Voice of America, 97-01-22

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[03] THE SERBIAN IMPASSE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[04] U-S/SERBIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] U-S / SERBIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

INTRO: THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL CEREMONIES ARE HISTORY AND SO THE COUNTRY'S EDITORIALS WRITERS ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO OTHER TOPICS. FOREMOST IS THE PUNISHMENT OF HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH BY THE FULL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE INAUGURATION; THE ON-GOING THREATS TO HONG KONG'S FREEDOM; AND THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PAUL TSONGAS [OPT] AND THE MAN WHO ECONOMICALLY FREED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYERS, CURT FLOOD. [END OPT] NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS ___________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO PUNISH SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH ON CHARGES THAT HE DISCREDITED THE HOUSE BY USING TAX-EXEMPT MONEY TO PROMOTE PARTISAN POLITICAL GOALS AND THEN, ESSENTIALLY, LYING ABOUT IT TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE. MANY PAPERS USE THIS TOPIC AS THEIR TOP EDITORIAL TOPIC THIS WEDNESDAY, INCLUDING THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

VOICE: "WHATEVER HIS POLITICAL FUTURE MAY HOLD, NEWT GINGRICH HAS ASSURED AN INDELIBLE PLACE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST SITTING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVER TO BE PUNISHED BY A VOTE OF HIS COLLEAGUES. ..... THE REPRIMAND STOPS JUST SHORT OF A VOTE OF CENSURE, WHICH WOULD HAVE FORCED [MR.] GINGRICH TO RESIGN AS SPEAKER. [BEGIN OPT] ... THE GINGRICH CASE ILLUSTRATED AGAIN THE MISUSE OF MONEY IN POLITICS. SOMETHING REDEMPTIVE CAN COME FROM IT IF IT AT LAST FORCES RELUCTANT POLITICIANS, IN CONGRESS AND IN THE WHITE HOUSE, TO TREAT A FESTERING SCANDAL." [END OPT]

TEXT: THE NATIONALLY-DISTRIBUTED NEWSPAPER USA TODAY HAS THIS REACTION TO THE HISTORIC VOTE.

VOICE: "NEWT GINGRICH, THE MASTERMIND, HEAD CHEERLEADER, TACTICAL GENIUS AND ATTACK DOG OF THE REPUBLICAN RENAISSANCE IN CONGRESS, NOW HAS ANOTHER DISTINCTION: IN 208 YEARS, HE'S THE ONLY SPEAKER EVER TO BE REPRIMANDED BY THE HOUSE FOR BESMIRCHING THE IMAGE OF AN ALREADY SULLIED INSTITUTION. ..... FOR WEEKS, GINGRICH APOLOGISTS GOT AWAY WITH CHARACTERIZING HIS MISDEEDS AS AKIN TO JAYWALKING OR GETTING A PARKING TICKET. NOT MANY JAYWALKERS OR OVERTIME PARKERS GET SOCKED WITH A 300-THOUSAND-DOLLAR FINE - - FROM SOME OF THEIR CLOSEST FRIENDS."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, THE BOSTON GLOBE LAMENTS:

VOICE: "THERE IS NO REALISTIC HOPE FOR A MORE CIVIL, ISSUE ORIENTED HOUSE UNLESS [MR.] GINGRICH IS TRULY CHASTENED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE EVIDENCE IS OTHERWISE."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] AND THE HARTFORD COURANT REMARKS:

VOICE: "IF ONLY THE GINGRICH AFFAIR COULD BE PUT TO REST. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONTROVERSY DRAGS ON. LAWYERS FOR THE SPEAKER SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY OF HIS DIPPING INTO CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY THE ... FINE. FOR HIM TO DO SO WOULD MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE PENALTY. THE ETHICS COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE RULED OUT THAT OPTION IN RECOMMENDING ITS PUNISHMENT."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, ON "LA AFFAIRE GINGRICH," THE SUN IN BALTIMORE WONDERS:

VOICE: "WHETHER THE HOUSE CAN PUT 'THE MATTER OF NEWT GINGRICH' BEHIND IT AND GET DOWN TO LEGISLATIVE WORK REMAINS AN UNSETTLED QUESTION. OBVIOUSLY THAT IS THE HOPE OF CLINTON LOYALISTS WHO VIEW HIM AS A SHIELD AGAINST ETHICS PROBLEMS FACING THE PRESIDENT AND THE AIM OF GINGRICH LOYALISTS STILL PROMOTING CONSERVATIVE CAUSES. BUT THIS CASE HAS BUILT UP A MOMENTUM THAT WILL BE HARD TO STOP, HOWEVER MUCH THE PUBLIC WANTS AN END TO PARTISAN BICKERING." [END OPT]

TEXT: WRITING ABOUT MONDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, THE BOSTON GLOBE HAS THIS EDITORIAL COMMENT.

VOICE: "IT TOOK ALEXANDER LEBED, THE BASSO VOICED RUSSIAN SOLDIER-TURNED POLITICIAN, TO PUT BILL CLINTON'S SECOND INAUGURAL INTO ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE. AS AN OUTSIDER, [MR.] LEBED WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROMISES THAT [PRESIDENT] CLINTON MADE. NOR WAS HE DISAPPOINTED BY WHATEVER [MR.] CLINTON MAY NOT HAVE SAID. WHAT IMPRESSED THE RUSSIAN, WHO WAS OBSERVING AN AMERICAN INAUGURATION FOR THE FIRST TIME, WAS THAT IT REPRESENTED THE 'CONFLICT-FREE CHANGE OF SUPREME POWER IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS.' ..... IT IS GOOD FOR AMERICANS TO SEE THEIR COUNTRY THROUGH A FOREIGN LENS SOMETIMES."

TEXT: HONG KONG, WHICH MOVES INEXORABLY TOWARD CHINESE CONTROL ON JULY FIRST, IS IN THE EDITORIALS COLUMNS, AS SEVERAL PAPERS COMMENT ABOUT THE LATEST THREATS TO BASIC FREEDOMS. SAYS TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST:

VOICE: "IT COMES AS NO GREAT SURPRISE THAT CHINA IS SEEKING TO CANCEL CIVIL LIBERTIES AND BASIC FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG. THE SURPRISE, IF ANY, IS HOW RAPIDLY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY THE CHINESE STEAMROLLER IS MOVING IN. CHINA SEEMS TOTALLY HEEDLESS OF, OR OBLIVIOUS TO, THE DAMAGE SUCH ACTIONS WILL BRING TO ITS REPUTATION ABROAD, AND TO HONG KONG'S CHANCES OF REMAINING PROSPEROUS."

TEXT: IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THERE IS THIS OBSERVATION.

VOICE: "IT'S BEEN CLEAR SINCE 1995 THAT PARTS OF HONG KONG'S TREASURED BILL OF RIGHTS AND LAWS ENABLING ITS DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE WERE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR THE CHOPPING BLOCK. EVEN SO, BEIJING'S ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY THAT SUCH LAWS ARE NOW OFFICIAL TARGETS HAS HIT HARD. THE CASUALTIES ARE MANY AND THE WRECKAGE MAY BE SPREAD FAR WIDER THAN CHINA INTENDED."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] USA TODAY IS DEALING WITH THE END OF THE UNIVERSE, ABOUT WHICH SCIENTISTS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SPECULATING.

VOICE: "IT IS POSSIBLE, GOES ONE IDEA, THAT THE UNIVERSE WILL GRADUALLY DECAY INTO A THING 'GRUEL' OF ATOMIC PARTICLES AND ENERGY. THE STARS WILL BE GONE. EVEN BLACK HOLES WILL HAVE EVAPORATED. ONLY POSITRON, NEUTRINOS, ELECTRONS AND RADIATION WILL REMAIN. TIME ELAPSED: TEN TO THE 100TH POWER [OF] YEARS. THE SECOND THEORY PROPOSES THAT MATTER COULD SIMPLY CEASE TO EXIST. ..... IN THE THIN GRUEL AT THE END OF TIME ... THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN PRAGMATISM. THERE'S IMAGINATION. EXCELSIOR!"

[BEGIN OPT]

TEXT: THERE ARE EDITORIAL COMMENTS ABOUT TWO RECENT DEATHS: BASEBALL PLAYER CURT FLOOD AND FORMER SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS. LONG A STAR OF THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, RETIRED BASEBALL PLAYER CURT FLOOD IS REMEMBERED FOR CHALLENGING BASEBALL'S HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE RESERVE CLAUSE THAT ONCE BOUND A PLAYER TO ONE TEAM FOR LIFE. SAYS THE NEW YORK TIMES IN HONORING HIM:

VOICE: "[MR.] FLOOD NEVER MADE A DIME FROM HIS COURAGE. HE LEFT BASEBALL FOR A YEAR [BECAUSE OF HIS LEGAL CHALLENGE] AND HIS SKILL ERODED. BUT BY THE TIME HE DIED ON MONDAY, AT AGE 59, HE HAD EARNED THE GRATITUDE OF AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF PLAYERS WHO HAVE PROFITED HUGELY FROM THE FREEDOMS ... HE MADE POSSIBLE."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE NOTING THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS OF MASSACHUSETTS, WHO BRIEFLY RAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 1992. MR. TSONGAS WAS 55 AND DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF CANCER. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS OF HIM:

VOICE: "AS A SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, [MR.] TSONGAS ENJOYED A REPUTATION FOR STRAIGHT TALK, EVEN WHEN THE TRUTH MIGHT COST HIM VOTES. IN THE '92 CAMPAIGN, HE OPPOSED MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUTS AND DISMISSED BILL CLINTON AS A 'PANDER BEAR' FOR TELLING VOTERS THAT HE COULD BALANCE THE BUDGET AND STILL REDUCE TAXES."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, FROM THE NEW YORK POST THIS TRIBUTE.

VOICE: "THE CALM, REASONED VOICE OF PAUL TSONGAS MATCHED THE PERSONAL COURAGE WITH WHICH HE BATTLED CANCER. [MR.] TSONGAS WILL BE MISSED IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS - - WHICH HE REPRESENTED IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE - - AND BY THE NATION AT LARGE."

TEXT: WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF COMMENTS FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF AMERICA'S DAILY PAPERS.
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22-Jan-97 11:22 AM EST (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS IN LONDON AND PARIS WEDNESDAY. FOR THOSE FIGURES AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE, HERE IS PAUL FRANCUCH IN OUR LONDON OFFICE.

TEXT: THE STRONG U-S DOLLAR WAS SEEN BY MANY AS A FACTOR ENCOURAGING THE PURCHASE OF STOCKS IN WESTERN EUROPE. A STRONG DOLLAR MAKES EXPORTS SOLD IN COMPETING WEAKER CURRENCIES MORE ATTRACTIVE. THAT OFTEN PROMPTS INVESTORS TO BUY STOCKS IN COMPANIES WHERE THE EXPORT OUTLOOK IS FAVORABLE.

HERE IN LONDON, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" INDEX OF 100 KEY BRITISH STOCKS SOARED TO A NEW RECORD CLOSE, FINISHING UP ALMOST 24 POINTS FOR THE DAY. IN PARIS, THE "CAC 40" INDEX GAINED 32-AND-A-HALF POINTS WEDNESDAY, FINISHING WITH A RECORD CLOSE ON THAT INDEX AS WELL. FRANKFURT'S "DAX 30" DID NOT CLOSE ON A RECORD HIGH, BUT THAT EXCHANGE DID CHALK-UP (REGISTER) ANOTHER 52 POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING.

EUROPEAN CURRENCY TRADING SAW THE DOLLAR UP AGAINST THE MARK, THE POUND AND THE YEN. GOLD WAS DOWN AGAIN, CLOSING OFF TWO-DOLLARS-40-CENTS. THE LONDON FIX WEDNESDAY WAS 351-DOLLARS-15 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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22-Jan-97 12:57 PM EST (1757 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] THE SERBIAN IMPASSE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE STANDOFF BETWEEN SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTORS HAS BECOME A TEST OF ENDURANCE FOR BOTH SIDES. MR. MILOSEVIC HAS ADOPTED COMPLICATED LEGAL MANEUVERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO STALL ACCEPTANCE OF OPPOSITION ELECTION VICTORIES, AND WEAR THE PROTESTORS DOWN. THE PROTESTERS, MEANWHILE, HAVE ADOPTED NEW AND INCREASINGLY INNOVATIVE WAYS TO KEEP THEIR SPIRITS UP AND THE PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS.

TEXT: IN THE LATEST TWIST IN THE ALMOST DAILY PROTESTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN BELGRADE SINCE LATE DECEMBER, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE BEGUN RELIEVING EACH OTHER IN SHIFTS. THEY READ POETRY, PERFORM PLAYS AND SING SONGS IN FRONT OF THE POLICE CORDONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ERECTED TO PREVENT THEM FROM MARCHING THROUGH THE CITY STREETS. STUDENT ORGANIZER BOJAN BOGDANOVIC [BOY-AHN BOG-DAHN-OH-VITCH] TALKED TO V-O-A BY PHONE FROM BELGRADE ABOUT WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING DAY AFTER DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK.

ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE STREETS AND ALL THOSE AT HOME REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS BECAUSE IF THE ORIGINAL ELECTORAL RESULTS ARE NOT RESPECTED, ANY FURTHER ELECTIONS ARE MEANINGLESS AND SERBIA IS STEPPING DIRECTLY INTO DICTATORSHIP INSTEAD OF DEMOCRACY.

FOR THIS REASON MR. BOGDANOVIC SAYS, STUDENTS AND OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE REFUSED GOVERNMENT OFFERS TO HOLD NEW ELECTIONS.

THE STUDENT LEADER ALSO EXPLAINED THE SYBOLISM BEHIND SOME OF THE MORE INVENTIVE TACTICS STUDENTS HAVE EMPLOYED RECENTLY, SUCH AS GOING TO LOCAL HOSPITALS TO DONATE THEIR BLOOD.

IT IS OUR REACTION TO STATEMENTS FROM OFFICIALS FROM THE RULING REGIME THAT THIS CRISIS WILL NOT END WITHOUT BLOODSHED. SO THE STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY WENT TO THE TRANSFUSION CENTER TO DONATE BLOOD JUST TO SHOW THAT WE WANT THIS CRISIS TO END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WE WANT THAT TO BE THE ONLY BLOOD THAT WILL BE SHED.

OTHER CREATIVE ACTS INCLUDED BRINGING PETS TO THE RALLIES WITH BANNERS PROCLAIMING "PETS AGAINST THE BEASTS". THEN THERE'S THE GAME CALLED "FIND THE FORBIDDEN CITY" -- A REFERENCE TO BELGRADE'S UPSCALE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LIVE. IT IS AN AREA PROCLAIMED OFF LIMITS TO THE DEMONSTRATORS.

LEON KOJEN (COHEN) IS A PROFESSOR AT BELGRADE UNIVERSITY AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF DEPOS, THE ANTI-NATIONALIST DEMOCRATIC PARTY BLOC WHICH CAME INTO BEING AFTER THE DISSOLUTION OF YUGOSLAVIA. PROFESSOR KOJEN SAYS HE'S NOT ALL SURPRISED THAT THE DEMONSTRATORS HAVE KEPT UP THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE DAILY PROTESTS:

I HAD A FEELING FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS THAT PEOPLE GENERALLY, PEOPLE IN BELGRADE, PEOPLE IN THE PROVINCES, WERE SIMPLY WAITING. WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN FOR THEIR OWN MOOD TO MATURE. IT WAS ALWAYS A VERY DANGEROUS ILLUSION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT SOMEHOW MILOSEVIC AND HIS SOCIALISTS WERE FINALLY ACCEPTED (BY THE PEOPLE). THEY WERE NEVER ACCEPTED.

PROFESSOR COHEN SAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME HE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE. HE BELIEVES THE WEEKS OF DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE SHOWN THE WORLD THE OTHER FACE OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE -- THOSE WHO REJECT THE ISOLATIONISM OF EXTREME NATIONALISM, THOSE WHO WANT TO REJOIN EUROPE AND THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
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22-Jan-97 6:28 PM EST (2328 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S/SERBIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBED BY THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO -- IN A U-S SPOKESMAN'S VIEW -- TYING UP LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION RESULTS IN AN UNDEMOCRATIC JUDICIAL PROCESS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS THE SPOKESMAN ALSO DENOUNCES THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE BY POLICE AGAINST PROTESTORS TAKING PART IN PEACEFUL, DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS:

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS BLOCKING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAYS WAS WON LARGELY BY THE OPPOSITION:

WE HAD BEEN HOPEFUL LAST WEEK WHEN THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION MADE ITS DECISION THAT THE RESULTS SHOULD STAND, THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BACK DOWN. WE WERE HOPEFUL THE OPPOSITION COULD ACTUALLY TAKE ITS SEAT IN THE BELGRADE CITY ASSEMBLY AND ELSEWHERE.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT HAS PROTESTED THE COMMISSION'S RULING AND TIED UP MANY OF THE RESULTS OF THE BALLOT IN WHAT HE CALLS "JUDICIAL KNOTS."

THE U-S SPOKESMAN ALSO CONDEMNED THE USE OF FORCE BY POLICE AGAINST PARTICIPANTS OF DAILY PROTESTS:

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL NOT REACT POSITIVELY IN ANY WAY TO THE USE OF VIOLENCE AND THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PROTESTORS WHO HAVE BEEN EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS PEACEFULLY IN THE STREETS OF BELGRADE FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS.

MR. BURNS SAYS THE O-S-C-E'S GONZALEZ COMMISSION'S FINDINGS THE BALLOT WAS MARRED BY IRREGULARTIES AND WON 14 RACES IN KEY CITIES AND TOWNS BY THE OPPOSITION SHOULD BE RESPECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. (ED. NOTE : MR. F/I/L/I/P/E GONZALEZ IS FORMER SPANISH PRIME MINISTER) (SIGNED).
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21-Jan-97 8:08 PM EST (0108 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S / SERBIA (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: SERBIAN STUDENTS VISITING WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY A SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO GAVE THEM AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THEIR CONTINUING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELGRADE. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE FOUR STUDENT LEADERS ARE ON A TOUR SPONSORED BY FORMER YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER MILAN PANIC. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KORNBLUM MET WITH THEM TO EXPRESS AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THEIR GOAL OF DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA.

THE STUDENTS EXPRESSED FEAR SERBIAN AUTHORITIES MAY RESORT TO FORCE TO PREVENT FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. STUDENTS HAVE JOINED WITH THE SERBIAN OPPOSITION ALLIANCE, ZAJEDNO, TO PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE THE OPPOSITION'S VICTORY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS OFFERED PUBLIC ADVICE TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

ELECTION RESULTS CANNOT BE NEGOTIATED IN THE BACK ROOMS, THE SMOKE-FILLED BACK ROOMS. ELECTION RESULTS ARE NOT BARGAINING CHIPS TO ENHANCE THE POLITICAL STATURE, OR THE POLITICAL SURVIVABILITY OR THE POLITICAL ADVANTAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE.

MR. BURNS RIDICULED THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM THAT IT WON EIGHT TOWNS IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS SAYING THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IS DIGGING ITSELF INTO A DEEPER HOLE. (SIGNED)
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22-Jan-97 3:36 PM EST (2036 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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