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Voice of America, 96-12-18Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-09935 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=PHIL HAYNES CONTENT= INTRO: THE EXPANSION OF ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK AND SOME QUESTIONABLE DONATIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PERSONAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ARE AMONG THE MOST-WRITTEN-ABOUT EDITORIAL TOPICS IN WEDNESDAY'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS. THERE IS ALSO DISCUSSION OF THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS-BOEING CORPORATE MERGER; SOME NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT RICHARD NIXON; THE PEACEFUL PART OF SOMALIA, AND THE UNEVENNESS OF AMERICAN'S LEGAL SYSTEM. NOW, HERE IS _______________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: SEVERAL NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS ARE CRITICIZING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO EXPAND JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. THE PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE EMOTIONAL AFTERMATH OF THE KILLING OF AN ISRAELI MOTHER AND SON IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING DECEMBER 11TH NEAR RAMALLAH. TODAY'S ATLANTA CONSTITUTION CALLS THE SETTLEMENT PLAN THE "WRONG COURSE FOR ISRAEL," AND SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD MAKE CLEAR ITS OBJECTIONS. VOICE: "FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL HAVE WALKED A SOMETIMES DANGEROUS PATH TOGETHER, UNITED BY SHARED VALUES AND SHARED STRATEGIC INTERESTS. IT HAS BEEN A GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR BOTH COUNTRIES. IT MAY SOON BE TIME FOR THOSE PATHS TO SEPARATE. THE CURRENT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT UNDER PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS SEEMINGLY DETERMINED TO WALK A ROAD THAT THE UNITED STATES CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT TRAVEL... EVERY SETTLEMENT EXPANSION, EVERY GOVERNMENT INDUCEMENT TO DRAW SETTLERS TO THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, REPRESENTS AN EFFORT TO EVENTUALLY INCORPORATE THOSE AREAS INTO ISRAEL... IF THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS TO WORK, ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN MOST OF THE WEST BANK MUST CEASE." TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR EXPRESSES CONCERN THAT ISRAEL IS NOT HONORING PAST AGREEMENTS WITH THE PALESTINIANS AND SAYS THE UNITED STATES MUST STEP IN TO HELP REKINDLE THE PEACE PROCESS: VOICE: "WASHINGTON HAS TO BE AS UNEQUIVOCAL IN ITS CRITISISM OF EXPANDED SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY BY ISRAEL AS IT IS IN ITS CONDEMNATION OF MURDEROUS ACTS BY PALESTINIAN EXTREMISTS... THIS IS NO TIME FOR ARMS-LENGTH EXHORTING. HANDS-ON, CONSTANT TENDING OF THE PEACE PROCESS IS NEEDED. MR. CLINTON'S NEW FOREIGN-POLICY TEAM HAS AN EMERGENCY SALVAGE JOB AHEAD ON THE MIDDLE EAST. ... THE U-S HAS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT A POLICY OF SETTLEMENT EXPANSION WON'T BE TOLERATED." TEXT: A POPULAR DOMESTIC TOPIC THIS WEDNESDAY IS NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT POSSIBLY TAINTED FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. THE SUN IN BALTIMORE SAYS IN A LEAD EDITORIAL: VOICE: "HOW CONVENIENT! LAWYERS FOR THE CLINTON LEGAL DEFENSE FUND KNEW MONTHS AGO THAT A CHINESE AMERICAN FRIEND OF THE PRESIDENT HAD CONTRIBUTED 639-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DONATIONS SO DUBIOUS THEY HAD TO BE RETURNED. BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS WITHHELD UNTIL SIX WEEKS AFTER THE ELECTION. MICHAEL ... CARDOZO, FUND DIRECTOR, SAID THE DELAY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS. OF COURSE NOT... THIS LATEST DISCLOSURE CAN HAVE ITS USES IF IT ADDS TO PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER THE CORRUPTION OF A POLITICAL MONEY SYSTEM GONE HAYWIRE [CRAZY]." TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST, AFTER A LONG EDITORIAL RECITING THE FACTS OF THE CASE, LACONICALLY SUMS UP THIS WAY: VOICE: "THE WHITE HOUSE KEEPS TRYING TO SAY THE FUND-RAISING STORY WITH REGARD TO THE CLINTONS IS OVER, BUT IT ISN'T." TEXT: THEN THERE IS THIS COMMENT FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES, WHICH SUGGESTS THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT BEING COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL ABOUT THE MATTER. VOICE: "WHAT CAN POSSIBLY BE THE SOURCE OF THIS HIGHLY UNUSUAL RETICENCE ABOUT THE CLINTONS' VIRTUOUS REFUSAL TO ACCEPT TAINTED MONEY -- DESPITE THE URGENCY OF THEIR NEED? MR. CARDOZO INSISTS INDIGNANTLY THAT THE DELAY HAD NOTHING, REPEAT NOTHING, TO DO WITH A DESIRE TO SPARE THE PRESIDENT EMBARRASSMENT UNTIL MR. CLINTON HAD SAFELY WON REELECTION ... UH HUH. AND DOES HE ALSO HAVE A NICE LITTLE PLOT OF FLORIDA SWAMPLAND TO SELL US? [A CYNICAL EXPRESSION IMPLYING TOTAL DISBELIEF IN SOME STATEMENT.]" TEXT: FINALLY, FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THIS COMMENT ABOUT HOW TO BEST FINANCE THE PRESIDENT'S LEGAL DEFENSE: VOICE: "WE HAPPEN TO SYMPATHIZE WITH MIDDLE-CLASS AIDES FACING BIG LEGAL BILLS, AND INDEED HAVE SUGGESTED THAT CONGRESS APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH... ONE GOOD REASON IS THAT WHEN FUNDS ARE PRIVATELY RAISED, IT GETS HARD TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AND HUSH MONEY. [BRIBES]" TEXT: THE HUGE AEROSPACE MERGER BETWEEN THE NATION'S TWO AEROSPACE GIANTS, MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS AND BOEING, IS STILL ELICITING EDITORIAL COMMENT. MAINE'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD CALLS IT "GOOD NEWS FOR BOTH FIRMS AND ... THE UNITED STATES." VOICE: "BOEING, WHICH HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN SEATTLE, HASN'T BUILT A FIGHTER AIRCRAFT SINCE THE 1930S... SINCE MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BUILD A FULL LINE OF COMMERCIAL JETS, IT HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF KEEPING EVEN ITS PRESENT MARKET SHARE... IF THE MERGER WORKS OUT, IT WILL BE A LIFELINE FOR MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS' WORKFORCE, WHILE PROVIDING THE PENTAGON A STRONGER RESOURCE. THAT WILL BE A BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR EVERYONE." TEXT: ANOTHER NEW ENGLAND DAILY, THE BOSTON GLOBE, IS FASCINATED WITH NEW REVELATIONS THAT RICHARD NIXON, WHILE PRESIDENT AND DEALING WITH THE WATERGATE SCANDAL, WAS SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING NOT RESIGNING THE OFFICE. VOICE: "COULD [MR.] NIXON HAVE SURVIVED THE RISING TIDE OF SCANDAL HAD HE CHOSEN OPTION A? [THE NOT RESIGN OPTION]. THE 'SMOKING GUN' [TOTALLY INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE] TAPE, IN WHICH HE WAS HEARD TO SAY HE WOULD USE THE C-I-A TO BLOCK THE F-B-I'S WATERGATE INVESTIGATION, SUGGESTS NOT... EVEN TODAY, A GENERATION LATER, THE MEMORY OF WATERGATE ACTS AS A BRAKE AS THE COUNTRY TRIES TO FIND ITS WAY DOWN THE WINDING ROADS OF WHITEWATER." TEXT: THE SUN IN BALTIMORE NOTES THAT ONE OF THE RULING SOMALI WARLORDS DIRECTING THE LATEST FIGHTING IN MOGADISHU IS A FORMER U-S MARINE CORPS RESERVIST FROM CALIFORNIA, HUSSEIN AIDID. HE IS THE 30-YEAR-OLD SON OF THE LATE GENERAL MOHAMED FARAH AIDID. VOICE: "SERGEANT AIDID RETURNED [TO SOMALIA] FROM LOS ANGELES IN MID-1995 TO ASSUME HIS RESPONSIBILITIES. HE WAS 'ELECTED' BY HIS FATHER'S LIEUTENANTS AS 'PRESIDENT' OF SOMALIA, WHICH NO OTHER FACTION THINKS HE IS. THE NEW AMERICAN WARLORD KEPT THE POT BOILING, [;] PRETTY MUCH HIS GANG AGAINST THE REST... ALL THE CHAOS IS IN SOUTHERN SOMALIA, A ONE-TIME ITALIAN COLONY. THE NORTHERN PART, A FORMER BRITISH PROTECTORATE, HAS NOT HAD THESE PROBLEMS. EVERYTHING MORE OR LESS WORKS THERE. ITS LEADERS SAY IT SECEDED AND IS THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND. [OPT] DELEGATES AT THE CAPITAL OF HARGEISA ON MONDAY ADOPTED A NEW FLAG. NO ONE OUTSIDE 'SOMALILAND' MAY EVER SEE IT. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PART OF SOMALIA THAT GOVERNS AND FEEDS ITSELF AND KEEPS THE PEACE." [END OPT] TEXT: AND LASTLY, A LAMENT FROM USA TODAY ABOUT THE UNEVENNESS OF CIVIL LAWSUITS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE WIDELY DIFFERING DAMAGES AWARDED BY JURIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. VOICE: "IF THE STATES ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO STRIKE A RATIONAL BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT OF LEGITIMATELY INJURED CITIZENS TO SEEK DAMAGES AND THE RIGHT OF BUSINESS AND OTHERS TO BE FREE OF OUTLANDISH AWARDS, WASHINGTON EVENTUALLY WILL ACT. PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS ALIKE DESERVE JUSTICE THAT'S CONSISTENT, NOT LAWSUIT ROULETTE." TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE OF JURIS PRUDENCE, WE CONCLUDE THIS
BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207662 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRICES CLOSED HIGHER ON THE MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE WEDNESDAY. VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE CLOSING FIGURES AND MARKET DETAILS IN THIS REPORT FROM LONDON. TEXT: DESPITE POSITIVE EMPLOYMENT FIGURES AND A BIGGER THAN ANTICIPATED RISE IN RETAIL SALES -- NEWS WHICH TO INVESTORS OFTEN PORTENDS HIGHER INFLATION -- BRITISH INVESTORS ON WEDNESDAY PUT THEIR MONEY IN STOCKS. THE KEY "FINANCIAL TIMES 100" INDEX WAS UP MORE THAN 38-AND-A-HALF POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING. IN PARIS, STOCKS TRACKED BY THE "CAC-40" INDEX ALSO CLOSED HIGHER WEDNESDAY. SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE STABLE DOLLAR AND UPWARD MOVEMENT ON WALL STREET PROMPTED FRENCH INVESTORS TO BUY. THE "CAC" CLOSED 25 POINTS HIGHER. THE STRONGER DOLLAR WAS TAKEN AS GOOD NEWS AMONG GERMAN
INVESTORS, WHO CONTINUE BUYING STOCKS. FRANKFURT'S "DAX-30"
INDEX CLOSED UP JUST OVER FIVE-AND-A-HALF POINTS. (SIGNED)
[03] GERMANY / YUGO WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207640 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMAN PROSECUTORS ARE CHARGING A CITIZEN OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WITH RAPE, ASSAULT AND ASSISTING GENOCIDE WHILE SERVING WITH SERB FORCES IN THE BOSNIAN CIVIL WAR IN 1992. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN. TEXT: THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN KARLSRUHE SAYS THE ARRESTED MAN IS ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN A CAMPAIGN OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC TO DRIVE MUSLIMS OUT OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN ALL PARTS OF BOSNIA WHERE SERBS LIVE. THE 56-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO HAS LIVED IN GERMANY SINCE 1969, AND HAS NOW BEEN IN INVESTIGATIVE CUSTODY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, WAS IDENTIFIED ONLY AS MAKSIM S. THE PROSECUTORS SAY HE IS ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN A MAY 1992
CAMPAIGN IN THE REGION OF KALESIJA IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THE
MAN IS SAID TO HAVE REPEATEDLY LED A TROOP OF SOLDIERS THAT
FORCIBLY GATHERED AND DEPORTED MUSLIMS AS PART OF THE SERBIAN
POLICY OF "ETHNIC CLEANSING." HE IS ALSO ACCUSED OF STABBING A
MUSLIM IN THE EYE WITH A BAYONET, AND OF MISHANDLING AND RAPING A
MUSLIM WOMAN. (SIGNED)
[04] GREEK STRIKES (L-ONLY) BY ATHINA KAZAZI (ATHENS)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207650 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN GREECE, THOUSANDS OF WORKERS CONTINUE TO STRIKE IN OPPOSITION TO GOVERNMENT-PROPOSED AUSTERITY MEASURES. THE WIDESPREAD LABOR UNREST IS THE WORSE DOMESTIC CRISIS THE RULING SOCIALISTS HAVE HAD TO FACE SINCE WINNING RE-ELECTION THREE MONTHS AGO. FROM ATHENS, REPORTER ATHINA KAZAZI HAS DETAILS. TEXT: TEACHERS, DOCTORS AND SEAMEN ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY GREEK PROFESSIONALS STAYING AWAY FROM WORK, BOTH AT HOME AND EVEN AMONG DIPLOMATS LIVING ABROAD. THE PROTEST IS SO WIDE-RANGING THAT TAX COLLECTORS HAVE JOINED STRIKE, AS THOUSANDS OF RIOTING FARMERS PLAN TO STAGE A PROTEST MARCH IN ATHENS LATER THIS WEEK. FARMERS HAVE BEEN BLOCKING HIGHWAYS AND RAILROADS FOR THREE STRAIGHT WEEKS. THEY'RE DEMANDING HIGHER AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES, CHEAPER FUEL AND BACK PAYMENTS AMOUNTING TO THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY TWO BILLION DOLLARS. THE THREE-WEEK-LONG ROAD BLOCKADE HAS CHOKED TRAFFIC AND TRADE INTO, OUT OF AND AROUND GREECE. OFFICIALS SAY THE PROTEST MAY HAVE COST COST VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY AS MUCH AS 700 MILLION DOLLARS THE STRIKE ACTIONS TAKE PLACE AS THE 300-MEMBER PARLIAMENT DEBATES A BELT-TIGHTENING STATE BUDGET FOR 1997 -- A BUDGET WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF CALLS THE MOST AUSTERE IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. PRIME MINISTER (KONSTANDINOS) SIMITIS HAS REFUSED TO MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS AND BILLED THE STRIKERS' DEMANDS AS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR A NATION TRYING TO MEET STRICT CRITERIA FOR JOINING THE FLEDGLING EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION. GREECE IS THE WORST ECONOMIC PERFORMER IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, DESPITE 15 YEARS OF AUSTERITY PROGRAMS. AN OPINION POLL RELEASED ON TUESDAY SHOWED THAT MR. SIMITIS' IRON-FISTED (STRONG) STANCE IS TAKING A TOLL ON HIS POPULARITY RATINGS. THE POLL SHOWS MR. SIMITIS' PUBLIC APPROVAL RATING HAS DROPPED FROM ABOUT 50 PERCENT TO 38 PERCENT IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. IN SEPTEMBER, MR. SIMITIS AND HIS SOCIALIST PARTY WON
RE-ELECTION, PROMISING TO BRING THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY IN LINE
WITH ITS FINANCIALLY SUPERIOR EUROPEAN UNION PARTNERS. SHORT OF
ANY SURPRISES, THE CONTROVERSIAL BUDGET WILL BE RATIFIED, AS THE
SOCIALISTS CONTROL A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT.
CRITICS, HOWEVER, ARE DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE GREEK GOVERNMENT'S HOPES
THAT WIDESPREAD LABOR UNREST WILL FIZZLE FOLLOWING THE BUDGET'S
ANTICIPATED APPROVAL THIS SATURDAY. (SIGNED)
[05] NATO / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207647 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THERE APPEARS TO BE GROWING SUPPORT IN NATO FOR AN INITIATIVE BY U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY FOR A NEW INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE TO CAPTURE PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES IN BOSNIA. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS MR. PERRY RAISED HIS PLAN IN TALKS WEDNESDAY WITH SEVERAL NATO COLLEAGUES. TEXT: THERE IS SATISFACTION THAT THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE IN BOSNIA HAS PREVENTED A RETURN TO CIVIL WAR. BUT THERE IS WIDESPREAD DISSATISFACTION IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT DOZENS OF PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES HAVE SO FAR MANAGED TO EVADE JUSTICE. THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IS TO STAY ON FOR A FURTHER 18 MONTHS, AND IS BEING RENAMED THE STABILIZATION FORCE. HOWEVER, IT HAS NO MANDATE TO SEEK OUT WAR CRIMINALS, ALTHOUGH IT DOES HAVE ORDERS TO ARREST ANY WITH WHOM IT COMES INTO CONTACT. AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A BROAD WELCOME FOR MR. PERRY'S SUGGESTION THAT A NEW INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE IS NEEDED TO DO THE JOB, TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR CRIMES ARE DETAINED AND ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF VIEW OVER HOW THIS CAN BEST BE ACHIEVED NATO OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS FEAR THAT IF THE NEW FORCE IS SET UP AND BEGINS ARRESTING PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, THAT MIGHT PROVOKE RETALIATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA. THEY SAY IT IS MAINLY FOR THIS REASON THAT THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE WAS NOT GIVEN THE POWERS TO HUNT DOWN SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS. THE MOST PROMINENT AMONG THOSE BEING SOUGHT ARE FORMER BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS FORMER MILITARY CHIEF RATKO MLADIC. SEVERAL OPTIONS WERE FLOATED DURING MR. PERRY'S DISCUSSIONS WITH HIS FRENCH, DUTCH, NORWEGIAN, AND DANISH COLLEAGUES. THE NEW FORCE COULD BE PUT UNDER THE DIRECT AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE OR IT COULD BE OPERATED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE MOST FAVORED OPTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THE PROPOSED POLICE FORCE RUN BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. THE UNITED NATIONS' SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT,
HAS WARNED THAT A FAILURE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF THE ALLEGED
WAR CRIMINALS COULD THREATEN THE ENTIRE RECONCILIATION PROCESS IN
BOSNIA. HE SAYS THAT REFUGEES WILL NOT RETURN, AND IT IS
UNLIKELY THAT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WILL BE FREE AND FAIR, WHILE
THE 70 OR MORE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS REMAIN AT LARGE. (SIGNED)
[06] PERRY/BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207667 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT WITHIN NATO FOR SETTING UP A SPECIAL POLICE FORCE TO TRACK DOWN INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA. HOWEVER, KEY ISSUES -- INCLUDING WHO WOULD RUN THE POLICE OPERATION -- REMAIN UNDECIDED. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: THE FACT THAT PROMINENT WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS REMAIN FREE IN BOSNIA IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR FAILING OF THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS. AND THE ISSUE FIGURED HEAVILY IN THE NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS, HELD ONE YEAR AFTER NATO'S PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE -- I-FOR -- BEGAN ARRIVING IN THE COUNTRY. U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, IN A CLOSING NEWS CONFERENCE MONITORED HERE, SAID THERE WAS BROAD SUPPORT AMONG THE MINISTERS FOR THE POLICE FORCE TO WORK ALONGSIDE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS, BUT NO DECISIONS WERE MADE: ///PERRY ACTUALITY///THERE WAS NO FORMAL ACTION TAKEN AT THIS MEETING RELATIVE TO THE WAR CRIMINALS. BUT THERE WAS A CLEAR AGREEMENT THAT BRINGING THESE INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION. BUT THE MINISTERS ALSO AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN I-FOR MISSION. IT WILL NOT BE AN S-FOR (STABILIZATION FORCE) MISSION. THEY AGREED THAT LOCATING AND ARRESTING THE CRIMINALS IS A MISSION FOR A POLICE FORCE. ///END ACT///MR. PERRY GAVE NO DETAILS OF HOW THE POLICE FORCE WOULD BE ORGANIZED. BUT OTHER U-S OFFICIALS SAID IT COULD OPERATE DIRECTLY UNDER THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE -- OR BE UNDER AUSPICES OF THE O-S-C-E OR THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY DID MAKE CLEAR THAT THE POLICE WOULD HAVE TO OPERATE IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH NATO'S 31-THOUSAND MEMBER STABILIZATION FORCE -- WHICH WILL TAKE OVER FROM ITS LARGER PREDECESSOR, I-FOR, AT THE END OF THE YEAR: ///PERRY ACT 2///IF A POLICE FORCE WERE OUT OPERATING AND ARRESTING CRIMINALS, THIS COULD CREATE A CIVIL DISTURBANCE. AND S-FOR WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT DISTURBANCE. BUT WE MADE A CLEAR DISTRINCTION BETWEEN THE POLICE FUNCTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT A FUNCTION OF S-FOR, AND PROVIDING THE SECURE ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF S-FOR. AND THERE WAS A STRONG AGREEMENT AMONG ALL THE MINISTERS WHO SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT THAT WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACKS ON THIS PROBLEM. ///END ACT///THE MOST PROMINENT OF THOSE INDICTED ARE FORMER BOSNIAN SERB
PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC AND HIS FORMER MILITARY CHIEF RATKO
MLADIC -- BOTH OF WHOM STILL HAVE BROAD SUPPORT AT HOME. NATO
OFFICIALS CONCEDE THAT FEAR OF RETALIATION AND UNREST IS THE MAIN
REASON WHY PEACEKEEPERS WERE NOT GIVEN POWERS TO HUNT DOWN THE
SUSPECTS. BUT THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT THE DURABILITY OF THE
PEACE IN BOSNIA IF THEY REMAIN AT LARGE AFTER NATO FORCES LEAVE
FOR GOOD IN 1998. (SIGNED)
[07] PERRY / RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207673 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IS APPEALING TO LEADERS IN MOSCOW TO CORRECT WHAT HE SAYS ARE MISCONCEPTIONS AMONG THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ABOUT NATO EXPANSION. HE SPOKE IN BRUSSELS AFTER A MEETING OF NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS AND RUSSIAN DEFENSE CHIEF IGOR RODIONOV. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: THE SO-CALLED 16-PLUS-ONE MEETING INCLUDED A STRONG REITERATION BY MR. RODIONOV OF MOSCOW'S OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION. THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE CHIEF WARNED HIS NATO COUNTERPARTS THAT IF THE ALLIANCE GOES AHEAD, AS EXPECTED, AND INVITES FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES TO JOIN NEXT YEAR, MOSCOW WILL TAKE WHAT HE TERMED APPROPRIATE MEASURES. HE SAID IT COULD MEAN A RETURN TO THE DAYS OF THE COLD WAR. MR. RODIONOV'S WARNING CAME AS HE REJECTED -- AS PREMATURE -- A NATO OFFER TO EXCHANGE MILITARY LIAISON OFFICERS. (U-S) DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY -- AT A NEWS CONFERENCE MONITORED HERE -- SAID HE REMAINS HOPEFUL THE OFFICER EXCHANGE WILL OCCUR SOON, AND THAT RUSSIA AND NATO CAN AGREE ON A CHARTER GOVERNING THEIR RELATIONS BEFORE THE ALLIANCE ACCEPTS NEW MEMBERS. MR. PERRY SAID NATO HAS TAKEN MAJOR STEPS TO MAKE THE PROCESS ACCEPTABLE TO MOSCOW, INCLUDING ITS PLEDGE NOT TO PUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN ANY OF THE NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES. HE SAID RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE A CORRESPONDING OBLIGATION TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR COUNTRYMEN THAT NATO IS NOT A THREAT. /// PERRY ACT ///IT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THERE IS A BROAD AND A DEEP PERCEPTION IN RUSSIA THAT NATO EXPANSION IS A THREAT TO THEM, WHICH IMPLIES -- AS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (JAVIER SOLANA) SAID -- THEY BELIEVE THAT NATO IS A THREAT. THIS PERCEPTION IS WRONG. AND TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY OF CORRECTING THIS MIS-PERCEPTION. AND THAT REQUIRES NATO ACTION. AND IT REQUIRES RUSSIAN ACTION. AND IT REQUIRES RUSSIAN ACTION. AND WE SAID THAT VERY PLAINLY TO MINISTER RODIONOV TODAY. /// END ACT ///MR. PERRY -- ATTENDING HIS LAST NATO MEETING BEFORE LEAVING
OFFICE -- STRESSED THE COMMON GROUND THAT NOW EXISTS BETWEEN NATO
AND RUSSIA, INCLUDING THEIR JOINT ROLE IN BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING.
HE SAID NATO IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF
THE COLD WAR -- HAVING ELIMINATED 90 PERCENT OF ITS THEATER (EDS:
REGIONAL) NUCLEAR FORCES. (SIGNED)
[08] SERBIA / STUDENTS BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (BELGRADE)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-35253 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THERE WAS A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN SERBIA'S MONTH-LONG POLITICAL CRISIS LATE TUESDAY WHEN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MET FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MASS PROTEST MOVEMENT THAT HAS ROCKED THE COUNTRY SINCE THE GOVERNMENT ANNULLED MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS. THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED A PETITION FROM A SMALL GROUP OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO HAD WALKED 250 KILOMETERS TO BELGRADE FROM THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF NIS. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, SERBIA'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE PROTEST MOVEMENT. TEXT: /// ACT - STUDENT DEMO ///THEY GATHER AT NOON EACH DAY OUTSIDE THE FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE HEART OF BELGRADE. WEDNESDAY MARKED THE 27TH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF STUDENT PROTESTS HERE, AND THEIR LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF CONTINUING THE DEMONSTRATIONS UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET. BETWEEN 35-THOUSAND AND 50-THOUSAND STUDENTS TAKE PART IN THE DAILY RALLIES AND MARCHES. AND AS THE PROTEST MOVES INTO A SECOND MONTH, THERE IS NO SIGN OF FLAGGING MOMENTUM. ONE OF THE STUDENT LEADERS, DUSAN POPOVIC, SAYS THE YOUNG PROTESTERS DRAW THEIR ENERGY IN PART FROM THE SCATHING ATTACKS ON THEM PUBLISHED AND BROADCAST BY SERBIA'S STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA. /// POPOVIC ACT ///WE WERE AFRAID IN THE FIRST DAYS THAT OUR ENERGY WILL JUST FLOW, FLY AWAY, JUST RUN OUT. BUT AS THE STATE-OWNED MEDIA KEPT ON WITH A KIND OF PROPAGANDA AGAINST US, WHICH NOBODY COULD DIGEST, IT CAUSED MORE REVOLT AND MORE PEOPLE JUST CAME TO OUR MEETINGS, AND EVERY DAY OUR NUMBERS ARE GROWING. /// END ACT ///MR. POPOVIC, A CLEAN-CUT 22-YEAR-OLD ASPIRING FILM DIRECTOR, WAS CHOSEN IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE ON WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE PROTEST MOVEMENT. IT GROUPS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTIES. THE STUDENTS HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN PRESS OFFICE AND MEDIA CENTER. THERE IS EVEN A CATERING SERVICE. AND THERE IS ALSO A STUDENT SECURITY SERVICE, TO MAINTAIN ORDER DURING THE MARCHES, AND TO GUARD AGAINST WHAT MR. POPOVIC CALLS PROVOCATIONS BY AGENTS OF THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT. /// POPOVIC ACT ///THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SOME KIND OF PRESSURE TOWARDS OUR GOVERNMENT IS TO BE PEACEFUL AND TO BE PERSISTENT, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PROVOKE VIOLENCE AMONG US. AND MANY PROVOCATEURS ARE THERE TO CAUSE A KIND OF VIOLENCE, TO CAUSE AN INCIDENT, TO PROVOKE THE POLICE TO ATTACK. /// END ACT ///THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR INCIDENTS SO FAR IN THE MONTH-LONG PROTESTS, AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HERE SAY THE POLICE WILL NOT INTERVENE AS LONG THE THE DEMONSTRATORS REMAIN PEACEFUL. THE STUDENTS HAVE THREE MAJOR DEMANDS, AND THEY HAVE STUCK TO THAT LIST FROM THE OUTSET OF THE PROTEST MOVEMENT. THEY ARE DEMANDING THE REMOVAL OF THE UNIVERSITY DEAN AND A PRO-GOVERNMENT STUDENT LEADER -- BOTH OF WHOM CRITICIZED THE PROTEST MOVEMENT IN THE STATE MEDIA. BUT THE STUDENTS' KEY DEMAND, LIKE THAT OF OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES HERE, IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THE OPPOSITION VICTORIES IN LAST MONTH'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT STOLE OUR VOTES, SAYS DUSAN POPOVIC, AND OUR MAIN AIM IS TO BRING ABOUT REAL DEMOCRACY HERE. /// POPOVIC ACT ///WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SERBIA A DEMOCRATIC STATE, THE SAME AS ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, AND TO SHOW TO THE WORLD THAT WE DESERVE SUCH (A) GOVERNMENT, AND (THAT) WE DO NOT DESERVE (A) TOTALITARIAN REGIME OR SOME KIND OF TYRANNY WHICH DOES NOT RESPECT THE RIGHT OF ANY CITIZEN TO VOTE, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF ALL DEMOCRACIES IN THE WORLD. /// END ACT ///ALTHOUGH THEY SHARE KEY OBJECTIVES WITH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION HERE, THE STUDENT PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE AUTONOMY OF THEIR MOVEMENT. THEIR RALLIES AND MARCHES ARE SEPARATE FROM THOSE OF THE OPPOSITION COALITION KNOWN AS ZAJEDNO. TO BE TOO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH ZAJEDNO, SAYS STUDENT LEADER KATARINA KOSTIC, WOULD BE TO FALL INTO A GOVERNMENT TRAP. /// KOSTIC ACT ///THIS GOVERNMENT IS WAITING FOR US TO JOIN THEM, TO JOIN COALITION ZAJEDNO, AND TO SAY ON STATE T-V AND IN EVERY MEDIA THAT WE ARE MANIPULATED BY THEM, AND THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT WE HEARD THEIR WORDS AND THAT WE WANT, I DON'T KNOW, TO BE THEIR SLAVES. /// END ACT ///TUESDAY'S MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT STIRRED CONSIDERABLE INTEREST HERE. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE 15-MINUTE SESSION WAS BROADCAST BY STATE TELEVISION, AND TRANSCRIPTS WERE PUBLISHED IN WEDNESDAY MORNING'S BELGRADE NEWSPAPERS. STUDENT LEADERS SAY THEY ARE NOT SURE IT SIGNALED A
BREAKTHROUGH IN THE LONG CRISIS HERE. BUT THEY SAY THEY REMAIN
CONFIDENT THAT EVENTUALLY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BOW TO THEIR
DEMANDS. (SIGNED)
[09] TURKEY / IRAN (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)DATE=12/18/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-207668 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRANIAN PRESIDENT HASHEMI RAFSANJANI IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY THURSDAY FOR A THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THE IRANIAN LEADER'S TRIP TO ANKARA, HIS THIRD SO FAR, HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH ITS WESTERN ALLIES. TEXT: CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT FIRST ERUPTED AFTER TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ARRANGE A DEFENSE INDUSTRY COOPERATION DEAL WITH IRAN. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AHEAD OF THE VISIT, MR. ERBAKAN INSISTED THAT COOPERATION WITH IRAN WAS NECESSARY IN ALL FIELDS, THE DEFENSE FIELD INCLUDED. MR. ERBAKAN'S REMARKS PROMPTED THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TO EXPRESS U-S CONCERN ABOUT THE COURSE TURKEY -- A NATO MEMBER IS TAKING UNDER ITS NEW ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP. // OPT //ANALYSTS SAY THE U-S VIEWS ARE LARGELY SHARED BY TURKEY'S POWERFUL, STAUNCHLY PRO-WESTERN MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. IRAN IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO PROVIDE ARMS AND WEAPONS FOR REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE P-K-K. THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING A 12-YEAR LONG REBELLION AGAINST TURKEY FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE. SOME OFFICIALS ALSO BELIEVE IRAN HAS FINANCED AND TRAINED MEMBERS OF ILLEGAL RADICAL ISLAMIC GROUPS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF MURDERING VARIOUS PROMINENT PRO-SECULAR WRITERS AND ACADEMICS IN TURKEY. MR. ERBAKAN OVERRODE OBJECTIONS BOTH FROM THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT AND THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY AND HAS SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN LINKS WITH IRAN SINCE COMING TO POWER FOUR MONTHS AGO. HIS FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP ABROAD WAS TO IRAN WHERE MR, ERBAKAN SIGNED A 20- BILLION DOLLAR AGREEMENT TO IMPORT IRANIAN NATURAL GAS. THE DEAL CAME JUST DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED A LAW IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON ANY COUNTRY INVESTING MORE THAN 40- MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRIES OF IRAN AND LIBYA. TURKISH DIPLOMATS ARE SEEKING TO DOWNPLAY MR. ERBAKAN'S PROPOSAL FOR MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAN. THEY DESCRIBE IT AS A VERY NEW CONCEPT AND SAY MR. RAFSANJANI'S VISIT WILL FOCUS ON MANY AREAS OF COOPERATION INCLUDING TRADE AND THE NEED TO COMBAT P-K-K TERRORISM. ANALYSTS SAY MR. ERBAKAN'S ATTEMPTS TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE ISLAMIC
WORLD ARE LARGELY AIMED AT APPEASING HIS MORE MILITANT
SUPPORTERS, WHO FEEL BETRAYED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S FAILURE TO
FULFILL MANY OF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. THESE INCLUDE FREEZING A
FREE TRADE DEAL WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CANCELLING A MILITARY
COOPERATION DEAL WITH ISRAEL. (SIGNED)
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