Voice of America, 18 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA / IRISH TRUST BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

[03] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA / THREATS (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[05] BURMA / EUROPE (L-RERUN) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[06] YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

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

INTRO: A NUMBER OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS TODAY COMMENT ON THE START OF BORIS YELTSIN'S SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE CONCERN OVER STOCK MARKET FLUCTUATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND VIEWS ON THE UPCOMING SUMMER OLYMPICS. NOW, HERE IS __________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST COMMENTARY ON BORIS YELTSIN'S SECOND TERM SAYS THAT THOSE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF THE LIKELY DIRECTION THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WILL TAKE "DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT LONG."

VOICE: "FIRST CAME THE SHAMEFUL ESCALATION OF HIS WAR AGAINST THE CHECHEN PEOPLE, DESPITE HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO SEEK A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION. THEN CAME THE AUSPICIOUS APPOINTMENT OF ANATOLY CHUBAIS, A COMMITTED REFORMER AND DEFT BUREAUCRATIC OPERATOR, AS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF. THAT THESE TWO IMPORTANT SIGNALS SEEM CONTRADICTORY SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE. MR. YELTSIN, RUSSIA'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED LEADER, ZIGGED AND ZAGGED THROUGH HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, AND HIS SECOND IS LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN. [OPT] THIS IS SO BECAUSE RUSSIAN SOCIETY ITSELF REMAINS RADICALLY DIVIDED, AS THE 40 PERCENT VOTE FOR MR. YELTSIN'S COMMUNIST OPPONENT SHOWS, AND BECAUSE THE COUNTRY FACES PROBLEMS OF ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE SEVERITY, FOR WHICH ANY REMEDY WILL PAIN MANY... [END OPT] IF MR. YELTSIN SURVIVES LONG ENOUGH, THE MOST TELLING CONSEQUENCE OF HIS SECOND TERM FOR MANY RUSSIANS MAY BE IRRELEVANCE. FOR SURVIVORS OF TOTALITARIANISM, THAT WOULD BE NO SMALL TRIUMPH."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN COMMENTS ON MR. YELTSIN'S HEALTH, NOTING THAT IT HAS NOT PREVENTED HIM FROM REVAMPING THE GOVERNMENT.

VOICE: "MR. YELTSIN IS SUCH A TOUGH SURVIVOR THAT IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO WRITE HIM OFF. IN FACT, BY CREATING RIVAL CAMPS WITHIN THE KREMLIN LEADERSHIP HE SEEMS DETERMINED TO KEEP THE POWER-HUNGRY ON THEIR TOES AND OFF BALANCE. THIS KIND OF GOVERNANCE MAY BE POLITICALLY CUNNING. THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT IT TENDS TO SEND CONFLICTING SIGNALS TO RUSSIANS AS WELL AS FOREIGNERS AT A TIME WHEN STRONG, UNIFIED LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. [OPT] THE FINAL TWO DECADES OF COMMUNISM SHOWED THAT A WELL-OILED KREMLIN POWER APPARATUS COULD MAKE EVERYTHING APPEAR RELATIVELY NORMAL EVEN WHEN ILLNESS CAUSED A LEADERSHIP VACUUM AT THE TOP. YET SUCH A VACUUM CONTRIBUTED TO A FEELING OF INERTIA AND STAGNATION THAT GRADUALLY ENGULFED THE COUNTRY. POST-COMMUNIST RUSSIA, IN ITS FORMATIVE YEARS, CANNOT AFFORD A PERIOD OF CONFUSED RULE." [END OPT]

TEXT: EARLIER THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT YELTSIN MET WITH U-S VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE. MR. GORE VISITED HIM IN A SANITARIUM OUTSIDE MOSCOW. AN EDITORIAL IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TODAY SAYS THAT "KREMLIN WATCHERS, DULY ALARMED, ARE BEGINNING TO THINK THE UNTHINKABLE: WHAT IF BORIS YELTSIN DIES?"

VOICE: "NOBODY'S ANSWERING THIS AWKWARD QUESTION BECAUSE THERE IS NO CLEAR ANSWER. WHEN MR. YELTSIN AND MR. GORE FINALLY MET, REUTERS CORRESPONDENT LAURENCE MCQUILLAN WROTE OF THE MEETING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS 'STARING AT THE FLOOR...' AND 'CONCENTRATING INTENTLY ON WALKING... THE SCENE WAS SHOCKING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD SEEN THE RUSSIAN LEADER AT THE KREMLIN IN APRIL...FULL OF VIM AND VIGOR'. MR. YELTSIN HAS LONG HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR CHEST PAINS IN 1987 AND HAS DISAPPEARED FOR DAYS OR MONTHS AT A TIME EVER SINCE... ANALYSTS ARE NOW SQUINTING INTO THEIR T-V SCREENS TO DETERMINE THE STATE OF MISTER YELTSIN'S HEALTH. THE CONCERN IS THAT SHOULD HE BECOME INCAPACITATED, OR WORSE, THE REFORMS HE HAS ACHIEVED COULD BE IN JEOPARDY."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES MUSES OVER THE LATEST GYRATIONS BY THE U-S STOCK MARKET AND SAYS "FOR SHEER DRAMA, THE...MARKET HAS CERTAINLY SURPASSED THE SLUGGISH RACE BETWEEN BOB DOLE AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HIS SUMMER."

VOICE: "MORE STRIKING, HOWEVER, IS WHAT THE TWO PHENOMENA HAVE IN COMMON. BOTH POLITICS AND THE MARKETS CAN BE MOVED BY MYSTERIOUS, IRRATIONAL FORCES. WHILE MR. DOLE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE CANNOT DO BETTER AGAINST A PRESIDENT WITH LOW POLL RATINGS ON CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY, MR. CLINTON MAY BE WONDERING WHY THE STRONG ECONOMY HAS NOT LED TO MORE STABLE MARKETS. ECONOMISTS AND POLITICAL EXPERTS ARE ALSO CONFUSED. WHEN THE MARKETS STARTED DROPPING, MOST ANALYSTS SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS OVERHEATING, AND THAT THE RESULTING INFLATION WOULD LEAD TO HIGHER INTEREST RATES. HIGHER BOND RATES, IN TURN, DRAW INVESTORS AWAY FROM EQUITIES. NOW ECONOMISTS SAY THE TROUBLES OCCURRED BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS COOLING OFF, PARTICULARLY IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR."

TEXT: THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER USES ITS EDITORIAL PAGE TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO TREAT CERTAIN VICTIMS OF DISEASE.

VOICE: "THEY ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, PATIENTS WITH CANCER, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND AIDS WHO ARE DOOMED TO NEEDLESS PAIN AND WEIGHTLOSS SYNDROME BECAUSE LAWMAKERS WON'T APPROVE THE MEDICINAL USE OF MARIJUANA. MARIJUANA IS ONE OF THE LEAST TOXIC MEDICAL COMPOUNDS IN THE WORLD. IT POSES FAR FEWER PULMONARY RISKS THAN TOBACCO AND IS LESS ADDICTIVE THAN ALCOHOL.. MEDICINAL MARIJUANA USE DOESN'T BETRAY THE NATION'S WAR ON DRUGS. ILLEGAL USE OR TRAFFICKING CAN STILL BE PROSECUTED. MOREOVER, THERE'S NO REASON TO FEAR THAT THE NEW LENIENCY WILL INCREASE DRUG USE. [OPT] THE SAME CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, USED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AIDS AMONG HEROIN ADDICTS. BUT NUMEROUS REVIEWS, INCLUDING ONE BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, SHOW NO RESULTING INCREASE IN HEROIN USE. [END OPT] IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO FIGHT THE DRUG WAR WITHOUT HARMING INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN THE PROCESS. BUT LAWMAKERS MUST BE CAREFUL TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BATTLES. THERAPEUTIC MARIJUANA USE ISN'T ONE OF THEM."

TEXT: BUT, ALSO IN USA TODAY, ERIC A. YOTH, A PHYSICIAN AND DRUG-TREATMENT SPECIALIST, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY INSTITUTE, ARGUES THAT MARIJUANA IS NOT MEDICATION.

VOICE: "MARIJUANA AS A MEDICINE IS PART OF THE GRAND SCHEME OF 'HARM REDUCTION' ADVOCATES WHO WILL ALSO PROPOSE SUCH THINGS AS DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS AND NEEDLE EXCHANGES. THESE ARE FLAWED POLICIES WHICH DO NOT SEEK TO ACTUALLY REDUCE DRUG USE... IT IS TRAGIC THAT THE PROPONENTS OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND HARM-REDUCTION POLICIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CANCER AND AIDS SUFFERERS TO FURTHER THEIR SOCIAL AGENDAS. LET'S PROVIDE SICK PATIENTS WITH GOOD MEDICINE RATHER THAN STEPPING BACK TO THE DAYS OF POTIONS AND HERBAL REMEDIES.

TEXT: "POMP AND POMPOSITY IN ATLANTA" IS THE HEADLINE IN A COLUMN BY ALLEN BARRA IN THE BOSTON GLOBE. HE IS WRITING ABOUT THE SUMMER OLYMPICS.

VOICE: "SEVERAL ANCIENT GREEK CITIES THOUGHT THAT THE ORIGINAL GAMES HAD BECOME CORRUPT AND POLITICAL AND SUCCESSFULLY STAGED THEIR OWN CONTESTS. IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR US TO TRY SOMETHING SIMILAR. THE RULES SHOULD BE SIMPLE: NO TEAM SPORTS. TEAM SPORTS PROMOTE UGLY NATIONALISM AND PIT THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ANGOLA IN BASKETBALL. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE GET A KICK OUT OF CHARLES BARKLEY ELBOWING SOME SKINNY GUY IN THE CHEST AND THE DREAM TEAM STOMPING HAPLESS OPPONENTS BY 60 POINTS OR MORE? ... SO TEAMS, NO NATIONAL COLORS, AT ALL -- JUST THE BEST ATHLETES, PERIOD."

TEXT: KEN ADELMAN, A COLUMNIST FOR THE WASHINGTON TIMES, TAKES A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.

VOICE: "MOST COMMENTATORS CARRY ON ABOUT DEPOLITICIZING THE OLYMPICS. SUCH NICE INTERNATIONALIST SENTIMENT SPURS NO EXCELLENCE. REGARDLESS OF THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT, SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES IMAGINE THEMSELVES ATOP THE STAND WITH THEIR NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING AND NATIONAL FLAG RISING. THEY ENVISION THEMSELVES EMBODYING AND GLORIFYING THEIR NATIONS FOR THAT ONE SHIMMERING MOMENT, AN IMAGE WHICH ADDS TO MAKE A GREAT PERFORMANCE. VIKTOR FRANKL, THE AUSTRIAN PSYCHOLOGIST WHO CAME THROUGH AUSCHWITZ WITH BOTH HIS LIFE AND HIS ZEST FOR LIFE, COUNSELED PEOPLE NOT TO PURSUE HAPPINESS BUT TO LET HAPPINESS ENSUE 'AS THE UNINTENDED SIDE-EFFECT OF ONE'S PERSONAL DEDICATION TO A COURSE GREATER THAN ONESELF'."

TEXT: AND ON THAT OLYMPIC NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/DN/PCH
18-Jul-96 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / IRISH TRUST BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: AS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TRIES TO SETTLE INTO A PEACEFUL RHYTHM AFTER FIVE YEARS OF WAR, FOREIGN AID ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE BEING CALLED ON TO HELP REVIVE THE POPULATION. SOME, LIKE A GROUP CALLED "THE IRISH REFUGEE TRUST," WERE THERE DURING THE DARK YEARS OF CONFLICT, AND ARE STEPPING UP THE PACE OF THEIR RELIEF WORK NOW THAT THE FIGHTING HAS STOPPED. IN THIS FIRST OF SEVERAL REPORTS ON AID EFFORTS IN BOSNIA, V-O-A'S EVANS HAYS SPOKE WITH THOMAS O'GRADY, A ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK WHO IS THE IRISH TRUST'S PROJECT COORDINATOR IN SARAJEVO, ABOUT WHAT HIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING AND WHAT THE PROSPECTS ARE FOR THE FUTURE.

TEXT: THE IRISH REFUGEE TRUST IS LOCATED IN A SMALL, SECOND-STORY WALK-UP OFFICE IN A NONDESCRIPT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN SARAJEVO. THERE IS NO FLAG OR COLORFUL SIGN TO INDICATE ITS WHEREABOUTS -- JUST A SMALL PLAQUE ON THE BUILDING DOOR. OUTSIDE, THE SUN IS SHINING. AN ADJACENT PARK IS SURROUNDED BY SMALL CAFES. THE SHOPS ALONG FERHADIJA STREET ARE OPEN AND DOING A THRIVING BUSINESS. BUT TWO FLIGHTS UP IN THE OFFICE AT FERHADIJA NUMBER 13, BROTHER O'GRADY EXPLAINS THAT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS SO.

HE SAYS HE CAME TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOUR YEARS AGO, WORKING THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS HE HAS BEEN HERE IN SARAJEVO, AND MOST OF THAT TIME THE CITY WAS UNDER SIEGE. THERE WERE NO CAFES AND ONLY A FEW SHOPS WERE OPEN. THE BOSNIAN SERB GUNNERS OVERLOOKING SARAJEVO HAD SHUT THE CITY DOWN. GETTING INTO OR OUT OF THE CITY WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO ROADS, NO AIR (TRAVEL), NO EXITS OR ENTRANCES FOR A LONG TIME EXCEPT THIS SMALL TUNNEL WHICH WAS USED MAINLY BY THE B-I-H ARMY (BOSNIAN ARMY) TO EXIT AND ENTER AND TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCIES. OR OTHERWISE WE HAD TO CLIMB OVER MOUNT IGMUN, DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE DARK WITH NO LIGHTS ON.

BROTHER O'GRADY SAID THE IRISH REFUGEE TRUST WAS SET UP ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO AND OPERATES WORLDWIDE, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA. BUT THE WAR IN BOSNIA, HE SAYS, CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE IRISH PEOPLE, WHO INSISTED THAT A SPECIAL EFFORT BE MADE TO HELP THE WAR VICTIMS HERE.

WE STARTED BY BRINGING EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN AID WHEN NOBODY HAD SUGAR OR SALT OR THE VERY BASICS. WE VISITED THE VARIOUS REFUGEE CAMPS ON ALL SIDES, IN BOSNIA AND EVEN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA (BOSNIAN SERB ENTITY).

HE SAID SARAJEVO QUICKLY BECAME A HEADQUARTERS WHERE THE AID EFFORT EXPANDED. SOME OF THE AID WAS IMMEDIATE, CARRIED BY TRUST WORKERS ALONG THE FRONT LINES IN THE DARK OF NIGHT TO SUPPLY FOOD, WATER AND FUEL TO THE SICK AND ELDERLY -- EVEN AS BOSNIAN SERB SHELLS RAINED DOWN ON THE CITY. THE TRUST, FUNDED BY DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ALSO STARTED PROJECTS TO AID HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, THE BLIND AND OTHERS IN URGENT NEED OF ASSISTANCE. DOING THAT WAS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS DURING THE WAR.

THE OFFICE LOOKS UNPRETENTIOUS, FUNCTIONAL AND CLEAN. BUT AT THE BEGINNING, IT WAS A DIFFERENT PICTURE.

WELL, AS YOU SIT IN THIS SITTING ROOM NOW, WHEN WE RENTED THIS ROOM DURING THE WAR THERE WERE NO WINDOWS, THERE WAS NO GAS, THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY AND THERE WAS NO WATER. WE HAD TO SIT IN THE COLD WITH OUR OVERCOATS AND THE BOMBING WAS GOING ON OUTSIDE THE WINDOWS. WE HAD TO TAKE OUR COMPUTERS AND WORK IN THE KITCHEN, OR WORSE STILL GO TO THE BASEMENT WITH YOUR BLANKET AND YOUR BREAD. // OPT // YOU'D WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND WONDER DO I HAVE ELECTRICITY, DO I HAVE GAS, OR DO I HAVE TO USE MY SCOUTING SKILLS TO LIGHT A LITTLE FIRE IN THE STOVE? INCIDENTALLY, THOSE STOVES ARE THE KIND OF STOVES THAT WERE THE ONLY HEATING THAT PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINE -- OUR BENEFICIARIES -- HAD TO COOK ON.

BUT THE COLD AND LACK OF POWER WAS ONLY A DISCOMFORT. HE SAID THE REST OF DAILY LIFE WAS MORE DANGEROUS, FOR BOTH THE TRUST VOLUNTEERS AND THE DISABLED WHO WERE WAITING TO HELP.

WE HAD TO QUEUE FOR WATER. THE SNIPERS WOULD SHOOT (AT) YOU IN THE QUEUE, AND SO WE HAD TO GET CANS -- A LARGE NUMBER OF CANS -- AND BRING ... WATER TO THEM ... THAT YOU COULD DRINK AND COOK WITH. AND REALLY, SOME OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE FRESH FRUIT FOR 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS. THEY'D NEVER SEEN AN ORANGE OR AN APPLE UNTIL WE CAME ALONG ON THE SCENE. ... PEOPLE WERE BEING FOUND DEAD IN BED, SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THEY WERE DEAD.

BROTHER O'GRADY SAID THE FIRST PHASE OF THE AID EFFORT WAS WHAT HE CALLS PASSIVE -- JUST HELPING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE. NOW, WITH THE FIGHTING OVER, HE SAYS THE IRISH TRUST IS LOOKING TO MORE LONG-TERM PROJECTS. THIS MEANS DEVELOPING HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION CENTERS TO TAKE OVER THE TRUST'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO STAY FOREVER. OUR INTENTION IS TO SUPPORT, TO ENCOURAGE, TO FACILITATE THE RE-COMMENCEMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT WERE PRE-WAR. BUT I WOULD HOPE SINCERELY THAT WE WILL NOT REVERT TO PRE-WAR STRUCTURES AND PRE-WAR STANDARDS. BECAUSE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE UP. I THINK THE BIGGEST SINGLE FACTOR IS, FIRST OF ALL, THE MOTIVATION OF THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE SOCIAL, MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. INDEED, ALL SERVICES: ECONOMIC AND IN MANAGERIAL STRUCTURES. I THINK WE HAVE TO FIRST START WITH RE-TRAINING, IN PARTICULAR IN MANAGEMENT, AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO MOVE THE SYSTEM. THE SERVICES ARE ARCHAIC.

BROTHER O'GRADY ADMITS HE AND THE TRUST FACE A DAUNTING TASK. BUT HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FLOWING FROM IRELAND, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES. IF THIS KEEPS UP, HE'S OPTIMISTIC THAT MANY WAR VICTIMS -- BOTH YOUNG AND OLD WILL GET THE HELP THEY SO URGENTLY NEED. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH/PCF

[03] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: AMERICAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS RETURNED TO BELGRADE FOR FURTHER TALKS WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. HOLBROOKE EARLIER MET WITH OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO TO DISCUSS HIS EFFORTS TO PRESSURE MR. MILOSEVIC TO FORCE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, FROM POWER. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, A LOCAL BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SAID NATO AND U-N PERSONNEL WILL BE ATTACKED IF ANY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CAPTURE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER.

TEXT: RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS CONTINUING HIS SHUTTLE BETWEEN BALKAN CAPITALS IN AN EFFORT TO REVIVE THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. AFTER TALKS WITH BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN SARAJEVO, MR. HOLBROOKE MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY SOLUTIONS TO RADOVAN KARADZIC'S CONTINUED GRIP ON POWER WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUND IN BELGRADE.

WE ARE BEING CHALLENGED DIRECTLY ON THE POLITICAL PROVISIONS OF DAYTON BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS. AND SINCE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SIGNED THE AGREEMENT AND HEADED A JOINT YUGOSLAV-BOSNIAN SERB DELEGATION, WE HAVE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.

MR. HOLBROOKE MET WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT FOR FOUR HOURS ON WEDNESDAY, TALKS WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS INCONCLUSIVE. AND IN SARAJEVO, HE WARNED NOT TO EXPECT TOO MUCH.

MR. HOLBROOKE ALSO MET IN SARAJEVO WITH THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT. MR. BILDT SAID THE PROCESS OF REMOVING RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, MUST BE SPEEDED UP, BUT HE OFFERED LITTLE HOPE OF THAT HAPPENING.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT COMES EASY AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT COMES QUICK. THIS IS A PROCESS AND IT REQUIRES A VERY SUSTAINED POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM ALL SIDES. DON'T EXPECT MAJOR PROGRESS OUT OF ONE MEETING OR TWO MEETINGS,

OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS STILL HOPE THOUGH THAT MR. KARADZIC CAN BE CONVINCED TO AT LEAST STEP DOWN AS LEADER OF HIS RULING NATIONALIST POLITICAL PARTY. CAMPAIGNING FOR BOSNIA-WIDE ELECTIONS BEGINS ON FRIDAY, AND ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL BAN MR. KARADZIC'S PARTY IF HE IS STILL PARTY LEADER THEN.

THE INTENSE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON MR. KARADZIC IS CAUSING INCREASING TENSIONS IN BOSNIA. ON WEDNESDAY, A LOCAL SERB MAYOR IN UGLJEVIK, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA WARNED U-N OFFICIALS THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC WOULD LEAD TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST NATO AND UNARMED U-N POLICE MONITORS. IN MAY OF 1995, THE SERBS HELD SEVERAL HUNDRED U-N MILITARY OBSERVERS HOSTAGE FOR WEEKS UNTIL THEY WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED. BUT THE U-N SPOKESMAN, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS THE SERB MAYOR WARNED NO HOSTAGES WOULD BE TAKEN IF MR. KARADZIC WERE ARRESTED.

ACCORDING TO HIM THIS TIME, ALL U-N POLICE MONITORS WILL BE CAPTURED AND KILLED IMMEDIATELY.

NATO OFFICERS SAY THEY WILL TAKE STRONG ACTION TO PROTECT THE U-N POLICE. AND THE BOSNIAN SERB INTERIOR MINISTER, IN RESPONSE TO EARLIER THREATS, PROMISED TO DO HIS UTMOST TO PREVENT ANY VIOLENCE. OFFICIALS SAY THAT AS LONG AS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE TO REMOVE MR. KARADZIC FROM POWER, THERE IS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD NATO WILL MOUNT AN OPERATION TO CAPTURE HIM. (SIGNED)
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18-Jul-96 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / THREATS (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A LOCAL BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SAYS MILITARY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST NATO AND U-N PERSONNEL IN BOSNIA IF ANY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CAPTURE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE SERB OFFICIAL SAID U-N POLICE MONITORS WOULD NOT BE TAKEN HOSTAGE, BUT WOULD BE CAPTURED AND KILLED IMMEDIATELY.

TEXT: A LOCAL SERB MAYOR IN UGLJEVIK, IN NORTHERN BOSNIA SAID (WEDNESDAY) ANY ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC WOULD LEAD TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST NATO AND UNARMED U-N POLICE MONITORS. IN MAY, 1995, THE SERBS HELD SEVERAL HUNDRED U-N MILITARY OBSERVERS HOSTAGE FOR WEEKS UNTIL THEY WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED. BUT THE U-N SPOKESMAN, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS THE SERB MAYOR WARNED NO HOSTAGES WOULD BE TAKEN IF MR. KARADZIC WERE ARRESTED.

ACCORDING TO HIM, THIS TIME, ALL U-N POLICE MONITORS WILL BE CAPTURED AND KILLED IMMEDIATELY.

U-N OFFICIALS ARE CALLING FOR THE SERB MAYOR TO BE FIRED. NATO OFFICERS SAY THEY WILL TAKE STRONG ACTION TO PROTECT THE U-N POLICE. THE BOSNIAN SERB INTERIOR MINISTER, IN RESPONSE TO EARLIER THREATS, PROMISED TO DO HIS UTMOST TO PREVENT ANY VIOLENCE.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, LED BY AMERICAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE, ARE UNDERWAY TO FORCE MR. KARADZIC TO LEAVE POWER. AND THERE IS NO SIGN THAT A MILITARY ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC IS IMMINENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
18-Jul-96 8:32 AM EDT (1232 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BURMA / EUROPE (L-RERUN) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: A VIDEOTAPE FEATURING REMARKS BY LEADING BURMESE DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNER AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS REACHED THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. IN IT, SHE CALLS FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT IN BURMA. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR VOA FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE VIDEO FEATURING AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHICH HAS BEEN SMUGGLED TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, INCLUDES A WARNING BY HER THAT ECONOMIC CHANGE IN BURMA IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT POLITICAL CHANGE.

SHE SAYS SANCTIONS ARE NEEDED, AND DISMISSES SUGGESTIONS THAT SUCH MEASURES WILL ONLY HURT THE POOR, CLAIMING INSTEAD THAT THE MOST PRIVILEGED WILL BE THE WORST AFFECTED. SHE CLAIMS SANCTIONS WILL AFFECT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE, WHICH IN TURN WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO END ITS SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY.

DENMARK IS LEADING THE CALL FOR E-U (EUROPEAN UNION) SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA, IN PROTEST ABOUT PERSISTENT ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS THERE.

THERE IS PARTICULAR CONCERN ABOUT THE DEATH IN PRISON OF DENMARK'S DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVE IN BURMA, LEO NICHOLS, WHO ALSO REPRESENTED THE INTERESTS OF FINLAND, NORWAY AND SWITZERLAND.

THE ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED BY THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS ON MONDAY, BUT, WHILE CONDEMNING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ACTION BY THE AUTHORITIES, THEY FAILED TO AGREE ON SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA.

EUROPE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT ACTION BURMA'S NEIGHBORS IN ASIA WILL TAKE, AND OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE E-U IS MORE LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE INTERNATIONAL MOOD THAN TO TAKE THE LEAD. HOWEVER, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT -- WHICH HAS INFLUENCE BUT NO POWER IN FOREIGN POLICY MATTERS -- IS CALLING THURSDAY FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO EXERT ECONOMIC PRESSURE AGAINST BURMA.

BRITISH MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, GLENYS KINNOCK, IS LEADING THE ATTACK ON THE REGIME IN RANGOON. SHE CLAIMS THAT BURMA'S BEHAVIOR IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE FORMER APARTHEID REGIME IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND SHE CLAIMS THAT BURMA HAS BECOME THE SOUTH AFRICA OF THE 1990'S.

[06] YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE U-N YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS HEARD ITS MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY YET FROM A SURVIVOR OF THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP WHO SAID HE WAS BEATEN BY A BOSNIAN SERB, DUSAN TADIC, WHO IS ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES. GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: A MUSLIM MAN, EDWIN MRKALJ, TOOK DEEP RASPY BREATHS AS HE TOLD HIS STORY IN COURT.

BEFORE THE WAR HE HAD BEEN A POLICEMAN IN THE TOWN OF PRIJEDOR IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA. HE SAID HE KNEW DUSAN TADIC AND HAD, ON OCCASIONS, GONE DRINKING WITH HIM IN LOCAL BARS.

AFTER BOSNIAN SERBS TOOK OVER THE AREA, MR. MRKALJ SAID HE WAS TAKEN TO THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP. ON THE 16TH OF JUNE, 1992, HE SAID HE AND ANOTHER PRISONER WERE ORDERED TO THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING TO REMOVE THE BODY OF A PRISONER.

HE SAID THAT AS THEY REACHED THE ROOM, DUSAN TADIC SAVAGELY BEAT HIM WITH A RUBBER BATON. HE TOLD THE COURT THERE WAS ALREADY FRESH BLOOD ON HIS SHOES. FINALLY, HE SAID, MR. TADIC PUT A SUBMACHINE GUN INTO HIS (THE PRISONER'S) MOUTH, AND THE BEATING CONTINUED.

THE GUN WAS STILL IN MY MOUTH, HE SAID, MY HEAD WAS BURSTING, THERE WAS BLOOD, IT WAS AWFUL. MY TEETH WERE BREAKING. EVERYTHING WAS BREAKING.

THE WITNESS SAID MR. TADIC HAD WHAT HE CALLED A CYNICAL GRIN ON THIS FACE AS THIS WAS HAPPENING. HE SAID HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHEN HE RECOVERED, HE SAW A BODY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM WITH ITS HEAD CAVED IN, AND BLOODY.

HE SAID DUSAN TADIC ORDERED HIM TO HIT THE MAN.

THE SENSATION, HE SAID, WAS UNSPEAKABLE. I HIT HIM. I DIDN'T WANT TO. BUT I HAD NO CHOICE. THEN SOMETHING LIKE A SCREAM CAME OUT OF HIS HEAD. IT WAS NOT A SCREAM, BUT MORE JUST A SOUND, SOMETHING YOU CANNOT EXPERIENCE IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

ASKED IF HE SAW THE MAN WHO HAD DONE THIS IN COURT, HE POINTED TO MR. TADIC AND SAID, "YES, THAT PIECE OF GARBAGE."

OBSERVERS SAY THIS TESTIMONY IS THE MOST DAMAGING YET AGAINST DUSAN TADIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH/CF
18-Jul-96 10:02 AM EDT (1402 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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