Voice of America, 12 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE IOWA CAUCUSES ARE A PRIME TOPIC OF COMMENTARY IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL PAGES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AS VOTERS IN THAT FARM STATE GATHER TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHICH CANDIDATES THEY WISH TO SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE I-R-A BOMBING IN LONDON; NEW SCANDALS IN JAPAN; OREGON'S MAIL-IN ELECTION; THE BATTLE OVER INTERNET CENSORSHIP AND ANOTHER FAILURE FOR EUROPE'S LEADERSHIP, THIS TIME IN THE AEGEAN. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" TAKES NOTE OF TODAY'S CANDIDATE PREFERENCE VOTE IN IOWA THIS WAY:

VOICE: "AS IOWANS TROOP TO PARTY CAUCUSES TONIGHT, THE PROCESS OF WINNOWING OUT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES BEGINS. THE METEORIC RISE OF STEVE FORBES AND THE LARGE NUMBERS OF UNDECIDEDS IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE POLLS MAKE IT A TOUGH CALL [DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME]. [SENATOR] DOLE REMAINS THE FAVORITE OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM... HE IS A TOUGH CAMPAIGNER, HAS A STRONG ORGANIZATION, AND BROAD, IF NOT DEEP, APPEAL. THE CHOICES ARE THERE: NOW REPUBLICANS AND LIKE-MINDED INDEPENDENTS MUST DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY AND VOTE."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WONDERS WHAT THE VOTING IN IOWA WILL ACTUALLY MEAN, AND WHETHER IT WILL AFFECT THE EVENTUAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OUTCOME:

VOICE: "THERE ARE NO CERTAINTIES IN THIS. IN FACT, YOU CAN'T EVEN KNOW ... WHETHER THE CANDIDATE WHO COMES OUT FIRST WILL ACTUALLY BE THE 'WINNER.' IF BOB DOLE FINISHES FIRST, BUT WITH A LOW VOTE ... AND A NARROW LEAD, HE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE DECLARED IMPERILED. [OPT] IN FACT, THE CANDIDATE WHO COMES IN SECOND OR EVEN THIRD HAS A FAIR CHANCE OF BEING PRONOUNCED THE 'REAL [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] WINNER,' THE ONE CARRYING 'MOMENTUM' INTO [NEXT WEEK'S] NEW HAMPSHIRE [PRIMARY VOTE] AS THE 'CLEAR ALTERNATIVE' TO MR. DOLE AND STEVE FORBES."[END OPT]

TEXT: INTERNATIONALLY, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY BOMBING OF A LONDON OFFICE COMPLEX FRIDAY EVENING, THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED SCORES OF OTHERS, DRAWS A VAIRETY OF U-S PRESS COMMENT. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CONVINCED THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND STILL WANT A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT:

VOICE: "NOTHING JUSTIFIES THE BRUTAL ACTION OF THE I-R-A THAT HURT SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CENTURIES-OLD CONFLICT. THE I-R-A IS NOT, HOWEVER, THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD BE BLAMED. IF ONLY [BRITISH] PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR AND HIS ALLIES, THE ULSTER LOYALISTDS, HAD LISTENED TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT PANEL HEAD BY FORMER AMERICAN SEN. GEORGE MITCHELL TO GIVE NEW MOMENTUM TO THE PEACE PROCESS... IT IS NOW UP TO THE LEADERS OF ALL PARTIES TO SHOW LEADERSHIP AND FIND THE WAY TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY ITS STEADY HAND."

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" DISAGREES IN PART.

VOICE: "THE BLAST ... OUGHT TO PUT AN END TO THE ILLUSION THAT IS IS POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH NORTHERN IRELAND'S TERRORISTS, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY AND ITS POLITICAL FRONT, THE SINN FEIN... THE BOMBING ALSO CREATES SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS FOOLHARDILY INJECTED ITSELF INTO THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND... [OPT] MR. CLINTON HAS SOME IMPORTANT MATTERS TO CONTEMPLATE. WILL, HE FOR INSTANCE, ASK GERRY ADAMS BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO BE FETED AND DINED? MR. ADAMS MAY BE AMONG THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIMINAL ACT, AND EVEN IF HE ISN'T, HE HAS NOT FOUND IT IN HIS HEART TO CONDEMN IT." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" SUGGESTS IMPENDING ELECTIONS IN JAPAN COULD AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT'S INVESTIGTION OF REPORTS THAT ORGANIZED CRIMINALS ARE INVOLVED IN NEW BANKING AND REAL ESTATE SCANDALS

VOICE: "PRIME MINISTER HASHIMOTO SPEAKS FORCEFULLY ABOUT THE NEED TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY AND MAKE THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE. BUT HIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN HESITANT TO INVESTIGATE A REAL ESTATE AND BANKING SCANDAL THAT HAS SPREAD FROM THE MOMENT HE TOOK OFFICE LAST MONTH... AS ALWAYS, THE UNITED STATES HAS A GREAT INTEREST IN WHETHER JAPAN CAN FULFILL ITS PROMISES FOR REFORM IN THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE."

TEXT: WITH REGARDS TO THE RECENT SENATE ELECTION IN OREGON, IN WHICH VOTERS MAILED IN THEIR BALLOTS, A FIRST IN THE U-S, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" NOTES:

VOICE: "... WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT OREGON'S EXPERIMENT IS THAT IT POINTED TO WAYS IN WHICH VOTERS CAN BE GIVEN 'ADDITIONAL' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] OPPORTUNITIES TO CAST BALLOTS... OVERALL WE THINK THE TRADITION OF A FIXED ELECTION DAY, WHILE WORTH PRESERVING, IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS SEEKING REASONABLE WAYS OF INCREASING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN A BUSY AND HIGHLY MOBILE COUNTRY."

TEXT: "USA TODAY" HAS JOINED THE SPIRITED DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CENSOR OBJECTIONAL MATERIALS FROM THE INTERNET, ESPECIALLY PORNOGRAPHY THAT COULD CHILDREN COULD RECEIVE ON THEIR HOME COMPUTERS. THE NATIONAL DAILY COMMENTS ON THE COMMUNICATIONS REFORM LAW ENACTED LAST WEEK.

VOICE: "... THE ACT HAS BIGGER SPEECH PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE INTERNET. ONE SECTION CONTAINS 'INDECENCY' PROVISIONS THAT DICTATE THE CONTENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNICATION ALIKE. ANOTHER SECTION, PLAINLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, REVIVES AN ARCHAIC LAW TO PREVENT INTERNET USERS FROM SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT ABORTION. AS WITH T-V, CONTENT CONTROLS ON THE INTERNET MISS THE POINT. WITH RARE EXCEPTION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SEE, READ OR HEAR. INDEED, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF FREE SPEECH."

TEXT: FINALLY, "THE WASHINGTON POST", LAMENTING HOW EUROPEAN LEADERS FAILED TO END THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, NOW WONDERS ABOUT THEIR HANDLING OF THE SKIRMISHING BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY OVER A DISPUTED ISLAND IN THE AEGEAN.

VOICE: "THIS IS A SAD TIME FOR THE IDEA OF EUROPE AS A POLITICAL COMMUNITY... FEW WHO FOLLOWED THE DUEL OVER POSSESSION OF A FRINGE OF UNINHABITED ROCKY ISLETS OFF THE TURKISH COAST COULD MUSTER MUCH ATTENTION TO THE JURIDICAL MERITS OF THE CASE. AND FOR GOOD REASON: TWO AUTHORIZED DIPLOMATS COULD SETTLE THE ISSUE AT LUNCH. THE PROBLEM IS POLITICAL... WHY CAN'T EUROPE TEND BETTER TO ITS OWN POLITICAL TENSIONS? PERHAPS PART OF THE ANSWER IS THAT EUROPEANS LOST SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH TWO WORLD WARS AND SELF-RELIANCE IN THE COLD WAR, AND NOW THEY FIND IT EASIER TO DEFER TO THE UNITED STATES."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SCANNING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

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12-Feb-96 11:14 AM EST (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION / SERBIA BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION IN THE BALKANS IS A PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD, IN THE FIRST PART OF A THREE PART SERIES, EXAMINES THE SITUATION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WHICH MAKE UP THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: FORTY-TWO MONTHS OF UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS GREATLY WEAKENED THE SERBIAN AND MONTENEGRIN ECONOMY. LIVING STANDARDS FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S NINE-MILLION INHABITANTS ARE AT LEAST 50 PERCENT BELOW WHAT THEY WERE IN 1989. BELGRADE REMAINS CUT OFF FROM WORLD CAPITAL MARKETS AND IS STILL NOT A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK.

FOLLOWING THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, IN WHICH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE, THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WERE SUSPENDED BUT NOT LIFTED.

AT THE JUST COMPLETED WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN SWITZERLAND, YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER RADOJE KONTIC SAID ENDING HIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC ISOLATION IS HIS TOP PRIORITY.

LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY BECAUSE THAT IS A PRE-REQUISITE. WITHOUT LIFTING OF SANCTIONS WE ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET OF GOODS AND CAPITAL.

AT THIS STAGE, YUGOSLAVIA HAS NO EXPECTATION OF INTERNATIONAL AID TO REBUILD ITS ECONOMY. BUT IT DESPERATELY WANTS CREDITS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK. IT IS ACTIVELY COURTING FOREIGN INVESTORS, BUT THUS FAR FEW HAVE BEEN WILLING TO COMMIT MONEY.

A MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S ECONOMY IS STILL STATE CONTROLLED. EIGHTY PERCENT OF INDUSTRY IS STATE RUN. MR. KONTIC SAID HE FAVORS PRIVATIZATION AND LIBERALIZATION. HE WANTS TAX INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS AND A BALKAN FREE TRADE ZONE. HE SAYS OPENLY THAT WITHOUT DEEP STRUCTURAL REFORMS, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO CANNOT REVIVE THEIR STALLED ECONOMY.

RADOSLAV BULAJIC IS THE YUGOSLAV DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER. HE IS HOPEFUL THAT BELGRADE CAN RE-ENTER THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND BY THE END OF JULY.

IT DEPENDS AGAIN ON SOLVING SOME POLITICAL ISSUES AND OUR STATUS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICULARLY THE UNITED NATIONS AND ECOSOC (THE U-N ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL). EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THIS POLITICAL ISSUE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR NOW IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH YUGOSLAVIA COOPERATES WITH THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT ARE DOMINANT IN THE I-M-F ARE INSISTING ON FULL YUGOSLAV COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD BEFORE AGREEING TO A FORMAL LIFTING OF SANCTIONS.

SINCE THE OLD YUGOSLAVIA DEFAULTED ON ITS FOREIGN DEBT BACK IN 1992, BELGRADE AND THE OTHER FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS ALSO NEED DEBT RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENTS WITH WESTERN COMMERCIAL AND OFFICIAL CREDITORS. UNTIL NORMAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS ARE RESTORED BELGRADE STILL WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE MORE THAN ONE-BILLION DOLLARS OF ITS ASSETS STILL FROZEN IN THE WEST. (SIGNED)

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12-Feb-96 11:07 AM EST (1607 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/FLIGHT (LONG) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: TWO SENIOR SERB ARMY OFFICERS HAVE BEEN FLOWN OUT OF BOSNIA TO FACE CHARGES AS WAR CRIMINALS. THE TWO MEN ARE EXPECTED TO LAND ABOUT NOW IN THE NETHERLANDS WHERE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY WILL BE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE SUDDEN, UNANNOUNCED TRANSFER OF THE TWO SERB OFFICERS TOOK PLACE SHORTLY AFTER DARK HERE. THE MEN WERE HUSTLED OUT OF SARAJEVO'S CENTRAL PRISON AND TAKEN TO THE AIRPORT WHERE THEY WERE PUT ABOARD A SPECIAL FLIGHT TO THE HAGUE.

THE MOVE CAME ONLY HOURS AFTER THE AMERICAN NEGOTIATOR OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, ANNOUNCED A DEAL BETWEEN SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT THAT MR. HOLBROOKE SAID ESTABLISHED NEW RULES FOR WHO COULD BE ARRESTED FOR SUSPECTED WAR CRIMES.

UNDER THE NEW PLAN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MUST NOW SUBMIT A LIST OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS TO THE TRIBUNAL, AND SUSPECTS CAN ONLY BE ARRESTED IF THE TRIBUNAL AGREES IN ADVANCE. THE TWO SERB OFFICERS WERE IDENTIFIED AS SUSPECTS BY THE TRIBUNAL ONLY AFTER THEY WERE ARRESTED BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE PLAN MEANS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS, FOR THE MOMENT, GIVEN UP THE RIGHT TO INDICT WAR CRIMINALS UNLESS THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL AGREES, AND THAT IS A MAJOR CONCESSION. THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL NOW BE FREE TO MOVE ON BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TERRITORY WITHOUT FEAR OF ARREST UNLESS THEY ARE NAMED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

THE DISPUTE OVER THE TWO SERB OFFICERS HAS BADLY DISRUPTED THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DEMANDING THEIR RELEASE, AND HAS SEVERED ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY HAS ALSO BROKEN OFF HIGH-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH NATO.

SO FAR THERE'S BEEN NO BOSNIAN SERB REACTION TO THE TRANSFER, NOR HAVE THE SERBS SAID THEY'LL ACCEPT THE HOLBROOKE DEAL AGREED FOR THEM BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS HERE, HOPE WITH THE TWO SERB OFFICERS OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT HANDS, IT MAY BE EASIER FOR SERB ARMY COMMANDERS TO ACCEPT THE DEAL, AND RE-ENGAGE IN THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/LTJ/LWM
12-Feb-96 4:28 PM EST (2128 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] FRANCE/GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING ( BONN )

INTRO: FRENCH PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY BY 1999. THE WORDS OF REASSURANCE FOLLOW A TWO-HOUR MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS IN BONN. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER WAS GREETED WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AS HE ARRIVED FOR TALKS WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE SESSION, MR. JUPPE SAID FRANCE HAD AGREED TO THE CRITERIA FOR THE CREATION OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY AND WOULD STAND BY ITS COMMITMENTS.

THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER REFUSED TO SPECULATE ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF PLANS FOR THE SINGLE CURRENCY FELL THROUGH.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED GERMANY AND FRANCE FACED SIMILAR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, BUT HE SAID FRANCE WAS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE MAASTRICHT TREATY.

DESPITE PUBLIC ASSURANCES THAT PLANS FOR A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY ARE ON TRACK, FEW IF ANY EUROPEAN ECONOMIES CURRENTLY MEET THE TOUGH CRITERIA REQUIRED TO JOIN.

EVEN GERMANY, A LEADING ADVOCATE OF THE SINGLE CURRENCY, WOULD FAIL THE TEST THAT REQUIRES BUDGET DEFICITS TO BE LESS THAN THREE PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT.

FOR CHANCELLOR KOHL, EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IS VIEWED AS A VITAL SAFEGUARD AGAINST FUTURE CONFLICTS IN EUROPE, AND THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY IS SEEN AS THE KEY TO FURTHER INTEGRATION.

DESPITE RECORD HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND SLOWING ECONOMIC GROWTH, GERMAN OFFICIALS DENY THERE WILL BE ANY DELAY IN THE DEADLINE OR EASING OF THE CRITERIA FOR JOINING THE CURRENCY UNION. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/MH/ART
12-Feb-96 10:42 AM EST (1542 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] HOLBROOKE / YUGO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE AMERICAN NEGOTIATOR IN BOSNIA, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, HAS ANNOUNCED A COMPROMISE SOLUTION DESIGNED TO END THE CRISIS THAT HAS DISRUPTED THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THAT UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT ONLY PEOPLE APPROVED AS SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL COULD BE ARRESTED.

TEXT: AFTER TWO DAYS OF TALKS WITH BALKAN LEADERS, MR. HOLBROOKE ANNOUNCED THE DEAL IN SARAJEVO. HE SAID THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE ARREST OF WAR CRIMINALS AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA WAS NOW CLARIFIED.

WE FEEL THAT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING -- WHAT WE CALL THE RULES OF THE ROAD --IS NOW IN EFFECT, AND THAT THE TENSIONS THAT HAVE RISEN IN RECENT DAYS SHOULD NOW BEGIN TO ABATE.

THE CRISIS RESULTED WHEN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ARRESTED TWO SENIOR SERB ARMY OFFICERS AS SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS. THE MEN HAD NOT BEEN NAMED AS SUSPECTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE TRIBUNAL LATER ASKED THAT THE MEN BE HELD FOR INVESTIGATION, BUT THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY ANNOUNCED ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND NATO WOULD STOP UNTIL THE MEN WERE SET FREE.

UNDER THE NEW PLAN, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MUST SUBMIT A LIST OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS TO INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL, AND ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS APPROVED IN ADVANCE FOR DETENTION BY THE TRIBUNAL COULD BE ARRESTED.

HOLBROOKE SAID THE AGREEMENT REAFFIRMS THE COMMITMENT TO PURSUE WAR CRIMINALS, BUT ALSO PRESERVES FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

WHILE THE NEW PLAN HAS BEEN APPROVED BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, THE REACTION OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY COMMANDER, RATKO MLADIC, HIMSELF AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL, IS NOT KNOWN. UNDER THE PLAN, THE TWO SENIOR SERB OFFICERS NOW IN GOVERNMENT CUSTODY WILL NOT BE RELEASED. AND IT IS NOT CLEAR IF GENERAL MLADIC WILL ACCEPT THE DEAL AND RESTORE BROKEN CONTACTS WITH NATO AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

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12-Feb-96 10:27 AM EST (1527 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S/BOSNIA FLIGHT (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: A U-S AIR FORCE TRANSPORT PLANE HAS FLOWN TWO BOSNIAN SERB ARMY OFFICERS FROM SARAJEVO TO THE HAGUE, WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO FACE INDICTMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE TWO OFFICERS (GENERAL DJORJE DUJUKIC AND COLONEL ALEKSA KRSMANOVIC) HAVE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF A CONTROVERSY THREATENING THE BALKANS PEACE ACCORD. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE TWO OFFICERS WERE FLOWN TO THE HAGUE ABOARD A U-S C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE AS PART OF A CHAIN OF EVENTS AIMED AT DEFUSING THE PRISONER CRISIS THAT HAS THREATENED THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS.

A STATEMENT RELEASED BY NATO AND THE PENTAGON SAID THE LATE-NIGHT OPERATION WAS A FURTHER INDICATION OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE'S SUPPORT FOR THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, AND ITS READINESS TO ASSIST INVESTIGATORS WHEN IT CAN.

THE ACTION CAME ONLY HOURS AFTER U-S MEDIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE ANNOUNCED A DEAL BETWEEN SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CREATING NEW RULES FOR WAR CRIMES-RELATED ARRESTS.

UNDER THE PLAN, THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MUST SUBMIT A LIST OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE TO THE TRIBUNAL, AND SUSPECTS CAN ONLY BE ARRESTED IF THE PANEL AGREES IN ADVANCE.

THE DETENTION OF THE TWO OFFICERS HAD PROMPTED BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES SEVER THEIR DIALOGUE WITH THE SARAJEVO GOVERNMENT AND HALT HIGH-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH NATO. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR IF THE ARRANGEMENT BY MR. HOLBROOKE WILL MEAN THE FULL RESTORATION OF CONTACTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/CB/LWM
12-Feb-96 5:56 PM EST (2256 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America