Voice of America, 13 November 1995

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: WITH A MAJOR SHUTDOWN OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT NOW ONLY HOURS AWAY, SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY ARE COMMENTING ON THE IMPASSE OVER THE BUDGET BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE EDITORIALS ON THE U-S PRESENCE IN OKINAWA; SOUTH AFRICA'S ELECTION; GENERAL POWELL'S EFFECT ON THE CAMPAIGN; AND THE THREAT ISRAELI EXTREMISTS POSE TO THEIR GOVERNMENT. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE ARE APPARENTLY DREADING THE POTENTIAL SHUT DOWN OF ALL NON-ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS, ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSED GOP BUDGET HAS FLAWS, THIS BATTLE [BETWEEN MR. CLINTON AND CONGRESS] HAS SOME BENEFITS.

VOICE: "BY ALL MEANS, LET'S SHUT DOWN 'NON-ESSENTIAL' PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND SEE IF ANYONE CARES. AT LEAST A SHUTDOWN MIGHT FOCUS AMERICANS, AND MAYBE EVEN A BORED MEDIA, ON THE REAL STAKES IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DEBATE: IS THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1920S, GOING TO REIN IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR NOT? THIS IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER. THE REST IS POLITICAL FOG. ....... IF THIS [BUDGET] EFFORT FAILS, THE ALTERNATIVE ISN'T A BETTER BUDGET. THE ALTERNATIVE IS A VICTORY FOR THE BELTWAY [WASHINGTON] STATUS QUO. THAT'S WHY THIS BUDGET FIGHT REALLY IS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICS. ..... MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE."

TEXT: ESPOUSING A DIFFERENT VIEW IS THE NATIONAL PAPER "USA TODAY," WHICH IS EDITORIALLY DISGUSTED WITH THE WHOLE AFFAIR.

VOICE: "HERE WE GO AGAIN: POLITICS AT ITS PARTISAN WORST. THE SUSPENSE -- WILL OR WILL NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN TUESDAY? -- IS AS DISINGENUOUS AS IT IS UNNECESSARY. IT'S THE PRODUCT OF POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP AND A REFUSAL TO SEEK COMPROMISE. WHO'S TO BLAME? DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS."

TEXT: FINALLY ON THIS SUBJECT, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" IS MORE CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON THAN OF CONGRESS IN THIS DISPUTE, SAYING:

VOICE: "MR. CLINTON KNOWS HOW TO CAMPAIGN, BUT HE HAS YET TO PROVE HE CAN GOVERN. HE KNOWS HOW TO EMPATHIZE, BUT HE HAS YET TO PROVE HE CAN LEAD. THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS HE IS OPERATING UNDER ONE OF TWO ASSUMPTIONS. EITHER HE THINKS REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE PUSILLANIMOUS, OR HE THINKS HE CAN GET A POLITICAL BOOST OUT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN."

TEXT: IN A RELATED EDITORIAL, FROM BOSTON, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SAYS THE CIVILITY OF A COLIN POWELL WOULD HAVE IMPROVED THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER THE BUDGET.

VOICE: "THE REPUBLIC STILL STANDS. BUT COLIN POWELL'S DEPARTURE FROM THE RACE HE DOMINATED WITHOUT ENTERING IS A SOURCE OF REGRET TO MOST AMERICANS. AND TO US. PRESIDENT CLINTON, MAJORITY LEADER DOLE, AND SPEAKER GINGRICH SEEM TO BE DOING THEIR BEST TO MAKE VOTERS MISS MR. POWELL AND HIS TALK OF 'CIVILITY' IN GOVERNMENT. INSTEAD OF CALMLY DEALING WITH THE INEVITABILITY OF COMPROMISE ON THE MOST FAR-REACHING BUDGET PACKAGE IN DECADES, THE THREE HAVE ENGAGED IN PETTY BRINKMANSHIP."

TEXT: RESPONDING TO CALLS FROM JAPANESE CITIZENS ON OKINAWA FOR THE REMOVAL OF U-S MILITARY FORCES STATIONED THERE IN THE WAKE OF A SCHOOLGIRL'S RAPE BY THREE U-S SERVICEMEN, TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" ASKS:

VOICE: "WHY DOES THE UNITED STATES STILL HAVE 47-THOUSAND MILITARY PERSONNEL STATIONED ON OKINAWA MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR TWO -- AND SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE COLD WAR'S END? GRANTED, PENTAGON POLICIES AND RESPECTED INDEPENDENT STRATEGIC STUDIES CITE GOOD REASONS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO RETAIN ITS CAPABILITY TO HANDLE MORE THAN ONE FOREIGN CRISIS AT A TIME. ...... EVEN SO, ABSENT OVERRIDING MILITARY REASONS, THIS AMBITIOUS GEOPOLITICAL STRATEGY NEED NOT BIND THE UNITED STATES TO KEEP TROOPS IN PARTICULAR PLACES, ESPECIALLY PLACES WHERE THEY'VE WORN OUT THEIR WELCOME. THAT MAY WELL INCLUDE OKINAWA ....."

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" TODAY PRAISES THE LATEST ELECTION IN SOUTH AFRICA, LAUDING VOTERS AS "SURPRISINGLY ASTUTE."

VOICE: "ON A CONTINENT THAT HAS HAD MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF TURMOIL AND DISASTERS, SOUTH AFRICA CONTINUES TO BEAM A RAY OF HOPE. ..... THE RECENT LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE A CASE IN POINT. THE ANC RALLIED, GAINING ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE VOTE ... BUT THE REAL NEWS OF THE ELECTIONS WAS THE STRONG SHOWING OF INDEPENDENT, COMMUNITY-BASED CANDIDATES."

TEXT: STILL WITH AFRICA, TODAY'S "PORTLAND MAINE] PRESS HERALD" LAMENTS THE HANGING OF NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND WRITER KEN SARO-WIWA BUT SAYS "HIS STRUGGLE LIVES ON."

VOICE: THE MILITARY DESPOTS WHO RUN NIGERIA HAVE SILENCED 'ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST ELOQUENT AND CANDID VOICES,' AS EDWARD ALBEE, THE PLAYWRIGHT, CALLED KEN SARO-WIWA. .....THE HANGMEN COULDN'T REALLY KILL [MR.] SARO-WIWA, HOWEVER NOR .... THE EIGHT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OGONI ETHNIC GROUP ... EXECUTED WITH HIM. ...... THEY WILL LIVE AS LONG AS THE WORLD'S CRITICISM OF THE DICTATORSHIP CONTINUES, WHICH WILL BE HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO END THE RUTHLESS MILITARY RULE OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA AND HIS UNDERLINGS."

TEXT: TURNING TO AFFAIRS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE MIAMI HERALD" COMMENTS ON THE NEWLY REASSESSED THREAT WITHIN ISRAEL FROM ISRAELI EXTREMISTS.

VOICE: "THE EXTREMISTS HAVE GROWN EMBOLDENED IN NO SMALL PART BECAUSE FOR TOO LONG THE LIKUD, ISRAEL'S MAIN OPPOSITION GROUP, DID NOT DECRY THE THE VERBAL TERRORISM DIRECTED AGAINST MR. RABIN AND SUPPORTERS OF THE PEACE ACCORDS. ...... ISRAEL'S SECURITY FORCES ARE JUSTIFIED IN CRACKING DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO INCITE OTHERS TO VIOLENCE AND ON ISRAELIS WHO ARE STOCKPILING WEAPONS UNDER THE PRETEXT OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES AGAINST ARAB TERRORISTS. AS ISRAEL LEARNED LAST WEEK, THOSE SAME WEAPONS CAN BE TURNED ON JEWISH 'TRAITORS.'

TEXT: AND FINALLY, OF THE ONGOING REVELATIONS ABOUT IRAQ'S POTENTIAL FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: " [OPT] U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE DISCOVERED YET ANOTHER SURPRISE IN SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THIS TIME EVIDENCE OF WORK ON A RADIOLOGICAL WEAPON THAT WAS DESIGNED TO SPREAD DEADLY RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL USING CONVENTIONAL RATHER THAN NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES. ...... BAGHDAD OFTEN REMINDS THE WORLD OF THE HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING THE SANCTIONS HAVE BROUGHT THE IRAQI PEOPLE. [END OPT]..... BY CONTINUING TO HIDE MUCH ABOUT HIS SECRET WEAPONS PROJECTS, HE [SADDAM HUSSEIN] FUELS SUSPICIONS THAT IRAQ HAS NOT GIVEN UP THE IDEA OF WAGING AGGRESSIVE WAR. HE HAS LEFT THE SECURITY COUNCIL NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO KEEP THE SANCTIONS IN FORCE."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE TOPICS UNDER EDITORIAL REVIEW IN TODAY'S MAJOR U-S PAPERS.

ANG/MMK

13-Nov-95 10:43 AM EST (1543 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[02] BOSNIA PEACE TALKS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL JOIN THE BOSNIAN PEACE TALKS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR DAYS (TUESDAY). RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE TALKS NEAR DAYTON, OHIO ARE FOCUSING ON THE CRUCIAL ISSUES.

TEXT: THE PEACE TALKS HAVE PRODUCED AGREEMENTS THUS FAR ON IMPROVING THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA, ON RESTORING CROATIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER SERBIAN-OCCUPIED EASTERN SLAVONIA AND ON ALLOWING SERBIA TO RECEIVE NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES FROM RUSSIA FOR THE WINTER IF BOSNIA CAN GET ITS SHARE. NOW, THE ISSUES GET HARDER. WHAT WILL THE BOSNIAN CONSTITUTION SAY ABOUT COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL? WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL SARAJEVO? AND HOW WILL POWERS BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION AND THE SERBIAN ENTITY. THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA ARE DEALING WITH THESE CORE ISSUES NOW AND SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL BE STOPPING AT WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE FOR THE DAY (TUESDAY) TO PUSH THEM TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE NOT REACHED THAT FINAL STAGE AND THEY PROBABLY WILL NOT DURING MR. CHRISTOPHER'S VISIT.

I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY, IF NOT HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT THERE WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT REACHED TOMORROW (TUESDAY). BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR (RICHARD) HOLBROOKE THIS MORNING AS WELL AS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SECRETARY (OF STATE) AND OTHERS IN THIS BUILDING, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.

THE DAYTON TALKS WILL REACH THEIR TWO-WEEK ANNIVERSARY ON WEDNESDAY AND MR. BURNS SAYS THE DELEGATIONS ARE STARTING TO GET "CABIN FEVER", IN OTHER WORDS, THE CONFINEMENT OF THE MILITARY BASE IS STARTING TO MAKE TEMPERS SHORT. WHETHER THESE CONDITIONS WILL ALSO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT MORE LIKELY IS ANYONE'S GUESS. HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE REACHED THE HEART OF THE BOSNIA ISSUE--TERRITORY AND POWER--AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANTS TO USE HIS INFLUENCE ON THE TALKS BEFORE HE FLIES TO JAPAN TO PREPARE THIS WEEKEND'S APEC SUMMIT CONFERENCE. JOHN SHATTUCK, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, HAS JOINED THE OHIO TALKS TO REPORT ON HIS VISIT LAST WEEK TO THE SITE OF SUSPECTED BOSNIAN SERB MASSACRES OF MUSLIMS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN BURNS SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL INSIST THAT THOSE INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, INCLUDING BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, MUST FACE PROSECUTION FOR THOSE CRIMES. THERE ARE REPORTS IN BELGRADE THAT THEY WILL AGREE TO RESIGN IN EXCHANGE FOR IMMUNITY.

THEY MAY BE WILLING TO DO SO. I'M NOT SURE THAT DEAL IS AVAILABLE TO THEM. IN FACT, I'M QUITE SURE IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM FROM AN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT POINT OF VIEW. WHAT POSSIBLE INTEREST WOULD WE HAVE IN PURSUING SUCH A DEAL?

MR. BURNS SAYS THERE IS NO DOUBT MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC ARE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALLY FOR BOSNIAN SERB ATROCITIES. THERE IS NO DEAL FOR IMMUNITY FOR THEM, HE SAYS, AND THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT SUPPORT SUCH A DEAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/SKH
13-Nov-95 6:33 PM EST (2333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[03] E-U / NIGERIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS FROZEN DEVELOPMENT AID TO NIGERIA AND IS CONSIDERING FURTHER SANCTIONS FOLLOWING NIGERIA'S EXECUTION OF NINE OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSED ITS OUTRAGE AT THE EXECUTIONS OF NIGERIAN WRITER KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT OTHER OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS. SUNDAY, E-U DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMISSIONER JOAO DE DEUS PINHEIRO ANNOUNCED THE FREEZING OF AID FOR NIGERIA, AND THE RECALL OF THE E-U AMBASSADOR IN LAGOS.

FURTHER ACTION IS LIKELY WHEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 15 E-U GOVERNMENTS MEET TUESDAY IN BRUSSELS.

ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO EXPEL NIGERIA FROM THE LOME' CONVENTION -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S MAIN TRADE, AID, AND COOPERATION TREATY WITH 70 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING MOST AFRICAN STATES. IF EXPULSION IS CONSIDERED TOO HARSH A MEASURE, IT MIGHT ALSO BE POSSIBLE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO SUSPEND NIGERIA'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE CONVENTION UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT IMPROVES ITS RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

THIS IS ONE OPTION WINNING SUPPORT IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, WHICH IS MEETING IN STRASBOURG.

SOCIALIST MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GAHLI, WHO IS DELIVERING A SPEECH IN STRASBOURG, TUESDAY.

THEY WILL BE SEEKING E-U ACTION, BUT HAVE ALSO CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO IMPOSE ECONOMIC AND ARMS SANCTIONS AGAINST NIGERIA. SOME OFFICIALS ALSO ADVOCATED AN EMBARGO ON OIL EXPORTS FROM NIGERIA.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS EXPECTED TO STAGE AN EMERGENCY DEBATE ABOUT NIGERIA, TO PUT PRESSURE ON E-U GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE A TOUGH STANCE.

THE EUROPEAN UNION BELIEVES THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE WHICH IT APPLIED AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA HELPED TO BRING ABOUT THE DEMISE OF APARTHEID. IN THE SAME WAY, MANY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION HOPE SIMILAR PRESSURE AGAINST NIGERIA WILL IMPROVE THE COUNTRY'S HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE. (SIGNED) NEB/RAE 13-Nov-95 10:59 AM EST (1559 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[04] U-S/BOSNIA/CROATIA (S&L) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON )

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS HAILED AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERB SEPARATISTS ALLOWING FOR THE PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION OF THE SERB-HELD TERRITORY OF EASTERN SLAVONIA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THAT DESPITE THE LATEST AGREEMENT, OTHER TERRITORIAL ISSUES STILL MUST BE WORKED OUT.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZAGREB AND SERB SEPARATISTS IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD AN OVERALL PEACE AGREEMENT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. THE TWO SIDES AGREED ON A TWO-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA, UNDER U-N CONTROL, BEFORE IT REVERTS TO CROATIAN RULE.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ALSO PREDICTED IT WILL IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN CROATIA AND SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA AND ADD MOMENTUM TO PEACE TALKS UNDERWAY NEAR DAYTON, OHIO.

U-S AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA, PETER GALBRAITH, HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO DEFUSE THE ISSUE THAT THREATENED TO WIDEN THE WAR:

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA BEGAN IN 1991, ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES IN CONTENTION HAS BEEN SETTLED PEACEFULLY, THAT IS, WITH SIGNATURES INSTEAD OF BULLETS.

HE SAYS HE EXPECTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REGION TO BE RESPECTED. MEANWHILE, UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, NEGOTIATING FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS, HAS AGREED TO A CRUCIAL ISSUE IN THE TALKS, THE QUIET DEPARTURE OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC. BOTH MEN HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY A WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS INDICATED U-S TROOPS WILL NOT TAKE PART IN A PEACEKEEPING FORCE IF BOTH MEN REMAIN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

INTERVIEWED ON U-S TELEVISION (NBC -- LATE SUNDAY), SALEM FLAVIC, A RESIDENT OF SARAJEVO, SAYS THE PEACE TALKS NEAR DAYTON GIVE HIM HOPE THE FOUR-YEAR CONFLICT WILL END SOON. HE SPEAKS THROUGH AN INTERPRETER:

AMERICAN PRESSURE IS BOUND TO FORCE A PEACE DEAL AND A REUNITED SARAJEVO. THERE IS NO CHOICE. THE CITY IS LIKE ONE'S HAND. IF YOU CUT ANY OF ITS FINGERS, IT HURTS.

OFFICIALS AT THE BALKAN PEACE TALKS AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE SAY MORE DIFFICULT WORK LIES AHEAD BEFORE AN OVERALL PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED. THE BIGGEST HURDLE APPEARS TO BE THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL AND WHO WILL ADMINISTER IT. THE UNITED STATES IS SAID TO FAVOR A JOINTLY-ADMINISTERED AREA, SOMETHING LIKE WASHINGTON D-C. THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE INSISTING THEY BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE ZONES OF THE CITY THEY NOW CONTROL.

OTHER ISSUES STILL TO BE RESOLVED ARE THE FUTURE OF THE MUSLIM ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE, THE SIZE OF THE CORRIDOR LINKING SERB-HELD LANDS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT OF TWO BOSNIAN ENTITIES, ONE SERB AND THE OTHER, A CROAT-MUSLIM FEDERATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/VB/SKH
12-Nov-95 8:56 PM EST (0156 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[05] YUGO SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS INDICTED SIX BOSNIAN CROATS. THEY ARE ACCUSED OF COMMITTING WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AGAINST MUSLIMS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE SIX INDICTED MEN INCLUDE SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY CROAT COMMUNITY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

ONE OF THEM IS DARIO KORDIC, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION IN BOSNIA. ANOTHER IS GENERAL TIHOFIL BLASKIC, THE BOSNIAN CROAT ARMY'S CHIEF OF STAFF.

THEY AND THE OTHER CROATS, NAMED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL, HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN CENTRAL BOSNIA IN 1992 AND 1993. THOSE INDICTED ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIRTUAL ELIMINATION OR EXPULSION OF MOST MUSLIMS WHO LIVED IN THE LASVA VALLEY.

THE UNITED NATIONS IN BOSNIA HAS HAD AND SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTACTS WITH MR. KORDIC AND GENERAL BLASKIC. A U-N SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO SAYS THESE CONTACTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE BASED ON THE FACT THAT BOTH MEN ARE LEADERS OF THE CROAT MINORITY.

THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO CONTINUES TO HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, AND THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC.

WITH THE INDICTMENTS ANNOUNCED MONDAY IN THE HAGUE, 52 PEOPLE NOW FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL. FORTY-FIVE OF THEM ARE ETHNIC SERBS. MEANWHILE, THE LATEST CEASE-FIRE THROUGHOUT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS BEGINNING ITS SECOND MONTH WHILE SUMMIT-LEVEL PEACE TALKS CONTINUE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE TRUCE HAS HELD QUITE WELL AFTER HEAVY FIGHTING IN NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA GRADUALLY DIED DOWN.

BUT THE BOSNIAN SERBS REPORT THE BIGGEST CROATIAN ARMY ATTACK ON ITS POSITIONS SINCE THE TRUCE BEGAN. THE SERBS, IN A REPORT ISSUED BY THE YUGOSLAV NEWS AGENCY, TANJUG, SAY THE CROATIANS ATTACKED THEM ON SUNDAY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF BOSNIA.

AT THE SAME TIME, GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED SARAJEVO RADIO REPORTS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

A UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN IN ZAGREB CAN NOT CONFIRM EITHER REPORT. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/BG
13-Nov-95 10:47 AM EST (1547 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[06] YUGO WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS INDICTED SIX BOSNIAN CROATS. THE CROATS ARE SAID TO HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY BY KILLING OR MISTREATING MUSLIMS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SAYS THE SIX INDICTED BOSNIAN CROATS ARE ACCUSED OF LARGE-SCALE AND SYSTEMATIC CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA IN 1992 AND 1993.

THE TRIBUNAL SAYS THE CRIMES WERE SO WIDESPREAD THE MUSLIM POPULATION IN THE LASVA VALLEY HAS BEEN ELIMINATED OR FORCED OUT OF THAT REGION.

ONE OF THE INDICTED MEN IS (DARIO KORDIC) A LEADER OF THE ETHNIC CROAT COMMUNITY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. ANOTHER IS THE BOSNIAN CROAT ARMY'S CHIEF OF STAFF (TIHOFIL BLASKIC). A THIRD CROAT, INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, (IVAN SANTIC) WAS THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF VITEZ.

THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL HAS NOW INDICTED 52 PEOPLE FOR WAR CRIMES OR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY DURING THE WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. FORTY-FIVE OF THEM ARE ETHNIC SERBS.

SINCE LAST YEAR, THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PATCH UP THEIR DIFFERENCES TO FORM A COMMON FRONT AGAINST THE SERBS.

STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE MUSLIM/CROAT FEDERATION WERE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK AT THE YUGOSLAV PEACE TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/WOD
13-Nov-95 6:34 AM EST (1134 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America