Voice of America, 27 December 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / DEADLINE / S BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS SAY IT APPEARS BOSNIAN SERB AND GOVERNMENT TROOPS WILL MEET A KEY DEADLINE TO PULL BACK FROM FRONT-LINE POSITIONS AROUND SARAJEVO. MEETING THE DEADLINE IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST MAJOR TEST OF THE TWO-WEEK PEACE AGREEMENT. FROM THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: NATO MILITARY OFFICERS SAY MANY OF THE POSITIONS ALONG THE ONCE-BLOODY FRONT LINES OF SARAJEVO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACATED AND THEY BELIEVE THE PARTIES WILL MEET THE WEDNESDAY DEADLINE.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD, THE WARRING FACTIONS WERE REQUIRED TO CLEAR OUT OF ANY POSITIONS SELECTED BY FRENCH PEACEKEEPING TROOPS PATROLLING THE ZONE OF SEPARATION.

BY THE THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY, ALL OPPOSING FORCES ARE REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF THE TWO-KILOMETER ZONE, WHICH IS TO BE CLEARED OF MINES AND BARBED WIRE.

NATO TROOPS -- NOW INTO THE SEVENTH DAY OF THEIR PEACEKEEPING OPERATION -- SAY THE DEPLOYMENT IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. HOWEVER, THE FATE OF THE SERB SECTIONS OF SARAJEVO CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR SOURCE OF CONCERN. SERB LEADERS SAY THE PEOPLE IN THOSE SECTIONS ARE FEARFUL OF COMING UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MOSTLY-MUSLIM-BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. TUESDAY, SERB LEADERS ASKED ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH -- THE NATO COMMANDER -- TO DELAY THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY. THE NATO COMMANDER REJECTED THE REQUEST BUT SAID HE WOULD WORK WITH THE PARTIES TO FIND ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS TO ANY PROBLEMS. (SIGNED)

NEB / KBK / WOD
27-Dec-95 4:20 AM EST (0920 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / NATO (L) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CRITICIZED THE COMMANDER OF NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES, AFTER HE MET WITH SERB LEADERS WHO WANT A DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY PARTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. V-O-A'S KYLE KING IN SARAJEVO REPORTS BOSNIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY PLAN TO SEND A LETTER OF PROTEST TO THE NATO COMMANDER, ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, AND DEMAND HE REJECT THE SERB REQUEST.

TEXT: ON THE JOB FOR LESS THAN A WEEK, THE NEW NATO COMMANDER HAS RUN INTO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ISSUES HE WILL FACE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD -- THE QUESTION OF SARAJEVO'S SERB SUBURBS.

DURING A MEETING TUESDAY IN PALE, SERB LEADERS ASKED THE ADMIRAL TO DELAY THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY IN SERB SECTIONS OF SARAJEVO THAT ARE DUE TO COME UNDER BOSNIAN-GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

ADMIRAL SMITH REJECTED THE REQUEST AT THE TIME, BUT SAID HE WOULD HOLD FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH HIS COMMANDERS AND MIGHT CONSIDER THE ISSUE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THAT RESPONSE ANGERED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE BOSNIAN CABINET MINISTER IN CHARGE OF DEALING WITH NATO, HASSAN MURATOVIC, SAYS ADMIRAL SMITH DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF SARAJEVO.

THIS IS A POLITICAL MATTER. HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS ANY POLITICAL MATTERS. WE EXPECT HIM TO WORK WITH HIS JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.

BOSNIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE AFRAID ANY DELAY IN THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY IN SARAJEVO WILL CAUSE THE TIMETABLE FOR THE WHOLE AGREEMENT TO SLIP.

IF THEY DELAY, THEN THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN EXPELLED WILL CREATE POLITICAL PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES. THEN, ELECTIONS WILL BE POSTPONED, AND THAT WILL CREATE ALL OTHER PROBLEMS. PEOPLE FROM OTHER REGIONS THAT WERE SACRIFICED FROM OUR SIDE FOR SARAJEVO WILL ASK FOR NEW CHANGES AND THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT IMPLEMENTATION IF IT IS NOT GOING AT THE SAME TIME.

ADMIRAL SMITH WAS CAREFUL TO POINT OUT THAT HE MADE NO COMMITMENTS TO SERB LEADERS IN PALE, AND SIMPLY LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS.

I TRAVELLED ON A ROAD BETWEEN THE SERB VILLAGE OF PALE AND GBRAVICA AND I SAW LIKE 40 TRUCKS FILLED WITH FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, EQUIPMENT, AND MANY OTHER SMALL CARS GOING OUT, SO THERE IS A STEADY FLOW. IT IS THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, BUT WHAT THE FIGURES ARE, WHAT THE PERCENTAGES ARE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE AT THE MOMENT.

DESPITE FEARS THE SERBS MAY TRY TO TAKE HEAVY MACHINERY AND VITAL PUBLIC UTILITY EQUIPMENT WITH THEM, NATO SPOKESMAN MARK RAYNOR SAYS NATO FORCES ARE POWERLESS TO STOP THE PEOPLE FROM LEAVING.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO STOP PEOPLE MOVING, AND TO STOP THEM MOVING THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.

NATO COMMANDERS ARE TRYING TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, SO PEOPLE WILL FEEL SECURE WHERE THEY ARE. /// END OPT ///

ABOUT ONE HALF OF THE 60-THOUSAND NATO GROUND TROOPS EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE MISSION ARE IN THE COUNTRY.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT TO COMPLETE WORK ON A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SAVA RIVER IN A FEW DAYS. THAT WILL ALLOW THE BULK OF THE U-S CONTINGENT TO THE NATO FORCE TO MOVE INTO BOSNIA FROM A STAGING BASE IN SOUTHERN HUNGARY.

IN SARAJEVO, FRENCH TROOPS HAVE CLEARED OPPOSING FORCES FROM A SERIES OF POSITIONS ALONG WHAT HAD BEEN THE BLOODY CONFRONTATION LINE DIVIDING SERB AND GOVERNMENT SIDES.

WITH THAT TASK COMPLETED, NATO TROOPS WILL BEGIN FOCUSING ON THE NEXT BIG DEADLINE, WHICH CALLS FOR THE DEMILITARIZATION OF A TWO-KILOMETER WIDE ZONE TO SEPARATE THE WARRING SIDES. THE DEADLINE FOR THAT IS JANUARY 19TH, ABOUT THE TIME NATO SAYS IT WILL HAVE MOST OF ITS POWERFUL ARMY ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
27-Dec-95 12:22 PM EST (1722 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] ELECTIONS IN TURKEY BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ELECTIONS WERE HELD SUNDAY IN TURKEY WHERE REFAH -- THE WELFARE PARTY -- WON JUST OVER 21-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, THE VICTORY "WAS THE FIRST IN GENERAL ELECTIONS BY AN ISLAMIC PARTY IN TURKEY'S 72 YEARS AS A SECULAR REPUBLIC." THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR SECULAR PARTIES "HAVE NOW AGREED TO WORK TOWARD A COALITION GOVERNMENT IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE ISLAMIC PARTY FROM TAKING POWER." FOR A SAMPLING OF WHAT SOME AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE SAYING ABOUT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY, HERE IS _________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER, OF TURKEY'S TRUE PATH PARTY, IS WORKING TOGETHER WITH CONSERVATIVE RIVAL MESUT YILMAZ, OF THE MOTHERLAND PARTY. MRS. CILLER AND MR. YILMAN WHOSE PARTIES WON ALMOST 40-PERCENT OF THE VOTE "HAVE SAID THEY WOULD NOT FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH THE WELFARE PARTY." MRS. CILLER SAYS THAT "OUR AIM IS TO GO TOWARD A WIDE-BASED GOVERNMENT." "THE BOSTON GLOBE" EDITORIALIZES ON WHAT THE PAPER DESCRIBES AS "A SOBERING ELECTION IN TURKEY."

VOICE: "THE REALITY CHECK REPRESENTED BY THE ISLAMISTS' SUCCESS AT THE POLLS ILLUMINATES PROBLEMS OF INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND CORRUPTION. ABOVE ALL, IT SIGNIFIES A PROFOUND PEACEFUL CHALLENGE TO THE TURKISH STATE.... BUT THE LEADER OF THE WELFARE PARTY, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, CAMPAIGNED AGAINST TURKEY'S SECULAR SYSTEM, DERIDING THE HEIRS OF THE KEMALIST TRADITION AS PAWNS OF THE WEST. HE PROPOSED TO ANNUL TURKEY'S CUSTOMS UNION WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION; TO ELIMINATE THE CHARGING OF INTEREST ON LOANS; TO WITHDRAW FROM NATO; AND TO CAST TURKEY'S LOT WITH THE ISLAMIC NATIONS. HIS ELECTORAL VICTORY WAS HAILED WARMLY BY THE CLERICAL DESPOTS IN IRAN AND BY THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT OF ALGERIA. IT IS VERY MUCH IN THE INTEREST OF THE WEST TO NOURISH SECULAR DEMOCRACY IN TURKEY."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" DESCRIBES THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS IN TURKEY AS "TROUBLESOME."

VOICE: "IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO DISMISS THIS AS A MERE PROTEST VOTE. TURKEY'S CONSERVATIVE PARTIES HAVE RALLIED TOGETHER, HOPING TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD KEEP REFAH OUT OF POWER. FOR THE SAKE OF THE MAJORITY OF TURKS WHO WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A WESTERN-STYLE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, WE HOPE THEY WILL SUCCEED."

TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" COMPARES ELECTION RESULTS IN TURKEY, TO WHAT TRANSPIRED RECENTLY IN RUSSIA.

VOICE: "OF COURSE, MANY TURKS WHO VOTED FOR THE WELFARE PARTY ARE NO MORE INTERESTED IN SEEING DEMOCRACY SWEPT AWAY IN FAVOR OF AN ISLAMIC STATE THAN COMMUNIST PARTY SUPPORTERS IN RUSSIA ARE IN FAVOR OF GIVING UP THEIR NEW FREEDOMS. IN BOTH COUNTRIES, THE VOTE WAS PRIMARILY A STRONG PROTEST AGAINST INEFFECTUAL GOVERNMENT, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND PERVASIVE CORRUPTION."

TEXT: AND, OF TURKEY'S CURRENT PRIME MINISTER, THE NEW YORK CITY-BASED NEWSPAPER OFFERS THESE WORDS:

VOICE: "ONE OF MRS. CILLER'S PROBLEMS WAS THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO DELIVER ON PRIVATIZATION. ABOUT HALF OF THE COUNTRY'S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STILL COMES FROM STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES AND THEIR VAST WEB OF SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES CREATED BY CENTRAL PLANNING PROGRAMS IN THE 1930S. A SUCCESSION OF BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES, OPPOSITION WITHIN HER OWN COALITION, LEGAL CHALLENGES AND LABOR UNREST HAVE KEPT THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST COMPANIES OFF THE BLOCK OR THE PRIVATIZATION TIED UP IN RED TAPE."

TEXT: THAT WAS FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL." ACCORDING TO "THE BALTIMORE SUN, "THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER "HAD HOPED THAT THE CUSTOMS UNION SHE NEGOTIATED WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION WOULD RESTORE HER POPULARITY." THE NEWSPAPER CONTINUES.

VOICE: "IT DID NOT. THE WELFARE PARTY THRIVES ON THE INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND CORRUPTION SHE COULD NOT ERADICATE. BUT IT WANTS TO TAKE TURKEY OUT OF NATO, AWAY FROM EUROPE AND INTO CUSTOMS UNION WITH ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. TO WHAT EXTENT IT WOULD ENFORCE ISLAMIC LAW ON UNWILLING TURKS IS NOT CLEAR, BUT THIS SCARES A LOT OF THEM. [BEGIN OPT] MEANWHILE, THE WELFARE PARTY RUNS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WITH SKILL AND CHEAP BREAD, WINNING ADHERENTS....NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, THE WELFARE PARTY LEADER, OFFERS GRAND PLATITUDES ABOUT RETURNING TO THE ISLAMIC FOLD AND ENDING TURKEY'S 'SELL-OUT' TO THE WEST, ABOLISHING INTEREST RATES AS UN-ISLAMIC, YET RETAINING DEMOCRACY. NEARLY FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE VOTERS DID NOT SWALLOW THIS. IN TRYING TO COOPERATE, THE TWO MAIN CONSERVATIVE SECULAR PARTIES ARE REFLECTING THE WILL OF MOST VOTERS. WHAT TURKEY NEEDS IS NOT MR. ERBAKAN'S VISION, BUT FOR MS. CILLER AND MR. YILMAZ TO GET THEIR ACTS TOGETHER." [END OPT]

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES," ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, REMINDS READERS THAT "FEW COUNTRIES ARE AS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT TO AMERICAN INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD AS TURKEY."

VOICE: "DURING THE COLD WAR, WASHINGTON VALUED ITS LARGE ARMY AND LONG LAND FRONTIER WITH THE SOVIET UNION. AFTER THE SOVIET COLLAPSE, TURKEY'S PRO-WESTERN LEADERS HAVE PROMOTED IT AS A BASTION OF SECULAR DEMOCRACY IN THE MUSLIM MIDDLE EAST, A STRATEGIC COUNTERWEIGHT TO IRAN. BUT TURKEY...HAS NEVER QUITE LIVED UP TO ITS AMBITIONS, OR WASHINGTON'S. TURKEY HAS WAGED A BRUTAL WAR AGAINST ITS KURDISH MINORITY AND ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IS ABYSMAL. NOW ITS SECULAR CHARACTER IS UNDER SIEGE.....NEITHER MILITARY REPRESSION NOR THE NARROWLY BASED ECONOMIC BOOM OF THE 1980S HAS SLOWED ISLAMIC POLITICAL GAINS IN TURKEY. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DEMILITARIZE THE KURDISH CONFLICT AND EXPAND SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT TIME IS RUNNING SHORT."

TEXT: WITH THAT EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ON RECENT ELECTIONS IN TURKEY, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

DN/GE
27-Dec-95 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America