Voice of America, 19 July 1996 (1 of 2)

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

CONTENTS

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[03] BOSNIA / KARADZIC (L-RERUN) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[04] BOSNIA / SWISS RADIO BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

[05] EURO / BOSNIA REACT (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[06] HOLBROOKE-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[01] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CRASH OF T-W-A FLIGHT 800 WEDNESDAY EVENING OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, WITH THE LOSS OF 230 LIVES, IS THE LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY IN MANY AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. OTHER TOPICS THIS FRIDAY INCLUDE: THE START OF THE SUMMER OLYMPICS GAMES IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND COMMENTS ON U-S TRADE POLICY IN REGARD TO CUBA. NOW, FOR A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, HERE IS _________________ WITH TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: INVESTIGATORS ARE CONTINUING TO COLLECT WRECKAGE AND BODIES FROM THE PARIS-BOUND T-W-A FLIGHT. THE PLANE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM NEW YORK'S KENNEDY AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, SOME AVIATION EXPERTS ARE SAYING THAT "THE SUDDEN, EXPLOSIVE END OF THE PLANE'S FLIGHT AND EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF A FIREBALL FALLING TO THE SEA LEFT ONLY A FEW POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: A BOMB OR OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, OR AN UNUSUAL VIOLENT ENGINE FAILURE THAT RUPTURED A FUEL LINE." NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY -- PUBLISHED ON LONG ISLAND -- SAYS THAT THE CRASH, "WHETHER CAUSED BY ACCIDENT OR EVIL, MAKES ALL AMERICANS FEEL INSECURE."

VOICE: "AGAIN. WE SIT MUTELY BEFORE TELEVISION SCREENS, WITNESSING ANOTHER NUMBING PANOPLY OF DISASTER AND GRIEF: THE BROKEN BODIES, THE HORRID FLOTSAM OF A JET AIRLINER BLOWN APART, THE SHATTERED ILLUSIONS OF PREDICTABILITY AND SAFETY. AGAIN. THE DOOMED FLIGHT. T-W-A 800 ETCHED ON OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, AN ICON OF THE PERVERSITY OF BLIND FATE OR -- MORE UNSPEAKABLY -- THE MARK OF HUMAN EVIL. AGAIN. WE FIND REFUGE IN THE SEARCH FOR CLUES TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED, TO ASCRIBE BLAME TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE FOR THE DEATHS... IT'S EITHER THAT OR HOWL IN THE NIGHT IN EXISTENTIAL DREAD. WHAT DO WE KNOW? NOT MUCH, BUT SOME OF IT POINTS -- VERY CONDITIONALLY -- TO TERRORISM."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN SAYS, IN ITS EDITORIAL, THAT "IDLE SPECULATION IS NOT PRODUCTIVE."

VOICE: "ONE COULD GUESS AT THE REASON FOR THE CRASH, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW. EVEN IF THE TRUTH SHOULD REMAIN FOREVER SHROUDED BENEATH THE NORTH ATLANTIC, EVERY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION SHOULD BE EXAMINED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD AND OTHER AUTHORITIES. WHAT WOULD BE MOST WRONG WOULD BE TO ASSUME THAT IF ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION IS TERRIFYING, THE OTHER'S AREN'T. IF CARE IS TAKEN TO SEE THAT NO PLANE COULD GO DOWN FROM A BOMB ABOARD EVER AGAIN, OR FROM CREW ERROR EVER AGAIN, OR FROM MECHANICAL FAILING EVER AGAIN, SOME GOOD WILL HAVE COME FROM THIS."

TEXT: THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER RECALLS A VALUJET AIRLINER THAT CRASHED LAST MAY IN FLORIDA'S EVERGLADES AND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT AIRLINE SAFETY.

VOICE: "THE TRAGEDIES DIFFER IN CAUSE, BUT THEIR RESULTS SHARE MUCH -- CALLS FOR A REVIEW OF AVIATION SAFETY AND AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: ARE U-S SKIES AS SAFE AS THEY CAN BE? FROM THE VALUJET TRAGEDY, THAT ANSWER PROVED TO BE A RESOUNDING NO. WEAK SAFETY SYSTEMS HAD ALLOWED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS TO BE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS SPOT. FLIGHT 800'S CRASH RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS WITH WIDER IMPACT. TERRORISM IS THE IMMEDIATE SUSPECT BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSIVE NATURE OF THE CRASH, THE FACT THAT IT OCCURRED TWO DAYS BEFORE THE OLYMPICS, AND ITS CONCURRENCE WITH THE TRIAL OF TERRORIST RAMZI YOUSEF IN NEW YORK. IN FACT, IT IS YOUSEF WHO ILLUSTRATES BEST JUST HOW VULNERABLE THE FLYING PUBLIC REMAINS. HE'S ON TRIAL FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE 1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING. BUT MORE RELEVANT ARE CHARGES THAT HE PLANNED TO BLOW UP 11 U.S. AIRLINERS... ONLY A HANDFUL OF U-S AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES CAN BOAST OF THE BEST BOMB-DETECTING TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. NO ONE KNOWS IF MORE PROTECTION ON THE GROUND COULD HAVE SAVED FLIGHT 800. INDEED, EVEN IF TERROR IS THE CAUSE, THE WEAPON COULD HAVE BEEN A MISSILE, NOT A BOMB. BUT THE NEW SYSTEMS OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST THE TERRORIST'S FAVORITE TOOL. THEY SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE -- WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: AS THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES GET UNDERWAY IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THE BOSTON GLOBE NOTES THAT THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE "HAVE CALLED FOR A 17-DAY TRUCE IN COUNTRIES RAVAGED BY WAR SO THE DIRE NEEDS OF CHILDREN CAN BE ADDRESSED."

VOICE: "THE TRUCE WAS INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL BREAK FROM WARFARE DECLARED BY ATHENS AND SPARTA TO ENSURE SAFE PASSAGE FOR THEIR ATHLETES. THE MODERN VERSION IS THE CATALYST FOR OLYMPIC AID-ATLANTA, A JOINT PROJECT BY UNICEF AND THE ATLANTA COMMITTEE FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO REVIVE AND ACCELERATE UNICEF PROGRAMS IN 14 WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRIES. IN THESE COUNTRIES, WHICH INCLUDE AFGHANISTAN, ANGOLA, RWANDA, HAITI AND SRI LANKA, TWO-MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN FOUR-MILLION LEFT DISABLED. AN ESTIMATED 12-MILLION HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES. [OPT] FUNDS RAISED BY OLYMPIC AID-ATLANTA WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR UNICEF WORKERS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO DISTRIBUTE BASIC EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SUPPLIES... IN MOZAMBIQUE, STILL REELING FROM A 16-YEAR WAR THAT ENDED OFFICIALLY IN 1992, UNICEF WILL RESURRECT ITS IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM. [END OPT] THE OLYMPIC AID- ATLANTA CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED LAST NOVEMBER AND HAS ALREADY REACHED ITS ORIGINAL GOAL OF $7 MILLION... THANKS TO ITS EFFORTS, THE GOOD WILL ON WHICH THE OLYMPIC GAMES WERE FOUNDED WILL BE EXTENDED TO MILLIONS OF NEEDY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES TELLS READERS THAT "THE OLYMPIC GAMES HAVE CHANGED AND GROWN A LOT SINCE THEY WERE REVIVED A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, BUT THEY STILL SEEM TO HAVE A WAY -- SOMEHOW AND DESPITE IT ALL -- OF GETTING BACK TO WHERE THEY STARTED NEARLY THREE-THOUSAND YEARS AGO."

VOICE: "THE OLYMPICS TRADITIONALLY ARE DEDICATED TO THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD, BUT THEIR ATTRACTION IS FOR ALL OF IT -- OLD, YOUNG, MEN, WOMEN, THE QUICK, LITHE OR LAME. ALL CAN APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF A COMPETITION AMONG THE BEST -- THE VISIONS OF SPEED, EFFICIENCY, GRADE, STRENGTH AND SKILL. THOSE IN THE WORKADAY WORLD MIGHT LIKE TO THINK THEY EMULATE THAT STYLE, AT LEAST JUST A LITTLE, WHEN THEY SWING A HAMMER, DO A TRICKY COMPUTATION, WRITE A GOOD SENTENCE, MAKE UP A HOSPITAL BED, TEACH FIRST-GRADERS TO READ. THAT'S WHY GAMES WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE LONG BEFORE OLYMPIA AND BE LONG AFTER ATHENS."

TEXT: THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT CLINTON CHOSE TO DELAY A SECTION OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT, WHICH IMPOSES NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA. THE PORTION IS TITLE III (THREE) WHICH SAYS THAT "ANY FOREIGNER WHO 'TRAFFICKS' IN AMERICAN PROPERTY SEIZED BY CUBA WILL BE JUDGED AS CAUSING DAMAGE TO FORMER OWNERS, INCLUDING CUBANS WHO HAVE SINCE BECOME AMERICAN CITIZENS." THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS WHAT MR. CLINTON DID WAS "SUSPEND THE RIGHT TO SUE FOREIGNERS FOR DAMAGES IN AMERICAN COURTS FOR SIX MONTHS -- UNTIL FEB. 1, WELL AFTER AMERICAN ELECTIONS."

VOICE: "UNDER THIS COMPROMISE, CONFECTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S LEGAL WIZARDS, THE PRESIDENT HAS EMBRACED A PRINCIPLE DEAR TO CUBAN-AMERICAN HARD-LINERS IN FLORIDA WHILE BLUNTING ITS ENFORCEMENT. STILL, JUDGING BY THE INITIAL REACTION, MR. CLINTON'S FACE-BOTH-WAYS MANEUVER IS MERELY FEEDING THE CONTROVERSY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO QUELL. EUROPEANS, CANADIANS AND MEXICANS VIEW HELMS-BURTON AS AN ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE UNITED STATES DOMESTIC LAW ON THEIR COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO ENFORCE AN AMERICAN TRADE EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA THAT ENJOYS VIRTUALLY NO INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT. [OPT] THEY NOTE, CORRECTLY, THAT WASHINGTON HAS HISTORICALLY OPPOSED SUCH SECONDARY BOYCOTTS AND WORRY THAT THE SENATE HAS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD EMPLOY THE SAME WEAPON AGAINST IRAN AND LIBYA... TRADE AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT HASTENED THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE, AND WASHINGTON NOW ADVOCATES A SIMILAR APPROACH TO CHINA. [END OPT] WHY SOW ILL WILL AND RISK REPRISALS OVER A BILL THAT EVEN THE ADMINISTRATION ONLY HALF-HEARTEDLY DEFENDS?"

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES BELIEVES THAT MR. CLINTON''S LAST-MINUTE WAVER OF HELMS-BURTON LEGISLATION IS -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS -- "A NOTEWORTHY EXERCISE IN CLINTONIAN DOUBLE THINK."

VOICE: "NOW, MR. CLINTON DIDN'T HAVE TO SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW. INDEED, HE WAS HARDLY EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BILL WHEN IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED... FOR ONE THING, MR. CLINTON AND HIS CREW; PROUD MEMBERS OF THE GENERATION THAT HAD STARTS IN ITS EYES ABOUT FIDEL CASTRO'S WORKERS' PARADISE AND OTHER COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIPS, HAVEN'T EXACTLY TAKEN A TOUGH STAND AGAINST MR. CASTRO SINCE COMING TO POWER.... FOR ANOTHER, OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES -- WHOSE BUSINESS DEALINGS IN CUBA WOULD BE THE CHIEF TARGET OF THE SUITS -- HAD TEN HISSY FITS (SERIOUS MISGIVINGS) ABOUT THE BILL. AND MR. CLINTON'S PREFERRED METHOD OF DEALING WITH SUCH TANTRUMS SEEMS TO BACK DOWN PRECIPITOUSLY."

[ END OPT ]

TEXT: THE ORLANDO (FLORIDA) SENTINEL CALLS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S HANDLING OF THE HELMS-BURTON ACT "POLITICS AT ITS WORST..."

VOICE: "IT'S A STANDOUT CASE OF FENCE-STRADDLING, DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE POLITICAL BENEFITS. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED, THOUGH... DOES MR. CLINTON INTEND TO ALLOW LAWSUITS IN SIX MONTHS, OR WILL HE USE HIS OPTION TO EXTEND THE SUSPENSION INDEFINITELY? [OPT] HAVE INVESTORS IN CUBA BEEN PUT ON NOTICE, OR HAVE THEY BEEN PRESSURED? HAS MR. CLINTON GOTTEN THE MESSAGE FROM U.S. ALLIES, OR HAVE SUPPORTERS OF A TOUGHER STAND PREVAILED? WHO KNOWS? MR. CLINTON HIMSELF MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. THAT'S POOR LEADERSHIP AND INEPT POLICYMAKING. [END OPT] ALL IT DOES IS DELAY ANY SUBSTANTIVE ACTION ON THAT MATTER UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. WHAT A SORRY PERFORMANCE."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS TO BE FOUND IN THE U-S PRESS.
NEB/DN/PCH
19-Jul-96 10:59 AM EDT (1459 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATING WAR CRIMES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HIS ISSUED WARRANTS FOR THE ARRESTS OF CERTAIN POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS. WE GET SOME VIEWS FROM THE AMERICAN PRESS, AS WE CALL ON ___________________ FOR TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: IN A RECENT EDITORIAL ON WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, PUBLISHED IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASKS: "SO WHAT ARE THE NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA LIKELY TO DO TO BRING RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC TO JUSTICE?"

VOICE: "NOT MUCH. AND THAT CREATES MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE PEACE PROCESS. KARADZIC, THE SELF-STYLED PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, AND MLADIC, THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY, HAVE BEEN UNDER INDICTMENT FROM THE U.N. WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AT THE HAGUE FOR SOME TIME. HOWEVER, THE JUDGES HAVE EXPANDED THOSE INDICTMENTS AND CALLED FOR THE ARREST OF THESE TWO. (///OPT///) THE COURT IS ATTEMPTING TO PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE NATIONS FROM WHICH IT DRAWS ITS AUTHORITY TO TAKE ACTION. IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE EXPANDED INDICTMENTS WERE HANDED DOWN ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS' OVERRUNING OF SREBRENICA. THAT CITY IN EASTERN BOSNIA HAD BEEN A MUSLIM ENCLAVE. WHEN IT FELL, SOME 8,000 MUSLIM MEN AND BOYS DISAPPEARED, AND THEY ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY VICTIMS OF SERBIAN GENOCIDE.... THE COURT IN THE HAGUE HOLDS KARADZIC AND MLADIC RESPONSIBLE FOR ORDERING THE ATROCITY IN SREBRENICA. (///END OPT///) HOWEVER, IF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCES NOW IN BOSNIA ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE TWO WAR CRIMINALS INTO CUSTODY, THEY COMPROMISE THEIR CLAIM TO NEUTRALITY AND RISK NOT ONLY THEIR OWN LIVES BUT REIGNITING THE WAR. BUT SO LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN POWER, THE INDICTED SERBS NOT ONLY MOCK JUSTICE BUT ANY HOPE FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER."

TEXT: ACCORDING TO AN EDITORIAL IN THE TUCSON, ARIZONA, DAILY STAR, "THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS THAT FORGED THE UNEASY CALM IN BOSNIA STANDS AT RISK BECAUSE OF TWO WAR CRIMINALS NO ONE WANTS TO ARREST."

VOICE: "EUROPE IS CHRONICALLY INDECISIVE OVER BOSNIA AND CAN'T GET ITSELF TOGETHER ENOUGH TO ENFORCE AN ARREST WARRANT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. NATO FORCES INSIST THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO ARREST RADOVAN KARADZIC...AND GEN. RATKO MLADIC... IT PROBABLY ISN'T NATO'S JOB, AND IF THEY UNDERTOOK IT, U.S. AND OTHER TROOPS RISK SEVERE RETALIATION. WISELY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS DISPATCHED ITS ACE NEGOTIATOR, RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE, TO SERBIA TO LEAN ON ITS PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO FULFILL THE DAYTON ACCORD MEASURES."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, COMMENTS THAT "MR. HOLBROOKE'S FIRST TACTIC IS TO INDUCE MR. KARADZIC'S ORIGINAL PATRON, SERBIAN PRESIDENT...MILOSEVIC, WHO WITH HIS CLIENT'S PERMISSION REPRESENTED HIM AT DAYTON, TO BRING HIM INTO COMPLIANCE WITH DAYTON'S PROVISIONS FOR HIS DEPARTURE FROM POLITICS AND HIS TRIAL AS A WAR CRIMINAL."

VOICE: "NO ONE DOUBTS THIS WILL BE HARD POLITICALLY FOR MR. MILOSEVIC TO DO. IT MAY BE EASIER FOR HIM TO DECIDE, HOWEVER, IF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE PROMPTLY REIMPOSED. OTHERWISE MR. MILOSEVIC GETS TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. HE WOULD BE INVITING MR. KARADZIC TO OUTWAIT THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE AND TO POP UP LATER AND RESUME OPEN POWER, AND HE WOULD BE DOING THIS WITHOUT SERIOUS COST TO HIS CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED STATES. IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE THAT SANCTIONS WILL NOT SUFFICE AND THAT THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN BOSNIA WILL HAVE TO USE MUSCLE TO DETAIN MR. KARADZIC. SOME OF HIS OFFICIALS SUGGEST THAT THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY WOULD RESPOND BY ARRESTING AND KILLING INTERNATIONAL POLICE MONITORS AS WELL AS PEACEKEEPERS; ONLY THE LATTER ARE ARMED. IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO IGNORE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THOSE THREATS. IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE FOOLISH TO BE INTIMIDATED BY THEM."

TEXT: THE DALLAS (TEXAS) MORNING NEWS, EXPLAINS THAT "THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION RIGHTLY HAS REJECTED THE ADVICE OF SOME IN WASHINGTON TO USE MILITARY COMMANDO TEAMS TO EXTRACT" THE WAR CRIME SUSPECTS.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT CLINTON PRESUMABLY IS NOT GOING TO RISK ANOTHER SOMALIA-LIKE DISASTER SO CLOSE TO THE FALL ELECTIONS. POLITICS ASIDE, THERE IS NO REASON TO PUT U.S. TROOPS IN GREATER DANGER TO CAPTURE THE TWO BOSNIAN LEADERS WHEN THE LOCAL PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THAT ARE CLEARLY STATED IN THE DAYTON ACCORD. THAT'S WHY MR. CLINTON WAS RIGHT TO PLUCK OUT OF RETIREMENT THE MAN WHO STITCHED DAYTON TOGETHER, RICHARD HOLBROOKE, AND DISPATCH HIM BACK TO THE REGION THIS WEEK. MR. HOLBROOKE MUST TWIST THE ARM OF SERBIA'S PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO DELIVER MR. KARADZIC AND MR. MLADIC AS HE IS REQUIRED TO DO UNDER THE PEACE ACCORD THAT HE SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS."

TEXT: WITH THAT EDITORIAL APPEARING IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, WE CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.
19-Jul-96 12:26 PM EDT (1626 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BOSNIA / KARADZIC (L-RERUN) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS AGREED TO STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, GIVE UP HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE SERB NATIONALIST POLITICAL PARTY, AND WITHDRAW COMPLETELY FROM PUBLIC LIFE. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE AGREEMENT IF IMPLEMENTED -- SHOULD END THE ONGOING CRISIS IN BOSNIA OVER MR. KARADZIC'S POLITICAL ROLE.

TEXT: THE AGREEMENT BY MR. KARADZIC TO LEAVE PUBLIC LIFE HAS BEEN GREETED WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM BY INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS HERE.

THE MAN IN CHARGE OF SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA, ROBERT FROWICK, SAYS THE DEAL WILL CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE NATIONALIST SERB POLITICAL PARTY, THE S-D-S, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS. BUT MR. FROWICK SAYS HE WILL WAIT TO MAKE SURE MR. KARADZIC COMPLIES COMPLETELY WITH THE AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE TO SAY POTENTIALLY THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STEP FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY TIMES WHEN THESE THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY.

AMBASSADOR FROWICK SAYS HE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS WILL BE WATCHING TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A COSMETIC MOVE BY MR. KARADZIC.

I DON'T THINK IT TAKES VERY LONG TO FIND OUT WHETHER HE IS EXERCISING POWER FROM BEHIND THE SCENES. I THINK WE WILL KNOW.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT MR. KARADZIC WILL RETAIN CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE. BILJANA PLAVSIC, WHO TEMPORARILY TOOK OVER MR. KARADZIC'S PRESIDENTIAL POWERS, IS NOW THE ACTING SERB PRESIDENT UNTIL ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN SEPTEMBER. AND ALEKSA BUHA, THE BOSNIAN SERB FOREIGN MINISTER, WILL TAKE OVER AS TEMPORARY LEADER OF MR. KARADZIC'S POLITICAL PARTY. BOTH ARE HARD-LINE NATIONALISTS LOYAL TO MR. KARADZIC. AND OFFICIALS SAY BOTH SUPPORT THE SERB'S POLICY OF OBSTRUCTING THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT.

OFFICIALS HERE SAY THEY WILL NOW TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS. THE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THEY WILL STILL INSIST THAT MR. KARADZIC MUST ONE DAY FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES AT THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED) NEB/DF/JWH/CF/MMK
19-Jul-96 1:15 PM EDT (1715 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BOSNIA / SWISS RADIO BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: A NEW RADIO STATION IS BROADCASTING IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, ONE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ASSIST BOSNIA IN HOLDING ITS FIRST POST-WAR GENERAL ELECTION NEXT MONTH. THE STATION HAS BEEN SET UP AND PAID FOR BY SWITZERLAND. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVANS HAYS HAS BEEN TO THE SARAJEVO HEADQUARTERS OF THE NEW "FREE ELECTION RADIO NETWORK" AND REPORTS THE NEW RADIO ALSO SERVES AS A GENERAL INFORMATION AND MUSIC STATION.

TEXT:

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN THE LATEST ABOUT HOW POLITICS AND POP MUSIC MIX, COME TO POST-WAR SARAJEVO. THE REVIVING CAPITAL HAS SEEN A GROWTH OF NEW RADIO STATIONS SINCE THE FIGHTING STOPPED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

LISTENERS CAN TUNE INTO I-FOR RADIO, RUN BY THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING TROOPS, AND THERE IS U-N RADIO. ALL IN ADDITION TO REGIONAL STATIONS ALREADY IN PLACE. BUT NOW, SWITZERLAND, IN COOPERATION WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, HAS BEGUN OPERATING A RADIO TO BROADCAST INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEPTEMBER ELECTION. THE FREE ELECTION RADIO NETWORK BROADCASTS 24 HOURS A DAY, WITH MUSIC, WEATHER, SPORTS AND -- OF COURSE POLITICS.

MARK BASIGER USUALLY WORKS FOR A PRIVATE RADIO STATION IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. HE IS IN SARAJEVO NOW TO HELP GET STATION F-E-R-N ON THE AIR AND HE GAVE V-O-A A TOUR OF THE OPERATION.

WE'RE BROADCASTING 24 HOURS, WHICH IS 14 HOURS LIVE, WHICH MEANS WE START AT SIX A-M UNTIL EIGHT P-M AND DURING THE WHOLE NIGHT THIS 10 HOURS WE ARE PRODUCING JUST NON-STOP MUSIC. WITH EVERY THREE, FOUR TITLES WE HAVE A LITTLE JINGLE (STATION SLOGAN), SO WE HAVE THE STATION IDENTIFICATION, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW SINCE WE ARE NOT KNOWN.

HE SAID THE SELECTION OF MUSIC MUST AVOID ANY HINT OF POLITICS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE SWISS STAFF, WHO ARE NOT FLUENT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE REGION AND THUS CANNOT IMMEDIATELY KNOW WHAT SONG LYRICS MIGHT BE INAPPROPRIATE.

WE DO NOT PLAY MUSIC AT ALL FROM THE BALKAN AREA. THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OF POLITICAL REASONS. WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO TROUBLE BY PLAYING CERTAIN BANDS. BECAUSE WE SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SINGING ABOUT -- SO TO AVOID AT LEAST THIS PROBLEM.

AFTER A TOUR OF THE STUDIO, V-O-A SPOKE WITH THE SWISS RADIO DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT, DINO BORNATICO, AND ASKED HIM WHY SWITZERLAND WAS INVOLVED IN THE BOSNIAN ELECTION PROCESS. WAS IT ASKED TO PARTICIPATE OR DID IT VOLUNTEER? WAS THERE SOME SPECIAL REASON FOR THE SWISS TO BE HERE. HE SAID IT WAS SOMETHING OF BOTH.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MEDIA PROJECT BECAUSE BOSNIA AFTER THE WAR HAS STARTED TO GIVE TO ITS SOCIAL LIFE POLITICAL STRUCTURE WITH CANTONS, WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND WITH THIS FEDERATION WHICH IS SOMEHOW SIMILAR TO THE SWISS FEDERATION. WE HAVE CANTONS, WE HAVE VERY STRONG MUNICIPALITIES. AND WE HAVE A MULTI-ETHNIC APPROACH THAT CONCERNS THE SOCIETY. AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SWITZERLAND TRIED TO BRING IN THIS EXPERIENCE WITH RULING (SUPERVISING) ELECTIONS, SAYING THAT WITH NETWORK, THIS NATION-WIDE WORKING NETWORK IT COULD EVENTUALLY BE A HELP FOR BOSNIANS TO HAVE THESE ELECTIONS RULED (SUPERVISED) LIKE WE DO IT IN SWITZERLAND.

MR. BORNATICO SAYS THE NEW STATION WILL REMAIN ON THE AIR FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH AFTER THE ELECTION TO BROADCAST NEWS ABOUT THE SELECTION OF PARLIAMENT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

HE SAYS AT FIRST THERE WAS SOME LOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT FROM LOCAL MEDIA OFFICIALS WHO SUSPECTED THE NEW STATION WAS A SIGN OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN BOSNIA. HE SAYS THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT HE SAYS THAT NOW, WITH THE OPERATION UNDER WAY AND THE STATION'S GOAL OF SUPPORTING A FREE ELECTION CLEAR, THE OPPOSITION HAS SUBSIDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH/JWH/JM
19-Jul-96 2:46 PM EDT (1846 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO / BOSNIA REACT (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED THE RESIGNATION OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO AGREED FRIDAY TO STEP DOWN. MOST OF THEM SAY THE RESIGNATION CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA. BUT AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, THERE IS STILL LESS THAN UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT ON HOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN GET MR. KARADZIC TO THE HAGUE, WHERE HE FACES WAR CRIMES CHARGES.

TEXT: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL SAID THE RESIGNATION OF THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER FROM PUBLIC OFFICE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD THE STABILIZATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND WELCOMED THE NEWS AS A BOOST FOR THE PEACE PROCESS AND THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 14TH.

FRENCH OFFICIALS ALSO WELCOMED THE NEWS, BUT POINTEDLY GAVE CREDIT FOR THE RESIGNATION TO PAST EUROPEAN EFFORTS AS WELL AS THOSE OF U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE.

MR. HOLBROOKE, WHOSE SOMETIMES BLUNT DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN BOSNIA HAVE NOW TWICE SUCCEEDED WHERE EUROPEAN ATTEMPTS HAD FAILED, ANNOUNCED HIS LATEST DIPLOMATIC COUP AFTER TWO DAYS OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS WHO WELCOMED MR. KARADZIC'S DECISION TO STEP DOWN SAY ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC FRAMEWORK HAVE NOW BEEN MET.

THE RUSSIAN STATEMENT -- REPORTED BY THE INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY -- IS IN CONTRAST THOSE OF NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA WHO SAYS THE NEXT STEP FOR MR. KARADZIC MUST BE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAID ANY IMMEDIATE NATO ATTEMPTS TO SEIZE MR. KARADZIC COULD DISRUPT THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONS.

BUT U-S AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT THE SIDELINED BOSNIAN SERB LEADER MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL -- WHO CALLED THE KARADZIC RESIGNATION A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION -- SAYS THE NEXT STEP MUST BE TO THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/MMK
19-Jul-96 10:08 AM EDT (1408 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] HOLBROOKE-BOSNIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE MET WITH SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO BRIEF HIM ON THE DETAILS OF HIS MEETING THAT RESULTED IN THE WITHDRAWAL OF BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC FROM ALL POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT INSISTS MR. HOLBROOKE MADE NO DEALS TO WIN THE SIGNATURES OF MR. KARADZIC, HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ON THE WITHDRAWAL STATEMENT. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE COMBINATION OF THREATS TO REIMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND TO EXCLUDE THE SERBIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

THE THREAT TO REIMPOSE SANCTIONS PROBABLY HURTS THE SERBS MORE THAN THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN REALITY. THE THREAT TO BAR THE S-D-S HURT PALE MORE THAN BELGRADE. SO THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO THREATS PRODUCED, WE THINK, SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THEM TO GET THEM TO AGREE TO A DEAL THAT OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS THEY HAD NOT BEEN WILLING TO AGREE TO.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS SERBIA IS STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THE TREATY CALLS FOR COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. NOTHING IN THE STATEMENT COMMITS ANYONE TO MAKE MR. KARADZIC FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/MMK
19-Jul-96 4:51 PM EDT (2051 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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