Voice of America, 99-03-30

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA/REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

[02] KOSOVO-ALBANIANS (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

[03] MACEDONIA / REFUGEES (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (SKOPJE)

[04] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[05] BRITAIN/ KOSOVO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[06] KOSOVAR ALBANIANS (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[07] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[08] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[10] CLINTON/KOSOVO ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[11] KOSOVO / U-S BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

[12] PENTAGON KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

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

[14] RUSSIA / YELTSIN SPEECH (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[15] RUSSIA / YELTSIN SPEECH (L UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[16] RUSSIA/YUGOSLAVIA (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[17] RUSSIA / YUGOSLAVIA UPDATE (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[18] U-N / ANNAN / KOSOVO (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[19] NEWS FEATURE: KOSOVO'S INTERNET WAR BY PAULA WOLFSON (WASHINGTON)

[20] GLOBAL STOCK TRADING (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

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

[22] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] ALBANIA/REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

INTRO: ALBANIANS ARE WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES TO PREPARE FOR THE INFLUX OF AT LEAST SIXTY THOUSAND NEW REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: MILITARY TRUCKS, BUSES, AND SEMI-TRAILERS ARE BRINGING THE ENTIRE POPULATIONS OF SEVERAL SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES FROM ALBANIA'S NORTHERN BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA ON A SLOW AND BUMPY RIDE TO THE CAPITAL.

ROAD CONDITIONS MEAN THE SEVEN HOUR JOURNEY RARELY EXCEEDS FIFTY KILOMETERS PER HOUR . FROM HERE, MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ALREADY OFFICIALLY ESTIMATED AT SIXTY THOUSAND ARE BEING REGISTERED AT A LARGE SPORTS AUDITORIUM, GIVEN A SMALL PACKET OF FOOD, AND DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS LIKE SCHOOLS AND AN ABANDONED TEXTILE FACTORY ARE BEING PREPARED TO HOUSE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THE NEW ARRIVALS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO STAY THERE WILL HAVE TO AWAIT A DONATION OF SLEEPING COTS WHICH ARE ON THE WAY FROM ITALY.

TIRANA RESIDENTS ARE TRADING STORIES ABOUT NEIGHBORS WILLING TO TAKE LARGE REFUGEE FAMILIES INTO THEIR HOMES. DESPITE THE HOSPITALITY AND THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH INFLUX, THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IS ALREADY MAKING PLANS FOR AN AIRLIFT.

UNHCR FIELD COORDINATOR JIM WORRALL SAYS TEMPORARY CAMPS WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED.

WE WERE EXPECTING 780 TENTS TO ARRIVE, FIVE PERSON TENTS. THIS SHOULD PROVIDE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO AT LEAST THREE-THOUSAND-900 PEOPLE. BUT STILL A DROP IN THE OCEAN COMPARED TO THE FLOW OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTERING.

THE SIXTY THOUSAND WHO HAVE REPORTEDLY CROSSED INTO ALBANIA THIS WEEK ARE IN ADDITION TO TWENTY THOUSAND THE AGENCY HAS ALREADY HOUSED IN HERE OVER THE PREVIOUS WEEKS. MR WORRALL SAYS THE PROSPECT OF AN AIRLIFT IS MADE AN EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGE WITH LAST WEEK'S CLOSURE OF ALBANIA'S ONLY COMMERCIAL AIRPORT.

BECAUSE OF AIRPORT CLOSURES IT IS UNCLEAR YET WHETHER AN AIRLIFT CAN COME STRAIGHT INTO TIRANA OR WHETHER IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO GREECE AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A SIX HOUR ROAD JOURNEY. BUT NEVERTHELESS WE HAVE TEAMS WHICH ARE READY FOR THIS, WHICH ARE TRAINED FOR THIS.

TWENTY TO 25 OF THE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO MADE IT TO TIRANA MONDAY SUFFER FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS. STILL, MOST HAVE COMPLETED THE DIFFICULT JOURNEY EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATIZED BUT PHYSICALLY INTACT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
29-Mar-99 8:31 PM EST (0131 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO-ALBANIANS (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

INTRO: TRUCKS AND BUSES PACKED WITH NEW REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO FILLED THE STREETS OF TIRANA ON TUESDAY AS THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL MOBILIZED FOR A STUNNING INCREASE IN POPUATION. REPORTER TIM BELAY IS IN TIRANA AND DESCRIBES THE SCENE:

TEXT: THE MANY THOUSANDS OF KOSOVARS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS CONTINUE TO FLEE THE SERBIAN PROVINCE, MANY FLOCKING IN WAVES TO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA. OFFICIAL SAY THAT'S TAXING LOCAL RESOURCES.

ALBANIA'S MAIN SPORTS COMPLEX NOW SERVES AS A PROCESSING CENTER FOR THE REFUGEES. THERE ARE ESTIMATES AS MANY AS TEN THOUSAND PASSED THROUGH ITS DOORS ON TUESDAY ALONE.

VOLUNTEERS WITH THE RED CROSS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROVIDING BREAD, CHEESE AND A NUTRIENT DRINK FOR CHILDREN, ALONG WITH MEDICAL CARE AND COUNSELING FOR THE REFUGEES.

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ALBANAN RED CROSS, ZAMIR MUCA, SAYS THE UNDERTAKING IS A LARGE ONE FOR SUCH A NEW ORGANIZATION.

IT IS A PROBLEM OF CAPACITY...AND MATERIALS.

MANY OF THOSE RECEIVING THE HELP SAY THEY WITNESSED BRUTAL TREATMENT OF NEIGHBORS AND SAW EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES AS THEY MADE THEIR SPEEDY EXITS FROM KOSOVO. ILAZ RAMAJLI, HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO IN ALBANIA, SAYS WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE BEING EXECUTED.

ESHTE NJE INGINEERING.... ...PER PASTRIM ETHNIC (FADE)

MR. RAMAJLI SAYS SERBIAN POLICE HAVE MADE WHAT HE CALLS -- A SCIENCE OUT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. HE SAYS THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO ARE DEFENSELESS AND THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, WHICH DOES NOT WANT TO ALLOW KOSOVO TO BE PARTITIONED, IS INSTEAD TRYING TO REMOVE ALL THE ALBANIANS FROM THE REPUBLIC.

REFUGEE KUMARIA BROQI SAYS SHE WAS ROUSED SUNDAY FROM HER HOSPITAL SICKBED IN THE TOWN OF PEC. SHE LEFT THE SERBIAN PROVINCE AMID A FLURRY OF GRENADES AND GUNFIRE. MRS. BROQI SAYS SHE SAW VILLAGES IN FLAMES AND BODIES STREWN ALONG THE ROADWAY TO ALBANIA. SHE SAYS AS SHE LEFT, THE POLICE MADE A POINT OF TELLING HER NOT TO RETURN. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/PCF/RAE
30-Mar-99 3:05 PM EST (2005 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] MACEDONIA / REFUGEES (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (SKOPJE)

INTRO: REFUGEES CONTINUE TO LEAVE KOSOVO IN CARS AND ON FOOT, FLEEING WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS A SCORTCHED EARTH POLICY BY SERB FORCES BENT ON CLEANSING THE PROVINCE OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS. V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE AT KOSOVO'S BORDER WITH MACEDONIA, REPORTS THE REFUGEES SAY NATO'S AIR ATTACKS AGAINST SERB TARGETS ARE NOT STOPPING THE AGGRESSIONS.

TEXT: A KOSOVO ALBANIAN MAN WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN SIT IN THEIR CAR ALONG THE ROAD JUST ACROSS THE KOSOVO BORDER INSIDE MACEDONIA, UNSURE WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO NOW THAT SERB ATTACKS HAVE FORCED THEM TO FLEE THEIR HOMELAND.

ALL THE NIGHT THEY CRY, MY WIFE, CHILDREN. WE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND. WE HAVEN'T IMAGINED THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE THIS.

EVERYTHING I MADE FOR 20 YEARS WORK ...

Q: YOUR JOB?

A: YES, I GOT A STORE AND THEY BURNED IT, AND I LEFT IT AND MY HOUSE, LEFT EVERYTHING.

TEN MINUTES, HE SAYS, WAS ALL WE WERE GIVEN TO GET INTO THE CAR AND SCRAMBLE FOR THE MACEDONIAN BORDER. FOR THAT PRIVLEDGE, THEY WERE ORDERED TO PAY SERB FORCES 1000 GERMAN MARKS.

Q: WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GO BACK?

A: SURE.

Q: WHEN?

A: I DON'T KNOW, JUST WHEN NATO GROUND FORCES ARE THERE.

Q: BUT NOT BEFORE?

A: NOT BEFORE.

THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT IS GROWING INCREASINGLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE SITUATION ALONG THE BORDER AND ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH UPROOTED FAMILIES WHO CONTINUE TO ARRIVE.

WATCHING THESE REFUGEES COME ACROSS THE BORDER IS LAURA BOWMAN WHO WORKS WITH THE U-S BASED INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BEATEN UP BY THE MILITARY OR POLICE OR OTHER ARMED CIVILIANS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM WHAT AREAS AND OFFERING WHATEVER MEDICAL SERVICES WE CAN.

THE SERBS SAY A LOT OF THINGS. THEY HATE ALBANIAN MEN

Q: WHY?

A: I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

[04] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, IS STARTING AN EMERGENCY RELIEF OPERATION TO HELP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED FROM KOSOVO INTO ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, AND MONTENEGRO. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE AGENCY SAYS IT WILL BEGIN AIRLIFTING SUPPLIES INTO THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED A CARGO JET WHICH WILL SHUTTLE SUPPLIES ON A REGULAR BASIS TO TIRANA. IT ALSO SAYS THE AIRLIFT MAY HAVE TO BE EXPANDED TO KEEP UP WITH THE ACCELERATING EMERGENCY.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS MORE THAN 90-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE FLED KOSOVO SINCE NATO AIR RAIDS BEGAN LATE LAST WEEK. HE SAYS THIS BRINGS THE NUMBER OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND REFUGEES TO MORE THAN ONE-HALF-MILLION -- ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF KOSOVO'S PRE-CONFLICT POPULATION.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE U-N AGENCY IS BRACING FOR THE POSSIBLE ARRIVAL OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE REFUGEES.

WE DO BELIEVE THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING QUITE WELL ORGANIZED WITH PEOPLE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, THE BORDER BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY OPENED SO THAT THEY CAN LEAVE AND ESSENTIALLY PEOPLE LEAVING. /// OPT /// AND A CERTAIN 'FAIT ACCOMPLI' (I.E. A LATIN TERM MEANING SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IRREVERSIBLE) BEING CREATED WITH PEOPLE BEING OUTSIDE OF KOSOVO. /// END OPT

THE REFUGEE AGENCY IS SENDING AN EMERGENCY TEAM FROM GENEVA TO ALBANIA. AND DOZENS OF OTHER RELIEF WORKERS ARE BEING DEPLOYED FROM BOSNIA AND CROATIA TO HELP WITH THE CRISIS IN ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, AND MONTENEGRO.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS PEOPLE ARRIVING IN MONTENEGRO AND ALBANIA APPEAR TO BE IN FAR WORSE SHAPE THAN THOSE ARRIVING IN MACEDONIA. BUT, IN ALL CASES, HE SAYS THE REFUGEES ARRIVE EXHAUSTED AND FRIGHTENED BY THEIR ORDEAL.

THE PATTERN THAT EMERGES IS THE PATTERN OF EXPULSIONS, THE PATTERN OF CONTINUED FIGHTING, BUT ALSO CONTINUED VIOLENCE, WHICH IS UNRELATED TO FIGHTING OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS ROAMING THE AREA AND ESSENTIALLY PUSHING PEOPLE OUT. WE CANNOT CONFIRM ANY SPECIFICS. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF STORIES OF SPECIFIC ATROCITIES. WE HEAR THESE STORIES TOO. THEY'RE ALL SECOND HAND.

THERE ARE NO INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE TO CONFIRM OR DENY THE TALES OF ATROCITIES. THE HEAD OF THE REFUGEE AGENCY, SADAKO OGATA, SAID THAT EVENTUALLY THOSE GUILTY OF MURDER AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/GE
30-Mar-99 8:57 AM EST (1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] BRITAIN/ KOSOVO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA ARE PROGRESSING, BUT BAD WEATHER IS MAKING THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN MORE DIFFICULT. MEANWHILE, AN ETHNIC-ALBANIAN DELEGATION MET WITH BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY TO UNDERLINE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE NATO OPERATION. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN ALSO IS SENDING HUMANITARIAN AID FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN NORTHERN ALBANIA.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON SAYS NATO NOW IS TARGETING SERB TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES IN KOSOVO TO STOP THE CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

MR. ROBERTSON ALSO ACCUSES YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF WHAT HE CALLS A SINISTER PLAN TO ELIMINATE KOSOVO'S LEADING PROFESSIONALS AND POLITICIANS.

MILOSEVIC AIMS TO DECAPITATE THE ALBANIAN COMMUNITY AND UNDERMINE ITS SOCIAL COHESION BY A DELIBERATE PROGRAM OF MURDERING THOSE WITH STATUS AND IMPORTANCE AND ARE RESPECTED BY THEIR PEOPLE AND WHO LEAD THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM.

BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERTSON SAYS RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, WHO IS IN BELGRADE ON A PEACE MISSION, MUST WARN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP THE REPRESSION OR PAY THE PRICE.

MR. PRIMAKOV SHOULD TELL MILOSEVIC DIRECTLY THAT IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY, THE KILLING MUST STOP AND THE (ETHNIC) CLEANSING MUST END. HE SHOULD SAY THAT MILOSEVIC SHOULD SIGN THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT THAT CAME OUT OF THE PARIS PEACE TALKS -- AND WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP HIS COUNTRY TOGETHER -- AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO TO LIVE IN PEACE.

BUT MR. ROBERTSON WARNS THAT ANY YUGOSLAV OFFER OF A CEASE-FIRE WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

EARLIER IN THE DAY, A DELEGATION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO MET BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK TO UNDERLINE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE NATO CAMPAIGN.

ISA ZYMBERI, WHO HEADS THE KOSOVO INFORMATION CENTER IN LONDON, SAYS KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE COUNTING ON NATO AIR STRIKES TO HELP STOP THE ATROCITIES.

WE DON'T SIMPLY UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND EXPRESS ANTI-NATO SENTIMENT OR BE OPPOSED TO THIS OPERATION WHEN NATO IS ENGAGED IN DESTROYING THE MEANS THAT AN IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE IS USING TO COMMIT GENOCIDE AGAINST ANOTHER PEOPLE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY SAYS THE FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO REFRAIN FROM CONFRONTING SERB FORCES TO AVOID PROVOKING MORE VIOLENCE BUT WILL FIGHT IN SELF DEFENSE. BUT HE SAYS THEY CANNOT MATCH THE SERB MILITARY POWER.

THE SERB MILITARY IS FORCING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO FLEE THE PROVINCE. U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY 60-THOUSAND REFUGEES ARE ALREADY IN ALBANIA AND ANOTHER 90-THOUSAND ARE EXPECTED TO CROSS THE BORDER IN THE COMING DAYS.

BRITAIN SAYS IT IS SENDING TONS OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES AND PROVIDING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO GET THE AID TO THE REFUGEES HUDDLED NEAR THE BORDER IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
30-Mar-99 7:57 AM EST (1257 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVAR ALBANIANS (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: AN ETHNIC ALBANIAN DELEGATION MET IN LONDON WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK ON TUESDAY TO UNDERLINE THEIR SUPPORT FOR NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SPOKE WITH ONE DELEGATION MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN KOSOVO WHO A PICTURE OF FEAR AND HORROR.

TEXT: KOSOVAR JOURNALIST HAMIDA LATIFI WAS REPORTING ON SERB REPRESSION IN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROVINCE UNTIL LAST AUGUST WHEN SHE WAS FORCED TO FLEE. SINCE THE NATO AIR STRIKES BEGAN LAST WEEK, MISS LATIFI HAS BEEN TRYING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL.

SHE SAYS THEIR STORIES ARE FILLED WITH FEAR AND HORROR.

ON MY PHONE CALLS I HEAR VOICES THAT SMELL OF (SUGGEST) DEATH. I SMELL DEATH FROM HERE.

MISS LATIFI SAYS HER CONTACTS IN PRISTINA SAY SERB TANKS HAVE TAKEN UP POSITIONS IN THE CITY CENTER, WHERE MANY BUILDINGS ARE ON FIRE OR HAVE BURNED DOWN.

MISS LATIFI SAYS HER MOTHER AND FATHER REFUSE TO LEAVE THEIR APARTMENT IN THE CENTER OF PRISTINA, EVEN TO SEARCH FOR A BIT OF FOOD. THEY SAY CIVILIAN SERB GUARDS ARE POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE AND HARASS ANYONE WHO PASSES.

THEY ARE ISOLATED TOTALLY. THEY ARE WAITING DAY BY DAY WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

THE YOUNG JOURNALIST HAS LOST CONTACT WITH HER COLLEAGUES AND EDITORS AT THE NEWSPAPER WHERE SHE WORKED AND CAN ONLY HOPE THEY ARE IN HIDING. SHE FEARS THEY COULD FACE THE SAME FATE AS SIX PROMINENT KOSOVAR INTELLECTUALS WHO WERE REPORTEDLY EXECUTED BY SERB FORCES LAST SUNDAY.

I AM 38 AND FROM MY BIRTH I FEEL I HAVE BEEN IN JAIL IN MY OWN COUNTRY. I FEEL MORE FREE IN LONDON THAN WHEN I LIVED IN MY COUNTRY OF BIRTH.

MISS LATIFI ALSO COMPLAINS ABOUT HEAVY PRESS CENSORSHIP IN YUGOSLAVIA THAT PREVENTS ANY INDEPENDENT VIEW AND ONLY FUELS WHAT SHE CALLS IRRATIONAL NATIONALIST BEHAVIOR.

CIVILIANS IN SERBIA DON'T SEE WHO BRING THE DISASTER IN SERBIA AND KOSOVO. THEY ARE KEEN TO BLAME EUROPE. THEY ARE KEEN TO BLAME THE WHOLE WORLD. THEY DON'T SEE. THEY ARE BLIND. THE MAIN FAULT IS THE SERB JOURNALISTS DIDN'T OPPOSED THE NATIONALISM LAUNCHED 10 YEARS AGO. MILOSEVIC HAS FED THEM WITH NATIONALISM FOR SO LONG SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO MAKE THEM THINK DIFFERENTLY.

THE KOSOVAR JOURNALIST HAMIDA LATIFI, NOW A REFUGEE IN LONDON, SAYS SHE TOLD FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK THAT NATO MUST INTENSIFY ITS MILITARY ACTION TO STOP THE KILLINGS IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
30-Mar-99 9:18 AM EST (1418 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS NATO IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS AIR STRIKES TO TRY TO HALT SERB AGGRESSION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, WHERE HE SAYS MODERATE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS ARE BEING SINGLED OUT FOR MURDER. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS IT IS CLEAR THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS PLANNING HIS CAMPAIGN OF EXPULSIONS AND EXECUTIONS IN KOSOVO, WHILE PEACE TALKS WERE STILL UNDERWAY IN FRANCE.

NOW, LAMENTABLY, WE HAVE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT HIS TROOPS ARE SINGLING OUT FOR MURDER, THE MODERATE KOSOVAR LEADERS WHO SUPPORTED A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.

MR. CLINTON SAYS NATO IS NOW EXPANDING ITS LIST OF SERB MILITARY TARGETS IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE THE PRICE MR. MILOSEVIC WILL PAY FOR HIS ASSAULT ON KOSOVO.

SPEAKING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE UNVEILED A PORTRAIT OF FORMER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER, MR. CLINTON SAID NATO IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS POLICY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JO
30-Mar-99 3:04 PM EST (2004 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S UPDATE) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REJECTED A YUGOSLAV OFFER TO END THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO, SAYING IT FALLS FAR SHORT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A PEACE SETTLEMENT. AND HE SAYS NATO IS STEPPING UP ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB MILITARY FORCES. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: IN A BRIEF STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE OFFER BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS UNACCEPTABLE.

MR. MILOSEVIC MADE THE OFFER ON YUGOSLAV STATE TELEVISION FOLLOWING TALKS WITH RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV.

MR. MILOSEVIC SAID HE WOULD PULL SOME OF HIS FORCES OUT OF KOSOVO IF NATO WOULD END THE AIR STRIKES THAT ARE UNDERWAY AGAINST YUGOSLAV TROOPS.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC BEGAN THE BRUTAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO AND IT IS UP TO HIM TO END IT WITH WHAT MR. CLINTON CALLED A JUST PEACE.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. MILOSEVIC MUST WITHDRAW HIS FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND EMBRACE A NATO BACKED PEACE PLAN FOR THE PROVINCE BEFORE THE BOMBING WILL END. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JO
30-Mar-99 4:27 PM EST (2127 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REJECTED A YUGOSLAV PROPOSAL TO END THE CONFLICT IN THE KOSOVO. MR. CLINTON SAYS NATO WILL CONTINUE AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB MILITARY FORCES WHICH ARE COMMITTING ATROCITIES AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: IN A BRIEF STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MR. CLINTON SAID THE OFFER BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SPEAKING ON YUGOSLAV TELEVISION AFTER EMERGENCY TALKS WITH RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, MR. MILOSEVIC SAID HE WAS WILLING TO PULL SOME OF HIS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO. HE SAID HE WAS ALSO WILLING TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO KOSOVO, IF NATO WOULD FIRST HALT ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB FORCES.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE PROPOSAL IS NOT ENOUGH TO HALT THE BOMBING BUT HE THANKED THE RUSSIANS FOR TRYING TO END THE CONFLICT.

THIS IS FAR SHORT OF WHAT WE THINK IS NECESSARY. WE DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV MADE AND ANY MOVEMENT TOWARD OUR DEMANDS WOULD BE POSITIVE. BUT WE REGARD THIS AS FAR SHORT.

PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV LATER FLEW TO BONN TO BRIEF GERMAN OFFICIALS ON HIS TALKS IN BELGRADE. GERMAN AND BRITISH LEADERS BOTH REJECTED THE YUGOSLAV PROPOSALS. EARLIER, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE NATO ALLIES ARE UNITED IN THEIR RESOLVE TO CONTINUE THE AIR CAMPAIGN. HE SAID THE AIR STRIKES ARE TARGETING SERB TROOPS COMMITTING ATROCITIES AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO.

THE PRESIDENT SAID MR. MILOSEVIC IS NOW RUNNING THE RISK OF LOSING THE MOSTLY ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO -- IF HE DOES NOT END HIS CAMPAIGN AND EMBRACE A JUST PEACE.

FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD HE WILL SEE THAT HIS MILITARY WILL BE SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED, KEY MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE DESTROYED, AND THE PROSPECT OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SERBIA'S (YUGOSLAVIA'S DOMINANT REPUBLIC) CLAIM TO KOSOVO INCREASINGLY JEOPARDIZED.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. MILOSEVIC MUST WITHDRAW HIS FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND EMBRACE A NATO BACKED PEACE PLAN FOR THE PROVINCE BEFORE NATO AIR STRIKES WILL END.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO WARNED MR. MILOSEVIC ONCE AGAIN NOT TO TRY AND OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SMALL YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO. OFFICIALS SAY IN RECENT DAYS THERE HAVE BEEN INDICATIONS THERE IS A RISK OF SUCH A MOVE IN MONTENEGRO, WHICH TOGETHER WITH SERBIA MAKE UP THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO TO EXPRESS HER CONCERN.

SHE TOLD PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC THAT SHE REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE ATTEMPT BY BELGRADE TO OUST HIS GOVERNMENT. ANY ATTEMPT BY BELGRADE TO OVERTHROW THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT WOULD ONLY FUEL WIDER REGIONAL INSTABILITY AND LEAD TO DEEPER ISOLATION FOR YUGOSLAVIA AND ESCALATE THE CONFLICT WITH NATO.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO EXPRESSED ITS CONCERN ABOUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES THAT ARE FLOODING OUT OF KOSOVO INTO MONTENEGRO AND NEARBY COUNTRIES.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STEPPING UP COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THE OUTFLOW -- WHICH THREATENS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STABILITY IN THE REGION.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS IT APPEARS THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING THE EXPULSION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO EVEN WHILE PEACE TALKS WERE UNDERWAY IN FRANCE. U-S OFFICIALS SAY ALL THE REFUGEES WILL HAVE TO BE ALLOWED TO RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AS PART OF AN EVENTUAL SETTLEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JO
30-Mar-99 6:05 PM EST (2305 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] CLINTON/KOSOVO ONITER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REJECTED NEW RUSSIAN-BROKERED PEACE PROPOSALS ON KOSOVO, AND HE WARNS THAT THE SERB MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN KOSOVO IS UNDERMINING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S CLAIM TO THE MAJORITY-ALBANIAN PROVINCE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS FLATLY REJECTED THE PROPOSALS ON KOSOVO CONVEYED BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. AND IT HAS NOTICEABLY TOUGHENED ITS RHETORIC ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF MR. MILOSEVIC'S CONTINUED DEFIANCE OF NATO.

MR. MILOSEVIC OFFERED TO RESTART PEACE TALKS IF NATO STOPPED ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. HE WOULD ALSO CUT HIS FORCES IN KOSOVO, AND ALLOW THE RETURN OF WHAT WERE TERMED PEACEFUL REFUGEES TO THE PROVINCE.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER A TELEPHONE TALK WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER, MR. CLINTON SAID THE PROPOSALS WERE UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT MR. MILOSEVIC MUST END -- ONCE AND FOR ALL WHAT HE TERMED HIS "BRUTAL CAMPAIGN" IN KOSOVO, AND EMBRACE PEACE.

EARLIER AT A STATE DEPARTMENT CEREMONY, MR. CLINTON SAID THE YUGOSLAV LEADER FACES PROGRESSIVELY FIERCE ATTACKS ON HIS MILITARY -- AND PERHAPS ALSO THE LOSS OF KOSOVO ITSELF -- IF HE CONTINUES TO UPROOT AND MURDER INNOCENT CIVILIANS:

THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN IS DESIGNED TO RAISE THE PRICE OF THAT POLICY. TODAY HE FACES THE MOUNTING COST OF HIS CONTINUED AGGRESSION. FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD HE WILL SEE THAT HIS MILITARY WILL BE SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED, KEY MILITARY INFRASTUCTURE DESTROYED, THE PROSPECT OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SERBIA'S CLAIM TO KOSOVO INCREASINGLY JEOPARDIZED.

U-S POLICY HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED STATUS OF KOSOVO AS A YUGOSLAV PROVINCE -- BUT WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE AUTONOMY MR. MILOSEVIC STRIPPED FROM THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS A DECADE AGO.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID LATER THE U-S POSITION ON KOSOVO'S STATUS HAD NOT CHANGED, BUT THAT MOUNTING, CREDIBLE, REPORTS OF SERB ATROCITIES THERE ARE MAKING FUTURE RECONCILATION BETWEEN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY AND THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT LESS LIKELY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/JO
30-Mar-99 6:15 PM EST (2315 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] KOSOVO / U-S BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: MANY MILITARY ANALYSTS QUESTION WHETHER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS ADEQUATELY PREPARED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO THE DANGERS OF AN AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.

TEXT: NATO PLANNERS SAY THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IS ENGAGED IN THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB MILITARY FORCES AND PARAMILITARY TROOPS.

INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ONLY YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS, NATO BOMBERS ARE NOW TARGETTING SERB FORCES WHO ARE ENGAGED IN WHAT WESTERN OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS ETHNIC CLEANSING AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY THAT CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE UNTIL -- IN THE WORDS OF BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR -- "WE HAVE FORCED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP THESE BARBARIC ATROCITIES AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS."

FOR THEIR PART, YUGOSLAV LEADERS SAY THEY ARE INVOLVED IN AN INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATION AGAINST VIOLENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS INTENT ON INDEPENDENCE FOR THE REGION.

AS NATO'S CAMPAIGN INTENSIFIES, MANY MILITARY EXPERTS QUESTION WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY PREPARED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN AN AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. THEY SAY ATTACKING SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO WILL MEAN THE PLANES WILL HAVE TO FLY LOWER, MAKING THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO SERB MISSILES.

FORMER ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH WAS THE NATO COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF CARRYING OUT THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS IN 1995. HE SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD NOT HAVE WAITED FOR THE LAST MOMENT TO ADDRESS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

I DO NOT KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA REALLY FELT THAT WE WERE THAT CLOSE TO THE USE OF FORCE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DO NOT THINK THEY HAVE ACCLIMATED THEMSELVES TO THE POTENTIAL RISKS THAT OUR AIR CREWS AND OUR GROUND FORCES WILL EVENTUALLY BE FACING. THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DO, BECAUSE - QUITE FRANKLY - MANY OF OUR COUNTRYMEN HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO SURGICAL STRIKES AND TO WHAT I CALL "THE ZERO-DEFECT WARFARE" WHERE WE DO NOT LOSE ANYBODY. OR IF WE DO, WE LOSE VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE. IT BOTHERS ME GREATLY. WE ARE PUTTING OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AT RISK THERE.

ADMIRAL SMITH SAYS HE IS NOT QUITE SURE WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION.

(OPT) // PETERS ACT //

NO-ONE KNOWS. MR. MILOSEVIC DOES NOT KNOW HOW LONG HE WILL FIGHT, HOW LONG HE WILL HOLD UP. YOU DO NOT KNOW UNTIL THE BLOOD STARTS FLOWING, WHAT THE REAL PRICE IS BOTH SIDES ARE WILLING TO PAY. SO TRAGICALLY, I THINK BOTH SIDES HAVE BACKED THEMSELVES INTO A TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY SITUATION AND THE PRICE IS GOING TO BE PAID IN THE BLOOD OF YOUG SERBS, YOUNG KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND PROBABLY SOME YOUNG NATO PILOTS.

APPARENTLY IN CANADA, THE SITUATION IS SIMILAR. RETIRED CANADIAN GENERAL LEWIS MACKENZIE WAS THE COMMANDER IN 1992 OF UNITED NATIONS "UNPROFOR" TROOPS IN THE BOSNIAN CAPITAL OF SARAJEVO. HE SAYS THE CANADIAN PEOPLE HAVE ALSO NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY BRIEFED ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BECOME MILITARILY INVOLVED IN KOSOVO.

IN MY OWN COUNTRY, WITHOUT BEING TOO UNKIND, I DO NOT THINK THE POLITICIANS FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATION. WHEN I HAVE POLITICIANS - MY OWN REPRESENTATIVES STANDING UP IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATING THE ISSUE AND THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND - AT LEAST THEY APPEAR NOT TO UNDERSTAND - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO, I REALLY GET SOMEWHAT CONCERNED. I WOULD SAY THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE CANADIAN POPULATION THAT HAVE NOT HEARD OF KOSOVO BEFORE -- AND EVEN NOW PROBABLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND -- NOR SHOULD THEY BE EXPECTED TO, BECAUSE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING THEM HAVE NOT SEEN FIT TO DO THAT.

GENERAL MACKENZIE - AND OTHER MILITARY ANALYSTS - SAY IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR LEADERS TO FORCEFULLY PRESENT THEIR VIEWS BEFORE THEY ASK THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY TO RISK THEIR LIVES.

TONY CORDESMAN IS A SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST WITH THE (WASHINGTON-BASED) "CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES." HE BELIEVES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE CASUALTIES IN THE KOSOVO OPERATION. BUT HE WONDERS WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE MISSION -- ESPECIALLY IF AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE PART OF AN EVENTUAL PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN KOSOVO.

I THINK THAT IS A LOT MORE QUESTIONABLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE RAISED THE MARVELOUS PHRASE "END GAME." BUT ONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE AVERAGE U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION NOW LASTS MORE THAN 15 YEARS. IN MOST CASES THERE NEVER IS AN "END GAME." AND WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT KIND OF PRESENCE - WELL THAT IS A QUESTION THAT, SHALL WE SAY, IS FAR HARDER TO ANSWER.

FOR THE TIME BEING, ANALYSTS SAY THE IDEA OF NATO PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO IS ON HOLD, GIVEN THE AIR BOMBINGS AND THE FACT THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO. IF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN DOES NOT FORCE MR. MILOSEVIC TO CAPITULATE, THEN MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY THE NEED FOR GROUND TROOPS BECOMES A VERY DISTINCT POSSIBILITY. BUT THEY SAY THAT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO SELL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAN THE CURRENT AIR CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PT
30-Mar-99 4:17 PM EST (2117 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] PENTAGON KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE PENTAGON SAYS THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN YUGOSLAVIA IS MAKING PROGRESS, BUT OFFICIALS WILL NOT PREDICT HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE TO STOP THE GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE AIR STRIKES ARE FOCUSING MORE AND MORE ON TARGETS IN AND AROUND THE PROVINCE. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS YUGOSLAV TROOPS AND SPECIAL POLICE HAVE BEEN HURT. BUT HE CONCEDES THE ALLIED BOMBS HAVE FAILED TO BLUNT THE ASSAULT ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE PREVENTED ONE ACT OF BRUTALITY AT THIS STAGE. THIS IS BEING DONE VERY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL BY THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SPECIAL POLICE FORCES IN SMALL GROUPS OF, OF ARMED VICIOUS PEOPLE.

COMMANDERS HAVE SENT MORE "A-10" LOW-LEVEL ATTACK JETS TO THE REGION. SO FAR, THOSE PLANES HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY BAD WEATHER AND THE REMAINING SERB AIR DEFENSES. THE ALLIES ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO DEPLOY ATTACK HELICOPTERS NEXT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
30-Mar-99 3:12 PM EST (2012 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO SAYS IT IS ATTACKING YUGOSLAV FORCES AROUND THE CLOCK IN THE HOPES OF USING BETTER WEATHER TO STOP A CONTINUING SERB CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO'S ALBANIAN POPULATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS.

TEXT: NATO AMBASSADORS ARE EXPRESSING THE MOST CONCERN ABOUT THE REFUGEE SITUATION FROM KOSOVO THAT HAS INCREASED TO MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA ACCUSES YUGOSLAV FORCES OF CARRYING OUT A HISTORIC CAMPAIGN TO EMPTY KOSOVO'S TOWNS OF THEIR ALBANIAN POPULATION.

IF THESE REPORTS ARE CONFIRMED, AS THEY LOOK LIKE BEING CONFIRMED IN SUBSEQUENT HOURS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE FORCED EVACUATION OF PHNOM PENH IN CAMBODIA BY THE KHMER ROUGE IN THE MID-1970'S.

MR. SHEA CITES THE BURNING OF THE TOWN OF PEC WITH ITS 100-THOUSAND RESIDENTS FORCED TO FLEE. ADDITIONALLY, HE TALKS ABOUT THE FORCED MARCH OF RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF PRIZREN TOWARD THE ALBANIAN BORDER. NATO HAS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF YUGOSLAV FORCES BURNING KOSOVO TOWNS IN WHAT MR. SHEA CALLS "THE GREAT TERROR."

NATO'S MILITARY SPOKESMEN ARE NOT ABLE TO GIVE DETAILS ABOUT THEIR LATEST ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAV FORCES. WHILE THE AMERICAN A-10 AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN ACTIVE AGAINST TANKS IN KOSOVO SINCE MONDAY, NATO REFUSES TO SAY IF THE SO-CALLED "WARTHOG" HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DISRUPTING THE SERB ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN.

AIR COMMODORE DAVID WILBY SAYS HE BELIEVES AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEATHER WILL HELP NATO'S TARGETING OF YUGOSLAV ARMOR IN KOSOVO.

MORE OFFENSIVE ASSETS SPECIFICALLY SUITED FOR THIS ROLE ARE ENTERING OUR ORDER OF BATTLE AND THE WEATHER IS SET TO IMPROVE.

COMMODORE WILBY SAYS THE YUGOSLAV SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE ACTIVITY REMAINS RELATIVELY LOW, BUT NATO DOES NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE YUGOSLAV POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE ITS AIRCRAFT. AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAYS, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY THE NEED OF THE YUGOSLAVS TO HIDE THEIR MISSILES FROM NATO'S BOMBING.

YUGOSLAV MIG FIGHTERS ARE NO LONGER CHALLENGING NATO AIRCRAFT AFTER FIVE YUGOSLAV JETS WERE LOST. THE SERBS SAY THEY SHOT DOWN AN AMERICAN STEALTH FIGHTER ON SATURDAY. NATO HAS NOT CONFIRMED THAT A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE BROUGHT DOWN THE PLANE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT WITH RADAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/KL
30-Mar-99 1:33 PM EST (1833 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[14] RUSSIA / YELTSIN SPEECH (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

INTRO: PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS RUSSIA WILL NOT ALLOW ITSELF TO BE DRAWN INTO MILITARY ACTION IN YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS ON MR. YELTSIN'S ANNUAL STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN REPEATED MOSCOW'S SHARP CRITICISMS OF NATO AIR STRIKES, CALLING THEM A VIOLATION OF UNITED NATIONS' RESOLUTIONS AND OF COMMON SENSE. BUT IN A 20-MINUTE SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, THE AILING LEADER PLEDGED TO KEEP RUSSIA OUT OF MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE BALKANS.

MR. YELTSIN NOTED THE ABSENCE OF PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, WHO IS BEGINNING A PEACE MISSION IN BELGRADE. MR. PRIMAKOV IS MEETING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, AND MAY LATER FLY TO GERMANY FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS.

IN A LONGER, WRITTEN VERSION OF THE SPEECH DISTRIBUTED TO LAWMAKERS, MR. YELTSIN SAID RUSSIA'S RELATIONS WITH NATO CANNOT BE UNFROZEN UNTIL THE ALLIANCE REALIZES THE PERILS OF THE MILITARY OPTION TOWARD YUGOSLAVIA.

BUT HE SAID DESPITE THE NATO AIR STRIKES, RUSSIA WANTS TO PRESS AHEAD WITH NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES. HE ADDED THAT THE KOSOVO ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROLONG WHAT HE CALLS "THE CRISIS IN THE U-S/RUSSIA PARTNER- SHIP". (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH
30-Mar-99 3:57 AM EST (0857 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[15] RUSSIA / YELTSIN SPEECH (L UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

IN HIS STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS TUESDAY, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN MADE CLEAR THAT HANDS-OFF POLICY WOULD CONTINUE.

THE PEACE MISSION IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST IN MR. PRIMAKOV'S LONG CAREER AS A DIPLOMAT AND SPYMASTER. BUT IF HE SUCCEEDS, IT WOULD BE A BOOST TO RUSSIA'S WANING PRESTIGE ON THE WORLD STAGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
30-Mar-99 11:47 AM EST (1647 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[18] U-N / ANNAN / KOSOVO (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS (TUESDAY) HE IS OUTRAGED BY REPORTS THAT SERBIAN FORCES ARE PURSUING A CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS ON MR. ANNAN'S STRONGEST STATEMENT YET ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: MR. ANNAN SAYS HE IS PROFOUNDLY OUTRAGED BY REPORTS OF WHAT HE CALLS "A VICIOUS AND SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING CONDUCTED BY SERBIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO".

ONCE AGAIN, A CIVILIAN POPULATION IS BEING MADE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR AN UNRESOLVED POLITICAL DISPUTE. CIVILIAN POPULATIONS MUST NEVER COME UNDER INDISCRIMINATE AND DELIBERATE ATTACK. SUCH ACTIONS ARE IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF ESTABLISHED HUMANITARIAN LAW.

MR. ANNAN IS CALLING ON ALL OF KOSOVO'S NEIGHBORS TO GIVE SHELTER AND ASSISTANCE TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES.

HE IS ALSO ASKING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO GIVE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA, MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO TO HELP THEM SUPPORT REFUGEES. HE SAYS ANY SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT MUST ALLOW THESE REFUGEES TO RETURN VOLUNTARILY TO THEIR HOMES IN FULL SECURITY AND DIGNITY.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS BEEN ASSISTING REFUGEES, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES. IT HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL ISSUES CONCERNING KOSOVO, MAINLY BECAUSE OF DIVISIONS WITHIN THE SECURITY COUNCIL OVER WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THREE -- THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND FRANCE -- SUPPORT NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAV FORCES. THE OTHER TWO -- RUSSIA AND CHINA -- STRONGLY OPPOSE THE STRIKES AS INTERFERENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/PT
30-Mar-99 5:25 PM EST (2225 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[19] NEWS FEATURE: KOSOVO'S INTERNET WAR BY PAULA WOLFSON (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE BATTLE IN THE BALKANS IS TAKING PLACE IN THE SKIES, ON THE GROUND AND ... IN CYBERSPACE. WHILE NATO CONDUCTS BOMBING RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, AND SERBS ATTACK KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, A FIGHT FOR HEARTS AND MINDS IS TAKING PLACE ON THE INTERNET. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, WITH MOST FOREIGN REPORTERS FORCED TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, AND CHAOS ALL AROUND, THE WORLD WIDE WEB HAS BECOME A CONDUIT FOR INFORMATION IN AND OUT OF YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: AT THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY IN THE BALKANS, A YOUNG WOMAN WRITES OF A NIGHT OF DARKNESS AND DANGER: "WE SAW THE NATO ATTACK FROM OUR BALCONY," SHE TYPES, "THERE WERE DETONATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE."

SHE MIXES IMAGES OF THE BOMBING WITH HUMAN EMOTIONS: HER MOTHER'S FEARS AND HER FATHER'S SENSE OF CALM. SHE PAINTS A PORTRAIT IN WORDS -- PERHAPS NOT SCHOLARLY OR OBJECTIVE AS A TRAINED JOURNALIST -- BUT HUMAN AND TOUCHING.

SHE IS ONE OF THE UNOFFICIAL CHRONICLERS OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT.

AMERICAN STEVEN CLIFT IS GIVING THEM AN OUTLET ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB. MR. CLIFT IS A EXPERT ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE INTERNET. HE BEGAN WHAT HE CALLS "AN EXPERIMENT IN ON-LINE DEMOCRACY" MOMENTS AFTER THE FIRST BOMBS FELL ON YUGOSLAVIA..

I LOOKED AROUND AT A FEW WEB SITES AND THOUGHT: "WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS MISSING ARE DIRECT PERSONAL REPORTS FROM THOSE IN THE REGION, WHETHER THEY ARE IN BELGRADE OR KOSOVO OR MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA"

HE SAYS HE WANTED TO GIVE A VOICE TO THE VICTIMS OF YEARS OF BLOOD FEUDS IN THE BALKANS -- TO MATCH THOUGHTS AND WORDS WITH THE NAMELESS FACES SEEN IN THE WEST.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? THEY ARE REAL PEOPLE. BUT NORMALLY EVEN WITH TELEVISION -- AND WITH THE COVERAGE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS -- ALL WE HAVE SEEN ARE PEOPLE'S FACES AND A FEW TRANSLATED SNIPPETS.

THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR INTERNET WAR. ALTHOUGH THE WORLD WIDE WEB WAS IN EXISTENCE IN 1991, WHEN AN AMERICAN-LED COALITION TOOK ON IRAQ, IT PLAYED ONLY A MINOR ROLE. FEW IRAQIS HAD ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND GOVERNMENTS WERE ONLY BEGINNING TO DISCOVER THE POTENTIAL OF CYBERSPACE.

THESE DAYS, AN INTERNET SEARCH WITH THE WORD "KOSOVO" CAN UNEARTH MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND REFERENCES. YOU CAN MOVE FROM DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS TO PUBLIC RELATIONS IN A SPLIT SECOND. THE SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTRY HAS A WEB SITE, AS DOES NATO, THE PENTAGON AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS SPOKEN OFTEN OF SERBIA'S STANDING IN THE WORLD. BUT BY HIS EVERY ACTION HE HAS DIMINISHED YOUR COUNTRY'S STANDING.

WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON WANTED TO ADDRESS THE SERBIAN PEOPLE, THE MESSAGE WENT OUT ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB WHEN THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN THE AWARD WINNING INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION B-92, THE BROADCASTS -- IN SERBIAN AND ENGLISH -- MOVED TO THE INTERNET.

ALBANIAN BROADCASTERS WORKING FOR KOSOVO'S RADIO-21 ALSO FOUND TEMPORARY REFUGE IN CYBERSPACE.

THE SERBS HAVE THREATENED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION AGAINST THESE RADIO STATIONS. THEY ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO INFILTRATE B-92'S WEB SITE AND RECENTLY THE GOVERNMENT RULED THAT OFFENSIVE INTERNET PUBLICATIONS CAN BE HEAVILY FINED OR SHUT DOWN. IN KOSOVO, ACCESS TO THE WEB IS SOMETIMES DENIED AT THE POINT OF A GUN. FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES -- AND FRIGHTENED TO USE THE TELEPHONE -- MOST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE FOCUSING ON SURVIVAL. AS A RESULT, CONTACT BY COMPUTER IS BECOMING VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT.

ONLY A FEW MAKE THE CONNECTION. IN PRISTINA, A YOUNG WOMAN SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE WEST, WARNING IT MIGHT BE HER LAST. SHE WRITES "I'D RATHER DIE FROM NATO BOMBS THAN FROM SERBIAN TORTURE."

ELSEWHERE IN KOSOVO, A SERBIAN ORTHODOX PRIEST SITS IN A 12TH CENTURY MONASTERY, DETAILING A 20TH CENTURY WAR. HE ATTACKS BOTH NATO AND YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. NICKNAMED "THE CYBERPRIEST," HE PRAYS FOR PEACE AND THEN GOES ONLINE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/JO
30-Mar-99 12:36 PM EST (1736 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[20] GLOBAL STOCK TRADING (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE HEAD OF AMERICA'S NASDAQ STOCK MARKET, ALFRED BERKELEY, SAYS THE HUGE POTENTIAL OF GLOBAL REAL-TIME STOCK TRADING HAS BEEN UNLEASHED BY THE INTERNET COMPUTER REVOLUTION. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS MR. BERKLEY ADDRESSED AN INVESTORS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON.

TEXT: THERE ARE TWO LARGE STOCK MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES -- THE VENERABLE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ON WALL STREET, AND THE NEWER ELECTRONIC NASDAQ, WHICH HAS NO TRADING ROOM AT ALL.

BASED IN WASHINGTON, THE NASDAQ LISTS HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON COMPUTERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

MR. BERKLEY BELIEVES THE INTERNET IS BRINGING INVESTING DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS, REDUCING COSTS AND ELIMINATING MIDDLEMEN.

IT (THE INTERNET) ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TRADE ESSENTIALLY FROM HOME, FROM THEIR KITCHENS IF THEY LIKE. AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A NECESSARY STEP. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE IT. THEY BELIEVE THESE NEW PARTICIPANTS (TRADERS) IN THIS NEWLY DEMOCRATIZED MARKET ARE EVIL AND SOMEHOW SHOULD NOT BE THERE. BUT IN FACT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GO BACK. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FAR MORE DEMOCRATIZED MARKETS, AT LOWER AND LOWER COSTS USING THE EXTRAORDINARY CONVENIENCE THAT THE WORLD-WIDE WEB PROVIDES.

MR. BERKELEY SAYS THE WEB SITE OF THE NASDAQ EXCHANGE RECEIVES 24-MILLION HITS ON HIGH VOLUME DAYS. NINETY-FIVE-PERCENT OF THE QUERIES ARE FOR STOCK QUOTATIONS AND 15-PERCENT OF THE QUERIES COME FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

MR. BERKELY ARGUES THAT NEWLY MARKET-FRIENDLY INDIA IS RIPE FOR CAPITAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT.

INDIA HAS OPENED UP ITS CAPITAL MARKETS. AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CAPITAL TO FLOW INTO INDIA. WHICH MANY OF YOU WILL REALIZE HAS A MIDDLE CLASS, ENGLISH SPEAKING POPULATION BIGGER THAN THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS A NEW BALL GAME. INDIA IS GOING TO BECOME A TREMENDOUS BENEFICIARY BECAUSE OF THEIR FOCUS OVER THE PAST DECADE ON COMPUTING.

CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES, MR. BERKELEY SAYS A POWER STRUGGLE IS UNDERWAY BETWEEN THE NEW ELECTRONIC BROKERS -- WHICH HE CALLS ORDER GATHERERS -- AND THE FULL-SERVICE BROKERAGES LIKE "MERRILL LYNCH" AND "MORGAN STANLEY". HE SAYS THE ELECTRONIC BROKERAGES NOW DO TWICE AS MUCH BUSINESS ON THE NASDAQ AS THEIR TRADITIONALIST RIVALS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/RAE
30-Mar-99 3:20 PM EST (2020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY) AS PROFIT-TAKING DEVELOPED. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 99 HUNDRED 13, DOWN 93 POINTS, ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED, DOWN NINE POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME PULL-BACK IN REACTION TO MONDAY'S FIRST EVER CLOSE ABOVE 10 THOUSAND ON THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE. COCA COLA, A COMPONENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, WAS WEAK AFTER IT WARNED THAT TROUBLES IN MANY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CONTINUE.

GOVERNORS OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK DECIDED TO LEAVE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED. THAT DECISION WAS EXPECTED AND HAD NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON STOCK PRICES.

STOCK TRADER BERNARD MCSHERRY SAYS PROFIT-TAKING WAS TO BE EXPECTED AFTER MONDAY'S RECORD CLOSE ON THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

I DO NOT THINK IT IS SURPRISING CONSIDERING YESTERDAY'S HOOPLA AND HYPE. THE MARKET REALLY DID NOT CLOSE ALL THAT STRONGLY YESTERDAY. IT SEEMED TO BE HANGING ON AT THE END LIKE A BOXER ON THE ROPES JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE BELL. WE DID CLOSE ABOVE 10 THOUSAND SO I THINK WE ARE SEEING SOME PROFIT TAKING NOW.

A MONTHLY SURVEY SHOWS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE THIS MONTH TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE LAST JULY. A STRONG JOB MARKET IS GIVING AMERICANS CONTINUED CONFIDENCE IN SPENDING AND ASSUMING NEW DEBT.

U-S AIRWAYS, THE SIXTH LARGEST AIRLINE IN THE UNITED STATES, ANNOUNCED A ONE-HALF BILLION DOLLAR STOCK BUYBACK PROGRAM. THE COMPANY ALSO SAID THAT, DESPITE MANY WEATHER-RELATED FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, ITS EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER WILL MEET WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. BEST BUY, THE HOME ELECTRONICS AND APPLIANCE RETAILER, REPORTED ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS SURGED BY 72 PERCENT, BEATING WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL OPEN 45 NEW STORES THIS YEAR.

LIQUOR COMPANIES IN THREE NATIONS HAVE FORMED A JOINT VENTURE TO IMPROVE THEIR DISTRIBUTION IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. THE ALLIANCE INVOLVES HIGHLAND DISTILLERS OF BRITAIN, JIM BEAM OF THE UNITED STATES AND COINTREAU OF FRANCE.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/PT
30-Mar-99 5:08 PM EST (2208 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[22] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN RESIDENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, AND THE NATO ATTACKS AIMED AT STOPPING IT, AGAIN DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS. THE PREVAILING THEME IS THAT, DESPITE THE GROWING HORROR ON THE GROUND, NATO MUST CONTINUE ITS AIR STRIKES.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: THE DOW JONES INDEX HITS THE TEN-THOUSAND MARK: TROUBLED TIMES IN PARAGUAY; AND BASEBALL DIPLOMACY IN CUBA;

TEXT: IN BALTIMORE, "THE SUN" EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS: "NATO ALLIES MUST STAY THE COURSE IN KOSOVO." THE PAPER GOES ON:

VOICE: AID MUST BE RUSHED TO THE FRAGILE LITTLE COUNTRIES OF ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, TO FEED AND HOUSE THE DESPERATE ALBANIAN REFUGEES FLEEING EXTERMINATION IN KOSOVO. ... DEBATE IS POINTLESS ABOUT WHETHER THE NATO BOMBING, RESPONDING TO GENOCIDAL ATROCITIES, PROVOKED MORE. SERBIAN DICTATOR SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S SPIN [PROPAGANDA] MACHINE WANTS US TO BELIEVE IT HAS. /// OPT /// BUT THE ATROCITIES REPORTED .... FOLLOWS THE MODEL MR. MILOSEVIC'S SUBORDINATES USED AGAINST BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FIVE YEARS AGO. /// END OPT /// ... IF IT CANNOT UNDO THE SLAUGHTER UNDER WAY, NATO MUST ENSURE THAT IT IS THE LAST SUCH ATROCITY MR. MILOSEVIC UNDERTAKES.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS SHOCKED AT THE ESCALATING CARNAGE BY SERBIAN FORCES, NOTING:

VOICE: THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS WHAT'S OCCURRING ... AN 'ABHORRENT AND CRIMINAL ACTION ON A MASSIVE SCALE.' EVEN THAT FALLS SHORT OF DESCRIBING THE SAVAGE WAR THAT YUGOSLAV TROOPS ARE WAGING AGAINST THEIR COUNTRYMEN.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ON THE OTHER HAND, SEES THE NATO POLICY AS FAILING, AND POSSIBLY LEADING TO A DANGEROUS ESCALATION OF THE PRESENT CONFLICT.

VOICE: A DISPASSIONATE EVALUATION WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN GAINED AND MUCH LOST. THE HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN KOSOVO ... HAS BECOME A HUNDRED-FOLD WORSE ... THE DANGER OF A WIDER BALKAN CONFLICT ... HAS ALSO INCREASED NOW THAT SEPARATIST FORCES IN KOSOVO HAVE NATO TO ACT IN THEIR BEHALF .... FURTHERMORE, NATIONALIST TENSIONS IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA ARE BEING STIRRED BY EVENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA. /// OPT /// WARS CREATE NEW POLITICAL REALITIES THAT CANNOT ALWAYS BE FORESEEN. [MR.] MILOSEVIC, WHOM NATO HAD HOPED TO UNDERMINE BY BOMBING ... HAS GAINED IN STRENGTH. FURTHER AFIELD, THE POST COLD WAR ORDER IN EUROPE, COUPLING THE EXPANSION OF NATO WITH A LARGER ZONE OF PEACE AND COOPERATION .... NOW LIES IN SHAMBLES. ... AND ... BECAUSE OF A FEAR THAT AIRPOWER ALONE WON'T DO THE JOB, /// END OPT /// THERE IS MORE AND MORE TALK OF SENDING GROUND TROOPS TO KOSOVO, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH COULD INCLUDE A FRACTURING OF NATO AND NEW RISKS TO THE POLITICS OF THE BALKANS AND BEYOND.

TEXT: "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE: "NATO AIR STRIKES HAVE NOT DETERRED [MR.] MILOSEVIC, BUT IT'S TOO EARLY TO ABANDON THE STRATEGY." MEANWHILE, "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS:

VOICE: IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR NATO TO SAVE ALL THE KOSOVO CIVILIANS ... BUT THAT IS N O REASON FOR THE ALLIANCE TO ABANDON OR EASE ITS ATTACK AGAINST SERBIA'S MILITARY. ON THE CONTRARY: NATO IS RIGHT TO INTENSIFY ITS AIR WAR AND ACCELERATE ITS EFFORT TO CRIPPLE THE WAR MACHINE NOW CARRYING OUT THESE ATROCITIES. WITH EACH COMING DAY, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S FORCES WILL BECOME MORE VULNERABLE. THIS IS A TIME TO STAY THE COURSE.

TEXT: THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" COUNTERS:

VOICE: ... THE EVIDENCE MONDAY SUGGESTED THAT, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT RUN, EVENTS HAVE SPUN SO BADLY OUT OF CONTROL THEY MAY HAVE HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT [RATHER THAN PROTECTING THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS] ... THE ALLIED AIR WAR ... HAS TOUCHED OFF A NEW ROUND OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, BARBARISM AND BUTCHERY BY SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO. ... THE U-S AND ITS NATO ALLIES MAY, IN THE END, HAVE TO FACE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO SEND IN GROUND TROOPS TO STOP THE KILLING ... [BUT] ... FOR NOW, HOWEVER, THE AIR CAMPAIGN MUST CONTINUE.

TEXT: RUSSIA'S DIFFICULT DIPLOMATIC POSITION IN THE CONFLICT DRAWS THIS COMMENT FROM BOSTON'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR"

VOICE: THE RUSSIANS KEENLY RESENT THEIR INABILITY TO ACT IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE THEY HAVE LONG BEEN A PLAYER. RUSSIA'S 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY MILITARY SUCCESSES AGAINST OTTOMAN TURKEY HELPED SET THE STAGE FOR THE EVENTUAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE GREEKS, SERBS, ROMANIANS, AND BULGARIANS - - ALL OF WHOM SHARE RUSSIA'S EASTERN ORTHODOX FAITH - - FROM CENTURIES OF HARSH TURKISH RULE. ... BUT THE [EDITORS: UNDERSTOOD "CURRENT"] ACTION OF MANY OF THESE SAME NATIONALISTS - - AND THE COMMUNISTS, WHO DOMINATE RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT - - HAVE PUT MOSCOW IN A NO-WIN BIND. ... RUSSIA'S DILEMMA: WHILE IT RAILS AGAINST NATO, IT DESPERATELY NEEDS WESTERN CASH TO JUMP-START ITS ECONOMY. ... THE WEST CAN'T JUST LET RUSSIA SINK INTO AND ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHAOS. ... AND RUSSIA COULD STILL PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIATING ROLE BETWEEN NATO AND [MR.] MILOSEVIC.

TEXT: THE U-S ECONOMY CONTINUES ITS STELLAR PERFORMANCE, WITH THE DOW JONES AVERAGE TOPPING THE TEN-THOUSAND MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY ON MONDAY. TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTES:

VOICE: WE STILL PREFER THE ROCK-SOLID SOUND OF THE 'DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE,' BUT TO MANY PEOPLE IT MUST FEEL LIKE THE DOW JONES STARSHIP ... WE HERE AT DOW JONES (I.E. THE OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS OF THE JOURNAL) ARE CELEBRATING THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE THAT BEARS OUR NAME, BUT THAT MIGHTY CLIMB TO TEN-THOUSAND ... REFLECTS MUCH MORE THAN THE GAINS IN SHARE PRICES. ULTIMATELY, CUMULATIVELY, IT MEASURES WORK WELL DONE, WORK BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ADULT MEN AND WOMEN ... OUR HATS ARE OFF TO THEM.

TEXT: WHILE MUCH OF THE WORLD'S ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON KOSOVO PROVINCE, THE LATIN AMERICAN NATION OF PARAGUAY HAS HAD A CRISIS OF ITS OWN, WITH THE ASSASSINATION OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE FORCED RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT RAUL CUBAS. "THE MIAMI HERALD" HOPES THIS MEANS A "FRESH START FOR PARAGUAY."

VOICE: MAY A FRESH START NOW REVITALIZE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES. MOST ENCOURAGING: NEW PRESIDENT LUIS GONZALEZ MACCHI QUICKLY WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE IN THE CONSTITUTIONALLY PRESCRIBED MANNER. EVEN THE ARMY ANNOUNCED ITS BACKING, ALLAYING FEAR OF A COUP. SUNDAY NIGHT CHEERS IN ASUNCION CONTRASTED WITH THE ANGRY PROTESTS OF PREVIOUS DELAYS. ENRAGED SUPPORTERS OF ... [THE SLAIN] VICE PRESIDENT, LUIS MARIA ARGANA, BLAMED HIS ASSASSINATION ON MR. CUBAS AND HIS ALLY, COUP-PLOTTER LINO OVIEDO. ... NOW NEWLY SWORN PRESIDENT GONZALEZ MUST PICK UP THE PIECES.

TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR DECADES, A U-S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM HAS PERFORMED IN CUBA, WITH THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES DEFEATING THE CUBAN NATIONAL TEAM 3-2 IN 11 INNINGS. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" IS ELATED, HEADLINING ITS COMMENTARY: "BASEBALL DIPLOMACY COULD WIN CUBA."

VOICE: /// OPT /// ... THERE WAS MORE THAN BASEBALL ON DISPLAY DURING THE EXHIBITION GAME IN HAVANA. CUBANS GOT TO SEE MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS, A SLICE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY THAT HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM THE ISLAND FOR THE 40 YEARS SINCE FIDEL CASTRO TOOK POWER AND THE U-S EMBARKED ON A POLICY OF ISOLATING CUBA TO FORCE THE DOWNFALL OF HIS COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP. ... MANY ANTI-CASTRO CUBAN AMERICANS AND OTHER OPPONENTS OF HIS REGIME PROTESTED THE ORIOLES' EXHIBITION SERIES WITH THE CUBANS, WHICH WILL CONCLUDE WITH A MAY 3RD REMATCH IN BALTIMORE. /// END OPT /// ... (MR.) CASTRO'S LIFE AND HIS FAILED RULE ARE IN THEIR LATE INNINGS. THE UNITED STATES OUGHT TO DO ALL IT CAN TO SHOW CUBANS WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN IT'S TIME FOR A NEW BALLGAME FOR THEIR NATION. WE CAN BEST DO THAT BY MAKING OUR RELATIONS WITH CUBA AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE AND BY EXPOSING CUBANS TO MORE OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO WIN THIS HIGH-STAKES GAME THAN SIMPLY TRYING TO SHUT CUBA OUT.

TEXT: LASTLY, REACTING TO THE MURDER CONVICTION IN MICHIGAN OF AMERICA'S WELL-KNOWN ADVOCATE OF ASSISTED SUICIDE, DOCTOR JACK KEVORKIAN. TODAY'S "WASHINGTON TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: THERE ALWAYS WAS A BIT OF HYPOCRISY TO IT ALL. HERE WAS A MEDICAL DOCTOR ... JACK KEVORKIAN ... WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN 130 SUICIDES SINCE 1990 ..... INSIST[ING] HIS SUICIDE TECHNIQUES WERE COMPASSIONATE AND THAT HIS VICTIMS WERE READY AND WILLING ... [BUT] .. A JURY OF HIS PEERS, AFTER WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE, KNEW BETTER. ... THERE IS BUT ONE JACK KEVORKIAN AND UNLIKE OTHER RETIREES, HE CHOSE NOT TO SPEND HIS GOLDEN YEARS VISITING GRANDCHILDREN ... HE CHOSE THE MONIKER [NICKNAME] DR. DEATH AND THEN TAUNTED PROSECUTORS TO LEVEL MURDER CHARGES. HE CERTAINLY GOT HIS WISH.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TUESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
30-Mar-99 11:47 AM EST (1647 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article