Voice of America, 31 May 1996

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBANIA/ELECTION (S ONLY) UPDATE BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[05] U-N / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

[06] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

[07] U-S/SERBIA TALKS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

[08] U-S / YUGO (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

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

INTRO: IN THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS, LIKUD'S LEADER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER. THAT STORY DOMINATES U-S EDITORIAL PAGES AS MAY FADES INTO MEMORY. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE; THE DEBATE OVER THE TAX CUT; A DECISION ON THE VIETNAM WAR CHEMICAL AGENT ORANGE; A SNUB TO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS; AND THE FIRST MAJOR MILITARY RESPONSE TO THE AIRCRASH THAT KILLED COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN.

TEXT: OVERWHELMINGLY, THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN MANY PAPERS DEALS WITH THE ISRAELI ELECTION, AND THE CHANGES IN ISRAELI POLITICS THAT MAY COME. THE EDITORIALS WE ARE QUOTING TODAY WERE ALL WRITTEN WHILE THE VOTES WERE STILL BEING COUNTED, PRIOR TO MR. NETANYAHU BEING NAMED THE WINNER. TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "... THE ELECTION WILL HAVE CHANGED THE PICTURE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ISRAEL, AND THE NEW DISPENSATION WILL PUT THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S DIPLOMATIC SKILL AND STRENGTH TO THE TEST."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS THIS REACTION TO THE VOTING:

VOICE: "... ONE RESULT IS ALREADY CLEAR. ISRAEL LACKS A NATIONAL CONSENSUS ABOUT ITS APPROACH TO PEACE AND ITS PLACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. [OPT] MANAGING THE DIVERGENT CLAIMS AND EXPECTATIONS OF A DIVIDED ELECTORATE WILL REQUIRE SENSITIVE AND SKILLFUL LEADERSHIP IN THE WEEKS AHEAD THAT SEEKS TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES AND EMPHASIZE COMON INTERESTS." [END OPT]

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WARNS BOTH THE PEACE PROCESS ITSELF, AND ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON MAY BE IN FOR DRAMATIC CHANGE.

VOICE: "IN HIS FIRST RESPONSE ... [PRESIDENT BILL] CLINTON SPOKE OF AMERICA'S ENDURING SUPPORT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE ISRAELI PEOPLE AND FOR ADVANCING THE PEACE PROCESS. IN THE U-S VIEW THE TWO ARE INDIVISIBLY LINKED. [MR.] NETANYAHU AND HIS SUPPORTERS BELIEVE OTHERWISE. U-S - ISRAELI RELATIONS MAY BE HEADING FOR ANOTHER PERIOD OF HEATED POLITICAL CONTROVERSY."

TEXT: ELSEWHERE, THE BOSTON GLOBE EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: "IT APPEARS THAT NOT QUITE ENOUGH ISRAELIS WERE WILLING TO EMBRACE THE VISION OF SHIMON PERES AND THE ASSASSINATED YITZHAK RABIN. .... THERE WERE ALWAYS DOUBTS AND UNCERTAINTIES, AND [MR.] NETANYAHU PLAYED UPON THEM ALL. IMMEASURABLY AIDED BY HAMAS SUICIDE BOMBERS EARLIER IN THE YEAR, ISRAELI'S LIKUD PARTY SEEKS TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON THE PEACE PROCESS THAT [MR.] PERES AND [MR.] RABIN BEGAN. ..... HOWEVER, [MR.] NETANYAHU'S NARROW VICTORY CANNOT BE TAKEN AS A MANDATE FOR DISMANTLING THE OSLO ACCORD....."

TEXT: WHILE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE THOUSANDS OF U-S JEWS ARE WATCHING EVENTS WITH GREAT INTEREST, THE MIAMI HERALD SUGGESTS THE MECHANICS OF THE COMING COALITION GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL WILL BE COMPLEX.

VOICE: "COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS SEPARATE PARTIES 'ENTWINED IN AN INIMICAL EMBRACE LIKE FIGHTING SERPENTS.' AS IN MOST OF ITS PRESENT HISTORY, ISRAEL WILL BE RULED BY A GOVERNMENT FORMED BY THE 'INIMICAL EMBRACE' OF ENTITIES WITH CONFLICTING INTERESTS. ..... GIVEN ISRAEL'S SECURITY NEEDS AND ITS NATIONAL DEBATE OVER THE PEACE PROCESS, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WILL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO BOTH TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS - - DESPITE THE 'INIMICAL EMBRACE' THAT BRINGS THE COALITION TO LIFE."

TEXT: WHILE THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WRITES THIS ABOUT MR. NETANYAHU:

VOICE: "IT IS TEMPTING TO HOPE THAT THE SHAKINESS OF HIS APPARENT VICTORY MIGHT TEMPER HIS OPPOSITION [TO THE PEACE PROCESS]. HE IS A PRAGMATIC POLITICIAN, WHO DREW SUPPORT NOT ONLY FROM HARD-LINERS, BUT FROM ORDINARY ISRAELIS WHO FELT THEY COULD NOT TRUST MR. PERES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. IT'S TEMPTING ALSO TO HOPE THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON .... WILL USE HIS CLOUT [POWER] TO PERSUADE MR. NETANYAHU NOT TO TURN HIS NATION'S BACK ON GENUINE NEGOTIATION. TEMPTING BUT NOT, ON THIS SOUR MORNING, VERY CONVINCING."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ANALYZES THE VOTE THIS WAY:

VOICE: "..... THIS ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS A REJECTION OF THE PEACE PROCESS AS A WHOLE, BUT AS A REJECTION OF THE KIND OF PEACE PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT ISRAEL INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN AID. IF MR. NETANYAHU FOLLOWS THROUGH ON HIS PROMISES, ISRAEL MAY HAVE PEACE BASED ON ITS OWN ECONOMIC AND MILITARY STRENGTH."

[BEGIN OPT]

TEXT: TURNING BRIEFLY TO OTHER TOPICS, TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS IT IS "TOO SOON TO TALK [ABOUT A] TAX CUT," ADDING:

VOICE: "IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, SO TALK OF TAX CUTS IS IN THE AIR. U-S SENATOR BOB DOLE REPORTEDLY MAY PROPOSE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD INCOME-TAX CUT OF AS MUCH AS 15 PERCENT, IN HOPES THAT THE IDEA WILL JUMP-START HIS SLOWLY DEVELOPING CAMPAIGN. THE POLITICAL APPEAL OF SUCH A STEP IS OBVIOUS ..... BUT VOTERS AND CANDIDATES ALIKE HAVE A LARGER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER THE INTERESTS OF THE NATION AS A WHOLE. BY THAT MEASURE, A LARGE TAX CUT WOULD BE DISASTROUS."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST DISCUSSES THE CONTROVERSIAL DEFOLIANT "AGENT ORANGE," SPRAYED BY THE U-S MILITARY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, AND THE MANY RELATED ILLNESSES IT HAS APPARENTLY CAUSED SERVICEMEN SINCE. THE POST SAYS THE NEWEST BENEFIT TO SUFFERING VETERANS, REGARDING PROSTATE CANCER COMPENSATION, IS A BAD MOVE.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED ..... THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS CONFERRING A BROAD NEW BENEFIT ON VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS. IT DID SO ON THE NARROWEST OF BASES. AIDES DEFEND THE DECISION, SAYING IT WAS MADE ON THE MERITS AND WAS NOT POLITICAL. BUT THE MERITS ARE SHAKY AT BEST. IT DOES THEM [VETERANS] LITTLE GOOD TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE BEING USED AS POLITICAL COIN. BUT THAT IS THE IMPRESSION ... THE WHITE HOUSE ... LEFT THE OTHER DAY. "

TEXT: DEALING WITH A SNUB TO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS, WHO WAS FIRST INVITED, THEN DISINVITED, AND NOW HAS BEEN RE-INVITED TO SPEAK AT A SCHOOL AWARDS CEREMONY IN SUBURBAN MARYLAND, THE BALTIMORE SUN ASKS:

VOICE: "THIS EVENT ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THEIR [THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS'] PERSONAL POLITICAL PEEVES [FRUSTRATIONS]. ..... WE HOPE HE [JUSTICE THOMAS] EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR THE FREE PLAY OF IDEAS IN A DEMOCRACY BY RE-ACCEPTING AN INVITATION THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN."

TEXT: AND COMMENTING ON THE REMOVAL OF THREE HIGH-RANKING U-S AIR FORCE OFFICERS IN THE WAKE OF THE CRASH OF A MILITARY PLANE CARRYING U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN IN CROATIA, THE NEWSPAPER USA TODAY, NOTES:

VOICE: "THE FORCED REMOVAL OF A UNIT'S TOP THREE LEADERS IS EXTRAORDINARY IN MILITARY CIRCLES. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE PENTAGON'S EXPLANATION [FOR THE MOVES] .... REVEALS ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT WHAT ROLE THEY PLAYED IN EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE APRIL 3 CRASH. IN FACT, IT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERS."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINIONS FROM AROUND THE NATION THIS FRIDAY.
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31-May-96 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA/ELECTION (S ONLY) UPDATE BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ABOUT 100 OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IN ALBANIA HAVE BEGUN A HUNGER STRIKE. THEY ARE PROTESTING WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES IN THE COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTION. THE EUROPEAN UNION EARLIER JOINED CALLS FOR NEW ELECTIONS IN THE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES WHERE INTERNATIONAL MONITORS REPORTED SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS FROM VIENNA.

TEXT: THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATES ON A HUNGER STRIKE WANT ALBANIA'S GENERAL ELECTION LAST SUNDAY TO BE REPEATED. THEY ARE ALSO CALLING ON VOTERS TO BOYCOTT A SECOND ROUND OF BALLOTING WHICH THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WILL BE HELD AS PLANNED THIS SUNDAY.

THE OPPOSITION COMPLAINS THAT THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED TO GUARANTEE THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S OFFICIALLY DECLARED OVERWHELMING VICTORY.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE HAVE PROPOSED NEW VOTING IN CONSTITUENCIES WHERE INTERNATIONAL MONITORS REPORTED SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES.

ALBANIA'S ELECTION COMMISSION IS OFFERING TO REPEAT THE ELECTION IN ONLY THREE CONSTITUENCIES.

DESPITE INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF THE WAY THE BALLOTING WAS HELD, ALBANIA HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AS A FULL MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE, A NON-POLITICAL REGIONAL FORUM. BUT, PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S HOPES OF MOVING ALBANIA MUCH CLOSER TO THE WEST COULD BE SET BACK IF HE IGNORES EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN CONCERN ABOUT THE ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT ELECTION. (SIGNED)
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31-May-96 2:43 PM EDT (1843 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE STOPPED U-N VEHICLES IN BOSNIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED LAST DECEMBER. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE INCIDENT HAS WORSENED ALREADY TENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND BOSNIAN SERBS ABOUT SERB OBSTRUCTION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR REFUGEES IN BOSNIA, THE U-N'S HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES -- U-N-H-C-R -- HAS PROVIDED BUSES TO TAKE CIVILIANS ACROSS INTER-ETHNIC BOUNDARY LINES IN SEVERAL PLACES IN BOSNIA.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS ONE OF THE BUSES WAS STOPPED BY BOSNIAN SERB POLICE IN CENTRAL BOSNIA AND REFUSED PERMISSION TO PASS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A U-N-H-C-R VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK AT A BOSNIAN SERB CHECKPOINT SINCE DAYTON.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE ALSO DENIED FURTHER ACCESS TO SIMILAR BUSES CROSSING ETHNIC LINES AROUND SARAJEVO.

WHAT REPUBLIKA SRPSKA OPPOSES IS ANYTHING THAT WOULD BRING THOSE TWO SOCIETIES TOGETHER. THERE IS COMPLETE HOSTILITY TO ALL THAT.

MR. JANOWSKI ALSO SAYS BOSNIAN SERBS ARE CONTINUING TO USE THREATS AND HARASSMENT TO ETHNICALLY CLEANSE MUSLIMS AND CROATS FROM THE AREA AROUND TESLIC IN NORTHERN BOSNIA. HE SAYS THE ACTIONS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE BROUGHT BACK "PAINFUL" MEMORIES OF THE FOUR YEARS OF WAR IN BOSNIA. SO FAR, NATO AND THE U-N POLICE -- KNOWN AS THE I-P-T-F -- HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS AROUND TESLIC, AND NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK, SAYS NATO IS MERELY INVESTIGATING.

WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY DOING ANYTHING SPECIFIC APART FROM CHECKING OUT THE STORIES AND THE INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS REPORTED TO BE HAPPENING THERE. BUT, AS EVER, WE STAND READY TO ASSIST THE U-N-H-C-R AND THE I-P-T-F IF THEY REQUEST ANY THING SPECIFIC.

OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THE INCIDENTS ARE PART OF THE ONGOING AND ESCALATING BATTLE BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE BOSNIAN SERB'S LEADERSHIP, LED BY RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. A SENIOR AMERICAN ENVOY, JOHN KORNBLUM, IS EXPECTED IN THE REGION THIS WEEKEND TO ADD FURTHER EMPHASIS TO EFFORTS TO FORCE MR. KARADZIC TO STEP DOWN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/CF
31-May-96 8:45 AM EDT (1245 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT THE UNITED NATIONS' WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, A SUSPECT HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGE AGFAINST HIM. THE MAN IS ALSO THE FIRST PARTICIPANT IN THE ALLEGED MASS KILLINGS NEAR THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF SREBRENICA TO APPEAR BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL. AS GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN ARE STILL MISSING SINCE BOSNIAN SERBS TOOK OVER THE AREA LAST JULY.

TEXT: DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC LOOKED YOUNGER THAN HIS 24 YEARS AS HE STOOD TO ANSWER THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. "I HAVE ALREADY TOLD MY LAWYER," HE SAID, "THAT I AM GUILTY."

HE ADMITTED TAKING PART IN THE MURDER OF HUNDREDS OF UN-ARMED MUSLIM MEN IN JULY, 1995. THE MEN, WHO HAD ALREADY SURRENDERED, WERE TAKEN OFF BUSES IN GROUPS OF TENS, LINED UP IN ROWS AND SHOT IN THE BACK.

MR. ERDEMOVIC BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AND WAS COMFORTED BY HIS ATTORNEY AS HE SPOKE. "THE HARDEST PART IS OVER," THE LAWYER WHISPERED TO MR. ERDEMOVIC. HE REPLIED, "I JUST CANNOT KEEP QUIET ANY LONGER."

SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE TOLD THE COURT HE FELT HE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TAKE PART IN THE KILLINGS.

YOUR HONOR, I HAD TO DO THIS. IF I HAD REFUSED (TO KILL THE MUSLIM MEN) I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THEY TOLD ME IF YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE MUSLIMS, THEN LINE UP WITH THEM AND WE WILL KILL YOU, TOO. I'M NOT SORRY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY FAMILY, MY WIFE AND CHILD. I COULDN'T REFUSE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED ME.

MR. ERDEMOVIC WAS SENT BY THE BELGRADE AUTHORITIES TO THE HAGUE IN MARCH AS A POSSIBLE WITNESS TO EVENTS IN SREBRENICA. A TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE HAS ALREADY GIVEN USEFUL EVIDENCE IN THE CASE AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. THEY ARE HELD TO BE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS AT SREBRENICA, AND THEY FACE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE.

WHILE THE TWO MEN WILL REMAIN FREE, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, MR. ERDEMOVIC WILL BE HELD AT THE U-N DETENTION CENTER IN THE HAGUE FOR SENTENCING. HE WILL UNDERGO PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS BY SEVERAL EXPERTS. HIS LAWYER, JOVAN BABIC, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAID IT IS VITAL THAT THE EXPERTS INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE PERSON FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES IS THAT THERE ARE VERY MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED VERY GRAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMAS, AND WHO SIMPLY CANNOT ADJUST TO THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

THE TRIBUNAL JUDGE AGREED WITH MR. BABIC, AND SAID MR. ERDEMOVIC WILL BE EXAMINED BY BOTH DUTCH AND YUGOSLAV EXPERTS.

THE DEFENSE HAS ASKED FOR THE TRIBUNAL'S HELP IN FINDING A MUSLIM WITNESS WHO, THE DEFENSE SAYS, WAS SAVED BY MR. ERDEMOVIC. SENTENCE WILL BE PASSED AT A HEARING IN JULY. ALTHOUGH THE MAXIMUM PENALTY COULD BE LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MR. ERDEMOVIC, JUDGES AT THE TRIBUNAL ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF HIS COOPERATION IN PASSING SENTENCE. (SIGNED)
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31-May-96 8:39 AM EDT (1239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-N / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)

INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES TO HONOR KEY ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN. MORE MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN EXPELLED FROM ONE SERB-HELD DISTRICT IN NORTHERN BOSNIA, IN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED A NEW ACT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. AND SERB AUTHORITIES ARE BLOCKING A U-N SPONSORED BUS SERVICE FROM SERB TERRITORY TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS THERE WAS SHARP CRITICISM OF SERB LEADERS FRIDAY FROM THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES.

TEXT: SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAYS AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE, INCLUDING CROATS AND GYPSIES AS WELL AS BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, HAVE FLED VILLAGES AROUND THE NORTHERN TOWN OF TESLIC OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS -- AS A RESULT OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION BY ARMED GANGS OF SERBS.

THE HARASSMENT RANGES FROM TELEPHONE THREATS TO PERSONAL ATTACKS, SUCH AS BEATINGS AND EXPLOSIVES BEING THROWN INTO HOMES. THE ATTACKS ARE PRIMARILY CONCENTRATED IN FOUR VILLAGES RIGHT AROUND TESLIC. ONE OF THESE VILLAGES WHICH HAD A POPULATION OF ABOUT 114 MUSLIMS LAST MARCH NOW HAS A MERE 28.

BOSNIA'S MUSLIM PRIME MINISTER, HASSAN MURATOVIC, PUTS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPELLED AT MORE THAN 300. AND HE TOLD REPORTERS IN SARAJEVO THE EXPULSIONS SHOW THAT HARDLINE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS ARE TRYING TO OBSTRUCT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN.

THE U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN SAID BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO (IGNORED) THE EXPULSIONS WHICH HE SAID CAN BE DESCRIBED ONLY AS ETHNIC CLEANSING -- THE FIRST INCIDENT OF ITS KIND SINCE THE DAYTON ACCORD WAS SIGNED LAST NOVEMBER.

MR. REDMOND ALSO COMPLAINED THAT SERB LEADERS HAVE GONE BACK ON A PLEDGE TO ALLOW THE U-N-H-C-R TO RUN A PASSENGER BUS SERVICE BETWEEN BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION.

THE U-N AGENCY HAD LAUNCHED THE SERVICE ON THREE SEPARATE ROUTES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN BOSNIA AND AROUND SARAJEVO. BUT MR. REDMOND SAID LOCAL SERB AUTHORITIES HAVE BLOCKED ALL THREE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OBSTACLES TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE RENEWED HARASSMENT OF MINORITIES HAVE RAISED FRESH CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF RESTORING BOSNIA'S MULTI-ETHNIC CHARACTER, AS ENVISIONED IN THE PEACE PLAN.

TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE INCIDENTS PAINFULLY REMIND US OF THE SORTS OF OBSTACLES AND ABUSES THAT U-N-H-C-R HAD T0 FACE ON THE GROUND DURING THE NEARLY FOUR YEARS OF WAR. THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND CHECKPOINT BLOCKAGES. SO ALL IN ALL, THIS BRINGS BACK SOME VERY BAD MEMORIES.

U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS ACCUSE SERB LEADERS OF RENEGING ON COMMITMENTS MADE DURING HIGH COMMISSIONER SADAKO OGATA'S VISIT TO BOSNIA AT THE BEGINING OF MAY. (SIGNED)
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31-May-96 9:51 AM EDT (1351 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR AN END TO FIGHTING IN LIBERIA, WHERE THE LATEST PEACE ACCORD IS IN JEOPARDY; IT ALSO SUSPENDS VOTER REGISTRATION IN WESTERN SAHARA, AS MOROCCO AND ITS ARCH-RIVAL, POLISARIO FRONT, ARGUE OVER WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN A LONG-POSTPONED REFERENDUM; GHANA SIGNS AN AGREEMENT ON STAND-BY ARRANGEMENTS FOR U-N PEACEKEEPING; AND, JAPAN EASES THE U-N'S FINANCIAL CRISIS BY MAKING FULL PAYMENT OF ITS 1996 DUES. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL URGED THE WARRING FACTIONS IN LIBERIA TO REVIVE THEIR MORIBUND PEACE ACCORD, LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND MAKE SOME POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION FOR THE SAKE OF THE WAR-WEARY LIBERIAN POPULATION. TEN-THOUSAND WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS HAVE STRUGGLED TO END NEW FIGHTING THAT ERUPTED APRIL SIXTH.

LIBERIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR WILLIAM BULL CONCEDED THE SITUATION IS BAD. BUT HE NOTED THAT THE WEST AFRICAN FORCE -- POORLY FINANCED AND SUPPLIED -- HAS SHOULDERED THE RESPONSIBLITY FOR PEACEKEEPING THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD HAVE ASSUMED. HE CALLED FOR A LARGE INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO HELP THE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPERS.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS NOT LIKELY TO CREATE A NEW MILITARY OPERATION. BUT AT WEEK'S END, IT RENEWED THE SMALL U-N MISSION IN LIBERIA FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS -- WARNING LIBERIA THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MIGHT PULL OUT COMPLETELY IF THE VIOLENCE GETS WORSE.

MOST U-N STAFF IN LIBERIA HAVE BEEN EVACUATED. ONLY FIVE MILITARY OBSERVERS REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY.

-0-

THE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS IN MOROCCAN-CONTROLLED WESTERN SAHARA HAS STALLED. SO, THE SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO END IT FOR NOW. THE COUNCIL ORDERED THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL BUT A HANDFUL OF CIVILIAN POLICE AND CUT A MILITARY OBSERVER FORCE BY 20 PERCENT.

DIPLOMATS SAY THE REDUCTION WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION OF A 1991 CEASE-FIRE THAT ENDED ABOUT 16 YEARS OF WAR BETWEEN MOROCCO AND THE POLISARIO FRONT. HOWEVER, A REFERENDUM ON THE FATE OF THE FORMER SPANISH COLONY -- FIRST SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY, 1992 -- HAS BEEN PUT OFF AGAIN. VOTERS IN WESTERN SAHARA WOULD BE GIVEN A CHOICE BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND INCORPORATION INTO MOROCCO.

THE POLISARIO HAS ACCUSED MOROCCO OF TRYING TO LOAD THE VOTER LISTS IN ITS FAVOR. MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND APPLICATIONS ARE STILL WAITING TO BE PROCESSED.

-0-

FIFTY-FIVE GOVERNMENTS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING A U-N PROGRAM FOR STAND-BY ARRANGEMENTS ON PEACEKEEPING. BUT ONLY THREE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE COMMITMENTS. GHANA THIS PAST WEEK BECAME THE THIRD COUNTRY PLEDGING TO PUT RESOURCES ON RESERVE, INCLUDING TROOPS, WHICH THE U-N COULD USE TO LAUNCH NEW MISSIONS. JORDAN AND DENMARK HAD SIGNED UP EARLIER.

STAND-BY ARRANGMENTS WERE CREATED IN 1994 AS A WAY OF FILLING THE THREE-TO-SIX MONTH GAP BETWEEN AUTHORIZATION OF A NEW OPERATION AND FULL DEPLOYMENT BY STANDARD METHODS OF RECRUITMENT. HOWEVER, THE AGREEMENT IS NOT UNCONDITIONAL. GOVERNMENTS CAN DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE OR NOT IN RESPONSE TO EACH CALL FOR HELP.

CRITICS HAVE SAID THE U-N LOST CONTROL OVER CONFLICTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND IN AFRICA BY TAKING MUCH TOO LONG TO RAISE TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT.

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JAPAN THIS PAST WEEK MADE A SIZEABLE DENT IN THE U-N'S CASH CRISIS. AFTER DELAYS DUE TO NATIONAL BUDGET PROBLEMS, JAPAN PAID ITS FULL SHARE OF THIS YEAR'S U-N DUES -- NEARLY 170-MILLION DOLLARS. JAPAN IS THE SECOND LARGEST U-N CONTRIBUTOR, AFTER THE UNITED STATES.

A TUG-OF-WAR OVER THE U-S BUDGET BETWEEN THE U-S CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PREVENTED THE UNITED STATES FROM MEETING ITS OWN OBLIGATIONS ON TIME. IT REMAINS THE U-N'S BIGGEST DEBTOR. ONLY 65 OF THE U-N'S 185 MEMBERS HAVE PAID THEIR DUES. (SIGNED)
UN/EJ/CF
31-May-96 12:21 PM EDT (1621 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/SERBIA TALKS (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS EXPRESSING GROWING IMPATIENCE OVER THE FAILURE OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO MOVE AGAINST TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS FACING WAR CRIMES INDICTMENTS. A SENIOR U-S ENVOY HAD AN UNPRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH MR. MILOSEVIC ON THE ISSUE IN BELGRADE FRIDAY. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE ADMINISTRATION IS WARNING THE PARTIES TO THE DAYTON ACCORDS -- BUT ESPECIALLY SERB LEADERS -- THAT THE PEACE PROCESS COULD BE DERAILED IF BOSNIAN SERB FIGURES RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC ARE NOT PUSHED TO THE SIDELINES BEFORE ELECTIONS IN THE FALL.

ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM HELD WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED A "VERY DIFFICULT" MEETING WITH MR. MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE -- A PRELUDE TO SUNDAY'S U-S-ORGANIZED SUMMIT ON BOSNIA IN GENEVA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAID THE SERB LEADER HAS RENEGED ON REPEATED ASSURANCES THAT THE TWO INDICTED BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD DISAPPEAR FROM THE SCENE:

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILIY OF THE BOSNIAN SERB POPULATION AND LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP, TO MARGINALIZE THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY ARE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACTS, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO RELY ON WORDS.

MR. BURNS SAID SHORT OF BEING TURNED OVER TO WAR CRIMES PROSECUTORS, THE TWO SERB LEADERS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTIONS, EXPECTED IN MID-SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
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31-May-96 5:02 PM EDT (2102 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S / YUGO (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY JOHN KORNBLUM HAS AGAIN DISCUSSED THE TROUBLED PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS MR. KORNBLUM SAYS HE OBTAINED FRESH ASSURANCES FROM MR. MILOSEVIC THAT THE HARDLINE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC WILL GIVE UP HIS POWER.

TEXT: MR. KORNBLUM SAYS HE TOLD PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IT SHOULD BE MADE VERY CLEAR THAT RADOVAN KARADZIC IS NOT IN POWER AND HAS NO LEADERSHIP ROLE.

ACCORDING TO MR. KORNBLUM, PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ASSURED HIM THAT HE WOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT MR. KARADZIC IS GIVING UP HIS POWER.

THE U-S ENVOY SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP MUST BE FULLY COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. HE SAYS SERB LEADERS MUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN SEPTEMBER.

MR. KORNBLUM RETURNED TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FOR A FINAL ROUND OF VISITS TO BELGRADE, ZAGREB, AND SARAJEVO PRIOR TO HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON BOSNIA.

U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL DISCUSS PROBLEMS FACING THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS WITH THE SERBIAN, BOSNIAN, AND CROATIAN PRESIDENTS IN GENEVA ON SUNDAY. (SIGNED)
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31-May-96 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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