Voice of America, 98-03-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN DEMO(L-ONLY) BY GREG FLAKUS (LOS ANGELES)

[02] BULGARIA GAS/PIRACY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[03] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

[04] DANGERS IN KOSOVO BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

[05] EDITORIAL: COHEN ON NATO ENLARGEMENT

[06] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[07] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[08] KOSOVO / U-N-H-C-R (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[09] KOSOVO DEMOS (S) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[10] KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BY NEAL LAVON (WASHINGTON)

[11] KOSOVO MOOD BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[12] KOSOVO TALKS (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[13] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[14] SENATE-NATO (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[15] U-S KOSOVO TRIBUNAL (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[16] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[01] ALBANIAN DEMO(L-ONLY) BY GREG FLAKUS (LOS ANGELES)

INTRO: AROUND 150 ALBANIAN-AMERICANS MARCHED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN LOS ANGELES THURSDAY TO PROTEST SERBIAN REPRESSION OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS HAS MORE FROM LOS ANGELES.

TEXT: ///SOUND FROM DEMO///

CARRYING SIGNS AND SHOUTING OVER THE CONSTANT NOISE OF THE TRAFFIC, THE DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED IN FRONT OF THE LOS ANGELES FEDERAL BUILDING AND CONDEMNED SERBIAN POLICE ACTIONS IN KOSOVO. SOME OF THEM ALSO CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO.

NOW IS THE CHANCE FOR KOSOVO TO GET ITS INDEPENDENCE. WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER WITH ALBANIA, SO WE WOULD BE A GREATER ALBANIA.

WHILE SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEMONSTRATION WERE ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO, MOST WERE EITHER FROM ALBANIA OR FROM ALBANIAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES.

ONE MUSLIM WOMAN FROM KOSOVO SAID RELIGION HAS NOT CAUSED DIVISIONS THERE AND SHE BLAMED RECENT VIOLENCE ON THE SERBS.

THERE ARE MUSLIMS AND CATHOLICS BUT THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER ALBANIANS. THEY DO NOT SEPARATE THAT. IT IS ONLY ALBANIANS, THAT IS ALL. THE SERBS ARE DOING ALL THIS. THE SERBS. THEY ARE DOING THIS TO ALL THESE ALBANIAN PEOPLE FOR NO REASON. FOR NOTHING.

MOST PROTESTERS CONCEDED THAT THEY COULD HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON EVENTS BACK IN THE BALKANS BY MARCHING HERE IN LOS ANGELES. BUT MANY OF THEM HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS BACK IN KOSOVO AND THEY SAID THIS DEMONSTRATION WAS THE ONLY THEY COULD VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND SEEK HELP FOR THEIR BELEAGUERED PEOPLE.(SIGNED).

[02] BULGARIA GAS/PIRACY (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: BULGARIA'S TOP INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC OFFICIAL, ALEXANDER BOSHKOV, SAID FRIDAY IN WASHINGTON THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO HALT THE WIDESPREAD ILLEGAL PRODUCTION OF COMPACT DISCS IN BULGARIA. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE OFFICIAL ALSO SPOKE OF BULGARIA'S ONGOING GAS SUPPLY DISPUTE WITH RUSSIA.

TEXT: MR. BOSHKOV SAYS THAT AS OF LAST MONTH ALL COMPACT DISC PRODUCTION IN BULGARIA HAS STOPPED. IT WILL RESUME, HE SAYS, ONLY WHEN PRODUCERS CAN SHOW DOCUMENTATION THAT THE PRODUCTION IS LEGAL AND IN ACCORD WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RULES. THE BULGARIAN OFFICIAL SPOKE AT LENGTH ABOUT THE PIRACY PROBLEM (THURSDAY) WITH U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEVSKY. MR. BOSHKOV SAYS BULGARIA IS DETERMINED TO OVERCOME ITS REPUTATION AS A CENTER FOR COPYRIGHT VIOLATION. MOST OF BULGARIA'S LARGE PRODUCTION OF PIRATED AUDIO AND COMPUTER DISCS HAS GONE TO RUSSIA.

MR. BOSHKOV IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT BULGARIA IS MAKING PROGRESS IN RESOLVING ITS LONG, CONTENTIOUS DISPUTE WITH RUSSIA OVER GAS SUPPLIES. A MAJOR RUSSIAN GAS PIPELINE TRANSITS BULGARIA WHICH IS A DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR ONWARD SHIPMENTS TO GREECE, MACEDONIA AND PARTICULARLY TURKEY. MR. BOSHKOV SAYS TURKEY'S GAS CONSUMPTION IS SET TO TRIPLE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND BULGARIA WANTS TO COOPERATE WITH RUSSIA IN BUILDING A NEW GAS LINE FROM BULGARIA TO TURKEY.

WHAT THE RUSSIANS ARE INSISTING ON IS THAT THE NEW PIPELINES BE BUILT BY A JOINT BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN COMPANY. THAT'S NOT SO BAD AS AN IDEA. BUT THEY INSIST THAT THAT COMPANY OWN THE GAS PIPELINES. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL NEVER AGREE TO. IT IS PART OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY. THE OWNERSHIP OF THE GAS PIPELINES SHOULD BE BULGARIAN.

SAYING THERE IS NO OTHER ROUTE FOR GETTING RUSSIAN GAS TO TURKEY, MR. BOSHKOV DECLARES BULGARIA HOLDS THE KEY TO TURKEY. MR. BOSHKOV, WHO IS A MINING ENGINEER HIMSELF, SAYS GEOGRAPHY HAS BEEN AN ENEMY TO BULGARIA FOR ONE THOUSAND YEARS. BUT, HE SAYS THAT IN TODAY'S GLOBAL ECONOMY, GEOGRAPHY MAY AT LAST BE BULGARIA'S ASSET. (SIGNED)
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13-Mar-98 1:22 PM EST (1822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON/IRELAND (S-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE MAY VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND LATER THIS YEAR IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT PROGRESS IN THE IRISH PEACE PROCESS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON -- WHO WENT TO BELFAST IN 1995 -- SAYS HE MIGHT PAY A RETURN VISIT IN MAY IF BRITISH AND IRISH LEADERS FIND IT USEFUL. BUT IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS HERE, THE PRESIDENT SAID A MORE IMMEDIATE GOAL WILL BE TO ADVANCE THE PEACE PROCESS WHEN HE MEETS KEY PARTIES TO THE TALKS HERE NEXT WEEK IN CONNECTION WITH ST. PATRICKS DAY OBSERVANCES:

THAT'S A VERY PREMATURE THING. THE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS: WHEN THE PARTIES ARE HERE NEXT WEEK, CAN THE UNITED STATES PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN TRYING TO PUSH THE IRISH PEACE PROCESS FORWARD. THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING, AND IN A WAY MUCH BIGGER IN TERMS OF ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT THE QUESTION OF AN IRISH TRIP.

IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN AND SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS ARE AMONG THOSE DUE TO MEET WITH MR. CLINTON, WHO SAYS THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS COULD BE CRITICAL TO IRISH PEACE. IF HE MAKES A BELFAST VISIT, IT WOULD BE LINKED TO HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE MAY 15TH G-EIGHT SUMMIT IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND. (SIGNED)
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13-Mar-98 4:00 PM EST (2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] DANGERS IN KOSOVO BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS DEMONSTRATED IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE FRIDAY TO PROTEST THE SERB POLICE CRACKDOWN ON SEPARATISTS EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE POLICE ACTION KILLED MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE. AMERICAN EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. WE GET A SAMPLING OF THE COMMENTS FROM _________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: SERBIAN OFFICIALS MAINTAIN THAT KOSOVO IS AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR SERB-LED YUGOSLAVIA AND MUST BE SETTLED ACCORDING TO LOCAL LAW. ETHNIC ALBANIANS WANT A GREATER INTERNATIONAL ROLE IN PEACE EFFORTS AND SAY TALKS ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THIRD PARTY MEDIATION. /// OPT /// YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES RESTRICTED SELF-RULE IN KOSOVO IN 1989 IN RESPONSE TO SEPARATIST ACTIVITIES BY THE AREA'S MAJORITY ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION. /// END OPT /// THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS THIS COMMENT

VOICE: ALTHOUGH IT IS VIOLENCE THAT MAKES HEADLINES IN KOSOVO, THE REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THIS PROVINCE OF SERBIA IS THAT FOR YEARS MOST OF ITS ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE RESPONDED TO SERBIAN REPRESSION WITH NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE. AS THE WORLD FOLLOWS THE BOMBINGS AND KILLINGS OF A NEW ALBANIAN GUERRILLA MOVEMENT [EDS: THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] AND SERBIA'S DISPROPORTIONATE RESPONSE, THE PEACEFUL EFFORTS OF STUDENTS AND INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS DESERVE ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE WRITES THAT "IT WOULD BE HARD TO UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGER OF CONTINUED BLOODSHED IN KOSOVO." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS:

VOICE: ...THE AIM OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY MUST BE FIRST TO PREVENT VIOLENCE, AND THEN TO ENCOURAGE A POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN SERB AUTHORITIES AND THE MODERATE LEADERS OF KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS, WHO CONSTITUTE 90 PERCENT OF THE REGION'S POPULATION. DIPLOMATS OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN THAT [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC WAS LOOKING FOR ANY SIGN THAT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS AN EXCUSE TO HAVE AT KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

TEXT: IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, THE ATLANTA [GEORGIA] CONSTITUTION ARGUES IN ITS EDITORIAL THAT "NATO MUST SEND SERBS A WARNING."

VOICE: WASHINGTON AND ITS ALLIES MUST DRUM IT INTO SERBIAN LEADERS' HEADS THAT ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO WON'T BE TOLERATED AND THAT POWER IN KOSOVO MUST BE SHARED WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS IF A FURTHER BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAVIA IS TO BE PREVENTED. IF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED, SO BE IT. THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT WERE RELAXED AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AFTER THE BOSNIA PEACE ACCORD COULD BE REINSTATED. SENDING IN PEACEKEEPING FORCES MAY BE OUT OF THE QUESTION, BUT NATO SHOULDN'T RULE OUT AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB MILITARY ASSETS. ABOVE ALL, THE SERBS -- AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS, TOO -- MUST BE DISABUSED OF THE IDEA THEY CAN CREATE A BETTER KOSOVO BY KILLING ONE ANOTHER.

TEXT: THE ORLANDO [FLORIDA] SENTINAL TITLES ITS EDITORIAL "HANDS OFF IN KOSOVO" AND GOES ON TO WRITE THAT "THE UNITED STATES HAS LITTLE STAKE IN THIS [KOSOVO] CONFLICT."

VOICE: COMMENTS BY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ... SUGGEST THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS LETTING ITS THINKING SLIP TO THE RECKLESS SIDE. SHE SAID THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO. WHAT? HOW DARE SHE -- OR ANYONE ELSE IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION -- EVEN IMPLY THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERATION OF THE UNITED STATES' BEING DRAWN MILITARILY INTO ANOTHER BALKAN IMBROLIGO? ... GETTING BOGGED DOWN IN ANOTHER SITUATION IN WHICH THE PEACE SIMPLY CAN'T BE KEPT WOULD BE SHORT-SIGHTED AND SELF-DEFEATING. THAT'S A DEAD-END APPROACH GUARANTEED TO SQUANDER LIVES AND RESOURCES.

TEXT: WITH THAT FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINAL, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS.
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13-Mar-98 12:32 PM EST (1732 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EDITORIAL: COHEN ON NATO ENLARGEMENT

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

THE PROCESS OF NATO EXPANSION IS NOW UNDERWAY. HUNGARY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE IN 1999 PROVIDED NATO MEMBERS AGREE. THE U.S. SENATE IS PLANNING TO VOTE ON THE ADDITION OF THESE NEW MEMBERS IN THE COMING WEEKS. THEIR JOINING NATO WILL MAKE AMERICA SAFER, EUROPE MORE STABLE AND TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS STRONGER.

THE DOOR WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR OTHER DEMOCRACIES TO JOIN NATO IN THE FUTURE. BUT THEY MUST BE CAPABLE OF SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF COMMON DEFENSE. AND NATO MUST BELIEVE THAT THEIR ADDITION TO THE ALLIANCE WILL HELP TO BUILD SECURITY IN EUROPE.

AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAID, "OUR SECURITY IS INEXTRICABLY TIED TO PEACE AND SECURITY IN EUROPE." NATO WILL EXTEND THE SAME SECURITY GUARANTEES TO NEW MEMBERS THAT ALL NATO COUNTRIES HAVE ENJOYED SINCE 1949. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THOSE GUARANTEES IS THAT AN ATTACK ON ONE MEMBER STATE IS CONSIDERED AN ATTACK ON ALL.

NEW MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN DEFENSE AND TO THE SECURITY OF THE ALLIANCE AS A WHOLE. POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY ARE PREPARED TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE. THEY WILL BRING NEARLY THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN TO THE FORCES OF THE ALLIANCE.

POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY ARE COMMITTED TO DEMOCRATIC IDEALS, FREE MARKET ECONOMIES, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS. THEY ARE RETURNING TO THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN FAMILY OF FREE NATIONS.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
13-Mar-98 11:41 AM EST (1641 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES WERE MIXED IN TRADING FRIDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: PRICES ADVANCED IN EARLY EUROPEAN TRADING ON FRIDAY, BUT THEN STALLED AFTER WALL STREET FELL BACK FROM ITS EARLY GAINS.

IN FRANKFURT, PRICES ROSE TO A RECORD HIGH IN FLOOR TRADING BEFORE RETREATING. STILL, THE DAX INDEX CLOSED, AFTER LATER COMPUTERIZED TRADING, UP ALMOST 34 POINTS, SEVEN-TENTHS PERCENT. AND, IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX ROSE 14 POINTS, FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

BUT PRICES CLOSED DOWN IN LONDON. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX WAS OFF MORE THAN 12 POINTS, TWO-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR WAS DOWN AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, THE JAPANESE YEN, AND THE BRITISH POUND.
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13-Mar-98 1:57 PM EST (1857 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] FRANCE ELECTIONS (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

THEY CHANTED "WE ARE NOT TERRORISTS" -- A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO SERBIAN AUTHORITIES WHO SAID THE POLICE OFFENSIVE WAS TARGETED AT TERRORISTS. IN FACT, MOST OF THOSE KILLED IN THE OPERATION A WEEK AGO WERE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.

THE DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED ON A HILLSIDE OVERLOOKING THE CITY, CARRYING SIGNS READING "STOP THE VIOLENCE" AND "WE WANT JUSTICE." MANY OF THE SIGNS WERE IN ENGLISH, AS WAS A SPEECH BY STUDENT LEADER ALBIN KURTI, CLEARLY DESIGNED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MANY FOREIGN JOURNALISTS HERE.

MODERATE ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS HAVE CALLED ON AMERICA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION TO HELP FIND A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO PROBLEM.

KOSOVO'S POPULATION IS 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN AND THEY WANT INDEPENDENCE. BUT AUTHORITIES INSIST KOSOVO MUST REMAIN PART OF SERBIA ( -- THE DOMINANT REPUBLIC IN YUGOSLAVIA). (SIGNED)
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13-Mar-98 11:56 AM EST (1656 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY BY NEAL LAVON (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS U-S POLICYMAKERS MAY BE ASKING THEMSELVES THIS WEEKEND IS, WHO AND WHAT CONSTITUTES THE SO-CALLED KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY? NOT MUCH IS KNOWN ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED A TERRORIST GROUP BY BOTH WESTERN GOVERNMENTS AND NATO.

THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY PROVIDED THE JUSTIFICATION FOR LAST WEEK'S SERBIAN CRACKDOWN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE.

VOA'S NEAL LAVON HAS MORE IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT.

TEXT: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SAID THE REASON FOR LAST WEEK'S ATTACK AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO WAS THE NECESSITY TO CRUSH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. IN THE ATTACK, AN ESTIMATED 80 ALBANIANS WERE KILLED, INCLUDING MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SCORES MORE WERE REPORTED AS MISSING. (BEGIN OPT) KOSOVO PROVINCE IS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN YUGOSLAVIA. NINETY PERCENT OF THE PROVINCE'S TWO MILLION PEOPLE ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, THE REST ARE SERBS. UNDER COMMUNIST RULE, KOSOVO WAS PART OF SERBIA, BUT IN 1974, IT WON NEAR-AUTONOMY. IN 1989, HOWEVER, MR. MILOSEVIC, AS PRESIDENT OF SERBIA, ENDED THE PROVINCE'S QUASI-INDEPENDENCE AND IMPOSED VIRTUAL MARTIAL LAW. SINCE THEN, ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE. BUT SERBIA, SAYING KOSOVO IS THE CRADLE OF THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE, IS BITTERLY OPPOSED.

IN THAT FRAMEWORK, (END OPT) THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY SURFACED IN THE EARLY 1990S. DETAILS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUP ARE SKETCHY. IT RAISES FUNDS FROM A BASE IN SWITZERLAND. WESTERN AND REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THE GROUP NUMBERS ANYWHERE FROM A FEW HUNDRED TO A FEW THOUSAND. INTELLIGENCE SOURCES IN THE WEST BELIEVE THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS MADE UP OF ALBANIAN EXILES WHO FLED THE REGION IN THE 1970S. THEIR OFFICERS, ACCORDING TO THESE SOURCES, MAY HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE YUGOSLAV PEOPLE'S ARMY AND COULD HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST THE SERBS IN THE BOSNIAN WAR.

ACCORDING TO REGIONAL EXPERTS, THE GROUP RELIES ON A NETWORK OF INFORMERS AND SYMPATHIZERS AND IS ARMED WITH LIGHT INFANTRY WEAPONS. THEIR ACTUAL STRENGTH AND MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS, SAY THESE EXPERTS, REMAINS A MYSTERY.

THE GROUP HAS GAINED VISIBILITY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE NON-VIOLENT ALBANIAN OPPOSITION LED BY DR. IBRAHIM RUGOVA, HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF KOSOVO. DR. RUGOVA IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANIAN SHADOW GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN KOSOVO AFTER THE PROVINCE LOST ITS NEAR-AUTONOMY.

A LEADING U-S SCHOLAR OF KOSOVO THINKS THE LIBERATION ARMY HAS ELIMINATED SCORES OF MODERATE ALBANIANS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE A MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH THE GOAL OF WESTERN INTERVENTION. DR. NIKOLAOS STAVROU ('NICK-OH-LOUSE 'STAHV-A-ROO), PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, AND EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL "MEDITERRANEAN QUARTERLY", SAYS THE TACTICS OF THE LIBERATION ARMY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY U-S POLICYMAKERS IF THEY WANT TO SEE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN KOSOVO.

IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WE'VE HAD SIXTY ASSASSINATIONS BY THE LIBERATION ARMY. A NUMBER OF THOSE ASSASSINATED WERE MODERATE ALBANIANS AND QUITE A FEW PROMINENT INTELLECTUALS. THEY WERE VERY GOOD PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEMS, AND UNDERSTOOD THE COMPLEXITY. THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHED ASIDE BY THE MILITANT WING OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION MOVEMENT. THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY U-S POLICYMAKERS. THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED, NOT THE MILITANTS.

HOWEVER ANOTHER KOSOVO SCHOLAR, NICHOLAS PANO ('PAH-NO), PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN MACOMB (MUH 'COMB), ILLINOIS, HAS A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VIEW. HE SAYS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IS GAINING SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION OF ALBANIANS--PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG--AT THE PACE OF REFORM IN THE PROVINCE. THE RECENT SERB ATTACK, HE ADDS, ONLY RAISED THE LIBERATION ARMY'S VISIBILITY.

IF INDEED, THE ROLE OF THE MILITANTS WITHIN KOSOVO HAS INCREASED DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THE ROLE OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS BECOME MORE PROMINENT, IT IS BECAUSE OF A GROWING FRUSTRATION ON THE PART OF LARGE NUMBERS OF KOSOVARS (ALBANIAN RESIDENTS OF KOSOVO), ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH OF THE COUNTRY, AT THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING AND REDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE ALBANIANS.

THE ALBANIAN FRUSTRATION, HE NOTES, IS DUE BOTH TO WHAT HE CALLS SERB INTRANSIGENCE, AS WELL AS THE INABILITY OF DR. RUGOVA TO ACHIEVE HIS POLITICAL ENDS THROUGH NON-VIOLENT MEANS.

AN ATTEMPT BY SERB OFFICIALS TO OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO WAS REBUFFED THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY, PRESS REPORTS INDICATE THAT MANY ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT DEVELOPS NEXT IN KOSOVO. BUT EVEN DR. RUGOVA WAS QUOTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AS SAYING THE SITUATION IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, AND THERE IS A GROWING DESIRE ON THE PART OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO REVOLT. THOSE FEELINGS COULD MAKE THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY A KEY PLAYER IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
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13-Mar-98 4:53 PM EST (2153 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] KOSOVO MOOD BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE MANY RESIDENTS FEAR THE WORST AFTER DOZENS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE KILLED LAST WEEK IN A POLICE CRACKDOWN. SECURITY IN THE AREA REMAINS TIGHT, AND, AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES, MANY OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY ARE EXPECTING MORE TROUBLE.

TEXT: IN A DUSTY TOWN WEST OF THE PROVINICIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA, THE STREETS ARE NEARLY DESERTED. THIS IS THE DRENICA REGION, WHERE PARAMILITARY POLICE LAST WEEK STAGED AN OFFENSIVE CENTERED ON ONE VILLAGE SAID TO BE A STRONGHOLD OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE GUERRILLAS.

POLICE TIGHTENED SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION, FRIGHTENING MANY RESIDENTS WHO SAY THEY ARE CONSTANTLY HARASSED. WHEN THEY CAN, LOCAL RESIDENTS SAY, THEY TRAVEL BACK ROADS TO AVOID THE CHECKPOINTS, BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

A SHOPKEEPER WHO IS RETURNING FROM PRISTINA WITH MERCHANDISE SAYS POLICE AT THE CHECKPOINT LEVIED AN ARBITARY FINE OF 105 DINARS, ABOUT 12 U-S DOLLARS AT THE BLACK MARKET RATE. HE SAYS THEY POINTED A GUN AT HIS HEAD.

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WITH THE PROPER CREDENTIALS PASS MORE FREELY, BUT WE SAW LOCAL MOTORISTS FRISKED (SEARCHED) AND THEIR CARS SEARCHED AT ONE CHECKPOINT, WHERE AN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER GUARDED THE INTERSECTION.

ALBANIAN SOURCES SAY THE SECURITY OPERATION PROMPTED AS MANY AS 13,000 PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES, MAINLY WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. THE EXACT NUMBER CANNOT BE CONFIRMED, BUT CLEARLY THE HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE AND INTENSE FIGHTING FRIGHTENED MANY PEOPLE.

WITH THE SITUATION A BIT MORE STABLE NOW, THE SHOPKEEPER SAYS, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO RETURN.

THEY ARE COMING BACK NOW, HE SAYS, AND MANY OF THEM ARE BUYING LEMONS. HE SAYS THEY HAVE COLDS FROM LIVING IN ROUGH CONDITIONS.

THE PEOPLE WE TALK TO ARE EAGER TO TELL THEIR STORIES, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY FEAR POLICE HARASSMENT, SO WE AGREE NOT TO NAME NAMES OR IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY.

KOSOVO'S POPULATION IS 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN, AND UNTIL 1989 THE PROVINCE ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE AUTONOMY, BUT SINCE THEN KOSOVO HAS EFFECTIVELY BEEN RULED FROM BELGRADE, ALTHOUGH IT IS OFFICIALLY STILL CALLED AN AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE.

THE POLICE CRACKDOWN HAS AFFECTED EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE. A TEACHER SAYS SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED HERE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

THE STUDENTS ARE AFRAID, SHE SAYS, BECAUSE IN EVERY CLASS SOME STUDENT HAS BEEN BEATEN, AND HE TELLS EVERYONE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES.

THE COUTRYSIDE HERE IS BEAUTIFUL, WITH SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS IN THE NEAR DISTANCE AND DELIGHTFUL FENCES MADE OF WOVEN BRANCHES, SOMETIMES IN GEOMETRIC PATTERNS. MOST VEHICLES ARE MOTORIZED, AND MOST PEOPLE DRESS IN THE KIND OF CLOTHES YOU SEE EVERYWHERE, BUT THE OCCASIONAL HORSE-DRAWN CART OR RESIDENT WEARING TRADITIONAL CLOTHING REMINDS YOU OF THE POVERTY AND TRADITION OF DRENICA.

THE AREA WAS TARGETTED BY SERB AUTHORITIES BECAUSE IT IS SAID TO BE A CENTER OF THE SHADOWY KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, WHICH HAS CLAIMED ATTACKS ON POLICE TARGETS. BUT RESIDENTS TELL US THEY WANT A NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO STANDOFF.

THIS MAN WORKS FOR A STATE-OWNED COMPANY.

IF THEY OPEN A DIALOGUE, HE SAYS, THINGS MAY BE BETTER. IF NOT, THINGS WILL JUST GO ON THIS WAY.

SERBS AND ALBANIANS SAY THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE ON KOSOVO'S FUTURE, BUT THE SERBS WANT BILATERAL TALKS, WHILE THE ALBANIANS SAY THERE SHOULD BE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION.

DIPLOMATS FROM EUROPE, RUSSIA, AND AMERICA MONDAY AGREED ON SANCTIONS AIMED AT STARTING TALKS ON INCREASED AUTONOMY. SOME SERBIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WOULD AGREE TO INCREASED AUTONOMY, BUT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS HERE WANT NOTHING SHORT OF INDEPENDENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/KL
13-Mar-98 2:58 PM EST (1958 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] KOSOVO TALKS (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN STUDENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO PROVINCE HAVE CALLED A DEMONSTRATION (FRIDAY) TO PROTEST RECENT SECURITY OPERATIONS AGAINST SUSPECTED SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS IN WHICH ABOUT 80 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. MEANWHILE, AS V-O-A'S ART CHIMES REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, A SERBIAN INITIATIVE TO OPEN BI-LATERAL TALKS HAS FAILED TO ATTRACT ALBANIAN INTEREST.

TEXT: STUDENT LEADERS CALLED THE DEMONSTRATION TO PROTEST THE SECURITY CRACKDOWN WEST OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. SOME PREVIOUS PROTESTS HAVE TURNED VIOLENT AND POLICE BEAT DEMONSTRATORS AT A RALLY LAST WEEK. BUT SEVERAL DEMONSTRATIONS SINCE THEN HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL.

SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE FOR TWO DAYS NOW TRIED TO GET MODERATE ALBANIAN LEADERS TO ENTER TALKS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS. ALTHOUGH BOTH SIDES SAY THEY WANT TALKS WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS, THEY EACH HAVE THEIR STARTING POSITIONS.

SERBIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RATKO MARKOVIC TOLD REPORTERS NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD INVOLVE ONLY KOSOVO AND SERBIA.

OUR POSITION IS THAT KOSOVO IS PART OF SERBIA, HE SAID, AND IT IS AN INTERNAL MATTER.

BUT MODERATE ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA INSISTS TALKS NEED THIRD PARTY MEDIATION. AND HE SAID THE WHOLE ISSUE NEEDS THE DEEPER INVOLVEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE ALBANIANS WANT INDEPENDENCE. BUT SERBIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.

MR. RUGOVA SAID THE SITUATION IN THE DRENICA AREA, SITE OF THE RECENT SECURITY OPERATION, REMAINS GRAVE. SOME VILLAGES REMAIN UNDER SIEGE, AND HE SAID 13-THOUSAND RESIDENTS HAVE TEMPORARILY MOVED TO PLACES WHERE THEY FEEL SAFER.

THE EXACT NUMBER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM. BUT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE CLEARLY DID LEAVE THEIR HOMES AS PARAMILITARY AND POLICE UNITS MOVED THROUGH THE AREA.

THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, SAYS MR. RUGOVA.

AN UNKNOWN NUMBER HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES, ALTHOUGH TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN DRENICA ARE QUIET AS RESIDENT STAY INDOORS, AWAY FROM POLICE PATROLS.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE RECENT CRACKDOWN WAS DIRECTED AGAINST TERRORISTS, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE DEAD WERE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY.

THE OFFENSIVE FOLLOWED RECENT GUERRILLA ATTACKS AGAINST POLICE TARGETS, CLAIMED BY THE SHADOWY KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/JWH
13-Mar-98 8:46 AM EST (1346 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) AS PROFIT TAKERS MOVED INTO THE MARKET. VOA CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 86 HUNDRED TWO, DOWN 57 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE-HALF PERCENT. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 33 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT ONE THOUSAND 68, DOWN ONE POINT.

ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS NO FUNDAMENTAL REASON FOR THE SELL-OFF AND IT WAS APPARENTLY THE RESULT OF PROFIT-TAKING AFTER THE RECORD-SETTING RALLIES EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE LOWER IN FEBRUARY FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH, LARGELY BECAUSE OF FALLING ENERGY PRICES. ///BEGIN OPT///LYN REISSER, THE CHIEF ECONOMIST AT THE BARNETT BANK, SAYS THE ALMOST STAGNANT INFLATION RATE MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR COMPANIES TO RAISE PRICES.

KIMBERLY-CLARK, THE HUGE TISSUE PAPER COMPANY, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS WILL FALL WELL BELOW WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY CITES STIFF COMPETITION AND LOWER PRICES IN THE EUROPEAN MARKET AS THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE EARNINGS DISAPPOINTMENT.

THE HILTON HOTEL COMPANY CONFIRMS IT IS HOLDING MERGER TALKS WITH THE CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL AND CASINO CORPORATION. A COMBINATION WOULD CREATE A MAJOR FORCE IN THE U-S CASINO GAMING INDUSTRY WITH PROPERTIES IN LAS VEGAS AND ATLANTIC CITY.

AMERICAN FINANCIER CARL ICAHN IS OFFERING TO REVIVE THE BANKRUPT PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS BY BUYING THE COMPANY'S ASSETS FOR 43 MILLION DOLLARS. HOWEVER, THE JUDGE WHO IS SUPERVISING PAN AM'S BANKRUPTCY HAS EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT MR. ICAHN'S PROPOSAL AND IS URGING THE AIRLINE TO SEEK OTHER OFFERS. THE ORIGINAL PAN AM CEASED OPERATIONS IN 1991. THE REVIVED PAN AM WENT BANKRUPT THREE WEEKS AGO.

THE MATTEL TOY COMPANY IS SUING A BRITISH MAGAZINE FOR PRINTING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PICTURES OF MATTEL'S FAMOUS "BARBIE DOLL." MATTEL SAYS IT HAS WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE THE DOLL'S WHOLESOME IMAGE AND THAT THE PICTURES MAKE "BARBIE" LOOK "VULGAR AND DISTASTEFUL."(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
13-Mar-98 5:34 PM EST (2234 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] SENATE-NATO (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S SENATE MAY VOTE AS SOON AS NEXT FRIDAY ON WHETHER THE NATO ALLIANCE SHOULD TAKE IN POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT SAYS HE HOPES TO TAKE UP NATO EXPANSION LATE NEXT WEEK, DESPITE WHAT HE CALLS FERVENT REQUESTS FOR A DELAY FROM A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES. THESE LAWMAKERS WANT MORE TIME TO STUDY THE ISSUE. BUT MR. LOTT SAYS HE IS NOT INCLINED TO PUT OFF THE VOTE ANY LONGER.

THIS IS THE NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE AFTERMATH OF THE ENDING OF THE COLD WAR. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE NATO ALLIANCE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES THAT ARE MAKING INCREDIBLE STRIDES ON THEIR OWN.

OPPONENTS FEAR THE PLAN WILL STRAIN THE PENTAGON BUDGET AND HURT RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, TWO THIRDS OF THE 100 SENATORS MUST VOTE TO RATIFY THE PACT. HOWEVER, NATO ENLARGEMENT IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE STRONG SUPPORT FROM BOTH PARTIES.(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PLM
13-Mar-98 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] U-S KOSOVO TRIBUNAL (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AS IT EXPANDS ITS OPERATION TO THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO IN YUGOSLAVIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: AS PRESIDENT OF SERBIA, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WAS NEVER INDICTED BY THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL EVEN THOUGH HE SUPPORTED THE FORMER POLITICAL LEADER OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- RADOVAN KARADZIC -- WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF REPEATED INDICTMENTS BY THE COURT.

NOW AS PRESIDENT OF YUGOSLAVIA, MR. MILOSEVIC STILL HAS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SERBIA AND IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. AS THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATES WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN KOSOVO, ATTENTION IS ONCE AGAIN FOCUSED ON MR. MILOSEVIC.

THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO COVER ACTS COMMITTED IN KOSOVO. TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR LOUISE ARBOUR AGREES THE HAGUE PANEL COVERS ALL CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE COURT SHOULD DETERMINE WHETHER PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC PLAYED A ROLE IN THE ABUSES COMMITTED BY SERBIAN POLICE IN KOSOVO (RECENTLY).

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS RESPONSIBLE, POLITICALLY RESPONSIBLE, FOR WHAT GOES ON IN HIS COUNTRY. THEREFORE IT IS HARD FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT THESE KINDS OF CRACKDOWNS (IN KOSOVO) COULD OCCUR OVER HIS OBJECTIONS. BUT WITH RESPECT TO ANY DIRECT, LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, I DID JUST MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY ABOUT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AND IT WOULD BE UP TO IT TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT WHAT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND INVOLVES IN A CASE LIKE THIS.

MR. RUBIN ANNOUNCED THAT THE UNITED STATES IS CONTRIBUTING 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SUPPORT INVESTIGATIONS IN KOSOVO, ASSUMING THEY ARE ALLOWED BY SERBIAN AUTHORITIES. THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES AND 275-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TRAINING. THAT PUTS THE AMERICAN DONATION TO THE TRIBUNAL AT MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THE UNITED STATES HOPES THE NEW ROLE FOR THE COURT WILL PREVENT FUTURE CRIMES IN KOSOVO.

AT A MINIMUM, WE HOPE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL, THE POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL, WILL SERVE AS A POWERFUL DETERRENT AGAINST THOSE WHO MIGHT BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE SUCH ACTS THE NEXT TIME. WITH RESPECT TO HOW THE TRIBUNAL DECIDES WHAT THE CULPABILITY IS IN THESE EVENTS, AND WHETHER THAT CULPABILITY ARISES IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, THAT IS FOR THEM TO DECIDE AND WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN INTERFERING WITH THAT PROCESS.

IN EVALUATING YUGOSLAVIA'S PERFORMANCE IN MEETING CONDITIONS SET BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN LONDON LAST MONDAY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS YUGOSLAVIA IS MAKING NO PROGRESS IN AVOIDING ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS TO TAKE EFFECT MARCH 25TH. THE UNITED STATES BLAMES SERBIA FOR NOT WITHDRAWING SPECIAL POLICE UNITS FROM KOSOVO AND FOR NOT SETTING REALISTIC CONDITIONS FOR A POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/JO
13-Mar-98 5:10 PM EST (2210 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: JUDGES AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAVE REJECTED A GUILTY PLEA FROM A BOSNIAN SERB ACCUSED OF RAPING MUSLIM WOMEN. THEY SAID HE HAD BEEN MISINFORMED ABOUT THE CHARGES. GILLIAN SHARPE IN THE HAGUE REPORTS THE SUSPECT, DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC, TOLD THE COURT THAT WHILE HE FELT GUILTY ABOUT ONE CRIME -- HE HAD NOT DONE EVERYTHING WITH WHICH HE WAS CHARGED.

TEXT: AT HIS INITIAL COURT APPEARANCE ON MONDAY, 37-YEAR-OLD DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC PLEADED GUILTY TO RAPE AS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, A FIRST FOR THIS COURT.

PROSECUTORS SAY THAT AFTER THE SERB TAKEOVER OF THE BOSNIAN TOWN OF FOCA, THE WOMEN THERE WERE SUBJECTED TO A BRUTAL REGIME OF GANG RAPE, ENSLAVEMENT, AND TORTURE. AS A PARAMILITARY COMMANDER IN THE TOWN, DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC'S GUILTY PLEA INCLUDED PERSONALLY RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A NUMBER OF WOMEN, BRINGING WOMEN TO OTHER SOLDIERS TO BE RAPED, AND FAILING TO PREVENT RAPES. BY FRIDAY, DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC WAS EFFECTIVELY SAYING THAT HIS GUILTY PLEA WAS NOT CORRECT. HE FELT GUILTY ABOUT ONE CRIME, HE SAID, SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A RAPE WITHOUT RESORT TO FORCE. HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIND THAT IN THE CHARGES.

PROSECUTOR HILDERGARD RETSLATT PAINTS A DIFFERENT PICTURE OF THE INCIDENT.

TWO WOMEN WERE TAKEN TO THIS HEADQUARTER, ONE WAS RAPED BRUTALLY, GANG RAPED BRUTALLY, AND ONE WAS PERSONALLY RAPED BY THE ACCUSED. BUT, ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS TOLD US, HE HARDLY COMMITTED ANY OFFENSE AT ALL.

IT WAS CLEAR, SAID JUDGES, THAT DRAGOLJUB KUNARAC HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INFORMED BEFORE MAKING HIS GUILTY PLEA, AND THEY ORDERED THAT IT BE WITHDRAWN. THE CASE MUST NOW GO TO TRIAL, ALTHOUGH THAT COULD BE MANY MONTHS AWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH
13-Mar-98 1:13 PM EST (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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