Voice of America, 97-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBRIGHT-BALKAN BY RON PEMSTEIN (BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA)

[02] ALBRIGHT-SARAJEVO (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (SARAJEVO)

[03] ALBRIGHT / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRCKO)

[04] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[05] TURKEY POL (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[06] U-S / NATO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[01] ALBRIGHT-BALKAN BY RON PEMSTEIN (BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS FLOWN BACK TO WASHINGTON AFTER A WEEKEND TRIP THROUGH ZAGREB, CROATIA'S KRAJINA REGION, BELGRADE AND THE BOSNIAN CITIES OF SARAJEVO, BRCKO AND BANJA LUKA. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN MADE THE JOURNEY WITH HER AND SENDS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: A CROAT WATCHING THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE CRITICIZE HIS GOVERNMENT FOR FAILURE TO STOP INTIMIDATION OF SERBS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY VIEW OF MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. THAT'S BECAUSE HE DOES NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER.

IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE CRITICIZES CROATIA, THE MAN SAYS, IT MUST BE BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN BELGRADE. FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, THIS CROAT APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF HER EXPERIENCE AS A LITTLE GIRL, THE DAUGHTER OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK AMBASSADOR TO BELGRADE.

WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVED HERE AT HER FINAL STOP IN BANJA LUKA, A GROUP OF BOSNIAN SERBS CARRIED POSTERS ASKING HER TO PROVE THAT WAR CRIMINALS ARE HIDING IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MS. ALBRIGHT TOLD THE ENTITY'S PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC.

MRS. PLAVSIC REPLIED THAT THE SERBIAN REPUBLIC'S LAW FORBIDS EXTRADITION OF ITS CITIZENS. THE BLUNT SPEAKING SECRETARY OF STATE INFORMED HER THAT THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT OVERRIDES ANY LOCAL LAWS.

IF THE CROAT IN THE KRAJINA REGION THINKS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS PRO SERB, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED TO HEAR HER PUBLICLY CRITICIZE SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE AFTER VISITING HER FORMER HOME IN CZECH REPUBLIC'S EMBASSY.

I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO THE CZECH EMBASSY WHERE I SPENT A PART OF MY CHILDHOOD. IT WAS A BITTERSWEET VISIT: SWEET BECAUSE IT BROUGHT BACK MANY HAPPY MEMORIES. BITTER, BECAUSE IT IS JUST SAD TO SEE BELGRADE LOSING GROUND SO FAST TO THE REST OF EUROPE.

WHAT MADELEINE ALBRIGHT BROUGHT TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS NOT SERBIAN, CROAT OR BOSNIAN. IT IS AMERICAN IDEALISM. SHE FEELS THAT AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF WAR, SERBS CAN LIVE PEACEFULLY WITH CROATS, AND BOTH OF THEM CAN LIVE WITH MUSLIMS. THEY CAN TURN OVER SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS TO THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL FOR TRIAL. THEY CAN ALLOW ALL REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. THEY CAN RECEIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE.

ON THE LAST DAY OF HER QUICK VISIT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE CELEBRATED THE ONE TANGIBLE ACHIEVEMENT OF TWO DAYS IN THIS REGION. THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN, SHE WON CROATIA'S AGREEMENT TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC OVER THE BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER THAT DIVIDES THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF BRCKO FROM CROATIA.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE BELIEVES THIS BRIDGE CAN BE BOSNIA'S ROAD TO EUROPE.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE MEANS THAT FAMILIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONTIER WILL BE ABLE TO LEAD NORMAL LIVES. IT MEANS THAT BOSNIAN GOODS WILL MORE EASILY FIND MARKETS IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD. IT WILL ALLOW TRAINS TO TRAVEL FROM TUZLA AND BRCKO TO THE PORT OF PLOCE IN CROATIA, TO ZAGREB, AND EVEN TO PARIS THROUGH DIRECT LINES. AND EVEN MORE FUNDAMENTAL FOR THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE THIS ROAD IS BOTH LITERALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY A ROAD TO EUROPE.

THE UNDAMAGED PART OF BRCKO IS STILL MOSTLY SERB. THE SERBS HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ALLOW THE PRE-WAR MAJORITY OF CROATS AND MUSLIMS TO RETURN TO BRCKO. INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS SAY THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE DELAYED REDUCING THEIR LARGE POLICE FORCE IN BRCKO AND ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL TRAINING OF A SMALLER POLICE UNIT.

FOR THE LEADERS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S VISIT DID NOT BRING MANY NEW ARGUMENTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM PREVIOUS FOREIGN VISITORS. WHAT SHE BROUGHT NEW TO THIS REGION WAS A BLUNT, PLAIN SPOKEN APPROACH. WHAT IRRITATED THE CROATIAN WHO THINKS THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS PRO-SERB IS THIS TONGUE LASHING OF A CROATIAN MINISTER FOR THE LOCAL TREATMENT OF REFUGEES.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING IT IS WORSE THAN THAT. IT IS THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AT THE TOP IS THINKING THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

THE CROATIANS WERE NOT ALONE TO BE CRITICIZED ON REFUGEE RETURNS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD THE BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT SHE HAS TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF MORE CROATS AND MUSLIMS IN AREAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF MRS. PLAVSIC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MRS. PLAVSIC DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER BOSNIAN SERB POLICIES. MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MADE THE TRIP TO BANJA LUKA TO SHOW ALL SERBS AND CROATS WHERE THE UNITED STATES STANDS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/LWM
01-Jun-97 4:59 PM EDT (2059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBRIGHT-SARAJEVO (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS VISITED SARAJEVO FOR MEETINGS WITH BOSNIA'S THREE-MAN PRESIDENCY AND A SHORT TOUR, BEFORE RESUMING HER DAY-LONG TRIP THROUGH THE COUNTRY. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS ON HER VISIT TO SARAJEVO.

TEXT: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TOOK A WALK SUNDAY SHE COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN WHEN SHE VISITED THIS CITY AS UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR, IN 1994.

SHE WALKED ACROSS THE VRBANJA BRIDGE, OVER THE MILJACKA RIVER, WHERE THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS KILLED. SHE ALSO PAID A PRIVATE VISIT TO THE JEWISH CEMETERY. THIS WAS THE FRONTLINE OF THE SARAJEVO BATTLEFRONT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS IN A DIFFERENT BATTLE, THIS TIME -- WITH BOSNIA'S THREE-MAN PRESIDENCY TO GET THE ETHNIC GROUPS TO COOPERATE. SHE VISITED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE FEDERATION'S 17-HUNDRED STRONG POLICE FORCE AND PLEDGED AMERICAN SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE, IF THEY WORK TOGETHER.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE NOW FLIES NORTH TO VISIT AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND TO OPEN A BRIDGE BETWEEN BOSNIA AND CROATIA AT BRCKO THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BOSNIAN WAR. SHE ENDS HER DAY IN BOSNIA BY SEEING SERBIAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT BILJANA PLAVSIC, IN THE NORTHWEST TOWN, BANJA LUKA. (SIGNED)
NEB / RP / DW / WD
01-Jun-97 6:21 AM EDT (1021 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBRIGHT / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRCKO)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS FINISHED HER TOUR OF BOSNIA BY VISITING THE BOSNIAN SERB TOWN OF BANJA LUKA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE TOWN OF BRCKO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE CELEBRATED A TANGIBLE STEP TOWARD PEACE ON HER TRIP.

TEXT: THE BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER BETWEEN NORTHEAST BOSNIA AND CROATIA WAS BLOWN UP BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA IN MAY 1992. EVEN AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED BY NATO FORCES, IT REMAINED CLOSED TO LOCAL TRAFFIC BY THE REFUSAL OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO ADMIT TRAFFIC FROM BOSNIA ON THE BRIDGE.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CONVINCED CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN TO OPEN HIS SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WHEN SHE MET WITH HIM ON SATURDAY. SHE SAYS EUROPE IS NOW OPEN TO BOSNIA.

FOR THE BOSNIAN PEOPLE, THIS ROAD IS BOTH LITERALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY A ROAD TO EUROPE. AND THIS BRIDGE, TO PARAPHRASE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FAVORITE METAPHOR, IS A BRIDGE OUT OF THE 20TH CENTURY (AND INTO THE 21ST CENTURY).

[04] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: EXIT POLLS AND EARLY RESULTS PUT THE FRENCH SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST ALLIANCE WELL IN THE LEAD AFTER FRANCE'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION SUNDAY. THE RESULT IS A SEVERE BLOW TO PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. HE WILL NOW HAVE TO WORK WITH A SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: IN A CRUSHING HUMILIATION FOR PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, THE FRENCH HAVE VOTED CONVINCINGLY FOR A LEFT-WING GOVERNMENT. AS THE ELECTION CLOSED SUNDAY, EXIT POLLS ALL GAVE THE LEFT A SOLID MAJORITY WITH AROUND 325 SEATS. THIS IS WELL ABOVE THE 289 NEEDED TO CONTROL PARLIAMENT. EARLY RESULTS IN MANY DISTRICTS CONFIRMED THIS TREND.

IT WAS PRESIDENT CHIRAC HIMSELF WHO DISSOLVED THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND CALLED EARLY ELECTIONS IN APRIL, APPARENTLY IN THE BELIEF THAT HIS CONSERVATIVE COALITION WAS IN NO DANGER. HOWEVER, WHEN THE LEFT TOOK A COMMANDING LEAD IN THE FIRST, ELIMINATING VOTE A WEEK AGO, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT HIS GAMBLE HAD BEEN A RISKY ONE.

THE NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE A HANDFUL OF ECOLOGIST DEPUTIES FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WELL AS AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE EXTREME-RIGHT ANTI-IMMIGRATION NATIONAL FRONT PARTY.

PRIME MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, WHOSE COLD STYLE IS SAID TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSERVATIVES' FALL IN POPULARITY, ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT HE WAS RESIGNING IN A LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE HIS GOVERNING COALITION. MR. JUPPE WAS ELECTED IN HIS DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF BORDEAUX BUT SEVERAL MINISTERS IN HIS GOVERNMENT LOST THEIR SEATS.

THE VICTORY OF THE LEFT MEANS THAT MR. CHIRAC WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY INVITE LIONEL JOSPIN, THE LEADER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY, TO BE PRIME MINISTER AND FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHAT THE FRENCH CALL "COHABITATION," AN UNCOMFORTABLE POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS COULD LAST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

ACCORDING TO MOST OF THE ESTIMATES, THE SOCIALISTS AND ITS NON-COMMUNIST ALLIES WILL TOGETHER HAVE A WORKING PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY. THIS MEANS THEY WILL NOT NECESSARILY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, MR. JOSPIN HINTED AT A COMMUNIST ROLE AND COMMUNIST LEADERS SAID THEY WOULD DISCUSS THEIR PARTICIPATION IN RUNNING FRANCE.

THE INCLUSION OF COMMUNISTS COULD COMPLICATE FRENCH POLICY ON EUROPEAN CONSTRUCTION. THE SOCIALISTS ARE GENERALLY PRO-EUROPEAN WHILE THE COMMUNISTS ARE OPPOSED TO MANY EUROPEAN UNION POLICIES, PARTICULARLY THE CREATION OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY.

FOR THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, THE ELECTION RESULT WILL BE SEEN MAINLY AS A DISAVOWAL OF MR. CHIRAC. HE WAS ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO ON A WIDE-RANGING REFORM PLATFORM INCLUDING MEASURES TO CUT UNEMPLOYMENT. SINCE THEN, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE FOR NOT LIVING UP TO HIS CAMPAIGN PLEDGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/LWM
01-Jun-97 4:28 PM EDT (2028 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY POL (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN ANNOUNCED SUNDAY THAT HIS 11-MONTH-OLD COALITION HAD DECIDED TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MR. ERBAKAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE ISLAMISTS TO STEP DOWN.

TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD JOINTLY WITH HIS JUNIOR COALITION PARTNER AND LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE "TRUE PATH PARTY," TANSU CILLER, MR. ERBAKAN SAID HE BELIEVED BOTH OF THE COALITION PARTNERS WOULD EMERGE EVEN STRONGER FROM AN EARLY ELECTION.

HE SAID HE WOULD BE HANDING OVER THE PREMIERSHIP TO MRS. CILLER BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, AS FORESEEN UNDER THE TERMS OF A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT THEY HAD MADE.

NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE ELECTIONS SINCE IT IS UP TO THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE EARLY POLLS.

THE ISLAMIST-LED COALITION FELL ONE SHORT OF A MAJORITY IN THE PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK FOLLOWING THE DEFECTION OF ONE OF MRS. CILLER'S BEST-KNOWN DEPUTIES, YILDIRIM AKTUNA. HE WAS FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THREE OTHER D-Y-P LEGISLATORS WHO DESERTED MRS. CILLER TO PROTEST HER CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISLAMISTS.

SINCE COMING TO POWER LAST JULY AS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, MR. ERBAKAN HAS COME UNDER HEAVY FIRE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE RIGIDLY PRO-SECULAR ARMED FORCES.

MR. ERBAKAN HAS SO FAR CHOSEN TO IGNORE A SET OF DIRECTIVES AIMED AT CURBING ISLAMIC RADICALISM ISSUED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE MILITARY-DOMINATED NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. ONE DIRECTIVE WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE JUNIOR SECTIONS OF ISLAMIC CLERICAL TRAINING SCHOOLS, WHICH MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY HAVE BECOME THE PRINCIPAL BREEDING GROUND FOR ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM.

THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THESE SCHOOLS LED TO WIDESPREAD PUBLIC PROTESTS. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE STRENGTH OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLS HAS RE-INFORCED MR ERBAKAN'S HOPES OF DOING WELL IN EARLY POLLS.

FEW OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT EARLY ELECTIONS WILL SIGNFICANTLY CHANGE THE CURRENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN TURKEY AND THAT NO ONE PARTY IS LIKELY TO GAIN AN OUTRIGHT MAJORITY, MAKING YET ANOTHER COALITION GOVERNMENT A NEAR-CERTAINTY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/DW/RRM
01-Jun-97 1:17 PM EDT (1717 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S / NATO (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SAYS THE COMING EXPANSION OF NATO MAY NOT COVER EVERY NATION THAT WANTS TO JOIN -- BUT THIS WILL NOT BE THEIR LAST CHANCE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: WHILE THE WESTERN ALLIES AGREE ON THE CONCEPT OF TAKING IN SOME OF THEIR FORMER WARSAW PACT ENEMIES, THERE ARE DISPUTES OVER HOW MANY OF THOSE STATES SHOULD JOIN AND HOW SOON. THE WHITE HOUSE FAVORS MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND. FRANCE AND OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO WANT TO INVITE ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA.

APPEARING ON THE "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" TELEVISION BROADCAST, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAID NO FIRM DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ON THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION. BUT HE SAYS THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR MORE NEW MEMBERS LATER.

OUR VIEW IS THAT THE FIRST WAVE OF (NEW) NATO COUNTRIES OUGHT TO MEET THE VERY HIGHEST STANDARDS. THEY OUGHT TO BE READY TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO NATO AS WELL AS TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF NATO. AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS OUGHT TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS, THAT THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE SHOULD NOT BE THE LAST.

U-S OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF NATO EXPANSION AND THE TASK OF SELLING THE IDEA TO CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC, WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY SKEPTICAL OF NEW FOREIGN COMMITMENTS. BUT FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER SAYS THE ALLIANCE CAN AND SHOULD ACCEPT MORE THAN THREE NEW MEMBERS.

I WOULD FAVOR THE ADMISSION OF ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA, ESPECIALLY ROMANIA BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET ANOTHER BITE AT THIS APPLE IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. I THINK THE BALTIC STATES -- THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION ANYWAY.

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