Voice of America, 96-09-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE ELECTIONS (L) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

[02] CYRPUS-GREECE REACT (L-ONLY) BY JENNIFER GRIFFIN (NICOSIA)

[03] TURKEY / U-S / IRAQ (L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

[04] ASSESSING THE BOSNIA ELECTION BY EMMANUEL DUPARCQ (WASHINGTON)

[05] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[06] U-S / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[07] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] GREECE ELECTIONS (L) BY ANTHEE CARASSAVAS (ATHENS)

INTRO: GREECE'S SOCIALIST LEADER, COSTAS SIMITIS, HAS BEGUN FORMING A NEW GOVERNING CABINET, AFTER HIS ELECTION VICTORY SUNDAY. ANTHEE CARASSAVAS REPORTS FROM ATHENS THE SOCIALIST TRIUMPH HAS SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

TEXT: OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW THE PANHELLENIC SOCIALIST MOVEMENT WINNING ALMOST 42 PER CENT OF THE VOTE AGAINST 38 PERCENT MUSTERED BY THE RIVAL NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY.

THE SOCIALISTS' VICTORY IS THE FIRST WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF LATE ANDREAS PAPANDREOU, THE CHARISMATIC FIREBRAND WHO FOUNDED AND RULED THE PARTY -- IN THE OPTION OF SOME, LIKE AN AUTOCRAT FOR 22 YEARS.

SIXTY-YEAR-OLD PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS HAS UNTIL THIS WEDNESDAY TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AND JUST MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO WIN A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM THE 300-SEAT PARLIAMENT.

MR. SIMITIS' VICTORY GIVES HIM FULL CONTROL OVER THE SOCIALIST PARTY, A FREE HAND TO NAME A CABINET OF HIS CHOICE AND FOUR YEARS TO IMPLEMENT HIS REFORM PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY.

GREECE IS STILL THE WORSE ECONOMIC PERFORMER IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, DESPITE A DECADE OF AUSTERITY MEASURES EMBRACED BY BOTH CONSERVATIVE AND SOCIALIST GOVERNMENTS.

AIDES TO THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD VOA, MR. SIMITIS WILL ATTEMPT TO BRING WHAT THEY CALL A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND REFORM TO THE GOVERNMENT BY APPOINTING AN ASSORTMENT OF NEW FACES. THE NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER (YANNOS PAPANDONIOU) AND FOREIGN MINISTER (THEODORE PANGALOS), HOWEVER, ARE EXPECTED TO RETAIN THEIR CRUCIAL POSTS.

THE AIDES SAID NO POLICY CHANGE WAS EXPECTED IN GREECE'S SHAKY RELATIONS WITH TURKEY -- JUST A TOUGHER STANCE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, VOTERS ON SUNDAY ELECTED THREE TURKISH-SPEAKING MOSLEMS TO PARLIAMENT. MEANTIME, THE STRONG SOCIALIST VICTORY JOLTED CONSERVATIVE NEW DEMOCRACY PRESIDENT MILTIADES EVERT FROM THE HELM OF THE PARTY AND FANNED A RACE OF SUCCESSION (COMPETITION TO SUCCEED HIM).

COMMONLY KNOWN BY HIS NICKNAME THE "BULLDOZER," MR. EVERT RESIGNED FROM THE PARTY PRESIDENCY SAYING HE WAS TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS LOOSING PERFORMANCE. TWO SENIOR CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS HAVE SO FAR ANNOUNCED THEIR CANDIDACIES AND THREE OTHER OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING STEPPING INTO THE RACE.

FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS, HOWEVER, PREVAILED IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF GREECE'S HARDLINE COMMUNIST PARTY AS THE MARXIST-LENINIST CLASS STRUGGLE IDEOLOGY INCREASED ITS APPEAL AMONG GREEKS. THE COMMUNISTS WON ABOUT SIX PER CENT OF THE VOTE, BECOMING THE THIRD LARGEST PARTY IN GREECE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/PCF/CF
23-Sep-96 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CYRPUS-GREECE REACT (L-ONLY) BY JENNIFER GRIFFIN (NICOSIA)

INTRO: A DAY AFTER GREEK VOTERS REELECTED SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS TO THEIR COUNTRY'S HIGHEST POST, LEADERS IN NEIGHBORING CYPRUS HAVE EXPRESSED HARDY SUPPORT FOR THE ELECTION'S OUTCOME. FROM NICOSIA, JENNIFER GRIFFIN REPORTS GREEK CYPRIOTS SAY THEY HOPE THE REINSTATED PREMIER WILL HELP SOLVE THEIR PROLONGED DISPUTE WITH TURKEY AND REUNITE CYPRUS.

TEXT: ON THIS SLEEPY TOURIST ISLAND, HOME TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST CONTINGENTS OF UNITED NATIONS PEACE KEEPERS, ONE TOPIC CAN ALWAYS ROUSE THE PASSIONS OF THE COUNTRY'S CITIZENS. TALK OF THE CYPRUS "PROBLEM," OR CYPRUS "SOLUTION," USUALLY LEADS TO A LIVELY DISCUSSION, WHETHER IT IS WITH GREEKS LIVING SOUTH OF THE DIVIDING GREEN LINE -- WHO WANT THE ISLAND REUNITED -- OR NORTH WHO WANT A SEPARATE REPUBLIC.

THOUGH CYPRUS IS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY, IT HAS A LONG ENTANGLED HISTORY WITH GREECE. FOR THIS REASON, ETHNIC GREEKS IN CYPRUS FOLLOWED THE ELECTION RESULTS VERY CLOSELY. AND AS SOON AS RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED, THE PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS SENT CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. (COSTAS) SIMITIS AND OPPOSITION LEADERS PLEADED WITH THE NEW GREEK GOVERNMENT TO STAND BY CYPRUS IN ITS ONGOING DISPUTE WITH TURKEY.

POLLS SHOW THAT MOST GREEK CYPRIOTS PINNED THEIR HOPES ON THE VICTORIOUS MR. SIMITIS. POLITICAL ANALYST AND "CYPRUS WEEKLY" PUBLISHER ANDREAS HADJIPAPAS SAYS GREEK CYPRIOTS LIKE THE LOW-KEY FORMER LAW AND ECONOMICS PROFESSOR BECAUSE THEY THINK HE IS BEST SUITED TO STATE THEIR CASE INTERNATIONALLY.

I REMEMBER I SAW A POLL ON TELEVISION A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND THEY ASKED THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WOULD VOTE IF THEY HAD THE RIGHT, OF COURSE, TO VOTE. AND I BELIEVE SEVEN OR EIGHT OUT OF 10 SAID THEY PREFERRED SIMITIS. THEY SAW HIM AS A MODERATE, AS A PRAGMATIST, AS A SENSIBLE POLITICIAN WHO WOULD TRY TO MAKE GREECE BIG AND IMPORTANT AND RESPECTED AND IN THIS WAY THEY HOPE THIS WOULD HELP ALSO CYPRUS. // OPT // HE IS A MAN, AS WE SAW WHEN HE CAME TO CYPRUS LAST MONTH, WHO DOES NOT WANT TENSIONS AND CONFRONTATION WITH TURKEY AND OTHER NEIGHBORS OF GREECE. AND THEY SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD HELP CYPRUS MORE THAN BY LOUD AND NATIONALISTIC DECLARATIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE (MILTIADES) EVERT OR OTHER POLITICIANS IN GREECE. // END OPT //

MR. SIMITIS' CONSERVATIVE OPPONENT, MILTIADES EVERT, KNOWN AS "THE BULLDOZER," CALLED FOR GREECE TO TAKE A TOUGHER, MORE VOCAL STAND AGAINST TURKEY OVER THE DIVIDED ISLAND OF CYPRUS. HE ALSO DONATED ABOUT 60-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE FAMILIES OF TWO GREEK CYPRIOTS WHO WERE KILLED IN CLASHES WITH TURKS AND TURKISH CYPRIOTS ALONG THE GREEN LINE LAST MONTH.

BUT MR. SIMITIS FAVORS A QUIET, DIPLOMATIC APPROACH IN HIS EFFORT TO WIN TERRITORIAL DISPUTES WITH TURKEY. MR. SIMITIS VISITED CYPRUS LAST MONTH FOLLOWING THE VIOLENT CLASHES ALONG THE GREEN LINE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME CIVILIANS HAD DIED IN FIGHTING ALONG THE BUFFER ZONE SINCE THE TURKISH ARMY INVADED IN 1974, GRABBING THE NORTHERN ONE-THIRD OF THE ISLAND. THE 1974 INVASION FOLLOWED A COUP BACKED BY THE MILITARY IN ATHENS DESIGNED TO UNITE CYPRUS WITH GREECE.

I WOULD SAY YOU ARE RIGHT THEY FEEL LET DOWN AND THAT'S WHY I SAID EARLIER THEY DON'T PREFER ANY BIG PROMISES ANY MORE. THEY SEE IN SIMITIS SOMEBODY WHO WILL WORK METHODICALLY TO GET GREECE STRONG AND RESPECTED COUNTRY IN EUROPE AND THEY RELY SO MUCH IN HIS COMMITMENT AND IN HIS PROMISE IN PARTICULAR THAT HE WILL STRIVE TO GET CYPRUS INTO THE UNITED EUROPE AS WELL. AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT THEY HOPE MOST FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS ISLAND. SO SOMEHOW THEY FEEL THEY CAN TRUST HIM MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE FROM GREECE AT THIS MOMENT.

[03] TURKEY / U-S / IRAQ (L) BY MAX RUSTON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES APPEAR TO HAVE CLEARED UP A DISPUTE ABOUT ANKARA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH NEIGHBORING IRAQ. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TANSU CILLER MET IN NEW YORK TODAY (MONDAY) WITH U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER TO DISCUSS WHAT BOTH SIDES LATER DESCRIBED AS A MISUNDERSTANDING.

TEXT: BEFORE DISCUSSING OTHER ISSUES, MS. CILLER AND MR. CHRISTOPHER DISCUSSED A REPORT IN A U-S NEWSPAPER THAT TURKEY HAD EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH BAGHDAD TO SUPPRESS TURKISH SEPARATISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE REPORT WAS BASED ON AN INTERVIEW WITH MS. CILLER, CARRIED SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES, TO SPEAK AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE REPORT SAID TURKEY WOULD CANCEL ITS PLAN TO CREATE A SECURITY ZONE IN IRAQ IF BAGHDAD WOULD CRACK DOWN ON KURDISH SEPARATISTS FIGHTING AGAINST TURKEY FROM BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

MS. CILLER DENIED ANY PLANS TO CANCEL THE 10 KILOMETER SECURITY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. SHE DESCRIBED THE REPORT AS A MISUNDERSTANDING.

WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF OUR BORDERS. WE WANT TO STOP THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES THROUGH OUR BORDERS. BUT WE CANNOT ASK SADDAM (HUSSEIN) TO DO THAT FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS.

AFTER THE 40 MINUTE MEETING BETWEEN MS. CILLER AND MR. CHRISTOPHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS PROVIDED REPORTERS WITH DETAILS OF THEIR DISCUSSION.

WE RECEIVED A VERY STRONG FEELING IN THIS MEETING THAT TURKEY WANTS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE UNITED STATES TO LIMIT THE ACTIVITIES OF SADDAM HUSSEIN IN THE NORTHERN PART OF IRAQ AND THAT TURKEY WOULD BE QUITE STRONG IN WORKING WITH THE UNITED STATES IN WORKING TO THIS END. SO I DO NOT THINK ANY KIND OF DIALOGUE IS A PROBLEM. IF THERE IS ANY DIALOGUE, IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY ROUTINE AND NOT CONSEQUENTIAL.

MR. BURNS SAID MS. CILLER EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS A POWER VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND ABOUT THE IMPACT OF UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST BAGHDAD ON TURKEY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION. HE SAID MR. CHRISTOPHER REAFFIRMED WASHINGTON'S DESIRE TO WORK WITH ANKARA TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/CF
23-Sep-96 2:52 PM EDT (1852 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ASSESSING THE BOSNIA ELECTION BY EMMANUEL DUPARCQ (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD ARE COMMENTING ON BOSNIA'S FIRST POST-WAR ELECTIONS. PESSIMISM ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR A MULTI-ETHNIC BOSNIA REMAINED THE PREDOMINANT POST-ELECTION SENTIMENT AMONG MEDIA OPINIONMAKERS. THEY ARGUED THAT THE ELECTIONS ONLY SERVED TO LEGITIMIZE EXTREMIST NATIONALIST LEADERS AND THE GAINS WON THROUGH THEIR POLICY OF ETHNIC-CLEANSING. HOWEVER, THE MORE OPTIMISTIC COMMENTARIES HELD THAT THE ELECTIONS--FLAWED AS THEY MAY HAVE BEEN--WERE NONETHELESS AN "IMPORTANT STEP" IN A SERIOUS PROCESS TOWARD RECONCILIATION AND PEACE.

FOR A SAMPLING OF WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT THE BOSNIA VOTE, HERE IS ______________ WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: GENERALLY, NEWSPAPERS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAIVA ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTIONS WERE "PEACEFUL" NATURE, BUT MANY SAY THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE THE VOTING TOOK PLACE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF IFOR TROOPS AND INTERNATIONAL MONITORS. WE BEGIN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WHERE THE DAILY "VECERNJE NOVINE" SAYS THAT THESE FIRST ELECTIONS PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, UNDER INTERNATIONAL AUSPICES.

VOICE: "NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULTS ARE, BY COMING TO SARAJEVO, (U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD) HOLBROOKE MADE CLEAR THAT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED. GUARANTEES FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND ITS FUTURE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED GENEROUSLY, ESPECIALLY IF WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE IZETBEGOVIC-MILOSEVIC MEETING. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS EVEN GREATER WHEN WE HAVE IN MIND THAT THIS COULD TAKE PLACE AFTER THE ELECTIONS AND WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF BOSNIAN SERBS IN THE GOVERNMENT. ALL THIS HAS EVEN GREATER IMPORTANCE WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES DO NOTHING BY ACCIDENT."

TEXT: IN SERBIA-MONTENEGRO, THE PRO-GOVERNMENT "VECERNJE NOVOSTI" WARNED THAT THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES CAN NOW LEGITIMATELY SPEAK FOR THEIR ENTITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

VOICE: "THE FIRST ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WERE WON BY PEOPLE IN BOTH ENTITIES, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND IN THE FEDERATION. THE MASSIVE TURNOUT OF CITIZENS...SHOWS, ABOVE ALL, THAT THE SERBS, CROATS AND MUSLIMS REALLY HAD ENOUGH OF WAR AND (ENOUGH) OF EFFORTS TO SOLVE THEIR DISPUTES WITH BLOODSHED IN WHICH THEY ALL HAD LOST. NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULTS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO RESPECT THEM AND TO ACCEPT THE PEOPLE WHOM THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND THE FEDERATION HAVE TRUSTED, AS LEGAL AND LEGITIMATE REPRESENTATIVES..." ..

TEXT: IN WESTERN EUROPE, MOST NEWSPAPERS VOICED PESSIMISM ABOUT A FUTURE MULTIETHNIC BOSNIA--ALTHOUGH WERE SOME SAW GLIMMERS OF HOPE FOR THE WAR-TORN NATION. IN FRANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, "LE MONDE" CONCLUDES THAT "THE TRIUMPH OF THE ULTRA-NATIONALISTS MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE SOUNDED THE END OF BOSNIA AS A UNITED NATION". FOR ITS PARTS "LE FIGARO" SAYS:

VOICE: "INSTEAD OF RE-ESTABLISHING THE PLURALISTIC SOCIETY OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE DAYTON ACCORDS HAVE GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT TO 'ETHNIC CLEANSING.'... INSTEAD OF GIVING BIRTH TO A UNITED BOSNIA AS PLANNED BY THE AGREEMENT, THE VOTING HAS ACCENTUATED INTERNAL DIVISIONS.... (THE DIPLOMATS) IMAGINED AN ILLUSORY SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL COOPERATION.... THE THREE-MAN PRESIDENCY CANNOT WORK. THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IS A MARRIAGE IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES THAT COULD END IN A BLOODY DIVORCE.... EVEN BILL CLINTON, WHO WANTED THE U.S. TROOPS BACK BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, IS BEGINNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE (THE NEED TO PROLONG IFOR'S MANDATE).... FOR THE BOSNIAN VOTERS, PEACE IS BUT A CONTINUATION OF WAR THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS."

TEXT: IN GERMANY, HOWEVER, "NEURNBERGER ZEITUNG" SEES A POSITIVE SIGN IN BOSNIAN MUSLIM PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC'S VICTORY TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF A THREE-PERSON ROTATING PRESIDENCY.

VOICE: "NOW THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WHICH MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED AND FEARED AT THE SAME TIME.... THE FACT THAT THE 71-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM WON OVER HIS TOUGHEST CONTENDER, THE SERB KAJISNIK, JUSTIFIES A CERTAIN RELIEF DESPITE ALL SKEPTICISM. IZETBEGOVIC IS THE ONE OF WHOM WE CAN EXPECT A WILLINGNESS TO KEEP THE DOWNTRODDEN COUNTRY TOGETHER."

TEXT: IN EASTERN EUROPE, POLAND'S "GAZETA WYBORCZA" BELIEVES BOSNIA WAS NOT READY FOR ELECTIONS BECAUSE CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY WERE NOT SATISFACTORY, AND DID NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD --AMONG THEM FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE ARREST OF WAR CRIMINALS.

VOICE: "DESPITE THE DAYTON ACCORDS, DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF 60-THOUSAND IFOR TROOPS, LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE THE ELECTIONS 'FREE AND FAIR.' WAR CRIMINALS HAVE NOT BEEN ARRESTED, AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES HAS NOT BEEN MADE POSSIBLE.... THESE ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE A STEP FORWARD BUT BACKWARD. THEY WILL LEGITIMIZE CRIMES. THE NOTION OF ETHNIC-CLEANSING WHICH HAD BEEN TRIUMPHING FOR THREE YEARS, HAS TRIUMPHED FOR NINE MONTHS NOW THANKS TO THE INDIFFERENCE OF THE WORLD. AS IF WE HAD NOTHING TO WIN AND NOTHING TO LOSE IN BOSNIA. IF THAT'S THE CASE--WE HAVE ALREADY LOST."

TEXT: OPINION IS MORE DIVERSE IN RUSSIA. WHILE "NEZAVISIMA GAZETA" THINKS THAT THE ELECTIONS "CAN BE CALLED FREE AND DEMOCRATIC", "SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA" CRITICIZES THE UNITED STATES' SUPPORT FOR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA AT THIS TIME, LINKING IT TO ELECTION-YEAR POLITICS.

VOICE: "FOR ALL THE BOMBASTIC STATEMENTS BY CLINTON, OUT TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS VOTE AS AN ELEMENT OF HIS OWN ELECTION CAMPAIGN, BOSNIA DOES NOT STAND A CHANCE TO BECOME MULTIETHNIC--SO DEEP ARE THE DIFFERENCES LEFT BEHIND BY THE CRUEL WAR UNLEASHED LARGELY THROUGH THE FAULT OF THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES".

TEXT: IN JAPAN, TOKYO'S "YOMIURI" POINTS OUTS THAT DESPITE A FIRST DEMOCRATIC STEP IN BOSNIA, THE CURRENT SITUATION REQUIRES A CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL -- MEANING U-S -- PRESENCE IN BOSNIA PAST THE DECEMBER DEADLINE FOR TROOP WITHDRAWALS.

VOICE: "ALTHOUGH THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD TOWARD PEACE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST STILL COOPERATE WITH ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND USE ITS STRONG INFLUENCE TO EFFECT A DIALOGUE FOR CO-EXISTENCE AMONG THESE HOSTILE ETHNIC RIVALS AT THE NEW PARLIAMENT. IT IS, THEREFORE, NECESSARY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE RIVAL GROUPS TO ADVANCE THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION AND CO-EXISTENCE. THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE TIME BEING."

TEXT: IN SOUTH AFRICA, AFRIKAANS "DIE BURGER" CONCLUDES THAT SHAPING A MULTIETHNIC STATE IS IMPOSSIBLE IN BOSNIA.

VOICE: "MORE IMPORTANT...IS THE FACT THAT IT [THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA] TOOK PLACE AT ALL. THIS GIVES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE EXCUSE TO CLOSE THEIR EYES AND ADMIT THAT THE PEACE PROCESS...IS STILL WELL ON THE WAY. THAT IS NATURALLY NOT THE CASE...THE UNDERLYING HATRED IS SUCH THAT A PERMANENT DIVISION IS THE NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE, WHATEVER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TRIES TO DO.... THE BEST WOULD BE TO RECOGNIZE THE IRREVERSIBLE HISTORICAL PROCESS, TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY AND TO LIMIT THE INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AT STOPPING ANY FURTHER BLOODSHED."

TEXT: IN LATIN AMERICA, THE BRAZILIAN "FOLHA DE SAO PAULO" SAYS THE STALEMATE IN BOSNIA REVEALS THAT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NOT YET LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH POST-COLD WAR CONFLICTS.

VOICE: "THESE ELECTIONS ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED FAIR BY FOREIGN OBSERVERS AND MARK A PARTIAL AND LIMITED PEACE IN THE REGION. THEY INDICATE ABOVE ALL THE INABILITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO TAKE CARE OF A HUGE DIPLOMATIC CRISIS... THE HISTORY OF THE DIVISION OF YUGOSLAVIA SHOWS THAT TODAY IT IS NECESSARY TO LIVE WITH A PARADOX. NO MATTER HOW AUSPICIOUS THE NEW PEACE EFFORTS SEEM, IT APPEARS THAT THE WORLD, WITHOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE ENEMY LIKE IN THE COLD WAR, WILL HAVE TO FACE AN UNANTICIPATED NUMBER OF REGIONAL CONFLICTS."

TEXT: THAT SENTIMENT FROM BRAZIL'S "FOLHA DE SAO PAULO" CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF WORLD MEDIA REACTION TO THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.
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23-Sep-96 2:15 PM EDT (1815 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS ENCOURAGED BY RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE BOSNIAN CROATS AND SERBS, SAYING THEY ARE HELPING TO SET THE STAGE FOR CREATION OF POST-WAR BOSNIA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A U-S SPOKESMAN IS URGING BOSNIA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES TO WORK QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY TO SET UP BOSNIA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ONCE ELECTION RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED:

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS DOES NOT BELIEVE RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN BOSNIAN CROAT LEADER KRESIMIR ZUBAK AND BOSNIAN SERB MOMCILO KRAJISNIK ARE AIMED AT ISOLATING THE MAJORITY MUSLIMS. HE SAYS MR. ZUBAK IS HOLDING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET ALONE SOON WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC.

MR. BURNS DISCLOSES (FRIDAY) THAT ALL THREE LEADERS MAY MEET UNDER U-S AUSPICES THURSDAY AT U-N HEADQUARTERS:

OUR OWN VIEW IS THAT ALL OF THESE LEADERS NEED TO WORK QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY TOGETHER TO CREATE THE NEW INSTITUTIONS OF THE BOSNIAN STATE, THE UNIFIED BOSNIAN STATE. THE CAPITAL OF THAT STATE IS SARAJEVO AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MEETINGS BE HELD IN SARAJEVO.

MR. BURNS NOTES THAT THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS STIPULATE SARAJEVO REMAIN BOSNIA'S CAPITAL.

HE SAYS ANOTHER KEY STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE WILL BE THE OCTOBER THIRD SCHEDULED MEETING IN PARIS BETWEEN MR. IZETBEGOVIC, THE PRESUMED HEAD OF BOSNIA'S COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY, AND SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE SAYS THE TWO LEADERS MUST NORMALIZE RELATIONS TO ENCOURAGE THE FLOW OF TRADE AND PEOPLE. MR. BURNS, WHO EXPECTS U-S REPRESENTATION AT THE PARIS MEETING, SAYS IT WILL BE VITAL FOR TWO LEADERS TO PUT THE WAR BEHIND THEM. (SIGNED).
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22-Sep-96 9:46 PM EDT (0146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS ENCOURAGED BY RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE BOSNIAN CROATS AND SERBS -- SAYING THEY ARE HELPING TO SET THE STAGE FOR CREATION OF POST-WAR BOSNIA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS A U-S SPOKESMAN IS URGING BOSNIA'S ETHNIC COMMUNITIES TO WORK QUICKLY TO SET UP BOSNIA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ONCE ELECTION RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED:

TEXT: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN BOSNIAN CROAT LEADER KRESIMIR ZUBAK AND BOSNIAN SERB MOMCILO KRAJISNIK ARE AIMED AT ISOLATING THE MAJORITY MUSLIMS. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS MR. ZUBAK IS HOLDING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET ALONE SOON WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC.

MR. BURNS DISCLOSED (FRIDAY) REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BOSNIAN CROAT, SERB AND MUSLIM LEADERSHIP MAY MEET UNDER U-S AUSPICES THURSDAY AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS:

OUR OWN VIEW IS THAT ALL OF THESE LEADERS NEED TO WORK QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY TOGETHER TO CREATE THE NEW INSTITUTIONS OF THE BOSNIAN STATE, THE UNIFIED BOSNIAN STATE. THE CAPITAL OF THAT STATE IS SARAJEVO AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MEETINGS BE HELD IN SARAJEVO.

DEPUTY CIVIL ADMINISTRATOR FOR BOSNIA MICHAEL STEINER SAYS THE COUNTRY'S NEW COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY COULD MEET NEXT WEEK, AFTER RESULTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 14TH ELECTIONS ARE CERTIFIED.

MR. BURNS SAYS ANOTHER KEY STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE WILL BE THE OCTOBER THIRD MEETING IN PARIS BETWEEN MR. IZETBEGOVIC, THE PRESUMED HEAD OF BOSNIA'S COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY, AND SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. BURNS-- WHO EXPECTS U-S REPRESENTATION WILL ATTEND THE PARIS MEETING -- SAYS IT WILL BE VITAL FOR TWO LEADERS TO PUT THE WAR BEHIND THEM. (SIGNED).
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23-Sep-96 2:20 AM EDT (0620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SEVERAL EDITORIAL WRITERS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE FOCUSED ON GUATEMALA THIS MONDAY AND SEEING SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN THAT NATION'S MOVE TOWARD TRUE DEMOCRACY. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: BOB DOLE'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN RHETORIC; THE NATION'S NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT; THE BOSNIAN ELECTION, AND BORIS YELTSIN'S IMPENDING HEART SURGERY. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE MIAMI HERALD SALUTES THE LATEST MOVEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA TOWARD ENDING THE NATION'S DECADES-LONG CIVIL WAR.

VOICE: "THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA HAVE WAITED 36 YEARS FOR PEACE. NOW IT SEEMS ALMOST WITHIN THEIR REACH. FOR EVEN LONGER, GUATEMALANS HAVE SUFFERED UNDER THE POWER OF OVERWEENING CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THERE, TOO, RECENT EVENTS PROMISE CHANGE. LAST WEEK IN MEXICO CITY, PRESIDENT ALVARO ARZU AND THE LEADERS OF THE GUATEMALAN GUERRILLAS SIGNED THE FINAL, SUBSTANTIVE ACCORD OF A PEACE AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN UNDER NEGOTIATION FOR FIVE YEARS. THE CEREMONY CLEARS THE WAY ... FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE LONGEST ARMED CONFLICT IN CENTRAL AMERICA."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS ALSO TAKING NOTE OF GUATEMALA'S PROGRESS THERE, CALLING THE AGREEMENT "A LONG-SOUGHT ACHIEVEMENT," BUT WARNS:

VOICE: "...VIGILANCE BY GUATEMALANS AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD WILL BE NEEDED TO TURN THE PROMISE INTO REAL CHANGE... GUATEMALA'S GUERRILLA WAR HAS BEEN STAGGERINGLY LONG AND BRUTAL, LASTING 35 YEARS AND KILLING PERHAPS 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE. IT GREW OUT OF A 1954 C-I-A-BACKED COUP THAT TOPPLED AN ELECTED LEFTIST PRESIDENT WHO WAS OPPOSED BY THE UNITED FRUIT COMPANY. THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP THAT CAME TO POWER LASTED UNTIL 1985. IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEAR-GENOCIDAL SLAUGHTER OF GUATEMALA'S MAYAN MAJORITY."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC POLITICS, NEWSDAY OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, IS CRITICAL OF BOB DOLE'S LATEST CAMPAIGN COMMENTS ON HOW HE WOULD DEAL WITH CRIME, WRITING:

VOICE: "FOR ALL OF [MR.] DOLE'S RHETORIC ABOUT CRIME, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO OFFER VOTERS... AS USUAL, THE PUBLIC IS BEING ILL-SERVED BY A DISCUSSION THAT OFFERS NO FRESH IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO BEST FIGHT CRIME."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES AGREES, AND ADDRESSES THE MATTER IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL.

VOICE: "AFTER DWELLING FOR WEEKS ON THE ECONOMY, BOB DOLE HAS BEGUN ATTACKING PRESIDENT CLINTON ON DRUGS AND CRIME. AS A TACTICAL MATTER, REPUBLICANS MAY BE RIGHT TO TRY TO ADD TO MR. DOLE'S CENTRAL PROPOSAL, A 15-PERCENT TAX CUT THAT HAS FAILED TO EXCITE VOTERS... THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE'S POOR GUN-CONTROL RECORD MAKES IT UNLIKELY THAT HE CAN RECLAIM THE CRIME ISSUE FOR HIS OWN. AS FOR DRUGS, BOTH MR. CLINTON AND MR. DOLE ARE RIGHT TO CALL FOR MORE LEADERSHIP, AND RIGHT TO ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF IGNORING THE PROBLEM UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY."

TEXT: ON ANOTHER POLITICAL ISSUE, THE WASHINGTON POST IS HOPEFUL THAT AN IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL WILL BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS BEFORE IT ADJOURNS.

VOICE: "PROSPECTS FOR MAJOR IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION THIS YEAR WERE STILL UNCERTAIN WHEN CONGRESS RECESSED ON FRIDAY. A BILL PRIMARILY CONCENTRATING ON ILLEGAL ALIENS HAD BEEN PASSED BY EACH HOUSE, BUT A CONFERENCE HAS YET TO BE SCHEDULED. MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DRAFT A COMPROMISE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE DEMOCRATS AND, THEY HOPE, WILL WIN THE SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT. IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN, THE MAJORITY HAS GOT TO BE MORE REALISTIC THAN ITS PRELIMINARY DRAFT NOW INDICATES."

TEXT: THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD IS CELEBRATING THE GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION OF THE NATION'S NEWEST NATIONAL MONUMENT, GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE, IN UTAH. PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST WEEK SAVING IT FROM COAL EXPLOITATION BY A LARGE DUTCH COMPANY.

VOICE: "THE CANYONS OF THE ESCALANTE, 112-POINT-SEVEN KILOMETERS NORTH OF WHAT NOW IS GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, HAD BEEN PROPOSED FOR NATIONAL MONUMENT STATUS BEFORE, IN THE 1930S. BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THUS PROTECTED IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM, THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES SINCE... THE UTAH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS DONE EVERYTHING IT COULD TO DENY ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THESE FEDERAL LANDS, FINALLY PROMPTING THE PRESIDENT TO INVOKE THE ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 1906 IN THEIR BEHALF. [OPT] BECAUSE HE DID, GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS WILL ENJOY WHAT ROBERT REDFORD, FILM STAR ... AND CONSERVATIONIST, CORRECTLY SAYS COULD BE A 'DEFINING LEGACY OF THE CLINTON PRESIDENCY.' [END OPT]

TEXT: MOVING BACK TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, TODAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOSNIA ELECTIONS.

VOICE: "THOUGH FEW WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO CALL THE ELECTIONS FREE AND FAIR, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NONETHELESS HAILED THE FACT THAT ELECTIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE AT ALL -- AND WITH A MINIMUM OF VIOLENCE -- AS VERY ENCOURAGING. PRESIDENT CLINTON HIMSELF CALLED IT A 'MAJOR STEP FORWARD.' ... IN FACT, IN BOSNIA, THE STUBBORN MISTAKE OF PROCEEDING WITH ELECTIONS AT A POINT WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS FAR FROM READY FOR IT HAS NOW ONLY PRODUCED A MUDDLE THAT WILL GREATLY COMPLICATE THE REHABILITATION OF THE COUNTRY."

TEXT: REGARDING THE NEWEST REPORTS THAT U-S TROOPS WERE EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS DURING THE GULF WAR, TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE SAYS IN AN EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "THE PENTAGON'S PAST FOOT-DRAGGING [STALLING] ON THIS INCIDENT AND OTHERS LINKED TO (THE AILMENT KNOWN AS) GULF WAR SYNDROME MAY HAVE BEEN DUE MORE TO BUREAUCRATIC INERTIA THAN TO A CONSPIRATORIAL COVERUP. NEVERTHELESS, THE STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN USED CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AGAINST U-S TROOPS HAS SEVERE POLICY IMPLICATIONS. SADDAM STILL POSSES THOSE WEAPONS, AND HE IS STILL IN POWER. CONGRESS SHOULD INVESTIGATE ... FOR THE SAKE OF THE VETERANS AND THE NATION'S SECURITY."

TEXT: THE HARTFORD COURANT, ANOTHER NEW ENGLAND DAILY, IS EQUALLY FRUSTRATED AT THE PENTAGON'S RETICENCE TO SPEAK PLAINLY ABOUT THE GULF WAR AILMENT.

VOICE: UNTIL LATE AUGUST, THE PENTAGON WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE ONLY TWO 'CREDIBLE' DETECTIONS OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES FROM CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE WAR. NOW, THE PENTAGON SAYS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN FIVE OTHER DETECTIONS. AGAIN, WHAT GIVES [WHAT IS GOING ON?]. VARIOUS PARTS OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT HAD THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIVE OTHER DETECTIONS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE WAR."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, CONCERNING BORIS YELTSIN'S PENDING HEART OPERATION, AND THE DEBATE ABOUT WHERE THE SURGERY SHOULD BE DONE, THE BALTIMORE SUN SAYS:

VOICE: "SOME RUSSIAN SURGEONS SAY MR. YELTSIN SHOULD GO ABROARD FOR HIS OPERATION BECAUSE WESTERN HOSPITALS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED. BUT RUSSIAN PRIDE WOULD PROBABLY NOT PERMIT THIS... A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN MOSCOW MIGHT HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF TRAINING A MUCH NEEDED SPOTLIGHT ON RUSSIAN MEDICINE, A FIELD OF SOME PEAKS OF EXCELLENCE AND MANY VALLEYS OF ANTIQUATED METHODS AND DILETTANTISM."

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
23-Sep-96 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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