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Voice of America, 97-01-06Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BELGRADE DEBRIEFER (L ONLY) BY COLIN SOLOWAY (BELGRADE)DATE=1/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-208295 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: -- A YUGOSLAV ARMY LEADER MET WITH STUDENT LEADERS WHO ARE AMONG THE DEMONSTRATORS IN BELGRADE. REPORTER COLIN SOLOWAY DISCUSSED THE EVENT WITH VOA IN A TELEPHONE CALL FROM BELGRADE. TEXT: SOLOWAY: THE STUDENTS MET WITH GENERAL MOMCILO PERISIC, WHO IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY. GENERAL PERISIC TOLD THEM, ESSENTIALLY, THAT THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A REPEAT OF 1991 WHEN THE YUGOSLAV ARMY TROOPS WERE BROUGHT OUT ON TO THE STREETS TO CRUSH POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE MADE NO COMMITMENTS AS FAR AS WHAT THE ARMY WOULD DO IF THE POLICE ACTUALLY DID ANYTHING AGAINST THE DEMONSTRATORS, BUT HE WAS VERY FIRM IN HIS COMMITMENT THAT THE ARMY SHOULD REMAIN NEUTRAL IN WHAT HE REGARDED AS A POLITICAL PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT. QUESTION: THAT'S A KEY ELEMENT -- THE POLICE -- BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTAINLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. SOLOWAY: THE POLICE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN LOYAL UP TO THIS POINT. THE POLICE WERE BUILT UP UNDER MILOSEVIC AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ARMY. THE YUGOSLAV ARMY USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ARMIES IN THE WORLD. BUT SINCE MILOSEVIC CAME TO POWER, HE PURGED THE GENERAL STAFF OF VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THE GENERALS WHO WAS IN POWER WHEN HE TOOK OVER IN 1987, AND SINCE THEN HAS BUILT UP THE POLICE FORCE INTO A REALLY FORMIDABLE PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION WITH AS MANY AS 100-THOUSAND MEN EQUIPPED WITH HELICOPTERS, ROCKET LAUNCHERS AND ARMORED VEHICLES, AS WELL. AND THERE IS A LOT OF RESENTMENT IN THE ARMY AGAINST THE DIMINUTION OF ITS POWER. QUESTION: THE OPPOSITION WILL BE OUT IN FORCE AGAIN LATER TONIGHT, MONDAY, AS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED. THE BIG EVENT IS GOING TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S CATHEDRAL. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN? SOLOWAY: CERTAINLY NO ONE IS EXPECTING ANY TROUBLE FROM THE
POLICE TONIGHT. THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS -- LEADERS OF THE
STUDENT MOVEMENT HERE -- MET WITH THE CHIEF OF THE MINISTRY OF
THE INTERIOR OF YUGOSLAVIA, WHO HAS MADE NO COMMITMENTS AS TO
WHAT THE POLICE WILL OR WILL WON'T DO IN THE FUTURE. BUT AS FOR
THIS EVENING, RELIGIOUS MARCHES ARE NOT BANNED UNDER THESE
LAWS, AND THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY MAKING THIS MARCH A RELIGIOUS
MARCH. THEY ARE GOING TO BE LED BY A PRIEST BY THE ORTHODOX
CHURCH ON A MARCH THROUGH THE CENTER OF BELGRADE. IT WILL BE
NOT JUST THE STUDENTS' MARCH, BUT ALSO A MARCH INCLUDING MEMBERS
OF THE OPPOSITION DEMONSTRATIONS, WHICH HAVE PARALYZED THE CITY
FOR THE PAST MONTH. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED FOR THIS.
THEY'LL BE MET AT ST. SAVA'S -- THE GIANT CATHEDRAL AT THE OTHER
END OF TOWN -- BY THE PATRIARCH OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH,
WHO WILL SPEAK TO THEM THERE. IT'S EXPECTED HE WILL MIX RELIGION
AND POLITICS A BIT IN THAT SPEECH. AND THEN THEY WILL CARRY ON
WITH SOME RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
END IT
[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=1/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-208294 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCKS ON KEY WESTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS GAINED GROUND MONDAY. WITH A ROUNDUP OF THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON. TEXT: THE MAJOR EXCHANGES IN FRANKFURT, LONDON AND PARIS ALL POSTED DOUBLE-DIGIT GAINS -- BUT SOME ANALYSTS SAY THERE'S REASON FOR CAUTION, NOTABLY IN LONDON, WHERE ANOTHER INTEREST RATE HIKE MAY SOON TAKE SOME OF THE ZEST OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET. IT DID NOT AFFECT PRICES ON MONDAY, HOWEVER, AS THE "FINANCIAL TIMES 100" INDEX POSTED A 17 POINT GAIN. AN UPWARD DRIVE IN PRICES ON WALL STREET HELPED BOOST SHARE PRICES IN FRANKFURT. THE KEY "DAX 30" INDEX GAINED JUST OVER 22 POINTS FOR THE DAY. INVESTOR CONFIDENCE ON WALL STREET WAS ALSO CITED FOR A NEARLY 24 POINT GAIN IN THE "CAC 40" INDEX IN PARIS. BUT WHILE STOCKS CONTINUED TO GAIN VALUE, GOLD CONTINUED TO FALL,
DROPPING MORE THAN FOUR DOLLARS AN OUNCE AND CLOSING AT
357-DOLLARS-95 CENTS -- ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN THREE
YEARS. (SIGNED)
[03] RUSSIA / NATO (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=1/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-208292 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: KREMLIN LEADERS ARE TAKING A TOUGHER STAND IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION AS THE DATE APPROACHES FOR INVITING NEW MEMBERS INTO THE ALLIANCE. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIA IS PREPARING FOR HARD BARGAINING AS FORMER COLD WAR ADVERSARIES NEGOTIATE THEIR FUTURE RELATIONSHIP. TEXT: PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CALLED A TOP-LEVEL STRATEGY SESSION MONDAY AS OFFICIALS MADE CLEAR THE KREMLIN REMAINS FIERCELY OPPOSED TO NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION. SPOKESMAN SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKY TOLD REPORTERS THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE IN RUSSIA'S POSITION FOLLOWING MR. YELTSIN'S WEEKEND MEETING WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL. // YASTRZHEMBSKY ACT UP, THEN FADE TOP //MR. YASTRZHEMBSKY SAID RUSSIA'S POSITION ON NATO EXPANSION REMAINS STRONGLY NEGATIVE. HE SAID TOP KREMLIN OFFICIALS ON MONDAY HAD DISCUSSED A PLAN OF ACTION TO COUNTER WHATEVER FORMS ENLARGEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE MIGHT TAKE. THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR FLEW IN DURING THE WEEKEND FOR TALKS AIMED AT EASING RUSSIAN FEARS ABOUT THE ALLIANCE'S INTENTIONS. AFTERWARD, MR. KOHL EXPRESSED OPTIMISM A COMPROMISE COULD BE FOUND THAT WOULD RESPECT THE KREMLIN'S SECURITY INTERESTS. BUT A NUMBER OF SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY MONDAY TO EMPHASIZE THERE HAD BEEN NO BREAKTHROUGH. // OPT //CHANCELLOR KOHL'S WEEKEND TALKS WITH HIS OLD FRIEND BORIS YELTSIN WERE THE FIRST IN A SERIES THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS PLANNED WITH WESTERN LEADERS IN COMING MONTHS. NATO EXPANSION IS A PRIME TOPIC IN ALL OF THEM, AND THE KREMLIN HAS SIGNALED IT WILL PUSH FOR MORE CONCESSIONS. PRESIDENT YELTSIN IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD THE GERMAN LEADER RUSSIA WANTS WHAT AMOUNTS TO JOINT DECISIONS WITH NATO ON IMPORTANT SECURITY ISSUES. // OPT // NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREED LAST MONTH TO ISSUE INVITATIONS IN JULY FOR THE FIRST FORMER SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. BUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO EASE KREMLIN CONCERNS, THE MINISTERS OFFERED RUSSIA AN UNSPECIFIED ROLE IN SHAPING FUTURE EUROPEAN DEFENSE ARRANGEMENTS. // END OPT //WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW SAY RUSSIA'S INCREASINGLY STRONG
OPPOSITION TO NATO EXPANSION APPEARS TO BE PART OF THE BARGAINING
PROCESS AS THE FUTURE OF EAST-WEST RELATIONS TAKES SHAPE.
(SIGNED)
[04] U-S CYPRUS MISSILES (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=1/6/97TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-208302 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS PROTESTED RUSSIA'S SALE OF SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES TO CYPRUS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATEDEPARTMENT. TEXT: CYPRUS HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE RUSSIAN S-300 ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILE SYSTEM FOR A REPORTED 660 MILLION DOLLARS. THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SAYS IT NEEDS THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT HAS NO AIRFORCE AND MUST HAVE A DETERRENT AGAINST AIR ATTACK. TURKEY TAKES A DIFFERENT VIEW. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL NOT TOLERATE DEVELOPMENTS THAT CHANGE THE MILITARY BALANCE IN THE MEDITERRRANEAN. THE UNITED STATES TAKES A SIMILAR VIEW. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT THE SALE TO BOTH CYPRUS AND RUSSIA. HE SAYS THE MISSILE SALE COMPLICATES EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE PEACE INCYPRUS. ///BURNS ACT///THE CYPRIOT DECISION INTRODUCES A NEW AND DESTABILIZING MILITARY ELEMENT ON THE ISLAND AND IN THE REGION AT THE VERY TIME THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS EXPLORING WAYS TO FOSTER POLIITICAL COOPERATION TO SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCE A SETTLEMENT. CYPRUS IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST MILITARIZED REGIONS IN THE WORLD. TURKEY MAINTAINS A VERY LARGE MILITARY FORCE ON THE ISLAND AND BOTH SIDES ARE ALREADY HEAVILY ARMED. ///END ACT///THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PAST HAS SHOWN THAT IMPORTING WEAPONS BRINGS ONLY ARMS INCREASES BY THE OTHER SIDE. MR. BURNS SAYS THIS NEW MISSILE SYSTEM WILL TAKE THE ARMS BUILDUP ON CYPRUS TO A NEW QUALITATIVE LEVEL. WHILE THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS URGING BOTH SIDES TO RETURN TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, TURKEY IS IMPLYING A THREAT TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO PREVENT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE RUSSIAN MISSILES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THAT ESCALATION. ///BURNS ACT///WE CERTAINLY HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE NO MILITARY REACTION, THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY BEYOND THE BOUNDS. ///END ACT///THE UNITED STATES CALLS ON BOTH GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO
REDUCE TENSIONS BY REDUCING DEFENSE EXPENDITURES, ENDING
PROVOCATIVE MILITARY EXERCISES AND IMPROVING SAFETY ALONG THE
CEASEFIRE LINES. BY PURCHASING ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILES, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A STEP DOWN THE
WRONG PATH. (SIGNED)
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