Voice of America, 15 April 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS GET ATTENTION ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY, APRIL 15TH, THE DREADED DEADLINE WHEN FEDERAL INCOME TAXES HAVE TO BE PAID. AMONG THE MOST DISCUSSED TOPICS ARE THE PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED THE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL TRYING TO SET A FLYING RECORD; THE CHAOS IN LIBERIA; RUSSIA'S NEIGHBORS STRUGGLING FOR SOVEREIGNTY; THE U-N BUDGET GAP AND THE 100TH BOSTON MARATHON, WHICH WILL BE RUN TODAY. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES IS _________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE STILL COMMENTING ON LAST WEEK'S CRASH OF A LIGHT PLANE IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING, THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JESSICA DUBROFF. SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO FLY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. HER FATHER AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE ALSO KILLED, AND MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FLIGHT CONTINUE TO BE ASKED. TODAY'S "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND IS CALLING FOR NEW FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RULES ABOUT YOUNGSTERS FLYING PLANES.

VOICE: "THERE IS MUCH ABOUT THIS INCIDENT THAT DESERVES ATTENTION. THE TRIP WAS UNNECESSARY, STRESSFUL ON THE CHILD AND DANGEROUS. UNDER THE RULES AS THEY NOW EXIST, SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JESSICA DUBROFF COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CREDITED WITH THE FLIGHT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ASSIGNS FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY FLIGHT TO THE LICENSED PILOT IN CONTROL, [OPT] IN THIS CASE, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR JOE REID. [END OPT] ..... THERE SHOULD BE AN AGE RESTRICTION FOR YOUNG FLYERS, JUST AS THERE IS A RESTRICTION ON THE AGE AT WHICH YOUNGSTERS CAN APPLY TO STATE MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES FOR LEARNERS' PERMITS."

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, A POPULAR PRIVATE AVIATION LOCALE, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" AGREES WITH "NEWSDAY," SAYING IT IS "TIME FOR A HARD LOOK BY THE FAA," ADDING:

VOICE: "AT [ONE METER-28 CENTIMETERS] JESSICA NEEDED A BOOSTER SEAT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WORE EXTENDERS TO REACH THE RUDDER PEDALS. HER FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AMOUNTED TO JUST 35 HOURS. YET NO RULES WERE BROKEN WHEN SHE TOOK OFF ON A PROPOSED JOURNEY FROM HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA, TO FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN."

TEXT: AND IN BOSTON, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WONDERS:

VOICE: "MANY ASK WHY JESSICA DUBROFF WAS FLYING AT ALL. THEY NOTE THAT IT'S UNLIKELY THAT ANY VERY YOUNG CHILD -- NO MATTER HOW BRIGHT OR PRECOCIOUS -- HAS DEVELOPED THE JUDGMENT OR PHYSICAL SKILLS TO CONTROL AN AIRPLANE... AS ONE CHILD ADVOCATE SAID, 'CHILDREN SHOULD BE CHERISHED FOR THEIR OWN SAKE,' NOT FOR THEIR ADULT-LIKE DREAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MANY TIMES A DREAM CAN WAIT."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS LAMENTING THE RENEWED CIVIL WAR IN LIBERIA.

VOICE: "THE DISINTEGRATION OF LIBERIA IS A DISHEARTENING EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF CHAOS THAT CAN QUICKLY ENGULF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEFEATING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR CITIZENS. THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE ESPECIALLY DEPRESSING IN THIS AFRICAN REPUBLIC, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY FREED AMERICAN SALVES IN 1847. [OPT] ... OTHER NATIONS CANNOT HELP END THE DISORDER AND KILLING IN LIBERIA, OR REBUILD A SENSE OF NATIONAL UNITY, UNTIL THE FEUDING LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY DEMONSTRATE THEY ARE READY FOR PEACE THEMSELVES." [END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" LOOKS AT THE DIFFICULTIES MANY OF RUSSIA'S NEIGHBORS -- FORMERLY PART OF THE SOVIET UNION -- ARE ENCOUNTERING ON THE ROAD TO TRUE SOVEREIGNTY, AND POINTS TO ONE SUCCESS STORY.

VOICE: "IN ALL THE ANXIOUS TALK ABOUT RUSSIA'S POSSIBLE DESIRE TO REESTABLISH ITS EMPIRE, ONE ASPECT TOO OFTEN HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED: THE DESIRES OF THOSE WHO MIGHT OSTENSIBLY BE TAKEN OVER. THE OTHER 14 REPUBLICS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION ARE NOT PASSIVE PLAYERS IN THIS POTENTIAL DRAMA, BUT SOVEREIGN NATIONS WITH AN INCREASINGLY CONFIDENT AWARENESS OF THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD... EXHIBIT 'A' [THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS IS] IS UKRAINE, A COUNTRY AS POPULOUS AS FRANCE WHOSE FUTURE SEEMED TENUOUS UPON ITS BIRTH IN DECEMBER 1991. [OPT] ... UKRAINE WAS HEADED FOR COLLAPSE OR REINTEGRATION INTO RUSSIA, MANY PREDICTED. [END OPT] TODAY, UKRAINE HAS [OPT] CONFOUNDED THOSE ANALYSTS, WITH [END OPT] AN INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY, A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY AND A WIDESPREAD CONVICTION AMONG UKRAINIANS THAT THEY ARE, INDEED, A NATION."

TEXT: TURNING TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, TODAY'S "DAILY NEWS" IN NEW YORK CITY SAYS TWO KEY BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE IF THE PEACE PROCESS IS TO SUCCEED.

VOICE: "THE BUTCHERS OF BOSNIA, SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, MUST BE HUNTED DOWN AS THE WORLD'S MOST WANTED MEN. THEIR CONTINUED FREEDOM MAKES UNPARDONABLE MOCKERY OF THEIR INDICTMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THAT [MR.] KARADZIC AND [GENERAL] MLADIC ARE BATHED IN THE BLOOD OF INNOCENTS IS NOW IRREFUTABLE."

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" DISCUSSES THE UNITED NATIONS FINANCIAL PLIGHT, THE NEED TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, AND THE U-S DEBT TO THE WORLD BODY.

VOICE: "PROBLEM NUMBER ONE FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI IS THE MONEY. AT THE END OF 1995, U-N MEMBER NATIONS WERE COLLECTIVELY TWO-POINT-THREE BILLION IN ARREARS ON THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUDGET, AND THE UNITED STATES WAS THE FOREMOST DEADBEAT, OWNING ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION... WASHINGTON ... IS PRESSING FOR COST CONTAINMENT... THE U-N IS DOWNSIZING, FIRING 800 CIVIL SERVANTS AND CUTTING 250-MILLION DOLLARS FROM ITS OPERATING BUDGET... THE ARREARS SHOULD BE PAID. [MR.] BOUTROS-GHALI IS SERIOUS ABOUT FINANCIAL REFORMS. THIS IS A FAIR POLITICAL TRADE-OFF."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS ARE WARMING UP FOR THE 100TH RUNNING OF THE FAMED BOSTON MARATHON, ABOUT WHICH, THE HOMETOWN "BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE 100TH RUNNING OF THE BOSTON MARATHON WILL BE MANY RACES IN ONE: FASTEST MEN, SPEEDIEST WOMEN, FASTEST WHEELCHAIR, BEST OVER 40, BEST AMERICAN, BEST NEW ENGLANDER, FUNNIEST COSTUME, OLDEST RUNNER, MOST INTREPID GATE-CRASHER, MOST ELABORATE RACE-COURSE PARTY, MOST HELPFUL WATER SUPPLIER, MOST AGONIZING COLLAPSE, MOST INSPIRING FINISH. BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY STORIES AND BECAUSE THE RACE IS SO EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ANY NEW ENGLANDER WHO WANTS TO WATCH, THE BOSTON MARATHON IS THE PREEMINENT SPORTS EVENT IN THE REGION."

TEXT: AND ON THAT ATHLETIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE EDITORIALS RUNNING IN TODAY'S U-S PAPERS.

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15-Apr-96 11:05 AM EDT (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA AID (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (SOFIA, BULGARIA)

INTRO: BOSNIAN OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED GRATITUDE WITH THE OUTCOME OF A WEEKEND MEETING IN BRUSSELS CALLED TO RAISE MONEY FOR BOSNIA. THE BOSNIANS SAID THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE GOOD USE OF THE ONE-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS TO BE SPENT DURING THE NEXT 12-MONTHS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THEY MADE THE COMMENTS (MONDAY) IN SOFIA, BULGARIA, AT A MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

TEXT: THE BOSNIAN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR, A FINANCE MINISTRY OFFICIAL, AND AID OFFICIALS SPOKE TO A MEETING OF MORE THAN 500 POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND AID CONTRACTORS.

THE BOSNIANS TURNED ASIDE CONCERNS THEIR SMALL LANDLOCKED COUNTRY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF AID THAT IS EXPECTED TO SOON BE DISBURSED. ONE OFFICIAL SAID 12-HUNDRED AID PROJECTS, MOST IN THE HOUSING, POWER, TRANSPORT, AND WATER SECTORS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

THE SARAJEVO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EUROPEAN BANK SAID DESPITE OBSTACLES, HE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION. HE SAID THE E-B-R-D WILL BE HELPING TO CREATE A NETWORK OF BOSNIAN BANKS AND WILL ALSO BUY INTO BOSNIAN COMPANIES THAT NEED INVESTMENT CAPITAL.

BOSNIAN FINANCE MINISTRY OFFICIAL MIRCAD KIKANOVIC REPLIED TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW FOREIGN INVESTORS CAN EXPECT TO TRANSFER PROFITS OUT OF BOSNIA. MR. KIKANOVIC SAID THE PROBLEM WILL BE LESSENED AFTER THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS WHEN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BEGIN ISSUING A NATIONAL CURRENCY.

AND WE EXPECT THAT AFTER THE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER THAT (NEW MONEY) WILL BE THE FIRST TASK. THAT MEANS THAT THE SINGLE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA CURRENCY IS SOMEWHERE CLOSE.

U-S OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE EUROPEAN BANK MEETING SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS, BY NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE BRUSSELS AID CONFERENCE, HAVE CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM RECEIVING INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.

THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAID THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO OPPOSE SERBIAN AND MONTENEGRIN MEMBERSHIP IN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. ASSISTANT TREASURY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, DAVID LIPTON, SAID ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL BELGRADE FULLY COOPERATES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN HOLDING MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSIONS WITH THE I-M-F. UNTIL BELGRADE IS A MEMBER, IT IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE LOANS FROM ANY INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AGENCY. (SIGNED)

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15-Apr-96 11:52 AM EDT (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THERE ARE NEW INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE BOSNIAN-SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS. BOTH MEN HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, AND AN INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL IN SARAJEVO SAYS THEIR NATIONALIST ATTITUDES ARE HURTING THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE ENVOY TO BOSNIA FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAYS MORE PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND ON THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, TO GIVE UP POWER.

SPEAKING IN SARAJEVO, ENVOY ROBERT FROWICK SAYS THE SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS' NATIONALIST ATTITUDES ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS IN ARRANGING FREE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA IN SEPTEMBER.

MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HOLD POWER, AND THE TERMS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT PREVENT MR. KARADZIC FROM BEING RE-ELECTED. BUT, NEITHER LEADER SHOWS ANY SIGN OF VOLUNTARILY STEPPING DOWN.

MR. FROWICK, WHO IS TRYING TO ORGANIZE POST-WAR ELECTIONS, SAYS THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN BOSNIA IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMPLEX PROCESS OF ITS KIND. HE SAYS THE NATIONALIST ATTITUDES OF SOME CROAT OFFICIALS IN MOSTAR, AS WELL AS THE SERB LEADER'S ATTITUDES, ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION.

THE ENVOY CALLS ON THE UNITED STATES AND ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO INCREASE THEIR PRESSURE ON THE FORMER WARRING FORCES IN BOSNIA TO COMPLY WITH THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. HE SAYS PRESSURE FROM BELGRADE ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND FROM ZAGREB ON THE CROATS IS ESSENTIAL.

MORE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE IS LIKELY TO BE PUT ON SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO GET RID OF RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC. BUT, DIPLOMATS REMAIN SKEPTICAL MR. MILOSEVIC IS EITHER WILLING OR ABLE TO ENSURE THE BOSNIAN SERBS FULLY IMPLEMENT THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

THERE ARE CONTINUING DOUBTS ABOUT MR. MILOSEVIC'S LONG-RANGE INTENTIONS AND WHETHER HE HAS RENOUNCED A GREATER SERBIA THAT WOULD INCLUDE SERB TERRITORY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. (SIGNED)

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15-Apr-96 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S LATEST REPORT, THERE WERE SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CROATIA DURING THE PAST YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT GENERALLY RESPECTED THE RIGHTS OF ETHNIC CROATS, ITS RECORD WAS WORSE WITH RESPECT TO MINORITY GROUPS, ESPECIALLY ETHNIC SERBS. MEANWHILE, IN AREAS OF CROATIA UNDER SERB CONTROL, REBEL SERB FORCES COMMITTED ABUSES AGAINST NON-SERBS.

THE MOST FLAGRANT ABUSES BY ETHNIC CROATIANS WERE COMMITTED DURING AND AFTER THE MAY AND AUGUST MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THREE REBEL SERB-OCCUPIED ZONES OF CROATIA. THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA FAILED TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE CIVIL AUTHORITY TO CONTROL ARSONISTS, LOOTERS AND MURDERERS, WHO OPERATED WITH IMPUNITY IN THE RECLAIMED AREAS MONTHS AFTER THE OFFENSIVES ENDED. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PREVENTED SERB REFUGEES FROM RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES.

CROATIAN SECURITY FORCES COMMITTED OR IGNORED MANY ABUSES IN THE AREAS RECLAIMED FROM THE SERBS. ABUSES INCLUDED ETHNIC-BASED KILLINGS, ARBITRARY DETENTION AND TORTURE, RESTRICTIONS OF MOVEMENT, MASS DESTRUCTION AND CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY, DENIAL OF FAIR AND EXPEDITIOUS TRIALS, AND INFRINGEMENTS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS. THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA DID NOT PUNISH MOST OF THE PERPETRATORS.

THE REBEL SERB AUTHORITIES COMMITTED SIMILAR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE AREAS THEY CONTROLLED. THE SERB POLICE AND MILITARY FORCES USED VIOLENCE, MURDER, AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST CROATS AND OTHER MINORITIES TO ACHIEVE "ETHNIC CLEANSING."

THE UNITED STATES CALLS ON ALL PARTIES TO STOP ABUSING THE RIGHTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES. REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE FIGHTING HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN PEACE AND SAFETY. IT IS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA AND SERB AUTHORITIES TO PROTECT THEM.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

15-Apr-96 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America