Voice of America, 3 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY PHIL HAYNES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SEEMING POLICY TURN-AROUNDS IN RECENT WEEKS IS THE SUBJECT OF EDITORIALS IN SEVERAL LEADING U-S DAILIES THIS FRIDAY. OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE THE C-I-A'S LATEST REVELATIONS ABOUT ITS BEING DUPED BY SOME BAD INTELLIGENCE FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION; THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN POLAND, AND THE THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA. FOR THE DETAILS, HERE IS _____________ WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS SOME STRONG WORDS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SHIFTING POLICY STANCE ON A NUMBER OF KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY WELFARE REFORM:

VOICE: "NOW PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WALKED AWAY FROM THE WELFARE BILL HE SENT TO CONGRESS LAST YEAR, JUST AS THE WEEK BEFORE HE RENOUNCED THE TAX INCREASE HE PUSHED TO PASSAGE IN 1993. WHAT NEXT? ... IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT THIS PRESIDENT STANDS FOR, OR WHETHER HE STANDS FOR ANYTHING. ... THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE PASSED MUCH TOUGHER (WELFARE) BILLS THAN MR. CLINTON PROPOSED. BOTH ARE BAD BY THE STANDARDS THE PRESIDENT ENUNCIATED LAST YEAR... MR. CLINTON COULD HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT RESULT ON WELFARE... WHAT HE HAS DONE INSTEAD IS ACQUIESCE FOR POLITICAL REASONS IN THE WRONG RESULT... HE THINKS HE GAINS BY SUCH BEHAVIOR, BUT HE DIMINISHES HIMSELF."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ALSO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION-MAKING ON WELFARE, BUT SEES A LARGER PROBLEM IN WHAT IT CALLS HIS "POOR EXECUTION ON THE DOMESTIC POLICY SIDE AND BY TAKING FOOLISH PUBLIC RELATIONS AND LEGAL ADVICE ON PERSONAL MATTERS."

VOICE: "THE ABILITY TO ADMIT ERROR IS A VALUABLE TRAIT FOR A PRESIDENT -- UP TO A POINT. BUT FOR A PRESIDENT TO REVEAL PUBLICLY THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE HAS BEEN OR WHERE HE IS GOING UPSETS THE BODY POLITIC... THE VOTERS MAY OR MAY NOT WANT SOMEONE WHO FEELS THEIR PAIN, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WANT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING."

TEXT: THE C-I-A'S REVELATIONS THAT IT KNOWINGLY GAVE THE WHITE HOUSE TAINTED INTELLIGENCE FROM SOVIET DOUBLE-AGENTS IN THE LATE STAGES OF THE COLD WAR CONTINUES TO STIR EDITORIAL COMMENT. THIS FROM THE "NEW YORK POST":

VOICE: "THE C-I-A'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT DURING THE LATE 1980'S, AND EVEN INTO THE EARLY '90'S, IT KNOWINGLY USED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RUSSIAN ASSETS WHOSE LOYALTIES WERE IN DOUBT CANNOT BUT BE DEEMED PROFOUNDLY DISTRESSING. C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN DEUTCH IS RIGHT TO LABEL THE PRACTICE 'INEXCUSABLE'. STILL, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CONDEM THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE WITHOUT DISCREDITIG THE ENTIRE AGENCY. FOR ALL THE TALK ABOUT C-I-A INCOMPETENCE, IT REMAINS THAT AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCY COMMUNITY -- WITH THE C-I-A IN THE LEAD -- HELPED THIS NATION WIN THE COLD WAR."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS MUCH LESS FORGIVING FOR WHAT IT CALLS THE C-I-A'S "DEVASTATING AND INEXCUSABLE FIASCO":

VOICE: "THIS EXTENDED TALE OF MISUSE OF AGENT, OR '"HUMAN', INTELLIGENCE EMERGES JUST AS HUMAN INTELLIGENCE IS BEING EMBRACED AS ESSENTIAL IN THE POST-COLD WAR AGE. THIS UNDERLINES THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE C-I-A, AN AGENCY IN DESPERATE DISARRAY, TO GET IT RIGHT. OTHERWISE IT ALTOGETHER FORFEITS THE ALREADY RAVAGED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IT RETAINS."

TEXT: TURNING ABROAD, THE BALTIMORE "SUN" LOOKS AT THE POLISH ELECTIONS THIS SUNDAY AND SAYS PRESIDENT LECH WALESA MAY BE REGAINING SOME LOST POPULARITY:

VOICE: "LECH WALESA AND HIS SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT PLAYED SUCH AN EPIC ROLE IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE THAT POLAND'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SUNDAY WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. NO FEWER THAN 13 CANDIDATES ARE SEEKING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, BUT THE ONLY ONES LIKELY TO GET THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND ARE MR. WALESA HIMSELF AND ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, A FORMER COMMUNIST OFFICIAL WHO IS NOW CAMPAIGNING AS A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT. THAT MR. WALESA IS EVEN REGARDED AS A FINALIST SHOWS HOW THIS ONE-TIME SHIPYARD ELECTRICIAN SHOULD NEVER BE UNDERESTIMATED... IN RECENT MONTHS, HE HAS STAGED AN IMPRESSIVE COMEBACK... NEVERTHELESS, THE SOLIDARITY HERO MAY WELL BE BEATEN BY MR. KWASNIEWSKI IN THE FIRST ROUND. MANY VOTERS ARE DISENCHANTED WITH THE WALESA LEADERSHIP..."

TEXT: FINALLY, ONE OF THE LEADING DAILIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE", IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "AN ASSAULT ON RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY":

VOICE: "THERE WERE HOWLS IN MOSCOW ON WEDNESDAY FROM GRIGORY YAVLINSKY, THE BRILLIANT IF OFTEN IMPRACTICAL ECONOMIST WHO CHAIRS THE LEADING RUSSIAN REFORMIST BLOC, CALLED YABLOKO, OR APPLE. RUSSIA'S CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION BANNED HIS FRONT-RUNNING LIBERAL PARTY FROM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ON DECEMBER 17TH, THE MOST IMPORTANT BALLOTING SINCE THE HAMMER AND SICLE WAS LOWERED FROM THE KREMLIN TOWER ... IN 1991. A SIMILAR BAN WAS ORDERED AGAINST A POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT NATIONALIST PARTY ... MANAGED BY ALEXANDER RUTSKOI, A HERO OF THE FAILED AFGHAN WAR... IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT BANNING TWO HIGH-PROFILE, SEEMINGLY POPULAR PARTIES ... FROM THE DECEMBER 17TH VOTING WILL GREATLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. WHEN COMBINED WITH (PRESIDENT) YELTSIN'S CURRENT MEDICAL INCAPACIATION, IT COULD THROW RUSSIA OFF THE PATH TO DEMOCRACY."

TEXT: AND WITH THOSE THOUGHTS FROM "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE", WE CONCLUDE THIS REVIEW OF EDITORIALS IN SOME OF FRIDAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS. NEB/PCH/VO'HS 03-Nov-95 12:26 PM EST (1726 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: AS THE BALKAN PEACE TALKS CONTINUE IN THE UNITED STATES, MILLIONS OF REFUGEES ARE WAITING TO LEARN IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. BUT FOR ONE GROUP OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT THE TALKS WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION. MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND SUPPORTERS OF A REBEL MUSLIM LEADER REMAIN STRANDED AT A MAKE-SHIFT CAMP IN CROATIA, UNWELCOME BY THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT AND TOO AFRAID TO RETURN TO BOSNIA. BUT AS V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM GENEVA, THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IS VOICING CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THESE MUSLIM EXILES WILL GO BACK.

TEXT: THEY CAME FROM VELIKA KLADUSA, THE NORTHERNMOST TOWN IN THE BOSNIAN ENCLAVE OF BIHAC. THEY ARE FOLLOWERS OF FIKRET ABDIC, A WEALTHY MUSLIM BUSINESSMAN AND ONE-TIME CONTENDER FOR THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY.

DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CONFLICT, MR. ABDIC FORGED AN ALLIANCE WITH SERB FORCES IN BOSNIA AND CROATIAN SERBS IN THE ADJOINING KRAJINA REGION. HIS FOLLOWERS ONCE CONTROLLED MOST OF THE BIHAC ENCLAVE, BUT WERE FORCED BACK INTO THE VELIKA KLADUSA DISTRICT FOLLOWING A BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE LAST YEAR. THEN, THREE MONTHS AGO, CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ROUTED THE KRAJINA SERBS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, BOSNIA'S LARGELY MUSLIM ARMY BROKE THE LONG SEIGE OF BIHAC. BOSNIAN SERB FORCES RETREATED FROM THE REGION TO THEIR STRONGHOLDS IN THE EAST. AND MR. ABDIC'S FOLLOWERS FLED ACROSS THE BORDER INTO CROATIA.

BUT THE ZAGREB GOVERNMENT DENIED THEM ASYLUM AND REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM INTO ANY OF THE COUNTRY'S REFUGEE CAMPS. SO THE MUSLIM EXILES SET UP THEIR OWN MAKE-SHIFT CAMP IN A SMALL, ISOLATED VALLEY NEAR THE TOWN OF VOJNIC. INITIALLY, RELIEF AGENCIES WERE PREVENTED FROM DELIVERING SUPPLIES TO THE CAMP. ZAGREB LATER RELENTED, BUT CROATIAN LEADERS ARE CONTINUING TO INSIST THAT THE WOULD-BE REFUGEES RETURN TO BOSNIA. AND TWO WEEKS AGO, CROATIA STEPPED UP THE PRESSURE BY DEPLOYING ABOUT 300 SPECIAL POLICE FORCES AROUND THE CAMP, RESTRICTING ACCESS TO ALL BUT RELIEF AGENCY WORKERS.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ABDIC FOLLOWERS ARE WELCOME TO RETURN TO VELIKA KLADUSA, AND HAS OFFERED THEM SECURITY GUARANTEES. BUT UNTIL NOW, THE MUSLIM EXILES HAVE REFUSED.

WHILE SOME HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ABDIC FOLLOWERS COULD FACE RETRIBUTION AT THE HANDS OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY IF THEY DO RETURN, MOST RELIEF AGENCIES OFFICIALS SAY THEIR PRESENT SITUATION IS UNTENABLE. DYSENTARY AND RESPIRATORY AILMENTS ARE ALREADY COMMON AMONG THE CAMP DWELLERS, AND THE FIERCE BALKAN WINTER IS LOOMING.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, U-N-H-C-R BEGAN OFFERING TRANSPORT TO ANY OF THE ABDIC FOLLOWERS WHO WISH TO RETURN TO VELIKA KLADUSA. SO FAR, ONLY AROUND 50 HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFER, BUT U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAYS IT IS A GOOD BEGINNING.

SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS GOING TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AMONG THE REMAINING PEOPLE IN THAT CAMP, AND THAT MANY, MANY MORE WILL BE GOING BACK IN THE COMING DAYS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG RELIEF FOR US BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE.

MR. REDMOND SAYS U-N-H-C-R STAFF ARE MONITORING THE RETURNEES IN VELIKA KLADUSA TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE WELL-TREATED. AND SO FAR, HE ADDS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/MMK
03-Nov-95 9:59 AM EST (1459 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA PEACE TALKS (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: IN ITS DAILY REPORT FROM DAYTON, OHIO, THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE BOSNIA PEACE TALKS. AS RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, MORE DOCUMENTS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED.

TEXT: THE DELEGATIONS OF BOSNIA, CROATIA AND SERBIA HAVE RECEIVED MORE PARTS OF A PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT FROM THEIR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS. THESE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH REFUGEES, DISPLACED PERSONS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE DUTIES OF CIVILIAN POLICE IN A FUTURE BOSNIA.

CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN HAS GONE HOME FOR ONE WEEK BUT THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA REMAIN ON WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE ALONG WITH THE CROATIAN DELEGATION HEADED BY FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC.

THE DELEGATIONS ARE CONTINUING TO STUDY THE PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS DOCUMENTS CONCERNING A CONSTITUTION, ELECTIONS AND SEPARATION OF MILITARY FORCES.

DURING THE WEEKEND, THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE, BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE DELEGATIONS WILL HAVE TIME FOR A MOVIE AT THE AIR FORCE BASE AS WELL AS BOWLING, SWIMMING AND FOOTBALL (SOCCER).

ALTHOUGH THE TALKS ARE BEING CONDUCTED SEPARATELY, THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA AND SERBIA WERE TO JOIN ALL THE DELEGATIONS FRIDAY NIGHT FOR A FILET MIGNON (STEAK) DINNER AT THE U-S AIR FORCE MUSEUM. AN AIR FORCE BAND WAS TO PLAY THEM GLENN MILLER MUSIC. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/GPT
03-Nov-95 3:12 PM EST (2012 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA TALKS BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS BROUGHT THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA TO A MIDWESTERN AIR FORCE BASE TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS. SOME PROGRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AMONG THE WAR-WEARY PARTIES, BUT MUCH IS STILL TO BE DECIDED. V-O-A'S ED WARNER ASKED TWO FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSTS TO ASSESS THE TALKS.

TEXT: THE PEOPLE OF THE FRACTURED FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ARE TIRED OF THE FIGHTING, NOTES ROBERT OAKLEY. BUT ARE THEIR LEADERS? OR ARE THEY STILL WILLING TO SACRIFICE MORE LIVES FOR SOME LIMITED TERRITORIAL GAINS?

MR. OAKLEY, WHO IS NOW WITH THE INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES, WAS WIDELY PRAISED FOR HANDLING THE U-S AID PROGRAM TO SOMALIA FROM LATE 1992 TO EARLY 1993. HE SERVED PREVIOUSLY AS U-S AMBASSADOR TO SOMALIA AND PAKISTAN.

HE THINKS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS PERFORMED WELL IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER BOSNIA AND IN EXPLAINING A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE RECOGNIZES THAT DIVIDING BOSNIA INTO A CROATIAN-MUSLIM AREA AND A SERBIAN ONE IS DIFFICULT TO GRASP:

THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH IS MUCH MORE EUROPEAN THAN IT IS AMERICAN BY NATURE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BALKANS AND THE CAUCASUS AND OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE IDEA OF ETHNIC IDENTITY IS MUCH MORE ACCEPTABLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING THAT IS WORKABLE IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, WHICH IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE. MULTI-ETHNICITY IS SOMETHING WHICH IS IDEALLY DESIRABLE BUT SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE IN PRACTICE.

BUT ETHNICITY MAY _NOT_ GO FAR ENOUGH IN THE PLANS FOR BOSNIA, CONTENDS DAVID HENDRICKSON, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, WHO WRITES ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES. MUSLIMS AND BOSNIAN SERBS ARE STILL CONFINED IN A SINGLE STATE, A SITUATION THAT LED TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR IN 1992:

THE DOCUMENT THAT THE PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO CONTAINS WITHIN IT A SET OF CONTRADICTORY PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. IT RECOGNIZES A SEPARATE SERBIAN REPUBLIC WITHIN BOSNIA WHILE ALSO AFFIRMING THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE BOSNIAN STATE. IT GRANTS THIS SERBIAN ENTITY SOME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH SERBIA BUT RULES OUT ANYTHING SUGGESTIVE OF AN INCORPORATION OF THE TWO INTO A SINGLE STATE. IT RELIES ON MILOSEVIC TO BRING THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO HEEL BUT DOES NOT ALLOW MILOSEVIC TO STATION A SINGLE SOLDIER WITHIN BOSNIA TO CONTROL THEM.

PROFESSOR HENDRICKSON SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MAY BE TOO FIXATED ON BOSNIA ITSELF. THE UNITED STATES IS SUPPORTING A PARTITION THAT IS _NOT_ QUITE A PARTITION BY KEEPING MUSLIMS AND SERBS TOGETHER IN A SINGLE STATE:

THE WORST THING FOR THE UNITED STATES TO DO IS PROMOTE AN AMBIGUOUS SETTLEMENT AND THEN SEND AMERICAN TROOPS THERE TO ENFORCE IT. ONE HAS DIFFICULTY ENFORCING AN AMBIGUITY. I THINK ONE WOULD GET INTO TROUBLE BY INSERTING AMERICAN FORCES INTO A SITUATION IN WHICH THE ISSUES WERE NOT RESOLVED, BUT DELAYED, CARRIED OVER INTO THE FUTURE. IF ON THE OTHER HAND THEY DO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE CONUNDRUMS AND GET A CLEAR SETTLEMENT WITH CLEAR RIGHTS AND DUTIES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE PARTIES, THEN I THINK IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO HELP ENFORCE THAT, TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN A NATO MISSION THAT WILL BRING PEACE THERE.

PROFESSOR HENDRICKSON SAYS THE TIME MAY BE RIPE FOR A SETTLEMENT SINCE THE MILITARY BALANCE HAS SHIFTED WITH THE GAINS MADE BY CROATIAN-MUSLIM FORCES.

THOUGH THE U-S CONGRESS IS SHOWING RELUCTANCE TO SEND AMERICAN TROOPS TO THE BALKANS, MR. OAKLEY SAYS THEIR PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL:

BUT IT SHOULD ONLY BE IN SUPPORT OF A GENUINE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TOO LONG. I THINK THIS IS PRIMARILY STILL A EUROPEAN PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH WITHOUT U-S LEADERSHIP WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE EUROPEANS WERE INCAPABLE OF COMING TO GRIPS WITH IT AND MAKING ANY PROGRESS TOWARD RESOLVING IT. THEREFORE, OUR PARTICIPATION IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL IN THE BEGINNING, BUT WE CAN SCALE IT DOWN AFTER A RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, AND OTHERS CAN CONTINUE TO CARRY ON.

MR. OAKLEY STRESSES THAT BEFORE U-S TROOPS CAN BE COMMITTED, MUSLIMS, CROATIANS AND SERBS MUST CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THEY WANT PEACE. (SIGNED)

NEB/EW/ART
03-Nov-95 11:43 AM EST (1643 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] E-U / DRUGS (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS HAVE CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF A LEAKED REPORT THAT SAYS MOROCCO IS THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTER OF MARIJUANA. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE REPORT WAS DRAWN UP FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION BY AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH GROUP, THE GEOPOLITICAL DRUGS OBSERVATORY. IT SAYS THAT IN RECENT YEARS, MOROCCO HAS BECOME THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTER OF MARIJUANA, AND THE MAIN SUPPLIER OF THE EUROPEAN MARKET.

DRUG PRODUCTION IN MOROCCO HAS INCREASED TEN-FOLD IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WITH MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND TONS A YEAR BEING PRODUCED FOR EXPORT. IN CONTRAST, 142-TONS OF MOROCCAN MARIJUANA WAS SEIZED IN 1993. THE REPORT IS CRITICAL BOTH OF THE MOROCCAN AUTHORITIES AND OF OUTSIDE GOVERNMENTS FOR DOING TOO LITTLE TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM.

THE REPORT SAYS 200-THOUSAND FARMERS IN MOROCCO ARE INVOLVED IN DRUG PRODUCTION, AND THAT THOSE LINKED WITH THE MARIJUANA TRADE CAN BE FOUND AT EVERY LEVEL -- FROM HUMBLE CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO STAFF MEMBERS IN THE ROYAL PALACE.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND TWO FORMER MINISTERS WERE NAMED IN AN ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE REPORT, BUT THESE NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE FINAL VERSION.

THE REPORT SAYS THERE ARE GARAGES IN MOROCCO WHICH SPECIALIZE IN ADAPTING TRUCKS FOR THE SMUGGLING OF DRUGS. WORK INCLUDES FITTING HIDING PLACES, AND THE USE OF SPECIAL CHEMICALS TO CONFUSE SNIFFER DOGS.

THE LEAKING OF THE REPORT COMES AT AN EMBARRASSING TIME FOR THE MOROCCAN AUTHORITIES, WHO ARE CLOSE TO AGREEING ON A NEW TRADE AND COOPERATION ACCORD WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. HOWEVER, ONE ELEMENT OF THAT ACCORD WILL INVOLVE THE E-U FUNDING MEASURES TO COMBAT DRUG PRODUCTION.

E-U COMMISSIONER LEON BRITTAN IS HIGHLIGHTING THE WORLDWIDE MENACE OF DRUGS IN A SPEECH IN THE UNITED STATES (IN PITTSBURGH) FRIDAY. HE IS CALLING FOR GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES IN COMBATTING DRUG TRAFFICKING. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/MH/ART
03-Nov-95 8:30 AM EST (1330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] GREECE / PAPANDREOU (L ONLY) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREECE'S PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM CONSERVATIVE FOES PRESSING FOR EARLY ELECTIONS. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS IN ATHENS REPORTS THE CALL HAS SPARKED YET ANOTHER ROUND OF BITTER CRITICISM AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER'S ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDING PACE OF HIS JOB.

TEXT: THE CALL FOR EARLY NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN GREECE WAS SOUNDED BY FORMER CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER CONSTANTINOS MITSOTAKIS, THE LONG-TIME POLITICAL OPPONENT OF SOCIALIST LEADER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU.

ADDRESSING A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT WAS BROADCAST NATIONWIDE, MR. MITSOTAKIS LASHED OUT AT (SEVERELY CRITICIZED) WHAT HE CALLED A WEAK GOVERNMENT HEADED BY A PRIME MINISTER WHO IS NOT ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM HIS DUTIES.

MUCH OF THE MEDIA BRUSHED ASIDE THE STIFF REMARKS AND THE CALL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS AS YET AN OTHER INDICATION OF THE LINGERING ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE TWO POLITICIANS.

COMMENTATORS, HOWEVER, SAID THE ATTACK AGAINST MR. PAPANDREOU CAME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME FOR THE SOCIALIST LEADER.

MR. PAPANDREOU'S DETERIORATING HEALTH HAS SPARKED UNPRECEDENTED DISSENT AND THE WORST CRISIS IN THE SOCIALIST PARTY HE FOUNDED 21 YEARS AGO.

HIS RARE APPEARANCES IN PARLIAMENT AND DAILY ABSENCE FROM POLITICAL LIFE HAVE FUELED OUTSPOKEN MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY TO VOICE THE NEED FOR A YOUNGER LEADERSHIP.

IN PROTEST, MANY MEMBERS HAVE QUIT THEIR POSTS, BOTH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PARTY, IN RECENT MONTHS.

DESPITE A GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE AND STIFF WARNINGS AGAINST DISSENTERS, MR. PAPANDREOU HAS FAILED TO DRAW PARTY REBELS INTO LINE.

CRITICISM ALSO CENTERS ON WHAT POLITICIANS IN AND OUT OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY ARE CALLING THE INCREASED POLITICAL ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S HIGHLY UNPOPULAR WIFE.

ANALYSTS PREDICT AN UGLY BREAKUP OF THE GREEK SOCIALIST PARTY IF THE 76-YEAR-OLD PRIME MINISTER ENDORSES REPORTED PLANS BY HIS WIFE TO EMBARK ON A POLITICAL CAREER.

NEB/AC/JWH/SB
03-Nov-95 8:14 AM EST (1314 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SETTLES INTO "BUSINESS AS USUAL" AFTER ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION -- WITH MONEY CONCERNS HEADING THE AGENDA; THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALLS ON THE UNITED STATES TO END ITS ECONOMIC EMBARGO ON CUBA; AND, THE SECURITY COUNCIL SITS ON THE SIDELINES AS BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS OPEN IN THE UNITED STATES. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK.

TEXT: SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI CONTINUES TO TRY TO PROMPT MORE GENEROSITY FROM THE DONOR COMMUNITY. IN A SPEECH THIS PAST WEEK, HE COMPLAINED DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CHANNELED THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS IS DECLINING FAST. HE URGED RICH COUNTRIES TO CONSIDER THE BIGGER PICTURE, SAYING IF U-N DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS LOSE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS THE LARGER PROFILE OF THE UNITED NATIONS WOULD BE AFFECTED.

THE UNITED NATIONS ALREADY HAS SERIOUS IMAGE PROBLEMS. THE ORGANIZATION IS BEING ATTACKED BY ALL SORTS OF CRITICS WHO SEE IT AS AN INEFFICIENT, SPRAWLING BUREAUCRACY THAT WASTES VALUABLE RESOURCES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT GIVEN ALL IT NEEDS TO CARRY OUT THE MISSIONS GOVERNMENTS' DEMAND. IN A MEETING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS, MR. BOUTROS-GHALI IMPLORED THEM TO SPEAK OUT FOR THE PROMPT PAYMENT OF U-N DUES. GOVERNMENTS OWE THE UNITED NATIONS OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS -- THE LARGEST DEBTOR BEING THE UNITED STATES. MEANWHILE, DISCUSSIONS OF U-N REFORM ARE TAKING PLACE IN EARNEST AT HEADQUARTERS IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ROOMS. THE UNITED STATES HAS SEVERAL PROPOSALS, AS DO THE NORDIC COUNTRIES.

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FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO END ITS DECADES-LONG TRADE BAN ON CUBA. THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINS THE EMBARGO IS A BILATERAL MATTER AND SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

EVEN MANY U-S ALLIES VOTED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARGUED THE TRADE BAN BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL CONCERN WHEN THE CONGRESS EXPANDED IT IN 1992. RESTRICTIONS WERE PUT ON U-S SUBSIDIARIES OVERSEAS AND ON FOREIGN VESSELS EN ROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES FROM CUBAN PORTS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS LINKED THE EMBARGO TO DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN CUBA. WASHINGTON SAYS THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT IS STILL REPRESSIVE.

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION THIS PAST WEEK EXPRESSING FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY TO MONITOR NUCLEAR PROGRAMS WORLD-WIDE. DIRECTOR HANS BLIX WAS IN TOWN TO PRESENT HIS ANNUAL REPORT.

TALKING ON U-N TELEVISION LATER, MR. BLIX ADMITTED TO THE AGENCY'S SHORTCOMINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, IT MISSED IRAQ'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM BEFORE THE 1991 GULF WAR. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE I-A-E-A'S POWER TO BRING PRESSURE ON SO-CALLED ROGUE STATES IS LIMITED -- THOUGH IT CAN REFER PROBLEMS FOR ACTION TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

I THINK YOU COULD CHARACTERIZE US AS THE WORLD'S FIRST NUCLEAR WATCHDOG. THIS WATCHDOG IS SUPPOSED TO SNIFF AND TO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL AND GOOD EYES AND TO BARK -- BUT NOT TO BITE. IT'S FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO BITE.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S CAPACITY FOR ACTION MAY ALSO BE LIMITED. THE THREAT OF A CHINESE VETO HAD KILLED ANY NOTION OF PUTTING SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA, WHEN MR. BLIX FIRST REPORTED SUSPICIONS THAT THE NORTH KOREANS MIGHT BE BUILDING AN ATOMIC BOMB.

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THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS MOVED TO THE SIDELINES OF THE BOSNIAN WAR THIS PAST WEEK WHILE U-S MEDIATION TOOK THE LEAD. THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT ARE IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST -- IN DAYTON, OHIO -- CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE PEACE SETTLEMENT.

DIPLOMATS SAY THE SECURITY COUNCIL MAY MOVE BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED TO AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF U-N PEACEKEEPERS WITH A NATO-LED FORCE.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE COUNCIL MET ALMOST EVERY DAY TO CONSIDER SOME ASPECT OF THE BALKAN CRISIS. (SIGNED)

NEB/EJ/JM

03-Nov-95 4:36 PM EST (2136 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] U-S / RUSSIA / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART PAVEL GRACHEV MEET NEXT WEEK FOR WHAT APPARENTLY WILL BE A LAST TRY AT AGREEING ON A RUSSIAN ROLE IN BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING. THE TWO SIDES ARE DEADLOCKED OVER RUSSIA'S REFUSAL TO HAVE ANY OF ITS PEACEKEEPERS SERVE UNDER NATO COMMAND. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: MR. PERRY AND GENERAL GRACHEV WILL MEET IN BRUSSELS WEDNESDAY FOR THEIR SECOND MEETING IN THE SPAN OF A WEEK ON THE PEACEKEEPING ISSUE.

WHILE RUSSIA WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE BOSNIA PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE BEING ASSEMBLED BY THE UNITED STATES, IT HAS REJECTED THE U-S DEMAND THAT ANY FORCES IT CONTRIBUTES BE UNDER A UNIFIED NATO COMMAND.

LAST WEEK AT FT. RILEY, KANSAS, THE TWO DEFENSE CHIEFS AGREED TO SET UP A SPECIAL JOINT UNIT THAT WOULD PERFORM ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION TASKS IN SUPPORT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE.

BUT THEY REMAINED AT ODDS OVER THE COMMAND ISSUE FOR RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS. AND MR PERRY SAYS FLATLY THAT IF THEY CANNOT COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT NEXT WEEK IN BRUSSELS, ALL EFFORTS -- AS FAR AS THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED -- WILL HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. THAT, HE SAID WOULD MEAN A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TWO POWERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS, AND BE A SETBACK FOR COOPERATIVE SECURITY RELATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

AFTER THE BRUSSELS MEETING, MR. PERRY -- ACCOMPANIED BY GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUHE -- WILL VISIT ELEMENTS OF TWO U-S ARMY DIVISIONS UNDERGOING TRAINING IN GERMANY FOR BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING DUTY.

MR. PERRY ANNOUNCED THE BRUSSELS VISIT IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS ACCOMPANYING HIM ON A FLIGHT HOME FROM TALKS IN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA.

SENIOR OFFICIALS WITH THE SECRETARY'S PARTY SAID THEY BELIEVE THE PERRY VISIT TO TOKYO HELPED DEFUSE A POLITICAL CRISIS BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES SPARKED BY A RAPE INCIDENT IN OKINAWA FOR WHICH THREE U-S SERVICEMEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED.

MR. PERRY AND JAPANESE OFFICIALS AGREED TO SET UP A SPECIAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THE UNPOPULAR U-S PRESENCE IN OKINAWA LESS OBTRUSIVE.

AND IN DOING SO, THE OFFICIALS SAY, THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAD OFF POSSIBLE MOVES TO FORCE A REDUCTION IN THE 47-THOUSAND TROOP U-S PRESENCE IN JAPAN AND A CONSEQUENT UNRAVELING OF U-S SECURITY STRATEGY IN ASIA.

AT A CLOSING NEWS CONFERENCE IN SEOUL FRIDAY, MR. PERRY PUBLICLY APPEALED TO NORTH KOREA TO REDUCE ITS HUGE MILITARY EXPENDITURES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY'S PRESSING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

THE SENIOR OFFICIALS SAID MR. PERRY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISOLATION OF THE PYONGYANG LEADERSHIP AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT NORTH KOREA -- IN DESPERATION OVER DOMESTIC HUNGER AND POVERTY -- MIGHT LASH OUT MILITARILY AGAINST THE SOUTH. (SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / BD/PT
03-Nov-95 6:58 PM EST (2358 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America