Voice of America, 98-10-11

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] B-52/KOSOVO (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[02] CONGRESS/KOSOVO (L-O) BY DAVE SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[03] KOSOVO MOOD (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

[04] KOSOVO TALKS (S/L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

[05] KOSOVO/TALKS-UPDATE (L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

[01] B-52/KOSOVO (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS ORDERING SIX HEAVY BOMBERS TO MOVE FROM THE UNITED STATES TO A BASE IN BRITAIN, MUCH CLOSER TO TARGETS IN KOSOVO. U-S OFFICIALS SAY NATO HAS NOT YET MADE A FINAL DECISION TO USE FORCE AGAINST YUGOSLAV MILITARY TARGETS, BUT THE UNITED STATES WILL BE READY IF THAT TIME COMES. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THE PLANES ARE THE PART OF 260 AIRCRAFT WASHINGTON HAS PLEDGED TO THE NATO EFFORT.

TEXT: MR. COHEN DISPATCHED SIX HUGE, LUMBERING B-52'S FROM BARKSDALE, LOUISIANA TO BRITIAN. THE MOVE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IF NATO AIR STRIKES ARE MADE, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITH A BARRAGE OF CRUISE MISSILES. B-52'S CAN EACH CARRY 20 OF THE HIGHLY ACCURATE MISSILES.

AT THE BOMBERS' HOME BASE IN LOUISIANA, STAFF SERGEANT DALE YATES SAYS THE B-52'S ARE DESIGNED TO HAUL THEIR MISSILES CLOSE ENOUGH TO HIT YUGOSLAV MILITARY TARGETS, BUT TO STAY OUT OF REACH OF AIR DEFENSES.

BE ABLE TO LAUNCH ITS MUNITION FROM A LOW THREAT AREA AND THEN BACK OFF.

THE ORDER ALSO MOVES A RECONNAISSANCE PLANE AND THIRTEEN AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS CLOSER TO YUGOSLAVIA.

NATO IS DEMANDING THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC STOP ATTACKING ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. THE ALLIANCE ALSO DEMANDS THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC START TALKS WITH KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, ALLOW REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME AND TO LET AID WORKERS HELP THE NEEDY.

KOSOVO IS A PROVINCE OF SERBIA, AND SERBIA IS THE LARGEST OF YUGOSLAVIA'S TWO REPUBLICS. MOST OF KOSOVO'S RESIDENTS ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY FORCES ARE RUN BY ETHNIC SERBS. MANY KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE, BUT SERBS SAY THEY HAVE STRONG CULTURAL AND HISTORIC TIES TO KOSOVO'S MOUNTAINS, FORESTS AND VILLAGES. THEY VOW THEY'LL NEVER GIVE UP THE LAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/SD
10-Oct-98 8:55 PM EDT (0055 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] CONGRESS/KOSOVO (L-O) BY DAVE SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE OPPOSITION REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE U-S CONGRESS ARE BACKING THE POSSIBLE ALLIED AIR STRIKES IN KOSOVO, BUT ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT SENDING IN GROUND TROOPS AFTERWARD. CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT PUT THE BLAME FOR THE CRISIS SQUARELY ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. APPEARING (SUNDAY) ON THE C-B-S NEWS PROGRAM "FACE THE NATION," MR. LOTT SAID CONGRESS WILL SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES IF THEY ARE CALLED ON TO ACT. BUT THE SENATOR CHARGED THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT PLANNED FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE OPERATION.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE A FEW STRIKES AND THAT DOES NOT WORK, HOW DOES THAT RATCHET UP? AND I DO NOT THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT GROUND TROOPS, U-S GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO. SO THEY HAD BETTER THINK ALL OF THAT THROUGH BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION.

REPUBLICANS ALSO SAY THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT PREPARED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR THE PROSPECT OF MILITARY ACTION. SPEAKING ON N-B-C'S "MEET THE PRESS," SENATOR ORRIN HATCH SUGGESTED MR. CLINTON'S LEGAL AND POLITICAL TROUBLES ARE MAKING THIS ISSUE MORE DIFFICULT.

I HAVE REAL RESERVATIONS ABOUT PUTTING OUR AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS IN THERE WITHOUT A STRONGER PRESIDENT AND WITHOUT A STRONGER MILITARY.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS ITS OBJECTIVE IS CLEAR -- TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, BY USING FORCE IF NECESSARY.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY ANY PEACEKEEPING ARMY SHOULD BE HEAVILY, IF NOT COMPLETELY, EUROPEAN. BUT LAWMAKERS WORRY AMERICANS MAY BE PULLED INTO ANOTHER BALKAN MISSION WITH NO END IN SIGHT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
11-Oct-98 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO MOOD (L ONLY) BY ART CHIMES (PRISTINA)

INTRO: AS THE THREAT OF NATO AIR STRIKES LOOMS OVER YUGOSLAVIA OVER THE TREATMENT OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, LIFE CONTINUES WITH SURPRISING NORMALCY IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ART CHIMES HAS BEEN SAMPLING OPINION THERE, AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS CONTINUING TALKS AIMED AT FULL COMPLIANCE WITH UNITED NATIONS DEMANDS IN KOSOVO, HOPING TO AVERT NATO MILITARY ACTION WHICH COULD COME WITHIN DAYS. DESPITE THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, THERE IS WIDESPREAD BELIEF AMONG RESIDENTS OF PRISTINA THAT IN THE END NATO WILL USE FORCE AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS AT LEAST SEEM TO WELCOME THE PROSPECT.

IT'S HARD TO JUDGE THE EXPECTATIONS OF PRISTINA'S SERB MINORITY, SINCE MOST SERBS WE APPROACHED REFUSED TO TALK. THE ONE EXCEPTION WAS A 22-YEAR OLD STUDENT NAMED MAJA WHO SAID SHE EXPECTS A NATO AIR STRIKE.

I THINK THERE WILL BE ATTACKS, AND THERE SHOULD BE ATTACKS, SHE SAYS. THE AGGRESSION MUST BE STOPPED.

UNITED NATIONS DEMANDS INCLUDE A WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES AND FREE ACCESS BY HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP MORE THAN A QUARTER-MILLION RESIDENTS FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BY SEVEN MONTHS OF FIGHTING. MANY HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR VILLAGES, BUT TENS OF THOUSANDS ARE LIVING OUT IN THE OPEN AS THE HARSH, BALKAN WINTER APPROACHES. I ASKED A YOUNG ETHNIC ALBANIAN CAFE WORKER NAMED LORIK IF HE IS WORRIED THAT A NATO BOMBARDMENT COULD POSSIBLY HURT THE REFUGEES.

I DON'T THINK SO. THEY WILL ATTACK MILITARY BASES. THEY WILL NOT ATTACK THE REFUGEES. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW, TO TELL THE TRUTH.

BUT SOME ANALYSTS ARE WORRIED, NOT ABOUT STRAY MISSILES HITTING THE HOMELESS, BUT POSSIBLE REPRISALS BY ANGRY SERBS AFTER AN ATTACK. THAT POSSIBILITY HAS PERSUADED SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN PRISTINA TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE THEIR DOORS, OR AT LEAST SEND INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS NORMALLY AS POSSIBLE, SENDING OUT RELIEF CONVOYS ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. OFFICE HEAD JOE HEGENAUER SAYS THE THING THAT WOULD HELP THE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS MOST IS PEACE.

AFTER THAT, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE WINTER. AND FOOD IS NEEDED, SHELTER MATERIAL IS NEEDED FOR A LOT OF THE HOMES. SO THESE ARE PROBABLY THE TWO GREATEST NEEDS. //OPT// THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF CHILDREN. I THINK THINGS RELATED TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH IS IMPORTANT, AND A LOT OF THE MEDICAL AGENCIES, THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME WITH SMALL CHILDREN, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HEALTHY. //ENDOPT//

WHETHER OR NOT NATO MOVES AHEAD WITH MILITARY ACTION, THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT IN THE LONG RUN, SOME SORT OF POLITICAL SOLUTION IS NEEDED FOR KOSOVO, WHERE THE 90-PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN MAJORITY WANTS INDEPENDENCE. A 41-YEAR OLD UNEMPLOYED ECONOMIST NAMED SKANDER OFFERED HIS PRESCRIPTION FOR A KOSOVO SETTLEMENT.

FIRST ALL THE SERB FORCES HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN, HE SAYS. THEN THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTORATE FOR MAYBE THREE YEARS, FOLLOWED BY A REFERENDUM ON KOSOVO'S STATUS.

WHATEVER THEIR OPINIONS, ONE THING PRISTINA RESIDENTS SEEM TO AGREE ON IS THAT THEY'RE TIRED OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. AS NATO IS POISED TO MAKE A DECISION, THE WAIT COULD BE OVER VERY SOON. (SIGNED)
NEB/ART/WFR
11-Oct-98 4:27 PM EDT (2027 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO TALKS (S/L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

INTRO: DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS INTENSIFIED SUNDAY TO AVERT THE POSSIBILITY OF NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERBIA. WITH A NATO ACTIVATION ORDER POSSIBLE MONDAY, U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IS PRESSING YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT TO WITHDRAW HIS FORCES AND ALLOW A STRONG WESTERN OBSERVER MISSION INTO KOSOVO. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE'S LATEST MEETING WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO HAMMER OUT AN AGREEMENT.

WIDE DIFFERENCES REMAIN ON HOW THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AND MR. HOLBROOKE SEE COMPLIANCE WITH U-N AND WESTERN DEMANDS.

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE DISMISSED A YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT STATEMENT THAT IT HAS COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS BY PULLING OUT ITS FORCES FROM KOSOVO. THE STATE "TANJUG NEWS AGENCY" SAYS (SUNDAY) ALL CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS HAD BEEN MET.

BUT U-S OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE STATEMENT AS THE SAME WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. THEY SAY SERBIAN POLICE FORCES REMAIN DUG IN ACROSS KOSOVO, CLAIMING TO BE DEFENDING GAINS THEY MADE AGAINST ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS IN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

THOSE GUERRILLAS ARE FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

BUT REFUGEE WORKERS SAY THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES IS PREVENTING AN ESTIMATED ONE-QUARTER-MILLION DISPLACED PERSONS FROM RETURNING HOME.

THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE ARE PUSHING FOR A SERB PULLOUT AND AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN KOSOVO TO VERIFY IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/DW/RAE
11-Oct-98 9:33 AM EDT (1333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO/TALKS-UPDATE (L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

INTRO: U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE CONTINUES TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO FIND A PEACEFUL WAY OUT OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS. U-S DIPLOMATS SAY THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS, BUT REPORT THE TWO MEN ARE DISCUSSING DETAILS OF A POSSIBLE VERIFICATION SCHEME FOR A WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES FROM KOSOVO. FROM BELGRADE, PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS.

TEXT: WITH NATO PLANES POISED TO TAKE OFF FOR BOMBING RUNS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS EUROPE, U-S OFFICIALS REPORTED LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS SERBIAN COMPLIANCE WITH WESTERN DEMANDS FOR A PULLOUT OF SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES FROM KOSOVO. BUT THE OFFICIALS SAID THAT MR. HOLBROOKE AND MR. MILOSEVIC WERE DISCUSSING A SCHEME TO VERIFY THAT COMPLIANCE WHEN AND IF IT HAPPENS. THEY ALSO SAID THE TALKS WOULD GO ON AS LONG AS THEY WERE THOUGHT TO BE WORTHWHILE.

EVEN WITH AN EXPECTED NATO ACTIVATION ORDER MONDAY, U-S OFFICIALS SAID TALKS COULD CONTINUE BEFORE NATO PLANES LEAVE FOR BOMBING RUNS. THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN MR. HOLBROOKE AND MR. MILOSEVIC ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WELL INTO MONDAY MORNING.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN BELGRADE WERE TAKING NO CHANCES. MANY OF THEM HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY OR ARE PREPARING FOR NATO AIR STRIKES. YUGOSLAV CITIZENS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THEIR GOVERNMENT TO EXPECT THE AIR STRIKES, THOUGH SOME COMPLAINED THEY HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED WHAT BOMB SHELTERS TO HIDE IN.

EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES ARE PUSHING FOR WHAT THEY CALL DURABLE AND VERIFIABLE COMPLIANCE ON A SERB PULLOUT. SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO ARE IN A TENSE STANDOFF WITH GUERRILLAS IN THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A.

MR. MILOSEVICH REMAINS STUBBORNLY OPPOSED TO WITHDRAWING ALL HIS POLICE FORCES FROM KOSOVO. HE ALSO HAS OBJECTED TO THE IDEA OF LETTING ARMED WESTERN OBSERVERS VERIFY A PULLOUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/WFR
11-Oct-98 7:16 PM EDT (2316 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article