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Voice of America, 1 & 2 June 1996Voice of America Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BOSNIA TALKS (L) BY DOUGLAS ROBERTS (GENEVA)DATE=6/2/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198094 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: W/PEMSTEIN SHORT C-R ///INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS AGAIN WARNED THAT U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WILL BE REIMPOSED ON YUGOSLAVIA UNLESS THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TO OUST BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. THE U-S OFFICIAL DELIVERED THE WARNING TO SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC DURING A DAY OF TALKS WITH BALKAN LEADERS IN GENEVA. DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS. TEXT: THE SECRETARY WENT INTO SUNDAY'S TALKS AT THE U-S DIPLOMATIC MISSION HERE DEMANDING ASSURANCES FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC WILL BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND DISPATCHED TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. MR. CHRISTOPHER DID NOT GET THOSE ASSURANCES. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HERE LATE SUNDAY, HE SAID HE TOLD MR MILOSEVIC HE EXPECTS REAL ACTION TO OUST THE TWO BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS. AND HE WARNED THAT YUGOSLAVIA WILL FACE AN AUTOMATIC REIMPOSITION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS UNLESS BELGRADE HONORS ITS COMMITMENTS UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN. /// CHRISTOPHER ACT ///THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE OR TOOL THAT WE HAVE. THAT WAS POINTED OUT TODAY. I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF ESTABLISHING DEADLINES. BUT AS I SAID IN MY STATEMENT, THERE IS A GROWING IMPATIENCE ON THE PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH THE SITUATION THAT EXISTS. AND I THINK A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF THE INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE PRESENCE OF INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS AND PROCEEDING TO OPEN AND FAIR ELECTIONS. /// END ACT ///THE PLANNED ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA WERE THE MAIN FOCUS OF SUNDAY'S TALKS HERE. PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC WENT INTO THE MEETING ARGUING THAT A FREE AND FAIR VOTE IS IMPOSSIBLE AS LONG AS MR. KARADZIC REMAINS IN POWER. THE DAYTON ACCORD STIPULATES THAT NO ONE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES CAN HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY. BUT IN THE END, THE BOSNIAN PRESIDENT WAS PERSUADED TO AGREE TO A JOINT STATEMENT WITH MR. MILOSEVIC AND CROATIA'S PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN REAFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLDING THE ELECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DAYTON PLAN BY THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER AT THE LATEST. A PRECISE DATE FOR THE VOTING IS EXPECTED TO BE SET LATER THIS MONTH. SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER SAID HE COULD NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC WILL STILL BE IN OFFICE WHEN THE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE. BUT HE SAID DELAYING THE VOTE WOULD ONLY ENTRENCH THE STATUS QUO AND DEEPEN THE DIVISIONS IN BOSNIA. CARL BILDT, THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DAYTON ACCORD, ECHOED THAT VIEW, CALLING THE ELECTIONS CRITICAL. /// BILDT ACT ///THEY ARE A MEANS TOWARD AN END. THEY ARE A MEANS TOWARDS THE END OF SETTING UP THE COMMON INSTITUTIONS OF BOSNIA, WHICH WOULD START THE PROCESS OF OVERCOMING THE PARTITION AND DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE LONGER THAT PROCESS IS DELAYED, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO OVERCOME THE PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY. /// END ACT ///DESPITE THE EVIDENT PROBLEMS THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA, SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER INSISTED THAT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. EACH TIME WE MEET, WE COME CLOSER TO OUR GOAL, HE SAID, AND
SUNDAY'S MEETING WAS NO EXCEPTION. (SIGNED)
[02] CHRISTOPHER BALKANS (S-ONITER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (GENEVA)DATE=6/1/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198064 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER MEETS TODAY WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA TO REMIND THEM OF THEIR COMMITMENTS TO CARRY OUT THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA WHERE THE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD. TEXT: THE SECRETARY OF STATE PRECEDES HIS MEETING WITH THE BALKAN PRESIDENTS BY CONFERRING WITH MILITARY LEADERS GENERAL GEORGE JOULWAN AND ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH AND THEN WITH CIVILIAN OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF PLANNING ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER ARE THE FOCUS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REGULAR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA. AFTER A JOINT LUNCHEON, MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL HAVE SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH EACH BALKAN PRESIDENT. THIS WILL BE MR. CHRISTOPHER'S THIRD MEETING WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT AND IS LIKELY TO PROVE MOST DIFFICULT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANTS EVIDENCE THAT BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT RADOVAN KARADZIC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH THE BOSNIAN ELECTION. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS LIKELY TO ARGUE THAT MR. KARADZIC, ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES, IS ALREADY LOSING POWER. THE MEETING HERE MARKS THE FIRST TIME BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA
IZETBEGOVIC WILL HAVE TRAVELED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY SINCE HIS
RECENT HEART ATTACK. THE UNITED STATES WANTS HIS REPORT ON THE
STATUS OF THE REMAINING IRANIAN FIGHTERS IN BOSNIA. ON MR.
CHRISTOPHER'S AGENDA WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN WILL
BE AN AMNESTY LAW FOR THOSE SERBS WHO WANT TO REMAIN IN CROATIA.
(SIGNED)
[03] CHRISTOPHER TRIP (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=5/31/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198015 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// RERUNNING WITH CORRECT CR NUMBER ///INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER FLIES TO GENEVA (SATURDAY 8 AM) FOR MEETINGS ON SUNDAY WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA. THEN, HE MOVES ON TO BERLIN FOR THE NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING NEXT WEEK. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN IS TRAVELING WITH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND SENT THIS REPORT. TEXT: THIS WILL BE MR. CHRISTOPHER'S FIRST MEETING WITH THE BALKAN HEADS OF STATE SINCE THEY MET IN GENEVA IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH. IN SEPARATE AND GROUP MEETINGS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE TAKES THE PRESIDENTS TO TASK FOR THEIR CONTINUED FAILURE TO LIVE UP TO ALL THE PROMISES IN THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. THE LIST IS LONGEST WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE LOOKING FOR PROOF THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM POWER AND WILL NOT BE IN ANY POSITION TO INTERFERE WITH ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR BOSNIA IN SEPTEMBER. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS TOLD REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON, THE AMERICAN PREEFERENCE IS FOR MR. KARADZIC AND OTHER PEOPLE INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO FACE TRIAL BUT HE WANTS THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ANYWAY. // CHRISTOPHER ACT //IT'S NOT OUR PREFERRED OUTCOME TO HAVE THEM STILL ON THE SCENE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD NOT RULE OUT THE HOLDING OF ELECTIONS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ON THE SCENE. ON THE OTHER HAND, STEPS WILL BE TAKEN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE SCENE AND INDEED ENCOURAGE THEIR BEING TURNED OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. // END ACT //U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL URGE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO PUSH THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA FOR VOTERS AND THE MEDIA. THE UNITED STATES IS HOLDING OUT THE THREAT OF RENEWED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC REFUSES TO COOPERATE. WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL WANT TO ENSURE THE LAST IRANIAN FIGHTERS LEAVE THE COUNTRY SO THE UNITED STATES CAN BEGIN EQUIPPING AND TRAINING THE BOSNIAN ARMY. THE AMERICAN AGENDA WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN INCLUDES THE ALWAYS TROUBLED MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA AND THE RETURN OF SERB REFUGEES TO CROATIA. SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER WILL BRIEF HIS FELLOW FOREIGN MINISTERS IN THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP ABOUT HIS GENEVA TALKS. HE WILL MEET THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE AND GERMANY IN ADDITION TO PARTICIPATING IN THE NATO FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETING IN BERLIN. THE NATO MEETING IS EXPECTED MONDAY TO AGREE ON A NEW ALLIANCE STRUCTURE THAT WILL PERMIT EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF NATO TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN MILITARY OPERATIONS WITHOUT NECESSARILY INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES. IN PRACTICALITY, AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY IT IS UNLIKELY THE EUROPEANS COULD OPERATE WITHOUT AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE, AIRCRAFT, COMMUNCICATIONS AND EVEN COMBAT TROOPS NOT TO MENTION AMERICAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS. THIS NEW NATO STRUCTURE WILL BE MODELED ON THE OPERATION THAT PUT
TOGETHER THE BOSNIA PEACE FORCE. AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW
COMMAND STRUCTURE EVENTUALLY WILL RESULT IN FRANCE BEING FULLY
RE-INTEGRATED INSIDE NATO'S MILITARY WING FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 1966. (SIGNED)
[04] CHRISTOPHER / BALKANS MEETING (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (GENEVA)DATE=6/2/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198071 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA IN GENEVA TO URGE THEM TO ESTABLISH THE CONDITIONS FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA. TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER'S MEETING WITH THE BALKAN LEADERS BEGAN WITH A JOINT LUNCHEON. THE MEETING IS CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH SEPARATE AND GROUP SESSIONS. IN AN EARLIER MEETING WITH THE SWISS FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. CHRISTOPHER WAS URGED TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO PERMIT FREE ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE IN BOSNIA. THE SWISS FOREIGN MINISTER, CHAIRMAN OF THE O-S-C-E, THAT IS ORGANIZING ELECTIONS SAYS HE HOPES TO CERTIFY A DATE FOR THE ELECTIONS BY THE END OF THE MONTH BUT HE SAYS IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS TOLD REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES WANTS BOSNIAN ELECTIONS IN MID-SEPTEMBER EVEN IF CONDITIONS ARE NOT IDEAL. ///BURNS ACT///IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE, AT ANY POINT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, TO HAVE PRISTINE, IDEAL, WESTERN EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN-LIKE CONDITIONS FOR ELECTIONS. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE SO WHAT WE'VE ALL GOT TO TRY TO DO IS TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ///END ACT///ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IS THE REMOVAL OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER
RADOVAN KARADZIC FROM POWER. MR. CHRISTOPHER HOPES TO RECEIVE
EVIDENCE FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC THAT MR. KARADZIC HAS BEEN
PUSHED ASIDE. (SIGNED)
[05] CHRISTOPHER-BALKANS UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (GENEVA)DATE=6/2/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198077 CONTENT= VOICED AT: *INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS MEETING THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA IN GENEVA TO PUSH THEM TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA BY MID SEPTEMBER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA, MR. CHRISTOPHER IS PRESSING THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT TO REMOVE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP BEFORE THOSE ELECTIONS. TEXT: SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS SAID TO HAVE BROUGHT A LETTER FROM RADOVAN KARADZIC STATING THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER'S WILLINGNESS TO LEAVE OFFICE. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE HIS PRIVATE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HERE, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT MR. KARADZIC WILL N-O-T INTERFERE WITH BOSNIAN ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER. ///CHRISTOPHER ACT///WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS TANGIBLE ACTION. LETTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANCE BUT ACTUALLY BEING OUT OF THE OFFICE AND NOT EXERCISING THE POWERS OF THE OFFICE, OR INFLUENCING IT, IS WHAT IS VITAL TO US. ///END ACT///MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS HIS TALKS WITH NATO MILITARY LEADERS AND
CIVILIAN OFFICIALS HERE MAKE HIM CONFIDENT ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA
WILL GO AHEAD ON SCHEDULE. CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE IDEAL ON FREEDOM
OF MOVEMENT AND FOR THE MEDIA BUT MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE UNITED
STATES BELIEVES ELECTIONS ON SCHEDULE IS IMPORTANT FOR BOSNIA.
(SIGNED)
[06] CHRISTOPHER-BALKANS UPDATE (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (GENEVA)DATE=6/2/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198077 CONTENT= VOICED AT: *INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS MEETING THE PRESIDENTS OF BOSNIA, SERBIA AND CROATIA IN GENEVA TO PUSH THEM TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA BY MID SEPTEMBER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA, MR. CHRISTOPHER IS PRESSING THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT TO REMOVE THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADERSHIP BEFORE THOSE ELECTIONS. TEXT: SERBIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS SAID TO HAVE BROUGHT A LETTER FROM RADOVAN KARADZIC STATING THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER'S WILLINGNESS TO LEAVE OFFICE. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE HIS PRIVATE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HERE, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT MR. KARADZIC WILL N-O-T INTERFERE WITH BOSNIAN ELECTIONS PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER. ///CHRISTOPHER ACT///WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS TANGIBLE ACTION. LETTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANCE BUT ACTUALLY BEING OUT OF THE OFFICE AND NOT EXERCISING THE POWERS OF THE OFFICE, OR INFLUENCING IT, IS WHAT IS VITAL TO US. ///END ACT///MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS HIS TALKS WITH NATO MILITARY LEADERS AND
CIVILIAN OFFICIALS HERE MAKE HIM CONFIDENT ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA
WILL GO AHEAD ON SCHEDULE. CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE IDEAL ON FREEDOM
OF MOVEMENT AND FOR THE MEDIA BUT MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS THE UNITED
STATES BELIEVES ELECTIONS ON SCHEDULE IS IMPORTANT FOR BOSNIA.
(SIGNED)
[07] CZECH ELECTION (S-3RD UPDATE) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)DATE=6/1/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198063 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// WRITETHRU ///INTRO: VOTES ARE BEING COUNTING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WITH INITIAL RESULTS INDICATING THAT THE RULING CENTER-RIGHT COALITION MAY FALL SHORT OF A MAJORITY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE. TEXT: THE SURPRISE IN THE CZECH ELECTIONS IS THE UNEXPECTED STRENGTH OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, THE MAIN OPPOSITION, WHICH APPEARS TO BE TRIPLING ITS STRENGTH IN PARLIAMENT. INITIAL RETURNS SUGGEST THE CENTER-LEFT PARTY IS STILL TRAILING THE DOMINANT CIVIC DEMOCRATS OF PRIME MINISTER VACLAV KLAUS, WHICH HAS NEARLY 30 PERCENT. THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS HAVE 26 PERCENT AND THE COMMUNISTS 11. DESPITE A POORER-THAN-EXPECTED SHOWING FROM HIS COALITION PARTNERS, PRIME MINISTER KLAUS SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL FINAL RESULTS WILL GIVE THE COALITION A MAJORITY IN THE 200-SEAT PARLIAMENT. SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC LEADER MILOS ZEMAN EXPRESSED HOPE THAT HE CAN LURE MR. KLAUS'S COALITION PARTNERS TO HIS SIDE. MR. KLAUS SAID PARLIAMENTARY DEADLOCK AND NEW ELECTIONS WOULD BE THE WORST OUTCOME. SIX PARTIES APPEAR CERTAIN TO GET THE FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTE NEEDED TO ENTER PARLIAMENT. UNOFFICIAL RETURNS IN THIS FIRST CZECH ELECTION IN FOUR YEARS ARE
EXPECTED SUNDAY. (SIGNED)
[08] U-S/ALBANIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/31/96TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198043 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// RERUNNING FOR SERVICES NEEDING IT ///INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT SUPPORTS A PARTIAL REPETITION OF ALBANIA'S MAY 26TH ELECTION. THE OPPOSITION AND MEMBERS OF AN INTERNATIONAL MONITORING TEAM REPORTED IRREGULARITIES IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE U-S APPEAL CAME AS THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AND PROMISED NEW ELECTIONS WHERE VOTING PROBLEMS ARE FOUND: TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JULIE RESIDE SAYS THE UNITED STATES AGREES WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE IN APPEALING TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN ALBANIA, FOR THE SAKE OF STABILITY, TO CONSIDER NEW ELECTIONS TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE. EUROPEAN MONITORS CRITICIZED THE ELECTION FOR ALLEGED INTIMIDATION, ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS AND A LACK OF MULTI-PARTY REPRESENTATION ON ELECTION COMMISSIONS. MORE THAN 100 OPPOSITION CANDIDATES HAVE LAUNCHED A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CALL WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES. THEY URGE A BOYCOTT OF THE SECOND ROUND OF BALLOTING SUNDAY. MS. RESIDE SAYS WASHINGTON WELCOMES THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA THAT SOME ELECTIONS WILL BE RERUN: ///RESIDE ACTUALITY///WE UNDERSTAND THAT PRESIDENT (SALI) BERISHA HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT (THE VOTING IN) THREE CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE RERUN. WE HAVE EXPRESSED SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS IN PUBLIC IN THE PAST ABOUT IRREGULARITIES REPORTED BY O-S-C-E AND BY OUR OWN EMBASSY. ///END ACTUALITY///MS. RESIDE SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS STOPPING SHORT OF CALLING FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW ELECTION. THE BALLOT IS THE THIRD IN THE FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRY SINCE 1990. AS THE SUNDAY VOTE APPROACHES, THE SPOKESWOMAN ALSO WARNED
AMERICANS TO WATCH OUT FOR POSSIBLE ELECTION-RELATED VIOLENCE IN
TIRANA. (SIGNED)
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