Voice of America, 99-05-29

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] PENTAGON-KOSOVO(L) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

[03] K-L-A FIGHTING (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PADESH, ALBANIA)

[04] ROMANIA/SERBIA WAR IMPACT BY BARRY WOOD (TUR NU SEVERIN, ROMANIA)

[05] ROMANIA/FUEL TO SERBIA (S) BY BARRY WOOD (TURNU SEVERIN, ROMANIA)

[06] FRANCE-GERMANY DEFENSE (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[07] WTO/US/CHINA (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

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

INTRO: NATO JETS HAVE KEPT UP THE PRESSURE ON SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO PROVINCE FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY, EVEN AS YUGOSLAVIA IS REPORTED TO HAVE ACCEPTED THE MAJOR POWERS' PRINCIPLES FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS.

TEXT: NATO CERTAINLY THINKS YUGOSLAVIA MAY BE READY TO ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS THE ALLIANCE HAS INSISTED ON SINCE THE AIR STRIKES BEGAN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.

NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS WELCOMED A SUGGESTION BY FRANCE AND GERMANY FOR THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS TO MEET TO DISCUSS WHETHER YUGOSLAVIA IS REALLY WILLING TO ACCEPT NATO'S NON-NEGOTITIABLE DEMANDS.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD INITIATIVE. AS WE SAID BEFORE, WHATEVER CAN BE DONE ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, IT WILL BE MORE THAN WELCOME.

WHILE THE NATO LEADERS ARE ENCOURAGING THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO GET THE BOMBING STOPPED, THEIR MILITARY LEADERS ARE MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER THAT THE AIR CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO BE SUSTAINED AT THE CURRENT RATE OF 600 OR MORE AIR MISSIONS A DAY.

MILITARY COMMANDER WESLEY CLARK, ACCOMPANYING MR. SOLANA TO AVIANO AIR BASE IN ITALY, SAYS THE AIR STRIKES ARE STARTING TO SHOW POLITICAL RESULTS.

WE'RE HAVING AN IMPACT. WE SEE IT IN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S THIRST FOR A BOMBING PAUSE. EVERY DAY, HE'S TRYING MORE AND MORE TO GET US TO STOP THIS BOMBING BECAUSE HE IS HURTING AT THE STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL LEVEL. THAT'S THE REAL MEASURE OF THE CAMPAIGN'S SUCCESS.

NATO INSISTS THAT YUGOSLAVIA WITHDRAWS ITS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO PROVINCE AND ACCEPTS AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE TO ESCORT ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK HOME (TO KOSOVO). NATO BELIEVES ITS OBJECTIVES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE G-8 COUNTRIES THAT INCLUDE RUSSIA.

AT NATO'S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN MONS, BELGIUM, THERE WILL BE A CONFERENCE TUESDAY TO SEEK COMMITMENTS FROM THE NATO COUNTRIES FOR EXTRA PEACEKEEPING TROOPS. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE BETWEEN 45 AND 48-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. GENERAL CLARK SAYS HE NEEDS THOSE ADDITIONAL PEACEKEEPERS TO BE READY TO GO.

MY HOPE IS NATIONS WILL COME PREPARED AT THAT POINT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS TO THIS ENHANCED FORCE AND TO GET ON WITH MOVING IT TO MACEDONIA. WE NEED TO GET IT THERE, AND WE NEED TO GET IT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

AS TO PLANS BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO AIR-DROP FOOD TO RESIDENTS IN KOSOVO, GENERAL CLARK SAYS NATO WILL TRY TO STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE NATO GENERAL CAN NOT GIVE THE ORGANIZATIONS ANY GUARANTEES THAT THE SERB ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNNERS WILL NOT SHOOT AT THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/ALW/JO
29-May-99 1:37 PM EDT (1737 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] PENTAGON-KOSOVO(L) BY DAVID SWAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS SENDING MORE WARPLANES TO THE BALKAN THEATER, DESPITE WORD THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT HAS GENERALLY ACCEPTED TERMS OF A PEACE PLAN FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: ALTHOUGH AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION SEEMS DOUBTFUL ABOUT THIS LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BELGRADE. A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, (NAVY) CAPTAIN MICHAEL DOUBLEDAY, SAYS FIGHTING IN KOSOVO HAS NOT LET UP AND THE ALLIES HAVE SEEN NO SIGN YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB FORCES ARE LEAVING.

AND CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN NO INVITATION FOR THE DISPLACED PEOPLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. SO AT THIS POINT OUR INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND TO CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY THE AIR CAMPAIGN.

TO HELP STEP UP THE PRESSURE, ANOTHER 68 U-S PLANES WILL LEAVE FOR THE BALKANS NEXT WEEK, JOINING AN ALLIED FORCE THAT HAS ALREADY TOPPED ONE-THOUSAND AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, NATO LEADERS ARE LOOKING BEYOND THE BOMBING TO THE POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GROUND TROOPS LATER THIS YEAR.

OFFICIALS CONFIRM DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SECRETLY FLEW TO GERMANY LAST THURSDAY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH OTHER DEFENSE MINISTERS. BUT CAPTAIN DOUBLEDAY SAYS THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS ON THE KEY ISSUE -- WHETHER GROUND FORCES MIGHT HAVE TO FIGHT THEIR WAY INTO KOSOVO, OR WOULD ONLY DEPLOY AS PEACEKEEPERS AFTER HOSTILITIES END.

WELL FIRST OF ALL I WOULD SAY, NUMBER ONE, THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE AIR CAMPAIGN IS WORKING.

OFFICIALS SAY THE PILOTS ARE FINDING SOME OF THE BEST WEATHER SINCE THE BOMBING BEGAN. THE LATEST ROUND OF STRIKES (FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY) RANGED ACROSS SERBIA AND KOSOVO, HITTING FUEL AND AMMUNITION DEPOTS, COMMUNICATIONS TARGETS, ARTILLERY PIECES AND TANKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/JO
29-May-99 12:55 PM EDT (1655 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] K-L-A FIGHTING (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PADESH, ALBANIA)

INTRO: KOSOVO REBEL COMMANDERS SAY THEY HAVE REPELLED A YUGOSLAV ARMY ATTEMPT TO WIPE OUT THEIR WESTERN BASE IN KOSARE. CLAIMING TO HAVE KILLED ABOUT ONE-HUNDRED OF YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB SOLDIERS ALONG THE YUGOSLAV-ALBANIAN BORDER IN THE LAST WEEK, A SENIOR REBEL OFFICER DISPLAYED A CAPTURED MAP OF THE SERBIAN ATTACK PLAN. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM THE BORDER.

TEXT: A COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL FORCES OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A, SAYS HIS TROOPS BEAT BACK THE SERBIAN PUSH DESPITE GAS ATTACKS BY SERBIAN ARTILLERY UNITS. THE REBEL SAYS THE K-L-A'S ONE-HUNDRED AND 38TH BRIGADE KILLED SOME 100 SERBIAN TROOPS IN THE LAST WEEK OF FIGHTING INSIDE KOSOVO.

WESTERN MILITARY OFFICIALS OBSERVING THE FIGHTING SAY THAT NATO HAS STARTED TO COORDINATE ITS OWN ATTACKS AGAINST SERBIAN FORCES WITH THOSE OF THE K-L-A. THIS CORRESPONDENT WATCHED AS NATO F-16 AND F-18'S POUNDED SERBIAN POSITIONS AT A HILL FACING THE K-L-A'S KOSARE BASE. NATO AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO DROP DELAYED-FUSED BOMBS INTO YUGOSLAV ARMY BUNKERS AND ALSO ATTACKING POSITIONS IN TWO NEIGHBORING VILLAGES.

K-L-A DELTA FORCE COMMANDER, ANTON CUNI [CHEW-NEE], SAYS THAT SERB FORCES HAD USED NERVE GAS WHICH CAUSED TEMPORARY PARALYSIS OF ALBANIAN FIGHTERS AND CIVILIANS. THE K-L-A HAS OFFERED NO EVIDENCE YET TO SUPPORT ITS CLAIMS.

THE SPECIAL FORCES COMMANDER ALSO SAYS HIS UNIT BEAT BACK SERB ATTACKS AND INFLICTED HEAVY LOSSES. HE SAYS HIS FORCES WERE PREPARED TO SHOW FIRST-HAND EVIDENCE OF THEIR BATTLEFIELD SUCCESS TO V-O-A ON SUNDAY.

WESTERN MILITARY OBSERVERS SAY, HOWEVER, THE K-L-A LACKS THE ARMS AND TRAINING TO BREAKTHROUGH SERBIAN LINES. THEY CAST DOUBT ON K-L-A CLAIMS OF SUCCESS, SAYING THAT SERBIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO DIG BUNKERS THAT CAN SURVIVE NATO AIR ATTACKS. SOME OBSERVERS WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE BELIEVE THAT ONLY NATO GROUND ATTACKS COULD FINALLY FORCE SERBS TO PULL BACK FROM THE WESTERN BORDER. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/TD-T/JO
29-May-99 4:42 PM EDT (2042 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ROMANIA/SERBIA WAR IMPACT BY BARRY WOOD (TUR NU SEVERIN, ROMANIA)

INTRO: NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA HAS NOT DIMINISHED THE DESIRE OF NEIGHBORING ROMANIA TO JOIN BOTH NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. BUT V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM THE REMOTE IRON GATE REGION OF WESTERN ROMANIA THAT THE BOMBING HAS CREATED NEW TENSION ALONG THE DANUBE RIVER, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE BORDER BETWEEN ROMANIA AND YUGOSLAVIA'S SERBIAN REPUBLIC.

TEXT: HERE IN TURNU SEVERIN, THE PRINCIPLE REMAINING RIVER PORT ON THE DANUBE, THE SHIPPING BUSINESS IS AT A HALT. BARGES LIE IDLE, ANCHORED IN THE RIVER. TUGS ARE TIED UP AT THE DOCK. THE TALL LOADING CRANES AT THE WAREHOUSES LOOK ABANDONED.

THE EAST-FLOWING DANUBE, AFTER THE VOLGA, IS EUROPE'S LONGEST RIVER. TRAFFIC ON IT THROUGH YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN HALTED SINCE APRIL FIRST, WHEN NATO PLANES DESTROYED A BRIDGE AT NOVI SAD.

HELMUT STRASSER, AN AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT WHO HEADS THE DANUBE COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES SHIPPING, SAYS EIGHT BRIDGES IN YUGOSLAVIA ARE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND BLOCKING SHIPPING. MR. STRASSER SAYS NATO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ENSHRINING THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE NAVIGATION ON THE DANUBE.

IF THEY HAVE KNOWN IT, THEY DISREGARDED IT. IT'S VERY SIMPLE, LIKE THAT. THEY WERE WEIGHING, YOU KNOW...THEY WERE WEIGHING THE MILITARY AIMS AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE, AND THEY DID NOT GIVE THE PRIORITY TO THE PRINCIPLE OF FREE NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE.

MR. STRASSER, BASED IN BUDAPEST, SAYS 35 SHIPS ARE TRAPPED IN THE UPPER DANUBE BETWEEN HUNGARY AND GERMANY, WHILE 40 SHIPS HEADED WEST ARE TRAPPED IN THE LOWER DANUBE IN YUGOSLAVIA, ROMANIA, BULGARIA AND UKRAINE.

WHILE BRIDGES IN YUGOSLAVIA HAVE BEEN A NATO TARGET, THE GIANT IRON GATE POWER STATION ACROSS THE DANUBE NEAR TURNU SEVERIN HAS NOT BEEN. JOINTLY OWNED BY YUGOSLAVIA AND ROMANIA, THE DAM PROVIDES UP TO 60 PERCENT OF ALL ELECTRICITY PRODUCED IN SERBIA.

IN THE POWER PLANT MUSEUM ON THE ROMANIAN SIDE, TOUR GUIDE MARION BRUSCA SHOWS A VISITOR A SCALE MODEL OF THE FACILITY THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 1972.

MRS. BRUSCA SAYS THAT THERE ARE SIX TURBINES ON EACH SIDE OF THE RIVER, WITH EACH OF THE TWO POWER STATIONS PRODUCING ONE-THOUSAND MEGAWATTS OF ELECTRICITY.

THE DAM IS LOCATED IN THE IRON GATE GORGE, IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. IT CREATED A HUGE LAKE BEHIND IT. EXPERTS SAY DESTRUCTION OF THE DAM WOULD CREATE AN ENORMOUS FLOOD AND AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER. ALREADY, FISHERMEN STANDING AT THE ROADSIDE WITH ONE-METER-LONG FISH ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING BUYERS. MANY ROMANIANS BELIEVE THE DANUBE HAS BECOME POLLUTED AS A RESULT OF NATO'S BOMBING OF A PETROCHEMICAL PLANT ON THE DANUBE, NEAR BELGRADE, IN MID-APRIL.

BUT IF BUSINESS IS BAD FOR FISHERMEN, IT IS GOOD FOR SMUGGLERS TAKING GASOLINE INTO SERBIA. TIMISOARA BUSINESSMAN DANIEL GIUREA GREW UP IN TURNU SEVERIN. HE REMEMBERS THE FLOURISHING SMUGGLING TRADE DURING AN EARLIER PERIOD OF SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, IN THE MID-1990S.

THEY WERE SMUGGLING GAS OVER THE DANUBE, NOT SO MUCH ON THE BRIDGES LIKE THE IRON GATE BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMS AND ALSO THERE HAD BEEN U-N TROOPS. BUT MOST OF THEM, THEY ARE SMUGGLING OVER THE DANUBE WHERE THE DANUBE IS A LITTLE SMALL, WITH BOATS WITH ENGINES. AND THIS BUSINESS-WISE, I MEAN, THEY GOT RICH. I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT, AND ESPECIALLY IN THAT TIME, IF YOU CAN VISIT THAT AREA, I MEAN YOU WILL BE SHOCKED HOW MANY GAS STATIONS THEY HAVE IN ONE VILLAGE THERE. I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 20 GAS STATIONS IN ONE VILLAGE.

THE ROMANIANS SAY THEY HAVE STOPPED THE BOAT TRAFFIC TAKING GASOLINE ACROSS THE RIVER. BUT CLEARLY, THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED THE CAR TRAFFIC TAKING GASOLINE INTO SERBIA. IT GOES ON IN THE OPEN, THROUGH THE CUSTOMS POST AND HIGHWAY ATOP THE IRON GATE DAM. MOTORISTS SIMPLY FILL THEIR TANKS WITH GASOLINE OR DIESEL FUEL AND PASS THROUGH THE BORDER, DECLARING THEMSELVES TOURISTS. HOWEVER, THEIR VISITS TO SERBIA ARE SHORT, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THEIR TANKS DRAINED OFF FOR A HANDSOME 50 PERCENT HARD CURRENCY PROFIT. AT ANY ONE TIME, ABOUT 100 CARS IN RECENT DAYS STAND IN LINE TO CROSS THE IRON GATE DAM TO TAKE GASOLINE INTO SERBIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BW/ALW/JO
29-May-99 4:07 PM EDT (2007 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ROMANIA/FUEL TO SERBIA (S) BY BARRY WOOD (TURNU SEVERIN, ROMANIA)

INTRO: THE FLOW OF GASOLINE FROM ROMANIA TO SERBIA -- YUGOSLAVIA'S DOMINANT REPUBLIC -- CONTINUES ACROSS THE BORDER IN THE FULL VIEW OF THE AUTHORITIES. THIS, DESPITE NATO'S EFFORTS TO CUT ALL FUEL SUPPLIES TO SERBIAN FORCES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD, IN TURNU SEVERIN, ROMANIA, REPORTS THE CONTRABAND TRADE IN DIESEL IS BRISK OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH ROMANIAN MOTORISTS LINING UP THEIR VEHICLES TO CROSS INTO SERBIA.

TEXT: GASOLINE STATIONS ALONG THE SIX-KILOMETER-LONG ROAD FROM TURNU SEVERIN ARE BUSIER THAN USUAL.

SOME DRIVERS ARE BUYING DIESEL FUEL FROM A TANK TRUCK PARKED AT THE ROADSIDE. ABOUT 100 CARS ARE LINED UP TO PASS THROUGH THE BORDER POST.

TO THE ROMANIAN CUSTOMS OFFICIALS, THE WAITING DRIVERS ARE TOURISTS, AS THEIR VEHICLES' FULL FUEL TANKS ARE NOT CONTRABAND CARGO.

ON THE YUGOSLAV SIDE NEAR THE TOWN OF KLADOVO, THE ROMANIAN FUEL TANKS ARE DRAINED, WITH THE TOURISTS MAKING A 50 PERCENT HARD CURRENCY PROFIT. NINETY PERCENT OF THE TOURIST CARS ARE ROMANIAN DACIAS, WITH FUEL TANKS OF UNDER 45 LITERS. DRIVERS SAY THE SERBS ARE INCREASINGLY SEEKING DIESEL FUEL. (SIGNED)
NEB/BW/ALW/JO
29-May-99 9:41 AM EDT (1341 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] FRANCE-GERMANY DEFENSE (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE AND GERMANY HAVE CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A EUROPEAN RAPID-ACTION FORCE AS PART OF EFFORTS TO ASSERT EUROPE'S MILITARY INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES. THE CALL, COMING AS BOTH COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART IN NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, IS ONE OF A SERIES OF EUROPEAN DEFENSE INITIATIVES PLANNED IN THE COMING DAYS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY SUMMIT MEETING (SATURDAY) WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER IN THE FRENCH CITY OF TOULOUSE, FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAID EUROPEAN UNITY WILL NOT REALLY EXIST UNTIL THE DAY THAT EUROPE IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN DEFENSE.

THIS REFLECTS A GROWING FEELING THAT EUROPE, PROTECTED BY THE AMERICAN-LED NATO ALLIANCE FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, IS TOO DEPENDENT ON AMERICAN FORCES AND TECHNOLOGY.

AT THE NEXT EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT IN THE GERMAN CITY OF COLOGNE STARTING THURSDAY, NEW MOVES ARE EXPECTED TO CREATE WHAT IS CALLED "THE EUROPEAN PILLAR" OF DEFENSE WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING EUROPE'S RELIANCE ON THE UNITED STATES.

AT THE END OF THEIR TALKS, PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A EUROPEAN RAPID ACTION FORCE BASED ON THE EXISTING "EURO-CORPS" -- A MAINLY FRENCH AND GERMAN BRIGADE WITH HEADQUARTERS IN THE EASTERN FRENCH CITY OF STRASBOURG.

THE FRENCH AND GERMAN LEADERS SAY THE CREATION OF A RAPID ACTION FORCE -- THAT WOULD BE READY TO INTERVENE IN TROUBLE SPOTS AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE -- WOULD HELP EUROPE CREATE WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS "A NEW STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT" ON THE CONTINENT.

THE FRENCH AND GERMAN CALL FOLLOWS A DECISION BY MR. CHIRAC AND BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR LAST DECEMBER TO PRESS FOR A EUROPEAN DEFENSE APPARATUS THAT CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS FACING THE CONTINENT ALONE. //OPT// AT THE CEREMONIES MARKING NATO'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN WASHINGTON IN APRIL, THE ALLIANCE SAID IT SUPPORTED A STRONGER AND LESS DEPENDENT EUROPE. //END OPT// FRANCE, GERMANY AND BRITAIN ARE ACTIVE PARTNERS WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, BUT THE OPERATION HAS SERVED TO UNDERLINE EUROPE'S DEFENSE FAILINGS.

THE EUROPEANS ARE PARTICULARLY DEPENDENT ON AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT COMES TO INTELLIGENCE. THE UNITED STATES HAS AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF INTELLIGENCE SATELLITES, WHEREAS ALL OF EUROPE TOGETHER HAS ONLY PATCHY SPY-IN-THE-SKY COVERAGE.

TO STRESS THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND EUROPE'S TECHNOLOGY BASE, THE FRENCH AND GERMAN LEADERS CLOSED THEIR TWO-DAY SUMMIT AT THE FACTORY IN TOULOUSE WHERE THE EUROPEAN "AIRBUS" AIRLINER THE BIGGEST COMMERCIAL PLANE RIVAL TO AMERICA'S BOEING -- AND THE EUROPEAN ARIANE SATELLITE-LAUNCHING ROCKET ARE ASSEMBLED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/PCF/JO
29-May-99 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] WTO/US/CHINA (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SAYS A DISPUTE OVER POSSIBLE CHINESE ESPIONAGE SHOULD NOT END CHINA'S CHANCES TO BECOME A FULL MEMBER OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST ON U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY'S COMMENTS AFTER THE END OF A W-T-O MEETING (LATE FRIDAY).

TEXT: MS. BARSHEFSKY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TALKS WITH CHINA ABOUT ITS BID FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE W-T-O LATER THIS YEAR -- DESPITE ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE IN A CASE INVOLVING AMERICAN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY LABS.

AFTER A TWO-.DAY MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE W-T-O IN BUDAPEST -- ATTENDED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM 20 COUNTRIES -- MS. BARSHEFSKY CONCEDED THAT THE NUCLEAR SPY ISSUE AND NATO'S RECENT BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE HAD POISONED THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND THE NEGOTIATIONS.

I THINK SEVERAL EVENTS HAVE SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED THE SITUATION. ONE, OF COURSE, ARE THE ALLEGATIONS OF ESPIONAGE BY THE CHINESE. BOTH REFLECTED IN THE (U-S CONGRESSIONAL) COMMISSION REPORT WHICH WAS RECENTLY RELEASED, AS WELL AS IN THE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THE LABS. OF COURSE, SECONDLY, THE ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. AND THESE EVENTS, OF COURSE, HAVE ADDED AN OVERLAY OF POLITICAL FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. BUT UNITED STATES POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE. THAT IS , PROVIDED WE CAN REACH A COMMERCIALLY MEANINGFUL AGREEMENT WITH CHINA AND IT MEETS THE CONDITIONS OR OBLIGATIONS SET BY OTHER MEMBERS AND SO ON, CHINA SHOULD BE IN THE W-T-O IN 1999.

MS. BARSHEFSKY HOPES CHINA WILL BECOME A MEMBER BEFORE THE THIRD W-T-O MINISTERIAL ROUND OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS IN SEATTLE AT THE END OF 1999 -- WHEN THE AGENDA FOR THE FIRST DECADE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM IS TO BE SET.

ALTHOUGH THE TRADE OFFICIAL REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THAT TALKS WITH CHINA WILL BE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED SOON, SHE STRESSES THAT SOME ECONOMIC ISSUES ARE STILL UNRESOLVED.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS. THIS MUST BE A COMMERCIALLY STRONG AGREEMENT. THAT MEANS WORKING ON WHAT WAS AGREED IN WASHINGTON WHEN THE CHINESE PREMIER VISITED. SOME FURTHER WORK ON BANKING SECURITIES, AUDIO VISUAL AND CERTAIN OTHER OUTSTANDING ISSUES. THE AMOUNT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE IS NOT GREAT. SOME OF THE ISSUES HOWEVER ARE COMPLEX, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING PROGRESS ON THEM.

U-S AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS SAY THE INCLUSION OF CHINA WOULD MAKE THE W-T-O AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL ORGANIZATION. BUT AT THE CONFERENCE IN BUDAPEST, ASIAN AND OTHER DELEGATES MADE CLEAR THAT A LARGER W-T-O DOES NOT MAKES IT NECESSARILY A MORE EFFECTIVE TRADE BODY.

FOR INSTANCE, THEY POINT OUT THAT W-T-O MEMBERS CAN STILL NOT EVEN AGREE ON A NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION INTO THE 21TH CENTURY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ALW/JO
29-May-99 11:59 AM EDT (1559 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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