Voice of America, 4 June 1996

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

CONTENTS

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

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

[03] BRITAIN BEEF (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (LUXEMBOURG)

[04] CONGRESS-NATO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

[05] EUROPE SPACE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[06] NATO-RUSSIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BERLIN)

[07] U-S/NATO EXPANSION (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

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

INTRO: AS THE U-S PRESS COMMENTARY ON THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS BEGINS TO SUBSIDE, EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE SPEAKING OUT ON A WIDER RANGE OF TOPICS THIS TUESDAY. WHILE SOME PAPERS COMMENT ON THE NEW ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S FIRST SPEECH, OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE UPCOMING BOSNIAN ELECTIONS; THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION OF THE VALUJET AIRLINER CRASH IN FLORIDA; A SURPRISE IN THE CZECH ELECTIONS, AND THE TIANANMEN SQUARE ANNIVERSARY IN CHINA. NOW, _____________ HAS SOME QUOTES FROM TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: CONCERN CONTINUES TO GROW AMONG U-S EDITORIAL WRITERS ABOUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AS THE WAR-TORN LAND PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST ELECTION SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES, IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, CALLS ON THE WEST TO "PROTECT BOSNIA'S ELECTION."

VOICE: "IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL NOT BE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR FREE AND FAIR NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA [HERZEGOVINA] COME SEPTEMBER. IT IS EQUALLY APPARENT THAT THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES WITH TROOPS IN BOSNIA HAVE NO DESIRE TO POSTPONE THAT ELECTION DATE. DELAY WOULD MEAN THAT NATO WOULD HAVE TO END ITS MILITARY MISSION WITHOUT ELECTIONS OR POSTPONE ITS WITHDRAWAL UNTIL NEXT YEAR OR LATER. ...BUT THE PROSPECTS FOR MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS ARE NOW THREATENED BY ORGANIZED CAMPAIGNS OF INTIMIDATION WAGED BY THE VARIOUS ETHNIC NATIONALIST PARTIES DOMINATING THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS..."

TEXT: FOR ITS PART, THE WASHINGTON POST IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES, BOTH OF WHOM SEEM DETERMINED TO HANG ON TO POWER.

VOICE: "THE UNITED STATES IS STEPPING UP THE PRESSURE TO REMOVE THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC'S DEFIANT LEADERS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC, WHO RETAIN AND FALUNT THEIR POWER DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS DENY THEM A PLACE IN THEIR LITTLE FIEFDOM'S POLITICAL FUTURE. THIS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT... BUT AT THE SAME TIME WASHINGTON IS OPENING UP A LOOPHOLE BIG ENOUGH TO LET THESE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS SLIP THROUGH, IF THEY CAN ONLY HANG ON FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS."

TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION TODAY LOOKS AT A RELATED TOPIC -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S IGNORING IRANIAN ARMS SALES TO BOSNIA'S MUSLIM GOVERNMENT AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR, IN DEFIANCE OF A U-N EMBARGO. THE PAPER CALLS THE MATTER "THE IRAN SCANDAL THAT WASN'T," SUGGESTING THAT REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS GROUNDLESS.

VOICE: "[PRESIDENT] CLINTON ALREADY HAD CALLED FOR AN END TO THE EMBARGO, AS HAD SENATOR BOB DOLE, HIS EVENTUAL G-O-P CHALLENGER. CONGRESS ITSELF VOTED IN FAVOR OF STOPPING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE U-N EMBARGO ON BOSNIA... BY NOT INTERFERING, THE UNITED STATES ALLOWED THE BOSNIANS TO SAVE THEIR BESIEGED CAPITAL, SARAJEVO... HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE BARKING UP A BARREN TREE [IF THEY TRY TO EMBARRAS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS ACQUIESENCE IN THE WEAPONS SHIPMENTS.]"

TEXT: TURNING TO THE INQUIRY INTO LAST MONTH'S VALUJET AIRLINER CRASH IN FLORIDA, USA TODAY SAYS ENOUGH IS KNOWN ALREADY TO MAKE AIRLINE TRAVEL SAFER:

VOICE: "THREE WEEKS AFTER VALUJET FLIGHT 592 DISINTEGRATED IN THE ... EVERGLADES, SEARCHERS ARE FINDING ONE BURNED CHEMICAL OXYGEN GENERATOR AFTER ANOTHER AROUND THE WATERY CRATER WHERE 110 PEOPLE DIED. INVESTIGATORS DON'T KNOW IF THE GENERATORS -- WHICH HEAT UP TO [MORE THAN] 286 DEGREES [CELSIUS] WHEN ACTIVATED -- CAUSED THE FIRE THAT DOOMED [THE] FLIGHT ... BUT THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS SEEN ENOUGH TO BELIEVE OTHERS MAY BE IN DANGER... THE FLIGHT PROVES ALL TOO TRAGICALLY WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH THE CURRENT SAFETY CHECKS [OF HAZARDOUS CARGO]."

TEXT: IN GEORGIA, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, SAYS THAT AIRLINE "WHISTLE-BLOWERS" -- THAT IS, EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT SAFETY VIOLATIONS AND OTHER PROBLEMS TO THE AUTHORITIES -- SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY CONGRESS, WHICH THEY CURRENTLY ARE NOT.

VOICE: "AT LEAST A COUPLE OF VALUJET EMPLOYEES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE BEEN TELLING REPORTERS THEY FACED PROBLEMS TRYING TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH... ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT ... SAYS SHE WAS FORCED OUT OF HER JOB AT THE ATLANTA-BASED DISCOUNT AIRLINE FOR 'WHISTLE-BLOWING."

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES IS PRAISING THE MORE CONCILIATORY TONE OF ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER-ELECT, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, IN HIS FIRST POST-ELECTION SPEECH, SAYING HE "MAY BE MORE PRAGMATIC THAN HIS CAMPAIGN ORATORY SUGGESTED." IN A LESS WELL-REPORTED, BUT ALSO SURPRISING, ELECTION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, THE RULING PARTY WAS MAULED BY THE VOTERS, DRAWING THIS COMMENT FROM TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

VOICE: "EUROPE -- WEST AND EAST -- IS MUDDLING ITS WAY TOWARD GREATER UNITY... SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT SITS THE CZECH REPUBLIC. PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS'S GOVERNMENT HAS MANAGED BY FAR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DISMANTLING OF COMMUNISM. FORMER STATE INDUSTRIES ARE NOW 80 PERCENT IN CZECH STOCKHOLDERS' HANDS. UNEMPLOYMENT IS A MERE THREE PERCENT. AND YET VOTERS HAVE JUST REDUCED KLAUS'S MARGIN OF POWER. BUT UNLIKE THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY DID NOT RETURN EX-COMMUNISTS TO POWER. CZECHS SHOULDN'T LET THIS BE MORE THAN A PAUSE IN THEIR MARCH TO REJOIN EUROPE, ECONOMICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE BRAVE CHINESE STUDENTS WHO DIED DEMONSTRATING FOR MORE DEMOCRACY SEVEN YEARS AGO IN THE TIANANMEN SQUARE PROTESTS.

VOICE: "THE SLAUGHTER OF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS SEVEN YEARS AGO IN TIANANMEN SQUARE WAS NOT ONLY A DISPLAY OF BRUTALITY BUT ALSO A SIGN OF THE FATEFUL CONTRADICTIONS HAUNTING A POLITY HALF COMUNIST AND HALF CAPITALIST, HALF CAPTIVE AND HALF FREE... IN A FREE CHINA, 1989 WILL LIKELY BE REMEMBERED AS A PREFIGURATION OF LIBERATION -- A TIME WHEN STUDENT ENTHUSIASTS, IN THRALL TO MAOIST HABITS, HAD THE EFFECT OF PROPPING UP FOR A FEW MORE YEARS THE DOOMED DESPOTS THEY WERE TRYING TO SUPPLANT."

TEXT: LASTLY, SOME STRONG CRITICISM FROM THE WASHINGTON POST FOR BOTH MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, BILL CLINTON AND BOB DOLE, FOR PROPOSING TAX CUTS AS PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. SAYS THE POST:

VOICE: "BOTH MEN KNOW BETTER. THE CANDIDATES ARE MOVING ... AGAINST WHAT WE PERSIST IN REGARDING AS THEIR OWN BETTER INSTINCTS TOWARD A BIDDING WAR ON TAXES... THE CAMPAIGN IS HEADED FOR THE WORST OF REASONS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THEY NEED TO TURN IT AROUND."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
04-Jun-96 10:59 AM EDT (1459 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY ARE NOT CHANGING THEIR DEPLOYMENT PATTERNS IN AN EFFORT TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND OTHER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE REMARKS CONTRADICT STATEMENTS BY SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS AT A BOSNIA SUMMIT GENEVA OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WAR CRIMINALS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MOVE AROUND BOSNIA AS FREELY AS IN THE PAST.

TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT INCREASE PATROLS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB HEADQUARTERS AT PALE OUTSIDE SARAJEVO, OR AT THE BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN AN EFFORT TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF RADOVAN KARADZIC OR THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK, SAYS ONLY THAT SOME NATO TROOPS ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE CONFRONTATION LINE BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED THERE, AND THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER WAR CRIMINALS.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SPECIFIC PATROLS TARGETED ON THAT SPECIFIC TASK. THE POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED, THAT THE VERY NATURE OF OUR DEPLOYMENT WILL MEAN THAT THERE IS A GREATER OPPORTUNITY OF THOSE SORT OF ENCOUNTERS OCCURRING, BECAUSE WE ARE SPREAD OVER A WIDER AREA.

BUT ON SUNDAY IN GENEVA, INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS INDICATED THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN POLICY. THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SAID NATO WOULD STEP UP PATROLS, INCREASING THE CHANCES OF APPREHENDING WAR CRIMINALS. MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID THE OVERALL NATO COMMANDER IN EUROPE HAD CONCURRED WITH THE STRATEGY. CARL BILDT, THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, ALSO SAID THERE WOULD BE NO FREE MOVEMENT ZONES FOR INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS.

DESPITE THIS, THE NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR HASELOCK, SAYS NATO WILL CONTINUE WITH ITS POLICY OF ARRESTING WAR CRIMINALS ONLY IF NATO SOLDIERS HAPPEN TO COME ACROSS THEM.

OUR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS COME FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AND FROM SACEUR, WHICH IS A NATO ORGANISATION, SO ANY SPECIFIC NATIONAL STATEMENTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT DIRECT NATO POLICY.

AFTER ALMOST SIX MONTHS IN BOSNIA, NATO SOLDIERS HAVE YET TO ARREST ANYONE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. OFFICIALS HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF MR. KARADZIC IS POISONING THE PEACE PROCESS HERE. BUT NATO OFFICIALS SAY IF MR. KARADZIC WERE ARRESTED BY NATO SOLDIERS, NATO TROOPS COULD COME UNDER ATTACK FROM ANGRY SERBS.

BUT OBSERVERS SAY THAT WITH THE PEACE PROCESS VIRTUALLY AT A STANDSTILL, NATO MAY BE FORCED TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN PURSUING MR. KARADZIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
04-Jun-96 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BRITAIN BEEF (L-ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (LUXEMBOURG)

INTRO: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND FLIES TO BRUSSELS (TUESDAY) TO PRESENT A BLUEPRINT FOR THE STEP-BY-STEP DISMANTLING OF THE E-U BAN ON BRITISH BEEF EXPORTS. THIS FOLLOWS THE ANNOUNCEMENT LAST NIGHT BY THE E-U FARM COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER THAT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL ITSELF ADOPT A PROPOSAL TO LIFT THE EXPORT ON THREE PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM BEEF GELATIN, TALLOW, AND SEMEN. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM LUXEMBOURG.

TEXT: COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER WAS SPEAKING AFTER EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS FAILED TO RAISE THE SUFFICIENT MAJORITY TO ADOPT HIS PROPOSAL FRO LIFTING THE EUROPEAN UNION'S BAN ON BRITISH EXPORTS OF GELATIN, TALLOW, AND SEMEN.

SIX COUNTRIES VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE -- GERMANY, AUSTRIA, PORTUGAL, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, AND LUXEMBOURG. ONLY SPAIN RALLIED TO SUPPORT IT, CHANGING ITS STANCE FROM A SIMILAR VOTE TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN IT HAD OPPOSED EASING THE BEEF BAN. BECAUSE MORE THAN HALF THE E-U STATES DO SUPPORT THE MEASURE, EUROPEAN UNION RULES ALLOW THE E-U'S CIVIL SERVICE -- THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- TO ADOPT IT -- BUT THIS WILL REQUIRE A BREATHING SPACE, AND WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

BRITAIN HAS MADE THE LIFTING OF THE BAN ON THE THREE PRODUCTS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR ENDING ITS CURRENT POLICY OF NON-COOPERATION WITH THE E-U. THE OTHER IS AGREEMENT ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENDING THE BAN IN ITS ENTIRETY.

A NUMBER OF MEASURES WERE VETOED BY BRITISH MINISTERS AT E-U TALKS IN LUXEMBOURG MONDAY -- INCLUDING NAMING 1997 THE EUROPEAN ANTI-RACISM YEAR, VOICING E-U SUPPORT FOR THE LEBANESE, BACKING WOMEN'S' RIGHTS, FIGHTING FRAUD, AND SUPPORTING THE HOLDING OF ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA.

FURTHER MEASURES ON POLICE COOPERATION ARE TO BE BLOCKED TUESDAY AT ANOTHER EUROPEAN MINISTERS MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG, TO BE ATTENDED BY BRITISH HOME SECRETARY MICHAEL HOWARD. MEANWHILE, MR. RIFKIND FLIES TO BRUSSELS TO MEET E-U COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER TO EXPLAIN THE SECOND CONDITION FOR ENDING THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN OF NON-COOPERATION IN EUROPE. THIS IS THE AGREEMENT BY THE E-U ON A FRAMEWORK FOR THE STEP BY STEP LIFTING OF THE BAN. MEASURES TO BE SOUGHT INCLUDE AN END TO THE BAN AS IT APPLIES TO BEEF EXPORTS OUTSIDE THE E-U, ALLOWING THE EXPORTS OF BRITISH CALVES TO THE E-U WHICH WILL BE BORN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, AND LIFTING THE BAN ON CATTLE FROM B-S-E FREE HERDS (OR CATTLE FREE OF MAD COW DISEASE).

BRITISH FARM MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG DESCRIBE THE DECISION OF THE E-U COMMISSION TO LIFT THE BAN ON GELATINE, TALLOW, AND SEMEN AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT HE WARNED HIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF NON-COOPERATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE BRITISH HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR OBJECTIVES OF AGREEMENT ON A FRAMEWORK FOR LIFTING THE BAN. THE ISSUE IS NOW ALMOST CERTAIN TO DOMINATE THE NEXT E-U SUMMIT IN FLORENCE LATER THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/CB-T/SKH
03-Jun-96 7:47 PM EDT (2347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CONGRESS-NATO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (SENATE)

INTRO: AMERICAN LAWMAKERS ARE MOVING TO HELP THE NATIONS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE JOIN NATO. A BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS (TUESDAY) WOULD OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE COUNTRIES. V-O-A'S SENATE CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: REPUBLICANS SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS WAITED TOO LONG TO HELP ITS FORMER WARSAW PACT ENEMIES BECOME FULL NATO MEMBERS. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE WARNS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS CLOSING. HE ALSO REJECTS SUGGESTIONS A GROWING WESTERN ALLIANCE WOULD THREATEN RUSSIA.

THIS IS A DEFENSIVE ORGANIZATION. IT SHOULD NOT BE PERCIEVED AS ANY THREAT TO RUSSIA. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SENSITIVE QUESTIONS.

THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE 60-MILLION DOLLARS AND SURPLUS MILITARY HARDWARE TO COUNTRIES THE PRESIDENT DECLARES ELIGIBLE, TO HELP THEM MAKE THE TRANSITION TO NATO. POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WOULD QUALIFY RIGHT AWAY. SUPPORTERS SAY THE BALTIC STATES AND MUCH OF EASTERN EUROPE MIGHT ALSO RECEIVE THE AID.

FORMER POLISH PRESIDENT LECH WALESA, WHO WORKED FOR YEARS TO BRING HIS COUNTRY INTO NATO, WELCOMED THE NEW PROPOSAL. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID POLAND'S INTENTIONS ARE PEACEFUL, AND EXPANDING NATO SHOULD EASE TENSIONS.

ENLARGING NATO MEANS PEACE, WHEREAS LEAVING A NO MAN'S LAND IN THE SECURITY ZONE MEANS TURMOIL. (HE) WHO SAYS OTHERWISE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.

SENATOR DOLE PREDICTS THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL PASS THE BILL WITH BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. BUT NO MATTER WHAT CONGRESS DOES, NATO WILL NOT EXPAND UNTIL ALL CURRENT MEMBERS DECIDE THE TIME IS RIGHT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PT
04-Jun-96 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EUROPE SPACE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: A EUROPEAN ROCKET, THE ARIANE-FIVE, DESIGNED TO ENSURE EUROPE'S PLACE IN THE LUCRATIVE SATELLITE-LAUNCHING MARKET, WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND CONTROLLERS ON ITS INAUGURAL MISSION JUST AFTER BLAST-OFF FROM A LAUNCH-PAD IN SOUTH AMERICA. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY BILLED THE NEW ARIANE-FIVE ROCKET AS MORE RELIABLE AND POWERFUL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, THE ARIANE-FOUR BUT, JUST 40 SECONDS AFTER IT WAS LAUNCHED FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM FRANCE'S SPACEPAD AT KOUROU IN FRENCH GUIANA, THE UNMANNED ROCKET WAS DESTROYED.

THE ROCKET APPEARED TO TIP ON ITS SIDE, TWO EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD AND THEN ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A PLUME OF SMOKE IN THE SKY. OFFICIALS SAID GROUND CONTROLLERS DELIBERATELY DESTROYED THE ROCKET WHEN IT DEVIATED FROM ITS PLANNED FLIGHT-PATH.

SOME CONTROLLERS WEPT WHEN THEY REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. OFFICIAL GUESTS AT AN OBSERVATION SITE WERE EVACUATED TO THE MAIN SPACE CENTER WEARING GAS-MASKS. THEY LOOKED SHAKEN AND SOME COUGHED AS THEY REMOVED THE MASKS.

FOUR RESEARCH SATELLITES ON BOARD WERE DESTROYED. THE VALUE OF THE SATELLITES WAS NOT KNOWN, NOR WERE THE REASONS FOR THE ROCKET'S FAILURE. THE ARIANE-FIVE ROCKET COST SEVEN-BILLION DOLLARS AND TOOK 10 YEARS TO DEVELOP. WITH TWIN BOOSTERS DESIGNED TO CUT LAUNCH COSTS BY 20 PERCENT, IT WAS MADE TO CARRY TWO BULKY SATELLITES AT ONCE.

THE PARIS-BASED EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY HAS 53 SHAREHOLDERS, MAINLY GOVERNMENTS OR STATE-OWNED AEROSPACE COMPANIES. WITH ITS ARIANE PROGRAM, IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY GAINED A EUROPEAN SHARE OF THE SATELLITE-LAUNCHING MARKET. LIKE MANY MODERN EUROPEAN PROJECTS, THE PROGRAM RELIES HEAVILY ON FRENCH POLITICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY.

CLAUDE BIGOT, THE PRESIDENT OF ARIANESPACE, CLAUDE BIGOT, THE COMMERCIAL ARM OF THE SPACE AGENCY, SAID THE ARIANE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED WITH ANOTHER LAUNCH OF AN ARIANE-FOUR ROCKET NEXT WEEK.

HE SAID AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAILURE OF THE ARIANE-FIVE SHOULD ESTABLISH THE CAUSES BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.

FRANCE'S TECHNOLOGY MINISTER, FRANCOIS FILLON, PLAYED DOWN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAILURE. HE SAID THE FLIGHT WAS ONLY EXPERIMENTAL AND THAT THE SCIENTISTS BEHIND THE LAUNCH WERE AWARE OF THE RISKS.

A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE LAUNCH, HOWEVER, SPACE AGENCY OFFICIALS WERE STRESSING THAT THEY BELIEVED THE EUROPEANS HAD DEVELOPED ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE SPACE VEHICLES YET. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH/CF
04-Jun-96 10:55 AM EDT (1455 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO-RUSSIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BERLIN)

INTRO: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV HAS MET WITH THE 16 NATO MEMBERS AND MET SEPARATELY WITH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BERLIN, THE TONE AHEAD OF RUSSIAN ELECTIONS WAS POSITIVE.

TEXT: LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA, FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV IS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE ABOUT RUSSIA'S RELATIONS WITH NATO. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HIS MEETING WITH THE 16 NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS, MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS RUSSIA IS SEEKING TO DEVELOP ITS DIALOGUE WITH THE ALLIANCE.

MR. PRIMAKOV'S TONE IN HIS MEETINGS HERE WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S REMARKS IN BUDAPEST 18 MONTHS AGO, WARNING OF A COLD PEACE IF NATO EXPANDS ITS MEMBERSHIP TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. RUSSIAN NATIONALISTS HAVE ANGRILY OPPOSED ANY ENLARGEMENT OF NATO.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THERE WAS NOTHING CONFRONTATIONAL IN MR. PRIMAKOV'S ATTITUDE. THEY SAY HE SIMPLY REPEATED RUSSIA'S WELL-KNOWN OPPOSITION TO BRINGING NATO'S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE CLOSE TO RUSSIA'S BORDERS.

SPEAKING HERE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS NATO APPEARS READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH RUSSIA ABOUT ALLIANCE ENLARGEMENT.

IT WAS VERY INSPIRING TO HEAR THAT IT APPEARED DURING THIS MEETING THAT THE PROCESSES THAT ARE GOING ON HERE, SHOULD NOT BE PRE-DETERMINED, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF NATO, AND SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE PROCESS OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS.

AT ITS SPRING MEETING HERE IN BERLIN, NATO HAS REFORMED ITS INTERNAL MILITARY STRUCTURE BUT TOOK NO ACTION TOWARD ENLARGEMENT TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. NATO MINISTERS SAY RUSSIA SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN A VETO OVER EXPANSION, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WANT TO ANGER RUSSIA ON THE EVE OF ELECTIONS THERE BY MAKING ANY NEW MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION AT THEIR MEETING IN BERLIN.

IN THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER TOLD THEM THE NEXT STEPS TOWARD EXPANSION WILL BE TAKEN AT DECEMBER'S NATO MEETING. AMERICAN OFFICIALS MAINTAIN THE PACE OF ALLIANCE EXPANSION IS NOT SPEEDING UP -- OR SLOWING DOWN -- BECAUSE OF RUSSIAN CONCERNS.

IN A SEPARATE MEETING WITH MR. PRIMAKOV, MR. CHRISTOPHER BRIEFED THE FOREIGN MINISTER ON BOSNIA AND THE ELECTIONS PLANNED THERE FOR SEPTEMBER. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THEY DISAGREED ON THE NEED TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS FOR TRIAL BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.

THE ONE AREA OF DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE RUSSIANS CURRENTLY DO NOT FAVOR SENDING KARADZIC AND MLADIC TO THE HAGUE, ALTHOUGH THE RUSSIANS MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT KARADZIC SHOULD REMAIN IN POWER.

EARLIER TUESDAY, MR. PRIMAKOV TOOK PART IN A MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES. THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MADE CLEAR IN BOTH MEETINGS THAT RUSSIA OPPOSES THE EXTRADITION OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS, BECAUSE RUSSIA FEARS DISTURBANCES AMONG THE LOCAL SERB POPULATION IF THE LEADERS ARE HANDED OVER FOR TRIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/MMK
04-Jun-96 8:31 AM EDT (1231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/NATO EXPANSION (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH MOSCOW OVER TERMS OF NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION. THE COMMENTS FROM A SENIOR U-S DEFENSE OFFICIAL FOLLOWED A SUGGESTION IN BERLIN BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV THAT MOSCOW COULD ACCEPT EXPANSION -- WITH CONDITIONS. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: A SENIOR PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS NATO WILL NOT ALTER ITS SCHEDULE FOR EASTWARD EXPANSION -- AND THAT RUSSIA WILL HAVE NEITHER THE RIGHT TO VETO, NOR BARGAIN OVER, THE ALLIANCE'S ENLARGEMENT PROGRAM.

THE COMMENTS FOLLOW THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S SUGGESTION TO NATO MINISTERS IN BERLIN THAT MOSCOW COULD LIVE WITH ENLARGEMENT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL TROOPS OR WEAPONS WERE STATIONED ON THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEMBERS.

THE PRIMAKOV REMARKS WERE SEEN BY SOME NATO OFFICIALS AS A SOFTENING OF MOSCOW'S ALL-OUT OPPOSITION TO THE ALLIANCE EXPANDING EASTWARD. HOWEVER, THE SENIOR OFFICIAL HERE -- WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS ON CONDITION HE NOT BE IDENTIFIED -- SAID THE PRIMAKOV STATEMENTS AMOUNT TO A TYPE OF BARGAINING, AND THAT NATO IS NOT PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE ON THE ISSUE.

HE SAID NATO HAS NO INTENTION OF EXPANDING IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR RUSSIA -- BUT THAT NATO HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE ITS OWN MEMBERS AND WILL GO FORWARD ON ITS OWN TIMETABLE.

NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE THE FINAL GO-AHEAD FOR EXPANSION WHEN THEY MEET IN DECEMBER, WITH NEW MEMBER STATES TO BE NAMED SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/SKH
04-Jun-96 4:23 PM EDT (2023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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