Voice of America, 20 & 21 July 1996

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

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIA / GOLDSTONE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRAZER (BRUSSELS)

[02] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (PALE)

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

[04] TURKEY / STRIKES (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[05] U-S / TURKEY (L-O) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] BOSNIA / GOLDSTONE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRAZER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR AT THE UNITED NATION'S WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, JUDGE RICHARD GOLDSTONE, SATURDAY WELCOMED THE NEWS THAT BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC IS TO WITHDRAW FROM PUBLIC LIFE. HOWEVER, HE WARNED THAT THE WORK OF THE TRIBUNAL COULD BE FATALLY DAMAGED UNLESS MR. KARADZIC AND AROUBT 70 OTHER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL. JOHN FRAZIER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: JUDGE RICHARD GOLDSTONE IS ATTENDING A BRUSSELS CONFERENCE THAT IS STUDYING HOW THE ISSUES OF RETRIBUTION AND JUSTICE HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS BOSNIA, SOUTH AFRICA, ETHIOPIA AND RWANDA.

HE HAS WELCOMED THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY BOSNIAN SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC THAT HE IS TO WITHDRAW FROM PUBLIC LIFE AS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITIVE STEP. HE ADDED THAT THIS IS THE STRONGEST INDICATION SO FAR THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO GIVE TEETH TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

JUDGE GOLDSTONE SAYS THE MOVE ALSO HAS DETERRENT IMPLICATIONS, AS PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT IF THEY COMMIT WAR CRIMES AND THEY ARE INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL THEY ARE GOING TO BE UNFIT TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. HOWEVER, JUDGE GOLDSTONE ADDS THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR MR. KARADZIC AND OTHER ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS TO LEAVE THE POLITICAL STAGE. HE ALSO WANTS THEM BROUGHT TO THE HAGUE TO STAND TRIAL.

THE AGREEMENT STILL AVOIDS THE ISSUE OF THE ARREST OF KARADZIC AND MLADIC THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMING TO TRIAL TO ANSWER THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE HAGUE. IT HAS WIDER IMPLICATIONS THAT CONCERN ME AND THAT IS THERE ARE STILL JUST UNDER 70 INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA AND THE CROATION SIDE AND THE REPUBLIKA SRBSKA ON THE SERB SIDE WHO ARE WALKING AROUND NOTWITHSTANDING INTERANTIONAL WARRANTS HAVING BEEN ISSUED FOR THEM. IF THIS CONTINUES FOR TOO MUCH LONGER IN MY VIEW IT COULD FATALLY PREJUDICE, IT COULD FATALLY HARM THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TRIBUNAL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PREVENTED, SUBSTANTIALLY, FROM DOING THE WORK THAT WE WERE CREATED TO DO

JUDGE GOLDSTONE ADDED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NATO LED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (IFOR) TAKING MORE ACTIVE STEPS TO DETAIN ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS. BUT HE STRESSED THAT THE MAIN OBLIGATION IS ON THE GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED.

HE PREDICTED THAT FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MR. KARADZIC WILL RETIRE FROM POLITICS IT IS LESS LIKELY NOW THAT HE AND GENERAL MLADIC WILL BE ARRESTED BEFORE THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA IN SEPTEMBER. BUT HE ADDED HE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE WRONG, AS HE SAYS HE FREQUENTLY IS, WHEN HE TRIES TO MAKE POLITICAL PREDICTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/WJK-T/WJK
20-Jul-96 6:11 AM EDT (1011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA/KARADZIC (S ONLY) BY DAVID FOLEY (PALE)

INTRO: RADOVAN KARADZIC'S POLITICAL PARTY HAS SAID THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER STEPPED DOWN ON FRIDAY AS PRESIDENT AND PARTY LEADER TO PROTECT THE PARTY FROM PUNISHMENT. THE PARTY ALSO PREDICTED VICTORY FOR HARD-LINE NATIONALISTS IN NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB HEADQUARTERS IN PALE.

TEXT: THE STATEMENT, ISSUED FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF MR. KARADZIC'S NATIONALIST SERB DEMOCRATIC PARTY, KNOWN AS THE S-D-S, SAID HE HAD DECIDED THAT SUBMITTING TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE WOULD GIVE BETTER RESULTS THAN CONTINUED RESISTANCE TO THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE STATEMENT SAID MR. KARADZIC BELIEVES THE ELECTIONS RULES ARE BIASED AGAINST THE SERBS AND THE ELECTION ORGANIZERS ARE TRYING TO RIG THE BALLOTING IN SEPTEMBER.

THE STATEMENT, PARTS OF WHICH WERE READ ON BOSNIAN SERB RADIO AND TELEVISION, SAID "PRESIDENT KARADZIC" WAS CALLING ON ALL SERBS TO VOTE FOR THE S-D-S, AND REASSURED SERBS THE PARTY IS NOW "STRONGER THAN EVER."

COLUM MURPHY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR IN BOSNIA, SAYS MR. KARADZIC, WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED TO MAKE SURE HE WITHDRAWS FROM PUBLIC LIFE COMPLETELY.

WE DON'T INTEND TO BE OUT-MANEUVERED OR MANIPULATED BY THOSE WHO WOULD FURTHER OBSTRUCT THE PEACE PROCESS.

BUT SOME OFFICIALS SAY RADOVAN KARADZIC IS A MASTER OF MANIPULATION AND WILL REMAIN IN CHARGE UNTIL HE IS IN A TRIBUNAL JAIL CELL IN THE HAGUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/DW/JM
20-Jul-96 8:23 AM EDT (1223 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA HAS WARNED ANY ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE RADOVAN KARADZIC AND BOSNIAN-SERB ARMY COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH MADE THE COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM FROM THE CHIEF WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: ADMIRAL SMITH ACKNOWLEDGED A SUGGESTION BY WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR RICHARD GOLDSTONE DURING A MEETING WITH REPORTERS SUNDAY IN SARAJEVO. THE PROSECUTOR HAD SAID BECAUSE OF THE SCALE OF THEIR ALLEGED CRIMES, IT WOULD BE WORTH TAKING SOME RISKS TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC.

BUT THE ADMIRAL WARNED IT WOULD NOT BE AN EASY TASK.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A FEELING THAT IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE FACT OF WALKING UP, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND SAYING LET US GO. YOU GO DOWN THAT ROAD IT IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT ONE, AND AGAIN I WOULD REMIND YOU IT IS NOT JUST TWO INDIVIDUALS.

I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN ENFORCE THE KIND OF FULLY INTEGRATED SOCIETY THAT IS ENVISAGED AT DAYTON WHEN YOU HAVE GOT PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER THAT CONTINUE TO SAY -- NO, WE DO NOT WANT TO LIVE TOGETHER. IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. IT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH, AND I THINK THE WAY YOU DEAL WITH THAT IS THROUGH THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

BUT SO FAR THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN BOSNIA HAS NOT LED TO ETHNIC INTEGRATION, AND ADMIRAL SMITH CRITICIZES LEADERS FROM ALL SIDES FOR WORKING TOWARD ETHNIC DIVISION.

WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO SEE ARE NATIONAL LEADERS STANDING UP, TALKING ABOUT RECONCILIATION, TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. NOT ONE ETHNIC GROUP OR ANOTHER, BUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, TO MOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY FREELY, TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES, REBUILD, RESETTLE, TO SEEK AND GAIN EMPLOYMENT IN A FAIR AND EQUAL WAY.

BUT THE PEOPLE IN BOSNIA ARE STILL AFRAID THE PEACE MAY NOT LAST. WITH CAMPAIGNING NOW UNDER WAY FOR NATION-WIDE ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER, BOSNIAN LEADERS ON ALL SIDES SEE LITTLE ELECTORAL BENEFIT IN SUPPORTING RECONCILIATION OR CALLING FOR FORGIVENESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/DW/RAE
21-Jul-96 10:05 AM EDT (1405 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY / STRIKES (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: A LEFT-WING PRISONER DIED IN AN HUNGER STRIKE IN A TURKISH PRISON ON SUNDAY. HE WAS THE FIRST TO DIE IN THE TWO-MONTH LONG HUNGER STRIKE IN PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OVER 300 HUNDRED POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE TAKING PART IN THE STRIKE TO PROTEST LIVING CONDITIONS AND ALLEGED ILL TREATMENT BY THE AUTHORITIES. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: AYGUN UGOR, A MEMBER IF THE OUTLAWED TURKISH COMMUNIST PARTY, DIED IN UMRANIYE JAIL IN ISTANBUL, ACCORDING TO EROL ANAR, A LEADING MEMBER OF THE TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION. AYGUN UGOR'S DEATH MARKS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1984 THAT ANY PRISONER HAS DIED IN A HUNGER STRIKE IN TURKEY. MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS FROM DIFFERENT ILLEGAL LEFT-WING GROUPS HAVE BEEN ON HUNGER STRIKE AT 33 JAILS SINCE MAY.

ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, ALL ARE ACCUSED OR CONVICTED OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED OFFENSES, MANY OF THEM VIOLENT.

THE PRISONERS ARE PROTESTING THE DISPERSAL OF LEFTIST INMATES TO PRISONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE PROVINCES WITHIN WHICH THEY ARE BEING TRIED. THE PRISONERS SAY THAT THIS INTERFERES WITH THEIR RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL AND LIMITS THEIR ACCESS TO THEIR LAWYERS.

ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIALS, THE PRISONERS ARE ALSO DEMANDING THAT ALLEGED ILL TREATMENT AND OBSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL TREATMENT BY THE AUTHORITIES BE STOPPED.

THREE PRISONERS WERE BEATEN TO DEATH AT BUCA PRISON IN WESTERN PORT CITY OF IZMIR IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR AND FOUR OTHERS DIED OF BEATINGS IN UMRANIYE PRISON IN ISTANBUL IN JANUARY 1996.

MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS HAVE ALSO TAKEN PART IN THE ONGOING HUNGER STRIKE. BUT THEY ENDED THEIR FAST AFTER THE COUNTRY'S NEW PRO-ISLAMIC JUSTICE MINISTER, SEVKET KAZAN, PROMISED EARLIER THIS MONTH TO IMPROVE JAIL CONDITIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/
21-Jul-96 4:16 PM EDT (2016 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S / TURKEY (L-O) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MET WITH TURKEY'S NEW ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, FRIDAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, TALKS BETWEEN AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT AND LEADING TURKISH OFFICIALS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE CYPRUS DISPUTE.

TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER ENDING DAY-LONG TALKS IN ANKARA, AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT CONFIRMED THAT SHE HAD HELD A SERIES OF WHAT SHE TERMED "PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS" ON CYPRUS, THE AEGEAN, IRAQ, AND "OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT," THE U-S-LED ALLIED FORCE IN SOUTHERN TURKEY TO PROTECT IRAQI KURDS FROM POSSIBLE ATTACKS BY IRAQ.

REFERRING TO CYPRUS, AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT SAID THE U-S ADMINISTRATION HAS NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF ACHIEVING A COMPREHENSIVE AND LASTING PEACE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN TURKISH AND GREEK COMMUNITIES ON THE ISLANDS.

CYPRUS HAS REMAINED DIVIDED SINCE 1974, WHEN THE TURKISH MILITARY INTERVENED, IN THE WAKE OF AN ATTEMPTED COUP ON THE ISLAND AIMED AT JOINING IT TO GREECE. HOWEVER, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THAT DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, SOME PROGRESS TOWARD THE SOLUTION HAD ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED DURING HER TRIP.

DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY, AND WITH OTHER COALITION PARTNERS, WE HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS TURKISH CONCERNS. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ISSUE TO THE U-S AND THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRAQ, OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE REACHED A MEETING OF THE MINDS FOR CONTINUING OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT.

ON THE ISSUE OF "PROVIDE COMFORT," AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT SAID THE TWO SIDES HAD AGREED ON THE NEED TO EXTEND THE FORCE'S MANDATE, WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

DURING OUR MEETING, WE EXPLAINED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YESTERDAY'S AGREEMENT, WHICH CONVENED FOR THE FIRST TIME TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES' MILITARY COMMANDERS ON CYPRUS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U-N FORCE COMMANDER. I EXPRESSED MY THANKS FOR THE COOPERATION WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE TURKISH FORCES ON CYPRUS. OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS FLAWED BUT SIGNIFICANT STEP CAN HELP REDUCE TENSIONS ALONG THE BUFFER ZONES AND IMPROVE THE CLIMATE FOR BROADER NEGOTIATIONS TO ACHIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE CYPRUS SETTLEMENT.

AS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITION, TURKEY'S FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, HAD BEEN FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE U-S - LED FORCE.

ANALYSTS SAY HIS STAND OF THE ISSUE WOULD BE THE FIRST REAL TEST OF HIS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES. BUT AFTER COMING TO POWER EARLIER THIS MONTH, MR. ERBAKAN SAID HE WOULD DEFER TO THE ADVICE OF THE TURKISH MILITARY, WHICH IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT.

THE MANDATE OF THE FOURTH, HOWEVER, NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT IN ORDER TO BE EXTENDED.

TRADITIONALLY, THE PARLIAMENT FOLLOWS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, THE COUNTRY'S TOP DECISION-MAKING BODY, WHICH COMPRISES THE PRESIDENT, THE PRIME MINISTER, AND THE COUNTRY'S TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS.(SIGNED)
NEB / AZ / BD-T/PT
19-Jul-96 7:55 PM EDT (2355 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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