Voice of America, 6 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION VICTORIES FOR SENATOR BOB DOLE CAME MUCH TOO LATE FOR TODAY'S EDITORIAL WRITERS. MEANTIME, EDITORIAL WRITERS HAVE TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING THE PROBLEMS HAMAS TERRORISM IS CAUSING FOR PALESTININA LEADER YASSER ARAFAT AS WELL AS THE ISRAELIS; THE CUBAN EMBARGO BILL IN CONGRESS, AND THE DRUG DECERTIFICATION OF COLOMBIA BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. NOW, SOME DETAILS FROM _______________ IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN AN EDITORIAL TITLED "ARAFAT'S COMPLICITY", TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" SERIOUSLY QUESTIONS THE PALESTINIAN LEADER'S INTENTIONS AS A PEACEMAKER AND HIS DETERMINATION TO DEAL WITH THE HAMAS TERRORISTS:

VOICE: "MR. ARAFAT ... WOULD LIKE THE WORLD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS TIME HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING THE TERRORISM THAT GERMINATES ON PALESTINIAN SOIL, AND PLEASE SEND MONEY, DESPITE THE TWISTED METAL AND BURNED FLESH LITTERING THE STREETS OF TEL AVIV AND JERUSALEM... WHEN CHALLENGED ON THE INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN HIS CALLS FOR AN ISLAMIC JIHAD AND HIS PEACE-MAKER'S EXHORTATION AGAINST VIOLENCE, MR. ARAFAT PROTESTS THAT HE HAS ONLY CALLED HIS PEOPLE TO A SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL BATTLE -- NOT A VIOLENT ONE. THE BOMB-STRAPPED HAMAS YOUTHS APPARENTLY WEREN'T AWARE OF THAT COMPELLING DISTINCTION."

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, "USA TODAY" WRITES:

VOICE: "[OPT] WITH AN ELECTION UNDER HIS BELT, [MR.] ARAFAT HAS MORE POLITICAL WIGGLE ROOM TO COME ON STRONG THAN HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART, PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES, WHO COULD LOSE HIS POWER BECAUSE OF THIS VIOLENT BREAKDOWN... [END OPT] THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET OF THE ACCLAIMED MIDDLE EAST 'LAND-FOR-PEACE' PACT IS THAT NO ONE -- NOT EVEN THE INFLUENTIAL [MR.] ARAFAT -- CAN GUARANTEE PEACE WITH NO VIOLENCE."

TEXT: AND IN BOSTON, "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SAYS DESPITE THE THREAT OF TERRORISM EVER-PRESENT IN ISRAEL, ENGLAND, SPAIN AND SRI LANKA, SOCIETY MUST AVOID THE LOGICAL, BUT COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE REACTIONS.

VOICE: "ONE IS RETREATING INTO FEAR, HYSTERIA, AND REVENGE FANTASIES. THE OTHER IS ANGRILY DESTROYING THE RATIONAL PROCESSES OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT THAT PROVIDE THE ONLY ROUTE TO ENDING LONG-PLAYING SEPARATIST BATTLES."

TEXT: ON ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL MATTER, BUT CLOSER TO HOME, TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" EXPLAINS ITS OPPOSITION TO THE HELMS-BURTON BILL AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE INTERNATIONAL EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA:

VOICE: "THE PERVERSELY NAMED CUBAN LIBERTY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLIDARITY ACT, PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY ... BY THE SENATE, IS A LEGISLATIVE STINKER [A VERY BAD BILL]. THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON PRESIDENT CLINTON AGREED TO ITS WRONGHEADED PROVISIONS: AFTER LAST WEEK'S VICIOUS SHOOTDOWN OF TWO CUBAN-AMERICAN PLANES, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE STOMACH FOR FACING DOWN A MOB OF CUBA-BAITING REPUBLICANS AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY. THE TRUTH IS, THE MEASURE ... WILL HARM THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN CUBA. [OPT] ITS PROVISIONS WILL PUT AMERICA SERIOUSLY AT ODDS WITH ITS MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS... IT WILL IMPAIR U-S BUSINESS OPERATIONS ABROAD."[END OPT]

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" IS AMONG SEVERAL PAPERS CRITICIZING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO CENSURE COLOMBIA FOR FAILING TO DO ENOUGH TO COUNTER ITS DRUG TRADE, WHILE GRANTING RECERTIFICATION TO MEXICO. SAYS THE "TIMES:"

VOICE: "IT IS OFTEN HARD TO SEE WHY SOME COUNTRIES ARE EXEMPTED FROM CENSURE WHILE OTHERS ARE NOT. THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, MEXICO WAS NOT SINGLED OUT FOR AMERICAN SANCTIONS, EVEN THOUGH IT SERVES AS THE TRANSIT POINT FOR 70 PERCENT OF THE DRUGS FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES. COLOMBIA, HOME OF SOME OF THE BIGGEST DRUG CARTELS, WAS DESIGNATED FOR SANCTIONS... THERE OUGHT TO BE A MORE CONSISTENT WAY TO CONDUCT AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" OFFERS A SIMILAR VIEW:

VOICE: "DON'T LOOK FOR COMMON-SENSE CRITERIA IN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WRONG-HEADED 'DECERTIFICATION' OF COLOMBIA'S EFFORTS AND 'CERTIFICATION' OF MEXICO'S IN THE WAR ON NARCOTICS... [OPT] CERTIFYING COLOMBIA WOULD HAVE REPRESENTED A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN HARD-WORKING, DECENT COLOMBIAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED AS MUCH, OR MORE, THAN ANYONE IN WASHINGTON FROM THE SCOURGE OF DRUG CARTELS. THE U-S PRESIDENT HAS ONLY MADE THEIR BURDEN GREATER."[END OPT]

TEXT: IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD, AN OLD FAMILIAR FACE IS BACK IN THE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, DRAWING THIS COMMENT FROM "THE BALTIMORE SUN."

VOICE: "MIKHAIL ... GORBACHEV, THE KREMLIN LEADER WHO PRESIDED OVER THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SOVIET UNION, IS SUCH AN UNPOPULAR MAN IN TODAY'S RUSSIA THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY TO WRITE OFF [DISREGARD] HIS RENEWED PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS AS A JOKE. THIS IS A MISTAKE... THE 65-YEAR-OLD FORMER COMMUNIST CHIEF COULD PERFORM A VALUABLE SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY BY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN SO TIGHTLY FOCUSED ON ISSUES ... IT WOULD FORCE PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND GENNADY ZYUGANOV, THE NEO-COMMUNIST CANDIDATE, TO OUTLINE THEIR SPECIFIC POLICIES FOR RUSSIA'S FUTURE."

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, THE "WASHINGTON POST" SAYS "IT IS ... WORTH NOTING WHAT THE GORBACHEV CANDIDACY SAYS FOR THE HEALTH OF RUSSIA'S YOUNG DEMOCRACY".

VOICE: "RUSSIA'S RULERS TRADITIONALLY HAVE DIED ON THE THRONE, OR HAVE BEEN MURDERED THERE. MR. GORBACHEV, BY CONTRAST, HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS RELENTLESSLY CRITICIZING HIS SUCCESSOR, BORIS YELTSIN, HIMSELF NOW A CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION. THAT HE IS NONETHELESS FREE TO RUN FOR OFFICE ... IS A POSITIVE SIGN, AND A GOOD OBJECT LESSON FOR WHOEVER CAPTURES THE KREMLIN THIS SUMMER.

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS UPSET AT THE LATEST PLOY BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, THAT OF USING NEWSPAPER ADS TO TRY TO GET NEWLY-ARRIVED VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS TO SPY ON THEIR FELLOW VIETNAMESE, IN AN EFFORT TO LOCATE COMMUNIST SPIES.

VOICE: "THE F-B-I CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN RUNNING IN VIETNAMESE-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING ORANGE COUNTY (CALIFORNIA), WHICH HAS ABOUT 100-THOUSAND VIETNAMESE AND VIETNAMESE AMERICAN RESIDENTS DIVIDED BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF CLOSER RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNISTS GOVERNING VIETNAM. CLEARLY, ADS LIKE THESE CAN ENCOURAGE SUSPICIONS THAT THERE IS A COMMUNIST UNDER EVERY BED... LET'S BE CLEAR. CONCERNS ARE REAL. [BUT] ...THE FBI WOULD BE BETTER OFF USING ITS NORMAL INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES. "

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME U-S EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S PRESS.

NEB/ANG/PCH
06-Mar-96 11:15 AM EST (1615 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[02] BOSNIA-HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED ITS ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE WORLD'S HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT BOTH SERBS AND CROATS CAME IN FOR HEAVY CRITICISM.

TEXT: ALL SIDES COMMITTED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IN ITS 1995 REPORT, BUT THE SERBS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ABUSES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT BLAMES THE SERBS IN BOSNIA FOR MASS MURDER, ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN AREAS BEFORE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS WAS GIVEN A PROMINENT POSITION IN BRINGING THE FIGHTING TO AN END.

IN THE BOSNIA NEGOTIATIONS AT DAYTON, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE PLAYED A ROLE WHICH I BELIEVE IS ALMOST WITHOUT PRECEDENT IN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY. THE PEACE TREATY IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT COMMITS EACH PARTY TO HELP US ACCOUNT FOR PAST WAR CRIMES OR ABUSES.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT DETAILS THE SERB MASSACRES AT SREBRENICA AND ZEPA LAST JULY, ESTIMATING THAT SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR AND ARE PRESUMED DEAD IN WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS MASS KILLINGS PLANNED WELL IN ADVANCE.

THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS BLAMED FOR KILLING THREE HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE IN AREAS OF CROATIA RECLAIMED FROM THE SERBS. MOST OF THE KILLINGS WERE ETHNICALLY MOTIVATED, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS, AND OCCURRED LONG AFTER MILITARY OFFENSIVES WERE OVER. THE REPORT ALSO DETAILS KILLINGS CARRIED OUT BY SERBS IN EASTERN CROATIA AND ACCUSES THE CROATIAN SERBS OF TORTURE AND ABUSES.

THE BOSNIAN CROATS ARE BLAMED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES INCLUDING THEIR SCORCHED EARTH CAMPAIGN IN BOSNIAN AREAS TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE SERBS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT CITES RELIABLE REPORTS THAT BOSNIAN CROAT FORCES OCCASIONALLY KILLED SERB CIVILIANS, MOSTLY ELDERLY MEN BUT ALSO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO WERE UNABLE TO FLEE WHEN THEIR TOWNS WERE SHELLED.

WHILE THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS BLAMED FOR FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DURING MILITARY OPERATIONS LAST MAY AND AUGUST, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD CONTINUES TO BE POOR.

THE REPORT SAYS SERBIAN POLICE CARRY OUT AND CONDONE TORTURE, BRUTAL BEATINGS AND ARBITRARY ARREST. THE STATE DEPARTMENT ACCUSES THE POLICE OF CONDUCTING REPRESSION AGAINST ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO AND AGAINST MUSLIMS IN THE SANDZAK REGION. USE OF FORCE IN BOTH KOSOVO AND SANDZAK, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS, IS BOTH ROUTINE AND CAPRICIOUS. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/LWM
06-Mar-96 3:32 PM EST (2032 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

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

INTRO: BOSNIAN FEDERATION POLICE HAVE TAKEN OVER ANOTHER SERB SUBURB OF SARAJEVO, HADZICI. BUT THE MOVE WAS MARRED HOURS BEFORE THE HAND-OVER WAS TO TAKE PLACE WHEN UN-AUTHORIZED CROAT POLICE MOVED INTO THE AREA. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS INTERNATIONAL POLICE AND NATO OFFICIALS HAD TO THREATEN TO USE FORCE TO EXPEL THE CROATS.

TEXT: HADZICI IS THE THIRD SERB-HELD SUBURB OF SARAJEVO TO BE HANDED OVER TO POLICE FROM THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. THE NEW FEDERATION POLICE WERE DUE TO MOVE INTO HADZICI WEDNESDAY. BUT LATE TUESDAY ABOUT 20 UNAUTHORIZED CROAT POLICE MOVED INTO HADZICI'S POLICE STATION.

U-N OFFICIALS SAID THE MEN WORE CROATIAN POLICE UNIFORMS AND SAID THEY CLAIMED TO BE FROM MOSTAR. BUT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT LATER DENIED THE MEN WERE CROATIAN POLICE.

DURING THE NIGHT, THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER IN BOSNIA CALLED FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF NATO TROOPS, AND THREATENED TO ASK NATO TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO EXPEL THEM. EARLY WEDNESDAY, THE CROATS LEFT AFTER NATO TROOPS MADE A STRONG SHOW OF FORCE.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN, MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK, CONDEMNED THE INCIDENT.

WE ARE GRAVELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THAT THIS SITUATION HAS DEVELOPED, AS THIS DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE PEACE AGREEMENT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY A MINISTER FROM THE FEDERATION GOVERNMENT, AND THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERATION.

THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE IN HADZICI, ZBIGNIEW SOWINSKI, SAID EVERYTHING WOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT THE SERBS WHO CHOSE TO REMAIN IN THE SUBURB.

FOR SURE DURING THIS NIGHT, THERE WILL BE ONE PATROL SENT JUST TO TAKE CARE OF THIS HOUSE, OF THAT HOUSE, BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WHICH HAS HAPPENED.

THE POLICEMAN SAID HE WOULD URGE THE FEDERATION POLICE TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. /// END OPT ///

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS IN HADZICI HAVE BEEN LOOTED BY DEPARTING SERBS AND MUCH OF THE UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. NATO OFFICERS ARE BUSY INSPECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO EXPEDITE REPAIRS.

U-S LIEUTENANT COLONEL MIKE DUNAISKI, WAS BUSY TRYING TO LOCATE THE BREAKS IN HADZICI'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

WE HAVE NOTICED THAT IN SOME OF THE BUSINESS COMPLEXES THAT WERE IN THIS PLACE, A LOT OF THE ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR EACH FACILITY WAS MAYBE DAMAGED OR REMOVED. THAT WILL LENGTHEN THE TIME THOSE PEOPLE CAN RECOVER.

DESPITE SUCH EFFORTS, IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE ANY ELECTRICITY, GAS, OR WATER ARE RESTORED TO THE SUBURB. NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOW TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE TWO REMAINING SERB SUBURBS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL TO TRY TO PREVENT DEPARTING SERBS FROM REMOVING OR VANDALIZING WHAT LITTLE EQUIPMENT STILL REMAINS IN PLACE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DF/JWH/RAE
06-Mar-96 2:24 PM EST (1924 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

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

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS GIVEN ITS APPROVAL FOR THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO HELP IMPLEMENT CIVIL AS WELL AS MILITARY ELEMENTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. MEANWHILE, AS V-O-A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT WAYNE COREY REPORTS, THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF ANOTHER SARAJEVO SUBURB ABANDONED BY THE SERBS.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES INFORMED ITS NATO PARTNERS IN BRUSSELS IT SUPPORTS NEW GUIDELINES FOR NATO TROOPS TO HELP IMPLEMENT NON-MILITARY PROVISIONS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

THE GUIDELINES DEAL WITH HOW NATO CAN ASSIST THE INVESTIGATION OF WAR CRIMES, THE DETENTION OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS, REFUGEE REPATRIATIONS, AND THE HOLDING OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA.

RUSSIA'S BACKING OF THE GUIDELINES ON THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE'S RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE IS, APPARENTLY, STILL NEEDED.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS FINDING IT OCCASIONALLY MUST HAVE MILITARY MUSCLE BEHIND IT TO ENSURE MUSLIM, SERB, OR CROAT COMPLIANCE WITH CIVIL ASPECTS OF THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT.

THAT NEED HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN BY AN INCIDENT THAT PRECEDED THE HANDOVER OF THE THIRD OF FIVE SERB-HELD SARAJEVO SUBURBS THAT ARE TO REVERT TO MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION CONTROL. ABOUT 20 ETHNIC CROAT POLICEMEN ENTERED THE SUBURB OF HADZICI WITHOUT APPROVAL HOURS BEFORE FEDERATION POLICE MOVED IN. NATO AND UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY THE POLICEMEN, WHO WENT INTO HADZICI ON THEIR OWN ,WERE FROM CROATIA. THE CROATIAN NEWS AGENCY (HINA) ALSO SAYS THEY WERE CROATIANS, BUT A POLICE SPOKESMAN IN ZAGREB DENIES IT.

IN ANY CASE, NATO SOLDIERS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE ETHNIC CROAT POLICEMEN WERE TOLD TO GET OUT OF HADZICI OR NATO WOULD FORCE THEM OUT. THE UNAUTHORIZED POLICEMEN FINALLY WITHDREW PEACEFULLY.

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE IN BOSNIA TO RESOLVE. BUT THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE, WHICH IS UNDER U-N CONTROL, IS UNARMED AND TOO SMALL TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MANDATE EFFECTIVELY.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE ETHNIC CROAT POLICEMEN SYMBOLIZES SIGNIFICANT CONTINUING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE CROAT HEAD OF THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, KRESIMIR ZUBAK, WAS RECENTLY QUOTED AS SAYING THESE DIFFERENCES COULD LEAD TO RENEWED WARFARE IF THEY ARE NOT RESOLVED. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/JWH/GPT
06-Mar-96 10:25 AM EST (1525 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[05] GERMANY POLITICS BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: IN GERMANY A COALITION BETWEEN THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS AND THE ENVIRONMENTALIST GREENS PARTY IS SEEN AS A POSSIBLE OPPONENT TO CHALLENGE THE RULING COALITION LED BY CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL. BUT, AS V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN, A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT-GREENS COALITION ALREADY IN EXISTENCE -- IN GERMANY'S MOST POPULOUS STATE, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA -- HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS AND ONLY NARROWLY AVERTED COLLAPSE THIS WEEK.

TEXT: THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS' PLANS TO EXPAND THE DORTMUND REGIONAL AIRPORT IN NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA'S INDUSTRIAL HEARTLAND SPARKED THE DISPUTE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTALIST COALITION PARTNER.

THE GREENS NOT ONLY FIERCELY OPPOSED THAT DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO DISAGREED ON A PROPOSED HIGHWAY EXTENSION, AND DEMANDED STRICT LIMITS ON NIGHTTIME-FLYING AT THE REGION'S MAIN AIRPORT IN COLOGNE.

AFTER HOURS OF TALKS WITH THEIR UN-COMPROMISING COALITION PARTNER (TUESDAY), THE GREENS BACKED OFF, NARROWLY VOTING TO APPROVE A BUDGET DRAFTED BY THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, AND TO STOP OPPOSING PLANS TO EXPAND THE DORTMUND AIRPORT.

A MEMBER OF THE GREEN'S PARLIAMENT FACTION IN NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, CHRISTIANE BAINSKI, SAYS THE FUTURE OF THE COALITION IS STILL NOT CERTAIN.

AT THIS POINT, EVERYTHING IS STILL OPEN. ON THE 16TH OF MARCH, THE CONGRESS OF OUR PARTY IN NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA WILL REVIEW THE EIGHT-MONTH COALITION WORK WITH THE S-P-D. THIS CONGRESS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO GO ON WITH THE COALITION, OR NOT. THE NARROW MAJORITY OF THE 13 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE BUDGET WANT TO LEAVE IT UP TO THIS CONGRESS TO DECIDE, INSTEAD OF GIVING THE S-P-D THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK OFF THE COALITION NOW. THE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THE GREENS PARTY AND THE S-P-D IS STILL TENSE.

AT ISSUE FOR THE TWO PARTIES IS NOT ONLY THEIR COALITION, WHICH IS BEING CLOSELY WATCHED AS A MODEL FOR A POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP TO CHALLENGE CHANCELLOR KOHL IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN 1998. A COLLAPSE OF THE COALITION NOW MIGHT ALSO AFFECT THREE STATE ELECTIONS LATER THIS MONTH. VOTING IN THE FEDERAL STATES IS ALWAYS CLOSELY WATCHED FOR NATIONAL TRENDS, AND THIS MONTH'S STATE ELECTIONS ARE THE LAST BEFORE THE 1998 NATIONAL POLL.

IN EDITORIALS WEDNESDAY, POLITICAL COMMENTATORS SAY THE CRISIS HAS BEEN DEFUSED. BUT THEY ASK, FOR HOW LONG? ONE COMMENTATOR SAYS THE SO-CALLED -- MODEL FOR BONN -- SEEMS,DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PARTIES AVERTED COLLAPSE, LIKE A THING OF THE PAST.

THE PAPER ARGUES, IF THE GREENS HAD TRULY ACTED ACCORDING TO THEIR POLITICAL AND ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES THE COALITION WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE BROKEN. THE COMMENTATOR SUMS IT UP, SAYING THERE IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES: HOW MUCH TRAFFIC, HOW MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE, INDUSTRY, AND JOBS DOES THE STATE NEED -- AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS? (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/JWH/RAE
06-Mar-96 9:04 AM EST (1404 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[06] GERMANY JOBLESS (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: GERMAN UN-EMPLOYMENT SHOT UP TO A NEW POSTWAR RECORD IN FEBRUARY AND OFFICIALS SAY IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY WHEN THE SITUATION MAY IMPROVE. FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: LATEST FIGURES FROM THE FEDERAL LABOR OFFICE SHOW MORE THAN ONE IN NINE ABLE-BODIED GERMANS WERE OUT OF WORK IN FEBRUARY -- THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW THE JOBLESS RATE BROKE NEW GROUND.

THE JUMP IN THE MONTHLY UN-EMPLOYMENT RATE TO 11-POINT-ONE-PERCENT MEANS MORE THAN FOUR-MILLION PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK -- THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

WORKERS IN THE FORMER EAST GERMANY HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT. THE JOBLESS RATE THERE JUMPED FROM 16-POINT-EIGHT-PERCENT IN JANUARY TO 17-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT LAST MONTH.

LABOR OFFICE OFFICIALS BLAME STAGNANT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND AN UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER FOR THE FIGURES. BUT RENATA HORNUNG-DRAUS, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF GERMAN EMPLOYERS, SAYS THERE IS AT LEAST ANOTHER KEY FACTOR.

THE DECREASING VOLUME OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR UNEMPLOYED, ESPECIALLY IN EAST GERMANY, SIMPLY BECAUSE PUBLIC FINANCE, FUNDS ARE RUNNING OUT. ALSO THE VERY BAD ECONOMIC SITUATION.

SOME ANALYSTS HAVE SUGGESTED THE GERMAN ECONOMY COULD WELL BE HEADED INTO A RECESSION, BUT ECONOMICS MINISTER GUENTER REXRODT SAYS HE DOES NOT AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT.

NEVERTHELESS, MR. REXRODT CALLS RISING JOBLESSNESS A SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC THREAT AND HE SAYS OFFICIALS MUST IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO FIGHT UN-EMPLOYMENT.

CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL'S GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED AN ECONOMIC AUSTERITY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CUT THE COUNTRY'S JOBLESS RATE IN HALF BY THE YEAR 2000.

MS. HORNUNG-DRAUS SAYS THAT GOAL WILL REQUIRE SOME PAINFUL MEASURES.

ITS ONLY POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL IF WE MAKE SERIOUS REFORMS IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND THAT SIMPLY CAN NOT GO WITHOUT CUTS IN BENEFITS.

OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE OBJECTED TO THE KOHL GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS TO CREATE NEW JOBS - BUT ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO AGREEMENT ON ANOTHER COURSE OF ACTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/ADEN/RAE
06-Mar-96 11:28 AM EST (1628 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.

[07] NATO / BOSNIA (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS HAVE AGREED TO NEW GUIDELINES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE IN BOSNIA. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE CHANGES WILL ENABLE THE NATO FORCE TO GIVE MORE ASSISTANCE TO CIVILIAN OPERATIONS.

TEXT: NATO OFFICIALS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THE MAIN TASK FOR THE MILITARY FORCE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD. THIS INVOLVES KEEPING THE WARRING FACTIONS SEPARATE, AND OVERSEEING THE DEMILITARIZATION OF THE WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY. BUT, THEY SAY THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN THE PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, KNOWN AS I-FOR, CAN LEND A HAND TO THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE BOSNIA OPERATION. THEY SAY SUCH ASSISTANCE WILL BE GIVEN ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, IF THE MILITARY CAN SPARE THE RESOURCES.

HELP COULD BE GIVEN WITH LOGISTICS, ESCORTING CIVILIAN TEAMS, IN DETAINING OR GUARDING WAR CRIMINALS, OR PATROLLING THE SITES OF SUSPECTED MASS GRAVES.

THERE COULD ALSO BE LOGISTICS OR SECURITY HELP WITH THE ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR LATER THIS YEAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THE UNITED STATES IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANY BIG CHANGE IN THE ROLES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE NATO-LED MILITARY FORCE. BUT, THE UNITED STATES IS BELIEVED TO BE HAPPY WITH THE NEW AGREEMENT. THE TOP U-S COMMANDER IN EUROPE, GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSIONS.

HE SAYS THERE WILL BE MORE AREAS WHERE THE MILITARY WILL BE ASKED TO ASSIST, AND HE DOES NOT WANT THE TROOPS TO STAND IDLY BY IF THEY CAN BE OF USE -- AND CAN BE SPARED.

NATO OFFICIALS STRESS THE AIM IS TO HELP WITH THE CIVILIAN OPERATION, AND NOT TO TAKE OVER THE TASKS WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE CIVILIAN SIDE. (SIGNED)

NEB/JF/JWH/RAE
06-Mar-96 11:12 AM EST (1612 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America