Voice of America, 98-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] E-U SUMMIT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (POERTSCHACH)

[02] KOSOVO / NATO (S&L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[01] E-U SUMMIT (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (POERTSCHACH)

INTRO: THE LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE MEETING IN SOUTHERN AUSTRIA. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE MEETING IN POERTSCHACH, AUSTRIA, THEY HAVE BEEN THANKED BY YASSER ARAFAT AND LECTURED BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR.

TEXT: YASSER ARAFAT STOPPED AT THIS LAKESIDE ALPINE RESORT TO THANK THE EUROPEANS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, BOTH POLITICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. SINCE 1993, EUROPE HAS BEEN THE MOST GENEROUS DONOR, CONTRIBUTING 60 PERCENT OF ALL AID TO THE PALESTINIANS.

AS HE BRIEFED THEM ON THE INTERIM AGREEMENT SIGNED IN WASHINGTON, MR. ARAFAT CALLED ON THE EUROPEANS TO CONTINUE THEIR POLITICAL SUPPORT AS HE BEGINS TO NEGOTIATE THE FINAL ISSUES WITH ISRAEL. TALKING TO REPORTERS, MR. ARAFAT SAYS AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE IS COMING SOON, UNDER THE 1994 OSLO AGREEMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT, THE FINAL OF THE FIVE YEARS IS THE FOURTH OF MAY 1999 SO THAT DIRECTLY WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLARE OUR INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN ACCORDING TO OUR AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH OF US.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN ONCE AGAIN FRUSTRATED TO SEE THE UNITED STATES NEGOTIATE MIDDLE EAST PEACE WHILE THEY ARE THE LARGEST AID DONOR (TO THE PALESTINIANS). IN FACT, WHEN ASKED BY REPORTERS ABOUT FUTURE EUROPEAN AID, MR. ARAFAT HIGHLIGHTED A COMMITMENT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ENCOURAGE MORE ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIANS.

AS THEY BEGAN THEIR TWO-DAY MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ACCUSED HIS COLLEAGUES OF DITHERING AND BEING DISUNITED WHEN IT CAME TO THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO.

IN HIS REMARKS TO THE CLOSED DOOR SUMMIT MEETING, THE BRITISH LEADER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE EUROPEAN UNION NEEDS TO HAVE ITS OWN FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY IF IT WANTS TO HAVE THE INFLUENCE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS ON WORLD AFFAIRS.

WHILE EUROPE HAS AGREED TO FORM A SINGLE MARKET AND TO INTRODUCE A SINGLE CURRENCY NEXT YEAR IN 11 OF THE 15 COUNTRIES, IT HAS YET TO AGREE HOW TO ACT JOINTLY WHEN IT COMES TO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MATTERS. THIS INFORMAL MEETING WAS ORGANIZED TO DISCUSS A CHANGING ROLE FOR THE UNION AS IT BEGINS NEGOTIATIONS NEXT MONTH THAT WILL LEAD TO SIX NEW MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. THIRTEEN OF THE UNION'S 15 MEMBERS ARE NOW GOVERNED BY SOCIALIST OR CENTER-LEFT GOVERNMENTS. BUT HERE IN AUSTRIA, THE EUROPEAN LEADERSAPPEAR TO WANT TO DEAL WITH MORE PRACTICAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDB/DW/KL
24-Oct-98 2:14 PM EDT (1814 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] KOSOVO / NATO (S&L) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: WITH TIME RUNNING OUT FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO COMPLY WITH PEACE PROMISES, NATO IS PUTTING FRESH PRESSURE ON BELGRADE TO ABIDE BY U-N DEMANDS FOR A TROOP PULLBACK IN KOSOVO. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM KOSOVO THAT WESTERN DIPLOMATS THERE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH CEASEFIRES TO HELP GET YUGOSLAV FORCES BACK TO THEIR BARRACKS.

TEXT: NATO'S SUPREME COMMANDER WESLEY CLARK ARRIVED IN BELGRADE SATURDAY TO PRESS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO CONTINUE HIS DRAWBACK OF FORCES.

NATO OFFICIALS SAID EARLIER THAT -- DESPITE SOME PROGRESS -- THEY ARE STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH THE LEVEL OF YUGOSLAVIA'S COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS. MR. MILOSEVIC HAS UNTIL TUESDAY TO COMPLY. IN KOSOVO, WESTERN DIPLOMATS CONFIRMED SATURDAY THAT THEY HAD BEEN HELPING TO ESTABLISH LOCAL CEASEFIRES TO ASSIST THE REDUCTION OF FORCES. THE KOSOVO DIPLOMATIC OBSERVER MISSION (OR K-D-O-M) -- MADE UP OF DIPLOMATS FROM THE U-S, WESTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA -- SAID THAT YUGOSLAV ARMY TANKS AND HEAVY GUNS ARE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM THE PODUJEVO AREA IN NORTHERN KOSOVO.

IN CENTRAL KOSOVO, THE SERBIAN POLICE TOLD K-D-O-M THEY WOULD REMOVE FORCES FROM TWO VILLAGES NEAR THE TOWN OF MALISEVO. THE WORK OF K-D-O-M IS CONTINUING EVEN AS A VERIFICATION MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE AWAITS FINAL INSTTRUCTIONS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/DW/KL
24-Oct-98 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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