 |
Compact version |
|
 |
        |
|
 |
||
|
Monday, 23 December 2024
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Voice of America, 99-06-04Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO BOMBING HALT (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250254 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY NATO COULD STOP ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN AS EARLY AS SUNDAY -- IF YUGOSLAV FORCES BEGIN LEAVING KOSOVO PROMPTLY. NATO AND SERB OFFICIALS ARE SET TO MEET SATURDAY MORNING TO WORK OUT DETAILS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE NATO AIR ATTACKS WILL END WHEN ALLIANCE OFFICIALS CAN VERIFY THAT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF SERB TROOPS, POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FIGHTERS HAVE LEFT KOSOVO. /// BACON ACT ///IF SERBIA COOPERATES, I THINK THE BOMBING COULD BE HALTED BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND, OR VERY EARLY NEXT WEEK. /// END ACT ///MR BACON ALSO SAID IT MIGHT TAKE MUCH LONGER. /// BACON ACT ///WE DO NOT SEE SIGNS THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN TO PULL OUT. AND THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL TEST OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT. WHETHER THEY ARE COMMITTED TO DEEDS OR TO JUST TALK. /// END ACT ///MR. BACON WOULD NOT SAY WHERE TOP SERB AND NATO OFFICIALS WILL MEET TO PLAN EXIT ROUTES, BUT INDICATED THOSE TALKS COULD BE COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT. HE ALSO SAID NATO BOMBING COULD RESUME QUICKLY IF SERBS APPEAR TO BE BREAKING THE AGREEMENT. PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE SERB WITHDRAWAL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN WESTERN KOSOVO AND ROLL EAST, EVENTUALLY CLEARING SERB FORCES OUT OF KOSOVO AND A 25-KILOMETER WIDE AREA OUTSIDE THE PROVINCE'S BORDERS. OFFICIALS SAY A SMALL NUMBER OF SERB SOLDIERS COULD EVENTUALLY RETURN TO KOSOVO TO GUARD IMPORTANT SERB HISTORIC AND RELIGIOUS SITES IN THE PROVINCE. THE NATO-LED KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING FORCE WOULD QUICKLY REPLACE THE DEPARTING YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS. PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRST AMERICANS TO ARRIVE IN KOSOVO WILL BE U-S MARINES WHO WILL GO INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE PROVINCE TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR A LARGER CONTINGENT OF U-S ARMY TROOPS. OTHER SECTORS WILL BE PATROLLED BY TROOPS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE,
ITALY AND OTHER NATIONS, PERHAPS INCLUDING RUSSIA. MR. BACON
SAYS WASHINGTON WELCOMES MOSCOW'S PARTICIPATION, BUT SAYS THE
EXACT ROLE FOR RUSSIAN TROOPS HAS NOT BEEN WORKED OUT. (SIGNED).
[02] NATO / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250214 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: YUGOSLAV COMMANDERS HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NATO OFFICIALS, ASKING FOR URGENT TALKS TO DISCUSS THE PULLOUT OF THEIR FORCES FROM KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER AT NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. TEXT: A SENIOR NATO DIPLOMAT SAYS THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY HAS CONTACTED ALLIANCE COMMANDERS TO REQUEST AN URGENT MEETING. THIS WILL BE HELD IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND DETAILS OF A TIME AND A LOCATION ARE STILL BEING FINALIZED. THE DISCUSSIONS WILL FOLLOW THURSDAY'S ACCEPTANCE BY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES OF INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS FOR RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. A KEY ELEMENT OF THIS WILL INVOLVE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE 40-THOUSAND OR SO YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SPECIAL POLICE FORCES FROM KOSOVO. THE ALLIANCE SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN UNTIL IT IS CONVINCED THAT A FULL WITHDRAWAL IS TAKING PLACE AND THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS SERIOUS ABOUT MEETING ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S DEMANDS. SERBIAN COMMANDERS ARE WORRIED THAT IF THEY BRING THEIR MEN AND EQUIPMENT INTO THE OPEN TO BEGIN THE WITHDRAWAL, THEY COULD BE MORE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK FROM THE AIR. SO THE TALKS WITH NATO COMMANDERS WILL GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO WORK OUT A SET OF RULES FOR THE WITHDRAWAL. MILITARY SOURCES AT ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS SAY THAT IF IT IS CLEAR YUGOSLAV FORCES ARE HEADING OUT OF KOSOVO, AND DETAILS OF THEIR ROUTES ARE MADE KNOWN IN ADVANCE, THEY WILL BE LEFT ALONE. A COMMUNIQUE FROM NATO COMMANDERS FRIDAY SHOWS THAT ATTACKS CONTINUED OVERNIGHT, WITH 234 STRIKE SORTIES AGAINST TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA. INSIDE KOSOVO, NATO HIT 21 ARTILLERY PIECES, 30 MORTAR POSITIONS, FOUR TANKS, 10 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, EIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY PIECES AND OTHER MILITARY VEHICLES. OTHER TARGETS THROUGHOUT SERBIA INCLUDED AMMUNITION STORAGE
SITES, A PETROLEUM STORAGE SITE, A SPECIAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS,
AND AIRFIELD AND BROADCASTING FACILITIES. (SIGNED)
[03] NATO / KOSOVO (L / 2ND UPDATE) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250228 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-250219 ///INTRO: NATO COMMANDERS ARE PLANNING TO MEET WITH YUGOSLAV MILITARY OFFICIALS TO ORGANIZE A SPEEDY WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FROM KOSOVO. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE MEETING, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE BALKANS, WILL DECIDE THE TIMING, ROUTES AND OTHER DETAILS OF THE SERB WITHDRAWAL -- AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR NATO TO END ITS CAMPAIGN OF AIR STRIKES. TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THAT ALLIANCE AIR STRIKES WILL NOT BE HALTED UNTIL YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE BEGIN THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO. HE SAYS NATO WELCOMES YUGOSLAVIA'S ACCEPTANCE ON THURSDAY OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN, WHICH CONTAINS ALL OF NATO'S DEMANDS. BUT MR. SHEA INSISTS PROMISES MUST NOW BE FOLLOWED BY ACTION. HE SAYS AIR STRIKES ARE BEING MAINTAINED TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE YUGOSLAV LEADERSHIP. /// SHEA ACT ONE ///IF NOW FINALLY WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE, THIS WILL BE BECAUSE FORCE HAS SERVED DIPLOMACY, AND DIPLOMACY HAS SERVED FORCE IN AN ESSENTIAL AND WINNING PARTNERSHIP. BUT, WE ARE NOT THERE YET TO ALLOW OUR HOPES TO RUN AHEAD OF THE OBJECTIVE REALITIES. THE PROMISE OF PEACE IS NOT YET THE REALITY OF PEACE. /// END ACT ///NATO AMBASSADORS WILL MEET DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO DISCUSS DEPLOYMENT OF A PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, WHICH WILL BE SENT INTO KOSOVO TO ESCORT THE REFUGEES HOME. RUSSIA IS AMONG A NUMBER OF NON-NATO COUNTRIES WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART, BUT NATO WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF THE MILITARY OPERATION. MR. SHEA SAYS PLANNING FOR THIS IS MOVING AHEAD. /// SHEA ACT TWO ///EXTRA FORCES ARE RAPIDLY EN ROUTE. THE OTHER FORCES ARE BEING PREPARED. SO, BELIEVE ME, WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS WE WILL BE READY. THE OPERATION PLAN WILL COME TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL OVER THE WEEKEND FOR FINAL APPROVAL, AND THAN AS SOON AS THE TIME IS RIGHT THE COUNCIL CAN GIVE ITS ACTIVATION ORDER FOR THE MISSION TO BEGIN. BUT, BELIEVE ME, WE WILL BE READY FOR KOSOVO. /// END ACT ///MR. SHEA SAYS THAT AS HARD AS THE AIR CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN, NATO
WILL FACE AN EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGE IN DEPLOYING THE 50-THOUSAND
STRONG FORCE TO RESTORE PEACE TO KOSOVO AND TO ALLOW MORE THAN
ONE-MILLION PEOPLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. (SIGNED)
[04] HUNGARY / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250243 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA ARE STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA. BUT REFUGEES ALSO HAVE FLED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. STEFAN BOS IN BUDAPEST REPORTS AN ESTIMATED 25-THOUSAND SERBS AND OTHER YUGOSLAV CITIZENS HAVE FLED TO HUNGARY, THE ONLY NATO COUNTRY BORDERING YUGOSLAVIA. TEXT: HUNDREDS OF SERB AND OTHER YUGOSLAV REFUGEES LINE UP EACH DAY AT THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY IN BUDAPEST -- HOPING FOR VISAS THAT WILL PERMIT THEM TO GET TO AUSTRIA AND LEAVE THEIR WAR-TORN COUNTRY BEHIND. WORRIED LOOKING MEN, WOMEN, AND SMALL CHILDREN STAND IN LINE BEHIND IRON FENCES, WAITING HOURS AND SOMETIMES DAYS IN THE SUMMER HEAT. THIS DAILY RITUAL IN DOWNTOWN BUDAPEST BEGAN TWO MONTHS AGO, AFTER THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY IN BELGRADE CLOSED, AND NATO BEGAN ITS AIR RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. REFUGEES AND HUNGARIAN OFFICIALS SAY SOME OF THE FLEEING YUGOSLAV CITIZENS, INCLUDING SERBS, WERE FORCED TO PAY UP TO 15-HUNDRED DOLLARS TO OFFICIALS AND BORDER GUARDS, BEFORE THEY COULD LEAVE YUGOSLAVIA. SOME OF THEM ARE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE TRYING TO AVOID THE DRAFT OR WHO DESERTED THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO ESCAPE. MANY MORE SAY THEY WERE FLEEING NATO BOMBING WHICH THEY SAY DEVASTATED MUCH OF SERBIA, INCLUDING HOSPITALS, BRIDGES, AND HOMES. TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR OLD DANIELLA, WHO ARRIVED WITH HER SEVEN-YEAR OLD SON FROM THE SERB TOWN OF CSUPRIJA NEAR BELGRADE, BEGINS TO CRY WHEN ASKED WHY SHE LEFT HER COUNTRY. /// DANIELLA ACT - IN GERMAN - FADE UNDER ///DANIELLA SAYS SHE LEFT WITH HER SON AFTER MORE THAN 100 BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON HER TOWN OF ABOUT 15-THOUSAND PEOPLE. SHE SAYS IT WAS TERRIBLE, ADDING THERE ARE ALMOST NO HOMES OR BRIDGES WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DESTROYED. DANIELLA SAYS IT WAS NOT SAFE EVEN IN SHELTERS. AND SHE SAYS HER YOUNG SON NOW IS AFRAID EVERY TIME HE HEARS AN AIRPLANE AND HE CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT. SHE ALSO SAYS HER HUSBAND COULD NOT COME WITH HER BECAUSE OFFICIALS ALLOWED ONLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO LEAVE THE AREA. DANIELLA HAS RECEIVED PERMISSION TO LEAVE WITH HER CHILD TO JOIN HER BROTHER IN AUSTRIA. BUT MANY OTHERS ARE NOT SO LUCKY. THE HEAD OF THE HUNGARIAN OFFICE FOR REFUGEE AND MIGRATION AFFAIRS, ISTVAN DOBO, SAYS IT IS CLEAR THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER WESTERN EUROPE. AND MANY OF THE REFUGEES -- ESPECIALLY DISSIDENTS AND ARMY DESERTERS -- ARE NOT SURE WHEN -- OR EVEN IF -- THEY SHOULD RETURN HOME TO YUGOSLAVIA. MR. DOBO SAYS THAT MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND OF THE YUGOSLAV REFUGEES, INCLUDING MANY SERBS AND ETHNIC HUNGARIANS, HAVE ALREADY APPLIED FOR REFUGEE STATUS IN HUNGARY. THAT IS WHY MR. DOBO SAYS THAT SAYS HUNGARY IS NOW SETTING UP NEW REFUGEE CAMPS. /// DOBO ACT ///NEAR TO THE YUGOSLAV BORDERS, IN DIFFERENT TOWNS, WE IDENTIFIED THREE FORMER HUNGARIAN (ARMY) BARRACKS WHERE ALL TOGETHER THREE-THOUSAND REFUGEES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED. BUT OF COURSE WE NEED SOME TIME FOR THE TECHNICAL PREPARATIONS. /// END ACT ///DESPITE THE MISERY, MR DOBO SAYS PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC
GROUPS HAVE ALREADY LEARNED TO LIVE TOGETHER IN SOME OF HUNGARY'S
OVER-CROWDED REFUGEE CAMPS. HE SAYS HE HOPES THIS WILL BE A
POSITIVE SIGN FOR A NEW, MORE PEACEFUL ERA IN YUGOSLAVIA.
(SIGNED)
[05] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L) BY GORDON MARTIN (GENEVA)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250241 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE PROSPECT OF PEACE IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY MANY EUROPEAN AND OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS WITH A SENSE OF RELIEF, BUT TEMPERED BY CAUTION. GORDON MARTIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA ON THE REACTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES, U-N-H-C-R, WHICH HAS BORNE THE BRUNT OF ASSISTING THE REFUGEE EXODUS FROM KOSOVO. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SPOKE ABOUT THE REFUGEE AGENCY'S WELCOME FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN. BUT HE SAID WHETHER THE 700-THOUSAND REFUGEES NOW IN ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, AND OTHERS ELSEWHERE DECIDE TO GO BACK WILL DEPEND ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. /// JANOWSKI ACT ///THAT IS, IT WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER THERE IS A FULL PULL-OUT OF SERBIAN FORCES FROM KOSOVO, AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF SOME VERY STRONG CONTINGENT OF INTERNATIONAL TROOPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE RETURNING TO KOSOVO FEEL SAFE. IN THE END, THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES WILL DECIDE. THEIR DECISION IS USUALLY BASED ON THEIR GUT FEELING. ONCE THE NEWS GETS AROUND THAT THE SERBIAN FORCES ARE OUT, PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY GO BACK. /// END ACT ///LIKE ALL U-N AGENCIES, U-N-H-C-R WITHDREW FROM KOSOVO IN LATE MARCH, JUST BEFORE NATO BEGAN ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. AND MR. JANOWSKI SAYS IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY WHEN THEY WILL BE RETURNING, BUT THEY WILL DO SO AS SOON AS THE SECURITY SITUATION PERMITS. /// OPT ////// JANOWSKI ACT ////// OPT ACT ///IF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND CHANGES DRAMATICALLY, WITH A PULLOUT AND QUICK DEPLOYMENT, WE MAY SEE PEOPLE JUST GOING BACK EN MASSE. WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT DESTRUCTION OF HOUSING -- AND EVEN MINE FIELDS -- AND ALL KINDS OF DANGERS, DO NOT DETER PEOPLE VERY MUCH AS LONG AS THEY SEE, THEY THINK THAT THEY'LL BE SAFE, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO LIVE AMONG THEIR FORMER ENEMIES, AS IT WERE. /// END ACT ////// END OPT ACT ///MR. JANOWSKI SAYS U-N-H-C-R FIRST PLANS TO LOOK AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REMAINED AS DISPLACED PERSON INSIDE KOSOVO, AND THEN BRING BACK THE REFUGEES FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. ///ACT JANOWSKI ///OUR PLAN WAS TO LOOK AFTER THE POPULATION IN KOSOVO FIRST, TO STABILIZE THE POPULATION IN KOSOVO, WHICH IS IN THE WORST SHAPE FOOD WISE, HEALTH WISE, PROBABLY TERRIFIED AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND THEN BRING PEOPLE BACK FROM THE REGION AND THEN FINALLY FROM MORE REMOTE PLACES. /// END ACT ///MR. JANOWSKI ADDS THAT THE U-N-H-C-R WILL DO ITS BEST TO HELP
PEOPLE FIND SHELTER IN KOSOVO, WHICH HAS SUFFERED ENORMOUS
DESTRUCTION. BUT, SAYS MR. JANOWSKI, LONG-TERM RECONSTRUCTION,
WHICH MAY COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR BACKING
FROM THE WORLD BANK, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS. (SIGNED)
[06] REFUGEES / ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY AMY BICKERS (TIRANA)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250244 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: /// REFUGEE CAMP NOISE UP FOR :04 AND UNDER /// AT THE PCBIFHINAP (PEE-SHEE-NOP) CAMP FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TIRANA, NEWS SPREAD QUICKLY THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAD ACCEPTED THE KOSOVO PEACE PLAN OFFERED BY WESTERN POWERS. THE NEWS WAS GREETED WITH A MIX OF ENTHUSIASM AND CAUTION. MANY REFUGEES, SUCH AS 27-YEAR-OLD AGIM FROM PRISTINA, SAY THEY REMAIN SKEPTICAL THAT THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT CAN BE TRUSTED TO LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISES. /// AGIM ACT, UP AND UNDER ///HE SAYS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE MR. MILOSEVIC BECAUSE HE HAS LIED SEVERAL TIMES. HE ADDS IT IS HARD TO ACCEPT THAT THE REFUGEES CAN GO HOME IN SUCH A SITUATION, BUT HE IS WILLING TO GO ANYWAY. 51-YEAR OLD SOPHIA SAYS SHE DESPERATELY WANTS TO RETURN TO HER HOME TOWN NEAR GJAKOHVA, WHERE SHE OWNS THREE HOUSES. SOPHIA SAYS THEY ARE OCCUPIED BY SERBS, AND FEARS THEY WILL BE BURNED BEFORE SHE GETS BACK. /// SOPHIA ACT, UP AND UNDER ///AT NIGHT SHE WAKES UP WITH A DREAM, SHE SAYS, THAT HER CHANCE TO GO BACK TO KOSOVO IS LIKE A FLAME SHE IS REACHING FOR. SHE ADDS SHE WOULD GO BACK TO KOSOVO EVEN IF SHE HAD TO LIVE IN A TENT. 40-YEAR OLD IRIS, FROM PEC (PRONO: PETCH), IS ANXIOUS TO GO BACK TO KOSOVO TO FIND HER TWO MISSING BROTHERS. LIKE MANY ETHNIC ALBANIAN FAMILIES, THE MEN WERE SEPARATED FROM THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN BY SERB FORCES /// IRIS ACT, UP AND UNDER ///IN THREE WEEKS SHE MIGHT RETURN TO KOSOVO, SHE SAYS. SHE DOES NOT HAVE TOO MUCH OPTIMISM BUT HOPES THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES WILL MAKE HER RETURN POSSIBLE, SHE ADDS. OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES SAY IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY WHEN THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WILL BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES. HOWEVER, NATO OFFICIALS SAID FRIDAY THAT KOSOVO'S RECONSTRUCTION WOULD BE A LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS. THEY SAID 500 VILLAGES AND TOWNS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM HAS COLLAPSED. 220-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN MEN ARE MISSING AND HALF A MILLION PEOPLE IN KOSOVO HAVE BEEN INTERNALLY DISPLACED. DESPITE THE MASSIVE CHALLENGES AHEAD, THE WAR-WEARY REFUGEES AT
PCBIFHINAP (PEE-SHEE-NOP) CAMP SAY THEY WANT TO GO HOME. (SIGNED)
[07] REFUGEES / ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BY AMY BICKERS (TIRANA)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250230 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ALBANIA'S PRIME MINISTER PANDELI MAJKO (PRONO: MY-KO) IS TAKING A CAUTIOUS STANCE ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO, SAYING THAT REFUGEES CANNOT RETURN UNTIL THEIR SECURITY IS CERTAIN. AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM TIRANA THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE FULLY SUPPORTS THE FIVE POINT PEACE PLAN WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE OFFERED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. TEXT: ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER PANDELI MAJKO SAYS DESPITE THE DIPLOMATIC PROGRESS IN BELGRADE, THE WAR CONTINUES IN KOSOVO AND ALONG ALBANIA'S NORTHERN BORDER. HE NOTED FRIDAY THAT SERB SHELLING WAS STILLING TAKING PLACE, IN ADDITION TO NATO AIR STRIKES. AT A FRIDAY NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. MAJKO REITERATED ALBANIA'S FULL SUPPORT FOR NATO. WHILE RUSSIA'S ROLE IN THE PEACEKEEPING COMMAND STRUCTURE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED, THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT NATO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF A UNIFIED PEACEKEEPING FORCE. IN AN INTERVIEW, MR. MAJKO SAID THROUGH A TRANSLATOR THAT WHILE NEARLY A MILLION REFUGEES ARE EAGER TO RETURN HOME, REPATRIATION PLANS COULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR THE REFUGEES' SAFE RETURN ARE CARRIED OUT BY YUGOSLAVIA. /// MAJKO ACT ///NOT ONE ALBANIAN HAS GONE HOME TO KOSOVO. EVEN TODAY BOMBARDMENTS STILL CONTINUE, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS ABOUT OVERLOADING OPTIMISM. /// END ACT ///MR. MAJKO ALSO SAID HE WAS TAKING A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH AS TO WHETHER YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WOULD ADHERE TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORWARD BY WESTERN COUNTRIES. THESE INCLUDE AN END TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO, SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY FOR THE PROVINCE AND THE SAFE AND FREE RETURN OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. /// MAJKO ACT ///SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN PLANING INTENSIVELY HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THE REFUGEES AS BEST AS POSSIBLE SO THEY FEEL SAFE HERE. AS LONG AS MR. MILOSEVIC IS IN POWER AND IS PLAYING GAMES, THEIR RETURN WILL BE A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS. PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT MAKING PEACE WITH WAR CRIMINALS IS REALLY VERY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. /// END ACT ///WHILE THE HALF-MILLION KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE A HEAVY BURDEN TO
ALBANIA'S TROUBLED ECONOMY, PRIME MINISTER MAJKO IS RESOLUTE.
THEY CANNOT LEAVE, HE SAYS, UNTIL THEIR SAFE RETURN IS
GUARANTEED. (SIGNED)
[08] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250235 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING HOPE ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT WITH YUGOSLAVIA OVER KOSOVO PROVINCE. AT THE SAME TIME, HE IS URGING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO COMPLY WITH NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR HALTING ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: AS NATO AND YUGOSLAV GENERALS PREPARE TO MEET SATURDAY IN THE BALKANS TO DISCUSS THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB TROOPS FROM KOSOVO, MR. CLINTON REMAINED CAUTIOUS. IN A SPEECH IN WASHINGTON ( HONORING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN NICK RAHALL OF WEST VIRGINIA), THE PRESIDENT SUMMED UP HIS ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION ON KOSOVO: // CLINTON ACTUALITY //WE ARE HOPEFUL, BUT WE NEED TO SEE REAL ACTION HERE. // END ACT //BUT HE REITERATED THAT NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL IT IS CLEAR YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB FORCES ARE WITHDRAWING FROM KOSOVO. // CLINTON ACTUALITY //I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST MILITARY TARGETS UNTIL WE HAVE SOME EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN WORDS HERE. // END ACT //MR. CLINTON TELEPHONED FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI TO THANK HIM FOR HIS PART IN CLINCHING THE KOSOVO PEACE PLAN. MR. AHTISAARI, A EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, JOINED
RUSSIAN ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN IN PRESENTING THE PEACE DEAL TO
YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- WHO ACCEPTED IT
THURSDAY. (SIGNED)
[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250255 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE MONITORING SATURDAY'S TALKS BETWEEN NATO AND YUGOSLAV MILITARY OFFICIALS ON A SERB TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO. THE MEETING IS TO TAKE PLACE ON THE MACEDONIA-YUGOSLAV BORDER. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS THE LATEST WHITE HOUSE REACTION. TEXT: MR. CLINTON WELCOMED WORD OF THE MILITARY-TO-MILITARY CONTACTS: // CLINTON ACTUALITY //THIS IS THE NEXT NECESSARY STEP FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CONDITIONS. I AM PLEASED THAT IT WILL TAKE PLACE, AND I HOPE THE TALKS WILL PROCEED PROFESSIONALLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY. // END ACT //BUT, SPEAKING AT A WHITE HOUSE EVENT FRIDAY, THE PRESIDENT REITERATED THAT NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SERB FORCES HAVE BEGUN A FULL-SCALE WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO. // CLINTON ACTUALITY //OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE BALKANS TEACHES US THAT TRUE PEACE CAN ONLY COME WHEN PROGRESS IN DISCUSSIONS IS FOLLOWED BY PROGRESS ON THE GROUND. // END ACT //MR. CLINTON HAS APPROACHED YUGOSLAVIA'S ACCEPTANCE OF A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN WITH CAUTION, CITING PAST PROMISES MADE BY BELGRADE BUT NOT KEPT. BUT FRIDAY, HE SOUNDED A HOPEFUL NOTE. // CLINTON ACTUALITY //THERE IS AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEIZED HERE. A CHANCE TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS FROM DEFEATING SOMETHING EVIL TO BUILDING SOMETHING GOOD. A CHANCE TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES TO BRING A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS DEMOCRATIC SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE NEVER AGAIN SINGLED OUT FOR DESTRUCTION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH OR THEIR ETHNIC ORIGIN. // END ACT //NEB/DAT/KL 04-Jun-99 5:50 PM EDT (2150 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [10] KOSOVO / PEACE / DETAILS (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=6/3/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250209 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///EDS: RE-RUNNING WITH NUMBER////INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS NATO WILL KEEP BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA UNTIL THE ALLIANCE IS SURE THAT SERB TROOPS ARE LEAVING KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, PENTAGON OFFICIALS ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO VERIFY THAT YUGOSLAV FORCES ARE KEEPING THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN PAPER PROMISES TO STOP THE NATO AIR ATTACKS. THERE ARE AROUND 40-THOUSAND YUGOSLAV TROOPS, POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FIGHTERS STATIONED IN OR NEAR THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. MR. COHEN SAYS BELGRADE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT PEACE, BUT HAS NOT MOVED A SINGLE SOLDIER OUT OF KOSOVO. /// COHEN ACT ///THERE MUST BE A MANIFESTATION BY MILOSEVIC THAT HE INTENDS TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT ITSELF. UNTIL THAT TAKES PLACE, WE INTEND TO CONTINUE THE AIR CAMPAIGN. /// END ACT ///MR. COHEN SAYS HE EXPECTS NATO AND YUGOSLAV MILITARY OFFICIALS TO TALK OVER WAYS TO KEEP NATO'S CONTINUED BOMBING CAMPAIGN FROM HITTING SERB SOLDIERS LEAVING KOSOVO. HE SAYS NATO HAS A "SUBSTANTIAL CAPACITY" TO VERIFY WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE KOSOVO, AND SO ALLIANCE OFFICIALS WILL KNOW IF YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE ACTUALLY LEFT THE SERB PROVINCE. THE TEN WEEK LONG NATO AIR CAMPAIGN WAS DESIGNED TO FORCE JUST SUCH A WITHDRAWAL AND ALLOW ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES, PROTECTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE WITH NATO AT ITS CORE. MR COHEN SAYS PART OF THE U-S CONTINGENT OF A PROPOSED 50-THOUSAND MEMBER PEACEKEEPING FORCE COULD MOVE INTO KOSOVO IN A MATTER OF DAYS. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY DOWNPLAYED REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS MILITARY ADVISORS DISCUSSED A POSSIBLE GROUND INVASION OF KOSOVO. BUT HE SAID THAT OPTION HAS NOT BEEN RULED OUT. /// COHEN ///THE PRESIDENT INDICATED TODAY THAT NATO MUST BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, WHATEVER IT TAKES. AND SO NO OPTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TABLE BY THE PRESIDENT. /// END ACT ///THE REPORTED PEACE OVERTURES COME AS THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS ENGAGED IN HEAVY FIGHTING WITH SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO NEAR THE ALBANIAN BORDER. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT THE K-L-A TO 'DEMILITARIZE' ONCE A VERIFIABLE PEACE AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE AND SERB FORCES LEAVE THE PROVINCE. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELYN ALBRIGHT SAYS U-S DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE K-L-A ABOUT KEEPING A PROMISE MADE WHEN THEY SIGNED A PEACE ACCORD IN FRANCE BEFORE THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN BEGAN. /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL DEMILITARIZE ON THE BASIS OF THE RAMBOILLET (CK SPELL) AGREEMENT. BUT THE MAIN QUESTION IS FOR ALL SERB FORCES TO WITHDRAW AND THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS IS NOW. /// END ACT ///DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS HE THINKS THE K-L-A WILL GET RID OF THEIR WEAPONS BECAUSE A SOLID AGREEMENT WOULD BRING PEACE, AND EVENTUALLY PROSPERITY TO THE BATTERED PROVINCE. BUT THE K-L-A HAS LOST MANY MEMBERS AND FOUGHT MANY BATTLES SINCE
THE RAMBOULLET AGREEMENT, AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THEY WILL
BE WILLING TO REDUCE THEIR MILITARY FORCES. (SIGNED)
[11] RUSSIA / KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (S) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250213 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: YUGOSLAV PEACE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING. RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, IS TO VISIT U-S AND FINNISH LEADERS IN FINLAND TO WORK OUT DETAILS OF A PEACE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE WEST. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. TEXT: RUSSIAN ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL HOLD HIS NEXT ROUND OF TALKS IN HELSINKI WITH U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI. THE THREE MEN ARE EXPECTED TO TIE UP ANY LOOSE ENDS IN THE WESTERN AND RUSSIAN BACKED PEACE PLAN APPROVED BY SERBIA'S PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY. THE PLAN FORESEES A WITHDRAWAL OF ALL SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE WITH A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE FOR NATO -- A PLAN YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC INITIALLY REJECTED. THE AGREEMENT IS SEEN BY MANY IN MOSCOW AS A SIGNAL THAT PEACE IS
AT HAND. BUT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IS NONETHELESS FACING HARSH
CRITICISM FROM HARDLINERS WHO BELIEVE HE SOLD OUT YUGOSLAVIA TO
THE WEST BY GIVING IN TO TOO MANY NATO DEMANDS. (SIGNED)
[12] RUSSIA / KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250222 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, HAS POSTPONED A SCHEDULED TRIP TO HELSINKI TO MEET WITH FINNISH AND U-S OFFICIALS ON THE KOSOVO PEACE DEAL. BUT V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS NATO AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS COULD GO TO BELGRADE AS EARLY AS SATURDAY FOR PRELIMINARY TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE AGREEMENT. TEXT: RUSSIAN ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WAS EXPECTED TO MEET IN HELSINKI WITH U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI TO TIE UP ANY LOOSE ENDS IN THE PEACE PLAN. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S OFFICE TOLD V-O-A THE TRIP WAS STILL SCHEDULED, BUT NO TIME OR DATE WAS SPECIFIED FOR HIS DEPARTURE. NO CONCRETE REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE POSTPONEMENT. BUT AN AIDE TO THE RUSSIAN ENVOY, VALENTIN SERGEYEV, TOLD RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES THE POSTPONEMENT WAS AGREED TO BY THE THREE ENVOYS AND THAT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HELD DETAILED CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM BY TELEPHONE. MR. SERGEYEV REPORTS THE RUSSIAN ENVOY AGREED WITH MR. TALBOTT THAT NATO AND RUSSIAN MILITARY EXPERTS SHOULD ARRIVE IN BELGRADE AS EARLY AS SATURDAY. HE ALSO SAID RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS WILL TAKE PART IN ANY PEACE MISSION BUT ONLY UNDER THE COMMAND OF RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES. I// OPT /// THERE HAS BEEN SOME OPPOSITION TO THE DEAL WITHIN RUSSIA'S MILITARY AND AMONG HARDLINERS WHO ACCUSE MR. CHERNOMYRDIN OF SELLING OUT YUGOSLAVIA TO THE WEST. BUT RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV SAYS, DESPITE DIFFERENCES, THE DEAL IS ACCEPTABLE. /// OPT //THERE WERE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, HE SAYS. BUT THE FACT THAT THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT ACCEPTED THE DOCUMENT MEANS IT WAS A POLITICAL SUCCESS. /// END OPT /// BALKANS ENVOY CHERNOMYRDIN EARLIER FRIDAY BRIEFED PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ON THE PEACE DEAL AND WAS PRAISED FOR HIS WORK IN THE PEACE MISSION. BUT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO FORMALLY COMMENT ON OR ENDORSE THE PEACE DEAL. THE KREMLIN PRESS SERVICE REPORTS THAT AFTER THE BRIEFING,
PRESIDENT YELTSIN SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR
GERHARD SCHROEDER. MR. YELTSIN REPORTEDLY TOLD THE GERMAN LEADER
THAT THERE IS NOW, AS HE PUT IT, "NO REASON FOR NATO TO CONTINUE
BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA." (SIGNED)
[13] U-N / KOSOVO / ANNAN REACT (L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250234 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS (FRIDAY) HE EXPECTS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN DISCUSSING THE TERMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PEACE AGREEMENT WITH YUGOSLAVIA AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: MR. ANNAN SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THAT FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE G-7 INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES AND RUSSIA WILL APPROVE A DRAFT SETTLEMENT OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WHEN THEY MEET ON SUNDAY IN GERMANY. HE SAYS THE PROCESS IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MR. ANNAN SAYS HE EXPECTS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON A RESOLUTION FORMALIZING THE AGREEMENT AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. /// ANNAN ACT ///I THINK I WOULD EXPECT THE MEMBER STATES TO START TALKING PERHAPS ABOUT SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. I CANNOT GIVE YOU A PRECISE DATE, BUT I SUSPECT IT WILL BE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. AND THERE WILL BE MANY ASPECTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION, NOT JUST THE MILITARY ASPECTS, BUT THERE WILL BE THE CIVILIAN ASPECTS WHICH WILL DEAL WITH RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND THE DISPLACED AND ALSO THE POLICE TRAINING AND MONITORING AND THAT KIND OF THING. /// END ACT ///THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ON THE ISSUE COULD BE DIFFICULT, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, IN RECENT WEEKS, BEEN SHARPLY DIVIDED OVER KOSOVO. OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL -- EACH HOLDING VETO POWER -- CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE STRONGLY OPPOSED THE NATO AIR STRIKES AND PREVENTED ANY CONDEMNATION OF YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES. BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE SUPPORTED THE STRIKES. WHILE THE MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GERMANY ON SUNDAY IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR A COUNCIL RESOLUTION, MANY DETAILS WILL REMAIN TO BE WORKED OUT. DIPLOMATS SAY YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MOST LIKELY EXPECTS RUSSIA AND CHINA TO LOOK OUT FOR SOME OF HIS INTERESTS WHEN THE DETAILS OF IMPLEMENTATION ARE DISCUSSED IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL. DIPLOMATS SAY CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE NOT EAGER TO DEFEND MR.
MILOSEVIC BUT INSTEAD ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SETTING ANY PRECEDENT
THAT WOULD PROVIDE SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF WHAT THEY SEE
AS INTERFERENCE IN A COUNTRY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. DIPLOMATS SAY
THOSE CONCERNS ARE ROOTED IN CHINA AND RUSSIA'S DESIRE TO PREVENT
COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT THEY CONSIDER THEIR OWN INTERNAL
ETHNIC AND TERRITORIAL DISPUTES, INCLUDING THOSE IN TAIWAN, TIBET
AND CHECHNYA. (SIGNED)
[14] U-N / KOSOVO PLANNING (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250245 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY OVER WHAT ROLE THE INTERNATIONAL BODY WILL PLAY IN THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS. DETAILS OF THE U-N ROLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE DETERMINED IN DISCUSSIONS IN NEW YORK AND GENEVA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WEEKS. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS A REPORT. TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE ISSUE OF U-N INVOLVEMENT IN KOSOVO BREAKS DOWN INTO TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS -- CIVILIAN AND MILITARY. THEY SAY CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WILL HAVE LITTLE, IF ANY, INPUT INTO THE MILITARY COMPONENT. THAT WILL BE DECIDED BY THE G-7 INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AND RUSSIA AND MOST LIKELY ENDORSED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. BUT U-N OFFICIALS SAY MR. ANNAN IS EAGER TO PLAY A KEY ROLE ON THE CIVILIAN COMPONENT AND POSSIBLY LEAD OPERATIONS CONCERNING THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, THE RECONSTRUCTION OF KOSOVO AND OTHER PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE MONITORING OF POLICE ACTIVITIES. U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS MR. ANNAN IS PROPOSING THAT THE CIVILIAN OPERATIONS BE PUT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS. /// ECKHARD ACT ///HE HAS FLOATED HIS IDEAS OF HOW THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE MISSION COULD BE ORGANIZED AND THAT INCLUDED A SINGLE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD BE APPOINTED BY HIM, BUT HE HAS ALSO SAID THAT WHATEVER MEMBER STATES DECIDE THEY WOULD WANT IS FINE. ON THE MILITARY SIDE HE SAID AS LONG AS THE SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE FORCE AND AS LONG AS IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE CREDIBLE AND GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THE REFUGEES, THAT IS FINE. /// END ACT ///U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE ALREADY SHIFTED THEIR FOCUS IN THE AREA OF RELIEF AND REFUGEE WORK FROM CONTINGENCY TO -- WHAT THEY CALL -- REAL PLANNING. THEY SAY THIS IS BECAUSE IT APPEARS IT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO START THE PROCESS OF RETURNING REFUGEES TO KOSOVO SOON. PLANS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION AT U-N HEADQUARTERS CALL FOR THE
GRADUAL, PHASED RETURN OF REFUGEES. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT A
LACK OF ORDER COULD LEAD TO WHAT U-N OFFICIALS CALL AN
UNCONTROLLABLE STAMPEDE ACROSS THE BORDERS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN
INJURIES. INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO SECURE AND DISTRIBUTE
APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES, SUCH AS WOOD AND PLASTIC SHEETING SO THAT
RETURNING REFUGEES WILL HAVE SAFE LIVING CONDITIONS DURING THE
COMING WINTER. THEY ALSO HOPE TO ESTABLISH SAFE CORRIDORS
THROUGH WHICH REFUGEES CAN TRAVEL TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.
(SIGNED)
[15] DEBATING THE PEACE AGREEMENT BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)DATE=TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43580 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRODUCTION: TWO ANALYSTS AT A WASHINGTON RESEARCH GROUP -- THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION -- (FRI., JUNE 4) DIFFER SHARPLY ON THE OUTCOME OF THE WAR OVER KOSOVO, SUGGESTING AMERICAN OPINION MAY BE DIVIDED ON THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THE DISCUSSION. TEXT: WHAT NATO DEMANDED, NATO GOT. THAT IS THE FIRM OPINION OF IVO DAALDER ON THE PEACE AGREEMENT ENDING THE WAR IN SERBIA. A FORMER COORDINATOR OF U-S POLICY TOWARD BOSNIA IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, MR. DAALDER TOLD AN AUDIENCE AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION THAT NATO ACHIEVED ALL ITS OBJECTIVES: // DAALDER ACT //MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL SERB FORCES WILL LEAVE, AND AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE UNDER A UNIFIED COMMAND REPORTING TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL WILL ENTER. THAT OUGHT TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR REFUGEES - SOME 850 THOUSAND OF WHICH WERE FORCEFULLY KICKED OUT OF KOSOVO - TO RETURN. IN THAT SENSE, NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN OVER THE LAST TWO PLUS MONTHS HAS ACHIEVED THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL THAT NATO SET, WHICH WAS SERBS OUT, NATO IN, REFUGEES BACK, AN INTERIM POLITICAL SETTLEMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. // END ACT //MR. DAALDER SAID NATO REMAINS CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE KEY DETAILS STILL HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT, SUCH AS THE TIMETABLE FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS IN THE PEACE-KEEPING MISSION. HE ADDED THAT INDEPENDENCE SHOULD NOT BE RULED OUT FOR KOSOVO: // DAALDER ACT //DOING SO WOULD DENY THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE KOSOVAR PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN DESTINY. IT IS NOT THAT WE NECESSARILY HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT ASPIRATION, BUT WE CANNOT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE DENY THAT. FOR DOING SO, I BELIEVE, IS NOT ONLY MORALLY WRONG - GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS - BUT POLITICALLY AND STRATEGICALLY MISTAKEN. // END ACT //WITH NO HOPE OF INDEPENDENCE, KOSOVARS WOULD NOT COOPERATE WITH NATO, SAYS PROFESSOR DAALDER. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DISARM UNLESS THEY HAVE A SAY IN THEIR FUTURE. RICHARD HAAS, DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN POLICY STUDIES AT BROOKINGS, HAS A MORE SKEPTICAL VIEW OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT: // HAAS ACT //NATO DID ACHIEVE MOST OF ITS STATED GOALS BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE CORE PROBLEM WHICH IS THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO. INDEED, NATO FAILED TO PREVENT A HUMANITARIAN NIGHTMARE. IT IS ARGUABLE WHETHER NATO ACTION INTENSIFIED IT. I WOULD SIMPLY SAY IT FAILED TO PREVENT IT. ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE EITHER TURNED INTO REFUGEES OR ARE HOMELESS, AND WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY LOST THEIR LIVES. SO CLAIMS OF VICTORY AT BEST ARE INCOMPLETE, AT WORST ARE HOLLOW. // END ACT //MR HAAS SAYS SOME MAY CLAIM VICTORY BECAUSE THERE WERE FEW NATO CASUALTIES COMPARED TO FIVE THOUSAND SERBIAN ONES. THE ARITHMETIC IS CORRECT, HE NOTES, BUT NOT THE ASSUMPTION. IN HIS OPINION, THE WAR SHOWS THE LIMITATIONS OF MILITARY FORCE FOR ACHIEVING POLITICAL ENDS: // HAAS ACT //PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROMISED MILITARY FORCE IS INHERENTLY LIMITED. AIR POWER HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE GOOD FOR SOME THINGS BUT NOT FOR EVERYTHING. CLEARLY, IT CAN COERCE AND CLEARLY IT CAN DEGRADE THE CAPABILITIES OF THE TARGET. WHILE IT AFFECTED THE CALCULUS OF PEOPLE IN BELGRADE, AIR POWER FAILED TO SHAPE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO. // END ACT //MR. HAAS ADDED THAT MILITARY POWER ALONE CAN NOT DISLODGE A
DETERMINED RULER. SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER IN SERBIA,
JUST AS SADDAM HUSSEIN CONTINUES TO RUN IRAQ DESPITE LOSING THE
GULF WAR. ONLY INVASION AND OCCUPATION, SAYS MR. HAAS, CAN UPROOT
SUCH WELL-ENTRENCHED REGIMES. (SIGNED)
[16] MILOSEVIC / PEACE TALKS? BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43579 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NOW THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO, MANY EXPERTS ARE WONDERING WHETHER THE WEST CAN NEGOTIATE WITH A MAN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT THAT SENSITIVE ISSUE. TEXT: EXPERTS SAY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AGREED TO AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO FOR TWO REASONS : THE UNRELENTING TEN-WEEK AIR CAMPAIGN OF A UNITED NATO AND THE RECENT DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER WESTERN POWERS AND RUSSIA. EXPERTS SAY MR. MILOSEVIC ESSENTIALLY CAVED IN TO NATO DEMANDS SINCE THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN INCLUDES PRINCIPLES HE STRONGLY OPPOSED -- SUCH AS THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO, WITH A MAJOR NATO PARTICIPATION. BUT NOW THAT MR. MILOSEVIC HAS AGREED TO A PEACE PLAN, MANY EXPERTS ARE ASKING WHETHER WESTERN LEADERS CAN SIGN SUCH AN ACCORD WITH A MAN INDICTED JUST LAST WEEK BY THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ON CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. MR. MILOSEVIC -- AND FOUR OTHER SENIOR LEADERS -- WERE CHARGED WITH THE DEPORTATION OF 740-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND THE MURDER OF 340 OTHERS. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT IS A BALKAN EXPERT AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE "INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP ON THE BALKANS" -- A RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN BELGIUM HE SAYS THE INDICTMENT EFFECTIVELY PREVENTS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FROM SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, BECAUSE THE STATUTES OF THE U-N TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE OBLIGE MEMBER STATES TO GO OUT AND APPREHEND THOSE INDICTED. // BENNETT ACT //THAT MEANS APPREHENDING VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE SERB LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF SERBIA - MILAN MILUTINOVIC. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES. WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE INTERIOR MINISTER. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE KEY FIGURES WITHIN THE BELGRADE ESTABLISHMENT. AND UNDER THE STATUTES OF THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL -- WHICH IS A U-N BODY -- U-N MEMBER STATES SHOULD ACTUALLY BE ARRESTING THESE PEOPLE AND BRINGING THEM TO JUSTICE -- NOT NEGOTIATING PEACE AGREEMENTS WITH THEM. // END ACT //EXPERTS DO NOT FORESEE MR. MILOSEVIC APPEARING BEFORE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE ANYTIME SOON. THEY SAY WAR CRIME INDICTMENTS WERE BROUGHT AGAINST BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC SEVERAL YEARS AGO -- AND THEY ARE STILL FREE MEN. MICHAEL SCHARFF IS A PROFESSOR AT THE NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF LAW AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "BALKAN JUSTICE." HE SAYS MR. KARADZIC AND GENERAL MLADIC WERE INDICTED RIGHT BEFORE THE DAYTON PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN, WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON REPEATED THE U-S POLICY NOT TO NEGOTIATE WITH INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS. // SCHARFF ACT //BUT AT THE TIME OF DAYTON, THAT WAS A CONVENIENT STATEMENT TO MAKE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH KARADZIC AND MLADIC BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEN AS TOO EXTREMIST -- WHEREAS MILOSEVIC WAS SEEN AS SOMEONE THEY COULD DEAL WITH. AND THEY REALLY WANTED MILOSEVIC TO BE DELEGATED THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE POWER TO SIGN THE (DAYTON) DEAL. NOW THE QUESTION IS : WHO DO YOU NEGOTIATE IF NOT MILOSEVIC? AS LONG AS MILOSEVIC IS ALIVE AND IN POWER, HE HAS TO BE THE ONE TO SIGN ANY EVENTUAL DEAL BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY ONE IN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF YUGOSLAVIA WHO CAN MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF HIS SUBORDINATES FULFILL THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. AND SO NOW IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN AT DAYTON -- AND YET THAT POLICY THAT WAS MADE WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE WITH MILOSEVIC. // END ACT //BUT PROFESSOR SCHARFF SAYS VERY RECENTLY, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ANNOUNCED A CHANGE IN U-S POLICY. // SECOND SCHARFF ACT //SHE SAID THE UNITED STATES CAN NEGOTIATE WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, EVEN IF HE WERE UNDER INDICTMENT. AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO DOING SOME NEGOTIATING WITH HIM. BUT THAT IS VERY SUSPECT BECAUSE -- CAN YOU IMAGINE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATO COUNTRIES SHAKING HANDS WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY? // END ACT //BALKAN EXPERT MICHAEL SCHARFF POINTS OUT HAVING BEEN INDICTED,
MR. MILOSEVIC IS SAFE ONLY IN YUGOSLAVIA -- HE CAN NOT
NEGOTIATE ANYWHERE OUTSIDE YUGOSLAVIA'S BORDERS BECAUSE HE COULD
BE APPREHENDED PURSUANT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS. SO
THAT PROHIBITS HIM FROM TRAVELING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO SIGN ANY
PEACE ACCORD. (SIGNED)
[17] EDITORIAL: AID GROUP'S KOSOVO AIR DROPSDATE= 06/07/99TYPE= EDITORIAL NUMBER= 0-08325 CONTENT=THIS IS THE THIRD OF THREE EDITORIALS BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 06/07/99. ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING AMERICAN IDEALS AND INSTITUTIONS. VOICE: TO ESCAPE SERBIAN ATROCITIES, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE ALREADY FLED INTO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA OR MACEDONIA. BUT LARGE NUMBERS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE STILL DISPLACED WITHIN KOSOVO ITSELF. THEY ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES. TO HELP MEET THIS NEED, THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE BEGAN AIR DROPS ON JUNE 3RD. IN TWO FLIGHTS A DAY, THE NEW YORK-BASED AID GROUP HOPES TO DROP ENOUGH MEAL PACKAGES TO FEED UP TO EIGHT-THOUSAND PEOPLE HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS OF KOSOVO. MUCH MORE WILL BE NEEDED, BUT THIS IS A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP. THE AIR DROPS ARE UNUSUAL IN THAT THEY ARE BEING CONDUCTED NOT BY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY BUT BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION. LIKE MANY SUCH AID GROUPS, THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, OR I-R-C, OFTEN RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENTS OR THE UNITED NATIONS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS. IN THE CASE OF THE AIR DROPS, THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS HELPING WITH THE COSTS. BUT MUCH OF THE SUPPORT FOR THE I-R-C'S WORK IN KOSOVO, AS IN MANY OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, COMES FROM VOLUNTARY DONATIONS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS. TAKING EXTRAORDINARY STEPS TO HELP REFUGEES IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE I-R-C. IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR REFUGEE CRISIS SINCE THE EXODUS FROM NAZI GERMANY IN 1933. AMONG MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HUNGARY, VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, AFGHANISTAN, RWANDA, SUDAN, AND SIERRA LEONE. THE I-R-C BEGAN WORKING IN BOSNIA IN 1991 AND HAS AIDED REFUGEES THERE AND IN CROATIA AND SERBIA. THE I-R-C BEGAN OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO IN 1997. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY GOVERNMENTS OR INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS. BUT SO LONG AS WARS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES FORCE PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES, THERE WILL ALSO BE A NEED FOR INDEPENDENT AID GROUPS LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE. AND AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE, SUCH GROUPS WILL RELY ON VOLUNTARY DONATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. ANNCR: THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING AMERICAN IDEALS AND
INSTITUTIONS. 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.
[18] DISSENT IN TURKEY BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS FEATURE NUMBER=7-32160 TELEPHONE=619-3464 EDITOR=KEVIN LYNCH CONTENT= (TAPE CUTS IN AUDIO SERVICES) INTRO: THIS WEEK KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WENT ON TRIAL FOR TREASON IN TURKEY. THE TRIAL COMES AT A TIME WHEN TURKISH INSTITUTIONS ARE BEING CONFRONTED BY THE QUESTION OF MINORITY RIGHTS. THERE WAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER WEARING THE ISLAMIC-STYLE HEADSCARF IN PARLIAMENT. AND YESTERDAY, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AKIN BIRDAL [AH-KUN BEER-DAHL] WAS IMPRISONED FOR USING THE TERM "KURDISH PEOPLE" AND FOR DEMANDING AN END TO TURKEY'S WAR WITH THE KURDS. V-O-A'S JUDITH LATHAM HAS TALKED WITH REGIONAL ANALYSTS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF DISSENT IN TURKEY. HERE'S __________ WITH A REPORT. TEXT: SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE TURKEY'S KURDISH PROBLEM EXPOSES FLAWS IN A STATE THAT, SINCE ITS FOUNDING BY KEMAL ATATURK IN 1923, HAS TRIED TO FOLLOW A NATIONALIST AND SECULAR AGENDA. SABRI SAYARI [SAH-BREE SAH-YAHR-EE] IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF TURKISH STUDIES IN WASHINGTON AND A PROFESSOR AT THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE. HE SAYS TURKEY'S POLICY HAS BEEN ONE OF TRYING TO ASSIMILATE ITS ETHNIC GROUPS, BUT HE SAYS ITS 12 MILLION KURDS, WHO REPRESENT ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, POSE A SPECIAL PROBLEM FOR THE TURKISH STATE. TAPE: CUT ONE -- SAYARI (0:23) "THE KURDS HAVE DEMANDED WHAT THEY REFER TO AS 'CULTURAL RIGHTS,' MEANING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR OWN RADIO BROADCASTS, T-V BROADCASTS, AND SO FORTH. TURKEY HAS NOT ACCEPTED THESE DEMANDS. I THINK, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM, THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN PEACEFULLY RESOLVED." TEXT: PROFESSOR SAYARI SAYS WHETHER THE CONTROVERSY IS OVER KURDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL RIGHTS OR THE RIGHT OF MUSLIM WOMEN TO WEAR THEIR ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES IN PUBLIC INSITUTIONS, THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS REALLY ONE OF IDENTITY AND PRIMARY LOYALTY. ALTHOUGH EXPRESSING AN ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE -- OR EVEN A RIGHT -- IN MANY SOCIETIES, PROFESSOR SAYARI EXPLAINS WHY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT DOESN'T SEE IT THAT WAY. PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS, HE SAYS, CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. TAPE: CUT TWO -- SAYARI (0:35) "I THINK THERE IS THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF A COUNTRY WHICH WAS ONCE THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE UNTIL THE EARLY DECADES OF THE CENTURY, AND IT FELL APART. AND THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE WAS ESSENTIALLY DUE TO ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM IN THE BALKANS AND THE ARAB COUNTRIES. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC, WHICH WAS 1923, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FEAR THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A REPETITION OF THIS STORY AND THE COUNTRY MIGHT BE AGAIN FACED WITH THE PROBLEM OF DISINTEGRATON, DIVISIVENESS, AND ALL THAT, SO TURKS, I THINK, ARE OVERLY SENSITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES LIKE THAT." TEXT: FOR MANY KURDS, HOWEVER, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FAR FROM SENSITIVE IN ITS DEALINGS WITH THE KURDS. NAJMALDIN KARIM [NAHJ-MAHL-DEEN KAH-REEM] IS PRESIDENT OF THE KURDISH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF NORTH AMERICA. DR. KARIM SAYS ABDULLAH OCALAN'S ARRREST AND TRIAL HAVE UNITED THE KURDS WORLDWIDE IN A COMMON PURPOSE. TAPE: CUT THREE -- KARIM (0:38) "THE WAY WE SEE IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SEES IT. THE WAY WE SEE IT, THERE IS A WAR IN KURDISTAN [THE AREA OF TURKEY, IRAQ, AND IRAN WHERE MOST KURDS LIVE] THAT'S PERPETRATED ON OUR PEOPLE BY THE TURKISH MILITARY, AND THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED INSTEAD OF BRINGING OCALAN, WHO IS THE LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE, AS A CRIMINAL BEFORE THE COURT. WHEN A GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED MORE THAN THREE MILLION OF ITS OWN PEOPLE TO BE RENDERED HOMELESS -- THIS IS ABOUT FOUR TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE AS IN KOSOVO -- AND DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF MORE THAN 3,000 VILLAGES AND OVER 40,000 PEOPLE, IT IS A TERRRORIST STATE -- AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED." TEXT: NAJMALDIN KARIM SAYS MOST PEOPLE THINK MR. OCALAN WILL RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY. EVEN SO, THE PRESIDENT OF THE KURDISH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF NORTH AMERICA BELIEVES THERE MAY STILL BE A CHANCE FROM PEACE IN THE LONG RUN -- IF TURKEY ULTIMATELY CHANGES SOME OF ITS LAWS REGARDING THE KURDS. FORMER VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL AT THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, GRAHAM FULLER, IS AN EXPERT ON TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST. HE SPOKE WITH V-O-A ABOUT THE OCALAN TRIAL. TAPE: CUT FOUR -- FULLER (0:26) "FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE TURKISH GOVENMENT, THE MAJOR ISSUE IS TO ESTABLISH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THAT THIS MAN HAS COMITTED CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE AND THAT HE SHOULD BE PUT AWAY BEHIND BARS OR EXECUTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT ABOVE ALL, THAT THE WHOLE KURDISH ISSUE SHOULD THEN DIE DOWN AS A RESULT. I THINK FROM THE KURDISH POINT OF VIEW, IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE. THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR GRIEVANCES TO BE INTERNATIONALLY PUBLICIZED." TEXT: THE CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITS KURDISH MINORITY, GRAHAM FULLER SAYS, IS THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY. TAPE: CUT FIVE -- FULLER (1:09) "THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE KURD IDENTIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS A TURK AND BE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO THE TURKISH STATE PROJECT. BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU CONSIDER THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE WORLD THAT DOESN'T HAVE A STATE IS CONCERNED ABOUT RECOGNITION OF ITS IDENTITY, THE ABILITY TO USE ITS LANGUAGE IN PUBLIC, POSSIBLY EDUCATION, GREATER REGIONAL AUTONOMY AND SO FORTH, I THINK THE KURDS DO HAVE SOME GRIEVANCES. THE GOOD NEWS IS, I THINK THESE GRIEVANCES ARE SOLUABLE WITHIN THE TURKISH STATE, IF THE TURKISH STATE SIMPLY BECOMES MORE FLEXIBLE AND WISE IN ITS HANDLING. (OPT) THE HEADSCARF ISSUE REALLY COMES DOWN TO CHALLENGING THE ENTIRE FOUNDATION OF THE KEMALIST STATE AS IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE MID-TWENTIES. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE, I SHOULD SAY, ARE NOT POLITICAL ISLAMISTS. HARDLY ANY OF THEM WOULD WANT AN ISLAMIC STATE, BUT THEY DO WANT GREATER RECOGNITION OF ISLAM. IN BOTH CASES, WE HAVE A VERY PATERNALISTIC STATE THAT IS DECIDING ON ITS OWN WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE KURDS, WHAT IS RIGHT FOR TURKS VIS-A-VIS ISLAM, AND THE STATE IS IMPOSING ITS VALUES ON AN UNWILLING MAJORITY." (END OPT) TEXT: MR. FULLER SAYS THE JAILING OF TURKISH JOURNALISTS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IS ONE OF TURKEY'S MOST GRIEVOUS PROBLEMS. TAPE: CUT SIX -- FULLER (0:47) "THEY'VE EVEN REGRESSED TO THE POINT OF SEEKING TO AVOID THE WORD 'KURD' IN PUBLIC ANYMORE. I THINK THE TURKS NEED TO DEVELOP A GREATER SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT KURDS WILL NOT ACTIVELY SEEK TO LEAVE TURKEY, IF THEY ARE GRANTED WHAT ARE FAIRLY REASONABLE RIGHTS, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE TOO MUCH OF A THREAT TO THE STATE. SO FAR, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THIS IN A WAY THAT IS EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM AND INDEED CREATING GROUNDS FOR THOSE VERY FEARS THAT THEY HAVE, RATHER THAN SERVING TO ELIMINATE THEM. MANY TURKS KNOW THIS, BUT THE TURKISH ESTABLISHMENT IS NOT WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT SO FAR, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO ALLOW THE KIND OF DEBATE TO TAKE PLACE THAT MIGHT HELP CLARIFY THESE ISSUES AND CREATE A BROADER NATIONAL CONSENSUS." TAPE: GRAHAM FULLER IS A CONSULTANT AT THE RAND CORPORATION, A
POLICY INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON.
[19] OCALAN TRIAL (S ONLY) BY SCOTT BOBB (ANKARA)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250215 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN TURKEY, POLICE SAY THEY HAVE KILLED TWO MEMBERS OF A LEFT-WING EXTREMIST GROUP IN A SHOOTOUT OVERNIGHT NEAR THE U-S CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN ENTERED ITS FIFTH DAY ON IMRALI PRISON ISLAND OFF THE TURKISH COAST. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM ANKARA. TEXT: THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ABDULLAH OCALAN TRIAL DRAWS TO A CLOSE WITH THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER AS LIKELY AS EVER TO RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY FOR LEADING THE 14-YEAR REVOLT BY P-K-K GUERRILLAS. HOWEVER, MR. OCALAN'S TESTIMONY THAT HE DID NOT ORDER ANY OF THE 30-THOUSAND KILLINGS AND REPEATEDLY SOUGHT PEACE IS ASTONISHING OBSERVERS HERE. SOME P-K-K LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED HIS CALL FOR PEACE, WHILE OTHERS HAVE REJECTED HIS REMARKS AND CRITICIZED THE DISDAIN WITH WHICH HE IS BEING TREATED BY THE TURKISH NEWS MEDIA. DEFENSE LAWYERS RETURNED TO COURT FRIDAY AFTER BOYCOTTING THURSDAY'S SESSION BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOTEL. TRIAL JUDGES FOUND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEM AND THE OCALAN FAMILY AT A STATE-OWNED GUEST HOUSE. COURT PROCEEDINGS HAVE MOVED QUICKLY AND LEGAL OBSERVERS SAY A
VERDICT COULD BE RENDERED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. (SIGNED)
[20] TURKEY / TRIAL (L) BY SCOTT BOBB (ANKARA)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250248 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS BEEN ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY (6/8) TO ALLOW PROSECUTION LAWYERS TO PREPARE THEIR FINAL ARGUMENTS. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT FRIDAY'S SESSION WAS DISRUPTED BY AN OUTBURST FROM FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS. TEXT: JUDGES IN THE TRIAL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN WERE OBLIGED TO TEMPORARILY CLEAR THE COURT ROOM FRIDAY AFTER VICTIMS PROTESTED A REQUEST BY DEFENSE LAWYERS TO ALLOW AS CO-PLAINTIFFS FAMILIES OF GUERILLAS KILLED IN THE 15-YEAR WAR. FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE CASE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE BEING ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE COURT SESSIONS ONE MAN REPORTEDLY WAVED AN ARTIFICIAL LIMB IN THE AIR ASKING WHO WOULD RESTORE HIS LEG. AND SECURITY FORCES WERE OBLIGED TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT CLASHES BETWEEN THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE DEFENSE. DEFENSE LAWYERS RETURNED TO THE COURTROOM FRIDAY AFTER BOYCOTTING THURSDAY'S SESSION, WHEN THEY WERE THROWN OUT OF THEIR HOTEL. JUDGES FOUND THEM ACCOMMODATIONS AT A STATE-OWNED GUEST HOUSE. THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ABDULLAH OCALAN TRIAL DREW TO A CLOSE WITH THE REBEL LEADER AS LIKELY AS EVER TO RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY, FOR HIS ROLE IN VIOLENCE IN WHICH 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED. MR. OCALAN'S TESTIMONY THAT HE DID NOT ORDER ANY OF THE KILLINGS AND REPEATEDLY SOUGHT PEACE HAS ASTONISHED OBSERVERS HERE. SOME GUERRILLA LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED HIS CALL FOR PEACE WHILE OTHERS HAVE REJECTED HIS REMARKS AND CRITICIZED THE DISDAIN WITH WHICH HE IS BEING TREATED BY THE TURKISH NEWS MEDIA. THE PROSECUTION FINISHED CROSS-EXAMINING MR. OCALAN ON FRIDAY AND WAS ORDERED TO PREPARE ITS FINAL REMARKS. THE DEFENSE MAY REQUEST UP TO 15 DAYS TO PREPARE ITS FINAL REMARKS. DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL ASK FOR MORE TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THEIR CLIENT. COURT PROCEEDINGS HAVE MOVED QUICKLY, AND LEGAL OBSERVERS SAY A
VERDICT COULD BE RENDERED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. (SIGNED)
[21] E-U SUMMIT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (COLOGNE)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250225 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS HAVE CLOSED A SUMMIT MEETING IN COLOGNE, GERMANY -- EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE THAT THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO IS NEAR AN END. BUT AS V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM COLOGNE, THE E-U LEADERS SOWED MORE CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE WEAKNESS OF THEIR COMMON CURRENCY, THE EURO. TEXT: GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER SAYS HE HAS CONSULTED WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN ABOUT THE TEXT OF A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT WILL ENCOMPASS THE WESTERN PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SAYS BOTH LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO A RAPID CONCLUSION OF THE RESOLUTION. FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE SEVEN MAJOR INDUSTRIAL NATIONS PLUS RUSSIA WILL MEET SUNDAY HERE IN COLOGNE TO APPROVE THE WORDING OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS THE NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL CONTINUE FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT HE FORESEES A QUICK AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL YUGOSLAV TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. /// BLAIR ACT ///IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN THAT WE WILL SUSPEND OUR CAMPAIGN WHEN THE WITHDRAWAL IS ACTUALLY VERIFIABLE, WHEN IT STARTS ACTUALLY TO TAKE PLACE AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE MUST BE SURE AND CLEAR THAT THE WORDS, THE AGREEMENT MILOSEVIC HAS SIGNED, HAS GOT TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ACTION. BUT I DON'T THINK THERE IS A DIFFICULTY WITH THIS PROVIDED WE GET TO WORK QUICKLY ON THE LOGISTICS OF THAT WITHDRAWAL AND I'M SURE THAT WILL HAPPEN. /// END ACT ///IF THERE IS OPTIMISM AMONG EUROPEAN LEADERS THAT PEACE IN KOSOVO IS FINALLY "IN OUR GRASP," AS CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER PUTS IT, THERE IS ONLY CONFUSION ABOUT THE COMMON CURRENCY OF 11 OF THE E-U COUNTRIES, THE EURO. THEY HAD INTENDED TO SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECLINING VALUE OF THE EURO AGAINST THE U-S DOLLAR. FURTHERMORE, THEIR DRAFT CONCLUSIONS SAID THE EURO'S MEDIUM AND LONG TERM PROSPECTS ARE GOOD. ITALY AND FRANCE OBJECTED TO WHAT THEY CONSIDER USELESS WORDS. CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SAYS ALL COMMENTS ABOUT THE EURO WILL BE LIMITED TO THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK. THE EURO HAS LOST AROUND 12 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE AGAINST THE DOLLAR SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED IN JANUARY. THE EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS CONFIRMED NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL
JAVIER SOLANA AS THEIR NEW REPRESENTATIVE FOR THEIR COMMON
FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY. MR. SOLANA HAS ACCEPTED THE NEW
POSITION JUST AS SOON AS HIS TERM AT NATO EXPIRES AT THE END OF
THE YEAR.
HOWEVER, OBJECTIONS BY GREECE ELIMINATED DRAFT LANGUAGE THAT
WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED BRINGING TURKEY CLOSER TO EUROPEAN UNION
MEMBERSHIP. OBJECTIONS BY DENMARK FINISHED ALL ATTEMPTS TO
CONTINUE DUTY FREE SHOPPING INSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION. THIS WILL
BE ELIMINATED ON SCHEDULE ON JUNE 30TH. (SIGNED)
[22] POPE / POLAND (L ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250232 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND RETURNS TO HIS NATIVE POLAND SATURDAY FOR THE EIGHTH TIME SINCE HE WAS ELECTED POPE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO. AS SABINA CASTELFRANCO REPORTS FROM ROME THIS 13-DAY VISIT TO HIS HOMELAND WILL BE A LONG AND DEMANDING TRIP FOR THE 79-YEAR-OLD POPE. TEXT: POPE JOHN PAUL WILL BE RECEIVED BY ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS DURING WHAT MANY EXPECT WILL BE AN EMOTIONAL VISIT TO MORE THAN 20 POLISH TOWNS AND CITIES. AWARE OF HIS ADVANCING AGE AND NO LONGER AS STRONG AS HE USED TO BE, THE POPE KNOWS THIS COULD BE HIS LAST VISIT TO POLAND. THE POPE -- BORN KAROL WOJTYLA -- IS GREATLY RESPECTED AND ADMIRED BY THE POLES WHO KNOW THEY OWE HIM MUCH. IT WAS HE WHO HELPED RID POLAND OF COMMUNISM. AND DESPITE EXISTING RESENTMENT AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY'S POLITICS, THE POPE'S MORAL AUTHORITY AND POPULARITY HAS NOT DIMINISHED. HIS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE RARELY CRITICISED AT HOME. THE PONTIFF WILL BEGIN HIS VISIT AT THE BALTIC SEA PORT OF GDANSK, WHERE THE SOLIDARITY LABOR MOVEMENT WAS BORN ONE YEAR AFTER HE MADE HIS FIRST TRIP BACK TO COMMUNIST POLAND AS POPE JOHN PAUL IN 1979. THE MOVEMENT, TRIGGERED BY THE POPE, EVENTUALLY HELPED TOPPLE COMMUNIST RULE 10 YEARS LATER. TO HONOR THAT EVENT, THE POPE WILL ADDRESS A NATIONAL PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN WARSAW ON JUNE 11TH. THE AIM IS TO PAY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S RESPECT TO THE STRUCTURES OF A DEMOCRATIC STATE AT A TIME OF POLITICAL INFIGHTING THAT DIVIDES THE COUNTRY. NATIONAL UNITY IS ONE OF MAIN THEMES THE POPE WILL FOCUS ON DURING THIS VISIT. THE PONTIFF IS SAID TO BE UNHAPPY WITH EXISITING DIVISIONS IN POLAND. REFORMS AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS HAVE LED TO DISSATISFACTION AND TO SIGNIFICANT LABOUR UNREST. POPE JOHN PAUL WILL SPEAK TO MILLIONS OF FELLOW COUNTRYMEN ON A VARIETY OF ASPECTS OF POLAND'S POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE. HE ALSO WILL USE HIS MORAL AUTHORITY TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND RECONCILIATION WITH ORTHODOX CHURCHES. THE POPE WILL END HIS NOSTALGIC VISIT HOME WITH A VISIT TO KRAKOW
WHERE HE WILL PRAY ON HIS PARENTS' GRAVE. (SIGNED)
[23] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250251 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (FRIDAY) AS INFLATION AND INTEREST RATE CONCERNS EASED. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND 799, UP 136 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 240 POINTS OR MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT 13 HUNDRED 27, UP 28 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED THREE PERCENT. ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE LATEST U-S EMPLOYMENT REPORT WHICH SHOWS THE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED LAST MONTH WAS WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS. THAT COULD BE A SIGNAL THAT THE U-S ECONOMY IS NOT DEVELOPING SERIOUS INFLATIONARY PRESSURE AND MIGHT RESTRAIN THE CENTRAL BANK FROM RAISING SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES LATER THIS MONTH. ///REST OPT///JOE FINNEGAN OF THE C-M-G INVESTMENT COMPANY BELIEVES THE EMPLOYMENT REPORT HELPED STABILIZE STOCK PRICES. ///FINNEGAN ACT//////END ACT///LOCKHEED MARTIN, THE U-S DEFENSE CONTRACTOR, SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED AN ORDER FROM EGYPT FOR 24 F-16 JET FIGHTERS. THE DEAL IS WORTH ABOUT 400 MILLION DOLLARS. TOMMY HILFIGER, THE APPAREL COMPANY, REPORTED A 91 PERCENT PROFIT INCREASE IN THE LATEST QUARTER, LARGELY BECAUSE OF STRONG SALES OF ITS JEANS AND WOMEN'S FASHIONS. AMERICANS CONTINUE TO FILL THEIR HOMES WITH THE LATEST ELECTRONIC DEVICES. CIRCUIT CITY, THE LARGEST U-S RETAILER OF HOME ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS WILL EASILY BEAT WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. GENERAL MOTORS SAYS STRONG NEW CAR AND TRUCK DEMAND HAS CAUSED IT TO RAISE ITS SECOND QUARTER NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION ESTIMATE TO MORE THAN ONE MILLION 540 THOUSAND VEHICLES. PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SOON BEGIN CONSIDERING WHO TO NOMINATE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ALICE RIVLIN WHO HAS ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION AS VICE CHAIR OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. MS. RIVLIN WAS KNOWN AS A MODERATE WHO WAS USUALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT RAISING INTEREST RATES. THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN HAS BEGUN ITS THIRD "BEANIE
BABIES" PROMOTION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF
FOUR LIMITED EDITION TOY BEARS. CUSTOMERS WHO BUY A REGULAR MENU
ITEM ARE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE A BEAR FOR TWO DOLLARS FIFTY CENTS.
MANY CONSUMERS MAY THINK THE BEARS ARE CUTE BUT SOME CONSIDER
THEM A QUICK FINANCIAL SPECULATION. BIDS IN EXCESS OF 40 DOLLARS
PER BEAR ARE ALREADY BEING REPORTED ON SOME ONLINE AUCTION
SITES.(SIGNED)
[24] KOSOVO PEACE BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)DATE=06/2/99TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-11324 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= /// ED'S: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EASTERN TIME ///AMERICA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS ARE EXAMINING THE KOSOVO PEACE PLAN AND DISCUSSING WHETHER YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS IN FACT REALLY READY TO AGREE TO ALL OF NATO'S TERMS FOR ENDING THE WAR. HERE WITH EXCERPTS FROM WHAT SOME U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE SAYING IS __________ WITH TODAY'S OPINION ROUND UP. TEXT: JUST LIKE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, EDITORIALS IN AMERICA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS REFLECT A SENSE OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT WHETHER NATO'S BALKAN CAMPAIGN HAS ACTUALLY COME TO AN END AND IF SO, WHETHER PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL STICK TO THE TERMS HE HAS APPARENTLY AGREED TO. THE NEW YORK TIMES REMINDED ITS READERS FRIDAY THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS A LONG RECORD OF UNDERMINING AGREEMENTS. VOICE: THE NATO BOMBING SHOULD END ONLY WHEN NATO CAN VERIFY THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF THE ROUGHLY 40-THOUSAND SERBIAN TROOPS IN KOSOVO HAVE LEFT. PLANS FOR THIS WITHDRAWAL SHOULD BE SET BY BELGRADE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN CONSULTATION WITH NATO COMMANDERS. IT WILL BE THE FIRST TANGIBLE SIGN THAT MR. MILOSEVIC IS SERIOUS ABOUT THE PEACE AGREEMENT. TEXT: AND, THE TIMES POINTS OUT, IF THIS AGREEMENT HOLDS, CRITICS INCLUDING PEOPLE IN THE PENTAGON -- WHO ARGUED THAT AIR POWER ALONE COULD NOT WIN THIS WAR WILL BE PROVEN WRONG. VOICE: THE SUSTAINED BOMBING HAS BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MANY CRITICS ALLOWED, AND FOR THE MOST PART WAS CONDUCTED WITH RESTRAINT AND A PROPER REGARD FOR CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. THOUGH AIR POWER ALONE MAY NOT WIN WARS, THIS CONFLICT DEMONSTRATED THAT OVER TIME IT CAN GRIND DOWN AN OPPONENT'S WILL TO RESIST. TEXT: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, WHICH HAS OFTEN CARRIED CRITICAL COMMENTARY ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE WAR STRATEGY, NOW WRITES THAT THE APPARENT SETTLEMENT LOOKS LIKE A VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON, CALLING NATO'S ACHIEVEMENTS REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL. VOICE: SO WHY DOESN'T THIS QUITE FEEL LIKE A VICTORY AS TRADITIONALLY UNDERSTOOD? . . . WITH A MORE TRADITIONALLY RECOGNIZABLE DEFEAT OF THE AGGRESSORS, THE GROUNDWORK COULD HAVE BEEN LAID FOR BRINGING A PACIFIED SERBIA AND ITS NEIGHBORING BALKAN STATES INTO THE BROADER ECONOMY OF EUROPE. INSTEAD, THE AGREEMENT MAY WELL LEAVE KOSOVO AS YET ANOTHER NO MAN'S LAND. THE SERBIAN AND KOSOVAR POPULATION HAVE PAID DEARLY FOR MILOSEVIC'S MASSIVE CRIMES AND WE FEAR THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR SOME TIME TO COME. TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT TO BREATHE EASILY, AS THE PAPER'S LEAD EDITORIAL PUTS IT. BUT THE POST HIGHLIGHTS ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED LESS OFTEN: HOW THESE LAST FEW WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS MAY HAVE SERVED TO PUT DAMAGED RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW ON A NEW FOOTING. VOICE: ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS ALREADY CLEAR: U-S DIPLOMACY HELPED DRAW AN ANGRY RUSSIA BACK FROM THE FRINGE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER TO A PLACE WHERE IT CAN, IF IT CHOOSES, ONCE AGAIN PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE. PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN OR HIS ENTOURAGE DESERVES CREDIT FOR REALIZING THAT RUSSIA'S INTERESTS WERE BETTER SERVED BY LONG TERM COOPERATION WITH THE WEST THAN BY ASSOCIATION WITH A DOOMED DESPOT IN BELGRADE. IT WAS MR. YELTSIN WHO APPOINTED VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AS PEACE ENVOY WHEN RUSSIA'S THEN PRIME MINISTER, YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, SEEMED MORE INTENT TO FOILING NATO. TEXT: IN BELGRADE, NEWS THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAD AGREED TO NATO TERMS FOR ENDING THE WAR BROUGHT LITTLE IMMEDIATE CELEBRATION. THE BOSTON GLOBE, LIKE SOME MEMBERS OF THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT, WONDERS WHAT PRICE THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MAY HAVE TO PAY AT HOME FOR PUTTING HIS COUNTRY THROUGH THIS WAR. VOICE: SERBIA'S CIVIC ALLIANCE, AN OPPOSITION PARTY, WELCOMED THE PEACE PLAN BUT WASTED NO TIME IN OBSERVING THAT ITS TERMS WERE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THOSE PROPOSED AT RAMBOUILLET LAST MARCH. HENCE, IT HAD BEEN UNNECESSARY, THE CIVIC ALLIANCE SAID, TO SUBJECT SERBS TO NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AND MILOSEVIC SHOULD STEP DOWN BECAUSE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 'A NUMBER OF WRONG DECISIONS'. TEXT: AND IN ARKANSAS, THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE CAUTIONS DON'T BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE YET, MEANING NOTHING IS AGREED UNTIL EVERYTHING IS AGREED. VOICE: LET'S TRUST BUT VERIFY, TO REPEAT AN OLD REAGANISM. LET'S DEAL BUT CUT THE CARDS. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS ONLY ONE PRUDENT COURSE TO FOLLOW TILL IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LAST SERBIAN THUG -- IN UNIFORM OR OUT -- IS DEPARTING KOSOVO, AND THE WAY IS OPEN FOR NATO TROOPS TO ESCORT AN EXILED PEOPLE HOME. TEXT: THAT EXCERPT FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE CONCLUDES
THIS EDITION OF THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP FOR FRIDAY. (SIGNED)
[25] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)DATE=06/2/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11323 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= /// ED'S: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EASTERN TIME ///INTRO: SEVERAL AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO GRANT NORMAL TRADE STATUS TO CHINA. HERE WITH A SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS ON THAT AS WELL AS A RANGE OF OTHER SUBJECTS FROM AROUND THE NATION IS ___________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: SINO / U-S RELATIONS REACHED THEIR LOWEST POINT IN A DECADE LAST MONTH WITH NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. DAYS LATER, CHINA WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS. AND NOW, PRESIDENT CLINTON IS GOING TO CONGRESS WITH HIS REQUEST TO APPROVE NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH BEIJING -- JUST AS THE WORLD IS REMEMBERING THE VIOLENT EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL TEN YEARS AGO. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION REGARDING CHINA WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. VOICE: THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO MAINTAIN NORMAL TRADE TIES WITH CHINA, FREE OF TARIFF BARRIERS THAT WOULD CHOKE OFF COMMERCE, IS SENSIBLE. HIS REQUEST SHOULD BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS AS SHOULD CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR. TRUE, NATO'S INADVERTENT BOMBING OF BEIJING'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AND THE RELEASE OF A CONGRESSIONAL REPORT DETAILING CHINESE ESPIONAGE IN THE U-S HAVE SOURED RELATIONS. BUT THE ECONOMIC DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES SHOULD BE SUSTAINED NOT SOLELY, OR EVEN PRIMARILY, FOR REASONS OF PROFIT. THE BIGGEST PAYOFF IS CHINA'S INTEGRATION INTO THE WORLD ECONOMY, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE ITS POLITICAL AS WELL AS FINANCIAL EVOLUTION. TEXT: THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS AGREES. VOICE: IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SOME CONGRESSMEN WILL OBJECT, HOPING TO PUNISH CHINA FOR ITS THEFT OF U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS, ITS SKYROCKETING TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE UNITED STATES, ITS HOSTILITY TOWARD TAIWAN. THEY HAVE REASON TO BE UNHAPPY, BUT SEVERELY RESTRICTING TRADE WITH THE ASIAN POWER IS NO WAY TO VENT ONE'S FRUSTRATIONS. TEXT: MANY OF THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGES ARE FILLED WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE APPARENT PEACE DEAL FOR KOSOVO, WITH THE NEW YORK POST, TYPICAL OF MANY, URGING CAUTION. VOICE: THE KOSOVO DEAL SHOULD HAVE A WARNING LABEL ATTACHED TO IT THAT READS: DANGER AHEAD. WHILE IN BOLD STROKES THE SERBS SEEM TO HAVE ACCEDED TO MOST OF NATO'S DEMANDS, THE WEST MUST STEEL ITS RESOLVE IN THESE CRITICAL DAYS. FOR IT IS STILL DEALING WITH SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, AND HE WILL LOOK FOR ANY CHINK IN THE ARMOR TO DELAY, OBFUSCATE AND CLEANSE. TEXT: IN SAN FRANCISCO, A NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA IS UNDERWAY, DESIGNED TO GENERATE INTEREST AMONG AMERICANS ABOUT EVENTS AND ISSUES AFFECTING THE CONTINENT. THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE SUGGESTS IT'S TIME TO TAKE A NEW LOOK AT AFRICA, NOTING THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT AFRICAN CITIZENS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES SEND BACK HOME EXCEEDS ALL U-S NON-MILITARY INVESTMENT IN THE CONTINENT. VOICE: THE CONTINENT HAS ENTERED A PRODUCTIVE ERA OF PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FOR MOST OF ITS 54 NATIONS. CONSIDER A FEW UPBEAT IMAGES: HOURS-LONG LINES TO VOTE IN SOUTH AFRICA, A CHANGEOVER TO CIVILIAN RULE FOR THE 120 MILLION PEOPLE OF OIL-RICH NIGERIA AND OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES OF FOUR PERCENT. IF AFRICA HAS AN IMAGE PROBLEM, THEN THE JOB IS TO REPLACE WORN-OUT STEREOTYPES WITH FRESH IMAGES. THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA, NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE DAY SESSION IN SAN FRANCISCO, WANTS AMERICANS TO KNOW WHY THE CONTINENT COUNTS. TEXT: AFTER THE STUDENT SHOOTINGS AT A COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL A FEW WEEKS AGO, PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK INTO WHETHER AMERICA'S ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MARKETING VIOLENCE TO YOUNGSTERS. THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, AS EXPECTED, WAS DEFENSIVE. BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITES THAT SUCH A STUDY IS WARRANTED. VOICE: SOME ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES HAVE PROTESTED THAT MR. CLINTON WAS MERELY SEEKING A HEADLINE. THAT POSSIBILITY CAN NEVER BE DISCOUNTED BUT IN THIS CASE THE PRESIDENT HAS AIMED HIS CRITICISM AT AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS TO HIM AND THE DEMOCRATS.... WHILE THE FURY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY ACTUALLY REINFORCES THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORT, IT HAS A POINT. HE SHOULD ALSO EXAMINE WHETHER THE GUN INDUSTRY IS DIRECTING ITS MARKETING AT CHILDREN. TEXT: JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED BY AMERICA'S MAJOR
NEWSPAPERS FRIDAY. (SIGNED)
[26] BRITAIN / PINOCHET (S ONLY) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)DATE=6/4/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250223 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A BRITISH JUDGE HAS SET A DATE FOR THE START OF EXTRADITION HEARINGS AGAINST FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET. AS V-O-A'S CHRISTINE FURNELL REPORTS FROM LONDON, MR. PINOCHET WAS ARRESTED IN LONDON LAST OCTOBER AFTER SPAIN LODGED AN EXTRADITION REQUEST. TEXT: THE HEARINGS WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27TH IN LONDON AND ARE EXPECTED TO LAST A WEEK. BEFORE SETTING THE DATE, JUDGE GRAHAM PARKINSON MET WITH BOTH DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION LAWYERS. LAST WEEK, LONDON'S HIGH COURT REFUSED MR. PINOCHET PERMISSION TO CHALLENGE THE START OF EXTRADITION HEARINGS, SAYING THE APPEAL ONLY DISRUPTS THE PROCEEDINGS AND UNNECESSARILY POSTPONES THEM. MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS HAVE ARGUED THAT BRITAIN WRONGFULLY APPROVED THE EXTRADITION CASE AGAINST THE FORMER CHILEAN GENERAL. SPAIN HAS ASKED FOR MR. PINOCHET'S EXTRADITION TO ANSWER CHARGES
OF MURDER AND TORTURE DURING HIS 1973 TO 1990 RULE. MR.
PINOCHET IS CURRENTLY LIVING UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN A LONDON
SUBURB WHILE HIS LAWYERS FIGHT THE PROCEEDINGS. (SIGNED)
Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
All Rights Reserved.