Voice of America, 96-08-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA/ELECTIONS (L-CORR RERUN) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

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

[04] TURKEY UNDER ERBAKAN BY DAUD MAJLIS (WASHINGTON)

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE IN TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD RAISES A QUESTION BEING ASKED BY MANY U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORS: "WHILE GROZNY BURNS, WHO RUNS RUSSIA?" OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION IN TODAY'S U-S PRESS INCLUDE THE INCREASE IN TEENAGE DRUG USE; AN APOLOGY FOR APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA; JAPAN'S NEW INTEREST IN LATIN AMERICA; THE SAGA OF OLYMPIC SECURITY GUARD AND BOMB SUSPECT RICHARD JEWELL, AND MOVES TOWARD RELIGIOUS PEACE IN THE PHILIPPINES. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: MANY PAPERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONFUSED SITUATION IN CHECHNYA, WHICH SEEMS TO REFLECT A POWER VACUUM IN THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP. HERE'S PART OF WHAT THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD HAS TO SAY:

VOICE: "MIXED WITH THE BLOOD OF SLAUGHTERED CIVILIANS IS THE BILE OF ANARCHY THAT SWELLS AROUND THE WHOLE CHECHNYA OPERATION. ALEXANDER LEBED, THE (BORIS YELTSIN'S) NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CHARGE OF ENDING THE CHECHEN WAR, OPENLY QUESTIONS WHETHER ORDERS HE RECEIVED SUNDAY CAME FROM THE (RUSSIAN) PRESIDENT... THIS ... RAISES THE LARGER, MORE FRIGHTENING QUESTION OF WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY. IF PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS NOT COMMANDING THE GOVERNMENT, AND HIS TOP MILITARY ADVISER IS NOT COMMANDING THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT -- THEN WHO IS ....?"

TEXT: IN NEW YORK, THE LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY IS EQUALLY ALARMED.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S NEW GOVERNMENT IS IN DEEP CRISIS -- OSTENSIBLY OVER THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR IN CHECHNYA, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY OVER A LEADERSHIP VACUUM ... LEFT ADRIFT BY [MR.] YELTSIN'S CONTINUOUS ABSENCES AND BAD HEALTH, THE KREMLIN IS SPLIT IN A DESTRUCTIVE TUG-OF-WAR THAT COULD BRING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN... [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN ALONE CAN REINSTATE ORDER WITHIN HIS OWN GOVERNMENT. [OPT] ... IF NOT, RUSSIA WILL PLUNGE INTO ANARCHY."[END OPT]

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THE WEST SHOULD SUPPORT GENERAL LEBED AS THE ONLY MAN WHO CAN RIGHT THE CHECHEN SITUATION WHILE MR. YELTSIN IS ON HIS EXTENDED VACATION.

VOICE: "SOME RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, AND EVEN SOME IN THE WEST, REGARD MR. LEBED'S PEACE MANEUVERS WITH AMBIVALENCE, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE HARD-CHARGING FORMER GENERAL STRENGTHENED IN ON-GOING KREMLIN INTRIGUES. SUCH RESERVATIONS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE BUT ILL-PLACED NOW. MR. LEBED IS THE ONLY RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SPEAKING SANELY ABOUT AN INSANE WAR."

TEXT: THE BIG DOMESTIC ISSUE THIS THURSDAY IS A REPORTED SHARP INCREASE IN THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS BY AMERICAN TEENAGERS. SAYS THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:

VOICE: "WHY, AFTER YEARS OF DECLINE, HAS DRUG USE REBOUNDED?... THE PROBLEM IS THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TARGETED THE SUPPLY SIDE OF DRUGS WHEN IT SHOULD BE DEVOTING MORE TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY TO DEALING WITH THE DEMAND. DRUG USE IS NOT UP BECAUSE THE SUPPLY HAS INCREASED; SUPPLY HAS GROWN TO MEET DEMAND... THE SCOURGE OF DRUGS MUST BE ADDRESSED IN THE CAMPAIGN."

TEXT: TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE SAYS FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT F. W. DE KLERK'S PBULIC APOLOGY FOR APARTHEID, MADE WEDNESDAY, WAS INSUFFICIENT.

VOICE: "NO VICTIM OF APARTHEID'S HORRORS SHOULD FEEL VINDICATED BY THE EMPTY RATIONALIZATIONS OF F.W. DE KLERK. ... HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE (SOUTH AFRICAN) TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OFFENDED THE HIGHER PURPOSES OF REPENTANCE AND HEALING."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY TAKES NOTE OF A NEW BUSINESS INTEREST IN LATIN AMERICA BY JAPAN:

VOICE: "PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO IS NOW ON A TEN-DAY TRIP TO MEXICO, PERU, CHILE, BRAZIL AND COSTA RICA. THE PROSPECT OF HEIGHTENED JAPANESE COMPETITION MAY NOT DELIGHT AMERICAN BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THESE COUNTRIES. BUT THOSE COMPANIES SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR LATIN AMERICA TO BROADEN ITS INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS. [OPT] WELCOMING JAPANESE INVOLVEMENT IN THIS REGION ALSO SETS A GOOD PRECEDENT FOR INSISTING THAT JAPANESE COMPANIES NOT TRY TO LOCK AMERICAN BUSINESSES OUT OF JAPAN'S BOOMING EAST ASIAN NEIGHBORHOOD." [END OPT]

TEXT: STILL WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES LOOKS ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF CHINA'S ALL-TIME HIGH TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: "TRADE WITH CHINA REMAINS ONE MEANS FOR ENLARGING ITS USEFUL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WORLD AND FUELING THE GROWTH OF ITS MIDDLE CLASS, ESSENTIAL STEPS ON THE PATH TO PROMOTE GREATER POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION AND INTERNAL STABILITY. IN THE LONG RUN, THOSE GOALS LAREGELY DEFINE THE AMERICAN INTEREST IN CHINA."

TEXT: THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, WHO'S SISTER PAPER, THE JOURNAL, WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT THE F-B-I SUSPECTED SECURITY GUARD RICHARD JEWELL IN THE OLYMPIC PARK BOMBING, WANTS THE F-B-I TO RELEASE MORE INFORMATION ON THE CASE. MR. JEWELL HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, BUT NOT CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME.

VOICE: "RATHER THAN REVEALING LESS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE PARK BOMBING, THE F-B-I SHOULD REVEAL MORE. IT OUGHT TO MAKE PUBLIC THE EVIDENCE IT USED TO OBTAIN A WARRANT TO SEARCH [MR.] JEWELL'S ATLANTA APARTMENT AND A CABIN ... HE ONCE USED... BUT IF AND WHEN THE F-B-I DECIDES [MR.] JEWELL IS NO LONGER A SUSPECT, THE AGENCY SHOULD SAY SO CLEARLY AND QUICKLY."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAILS THE PEACE ACCORD THIS WEEK BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND MUSLIM REBELS IN THE NATION'S SOUTHERN ISLANDS, BUT SUGGESTS THE HARDEST PART STILL LIES AHEAD.

VOICE: "SOME MUSLIM GUERRILLAS WITH MIDDLE EAST CONNECTIONS THROUGH MALAYSIA AND OTHER MUSLIM STATES IN ASIA HAVE DENOUNCED THE PEACE. EVENTUALLY, MANILA WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE HARD CASES. IT SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR COMPLETION OF THE THREE-YEAR TEST OF [REBEL LEADER NUR] MISUARI'S STEWARDSHIP."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION FROM SOME OF THE LEADING U-S NEWSPAPERS.
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22-Aug-96 11:05 AM EDT (1505 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA/ELECTIONS (L-CORR RERUN) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE RULING MUSLIM PARTY IN BOSNIA IS THREATENING TO BOYCOTT SEPTEMBER'S ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF MANIPULATION OF VOTER REGISTRATION BY SERBIA AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERB REFUGEES HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN TOWNS WITH A PRE-WAR MUSLIM MAJORITY, BUT NOW IN SERB HANDS. MUSLIM LEADERS SAY THE ELECTIONS WILL NEGATE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT AND LEGALIZE THE RESULTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND GENOCIDE. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS CRISIS INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA HAVE FACED. NATION-WIDE ELECTIONS, SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH, COULD COLLAPSE.

THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS THE REGISTRATION OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBS TO VOTE IN WHAT WERE MUSLIM TOWNS BEFORE THE WAR, BUT ARE NOW UNDER SERB CONTROL. UNDER THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT MOST VOTERS WERE SUPPOSED TO VOTE WHERE THEY LIVED BEFORE THE WAR. BUT THE AGREEMENT LEFT OPEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REFUGEES TO VOTE WHERE THEY NOW LIVE -- OR WANT TO LIVE.

THE ELECTION ORGANIZERS ARE STILL REFUSING TO RELEASE THE KEY VOTER REGISTRATION FIGURES, BUT LEAKED DOCUMENTS SHOW MOST SERB REFUGEES HAVE USED THE EXCEPTION TO REGISTER IN KEY TOWNS LIKE BRCKO, SREBRENICA, AND DOBOJ, WHERE MUSLIMS HAD A STRONG PRE-WAR MAJORITY. MORE THAN 19-THOUSAND SERBS NOW LIVING IN SERBIA HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN SREBRENICA, ALTHOUGH ALMOST NONE OF THEM HAS EVER LIVED THERE. IN BRCKO, THE KEY TOWN THAT CONNECTS SERB TERRITORY IN WESTERN AND EASTERN BOSNIA, MORE THAN 31-THOUSAND SERBS FROM SERBIA HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE. BRCKO IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REMAINING FLASH-POINTS IN BOSNIA, AND THE FINAL STATUS AND CONTROL OF BRCKO IS CURRENTLY IN INTERNATIONALLY SUPERVISED ARBITRATION.

SENIOR BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE SERB MANIPULATION OF REGISTRATION AS "OUTRAGEOUS." A KEY OFFICIAL IN THE RULING MUSLIM PARTY, THE S-D-A, SAYS THE ELECTIONS WILL NOW MERELY LEGALIZE THE RESULTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND AGGRESSION. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE S-D-A WILL MEET ON THURSDAY EVENING TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE, AND OFFICIALS SAY THE PARTY WILL DEMAND CHANGES TO VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS, OR THAT THE ELECTIONS MUST BE POSTPONED. THE MUSLIM OFFICIALS SAY IF INTERNATIONAL ELECTION ORGANIZERS REFUSE TO MEET THEIR DEMANDS, THE S-D-A WILL CALL ON ALL ** OPPOSITION ** PARTIES TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS.

BOSNIAN MUSLIM LEADERS POINT OUT THAT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT, WHICH ENDED THE WAR IN BOSNIA, PROMISED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, AND THE RIGHT OF REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. ALMOST NO REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED ACROSS ETHNIC LINES TO LIVE, AND EVEN A SHORT VISIT CAN BE LETHAL. MUSLIM LEADERS POINT OUT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE AGREED TO END THE WAR IF THEY THOUGHT THE CURRENT SITUATION OF ETHNIC DIVISION WOULD BECOME PERMANENT. THEY SAY THE MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT NOW IT IS UP TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AS GUARANTORS OF THE DAYTON ACCORD, TO ENSURE ALL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE IMPLEMENTED. OTHERWISE, THEY SAY, LASTING PEACE IS UNLIKELY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/PCF/MMK
22-Aug-96 1:04 PM EDT (1704 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: HEAVY FIGHTING IS REPORTED BETWEEN TURKISH SECURITY FORCES AND REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, P-K-K, IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 32 P-K-K GUERRILLAS HAVE DIED IN THE CLASHES.

TEXT: FIGHTING BETWEEN TURKISH TROOPS AND P-K-K GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN RAGING FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST.

SOME OF THE BLOODIEST CLASHES TOOK PLACE IN SIRNAK AND HAKKARI NEAR THE IRAQI BORDER. GROUPS OF P-K-K REBELS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE CROSSED INTO TURKEY FROM THEIR BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTS THE REBELS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE PRO-GOVERMENT KURDISH MILITIA IN A ROCKET ATTACK ON WEDNESDAY.

THE PRO-KURDISH DEM NEWS AGENCY FOR ITS PART CONTRADICTED GOVERNMENT CASUALTY FIGURES WITH ITS CLAIMS THAT P-K-K REBELS HAD KILLED 47 TURKISH TROOPS IN THE PAST THREE DAYS. THE AGENCY PUT REBEL LOSSES AT ONE DEAD.

MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE P-K-K'S 12 YEAR WAR FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE CARVED MAINLY OUT OF TURKEY. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS BELIEVED TO BE SPENDING UP TO EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE P-K-K.

TURKEY'S ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT CAN SOLVE THE KURDISH PROBLEM THROUGH ISLAM, WHICH HE SAYS OVERRIDES ETHNIC DIFFERENCES. HE HAS ALSO HINTED THAT HE MAY END CURRENT BANS ON BROADCASTING AND EDUCATION IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE.

ANALYSTS SAY, HOWEVER, THAT MR ERBAKAN WILL HAVE TO TREAD CAREFULLY AS THE COUNTRY'S POWERFUL AND RIGIDLY PRO-SECULAR MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT HAS SO FAR RESISTED ALL ATTEMPTS AT RESOLVING THE KURDISH ISSUE THROUGH POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND CULTURAL LIBERALIZATION. MILITARY LEADERS ARGUE THAT THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE KURDISH INDEPENDENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/CF
22-Aug-96 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] TURKEY UNDER ERBAKAN BY DAUD MAJLIS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A FORMER U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE RECENT MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR GAS DEAL BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAN IS NOT CONSIDERED BY THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER AS A WEAKENING OF HIS COUNTRY'S ANTI-TERRORIST POLICIES NOR AS CEMENTING SPECIAL TIES WITH THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. HE SAYS THAT TURKEY HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS WITH IRANIAN TERRORISTS AND HAS EXPELLED IRANIAN OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN TERRORISM IN TURKEY. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT, V-O-A'S DAUD MAJLIS LOOKS AT TURKEY UNDER ITS FIRST ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER SINCE ATATURK.

TEXT: GEORGE HARRIS SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF ANALYSIS FOR NEAR EAST AND SOUTH ASIA BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT. HE DID GRADUATE WORK IN TURKEY, WORKED IN ANKARA AS A DIPLOMAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS WRITTEN A NUMBER OF BOOKS ON TURKEY.

MR. HARRIS, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A, SAID PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE NATURAL GAS FROM IRAN. BUT THE MOVE TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH TEHRAN DURING HIS VISIT TO IRAN WAS LARGELY SYMBOLIC, BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM OUTSIDE TO MAKE THE ENTIRE PROJECT WORK. HE SAID, THE GAS DEAL THEREFORE SEEMS MORE LIKE A GESTURE RATHER THAN SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE.

THE FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE TURKS ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE IRANIAN POTENTIAL AND PRACTICE OF TERRORISM, BUT HE DOES NOT THINK THE BUSINESS DEAL BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL CHANGE IRAN'S POLICY.

ON TURKEY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS, MR. HARRIS SAID THE CURRENT ISLAMIC-LED GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ISLAMIST PARTIES IN THE ARAB WORLD.

"TURKEY HAS A STRONG SECULAR TRADITION AND EVEN PARTIES THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ISLAM RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO CONFORM TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES THAT TURKEY HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. SO, WHILE ISLAM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PARTY IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT THE PARTY IS INTERESTED IN. AND THE SHADINGS OF INCREASED ISLAMIC OBSERVANCE WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PARTY NONETHELESS DON'T MEAN THAT IT IS AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC PARTY."

THE FORMER U-S DIPLOMAT SAID DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR (DECEMBER), MR. ERBAKAN HAD SUGGESTED THAT AN ISLAMIC UNION SHOULD BE FORMED AND EVEN A SINGLE CURRENCY FOR ALL THE ISLAMIC COUNTRIES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. BUT AFTER A STUNNING VICTORY, HE SAID, MR. ERBAKAN HAS BACKED AWAY FROM HIS OWN STATEMENTS.

" WHILE HE IS INTERESTED IN STRONGER RELATIONS WITH ISLAMIC COUNTRIES HE HAS DONE THINGS THAT SHOW THAT HE IS PERFECTLY WILLING TO REMAIN AN ALLY OF THE WEST. HIS PARTY REVERSED ITSELF AND EXTENDED "PROVIDE COMFORT" FOR FIVE MONTHS INSTEAD OF THE THREE MONTHS THAT IT HAD BEEN RENEWED IN THE PREVIOUS OCCASION."

MR. GEORGE HARRIS ALSO NOTED THAT WHILE THE MILITARY IS STILL IN FAVOR OF A SECULAR TURKEY, IT HAS NOT BEEN AS RESISTANT TO THE PRACTICE OF ISLAM AS SOME OF TURKEY'S POLITICIANS. HE SAID THE MILITARY AFTER 1980 INTRODUCED COMPULSORY CLASSES IN ISLAM IN THE SCHOOLS, HOPING THAT THIS WOULD LEAD TO A REJECTION OF TERRORISM AND ANARCHY. MR. HARRIS CONCLUDED THAT THE MILITARY IN TURKEY IS NOT NECESSARILY AS ANTI-ISLAMIC AS MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
21-Aug-96 7:39 PM EDT (2339 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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