Voice of America, 10 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY A BUDGET DISPUTE BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS WILL SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN EARLY NEXT WEEK, AND THEY'RE COMMENTING ON THE SITUATION IN FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE ISSUE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN CUBA, LATIN AMERICA, AND, VERY LITERALLY, IN BOSNIA; THE VESTIGES OF DICTATORSHIP IN LATIN AMERICA; AN ISLAMIC RADICAL AT A U-S UNIVERSITY; AND DUCKS AND GEESE CLOG U-S AIRWAY RADAR. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY BE HEADING FOR A SHUT-DOWN OF MOST OPERATIONS SOMETIME NEXT TUESDAY. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESS OVER THE BUDGET AND THE DEBT LIMIT IS THE CAUSE, AND SEVERAL DAILY PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE SITUATION THIS MORNING. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS PARTICULARLY UPSET.

VOICE: "THE RECKLESS POLITICAL GAMES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS OVER ROUTINE FEDERAL SPENDING OBLIGATIONS MUST STOP. THE PROSPECT OF A HARMFUL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEXT WEEK OR, WORSE, A DEFAULT IS GROWING MORE REAL WITH EACH PASSING DAY. FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TO DECLARE THURSDAY THERE IS NO CHANCE OF REACHING A DEAL WITH CONGRESS TO AVERT THESE CRISES IS UNWISE. AT THE VERY LEAST, CAN'T PRESIDENT CLINTON COMMUNICATE WITH CAPITOL HILL IN AN EARNEST, LAST-MINUTE SEARCH FOR DIFFERENCES THE TWO SIDES CAN SPLIT?"

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" PUTS MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITY UPON THE CONGRESS, NOTING:

VOICE: "REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS PLAN TO EXTORT POLITICAL CONCESSIONS AS THE PRICE OF MEETING TWO BUDGET DEADLINES NEXT WEEK. THEY ARE PLAYING AN UGLY GAME OF POLITICAL COERCION THAT WILL FORCE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ACCEPT DUBIOUS PROGRAMS THAT HE WOULD OTHERWISE VETO OR ELSE RISK ENDANGERING THE GOVERNMENT'S CREDIT RATING."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST" IS ALSO VERY CONCERNED, MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFAULT BY THE TREASURY ON FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ABROAD THAN THE MORE IMMINENT SHUT-DOWN OF MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SOMETIME TUESDAY.

VOICE: "THE STRUGGLE OVER THE DEBT LIMIT WILL BE RISKIER. ..... VARIOUS WALL STREET FIGURES HAVE ASSURED THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEFAULT WOULD BE SLIGHT. ... BUT IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT MUCH OF THE DEBT IS HELD ..... IN PLACES ABROAD WHERE THE UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN POLITICAL FOLKWAYS IS MEAGER. NOBODY WILL REALLY KNOW HOW THE MARKETS WOULD REACT TO A DEFAULT UNLESS IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS."

TEXT: THERE IS A TRIO OF EDITORIALS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND CENSORSHIP IN TODAY'S U-S PAPERS. FIRST, ON THE QUITE LITERAL ISSUE OF PRESS FREEDOM, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS THANKING U-S DIPLOMATS AND MEDIA FIGURES FOR PRESSURING THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO RELEASE "THE MONITOR"S CORRESPONDENT DAVID ROHDE, WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE WAR. HE WAS TRIED, CONVICTED AND IMPRISONED FOR HIS REPORTING OF BOSNIAN SERB ATROCITIES IN THE FALL OF SREBRENICA." "THE MONITOR" CONCLUDES A LONG EDITORIAL THIS WAY:

VOICE: "ALL OF US IN DAVID ROHDE'S PROFESSIONAL FAMILY HAVE BEEN MOVED BY THE GENUINE PERSONAL CONCERN SHOWN BY SO MANY SUPPOSEDLY BRUSQUELY PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE HARD BUSINESS OF WAR AND PEACE. BUT, AFTER ALL, DIPLOMACY, PEACE TALKS, U-N OBSERVERS, AND WAR-CRIMES TRIBUNALS ARE NOT BUREAUCRATIC ABSTRACTIONS. EACH ... IS DEDICATED TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS. SO IS DAVID ROHDE'S REPORTING."

TEXT: "THE MIAMI HERALD" TODAY IS CELEBRATING A COURT DECISION IN CHILE RELATED TO THE SAME SUBJECT, PRESS FREEDOM.

VOICE: "... IT'S CHEERING NEWS THAT CHILE'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS UNAMBIGUOUSLY STRUCK DOWN THREE PROVISIONS IN A PRESS LAW RECENTLY PASSED BY THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. THE MEASURE SANCTIONED ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ON THIS SAME SUBJECT, "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF A FORMER CUBAN RADIO JOURNALIST YNDAMINO RESTANO TO FORM AN "INDEPENDENT" NEWS SERVICE IN HAVANA, ONE NOT CONTROLLED BY THE CASTRO DICTATORSHIP.

VOICE: "[OPT] AN EARLY BUREAU REPORT ON SAFETY HAZARDS AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LANDED ITS AUTHOR IN JAIL; RELEASED, HE HAS REJECTED VOLUNTARY EXILE AND FACES RE-ARREST. MR. RESTANO, AIDED BY THE U-S NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY, SEEKS TO ARM HIMSELF WITH ENOUGH INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO BLUNT THE REGIME'S OPPOSITION..... IN SHORT, [END OPT] MR. RESTANO IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CRUCIAL STRUGGLE GOING ON IN CUBA BETWEEN THE FEW PEOPLE WITH POWER AND THE MANY WITHOUT."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" TAKES ON A SOMEWHAT RELATED TOPIC, THE PROBLEM THAT EVEN ELECTED GOVERNMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA OFTEN RETAIN THE ANTI-CIVIL RIGHTS FLAVOR OF THE DICTATORSHIPS THEY REPLACE.

VOICE: " .... AS IN FORMER COMMUNIST EUROPE, ELECTIONS IN LATIN AMERICA DO NOT MEAN THAT TRUE DEMOCRACY IS HERE TO STAY OR EVEN, IN MANY PLACES, HERE AT ALL. ..... TODAY MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE MADE COUP THREATS IN HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, CHILE, PERU AND VENEZUELA. ....... WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR ..... PROSPECTS FOR LASTING DEMOCRACY IN LATIN AMERICA HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER. BUT DEMOCRACY .... IS A WORK IN PROGRESS ..... AND ITS ... ADVOCATES STILL NEED AMERICAN AND WORLDWIDE SUPPORT."

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" NOTES, WITH SOME DISQUIET, THAT RAMADAN ABDALLAH SHALLAH, THE MAN CHOSEN TO REPLACE THE ASSASSINATED LEADER OF THE FUNDAMENTALIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION ISLAMIC JIHAD, FATHI SHKAKI, COMES NOT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT FROM THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

VOICE: "THE UNIVERSITY'S INITIAL REACTION TO THE DISCOVERY HAS BEEN INTERESTING, TO SAY THE LEAST. HARRY BATTSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, TRIED TO DEFEND THE UNIVERSITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. SHALLAH AS PART OF ITS DIVERSITY COMMITMENT. MR. BATTSON EVEN DISPUTED THAT ISLAMIC JIHAD PROMOTES TERRORISM. .......GIVEN SOME TIME, HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY HAS HAD SECOND THOUGHTS. IN A STATEMENT, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT BETTY CASTOR CALLED THE DISCLOSURES 'VERY DISTURBING.' ..... WHEN IT TURNS OUT THAT ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ARE SUPPORTING TERRORISTS, WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY MOVED FROM THE PROTECTION OF FREEDOM TO SOMETHING FAR MORE OMINOUS."

TEXT: ABOUT THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA, WITH BORIS YELTSIN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A PROLONGED STAY DUE TO HEART PROBLEMS AS A NATIONAL ELECTION LOOMS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS:

VOICE: "... RUSSIA REMAINS AN UNRESOLVED QUESTION, AND THAT UNCERTAINTY DEEPLY AFFECTS AMERICAN POLICY-MAKERS. WASHINGTON'S VISION OF A POST-COLD WAR WORLD INCLUDES THE EXPECTATION OF A HIGH DEGREE OF COOPERATION WITH MOSCOW IN ..... GLOBAL ISSUES.. WITH [MR.] YELTSIN PERHAPS FADING FROM THE SCENE, WITH MORE RIGID AND IDEOLOGICAL RULE PERHAPS JUST OVER THE HORIZON, THE NEED TO REEXAMINE THAT EXPECTATION HAS TAKEN ON SOME URGENCY.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" NOTES WITH RELIEF THAT THE ANNUAL MIGRATION OF MILLIONS OF DUCKS AND GEESE THROUGH THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES HAS ENDED, CAUSING GREAT RELIEF FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WHO'S RADARS WERE JAMMED BY THE FLOCKS OF BIRDS.

VOICE: "THIS IS NOT SOME QUACK EDITORIAL. THE DUCK MIGRATION THAT PEAKED LATE LAST WEEK WAS SO GIGANTIC THAT IT OVERWHELMED RADARS AND TEMPORARILY CLOSED AIRPORTS IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, DES MOINES, AND OMAHA, NEBRASKA AND DELAYED SOME HUMAN FLIGHTS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE DAY'S EDITORIALS.

ANG/T-B-A/JM 10-Nov-95 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA-CROATIA AGREEMENT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (DAYTON)

INTRO: IN DAYTON, OHIO, THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA AND CROATIA HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION THAT THEY SET UP IN WASHINGTON, 18 MONTHS AGO, BUT NEVER PROPERLY PUT IT INTO OPERATION. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM DAYTON ON WHAT'S IN THE NEW AGREEMENT.

TEXT: THIS IS THE FIRST REAL BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DAYTON PEACE TALKS. THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA AND CROATIA HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO DISSOLVE THE SEPARATE BOSNIAN CROAT INSTITUTIONS AND TO CLEARLY DESIGNATE WHAT FUNCTIONS THE REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP AND WHAT POWERS ARE RESERVED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. THE REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT WILL BE IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FOREIGN TRADE, MONETARY POLICY, CITIZENSHIP, TELE-COMMUNICATIONS, AIR CONTROL AND THE MILITARY.

THE FEDERATION IS TO RUN CITY PLANNING, HEALTH CARE, INDUSTRY, JUSTICE AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WHEN THE FEDERATION WAS SET UP IN MARCH, 1994, THIS DIVISION OF DUTIES WAS NEVER MADE CLEAR. CROATIAN FLAGS AND MONEY ARE STILL USED IN BOSNIAN CROAT CONTROLLED AREAS AND THERE ARE SEPARATE MILITARY UNITS BETWEEN THE CROAT AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIIES.

THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UNITED AGAINST THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR THE CITY OF MOSTAR, DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MUSLIM AND CROAT COMMUNITY, TO BE RE-DESIGNED INTO SIX SEPARATE DISTRICTS WITH A SINGLE ADMINISTRATOR INSTEAD OF THE TWO MAYORS THAT MOSTAR HAS TODAY.

THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL CONTINUE TO POLICE MOSTAR UNTIL ELECTIONS ARE HELD EARLY NEXT YEAR.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER CAME HERE TO OBSERVE THE SIGNING. HE TOLD THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC AND CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN TO WORK TOWARD A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE SERBS.

A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE REMAINS THE FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE HERE IN DAYTON. THE AGREEMENT WE SIGNED TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP ON THAT ROAD. WE'LL BE HERE ONLY A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK. THIS AGREEMENT TODAY IS NOT THE FINAL PEACE WE'RE SEEKING HERE BUT LET ME EMPHASIZE IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP DOWN THAT ROAD.

MR. CHRISTOPHER MET WITH ALL THREE DELEGATIONS HERE. HE TOLD PRESIDENT TUDJMAN THERE IS NO NEED FOR HIS GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY MOVES AGAINST SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA. HE TOLD SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO COOPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL NOW THAT THREE YUGOSLAV MILITARY OFFICERS ARE AMONGTHOSE INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL FOR WAR CRIMES.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS TRYING TO USE HIS INFLUENCE TO GET THE DELEGATIONS TO AGREE ON A BOSNIAN CONSTITUTION AS WELL A WAY TO DIVIDE TERRITORIES BETWEEN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE BOSNIAN SERB ENTITY. THE TALKS HERE WILL CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK.

EVEN WITH THE FEDERATION AGREEMENT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SEPARATE MUSLIM-CROAT MILITARY FORCES WILL UNITE OR THAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WILL BECOME A REALITY. AS FOR WHETHER THE NEW SERBIAN ENTITY WILL GET SIMILAR LOCAL POWERS TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, THAT IS STILL UNDER NEGOTIATION HERE. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 10-Nov-95 5:51 PM EST (2251 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] WAR CRIMES RESOLUTION (S-ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: LED BY THE UNITED STATES THE UNITED STATES SECURITY COUNCIL LATE THURSDAY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATORS INTO SITES WHERE KILLINGS AND ETHNIC CLEANSING ALLEGEDLY TOOK PLACE. IT ALSO CALLED ON THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW REBEL SERBS WHO FLED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE LAST AUGUST TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES SAFELY. V-O-A ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE RESOLUTION AIMS AT PRESSURING THE SERBS INTO ALLOWING ACCESS TO AREAS IN BOSNIA LIKE SREBERNICA. THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MALES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED THERE AND PUT IN MASS GRAVES WHEN THE BOSNIAN SERBS CAPTURED THE TOWN LAST JULY.

THE RESOLUTION REMINDS THE WARRING PARTIES THAT ALL VIOLATORS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

THE COUNCIL ALSO REBUKED CROATIA, DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE END TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST ITS MINORITY SERB POPULATION. CROATIAN OFFICIALS PROTESTED -- CALLING THE REPRIMAND A CONCESSION TO U-S LED PEACE TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO.

THE RESOLUTION MIGHT NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT, BUT DIPLOMATS SAY IT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR STRENGTHENING THE U-N'S HUMANITARIAN ROLE IN THE BALKANS AS ITS MILITARY PRESENCE WILL LIKELY BE PHASED OUT IN FAVOR OF A NATO-LED FORCE. (SIGNED) NEB/EJ/CB-T/LWM 09-Nov-95 8:36 PM EST (0136 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] YUGO SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: HUNDREDS OF ELITE CROATIAN ARMY TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED CLOSE TO THE SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA REGION. THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAS VOWED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TERRITORY, BUT UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT THINK AN ATTACK IS IMMINENT. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS IN CROATIA REPORTED THE DEPLOYMENT OF BETWEEN 350 AND 400 ARMY TROOPS TO THE FRONT-LINE GOVERNMENT TOWN OF VINKOVCI, ADJACENT TO SERB-HELD EASTERN SLAVONIA.

EASTERN SLAVONIA IS THE LAST SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN CROATIA. PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN HAS VOWED TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER THE REGION EITHER PEACEFULLY OR BY FORCE.

WHILE THE TROOP MOVEMENTS ARE OMINOUS, U-N SPOKESMAN LEAH MELNICK IN ZAGREB SAYS AN ATTACK ON EASTERN SLAVONIA DOES NOT APPEAR IMMINENT.

IT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF TROOPS. IT'S ALSO NOT A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF ARTILLERY PIECES OR OTHER EQUIPMENT. IF WE SEE THIS TYPE OF DEPLOYMENT HAPPENING ON A LARGER SCALE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THAT WOULD, PROBABLY, INDICATE THAT THERE IS POSITIONING GOING ON FOR AN OFFENSIVE.

MISS MELNICK SAYS THE CROATIAN TROOPS HAVE NOT ENTERED A BUFFER ZONE, INTENDED TO SEPARATE THEM FROM SERB FORCES, AND SHE SAYS THE DEPLOYMENT DOES NOT VIOLATE A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT.

MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND U-N PEACEKEEPERS ARE STATIONED IN EASTERN SLAVONIA. LEAH MELNICK SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED WHETHER TO WITHDRAW THE PEACEKEEPERS THERE IF THE CROATIAN ARMY MOVES INTO THE TERRITORY.

WE SAW TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF PEACEKEEPERS WHEN THE CROATIANS LAUNCHED THEIR OFFENSIVE ON THE KRAJINA WHICH, ACTUALLY, RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THREE PEACEKEEPERS AND THE INJURING OF A NUMBER OF OTHERS. WE WILL CERTAINLY BE TAKING DIFFERENT SECURITY PRECAUTIONS THIS TIME. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STAND OUR GROUND.

PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN IS DISCUSSING THE REGION WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AT INTERNATIONALLY-MEDIATED YUGOSLAV PEACE TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NO CLEAR INDICATION WHETHER MR. MILOSEVIC IS PREPARED TO ALLOW THE CROATIAN ARMY TO RETAKE EASTERN SLAVONIA, WHICH IS ON THE YUGOSLAV/CROATIAN BORDER, OR IF YUGOSLAVIA MIGHT INTERVENE TO SAVE THE SERBS. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/JM
10-Nov-95 9:47 AM EST (1447 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America