Voice of America, 24 December 1995

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] NATO / INJURIES (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO )

INTRO: A LAND MINE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS SLIGHTLY INJURED TWO BRITISH SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BECOME THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. FROM SARAJEVO, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO BRITISH SOLDIERS WERE PATROLLING FRIDAY NEAR THE SOUTHWESTERN TOWN OF SANSKI MOST WHEN THEIR VEHICLE HIT WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE AN ANTI-TANK MINE.

NATO SPOKESMAN, COLONEL MARK RAYNOR, SAYS ONE OF THE SOLDIERS RECEIVED MINOR WOUNDS TO HIS LEGS. THE OTHER WAS BRUISED BY PRESSURE FROM THE BLAST.

THE CASUALTIES WERE EXTRACTED BY HELICOPTER WITHIN 20-MINUTES TO A MEDICAL STATION IN GORNJI VAKUF.

BY SOME ESTIMATES THERE ARE AS MANY AS SIX-MILLION LAND MINES IN BOSNIA. SUPERVISING THE REMOVAL OF THE MINES WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY THE 60-THOUSAND NATO TROOPS THAT WILL BE ENFORCING THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/DW/RAE
24-Dec-95 12:05 PM EST (1705 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] SARAJEVO EXODUS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO )

INTRO: WITH JUST DAYS TO GO BEFORE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERB FORCES ARE TO VACATE POSITIONS ALONG THE TENSE CONFRONTATION LINES AROUND SARAJEVO, NATO AND U-N OFFICIALS ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE FATE OF THE CITY'S TWO SERB-HELD DISTRICTS. MANY OFFICIALS FEAR BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS WILL TRY TO FORCE A MASS EXODUS FROM THE AREAS BEFORE THEY COME UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO MASS MOVEMENT FROM THE SERB DISTRICTS OF ILIDZA AND GRBAVICA AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY SAY THE SITUATION IS VERY CONFUSED.

REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESMAN CHRIS JANOWSKI SAYS SOME PEOPLE HAVE CLEARLY DECIDED TO FLEE THE AREA.

WE REALIZE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, WHO HAVE RELATIVES ELSEWHERE IN THE SERB REPUBLIC.

DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT THAT LONG-TIME RESIDENTS OF THE SERB SUBURBS ARE WELCOME TO STAY, SOME SERBS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS TO DIG UP GRAVES SO THEY CAN TAKE THEIR DEAD WITH THEM.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE REPORTS SERBS HAVE BEGUN REMOVING WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION FROM ONE OF THE TWO SERB DISTRICTS, BUT HOW MUCH IS NOT CLEAR.

IN AN EFFORT TO REASSURE THE PEOPLE AND PREVENT A NEW MASS EXODUS, THE UNITED NATIONS IS CREATING A SPECIAL CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE FOR THE SERBS AREAS, AND NATO IS PLANNING TO ESTABLISH ITS HEADQUARTERS IN THE SERB SUBURB OF ILIDZA. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/DW/RAE
24-Dec-95 8:34 AM EST (1334 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] TURKEY/VOTING UPDATE (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: VOTE COUNTING CONTINUES IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS FOR A NEW 550-SEAT PARLIAMENT. ABOUT FIVE-THOUSAND CANDIDATES FROM 12 PARTIES COMPETED SUNDAY. ANALYSTS SAY IT IS A THREE-WAY BATTLE THAT IS EXPECTED TO END IN A COALITION GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE VOTE COUNT IS EXPECTED TO GO ON LATE INTO THE NIGHT. RETURNS HAVE BEEN DELAYED IN SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S OUTLYING SNOWBOUND REGIONS. NO CLEAR WINNER IS PREDICTED. PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL WILL CHOOSE A PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE FROM THE PARTY WITH THE MOST VOTES AND SEE IF A COALITION CAN BE PUT TOGETHER. THOSE NEGOTIATIONS COULD TAKE DAYS, EVEN WEEKS. HE HAS ALREADY WARNED HE WILL NOT CHOOSE THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY, EVEN IF IT DOES COME IN FIRST. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER TRIED TO RALLY SUPPORT BY ASKING VOTERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A WESTWARD-LOOKING GOVERNMENT AND WHAT SHE CALLED THE FORCES OF DARKNESS. WHILE MRS. CILLER'S POPULARITY SANK IN UN-OFFICIAL OPINION POLLS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE SURVEYS SHOWED THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY GAINING GROUND. THAT HAS A TRADITIONALLY-SECULAR POLITICAL SOCIETY HERE WORRIED.

BUT VOTERS IN THE POOR NEIGHBORHOODS OF ANKARA APPEARED MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THAN ABOUT RELIGION WHEN THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS. MANY SAID THEY WERE SWITCHING FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S TRUE PATH PARTY BECAUSE SHE HAD NOT DELIVERED ON HER PROMISES. THE HEAVILY KURDISH SOUTHEAST WAS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE PRO-KURDISH HADEP PARTY. A KURDISH SALESMAN FROM SIRTE (SEER TAY) NOW LIVING IN A SLUM ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ANKARA TOLD V-O-A NEWS IT IS THE ONLY HOPE HE HAS FOR GAINING A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT.

MANY NON-KURDISH VOTERS SAID THEY CHOSE HADEP AS WELL TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT POLICIES. IN THE PAST THEY VOTED FOR THE WELFARE PARTY, BUT NOW SAID THEY WERE AFRAID TO GIVE THE ISLAMISTS ANY POLITICAL EDGE. TURNOUT WAS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH, AS USUAL. VOTING IN TURKEY IS MANDATORY. NOT CASTING A BALLOT COULD COST MORE THAN 40-DOLLARS IN FINES. THIS TIME, VOTERS APPEARED TO BE MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO MAKE THEIR BALLOT COUNT IN A RACE THAT MANY SAY IS JUST TOO CLOSE TO CALL. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/DW/RAE
24-Dec-95 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] TURKEY / ELECTION (S-UPDATE) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE VOTE COUNT CONTINUES IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. WITH NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN PRELIMINARY RESULTS SHOW THE TWO LEADING CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES AND THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY EACH HAVE ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE. THE ELECTION IS FOR A NEW 550-SEAT PARLIAMENT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT WELFARE PARTY SUPPORTERS ARE ALREADY CELEBRATING THEIR STRONG SHOWING AT THE POLLS.

TEXT: NO ONE PARTY WILL TAKE ENOUGH VOTES TO RULE ALONE SO A COALITION WILL HAVE TO BE PUT TOGETHER. THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL LEAD IT. THAT WILL BE UP TO PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL. HE HAS ALREADY WARNED HE WOULD NOT TURN TO THE PRO-ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY TO DO IT, EVEN IF IT COMES IN FIRST. THE OTHER LEADING PARTIES IN THE RACE SAY THEY WILL NOT DEAL WITH THE WELFARE PARTY EITHER. STILL, IF THE WELFARE PARTY MANAGES TO TAKE A HIGH NUMBER OF SEATS AND IS NOT IN A RULING COALITION IT WILL PROVE A FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION FORCE. EVEN BEFORE THE FINAL RESULTS WERE KNOWN, SUPPORTERS WERE CELEBRATING SUNDAY NIGHT OVER THE PARTY'S STRONG SHOWING. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER RALLIED SUPPORT FOR HER TRUE PATH PARTY BY WARNING VOTERS TO CHOOSE THE WESTWARD-LOOKING CENTER RIGHT RATHER THAN WHAT SHE CALLED THE FORCES OF DARKNESS. HER RECENT DECLINE IN POPULARITY APPEARS TO HAVE BENEFITTED HER CHIEF CENTER-RIGHT RIVAL, THE MOTHERLAND PARTY. BUT IT IS THE STEADY CLIMB OF THE ISLAMISTS THAT HAS MOST WORRIED TURKEY'S SECULAR POLITICIANS. THE QUESTION NOW IS HOW THEY WILL DEAL WITH IT. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/SKH
24-Dec-95 5:31 PM EST (2231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America