Voice of America, 96-08-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOPHER ON U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE

[02] FIGHTING TERRORISM WITH SANCTIONS BY EMMANUEL DUPARCQ (WASHINGTON)

[03] TERRORISM AND U-S POLICY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[04] THE PLOT TO DIVIDE BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[05] BOSNIA/SITREP (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[06] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[07] GERMANY / BOSNIAN REFUGEES / ELECTION (L-O) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

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

[01] CHRISTOPHER ON U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE

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:

FOR A HALF CENTURY, THERE HAS BEEN BROAD AMERICAN AGREEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING THE UNITED STATES' PARTNERSHIP WITH EUROPE. LAST DECEMBER, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ANNOUNCED A NEW TRANSATLANTIC AGENDA WITH THE LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND ECONOMIC TIES AND PROMOTE STABILITY IN EUROPE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE U.S. HAS ALSO BEEN PURSUING A STRATEGY TO PREVENT FUTURE CONFLICTS IN EUROPE. SINCE THE NATO SUMMIT IN BRUSSELS IN JANUARY 1994, THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE HAS ENABLED NATIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION TO PLAN AND TRAIN WITH NATO FORCES. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE ALSO LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NATO-LED COALITION IN BOSNIA, THE LARGEST MISSION IN NATO'S HISTORY. AND IN JUNE, NATO AGREED TO U.S. INITIATIVES THAT WILL ENABLE THE ALLIANCE TO RESPOND RAPIDLY TO OUT-OF-AREA CRISES AND GIVE AMERICA'S EUROPEAN ALLIES A GREATER SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AS SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER POINTED OUT IN RECENT TESTIMONY BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE, MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARD NATO ENLARGEMENT SINCE THE 1994 SUMMIT. NOW THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES ARE CONSULTING WITH INTERESTED COUNTRIES TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY AND NATO MUST DO TO PREPARE FOR THE ADDITION OF NEW MEMBERS. NATO WILL DECIDE ON THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS IN DECEMBER.

AS MR. CHRISTOPHER STRESSED, "NATO ENLARGEMENT, TO BE DONE RIGHT, MUST CONTINUE ALONG THE DELIBERATE PATH THAT PRESIDENT [CLINTON] HAS LAID OUT. ENLARGEMENT INVOLVES THE MOST SOLEMN COMMITMENTS THAT ONE NATION CAN MAKE TO ANOTHER. IT WILL REQUIRE NEW MEMBERS TO TRANSFORM THE STRUCTURE, DOCTRINE AND EQUIPMENT OF THEIR ARMED FORCES." AND WHEN THE FIRST NEW MEMBERS ARE ADMITTED, SAID SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER, "WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT THE DOOR STAYS OPEN TO OTHERS."

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.
09-Aug-96 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] FIGHTING TERRORISM WITH SANCTIONS BY EMMANUEL DUPARCQ (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: WHILE THE EXPLOSION AND CRASH OF T-W-A FLIGHT 800 AND THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS BOMBING WAS STILL ON THE MINDS OF MANY AMERICANS, PRESIDENT CLINTON THIS WEEK SIGNED A LAW IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON FOREIGN BUSINESSES THAT INVEST HEAVILY IN IRAN AND LIBYA. THE UNITED STATES REGARDS BOTH AS ROGUE COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT TERRORISM. BUT THE NEW LAW WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED BY MANY OF AMERICA'S ALLIES.

FOR A SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL REACTION TO THESE DEVELOPMENTS, HERE IS___________ WITH TODAY'S U.S. OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE BILL SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON ON MONDAY (8/5) PROVIDES FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT INVEST MORE THAN 40 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE IRANIAN OR LIBYAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES. THE LAW PROVOKED CONSIDERABLE AGITATION IN EUROPE, WITH TRADITIONAL U-S ALLIES DENOUNCING IT AS ANTI-FREE TRADE AND ARGUING THAT IT IS BETTER TO ENGAGE IRAN AND LIBYA IN DIALOGUE THAN IMPOSE A QUARANTINE. THE U-S PRESS IS DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE, WITH SOME PAPERS VOICING APPROVAL. AND OTHER COUNSELING CAUTION. WE BEGIN THIS SAMPLING WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES AND COLUMNIST JOHN R. BOLTON, WHO WRITES ABOUT "EUROPE'S BLINDNESS ON LIBYA AND IRAN".

VOICE: "THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE WEST IS DIVIDED AND AIMLESS IN THE FACE OF REAL, DIRECT AND GROWING THREATS TO THE LIVES AND SECURITY OF ITS CITIZENS.... THE SUPINENESS OF OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES HAS BEEN A PAINFUL THING TO WATCH.... BUT THIS ARGUMENT DEMONSTRATES ONLY THAT SOME EUROPEANS HAVE NEVER LOST FAITH IN APPEASEMENT AS A WAY OF LIFE. IT IS CLEAR THAT IRAN IS CYNICALLY MANIPULATING GULLIBLE (OR EQUALLY CYNICAL) EUROPEANS TO ADVANCE ITS DEVELOPMENT OF WEAPONS AND MASS DESTRUCTION. IRAN HAS MADE THE "CRITICAL DIALOGUE" AND END IN ITSELF, AND MANY EUROPEANS HAVE ACQUIESCED IN THE CHARADE FOR FINANCIAL GAMES."

TEXT: IN NEBRASKA, THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD SAYS PLAINLY THAT "TERRORISM WARRANTS A PUNISHING RESPONSE", AND ADDS:

VOICE: "U-S LEADERS REACTED APPROPRIATELY TO THE ASSERTION, DENIED IN TEHRAN, THAT IRAN MAINTAINS A NETWORK OF TERRORISTS CAMPS AND MAY HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE BOMBING OF A U-S MILITARY BARRACKS IN SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 25.... WHAT IF RETALIATORY STRIKES PROVOKE THE TERRORISTS? WHAT IF THEY ESCALATE TERRORISM? TO ASK THAT QUESTION IS TO SIMPLY SURRENDER. IF TERRORISTS RAISE THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE SHOULD ALSO RISE. IT'S TIME TERRORISTS AND THEIR SPONSORS SUFFERED FOR THEIR CRIMES."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ASSERTS, HOWEVER, THAT AMERICAN SECONDARY BOYCOTTS AGAINST LIBYA AND IRAN ARE UNLIKELY TO STEM TERRORISM, AND COULD EVEN ENCOURAGE THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PASS RETALIATORY SANCTIONS AGAINST U-S FIRMS.

VOICE: "THE PRESSURE FOR QUICK SOLUTION IS INTENSE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO DUBIOUS MEASURES. WHILE THE LEGISLATION AGAINST FOREIGN BUSINESS INVESTING IN IRAN AND LIBYA MAY BE EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING, IT JUST WON'T WORK.... WHAT IF THE EUROPEAN UNION STARTS IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON U-S FIRMS EVERY TIME WASHINGTON TAKES A FOREIGN POLICY POSITION ITS MEMBERS DISLIKE? MOREOVER, WHAT GOOD IS THIS POLICY IF, AS LOOKS LIKELY, THE EUROPEANS WILL DEFY IT? WHEN THE ALLIES FEUD, THAT CAN ONLY HELPS THE TERRORISTS.... PUNISHING THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS IS TOO MUCH INDIRECT A WEAPON TO BE OF SUCH USE AGAINST ELUSIVE TERRORIST FOE."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE SEES THE U-S INITIATIVE AGAINST IRAN AND LIBYA AS A "LONELY BATTLE", SAYING WASHINGTON "AGAIN IS OUT FRONT, BY ITSELF, AS ALLIES HANG BACK FROM EFFORTS TO PENALIZE STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM."

VOICE: "SOME OF OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS AND CANADA ARE INCENSED AT WHAT THEY SEE AS ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT EXTRATERRITORIAL REACH BY WASHINGTON... LIBYA IS A PARTICULAR FOCUS OF ATTENTION FOR SHIELDING SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103 OVER SCOTLAND. IRAN IS SUSPECTED IN A LONG SERIES OF TERRORIST OUTRAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE WEST... COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, HOWEVER, BUY 20 PERCENT OF THEIR OIL FROM IRAN AND LIBYA, AND THEIR OIL COMPANIES HAVE MAJOR INVESTMENTS THERE. THEY PREFER NOT TO BE DRAGGED ALONG BY U-S POLICY AGAINST TERRORISM, EVEN THOUGH MUCH OF THAT VIOLENCE IS CARRIED OUT ON EUROPEAN SOIL. THEY CLAIM TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE "ROGUE" NATIONS BY DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL AND MAINTAINING CORDIAL CONTACT. THE LONELINESS OF THE U-S STANCE AGAINST INTERNATIONAL MAYHEN IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT."

TEXT: THAT SENTIMENT FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION ON U-S LEGISLATION IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON FOREIGN COMPANIES THAT INVEST LARGE SUMS OF MONEY IN LIBYA AND IRAN.
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09-Aug-96 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TERRORISM AND U-S POLICY BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRODUCTION: WHEN THEY STRIKE, TERRORISTS OFTEN CLAIM THEY ARE REACTING TO U-S POLICIES DETRIMENTAL TO THE ARAB WORLD. DO THEY HAVE A CASE OR IS IT JUST AN EXCUSE FOR VIOLENCE? VOA'S ED WARNER ASKED TWO ANALYSTS.

TEXT: TERRORISM DOES NOT EMERGE OUT OF A VACUUM, SAYS MAMOUN FANDY, PROFESSOR OF ARAB STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. HE NOTES IT CAN BE AN EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC OPINION WHICH, IN FRUSTRATION, TAKES THE FORM OF BOMBS OR BULLETS.

THAT IS WHY HE BELIEVES THE UNITED STATES MUST CAREFULLY WEIGH ITS POLICIES TOWARD THE ARAB WORLD. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF EXCLUDING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GULF WAR, HE SAYS, THERE WAS MUCH ARAB SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE. TODAY, THAT HAS GIVEN WAY TO SKEPTICISM AND RESENTMENT, SAYS MR. FANDY, BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS PERCEIVED AS TOO SUPPORTIVE OF ISRAEL UNDER ALMOST ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

HE CITES THE PARTICULAR DANGER OF THE HEZBOLLAH WHO ARE FIGHTING THE ISRAELI TROOPS OCCUPYING SOUTHERN LEBANON:

IF HEZBOLLAH INFILTRATES THROUGHOUT THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, THEN THE AMERICAN INTEREST IS REALLY THREATENED BY A SHIA FACTOR THAT EXTENDS FROM IRAN THROUGH BAHRAIN THROUGH SAUDI ARABIA, YEMEN AND THEN TO LEBANON. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THERE IS GENERAL FEAR THAT THE INABILITY TO RETHINK AMERICAN POLICY IN THE REGION IS LENDING LEGITIMACY TO THE GRIEVANCES OF THESE GROUPS THAT ESPOUSE VIOLENCE IN THE REGION.

PROFESSOR FANDY, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED FROM THE GULF, SAYS THE U-S PRESENCE IS FELT TO BE TOO CONSPICUOUS AND IN THE OPINION OF SOME, EXPLOITATIVE.

BUT WILLIAM EUBANK, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA WHO WRITES ON TERRORISM, SAYS TERRORISTS LARGELY FOLLOW THEIR OWN INNER COMPULSIONS AND ARE NOT SWAYED BY RATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

GROUPS THAT ARE COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEEPLY DETERMINED AND FANATICAL IN THE WESTERN SENSE OF THE WORD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY DO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT ONCE THESE KINDS OF THINGS (TERRORIST ACTS) HAVE BEEN DONE, THEY PROVIDE A HISTORICAL REFERENT (PRECEDENT) FOR SOME FUTURE GROUP THAT THIS WAS DONE IN THE PAST. WHY NOT DO IT IN THE FUTURE?

PROFESSOR EUBANK SAYS VIOLENCE COMMITTED FOR ITS OWN SAKE IS NOT SUBJECT TO HUMAN REASON. BUT HE THINKS SOME STEPS COULD BE TAKEN TO DEFUSE THE ANGER THAT LEADS TO TERRORISM:

IF THE ISRAELIS REACHED A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SOMETHING ROUGHLY LIKE THE ONE THEY HAVE REACHED WITH THE EGYPTIANS, IN WHICH THEY EVACUATE SOUTHERN LEBANON AND REACH A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE WITH THE SYRIANS, THAT WOULD REDUCE THE LEVEL OF CONFLICT THAT IS THE RESULT OF THOSE POLICIES.

PROFESSOR EUBANK SAYS TERRORISM WOULD NOT BE ENDED, BUT SOME MOTIVATION FOR IT WOULD BE REMOVED. (SIGNED)
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09-Aug-96 6:19 PM EDT (2219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] THE PLOT TO DIVIDE BOSNIA BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE LEADERS OF CROATIA AND SERBIA MET IN GREECE THIS WEEK TO RESTORE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SEVERED DURING THE WARFARE. CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN SAID THE AGREEMENT WOULD GIVE A BOOST TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA. OTHERS HAVE THEIR DOUBTS. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT: CROATIA'S FRANJO TUDJMAN AND SERBIA'S SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MET IN GREECE THIS WEEK TO RESUME DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND A RANGE OF OTHER ACTIVITIES. PRESIDENT TUDJMAN SAID THEIR AGREEMENT HAS NO BEARING ON THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION, BUT RUTH WEDGEWOOD OF THE NEW YORK BASED COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS DISAGREES:

THERE IS SOME SENSE THAT TUDJMAN AND MILOSEVIC ARE ALSO RECONFIRMING IMPLICIT UNDERSTANDINGS THEY MAY HAVE HAD ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY DIVIDE UP BOSNIA. AND IT HAS BEEN VERY EVIDENT ON THE GROUND THAT THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AND THAT CROATIA HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN MAKJNG IT WORK. THE REFUSAL OF THE BOSNIAN CROATS TO RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS OF THE MOSTAR ELECTION RESULTED IN A VERY THINLY PAPERED OVER COMPROMISE WHICH DESPITE THE MUSLIM VICTORY IN THE ELECTIONS, THE CROATS DEMANDED AND GOT A CROATIAN MAYOR OF MOSTAR.

MARCO PRELEC, A RESEARCHER ON BOSNIA AT YALE UNIVERSITY, SAYS IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE HIM IF THE THE SERBIAN AND CROATIAN LEADERS DISCUSSED PARTITIONING BOSNIA:

THERE HAS BEEN A SORT OF GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT BETWEEN TUDJMAN AND MILOSEVIC TO DIVIDE BOSNIA SINCE MARCH 1991 WHEN THEY MET OUTSIDE BELGRADE. THE IMPORTANT POINT, THOUGH, IS THAT THEY CANNOT DO THIS RIGHT AWAY. THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THAT IS FOCUSED ON BOSNIA. SO WHAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ALLOWS IT TO DO SO.

MR. PRELEC SAYS THE DAYTON AGREEMENT PERMITS A CERTAIN FLEXIBILITY IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE BOSNIAN STATE, WHICH AT ANY RATE HAS QUITE LIMITED POWERS. MUCH DEPENDS ON THE ATTITUDE AND ENDURANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:

THE ONE THING THAT COULD BE DONE TO BE HELPFUL WOULD BE TO PUT MORE INTENSE, MORE ROBUST PRESSURE ON, ESPECIALLY ON, THE TUDJMAN GOVERNMENT, NOT BECAUSE IT IS WORSE BUT BECAUSE IT IS MORE FLEXIBLE AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PRESSURE, AND ALSO THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT TO BACK OFF ON THIS IDEA OF DIVIDING UP BOSNIA AND TO BRING THEIR PROXIES - BOSNIA CROATS AND BOSNIA SERBS IN LINE.

MR. PRELEC SAYS SERBS, CROATS AND MUSLIMS MUST ULTIMATELY SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS, BUT THE WEST COULD EXERT MUCH MORE INFLUENCE THAN IT HAS TO DATE. (SIGNED)
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09-Aug-96 1:30 PM EDT (1730 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BOSNIA/SITREP (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITOR IN BOSNIA SAYS ALL SIDES HAVE MANIPULATED VOTER REGISTRATION, AND HAVE SHOWN BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE RULES OF THE ELECTION. THE HARSH CRITICISM COMES ONLY FIVE WEEKS BEFORE NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: ED VAN THIJN, THE DUTCH OFFICIAL TASKED WITH OVERSEEING THE ELECTION PROCESS IN BOSNIA, IS SCATHING IN HIS CRITICISM OF ALL THREE ETHNIC SIDES IN BOSNIA DURING THE VOTER REGISTRATION PERIOD. HE SAYS ALL SIDES HAVE USED THE REGISTRATION PROCESS IN AN EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR HOLD ON TERRITORY.

MR. VAN THIJN SAYS AID HAS BEEN DENIED TO REFUGEES UNLESS THEY REGISTERED TO VOTE WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY LIVING -- NOT IN THEIR FORMER TOWNS -- AND DISPLACED PERSONS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MOVE EN MASSE TO AREAS OF STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE.

SUCH PRACTICES OF ELECTION ENGINEERING HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A BLATANT DISREGARD AND VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND OF THE VOTING GUARANTEES CONTAINED IN THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

MR. VAN THIJN DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENTS AS "VERY SINISTER." A SENIOR UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL SAYS IT IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF THE ELECTIONS BEING "FREE AND FAIR," OR EVEN "REASONABLY DEMOCRATIC," BUT INSTEAD HE SAYS THEY ARE DESCENDING INTO "FARCE." THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE ELECTIONS WILL MERELY PUT THE STAMP OF INTERNATIONAL RESPECTABILITY ON THE REPRESSIVE RULING PARTIES ON ALL SIDES.

ELECTION ORGANIZERS SAY THE ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 14TH MUST BE SEEN ONLY AS A STARTING POINT FOR BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN BOSNIA, BUT CRITICS SAY THE REFUSAL TO DELAY ELECTIONS ONLY SERVES WESTERN INTERESTS. WITHOUT ELECTIONS, THEY SAY, THE ALREADY SLIM HOPE FOR A DECEMBER WITHDRAWAL OF NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA WILL DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY. MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SAY THEY WILL RESUME DIGGING AT MASS GRAVES SITES NEAR SREBRENICA. ON WEDNESDAY, THE BOSNIAN SERBS BANNED FURTHER DIGGING AT MASS GRAVES, BECAUSE MUSLIM AND CROAT OFFICIALS HAD BROKEN AN AGREEMENT TO ALLOW SERB EXPERTS TO RECOVER SERB BODIES FROM ALLEGED MASS GRAVES ON MUSLIM AND CROAT TERRITORY. ALEX IVANKO, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL, SAYS INVESTIGATORS DO NOT BELIEVE THE SERB BAN APPLIES TO THEM.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHAT REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS OBJECTING TO IS THESE EXHUMATIONS FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES WHICH ARE CONDUCTED BY THE PARTIES.

MR. IVANKO SAYS DIGGING, WHICH HAD STOPPED FOR TECHNICAL REASONS, WILL NOW RESUME NEXT TUESDAY.

THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING FOR JUST OVER TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS CONCERNING DE-MINING. NOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND THEY WILL RESTART ON THE THIRTEENTH.

THE SERBS HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSED BY DISCOVERIES OF HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM BODIES, MANY WITH THEIR HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS, IN MASS GRAVES AROUND SREBRENICA. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THE SERBS WILL TRY TO PREVENT THE RESUMPTION OF DIGGING. (SIGNED)
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09-Aug-96 11:35 AM EDT (1535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS HEARD MORE EVIDENCE IN ITS FIRST TRIAL -- THAT OF BOSNIAN SERB, DUSAN TADIC. MR. TADIC IS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING MURDER AND TORTURE AT PRISON CAMPS IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA -- CHARGES HE DENIES. BUT GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE THAT AS THE PROSECUTION CASE NEARS AN END, OBSERVERS SAY THEY MAY NOT HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO CONVICT MR. TADIC OF ALL THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

TEXT: FIFTY-YEAR OLD ENIZ BESIC WAS THE 69TH WITNESS TO BE CALLED BY THE PROSECUTION. LIKE MOST OF THE OTHERS, HIS STORY WAS A PERSONAL TRAGEDY -- FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED OR MISSING, AND FINALLY SUFFERING THE BRUTAL CONDITIONS AT THE TRNOPOLJE CAMP. WHILE AT THE CAMP, HE SAID HE SAW DUSAN TADIC IN THE COMPANY OF A NUMBER OF GUARDS. IF YOU SAW SOMEONE YOU KNEW, HE EXPLAINED TO THE COURT THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THE SMARTEST THING WAS TO TURN AWAY.

BY THE TIME I SAW HIM I TURNED BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD SOME EARLY EXPERIENCE. IF YOU SAW ANYONE YOU KNEW, WHAT WE CALLED A NEIGHBOR, THEN IT COST YOU YOUR LIFE -- OR AT LEAST A BEATING. SO EVEN IF I HAD RECOGNIZED ANYONE, I WOULD HAVE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFRAID.

THE WITNESS DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE MR. TADIC TAKING PART IN ANY OF THE ATROCITIES WITH WHICH HE IS CHARGED. IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PROSECUTION WITNESSES HAVE SIMPLY PLACED DUSAN TADIC AT THE SCENE OF ONE OF HIS ALLEGED CRIMES. MANY SAW HIM SHORTLY BEFORE OR AFTER ALLEGED BEATINGS OR KILLINGS. ONE OF THEIR MAIN WITNESSES ACTUALLY SAID THAT MR. TADIC WAS NOT THERE. PROSECUTORS WILL NOT DISCUSS THEIR STRATEGY, BUT IT HAS PUZZLED COURTROOM OBSERVERS. THEY SAY, SO FAR AT LEAST, THE WITNESSES THE COURT HAS HEARD WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO CONVICT MR. TADIC OF ALL THE CHARGES.

THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE DEFENSE SIDE OF THE COURTROOM HAS LIGHTENED IN RECENT DAYS. THE USUALLY STRAIGHT-FACED MR. TADIC HAS EVEN SMILED AT TIMES AND DEFENSE CROSS EXAMINATIONS OF WITNESSES HAVE BEEN SHORTER. THE PROSECUTION IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS CASE NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
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09-Aug-96 1:22 PM EDT (1722 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] GERMANY / BOSNIAN REFUGEES / ELECTION (L-O) BY DAGMAR BREITENBACH (BONN)

INTRO: THOUSANDS OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES LIVING IN GERMANY HAVE REGISTERED TO FILE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN BOSNIA'S FIRST POST-CIVIL WAR ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH. THE FINAL DEADLINE -- EXTENDED SEVERAL TIMES -- WAS THURSDAY, AUGUST EIGHTH. V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E -- WHICH HAS A MAKESHIFT ELECTION BUREAU IN BONN FOR BOSNIANS LIVING IN GERMANY.

TEXT: SPOKESMAN JENS GRIMM (EDS -- PRON. "YENTZ KHRIM") SAYS THAT ROUGHLY A THIRD OF THE 300-TO-350-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN GERMANY HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION.

WELL, UP TO YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) IT WAS THE OFFICIAL FINAL DATE FOR REGISTRATION -- WE REGISTERED 123-THOUSAND 891 BOSNIANS LIVING IN GERMANY. ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION DATE IS OVER, WE CONTINUE TO REGISTER THE ALREADY-ARRIVED POST (MAILED APPLICATIONS) HERE, SINCE WE HAVE TO SEND THE FINAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS TO SARAJEVO TOMORROW (SATURDAY) NIGHT, SO AT THE MOMENT WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCEDURE OF REGISTRATION.

THE O-S-C-E OFFICIAL SAYS BOSNIANS WERE WELL-INFORMED BY MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN GERMANY ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SEPTEMBER BALLOT.

WE INFORMED GERMAN AUTHORITIES WHO ARE IN CONTACT WITH REFUGEE GROUPS, AND FURTHER ON WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH BIGGER INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE GERMAN RED CROSS, OR ... OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH REFUGEES, AND REFUGEE GROUPS. THEY USED THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COUNTIES, IN THE REGIONAL PARTS OF GERMANY, SO WE INFORMED THESE GERMAN INSTITUTIONS. ON THE OTHER HAND WE ALSO WERE IN CONTACT WITH N-G-O'S (NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS) FROM BOSNIA IN GERMANY, WHO HAVE NATURALLY A VERY CLOSE CONTACT TO THE REFUGEE GROUPS, AND WE PUT ADS IN (GERMAN) NEWSPAPERS IN THE LANGUAGES OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

MR. GRIMM SAYS THE APPLICATION FORMS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN BONN HAVE RECEIVED STAY THERE. THE COMPUTER CHECKS WHETHER THE APPLICANT IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, AND THE NUMBER OF VOTERS PER CONSTITUENCY IS SENT TO SARAJEVO, OR VIENNA, WHERE THE BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED.

AND THEN WE GET THE BALLOTS SENT HERE TO GERMANY FOR THE BOSNIANS LIVING IN GERMANY. FOR THE (BOSNIAN) VOTERS IN GERMANY, (WE) SEND THEM (THE BALLOTS) TO THEM DIRECTLY, AND THEN RECEIVE ... THE BALLOTS BACK HERE IN BONN. (WE THEN) SEND THEM DOWN TO SARAJEVO, WHERE THEY WILL BE COUNTED.

THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION WAS EXTENDED TO ALLOW AS MANY BOSNIANS AS POSSIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTIONS, MEANT TO HELP REUNIFY THE COUNTRY. GERMANY HAS TAKEN IN MORE BOSNIAN REFUGEES THAN ANY OTHER WESTERN COUNTRY. ABOUT HALF OF ALL BOSNIAN REFUGEES OUTSIDE THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAVE TAKEN SHELTER IN GERMANY. (SIGNED)
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09-Aug-96 7:38 AM EDT (1138 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: BORIS YELTSIN'S SECOND TERM AS RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT, THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS, AND DEBATE OVER ABORTION ARE AMONG THE EDITORIAL TOPICS DISCUSSED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN SOME OF AMERICA'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS. NOW, HERE WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________AND FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIA AND THE STATUS OF PRESIDENT YELTSIN. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS, "WITH HIS HEALTH IN DOUBT, THE WAR IN CHECHNYA FLARING AND THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE," MR. YELTSIN FACES SOME DIFFICULTIES.

VOICE: "IT IS NOT THE VIBRANT, HOPEFUL START THAT SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED HIS DECISIVE ELECTION VICTORY OVER THE COMMUNIST CANDIDATE, GENNADI ZYUGANOV. BUT MR. YELTSIN AND HIS COUNTRYMEN CAN STILL MOVE AHEAD WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORM IF THE SECOND YELTSIN ADMINISTRATION IS MORE DISCIPLINED AND CONSISTENT THAN THE FIRST. THE FIRST STEP SHOULD BE CANDOR ABOUT MR. YELTSIN'S HEALTH. ALL THE DODGING AND DISSEMBLING ABOUT HIS CONDITION HAVE ONLY FANNED FEARS THAT HE IS SUFFERING MUCH MORE THAN A BAD CASE OF FATIGUE. [OPT] GIVEN HIS HISTORY OF HEART AILMENTS, HE MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR BYPASS SURGERY. WITH CAPABLE AIDES LIKE PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT, MR. YELTSIN SHOULD LEVEL WITH THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ABOUT HIS HEALTH AND GET THE TREATMENT HE NEEDS, EVEN IF THAT MEANS TEMPORARILY TURNING POWER OVER TO THE PRIME MINISTER." [END OPT]

TEXT: ON WEDNESDAY, A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD BY NASA, THE AMERICAN SPACE AGENCY, PRESENTED FINDINGS OF A STUDY WHICH SUGGESTS THAT A METEORITE, DISCOVERED IN ANTARCTICA, CAME FROM MARS. FURTHER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SPECIMEN, FORMED MORE THAN FOUR BILLION YEARS AGO, CONTAINS A FOSSILIZED "WORM-LIKE SHAPE NOT ONE-HUNDREDTH THE SIZE OF AN EARTHLING BACTERIUM." THE BALTIMORE SUN CALLS FOR MORE STUDY.

VOICE: "THIS IS BEING ARRANGED. AN EXPERT ON EARLY EARTH ORGANISMS WANTS THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE TO SHOW HIM FOSSILIZED CELL MEMBRANES BEFORE HE BELIEVES. LEST ANYONE SUSPECT THIS IS HYPE TO PROMOTE THE NASA BUDGET, NASA HAS A MARS PROGRAM IN PLACE. TWO ROBOTS GOING THERE LATER THIS YEAR WILL NOT LOOK FOR FOSSIL MICROBES. FOR THE 1998 MISSION TO DO SO WOULD COST EXTRA. THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO BRING BACK A SOIL SAMPLE -- THE LOGICAL WAY TO GO ABOUT IT -- IS SCHEDULED FOR 2005. IF THAT IS BROUGHT FORWARD, CURRENT INTEREST WILL DO IT. SO, DESPITE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROMISE TO PUT VICE PRESIDENT GORE RIGHT ON IT, THIS NEWEST SUGGESTION OF LIFE ON MARS WILL TAKE YEARS TO PROVE OR DISPROVE. EVIDENCE OF LIFE ANYWHERE OUTSIDE EARTH IS WORTH SEEKING."

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS SAYS THAT RESIDUES FOUND IN THE MARTIAN METEORITE -- IN THE NEWSPAPER'S WORDS -- "LOOKS LIKE THE OPENING TO A DEFINING STEP IN HUMAN HISTORY."

VOICE: "IT GIVES A STRONG PUSH TO SOME ASTRONOMERS' PROBABILITY THEORIES. THEIR THESIS: WITH SO MANY SUNS DISCOVERED AND POSTULATED IN SO MANY GALAXIES, OTHER PLANETS HOSPITABLE TO LIFE FORMS ARE STATISTICALLY VERY LIKELY."

TEXT: MORE ON THE SUBJECT FROM NEW YORK'S NEWSDAY, WHOSE LEAD EDITORIAL IS HEADLINED: "ALONE NO MORE."

VOICE: "THIS MUCH IS CERTAIN: NEGOTIATING THE TRANSITION FROM BEING THE ONLY CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE TO A UNIVERSAL SIBLING POSES MORE THAN A SIMPLE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGE. IT ASKS FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN FIRST PRINCIPLES IN PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY, LAW, PERHAPS EVEN AESTHETICS. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, THE GREATEST ENGLISH POET, DEFINED HIS SPECIES AS FOLLOWS: 'WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS MAN! HOW NOBLE IN REASON! HOW INFINITE IN FACULTY! IN FORM, IN MOVING, HOW EXPRESS AND ADMIRABLE! IN ACTION HOW LIKE AN ANGEL! IN APPREHENSION HOW LIKE A GOD'! (END QUOTE) IF TWO PLANETS IN THIS REMOTE SOLAR SYSTEM CAN BE SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITABLE TO LIFE, IF EVEN FOR ONLY AN AEON OR TWO, THE PROBABILITY OF LIFE ELSEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE RISES. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY RUSHING GALAXIES WITH BILLIONS OF SUNS, WHOSE PLANETS ARE POTENTIAL NESTING SITES FOR MOLECULES CAPABLE OF REPLICATION. IF INDEED THERE ARE SIBLINGS OUT THERE, ARE THEY EVEN MORE LIKE ANGELS, MORE LIKE GODS?"

TEXT: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CONVENTION BEGINS ON MONDAY IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. REPUBLICANS ARE EXPECTED TO NOMINATE FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE. IN AN APPARENT COMPROMISE, REPUBLICANS WILL KEEP AN ANTI-ABORTION PLANK AS PART OF THEIR PLATFORM. BUT INCLUDED WILL BE AN APPENDIX WHICH INCLUDES PRO-CHOICE LANGUAGE. BUT, ARGUES THE WASHINGTON TIMES, "THE DEAL STRUCK IN SAN DIEGO ON WEDNESDAY WASN'T MUCH OF A DEAL AT ALL."

VOICE: "THE ABORTION COMPROMISE MAY HAVE GIVEN THE MODERATES THE FIG LEAF THEY NEEDED, BUT IT HAS NOT MUTED THE TRIUMPHALISM OF THE CONSERVATIVE DELEGATES IN SAN DIEGO. MR. DOLE IS KEEPING HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK CLOSE TO THE CHEST, BUT IN MAKING HIS FINAL DECISION, HE CAN'T HELP BUT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS THE PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVES WHO MUST BE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF. WITH ANY LUCK, MR. DOLE WILL REALIZE THAT HIS BEST HOPE IS TO SWIM WITH THE CONSERVATIVE CURRENT RATHER THAN JUST TREAD WATER. ABORTION MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE THAT WILL WIN MR. DOLE THE MAJORITY HE NEEDS, BUT THE FULL SLATE OF CONSERVATIVE ISSUES IS THE ONLY WAY HE WILL BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF FROM THE COY PSEUDO-CONSERVATISM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON."

TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "THE GREAT ABORTION DEBATE:"

VOICE: "...WE KEEP REMEMBERING THAT IT BECAME A BURNING ISSUE BECAUSE NINE OLD MEN (OR ANYWAY SEVEN OF THEM) DECIDED TO SHORT-CUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS BY IMPOSING THEIR OWN VIEWS. WE DON'T SUPPORT THE G-O-P PLATFORM'S CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUPREME COURT'S DICTATE LEAVES FEW OTHER AVENUES OF REDRESS. [OPT] YET, FOR ALL THE RHETORIC IN SAN DIEGO ON ONE SIDE AND HOURS OF TELEVISION COVERAGE ON THE OTHER, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS NOT REALLY AN ACTIVE ISSUE. THERE IS ABOUT ZERO PROSPECT THAT A SWEEPING BAN COULD BE ENACTED BY TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS AND RATIFIED BY THREE-FOURTHS OF THE STATES. WHAT IS AN ACTIVE ISSUE IS WHETHER THERE CAN BE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION... [END OPT] THE PREVAILING ATTITUDES TOWARD ABORTION ARE SCARCELY RESTRICTIVE, BUT INSTEAD PERMISSIVE TO THE POINT OF CALLOUSNESS TO HUMAN LIFE. WHICH IS TO SAY THAT WHATEVER OUR DOUBTS ON THE LETTER OF THE G-O-P PLATFORM, WE REGARD ITS PRO-LIFE SPIRIT AS MORE RIGHT THAN WRONG."

TEXT: THE LANDLOCKED AFRICAN COUNTRY OF BURUNDI IS UNABLE TO EXPORT ITS COFFEE CROP. NOR CAN IT IMPORT FUEL. THE ROUTES ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF A REGIONAL BLOCKADE "LAUNCHED TO PROTEST THE JULY COUP BY THE TUTSI-LED BURUNDIAN ARMY." THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, SAYS THAT "THE STRONG ACTION BY BURUNDI'S BIG NEIGHBORS SHOULD PRESSURE THOSE WHO HOLD POWER TO RESTORE CONSTITUTIONAL RULE..."

VOICE: "TANZANIA DESERVES CREDIT FOR TAKING THE LEAD, AND ACTING QUICKLY... REGIONAL RESPONSES TO AFRICAN PROBLEMS ARE NOW ENDORSED BY THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY... THE AFRICANS APPEAR READY TO CLEAN THEIR OWN HOUSE THIS TIME. UGANDA HAS JOINED THE BLOCKADE, FURTHER REDUCING ACCESS TO BURUNDI. ETHIOPIA HAS CUT OFF AIR TRAVEL. NEIGHBORING RWANDA, WHICH IS STILL RECOVERING FROM A FRATRICIDAL WAR THAT KILLED AS MANY AS ONE-MILLION PEOPLE IN 1994, HAS THREATENED TO CLOSE ITS BORDERS AND (REDUCE) FLIGHTS NEXT WEEK. THESE COUNTRIES ARE SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE."

TEXT: IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS SINCE T-W-A FLIGHT 800 BLEW APART OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. USA TODAY, A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER, POINTS OUT THAT "EVEN WITH SOME PARTS FOUND, UNRAVELING AVIATION MYSTERIES TAKES TIME... THIS ABSENCE OF ANSWERS," CONTINUES THE EDITORIAL, "INEVITABLY FEEDS THE WORST FEARS ABOUT WHO AND WHY."

VOICE: "SEVEN HOURS BEFORE T-W-A FLIGHT 800 VANISHED FROM RADAR SCREENS, AN ARAB-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER IN LONDON RECEIVED A FAX FROM A GROUP CALLING ITSELF THE MOVEMENT FOR ISLAMIC CHANGE, WARNING OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF U-S TROOPS WERE NOT PULLED OUT OF SAUDI ARABIA. SINCE THEN, U-S INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS HAVE DEBUNKED ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT GROUP OF DISSIDENTS AND THE T-W-A DISASTER. BUT NO OTHERS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD. SILENCE, UNFORTUNATELY, DOES NOT RULE OUT TERRORISM. [OPT] NO TERRORIST EVER CLAIMED CREDIT FOR DOWNING PAN AM FLIGHT 103 OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, IN 1988, OR AN AIR INDIA FLIGHT OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND IN 1985. BUT BOTH WERE THE WORK OF BOMBERS. THE SAD STATE OF THE ART IS THAT SOME LESSER FORMS OF HUMANITY HAVE LEARNED THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF TERRORIZING IS TO MASK THE SOURCE OF TERROR. [END OPT] NOT KNOWING WHO OR WHY MAKES WAITING FOR ANSWERS ALL THE MORE PAINFUL."

TEXT: THAT COMPLETES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF TODAY'S EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS.
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09-Aug-96 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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