Voice of America, 21 March 1996

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

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: THE NON-BINDING VOTE IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT, THE DUMA, DECLARING THE BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION ILLEGAL COMES IN FOR EDITORIAL COMMENT TODAY IN THE U-S PRESS. OTHER TOPICS UNDER SCRUTINY INCLUDE: SUPPORTING THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN ALGERIA; PRESIDENT CLINTON'T PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1997; THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND A NEW DEBATE OVER THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES IS ____________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" SUGGESTS THE RESURGING COMMUNISTS IN RUSSIA SHOULD NOT WASTE THEIR TIME TRYING TO RESURRECT THE SOVIET UNION.

VOICE: "[OPT] IT TOOK A WHILE TO SINK IN: [TO FULLY COMPREHEND WHAT HAPPENED] LAST WEEK RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, NOW LED BY COMMUNISTS AND NATIONALISTS, PASSED A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE 1991 BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION ILLEGAL. THIS DEVELOPMENT, COUPLED WITH THE FLOUNDERING OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S REFORMIST GOVERNMENT, BODES ILL FOR THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA'S FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY. [END OPT]... COMMUNISTS AND NATIONALISTS IN THE DUMA MAY DAYDREAM ABOUT A RETURN TO PAST GLORIES... BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ANY SORT OF REANNEXATION OF FORMER SATELLITES BORDERING ON THE WEST, BY WHATEVER MEANS, [THE RUSSIANS] SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF SOME OF THOSE NO-PARKING SIGNS YOU SEE HERE [AROUND NEW YORK] AND THERE: DON'T EVEN 'THINK' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] ABOUT IT."

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTO POST" ALSO COMMENTS ON THE DUMA VOTE, UNDER A HEADLINE THAT READS: "NO GOING BACK TO THE U-S-S-R."

VOICE: "MANY RUSSIANS FEEL NOSTALGIC FOR THEIR LOST EMPIRE AND CONCERNED FOR ETHNIC RUSSIANS LIVING IN WHAT BECAME, OVERNIGHT, FOREIGN LANDS. THOSE FEELINGS TRANSLATE INTO POLITICAL PRESSURE FOR CLOSER INTEGRATION AMONG THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS. AS LONG AS SUCH INTEGRATION REMAINS TRULY VOLUNTARY AND NOT EXCLUSIVE OF OTHER NATIONS, IT IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. BUT THE COMMUNISTS, BY RENOUNCING THE SOVIET UNION'S BREAKUP, NOW CALL THE VOLUNTARY NATURE OF REINTEGRATION INTO QUESTION."

TEXT: CASTING AN EYE TOWARD NORTH AFRICA, TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE SUGGESTS THAT U-S POLICY SHOULD SUPPORT THE NEW PRESIDENT OF ALGERIA.

VOICE: "THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT LIAMINE ZEROUAL DESERVES THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS STARTING TO SHOW, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE VISIT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT PELLETREAU TO ALGERIA THIS WEEK... MR. PELLETREAU REAFFIRMED U-S SUPPORT FOR MR. ZEROUAL'S POLICY OF DIALOGUE WITH EXILED OPPONENTS IN THE ISLAMIST POLITICAL MOVEMENT WHILE FIGHTING TERRORISM. CERTAINLY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM SO AS TO ISOLATE THE TERRORISTS, NOT ITSELF."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE STILL REACTING TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997, INCLUDING "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

VOICE: "AS USUAL, THE BUDGET NUMBER TO WATCH ISN'T THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISE OF A ZERO DEFICIT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT CENTURY; THAT IS PIE-IN-THE-SKY [PURELY ROMANTIC SPECULATION]. THE MEANINGFUL NUMBER IS ACTUAL SPENDING, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS WHAT THE CURRENT CONGRESS CAN CONTROL. MR. CLINTON PROPOSES TO SPEND ONE-POINT-635-TRILLION DOLLARS IN FISCAL 1997 -- OR 63 BILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN THE ONE-POINT-572-TRILLION THE FEDS WILL SPEND THIS YEAR, WHICH IS 53-BILLION MORE THAN IT SPENT IN FISCAL 1995. THIS IS HOW WASHINGTON DEFINES HARDSHIP."

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SAYS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET: WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOOD ADVICE FROM ONE OF OUR BRIGHTEST FOUNDERS.

VOICE: "POOR BEN FRANKLIN! ... WE SNUB HIS THRIFTY APHORISMS FOR HOW TO RUN OUR OWN AFFAIRS AND THE NATION'S. [OPT] 'LOST TIME IS NEVER FOUND AGAIN,' HE WROTE IN HIS FAMOUS ALMANAC. AND YET THOSE WHO ROUTINELY SALUTE HIS WISDOM FROM THE BULLY PULPITS OF WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS SEEM WILLING TO LOSE AS MUCH TIME AS IS POLITICALLY TENABLE ON THE ROAD TO BALANCING THE U-S BUDGET. [END OPT] THE LATEST EXAMPLE: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S FISCAL 1997 BUDGET PROPOSAL. ITS SUBTEXT: 'THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT IS OVER' -- AT THE END OF MY NEXT TERM... AT THIS STAGE THERE'S MUCH CYNICISM IN THE LAND ABOUT A CLINTON-DOLE [BUDGET] COMPROMISE. THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE -- BUT NO EXCUSE FOR NOT MAKING ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO GET STARTED DOWN THE RIGHT PATH."

TEXT: IN RELATED COMMENTARY, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS ON SEN. BOB DOLE, THE PRESUMED REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, TO JOIN PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A COMPROMISE ON THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF THE PRESENT CONGRESS -- ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

VOICE: "THE BEST PLACE TO START IS BY REACHING AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, THAT BUDGET BEING NOT THE ONE FOR FISCAL 1997 THAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON JUST SENT UP TO CONGRESS, BUT THE ONE FOR FISCAL 1996, WHICH, LET IT BE RECALLED, BEGAN LAST OCTOBER. PARTISANSHIP ON BOTH SIDES HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET DEADLOCK..."

TEXT: IN GEORGIA "THE ATLANTS CONSTITUTION" TALKS ABOUT THE GENERAL MOTORS STRIKE AT A DAYTON, OHIO, BRAKE PLANT, THAT HAS IDLED MORE THAN 175-THOUSAND OF THE CAR-MARKER'S WORKERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, NOTING:

VOICE: "G-M'S DECISION TO FIGHT THE DAYTON BATTLE IS AN EXPENSIVE ONE. THE COMPANY IS LOSING AT LEAST 50-MILLION DOLLARS A DAY. G-M, WHICH IS BOTH THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOMAKER AND THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE PRIVATE EMPLOYER, IS ENSNARED IN ITS BIGGEST STRIKE IN 26 YEARS. INCREDIBLY, THE WALKOUT CENTERS ON G-M'S PLAN TO ELIMINATE AS FEW AS 88 JOBS IN DAYTON. COULD SO FEW JOBS BE WORTH SO MUCH ECONOMIC PAIN, EITHER TO WORKERS OR THE COMPANY? ... UNION LEADERS SAY THEY MUST TAKE HARD STANDS ON OUTSOURCING [THE PRACTICE OF BUYING SOME CAR SUPPLIES FROM "OUTSIDE" OR CHEAPER, NON-UNION SUPPLIERS] NOW OR FACE HUGE JOB LOSSES IN THE FUTURE... WHEN UNIONS SEEK TO GET U-S COMPANIES TO STAND STILL WHILE GLOBAL COMPETITORS RACE AHEAD, THEY ARE SIMPLY ASKING TOO MUCH."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, WRITING ON WHAT COULD BE CALLED THE "EDIFICE-COMPLEX," "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO CONFLICTING INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS OVER THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING, NOW CENTERED IN ASIA.

VOICE: "... CHICAGO MAY NEED A SHRINK [A PSYCHIATRIST] TO DEAL WITH THE EGO-POUNDING NEWS THAT ITS SEARS TOWER IS NO LONGER THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD... BAD ENOUGH THAT IT HAS GONE THROUGH LIFE KNOWN AS 'WINDY' AND 'HOG BUTCHER TO THE WORLD.' BUT THE WORD FROM KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, IS WORSE THAN BAD, GOING TO THE VERY CONCRETE OF A CITY'S CHARACTER. RAISING THE ... CHALLENGE TO CHICAGO'S 23 YEARS OF UNDISPUTED TOWER POWER ARE THE PETRONAS TWINS, IDENTICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS TOPPING OFF AT 452 METERS, MAKING THEM SLIGHTLY MORE THAN TEN METERS HIGHER THAN THE SEARS BUILDING... [AND FURTHERMORE] AN ENORMOUS DECORATIVE SPIKE PUTS PETRONAS OVER THE TOP, AND IS THAT FAIR? ...WHILE THIS CONTROVERSY MAY SEEM TO BE ONLY A BLIP ON THE WORLD'S RADAR SCREEN, IT TELLS OF THE RICH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THEIR LANDMARKS."

TEXT: AND ON THAT LOFTY NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS.

NEB/ANG/PCH
21-Mar-96 10:38 AM EST (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] NATO / EASTERN EUROPE (L ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE 12 NEW CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES WHO MET IN PRAGUE WITH U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAVE RETURNED HOME WITH GENERALLY POSITIVE ASSESSMENTS OF THEIR TALKS BY NATO EXPANSION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

TEXT: FOR THE POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER, THE PRAGUE MEETING WAS A STEP FORWARD IN POLAND'S DESIRE TO JOIN THE WESTERN DEFENSE ALLIANCE. HE SAID IT SHOULD BECOME CLEAR BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO JOIN, AND WHEN.

CZECH OFFICIALS ARE SIMILARLY UPBEAT ABOUT THE MEETING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND HIS PLEDGE NOT TO KEEP ASPIRING NATO MEMBERS IN THE WAITING ROOM FOREVER. A CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAYS HE HAS NO DOUBT THAT THE CZECH REPUBLIC WILL BE IN NATO BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

THE ISSUE OF NATO EXPANSION IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO THE THREE BALTIC STATES, WHICH FEEL VULNERABLE AND ISOLATED, THEIR INDEPENDENCE AS FRAGILE AS THEIR COUNTRIES ARE SMALL. THE BALTIC MINISTERS FEARS ARE EXACERBATED BY THE RECENT RUSSIAN DUMA RESOLUTION TO RECONSTITUTE THE SOVIET UNION.

LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VALDIS BIRKAVS SAYS HIS COUNTRY WANTS TO JOIN NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION WHILE MAINTAINING CORDIAL, PRODUCTIVE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. THE MINISTER SUGGESTS THAT THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND ARE LIKELY TO BE THE FIRST POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO.

BUT MR. BIRKAVS SAYS HE WORRIES ABOUT A NEW DIVIDE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE FIRST PHASE OF NATO ENLARGEMENT.

THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO AVOID NEW LINES, TO INSTEAD, TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE A ZIG ZAG. FOR EXAMPLE, TO TAKE LITHUANIA TOGETHER WITH POLAND INTO NATO. AND LATVIA WITH THE CZECH REPUBLIC. MAKE SUCH A PARALLEL APPROACH.

MR. BIRKAVS SAYS HE FIRST MADE THIS SUGGESTION LAST YEAR, BUT THAT IT HAS FOUND LITTLE SUPPORT. THE LATVIAN MINISTER WORRIES THAT IN ORDER NOT TO OFFEND RUSSIA, NATO WILL GO VERY SLOW ON ADMITTING THE THREE BALTIC STATES.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE EFFORT TO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A STRONG MOTIVATION FOR POLICY REFORM IN EASTERN EUROPE.

ALREADY THERE HAS BEEN A POSITIVE RESPONSE IN SLOVAKIA TO MR. CHRISTOPHER'S INSISTENCE THAT BRATISLAVA APPROVE A FRIENDSHIP TREATY WITH NEIGHBORING HUNGARY. SLOVAK OFFICIALS SAY THE TREATY, SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR, IS LIKELY TO BE VOTED ON IN PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/JWH/MMK
21-Mar-96 12:30 PM EST (1730 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] NATO EXERCISE (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (EUSKIRCHEN)

INTRO: AS NATO POLITICAL LEADERS DEBATE THE EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE EASTWARD TO INCLUDE FORMER WARSAW PACT MEMBERS, NATO MILITARY OFFICERS ARE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEIR FORMER ENEMIES TO PLAN JOINT OPERATIONS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS OFFICERS FROM SEVERAL FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES ARE IN GERMANY THIS WEEK, FOR AN UNUSUAL JOINT EXERCISE THAT IS PART OF NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM.

TEXT: THE GOAL OF THE WEEKLONG EXERCISE, CALLED COMPACT GUARD 96, IS TO WORK OUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS FOR POSSIBLE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE ALLIANCE'S NORMAL AREA OF OPERATION.

GERMAN ARMY COLONEL ERNST PETERMANN SAYS THE EXERCISE WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME NATO WILL BE TRAINING FOR THAT MISSION WITH STAFF OFFICERS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM.

WE ARE NOW TRAINING WITH OUR FORMER, LET'S SAY ENEMIES, WITH THE PEOPLE FROM THE FORMER WARSAW PACT. THAT'S A NEW CHALLENGE FOR US.

A HANDFUL OF OFFICERS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, HUNGARY, LITHUANIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND SLOVAKIA ARE AMONG THOSE TAKING PART IN WHAT IS LARGELY A PLANNING EXERCISE.

BUT WITH CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND MULTI-NATIONAL PEACEKEEPING NOW ONE OF NATO'S NEW POST COLD WAR MISSIONS, EXERCISES LIKE COMPACT GUARD WILL PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE NATO MEMBERS WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE FOR FUTURE MISSIONS.

POLISH LIEUTENANT COLONEL ZBIGNIEW KOSSAKOWSKI, WHO HAS NOW TAKEN PART IN A HALF-DOZEN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE EXERCISES, SAYS THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VALUABLE. BUT HE SAYS FULL NATO MEMBERSHIP WILL NOT BE EASY.

IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO SAY NOW. BUT I KNOW THAT ONE PROBLEM IS WITH LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW.

BESIDES THE FACT THAT MANY OLDER OFFICERS FROM FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS SPEAK MORE RUSSIAN THAN ENGLISH, THERE WILL ALSO BE PROBLEMS WITH DIFFERING LEVELS OF EQUIPMENT AND OF COURSE THE ENORMOUS COST OF EQUALIZING THOSE DIFFERENCES.

CZECH MAJOR ERNEST PALDI SAYS IT IS QUESTIONABLE IF NATO MEMBERSHIP COULD TAKE PLACE RIGHT AWAY.

I THINK, AND WE TALK TO EACH OTHER ON SOME EXERCISES AND SOME CONFERENCES WITH COLLEAGUES FROM NATO ALLIANCE, AND THIS IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM.

BOTH MEN SAY JOINING NATO WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR THEIR COUNTRIES.

BUT LIKE HUNGARIAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNST ANDRESZ, THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT WILL TAKE TIME.

I THINK WE CAN CONNECT TO NATO IN FIVE YEARS. I THINK, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO PREPARE....

COLONEL ADRESZ, A FORMER POLITICAL WORKER IN THE ARMY WHO TRAINED FOR A NEW JOB AFTER THE END OF THE COLD WAR, SAYS HE HOPES FURTHER INTEGRATION WITH WESTERN EUROPE WILL NOT BE TOO FAR OFF.

BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF JOINING NATO, HE APPEARS REALISTIC.

NOT EASY (LAUGHTER), I THINK..

NATO OFFICIALS HAVE STILL NOT SAID WHICH OF THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN JOINING NATO ARE THE CLOSEST TO THAT GOAL.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND, HUNGARY, AND SLOVAKIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE FIRST. BUT WHEN THAT MAY HAPPEN IS STILL FAR FROM CLEAR. IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE TAKING PART IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH NATO. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
21-Mar-96 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] NATO EXERCISE (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (EUSKIRCHEN)

INTRO: AS NATO POLITICAL LEADERS DEBATE THE EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE EASTWARD TO INCLUDE FORMER WARSAW PACT MEMBERS, NATO MILITARY OFFICERS ARE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEIR FORMER ENEMIES TO PLAN JOINT OPERATIONS. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS OFFICERS FROM SEVERAL FORMER WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES ARE IN GERMANY THIS WEEK, FOR AN UNUSUAL JOINT EXERCISE THAT IS PART OF NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM.

TEXT: THE GOAL OF THE WEEKLONG EXERCISE, CALLED COMPACT GUARD 96, IS TO WORK OUT THE ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS FOR POSSIBLE NATO PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE ALLIANCE'S NORMAL AREA OF OPERATION.

GERMAN ARMY COLONEL ERNST PETERMANN SAYS THE EXERCISE WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME NATO WILL BE TRAINING FOR THAT MISSION WITH STAFF OFFICERS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM.

WE ARE NOW TRAINING WITH OUR FORMER, LET'S SAY ENEMIES, WITH THE PEOPLE FROM THE FORMER WARSAW PACT. THAT'S A NEW CHALLENGE FOR US.

A HANDFUL OF OFFICERS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, HUNGARY, LITHUANIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND SLOVAKIA ARE AMONG THOSE TAKING PART IN WHAT IS LARGELY A PLANNING EXERCISE.

BUT WITH CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND MULTI-NATIONAL PEACEKEEPING NOW ONE OF NATO'S NEW POST COLD WAR MISSIONS, EXERCISES LIKE COMPACT GUARD WILL PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE NATO MEMBERS WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE FOR FUTURE MISSIONS.

POLISH LIEUTENANT COLONEL ZBIGNIEW KOSSAKOWSKI, WHO HAS NOW TAKEN PART IN A HALF-DOZEN PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE EXERCISES, SAYS THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VALUABLE. BUT HE SAYS FULL NATO MEMBERSHIP WILL NOT BE EASY.

IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO SAY NOW. BUT I KNOW THAT ONE PROBLEM IS WITH LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW.

BESIDES THE FACT THAT MANY OLDER OFFICERS FROM FORMER WARSAW PACT NATIONS SPEAK MORE RUSSIAN THAN ENGLISH, THERE WILL ALSO BE PROBLEMS WITH DIFFERING LEVELS OF EQUIPMENT AND OF COURSE THE ENORMOUS COST OF EQUALIZING THOSE DIFFERENCES.

CZECH MAJOR ERNEST PALDI SAYS IT IS QUESTIONABLE IF NATO MEMBERSHIP COULD TAKE PLACE RIGHT AWAY.

I THINK, AND WE TALK TO EACH OTHER ON SOME EXERCISES AND SOME CONFERENCES WITH COLLEAGUES FROM NATO ALLIANCE, AND THIS IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM.

BOTH MEN SAY JOINING NATO WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR THEIR COUNTRIES.

BUT LIKE HUNGARIAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNST ANDRESZ, THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT WILL TAKE TIME.

I THINK WE CAN CONNECT TO NATO IN FIVE YEARS. I THINK, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO PREPARE....

COLONEL ADRESZ, A FORMER POLITICAL WORKER IN THE ARMY WHO TRAINED FOR A NEW JOB AFTER THE END OF THE COLD WAR, SAYS HE HOPES FURTHER INTEGRATION WITH WESTERN EUROPE WILL NOT BE TOO FAR OFF.

BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF JOINING NATO, HE APPEARS REALISTIC.

NOT EASY (LAUGHTER), I THINK..

NATO OFFICIALS HAVE STILL NOT SAID WHICH OF THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN JOINING NATO ARE THE CLOSEST TO THAT GOAL.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND, HUNGARY, AND SLOVAKIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE FIRST. BUT WHEN THAT MAY HAPPEN IS STILL FAR FROM CLEAR. IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE TAKING PART IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH NATO. (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
21-Mar-96 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] RUSSIA / NATO (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS HIS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN LEADERS HAVE FAILED TO EASE KREMLIN CONCERNS ABOUT THE ALLIANCE'S EASTWARD EXPANSION. PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: THURSDAY'S MEETING BETWEEN THE NATO CHIEF AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WAS CORDIAL, BUT YIELDED NO PROGRESS. AFTERWARD, MR. SOLANA SAID HE HAD MADE IT CLEAR THE WESTERN ALLIANCE WOULD GO AHEAD WITH PLANS TO INCORPORATE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. HE SAID MR. YELTSIN HAD BEEN EQUALLY FIRM IN HIS OPPOSITION.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THAT THE POSITIONS AS FAR AS THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO ARE CONCERNED, THEY ARE DIFFERENT. BUT I DO THINK AND I DO HOPE THAT BY MAINTAINING THIS DIALOGUE ON A PERMANENT BASIS, WE CAN ACHIEVE A CLOSER POSITION ON THAT, BUT AS TODAY, THE POSITION OF THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES IS THE SAME THAT THEY HAD YESTERDAY.

MR. SOLANA SAID HE TOLD PRESIDENT YELTSIN NATO'S DECISION TO EXPAND HAD BEEN MADE IN 1994, AND WOULD NOT BE CHANGED.

MR. YELTSIN, FACING A STRONG COMMUNIST CHALLENGE IN JUNE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MADE NO SECRET OF HIS FIERCE OPPOSITION TO THE ALLIANCE'S ENLARGEMENT. AS THEIR MEETING BEGAN, HE TOLD THE NATO CHIEF HE WOULD TAKE A TOUGHER LINE THAN HIS FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO WAS QUOTED A WEEK AGO AS SAYING A COMPROMISE MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

DURING HIS VISIT TO MOSCOW, MR. SOLANA HAS REPEATEDLY EMPHASIZED RUSSIA HAS NOTHING TO FEAR FROM NATO EXPANSION. HE SAID HE HAD SPOKEN TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF RUSSIA'S CURRENT PARTICIPATION IN THE NATO-LED BOSNIAN PEACE FORCE.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST FRIDAY OF VISITING THE TROOPS, THE RUSSIAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA-HERZOGOVINA. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AT SEEING HOW TOGETHER RUSSIAN SOLDIERS AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE PATROLLING IN A REGION WHICH IS COMPLICATED, AS YOU KNOW, WHICH IS THE POSAVINA CORRIDOR AROUND THAT AREA.

DURING HIS THREE-DAY VISIT TO MOSCOW, MR. SOLANA IS ALSO TRYING TO REASSURE COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS ABOUT NATO'S INTENTIONS. HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD THE COMMUNIST LEADER OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, NATO BEARS NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE COLD WAR MILITARY ALLIANCE.

OPPOSITION TO THE ALLIANCE'S MOVE EASTWARD IS ONE ISSUE ON WHICH MOST RUSSIANS APPEAR UNITED. ALL LEADING CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT HAVE SPOKEN OUT FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE EXPANSION PLAN. IN A COMMENTARY LAST WEEK, THE COMMUNIST PARTY NEWSPAPER PRAVDA WARNED NATO ENLARGEMENT WOULD BRING ABOUT ANOTHER DIVISION OF EUROPE, AND FORCE RUSSIA TO BUILD UP ITS NUCLEAR DETERRENT TO PROTECT ITSELF. (SIGNED)

NEB/PH/JWH/CF
21-Mar-96 10:39 AM EST (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] SERB REFUGEES BY JOLYON NAEGELE (BIJELJINA)

INTRO: WITH THE LAST SERB-HELD SUBURB OF SARAJEVO NOW CONTROLLED BY THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL IS UNITED AFTER FOUR YEARS OF FIGHTING. BUT UP TO 70-THOUSAND SERBS FLED TO OTHER PARTS OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IN ADVANCE OF THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY. TEN-THOUSAND OF THEM ARE SETTLING IN BIJELJINA (PRONOUNCED: BEE-YEL-LEENA) IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S JOLYON NAEGELE SPOKE WITH THE TOWN'S MAYOR AND SENDS THIS REPORT

TEXT: THE RECENT FLIGHT OF SERBS FROM SARAJEVO AS FROM WESTERN BOSNIA AND THE KRAJINA LAST YEAR IS ONLY PARTLY DUE TO COERCION BY SERB AUTHORITIES WHO ABANDONED THEIR COMMUNITIES IN ADVANCE OF THE TRANSFER OF POWER. THE MASS EXODUS IS AS MUCH DUE TO FEAR OF RETRIBUTION BY RETURNING MUSLIMS AND CROATS AS TO WHAT SOME CALL A MASS PSYCHOSIS. IN THE WORDS OF A RECENT ARRIVAL FROM ILIJAS, "EVERYONE WAS LEAVING, SO WE LEFT TOO."

THE MAYOR OF BIJELJINA, DRAGOMIR LJUBOJEVIC, SAYS SUCCESSIVE WAVES OF SERB REFUGEES FLEEING FROM OTHER PARTS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE GIVEN BIJELJINA A GREATER SHARE OF REFUGEES THAN VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE ELSE IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA.

BIJELJINA (COMMUNE) TOGETHER WITH SURROUNDING VILLAGES HAD A POPULATION OF 96-THOUSAND ACCORDING TO THE 1991 CENSUS. FIFTY-NINE PER CENT WERE SERBS, 31 PERCENT MUSLIMS, AND FOUR PERCENT CROATS. THE MUSLIMS LIVED MALNLY IN THE TOWN WHILE THE RURAL POPULATION WAS LARGELY SERB. BUT AS A RESULT OF THE FIGHTING, MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE MUSLIMS FLED, WERE EXPELLED, OR KILLED. TODAY THE POPULATION OF THE COMMUNE IS 120-THOUSAND, INCLUDING 50-THOUSAND SERB REFUGEES. THAT FIGURE HAS BEEN RISING DAILY WITH THE ARRIVAL OF AN ESTIMATED 10-THOUSAND SERBS FROM THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS.

MANY ARRIVALS ARE BEING HOUSED IN HOMES THAT BELONG TO MUSLIMS WHO FLED OR WERE EXPELLED DURING THE WAR. THE MAYOR OF BIJELJINA DOES NOT ENVISION THEIR RETURN ANY TIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENTS OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION ULTIMATELY WILL HAVE TO AGREE ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HE SAYS FORMER RESIDENTS WILL EITHER BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR PROPERTIES OR ELSE WILL RECEIVE SOME FORM OF RESTITUTION. HE NOTES THAT SOME SERB FAMILIES FROM NEARBY TUZLA IN THE FEDERATION, WHO FOUND REFUGE IN BIJELJINA, HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE BY AGREEING ABOUT EXCHANGING THEIR HOMES WITH BIJELJINA MUSLIMS WHO FLED TO TUZLA.

LJUDI KOJE SE TAMO OVAJ BORILI MEDJUSOBNO, RATOVALI, SIGURNO DA NEMOGU DA ZIVA ZAJEDNO, ALL JE PROBLEM STO ODLUKU DALI CE OSTATI ILL IZACI.

PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT HERE AGAINST EACH OTHER, FOUGHT A WAR, CERTAINLY CANNOT LIVE TOGETHER, THE MAYOR WARNS, ADDING THAT THE QUESTION REMAINS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL WHETHER TO STAY OR LEAVE. BUT THE MAYOR SAYS IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MUSLIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY LEFT TO RETURN TO BIJELJINA AS LONG AS THEY HAVE NO WHERE TO LIVE.

ONI SE NEMAJU GDJE VRATITI. SAMI SI STE MOLI TO UVJERIT DA JE BIJELJINA OVAJ KRCATA IZBEGLICAMA I DA BI SIGURNO DOLAZA NEKIH UUDI MOZNO IZ OVANIH INCIDENTI...

THEY HAVE NO WHERE TO COME BACK TO, MAYOR LJUBOJEVIC SAYS, NOTING THAT BIJELJINA IS ALREADY PACKED WITH REFUGEES. HE SAYS A RETURN OF THESE PEOPLE COULD PROVOKE INCIDENTS AND FURTHER TROUBLES IN THIS AREA, SOMETHING HE SAYS NOBODY WANTS. MAYOR LJUBOJEVIC SAYS ONLY ONCE SERB REFUGEES WHO HAVE SETTLED IN BIJEUINA RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WILL THE FORMER MUSLIM INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN BE ABLE TO BEGIN RECLAIMING THEIR PROPERTIES.

REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AUTHORITIES AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION ROUTINELY ASSIGN HOUSING TO REFUGEES WITHOUT REGARD TO PROPERTY OWNERSHIP. THUS MUSLIM REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS ARE FREQUENTLY SETTLED IN ABANDONED SERB-OWNED PROPERTIES IN THE FEDERATION, JUST AS SERBS ARE SETTLED IN MUSLIM-OWNED PROPERTIES IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA. THIS HAS HAMPERED EFFORTS BY INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS U-N-H-C-R TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN MAKING DAMAGED HOMES HABITABLE. ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE ONLY IN CASES WHERE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IS CLEAR AND GUARANTEED IN WRITING BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

PENDING ASSIGNMENT OF WHAT LITTLE SPARE HOUSING REMAINS, THE MAYOR OF BIJELJINA SAYS THE NEW ARRIVALS FROM THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS ARE SLEEPING WHEREVER THEY CAN FIND SPACE.

PO NAPUSTENIM OBJEKTIMA, POLOSLUSENIM OBJEKTIMA, GARAZAMA...

THEY ARE IN ABANDONED HOMES, HALF-BUILT OBJECTS, GARAGES, ATTICS, CARS, AND TRUCKS, WHEREVER, MAYOR LJUBJEVIC SAYS, THEY CAN FIND SHELTER. HE SAYS THERE IS A DANGER OF DISEASE BREAKING OUT AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF ADEQUATE WATER AND SANITARY FACILITIES.

NEB/JN/CF
21-Mar-96 8:04 AM EST (1304 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[07] THE BOSNIAN PEACE INCHES FORWARD BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS MOVED BACK INTO THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF SARAJEVO AND ITS LAST SERB-HELD SUBURBS FINALLY CAME TOTALLY UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL. THAT WAS BOTH THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS FROM THE BALKANS, AS WE HEAR IN THIS EDITORIAL REACTION, PRESENTED BY __________________ AS TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT FINALLY, AFTER WEEKS OF LOOTING AND FIRES, THE LAST SERBIAN-CONTROLLED SUBURBS OF THE FORMALLY MULTIETHNIC CAPITAL CITY WERE TURNED OVER TO THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. THE BAD NEWS WAS THAT WHAT WAS TURNED OVER WERE BURNED OUT HULKS OF BUILDINGS WITH ALMOST NO PEOPLE IN THEM. SERBIAN TROOPS AND CIVILIANS, ACTING AS GANGS ACCORDING TO NATO FORCES, HAD MOVED THROUGH THE AREA THREATENING VIOLENCE OR WORSE AGAINST THOSE SERBS WHO APPEARED READY TO STAY.

SO AS SEVERAL U-S PAPERS HAVE NOTED, THE DREAM OF RECREATING SARAJEVO AS A MULTIETHNIC CAPITAL CITY, WHICH IT WAS BEFORE THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD CIVIL WAR, SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. AND SOME PAPERS NOTE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS STILL SOME MUTED PLEASURE THAT AT LAST, WITH NATO TROOPS BACKING THEM UP, THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION GOVERNMENT WAS AT LAST IN CONTROL OF MOST OF THE TERRITORY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTROL.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, WITH "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS":

VOICE: "THE LAST SERB-HELD SECTION OF SARAJEVO WAS RETURNED TO BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL ON SCHEDULE. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. ONCE AGAIN, U-S REPAIR WORK HAS PREVENTED THE CIVILIAN SIDE FROM UNRAVELING. ...... BUT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE, IF ANY, INDICATION BY THE MUSLIM, CROAT AND SERB POPULATIONS THAT THEY NOW ARE ANY MORE WILLING TO LIVE TOGETHER PEACEABLY THAN BEFORE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AGREED TO END THE ETHNIC FIGHTING. THAT'S THE BAD NEWS. .....U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS NOW SHOULD CENTER ON MAKING PLAIN TO THE THREE BALKAN LEADERS THAT THE DAYTON ACCORD WAS NOT UNDERTAKEN SO THAT THEY CAN GO BACK TO WAR ONCE ALL THE PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED."

TEXT: IN "THE WASHINGTON POST", MEANWHILE, THERE IS MOSTLY SADNESS AT WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

VOICE: "TODAY IS THE DAY SARAJEVO WAS MEANT TO EMERGE FROM THE WAR'S TOILS AS BOSNIA'S SINGLE, UNIFIED MULTI-ETHNIC CAPITAL. BUT SERBS AND MUSLIMS HAVE SEEN TO IT THAT WHILE THE CITY IS ESCAPING FROM SERB OCCUPATION AND TERROR, IT IS MOVING TO SINGLE MUSLIM POSSESSION AND CONTROL. THIS STATUS CUTS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE FUNDAMENTAL INTENT OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS TO PUT A WAR-DIVIDED COUNTRY GRADUALLY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DAY OF CELEBRATION IS AN OCCASION FOR NO SMALL DESPAIR."

TEXT: IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES", THERE IS THIS APPRAISAL:

VOICE: "PEACE HAS ALREADY BROUGHT MANY BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLES OF BOSNIA, BUT IT HAS NOT BROUGHT RECONCILIATION AND TRUST. THE MOST DISHEARTENING EXAMPLE IS SARAJEVO, WHERE AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION SURVIVED THE WAR, BUT MAY NOT SURVIVE THE COMING OF PEACE. IF THE PATTERN OF ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AND FLIGHT THAT HAS RAVAGED THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS IN RECENT DAYS EXTENDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE PROMISE OF A REUNIFIED BOSNIA WILL BE LOST."

TEXT: TURNING TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT IT SEES AS VERY FLAWED PROGRESS.

VOICE: "SENIOR NATO OFFICIALS WERE QUICK TO CONDEMN ALL SIDES IN THE WAKE OF THE SERB PLUNDERING AND RAPE OF GRBAVICA, THE LAST OF THE FIVE SERB-CONTROLLED SUBURBS TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE FLEDGLING MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION. YET ..... TOP NATO BRASS HAVE BEEN EQUALLY QUICK TO DECLARE THE ALLIANCE'S MILITARY MISSION A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR HAVING MANAGED TO SEPARATE THE COMPETING ARMIES, VIRTUALLY WITHOUT BLOODSHED ..... THAT PECULIAR VIEW OF NATO'S ROLE IN THE OVERALL PEACE PROCESS WAS DRAMATICALLY CONFIRMED BY THE INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS OF NATO TROOPS PATROLLING GRBAVICA TO ACT FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE GANGS OF SERBIAN THUGS WHO RAN WILD IN THE STREETS OVER THE WEEKEND, BURNING AND PILLAGING HOMES AND RAPING ELDERLY SERB WOMEN IN A FINAL, SPITEFUL CAMPAIGN OF TERROR - - THIS TIME AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, MEANWHILE, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" WONDERS ABOUT THE RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE EXPELLED FROM THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

VOICE: "AS MANY AS TWO MILLION BOSNIANS LOST THEIR HOMES IN THE CIVIL WAR THERE AND ARE NOW SCATTERED AND ADRIFT ACROSS EUROPE. MANY IN THAT REFUGEE DIASPORA WILL SOON ATTEMPT TO PUT DOWN NEW ROOTS IN THEIR OLD LAND. THE INTERNATIONAL POWERS, WHICH HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH IN FOSTERING MILITARY AND POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, OWE IT TO THE BOSNIANS AND TO THE CAUSE OF PEACE TO HELP IN THE RESETTLEMENT."

TEXT: "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" BRINGS THE BOSNIAN ISSUE HOME TO U-S POLITICS, VOICING CRITICISM OF THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BOB DOLE, FOR HIS CURRENT STAND ON BOSNIA:

VOICE: "WOULD SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY HE IS WRECKING U-S POLICY ON BOSNIA? LAST WEEK, MR. DOLE GOT THE SENATE TO ... WITHHOLD 200-MILLION-DOLLARS IN CIVILIAN AID TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT UNTIL A SMALL NUMBER OF IRANIAN MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE AGENTS LEAVE THE COUNTRY. THAT'S A WORTHY GOAL, BUT CUTTING CIVILIAN AID ISN'T GOING TO ACHIEVE IT... BLOCKING RECONSTRUCTION AID IS PUSHING BOSNIA TOWARD THE VERY FATE THAT MR. DOLE CLAIMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. IS THAT WHAT HE WANTS? OR DO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS REQUIRE THAT MR. CLINTON'S BOSNIAN PEACE PLAN FAIL?"

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE "THE SUN" SEES THE REUNITING OF RESIDENTS OF THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL, SARAJEVO, AND ITS SUBURBS AS A HOLLOW VICTORY:

VOICE: "AS THE WALLS THAT DIVIDED SARAJEVO DURING FOUR YEARS OF CIVIL WAR COME TUMBLING DOWN, WHAT REMAINS IS A CRUEL MOCKERY OF THE

BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORDS. IT IS NO LONGER THE CITY IT ONCE WAS -- COSMOPOLITAN, TOLERANT, MULTI-ETHNIC -- NOR IS IT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT THE BIG-POWER DIPLOMATS ENVISIONED WHEN THEY MET AT DAYTON (OHIO) LAST YEAR... WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN SARAJEVO IN THESE LAST FEW DAYS MAY BE ANOTHER SIGNAL THAT THIS STRUGGLE WILL GO ON AND ON, EASILY OUTLASTING THE BEST EFFORTS OF WELL-MEANING OUTSIDERS... IN THE BALKANS, GRIEVANCES ARE NURTURED ... FOR CENTURIES."

TEXT: A SIMILAR VIEW IS EXPRESSED BY "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND:

VOICE: "YESTERDAY, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WAR AND THE LONGEST SIEGE IN MODERN HISTORY, SARAJEVO WAS UNITED UNDER MUSLIM-CROAT CONTROL. BUT TERRITORIAL UNITY IS NOT TRANSLATING INTO THE PEACEFUL ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAT EXISTED BEFORE BOSNIA TORE ITSELF APART. FAR FROM IT."

TEXT: AND THAT ENDS THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL REACTION FROM THE U-S PRESS ABOUT THE TURNOVER OF THE LAST SERB-CONTROLLED AREAS OF GREATER SARAJEVO TO THE BOSNIAN-CROAT FEDERATION GOVERNMENT.

NEB/ANG/NL
21-Mar-96 1:28 PM EST (1828 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America