Voice of America, 4 October 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: EDITORIAL PAGES ACROSS THE NATION ARE FILLED WITH COMMENT ON THE ACQUITTAL TUESDAY BY A LOS ANGELES COUNTY JURY IN THE MONTHS-LONG O-J SIMPSON MURDER CASE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS COMMENT ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO AMERICA WHICH BEGINS TODAY; WHERE NORTH KOREA'S GOVERNMENT IS HEADED; AND FINALLY, ON THE LONG DARK NIGHT OF DICTATORSHIP IN NIGERIA. NOW HERE WITH A SAMPLING OF TODAY'S COMMENTARIES IS __________________ AND THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: REACTION TO THE TRIAL OCCUPIES THE LEAD EDITORIAL SPACE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY PAPER IN THE NATION. HERE'S WHAT "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" HAS TO SAY:

VOICE: "UNTIL AND UNLESS THE O-J SIMPSON JURORS EXPLAIN THE REASONING BEHIND THEIR STUNNING NOT GUILTY VERDICT .... THE WORLD WILL BE LEFT TO WONDER AND SPECULATE. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THE NINE-MONTH MURDER TRIAL HAS ILLUMINATED AND OPENED A NATIONAL DEBATE ON SOME OF THE MORE VOLATILE ISSUES THAT BEDEVIL AMERICA - - RACE RELATIONS, ROGUE COPS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CELEBRITY AND WEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE MEDIA. [OPT] ..... SOME BLAME TV CAMERAS FOR TURNING THE TRIAL INTO A CIRCUS OF POSTURING LAWYERS, PERFORMING WITNESSES AND A STAR-STRUCK JUDGE WHO BARELY KEPT THEM UNDER CONTROL. .... WE DISAGREE. TV CAMERAS ARE A TECHNOLOGICAL FACT OF MODERN LIFE. THEY BRING PUBLIC EVENTS TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THEM."

TEXT: THE ARGUS LEADER OF SIOUX (SUE) FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, CALLED THE VERDICT A "BIG-TIME SHAM" AND ADDED:

VOICE: "THE TRIAL WAS A LEGAL CIRCUS FROM THE START OF JURY SELECTRION MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. IN A WAY, A WEIRD AND TWISTED ENDING WAS PREDICTABLE. UNFORTUNATLY, THE JURORS' QUICK DECISION CONTRIBUTES TO THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VERDICT IS A TRAVESTY--A BELIEF WE SHARE. WHAT A SHAM. WE HOPE TIME AND NEW EVIDENCE PROVES US WRONG."

TEXT: IN THE EAST, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WRITES THAT SLOPPY WORK BY POLICE MAY HAVE LED THE JURORS TO ACQUIT O.J. SIMPSON. "THE TIMES" ADDS:

VOICE: "POLICE FAILED IN THEIR ELEMENTARY DUTY TO CALL MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR HOURS AFTRER THE VICTIMS BODIES WERE DISCOVERED. IN AN AGE WHEN THE SCIENCE OF BLOOD IDENTIFICATION HOLDS PROMISE OF DEPENDABLY SOLVING MANY CRIMES, THE CITY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS MANAGED TO MISHANDLE ENOUGH BLOOD TO SHAKE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE AND PROVIDE THE JURY A REASON--OR AN EXCUSE-- TO ACQUIT."

TEXT: NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY" ARGUES THAT DESPITE THE EMOTIONS RAISED BY THE VERDICT, THE SIMPSON TRIAL SHOWS THE SYSTEM DOES WORK.

VOICE: "THERE WILL BE A GREAT TEMPTATION TO CONCLUDE THAT THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED IN THIS CASE. ON ONE LEVEL IT DID: TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BUT IN A LARGER SENSE THE SYSTEM WORKED. TWELVE JURORS WHO LOOKED AT THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE--FREE OF PUNDITRY, IN ADMISSABLE EVIDENCE AND SPIN FROM THE MEDIA--DECIDED THAT JUSTICE DEMANDED BETTER."

[BEGIN EDITORIALS OPT]

TEXT: IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, "THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE REVIEW" WAS EVEN MORE CRITICAL, CALLING IT A "VERDICT WITHOUT JUSTICE."

VOICE: "TODAY, [MR.] SIMPSON IS A FREE MAN, BUT JUSTICE HAS NOT PREVAILED. A LEFT COAST JACK THE RIPPER HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER. ..... IT'S UNLIKELY THAT JURORS' VOTE TO ACQUIT [MR.] SIMPSON WAS MOTIVATED BY RACIAL SOLIDARITY. A BETTER EXPLANATION IS THAT THE PANEL FOUND NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE ON WHICH TO BASE, WITH MORAL CERTAINTY, A VERDICT OF GUILTY."

{BEGIN ENTIRE WALL ST JOURNAL OPT]

TEXT: THE NATION'S LEADING FINANCIAL DAILY, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ADDS THESE THOUGHTS TO THE DISCUSSION:

VOICE: "[OPT] THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHICH HOLDS THAT JURIES, LIKE DEMOCRATIC ELECTORATES, ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT OR APPROPRIATE, BUT RIGHT [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS]. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT A JURY'S DECISION, LIKE AN ELECTORATE'S, IS A COMPLEX RENDERING OF OPINION [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ABOUT SOME PUBLIC MATTER - - A PERSON ON TRIAL FOR A CAPITAL CRIME ..... OR A POLITICIAN PRESENTING HIMSELF FOR THE PUBLIC'S JUDGMENT OF HIS POLICIES OR HIS CHARACTER. [OPT] WE, INDIVIDUALLY, OFTEN DON'T CARE FOR THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS, AND WE OFTEN DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME OF JURY VERDICTS - - BUT WE WOULD BE FOOLS NOT TO SEE THAT THE SIMPSON JURY IS TRYING TO TELL THIS COUNTRY SOMETHING IMPORTANT. WE WOULD BE FOOLS FOR SHOWING OURSELVES INCAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE CLEAREST SIGNALS THAT SOME PART OF OUR SYSTEM IS IN TROUBLE. IT HAS COME TO BE OUR VIEW THAT THE BROAD SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES IS DAMAGED."

[END ENTIRE WALL ST JOURNAL OPT]

TEXT: IN HAWAII, THE AFTERNOON "HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN" SAYS THE "VERDICT DRAINS CONFIDENCE," ADDING:

VOICE: "WITH CAVALIER HASTE, THE JURY IN THE O-J SIMPSON CASE RETURNED A VERDICT WITH WHICH MOST AMERICANS DISAGREE. [OPT] PROSECUTOR MARCIA CLARK'S SELF-DESCRIBED 'MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE' WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR A JURY TO FIND THAT THE FORMER FOOTBALL STAR MURDERED HIS FORMER WIFE .... AND HER ACQUAINTANCE RONALD GOLDMAN. THE VERDICT DOES LITTLE TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE JURY SYSTEM AND THE CONCEPT OF EQUAL JUSTICE. [END OPT] THE MESSAGE MOST AMERICANS WILL READ INTO THIS HASTILY REACHED VERDICT IS THAT THE DEFENDANTS WITH THE WEALTH TO HIRE THE NATION'S BEST LAWYERS WILL ESCAPE JUSTICE, [;] THAT THE RICH AND FAMOUS ARE IMMUNE FROM THE LAW. THAT IS A VERY DISTURBING MISSIVE."

[END EDITORIALS OPT]

TEXT: IN OTHER EDITORIALS, SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ABOUT THE POPE'S VISIT TO THIS COUNTRY WHICH BEGINS TODAY. OF THE VISIT, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: "THE FOUR-DAY TOUR, WHICH INCLUDES A SPEECH BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS, IS PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT THE SECULAR WORLD AS WELL. ..... JOHN PAUL HAS MADE HIMSELF A CENTRAL FIGURE IN 20TH CENTURY AFFAIRS. HIS INTERVENTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE POLISH LABOR UNION SOLIDARITY HASTENED THE FALL OF COMMUNISM. HIS ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY THE POOR HAVE BEEN FORCEFUL AND CONSISTENT. .....GIVEN JOHN PAUL'S STAUNCH ADVOCACY OF THE IMPOVERISHED, HIS RETURN TO AMERICA'S SHORES COMES NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON."

TEXT: TO WHICH, ON LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" ADDS:

VOICE: "AT THE MOMENT, THE U-S CONGRESS ITSELF IS BENT ON PASSING WELFARE LEGISLATION HE WOULD CONSIDER DESTRUCTIVE TO POOR FAMILIES. CONGRESS WOULD DO WELL TO LISTEN TO THE POPE WHEN HE SPEAKS BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS TOMORROW, AND SO WOULD THE REST OF US, WHETHER WE SHARE HIS VIEWS OR NOT. .....AND ... AS ALWAYS - - APART FROM THE INEVITABLE TRAFFIC JAMS - - IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE HIM AS A GUEST."

TEXT: LOOKING TOWARD THE SOMETIMES CONFUSING PICTURE EMERGING FROM NORTH KOREA, TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTES:

VOICE: "NEWS ABOUT THE UNRAVELING OF NORTH KOREA'S STALINIST REGIME CONTINUES TO DRIBBLE OUT, AT ONCE TANTALIZING AND TERRIFYING. THERE ARE SIGNS THAT KIM JONG IL'S HOLD ON POWER IS SHAKY. BUT THE QUESTION THAT WILL NOT WAIT FOR BETTER INFORMATION, HOWEVER, IS HOW THE U-S AND SOUTH KOREA SHOULD RESPOND TO THE NORTH'S AGONIZING DEATH THROES AND ITS PLEAS FOR AID. [OPT] A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SOUTH KOREA'S INTELLIGENCE CHIEF WARNED THAT THE NORTH'S ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES COULD 'TRIGGER MILITARY PROVOCATIONS TO DIFFUSE INTERNAL DISCONTENT.' SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN INDICATIONS OF A MILITARY BUILDUP ALONG THE DMZ , CONSISTING OF SAM MISSILES, LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY, NEW RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS AND AIR EXERCISES. ......THIS IS EVEN MORE WORRYING SINCE WE DON'T KNOW IF ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL HAS HIS HAND ON THE TILLER."[END OPT]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COMMENTS ON THIS WEEK'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY NIGERIA'S MILITARY DICTATOR GENERAL SANI ABACHA THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO RULE FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS INSTEAD OF RELINQUISHING POWER TO A CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT, AS HE EARLIER PROMISED.

VOICE: " [OPT] NIGERIA'S GENERAL SANI ABACHA HAS PLAYED A CRUEL JOKE ON THE 100 MILLION PEOPLE HE PURPORTS TO LEAD. HE CHOSE THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE TO ANNOUNCE ON SUNDAY THAT BLACK AFRICA'S MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IS SOMEHOW STILL NOT READY FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT. ..... TRUE, HE HAS RESPONDED TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE BY COMMUTING THE DEATH SENTENCES FOR SOME POLITICAL PRISONERS, BUT NO LENIENCY WAS SHOWN MOSHOOD ABIOLA, THE PRESUMED WINNER IN A JUNE 1993 ELECTION VOIDED BY THE MILITARY. CHIEF ABIOLA STILL AWAITS TRIAL ON TREASON CHARGES, A CAPITAL CRIME. [END OPT] ..... BY EVERY MEASURE, MILITARY RULE HAS BEEN A CALAMITY FOR NIGERIA. DESPITE BOUNTIFUL RESOURCES, A THRIVING OIL INDUSTRY AND AN EDUCATED WORK FORCE, NIGERIA IS BANKRUPT; ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME HAS PLUNGED TO 250-DOLLARS FROM ONE-THOUSAND IN 1980. SMALL WONDER THAT SO MANY NIGERIANS YEARN FOR AN ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT AND REAL FREEDOMS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF OPINION AROUND THE NATION ON THIS WEDNESDAY.

ANG/PCH 04-Oct-95 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / WRAP (S-O) BY BARRY WOOD (VIENNA)

INTRO: U-S PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS IN BELGRADE TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) FOLLOWING A DAY OF TALKS IN SARAJEVO. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT PRESENTED SERIOUS PROPOSALS FOR REACHING A CEASEFIRE.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE IS PRESENTING THE BOSNIAN PROPOSAL TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHO IS NEGOTIATING ON BEHALF OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS. UPON HIS DEPARTURE FROM SARAJEVO, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID HE WOULD RETURN TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL THURSDAY.

THE SPECIFICS OF THE BOSNIAN CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL WERE NOT REVEALED. EARLIER, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO BREAKTHROUGH AND THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE TO ACHIEVE A SOLUTION TO THE THREE-AND-ONE-HALF-YEAR BOSNIAN CONFLICT. HE SAID THE WAR IS NOT OVER ,AND THE CEASEFIRE IN SARAJEVO IS FRAGILE WITH FIGHTING CONTINUING AND PERHAPS ACCELERATING IN THE WEST.

ALSO WEDNESDAY NATO JETS ATTACKED BOSNIAN-SERB MISSILE SITES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THEY WERE THE FIRST AIR RAIDS AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS SINCE MID-SEPTEMBER. NATO SAID THE ATTACKS WERE MADE AFTER BOSNIAN-SERB RADAR TARGETED PATROLLING NATO JETS.

IN NORWAY LATE WEDNESDAY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDREI KOZYREV EXPRESSED CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT A BOSNIAN TRUCE COULD BE REACHED SOON. BEFORE LEAVING MOSCOW MR. KOZYREV HAD MET WITH THE VISITING BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER, HARRIS SILAJDZIC. (SIGNED)

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04-Oct-95 3:33 PM EDT (1933 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/NATO PLANES (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S AIRCRAFT FLYING A NATO MISSION OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE ATTACKED TWO BOSNIAN SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE SITES AFTER BEING TARGETED BY SERB RADAR. THE ACTION WEDNESDAY WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SINCE NATO SUSPENDED ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB INSTALLATIONS TWO-WEEKS AGO. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S PILOTS FIRED IN SELF DEFENSE WHEN THEIR PLANES WERE ILLUMINATED BY RADAR FROM BOSNIAN-SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS OVER THE NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE OFFICIALS HERE SAY IN TWO OF THE INCIDENTS, THE U-S PLANES FIRED HIGH-SPEED ANTI-RADAR MISSILES DESIGNED TO HOME IN ON THE MISSILE SITES -- WHILE IN THE THIRD CASE THE U-S PLANE SIMPLY LEFT THE AREA.

THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE INFORMATION ON DAMAGE ON THE GROUND. ILLUMINATION BY RADAR IS CONSIDERED A POSSIBLE PRECURSOR TO AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE ATTACK. DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY PILOTS ARE AUTHORIZED TO FIRE IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN THIS OCCURS, WITHOUT SEEKING APPROVAL FROM FLIGHT COMMANDERS.

THE U-S PLANES INVOLVED WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN TWO E-A-6-B SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT AND AN F-18 FIGHTER ON ROUTINE PATROLS.

THE ATTACKS WERE THE FIRST SINCE NATO SUSPENDED THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOSNIAN-SERB MILITARY TARGETS LAST MONTH AFTER THE SERBS PULLED BACK MOST HEAVY WEAPONS FROM AROUND SARAJEVO. (SIGNED)

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04-Oct-95 2:24 PM EDT (1824 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] CHRISTOPHER/BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS WARNED THE NATO ALLIANCE COULD BE SERIOUSLY UNDERMINED IF CONGRESS BLOCKS U-S PARTICIPATION IN A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AS V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HOPES TO PERSUADE SKEPTICAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A U-S ROLE IN ANY FUTURE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION:

TEXT: IN A WASHINGTON ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH JOURNALISTS TUESDAY, MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID THE NATO ALLIANCE WOULD SUFFER A SEVERE SETBACK IF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR BOSNIA LACKS U-S PARTICIPATION.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUCH BLOW TO THE MORALE OF NATO, IT WOULD HAVE SUCH A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON OUR TRADITIONAL ALLIES IN EUROPE -- GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE -- THAT IT WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR NATO.

MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ADVOCATING A MORE VIGOROUS EFFORT TO STOP THE KILLING IN BOSNIA AND HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE PEACE PROCESS IN RECENT MONTHS. HE SAID HE DOES NOT THINK A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA IS POSSIBLE UNLESS THE UNITED STATES AGREES TO HELP IMPLEMENT IT.

REFERRING TO CONGRESS -- WHICH MUST APPROVE FUNDING FOR SUCH A FORCE -- MR. CHRISTOPHER SAID LAWMAKERS HAVE KNOWN FOR TWO YEARS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S OFT-REPEATED PLEDGE TO SEND TROOPS FOR A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. HE SAID THE ISSUE IN CONGRESS HAS NOT YET CRYSTALLIZED BUT WHEN IT DOES HE WILL BE READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND BELIEVES LAWMAKERS WILL -- IN THE END -- SUPPORT U-S PARTICIPATION. (SIGNED).

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03-Oct-95 11:41 PM EDT (0341 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] CLAES - BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY JANE BERGER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES HAS APPEALED TO THE UNITED STATES TO PARTICIPATE IN A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE ONCE A SETTLEMENT IS REACHED IN THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS MR. CLAES SPOKE TO REPORTERS (WEDNESDAY) AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WASHINGTON.

TEXT: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WILLY CLAES SAYS THERE IS A REAL CHANCE TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT IN BOSNIA, BUT HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT WILL NOT HOLD UP UNLESS NATO AGREES TO SEND IN GROUND TROOPS AS PART OF A PEACEKEEPING MISSION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, PEACE IS ON THE HORIZON AND SUCCESS IS WITHIN REACH. BUT THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN BOSNIA AND THE BALKANS AND PERHAPS NO STABILITY IN THE WIDER EUROPE IF NATO AND ITS LEADING MEMBERS -- ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES -- ARE NOT PREPARED TO DO THEIR PART IN MAKING THIS A REALITY.

MR. CLAES SAID THE NATO FORCE WILL BE UNDER NATO COMMAND, AND WILL BE PREPARED TO DEAL SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH ANY OF THE PARTIES WHO BREAK THE TERMS OF THE PEACE ACCORD. MR. CLAES SAID THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION WILL BE LIMITED BOTH IN SCOPE AND DURATION, AND WILL PROBABLY LAST NO MORE THAN ONE YEAR.

MANY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROMISE TO SEND IN UP TO 25 THOUSAND U-S PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IF A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN BOSNIA CAN BE NEGOTIATED.

MR. CLAES WARNED THAT IF CONGRESS TRIES TO HALT U-S PARTICIPATION, IT COULD SEVERELY DAMAGE THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

THE UNITED STATES CANNOT FAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH AN OPERATION WITHOUT DOING REAL DAMAGE TO NATO AND TO AMERICA'S POSITION IN EUROPE. THIS ALLIANCE SIMPLY CANNOT BUT BE AFFECTED IF ITS LEADING MEMBER DOES NOT PLAY A SUBSTANTIAL ROLE IN AN OPERATION OF SUCH CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE PEACE AND STABILITY IN EUROPE AND SHARE EQUALLY IN THE BURDEN OF RISKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE NATO LEADER SAID IF THE ALLIANCE IS DAMAGED BY U-S FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN A BOSNIAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE, IT WILL ALSO DAMAGE AMERICA'S GLOBAL ROLE AND ITS STRATEGIC INTERESTS.

ON OTHER MATTERS, MR. CLAES SAID NATO STILL INTENDS TO OFFER MEMBERSHIP TO COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND THE WARSAW PACT. HE SAID NATO INTENDS TO TAKE A GRADUAL AND DELIBERATE APPROACH TO ENLARGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE WELL ENTRENCHED IN ALL COUNTRIES SEEKING ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP. (SIGNED)

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04-Oct-95 4:41 PM EDT (2041 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] MACEDONIA/UNGA (S ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STEVO CRVENKOVSKI ASSURED THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY THAT THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON HIS PRESIDENT THIS WEEK WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH MACEDONIA'S MAIN OBJECTIVES -- INCLUDING NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING GREECE. COMMENTS ABOUT THE TERROR CAR-BOMB ATTACK CAME AS DIPLOMATS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV'S CHANCES FOR RECOVERY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER CRVENKOVSKI CALLED THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT A DELIBERATE POLITICAL ACT TO DESTABILIZE HIS COUNTRY. HE SAID IT WOULD NOT WORK AND PLEDGED MACEDONIA WILL STAY ON A PEACEFUL COURSE:

THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SHALL NOT FORCE US TO CHANGE OUR COURSE OF PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY, REFORMS, DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS -- IN A NUTSHELL, OF TRANFORMING OUR COUNTRY INTO A MODERN EUROPEAN STATE.

KEY TO GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS IS THE RECENT ACCORD THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC SIGNED WITH GREECE, PAVING THE WAY FOR ATHENS TO LIFT AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO. THEIR DISPUTE CENTERED ON MACEDONIA'S USE OF ANCIENT GREEK SYMBOLS -- INCLUDING ITS NAME -- THAT GREECE SAID IMPLIED TERRITORIAL CLAIMS ON ITS OWN MACEDONIAN REGION.

FOREIGN MINISTER CRVENKOVSKI APPLAUDED THE MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND PEACEKEEPERS IN HIS COUNTRY. HE SAID THEY PROVE THAT TROOPS DEPLOYED IN SMALL NUMBERS, AT THE RIGHT TIME AND WITH THE RIGHT MANDATE CAN PREVENT CONFLICT. (SIGNED) NEB/PT

04-Oct-95 5:49 PM EDT (2149 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] MACEDONIA/BOMBING (S UPDATE-EDITED) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, KIRO GLIGOROV, HAS SURVIVED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM OUR VOA'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY.

TEXT: PRESIDENT GLIGOROV WAS RIDING IN A CAR IN SKOPJE WHEN A CAR BOMB EXPLODED NEARBY. HIS DRIVER WAS KILLED, AND ACCORDING TO A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT IN SKOPJE, PRESIDENT GLIGOROV WAS INJURED. HE HAS UNDERGONE SURGERY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND IS BELIEVED TO BE IN SERIOUS, BUT STABLE CONDITION.

A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE ALSO INJURED AND BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED BY THE CAR BOMB EXPLOSION, WHICH WAS SET OFF BY REMOTE CONTROL.

NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT, BUT POLICE IN SKOPJE SAY THE HAVE DETAINED SOME SUSPECTS.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED A DAY AFTER MR. GLIGOROV VISITED BELGRADE TO DISCUSS THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA-MONTENEGRO). THE 78-YEAR-OLD MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED IN 1992, A YEAR AFTER HIS REPUBLIC PEACEFULLY GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED) NEB/WC/KK-T/PT/SKH 03-Oct-95 9:46 PM EDT (0146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] MACEDONIA PRESIDENT (S) BY BARRY WOOD (VIENNA)

INTRO: MACEDONIA'S PRESIDENT REMAINS IN INTENSIVE CARE AFTER TUESDAY'S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN DOWNTOWN SKOPJE. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE 78-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT, KIRO GLIGOROV, SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND EYES.

TEXT: DOCTORS ARE EXPRESSING CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT THE CONDITION OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV AFTER A SERIES OF OPERATIONS. HIS VITAL SIGNS ARE STABLE, AND ONE PHYSICIAN SAYS THE PRESIDENT HAS AN 80 PERCENT CHANCE OF A FULL RECOVERY. BUT DOCTORS FEAR THE PRESIDENT WILL LOSE SIGHT IN ONE EYE.

MR. GLIGOROV IS SAID TO BE CONSCIOUS AND ABLE TO TALK. HE IS BEING ATTENDED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF DOCTORS. MACEDONIAN RADIO SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S CONDITION WILL REMAIN AT A DELICATE STAGE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

MR. GLIGOROV'S DRIVER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND FIVE OTHERS INJURED WHEN A CAR BOMB WAS DETONATED BY REMOTE CONTROL AS THE PRESIDENT'S ARMORED MERCEDES PASSED THROUGH DOWNTOWN SKOJE EARLY TUESDAY. THE PRESIDENT WAS ON HIS WAY TO HIS OFFICE. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE.

PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER STOJAN ANDOV, WHO HEADS MACEDONIAN TELEVISION AND RADIO, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED ACTING PRESIDENT. (SIGNED)

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04-Oct-95 11:48 AM EDT (1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] NATO / BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: FRANCE HAS CRITICIZED A U-S PROPOSAL FOR TRAINING AND POSSIBLY ARMING BOSNIAN-GOVERNMENT TROOPS AS PART OF A POTENTIAL ALLIED PEACEKEEPING MISSION. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS WILL DISCUSS THE OPERATION THIS WEEK AT A MEETING IN (THE EASTERN U-S STATE OF) VIRGINIA.

TEXT: AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ALLIES ARE TRYING TO DECIDE HOW MANY SOLDIERS THEY WILL NEED TO ENFORCE A POSSIBLE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY DENIES REPORTS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS DIVIDED ON THE QUESTION OF HOW LARGE THE AMERICAN CONTINGENT SHOULD BE.

MR. PERRY SAYS THE ALLIES MAY ALSO NEED TO TRAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE BOSNIAN ARMY TO KEEP THE COUNTRY STABLE AND PREVENT ANOTHER FLAREUP OF WAR. BUT FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER CHARLES MILLION, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAYS THAT IDEA COULD ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE.

FRANCE WELCOMES THE U-S LED DIPLOMATIC ACTION FOR FURTHER PEACE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT FRANCE LOOKS FORWARD TO ORGANIZING A MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE RATHER THAN ARMING BELLIGERENTS AND POSSIBLY FACING THE HORRORS THAT COULD FOLLOW.

THE NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS WILL TAKE UP THE ISSUE DURING TWO-DAYS OF TALKS IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA. THE ADDITION OF NEW NATO MEMBERS FROM THE FORMER WARSAW PACT IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA. (SIGNED)

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04-Oct-95 12:15 PM EDT (1615 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[10] YUGO SITREP (L UPDATE) BY WAYNE COREY (ZAGREB)

INTRO: NATO SAYS ITS WARPLANES HAVE ATTACKED THREE BOSNIAN SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE BATTERIES IN BOSNIA-HERZOGOVINA AFTER SERB RADAR LOCKED ON TO THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, THE AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, AND THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT ARE DISCUSSING WHAT MR. HOLBROOKE CALLS A SERIOUS BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA. VOA'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM ZAGREB.

TEXT: NATO PLANES WENT INTO ACTION AGAINST SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE BATTERIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN BOSNIA IN WHAT NATO CALLS SELF DEFENSE.

SERB RADAR WAS SAID TO HAVE LOCKED ONTO THE PLANES, INDICATING HOSTILE INTENT. THE NATO AIRCRAFT FIRED ONE MISSILE AT EACH OF THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME NATO PLANES HAVE ATTACKED SERB TARGETS SINCE THE ALLIANCE'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SERBS WAS CALLED OFF IN MID-SEPTEMBER. SINCE THEN, PORTABLE SERB MISSILES HAVE BEEN FIRED AT NATO AIRCRAFT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THERE WAS NO NATO RESPONSE TO THOSE INCIDENTS BECAUSE THE SHOULDER-FIRED WEAPONS INVOLVED ARE DIFFICULT TO TARGET AND TO ATTACK ACCURATELY.

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THIS TIME ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, AMERICAN PEACE ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE FLEW FROM SARAJEVO TO BELGRADE WITH WHAT HE CALLED A SERIOUS BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN BOSNIA HERZOGOVINA. MR. HOLBROOKE WAS DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND WILL RETURN TO SARAJEVO ON THURSDAY WITH THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

MR. MILOSOVIC HAS AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS FREQUENTLY VISIT BELGRADE AND MR. HOLBROOKE HAS HAD DIRECT CONTACTS WITH THEM THERE.

IF IT IS A SERIOUS CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL, BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC HAS PRESUMABLY DROPPED HIS DEMAND FOR A SERB MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SERB'S LARGEST TOWN, BANJA LUAKA. THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MAY ALSO REALIZE ITS FORCES ARE NOT LIKELY TO GAIN ANY MORE TERRITORY IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THE LAND CAPTURED IN RECENT FIGHTING.

THE BOSNIAN ARMY WAS SUPPORTED IN A MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA BY ETHNIC CROAT FORCES BACKED BY THE CROATIAN ARMY. THE CROATIAN ARMY IS NOW LARGELY OUT OF THE PICTURE IN THAT REGION AND THERE ARE FRESH CRACKS IN THE MUSLIM AND CROAT ALLIANCE.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN DENIED IN SARAJEVO, THE UNITED NATIONS REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS HERE IN ZAGREB SAYS THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS CLASH BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND THEIR ETHINIC CROAT ALLIES. FOUR CROAT SOLDIERS AND THREE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE RESPECTED COMMANDER OF THE BOSNIAN ARMY'S FIFTH CORPS, GENERAL ATIF DUDAKOVIC, IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/CF
04-Oct-95 3:20 PM EDT (1920 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America