Voice of America, 99-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / MACEDONIA (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

[02] G-8 / BALKANS (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE, GERMANY)

[03] G-8 / BALKANS (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE, GERMANY)

[04] KOSOVO / RUSSIA REACT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[05] KOSOVO / SERB / REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (PEC)

[06] KOSOVO / TOWN REVIVES (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRIZREN)

[07] PRISTINA / KOSOVO WITHDRAW (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

[01] CLINTON / MACEDONIA (S-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ANNOUNCED PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL TRAVEL TO MACEDONIA TUESDAY TO MEET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM COLOGNE, GERMANY, THE LATEST STOP ON MR. CLINTON'S WEEK-LONG TOUR OF EUROPE.

TEXT: NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOER SANDY BERGER CONFIRMED WHAT HAD BEEN EXPECTED FOR DAYS: THAT MR. CLINTON WILL STOP IN SKOPJE TO VISIT A REFUGEE CAMP.

IN HIS MEETING WITH REFUGEES, THE PRESIDENT WILL LIKELY PLEDGE THAT NATO PEACEKEEPERS WILL WORK TO ENSURE THEIR SAFE RETURN TO KOSOVO.

WHILE IN SKOPJE, MR. CLINTON WILL ALSO MEET WITH MACEDONIAN AND ALBANIAN LEADERS. HIS MESSAGE TO THEM: ONE OF THANKS FOR ACCEPTING A FLOOD OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES, AND A VOW TO HELP THE TWO COUNTRIES RECOVER FROM THE ORDEAL.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALSO ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL STOP ON THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP -- A BRIEF VISIT TO AVIANO AIR FORCE BASE IN ITALY, TO THANK U-S TROOPS WHO TOOK PART IN NATO'S 11-WEEK AIR CAMPAIGN OVER YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WTW
19-Jun-99 12:53 PM EDT (1653 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] G-8 / BALKANS (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE, GERMANY)

INTRO: LEADERS MEETING IN COLOGNE (GERMANY) AT THE GROUP OF EIGHT SUMMIT ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP REBUILD KOSOVO AND OTHER ECONOMIES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL ASSUME THE MAJOR SHARE OF THE BURDEN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN OUTLINES WHAT THE EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE IN MIND.

TEXT: EUROPEAN UNION FINANCE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT NOW TO SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO RECONSTRUCT KOSOVO. BUT THEY ARE ALLOCATING MORE THAN 500-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. E-U OFFICIALS SEE A THREE-PHASE AID PLAN THAT EXPANDS TO INCLUDE KOSOVO'S BALKAN NEIGHBORS.

FIRST PRIORITY IS REBUILDING KOSOVAR HOMES AND LIVES AND PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES UNTIL THE SERB PROVINCE CAN FUNCTION ON ITS OWN. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS COORDINATING WITH THE WORLD BANK TO ASSESS WHAT IS NEEDED. JAPAN SAYS IT IS READY TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS. BUT EUROPEAN LEADERS RECOGNIZE THEY WILL PICK UP THE BULK OF THE BURDEN.

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WORLD BANK WILL LOOK AT MEDIUM- AND LONG-RANGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AS KOSOVO REBUILDS, SO TOO WILL ITS NEIGHBORS.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS ALREADY PLEDGED FINANCIAL AID FOR ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, WHOSE GOVERNMENTS STRAINED TO COPE WITH THE KOSOVAR REFUGEE CRISIS. EUROPEAN AID WILL ALSO FLOW TO CROATIA AND BOSNIA. WESTERN LEADERS ARE WORKING ON PLANS TO HELP STABILIZE THE REST OF THE BALKANS.

E-U POLITICAL DIRECTOR GUNTER BURGHARDT SAYS THE EUROPEANS WILL COORDINATE FUNDING EFFORTS WITH THE WORLD BANK TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC REFORMS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE AND HELP BALKAN NEIGHBORS INTEGRATE INTO THE EUROPEAN MARKET. HE SAYS THE SUMMIT'S FINAL TEXT WILL REFLECT THESE GOALS.

AND WE WANT TO GIVE A POLITICAL SIGNAL TO SAY WE ARE READY TO PARTICIPATE IN A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT ON THE E-U SIDE TO STABILIZE THESE COUNTRIES POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. BUT WE HAVE ATTACHED CONDITIONS TO THAT, WHICH ARE THE CONDITIONS OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM.

BUT MR. BURGHARDT IS CLEAR WHEN HE SAYS THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IS EXCLUDED FROM ANY FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AS LONG AS PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER. HE SAYS THE SUMMIT LEADERS ALL AGREE ON THIS POINT.

WE HAVE TO ONCE AND FOR ALL DEAL WITH THE PERMANENT SOURCE OF CONFLICTS SINCE 1989 AND 1991, AND THIS SOURCE IS LINKED TO THE PERSON OF MR. MILOSEVIC. SO IF WE TALK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILIZATION, WE MEAN WITH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA.

THE EUROPEAN OFFICIAL WILL NOT SPECULATE AT THIS POINT HOW MUCH THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL COST. // END OPT //

A DONORS' CONFERENCE AT THE END OF JULY WILL FOCUS ON THE IMMEDIATE FUNDING NEEDS FOR KOSOVO. A SECOND MEETING IN OCTOBER WILL LOOK AT FINANCING PROJECTS FOR KOSOVO'S NEIGHBORS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/DW/WTW
19-Jun-99 9:35 AM EDT (1335 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] G-8 / BALKANS (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE, GERMANY)

INTRO: LEADERS MEETING IN COLOGNE (GERMANY) AT THE GROUP OF EIGHT SUMMIT ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP REBUILD KOSOVO AND OTHER ECONOMIES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL ASSUME THE MAJOR SHARE OF THE BURDEN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN OUTLINES WHAT THE EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE IN MIND.

TEXT: EUROPEAN UNION FINANCE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS DIFFICULT NOW TO SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO RECONSTRUCT KOSOVO. BUT THEY ARE ALLOCATING MORE THAN 500-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. E-U OFFICIALS SEE A THREE-PHASE AID PLAN THAT EXPANDS TO INCLUDE KOSOVO'S BALKAN NEIGHBORS.

FIRST PRIORITY IS REBUILDING KOSOVAR HOMES AND LIVES AND PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES UNTIL THE SERB PROVINCE CAN FUNCTION ON ITS OWN. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS COORDINATING WITH THE WORLD BANK TO ASSESS WHAT IS NEEDED. JAPAN SAYS IT IS READY TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS. BUT EUROPEAN LEADERS RECOGNIZE THEY WILL PICK UP THE BULK OF THE BURDEN.

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WORLD BANK WILL LOOK AT MEDIUM- AND LONG-RANGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AS KOSOVO REBUILDS, SO TOO WILL ITS NEIGHBORS.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS ALREADY PLEDGED FINANCIAL AID FOR ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, WHOSE GOVERNMENTS STRAINED TO COPE WITH THE KOSOVAR REFUGEE CRISIS. EUROPEAN AID WILL ALSO FLOW TO CROATIA AND BOSNIA. WESTERN LEADERS ARE WORKING ON PLANS TO HELP STABILIZE THE REST OF THE BALKANS.

E-U POLITICAL DIRECTOR GUNTER BURGHARDT SAYS THE EUROPEANS WILL COORDINATE FUNDING EFFORTS WITH THE WORLD BANK TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC REFORMS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE AND HELP BALKAN NEIGHBORS INTEGRATE INTO THE EUROPEAN MARKET. HE SAYS THE SUMMIT'S FINAL TEXT WILL REFLECT THESE GOALS.

AND WE WANT TO GIVE A POLITICAL SIGNAL TO SAY WE ARE READY TO PARTICIPATE IN A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT ON THE E-U SIDE TO STABILIZE THESE COUNTRIES POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. BUT WE HAVE ATTACHED CONDITIONS TO THAT, WHICH ARE THE CONDITIONS OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM.

BUT MR. BURGHARDT IS CLEAR WHEN HE SAYS THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IS EXCLUDED FROM ANY FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AS LONG AS PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER. HE SAYS THE SUMMIT LEADERS ALL AGREE ON THIS POINT.

WE HAVE TO ONCE AND FOR ALL DEAL WITH THE PERMANENT SOURCE OF CONFLICTS SINCE 1989 AND 1991, AND THIS SOURCE IS LINKED TO THE PERSON OF MR. MILOSEVIC. SO IF WE TALK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILIZATION, WE MEAN WITH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA.

THE EUROPEAN OFFICIAL WILL NOT SPECULATE AT THIS POINT HOW MUCH THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL COST. // END OPT //

A DONORS' CONFERENCE AT THE END OF JULY WILL FOCUS ON THE IMMEDIATE FUNDING NEEDS FOR KOSOVO. A SECOND MEETING IN OCTOBER WILL LOOK AT FINANCING PROJECTS FOR KOSOVO'S NEIGHBORS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/DW/WTW
19-Jun-99 9:35 AM EDT (1335 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO / RUSSIA REACT (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ARE PLEASED WITH THE AGREEMENT THEY SIGNED WITH THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING FOR MOSCOW'S PARTICIPATION IN NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA DID NOT GET ONE OF ITS KEY DEMANDS: TO PATROL ITS OWN SECTOR OF KOSOVO.

TEXT: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SAYS THE ACCORD PROVIDES FOR HIS COUNTRY'S FAIR PARTICIPATION IN THE KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. MR. IVANOV, WHO TOOK PART IN MARATHON NEGOTIATIONS IN HELSINKI WITH U-S OFFICIALS, SAYS THROUGHOUT THE TALKS, RUSSIA'S INTERESTS AND RIGHTS WERE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

UNDER TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, RUSSIA WILL DISPATCH 36-HUNDRED TROOPS TO KOSOVO. THESE SOLDIERS WILL SERVE IN SECTORS RUN BY THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY AND FRANCE. MOSCOW'S CONTINGENT WILL BE UNDER RUSSIA'S OWN COMMAND, BUT WILL ANSWER IN TACTICAL SITUATIONS TO NATO COMMANDERS. THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, LIKE OTHER NATIONAL CONTINGENTS IN KOSOVO, WILL ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO TAKE PART IN ANY OPERATION THEY DISAPPROVE OF.

IN SIGNING THE AGREEMENT, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WERE FORCED TO DROP A KEY DEMAND -- THAT MOSCOW BE ABLE TO CONTROL ITS OWN SECTOR WITHIN KOSOVO. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, IN A KREMLIN MEETING, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN POUNDED HIS FIST ON A DESK SAYING IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR RUSSIA TO HAVE ITS OWN KOSOVO SECTOR TO PATROL.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE LONG HELSINKI TALKS, NATO OFFICIALS REFUSED TO YIELD ON THAT POINT, SAYING A SEPARATE RUSSIAN SECTOR WOULD EFFECTIVELY MEAN A PARTITION OF KOSOVO.

IRONICALLY, IN REACTING TO THE HELSINKI AGREEMENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE COMMUNIST-LED LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, GENNADY SELEZNYOV, AGREED WITH NATO.

THE THORNY ISSUE OF RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN NATO'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO HAD TO BE RESOLVED FAIRLY QUICKLY, FOLLOWING THE APPEARANCE LAST WEEK OF 200 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS WHO TOOK OVER THE AIRFIELD IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. THE SOLDIERS WERE PART OF NATO'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN BOSNIA AND THEIR PRESENCE IN PRISTINA TOOK SENIOR NATO OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE.

UNDER TERMS OF THE HELSINKI ACCORD, 750 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS WILL PROVIDE AIRFIELD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER SUPPORT OPERATIONS. THE PRISTINA AIRFIELD WILL BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF A RUSSIAN OFFICER, BUT NATO WILL CONTROL ALL AIR OPERATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/DW/WTW
19-Jun-99 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO / SERB / REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (PEC)

INTRO: IN PARTS OF KOSOVO, SERBS -- FACING THE PROSPECT OF FACING THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- ARE FEARING THE OLD ADAGE: "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND." EVE CONANT FILES FROM THE FIELD

TEXT:

AT ONE OF KOSOVO'S OLDEST ORTHODOX MONASTERIES, SERBS ARE GATHERING FOR WHAT MAY BE THEIR LAST MASS BEFORE LEAVING KOSOVO.

THE PATRIARCH OF SERBIA HAS COME HERE, UNDER K-FOR ARMED GUARD, TO TRY AND GIVE SOLACE TO THE SERBS OF PEC. THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED AT THE CHURCH ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED -- SCARED THE K-L-A WILL COME AND COMMIT ATROCITIES AGAINST THEM, NOW THEY ARE THE ONES OUT-NUMBERED AND UNPROTECTED.

IN THE MONASTERY DINNING HALL, A NUN LAYS OUT UTENSILS. THE SERBS WILL EAT TOGETHER TONIGHT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT. VLADAN MIXAILOVIC -- A SERB DOCTOR -- SAYS 200 SERBS WILL SPEND THE NIGHT HERE.

WE'LL SLEEP IN THE MONASTERY TONIGHT AND IN THE MORNING WE'LL CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OUR HOMES.

ALREADY SMOKE CAN BE SEEN RISING FROM SEVERAL SERB HOMES. THOSE WERE THE ONLY HOMES INTACT. MOST OF THE ALBANIAN HOMES IN PEC WERE BURNED MONTHS AGO. DR. MIXAILOVIC SAYS THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

ALREADY A BOY HAS BEEN KILLED AND THE K-L-A ARE COMING INTO SERB HOUSES AND TAKING PEOPLE AWAY.

ALSO IN THE MONASTERY IS AN AGITATED YOUNG SERB WHO KEEPS PULLING A GUN OUT FROM UNDER HIS SHIRT. AN ORTHODOX PRIEST TRIES TO CALM HIM DOWN. THE BOY ASKS WHAT THE SERBS SHOULD DO NOW.

THE SERBS SAY THE K-L-A IS BURNING THEIR HOUSES, BUT K-L-A OFFICER ARBEN HASANI SAYS IT IS MOST LIKELY THE SERBS ARE BURNING THEIR OWN HOUSES SO AS NOT TO LEAVE ANYTHING FOR THE RETURNING ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE K-L-A BURNING HOUSES. IT'S SERB PROPAGANDA.

THE TIDE HAS TURNED FOR THE SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS. AS THE SERBS TAKE REFUGE IN THE MONASTERY, UP THE ROAD A GROUP OF K-L-A SOLDIERS UNLOADS FOOD FROM A TRUCK. THE SOLDIERS SAY THEY ARE FINALLY TAKING IT BACK FROM THE SERBS WHO STOLE IT FROM THEM MONTHS AGO.

ITALIAN K-FOR TROOPS OCCUPY PEC AND ARE DOING NOTHING TO STOP OFFICERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY FROM ROAMING THE STREETS, IN UNIFORM AND HEAVILY ARMED. IT IS CLEAR THE K-L-A -- NOT THE SERBS OR THE K-FOR CONTINGENT HERE -- IS NOW IN CHARGE. . (SIGNED) NEB / EC / DWJ-T / WD
19-Jun-99 6:31 AM EDT (1031 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO / TOWN REVIVES (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRIZREN)

INTRO: EVERYDAY LIFE IS BEGINNING TO RETURN TO THE SOUTHERN KOSOVO CITY, PRIZREN, AS NATO TROOPS CONTINUE TO KEEP CLOSE WATCH ON LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. TIM BELAY REPORTS.

TEXT: LOUDSPEAKERS ATTACHED TO NATO JEEPS AND POSTED SIGNS ON COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARDS CARRY A CONSISTENT MESSAGE IN ALBANIAN, SERBIAN AND TURKISH, WHICH IS ALSO WIDELY SPOKEN HERE.

THE WARNING IS AIMED AT THE LARGE LOCAL PRESENCE OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. "ANYONE WHO DISPLAYS ARMS IN PUBLIC WILL HAVE THEIR WEAPONS CONFISCATED IMMEDIATELY AND RISK ARREST, IF THEY RESIST."

K-L-A MEMBERS HERE WALKED FREELY ABOUT TOWN WITH HANDGUNS AND AUTOMATIC RIFLES FRIDAY, BUT SEEM NOW TO HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE WARNING.

NATO TROOPS MOVED IN LAST SUNDAY. TWO DAYS LATER, ALIRIZA YILDIRIM AND HIS 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER RESUMED THEIR DAILY BIKE RIDES THROUGH THE CITY. IT IS A FORM OF RECREATION MR. YILDIRIM SAYS THEY WERE ABLE TO ENJOY DAILY UNTIL THE WAR BEGAN IN LATE MARCH.

ALONG WITH FAMILY LIFE, THE BUSINESS WORLD IN PRIZREN IS ALSO ON THE WAY BACK TO WHERE IT USED TO BE. SMALL KIOSKS ARE STOCKING UP ON SODA POP AND CHEWING GUM. EVEN SUNGLASSES AND BEDROOM SLIPPERS ARE FOR SALE ON THE STREETS. THE BIG TRADE IS IN CARTONS OF CIGARETTES.

MOST OF THE GOODS HAVE BEEN IMPORTED FROM NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, IN THE PAST FEW DAYS -- A TURNAROUND, BECAUSE KOSOVO HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION ECONOMICALLY THAN ALBANIA.

SUPERMARKETS AND CLOTHING STORES HERE REMAIN CLOSED, THEIR SHELVES EMPTY. BUT THE MOOD IS OPTIMISTIC AND THE WORD YOU HEAR MOST OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GETTING BACK TO NORMAL IS "AVASH" -- TURKISH FOR TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME. (SIGNED)
NEB / TB / DW / WD
19-Jun-99 7:26 AM EDT (1126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] PRISTINA / KOSOVO WITHDRAW (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS SAY SERB MILITARY UNITS ARE WITHDRAWING FROM KOSOVO AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM PRISTINA, THE NEXT TASK FOR TROOPS FROM "K-FOR" -- THE KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING FORCE -- IS TO DISARM ETHNIC-ALBANIAN SOLDIERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

TEXT: ON THE KOSOVO-SERBIAN BORDER AT MERDARE, THE ONLY SERB MILITARY IN SIGHT IS A CONVOY OF THREE TANKS, 50 METERS INSIDE SERBIA. BRITISH TROOPS ON THE KOSOVO SIDE OF THE BORDER AT MERDARE EXPECT THIS CONTINGENT TO BE ONE OF THE LAST.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY ONLY THREE- TO FIVE-THOUSAND SERB TROOPS ARE STILL IN KOSOVO, FROM WHAT WAS AN ARMY 40-THOUSAND STRONG. THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR DEPARTURE IS MIDNIGHT SUNDAY (2200 UTC).

ONCE YUGOSLAV FORCES DEPART, THE PEACEKEEPERS CAN FOCUS ON DISARMING MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. K-L-A OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN WARNED TO DISARM OR RISK ARREST AND CONFISCATION OF THEIR WEAPONS. MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SAY THEY ARE FINDING MORE EVIDENCE THAN ANTICIPATED OF SERB ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. OFFICIALS ESTIMATE MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/CBL-T/WTW
19-Jun-99 5:11 PM EDT (2111 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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