Voice of America, 99-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO MONITORS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] BELGRADE / KOSOVO / L BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

[03] KOSOVO FIGHTING BY PHILIP SMUCKERS (PRISTINA)

[04] NATO/KOSOVO (S ONLY) CQ (BRUSSELS)

[05] TURKEY / KURDS (S ONLY) BY AMBARIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[06] EURO MINISTERS (S) (BRUSSELS)

[07] EURO/KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[01] KOSOVO MONITORS (L-ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: NEARLY 1400 UNARMED KOSOVO MONITORS BEGAN SPILLING OVER THE BORDER OF YUGOSLAVIA INTO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA SATURDAY. THE EVACUATION IS SEEN AS CLEARING THE WAY FOR POSSIBLE NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SERBIAN POLICE POSITIONS. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM KOSOVO.

TEXT: MONITORS LEFT AT DAWN AND RODE SOUTH IN THEIR ORANGE VEHICLES TOWARDS THE MACEDONIA BORDER. AMERICAN OFFICIALS MONITORING THE EXODUS SAID IT WENT SMOOTHLY.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE MONITORING MISSION IS SEEN AS A POSSIBLE SIGN THAT NATO IS NOW SERIOUS ABOUT ITS THREAT TO USE AIR STRIKES TO FORCE YUGUSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO SIGN UP FOR A PEACE DEAL. ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THAT WESTERN-BACKED DEAL IN PARIS THIS WEEK.

MONITORS LEAVING KOSOVO REPORTED NO ATTACKS FROM SERBS OR ALBANIANS. ONE U-S MILITARY JEEP WAS LEFT BEHIND DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND ANOTHER BECAUSE IT HAD A MINOR ROAD ACCIDENT.

OFFICIALS IN THE KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION SAY THEIR MISSION TO MONITOR A CEASE FIRE HAS COME TO AN END BOTH BECAUSE OF DANGER TO THEIR OWN LIVES AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB.

FIGHTING BROKE OUT IN NORTHERN KOSOVO EVEN AS THE MONITORS LEFT. WESTERN OFFICIALS WHO SPOKE WITH KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY COMMANDERS QUOTED THE COMMANDERS AS SAYING THE FIGHTING WAS SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE IN WEEKS IN THE PODUJEVO AREA.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBEL LEADERS IN THE PODUJEVO AREA HAVE EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT THE PEACE DEAL THAT THEIR POLITICAL LEADER SIGNED UP TO IN PARIS. THEY WANT FULL INDEPENDENCE AND SEE AUTONOMY - WHICH THE DEAL ASSURES - AS ONLY A HALF STEP.

THE FIGHTING BLOCKED ONE EXIT ROUTE NORTH TO BELGRADE. ANOTHER ROUTE FURTHER TO THE WEST REMAINED OPEN.

WESTERN OFFICIALS ARE GREATLY CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT ANY INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN KOSOVO, THE CONFLICT COULD BURST INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/PLM
20-Mar-99 6:29 AM EST (1129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BELGRADE / KOSOVO / L BY PHILIP SMUCKER (BELGRADE)

INTRO: THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE HAS SHOWN NO SIGNS OF RECONSIDERING ITS FIRM "NO" TO THE KOSOVO PEACE PLAN. STATE TELEVISION IS TARGETING THE UNITED STATES FOR WHAT IT CALLS ITS SUPPORT OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: SENIOR SERBIAN OFFICIALS STRESS KOSOVO HAS NO PRICE.

THEY SAY THEY WILL DEFEND THE PROVINCE -- WHICH MANY SERBS CONSIDER A SPIRITUAL HEARTLAND -- TO THE BITTER END.

STATE TELEVISION -- CONTROLLED BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- IS ATTACKING PRESIDENT CLINTON, SAYING HE CHOSE KOSOVO TO PURSUE HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL AIMS. ON T-V, PUBLIC ATTACKS ON WESTERN POLICY ARE BACKED UP BY PICTURES OF MASS RALLIES OPPOSING NATO INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO.

A RUNNING SPOT ON THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND AIR FORCE FIRE POWER -- INCLUDING FIGHTER JETS SWOOPING THROUGH THE SKIES AND INFANTRY STORMING THE HILLS -- IS BEING SHOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON STATE TELEVISION.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS LED PEACE MEDIATION EFFORTS IN KOSOVO FOR THE PAST YEAR.

THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AND THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS HAVE FAILED TO ACHIEVE AN AGREEMENT, DESPITE CONSTANT PRODDING FROM THE WEST.

ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS FINALLY AGREED TO THE NATO-BACKED PEACE LAST WEEK AND, NOW, BELGRADE REMAINS DEFIANT.

MANY SERBIAN CITIZENS -- THE MAJORITY ETHNIC GROUP IN YUGOSLAVIA HAVE SIDED WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

SOME SAY THEY WILL FIGHT IF NATO TRIES TO BOMB SERBIA. STILL OTHERS SAY THEIR LEADERS MUST COMPROMISE WITH THE WEST AND PRESERVE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THEIR STATE.

THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT IS EXPECTED TO MEET IN A SPECIAL SESSION TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE KOSOVO PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED).
NEB / WD / WD
21-Mar-99 6:55 AM EST (1155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] KOSOVO FIGHTING BY PHILIP SMUCKERS (PRISTINA)

INTRO: MORE FIGHTING HAS ERUPTED IN KOSOVO AS 1,400 INTERNATIONAL MONITORS HAVE FLED THE PROVINCE INTO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA. THE PATTERN OF FIGHTING INDICATES THAT THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND SERBIAN POLICE FORCES ARE FLUSHING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS OUT OF THE PARTS OF THE CENTRAL DRENICA DISTRICT. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM KOSOVO.

TEXT: AS MORE THAN 1,000 INTERNATIONAL MONITORS LEFT KOSOVO, THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND POLICE FORCES IN THE TROUBLED PROVINCE PRESSED AN OFFENSIVE IN THE CENTRAL DRENICA DISTRICT.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS AND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES SAID THAT SERBIAN PARAMILITARY FORCES IN BLACK MASKS FORCED THEIR WAY INTO HOMES IN THE TOWN OF SRBICA.

REFUGEES REPORTED BEATINGS AND SUMMARY KILLINGS THOUGH REPORTERS WERE KEPT OUT OF THE TOWN BY THE SERBIAN FORCES.

UN REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAID THE SERBIAN ONSLAUGHT SENT THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES RUNNING SOUTH. SERBIAN SOURCES SAID THE FRESH FIGHTING HAS BEEN PROVOKED IN PART BY ATTACKS BY THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ON SERBIAN POSITIONS. THE SERB SOURCES SAID THAT SEVEN REBELS AND ONE SERBIAN POLICEMEN WERE KILLED IN SATURDAY'S CLASHES.

SERB FORCES SEIZED THE ROAD FROM SRBICA GOING SOUTH TO THE TOWN OF GLOGOVAC ON SATURDAY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE ALBANIAN REBELS HAD PATROLLED THE ROAD ON A REGULAR BASIS.

REFUGEES TOLD WESTERN JOURNALISTS THAT SPECIAL SERBIAN UNITS WEARING WHITE UNIFORMS AND BLACK MASKS WENT HOUSE TO HOUSE IN SRBICA AND OTHER TOWNS BEATING CIVILIANS AND SHOOTING OTHERS.

INTERNATIONAL MONITORS WHO HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING A CEASE FIRE FLED THE COUNTRY BY SUN DOWN, ARRIVING IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA WITHOUT ANY HITCHES.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE MONITORS MEANS THAT ONLY JOURNALISTS WILL BE ABLE TO OBSERVE THE FRESH FIGHTING IN KOSOVO.

WESTERN OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL USE AIR STRIKES ON SERBIAN TARGETS TO FORCE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO SIGN UP FOR A NATO PEACE DEAL. BUT YUGOSLAV ARMY COMMANDERS HAVE VOWED TO LAUNCH AN ALL-OUT WAR AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS SHOULD NATO MAKE GOOD ON ITS PROMISE TO BOMB KOSOVO.
NEB/SD
20-Mar-99 8:46 PM EST (0146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NATO/KOSOVO (S ONLY) CQ (BRUSSELS)

CORRESPONDENT=RON PEMSTEIN CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING (SUNDAY) TO CONSIDER THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, NATO IS WARNING YUGOSLAVIA AN ATTACK COULD COME WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS, IF YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS DO NOT ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN.

TEXT: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA IS CARRYING OUT HIS CONSULTATIONS WITH PRIME MINISTERS AND FOREIGN MINISTERS. NATO OFFICIALS SAY WHEN HE COMPLETES HIS CONSULTATIONS HE WILL GIVE ORDERS TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES ON YUGOSLAVIA. THAT SAID, THE OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC STILL HAS HOURS LEFT TO GIVE HIS NEGOTIATORS THE AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS A PEACE SETTLEMENT FOR SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. NATO'S WARNING TIME FOR AN AIR STRIKE HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 48-HOURS TO WHAT AN OFFICIAL CALLS -- JUST A FEW HOURS.

MR. SOLANA HAS HAD THE AUTHORITY TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES SINCE JANUARY 30TH, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME NATO HAS SAID HE IS CARRYING OUT THE CONSULTATIONS TO MAKE HIS DECISION.

THE NATO AMBASSADORS WERE TOLD PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS USED THE DEPARTURE OF INTERNATIONAL MONITORS TO LAUNCH NEW MILITARY ACTIONS IN KOSOVO THAT HAVE RESULTED IN 10-THOUSAND NEW REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/DW/RAE
21-Mar-99 10:55 AM EST (1555 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / KURDS (S ONLY) BY AMBARIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN STEPPED UP SHARPLY THROUGHOUT TURKEY FOR THE KURDISH NEW YEAR -- AMID FEARS OF FURTHER VIOLENT PROTESTS OVER THE CAPTURE OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.

TEXT: HUNDREDS OF POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FORCES -- BACKED BY ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS -- HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE MAINLY-KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES. NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE ONLY WITH OFFICIAL PERMISSION. AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF DIYARBAKIR. ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SEVERAL-HUNDRED OTHERS PEOPLE WERE DETAINED IN THE WAKE OF POLICE RAIDS CARRIED OUT AGAINST OFFICES OF THE PRO-KURDISH "PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY PARTY".

TURKISH AUTHORITIES FEAR THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS COULD TURN VIOLENT FOLLOWING LAST MONTH'S CAPTURE OF KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN.

HIS OUTLAWED "KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY" HAS BEEN WAGING A 14-YEAR CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF-RULE IN THE SOUTHEAST PROVINCES. LAST WEEK THE PARTY DECLARED ALL OF TURKEY HAD NOW BECOME -- IN ITS WORDS -- A WAR ZONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/DW/RAE
21-Mar-99 8:27 AM EST (1327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] EURO MINISTERS (S) (BRUSSELS)

CORRESPONDENT=RON PEMSTEIN CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARE MEETING IN BRUSSELS SUNDAY AND MONDAY TO PREPARE FOR THEIR LEADERS' MEETING LATER THIS WEEK IN BERLIN. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, REPLACEMENT OF THE RESIGNED EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT KOSOVO ARE ON THEIR AGENDA.

TEXT: THE MINISTERS' MEETING SUNDAY EVENING WILL BE DEVOTED TO OPTIONS DEALING WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION -- THE EUROPEAN UNION'S EXECUTIVE BODY.

FRANCE AND GERMANY APPEAR TO HAVE AGREED ON FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION, REPLACING JACQUES SANTER. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS MUST DECIDE IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS THAT THEIR LEADERS WILL BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE AT THEIR SUMMIT MEETING IN BERLIN.

ELEVEN OF THE 15 EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE MEMBERS OF NATO. TWO OF THEM -- BRITAIN'S ROBIN COOK AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE -- WERE CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE FAILED PARIS PEACE TALKS ON KOSOVO. THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING KOSOVO ON MONDAY AND WILL SEE IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS FOR NATO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/DW
21-Mar-99 6:11 AM EST (1111 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] EURO/KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: AMERICAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD HOLBROOKE STOPS IN BRUSSELS BEFORE HE GOES ON TO SEE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ESCALATING TENSIONS OVER KOSOVO. VOA'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS ON HIS APPOINTMENTS THERE.

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE MEETS FIRST WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE. THEY WERE THE CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE KOSOVO PEACE TALKS THAT FAILED LAST WEEK. A BRITISH SPOKESMAN HERE IN BRUSSELS SAYS THE VISIT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S INSISTENCE THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AGREES TO THE PEACE PACKAGE.

THE HOLBROOKE VISIT WAS ANNOUNCED SHORTLY AFTER A NATO OFFICIAL WARNED THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS JUST A FEW HOURS TO RECONSIDER HIS POSITION BEFORE AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA ARE ORDERED. NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA HAS BEGUN CONSULTATIONS WITH THE ALLIES. AN OFFICIAL SAYS AIR STRIKES WILL BE ORDERED AT THE END OF THOSE CONSULTATIONS.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE MEETS MR. SOLANA AND THE NATO AMBASSADORS BEFORE LEAVING FOR BELGRADE. EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE MEETING HERE IN BRUSSELS . THEY DID NOT DISCUSS KOSOVO ON SUNDAY BUT GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER RUSHED BACK TO BONN FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/WFR
21-Mar-99 4:19 PM EST (2119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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