Voice of America, 7 February 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY, AND CHIEF AMONG THEM IS THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN HAITI TO NEW PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE EXPULSION OF A SAUDI DISSIDENT FROM LONDON; A NEW TURN IN WORLD POLICY TOWARD IRAQ; ISRAELI ELECTIONS, AND CHANGES AT THE UNITED NATIONS. NOW HERE IS __________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: HAITI TODAY CELEBRATES THE FIRST PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN ALMOST 200 YEARS OF THAT TURBULENT CARIBBEAN NATION'S HISTORY SINCE INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE IN 1804. MANY FOREIGN DIGNITARIES WILL BE ON HAND FOR THE SWEARING-IN OF PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL, INCLUDING AMERICA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, MADELINE ALBRIGHT. TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD," ALWAYS A CARIBBEAN WATCHDOG, SAYS THE INAUGURATION OF AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT MAKES HAITI "A CLEAR FOREIGN-POLICY ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION," AND ADDS:

VOICE: "BUT THAT WON'T PREVENT HAITI-BASHERS FROM LASHING OUT AT MR. PREVAL. THE NEW PRESIDENT'S DETRACTORS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF HAVING BROTHERLY TIES WITH MR. ARISTIDE, AN EGREGIOUS SIN. THEY ALSO POINT OUT THAT HE IS OF HUMBLE ORIGINS -- AS IF THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHOM HE WILL GOVERN WEREN'T, TOO -- AND OF BEING 'SELF-EFFACING' AND 'INARTICULATE.' THE CRITICS DO CONVENIENTLY OVERLOOK, HOWEVER, THAT MR. PREVAL WAS CHOSEN BY 87-POINT-NINE PERCENT OF THE VOTERS WHO CAST BALLOTS IN HAITI... TO PRESERVE WHAT IT HAS ACHIEVED IN HAITI SO FAR, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL OUGHT TO GIVE THE NEW HAITIAN GOVERNMENT A DESERVED BIRTHDAY GIFT: A 'YES' VOTE TO MAINTAIN THE PEACEKEEPERS IN HAITI. THAT WOULD BE A FITTING CONTRIBUTION TO TODAY'S CELEBRATIONS."

TEXT: TO WHICH "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ADDS:

VOICE: "ONE OF THE VITAL SIGNS OF DEMOCRATIC STABILITY IS THE PEACEFUL AND VOLUNTARY TRANSFER OF POWER FROM ONE CONSTITUTIONALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT TO THE NEXT. HAITI IS PASSING THAT TEST FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY, IF NOT WITH FLYING COLORS [WITH GREAT / UNBLEMISHED SUCCESS] AT LEAST WITH SUFFICIENTLY HIGH MARKS."

TEXT: AND IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE TRANSFER OF POWER IN PORT AU PRINCE "A CARIBBEAN DAWN."

VOICE: "HAITI WILL FACE MANY CHALLENGES. BUT THE FIRST AND MOST DIFFICULT PART, INSTALLING DEMOCRACY, IS 'A FAIT ACCOMPLI' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS AND FOR A FOREIGN LANGUAGE] (AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT.)"

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" TODAY IS COMMENDING BRITAIN'S PLAN TO OUST A SAUDI ARABIAN DISSIDENT, MOHAMMAD AL-MASARI.

VOICE: "AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST, MASSARI ... HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR ANTI-AMERICAN TERRORISM IN SAUDI ARABIA... BRITAIN PLANS TO SEND [MR.] MASARI TO DOMINICA, A CARIBBEAN REPUBLIC. THERE, HE WILL BE FREE TO BASK IN THE SUN AND CONTINUE HIS ANTI-SAUDI NEWSLETTER... THIS DOESN'T WORRY US A BIT. CERTAINLY, IT NEEDN'T WORRY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION."

TEXT: CONCERNING ANOTHER MIDDLE EAST MATTER, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" SEES AS POSITIVE THE PLAN TO ALLOW IRAQ TO SELL SOME OF ITS OIL TO FEED ITS STARVING PEOPLE.

VOICE: "IF IT HAPPENS, IT WILL BE A BLESSING FOR HUGE NUMBERS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN AND OTHER IRAQIS WHOM PRESIDENT (SADDAM) HUSSEIN HAS CHOSEN TO STARVE AND MAKE SUFFER RATHER THAN ACCEPT THE UNITED NATIONS' TERMS FOR SELLING OIL TO PAY FOR THE AID."

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS PLEASED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPEEDY ELECTION IN ISRAEL, NOTING:

VOICE: "BEYOND ANY MOTIVE OF POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM, THERE IS A PROFOUND RIGHTNESS IN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES' REPORTED DECISION TO CALL EARLY ELECTIONS THREE MONTHS FROM NOW... AT THIS TURNING POINT IN ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE, A POLITICIAN'S CONDITIONED REFLEX, [MR.] PERES' EAGERNESS TO SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY BEFORE IT VANISHES, HAPPENS TO COINCIDE WITH A DEMOCRACY'S NEED FOR AN UNAMBIGUOUS EXPRESSION OF THE VOTERS' WILL."

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES", MEANWHILE, IS LOOKING AT SOME PENDING IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE UNITED NATIONS.

VOICE: "EVEN AMERICANS WHO ARDENTLY SUPPORT THE UNITED NATIONS WILL WELCOME TWO IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK AT THE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED [COMPROMISED] WORLD ORGANIZATION. SOME TEN PERCENT OF THE U-N'S PERMANENT STAFF OF TEN-THOUSAND IN NEW YORK IS TO BE LAID OFF BY 1998 ... EQUALLY WELCOME IS SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI'S REFRESHING PROPOSAL TO CUT WASHINGTON'S U-N CONTRIBUTION FROM 25 PERCENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S TWO-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLAR YEARLY BUDGET TO A MORE REASONABLE 15 OR 20 PERCENT. [OPT] IT HAS NOT BEEN WISE FOR THE U-N OR THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE A SINGLE MEMBER PAY A FOURTH OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET ....." [END OPT]

TEXT: "NEWSDAY", THE LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, DAILY, IS URGING THE UNITED STATES TO "HANG TOUGH" [REMAIN FIRM] IN ITS DEALING WITH CHINA OVER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS.

VOICE: "WITH CHINA MAKING INCREASINGLY BELLIGERENT MOVES TOWARD TAIWAN, THIS IS AN AWKWARD TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO CONTEMPLATE A TRADE WAR WITH BEIJING. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE'S THREATS OF STIFF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA FOR VIOLATING A KEY TRADE AGREEMENT ON COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ARE APPROPRIATE AND OVERDUE. [OPT] CHINA HAS BEEN TESTING BOTH U-S POLICY AND PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S BACKBONE. AT SOME POINT, [MR.] CLINTON MUST DRAW A LINE AND DEFEND IT..." [END OPT]

TEXT: CONCERNING CHINA'S LATEST THREATS TO TAIWAN, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS AIMING A SERIOUS MISCALCULATION IN ITS THREATS OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN. FIRST, BECAUSE SUCH THREATS ARE HARDLY THE WAY TO WOO THE TAIWANESE BACK INTO THE NATIONAL FOLD. SECOND, BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO STAND BY AND DO NOTHING IN A FRIEND'S TIME OF NEED."

TEXT: ON A DOMESTIC NOTE, KEY PLAYERS IN THE O-J SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL ARE BACK IN THE NEWS AS THE CIVIL, WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AGAINST THE FORMER CELEBRITY NEARS TRIAL. THE PROCEEDINGS PROMPTED THIS COMMENT BY MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD":

VOICE: "ONCE AGAIN O-J SIMPSON IS BACK IN THE HEADLINES MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE -- THIS TIME OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. [MR.] SIMPSON'S CONCERTED EFFORT TO HAVE HIS SAY IN NEWSPAPERS, ON TELEVISION AND RADIO IS NO WHIM OF THE MOMENT. [MR.] SIMPSON IS FIGHTING FOR HIS WALLET... THE DEAD WOMAN [NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON] CAN NO LONGER SPEAK FOR HERSELF. YET HER IMAGE, BATTERED AND BRUISED, HER WORDS, VERGING ON PANIC AS SHE CALLED 911 FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, EXIST IN THE PUBLIC MIND AND ARE REMEMBERED. THEY ARE THE MOST LASTING MEMORY OF A LONG AND BITTER TRIAL."

TEXT: AND ON THAT NOTE WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN THE NATION'S NEWSPAPER AT MIDWEEK. NEB/ANG/PCH 07-Feb-96 11:26 AM EST (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] ANCIENT GREECE IN CHINA (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (BEIJING)

INTRO: AN UNUSUAL DRAMATIC PRESENTATION TAKES PLACE IN BEIJING NEXT MONTH (MARCH 14-17). AN AMERICAN DRAMATIC ARTS COMPANY IS SPONSORING A PRODUCTION OF EURIPEDES CLASSIC TRAGEDY, "THE BACCHAE," TO BE PERFORMED IN MANDARIN AND ANCIENT GREEK. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT ON THE PROJECT FROM THE CHINESE CAPITAL.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK GREEK DRAMA COMPANY USUALLY STAGES ANCIENT GREEK THEATER IN A WAY THAT IS AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS AS POSSIBLE. NOW, THAT GOAL IS TO BE COMBINED WITH CHINESE DRAMATIC FORMS IN A NEW PRODUCTION OF EURIPEDES TRAGEDY -- THE BACCHAE -- WHICH IS ABOUT THE GREEK GOD DIONYSUS.

THE COMPANY'S FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR -- PETER STEADMAN -- SAYS THIS PRODUCTION HAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT SINCE 1992, USING A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES. HE SAYS, IN MANY WAYS, CHINESE THEATER TRADITIONS ARE CLOSER TO ANCIENT GREEK THEATER THAN IS WESTERN DRAMA.

MANY OF THE FORMS WHICH ARE USED IN ASIAN THEATER -- THE MALE ACTOR PLAYING THE FEMALE ROLE; ACTORS PLAYING MULTIPLE ROLES; ARE ALSO USED IN GREEK THEATER. ALSO, THERE ARE MANY LINGUISTIC SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE ASIAN LANGUAGES AND ANCIENT GREEK. MODERN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES LOST SOME OF THE MUSICAL FEATURES THAT THE ANCIENT GREEK POSSESSED.

FOR THE BEIJING PRODUCTION THE LINES WILL BE SPOKEN IN CHINESE, BUT THE GREEK CHORUS WHICH COMMENTS ON THE DRAMATIC EVENTS OF THE PLAY WILL BE SUNG IN ANCIENT GREEK. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WILL BE USED FOR THE MUSIC.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLAY IS CHEN SHIZHENG -- A NATIVE OF HUNAN PROVINCE WHO STUDIED CHINESE OPERA AND PERFORMED IN MANY PRODUCTIONS. SINCE MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1987 HE HAS PERFORMED WITH THE NEW YORK CITY SYMPHONY AND THE HOUSTON GRAND OPERA AMONG OTHERS. HE TEACHES AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY.

MR. CHEN FINDS A STRANGE RESONANCE BETWEEN THE ANCIENT CEREMONIES OF THE GREEK GOD DIONYSUS AND SHAMANIST RITUALS IN PARTS OF HIS NATIVE HUNAN PROVINCE.

THAT KIND OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OR RITUAL YOU DON'T SEE IN THE CITY ANYMORE, BUT YOU SEE THIS IN MANY PLACES IN ASIA IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PLACE I COME FROM, HUNAN PROVINCE. THE MIAO MINORITY, I THINK THEY ARE THE MOST-STRONGLY PRACTICING OF SHAMANISM (A NORTH ASIAN-EUROPEAN RELIGION CENTERED ON AN UNSEEN WORLD AND ANCESTRAL SPIRITS) IN CHINA TODAY. TO ME, I WANT TO USE THAT TO EXPLAIN WHAT SHAMANIST RELIGION OR RITUAL IS ABOUT. I THINK DIONYSUS IS A WAY TO BRING THAT INTO THE PLAY.

A VIDEO PRODUCTION OF THE BACCHAE IS TO BE MADE DURING THE PLAY'S RUN IN BEIJING AND PETER STEADMAN SAYS IT WILL BE SHOWN IN DRAMA SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)

NEB / MGB / AC / WOD
07-Feb-96 2:00 AM EST (0700 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA/KILLINGS (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING ( BONN )

INTRO: A GERMAN BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HAS PRODUCED TWO BOSNIAN MUSLIM WITNESSES TO WHAT THEY SAY WAS A SERB MASSACRE OF 250 UNARMED MEN. VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS THE GROUP IS CALLING ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO SEARCH FOR A MASS GRAVE AT THE SITE OF THE ALLEGED CRIME.

TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BONN, TWO BOSNIAN MUSLIM REFUGEES ACCUSED SERB FORCES OF LINING UP AND SHOOTING AT LEAST 250 UNARMED MEN IN AUGUST OF 1992.

ONE OF THE MEN, WHO NOW LIVES IN NORWAY, SAYS HIS ORDEAL BEGAN WHEN HE WAS TAKEN FROM A SERB PRISON CAMP AND PUT ON A CROWDED BUS THAT BROUGHT HIM TO A DEEP RIVER GORGE IN CENTRAL BOSNIA.

THERE HE SAYS HE AND ABOUT 250 OTHERS WERE ORDERED BY SERB FORCES TO LINE UP ALONG A 50 METER HIGH CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE (UGAR) RIVER.

HE SAYS SERB FORCES THEN OPENED FIRE ON THE UNARMED MUSLIMS.

AS THE OTHERS AROUND HIM FELL FROM THE CLIFF, THE MAN SAYS HE SOMEHOW LANDED UNHARMED ON A BUSH AND HID UNDER A CORPSE AS SERB FORCES CONTINUED SHOOTING DOWN INTO THE GORGE.

HE SAYS HE PLAYED DEAD UNTIL NIGHTFALL, THEN MANAGED TO ESCAPE. THE 32-YEAR-OLD REFUGEE SAYS HE BELIEVES OTHER PRISONERS WERE ALSO TAKEN TO THE CLIFFS AND SHOT, BECAUSE SOME OF THE BODIES HE SAW WERE ALREADY PARTLY DECOMPOSED.

THE GERMAN RIGHTS GROUP THAT PRODUCED THE TWO ALLEGED WITNESSES, SAYS A TOTAL OF SEVEN MEN SURVIVED THE MASSACRE.

THE GROUP HAS CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO LOOK FOR A MASS GRAVE IN THE RIVER GORGE.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT TO BEGIN FULL SCALE EXPECT TO BEGIN FULL SCALE EXCAVATIONS OF MASS GRAVES IN THE COMING MONTHS. (SIGNED)

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07-Feb-96 12:52 PM EST (1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA / SITREP (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS ASKED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO ARREST AND DETAIN TWO SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS WHO ARE ALREADY BEING HELD BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR SUSPECTED INVOLVEMENT IN WAR CRIMES. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY JUDGE RICHARD GOLDSTONE, THE PROSECUTOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, SAID THE BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL AND COLONEL SHOULD BE ARRESTED PROVISIONALLY ON THE TRIBUNAL'S BEHALF. THE QUICK DECISION BY THE TRIBUNAL IS LIKELY TO INFURIATE THE BOSNIAN SERBS, WHO HAVE INSISTED THEIR MEN ARE COMPLETELY INNOCENT OF ANY WAR CRIMES.

THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS, GENERAL DJORDE DJUKIC AND COLONEL ALEKSA KRSMANOVIC, WERE APPARENTLY CAPTURED, ALONG WITH THEIR DRIVER, WHEN THEY MADE A WRONG TURN WHILE CROSSING SARAJEVO'S NATO-CONTROLLED AIRPORT A WEEK AGO, AND DROVE INTO GOVERNMENT TERRITORY. GENERAL DJUKIC IS SAID TO BE A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF BOSNIAN ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED TWICE FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE TRIBUNAL.

NEITHER THE GENERAL NOR THE COLONEL IS UNDER INDICTMENT FOR WAR CRIMES. BUT THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS FULL EVIDENCE OF THE MEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE KILLING OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS DURING THE WAR. THE ARRESTS INCENSED THE BOSNIAN SERBS, WHO IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND SAID IT WOULD ATTEND NO FURTHER MEETINGS AS PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS ON GOVERNMENT OR NATO-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.

BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL'S DECISION TO ARREST THE MEN WAS ANNOUNCED THE SENIOR CIVILIAN MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, SAID IF THE MEN WERE NOT ALREADY UNDER INDICTMENT THEY SHOULD BE SWIFTLY RELEASED. BUT NATO OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN A MORE MEASURED, AND ACCORDING TO SOME DIPLOMATS HERE, A MORE SENSIBLE LINE. THE NATO CHIEF OF STAFF IN BOSNIA, LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM CARTER REFUSED TO CONDEMN THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS.

OUR ASSESSMENT FROM THE I-FOR STANDPOINT IS THAT THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED WITHIN THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT ARE BEING FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE DETENTION OF SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS.

GENERAL CARTER DID, HOWEVER, HIGHLIGHT NATO FEARS THE DISPUTE OVER THE MEN COULD LEAD TO RETALIATORY KIDNAPPINGS OR HOSTAGE TAKING, OR THAT THE SERBS REFUSAL TO ENGAGE IN THE DAYTON PROCESS MIGHT DAMAGE THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS ACTION COULD HAVE ON PROGRESS TOWARD FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL REACTION FROM THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, BUT MANY SENIOR BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY OFFICERS MUST CERTAINLY BE WONDERING WHETHER THEY ALSO WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE TRIBUNAL FOR THEIR ACTIONS. (SIGNED)

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07-Feb-96 10:45 AM EST (1545 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] U-S/BOSNIA PRISONERS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A SENIOR U-S DIPLOMAT IS TRYING TO EXPEDITE A SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE OVER THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT'S ARREST OF EIGHT BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS -- INCLUDING TWO SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS -- IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED WAR CRIMES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS' DECISION TO BREAK OFF CONTACTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE ISSUE IS OVER REACTION. MORE FROM V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST.

TEXT: U-S SPECIAL AMBASSADOR ROBERT GALLUCCI IS MEETING WITH THE PARTIES IN SARAJEVO TO TRY TO DEFUSE WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE MOST SERIOUS DISPUTE SINCE THE BALKANS PEACE ACCORD WAS SIGNED IN DECEMBER.

THE BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE SUSPENDED ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND NATO'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT'S DETENTION OF EIGHT SERBS INCLUDING TWO ARMY OFFICERS ON SUSPICION OF INVOLVEMENT IN WAR CRIMES.

DELICATE DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS ON THE ISSUE AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF MR. GALLUCCI, A TOP STATE DEPARTMENT TROUBLESHOOTER, UNDERSCORES THE LEVEL OF U-S CONCERN.

AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAID THAT WHILE THE UNITED STATES UNDERSTANDS SERB CONCERNS OVER THE ARRESTS, THEY DON'T JUSTIFY BREAKING OFF THE PEACE DIALOGUE. BUT HE ALSO SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE OVER-STEPPED THE BOUNDS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS IN ITS PURSUIT OF THE SUSPECTS:

ON THE ONE HAND, THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO BRING SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE, TO THE ATTENTION OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THAT'S SPELLED OUT IN THE DAYTON ACCORD. THE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT PROVISION OF DAYTON THAT WE'VE BEEN UNDERSCORING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS IS THIS ISSUE OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE TYPES OF ARRESTS NOT BE MADE PURELY TO HARASS MEMBERS OF OTHER FACTIONS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMEN URGED THAT THE CASE BE SETTLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND WELCOMED THE INVOLVEMENT OF JUSTICE RICHARD GOLDSTONE AND THE TRIBUNAL -- WHICH IS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBLE INDICTMENT OF THE TWO SERB OFFICERS.

HE ALSO SAID THE JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION IN SARAJEVO IS AT WORK NOW ON MORE PRECISE PROTOCOLS TO GOVERN THE ARREST AND DETENTION OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS.

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED OPEN CONCERN THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF CLEARER PROCEDURES, THE ARRESTS COULD DETERIORATE INTO A BEIRUT-STYLE CYCLE OF HOSTAGE TAKING AND THREATEN THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LWM
07-Feb-96 4:00 PM EST (2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] U-S/BOSNIA/WAR CRIMES (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAS PLEDGED TO RELEASE EIGHT BOSNIAN SERBS SUSPECTED OF WAR CRIMES IF AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FINDS NO GROUNDS TO CHARGE THEM. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS SARAJEVO INSISTS IT HAS THE EVIDENCE LINKING THE EIGHT TO WAR CRIMES:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WILL ABIDE BY THE DECISION OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WHICH SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO QUESTION THE SUSPECTS IN SARAJEVO:

AND, WILL EITHER CONTINUE DETAINING THE INDIVIDUALS AT THE REQUEST OF THE TRIBUNAL OR RELEASE THEM IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES. SO, WE THINK THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS, IN THIS MATTER, TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE STEPS.

MR. DAVIES SAYS THE UNITED STATES STANDS BEHIND THE "FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT" PROVISION IN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS SIGNED BY THE PARTIES IN PARIS IN DECEMBER. HE SAYS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REITERATED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ACCORD.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS TWO OF THE DETAINEES HELPED ORGANIZE THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS AROUND SARAJEVO. BOSNIAN SERBS SAY THE DETENTIONS VIOLATES THE PEACE ACCORDS AND ARE SUSPENDING ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OVER THE MATTER.

MR. DAVIES CAUTIONS, HOWEVER, SUCH DETENTIONS SHOULD NOT BECOME A TOOL FOR HARASSMENT:

FRANKLY, WHAT THIS GETS US INTO IS A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAY (UNCERTAIN) AREA ABOUT WHO CAN AND CANNOT BE ARRESTED.

HE SAYS IT IS AN ISSUE U-S OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING INTO. TO DATE, THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS INDICTED 52 PEOPLE, MOSTLY SERBS, BUT ONLY ONE SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY. (SIGNED)

NEB/VB/LWM

06-Feb-96 10:03 PM EST (0303 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America