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Voice of America, 98-03-09Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BULGARIA PROGRESS (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227846 CONTENT= VOICED AT: (ATTENTION INDONESIAN SERVICE) INTRO: BULGARIA'S ECONOMY HAS COME BACK TO LIFE AFTER BEING NEAR TO COLLAPSE ONE YEAR AGO. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS AFTER A STEEP DECLINE IN 1997 THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY IS NOW GROWING AT A FOUR PERCENT ANNUAL RATE. TEXT: IT IS THE KIND OF TURNAROUND THAT IS RARE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. A YEAR AGO PRICES WERE RISING BY 243 PERCENT PER MONTH. NOW INFLATION IS DOWN TO AN ANNUAL RATE OF UNDER 20 PERCENT. AN ECONOMY THAT SHRANK AT LEAST SEVEN PERCENT LAST YEAR IS NOW GROWING AT A FOUR PERCENT RATE. ANN MCGUIRK IS THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR BULGARIA. //FIRST MCGUIRK ACT//THEY CERTAINLY HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS UNDER THE (IMF) PROGRAM. AND WE'RE PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED. AND I THINK THEY CAN BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED. BUT WE'RE GETTING AT THE DIFFICULT STAGE NOW WHERE THEY MUST CONTINUE TO PERSIST WITH THE REFORMS. THEY ARE JUST BEGINNING TO DO THE REFORMS IN THE ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY SECTOR WHICH IS THE VERY HEART OF THE TRANSFORMATION. //END ACT//THE I-M-F EXTENDED A NEEDED HELPING HAND TO BULGARIA LAST APRIL AGREEING TO A 510 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN ON CONDITION THAT LONG DELAYED MARKET BASED REFORMS WERE QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY IMPLEMENTED. AN ANGRY ELECTORATE HAD JUST SWEPT THE FORMER COMMUNISTS FROM POWER IN EMERGENCY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ELECTING A CENTER RIGHT GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO REFORM. A KEY COMPONENT OF THE REFORM PACKAGE WAS A CURRENCY BOARD, A RIGID FIXED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM INTENDED TO BREAK THE BACK OF RAMPANT INFLATION. MS. MCGUIRK SAYS THE CURRENCY BOARD WHICH TOOK EFFECT JULY FIRST FIXED THE BULGARIAN LEV TO THE GERMAN MARK AT A MARKET SPECIFIED RATE OF ONE THOUSAND TO ONE. //SECOND MCGUIRK ACT//THE CURRENCY BOARD ARRANGEMENT IS WORKING VERY WELL, BETTER THAN WE HAD EXPECTED. THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT REMONITIZATION OF THE ECONOMY. INTEREST RATES HAVE COME DOWN. BANKS ARE IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION. THEY HAVE ALOT OF LIQUIDITY NOW. //END ACT//HAVING FAVORED A CURRENCY BOARD IN BULGARIA, THE I-M-F OPPOSES ONE-- FOR NOW-- FOR INDONESIA. THE I-M-F SAYS CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT AND THAT UNLIKE BULGARIA INDONESIA HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC REFORMS. EXPERTS WARN AGAINST ASSUMING BULGARIA WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
STEADY ECONOMIC PROGRESS. THEY SAY BUILDING A VIABLE MARKET
ECONOMY WILL TAKE A LONG TIME. AND THAT THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND
DIFFICULT TASK IS COMPLETION OF THE PRIVATIZATION OF HEAVILY
INDEBTED STATE ENTERPRISES. (SIGNED)
[02] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227830 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MAJOR STOCK MARKETS OF WESTERN EUROPE STARTED THE WEEK WITH A GAIN. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS MONDAY'S CLOSING NUMBERS FROM LONDON. TEXT: FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS ALL CLOSED HIGHER. FRANKFURT SET A RECORD. TRADING BEGAN MIXED OVER CONCERNS ABOUT LOWER PRICES FOR TECHNOLOGY-RELATED STOCKS, BUT THAT WAS QUICKLY OVERCOME AND STOCK PRICES IN GENERAL HEADED HIGHER. LATE-TRADING ON THE FRANKFURT DAX INDEX SAW A RISE OF 66-POINTS. LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 ADDED 36-POINTS AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING, AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" CLOSED UP 42. THE GAINS FOR THE DAY WERE ALL IN THE RANGE OF ONE-PERCENT. IN LATE EUROPEAN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP FRACTIONALLY AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. GOLD PRICES IN LONDON ENDED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED FROM FRIDAY, WITH
AN OUNCE OF THE PRECIOUS METAL HOVERING AROUND THE 295-DOLLAR
MARK. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO BODIES (S) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227839 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE, SERBIAN OFFICIALS, SATURDAY, SAID TWO SERB POLICEMEN AND TWENTY-SIX ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE KILLED IN LAST WEEK'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST PRO-INDEPENDENCE GUERRILLAS. ALBANIANS HAVE INSISTED THAT THE DEATH TOLL IS MUCH HIGHER AND CORPSES, IN A MAKESHIFT MORTUARY, MAY PROVE THEIR POINT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITOL PRISTINA. TEXT: WITNESSES AND LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE AT LEAST TWICE AS MANY BODIES, IN THE TEMPORARY MORGUE IN SKENDERAJ, AS THE SERBS SAY THERE SHOULD BE. RED CROSS OFFICIALS WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THE FACILITY, BUT FAMILY MEMBERS AND JOURNALISTS WERE ABLE TO SEE THE BODIES. HUMANITARIAN GROUPS, ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS, AND MANY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ASKING FOR AUTOPSIES BY OUTSIDE FORENSIC EXPERTS. SERBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT APPROVED ANY REQUEST FOR INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION OF THE CAUSE OF DEATH, SAYING THEIR OWN EXPERTS ARE COMPETENT. BUT THOSE ASKING FOR THE AUTOPSIES SAY IT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN BE SURE HOW THE VICTIMS DIED. SERBIAN AUTHORITIES ARE URGING THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO REMOVE THE
BODIES FOR PROMPT BURIAL. ART CHIMES V-O-A NEWS PRISTINA.
[04] KOSOVO CONTACT GROUP (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (LONDON)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227821 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE SIX COUNTRIES CONCERNED WITH THE VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE HAVE AGREED ON A SERIES OF SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM LONDON, RUSSIAN AGREEMENT WITH SOME OF THE MEASURES TOOK A LITTLE LONGER. TEXT: TWO STREETS AWAY FROM THE GILDED HALLS OF LANCASTER HOUSE, HUNDREDS OF ALBANIAN FLAG WAVING DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTED THEIR SUPPORT FOR FREEDOM FOR THE ALBANIANS LIVING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. /// DEMONSTRATORS ACT ///INSIDE THE MANSION OUT OF EARSHOT, THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND GERMANY ARGUED TO TAKE PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA FOR THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS LEFT SCORES OF ALBANIANS DEAD IN RECENT WEEKS IN KOSOVO. RUSSIA, REPRESENTED BY DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NIKOLAI AFANYEVSKI, REFUSED TO AGREE. FRANCE AND ITALY TRIED TO WORK FOR A COMPROMISE THAT WOULD DELAY ANY PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST BELGRADE FOR TWO-WEEKS. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ARGUED AGAINST MAKING THE MISTAKES MADE IN THE WARS IN YUGOSLAVIA IN 1991. SHE WANTED AGREEMENT ON SANCTIONS INCLUDING ECONOMIC MEASURES. TELEPHONE CALLS FROM THE MANSION TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EVGENY PRIMAKOV IN MOSCOW INFORMED HIM RUSSIA WOULD BE ISOLATED WITHIN THE CONFERENCE IF IT REFUSED TO AGREE TO SOME PUNISHMENT. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAID RUSSIA AGREED TO TWO OF THE FOUR SANCTIONS ANNOUNCED AFTER THE FIVE-HOUR CONFERENCE. /// COOK ACT ///IT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD IN THE LAST TWO HOURS TO TRY TO FIND THE WIDEST, COMMON AGREEMENT. BECAUSE COMMON AGREEMENT AMONG US IS ONE OF THE BEST PRESSURES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ON BELGRADE. I HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. PRIMAKOV, AS HAS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND KLAUS KINKEL, WITHIN THE LAST HOUR AND IT IS OUT OF THIS DIRECT CONTACT WITH MOSCOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MUCH MORE COMMON GROUND. /// END ACT ///RUSSIA HAS AGREED WITH THE OTHER FIVE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP TO WORK IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL FOR AN ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. IT HAS ALSO AGREED NOT TO SUPPLY EQUIPMENT TO YUGOSLAVIA THAT CAN BE USED FOR INTERNAL REPRESSION. RUSSIA BROKE WITH THE CONSENSUS OF THE OTHER FIVE WHO WILL DENY VISAS TO YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE. RUSSIA ALSO DID NOT AGREE TO THE ECONOMIC SANCTION OF A MORATORIUM ON GOVERNMENT FINANCED EXPORT CREDITS FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT. AMERICAN OFFICIALS SAY SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT INSISTED ON AN IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC SANCTION. DISCUSSION OF A FREEZE ON YUGOSLAV ASSETS WAS THOUGHT TO BE TOO COMPLICATED FOR THESE TALKS, BUT IT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO DOES NOT IMPROVE. THE SIX COUNTRIES CALL FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND TO COMMIT TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION THROUGH DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS. THEY ALSO CALL FOR HIM TO WITHDRAW SPECIAL POLICE UNITS FROM KOSOVO. THE CONFERENCE PLANS TO MEET IN TWO-WEEKS TO EVALUATE
YUGOSLAVIA'S RESPONSE. (SIGNED)
[05] KOSOVO DEMO (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227814 CONTENT= VOICED AT: TEXT: /// SOUND OF DEMONSTRATORS -- ESTABLISH AND FADE /// DEMONSTRATORS CHANTED "DRENICA" -- THE AREA WHERE A SERB OFFENSIVE AGAINST SUSPECTED ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS THIS PAST WEEK RESULTED IN DOZENS OF DEATHS. PROTESTERS CARRIED SIGNS READING "STOP THE BALKAN TRAGEDY" AND "U-S-A, NATO AND EUROPE, WHERE ARE YOU?". THEY MARCHED UP AND DOWN A MAIN STREET IN PRISTINA FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE DISPERSING. LAST WEEK, POLICE USED TEAR GAS AND WATER CANON TO BREAK UP A MUCH SMALL PROTEST. MOST OF THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE YOUNG MEN, BUT NOT ALL. ONE OF THEM, A PROFESSOR NAMED ABDULLAH KARIADUE, EXPLAINED THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. /// KARIADUE ACT ///WE ARE DETERMINED TO WORK CAREFULLY TO ACHIEVE OUR RIGHTS, OUR FREEDOM, OUR EQUALITY AND OUR SELF-DETERMINATION, ONLY IF WE SPEAK THROUGH THE NON-VIOLENT ACTIONS AND NON-VIOLENT MOVES. /// END ACT ///IN THE ONLY REPORTED INCIDENT, ONE MAN WAS PULLED OFF THE STREET BY SUSPECTED PLAINCLOTHES POLICEMEN AND BEATEN. THE VICTIM IS A BRITISH TELEVISION CAMERAMAN WHO ALSO WORKS WITH THE HELSINKI HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP. PROTESTS IN ABOUT A DOZEN SMALLER KOSOVO TOWNS WENT ON WITHOUT INCIDENT, THOUGH IN TWO PLACES POLICE BROKE UP THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND ARRESTED SOME PARTICIPANTS. THE POLICE OFFENSIVE IN THE DRENICA REGION HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DECLARED OVER, THOUGH MUCH OF THE AREA REMAINS CORDONED OFF. AUTHORITIES TOOK AN INVITED GROUP OF REPORTERS AND DIPLOMATS ON A TIGHTLY CONTROLLED TOUR OF THE REGION, SUNDAY. THEY SAW HOUSES THAT HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED BY HEAVY WEAPONS AND REPORTED THAT TOWNS AND VILLAGES SEEM DESERTED. A LOCAL ALBANIAN-STAFFED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS AT LEAST
FIVE-THOUSAND RESIDENTS LEFT THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE FIGHTING,
FLEEING TO AREAS WHERE THEY FELT SAFER.
MEANWHILE, THE CASUALTY TOLL REMAINS A MATTER OF DISPUTE.
SERBIAN OFFICIALS SAY TWO POLICEMEN AND 26 ALBANIANS WERE KILLED
IN THE OFFENSIVE THAT BEGAN THURSDAY, BUT ALBANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS
OFFICIALS HAVE A LIST OF AT LEAST 38 REPORTED DEAD. (SIGNED)
[06] KOSOVO MEETING (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227826 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA HAVE STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE RECENT VIOLENCE BY YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. THE MOVE CAME IN LONDON MONDAY, AND V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS. TEXT: THE SIX MEMBERS OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "CONTACT GROUP" SPENT THE BETTER PART OF MONDAY IN LONDON DISCUSSING -- BEHIND CLOSED DOORS -- THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. THEY WERE TRYING TO FORGE A COMMON RESPONSE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S CRACKDOWN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THE SIX PARTICIPANTS DECLARED THAT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY WHAT THEY CALLED "HEAVY-HANDED POLICING ACTIVITY." THEY SAID THE VIOLENT REPRESSION OF NON-VIOLENT EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL VIEWS IS COMPLETELY INDEFENSIBLE. WHILE SHOWING UNITY IN STRONGLY CONDEMNING YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN KOSOVO, THE SIX SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS WERE DIVIDED AS TO WHAT SANCTIONS TO IMPOSE IMMEDIATELY. THEY ALL AGREED TO ASK THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL FOR AN ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA, AND THEY ALL AGREED TO PROHIBIT THE SENDING OF SO-CALLED "REPRESSIVE EQUIPMENT" THAT COULD BE USED AGAINST CIVILIANS BY SECURITY FORCES. BUT -- FOR THE TIME BEING -- RUSSIA DID NOT ACCEPT TWO OTHER SANCTIONS: NAMELY, A DENIAL OF TRAVEL VISAS TO SENIOR MEMBERS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S GOVERNMENT, AND A MORATORIUM ON EXPORT CREDITS TO HELP THE YUGOSLAV ECONOMY. IN ANNOUNCING THE RESULT OF MONDAY'S MEETING, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE MESSAGE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS CLEAR. // COOK ACT //WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT HAVING ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY TWO SANCTIONS AGAINST BELGRADE, HAVING ADOPTED BY A VERY CLEAR MAJORITY OF FIVE OUT OF SIX TWO OTHER STEPS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION -- AND NOW HAVING GOT A COMMITMENT FROM RUSSIA THAT IT WILL JOIN US AFTER TWO WEEKS IF THERE IS NO PROGRESS -- I HOPE WE HAVE REINFORCED THE MESSAGE THAT WILL BE CARRIED TO BELGRADE BY THOSE OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND BY OTHERS OVER THOSE TWO WEEKS. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAD BETTER RECOGNIZE THAT IF HE DOES NOT MOVE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, ALL SIX MEMBERS OF THE "CONTACT GROUP" WILL BE CARRYING OUT ALL FOUR MEASURES. // END ACT //MR. COOK SAYS THE RUSSIAN, FRENCH AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL TRAVEL TO BELGRADE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO STRESS TO THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT THE IMPORTANCE OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO -- A POLITICAL SOLUTION WHICH, MR. COOK SAYS, MUST PROVIDE ETHNIC ALBANIANS WITH THE INCREASED AUTONOMY THEY BOTH WANT AND ARE ENTITLED TO. THE SIX-MEMBER "CONTACT GROUP" MEETS AGAIN MARCH 25TH TO REVIEW
THE KOSOVO SITUATION. (SIGNED)
[07] KOSOVO REACT (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227835 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE SIX NATION CONTACT GROUP ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS ADOPTED A PACKAGE OF SANCTIONS AIMED AT OPENING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE AND THE MODERATE ALBANIAN LEADERSHIP IN KOSOVO. MAINSTREAM ALBANIAN POLITICANS, IN KOSOVO'S CAPITOL PRISTINA, WELCOME THE CONTACT GROUP'S CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE BUT WERE MORE AMBIGUOUS ON THE SANCTIONS. ART CHIMES REPORTS. TEXT: A SPOKESMAN, FOR MODERATE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADER IBRIHIM RUGOVA, DESCRIBED THE SANCTIONS AS SMALL PRESSURES. HE SAID KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS EXPECTED MORE FOR THIS MEETING THOUGH HE CONCEDED IT IS NOT EASY TO WIN AN INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS. THE SPOKESMAN REXHEP GJERGJI SAID MORE WILL BE NEEDED TO PERSUADE BELGRADE TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES. ///ACT ONE///WE DEMAND THESE CITATIONS BE FOLLOWED, HE SAYS, BY A POWERFUL ECONOMIC EMBARGO. ///END ACT///THE SANCTIONS AIMED TO PERSUADE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODON
MILOSAVICH TO OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH THE MODERATE ALBANIAN
LEADERSHIP, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING KOSOVO'S AUTONOMY. MR.
GJERGJI SAYS, HIS GROUP, THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO OR LDK,
REMAINS COMMITTED TO AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO, BUT SAID THEY WOULD
ENTER TALKS WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS. SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
IN PRISTINA WERE NOT AVAILBALE FOR COMMENT, BUT LIKE THE
ALBANIANS, THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES DO NOT CONSIDER THE SANCTIONS,
ADOPTED BY THE CONTACT GROUP, PARTICULARLY STRONG. GOVERNMENT
CONTROLLED MEDIA PLAYED DOWN THE DEMOSTRATIONS IN KOSOVO. A
REPORT ON BELGRADE TELEVISION SHOWED SMALL GROUPS OF
DEMOSTRATORS, WITH NO OVERALL PICTURE TO REFLECT THE MASS OF THE
PROTEST. THE REPORT, WHICH CAME AT THE END OF THE EARLY EVENING
NEWS, GIVE NO DETAILS OF THE CONTACT GROUP'S DECISIONS. ART
CHIMES V-O-A NEWS PRISTINA.
[08] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=03/09/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10607 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: PERISHABLE MATERIAL, DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T ! ! ////INTRO: THE DEBATE OVER NATO EXPANSION CONTINUES, ESPECIALLY A CALL FOR A WIDER PUBLIC DEBATE OVER SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE SENATE, WITH A VOTE EXPECTED LATER THIS MONTH. OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OF THE NATION'S EDITORIAL WRITERS INCLUDE: THE VIOLENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE; THE CONTINUING TENSION BETWEEN THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE INDIGENOUS NATIVE POPULATION IN MEXICO'S SOUTHERN CHIAPAS STATE; THE CONTINUING TERRORISM TROUBLING THE PEACE TALKS OVER NORTHERN IRELAND; AND THE OUTCOME OF INDIA'S ELECTION. NOW, JOINING US FOR A SAMPLING OF THESE AND OTHER COMMENTARIES IS __________________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THIS QUESTION IN THE HEADLINE: "WHAT'S THE RUSH ON NATO?," ADDING: VOICE: THAT IS NOT A DECISION TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, OR MADE IN A HURRY WITHOUT ADEQUATE INFORMATION. YET THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE AND TRENT LOTT, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, ARE PLANNING. THEY BELIEVE APPROVAL BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE SENATE CAN BE SECURED IF DEBATE IS ATTENUATED AND A VOTE QUICKLY CALLED. SO THEY HAVE ADVANCED THE NATO DECISION FROM MAY TO MARCH, AND IT COULD COME UP THIS WEEK. ...... .... THOUGH NATO EXPANSION HAS BEEN LOOMING, MANY SENATORS HAVE JUST BEGUN TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITIES. IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO STUDY THE MATTER CAREFULLY BEFORE THEY VOTE. TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" ECHOES THOSE CONCERNS. VOICE: /// OPT /// A VOTE ON THE MEASURE - - TECHNICALLY, A REVISION OF THE 1949 NATO TREATY - - COULD COME WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. BUT MORE THAN A DOZEN SENATORS HAVE HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO ASK FOR A DELAY UNTIL AFTER JUNE FIRST SO THAT IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS CAN BE SOUGHT. /// END OPT /// THE EXPANSION OF NATO IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE TO ARISE SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THE SENATE BY ALL MEANS SHOULD TAKE A FEW MORE MONTHS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS IMPLICATIONS. /// OPT TEXT: TURNING TO THE LATEST TROUBLE SPOT IN EUROPE, THE YUGOSLAVIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, WHERE VIOLENCE HAS BROKEN OUT FOLLOWING ATTEMPTS BY SERBIAN POLICE TO CRUSH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NOTES: VOICE: SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC LAUNCHED HIS CAREER AS A HARD-LINE SERB NATIONALIST IN 1987 WHEN HE PROMISED SERBS IN THE COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO THAT 'NEVER AGAIN WILL ANYONE DEFEAT YOU.' TWO YEARS LATER, MR. MILOSEVIC REVOKED THE PROVINCE'S AUTONOMOUS STATUS AND BEGAN FEEDING THE WORN FABRIC OF WHAT WAS ONCE A MULTIETHNIC SOCIETY IN YUGOSLAVIA INTO THE SHREDDER. THAT DISCONTENT HAS NOW SPAWNED A GUERRILLA MOVEMENT, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, AMONG THE 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. WHEN SERB POLICE KILLED 24 KOSOVARS A WEEK AGO, THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA, ERUPTED WITH A MASS DEMONSTRATION THAT POLICE PUT DOWN WITH RIOT GEAR AND BEATINGS. AFTER A FOUR-DAY KILLING SPREE IN A GROUP OF KOSOVAR VILLAGES, SERBIAN POLICE DECLARED YESTERDAY THAT THEIR 'SECURITY SWEEP' WAS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED. DON'T BET ON IT. TEXT: "NEWSDAY" CALLS THE PROVINCE A "TINDERBOX" AND SUGGESTS THAT "NATO MUST TRY TO STEM [THE] SERBS' GROWING CONFLICT WITH KOSOVO REBELS BEFORE IT SPREADS." HOWEVER THE PAPER FEELS THAT WASHINGTON'S "STERN CONDEMNATIONS OF THE VIOLENCE" ..... ARE "A PATHETICALLY INADEQUATE RESPONSE" TO THE SITUATION. HALF A WORLD AWAY, IN MEXICO, THERE IS ANOTHER TENSE SITUATION BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS NATIVE PEOPLE OF IMPOVERISHED CHIAPAS STATE, AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT. "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS UPSET BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF DEPORTING FOREIGNERS FROM THE REGION, INCLUDING A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST WHO LIVED THERE 32 YEARS, AND SOME U-S HUMAN-RIGHTS WORKERS, CALLING IT UNJUSTIFIED. "THE HERALD" SAYS "DEPORTATIONS AND ATTACKS ON FOREIGNERS BUILD SUSPICION, NOT SUPPORT" //// OPT //// ADDING: VOICE: UNEASE ABOUT MEXICO'S HANDLING OF THE ZAPATISTA UPRISING IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF CHIAPAS GROWS AS THE MEXICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ....... DENOUNCES AND DEPORTS FOREIGNERS. MEXICAN NEWSPAPERS REPORT SOME 200 DEPORTATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS ..... DRAWING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION WAS THE DETENTION AND DEPORTATION .... OF REVEREND MICHEL CHANTEAU, 67, A FRENCH NATIONAL AND FOR 32 YEARS A CATHOLIC PARISH PRIEST IN CHENALHO. ...... WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT FATHER CHANTEAU .... WAS ANYTHING BUT A HUMANITARIAN? ...... A XENOPHOBIC WAR OF WORDS AGAINST THE ** 'SATANIC INTERVENTION' ** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] OF FOREIGNERS IS [BEING] WAGED. IF INTENDED TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE POLITICAL STALEMATE, IT'S A FAILURE. /// END OPT ////TEXT: BACK TO EUROPE, AGAIN AND CONCERN THAT RECENT IRA AND PROTESTANT-EXTREMISTS KILLINGS MAY DERAIL THE ON-GOING PEACE TALKS, AS EXPRESSED BY "THE WASHINGTON POST." VOICE: NOTWITHSTANDING THE CONTINUING KILLINGS, THE SPACE OPEN FOR TERRORISTS ** IS** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] SHRINKING. IN ALL OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S SECTARIAN COMMUNITIES, PEACE HAS A POWERFUL FOLLOWING. BUT THAT IS JUST THE REASON TO BE WARY OF ANY GRATUITOUS ACCOMMODATION OF PARTIES THAT MAINTAIN A TERRORIST LINK. A READINESS TO PAY ANY PRICE EITHER TO KEEP THEM IN THE TALKS OR TO HUSTLE THE TALKS TOWARD THEIR SELF-ASSIGNED MAY DEADLINE CAN INVITE CONTEMPT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC AND PEACEFUL PRINCIPLES THAT ARE THE ONLY BASIS FOR AN ENDURING NEW ORDER. TEXT: TURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST, IN NEBRASKA, THERE IS CONCERN AT "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" THAT DISAGREEMENTS OVER WHAT EXACTLY THE U-N AGREEMENT WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN MEANS, COULD STOP THE U-S FROM ATTACKING IRAQ IF THERE IS MORE TROUBLE OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. /// OPT ///VOICE: HOWEVER, DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 15-NATION COUNCIL COULD MAKE THE U-S POSITION DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN IF SADDAM BROKE THE AGREEMENT. THE BUFFALO NEWS REPORTED THAT ONLY BRITAIN AGREES THAT THE RESOLUTION GAVE THE UNITED STATES A FREE HAND. THE CHINESE INSISTED THAT THEY INTENDED NO ADVANCE AUTHORIZATION OF MILITARY STRIKES. OTHER SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTEND THAT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE SECURITY COUNCIL, NOT THE UNITED STATES, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN BROKEN AND WHETHER ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN. .... DIFFERING INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION COMPLICATE THE SITUATION. IT COULD ONLY RAISE SADDAM'S STANDING IN THE EYES OF HIS NEIGHBORS IF HE BROKE THE AGREEMENT AND NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE THE UNITED NATIONS COULDN'T AGREE ON A COURSE OF ACTION. /// END OPT ///TEXT: LASTLY, A VIEW OF THE RECENT INDIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WHICH HAVE, SO FAR PROVED INCONCLUSIVE IN ALLOWING THE COUNTRY TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT, FROM "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR." VOICE: THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY HAS WEATHERED ANOTHER MEGA-ELECTION, WITH SOME 344-MILLION VOTERS PARTICIPATING. BUT INDIA'S IMMEDIATE POLITICAL FUTURE REMAINS SOMEWHAT MURKY, FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR WHO WILL FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. POLITICAL ODDSMAKERS LEAN TOWARD THE HINDU NATIONALIST BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY. ....... THE QUESTION BECOMES: WOULD [ATAL BEHARI] VAJPAYEE [THE HINDU NATIONALIST CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER ... WHO IS KNOWN AS A MODERATE] AND OTHER MODERATES AROUND HIM PREVAIL? BEHIND HIM ARE LEGIONS OF SUPPORTERS WHOSE VIEWS HAVE BEEN FORGED IN THE HINDU NATIONALIST MOVEMENT'S THOUSANDS OF GRASS-ROOTS CELLS, WHERE ZEALOTRY REIGNS. //// OPT ////TEXT: ON THAT WORRISOME NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF
COMMENTARY FROM THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
[09] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227842 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SLIGHTLY TODAY (MONDAY) AFTER A VOLATILE SESSION. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 67, DOWN TWO POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 52, DOWN THREE POINTS. STOCKS STARTED THE DAY WITH A RALLY AND THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE BRIEFLY TRADED ABOVE 86 HUNDRED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. BUT SELLING PRESSURE DEVELOPED AS THE SESSION CONTINUED. SOME ANALYSTS SAY STOCK PRICES MAY BE IN FOR A CONSOLIDATION PHASE BEFORE THE NEXT BIG MOVE. BUT JOE BATTAPAGLIA OF THE GRUNTAL INVESTMENT FIRM BELIEVES THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE NOW HAS A STRONG BASE. ///BATTAPAGLIA ACT///ON BALANCE I THINK THE MARKET WILL FIND NEW SUPPORT RIGHT UNDER THE NEW HIGHS THAT IT HAS ACHIEVED. RIGHT NOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE 83 TO 85 HUNDRED. ///END ACT///MR. BATTAPAGLIA BELIEVES THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE SHOULD CLIMB ANOTHER EIGHT OR NINE HUNDRED POINTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ///REST OPT///THE STOCKS OF MANY TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES FELL AFTER THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY SAID IT EXPECTS NO SIGNIFICANT PROFIT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. THE QWEST COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WILL BUY THE L-C-I CORPORATION IN A FOUR POINT FOUR BILLION DOLLAR STOCK DEAL. THE COMBINATION WILL BECOME THE FOURTH-LARGEST LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. TELEFONICA DE ESPANA, THE LARGEST TELEPHONE COMPANY IN SPAIN, HAS ANNOUNCED A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH M-C-I AND WORLDCOM OF THE UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN THE JOINT VENTURE WILL BE THE INVESTMENT OF 200 MILLION DOLLARS TO ATTRACT HISPANIC CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES. WORLDCOM IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING M-C-I IN A DEAL WORTH 37 BILLION DOLLARS. A BIG TAKEOVER IN THE ALUMINUM INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA WILL ACQUIRE THE ALUMAX COMPANY IN A CASH AND STOCK DEAL WORTH THREE POINT EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS. THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS RAISED OBJECTIONS TO A PROPOSED NINE BILLION DOLLAR MERGER INVOLVING THE LOCKHEED MARTIN AND THE GRUMMAN NORTHRUP CORPORATIONS. THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY COMPANIES SAY THEY WILL TALK WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE THE DEAL. OIL PRICES DROPPED TO FOUR YEAR LOWS AFTER SAUDI ARABIA SAID IT
WILL NOT CUT ITS PRODUCTION. THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT SAID OTHER OPEC
NATIONS ARE CAUSING OIL PRICES TO SLUMP BY PRODUCING BEYOND THEIR
QUOTAS.(SIGNED)
[10] TROUBLE IN KOSOVO: WILL IT SPREAD? BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=03/09/98TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-10608 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: THE SUDDEN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE IN THE AUTONOMOUS YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO HAS DRAWN RAPID COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS, SOME OF WHICH FEARS IT COULD BECOME A "SECOND BOSNIA. JOINING US IN THE STUDIO NOW IS ______________WITH A SAMPLING OF EARLY REACTION TO THE FIGHTING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: IN THE LATEST NEWS CONCERNING THE EMBATTLED REGION, THE NATIONS JOINTLY MONITORING BALKAN PEACE EFFORTS HAVE CALLED FOR AN ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IN RESPONSE TO THE CRACKDOWN IN KOSOVO. FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SERBIAN POLICE HAVE BEEN USING HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS TO ATTACK AND DESTROY ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGES SUSPECTED OF HARBORING A RESISTANCE FORCE TO SERBIAN RULE. ABOUT 90-PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN KOSOVO ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, ALTHOUGH THE SERBIANS CONTROL THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE POLICE. KOSOVO HAS BEEN AN AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF YUGOSLAVIA, BUT MOST OF ITS SELF-GOVERNING POWERS WERE REVOKED BY BELGRADE IN 1989. AFTER YEARS OF ALLEGED REPRESSION BY THE SERBIAN MINORITY, SOME OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS REBELLED, JOINING WHAT IS CALLED THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY AND LAST WEEK, AMBUSHED SOME SERBIAN POLICE UNITS. FOUR POLICE OFFICERS WERE KILLED, AND IN RETALIATORY RAIDS DURING THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, AT LEAST TWO DOZEN ALBANIANS WERE KILLED, INCLUDING A LEADER OF THE ANTI-SERBIAN RESISTANCE. NOW, MINISTERS OF SIX COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE BALKAN PEACE EFFORT, MEETING IN LONDON, SAY THEY WILL ASK THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO PUT THE WEAPONS EMBARGO INTO PLACE IMMEDIATELY. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE AS MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND ETHNIC-ALBANIANS DEMONSTRATED PEACEFULLY IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. THE U-S MEDIA IS VIEWING THE NEW FIGHTING WITH ALARM, AND WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING ON LONG ISLAND, WHERE "NEWSDAY," CALLING THE PROVINCE A -- TINDERBOX, -- COMMENTS: VOICE: THE BANKED FIRES OF ETHNIC HATREDS ARE FLARING UP AGAIN IN THE BALKANS, THIS TIME IN KOSOVO, THE SERBIAN PROVINCE WHOSE ALBANIAN-MUSLIM POPULATION HAS BEEN TRYING TO ATTAIN INDEPENDENCE EVER SINCE YUGOSLAVIA BROKE UP AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THE ASSAULTS BY SERBIAN ARMY UNITS AGAINST KOSOVO REBELS AND THE MASSACRES OF KOSOVO CIVILIANS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS ARE NOT JUST ALARMING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT: THE WAVE OF TERROR AND THE RESULTING FLOOD OF REFUGEES MARK THE WORST BOUT OF ETHNIC FIGHTING SINCE THE END OF THE BOSNIAN CIVIL WAR AND, WORSE YET, COULD SPREAD. ... WASHINGTON HAS RESPONDED SO FAR WITH STERN CONDEMNATIONS OF THE VIOLENCE BY THE SERBIAN ARMY ... BUT OFFICIAL WARNINGS AND CONCERN ARE A PATHETICALLY INADEQUATE RESPONSE. ... THE CONFLICT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPILL OVER INTO NEIGHBORING REGIONS AND CREATE A BROADER CONFLICT. TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WORRIES THAT THE PREVIOUS BAD EXAMPLE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND SERBIAN VIOLENCE MAY BE REPEATED IN A NEW KILLING FIELD. VOICE: THE LONG-FEARED 'SECOND BOSNIA [-HERZEGOVINA]' MAY BE IGNITING IN KOSOVO, A PROVINCE OF SERBIA WITH A 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. ... A COLLISION OF THE 'GREATER SERBIA' IDEA IDENTIFIED WITH SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND A SIMILARLY NATIONALISTIC 'GREATER ALBANIA' COULD DRAW IN PRINCIPALS AND REGION ALIKE. WHAT TRIGGERED THE CURRENT CRISIS WAS THE PREDICTABLE KILLING OF SOME SERBIAN POLICEMEN BY THE ARMED WING OF THE ALBANIAN NATIONALIST MOVEMENT. THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONDED WITH INDISCRIMINATE FORCE AND AGAINST INNOCENTS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT CRITICIZED THIS RESPONSE AS 'EXCESSIVE,' NOTWITHSTANDING THAT WASHINGTON DOES NOT EMBRACE SEPARATIST MOVEMENTS AND AGREES WITH BELGRADE THAT THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS A TERRORIST GROUP. ... THE DIPLOMATIC FIRE BRIGADE MEETS MONDAY IN LONDON. IT MUST HELP THE PARTIES KEEP THE VIOLENCE FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. SERBIA CANNOT EXPECT ESCAPE FROM ITS ISOLATION, NOR THE ALBANIANS FROM THEIR NEGLECT, IF OTHERS SEE EITHER AS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ESCALATING WAR. TEXT: THIS NEW VIOLENCE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MUCH WORSE THAN THE CIVIL WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, SAYS "THE NEW YORK TIMES," BECAUSE IT COULD SPREAD MORE EASILY BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. VOICE: IF VIOLENCE INCREASES, KOSOVO'S CONFLICT COULD SPREAD TO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA, WHICH HAS AN ALBANIAN MINORITY. SINCE MANY OF MACEDONIA'S NEIGHBORS HAVE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS ON IT, CHAOS IN MACEDONIA COULD ENCOURAGE ALBANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE AND TURKEY TO JOIN A WAR. LEADERS IN WASHINGTON AND EUROPE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DANGER FOR YEARS. BUT EVEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED THE MOST TO MAINTAIN THE PEACE, IS NOT DOING ENOUGH. ... NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT LARGELY IN THE CARE OF WELL-INTENTIONED CITIZENS' GROUPS. BUT THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS NEED WASHINGTON'S HELP TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SUGGESTS, THAT WHATEVER ELSE GOES ON, NO ONE SHOULD THINK THE SERBIAN ATTACKS WILL BE THE LAST VIOLENCE REPORTED IN THIS PROVINCE. VOICE: SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC LAUNCHED HIS CAREER AS A HARD-LINE SERB NATIONALIST IN 1987 WHEN HE PROMISED SERBS IN THE COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO THAT 'NEVER AGAIN WILL ANYONE DEFEAT YOU.' TWO YEARS LATER, MR. MILOSEVIC REVOKED THE PROVINCE'S AUTONOMOUS STATUS AND BEGAN FEEDING THE WORN FABRIC OF WHAT WAS ONCE A MULTIETHNIC SOCIETY IN YUGOSLAVIA INTO THE SHREDDER. THAT DISCONTENT HAS NOW SPAWNED A GUERRILLA MOVEMENT, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, AMONG THE 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. WHEN SERB POLICE KILLED 24 KOSOVARS A WEEK AGO, THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA, ERUPTED WITH A MASS DEMONSTRATION THAT POLICE PUT DOWN WITH RIOT GEAR AND BEATINGS. AFTER A FOUR-DAY KILLING SPREE IN A GROUP OF KOSOVAR VILLAGES, SERBIAN POLICE DECLARED YESTERDAY THAT THEIR 'SECURITY SWEEP' WAS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED. DO NOT BET ON IT. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EARLY REACTION
TO THE VIOLENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S AUTONOMOUS KOSOVO PROVINCE.
[11] YUGO WAR CRIMES-RAPE (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)DATE=3/9/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227829 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A BOSNIAN SERB HAS ADMITTED CHARGES OF RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING MUSLIM WOMEN IN SOUTHERN BOSNIA DURING THE CIVIL WAR THERE BACK IN 1992. DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC -- WHO SURRENDERED TO NATO TROOPS LAST WEEK -- IS CHARGED IN THE YUGOSLAV TRIBUNAL'S FIRST INDICTMENT DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS. THE PLEA WAS ENTERED BEFORE THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL MONDAY. FROM THE HAGUE, GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS. TEXT: DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC'S GUILTY PLEA TOOK EVERYONE BY SURPRISE. HE EFFECTIVELY ADMITTED HIS PART IN WHAT PROSECUTORS CALL A BRUTAL REGIME OF GANG RAPE, TORTURE AND ENSLAVEMENT. THEY SAY WOMEN IN THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF FOCA LIVED IN CONSTANT FEAR AND SOME BECAME SUICIDAL. MANY ARE STILL PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TRAUMATIZED BY WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. PRESIDING JUDGE, ANTONIO CASESSE, ASKED KUNARAC TO STAND AND ANSWER THOSE CHARGES. ///ACT CASESSE/KUNARAC///CASESSE: COUNT 41, A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, RAPE ... HOW DO YOU PLEAD? KUNARAC: I PLEAD GUILTY ON THIS COUNT. ///END ACT///THAT PLEA INCLUDES PERSONALLY COMMITTING THREE RAPES AND A NUMBER OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS. THE YOUNGEST VICTIM WAS A GIRL OF 15. AS A PARAMILITARY COMMANDER BASED IN FOCA, 37-YEAR-OLD KUNARAC IS ALSO HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF HIS TROOPS. KUNARAC'S LAWYER SAYS HIS CLIENT FEELS GUILTY IN A MORAL, RATHER THAN A CRIMINAL SENSE, AND THAT HE HAS 100 PER CENT FAITH IN THE TRIBUNAL. KUNARAC DENIES CHARGES OF TORTURE, AND PROSECUTORS MUST NOW DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THIS -- OR TAKE THE MATTER TO TRIAL. BOTH THE U-N YUGOSLAV AND ITS COMPANION RWANDAN TRIBUNALS ARE THE
FIRST TO PROSECUTE RAPE, NOT AS AN INDIVIDUAL INCIDENT DURING
WARTIME, BUT AS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. (SIGNED)
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