Voice of America, 99-05-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO/KOSOVO (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[02] NATO/KOSOVO-UPDATE (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] K-L-A / KOSOVO (L) BY PHILLIP SMUCKER (KOSARE, KOSOVO)

[04] MILOSEVIC-WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

[05] BELGRADE VERDICT (L-ONLY) BY ROBIN POKE (CANBERRA)

[06] TURKEY TRIAL SCENESETTER (L) BY SCOTT BOBB (MUDANYA, TURKEY)

[07] SLOVAK/ELECTION (L) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

[01] NATO/KOSOVO (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS DENIED REPORTS IN THE BRITISH MEDIA SUNDAY THAT ALLIANCE DEFENSE MINISTERS HAVE AGREED TO SEND A 150-THOUSAND-STRONG INVASION FORCE INTO KOSOVO -- A DECISION THAT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN MADE THURSDAY WHEN U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN MET WITH SOME OF HIS EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS IN BONN. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SECRET TALKS TOOK PLACE ON THURSDAY, BUT HE INSISTS THERE WAS NO ALTERATION OF ALLIANCE STRATEGY. HE SAYS THE MEETING CONFIRMED THE EXISTING STRATEGY -- BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE IT.

MR SHEA EXPLAINS THAT THE DEFENSE MINISTERS DISCUSSED WAYS OF INTENSIFYING THE AIR CAMPAIGN, AND PREPARATIONS FOR A PEACE-KEEPING FORCE TO HELP THE REFUGEES TO RETURN TO KOSOVO.

HE SAYS REPORTS THAT THE MINISTERS DISCUSSED A THIRD OPTION -- SENDING IN AN INVASION FORCE -- ARE NOT CORRECT. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS CONTINUED TO ATTACK A WIDE RANGE OF TARGETS ACROSS SERBIA, DESPITE REPORTS THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS PREPARED TO MEET ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

THE LATEST TARGETS HIT INSIDE KOSOVO INCLUDE AT LEAST NINE ARTILLERY PIECES, EIGHT MORTAR POSITIONS, EIGHT TANKS, AND FIVE ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

NATO SAYS HITS ON STRATEGIC TARGETS THROUGHOUT SERBIA HAVE INCLUDED TWO SPECIAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS, A MILITARY VEHICLE STORAGE AREA, AIRFIELDS, HIGHWAY BRIDGES, AMMUNITION DEPOTS, ARMY BARRACKS, AND TELEVISION AND RADIO FACILITIES.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL JUDGE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC BY HIS ACTIONS, AND NOT BY HIS WORDS. AND SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY WORDS.

MR SHEA SAYS THE AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC PUBLICLY ANNOUNCES HIS ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SERB FORCES BEGIN A FULL WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO. ONLY THEN, HE ADDS, WILL THE BOMBING STOP.

MR SHEA SAYS THAT IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS INDEED NOW PREPARED TO AGREE TO NATO'S DEMANDS, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ALLIANCE'S AIR CAMPAIGN. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROSPECT OF AN END TO THE ETHNIC CLEANSING INSIDE KOSOVO, HE INSISTS, UNLESS NATO HAD ACTED AS IT DID. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/ALW/PLM
30-May-99 7:49 AM EDT (1149 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO/KOSOVO-UPDATE (L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS DENIED REPORTS IN THE BRITISH MEDIA (SUNDAY) THAT ALLIANCE DEFENSE MINISTERS HAVE AGREED TO SEND A 150-THOUSAND STRONG INVASION FORCE INTO KOSOVO. MEANWHILE, JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS, THE ALLIANCE IS KEEPING UP THE PACE OF ITS AIR ATTACKS AND SAYS IT REMAINS TO BE CONVINCED THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WILL MEET ITS TERMS FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA HAS CONFIRMED THAT SECRET TALKS TOOK PLACE IN BONN THURSDAY, INVOLVING SEVERAL NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS, INCLUDING DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN. BUT HE INSISTS THERE WAS NO ALTERATION OF ALLIANCE STRATEGY.

HE SAYS THE MEETING CONFIRMED THE EXISTING STRATEGY, BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE IT.

MR. SHEA EXPLAINS THAT THE DEFENSE MINISTERS DISCUSSED WAYS OF INTENSIFYING THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND PREPARATIONS FOR A PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO HELP THE REFUGEES TO RETURN TO KOSOVO.

BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT THERE WAS NO DECISION TO CHANGE THE STRATEGY. QUITE THE REVERSE. WE REALLY BELIEVE NOW THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE RESULTS. AND YOU DON NOT CHANGE A WINNING STRATEGY, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU START SEEING THE RESULTS YOU WANT.

MR. SHEA SAYS FLATLY THAT REPORTS THAT THE MINISTERS DISCUSSED SENDING IN AN INVASION FORCE ARE NOT CORRECT. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS CONTINUED TO ATTACK A WIDE RANGE OF TARGETS ACROSS SERBIA THIS WEEKEND, INCLUDING TANKS, ARTILLERY, AND MORTAR POSITIONS INSIDE KOSOVO. THIS IS DESPITE REPORTS THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS PREPARED TO MEET ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

MR. SHEA SAYS THE AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ANNOUNCES PUBLICLY HIS ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SERB FORCES BEGIN A FULL WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO.

MR. SHEA INSISTS THAT ONLY WHEN THE YUGOSLAV LEADER HAS AGREED TO ALL FIVE OF NATO'S DEMANDS, AND HAS BEGUN TO MOVE ALL HIS FORCES OUT OF KOSOVO, WILL THE BOMBING STOP.

SO FAR IT IS NOT CLEAR TO NATO WHETHER PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS ACCEPTED EACH AND EVERY DETAIL OF THE ALLIANCE'S DEMANDS.

DETAILS ARE VERY IMPORTANT HERE. ANYTHING THAT MEANS THAT BELGRADE MOVES TOWARDS THOSE FIVE CONDITIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL WELCOME. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL REMAIN CAUTIOUS. BECAUSE DETAILS IN THIS BUSINESS ARE EVERYTHING, AS YOU WELL KNOW.

MR. SHEA SAYS HE ACCOMPANIED NATO'S SECRETARY GENERAL, JAVIER SOLANA, ON A VISIT TO NATO AIR BASES SATURDAY IN ITALY.

THE CHIEF NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE PROFESSIONALISM OF ALLIANCE PILOTS, WHO ARE USING, WHAT HE CALLS MIGHT IN THE SERVICE OF RIGHT -- AND THE RESOLVE OF THE PILOTS HAS CONVINCED HIM THAT NATO WILL WIN THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/ALW/RAE
30-May-99 12:48 PM EDT (1648 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] K-L-A / KOSOVO (L) BY PHILLIP SMUCKER (KOSARE, KOSOVO)

INTRO: KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY UNITS FIGHTING INSIDE KOSOVO CONTINUE TO MEET FIERCE RESISTANCE FROM SERB FORCES. FRONT LINE COMMANDERS SAY THAT NATO COULD BETTER TIME ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST MOVING SERB TARGETS IF IT COORDINATED DIRECTLY WITH THE K-L-A ON THE GROUND. PHILLIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM INSIDE KOSOVO.

TEXT: OVER TWO MONTHS OF NATO BOMBARDMENT HAS NOT BROKEN STRONG SERBIAN RESISTANCE TO ATTACKS FROM THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. SERBIAN ARTILLERY POUNDED K-L-A POSITIONS INSIDE KOSOVO THIS WEEKEND AS REBELS FOUGHT TO HOLD BATTLE POSITIONS NEAR THE WESTERN VILLAGE OF BATUSHA.

FIGHTING HAS INTENSIFIED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND THE K-L-A HAS RESTRICTED ACCESS TO ITS FRONT. REBEL OFFICERS ESCORTED A REPORTER SUNDAY TO A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE LITTERED WITH DEAD PACK MULES AND BLOODY BANDAGES.

THE K-L-A'S 138TH BRIGADE, DESPITE INCREASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM ALBANIANS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS ABROAD, APPEARS TO BE BOTH POORLY ARMED AND IN NEED OF MORE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

FIGHTING OVER THE WEEK-END FOLLOWED A PATTERN ESTABLISHED OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS -- SERBIAN ARTILLERY FIRE HALTED WHEN NATO BOMBERS PASSED OVERHEAD LOOKING FOR SERBIAN POSITIONS. BUT AFTER THE NATO PLANES FLEW BY, THE SERB FIRE RESUMED -- SENDING SHRAPNEL FLYING AND REBELS SOLDIERS DIVING FOR COVER.

K-L-A OFFICERS SAID THAT SERBIAN HEAVY GUNS WERE DUG IN AND WELL CAMOUFLAGED. THEY SAID THE SERBIAN GUNS WERE OFTEN MOVED BEFORE AND AFTER THE NATO STRIKES TO AVOID DIRECT HITS.

PREN MARASHI, A FRONT LINE K-L-A COMMANDER SAID THAT IF THERE WERE MORE DIRECT LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NATO AND THE K-L-A THE SERBS COULD NOT ESCAPE THE NATO ATTACKS. HE SAID THAT HE AND HIS SCOUTS HAD MARKED THE MOVEMENTS OF THE SERBIAN ARMOR. COMMANDER MARASHI SAID HE WAS ANXIOUS TO ADVANCE FURTHER INTO KOSOVO BUT HAD BEEN TOLD TO HOLD HIS LINE BY HIS SENIOR COMMANDERS.

THOUGH NATO OFFICIALS IN ALBANIA HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE K-L-A, THE WESTERN ALLIANCE REMAINS RELUCTANT TO TRAIN OR EQUIP THE REBEL ARMY. NATO REMAINS CONCERNED WITH ITS OWN WAR AIMED AT BOTH ENDING ATROCITIES INSIDE KOSOVO AND FORCING THE SERBS INTO ACCEPTING A PEACE DEAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/ENE-T/WFR
30-May-99 4:13 PM EDT (2013 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MILOSEVIC-WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SAYS NATO HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ARREST YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, WHOM THE TRIBUNAL INDICTED THIS PAST WEEK. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS, LOUISE ARBOUR APPEARED ON N-B-C TELEVISION'S "MEET THE PRESS" (SUNDAY).

TEXT: THE PROSECUTOR CONCEDES THE CASE SEEMS TO COMPLICATE THE SEARCH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN KOSOVO. THE MOVE WAS STRONGLY DENOUNCED BY RUSSIA, WHICH IS LEADING THE NEGOTIATIONS. SOME WESTERN OFFICIALS FEAR IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH AN INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL. BUT MS ARBOUR REJECTS SUGGESTIONS HE MIGHT BE GIVEN IMMUNITY AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT

AND THE KIND OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THESE KINDS OF CONFLICTS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR IS PEACE WITH JUSTICE. SO I THINK THAT THIS INDICTMENT IS IN FACT A VERY POSITIVE FACTOR IN BRINGING TOGETHER THE KIND OF PEACE THAT THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA DESERVE.

THE SERB LEADER AND FOUR OF HIS TOP AIDES ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER, DEPORTATION, AND PERSECUTION IN CONNECTION WITH CRIMES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED IN KOSOVO THIS YEAR. MS. ARBOUR SAYS THE CASE IS A STRONG ONE, WITH ITS ACCUSATIONS SUPPORTED BY FACT. BUT SHE ADDS IT REMAINS UNCLEAR IF MR. MILOSEVIC CAN EVER BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL.

THE WORLD HAS BECOME A MUCH SMALLER PLACE FOR HIM. NOW WHETHER PEOPLE IN HIS OWN COUNTRY WILL EVER BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE HIM SURRENDER TO THE HAGUE, I THINK TIME WILL TELL.

TWO FORMER BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERS, RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC, HAVE BEEN UNDER INDICTMENT FOR YEARS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT. NEITHER HAS BEEN ARRESTED OR TRIED. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
30-May-99 1:33 PM EDT (1733 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BELGRADE VERDICT (L-ONLY) BY ROBIN POKE (CANBERRA)

INTRO: IN AUSTRALIA, NEWS THAT TWO OF THE COUNTRY'S AID WORKERS HAVE BEEN JAILED IN YUGOSLAVIA AS "SPIES" HAS BEEN MET WITH SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. ROBIN POKE REPORTS FROM CANBERRA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO MEN HAVE SAID THEY WILL APPEAL THE DECISIONS AND SEEK INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

TEXT: THE NEWS THAT AID WORKERS STEVE PRATT AND PETER WALLACE HAD BEEN CLEARED OF THE ORIGINAL CHARGE OF ORGANIZING A SPY RING BUT CONVICTED ON A NEW CHARGE OF PASSING ON SECRET INFORMATION HAS BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER SAYS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE APPEAL WILL BE LAUNCHED AGAINST THE CONVICTIONS WITH SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

MR. DOWNER ALSO SAYS THE DECISION OF THE COURT TO ACQUIT THE TWO AUSTRALIANS OF THE ORIGINAL CHARGE, YET CONVICT THEM ON A CHARGE NOT EVEN HEARD IN THE COURT, IS COMPLETELY INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

HE SAYS THE TWO ARE CLEARLY NOT SPIES AND HAVE BEEN WRONGLY CONVICTED. HE ADDED THAT YUGOSLAVIA WAS ALSO WRONG TO CONVICT TWO PEOPLE FROM A NATION NOT INVOLVED IN THE NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE HAD ALREADY HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, THE AMERICAN POLITICIAN WHO NEGOTIATED THE FREEDOM OF THREE U-S SERVICEMEN CAPTURED BY YUGOSLAVIA.

THE FAMILY OF STEVE PRATT SAYS THE VERDICT IS NEITHER FAIR NOR SENSIBLE. HIS BROTHER STUART ALSO CONDEMNED THE SECRECY OF THE TRIAL WHICH HE SAID DENIED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROPERLY SCRUTINIZE PROCEEDINGS. PETER WALLACE'S FAMILY COMPLETELY REJECTED THE VERDICT, SAYING THE TWO WERE IN THE REGION PURELY AS AID WORKERS.

THE AID ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH THE PAIR WORKED, "CARE AUSTRALIA," SAID BOTH THE TRIAL AND THE VERDICT WERE ENTIRELY POLITICAL. CHIEF EXECUTIVE CHARLES TAPP SAID THE OUTCOME ALSO HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL OTHER INTERNATIONAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR PROGRAMS.

THE CHAIRMAN OF CARE, FORMER PRIME MINISTER MALCOLM FRASER, SAYS THE VERDICT IS CONTRARY TO EVERY PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL JUSTICE. MR. FRASER, WHO TWICE VISITED YUGOSLAVIA IN A BID TO SECURE FREEDOM FOR PRATT AND WALLACE, SAYS BASED ON THE BELGRADE VERDICT, EVEN ROUTINE INFORMATION FROM AID WORKERS COULD NOW BE INTERPRETED AS SPYING. HE ADDED THAT AUSTRALIA SHOULD AGAIN ENLIST THE HELP OF WORLD LEADERS WHO HAD SUPPORTED AUSTRALIA IN ITS BID TO FREE THE TWO AID WORKERS, AMONG THEM PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA OF SOUTH AFRICA AND UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/RB/PLM
30-May-99 7:12 AM EDT (1112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TURKEY TRIAL SCENESETTER (L) BY SCOTT BOBB (MUDANYA, TURKEY)

INTRO: IN TURKEY, AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WHICH IS DUE TO BEGIN MONDAY MORNING ON A PRISON ISLAND IN THE MARMARA SEA SOUTHWEST OF ISTANBUL. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM THE NEAR-BY COASTAL CITY OF MUDANYA THAT THE KURDISH LEADER FACES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORIST ACTS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE.

TEXT: THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS PLEASANT AND SUNNY IN THIS SMALL COASTAL TOWN ACROSS THE WATER FROM ISTANBUL. FAMILIES STROLLED ALONG THE DOCK AND DRANK TEA IN CAFES OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN. HOWEVER, THE QUAY TO BE USED BY BOATS TAKING PARTICIPANTS TO AND FROM IMRALI PRISON ISLAND WHERE MR. OCALAN IS TO BE TRIED WAS CORDONED OFF AND WAS GUARDED BY SCORES OF SECURITY FORCES EQUIPPED WITH ARMORED VEHICLES AND ANTI-RIOT TRUCKS. HELICOPTERS CIRCLED THE SKIES OVERHEAD AND SPEED BOATS PATROLLED THE COAST-LINE AS PART OF THE EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES BEING TAKEN FOR THE TRIAL.

ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS BEEN IMRALI ISLAND'S ONLY PRISONER SINCE HE WAS CAPTURED LAST FEBRUARY IN A SPECIAL FORCES OPERATION IN KENYA, WHOSE DETAILS ARE NOT FULLY KNOWN.

AUTHORITIES ARE ALLOWING ONE DOZEN OBSERVERS, MOSTLY JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS ON TO THE ISLAND EACH DAY TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WANTS THE TRIAL TO BE FAIR AND THE VERDICT OF THE JUDGES TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY ARE CRYING FOUL. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, JOHNATHAN SUGDEN IS IN MUDANYA AND TOLD V-O-A HIS ORGANIZATION HAS NUMEROUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRIAL.

WE CALL ON THEM TO REFORM THE STATE SECURITY COURTS IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WE CALL UPON THEM TO PROTECT THE LAWYERS, HIS DEFENSE LAWYERS FROM ANY POSSIBLE ATTACKS, TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS DEFENSE ARE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A PROPER DEFENSE.

MR. SUGDEN SAYS MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS HAVE NOT HAD PRIVATE ACCESS TO THEIR CLIENT TO PREPARE THEIR CASE. HE ALSO SAYS THE STATE SECURITY COURT THAT IS TRYING THE REBEL LEADER IS NOT CONSIDERED IMPARTIAL BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. AS A RESULT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING ON THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO POSTPONE THE TRIAL SO THAT CERTAIN REFORMS CAN BE ENACTED.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HOWEVER, IS UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO OPEN THE TRIAL BECAUSE OF THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY MR. OCALAN'S ORGANIZATION, THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K. RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF THE P-K-K HAVE DEMONSTRATED ALMOST DAILY DEMANDING A SPEEDY TRIAL AND THE DEATH PENALTY FOR MR. OCALAN.

TURKEY HAS NOT CARRIED OUT THE DEATH PENALTY SINCE 1984 ALTHOUGH DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED IT. THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE ANY DEATH SENTENCE FOR MR. OCALAN. THIS REQUIREMENT AND THE OTHER REFORMS BEING CONTEMPLATED MEAN THE FATE OF ABDULLAH OCALAN IS UNLIKELY TO BE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ENE-T/WFR
30-May-99 6:31 PM EDT (2231 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] SLOVAK/ELECTION (L) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

INTRO: THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE, RUDOLF SCHUSTER, HAS BEEN ELECTED THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF SLOVAKIA SINCE THE BREAKUP OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA MORE THAN SIX-YEARS AGO. ALENA KENCLOVA IN PRAGUE HAS MORE ON THE RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S ELECTION.

TEXT: RUDOLF SCHUSTER BECOMES SLOVAK HEAD OF STATE FOR THE NEXT FIVE-YEARS BY CLEARLY DEFEATING FORMER PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR IN THE COUNTRY'S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY DIRECT BALLOT.

MR. SCHUSTER GAINED 57-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. MR. MECIAR CAME 14-PERCENT BEHIND HIM. THE TURNOUT SLIGHTLY EXCEEDED 75-PERCENT OF THE NATION'S MORE THAN FOUR-MILLION ELIGIBLE VOTERS, JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN IN THE FIRST ROUND TWO-WEEKS AGO. AT THAT TIME, MR. SCHUSTER AND MR. MECIAR EMERGED AS THE QUALIFYING CANDIDATES FROM AN INITIAL FIELD OF NINE.

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, WHO IS TO TAKE UP THE OFFICE ON JUNE 15, HAS PLEDGED TO WORK TO RECONCILE SLOVAKIA'S DIVIDED SOCIETY. HE WAS NOMINATED FOR THE POST BY THE COALITION OF LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES THAT UNSEATED THE POPULIST PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR LAST YEAR.

BUT IN HIS FIRST COMMENTS AFTER HIS ELECTION, MR. SCHUSTER PROMISED TO REPRESENT ALL CITIZENS OF SLOVAKIA, WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR HIM OR NOT. HIS IS PERSONALLY VERY POPULAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY, WHERE HE HAS HELD TOP REGIONAL POSTS SINCE THE EARLY 1980S.

MR. SCHUSTER HAS THE SOLID SUPPORT OF SLOVAKIA'S HALF-MILLION ETHNIC HUNGARIANS.

BUT SOME RIGHT-WING LEADERS IN THE BROAD-BASED RULING COALITION WERE DISSATISFIED WITH HIS NOMINATION, BECAUSE HIS CAREER HAS INCLUDED HIGH-RANKING COMMUNIST POSITIONS. HIS COMMUNIST PAST, IN FACT, WAS A REASON WHY HE WAS RECALLED FROM HIS AMBASSADORIAL POST IN CANADA IN 1992. LAST YEAR, THE 65-YEAR-OLD MR. SCHUSTER FOUNDED HIS OWN "PARTY OF CIVIC UNDERSTANDING", WHICH IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE RULING COALITION. HE HAS REPEATEDLY INSISTED HE WILL WORK FOR SLOVAKIA'S INTEGRATION WITH THE WEST.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE PRESIDENT-ELECT HAS YET TO PROVE WHETHER HE CAN ESTABLISH A DEMOCRATIC RECORD COMPARABLE TO POLISH PRESIDENT ALEXANDER KWASNIEWSKI OR FORMER HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER GYULA HORN, BOTH OF WHOM ALSO WERE PROMINENT COMMUNISTS.

MR. MECIAR MADE IT CLEAR THAT FOR HIM, THE ELECTION WAS A TEST OF WHETHER HE COULD STAGE A POLITICAL COMEBACK. THE CONTROVERSIAL POLITICIAN SAYS HE EXPECTS EARLY ELECTIONS IN SLOVAKIA THIS YEAR OR NEXT.

HIS FIVE-YEAR RULE WAS MARRED BY POLITICAL SCANDALS AND DOUBTFUL PRIVATIZATIONS. ANALYSTS SAY MR. MECIAR'S RETURN TO ANY TOP POSITION WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS A SIGNAL THAT SLOVAKIA IS NOT YET FULLY BACK ON THE ROAD OF DEMOCRACY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AK/ALW/RAE
30-May-99 9:51 AM EDT (1351 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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