERE WERE NEON LIGHTS, NOT CHANDELIERS, IN THE HOPE HOTEL CONFERENCE CENTER. THIS USUAL SITE OF MILITARY WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND CLUB MEETINGS WAS TRANSFORMED INTO WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER CALLS, THE LAST BEST CHANCE FOR PEACE AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WAR IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA.

GATHERED AROUND A SMALL TABLE ACROSS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HIS FELLOW MEDIATORS WERE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC,CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC. THIS WAS THEIR FIRST JOINT APPEARENCE SINCE MAY, 1993. SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER URGED THE PRESIDENTS TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THIS TIME.

WE HAVE AN URGENT AND IMPORTANT PURPOSE TODAY. WE'RE HERE TO GIVE BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA A CHANCE TO BE A COUNTRY AT PEACE, NOT AKILLING FIELD.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE LISTED THE AMERICAN PRIORITIES, A SINGLE UNIFIED BOSNIA WITH TWO ENTITTIES, A SARAJEVO RESTORED TO THE GLORY OF THE 1984 WINTER OLYMPICS, A COUNTRY WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE GUARANTEED AND WAR CRIMINALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AS FOR CROATIA,THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS THE RESTORATION OF CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY,PEACEFULLY, OVER SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA. MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS ALL THIS WILL NOT BE EASY.

WE MUST RISE TO THE CHALLENGE. THIS WILL BE A LONG JOURNEY BUT IT ALL STARTS HERE. LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK AND LET'S RE-AFFIRM OUR PLEDGE TO SUCCEED HERE AT DAYTON.

BEFORE THE FORMAL OPENING, THE SECRETARY OF STATE VISITED EACH PRESIDENT AT THEIR IDENTICAL VILLA AROUND THE GRASSY QUADRANGLE OF THIS MILITARY BASE. HE DELIVERED PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON AND URGED HIM TO MAINTAIN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND UNITY. MR. CHRISTOPHER CONGRATULATED PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ON HIS PARTY'S VICTORY IN SUNDAY'S ELECTION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HELD HIS FIRST MEETING WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND RAISED THE ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED BY BOSNIAN SERBS AND SERBIAN PARA-MILITARY GROUPS IN BANJA LUKA,SANSKI MOST, SREBRENICA AND ZEPA. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS BOSNIAN SERBS IN HIS DELEGATION, INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT NIKOLA KOLJEVIC, AND HE HAS THEIR AGREEMENT TO NEGOTIATE HERE ON THEIR BEHALF.

BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUHAMMED SACIRBEY TOLD REPORTERS BEFORE THE PRESS BLACKOUT, HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THESE TALKS.

WE ARE HERE TO GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT AND IF IT FAILS, IT WON'T FAIL BECAUSE OF US. IT MAY FAIL BECAUSE THE SERBIAN SIDE IS NOT READY TO ACCEPT DEMOCRACY, NOT READY TO ACCEPT HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT READY TO ACCEPT REAL PEACE AND A UNITED COUNTRY. AND IF IT FAILS, IT WILL PROBABLY BE BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION WERE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES AND SAYING WE'RE JUST HERE TO OBSERVE AND REFEREE. NO, THEY ARE PLAYERS IN THIS GAME AND UNLESS THEY CONTINUE TO BE PLAYERS, IN FACT, THESE PEACE TALKS WILL FAIL.

[06] BOSNIA PEACE/BIHAC BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (BIHAC, BOSNIA)

INTRO: AFTER WEEKS OF ANTICIPATION AND A FRENZIED MEDIA BUILD-UP, BALKAN LEADERS HAVE BEGUN PEACE TALKS WITH U-S AND EUROPEAN MEDIATORS AT AN AMERICAN AIRFORCE BASE IN THE MIDWEST STATE OF OHIO. MANY ANALYSTS HAVE CALLED THE MEETING THE BEST AND PERHAPS LAST CHANCE FOR A SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICTS THAT HAVE WRACKED THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. IN BOSNIA, THE OHIO PEACE CONFERENCE HAS SPARKED FRESH HOPE FOR AN END TO THE BLOODSHED, BUT THERE IS ALSO CONSIDERABLE SKEPTICISM, AS VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS LEARNED WHEN HE TRAVELLED TO THE NORTHWESTERN ENCLAVE OF BIHAC.

TEXT: NOVEMBER FIRST, 1995, MAY WELL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE DAY WHEN BOSNIA'S WARRING LEADERS TOOK THE FIRST REAL STEPS TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE SETTLEMENT. BUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF BIHAC, THE WAR ENDED SIX WEEKS EARLIER WHEN SERB FORCES WERE FINALLY DRIVEN OUT OF ARTILLERY RANGE.

FOR MOST OF THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, BIHAC HAS BEEN ALL BUT CUT OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD, AND POUNDED RELENTLESSLY --NOT JUST BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS, BUT ALSO BY SERB FORCES FROM NEIGHBORING CROATIA AND BY SUPPORTERS OF A REBEL MUSLIM LEADER.

NOWHERE IN BOSNIA WERE HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS MORE GRIM. FEW AID CONVOYS GOT THROUGH DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS FROM RELIEF AGENCY OFFICIALS THAT THE 180-THOUSAND PEOPLE OF THE BIHAC ENCLAVE WERE FACING A VERY REAL THREAT OF MASS STARVATION.

THE LOW POINT CAME LAST JULY WHEN ALLIED SERB FORCES LAUNCHED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE THAT THREATENED TO OVERWHELM THE POCKET'S MOSTLY MUSLIM DEFENDERS. BUT THEN, DRAMATICALLY, THE TABLES WERE TURNED. CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ROUTED SERB FORCES IN THE NEIGHBORING KRAJINA REGION, AND THE BOSNIAN ARMY'S FIFTH CORPS BROKE OUT OF BIHAC, CAPTURING DOZENS OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES TO THE EAST, LONG HELD BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES.

THE PEOPLE OF BIHAC BREATHED A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF.

VESTIGES OF THE LONG SIEGE STILL ABOUND HERE. THERE ARE SHELL-POCKED BUILDINGS, THEIR WALLS ADORNED WITH POSTERS HONORING THOSE WHO DIED DEFENDING THE TOWN. THERE IS STILL NO RUNNING WATER, AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES ARE SPORADIC AT BEST. STACKS OF FIREWOOD ARE TO BE SEEN ON VIRTUALLY EVERY STREETCORNER, AS THE TOWN PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BALKAN WINTER.

BUT THE PEOPLE OF BIHAC ARE NO LONGER COWERING IN THEIR SHELTERS. THE STREETS ARE NOW CROWDED WITH PEDESTRIANS. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOODS ON DISPLAY AT THE OPEN-AIR MARKET, WITH BANANAS AND OTHER FRESH FRUIT A PARTICULAR ATTRACTION FOR SHOPPERS LONG DEPRIVED OF ALL BUT THE MOST BASIC FOODSTUFFS.

WHEN PRESSED, NINO AND HIS FRIENDS SAY THERE IS A CHANCE THE OHIO CONFERENCE WILL PRODUCE A LASTING AGREEMENT. BUT MOST REMAIN PROFOUNDLY SKEPTICAL. IT WILL BE JUST ANOTHER WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER, SAYS ONE MAN. SERB LEADERS HAVE SIGNED THESE DOCUMENTS BEFORE, HE ADDS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER HONORED THEIR COMMITMENTS.

THERE IS MORE SKEPTICISM A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AT FIFTH CORPS HEADQUARTERS, ON THE BANKS OF THE UNA RIVER WITH FOG-SHROUDED MOUNTAINS LOOMING IN THE DISTANCE.

FIFTH CORPS SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT NIJAZ GLUMAC DOES NOT BELIEVE THE OHIO MEETING STANDS ANY BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS THAN PREVIOUS NEGOTIATING SESSIONS. I BELIEVE WE ARE CLOSER TO A MILITARY SOLUTION THAN A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT, HE SAYS, INSISTING THAT THE BOSNIAN ARMY, WITH MOMENTUM ON ITS SIDE, IS PREPARED TO LIBERATE THE REST OF SERB-HELD TERRITORY.

HE CONCEDES THAT A DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH MAY COME, BUT INSISTS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER MAKE PEACE WITH THE CURRENT SERB LEADERSHIP. RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC, HE SAYS, ARE WAR CRIMINALS, AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OHIO, THEY MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

SOME OF THE WAR WEARY RESIDENTS OF BIHAC SEEM MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE. THEY MUST MAKE A DEAL IN OHIO, SAYS ANISA, A FRAIL MUSLIM WOMAN WHO KEPT THE BIHAC LIBRARY OPEN THROUGHOUT THE SIEGE. EVERYBODY IS FED UP WITH THIS WAR, SHE ADDS, IT IS TIME TO MAKE PEACE.

QADIYAH YUKIC, A YOUNG CLERGYMAN AT THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR OLD FATHIYAH MOSQUE, SAYS THE PREDOMINANT SENTIMENT IN BIHAC NOW IS ONE OF UNCERTAINTY. OUR PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN FEAR OF GOD'S WRATH, BUT IN THE HOPE OF GOD'S MERCY, HE SAYS. THEY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT PEACE WILL COME, HE ADDS, BUT THEY KNOW THEY COULD WELL FACE THE PROSPECT OF MORE WARFARE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JM
01-Nov-95 4:01 PM EST (2101 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] TURKEY/PRIME MINISTER (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER WARNED EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS WEDNESDAY IF A CUSTOMS UNION DEAL WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION WERE VETOED IT WOULD STRENGTHEN ISLAMIC RADICALS NOT ONLY IN TURKEY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: ADDRESSING A RARE BRIEFING FOR MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN PRESS, MRS CILLER SAID EVEN A DELAY IN THE FREE-TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH IS TO COME INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR, WOULD BE REGARDED BY THE TURKISH PEOPLE AS WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS YET ANOTHER REJECTION BY EUROPE.

IT WILL COME TO MEAN IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT EUROPE HAS REJECTED TURKEY ONE MORE TIME AND THIS IS A PROUD BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS DUE TO VOTE NEXT MONTH ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT THE CUSTOMS UNION THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY GRANT TURKEY MORE RIGHTS THAN ANY OTHER NON-EUROPEAN-UNION COUNTRY IN ITS TRADE TIES WITH EUROPE. APPROVAL OF THE LANDMARK AGREEMENT IS ALSO BROADLY VIEWED BY TURKEY AS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD FULL E-U MEMBERSHIP.

MRS. CILLER WARNED A REJECTION WOULD STRENGTHEN THE APPEAL OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY (REFAH) BEFORE EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 24TH.

TURKEY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER SAID A VICTORY FOR THE ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS COULD HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR TURKISH DEMOCRACY.

PEOPLE WHO COME IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY, IF THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALIST FORCES, COME TO POWER TO END DEMOCRACY BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY RESTRICT FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY RATIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMS UNION WOULD PROVIDE A MAJOR BOOST FOR MRS. CILLER'S CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY AHEAD OF THE DECEMBER POLLS.

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PARLIAMENT HAVE DECLARED THEIR APPROVAL OF THE CUSTOMS UNION CONDITIONAL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS. THEY ARE DEMANDING IN PARTICULAR THE ABOLITION OF ARTICLE EIGHT OF THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION THAT EFFECTIVELY BANS FREE DISCUSSION OF THE KURDISH ISSUE.

IN A MOVE SPEARHEADED BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK AMENDED ARTICLE EIGHT, UNDER WHICH MORE THAN 100 POLITICIANS, ACADEMICS, AND JOURNALISTS ARE BEHIND BARS. MOST CAN EXPECT TO BE FREED WHEN THEIR CASES ARE REVIEWED WITHIN A MONTH OF THE CHANGES BECOMING LAW.

EUROPEAN DEPUTIES HAVE DESCRIBED THE MOVE AS POSITIVE, BUT INSUFFICIENT, THEREFORE CASTING DOUBTS OVER THE FINALIZATION OF THE CUSTOMS UNION ACCORD. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/RAE
01-Nov-95 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] TURKEY/RUSSIA (S-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY HAS SAID IT WILL RE-EVALUATE ITS TIES WITH RUSSIA IN LIGHT OF A MEETING HELD BY KURDISH SEPARATISTS IN MOSCOW. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN OMER AKBEL SAID WEDNESDAY HIS GOVERNMENT WAS SADDENED AND DISAPPOINTED BY WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS RUSSIA'S DECISION TO ALLOW A MEETING OF THE SELF-DECLARED KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE. HE SAID THE SELF-DECLARED BODY HAS DIRECT LINKS WITH THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (P-K-K).

MR. AKBELS REMARKS FOLLOW A PROTEST NOTE, HANDED EARLIER TO THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA, CONDEMNING MOSCOW'S FAILURE TO PREVENT THE THREE-DAY MEETING OF THE 65 MEMBER KURDISH ASSEMBLY FROM TAKING PLACE IN A BUILDING BELONGING TO THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT.

FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAID THE GATHERING WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGING TO TURCO-RUSSIAN TIES. MOSCOW HAS DENIED OFFICIALLY SANCTIONING THE GATHERING, BUT POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE RUSSIANS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE IN RETALIATION FOR WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS TURKISH SUPPORT FOR CHECHEN SEPARATISTS.

THE MEETING WHICH BEGAN MONDAY MARKS THE THIRD SESSION OF THE KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE, WHICH DRAWS ITS MEMBERS FROM EXILED KURDS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/RAE
01-Nov-95 2:02 PM EST (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America