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Voice of America, 99-05-01Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BELGRADE BOMBING (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)DATE=4/30/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248822 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THERE HAS BEEN NO INTERRUPTION IN NATO AIR STRIKES AIMED AT BELGRADE, WHERE A GROUP LED BY THE AMERICAN CLERGYMAN JESSE JACKSON IS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE RELEASE OF THREE CAPTURED U-S SERVICEMEN. YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS ALLOWED MR. JACKSON TO MEET WITH THE PRISONERS (FRIDAY), BUT THEY SAY THE THREE SOLDIERS WILL NOT BE RELEASED SOON. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM THE SERBIAN CAPITAL: TEXT: /// SFX: AIR-RAID SIRENS ///AS DARKNESS FALLS ON BELGRADE, RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR ANOTHER NIGHT OF AIR-RAID SIRENS AND BOMBING. THE SKY IS CLEAR, AND THE MOON FULL. THE PEOPLE OF BELGRADE KNOW THESE ARE PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR AIR STRIKES. WHAT WAS ONCE THE FEDERAL POLICE BUILDING IN OLD-TOWN BELGRADE IS NOW SMOLDERING WRECKAGE, AFTER AN INTENSIFIED NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. BOMBS ALSO HIT A FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING, AS WELL AS OTHER TARGETS IN THE CAPITAL. // OPT // ONE BOMB STRUCK A RESIDENTIAL AREA NEAR THE MILICA PAVLOVIC HIGH SCHOOL. BELGRADE SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED, BUT MANY SAY MILITARY PERSONNEL MAY BE STATIONED IN SOME OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS -- RATHER THAN IN MILITARY BARRACKS, WHICH COULD BE TARGETS. // END OPT // THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RESIDENTS RUMMAGE THROUGH THE WRECKAGE, SEARCHING FOR THE LOST PIECES OF THEIR LIVES. /// ACT OF MAN SPEAKING IN SERBIAN -- IN AND UNDER ///THIS MAN SAYS HE WAS HELPING TO DIG A FRIEND AND HIS PREGNANT WIFE OUT OF THEIR DEMOLISHED HOUSE, NEXT TO A BOMB CRATER, WHEN ANOTHER MISSILE FLEW OVERHEAD AND LANDED DOWN THE STREET. HE WAS HIT IN THE STOMACH BY DEBRIS, BUT MANAGED TO SAVE HIS FRIENDS, AND HELP OTHERS IN AN ADJACENT YARD. HE SAYS, WHILE SIFTING THROUGH THE RUBBLE, HIS SON FOUND A PIECE OF METAL WITH "U-S-A" PRINTED ON IT. THIS WOMAN SPENT THE NIGHT WITH HER FAMILY IN A SHELTER, BUT ADDS HER BROTHER IS STILL IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION PROPELLED HIM THROUGH A WINDOW. SHE SAYS THE MISSILE FELL BEHIND THE HOUSE, AND THEN EVERYTHING STARTED CRUMBLING AROUND THEM. // END OPT // THE REV. JESSE JACKSON AND HIS DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS TOURED THE SCENE FRIDAY AS PART OF THEIR MISSION TO WIN THE RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICAN SERVICEMEN. MR. JACKSON'S MEETING WITH THE THREE SERVICEMEN WAS CUT SHORT WHEN SIRENS ANNOUNCED ANOTHER POSSIBLE ROUND OF AIR STRIKES. MR. JACKSON SAYS THE PRISONERS ARE IN DANGER, BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING HOUSED IN A MILITARY INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD BE CHOSEN AS A NATO TARGET FOR BOMBS. HE ADDED THAT THE PRISONERS, WHO WERE DRESSED IN ARMY FATIGUES, APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, THOUGH ONE HAD A BRUISE ON HIS FOREHEAD. THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE GIVEN MR. JACKSON'S GROUP NO ASSURANCES THAT THE SERVICEMEN WILL BE GIVEN THEIR FREEDOM. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS RELEASING THE PRISONERS NOW IS "NOT ON THE AGENDA." STILL, MR. JACKSON SAYS HANDING OVER THE THREE MEN COULD BE WHAT HE CALLS "A CIRCUIT-BREAKER" -- A POSSIBLE WAY OUT OF A DEADLOCKED SITUATION [AN IMPASSE]. /// JACKSON ACT ///WE MUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BREAKING THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, AND GETTING SOME SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE ON THE WAY, WHERE WE CAN RESTORE SOME TRUST, DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNICATION. /// END ACT ///// OPT //MR. JACKSON'S GROUP IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SATURDAY. DESPITE THE PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK FOR THE PRISONERS' RELEASE, MR. JACKSON SAYS HE REMAINS HOPEFUL THAT HIS MISSION WILL SUCCEED.. /// REST OPT ///FRIDAY NIGHT THE DELEGATION IS STAYING IN A HOTEL NEXT TO A
BOMBED-OUT BUILDING, WONDERING -- LIKE THE REST OF BELGRADE --
WHEN AND WHERE THE NEXT NATO BOMBS WILL FALL IN THIS ANCIENT
EUROPEAN CAPITAL. (SIGNED)
[02] NATO / KOSOVO (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248828 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO SAYS ITS AIR STRIKES ON YUGOSLAVIA, IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, CONCENTRATED ON COMMUNICATIONS LINKS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: NATO SAYS ITS STRIKES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WENT FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S NERVOUS SYSTEM -- THE BRIDGES AND RADIO TRANSMISSION TOWERS THAT CONNECT BELGRADE WITH MILITARY FORCES IN KOSOVO. A NATO SPOKESMAN -- QUOTING MILITARY COMMANDER GENERAL WESLEY CLARK -- SAYS NATO PLANES HIT RADIO TRANSMISSION TOWERS IN SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THE SPOKESMAN ACKNOWLEDGES SOME OF THOSE TOWERS MAY BE USED FOR CIVILIAN BROADCASTING, BUT THEY WERE TARGETED TO INTERRUPT MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS. NATO SAYS SEVEN BRIDGES WERE ALSO DAMAGED BY NATO AIRCRAFT THAT
FLEW 600 MISSIONS FOR THE SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW. HOWEVER, THE
PLANNED ESCALATION OF NATO ATTACKS WAS REDUCED OVERNIGHT BECAUSE
OF LOW CLOUDS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA OF BELGRADE. STILL,
NATO SAYS IT DID ATTACK YUGOSLAV TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES IN
KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO PRISONERS RELEASED (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248838 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS IF YUGOSLAVIA HAS RELEASED THREE CAPTIVE AMERICANS, THAT IS GOOD NEWS, BUT HE SAYS NATO WILL NOT SLOW OR STOP ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN RESPONSE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: NEWS REPORTS SAY THAT THREE U-S ARMY SOLDIERS, CAPTURED NEAR THE BORDER BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, WILL BE HANDED OVER TO AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON. REVEREND JACKSON HAS BEEN ON A VISIT TO BELGRADE TRYING TO WIN THE PRISONERS' RELEASE. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE U-S MILITARY WOULD WELCOME THE NEWS. /// BACON ACT ///WE ALWAYS FELT THESE THREE PRISONERS OF WAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN HELD. /// END ACT ////// BACON ACT ///NATO IS NOW HOLDING TWO. /// END ACT ///A YOUNG SERB PLATOON LEADER WAS TURNED OVER TO THE ALBANIAN
GOVERNMENT, AND THEN TO U-S FORCES TWO WEEKS AGO. MR. BACON
WOULD PROVIDE NO DETAILS ABOUT THE NEW CAPTIVE, NOR WOULD HE
COMMENT ABOUT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCHANGING PRISONERS.
(SIGNED)
[04] JACKSON / PRISONERS RELEASED (L) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248840 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA HAS AGREED TO RELEASE THE THREE AMERICAN P-O-W'S TO THE U-S CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON. THE DECISION TO RELEASE THE SOLDIERS CAME AFTER A PERSONAL APPEAL BY THE REVEREND JACKSON TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODON MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE. MR. JACKSON HAD TRAVELED FRIDAY TO YUGOSLAVIA WITH A DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO TRY TO WIN THE MEN'S FREEDOM. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM BELGRADE. TEXT: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAID NATO'S CONTINUING BOMBING CAMPAIGN MADE IT DIFFICULT TO RELEASE THE AMERICAN P-O-W'S. DURING A THREE-HOUR MEETING WITH THE REVEREND JACKSON AT THE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE, MR. MILOSEVIC SAID 25 YUGOSLAV CIVILIANS HAD BEEN KILLED IN AIR RAIDS DURING THE PAST TWO DAYS. BUT LATE SATURDAY, THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT SUDDENLY ANNOUNCED THAT MR. JACKSON COULD LEAVE BELGRADE SUNDAY WITH THE THREE CAPTIVES. BELGRADE OFFICIALS PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN COOL TO THE REQUEST, SAYING THAT THE AMERICAN DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS SHOULD USE THEIR MORAL INFLUENCE TO STOP NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN. BUT THE REVEREND JACKSON PERSISTED, ARGUING THE THREE P-O-W'S SHOULD NOT BE USED AS PAWNS IN THE WAR. RATHER, HE SAID, THEY COULD BE USED TO HELP BREAK THE DIPLOMATIC IMPASSE BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND NATO. /// JACKSON ACT ///IF THE BOMBING IS A MEANS TO AN END AND NOT AN END IN ITSELF, THEN LET THIS DIPLOMATIC GESTURE MOVE US TOWARD RESOLUTION, RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION. /// END ACT//NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN HAS INTENSIFIED IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, WITH MORE THAN 600 SORTIES FLOWN EACH DAY. IN THE EARLY HOURS SATURDAY MORNING, BELGRADE WAS QUIET EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF FLYOVERS. BUT SEVERAL BOMBS HIT TARGETS OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL, INCLUDING ONE IN A SUBURB NEAR BELGRADE. NATO SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS INTENSIFIED AIR CAMPAIGN FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO AGREE TO STOP AGGRESSION (AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS) IN KOSOVO, REPATRIATE THE REFUGEES AND ALLOW INTERNATIONAL PEACKKEEPERS IN THE REGION. MR. JACKSON SAYS THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN -- ALONG WITH DIVISIONS WITHIN THE U-S CONGRESS ON THE NATO MILITARY OPERATIONS -- HAS HAD AN EFFECT (ON THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT). // 2ND JACKSON ACT //THE INTENSE BOMBING TWO NIGHTS AGO, ON THE ONE HAND, INDICATES A SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT IT (ENDING THE CONFLICT). THE SPLIT IN CONGRESS SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING. CLEARLY, THAT IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, BUT IT'S A POSSIBILITY FOR DIPLOMACY. AND REALLY, OF ALL THE BRIDGES BLOWN UP, THE WORST ONE HAS BEEN THE BRIDGE OF COMMUNICATION, TRUST AND DIPLOMACY. THAT BRIDGE MUST BE RECONSTRUCTED, IN FACT, BEFORE WE CAN MOVE TOWARD RECONCILIATION AND PHYSICAL RECONSTRUCTION. // END ACT //THE REVEREND JACKSON SAYS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE. HE SAYS HE WILL BE RETURNING TO WASHINGTON WITH A LETTER WRITTEN BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC FOR PRESIDENT CLINTION ON THE MAJOR POINTS OF CONTENTION BETWEEN NATO AND THE SERB LEADERSHIP. THE REVEREND JACKSON IS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE WITH THE FREED AMERICAN SOLDIERS FOR CROATIA SUNDAY MORNING, WHERE THEY WILL MEET U-S OFFICCIALS. FROM THERE, THEY WILL FLY TO AN AMERICAN MILITARY BASE AND THEN TO THE UNITED STATES. THE THREE MEN (-- WHO WERE CAPTURED ON THE MACEDONIA-KOSOVO BORDER A MONTH AGO --) ARE REPORTED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, THOUGH ONE HAD SUFFERED SEVERAL BRUISES. DELEGATION MEMBERS WHO MET WITH THE SOLDIERS SAY THEY APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD SPIRITS. MR. JACKSON SAYS THE THREE SERVICEMEN ARE AT AN UNDISCLOSED
MILITARY INSTALLATION. HE CALLED ON NATO TO HALT BOMBING PRIOR
TO THEIR RELEASE TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE HARM TO THE SOLDIERS.
(SIGNED)
[05] ALBANIA/TENSION (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248833 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: INTERNATIONAL MONITORS SAID TENSION WAS GROWING SATURDAY ALONG THE ALBANIA-YUGOSLAV BORDER. TIM BELAY IN TIRANA SAID THEY HAVE COME UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE, AND CONCERN IS GROWING. TEXT: THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, OR O-S-C-E, SAYS ITS MONITORS WENT TO THE ALBANIAN BORDER AREA CALLED QAFE PRUSH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THEY SOON FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ARTILLERY SHELLING FROM THE YUGOSLAV SIDE. WHILE SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS, OFFICIALS FEEL THERE IS NOW NEW CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE O-S-C-E TRACES THE TROUBLE BACK TO THURSDAY, WHEN THE BORDER POST OF QAFE PRUSH WAS DESTROYED, AND A POST ON THE YUGOSLAV SIDE WAS DESTROYED IN APPARENT RETALIATION. O-S-C-E SPOKESMAN ANDREA ANGELI, IN THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL OF TIRANA, SAYS THE PROBLEM IS THE ONGOING NATURE OF THE SHELLING. /// ANGELI ACT ///IT'S MORE TENSE THAN BEFORE WHEN THERE USED TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, BUT IT SEEMS NOW WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE CONTINUOUS DAYS OF FIGHTING IN THAT AREA. /// END ANGELI ACT ///MR. ANGELI SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES DESPITE
THE THREE DAYS OF ARTILLERY FIRE AT THE BORDER. (SIGNED)
[06] KOSOVO CRISIS / L-O BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248831 CONTENT= VOICED AT: // CORR. 2-248827, CHANGING PRONOUN IN FIRST GRAPH OF TEXT //INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, IS APPEALING TO NON-EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO TAKE KOSOVO REFUGEES, AS THE CRISIS IN MACEDONIA WORSENS. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS OVERCROWDING IN MACEDONIAN REFUGEE CAMPS HAS REACHED CRITICAL PROPORTIONS. TEXT: U-N REFUGEE CHIEF SADAKO OGATA HAS WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. SHE IS ASKING THEM TO GO AHEAD WITH PLANS TO START EVACUATING KOSOVO REFUGEES FROM CAMPS IN MACEDONIA, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE THREE COUNTRIES HAVE PLEDGED TO TAKE A TOTAL OF 35 THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES. BUT, THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY PUT THOSE EVACUATIONS ON HOLD. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS THE AGENCY PREFERRED TO SEND THE REFUGEES TO NEARBY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. HOWEVER, HE SAYS THE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN MACEDONIA HAVE FORCED THE AGENCY TO CHANGE ITS STANCE. ///JANOWSKI ACTUALITY///EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THE SITUATION IN MACEDONIA, OF THE EXPLOSIVE CHARACTER IN MACEDONIA --- EXPLOSIVE IN POLITICAL TERMS AND ALSO EXPLOSIVE IN HUMANITARIAN TERMS. THIS IS THE KIND OF DRAMATIC SITUATION WHERE DRAMATIC, RADICAL RESPONSE IS NEEDED. ///END ACTUALITY///MR. JANOWSKI SAYS 83 HUNDRED KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARRIVED IN MACEDONIA FRIDAY -- THE LARGEST NUMBER IN WEEKS. HE SAYS THE CAMPS ARE HOPELESSLY OVERCROWDED; THE WEATHER IS EXTREMELY HOT; AND THERE IS A GROWING DANGER OF EPIDEMICS. WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE OFFERED TO TAKE SOME 85 THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES. BUT, EVACUATIONS TO THESE COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN VERY SLOW. THEREFORE, HIGH COMMISSIONER OGATA HAS URGED THESE NATIONS TO SPEED UP THE EVACUATIONS. ONLY 25 THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE BEEN FLOWN OUT OF MACEDONIA SINCE THE HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT STARTED, APRIL FIFTH. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS GOVERNMENTS ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME CHOOSING THE REFUGEES THEY WANT TO LET INTO THEIR COUNTRIES. ///JANOWSKI ACTUALITY///THIS IS ALL BASICALLY, IN A WAY, UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT, IN A WAY IT'S A VERY URGENT EMERGENCY SITUATION. THIS IS NOT AN IMMIGRATION PROCEDURE. THIS IS BASICALLY TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT OF MACEDONIA TO EASE SOME OF THE TENSION IN MACEDONIA AND TO ENSURE BASICALLY THAT MACEDONIA KEEPS THE BORDER OPEN AND ALLOWS MORE SPACE TO BUILD REFUGEE CAMPS. OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NIGHTMARE THERE. WE'RE ALREADY CLOSE TO A NIGHTMARE. ///END ACTUALITY///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES WELL OVER 165 THOUSAND KOSOVAR
REFUGEES HAVE CROSSED INTO MACEDONIA AND MORE THAN 360 THOUSAND
HAVE FLED TO ALBANIA SINCE MARCH 24TH, WHEN NATO BEGAN ITS
BOMBING CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
NEB / LS / DWJ-T / WD
[07] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MORINA, ALBANIA)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248842 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS SAY A FRESH WAVE OF KOSOVO REFUGEES IS POURING INTO ALBANIA AT THE RATE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PER HOUR. NEARLY 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE REACHED THE BORDER CHECKPOINT AT MORINA IN THE PAST 48 HOURS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM THE KOSOVO-ALBANIAN FRONTIER, WHERE FRIGHTENED KOSOVARS ARE ARRIVING WITH TALES OF TERROR. TEXT: // SOUND OF TRACTORS ARRIVING AT CHECKPOING // THEY ARE SWARMING ACROSS THE BORDER BY THE WAGONLOAD, OR IN CROWDED CARS STRIPPED OF THEIR LICENSE PLATES -- OR IN MANY CASES, ON FOOT. OFFICIALS SAY THE PAST TWO DAYS HAVE SEEN THE BIGGEST FLOOD OF REFUGEES INTO ALBANIA SINCE SHORTLY AFTER NATO AIRSTRIKES BEGAN IN MARCH. TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD HILMIE HAXHIJAHA (PRONOUNCED: ILMIYA HAJIAHA) SAYS SERB PARAMILITARY FORCES CAME TO HER FAMILY'S HOME IN THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF PRIZREN SATURDAY AND TOLD THEM ALL TO GET OUT. ///HAXHIJAHA ACT///THEY SAID, 'WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE TOWN FOR TWO DAYS, ALL ALBANIAN POPULATION.' ///END ACT///UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY COORDINATOR STEFAN DE MISTURA, STANDING AT THE MORINA CHECKPOINT, SAYS THE EXODUS FROM PRIZREN, 25 KILOMETERS FROM THE BORDER, INDICATES THAT SERB FORCES AS SWITCHING THEIR FOCUS FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE TO KOSOVO'S CITIES. ///DE MISTURA ACT///WE HAVE A NEW EVENT HERE. IT'S NOT CLEANING UP ROADS OR COUNTRYSIDE OR RURAL HOUSES. THIS IS CLEANING UP PRIZREN. PRIZREN IS A CITY. ///END ACT///WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SPOKESWOMAN ANGELA WALKER IS AMONG THOSE GREETING THE NEW ARRIVALS AT THE MORINA CHECKPOINT WITH FRESH FRUIT, DRINKS AND OTHER QUICK-ENERGY FOODS. THE REFUGEES ARE THEN DIRECTED TO CAMPS IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF KUKES, A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY. MS. WALKER SAYS A FLEET OF NATO TRUCKS WAS CALLED INTO SERVICE TO BRING UP EXTRA FOOD SUPPLIES WHEN NEWS BROKE THAT PRIZREN WAS BEING EMPTIED. ///WALKER ACT///WE SOLICITED NATO TO HELP GET US OUR FOOD HERE QUICKLY. BECAUSE WE WERE PREPARED FOR THIS INFLUX. EVERYTHING WE HEARD THIS WEEK SAID PEOPLE WERE BEING THROWN OUT OF PRIZREN. SO NATO BROUGHT UP 16 TRUCKS CARRYING 100 TONS OF FOOD, AND OUR OWN TRUCKS BROUGHT UP 112 TONS IN ADDITION TO THAT. SO THAT WAY, WE DO HAVE TWO DAYS LEEWAY (IN FOOD SUPPLIES). ///END ACT///MS. WALKER SAYS THE POSITIVE THING ABOUT THIS LATEST WAVE OF
REFUGEES IS THAT THEY SEEM IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE. EARLIER
GROUPS HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR DAYS, SOMETIMES WEEKS. THEY OFTEN
SHOWED UP EXHAUSTED FROM THE JOURNEY. THE NEW ARRIVALS HAD BEEN
LIVING IN THEIR HOMES ONLY HOURS BEFORE SHOWING UP AT THE BORDER.
(SIGNED)
[08] LONDON BOMBING (L/S VER) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=5/1/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248832 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POLICE IN LONDON SAY THEY'VE ARRESTED ONE MAN IN CONNECTION WITH A BOMBING ON FRIDAY THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 70 OTHERS AT A PUB TAVERN, POPULAR WITH HOMOSEXUAL MEN. THE ATTACK APPEARS TO BE THE LATEST IN A PATTERN OF BOMBINGS WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS ON VARIOUS MINORITY COMMUNITIES. MORE FROM V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH. TEXT: FRIDAY'S ATTACK CAME WITHOUT WARNING IN THE EARLY EVENING WHEN THE PUB -- LOCATED NEAR LONDON'S POPULAR PICCADILLY CIRCUS AREA -- WAS CROWDED WITH PATRONS. POLICE BELIEVE THE BOMB WAS DELIBERATELY TARGETED AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS. A NEO-NAZI WHITE SUPREMACY GROUP SAYS IT PLANTED THE BOMB, DESCRIBED BY LONDON POLICE INSPECTOR DAVID VENESS: ///VENESS ACT///THE BASIS IS OF SHOE-BOX (SMALL) SIZE. CONTAINED WITHIN THE SHOE BOX IS THE DETONATING CHARGE AND PACKED AROUND IT, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE SHOE-BOX-TYPE CARDBOARD CONTAINER, ARE THE NAILS AND OTHER METALLIC OBJECTS. ///END ACT///TWO OTHER NAIL BOMBS EXPLODED IN ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS OF LONDON THE PAST TWO SATURDAYS. POLICE WARN FURTHER ATTACKS ARE POSSIBLE. ///CUT HERE FOR SHORT////// SECOND VENESS ACT///WE RECOGNIZE THAT MINORITY COMMUNITIES WILL FEEL PARTICULAR CONCERNS AND WE ARE SEEKING TO FOCUS WITH EVEN HIGHER PROFILE ON THOSE PLACES, TIMES OF THE DAY, DAYS OF THE WEEK WHEN PEOPLE WILL FEEL PARTICULAR FEAR, APPREHENSION AND CONCERN. /// END ACT ///THE FIRST NAIL BOMB EXPLODED THREE SATURDAY'S AGO IN THE EARLY EVENING NEAR A MARKET IN LONDON'S BRIXTON NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS HOME TO A LARGE AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY. LAST SATURDAY, A SIMILAR BOMB EXPLODED IN LONDON'S EAST END COMMUNITY CALLED "BRICK LANE," WHICH IS HOME TO A LARGE BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY. NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THOSE ATTACKS. //REST OPT//POLICE BELIEVE ALL THREE EXPLOSIONS ARE RELATED AND WARN THE
BOMBERS COULD ATTACK AGAIN. LONDON'S GAY COMMUNITY WAS ON ALERT
AND A POPULAR GAY NEWSPAPER CARRIED THE WARNING AS A FRONT-PAGE
STORY -- ONLY ONE DAY BEFORE FRIDAY'S FATAL ATTACK. (SIGNED)
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