Voice of America, 8 & 9 June 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

[02] HABITAT/CRIME (L ONLY) BY EDWARD DE MARCO (ISTANBUL)

[03] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY JOE CHAPMAN (UNITED NATIONS)

[01] BOSNIA ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIA IZETBEGOVIC SAYS PLANNED ELECTIONS MUST GO AHEAD IF THE COUNTRY IS TO AVOID PERMANENT PARTITION. BUT AS VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, THE ELECTIONS MAY NOT BE EXACTLY WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WAS HOPING FOR.

TEXT: MR. IZETBEGOVIC SAYS THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WILL DETERMINE MORE THAN SIMPLY WHO WILL BE IN POWER.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN SARAJEVO, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE ELECTIONS COULD WELL DETERMINE IF BOSNIA HERZOGOVINA SURVIVES AS A COUNTRY. HE DEMANDED THE ELECTIONS GO AHEAD UNDER WHAT HE CALLED NORMAL CONDITIONS. MEANWHILE, CARL BILDT, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR BOSNIA, HAS WARNED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY.

AT A SARAJEVO BRIEFING, A SPOKESMAN FOR MR. BILDT SAID THE WAR WOULD LIKELY RESUME IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY GAVE UP ON THE PEACE PROCESS. THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS PROBABLY BETTER THAT ELECTIONS GO AHEAD EVEN IF THEY ARE SOMEWHAT FLAWED.

ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES FACING THE ORGANIZERS OF THE ELECTIONS WILL BE THE FATE OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC.

MOST OBSERVERS AGREE THAT THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE TWO MEN, WHO HAVE BOTH BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN SERB AREAS OF BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/DW
08-Jun-96 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] HABITAT/CRIME (L ONLY) BY EDWARD DE MARCO (ISTANBUL)

INTRO: ONE ISSUE UNDER DISCUSSION AT THE HABITAT TWO CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL IS HOW TO MAKE CITIES SAFE. REPORTER EDWARD DE MARCO HAS THE STORY OF HOW SOME GRASSROOTS EFFORTS IN MEXICO ARE TURNING YOUTH AWAY FROM CRIME.

TEXT: MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN CITIES WORLDWIDE ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS. THAT'S ONE OF THE FINDINGS IN A MAJOR UNITED NATIONS REPORT ISSUED IN ISTANBUL. MOST CRIMES ARE AGAINST PROPERTY, SUCH AS BURGLARY AND VEHICLE THEFT. BUT VIOLENT CRIME, PARTICULARLY MURDER, ALSO IS RISING FAST IN URBAN AREAS.

WALLY N'DOW, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE HABITAT CONFERENCE, SAYS CRIME DESERVES GLOBAL ATTENTION.

TODAY WE ARE WITNESSING IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, SUCH MASSIVE CRIME AS TANTAMOUNT TO SMALL SCALE CIVIL WARS. THERE IS VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MASSIVE, LARGE-SCALE CRIME WE SEE TODAY, AND SLOW-MOTION CIVIL WAR.

IN LATIN AMERICA, AS IN MANY PARTS OF THE URBANIZING WORLD, DRUG TRAFFICKING IS FUELING THE CRIME SURGE. YOUNG PEOPLE FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF JOBS OFTEN TURN TO SELLING DRUGS.

BUT IN MEXICO CITY, YOUTH GANGS HAVE JOINED FORCES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF DESPAIR THAT BREEDS CRIME. GANG LEADERS FROM THE MOVEMENT CALLED URBAN COURAGE ARE IN ISTANBUL TO SHARE THEIR STRATEGY. IT INCLUDES BUILDING CONTACTS WITH POLICE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND ORGANIZING YOUNG PEOPLE TO TACKLE COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE REPAIRING SCHOOLS AND PLANTING TREES.

ROBERTO DURAN, ONE OF THE GANG LEADERS, SAYS THEIR EFFORTS HAVE CURBED CRIME.

WE HAVE THAT VISION, THAT CONCEPT THAT IF THAT YOUNG PERSON IS KEPT BUSY AND IS INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT HE REALLY LIKES, HE WON'T HAVE TIME TO DO OTHER THINGS, ESPECIALLY TO GO OUT TO STEAL OR DRUG HIMSELF. HE SIMPLY WONT HAVE TIME TO DO THESE OTHER THINGS. THERE WERE SOME OF THE GUYS WHO WERE ACTUALLY PRACTICALLY LOST IN THEIR DRUGS, AND NOW THEY'VE EVEN GONE BACK TO FINISH THEIR STUDIES AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION.

EFFORTS LIKE URBAN COURAGE HAVE NOT ESCAPED NOTICE FROM THE WORLD'S GOVERNMENTS. HABITAT'S DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION CALLS FOR GOVERNMENTS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE CRIME PARTLY BY ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES THROUGH EDUCATION, RECREATION AND JOB TRAINING INITIATIVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EDEM/DW/MMK
09-Jun-96 1:30 PM EDT (1730 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY JOE CHAPMAN (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS TEAM IS IN IRAQ, TRYING TO EXPEDITE AN OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL THAT IS INTENDED TO HELP ORDINARY CITIZENS OF THAT COUNTRY. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES MOVE CLOSER TO A COMPROMISE WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AT THE U-N HABITAT SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL. THERE IS NEW SPECULATION ON A SUCCESSOR TO U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-BOUTROS GHALI. A NEW U-N PLEA FOR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR NORTH KOREA GETS OFF TO A FAST START. AND, A KILLING IN CYPRUS LEADS TO NEW TALK OF FINDING A LONG TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE DIVIDED ISLAND. VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN AT THE UNITED NATIONS REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK.

TEXT: A UNITED NATIONS TEAM OF POLITICAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTS IS IN IRAQ. RAYMOND SOMMEREYNS, THE U-N POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICIAL WHO HEADS THE TEAM, SAYS HIS JOB IS TO EXPEDITE PROCEDURES THAT WILL ALLOW IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL IN RETURN FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.

IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER STRINGENT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS SINCE ITS INVADED NEIGHBORING KUWAIT IN 1990. BUT ON MAY 20TH THE UNITED NATIONS AGREED IRAQ COULD SELL UP TO TWO-BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF OIL EVERY SIX MONTHS SO THAT IT COULD PAY FOR ESSENTIAL HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES INTENDED TO RELIEVE THE SUFFERING OF THE AVERAGE IRAQI CITIZEN.

BUT THE AGREEMENT CAME WITH STRINGS ATTACHED. IRAQ MUST GET UNITED NATIONS APPROVAL FOR A PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. THE DISTRIBUTION SITES ARE BEING CAREFULLY INSPECTED BY RELIEF EXPERTS WHILE U-N OIL AND CUSTOMS EXPERTS ARE VISITING OIL TERMINALS AND A PUMPING STATION. U-N EXPERTS WILL STAY IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE IRAQ DOES NOT EXCEED ITS LIMIT -- ABOUT 800-THOUSAND BARRELS A DAY AT CURRENT OIL PRICES.

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THE UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN ISTANBUL KNOWN AS HABITAT TWO -- IS FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF URBAN AREAS, ESPECIALLY THE SO-CALLED MEGACITIES.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE SOUGHT TO HAVE WHAT THEY TERM "THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HOUSING" ENSHRINED AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATES HAVE GENERALLY SUPPORTED THAT POSITION.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES ARE CONCERNED THAT THE DRAFT LANGUAGE COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR A FLOOD OF LAWSUITS BY INDIVIDUALS. BUT THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT, U-N OFFICIALS SAY, THAT COMPROMISE LANGUAGE WILL BE WORKED OUT BEFORE THE CONFERENCE ENDS JUNE 14TH.

OFFICIALS AT THE CONFERENCE DON'T EXPECT MANY CONCRETE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO DEAL WITH SUCH ISSUES AS HOUSING AND WATER SHORTAGES, BUT BELIEVE THE ISSUES MUST BE EXAMINED.

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THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SPECULATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK ABOUT WHO MIGHT SUCCEED BOUTRO BOUTROS-GHALI AS SECRETARY GENERAL WHEN HIS TERM EXPIRES IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

MARY ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, SAYS SHE HAS HAD INFORMAL TALKS ABOUT THE POSITION. AND, SHE TOLD A BRITISH NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK THAT SHE WOULD WEIGH ALL OPTIONS IF OFFERED THE POST.

THERE IS NO CERTAINTY THAT BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI WILL NOT RETURN FOR ANOTHER TERM. ALTHOUGH HE LACKS STRONG SUPPORT FROM SOME KEY MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AT THIS POINT, THE SITUATION IS SAID TO BE UNCERTAIN.

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U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH EARLY REACTION TO A SECOND APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR FLOOD-RAVAGED NORTH KOREA.

THERE WERE INDICATIONS, OFFICIALS AT THE UNITED NATIONS SAY, THAT SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN WILL JOIN THE UNITED STATES IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES TO NORTH KOREA.

ONE OBSTACLE TO AID ON A MAJOR SCALE HAS BEEN SOUTH KOREA'S INSISTENCE ON A PROPOSAL FIRST THAT WOULD LEAD TO PEACE TALKS FOR THE TENSE REGION. THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE FLOODING CRISIS HAS WEAKENED THE CURRENT NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT. DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S POOR INTERNATIONAL IMAGE, DIPLOMATS FEAR A SUDDEN COLLAPSE COULD WORSEN THE SITUATION.

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IN BUJUMBURA, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEIR AGENCIES WILL STOP WORK IN BURUNDI FOR A DAY TO PROTEST THE KILLING OF THREE SWISS RED CROSS WORKERS. NEARLY 30 OTHER AID AGENCIES HAVE SAID THEY WILL SUSPEND ALL OPERATIONS FOR ONE WEEK TO PROTEST THE KILLINGS. THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS SAYS IT IS SUSPENDING ALL OF ITS OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY INDEFINITELY AS A RESULT OF THE KILLINGS.

THE GOVERNMENT OF BURUNDI HAS BLAMED THE ATTACK ON HUTU REBELS, WHILE HUTU REBELS ARE ACCUSING TUTSI MILITIAMEN OF KILLING THE RED CROSS WORKERS.

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U-N SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI WAS IN ISTANBUL THIS PAST WEEK FOR THE HABITAT TWO CONFERENCE WHEN A GREEK CYPRIOT, SAID TO BE UNARMED, WAS KILLED IN A NEUTRAL BUFFER ZONE OF NICOSIA.

THE UNITED NATIONS BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING AND MR. BOUTROS-GHALI IMMEDIATELY APPROACHED LEADERS OF THE TURKISH AND GREEK FACTIONS. MR. BOUTROS GHALI INDICATES HE IS NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS, BUT HOPES TALKS SET TO BEGIN THIS MONTH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A PERMANENT PEACE ON CYPRUS.

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IN OTHER UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENTS:

U-N SPOKESPERSON SYLVANA FOA SAYS UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF WEAPONS HIDDEN IN BOSNIA -- DESPITE AGREEMENTS THE WEAPONS BE TURNED IN. SHE SAYS MANY ARE SIMPLY IGNORING THE ORDERS. U-N OFFICIALS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DUTCH PEACEKEEPING TROOPS WHO WERE CAUGHT FOR A TIME BETWEEN OPPOSING FORCES IN BOSNIA. MEANWHILE, IN ANGOLA, THE UNITED NATIONS SPOKESWOMAN, SYLVANA FOA SAYS HOUSING HAS BEEN FOUND FOR OVER 40-THOUSAND OF THE 50-THOUSAND MEMBERS OF A U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE. SHE SAYS HOUSING IS BEING PROCURED RAPIDLY FOR THE OTHER 10-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. ONCE THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED SHE SAYS STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TOWARD DEMOBILIZING MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT ARMY, AND RECRUITING TROOPS FOR A NEW ARMY.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LCF/SKH
07-Jun-96 10:16 PM EDT (0216 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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