Voice of America, 97-03-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] U-S/ALBANIA (S-OVERNIGHTER) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[02] ALBANIA WRAP (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA, ALBANIA)

[03] ALBANIA (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

[04] ALBANIA (S ALT) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

[05] ALBANIA DIPLOMACY (S ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[06] ALBANIA / ORDER (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

[07] ITALY / ALBANIA (S&L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

[08] U-S/ALBANIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] U-S/ALBANIA (S-OVERNIGHTER) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT THE EVACUATION OF U-S CITIZENS FROM ALBANIA TO RESUME TODAY (SATURDAY) AFTER THE OPERATION WAS SUSPENDED FRIDAY DUE TO HOSTILE FIRE. U-S HELICOPTERS OVER TIRANA RETURNED FIRE, BUT THERE ARE U-N-K-N-O-W-N CASUALTIES FROM THE INCIDENTS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: OFFICIALS HERE ARE DOWNPLAYING THE FRIDAY'S SHOOTING INCIDENTS AND SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT THE EVACUATION OPERATION CAN RESUME -- ALBEIT WITH INCREASED SECURITY. MORE THAN 350 AMERICANS AND OTHERS WERE AIRLIFTED FROM TIRANA FRIDAY BEFORE THE FLIGHTS WERE HALTED.

COLONEL EMERSON GARDNER, COMMANDER OF THE U-S MARINE UNIT CONDUCTING THE EVACUATION FLIGHTS, TOLD PENTAGON REPORTERS BY TELEPHONE FROM THE ADRIATIC THAT A HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRED TWICE ON MARINE HELICOPTERS BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED BY RETURN U-S GUNFIRE.

HE SAYS IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, A MAN ON THE GROUND AIMED A ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE OR MISSILE AT A U-S HELICOPTER, BUT THAT HE DROPPED THE WEAPON AND FLED WHEN HE WAS FIRED ON. COLONEL GARDNER SAYS HE THINKS THE SHOW OF U-S FORCE WAS ENOUGH TO DETER OTHER WOULD-BE ATTACKERS:

WHEN WE TOOK A ROBUST POSTURE AGAINST THESE ASSETS, THE PEOPLE WOULD SCURRY FOR COVER, ACTUALITY WOULD COME OUT AND PUT COVERS OVER THE GUNS, DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING US ON.

[02] ALBANIA WRAP (S-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA, ALBANIA)

INTRO: THE SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE TO ROCK THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL WHERE AUTHORITIES APPEAR TO BE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CHAOTIC SITUATION. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS, POLICE VEHICLES LOADED WITH ARMED MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES ARE NOW PATROLLING THE STREETS.

TEXT: THE SHOW OF FORCE BEGAN LATE FRIDAY WHEN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS BEGAN PATROLLING THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN TIRANA. VEHICLES LOADED WITH POLICE AND ARMED MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES ALSO DROVE THROUGH THE AREA FIRING THEIR WEAPONS INTO THE AIR.

THE DISPLAY WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SINCE THE WAVE OF LOOTING AND VIOLENCE DESCENDED ON THE CAPITAL. IT CAME AS OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED POLICE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A 300-PERCENT RAISE AND THE CURFEW IN THE CAPITAL WOULD NOW START AT SEVEN IN THE EVENING.

DESPITE THE SHOW OF FORCE, THE SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE TO ECHO THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY STRAY BULLETS SINCE THE VIOLENCE ERUPTED. U-S, GERMAN, ITALIAN AND BRITISH HELICOPTERS AIRLIFTED HUNDREDS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS OUT OF THE CAPITAL FRIDAY. U-S OFFICIALS HAD TO SUSPEND THE AIRLIFT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AFTER U-S HELICOPTERS APPARENTLY CAME UNDER FIRE. BUT THE EVACUATION IS EXPECTED TO RESUME. (SIGNED)
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14-Mar-97 8:10 PM EST (0110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

INTRO: U-S MILITARY AIRCRAFT HAVE AIR LIFTED ANOTHER GROUP OF AMERICANS AND FOREIGNERS FROM THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL. THE AIRLIFT, WHICH HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FRIDAY AFTER U-S HELICOPTERS WERE FIRED UPON, WAS RESUMED JUST AFTER DAYBREAK. FROM TIRANA, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS

TEXT: TWO U-S COBRA ATTACK HELICOPTERS PATROLLED THE SKIES OVER THE U-S DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND AS TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS SWOOPED UP TO PICK IN ABOUT 90 PEOPLE EARLY THIS MORNING. MARINE SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT BILL DARRENCAMP SAYS THE NON COMBATANT EVACUATION -- OR "NEO" -- IN MILITARY PARLANCE (VERBAL USAGE), WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ALL THE AMERICANS WHO WANT TO LEAVE ARE OUT.

AND WE ARE HERE AS LONG AS THE "NEO" NEEDS TO GO ON. WE ARE HERE AT THE REQUEST OF THE AMBASSADOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO COME AND EVACUATE THE AMERICANS. WHEN THERE IS NO ONE LES TO EVACUATE, THEN OUR "NEO" IS DONE.

SPORADIC GUNFIRE IN AND AROUND THE CITY CONTINUES, BUT IN THE PAST 12 HOURS POLICE HAVE RESUMED PATROLS ON DOWNTOWN STREETS IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE CAPITAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/KK/CB-T/CF
15-Mar-97 5:23 AM EST (1023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ALBANIA (S ALT) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

INTRO: U-S MILITARY HELICOPTERS HAVE RESUMED EVACUATING THE LAST AMERICANS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS TRYING TO FLEE THE ANARCHY THAT HAS ENGULFED ALBANIA. MORE THAN 500 AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE NOW BEEN FLOWN OUT OF THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL ON THE U-S EVACUATION FLIGHTS, WHICH WERE SUSPENDED FRIDAY AFTER HELICOPTERS CAME UNDER FIRE. FROM TIRANA, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE EVACUATION FLIGHTS FROM THE U-S DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND RESUMED SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK WHEN ABOUT 90 PEOPLE SCURRIED ABOARD U-S TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS AND WERE FLOWN DIRECTLY TO ITALY.

MORE THAN 500 U-S CITIZENS HAVE NOW BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE COUNTRY. MOST OF THOSE BEING FLOWN OUT NOW ARE FOREIGN NATIONALS. ONE U-S CITIZEN WAITING TO LEAVE SAID HE WANTED TO STAY IN THE SMALL TOWN WHERE HE HAD BEEN LIVING.

BUT YESTERDAY A LOT OF ARMS CAME INTO TOWN, I THINK THEY BROKE INTO A BARRACKS JUST NORTH OF TOWN, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SHOOTING AND KIDS WITH GUNS AND ONE TEN OR TWELVE YEAR-OLD KID POINTING A MACHINE-GUN AT US.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE EVACUATION FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ALL AMERICANS WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN EVACUATED.

POLICE WITH ASSAULT RIFLES ARE NOW PATROLLING THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL IN CARS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EFFORT TO RESTORE ORDER. SPORADIC GUNFIRE CONTINUES TO ECHO THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/DW/KL
15-Mar-97 8:25 AM EST (1325 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ALBANIA DIPLOMACY (S ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

INTRO: IN VIENNA SATURDAY AMBASSADORS FROM 54 NATIONS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE VOICED SUPPORT FOR SENDING FOREIGN TROOPS TO RESTORE ORDER IN ALBANIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE EUROPEAN UNION, MEANWHILE, REMAINS DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE.

TEXT: THE O-S-C-E GAVE BROAD SUPPORT TO A CALL TO SEND POLICE AND MILITARY UNITS TO ALBANIA. THE EUROPEAN PEACE MEDIATOR FOR ALBANIA, FORMER AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR FRANS VRANITZKY, SAID HE BELIEVES THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO FOREIGN INTERVENTION TO RESTORE ORDER. THE O-S-C-E ENDORSED MR. VRANITZKY'S REPORT WHICH CALLS FOR A STABILIZATION FORCE, MORE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND O-S-C-E PARTICIPATION IN PREPARING NEW ALBANIAN ELECTIONS.

BUT IN THE NETHERLANDS, EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE NOT REACHED CONSENSUS ON THE NEED FOR FOREIGN TROOPS IN ALBANIA.

THE DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, WHOSE COUNTRY CHAIRS THE O-S-C-E, SPOKE IN FAVOR OF CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE. CARL BILDT, THE E-U ENVOY IN BOSNIA, STRONGLY ENDORSED THE CALL FOR A EUROPEAN FORCE. BUT GERMANY AND BRITAIN ARE SCEPTICAL ABOUT PEACE-KEEPING TROOPS, WITH THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYING SUCH A MOVE IS PREMATURE.

THE DANISH AND ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS SUGGESTED THAT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ALBANIA WOULD IMPROVE IF PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA RESIGNS. ITALY, MEANWHILE, SAYS IT WILL WAIT UNTIL STABILITY HAS RETURNED TO ALBANIA BEFORE REPATRIATING REFUGEES FLEEING THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
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15-Mar-97 11:27 AM EST (1627 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] ALBANIA / ORDER (S) BY KYLE KING (TIRANA)

INTRO: U-S MILITARY HELICOPTERS HAVE EVACUATED MORE FRIGHTENED FOREIGNERS FROM ALBANIA, WHERE THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE VIOLENCE-TORN NATION. OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOW SETTING UP SPECIAL POLICE UNITS TO ROUND OF SOME OF THE THOUSANDS OF GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOTED FROM MILITARY DEPOSITS. FROM TIRANA, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: OUTSIDE TIRANA'S MAIN POLICE STATION MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE GATHERED SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO SIGN UP FOR THE SPECIAL NEW UNITS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN PATROLLING THE CAPITAL IN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

THE VOLUNTEERS, SOME OF THEM WITH AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLES SLUNG OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, SAY THEY ARE READY TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE COUNTRY.

SINCE THE SPECIAL NEW UNITS AND UNIFORMED POLICE BEGAN PATROLLING THE STREETS OF TIRANA FRIDAY, AN ELEMENT OF CALM HAS RETURNED TO THE CAPITAL. HOWEVER, THE SOUND OF SPORADIC EXPLOSIONS AND GUNFIRE STILL ECHO THROUGH THE STREETS.

ALBANIA'S NEW JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS THE NEW UNITS, WHICH WILL BE PAID EACH DAY ABOUT WHAT THE AVERAGE ALBANIAN MAKES IN A MONTH, WILL FOCUS FIRST ON RESTORING ORDER TO THE CAPITAL.

U-S HELICOPTERS SPENT THE DAY EVACUATING MORE FOREIGNERS FROM ALBANIA. MORE THAN 600 AMERICANS AND OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS HAVE NOW BEEN FERRIED OUT THE COUNTRY, WHICH EXPLODED INTO VIOLENCE FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF HIGH RISK INVESTMENT SCHEMES. (SIGNED)
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15-Mar-97 2:03 PM EST (1903 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] ITALY / ALBANIA (S&L) BY PEGGY POLK (ROME)

INTRO: ALBANIANS ARE STREAMING ACROSS THE ADRIATIC SEA TO SEEK REFUGE IN ITALY FROM THE ANARCHY GRIPPING THEIR COUNTRY. AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS, ITALIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE PROMISED THE ALBANIANS SANCTUARY -- BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY.

TEXT: WHEN SOME 40-THOUSAND ALBANIANS ARRIVED ON ITALY'S SHORES IN 1991 -- AFTER THE FALL OF STALINIST RULE IN EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY -- ITALIAN AUTHORITIES CONSIDERED THEM ECONOMIC MIGRANTS AND TURNED THEM BACK.

THIS TIME THE SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.

THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES HAS APPEALED TO ITALY AND GREECE TO GIVE A HAVEN TO ALBANIAN REFUGEES FOR "AS LONG AS NECESSARY." ITALY AGREED, BUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAID "AS LONG AS NECESSARY" MEANS ONLY UNTIL PUBLIC ORDER IS RESTORED IN ALBANIA.

OFFICIALS SAID THAT BY LATE SATURDAY, 1,600 ALBANIANS HAD ARRIVED AT ADRIATIC PORT CITIES IN A FLOTILLA OF FREIGHTERS, FISHING BOATS AND ANTIQUATED NAVAL PATROL VESSELS. OTHERS REACHED ITALY IN MILITARY HELICOPTERS PILOTED BY DESERTING AIRMEN.

THE ARRIVALS INCLUDED YOUNG CHILDREN, SOLDIERS, SAILORS, PRISON ESCAPEES, FISHERMEN SEEKING TO SAVE THEIR BOATS FROM BEING SEIZED BY MOBS AND A PREGNANT WOMAN, WHO ARRIVED AT OTRANTO JUST IN TIME TO GIVE BIRTH TO A BOY.

ITALIAN INTERIOR MINISTER GIORGIO NAPOLITANO SAID THE COUNTRY SHOULD BRACE FOR A "MASSIVE" INFLUX." BUT HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY, AND OTHER OFFICIALS SAID THERE IS NO CRISIS SITUATION.

THE ARRIVALS ARE BEING ACCOMMODATED IN GYMNASIUMS AND OTHER MAKESHIFT RECEPTION CENTERS. POLICE ASKED THE RED CROSS AND LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FOOD AND BABY CARE SUPPLIES.

AUTHORITIES IMPOUNDED THE BOATS AS THEY ARRIVED SO THEY COULD NOT BE USED AGAIN AND FINGERPRINTED SOME OF THE ARRIVALS. (SIGNED)
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15-Mar-97 2:11 PM EST (1911 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] U-S/ALBANIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WILL NOT TAKE PART, FOR NOW, IN ANY PROPOSED EUROPEAN STABILIZATION FORCE TO BRING ORDER TO ALBANIA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS AMERICAN FORCES ARE EXPECTED TO EMBARK ON A THIRD DAY (SUNDAY) OF EVACUATIONS AFTER TAKING OUT A TOTAL OF 740 AMERICANS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS SINCE THURSDAY:

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO STUDY ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR INTERVENTION IN ALBANIA, BUT HAS NOT AGREED TO PARTICIPATE AT THIS TIME. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS DEBATED THE ISSUE, BUT HAS COME TO NO CONCLUSION OTHER THAN TO DISPATCH A HIGH-LEVEL MISSION TO ALBANIA TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.

ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE OFFICIAL FRANZ VRANITSKY RECOMMENDED A EUROPEAN FORCE OF SOME FOUR-THOUSAND MAY BE NEED TO QUELL VIOLENCE GRIPPING THE COUNTRY. THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS CLOSELY CONSULTING ON THE ISSUE WITH ITS EUEOPEAN PARTNERS. MEANWHILE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-S JOINT TASK FORCE ON EVACUATIONS FROM ALBANIA, NAVY COMMANDER BRIAN CULLEN, SAYS THE EFFORT IS WELL-PROTECTED FOLLOWING INCIDENTS OF GROUND FIRE FRIDAY:

AS OF LAST NIGHT, WE WERE FLYING AC-130 GUNSHIPS TO ENSURE, IN CASE THERE WAS A FLAREUP OF A THREAT IN THE AREA, THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THAT.

COMMANDER CULLEN, HOWEVER, SAYS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND APPEARS TO BE QUIETER THAN IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT. HE SAYS THE EVACUATIONS MAY END SUNDAY SINCE MOST PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LEAVE HAVE HAVE ALREADY LEFT. (SIGNED).
15-Mar-97 5:57 PM EST (2257 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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