Voice of America, 2 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE TERRORIST BOMBING IN SRI LANKA IS JUST ONE OF A HOST OF INTERNATIONAL TOPICS DEALT WITH IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF FRIDAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS. ALSO UNDER DISCUSSION ARE: CORRUPTION PROBES IN INDIA AND COLOMBIA; THE CYCLE OF VENGEANCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA; THE ISRAELI-SYRIA PEACE TALKS, AND HERE IN THE U-S, THE STEVE FORBES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S CUT IN THE PRIME INTEREST RATE. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE DEVASTATING EXPLOSION AT THE FRONT GATE OF THE CENTRAL BANK IN SRI LANKA'S CAPITOL, COLOMBO, THURSDAY BROUGHT BACK FOR MANY AMERICANS SCENES FROM THE TERRORIST BOMBING IN OKLAHOMA CITY THAT DESTROYED A FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING LAST APRIL. IN SEVERAL EDITORIALS, THERE IS COMPASSION FOR THE VICTIMS, BUT A RESOLVE AGAINST TERRORISTS, AS "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE PUTS IT:

VOICE: "FOR TERRORISM TO SUCCEED POLITICALLY, ALL PEACEFUL OPTIONS HAVE TO BE FORECLOSED AND ITS OBJECTIVES HAVE TO BE ACHIEVABLE. THE SUICIDE TRUCK BOMBING OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA .... KILLING AT LEAST 73 AND WOUNDING 14-HUNDRED AND CRIPPLING THE POOR LITTLE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY, IS LIKELY TO FAIL, HAVING MET NEITHER OF THESE TESTS. [OPT] ... SRI LANKA ... HAS NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO GO ON TRYING TO CRUSH THE INSURRECTION, TO END DISCRIMINATION AND TO GRANT REGIONAL AUTONOMY, WHICH OUGHT TO SATISFY REASONABLE TAMIL ASPIRATIONS..."

TEXT: WHILE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ADDS:

VOICE: "EVEN BY THE COARSENED STANDARDS OF OUR AGE, WEDNESDAY'S TERROR BOMBING IN SRI LANKA EVOKES A PECULIAR HORROR... IT IS HARD FOR ANY CIVILIZED SOCIETY TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST SUCH AN ASSAULT CARRIED OUT BY A SUICIDE BOMBER. BUT IT IS HARDER STILL TO UNDERSTAND HOW A POLITICAL MOVEMENT CLAIMING TO SPEAK FOR LOFTY IDEALS COULD SANCTION SUCH A BLOODLETTING."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE ISSUE OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" HAS PRAISE FOR INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER, NARASIMHA RAO, AND HIS HANDLING OF A HUGE CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION NOW TAKING PLACE THERE.

VOICE: ".... THANKS TO (MR. RAO), WHEN THE CURRENT THRASHING STOPS, INDIA COULD EMERGE MORE FIT THAN EVER TO FACE GLOBAL COMPETITION AND THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING HOPE OF PROSPERITY FOR EVER LARGE NUMBERS OF ITS CITIZENS... INDIA CAN COUNT ITSELF LUCKY INDEED."

TEXT: ANOTHER POLITICAL CORRUPTION SCANDAL, THIS ONE IN COLOMBIA, THREATENS TO UNSEAT PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER, WHO IS ACCUSED OF TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM DRUG DEALERS TO FINANCE HIS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" OFFERS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: "ERNESTO SAMPER SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE NATIONAL GOOD AND STEP ASIDE UNTIL HIS POLITICAL FATE IS DECIDED... THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT A FRACTURING OF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE AN INFORMAL ARRANGEMENT AMONG COLOMBIA'S MAIN POLITICAL FORCES TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE A SOLOMONIC AGREEMENT ON SUCCESSION ONCE [PRESIDENT] SAMPER HAS STEPPED ASIDE TO LET A COMMISSION DECIDE HIS FATE... IF HE STAYS, [IN OFFICE] HE IN ALL PROBABILITY WILL BE PRESIDING OVER AN UNGOVERNABLE NATION THAT IS SPLIT INTO IRRECONCILABLE PARTS."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE PEACEKEEPING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD" SAYS ONE OF THE CRITICAL TASKS IS TO "BREAK THE VENGEANCE CYCLE" AMONG THE CROATIANS, SERBS AND MUSLIMS, BUT TO DO SO, THE WAR CRIMES PROCESS MUST GO FORWARD.

VOICE: "THE GENOCIDAL 'ETHNIC CLEANSING' OF BOSNIA WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF CIVILIZATION'S DARKEST HOURS. IF THOSE RESPONSIBLE ARE NEVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SAVAGERY, [OPT] EXECUTIONS, RAPES, TORTURES, AND PILLAGE, THEN [END OPT] SUCH ACTS BECOME ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF WAR TO BE REPEATED WITH IMPUNITY... IT REMAINS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SIGNATORIES TO ARREST THOSE INDICTED [FOR WAR CRIMES]. SO FAR, 52 PEOPLE - - [OPT] 45 SERBS AND SEVEN CROATS - - [END OPT] HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. ONLY ONE IS IN CUSTODY.... BELGRADE HAS STONEWALLED [REFUSED TO COOPERATE] ALL INVESTIGATIONS, APPARENTLY BELIEVING THAT BY ... IMPEDING SCRUTINY, IT CAN PREVENT TRIALS UNTIL THE WORLD LOSES INTEREST... THE WORLD MUST NOT LOSE INTEREST."

TEXT: REGARDING ANOTHER WORLD TROUBLE SPOT, THE ISRAELI-SYRIAN BORDER, AND PEACE TALKS NOW UNDERWAY BETWEEN THOSE NATIONS, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "... THE PATH TO PEACE IS STREWN WITH THE OBSTACLES OF HARSH PRACTICALITIES: FINDING AGREEMENT ON SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, ON THE TIMING OF ISRAEL'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GOLAN [HEIGHTS], ON THE NATURE OF FUTURE POLITICAL, TRADE AND OTHER 'NORMAL' RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. [ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON] PERES WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THESE OBSTACLES OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE ISRAELIS NEXT VOTE. IF THEY AREN'T, IT COULD BE A LONG TIME BEFORE ANY AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE IS AGAIN READY TO SHUTTLE BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND DAMASCUS."

TEXT: IN DOMESTIC ISSUES, WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY, SENATOR BOB DOLE APPEARS TO BE LOSING IN POPULARITY TO THE BENEFIT OF MILLIONAIRE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER STEVE FORBES. AND TODAY'S "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" IS NOT SURE THAT IS A GOOD THING:

VOICE: "STEVE FORBES HAS SOARED IN THE POLLS THANKS TO A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR AD CAMPAIGN THAT SLAMS BOB DOLE AND OTHER CANDIDATES, AND PITCHES THE FLOAT TAX. IRONICALLY, THE WEALTHY PUBLISHER IS BENEFITING FROM THE PUBLIC'S MISTRUST OF POLITICS-AS-USUAL, EVEN AS HE EXPLOITS TWO OF THE MOST TROUBLESOME ELEMENTS OF TODAY'S POLITICS: NEGATIVE ADS AND MEGABUCKS [UNLIMITED WEALTH/AND OR/ SPENDING] ... THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT STEVE FORBES, THE CURRENT FLAVOR OF THE MONTH [COMPARISON TO A POPULAR ICE CREAM'S PRESENTING A NEW FLAVOR EACH MONTH], WILL FADE AS RIVALS ATTACK EVERYTHING FROM HIS FLAT TAX TO HIS STEWARDSHIP OF RADIO FREE EUROPE IN THE 1980S. AND .... VOTERS ALSO MAY THINK TWICE [THAT IS:RECONSIDER] ABOUT ELEVATING A CHAP FROM RUNNING THE FAMILY BUSINESS TO RUNNING THE WORLD'S ONLY SUPERPOWER."

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" TAKES A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE QUARTER PERCENT CUT IN THE NATION'S PRIME INTEREST RATE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD [THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK]. IT SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "THE FED [FEDERAL RESERVE] IS NOW THE ONLY ARM OF GOVERNMENT ENGAGED IN THE BROADER MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT, WHO USED TO HAVE A ROLE IN THAT, NO LONGER DO. THE BUDGET DEFICIT, WHICH IN ITS WAY IS A MEASURE OF THEIR CONTINUING INEFFECTUALITY, HAS TAKEN THEM OUT OF PLAY.... AND THEY WONDER WHY GOOD PEOPLE ARE LEAVING CONGRESS. "

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: AND LASTLY, TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE," SUGGESTS THAT FORMER BOSTON MAYOR RAY FLYNN, FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN, SHOULD RESIGN.

VOICE: "RAY FLYNN'S TENURE AS AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN WAS NEVER A PERFECT FIT. EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK UP HIS POST HE ACTED FOOLISHLY, IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT. NOW, WITH [MAYORAL CAMPAIGN FUNDING] SCANDAL LAPPING ABOUT HIS SHOES, [MR.] FLYNN SHOULD RESIGN GRACEFULLY, BEFORE HE BECOMES A FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT TO HIS COUNTRY, HIS PRESIDENT AND HIMSELF."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIAL TOPICS FROM AROUND THE NATION ON THIS FIRST FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY.

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02-Feb-96 11:33 AM EST (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA'S MEDIA WAR BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA HAVE GONE WELL AND FOCUS HAS NOW SHIFTED TO SPEEDING UP THE VITAL CIVILIAN PROVISIONS. ALTHOUGH THE ACCORD MADE NO MENTION OF AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA, OBSERVERS SAY WITHOUT ONE, DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. YET IN THE TWO MONTHS SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE HISTORIC ACCORD, THERE ARE DISTURBING SIGNS THAT THE MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SINGLE-PARTY

TEXT: BOSNIA HAS ONE NOTABLE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER WHICH HAS PUBLISHED CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE WAR, DESPITE CONSTANT SHELLING AND THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ITS SARAJEVO HEADQUARTERS. MANY OF THE TOP EDITORS AND REPORTERS OF THE DAILY 'OSLOBODJEJNE' -- WHICH MEANS 'LIBERATION' -- WERE WOUNDED AND MANY OTHERS HAVE SINCE FLED THE COUNTRY. BUT MARVIN STONE, FORMERLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FUND AND NOW WITH THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, SAYS HIS OWN SURVEY INDICATES THAT OSLOBODJEJNE REMAINS A BEACON OF INDEPENDENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN A SEA OF OVERNIGHT TABLOIDS AND RADIO STATIONS:

TAPE: CUT # 1 STONE RUNS [:44] "A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS FLED DURING THE WAR AND YOU FIND 16 AND 17- YEAR-OLD YOUNGSTERS REPORTING AND EDITING, POSING AS PROFESSIONALS. YOU'VE GOT A BARTER SOCIETY WHERE VERY FEW ADVERTISERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY IN MONEY SO THEY PAY IN PEAS AND ONIONS AND POTATOES, CHICKENS, WHATEVER. YOU FIND A PLETHORA OF NEWSPAPERS. BOSNIA HAS 130 MAGAZINES, 32 LOCAL RADIO STATIONS AND 16 T-V STATIONS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF NEWSPAPERS -- ONLY TWO MAKING ANY PROFIT."

TEXT: ANOTHER STUDY BY AN ATTORNEY WITH THE SARAJEVO-BASED (AND SOROS FOUNDATION FINANCED) 'MEDIA PLAN' SAYS THERE ARE 45 DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES IN SARAJEVO ALONE. BUT, ZORAN UDOVICIC [OO-DOH-VIH-CHICH] SAYS WHILE MOST OF THEM DO NOT NOW CATER EXCLUSIVELY TO ONE PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP, THIS COULD QUICKLY CHANGE IF INDEPENDENT MEDIA PROJECTS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED. SPEAKING FROM SARAJEVO THROUGH HIS ASSISTANT SILVA VUJOVIC [VOO-YOH-VITCH], MR. UDOVICIC SAID MEDIA PLAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT A REPORT THAT PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC HAS REFUSED TO GRANT A LICENSE TO BOSNIA'S FIRST INDEPENDENT TELEVISION STATION, STUDIO 99:

TAPE: CUT # 2 VUJOVIC RUNS [:45] "THE TWO STRONGEST PARTIES HERE ARE IZETBEGOVIC'S PARTY AND THE CROAT PARTY FROM HERZEG-BOSNA. THEY DO NOT WISH TO GIVE ANY CHANCES TO AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA. HERE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, THERE ARE THREE NETWORK FREQUENCIES FOR RADIO AND TELEVISION, TWO OF THEM ARE FOR THE STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION BUT THE THIRD ONE IS NOBODY'S AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE THAT THIRD NETWORK TO INDEPENDENT MEDIA."

TEXT: AGAIN, QUOTING ZORAN UDOVICIC, MS. VUJOVIC SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE GOVERNMENT DENIED THE LICENSE BECAUSE NEITHER THE MUSLIM PARTY OF PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC (SDA) NOR THE ETHNIC CROAT PARTY (HDZ) WANT COMPETITION IN THE UPCOMING FEDERATION ELECTIONS. IN EFFECT, MS. VUJOVIC EXPLAINS THAT IN BOSNIA AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS EQUATED WITH AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY WHICH WOULD THREATEN THE NATIONALIST PARTIES' INFLUENCE AND VERY EXISTENCE:

TAPE: [OPT] CUT # 3 VUJOVIC RUNS [:30] "IF THEY STAY AS THEY ARE, EACH MEDIA IN ITS OWN AREA, THEY WILL NOT HAVE ANY INFLUENCE. IT WILL MEAN PROBLEMS FOR INDEPENDENCE AND DEMOCRACY AND PLURALISM AND EVERYTHING. IF THEY ELECT AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA TO SPEAK, (OR PRINT) WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK, THEIR INFLUENCE WILL NOT EXIST ANYMORE, THEY WILL NOT EXIST ANYMORE." [END OPT]

TEXT: ANOTHER MEDIA EXPERT, MARK THOMPSON, OF THE LONDON-BASED ARTICLE 19 ORGANIZATION, SAYS IT WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAS CRACKED DOWN ON THE INDEPENDENT STUDIO 99:

TAPE: CUT # 4 THOMPSON RUNS [:45] "THERE IS A RECORD OF ANTAGONISM BETWEEN STUDIO 99 AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. IN SEPTEMBER, THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON STUDIO 99 IN WHICH GREAT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE EQUIPMENT THERE AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WAS NOT A SATISFACTORY INVESTIGATION OF THIS CRIME, AND CERTAINLY THE STAFF BELIEVED IT WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND LINKED TO THE VERY STRONG CRITICISM (OF THE GOVERNMENT) WHICH THE STATION HAD BEEN EXPRESSING."

TEXT: MR. THOMPSON SAYS THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR THE MEDIA, AND FOR BOSNIA'S FUTURE, AND THAT THE PENDULUM COULD SWING EITHER WAY:

TAPE: CUT # 5 THOMPSON RUNS [:43] "WE MUST EXPECT NOW FOR THE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE MEDIA BY ALL PARTIES IN THIS WAR TO BECOME HARSHER AND NOT MORE LIBERAL FOLLOWING THE DAYTON SETTLEMENT. SINCE DAYTON, WE'VE SEEN ALREADY THE SIGNS OF A TIGHTENING OF CONTROL ON THE KEY MEDIA AND REGIME PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA. ALL OF THE REGIMES IN DIFFERENT DEGREES ARE WIDE OPEN TO CRITICISM OF THEIR RECORD ON DEMOCRATIC ISSUES AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CRITICIZED; LEAST OF ALL IN THE PERIOD IN THE RUN-UP TO ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA."

TEXT: MARVIN STONE AGREES THAT THE TEST FOR DEMOCRATIZATION WILL BE WHETHER BOSNIA HAS ONLY PARTY-CONTROLLED RADIO AND TELEVISION OR WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA THE RELATIVE FREEDOM WHICH HAS SO FAR BEEN TOLERATED IN THE PRINT MEDIA:

TAPE: CUT # 6 STONE RUNS [:25] "DURING THE WAR THEY WERE PATRIOTIC. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW? WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL DEPENDS ON THE PROFESSIONALISM AND REALLY THE BACKBONE OF THE STAFF. I DON'T THINK THEY CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THE GOVERNMENT ON SUDDENLY. WHETHER THEY (THE MEDIA) ARE GOING TO BECOME A MUSLIM INSTRUMENT, I WOULD SAY 'NO'. THEY NEVER HAVE BEEN AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THEIR INCLINATION."

TEXT: MR. STONE SAYS HE PREFERS TO LOOK AT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS: WHILE THE LEADING PARTIES IN BOSNIA BELONG TO SPECIFIC ETHNIC GROUPS, HE POINTS OUT, THE LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA DO NOT. (SIGNED)

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02-Feb-96 3:46 PM EST (2046 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO COMMANDERS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ALL SIDES WILL COMPLY WITH A SATURDAY NIGHT DEADLINE TO WITHDRAW THEIR MILITARY FORCES FROM AREAS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PARTIES. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS THE SITUATION AROUND SARAJEVO IS STILL CONFUSED AS SERB AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO CALL FOR CHANGES TO THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT, THOUSANDS OF SQUARE KILOMETERS OF TERRITORY IN BOSNIA MUST BE GIVEN UP BY THE FORMERLY WARRING SIDES, A PROCESS THAT WILL BEGIN AFTER MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY. THE BOSNIAN SERBS WILL GAIN TERRITORY IN CENTRAL BOSNIA, BUT MUST GIVE THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT A LAND CORRIDOR TO THE EASTERN ENCLAVE OF GORAZDE, AND TURN OVER THE SERB-HELD SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO.

BY THE SATURDAY MIDNIGHT DEADLINE, ALL BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY FORCES MUST WITHDRAW FROM AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, A PROCESS NATO SAYS IS WELL UNDERWAY. UNDER THE ACCORD THE BOSNIAN ARMY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE AREAS UNTIL MID-MARCH. BUT LOCAL SERBS FEAR THEY WILL NOT BE SAFE UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL, AND MOST SERBS ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE THE CITY.

IN AN EFFORT TO REASSURE THE SERBS, THE COMMANDER OF GROUND FORCES IN BOSNIA, BRITISH GENERAL MICHAEL WALKER, ON FRIDAY WALKED THROUGH GRBAVICA, THE SERB-HELD AREA NEAR THE CENTER OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. HE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO CALM THE FEARS OF LOCAL SERBS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SAFE UNDER BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL, BUT HE ADMITTED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

THE CULTIVATION OF THE FLOWER OF PEACE IS GOING TO BE A SLOWISH PROCESS. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND WHAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FEARFUL OF WHAT THEIR FUTURE MAY BE, BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT THIS THING IS GOING TO TAKE ROOT, AND IS GOING TO SETTLE ON AREAS SUCH AS GRBAVICA.

BUT BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS WERE STILL INSISTING ON CHANGES TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT. THE MAYOR OF SERB SARAJEVO, MILORAD KATIC, SAID HE HOPED SOMETHING COULD BE WORKED OUT.

THE SERB POPULATION STILL WANTS TO LEAVE, HE SAID, BUT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP BELIEVES THE POPULATION SHOULD STAY HERE AND RETAIN THE SERB AUTHORITIES AND THE POLICE HERE. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT, HE SAID, AND WE ARE HOPING THERE WILL BE A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

BUT AMBASSADOR MICHEAL STEINER, THE NUMBER TWO MAN IN CHARGE OF THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT WAS ALSO IN GRBAVICA. AND HE WAS NOT HOPEFUL ABOUT ANY SOLUTION THAT WOULD SATISFY THE CURRENT SERB DEMANDS.

WHAT IS NOT POSSIBLE IS THAT WE CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTALS, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL IS THIS WILL BE PART OF THE FEDERATION, AND THIS WILL BE ONE CITY. THIS WE CANNOT CHANGE.

HE SAYS THE SERBS MUST USE THE NEXT SIX WEEKS TO TRANSITION TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT RULE, OR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT POLICE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE OVER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SOME SERBS UNDOUBTEDLY WANT TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AROUND SARAJEVO. BUT THERE ARE FEARS RADICAL SERBS WILL EVENTUALLY FORCE EVERYONE TO LEAVE BY THREATS AND PERHAPS VIOLENCE. WITH TENSIONS IN SARAJEVO STILL VERY HIGH, IT IS NOT AT ALL CLEAR IF THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF AUTHORITY AROUND THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

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02-Feb-96 3:04 PM EST (2004 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA SITREP (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SAYS IT HAS KILLED ONE SNIPER AND CAPTURED ANOTHER, AND BOTH WERE CARRYING BOSNIAN SERB ARMY IDENTIFICATION. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS NATO TOOK ACTION AGAINST THE SNIPERS FOLLOWING ATTACKS ON NATO SOLDIERS.

TEXT: THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA ACTED QUICKLY TO STOP A SERIES OF SHOOTING ATTACKS ON ITS SOLDIERS IN THE SERB-HELD SARAJEVO SUBURB OF ILIDZA.

WHEN A SNIPER WAS SEEN ABOUT TO FIRE HIS WEAPON, A FRENCH SOLDIER SHOT HIM. THE MAN DIED LATER. NATO FORCES DISARMED ANOTHER SNIPER AND TURNED HIM OVER TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

BOTH SNIPERS CARRIED BOSNIAN SERB ARMY IDENTIFICATION CARDS. BOTH WERE IN AN AREA WHERE NEITHER SERB NOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS ARE ALLOWED.

THE COMMANDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE, U-S ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH, WARNED EARLIER THAT HIS TROOPS WILL SHOOT SNIPERS WITHOUT WARNING. MEANWHILE, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER WILL MAKE HIS FIRST VISIT TO BOSNIA THIS WEEKEND AFTER TALKS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN IN ZAGREB.

ON SATURDAY, MR. CHRISTOPHER IS DUE TO FLY TO SARAJEVO AND TO TUZLA AIRBASE IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA WHERE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED.

MR. CHRISTOPHER PLANS TO STOP IN BELGRADE ON SUNDAY FOR TALKS WITH THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

WHILE IN ZAGREB, SARAJEVO AND BELGRADE, THE U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WILL DISCUSS PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT, THE FATE OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS, AND OTHER ISSUES. (SIGNED)

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02-Feb-96 10:15 AM EST (1515 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] CHRISTOPHER-BALKANS SCENESETTER (L-UPDATE) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE )

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER LEAVES WASHINGTON LATER THIS MORNING (8:00AM) FOR ZAGREB, THE FIRST STOP ON HIS TOUR OF THE BALKANS. VOA'S RON PEMSTEIN WILL BE TRAVELING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND REPORTS HE WILL EMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CIVILIAN PORTIONS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER'S MISSION IS DESIGNED TO GET THE CROATIAN, BOSNIAN AND SERBIAN GOVERNMENTS TO CONFORM TO THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED THAT ALL SIDES HOLD 100 PRISONERS OF WAR PAST THE JANUARY 19TH DEADLINE, THAT 200 TO 400 FOREIGN FORCES HAVE STILL NOT LEFT BOSNIA BY THAT DEADLINE AND THAT NO SIDE HAS TURNED OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO HE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE THREE GOVERNMENTS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT THEY PLAN TO HONOR.

ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT. ALL OF THE AGREEMENT. YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE PARTS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT AND DISREGARD THE REST. YOU'VE GOT TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF IT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL DISCUSS WITH PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN CROATIA'S FAILURE TO TURN OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS AND THE FUTURE HANDLING OF THE AGREEMENT ABOUT EASTERN SLAVONIA ON CROATIA'S BORDER WITH SERBIA. CROATIA IS AGAIN THREATENING TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION TO CAPTURE THE AREA UNLESS LOCAL SERBS START TO RECOGNIZE CROATIAN AUTHORITY THERE. THE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY MR. CHRISTOPHER CALLS FOR A ONE YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD WITH A SECOND YEAR IF NECESSARY.

MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL VISIT AMERICAN TROOPS IN TUZLA ON SATURDAY BUT MUCH OF HIS DAY WILL BE SPENT IN MEETINGS WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IN SARAJEVO. HE IS LIKELY TO REPEAT WARNINGS THAT UNLESS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CARRIES OUT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, THE UNITED STATES MAY FAIL TO EQUIP AND TRAIN BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES AND WITHHOLD ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION AID.

MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES WILL BE RAISED WITH PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE ON SUNDAY. MR. BURNS SAYS PARTICULAR ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY SERBIA'S LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE NO MEETINGS PLANNED WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

FOLLOWING THE TRIP TO THE BALKANS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MOVES ON TO JERUSALEM AND DAMASCUS FOR HIS 17TH MIDDLE EAST PEACE MISSION. HE ENDS HIS TRIP IN HELSINKI ON FEBRUARY 9TH AND 10TH FOR MR. CHRISTOPHER'S FIRST MEETING WITH THE NEW RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV. (SIGNED)

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01-Feb-96 11:40 PM EST (0440 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] PERRY/BOSNIA (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY SAYS HE EXPECTS NO RESISTANCE BY THE BOSNIAN PARTIES TO THE TERRITORIAL TRANSFERS THAT BEGIN SUNDAY UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. BUT HE SAYS NATO PEACEKEEPERS ARE PREPARED TO FORCE COMPLIANCE IF NECESSARY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS ENSURING THAT THE LAND SWAPS GO PEACEFULLY IS POTENTIALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE NATO PEACEKEEPERS WILL FACE IN BOSNIA.

HE SAYS HAS A GOOD DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THE PARTIES WILL COOPERATE, AS THEY DID LAST MONTH IN SETTING UP THE ZONES OF SEPARATION. BUT HE SAYS NATO IS READY TO USE FORCE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE IF ANYONE RESISTS.

IN COMMENTS TO REPORTERS ACCOMPANYING HIM TO EUROPE -- ALSO MADE AVAILABLE HERE -- THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID NATO WILL RECONSIDER THE SIZE OF ITS BOSNIAN TROOP PRESENCE IN APRIL, IF THE PEACE REMAINS INTACT.

HE SAID THE FORCE -- DUE TO REACH FULL STRENGTH IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS -- WAS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO BE LARGER THAN NEEDED TO MEET WORST-CASE SCENARIOS.

HE SAYS THAT WHEN THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE COMPLETES ITS PRIMARY MILITARY TASKS IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, IT MAY TAKE ON OTHER "SUPPORT" FUNCTIONS -- INCLUDING PROVIDING WHAT HE CALLED "MORE ROBUST" PATROL AND SECURITY HELP TO THE TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATING BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/GPT
02-Feb-96 12:09 PM EST (1709 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America