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Voice of America, 99-05-05Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] APACHE CRASH (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (KUKES)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248975 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AN APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER HAS CRASHED IN NORTH EASTERN ALBANIA KILLING BOTH CREW MEMBERS. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM THE NORTHERN ALBANIAN TOWN OF KUKES ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST NATO CASUALTIES OF THE WAR. TEXT: MILITARY SOURCES SAY THE APACHE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN ABOUT 1:30 WEDNESDAY MORNING LOCAL TIME WHILE ON A TRAINING MISSION ABOUT 75 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL TIRANA. SOURCES SAY THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF HOSTILE FIRE. 24 OF THE APACHES ARE BASED IN TIRANA PREPARING FOR ACTION OVER YUGOSLAVIA BUT HAVE NOT BEEN SENT INTO COMBAT. THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE 16-MILLION DOLLAR CHOPPERS TO BE LOST ON A TRAINING MISSION. A U-S ARMY SPOKESMAN SAID AFTER THE FIRST CRASH LAST WEEK, THE APACHE'S ARE FLYING COMBAT SIMULATION MISSIONS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS ALBANIAN TERRAIN SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER IN NEIGHBORING KOSOVO. THE MISSIONS ARE FLOWN AT NIGHT IN TOTAL DARKNESS AT VERY LOW ALTITUDES. A WESTERN MILITARY OBSERVER TOLD V-O-A THIS WEEK HE HAD SEEN APACHES PRACTICING CLOSE TO THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO EARLIER THIS WEEK . THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS SO FAR OF THE TANK KILLER CHOPPERS OPERATING ACROSS THE BORDER OVER YUGOSLAVIA. WHEN ASKED RECENTLY WHEN THE APACHES MIGHT BEGIN ACTION AGAINST SERB FORCES, A NATO DECLINED TO COMMENT SAYING THE SERBS WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW. VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE EARLIER CRASH SHOT BY A U-S TELEVISION NETWORK INDICATED THE CHOPPER MAY HAVE CLIPPED A TREE AS IT WENT OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGE. BOTH CREW MEMBERS ESCAPED THAT EARLIER CRASH WITH MINOR INJURIES. A LOSS OF LIFE IN THIS LATEST CRASH IS THE FIRST NATO CASUALTIES
OF THE WAR. HERE IN NORTHERN ALBANIA THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE
THAT NATO AIRCRAFT ARE BUSY IN THE REGION. THE ROAR OF JETS,
PRESUMABLY HEADED TOWARD TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA, CAN BE HEARD
REGULARLY IN THE DISTANCE. (SIGNED)
[02] APACHE CRASH (L UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248995 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-248975 ///INTRO: A U-S ARMY APACHE HELICOPTER HAS CRASHED DURING A TRAINING MISSION IN ALBANIA, KILLING BOTH CREWMEMBERS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN IN ALBANIA'S CAPITAL, TIRANA, REPORTS THESE ARE THE FIRST NATO CASUALTIES OF THE WAR. TEXT: THE FULLY ARMED APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER WENT DOWN IN RUGGED TERRAIN EARLY WEDNESDAY, ABOUT 75 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF TIRANA. A U-S ARMY SPOKESMAN SAYS RESCUE TEAMS REACHED THE BURNING WRECKAGE WITHIN 15 MINUTES AND FOUND BOTH CREW MEMBERS DEAD. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. BUT THE SPOKESMAN FOR NATO'S TASK FORCE "HAWK" IN TIRANA, LIEUTENANT COLONEL GARRIE DORNAN, SAYS THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF HOSTILE FIRE. HE TOLD REPORTERS THE TRAINING MISSION WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN COMBAT CONDITIONS IN TOTAL DARKNESS AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. /// DORNAN ACT ONE ///WE ARE PREPARING FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS. COMBAT IS A DEMANDING, DIFFICULT, AND UNFORGIVING MISSION. WE TRAIN FOR THAT REASON. AND WE TRAIN HARD. SO WE FLY AGGRESSIVE MISSION PROFILES SO THAT WHEN WE GO INTO COMBAT WE ARE PREPARED. /// END ACT ///TWENTY-FOUR OF THE APACHES WERE SENT TO ALBANIA LAST MONTH TO PREPARE FOR OPERATIONS OVER YUGOSLAVIA. THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE 16-MILLION-DOLLAR CRAFT TO CRASH, ALTHOUGH THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN SENT INTO COMBAT. THIS SECOND CRASH IN LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APACHES' SUITABILITY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SUCH AS KOSOVO. BUT COLONEL DORNAN SAYS THE TWO CRASHES WILL NOT DELAY THE SCHEDULE FOR SENDING THE HELICOPTERS INTO ACTION. /// DORNAN ACT TWO ///THE SOLDIERS OF TASK FORCE "HAWK" REMAIN STEADFAST IN THE RESOLVE TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR ASSIGNED MISSION. /// END ACT ///A WESTERN MILITARY OBSERVER ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN KOSOVO AND ALBANIA TOLD V-O-A THIS WEEK THAT HE HAD SEEN APACHES PERFORMING TRAINING MISSIONS CLOSE TO THE BORDER. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF THE TANK-KILLER HELICOPTERS CROSSING INTO YUGOSLAV TERRITORY. /// REST OPT ///NATO'S SUPREME COMMANDER, GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, INSPECTED THE APACHES IN ALBANIA THIS WEEK, BUT DECLINED TO SPECULATE ABOUT WHEN THEY MIGHT BE USED IN KOSOVO. WHEN ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, COLONEL DORNAN'S COMMENT WAS, "THE SERBS WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW." VIDEO PICTURES OF THE EARLIER APACHE CRASH -- TAKEN BY A U-S
TELEVISION NETWORK -- INDICATED THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE CLIPPED A
TREE AS IT WENT OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGE. BOTH CREW MEMBERS ESCAPED
THAT EARLIER INCIDENT WITH MINOR INJURIES. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO/PENTAGON SITREP (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249018 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 23 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)
[04] MACEDONIA / BORDER CLOSED (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249005 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS MACEDONIA CLOSED ITS MAIN BORDER CROSSING WITH KOSOVO LATE WEDNESDAY. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN SKOPJE REPORTS THE SURPRISE MOVE COMES AFTER ABOUT 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES FLOODED INTO MACEDONIA IN THE PAST TWO DAYS. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN PAULA GHEDINI TOLD REPORTERS AT THE BLACE (BLAH ZEH) BORDER CROSSING THAT THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS CONCERNED FOR REFUGEES STUCK IN THE NO-MAN'S LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHE COULD NOT CONFIRM HOW MANY KOSOVAR ALBANIANS MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED BACK. MACEDONIA HAS COMPLAINED IT CANNOT HANDLE THE MASSIVE FLOW OF REFUGEES INTO THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA -- ABOUT HALF OF THEM CRAMMED INTO NINE OVER-CROWDED REFUGEE CAMPS. TWENTY-THOUSAND MORE HAVE CROSSED INTO THE COUNTRY SINCE MONDAY. MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT, FEARFUL OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STRAINS, HAS URGED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO MORE TO HELP. EARLIER IN THE DAY, U-N REFUGEE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS
MCNAMARA SAID TALKS ARE UNDERWAY WITH ALBANIA TO MOVE UP TO
60-THOUSAND REFUGEES THERE FROM MACEDONIA, AS SOON AS MORE CAMPS
ARE BUILT IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA TO HOUSE THEM. MR. MCNAMARA ALSO
URGED OTHER COUNTRIES TO SPEED THEIR AIR-LIFT OF REFUGEES OUT OF
THE AREA.
SO FAR, FEWER THAN 27-THOSUAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE BEEN SENT TO
TEMPORARY SHELTERS IN EUROPE, THE UNITED STATES, AND AUSTRALIA,
ALTHOUGH 30 COUNTRIES HAVE PROMISED TO TAKE IN ABOUT 100-THOUSAND
OF THE REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
[05] ALBANIA HOST FAMILIES BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-42214 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THAT ABOUT ONE-HALF OF ALL THE KOSOVO REFUGEES IN ALBANIA -- ABOUT 200-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE LIVING TEMPORARILY WITH LOCAL FAMILIES. BUT ALBANIA IS A POOR COUNTRY. AND OFFICIALS SAY THE HOST FAMILIES SOMETIMES ARE POORER THAN THE REFUGEES THEY ARE HOSTING. SO INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES ARE WORKING TO HELP THEM. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM TIRANA. TEXT: MAKBULE DAFA AND HER FAMILY OF FIVE LIVE IN A CRAMPED FOUR-ROOM APARTMENT IN TIRANA. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR PRIVACY. SINCE THE REFUGEE EXODUS FROM KOSOVO, THE APARMENT IS EVEN MORE CROWDED. IN LATE MARCH, THE DAFAS TOOK IN A FAMILY OF SEVEN KOSOVAR REFUGEES. THAT GROUP STAYED FOR ONE WEEK. BUT THEN THE DAFAS TOOK IN AND ARE STILL HOSTING A SECOND REFUGEE FAMILY, THIS ONE WITH EIGHT MEMBERS. MAKBULE DAFA WORKS AS A SUPERVISOR OF THE HOUSEKEEPING STAFF AT A POPULAR INTERNATIONAL HOTEL IN TIRANA. HER PAY -- COMBINED WITH HER HUSBAND'S PENSION -- EQUALS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS A MONTH, AN AVERAGE INCOME BY ALBANIAN STANDARDS. FOR NOW, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE IS A COOPERATIVE VENTURE BETWEEN THE DAFA FAMILY AND THEIR GUESTS... /// DAFA ACT ONE - IN ALBANIAN - FADE UNDER TRANSLATOR ///BUT THAT IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE FAMILY'S RESOURCES. AND MRS. DAFA AND THE REFUGEE FAMILY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE RED CROSS. JEFF ROWLAND IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IN TIRANA. HE SAYS THE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING FOOD AID TO HOST FAMILIES HAS HAD MIXED SUCCESS. /// ROWLAND ACT ONE ///YOU HAVE A POPULATION HERE IN ALBANIA, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHERN PARTS, WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE VERY POOR AS WELL. AND THERE WERE CASES WHERE FOLKS WERE COMING AND SAYING WE HAVE REFUGEES IN OUR HOME, BUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T. SO YOU HAD TO MAKE A JUDGEMENT CALL ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD BE PROVIDING FOOD TO THAT FAMILY, BECAUSE THEY'RE EVEN POORER THAN SOME OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS COMING ACROSS, OR TAKING IT ON THEIR WORD THAT THEY REALLY DID HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT OR TEN OR WHATEVER REFUGEES IN THEIR HOME. /// END ACT ///MR. ROWLAND SAYS U-N FOOD MONITORS WILL REGISTER REFUGEES TO INCREASE THE CHANCES THAT FOOD WILL GO TO WHERE IT IS GENUINELY NEEDED. HE SAYS THE MONITORS WILL BE BASED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND WILL GO HOUSE TO HOUSE AND CAMP TO CAMP TO REGISTER REFUGEES. /// ROWLAND ACT TWO ///IT STREAMLINES WHO YOU PROVIDE THE FOOD TO BECAUSE YOU START TO BUILD A RAPPORT WITH THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW WHO IS WHO AND HOW MANY REFUGEES ARE IN THE REGION. AND THEN ON A REGULAR BASIS YOU'RE ABLE TO KEEP A LIST OF -- HAS THAT FAMILY MOVED ON? IS THE FAMILY STILL WITH THE HOST FAMILY? /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS MONEY ALSO WILL BE GIVEN TO THE ALBANIAN HOST FAMILIES. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESPERSON ARIANE QUENTIER (KAHN-TYU) SAYS THE EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, NOR HAS THE CRITERIA FOR QUALIFYING FOR IT. /// QUENTIER ACT ///ALBANIA IS A VERY POOR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE IN ALBANIA ARE POOR. AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THIS MONEY? THAT'S UP TO THEM, HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THIS MONEY. BUT I MEAN IT'S A TREMENDOUS EFFORT FOR LOTS OF FAMILIES. WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY OR ANOTHER TO REWARD THEM AND SUPPORT THEM. /// END ACT ///SOME CRITICS SAY THE PAYMENT OF MONEY SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE. THEY WORRY THAT THIS PROGRAM COULD TURN HOSTING REFUGEE FAMILIES INTO A BUSINESS. MAKBULE DAFA SAYS SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF HER FAMILY WILL QUALIFY FOR MONEY ASSISTANCE. BUT SHE ADDS THAT WAS NOT THE REASON SHE OPENED HER DOOR TO REFUGEES IN THE FIRST PLACE. /// DAFA ACT TWO - IN ALBANIAN - FADE UNDER TRANSLATOR ///MAUKBULE DAFA SAYS SHE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP HER SMALL APARTMENT OPEN TO REFUGEES ONLY FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO. SHE SAYS SHE SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE THE ROOM FOR THEM TO STAY INDEFINITELY. FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES IN ALBANIA, THE FORECAST IS
NOT SO FIXED. THEY ARE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO FEED KOSOVAR
REFUGEES FOR UP TO ONE YEAR, PERHAPS LONGER. (SIGNED)
[06] AUSTRALIA / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY ROBIN POKE (CANBERRA)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248982 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AUSTRALIA IS SET TO BEGIN ITS AIRLIFT OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. AN AUSTRALIAN AIRLINER WAS DISPATCHED TO EUROPE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AND THE FIRST PLANELOAD OF REFUGEES IS DUE TO ARRIVE ON FRIDAY. AS ROBIN POKE REPORTS FROM CANBERRA, THE ESTIMATED THREE HUNDRED REFUGEES WILL BE THE FIRST OF A GROUP TOTALLING FOUR THOUSAND. TEXT: THE KOSOVO REFUGEES WILL BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO AUSTRALIA FROM THE MACEDONIAN CITY OF SKOPJE, WHERE THEY ARE BEING PROCESSED BY AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. THEY WILL FIRST FLY TO ROME, ON A FLIGHT ARRANGED BY THE INTERANTIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION AND THEN TRANSFER TO A QANTAS 747 AIRLINER. THE FLIGHT WILL BE THE FIRST OF APPROXIMATELY 20, OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS. AUSTRALIA'S MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, PHILLIP RUDDOCK, SAYS THE FIRST ARRIVALS HAVE BEEN SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF NEED AND WILL INCLUDE MANY WOMEN TRAVELLING ALONE WITH CHILDREN. THEY WILL ALSO INCLUDE PEOPLE THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES HAS HAD MOST DIFFICULTY ACCOMMODATING IN THE BALKANS. ON ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY, THE KOSOVARS WILL BE TAKEN TO A MIGRANT
CENTER, WHERE THEIR HEALTH WILL BE MONITORED. THEY WILL THEN BE
FLOWN TO THE ISLAND STATE OF TASMANIA, OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST.
ONCE THERE, THEY WILL LIVE IN ACCOMODATIONS PROVIDED BY THE
AUSTRALIAN ARMY. A NUMBER OF OTHER SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS SUITABLE FOR TEMPORARY USE. (SIGNED)
[07] KOSOVO / REFUGEES BY ALISHA RYU (LOS ANGELES)DATE=5/4/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43310 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE ACTIVIST IS URGING NATO NOT TO INSTALL ARMED PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO WHEN THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN YUGOSLAVIA ENDS. V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU RECENTLY SPOKE TO THE ACTIVIST ABOUT HIS VIEWS ON ACHIEVING THE SAFE RETURN OF MILLIONS OF REFUGEES TO KOSOVO. TEXT: FOR 12 YEARS, LIAM MAHONY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HUMANITARIAN WORK FOR THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (N-G-O), PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL. FOR MOST OF THE DECADE, MR. MAHONY WAS IN WAR-RAVAGED CENTRAL AMERICA, HELPING REPATRIATE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR HOMELANDS USING A METHOD CALLED "ACCOMPANIMENT." "ACCOMPANIMENT," HE SAYS, INVOLVES THE ESCORT AND MONITORING OF REFUGEES BY UNARMED, OUTSIDE GROUPS OF CIVILIANS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS OR OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. HE SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS FOUND THE METHOD HIGHLY USEFUL IN PROTECTING REFUGEES LONG AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN RESETTLED. // 1ST MAHONY ACT //WE FIND THAT JUST HAVING A FOREIGNER WITH THEM, PROTECTS THEM BECAUSE PARTICULARLY IF THE THREATS ARE COMING FROM A GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENTS DO NOT WANT FOREIGNERS TO DIRECTLY WITNESS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. SO THEY TEND TO AVOID ATTACKING PEOPLE WHEN THERE IS A FOREIGNER NEARBY." // END ACT //MR. MAHONY CITES THE SUCCESS THE U-N HAS HAD FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS IN GUATEMALA, USING UNARMED VOLUNTEERS AS PEACEKEEPERS. HE ARGUES THE SAME LEVEL OF SUCCESS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN KOSOVO IF NATO TAKES A PEACEFUL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF RETURNING KOSOVAR REFUGEES. // 2ND ACT //I THINK THE U-N EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE GREATER EXTENT TO WHICH INTERNATIONAL MONITORING FORCE THAT GOES IN WITH THOSE REFUGEES IS UNARMED, THE BETTER IN TERMS OF POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES, LONG-TERM RECONCILIATION, AND PEACE IN THAT REGION. // END ACT //BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH MR. MAHONY'S VIEWS ON KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING STRATEGY. ED HALEY -- A PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT THE CLAREMONT-MCKENNA COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA -- SAYS KOSOVO -- WHERE REFUGEES FLED BECAUSE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING -- IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN GUATEMALA WHERE REFUGEES FLED TO ESCAPE A CIVIL WAR. // HALEY ACT //IT IS OBVIOUS THAT UNARMED MONITORS ARE NO HELP IN PROTECTING KOSOVARS. THEY HAVE BEEM EVICTED BY HEAVILY ARMED MILITARY AND PARAMILITARY UNITS. KOSOVARS WILL NOT RETURN WITHOUT THE ASSURANCE OF PROTECTION BY NATO. IT IS NOT JUST ANYONE'S PROTECTION. IT IS THE EUREOPEAN MEMBERS OF NATO AND ABOVE ALL, THE UNITED STATES. // END ACT //MR. HALEY BELIEVES ONLY A LONG-TERM NATO PRESENCE CAN DETER FUTURE SERB AGGRESSION. BUT MR. MAHONY BELIEVES A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE SERBS
AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS CAN NEVER BE NEGOTAIED IF NATO RETAINS A
MILITARY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[08] KOSOVO REFUGEES / DIX PREVIEW (L ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (FORT DIX, N-J)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249004 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS (17:00 EST) 453 REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO WILL ARRIVE AT FORT DIX IN THE UNITED STATES -- THE FIRST OF AN ESTIMATED 20-THOUSAND WHO WILL MAKE THE TRIP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON HAS A REPORT ON THE PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE REFUGEES. TEXT: FORT DIX COMMANDER GENERAL MITCHELL ZAIS SAYS TO FORGET ABOUT THE IMAGES OF SQUALID, JAIL-LIKE REFUGEE CAMPS. HE IS MODELING THE FORT DIX OPERATION AFTER ELLIS ISLAND -- THE MAIN TRANSIT CENTER FOR MOST IMMIGRANTS WHO ENTERED THE UNITED STATES EARLIER THIS CENTURY. /// ZAIS ACT ///THE REFUGEES WHO ARE BEING ADMITTED TO THIS COUNTRY IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE ARE HERE UNDER LEGAL STATUS. AND WE WANT TO WELCOME THEM TO AMERICA AS WE WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT SO MANY OF OUR GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN WELCOMED THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND. /// END ACT ///THE REFUGEES, WHO ARE BEING RESETTLED FROM MACEDONIA, WILL ARRIVE WITH ALMOST NO BELONGINGS. THEY WILL BE GIVEN WELCOME KITS AT FORT DIX AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SPECIAL CLASSES TO LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN CULTURE, THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND OTHER SUBJECTS. PLAYROOMS OVERFLOWING WITH TOYS AND GAMES HAVE BEEN SET UP FOR THE CHILDREN. ROUND-THE-CLOCK MEDICAL AND COUNSELING FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED, TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE SUFFERED. OFFICES HAVE ALSO BEING SET UP TO HELP REFUGEES LOCATE LOST FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. SPECIAL FOODS AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGE NUMBER OF MOSLEMS AMONG THE REFUGEES. NO PORK OR ALCOHOL WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE CAFETERIAS SET UP FOR THEM. A SECOND PLANE-LOAD OF REFUGEES IS EXPECTED BEFORE THE END OF THE
WEEK. OFFICIALS SAY THEY PLAN TO BRING OVER ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND
REFUGEES EACH WEEK UNTIL THE INITIAL QUOTA OF 20-THOUSAND HAS
BEEN REACHED. (SIGNED)
[09] REFUGEES/USA (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248977 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FOUR-HUNDRED-FIFTY-THREE (453) KOSOVAR REFUGEES LEFT FOR THE UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY -- THE FIRST OF SOME 20-THOUSAND THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED TO TAKE IN. (EDS: 357 ADULTS, 87 YOUNGSTERS, NINE INFANTS) CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE MACEDONIAN CAPITAL OF SKOPJE THAT MERCY FLIGHTS ARE NOW CARRYING ABOUT 18-HUNDRED REFUGEES A DAY TO SOME 30 HOST COUNTRIES IN AN EFFORT TO EASE THE REFUGEE BURDEN FOR MACEDONIA. TEXT: MEN, WOMEN, YOUNGSTERS AND NINE INFANTS SLOWLY CLIMB THE STAIRS ON TO THE JUMBO JET. THEIR TEAR-STAINED FACES ARE MARKED BY FATIGUE AND ANXIETY. FOR MANY, IT IS THEIR FIRST RIDE ON AN AIRPLANE, THEIR FIRST TRIP OUTSIDE THE BALKANS. KATHLEEN THOMPSON DIRECTS THE REFUGEE PROGRAM FOR THE U-S IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE. SHE SAYS THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WILL BE GIVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF PERMANENT REFUGEE STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES. /// THOMPSON ACT ///THE UNITED STATES IS OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY OF PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT THROUGH THE REFUGEE PROGRAM, OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO KOSOVO -- IF THE REFUGEES WISH TO DO SO, AT U-S GOVERNMENT EXPENSE WHEN IT'S SAFE TO DO SO. // END ACT ///MOST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS BOARDING THE PLANE THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING INSIST THEY WANT TO GO HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT MANY OF THE TEENAGERS AMONG THEM ADMIT THEY ARE EXCITED TO SEE AMERICA. //OPT//THREE MEDICAL DOCTORS ARE FLYING WITH THE GROUP AND U-S REFUGEE OFFICIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. //END OPT// THE CREW OF THE CHARTERED JUMBO JET WAS SPECIALLY CHOSEN FOR THE WORK. MANY WERE THEMSELVES ONCE REFUGEES OR HAVE HELPED FLY OUT REFUGEES FROM OTHER AREAS, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. U-S AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA, CHRISTOPHER HILL, SAYS IT IS THE LEAST THE UNITED STATES CAN DO TO HELP EASE THE REFUGEE BURDEN FOR MACEDONIA. ///HILL ACT ///MACEDONIA IS A VERY SMALL COUNTRY OF ABOUT TWO-MILLION PEOPLE. IT NOW HAS REFUGEES IN EXCESS OF 200-THOUSAND. THAT IS, 10 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION NOW IS REFUGEES. IT'S VERY CLEAR IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND MORE AREAS (FOR THEM). /// END ACT /////OPT//NEB/LMK/PCF/PLM 05-May-99 5:35 AM EDT (0935 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [10] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248989 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT SERB AUTHORITIES ARE ENGAGED IN A MAJOR EFFORT TO SEPARATE MEN FROM THE REST OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE AGENCY SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED WHAT IT CALLS CREDIBLE TESTIMONY TO THAT EFFECT FROM MANY KOSOVAR REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED IN ALBANIA ON TUESDAY. TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS HUNDREDS OF SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARRIVED TUESDAY IN A MASSIVE COLUMN OF TRACTORS AND TRAILERS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS MANY OF THE ARRIVALS WERE CRYING AND WERE IN A FAR MORE EMOTIONAL STATE THAN MANY OF THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED EARLIER. HE SAYS AID WORKERS REPORTED THE GREAT MAJORITY OF REFUGEES SAID MEN HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY BY THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES BEFORE THE TRACTORS WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE. /// JANOWSKI ACT ONE ///BASED ON THE INTERVIEWS, THE TOTAL COULD RUN INTO SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE INVOLVED, TAKEN OFF THE TRACTORS. SEVERAL FARMERS SAID AT LEAST TWO-THOUSAND MEN HAD BEEN SEPARATED OUT. WE CANNOT CONFIRM THAT FIGURE. BUT, THERE CERTAINLY IS A MAJOR EFFORT TO SEPARATE MEN OUT. /// END ACT ///MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE AGENCY IS ALARMED BY WHAT HE CALLS, MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF KILLINGS, BEATINGS AND ATTACKS AGAINST THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MINORITY IN KOSOVO BY SERB FORCES. /// JANOWSKI ACT TWO ///WE'RE SEEING EMERGING EVIDENCE OF FAIRLY SYSTEMATIC SEPARATION OF MEN. WE'RE SEEING EMERGING EVIDENCE OF KILLINGS. BUT, IT'S STILL BASICALLY THE TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE WHO COME OUT AND THEY LOOK TRAUMATIZED ENOUGH. AND, ACTUALLY, THEIR TESTIMONIES SOUND CREDIBLE. BUT, THERE'S NO ONE IN KOSOVO TO CONFIRM IT OR DENY IT EITHER WAY. /// END ACT ///U-N AND PRIVATE AID AGENCIES WITHDREW FROM KOSOVO BEFORE NATO AIRSTRIKES BEGAN. U-N HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS ARE GATHERING TESTIMONY FROM
REFUGEES ABOUT ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, MANY OF WHICH
MIGHT QUALIFY AS WAR CRIMES. THE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR POSSIBLE USE IN
PROSECUTING SUSPECTS ON GENOCIDE AND OTHER WAR CRIMES CHARGES.
(SIGNED)
[11] U-N-H-C-R / MACEDONIA (L) CQ BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248994 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /////INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND ALBANIA SAYS 20-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE MACEDONIAN BORDER IN THE PAST THREE DAYS -- MOSTLY BY TRAIN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN SKOPJE REPORTS EMERGENCY PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO EVACUATE AT LEAST 50-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AS SOON AS MORE REFUGEE CAMPS ARE BUILT TO HOUSE THEM. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS MCNAMARA SAYS THE UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL OF SO MANY REFUGEES AT THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO MAKES THE EVACUATION PLANS MORE URGENT. HE SAYS ABOUT EIGHT-THOUSAND ARRIVED TUESDAY, AND THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. /// MCNAMARA ACT ONE ///THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HUMANITARIAN TRANSFER FOR CAMPS IN ALBANIA AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE PLEADING WITH WESTERN AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE REFUGEES OUT OF MACEDONIA URGENTLY. /// END ACT ///HE HOPES TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY UP TO SIX-THOUSAND REFUGEES INTO ALBANIA. MR. MCNAMARA INSISTS THE RELOCATION WILL BE DONE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS ONLY. THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL CALLS IT THE LEAST-WORST OPTION BECAUSE HE SAYS MACEDONIA'S CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE REFUGEES HAS BEEN STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. MR. MCNAMARA SAYS MACEDONIA HAS AGREED TO EXPAND THREE CAMPS, BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO CONTINUE TO FLOOD ACROSS THE BORDER. /// MCNAMARA ACT TWO ///THE PRIME MINISTER OF MACEDONIA AND HIS MINISTERIAL COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT MACEDONIA CANNOT CONTINUE TO BEAR THIS BURDEN. THEY HAVE BEEN GENEROUS IN PROVIDING ASYLUM TO MANY TIMES MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES THEY ORIGINALLY AGREED TO TAKE AN THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ADEQUATE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT IN DOING SO, EITHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF MACEDONIA FOR THE ECONOMIC AND OTHER IMPACTS OF THE REFUGEE INFLUX AND TOO FEW DEPARTURES FROM MACEDONIA UNDER THE HUMANITARIAN EVACUATION PROGRAM /// END ACT ///MR. MCNAMARA URGES GOVERNMENTS IN THE EUROPE AND FARTHER AWAY TO SPEED THEIR MERCY FLIGHTS. ABOUT 30 COUNTRIES PROMISED TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR 100-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, BUT SO FAR FEWER THAN 27-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE BEEN FLOWN OUT. THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL SAYS THE HEALTH OF THOSE NOW ARRIVING IN MACEDONIA IS NOT VERY GOOD. /// MCNAMARA ACT THREE ///YES, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DETERIORATION IN THE CONDITION OF RECENT ARRIVALS BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR GENERAL CONDITION AND IN TERMS OF REPORTS OF ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT BY THE SERB AUTHORITIES /// END ACT ///MR. MCNAMARA SAYS THE U-N-H-C-R IS DOCUMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. THE U-N-H-C-R OFFICIAL SAYS PLANS ALSO WILL HAVE TO BE MADE BY
JULY AT THE LATEST TO WINTERIZE REFUGEE CAMPS AND HELP
ACCOMMODATE THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA DURING
THE COLD WINTER MONTHS IF THE CONFLICT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY
THEN. (SIGNED)
[12] U-N-H-C-R / MACEDONIA (S) CQ BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248993 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /////INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND ALBANIA SAYS 20-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE MACEDONIAN BORDER IN THE PAST THREE DAYS -- MOSTLY BY TRAIN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN SKOPJE REPORTS EMERGENCY PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO EVACUATE AT LEAST 50-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AS SOON AS MORE REFUGEE CAMPS ARE BUILT TO HOUSE THEM.. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS MCNAMARA SAYS THE UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL OF SO MANY REFUGEES AT THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO MAKES THE EVACUATION PLANS MORE URGENT. HE SAYS ABOUT EIGHT THOUSAND ARRIVED TUESDAY, AND HE SAYS THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. /// MCNAMARA ACT ONE ///THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HUMANITARIAN TRANSFER FOR CAMPS IN ALBANIA AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE PLEADING WITH WESTERN AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE REFUGEES OUT OF MACEDONIA URGENTLY. /// END ACT ///HE HOPES TO MOVE UP TO SIX-THOUSAND REFUGEES INTO ALBANIA
IMMEDIATELY. MR. MCNAMARA INSISTS THE RELOCATION WILL BE DONE ON
A VOLUNTARY BASIS ONLY. (SIGNED)
[13] U-N/ KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY BARBARA SCHOETZAU (NEW YORK)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249017 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AT THE UNITED NATIONS WEDNESDAY, THE U-N COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES IN THE BALKANS IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DESPERATE. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS. TEXT: MS. OGATA SAYS THE FLOW OF REFUGEES FLEEING KOSOVO CONTINUES AND DESPITE GROWING HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS FRAGILE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES ARE BEING STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. MS. OGATA ESTIMATES AS MANY AS 37-THOUSAND NEW REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED IN ALBANIA, MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO IN THE LAST THREE DAYS. MS. OGATA SAYS SHE ALSO DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF NATO BOMBING ON THE REGION WITH SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH REFUGEES, MS. OGATA SAYS ETHNIC CLEANSING AND MASS FORCED EXPULSIONS IN KOSOVO CONTINUE TO BE THE MAJOR REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE FLEEING. /// OGATA ACT ///WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE CAUSES OF THE FLIGHT WE GET FROM REFUGEES. AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA FROM KOSOVO HAVE ALLUDED TO THE VARIOUS ATROCITIES, FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE AS THE CAUSE FOR THEIR FLIGHT. I SAID THE ONLY PLACE WHERE WE MIGHT BE HAVING PEOPLE FROM SERBIA -- THERE IS A GROUP, ABOUT 20-THOUSAND SERBS -- WHO ARE MOVING INTO BOSNIA, AND THERE IS A MIXED ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEIR MOTIVATIONS ARE. SOME ARE TRYING TO EVADE [MILITARY] DRAFTS. SOME ARE JUST AFRAID OF THE CONDITIONS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC [OF YUGOSLAVIA]. SOME ARE AFRAID OF THE BOMBINGS. SOME ARE ETHNIC REASONS. /// END ACT ///05-May-99 6:38 PM EDT (2238 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [14] BELGRADE DELEGATION/MILOSEVIC (L-ONLY) BY ALISHA RYU (LOS ANGELES)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249014 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE INTERFAITH DELEGATION THAT WON THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S SOLDIERS IN YUGOSLAVIA SAY THE GROUP'S NEGOTIATION WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS DIFFICULT AND AT TIMES, CONFRONTATIONAL. TWO OF THE DELEGATES -- WHO HAVE JUST RETURNED TO LOS ANGELES -- DESCRIBED THEIR EXPERIENCE IN BELGRADE TO V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU. TEXT: LOS ANGELES PHYSICIAN DR. NAZIR UDDIN KHAJA WAS THE ONLY AMERICAN-MUSLIM IN THE 20-MAN DELEGATION. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF FIVE DELEGATES, INCLUDING REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, WHO SPOKE TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ON SUNDAY DURING THE FINAL HOURS OF NEGOTIATION. WHEN THE DELEGATION LEARNED LATER THAT DAY OF MR. MILOSEVIC'S DECISION TO RELEASE THE SOLDIERS, DR. KHAJA SAYS THE GROUP COULD HARDLY BELIEVE THE NEWS. // 1ST KHAJA ACT //IT WAS AN EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US. WE ALL HAD TEARS. WE ALL HUGGED EACH OTHER. WE ALL HAD A PRAYER. // END ACT //DR. KHAJA ADMITS THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. HE SAYS DURING THE NEGOTIATION, PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC DID NOT APPEAR READY TO MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS. HE SAYS FOR THREE HOURS, THE PRESIDENT SAT RIGID IN HIS CHAIR, LISTENING TO THE DELEGATES' PLEAS. MR. MILOSEVIC OFTEN SHOWED ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND LECTURED THE DELEGATES ABOUT MORALITY. // REST OPT //AT ONE POINT, MR. MILOSEVIC ASKED DR. KHAJA WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESTROYING YUGOSLAVIA. HE FROWNED DEEPLY AT DR. KHAJA'S RESPONSE. // 2ND ACT //I RESPONDED THAT IT WAS HE AND HE ALONE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD NO ISSUE WITH THE SERBIAN PEOPLE NOR HAS OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE SERBIAN PEOPLE. // END ACT // // END OPT //DR. KHAJA SAYS HIS HEART SANK WHEN MR. MILOSEVIC DISMISSED THE DELEGATES PROMISING ONLY THAT HE WOULD "THINK ABOUT IT." BUT DR. KHAJA SAYS HE BELIEVES MR. MILOSEVIC ULTIMATELY WAS FORCED TO ACCEPT THE DELEGATION'S ARGUMENT THAT RELEASING THE SOLDIERS WOULD BE IN MR. MILOSEVIC'S BEST INTEREST. ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION -- RABBI STEVEN JACOBS -- SAYS MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR THE SOLDIERS' RELEASE SHOULD GO TO REVEREND JACKSON WHOM THE RABBI SAYS PUT TOGETHER AN EFFECTIVE AND DETERMINED GROUP OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS. RABBI JACOBS -- A LONG-TIME FRIEND OF REVEREND JACKSON'S -- FEELS THE GROUP'S SOLIDARITY DEEPLY AFFECTED MR. MILOSEVIC. // JACOBS ACT //WE WERE BONDED TIGHT. THERE WAS A MESSAGE THAT JEWS AND MUSLIMS WERE GOING TO SPEAK IN ONE VOICE. SO IT WAS VERY POWERFUL. // END ACT //ON WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON MET THE FREED SERVICEMEN AT
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY. THE PRESIDENT IS CONSIDERING
RELEASING TWO SERB SOLDIERS BEING HELD BY U-S FORCES. (SIGNED)
[15] CONGRESS-KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249015 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL VOTE TODAY (THURSDAY) ON EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN THE BALKANS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS IT COULD BE A DAY OF DRAMA AND IRONY ON CAPITOL HILL. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON ASKED FOR SIX BILLION DOLLARS. THE HOUSE IS POISED TO APPROVE MORE THAN TWICE THAT AMOUNT. REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE 13 BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PENTAGON. THEY SAY THE EXTRA MONEY IS NEEDED TO MEET OTHER PRESSING MILITARY NEEDS. AT FIRST, THE WHITE HOUSE ASKED CONGRESS TO FUND ONLY THOSE ITEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE KOSOVO MISSION. BUT NOW THERE ARE SIGNS SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE IS IN THE OFFING, WITH THE PRESIDENT AND TO PREPUBLICANS STRESSING THE NEED TO GET THE FUNDS IN THE RIGHT HANDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM WILL BE CONVINCING THE CONGRESSIONAL RANK-AND-FILE
(THOSE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE LEADERSHIP). LAST WEEK, HOUSE
MEMBERS SPLIT EVENLY ON A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE AIR
CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. NOW, THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO COVER
THE COSTS OF THE CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
[16] CLINTON KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, GERMANY)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248991 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON WEDNESDAY LED A PEP RALLY FOR MANY OF THE PILOTS WHO ARE FLYING BOMBING RAIDS OVER YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE IN GERMANY. TEXT: SPANGDAHLEM IS HOME TO A U-S AIR FORCE DIVISION THAT INCLUDES FIGHTER AIRCRAFT THAT ARE TAKING PART IN THE NATO AIRSTRIKES OVER YUGOSLAVIA. MR. CLINTON THANKED THE AIR MEN AND WOMEN FOR THEIR SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NO MISSION IS RISK-FREE. IN THAT VEIN HE EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO CREW MEMBERS WHO DIED IN THE APACHE HELICOPTER TRAINING ACCIDENT IN ALBANIA. THE PRESIDENT SAID THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WOULD INTENSIFY THE EFFORT TO FORCE YUGOSLAV TROOPS FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOW ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO RETURN UNDER A NATO PEACE KEEPING PRESENCE. HE REITERATED NATO'S QUARREL IS NOT WITH THE SERBIAN PEOPLE. ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///OUR QUARREL IS WITH ETHNIC CLEANSING AND SYSTEMATIC KILLING AND UPROOTING AND THE BIGOTRY AND DEATH BROUGHT ON BY RELIGIOUS HATRED. THAT IS WHAT WE STAND AGAINST. ///END ACTUALITY///EARLIER NATO SUPREME COMMANDER GENERAL WESLEY CLARK GAVE A OPTIMISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN SAYING IT IS TAKING A TOLL ON YUGOSLAV MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERBIAN TROOP MORALE. MEANWHILE, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN CONFIRMED THAT HE IS WEIGHING WHETHER TO FREE TWO SERB PRISONERS IN THE WAKE OF THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S SERVICE MEN HELD BY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES. BUT HE DENIES SUCH A MOVE WOULD BE A GOOD WILL GESTURE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE REITERATED THAT MR. MILOSEVIC MUST WITHDRAW HIS FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOW ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE KEEPING FORCE WITH NATO AT ITS CORE. PRESIDENT CLINTON ARRIVED IN GERMANY FROM BELGIUM WHERE HE MET
WITH NATO OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF THE
ALLIANCE'S AIR CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
[17] CLINTON / NATO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248974 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET WITH TOP NATO OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS TO REVIEW THE ALLIANCE'S AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS. TEXT: WITH THE NATO BOMBING MISSION IN YUGSOLAVIA NOW IN ITS SIXTH WEEK, MR. CLINTON REVIEWED ALLIANCE STRATEGY WITH TOP NATO OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE AIM OF THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP WAS TO UNDERSCORE NATO 'UNITY AND PERSEVERANCE'. BUT THE VISIT COMES AS AN OUTGOING SENIOR NATO OFFICIAL IS CRITICIZING THE ALLIANCE'S STRATEGY IN YUGOSLAVIA. GENERAL KLAUS NAUMANN - WHO IS RETIRING AS CHAIRMAN OF NATO'S MILITARY COMMITTEE - SAYS NATO'S DESIRE TO LIMIT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES HAS HAD THE EFFECT OF PROLONGING THE MISSION. HE TOOK ISSUE WITH THE ALLIANCE'S RELUCTANCE TO USE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AND ITS VAST MILITARY SUPERIORITY IN THE AIR CAMPAIGN. MEANWHILE, U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON IS CONSIDERING RETURNING TWO SERB SOLDIERS FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S SERVICEMEN BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. CLINTON IS TO MEET WITH THE THREE SERVICEMEN AT RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY LATER WEDNESDAY. WHILE IN GERMANY, THE PRESIDENT WILL ALSO VISIT ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES AT A REFUGEE CENTER NEAR FRANKFURT, AND HOLD TALKS WITH CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER IN BONN. HE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON THURSDAY NIGHT. (SIGNED)
[18] NATO / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249000 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS ARE REVIEWING THEIR PLANS FOR THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT WILL ENTER KOSOVO TO ESCORT ALBANIAN REFUGEES HOME AFTER AIR STRIKES END. V-O-A RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON BRIEFLY VISITED NATO HEADQUARTERS HE TOLD NATO LEADERS HE WANTS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO ENTER KOSOVO JUST AS SOON AS THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDS. THE TROOPS WOULD ESCORT ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK TO KOSOVO AFTER THEY HAD BEEN EXPELLED BY YUGOSLAV FORCES. THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS FOR 28-THOUSAND NATO-LED TROOPS TO ENTER KOSOVO WITH YUGOSLAV COOPERATION. AFTER SIX WEEKS OF AIR STRIKES, YUGOSLAVIA IS ENTERTAINING THE IDEA OF PEACEKEEPERS, BUT NOT THOSE FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOW BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA TELLS REPORTERS, YUGOSLAVIA WILL NOT BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE ACCEPTABLE COUNTRIES. /// SHEA ACT ONE ///CLEARLY, MILOSEVIC CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHO IS IN THIS FORCE AND WHO ISN'T. NATO CORE MEANS EXACTLY THAT, A NATO CORE, AND A NATO CORE MEANS THAT ALL ALLIES HAVE EQUAL PARTICIPATION AND NOT SOME AND NOT OTHERS. /// END ACT ///NATO MAINTAINS THAT THE ALBANIANS WILL NOT FEEL SAFE TO RETURN HOME UNLESS NATO TROOPS MAKE UP THE MAIN PART OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE. CONTRARY TO YUGOSLAVIA'S EFFORT TO RESTRICT THE FORCE'S COMPOSITION, SIZE AND CAPABILITIES, NATO AMBASSADORS ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO MAKE THE ARMED FORCE LARGER THAN 28 THOUSAND. A SENIOR NATO DIPLOMAT SAYS CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE AIR STRIKES. ONE-MILLION REFUGEES MUST BE ESCORTED HOME. YUGOSLAVIA HAS PUT DOWN MORE LAND MINES TO PREVENT A GROUND INVASION AND THOSE MUST BE REMOVED. CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL HAVE TO BE CREATED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE FROM NATO BOMBS AND THE SERB BURNING OF HOUSES AND BUSINESSES. AS THE NATO OFFICIAL PUTS IT, THE TASKS ARE MORE ONEROUS SO WE NEED A FORCE LARGER THAN 28-THOUSAND. NATO SPOKESMAN SHEA SAYS THE PEACEKEEPING TROOPS WILL FIND A WILDERNESS OF DESTRUCTION IN KOSOVO. /// SHEA ACT TWO ///YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A HIGHLY-ORGANIZED INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRESENCE WHICH CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND I PERSONALLY CANNOT BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE THAT A LIGHTLY ARMED OR UNARMED CIVILIAN PRESENCE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE SITUATION IS SIMPLY GOING TO BE TOO DEMANDING, AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. /// END ACT ///NATO'S ADVANCE FORCE STATIONED IN MACEDONIA HAS 13-THOUSAND TROOPS WITH AN AUTHORIZED INCREASE TO 16-THOUSAND. FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE GROUP OF SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRIES WILL MEET WITH THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER THURSDAY
NEAR BONN TO SEE IF THEY CAN AGREE ON THE DETAILS OF THE KOSOVO
PEACEKEEPING FORCE. A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL SAYS RUSSIA HAS
GONE BEYOND YUGOSLAVIA'S CONDITIONS FOR ALLOWING A PEACEKEEPING
FORCE INTO KOSOVO BUT THERE IS STILL NO AGREEMENT YET AMONG THE
GROUP OF EIGHT. (SIGNED)
[19] G-8 MINISTERS (S OVERNIGHTER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249002 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE WORLD'S SEVEN MOST INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS MEET THURSDAY NEAR BONN WITH THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO TRY TO REACH AGREEMENT ON WAYS TO END THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT AS V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, NATO DOES NOT FEEL AN AGREEMENT IS IMMINENT. TEXT: GERMANY HAS ARRANGED THE MEETING TO TRY TO BRING RUSSIA CLOSER TO NATO AND ITS PARTNERS ON THE TERMS FOR STOPPING THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA. NATO INSISTS ON ITS FIVE CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE AN ARMED PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO ESCORT ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK TO KOSOVO. A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL SAYS RUSSIA HAS ADVANCED BEYOND THE YUGOSLAV POSITION THAT OPPOSES PARTICIPATION IN THE FORCE BY ANY NATO COUNTRY THAT TAKES PART IN THE BOMBING. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE CONFERENCE NEAR BONN WILL SUCCEED IF IT BRINGS RUSSIA CLOSER TO NATO'S POSITION. /// SHEA ACT ///WE WILL TRY VERY HARD TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA SO THAT THE FIVE CONDITIONS BECOME THE FIVE CONDITIONS NOT SIMPLY OF 99 PERCENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BUT OF 100 PER CENT. /// END ACT ///THE FOREIGN MINISTERS HOPE TO AGREE ON A FORCE THAT CAN BE
APPROVED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. (SIGNED)
[20] RUSSIA / YUGO (L-ONLY) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248983 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, HAS RETURNED TO MOSCOW FOLLOWING TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, OTHER TOP U-S OFFICIALS, AND U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE ENVOY (WILL BRIEF / IS BRIEFING / HAS BRIEFED) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ON THE RESULTS OF HIS TRIP. TEXT: BALKANS ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HE FEELS MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR PEACE IN YUGOSLAVIA AFTER HIS TALKS IN WASHINGTON. BUT THE RUSSIAN ENVOY HAS RETURNED TO MOSCOW WITHOUT ANY CLEAR SIGNS OF A DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH. AS HE ARRIVED, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAID RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE CLOSER TO AN AGREEMENT ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS. HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT THAT THE TWO SIDES UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BALKANS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE. HE SAYS A COLOSSAL EFFORT WILL BE REQUIRED. /// CHERNOMYRDIN ACT IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND UNDER //MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS "THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE FORMATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE TO INSURE THE SAFE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO KOSOVO." //OPT////END OPT//MR. CHERNOMYRDIN CHOSE TO RETURN DIRECTLY TO MOSCOW FROM THE UNITED STATES, RATHER THAN CONTINUE ON TO BELGRADE. EARLIER, THE ENVOY HAD SAID A TRIP TO YUGOSLAVIA MIGHT FOLLOW THE WASHINGTON TALKS, DEPENDING ON THEIR OUTCOME. BUT HE SAYS HIS TEAM NEEDS TIME TO PREPARE FOR THAT VISIT TO BELGRADE, AND FOR TALKS WITH OTHER EUROPEAN LEADERS. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAS SAID HE INTENDS TO VISIT LONDON AND PARIS TO
DISCUSS RUSSIA'S PEACE PLANS WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH LEADERS.
AND RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, IGOR IVANOV, WILL HEAD TO GERMANY
FOR THURSDAY'S SUMMIT OF THE EIGHT MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS,
WHERE THE KOSOVO CRISIS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE CENTER STAGE.
(SIGNED)
[21] RUSSIA / HUMANITARIAN AID (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248990 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING DIPLOMATIC AND HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS TO HELP RESOLVE THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS A SECOND SHIPMENT OF RUSSIAN HUMANITARIAN AID TO YUGOSLAVIA IS NOW EN ROUTE TO THE REGION. TEXT: OFFICIALS FROM RUSSIA'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY SAY THE HUMANITARIAN AID -- CLOTHING, FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES -- WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO NEEDY PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT. AFTER INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS, BULGARIA GAVE RUSSIA PERMISSION TO BRING THE AID THROUGH ITS CAPITAL, SOFIA, AND THEN ON TO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS THERE IN ORDER TO BRING THE AID INTO YUGOSLAVIA. BULGARIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY SHUT THEIR BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA TO RULE OUT FUEL SUPPLIES REACHING THE COUNTRY IN VIOLATION OF A NATO AND EUROPEAN UNION EMBARGO. RUSSIA'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTER, SERGEI SHOIGU, TOLD REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THE AID CAN NOW BE CONSIDERED INTERNATIONAL AS GREECE AND SWITZERLAND WILL HELP WITH ITS DISTRIBUTION. /// SHOIGU ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///MR. SHOIGU SAYS SWITZERLAND IS NEGOTIATING WITH NATO OFFICIALS FOR AIR CORRIDORS IN ORDER TO SAFELY DELIVER THE AID. LAST MONTH A RUSSIAN AID CONVOY TO SERBIA WAS HELD UP FOR TWO
DAYS IN HUNGARY. BORDER GUARDS SUSPECTED THE SHIPMENT CONTAINED
FUEL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES BY SERB
FORCES. (SIGNED)
[22] U-N / ANNAN / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=5/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248971 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE PLANS TO SEND A HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TO BEGIN ASSESSING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENTUAL RETURN OF REFUGEES. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: MR. ANNAN SAYS THE U-N UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS HAS SENT A LETTER, ON HIS INSTRUCTIONS, TO YUGOSLAVIA'S U-N REPRESENTATIVE. THE LETTER REQUESTS PERMISSION FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF A U-N HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM IN YUGOSLAVIA, STARTING IN KOSOVO. /// ANNAN ACT ///I THINK IF THE TEAM IS ABLE TO GO IN IT WILL GIVE US A LEG UP. WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, DETERMINE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PREPARE THE GROUND FOR THE REFUGEES TO GO BACK TO KOSOVO IF AND WHEN -- WHEN WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, NOT IF -- WHEN WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, WHEN THE SITUATION ARISES THAT PERMITS THEM TO GO BACK HOME. /// END ACT ///MR. ANNAN ANNOUNCED THE MOVE AFTER A LENGTHY MEETING WITH THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AND SEPARATE TALKS WITH RUSSIAN SPECIAL ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN. U-N OFFICIALS INDICATE NO NEW POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS RESULTED FROM THOSE MEETINGS. BUT MR. ANNAN SAYS HE IS NOW CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON SOME ISSUES -- MAINLY THE NEED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN KOSOVO, THE NEED TO ESTABLISH CONDITIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME AND THE IMPORTANCE OF U-N SECURITY COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS. DIPLOMATS SAY SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DISAGREE OVER THE COMPOSITION OF SUCH A FORCE, THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CONSULTED, WHAT SORT OF ARMS THE FORCE SHOULD HAVE AND THE CONTINUATION OF NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. AFTER THE COUNCIL'S MEETING WITH MR. ANNAN, U-S OFFICIALS
DECLINED TO COMMENT ON HIS PLANS TO SEND A HUMANITARIAN
ASSESSMENT MISSION TO KOSOVO. RUSSIA WELCOMED THE MOVE. CHINA
CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO NATO STRIKES AND SAID THE YUGOSLAV
GOVERNMENT MUST BE CONSULTED AHEAD OF TIME REGARDING ANY
RESOLUTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER CONCERNING KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[23] EDITORIAL: SERB ATROCITIESDATE= 05/06/99TYPE= EDITORIAL NUMBER= 0-08287 CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 05/06/99. ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. VOICE: SERB POLICE, ARMY UNITS, AND ARMED GANGS HAVE MURDERED,, RAPED, ROBBED, AND TERRORIZED ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. NOT CONTENT TO DRIVE ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THEIR HOMES, GUNMEN HAVE ATTACKED COLUMNS OF REFUGEES. THE MEN HAVE BEEN BEATEN AND SUMMARILY EXECUTED; THE WOMEN HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. ON APRIL 20TH, SERB TROOPS STOPPED A COLUMN OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS NEAR MEJA IN SOUTHERN KOSOVO. MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED REFUGEE MEN WERE TAKEN AT GUNPOINT AND FORCED TO KNEEL IN A ROADSIDE FIELD. THEIR WIVES, CHILDREN, MOTHERS, AND SISTERS WERE FORCED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY. AS THE DISTRAUGHT REFUGEE WOMEN WERE MARCHED AWAY, THEY HEARD GUNFIRE COMING FROM THE FIELD. ANOTHER COLUMN OF REFUGEES REPORTED SEEING THE FIELD LITTERED WITH BULLET-RIDDLED BODIES. THE VICTIMS OF THIS ATROCITY AND THEIR RELATIVES HAD BEEN DRIVEN FROM NEARBY VILLAGES BY SERB FORCES. A WIFE OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS, CIMLYSHE BASHA, TOLD AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER THAT ARMED MEN WEARING BLACK MASKS KICKED DOWN THE DOOR OF THEIR HOME IN THE VILLAGE OF DOBROSH AND ORDERED THE COUPLE AND THEIR INFANT CHILD TO GO TO DJAKOVICA, EIGHT MILES AWAY. ALONG THE WAY, SHE SAW ARMED MEN BURNING ETHNIC ALBANIAN HOMES AND ROBBING REFUGEE WOMEN OF THEIR JEWELRY. NEAR MEJA, BASHA SAID, "THE SERBS TOLD MY HUSBAND TO PUT THE BABY DOWN AND GO WITH THEM INTO THE FIELD." SHE HAS NOT SEEN HIM SINCE. UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, THOSE WHO HAVE CARRIED OUT MASSACRES AT MEJA AND OTHER PLACES IN KOSOVO ARE NOT SOLDIERS BUT CRIMINALS. ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ATROCITIES AND THOSE OF OTHER SERB FORCES RESTS WITH SERBIA'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS, AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. PEACE CAN ONLY BE RESTORED WHEN SERBIAN FORCES LEAVE KOSOVO AND DISPLACED PERSONS ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME. ALSO ESSENTIAL IS AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE TO PROTECT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS AS WELL AS THE SERB MINORITY IN KOSOVO. IT IS PAST TIME FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO MEET THESE CONDITIONS AND END THE BARBARITY. ANNCR: THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
[24] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=5/5/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249013 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A VERY VOLATILE SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND 955, UP 69 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 47, UP 15 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ALMOST TWO PERCENT. STOCKS WERE VERY VOLATILE WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOSING MORE THAN 100 POINTS AT MID-SESSION BEFORE STAGING A STRONG RECOVERY IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING. THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS U-S FACTORY ORDERS ROSE TWO PERCENT IN MARCH, FUELED BY STRONGER DEMAND FOR TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT. ///BEGIN OPT//////OPT///MALANGA ACT///THERE IS A MILD SLOWDOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY STARTING TO UNFOLD. SO, I THINK IF GROWTH DOES TAPER OFF WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AN ABSENCE OF PRICE PRESSURES IN THE ECONOMY, SO THEREFORE I WOULD SAY THEY (FACTORY ORDERS) ARE NOT TOO STRONG. ///END ACT///END OPT///A BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE MEDIA-ONE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY HAS ENDED ON FRIENDLY TERMS. THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WILL PAY 54 BILLION DOLLARS FOR MEDIA-ONE. BUT A-T AND T ALSO REACHED A DEAL WITH ITS BIDDING RIVAL COMCAST, A CABLE T-V COMPANY. COMCAST WILL GAIN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEDIA-ONE CUSTOMERS AND, IN TURN, COMCAST WILL OFFER A-T AND T TELEPHONE SERVICE TO ITS CUSTOMERS. ///REST OPT///NEWS CORP., THE GLOBAL MEDIA COMPANY CONTROLLED BY RUPERT MURDOCH, REPORTS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS DROPPED BY ALMOST 50 PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY POINTED OUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EQUAL LAST YEAR'S PROFIT WHICH WAS INFLATED BY "TITANIC," ITS PHENOMENALLY SUCCESSFUL MOVIE. NESTLE, THE SWISS-BASED FOOD COMPANY, SAYS ITS WORLDWIDE SALES FELL BY ONE POINT SEVEN PERCENT IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN ASIA SHOULD BRING HIGHER REVENUES AND PROFITS LATER THIS YEAR. GENERAL MOTORS HAS LOST ITS LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE U-S LUXURY
AUTO MARKET. G-M SAYS AN AUDIT SHOWS THAT IT MIS-STATED THE
NUMBER OF CADILLACS SOLD LAST YEAR. THE REVISION MEANS THAT THE
FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S LINCOLN MODEL WAS THE BEST-SELLING U-S
LUXURY CAR IN 1998.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
[25] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/05/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11272 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T ////INTRO: THE DEADLY TORNADOES WHICH STRUCK OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS EARLIER THIS WEEK ARE THE SUBJECT OF MANY EDITORIALS, AS IS THE CONTINUING WAR IN THE BALKANS. OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: THE OSLO ACCORDS AND THE PENDING ISRAELI ELECTION; HATE CRIMES IN BRITAIN; DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF TEENAGE VIOLENCE IN U-S SCHOOLS; AND INACTION AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (W-T-O). NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: POWERFUL TORNADOES, CARRYING WINDS OF MORE THAN 418 KILOMETERS-AN-HOUR, KILLED AT LEAST 43 PEOPLE AND INJURED HUNDREDS TUESDAY EVENING. IN OKLAHOMA, "THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN", IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WRITES: VOICE: .IT WAS A 'STORM OF THE CENTURY.' HOW AWESOME AND FURIOUS WAS THIS SHOW OF MIGHT. THAT NO MORE LIVES WERE TAKEN IS A TRIBUTE TO THE PREPAREDNESS THAT OKLAHOMANS HAVE BUILT INTO THEIR THINKING. NOW COME SAD STORIES, HEARTBREAKING FUNERALS, MIRACLES AND SURVIVAL -- AND ANGUISH ... THIS IS A TIME WHEN PATIENCE IS THE SUPREME VIRTUE. HOMES WILL BE REBUILT AND FAMILIES WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER, BUT IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO RESTORE NORMALCY. ... THE WRATH OF WEATHER ON FULL DISPLAY REMINDS US THAT THERE ARE THINGS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE ARE ALL AT THE MERCY OF THIS LARGER FORCE. TEXT: "THE TULSA [OKLAHOMA] WORLD," IN A REGION SPARED BY THE STORMS, TRIES TO COMFORT ITS NEIGHBORING METROPOLIS. VOICE: FOUR YEARS AND 14 DAYS AFTER EXPERIENCING THE WORST KIND OF MAN-MADE DEVASTATION, [THE BOMBING OF THE MURRAH FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING IN WHICH OVER 260 PEOPLE DIED] THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA HAS TASTED THE WORST THAT NATURE HAS TO OFFER. ... RESIDENTS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA SHOWED IN 1995 THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE OF GRACE AND GRIT, SURVIVORS IN THE BEST SENSE OF THE WORLD. THEY OVERCAME THE BOMBING AND THEY WILL OVERCOME THIS TRAGEDY. /// OPT ///TEXT: IN OHIO, ALSO A TORNADO-PRONE STATE, "THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL" PRAISES THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT WEATHER FORECASTERS FOR MINIMIZING THE LOSS OF LIFE. VOICE: WITHOUT QUESTION, EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND EDUCATION ON SAFETY PROCEDURES HELPED TO SAVE MANY LIVES. YET, WEATHER EXPERTS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THEIR BEST PREDICTIONS. ... SOPHISTICATED WEATHER SATELLITES, RADAR AND WARNING SYSTEMS HAVE REDUCED THE UNPREDICTABLE IN WEATHER FORECASTING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN THE POWER AND THE TERROR OUT OF SEVERE WEATHER. TEXT: THE DAY'S OTHER BIG TOPIC IS THE BALKAN WAR, INCLUDING COMMENT ON THE RELEASE OF THE THREE U-S SOLDIERS AT THE REQUEST OF REVEREND JESSE JACKSON. IN KANSAS, "THE TOPEKA CAPITOL-JOURNAL" SAYS: VOICE: WHATEVER THE THINKING [OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC], HIS CYNICALLY MOTIVATED RELEASE OF THE THREE U-S PRISONERS OF WAR WAS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE AS EITHER A PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOL OR A DEFENSIVE WEAPON AGAINST NATO BOMBING.. THE BOMBINGS GO ON, AS THEY SHOULD. ... AS FAR AS NATO AND THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED, THE RELEASE OF [THE MEN] ... WAS ABSOLUTELY UNCONDITIONAL -- AND UNRELATED TO THE MISSION AT HAND. ONE MUST CONCLUDE THAT EITHER THE REVEREND JACKSON['S] POWERS OF PERSUASION ARE GREATER THAN EVEN HE ADVERTISES, OR THAT PERHAPS [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S WILL IS WEAKENING. IF READ IN THE LATTER CONTEXT, THE RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICANS WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ACT OF A DESPERATE MAN. TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES" IS CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH "SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MIGHT BE READY TO MAKE A DEAL UNFORTUNATELY, LEADERS HERE PROBABLY AREN'T." AND IN WASHINGTON STATE, "THE [TACOMA] NEWS TRIBUNE" SAYS THINGS MAY BE MOVING TOWARD AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY OF A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. VOICE: AMERICANS CAN ONLY HOPE THIS IS HEADING TOWARD A SOLUTION THAT WILL SOMEHOW ALLOW THE MILLION-PLUS KOSOVAR REFUGEES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. NATO AND THE UNITED STATES CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS CONFRONTATION WITH [PRESIDENT] MILOSEVIC, YET THEY APPEAR UNWILLING TO WIN IT DECISIVELY, WITH TROOPS ON THE GROUND IF NECESSARY. THAT LEAVES AN INDEFINITE AIR CAMPAIGN AS NATO'S ONLY MEANS OF BRINGING [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO THE TABLE. LET'S HOPE HE SITS DOWN SOON. /// OPT ///TEXT: LASTLY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CITING THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN MONTENEGRO, THE SMALLER OF THE TWO PROVINCES THAT MAKE UP WHAT IS LEFT OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND THE RESISTANCE TO THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO BY MONTENEGRO'S PRESIDENT MILO DJUKANOVIC, "THE TIMES" SAYS: VOICE: MR. DJUKANOVIC HAS BROUGHT ECONOMIC REFORM AND ETHNIC TOLERANCE TO HIS PART OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND CALLS THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO 'INSANE.' THE WEST SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP HIM. /// END OPT ///TEXT: IN PORTLAND, "THE OREGONIAN" WORRIES THAT THE OSLO AGREEMENT, SETTING OUT A FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, IS MELTING AWAY. VOICE: HOW DIFFERENT TUESDAY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAD THE PROMISE OF THE OSLO PEACE ACCORDS BEEN FULFILLED. BY MAY FOURTH, 1999, SAID THE 1993 AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS, THEIR DIFFICULT 'FINAL STATUS' NEGOTIATIONS WERE TO HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED, THEORETICALLY WITH A SECURE ISRAEL AND SOME KIND OF PALESTINIAN SELF-GOVERNMENT. ... LAST WEEK, PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT PRUDENTLY AVOIDED THE UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD THAT HE'D THREATENED. ... DESPITE SCATTERED PROTESTS BY PALESTINIANS AND SCATTERED CELEBRATIONS BY HARD-LINE ISRAELIS - - AND THE DANGER OF A PALESTINIAN DECLARATION - - TUESDAY WAS MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. HOW DIFFERENT IT LOOKED BACK IN 1993. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" CREDITS MR. ARAFAT WITH A DIPLOMATIC COUP IN THE LATEST POLITICAL MANEUVERING. VOICE: .THE QUESTION OF WHETHER A PALESTINIAN STATE WILL BE ESTABLISHED - - WHICH WAS A DECISION THAT WAS TO BE MADE THROUGH DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL - - IS NOW MOOT. ALL THAT REMAINS TO BE SETTLED ARE THE PRECISE TERMS AND LIMITS OF SUCH A STATE. THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR [MR.] ARAFAT, BECAUSE DECLARING A STATE UNILATERALLY - - NOW OR IN THE FUTURE - - WOULD NOT SERVE HIS INTERESTS. ... [MR.] ARAFAT HAS BEEN REWARDED FOR AGREEING NOT TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE HAD NO LEGAL RIGHT TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE. /// END OPT ///TEXT: BRITAIN IS IN THE GRIP OF A SERIES OF HATE BOMBINGS, AND THAT HAS DRAWN THIS RESPONSE FROM BOSTON'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR." VOICE: BRITISH POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE SERIES OF BOMBINGS DIRECTED AGAINST RACIAL MINORITIES AND HOMOSEXUALS IN LONDON. IT MAY TURN OUT THAT THE VIOLENCE WAS THE WORK OF ONE INDIVIDUAL. BUT THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES POINT TO RACIAL HATRED AND BIGOTRY - - EVILS THAT WOULD IMPEDE PROGRESS IN ALL SOCIETIES. CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY BY AN EXTREMIST GROUP CALLING ITSELF THE WHITE WOLVES, BOLSTER THAT VIEW. ... HATRED'S VIOLENT OUTBURSTS CALL FORTH THE HUMAN FAMILY'S GOD-GIVEN RESOURCES OF LOVE AND HEALING. AND THE LATTER ARE INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL. TEXT: TURNING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS COUNSELING, IN THE WAKE OF THE COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE, THAT THE NATION SHOULD N O T OVERREACT. VOICE: THE MASSACRE AT COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL IN COLORADO THAT LEFT 15 DEAD AND 23 WOUNDED HAS PROVOKED A RASH OF CRUEL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS 'COPYCAT' [IMITATION] THREATS. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER A MAJOR INCIDENT OF THIS SORT. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT PARENTS, SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY VIGILANT IN THE WAKE OF THIS HEINOUS INCIDENT, TO THE POINT THAT EVERY THREAT IS BEING MET WITH INTENSE SCRUTINY. ... PRECAUTIONS ... MUST BE WEIGHTED AGAINST OVERREACTION ... DECISIONS MUST BE MADE BOTH NOW AND LONG AFTER THE TELEVISION CAMERAS AND REPORTERS HAVE GONE. TEXT: BACK TO WORLD AFFAIRS, AND THIS CRITICISM OF INDECISION AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION FROM THE SAME PAPER, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES." VOICE: THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TRYING FOR SIX MONTHS TO PICK ITS NEXT DIRECTOR-GENERAL, AND ALL IT HAS PRODUCED SO FAR IS UNDIPLOMATIC BRAWLING, HEATED ARGUMENT AND ACCUSATIONS OF ILL WILL. /// OPT /// THE CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES IS NOT AN EASY ONE, BUT IT CAN, AND SHOULD, BE MADE NOW. /// END OPT /// ALL THAT'S NEEDED IS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE MEMBER COUNTRIES TO PUT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE W-T-O AHEAD OF THEIR OWN NARROW NATIONAL AND REGIONAL INTERESTS AND REACH A COMPROMISE. /// OPT ///TEXT: TO THE ORIENT NOW, AND WORRIES ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN INDONESIA FROM BOSTON'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR." VOICE: WHILE MOST EYES ARE ON KOSOVO AT THE MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY IN INDONESIA EVENTS EQUALLY TERRIBLE IN NATURE, IF NOT IN SCALE, ARE OCCURRING. THE INDONESIAN PROVINCE OF WEST KALIMANTAN, FOR INSTANCE, HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED FIGHTING BETWEEN NATIVE DAYAKS AND MALAYUS AND THE MORE-RECENTLY ARRIVED MADURESE. THE LATTER ARE THE TARGET OF A TERROR CAMPAIGN TO PUSH THEM FROM THE PROVINCE ALTOGETHER. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED AND THEIR HOUSES TORCHED. TENSIONS ARE ALSO RUNNING HIGH IN THE MOLUCCAS ISLANDS TO THE EAST OF THE ARCHIPELAGO NATION, AND IN ACEH PROVINCE TO THE FAR WEST. RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES, PRIMARILY MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN, ADD TO THE VIOLENCE. ... INTERNATIONAL CONCERN IS NOT FIXED ON INDONESIA AS IT IS ON KOSOVO. YET THIS COUNTRY, THE WORLD'S FOURTH MOST POPULOUS, IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC. VAST AMOUNTS OF SHIPPING AND COMMERCE PASS THROUGH ITS SPRAWL OF ISLANDS. TEXT: FINALLY, A SOMEWHAT SARCASTIC THOUGHT ABOUT PRIORITIES IN DEALING WITH DESPOTS AROUND THE WORLD FROM TODAY'S "FLORIDA TIMES-UNION" IN JACKSONVILLE. VOICE: IF PRESIDENT CLINTON IS GOING TO INVADE COUNTRIES TO SAVE CITIZENS BEING KILLED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT (EVEN WHEN THEY ARE REBELLING AGAINST THAT GOVERNMENT), THE BOMBING OF NORTH KOREA SHOULD BEGIN ANY DAY NOW. FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS, BY ONE ESTIMATE, A HALF-MILLION NORTH KOREANS HAVE DIED FROM STARVATION EACH YEAR, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF ITS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. THAT MEANS MORE NORTH KOREANS ARE DYING ANNUALLY THAN [ETHNIC] ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO [PROVINCE OF YUGOSLAVIA]. MEANWHILE, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION APPEASES THE CRUEL DICTATOR WHO IS CAUSING THE STARVATION AND MAINTAINING A HUGE WAR MACHINE. ... ONLY WHEN A CIVIL WAR IN THE BALKANS, WHERE SPORADIC FIGHTING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESS DID [MR.] CLINTON BEGIN A SERIES OF POLICY SHIFTS THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO A NATO ATTACK ON THE SERBS. /// END OPT ///TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF PRESS COMMENT
FROM SOME OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S PAPERS.
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