Voice of America, 10 January 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: AS THE EASTERN SEABOARD CONTINUES TO DIG OUT FROM A RECORD SNOWFALL, AND WORRIES ABOUT THE APPROACH OF A NEW SNOWSTORM, READERS WHO ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR DAILY NEWSPAPER ARE BEING TREATED TO A WIDE VARIETY OF EDITORIAL TOPICS. SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON THE NEW ACCUSATIONS ABOUT FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON; OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE STALLED FEDERAL BUDGET TALKS; ADDITIONAL CRITICISM OF ENERGY SECRETARY O'LEARY AND HER EXPENSIVE TRAVEL; MORE THOUGHTS ON WHAT IS BEING CALLED "THE BLIZZARD OF '96", AND THE TROUBLES IN SEEDING DEMOCRACY IN HAITI. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: SEVERAL MORE PAPERS ARE ON THE ATTACK AGAINST HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IN THEIR EDITORIAL COLUMNS, AFTER NEWLY-RELEASED WHITE HOUSE DOCUMENTS INDICATE THE FIRST LADY PLAYED A LARGER PART IN TWO CONTROVERSIAL MATTERS THAN AT FIRST BELIEVED. ONE WAS REPRESENTING A NOW DEFUNCT SAVINGS AND LOAN THAT PLAYED A LARGE PART IN THE WHITEWATER LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME WHEN MRS. CLINTON WORKED FOR A LITTLE ROCK LAW FIRM, AND THE OTHER CONCERNS THE FIRING OF THE VETERAN WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE STAFF, IN WHICH SHE IS NOW ALLEGED TO HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE. SAYS "USA TODAY:"

VOICE: "QUESTIONS ABOUT MRS. CLINTON'S TRUTHFULNESS AROSE WITH THE RELEASE LAST WEEK BY THE WHITE HOUSE OF DOCUMENTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN INVESTIGATORS' HANDS LONG AGO... REPUBLICANS SAY SHE'S INCONSISTENT AND DEMAND ANSWERS. NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST WILLIAM SAFIRE WENT FURTHER, CALLING HER 'A CONGENITAL LIAR.' ... THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME MRS. CLINTON HAS RUN INTO SUCH A PROBLEM... RATHER THAN POINTING FINGERS AT THE INVESTIGATORS, THE CLINTONS NEED TO OFFER SOME APOLOGIES, PLUS THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WENT ON WITH MADISON, WHITEWATER AND THE TRAVEL OFFICE. NOTHING LESS WILL DO."

TEXT: IN THE FAR NORTHWEST, "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND, OREGON, IS LESS CRITICAL, BUT SAYS THE FIRST LADY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FORTHCOMING:

VOICE: "BY VOLUNTEERING TO TESTIFY BEFORE [THE SENATE] COMMITTEE [INVESTIGATING WHITEWATER] AND BY RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO THE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT SEVERAL NEW DISCLOSURES HAVE RAISED, MRS. CLINTON CAN CLEAR THE AIR... [MR.] SAFIRE'S FORAY INTO NAME-CALLING WENT BEYOND CIVILITY, IN OUR VIEW, BUT THE FIRST LADY AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY EVASIVE IN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY WHITEWATER. IT'S TIME THEY CHANGED THAT."

TEXT: TURNING TO ANOTHER MAJOR DOMESTIC TOPIC, THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEBATE, TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS" COMMENTS:

VOICE: "BUDGET NEGOTIATORS EVIDENTLY ARE GROWING WEARY. BIG DEAL. [WE CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM] THE PUBLIC IS NOT BEING WELL SERVED BY A BUDGET IMPASSE. THE TWO SIDES (WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS] ARE TOO CLOSE TO NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT NOW. [OPT]..... THE TRUTH IS THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL AND WHITE HOUSE LEADERS WOULD NOT HAVE DRAGGED ON THE BARGAINING THIS LONG IF THEIR OWN PAY HAD BEEN FROZEN ALONG WITH THAT OF OTHER FEDERAL WORKERS. VOTERS OUGHT TO MAKE THAT HYPOCRISY AN ISSUE IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS. [END OPT] ... IT IS PRIMARILY UP TO MR. CLINTON TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE."

TEXT: IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, TODAY'S "DENVER POST" SAYS IT IS GROWING "WEARY OF O'LEARY" -- A REFERENCE TO ENERGY SECRETARY HAZEL O'LEARY AND HER CONTROVERSIAL TRAVELS DURING HER FIRST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. SAYS "THE DENVER POST":

VOICE: "ENERGY SECRETARY HAZEL O'LEARY INITIALLY MADE A GOOD IMPRESSION WITH COLORADANS, MAINLY BECAUSE SHE BROUGHT SOME BADLY NEEDED OPENNESS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S GIANT ROCKY FLATS [NUCLEAR] PLANT NEAR DENVER. BUT THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY OVER HER EXTRAVAGANT TRAVEL BUDGET HAS SEVERELY UNDERCUT HER EFFECTIVENESS... AT A TIME WHEN THE NATION IS STRUGGLING TO PAY ITS DEBTS AND MEET ITS MOST BASIC OBLIGATIONS, BOTH CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SHOULD BE VYING TO SET AN EXAMPLE OF TIGHT-FISTEDNESS [FRUGALITY]."

TEXT: AS THE NATION'S CAPITOL REELS UNDER THE TASK OF CLEARING AWAY MORE THAN 43 CENTIMETERS OF SNOW, WITH MORE IN THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, "THE WASHINGTON POST" TAKES SPACE IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL COLUMN TO DISCUSS COPING.

VOICE: "FROM THE EARLY FORMATIONS [OF LINES/QUES] IN THE SUPERMARKET AISLES LAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO THE GET-TO-WORK STRATEGIZING GOING ON EVEN AS YOU READ THIS, SNOW AND MORE SNOW HAS BEEN TOPIC A, B AND C, WITH APPENDICES: ... FOR MOST OF US, GETTING THERE HAS BEEN BOTH OUT OF THE QUESTION AND UNWISE; FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ENDURED A FLU, A FURLOUGH AND/OR A TOUCH OF CABIN FEVER [THE BOREDOM ASSOCIATED WITH BEING FORCED TO STAY IN ONE'S HOME FOR SEVERAL DAYS], YESTERDAY'S SNOWFALL (WHO SAID 'FLURRY'? THAT'S A 'FLURRY?' [ITALICS] WAS THE END. EXCEPT, OF COURSE, AS WE HAVE ALL BEEN LUGUBRIOUSLY WARNED, IT WASN'T. ... THERE MAY BE STILL ANOTHER CHALLENGE AT WEEK'S END, THE WEATHER FORECASTERS ARE WARNING."

TEXT: IN NEW YORK, WHICH WAS ALSO BURIED BY RECORD SNOWFALL, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" LAMENTED THOSE WHO DIED IN THE BLIZZARD:

VOICE: "AMONG THE CERTAIN ACCOMPANIMENTS TO A STORM LIKE THE BLIZZARD OF '96 IS DEATH. PEOPLE DIE OF HYPOTHERMIA ... IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, IN FALLS ON THE ICE. MANY SUFFER FATAL HEART ATTACKS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO BE GOOD CITIZENS BY SHOVELING THE SNOW OFF THEIR SIDEWALKS, THEIR FRONT STEPS OR THEIR CARS... CLEARLY, ANYONE WHO HAS ALREADY HAD A HEART ATTACK OR IS AWARE OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE ... SHOULD NOT BE UNBURYING A CAR. NEITHER SHOULD ANYONE FOR WHOM THIS IS THE FIRST PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MONTHS."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON A LAWSUIT BY A FORMER ARKANSAS STATE EMPLOYEE WHO CHARGES PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHILE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR, MADE UNWARRANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES TO HER AND EVEN EXPOSED PART OF HIS BODY [GENETALIA] THAT SHE HAS SAID SHE WILL IDENTIFY IN COURT. REGARDING HER SUIT, AND A TUESDAY RULING BY A FEDERAL COURT THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN BE TRIED IN COURT, TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THAT CHARGES THAT MR. CLINTON AND AIDES TRIED TO DEFAME MS. JONES CHARACTER IN ORDER TO DESTROY HER CREDIBILITY NEED TO BE HEARD.

VOICE: "IN THIS PARTICULAR WHITE HOUSE, OF COURSE, PERSONAL ASSAULT IS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. WHEN GENNIFER FLOWERS AND SALLY PERDUE SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GOVERNOR, [MR. CLINTON], THEY ARE CAST AS 'BIMBOS' [ATTRACTIVE WOMEN, WITH LITTLE INTELLIGENCE USED AS SEXUAL PLAYTHINGS BY SOME MEN] AND THREATENED... WHEN R-T-C [RESOLUTION TRUST CORPORATION] INVESTIGATOR JEAN LEWIS TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS, CLINTON SURROGATES TROT OUT [MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE MEDIA] PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE TO ATTACK HER AS AN UNSTABLE RIGHT-WINGER. ... AGAINST THIS, PAULA JONES WANTS HER DAY IN COURT, AND MORE POWER TO HER."

TEXT: TO WHICH "THE WASHINGTON POST" ADDS:

VOICE: "THIS REMINDER OF THE LAWSUIT -- AND WORSE, THE UNDERLYING FACTS ALLEGED -- IS BAD NEWS FOR THE PRESIDENT, FOR THOSE WORKING FOR THE SUCCESS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND FOR EVERYONE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIGNITY OF THE OFFICE. [HOWEVER] ... THE COURT WAS RIGHT TO CONCLUDE THAT, LIKE EVERY OTHER CITIZEN, HE [PRESIDENT CLINTON] IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW."

TEXT: TURNING TO OVERSEAS TOPICS, TODAY'S "HOUSTON CHRONICLE" SUGGESTS THAT "HAITI [IS] NOT JUSTIFYING [THE] U-S EXPENSE, EFFORT THERE" ADDING:

VOICE: "EVEN AS THE FINAL CONTINGENTS OF U-S FORCES BEGAN THEIR WITHDRAWAL LAST FRIDAY, STRONG DOUBTS WERE REINFORCED ABOUT THE POOR PROSPECT OF HAITI EVER ACHIEVING A TRULY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, ONE THAT IS GOVERNED BY THE RULE OF LAW. A HOUSE HEARING REVEALED THAT SEVERAL MURDERS AND POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF HAITIAN PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, WHOM THE UNITED STATES RESTORED TO POWER FOLLOWING A U-S-LED INVASION OF HAITI IN SEPTEMBER 1994... ALL THIS ADDS WEIGHT TO THE ARGUMENT THAT HAITI WILL RETURN TO ITS OLD WAYS ONCE U-S FORCES ARE GONE."

TEXT: AND AS REGARDING THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN-CONTROLLED SECTIONS OF THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, TODAY'S "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND COMMENTS:

VOICE: "WITH THE CRITICAL FIRST ELECTION FOR THE PALESTINIAN LEGISLATURE LOOMING JANUARY 20TH, LAST WEEK'S ASSASSINATION OF A NOTORIOUS TERROR STRATEGIST FOR HAMAS KNOWN AS 'THE ENGINEER' CARRIES UNSETTLING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT ... THE KILLING ... WAS THE WORK OF ISRAELI SECRET AGENTS. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK WILL BE ABLE TO PREVENT RADICALS' RAGE OVER THE KILLING FROM WRECKING THE VOTE... YASSER ARAFAT HAS RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER AND HAS STRESSED UNITY AMONG PALESTINIANS IN HIS LATEST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. HE MUST DO MORE."

TEXT: AND FINALLY ON THE SAME TOPIC, THIS EDITORIAL CONCLUSION FROM "THE NEW YORK POST."

VOICE: "[MR.] AYYASH, IN SHORT, WAS A KEY FIGURE IN THE PALESTINIAN EFFORT TO UNDERMINE THE ISRAELI/P-L-O ACCORDS. AS SUCH -- OSTENSIBLY, AT LEAST -- HE WAS AS MUCH AN ENEMY OF MR. ARAFAT AS OF ISRAEL."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE NATION'S NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COLUMNS.

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10-Jan-96 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA:BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER BY WAYNE COREY (ZUPANJA)

INTRO: THEY THOUGHT ABOUT CALLING IT A BRIDGE TOO FAR, OR A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, BUT AFTER TROUBLE SETTING IT UP, THE MORE THAN 300-METRE LONG U-S MILITARY BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE U-S TROOP DEPLOYMENT TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. AS V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM THE BRIDGE, THE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IS AN IMPRESSIVE OPERATION.

TEXT: IT COULD ALMOST BE A SETTING DREAMED UP BY HOLLYWOOD FILM MAKERS -- THE U-S ARMY ON THE MOVE, CAMOUFLAGE PAINTED MILITARY VEHICLES HEADING OFF IN CONVOYS, YOUNG SOLDIERS UNCERTAIN WHAT LIES AHEAD.

THE PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR MOST OF THE 20-THOUSAND U-S SOLDIERS GOING WITH A NATO-LED PEACE FORCE TO BOSNIA.

IN THE DULL GREY SKY OVERHEAD THREE U-S MILITARY HELICOPTERS FLY OVER THE SAVA RIVER TO BOSNIA. THE CREW MEMBERS DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEIR PASSPORTS CHECKED AT THE CROATIAN-BOSNIAN FRONTIER. THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BRIDGE IS BLOCKED BY AN AMERICAN ARMY VEHICLE. CIVILIANS MUST CROSS THE SAVA RIVER ON A FERRY BOAT A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY.

A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY A DIESEL GENERATOR POWERS MORE SOPHISTICATED MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INSIDE A CLOSED ARMY VAN.

AS MILITARY VEHICLES CROSS THE SAVA RIVER IT SEEMS THAT NEARLY ALL THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION ARE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER. IF THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT ANYTHING, A QUICK MOBILE PHONE CALL IS MADE.

MILITARY RESOURCES ARE POURING INTO THE AREA, WITH BETTER WEATHER POSSIBLY ENABLING THE ARMY TO SPEED UP THE DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT ARMY SPOKESMAN CAPTAIN TOM EVANS SAYS HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THE TIMETABLE FOR COMPLETING THE DEPLOYMENT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN A TIME TABLE FOR CONCLUSION OF THE DEPLOYMENT. I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY BUSY HERE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT TO GIVE A SPECIFIC TIME TABLE, I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE.

THE CAPTAIN SAYS HE KNOWS THE NEWLY ARRIVING U-S SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NO SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH ANY OF THE FORMER WARRING FORCES. SO FAR, HE SAYS EVERYONE IS COOPERATING AND THE ONLY PROBLEM GETTING FROM THE SAVA RIVER BORDER TO TUZLA, WHERE THE U-S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN BOSNIA IS LOCATED, IS THE ROAD IS SOMETIMES ICY. (SIGNED)

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10-Jan-96 12:49 PM EST (1749 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON / BOSNIA (L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: IN ADDITION TO VISITING BOSNIA, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TO STOP IN THREE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THIS WEEKEND. HIS ITINERARY IS NOT BEING RELEASED PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENCY, BILL CLINTON SHOWED HE COULD SET A TRAVEL PACE THAT WOULD MAKE EVEN THE MOST ENERGETIC REPORTERS PLEAD FOR A BREAK. A 1994 MIDDLE EAST SWING SERVED AS A DRAMATIC REMINDER HE HAD NO INTENTION OF SLOWING DOWN.

THIS UPCOMING TRIP -- TO BOSNIA, HUNGARY, CROATIA, AND ITALY -- WILL BE COMPRESSED INTO A VERY BRIEF TIME. THE PRESIDENT LEAVES NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, LATE FRIDAY FOR EUROPE AND RETURNS TO WASHINGTON LATE IN THE WEEKEND IN TIME TO TAKE A TRIP MONDAY TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR'S BIRTHDAY.

CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT WILL TRAVEL WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE AND MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI. A SMALL BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION OF UP TO TEN LAWMAKERS WILL GO, TOO.

CLINTON SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE TRIP IS TO BOOST THE MORALE OF U-S TROOPS TAKING PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA.

HE'S GOING PRINCIPALLY FIRST AND FOREMOST TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR U-S TROOPS PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE NOW HELPING THE PARTIES IMPLEMENT THEIR PEACE AGREEMENT. DIPLOMATICALLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE FOR THE PRESIDENT IS TO STRESS SUPPORT FOR THE DAYTON-PARIS ACCORDS -- TO SHOW THAT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR ROLE THAT WE ARE PLAYING WITHIN NATO TO HELP THOSE PARTIES IMPLEMENT THE PEACE, BUT ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES TO CONTINUE THEIR COMPLIANCE.

THAT COMPLIANCE HAS SO FAR BEEN SATISFACTORY, SAYS MR. MCCURRY, BUT THE PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE.

THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON-PARIS ACCORD SO FAR HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY AND WE WANT THAT PROGRESS TO CONTINUE. OBVIOUSLY THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IS CONSIDERABLY SUBSIDED IN BOSNIA BUT THERE REMAIN ISOLATED INCIDENTS THAT ARE SOME SOURCE OF CONCERN AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE LEADERS, ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES THEMSELVES TO FULLY COMPLY WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE ACCORD.

MANY DETAILS OF THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP ARE NOT BEING MADE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS. SPOKESMAN MCCURRY IS CONFIDENT THE PRESIDENT WILL BE WELL-PROTECTED.

BEFORE LEAVING WASHINGTON FOR NASHVILLE LATE THURSDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON HOLDS A WHITE HOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE. (SIGNED)

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10-Jan-96 4:33 PM EST (2133 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CROATIA FORCE PROPOSAL (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MAY BE READY TO VOTE AS EARLY AS FRIDAY ON A NEW FORCE FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA -- THE LAST REGION IN CROATIA STILL HELD BY REBEL SERBS. THE TERRITORY IS EXPECTED TO REVERT TO CROATIAN AUTHORITY WITHIN TWO YEARS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS WANTED NATO TO MAN THE NEW OPERATION IN CROATIA. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING A DRAFT RESOLUTION PUTTING UP TO FIVE-THOUSAND TROOPS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA UNDER U-N COMMAND. THE FORCE, HOWEVER, WILL HAVE A NATO LINK. IT WILL BE ABLE TO TURN TO THE WESTERN MILITARY ALLIANCE FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IF U-N TROOPS RUN INTO TROUBLE.

THE OPERATION WILL BE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF TRADITIONAL U-N PEACEKEEPING. U-N SOLDIERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE FORCE ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE. THEY WILL SUPERVISE THE VOLUNTARY DISARMAMENT OF REBEL SERB MILITIAS WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF THEIR DEPLOYMENT. THEY WILL ALSO ASSIST IN THE SAFE RETURN OF SERB REFUGEES WHO FLED THE AREA DURING A CROATIAN ARMY OFFENSIVE LAST YEAR.

THE FORCE WILL BE AUTHORIZED FOR ONE YEAR, WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR 12 MORE MONTHS. THE UNITED NATIONS IS TO ADMINISTER THE REGION FOR UP TO TWO YEARS -- UNTIL ZAGREB OFFICIALLY TAKES OVER.

A RETIRED AMERICAN GENERAL -- JACQUES KLEIN -- WILL BE THE SPECIAL U-N REPRESENTATIVE IN CROATIA. GENERAL KLEIN RECENTLY MET WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF CROATIA AND SERBIA AND REPORTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT BOTH LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.

A U-S SPOKESMAN SAYS HE EXPECTS NO MAJOR POLITICAL OR MILITARY PROBLEMS. THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL SERBS HAVE A PEACE AGREEMENT WHICH WAS FORGED ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE BOSNIAN TALKS IN DAYTON, OHIO LAST NOVEMBER.

THE U-N STILL HAS TO RAISE A FEW THOUSAND ADDITIONAL TROOPS FOR THE OPERATION. SOME 16-HUNDRED BELGIAN AND RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS CURRENTLY PATROL THE AREA AND ARE EXPECTED TO STAY. BESIDES BELGIUM, NO OTHER NATO COUNTRY IS SAID TO HAVE OFFERED TROOPS. (SIGNED)

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10-Jan-96 6:10 PM EST (2310 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CROATIA ECONOMY (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE )

INTRO: THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND GERMAN COMMERCIAL BANKERS SAY THAT IF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT HOLDS THE ECONOMY OF CROATIA COULD EXPAND RAPIDLY THIS YEAR. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THIS SECOND RICHEST REPUBLIC OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA DEVISED ITS OWN ECONOMIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN OCTOBER 1993.

TEXT: DEUTSCHE BANK RESEARCH IN FRANKFURT SAYS CROATIA WILL EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF FROM SIX TO EIGHT PERCENT THIS YEAR. THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS SLIGHTLY LESS OPTIMISTIC, PROJECTING SIX PERCENT GROWTH. ECONOMISTS SAY THE CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE PROJECTIONS IS A LASTING PEACE AND THE RESURGENCE OF THE ONCE VIBRANT CROATIAN TOURIST INDUSTRY CENTERED ON THE POPULAR ADRIATIC SEA RESORTS.

TOURISM IS THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR FOREIGN CURRENCY EARNER. BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAR TOURISM RECEIPTS IN 1995 WERE DOWN FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN PREDICTS THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS THIS YEAR WILL TRIPLE FROM THE DEPRESSED FIGURE OF 1995.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AS WELL AS DEUTSCHE BANK GIVES THE CROATIAN AUTHORITIES HIGH MARKS FOR SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCING THE NEW CURRENCY, THE KUNA, WHICH SINCE MAY 1994 HAS HELD STEADY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. INFLATION IN CROATIA IS THE LOWEST OF ANY MAJOR TRANSFORMING ECONOMY. PRICES ROSE LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT IN 1995.

BUT WHILE THE CROATIANS HAVE MADE IMPRESSIVE GAINS THEY LAG IN OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS. PRIVATIZATION HAS BEEN SLOW AND THE ECONOMY FAILED TO GROW IN 1995 AFTER A MODEST RISE IN 1994. LIVING STANDARDS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE AND THE AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGE IN CROATIA IS UNDER 350 DOLLARS.

THE DEUTSCHE BANK RESEARCHERS SAY IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT CROATIA REGAIN THE RICH TERRITORY OF EAST SLAVONIA, WHICH REBEL SERBS HAVE AGREED TO HAND OVER. EAST SLAVONIA, WITH ITS CENTER AT VUKOVAR, PROVIDES CROATIA WITH ACCESS TO THE VITAL DANUBE RIVER WATERWAY WHICH LINKS THE NORTH SEA WITH THE BLACK SEA. IT IS ALSO CLOSE TO THE IMPORTANT OIL PIPELINE THAT RUNS FROM THE ADRIATIC SEA NORTH TO HUNGARY AND THE REST OF CENTRAL EUROPE.

THE REPORT MENTIONS THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CROATIA RECOVERING ITS KRAJINA REGION FROM REBEL SERBS SINCE THE THE ADRIATIC TO ZAGREB RAILWAY PASSES THROUGH KRAJINA. (SIGNED)

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10-Jan-96 12:34 PM EST (1734 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America