Voice of America, 8 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

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

[03] KARADZIC / MLADIC (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[04] TURKEY / POL (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[05] U-S-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS SECOND MONDAY IN JULY. SUBJECTS INCLUDE: BORIS YELTSIN'S VICTORY IN THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF ELECTION; TURKEY'S ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT, AND INDIA'S APPARENT RELUCTANCE TO SIGN A NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AS THESE AND OTHER COMMENTS IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR NOTES THAT LAST WEEK THE RUSSIAN ELECTORATE "GAVE DEMOCRACY AND MARKET REFORMS A SECOND CHANCE." BUT THE MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPER ADDS THAT "BOTH STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE RUSSIA JOINS THE DEMOCRATIC FAMILY OF NATIONS."

VOICE: "THAT THE ELECTIONS EVEN TOOK PLACE IS A REMARKABLE VICTORY FOR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. ABOUT 67 PERCENT OF RUSSIAN VOTERS -- A FIGURE THAT SHOULD HUMBLE AMERICANS -- CARED ENOUGH TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS... YELTSIN'S INCREDIBLE POLITICAL COMEBACK ALSO DESERVES NOTICE. AFTER LAST DECEMBER'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, HIS PUBLIC-OPINION RATINGS WERE IN SINGLE DIGITS. HIS POLITICAL RESURRECTION TESTIFIES TO THE VOLATILITY OF THE ELECTORATE, THE INEPTITUDE AND INFLEXIBILITY OF YELTSIN'S NONCOMMUNIST RIVALS, AND RUSSIANS' REPUDIATION OF THE COMMUNIST PAST. BUT NO RESPITE LIES AHEAD IN THE STRUGGLE TO CEMENT DEMOCRACY AND THE FREE MARKET IN RUSSIA. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, ADMINISTRATION INFIGHTING AND FOREIGN-POLICY CHALLENGES WILL CONTINUE TO CONFRONT THE YELTSIN TEAM... [OPT] YELTSIN'S REELECTION LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN TO THE PATH OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY. NOW THE WORLD WAITS TO SEE IF RUSSIA WILL WALK THROUGH IT."'

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL SAYS THAT "IT'S UP TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT AMERICANS CAN HELP SHAPE EVENTS IN A MANNER THAT ADVANCES UNITED STATES INTERESTS."

VOICE: "OF COURSE, EVEN THE BEST OF ALLIES MAY DIFFER ON CERTAIN ISSUES. RUSSIA, AN INDEPENDENT NATION, WALKS TO ITS OWN MUSIC AND AT ITS OWN PACE. THUS, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CRITICIZE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, WHILE NOT GOING OUT OF ITS WAY TO ANTAGONIZE RUSSIA. AN EXAMPLE OF GOING TOO FAR WOULD BE FAST-PACED EXPANSION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD CAUSE RUSSIA TO FEEL ISOLATED. ONE DOESN'T BUY SECURITY BY ENRAGING AND ALIENATING A NEW-FOUND FRIEND. DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, REFORMS COULD TRANSFORM RUSSIA INTO A PLACE WHERE BROADER PROSPERITY BOLSTERS DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNISTS' AMBITIONS OF REGAINING POWER ARE SHEER FANTASY. DOING WHAT IS IN U-S POWER TO ENCOURAGE SUCH RESULTS BELONGS AMONG THE NATION'S HIGHEST PRIORITIES."

TEXT: TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES EXPRESSES SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE NEW ISLAMIC-LED GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY, WHICH WAS JUST CONFIRMED BY THE PARLIAMENT TODAY (MONDAY). IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE TIMES EDITORIAL WAS WRITTEN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PARLIAMENT VOTE THAT GIVES TURKEY ITS FIRST ISLAMIC-LED GOVERNMENT SINCE MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK PROCLAIMED A SECULAR REPUBLIC IN 1923.

VOICE: "DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN THAT HE WANTS CONTINUED COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES, HIS RISE TO POWER COULD MAKE ANKARA A LESS-COOPERATIVE PARTNER FOR WASHINGTON ON ISSUES LIKE ISRAELI-ARAB RELATIONS AND AMERICAN RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQI KURDS. THE NEW GOVERNMENT STILL MUST SURVIVE A CRUCIAL CONFIDENCE VOTE THIS WEEK. IF IT DOES, AMERICA WOULD SERVE ITS OWN BEST INTERESTS AND ITS DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES BY EXTENDING THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO AN EDITORIAL IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, "EVER SINCE THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WENT INTO EFFECT ON JAN. 1ST, 1994, ITS DETRACTORS HAVE DECLARED IT A FAILURE. TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER," CONTINUES THE PAPER, "WITH A SOLID 17-POINT-TWO PERCENT INCREASE IN CALIFORNIA EXPORTS TO MEXICO AND CANADA IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF 1996, THE PRONOUNCEMENT SEEMS NOT ONLY PREMATURE BUT SILLY."

VOICE: "CALIFORNIA IS SELLING COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY, CHEMICAL, RUBBER AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND MANY OTHER MANUFACTURED GOODS TO MEXICO. THESE PRODUCTS HAVE CREATED WELL-PAYING JOBS HERE, RETURNING REVENUES TO THE GOLDEN STATE. ALTHOUGH ECONOMICALLY BATTERED, MEXICO STILL REGISTERED A 20-POINT-FOUR PERCENT JUMP IN EXPORTS FROM CALIFORNIA DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1996, COMPARED WITH 1995. JUST THINK OF WHAT THE GAIN MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAD MEXICO NOT BEEN REELING FROM A FINANCIAL CRISIS. LAST YEAR, CALIFORNIA'S EXPORTS TO MEXICO AMOUNTED TO SEVEN-POINT-THREE BILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT. EXPORTS FROM TEXAS TO MEXICO WERE A STAGGERING 21-POINT-EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS. THE NUMBERS SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER. THE TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO IS OF KEY FINANCIAL IMPORTANCE TO THIS STATE, AND, AS THE TEXAS EXPERIENCE SHOWS, IT CAN BE EVEN MORE LUCRATIVE."

TEXT: NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY SUGGESTS THAT OTHER NATIONS SHOULD NOT PERMIT INDIA'S "RELUCTANCE TO SIGN ON STAND IN THE WAY OF A NUCLEAR TEST BAN."

VOICE: "ALL FIVE OF THE WORLD'S OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED NUCLEAR POWERS NOW SAY THEY'RE READY TO SIGN A TREATY THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY NUCLEAR TESTS WHATEVER. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE FIVE SEEM TO HAVE THEIR FINGERS CROSSED: THEY DON'T WANT THE PACT TO TAKE EFFECT UNLESS THE THREE SO-CALLED THRESHOLD NATIONS -- INDIA, PAKISTAN AND ISRAEL -- ARE ALSO ON BOARD. AND SINCE INDIA SAYS IT WON'T ACCEPT A TREATY WITHOUT A SCHEDULE FOR DISMANTLING EVERYBODY'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS, A COMPREHENSIBLE TEST BAN COULD BE IN LIMBO FOR YEARS. WITH THIS CRUCIAL ARMS CONTROL GOAL IN SIGHT, AT LAST, THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE. INDIA'S NO-NUKES PROPOSAL WOULD BE FOOLHARDY IF IT WERE MEANT SERIOUSLY: IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE TERRORIST CELLS COULD BUILD NUCLEAR WARHEADS BUT LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTS COULD NOT. [OPT] BUT THE REAL POINT OF INDIA'S GAMBIT IS TO REMIND THE WORLD -- ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORING CHINA AND PAKISTAN -- THAT IT ONCE EXPLODED A NUCLEAR DEVICE AND JUST MIGHT SET OFF ANOTHER."

TEXT: THE U-S SPACE AGENCY HAS AWARDED THE LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION A CONTRACT TO BUILD A NEW VERSION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE. HERE IS THE BALTIMORE SUN'S REACTION.

VOICE: "MORE EXCITING THAN THE COMPANY'S NEW ARROWHEAD DESIGN FOR A COMPLETELY REUSABLE SHUTTLE IS THE PROSPECT THAT PRIVATE INDUSTRY WILL ASSUME THE CENTRAL ROLE IN AMERICAN SPACE EXPLORATION....IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE THE UNITED STATES BUILT A NEW SPACECRAFT. THE X-33 WILL BE A HALF-SCALE MODEL OF THE VEHICLE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE SHUTTLE USED NOW. LIKE THE CURRENT MODEL, THE NEW VENTURESTAR SHUTTLE WILL BE LAUNCHED VERTICALLY AND LAND HORIZONTALLY. BUT THE NEW SHUTTLE WON'T LOSE ITS FUEL TANKS AND BOOSTERS DURING EACH FLIGHT, THUS REDUCING COSTS PER MISSION. LOCKHEED'S WINNING BID INCLUDED A BUSINESS PLAN FOR FUTURE SHUTTLES TO BE BUILD WITH FOUR BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE IN PRIVATE CAPITAL. REDUCING THE COST OF SPACE TRAVEL WILL PAY DIVIDENDS. THE NATION COULD REGAIN ITS DOMINANCE IN DEPLOYING SATELLITES, AND SPACE TOURISM COULD BECOME MORE THAN SCIENCE FICTION."

TEXT: LAST MONTH, THE U.S. BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS GRANTED FAUZIYA KASINGA, A YOUNG WOMAN FROM TOGO, ASYLUM. SHE FEARED THAT IF SHE STAYED IN HER NATIVE COUNTRY SHE WOULD BE FORCED TO UNDERGO THE ANCIENT RITE OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION. THE NEW YORK POST POINTS OUT THAT THE BOARD'S RULING CONCERNS MANY MORE PEOPLE.

VOICE: "INDEED, THE NATION'S HIGHEST IMMIGRANT TRIBUNAL HAS SET A PRECEDENT: FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, FEAR OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION -- AND EVEN, ACCORDING TO KASINGA'S LAWYERS, THE FACT OF HAVING UNDERGONE PAST CIRCUMCISION -- GIVES A WOMAN THE RIGHT TO ASYLUM IN THE U.S. THIS MEANS THAT A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION -- AFRICAN WOMEN WHO HAVE EITHER EXPERIENCED, OR FEAR, A WIDESPREAD (IF BARBARIC) CULTURAL PRACTICE -- HAVE A PRESUMPTIVE RIGHT TO U-S RESIDENCY, AND EVENTUALLY, CITIZENSHIP. INDEED, ONCE HERE, SUCH REFUGEES WILL ACQUIRE THE RIGHT, UNDER EXISTING IMMIGRATION LAWS' FAMILY-REUNIFICATION PROVISIONS, TO BRING THEIR RELATIVES TO AMERICA... EVENTUALLY, WE SUSPECT, AMERICANS WILL WONDER WHY -- AT A TIME WHEN MOST U-S CITIZENS WANT TO LIMIT IMMIGRATION -- A WHOLE NEW AVENUE FOR A MAJOR THIRD WORLD INFLUX HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED."

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT FROM MONDAY'S EDITION OF THE NEW YORK POST, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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08-Jul-96 10:57 AM EDT (1457 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA HAVE COME UNDER FIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS. A PATROL OF PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS SHOT BACK WHEN THEIR VEHICLES WERE HIT BY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE IN BOSNIAN-SERB TERRITORY. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT.

TEXT: THE PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS WERE TRAVELLING IN A THREE-VEHICLE CONVOY ACROSS SERB TERRITORY LATE SUNDAY WHEN THEY CAME UNDER FIRE. NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR BRETT BOUDREAU EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED.

THE LAST VEHICLE WAS HIT BY THREE ROUNDS FROM AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON. THE SOLDIERS STOPPED THEIR VEHICLES, ADOPTED FIRE POSITIONS AND SENT ROUNDS DOWN RANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FIRE, AND SAW THREE PERSONS FLEEING INTO THE WOODS.

ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS HIT BY THREE ROUNDS, BUT NONE OF THE PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS WAS INJURED -- NOR, APPARENTLY, WERE ANY OF THE ATTACKERS, WHO ESCAPED.

THE INCIDENT COMES ONLY ONE DAY AFTER THE END OF A MAJOR CONFRONTATION BETWEEN NATO TROOPS AND THE BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY, WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE SERBS REMOVED TANKS FROM AN AUTHORIZED STORAGE SITE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE BOSNIAN SERBS THREATENED TO SHOOT DOWN NATO HELICOPTERS AND A SERB CROWD JOSTLED AND STONED U-S TROOPS. THE BOSNIAN SERBS EVENTUALLY RETURNED THE TANKS TO THE STORAGE AREA.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY BOTH SIDES WON BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE. BUT NATO OFFICERS ARE GOING TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO DOWN-PLAY THE RISING TENSIONS. MAJOR BOUDREAU EVEN SAYS THE SHOTS FIRED AT THE PORTUGUESE WERE SIMPLY AN ACT OF INTIMIDATION.

I THINK WE WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS AS HARASSING FIRE. THE FACT IS THERE WERE SEVERAL ROUNDS FIRED AT THEM, THEY HIT THE LAST VEHICLE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IF THERE WAS AN INTENT TO INJURE OR KILL, I SUSPECT THE FIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHER THAN TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

NATO OFFICERS ADMIT THESE LATEST INCIDENTS MAY BE PART OF A SERB CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR THE INCREASING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND HIS ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC. INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED FOR BOTH MEN LATER THIS WEEK, AND SENIOR OFFICIALS SAY IF THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION, IT MAY NOW BE TIME FOR NATO SOLDIERS TO TRY TO CAPTURE THE PAIR. (SIGNED)
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08-Jul-96 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KARADZIC / MLADIC (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: A PROSECUTOR AT THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS CALLED FOR THE ISSUING OF INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS THE PROSECUTOR ALSO ASKED THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA BE REPORTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL FOR FAILING TO ARREST THE TWO MEN.

TEXT: LEAD PROSECUTOR MARK HARMAN TOLD THE COURT MR KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HE CALLED DARKNESS DESCENDING ON BOSNIA.

BOTH MEN ARE CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY FOR ALLEGED MASS KILLINGS AFTER THE FALL OF THE SAFE AREA OF SREBRENICA AND FOR A WIDESPREAD CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING THROUGHOUT BOSNIA.

DURING MORE THAN A WEEK OF EVIDENCE, THE COURT HAS HEARD FROM U-N INVESTIGATORS, A MAN WHO SAYS HE BARELY SURVIVED A MASS EXECUTION, AND A YOUNG SOLDIER IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY WHO ADMITS TAKING PART IN THE KILLING.

THE COURT HAS HEARD FROM THE ALLEGED VICTIMS OF WAR CRIMES. BUT PROSECUTOR MARK HARMAN SAYS THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WHICH CAN TRULY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF JUSTICE.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A TRIAL, THESE VOICES CAN BE HEARD ONLY AS PLEAS TO THIS COURT AND TO THE WORLD THAT DR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC BE IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THAT THE VICTIM, CAN ONLY BE HEARD IN A PROCEDURAL HEARING IS AN INSULT TO THE THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO CRUELLY IN THIS WAR.

THE PROSECUTION SAYS IT HAS NOT PRESENTED ALL THE EVIDENCE IT HAS DURING THESE HEARINGS. THAT, MR HARMAN TOLD THE COURT, WOULD GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO THE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERS, WHICH THEY DO NOT DESERVE.

THERE WAS SPECIAL CRITICISM FOR THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, WHICH THE PROSECUTION SAYS HAS HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THE TWO MEN AND HAD NOT DONE SO.

BUT MR HARMAN ALSO POINTED TO THE WIDER WORLD. HE SAID IT IS A MATTER OF SHAME THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN THE MEANS TO DO SO, THE TWO HAD NOT BEEN ARRESTED.

THE PROSECUTION EMPHASIZED THE CHARGES WERE BEING MADE AGAINST TWO INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE SERBIAN PEOPLE. MR. HARMAN ARGUED COLLECTIVE GUILT FOR CRIMES IN THE PAST HAD BEEN AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMS FOR THE REGION.

THIS PHENOMENON IS A DISEASE OF THE SPIRIT WHICH, UNCHECKED WILL SOW THE SEEDS OF FUTURE STRIFE AND CONFLICT IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. WE ARE REPELLED BY MOTIONS OF COLLECTIVE GUILT. AND BY OUR TWO INDICTMENTS OF DR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC, WE ACCUSE, IN UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS, TWO INDIVIDUALS WHOM WE ALLEGE ARE TWO OF THE PERSONS WHO INSTIGATED, PLANNED, AND ORDERED THE GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CRIMES WHICH HAVE SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD.

THE COURT RECONVENES THURSDAY -- THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SREBRENICA -- WHEN A JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ISSUE INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH/RAE
08-Jul-96 9:59 AM EDT (1359 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY / POL (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN HAS WON A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN PARLIAMENT, MAKING HIM THE COUNTRY'S FIRST-EVER PRO-ISLAMIC LEADER. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE VOTE WAS 278 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT VOTING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AND 265 VOTING AGAINST IT.

TEXT: AFTER THE RESULT WAS ANNOUNCED, A BEAMING MR. ERBAKAN DESCRIBED HIS NARROW VICTORY IN PARLIAMENT AS A TRIUMPH FOR PEACE, BROTHERHOOD, AND TURKISH DEMOCRACY.

MR. ERBAKAN ALSO THANKED TANSU CILLER, THE COUNTRY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY, FOR AGREEING TO FORM A COALITION WITH HIS PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY.

MRS. CILLER HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED BY TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT FOR MAKING THE COALITION AGREEMENT WITH THE ISLAMISTS WHICH HAS ENABLED THEM TO LEAD THE COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 73-YEAR HISTORY AS A SECULAR REPUBLIC.

MANY SAID THEY FEAR THAT UNDER MR. ERBAKAN, THE COUNTRY WILL SHIFT AWAY FROM THE PRO-WESTERN PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN BY THE FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY, KEMAL ATATURK.

IN A BID TO EASE SUCH FEARS, MR. ERBAKAN HAS IN RECENT WEEKS ADOPTED A MODERATE TONE, WHICH OBSERVERS SAY IS IN SHARP CONTRAST WITH HIS EARLIER ANTI-WESTERN STATEMENTS. IN A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, THE WELFARE LEADER PLEDGED HIS COMMITMENT TO SECULARISM. HE SAID TURKEY WILL REMAIN IN NATO, AND WILL PURSUE ITS GOAL OF FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY, AND WILL CONTINUE WITH THE PRIVATIZATION OF STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES.

MR. ERBAKAN ALSO HAS GIVEN CONTROL OF KEY MINISTRIES -- INCLUDING DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND THE INTERIOR -- TO MRS. CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY, IN ORDER TO PLACATE THE FIERCELY PRO-SECULAR TURKISH MILITARY.

WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE WELCOMED MR. ERBAKAN'S MODERATE POLICIES, AND SAID THEY BELIEVE THAT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, TURKEY COULD BECOME A MODEL FOR THE REST OF MUSLIM WORLD, ONE WHICH SHOWS THAT DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL ISLAM CAN CO-EXIST.

BUT MANY TURKS, WHO REMAIN FIRMLY ATTACHED TO ATATURK'S PRO-SECULARIST LEGACY, EXPRESSED FEARS THAT MR. ERBAKAN MAY NOT BE SINCERE ABOUT HIS REAL GOALS. SOME BELIEVE THAT HIS COMPROMISING STANCE IS A PLOY TO GAIN MORE VOTES SO THAT HIS PARTY CAN COME TO POWER ON ITS OWN.

ANALYSTS SAY WOMEN FEEL THE MOST THREATENED BY THE ISLAMISTS. SO, THEY SAY, IT SHOULD HARDLY COME AS A SURPRISE THAT THOUSANDS OF TURKISH WOMEN HAVE SENT LETTERS OF PROTEST TO MRS. CILLER FOR STRIKING A DEAL WITH MR. ERBAKAN. MANY WOMEN ARGUE THAT THE FACT THE WELFARE PARTY DID NOT ALLOW ANY OF ITS ESTIMATED ONE-MILLION FEMALE MEMBERS TO SEEK ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT IS EVIDENCE OF THE ISLAMIST DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THEM.

ECONOMISTS SAY MR. ERBAKAN'S EFFORTS TO BOOST HIS POPULARITY AHEAD OF A FUTURE ELECTION WILL LIKELY INCLUDE RAISING WORKERS' WAGES. THEY SAY THAT THIS WOULD FURTHER FUEL INFLATION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AT ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 70 PERCENT.

HOPES AMONG PRO-SECULAR CIRCLES ARE THAT THE WELFARE PARTY WILL DO SO POORLY THAT IT WILL DISCREDIT ITSELF FOR GOOD. BUT OBSERVERS POINT OUT THE PARTY'S PERFORMANCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL INDICATES OTHERWISE. THEY SAY CORRUPTION HAS ALL BUT DISAPPEARED AND SERVICES HAVE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED IN ABOUT 400 MUNICIPALITIES UNDER WELFARE PARTY CONTROL.

WELFARE PARTY SUPPORTERS SAY IT IS NOT FAIR TO JUDGE THE NEW GOVERNMENT SO NEGATIVELY SO SOON. THEY SAY MR. ERBAKAN SHOULD BE GIVEN TIME TO PROVE HIS REAL ABILITIES. BUT, SHOULD THE PRIME MINISTER FAIL TO SOLVE THE COUNTRY'S MANY PROBLEMS, THEY SAY THEY WILL BE FIRST TO VOTE AGAINST HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/CF
08-Jul-96 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES CERTIFIED JUNE 25TH THAT ALL ORGANIZED IRANIAN FIGHTING UNITS HAD DEPARTED BOSNIA BUT AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUAL FOREIGN FIGHTERS WHO ACQUIRED BOSNIAN CITIZENSHIP AND COULD BE A THREAT TODAY.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR JOHN DEUTSCH BROUGHT UP THIS SECURITY ISSUE WITH BOSNIAN LEADERS ON SATURDAY. IN ANOTHER MEETING MONDAY, SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR (JOHN MENZIES) HAS ASKED PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES BY THESE ISLAMIC FIGHTERS.

AMBASSADOR MENZIES URGED PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC TO TAKE PROMPT AND IMMEDIATE AND APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS IN BOSNIA INCLUDING FOREIGN FIGHTERS. PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC TOLD AMBASSADOR MENZIES THAT HE IS SENDING OFFICIALS TO THE TOWN OF ZENICA TO INVESTIGATE THESE REPORTS AND THAT HE WILL TAKE APPROPROPRIATE ACTION.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS A JOINT COMMISSION OF AMERICAN AND BOSNIAN OFFICIALS IS WATCHING THESE FORMER FIGHTERS TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT POSE A THREAT TO THE BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KB/KL
08-Jul-96 3:40 PM EDT (1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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