Voice of America, 99-05-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) (CQ) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] KOSOVO INVESTIGATION (L-ONITER) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[04] REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT BY LINDA CASHDAN (WASHINGTON)

[05] RELIGIOUS AID BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

[06] RED CROSS KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[07] UNHCR / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY COLIN LOVETT (WASHINGTON)

[08] CLINTON / CHINA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

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

[10] CLINTON / KOSOVO REFUGEES (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[11] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[12] CHINA / U-S (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

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

[14] RUSSIA AS PEACE BROKER IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[15] RUSSIA / POLITICS (LONG) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[16] YELTSIN / PRIMAKOV BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

[17] BRITAIN/RUGOVA (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[18] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[19] EDITORIAL: ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO

[20] YUGOSLAV EDITOR HONORED BY MIKE O'SULLIVAN (LOS ANGELES)

[21] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

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

[23] RUSSIA'S LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO ON FRIDAY CONFIRMED THAT IT HAS AGAIN CAUSED MAJOR DISRUPTIONS TO SERBIA'S ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY. A NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS THE ACTION WAS TAKEN IN A BID TO HALT THE FLOW OF ORDERS TO TROOPS CARRYING OUT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS

TEXT: FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN BEGAN, THE ALLIANCE HAS TARGETED POWER GENERATION FACILITIES, LEADING TO WIDESPREAD POWER CUTS IN SERBIA.

NATO GRAPHITE BOMBS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SHORTED-OUT SEVERAL GENERATORS, CAUSING TEMPORARY DISRUPTION, BUT AVOIDING PERMANENT DAMAGE.

ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THAT THE LAST TIME SUCH BOMBS WERE USED, THE EFFECTS LASTED FOR FIVE DAYS, CAUSING SEVERE PROBLEMS FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY COMMANDERS.

HE EXPLAINS THAT THE AIM OF SUCH ATTACKS IS TO DISRUPT MILITARY COMMAND AND CONTROL, BY DISRUPTING COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON POWER SUPPLIES.

MR SHEA DENIES THAT NATO IS TRYING TO MAKE LIFE MORE DIFFICULT FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS, CLAIMING BY FAR THE GREATEST PROBLEMS THE YUGOSLAV PEOPLE FACE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES COME FROM PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S RULE.

NATO SAYS IT HAS EXPERIENCED ITS MOST INTENSIVE 24-HOURS OF AIR ACTIVITY OVER SERBIA SINCE THE START OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT.

A MILITARY COMMUNIQUE NOTES THAT THERE WAS THE HIGHEST OVERALL SORTIE RATE IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR, WITH 679 SORTIES COMPLETED.

MR. SHEA SAYS THAT OF THESE, 327 WERE STRIKE SORTIES -- AGAIN ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR.

ATTACKS CONCENTRATED ON PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S FORCES ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO, INCLUDING TANKS, ARMORED AND OTHER MILITARY VEHICLES, TROOPS, ASSEMBLY AREAS AND ARTILLERY PIECES. A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE BATTERY WAS ALSO HIT, ALONG WITH SEVERAL RADARS.

ALSO TARGETED THROUGHOUT SERBIA WERE AIRFIELDS, MILITARY RELAY SITES, BRIDGES, BORDER POSTS, A PETROLEUM STORE AND A MUNITIONS STORE.

ONE UNMANNED NATO RECONNAISSANCE DRONE WAS LOST OVER KOSOVO, AND NATO SAID THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

MR SHEA INSISTS THAT NATO ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC BACKS DOWN. AND NATO STILL WARNS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S CONDITIONS FOR ALLOWING REFUGEES TO RETURN SAFELY TO KOSOVO REMAIN NON-NEGOTIABLE AND UNCONDITIONAL. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 6:40 AM EDT (1040 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) (CQ) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION FRIDAY INTO YUGOSLAV CLAIMS THAT A BUNGLED AIR STRIKE KILLED UP TO 100 CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO. REPORTS FROM BELGRADE TELL OF EIGHT SO-CALLED CLUSTER BOMBS FALLING ON CIVILIANS NEAR A VILLAGE (KORISA, MORE THAN 60 KILOMETERS) SOUTHWEST OF KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA PROMISES A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT NATO WAS TO BLAME FOR KILLING THE CIVILIANS. HE SAYS THE ALLIANCE NEVER DELIBERATELY TARGETS CIVILIANS.

NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN GENERAL WALTER JERTZ HAS CONFIRMED THAT NATO DID MOUNT AIR STRIKES IN THE AREA, AT WHAT HE CALLS VALID MILITARY TARGETS.

MR. SHEA HAS APPEALED TO WESTERN JOURNALISTS BEING ESCORTED TO THE SITE OF THE KILLINGS TO CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT, BY INSISTING THEY MUST BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND FREELY. HE SUGGESTED THAT ON PREVIOUS SUCH OCCASIONS, JOURNALISTS HAVE ONLY BEEN ALLOWED TO SEE WHAT BELGRADE WANTED THEM TO SEE.

MR. SHEA PRESENTED BRUSSELS JOURNALISTS WITH SEVERAL PICTURES OF HOUSES AND VILLAGES IN KOSOVO WHICH HE SAID WERE ATTACKED AND BURNED BY SERB FORCES.

HE ALSO PRODUCED PICTURES WHICH HE SAID SHOWED MASS GRAVES OF MURDERED ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. HE SAYS IT IS NOT JUST HOUSING THAT IS BEING DESTROYED BY YUGOSLAV FORCES.

WHERE THERE IS A DESTROYED HOME, THERE IS ONE OR MANY DESTROYED LIVES. THIS IS THE TRADEMARK OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMED FORCES, THAT ARE FREED FROM ANY OF THE USUAL CIVILIZED CONSTRAINTS UNDER WHICH ARMED FORCES IN MOST COUNTRIES OPERATE. AND THESE ARMED FORCES ARE NOT PURSUING A MILITARY CAMPAIGN, BUT INSTEAD ARE CARRYING OUT A POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

NATO BELIEVES IT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DISRUPTION TO SERBIA'S ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY, IN A BID TO HALT THE FLOW OF ORDERS TO TROOPS CARRYING OUT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO.

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE AIR CAMPAIGN, THE ALLIANCE STRUCK AT POWER-GENERATION FACILITIES (FRIDAY), LEADING TO WIDESPREAD POWER CUTS. GRAPHITE BOMBS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SHORTED-CIRCUITED SEVERAL GENERATORS.

MR. SHEA SAYS NATO PILOTS HAVE SEEN THEIR MOST INTENSIVE 24-HOURS OF AIR ACTIVITY OVER SERBIA SINCE THE START OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT -- ATTACKING BOTH YUGOSLAV FORCES IN KOSOVO AND STRATEGIC TARGETS THROUGHOUT YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 11:41 AM EDT (1541 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO INVESTIGATION (L-ONITER) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING CHARGES THAT ANOTHER OF THEIR BOMBING RAIDS HAS GONE ASTRAY, KILLING CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV STATE TELEVISION IS SHOWING PICTURES THAT ARE SAID TO DEPICT THE AFTERMATH OF A NATO BOMB THAT KILLED UP TO 100 ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND INJURED DOZENS MORE.

THE PICTURES SHOW SMOLDERING BUILDINGS AND TRACTORS IN THE VILLAGE OF KORISA, SOUTHWEST OF PRISTINA, KOSOVO'S CAPITAL.

SOME SERB REPORTS SAY NATO MISSILES DID THE DAMAGE. EARLIER, YUGOSLAV REPORTS BLAMED ALLIANCE CLUSTER BOMBS FOR THE DEATHS.

NATO PLANES USE CLUSTER BOMBS WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DESTROY TARGETS DISPERSED OVER A WIDE AREA -- A GROUP OF TANKS HIDDEN IN WOODS, FOR EXAMPLE. A CLUSTER BOMB BURSTS OVER A TARGET, SENDING HUNDREDS OF GRENADE-LIKE EXPLOSIVES OVER A RECTANGULAR AREA (200 METERS BY 400 METERS).

AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL CHUCK WALD SAYS CLUSTER BOMBS LEAVE A DISTINCTIVE PATTERN OF DESTRUCTION ON THE GROUND, BUT HE CAN NOT TELL FROM SERBIAN TELEVISION PICTURES IF NATO PLANES OR SERB ARTILLERY ARE TO BLAME FOR THE DEATHS.

WHETHER IT WAS ARTILLERY OR A BOMB, I DON'T KNOW. BUT FROM THE LITTLE BIT I COULD SEE ON [SERBIAN] TELEVISION, IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE CLUSTER BOMBS TO ME.

NATO HAS URGED WESTERN JOURNALISTS BEING ESCORTED TO THE SITE TO INVESTIGATE THE CIVILIANS' DEATHS CAREFULLY.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, OFFICIALS OF "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" IN NEW YORK CALLED ON NATO TO STOP USING CLUSTER BOMBS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENNETH ROTH SAYS ABOUT FIVE PERCENT OF THE "BOMBLETS" IN A CLUSTER BOMB FAIL TO EXPLODE AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, LEAVING POTENTIALLY DEADLY EXPLOSIVES SCATTERED ACROSS THE BATTLEFIELD.

A WEAPON THAT IF IT DOES NOT EXPLODE IMMEDIATELY, WILL SIT AROUND AND [IT] HAS NO IDEA WHETHER IT IS BEING APPROACHED BY A SOLDIER OR BY AN INNOCENT CHILD OR OTHER CIVILIAN.

MR. ROTH SAYS THE BOMBLETS ARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SOFT-DRINK CAN, AND ARE PAINTED IN BRIGHT COLORS THAT CHILDREN FIND ATTRACTIVE -- AND DEADLY. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT BY LINDA CASHDAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE FIRST OF THE 20 THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS SCHEDULED TO BE RESETTLED TEMPORARILY IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEGUN MOVING OUT INTO U-S COMMUNITIES. V-O-A'S LINDA CASHDAN REPORTS THAT THE KOSOVO REFUGEES ARE BEING RESETTLED FASTER THAN MOST REFUGEE GROUPS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR REFUGEES TO SPEND A NUMBER OF YEARS IN A CAMP BEFORE THIRD COUNTRY RESETTLEMENT BECOMES AN OPTION. U-S IMMIGRATION SPECIALISTS SAY, HOWEVER, THAT UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS ARE HASTENING THE KOSOVO REFUGEES' DEPARTURE FROM MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. THEY ARE BEING PROCESSED QUICKLY AT THE U-S POINT OF ENTRY, FORT DIX (IN THE EAST COAST STATE OF NEW JERSEY), TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OTHERS COMING IN.

FAMILY REUNIFICATION IS THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN PLACING THE REFUGEES IN U-S COMMUNITIES, ACCORDING TO MELISSA WYETH OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES OF AMERICA, ONE OF THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MAKING THE PLACEMENTS. SHE SAYS THOSE WHO HAVE RELATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES WILL JOIN THEM.

FOR THOSE WITHOUT RELATIVES, MS. WYETH SAYS, PLACEMENT DECISIONS ARE BASED ON MEDICAL NEEDS, THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE ABILITY OF A COMMUNITY TO ABSORB NEW ARRIVALS.

ONCE IT IS DETERMINED WHAT COMMUNITIES THEY GO TO, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT GROUP WORKS WITH THEM TO GET INTO HOUSING AND GET THEIR KIDS INTO SCHOOL AND GO TO THE SUPERMARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND GET A BANK ACCOUNT AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO LIVE. THOSE AGENCIES REALLY BENEFIT FROM THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS -- AMERICANS WHO ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FROM DONATING FURNITURE SO THEY (THE REFUGEES) CAN GET SET UP IN AN APARTMENT, TO TAKING THEM DOWN TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL AND FIGURING OUT HOW THE PAPERWORK WORKS AND HAVING THEM OVER FOR MAYBE THEIR FIRST BACKYARD BARBECUE.

MS. WYETH SAYS NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE OF THE PLIGHT OF THE KOSOVO REFUGEES HAS TRIGGERED AN OUTPOURING OF SYMPATHY IN THE UNITED STATES AND WITH IT, AN OUTPOURING OF VOLUNTEERS.

SHE SAYS AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN OFFERING EVERYTHING FROM ROOMS IN THEIR HOMES TO DONATIONS OF FOOD AND MONEY, AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SHE SAYS, IT IS RECENT U-S IMMIGRANTS, MANY WITH ROOTS IN LATIN AMERICA, ASIA, AND AFRICA -- REGIONS FAR AWAY FROM THE BALKANS -- WHO HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY RESPONSIVE.

I THINK THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE PEOPLE (KOSOVARS) ARE GOING THROUGH, AND HAVE WEATHERED IT (SURVIVED) THEMSELVES, AND I THINK ARE JUST VERY KIND HEARTED AND REALIZE WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU AT THIS TIME, AND ARE WILLING TO DO SO.

MELISSA WYETH SAYS HER ORGANIZATION AND OTHER U-S REFUGEE GROUPS HOPE THE ENORMOUS RESPONSE TO THE RECENT ARRIVALS FROM KOSOVO WILL INCREASE U-S AWARENESS OF THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES IN GENERAL. SHE POINTS OUT THAT REFUGEES ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES 365 DAYS A YEAR FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] RELIGIOUS AID BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN EXTRAORDINARY INTERNATIONAL EFFORT HAS BEEN NEEDED TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BY SERB AUTHORITIES. UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES, AND NON GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ARE ALL INVOLVED IN THE AID

TAPE: CUT ONE PAUL MONTEGUES

MOST OF OUR WORK IS BEING DONE IN ALBANIA, WHERE THERE IS A SMALL BAPTIST COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE BASICALLIY TURNED ALL THEIR RESOURCES, BOTH NATIONAL (ALBANIAN) CHRISTIANS AND MISSIONARIES WHO ARE WORKING THERE, TO HELP KOSOVO REFUGEES AS THEY HAVE ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY.

TEXT: THAT'S PAUL MONTEGUES OF THE ORGANIZATION, BAPTIST WORLD AID. IT IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF AID GROUPS AFFILIATED WITH CHURCHES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE PUT HUGE RESOURCES INTO THE BALKAN RELIEF EFFORT.

LIKE OTHER RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED AID OFFICIALS, MR. MONTEGUES SAYS THERE IS NO EFFORT TO RESTRICT HELP TO MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN FAITH.

TAPE: CUT TWO MONTEGUES

I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY NON-CHRISTIAN GROUPS WHO ARE ALSO CARING AND CARING EXCEEDINGLY WELL. BUT PARTICULARLY FOR CHRISTIANS IT IS A GOSPEL COMMAND THAT WE NEED TO CARE FOR PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU WILL FIND MANY MANY CHRISTIAN GROUPS, RELATED TO DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS OR NO DENOMINATION AT ALL WHO ARE REALLY INVOLVED IN RELIEF MINISTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

TEXT: A MAJORITY OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES ARE MUSLIMS AND A NUMBER OF ISLAMIC AND JEWISH GROUPS ALSO ARE WORKING AMONG THEM. BUT MOST OF THE RELIGIOUSLY-AFFILIATED AID WORKERS COME FROM CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE GROUPS.

TAPE: CUT THREE REFUGEE CAMP CHILDREN AMBIANT SOUND

TEXT: AT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS THEY PROVIDE INNOCULATIONS, MEDICAL CHECKUPS, OBSTETRIC SERVICES.

A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN GROUP CALLED NORTHWEST MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE BALKANS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. BAS VANDERZALM IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

TAPE: CUT FOUR VANDERZALM

OUR MISSION STATEMENT STATES THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXPRESSING THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. WE WORK WITH ALL KINDS OF CHRISTIAN GROUPS. WE ARE WORKING IN ALBANIA WITH PROTESTANT, ORTHODOX AS WELL AS CATHOLIC (ORGANIZATIONS). WE SERVE ANYBODY IN NEED REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND NO ONE HAS TO GO THROUGH ANY KIND OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT WE CARE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL NEED. PARTICULARLY IN THIS SITUATION, SPIRITUAL HEALING OF PEOPLE'S HEARTS IS AS IMPORTANT AS HEALING OF THEIR BODIES.

TEXT: THE GREATEST NEED HAS BEEN AMONG ETHNIC ALBANIANS FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO. BUT THERE ARE SERB VICTIMS AS WELL. THAT IS THE PARTICULAR CONCERN OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES.

FATHER IRIENES DOBRIJEVIC SAYS WHILE THE GROUP IS FAITH-BASED, IT DISTRIBUTES AID TO ANYONE IN NEED BECAUSE--IN HIS WORDS--WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO THAT BY CHRIST.

TAPE: CUT FIVE - DOBRIJEVIC

IN ALBANIA, WE WORK THROUGH THE ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ALTHOUGH WE KNOW MANY OF THE RECIPIENTS ARE NOT ORTHODOX. WE ALSO HAVE A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE OUR OFFICE IN PODGORICA IN MONTENEGRO IS DISTRIBUTING AID TO ABOUT 35 TO 40 THOUSAND ALBANIAN MUSLIM FAMILIES WHO FLED FROM KOSOVO.

TEXT: BUT FATHER DOBRIJEVIC--WHO STRONGLY OPPOSES THE NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA-- SAYS THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF SERBIAN REFUGEES.

TAPE: CUT SIX - DOBRIJEVIC

THERE ARE ABOUT 28 THOUSAND SERBIANS WHO ARE NOT CONSIDERED BY OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT STATISTICS, REFUGEES BECAUSE THEY ARE I-D-P'S--INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS. WHICH MEANS THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE REFUGEES TWICE WITHIN THE SHORT SPAN OF FOUR YEARS. THEY WERE FORCED OUT OF CROATIA WHEN THE KRAJINA REGION FELL, WHICH NOBODY IN THE WORLD REALLY DECRIED, THEN THEY WENT AND FOUND A NEW HOME FOR THEMSELVES IN KOSOVO AND NOW AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE BOMBING, HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF KOSOVO AND FIND THEMSELVES IN MONTENEGRO. SO WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW, IF NOT ONLY, AGENCIES WORKING WITH THEM, AS WELL.

TEXT: THE WORLD'S MAIN CONCERN IS STILL THE REFUGEE CRISIS BROUGHT ON BY ETHNIC CLEANSING -- THE TERM WESTERN AUTHORITIES USE FOR THE DELIBERATE EXPULSION OR DESTRUCTION OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS BY THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES.

TAPE: CUT SEVEN - CAMP SOUNDS - ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER TEXT TO FOLLOW

TEXT: CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES HAS BEEN HELPING IN MACEDONIA SINCE 1992, BUT INCREASED AID AFTER THE REFUGEE CRISIS BEGAN. IT OPERATES A KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEE CAMP IN MACEDONIA, WHERE NANCY SHALALA IS ONE OF THE WORKERS. SHE IS A YOUNG VETERAN OF AID EFFORTS IN BOSNIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE MACEDONIA CAMP SINCE THE CRISIS BEGAN. SHE JUST SIGNED UP FOR MORE SERVICE WITH THE REFUGEES.

TAPE: CUT EIGHT - SHALALA

MY CONTRACT INITIALLY WAS THREE MONTHS AND IT HAS JUIST BEEN EXTENDED. I'LL BE PART OF THE TEAM THAT PLANS THE RETURN TO KOSOVO. THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS, WHEN WILL THAT BE? (LAUGHTER)

TAPE: CUT NINE - CHILDREN SINGING UP THEN UNDER SIGNOFF -- FADE AT WILL

GIL BUTLER, VOA NEWS.
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14-May-99 2:12 PM EDT (1812 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] RED CROSS KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS IS SENDING A SMALL DELEGATION TO THE KOSOVO PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF PRISTINA, TODAY, FRIDAY. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME A RED CROSS TEAM WILL BE IN KOSOVO SINCE IT WITHDREW ITS STAFF FIVE DAYS AFTER NATO BEGAN ITS BOMBING ON MARCH 24TH.

TEXT: RED CROSS PRESIDENT, CORNELIO SOMMARUGA, SAYS A TEAM LEFT THE SERBIAN CAPITAL, BELGRADE, FOR PRISTINA ON WHAT HE CALLS A SHORT MISSION TO ASSESS THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO.

HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF A LARGE DEPLOYMENT WHICH IS CERTAINLY NEEDED.

MR. SOMMARUGA SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS ASSURED HIM THAT RED CROSS DELEGATES WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL FREELY IN KOSOVO AND WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF THE CONFLICT. HE SAYS THE RED CROSS ALSO ASKED TO BE ALLOWED TO EVACUATE PEOPLE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION AND TO VISIT ETHNIC ALBANIAN PRISONERS DETAINED BY THE SERBS.

THE RED CROSS HAD ASKED THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT FOR WRITTEN GUARANTEES THAT ITS DELEGATES WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO SAFELY AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE. BUT, MR. SOMMARUGA ADMITS HE HAS NOTHING IN WRITING. HE SAYS HE ONLY HAS MR. MILOSEVIC'S WORD THAT THESE CONDITIONS WILL BE MET. HE SAYS THE RED CROSS DELEGATES WILL BE TRAVELLING TO KOSOVO WITH A PAPER OF SAFE CONDUCT.

NEVER THE I-C-R-C HAS SIMPLY LEFT SUCH GOODS WITHOUT BEING SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PEOPLE IN NEED. I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THIS IS A PRINCIPAL OF ALL OF THE RED CROSS MOVEMENT. WE HAVE TO ASSIST VICTIMS AND NOT SIMPLY COUNTRIES. AND, NOT SIMPLY REGIONS.

THE RED CROSS SAYS NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE FULL RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITIES IN KOSOVO. IT SAYS IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO SET UP A MEANINGFUL OPERATION THERE. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] UNHCR / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY COLIN LOVETT (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES SAYS THE KOSOVO REFUGEE CRISIS HAS BECOME MORE STABLE IN RECENT DAYS. HOWEVER, AS V-O-A'S COLIN LOVETT REPORTS, THE U-N AGENCY SAYS THE SITUATION REMAINS EXPLOSIVE.

TEXT: THE U-N-H-C-R SAYS THAT WITH THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES SLOWING TO A TRICKLE THIS WEEK, IT HAS BECOME EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEARLY 750-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS WHO HAVE ALREADY LEFT KOSOVO.

AT A BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON (FRIDAY), U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAID REFUGEE CAMPS IN THE REGION HAVE BECOME LESS CROWDED WITH THE BUILDING OF NEW FACILITIES AND THE DEPARTURE OF MORE THAN 44-THOUSAND KOSOVARS FOR COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE REGION.

HE SAYS THAT WHILE THE SITUATION HAS BECOME MORE MANAGEABLE, IT IS STILL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS, PARTICULARLY IN ALBANIA.

WE STILL HAVE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE NEAR THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO, IN KUKES, WHERE THE MAIN CONCENTRATION IS. THIS KIND OF CONCENTRATION OF REFUGEES, VERY CLOSE TO WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A WAR ZONE, IS VERY DANGEROUS.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS A RECENT INFUSION OF EUROPEAN AID WILL SUSTAIN THE REFUGEE PROGRAM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO. HOWEVER, MORE MONEY IS NEEDED FOR THE LONG-TERM.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET, COMPLETELY. WE STILL NEED FUNDING TO LOOK AFTER THE REFUGEES IN THE MONTHS TO COME. THE EXPENSES ARE LIKELY TO GO UP RATHER THAN DOWN.

THE U-N REFUGEE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE AGENCY IS PREPARED TO HANDLE ANOTHER MASS EXODUS OF REFUGEES. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION INSIDE KOSOVO IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE.

MEMBERS OF A U-N HUMANITARIAN DELEGATION, INCLUDING A U-N-H-C-R REPRESENTATIVE, WILL TRY TO FIND SOME ANSWERS WHEN THEY TRAVEL TO BELGRADE SATURDAY, TO BEGIN A 12-DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION IN SERBIA AND KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 2:22 PM EDT (1822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] CLINTON / CHINA (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS PERSONALLY EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN OVER NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE ONE WEEK AGO. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE REGRET OVER THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAS STRAINED U-S - SINO RELATIONS. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS DESIRE TO MOVE THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP BEYOND WHAT WHAT HE CALLED 'THIS TRAGIC MISTAKE.'

MR. LOCKHART DESCRIBES THE 30-MINUTE PHONE CALL AS 'CONSTRUCTIVE,' AND SAYS PRESIDENT JIANG EXPRESSED HIS VIEWS ON THE BOMBING -- ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT ELABORATE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS CHINA'S PETITION TO JOIN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ALSO CAME UP, AND MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS VIEW THAT BOTH SIDES NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE ISSUE.

MR. CLINTON -- WHO HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING IN PUBLIC AND IN A PRIVATE LETTER TO MR. JIANG -- HAS BEEN SEEKING TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART ALL WEEK. MR. JIANG HAS, UNTIL NOW, REFUSED TO ACCEPT A CALL.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRIDAY'S PHONE CONVERSATION WERE MADE THURSDAY WHEN THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON MET MR. CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/ENE/JO
14-May-99 11:14 AM EDT (1514 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS PERSONALLY EXPRESSED HIS CONDOLENCES TO CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN OVER LAST WEEK'S NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE -- AN INCIDENT THAT HAS STRAINED U-S - SINO RELATIONS. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: IT WAS THE FIRST PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS SINCE THE NATO STRIKE ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY ONE WEEK AGO.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE REGRET OVER THE INCIDENT, AND HIS DESIRE TO MOVE BILATERAL TIES BEYOND WHAT WHAT HE CALLED 'THIS TRAGIC MISTAKE.'

MR. LOCKHART DESCRIBES THE 30-MINUTE PHONE CALL AS 'CONSTRUCTIVE,' ALTHOUGH HE WOULD NOT SAY HOW MR. JIANG RESPONDED LEAVING THAT TO THE CHINESE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS CHINA'S PETITION TO JOIN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ALSO CAME UP, AND MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS VIEW THAT BOTH SIDES NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE ISSUE.

MR. CLINTON -- WHO HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING IN PUBLIC AND IN A PRIVATE LETTER TO MR. JIANG -- HAS BEEN SEEKING TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART ALL WEEK, ALTHOUGH MR. JIANG HAS UNTIL NOW REFUSED TO ACCEPT A CALL.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRIDAY'S PHONE CONVERSATION WERE MADE THURSDAY WHEN THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON MET MR. CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE. MEANWHILE, MR. CLINTON ALSO MADE A PHONE CALL TO THE HEAD OF A U-S HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN THE BALKANS TO WELCOME THE OPENING OF THE FIRST OF THREE U-S REFUGEE CAMPS IN ALBANIA. CAMP HOPE, NEAR THE CAPITAL, TIRANA, WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES IN TWO-THOUSAND TENTS AFTER IT IS COMPLETED JUNE FIRST.

MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM HINTON, COMMANDER OF THE JOINT TASK FORCE SHINING HOPE, TOLD THE PRESIDENT HE HAD JUST RECEIVED THE FIRST OF 450 REFUGEES AT THE CAMP.

FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS VISITING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA.

THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES HAVE AGREED TO ESTABLISH CAMPS IN ALBANIA TO ACCOMMODATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES NOW IN MACEDONIA, WHERE THE CRISIS IS RAISING POLITICAL TENSIONS.

LATER FRIDAY, MR. CLINTON LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A FOUR-DAY TRIP TO THE WESTERN UNITED STATES TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/LTD/JO
14-May-99 12:20 PM EDT (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] CLINTON / KOSOVO REFUGEES (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON FRIDAY WELCOMED THE OPENING OF THE FIRST U-S REFUGEE CAMP IN ALBANIA, AND SAYS HE HOPES THE MOVE WILL SPUR U-S ALLIES TO DO MORE TO HELP ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FLEEING SERB ATTACKS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: CAMP HOPE IS THE FIRST OF THREE U-S REFUGEE CAMPS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ALBANIA.

MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE IN A TELEPHONE CALL TO U-S MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM HINTON, HEAD OF THE HUMANITARIAN MISSION, JOINT TASK FORCE SHINING HOPE, WHICH RECEIVED THE FIRST 450 REFUGEES AT THE CAMP THURSDAY.

I THINK THIS WILL HELP US TO GET OUR NATO ALLIES TO DO MORE ON OTHER CAMPS AS WELL.

MR. CLINTON SAID THE REFUGEES' STAY IN THE CAMPS WOULD BE TEMPORARY, ALTHOUGH HE ADMITTED IT MAY BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY CAN RETURN HOME AND THAT MORE CAMPS WOULD BE NEEDED.

CAMP HOPE - WHICH IS LOCATED NEAR THE CAPITAL, TIRANA, WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES WHEN IT IS COMPLETED NEXT MONTH.

COMMANDER HINTON HANDED OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMP TO THE PRIVATE RELIEF ORGANIZATION, CARE, EARLIER THIS WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/LTD/GE
14-May-99 12:52 PM EDT (1652 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY TALKS WITH RUSSIA HAVE PRODUCED PROGRESS TOWARD A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. SUBSTANTIAL AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT REMAIN, BUT MORE TALKS ARE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND RUSSIAN SPECIAL ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL MEET IN HELSINKI TUESDAY, WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI. TUESDAY'S SESSION WILL CONTINUE WHAT WERE DESCRIBED AS PRODUCTIVE TALKS HELD IN MOSCOW THIS WEEK.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA ARE MOVING FORWARD. BUT HE SAYS THERE IS STILL DISAGREEMENT ON KEY ELEMENTS OF A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN, INCLUDING WHEN NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN MIGHT END.

WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH RUSSIA ON THOSE POINTS THAT NEED TO BE ELABORATED ON. WE ARE CERTAINLY CLOSER THAN WHEN DEPUTY SECRETARY TALBOTT LEFT, BUT THERE ARE STILL SUBSTANTIAL AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THERE OUGHT TO BE A [BOMBING] PAUSE.

OFFICIALS SAY THE TALKS ARE NOW FOCUSED ON WHAT AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO WOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW TO GET A RAPID AND VERIFIABLE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES, AND HOW TO SET UP AN INTERIM ADMINISTRATION IN THE PROVINCE.

MR. RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS HOPING TO NARROW THOSE DISAGREEMENTS BEFORE MR. CHERNOMYRDIN RETURNS TO BELGRADE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

SO THAT WHEN WE EXPECT PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN TO RETURN TO BELGRADE, HE'S GOING WITH THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO AGREE TO, AND TO ACCEPT, SO THAT WE CAN SUSPEND THE BOMBING -- BUT ONLY IF THERE IS A RAPID AND PRECISE TIMETABLE FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL SERB FORCES, AND THERE ARE VERIFIABLE AND DEMONSTRABLE STEPS TO THAT END.

THE SPOKESMAN DISMISSED THE LATEST SERB ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO. MR. RUBIN SAID SHOWING A FEW HUNDRED SOLDIERS ON TELEVISION AND DESCRIBING IT AS A WITHDRAWAL IS, IN HIS WORDS, LAUGHABLE.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE THE UPCOMING TALKS IN HELSINKI WILL ENSURE THAT THE RUSSIANS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO HALT THE BOMBING, AND THAT MESSAGE WILL BE PASSED ON TO MR. MILOSEVIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PHW
14-May-99 4:44 PM EDT (2044 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] CHINA / U-S (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE REASSURING FOREIGNERS THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE IN CHINA. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE PLEDGE COMES AFTER FURIOUS AND SOMETIMES VIOLENT PROTESTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WERE UNLEASHED AFTER THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PROTESTS, WHICH TURNED VIOLENT IN SOME CITIES, HAVE ENDED FOR NOW.

BUT THE ALMOST EERIE OUTWARD CALM BELIES PUBLIC ANGER AND RESENTMENT -- FANNED BY THE OFFICIAL MEDIA -- THAT IS STILL SEETHING JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.

THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT HAS WITHDRAWN AN ADVISORY TO AMERICANS TO POSTPONE TRAVEL TO CHINA, AND SAYS THE SECURITY SITUATION HAS IMPROVED.

THE MAIN CHINESE NEWSPAPER, THE PEOPLE'S DAILY, QUOTED A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHINA NATIONAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION FRIDAY AS SAYING THE TRAVEL ADVISORY, WHICH WAS ISSUED ON SUNDAY, WAS MISLEADING. THE NEWSPAPER FURTHER QUOTED THE OFFICIAL AS SAYING THE SAFETY OF CITIZENS OF NATO NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IS COMPLETELY GUARANTEED.

FURY OVER THE NATO STRIKE LED TO THE STONING OF THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING, THE BURNING OF THE AMERICAN CONSUL-GENERAL'S HOUSE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CITY OF CHENGDU, ATTACKS ON SOME AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND ASSAULTS ON FOREIGNERS.

BUT THE NEWSPAPER QUOTED THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN AS NOTING THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS IN WHICH U-S TOURISTS WERE HURT.

IN BEIJING, THINGS APPEAR TO HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL. BUT FOREIGNERS SAY THEY NOW SENSE AN ALMOST PALPABLE HOSTILITY AMONG CHINESE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT USED TO BE THERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
14-May-99 7:38 AM EDT (1138 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, SAYS HE WILL TRAVEL TO YUGOSLAVIA NEXT WEEK WITH FINLAND'S PRESIDENT, MARTTI AHTISAARI. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE TRIP IS VIEWED AS A SIGN RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH THE WEST TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

TEXT: MR. CHERNOMYRDIN ANNOUNCED THE TRIP TO BELGRADE THURSDAY NIGHT, AFTER MEETING WITH THE FINNISH PRESIDENT IN HELSINKI.

NO DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED, AND MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S OFFICE TOLD V-O-A THE DATES OF THE VISIT HAVE NOT YET BEEN DECIDED.

THE PLANNED DIPLOMATIC MISSION IS SEEN AS EVIDENCE RUSSIA IS KEEPING UP ITS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS, DESPITE PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S WARNINGS MOSCOW COULD PULL OUT OF THE PEACE PROCESS.

SINCE WEDNESDAY, MR. YELTSIN HAS SAID RUSSIA MAY ABANDON NEGOTIATIONS IF NATO DOES NOT STOP ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO RUSSIAN PEACE INITIATIVES.

THE COMMENTS ARE THOUGHT TO BE AIMED AT DEFLECTING CRITICISM OF MR. YELTSIN'S YUGOSLAV POLICY FROM HIS HARDLINE OPPONENTS IN PARLIAMENT. COMMUNIST LAWMAKERS FAVOR MILITARY AID FOR YUGOSLAVIA, RATHER THAN NEGOTIATION WITH THE WEST, AND THIS WEEK HAVE BEGUN DEBATING ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST MR. YELTSIN.

BUT RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE, DESPITE THE DOMESTIC POLITICAL CRISIS. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAS SHUTTLED BETWEEN MEETINGS IN MOSCOW, BEIJING AND A NUMBER OF WESTERN CAPITALS -- MOST RECENTLY INCLUDING HELSINKI.

MR. AHTISAARI HAS MET WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT -- AS WELL AS WITH RUSSIA'S ENVOY -- SINCE WEDNESDAY.

NEUTRAL FINLAND ASSUMES LEADERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN JULY, AND IS NOT A MEMBER OF NATO -- A FACT THAT GIVES HELSINKI ADDED INFLUENCE IN BOTH MOSCOW AND BELGRADE. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/PCF
14-May-99 7:34 AM EDT (1134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] RUSSIA AS PEACE BROKER IN KOSOVO BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DEBATE CONTINUES OVER WHETHER THE KOSOVO CRISIS WILL HAVE A MILITARY OR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. OVER THE PAST WEEK, RUSSIA HAS ASSUMED A LARGER ROLE IN A POSSIBLE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. V-O-A'S JUDITH LATHAM HAS TALKED WITH REGIONAL EXPERTS AND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ABOUT RUSSIA'S ROLE AS A PEACE BROKER IN KOSOVO. HERE'S ______ WITH A REPORT.

TEXT: NATO HAS BEEN BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA FOR MORE THAN SEVEN WEEKS NOW WITH NO END TO THE AIR CAMPAIGN IN SIGHT. RUSSIA CONTINUES TO PLAY A MORE DOMINANT ROLE IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE KOSOVO CRISIS, DESPITE PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S WARNING THAT MOSCOW WILL RECONSIDER ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PEACE PROCESS, UNLESS NATO STOPS BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA. ON FRIDAY [5/14], RUSSIA'S BALKAN ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI WILL VISIT BELGRADE NEXT WEEK FOR TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS.

JACK MATLOCK WAS THE LAST U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, SERVING IN MOSCOW FROM 1987 TO 1991. A LONG-TIME STUDENT OF RUSSIA, AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAYS THAT, GIVEN ITS CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TIES TO SERBIA, RUSSIA CAN PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT, TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST DISTANCE ITSELF FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOVODAN MILOSEVIC, AND RUSSIAN POLICY CANNOT BE SIMPLY A VOICE FOR THE YUGOSLAV LEADER.

TAPE: CUT ONE -- MATLOCK (0:35) "MILOSEVIC WAS THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM, AND HE HAS DOUBLE-CROSSED EVERYBODY. HE IS NOW GUILTY OF WIDESPREAD ATROCITIES, WHICH ARE COMPARABLE ONLY TO SOME THAT OCCURRED IN WORLD WAR II. AND THEREFORE RUSSIA REALLY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO TELL MILOSEVIC, 'LOOK, IF YOU WANT THE BOMBINGS TO STOP, YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO AGREE TO CONDITIONS THAT WILL ALLOW THE KOSOVARS TO RETURN. YOU'VE GOT TO STOP THE ATROCITIES, AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE KOSOVARS CAN COME BACK. YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO ACCEPT SOME SORT OF FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO.'"

TEXT: (OPT) HOWEVER, MANY KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE SAID THEY WON'T GO BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL TROOPS TO PROTECT THEM. ONE REFUGEE AT THE THE CEGRANE REFUGEE CAMP IN MACEDONIA SAYS, FOR HIM, THAT MEANS NATO SOLDIERS.

TAPE: CUT TWO -- REFUGEE (IN ALBANIAN) ESTABLISH 5 SECONDS, AND FADE.

TEXT: THE MAN SAYS HE WILL NOT GO BACK TO AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE RUSSIAN TROOPS. HE'LL ONLY GO WHERE ARE ARE AMERICAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN, OR ITALIAN TROOPS FROM NATO. (END OPT)

SOME ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES SAY RUSSIA'S ROLE AS A PEACE BROKER IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS GIVES THEM A FOOTHOLD IN SERBIA, AND THEY FEAR THAT ALLIANCE. MANY BALKAN ANALYSTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ALSO SKEPTICAL OF THE ROLE THAT RUSSIA MIGHT PLAY AS A PEACE BROKER IN KOSOVO. JIM HOOPER, DIRECTOR OF THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL IN WASHINGTON, SAYS A TRUE MEDIATOR DOES NOT TAKE SIDES AND THAT RUSSIA IS FAR FROM NEUTRAL IN THE BALKANS.

TAPE: CUT THREE -- HOOPER (1:08) (OPT) "I BELIEVE THAT RUSSIANS SHOULD NOT HAVE A MAJOR ROLE IN THE PROCESS, THAT BY INCLUDING RUSSIA, FIRST OF ALL, BY FOCUSING ON THE DIPLOMATIC PROCESS, TO END THE WAR THROUGH DIPLOMACY RATHER THAN END THE WAR THROUGH A NATO VICTORY BY DEFEATING SERBIA MILIATRILY, IT ENSURES THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY UNPLEASANT OUTCOME FOR THE VICTIMS. (END OPT) BY BRINGING RUSSIA IN AS THE PARAMOUNT MEDIATOR, WHAT NATO IS DOING IS ENSURING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A SETTLEMENT THAT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO MR. MILOSEVIC. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT IT IS MR. MILOSEVIC WHO IS GOING TO HAVE A VETO ON THIS, AND THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE NO VOICE ON THIS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT. BY RELYING ON RUSSIA, WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE RELYING ON A NATION THAT WANTS TO SEE NATO WEAKENED AND WANTS TO SEE THE STANDING OF THE UNITED STATES IN EUROPE AND GLOBALLY WEAKENED AS WELL. (OPT) AND I THINK IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN NATO OUTSOURCES ITS DIPLOMACY TO A POWER THAT DOES NOT HAVE NATO'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND. QUITE THE CONTRARY." (END OPT)

TEXT: MR. HOOPER SAYS HE BELIEVES THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP WANTS TO RESTRICT RUSSIA'S ROLE AS PEACE BROKER BETWEEN NATO AND BELGRADE.

TAPE: CUT FOUR -- HOOPER (0:33) "I BELIEVE THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT RESULTED IN ALL SERBIAN FORCES BEING REMOVED FROM KOSOVO AND THAT HAD A STRONG NATO FORCE IN KOSOVO AND THAT THE FORCES OF ANY NON-NATO NATIONS WERE MINIMAL AND COMPLETELY UNDER NATO'S COMMAND AND CONTROL, AND THAT PROVIDED THEM WITH STRONG DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNMENT AS PROVIDED IN THE RAMOUILLET PEACE PROPOSAL THAT THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS SIGNED IN PARIS."

TEXT: HOWEVER, ONE MEMBER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN NEGOTIATING TEAM AT THE RAMBOUILLET PEACE TALKS EARLIER THIS YEAR SAYS HE THINKS THAT RUSSIA CAN PLAY A USEFUL ROLE AS A PEACE BROKER. BLERIM SHALA [BLAIR-IM SHAH-LAH] IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE PRISTINA-BASED POLITICAL WEEKLY, "ZERI." [ZAIR-EE]

TAPE: CUT FIVE -- SHALA (0:35) "MOST OF ALL, I THINK THAT THEY CAN BRING THE SERBIAN SIDE IN POSITION SO THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT THE NATO-WASHINGTON SUMMIT PACKAGE, ACCORDING TO WHICH SERBIAN TROOPS MUST ALL LEAVE KOSOVO, AND WE MUST HAVE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCES IN KOSOVO, WHICH WILL ALLOW REPATRIATION OF ALL THE ALBANIANS WHO LEFT KOSOVO. AND I KNOW THAT MOSCOW ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS NO LASTING PEACE IN KOSOVO WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE."

TEXT: BLERIM SHALA A MEMBER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN NEGOTIATING TEAM AT THE RAMBOUILLET PEACE TALKS IN FRANCE. HE SPOKE WITH V-O-A FROM A SMALL TOWN IN MACEDONIA NEAR THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO, WHERE HE FLED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
14-May-99 1:42 PM EDT (1742 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] RUSSIA / POLITICS (LONG) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT FRIDAY HOLDS ITS SECOND DAY OF DEBATES ON IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. VOA'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS LAWMAKERS HAVE ALSO SET NEXT WEDNESDAY AS THE DATE TO VOTE ON THE PRESIDENT'S CONTROVERSIAL NEW CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER.

TEXT: INSIDE PARLIAMENT, LAWMAKERS DEBATE WHETHER TO IMPEACH THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT. OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT ARE TWO GROUPS OF PROTESTERS. THE LARGER GROUP IS MADE UP OF COMMUNISTS -- LIKE FORMER SPACE ENGINEER ANATOLY AKHTENOV -- WHO WANT A SWIFT END TO MR. YELTSIN'S RULE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET IS ANOTHER GROUP -- THOSE WHO WANT MR. YELTSIN TO FINISH HIS OUT HIS TERM. FEW OF THEM, HOWEVER, ARE STAUNCH SUPPORTERS. SEVERAL, SUCH AS NIKOLAI LINKEVITCH, SAY MR. YELTSIN IS SIMPLY THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.

PASSIONS ALSO FLARED INSIDE PARLIAMENT, WITH MR. YELTSIN'S REPRESENTATIVE THREATENING TO MAKE A FORMAL PROTEST WHEN BOTH EXPERTS AND LAWMAKERS CRITICIZED A SPEECH HE MADE DEFENDING THE RUSSIAN LEADER.

THE ASSEMBLY IS ALSO DEBATING OTHER CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT YELTSIN -- INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS HE ILLEGALLY LAUNCHED RUSSIA'S CIVIL WAR WITH CHECHNYA IN 1994. THEY ALSO SAY HE IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION.

LAWMAKERS WILL HOLD A FINAL VOTE ON SATURDAY.

THEY HAVE ALSO SET A DATE TO BEGIN VOTING ON PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S NEW CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN. ALTHOUGH MR. STEPASHIN IS UNPOPULAR FOR HELPING TO FORMULATE RUSSIA'S MILITARY POLICY IN THE BOTCHED CHECHEN WAR, HE IS TRYING HARD TO GET SUPPORT AHEAD OF THE VOTE. HE SAID FRIDAY A NEW CABINET LED BY HIM WOULD CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH WESTERN LENDERS AND WOULD LARGELY RESEMBLE THE FORMER GOVERNMENT -- WHICH INCLUDED SEVERAL HIGH-RANKING COMMUNIST OFFICIALS.

PRESIDENT YELTSIN ON WEDNESDAY FIRED THE MAN CONSIDERED ONE OF RUSSIA'S MOST TRUSTED POLITICIANS -- OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. HIS OUSTER HAS RESULTED IN A POSSIBLE DELAY OF LOANS FROM THE WORLD BANK, AND A BLOW TO INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN RUSSIA. THE RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT IF A PRIME MINISTER IS FIRED, HIS ENTIRE CABINET GOES WITH HIM. SO RUSSIA'S POLITICAL ELITE IS NOW FACED WITH A TRIPLE TASK -- JUDGING THE PRESIDENT, VOTING ON A NEW PRIME MINISTER, AND REBUILDING THE KREMLIN ADMINISTRATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/PCF
14-May-99 7:23 AM EDT (1123 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] YELTSIN / PRIMAKOV BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RUSSIAN LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO DISCUSS CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WHICH COULD LEAD TO HIS IMPEACHMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE COUNTRY IS WITHOUT A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING THE FIRING OF PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, FORMER MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THE LATEST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIA.

TEXT: THE 450 MEMBERS OF RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT -- OR STATE DUMA -- ARE DISCUSSING FIVE CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WHICH COULD LEAD TO HIS IMPEACHMENT. THESE CHARGES RANGE FROM INSTIGATING THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN 1991 TO IMPROPERLY USING FORCE AGAINST HARD-LINE LAWMAKERS TWO YEARS LATER.

EXPERTS SAY ONLY ONE CHARGE COULD GET THE 300 VOTES NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STAGE OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. THAT ONE ACCUSES MR. YELTSIN OF LAUNCHING THE 1994 WAR AGAINST THE SEPARATIST REGION OF CHECHNYA.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY PRESIDENT YELTSIN WILL BE IMPEACHED, GIVEN HOW CONVOLUTED THE WHOLE PROCESS IS. WHILE THE DUMA INITIATES THE PROCEEDING, IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THREE OTHER BODIES: THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND SUPREME COURTS AS WELL AS THE PARLIAMENT'S UPPER HOUSE, THE FEDERATION COUNCIL.

BRUCE JOHNSON, SENIOR RUSSIA ANALYST WITH THE (INDIANAPOLIS-BASED) "HUDSON INSTITUTE" RESEARCH CENTER, SAYS THE CHANCES OF MR. YELTSIN BEING IMPEACHED ARE SLIM TO NONE.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN IN TERMS OF PROBABILITY: NO MORE THAN A "ONE" OF GETTING THROUGH THE FEDERATION COUNCIL AND LESS THAN "ONE" OF GETTING THROUGH BOTH LEVELS OF THE COURTS.

BUT ANALYSTS CONTEND PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS MUDDIED THE POLITICAL WATERS BY FIRING PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND HIS GOVERNMENT JUST HOURS BEFORE THE DUMA BEGAN ITS IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS.

THE OFFICIAL REASON GIVEN FOR MR. PRIMAKOV'S DISMISSAL WAS HIS GOVERNMENT'S POOR HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY.

BUT MIKE MCFAUL -- RUSSIA EXPERT AT THE (WASHINGTON-BASED) "CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT" RESEARCH CENTER -- SAYS THERE ARE OTHER REASONS.

I THINK IT IS A HIGHLY IRRATIONAL DECISION THAT IS DRIVEN FROM PASSION AND NOT INTEREST. IN FACT I DO NOT THINK IT SERVES YELTSIN'S OWN POLITICAL INTERESTS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REFORMING THE ECONOMY -- AS IT HAS BEEN TOUTED OUT OF MOSCOW -- AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HIS PERSONAL ANIMOSITY TOWARDS MR. PRIMAKOV.

MR. MCFAUL SAYS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS RESENTED POWERFUL RIVALS. GIVEN MR. PRIMAKOV'S HIGH STANDING IN PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS, THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH A POTENTIALLY STRONG POLITICAL ADVERSARY. BUT INSTEAD OF STRENGTHENING HIS POLITICAL HAND, MR. MCFAUL BELIEVES MR. YELTSIN MAY HAVE ACTUALLY WEAKENED HIS POSITION, IN THAT MR. PRIMAKOV'S SACKING COULD GALVANIZE SOME WAVERING MEMBERS OF THE DUMA TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE CHECHNYA IMPEACHMENT CHARGE.

AND NOW IT APPEARS MR. YELTSIN WILL HAVE YET ANOTHER BATTLE TRYING TO GET APPROVAL FOR SERGEI STEPASHIN -- THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S FOURTH CHOICE AS PRIME MINISTER IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

MR. MCFAUL BELIEVES THE DUMA WILL REJECT MR. STEPASHIN'S NOMINATION, THUS CAUSING A POLITICAL CRISIS IN RUSSIA.

SO MY GUESS IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A KIND OF STALEMATE WHEREBY THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING WILL BEGIN AFTER A VOTE MOST LIKELY ON SATURDAY. AND THAT WILL GO ALONG FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE VOTED DOWN THREE TIMES AND WILL BE ILLEGITIMATE. BUT MR. YELTSIN -- ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION -- CAN NOT DISSOLVE THE DUMA WHILE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ARE UNDERWAY. AND SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS KIND OF STALEMATE WHERE REALLY, IN FACT, BOTH THE DUMA AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE LEGITIMATE.

MIKE MCFAUL FROM THE "CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT" SAYS THIS POLITICAL STALEMATE COULD LAST FOR MONTHS. BUT MANY ANALYSTS WARN THAT GIVEN RUSSIA'S CONTINUING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, LAWMAKERS DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF EITHER PROCEEDING WITH IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS OR ENGAGING IN POLITICAL STRONG-ARM TACTICS WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JO
14-May-99 1:45 PM EDT (1745 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] BRITAIN/RUGOVA (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: SINCE HIS DEPARTURE FROM YUGOSLAVIA EARLIER THIS MONTH, KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA HAS BEEN ON A POLITICAL MISSION TO SEVERAL EUROPEAN CAPITALS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT HE IS MEETING BRITISH LEADERS FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

TEXT: MR. RUGOVA HAS RECEIVED WORDS OF REASSURANCE FROM PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND, EARLIER IN THE DAY, FROM BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK.

I HAVE ASSURED DR. RUGOVA OF THE RESOLVE OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND OF OUR ALLIES TO COMPLETE THE TASK TO WHICH WE SET OUR HAND, TO REVERSE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO SO THE PEOPLE IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS CAN RETURN AND SO THAT DR. RUGOVA HIMSELF CAN RETURN FROM EXILE.

FOR HIS PART, MR. RUGOVA SAYS REFUGEES RETURNING TO KOSOVO MUST BE PROTECTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE.

AN INTERNATIONAL AND NATO PRESENCE IS IMPORTANT, HE SAYS, TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME SAFELY.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK SAYS A RUSSIAN-LED PEACE INITIATIVE TO END THE KOSOVO CONFLICT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE, DESPITE THE LATEST POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN MOSCOW.

I CAN SAY THAT ALL THE SIGNALS WE ARE RECEIVING FROM MOSCOW IS THAT THEIR POLICY ON KOSOVO IS UNCHANGED BY THE POLITICAL CHANGES IN MOSCOW, THAT PRESIDENT YELTSIN AND HIS SPECIAL ENVOY VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN BOTH REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE G-8 (GROUP OF SEVEN LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, PLUS RUSSIA) TO EXPLORE HOW WE CAN TOGETHER TAKE FORWARD, THROUGH A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION, A SETTLEMENT FOR THE DISPUTE IN KOSOVO.

BUT MR. COOK INSISTS ANY SETTLEMENT MUST MEET NATO'S FIVE DEMANDS, WHICH INCLUDE A REVERSAL OF THE ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN IN KOSOVO AND THE PRESENCE OF AN ARMED INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN THE SERB PROVINCE TO PROTECT RETURNING REFUGEES.

MR. RUGOVA SAYS HE IS MEETING OTHER ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY OUTSIDE KOSOVO TO COORDINATE AND ORGANIZE KOSOVO'S POLITICAL FUTURE. HE DID NOT MENTION ANY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS FIGHTING INSIDE KOSOVO WHO HAVE CHALLENGED HIS LEADERSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
14-May-99 8:25 AM EDT (1225 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[18] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN, SAYS HE IS GOING TO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA NEXT WEEK TO GET A PERSONAL LOOK AT THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUND. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE IS INTENSIFYING EFFORTS ON ALL FRONTS TO ACHIEVE A HUMANITARIAN AND POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

TEXT: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN SAYS HE IS GOING TO THE BALKAN REGION TO GAIN A PERSONAL SENSE OF THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES AND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY LIVE. HE SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO THANK THE GOVERNMENTS OF MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA FOR THEIR GENEROSITY IN OPENING THEIR DOORS TO THE REFUGEES. HE SAYS THESE COUNTRIES HAVE ASSUMED AN ENORMOUS BURDEN AND HE WANTS TO SHOW HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY ARE MAKING.

LET ME ALSO STRESS THAT I WILL BE GOING TO SHOW MY SOLIDARITY AND THAT OF THE ENTIRE UNITED NATIONS WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIAN PEOPLE. AND, TO ASSURE THEM THAT ALL OUR EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD SECURING THEIR SAFE AND SPEEDY RETURN TO KOSOVO.

MR. ANNAN SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO GO TO BELGRADE TO SEE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT SUCH A MEETING NOW WOULD ADVANCE PEACE PROSPECTS IN THE REGION. HOWEVER, HE SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS IS INTENSIFYING EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. IN THIS REGARD, HE SAYS HIS TWO NEWLY-APPOINTED PEACE ENVOYS WILL WORK TIRELESSLY IN SEARCH OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR HAVING BEEN UNPREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE ENORMOUS HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A MASS EXODUS OF MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

DURING THE COURSE OF A TWO-DAY EMERGENCY MEETING HERE IN GENEVA, THE U-N SET PLANS IN MOTION TO MEET KOSOVO'S OVERWHELMING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN A SPEEDY, EFFICIENT MANNER. //REST OPT// SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN SAYS HE HAS JUST APPOINTED A REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE IN THE BALKANS.

HIS RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE INSURING EFFECTIVE LINKAGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF ASSISTANCE, COORDINATING THE OVERALL UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS AND IDENTIFYING GAPS IN ASSISTANCE AND ENSURING THEY ARE COVERED.

MR. ANNAN SAYS THE COORDINATOR WILL INSURE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS IS PREPARED FOR IMMEDIATE AS WELL AS MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. HE SAYS THE COORDINATOR WILL BE BASED IN SKOPJE, MACEDONIA AS WILL MANY OTHER U-N AGENCIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
14-May-99 9:57 AM EDT (1357 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[19] EDITORIAL: ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO

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:

THIS PAST WEEK, THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON WAR CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED BY THE FORCES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. THE REFUGEES STREAMING OUT OF KOSOVO ARE ONLY NOW BEGINNING TO TELL OF THE FULL HORROR OF ETHNIC CLEANSING BY SERBIAN POLICE, ARMY UNITS, AND ARMED GANGS. THIS MUCH IS KNOWN:

PRISTINA, KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, IS NOW A GHOST TOWN. SERB FORCES EXPELLED OVER ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN JUST FOUR DAYS. IN PEC, SERB TROOPS USED THE HOTEL KARAGAC TO CONFINE AND RAPE ETHNIC ALBANIAN WOMEN. THE LOCAL BASE COMMANDER IS SAID TO HAVE USED A ROSTER TO GIVE SOLDIERS ACCESS TO THE VICTIMS ON A ROTATING BASIS.

WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN, THE OLD CITY OF DJAKOVICA WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND BY SERB FORCES. BASED ON REFUGEE ACCOUNTS, THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAID THE DJAKOVICA REGION "UNDOUBTEDLY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT AND CRUEL IN THE WHOLE OF KOSOVO, TURNING AT TIMES INTO A VIRTUAL KILLING FIELD."

MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AND ASSAULT OF HOMELESS ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES BY SERB FORCES CONTINUES UNCHECKED BY YUGOSLAVIA'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, AND APPROPRIATE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO DOCUMENT THE WAR CRIMES IN KOSOVO SO THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE CAN BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

NATO'S MILITARY ACTION SUPPORTS THE POLITICAL AIM OF A PEACEFUL, MULTI-ETHNIC AND DEMOCRATIC KOSOVO. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC KNOWS WHAT HE MUST DO: STOP ALL MILITARY ACTION AND END THE REPRESSION IN KOSOVO. WITHDRAW ALL MILITARY, POLICE, AND PARAMILITARY FORCES. AGREE TO THE STATIONING IN KOSOVO OF AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE. AGREE TO THE UNCONDITIONAL AND SAFE RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS. AND WORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLITICAL AGREEMENT BASED ON THE RAMBOUILLET ACCORDS.

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.
14-May-99 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[20] YUGOSLAV EDITOR HONORED BY MIKE O'SULLIVAN (LOS ANGELES)

INTRO: BALANCED JOURNALISM IS ONE OF THE CASUALTIES OF THE CONFLICT IN YUGOSLAVIA, AS SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE CLOSED MANY INDEPENDENT RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS. FRIDAY, A U-S UNIVERSITY HONORED A BELGRADE JOURNALIST FOR HIS COURAGE IN PURSUING HIS PROFESSION. V-O-A'S MIKE O'SULLIVAN HAS DETAILS FROM LOS ANGELES.

TEXT: VERAN MATIC ('VEHR-AHN 'MAH-TICH), THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF RADIO B-NINETY-TWO IN BELGRADE, WAS AWARDED THE DEAN'S MEDAL FOR COURAGE BY THE ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TOOK THE STATION OFF THE AIR MARCH 24TH.

JOURNALISM PROFESSOR ED CRAY EXPLAINS THAT MR. MATIC CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND THE U-S-C CEREMONY, CITING THE WAR CONDITIONS IN BELGRADE. HE HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO DELIVER A COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS TO GRADUATING STUDENTS. BUT THE EDITOR SENT A STATEMENT OF ACCEPTANCE, WHICH PROFESSOR CRAY PLANNED TO READ AT THE CEREMONY FRIDAY.

HE SAYS -- THIS IS AN EDITED PORTION -- "THE SERBIAN REGIME HAS TAKEN OVER NOT ONLY RADIO B-92, BUT ALSO A LARGE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT RADIO AND T-V STATIONS. THEY HAVE TAKEN AWAY FROM US OUR PUBLISHING HOUSE, OUR MUSIC AND VIDEO PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTS, OUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, OUR CULTURAL CENTER. YET WE HAVE NOT SURRENDERED. WE SHALL START FROM SCRATCH. AGAIN AND AGAIN. NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM US AS MANY RADIO AND T-V STATIONS AS WE CAN CREATE.

IN HIS LETTER ACCEPTING THE UNIVERSITY AWARD, YUGOSLAV JOURNALIST VERAN MATIC ALSO CRITICIZED AS "MISGUIDED" NATO'S ATTEMPTS TO BROADCAST FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND FROM AIRCRAFT. HE SAYS SOME OF THE BROADCASTS ARE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE NOW-BANNED RADIO B92.

THE EDITOR SAYS THESE ATTEMPTS AT PERSUASION ARE PROPAGANDA, NOT JOURNALISM, AND THAT THE YUGOSLAV INDEPENDENT MEDIA CANNOT, HIS WORDS, BE PART OF ANY PROPAGANDA MACHINE.

THE EDITOR SAYS RADIO B-92 HAD ACHIEVED WIDE DISTRIBUTION BEFORE IT WAS CLOSED, HAVING LINKS TO A NETWORK OF THIRTY-THREE LOCAL RADIO STATIONS. MR. MATIC HAD HOPED TO CONCLUDE BUSINESS DEALS IN LOS ANGELES TO ACQUIRE FILMS AND TELEVISION SERIES TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT YUGOSLAV TELEVISION NETWORK AS WELL.

HE SAYS THOSE PLANS, FOR NOW, SEEM UTOPIAN (IMPRACTICAL). RADIO B-92 MARKS ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY MAY 15TH.

MR. MATIC SAYS THE U-S-C AWARD IS A RECOGNITION OF THE STATION'S DECADE OF WORK. AGAIN, JOURNALISM PROFESSOR ED CRAY READS FROM THE STATEMENT OF MR. MATIC.

MR. MATIC SAYS THE GOAL OF THE YUGOSLAV PEOPLE -- OF BUILDING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS -- REQUIRES PERSEVERANCE, AND WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. FIRST, HE SAYS, THE FIGHTING IN YUGOSLAVIA MUST STOP.

THE EDITOR SAYS THIS VIEW IS SHARED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YUGOSLAV CITIZENS WHO ARE TRAPPED BETWEEN WHAT HE CALLS "THE NATO HAMMER AND THE ANVIL OF THE MILOSEVIC REGIME." (SIGNED)
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14-May-99 3:34 PM EDT (1934 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[21] NORTHERN IRELAND (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS ARE BACK AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH NORTHERN IRISH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS. THEY ARE TRYING TO BREAK A DEADLOCK OVER THE SURRENDER OR "DECOMMISSIONING" OF WEAPONS -- A DISPUTE WHICH IS BLOCKING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POWER-SHARING GOVERNMENT IN BELFAST. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN HAS MORE FROM LONDON.

TEXT: CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT NEGOTIATORS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE BRITISH AND IRISH PRIME MINISTERS IN LONDON TO TRY TO PUT NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK.

THE STUMBLING BLOCK REMAINS A DISPUTE OVER DISARMING PRO-IRISH REPUBLICAN PARAMILITARIES. PROTESTANT LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE INSISTS THE "IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY" MUST START HANDING OVER ITS WEAPONS BEFORE ITS POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN, CAN JOIN THE PEACE GOVERNMENT.

SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS SAYS THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED LAST YEAR ON GOOD FRIDAY HAS NO PRECONDITIONS TO ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE CABINET. BEFORE HIS MEETINGS ON FRIDAY, HE WARNED THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS.

BRITAIN WAS TO TRANSFER HOME RULE POWERS TO BELFAST IN MARCH, ONCE THE NEW CABINET WAS SET UP. THE TRANSFER HAS BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE DISPUTE. SINN FEIN REJECTED A COMPROMISE PROPOSAL SUGGESTED BY THE TWO PRIME MINISTERS. SO THE NEGOTIATORS ARE BACK AT THE TABLE.

NEITHER SIDE IS SOUNDING OPTIMISTIC. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT A BREAKTHROUGH IN THIS LATEST ROUND OF TALKS. BUT SO, FAR NOBODY IS GIVING UP EITHER. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
14-May-99 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY FRIDAY, AS TRADERS SOLD BECAUSE OF NEW FEARS OF INFLATION. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10-THOUSAND-913, DOWN 193 POINTS, ALMOST TWO PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 118 POINTS, OR ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500-STOCK INDEX CLOSED AT 13-HUNDRED-37, DOWN 29 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST TWO PERCENT.

STOCKS FELL RIGHT FROM THE START OF TRADING, ON NEWS THAT THE INDEX OF U-S CONSUMER PRICES WAS UP SHARPLY IN APRIL. THAT SPARKED AN IMMEDIATE FEAR THAT INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ARE LOOMING, AND THAT THE U-S CENTRAL BANK WILL SOON RAISE INTEREST RATES IN AN EFFORT TO ABORT INFLATION.

TED WEISSBERG, PRESIDENT OF THE SEAPORT SECURITIES COMPANY, SAYS ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL A CONSENSUS ON WALL STREET THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD -- THE U-S CENTRAL BANK -- WILL NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES AT ITS MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, THERE IS ALSO AN ELEMENT OF DOUBT.

I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE "FED" DOES NOT INTEND TO RAISE INTEREST RATES, BUT UNTIL THEY HAVE THAT MEETING, WE WILL NOT KNOW FOR SURE. I THINK JUST THE PROSPECT OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES IS ENOUGH TO PUT A BLANKET ON THIS MARKET [STOP THE RISE IN STOCK PRICES].

IN ADDITION TO CONCERN ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WALL STREET WAS ALSO UPSET BY THE APRIL FIGURES ON U-S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT. THEY WERE STRONGER-THAN-EXPECTED, ADDING FUEL TO FEARS THAT INFLATION IS COMING.

IN BUSINESS NEWS, LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MAKER, HAS FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH FOUR OTHER COMPANIES TO DEVELOP SO-CALLED "SOFTSWITCH" TECHNOLOGY. THE TECHNOLOGY LINKS INTERNET NETWORKS WITH TRADITIONAL TELEPHONE NETWORKS.

U-S JEWISH GROUPS SAY AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK TO RESOLVE CLAIMS THAT CHASE'S OFFICES IN FRANCE ILLEGALLY FROZE ACCOUNTS HELD BY JEWS DURING WORLD WAR TWO. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BANK SAYS ONLY THAT FINAL DETAILS OF A SETTLEMENT MUST STILL BE NEGOTIATED.

A U-S FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED THE "ENERGIZER BUNNY" IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. AT ISSUE WAS THE TELEVISION ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN BY THE RALSTON PURINA COMPANY IN WHICH ITS TRADEMARK RABBIT CHARACTER IMPLIES THAT "ENERGIZER" BRAND BATTERIES ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO COMPETING ALKALINE BATTERIES. THE JUDGE RULED THERE IS NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THE CLAIM. THE ADVERTISING HAS BEEN ORDERED OFF THE AIR. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
14-May-99 6:06 PM EDT (2206 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[23] RUSSIA'S LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS BEEN PLUNGED INTO YET ANOTHER POLITICAL CRISIS BY A PAIR OF INTER-RELATED EVENTS THAT ARE DRAWING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IN THE U-S PRESS. THIS WEEK, AS A PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT DEBATE BEGAN IN MOSCOW, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ABRUPTLY FIRED HIS PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV.. WE GET A SAMPLING OF HOW THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE VIEWED IN THIS COUNTRY NOW FROM _________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: SOME OBSERVERS SEE MR. PRIMAKOV'S DISMISSAL AS A "WARNING SHOT OVER THE BOW" OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA, THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, WHERE MR. YELTSIN'S MOST ARDENT FOES ARE PRESSING THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION. BY REMOVING MR. PRIMAKOV -- THE LATEST AND MOST POPULAR IN A TRIO OF RECENT RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTERS -- AND BIDDING TO REPLACE HIM WITH SERGEI STEPASHIN -- A MILITARY MAN AND YELTSIN LOYALIST WHO COMMANDED RUSSIA'S INTERNAL-SECURITY FORCES -- MR. YELTSIN MAY HAVE BEEN REMINDING THE DUMA HE IS STILL IN CHARGE.

THE CRISIS COMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE TO BROKER AN END TO THE BALKAN WAR OVER KOSOVO, WHICH U-S OBSERVERS FEAR MAY NOW BE TEMPORARILY SHELVED. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN ST. PETERSBURG -- NOT THE RUSSIAN CITY WHERE MR. STEPASHIN BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A LAWYER, BUT ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA, WHERE "THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES" SUGGESTS:

VOICE: RUSSIA'S DUMA IS CONSIDERING IMPEACHING PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. THE FIVE FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST [MR.] YELTSIN ACCUSE HIM OF EVERYTHING FROM GENOCIDE (AS A RESULT OF HIS FAILED MARKET REFORMS) TO TREASON (FOR PRECIPITATING THE 1991 COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION.) OF COURSE, [MR.] YELTSIN ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY SAVED RUSSIA'S DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION IN 1991, FOR WHICH HE EARNED HIS PEOPLE'S AND THE WORLD'S GRATITUDE. HOWEVER, THE BORIS YELTSIN OF 1999 STANDS -- SHAKILY -- AS PERHAPS THE GREATEST IMPEDIMENT TO THE SURVIVAL OF A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN RUSSIA.

TEXT: IN OHIO, "THE [CLEVELAND] PLAIN DEALER" FEELS THE IMPEACHMENT MOVE WILL FAIL, BUT SUGGESTS THE FIRING AND THE DEBATE ARE DEFINITELY RELATED.

VOICE: THE COMMUNIST-DOMINATED PARLIAMENT ... [PROCEEDS] WITH ITS OFT-DELAYED EFFORT TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT, AND A SHOWDOWN VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY [5/15]. THAT MOVE IS EXPECTED TO FAIL -- MOST OF THE CHARGES AGAINST [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN ARE BOGUS -- BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT [MR.] YELTSIN STRUCK AT [PRIME MINISTER] PRIMAKOV, WHO HAS CLOSE TIES TO THE COMMUNISTS, AS A WAY OF LASHING OUT AGAINST HIS OPPONENTS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE ... THAT [MR.] YELTSIN IS PLAYING A DEEPER GAME. HE HAS NOMINATED AS [MR.] PRIMAKOV'S SUCCESSOR SERGEI STEPASHIN, A CLOSE ALLY WHO NOW COMMANDS RUSSIA'S POLICE ... AND INTERNAL-SECURITY TROOPS. IF, AS SEEMS LIKELY, THE PARLIAMENT REJECTS THE NOMINATION, AND THEN REJECTS TWO FURTHER NOMINEES, [MR.] YELTSIN WOULD BE ENTITLED ... TO RULE BY DECREE UNTIL ... NEW ELECTIONS ...

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" HAS THIS ASSESSMENT OF THE CHANGES, AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: PRESIDENT ... CLINTON AND HIS NATO ALLIES SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED. THE DISARRAY CAUSED BY [MR.] YELTSIN'S IMPULSIVE MOVE WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF STRENGTHENING THE NATIONALIST AND COMMUNIST FACTIONS IN THE LOWER HOUSE ... WHOSE LEADERS HAVE BEEN RABIDLY OPPOSED TO THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. // OPT // [MR.] YELTSIN'S FIRING OF [PRIME MINISTER] PRIMAKOV WAS CLOSE TO IRRATIONAL. IT WILL GIVE AMMUNITION TO POLITICAL ENEMIES ARGUING FOR HIS IMPEACHMENT ON THE BASIS OF HIS DECLINING HEALTH AND DOUBTFUL MENTAL STABILITY. // END OPT //

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" FINDS AT LEAST ONE POSITIVE FACTOR IN THE SHUFFLE.

VOICE: ... [MR.] PRIMAKOV'S DEPARTURE FROM THE KREMLIN MEANS THAT THE MAESTRO OF RUSSIA'S RECENT ANTI-WESTERN FOREIGN POLICY HAS LOST HIS GRIP ON POWER. [MR.] PRIMAKOV WAS NOT ONLY AN OLD PARTNER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND A PROTECTOR OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. HE [ALSO] PRACTICED AN EXPLICIT STRATEGY OF SEEKING TO WEAKEN THE SOLE SURVIVING SUPERPOWER UNTIL RUSSIA REGAINS ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS A WORLD POWER.

TEXT: AFTER LISTING THE VARIOUS RUSSIAN ILLS, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" WHICH HAS BEEN STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE INTERNATIONAL LOANING OF ANY MORE BILLIONS TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, HAS THIS SUM UP OF THE PRESENT SITUATION.

VOICE: THE IMPLICATIONS OF ALL THIS ARE THAT THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA GOES FROM AWFUL TO WORSE. IT MAY NOT EVEN MATTER WHETHER THE DUMA SIMPLY REJECTS MR. YELTSIN'S NEXT PRIME MINISTERIAL APPOINTEE, OR ACTUALLY MUSTERS THE VOTES TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT AND SEND RUSSIA ON TO NEW PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT TO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL MEET THE CONDITIONS, THE I-M-F [INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND] WON'T BE ABLE TO DISBURSE ITS LATEST LOAN. IN THAT SCENARIO, RUSSIA WOULD PROBABLY BE IN DEFAULT OF ITS EXTERNAL DEBT, SENDING THE MARKETS AND RUBLE INTO FREE FALL.

TEXT: ON THAT RATHER DISMAL SCENARIO, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE LATEST EPISODES IN THE CONTINUING RUSSIAN POLITICAL MELODRAMA.
NEB/ANG/WTW
14-May-99 1:36 PM EDT (1736 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IS TO BE FOUND IN THE COMMENTARY COLUMNS OF AMERICA'S DAILY PAPERS AS THE NATION HEADS INTO ANOTHER WEEKEND. BORIS YELTSIN'S RUSSIA CABINET RESHUFFLE, AS THE PARLIAMENT DEBATES HIS IMPEACHMENT TOPS MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS, WHILE OTHERS PRAISE DEPARTING TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN.

TWO MAJOR PAPERS WONDER WHETHER THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE HAS LOST SIGHT OF TROUBLES WITH IRAQ BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN THE BALKANS, WHILE SOME CONGRESSMEN TRYING TO SETTLE THE KOSOVO CONFLICT COME IN FOR CRITICISM FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

U-S CHINA RELATIONS AFTER THE EMBASSY BOMBING; AND KEEPING THE PEACE IN THE NORTHWEST AS A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE REASSERTS ITS RIGHT TO KILL WHALES. NOW, HERE IS ____________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK, INCLUDING SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: U-S DAILIES ARE REACTING WITH CONCERN ABOUT THE LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS IN RUSSIA. IN OKLAHOMA, "THE TULSA WORLD" ASKS:

VOICE: HOW MANY TIMES CAN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ROLL THE DICE AND WIN? THE ODDS MIGHT BE CATCHING UP WITH HIM. ON THE EVE OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUMA, [MR.] YELTSIN DISMISSED PRIME MINISTER DU JOUR YEVGENY PRIMAKOV. ... IN OFFICE LESS THAN A YEAR ... [MR.] PRIMAKOV HAD GAINED A GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE IN THE DUMA AND HAD BECOME POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE. THERE MIGHT LIE THE REAL REASONS FOR HIS ABRUPT DISMISSAL. /// OPT /// ... [MEANWHILE], [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO FAIL. HIS APPEARANCE ON RUSSIAN T-V TO ANNOUNCE THE SACKING OF [MR.] PRIMAKOV SHOWED A SHAKY, DESPERATE LEADER. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE PROVIDENCE [RHODE ISLAND] JOURNAL" SIZES UP THE CONDITIONS THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE DECISION.

VOICE: THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IS IN BAD SHAPE. THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO FINAGLE [ACQUIRE, BUT WITHOUT A STRONG CASE] A BIG LOAN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND - - TO BE USED TO PAY BACK EARLIER INTERNATIONAL LOANS ON WHICH IT HAD DEFAULTED. MR. YELTSIN'S HOPES OF GAINING ACCEPTANCE (AND LOANS) FROM THE WEST ARE BEING UNDERMINED BY HIS BASICALLY PRO-SERB STANCE IN THE KOSOVO WAR.

... DID MR.YELTSIN MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE? ... THE BEST ADVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO STAY TUNED.

TEXT: WHILE IN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" WORRIES ABOUT THE TIMING WHICH, IT SAYS:

VOICE: ... COULDN'T BE WORSE. FOR THE WEST, RUSSIA IS PLAYING MEDIATOR IN THE KOSOVO WAR. WITH MOSCOW NOW PREOCCUPIED WITH GUESSING [MR.] YELTSIN'S MOTIVES AND NEXT MOVE, FOREIGN DIPLOMACY MAY HAVE TO WAIT. ... REBUILDING RUSSIA WILL NOT BE EASY, GIVEN ITS HUGE SIZE AND HISTORY. BUT THE SELF-CENTERED POLITICS OF [PRESIDENT] YELTSIN HAS HAMSTRUNG EFFORTS TO START THE LONG PROCESS. HIS LATEST OUTBURST SHOWS HOW POORLY EQUIPPED HE IS FOR THE JOB.

TEXT: "THE ST. PETERSBURG [FLORIDA] TIMES" CONCLUDES THAT [MR.] "YELTSIN NO LONGER IS PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY COMPETENT."

VOICE: ... OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, HIS RARE PUBLIC STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN INCOHERENT AT BEST, DANGEROUSLY BELLICOSE AT WORST. HIS IMPETUOUS FIRING OF PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV ...STRIPPED HIS GOVERNMENT OF ONE OF THE LAST SHREDS OF LEGITIMACY IT ENJOYED AT HOME AND ABROAD.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, PAPERS CONTINUE TO SHOWER PRAISE ON THE DEPARTING U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT RUBIN, INCLUDING "THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER:"

VOICE: MANY ARE SADDENED BY ROBERT RUBIN'S RESIGNATION ... BECAUSE THEY SEE HIM, ALONG WITH FED [FEDERAL RESERVE -- CENTRAL BANK -- CHAIRMAN] CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN, AS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE RIP-ROARING [HUGELY SUCCESSFUL] U-S ECONOMY. ... WHAT WE ADMIRED MOST ABOUT [MR.] RUBIN WAS HIS STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINING THINGS. HE INSPIRED CONFIDENCE.

TEXT: THERE IS SOME CONCERN IN JACKSONVILLE, HOWEVER, WHERE "THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION" IS NOT AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HIS REPLACEMENT, DEPUTY TREASURY SECRETARY LAWRENCE SUMMER.

VOICE: [SECRETARY] RUBIN ... HAD THE VIRTUE OF RESTRAINT. LAWRENCE SUMMERS HAS NOT ALWAYS DISPLAYED THAT VIRTUE IN THE PAST. EVEN CLINTONITES [WHITE HOUSE AIDES] PAINT [DESCRIBE] HIM AS 'ARROGANT,' ALTHOUGH THEY SAY HE HAS TONED IT DOWN. ALL THE MARKET NEEDS IS SOMEONE ...[HOLDING] ... THE NOTION THAT A FEW ELITES CAN DIRECT A FREE MARKET BETTER THAN THE MILLIONS WHO MAKE UP THE MARKET ITSELF AND WHO COLLECTIVELY HAVE VASTLY MORE INFORMATION THAN THE ELITES CAN AMASS, NO MATTER HOW MANY COLLEGE DEGREES THEY HOLD.

TEXT: TWO MAJOR DAILIES, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND "THE BOSTON GLOBE" EXPRESS EDITORIAL CONCERN THAT THE BALKAN WAR IS DIVERTING WHITE HOUSE ATTENTION FROM THE PROBLEMS WITH IRAQ. "THE TRIBUNE" WRITES:

VOICE: AT THE RISK OF SEEMING QUERULOUS, WE REPEAT A QUESTION FIRST ASKED HERE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO: WHAT, PRAY TELL, IS OUR GOVERNMENT DOING IN IRAQ? ... WE KNOW THERE'S SHOOTING GOING ON, BUT TO WHAT PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS LOW-GRADE WAR? SOMEONE - - /// OPT /// PRESIDENT CLINTON? SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ... ALBRIGHT? - -

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" ADDS THAT AS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO SELECT TARGETS TO BOMB IN BELGRADE, SADDAM HUSSEIN CONTINUES TO HOARD AND UPDATE HIS BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WITHOUT RESTRAINT BY U-N INSPECTORS. "THE GLOBE" SAYS::

VOICE: BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON CONCLUDES THAT HE HAS DISCOVERED A MAGIC FORMULA IN THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF AIR POWER TO RESOLVE ALL PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD, HE OUGHT TO CONTEMPLATE THE CONNECTIONS AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HIS POLICIES FOR SADDAM'S IRAQ AND SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S SERBIA. IN BOTH CASES, [MR.] CLINTON'S WILLINGNESS TO BET ALL HIS CHIPS ON BOMBING [,] PRODUCED OUTCOMES THAT ARE THE ANTITHESIS OF WHAT THE UNITED STATES WANTED TO ACHIEVE.

TEXT: SPEAKING OF THE BALKAN WAR, A GROUP OF U-S CONGRESSMEN WHO RECENTLY MET WITH THEIR OPPOSITE NUMBERS FROM THE RUSSIAN DUMA TO TRY TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION, ARE DRAWING FIRE FROM "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE."

VOICE: /// OPT /// INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS ARE WELCOME, BUT CAN THE REPRESENTATIVES POSSIBLY BELIEVE AN EXTRACURRICULAR FOREIGN POLICY THAT PRODUCES CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS CONTRARY TO ADMINISTRATION POLICY WILL IMPROVE MATTERS?

TEXT: TODAY'S "DALLAS MORNING NEWS" WORRIES ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING IN BELGRADE, WRITING:

VOICE: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S APPROVAL OF A KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH RUSSIA AND SIX OTHER NATIONS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT. BUT THE HURDLES ARISING FROM NATO'S BONEHEADED [STUPID] BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, ALONG WITH PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S FIRING OF PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, MUST BE RESOLVED IN ORDER TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS.

TEXT: U-S SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE REVERSED THEMSELVES (FRIDAY) AND APPROVED A PROPOSAL THEY SAY WOULD ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL BUYERS OF FIREARMS AT GUN SHOWS. IN EDITORIALS WRITTEN BEFORE THE SENATE VOTE, SEVERAL PAPERS COMPLAINED THAT THE U-S SENATE IS OUT OF TUNE WITH THE ELECTORATE AFTER THE DENVER-AREA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING MASSACRE. "THE DENVER POST" WAS ONE OF THEM:

VOICE: UNBELIEVABLE! AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THE U-S SENATE HAS DEFEATED A DEMOCRATIC EFFORT TO FURTHER RESTRICT FIREARM SALES AT GUN SHOWS. /// OPT /// ... THE DEMOCRATS' MEASURE WOULD HAVE TIGHTENED THAT LOOPHOLE [THAT ALLOWS UNLICENSED DEALERS AT GUN SHOWS TO SELL FIREARMS TO ANYONE 18 YEARS OR OLDER WITHOUT ... A BACKGROUND CHECK] REQUIRING ALL GUN-SHOW PURCHASES TO BE SUBJECT TO BACKGROUND CHECKS. ... /// END OPT /// WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TAKING THE OTHER SIDE, "THE MANCHESTER [NEW HAMPSHIRE] UNION LEADER" NOTES:

VOICE: MOST CRIMINALS, LIKE THE TWO KILLERS AT COLUMBINE HIGH [SCHOOL, THE DENVER SUBURB WHERE TWO STUDENTS KILLED 12 OTHER STUDENTS, A TEACHER AND THEMSELVES SEVERAL WEEKS AGO] ACQUIRE THEIR GUNS ILLEGALLY. THERE IS N O EVIDENCE SUGGESTING THAT GUN SHOWS ARE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF GUNS FOR CRIMINALS. /// OPT /// ONE MORE THING: BILL CLINTON IS EAGER TO CONTROL ... HAND GUNS AND RIFLES, BUT HE SHOWED LITTLE INTEREST IN CONTROLLING ACCESS TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY ... [AS] THE COMMUNIST CHINESE [STROLLED] OFF WITH THE SECRETS TO OUR MOST ADVANCED NUCLEAR WARHEADS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AND LASTLY, ABOUT A GROUP OF MAKAH TRIBE NATIVE AMERICANS, WHO TRADITIONALLY HUNTED GRAY WALES OFF THE COAST OF WASHINGTON STATE AND ARE NOW RESUMING THE PRACTICE AFTER A COURT DECISION. "THE TACOMA [WASHINGTON] NEWS TRIBUNE" WORRIES ABOUT A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION WITH THE PRO-WHALE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO ARE FOLLOWING THEM IN BOATS, TRYING TO IMPEDE THE HUNT.

VOICE: THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS NOT A LICENSE TO THREATEN VIOLENCE. SOME ANTIWAR RADICALS HAD TO LEARN THAT THE HARD WAY IN THE VIETNAM ERA. ... AS THE MAKAH INDIANS ATTEMPT TO REVIVE THEIR ANCESTRAL WHALE HUNT, IT'S APPARENT THAT CERTAIN ANIMAL-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS NEED THE SAME LESSON. ... STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS [SHOULD] AGGRESSIVELY PROTECT THE MAKAHS FROM THOSE WHOSE VALUES ARE SO TWISTED ... THEY PLACE GREATER VALUE ON THE LIVES OF WHALES THAN ON THE LIVES OF HUMAN BEINGS.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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14-May-99 12:02 PM EDT (1602 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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