Voice of America, 24 May 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

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

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION PREVIEW (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

[03] BOSNIA/ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

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

[05] EUROPE ECONOMIES (L ONLY) (CQ) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[06] YUGO SITREP (L-RERUN) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

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

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS GET ATTENTION IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF LEADING U-S PAPERS THIS FRIDAY, INCLUDING TWO ISSUES INVOLVING CHINA; THE FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA, AND THE U-S SUPREME COURT RULING PROTECTING HOMOSEXUALS. [OPT] ALSO OF INTEREST: THE NATIONAL WELFARE DEBATE; THE ISRAELI AND RUSSIAN ELECTIONS AND THE DEATH OF FAMED V-O-A JAZZ PRESENTER WILLIS CONOVER. HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD CAUTIONS THE CONGRESS TO GO SLOWLY IN CONSIDERING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RECOMMENDATION TO RENEW MOST FAVORED NATION (M-F-N) TRADING STATUS FOR CHINA.

VOICE: "IS THE UNITED STATES GOING TO TRADE WITH CHINA OR ARE THE TWO NATIONS GOING TO LAUNCH A TRADE WAR? IF TRADE IS TO BE FREE AND FAIR -- THE ONLY KIND WORTH HAVING -- OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE READY FOR BOTH. OTHERWISE, CHINA'S LEADERS MAY CONTINUE TO MAKE AND BREAK AGREEMENTS, MANIPULATING TRADE AS THEY CHOOSE... WHILE WE FAVOR OPEN TRADE, WHICH M-F-N STATUS ENCOURAGES ... CONGRESS HAS UNTIL EARLY AUGUST TO ACCEPT OR REJECT IT [THE PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXTENSION FOR ANOTHER YEAR]. CONGRESS SHOULD LET THE CLOCK TICK ... UNTIL AFTER THE JUNE 17TH TARIFF DEADLINE [GIVEN BEIJING TO CEASE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PIRATING] TO DEBATE M-F-N STATUS FOR CHINA."

TEXT: TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES WRITES ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS, "STILL ANOTHER U-S - CHINA PROBLEM" -- THE SMUGGLING OF TWO-THOUSAND AK-47 AUTOMATIC ASSAULT RIFLES INTO THE UNITED STATES. SAYS THE TIMES:

VOICE: "THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A FREELANCE VENTURE. THE AK-47S WERE SUPPLIED BY TWO STATE-CONTROLLED ARMS-EXPORTING COMPANIES IN BEIJING. A CONGRESSIONAL SOURCE SAID TWO OF THE MEN ARRESTED ON WEDNESDAY WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE COMPANIES... SMUGGLING ASSAULT RIFLES INTO THE UNITED STATES IMPLICITLY TOUCHES ON THE SECURITY OF ORDINARY AMERICANS. THAT GIVES THIS MATTER AN EMOTIONAL AND POLITICAL RESONANCE QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO VEX U-S - CHINA RELATIONS."

TEXT: NEWSDAY, THE SUBURBAN NEW YORK DAILY ON LONG ISLAND, IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA, AND IS URGING THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES TO HELP EASE A DANGEROUS SITUATION:

VOICE: "WITH WIDESPREAD FAMINE THREATENING ITS PEOPLE AND MILITARY TENSIONS RISING WITH ITS SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR, NORTH KOREA IS LIKE A SHORT-FUSED BOMB WAITING FOR A SPARK. A CONFLAGRATION IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA WOULD THREATEN THE ENTIRE REGION. THE UNITED STATES MUST ACT QUICKLY TO DEFUSE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TENSIONS THROUGH IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID TO RELIEVE FAMINE AND URGE ITS EAST ASIAN ALLIES TO HELP."

TEXT: MOVING TO A VOLATILE DOMESTIC ISSUE, THE BOSTON GLOBE IS REACTING TO MONDAY'S SUPREME COURT RULING UPHOLDING CERTAIN PROTECTIONS FOR HOMOSEXUALS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, NOTING:

VOICE: "THE MAJORITY OF JUSTICES ... SAW THAT KNOCKING DOWN COLORADO'S AMENDMENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PROMOTING A HOMOSEXUAL LIFESTYLE, NOR HAD IT TO DO WITH CREATING A SPECIAL CATEGORY IN WHICH GAYS AND LESBIANS WOULD BE FAVORED. NOR IS IT RELEVANT, IN THIS CONTEXT, WHETHER SEXUAL ORIENTATION SHOULD BE PUT ON A PAR WITH RACE OR RELIGION. ROMER VERSUS EVANS HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH NOT ALLOWING ANY STATE TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE GROUP OR CLASS AND DENYING THEM EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW."

TEXT: SPEAKING OUT ON THE INCREASING POLITICAL DEBATE OVER REFORMING THE FEDERAL WELFARE SYSTEM, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS TODAY:

VOICE: "IN OUR VIEW, STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE GENERALLY BETTER ABLE TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER PROGRAMS LIKE WELFARE AND MEDICAID. ENDING THE FEDERAL PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN ENDING AID TO CHILDREN. GOVERNORS HAVE CONSCIENCES, TOO. A COMPROMISE OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, THAT ENDS FEDERAL CONTROL (THE GOP'S MAIN GOAL) AND YET INSISTS ON A FEW BASIC REQUIREMENTS -- MINIMUM AID TO CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE -- IN SPENDING BLOCK-GRANT MONEY (PRESIDENT CLINTON'S OBJECTIVE.)"

TEXT: TURNING BACK TO AN INTERNATIONAL MATTER, TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN SAYS THE CHOICE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE FORTHCOMING ISRAELI ELECTION.

VOICE: "A VICTORY FOR PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES AND THE LABOR PARTY WOULD VINDICATE THE ACCORD WITH THE P-L-O, SUPPORT NEGOTIATIONS ON THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S PERMANENT STATUS AND PROMOTE THE DIALOGUE WITH SYRIA. A VICTORY FOR BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND THE LIKUD PARTY WOULD REPUDIATE THE TRUST IN THE P-L-O, NIP FINAL STATUS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE BUD AND SNUB SYRIA. ... A [SHIMON] PERES AND LABOR VICTORY COULD LEAD TO A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD. A [BENJAMIN] NETANYAHU AND LIKUD VICTORY WOULD DEFINE PEACE AS DESIRABLE BUT UNOBTAINABLE. DEMOCRACY PROMISES CHOICES, NOT EASY CHOICES."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES COMMENTS TODAY ON ANOTHER CRITICAL ELECTION, THE JUNE 16TH VOTE IN RUSSIA, THE TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS: "THE COMMUNIST MAKEOVER": VOICE "THE REVIVAL OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY SO SOON AFTER THE DEMISE OF COMMUNISM IN RUSSIA IS A CONUNDRUM THAT SEEMS TO DEFY COMMON SENSE AND THE LESSONS OF HISTORY... RUSSIA FACES A FATEFUL CHOICE. A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE NO MORE THREATENING THAN THE MILDEST CAMPAIGN PROMISES OF ITS LEADERS, BUT AFTER SEVEN DECADES OF LIVING UNDER COMMUNIST TYRANNY IT IS HARD TO SEE WHY RUSSIANS WOULD WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE."

TEXT: TODAY'S HOUSTON CHRONICLE DECLARES IN AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "[IT IS] TIME FOR [THE] WORLD TO CONFRONT BURMA'S MILITARY DICTATORS."

VOICE: "TRYING TO PUT A DAMPER ON [SQUELCH] THIS WEEKEND'S OBSERVANCE OF THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF BURMA'S LAST ELECTION, THAT COUNTRY'S MILITARY RULERS HAVE RESORTED TO THE MASS ARREST OF HUNDREDS OF DEMOCRATIC SYMPATHIZERS. OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI ... SAID MANY OF THOSE ARRESTED WERE AMONG THOSE ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT BUT NEVER ALLOWED TO SERVE."

TEXT: FINALLY, TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN COMMENTS ON THE DEATH LAST WEEK OF FAMED V-O-A JAZZ PRESENTER WILLIS CONOVER, WHO WAS A MARYLAND NATIVE:

VOICE: "AMONG AMERICA'S COLD WAR PROPAGANDA INVESTMENTS, ONE OF THE BEST WAS WILLIS CONOVER, WHO SPUN JAZZ AND SWING RECORDS ON THE VOICE OF AMERICA FOR 41 YEARS. HE WAS STRICTLY MUSIC AND NEVER UTTERED A WORD OF POLITICS. BUT TO MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD, MR. CONOVER ... CAME TO REPRESENT EVERYTHING THAT WAS ADMIRABLE ABOUT THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE... AS TWO GRATEFUL BULGARIAN LISTENERS NOTED IN A LETTER TO HIM, 'YOU ARE THE MUSIC, YOU ARE THE LIGHT, YOU ARE THE VOICE OF AMERICA."

TEXT: ON THAT SENTIMENTAL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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24-May-96 11:09 AM EDT (1509 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA ELECTION PREVIEW (L ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: ALBANIA WILL HOLD ITS THIRD DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY. PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS EXPECTED TO FACE A TOUGHER FIGHT TO MAINTAIN ITS CONTROL OF PARLIAMENT. TWO ROUNDS OF VOTING MAY BE NECESSARY. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: ABOUT TWO-AND-A-QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ONE OF EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRIES.

IN A WESTERN-STYLE CAMPAIGN, PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS TOLD VOTERS ALBANIA IS JOINING THE WEST AND THAT THE ECONOMIC REFORMS HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS IMPLEMENTED WILL MAKE THE COUNTRY MORE PROSPEROUS.

HE HAS WARNED THAT ALBANIA WOULD SINK BACK INTO THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DARK AGES IF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF FORMER COMMUNISTS SHOULD GAIN CONTROL OF PARLIAMENT.

THE SOCIALISTS DO NOT ACTUALLY OPPOSE MARKET REFORMS THAT HAVE CLEARLY BENEFITED THE ALBANIAN ECONOMY. BUT, THE SOCALISTS BELIEVE THE REFORMS, ESPECIALLY PRICE REFORM, SHOULD BE MORE GRADUAL.

THE SOCIALIST PARTY HAS ALSO CAMPAIGNED AGAINST ALLEGED OFFICIAL CORRUPTION WHILE IT HAS DEMANDED THE RELEASE OF ITS LEADER, FATOS NANO, FROM PRISON. HE WAS CONVICTED OF EMBEZZELEMENT IN 1994. THE LEGALITY OF THE CASE AGAINST HIM PROVOKED SOME INTERNATIONAL SKEPTICISM, BUT PRESIDENT BERISHA HAS REFUSED TO FREE HIM. ON FRIDAY, AN ALBANIAN COURT SENTENCED THREE FORMER SENIOR COMMUNIST OFFICIALS TO DEATH. TWO OTHERS WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. ALL FIVE WERE CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND POLITICAL PERSECUTION. THE CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES ARE POSSIBLE UNDER A CONTROVERSIAL GENOCIDE LAW ADOPTED IN ALBANIA LAST YEAR.

ALBANIA'S POST WORLD WAR TWO RIGID COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP WAS TOPPLED IN 1990. THE SOCIALISTS WERE DEFEATED BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TWO YEARS LATER.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS LIKELY TO RETAIN ITS POWER IN THE ELECTION ON SUNDAY, BUT, POSSIBLY, WITH FEWER PARLIAMENTARY SEATS. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE TO FORM A COALITION WITH OTHER PARTIES THIS TIME. (SIGNED)
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24-May-96 11:54 AM EDT (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA/ELECTIONS (S ONLY) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN POST-WAR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ARE NOW EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN THE SECOND HALF OF JUNE -- SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE TOWN OF MOSTAR, RICARDO PEREZ CASADO, ANNOUNCED THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE DELAYED LOCAL ELECTIONS.

HE SAYS AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED SO THAT ALL MOSTAR RESIDENTS -- AS OF 1991 BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE (AS HE PUT IT) IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POLITICAL CONDITIONS.

MUSLIM PARTIES HAD THREATENED TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS, INITIALLY PLANNED FOR MAY 31ST, BECAUSE MUSLIMS EXPELLED FROM MOSTAR BY THE TOWN'S CROATS COULD NOT VOTE.

IN THE FACE OF THE LIKELY MUSLIM BOYCOTT, THE EUROPEAN UNION BACKED DOWN AND IS NOW REORGANIZING THE BALLOTING.

THE ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, THEY WILL BE THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN POST-WAR BOSNIA, AND SECOND THEY ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON MUSLIM -- CROAT RECONCILIATION.

WHAT HAPPENS IN MOSTAR MAY BE A CRITICAL TEST OF WHETHER THE MUSLIM -- CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SURVIVES. (SIGNED)
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24-May-96 12:16 PM EDT (1616 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE SPEAKER OF THE SELF-DECLARED BOSNIAN SERB PARLIAMENT, MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, SAYS PARLIAMENT SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO CALL FOR A REFERENDUM ON SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC'S POPULARITY. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS A SERB REFERENDUM ON MR. KARADZIC'S LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO REMOVE HIM FROM POWER.

MR. KRAJISNIK, A HARDLINER LIKE MR. KARADZIC, SAYS THE RESULTS OF TALKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THE SERB LEADER'S FUTURE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT. HE SAYS PARLIAMENT SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN THE MATTER OF HOLDING A REFERENDUM.

THERE IS ALREADY STRONG INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION TO SUCH A POPULAR VOTE AMONG THE BOSNIAN SERBS. THE UNITED STATES HAS WARNED IT WOULD NOT PERMIT A SERB REFERENDUM TO BE HELD.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REGARDS RADOVAN KARADZIC, A FORMER PSYCHIATRIST, AS THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

WESTERN COUNTRIES WANT HIM TO STEP DOWN AND TO FACE AN INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIAL. BUT, HE REJECTS THE WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST HIM AND HAS STRONGLY HINTED HE MAY COMPETE IN ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
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24-May-96 7:42 AM EDT (1142 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EUROPE ECONOMIES (L ONLY) (CQ) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: LABOR UNION STRIKES IN GERMANY AND FRANCE TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY PLANS REFLECT AN UNEASE WITH POLICIES IMPOSED BY EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND FEARS THAT THE WELFARE STATE MAY SOON BELONG TO THE PAST. DETAILS FROM REPORTER JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS.

TEXT: A COMMON FEATURE OF THE STRIKES IN BOTH GERMANY AND FRANCE IS THAT THE MAIN PLAYERS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS. IN BOTH COUNTRIES, THEY ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO SALARY FREEZES. THEY FEAR THAT THEIR TRADITIONALLY SECURE JOBS MAY SOON NO LONGER BE SAFE.

AS GERMANY SUFFERS FROM AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, ITS WORKERS HAVE TAKEN CENTER-STAGE (PROMINENCE) BY PLANNING A SERIES OF STOPPAGES TO PROTEST AUSTERITY PLANS. AT THE SAME TIME, LABOR UNIONS IN FRANCE, WHICH BROUGHT THE COUNTRY TO A VIRTUAL STANDSTILL FOR THREE WEEKS LAST DECEMBER, ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR MOVEMENT STARTED AGAIN. IN GERMANY, UNIONS HAVE REJECTED A PAY OFFER AS TOO SMALL. IN FRANCE, SEVERAL STRIKES IN SECTORS LIKE THE STATE-OWNED ARMS INDUSTRY AND A DEMONSTRATION TO PERSUADE THE GOVERNMENT TO GO FASTER TO REDUCE THE WORKING WEEK WHICH, HOPEFULLY, WOULD CREATE MORE JOB OPENINGS WILL BE FOLLOWED IN JUNE BY A SERIES OF OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE PROTESTS. THIS WILL INCLUDE STRIKES BY WORKERS FEARING DEREGULATION ORDERED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN AREAS SUCH AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE -- AND THE EMPLOYEES' SCAPEGOAT -- IS THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENTS ACROSS EUROPE TO CUT SPENDING AND REDUCE THEIR DEFICITS IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPE'S NEW SINGLE CURRENCY. //OPT// THE EUROPEAN UNION CURRENTLY PLANS TO INTRODUCE THIS IN 1999.//END OPT// THE CONDITIONS FOR COUNTRIES TO QUALIFY FOR THE CURRENCY WERE LAID DOWN IN THE 1992 MAASTRICHT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UNION TREATY. IN FRANCE, THE WELFARE BUDGET ALONE IS A SOURCE OF HUGE DEBT, LEADING TO A PROPOSED REFORM OF THE HEALTH SERVICE AND CUTS IN BENEFITS. THIS PROMPTED THE FIRST BIG WAVE OF FRENCH STRIKES LAST DECEMBER.

HAD EUROPE BEEN LIVING THROUGH YEARS OF PROSPERITY, AS IN THE 1980S, MANY OF THE MAASTRICHT MEASURES WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO ACCOMMODATE.

BUT EUROPE HAS SUFFERED SEVERAL YEARS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT HAS BEEN SLUGGISH AT BEST. IN RECENT WEEKS THIS HAS BEEN WORSENED BY ALARMING ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN GERMANY.

THE FRENCH CALL GERMANY EUROPE'S "LOCOMOTIVE" BECAUSE THE GERMAN ECONOMY IS TRADITIONALLY THE MOST DYNAMIC IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. GERMANY IS ALSO FRANCE'S BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER. SO, BAD NEWS IN GERMANY IS BAD NEWS BOTH ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER AND IN ALL OF EUROPE. (SIGNED)
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24-May-96 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO SITREP (L-RERUN) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, JAVIER SOLANA, DENIES THERE IS AN AGREEMENT FOR HARD-LINE BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS TO REMAIN IN POWER, IF THEY REMAIN OUT OF SIGHT AND INACTIVE. THE NEWSPAPER, "NEW YORK TIMES", REPORTED THE DEAL, ALLEGEDLY WORKED OUT BY AN AMERICAN ENVOY, THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT AND THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. MORE FROM V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY.

TEXT: THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS THERE IS NO AGREEMENT AND CAN BE NO AGREEMENT WITH WAR CRIMINALS. HE WAS REFERRING TO BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC AND TO THE SERB ARMY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC.

BOTH MEN HAVE BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. THE TRIBUNAL EXPECTS TO ISSUE INTERNATIONAL WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARREST NEXT MONTH.

THE NATO DENIAL OF ANY DEAL FOR MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC TO AT LEAST OFFICIALLY RETAIN THEIR POSITIONS FOLLOWS A REPORT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER ON JUST THIS KIND OF ARRANGEMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE SERB POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS WILL NOT APPEAR ON SERB TELEVISION OR GIVE INTERVIEWS, WILL NOT MAKE PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND WILL NOT ATTEND GOVERNMENT OR PARLIAMENTARY MEETINGS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS SENIOR WESTERN OFFICIALS, WHO CRAFTED THE DEAL, WERE APPARENTLY TOLD BY SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS THAT MR. KARADZIC ACCEPTED THE CONDITIONS FOR OFFICIALLY REMAINING THE SERB LEADER.

THE DEAL IS SAID TO BE THE BEST ONE POSSIBLE TO REDUCE, IF NOT ELIMINATE, MR. KARADZIC'S ABILITY TO OBSTRUCT THE BOSNIAN PEACE PROCESS.

WHILE THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL DENIES THERE IS A DEAL LIKE THIS, THE TOP INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA, CARL BILDT, HAS SAID HE CANNOT BE CERTAIN IF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

AT THE SAME TIME, SERB LEADERS ARE STILL HOLDING OPEN THE OPTION OF CALLING A REFERENDUM ON MR. KARADZIC'S POPULARITY AMONG THE SERB PEOPLE.

THE SPEAKER OF THE SELF-DECLARED SERB PARLIAMENT, MOMCILO KRAJISNIK, SAYS THE RESULTS OF TALKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT. HE SAYS PARLIAMENT SHOULD THEN HAVE THE FINAL WORD ON HOLDING A REFERENDUM.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY WARNED IT WOULD NOT PERMIT A REFERENDUM ON MR. KARADZIC'S LEADERSHIP. A SPOKESMAN FOR CARL BILDT HAS SAID A REFERENDUM WOULD HAVE NO LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE. (SIGNED)
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24-May-96 11:04 AM EDT (1504 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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