Voice of America, 99-02-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBARIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[02] KOSOVO TALKS ONITER (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

[03] KOSOVO TALKS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

[04] KOSOVO TALKS (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

[01] TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) BY AMBARIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT RULED OUT AUTONOMY FOR TURKEY'S ESTIMATED 12-MILLION KURDS SAYING THE TURKISH STATE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO OR NEGOTIATE WITH WHAT HE CALLED "MARGINAL TERRORIST GROUPS." AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MR. ECEVIT WAS RESPONDING (SUNDAY) TO CALLS IN THE WESTERN MEDIA FOR KURDISH AUTONOMY.

TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS CLAIM THE KURDS IN TURKEY ENJOY THE FULL RIGHTS OF EVERY TURKISH CITIZEN, WHICH THEY SAY CANNOT BE SAID OF KURDS IN EITHER IRAN, IRAQ, OR SYRIA.

SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FOR THE FOREIGN PRESS, MR. ECEVIT CALLED FOR GREECE TO STOP SUPPORTING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS TERRORISM AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING ITS LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS WITH TURKEY. HE SAID GREECE SHOULD OPT FOR DIALOGUE INSTEAD.

THREE GREEK CABINET MINISTERS AND THE CHIEF OF GREEK INTELLIGENCE RESIGNED LAST WEEK, FOLLOWING NEWS OF THEIR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN HARBORING THE NOW CAPTURED KURDISH-REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN IN NAIROBI.

THE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K, WAS SEIZED BY A TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES TEAM IN THE KENYAN CAPITAL LAST MONDAY WHILE TRAVELLING BY CAR TO NAIROBI AIRPORT.

A TEAM OF TURKISH PROSECUTORS TRAVELLED SUNDAY TO THE SMALL PRISON ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF ISTANBUL WHERE MR. OCALAN IS BEING HELD TO CONTINUE WITH HIS INTERROGATION.

THE P-K-K LEADER IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO BE OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH TREASON SOME TIME THIS WEEK. TREASON IS A CRIME THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH UNDER TURKISH LAW.

MR. ECEVIT REPEATED HIS PERSONAL AVERSION TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SUNDAY, BUT SAID IT COULD ONLY BE LIFTED BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT.

MR. ECEVIT ALSO ANNOUNCED A FIVE-DAY CROSS BORDER OFFENSIVE AGAINST P-K-K STRONGHOLDS IN KURDISH CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ HAD ENDED. HE GAVE NO FURTHER DETAILS. MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE P-K-K LAUNCHED ITS BLOODY CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF RULE IN 1984. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/DW/RAE
21-Feb-99 1:06 PM EST (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO TALKS ONITER (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO FINISH A PEACE DEAL FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE BY TUESDAY. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT SPENT SUNDAY WORKING WITH THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO CLEAR UP THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRAFT TEXT ON AUTONOMY. SHE ALSO SPOKE WITH SERB PRESIDENT MILAN MILUTINOVIC. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM RAMBOUILLET THE MAJOR OBSTACLE TO FINAL AGREEMENT REMAINS BELGRADE'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW NATO PEACEKEEPERS INTO KOSOVO TO GUARANTEE THE PEACE PLAN'S IMPLEMENTATION.

TEXT: BOTH SIDES APPEAR TO BE MOVING CLOSER TO A FINAL PEACE SETTLEMENT. BUT THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP SAY THEY MUST ALSO ACCEPT A SECURITY PACKAGE, WHICH INCLUDES NATO FORCES IN KOSOVO TO GUARANTEE THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

SO FAR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAYS NO. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SERB REPUBLIC SAYS HE DOES NOT EVEN WANT TO DISCUSS IT. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT SAYS HALF A DEAL IS NO DEAL.

THE THREAT OF NATO AIR STRIKES REMAINS AN OPTION IF THE SERB LEADERSHIP BLOCKS A FINAL PEACE DEAL. BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF BOTH SIDES REFUSE THE FINAL DOCUMENT.

RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS OPPOSED THE USE OF FORCE. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS IT WOULD BE HARD FOR NATO TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES IF BOTH SIDES ARE AT FAULT.

BELGRADE NEWSPAPERS ARE PLAYING UP THE DIVISIONS AMONG THE WESTERN ALLIES. THE NEWSPAPERS CLAIMED VICTORY FOR THE SERB LEADERSHIP AFTER THE CONTACT GROUP EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR THE KOSOVO TALKS.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT WORKED (SUNDAY) WITH THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO CLEAR UP THEIR REMAINING CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIMITED AUTONOMY PLAN. IF THEY AGREE TO THE FINAL TEXT, IT WOULD PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE SERBS TO DO THE SAME.

BUT THE CONTACT GROUP SAYS THE SETTLEMENT WILL NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT AGREEMENT TO PUT INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO. BOTH SIDES HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO SAY YES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/RAE
21-Feb-99 1:58 PM EST (1858 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO TALKS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

INTRO: THE SIX-NATION CONTACT GROUP HAS EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS TAKING PLACE IN RAMBOUILLET, AFTER SAYING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARD A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. THE PLAN CALLS FOR LIMITED SELF-RULE FOR KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS WITHIN THE SERB REPUBLIC. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REVIEWS SOME OF THE REMAINING OBSTACLES TO A POLITICAL AGREEMENT.

TEXT: KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS CAME TO THE TALKS DEMANDING MORE THAN JUST AUTONOMY. THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY SAID IT WOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN INDEPENDENCE. THE SERB DELEGATION AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REFUSED TO CONSIDER ANYTHING MORE THAN LIMITED SELF-RULE WITHIN THE RECOGNIZED BORDERS OF SERBIA.

WESTERN MEDIATORS HAVE OFFERED A THREE-YEAR INTERIM PLAN FOR SELF-RULE, WHICH THEY BELIEVE WILL SATISFY BOTH SIDES. THE IDEA IS TO GIVE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GOVERN THEMSELVES AND EXERCISE THEIR OWN POLITICAL RIGHTS WITHIN, NOT OUTSIDE, THE SERB REPUBLIC.

U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE KEY ELEMENT IS GUARANTEEING THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THEIR CULTURAL AND POLITICAL IDENTITY, WHICH HAS BEEN DENIED THEM FOR MOST OF THE PAST DECADE.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT THEY WISH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IDENTITY THAT IS RESPECTED AND ALLOWS THEIR PEOPLE TO HAVE ELECTIONS AND LOCAL POLICE. AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES OF THE LAST YEARS HAS BEEN THE ABILITY OF THE ALBANIANS TO GET AN EDUCATION IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SCHOOLS AND WORSHIP THE WAY THEY WANT TO.

MS. ALBRIGHT, LIKE HER COLLEAGUES IN THE CONTACT GROUP, SAYS THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH POLITICAL AUTONOMY ON A LOCAL LEVEL. AND SHE SEES THE PROVINCE AS PART OF YUGOSLAVIA. SHE USES THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS RECENT ADOPTION OF A SINGLE CURRENCY AS AN EXAMPLE.

IF YOU TALK TO WESTERN EUROPEANS NOW, THEY HAVE GIVEN UP A PORTION OF THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN A VERY CLEAR WAY WITH THE EURO AS A WAY OF FINDING A GREATER GOOD IN A LARGE GROUPING BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING AN ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND WORSHIP IN THE WAY THEY WANT TO.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN NEGOTIATORS IN RAMBOUILLET INSIST ON A REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR INTERIM SELF-RULE. WESTERN MEDIATORS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT COME AFTER LIMITED SELF-RULE BEFORE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE FIRST SET UP AND TESTED THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONS.

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS THE FINAL DOCUMENT CALLS FOR REVIEWING THE SELF-RULE ARRANGEMENT AFTER THREE YEARS, WHICH DOES NOT RULE OUT A PUBLIC VOTE. AND, MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS A LOT CAN HAPPEN BEFORE THEN.

THREE YEARS IN OUR VERY DYNAMIC WORLD CAN BRING VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS. AND AFTER THREE YEARS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ELECT THEIR OWN OFFICIALS, HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE AND THEIR OWN SCHOOLS AND RELATE DIFFERENTLY TO BELGRADE, I THINK IT'S VERY HARD TO PREDICT WHAT MECHANISMS WOULD BE MOST USEFUL FOR DETERMINING THE STATUS OF KOSOVO ULTIMATELY.

THE CONTACT GROUP INSISTS ON A SECURITY DIMENSION THAT INCLUDES NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO TO GUARANTEE THE PEACE PLAN. SO FAR, YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC REFUSES TO ALLOW NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO. HE NOW HAS UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO CHANGE HIS MIND. (SIGNED)
NEB / LK / DW / WD
21-Feb-99 6:51 AM EST (1151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO TALKS (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (RAMBOUILLET)

INTRO: SERB AND ETHNIC-ALBANIAN DELEGATIONS ARE TRYING TO FINISH A PEACE SETTLEMENT AHEAD OF THE TWO-DAY DEADLINE IN RAMBOUILLET JUST OUTSIDE OF PARIS. LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE SITE OF THE TALKS THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT IS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE MEDIATION EFFORTS.

TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT IS SPENDING THE DAY IN RAMBOUILLET WORKING WITH THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ON THE FINAL DRAFT OF A PEACE PLAN THAT WOULD GIVE KOSOVO PROVINCE LIMITED SELF-RULE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB REPUBLIC.

IF THEY CAN ACCEPT THE PEACE PLAN, THAT WILL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE SERBS TO DO THE SAME.

THE DEADLINE FOR A FINAL AGREEMENT WAS EXTENDED UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE INTERIM SELF-RULE AGREEMENT ENDS IN THREE YEARS.

EVEN IF THE SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS AGREE TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT, THEY STILL MUST ACCEPT THE PRESENCE OF NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO TO ENFORCE IT. SO FAR YUGSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAYS NO. HE HAS UNTIL TUESDAY TO CHANGE HIS MIND. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/RAE
21-Feb-99 10:01 AM EST (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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