Voice of America, 9 January 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <ivb19@nfi.com>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AS THE EASTERN SEABOARD CONTINUES TO DIG OUT FROM UNDER ONE OF THE LARGEST SNOWFALLS IN RECENT HISTORY, AMERICA NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COLUMNS ARE FOCUSING ON TWO EVENTS. ONE IS THE DEATH OF FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS MITTERAND AND THE OTHER IS - - THE SNOW AND PEOPLE'S REACTION TO IT. IN OTHER EDITORIALS, THERE ARE COMMENTS ON (OPT) THE U.S. TRAVEL BAN ON CUBA (END OPT) NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON'S ACTIVITIES BEFORE AND AFTER HER TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE; THE BUDGET IMPASSE AND US-CHINESE RELATIONS. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE TOPICS IS __________________

TEXT: IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS THIS TUESDAY, "DENVER POST" READERS ARE READING THIS OF THE FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT.

VOICE: "FRANCOIS MITTERAND, WHO DIED YESTERDAY OF PROSTATE CANCER, WAS FRANCE'S CHIEF OF STATE LONGER THAN ANYONE SINCE NAPOLEON THE THIRD. [OPT] ...... [MR.] MITTERAND, AN AVOWED SOCIALIST, HAD HIS OWN DOUBTS ABOUT U-S INTENTIONS BUT SHOWED A FAR GREATER FEAR OF THE SOVIETS. AS A RESULT, HE PURSUED AN ANTI-SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY THAT BROUGHT FRANCE MUCH CLOSER TO NATO - - AND FORESHADOWED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S RECENT DECISION TO REJOIN NATO'S UNIFIED MILITARY COMMAND. ....... IN THE END, [END OPT] HIS MAJOR LEGACY WAS GEOPOLITICAL, JOINING GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMET KOHL AS THE CO-ARCHITECT OF A FRANCO-GERMAN PARTNERSHIP THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR TODAY'S STRONGER EUROPEAN UNION."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL" CALLS MR. MITTERAND A "MAN OF ACTION," ADDING:

VOICE: "TO ADMIRERS, HE WILL BE KNOWN FOREVER AS A MAN OF INTELLECT, CHARM AND ELOQUENCE. TO CRITICS, THE MEMORY WILL BE ONE OF MIXED EFFECTIVENESS, A PENCHANT FOR THE OSTENTATIOUS AND AN ALOOFNESS THAT EARNED MR. MITTERRAND THE NICKNAME DIEU, OR GOD. ....... MR. MITTERAND WAS TO THE END A MAN ENGAGED IN HIS WORLD."

TEXT: THE "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS:

VOICE: "..... HIS LEGACY A FRANCE OF INFLUENCE AND RESPECT INTERNATIONALLY, AND A HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA NOW FOLLOWED BY MUCH OF THE FREE WORLD. THAT WORLD, AND THE FIFTH REPUBLIC HE DID SO MUCH TO SHAPE, ARE IN HIS DEBT."

TEXT: WHILE BACK IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" DESCRIBES HIM AS "A PRAGMATIC FRENCH PATRIOT," AND GOES ON TO SAY:

VOICE: "FOR ALL HIS SHORTCOMINGS, FRANCOIS MITTERRAND WAS A FRENCH PATRIOT, ONE OF THE LAST REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GENERATION THAT CAME TO POLITICAL MATURITY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AN ERA WHEN NOTIONS SUCH AS 'SOCIALISM' CONSERVED MUCH OF THE MEANING THAT MR. MITTERRAND AND OTHER SOCIALISTS WOULD SACRIFICE FOR THEIR COUNTRIES' GREATER GOOD."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES," THIS SOMEWHAT LESS FLATTERING APPRAISAL:

VOICE: "MR. MITTERRAND WAS A MASTER POLITICAL TACTICIAN WITH FEW IMMUTABLE PRINCIPLES. NOT ONLY HIS SOCIALIST BELIEFS WERE LIGHTLY HELD. EVEN HIS RECORD OF RESISTANCE IN WORLD WAR TWO WAS AMBIGUOUS. IN THE EARLY 1940'S HE WORKED UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSELY WITH THE VICHY REGIME AND MAINTAINED LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WITH SOME OF VICHY'S MORE ODIOUS FIGURES."

TEXT: WITH A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 43-POINT-43 CENTIMETERS IN METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, AND LARGER AMOUNTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK, TODAY'S SECOND MOST POPULAR EDITORIAL TOPIC, AT LEAST AMONG THE AFFECTED REGIONS, IS THE SNOW. TAKE TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" FOR INSTANCE:

VOICE: "FEELING A LITTLE PUNCHY ? [SEMI CONSCIOUS] WINTER HAS BARELY SET IN AND THE REGION JUST WENT THROUGH THE THIRD MAJOR PASTING OF THE SEASON, THE WORST SO FAR AND A MEMORABLE STORM ON EVERY SCALE. AMONG THE MORE IMPRESSIVE FEATURES THIS TIME AROUND HAS BEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESPONSE, WITH MAJOR ROUTES AROUND THE STATE AND MAIN ROADS AROUND THE CITY KEPT OPEN CONTINUOUSLY."

TEXT: NO SO IN ATLANTA, WHERE THE SNOWFALL AMOUNTED TO SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A PUNY [MINIMAL] FIVE CENTIMETERS, AND TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" COMMENTS;

VOICE: "..... IN GEORGIA, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE ROAD CREWS OUGHT TO BE EXPECTED TO BETTER HANDLE A ONE TO TWO INCH [5.8 CENTIMETERS] SNOWFALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE NEARLY A TRAFFIC-FREE DAY [SUNDAY] TO CLEAR THE MOST HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS."

TEXT: HERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, "THE WASHINGTON POST" TODAY RUNS THIS EDITORIAL ODE TO SNOW SHOVELING:

VOICE: "WHY DO PEOPLE SHOVEL? PARTLY OUT OF NECESSITY - - TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THOUGH THE ROADS MAY BE IMPASSABLE FOR MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION. PARTLY BECAUSE THERE'S A LAW, ALTHOUGH THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS ENFORCED ABOUT AS OFTEN AS THE SODOMY STATUTES ..... MOSTLY, WE SUSPECT, BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ATAVISTIC IN DESK-BOUND METROMAN (YES, YES, THAT'S GENDER-INCLUSIVE) THAT WELCOMES THE TASK OF MOVING SEVERAL HUNDREDS POUNDS OF SOMETHING FROM HERE TO THERE WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A SHOVEL."

TEXT: TURNING TO SUBJECTS AT LEAST AS HEAVY (AS SNOW) BUT OF MORE INTELLECTUAL SUBSTANCE, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SUGGESTS TO GOVERNMENT IN ITS HEADLINE: "NO EXCUSES: DO A BUDGET DEAL NOW!," ADDING:

VOICE: "... THERE ARE NO EXCUSES NOW. SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE [BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL VERSION] HERE AND COMPROMISE THERE, BUT AGREE ON A BALANCED BUDGET PLAN AND PUT AMERICA ON A PATH TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS FOR GENERATIONS."

TEXT: ON A MUCH MORE DISTANT TOPIC, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" ALSO EDITORIALIZES THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION "SHOULD LET THE CHINESE KNOW THE SCORE."

VOICE: "HAVING FOUND THAT BLUSTER AND OBSTINACY WORK WITH THIS PRESIDENT, THE CHINESE ARE CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH AND WILL SURELY KEEP PRESSING UNTIL THEY FIND THE LIMITS OF AMERICAN PATIENCE. GRANTING A VISA TO TAIWAN'S VICE PRESIDENT IS THE FIRST STEP IN LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO RESIST THEIR BELLIGERENCE. IT SHOULDN'T BE THE LAST."

TEXT: THE NATIONAL WEEKDAY PAPER, "USA TODAY" IS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S TRAVEL BAN ON CUBA WHICH THE PAPER EDITORIALIZES, WILL "SPEED [THE] FALL OF CASTRO."

VOICE: "DESPITE FIDEL CASTRO, DESPITE A U-S TRADE EMBARGO, DESPITE RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN TRAVEL, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF U-S BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES WILL HEAD TO CUBA THIS YEAR. THEIR INTEREST IS NOT SUBVERSIVE. THEY MERELY RECOGNIZE A POLITICAL REALITY THAT U-S POLICYMAKERS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE: YOU DON'T HAVE TO OVERTHROW FIDEL TO GET YOUR WAY. ..... THE CURRENT POLICY OF ISOLATING CASTRO HAS BEEN IN PLACE ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING OF HIS DICTATORSHIP, AND IT HAS PLAINLY FAILED. SECOND, [PREMIER] CASTRO HAS USED THE TRADE EMBARGO FOR THREE DECADES AS THE EXCUSE FOR HIS PEOPLE'S DEPRIVATION. TAKE AWAY THAT EMBARGO AND YOU ROB HIM OF AN EXCUSE. THE U-S BUSINESS COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT. ..... IT'S TIME OUR NATIONAL POLITICIANS LEARNED IT AS WELL."

TEXT: TURNING ONCE AGAIN TO DOMESTIC POLITICS, TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS" IS COMMENTING AGAIN ON THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR AND HILLARY CLINTON'S POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN IT AS REVEALED IN NEWLY-RELEASED WHITE HOUSE DOCUMENTS.

VOICE: "THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR IS BECOMING SO LEGALLY BYZANTINE, [MAZE-LIKE] ITS DIFFICULT TO SORT OUT THE ISSUES. ..... WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE? FIRST, TRUTH TELLING. MRS. CLINTON'S WORK AS AN ARKANSAS ATTORNEY ON A REAL ESTATE DEAL [CASTLE GRANDE, N O T WHITEWATER, BUT ALSO FINANCED BY MORGAN GUARANTY SAVINGS AND LOAN] FEDERAL AGENTS DESCRIBED AS 'FICTITIOUS" TRANSACTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN MORE EXTENSIVE THAN SHE EARLIER DESCRIBED TO FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. ..... TRAVELGATE - - MRS. CLINTON CLAIMED TO BE MERELY AN INTERESTED OBSERVER IN THE 1993 FIRINGS OF EMPLOYEES WHO RAN THE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE. BUT A NEW MEMO BY A FORMER WHITE HOUSE EMPLOYEE CLAIMS SHE WAS KEENLY INVOLVED IN FIRING THE EMPLOYEES, WHO WERE REPLACED BY CLINTON FAMILY FRIENDS. ..... THE QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY DESERVE ANSWERS. ..... IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TO BE EVEN MORE FORTHCOMING AND HELP GET THE STORY STRAIGHT."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN SOME OF THE NATION'S MAJOR DAILIES ON THIS TUESDAY AFTER THE GREAT EASTERN BLIZZARD OF '96.

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09-Jan-96 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA/AIRLIFT (L ONLY) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS ( GENEVA )

INTRO: THE LONGEST HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT IN HISTORY ENDED TUESDAY WHEN THE FINAL AID FLIGHTS TOUCHED DOWN IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO. VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA LOOKS BACK ON WHAT WAS A CRITICAL LIFELINE THROUGHOUT THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT.

TEXT: THE STATISTICS TELL THE TALE. THE SARAJEVO AIRLIFT LASTED MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF YEARS, MORE THAN TWICE AS LONG AS THE ALLIED AIR-BRIDGE TO BERLIN IN THE LATE 1940'S.

THERE WERE NEARLY 13-THOUSAND AID FLIGHTS TO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEM BY U-S CARGO PLANES. BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND CANADA WERE ALSO MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS. A TOTAL OF 20 NATIONS AND FIVE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TOOK PART IN THE AIRLIFT, ADMINISTERED BY THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES.

MORE THAN 160-THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF FOOD, MEDICINE AND OTHER RELIEF SUPPLIES WERE DELIVERED TO SARAJEVO FROM WAREHOUSES IN GERMANY, CROATIA AND THE MAIN BASE IN THE ITALIAN PORT OF ANCONA.

AT TIMES DURING THE CONFLICT, THE AIRLIFT ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY ALL THE AID THAT REACHED THE BESIEGED CITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN BOSNIA'S ROADS ARE FREQUENTLY SNOW-BOUND AND IMPASSABLE.

IT WAS ALWAYS A RISKY OPERATION. THE U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCE CONTROLLED SARAJEVO AIRPORT, BUT WARRING BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND SERB FORCES WERE DEPLOYED ALL AROUND IT. AND THE SLOW-MOVING CARGO PLANES WERE FREQUENT TARGETS ON LANDING AND TAKE-OFF IN THE CITY.

U-N OFFICIALS LIST NEARLY 300 OF WHAT THEY CALL SECURITY INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE AIRLIFT--THE WORST IN SEPTEMBER OF 1992, WHEN AN ITALIAN PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN BY A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE A FEW KILOMETERS NORTH OF SARAJEVO, KILLING ALL FOUR CREWMEN.

SERB COMMANDERS FREQUENTLY FORCED THE SUSPENSION OF THE AID FLIGHTS BY REFUSING TO PROVIDE SECURITY GUARANTEES FOR INCOMING AIRCRAFT. IN 1994 ALONE, THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED OF THESE SO-CALLED "NO-FLY DAYS".

BUT DESPITE THE MANY PROBLEMS AND RISKS, U-N REFUGEE COMMISSIONER SADAKO OGATA SAID THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE AIRLIFT.

IT KEPT SARAJEVO ALIVE, SHE SAID, SAVING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM STARVATION. IN ADDITION TO THE AID DELIVERIES, MORE THAN A THOUSAND SERIOUSLY WOUNDED BOSNIANS WERE EVACUATED ABOARD AIRLIFT PLANES.

AND THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS TRAVELLED IN AND OUT OF THE CITY ON THE U-N-H-C-R FLIGHTS.

AS THE LAST OF THE CARGO PLANES FLEW INTO THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL TUESDAY, U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND SAID THERE IS FINALLY REASON TO CELEBRATE.

ALTHOUGH THIS AIRLIFT SURPASSED MANY MILESTONES, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MUCH (REASON) REALLY TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE THIS AIRLIFT JUST MEANT A CONTINUATION OF WAR, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT IT IS NOW ENDING.

U-N-H-C-R IS CONTINUING TO DELIVER AID SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT BOSNIA BY ROAD. THE NATO-ENFORCED PEACE AGREEMENT HAS OPENED UP MANY LAND ROUTES THAT WERE CLOSED FOR MUCH OF THE CONFLICT. THE AIRLIFT OPERATIONS OFFICE HERE IN GENEVA IS REMAINING OPEN, AND HAS NOW BECOME A PERMANENT FIXTURE AT U-N-H-C-R HEAD- QUARTERS. THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN BOSNIA WAS PUT TO GOOD USE WHEN THE AGENCY AIRLIFTED EMERGENCY SUPPLIES TO RWANDAN REFUGEES IN ZAIRE IN THE SUMMER OF 1994. (SIGNED)

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09-Jan-96 9:36 AM EST (1436 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/BILDT (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA CARL BILDT HAS DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST MEDIA REPORTS THAT HE HAS BEEN SLUGGISH IN LAUNCHING THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE IMPLEMENTATION. HE WAS SPEAKING IN BRUSSELS, WHERE HE IS BRIEFING EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND OFFICIALS ON HIS MISSION. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FOR VOA FROM BRUSSELS

TEXT: FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER CARL BILDT HAS RETAINED HIS SENSE OF HUMOR, DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES HE IS ENCOUNTERING. HE SAYS THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING AS FAST AS HE CAN TO SET UP A STAFF AND OPERATION - BOTH IN BRUSSELS AND IN BOSNIA ITSELF. HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, HE SAYS. BECAUSE OF DELAYS IN TRANSFERRING MONEY, HE HAD TO VISIT A BRUSSELS BANK ON JANUARY 3RD, WHERE HE WITHDREW ABOUT 300-THOUSAND GERMAN MARKS IN CASH, AND THEN TOOK THEM ON A PLANE TO SARAJEVO. THERE HE USED THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE SETTING UP OF PHONE LINES, TO RENT OFFICES, AND TO HIRE STAFF.

MR. BILDT WAS UNABLE TO USE EXISTING UNITED NATIONS INSTALLATIONS. HE CLAIMS THIS WAS BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS HAD DEMANDED A CLEAN BREAK WITH THE PAST.

THE DECISION WAS, OF COURSE, TAKEN. THAT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION THAT THESE STRUCTURES SHOULD BE SET UP FROM GROUND ZERO. WE SHOULD NOT BE RELYING ON EITHER THE CARS OR THE TELEPHONES OR THE OFFICES OR THE CONTRACTS OF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION - THAT IS THE UNITED NATIONS. AND YOU CAN SEE WHO INSISTED ON THAT. ACCORDINGLY WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE EVERY SINGLE TELEPHONE LINE, EVERY SINGLE SQUARE METRE OF OFFICE SPACE, AND THAT WE HAVE DONE. SO I AM NOT REALLY COMPLAINING. I AM JUST NOTING THIS.

DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO DO THE TRICK - IT WON'T. WITHOUT RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES, NOTHING WILL DO THE TRICK. SO WE ARE EXTREMELY DEPENDENT UPON THE WILL OF RECONCILIATION AND COOPERATION OF THE PARTIES.THEN WE CAN ASSIST, AND WE WILL DO IT.

MR. BILDT WAS ASKED ABOUT SUGGESTIONS THAT THERE WILL BE AN EXODUS OF SERBS FROM SARAJEVO, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FEEL SECURE THERE. HE REPLIED THAT IF CITIZENS OF THE NEW BOSNIA CANNOT LIVE TOGETHER IN THEIR OWN CAPITAL, THIS CASTS A QUESTION MARK OVER THE FUTURE OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY. AND HE REPEATED THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW BOSNIA DEPENDS ON ITS OWN CITIZENS, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HE STRESSED IT IS THEIR COUNTRY, THEIR PEACE AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN ONLY HELP. (SIGNED)

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09-Jan-96 9:20 AM EST (1420 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA/NATO (L ) BY DAVID FOLEY ( SARAJEVO )

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE DEMANDED A DELAY IN THE HANDING OVER OF SERB-SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL. SERB LEADERS ARE WARNING OF A VIOLENT MASS EXODUS OF RESIDENTS IF THE DEMAND IS NOT QUICKLY MET. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE BOSNIAN SERBS INSIST THE HAND-OVER OF SERB-HELD AREAS OF SARAJEVO TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL MUST BE DELAYED BY SIX MONTHS. MOMCILO KRAJSNIK, THE HARDLINE LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN SERB ASSEMBLY, MADE THE DEMAND ON TUESDAY IN A LETTER TO CARL BILDT, THE HEAD OF CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE PEACE PLAN.

UNDER THE DAYTON PLAN SERB AREAS OF THE CAPITAL MUST BE CLEAR OF SERB SOLDIERS BY EARLY FEBRUARY AND TURNED OVER TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN MID-MARCH, BUT THE SERBS SAY THEY WANT TO RETAIN CONTROL UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15TH. SERB RESIDENTS OF THE AREAS SAY THEY WILL NEVER LIVE UNDER WHAT THEY CALL MUSLIM DOMINATION. MR. KRAJSNIK SAID SERB LEADERS HAD SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO PREVENT AN EXODUS OF THEIR PEOPLE AND THE BURNING OF HOUSES OR OTHER VIOLENT INCIDENTS. BUT HE WARNED UNLESS THE DELAY WAS GRANTED BY WEDNESDAY, BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PREVENT A MASS EXODUS OF SERBS. AND HE SAID, PROBABLY BLOODY INCIDENTS. THE NATO COMMANDER IN BOSNIA, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, SAYS HE IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE SARAJEVO CRISIS DOES NOT WRECK THE WIDER PEACE AGREEMENT.

SARAJEVO PRESENTS A SPECIAL PROBLEM AND WE ARE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD WITH CARL BILDT AND HIS ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION IN THE SARAJEVO AREA AS SMOOTH AS WE CAN SO THAT THERE'S NOT A FALL-OUT THAT IMPACTS THE REST OF THE PROCESS.

LARGE AMOUNTS OF FACTORY EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN RECENT WEEKS, AND EVERY DAY THE ROADS OUT OF SERB AREAS ARE CROWDED WITH TRUCKS CARRYING HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

SO FAR THOUGH, MOST SERBS SEEM TO BE STAYING IN THEIR HOMES AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY PART OF THE REASON MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT LEAVING IS BECAUSE FEW OF THEM HAVE ANYPLACE TO GO. (SIGNED)

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09-Jan-96 2:02 PM EST (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA/SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY ( SARAJEVO )

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA HAS ISSUED A STRONG THREAT AGAINST ANYONE SHOOTING AT NATO PLANES. THE WARNING COMES AFTER A SERIES OF ISOLATED SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN BOSNIA. BUT THE COMMANDER ALSO SAYS THE MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE NATO PEACE MISSION ARE GOING WELL. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE COMMANDER OF NATO OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, ON A VISIT TO SARAJEVO, SAYS HE HAS SPOKEN TO GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY LEADERS OF ALL SIDES TO TRY TO END ISOLATED ATTACKS ON NATO PLANES AND PERSONNEL.

SEVERAL NATO AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT SARAJEVO'S AIRPORT HAVE BEEN FIRED AT FROM BOSNIAN SERB AREAS IN RECENT DAYS. ON SUNDAY, A FRENCH JET WAS HIT BY TWO SMALL ARMS ROUNDS AND AN AMERICAN C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE WAS FORCED TO ABORT ITS LANDING WHEN THE PILOTS THREE TIMES SAW TRACER FIRE NEAR THE PLANE WHILE IT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE CITY'S AIRPORT. ADMIRAL SMITH ISSUED A STRONG WARNING.

IF WE SEE ANYONE FIRING AT OUR AIRCRAFT, THEY WILL BE ATTACKED, IMMEDIATELY. THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. THEY WILL BE ATTACKED.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS NATO IS WORKING TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE SHOTS ARE COMING FROM. OTHER THAN THE SHOOTING INCIDENTS, ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS HE IS SATISFIED WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE NATO MILITARY OPERATION IN BOSNIA SO FAR.

THE MILITARY ASPECTS FOR WHICH I AM RESPONSIBLE ARE GOING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL. MUCH BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR. WE SEE COMPLIANCE ACROSS THE BOARD. FORCES ARE PULLLING OUT OF THE ZONES OF SEPARATION. THERE ARE MINEFIELDS BEING GIVEN TO US, OR THE MARKING OF MINEFIELDS. WE HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.

PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO VISIT BOSNIA THIS WEEKEND, AND THERE APPEAR TO BE NO CONCERNS HIS TRIP TO SARAJEVO WILL BE CANCELED BECAUSE OF ANY THREAT TO HIS AIRCRAFT AS IT LANDS. (SIGNED)

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09-Jan-96 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] CLINTON / BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL LEAVE THE UNITED STATES LATE FRIDAY FOR A VISIT TO BOSNIA DURING THE WEEKEND. BUT THEY ARE MAKING FEW DETAILS ON THE TRIP PUBLIC BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT: CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR BOSNIA LATE FRIDAY FOLLOWING A POLITICAL TRIP TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PRESIDENT PLANS TO BE BACK IN WASHINGTON AT THE END OF THE WEEKEND, AND BE BACK AT WORK MONDAY. IN BOSNIA, THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH U-S TROOPS IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF TUZLA, WHERE 20 THOUSAND U-S TROOPS ARE TO BE DEPLOYED AS PART OF THE 60 THOUSAND NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. HE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MEET WITH SENIOR NATO MILITARY PLANNERS.

DETAILS ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED, HOWEVER, FOR SECURITY REASONS. SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAYS SECURITY PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN THAT ARE, IN HIS WORDS, "PRUDENT GIVEN THE STATUS OF THAT COUNTRY." HE SAID HE IS VERY CONFIDENT WITH SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS.

IN EARLY DECEMBER, PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH U-S S0LDIERS GOING TO BOSNIA DURING A BRIEF STOP IN BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY. (SIGNED)

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09-Jan-96 11:53 AM EST (1653 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] ROAD TO BOSNIA (PART 3) BY WAYNE COREY (ZUPANJA, CROATIA)

INTRO: THE LAST STOP ON THE LONG ROAD AMERICAN FORCES ARE USING TO TRAVEL FROM GERMANY TO BOSNIA-HERZOGOVINA IS A LITTLE TOWN IN CROATIA NAMED ZUPANJA, NEAR THE COUNTRY'S SAVA RIVER BORDER WITH BOSNIA. THERE IS NOW A MAJOR AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REGION AS VOA'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS.

TEXT: THIS IS WHERE THE ACTION IS. WHILE AMERICAN MILITARY VEHICLES CROSS A PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER TO ENTER BOSNIA, CONVOYS ARE BEING ASSEMBLED A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY.

THE NERVE CENTER FOR THE RIVER CROSSING IS CALLED THE "WHITE HOUSE," NOT THE ONE IN WASHINGTON, BUT A WHITE BUILDING HERE IN WHAT THE MILITARY CALLS CAMP HARMON. IT IS PART OF A COMPOUND SHARED WITH A MOTEL TAKEN OVER BY THE AMERICAN MILITARY. ABOUT 30 HUMVEES (PERSONNEL CARRIERS), THE SUCCESSOR TO THE JEEP AND OTHER ARMY VEHICLES, ARE PARKED IN THE COMPOUND. ANOTHER CONVOY IS FORMING READY TO HEAD FOR THE BRIDGE. A HUMVEE TAKES THE LEAD AND THE CONVOY BEGINS TO MOVE. THE AMERICAN DEPLOYMENT TO BOSNIA IS NOT SWIFT NOR DRAMATIC BUT IT IS RELENTLESS.

U-S ARMY CAPTAIN TOM EVANS SAYS THE OPERATION IS GOING WELL.

EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. THE BRIDGE IS IN. WE HAD TO ADAPT OUR PLAN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE RISING SAVA WATERS BUT CURRENTLY THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND APPROXIMATELY 17-HUNDRED VEHICLES HAVE DRIVEN ACROSS THAT BRIDGE INTO BOSNIA.

ABOUT FIVE-THOUSAND OF THE 20-THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS BEING DEPLOYED WITH OTHER NATO TROOPS TO BOSNIA ARE NOW THERE. THE MOVEMENT IS LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED A FEW WEEKS LATER THAN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED. THAT IS PARTLY BECAUSE IT TOOK LONGER THAN PLANNED TO PUT THE PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA DUE TO VERY BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

BUT CAPTAIN EVANS SAYS THE BRIDGE IS PROVING ITS VALUE BECAUSE IT CAN BE ADJUSTED TO DEAL WITH THE RISE OR FALL OF THE RIVER.

LAST NIGHT THE RIVER RECEDED APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE INCHES WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINEERS TO HAVE TO REMOVE ONE OF THE PONTOONS. THAT IS WHY THE RIVER BRIDGE IS SO SUCCESSFUL. AS THE RIVER EXPANDS OR CONTRACTS, ALL WE DO IS JUST SIMPLY REMOVE OR ADD PONTOONS AS NECESSARY.

OTHER NATION MEMBER COUNTRIES ARE HAVING A MUCH EASIER TIME IN BOSNIA BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD TROOPS THERE IN ESTABLISHED FACILITIES UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS FLAG. CAPTAIN HARMON SAYS THE U-S ARMY IS SETTING UP ITS INFRASTRUCTURE IN BOSNIA IN PARALLEL WITH THE ARRIVAL WITH AMRICAN TROOPS.

WELL, OUR PRIORITIES ARE OBVIOUS -- FIRST, WE'RE BUILDING OUR WAY INTO THE BALKANS. SO, WHAT YOU SEE IS THE BRIDGE TRAFFIC INCREASES AND DECREASES DAY BY DAY. AS WE PUSH FORCES ACROSS ON ONE DAY, THE NEXT DAY WE BEGIN TO PUSH THEM LOGISTIC SUPPORT TO SUSTAIN THEM SOUTH OF THE SAVA. SO, YOU DON'T SEE A CONSTANT STREAM OF COMBAT VEHICLES -- TRACK VEHICLES -- CROSSING. YOU'LL SEE A PACKAGE GO ACROSS ON ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY WE IMMEDIATELY BEGIN PUSHING LOGISITIC SUPPORT TO THEM.

MANY OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA WILL OPERATE OUT OF BASE CAMPS, AWAY FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS AT THE TUZLA AIRBASE. ACCORDING TO CAPTAIN HARMON, THE U-S ARMY IS NOT SIMPLY TAKING WHATEVER LAND OR FACILITIES IT WANTS. HE SAYS IT IS NOT YET CLEAR HOW MANY SEPARATE BASE CAMPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED.

TO GET A FIRM NUMBER IS KIND OF DIFFICULT AT THIS TIME. AS TROOPS BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE BOSNIAN SECTOR, WE HAVE CONTRACTING AGENTS DOWN THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY CONTRACTING FOR THE LAND. WE CAN'T JUST GO IN AND TAKE WHAT WE WANT. WE ARE NOT AN OCCUPATION FORCE.

THE ZUPANIA AREA OF CROATIA WAS CHOSEN AS THE GATEWAY FOR THE U-S MILITARY DEPLOYMENT TO NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN 100 KILOMETERS FROM TUZLA. ONCE AMERICAN TROOPS CROSS THE SAVA RIVER MILITARY BRIDGE, TUZLA IS ONLY A TWO-HOUR DRIVE AWAY IN GOOD WEATHER, OR PERHAPS FOUR HOURS IN BAD WEATHER. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/SKH
09-Jan-96 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] SARAJEVO ATTACK (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND FIVE OTHERS WERE INJURED WHEN A ROCKET HIT A STREETCAR IN SARAJEVO. FRENCH NATO TROOPS FIRED BACK AT THE SERB AREA WHERE THE ROCKET CAME FROM WITH CANNONS AND SMALL ARMS. IT'S THE FIRST SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO NATO'S AUTHORITY IN BOSNIA, AND COMES ONLY A DAY AFTER A BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WARNED OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS IF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT WASN'T CHANGED. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF PEACE THE SPECTER OF VIOLENT DEATH HAS RETURNED TO SARAJEVO. THE STREETCAR WAS HIT BY A BOSNIAN SERB ROCKET SHORTLY AFTER NIGHTFALL WHILE IT WAS MOVING ALONG THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL'S INFAMOUS SNIPER ALLEY. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACK, INCLUDING A WOMAN AND A CHILD. A SERB SNIPER ALSO STARTED SHOOTING AT THE SAME TIME THE ROCKET WAS FIRED. FRENCH NATO SOLDIERS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED WITH 20MM CANNONS AND SMALL ARMS. THERE WERE NO NATO CASUALITIES. AFTER THE INJURED PASSENGERS WERE RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL. NATO TANKS ARE NOW STATIONED ALONG THE ROAD WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE, THEIR BARRELS POINTING TOWARD THE SERB DISTRICT OF GRBAVICA FROM WHERE NATO SAYS THE ROCKET WAS FIRED. THE ATTACK COMES A DAY AFTER THE SPEAKER OF THE BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT DEMANDED CHANGES TO THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN TO ALLOW SERBS TO REMAIN IN CONTROL OF SERB DISTRICTS OF SARAJEVO UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER, A SIX-MONTH DELAY. HE SAID LEADERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL ANGRY SERB RESIDENTS AND WARNED THERE MIGHT BE VIOLENT INCIDENTS IF THE DEMAND WAS NOT MET BY WEDNESDAY. RESIDENTS OF THE SERB AREAS SAY THEY WILL NEVER LIVE UNDER WHAT THEY CALL "MUSLIM DOMINATION," AND WHILE MOST ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE, SOME HAVE SAID THEY WILL STAY AND FIGHT. THERE WILL LIKELY BE MORE SUCH ATTACKS HERE, AND NATO IS FACED WITH A DILEMMA. NATO SAYS IT IS UP TO THE PARTIES TO COMPLY WITH THEIR AGREEMENT, AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN URBAN COMBAT WHERE HIGH-TECH WEAPONS ARE OF LITTLE USE. NATO WANTS THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY TO REIN-IN ROGUE ELEMENTS, BUT HAS FEW LEVERS TO PROMPT THE SERBS INTO ACTION. NATO RESORTED TO A WIDESPREAD BOMBING CAMPAIGN TO FORCE THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB HEAVY GUNS FROM AROUND THE CITY LAST SEPTEMBER, BUT SUCH A MOVE NOW WOULD SURELY WRECK THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. UNDER THE DAYTON PLAN, NATO CAN MOVE INTO THE SERB DISTRICTS IN FORCE STARTING IN 10 DAYS, AND THE BOSNIAN ARMY CAN TAKE CONTROL IN MID-MARCH. DURING THAT TIME, NATO TROOPS MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIMIT SUCH ATTACKS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKELY SARAJEVO WILL HAVE TO ENDURE A LAST STRETCH OF VIOLENCE UNTIL THE SERBS ARE GONE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/SKH
09-Jan-96 5:42 PM EST (2242 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] TURKEY POLITICS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA )

INTRO: ISLAMISTS WERE GIVEN THEIR FIRST CHANCE EVER TO LEAD TURKEY TUESDAY AFTER TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL ASKED NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, LEADER OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE PARTY, OR REFAH, TO FORM THE NEW GOVERNMENT. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE MOVE ENDED WEEKS OF SPECULATION OVER WHETHER THE ISLAMISTS, WHO PERFORMED SUPRISINGLY WELL IN LAST MONTH'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSUME AN OFFICIAL ROLE IN THE FACE OF WHAT ANALYSTS DESCRIBE AS STIFF OPPOSITION FROM PRO-SECULAR CIRCLES AND PARTICULARLY FROM THE TURKISH MILITARY.

MR. ERBAKAN TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS, IN HIS WORDS, 100 PERCENT SURE OF FORGING A VIABLE COALITION GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE COMING WEEKS. HOWEVER, WITH ONLY 158 SEATS IN THE 550-MEMBER PARLIAMENT, MR. ERBAKAN WILL NEED TO TEAM UP WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER POLITICAL PARTY IF HE IS TO MUSTER A MAJORITY.

POLITICAL OBSERVERS HERE APPEAR NOT TO SHARE MR. ERBAKAN'S OPTIMISM SAYING THE REFAH LEADER WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND PARTNERS.

OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER, TANSU CILLER, AND MESUT YILMAZ, LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE MOTHERLAND PARTY, OR ANAP, WHO CAME SECOND AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY IN THE POLLS HAVE BOTH RULED OUT WORKING TOGETHER WIH MR. ERBAKAN. THEY HAVE, INSTEAD, EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ESTABLISH A CENTRE-RIGHT ALLIANCE.

BUT THEIR EFFORTS TO FORM A PROPOSED COALITION HAVE FALTERED OVER MRS CILLER'S ALLEGED INSISTENCE THAT SHE LEAD THE GOVERNMENT. FEARS AMONG PRO-SECULARISTS HERE ARE THAT MR YILMAZ MAY BREAK RANKS AND DEFECT TO MR. ERBAKAN'S CAMP. ANALYSTS SAY, HOWEVER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF TURKS OPPOSED TO REFAH -- SOME 80 PERCENT OF VOTERS BACKED PARTIES WHICH OPENLY CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THE ISLAMISTS -- MR. YILMAZ CAN ONLY TEAM UP WITH REFAH AT THE RISK OF ENDING HIS OWN POLITICAL CAREER. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/CF
09-Jan-96 1:45 PM EST (1845 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America