Voice of America, 2 May 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA: PROGRESS REPORT BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[03] BOSNIA/REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

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

[05] CZECH POLITICS (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[06] EGYPT / TURKEY (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

[07] NATO EXPANSION (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[08] YUGO WAR CRIMES (S ONLY-CORRECTED) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

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

INTRO: AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE BUSYING THEMSELVES WITH SEVERAL TOPICS ON THEIR EDITORIAL PAGES THIS THURSDAY. THE MORE COMMON ISSUES INCLUDE: THE U-S IMMIGRATION POLICY CONCERNING GENITAL MUTILATION; THE POLITICAL DEBATE OVER RISING GASOLINE (PETROL) PRICES; A PERCEIVED SHIFT IN U-S AID POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA; THE RAPPROCHMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA; AND THE PROBLEM OF NATIONS THAT SPONSOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE CONTINUING CLAMOR FOR ANSWERS TO THE SKYROCKETING PRICE OF GASOLINE (PETROL) CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR TOPIC FOR EDITORIAL WRITERS. HERE IS SOME OF WHAT TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" HAS TO SAY.

VOICE: "SLOW DOWN, WASHINGTON. THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO DEAL WITH A MOMENTARY GAS PRICE RISE AND THE MINIMUM WAGE ISSUE THAN THOSE BEING BRUITED ABOUT BY CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. FIRST, GASOLINE PRICES. EVERYONE ... SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN TWO OF OUR OVERRIDING NATIONAL GOALS: ONE - TO CONTROL DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED OIL AND AVOID FUTURE OIL CRISES. ALSO, TO STRETCH PETROLEUM SUPPLIES AS FAR INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AS POSSIBLE UNTIL RENEWABLE POWER SUPPLIES BECOME ECONOMIC AND WIDELY APPLICABLE. TWO - TO CONTROL AND REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. GIVEN THOSE GOALS, MR. DOLE'S PRESCRIPTION, TO REPEAL THE LAST RISE IN THE GAS TAXES, MARCHES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. SO DOES MR. CLINTON'S SELLING OFF OF SOME 12-MILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE... THIS IS NOT, REPEAT NOT, AN EMERGENCY... A BETTER ANSWER WOULD BE HANDS OFF FROM WASHINGTON."

TEXT: TO WHICH "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" ADDS THIS SUGGESTION.

VOICE: "WHAT'S THE RIGHT POLICY NOW, AS GAS-GUZZLING IS PUSHING PRICES UPWARD IN A MARKET COMPLICATED BY THE COLD WINTER, A HURRICANE THAT WHACKED MEXICAN SUPPLIES, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT IRAQI OIL? THE RIGHT LONG-TERM POLICY -- AS BRAVELY ADVOCATED BY ROSS PEROT IN HIS 1992 PLATFORM IS TO 'RAISE' [ITALICS] THE GAS TAX BY TEN CENTS A GALLON FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THAT WOULD PULVERIZE THE DEFICIT WHILE REVIVING ENERGY CONSERVATION AS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY."

TEXT: ON THE DELICATE SUBJECT OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION, PRACTICED IN MANY AFRICAN NATIONS, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS URGING ASYLUM BE GRANTED TO FAUZIYA KASINGA, A YOUNG TOGOLESE WOMAN WHO FLED TO THE UNITED STATES RATHER THAN UNDERGO THE PROCEDURE.

VOICE: "THE CASE OF FAUZIYA KASINGA ... HAS DRAWN RENEWED ATTENTION TO AN ABHORRENT PRACTICE, FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION... AFTER FIRST BEING DENIED (ASYLUM) BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE LAST YEAR, HER CLAIM WILL BE REVIEWED TODAY BY THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS. MS. KASINGA ... SHOULD BE ADMITTED. MEANWHILE, THE PLIGHT OF MILLIONS OF OTHER WOMEN WHO CONFRONT MUTILATION BUT CANNOT ESCAPE THEIR HOMELANDS DESERVES INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY... A FAVORABLE RULING IN FAUZIYA KASINGA'S CASE WILL ALSO SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE."

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST", NOTING WHAT IT FEELS IS A SHIFT IN U-S POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA AND, CONSEQUENTLY, AWAY FROM AZERBAIJAN, VOICES CERTAIN DISAPPROVAL.

VOICE: "ONE COUNTRY -- FRIENDLY, NEEDY AND WORKING TO BUILD DEMOCRACY -- IS DENIED DIRECT AMERICAN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE BY LAW. THE TARGET OF THIS RARE LEGISLATED VIOLATION OF THE AMERICAN ETHICAL TRADITION IS AZERBAIJAN. IT HAS BEEN IN A LONG, BLOODY WAR, CURRENTLY AT CEASEFIRE, WITH ITS FELLOW FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC, ARMENIA. ARMENIAN AMERICANS HAVE PERSUADED CONGRESS TO FREEZE OUT AZERBAIJAN, THOUGH IT UNDERCUTS THE EVENHANDEDNESS A PRESIDENT NEEDS TO MEDIATE THE WAR. ... WHAT ARMENIA NEEDS IS NOT AN ADVANTAGE OVER AZERBAIJAN, ITS COMRADE IN PAINFUL DE-SOVIETIZATION, BUT AN AGREEMENT... A CONGRESSIONAL TILT [AWAY FROM AZERBAIJAN] CAN ONLY REDUCE THE NECESSARY MUTUAL READINESS FOR A SHARED SOLUTION."

TEXT: SPEAKING OF LAST WEEK'S VISIT BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO BEIJING AND SHANGHAI, "THE BALTIMORE SUN" SAYS OF THE IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO GIANTS:

VOICE: "THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP IS NOT YET FULLY ACHIEVED. NOR IS IT DESTINED TO FAIL. IT IS NOT A DANGER TO THE REST OF THE WORLD UNLESS ONE OF THE SUPERPOWERS USES IT TO COMMIT AGGRESSION. IT IS, AT FACE VALUE, A WELCOME REDUCTION IN WORLD TENSIONS. AND IT MAY EVEN STICK."

TEXT: INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT NAMING COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT TERRORIST EFFORTS, DRAWS THIS COMMENTARY FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: "IRAN ONCE MORE IS IDENTIFIED AS TERRORISM'S 'PREMIER STATE SPONSOR,' FINANCING AND ENCOURAGING RADICAL GROUPS FROM NORTH AFRICA TO CENTRAL ASIA... ROUNDING OUT THE ... LIST ARE SYRIA (THE ONLY ONE AMONG THE SEVEN WITH OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES), CUBA, IRAQ, LIBYA, NORTH KOREA AND SUDAN... THE CHEERING NEWS IN THE ... REPORT IS THAT THE LEVEL OF STATE TERRORISM CONTINUED TO DECLINE, PERHAPS AN INDICATION OF GREATER EFFECTIVENESS IN IDENTIFYING AND HOLDING ITS SPONSORS ACCOUNTABLE."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, A COMMENT ON THE USE OF PRISON INMATES FOR CHAIN-GANGS, WHO ARE SHACKLED TOGETHER AS THEY PERFORM ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK. THE CONTROVERSIAL PRACTICE, WHICH MADE A COME-BACK LAST YEAR IN ALABAMA, DREW SHARP CRITICISM RECENTLY WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED THAT WOMEN PRISONERS BE INCLUDED. BUT THAT PLAN WAS VETOED BY THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR. TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" JOINS THE CHORUS OF CRITICISM, DECLARING: "CHAIN GANGS [ARE] NOT FIT FOR ANY HUMAN."

VOICE: "THE GOVERNOR'S REVULSION TO THE IDEA [OF WOMEN ON THE GANGS] EXPOSES CHAIN GANGS FOR WHAT THEY ARE: NOTHING BUT POLITICAL SHOWMANSHIP. SUCH GET-TOUGH MEASURES DO NOTHING TO REDUCE THE CRIME RATE, BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO ADDRESS HOW CRIMINALS GOT TO PRISON IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TEXT: AND ON THAT SOCIOLOGICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIAL TOPICS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
02-May-96 11:09 AM EDT (1509 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA: PROGRESS REPORT BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MUSLIM REFUGEES TRYING TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN BOSNIA WERE ATTACKED AND SOME KILLED BY SERBS, POINTING UP THE STILL SMOLDERING HATREDS OF THIS FRATRICIDAL BALKAN CONFLICT. BUT IN GENERAL, PEACE HAS BEEN RESTORED AND IS NOW PATROLLED BY NATO FORCES. CAN THIS LEAD TO AN ENDURING SETTLEMENT UNDER THE DAYTON ACCORDS SIGNED IN NOVEMBER? V-O-A'S ED WARNER ASKED TWO ANALYSTS WHO CLOSELY FOLLOW EVENTS IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: SO FAR, SO GOOD, SAYS JAMES SCHEAR, REFERRING TO THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA:

UP TO NOW, THE MILITARY SIDE OF THE PROCESS HAS GONE RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY. WITH A MINIMUM OF VIOLENCE AND CONFRONTATION, THE FACTIONAL ARMIES ON EACH SIDE HAVE BEEN SEPARATED, WHICH IS A BIG PLUS. PIECES OF TERRITORY HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PROCESS PROVOKED SOME CIVILIAN DISLOCATION. HOWEVER, THE DAYTON ACCORDS ARE NOT SIMPLY ABOUT THE MILITARY PROCESS. IT ALSO INVOLVES POLITICAL AND SOCIAL TRANSITIONS FOR POST WAR BOSNIA, AND ON THOSE ISSUES PROGRESS IS RATHER LESS OBVIOUS.

MR. SCHEAR, A POLITICAL ANALYST AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE, SAYS ETHNIC DIVISION IN BOSNIA SEEMS AS STRONG AS EVER.

THAT IS ALSO THE OPINION OF MICHAEL O'HANLON, A MILITARY ANALYST AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION:

WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS IF ONE CONSIDERS WHAT IS GOING ON TO BE ESSENTIALLY SEPARATING TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT DO NOT REALLY WANT TO WORK OR LIVE TOGETHER. ALL THE EVIDENCE IS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE AN INTEREST IN GOING BACK TO LARGE-SCALE FIGHTING, BUT THEY ALSO DO HAVE MUCH INTEREST AT ALL IN REALLY WORKING OUT A WAY TO LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER AS A SINGLE COUNTRY.

FOR THAT REASON, SAYS MR, O'HANLON, A PARTIAL NATO FORCE MUST REMAIN IN BOSNIA FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

AND GIVEN GREATER SCOPE, SAYS MR. SCHEAR, WITHOUT WORRYING TOO MUCH ABOUT THE DANGER OF "MISSION CREEP;" THAT IS, GETTING DRAWN INTO ROLES THAT COULD LEAD TO FIGHTING:

MY POSITION ALL ALONG IS THAT THE MISSION OUGHT TO BE DEFINED SOMEWHAT MORE BROADLY TO ALLOW FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SO-CALLED "CREEP" BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MAGNITUDES OF THE JOBS TO BE DONE RATHER THAN SIMPLY TAKING A NARROW PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. IF YOU PLAN FOR THESE JOBS UP FRONT, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CONSIDER IT IS ACTUALLY "MISSION CREEP" WHEN IT HAPPENS.

MR. SCHEAR SAYS NATO SHOULD ASSUME MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WESTERN TROOPS COULD ALSO ASSIST IN INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR AND IN WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS, THOUGH NOT IN HUNTING THE MEN ACCUSED OF THESE CRIMES. WHILE NATO CAN PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR RETURNING REFUGEES, HE SAYS, IT LACKS THE TROOPS TO GUARANTEE THEIR SAFETY ONCE THEY ARE HOME.

THOUGH THE DAYTON ACCORDS ENVISION A UNITARY MULTIETHNIC STATE IN BOSNIA, MR. O'HANLON IS SKEPTICAL, IN VIEW OF THE HARSH REACTION TO RETURNING REFUGEES:

RESETTLING OF REFUGEES, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS PUTTING THE ORIGINAL BOSNIA BACK TOGETHER, IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN - PERIOD. IF WE HAD WANTED TO INSURE THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED MILITARILY IN 1992 OR 1993. IT IS TOO LATE NOW, AND WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT. THE MAIN GOAL HERE IS NOT TO LET THE WAR RESUME, AND TRACKING DOWN WAR CRIMINALS OR TRYING TO RESETTLE REFUGEES, IS LIKELY TO REIGNITE THE WAR, NOT TO END IT.

LOOKING AHEAD, MR. O'HANLON OF THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION EXPECTS A MUSLIM STATE TO EMERGE THAT CAN SURVIVE WITH WESTERN HELP. IT WOULD HAVE NO FEWER PEOPLE OR LESS OF A CHANCE THAN THE ANTICIPATED PALESTINIAN STATE. MULTI-ETHNIC PEACE CAN BE ACHIEVED, HE SAYS, BUT BETWEEN THESE BALKAN STATES, NOT WITHIN THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
02-May-96 6:15 PM EDT (2215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY MAY HAVE TO RE-EXAMINE THEIR PLANS TO BEGIN SENDING MORE THAN 300-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES BACK TO THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY THIS JULY. HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY RECENT CLASHES BETWEEN SERBS AND MUSLIMS TRYING TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES PROVE IT IS TOO EARLY TO BEGIN SENDING PEOPLE BACK. FROM BONN, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: IZETA MUSTAFIC SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LETTER SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT, WHICH SAYS SHE HAS TO GO BACK TO BOSNIA IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

WITH NO FAMILY IN BOSNIA, HER HEALTH FAILING, AND THE VILLAGE SHE GREW UP IN NOW IN SERB TERRITORY, THE ELDERLY MUSLIM WOMAN SAYS SHE IS AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF SHE IS FORCED TO LEAVE GERMANY.

TILMAN ZUELCH, A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE WHO RECENTLY TRAVELED TO BOSNIA WITH A GROUP OF MUSLIM REFUGEES, SAYS ITS TOO EARLY TO START SENDING THEM BACK.

WE SAW THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY AT ALL THAT THE BOSNIAN REFUGEES CAN RETURN TO THE SERBIAN-CONTROLLED ZONE. SIXTY TO 80-PERCENT OF THE 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN GERMANY ARE FROM THIS AREA, AND NO CHANCE TO GO BACK.

MR. ZUELCH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES, IS DEMANDING THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT DELAY THE REPATRIATION OF THE REFUGEES, UNTIL THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA IS MORE SECURE.

ASIM TABAKOVIC, A MUSLIM FROM A SMALL VILLAGE NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE SERB TOWN OF PRIJEDOR, SAYS BOSNIA NEEDS HELP FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

MR. TABAKOVIC, WHO SPENT FIVE MONTHS HIDING THE WOODS AFTER HIS VILLAGE WAS OVERRUN BY SERBS IN JANUARY OF 1993, SAYS HE WANTS TO RETURN HOME. BUT HE SAYS HIS COUNTRY NEEDS AID TO REBUILD HOMES AND FACTORIES SO PEOPLE WILL HAVE WORK WHEN THEY GO BACK.

GERMAN STATE INTERIOR MINISTERS ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE REFUGEE ISSUE.

OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE REFUGEES SHOULD NOT BE SENT BACK TO AREAS WHERE THEY WOULD BE IN DANGER, BUT SOME OFFICIALS SAY IT IS TOO EARLY TO DECIDE IF THE REPATRIATION PLANS WILL HAVE TO BE REVISED.

UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE, GERMANY'S 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES, INCLUDING THE SURVIVORS OF RAPE, TORTURE, AND CONCENTRATION CAMPS, WILL BE LEFT WONDERING ABOUT THEIR FATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/MH/RAE
02-May-96 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: POLICE FROM THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA BRIEFLY SET-UP A CHECK POINT NEAR SARAJEVO TO STOP SERB CARS, AND HAVE REFUSED TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF NATO AND INTERNATIONAL POLICE. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE MOVE WAS IN RETALIATION FOR A SERB ATTACK ON MUSLIM REFUGEES EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

TEXT: TENSIONS ALONG THE FORMER CONFRONTATION LINE IN BOSNIA HAVE BEEN RISING SINCE MONDAY'S DEADLY CLASHES BETWEEN MUSLIM REFUGEES TRYING TO VISIT THEIR FORMER HOMES AND SERBS DETERMINED TO STOP THEM.

IN ONE INCIDENT MONDAY, BUSLOADS OF MUSLIMS WERE ATTACKED BY SERBS ON THE ROAD TO TRNOVO, NEAR SARAJEVO. ALEX IVANKO, THE U-N SPOKESMAN, SAYS THE LOCAL POLICE CHIEF FROM THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AREA ALONG THAT ROAD HAS NOW REACTED.

AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING, U-N POLICE MONITORS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE FEDERATION POLICE HAVE STARTED OPERATING A CHECK-POINT ON THE ROAD AND ARE PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO VEHICLES WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA LICENSE PLATES.

THE POLICE CHIEF HAS THREATENED TO CLOSE THE ROAD COMPLETELY AND CUT PHONE LINKS TO SERB AREAS. MR. IVANKO SAYS THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN IMPLIED THREAT AGAINST NATO SOLDIERS IN THE I-FOR OPERATION, AND THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE, KNOWN AS THE I-P-T-F.

THE U-N INTERNATIONAL POLICE WERE INFORMED BY THE FEDERATION POLICE STATION COMMANDER, THAT NEITHER I-FOR, OR I-P-T-F FOR THAT MATTER, WERE WELCOME IN THE AREA AND THAT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THEIR SAFETY.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THAT WHEN FRENCH TROOPS WENT TO REMOVE THE CHECKPOINT HOURS LATER, IT WAS NO LONGER THERE, BUT SUCH MOVES BY THE FEDERATION POLICE ARE CERTAIN TO INFLAME AN ALREADY DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

NEGOTIATIONS OVER VISITS ACROSS ETHNIC LINES BY REFUGEES WANTING TO VISIT FORMER HOMES OR GRAVE SITES ARE CONTINUING. KRIS JANOWKSI, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT IS NOT NATO'S JOB TO SEE THE VISITS TAKE PLACE.

WE CANNOT EXPECT I-FOR TO SHOOT REFUGEES THROUGH FORMER CONFRONTATION LINES. I MEAN THERE HAS TO BE AN AGREEMENT BY BOTH SIDES. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS HUGE RELUCTANCE BY EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY THE BOSNIAN SERBS, TO ALLOW THEIR FORMER ENEMIES INTO THOSE AREAS.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE STILL REFUSING TO SIGN EVEN THE SIMPLEST PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE VISITS BY REFUGEES, DESPITE PROMISES TO DO SO FROM THEIR SENIOR LEADERS. A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA IS A KEY GOAL OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, BUT THE COUNTRY IS NOW FIRMLY PARTITIONED ALONG ETHNIC LINES. MANY SERBS BELIEVE IF THEY CAN KEEP MUSLIMS AND CROATS OUT OF SERB AREAS UNTIL NATO TROOPS LEAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THEIR BOSNIAN SERB STATE WILL FINALLY BE SECURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/GPT
02-May-96 10:59 AM EDT (1459 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CZECH POLITICS (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: CAMPAIGNING IS UNDERWAY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC WITH ONLY FOUR-WEEKS REMAINING BEFORE THE COUNTRY'S FIRST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SINCE THE 1992 BREAKUP OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD WENT TO PRAGUE'S WENCESLAUS SQUARE TO PREVIEW WHAT ANALYSTS SAY WILL BE ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING ELECTIONS THIS YEAR IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE.

TEXT: /// OPT /// SPRING HAS BEEN LATE ARRIVING IN PRAGUE THIS YEAR. THE FORSYTHIA ARE IN YELLOW BLOOM, BUT THE LILACS ARE NOT YET OUT. TOURISTS ARE HERE IN GREAT NUMBER AS TRAFFIC SWEEPS PAST WENCELAUS SQUARE. /// OPT ///

THERE ARE BIG POSTERS, FULL SIZE, LARGE BILLBOARDS, COLORFUL AND PROFESSIONALLY DONE, THAT SUGGEST WE ARE IN AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS HAVE AN ATTRACTIVE DEPUTY LEADER WHO PEERS OUT FROM A POSTER AND ASKS, WHAT KIND OF FUTURE DO YOU WANT? THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS, ONE OF THE COALITION PARTIES, HAS CHAIRMAN JOSEPH LUX SAYING, QUIET POWER. ALL IN ALL, THERE IS INTEREST BUT NOT INTENSE INTEREST THUS FAR IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS HAD REMARKABLE POLITICAL STABILITY SINCE THE CZECHOSLOVAK FEDERATION WAS AMICABLY SPLIT IN TWO AT THE END OF 1992. ECONOMIST VACLAV KLAUS HAS BEEN CZECH PRIME MINISTER SINCE HIS CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY EMERGED AS THE BIGGEST WINNER IN THE 1992 ELECTION. HE HEADS A THREE-PARTY CENTER-RIGHT COALITION THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMFORTABLY RETURNED TO POWER.

OPINION SURVEYS SHOW MR. KLAUS'S PARTY IS LIKELY TO GET 25 TO 30-PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE MAY 31ST AND JUNE FIRST ELECTION. ITS CLOSEST RIVAL IS THE OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH HAS GAINED STRENGTH IN THE PAST YEAR, AND IS PROJECTED TO GET 15 TO 20-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. THE TWO SMALLER PARTIES IN THE COALITION HAVE RISEN SLIGHTLY IN POPULARITY SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

ANALYSTS SAY VOTERS CREDIT THE CENTER-RIGHT COALITION WITH PURSUING SENSIBLE POLICIES THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED THE ECONOMY AND PRODUCED TWO-CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF ACCELERATING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. THE MONEY IS STABLE. THE BUDGET IS IN SURPLUS. INFLATION IS BELOW 10-PERCENT. AND SURVEYS SHOW PEOPLE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE CHANGES AND BELIEVE THEIR LIVES WILL IMPROVE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. MOST PARTIES SHARE THE GOALS OF CZECH INTEGRATION INTO WESTERN INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

IF THE KLAUS COALITION IS RETURNED TO POWER, IT WILL THE FIRST TIME CONSERVATIVE PARTIES FAVORING RAPID ECONOMIC REFORM WILL HAVE WON SUCCESSIVE ELECTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE. ALTOGETHER NEARLY 20 PARTIES ARE CONTESTING THE ELECTION, BUT ONLY SIX ARE EXPECTED TO GET THE FIVE-PERCENT OF THE VOTE NEEDED TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT. THERE ARE EIGHT PARTIES IN THE OUTGOING PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/JWH/RAE
02-May-96 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EGYPT / TURKEY (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AMR MOUSSA IS IN ANKARA FOR TALKS ABOUT A NEW TURKISH AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL WANTS TO DISCUSS TURKEY'S DECISION TO ALLOW ISRAELI AIR FORCE TRAINING AND FLYING RIGHTS IN TURKEY.

TEXT: EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER WANTS TO SMOOTH OVER RELATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RUFFLED BY TURKEY'S MILITARY AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL.

A HIGH-RANKING TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL WAS IN CAIRO TWO WEEKS AGO TO EXPLAIN THE AGREEMENT AND DISPEL FEARS THAT ISRAEL COULD HAVE ACCESS TO NEW BASES FOR STRIKES AGAINST OTHER ARAB STATES.

THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN TURKISH AIR SPACE. TURKEY SAYS IT DOES NOT INCLUDE BASE RIGHTS FOR ISRAELI WARPLANES. TURKEY HAS SIMILAR AGREEMENTS WITH 16 OTHER NATIONS AND INSISTS IT IS NOT AIMED AGAINST ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION.

THE EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DISCUSS IMPROVING TRADE TIES AND COOPERATION WITHIN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN INITIATIVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/JWH
02-May-96 5:26 AM EDT (0926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] NATO EXPANSION (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS WITH BULGARIAN LEADERS IN SOFIA AFTER AN OVERNIGHT VISIT TO ALBANIA. SOFIA IS MR. SOLANA'S LATEST STOP ON HIS TRIP TO FORMER EUROPEAN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO JOIN NATO. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: MR. SOLANA MET FIRST WITH PRIME MINISTER ZHAN VIDENOV AND WITH THE BULGARIAN DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS. THEY DISCUSSED THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND RELATIONS BETWEEN BULGARIA AND NATO.

THE BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL ALSO OUTLINED HOW NATO'S EXPANSION PLANS WOULD FIT INTO A POST-COLD WAR EUROPEAN SECURITY SYSTEM.

BULGARIA JOINED NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM IN 1994. THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT, FORMER DISSIDENT ZHELYU ZHELEV, WANTS BULGARIA TO BECAME A FULL MEMBER OF NATO.

BUT PRIME MINISTER VIDENOV'S SOCIALIST PARTY, MADE UP OF FORMER COMMUNISTS, FEARS NATO MEMBERSHIP WOULD DEEPLY ANTAGONIZE RUSSIA. DURING COMMUNIST RULE, BULGARIA WAS PERHAPS THE SOVIET UNION'S CLOSEST ALLY.

AS SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA MET WITH GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE PROTESTED IN SOFIA AGAINST BULGARIA'S POSSIBLE NATO MEMBERSHIP.

BULGARIA IS NOT ONE OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES TO JOIN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. THE COUNTRY'S INTERNAL DIVISIONS OVER THE ISSUE WILL CLEARLY HURT ITS MEMBERSHIP PROSPECTS.

THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL FLEW TO SOFIA FROM THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA. ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA CALLED MR. SOLANA'S OVERNIGHT VISIT THERE A LANDMARK IN THE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE.

ALBANIA JOINED NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM IN 1995 AND HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING FULL NATO MEMBERSHIP.

NATO HAS NOT SAID WHICH OF THE FORMER COMMUNIST STATES IN EUROPE WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE FIRST OR WHEN ITS ENLARGEMENT WILL BEGIN.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN STRONGLY OPPOSES NATO'S EXPANSION. ALLIANCE LEADERS DENY THAT THE ENLARGEMENT PROCESS IS BEING HELD UP BECAUSE OF HIS OBJECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/WC/MH/GPT
02-May-96 2:01 PM EDT (1801 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] YUGO WAR CRIMES (S ONLY-CORRECTED) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE MUSLIM-LED BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ARRESTED TWO MUSLIMS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE MUSLIMS ARE ACCUSED OF MURDERING ETHNIC SERBS IN A PRISON CAMP IN 1992. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IDENTIFIES THE DETAINED MUSLIMS IN BOSNIA AS HAZIM DELIC AND ESAD LANDZO.

A TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANY OF THE PARTIES TO THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT HAS EXECUTED AN ARREST WARRANT ISSUED BY THE TRIBUNAL.

THE TWO MUSLIMS WERE INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL IN LATE MARCH FOR ALLEGEDLY MURDERING SERBS IN A BOSNIAN ARMY PRISON CAMP IN CENTRAL BOSNIA IN 1992.

THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTED TWO OTHERS -- A MUSLIM AND A CROAT -- IN MARCH IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED WAR CRIMES AT THE SAME CAMP.

THE CROAT (ZRAVKO MUCIC) IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE CAMP COMMANDER. HE WAS EXTRADITED FROM AUSTRIA TO THE HAGUE IN APRIL. THE FOURTH ALLEGED SUSPECT (ZEJNIL DELALIC) IS BEING HELD IN GERMANY. HE IS EXPECTED TO BE EXTRADITED TO THE HAGUE SOON.

THE TRIBUNAL'S FIRST WAR CRIMES TRIAL WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK. THE DEFENDANT WILL BE A BOSNIAN SERB, DUSAN TADIC. HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/WC/MH/GPT
02-May-96 1:29 PM EDT (1729 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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