Voice of America, 99-05-13

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO-KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[02] KOSOVO / PENTAGON (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[03] ALBANIA REFUGEE CAMPS (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (CAMP HOPE, ALBANIA)

[04] KOSOVO ROBINSON (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[05] MACEDONIA/SOLANA (L-O) BY SUZANNE KELLY (TIRANA)

[06] U-N / KOSOVO AID (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[07] UNHCR-KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[08] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[09] CONGRESS-RUSSIA-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[10] CHINA/U-S (L-ONLY) CQ BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

[11] NATO / CHINA PROTEST (L-O) BY ALISHA RYU (LOS ANGELES)

[12] CHINA BUSINESS BACKLASH BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)

[13] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (S) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

[14] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

[15] U-N / RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[16] RUSSIA / POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[17] U-N / KOSOVO CRISIS (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

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

[19] KOSOVO: PARTITION OR PROTECTORATE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[20] BRITAIN / SPIES (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[21] NAZI SLAVE LABOR (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

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

[23] THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING FALLOUT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[24] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] NATO-KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS DISMISSED SERBIAN REPORTS OF A TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO, CALLING THEM INSIGNIFICANT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS THAT NATO PLANS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAV FORCES IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE.

TEXT: THE TELEVISION PICTURES FROM KOSOVO SHOW SERB SOLDIERS AND TANKS PULLING OUT FROM THEIR POSITIONS IN THE PROVINCE -- IN LINE WITH YUGOSLAVIA'S PLEDGE TO MAKE A PARTIAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL.

NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN WALTER JERTZ HAS SEEN THE FILM, BUT HE TELLS REPORTERS THE MOVEMENT OF SERB TROOPS IN KOSOVO IS MEANINGLESS.

IT COULD VERY WELL BE A KIND OF REGROUPING AND, WE ARE TALKING NUMBERS WHICH ARE RIDICULOUSLY LOW, IF AT ALL. ONCE AGAIN, EVEN IF IT WOULD BE THE FACT, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES. WE HAVE MAKE SURE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO TO MILOSEVIC, THAT HE HAS TO TELL US THAT HE WANTS TO NEGOTIATE, OR IF NOT HIM SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS COUNTRY, TO WORK OUT THE MEANS AND ALSO METHODS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO HAVE HIM WITHDRAW HIS FORCES.

NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS HE HAS SEEN FIGURES THAT 250 SERB SOLDIERS PULLED AWAY FROM KOSOVO. HE NOTES THAT THIS IS JUST ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT OF THE 40-THOUSAND SOLDIERS NATO BELIEVES YUGOSLAVIA HAS IN KOSOVO.

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, NATO HAS CONCENTRATED ITS AIR STRIKES ON SERB GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO, HITTING THEIR HEAVY ARTILLERY AND THEIR AMMUNITION. NATO ESTIMATES IT HAS ELIMINATED 25 PERCENT OF YUGOSLAVIA'S INVENTORY OF ARTILLERY AND TANKS IN SEVEN WEEKS OF AIR STRIKES. AS FOR AMMUNITION, NATO SAYS IT HAS ELIMINATED TWO-THIRDS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S CAPACITY FOR PRODUCING AMMUNITION AND HALF IF ITS AMMUNITION STORAGE SITES. NATO BELIEVES ITS BOMBS AND MISSILES HAVE KNOCKED OUT 40 PERCENT OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY AIRCRAFT.

SPOKESMAN SHEA SAYS THE SITUATION FOR YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS IN KOSOVO WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

THOSE WHO ONCE DID ALL OF THE HEAVY SHOOTING ARE NOW ON THE RECEIVING END. INSTEAD OF HOUNDING, THEY ARE BEING HOUNDED, AND THIS IS THE WAY IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND HIS REGIME ACCEPT THE FIVE CONDITIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE FEW SIGNS THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL ACCEPT THOSE CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND THEIR REPLACEMENT BY FOREIGN PEACEKEEPERS THAT WILL ESCORT ALL ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR HOMES.

NATO IS ALREADY MAKING PLANS TO ACCOMMODATE A MILLION REFUGEES BY WINTER TIME. EVEN IF THE BOMBING ENDS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SO MANY HOUSES IN KOSOVO HAVE BEEN BURNED DOWN BY SERB FORCES THAT WINTER ACCOMMODATION WILL HAVE TO BE FOUND IN KOSOVO OR IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF
13-May-99 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / PENTAGON (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS SERB OFFICIALS' CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE MOVING TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO ARE A SHAM. MR. BACON SPOKE AS HUNDREDS OF NATO WARPLANES PREPARED TO LAUNCH ONE OF THE BIGGEST SERIES OF AIR STRIKES YET AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA FRIDAY. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR ATTACKS ARE FOCUSING MORE AND MORE CLOSELY ON SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE ABOUT 40-THOUSAND SERB-LED YUGOSLAV TROOPS AND POLICE IN OR NEAR KOSOVO, SO MOVING A FEW OF THEM OUT OF THE PROVINCE DOES NOT CHANGE (THE SITUATION) MUCH.

WE HAVE SEEN NO SIGNS OF LEGITIMATE WITHDRAWAL. TAKING OUT [WITHDRAWING] A COUPLE HUNDRED SOLDIERS HERE AND THERE IS NOT WHAT WE CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL. WE CONSIDER THAT TO BE THEATER.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE AIR ATTACKS UNTIL SERB FORCES LEAVE KOSOVO, ALLOW ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES AND MEET OTHER CONDITIONS. MEANTIME, U-S AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHUCK WALD SAYS NATO PLANS TO SEND 760 PLANES TO ATTACK SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA FRIDAY, ALONG WITH ANOTHER HUNDRED OR SO AIRCRAFT TO GUIDE, PROTECT AND REFUEL THE BOMBERS. HE SAYS THE AIR WAR IS GROWING IN FEROCITY AND FOCUSING MORE AND MORE ON SERB FORCES DEPLOYED IN KOSOVO.

GENERAL WALD CREDITS IMPROVED WEATHER, DECLINING SERB AIR DEFENSES AND A GROWING NATO AIR FORCE FOR THE CHANGE. HE SAYS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, MORE THAN 100 NEW PLANES WILL JOIN NATO'S AIR ARMADA, BRINGING IT TO ABOUT 12-HUNDRED-50 AIRCRAFT. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/PHW/WTW
13-May-99 6:11 PM EDT (2211 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA REFUGEE CAMPS (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (CAMP HOPE, ALBANIA)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS AND CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY, BUILDING CAMPS FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES BEING RELOCATED AWAY FROM THE TENSE NORTHERN BORDER AREA AND MACEDONIA. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN VISITED "CAMP HOPE," WHERE 25-HUNDRED REFUGEES ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS (BY LATE FRIDAY).

TEXT: ///NATURAL SOUND FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE -- ESTABLISH AND UNDER NARRATOR ///

HUNDREDS OF U-S SOLDIERS, INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS AND ALBANIAN CIVILIANS WERE BUSY PUTTING UP NEW TENTS, AND LEVELING GROUND FOR STILL MORE ON THURSDAY AS CAMP HOPE OPENED ITS DOORS TO KOSOVO REFUGEES. //OPT// THE PLAN IS TO TAKE IN 25-HUNDRED IMMEDIATELY, THEN 400 NEW ARRIVALS A DAY UNTIL THE U-S GOVERNMENT-BUILT CAMP REACHES ITS CAPACITY OF 20-THOUSAND. //END OPT//

VINCENT DIAMOND, EMERGENCIES COORDINATOR FOR THE BRITISH AID GROUP "MERLIN," SAYS THOUGH THE CAMP IS OFFICIALLY OPEN, IT IS STILL A LONG WAY FROM BEING FINISHED.

IT'S PRETTY TIGHT DEADLINES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THE MILITARY THAT ARE BUILDING THE CAMP AND THE CONTRACTORS, FOR WHATEVER REASON. (IT'S UNCERTAIN) WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE THE SITUATION IN MACEDONIA IS DUE TO FLARE UP AT ANY MINUTE AND THEY WANT TO START SHIFTING PEOPLE OUT, BECAUSE THE SITUATION IN KUKES IS DETERIORATING. //OPT// SO THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO HAVE THE CAMPS BUILT VERY QUICKLY, BUT WE'RE ALSO PUTTING PRESSURE TO SLOW IT DOWN SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S IN PLACED BEFORE PEOPLE START ARRIVING. //END OPT//

MR. DIAMOND SAYS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT CAMP HOPE -- AS AT MOST REFUGEE CAMPS IN ALBANIA -- IS GETTING ENOUGH WATER FOR THE HOT SUMMER SEASON AHEAD.

THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES HAS BEGUN A TENT-TO-TENT CAMPAIGN IN THE KUKES REGION, WHERE MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES ARE CAMPED ALONG THE KOSOVO BORDER. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PERSUADE REFUGEES TO MOVE TO SAFER, MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE SPOTS FURTHER SOUTH. BUT U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN MELITA SUNJIC SAYS THE VAST MAJORITY -- BOTH IN KUKES AND IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA -- ARE RESISTING ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THEM.

IT'S A MIXED RESPONSE. FIRST REACTION IS ALWAYS RELUCTANCE. PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MOVED ONCE. NOW THEY'RE HERE IN A CAMP. THEY SETTLED DOWN. GOT USED TO IT. (THEY'RE) CLOSE TO LOVED ONES IN KOSOVO. SO INITIALLY THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE.

PEOPLE WILL COME, SOONER OR LATER. AS SOON AS PEOPLE HEAR THE CAMPS ARE OPEN, PEOPLE WILL START TO COME. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT. THE UNKNOWN FACTOR IS WHETHER U-N-H-C-R ARE GOING TO PRO-ACTIVELY START MOVING PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- WHETHER IT BE KUKES, OR WHETHER IT BE MACEDONIA -- INTO THESE CAMPS.

THE U-N-H-C-R THIS WEEK ISSUED A LIST OF ABOUT 130 CAMPS CURRENTLY FUNCTIONING IN ALBANIA, AND 70 OTHERS STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES. BUT THE COMBINED CAPACITY OF ALL 200 IS ABOUT 330-THOUSAND -- THAT'S 100-THOUSAND LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ALREADY HERE. AND THERE IS STILL TALK OF MOVING MORE IN FROM MACEDONIA.

MOST OF THOSE NOT IN CAMPS ARE BEING HOUSED AS GUESTS IN PRIVATE ALBANIAN HOMES. BUT REFUGEE OFFICIALS WONDER HOW LONG SUCH HOSPITALITY CAN LAST IN EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY, WHERE IN MANY CASES THE REFUGEES ARE BETTER-OFF FINANCIALLY THAN THEIR HOSTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
13-May-99 1:32 PM EDT (1732 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO ROBINSON (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS' CHIEF HUMAN-RIGHTS OFFICIAL, MARY ROBINSON, IS ACCUSING SERB ARMY, POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FORCES OF CARRYING OUT VICIOUS HUMAN-RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. MS. ROBINSON SAYS THERE MUST BE AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT'S ATROCITIES. MS. ROBINSON HAS JUST RETURNED TO GENEVA (LATE THURDSDAY) FROM A VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. MORE NOW FROM LISA SCHLEIN:

TEXT: U-N HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF MARY ROBINSON SAYS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KOSOVO IS NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE. SHE SAYS IT IS ALSO A HUMAN-RIGHTS CATASTROPHE. SHE SAYS SHE WAS EXTREMELY MOVED BY HARROWING TALES OF ATROCITIES SHE HEARD FROM KOSOVO REFUGEES. AND, SHE SAYS SHE IS CONVINCED THAT YUGOSLAV MILITARY AND SECURITY FORCES ARE CARRYING OUT A COLD-BLOODED CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. MS. ROBINSON ALSO CRITICIZES NATO'S AERIAL BOMBARDMENT. SHE SAYS THE AIR STRIKES HAVE RESULTED IN MANY CASUALTIES AND CAUSED ENORMOUS SUFFERING AMONG THE SERB CIVILIAN POPULATION.

ALTHOUGH I DON'T IN ANY WAY EQUATE THE MILITARY OPERATION AND THE BOMBING OF NATO WITH THE DELIBERATE, VICIOUS, CRUEL, SUSTAINED ETHNIC CLEANSING WHICH I HAD DIRECT EVIDENCE OF, IT IS IMPORTANT, GIVEN THAT THE MOTIVATION IS HUMANITARIAN, THAT THERE BE NO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, I WOULD SAY, OR CERTAINLY UTTERLY THE MINIMUM.

MS. ROBINSON SAYS SHE REGRETS THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS UNWILLING TO MEET HER, BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. SHE SAYS SHE WANTED TO TELL THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT DIRECTLY WHAT SHE HAD HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAD SUFFERED VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

....AND THAT THEY HAD NOT LEFT KOSOVO BECAUSE OF THE BOMBING. BUT, BECAUSE PEOPLE IN UNIFORM -- EITHER MILITARY POLICE OR PARAMILITARY UNIFORMED -- HAD COME AND DEMANDED THAT THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES, ABUSED THEM IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, SEPARATED THEIR MENFOLK AWAY FROM THEM IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, KILLED SOME PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, VERY OFTEN TAKEN IDENTITY PAPERS.

MS. ROBINSON SAYS SHE HAS COLLECTED A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH SHE WILL TURN OVER TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. SHE SAYS THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/ENE-T/WTW
13-May-99 3:53 PM EDT (1953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] MACEDONIA/SOLANA (L-O) BY SUZANNE KELLY (TIRANA)

THANK YOU,THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ARE SUFFERING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL GUARANTEE YOU A FUTURE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

THE GOVERNMENTS OF BOTH MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA ARE CONTINUING TO ASK FOR SUPPORT IN TAKING IN THE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO CROSS THE BORDER EACH DAY. SO FAR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS PLEDGED MORE THAN 200-MILLION DOLLARS IN SUPPORT BUT BARELY SIXTEEN MILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN DELIVERED.

BUT MR. SOLANA HAD TO DO LITTLE MORE THAN POINT TO THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE REFUGEE CAMPS TO GAIN SUPPORT HERE.

IN THERE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, IN THERE, WE WILL BE TOGETHER SOON.

MR. SOLANA CONTINUES TO PROMISE THAT THE NATO BOMBINGS WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN YUGOSLAVIA STOPS AND UNTIL THESE REFUGEES CAN GO HOME AGAIN. (SIGNED).
NEB/SK/PHW-T/PT
12-May-99 9:34 PM EDT (0134 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N / KOSOVO AID (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT HOPES TO SEND A MISSION TO YUGOSLAVIA ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY TO ASSESS THE HUMANITARIAN AND SECURITY SITUATIONS IN KOSOVO AS WELL AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS U-N OFFICIALS ARE DISCUSSING ALL ASPECTS OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS IN A TWO-DAY MEETING CALLED BY THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL.

TEXT: THE HEADS OF THE U-N'S HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES, PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES, AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS ARE MEETING TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO DEAL WITH THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

A TEAM OF EXPERTS HAS JUST RETURNED FROM THE BALKANS. IT WILL REPORT ON THE OUTCOME OF MEETINGS IT HAD WITH YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF SENDING A U-N MISSION TO KOSOVO.

THE DEPUTY HEAD OF U-N EMERGENCY RELIEF, MARTIN GRIFFITHS, SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS DISCUSSIONS WITH YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS WERE POSITIVE. AND, HE SAYS THERE IS A GOOD PROSPECT THAT THE ASSESSMENT MISSION TO YUGOSLAVIA -- INCLUDING KOSOVO -- WILL GO AHEAD SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.

THE POINTS THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING, OF COURSE, IN BELGRADE WERE COULD WE HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO AREAS OF NEED, COULD WE HAVE AN OPEN PROSPECT OF ACCESS. AND, I UNDERSTAND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL. AND, SO THAT MISSION WILL BE GOING AHEAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

MR. GRIFFITHS SAYS THE KOSOVO CRISIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX EMERGENCIES WITH WHICH THE U-N HAS EVER HAD TO DEAL.

HE SAYS THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE CRISIS ERUPTED HAS OVERWHELMED THE CAPACITY OF HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES TO RESPOND IN A WELL-COORDINATED MANNER. THE U-N ESTIMATES MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE FLED TO MACEDONIA, ALBANIA AND MONTENEGRO IN THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS. /// OPT /// AND HE SAYS THE KOSOVO CRISIS HAS WIDER REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

THIS CRISIS HAS CLEAR IMPLICATIONS BEYOND THE HUMANITARIAN. THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES -- ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, BULGARIA AND TO AN EXTENT ROMANIA -- OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY THE CRISIS IN TERMS OF THEIR ECONOMIES. HAVING A COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THOSE ELEMENTS, I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED.

MR. GRIFFITHS SAYS THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL CALLED THIS MEETING BECAUSE HE SEES A NEED FOR URGENT ACTION TO RESOLVE A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WHICH HAS REACHED CATASTROPHIC PROPORTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/GE
13-May-99 8:17 AM EDT (1217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] UNHCR-KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS HER ORGANIZATION HAS TO PREPARE FOR A LONG-TERM HUMANITARIAN OPERATION IN THE BALKANS. SHE SAYS HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF KOSOVO REFUGEES, AS WELL AS LOCAL POPULATIONS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OF ASYLUM, WILL REQUIRE ASSISTANCE. MS. OGATA AND HEADS OF OTHER U-N AID AGENCIES ARE ATTENDING A SPECIAL TWO-DAY MEETING ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS IN GENEVA, FROM WHERE LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS.

TEXT: AS OF THURSDAY, THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES MORE THAN 800-THOUSAND KOSOVARS HAVE FLED TO MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO AND OTHER NEARBY COUNTRIES. NATO BELIEVES 590-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS STILL REMAIN IN KOSOVO.

U-N-H-C-R CHIEF, SADAKO OGATA, SAYS POLITICAL PROBLEMS ARE AT THE ROOT OF KOSOVO'S HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. SHE SAYS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS DISASTER IS A POLITICAL ONE. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE SAYS U-N AND PRIVATE AID AGENCIES WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THE OVERWHELMING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES.

ALTHOUGH SUMMER HAS BARELY BEGUN IN THE BALKANS, MS. OGATA SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS HAS TO START MAKING PLANS TO HELP THE REFUGEES SURVIVE THE WINTER.

WINTER IS VERY SEVERE IN THE BALKANS. AND, IF THE REFUGEES ARE GOING TO STAY IN CAMPS IN MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA, THE CURRENT TENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE WINTER. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE REPATRIATION WILL START OR WHEN IT WILL BE FINISHED. BUT, IF IT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE FALL, WE DO HAVE TO WINTERIZE THE ACCOMMODATIONS.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, MS. OGATA SAYS THE AGENCY HAS TO START BUYING THE MATERIALS IT NEEDS AND PLANNING THE SHELTER SITES BY JUNE. IN THE MEANTIME, SHE SAYS ALL KINDS OF IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS ARE LIKELY TO ARISE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ALREADY BLISTERING HOT SUMMER IN THE BALKANS. SHE SAYS THE REFUGEE CAMPS ARE SUFFERING FROM A WATER SHORTAGE. UNLESS THIS IS ADDRESSED, THE RISK OF DISEASE BREAKING OUT WILL BE VERY HIGH.

THE CAMPS ARE WITHIN THE RANGE OF GUNS AND ARMED GROUPS AND ARE NOT TENABLE (DEFENDABLE) FROM AN INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE PROTECTION POINT OF VIEW. EVERYONE AGREES ON THAT. THE CHALLENGE IS TO FIND PLACES TO MOVE THEM -- AND MOVE THEM QUICKLY. THOSE REFUGEES ARE AT RISK OF BEING CAUGHT IN A CROSSFIRE, IF THAT CROSSFIRE HAPPENS IN THE NEAR FUTURE -- WHICH MANY PREDICT IT MIGHT.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS ITS RECENT APPEAL FOR MORE MONEY HAS PAID OFF AND IT NOW HAS ENOUGH CASH TO TAKE CARE OF ITS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH. BUT, AFTER THAT, IT SAYS IT WILL NEED ANOTHER CASH INFUSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
13-May-99 11:33 AM EDT (1533 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MARKED THE 50TH DAY OF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA OFFERING AN IMPASSIONED DEFENSE OF THE MISSION. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: SPEAKING TO U-S WAR VETERANS AT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY HERE IN WASHINGTON, MR. HIGHLIGHTED THE GEOPOLITICAL AND MORAL REASONS FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES IN THE YUGOSLAV WAR.

HE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON NATO'S DEMANDS THAT ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES MUST SAFELY RETURN HOME.

THOUGH WE ARE WORKING HARD WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN THEM, A MILLION OR MORE PERMANENT KOSOVAR REFUGEES COULD DESTABILIZE ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, THE WIDER REGION, BECOME A FERTILE GROUND FOR RADICALISM AND VENGEANCE THAT WOULD CONSUME SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. AND IF EUROPE WERE OVERWHELMED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN COME IN AND HELP THEM.

AND THE PRESIDENT RECALLED THE HOLOCAUST IN EMPHASIZING THE MORAL IMPERATIVE BEHIND THE WEST'S EFFORTS TO HALT THE CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO.

THOUGH HIS ETHNIC CLEANSING IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ETHNIC EXTERMINATION OF THE HOLOCAUST, THE TWO ARE RELATED -- BOTH VICIOUS, PREMEDITATED, SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION FUELED BY RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC HATRED. THIS CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE THE KOSOVARS FROM THEIR LAND AND TO, INDEED, EMBRACE THEIR VERY IDENTITY IS AN AFFRONT TO HUMANITY AND AN ATTACK NOT ONLY ON A PEOPLE, BUT ON THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE.

THE PRESIDENT REITERATED THAT NATO'S QUARREL IS NOT WITH SERBIAN PEOPLE, BUT WITH THE POLICIES OF THEIR LEADERS, INCLUDING SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

SERBS SIMPLY MUST FREE THEMSELVES OF THE NOTION THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS MUST BE THEIR ENEMIES. THE REAL ENEMY IS A POISONOUS HATRED UNLEASHED BY CYNICAL LEADERS, BASED ON A DISTORTED VIEW OF WHAT CONSTITUTES REAL NATIONAL GREATNESS.

MR. CLINTON SAID THE WEST WOULD BE PREPARED TO EMBRACE SERBIA INTO A NEW EUROPE IF IT IS WILLING TO EMBRACE DEMOCRACY, AND RESPECT THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE. BUT HE DID NOT SAY WHETHER THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH MR. MILOSEVIC IN POWER. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/GE
13-May-99 2:04 PM EDT (1804 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] CONGRESS-RUSSIA-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OVER KOSOVO. THEY RECENTLY MET WITH A DELEGATION FROM THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT AND DRAFTED - - WHAT THEY CALL - - A FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEIR PEACE PLAN IS FLAWED.

TEXT: THE CONTROVERSY SPILLED OVER TO A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ROOM. THE ELEVEN LAWMAKERS WENT BEFORE THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND CALLED ON CONGRESS TO PASS A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION ENDORSING THEIR WORK.

REPUBLICAN CURT WELDON OF PENNSYLVANIA LED THE BIPARTISAN DELEGATION.

WE THINK WE HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME CAN RALLY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, CAN ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THIS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORT TO FIND AN HONORABLE SOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT.

MR. WELDON SAID THEIR GOAL WAS NEVER TO NEGOTIATE, BUT TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH MEMBERS OF THE DUMA (THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT), WHO REPRESENT ALL THE MAJOR FACTIONS IN RUSSIAN POLITICS.

ALL WE WANTED TO DO WAS TO GET A FRAMEWORK AND BRING THE RUSSIANS IN TO AS CLOSE TO OUR POSITION AS WE COULD.

THE DELEGATION MEMBERS WON UNANIMOUS PRAISE FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS. THE VERDICT ON THEIR PEACE PLAN WAS SPLIT.

THERE WAS STRONG OPPOSITION FROM SENIOR DEMOCRATS. CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN TOM LANTOS SAID HE WELCOMES THEIR CONCERN AND INVOLVEMENT. BUT HE SAID THEY ARE NOT DIPLOMATS, AND THEIR FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE IS AMATEURISH.

THE FRAMEWORK THE LAWMAKERS DRAFTED WITH THEIR RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS LAST WEEK IN VIENNA BEARS SOME RESEMBLANCE TO THE AGREEMENT REACHED FIVE DAYS LATER BY THE G-8 - -THE SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AND RUSSIA. THE TWO DOCUMENTS ARE SIMILAR BUT FAR FROM IDENTICAL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PLAN PUT TOGETHER BY THE WELDON DELEGATION WOULD GIVE RUSSIA AND CHINA A SAY IN THE COMPOSITION OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE.

UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS PICKERING TOLD THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE THE WORDING OF THE VIENNA PEACE PLAN IS AMBIGUOUS. HE SAID IT SHOULD BE REJECTED BY THE HOUSE.

WORDS MATTER. WORDS COUNT. (YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC CAN AND WILL EXPLOIT WORDS IN PROPOSALS TO BUILD HIS OWN DIFFERENT CASE, AND DOES DERIVE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ANY SOURCE OF SEEMING DIFFERENCE OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ON WEDNESDAY, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MET WITH ALL ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. AMBASSADOR PICKERING SAID SHE EMPHASIZED HER SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL CONTACTS WITH THE RUSSIAN DUMA. BUT SHE ALSO STRESSED THE OPPOSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO, WHAT HE CALLED, "UNCOORDINATED, FREE LANCE DIPLOMACY." (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/PHW/GE
13-May-99 3:52 PM EDT (1952 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] CHINA/U-S (L-ONLY) CQ BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: BEIJING APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL (THURSDAY), AFTER FOUR-DAYS OF STATE-SPONSORED PROTESTS OF NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. BUT AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE BOMBING INCIDENT MAY HAVE AFFECTED CHINA'S BID TO ENTER THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.

TEXT: POLICE REMAINED STATIONED AROUND THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING. MOST OF THE EMPTY PLASTIC BOTTLES AND ROCKS THROWN AT THE BUILDING BY PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN SWEPT UP. COLORED PAINT SPLATTERS AND BROKEN WINDOWS REMAINED, THOUGH -- SIGNS OF THE FURY OF THE THOUSANDS OF CHINESE DEMONSTRATORS WHO CONVERGED THERE SHORTLY AFTER NATO BOMBED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, NEARLY A WEEK AGO.

AT A REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO REPEATED CHINA'S DENUNCIATION OF THE NATO STRIKE AND HE ISSUED A VEILED WARNING. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. ZHU INSISTED WASHINGTON QUICKLY INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND PUBLICLY PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE.

OTHERWISE, IT WILL SURELY MEET WITH STRONGER OPPOSITION FROM THE CHINESE PEOPLE.

THE SURFACE APPEARANCE OF NORMALCY IN BEIJING COVERS A LINGERING UNDERCURRENT OF PUBLIC ANGER AND RESENTMENT -- WHICH THE AUTHORITIES WILL FIND HARDER TO DISPEL THAN THE PROTESTS. NATO'S EXPLANATIONS THAT THE BOMBING WAS A TRAGIC MISTAKE -- AND THE APOLOGIES FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER NATO LEADERS -- ARE NOW BEING REPORTED BY THE CHINESE MEDIA. NEVERTHELESS, MANY CHINESE PEOPLE STILL FIRMLY BELIEVE NATO DELIBERATELY TARGETED THE CHINESE EMBASSY.

ONE MAJOR OUTSTANDING ISSUE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING IS CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. SOME WESTERN ANALYSTS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE BOMBING WOULD CAUSE BEIJING TO TOUGHEN ITS W-T-O BARGAINING STANCE. THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED.

WHEN CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI WENT TO WASHINGTON LAST MONTH, THE U-S GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED A LENGTHY LIST OF CONCESSIONS THAT IT SAID CHINA OFFERED AS PART OF ITS W-T-O BID. BUT ON THURSDAY, MR. ZHU DISPUTED THE CONTENTS OF THIS LIST.

THE SO-CALLED RESULTS OF CHINA-U-S NEGOTIATIONS PUBLISHED BY U-S SIDE ON APRIL THE 8TH WAS THE UNILATERAL NEGOTIATION PLAN OF THE U-S SIDE, WHICH THE CHINESE SIDE HAS NEVER AGREED TO.

BUT THE SCHEDULED TRIP OF U-S TRADE NEGOTIATOR ROBERT CASSIDY -- WHO WAS DUE TO ARRIVE IN BEIJING SUNDAY -- HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
13-May-99 9:50 AM EDT (1350 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] NATO / CHINA PROTEST (L-O) BY ALISHA RYU (LOS ANGELES)

INTRO: CHINESE STUDENTS IN LOS ANGELES ARE DEMANDING A FULL INVESTIGATION AND A MORE SATISFACTORY APOLOGY FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS ROLE IN LAST WEEK'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU REPORTS THAT A PROMINENT VIETNAM WAR VETERAN HAS ALSO JOINED THE RANKS OF THOSE VOICING CRITICISM ABOUT NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

TEXT: ABOUT 300 CHINESE AND CHINESE-AMERICAN STUDENTS FROM THREE UNIVERSITIES -- U-C-L-A, U-S-C, AND CAL TECH -- GATHERED TO PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN WEST LOS ANGELES WEDNESDAY.

THE EVENT WAS PEACEFUL BUT EMOTIONS WERE CLEARLY RUNNING HIGH. SOME DEMONSTRATORS HELD UP SIGNS CALLING NATO "THE MURDERERS" OF THREE CHINESE JOURNALISTS KILLED INSIDE THE EMBASSY.

DESPITE NATO'S INSISTENCE THE BOMBING WAS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY FAULTY INTELLIGENCE, TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND U-S HAVE RISEN CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE BOMBING.

PRESIDENT CLINTON PUBLICLY APOLOGIZED TO CHINA FOR NATO'S ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. BUT HE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO ALLOW THE INCIDENT TO DISTRACT ATTENTION AWAY FROM YUGOSLAV ACTIONS IN KOSOVO.

U-C-L-A STUDENT L. CHOW SAYS A PERMANENT RIFT IN THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOW A POSSIBILITY.

THIS TIME THERE IS BLOOD. AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ALLOW.

OTHER PROTESTORS DEMANDED UNITED STATES TO BE MORE CONTRITE ABOUT THE BOMBING. ONE FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM BEIJING -- WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED -- SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON LACKED SINCERITY WHEN HE APOLOGIZED TO CHINA IN THE SAME SPEECH HE USED TO ANNOUNCE THE CONTINUATION OF THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

IT IS NOT AN APOLOGY AT ALL. WHEN YOU APOLOGIZE TO SOMEONE, YOU SHOULD BE SINCERE.

EARLIER IN THE DAY, THAT SAME MESSAGE WAS BEING CONVEYED BY DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST RON KOVIC TO THE CHINESE CONSULATE IN LOS ANGELES.

MR. KOVIC -- WHOSE LIFE WAS DEPICTED IN THE OLIVER STONE FILM "BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY" -- MADE WHAT HE CALLED " A GESTURE OF PEACE FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" TO CHINA.

YOU DO NOT APOLOGIZE AND SAY YOU ARE SORRY FOR TAKING HUMAN LIVES. YOU MUST MAKE AN ACT OF CONTRITION. YOU MUST PROMISE NEVER TO DO THIS AGAIN. THE BOMBING MUST STOP.

AT A BRIEF CEREMONY, MR. KOVIC PRESENTED THE CHINESE ACTING COUNSUL GENERAL -- XU SHIGUO -- WITH TWO DOZEN RED ROSES.

ACCEPTING MR. KOVIC'S GIFT, MR. XU ASSURED HIM CHINA DID NOT HOLD AMERICAN PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF NATO. (SIGNED)
NEB/AR/PHW/PT
12-May-99 10:21 PM EDT (0221 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] CHINA BUSINESS BACKLASH BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)

INTRO: THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LAST WEEK PROVOKED A WAVE OF ANTI-WESTERN AND PARTICULARLY ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT. THE RESULTING ANGRY PROTESTS ACROSS CHINA SHOOK THE NERVES OF MANY FOREIGN INVESTORS DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY. VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS TAKES A LOOK AT THE EFFECT OF THE RECENT PROTESTS ON FOREIGN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE AND EFFORTS BY CHINA TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT.

TEXT: IT APPEARS CHINA MAY HAVE AVERTED A SERIOUS ECONOMIC BACKLASH FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S WAVE OF ANGRY PROTESTS IN SOME 20 CHINESE CITIES. FOREIGN COMPANIES BECAME TARGETS FOR ANTI-WESTERN RAGE AMID CALLS FOR BOYCOTTS OF WESTERN GOODS.

BUT NEARLY A WEEK SINCE NATO'S BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO EASE THE TENSIONS. ITS EFFORTS ARE SEEN AS PARTLY DESIGNED TO AVERT DAMAGE TO ITS TRADE RELATIONS AND ITS ABILITY TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT. JASON FELTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, SAYS IN THE PAST TWO DAYS CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE REACHED OUT TO SOME AMERICAN BUSINESS PEOPLE TO REASSURE THEM.

OUR MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT THEIR PROPERTY WILL BE OKAY AND THE NEED FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND THEIR ACTIVITIES IN CHINA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE WELCOMED. SO THAT IS ENCOURAGING AND THAT GIVE US SOME SENSE FOR OPTIMISM.

IN SHANGHAI, MAYOR XU KUANDI MADE A PERSONAL VISIT TO THE U-S AUTOMAKER GENERAL MOTORS' PLANT WHICH IS BUILDING BUICK CARS. HE CAME THERE TO VOICE HIS HOPE FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE CITY'S VICE MAYOR ALSO MET FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN TO DELIVER THE SAME MESSAGE. LATER THE PRESIDENT OF G-M'S CHINA GROUP TOLD REPORTERS HE DOES NOT SEE A LONG TERM ECONOMIC IMPACT, STEMMING FROM THE RECENT PROTESTS IN CHINA. OTHER BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND ANALYSTS, SUCH AS EDEN WOON, AGREE.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT EXERCISE SOME CAUTION AT THIS POINT BUT I REALLY THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LONG RANGE PLANS WILL STILL LOOK AT CHINA AS A PLACE TO BE, TO DO BUSINESS, TO INVEST AND THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO WILL GO ON.

THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS AMONG FOREIGN INVESTORS THAT THE RECENT TENSIONS IN CHINA MAY DELAY ECONOMIC REFORMS AND CHINA'S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. BUT CHINESE LEADERS HAVE PLEDGED THAT THEIR REFORMS WILL NOT BE SLOWED AND THAT CHINA WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO JOIN THE W-T-O.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY IN THE SHORT-TERM, FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CHINA MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT ANTI-WESTERN PROTESTS. BUT THEY MAINTAIN THAT AS TIME GOES ON, CONCERNS AMONG FOREIGN INVESTORS SHOULD EASE AND CONFIDENCE WILL BE RESTORED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/FC
13-May-99 6:26 AM EDT (1026 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[13] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (S) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS DISCUSSING THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT: AT THE START OF THEIR TALKS HERE IN MOSCOW, PRESIDENT YELTSIN TOLD PRESIDENT CHIRAC THAT EUROPE IS FACING IN KOSOVO ITS MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN RECENT TIMES. HE CALLED MR. CHIRAC'S VISIT TIMELY AND IMPORTANT.

MR. YELTSIN MADE NO MENTION OF HIS THREAT WEDNESDAY THAT RUSSIA MIGHT ABANDON THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS IF NATO DOES NOT START LISTENING TO RUSSIAN PROPOSALS.

MANY ANALYSTS HERE THINK THE COMMENT WAS AIMED AT WARDING OFF CRITICISM OF MR. YELTSIN'S YUGOSLAVIA POLICIES FROM HIS HARDLINE OPPONENTS IN PARLIAMENT WHO HAVE NOW BEGUN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/CMD/JWH
13-May-99 5:32 AM EDT (0932 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[14] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN AND WESTERN OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW ARE CONTINUING EFFORTS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS -- DESPITE DOMESTIC POLITICAL TURMOIL IN RUSSIA. BUT AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TOLD THE VISITING FRENCH PRESIDENT HE IS LOSING PATIENCE WITH NATO.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN WARNED FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC THAT RUSSIA MAY PULL OUT OF THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS IF NATO CONTINUES ITS AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV RELAYED MR. YELTSIN'S COMMENTS TO REPORTERS.

HE SAYS MR. YELTSIN CONFIRMS THAT IF NATO AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE AND IF THE ALLIANCE FAILS TO LISTEN TO MOSCOW'S PROPOSALS, RUSSIA WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER ITS POSITION IN THE PEACE PROCESS.

THE WARNING ECHOES ONE MR. YELTSIN MADE WEDNESDAY.

MANY ANALYSTS SEE MR. YELTSIN'S COMMENTS AS AN EFFORT TO WARD OFF CRITICISM OF HIS YUGOSLAVIA POLICY FROM HIS HARDLINE OPPONENTS IN PARLIAMENT. COMMUNIST LAWMAKERS FAVOR MILITARY SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAVIA RATHER THAN NEGOTIATION WITH THE WEST. THOSE SAME LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT YELTSIN.

BUT RUSSIA'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WEST CONTINUE. AT THE START OF THE TALKS WITH MR. CHIRAC, THE RUSSIAN LEADER SAID EUROPE IS FACING IN KOSOVO "ITS MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN RECENT TIMES."

THE FRENCH PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO MOSCOW ALSO INCLUDES MEETINGS WITH MR. IVANOV AND WITH RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS THE TALKS HINGE ON THE MAKEUP OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO.

HE SAYS THE MAIN QUESTION IS THE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE. ONCE THAT IS RESOLVED, HE SAYS, WE CAN DISCUSS THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV TROOPS.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN MADE THE COMMENTS FOLLOWING SEPARATE TALKS WITH VISITING U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT. MR. TALBOTT TOLD REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING THAT HE SEES REASON FOR HOPE IN SOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

HE SAID HE AND MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAVE BROADENED THE AREAS WHERE THEY AGREE ON HOW TO SOLVE THE CRISIS, AND HE SAYS THEY "FOUND WAYS OF MANAGING" THE ISSUES ON WHICH THEY DISAGREE.

MR. TALBOTT MET WITH THE RUSSIAN ENVOY AFTER RETURNING TO MOSCOW FROM FINLAND, WHERE HE DISCUSSED THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IS MAKING HIS OWN TRIP TO HELSINKI THURSDAY FOR TALKS WITH THE FINNISH LEADER.

MR. AHTISAARI IS EMERGING AS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE WEST'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND YUGOSLAVIA. FINLAND TAKES OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN JULY, AND RUSSIA SEES IT AS MORE NEUTRAL THAN OTHER WESTERN NATIONS BECAUSE IT IS NOT A MEMBER OF NATO. (SIGNED)
NEB/CMD/JWH
13-May-99 9:46 AM EDT (1346 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[15] U-N / RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: RUSSIA SAYS (THURSDAY) IT WILL NOT PERMIT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO ENDORSE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR KOSOVO UNTIL NATO STOPS ITS BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY FROM OUR U-N BUREAU.

TEXT: RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYS MOSCOW IS FIRM IN ITS POLICY CONCERNING SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ON A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR KOSOVO. HE SAYS RUSSIA, ONE OF FIVE VETO-HOLDING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IS NOT OPPOSED TO DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE IN THE COUNCIL. BUT HE SAYS RUSSIA WILL NOT ALLOW APPROVAL OF ANY SUCH RESOLUTION UNLESS NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA STOP FIRST.

UNTIL THE BOMBING STOPS, A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE RESOLUTION DISCUSSIONS COULD NOT CONTINUE, BUT I DO NOT SEE HOW A RESOLUTION COULD ACTUALLY BE ADOPTED IF THERE IS NO STOP IN THE BOMBING.

THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS SOON ON THE TERMS OF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR KOSOVO, PROPOSED LAST WEEK BY THE GROUP OF SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES AND RUSSIA. THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE. IT DOES NOT SPECIFY THE EXACT TERMS FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FROM KOSOVO, OR THE END OF NATO AIR STRIKES. DIPLOMATS SAY SECURITY COUNCIL BACKING FOR THE PROPOSAL IS ESSENTIAL, IN ORDER TO SECURE FULL COMPLIANCE BY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES.

NATO HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT EXPECTS YUGOSLAV FORCES TO LEAVE THE PROVINCE BEFORE AIR STRIKES ARE STOPPED. RUSSIA'S LATEST POSITION COULD COMPLICATE THE ISSUE, AS IT APPEARS TO REQUIRE AN EARLIER END TO THE NATO STRIKES. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/WTW
13-May-99 5:16 PM EDT (2116 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[16] RUSSIA / POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: THE COMMUNIST-DOMINATED LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT, THE DUMA, HAS BEGUN THREE-DAYS OF DEBATE ON WHETHER TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS CHARGES AGAINST MR. YELTSIN RANGE FROM DESTROYING RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES TO COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.

TEXT: THE DEBATE STARTED WITH THE HEAD OF PARLIAMENT'S IMPEACHMENT COMMISSION, VADIM FILIMONOV, ACCUSING PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF DESTROYING THE SOVIET UNION.

THE LAWMAKER SAYS THE IMPEACHMENT COMMISSION FOUND SEVERAL GROUNDS FOR BRINGING TREASON CHARGES IN PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S ACTIVITIES.

MR. FILIMONOV SAYS MR. YELTSIN INFLICTED WHAT HE CALLS "HUGE DAMAGE TO THE EXTERNAL SECURITY OF RUSSIA" WHEN HE SIGNED A DOCUMENT IN 1991 WHICH DECLARED THE SOVIET UNION DEFUNCT. HE SAYS THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION LED TO NATO'S EXPANSION AND ATTACKS ON IRAQ AND YUGOSLAVIA.

THE LAWMAKER ALSO CHARGES THAT PRESIDENT YELTSIN ILLEGALLY USED FORCE TO CRUSH A REBELLION OF HARDLINE LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY REFUSED TO LET PARLIAMENT BE DISSOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT IN 1993.

MR. FILIMONOV SAYS THE COMMISSION ALSO IS CHARGING THE PRESIDENT WITH PREMEDITATED MURDER AND WITH EXCEEDING HIS AUTHORIZED POWERS.

THERE ARE THREE OTHER CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT YELTSIN -- THAT HE ILLEGALLY WAGED WAR AGAINST THE BREAKAWAY REGION OF CHECHNYA IN 1994, THAT HE DESTROYED RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES, AND THAT HE COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE BY LOWERING LIVING STANDARDS WITH MARKET REFORMS.

PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DEBATE ON THURSDAY SAID THE FIVE CHARGES HAD NO LEGAL BASIS.

OF THE FIVE COUNTS, ONLY ONE IS THOUGHT LIKELY TO SUCCEED. BOTH LIBERALS AND HARDLINERS IN THE DUMA SAY THEY OPPOSE PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S ROLE IN STARTING THE CHECHEN WAR. IN THAT CONFLICT, TENS OF THOUSANDS WERE KILLED AND RUSSIA'S POORLY EQUIPPED AND UNDERFED ARMED FORCES WERE HUMILIATED. THE ISSUE OF CHECHNYA'S INDEPENDENCE WAS NEVER RESOLVED.

ANALYSTS SAY PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S DISMISSAL OF RUSSIA'S POPULAR PRIME MINISTER ON WEDNESDAY INCREASED THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE USUALLY FRACTIOUS PARLIAMENT WILL PUSH AHEAD WITH THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.

BUT THE TIMING OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DISMISSAL LEADS TO SEVERAL PROBLEMS. NOW PRESIDENT YELTSIN MUST GET APPROVAL FROM THE DUMA FOR HIS NEW CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER. IF THE DUMA DOES NOT APPROVE HIS CHOICE AFTER THREE VOTES, MR. YELTSIN HAS THE RIGHT TO DISSOLVE THE BODY. BUT IF HE IS FACING EVEN ONE IMPEACHMENT CHARGE, HE TECHNICALLY LOSES THE RIGHT TO DISBAND PARLIAMENT. THE RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION IS VAGUE ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IF THE DUMA VOTES FOR IMPEACHMENT, CHARGES MUST THEN BE EXAMINED BY TWO OF RUSSIA'S HIGHEST COURTS, AND THEN APPROVED BY RUSSIA'S UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT -- WHICH IS CONSIDERED UNLIKELY.

EARLY THURSDAY PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. ABOUT 500 COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATORS WAVING RED FLAGS CALLED FOR PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S REMOVAL. A SMALLER GROUP OF PRO-YELTSIN SUPPORTERS RALLIED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH
13-May-99 8:14 AM EDT (1214 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[17] U-N / KOSOVO CRISIS (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE WILL INTENSIFY HIS EFFORTS TO TRY TO END THE WAR IN KOSOVO. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MET IN GENEVA WITH HIS TWO NEWLY APPOINTED SPECIAL ENVOYS TO THE BALKANS TO DISCUSS POLITICAL STRATEGIES.

TEXT: SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN TOLD REPORTERS IN GENEVA THAT HIS TWO SPECIAL ENVOYS TO THE BALKANS WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OTHERS TO INTENSIFY THE SEARCH FOR PEACE.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS SOMETIMES THE EASY PART. YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR PEACE. YOU NEED TO HAVE PREPARATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT ONCE YOU GET AN AGREEMENT, THE IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE SMOOTH AND YOU KNOW WHERE AND HOW TO BEGIN. AND THAT REQUIRES QUITE A LOT OF WORK. AND, THEY WILL BE WORKING ON THAT FULL TIME AS WELL.

THE TWO ENVOYS SAY THEY HAVE NOT YET PLANNED A TRIP TO BELGRADE. BUT, THEY SAY THEY PLAN TO TALK WITH ALL THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT.

ONE OF THE U-N REPRESENTATIVES, FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER CARL BILDT, SAYS HE HAS ALREADY SEEN RUSSIA'S ENVOY, VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, AND MODERATE KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA.

BUT, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. WE MUST BE BETTER PREPARED FOR PEACE THAN WE, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EVIDENTLY WERE PREPARED FOR WAR, BECAUSE PEACE IS AN EVEN MORE COMPLICATED THING THAN WAR AND REQUIRES SOLID PREPARATIONS. AND WE SEE THAT AS OUR MAIN TASK.

U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN CALLS THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS A DAUNTING TASK. HE SAYS THE JOB HAS NOT BEEN MADE ANY EASIER BY THE RECENT POLITICAL SHAKE-UP IN RUSSIA.

ON WEDNESDAY, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN DISMISSED HIS PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENI PRIMAKOV. MR. ANNAN SAYS HE HOPES RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY WILL REMAIN THE SAME. BUT, HE ADMITS DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIA COULD COMPLICATE PEACEMAKING EFFORTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
13-May-99 10:06 AM EDT (1406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION IS WORKING ON PLANS TO HELP COMPENSATE SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN ALLIES OF NATO FOR THEIR FINANCIAL LOSSES FROM THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK SAYS THE E-U PLAN FOR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS IS IN PART TO HELP COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE LOSS OF MARKETS AND INVESTMENT DURING THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. BUT HE SAYS THE LONG-TERM STRATEGY ALSO INCLUDES WHAT HE CALLS AN OPEN TRADE AREA AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE E-U AND ITS NEIGHBORS IN THE BALKANS.

THE AIM OF THE STRATEGY FOR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE IS TO BRING LASTING PEACE, TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO BUILD A CLOSER PARTNERSHIP IN THE LONGER TERM, WITH THE BALKANS IN PARTICULAR ON CORE DEMOCRATIC EUROPEAN VALUES.

BULGARIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, NADEZHDA MIHAILOVA, SAYS IT IS TIME TO END THE REGION'S ISOLATION FROM THE REST OF EUROPE. THE BULGARIAN DIPLOMAT JOINED MR. COOK AT THURSDAY'S MEDIA BRIEFING ON KOSOVO.

NOT ANY MORE SHOULD WE LIVE IN TWO EUROPES -- THIS ONE ON THE WESTERN OR CENTRAL PART AND THE OTHER ONE IN THE SOUTHERN PART -- BECAUSE THE LONG TERM STABILITY, NOT ONLY MY REGION OR MY COUNTRY BUT EUROPE AS A WHOLE, WILL PASS THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF ALL COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT

BULGARIA HAS ALLOWED NATO TO USE ITS AIR SPACE FOR THE STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. BUT BULGARIA'S ECONOMY HAS BEEN HURT BY THE KOSOVO CONFLICT AND ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON REGIONAL TRADE AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT

EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE MADE A POINT OF PLEDGING POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP THE REGION REBUILD, ESPECIALLY COUNTRIES BACKING THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
13-May-99 9:18 AM EDT (1318 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[19] KOSOVO: PARTITION OR PROTECTORATE BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES, UNITED NATIONS AND NATO ALL SAY THERE CONTINUES TO BE MOVEMENT TOWARD A KOSOVO SOLUTION DESPITE THE POLITICAL SHAKEUP IN MOSCOW AND NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. SO FAR, DIPLOMATIC OVERTURES HAVE FOCUSED MAINLY ON THE COMPOSITION OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE TO OVERSEE THE SAFE RETURN OF REFUGEES. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, POLICY MAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC ARE LOOKING AT THE LONGER-TERM. HOW WILL A FUTURE KOSOVO LOOK? WILL IT BE PARTITIONED, INDEPENDENT OR A PROTECTORATE? V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS MORE IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT:

TEXT: MOST DIPLOMATS AGREE THINGS HAVE GONE TOO FAR IN KOSOVO FOR AUTONOMY WITHIN SERBIA TO BE A SERIOUS OPTION ANY LONGER. /// OPT

AFTER SEVEN WEEKS OF NATO BOMBING, ONE OF THE PROPOSALS BEING FLOATED IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES AS A POSSIBLE COMPROMISE FOR KOSOVO'S FUTURE IS PARTITION. BUT THE IDEA HAS FEW SUPPORTERS AMONG NATO MEMBER NATIONS. BRITISH AUTHOR AND NOTED BALKAN HISTORIAN, NOEL MALCOLM, SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE PARTITION MAINLY FAVORS THE SERBS:

FOR THEM, IT'S THE IDEAL COMPROMISE SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY WILL KEEP THE NORTHERN HALF OF KOSOVO AND THAT IS WHERE THE RICHEST MINES ARE AND THE POWER STATIONS THAT BURN THE COAL. THIS IS THE ECONOMIC HEART OF KOSOVO. AND TO PUSH THE ALBANIANS INTO THE SOUTHERN HALF IS TO CONDEMN THEM TO A FUTURE OF POVERTY.

MR. MALCOLM ADVOCATES ALLOWING THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS THEIR INDEPENDENCE, AN IDEA SO FAR REJECTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS FAVORED KEEPING YUGOSLAVIA'S BORDERS INTACT:

WHAT IS THE DANGER OF THIS (INDEPENDENCE)? THE WEST HAPPILY ACCEPTED THE IDEA THAT MOLDOVA MIGHT HAVE UNITED WITH ROMANIA. THEY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING DANGEROUS OR WRONG ABOUT THAT. THE WEST ACCEPTED THE REUNIFICATION OF EAST AND WEST GERMANY. THE WEST WOULD HAPPILY ACCEPT THE UNIFICATION OF NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA.

NOEL MALCOLM SAYS THE WEST IS AGAINST INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO BECAUSE IT FEARS IT MIGHT SPARK A SIMILAR MOVEMENT AMONG ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA. BUT, HE SAYS, MACEDONIA'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE NEVER CALLED FOR SECESSION OF ANY KIND AND THAT A FAR GREATER DANGER TO MACEDONIAN STABILITY IS THE ENORMOUS FLOOD OF REFUGEES.

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FORMER NEGOTIATOR ON YUGOSLAVIA, LORD DAVID OWEN, IS AGAINST BOTH PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE. INSTEAD, HE ADVOCATES MAKING THE PROVINCE A U-N TRUST OR PROTECTORATE:

IT WOULD MEAN THAT YUGOSLAVIA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC INCLUDING SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, WOULD HAVE TO TRANSFER SOVEREIGNTY TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THEY WOULD KNOW THEREBY THAT IT (KOSOVO) WOULD NEVER BE GIVEN INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND THEY COULD PROBABLY RELY ON CHINA AND RUSSIA WOULDN'T LET THIS HAPPEN UNLESS THEY AGREED.

LORD OWEN SAYS A KEY COMPONENT OF SUCH A PROTECTORATE WOULD BE THAT THE PROTECTION FORCE FOR ASSURING THE RETURN OF REFUGEES WOULD COME UNDER THE CONTROL OF A ORGANIZATION AGREED TO BY ALL PARTIES. THE POINT IS, SAYS LORD OWEN, EITHER CONQUER BY FORCE OR NEGOTIATE. AND NATO, HE SAYS, SEEMS UNWILLING TO CONQUER YUGOSLAVIA:

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN IMPOSE A NATO-LED FORCE BY NEGOTIATION. YOU COULD, OF COURSE, GET IT IF YOU INVADE AND IF YOU INVADE SUCCESSFULLY. THAT'S THE NATURE OF A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. YOU CALL THE TUNE IF YOU'RE THE VICTOR ON THE BATTLEFIELD. IF YOU'RE NOT THE VICTOR, THAN YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME COMPROMISES. /// OPT /// WHAT I WOULDN'T COMPROMISE ON IS THE ESSENTIAL DEMAND THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK IN CONDITIONS OF CONFIDENCE AND FREEDOM AND THAT REQUIRES AN EFFECTIVE FORCE. /// END OPT ///

LORD OWEN BELIEVES THE IDEA OF A U-N TRUSTEESHIP FOR KOSOVO IS THE PERFECT COMPROMISE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A WIN FOR EITHER SIDE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/GE
13-May-99 2:53 PM EDT (1853 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[20] BRITAIN / SPIES (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITAIN IS TRYING TO SHUT DOWN AN INTERNET WEBSITE WHICH PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT ALLEGED BRITISH SPIES. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK ACCUSED A DISGRUNTLED FORMER SECRET AGENT OF PUTTING A LIST ON THE WEBSITE HE IDENTIFIED AS BRITISH INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT -- FOR SECURITY REASONS -- IS TRYING TO SAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE SCANDAL.

TEXT: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE LIST OF ALLEGED BRITISH SECRET AGENTS IS, IN HIS WORDS, RIDDLED WITH INACCURACIES. BUT HE STILL CALLS ITS PUBLICATION AN IRRESPONSIBLE AND ILLEGAL ACT THAT ENDANGERS LIVES.

THE RELEASE OF ANY SUCH LIST -- HOWEVER INACCURATE -- IT MAY BE IS A DEEPLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND DANGEROUS ACT.

MR. COOK BLAMES FORMER SECRET AGENT JOHN TOMLINSON AND ACCUSES HIM OF HARBORING IRRATIONAL GRIEVANCES AGAINST HIS FORMER EMPLOYERS.

IT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE MR. TOMLINSON HAS REPEATEDLY TRIED TO USE THE INTERNET OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HAS SO FAR BEEN REPEATEDLY FRUSTRATED. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MR. TOMLINSON MAY BE MINDED TO TRY AGAIN AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO FRUSTRATE ACTIONS TO DAMAGE OUR SERVICE WHICH ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND ILLEGAL.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO CLOSE DOWN THE WEBSITE AND HAS ASKED NEWSPAPERS NOT TO PUBLISH DETAILS OF THE LIST FOR SECURITY REASONS.

MR. TOMLINSON WORKED AS A BRITISH SPY IN MOSCOW AND BOSNIA BUT WAS FIRED IN 1995 AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. HE WAS JAILED BRIEFLY IN 1997 FOR TRYING TO PUBLISH A BOOK ABOUT HIS CAREER, WHICH IS FORBIDDEN UNDER BRITAIN'S OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT. THE 35-YEAR-OLD FORMER SPY HAS CLAIMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS HARASSED HIM EVER SINCE HIS DISMISSAL. MR TOMLINSON HAS THREATENED TO PUBLISH THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF BRITISH SECRET AGENTS AROUND THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
13-May-99 10:25 AM EDT (1425 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[21] NAZI SLAVE LABOR (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE SEARCH FOR A WAY TO COMPENSATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED INTO SLAVE LABOR BY THE NAZIS DURING WORLD WAR TWO. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE TWO DAY WASHINGTON CONFERENCE, MARKED THE FIRST TIME THAT LAWYERS FOR GERMAN COMPANIES SAT DOWN TOGETHER WITH LAWYERS FOR NAZI ERA SLAVE LABOR VICTIMS WHO ARE TRYING TO SUE THEM.

GERMAN AND U-S OFFICIALS CO-CHAIRED THE MEETING, WHICH ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, BELARUS, UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND ISRAEL.

AT THE END OF THE SESSION, U-S UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT SAYS WORKING GROUPS DEALING WITH SEPARATE ISSUES LIKE BANKS AND STOLEN PROPERTY WILL TRY TO COME UP WITH A CONCRETE COMPENSATION PLAN IN THREE MONTHS.

WITH THE HOPE THAT THE PROCESS CAN BE AGREED TO BY SEPTEMBER FIRST 1999, WHICH IS THE DATE SET BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT, AS IT IS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORLD WAR TWO.

GERMANY HAS AGREED TO SET UP A SPECIAL FUND TO COMPENSATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE USED AS FORCED LABORERS, AGRICULTURE WORKERS, OR ENSLAVED IN NAZI LABOR CAMPS.

GERMAN COMPANIES HAVE SAID THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE GENEROUSLY TO THE PLAN, BUT THEIR PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY A NUMBER OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST THE FIRMS.

UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE EIZENSTAT SAYS THE GOAL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONFERENCE IS TO BRING LEGAL CLOSURE TO THE ENTIRE ISSUE, AND SETTLE ALL LAWSUITS AT ONE TIME.

MR. EIZENSTAT SAYS NO DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE COMPENSATION FUND WAS DISCUSSED AT THE SESSION, BUT HE SAYS ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WERE IN AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE.

THIS WAS NOT INTENDED AS A NEGOTIATING SESSION BUT EVERYBODY LAID THEIR CARDS ON THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR POSITIONS. I THINK EVERYBODY NOW HAS A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE POSITION AND WHAT I GOT THE SENSE OF FRANKLY, EVEN WHILE EVERYBODY WAS STATING THOSE POSITIONS, WAS A SENSE OF A POTENTIAL HISTORIC EFFORT, AND HISTORIC ENTERPRISE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY ON EVERYONE'S PART.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY BETWEEN 70 THOUSAND AND 90 THOUSAND FORMER SLAVE LABORERS COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPENSATION PLAN. THEY SAY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE USED AS FORCED LABORERS IN EASTERN EUROPE COULD REACH INTO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, INCLUDING ABOUT A HALF MILLION PEOPLE USED AS FORCED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN POLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PT
12-May-99 8:17 PM EDT (0017 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (THURSDAY) WITH TWO MAJOR AVERAGES CLOSING AT RECORD HIGHS. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 11 THOUSAND 107, UP 106 POINTS, OR ALMOST ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 13 HUNDRED 67, UP THREE POINTS. BUT THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST ABOUT ONE PERCENT, REFLECTING WEAKNESS IN SOME TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

ANALYSTS SAY STOCK TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY LOW INFLATION FIGURES AND STRENGTH IN THE BOND MARKET.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE ONE-HALF PERCENT IN APRIL, LARGELY BECAUSE OF HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES. HOWEVER, THE CORE INFLATION RATE WHICH EXCLUDES FOOD AND ENERGY PRICES, WAS UP JUST ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT.

THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS FILED AN ANTI-MONOPOLY SUIT AGAINST THE A-M-R CORPORATION, PARENT COMPANY OF AMERICAN AIRLINES. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS AMERICAN ENGAGED IN PREDATORY PRICING PRACTICES IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT COMPETITION FROM SMALLER AIRLINES. AMERICAN DENIES THE CHARGES.

THE STOCK OF THE I-B-M COMPUTER COMPANY HIT RECORD LEVELS AFTER CHAIRMAN LOU GERSTNER TOLD WALL STREET ANALYSTS THAT I-B-M HAS A FIRM PRESENCE ON THE INTERNET AND IS ALREADY EARNINGS PROFITS FROM IT.

THE STOCK OF THE MATRIX PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MORE THAN DOUBLED AFTER U-S DRUG REGULATORS AGREED TO GIVE A QUICK REVIEW OF THE COMPANY'S NEW DRUG TO TREAT HEAD AND NECK CANCER.

THE U-S TOBACCO INDUSTRY SCORED ITS SECOND VICTORY OF THE WEEK WHEN A JURY IN MISSOURI RULED THAT THE BROWN AND WILLIAMSON TOBACCO COMPANY WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF A SMOKER. EARLIER THIS WEEK, A JURY IN TENNESSEE MADE THE SAME FINDING IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THREE LARGE TOBACCO FIRMS.

THE CLARK OIL COMPANY SAID IT WILL SELL ITS 700 GAS STATIONS AND CONVENIENCE STORES IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PRIVATE INVESTMENT GROUP FOR 230 MILLION DOLLARS. CLARK SAYS IT WILL NOW FOCUS ITS BUSINESS EXCLUSIVELY ON OIL REFINING.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
13-May-99 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[23] THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING FALLOUT BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THIS WEEK, NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS AND WRITERS PONDERED THE SHORT- AND LONGER-TERM AFTER-EFFECTS OF NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.

MANY SEE IT AS HARMING U-S - SINO RELATIONS FOR SOME TIME TO COME, WITH MORE THAN A FEW PAPERS, INCLUDING ROME'S "LA REPUBBLICA," SUGGESTING THE "DEATH" OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S "STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP" WITH CHINA.

OTHERS WONDERED WHETHER IT TRULY WAS A MISTAKE OF THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, SUGGESTING THAT IT WAS SO DUMB, IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN A BLUNDER, AND THEREFORE MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL.

WE GET A GLOBAL SAMPLING NOW FROM __________ IN THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: AS THE BODIES OF THE THREE CHINESE CITIZENS, INCLUDING A YOUNG, NEWLY-MARRIED JOURNALIST AND HIS WIFE, WERE RETURNED TO CHINA FOR BURIAL, THE WORLD'S PRESS WAS ENGAGED IN A MAJOR OUTPOURING OF COMMENTARY ON THE ATTACK AND ITS POLITICAL DAMAGE. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN BEIJING, WHERE THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE "CHINA DAILY" OFFERED THIS SKEPTICAL ACCOUNT (IN ITS INTERNET EDITION):

VOICE: A GROUP OF CHINESE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS SAID ON SUNDAY THAT THE ATTACK ... WAS IN NO WAY AN ACCIDENT. ONE MEMBER OF THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF MILITARY SCIENCES CONCLUDED ... THE ATTACK WAS PLANNED AND CAREFULLY PLOTTED. A MISTAKE MIGHT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF ONLY ONE BOMB ... HIT THE EMBASSY, BUT THE FACT THAT THREE MISSILES HIT THE BUILDING FROM THREE DIFFERENT ANGLES MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LABEL IT AN ACCIDENT.

TEXT: FOR A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VIEW, FROM THAT PART OF CHINA WITH A RELATIVELY FREE PRESS, HONG KONG'S "SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: THE ROWDY OUTBURST ALLOWED STUDENTS AND OTHERS TO LET OFF STEAM JUST BEFORE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIANANMEN KILLINGS, DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM A DATE THAT MAKES CHINESE LEADERS UNDERSTANDABLY NERVOUS. ... BEIJING HAS BEGUN COOLING ITS OFFICIAL OUTRAGE, BUT ISN'T YET FINISHED WITH THE SUBJECT.

TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, "THE HONG KONG STANDARD" WAS LESS FRIENDLY TO THE WEST.

VOICE: THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE. THEIR "EXPLANATION" FOR THE BOMBING ... IS BOTH UNACCEPTABLE AND RIDICULOUS. THEIR APOLOGIES ARE INSINCERE ... [HONG KONG] MAY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO ANGER, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ON MATTERS SUCH AS THIS, ITS HEART BEATS ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE NATION.

TEXT: IN JAPAN, TOKYO'S "MAINICHI" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: BEIJING'S TACIT PERMISSION FOR STONE-THROWING BY PROTESTERS AT THE U-S EMBASSY WILL AGGRAVATE ALREADY MIXED AMERICAN FEELINGS TOWARD ALLEGED CHINESE SPYING ON U-S NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. THE CHINESE SHOULD EXERCISE SELF-RESTRAINT IN THEIR ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS.

TEXT: FAR TO THE SOUTH, "THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW," IN SYDNEY, LOOKED BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE FUROR FOR THE LONG-TERM BUSINESS FALLOUT, NOTING:

VOICE: ...ONE OF THE CLEAREST VICTIMS OF THE ROW MAY BE CHINA'S ENTRY TO THE W-T-O [WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION]. ... HOWEVER, PRO-CHINA BUSINESS INTERESTS COULD STILL PUSH FOR EASIER ENTRY AS A CONCESSION FOR THE BOMBING, BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THAT HARD-LINERS WILL TERMINATE THE ENTIRE LONG-RUNNING W-T-O BID.

TEXT: MOVING ON TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THE CAIRO (EGYPT) DAILY "AL GOMHOURIYA" SUGGESTED A NOT-SO-SUBTLE U-S MESSAGE TO BEIJING:

VOICE: HITTING THE CHINESE EMBASSY WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE AT ALL. IT WAS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO CHINA, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BECOME A SECOND WORLD POLE. CHINA MIGHT HAVE UNDERSTOOD THIS AMERICAN MESSAGE, WHICH IS WHY ITS RESPONSE WAS HARSH.

TEXT: ALONG THE GULF, IN QATAR, DOHA'S "AL-RAYAH" FEELS THE NATO ATTACK IS HAVING THE OPPOSITE RESULT FROM THAT WHICH WAS DESIRED.

VOICE: "WHO ARE YOU DEFENDING, CHINA OR THE UNITED STATES?" A CHINESE PROTESTER YELLED AT CHINESE POLICE SURROUNDING THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING. THE SAME QUESTION SHOULD BE ASKED BY THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS. ... THE WHOLE WORLD HAS THE RIGHT TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS AFTER A CIVILIAN BUS AND THE CHINESE EMBASSY HAVE BEEN BOMBED. NATO'S MILITARY PLAN IS STUPID, CONSIDERING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IT HAS ON A PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE SAVED.

TEXT: IN SOUTH ASIA, "THE HINDU" IN NEW DELHI (INDIA) RAN THIS ANALYSIS, NOTING:

VOICE: DESPITE THE TRAGIC ... BOMBING ... AND THE OUTBURST OF ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT THAT FOLLOWED IN CHINA, BEIJING APPEARS DETERMINED NOT TO LET THE INCIDENT UNDERMINE ITS EXPANSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH WASHINGTON. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, TOO, APPEARS EAGER TO LIMIT THE FALLOUT. ... [HOWEVER,] IN UNLEASHING NATIONALIST ANGER ... BEIJING MAY HAVE STOKED THE DORMANT EMBERS OF WESTERN DISTRUST OF CHINA, AND INTENSIFIED DIVISIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ON ... POLICY TOWARDS BEIJING.

TEXT: ACROSS THE WORLD NOW, TO THIS HEMISPHERE, AND OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH, CANADA, WHERE THERE IS LESS SYMPATHY FOR CHINA. THE "VANCOUVER PROVINCE," IN BRITISH COLOMBIA, SAYS:

VOICE: GIVE US A BREAK! DO THE CHINESE REALLY THINK WE BELIEVE THE RIDICULOUS DEMONSTRATIONS AND STONING OF THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING ARE A SPONTANEOUS MANIFESTATION OF YOUR AVERAGE CHINESE PERSON'S ANGER? HAS ANYONE ASKED THE CHINESE ABOUT TIBET LATELY? WE'VE SAID, "SORRY." WE ARE VERY SORRY. THE BOMBING WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. THE CHINESE SHOULD HELP US FIND A SOLUTION TO KOSOVO INSTEAD OF ENGAGING IN PATHETIC THEATRICS.

TEXT: TO THE SOUTH, WHERE URUGUAY'S "EL OBSERVADOR," IN MONTEVIDEO, HAD THIS VIEW OF THE REACTION:

VOICE: CHINA SEEMS TO BE TAKING MAXIMUM POLITICAL ADVANTAGE FROM THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT'S ABSURD TO THINK THAT THE BOMBING OF THE ... EMBASSY ... WAS INTENTIONAL, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT BEIJING IS PURSUING OTHER OBJECTIVES WITH [ITS] REACTION ...

TEXT: WE CONCLUDE WITH THIS PITHY OBSERVATION FROM LONDON, WHERE "THE TIMES" WRITES:

VOICE: THE DIPLOMATIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE BOMBING ... MIGHT IN TIME BE CONTAINED; THE POLITICAL FALLOUT MAY NOT. A SINGLE CRASS MISTAKE HAS COMPOUNDED THE ALREADY GROWING PUBLIC UNEASE THAT THE CONDUCT OF THIS WAR IS FUNDAMENTALLY UN-SERIOUS. ... THE KOSOVARS HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED DISASTROUSLY FROM THIS HALF-WAR. FOR NATO, FOR EUROPEAN PEACE ... THE TRUE, HIGH RECKONING BECKONS: IT IS CALLED FAILURE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF WORLD OPINION ON THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LAST WEEK.
NEB/ANG/WTW
13-May-99 4:53 PM EDT (2053 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[24] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A PAIR OF DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING TWO POWERFUL AND WELL-KNOWN MEN, U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN, AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, HAVE ALL BUT ECLIPSED THE BALKAN WAR FROM THURSDAY EDITORIAL COLUMNS.

MR. RUBIN'S RESIGNATION AND MR. YELTSIN'S GOVERNMENT SHAKEUP VIE FOR THE TOP SPOT IN THE COMMENTARY COLUMNS OF MANY PAPERS. AMONG THE OTHER TOPICS ARE: A SERIES OF U-S ROCKET FAILURES, AND ALLEGATIONS OF MISMANAGEMENT OF THE T-W-A AIRLINE CRASH OFF LONG ISLAND. NOW, HERE IS ____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: RUSSIA HAS BEEN PLUNGED INTO YET ANOTHER POLITICAL CRISIS AS EMBATTLED AND PHYSICALLY-AILING PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS FIRED HIS PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, ON THE EVE OF HIS IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS BY THE DUMA, OR LOWER HOUSE, OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT. MANY U-S PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE NEW YORK TIMES," ARE MAKING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS INCIDENT TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL.

VOICE: THE TIMING COULD SCARCELY BE WORSE. THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IS STILL STAGGERING, BUT MR. PRIMAKOV HAD AT LEAST RESTORED A MEASURE OF POLITICAL STABILITY IN MOSCOW AND RECENTLY GAINED AGREEMENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TO RESUME LIMITED LENDING TO RUSSIA. THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PEACE AGREEMENT TO END THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA, A ROLE THAT MAY NOW BE DIMINISHED ...

TEXT: THE VIEW FROM CALIFORNIA IS NOT ANY MORE ENCOURAGING, ACCORDING TO "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: MIRED IN A STAGNANT ECONOMY AND EDGING TOWARD A MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONFRONTATION, RUSSIA HAS NOW BEEN THRUST INTO POLITICAL TURMOIL BY A PRESIDENT WHOSE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL INCAPACITIES ARE ON FULL PUBLIC VIEW. .... WEAKENED THOUGH IT MAY BE, AS BADLY LED AS IT IS, RUSSIA REMAINS A PLAYER ON THE WORLD STAGE, AS ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT SHOWS. BUT A RUSSIA LED BY AN ENFEEBLED, MUDDLED, UNPREDICTABLE PRESIDENT /// OPT /// WHO IS IN CONSTANT CONFLICT WITH A REACTIONARY AND ANTI-WESTERN PARLIAMENT /// END OPT /// IS CERTAIN TO GIVE AMERICAN POLICY MAKERS SOME SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

TEXT: AND UNDER A HEADLINE READING, "DANGEROUS RUSSIA," "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS OF THE LATEST CHANGE:

VOICE: IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE ... TO DRAW TOO MUCH COMFORT FROM THE RESILIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE AND THE CATASTROPHES AVOIDED THUS FAR. THE FACT THAT OFT-PREDICTED CALAMITIES SUCH AS NATIONAL DISINTEGRATION OR SOCIAL UPHEAVAL HAVE YET TO COME TRUE DOES NOT MEAN THEY NEVER WILL. MORE TO THE POINT, EVEN AS IT AVOIDS REVOLUTION, RUSSIA IS IN A STATE OF GRADUAL COLLAPSE.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE DAY'S OTHER MAJOR COMMENTARY SUBJECT, THE RESIGNATION OF TREASURY SECRETARY RUBIN, WE READ IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

VOICE: /// OPT /// ROBERT RUBIN'S TENURE ... IS GOING TO MAKE INTERESTING FODDER FOR ECONOMIC HISTORIANS. ... A CHAPTER ALONE COULD BE DEVOTED TO THE SUGGESTION THAT MR. RUBIN HAS BEEN THE SHINING STAR OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS ALMOST CERTAINLY IS TRUE. WHAT REMAINS TO DISCOVER IS WHETHER MR. RUBIN'S GLOW IS THE RESULT OF WHAT HE DID, OR ... WHAT HE FORTUNATELY DID NOT DO. /// END OPT /// WHAT BEST SERVED MR. RUBIN AS TREASURY SECRETARY WAS ... HIS INSTINCT TO ... LEAVE ... THE ECONOMY ... ALONE. ... WHAT THE U-S APPEARS TO HAVE LEARNED DURING THE RUBIN YEARS IS THAT STABLE MONEY JOINED TO A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT INTRUSION WILL PRODUCE A VERY HEALTHY ECONOMY.

TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" NOTES HOW THE MARKET REACTED, SUGGESTING:

VOICE: IT'S A PERVERSE TRIBUTE TO TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN'S HIGH STANDING IN THE NATION'S FINANCIAL CIRCLES THAT THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE TOOK A 200-POINT NOSEDIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON CONFIRMATION ... OF HIS LONG-RUMORED RESIGNATION. /// OPT /// ... IF ... FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN ... HAS KEPT A STEADY HAND ON THE MONETARY TILLER, [MR.] RUBIN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB PLOTTING AN ECONOMIC COURSE FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION - - /// END OPT ///

TEXT: BUT AS FOR HIS REPLACEMENT, FORMER DEPUTY TREASURY SECRETARY LAWRENCE SUMMERS, "THE DETROIT NEWS" IS SOMEWHAT LESS ENTHUSIASTIC.

VOICE: ... HIS RECORD IS NOT ENTIRELY WITHOUT BLEMISH. AMONG OTHER THINGS, MR. SUMMERS IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED THE ARCHITECT OF THE MEXICAN DEVALUATION AND BAILOUT IN 1995. THE BAILOUT ACHIEVED ITS GOAL IN ... THAT LENDERS, INCLUDING BIG U-S BANKS, GOT THEIR MONEY OUT OF MEXICO. THE U-S GOVERNMENT CREDITS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPAID. BUT THE DEVALUATION IN EFFECT WIPED OUT THE SAVINGS OF THE AVERAGE MEXICAN, LEADING TO ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND UNREST ... /// OPT /// SIMILARLY, WHEN HE WAS AT THE WORLD BANK, MR. SUMMERS HELPED SHAPE THE 'SHOCK THERAPY' THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO VAULT RUSSIA OUT OF ITS COMMUNIST PAST INTO A DEMOCRATIC-CAPITALIST FUTURE. ... BUT AGAIN DEVALUATION [OF THE RUBLE] ... MAINLY PRODUCED INFLATION AND A CURRENCY THAT NOBODY TRUSTED. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON TO OTHER TOPICS, INCLUDING THE BALKAN CONFLICT, ABOUT WHICH, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" SAYS OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING IN BELGRADE:

VOICE: "DON'T LET CHINA [AND THE] SERBS DIVERT NATO FROM [ITS] GOAL. ... THE EMBASSY BOMBING IS NO REASON TO RESTRAIN NATO'S EFFORT TO STOP SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S ETHNIC CLEANSING EFFORTS IN KOSOVO. PLANS FOR USING GROUND TROOPS TO OUST SERB FORCES FROM THE REGION CAN AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF OPTIONS, BECAUSE EVEN MOVING SUCH TROOPS INTO POSITION TO ACT COULD CHANGE [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S MIND ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF HIS POSITION. /// OPT /// ... THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO ... KEEP ITS NATO ALLIES FOCUSED ON SAVING THE LIVES AND HOMES OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS BEING KILLED, RAPED, AND DRIVEN FROM THEIR LAND BY [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S BUTCHERS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: THERE IS REACTION TO A SERIES OF SIX SERIOUS FAILURES OF VARIOUS U-S ROCKETS, WHICH HAS COST THE COUNTRY AT LEAST THREE-AND-ONE-HALF-BILLION DOLLARS. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS LAUNCHING CRISIS SINCE THE EXPLOSION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER AND OTHER ROCKET FAILURES IN THE 1980'S. ... IT IS SOBERING TO REALIZE THAT, EVEN NOW, MORE THAN 40 YEARS INTO THE SPACE AGE, LAUNCHINGS REMAIN A RISKY AND UNFORGIVING BUSINESS. THOSE HOPING TO BE ROCKETED INTO SPACE BY COMMERCIAL ENTREPRENEURS, OR WHO CONSIDER ROCKETS A DANDY WAY TO DISPOSE OF NUCLEAR AND TOXIC WASTES IN SPACE, MIGHT TAKE NOTE.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" IS UPSET WITH THE F-B-I'S (FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION) ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE T-W-A FLIGHT 800 CRASH OFF LONG ISLAND NEW YORK IN JULY 1996. THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS FROM A U-S SENATOR THAT THE F-B-I HINDERED THE INVESTIGATION AND THE PUBLIC'S AND THE FAMILIES RIGHT TO KNOW. THE EDITORIAL EXPLAINS:

VOICE: A HARSH INDICTMENT OF THE NATION'S PREMIER LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. /// OPT /// AND ESPECIALLY TOUGH COMING FROM [IOWA REPUBLICAN] SENATOR CHARLES GRASSLEY, ONE OF WASHINGTON'S MORE TEMPERATE SOULS. /// END OPT