Voice of America, 96-11-25

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA ARMS (L-ONLY) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

[03] CZECH SENATE (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

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

[05] SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[06] U-S / SERB ELECTIONS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

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

INTRO: NO SINGLE TOPIC DOMINATES THE EDITOIAL PAGES OF IN TODAY'S LEADING U-S NEWSPAPER. THE DISCUSSIONS RANGE FROM THE CONTROVERSY OVER AUTOMOBILE AIR BAGS AND THEIR DEADLY EFFECT ON CHILDREN; A CONTINUED U-N PRESENCE IN HAITI; THE APEC SUMMIT IN MANILA; THE STRUGGLE OVER THE NEXT U-N SECRETARY GENERAL, AND THE TROUBLED RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAM. NOW, FOR A CLOSER LOOK, HERE IS _______________ WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE CONTROVERSY OVER MAKING AUTOMOBILE AIRBAGS SAFER REMAINS HIGH IN THE NEWS HEADLINES AND ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES. NEWSPAPERS POINT TO STATISTICS THAT SHOW AIR BAGS HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 30 CHILDREN AND 20 ADULTS SINCE 1993. IRONICALLY, MOST OF THE DEATHS OCCURRED IN LOW-SPEED CRASHES WHICH THE VICTIMS MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE SURVIVED. THE U-S-A TODAY SAYS SOMETHING MUST BE DONE:

VOICE: "THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION LAST WEEK OFFERED A PROPOSAL TO MAKE AIR BAGS SAFE FOR KIDS. BUT IT MAY PUT ADULTS AT RISK INSTEAD. N-H-T-S-A WANTS TO LET YOU HIRE A MECHANIC TO DISCONNECT AIR BAGS PERMANENTLY AND LET AUTOMAKERS DEPOWER THEM SO THEY INFLATE LESS EXPLOSIVELY. IT WILL ALSO REQUIRE LABELS IN CARS AND ON CHILD-SAFETY SEATS WARNING OF DANGERS TO KIDS. SOME REFORM IS NEEDED... A USA TODAY STUDY FOUND BAGS ARE KILLING TWO KIDS [CHILDREN] FOR EVERY ONE THEY SAVE... THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR NORMAL SIZE ADULTS, A DISCONNECTED AIR BAG WON'T BE THERE TO SAVE THEM IN A CRASH. AND A BAG DE-POWERED TO REDUCE INJURIES FOR KIDS AND SMALL ADULTS WON'T PROTECT NORMAL ADULTS AS WELL EITHER. SO, MORE OF THEM MAY DIE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF FORMER NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD [PREDECESSOR TO THE NHTSA] CHAIRMAN JOAN CLAYBROOK WHO, THE PAPER SAYS, PRODDED THE AUTOMAKERS TO MOVE AHEAD WITH AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THE DEVICE WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN. THEY QUOTE HER AS SAYING IN A BROADCAST INTERVIEW IN 1983:

VOICE: "'THEY FIT ALL DIFFERENT SIZES AND TYPES OF PEOPLE, FROM LITTLE CHILDREN UP TO ... VERY LARGE MALES. SO THEY REALLY WORK BEAUTIFULLY.' ... IT'S TRUE THAT AIR BAGS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. NO DOUBT THEY HAVE PREVENTED THOUSANDS OF FATALITIES AND INJURIES ALONG THE WAY. BUT THANKS TO MS. CLAYBROOK, IN CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES THEY CAN ALSO KILL PEOPLE. IF ANYONE SHOULD BE SUED FOR NEGLIGENCE IN THESE CASES, SHE SHOULD. AT A MINIMUM, HOWEVER, CONSUMERS SHOULD TREAT WITH SKEPTICISM ANY FURTHER CLAIMS SHE MAKES TO BE ACTING IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS."

TEXT: TODAY'S MIAMI HERALD IS MAKING THE CASE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS MUST MAINTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE IN HAITI TO ASSURE THAT NATION'S TRANSFORMATION INTO A TRUE DEMOCRACY.

VOICE: "BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, RIGHTLY ACCEDED LAST WEEK TO HAITI PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL'S REQUEST THAT THE UNITED NATIONS EXTEND ITS MISSION TO THE TROUBLED ISLAND... DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS SINCE DEMOCRACY WAS RESTORED IN 1994, NEITHER HAITI'S SECURITY NOR ITS STABILITY IS CERTAIN. ITS ECONOMY REMAINS A SHAMBLES... ALL THIS ENDANGERS HAITI'S DEMOCRACY. IT, THUS, BECOMES IMPERATIVE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS MAINTAIN ITS PRESENCE ON THE ISLAND."

TEXT: IN MAINE, THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD IS SUGGESTING THAT SO FAR, THE ASIA/PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM, WHICH MET THIS WEEKEND IN MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES, IS SOMETHING OF A "PAPER TIGER," THAT IS -- ALL TALK AND NO ACTION.

VOICE: "... THE APEC LEADERS ... SO FAR ... HAVE NOT ADVANCED BEYOND AGREEING IN PRINCIPLE THAT BY 2020, 'FREE AND OPEN TRADE' SHOULD EXIST THROUGHOUT THE REGION. RATHER THAN THINKING, AND ACTING, BOLDLY TO CREATE A PAN-PACIFIC FREE TRADE ZONE, DELEGATES IN MANILA GROUND TO A HALT OVER A U-S-JAPANESE PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE TARIFFS ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY."

TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO UNSEAT U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, WHO IS SEEKING A SECOND TERM, SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CAMPAIGN TO LIMIT ALL SECRETARIES-GENERAL TO A SINGLE TERM.

VOICE: "NOW THAT THE U-S HAS USED UP PRECIOUS POLITICAL CAPITAL VETOING A SECOND TERM FOR UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, IT SHOULD STICK TO ITS GUNS. THAT MEANS RESISTING BLANDISHMENTS AND ARM-TWISTING TO BACK DOWN. INSTEAD, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD EXPAND ITS RATIONALE FOR THIS UNPOPULAR DEED BY CRUSADING TO CHANGE THE TRADITION THAT SECRETARIES-GENERAL SERVE TWO FIVE-YEAR TERMS... THE TRADITION ... MILITATES AGAINST PARING THE BUREAUCRACY OF WASTE, CORRUPTION, PATRONAGE AND DEAD WOOD [AMERICAN SLANG FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PAID BUT DO LITTLE OR NO WORK]."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE IS EXPRESSING REGRET AT THE SHARP DECLINE OF RUSSIA'S SPACE PROGRAM.

VOICE: "THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TWO SUPERFICIALLY UNRELATED SETBACKS IN THE RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAM WILL BE UNDERAPPRECIATED IF THEY ARE SEEN MERELY AS RUSSIA'S PROBLEM. THE IMPLICATIONS OF A FAILED SPACESHIP LAUNCH TO THE PLANET MARS AND THE DEATH OF A SOPHISTICATED SPY SATELLITE, RUSSIA'S LAST, PLACE BURDENS ON THE REST OF THE WORLD AS WELL. THEY UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR MAXIMUM INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE EFFORTS."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THE DOMESTIC PUBLIC HEALTH FRONT, A DISTURBING NEW STUDY PROMPTS THIS COMMENT FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

VOICE: "A NEW STUDY ON SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASE FORCES AMERICANS TO CONFRONT THE HARSH TRUTH ABOUT A GROWING EPIDEMIC WHOSE IMPLICATIONS TOO MANY OF US PREFER NOT TO RECOGNIZE. THE UNITED STATES NOW LEADS ALL OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS IN THE RATE OF DISEASES PASSED THROUGH SEXUAL CONTACT. EACH YEAR, 12-MILLION NEW CASES ARE REPORTED. TEENAGERS ACCOUNT FOR ONE-FOURTH OF THEM. EACH YEAR, THE TREATMENT OF CHLAMYDIA, AIDS, SYPHILLIS, GONORRHEA, HERPES AND HEPATITIS B COSTS THE NATION AT LEAST 17-BILLION DOLLARS...THE TIME HAS LONG SINCE COME TO RECOGNIZE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AFFECTING EVERYONE."

TEXT: ON THAT RATHER SOBERING NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT EDITORIALS IN SOME OF TODAY'S MAJOR U-S PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
25-Nov-96 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA ARMS (L-ONLY) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE U-S SHIP THE "AMERICAN CONDOR" THIS PAST WEEK BEGAN UNLOADING SOME 100 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT DESTINED FOR THE BOSNIAN MUSLIM AND CROATIAN ARMIES. THE WEAPONS ARE PART OF A CONTROVERSIAL 400 MILLION-DOLLAR U-S-LED PROGRAM, WHICH THE UNITED STATES SAYS WILL SERVE AS A DETERRENCE TO FURTHER FIGHTING. BUT SOME CRITICS CHARGE IT COULD SPARK ANOTHER ARMS ESCALATION IN THE BALKANS, AS LAURA ROZEN REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: AS THE CARGO SHIP "AMERICAN CONDOR" DOCKED AT THE CROATIAN PORT OF PLOCE, A NATO OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THE SCENE FOR REPORTERS:

BEHIND ME YOU WILL SEE A SHIP PASSING BY, THAT IS THE AMERICAN CONDOR. THE DESTINATION OF THE AMERICAN CONDOR IS THE PORT OF PLOCE ... THIS SHIP IS PART OF THE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT PROGRAM. IT IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION FROM THE U-S FOR DELIVERING ARMS AND EQUIPMENT TO THE FEDERATION.

THE SHIP WAS LADEN WITH HEAVY WEAPONRY -- TANKS, ATTACK HELICOPTERS AND ARMORED VEHICLES, IN ADDITION TO GUNS AND AMMUNITION. ITS ARRIVAL MARKED THE END OF ALMOST A YEAR OF EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES TO GET IT TO BOSNIA.

AT THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE ACCORDS IN THE MIDWEST AMERICAN CITY OF DAYTON, OHIO LAST YEAR, THE UNITED STATES PROMISED BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS AND CROATS THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH ARMS AND TRAINING TO TRY TO CREATE MILITARY PARITY WITH THE BETTER-EQUIPPED BOSNIAN SERBS.

BUT CRITICS OF THE US-LED PROGRAM, KNOWN AS " TRAIN AND EQUIP," SAY THE LAST THING BOSNIA NEEDS NOW IS MORE WEAPONS, ARGUING IT WILL LEAD TO AN ARMS ESCALATION IN THE BALKANS.

CHRIS BENNET IS AN ANALYST IN SARAJEVO WITH THE LONDON-BASED MONITORING ORGANIZATION "INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP."

THERE IS A SCENARIO THAT AS SOON AS INTERNATIONAL FORCES ARE WITHDRAWN FROM HERE, AND IF NOTHING HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, THEN THE (BOSNIAN) FEDERATION, IN PARTICULAR THE MUSLIMS, WILL HAVE THE MOTIVATION AND CAUSE TO TRY AND RETAKE THE REST OF BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA .

THE U-S GOVERNMENT ARGUES, HOWEVER, THAT THE ARMS PROGRAM IS IN BOTH AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN INTERESTS, BECAUSE IT COULD ENABLE THE WEST TO REPLACE IRAN AS BOSNIA'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF WEAPONS.

THE UNITED STATE WANTS TO BREAK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOSNIA AND IRAN THAT BEGAN WHEN IRAN SUPPLIED WEAPONS TO BOSNIA DURING THE WAR, IN VIOLATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO. THIS PAST WEEK'S SHIPMENT WAS CONTINGENT ON THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S DISMISSAL OF A TOP DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL, HASAN CENGIC, WHOM THE UNITED STATES ACCUSES OF HAVING CLOSE TIES TO IRAN.

U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY AFTER THE SHIP "AMERICAN CONDOR" IS UNLOADED, THE EMPHASIS SHIFTS TO THE TRAINING PHASE OF THE "TRAIN & EQUIP" PROGRAM. ALREADY SOME 200 RETIRED U-S SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE IN BOSNIA, TRAINING TWO BOSNIAN CROAT AND THREE BOSNIAN MUSLIM ARMY UNITS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
24-Nov-96 5:16 AM EST (1016 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CZECH SENATE (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE CENTER-RIGHT COALITION THAT HAS RULED THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS WON A MAJORITY IN WEEKEND ELECTIONS TO A NEW UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT VOTER TURNOUT WAS VERY LOW, AS MANY CZECHS QUESTION WHETHER THE NEW SENATE IS REALLY NECESSARY.

TEXT: ONLY 30 PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAST BALLOTS IN THE SECOND ROUND OF ELECTIONS TO THE NEWLY-CREATED CZECH SENATE. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT HAD VOTED IN THE FIRST ROUND, A WEEK EARLIER.

THE CENTER RIGHT COALITION, LED BY PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS, GOT 52 SEATS IN THE 81-SEAT CHAMBER, WHICH HAS ONLY ADVISORY POWERS. THE MAIN OPPOSITION, THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, GOT ONLY 25 SEATS. MR. KLAUS'S CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY WON 32 SEATS. THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS -- THE SECOND-LARGEST COALITION PARTY -- TALLIED 13 SEATS. THE THIRD COALITION MEMBER, THE CIVIC DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE, WON SEVEN.

THE RESULT IS SEEN AS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN PRIME MINISTER KLAUS. HOWEVER, MR. KLAUS'S PARTY HAD PREDICTED IT, ALONE, WOULD WIN A MAJORITY. ANALYSTS SAY THE RESULT MAKES IT LESS LIKELY THE COALITION WILL PUSH FOR EARLY ELECTIONS TO THE MORE-IMPORTANT LOWER HOUSE -- THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. ELECTIONS FOR THAT BODY WERE HELD ONLY SIX MONTHS AGO AND THE COALITION FELL JUST SHORT OF RETAINING ITS MAJORITY. MR. KLAUS CALLS THE SENATE RESULT ENCOURAGING AND SAYS HE IS PLEASED THE COALITION WON TWO-THIRDS OF THE SEATS. SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC LEADER MILOS ZEMAN SAYS HE IS NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME AND THAT THE SENATE WILL NOT BE DOMINATED BY A SINGLE PARTY. (SIGNED)
NEB / BDW / TMS / WOD
25-Nov-96 1:19 AM EST (0619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE NUMBERS ON KEY WEST-EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS MONDAY WERE HIGHLY POSITIVE, WITH AN ALL-TIME RECORD SET IN FRANKFURT. PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON HAS A WRAP-UP OF DEVELOPMENTS.

TEXT: A STRONGER DOLLAR MAKES EXPORTS MORE ATTRACTIVE FROM COUNTRIES WITH WEAKER CURRENCIES. MONDAY, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED STRENGTH AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE BRITISH POUND AND THE JAPANESE YEN. IN FRANKFURT, THE WEAKER MARK GAVE OCCASION TO BUY SHARES IN A BIG WAY. THE KEY "DAX" INDEX OF 30 GERMAN STOCKS GAINED 35-AND-ONE-HALF POINTS TO CLOSE THE DAY AT A RECORD HIGH.

STOCKS WERE UP IN LONDON AND PARIS AS WELL. THE FRENCH "CAC-40" INDEX CLOSED UP ALMOST 22-POINTS MONDAY. IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 STOCKS STAYED ON A WINNING TREND AFTER SOARING 65-POINTS AT THE CLOSE FRIDAY. MONDAY'S CLOSE SAW THE "FOOTSIE" UP ANOTHER 36-POINTS.

GOLD WAS MORE THAN TWO-DOLLARS AN OUNCE LOWER IN LONDON MONDAY, CLOSING AT 375-DOLLARS AND FIVE CENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
25-Nov-96 1:53 PM EST (1853 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THERE WERE MASSIVE ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS MONDAY IN BELGRADE, AS STUDENTS AND THE ANTI-COMMUNIST OPPOSITION DENOUNCED COURT ANNULMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS WON BY THE OPPOSITION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT: IT WAS THE EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF PROTESTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS SWEPT THROUGH CITY STREETS AND PELTED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS WITH EGGS. PLACARDS CALLED FOR A GENERAL STRIKE AND A REVERSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION ANNULLING OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THE PROTESTS GAINED MOMENTUM AFTER BELGRADE MUNICIPAL COURT DECISION SUNDAY TURNED ASIDE RESULTS FROM THE NOVEMBER 17TH CITY COUNCIL ELECTION. OFFICIAL RESULTS HAD GIVEN THE OPPOSITION 60 OF THE 110 SEATS ON THE BELGRADE COUNCIL. SUNDAY'S DECISION BY A COURT CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR NEW VOTING FOR 33 OF THE SEATS WON BY THE OPPOSITION. THE OPPOSITION CALLS THE GOVERNMENT ACTION OUTRAGEOUS AND IS BOYCOTTING A SCHEDULED THIRD ROUND OF VOTING.

DIPLOMATS FROM SEVERAL WESTERN NATIONS MET MONDAY WITH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION ALLIED IN THE "ZAJEDNO" OR "TOGETHER" COALITION. DURING THE WEEKEND, THE WESTERN DIPLOMATS CONFERRED WITH THE YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER.

THE OPPOSITION IS LED BY 44-YEAR-OLD ZORAN DJINDJIC, WHO -- WITHOUT THE COURT DECISION -- WOULD HAVE BECOME BELGRADE'S FIRST NON-COMMUNIST MAYOR SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. MR. DJINDJIC SAYS THE COURT DECISION PROVES POWER CANNOT BE WON IN SERBIA BY ELECTIONS, BUT ONLY BY ROBBERY, VIOLENCE, AND REBELLION. HE SAID IF MR. MILOSEVIC IS READY TO STEAL THE ELECTIONS IN BELGRADE, HE IS READY TO TRAMPLE ALL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.

MR. MILOSEVIC'S SOCIALISTS AND ALLIED PARTIES WON YUGOSLAV FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NOVEMBER THIRD. THE OPPOSITION DID WELL IN LOCAL ELECTIONS HELD AT THE SAME TIME. THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING WAS HELD TWO WEEKS LATER. INITIALLY, THE GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO ACCEPT THE STRONG SHOWING OF THE OPPOSITION WHICH WON CONTROL OF SEVERAL CITY COUNCILS THROUGHOUT SERBIA. BUT IN SUBSEQUENT DAYS, THE SOCIALISTS CLAIMED THERE WERE VOTING IRREGULARITIES, AND ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO ANNUL THE OPPOSITION VICTORIES. THE PROTESTS BEGAN IN THE INDUSTRIAL CITY OF NIS, SOUTH OF BELGRADE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PCF/RAE
25-Nov-96 1:25 PM EST (1825 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / SERB ELECTIONS (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS STRONGLY CRITICIZED SERBIAN AUTHORITIES FOR ANNULLING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WHICH HAD BEEN WON BY THE OPPOSITION. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE ACTION BY BELGRADE AUTHORITIES WILL KEEP SERBIA ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF EUROPE. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS MAINTAINED TIES WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ENCOURAGE COMPLIANCE BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS WITH THE DAYTON ACCORDS.

BUT IT HAS BITTERLY CRITICIZED THE OVERTURNING OF THE LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS -- CALLING IT "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE" BEHAVIOR THAT INVALIDATES SERBIA'S CLAIM TO BE EVOLVING TOWARD DEMOCRACY.

THE ELECTION MANEUVERING ANNULED VOTING THAT HAD GIVEN OPPOSITION CANDIDATES VICTORIES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE CAPITAL AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAID THE ACTION VINDICATES THE U-S POLICY OF WITHHOLDING FULL DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION FOR SERBIA:

BECAUSE OF SERBIA'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT RECOGNIZED BELGRADE. THIS RECENT ACTION CONFIRMS OUR POSITION THAT SERBIA IS NOT COMMITTED TO MEETING WESTERN DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS, INCLUDING RESPECT FOR MINORITY RIGHTS IN KOSOVO.

THE UNITED STATES HAS SUPPORTED SANCTIONS BARRING SERBIA FROM INTERNATIONAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS. MR. DAVIES SAID HE WOULD NOT RULE OUT ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ISOLATE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION OUTCOME. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/KL
25-Nov-96 6:30 PM EST (2330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: PROSECUTORS AT THE U-N'S YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAVE BEGUN SUMMING-UP THEIR CASE AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB, DUSAN TADIC. IN THE FIRST TRIAL AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR TRIBUNAL, MR. TADIC IS ACCUSED OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND OTHER WAR ATROCITIES, CARRIED OUT IN AND AROUND THREE PRISON CAMPS IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA. GILLIAN SHARPE WAS IN THE COURT FOR THE START OF THE CLOSING SUMMATIONS.

TEXT: DUSAN TADIC -- CLOSELY-SHAVED AND DRESSED IN A SMART JACKET -- LISTENED CLOSELY AS PROSECUTOR BRENDA HORNS SUMMED-UP THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM. ALTHOUGH SHE SPOKE FOR THE WHOLE DAY, MS. HOLLIS DEALT WITH ONLY TWO SECTIONS OF CHARGES. WITNESS BY WITNESS, SHE REVIEWED THE TESTIMONY WHICH, SHE TOLD JUDGES, PROVED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT MR. TADIC WAS GUILTY, AS CHARGED.

THIS IS THE MAN WHO COMMITTED THE OFFENSES IN OPSTINA PRIJEDOR. THIS IS NOT THE COMMON MAN, THE REFUGEE HE WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE HE WAS. THIS IS THE SERB NATIONALIST WHO SAW THE PERSECUTION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SERB AIM OF ETHNIC DOMINANCE IN THE REGION AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO ENHANCE HIS OWN STATUS IN THE AREA OF KOZARAC. HE IS ALSO A MAN WHO IS WILLING TO USE VIOLENCE TO GET WHAT HE WANTS AND TO PAY BACK THOSE WITH WHOM HE DISAGREES.

MS HOLLIS DETAILED ALL OF THE WITNESSES WHO HAD DIRECT ALLEGATIONS TO MAKE AGAINST MR. TADIC. BUT SHE ALSO POINTED TO WHAT SHE SAID WAS EVIDENCE THAT HE HAD ACTED AS PART OF A WIDER GROUP OF BOSNIAN SERBS. THIS COULD PROVE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO JUDGING DUSAN TADIC. MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL. BUT PROSECUTION ATTORNEY HOLLIS SAYS THIS IS ENOUGH.

THE ACCUSED IS CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THEIR DEATHS, WHETHER HE COMMITTED ALL THE MURDERS OR WHETHER HE AIDED AND ABETTED IN THE COMMISSION OF SOME OF THEM, OR WHETHER HE TOOK PART IN EARLIER ACTS AND NEVER WITHDREW FROM THESE SUBSEQUENT ACTS ... WITH ALL THOSE SERBS AROUND CHEERING, YELLING, FIRING GUNS IN THE AIR, VICTIMS WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO TRY TO ESCAPE THEIR FATE, EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY MOMENTARILY. THE PRESENCE OF THE ACCUSED CONTRIBUTED TO AN ATMOSPHERE OF TERROR, AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ASSISTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO AN INTIMIDATING AND TERRORIZING SITUATION WHICH RENDERED THESE VICTIMS ENTIRELY HELPLESS.

THE PROSECUTION CONTINUES ITS CLOSING STATEMENT ON TUESDAY. THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SUMMARY BY THE DEFENSE. BUT WITH SIX-THOUSAND PAGES OF TESTIMONY TO REVIEW, THE JUDGES ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UNTIL FEBRUARY TO MAKE THEIR DECISION. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF/MMK
25-Nov-96 2:14 PM EST (1914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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