Voice of America, 97-03-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] ALBANIA UNREST (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[03] ALBANIA POL CQ (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

[04] U-S / ALBANIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

[05] U-S / ALBANIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

[06] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

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

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

[01] ALBANIA REACT (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN ANALYST ON ALBANIA SAYS THE APPOINTMENT OF A SOCIALIST POLITICIAN TO THE POST OF PRIME MINISTER MAY NOT END THE POPULAR UNREST UNTIL PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA RESIGNS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS NICK PANO OF WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SUGGESTS THE SPREADING OF LOOTING TO MILITARY BARRACKS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA MAY BE AN EFFORT BY PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES:

TEXT: MR. PANO SAYS CONTINUING UNREST IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA INDICATES INSURGENTS ARE ADAMANT THEY BE INCLUDED IN POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW UNITY GOVERNMENT:

IT'S APPARENT THAT THE REBELS IN THE SOUTH DO WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN A (POLITICAL) SETTLEMENT. IT'S ALSO CLEAR THEY HAVE AN AGENDA WHICH IS AIMED AT BRINGING ABOUT A MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE. (MR.) BERISHA IS A SYMBOL OF THE OLD REGIME AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIRE TO INSIST BEFORE A NEW BEGINNING CAN BE MADE TOWARD A NATIONAL RECONCILIATION THAT (MR.) BERISHA WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP HIS POSITION.

MR. PANO SAYS THE RAID ON NORTHERN MILITARY BARRACKS APPEARS TO BE A SIGN THE PEOPLE IN TRADITIONALLY PRO-RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY TERRITORY ARE SEIZING WEAPONS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, RATHER THAN RALLYING TO THE BERISHA GOVERNMENT.

HE SAYS IT APPEARS MR. BERISHA WAITED TOO LONG MAKING CONCESSIONS FOLLOWING THE JANUARY COLLAPSE OF HIGH-RISK INVESTMENT SCHEMES WHICH LED TO THE CURRENT UNREST. THE PRESIDENT'S WEAKNESS, MR. PANO SAYS, HAS EMBOLDENED HIS OPPONENTS TO THE POINT OF DEMANDING HIS RESIGNATION WHICH MAY NOW BE INEVITABLE. MEANWHILE, THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THE APPOINTMENT OF SOCIALIST POLITICIAN BASHKIM FINO AS PRIME MINISTER AS A GESTURE AIMED AT UNIFYING THE NATION. (SIGNED)
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11-Mar-97 10:26 PM EST (0326 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA UNREST (S) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENT HAS APPROVED AN AMNESTY FOR ARMED PROTESTORS WHO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS BY MARCH 20TH. BUT V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THAT DESPITE NAMING A SOCIALIST AS PRIME MINISTER, PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA REMAINS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO STEP DOWN.

TEXT: REBELS IN THE SOUTH CONTINUE TO DEFY CALLS TO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS.

GREEK TELEVISION REPORTS THAT EIGHT HASTILY FORMED INSURGENT TOWN COUNCILS MET TUESDAY IN GJIROCASTRA TO FORM A NATIONAL FRONT FOR THE SALVATION OF THE PEOPLE. THE GROUP REPEATED ITS CALL FOR PRESIDENT BERISHA TO RESIGN AND SAID IT WANTS TO BE PART OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS IN THE CAPITAL.

THE NEW SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE OFFICE LATER WEDNESDAY.

CITING RISING SECURITY CONCERNS, THE U-S, ITALIAN, BRITISH AND FRENCH EMBASSIES IN TIRANA ARE SENDING NON-ESSENTIAL DIPLOMAT STAFF OUT OF ALBANIA.

IN THE FAR NORTH, A MILITARY BARRACKS NEAR THE SERBIAN BORDER WAS OVERRUN BY INSURGENTS THOUGHT TO BE SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT BERISHA. THE ALBANIAN ARMY HAS BEEN WITHDRAWING CLOSER TO THE CAPITAL. OVERNIGHT, ANTI-GOVERNMENT INSURGENTS IN THE COASTAL TOWN OF VLORE REPUDIATED AN AGREEMENT THEY HAD PURPORTEDLY REACHED EARLIER WITH THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURN IN THEIR WEAPONS. THE REBELS CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT SECURITY GUARANTEES ARE NEEDED BEFORE THEY WILL TURN OVER THE WEAPONS THAT BEEN LOOTED FROM ARMY AND POLICE FACILITIES. (SIGNED)
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12-Mar-97 6:58 AM EST (1158 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA POL CQ (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

INTRO: CIVIL UNREST IN ALBANIA IS NOW REPORTED TO HAVE SPREAD TO WITHIN 50-KILOMETERS OF THE CAPITAL, WHERE THE COUNTRY'S INTERIM PRIME MINISTER HAS OPENED TALKS ON THE FORMATION OF A NEW GOVERNMENT. FROM TIRANA, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: ONE DAY AFTER HE WAS NAMED TO HEAD ALBANIA'S NEW EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT, PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO SAYS HE FAVORS DIALOGUE WITH REBEL LEADERS IN THE SOUTH.

IN COMMENTS ECHOED BY OFFICIALS OF GREECE AND ITALY, MR. FINO IS QUOTED BY ALBANIAN TELEVISION AS SAYING UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES WILL BE NEEDED TO END THE COUNTRY'S SPIRALING CRISIS.

HIS COMMENTS CAME AS REBEL LEADERS DEMANDED THEY BE INCLUDED IN TALKS BETWEEN OPPOSITION PARTIES AND EMBATTLED PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA, WHO THE REBELS INSIST MUST RESIGN. MR. FINO, AN OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PARTY MEMBER AND FORMER MAYOR OF THE MAIN REBEL-HELD TOWN IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT MUST IMMEDIATELY DEAL WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF WEAPONS IN REBEL HANDS, RESTORE THE ECONOMY, AND PREPARE ELECTIONS. MEANWHILE, THE U-S AND OTHER WESTERN EMBASSIES IN ALBANIA HAVE ORDERED FAMILY MEMBERS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AMID REPORTS REBELS LOOTED A MILITARY BASE IN ELBASAN, A TOWN ABOUT 50-KILOMETERS FROM THE CAPITAL. (SIGNED) NEB/KBK/GKT/RAE/RRM
12-Mar-97 1:30 PM EST (1830 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S / ALBANIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES IN WITHDRAWING FAMILIES AND NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF FROM ALBANIA BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY SITUATION THERE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONLY WITHDRAWING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES FROM ALBANIA -- BUT ALSO ADVISING THE TWO-THOUSAND PRIVATE AMERICAN RESIDENTS THERE TO LEAVE.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ALBANIA HAS GOTTEN TOO DANGEROUS.

IN VIEW OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ALBANIA, WE ARE ORDERING A DRAWDOWN OF NON-ESSENTIAL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL IN ALBANIA. THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE INSTABILITY IN THE COUNTRY.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD OF VIOLENCE NORTH OF TIRANA AND THE AMOUNT OF WEAPONS IN THE HANDS OF REBELS DESPITE THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA AND HIS OPPOSITION.

AMERICAN AMBASSADOR MARISA LINO AND 17 DIPLOMATS WILL REMAIN IN ALBANIA -- BUT 160 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, AID WORKERS AND STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL DEPART ON COMMERCIAL AND CHARTER AIRLINES. (SIGNED)
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12-Mar-97 3:20 PM EST (2020 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S / ALBANIA (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPT.)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES IN WITHDRAWING FAMILIES AND NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF FROM ALBANIA BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY SITUATION THERE. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA HAS ALREADY TAKEN MANY OF THE MOVES THE UNITED STATES RECOMMENDED. HE HAS OPENED A DIALOGUE WITH HIS OPPOSITION. HE HAS APPOINTED AN OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER FROM THE REBELLIOUS SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. HE HAS SCHEDULED EARLY ELECTIONS.

STILL THE REBELLION HAS SPREAD. BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY AND RUSSIA HAVE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW FAMILY MEMBERS AND STAFF FROM THEIR EMBASSIES IN TIRANA. THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONLY WITHDRAWING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES FROM ALBANIA -- BUT IS ALSO ADVISING THE TWO-THOUSAND PRIVATE AMERICAN RESIDENTS THERE TO LEAVE.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ALBANIA HAS GOTTEN TOO DANGEROUS.

IN VIEW OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ALBANIA, WE ARE ORDERING A DRAWDOWN OF NON-ESSENTIAL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL IN ALBANIA. THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE INSTABILITY IN THE COUNTRY. DEPENDENTS AND NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL WILL DEPART ALBANIA IN THE COMING DAYS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD OF VIOLENCE NORTH OF TIRANA AND THE AMOUNT OF WEAPONS IN THE HANDS OF REBELS, DESPITE THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT BERISHA AND HIS OPPOSITION. AGAIN, SPOKESMAN BURNS:

OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE FIGHTING HAS NOT STOPPED IN THE SOUTH -- AND REALLY THE MOB ACTIONS OF STORMING ARMS DEPOTS AND BANKS AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS HAS NOT STOPPED. FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY (TUESDAY), IT DID SPREAD TO THE NORT,H WHICH IS OF VERY GREAT CONCERN TO THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS TO THE REST OF US, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS -- WHICH WERE FAIRLY DRAMATIC -- OF A CEASE-FIRE, A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT AND OF ELECTIONS SHORTLY -- THAT ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE AFFECTED THE INCLINATION OF THE INSURGENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTIONS IN THE STREETS, WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING TO US. WE CALL ON THOSE IN THE STREETS TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS.

THAT'S THE REASON THE UNITED STATES HAS DECIDED TO REDUCE THE AMERICAN PRESENCE IN ALBANIA. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR MARISA LINO AND 17 DIPLOMATS WILL REMAIN -- BUT 160 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, AID WORKERS AND STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL DEPART ALBANIA ON COMMERCIAL AND CHARTER AIRLINES. (SIGNED)
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12-Mar-97 4:28 PM EST (2128 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES DROPPED IN TRADING WEDNESDAY ON MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES WERE DOWN IN ALL THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. ANALYSTS SAID TRADERS SOLD SHARES TO TAKE PROFITS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RECORD CLOSING HIGHS. THEY SAID THE EUROPEAN MARKETS ALSO WERE INFLUENCED BY THE NEGATIVE OPENING ON WALL STREET AND BY A WEAKENING U-S DOLLAR.

PRICES IN LONDON DROPPED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED ALMOST 22-POINTS LOWER, LOSING ABOUT ONE-HALF PERCENT.

STOCK PRICES WERE LOWER IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED DOWN MORE THAN 45-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-FOUR-TENTHS-PERCENT.

PRICES ALSO WERE DOWN IN PARIS. THE CAC-40 INDEX FINISHED OFF MORE THAN 44-POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-AND-SIX-TENTHS-PERCENT.
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12-Mar-97 1:41 PM EST (1841 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL FUND RAISING CONTROVERSY ARE PROVIDING A NUMBER OF EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS WEDNESDAY AND TWO MAJOR PAPERS, THE MIAMI HERALD AND LOS ANGELES TIMES ARE DEMANDING THAT AN INDEPENDENT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR BE NAMED TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE ILLICIT DRUG SITUATION IN MEXICO; COMMENTS ON A PAIR OF FORMER CARIBBEAN LEADERS WHO DIED RECENTLY; BORIS YELTSIN'S RETURN; AND THE DEATH OF AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST IN ARGENTINA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A QUOTE OR TWO IS __________________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS IN THE NEWS FOR MAKING WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A DYNAMIC STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS EARLIER THIS WEEK AND BEGINING A GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE, AS NOTED BY THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "WITH A PARLIAMENT CONTROLLED BY COMMUNISTS, ULTRANATIONALISTS AND CORRUPT NEWLY RICH BUSINESSMEN, MR. YELTSIN IS PLAYING TO A TOUGH CROWD. BUT THE OPPOSITION'S SURLY RHETORIC REFLECTS A POSSIBLY ENCOURAGING UNDERLYING FACT: MR. YELTSIN MAY HAVE RETURNED. BY DELIVERING A POINTED STATE-OF-THE-UNION SPEECH, NAMING REFORMER ANATOLY CHUBAIS AS DEPUTY PREMIER AND - - JUST REMEMBER - - ORDERING ALL OTHER CABINET MEMBERS TO TENDER RESIGNATIONS, THE PRESIDENT ESSENTIALLY HAS BEGUN, FINALLY, HIS SECOND TERM."

TEXT: THE LATEST CONTROVERSY OVER POTENTIALLY IMPROPER CAMPAIGN DONATIONS IS THE ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE F-B-I AND THE WHITE HOUSE CONCERNING A BRIEFING OF SOME OFFICIALS LAST YEAR, WARNING THAT CHINESE AGENTS MIGHT TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE F-B-I BRIEFERS TOLD THOSE THEY BRIEFED NOT TO PASS THE INFORMATION UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE PRESIDENT, BUT THE F-B-I SAYS NO CONDITIONS WERE ATTACHED TO THE INFORMATION. THIS AND OTHER REVELATIONS IS CAUSING THE MIAMI HERALD TO DEMAND A STRONGER INVESTIGATION, UNDER AN EDITORIAL HEADLINE READING:"FLUSH OUT THIS CESSPOOL."

VOICE: "FOR WEEKS NOW, ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS RESISTED ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE IRREGULARITIES IN DONATIONS TO THE 1996 ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, ESPECIALLY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S. NOW MS. RENO HAS PROBABLE-CAUSE EVIDENCE THAT FEDERAL LAW MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES, TWICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. ..... ONLY AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, WITH A BROAD MANDATE TO INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS CAMPAIGN DONATIONS - - BY WHOMEVER AND TO WHOMEVER MADE - - CAN FLUSH OUT THIS CESSPOOL."

TEXT: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AGREES, RUNNING THIS HEADLINE OVER ITS LEAD EDITORIAL: "FUND-RAISING MESS CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT COUNSEL."

VOICE: "THE FUND-RAISING FUROR IN WASHINGTON GETS CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER. NOW WE HAVE THE CHINA ANGLE, WHICH IN TURN HAS LED TO A UNIQUE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE F-B-I AND THE WHITE HOUSE AS TO WHO TOLD WHAT TO WHOM I.E., WHO'S TELLING THE TRUTH. [OPT] ..... SUDDENLY THE STORY WAS WHETHER THE F-B-I OR THE WHITE HOUSE WAS LYING. LEFT IN THE MURK WAS THE CHINA QUESTION AND WHAT INTELLIGENCE THE F-B-I HAD THAT PROMPTED IT TO ISSUE SUCH A WARNING. [END OPT] THE LATEST INCIDENT ADDS MORE WEIGHT TO THE ARGUMENT THAT A SPECIAL COUNSEL SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO ..... FERRET OUT THE TRUTH AND BEGIN RESTORING SOME PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST CALLS THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE F-B-I AND THE WHITE HOUSE "A CHILLING SPECTACLE," ADDING:

VOICE: "..... MR. CLINTON SUGGESTED AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH THE FUND-RAISING FOR HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN. BUT THERE WERE THINGS OUT OF THE ORDINARY; THERE CONTINUE TO BE. THE CHILLY CONFRONTATION WITH THE F-B-I ..... IS ONLY THE LATEST UNSETTLING EXAMPLE."

TEXT: LASTLY ON THIS TOPIC, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS PRAISING CONGRESS FOR AT LAST BROADENING ITS INQUIRY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING TO INCLUDE THOSE PRACTICES WHICH ARE IMPROPER AS WELL AS STRICTLY ILLEGAL, AND IN BOTH PARTIES.

VOICE: "THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT LEGAL, BUT UNETHICAL PRACTICES CAN ALSO BE EXAMINED ALONG WITH ALLEGEDLY UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, A STEP THAT [TENNESSEE SENATOR FRED] MR. THOMPSON AND OTHERS VIEW AS CRITICAL TO ENACTING NEW LEGISLATION."

TEXT: TURNING TO MEXICO'S WAR ON ILLICIT DRUGS, AND ITS RECENT CERTIFICATION BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR THOSE EFFORTS, THE NEW YORK TIMES TALKS ABOUT A CONGRESSIONAL MOVE TO OVERRIDE THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTION.

VOICE: "JUST WEEKS BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT MEXICO, CONGRESS IS MOVING TO OVERRIDE THE ADMINISTRATION'S DISINGENUOUS CERTIFICATION THAT ITS [MEXICO'S] GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COOPERATING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS. A SUCCESSFUL OVERRIDE WOULD INVITE A DIPLOMATIC CONFRONTATION WITH MEXICO. BUT THE CRISIS WOULD BE WORTH ENDURING IF IT LED WASHINGTON TO A MORE REALISTIC APPRECIATION OF MEXICO'S PROBLEMS AND OF PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS THEM WITH SUFFICIENT RESOLVE. .... UNLESS PRESIDENT ZEDILLO ATTACKS THESE PROBLEMS BOLDLY BY INITIATING A THOROUGH HOUSECLEANING OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS, CONGRESS SHOULD OVERRIDE MEXICO'S CERTIFICATION."

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL DISAGREES, CALLING A CONGRESSIONAL OVERRIDE "NOT CONSTRUCTIVE.," ADDING:

VOICE: "INSTEAD OF WRANGLING, MR. CLINTON AND LAWMAKERS SHOULD BE EXAMINING WAYS TO BOLSTER U-S-MEXICO COOPERATION AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS. THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE TOO MANY CRITICAL MUTUAL INTERESTS - - FROM A LENGTHY BORDER TO EXTENSIVE TRADE - - TO ALLOW DISTRACTION BY U-S POLITICAL BICKERING."

TEXT: [OPT] NOW TO THE CARIBBEAN, WHERE TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE IS TAKING NOTE OF THE PASSING OF TWO MEN IT CALLS "CHAMPIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN."

VOICE: "IT WAS AN ODD COINCIDENCE THAT TWO NATIONAL HEROES OF THE CARIBBEAN, MICHAEL MANLEY OF JAMAICA AND CHEDDI JAGAN OF GUYANA, SHOULD HAVE DIED ON THE SAME DAY LAST WEEK. ALTHOUGH ONE WAS BORN OF PRIVILEGE AND THE OTHER IN POVERTY, THEY BOTH FOUGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN THE EARLY YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. THEY WERE ALSO STRIDENT LEFTISTS WHO BACKED FIDEL CASTRO EARLY AND OFTEN AND DELIGHTED IN DEFYING THE UNITED STATES. ..... THE PASSING OF THESE TWO MEN SERVES TO REMIND US OF THE TURBULENT DAYS OF COLD WAR CARIBBEAN POLITICS THAT WERE ONLY YESTERDAY BUT NOW ..... SEEM TO BELONG TO ANOTHER CENTURY." [END OPT]

TEXT: [OPT] LASTLY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS FURIOUS AT THE BRUTAL, GANGLAND STYLE MURDER OF AN ARGENTINIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST, JOSE LUIS CABEZAS WHO WORKED FOR THE BUENOS AIRES MAGAZINE NOTICIAS. HE WAS SLAIN IN LATE JANUARY, SHOT IN THE HEAD, THEN BURNED INSIDE HIS TORCHED CAR. SAYS THE TIMES:

VOICE: "EVER SINCE THE DAY OF [MR.] CABEZAS' MURDER, THOUSANDS OF ARGENTINES HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS DEMANDING TO KNOW WHO KILLED HIM AND WHY. THEY DESERVE AN ANSWER, FOR THIS IS THE SORT OF VIOLENCE THAT BRINGS BACK FRIGHTENING MEMORIES FOR A PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF OFFICIAL TERROR KNOWN AS THE DIRTY WAR FROM 1976 TO 1983." [END OPT]

TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENTARY, WE END THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS OPINION FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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12-Mar-97 11:34 AM EST (1634 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A BOSNIAN SERB SURVIVOR OF A PRISON CAMP HAS TOLD THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ABOUT THE BEATINGS HE RECEIVED AT THE CAMP. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS THE MAN WAS TESTIFYING IN THE TRIAL OF THREE MUSLIMS AND A CROAT WHO ARE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST SERBS AT THE CELEBICI PRISON CAMP IN CENTRAL BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE WITNESS, 63-YEAR-OLD MIRKO BABIC WEIGHED LESS THAN 40 KILOGRAMS WHEN HE LEFT THE CELEBICI CAMP. WHILE A PRISONER, HE LOST THREE TEETH. AND FIVE YEARS LATER, HIS BODY STILL IS SCARRED.

MR. BABIC KEPT HIS HEAD BOWED THROUGH MUCH OF HIS TESTIMONY -- NOT LOOKING AT THE FOUR ACCUSED MEN SITTING IN THE DOCK. ONLY TWO OF THEM -- DEPUTY CAMP COMMANDER HAZIM DELIC AND A PRISON GUARD, ESAD LANDZO -- ARE ACCUSED OF ACTUALLY COMMITTING THE WORST OF THE ATROCITIES.

MR. BABIC CLEARLY FOUND HIS STORY DIFFICULT TO TELL AND WAS ASKED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO SLOW DOWN. THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, HE TOLD THE COURT HE BEEN CALLED OUT OF A ROOM AT CELEBICI. HE SAID THE GUARD, ESAD LANDZO, THEN PUT A MASK OVER HIS EYES.

THEY BEAT ME. I WAS VIRTUALLY UNCONSCIOUS. THREE OF THEM BEAT ME. WHEN THEY TOOK THE MASK OFF, I SAW (CAMP COMMANDER) DELIC, ESAD LANDZO AND THIS THIRD MAN, AND I KNOW HAZIM DELIC BECAUSE HE WORKED WITH ME IN THE SAME COMPANY AND I BEGGED HAZIM, DON'T DO THIS. I BEGGED HIM TWO OR THREE TIMES. HE CURSED MY MOTHER.

HE SAID THE BEATING CONTINUED UNTIL HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THEN, JUST TWO DAYS LATER, HE SAID, PRISON GUARD ESAD LANDZO CAME TO THE ROOM AGAIN, KICKED HIM, AND CALLED HIM OUT ONCE MORE. IT WAS, HE REMEMBERED, A SUNNY DAY.

HE OPENED THIS BOTTLE AND POURED SOME STUFF ON MY RIGHT LEG AND I COULD SMELL THAT IT WAS PETROL AND THEN HE SET FIRE TO MY LEG. I SAW THE FLAMES. IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST LOST CONSIOUSNESS. THIS DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. WHAT HAPPENED LATER WITH MY LEG, SOME BLISTERS AND BURNS AND THERE WAS YELLOW LIQUID POURING FROM THAT LEG SO THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE PAIN WAS WORST, IN MY CHEST, MY HEAD, MY LEGS, MY BURNS. I COULDN'T STAND UP AN MORE.

THERE WAS SILENCE IN THE COURT AS MR. BABIC PULLED UP HIS TROUSER LEG TO SHOW THE SCAR.

HE ALSO TOLD ABOUT WHAT HE HAD SEEN HAPPEN TO OTHERS. WHEN (DEPUTY CAMP COMMANDER) HAZIM DELIC WAS IN THE CAMP, HE SAID, THE PRISONERS' HEARTS WOULD ALMOST BURST WITH FEAR.

MR. BABIC SAID THAT SOME TIME IN LATE JUNE 1992, AN ELDERLY MAN, SEPO GOTOVIC, WAS CALLED OUT BY DEPUTY CAMP COMMANDER DELIC, GUARD LANDZO, AND OTHERS. HE SAID HE HEARD WAILING AND THE SOUNDS OF BEATING. HE SAID THE MAN WAS THROWN BACK INTO THE ROOM ONLY TO BE TAKEN OUT AND BEATEN AGAIN.

THEN THEY THREW HIM BACK IN. HE HAD SOMETHING ON HIS FOREHEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A BADGE OR SOMETHING. THEY PUT SOMETHING ON HIS FOREHEAD AND SEPO GOTOVIC WAS DEAD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE OBJECT NAILED TO THE MAN'S FOREHEAD WAS A MUSLIM POLITICAL BADGE.

ALTHOUGH WHAT MR. BABIC HAD TO SAY CONCERNS ONLY TWO OF THE DEFENDENTS, PROSECUTORS HAVE TO PROVE THAT SUCH THINGS HAPPENED TO CONVICT THE OTHER TWO, THE CAMP COMMANDER AND A REGIONAL MILITARY COMMANDER. IN THOSE JOBS, PROSECUTORS SAY, THEY SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE ATROCITES. THE FACT THAT THESE THINGS HAPPENED, THEY SAY, AND NO ONE PREVENTED THEM MAKES ALL FOUR GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES. (SIGNED)
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12-Mar-97 12:52 PM EST (1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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