Voice of America, 99-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (S&L) CQ BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[02] KOSOVO TALKS (L ONLY UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[03] HUNGARY/SNOW BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

[01] KOSOVO TALKS (S&L) CQ BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MET WITH NEGOTIATORS (SUNDAY) AT THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT OR FACE MILITARY INTERVENTION. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: AFTER A WEEK OF APPARENTLY FRUITLESS TALKS AT THE CHATEAU OF RAMBOUILLET, SOUTH OF PARIS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MET SEPARATELY WITH THE SERBIAN-LED DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS SEEKING SELF-RULE FOR THE PROVINCE. EARLIER, SHE HAD TALKS IN HER PARIS HOTEL WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILAN MILUTINOVIC WHO MADE THE OMINOUS WARNING EARLIER IN THE WEEKEND THAT NATO COULD BE FACING WHAT HE CALLS "A EUROPEAN VIETNAM".

MRS. ALBRIGHT IS ALSO ATTENDING A MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED "CONTACT GROUP" OF SIX NATIONS THAT CONVENED THE PEACE TALKS. THE GROUP, COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND ITALY, HAS GIVEN THE TWO SIDES UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY TO COME UP WITH A PEACE AGREEMENT.

ASIDE FROM THE CONTACT GROUP MEETING, THE 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ALSO MET IN PARIS TO COME UP WITH A JOINT POSITION AIMED AT COAXING SOME PROGRESS OUT OF THE TALKS.

IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED, THEN NATO PLANS TO SEND A PEACE FORCE TO MONITOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN STICKING POINTS, SINCE YUGOSLAVIA HAS SO FAR REFUSED THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN TROOPS ON ITS SOIL. THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS THE SUPPORT OF RUSSIA WHICH SAYS IT CANNOT BACK THE DISPATCH OF A PEACE FORCE UNLESS BELGRADE AGREES FIRST.

THE PURPOSE OF THE (SUNDAY) FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IS TO SHOW BELGRADE NATO IS SERIOUS ABOUT INTERVENTION, WHILE PERSUADING THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THEY TOO MUST COMPROMISE TO RETAIN INTERNATIONAL SYMPATHY FOR THEIR CAUSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
14-Feb-99 9:56 AM EST (1456 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO TALKS (L ONLY UPDATE) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PUT PRESSURE ON NEGOTIATORS AT KOSOVO PEACE TALKS (SUNDAY) TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT OR FACE MILITARY INTERVENTION. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS PARTNERS IN THE PEACE PROCESS GAVE THE TWO SIDES SIX-DAYS IN WHICH TO REACH AGREEMENT.

TEXT: THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON YUGOSLAVIA GAVE THE BELGRADE DELEGATION AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS SEEKING AUTONOMY UNTIL NOON SATURDAY TO CONCLUDE A PEACE ACCORD -- ACKNOWLEDGING THE FIRST WEEK OF KOSOVO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AT RAMBOUILLET, SOUTH OF PARIS, HAVE BEEN SLOW-MOVING AND PRODUCED FEW RESULTS,

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT, WHO MANAGED TO BRING TOGETHER THE LEADERS OF THE TWO TEAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE OPENING CEREMONY, SAID THEY KNOW TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

\\\ ALBRIGHT ACT.\\\

I WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE LEADERS OF THE TWO DELEGATIONS TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME EARLIER TODAY. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THE TIME IS SHORT AND THAT THE KILLING MUST STOP.

\\\ END ACT \\\

MRS. ALBRIGHT SAID SHE EXPECTS THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN DELEGATES TO SIGN THE CONTACT GROUP'S FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE IN THE COMING WEEK. THIS PROVIDES FOR WHAT THE GROUP, COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND ITALY, CALLS -- SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY WITH CONTROL OF THE PROVINCE'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY.

MRS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE SLOW PROGRESS IN THE FIRST DAYS OF TALKS MUST END IF FURTHER TRAGEDY IS TO BE AVERTED.

\\\ ALBRIGHT ACT \\\

I REMINDED BOTH GROUPS TODAY THAT THE CONTACT GROUP'S PROPOSALS WERE NOT PUT FORWARD TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BICKERING AND DELAY. THEY ARE A ROAD MAP FOR PEACE. THE PARTIES MAY CHOOSE TO TAKE THE PATH TOWARD A RATIONAL SOLUTION THAT WILL ACHIEVE PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO. OR THEY MAY TURN BACK TO DISASTER, CHAOS AND MORE KILLING.

\\\ END ACT \\\

THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE SAID SHE STRESSED THREATS OF NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST MILITARY POSITIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT. SHE SAID SHE WANTS THE SERBS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEACE ACCORD IS IN THEIR INTERESTS.

SHE SAID THERE COULD NOT BE MEANINGFUL PEACE ACCORD WITHOUT WHAT SHE CALLED A "NATO-LED" PEACE FORCE. BELGRADE HAS SO FAR REJECTED THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN TROOPS ON ITS SOIL. BUT MRS. ALBRIGHT'S FORMULA LEAVES THE WAY OPEN FOR THE INCLUSION OF TROOPS FROM OUTSIDE NATO, SUCH AS RUSSIA, WHICH IS THE SERBS' MAIN INTERNATIONAL ALLY.

MRS. ALBRIGHT SAID THAT IF BELGRADE DOES NOT ACCEPT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION NOW, THEN CIVIL CONFLICT WILL CONTINUE AND THIS WILL EVENTUALLY ENDANGER THE FUTURE OF WHAT REMAINS OF THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/DW/RAE
14-Feb-99 1:44 PM EST (1844 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] HUNGARY/SNOW BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

TEXT: DESPITE SNOWSTORMS AND POOR VISIBILITY, HUNGARIAN PILOTS IN AMRY HELICOPTERS ARE TRYING TO DROP FOOD AND MEDICINE TO ABOUT 400 VILLAGES AND SMALL TOWNS

ON THE GROUND, POLICE AND AMBULANCE WORKERS RESCUED MORE THAN 60 ITALIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN SATURDAY FROM THEIR SNOWBOUND BUS. BUT HELP CAME TOO LATE FOR DOZENS OF HUNGARIANS WHO DIED DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

EXPERTS SAY THE REGION OF NORTHEAST HUNGARY IS EXPERIENCING THE WORST SNOWFALL IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. AND HUNGARY'S NEIGHBORS ARE SUFFERING TOO -- ESPECIALLY THE UKRAINE AND ROMANIA.

IN UKRAINE'S CARPATHIAN REGION, THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS AND RESCUE WORKERS ARE PUSHING THEIR WAY INTO SOME 100 SETTLEMENTS CUT OFF FROM WATER AND POWER SUPPLIES. IN ROMANIA REPORTS HAVE EMERGED ABOUT HEROIC ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF PATIENTS UNABLE TO REACH A HOSPPITAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/SD
13-Feb-99 7:06 PM EST (0006 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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