NBC "TODAY" REQUEST TO INTERVIEW CHARGE

UNCLASSIFIED ZAGREB 02856 SIPDIS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE FOR PA, HA, AND EUR FOR DELIVERY AT OOB, 12/31/92 E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: OPRC HR BK SUBJECT: NBC "TODAY" REQUEST TO INTERVIEW CHARGE ACTION REQUESTED ASAP DECEMBER 31. ¶1. NBC "TODAY" SHOW REPORTER/PRODUCER MURIEL RUBINE IS IN CROATIA PREPARING A PIECE ON ATROCITIES IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA, FOCUSSED HEAVILY ON THE WIDELY- PUBLICIZED REPORTS OF MASS RAPE. SHE HAS BEEN INTERVIEWING VICTIMS, WITNESSES, AND CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN ACTIVISTS ON THIS ISSUE. SHE HAS ASKED TO INTERVIEW THE CHARGE ON CAMERA TO OBTAIN TWO OR THREE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02856 311049Z 20-SECOND "BITES" FOR INCLUSION IN AN OVERALL 7-8-MINUTE PIECE. ¶2. HAVING DISCUSSED WITH RUBINE THE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED, CHARGE, WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S CONCURRENCE, IS WILLING TO DO THE INTERVIEW. IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH RUBINE, SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED THAT SHE IS IMPRESSED WITH THE USG'S AND THE DEPARTMENT'S RECORD ON THE ATROCITIES/WAR CRIMES ANGLE OF THE EX-YUGO TRAGEDY. SHE WOULD ASK THE CHARGE HOW ONE PERSONALLY ARRIVES AT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ALLEGATIONS OF MASS ATROCITIES AND RAPES ARE CREDIBLE AND ABOUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE ATROCITIES THUS FAR REPORTED APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATIC, AS OPPOSED TO THE RANDOM ACTS OF UNDISCIPLINED SOLDIERS AT WAR. AT CHARGE'S INSISTENCE, THE QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE FOCUSSED ON HIS PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE ATROCITY PHENOMENON, NOT/NOT ON LEGAL OPINIONS REGARDING WAR CRIMES, OR CURRENT, BROADER USG EX-YUGO POLICY. ¶3. RUBINE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE INTERVIEW IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS. THEREFORE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE CONCURRENCE ASAP DECEMBER 31. NEITZKE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN