Voice of America, 98-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO-HOLBROOKE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND/BLAIR (S ONLY) BY DAVID WEBER (LONDON)

[01] KOSOVO-HOLBROOKE (L) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: IN YUGOSLAVIA, U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS EXTENDING HIS KOSOVO PEACE MISSION AFTER TALKS WITH LEADERS OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY IN THE SERBIAN REPUBLIC'S KOSOVO PROVINCE TODAY (SATURDAY). V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS OUR REPORT FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE MET WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL, ETHNIC ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES IN KOSOVO, AND SAID HE WOULD CONTINUE HIS MISSION -- MEETING AGAIN WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE AND RETURNING TO KOSOVO ON SUNDAY FOR MORE TALKS WITH THE ALBANIANS.

MR. HOLBROOKE IS TRYING TO GET BOTH SIDES TO AGREE TO A CEASE-FIRE TO GIVE DIPLOMATS SOME BREATHING ROOM AS THEY TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CONFLICT.

AFTER SEEING LEADING ALBANIAN POLITICIAN IBRAHIM RUGOVA, MR. HOLBROOKE TOLD REPORTERS VIOLENCE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF KOSOVO.

THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES THAT THE SOLUTION OF THE KOSOVO PROBLEM MUST BE PEACEFUL. WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENCOURAGE IN ANY WAY ACTION BY SECURITY OR MILITARY FORCES OR VIOLENT MEANS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. THEY'RE LONG-STANDING AND THEY'RE DEEP, BUT THEY WILL ONLY GET DEEPER IF FORCE IS THE SOLUTION.

MR. RUGOVA, FOR HIS PART, ASKED FOR GREATER AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY NOW CONTROL SUBSTANTIAL PARTS OF THE PROVINCE. THE GUERRILLAS SEEK AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO -- AS DO MOST OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS, EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T SUPPORT THE REBELS' TACTICS. BELGRADE INSISTS KOSOVO MUST REMAIN IN SERBIA, AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS OFFERED TO NEGOTIATE ON RESTORING AUTONOMY TO KOSOVO. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OPPOSES INDEPENDENCE, FEARING FURTHER DESTABILIZATION IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/DW/JO
04-Jul-98 10:47 AM EDT (1447 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NORTHERN IRELAND/BLAIR (S ONLY) BY DAVID WEBER (LONDON)

INTRO: WITH THE PEACE PROCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND THREATENED BY A BANNED PROTESTANT MARCH THROUGH A CATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN A SMALL TOWN (PORTADOWN) NEAR BELFAST SUNDAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS APPEALED FOR CALM. DAVID WEBER REPORTS FROM LONDON THIS TRADITIONAL PROTESTANT MARCHING SEASON IS SEEN AS A PROVOCATION BY CATHOLICS AND HAS SPARKED VIOLENCE BEFORE.

TEXT: THE PRIME MINISTER SAID EVEN IF VIOLENCE DOES BREAK OUT IN PORTADOWN IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WRECK THE NEWLY-BEGUN PEACE PROCESS IN THE (BRITISH-RULED) PROVINCE.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOVED HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS AND ARMORED VEHICLES INTO PORTADOWN, WHICH LIES SOUTHEAST OF BELFAST, TO TRY TO KEEP PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS APART.

MR. BLAIR FLEW TO NORTHERN IRELAND THURSDAY IN A LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO GET A COMPROMISE FROM RIVAL LEADERS OF THE (PROTESTANT) ORANGE ORDER AND THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN PORTADOWN. IN AN INTERVIEW SATURDAY ON BRITISH TELEVISION, HE SAID IT IS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH SIDES TO REMAIN CALM AND REMAIN LAW-ABIDING SUNDAY AND NOT LET SMALL ELEMENTS OBSTRUCT THE PEACE PROCESS.

THE LOCAL ORANGE ORDER WANTS TO KEEP TO ITS TRADITIONAL MARCHING ROUTE WHICH TAKES IT THROUGH THE CATHOLIC GARVAGHY STREET, A MAIN THOROUGHFARE THAT HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETELY SEALED OFF BY TROOPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DW/JO
04-Jul-98 12:01 PM EDT (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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