Voice of America, 1 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A VARIED, AND MOSTLY DOMESTIC, ARRAY OF TOPICS ARE COVERED IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES THIS FIRST DAY OF MARCH. AMONG THEM ARE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND A CALL FOR SENATOR BOB DOLE TO BETTER DEFINE HIS PHILOSOPHY; AN INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND LOAN FOR RUSSIA; THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL FLOTILLA TO HONOR THE FOUR CIVILIAN FLYERS SHOT DOWN BY THE CUBAN AIR FORCE; THE DRIVE FOR U-S TELEVISION CONTENT RATINGS, AND THE STATE OF NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE TALKS. NOW, __________________ HAS A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SAYS THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATE TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, SENATOR BOB DOLE, IS NOT RUNNING A VERY VISIBLE CAMPAIGN. IT'S LEAD EDITORAL TODAY IS TITLED: "SHOW YOURSELF, MR. DOLE":

VOICE: "FOR THE LAST YEAR, THE G-O-P CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN CRISS-CROSSING THE COUNTRY, SPEAKING TO ... ANY ... GROUP THAT WOULD LISTEN. THEY'VE DONE RADIO TALK SHOWS, NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS, AND LOCAL T-V APPEARANCES. ... ALL THE CANDIDATES, THAT IS, EXCEPT MR. DOLE. THE KANSAN SEEMS TO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE TRAP OF BELIEVING THAT POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS BY STATE GOVERNORS AND HIS SENATORIAL COLLEAGUES CARRY GREAT WEIGHT WITH THE PUBLIC... BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND ITS MIND RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT WANTS TO SEE THE CANDIDATES... UNTIL HE HIMSELF IS IN THE THICK OF THE BATTLE, HE'LL CONTINUE TO UNDER-PERFORM, AND THE DANGERS TO HIS CANDIDACY WILL GROW."

TEXT: IN ANOTHER CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE DOLE CANDIDACY, TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "HE'S GOT THE PRESTIGE OF OFFICE, THE ORGANIZATION, THE ENDORSEMENTS -- BUT IN THE END, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER BOB DOLE'S VISION DEFICIT DISORDER [HIS FAILURE TO PAINT A VISION OF HOW HE WOULD LEAD THE COUNTRY AS PRESIDENT] IS GOING TO STOP HIM FROM CLAIMING WHAT HE AND HIS ALLIES HAVE LONG BELIEVED IS RIGHTFULLY HIS. TOMORROW, THAT QUESTION GETS ITS BIGGEST TEST SO FAR IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN SOUTH CAROLINA."

TEXT: JUST NORTH OF WASHINGTON, IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CAMPAIGN -- THE GROWING ISOLATIONIST TONE OF THE RHETORIC.

VOICE: "WITH HELP FROM THE LIKES OF FIDEL CASTRO AND PAT BUCHANAN, AMERICAN XENOPHOBIA IS REACHING FEVER PITCH AS THE ELECTION YEAR UNFOLDS. TWO CURRENT EXAMPLES ARE THE LATEST CUBA CONFRONTATION AND THE DRIVE BY THIS NATION OF IMMIGRANTS TO GET TOUGH ON IMMIGRANTS. ... BECAUSE MR. CASTRO SENT HIS JETS TO SHOOT DOWN TWO UNARMED CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT, THERE IS NO STOPPING PASSAGE OF A BILL IN CONGRESS THAT TRAMPLES ALL OVER U-S COMMITMENTS IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT... [AND] WITH PAT BUCHANAN VOWING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO 'STOP COLD' THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO ... THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE NO STOPPING LEGISLATION TRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGALS AND THE EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE THEM."

TEXT: WRITING ABOUT THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 10-BILLION- DOLLAR LOAN TO RUSSIA, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT A "CALCULATED GAMBLE," ADDING:

VOICE: "THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN HAS BEEN ERRATIC AND OFTEN INEFFECTIVE. BUT IT HAS KEPT FEDERAL SPENDING IN CHECK AND BROUGHT INFLATION DOWN FROM ASTRONOMICAL LEVELS TO ABOUT FOUR PERCENT A MONTH. MARKETS ARE NOT WELL IN RUSSIA, BUT THEY ARE ALIVE. WITH ADDITIONAL HELP FROM THE WEST, THEY MIGHT SURVIVE... [HOWEVER] THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE LOAN WILL TAKE EFFECT JUST AS MOSCOW SLOWS OR EVEN REJECTS THE POLICIES THE INTERNATIONAL AID IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE."

TEXT: ABOUT THE U-S/CUBA DISPUTE, THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S PLANNED MEMORIAL FLYOVER AND BOAT FLOTILLA NEAR WHERE CUBAN JET FIGHTERS SHOT DOWN TWO U-S PRIVATE PLANES, KILLING FOUR FLIERS.

VOICE: "THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH SHOULD BE FORMULATED IN WASHINGTON, NOT ON MIAMI'S CALLE 8, THE HEART OF THE CUBAN EXILE EMPIRE. THE DECISION BY A COALITION OF ANGRY EXILES TO SEND SHIPS AND CIVILIAN PLANES ... TO THE GENERAL AREA ... WHERE TWO OF THEIR PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN IS A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION, ONE THAT COULD TURN LAST WEEK'S OUTRAGE AND TRAGEDY INTO THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL BLUNDER."

TEXT: RESPONDING TO NEWS THAT EXECUTIVES FROM ALL FOUR OF THE MAJOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION NETWORKS HAVE AGREED TO RATE THEIR PROGRAMS FOR SEX AND VIOLENCE, "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" SAYS:

VOICE: "CHALK ONE UP FOR SHAM (WELL-MIXED WITH FISCAL THREAT) AS A PUBLIC POLICY TOOL. THE SAME MOGULS WHO NOW PROMISE TO COOK UP [PROVIDE] A RATING SYSTEM WERE VOWING JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO TO FIGHT THAT IDEA IN THE COURTS, ON THE BEACHES AND IN THE AIR [IE: TOTALLY, TO THE DEATH]. BUT THAT LET THEM IN FOR A BIPARTISAN RHETORICAL THRASHING... SO, COMING SOON TO A BOOB TUBE [TELEVISION SET] NEAR YOU, A MOVIE-LIKE RATING SYSTEM FOR MOST PROGRAMMING..."

TEXT: A SIMILAR OPINION OF THE PLANNED T-V RATINGS SYSTEM IS EXPRESSED BY THE "COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE-TELEGRAPH", WHICH SAYS "THE MOST EFFECTIVE REGULATOR OF TELEVISION REMAINS THE ON/OFF SWITCH".

VOICE: "THERE IS OF COURSE A LOT OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING THAT CAN HARDLY BE DEEMED "EDUCATIONAL" FOR CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHY PARENTS NEED TO WATCH OVER THEM WHENEVER THEY TUNE IN. NOT ONLY IS THERE PLENTY OF INAPPROPRIATE FARE FOR YOUNG EYES, BUT THERE IS ALSO SOME PLAIN OLD JUNK THAT, WHILE SEEMINGLY BENIGN, HARDLY LIVES UP TO ITS BILLING AS T-V FOR KIDS. ALL THAT SAID, WHAT AMERICAN T-V DOESN'T NEED IS EVEN MORE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT -- THOUGH SOME MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION SEEK JUST THAT."

TEXT: IT NOW SEEMS LIKELY THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE TALKS WILL BE RESUMED BETWEEN THE BRITAIN, THE IRISH REPUBLIC, AND SINN FEIN, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY POLITICAL ARM. THE LONG ISLAND "NEWSDAY" SAYS BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER DESERVES MUCH OF THE CREDIT:

VOICE: "RISKING ALIENATING HIS FAST-ERODING TORY BASE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR MADE A QUIET BUT SIGNIFICANT CONCESSION THIS WEEK TO GET THE ULSTER TALKS BACK ON TRACK, BY DROPPING HIS EARLIER DEMANDS FOR I-R-A DISARMAMENT AS A PRECONDITION TO NEGOTIATIONS. NOW IT'S UP TO SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS, WHOSE AUTHORITY AND CREDIBILITY WERE THROWN INTO DOUBT BY THE RECENT BOMBINGS, TO WREST A PLEDGE FROM THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY TO RESUME THE CEASE-FIRE."

TEXT: FINALLY, ABOUT THE OTHER MAJOR NEWS FROM BRITAIN -- WORD THAT PRINCESS DIANA WILL AGREE TO A DIVORCE FROM PRINCE CHARLES -- TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" NOTES:

VOICE: "ANYONE FEARING, OR HOPING, THAT THE ROYAL DIVORCE WILL END THE ROYAL SOAP OPERA HASN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION. CHARLES AND DIANA ARE MADE OF MORE ENDURING STUFF, AND THE SUN WILL NEVER SET ON THE BRITISH QUAGMIRE. AS WINSTON CHURCHILL ONCE SAID: 'NOW THIS IS NOT THE END. IT IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BUT IT IS, PERHAPS, THE END OF THE BEGINNING'... THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING FOR THE SEQUEL, AND FOR THE ONE AFTER THAT, RELISHING THE REALISM AMID THE FANTASTIC, IMAGINING THE AD THAT MIGHT RUN IN A BRITISH PERSONALS COLUMN: 'LONELY AT ST. JAME'S, LOOKING FOR LOVE.'"

[END OPT]

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S BRIEF REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN EDITORIAL PAGES FOR THIS FIRST DAY OF MARCH.

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01-Mar-96 10:49 AM EST (1549 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] ASIA / EUROPE SUMMIT (L) BY DAN ROBINSON (BANGKOK)

INTRO: LEADERS OF 15 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE OPENED BEGAN A TWO-DAY SUMMIT WITH COUNTERPARTS FROM 10 EAST ASIAN NATIONS. THE EUROPEANS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAVE FALLEN BEHIND IN RELATIONS WITH ASIA. FROM BANGKOK, V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS THAILAND'S PRIME MINISTER CALLED THE FIRST-EVER ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT A HISTORIC CHANCE TO "RE-LINK" TWO OF THE THREE CENTERS OF WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH.

TEXT: THAI PRIME MINISTER BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA SAID EUROPE AND ASIA SHOULD SHARE MORE DEEPLY IN THE PROSPERITY OF AN INTER-DEPENDENT WORLD.

WITH THE LEADERS OF THE MAIN ECONOMIC POWERS OF EAST ASIA AND EUROPE LOOKING ON, THE THAI LEADER SAID THE REGIONS HAVE BEEN PREOCCUPIED WITH DIFFERENT PRIORITIES. BUT HE SAID IT IS NOW IN EUROPE'S VITAL INTEREST TO TAP INTO ASIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE SUMMIT IS BEING HELD BECAUSE OF EUROPEAN AND ASIAN DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR OVERALL RELATIONSHIP IN RECENT YEARS. BUT THE MAIN REASON IS LAGGING EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN ASIA.

ALSO UNDERLYING THE MEETING IS EUROPE'S REALIZATION THAT IT HAS _NOT_ DONE AS MUCH AS NORTH AMERICA TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH ASIA'S BOOMING ECONOMIES. ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER, LAMBERTO DINI, SAID IT WAS CLEAR EUROPE HAD FALLEN BEHIND:

THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE UP THE LOST GROUND. WE HAVE TO SEEK A BETTER BALANCE IN THE EUROPE-ASIA SEGMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE RELATIONS THAT ASIA AND EUROPE INDIVIDUALLY ENTERTAIN WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE TRUST THAT THE ASIA-EUROPE MEETING MAY ONE DAY BE ON A PAR WITH THE TRIED AND TESTED LINKS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) AS WELL AS THE EURO-ATLANTIC DIALOGUE.

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS KEEN TO KNOW ASIA MUCH MORE. THIS, IN A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL RESPECT, OBJECTIVITY AND CURIOSITY TO IMPROVE OUR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. ALTHOUGH WE COME FROM DIFFERENT TRADITIONS, WE ARE ALL ATTACHED TO THE UNIVERSAL VALUES WHICH BELONG TO ALL HUMANITY. VALUES WHICH HAVE BECOME INTERNATIONAL NORMS IN THE U-N CHARTER AND THE U-N CONVENTIONS TO WHICH WE ARE ALL COMMITTED.

THAILAND HAS PROPOSED THAT EUROPE AND ASIA DRAW UP A PLAN WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO PROMOTE INCREASED INVESTMENT. THE LEADERS HAVE ALSO PLEDGED TO WORK TOWARD A COMMON POSITION AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION MEETING NEXT DECEMBER.

IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, INDONESIAN PRESIDENT SUHARTO AND PORTUGAL'S PRIME MINISTER, ANTONIO GUTERRES, MET UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE SIDELINES OF THE SUMMIT. INDONESIA REACTED COOLLY TO A PORTUGUESE PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE RELATIONS AND TO RENEWED DEMANDS CONCERNING EAST TIMOR. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/TMS/ART
01-Mar-96 7:30 AM EST (1230 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] ASIA / EUROPE ONITER (S ONLY) BY DAN ROBINSON (BANGKOK)

INTRO: LEADERS OF EUROPE AND EAST ASIA END THEIR SUMMIT IN BANGKOK LATER TODAY (SATURDAY) WITH A DECLARATION PLEDGING TO EXPAND TRADE AND INVESTMENT AS PART OF A NEW CHAPTER OF RELATIONS. V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS THE FIRST-EVER ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE 15-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION AND 10 NATIONS FROM EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.

TEXT: IT LASTED ONLY TWO DAYS, BUT ASIAN AND EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE DONE A LOT OF TALKING, BOTH AS A GROUP AND WITH EACH OTHER.

BILATERAL ISSUES ALMOST OVERSHADOWED THE SUMMIT'S MAIN ECONOMIC FOCUS OF THE SUMMIT.

BRITAIN PRESSED CHINA ON ISSUES RELATING TO BEIJING'S TAKE OVER OF HONG KONG IN 1997.

PORTUGAL KEPT A SPOTLIGHT ON INDONESIAN-RULED EAST TIMOR, DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF JAILED TIMORESE ACTIVISTS BUT ALSO PROPOSING A SMALL STEP FORWARD IN RELATIONS WITH JAKARTA.

A FINAL DECLARATION WILL COMMIT EUROPE AND ASIA TO A NUMBER OF STEPS AIMED AT IMPROVING EUROPE'S TRADE WITH, AND INVESTMENT IN ASIA.

IT WILL CALL FOR THE REDUCTION OF TRADE BARRIERS AND VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.

AMONG BILATERAL MEETINGS STILL TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY WILL BE ONE BETWEEN JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO AND SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM YOUNG SAM. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/JM
01-Mar-96 9:48 AM EST (1448 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] BOSNIA / SARAJEVO (L ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE CITIZENS OF SARAJEVO ARE CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE COUNTRY FIRST VOTED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. DAVID FOLEY IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL REPORTS THAT FOUR YEARS LATER, AFTER THE FIRST MAJOR ARMED CONFLICT IN EUROPE IN 50 YEARS AND THOUSANDS OF DEAD, SARAJEVANS ARE GIVING THANKS THAT THE SIEGE OF THEIR CITY IS FINALLY OVER.

TEXT: IN A CEREMONY AT ONE OF THE CITIES LARGEST CEMETERIES FOR THE WAR DEAD, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN BATTLES TO LIBERATE SARAJEVO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, BOSNIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IS BEING CELEBRATED DURING PEACE INSTEAD OF WAR, BECAUSE OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. ON THURSDAY, GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TOOK CONTROL OF THE MAIN HIGHWAY INTO THE CITY, AND SARAJEVO IS _NO_ LONGER SURROUNDED BY SERB TERRITORY.

FOR THREE-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS, SARAJEVO ENDURED A BRUTAL SIEGE BY BOSNIAN SERBS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SHELLS LANDED ON ITS STREETS AND BUILDINGS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS WERE KILLED AND MAIMED, AND THE WORLD WATCHED IT ALL ON TELEVISION.

COLUM MURPHY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, SAID WHAT SARAJEVO GAVE TO THE WORLD WAS FAR GREATER THAN WHAT THE WORLD GAVE TO SARAJEVO.

THE SIEGE OF SARAJEVO IS OFFICIALLY OVER, AND WE CAN SAY THAT A LONG AND BRUTAL WINTER HAS COME TO AN END. // OPT // A THOUSAND YEARS WILL PASS AND THE WORLD WILL FORGET NEITHER WHAT WAS DONE TO SARAJEVO, NOR THE HEROIC RESISTANCE AND COURAGE OF IT'S CITIZENS. // END OPT //

HE SAID THAT BOTH TERRIBLE AND GREAT THINGS HAD HAPPENED HERE.

SARAJEVO WILL FOREVER BE A SYMBOL OF CIVILIZATION ASSAULTED, CIVILIZATION UNBROKEN, CIVILIZATION UNBREAKABLE. FOR THAT THE WORLD OWES A DEBT TO THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO, FOR THEIR EXAMPLE OF DIGNITY AND COURAGE.

THE CURRENT MAP OF BOSNIA IS CERTAINLY _NOT_ WHAT BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS INTENDED IN 1992. BOSNIA IS ETHNICALLY PARTITIONED, AND THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE COUNTRY.

THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT, ALIA IZETBEGOVIC, WAS _NOT_ ABLE TO ATTEND THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONIES BECAUSE OF HEART TROUBLE. HE ISSUED A STATEMENT FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED, URGING HIS PEOPLE TO CREATE A POST-WAR SOCIETY BASED ON "FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE."

NEVERTHELESS, 40-THOUSAND SERBS HAVE NOW FLED THE SERB-HELD SUBURBS OF SARAJEVO THAT ARE, ONE BY ONE, BEING HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL. THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, KRIS JANOWSKI, CRITICIZED LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES FOR THE ON-GOING EXODUS.

IT'S CERTAINLY A BLOW TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF MULTI-ETHNICITY, AND TO THE EFFORT AIMED AT PIECING THE COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER AS A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY. IT'S CERTAINLY A BLOW AND IT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON POSSIBLE RETURNS OF PEOPLE TO OTHER AREAS CONTROLLED BY THEIR FORMER ENEMIES.

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01-Mar-96 9:22 AM EST (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] BOSNIA / WORLD BANK BY ANDREW BAIRD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE WORLD BANK SAYS IT HAS APPROVED EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S ANDREW BAIRD REPORTS THE QUEST FOR MUCH BIGGER DONATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION IS IN THE OFFING.

TEXT: THE WORLD BANK HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS APPROVED 45 MILLION DOLLLARS FOR ITS FIRST EMERGENCY PROJECT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE 45 MILLION DOLLARS IS PART OF A 160 MILLION DOLLAR EFFORT TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SPRING PLANTING IN BOSNIA AND FOR HELPING SMALL ENTERPRISES. THE MONEY WILL ALSO GO FOR REPAIRING ROADS, FOR CREATING NEW TAX AND CUSTOM AUTHORITIES, AND FOR SUPPORTING NEEDY FAMILIES AND THE 38-THOUSAND CHILDREN WHO LOST BOTH PARENTS DURING THE WAR.

CHRISTINE WALLICH, THE BANK'S ACTING DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL EUROPE, SAYS THE 45 MILLION DOLLARS WILL COME FROM A NEWLY CREATED 150-MILLION DOLLAR WORLD BANK TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO BOSNIA.

THIS REPRESENTS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ABOUT SEVEN EMERGENCY PROJECTS THAT WE'LL SUPPORT BY THE TRUST FUND, AND IT WAS APPROVED JUST THREE DAYS AFTER THE BOARD ENDORSED THE TRUST FUND.

CHISTINE WALLICH SAYS THE BALANCE OF FUNDS FOR THE 160 MILLION DOLLAR EMERGENCY PROJECT IN BOSNIA WILL BE PROVIDED IN PART BY THE UNITED STATES AND SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SOROS FOUNDATION, A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION AIMED A HELPING TO REBUILD EASTERN EUROPE, WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE.

THIS IS A CRITICAL EVENT, AND A VERY IMPORTANT NEXT STEP FOR BOSNIA. IF BOSNIANS ARE GOING TO SEE THAT THE BENEFITS OF PEACE OUTWEIGH WAR, THEN THEY NEED TO SEE QUICK AND VISIBLE RESULTS ON THE GROUND AND VERY CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT PROGRESS IS TAKING PLACE AND THAT THERE WILL BE A PEACE DIVIDEND.

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01-Mar-96 1:36 PM EST (1836 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] GERMANY / EURO CURRENCY (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: A KEY POLITICAL ALLY OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL SAYS OFFICIALS MUST DO ALL THEY CAN TO INSURE THE INTRODUCTION OF A SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY BY THE SCHEDULED 1999 LAUNCH DATE. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN THE COMMENTS COME AMID GROWING DOUBTS THAT THE TIMETABLE WILL BE MET.

TEXT: THE PARLIAMENTARY LEADER OF CHANCELLOR KOHL'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE, SAYS OFFICIALS MUST SAY AND DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO FIGHT FOR THE TIMETABLE FOR EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION.

IF OFFICIALS GIVE UP ON THE 1999 DATE NOW, MR. SCHAEUBLE SAYS, THE SINGLE EUROPEAN CURRENCY WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE INTRODUCED ON TIME.

MR. SCHAEUBLE'S COMMENTS TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER, ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF OTHER GERMAN OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO EVEN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF POSTPONING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SINGLE CURRENCY, WHICH IS TO BE CALLED THE "EURO."

IN ADDITION TO THE DIFFICULTIES EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT'S WILL HAVE IN MEETING THE STRICT FINANCIAL CRITERIA TO JOIN THE SINGLE CURRENCY, PUBLIC OPINION IN GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAS ALSO TURNED AGAINST THE IDEA. MORE THAN 43 PERCENT OF GERMANS SURVEYED IN A RECENT PUBLIC OPINION POLL SAY THEY OPPOSE CURRENCY UNION.

NEVERTHELESS, CHANCELLOR KOHL AND HIS GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO BACK THE IDEA, WHICH HE SAYS IS ESSENTIAL TO EUROPEAN STABILITY AND PLANS FOR GREATER E-U INTEGRATION. GERMAN OFFICIALS ARE PLANNING TO LAUNCH AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN THE COMING MONTHS TO SWING PUBLIC OPINION IN FAVOR OF THE SINGLE CURRENCY.

OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO PLEDGED TO BRING THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET DEFICIT DOWN TO THREE PERCENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY 1997, A REQUIREMENT FOR THE SINGLE CURRENCY TO GO AHEAD ON TIME. BUT WITH MOST OTHER EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS EXPECTED TO FAIL THE TOUGH REQUIREMENT, SOME ANALYSTS SAY LEADERS MAY HAVE TO FIND A COMPROMISE PLAN IF THEY WANT TO AVOID A DELAY.

ONE POSSIBILITY NOW BEING DISCUSSED BY ANALYSTS WOULD BE SOME KIND OF A STABILITY PACT THAT WOULD COMMIT GOVERNMENT'S TO FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND ALLOW THE CURRENCY UNION TO TAKE PLACE ON TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE STRICT FINANCIAL CRITERIA HAS NOT BEEN MET. BUT FOR NOW, OFFICIALS IN GERMANY CONTINUE TO INSIST THEY WILL PUSH AHEAD WITH THE CURRENT PLAN, DESPITE THE SLUGGISH ECONOMY AND GROWING UNEMPLOYMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/CF
01-Mar-96 8:00 AM EST (1300 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] U-N WEEK-IN-REVIEW BY ELAINE JOHANSON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CRITICIZES CUBA FOR SHOOTING DOWN U-S CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH; CUBA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE WILL TAKE THE ISSUE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; CHINA TRIES TO BLOCK EXTENSION OF A PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI, BUT FINALLY BACKS DOWN; AND, THE U-N SUSPENDS SANCTIONS ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REVIEWS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST WEEK:

TEXT: AFTER A MARATHON ALL NIGHT SESSION, THE SECURITY COUNCIL TUESDAY STRONGLY DEPLORED THE SHOOTING DOWN OF TWO PLANES OPERATED BY A CUBAN EXILE GROUP BASED IN FLORIDA AND CALLED FOR A U-N INVESTIGATION. U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PRESSED THE COUNCIL TO ISSUE THE CRITICISM BEFORE CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA ARRIVED IN NEW YORK.

AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT SAID WHATEVER CUBA MIGHT SAY IN ITS DEFENSE -- ITS MILITARY ATTACK ON CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT WAS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THE CUBAN OFFICIAL WAS VISIBLY ANGRY, ACCUSING THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF BEING A TOOL OF THE UNITED STATES. HE IMMEDIATELY PURSUED A SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- WHERE ALL 185 U-N MEMBERS ARE REPRESENTED. NO DATE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE MEETING.

BY WEEK'S END -- CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE HEADING TOWARD ANOTHER CRISIS. CUBAN EXILES DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE WITH SHIPS AND PLANES OUTSIDE CUBA SATURDAY -- ON THE ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK. HOWEVER, THE FOREIGN MINISTER SIGNALLED HAVANA WOULD NOT RESPOND WITH FORCE IF THE FLOTILLA REMAINED IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS.

DIPLOMATS IN NEW YORK TREATED THE DOWNING OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A SEPARATE ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW -- WITH NO REFERENCE TO THE U-S ECONOMIC EMBARGO ON CUBA. THE WIDENING OF THE U-S EMBARGO IN RECENT YEARS AFFECTS THIRD PARTY TRADING WITH CUBA. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING WASHINGTON'S ALLIES, ROUTINELY VOTES AGAINST IT.

-0-

THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY EXTENDED A REDUCED PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI FOR AN ADDITIONAL FOUR MONTHS. ANTICIPATING A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL BY THE END OF JUNE, THE COUNCIL CALLED ON GOVERNMENTS TO FOCUS STRONGLY ON HELPING HAITI'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE IT A STURDIER BASE FOR DEMOCRACY.

MOST SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSED INCREDULITY WHEN CHINA THREATENED REPEATEDLY TO VETO THE EXTENSION. THEY SAID PUBLICLY IT WAS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. BUT PRIVATELY DIPLOMATS AGREED CHINA WAS LOOKING TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR HAITI BECAUSE OF ITS TIES WITH TAIWAN. THE TAIWANESE VICE-PRESIDENT ATTENDED THE RECENT INAUGURATION OF HAITI'S NEW PRESIDENT. HAITI'S FORMER PRESIDENT - JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE -- HAD ENDORSED TAIWAN'S BID FOR U-N MEMBERSHIP.

TAIWAN WAS EXPELLED FROM THE U-N IN 1971, WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY GAVE ITS SEAT TO BEIJING. THE U-N HAS HAD A "ONE-CHINA" POLICY EVER SINCE.

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THE SECURITY COUNCIL FORMALLY ANNOUNCED A SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS ON THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- 24 HOURS AFTER NATO CERTIFIED SERB FORCES HAD MOVED AWAY FROM ZONES OF SEPARATION SPECIFIED IN THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. HOWEVER, U-S AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT WARNED THOSE SANCTIONS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY COME DOWN AGAIN IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH OTHER PROVISIONS, INCLUDING COOPERATION WITH THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT -- LOOKING AFTER SERBIAN INTERESTS IN THE BALKANS -- HAD SUSPENDED THE MEASURES (SANCTIONS) A FEW DAYS BEFORE NATO CERTIFICATION. U-S OFFICIALS HAD CALLED THE MOVE PREMATURE, BUT DENIED ANY DISAGREEMENT ON SUBSTANCE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW.

IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT -- THE SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A REPLACEMENT FOR JUSTICE RICHARD GOLDSTONE OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. CANADIAN JURIST LOUISE ARBOUR STEPS INTO THE POST OFFICIALLY OCTOBER FIRST.

JUDGE GOLDSTONE RETURNS TO HIS DUTIES ON SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT.

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UNITED NATIONS DIPLOMATS WELCOMED THE APPOINTMENT THIS PAST WEEK OF JULIUS NYERERE -- A FORMER PRESIDENT OF TANZANIA -- AS MEDIATOR IN BURUNDI'S ETHNIC DISPUTE. MR. NYERERE IS WIDELY ADMIRED AS ELDER STATESMAN AND EXPERT IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. BUT SOME SAY BURUNDI'S PROBLEMS MAY BE TOO TOUGH EVEN FOR HIM.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING OPTIONS FOR INTERVENTION. IT MAY DECIDE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO CHOOSE A HOLDING PATTERN RATHER THAN IMMEDIATE ACTION. THE COUNCIL IS LIKELY TO ASK THE U-N PEACEKEEPING DIVISION TO MAKE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT BY ARRANGING TO PUT TROOPS ON RESERVE. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 01-Mar-96 5:11 PM EST (2211 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[08] U-S/BOSNIA INCIDENT (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT SUPPORTS A DECISION BY NATO OFFICERS EARLIER THIS WEEK NOT TO ATTEMPT TO ARREST BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC. THE BOSNIAN POLITICAL FIGURE, UNDER INDICTMENT FOR WAR CRIMES, WAS SPOTTED BY NATO FORCES EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE SERB STRONGHOLD OF BANJA LUKA. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT SECOND-GUESS NATO COMMANDERS WHO DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO ARREST MR. KARADZIC WHEN HE APPEARED IN BANJA LUKA EARLIER THIS WEEK.

ACCORDING TO NEWS ACCOUNTS, THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WAS SPOTTED FOUR TIMES ON TUESDAY BY PEACEKEEPING TROOPS PATROLLING THE SERB STRONGHOLD. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS MR. KARADZIC WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ARMED BODYGUARDS AND THAT NATO OFFICERS FELT AN ARREST ATTEMPT WOULD HAVE PRODUCED MANY CASUALTIES:

IT WAS RELATIVELY SMALL I-FOR (IMPLEMENTATION FORCE) CONTINGENT AND THEY FELT IT WAS TOO SMALL TO DEAL WITH THE RISK INVOLVED IN TRYING TO DETAIN KARADZIC. SECONDLY THEY DECIDED IT WOULD POSE TOO MUCH OF A THREAT TO CIVILIANS.

U-S AND OTHER PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN BOSNIA HAVE NOT B/E/E/N ORDERED TO TRACK DOWN MR. KARADZIC OR THE MORE THAN 50 OTHERS FACING INDICTMENT FOR BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES. BUT POSTERS OF THE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE TROOPS, WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ARREST THEM IF A SAFE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/PT
29-Feb-96 7:12 PM EST (0012 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[09] YUGO / WAR CRIMES (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS INDICTED A BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL. V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS THE TRIBUNAL CHARGED THE GENERAL WITH WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERB SIEGE OF SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL DJORDJE DJUKIC DESPITE DEMANDS BY HIS LAWYERS THAT HE SHOULD BE FREED AND HIS MOVEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED.

AS THE SERB ARMY'S CHIEF LOGISTICS OFFICER, THE GENERAL IS CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING DELIBERATE, WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC SERB ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN SARAJEVO FROM 1992 UNTIL LAST YEAR.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED OR INJURED DURING THE SERB SIEGE OF SARAJEVO. THE SERB ATTACKS ALSO DEVASTATED THE BOSNIAN'S CAPITAL'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

GENERAL DJUKIC WAS PRESENT AT THE TRIBUNAL WHEN THE INDICTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED. ASKED IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO SAY, HE RESPONDED THAT HE STILL REFUSES TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. HE IS THE HIGHEST-RANKING SERB IN THE TRIBUNAL'S CUSTODY. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE HE COULD PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WAR CRIMES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY THE SERB MILITARY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, AND BY THE SERB POLITICAL LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC.

GENERAL MLADIC AND MR. KARADZIC HAVE ALREADY BEEN INDICTED TWICE FOR GENOCIDE AND OTHER WAR CRIMES. THEY ARE STILL AT LARGE IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

GENERAL DJUKIC IS CLEARLY IN A POSITION TO KNOW ABOUT YUGOSLAV MILITARY AID PROVIDED TO THE BOSNIAN SERBS WHEN INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS WERE IN EFFECT AGAINST BELGRADE. IF HE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION, SENIOR YUGOSLAV OR SERBIAN OFFICIALS COULD BE LINKED TO WAR CRIMES.

THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS NOW INDICTED 53 PEOPLE, MOSTLY SERBS. BUT, GENERAL DJUKIC IS ONE OF ONLY THREE SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS IN THE TRIBUNAL'S CUSTODY. THE OTHERS ARE A SERB COLONEL, WHO HAS NOT YET BEEN CHARGED, AND THE FORMER COMMANDER OF A NOTORIOUS SERB PRISON CAMP IN WHICH MUSLIMS WERE BEATEN, RAPED AND KILLED.

THE TRIAL OF THE FORMER SERB PRISON CAMP COMMANDER, DUSAN TADIC, IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MAY.

NEB/WC/JWH/CF
01-Mar-96 10:17 AM EST (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America