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Voice of America, 99-05-06Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L UPDATE) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249055 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO SAYS IT IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AGAINST SERB FORCES WHO ARE CONDUCTING ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN WALTER JERTZ TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE ALLIANCE HAS ACHIEVED TWO OF ITS GOALS IN KOSOVO -- PINNING DOWN THE SERB FORCES AND CUTTING THEM OFF FROM THEIR SUPPLY LINES. HE SAYS IT IS NOW BEGINNING WORK TOWARD ITS THIRD AIM -- TAKING OUT THE SERB TROOPS. GENERAL JERTZ HIGHLIGHTED WHAT HE CALLED NATO SUCCESS IN CUTTING OFF THE SERB FORCES. /// JERTZ ACT ONE ///WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DANUBE BRIDGE IN BELGRADE, ALL BUT TWO DANUBE BRIDGES ARE DESTROYED. AND THIS IS WITHIN A TOTAL OF 31 BRIDGES ATTACKED THROUGHOUT THE AREA OF OPERATIONS. THE TWO MAJOR RAIL ROUTES INTO KOSOVO HAVE BEEN CLOSED. THE TWO MAJOR ROAD ROUTES FROM SERBIA INTO KOSOVO HAVE BEEN CLOSED ALSO. THE OTHER TWO, HOWEVER, MORE MINOR ROADS ARE SEVERELY DAMAGED. WE HAVE TOTALLY DESTROYED OIL REFINING CAPACITY, SO THAT MILOSEVIC HAS TO RELY ON IMPORTED FUEL, COSTING MONEY. SEVENTY PERCENT OF MILITARY STOCKS (OF FUEL) HAVE GONE, SO HAS A THIRD OF FUEL STORAGE CAPACITY. /// END ACT ////// OPT ////// OPT ///GENERAL JERTZ SAYS NATO IS DETECTING SIGNS THAT SERB FORCES ARE BECOMING DEMORALIZED -- SUFFERING FROM POOR FOOD, FATIGUE, LOW PAY, DIFFICULT LIVING CONDITIONS, AND FEAR OF ATTACK. /// JERTZ ACT TWO ///WHAT DO ALL THESE STATISTICS MEAN, WHERE IT MATTERS, ON THE GROUND? MILOSEVIC'S FORCES IN THE FIELD ARE BEING TAKEN APART BIT BY BIT, FASTER AND FASTER. THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY, LET ALONE CARRY OUT ACTS OF BRUTALITY, IS FURTHER REDUCED WITH EACH DAY THAT PASSES. /// END ACT ///GENERAL JERTZ SAYS THE SERB TROOPS ARE NOW FORCED TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES, RATHER THAN TO PERSECUTE OTHERS. AS A RESULT, HE
SAYS, WHILE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO IS NOT ENTIRELY
HALTED, NATO BELIEVES IT IS HAVING A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE ABILITY
OF SERB FORCES TO CONDUCT THEIR ANTI-ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
[02] KOSOVO/PENTAGON SITREP (L)(CQ) BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249025 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POOR WEATHER, AS WELL AS THE CRASH OF A U-S ARMY APACHE HELICOPTER IN ALBANIA, ARE THE LATEST SETBACKS FOR NATO'S AIR WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. BUT WITH SUMMER APPROACHING IN THE BALKANS, U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS EXPECT THE BOMBING TO FURTHER INTENSIFY, AS THE WEATHER TURNS TO NATO'S ADVANTAGE. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS ARE NOW PLANNING FOR NATO'S AIR WAR TO LAST AT LEAST INTO THE MONTH OF JULY, WHEN MORE THAN 700 SORTIES A DAY ARE PLANNED. SKIES OVER SERBIA ARE EXPECTED TO BE MUCH CLEARER IN THE SUMMER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN DURING THE SPRING MONTHS. IN THE PAST DAY OR SO, NATO WARPLANES HAVE STRUCK SERB RADIO AND T-V TRANSMITTERS, SERB ARMY GARRISONS IN KOSOVO AS WELL AS FUEL DEPOTS. AND ANOTHER YUGOSLAV MIG-29 JET, ONE OF BELGRADE'S FRONT-LINE FIGHTERS, HAS ALSO BEEN DESTROYED. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN GENERAL CHUCK WALD EXPECTS FEWER SERB PILOTS WILL SOON BE IN THE SKIES OVER KOSOVO. /// WALD ACT ///THEIR PILOTS ARE LOSING THEIR PROFICIENCY. THEY'RE GOOD AT DRIVING AROUND ON THE GROUND, BUT NOT TOO GOOD AT FLYING ANY MORE. /// END ACT ///BUT THERE WAS MORE DISAPPOINTING NEWS FOR NATO WEDNESDAY, WITH THE SECOND CRASH OF A U-S ARMY APACHE HELICOPTER DURING A TRAINING MISSION IN ALBANIA. BOTH CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD WERE KILLED. THE CAUSE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT AN ARMY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO GROUND ANY OF THE 21 OTHER U-S ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN THE REGION. THE CHOPPERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN GIVEN A GO-AHEAD TO BE DEPLOYED AGAINST SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO. THERE WAS A BIT OF WELCOME NEWS FOR NATO WEDNESDAY. NEW MEMBER
HUNGARY -- THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE THAT SHARES A BORDER
WITH YUGOSLAVIA -- HAS AGREED TO A REQUEST TO STATION 24 AMERICAN
F-18 FIGHTER BOMBERS ON ITS TERRITORY. (SIGNED)
[03] MACEDONIA / TENSIONS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43323 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MACEDONIA SUDDENLY CLOSED ITS BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE WEDNESDAY, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS STRANDED ON THE OTHER SIDE. THERE ARE ALREADY MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT CANNOT COPE WITH ANY MORE. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A LOOK AT MACEDONIA'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BURDEN IN COPING WITH THE REFUGEE CRISIS. TEXT: MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WILL TAKE IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO THAT MATCHES THE NUMBER BEING AIRLIFTED OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT CAN NO LONGER HANDLE THE MASSIVE FLOOD OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. MACEDONIANS WARN THE REFUGEE CRISIS IS TEARING AT THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FIBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. EMILIJA SIMOSKA RUNS THE "CENTER FOR ETHNIC RELATIONS" IN SKOPJE. SHE SAYS THE CURRENT CRISIS AGGRAVATES THE FRAGILE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN MACEDONIA. /// SIMOSKA ACT ///FIRST WE HAVE, ON ONE SIDE, THE MACEDONIAN MAJORITY WHICH IS EXPERIENCING A PERIOD OF POLITICAL FRUSTRATION ITSELF -- WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ALBANIANS, BUT WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE STATUS OF THE COUNTRY. THEN THERE'S THE BAD ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATION, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL FRUSTRATION. YOU ARE ALWAYS MORE HOSTILE WHEN YOU ARE UNHAPPY OR HUNGRY. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA'S ECONOMY WAS FALTERING EVEN BEFORE THE REFUGEE CRISIS BEGAN MORE THAN MONTH AGO. ONE OUT OF THREE MACEDONIANS ARE OUT OF WORK. SINCE THE START OF NATO'S AIR STRIKES, MACEDONIA'S NUMBER-ONE TRADING PARTNER -- YUGOSLAVIA -- HAS BEEN CUT OFF. SO HAVE THE LAND ROUTES THROUGH THE SERB REPUBLIC TO OTHER EUROPEAN MARKETS. MANY COMPANIES ARE THREATENING TO LAY OFF WORKERS OR SHUT DOWN ALTOGETHER. AND NOW, MISS SIMOSKA SAYS, MACEDONIANS SEE PROMISES OF FOREIGN AID TO HELP THE REFUGEES -- WHILE THEY GROW POORER. /// SECOND SIMOSKA ACT ///HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THAT PERSON THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS INTERESTED IN THE REFUGEE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING BUT NOBODY IS INTERESTED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE SITUATION, WHICH IS HIS LOSS OF A JOB? /// END ACT ///LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE ASKING WHY REFUGEE AID AGENCIES DON'T BUY MORE OF FOODSTUFFS, BLANKETS AND OTHER SUPPLIES FROM MACEDONIAN SUPPLIERS? THE RISING FRUSTRATIONS, MISS SIMOSKA WARNS, ARE MATCHED BY RISING ANGER AT WHAT MACEDONIANS PERCEIVE AS THE LACK OF INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING. SOME 30 COUNTRIES HAVE PLEDGED TO TAKE IN 100-THOUSAND OF THE REFUGEES TO EASE MACEDONIA'S BURDEN. BUT SO FAR, FEWER THAN 27-THOUSAND HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN AIRLIFTED OUT. /// THIRD SIMOSKA ACT ///YOU SEE MACEDONIA ... HAS ACCEPTED 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE (REFUGEES ) ALREADY EVEN IN BAD CONDITIONS. BUT WE HAVE ACCEPTED THEM. THEY ARE HERE. AND NOW WE ARE THE "BAD GUYS" AGAIN WITH 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE, WHILE THE COUNTRIES WHICH DID NOT -- UNTIL A WEEK AGO, LIKE BRITAIN WHICH DIDN'T -- WANT TO TAKE IN REFUGEES, NOW APPEAR AS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GIVE ADVICE OR MAKE YOU LOOK BAD OR HAVE A WHOLE MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST MACEDONIA. THAT MAKES A MACEDONIAN CITIZEN VERY MAD, BELIEVE ME. /// END ACT ///MISS SIMOSKA WARNS THE RISING ANGER COULD EASILY BE USED TO FUEL TENSIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA'S OWN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES. //OPT// ETHNIC ALBANIANS MAKE UP ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF TWO MILLION. SHE SAYS THE SERB MINORITY NUMBERS LESS THAN 50-THOUSAND BUT HAS INFLUENCE BEYOND ITS COMMUNITY THROUGH INTERMARRIAGES AND POLITICAL PRESSURES. /// FOURTH SIMOSKA ACT ///AFTER A CERTAIN POINT, NOBODY CONTROLS THE SITUATION, NOT FROM OUTSIDE NOT FROM INSIDE. THAT'S THE SCARY THING. /// END ACT /////END OPT//MACEDONIA'S PRIME MINISTER LJUBCO GEORGIEVSKI DID NOT WASTE WORDS WHEN HE TOLD BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER EARLIER THIS WEEK, HIS GOVERNMENT NEEDS HELP NOW. /// GEORGIEVSKI ACT ///WITHOUT SERIOUS INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO CARRY ON THE BURDEN. /// END ACT //A PARADE OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS INTO MACEDONIA HAS LEFT BEHIND PROMISES OF INCREASED POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP THE COUNTRY COPE WITH THE 200-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES NOW IN THE COUNTRY. A DONORS MEETING IN PARIS HAS PROMISED A BIT MORE THAN 200-MILLION DOLLARS IN AID -- ABOUT HALF OF WHAT MACEDONIA SAYS IT NEEDS. BUT FOR MANY MACEDONIANS THE PROMISES OF HELP ARE JUST THAT --
PROMISES. THEY SAY THEY NEED PRACTICAL HELP -- AND THEY NEED IT
NOW. (SIGNED)
[04] MACEDONIA/BORDER (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BLACE, MACEDONIA)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249039 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MACEDONIA'S MAIN BORDER CROSSING WITH KOSOVO REMAINS CLOSED TO KOSOVAR REFUGEES TODAY/THURSDAY, WITH ONLY A TRICKLE OF TRAVELERS WITH MACEDONIAN IDENTITY PAPERS BEING ALLOWED TO ACROSS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE BLACE CROSSING ON THE SITUATION THERE. TEXT: MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES CLOSED THE BORDER AT DUSK ON WEDNESDAY. NOW THE OFFICIAL WORD IS THE BORDER IS OPEN. SO FAR, ONLY THOSE WITH PROPER MACEDONIAN IDENTITY DOCUMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO CROSS. ONE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN WHO PASSED THROUGH THE BORDER CHECKPOINT ON FOOT SAYS HE ARRIVED EARLIER IN THE MORNING BY TRAIN. HE SAYS HE WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER BECAUSE HE HAS MACEDONIAN DOCUMENTS. BUT HE SAYS THE TRAIN HE CAME ON FROM UROSEVAC (OR FEREZAJ (PRON: FER-EH-ZEI) IN ALBANIAN) WAS TURNED BACK FROM THE BORDER, ALONG WITH THE OTHERS STILL ON BOARD. U-N REFUGEE AGENCY FIELD OFFICER ASTRID VAN GENDEREN STORT SAYS ABOUT ONE-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE TURNED BACK THURSDAY EVENING. /// STORT ACT ///AFTER THAT THE SERB POLICE PUSHED THE REFUGEES BACK USING BATONS (POLICE STICKS) AND HITTING THEM. AND PEOPLE WERE VERY AFRAID AND VERY TRAUMATIZED AT THAT POINT AND WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. /// END ACT //MISS VAN GENDEREN STORT SAYS AID WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO THE REFUGEES WHILE THEY WAIT ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHE SAYS U-N OFFICIALS ARE TALKING WITH MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS. /// SECOND STORT ACT//WHAT HAS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IS A PURE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- A PURE VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 33 OF THE 1951 CONVENTION OF REFUGEES. REFUGEES WHO ARE FEARING PERSECUTION IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY SHOULD BY NO MEANS BE RETURNED TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WITNESSED WITH MY OWN EYES. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA COMPLAINS IT CANNOT COPE WITH THE FLOOD OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES. THERE ARE MORE THAN 200-THOUAND KOSOVARS NOW IN MACEDONIA. THAT EQUALS ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF THE POPULATION. NEARLY HALF THE REFUGEES ARE CRAMMED INTO NINE OVERCROWDED CAMPS. OTHERS HAVE FOUND SHELTER WITHIN MACEDONIA'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMUNITY. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO EASE THE FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL BURDEN AND AIRLIFT REFUGEES TO OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT SO FAR FEWER THAN 27-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE BEEN FLOWN OUT. PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO MOVE MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND KOSOVAR
REFUGEES TO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA WHEN NEW CAMPS ARE BUILT TO HOUSE
THEM. (SIGNED)
[05] FORT DIX / REFUGEES ARRIVE / S/L BY MAX RUSTON (MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249026 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE FIRST KOSOVO REFUGEES TO ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE WELCOMED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE IN NEW JERSEY BY FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON. MRS. CLINTON PROMISED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WILL NOT PREVENT THEM FROM RETURNING HOME TO KOSOVO. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: MRS. CLINTON RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION AND REPEATED APPLAUSE FROM THE 453 KOSOVO REFUGEES AS SHE GREETED THEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE. SHE SAID AMERICANS ARE SAD AND ANGRY AT THE SUFFERING THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND ARE DETERMINED TO ENSURE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME. /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///WE WILL NOT LET MR. MILOSEVIC SUCCEED IN KEEPING YOU OUT OF YOUR HOME. /// END ACTUALITY ///THE REFUGEES -- ABOUT HALF OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN -- ARE THE FIRST OF 20 THOUSAND SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THEY WILL GRADUALLY BE RESETTLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVENTUALLY BE GIVEN A CHOICE TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES OR RETURN TO KOSOVO, ONCE THE SITUATION THERE PERMITS. /// REST OPTIONAL ///U-S OFFICIALS SAY THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS HAVE OFFERED HOMES, JOBS, MONEY AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE REFUGEES. SEVERAL ALBANIAN-AMERICANS WERE AT MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE TO WELCOME THE REFUGEES AND ASSIST AS INTERPRETERS. ONE MAN, WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF ONLY AS "HELLA," SAYS HE IS WILLING TO OPEN HIS HOME TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE. /// HELLA ACTUALITY ///I HAVE A SMALL HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT WITH HARD WORK. PROBABLY I WILL FILL IT UP [WITH REFUGEES] IF I HAVE TO, UNTIL IT FALLS DOWN. BUT IT WILL FALL DOWN FROM PEOPLE, AND NOT FROM MILOSEVIC'S TANKS AND ARTILLERY. /// END ACTUALITY ///AFTER BEING WELCOMED BY MRS. CLINTON, THE WEARY REFUGEES WERE TAKEN TO THE FORT DIX MILITARY BASE IN NEW JERSEY, WHERE NINE DORMITORIES HAVE BEEN PREPARED AS TEMPORARY RESIDENCES FOR THEM. FORT DIX COMMANDER GENERAL MITCHELL ZAIS STRESSED THAT THE REFUGEES ENTERED THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY AND THAT EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO MAKE THEIR VISIT IS COMFORTABLE. HE SAYS HE IS TRYING TO WELCOME THEM TO AMERICA AS HE WOULD HAVE HOPED SO MANY PEOPLE'S GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE WELCOMED DECADES AGO. SPECIAL CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AT FORT DIX TO TEACH THE
REFUGEES ENGLISH AND ABOUT AMERICAN CULTURE. CAFETERIAS ARE NOT
SERVING PORK OR ALCOHOL, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE MANY MUSLIMS
AMONG THE REFUGEES. SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO HELP PEOPLE
LOCATE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. 'ROUND-THE-CLOCK MEDICAL SERVICES
ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO TREAT THOSE SUFFERING FROM TRAUMA.
AND PLAYROOMS -- OVERFLOWING WITH TOYS AND GAMES -- HAVE BEEN SET
UP FOR THE CHILDREN. (SIGNED)
[06] KOSOVO / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249053 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE SAYS SHE HOPES TO MEET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO DISCUSS WHAT SHE CALLS "THE HUMAN RIGHTS CATASTROPHE" IN AND AROUND KOSOVO. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN TIRANA REPORTS THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS ARE GATHERING EVIDENCE OF ALLEGED ATROCITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. TEXT: THE U-N'S TOP HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL, MARY ROBINSON, MET IN THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL (THURSDAY) WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INVESTIGATING CHARGES OF GENOCIDE IN KOSOVO. THE TALKS FOCUSED ON ESTABLISHING A STRONG DATA BASE ON ALLEGED ATROCITIES. AFTERWARD, MS. ROBINSON TOLD REPORTERS SHE WILL GO TO BELGRADE NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS PRELIMINARY FINDINGS WITH YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS, POSSIBLY INCLUDING PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. /// ROBINSON ACT ONE ///IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THAT MESSAGE VERY CLEARLY, NOT JUST TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IF I HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO TO THE SERBIAN PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, WHO MAY BE IN DENIAL, WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THEIR NAME, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE. /// END ACT ///MS. ROBINSON SAID SHE WAS DISTURBED BY REPORTS COMING FROM BELGRADE THAT KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE FLEEING THEIR HOMES TO ESCAPE NATO BOMBS. /// ROBINSON ACT TWO ///SO FAR, EVERY FAMILY I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE TOLD ME THEY DID NOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE BOMBING. THEY LEFT THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY WERE DRIVEN OUT PHYSICALLY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING HOME THE MESSAGE OF THE BLATANT, FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, SO THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY QUESTION OF NOT KNOWING AND BEING TOLD OF THE RESPONSIBILITY. /// END ACT ///BUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER ALSO HAD HARSH WORDS FOR NATO SPOKESMEN FOR ATTEMPTING TO DOWNPLAY THE CIVILIAN DEATHS CAUSED BY ALLIANCE AIR STRIKES. /// ROBINSON ACT THREE ///I HAVE CRITICIZED THE TERMINOLOGY OF USING THE TERM COLLATERAL DAMAGE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND PEOPLE'S LIVES, SO WE TALK ABOUT KILLING AND INJURY. /// END ACT ///MS. ROBINSON ALSO SAID THAT WHILE MOST OF THE EVIDENCE BEING COMPILED IS COMING FROM KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO ACCEPTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLEGED CRIMES BY NATO FORCES. /// OPT ////// OPT // RISLEY ACT ONE ///THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO TODAY IS REQUIRING THE TRIBUNAL TO ACT AS A REAL-TIME DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MIGHT. INSTEAD OF INVESTIGATING CRIMES THAT PERHAPS OCCURRED ONE OR TWO OR THREE YEARS EARLIER, WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT CRIMES THAT OCCURRED ONLY SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER, AND WE'RE INVESTIGATING WITNESSES FOR WHOM THE MEMORIES ARE VERY FRESH, WHO ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY NAMES, PLACES AND DATES. /// END ACT ///// OPT ////// OPT // RISLEY ACT TWO ///THE SCOPE OF THIS TERROR IS SO GREAT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALLOW OUR INVESTIGATIONS TO PROCEED TO THE VERY HIGHEST LEVELS WITHIN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. /// END ACT // END OPT ///OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON
DOCUMENTING WAR CRIMES IN KOSOVO. THEY SAY THE U-N AND WAR
CRIMES TRIBUNAL STAFF ALREADY IN THE FIELD WILL SOON BE
REINFORCED BY ADDITIONAL MONITORS FROM THE NORWEGIAN AND SWISS
GOVERNMENTS. (SIGNED)
[07] KOSOVO / U-N-H-C-R (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249042 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, HAS DELAYED ITS PLANS TO TRANSFER THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM MACEDONIA TO ALBANIA. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE NOT YET AGREED TO ALL DETAILS OF THE PLAN. TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY WAS PLANNING TO START MOVING MORE THAN FIVE-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES FROM MACEDONIA TO KORCA, ALBANIA ON THURSDAY. THE MOVE WAS TO HELP EASE OVERCROWDED CAMP CONDITIONS IN MACEDONIA. BUT, U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS THE AGENCY HAS BEEN FORCED TO DELAY THE MOVE. IN FACT, HE SAYS NOT MANY OF THE REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA HAVE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO BE TRANSFERRED. /// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///WE HAVE CHECKED TO SOME EXTENT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MACEDONIA AT THE MOMENT. WE HAVE NOT FOUND TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD VOLUNTARILY BE TRANSFERRED TO ALBANIA. WE THINK THAT IF THE PEOPLE, EVEN AFTER THE TRANSFER TO ALBANIA, STILL HAD THE OPTION OF BEING FLOWN OUT, THEN THEY WOULD BE MORE WILLING TO MOVE. /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS INSISTED THAT THE REFUGEES WOULD HAVE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE TRANSFER FROM MACEDONIA TO ALBANIA. IN ADDITION, THE AGENCY SAYS THE REFUGEES WHO MOVE TO ALBANIA WILL HAVE TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSFERS TO THIRD COUNTRIES. MR JANOWSKI SAYS MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE AGREED TO THESE CONDITIONS. BUT, THE ALBANIANS HAVE NOT. /// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///THE RELUCTANCE IS PRIMARILY ON THE PART OF ALBANIA. WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR 'NO' FROM THEM. BUT, WE DON'T HAVE AN EXPLICIT AGREEMENT THAT PEOPLE WILL BE TAKEN FROM KORCA FOR EXAMPLE NEAR LAKE OHRID, THAT THESE PEOPLE WOULD THEN BE STILL ALLOWED TO FLY OUT, AND WE WANT TO HAVE THAT AGREEMENT, BASICALLY. /// END ACT ///MR. JANOWSKI SAYS HE IS PUZZLED BY THE ALBANIAN POSITION. HOWEVER, UNTIL THE SITUATION IS CLARIFIED, HE SAYS THE REFUGEES WILL REMAIN IN MACEDONIA. IN THE MEANTIME, THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS APPEALED TO MACEDONIA
TO KEEP ITS BORDERS OPEN TO THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO ARE FLEEING
FROM KOSOVO. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND
DEATH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
[08] REFUGEE SECURITY (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (KUKES, ALBANIA)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249028 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AID AGENCY OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA ARE THREATENING TO CLOSE CROWDED REFUGEE CAMPS THAT ARE WITHIN STRIKING RANGE OF SERB ARTILLERY POSITIONS, JUST ACROSS THE BORDER IN KOSOVO. HOWEVER, AS VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM THE TOWN OF KUKES, REFUGEES ARE REFUSING TO MOVE. TEXT: WHEN A RELIEF WORKER FROM THE MAIN CROSSING POINT FROM KOSOVO INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA WAS TOLD THIS WEEK THAT NATO FORCES BOMBED A GUARD POST IN THE HILLS, HALF A KILOMETER AWAY, HE REPLIED: "IF THEY DID THAT, IT WOULD BE CRIMINAL." HE ADDED, "THEY MUST BE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS." THE WORKER'S COMMENTS REFLECT A GROWING CONCERN THAT THIS BORDER REGION, CROWDED WITH MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES, MIGHT BECOME A FLASHPOINT FOR HOSTILITIES. //OPT// THERE ARE ALREADY SCATTERED REPORTS OF SERB TROOPS SHELLING NEARBY BORDER VILLAGES. ONE SHELL LANDING IN A REFUGEE CAMP COULD BE DISASTROUS. //END OPT// SECURITY IS NOT THE ONLY CHALLENGE FACING RELIEF AGENCIES. THE MOUNTAINOUS BORDER REGION AROUND KUKES IS A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE. THE FOOD AND OTHER RELIEF SUPPLIES NEEDED IN THE CAMPS IS EITHER AIRLIFTED BY HELICOPTER, OR TRUCKED-IN OVER A TREACHEROUS MOUNTAIN ROAD WHERE THREE RELIEF WORKERS WERE KILLED LAST MONTH. BUT DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF AID AGENCIES TO MOVE NEW ARRIVALS TO CAMPS FURTHER SOUTH, THE REFUGEE POPULATION IN AND AROUND KUKES HAS STUBBORNLY HELD AT AROUND 100-THOUSAND. JEFF ROWLAND SPOKESMAN FOR THE "WORLD FOOD PROGRAM" IN ALBANIA -- SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PERSUADE REFUGEES TO MOVE. /// ROWLAND ACT///WE'VE ACTUALLY DECIDED TO NOT INCREASE OUR STORAGE SPACE IN KUKES, BUT TO INCREASE IN OTHER PARTS, SO THAT WHEN THOSE PEOPLE DO MOVE DOWN AND KUKES EMPTIES OUT, WE'LL BE READY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE FOOD, WHEREVER THEY ARE, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. /// END ACT /////OPT///// SECOND ROWLAND ACT///KUKES IS 18 KILOMETERS FROM THE (KOSOVO) BORDER. IT'S VERY CLOSE. IT'S IN FIRING RANGE. SO FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR OWN LIVES, WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE. ///END ACT /////END OPT//BUT THE REFUGEES HAVE OTHER IDEAS. THEY WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO THE BORDER. MARCO PEZZOTTA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN-RUN "KUKES-ONE" CAMP THAT IS HOME TO 45-HUNDRED REFUGEES, SAYS EVERY DAY HIS STAFF TURNS AWAY HUNDREDS OF NEW ARRIVALS LOOKING FOR SPACE. THEY ALL WANT TO STAY IN KUKES, RATHER THAN FACE THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE FURTHER SOUTH. MR. PEZZOTTA PREDICTS THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO MOVE THOSE ALREADY IN THE CAMPS IS BOUND TO FAIL. /// PEZZOTTA ACT ///I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE PEOPLE THEMSELVES DON'T WANT TO MOVE. BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY WANT TO COME BACK (TO KOSOVO) AS SOON AS THEY CAN. /// END ACT///MR. PEZZOTTA SAYS REGARDLESS OF PLANS BY THE BIG, INTERNATIONAL
AID AGENCIES, THE ITALIAN CAMPS WILL STAY IN THE KUKES REGION.
WHEN REMINDED OF THE DANGERS AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF GETTING
SUPPLIES THERE, HE SAID: "WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
HERE. POLITICAL PROBLEMS ARE OF NO CONCERN TO US." (SIGNED)
[09] CLINTON/KOSOVO ONITER BY DEBORAH TATE (FRANKFURT)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249023 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES BEING HOUSED TEMPORARILY IN GERMANY. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM FRANKFURT. TEXT: IT WILL BE MR. CLINTON'S FIRST MEETING WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO AND IT PROMISES TO BE AN EMOTIONAL ONE. HE WILL HEAR THEIR STORIES OF HOW THEY WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BY SERB AUTHORITIES, HOW THEIR FAMILIES WERE DIVIDED AND WHETHER THEIR LOVED ONES ARE MISSING OR DEAD. THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BRIAN ATWOOD, SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS USING DISPLACED ETHNIC ALBANIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS TO PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE OR MILITARY CONVOYS FROM NATO BOMBING. LATER THURSDAY MR. CLINTON MEETS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD
SCHHROEDER IN BONN TO DISCUSS THE NATO AIRCAMPAIGN OVER
YUGOSLAVIA. HE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON THURSDAY NIGHT. (SIGNED)
[10] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (INGLEHEIM, GERMANY)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249041 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS PROMISING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO FLED THE YUGOSLAV CRACKDOWN ON KOSOVO THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN HOME. HE MADE HIS COMMENTS AFTER MEETING WITH A GROUP OF THEM AT A REFUGEE CENTER IN INGLEHEIM, GERMANY. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. TEXT: AFTER HEARING EMOTIONAL STORIES FROM REFUGEES ABOUT HOW THEY WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES, THEIR FAMILIES DIVIDED AND SOME LOVED ONES MISSING OR KILLED, MR. CLINTON URGED THEM NOT TO LET THEIR HEARTS TURN TO STONE. HE OFFERED THEM A MESSAGE OF HOPE. // CLINTON ACTUALITY //WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO YOU AND YOUR HOME LAND CANNOT BE UNDONE, BUT YOU MUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN OR ABANDONED. MR. MILOSEVIC HAS NOT SUCCEEDED, AND ERASING YOUR IDENTITY FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY. HE WILL NOT SUCCEED IN ERASING YOUR PRESENCE FROM THE LAND OF YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. YOU WILL GO HOME AGAIN, IN SAFETY AND IN FREEDOM. // END ACT //THE MESSAGE MR. CLINTON RECEIVED FROM REFUGEES - LIKE THIS MAN - IS THAT THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO CAN ONLY END WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF GROUND TROOPS. // REFUGEE ACTUALITY //THE ONLY JUST SOLUTION IS THAT THE ARMED FORCES OF NATO ENTER KOSOVO. // END ACT //NATO IS DISCUSSING THE MAKE-UP OF SUCH A FORCE. EARLIER, MR. CLINTON TOLD EUROPEAN TELEVISION JOURNALISTS THAT RUSSIA MAY BE MOVING CLOSER TO AN AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN NATIONS ON THE NEED FOR A MILITARY FORCE IN KOSOVO AFTER LONG OPPOSING THE IDEA. THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE BELIEVES AN AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. HE ADDED THAT HE HOPED RUSSIA WOULD TAKE PART IN SUCH A MISSION. MR. CLINTON SPOKE AS FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE SEVEN MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AND RUSSIA GATHERED IN BONN TO OUTLINE A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO THAT COULD BE ENDORSED BY THE UNITED NATIONS. THE UNITED STATES HOPES THAT IF RUSSIA GOES ALONG WITH THE PLAN, MOSCOW COULD EXERT ITS INFLUENCE ON ITS TRADITIONAL ALLY, BELGRADE, TO AGREE TO A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO YUGOSLAV WAR. WASHINGTON AND ITS NATO ALLIES ARE INSISTING THAT YUGOSLAVIA WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOW ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO RETURN HOME. // REST OPT //BEFORE RETURNING TO WASHINGTON LATE THURSDAY, MR. CLINTON MEETS
WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER IN BONN. (SIGNED)
[11] CLINTON-KOSOVO UPDATE (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (GERMANY)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249054 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS PRAISING THE OUTLINE OF A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO, ENDORSED BY THE UNITED STATES AND ITS MAJOR PARTNERS AT A MEETING IN BONN TODAY (THURSDAY). BUT WHILE MR. CLINTON IS BACKING DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO END THE CRISIS, HE MAKES CLEAR THAT NATO WILL CONTINUE ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM FRANKFURT. TEXT: MR. CLINTON WAS QUICK TO WELCOME THE DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. /// CLINTON ACT ///I THINK YOU HAVE TO READ THIS AS A MOVE FORWARD, AND INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE WILL ULTIMATELY BE A RESOLUTION OF THIS THAT WILL ACTUALLY WORK. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON SPOKE AFTER MEETING WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER IN BONN, AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY WHIRLWIND EUROPEAN TRIP. THE PRINCIPLES OF A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN WERE ENDORSED EARLIER IN THE DAY BY FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NATIONS KNOWN AS THE GROUP OF EIGHT [-- THE SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, PLUS RUSSIA]. MR. CLINTON NOTES IT IS THE FIRST TIME RUSSIA HAS PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IN KOSOVO, AND HE SAYS IT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD. BUT THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN NATO'S
STRATEGY OF USING AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. HE VOWED THAT
CAMPAIGN WOULD CONTINUE AGGRESSIVELY. (SIGNED)
[12] CLINTON / KOSOVO INTERNET (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (INGLEHEIM, GERMANY)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249045 CONTENT= VOICED AT: //////////INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WILL GIVE KOSOVO REFUGEES COMPUTER ACCESS TO NEWS ABOUT THEIR HOMELAND IN THEIR ALBANIAN LANGUAGE. HE MADE HIS COMMENTS DURING A VISIT TO A REFUGEE CENTER IN INGLEHEIM, GERMANY. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS KOSOVAR REFUGEES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM SUCH SOURCES AS THE VOICE OF AMERICA, RADIO FREE EUROPE, AND WORLDNET. THE PLAN WILL OFFER KOSOVO REFUGEE COMMUNITIES IN GERMANY, POLAND, FRANCE, THE BALKANS, AND THE UNITED STATES ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, THANKS TO ONE-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES. // CLINTON ACTUALITY //JUST THIS WEEK, WE WILL BEGIN TO PUT IN COMPUTER TERMINALS HERE AND IN OTHER REFUGEE CENTERS SO YOU CAN CONSTANTLY GET NEWS IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND THE STATUS OF THE NATO CAMPAIGN. /// END ACT ///THE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED BY THE U-S INFORMATION AGENCY IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF PRIVATE COMPUTER FIRMS AND NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. (SIGNED)
[13] CLINTON/KOSOVO WRAP (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (FRANKFURT,)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249022 CONTENT= VOICE AT /// RE-RUNNING W/INITIAL AT THE END ///INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON, VISITING GERMANY, HAS THANKED U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL TAKING PART IN NATO AIR RAIDS OVER YUGOSLAVIA AND VISITED WITH THREE U-S SERVICEMEN FREED BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM FRANKFURT. TEXT: MR. CLINTON PAID A MORALE-BOOSTING VISIT TO SPANGDAHLEM AIRBASE WHERE FIGHTER AIRCRAFTS ARE BASED AND ARE PARTICIPATING IN NATO AIRSTRIKES OVER YUGOSLAVIA. BUT THE MOOD WAS TAMPERED BY THE CRASH OF A U-S ARMY APACHE HELICOPTER DURING A TRAINING MISSION NEAR THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA, KILLING BOTH CREW MEMBERS - THE FIRST U-S CASUALTIES SINCE THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN BEGAN MARCH 24TH.: MR. CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NO MISSION IS RISK FREE AND HE EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE DEAD AIRMEN. HE SAID NATO WOULD CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY ITS CAMPAIGN UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WITHDRAWS HIS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOWS ETHNIC ALBANIANS REFUGEES TO RETURN UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE WITH NATO AT ITS CORE. HE MADE HIS COMMENTS AS HE OFFERED A STINGING INDICTMENT OF THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT . //CLINTON ACT//HIS SO-CALLED ETHNIC CLEANSING HAS INCLUDED CONCENTRATION CAMPS, MURDER, RAPE, - THE DESTRUCTION OF. PRICELESS RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL SITES, BOOKS AND RECORDS. THIS IS WRONG. IT IS EVIL. //END ACT//LATER AT A STOP AT RAMSTEIN AIRBASE, MR. CLINTON MET WITH THE THREE U-S SERVICEMEN RELEASED BY MR. MILOSEVIC. HE REFUSED TO SPECULATE ON WHY THE THREE WERE FREED BUT SAID THEY NEVER SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE AS THEY WERE TAKING PART IN A PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN MACEDONIA. THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMED HE IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO RELEASE TWO CAPTURED YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SUGGESTED THE TWO COULD BE FREED WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, HE SAID. BUT HE ADDED THEIR FREEDOM SHOULD IN NO WAY BE SEEN AS A GOODWILL GESTURE TO MR. MILOSEVIC. MR. CLINTON BEGAN HIS DAY IN BRUSSELS WHERE HE RECEIVED AN OPTIMISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN FROM THE NATO SUPREME COMMANDER, GENERAL WESLEY CLARK. GENERAL CLARK SAYS AIRSTRIKES ARE TAKING A TOLL ON YUGOSLAV MILITARY DEFENSES AND MORAL. ///CLARK ACT///IF I SOUND UPBEAT, IT IS BECAUSE I AM UPBEAT. AND THE REASON I AM UPBEAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE WINNING. THE AIR CAMPAIGN IS WORKING AND IT IS WORKING WELL. MILOSEVIC IS HURTING AND INCREASINGLY HURTING BADLY. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC KNOWS HE CANNOT WIN. ///END ACT ///ON THURSDAY, MR. CLINTON VISITS THE REFUGEE CENTER AT INGELHEIM,
OUTSIDE FRANKFURT TO MEET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS WHO FLED THE SERB
CRACKDOWN IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[14] CONGRESS-KOSOVO HOLDING SPOT (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249050 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS DEBATING AN EMERGENCY SPENDING BILL TO HELP COVER THE MOUNTING COSTS OF MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN THE BALKANS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME CONVINCING MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN PARTY WHO OPPOSE THE PRESIDENT TO BACK THE LEGISLATION. TEXT: HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT WENT BEFORE LAWMAKERS AND ISSUED A PERSONAL APPEAL. /// HASTERT ACT ///THIS VOTE TODAY IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTES WE CAN TAKE AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. /// END ACT ///MR. HASTERT URGED THEM TO PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES ON ADMINISTRATION POLICY AND PROVIDE THE MILITARY WITH THE MONEY IT NEEDS. /// HASTERT ACT ///THE ISSUE IS SIMPLE. DO YOU SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM AS THEY DEFEND AMERICA'S INTERESTS? AND WILL YOU HELP US RESTORE OUR NATION'S DEFENSE SO THAT OUR SOLDIERS CAN DO THEIR JOBS? /// END ACT ///PRESIDENT CLINTON ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR SIX BILLION DOLLARS FOR
THE KOSOVO OPERATION. THE HOUSE BILL TOTALS MORE THAN TWICE THAT
AMOUNT. (SIGNED)
[15] NATO KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249032 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO IS HOPING A MEETING (THURSDAY) IN GERMANY OF THE "G-8" -- THE GROUP OF LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS, ALONG WITH RUSSIA -- WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION IN A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA HAS WARMLY WELCOMED THE G-8 MEETING IN BONN, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM LEADING NATO ALLIES THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, BRITAIN, GERMANY AND ITALY, AND THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER. BUT HE HAS CAUTIONED THAT NATO IS NOT EXPECTING ANY BREAKTHROUGHS. MR. SHEA SAYS HE HOPES FOR PROGRESS TOWARDS RUSSIA'S ACCEPTANCE OF NATO'S FIVE KEY DEMANDS FOR ENDING THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN. THESE INCLUDE THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND AGREEMENT THERE MUST BE AN ARMED PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO HELP THE REFUGEES TO RETURN. MR. SHEA SAYS IF THERE IS AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA ON THESE FIVE KEY PRINCIPLES, THEN HE THINKS NATO CAN SUCCEED IN ISOLATING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///HE ADDS THIS WOULD CLEAR THE WAY FOR NATO AND RUSSIA TO SEEK A U-N RESOLUTION TO UNDERPIN A NEW PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. NATO WOULD WELCOME A SUBSTANTIAL RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN SUCH A FORCE. MEANWHILE, MR. SHEA HAS REJECTED RUMORS NATO MIGHT BE WILLING TO EXCLUDE THE UNITED STATES FROM THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. HE WELCOMES THE NEWS KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO VISIT ITALY, WITH HIS FAMILY. MR. SHEA HOPES MR. RUGOVA WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BACK THE NATO FIVE POINT PLAN FOR ENDING THE CRISIS. AIR STRIKES LAST NIGHT WERE OFF BY ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE LEVEL OF NORMAL OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, BUT NATO HAS CONTINUED TO HAMMER SERB FORCES AND EQUIPMENT IN KOSOVO, AND TO ATTACKS TARGETS, NOTABLY OIL DEPOTS, IN THE REST OF SERBIA. MR. SHEA CLAIMS NATO IS PROGRESSIVELY PINNING DOWN SERB FORCES AND CUTTING THEM OFF FROM BELGRADE, AND IS MOVING TO THE PHASE WHEN IT IS TAKING THEM OUT (DESTROYING THEM). A FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO IS
EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED BY NATO MILITARY LATER THURSDAY.
(SIGNED)
[16] G-8 / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BONN)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249059 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWERS HAVE AGREED ON SOME PRINCIPLES FOR A SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BONN ABOUT THE MEETING OF MINISTERS FROM THE "GROUP OF EIGHT" -- THE WORLD'S SEVEN MAJOR INDUSTRIAL NATIONS PLUS RUSSIA. TEXT: NATO AND YUGOSLAVIA ARE NO CLOSER ON THE TERMS FOR STOPPING THE AIR STRIKES. BUT NATO AND RUSSIA ARE CLOSER TO AGREEMENT ON WHAT FOLLOWS THE BOMBING. SIX OF THE EIGHT MINISTERS ARE FROM NATO COUNTRIES. AND THEY MANAGED A COMPROMISE WORDING THAT BRINGS RUSSIA AND JAPAN IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM, THAT A CIVIL AND SECURITY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO WILL BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THEIR OBJECTIVES. THOSE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE RETURN OF ONE-MILLION ETHNIC-ALBANIAN KOSOVO REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES, THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN POLICE AND PARAMILITARIES FROM KOSOVO, AND THE DISARMING OF THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. YUGOSLAVIA HAS NOT AGREED TO FOREIGN TROOPS ON ITS SOIL. NATO INSISTS THAT A ROBUST ARMED FORCE WITH NATO AT ITS CORE WILL BE NECESSARY TO ASSURE THE REFUGEES THEY CAN GO HOME IN SAFETY. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING, ON A BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE RHINE RIVER, DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THESE CONFLICTING POSITIONS. AS U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PUTS IT, THIS WAS NOT A NATO MEETING. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SAYS NEGOTIATORS FROM THE EIGHT COUNTRIES WILL DISCUSS THE DETAILS, SO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CAN APPROVE THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' STATEMENT MAKES NO MENTION OF NATO'S BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA STILL OBJECTS TO NATO'S USE OF FORCE IN YUGOSLAVIA. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE MEETING MUST BE VIEWED AS A STEP FORWARD, BECAUSE RUSSIA NOW AGREES TO A SECURITY FORCE FOR KOSOVO, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN SHE MET WITH MR. IVANOV IN NORWAY TWO WEEKS AGO. /// OPT ALBRIGHT ACT ///WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMON PRINCIPLES ADOPTED HERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THEY INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF NON-NATO COUNTRIES. /// END ACT ///THE DISTURBING PICTURE FOR YUGOSLAVIA IS SEEING THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STANDING IN AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLES WITH FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. THOSE TWO COUNTRIES ARE LEADING THE DAILY AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. // END OPT //BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS NATO HAS NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING FORCE. /// COOK ACT ///THE CRITICAL OBJECTIVE IS THE SAFE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES. IN REALITY, THE REFUGEES ARE NOT GOING TO RETURN TO KOSOVO UNLESS THERE IS A CREDIBLE PROTECTION FOR THEM, AND THAT CREDIBLE PROTECTION WILL HAVE TO BE A MILITARY FORCE AND, IN THE JUDGMENT OF SOME OF US HERE, THAT FORCE WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE THE NATO MAJOR COUNTRIES. /// END ACT ///ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI REPORTED ON HIS TALKS WITH
THE KOSOVO ALBANIAN POLITICAL LEADER, IBRAHIM RUGOVA, WHO HAS
BEEN ALLOWED TO FLY TO ROME WITH HIS FAMILY. BOTH FOREIGN
MINISTER DINI AND SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAY MR. RUGOVA
STILL SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE KOSOVO POLITICAL AGREEMENT
REACHED IN RAMBOUILLET (FRANCE), WHICH YUGOSLAVIA HAS REJECTED.
UNTIL NOW, WESTERN LEADERS HAD DISREGARDED MR. RUGOVA'S
STATEMENTS AS QUOTED BY SERBIAN TELEVISION, INSISTING HE WAS
UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[17] RUSSIA/YUGO (L-ONLY) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249037 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIAN SPECIAL BALKANS ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN HAS BRIEFED PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN (THURSDAY) ON HIS LATEST DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE MR. YELTSIN SEEMS PLEASED AT THE PROGRESS HIS ENVOY IS MAKING TOWARD RESOLVING THE CONFLICT IN YUGOSLAVIA. TEXT: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SPECIAL BALKANS ENVOY DID NOT BRING AN END TO NATO'S YUGOSLAV BOMBING CAMPAIGN WHILE IN WASHINGTON, BUT MR. YELTSIN SAYS MOSCOW DID NOT REALLY EXPECT HIM TO. // YELTSIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //// OPT //THE RUSSIAN ENVOY SAYS MANY ISSUES NEED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, SUCH AS RETURNING KOSOVAR REFUGEES AND REBUILDING YUGOSLAVIA AFTER THE WAR. BUT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HIS MAIN GOAL, FOR NOW, REMAINS THE SAME -- NAMELY, STOPPING THE NATO BOMBS. // CHERNOMYRDIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //// REST OPT //// SECOND CHERNOMYRDIN ACT IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE //MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS, "WE ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER." HE SAYS, "WE ARE UNITED IN THE BELIEF THAT THE WAR AND DESTRUCTION MUST BE STOPPED, AND THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY MUST BE PRESERVED." MR. MATUTES EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS. THE SPANISH MINISTER SAID
A LOT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, LARGELY
THANKS TO MR. CHERNOMYRDIN. (SIGNED)
[18] RUSSIA / NATO BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43325 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA IS PLAYING A MORE DOMINANT DIPLOMATIC ROLE IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE WITH A FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW, JACK MATLOCK, ABOUT RUSSIA'S ROLE IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE BALKAN CRISIS. TEXT: NATO HAS BEEN BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA FOR MORE THAN SIX WEEKS NOW, WITH NO END TO THE AIR CAMPAIGN IN SIGHT. WHILE NATO IS INTENSIFYING ITS BOMBARDMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA, DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS APPEAR TO BE GAINING MOMENTUM TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS -- AND THOSE EFFORTS CENTER AROUND RUSSIA. RUSSIA HAS BEEN STRONGLY CRITICAL OF THE NATO BOMBINGS SINCE THE MOMENT THEY BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH. BUT IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, MOSCOW HAS TEMPERED ITS CRITICISM AND FOCUSED ON PLAYING A MEDIATING ROLE AT A TIME WHEN CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE WEST AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ARE ALL BUT NON-EXISTENT. RUSSIA'S SPECIAL BALKAN EMISSARY, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, HAS ENGAGED IN SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY, AND VARIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED TO MOSCOW. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV ATTENDED A MEETING OF HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM THE GROUP OF EIGHT -- THE WORLD'S SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIAL NATIONS, PLUS RUSSIA -- TRYING TO FORGE A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN. EXPERTS SAY THOSE EXAMPLES INDICATE WESTERN LEADERS REALIZE RUSSIA HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE BALKAN CRISIS. JACK MATLOCK WAS THE LAST AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE SOVIET UNION, SERVING IN MOSCOW FROM 1987 TO 1991. A LONG-TIME STUDENT OF RUSSIA, AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAYS MOSCOW HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED, UNABLE TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN KOSOVO SINCE THE NATO BOMBINGS BEGAN -- BOMBINGS WHICH HE ALSO OPPOSES. /// MATLOCK ACT ///CLEARLY RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC ADVICE WAS IGNORED AT A CERTAIN POINT BEFORE THE BOMBING STARTED. I THINK MOSCOW'S OWN REACTION HAS TO A DEGREE MARGINALIZED IT. I HAVE SAID THAT I DO NOT AGREE THAT THE BOMBING IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, RUSSIA'S REACTION -- PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC'S REACTION -- WAS MUCH TOO EXTREME. IT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL REASON FOR THE NATO POLICY, WHICH WAS HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE TREATMENT OF THE KOSOVARS. AND BY LOOKING AT THIS AS PURELY GEOPOLITICAL, AND SOMEHOW IMPLICITLY DIRECTED AT RUSSIA, WAS A BIG MISTAKE. SO I THINK RUSSIA'S OWN POLICIES SINCE THE BOMBING BEGAN -- [ITS] INITIAL POLICY -- MARGINALIZED IT. /// END ACT ///AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAYS, GIVEN RUSSIA'S CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TIES TO SERBIA, IT CAN PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT TO DO SO, HE SAYS THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST DISTANCE ITSELF FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- AND RUSSIAN POLICY MUST NOT BE SEEN AS SIMPLY BEING A VOICE FOR THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. /// SECOND MATLOCK ACT ///MILOSEVIC IS THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM, AND HE HAS DOUBLE-CROSSED EVERYBODY. HE IS NOW GUILTY OF WIDESPREAD ATROCITIES, WHICH ARE COMPARABLE ONLY TO SOME THAT OCCURRED IN WORLD WAR TWO, AND THEREFORE RUSSIA REALLY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT. IF THEY ARE WILLING TO DO SO, AND THEN COME UP WITH SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE -- AND PARTICIPATE IN IT ACTIVELY, TO PROTECT ALL THE PARTIES AND BRING SOME STABILITY TO THE AREA -- I THINK THEIR ROLE IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. /// END ACT ///THE FORMER AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW SAYS THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST PUT PRESSURE ON MR. MILOSEVIC. /// THIRD MATLOCK ACT ///I THINK THEY HAVE TO TELL [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC: LOOK, IF YOU WANT THE BOMBINGS TO STOP -- THOUGH WE DO NOT APPROVE OF THE BOMBINGS -- IF YOU WANT IT TO STOP, YOU HAVE REALLY GOT TO AGREE TO CONDITIONS THAT WILL ALLOW THE KOSOVARS TO RETURN. YOU HAVE GOT TO STOP THE ATROCITIES -- TURN IT OFF NOW. IT HAS GONE MUCH TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE KOSOVARS CAN COME BACK. YOU HAVE ALSO GOT TO ACCEPT SOME SORT OF FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO TO INSURE THEIR SAFETY: BOTH [OF] THE KOSOVARS AND OF THE SERBS WHO ARE LIVING THERE. /// END ACT ///// END ACT //AMBASSADOR JACK MATLOCK SAYS IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR RUSSIA TO BE
PART OF ANY INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE SENT TO KOSOVO
AFTER THE BOMBINGS END. AS TO THE SENDING OF NATO GROUND FORCES
DURING WARTIME, MR. MATLOCK SAYS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE
OF DEEP DIVISIONS ON THAT ISSUE AMONG VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE
WESTERN ALLIANCE. (SIGNED)
[19] U-N / YUGO / ANNAN REACT (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249057 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS WELCOMING THE AGREEMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) AMONG WESTERN NATIONS AND RUSSIA ON THE NEED FOR AN ARMED INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN KOSOVO. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON AT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK. TEXT: MR. ANNAN DESCRIBES THE AGREEMENT AS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS MR. ANNAN IS PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR U-N SECURITY COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN KOSOVO. /// ECKHARD ACT ///HE IS PLEASED IN PARTICULAR AT THE DECISION TO PREPARE ELEMENTS OF A UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION, TO DRAW UP A ROAD MAP ON FURTHER CONCRETE STEPS TOWARDS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS, AND TO INVOLVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IN THIS EFFORT. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL BELIEVES THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE DIRECTION HE ADVOCATED WHEN HE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE COUNCIL AND APPEALED TO THE MEMBERS TO FIND THE UNITY NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED POLITICAL SOLUTION. /// END ACT ///MR. ANNAN HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A CONSENSUS ON
THE KOSOVO CRISIS IN ORDER TO END THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S
STALEMATE ON THE ISSUE. THE COUNCIL HAS NOT TAKEN SUBSTANTIVE
ACTION ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS SINCE NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
BEGAN. THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE SPLIT ON
THE STRIKES -- WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA OPPOSING THEM AND BRITAIN,
FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTING THEM.
LAST WEEK, MR. ANNAN TRAVELED TO GERMANY AND MOSCOW FOR TALKS ON
KOSOVO. HE SAYS THE TIME IS NOT RIGHT FOR HIM TO HOLD DIRECT
TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODON MILOSEVIC. BUT HE HAS NOT
RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH TALKS IN THE FUTURE. (SIGNED)
[20] AMERICAN P-O-W'S (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249065 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE PENTAGON SAYS THE THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO WERE HELD PRISONER OF WAR BY YUGOSLAVIA WERE ABDUCTED FROM WITHIN MACEDONIA AND BEATEN BY MEN IN YUGOSLAV MILITARY UNIFORM. FROM THE PENTAGON, CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE TELLS US WHAT THE ARMY NOW KNOWS ABOUT THE CAPTURE OF THE FORMER P-O-W'S WHO ARE HEADING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE THREE SOLDIERS WERE ABDUCTED FROM THEIR HUMVEE MILITARY VEHICLE BY MEN WHO MAY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THEIR MOVEMENTS FROM THE YUGOSLAV SIDE OF THE MACEDONIAN BORDER. // OPT //// BACON ACT //WHEN THEY WERE SURROUNDED AND CAPTURED, THEY WERE PULLED FROM THEIR HUMVEE AND THEY WERE KICKED, PUNCHED AND HIT WITH RIFLE BUTTS AND TREATED EXTREMELY ROUGHLY. AND THIS WAS THE TIME THEY INCURRED THE MAJORITY OF THEIR INJURIES. // END ACT //IRONICALLY, THE THREE WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE WHILE ON A TRAINING MISSION DESIGNED TO PREVENT CAPTURE BY HOSTILE FORCES. THEIR MILITARY VEHICLE WAS ARMED WITH A MACHINE GUN BUT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO FIRE AT THE TIME. MEANWHILE, IN KOSOVO ITSELF, THE PENTAGON SAYS IT HAS INDICATIONS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, ALTHOUGH OUT-GUNNED, HAS INCREASED IN NUMBER BY SEVERAL THOUSAND WHILE CONTINUING TO BATTLE SERB FORCES. // SECOND BACON ACT //THEY ARE ATTACKING, THEY ARE BLOWING UP VEHICLES AND THEY ARE INFLICTING FATALITIES ON THE V-J (YUGOSLAV ARMY) AND THE SPECIAL POLICE AND THEY'RE DOING THAT WITH INCREASING REGULARITY. IT'S HARD FOR US TO QUANTIFY THIS BECAUSE ALL OUR REPORTS COME FROM THE K-L-A. THEY ARE ONE SIDED REPORTS. BUT CLEARLY, THEY ARE IN THERE, THEY ARE FIGHTING AND IT'S ALSO CLEAR TO US THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO BUY WEAPONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, THEY'RE CONTINUING TO RAISE MONEY. // END ACT //NEB/NJS/PHW/PT 06-May-99 5:50 PM EDT (2150 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [21] E-U/BEEF STUDY, FARM PRICES, CHINA-FARMERS, BY ROB SIVAK (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/06/99TYPE=AGRICULTURE BRIEFS #99-16 NUMBER=7-31975 TELEPHONE=202-619-2023 EDITOR=SMART CONTENT= [ATT: AGRICULTURE, TRADE, CHINA] INTRO: U-S AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS CRITICIZE A NEW EUROPEAN UNION STUDY SHOWING HEALTH RISKS FROM HORMONE-TREATED U-S BEEF...CONGRESSIONAL LAWMAKERS CONSIDER A BAN ON SECRET PRICING PRACTICES BY BIG AGRIBUSINESSES...AND CHINESE FARMERS PONDER THE MERITS OF WESTERN-STYLE PRIVATE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. VOA'S ROB SIVAK HAS DETAILS IN THISTEXT: U-S TRADE OFFICIALS HAVE RESPONDED ANGRILY TO A NEW EUROPEAN UNION STUDY WHICH SAYS THE GROWTH-PROMOTING HORMONES USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MOST U-S BEEF MIGHT POSE A HUMAN CANCER RISK. U-S AGRICULTURAL TRADE AMBASSADOR PETER SCHER TOLD A CONGRESSIONAL TRADE HEARING IN WASHINGTON (5/04/99) THAT RELEASE OF THE NEW STUDY IS, IN HIS WORDS, "A BLATANT ATTEMPT BY THE E-U TO AVOID ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION." MR. SCHER TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT U-S EXPERTS HAVE REVIEWED THE E-U STUDY AND CONCLUDED: TAPE: CUT ONE -- SCHER :12 "OUR BEEF IS SAFE. THE SUPPOSED NEW CLAIMS ARE NOTHING BUT MISLEADING ALLEGATIONS WHICH WERE SPECIFICALLY REJECTED BY THE W-T-O WHEN IT FOUND THE E-U'S BEEF BAN TO BE ILLEGAL." TEXT: BUT E-U OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR MORE RESEARCH. THE 15-NATION EUROPEAN UNION BANNED ALL IMPORTS OF HORMONE-FED U-S BEEF IN 1988, CITING PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE GROWTH-PROMOTING COMPOUNDS. AND IT HAS MAINTAINED THE BAN -- DESPITE FINDINGS BY SEVERAL U-S AND EUROPEAN MEDICAL PANELS THAT THE HORMONES ARE SAFE, AND DESPITE THE W-T-O'S RULING LAST YEAR THAT THE E-U BAN IS ILLEGAL. THE W-T-O GAVE THE E-U UNTIL THIS MAY 13TH TO OPEN ITS MARKETS TO U-S BEEF OR FACE TRADE SANCTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES. E-U FARM COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER HAS SENT A LETTER TO U-S TRADE OFFICIALS SAYING THAT MAY 13TH DEADLINE IS "INTERFERING WITH HONEST NEGOTIATIONS." BUT U-S TRADE OFFICIALS SAY THE DEADLINE STANDS. CART: MUSIC BRIDGE :05 IN RESPONSE TO GROWING COMPLAINTS FROM FARM GROUPS, THE U-S CONGRESS IS STUDYING WAYS TO REQUIRE BIG MEATPACKING FIRMS TO PUBLICLY REPORT THE PRICES THEY PAY FOR THEIR ANIMALS. MEMBERS OF THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE RECENTLY (5/4) HEARD TESTIMONY ABOUT PRICING FROM FARMERS. THEY SAID THE TRADITIONALLY SECRET PRICE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN BIG SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND THEIR CONTRACT LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS VIOLATE FREE-MARKET RULES AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDEPENDENT LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS. THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE'S SENIOR DEMOCRAT, CONGRESSMAN CHARLES STENHOLM, SAYS LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WHO HAVE BEEN BATTERED BY A YEAR OF RECORD-LOW MARKET PRICES FOR THEIR ANIMALS WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING: TAPE: CUT THREE -- STENHOLM :11 "I THINK THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRTICIAL THAT WE HAVE OPEN, HONEST PRICING. THE IDEA OF A PROPRIETORSHIP IN WHICH SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE A SECRET BOTHERS ME TREMENDOUSLY." TEXT: THE CONGRESSMAN FROM TEXAS, WHO IS ALSO A COTTON FARMER, SAYS PUBLIC PRICE REPORTING IS THE NORM IN MOST OTHER COMMODITIES. IN THE U-S LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY, MR. STENHOLM ADDS, OPEN PRICING COULD CHECK THE ECONOMIC POWER OF THE HANDFUL OF GIANT MEATPACKING COMPANIES THAT NOW PROCESS THREE-FOURTHS OF THE NATION'S LIVESTOCK. CART: MUSIC BRIDGE :05 TEXT: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT STILL BANS PRIVATE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS. BUT CHINESE FARMERS REPORTEDLY ARE SHOWING INCREASED INTEREST IN ORGANIZING FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY AND MARKETING POWER. BARBARA SPANGLER, A TRADE EXPERT WITH THE LARGEST PRIVATE U-S FARM GROUP -- THE 6-MILLION MEMBER AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION -- IS JUST BACK FROM CHINA, WHERE SHE MET WITH FARMERS AND AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS. SHE SAYS THE IDEA OF A PRIVATE PRODUCER GROUP IS GAINING SUPPORT AS CHINA SEEKS ADMISSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, AND AS CHINESE FARMERS PONDER THEIR EXPANDING ROLE IN A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE: TAPE; CUT FOUR -- SPANGLER :16 "THEY DO REALIZE AS THEY MOVE INTO THE WORLD OF TRADE, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE SAME VOCABULARY. AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TRADE ASSOCIATIONS WORK AND WHETHER THEY WOULD WORK FOR CHINA." TEXT: MS. SPANGLER SAYS SHE DOESN'T EXPECT PRIVATE FARM GROUPS TO POP UP IN CHINA ANYTIME SOON. BUT SHE SAYS IT IS REMARKABLE THAT TOP CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE PUBLICLY DISCUSSING A CONCEPT THAT WAS UNTHINKABLE JUST FIVE YEARS AGO. THAT'S AGRICULTURE BRIEFS. IN WASHINGTON, I'M ROB SIVAK.
[22] SCOTTISH ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY TREVOR GRUNDY (EDINBURGH)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249047 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: VOTERS IN BRITAIN (THURSDAY) ARE ELECTING LOCAL COUNCIL OFFICIALS, A NEW ASSEMBLY IN WALES, AND -- PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY -- A SEPARATE PARLIAMENT FOR SCOTLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 300-YEARS. TREVOR GRUNDY IN EDINBURGH REPORTS THE VOTING GOT OFF TO A SLOW START IN SCOTLAND -- PARTLY BECAUSE OF WINTRY WEATHER. TEXT: THE NEW ASSEMBLIES IN WALES AND SCOTLAND ARE PART OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO GIVE MORE POWER TO REGIONAL OFFICIALS. /// OPT ///THE ASSEMBLY BEING ELECTED IN WALES WILL HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY AND NO POWER TO LEVY TAXES. BUT THE NEW SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE CONTROL OVER HOW THE COUNTRY IS RUN. AND IT CAN LEVY SOME TAXES. ONLY SOME AREAS -- FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENSE, FINANCE, AND RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF EUROPE -- WILL REMAIN WITH THE CENTRAL BRITISH PARLIAMENT IN LONDON. IN SCOTLAND, FINAL PUBLIC OPINION POLLS PREDICTED A WIN -- BUT NOT A MAJORITY -- FOR THE "LABOUR PARTY". POLLSTERS PREDICTED LABOUR WILL TAKE 58 SEATS IN THE NEW 129-SEAT PARLIAMENT, FOLLOWED BY 40 SEATS FOR THEIR MAIN RIVALS, THE "SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY" (S-N-P). THAT WOULD LEAVE LABOUR WITHOUT A CLEAR MAJORITY, POSSIBLY FORCING THE PARTY TO FORM AN ALLIANCE OR EVEN A COALITION WITH THE "LIBERAL DEMOCRATS". POLLSTERS SAID THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SHOULD WIN 17 SEATS, AND THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY SHOULD GAIN 12. /// OPT ////// OPT // JIMMY SMITH ACT ///I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT LABOUR WILL WIN THIS ELECTION, THE S-N-P WILL BE A VERY CLOSE SECOND. AND WHEN LABOUR GET IN, THEY'LL MAKE SURE DEVOLUTION WORKS, RATHER THAN HAVE INDEPENDENCE. BUT I THINK THAT NEXT TIME ROUND, THE SCOT NATS (SCOTTISH NATIONISTS) WILL WIN THE DAY BECAUSE LABOUR WILL NOT FULFIL ALL THEIR COMMITMENTS TO THE NEW SCOTLAND. /// END ACT // END OPT ///IN ENGLAND, MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS VOTING FOR LOCAL COUNCIL
OFFICIALS. OBSERVERS SAY THE OUTCOME IN ENGLAND SHOULD GIVE A
SIGN OF VOTER REACTION TO THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE LABOUR
GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
[23] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=5/6/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249064 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (THURSDAY) AS A RESULT OF RENEWED INFLATION WORRIES. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND 946, DOWN EIGHT POINTS. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAD BEEN DOWN MORE THAN 100 POINTS BY MID-SESSION BUT MADE A DRAMATIC COMEBACK IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 32, DOWN 15 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. ALAN GREENSPAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK, SAYS INCREASED WORKER PRODUCTIVITY HAS BEEN A CRITICAL FACTOR IN KEEPING THE U-S INFLATION RATE LOW. HOWEVER, MR. GREENSPAN IS CONCERNED THAT THE TIGHT LABOR MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES COULD CAUSE WAGE INFLATION. ///OPT///GREENSPAN ACT///THIS DEPLETION OF AVAILABLE WORKERS CONSTITUTES A CRITICAL UPSIDE RISK TO THE INFLATION OUTLOOK BECAUSE IT PRESUMABLY CAN NOT CONTINUE WITHOUT EVENTUALLY PUTTING INCREASING PRESSURE ON LABOR MARKETS AND ON COSTS. ///END ACT///END OPT///MR. GREENSPAN'S REMARKS CAUSED FEARS OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES AND BOTH THE BOND AND STOCK MARKETS FELL. MAJOR U-S RETAILERS REPORTED AN AVERAGE OF A BETTER THAN FOUR PERCENT SALES INCREASE IN APRIL, INDICATING AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE STILL ON A MAJOR BUYING SPREE. ///REST OPT///THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY WILL INVEST FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. THE DEAL CALLS FOR A-T AND T TO INCREASE ITS USE OF MICROSOFT'S WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM IN A-T AND T'S CABLE TELEVISION AND INTERNET CONNECTIONS. SEAGRAM, THE CANADIAN-BASED BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, REPORTED A 200 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTERLY LOSS. THE COMPANY SAYS DISAPPOINTING RESULTS IN ITS UNIVERSAL FILMS UNIT OFFSET STRONG GAINS IN ITS MUSIC AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES. THE NEW YORK STATE BANKING DEPARTMENT HAS APPROVED THE TAKEOVER OF THE BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES BY DEUTSCHE BANK OF GERMANY. THE NEW YORK BANKING OFFICIALS ARE APPARENTLY SATISFIED THAT DEUTSCHE BANK IS MAKING PROGRESS ON RESOLVING CLAIMS BY HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND THEIR RELATIVES. TWO FAMOUS AMERICAN HORSE RACING TRACKS ARE MERGING. CHURCHILL
DOWNS CORPORATION, WHICH OWNS THE HOME OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY,
WILL PAY 140 MILLION DOLLARS FOR HOLLYWOOD PARK, A PREMIER RACE
TRACK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
[24] CONGRESS AND YUGOSLAV FIGHTING BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/06/99TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-11275 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: SEVERAL AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE WONDERING IF THE U-S CONGRESS IS PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES WITH THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. WE HAVE SOME SAMPLES OF EDITORIAL COMMENT NOW FROM ____________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS A VOTE IN THE U-S SENATE THIS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE DEEP DIVISIONS IN CONGRESS -- ESPECIALLY AMONG REPUBLICANS -- OVER THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. TUESDAY, THE SENATE BY A WIDE MARGIN (78 TO 22) -- AND WITH LEADERS OF BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS JOINING IN -- VOTED NOT TO DECIDE WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD SEND AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS INTO KOSOVO. THE "MONITOR" WRITES IN ITS EDITORIAL: VOICE: REPUBLICANS SHOULD STOP AND THINK HARD ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. ONE CAN DISAGREE WITH, BUT RESPECT, THOSE WHO SINCERELY BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES AND NATO SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING IN YUGOSLAVIA IN THE FIRST PLACE. OUR QUARREL IS WITH THOSE [IN CONGRESS] WHO BASE THEIR POSITION ON POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS: THEIR VISCERAL DISLIKE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THEIR HOPE THAT KOSOVO MAY FINALLY BRING DOWN HIS APPROVAL RATINGS AND LEAD TO G-O-P [REPUBLICAN] VICTORY IN [YEAR] 2000 [PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.] TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES ABOUT WHAT IT CALLS "THE SIRENS OF APPEASEMENT." VOICE: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT [REPUBLICAN] WANTS TO 'GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.' THE 'ONE STICKING POINT,' HE SAYS, IS AMERICA'S INSISTENCE ON DEPLOYING FORCE, SO WHY NOT GIVE UP ON THAT? ... ANYONE HEARING SUCH STATEMENTS MIGHT ASSUME THAT THE 19-NATION NATO ALLIANCE IS THE AGGRESSOR. /// OPT /// YOU MIGHT ASSUME THAT [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT] SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS NOT HIMSELF WAGING WAR, AND THAT HE HAD AGREED TO THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF A FAIR PEACE. WHAT ELSE COULD MR. LOTT MEAN WHEN HE SAYS THERE IS ONLY ONE 'STICKING POINT?' /// END OPT /// .... MR. CLINTON SO FAR IS STICKING TO NATO'S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES AND IGNORING THE SIRENS OF APPEASEMENT, INSIDE CONGRESS AND OUT. HIS STEADFASTNESS GIVES HOPE.... TEXT: IF CONGRESS THINKS THE CONFLICT IS A MISTAKE, ARGUES "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES," "IT SHOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY SO." VOICE: CONGRESS CONSISTENTLY ASSERTS ITS RIGHT TO HAVE A SAY IN FOREIGN POLICY, BUT GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TAKE A STAND ON TOUGH ISSUES IT OFTEN PREFERS TO DO NOTHING. /// OPT TEXT: "USA TODAY" ARGUES THAT THE VOTES IN THE U-S CONGRESS ARE "SET UP TO PROVIDE POLITICAL COVER." VOICE: WITH EYES FIXED MORE ON THE NEXT ELECTION THAN THE U-S ATTEMPT TO STOP A HUMANITARIAN NIGHTMARE IN YUGOSLAVIA, SCORES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SCRAMBLING TO POSITION THEMSELVES FIRMLY ON BOTH SIDES -- OR NO SIDE -- OF AN ISSUE. /// OPT /// ... [CONGRESSIONAL] LEADERS HAVE ALREADY DEMANDED THAT CONGRESS SIGN OFF ON ANY COMMITMENT OF GROUND TROOPS TO KOSOVO, AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS AGREED TO INVOLVE CONGRESS SHOULD HE DECIDE TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT. /// END OPT ///... IF BOMBING DOES FAIL, AND [PRESIDENT] CLINTON WANTS TO ESCALATE, CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. UNTIL THEN, ITS MEMBERS SHOULD STOP PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES WHEN U-S INTERESTS AND U-S LIVES ARE ON THE LINE. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL
COMMENT.
[25] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/06/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11274 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: A GOAL FOR THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA; A CHARGE THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS LAX ABOUT GUARDING THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR SECRETS; A WARNING THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT QUICKLY TO CURB POTENTIAL LAWSUITS IF COMPUTERS CRASH NEXT JANUARY FIRST; AND A RECENT PEACEFUL PROTEST IS A SIGN OF A GROWING RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT IN CHINA. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS OF U-S EDITORIALS IS _____________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" ARGUES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY/WEDNESDAY THAT "NATO'S MOST URGENT LONG-TERM TASK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC'S SUCCESS [AT DRIVING ETHNIC ALBANIAN FROM KOSOVO] DOES NOT BECOME IRREVERSIBLE." THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES: VOICE: NATO'S INSISTENCE ON THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF AN OUTSIDE ARMED FORCE IS AND MUST REMAIN NON-NEGOTIABLE. WHILE THE BULK OF THAT PROTECTION, TO BE CREDIBLE, MUST COME FROM NATO GROUND FORCES, THERE IS ROOM FOR BROADER PARTICIPATION. THAT INCLUDES RUSSIA'S, PROVIDED THAT MOSCOW AGREES THAT THE CENTRAL PURPOSE OF THE MISSION IS NOT TO PREPARE FOR A RESTORATION OF YUGOSLAVIA'S SOVEREIGNTY BUT TO ASSURE THAT ALL KOSOVARS -- ETHNIC ALBANIANS AS WELL AS THE SERBIAN MINORITY -- ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY. TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN "USA TODAY" SAYS "QUESTIONS ABOUT LEAKS OF NUCLEAR SECRETS MOUNT." THE NEWSPAPER WRITES THAT AT THE CENTER OF ALLEGATIONS THAT CRITICAL NUCLEAR WARHEAD SECRETS WERE PASSED TO CHINA IS SCIENTIST WEN HO LEE. MR. LEE, "USA TODAY" NOTES, HAD BEEN UNDER SUSPICION OF PASSING SECRETS TO BEIJING SINCE 1996, YET WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS SECURITY CLEARANCE AND ACCESS TO SENSITIVE INFORMATION. ASKING, "WHY WEREN'T SECURITY BREACHES PLUGGED SOONER?" "USA TODAY" ADVISES: VOICE: THE WHITE HOUSE OWES THE NATION A FULL EXPLANATION OF ALL THESE PRATFALLS. IT HAS DELAYED EXPOSURE OF ITS BUMBLING FAR TOO LONG. THE NATION CAN'T AFFORD SAFEGUARDS FOR ITS NUCLEAR SECRETS THAT AREN'T TRULY 'ADEQUATE.' TEXT: "NEWSDAY" (LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK) WARNS OMINOUSLY OF A "ONE TRILLION DOLLAR LIABILITY" AND EXPLAINS THAT THE U-S CONGRESS "NEEDS TO ACT FAST TO CURB POTENTIAL LAWSUITS WHEN COMPUTERS CRASH [MALFUNCTION] [ON] JANUARY FIRST." VOICE: /// OPT /// THE Y-2-K [YEAR TWO THOUSAND] PROBLEM IS UNIQUE, A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT THAT SPRANG FROM THE FAILURE OF VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE COMPUTER INDUSTRY TO REALIZE THAT SOFTWARE USING ONLY TWO DIGITS TO DESIGNATE THE YEAR WOULD FAIL WHEN THE 20TH CENTURY CAME TO AN END. /// END OPT /// THE RESULT COULD BE A FIELD DAY [I.E. A BONANZA] FOR RAPACIOUS LITIGATORS INTENT MORE ON WINNING BIG JUDGMENTS THAN ON RIGHTING REAL WRONGS. ESTIMATES OF THE COST OF THE Y-2-K LITIGATION IN THIS COUNTRY RUN AS HIGH AS ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. COURTROOM EXCESSES SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED -- BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FEDERAL LAW SHOULD SHIELD COMPANIES THAT ARE TRULY NEGLIGENT FROM THE COST OF THEIR INDIFFERENCE. TEXT: "THIS IS A TOUCHY TIME FOR CHINA'S LEADERS," WRITES "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WITH THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEADLY TIANANMEN SQUARE CRACKDOWN ON JUNE 4 AND THE 50TH BIRTHDAY OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC IN OCTOBER. THE NEWSPAPER CONCLUDES THAT RECENT PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION IN CHINA SHOWS THAT GROUPS WITH A "STRONG RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION ARE ON THE RISE." VOICE: /// OPT /// WITH CHINA'S ECONOMIC OPENING, AND INCREASED UNCERTAINTY FOR MILLIONS, THE OFFICIAL 'FAITH' [I.E. COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERSHIP] HAS EBBED AND PEOPLE HAVE SOUGHT ALTERNATIVES. ... /// END OPT /// THE COMMUNIST PARTY'S WAY OF DEALING WITH RELIGION HAS BEEN TO CONTROL IT BY ALLOWING A FEW OFFICIALLY REGISTERED RELIGIONS, WHICH ARE DEEMED 'PATRIOTIC.' THAT REGULATION OF FAITH IS BECOMING LESS FEASIBLE AS THE CHINESE SEEK NOT ONLY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUT SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF PRESS COMMENT
FROM SOME U-S PAPERS.
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