Antenna: News in English, 99-04-15

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From: Antenna <www.antenna.gr/> - email: webmaster@antenna.gr

CONTENTS

[01] Refugees

[02] Milosevic-Lukashenko

[03] Germany-Peace plan

[01] Refugees

The Serb-run Media Center has reported that two separate refugee convoys were bombed in the process. Those convoys were made up of women, children and elderly ethnic Albanians escorted by Serbian police.

The latest airstrikes continuing into the daylight hours Wednesday, pounded not only Pristina's bus station, the local airport, transmitters and army NATO launched another round of airstrikes, more than 30, pounding Serb targets in the southern province of Kosovo Wednesday.

The Serb-run Media Center has reported that two separate refugee convoys were bombed in the process. Those convoys were made up of women, children and elderly ethnic Albanians escorted by Serbian police.

The latest airstrikes continuing into the daylight hours Wednesday, pounded not only Pristina's bus station, the local airport, transmitters and army

[02] Milosevic-Lukashenko

Lukashenko, a staunch opponent of the NATO strikes has said Belarus would supply weapons to Yugoslavia if NATO launched raids. He has yet to announce plans to do so.

Yugoslavia has expressed an interest in joining a Slavic union that already includes Russia and Belarus. Lukashenko has previously called for the incorporation of other Slavic nations into the Russia-Belarus alliance.

The meeting, taking place at the presidential residence was at Milosevic's invitation.

[03] Germany-Peace plan

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder briefed the other 14 European Union leaders on the plan Wednesday in Brussels. The leaders also met with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has offered to mediate in the Kosovo crisis Germany has launched a peace plan for Kosovo that offers Milosevic a 24-hour suspension of NATO airstrikes if he starts withdrawing his forces from the province.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder briefed the other 14 European Union leaders on the plan Wednesday in Brussels. The leaders also met with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has offered to mediate in the Kosovo crisis led peace force, though it does call for a ``robust'' contingent of international troops under a single commander.

German Deputy Foreign Minister Ludger Volmer said there is ``fairly broad agreement on this idea'' within NATO. The idea is to find a feasible way to achieve a cease-fire and a withdrawal of the Serbs from Kosovo.''

The proposals were brought about by Germany's allies and Russia in intense diplomacy over the past few days.

Ideally Germany wants to have foreign ministers of the Group of Eight _ a forum of the world's seven leading industrial nations and Russia endorse the plan at a meeting in Bonn. No date as yet has been set.

Besides Russia, the G-8 includes key U.N. Security Council members: the United States, Britain and France.

Volmer has said that a solution in the Balkans will certainly not be possible without the Russians, let alone against them.

Germany currently chairs the EU as well as the G-8.

The plan foresees three stages: approval by the G-8, endorsement by the Security Council, then presentation to Milosevic. Main points include:

setting a timetable for the withdrawal of Serb military, police and paramilitary forces from Kosovo, with a clearly implied threat of a resumption of airstrikes if Milosevic stalls. a cease-fire by ethnic Albanian rebels, disarming by the international force. return of refugees and displaced people once Yugoslav forces have pulled out.

U.N. interim administration for Kosovo.

Advance troops of the U.N. force to move in quickly as Yugoslav forces withdraw, before the full peace force arrives.

U.N. secretary General Koffi Anan, who has agreed to mediate in the Kosovo crisis commented after the five points were made;

(c) Antenna 1999

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