Voice of America, 96-11-19

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA/MLADIC (L-ONLY) (CORRECTION) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[04] ROMANIA REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] THE U-S STAYS IN BOSNIA BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

INTRO: A WIDE ARRAY OF INTERNATIONAL TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TUESDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. EDITORS ARE SPEAKING OUT ON THE CHANGING SITUATION IN ZAIRE; THE CRASH OF THE RUSSIAN MARS SPACE PROBE; MEXICO'S POLITICAL REFORM; THE DEATH OF ALGER HISS, AND THE ARREST OF ANOTHER C-I-A OFFICIAL ON CHARGES OF SPYING FOR RUSSIA. FOR A LOOK AT THOSE AND OTHER COMMENTS, HERE IS __________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE TYING TO ASSESS JUST WHAT NEW ROLE THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PLAY IN THE DRAMATICALLY CHANGING RWANDAN REFUGEE SITUATION IN CENTRAL AFRICA. THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS:

VOICE: "THE EXODUS OF RWANDANS FROM REFUGEE CAMPS IN ZAIRE HAS THE LOOK OF AN ORCHESTRATED MILITARY OPERATION. FIRST THE ZAIRIAN ARMY WAS PUSHED FROM THE BORDER, THEN HUTU MILITIA FORCES GUARDING THE CAMPS WERE ROUTED, THEN REFUGEES WERE COERCED OR ENCOURAGED TO TREK EAST TOWARD HOME. THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT DENIES IT WAS BEHIND A CAMPAIGN TO FORCE THE REFUGEES HOME, BUT THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS OTHERWISE... OFFICERS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS THAT HAVE AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE TROOPS TO A RELIEF EFFORT WILL BE MEETING IN GERMANY ON THURSDAY. IF REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH MOVE SAFELY BACK TO RWANDA, FOREIGN TROOPS WILL HAVE LITTLE TO DO. MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE GONE FOR THE SOLDIERS CAN BE USED TO FEED THE REFUGEES UNTIL THEY GET SETTLED."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS ZAIRE SHARES THE BLAME FOR THE LATEST REFUGEE CRISIS, WHICH IT FEELS COULD DESTABILIZE MUCH OF CENTRAL AFRICA.

VOICE: "ZAIRE PERFORMED A SERVICE BY SHELTERING MORE THAN A MILLION RWANDANS. BUT IT PRACTICED MISCHIEF BY OPENING A CAMPAIGN AGAINST TUTSIS WHO HAD LIVED PEACEFULLY IN ITS BORDER ZONE FOR A CENTURY AND MORE. THESE ARE THE TUTSIS NOW IN REBELLION AGAINST A ZAIRIAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WOBBLING UNDER MISRULE OF THE TERMINALLY ILL MOBUTU SESE SEKO. THE SPECTER HAUNTING ZAIRE IS INTERNAL TRIBAL DISINTEGRATION AND EXTERNAL INTERVENTION: CROSS-CONTINENTAL CHAOS."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE REFUGEE CRISIS IS IMPROVING, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE -- AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD PLAY A PART.

VOICE: "THE REFUGEE CRISIS IN CENTRAL AFRICA IS EASED BUT NOT OVER. SUBSTANTIAL AMERICAN HELP IS STILL NEEDED... THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES SHOULD SHOW MORE FORESIGHT THIS TIME BY CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE CHALLENGES OF RELIEF, DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL DIPLOMACY AFTER THE POIGNANT PICTURES OF REFUGEE CAMPS FADE FROM THE WORLD'S TELEVISION SCREENS."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE FAILED RUSSIAN MARS SPACE PROBE, WHICH CRASHED INTO THE SOUTH PACIFIC, THE WASHINGTON POST CALLS IT "A HARD LANDING" FOR RUSSIAN SCIENCE.

VOICE: "THE CRASH OF A RUSSIAN SPACECRAFT ... SUNDAY, WHILE FORTUNATELY SPARING TERRESTRIAL DWELLERS, REPRESENTS A SAD LOSS FOR ANYONE KEEN ON PLANETARY EXPLORATION AND IN PARTICULAR FOR RUSSIA'S OWN SCIENTISTS, WHO LABORED HEROICALLY AND AGAINST GREAT ODDS TO READY THE MARS PROBE. INEVITABLY, THE LOSS WILL RENEW QUESTIONS ABOUT RUSSIA'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT AMBITIOUS SPACE AND MILITARY PROGRAMS FROM A DWINDLING ECONOMIC BASE.

TEXT: MEXICO'S STRUGGLE TO IMPLEMENT POLITICAL REFORMS THAT WERE BEGUN AND THEN APPARENTLY ABANDONED BY PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO, HAS THE ATTENTION OF THE MIAMI HERALD.

VOICE: "THE SO-CALLED 'DINOSAURS' -- THE HARD-LINERS OF MEXICO'S RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY (PRI) -- SAW THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. BIG LOSSES IN REGIONAL ELECTIONS BROUGHT WIDESPREAD PREDICTIONS THAT IN 1997 THE PARTY WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE. LAST WEEK -- WITH PRESIDENT ... ZEDILLO'S ACQUIESCENCE -- THE PRI (PREE)-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE FIXED THE RULES TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT ELECTIONS GO IN THE PARTY'S FAVOR... WHEN PRESIDENT ZEDILLO TOOK OFFICE, HE PROMISED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS AND TO MAINTAIN A DISTANCE FROM THE PRI. HE SEEMS TO BE KEEPING NONE OF THOSE PROMISES. THAT'S WRONG... MR. ZEDILLO MUST USE THE CONSIDERABLE POWER OF THE MEXICAN PRESIDENCY TO REVIVE REFORM..."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON TIMES COMMENTS ON THE DEATH OF ACCUSED SOVIET AGENT ALGER HISS, A LONG-TIME STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE AND ADVISER TO PRESIDENTS.

VOICE: "[MR.] HISS DIED LAST WEEK, AND TO HEAR THE NEWS MEDIA DESCRIBE HIM, ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE WHOLE CONTROVERSY WAS SOME KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDING... [MR.] HISS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WORK FOR THE COMMUNIST PARTY RIGHT UP UNTIL THE END, BUT HISTORY IS NOT LIKELY TO TREAT HIM KINDLY."

TEXT: THE ARREST THIS WEEK OF A HIGH-RANKING CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICER ON CHARGES OF WORKING AS A RUSSIAN DOUBLE-AGENT DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM USA TODAY.

VOICE: "IN THE HALL OF MIRRORS THAT IS THE U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, VETERAN HAROLD ... NICHOLSON WAS ASSIGNED TO TEACH THE TRICKS OF THE ESPIONAGE TRADE TO OTHERS. AT THE SAME TIME, ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, HE WAS ... SELLING OUT HIS COUNTRYMEN FOR CASH. [MR.] NICHOLSON WAS CHARGED MONDAY WITH PASSING TOP-SECRET INFORMATION, INCLUDING NAMES OF U-S AGENTS, TO THE RUSSIANS FOR MORE THAN 120-THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS... THE LARGER QUESTION IS, HOW MANY TRAITORS ARE STILL TO BE FOUND? SINCE 1970 MORE THAN 70 AGENTS OF VARIOUS U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN NABBED [ARRESTED] AS FOREIGN SPIES..."

TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC POLITICS, NEWSDAY OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "THE SLOPPY WAY" THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS HANDLING APPOINTMENTS FOR KEY POSITIONS IN HIS SECOND TERM. SAYS NEWSDAY IN PART:

VOICE: "EVEN FOR MANY OF US WHO SUPPORTED PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S RE-ELECTION, OUR FIRST CONCERN WAS THAT THE FOCUS AND DISCIPLINE HE DEMONSTRATED SO TENACIOUSLY AS A CANDIDATE WOULD NOT CARRY OVER TO RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT. ALREADY, THERE IS REASON FOR CONCERN. [MR.] CLINTON'S EFFORT TO RESTAFF HIS GOVERNMENT SMACKS OF [LOOKS LIKE] THE SAME LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS THAT CHARACTERIZED HIS FIRST-TERM APPOINTMENTS."

TEXT: ON THAT CRITICAL NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF THE NATION'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
19-Nov-96 11:23 AM EST (1623 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA/MLADIC (L-ONLY) (CORRECTION) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A POWER STRUGGLE WHICH BEGAN ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO BETWEEN FORCES LOYAL TO OUSTED GENERAL RATKO MLADIC AND THE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT WHO TRIED TO DISMISS HIM SHOWS FEW SIGNS OF RESOLUTION. A TOP AIDE TO GENERAL MLADIC SAYS THE RIFT COULD IGNITE INTO A CIVIL WAR. LAURA ROZEN REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: A TOP DEPUTY TO GENERAL MLADIC SAYS HE HOPES A PEACEFUL SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND TO THE STANDOFF, BUT ONLY IF GENERAL MLADIC REMAINS COMMANDER OF BOSNIAN SERB FORCES.

THE STRUGGLE BEGAN WHEN BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC FORMALLY DISMISSED GENERAL MLADIC AND 80 OF HIS DEPUTIES ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT A SERIES OF EVENTS INDICATES THAT GENERAL MLADIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, DOES NOT PLAN TO GO QUIETLY.

TELEVISION SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC AFTER FIVE SOLDIERS LOYAL TO GENERAL MLADIC BEAT UP THREE PEOPLE AND SEIZED A KEY TELEVISION LINK LAST WEEK, DISABLING ALL BROADCASTING.

ROAD BLOCKS HAVE GONE UP AROUND GENERAL MLADIC'S STRONGHOLD IN THE TOWN OF HANS PIJESAK. UP TO 30 PEOPLE, INCLUDING BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS WHO HAD COME TO NEGOTIATE GENERAL MLADIC'S RETIREMENT, WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE AT A ROADBLOCK, AND HELD FIVE DAYS BEFORE BEING RELEASED LAST FRIDAY.

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WARNED TO AVOID AN AREA NORTHEAST OF HANS PIJESAK, WHERE SOLDIERS LOYAL TO GENERAL MLADIC HAVE CONGREGATED.

SPECIAL INTERIOR MINISTRY POLICE LOYAL TO PRESIDENT PLAVSIC CUT COMMUNICATIONS LINKS TO THE GENERAL'S STRONGHOLD LAST WEDNESDAY AND DETAINED SEVERAL GENERALS LOYAL TO MR. MLADIC.

WE INCREASED OUR PATROLLING AND SURVEILLANCE IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE WAS ANY UNTOWARD MILITARY ACTIVITY ONGOING IN CONNECTION WITH THESE ACCORDS. NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE WAS REPORTED, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN POLICE PATROLLING THAT WAS OBSERVED IN THE AREAS OF SOME TOWNS. WE HAVE NOT NOTICED OR NOTED ANY DEGRADATION OF OUR LIAISON WITH THE V-R-S (REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ARMY) THROUGHOUT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

GENERAL MLADIC IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE LOYAL TO THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN.

TENSION IN THE BOSNIAN SERB ENTITY HAS INCREASED SINCE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN SERBIA EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY THAT THE BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS CONCERNED THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MIGHT CUT A DEAL WITH BOSNIA'S MUSLIM AND CROAT LEADERS TO DIVIDE UP THE 49 PERCENT OF TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY BOSNIAN SERBS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LR/PCF/CF
19-Nov-96 4:18 PM EST (2118 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE TUESDAY ALL CLOSED ON THE UP SIDE. FOR DETAILS, HERE'S PAUL FRANCUCH FROM THE V-O-A OFFICE IN LONDON.

TEXT: LONDON AND PARIS WERE THE MARKETS POSTING THE BIGGEST GAINS TUESDAY. FRANKFURT REGISTERED A GAIN AS WELL -- BUT ONLY A FRACTION OF A POINT.

THE BIGGEST GAINS WERE HERE IN LONDON AS THE "FOOTSIE 100" INDEX OF STOCKS ENDED THE DAY UP 16 POINTS -- FOLLOWING GAINS POSTED EARLIER ON WALL STREET. BUT THE REAL TALK IN LONDON WAS OVER MONDAY NIGHT'S FIRE IN THE ANGLO-FRENCH CHANNEL TUNNEL, WHICH WILL NOT RESUME OPERATION UNTIL DEBRIS IS CLEARED FROM THE BRITAIN-BOUND SIDE OF THE TWIN TUBE.

PARIS MARKETS REGISTERED PROFITS AS WELL TUESDAY WITH THE KEY "CAC-40" INDEX GAINING 11-AND-A-QUARTER POINTS. BIG PROFITS WERE REPORTED TUESDAY FOR THE PAST YEAR BY THE FRENCH PARK "EURO-DISNEY."

IN FRANKFURT, THE "DAX-30" INDEX POSTED A GAIN OF JUST ONE-QUARTER OF ONE POINT. MANY INVESTORS WHO MADE MONEY ON MONDAY WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE PRIVATZED "DEUTSCHE TELECOM" DECIDED TO TAKE PROFITS TUESDAY AND SELL THEIR SHARES. (SIGNED)
NEB / PCF / WOD
19-Nov-96 1:45 PM EST (1845 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ROMANIA REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THE ELECTION OF FREE MARKET ADVOCATE EMIL CONSTANTINESCU AS ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S ELECTORAL RUN-OFF. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS AN EASTERN EUROPE ANALYST SAYS SUNDAY'S BALLOT UNDERSCORES ROMANIA'S COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS MR. CONSTANTINESCU'S CONVINCING EIGHT-POINT VICTORY SHOWS THE PEOPLE OF ROMANIA HAVE REDEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE DEMOCRATIZATION BEGUN IN 1989:

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT MR. CONSTANTINESCU IS THAT HE HAS LONG PLEDGED TO PUT TOGETHER A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, OPEN THE ECONOMY AND ENCOURAGE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

MR. DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.

MR. CONSTANTINESCU, A FORMER GEOLOGY PROFESSOR WHO CAMPAIGNED ON A PLATFORM OF ECONOMIC REFORM, HAS WARNED HIS COUNTRYMEN TO PREPARE FOR DIFFICULT AUSTERITY MEASURES TO REVIVE A WEAK ECONOMY.

ANALYST DAN NELSON OF OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY CALLS THE ELECTION A VICTORY NOT FOR ONE MAN BUT FOR THE COUNTRY:

THE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED A NEW LEADER. THEY HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A PEACEFUL PATH TO CHANGE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BALKANS AND FOR THAT COUNTRY.

MR. NELSON SAYS THE NEW ROMANIAN LEADER WILL LIKELY HAVE TO DEVALUE THE NATIONAL CURRENCY AND REPEAT THE COUNTRY'S DESIRE TO INTEGRATE WITH NATO.

MR. NELSON ALSO NOTES THAT IN OTHER RECENT ELECTIONS REFORM HAS MADE A COMEBACK IN LITHUANIA AND BULGARIA. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
18-Nov-96 9:02 PM EST (0202 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] THE U-S STAYS IN BOSNIA BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK THAT UNITED STATES TROOPS WILL REMAIN IN BOSNIA BEYOND THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED DECEMBER DEPARTURE DATE HAS CREATED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMMENTARY IN THE NATION'S PRESS.

WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ___________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN, PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS CRITICIZED FOR NOT SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSING THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF U-S TROOPS AS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN THE BALKANS. MANY CRITICS AND OBSERVERS SAID AT THE RATE PEACE WAS RETURNING TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND GIVEN THE EXTREME BITTERNESS BETWEEN BOSNIAN SERBS AND MUSLIMS, IT WAS UNREALISTIC TO THINK NATO TROOPS WOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE ANY TIME SOON.

THEN LAST WEEK, MR. CLINTON ANNOUNCED THAT WHILE THE ORIGINAL U-S TROOPS WOULD BE COMING HOME NEXT MONTH, A NEW FORCE OF ABOUT 85-HUNDRED U-S SOLDIERS WOULD BE SENT THERE FOR THE EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THEY WILL BE PART OF A 30-THOUSAND TROOPS FORCE FROM 30 NATIONS THAT WILL TRY TO KEEP THE PEACE IN THAT WAR-TORN LAND.

THE DECISION HAS PROMPTED A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENTARY, AND WE BEGIN IN THE MIDWEST WITH THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

VOICE: "IT HARDLY COMES AS A SURPRISE THAT AMERICAN TROOPS WILL CONTINUE TO POLICE THE PEACE IN BOSNIA[-HERZEGOVINA] WELL BEYOND THE DATE FOR WITHDRAWAL PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ORIGINALLY GAVE. THOUGH THE FIGHTING HAS ENDED, THE COUNTRY IS A LONG WAY FROM REACHING THE POINT WHERE SERBS, CROATS AND MUSLIMS COULD BE EXPECTED TO WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES PEACEFULLY IF THE U-S AND OTHER FORCES WITHDREW. INDEED, IT MAY BE THAT COME JUNE 1998, WHEN MR. CLINTON SAYS THE U-S MILITARY PRESENCE WILL END FOR SURE, THEY WILL BE NO CLOSER TO A MODUS VIVENDI. IN THAT CASE, THE PEACE MISSION WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN."

TEXT: TURNING TO NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD AGREES WITH THE DECISION AND PRAISES THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION.

VOICE: "BY EXTENDING THE PRESENCE OF U-S FORCES IN BOSNIA FOR 18 MONTHS, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET HIS FIRST MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGE SINCE HIS RE-ELECTION. .... THAT DECISION .... WILL BE CONTROVERSIAL HERE. THAT'S TRUE EVEN THOUGH IT REPRESENTS A REDUCTION OF AMERICAN FORCES IN THE AREA BY MORE THAN HALF. CONGRESS ... SHOULD NOT ... OPPOSE IT. .... THIS [ALLIED] FORCE MUST ACT MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO BRING TO JUSTICE PERSONS ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES DURING THE 'ETHNIC CLEANSING' THAT MARKED THE THREE YEARS OF FIGHTING ENDED BY THE DAYTON AGREEMENT."

TEXT: TAKING A MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS VIEW IS THE DESERET NEWS IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, WHICH TALKS ABOUT INTERVENTION IN BOTH ZAIRE AND THE BALKANS, QUESTIONING BOTH.

VOICE: "WHILE HISTORY HAS A TENDENCY TO REPEAT ITSELF, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM REPEATED LESSONS THE RISKS OF INTERVENING IN OTHER PEOPLES' BATTLES. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS ADMITTEDLY DIFFICULT TO WATCH THE DEGREE OF SUFFERING AND HUNGER EMANATING FROM ZAIRE AND [THE] ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN BOSNIA. ..... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON AND HIS ADVISERS NEED TO DEFINE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC U-S STRATEGY IN BOSNIA[-HERZEGOVINA], WORKING IN CONCERT WITH U-N ALLIES, THEN WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BY A REASONABLE DEADLINE AND GET OUT."

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA'S STATE CAPITAL, THE SACRAMENTO BEE SUPPORTS THE DECISION, BUT IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S METHODS.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REVERSAL OF HIS PLEDGE A YEAR AGO TO BRING U-S TROOPS HOME FROM BOSNIA[-HERZEGOVINA] BY DECEMBER 20TH IS THE RIGHT DECISION PRESENTED IN THE WRONG WAY. UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, HE AND HIS AIDES CLAIMED NOT TO HAVE MADE A DECISION ON WHETHER THE UNITED STATES WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A 'FOLLOW-ON' FORCE THAT EVENTS IN BOSNIA SHOWED WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT A NEW WAR. ..... BY ABANDONING HIS PROMISE TO BRING U-S TROOPS HOME NOW, BY DELAYING A DECISION UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER'S ELECTION, AND BY PRETENDING THAT CHANGING THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE FORCE SOMEHOW CHANGES THE REALITY ON THE GROUND IN BOSNIA, THE PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN HIS CRITICS PLENTY OF AMMUNITION. HE ALSO HAS BEGGED THE QUESTION [TO DELAY ANSWERING CRITICISM] OF HOW ANOTHER 18 MONTHS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, THESE THOUGHTS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "COMMON SENSE DICTATES THAT AFTER A YEAR OF IMPERFECT PEACE, BOSNIA IS NOT READY FOR NATO FORCES TO GO HOME ON DECEMBER 20TH, AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. BUT AMERICANS OUGHT TO HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PROLONGING THEIR STAY, NOR SHOULD THEY ACCEPT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FACILE ASSERTION ..... THAT HE WAS ANNOUNCING A NEW AND DIFFERENT MILITARY MISSION. ..... THIS SO-CALLED 'FOLLOW-ON FORCE' WILL BE DOING THE SAME THINGS THE CURRENT MILITARY FORCE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE IT FINISHED SEPARATING THE RIVAL ETHNIC ARMIES SOME SIX MONTHS AGO. THAT MEANS, PRIMARILY, DETERRING A RETURN TO OPEN ETHNIC WARFARE. IT ALSO MEANS PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE CIVILIANS TRYING TO REBUILD BOSNIA'S ECONOMY AND INSTITUTIONS. [OPT] .... COMPARED WITH THE PESSIMISTIC PREDICTIONS SO COMMON A YEAR AGO, THE NATO MISSION IN BOSNIA HAS BEEN A CLEAR, IF LIMITED SUCCESS. THAT SUCCESS WARRANTS A BRIEF EXTENSION. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION STILL MUST GUARD AGAINST THE DANGER OF OPEN-ENDED TIMETABLES AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS."

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS OPINION ON THE RECENT DECISION TO EXTEND A U-S TROOP PRESENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FOR ANOTHER YEAR-AND-A-HALF.
NEB/ANG/NL
19-Nov-96 12:41 PM EST (1741 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PROSECUTORS AT THE UNITED NATION'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE ARGUED TUESDAY THAT A MAN WHO CONFESSES TO TAKING PART IN THE KILLING OF MUSLIMS FROM SREBRENICA, SHOULD BE GIVEN A LENIENT SENTENCE. DRAZEN ERDEMOVIC IS THE ONLY PERSON CHARGED BY THE TRIBUNAL TO HAVE PLEADED GUILTY. BUT AS GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, HE IS UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT BECAUSE HE IS COOPERATING WITH PROSECUTORS.

TEXT: DWARFED BY TWO U-N SECURITY GUARDS, 24-YEAR OLD ERDEMOVIC TOLD HIS HORRIFYING STORY IN COURT ONCE AGAIN. HE ADMITS TO BEING PART OF A BOSNIAN SERB EXECUTION SQUAD WHICH SHOT DEAD HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS AT A FARM NEAR SREBRENICA. BUT AGAIN AND AGAIN HE SAID, HE HAD NO CHOICE. HIS WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TRANSLATOR.

IT DESTROYED ME, IT KILLED ME. I SIMPLY THOUGHT THAT MY LIFE WAS WORTHLESS AFTER THAT. I LOST EVERYTHING I HAD.

ERDEMOVIC HAS GIVEN PROSECUTORS AT THE TRIBUNAL VALUABLE INFORMATION. IN FACT, UNTIL THEY SPOKE TO HIM THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE AT ALL ABOUT THE PARTICULAR MASSACRE AT THE FARM. INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SITE LATER UNCOVERED A MASS GRAVE. PROSECUTORS ALSO POINT TO ERDEMOVIC'S VOLUNTARY CONFESSION AND THE FACT THAT HE HAS SHOWN REGRET. THEY SAY THESE FACTORS SHOULD BE GIVEN, WHAT THEY CALL, CONSIDERABLE WEIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO HANDING DOWN HIS SENTENCE.

TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATOR JEAN-RENE RUEZ HAS INTERVIEWED ERDEMOVIC OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS AND WAS ASKED, THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, WHETHER HE THOUGHT ERDEMOVIC HAD INDEED SHOWN REMORSE.

REMORSE? THAT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY SPECIFICALLY DEFINE, BUT ONE THING IS SURE IN THE COURSE OF THE CONTACTS I'VE HAD WITH HIM -- HE EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE REGRETS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT SITUATION. HE'S ALWAYS HAD A TOUGH TIME SAYING HOW THINGS HAPPENED IN THESE EVENTS.

WITH THE PROSECUTION OFFERING NO AGGRAVATING EVIDENCE AT ALL, IT SEEMED AT TIMES AS IF ERDEMOVIC HAD TWO SETS OF DEFENSE LAWYERS. PROSECUTORS MAY NEED ERDEMOVIC'S COOPERATION FOR FUTURE CASES OR THEY MAY BE HOPING TO ENTICE MORE WITNESSES TO THE HAGUE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS PAINFUL FOR YOU, BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE BEFORE A TRIBUNAL WHICH MUST TAKE ACCOUNT OF A MAN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE MURDER OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE. ALL OF US ARE ACCOUNTABLE HERE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE CAUGHT IN A STORM, BUT THAT IS NOT A REASON, NEITHER BECAUSE YOU PLEADED GUILTY, NEITHER BECAUSE YOU ARE A PERSON WHO CARRIED SOMETHING OUT AS PART OF A GREAT TRAGEDY, FOR US TO SAY THAT THESE MANY, MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE JUST WRITTEN OFF.

THE DEFENSE CALLS ITS WITNESSES ON WEDNESDAY. THEY ARE KNOWN SIMPLY AS "X" AND "Y." ONE MAN IS A MUSLIM WHOSE LIFE ERDEMOVIC SAYS HE SAVED. SENTENCING WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF
19-Nov-96 1:19 PM EST (1819 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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