Voice of America, 19 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A TRIO OF TOPICS ARE GIVEN ATTENTION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY. ONE IS THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA AS SARAJEVO IS TURNED OVER TO BOSNIA'S MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT. ANOTHER IS THE DANGER POSED BY THE MILLIONS OF LAND MINES BURIED AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE THIRD IS THE INCREASED TENSION IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT AS CHINA CONTINUES ITS WAR GAMES WHILE TAIWAN PREPARES FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. OTHER TOPICS TODAY'S INCLUDE: PRESS REPRESSION IN CUBA AND THE U-S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM POSSIBLY IN TROUBLE. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES FROM THE DAY'S COMMENTARIES IS ____________________ AND TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: TURNING FIRST TO BOSNIA, "THE WASHINGTON POST" RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRESS THERE IN IMPLEMENTING THE DAYTON PACE ACCORDS.

VOICE: "TODAY IS THE DAY SARAJEVO WAS MEANT TO EMERGE FROM THE WAR'S TOILS AS BOSNIA'S SINGLE, UNIFIED MULTI-ETHNIC CAPITAL. BUT SERBS AND MUSLIMS HAVE SEEN TO IT THAT WHILE THE CITY IS ESCAPING FROM SERB OCCUPATION AND TERROR, IT IS MOVING TO SINGLE MUSLIM POSSESSION AND CONTROL. THIS STATUS CUTS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE FUNDAMENTAL INTENT OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS TO PUT A WAR-DIVIDED COUNTRY GRADUALLY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DAY OF CELEBRATION IS AN OCCASION FOR NO SMALL DESPAIR."

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" LAMENTS:

VOICE: "[OPT] PEACE HAS ALREADY BROUGHT MANY BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLES OF BOSNIA, BUT IT HAS NOT BROUGHT RECONCILIATION AND TRUST. THE MOST DISHEARTENING EXAMPLE IS SARAJEVO, WHERE AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION SURVIVED THE WAR, BUT MAY NOT SURVIVE THE COMING OF PEACE. [END OPT] IF THE PATTERN OF ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AND FLIGHT THAT HAS RAVAGED THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS IN RECENT DAYS EXTENDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE PROMISE OF A REUNIFIED BOSNIA WILL BE LOST."

TEXT: AND IN NEW ENGLAND, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ADDS:

VOICE: "AS MANY AS TWO MILLION BOSNIANS LOST THEIR HOMES IN THE CIVIL WAR THERE AND ARE NOW SCATTERED AND ADRIFT ACROSS EUROPE. MANY IN THAT REFUGEE DIASPORA WILL SOON ATTEMPT TO PUT DOWN NEW ROOTS IN THEIR OLD LAND. THE INTERNATIONAL POWERS, WHICH HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH IN FOSTERING MILITARY AND POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, OWE IT TO THE BOSNIANS AND TO THE CAUSE OF PEACE TO HELP IN THE RESETTLEMENT."

TEXT: FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THERE IS THIS FINAL THOUGHT ON BOSNIA FROM TODAY'S "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE:

VOICE: "... FEW VOICES ARE RAISED TODAY TO QUESTION NATO'S RELUCTANCE TO DIRTY ITS HANDS WITH THE MESSY BUSINESS OF PROTECTING RETURNING REFUGEES OR EVEN SHIELDING THOSE SERBS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE CHOOSE TO STAY PUT IN COMMUNITIES COMING UNDER FEDERATION CONTROL. THE RESULT IS THAT THE ETHNIC PURIFICATION IDEOLOGY OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS LIKE RATKO MLADIC AND RADOVAN KARAZDIC, WHO NATO REFUSES TO ARREST, CONTINUES TO RESHAPE THE MAP OF BOSNIA, EVEN WITHOUT AN ARMY TO DO ITS KILLING."

TEXT: IN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" VOICES CRITICISM OF THE PRESUMED REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BOB DOLE, FOR HIS CURRENT STAND ON BOSNIA:

VOICE: "WOULD SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY HE IS WRECKING U-S POLICY ON BOSNIA? LAST WEEK, MR. DOLE GOT THE SENATE TO ... WITHHOLD 200-MILLION-DOLLARS IN CIVILIAN AID TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT UNTIL A SMALL NUMBER OF IRANIAN MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE AGENTS LEAVE THE COUNTRY. THAT'S A WORTHY GOAL, BUT CUTTING CIVILIAN AID ISN'T GOING TO ACHIEVE IT... BLOCKING RECONSTRUCTION AID IS PUSHING BOSNIA TOWARD THE VERY FATE THAT MR. DOLE CLAIMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. IS THAT WHAT HE WANTS? [OPT] OR DO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS REQUIRE THAT MR. CLINTON'S BOSNIAN PEACE PLAN FAIL?" [END OPT]

TEXT: TWO PAPERS, "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND AND "THE BOSTON GLOBE", LEAD THEIR EDITORIAL COLUMNS WITH PLEAS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ACCORD TO END THE USE OF ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES. FIRST; "NEWSDAY."

VOICE: "LAND MINES ARE AMONG THE WORST SCOURGES OF MODERN WARFARE. THEY CAN LIE UNDETECTED AND DORMANT FOR ... YEARS, EVEN DECADES, AND ONE DAY BLOW A LEG OFF A CHILD CHASING A BALL... THEY SHOULD BE BANNED. MOST MILITARY OFFICERS PRIVATELY AGREE, AND IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THE PENTAGON IS NOW LEANING TOWARD SUPPORTING AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON LAND MINES. [OPT] .... A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT TO ENACT SUCH A BAN IS PICKING UP MOMENTUM, WITH MAJOR U-S ALLIES SIGNING ON." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND FROM "THE BOSTON GLOBE":

VOICE: "[OPT] MANY LIVES STAND TO BE SAVED BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, HAS DECIDED TO RECONSIDER THE MILITARY'S OPPOSITION TO A BAN ON THE PRODUCTION, USE AND EXPORT OF ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES. [END OPT] ... THE EXPOSURE OF AMERICAN PEACE-KEEPERS TO THE SIX-MILLION LAND MINES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA PRECIPITATED THE PENTAGON'S REVIEW OF A POLICY WHICH HAD FAVORED RETAINING MINES THAT DESTROYED OR DEACTIVATED THEMSELVES... PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD SEIZE HIS CHANCE TO MAKE AMERICA THE LEADER IN THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BAN LAND MINES."

TEXT: THE CURRENT CHINESE WAR GAMES IN THE STRAIT OF TAIWAN AND THE RECENT WARNING BY CHINESE PREMIER LIE PENG FOR U-S NAVY SHIPS TO STAY OUT OF THE AREA WHILE THE EXERCISES CONTINUE, HAVE UPSET "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

VOICE: "THE U-S NAVY WILL SOON HAVE TWO CARRIER TASK FORCES IN WATERS NEAR TAIWAN, A VERY POWERFUL ARRAY OF HIGH-TECHNOLOGY DESTRUCTIVE POWER. BUT WILL WASHINGTON KOWTOW [DEFER] AND STAY OUT OF THE STRAIT AS ORDERED OR WILL IT MAKE THE 'SHOW OF FORCE' THAT LI PENG WARNED IT NOT TO MAKE. IT'S DECISION TIME FOR BILL CLINTON. [OPT] PRESIDENTS GET THEMSELVES -- AND THE COUNTRY -- INTO FIXES [DIFFICULT SITUATIONS] LIKE THIS BY GIVING THE WRONG SIGNALS TO POTENTIAL ADVERSARIES."[END OPT]

TEXT: IN THE MIDWEST, "THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH" TAKES A DIFFERENT STAND, SAYING DESPITE THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF FACE [PRESTIEGE], "SENDING U-S SHIPS THROUGH THE STRAIT WOULD BE A PROVOCATIVE MISTAKE":

VOICE: "THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO REMEMBER THE HUMILIATION THAT FOREIGN NAVIES BROUGHT TO CHINA IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES. AMERICA SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO PEACE."

TEXT: WHILE, IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" ADDS THAT ANY CHINESE MILITARY MOVE AGAINST TAIWAN WOULD BE FOOLHARDY IN THE EXTREME.

VOICE: "THE COST TO CHINA IN LOST TRADE STATUS WITH THE U-S, LOST AID FROM JAPAN, LOST INVESTMENT FROM TAIWAN AND LOST RESPECT EVERYWHERE WOULD BE BEYOND RECKONING."

TEXT: IN THIS HEMISPHERE, "THE MIAMI HERALD" COMPLAINS ABOUT NEW RESTRICTIONS ON PRESS FREEDOM IN CUBA, FOLLOWING THE RECENT SHOOTDOWN OF TWO CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT FLOWN BY U-S CUBAN EXILES.

VOICE: "NOW HAVANA IS WARNING THAT IS MAY NO LONGER TOLERATE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES OF CUBA'S NASCENT, LEGAL PRIVATE SECTOR. THIS LATEST 'REVOLUTIONARY OFFENSIVE' AGAINST SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS COINCIDES WITH THE CONTINUED HARASSMENT OF 'CONCILIO' [CUBANA] [ITALICS] [A COALITION OF PEACEFUL GROUPS ADVOCATING DEMOCRACY AND A RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS] MEMBERS. SOME OF THEM ARE AFFILIATED WITH PRESS ASSOCIATIONS... IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO BE AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST IN CUBA TODAY."

TEXT: FINALLY, COMMENTING ON THE NATION'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, "USA TODAY" FEARS IT IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

VOICE: "WHEN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES OF PRIVATE PENSION PLANS TOPPED 50-BILLION DOLLARS IN 1993, FEDERAL OFFICIALS SCREAMED AND THE PROBLEM PROMPTLY WAS PUT ON THE ROAD TO REPAIR. WELL, USING THE SAME ACCOUNTING, SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD DRAW A HOWL THAT BRINGS IMMEDIATE ACTION. ITS UNFUNDED LIABILITY AMOUNTS TO A MIND-NUMBING 12-TRILLION DOLLARS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DIRE WARNINGS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY GET LOST AMID ELECTION-YEAR PROMISES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WAITING UNTIL NEXT YEAR MEANS THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY GROW WORSE."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS. NEB/ANG/PCH 19-Mar-96 11:27 AM EST (1627 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[02] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE LAST SERB SUBURB OF SARAJEVO HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CONTROL OF THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE AREA CHANGED HANDS, SERBS BURNED HUNDREDS OF HOUSES AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS, AND MANY BUILDINGS WERE LEFT BOOBY-TRAPPED WITH EXPLOSIVES. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: POLICE FROM THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION MOVED INTO GRBAVICA JUST AFTER DAWN ON TUESDAY. AN URBAN AREA, NEAR THE HEART OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, GRBAVICA IS THE FIFTH AND LAST SERB AREA OF SARAJEVO TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN.

THE FIRST GROUP OF POLICE TO GO IN WAS THE FEDERATION BOMB SQUAD. GRBAVICA'S POLICE STATION WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND ON MONDAY, RESIDENTS SAY BY THE SERB POLICE THEMSELVES. SO THE BOMB DISPOSAL TEAMS CHECKED A CAFE THAT WILL BE THE NEW STATION.

WORRIED ABOUT BOOBY-TRAPS, THEY USED SHOTGUNS TO BLAST OPEN LOCKED DOORS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WIRED WITH EXPLOSIVES.

A FEW OF THE MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND SERBS WHO CHOSE TO STAY IN GRBAVICA CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO WATCH. ONE ELDERLY WOMAN ASKED THE BOMB SQUAD TO CHECK AN APARTMENT IN HER BUILDING NEARBY. SHE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BOOBY-TRAPPED, AND IT WAS. AS A BOMB SQUAD OFFICER SLOWLY OPENED THE DOOR, HE SAW A GRENADE AND SHOUTED A WARNING. AN INSTANT LATER THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.

ELSEWHERE IN GRBAVICA, FIREFIGHTERS WERE BUSY DOUSING THE FEW FIRES THAT WERE STILL BURNING. BUT THEY CANNOT PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING ETHNIC TENSION THAT KEPT SARAJEVO A DIVIDED CITY AT WAR FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS.

GRBAVICA AND ILIDZA, FORMERLY THE TWO MOST POPULOUS SERB AREAS, ARE NOW ALMOST DESERTED AND BADLY DAMAGED. KRIS JANOWSKI, THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESMAN, SAYS IN SOME WAYS THIS IS A SAD DAY.

WHAT THIS MARKS IS, IT MARKS IN A WAY THE REUNIFICATION OF SARAJEVO AS ONE PIECE, ONE CITY, AND ON THE OTHER HAND IT, THE EXODUS HAS UNDERLINED THE DIVISION WHICH STILL EXISTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THOSE DIVISIONS MEAN THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE ON ANY SIDE OF SUPPORT FOR A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA. THE COUNTRY IS NOW FIRMLY DIVIDED AMONG SERBS, MUSLIMS, AND CROATS.

THE DAYTON AGREEMENT SAYS A FEDERATION BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS IS A CORNERSTONE FOR FUTURE PEACE IN BOSNIA. BUT DESPITE MANY WORDS FROM VARIOUS LEADERS, TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ARE GROWING.

THE DAYTON AGREEMENT HAS MADE THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL ONE CITY AGAIN, BUT SARAJEVO IS NOT REUNIFIED, AND WHILE THERE IS NOW NO WAR IN BOSNIA, THERE IS NO PEACE EITHER. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/GPT
19-Mar-96 2:14 PM EST (1914 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[03] BOSNIA ARRESTS (S-UPDATE) BY KYLE KING ( BONN)

INTRO: AUTHORITIES IN AUSTRIA AND GERMANY HAVE ARRESTED THREE MEN SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS AT LEAST TWO OF THE SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

TEXT: AUSTRIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THE 40-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED IN VIENNA IS SUSPECTED OF KILLING OR HELPING TO KILL ETHNIC SERBS DURING THE TIME HE SERVED AS A PRISON CAMP COMMANDER IN 1992.

OFFICIALS SAY IMPORTANT MATERIAL -- SUCH AS VIDEO TAPES OF ALLEGED CRIMES -- WERE SEIZED WHEN HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. MEANWHILE, OFFICIALS IN GERMANY SAY THEY HAVE ARRESTED TWO OTHER MEN SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES. A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN MUNICH, HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN VIENNA. BUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO IS NOT CLEAR.

THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE SAYS IT ORDERED THE ARREST OF THE TWO, WHO ARE EXPECTED TO BE INDICTED SHORTLY.

GERMAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE ALSO HOLDING A 28-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT, WHO IS ACCUSED OF BEATING TO DEATH FIVE INMATES IN A PRISON CAMP IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE MAN IS A BOSNIAN CITIZEN WHO WAS ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN GERMANY ON MONDAY AT THE REQUEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/ADEN/GPT
19-Mar-96 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[04] CHRISTOPHER/ CZECH O'NITER (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS IN PRAGUE WHERE HE GIVES A SPEECH ON AMERICAN RELATIONS WITH EUROPE AND THEN MEETS WITH CENTRAL EUROPEAN AND BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM PRAGUE ON SOME OF THE THEMES HE WILL EMPHASIZE.

TEXT: IN THE MAJOR SPEECH OF HIS WEEK-LONG TRIP THROUGH EUROPE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL LAY OUT AMERICAN POLICIES ON NATO EXPANSION, RUSSIA, BOSNIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

AT THE CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY, MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL GIVE THE AMERICAN VIEWS ON CURRENT ISSUES SUCH AS THE RUSSIAN DUMA'S VOTE TO RECONSTITUTE THE SOVIET UNION ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE DENOUNCED THE ACTION AS "HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE" WHEN HE WAS IN KIEV TUESDAY AND CALLED IT AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE UKRAINE AND OTHER NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES.

FOLLOWING HIS SPEECH, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL ATTEND A LUNCHEON WITH 12 FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE BALTIC COUNTRIES. HE WILL HAVE NO NEWS FOR THEM ON THEIR DESIRE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE CONTINUAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP.

MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MEETING THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN AND BALTIC GROUP FOR THE FIFTH TIME SINCE OCTOBER, 1993. MOST OF THE COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART IN THE BOSNIA PEACE FORCE THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSIDERS A GOOD TRAINING GROUND FOR EVENTUAL NATO MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/LWM
19-Mar-96 4:29 PM EST (2129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[05] EAST EURO SECURITY BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WEDNESDAY MEETS IN PRAGUE WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM 12 POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES OF EAST AND CENTRAL EUROPE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE MEETING WILL FOCUS ON NATO EXPANSION AND EUROPEAN SECURITY.

TEXT: AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSURE THE EAST EUROPEANS NATO EXPANSION WILL GO FORWARD AND NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE TO RUSSIAN OPPOSITION. THE 16 MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE AGREED AS EARLY AS 1994 EXPANSION INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE WILL TAKE PLACE. THAT COMMITMENT HAS BEEN CATEGORICALLY RESTATED EVER SINCE. MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOME COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN 1997 -- BUT NO TIMETABLE OR DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHICH COUNTRIES WILL BE FIRST TO JOIN.

SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MEETING THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF COUNTRIES THAT FEEL VULNERABLE TO A PERCEIVED SECURITY VACUUM IN THE MIDDLE OF EUROPE.

AMONG MOST OF THE POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, THERE IS FEAR OF A RESURGENT RUSSIA AND DEEP WORRY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN POWERS WILL GO SLOW ON NATO EXPANSION IN ORDER NOT TO ANGER MOSCOW. MOST POLITICAL PARTIES IN RUSSIA AS WELL AS MOST LEADING CANDIDATES IN THE JUNE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE NATO EXPANSION, SEEING IT AS A THREAT TO RUSSIAN SECURITY.

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER WILL TRAVEL FROM PRAGUE (THURSDAY) TO MOSCOW FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEW HARD LINE FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. ON WEDNESDAY MR. CHRISTOPHER DELIVERS AN ADDRESS ON THE FUTURE OF SECURITY IN EUROPE.

IN THE AUDIENCE AT THE CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL BE THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF 12 COUNTRIES. THEY INCLUDE THE THREE COUNTRIES CONSIDERED MOST LIKELY TO THE FIRST TO JOIN NATO -- THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND AND HUNGARY. OTHER PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS -- SLOVAKIA, BULGARIA, ROMANIA, THE THREE BALTIC STATES, SLOVENIA, MACEDONIA, AND ALBANIA -- WILL ALSO BE PRESENT. // OPT // FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE THE MINISTERS WILL HAVE LUNCH AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. // END OPT //

THIS WEEK THE ISSUE OF NATO EXPANSION HAS TAKEN ON MORE URGENCY FOR SOME PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS. THE RECENT VOTE IN THE RUSSIAN DUMA CALLING TO RECONSTITUTE THE OLD SOVIET UNION HAS ALARMED THE BALTIC STATES AS WELL AS UKRAINE. IN RIGA THE LATVIAN PRESIDENT SAYS MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MUST NOT BE SEEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NATO MEMBERSHIP.

THERE IS WORRY LIKEWISE IN VILNIUS, WHERE THE VISITING NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS NORWAY WILL SUPPORT LITHUANIA'S EFFORTS TO JOIN NATO. // OPT // IN PRAGUE CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSEF ZIELENIEC SAYS GEOGRAPHY MAKES THE SECURITY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IDENTICAL WITH THAT OF WESTERN EUROPE. MR. ZIELENIEC SAYS THE LOGIC OF THESE SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS MAKE A PERSUASIVE CASE FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC BEING AMONG THE FIRST GROUP OF COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO. // END OPT //

NATO HAS ESTABLISHED CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP AND MANY PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS ARE DILIGENTLY SEEKING CONFORMITY WITH THOSE CONDITIONS. THEY INCLUDE UPHOLDING DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, HAVING MARKET ECONOMIES, HAVING MILITARY FORCES UNDER CIVILIAN CONTROL, GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING STATES AND MILITARY COMPATIBILITY WITH NATO FORCES. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/ADEN/CF
19-Mar-96 11:16 AM EST (1616 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[06] GDANSK SHIPYARD (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE POLISH GOVERNMENT IS SIGNALLING IT MAY BE PREPARED TO LET THE VAST MONEY LOSING SHIPYARD AT GDANSK GO BANKRUPT AND CLOSE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM OUR EAST EUROPEAN BUREAU IN PRAGUE.

TEXT: THIS IS THE SHIPYARD THAT GAVE RISE TO THE SOLIDARITY TRADE UNION AND LECH WALESA -- THE FORCES THAT BROUGHT DOWN COMMUNISM IN EASTERN EUROPE. CALLED THE LENIN SHIPYARD, THE BALTIC SEA COMPLEX WITH ITS HUGE WORK FORCE WAS IN THE EARLY 1980'S A CAULDRON OF ANGER AND DETERMINATION.

TODAY THE GDANSK SHIPYARD IS JUST ANOTHER COMMUNIST-ERA INDUSTRIAL DINOSAUR STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE IN THE FIERCELY COMPETITIVE GLOBAL MARKET ECONOMY. FOR YEARS THE GDANSK YARD WAS PROTECTED BY ITS POWERFUL PATRON, LECH WALESA. WHEN HE WAS VOTED OUT OF OFFICE AS POLISH PRESIDENT LAST NOVEMBER, INDUSTRIAL ANALYSTS PREDICTED THE DAYS OF THE MONEY LOSING AND MAJORITY STATE-OWNED SHIPYARD WERE NUMBERED. ITS HIGHLY POLITICIZED WORK FORCE OWNING 40 PERCENT OF THE COMPANY, THE GDANSK YARD IS URGENTLY SEEKING AN INVESTOR.

THE SURVIVAL ISSUE CAME INTO FOCUS THIS WEEK WHEN THE STATE OWNED HANDLOWY BANK REFUSED TO ENTER INTO DEBT RESTRUCTURING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SHIPYARD. THE FINANCE MINISTER SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT INCLINED TO BAIL OUT THE YARD, PREFERRING INSTEAD A SOLUTION THAT COMES FROM THE MARKET.

THE COMPANY EMPLOYS MORE THAN SEVEN THOUSAND WORKERS. IT HAS SIX SHIPS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ORDERS FOR 26 MORE. THE YARD CONTINUES TO LOSE MONEY -- LAST YEAR IT LOST 35 MILLION DOLLARS AND IT IS HEAVILY IN DEBT.

THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY POLAND'S DESIRE TO JOIN THE PARIS BASED ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, THE O-E-C-D. THAT BODY REQUIRES MEMBERS TO CONFORM TO A NON-SUBSIDY CODE FOR SHIPBUILDERS. A BAIL OUT FOR GDANSK COULD JEOPARDIZE POLAND'S CHANCES OF JOINING THE O-E-C-D.

ANALYSTS SAY GDANSK'S PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE RELATIVELY HIGH VALUE OF THE POLISH CURRENCY. SHIPS FOR EXPORT ARE PRICED IN DOLLARS BUT POLAND'S COST OF PRODUCING SHIPS HAS RISEN IN TANDEM WITH HIGH INFLATION. THE SHIPYARD AT NEARBY SZCZECIN, REGARDED AS HAVING BETTER MANAGEMENT, IS MAKING MONEY. THE POLISH CABINET IS TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE GDANSK YARD NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED) NEB//BDW/ADEN/CF 19-Mar-96 12:42 PM EST (1742 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[07] GERMANY / KURDS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL SAYS KURDISH EXTREMISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN GERMANY SHOULD BE EXPELLED FROM THE COUNTRY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AS KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN, THERE IS GROWING SENTIMENT AGAINST THE REFUGEES FOLLOWING A WEEKEND OF BLOODY CLASHES BETWEEN KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE.

TEXT: CHANCELLOR KOHL SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON A NEW LAW THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO EXPEL KURDISH REFUGEES RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND ATTACKS ON POLICE.

SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BONN, THE CHANCELLOR SAID VIOLENT KURDISH EXTREMISTS WERE ABUSING THEIR RIGHT TO BE GUESTS OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT.

MR. KOHL SAID GERMAN AUTHORITIES AT THE STATE LEVEL HAD A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THOSE WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF DISTURBING THE PEACE. IN THE WAKE OF THE VIOLENT PROTESTS LAST SATURDAY, SEVERAL STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE BANNED RALLIES THAT HAD BEEN PROPOSED IN THE COMING DAYS.

WITH IMPORTANT STATE ELECTIONS SUNDAY, GERMAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN URGING A CRACKDOWN ON VIOLENT KURDS BLAMED FOR THE LATEST ROUND OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

ALL OF THE MAJOR PARTIES IN GERMANY HAVE CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE, BUT SOME POLITICAL LEADERS ARE WARNING AGAINST OVER REACTING TO THE DISTURBANCES. OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SAY GERMAN LAWS ALREADY MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DEPORT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

THE CHANCELLOR ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MUST BE A CAREFUL DISTINCTION BETWEEN KURDISH EXTREMISTS AND THE MORE THAN 400-HUNDRED THOUSAND KURDS LIVING PEACEFULLY IN GERMANY. MEANWHILE, TURKEY IS CALLING ON GERMANY TO TAKE TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST THE BANNED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY.

GERMAN AUTHORITIES BANNED THE KURDISH PARTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN THE WAKE OF A SERIES OF FIREBOMB ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND BUSINESSES IN GERMANY. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/ADEN/RAE
19-Mar-96 10:38 AM EST (1538 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[08] RUSSIA / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS ACCUSED THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL OF ANTI-SERBIAN BIAS. PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE CHARGE CAME DURING A VISIT TO THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL BY THE TRIBUNAL'S PRESIDENT.

TEXT: IN SEPARATE STATEMENTS TUESDAY, TWO HIGH-RANKING RUSSIAN OFFICIALS COMPLAINED THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CHARGED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ARE SERBS. THE SERBS ARE RUSSIA'S TRADITIONAL ALLIES IN THE BALKAN REGION.

JUSTICE MINISTER VALENTIN KOVALYOV SAID THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST 46 SERBS, SIX CROATS AND NO MUSLIMS GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF WHAT HE CALLED AN ANTI-SERBIAN ORIENTATION ON THE COURT. THE INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY QUOTED MR. KOVALYOV AS SAYING THERE WERE CLEARLY VISIBLE SIGNS THE COURT HAD BEEN POLITICIZED.

THE JUSTICE MINISTER'S REMARKS FOLLOWED A MEETING WITH THE TRIBUNAL PRESIDENT, ITALIAN JUDGE ANTONIO CASSESE, CURRENTLY ON A VISIT TO MOSCOW. INTERFAX REPORTED JUDGE CASSESE HAD ADMITTED THE RUSSIAN CLAIM HAD MERIT, BUT SAID HE COULD NOT ISSUE ORDERS TO PROSECUTORS WORKING IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY, RUSSIA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV ALSO BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE. POINTING OUT THAT 250-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED IN THE BALKAN CONFLICT, HE ASKED "HOW CAN THERE BE ONLY 50 CRIMINALS?" HE SAID A FULL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE ANYONE IS CHARGED.

MR. IVANOV, RUSSIA'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS, SAID THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S WORK MUST BE BUILT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, AND BE FREE OF BIAS. HE CALLED ON THE COURT TO HELP THE PEACE SETTLEMENT, NOT TO CREATE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

MR. IVANOV ALSO TOLD REPORTERS FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE FIVE NATION CONTACT GROUP ON BOSNIA WOULD ASSESS THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS THIS WEEKEND AT A MEETING IN MOSCOW. THE KREMLIN HAS BEEN EAGER TO HOST THE HIGH-LEVEL TALKS TO UNDERLINE ITS ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

THE RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER LAST WEEK CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF PROVISIONS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD WHICH BAR ACCUSED WAR CRIMINALS FROM RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE. MR. IVANOV SAID AN INDICTMENT BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IS NOT A CONVICTION.

THE BAN WOULD PROHIBIT BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC FROM TAKING PART IN SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/PH/JWH/MMK
19-Mar-96 1:05 PM EST (1805 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[09] U-S/BOSNIA (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: NINETY-DAYS INTO THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN BOSNIA CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION HAVE GONE WELL. BUT THERE IS GROWING CONCERN THAT POLITICAL RECONCILIATION AND ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION THERE ARE LAGGING. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION ITSELF HAS EXCEEDED THE MOST OPTIMISTIC EXPECTATIONS -- WITH CASUALTIES AMONG NATO TROOPS MINIMAL AND VIRTUALLY NO RESISTANCE FROM THE BOSNIAN PARTIES. BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE OVERALL MISSION IS CLOUDED BY A SLOW-MOVING INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT, AND CONTINUED BITTER HOSTILITY AMONG THE PARTIES -- AS EVIDENCED BY THE ARSON SPREE BY SERBS VACATING AREAS OF SARAJEVO BEING HANDED OVER TO MUSLIM-CROAT CONTROL. NATO TROOPS DETAINED SEVERAL ARSONISTS AND HELPED RESCUE SOME SERB RESIDENTS INTENT ON REMAINING IN THEIR HOMES DESPITE TERROR TACTICS BY RADICALS. HOWEVER, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAID LOCAL POLICE WORK HAS NEVER BEEN AN INTENDED PART OF THE MANDATE OF THE 60-THOUSAND-MEMBER NATO FORCE:

I-FOR HAS SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT IT'S NOT A POLICE FORCE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SUPPORT THE POLICE. BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL IN A SITUATION -- TO DEAL WITH ARSONISTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE DETERMINED TO DESTROY PROPERTY. WE CAN'T PROTECT EVERY BUILDING IN THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS. WE'VE NEVER PROMISED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

MR. BACON SAID THE "TERRIBLE" SCENES IN THE SUBURBS OF THE CAPITAL ILLUSTRATE THAT AFTER A LONG AND BITTER WAR, HEALING DOES NOT COME QUICKLY. BUT HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION STILL BELIEVES THE PARTIES WANT PEACE, AND REMAINS CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT, MEANWHILE, SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS OBSERVED NO DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF IRANIAN AND OTHER ISLAMIC FIGHTERS STILL IN BOSNIA -- TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE PRESCRIBED IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS SUSPENDED A PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND RE-ARM BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES UNTIL SARAJEVO AUTHORITIES EXPEL THE ESTIMATED ONE TO TWO HUNDRED MILITANTS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT TUESDAY WARNED THE MUSLIM LED GOVERNMENT THAT IF IT ACCEPTS IRANIAN MILITARY AID IN PLACE OF THE U-S-ORGANIZED PROGRAM, IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO REGIONAL STABILITY AND TO ITS RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/SKH
19-Mar-96 6:16 PM EST (2316 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[10] WAR CRIMES / ARRESTS (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: POLICE IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA HAVE ARRESTED TWO BOSNIAN NATIONALS SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST SERBS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: A STATEMENT FROM THE AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS ONE OF THE SUSPECTED MUSLIM WAR CRIMINALS WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN VIENNA. THE 40-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT, WHOSE FULL NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, IS WANTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE KILLING OF SERBS AT A BOSNIAN DETENTION CENTER BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER OF 1992.

AUSTRIAN AUTHORITIES SAY IMPORTANT MATERIAL SUCH AS VIDEOTAPES OF THE ALLEGED CRIMES WERE SEIZED WHEN THEY ARRESTED THE SUSPECT IN VIENNA.

OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING EXTRADITION REQUESTS FROM THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE AND THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

THE SUSPECT IS BEING HELD IN A VIENNA DETENTION CENTER WHILE AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THE EXTRADITION REQUESTS.

OFFICIALS HAVE RELEASED FEW DETAILS ON THE SECOND SUSPECT, WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE A 47-YEAR-OLD BOSNIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED IN THE SOUTHERN GERMAN CITY OF MUNICH.

GERMAN NEWS REPORTS SAY THE SECOND SUSPECT IS ALSO WANTED BY AUTHORITIES IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
19-Mar-96 8:45 AM EST (1345 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America