Voice of America, 99-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[02] TANK KILLERS UNLEASHED BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

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

[04] KOSOVO-PENTAGON (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[05] KOSOVO / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY COLIN LOVETT (WASHINGTON)

[06] KOSOVO REFUGEES: TREATING TRAUMA BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

[07] UNHCR-ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[08] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO ONITER (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[10] CHINA / YUGOSLAVIA (S) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

[11] CHINA/YUGOSLAVIA (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

[12] U-N / CHINA / YUGOSLAVIA (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[13] RUSSIA / POLITICS (S) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[14] RUSSIA / POLITICS (S / 2ND UPDATE) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[15] U-S / RUSSIA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[16] RUSSIA / U-S / KOSOVO (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[17] RUSSIA / U-S / KOSOVO (L-3RD UPDATE) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

[18] U-S / RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[19] NATO / FUTURE ROLE BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

[20] HARRIER PILOTS BY PETER HEINLEIN (ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE)

[21] BOSNIA AID DISARRAY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[22] SLOVAK ELECTION (L-ONLY) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

[23] NAZI SLAVE LABOR (L ONLY) BY ()

[24] TRANSITION AT TREASURY (CQ) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[25] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

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

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO IS INTO ITS 50TH DAY OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN AT NATO HEADQUARTERS REPORTS THE ALLIANCE OVERNIGHT LAUNCHED ITS HEAVIEST RAIDS SO FAR, ESPECIALLY AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB FORCES STATIONED IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.

TEXT: NATO HIT YUGOSLAVIA WITH 327 BOMBING MISSIONS OVERNIGHT -- THE MOST AIR STRIKES IN THE SEVEN WEEKS SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ALLIANCE ADMITS IT HAS NO CLEAR IDEA HOW LONG THE BOMBING MUST CONTINUE TO FORCE YUGOSLAVIA TO AGREE TO NATO'S FIVE CONDITIONS FOR PEACE.

ONE OF THOSE CONDITIONS IS FOR SERBIAN FORCES TO WITHDRAW FROM KOSOVO. NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN WALTER JERTZ SAYS EVEN THE PARTIAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL ANNOUNCED BY YUGOSLAVIA ON MONDAY HAS NOT BEEN SEEN.

AT NO TIME DURING OUR LAST 24 HOUR OPERATIONS, DID WE DETECT ANY INDICATION THAT SERB FORCES WERE MOVING OUT OF KOSOVO.

AS A RESULT, NATO ATTACKED SERBIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO REPEATEDLY WITH ALLIANCE AIRCRAFT -- HITTING TANKS, ARTILLERY PIECES, MILITARY TRUCKS AND TROOPS. NATO SAYS IT BOMBED FIVE AIRFIELDS, SIX ROAD BRIDGES, AND TWO RAIL BRIDGES, AND DESTROYED FIVE MIG-21 AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND IN A SERIES OF ATTACKS THAT COVERED ALL OF SERBIA. NATO ALSO SAYS IT BOMBED TRUCKS THAT HAD BEEN HIDDEN IN DISGUISED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS.

STILL NATO FACES THE REALITY THAT EVEN WHAT IT CALLS, ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL DAY OF THE AIR STRIKES HAS NOT FORCED YUGOSLAVIA TO GIVE IN. SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS NATO IS DETERMINED TO PRESS THE BOMBING AS LONG AS NECESSARY.

WE SAID RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN WE STARTED THIS AIR CAMPAIGN THAT IT WOULD NOT BE AN OVERNIGHT WONDER. THIS IS NOT INSTANT COFFEE. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE UP AGAINST A VERY CYNICAL PERSON, A VERY STRONG MILITARY MACHINE WELL DUG-IN (ENTRENCHED) IN KOSOVO, AND A VERY GREAT ARRAY OF FORCES, PARAMILITARIES, MILITARY POLICE AND SO ON.

[02] TANK KILLERS UNLEASHED BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: PENTAGON SOURCES SAY THE U-S ARMY'S SPECIAL TANK-KILLING "APACHE" HELICOPTERS ARE READY FOR ACTION IN KOSOVO. IT HAS TAKEN WEEKS TO DEPLOY THE TWO DOZEN AIRCRAFT, AND TWO OF THEM HAVE CRASHED IN TRAINING ACCIDENTS. AS V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, THE "APACHES" ARE CONSIDERED BOTH DEADLY -- AND VULNERABLE -- ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

TEXT:

THE BROWNISH-GREEN HELICOPTER LOOKS LIKE A DRAGONFLY AS IT DUCKS BEHIND TREES AND HIDES BEHIND HILLS, BEFORE RUSHING OFF IN DARKNESS AT NEARLY 200 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.

APACHES OFTEN STARTLE OBSERVERS ON THE GROUND, APPEARING ABRUPTLY, JUST ABOVE THE TREETOPS, BRISTLING WITH MISSILES, ROCKET PODS, A CANNON AND SENSORS. THE CREW CAN USE SPECIAL (INFRARED) RADAR AND OTHER SYSTEMS TO SEE IN THE DARK, AND A TELEVISION CAMERA WITH A POWERFUL LENS TO FIND TARGETS UP TO EIGHT KILOMETERS AWAY.

FROM THE GUNNER'S SEAT OF AN APACHE, THE WORLD RUSHES BY FAST AND CLOSE, JUST 30 METERS BELOW YOUR FEET. THE GUNSHIP FLIES LOW, SO THE TWO-PERSON CREW CAN FIND AND KILL TANKS HIDDEN FROM JET PLANES.

ARMY CAPTAIN MIKE HILL HAS BEEN AN APACHE GUNNER FOR FIVE YEARS. HE SAYS FLYING LOW IS THE KEY TO MAKING THE HELICOPTER EFFECTIVE, BUT THAT ALSO MAKES IT VULNERABLE TO GROUND TROOPS ARMED WITH RIFLES OR PORTABLE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.

THE APACHE IS ARMED WITH LASER-GUIDED MISSILES TO DESTROY TANKS, DOZENS OF ROCKETS FOR OTHER TARGETS AND A CANNON THAT FIRES 30-MILLIMETER PROJECTILES.

THE CANNON IS ELECTRONICALLY LINKED TO A CREWMAN'S HELMET, SO WHEN THE PILOT'S EYE SEES A TARGET, THE CANNON IS AUTOMATICALLY POINTING AT IT.

COLONEL MIKE HACKERSON ONCE COMMANDED A BATTALION OF 24 APACHES THE SAME SIZE UNIT NOW DEPLOYED IN ALBANIA. RECALLING THAT THE U-S ARMY DEVELOPED THE HELICOPTER TO COUNTER OVERWHELMING MASSES OF SOVIET TANKS IN THE PLAINS OF EUROPE, COLONEL HACKERSON SAYS YUGOSLAV FORCES USE THE SAME SOVIET-BUILT EQUIPMENT AND TACTICS. IF SERB TROOPS ENCOUNTER THE APACHES, HE SAYS, THEY WILL REGRET IT:

THEY ARE ALL DEAD AND WE ARE OUT OF AMMUNITION.

TWO APACHES HAVE ALREADY CRASHED IN TRAINING ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY GOT NEAR THE BATTLE IN KOSOVO. BOTH INCIDENTS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION BUT A PENTAGON SOURCE SAYS ONE ACCIDENT WAS PROBABLY PILOT ERROR. THE OTHER MAY HAVE BEEN A MECHANICAL FAILURE. (SIGNED)
12-May-99 5:25 PM EDT (2125 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: TURKEY SAYS IT HAS AGREED TO PERMIT NATO TO USE BASES ON ITS TERRITORY TO MOUNT ATTACKS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID IN A STATEMENT, CARRIED BY THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY ON WEDNESDAY, THAT NATO MILITARY OFFICIALS HAD SOUGHT ANKARA'S AUTHORIZATION TO USE ONE OF ITS BASES TO HELP IN CARRYING OUT AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHICH TURKISH BASES WILL BE USED FOR THE ATTACKS. THERE ARE WIDESPREAD REPORTS THAT A BASE IN CORLU IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF TURKEY BORDERING GREECE AND BULGARIA WILL BE USED BY NATO.

ACCORDING TO TURKISH PRESS REPORTS THE ALLIANCE WILL LIKELY DEPLOY AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF F-16 AND F-15 FIGHTER JETS AS WELL AS TRANSPORT AND TANKER PLANES AT THE TURKISH BASE.

TURKEY IS NATO'S ONLY MUSLIM MEMBER AND HAS STRONG HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TIES WITH THE BALKAN STATES DATING BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. TURKISH SULTANS RULED OVER THE STATES MAKING UP THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA FOR FIVE CENTURIES.

THERE IS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA TO WHICH TURKEY HAS CONTRIBUTED FIGHTER JETS AND PILOTS. TURKEY HAS ALSO PLEDGED TO TAKE IN UP TO 40-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES. AN ESTIMATED TEN THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED FROM KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PLM/KL
12-May-99 12:33 PM EDT (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO-PENTAGON (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS MEMBERS OF THE SERBIAN ELITE ARE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF YUGOSLAVIA, AS THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN ENTERS ITS EIGHTH WEEK. MR. COHEN SAYS THE DEPARTURE OF THESE FAMILIES IS A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: SECRETARY COHEN SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS FOR WEEKS THAT TOP YUGOSLAV LEADERS HAVE BEEN MOVING THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROBABLY THEIR ASSETS, OUT OF THE COUNTRY. HE SAYS THE WIVES AND CHILDREN OF TOP MILITARY OFFICERS ARE NOW JOINING THE EXODUS.

MILOSEVIC MAY NOT ADMIT THAT HE IS TAKING HIS COUNTRY DOWN THE ROAD TO RUIN, POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND MILITARILY, BUT HIS TOP LEADERSHIP IS APPARENTLY MORE REALISTIC.

MR. COHEN SAYS NATO'S LATEST RAIDS WERE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THE WAR, WITH HALF OF THE BOMBS FALLING ON SERB FORCES IN THE FIELD IN KOSOVO.

AMERICA'S TOP GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS THE 40-THOUSAND SERB TROOPS AND POLICE WHO HAVE BEEN ATTACKING ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO ARE NOW TAKING SERIOUS LOSSES.

NEARLY A QUARTER OF HIS [THE SERBS'] ARMORED VEHICLES -- THAT IS, TANKS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS -- HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND ROUGHLY 40 PERCENT OF THE SERB ARTILLERY IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT.

GENERAL SHELTON SAYS AIR ATTACKS HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT YUGOSLAVIA'S AIR DEFENSES, DESTROYING OR DAMAGING HALF OF ITS SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE RADARS. HE SAYS MOST OF YUGOSLAVIA'S AIRCRAFT REPAIR FACILITIES ARE GONE, ALONG WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THE FACTORIES NEEDED TO PRODUCE AMMUNITION.

THE UPBEAT PENTAGON REPORT COMES AT A TIME WHEN SOME IN CONGRESS ARE QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR THE WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, WHILE OTHER MEMBERS ARE ACCUSING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OF CHOOSING AN INEFFECTIVE STRATEGY. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/PHW/WTW
12-May-99 7:10 PM EDT (2310 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY) BY COLIN LOVETT (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV HUMAN-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN TELLING MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ABOUT CONDITIONS IN KOSOVO, WHERE PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S FORCES ARE ACCUSED OF A CAMPAIGN OF ATROCITIES AIMED AT THE PROVINCE'S ETHNIC-ALBANIAN MAJORITY. THEY ALSO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SERBIAN PRESSURE ON MONTENEGRO, BELGRADE'S SMALLER AND WEAKER PARTNER IN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. THE HUMAN-RIGHTS WORKERS APPEARED (WEDNESDAY) BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S COLIN LOVETT HAS MORE.

TEXT: PARTICIPANTS AT THE CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING SAID THEY BLAME YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR THE CURRENT ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED IN KOSOVO, INCLUDING ALLEGED RAPES AND MURDERS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

GAZMEND PULA, A MEMBER OF THE KOSOVO HELSINKI COMMITTEE, SAID ABOUT HALF OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN HIS HOMELAND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES, WHILE THE OTHER HALF ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE. HE SPECULATED THE SERB-LED MILITARY MAY USE THEM AS HUMAN SHIELDS AGAINST NATO ATTACKS.

WE ARE SPEAKING AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I BELIEVE, ABOUT A CARNAGE, A CATASTROPHE OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.

HE SAID THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE CAN NOT ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO, NATO SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THE CURRENT TRAGEDY.

THIS SCALE OF CATASTROPHE, WHICH EXPLODED AFTER THE NATO AIR STRIKES, IS SIMPLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE. IT IS SIMPLY SOMETHING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE. AND IT IS SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT IN MIND AS A POSSIBILITY.

MANY OBSERVERS HAVE TRACED THE ROOTS OF THE CURRENT CONFLICT TO THE LOSS OF KOSOVAR AUTONOMY NEARLY A DECADE AGO [-- WHEN MR. MILOSEVIC STRIPPED KOSOVO OF ITS AUTONOMOUS STATUS]. SLOBODAN FRANOVIC, A HUMAN-RIGHTS ACTIVIST FROM THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO, SAID MR. MILOSEVIC IS NOW STAGING WHAT HE CALLED A STEP-BY-STEP COUP D'ETAT IN HIS HOMELAND.

MR. FRANOVIC SAYS BELGRADE IS PUTTING EXTREME POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY PRESSURE ON MONTENEGRO, WHICH IS SERBIA'S PARTNER IN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. AFTER THE CURRENT ROUND OF HOSTILITIES FINALLY ENDS, MR. FRANOVIC SAYS A CONFERENCE SHOULD BE HELD TO DRAW UP A PLAN TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE DICTATOR FROM ACQUIRING THE POWER THAT MR. MILOSEVIC HAS AMASSED.

THE MONTENEGRIN HUMAN-RIGHTS WORKERS SAYS THAT AFTER YEARS OF CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS, THE REGION NEEDS A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT -- SOMETHING LIKE THE MARSHALL PLAN, IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES HELPED TO REBUILD EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. (SIGNED)
NEB/CBL/WTW
12-May-99 7:41 PM EDT (2341 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO REFUGEES: TREATING TRAUMA BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)

INTRO: AS KOSOVO REFUGEES IN THE NEW YORK AREA SETTLE INTO TEMPORARY QUARTERS, TRAUMA EXPERTS ARE PREPARING TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: TRAUMA EXPERTS SAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO SETTLE AS MANY KOSOVAR REFUGEES AS POSSIBLE WITH ALBANIAN-SPEAKING FAMILIES AND ESTABLISH SOME PREDICTABILITY IN THEIR LIVES. NEXT, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST JACK SAUL SAYS, TRAUMA EXPERTS WILL NEED TO FOCUS ON THE REFUGEES SHOWING THE GREATEST STRESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FIRST IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE REASSURED THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING CRAZY, THAT SOME OF THE REACTIONS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SUCH AS HEADACHES AND NIGHTMARES AND DIFFICULTIES SLEEPING -- THAT THESE ARE NORMAL REACTIONS TO AN ABNORMAL SITUATION.

PROFESSOR SAUL SAYS IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO GET THE REFUGEE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN SCHOOL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. TO HELP THE CHILDREN, HE SAYS, TRAUMA EXPERTS HAVE TO ALSO HELP THE PARENTS.

MANY OF THE WOMEN HAVE LOST THEIR HUSBANDS OR HAVE HUSBANDS THEY CANNOT FIND AND THAT PLACES TREMENDOUS STRESS ON THE PARENT. AND THAT PARENT NEED SUPPORT BECAUSE THAT IS THE PRIMARY CARETAKER OF THAT CHILD. SO THAT IS THE FIRST THING WE WOULD LOOK AT WITH CHILDREN. THEN I THINK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILD IS NOT HAVING ANY MAJOR REACTIONS THAT WOULD BE OF CONCERN LIKE VERY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OR SUICIDAL FEELINGS.

PROFESSOR SAUL HEADS THE PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA STUDIES AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S MEDICAL SCHOOL. HE DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM WITH DANISH PSYCHIATRIST SOEREN BUUS JENSEN (SOREN BOOS YEN SIN), BASED ON DOCTOR JENSEN'S EXPERIENCE WORKING IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA AS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. PROFESSOR SAUL SAYS THE PROGRAM WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE BEING TRAINED WERE ALSO VICTIMS IN THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT.

A LARGE COMPONENT OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM IN TRAUMA HAD TO DO WITH GIVING SUPPORT FOR THE HEALERS AND HAVING THEM DEAL WITH THEIR OWN REACTIONS TO LIVING UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS. DURING THE WAR (IN BOSNIA), THE PROGRAM BROUGHT PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS FROM THE OPPOSING SIDES AND BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER UNDER U-N PROTECTION. THEY HAD THEIR TRAINING TOGETHER EVERY MONTH AND THEN WENT BACK TO HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS.

PROFESSOR SAUL SAYS SIMILAR PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED IN MONTENEGRO, CROATIA AND MACEDONIA.

THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PROGRAM IN TRAUMA STUDIES IS NOT LIMITED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. INSTEAD, IT IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN ANYONE WORKING WITH TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE -- IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, HOUSING SPECIALISTS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, EVEN ART THERAPISTS.

PROFESSOR SAUL SAYS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THEATER IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH WHAT HE CALLS THE "CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE" MANY VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BUILD AROUND THEMSELVES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THROUGH OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM IS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED A THEATER GROUP THAT MEETS WITH SURVIVORS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND WORKS ON COLLABORATIVE THEATER PROJECTS THAT WILL BE PERFORMED IN COMMUNITIES SO THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT IT IS OKAY TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND THAT KIND OF OUTREACH SEEMS TO WORK VERY WELL WITH SOME OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST JACK SAUL SAYS HE HOPES THE ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO THE KOSOVO REFUGEES WILL MAKE AMERICANS MORE AWARE OF REFUGEES AND PEOPLE SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. TOO OFTEN, PROFESSOR SAUL SAYS, THE FIELD OF TRAUMA STUDIES REAPPEARS RIGHT AFTER A WAR BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT ON WAR VICTIMS. THEN, HE SAYS, IT IS FORGOTTEN AGAIN. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BJS/LSF/PT

EDITORS NOTE: TRAUMA PROGRAM CAN BE CONTACTED AT:

WWW.NYU.EDU/TRAUMA.STUDIES E-MAIL: [email protected]
12-May-99 6:00 PM EDT (2200 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] UNHCR-ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: NEXT MONDAY, THE UNITED NATIONS WILL BEGIN REGISTERING AND ISSUING IDENTITY DOCUMENTS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED TO ALBANIA. THE UNITED NATIONS WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANIES PROVIDING FREE TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW TO ASSIST IN THE MASSIVE PROJECT. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA HAS THE DETAILS.

TEXT: MORE THAN 400-THOUSAND KOSOVARS HAVE FLED TO ALBANIA OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS. MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL IDENTIFICATION. MANY HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS UNDER THE NEW REGISTERING SYSTEM, VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHO THE REFUGEES ARE AND WHERE THEY COME FROM WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DATABASE. THIS WILL HELP AID AGENCIES DISTRIBUTE RELIEF SUPPLIES, PLAN LONG-TERM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND HELP REUNITE SEPARATED FAMILIES.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN JUDITH KUMIN SAYS THIS REGISTRATION PROCESS WILL ALSO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO HELP PEOPLE RETURN HOME -- WHEN THAT BECOMES POSSIBLE. SHE SAYS SERB AUTHORITIES HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY STRIPPED THE KOSOVARS OF THEIR IDENTITY DOCUMENTS TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RETURN HOME.

THIS SYSTEMATIC STRIPPING OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS ... POSES A BIG CHALLENGE FOR RETURN, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT THEY CAME FROM KOSOVO. WE WILL NEED TO KNOW WHO CAME FROM WHERE. AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THIS IS TO GET THIS REGISTRATION DONE NOW AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NEXT MONDAY, THE U-N WILL START REGISTERING HEADS OF FAMILIES TO OBTAIN BASIC INFORMATION, SUCH AS WHERE THEY ARE STAYING AND HOW MANY ARE IN THEIR FAMILIES? IN EARLY JUNE, THE UNITED NATIONS WILL CONDUCT DETAILED FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS WITH EVERY REFUGEE. THAT INFORMATION WILL BE PUT INTO A CENTRAL DATABASE. EACH PERSON WILL BE GIVEN A PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. //OPT// BUT MS. KUMIN WARNS THAT FRAUD COULD POSE A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

WE ARE ASKING BOTH LOCAL AUTHORITIES FROM ALBANIA AND REFUGEE ELDERS TO JOIN EACH OF THE REGISTRATION TEAMS. THEY WILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE DIALECTS SPOKEN BY THE PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SOME CONFIRMATION THAT THOSE CLAIMING TO BE KOSOVARS ARE, INDEED, KOSOVARS.

THE UNITED NATIONS PLANS TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF LOCAL STUDENTS WHO WILL FAN OUT THROUGHOUT ALBANIA TO DO THE REGISTRATIONS. AT SOME LATER DATE, THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT WILL ORGANIZE A SIMILAR REGISTRATION PROCESS IN MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
12-May-99 8:34 AM EDT (1234 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ACCOUNTS OF ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO ARE POURING INTO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. CHIEF PROSECUTOR LOUISE ARBOUR SAYS THERE IS HARDLY A REFUGEE EMERGING FROM THE REGION WHO DOES NOT HAVE A HORROR STORY TO TELL. BUT HOW THESE MASSIVE CHARGES WILL BE HANDLED BY THE TRIBUNAL AND HOW MANY OFFENDERS WILL ULTIMATELY BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE REMAINS TO BE SEEN. THERE IS A BASIC DILEMMA: NATO MAY HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OF THE WAR WITH THE VERY PEOPLE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS A HEARING ON THE MATTER AT THE U-S CONGRESS.

TEXT: IN ITS SIX YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS INDICTED 84 INDIVIDUALS FOR WAR CRIMES. SIXTEEN TRIALS HAVE RESULTED IN FIVE CONVICTIONS AND ONE ACQUITTAL. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO CONFESSIONS. SOME INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS SAY PRECEDENTS HAVE BEEN SET THAT COULD DETER SIMILAR CRIMES IN THE FUTURE.

BUT AT A HEARING IN THE U-S CONGRESS (TUES. MAY 11), NINA BANG-JENSEN, SPECIAL COUNSEL AT THE COALITION FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, SAID THE TRIBUNAL HAS NOT LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE THE WORST OFFENDERS REMAIN AT LARGE. THE TRIBUNAL HAS NO POLICE FORCE TO APPREHEND THEM AND MUST RELY ON THE POLITICAL WILL OF NATO MEMBERS, WHICH SHE SAYS IS OFTEN LACKING.

BEYOND THAT, SHE NOTES THE TRIBUNAL HAS PROBLEMS OF ITS OWN:

THE PROCEDURES, PRACTICES AND REGRETTABLY SLOW PACE THAT CHARACTERIZE THE TRIBUNAL'S OPERATIONS REFLECT THE MIXED LEGAL TRADITIONS AMONG THE JUDGES, A BUREAUCRACY UNFORTUNATELY CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL TOO MANY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT MUST OPERATE BY CONSENSUS, AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TRULY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL WITHOUT INSTITUTIONAL PRECEDENT.

NINA BANG-JENSEN SAID THE TRIBUNAL IS NOT RECEIVING THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS FROM THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IN HER OPINION IS MORE CONCERNED WITH REACHING A SETTLEMENT OF THE WAR. BUT SHE BELIEVES ACCOMMODATING SERBIAN LEADERS WILL LEAD TO MORE WAR:

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OBVIOUSLY TOOK HEART FROM THE FAILURE OF WESTERN POWERS TO ARREST HIGH LEVEL INDICTED PERSONS, AND THAT CLEARLY PLAYED A PART IN HIS CALCULUS TO SO VIOLENTLY CALL THE WEST'S BLUFF IN KOSOVO. A PEACE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE ARCHITECT OF FOUR WARS AND A SERIAL ETHNIC CLEANSER TO SLIP AWAY, AS IF THERE WERE NO TRIBUNAL AT ALL, WILL NOT BE A LASTING PEACE

THERE ARE OTHER COMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRIBUNAL. WILL NATO FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES FOR THE BOMBING THAT HAS KILLED CIVILIANS IN SERBIA? AT THE HEARING, JENNIFER GREEN, STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, SAID THAT IS POSSIBLE:

I THINK WE ARE NOW IN THE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH A MISSION THAT HAS OSTENSIBLY HUMANITARIAN OBJECTIVES HAS CONSEQUENCES WHICH ARE NOW LOOKING AS IF THEY COULD BE IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW.

PAUL WILLIAMS, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, SAID THE WEST FACES A CLEAR CHOICE: EITHER CONFRONT THE WAR CRIMINALS OR APPEASE THEM. BUT NATO STRATEGISTS ARGUE THE CHOICE IS NOT SO CLEAR. INDICTING MILOSEVIC AND OTHERS MIGHT HARDEN THEIR RESOLVE TO CONTINUE A WAR IN WHICH STILL MORE CRIMES WILL BE COMMITTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/KL
12-May-99 12:54 PM EDT (1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO ONITER (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER TODAY (THURSDAY) DELIVERS AN ADDRESS ON KOSOVO HERE IN WASHINGTON (EDS.: SPEECH SKEDDED FOR 10:45AM E-D-T). CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON WILL GIVE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN YUGOSLAVIA, AND VOW THE MISSION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SURRENDERS TO WESTERN DEMANDS THAT ETHNIC CLEANSING BE REVERSED IN KOSOVO.

ALTHOUGH OFFICIALS SAY THE PRESIDENT WILL BE SPEAKING TO AMERICAN WAR VETERANS AT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY, HIS MESSAGE, THEY SAY, WILL BE AIMED AT A EUROPEAN AUDIENCE.

AS THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED THE PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH, IT ALSO WELCOMED THE RESULTS OF A MEETING BETWEEN U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND RUSSIA'S ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN IN MOSCOW WEDNESDAY.

SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS THE TWO MEN NARROWED DIFFERENCES OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE THAT WOULD MONITOR THE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES UNDER A KOSOVO PEACE DEAL.

THEY DEVELOPED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TWO WORKING GROUPS TO LOOK AT BOTH THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN ASPECTS OF HOW AN IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME AGREEMENT WOULD WORK. THERE IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO DRAW UP A PRECISE TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL AND ALSO FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PRECISE MAKEUP OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE. IT IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.

MR. LOCKHART SAYS THERE WERE NO BREAKTHROUGHS, BUT ADDED IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE TWO SIDES CONTINUE TO TALK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/PHW/PT
12-May-99 7:09 PM EDT (2309 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] CHINA / YUGOSLAVIA (S) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: THE REMAINS OF THE THREE CHINESE VICTIMS OF THE NATO BOMBING OF BEIJING'S EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA ARRIVED IN BEIJING WEDNESDAY, AN EVENT LIKELY TO TRIGGER A FRESH WAVE OF GRIEF AND ANGER. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM THE CHINESE CAPITAL.

TEXT: CHINESE FLAGS ACROSS THE NATION FLEW AT HALF MAST.

VICE-PRESIDENT HU JINTAO MET THE SPECIAL FLIGHT FROM BELGRADE THAT BROUGHT HOME THE REMAINS OF THE THREE CHINESE JOURNALISTS. STATE TELEVISION SHOWED BEREAVED RELATIVES CARRYING THE ASHES IN WOODEN BOXES WRAPPED IN RED SILK. ALSO ABOARD THE FLIGHT WERE SOME 20 PEOPLE WOUNDED IN THE NATO ATTACK.

IN A SIGN OF RESPECT, FLAGS WERE FLYING AT HALF MAST OUTSIDE THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING. THE TWO MISSIONS WERE THE FOCAL POINT OF FOUR DAYS OF GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PROTESTS AGAINST THE BOMBING.

TIGHT SECURITY AND AN ABSENCE OF DEMONSTRATIONS AROUND THE U-S EMBASSY WEDNESDAY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR U-S AMBASSADOR JAMES SASSER TO EMERGE, AFTER BEING STUCK THERE FOR FOUR DAYS. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/GC/PLM
12-May-99 2:44 AM EDT (0644 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] CHINA/YUGOSLAVIA (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: THE ASHES OF THE THREE PEOPLE KILLED IN THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA ARE BACK HOME IN BEIJING. MEANTIME, V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE VISITING GERMAN CHANCELLOR DELIVERED AN UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY TO CHINA ON BEHALF OF NATO.

TEXT: A SOLEMN VICE-PRESIDENT HU JINTAO MET THE SPECIAL FLIGHT FROM BELGRADE THAT CARRIED THE REMAINS OF THE THREE CHINESE JOURNALISTS. THE PLANE ALSO CARRIED 20 PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED IN THE NATO ATTACK.

ALL AROUND CHINA, FLAGS WERE LOWERED TO HALF STAFF.

CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI WAS SHOWN IN TEARS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY). MEANWHILE, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SUN YUXI VOWED THE CHINESE FLAG WOULD REMAIN FLYING AT THE BOMBED OUT EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.

IN A SIGN OF RESPECT, FLAGS WERE ALSO FLYING AT HALF STAFF AT THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING. THE TWO MISSIONS WERE THE FOCAL POINT OF FOUR-DAYS OF GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PROTESTS AGAINST THE BOMBING.

BY WEDNESDAY, THE DEMONSTRATIONS HAD DISAPPEARED AND SCORES OF POLICEMEN PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE DIPLOMATIC AREA, UNLESS THEY HAD THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION. MEANTIME, GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHRODER WAS IN BEIJING FOR A ONE-DAY WORKING VISIT. HE OFFERED AN UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY TO CHINA ON BEHALF OF NATO.

MR. SCHRODER, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAID HE BELIEVES THE NATO EXPLANATION THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS A TRAGIC MISTAKE.

IF I SAY IT WAS A MISTAKE, I AM NOT SAYING THAT NATO DID NOT WANT TO HIT THE BUILDING. BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD SO FAR -- PEOPLE WANTED TO HIT THE BUILDING WITHOUT HAVING BEEN AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IN THAT BUILDING, THERE WAS THE CHINESE EMBASSY.

HE URGED THOSE WHO DOUBTED THIS EXPLANATION TO WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT.

A REPORTER FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S MAIN NEWSPAPER, "THE PEOPLE'S DAILY", ASKED MR. SCHRODER WHETHER DIFFERENT OPINIONS IN GERMANY ARE PRESSURING HIM TO CHANGE HIS GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. HE SAID HE IS CONFIDENT BECAUSE THE PARLIAMENT AND HIS PARTY STILL SUPPORT HIM.

THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR ADDED THAT A VARIETY OF OPINION ON SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES, SUCH AS THE NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, ARE SIGNS OF WHAT HE CALLED -- A MATURE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/RAE
12-May-99 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] U-N / CHINA / YUGOSLAVIA (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: CHINA IS CONTINUING TO PRESS THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO FORMALLY RESPOND TO NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. DIPLOMATS SAY PROGRESS IS GRADUALLY BEING MADE TOWARD AN AGREEMENT ON THE EXACT WORDING OF SUCH A RESPONSE. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: IN ITS FIRST PROPOSAL, ON MONDAY, CHINA ASKED THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO STRONGLY CONDEMN THE NATO BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY REJECTED BY BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES, WHICH SAID IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO CONDEMN A MISTAKE.

SINCE THEN, CHINA'S PROPOSED TEXT FOR A SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL REVISIONS. DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS NOW CLOSER TO ACCEPTANCE.

IN THE LATEST VERSION, THE WORDS "STRONGLY CONDEMN" HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND THE COUNCIL INSTEAD EXPRESSES SHOCK OVER THE BOMBING.

ALSO REMOVED FROM THE PROPOSED TEXT IS A CHARGE THAT THE BOMBING WAS A BLATANT VIOLATION OF CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE REVISED STATEMENT HAS THE COUNCIL REAFFIRMING THE PRINCIPLE THAT DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL AND PROPERTY ARE INVIOLABLE, BUT IT DOES NOT DIRECTLY LINK THAT STATEMENT TO THE NATO BOMBING.

THE PORTION OF THE PROPOSED STATEMENT THAT HAS UNDERGONE THE LEAST CHANGE CALLS ON NATO TO INVESTIGATE THE BOMBING AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON ITS RESULTS.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THEY FEEL THE STATEMENT IS NOT NECESSARY, BECAUSE NATO MEMBER STATES AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED REGRETS AND APOLOGIES FOR THE BOMBING. AND, THEY SAY, THE COUNCIL ISSUED AN INFORMAL RESPONSE HOURS AFTER THE BOMBING, EXPRESSING SHOCK AND CONCERN. BUT THEY SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE ISSUE WITH CHINA, WHICH IS INSISTING ON A FORMAL STATEMENT. THEY SAY FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A FORMAL COUNCIL RESPONSE COULD SET BACK EFFORTS TO SECURE CHINA'S COOPERATION ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
12-May-99 4:08 PM EDT (2008 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] RUSSIA / POLITICS (S) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS FIRED PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN HELD A BRIEF MEETING WITH HIS PRIME MINISTER WEDNESDAY MORNING, AND THEN ABRUPTLY FIRED HIM.

THE DISMISSAL COMES JUST AS THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT PLANS TO BEGIN IMPEACHMENTS HEARINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT YELTSIN.

A KREMLIN STATEMENT SAYS THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY HAS NOT IMPROVED UNDER MR. PRIMAKOV'S GOVERNMENT. NO OTHER DETAILS EXPLAINING THE DISMISSAL ARE YET AVAILABLE. BUT THE DISMISSAL IS VIEWED IN THE RUSSIAN MEDIA AS A SIGN OF MR. YELTSIN'S DEFIANCE OF THE COMMUNIST-DOMINATED PARLIAMENT WHICH SUPPORTS MR. PRIMAKOV.

PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS APPOINTED INTERIOR MINISTER SERGEY STEPASHIN AS ACTING PRIME MINISTER. MR. STEPASHIN IS A LONG-TIME YELTSIN LOYALIST WHO HEADS RUSSIA'S POLICE FORCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/PLM
12-May-99 4:06 AM EDT (0806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] RUSSIA / POLITICS (S / 2ND UPDATE) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS SHAKEN UP RUSSIAN POLITICS BY FIRING HIS POPULAR PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAYS HE FIRED MR. PRIMAKOV BECAUSE THE PRIME MINISTER FAILED TO IMPROVE RUSSIA'S ECONOMY.

MR. YELTSIN APPOINTED HIS LOYAL INTERIOR MINISTER, SERGEI STEPASHIN, AS ACTING PRIME MINISTER.

RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT HAD WIDELY SUPPORTED MR. PRIMAKOV AND IS CALLING FOR AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF BOTH HOUSES TO ASK PRESIDENT YELTSIN TO REVERSE HIS DECISION.

THE DISMISSAL COMES JUST AS THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT PREPARES FOR IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT YELTSIN. LAWMAKERS SAY THE PRIME MINISTER'S DISMISSAL INCREASES THE CHANCE THEY WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT THIS WEEK.

ANALYSTS ALSO SAY THE DISMISSAL COULD HURT RUSSIA'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH WESTERN CREDITORS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH
12-May-99 10:34 AM EDT (1434 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] U-S / RUSSIA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS PLAYING DOWN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S DECISION TO FIRE PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, SAYING IT IS AN INTERNAL RUSSIAN MATTER. BUT WASHINGTON SAYS IT EXPECTS RUSSIA TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE ECONOMIC REFORM. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS HE EXPECTS MOSCOW TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF REFORM, DESPITE THE FIRING OF PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV, WHICH HE CALLS -- A MATTER OF INTERNAL RUSSIAN POLITICS.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGREED TO A FOUR-POINT-FIVE-BILLION-DOLLAR LOAN PACKAGE FOR RUSSIA LAST MONTH.

WHEN ASKED IF THE UNITED STATES STILL SUPPORTS THE LOAN, MR. LOCKHART SAID -- WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT THE POLITICAL PLAYERS, BUT WHAT THEY DO AS FAR AS MOVING TOWARDS ECONOMIC REFORM, REFORM BY THE BANKING SYSTEM, AND COLLECTION OF TAXES.

MR. LOCKHART ALSO SAID WASHINGTON BELIEVES MOSCOW WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN FINDING A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA.

RUSSIA HAS MADE CLEAR ITS OPPOSITION TO THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN A MATTER THAT HAS STRAINED RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RAE
12-May-99 12:19 PM EDT (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] RUSSIA / U-S / KOSOVO (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS ARE ONCE AGAIN UNDERWAY IN MOSCOW. U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS MEETING WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC ARRIVES LATER IN THE DAY, ALSO FOR TALKS ON THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. BUT V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY CONTINUED NATO BOMBING IS UNDERMINING THE PEACE PROCESS.

TEXT: THE VISITING U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE IS MEETING WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV AND RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

AT THE START OF TALKS WITH MR. TALBOTT, RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT NATO BOMBING IS RUINING EFFORTS TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. MR. IVANOV SAYS IF ATTACKS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE, EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION WILL BE, AS HE PUT IT, FUTILE.

MR. TALBOTT'S TALKS WITH MR. IVANOV ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST OVER THE MAKEUP OF A PLANNED INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO.

MR. TALBOTT ALSO IS MEETING WITH MOSCOW'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED FROM CHINA WITH WHAT HE CALLS "NEW PROPOSALS" TO DISCUSS WITH MR. TALBOTT.

THE U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE IS ONE OF SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS VISITING MOSCOW FOR TALKS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS. FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC IS TO ARRIVE IN THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/PLM
12-May-99 5:06 AM EDT (0906 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America 0DATE=5/12/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249282
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS THREATENING TO ABANDON HIS EFFORTS TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT ON YUGOSLAVIA, BECAUSE HE SAYS NATO IS NOT PAYING ADEQUATE ATTENTION TO RUSSIA'S PROPOSALS. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH HAS MORE FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN TOLD THE RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL THAT MOSCOW'S PEACE PROPOSALS FOR YUGOSLAVIA ARE "CLEARLY NOT GETTING THROUGH" TO NATO. HE SAYS RUSSIA MIGHT ABANDON ITS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IF THE ALLIANCE DOES NOT START TAKING THEM MORE SERIOUSLY.

THE PRESIDENT'S WARNING CAME AS RUSSIAN AND NATO OFFICIALS CONTINUED TALKS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

VISITING U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT DISCUSSED THE CONFLICT WITH FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV AND SPECIAL BALKANS ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN RETURNED TUESDAY FROM CHINA WITH WHAT HE CALLED "NEW PROPOSALS" FOR PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA. AFTER THEIR MEETING WEDNESDAY, NEITHER HE NOR MR. TALBOTT MENTIONED ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS, BUT THEY DESCRIBED THEIR TALKS AS HELPFUL.

A STICKING POINT IN RUSSIAN-NATO NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN THE MAKEUP OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO.

THE RUSSIAN ENVOY TOLD REPORTERS HIS TALKS WITH MR. TALBOTT COVERED ALMOST ALL THE PROBLEMS RELATED TO A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA. BOTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY DISAGREE ON SOME ISSUES, BUT ARE GRADUALLY COMING TOGETHER ON OTHERS.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS THE TWO WILL CONTINUE THEIR TALKS, BUT BOTH MEN FIRST ARE MAKING SEPARATE TRIPS TO FINLAND FOR MEETINGS IN HELSINKI WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT MAARTI AHTISAARI. MR. TALBOTT IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO MOSCOW FOR MORE TALKS THURSDAY WITH RUSSIAN LEADERS.

ANALYSTS SAY MR. AHTISAARI MAY JOIN MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IN MEDIATING THE CONFLICT. FINLAND TAKES OVER THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN JULY AND IS NOT A MEMBER OF NATO.

VISITING FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC ALSO IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN KOSOVO-RELATED TALKS WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN ON THURSDAY.

THE MEETINGS ARE SAID TO BE GOING AHEAD DESPITE RUSSIA'S DOMESTIC POLITICAL TURMOIL, SPARKED BY MR. YELTSIN'S FIRING OF PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/PCF/WTW
12-May-99 2:48 PM EDT (1848 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] RUSSIA / U-S / KOSOVO (L-3RD UPDATE) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT DOES NOT EXPECT THE POLITICAL TURMOIL IN MOSCOW TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA IS PLAYING A SERIOUS AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN THE SEARCH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN KOSOVO.

U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS EXPECTED TO HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS (THURSDAY) FOLLOWING A BRIEF VISIT TO HELSINKI.

U-S AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE DETAILS OF A PROPOSED KOSOVO PEACE PLAN THAT WAS OUTLINED AT THE G-8 MINISTERIAL MEETING IN GERMANY LAST WEEK.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE POLITICAL SHAKEUP IN MOSCOW HAS NOT HAD ANY IMPACT ON THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO THE BALKAN CRISIS.

WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ON A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES. BECAUSE OF THE MUTUAL INTERESTS WE HAVE IN WORKING TOGETHER ON SUBJECTS AS VARIED AS ARMS CONTROL, ECONOMIC MATTERS, AND MOST RECENTLY AND IMPORTANTLY, THE SUBJECT OF KOSOVO.

EARLIER IN THE DAY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAID RUSSIA MIGHT QUIT ITS YUGOSLAV PEACE EFFORTS IF NATO DOES NOT PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO RUSSIAN PEACE PROPOSALS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN REJECTED THAT SUGGESTION, SAYING THIS WEEK'S TALKS IN MOSCOW WERE EVIDENCE UNITED STATES IS NOT IGNORING RUSSIAN IDEAS.

IN FACT WE ARE ENGAGED IN A VERY CONCRETE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT RUSSIA'S PROPOSALS AND NATO PROPOSALS WITH THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE WORKING GROUPS AND THE MEETINGS THAT DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE (STROBE) TALBOTT HAS HAD WITH FORMER PRIME MINISTER (VIKTOR) CHERNOMYRDIN AND FOREIGN MINISTER (IGOR) IVANOV. SO, ON THE CONTRARY, WE ARE NOT IGNORING RUSSIA'S PROPOSALS. WE ARE SPENDING AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT WORKING ON THEM AND TRYING TO ACHIEVE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.

RUSSIA HAS CALLED FOR A HALT TO THE NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. NATO SAYS THE BOMBING WILL STOP WHEN ITS CONDITIONS ARE MET.

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE STILL WIDE GAPS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA ON THE TIMING OF A YUGOSLAV WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO AND THE COMPOSITION OF A INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY DID NOT EXPECT ANY BREAKTHROUGHS AT THE TALKS IN MOSCOW, AND THEY EXPECT RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO CONTINUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/ENE/PT
12-May-99 3:17 PM EDT (1917 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[18] U-S / RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: AS NATO CONTINUES TO BOMB YUGOSLAVIA, THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IS ALSO TRYING TO REDEFINE ITS ROLE AT A TIME WHEN ITS MAIN ADVERSARY -- THE SOVIET UNION -- NO LONGER EXISTS. NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT WHAT IS IN STORE FOR NATO AS IT TRIES TO FIND ITS PLACE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM.

TEXT: NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVEN-WEEKS.

NATO WARPLANES HAVE HIT STRATEGIC TARGETS SUCH AS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, AMMUNITION DEPOTS, AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS SERB FORCES IN THE INDEPENDENCE-MINDED KOSOVO PROVINCE. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING SO-CALLED --COLLATERAL DAMAGE -- MILITARY JARGON FOR CIVILIAN TARGETS. THE LATEST WAS THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AS WESTERN PLANNERS MISTOOK THE BUILDING FOR THE HEADQUARTERS OF A YUGOSLAV ARMS AGENCY.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE EXTREMELY CAREFUL IN TRYING TO AVOID CIVILIAN TARGETS. THEY ALSO SAY NATO AIR ATTACKS ARE BEGINNING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY.

THE WESTERN ALLIANCE HAS JUST CELEBRATED 50-YEARS OF EXISTENCE. AND EXPERTS SAY IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR NATO'S CREDIBILITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD TO STOP YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO.

ONE OF THOSE EXPERTS IS BRUCE JACKSON, PRESIDENT OF THE "UNITED STATES COMMITTEE ON NATO" -- A BI-PARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY RESEARCH GROUP.

IT IS HARD TO AVOID THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS NATO'S DEFINING MOMENT FOR ITS SECOND 50-YEARS IN THE SAME WAY THAT KOREA REALLY DEFINED WHAT THE PREVIOUS GENERATION WAS PREPARED TO DO AND THE SACRIFICES IT WAS PREPARED TO MAKE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO US STRATEGICALLY -- BUT ALSO MORALLY AND IN TERMS OF THE PURPOSES THE ALLIANCE WAS CREATED TO DEFEND.

NATO WAS CREATED 50-YEARS AGO AS A RESPONSE TO THE GROWING POWER OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE MILITARY THREAT IT COULD POSE TO WESTERN EUROPE.

BUT FOR THE PAST 10-YEARS -- SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE COLLAPSE OF THE BERLIN WALL, AND THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE WARSAW PACT -- NATO HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF REINVENTING ITSELF.

NATO PLANNERS ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A NEW "STRATEGIC CONCEPT" WHICH WOULD DEFINE FUTURE MISSIONS FOR THE 19-MEMBER WESTERN ALLIANCE, SINCE MOSCOW NO LONGER POSES A DIRECT MILITARY THREAT. EXPERTS SAY NATO COULD FOCUS ON PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS SUCH AS THE ONE IT CURRENTLY RUNS IN BOSNIA.

ANALYSTS SAY NATO LEADERS ALSO HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THE ALLIANCE WILL CONFINE ITS ACTIVITIES ONLY TO EUROPE OR WILL BROADEN ITS SCOPE TO INCLUDE CONFLICTS IN AREAS SUCH AS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTHERN AFRICA.

ANDREW PIERRE IS A NATO EXPERT AT THE "UNITED STATES PEACE INSTITUTE.". HE SAYS WHATEVER "STRATEGIC CONCEPT" NATO COMES UP WITH, THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A PREEMINENT ROLE IN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE -- AS IT IS DOING IN THE KOSOVO AIR CAMPAIGN.

ONLY THE UNITED STATES HAS THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES TO, FOR EXAMPLE, USE CRUISE MISSILES, "TOMAHAWKS," AND SO ON OVER SERBIA OR KOSOVO. WE HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST LOGISTIC FORCE AND CAPABILITIES. WE HAVE THE WORLD'S BEST SATELLITES WHICH PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE ON WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE GROUND. SO THE U-S MILITARY ROLE IS STILL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WHILE WASHINGTON IS STILL THE MAIN FORCE IN NATO, EXPERTS SAY THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS -- IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES -- FOR EUROPEANS TO PLAY A MUCH MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. ANALYSTS SAY NATO MUST ALSO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HAVING EUROPE SHARE MORE OF THE DEFENSE BURDEN -- ESPECIALLY SINCE NATO'S MAIN THEATER OF OPERATION IS EUROPE.

FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLES KUPCHIN BELIEVES THE KOSOVO CRISIS IS THE HIGH WATER MARK OF AMERICAN ENGAGEMENT IN EUROPE.

ONE OF THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THIS (THE KOSOVO CRISIS) IS THE CREATION OF A STRONGER POLITICAL CURRENT IN CONGRESS THAT SAYS IT IS TIME FOR EUROPE TO DO MORE ON ITS OWN. AND THAT IS WHY I THINK THE MOVEMENT IN EUROPE FOR A COMMON FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY AND (BRITISH PRIME MINISTER) TONY BLAIR'S INITIATIVE TO TRY TO PUSH FORWARD ON THE DEFENSE FRONT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES IS NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AT THE PARTY -- AND EUROPE BETTER BE PREPARED FOR THAT CONTINGENCY.

ANALYSTS SAY AS NATO BEGINS ITS NEXT 50-YEARS, THE WESTERN ALLIANCE FACES TOUGH CHOICES -- FROM FORGING A NEW "STRATEGIC CONCEPT" TO DEFINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. EXPERTS SAY HOW NATO RESOLVES THOSE ISSUES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE WESTERN ALLIANCE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A POTENT FORCE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. (SIGNED) NEB/ADEN//RAE
12-May-99 4:11 PM EDT (2011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[19] NATO / FUTURE ROLE BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO PILOTS FLYING BOMBING MISSIONS OVER YUGOSLAVIA SAY THEY SEE NO EVIDENCE OF A SERB TROOP PULLOUT FROM KOSOVO. REPORTING FROM ABOARD THE U-S NAVY SHIP KEARSARGE IN THE ADRIATIC, VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN INTERVIEWED TWO U-S MARINE PILOTS MOMENTS AFTER THEY RETURNED TO THEIR BASE.

TEXT: ///SFX OF JET ROAR, THEN UNDER TO...///

TWO HARRIER JUMP JETS BLAST OFF THE RUNWAY WITH A DEAFENING ROAR FROM THE U-S-S KEARSARGE IN THE ADRIATIC, HEADING FOR A DAYLIGHT RAID ON SERB TARGETS IN KOSOVO. TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS LATER, THEY RETURN. THEY HOVER OVER THE SHIP'S DECK AND GENTLY TOUCH DOWN.

AFTER A QUICK DEBRIEFING SESSION, THE TWO MARINE PILOTS SIT DOWN WITH REPORTERS FROM V-O-A AND "THE WASHINGTON POST" NEWSPAPER FOR AN UNUSUALLY FRANK, HOUR-LONG INTERVIEW. THEY SPOKE ON THE CONDITION THEY WOULD BE IDENTIFIED ONLY BY THEIR CALL SIGNS -- "ZACK" AND "HILDY."

THIRTY-TWO-YEAR OLD "ZACK" SAYS THE MISSION WAS TO ATTACK WHAT HE CALLS "MOBILE TACTICAL TARGETS" -- THINGS SUCH AS SERB TANKS AND ARTILLERY HIDDEN IN THE MOUNTAINOUS KOSOVO COUNTRYSIDE.

OUR FORTE (AIM) IS TO GO AFTER TACTICAL TARGETS. WE'RE TACTICAL ATTACK AIRCRAFT. //OPT// WE'RE NOT REALLY A STRATEGIC DEEP STRIKE AIRCRAFT. ALTHOUGH WE'RE CAPABLE OF ATTACK, WE'RE MORE CAPABLE IN CLOSE AIR SUPPORT BUSINESS, //END OPT// AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS. IS THE ATTACK AND DESTRUCTION OF SURFACE TARGETS.

SO YOU'RE NOT CATCHING THE ENTIRE SERBIAN ARMY MOVING SOMEWHERE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. (NEXT VOICE) C-N-N (CABLE NEWS NETWORK) MAKES IT SOUND LIKE, HEY, THEY'RE ALL HEADING NORTH GOING TO BELGRADE. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE EVERYBODY'S GETTING ON A TRAIN AND HEADING BACK UP THERE.

I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS A "PROFESSIONAL MILITARY VERSUS A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY" -- IN THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO COVER AND CONCEAL THEMSELVES. NOW SOME OF THEIR OPERATIONS AGAINST CITIZENS OR CIVILIANS I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS ANYTHING BUT PROFESSIONAL. BUT AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO CONCEAL THEMSELVES, THEY'RE PLAYING IT PRETTY SMART. THEY'RE TRYING TO STAY AWAY.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY STREET TRAFFIC. FROM WHERE WE'RE AT, WE WOULDN'T SEE FOOT TRAFFIC, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I DIDN'T SEE ANY MOBILE TRAFFIC AT ALL. SOME VILLAGES, SOME TOWNS THAT HAD BEEN BURNED AND WERE STILL ON FIRE.

ZACK'S PARTNER, "HILDY" SAYS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE HIGH ABOVE THE TERRAIN, IT APPEARS THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING OUT STRATEGIC TARGETS. BUT HE SAYS HISTORY HAS SHOWN AIR STRIKES ALONE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME TYPE OF OCCUPATION, AT LEAST HISTORICALLY, THAT WOULD DRIVE OUT THE ENEMY FROM HOLDING THAT GROUND. I MEAN, AN AIR CAMPAIGN HAS NEVER BEEN SOLD AS THAT.

IT'S HEART WRENCHING TO KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES, EVERYTHING THEY WORKED FOR, FOR GENERATIONS -- LOST THEIR IDENTITIES, HAD PAPERS TAKEN FROM THEM, HOUSES ARE GONE. THERE MAY BE NO WAY TO GET THEM BACK. LET ALONE THE LOSS OF LIFE. IT STRIKES A CHORD. THIS IS NOT ANOTHER DRILL. WE'RE HERE FOR A REASON.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE DEVASTATION AND DEATH CAUSED BY THE BOMBING, THE YOUTHFUL PILOT SAID "YES, THAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND." BUT HE SAID HE ACCEPTS THAT AS PART OF HIS JOB.

UNTIL IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP APPLYING PRESSURE TILL IT IS AT A LEVEL WHERE IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THAT'S THE NATURE OF WAR.

HE SAYS IN COMBAT, THE OUTCOME IS DETERMINED BY WHO IS MORE EFFICIENT. HE SAID "THEY ARE TAKING RISKS, AND WE ARE TAKING RISKS." (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
12-May-99 12:45 PM EDT (1645 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[20] HARRIER PILOTS BY PETER HEINLEIN (ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE)

INTRO: AID OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO SAY FEUDING INSIDE THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IS JEOPARDIZING FUTURE AID TO THE COUNTRY. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS AN AID DONORS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS MONTH IN BELGIUM MAY BE IN DOUBT.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S TOP OFFICIAL IN BOSNIA, CARLOS WESTENDORP, SAYS THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERATION GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE INTERNAL DIFFERENCES IS PUTTING FUTURE AID AT RISK. MR. WESTENDORP ACCUSES THE BOSNIAN CROAT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF SABOTAGING A MEETING WEDNESDAY ON ECONOMIC REFORM. THE SESSION WAS TO HAVE AGREED ON REFORM MEASURES THAT WOULD EASE A TRANSITION TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND AWAY FROM OFFICIAL ASSISTANCE.

AID DONORS HAVE SET SEVERAL PRE-CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUED AID INCLUDING TAX REFORM, APPROVAL OF A GOVERNMENT BUDGET, LABOR LEGISLATION, AND PRIVATIZATION. THE DONORS MEETING IS DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN BRUSSELS ON MAY 20TH AND 21ST.

OTHER TOP OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OF THE URGENT NEED FOR ECONOMIC REFORM. ROBERT BARRY, THE HEAD OF THE BOSNIA MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E), SAYS THE RULING PARTIES IN SARAJEVO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC REFORM. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS, MR. BARRY SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ECONOMY ON TRACK IS PRIVATE INVESTMENT. AND THAT IF THERE IS NO REFORM HE COULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT DONORS PUT MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE.

A SIMILAR WARNING COMES FROM JACQUES KLEIN, THE DEPUTY HIGH REPRESENTIVE IN BOSNIA. HE SAYS TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND THAT IN THE CRUEL WORLD OF POLITICS BOSNIA COULD BECOME THE STORY OF THE PAST AS AID SHIFTS TO KOSOVO. BOSNIA'S ECONOMY HAS BEEN REGISTERING RAPID GROWTH ONLY BECAUSE IT IS RECEIVING MASSIVE AID UNDER A THREE YEAR, FIVE BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM.

SEPARATELY (WEDNESDAY) THE WORLD BANK AND EUROPEAN UNION SAY THEY ARE SETTING UP A JOINT UNIT TO CHANNEL AID TO KOSOVO ONCE THE WAR THERE IS OVER. THE WORLD BANK IS SPEARHEADING EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT A FIVE BILLION DOLLAR AID PROGRAM FOR KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PHW/PT
12-May-99 5:24 PM EDT (2124 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[21] BOSNIA AID DISARRAY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: FORMER SLOVAK PRESIDENT MICHAL KOVAC (MEE-KHAL KOH-VARTCH) HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THIS WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SLOVAKIA HOLDS ITS FIRST ROUND OF VOTING ON SATURDAY. AS ALENA KENCLOVA REPORTS FROM PRAGUE, THE WITHDRAWAL IS LIKELY TO BOOST ELECTION CHANCES FOR THE RULING COALITION'S CANDIDATE, RUDOLF SCHUSTER (ROO-DOLF SHOO-STER).

TEXT: MR. KOVAC ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION AT THE START OF A TELEVISED DEBATE FEATURING ALL 10 CANDIDATES ON TUESDAY NIGHT. HE EXPRESSED THE WISH THAT THIS SATURDAY'S VOTING WOULD SHOW THAT MOST SLOVAKS DID NOT WANT THE RETURN TO WHAT HE CALLED "THE TIMES OF MECIARISM (MEH-CHE-YAAR-ISM)."

MR. KOVAC WAS REFERRING TO THE RULE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR (VLAH-DEE-MEER MEH-CHE-YAAR). DURING HIS FIVE YEARS IN OFFICE, SLOVAKIA WAS CRITICIZED FOR ITS LACK OF DEMOCRACY, WHICH ANALYSTS SAY DAMAGED ITS CHANCE FOR EARLY MEMBERSHIP IN BOTH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO, THE NORTH ATLANTIC DEFENSE ALLIANCE.

MR. MECIAR IS NOW RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AS THE CANDIDATE OF THE NATIONAL-ORIENTED "MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SLOVAKIA," WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING IN PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION SINCE LAST YEAR.

LATE OPINION POLLS SHOW KOSICE (KOH-SHEE-TSEH) MAYOR RUDOLF SCHUSTER AS THE LEADING CANDIDATE. HE REPRESENTS THE RULING REFORMIST COALITION, WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES. THE POLLS SHOW MR. SCHUSTER WINNING ALMOST 40 PERCENT OF VOTES, AND MR. MECIAR COMING IN SECOND PLACE, WITH ABOUT 25 PERCENT.

THE POLLS ALSO SHOW FORMER CANDIDATE KOVAC WITH ABOUT SIX PERCENT SUPPORT -- WHICH IS NOW EXPECTED TO SHIFT LARGELY TO MR. SCHUSTER. POLITICAL ANALYSTS IN SLOVAKIA SAY MR. KOVAC'S DEPARTURE FROM THE RACE GIVES MR. SCHUSTER A BETTER -- ALTHOUGH STILL SLIM CHANCE -- OF WINNING IN THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING.

BUT SOME OF MR. KOVAC'S SUPPORTERS MAY ALSO VOTE FOR MAGDA VASARYOVA (MUG-DAH VAH-SHAH-REE-OH-VAH), ANOTHER INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE AND THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE RACE. ACCORDING TO SOME POLLS, MRS. VASARYOVA -- A SOCIOLOGIST WHOSE CAREER ALSO INCLUDED ACTING, AND SERVICE AS A DIPLOMAT -- COULD END UP THE RUN-OFF ELECTION CHALLENGER TO MR. SCHUSTER. BUT OPINION POLLS INDICATE THE 65-YEAR-OLD MR. SCHUSTER WOULD WIN THE RUN-OFF, WHETHER CHALLENGED BY EITHER MR. MECIAR OR MRS VASARYOVA.

[22] SLOVAK ELECTION (L-ONLY) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE SEARCH FOR A WAY TO COMPENSATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED INTO SLAVE LABOR BY THE NAZIS DURING WORLD WAR TWO. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE TWO DAY WASHINGTON CONFERENCE, MARKED THE FIRST TIME THAT LAWYERS FOR GERMAN COMPANIES SAT DOWN TOGETHER WITH LAWYERS FOR NAZI ERA SLAVE LABOR VICTIMS WHO ARE TRYING TO SUE THEM.

GERMAN AND U-S OFFICIALS CO-CHAIRED THE MEETING, WHICH ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, BELARUS, UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND ISRAEL.

AT THE END OF THE SESSION, U-S UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT SAYS WORKING GROUPS DEALING WITH SEPARATE ISSUES LIKE BANKS AND STOLEN PROPERTY WILL TRY TO COME UP WITH A CONCRETE COMPENSATION PLAN IN THREE MONTHS.

WITH THE HOPE THAT THE PROCESS CAN BE AGREED TO BY SEPTEMBER FIRST 1999, WHICH IS THE DATE SET BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT, AS IT IS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORLD WAR TWO.

GERMANY HAS AGREED TO SET UP A SPECIAL FUND TO COMPENSATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE USED AS FORCED LABORERS, AGRICULTURE WORKERS, OR ENSLAVED IN NAZI LABOR CAMPS.

GERMAN COMPANIES HAVE SAID THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE GENEROUSLY TO THE PLAN, BUT THEIR PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY A NUMBER OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST THE FIRMS.

UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE EIZENSTAT SAYS THE GOAL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONFERENCE IS TO BRING LEGAL CLOSURE TO THE ENTIRE ISSUE, AND SETTLE ALL LAWSUITS AT ONE TIME.

MR. EIZENSTAT SAYS NO DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE COMPENSATION FUND WAS DISCUSSED AT THE SESSION, BUT HE SAYS ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WERE IN AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE.

THIS WAS NOT INTENDED AS A NEGOTIATING SESSION BUT EVERYBODY LAID THEIR CARDS ON THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR POSITIONS. I THINK EVERYBODY NOW HAS A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE POSITION AND WHAT I GOT THE SENSE OF FRANKLY, EVEN WHILE EVERYBODY WAS STATING THOSE POSITIONS, WAS A SENSE OF A POTENTIAL HISTORIC EFFORT, AND HISTORIC ENTERPRISE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY ON EVERYONE'S PART.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY BETWEEN 70 THOUSAND AND 90 THOUSAND FORMER SLAVE LABORERS COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPENSATION PLAN. THEY SAY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE USED AS FORCED LABORERS IN EASTERN EUROPE COULD REACH INTO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, INCLUDING ABOUT A HALF MILLION PEOPLE USED AS FORCED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN POLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PT
12-May-99 7:43 PM EDT (2343 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[23] NAZI SLAVE LABOR (L ONLY) BY ()

INTRO: AS U-S FINANCIAL CIRCLES HAVE LONG EXPECTED, ROBERT RUBIN, THIS COUNTRY'S RESPECTED TREASURY SECRETARY, IS STEPPING DOWN. HE WILL BE REPLACED BY HIS DEPUTY, LARRY SUMMERS. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD HAS MORE ON THE TRANSITION AT THE U-S TREASURY.

TEXT: MR. RUBIN HAS ACCUMULATED AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD DURING HIS FOUR YEARS AS THE TOP ECONOMIC OFFICIAL IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. ROBERT HORMATS, A WALL STREET FINANCIER, CALLS MR. RUBIN ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING TREASURY SECRETARIES OF THIS CENTURY. MR. HORMATS SAYS MR. RUBIN'S CREDIBILITY AND STATURE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR WALL STREET TO AVOID THE TURMOIL THAT ROCKED ASIA'S FINANCIAL MARKETS OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. OTHER OBSERVERS CREDIT MR. RUBIN WITH PRESIDING OVER A REMARKABLE AND ENDURING PERIOD OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, MARKED BY RISING STOCK-MARKET PRICES, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOW INFLATION. HE IS LIKEWISE CREDITED WITH HELPING TO TRANSFORMING A CHRONIC U-S BUDGET DEFICIT INTO A STRING OF SURPLUSES.

MR. RUBIN HAD MADE CLEAR FOR OVER A YEAR THAT HE WANTED TO LEAVE GOVERNMENT. HE WAS PERSUADED TO STAY ON LONGER THAN PLANNED BECAUSE OF FEARS THAT HIS RESIGNATION DURING THE SEX SCANDAL SWIRLING ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST YEAR, AND MR. CLINTON'S SUBSEQUENT IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, COULD DISRUPT FINANCIAL MARKETS.

A CRITICAL PART OF MR. RUBIN'S DAY-TO-DAY WORK IS COORDINATING U-S ECONOMIC POLICY WITH AMERICA'S EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE ALLIES IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE GROUP OF SEVEN. AFTER A MEETING OF G-7 FINANCE MINISTERS LAST MONTH, MR. RUBIN REFLECTED ON THE VALUE OF THESE SEMI-ANNUAL GATHERINGS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY USEFUL MEETING. WE HAD A GOOD EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. IT WAS A VERY INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE. IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WHAT EACH OF US THOUGHT ABOUT VARIOUS MATTERS THAT WERE ON THE AGENDA. TRULY IT IS THE ONLY [KIND] OF MEETING WE PARTICIPATE IN WHERE YOU HAVE A REAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS -- THERE ARE NO STAFF PRESENT. IT IS VERY UNIQUE.

IF THE U-S SENATE AGREES, MR. RUBIN WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY HIS DEPUTY, LARRY SUMMERS. MR. SUMMERS IS ONLY 44 YEARS OLD, AND ALREADY HAS A RESUME THAT IS THE ENVY OF THOSE 20 YEARS OLDER. HE RECEIVED HIS DOCTORATE [PH.D.] FROM HARVARD AT THE AGE OF 27, AND A YEAR LATER BECAME THAT UNIVERSITY'S YOUNGEST TENURED PROFESSOR. IN 1991, MR. SUMMERS WAS NAMED CHIEF ECONOMIST AT THE WORLD BANK, AND HE JOINED THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT AS AN UNDER-SECRETARY TWO YEARS LATER. HE HAS BEEN THE ADMINISTRATION'S POINT MAN [PRINCIPAL REPRESENTATIVE] ON DEALING WITH THE MEXICAN ECONOMIC CRISIS IN 1995 AND THE ASIAN AND RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CRISES THAT BEGAN IN 1997.

MR. SUMMERS REFLECTED EARLIER THIS MONTH ON WHAT HAD GONE WRONG IN ASIA.

THESE CRISES ALWAYS HAVE A COMBINATION OF TWO ELEMENTS: PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS THAT LEAD TO AN ADJUSTMENT IN CAPITAL FLOWS, AND THEN A KIND OF BANK RUN PSYCHOLOGY THAT TAKES HOLD WHEN INVESTORS START LOOKING AT OTHER INVESTORS.

PRESIDENT CLINTON IS NAMING MR. SUMMERS ACTING SECRETARY, WITH THE HOPE THAT HE WILL BE CONFIRMED IN TIME TO BE SWORN IN AS TREASURY SECRETARY BY INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY FOURTH.

LIKE MR. RUBIN, WHO IS A STRONG BACKER OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, MR. SUMMERS MAY ENCOUNTER SOME OPPOSITION FROM THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED SENATE. HOWEVER, MOST EXPERTS SAY CONFIRMATION IS LIKELY, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF FREQUENT SPECULATION OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT HE WOULD BE NAMED TO SUCCEED MR. RUBIN FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/GE/WTW
12-May-99 4:44 PM EDT (2044 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[24] TRANSITION AT TREASURY (CQ) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BUT DID MAKE A STRONG RECOVERY FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK THAT U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN IS RESIGNING. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 11 THOUSAND, DOWN 25 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 63, UP EIGHT POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT.

STOCKS SOLD-OFF SHARPLY WITHIN SECONDS OF NEWS THAT U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN IS RESIGNING. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST MORE THAN 200 POINTS. HOWEVER, CONFIDENCE QUICKLY RETURNED WHEN IT WAS LEARNED THAT MR. RUBIN'S DEPUTY, LAWRENCE SUMMERS, WILL BE NOMINATED AS SUCCESSOR.

ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, HAILED MR. SUMMERS AS A MAN OF "EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND JUDGMENT."

SINCE RUBIN'S RESIGNATION HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE, MANY PEOPLE HAD ALREADY FORMED AN ASSESSMENT OF SUMMERS AND THAT IS WHY THE SELL-OFF WAS SHORT LIVED.

THE U-S HOUSING MARKET REMAINS VERY STRONG. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS SALES OF EXISTING HOMES GREW AT A RECORD ANNUAL RATE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

THE LYCOS INTERNET SERVICES COMPANY HAS CALLED OFF A PLANNED MERGER WITH U-S-A NETWORKS. THE DEAL HAD DRAWN HEATED OPPOSITION FROM LYCOS STOCKHOLDERS WHO SAID U-S-A HAD SERIOUSLY UNDERVALUED LYCOS' ASSETS.

THE MOTOROLA ELECTRONICS COMPANY WILL SELL ITS COMPUTER CHIP BUSINESS TO THE TEXAS PACIFIC GROUP, A PRIVATE INVESTMENT FIRM. THE DEAL IS WORTH ONE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLARS.

U-S RETAILERS, BOTH LUXURY AND DISCOUNT, ARE ENJOYING GOOD TIMES. THE K-MART DISCOUNT STORE CHAIN REPORTS A 40 PERCENT RISE IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS AND FEDERATED, AN UPSCALE DEPARTMENT STORE OPERATOR, SAYS ITS EARNINGS ROSE 45 PERCENT. STARWOOD, THE LUXURY HOTEL OPERATOR, REPORTED AN ALMOST ONE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS THE RECENT SALE OF ITS CAESARS CASINOS UNIT FOR THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, WILL HELP ELIMINATE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF STARWOOD'S DEBT.

THE LOWEN GROUP, THE SECOND-LARGEST FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES COMPANY IN NORTH AMERICA, SAYS ITS HEAVY DEBT LOAD MAY FORCE THE COMPANY INTO BANKRUPTCY. ANALYST SAY THE CANADIAN-BASED FIRM IS SUFFERING FROM AN OVERLY OPTIMISTIC EXPANSION PROGRAM WHICH HAS LEFT IT UNABLE TO GENERATE ENOUGH CASH TO MEET ITS DEBT OBLIGATIONS.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN NEW YORK INDICTED 33 PEOPLE ON CHARGES OF BANK FRAUD. THE DEFENDANTS ALLEGEDLY USED PHONY LOAN APPLICATIONS TO STEAL 10 TO 15 MILLION DOLLARS FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN BANKS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
12-May-99 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[25] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO COMMENT ON THE MISTAKEN NATO AIR ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LATE LAST WEEK. THERE ARE ALSO THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S GUN AND YOUTH VIOLENCE SUMMIT HELD HERE IN WASHINGTON; AS WELL AS THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS BARELY A WEEK AWAY NOW.

OTHER TOPICS TO BE FOUND IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS INCLUDE: THE JAILING OF A MARINE CORPS PILOT IN THE ITALIAN SKI LIFT ACCIDENT; AND A MYSTERY AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD IS SOLVED. NOW, HERE IS _________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE," COMMENTING ON WHAT THE PAPER CALLS THE "MILITARY IMPRECISION" OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING IN BELGRADE, SUGGESTS IT:

VOICE: /// OPT /// ... WAS A DEVASTATING EXAMPLE OF WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED 'BIG PICTURE MYOPIA.' /// END OPT /// MAN - - IN THIS CASE MILITARY MEN, WITH THEIR MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR WEAPONRY AND SUPPOSEDLY FAIL-SAFE TECHNOLOGY - - FOCUSES SO INTENTLY ON THE GRAND PLAN THAT HE OVERLOOKS THE SMALL BUT CRUCIAL DETAIL THAT CAN SINK THE MISSION. AN OUT-OF-DATE MAP WREAKED HAVOC ON THE EMBASSY AND U-S-CHINESE RELATIONS /// OPT /// ... [U-S CONFEDERATE GENERAL] ROBERT E. LEE FACED A SIMILAR DEVIL IN 1862 WHEN HIS INVASION OF MARYLAND WAS SAVAGED BY THE SILLIEST OF ERRORS: ONE OF HIS MEN LEFT THE BATTLE PLANS BEHIND, AND A UNION SOLDIER FOUND THEM WRAPPED AROUND THREE CIGARS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON THE WEST COAST, "THE SEATTLE TIMES" SUGGESTS TO READERS THEY:

VOICE: WATCH HOW THE CHINESE USE THE NATO BOMBING. ... CHINA IS FURIOUS AND RIGHTLY SO. THE TEST, HOWEVER, IS WHETHER CHINA PLAYS THIS INCIDENT LIKE THE COUNTRY IT WANTS TO BE, A WORLD LEADER THAT SEES EVENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN A LARGER CONTEXT.

TEXT: LASTLY ON THIS TOPIC, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES WITH SOME DISMAY:

VOICE: CLEARLY, THE EMBASSY BOMBING WAS A TERRIBLE EVENT. MR. CLINTON MUST INSURE THAT THE MISTAKE IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND THAT THE FAMILIES OF THE CHINESE VICTIMS RECEIVE AMERICAN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ... BUT THE VIOLENT, STAGE-MANAGED REACTION TO THE BELGRADE BOMBING WAS UNWARRANTED. IT SUGGESTS THAT IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING HAVE RESTED ON A DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE FOUNDATION.

TEXT: ALSO ON U-S CHINA RELATIONS, THE ALLEGED DECADE-LONG ESPIONAGE AT U-S NUCLEAR LABS BY CHINESE AGENTS STEALING SECRETS OF MINIATURIZING NUCLEAR BOMBS, DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM TODAY'S "MANCHESTER [NEW HAMPSHIRE] UNION LEADER."

VOICE: IS THERE ANYTHING THESE PEOPLE [IN THE WHITE HOUSE] WILL NOT LIE ABOUT? IN MARCH, BILL CLINTON SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY EVIDENCE THAT RED CHINA'S SPYING AT THE LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB HAD OCCURRED DURING HIS TERM IN OFFICE. ON NBC'S 'MEET THE PRESS' SUNDAY, ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS UNTRUE. IN FACT, THE F-B-I BRIEFED MR. CLINTON LAST NOVEMBER ABOUT ON-GOING CHINESE ESPIONAGE. ... MEANWHILE, WHEN HE IS NOT LYING, MR. CLINTON IS DOING THE OTHER THING AT WHICH HE EXCELS - - GROVELING BEFORE THE CHICOMS [EDITORS: SHORTHAND FOR CHINESE COMMUNISTS].

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THE PRESIDENT'S SUMMIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES."

VOICE: /// OPT /// THOSE LOOKING FOR QUICK SOLUTIONS OR EASY SCAPEGOATING WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IN MONDAY'S ... CONFERENCE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE, CONVENED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE WAKE OF THE APRIL 20 [TH] SCHOOL SHOOTING IN LITTLETON, COLORADO. /// END OPT /// THE CONFERENCE ... WAS REMARKABLY FREE OF THE REFLEXIVE FINGER-POINTING THAT EVEN SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAD FEARED. ... THE CONFERENCE COULD PROVIDE THE BEGINNING OF A CONSTRUCTIVE - - AND MORE LASTING - - NATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VIOLENCE POISONING OUR CULTURE.

TEXT: TOPEKA'S [KANSAS] "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SAYS THAT "EVERYONE MUST HELP," SUGGESTING THAT "THE SUMMIT WAS A GOOD START. BUT WE NEED A REASONABLE N-R-A [NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION] AT THE TABLE - AND TO STOP BANKROLLING HOLLYWOOD'S VIOLENCE."

AND IN THE MIDWEST, "THE ST. PAUL [MINNESOTA] PIONEER PRESS" ADDS:

VOICE: ... THE SESSION ALSO REVIEWED TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY THAT HELP FAMILIES FILTER THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND RE-TESTED THE EDGES OF ADULT ATTITUDES TOWARD VIOLENCE. A HOPEFUL RESULT, IN OUR VIEW, OF MONDAY'S GATHERING WAS THE PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE TO SURGEON GENERAL DAVID SATCHER TO PREPARE THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN TEN YEARS OF THE CAUSES OF YOUTH VIOLENCE.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THERE IS GROWING ATTENTION AND ANXIETY ABOUT THE ISRAELI ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY. "THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE" IS UPSET AT THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT'S LATEST MOVE TO CLOSE DOWN WHAT IS, UNOFFICIALLY, THE PALESTINIAN EMBASSY IN EAST JERUSALEM, ORIENT HOUSE.

VOICE: POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY CAN BE AN UGLY AND DANGEROUS THING. ... OBVIOUSLY SEEKING TO BOOST HIS FLAGGING RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN ... [MR.] NETANYAHU AND HIS CABINET SEEM INTENT ON CREATING A CRISIS TO WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE A HARD-LINE STANCE AND THUS CURRY FAVOR WITH THE ISRAELI RIGHT WING AND SCARE OTHER VOTERS INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS. IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST CYNICAL POLITICAL PLOYS IN THE BOOK.

TEXT: WHILE IN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" NOTES THERE ARE MANY LOCAL ISSUES AT STAKE IN THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE DORMANT PEACE PROCESS.

VOICE: PLAGUING ISRAEL IS A SLOW ECONOMY, HIGH JOBLESS RATE, AND A BADLY DIVIDED ELECTORATE. ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS FADED FROM TWO-POINT-TWO PERCENT LAST YEAR TO ONE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT. UNEMPLOYMENT STANDS AT EIGHT-POINT-SEVEN PERCENT WITH HIGHER NUMBERS IN REGIONS WHERE RUSSIANS IMMIGRANTS AND WORKING-CLASS SEPHARDIC JEWS RESIDE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" TAKES NOTE THAT A SECOND MARINE CORPS COURTS MARTIAL HAS SENTENCED THE PILOT OF A U-S MARINE CORPS JET RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ITALIAN SKI GONDOLA ACCIDENT KILLING 20 PEOPLE TO SIX MONTHS OF JAIL AND DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE MARINES.

VOICE: FORTUNATELY, THE MARINE CORPS HAD A SECOND CHANCE TO REVISIT THE ASHBY MATTER [AFTER ACQUITTING HIM OF RECKLESS MANSLAUGHTER ON CHARGES OF KILLING THE SKIERS IN A FIRST COURTS MARTIAL] ...[CAPTAIN] ASHBY'S LAWYER CLAIMS JAIL TIME IS EXCESSIVE. ON THE CONTRARY, IT IS A SORELY NEEDED REMINDER THAT THE WORLD'S FINEST MILITARY WILL REMAIN SO ONLY IF THOSE IN POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

TEXT: COMMENTING ON THE LATEST SETBACK FOR THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, KENNETH STARR, IN HIS CONTINUING INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SUGGESTS THAT THE LATEST FEDERAL JURY MISTRIAL OF JULIE HIATT STEELE, A MINOR FIGURE IN THE WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION, INDICATES MR. STARR'S PROBE MAY BE RUNNING OUT OF LEGAL FORCE.

VOICE: FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO, MOST AMERICANS HAVE BEEN OF THE VIEW THAT KENNETH STARR IS AN OVERZEALOUS PROSECUTOR WHOSE CRUSADE AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON OVERWHELMED ANY SENSE OF PROPORTION. LATELY, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR HAS BEEN GETTING THE SAME MESSAGE FROM AN EVEN LESS WELCOME SOURCE: FEDERAL [TRIAL] JURIES. ... [MS.] STEELE'S LAWYERS DIDN'T PUT HER ON THE STAND, FEELING THAT THE PROSECUTION CASE WAS SO RICKETY AS TO COLLAPSE ON ITS OWN. BUT [MR.] STARR'S DEPUTIES, ACCORDING TO NEWS ACCOUNTS, WERE STUNNED BY THE DEFEAT. THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. ... SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THEM [THE STARR STAFF] IT'S TIME TO BRING THIS LOCOMOTIVE [A EUPHEMISM FOR THE INVESTIGATION BEING IN A "RUNAWAY MODE"] TO A HALT.

TEXT: THE AFRICAN NATION OF MALI AND SOME OTHER SMALL NATIONS, COME IN FOR SOME PRAISE FROM TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" IN NAMING SEVERAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING BENIN, MALAWI GEORGIA, GUYANA AND MONGOLIA, THAT HAVE EMBARKED ON THE PATH OF DEMOCRACY. "THE POST" IS SALUTING A FORTHCOMING DEMOCRACY SUMMIT IN YEMEN.

VOICE: RELATIVELY OUT-OF-THE WAY NATIONS SUCH AS MALI STRUGGLE IN THE SHADOW BOTH OF THE SUCCESS STORIES AND OF THE NATIONS GONE DISASTROUSLY WRONG. BUT THEIR STRUGGLES ARE IN SOME WAYS ALL THE MORE HEROIC FOR THEIR RELATIVE OBSCURITY. MOREOVER, THERE ARE PRACTICAL REASONS TO HELP THEM ALONG. SMALL COUNTRIES CAN HAVE A CONTAGIOUS EFFECT ON LARGER, MORE STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORS; SUCCESS CAN SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE, BACKSLIDING A DEMORALIZING ONE. AND THE FAILURE OF SMALL COUNTRIES CAN HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE HUMAN AND FINANCIAL COAST, AS RWANDA AND SERBIA DEMONSTRATE.

TEXT: FINALLY, SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE DISCOVERY ON THE ICY, HIGHER SLOPES OF MOUNT EVEREST, OF THE BODY OF EARLY MOUNTAIN CLIMBER GEORGE MALLORY, WHO MAY HAVE REACHED THE SUMMIT IN 1924, BUT DIED ON THE WAY DOWN. TODAY'S "TULSA WORLD" NOTES:

VOICE: IF MALLORY AND [ANDREW] IRVINE REACHED THE SUMMIT ... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 29 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY SIR EDMOND HILLARY AND SHERPA TENZING NORGAY. EVEN IF IT CAN BE PROVED THAT MALLORY AND IRVINE REACHED THE SUMMIT FIRST, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE [EDITORS: UNDERSTOOD HERE "AWAY", MEANING DETRACT FROM] HILLARY'S FEAT. AFTER ALL, HE LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/GE
12-May-99 11:16 AM EDT (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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