Voice of America, 27 June 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY PHIL HAYNES (WASHINGTON)

[02] ALBANIA'S FLAWED ELECTIONS

[03] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[04] U-S/BOSNIA DEFENSE (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY PHIL HAYNES (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE TUESDAY NIGHT TERRORIST BOMBING THAT DESTROYED A U-S MILITARY HOUSING FACILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA IS THE DOMINANT EDITORIAL SUBJECT IN MOST NEWSPAPERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. AMONG OTHER TOPICS ARE: THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT VIRGINIA'S TRADITIONAL MEN-ONLY MILITARY INSTITUTE MUST START ADMITTING WOMEN; MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT U-S AIR SAFETY; THE PUBLIC CRITICISM OF FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON; AND THE DEATH OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGN REFORM LEGISLATION. FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THURSDAY'S PRESS OPINION PAGES, HERE IS ________ WITH THE U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE AMERICAN PRESS IS UNANIMOUS IN ITS CONDEMNATION OF THE BOMBING THAT KILLED 19 U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL BASED AT DAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA. TYPICAL OF THE REACTION IS THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN THE WASHINGTON POST, WHICH CALLS THE ATTACK SHAMEFUL AND COWARDLY. BUT THE PAPER ALSO RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTIVE FOR THE BOMBING AND HOW THE U-S CAN GUARD AGAINST SUCH TERRORISM.

VOICE: "THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPREHEND THE CRIMINALS AND PREVENT A RECURRENCE. [PRESIDENT] CLINTON DISPATCHED A TEAM OF 40 F-B-I EXPERTS TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH, AND THE MILITARY SENT EXPERTS OF ITS OWN... PREVENTING A RECURRENCE IS MORE COMPLEX AND INEVITABLY WILL DEMAND AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT WENT WRONG IN THIS CASE... DOWN THE ROAD THERE MAY ALSO COME A TIME TO QUESTION HOW BEST TO HELP ACHIEVE STABILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHICH IS PRESSED BY FUNDAMENTALIST DISCONTENT, BY UNCERTAINTIES OF SUCCESSION AND BY ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND MISSPENT WEALTH AND FAILURE TO REFORM... BUT WHATEVER JUDGMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT U-S POLICY IN THE PERSIAN GULF CANNOT BE QUESTIONED BASED ON THIS ATTACK. TERRORISM CANNOT DICTATE THE MISSION."

TEXT: TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN POINTS OUT THAT U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL "ARE TARGETS WHEREVER THEY RESIST TERRORISM", BE IT IN SAUDI ARABIA OR ELSEWHERE:

VOICE: "MOTIVES FOR HARMING THE U-S ARE STRONG WHEREVER ITS POWER IS RESENTED AND RESISTED. YET WITHOUT THE U-S PRESENCE, THE MIDDLE EAST WOULD SUFFER MORE ANARCHY... FINDING, EXPOSING AND SNUFFING OUT THE CULPRIT ORGANIZATION IS A VITAL TASK FOR SAUDI NATIONAL SECURITY... EVERY COOPERATION THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CAN OFFER THE SAUDI REGIME IN THIS IS NECESSARY. THE U-S CANNOT HAVE ITS POLICY MADE BY TERRORISTS."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] FLORIDA'S MIAMI HERALD AGREES EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO HELP THE SAUDIS FIND THE TERRORIST BOMBERS. BUT IT ALSO THINKS THE UNITED STATES MUST ALSO FIND A WAY TO END ITS DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL, AND THUS LESSEN THE NEED FOR A MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

VOICE: "AMERICANS RIGHTLY DECRY THEIR NATION'S RELIANCE ON IMPORTED OIL, BUT IT'S A FACT. ANY UPHEAVAL THAT THREATENED SAUDI ARABIA'S OIL OUTPUT WOULD THREATEN THE ECONOMIES OF EVERY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION. SO LIKE IT OR NOT, THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT CHAOS IN SAUDI ARABIA. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ARE CHILLINGLY UNPREDICTABLE. SO WHILE HELPING THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUCK BOMBERS, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD HELP TO SEARCH FOR WAYS TO WEAN AMERICA FROM ITS RELIANCE ON ENERGY FROM UNSTABLE SOURCES. THAT RELIANCE IS ITS OWN FORM OF TERRORISM." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE U-S SUPREME COURT RULED OVERWHELMINGLY ON WEDNESDAY THAT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, WHICH FOR 157 YEARS HAS BEEN A MEN-ONLY BASTION OF UPPER EDUCTION, CAN NO LONGER EXCLUDE WOMEN STUDENTS. THE COURT SAID THAT V-M-I'S GENDER-BASED ADMISSONS POLICY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND MUST BE ENDED. USA TODAY, THE NATIONAL DAILY, REFLECTED THE VIEWS OF SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS WITH THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: "AGAIN, FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, THE SUPREME COURT HAS HAD TO SAY IT: SEPARATE-AND-UNEQUAL JUST WON'T PASS MUSTER (BE ACCEPTED). AFTER A HALF-CENTURY, THE WORD SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT. BUT EFFORTS TO JUSTIFY DISCRIMINATION KEEP COMING... [BEGIN OPT] 'WOMEN SEEKING AND FIT FOR A V-M-I-QUALITY EDUCATION CANNOT BE OFFERED ANYTHING LESS, UNDER THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO AFFORD THEM GENUINELY EQUAL PROTECTION,' THE COURT SAID. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT, OR SHOULD BE." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES TAKES THE POSITION THAT THE SUPREME COURT RULING AGANST THE MILITARY SCHOOL IS ANOTHER CASE OF JUDICIAL IMPERIALISM AND ARROGANCE -- GOING AGAINST A STATE AND THE WILL OF ITS PEOPLE.

VOICE: "IN FACT, THE ARROGANCE SEEMS TO BE ON THE RISE, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN WHICH THE COURT APPEARED TO AGREE THAT IT OUGHT TO LIMIT ITSELF. [BEGIN OPT] JUSTICES RUTH BADER GINSBERG (WHO WROTE THE MAJORITY V-M-I OPINION) AND STEPHEN BREYER, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S APPOINTEES, SEEM TO HAVE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO THE COURT'S PROPENSITY FOR ACTIVISM. AND THAT, IN TURN, MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE POITICIANS TO TURN UP THE HEAT. [END OPT] A RUNAWAY, ACTIVIST SUPREME COURT AND FEDERAL JUDICIARY OUGHT TO BE EVERY BIT THE CONCERN TODAY THAT THEY WERE WHEN RONALD REAGAN DREW ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM IN 1980."

TEXT: THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO DRAW CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESS CRITICISM AS A RESULT OF THE VALUJET CRASH THAT CLAIMED 110 LIVES. THE LEAD EDITORAL IN USA TODAY COMPLAINS THAT THE FEDERAL AGENCY "HAS A HISTORY OF WAITING TO ACT UNTIL AFTER A TRAGEDY OCCURS":

VOICE: "EVEN TOP F-A-A BOSSES ACKNOWLEDGED SOME BLAME. [BEGIN OPT] ADMINISTRATOR DAVID HINSON HAS SAID THE F-A-A SHOULD HAVE DEALT 'SOONER AND MORE AGGRESSIVELY' WITH PROBLEMS OF VALUJET'S EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH. AND THEY'RE ALL RIGHT... ONE F-A-A HEAD HAS ALREADY ROLLED (BEEN FIRED)... OTHERS COULD FOLLOW. [END OPT] BUT FIRINGS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THE AGENCY NEEDS A PROMPT, COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ITS METHODS FOR ENFORCING SAFETY, WITH CONGRESS PUBLICLY MONITORING PROGRESS."

TEXT: THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE TODAY AIMS SOME EDITORIAL CRITICISM AT THE MEDIA AND OTHERS FOR WHAT IT CALLS "HILLARY-BASHING", MEANING FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON. IT WRITES:

VOICE: "HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON HASN'T GONE OUT OF HER WAY TO ENDEAR HERSELF TO THE NATION IN THE MANNER OF A BARBARA BUSH OR A JACKIE KENNEDY (FORMER FIRST LADIES). BUT IT'S ONE THING NOT TO BE LOVED AND ANOTHER TO INSPIRE ACTIVE HATRED AND DERISION. TO AN EXTENT THAT SIMPLY CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY ANY ACTION OF HER OWN, MRS. CLINTON SEEMS TO DO THE LATTER. BASHING HILLARY HAS BECOME A KIND OF SPORT IN CERTAIN CIRCLES, AND A MEAN, VICIOUS, DEGRADING SPORT IT IS. THE PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN IT OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES... BUT ASHAMED OR NOT, THEY OUGHT TO STOP IT, BECAUSE IT IS UNCIVIL AND UNHEALTHY FOR THIS NATION."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] FINALLY, SOME SHARP WORDS FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS FOR THE REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE, WHICH VOTED THIS WEEK TO KILL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE IMPOSED SOME LIMITS ON HOW MUCH CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES COULD SPEND IN THEIR REELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

VOICE: "IN KILLING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, SENATE MAJORITY (REPUBLICAN) LEADER TRENT LOTT OF MISSISSIPPI ADVANCED ONE OF THE GREAT ALL-TIME WHOPPERS (TALES). SAID HE: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM 'IS TOO IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS...IN THE HEAT OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.' THAT'S LIKE SAYING AN ANTI-CRIME BLL IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE PASSED DURING A CRIME WAVE... [SENATOR] LOTT'S REAL REASON, OF COURSE, IS THAT HE OPPOSES REFORM. OK. BUT NEXT TIME, HE SHOULD SAY SO -- AND SPARE THE NONSENSE." [END OPT]

TEXT: AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION IN THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/PCH/GE
27-Jun-96 12:29 PM EDT (1629 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA'S FLAWED ELECTIONS

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

A MONTH AGO, ALBANIA HELD SERIOUSLY FLAWED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. ACCORDING TO OBSERVERS FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, IN SOME CASES THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS CAST EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES ON THE VOTER LISTS. MANY BALLOTS WERE ALTERED OR INVALIDATED SO AS TO FAVOR PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA'S PARTY. OBSERVERS SAID THE PRESENCE OF ARMED POLICEMEN AND WHAT WERE THOUGHT TO BE PLAINCLOTHES SECRET POLICEMEN AT SOME POLLING STATIONS CHANGED THE ATMOSPHERE INTO ONE OF INTIMIDATION AND COERCION ON ELECTION DAY.

TOWARD THE END OF THE VOTING, THE OPPOSITION ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS WITHDRAWING ITS CANDIDATES AND WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS. ON MAY 28TH, OPPOSITION MEMBERS GATHERED IN THE MAIN SQUARE IN TIRANA, ALBANIA'S CAPITAL, TO PROTEST THE FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS. THEY WERE MET BY RIOT POLICE WHO BEAT MANY OF THE DEMONSTRATORS.

ALBANIA'S CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION INVESTIGATED THE IRREGULARITIES IN THE MAY 26TH ELECTIONS. AS A RESULT, REPEAT ELECTIONS WERE HELD ON JUNE 16TH IN SEVENTEEN OF ONE-HUNDRED FIFTEEN ELECTORAL DISTRICTS. CANDIDATES FROM THE RULING PARTY WON IN ALL SEVENTEEN DISTRICTS.

THE REPEAT ELECTIONS DID NOT RECTIFY THE IRREGULARITIES OBSERVED IN THE INITIAL ELECTIONS LAST MONTH. CITING THESE IRREGULARITIES, MOST OPPOSITION PARTIES BOYCOTTED THE REPEAT ELECTIONS. PRESIDENT BERISHA'S PARTY DECLARED VICTORY AND ULTIMATELY CLAIMED ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF ONE-HUNDRED FORTY SEATS IN PARLIAMENT.

THE U.S. BELIEVES THE MAY 26TH ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA WERE SERIOUSLY FLAWED BY VOTER FRAUD AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IN AN IMPARTIAL MANNER. TO THAT END, THE U.S. WILL ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNMENT OF ALBANIA TO ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM FOR REVIEWING THE ELECTIONS AND RECOMMENDING APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL MEASURES.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
27-Jun-96 3:43 PM EDT (1943 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THOUSANDS OF TURKISH TROOPS BACKED BY HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS AND KURDISH MILITIA HAVE CROSSED INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN PURSUIT OF GUERRILLAS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (P-K-K). AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS CONFIRM ABOUT FOUR-THOUSAND PARATROOPERS, 250 PRO-GOVERNMENT KURDISH MILITIA, AND A LARGE NUMBER OF SPECIAL FORCES WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE OPERATION AIMED AT DRIVING THE REBELS OUT OF THEIR MOUNTAIN BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

THE OFFICIALS SAID CLASHES WERE OCCURRING, BUT THEY GAVE NO CASUALTY FIGURES. ACCORDING TO THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY, THE OPERATION WILL COVER A ZONE 25-KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE TURKISH BORDER PROVINCE OF SEMDINLI.

MILITARY OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE OPERATION AS ROUTINE, BUT DID NOT SAY HOW LONG IT WILL LAST.

THE TURKISH INCURSION INTO THE KURDISH-CONTROLED ENCLAVE IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS THE SECOND IN TWO WEEKS. GOVERNMENT SOURCES SAY AT LEAST 160 GUERRILLAS WERE KILLED IN THE PREVIOUS OPERATION.

IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN IN NOMINAL CONTROL OF THE ENCLAVE, PROTECTED BY A U-S LED ALLIED AIR FORCE, SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE TURKISH OFFENSIVE.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SAFEEN DIZAYEE) DENIED REPORTS HIS PARTY, WHICH CONTROLS MUCH OF THE BORDER AREA, IS CLASHING WITH P-K-K FIGHTERS. HE SAID AT LEAST 450 IRAQI KURDISH FAMILIES WERE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR VILLAGES AS A RESULT OF THE TURKISH MILITARY ACTIVITY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF APRIL THIS YEAR.

TURKEY HAS FREQUENTLY MOUNTED CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS IN RECENT YEARS. A SIX-WEEK DRIVE INTO IRAQ LAST YEAR PROVOKED AN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY AMID REPORTS CIVILIANS WERE BEING HURT IN THE OPERATION. NEARLY 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE P-K-K LAUNCHED ITS CAMPAIGN FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE 12-YEARS AGO. THE REBELS' TACTICS, WHICH INCLUDE KILLING THE FAMILIES OF KURDS ALLIED TO THE GOVERNMENT, HAVE BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
27-Jun-96 8:20 AM EDT (1220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S/BOSNIA DEFENSE (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS INCREASING DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS AND CROATS TO FINALLY APPROVE A JOINT DEFENSE LAW. COMPLETION OF WHAT AMOUNTS TO THE MERGER OF THE TWO FACTIONS' ARMED FORCES IS A CONDITION FOR A U-S-ORGANIZED MILITARY AID PROGRAM. DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: SENIOR PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY MUSLIMS AND CROATS ARE VERY CLOSE TO AN AGREEMENT ON A FEDERATION DEFENSE LAW. BUT THE ONE OUTSTANDING ISSUE -- CONCERNING CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE JOINT MILITARY, HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT AND IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN OR IF THE OBSTACLE CAN BE OVERCOME.

THE SENIOR U-S ENVOY TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM -- HELD TALKS IN SARAJEVO (THURSDAY) WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC IN AN EFFORT TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY WILL MEET LEADERS OF BOTH SIDES IN SARAJEVO NEXT WEEK -- AND DELIVER WHAT ONE OFFICIAL HERE TERMED -- A TOUGH MESSAGE -- ON THE NEED FOR ACTION.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ORGANIZED AND IS READY TO MOVE ON A 300-MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND EQUIP FEDERATION FORCES TO BRING THEM INTO ROUGH BALANCE WITH THOSE OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

THE NEXT-TO-LAST BARRIER TO THE START OF THE PROGRAM FELL EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON CERTIFIED THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT HAD FULFILLED ITS OBLIGATION TO EXPEL ALL IRANIAN ADVISERS UNDER TERMS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS.

UNDER STRONG U-S PRODDING, THE FEDERATION PARTIES AGREED MAY 14TH IN WASHINGTON TO SET UP A JOINT DEFENSE MINISTRY CONSISTING OF A CROAT DEFENSE MINISTER -- VLADIMIR SOLJIC -- AND A MUSLIM DEPUTY.

COMPLETION OF THE DEFENSE LAW HAD BEEN EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS. BUT TALKS BOGGED DOWN AGAIN WITH PRESIDENT IZETBEGOVIC AND FEDERATION PRESIDENT KASIMIR ZUBAC AS THEY STRUGGLE OVER WHO WOULD HAVE ULTIMATE CONTROL OF THE MILITARY.

ONE PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAID THE TRAIN AND EQUIP PROGRAM REPRESENTS THE ONLY HOPE FOR PRESERVING SECURITY IN BOSNIA AFTER NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS BEGIN WITHDRAWING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE AID PACKAGE CONSISTS OF NEARLY 100-MILLION DOLLARS IN U-S MILITARY SUPPLIES, INCLUDING TANKS AND HELICOPTERS, ALONG WITH MORE THAN 200-MILLION DOLLARS IN AID CONTRIBUTED BY SEVERAL MODERATE ISLAMIC STATES.

U-S ANALYSTS SAY WITHOUT THE PROGRAM THE BOSNIAN SERBS WOULD MAINTAIN THE MILITARY ADVANTAGE THEY INHERITED WITH THE BREAKUP OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, AND MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO RENEW THE WAR.

SECRETARY PERRY'S VISIT NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY TO BOSNIA WILL BE THE MOST EXTENSIVE TO DATE BY A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL. HE WILL VISIT PEACEKEEPING HEADQUARTERS IN TUZLA, BANJA LUKA AND MOSTAR, AND ALSO GO TO THE DISPUTED POSAVINA CORRIDOR NEAR BRCKO. THE CORRIDOR LINKS THE TWO PARTS OF THE SERB REPUBLIC IN BOSNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
27-Jun-96 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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