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Voice of America, 99-04-09Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO / PRISONERS (L-ONLY) BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247859 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA HAS REJECTED A MISSION TO BELGRADE BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS, WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO WIN THE RELEASE OF THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS BEING HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR. OFFICIALS IN BELGRADE ARE BLAMING NATO'S INTENSIFIED BOMBING CAMPAIGN FOR THE DECISION NOT TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS. GUY DINMORE REPORTS FROM THE SERBIAN CAPITAL. TEXT: SPYROS KYPRIANOU, THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS, LEFT BELGRADE EMPTY-HANDED FRIDAY NIGHT AS AIR-RAID SIRENS SOUNDED, SIGNALING ANOTHER NATO RAID ON THE WAY. MR. KYPRIANOU TOLD REPORTERS HE HAD FAILED TO PERSUADE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO RELEASE THE THREE U-S PRISONERS OF WAR, AND HE CRITICIZED NATO FOR NOT SUSPENDING ITS OPERATIONS DURING HIS MISSION. MR. KYPRIANOU SAYS THE THREE SOLDIERS, CAPTURED ON THE BORDER WITH MACEDONIA LAST WEEK, WILL PROBABLY REMAIN PRISONERS UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. HE SAYS YUGOSLAVIA DECIDED TO KEEP THEM BECAUSE NATO HAS INTENSIFIED ITS AIR CAMPAIGN. SERBIAN SOURCES SAY THE THREE MEN ARE BEING HELD IN BELGRADE, BUT THEIR EXACT LOCATION IS UNCLEAR -- A WORRYING FACTOR FOR NATO WHEN DECIDING WHAT BUILDINGS TO TARGET NEXT. NATO INSISTS THE THREE MEN WERE ABDUCTED ON THE MACEDONIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO PROVINCE, AND HAS BEEN DEMANDING THEIR UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE. THURSDAY NIGHT, NATO AIRCRAFT OR MISSILES INFLICTED SEVERE DAMAGE ON SERBIA'S ONLY AUTO PLANT, IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF KRAGUJEVAC. SERBIAN OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 120 WORKERS WERE WOUNDED BECAUSE THEY HAD REMAINED IN THE PLANT, VOLUNTEERING TO BE HUMAN SHIELDS IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO DETER ATTACK. THE VAST (ZASTAVA) COMPLEX ALSO INCLUDES A FACTORY THAT, SERBIAN OFFICIALS SAY, PRODUCES PISTOLS AND HUNTING RIFLES. // OPT //THE THREE AMERICANS ARE NOT THE ONLY PRISONERS HELD BY THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEMANDED FRIDAY THAT BELGRADE RELEASE TWO AUSTRALIAN RELIEF WORKERS WHO WERE DETAINED WHILE TRYING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY OVER A WEEK AGO. MR. MILOSEVIC SHOWS NO SIGN OF ACCEPTING PEACE TERMS FOR KOSOVO PROVINCE DICTATED BY THE WESTERN POWERS. IN A DEFIANT STATEMENT AFTER MEETING THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER, MR. MILOSEVIC SAID YUGOSLAVIA IS DEFENDING EUROPE FROM AMERICAN HEGEMONY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO RESIST WHAT HE CALLS NATO AGGRESSION. /// REST OPT ///HE THANKED CYPRUS FOR ITS EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT, AND MADE NO
MENTION OF THE THREE CAPTURED AMERICANS. (SIGNED)
[02] ALBANIA BORDER CLASH (S/L VER) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247826 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: INTERNATIONAL MONITORS REPORT SKIRMISHES BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REBELS ALONG THE YUGOSLAV-ALBANIAN BORDER, WITH MORTARS FALLING ON ALBANIAN SOIL. LONDON CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TALKED WITH THE SPOKESMAN IN TIRANA FOR THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- THE O-S-C-E -- AND HAS DETAILS. TEXT: O-S-C-E SPOKESMAN (MR.) ANDREA ANGELI SAYS THE FIGHTING BROKE OUT ABOUT AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, LOCAL TIME, AND WAS CONTINUING LATE INTO THE MORNING. /// ANGELI ACT ///SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING THERE HAS BEEN EXCHANGE OF MACHINE GUN FIRE BETWEEN FORCES ON THE YUGOSLAV SIDE AND FROM THE ALBANIAN SIDE. ON THE ALBANIAN SIDE, WE BELIEVE THE KOSOVO (LIBERATION ARMY) FORCES ARE INVOLVED. AND TWO MORTARS SHELLS LANDED INSIDE THE ALBANIAN TERRITORY NEAR THE BORDER POST OF KAMENICA. //OPT/////END ACT ///THE REMOTE, MOUNTAINOUS AREA IS CONSIDERED A STRONGHOLD OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBEL FORCES. /// OPT THE REST FOR A LONG CR ///MR. ANGELI SAYS THE O-S-C-E OBSERVERS ARE MONITORING THE FIGHTING FROM THE ALBANIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER. HE SAYS IT IS NOT THE FIRST SKIRMISH ALONG THE BORDER, BUT EARLIER EXCHANGES DID NOT INVOLVE KOSOVAR REBELS. THE O-S-C-E SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN THE BORDER AREA AROUND THE TOWN OF BAJRAM SURI. /// SECOND ANGELI ACT ///WE BELIEVE THAT ONLY A FEW THOUSAND -- LESS THAN 10-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO -- ARE IN THAT AREA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REFUGEES WHO HAVE COME THROUGH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. OF COURSE THERE ARE REFUGEES WHO CAME BEFORE IN 1998, AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME OF THEM IN THAT AREA. /// END ACT ///MR. ANGELI SAYS SO FAR HIS MONITORS IN THE AREA HAVE NOT REPORTED
ANY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247850 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N'S HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY, MARY ROBINSON, SAYS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE KOSOVO, HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY SUBJECTED TO GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY SERBIAN FORCES. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS MS. ROBINSON MADE HER REMARKS AT A SPECIAL BRIEFING TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. TEXT: MS. ROBINSON SAYS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAS DETERIORATED SINCE SHE REPORTED ON DEVELOPMENTS ONE WEEK AGO. MS. ROBINSON SAYS SHE IS VERY CONCERNED BY REPORTS YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE CLOSED ALL BORDERS OUT OF KOSOVO, PREVENTING THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS FROM FLEEING. /// ROBINSON ACT ONE ///ETHNIC ALBANIANS TELL OF EXTREME AND CRUEL VIOLENCE, OF PEOPLE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES AT GUNPOINT. MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE ARRIVED AT THE BORDERS SEPARATED FROM THEIR HUSBANDS, FATHERS AND SONS. REFUGEES HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEY WERE DISPLACED THROUGH INTIMIDATION, EXPULSION AND UNDER DIRECT ORDERS TO LEAVE BY SERB SECURITY FORCES, POLICE AND PARAMILITARIES. /// END ACT ///MS. ROBINSON SAYS REFUGEES DESCRIBE HOW SERB SECURITY FORCES HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY AND DELIBERATELY MOVED ALL PEOPLE OUT OF WHOLE TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN KOSOVO. SHE SAYS THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF ARBITRARY AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS. SHE SAYS INVESTIGATORS FROM THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS FROM REFUGEES FLEEING KOSOVO WHO SAY THEY SAW FOUR TRUCKS FILLED WITH DEAD BODIES BEING DUMPED INTO MASS GRAVES. /// ROBINSON ACT TWO ///OTHER REPORTS BACKED UP BY NUMEROUS EYEWITNESSES REFER TO TRUCKS AND TRACTORS PULLING WAGONS CARRYING KOSOVARS WHICH ARE BEING STOPPED NEAR THE MACEDONIAN BORDER. WOMEN REFUGEES ARE BEING DEMANDED BY SERB SOLDIERS TO PAY TWO-THOUSAND DEUTSCH MARK IN ORDER TO PASS THE BORDER. IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY, THEY ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE TRUCKS AND TAKEN TO A NEARBY BUILDING WHERE THEY ARE ALLEGEDLY BEING RAPED. /// END ACT ///MS. ROBINSON ALSO SHE SAYS SHE HAS REPORTS OF FORCED
DISAPPEARANCES OF KOSOVARS, PARTICULARLY GROUPS OF MEN AND BOYS.
SHE SAYS SHE ALSO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING NUMBER OF
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN REFUGEES AND ABOUT THE HEALTH CONDITIONS
OF THOSE WHO HAVE FLED. SHE SAYS WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE
ELDERLY ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES SUCH AS MEASLES AND CHOLERA. (SIGNED)
[04] MACEDONIA / SEPARATED FAMILIES BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43067 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK CLEARED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUT OF THE REFUGEE HOLDING CAMP OF BLACE. IN THE QUICKLY ORGANIZED MOVE, MANY OF THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN SKOPJE, MACEDONIA TELLS THE STORIES OF SOME OF THOSE REFUGEES. TEXT: PRANVERA JUSUFI SAYS SHE IS SCARED. THE PETITE 15-YEAR-OLD IS WITH HER FATHER AT THE NATO REFUGEE CAMP OF STANKOVIC. SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HER MOTHER IS. SHE FLED PRISTINA WITH A FAMILY OF TWENTY. NOW SHE AND HER FATHER ARE ALONE. /// JUSUFI ACT - IN ALBANIAN - FADE UNDER ///WHEN THE BUSES CAME, ALL 20 OF US TRIED TO GET INSIDE, SHE SAYS. BUT THE POLICE BEGAN TO PUSH PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE BUS. AND SHE SAYS SHE FELL DOWN AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR FOUR HOURS. SHE IS NOT ALONE IN HER PLIGHT. ON THE OTHER END OF THE CAMP OF 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES, SEFER KRASNIKI SITS INSIDE A TENT HE SHARES WITH THREE FAMILIES. THOSE FAMILIES ARE TOGETHER, BUT HE AND HIS SISTER HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR ELDERLY AND SICK PARENTS. THE 32-YEAR-OLD MR. KRASNIKI, ALSO FROM PRISTINA, IS DRESSED IN DUSTY JEANS AND A BLACK SWEATER. LIKE THE LOST 15-YEAR-OLD, HE WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS PARENTS BY MACEDONIAN POLICE AT THE BLACE CAMP. SITTING IN THE STUFFY GREEN TENT WITH THE OTHER FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LOOKING ON, HE DESCRIBES THE BLACE CAMP. /// KRASNIKI ACT - IN ALBANIAN - FADE UNDER ///HE SAYS THERE WERE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE WENT UP TO MACEDONIAN POLICE TO ASK ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND THE POLICE HIT THEM. HE SAYS THIS HAPPENED AFTER REPORTERS LEFT THE BLACE CAMP. HE IS WORRIED ABOUT HIS FATHER, BECAUSE HE SAYS HE AND HIS SISTER HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AN ALBANIAN VOLUNTEER AT A TABLE SET UP BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP "SAVE THE CHILDREN" SAYS THE OVERNIGHT REMOVAL OF THE REFUGEES FROM BLACE DID RESULT IN SEPARATED FAMILIES. BUT SABIT TAHIRI POINTS OUT FAMILIES TRAPPED IN BLACE HAD BEEN TORN APART EVEN BEFORE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT. /// TAHIRI ACT ///WE TODAY REGISTERED ABOUT 200 CHILDREN LOST IN BLACE, IN THE BORDER BLACE, OVER THE PAST FIVE DAYS, FROM THE CAMP WHERE THEY WERE STAYING IN BLACE. /// END ACT ///FOR ANYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH THIS CAMP AND ASKS, THE STORIES OF SEPARATION ARE NOT HARD TO FIND. ONE MAN STANDING NEAR THE CAMP'S EXIT SAYS HIS FAMILY WAS SPLIT UP THAT NIGHT AT BLACE. HE IS NOW TAKING CARE OF HIS BROTHER'S TWO CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEIR FATHER IS. BUT AS THE REFUGEES WAIT FOR NEWS OF THEIR FAMILIES, LIFE IN THE CAMP GOES ON. /// CROWD SOUNDS ///HUNDREDS PUSH AND SHOVE FOR PLASTIC BOTTLES TO FILL WITH WATER. NATO SOLDIERS PASSING OUT THE BOTTLES ARE BARELY VISIBLE IN THE DUST AND OUTSTRETCHED ARMS. NEARBY, A FAMILY WHO ALREADY HAS THEIR PLASTIC BOTTLE, IS USING IT TO DO THEIR WASHING. /// SOUNDS OF WATER, SCRUBBING ///THIS WOMAN CROUCHES AS SHE POURS WATER INTO A SMALL RED BUCKET.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE REFUGEES COME TO WASH THEIR CLOTHES. THE
GROUND IS A PUDDLE OF MUD. THE WOMAN WRINGS OUT LAUNDRY FOR HER
FAMILY. SHE HAS NO STORIES TO TELL OF SEPARATION. BUT LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE AT THE CAMP, SHE SAYS SHE JUST WANTS THEIR ORDEAL
TO END. (SIGNED)
[05] MACEDONIA / U-N-H-C-R (L ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE MACEDONIA)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRES PONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247855 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: NOTE MARGINAL SOUND QUALITY OF ACTUALITIES ///INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS NATO FORCES WILL HAND OVER COORDINATION OF NATO REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA TO HER AGENCY. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM SKOPJE THAT THE U-N-H-C-R WILL TRY TO KEEP ETHNIC ALBANIANS CLOSE TO KOSOVO IN ORDER TO EASE FUTURE REPATRIATION EFFORTS. TEXT: THE HEAD OF THE REFUGEE AGENCY, SADAKO OGATA, VISITED THE NATO SPONSORED REFUGEE CAMP OF BRAZHDA ON FRIDAY. SHE SAYS THAT DURING HER VISIT, NATO GENERAL MICHAEL JACKSON AGREED U-N-H-C-R SHOULD TAKE OVER LOGISTICAL CONTROL OF REFUGEE CAMPS CURRENTLY HANDLED BY NATO. /// OPT // OGATA ACT ONE ///I AGREED WITH THE GENERAL THAT U-N-H-C-R AND OUR PARTNERS WOULD SHORTLY TAKE OVER THE CAMPS ESTABLISHED WITH NATO'S HELP AND THE GOVERNMENT LOOKS TO U-N-H-C-R TO TAKE THE LEAD IN COORDINATING THE RELIEF EFFORT. /// END ACT // END OPT ///MRS. OGATA SAYS IT IS THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT THE CAMPS. /// OPT // OGATA ACT TWO ///SECURITY OF REFUGEE CAMPS IS BASICALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HOST COUNTRIES. THIS IS THE INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLE ON WHICH ALL REFUGEE CAMPS HAVE BEEN MANAGED. /// END ACT // END OPT ///BUT SHE STRESSES SHE WOULD LIKE NATO TO MAINTAIN A SECURITY PRESENCE IF POSSIBLE. MRS. OGATA SAYS MOST REFUGEES TELL HER THEY WANT TO RETURN TO KOSOVO. SHE SAYS U-N-H-C-R APPRECIATES THE OFFERS OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES TO TAKE IN SOME REFUGEES BUT SHE SAYS HER AIM IS TO KEEP THEM CLOSE TO KOSOVO FOR NOW. /// OPT // OGATA ACT THREE ///IT IS BEST TO HOST REFUGEES IN THE NEIGHBORING AREA TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THAT IS BECAUSE REPATRIATION WILL BE THE MAJOR FORM OF RETURN. AND THIS WILL BE WHAT MOST REFUGEES WANT. /// END ACT // END OPT ///MRS. OGATA SAYS HER FIGURES SHOW THERE ARE 130-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA. ABOUT ONE HALF OF THEM ARE IN PRIVATE HOMES, AND THE OTHERS ARE IN MACEDONIAN AND NATO-LED CAMPS. /// REST OPT ///NATO SPOKESMAN ERIC MONGNOT SAYS NATO WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HELP IF IT IS REQUESTED. BUT HE WOULD NOT COMMENT WHEN ASKED TO RESPOND TO CRITICISM THAT MACEDONIAN POLICE HAVE DEALT POORLY WITH REFUGEES IN THE PAST WEEKS. /// MONGNOT ACT ///I CANNOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY IN THEIR COUNTRY. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. /// END ACT ///HE SAYS COORDINATION OF THE NATO CAMP OF BOYANE WILL BE
TRANSFERRED TO THE HUMANITARIAN GROUP "ACTION AGAINST HUNGER" ON
SATURDAY AND THAT THE HANDOVER PROCESS WILL TAKE ABOUT 48 HOURS.
(SIGNED)
[06] KOSOVO KILLINGS NEW REPORT S & L BY JIM RANDLE (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247819 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS ABOUT TWO THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DEPORTED IN A RECENT RAMPAGE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND MURDER IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON THE ATROCITIES, MADE PUBLIC THURSDAY, ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN WELL UNDER WAY BEFORE NATO BEGAN ITS BOMBING ATTACKS. TEXT: TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE DOCUMENT IS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF THE 560-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO FOR THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. IN ONE CASE, A WOUNDED AND BURNED SURVIVOR SMUGGLED A VIDEO TAPE OF A MASS KILLING OUT OF KOSOVO. IT DEPICTED 112 DEATHS AND THE ATTEMPT TO HIDE EVIDENCE BY BURNING THE BODIES. OFFICIALS EXPRESS SPECIAL CONCERN FOR MILITARY AGE KOSOVAR MEN WHO THE SERBS FORCIBLY SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES. TWO HUNDRED WERE REPORTED SHOT IN ONE VILLAGE ALONE. ALL TOGETHER, THE DOCUMENT LISTS SUMMARY EXECUTIONS BY SERB ARMY, INTERIOR MINISTRY TROOPS OR ARMED SERB CIVILIANS IN AT LEAST 50 OF KOSOVO'S TOWNS AND VILLAGES. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///THE SERB FORCES ARE SAID TO BE TRYING PARTICULARLY HARD TO KILL WELL EDUCATED KOSOVARS AND THOSE WHO HAD JOBS WITH RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS, OSCE OBSERVERS OR FOREIGN JOURNALISTS. BUT THE DOCUMENT LISTS MANY RANDOM EXECUTIONS AS WELL, INCLUDING INCIDENTS WHEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE LOCKED IN BUILDINGS WHICH WERE THEN BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE REPORT IS PART OF A CABLE MESSAGE SENT TO U-S EMBASSIES
AROUND THE WORLD AND SIGNED BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE
ALBRIGHT. (SIGNED).
[07] KOSOVO WRAP / FRIDAY (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247864 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WESTERN LEADERS SAY NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WILL CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY, AS MOSCOW WARNS THE WESTERN ALLIANCE NOT TO PUSH RUSSIA INTO A BALKANS CONFLICT. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REVIEWS (FRIDAY'S) DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS THE NATO ALLIANCE WILL PREVAIL IN ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE PRESIDENT SAID MR. MILOSEVIC'S ACTIONS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE STRENGTHENED NATO'S RESOLVE. /// CLINTON ACT ///ATTACKS ON INNOCENT PEOPLE CONTINUE. REFUGEES WHO WERE PUSHED FROM THEIR HOMES BY FORCE NOW SEE THEIR ESCAPE ROUTES BLOCKED BY FORCE. MR. MILOSEVIC STILL THINKS HE CAN MANIPULATE THE SITUATION BY CYNICALLY USING INNOCENT PEOPLE. HE HOPES THAT WE WILL ACCEPT AS PERMANENT THE RESULTS OF HIS ETHNIC CLEANSING. WE WILL NOT. /// END ACT ///NATO OFFICIALS SAY 960-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED SINCE THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY EMBARKED ON A POLICY DESCRIBED BY WESTERN LEADERS AS ETHNIC CLEANSING. BUT SERB OFFICIALS REJECT THE CHARGE, SAYING THEY ARE FIGHTING VIOLENT GUERRILLAS INTENT ON INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO. // OPT //ON THE MILITARY FRONT, NATO WARPLANES CONTINUED TO HIT A VARIETY OF TARGETS, INCLUDING SERB FORCES, ARMORED VEHICLES, MISSILE SITES, FUEL DEPOTS AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES. THE PLANES ALSO HIT A MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX 70 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BELGRADE, HOUSING A WEAPONS FACTORY AND YUGOSLAVIA'S ONLY AUTOMOBILE PLANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE CAR KNOWN AS THE "YUGO." U-S OFFICIALS SAY BOMBS HIT PART OF THE PLANT THAT PRODUCES MILITARY PARTS FOR VEHICLES AND TANKS. // OPT ///// WILBY ACT ///THE SERBIAN FORCES ARE DIGGING IN AND WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASED SERBIAN ACTIVITY CONDUCTED ON FOOT. THERE IS AN INDICATION OF BUILDUP OF FORCES TO THE NORTH OF KOSOVO, AND NO EVIDENCE OF WITHDRAWAL. /// END ACT ////// END OPT ///ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS WARNED NATO NOT TO FORCE RUSSIA TO INTERVENE IN THE BALKANS. (SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF REGIONAL LEADERS,) MR. YELTSIN SAID NATO IS PREPARING TO BRING IN GROUND TROOPS TO SEIZE YUGOSLAVIA -- AND MOSCOW CAN NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. THE RUSSIAN LEADER SAYS HIS COUNTRY WILL NOT GET INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT, UNLESS AS HE PUTS IT -- WE ARE PUSHED BY THE UNITED STATES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE KREMLIN FLATLY DENIED REPORTS MR. YELTSIN ORDERED MISSILES RETARGETED AT NATO CAPITALS. NATO OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THERE ARE NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE GROUND TROOPS IN YUGOSLAVIA. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN REACTED TO THE LATEST STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN: /// RUBIN ACT ///WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED AT A VARIETY OF LEVELS THAT RUSSIA -- AND THIS IS THE MAIN POINT -- WILL NOT GET INVOLVED MILITARILY IN YUGOSLAVIA, AND THAT PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS GIVEN NO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY REGARDING RETARGETING OF RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCE. /// END ACT ///MR. RUBIN SAY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WILL MEET
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV ON TUESDAY IN OSLO (NORWAY)
TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[08] KOSOVO / ANNAN (L) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247840 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS CALLED ON YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO WITHDRAW THEIR MILITARY FORCES FROM KOSOVO AND END THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ISSUED HIS STATEMENT AT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA. TEXT: IN A VOICE OFTEN BREAKING WITH EMOTION, U-N SECRETARY- GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SPOKE OF HIS DISTRESS AT THE TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE IN KOSOVO AND IN THE REGION. HE SAID THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS MUST NOT BE PROLONGED AND MUST BE BROUGHT TO AN END. AND HE SAID YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS MUST TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS /// ANNAN ACT ONE ///TO END IMMEDIATELY THE CAMPAIGN OF INTIMIDATION AND EXPULSION OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. TO CEASE ALL ACTIVITIES OF MILITARY AND PARAMILITARY FORCES IN KOSOVO AND TO WITHDRAW THESE FORCES. TO ACCEPT UNCONDITIONALLY THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS TO THEIR HOMES. /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN ONE-HALF-MILLION KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, AND MONTENEGRO SINCE NATO AIRSTRIKES BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH. IN ADDITION, THE AGENCY SAYS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE DISPLACED WITHIN KOSOVO. MR. ANNAN URGED YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO ACCEPT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REFUGEES CAN RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN SAFETY, AND TO ENSURE UNIMPEDED DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID. HE SAID YUGOSLAVIA ALSO MUST PERMIT THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS IN KOSOVO TO VERIFY THAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE BEING MET. /// ANNAN ACT TWO ///UPON THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES OF THESE CONDITIONS, I URGE THE LEADERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE TO SUSPEND IMMEDIATELY THE AIR BOMBARDMENTS UPON THE TERRITORY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. /// END ACT ///THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL SAID THE HALT TO HOSTILITIES WOULD ONLY
BE A PRELUDE TO PEACE. HE SAID A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS HAD TO BE FOUND. AND THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH
DIPLOMACY. HE URGED ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT
TO RESUME TALKS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT. (SIGNED)
[09] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247846 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES WILL NOT ACCEPT AS PERMANENT THE RESULTS OF WHAT HE SAYS HAS BEEN "ETHNIC CLEANSING" BY YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON -- WHO EARLIER THIS WEEK TURNED DOWN A CEASE-FIRE OFFER FROM MR. MILOSEVIC -- IS TAKING A TOUGH LINE IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT U-S OFFICIALS SAY COULD BE NEW OVERTURES BY THE YUGOSLAV LEADER AS NATO ATTACKS CONTINUE. IN A STATEMENT AS HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE ON A DOMESTIC TRIP, THE PRESIDENT ACCUSED MR. MILOSEVIC OF TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE SITUATION AND TO CYNICALLY USE INNOCENT PEOPLE THROUGH A CEASE-FIRE GESTURE AND BY CLOSING KOSOVO'S BORDERS TO FLEEING REFUGEES. BUT HE SAYS THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY IS UNCHANGED AND NATO WILL NOT ACCEPT AS PERMANENT A SITUATION IN WHICH MUCH OF KOSOVO'S POPULATION IS EITHER IN REFUGEE CAMPS OR INTERNALLY DISPLACED: ////CLINTON ACTUALITY///...NOT WHEN A QUARTER OF KOSOVO'S PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN REFUGEE CAMPS BEYOND KOSOVO'S BORDERS ... NOT WHEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE ARE TRAPPED INSIDE, AFRAID TO GO HOME BUT UNABLE TO LEAVE. IF WE SETTLE FOR HALF-MEASURES FROM MR. MILOSEVIC, WE WILL GET NOTHING MORE. AND WHAT WE HAVE FROM MR. MILOSEVIC TODAY IS NOT EVEN PARTIAL COMPLIANCE BUT THE ILLUSION OF PARTIAL COMPLIANCE. WE AND OUR ALLIES HAVE PROPERLY REJECTED IT. ///END ACT///THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR THAT THE ALLIES CONTINUE TO DEMAND A SETTLEMENT THAT INCLUDES THE MAIN PRECEPTS OF THE RAMBOUILLET PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO -- ACCEPTED BY THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS BUT SPURNED BY MR. MILOSEVIC: ///CLINTON ACTUALITY TWO///PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MUST WITHDRAW FROM KOSOVO HIS MILITARY POLICE AND PARA-MILITARY FORCES; THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE. HE MUST PERMIT DEPLOYMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE, FOR WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT HIS PROMISES ARE KEPT. HE MUST ALLOW THE UNCONDITIONAL RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES, BECAUSE THEIR EXPULSION FROM THERE HOMES AND THEIR LAND CANNOT BE TOLERATED. ///END ACT///IN THE MEANTIME, MR. CLINTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE
TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO ASSIST THE REFUGEES. HE SAYS HE IS
DEEPLY GRATIFIED BY THE OUTPOURING OF PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR THE
REFUGEES THAT FOLLOWED ADMINISTRATION APPEALS. (SIGNED)
[10] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247862 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: UPDATES CR 2-247841 -- NEW THROUGHOUT///INTRO: HERE IN WASHINGTON, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THE FAILURE OF THE EFFORT BY ACTING CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SPYROS KYPRIANOU TO WIN THE RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS HELD IN YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: OFFICIALS HERE SAY THEY HAD NO EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CYPRIOT MISSION. THEY ARE REITERATING THEIR DEMAND THAT THE THREE SOLDIERS BE RELEASED UNCONDITIONALLY. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS THERE IS NO BASIS FOR THE SOLDIERS' DETENTION. HE ADDS THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE THEIR SAFETY. EARLIER, PRESIDENT CLINTON DISMISSED MR. MILOSEVIC'S SUGGESTION THAT HE HAD BROUGHT PEACE TO KOSOVO BY DECLARING A CEASE-FIRE AND SEALING ITS BORDERS -- CALLING IT CYNICAL MANIPULATION: /// CLINTON ACT ///WHAT WE HAVE FROM MR. MILOSEVIC TODAY IS NOT EVEN PARTIAL COMPLIANCE, BUT THE ILLUSION OF PARTIAL COMPLIANCE. WE AND OUR ALLIES HAVE PROPERLY REJECTED IT. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON SAYS ETHNIC CLEANSING BY MR. MILOSEVIC WILL NOT
STAND [PREVAIL], AND AIRSTRIKES WILL CONTINUE. (SIGNED)
[11] CONGRESSMAN WOLF-ALBANIA (L-ONLY) BY NEJLA SAMMAKIA (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247857 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT CR NUMBER ///INTRO: A UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN JUST BACK FROM KOSOVO REFUGEE CAMPS IN ALBANIA SAYS THE OVERALL RELIEF EFFORT WAS LATE IN STARTING AND IS NOW BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES. CONGRESSMAN FRANK WOLF (REPUBLICAN, VIRGINIA), VISITED KUKES CAMP AND SAYS THE U-S ADMINISTRATION SHOULD SEND IN MORE MILITARY FORCES TO ASSIST IN RELIEF EFFORTS. HE ALSO SAYS CONGRESS MUST DEBATE THE NEXT STEPS IN THE CRISIS. NEJLA SAMMAKIA HAS THIS REPORT. TEXT: CONGRESSMAN WOLF SAYS AID ORGANIZATIONS WERE DOING THEIR UTMOST TO HELP THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES, BUT SAYS THE ORGANIZATIONS STILL LACK NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLIES AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. MR WOLF WENT TO ALBANIA ON APRIL FOURTH FOR THREE DAYS. HE SAYS HE WILL URGE PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SEND HIGH-LEVEL DECISION MAKERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA TO ASSESS WHAT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY. HE ALSO URGES THAT THE AMERICAN MILITARY BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE RELIEF EFFORT AND POINTS TO THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF THE U-S ARMY AT TIRANA AIRPORT. /// WOLF ACT ///WHEN WE ARRIVED IN TIRANA ON SUNDAY, THE AIRPORT WAS LAZY AND BARELY MOVING. WHEN WE LEFT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, IT WAS HUMMING. THE AMERICAN MILITARY HAD ESTABLISHED A BASE CAMP, THEY WERE LOADING AND UNLOADNG THE PLANES JUST LIKE THAT (I.E. QUICKLY) AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE SOME MILITARY PEOPLE GO UP WITH THE N-G-O-S (NON-GOVERNMENTAL-ORGANIZATIONS),. WITH THE U-N-H-C-R, LOGISTICS IS THEIR GREATEST NEEDS, AND COMMUNICATION.. /// END ACT ///CONGRESSMAN WOLF SAYS THAT EVEN WHEN THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES STOPS, THEIR NEEDS WILL NOT. WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO RETURN HOME, HE SAYS, THE REBUILDNG OF KOSOVO WILL TAKE TIME, AND THE REFUGEES WILL STILL NEED ASSISTANCE. CONGRESSMAN WOLF STRESSES THAT THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS MUST RETURN TO KOSOVO, OR ELSE IT WILL MEAN THE NATO EFFORT HAS FAILED, WHICH WILL BE A MAJOR DEFEAT FOR THE WEST. CONGRESSMAN WOLF SAYS HE WOULD MAKE NO CONCLUSION ABOUT SENDING U-S GROUND TROOPS INTO KOSOVO. HE SAYS CONGRESS MUST BE INCLUDED IN ANY DECISION IN THE CRISIS. /// WOLF ACT TWO ///I THINK THE CONGRESS OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED. I THINK WE SHOULD BE DEBATING THIS ISSUE. I'M NOT GETTING INTO SHOULD WE HAVE TROOPS OR SHOULD WE NOT HAVE TROOPS, MY ANSWER IS WE MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT NATO IS SUCCESSFUL. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO EVEN THINK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFEAT. /// END ACT ///CONGRESS IS NOW IN RECESS AND RECONVENES ON APRIL 12. MR WOLF
SAYS HE WILL SEND A REPORT ON HIS TRIP TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE AND THE ADMINISTRATION. (SIGNED)
[12] KOSOVO / CEASE-FIRE CALL (L-ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247868 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A U-S CONGRESSMAN IS CALLING ON THE WHITE HOUSE TO AGREE TO A CEASE-FIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA DURING THE EASTERN ORTHODOX EASTER HOLIDAY (4/11). IN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON, DENNIS KUCINICH (A DEMOCRAT FROM OHIO) URGES THAT SERBIAN CHURCH LEADERS BE INCLUDED IN TALKS ABOUT A TRUCE. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR REPORTS: TEXT: CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH, WHO IS PARTLY OF CROATIAN DESCENT, SAYS THE WAY TO WIN A WAR AGAINST TYRANTS IS NOT TO BOMB CITIES FULL OF CIVILIANS. /// FIRST KUCINICH ACT ///WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CEASE-FIRE OVER ORTHODOX EASTER FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS, AND BRING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS. PATRIARCH PAVLE OF BELGRADE AND VLADIKA [BISHOP] ARTEMIJE OF KOSOVO ARE LEADERS WHO OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT INTO PEACE TALKS. WE NEED TO BE THINKING PEACE, NOT WAR. IF WE THINK WAR, WE'RE GOING TO GET WAR. /// END ACT ///CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH SAYS THE AIRSTRIKES HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT DESTROY THE CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE OF YUGOSLAVIA, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE TRYING TO RESIST DICTATORSHIP. WRITING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES (FRIDAY), MR. KUCINICH SAID, IF THE STRIKES CONTINUE, THE UNITED STATES WILL TARNISH ITS REPUTATION FOR DEFENDING THOSE LIVING UNDER DICTATORSHIPS. CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH SAID HE WAS MOTIVATED TO WRITE HIS LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR PERSONAL AND MORAL REASONS: /// SECOND KUCINICH ACT ///I WAS BORN IN THIS COUNTRY. I'M PROUD OF IT. MY FATHER FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR TWO, AND HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN CROATIA. AND THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME, THAT I HAVE A HERITAGE THAT GOES BACK THERE AND ITS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF. [BUT] EVEN AS THE BOMBS ARE DROPPING, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY OF THINKING PEACE, AND NOT KEEP THINKING WAR. AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT OUR RELIGIONS TO BE THE BASIS FOR WAR. /// END ACT ///CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH SAID THE UNITED STATES MUST RETHINK THE
MANNER IN WHICH IT MANAGES CONFLICTS AND KEEPS THE PEACE, WHETHER
IN KOSOVO OR IRAQ. (SIGNED)
[13] KOSOVO-SENATORS BY JIM RANDLE (AVIANO, ITALY)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43066 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN SAYS NATO SHOULD PLAN TO PUT "A COUPLE OF ARMORED DIVISIONS" (THOUSANDS OF TROOPS AND HUNDREDS OF ARMORED VEHICLES) INTO MACEDONIA AND CONSIDER A GROUND OFFENSIVE IN NEIGHBORING KOSOVO. THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SPOKE DURING A VISIT TO EUROPE WHERE HE MET WITH NATO POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS --- AND V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE. TEXT: SENATOR MCCAIN SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A MISTAKE BY RULING OUT U-S OR NATO GROUND FORCES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. HE SAYS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THOUGHT AIR STRIKES WOULD BE ENOUGH TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP HIS ATTACKS ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. /// MCCAIN ACT ///THE ANTICIPATED RESULT HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED. THE ANTICIPATED RESULT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WAS THAT MR MILOSEVIC, AFTER SOME BOMBING WOULD SAY, FINE, I'LL GO TO THE PEACE TABLE AND MAKE AN AGREEMENT. THAT CLEARLY HAS NOT HAPPENED. WE MUST ANTICIPATE FURTHER INTRANSIGENCE ON HIS PART. /// END ACT ///SERBIA IS THE DOMINANT REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND KOSOVO IS A PROVINCE OF SERBIA. ETHNIC ALBANIANS MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IN KOSOVO AND HAVE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND RELIGION THAN THE SERBS. BUT THE MINORITY SERBS CONTROL KOSOVO'S GOVERNMENT, POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES. SENATOR MCCAIN SAYS WEEKS OF NATO BOMBING HAVE NOT STOPPED THE BRUTAL SERB OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. DURING A FLIGHT TO THE AIR BASE AT AVIANO, WHERE MOST OF THE NATO AIR STRIKES ORIGINATE --- HE SAID MORE WEEKS OF AIR ATTACKS ARE NOT LIKELY TO WIN THE BATTLE OF KOSOVO EITHER. /// MCCAIN ACT //THERE IS ONE HISTORICAL FACT THAT COMPELS US, AND THAT IS THAT AIR (RAIDS) ALONE HAS NEVER DECISIVELY AFFECTED ANY CAMPAIGN IN HISTORY. /// END ACT ///SENATOR MCCAIN WAS ONE OF ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEES WHO ACCOMPANIED DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ON A VISIT TO NATO HEADQUARTERS AND TO NATO AIRBASES IN ITALY AND GERMANY. SENATOR MCCAIN IS URGING THE ADMINISTRATION TO AT LEAST START THE TIME CONSUMING PLANNING AND LOGISTICS PROCESS NEEDED TO PUT A LARGE GROUND FORCE IN PLACE. SENATOR MCCAIN' S VIEWS ON MILITARY ISSUES ATTRACT ATTENTION IN THE U-S CONGRESS AND MEDIA BECAUSE HE IS A HIGHLY DECORATED FORMER FIGHTER PILOT WHO WILL SOON FORMALLY ANNOUNCE THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. SENATOR MCCAIN IS A REPUBLICAN WITH GENERALLY CONSERVATIVE VIEWS, BUT HIS TOUGH STAND ON KOSOVO IS ATTRACTING SUPPORT FROM SOME LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING CONNECTICUT'S JOE LIEBERMAN. // LIEBERMAN ///IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT MILOSEVIC KNOW THAT WE WILL DO WHAT EVER IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE VICTORY. THAT HE CAN'T WAIT US OUT IN THIS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. WHEN THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN GOES AS FAR AS IT CAN GO, WE WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES IN THE BALKANS. /// END ACT ///DURING IN-FLIGHT INTERVIEWS, SENATOR LIEBERMAN AND SEVERAL OTHER LAWMAKERS SAID PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WOULD TAKE NATO DEMANDS MORE SERIOUSLY IF THE ALLIANCE WAS WILLING TO LAUNCH A GROUND OFFENSIVE IF NECESSARY. BUT DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS NO INTENTION OF PUTTING GROUND TROOPS INTO KOSOVO, AND SENIOR NATO OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO DETAILED PLANNING UNDER WAY FOR ANY SUCH OPERATION. MR. COHEN AND NATO MILITARY COMMANDER WESLEY CLARK SAY THE
CURRENT BOMBING CAMPAIGN IS GOING WELL AND WILL ACCELERATE. BOTH
EXPRESS CONFIDENCE THAT AIR STRIKES WILL EVENTUALLY FORCE SERB
FORCES TO LEAVE KOSOVO AND ALLOW A NATO-LED FORCE TO KEEP THE
PEACE SO DISPLACED KOSOVAR ALBANIANS CAN RETURN HOME SAFELY.
(SIGNED).
[14] GUANTANAMO CONDITIONS BY MICHAEL BOWMAN (MIAMI)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43075 CONTENT= VOICED AT: //EDS NOTE: INTRO MAY BE UPDATED, AS NEEDED, WITH C-N MATERIAL //INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS YET TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO SEND UP TO 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO TO THE U-S NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY, PREPARATIONS ARE CONTINUING AT THE BASE -- LOCATED ON CUBA'S SOUTHEASTERN COAST. FROM MIAMI, V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN EXAMINES HOW, IN THE PAST, SIMILAR OPERATIONS UNFOLDED AT GUANTANAMO BAY INVOLVING CUBAN AND HAITIAN MIGRANTS. TEXT: THE YEAR WAS 1994, AND THE UNITED STATES FACED A POTENTIAL HUMAN CATASTROPHE ON THE FLORIDA STRAITS. FROM BOTH CUBA AND HAITI, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO RICKETY BOATS AND FLIMSY RAFTS WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND: TO REACH THE UNITED STATES. MANY FLED POLITICAL REPRESSION IN THEIR HOMELANDS. SOME SIMPLY HOPED FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS WAY OF LIFE. CONCERNED THAT THOUSANDS OF BOAT PEOPLE MIGHT PERISH AT SEA, THE UNITED STATES LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO INTERCEPT RAFTERS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND HOLD THEM WHILE U-S IMMIGRATION OFFICERS REVIEWED THEIR REQUESTS FOR ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. FROM WASHINGTON, AN ORDER WAS GIVEN TO TEMPORARILY HOUSE THE MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS AT THE U-S NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED, THE NUMBERS OF CUBANS AND HAITIANS HELD AT GUANTANAMO SWELLED TO MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND -- SERIOUSLY CHALLENGING THE ABILITY OF U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR BASIC NEEDS. OVERCROWDING BECAME SO SEVERE THAT ABOUT EIGHT-THOUSAND RAFTERS WERE EVENTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO CAMPS IN PANAMA. DISCONTENT GREW AT GUANTANAMO, AS MANY CUBANS AND HAITIANS WERE HELD FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, LIVING IN TENTS AND BAKING IN THE INTENSE HEAT THAT SEARS CUBA'S DUSTY SOUTHEASTERN REGION. FRUSTRATION TURNED TO UNREST, AND SEVERAL RIOTS BROKE OUT AT THE NAVAL BASE. CUBAN DISSIDENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IVAN CURRA (PRON: EE- VAHN' KOO'-RAH) FLED HIS HOMELAND IN 1994, AND ENDED UP SPENDING 16 MONTHS AT GUANTANAMO BAY BEFORE THE UNITED STATES APPROVED HIS REQUEST FOR ASYLUM. MR. CURRA, WHO NOW LIVES IN MIAMI, SAYS LIFE WAS TOUGH AT THE NAVAL BASE. // CURRA ACT IN SPANISH - ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER TEXT //MR. CURRA SAYS THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AT GUANTANAMO WERE DIFFICULT, WITH A SHORTAGE OF FRESH WATER AND CERTAIN TYPES OF FOOD. HE SAYS MILITARY PERSONNEL AT THE BASE SEEMED UNACCUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH FOREIGNERS, LEADING TO CHAOS AND TRAUMA -- BOTH FOR THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND THE U-S SOLDIERS WHO ATTENDED THEM. MR. CURRA SAYS CONDITIONS GRADUALLY IMPROVED OVER TIME, AS COMMANDERS AT GUANTANAMO FIELDED SUGGESTIONS FROM THEIR CUBAN AND HAITIAN GUESTS -- AND WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATION, COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION. THE CUBAN EXILE SAYS HE BELIEVES HE AND OTHER RAFTERS ALSO BENEFITTED FROM THE SUPPORT OF MIAMI'S LARGE CUBAN-AMERICAN AND HAITIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, WHICH ADVOCATED ON THEIR BEHALF. REFERRING TO THE POSSIBLE HOUSING OF KOSOVARS AT GUANTANAMO, MR. CURRA NOTES THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IS RELATIVELY SMALL IN THE UNITED STATES. HE SAYS HE FEARS AN ABSENCE OF STRONG OUTSIDE PRESSURE TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE TREATMENT THEY RECEIVE AT GUANTANAMO. OFFICIALS AT U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN MIAMI -- KNOWN AS SOUTHCOM -- WHICH DIRECTS THE GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, INSIST EVERY EFFORT WILL MADE TO ENSURE THE BEST TREATMENT POSSIBLE OF ALL THE KOSOVARS ENTRUSTED TO THEM. SOUTHCOM SPOKESMAN STEVE LUCAS: // LUCAS ACT //OUR PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THE KOSOVARS WOULD BE TO AVOID INFLICTING ANY MORE TRAUMA ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR HOMES AND IN SOME CASES SEEING FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED. IN GUANTANAMO, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT LESS LIKE AN INTERNMENT CAMP, AND MORE LIKE A TOWN -- AT LEAST A TEMPORARY TOWN - WHERE THEY CAN REST AND RECUPERATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. // END ACT //MR. LUCAS SAYS, IF KOSOVARS ARE HOUSED AT GUANTANAMO, THE
OPERATION WILL BE OVERSEEN BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U-S STATE
DEPARTMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE
INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. THE SOUTHCOM SPOKESMAN SAYS VALUABLE
LESSONS WERE LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS MISSIONS AT GUANTANAMO
INVOLVING CUBAN AND HAITIAN MIGRANTS -- AND THAT THESE LESSONS
WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CURRENT OPERATION TO BENEFIT ANY KOSOVARS
WHO MAY ARRIVE THERE. (SIGNED)
[15] BRITAIN/KOSOVO (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247828 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY TWO WEEKS OF NATO AIR STRIKES ARE CRIPPLING THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY'S ABILITY TO CARRY ON ITS CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT BRITAIN DOES NOT RULE OUT A PEACE OFFER COMING FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IN THE COMING DAYS. TEXT: AFTER 200 NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST 150 SERB MILITARY TARGETS, BRITISH CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL CHARLES GUTHRIE SAYS THE SERB MILITARY IS HURTING. /// GUTHRIE ACT ///WE'RE STEADILY STRANGLING THE ABILITY OF THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT TO WAGE WAR ON THE POPULATION OF KOSOVO. /// END ACT ///FOR HIS PART, FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK DOES NOT RULE OUT ANOTHER PEACE OFFER FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, AS HIS MILITARY IS BEING DESTROYED. /// COOK ACT ///IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY WITHIN HIS CHARACTER THIS WEEKEND TO THROW OUT SOME EMPTY GESTURES AND POSE (AS) A MAN OF PEACE. IT WON'T WORK. //OPT FOR SHORT// IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN AN EMPTY GESTURE TO HALT NATO'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN. //END OPT// /// END ACT ///MR. COOK SAYS BELGRADE MUST REVERSE ITS ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN AND LET KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES RETURN BEFORE THE NATO BOMBINGS STOP. ///OPT THE REST FOR LONG CR ///GENERAL GUTHRIE SAYS NATO STRIKES HAVE ALREADY DAMAGED AIRFIELDS AND DESTROYED HALF THE YUGOSLAV FLEET OF MIG FIGHTER JETS. HE SAYS THE MILITARY HAS BEEN DAMAGED ALL ALONG THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. /// SECOND GUTHRIE ACT ///WE HAVE MAINTAINED AIR SUPERIORITY. WE'VE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED SERB AIR DEFENSE, SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED BARRACKS AND HEADQUARTERS. WE'VE DISRUPTED FUEL AND AMMUNITION SUPPLIES AND CUT THEIR LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN MANY PLACES. AND WE'RE ATTACKING HIM WITH INCREASING FEROCITY ON THE GROUND. /// END ACT ///FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK DESCRIBES PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AS A "SHAKEN
MAN" IN RECENT PUBLIC APPEARANCES. AGAIN, THE BRITISH OFFICIAL
WARNS THAT MR. MILOSEVIC WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ATROCITIES
COMMITTED IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. BUT MR. COOK ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
WESTERN ALLIES WILL STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MR. MILOSEVIC TO
FINALIZE ANY FUTURE PEACE IN KOSOVO, AS LONG AS HE REMAINS IN
CONTROL. (SIGNED)
[16] FRANCE / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247838 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FRANCE'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS NATO OPERATIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAV TARGETS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE "COHESION AND EFFICIENCY" OF THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER ALAIN RICHARD SAYS THE NATO AIR STRIKES IN YUGOSLAVIA HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE COHESION OF THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE. IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. RICHARD ALSO STRONGLY DENIED A BRITISH NEWSPAPER REPORT THAT NATO IS NOT SHARING ALL ITS INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION WITH FRANCE -- IN PART BECAUSE FRANCE IS NOT PART OF THE ALLIANCE'S INTEGRATED COMMAND STRUCTURE. PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE WITHDREW FRANCE FROM THE NATO MILITARY COMMAND STRUCTURE IN 1965. MR. RICHARD SAID ACTION IN THE WAR TO STOP ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO WILL BE REAL PROOF OF TRUST AND COOPERATION BETWEEN NATO PARTNERS. HE SAID FRANCE HAS LONG WORKED ON MAKING ITS FORCES READY TO JOIN WITH OTHER NATO TROOPS AND THE CURRENT OPERATIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA ARE EVIDENCE THAT THESE EFFORTS ARE WORKING. /// RICHARD ACT ONE ///FOR THE TIME BEING, WE CONSIDER THAT THE COHESION OF THE ALLIANCE, THE EFFICIENCY OF THE MILITARY IN ALL SPECIALITIES, IN THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT OF ALL OUR DEMOCRATIC OPINIONS, WITH BOTH THE POLITICAL GOALS AND THE KIND OF MILITARY ACTION THAT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN, ARE RATHER A GOOD SIGN OF WILL AND HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACIES. /// END ACT ///THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE WAR IS NOW LIKELY TO ENTER A RELATIVELY SLOW PHASE AS NATO TRIES TO DESTROY MILITARY EQUIPMENT, MUCH OF IT HIDDEN IN POPULATED AREAS, WHILE TRYING TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. AND THIS, HE SAID, WILL REQUIRE NATO GOVERNMENTS TO EXPLAIN REPEATEDLY THE WAR AIMS TO KEEP PUBLIC OPINION ON THEIR SIDE. /// RICHARD ACT TWO ///HOWEVER DIFFICULT IT MAY BE TO TO BEAR THIS SORT OF SUSPENSE EVERY DAY FOR OUR OPINIONS, WE HAVE TO KEEP ON EXPLAINING AND SHOWING THAT THE LINE CHOSEN AT THE BEGINNING WAS BETTER THAN OTHERS SUGGESTED. /// END ACT ///MR. RICHARD SAID NATO'S AIM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PEOPLES
OF KOSOVO COULD LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE AND SECURITY. UNTIL NOW,
HE SAID, THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS MAINTAINED A SYSTEM THERE
THAT IS SIMILAR TO APARTHEID. (SIGNED)
[17] LATAM / KOSOVO (L ONLY) (CQ) BY GEORGE MEEK (RIO DE JANEIRO)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247858 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE PROGRAM SAYS IT MAY ACCEPT OFFERS FROM ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND CHILE TO ACCEPT SOME REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO, BUT NOT YET. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU. TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES SAYS MEDIA REPORTS THAT THE AGENCY HAS REJECTED ARGENTINA'S OFFER TO TAKE SOME KOSOVO REFUGEES ARE MISLEADING. THE U-N AGENCY'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA, BASED IN BUENOS AIRES, IS GUILHERME DA CUNHA. HE SAYS THE IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE IS TO KEEP THE REFUGEES NEAR THEIR HOMELAND TO FACILITATE HOPED-FOR REPATRIATION. // FIRST DA CUNHA ACT //WE HAVE NOT REJECTED SUPPORT EXPRESSED BY MEMBER GOVERNMENTS -- FOR INSTANCE ARGENTINA, CHILE, AND BRAZIL -- TO RECEIVE REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO IN CASE THERE IS NEED FOR IT. // END ACT //MR. DA CUNHA SAYS THAT IF THERE IS A NEED FOR RESETTLEMENT OF THE REFUGEES OUTSIDE THE REGION, THE UNITED NATIONS WILL CERTAINLY ACCEPT THE OFFERS OF THESE COUNTRIES. // SECOND DA CUNHA ACT //ARGENTINA AND CHILE, EVEN BEFORE THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND THE START OF NATO OPERATIONS, HAD ALREADY OFFERED TO RECEIVE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 FAMILIES FROM FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO BE RESETTLED IN THEIR COUNTRIES. // END ACT //THE U-N REFUGEE OFFICIAL SAYS BRAZIL WILL ACCEPT A SIMILAR NUMBER OF KOSOVO REFUGEES. // BEGIN OPT //MR. DA CUNHA SAYS BRAZIL HAS ALREADY OPENED ITS DOORS TO PEOPLE FLEEING VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION FROM 35 OTHER NATIONS. // THIRD DA CUNHA ACT //TODAY WE HAVE (IN BRAZIL) BETWEEN TWO-THOUSAND AND 25-HUNDRED REFUGEES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM FROM WESTERN AFRICA -- ANGOLA, NIGERIA, LIBERIA, GUINEA-BISSAU, SIERRA LEONE, AS WELL AS IRAQ, IRAN, CUBA, AND PERU. // END ACT //// END OPT //LATIN AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE GENERALLY BEEN CRITICAL OF THE NATO INTERVENTION. BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO SAYS THE MASSACRE OF HELPLESS PEOPLE IS AN UNACCEPTABLE THROWBACK TO NAZISM, BUT HE SAYS THE NATO ASSAULT WAS A HASTY DECISION. ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM -- A TRADITIONAL SUPPORTER OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY -- SAYS NATO HAS TAKEN THE RIGHT APPROACH. THE GROUP OF RIO, WHICH INCLUDES 14 LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS -- AMONG THEM ARGENTINA -- ISSUED A STATEMENT ON MARCH 25TH REGRETTING THE USE OF FORCE IN THE BALKANS. PERU'S CONGRESS HAS FORMALLY CRITICIZED THE KOSOVO INTERVENTION.
NATO AMBASSADORS REPLIED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE WAS VIOLENCE,
INSTABILITY, AND A BROADER CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
[18] NATO / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247854 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO ACKOWLEDGES ONE OF ITS AIR STRIKES ON PRISTINA, THE CAPITAL OF SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, WENT OFF COURSE DAMAGING BUILDINGS CLOSE TO ITS TARGET. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN AT NATO HEADQUARTERS REPORTS THERE ARE NO APOLOGIES FOR A STRIKE ON YUGOSLAVIA'S MAJOR AUTOMOBILE FACTORY. TEXT: NATO INTELLIGENCE INDICATES THE ZASTAVA PLANT IN KRAGJUVAC, SERBIA, MAKES MUNITIONS IN ADDITION TO ITS MAIN PRODUCTION LINE, THE "YUGO" AUTOMOBILE. MORE THAN THAT, ACCORDING TO NATO OFFICIALS, THE FACTORY WAS HIT OVERNIGHT WHEN IT WAS ASSUMED MOST WORKERS WOULD NOT BE THERE. YUGOSLAVIA CONTENDS THERE WERE MORE THAN 100 CASUALTIES FROM THE NATO AIR STRIKE EARLY FRIDAY ON THE ZASTAVA FACTORY. ON THE OTHER HAND, NATO IS A LITTLE EMBARASSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO CIVILIAN BUILDINGS IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, WHEN IT STRUCK THE CITY'S RADIO AND TELEPHONE EXCHANGE BUILDING ON THURSDAY. MILITARY SPOKESMAN DAVID WILBY SHOWED REPORTERS FILM OF THE ATTACK WHICH CONTRADICTED HIS PREVIOUS ASSERTION THAT NATO HAD HIT ONLY MILITARY TARGETS IN PRISTINA. ONE MISSILE LANDED 200 TO 300 METERS OFF TARGET IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DESPITE THE EMBARASMENT, AIR COMMODORE WILBY REPEATED HIS VIEW THAT NATO IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGE IN PRISTINA. /// WILBY ACT ///WHILST I'VE SHOWN YOU COLLATERAL DAMAGE ON THIS PARTICULAR TARGET, IT IS RESTRICTED TO A SMALL ZONE JUST BEHIND THE TARGET AREA. AND IF YOU WERE TO GO, AND OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND PRISTINA, THEN YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY OUR ATTACKS IS VERY MUCH AROUND THE TARGETS OR ON THE TARGET AREAS. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS WIDESPREAD ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. /// END ACT ///THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE WAS HIT AS NATO SEES IT AS PART OF THE COMMUNICATION NETWORK BETWEEN BELGRADE AND PRISTINA. AIR COMMODORE WILBY SAYS YUGOSLAV TROOPS IN KOSOVO CONTINUE TO TAKE COVER FROM NATO AIR STRIKES. BUT HE NOTES THERE IS A BUILDUP OF YUGOSLAV TROOPS NORTH OF KOSOVO, IN SOUTH SERBIA, THAT NATO IS WATCHING. IN ANY CASE, NATO REPORTS NO SIGN THAT YUGOSLAV TROOPS ARE
PULLING OUT OF KOSOVO, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS NATO HAS SET FOR
STOPPING AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[19] NATO / MACEDONIA (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247849 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MACEDONIA'S FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT NATO WILL PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY FROM ANY THREAT FROM YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA TELLS HIS MACEDONIAN VISITORS THAT NATO WILL RESPOND TO ANY CHALLENGE TO THEIR COUNTRY'S SECURITY STEMMING FROM THE PRESENCE OF 12-THOUSAND NATO TROOPS. THIS CONDITIONAL SECURITY GUARANTEE IS CLOSE TO WHAT THE ALLIANCE OFFERS TO ITS 19 MEMBERS. AT THE SAME TIME, MACEDONIA'S FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS SAY THEY DO NOT WANT ANY ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA TO TAKE PLACE FROM THEIR COUNTRY'S TERRITORY. NATO'S SOLDIERS ARE IN MACEDONIA AS THE BASIS FOR A POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. THOSE TROOPS HAVE BEEN DIVERTED TO HELPING MACEDONIA DEAL WITH THE INFLUX OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. NATO AMBASSADORS PRAISE MACEDONIA'S EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES, BUT THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN STUNG BY MEDIA REPORTS THAT ITS POLICE MISTREATED THE REFUGEES AND SPLIT UP FAMILIES WHEN MOVING THEM TO OTHER CAMPS OR ABROAD. MACEDONIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER ALEKSANDAR DIMITROV TELLS REPORTERS HE FOUND EUROPEAN UNION MINISTERS AND NATO AMBASSADORS MORE COOPERATIVE. /// DIMITROV ACT ///WE ARE HERE AND WE WERE THERE IN LUXEMBOURG TO COMBINE AND TO MAKE VERY CLOSE COOPERATION WITH URGENT AND VERY CONCRETE MEASURES ABOUT HOW THE SITUATION IN THE REGION AND THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA WILL BE RESOLVED OR WILL BE BETTER SETTLED AND WE ARE HERE AND WAS THERE ONLY TO MAKE A BURDEN SHARE NOT TO MAKE A BLAME SHARE. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER NIKOLA KLJUSEV DISMISSES CHARGES OF MISTREATMENT OF KOSOVO REFUGEES AS "NO BIG DEAL," AND EXPLAINS THE SPLITTING UP OF FAMILIES CAME AS A RESULT OF THE REFUGEES NOT HAVING ANY IDENTIFICATION. MANY KOSOVO REFUGEES SAY SERBIAN AUTHORITIES CONFISCATED THEIR IDENTIFICATION PAPERS WHEN THEY WERE EXPELLED TO MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA. ALSO AT NATO, SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA ASSURES RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN THAT NATO IS PLANNING NO INVASION OF KOSOVO WITH ITS TROOPS IN MACEDONIA. /// SHEA ACT ///I THINK I CAN REASSURE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ON THIS POINT THAT NATO IS NOT PLANNING SOME FORM OF INVASION AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN YUGOSLAVIA AT THE MOMENT PRESENTS NO THREAT WHATEVER, NOT EVEN IN THE MOST REMOTE IMAGINABLE SENSE, TO THE SECURITY OF RUSSIA. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA IS WORRIED ABOUT ITS OWN SECURITY WITH A MACEDONIAN
SOLDIER HAVING BEEN KILLED ON THE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA.
(SIGNED)
[20] RUSSIA/KOSOVO (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247825 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS WARNED NATO NOT TO SEND GROUND TROOPS TO YUGOSLAVIA, SAYING SUCH A MOVE WOULD TRIGGER A RUSSIAN RESPONSE. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. YELTSIN ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR A REQUEST FROM YUGOSLAVIA TO JOIN A POLITICAL UNION WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS. TEXT: IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SHARP CHANGE IN POLICY, PRESIDENT YELTSIN FRIDAY SAID RUSSIA WILL NOT INTERFERE MILITARILY IN YUGOSLAVIA -- UNLESS PUSHED BY THE UNITED STATES. IN PREVIOUS STATEMENTS, HE CATEGORICALLY RULED-OUT ANY ACTION THAT WOULD DRAW HIS COUNTRY INTO A BALKANS WAR. BUT WITH PRESSURE MOUNTING FROM COMMUNISTS AND HARDLINERS IN PARLIAMENT FOR MILITARY SUPPORT TO BELGRADE, MR. YELTSIN TOLD REPORTERS RUSSIA COULD NOT PERMIT NATO TO SEND GROUND FORCES TO YUGOSLAVIA. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHAT HE MEANT. NATO HAS SAID IT HAS NO PLAN TO COMMIT GROUND TROOPS ON YUGOSLAV TERRITORY. THE RUSSIAN LEADER MET FRIDAY WITH SPEAKER OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT GENNADY SELEZNYOV, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED FROM BELGRADE. THE SPEAKER, A COMMUNIST, LATER TOLD LAWMAKERS MR. YELTSIN SUPPORTS A YUGOSLAV REQUEST TO JOIN THE POLITICAL UNION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND BELARUS. ///SELEZNYOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///MR. SELEZNYOV SAID "HE (YELTSIN) BACKED THE PROPOSAL, AND IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONED BELARUS PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO, WHO ALSO EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT." MR. SELEZNYOV TOLD REPORTERS SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD PERMIT INTRODUCTION OF RUSSIAN TROOPS ON YUGOSLAV SOIL. THE INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY QUOTED THE SPEAKER AS SAYING PRESIDENT
YELTSIN HAS ORDERED RUSSIAN MISSILES TO BE TARGETED AT NATO
COUNTRIES. THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY, HOWEVER, QUOTED A SPOKESMAN
FOR RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC ROCKET FORCES AS SAYING HE KNOWS OF NO
CHANGE TO STANDING ORDERS ON THE TARGETING OF MISSILES. (SIGNED)
[21] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247837 CONTENT= VOICED AT: // RE-ISSUING TO ADD CR NUMBER //INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS ANY NATO MOVE TO SEND GROUND TROOPS TO YUGOSLAVIA WOULD TRIGGER A MILITARY RESPONSE FROM RUSSIA. HOWEVER, AS V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, OFFICIALS ARE FLATLY DENYING EARLIER REPORTS MR. YELTSIN HAD ORDERED MISSILES RETARGETED AT NATO COUNTRIES. TEXT: UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE FROM HARDLINERS IN PARLIAMENT, PRESIDENT YELTSIN FRIDAY REVERSED HIS PLEDGE TO KEEP RUSSIA OUT OF MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA. /// YELTSIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///THE COMMENT APPEARS TO BE A SHARP POLICY REVERSAL. PREVIOUSLY, MR. YELTSIN STATED CATEGORICALLY THAT RUSSIA WOULD NOT BE DRAGGED INTO A BALKANS WAR. /// OPT ////// YELTSIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ////// OPT ///MR. YELTSIN MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER A MEETING WITH GENNADY SELEZNYOV, THE COMMUNIST SPEAKER OF THE LOWER HOUSE, WHO JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO BELGRADE. MR. SELEZNYOV WAS LATER QUOTED AS SAYING PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAD ALSO ORDERED RUSSIAN MISSILES RETARGETED AT NATO COUNTRIES. BUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE CHIEF OF RUSSIA'S ROCKET FORCES BOTH HOTLY DENIED THE STATEMENT. AND MR. SELEZNYOV'S SPOKESMAN LATER ADMITTED WHAT HE CALLED "A MAJOR INFORMATION MISTAKE". STILL, NEWS OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN RUSSIA'S MILITARY STANCE ON YUGOSLAVIA RAISED CONCERNS IN WESTERN CAPITALS. A WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT SAID THE UNITED STATES EXPECTS RUSSIA TO KEEP ITS PLEDGE NOT TO GET MILITARILY INVOLVED. AND BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK TOLD REPORTERS THE REPORTED MISSILE RETARGETING WAS NOT JUSTIFIED. /// COOK ACT ///THERE IS NOTHING WE ARE DOING IN YUGOSLAVIA OR KOSOVO OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THAT REGION THAT POSES THE REMOTEST THREAT TO RUSSIA. THIS IS NOT AN OPERATION INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO CHALLENGE THE SECURITY OR THE DEFENSE OF RUSSIA AND THERE COULD BE NO LOGIC AND NO JUSTIFICATION IN RUSSIA INCREASING ITS MILITARY POSTURE AS A RESPONSE. /// END ACT ///WESTERN MILITARY ANALYSTS IN MOSCOW SAY MR. YELTSIN'S TOUGHER
STANCE APPEARS LARGELY AIMED AT A DOMESTIC AUDIENCE AT A TIME HE
IS UNDER INTENSE POLITICAL PRESSURE. SPEAKER SELEZNYOV SAID
FRIDAY MR. YELTSIN HAD ASKED THAT A VOTE SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK ON
IMPEACHMENT BE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA.
(SIGNED)
[22] U-S / RUSSIA KOSOVO (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247863 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT HAS BEEN ASSURED BY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS THAT THEY ARE NOT AIMING THEIR NUCLEAR MISSILES AT NATO NATIONS INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. THE ASSURANCE FOLLOWS REPORTS PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAD ORDERED CHANGES IN THE TARGETING OF HIS NUCLEAR ARSENAL. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN THEIR CRITICISM OF NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE SERB-LED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE AGAIN BEEN ASSURED THAT RUSSIA DOES NOT PLAN TO GET MILITARILY INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW HAVE ALSO ASSURED THE UNITED STATES THAT RUSSIAN MISSILES ARE NOT BE TARGETED AT NATO NATIONS. // RUBIN ACT //WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED AT A VARIETY OF LEVELS, THAT RUSSIA, AND THIS IS THE MAIN POINT, WILL NOT GET INVOLVED MILITARILY IN YUGOSLAVIA AND PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS GIVEN NO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY INVOLVING RETARGETING OF RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCE. // END ACT //THE ASSURANCES FOLLOW A NEWS REPORT ON RUSSIA'S INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY THAT PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAD ORDERED STRATEGIC MISSILES BE POINTED AT NATO COUNTRIES WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ALTHOUGH OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW WERE QUICK TO DENY THE REPORT, PRESIDENT YELTSIN RENEWED HIS CRITICISM OF NATO POLICY IN YUGOSLAVIA AND WARNED OF A POSSIBLE WIDER WAR. IN A TELEVISION APPEARANCE, MR. YELTSIN SAID HE HAD TOLD THE UNTIED STATES AND NATO NOT TO PUSH RUSSIA TOWARD MILITARY ACTION. IN AN EFFORT TO COOL TENSIONS, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ANNOUNCED SHE AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WILL MEET IN OSLO ON TUESDAY, TO DISCUSS KOSOVO. THE MEETING WILL FOLLOW A NATO FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETING IN
BRUSSELS ON MONDAY. (SIGNED)
[23] MONTENEGRO SIT REP (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PODGORICA)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247843 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO. BUT TIM BELAY IN THE REPUBLIC'S CAPITAL, PODGORICA, REPORTS THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO HOLD ONTO A FRAGILE PEACE WITH RELATIVELY GOOD RELATIONS AMONG THE REPUBLIC'S VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS. TEXT: TWO-THIRDS OF THE 600-THOUSAND PEOPLE IN MONTENEGRO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS MONTENEGRINS. THE REMAINING THIRD ARE SERBS, ALBANIANS, AND ETHNIC SLAVIC MUSLIMS. SOME MONTENEGRIN OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE RELATIVELY GOOD RELATIONS AMONG THE REPUBLIC'S VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS. BUT SO FAR, THEY SAY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. NIKOLA CAMAJ WORKS IN THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WHICH SUPPORTS ETHNIC ALBANIAN MEDIA PROGRAMS, AND HE IS AN ETHNIC ALBANIAN HIMSELF. HE SAYS THE EVIDENCE OF ETHNIC HARMONY HERE IS EASY TO SEE. /// CAMAJ ACT ///OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MUSLIMS, MONTENEGRINS, SERBS, ALBANIANS HAVING COFFEE TOGETHER. LAST NIGHT, THERE WAS A MONTENEGRIN IN MY HOUSE BECAUSE HE IS ESCAPING FROM (FEDERAL) MILITARY POLICE. THEY DON/T CATCH HIM. HE CAME AND HE WAS AT MY HOUSE FOR DINNER AND HE SLEPT OVER THERE. WE HAVE HUNDREDS ... OR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EXAMPLES. /// END ACT ///AN ADVISER TO MONTENEGRO'S MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, SEKULOVIC RADOMIR, CALLS THE REPUBLIC AN OASIS OF ETHNIC HARMONY IN A REGION WHERE DIVISIONS HAVE LED TO SO MUCH CONFLICT. /// RADOMIR ACT ///THE FACT THAT INTER-ETHNICAL RELATIONS IN MONTENEGRO HAVEN'T BEEN DISTURBED IN THE VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT WE ARE PASSING THROUGH IS THE BEST PROOF TO EVERYBODY THAT WE HAD, THAT WE HAVE HAD GOOD INTER-ETHNICAL RELATIONS BEFORE. /// END ACT ///MR. RADOMIR SAYS OFFICIALS HERE BELIEVE THE NATO-YUGOSLAV CLASHES WILL STOP WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. HE SAYS THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, MONTENEGRO CAN SURVIVE AS A MULTI-ETHNIC REPUBLIC. /// REST OPT ///ALTHOUGH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERMENT SPEAK PROUDLY OF A STRONG TRADITION OF PRESS FREEDOM, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A UNIVERSALLY FRIENDLY PLACE FOR FOREIGN JOURNALISTS. SEVEN WESTERN JOURNALISTS WERE ARRESTED LATE THURSDAY BY FEDERAL
MILITARY POLICE FOR WHAT WAS CALLED "TRESPASSING WITHIN A
FORBIDDEN ZONE." THE FOUR CREWMEMBERS FROM THE Z-D-F GERMAN
TELEVISION NETWORK AND THREE EMPLOYEES FROM B-B-C TELEVISION HAVE
SINCE BEEN RELEASED. (SIGNED)
[24] RWANDA / KOSOVO / HOLOCAUST BY JOE DECAPUA (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=5-43070 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: REPORTS OF ETHNIC KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO COINCIDE WITH THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA. WHILE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN KOSOVO IS STILL UNKNOWN, UP TO ONE-MILLION PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN RWANDA IN 1994. RECENTLY, AN EXPERT ON THE HOLOCAUST OF WORLD WAR TWO LOOKED AT THE LESSONS LEARNED -- AND NOT LEARNED -- SINCE WORLD WAR II. V-O-A'S JOE DE CAPUA REPORTS. TEXT: MARK WEITZMAN (WHYTS'-MAN) IS DIRECTOR OF THE TASK FORCE AGAINST HATE AT THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER. THE CENTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1977 BY THE FAMED HUNTER OF NAZI WAR CRIMINALS WITH THE GOAL OF FIGHTING BIGOTRY AND ANTI-SEMITISM. MR. WEITZMAN SAYS KOSOVO MAY BE A TURNING POINT IN HOW NATIONS REACT TO REPORTS OF ATROCITIES. /// WEITZMAN ACT ///PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE WESTERN POWERS HAVE INTERVENED AS SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING OR EVEN BEFORE THE WORST COULD HAPPEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVERT A AN INCREDIBLE DISASTER OR CATASTROPHE. WHETHER IT'S REACHED THE POINT OF GENOCIDE, IT'S HARD TO USE THAT TERM SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A POINT OF TRAGEDY THAT NEEDED TO BE STOPPED. /// END ACT ///NEVERTHELESS, HE SAYS WESTERN NATIONS COULD HAVE ACTED SOONER BECAUSE THE SIGNS OF A PENDING TRAGEDY WERE THERE. /// WEITZMAN ACT ///ETHNIC CLEANSING IS NOT SOMETHING NEW TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, TO THAT REGION. THE BALKANS HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AS WELL. AND IT DID NOT TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF FORESIGHT TO SEE THAT (YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC WAS NOT FINISHED, THAT THINGS WERE STILL CONTINUING. AND WE'VE ALLOWED THE SAME PEOPLE TO STAY IN POWER. WE'VE ALLOWED THEM TO STOCKPILE ARMS AND AMMUNITION. WE'VE PLAYED DIPLOMATIC GAMES WITH THEM. AND THIS IS THE RESULT. HUMAN TRAGEDY IS THE RESULT. /// END ACT ///THE WIESENTHAL CENTER OFFICIAL PRAISES THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS ON BOSNIA AND RWANDA IN BRINGING GENOCIDE AND WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS TO TRIAL. BUT HE SAYS THE WEST FAILED TO ACT QUICKLY IN RWANDA THE WAY IT DID IN KOSOVO. FIVE YEARS AGO, IN RWANDA, NEARLY ONE MILLION TUTSI AND MODERATE HUTU WERE KILLED BY THE THEN NATIONAL ARMY AND EXTREMIST MILITIAS. /// WEITZMAN ACT ///IT IS CLEAR IN AFRICA THERE WERE A LOT OF REASONS WESTERN COUNTRIES DID NOT INTERVENE. WHETHER FOR DIPLOMACY, WHETHER FOR MILITARY REASONS OR WHATEVER. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE, FAR TOO LATE. /// END ACT ///MARK WEITZMAN SAYS A COMBINATION OF FACTORS LEAD TO INTOLERANCE, SUCH AS THE STEREOTYPING OF A PEOPLE OR ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND GRIEVANCES THAT BUILD INTO HATRED. HE SAYS THIS IS OFTEN FUELED BY LEADERS TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM DOMESTIC PROBLEMS, SUCH AS A POOR ECONOMY. THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER HAS A MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE BASED ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE HOLOCAUST. HE SAYS VISITORS LEARN ABOUT PREJUDICE AND TOLERANCE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. /// WEITZMAN ACT ///WELL, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS UNDERSTAND THAT THE SEEDS OF PREJUDICE ARE WITHIN ALL OF US -- MYSELF INCLUDED. I DO NOT KNOW ANY HUMAN BEING WHO IS WITHOUT FAULT IN THIS REGARD. /// END ACT ///MR. WEITZMAN SAYS ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THIS WE BEGIN TO REALIZE WE
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GIVE IN TO THESE FEELINGS OR CONTROL THEM.
(SIGNED)
[25] MEDIA/KOSOVO BY ALISHA RYU (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43069 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NEWS COVERAGE OF THE U-S MILITARY ACTION IN YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY SEVERAL U-S MEDIA ANALYSTS AS BEING BIASED IN FAVOR OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES. IN A SOON-TO-BE PUBLISHED BOOK TITLED HABITS OF A DECEPTIVE MEDIA, A SYNDICATED COLUMNIST IN CALIFORNIA ACCUSES AMERICAN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS OF BLINDLY SUPPORTING PENTAGON DECISIONS. V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU SPOKE TO THE AUTHOR ABOUT HIS VIEWS AND ALSO TO JOURNALISTS WHO SAY HIS CONCLUSIONS ARE UNFAIR. TEXT: SAN FRANCISCO-BASED COLUMNIST NORMAN SOLOMON SAYS SINCE THE NATO BOMBING BEGAN IN YUGOSLAVIA MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, MAINSTREAM NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN FACILITATING WHAT HE CALLS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S "ALL-OUT PROPAGANDA WAR" FOR PUBLIC OPINION. MR. SOLOMON ACCUSES SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS OF PROMOTING THE POLICIES OF THE NATO ALLIES IN THEIR REPORTS. // 1ST SOLOMON ACT //C-N-N, FOR INSTANCE, INTERNATIONALLY IS USING THE MOTTO "STRIKE AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA". WELL, A "STRIKE" IS NOT EXACTLY EVOCATIVE OF DROPPING A TWO-THOUSAND POUND BOMB ON POPULATED AREAS. IT'S THE RELIANCE ON OFFICIAL SOURCES THAT SETS UP THIS DYNAMIC. I THINK THE NEWS MEDIA, IF IT WERE TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BOMB FALLS, NOT SIMPLY DESCRIBE SORTIES AS A STRIKE AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA CAUSING COLLATERAL DAMAGE (CIVILIAN CASUALTIES) AS PART OF AN AIR CAMPAIGN. // END ACT //MR. SOLOMON SAYS THE MEDIA HAVE ALSO BEEN SELECTIVE IN WHAT THEY REPORT BECAUSE THEY FEAR BEING PERCEIVED AS UNSUPPORTIVE OF THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES. // 2ND SOLOMON ACT //YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF ALLIED COUNTRIES IN NATO SUCH AS TURKEY, THE REPRESSION THAT IS EXACTED BY THOSE REGIMES. YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THE MAJOR CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND NATO POSITIONS. // END ACT //BUT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA STRONGLY REJECT MR. SOLOMON'S CRITICISMS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES, BILL KELLER, SAYS THE CHARGE OF BIASED REPORTING CANNOT BE MADE AGAINST HIS NEWSPAPER. MR. KELLER SAYS HIS REPORTERS HAVE NEVER BACKED AWAY FROM CRITICIZING THE U-S GOVERNMENT OR THE PENTAGON -- ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE RELEASING SO LITTLE INFORMATION TO THE PRESS. // 1ST KELLER ACT //WE HAVE WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THEIR BOBBING AND WEAVING ABOUT (AVOIDING GIVING) INFORMATION, THEIR RELUCTANCE TO BE FORTHCOMING ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF MISSION THEY'RE FLYING, WHAT KIND OF BOMBS THEY ARE DROPPING, WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS THEY ARE HAVING. WE'VE TENDED TO SHY AWAY FROM CALLING IT A WAR BECAUSE WORDS HAVE MEANING AND THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT DECLARED WAR ON YUGOSLAVIA. // END ACT //AS FOR THE CHARGE OF NOT PROVIDING COVERAGE OF HOW TURKEY TREATS ITS OWN MINORITIES, MR. KELLER WAS EQUALLY DISMISSIVE. // 2ND KELLER ACT //I THINK YOUR CRITIC SHOULD READ SOME BACK ISSUES OF THE "TIMES." WE'VE GOT A CORRESPONDENT IN ISTANBUL WHO HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TURKEY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. // END ACT //BUT SOME MEDIA ANALYSTS SAY IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR THE U-S MEDIA TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE U-S MILITARY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEIR AUDIENCE IS MOST INTERESTED IN. JOE SALTZMAN, A FORMER JOURNALIST WHO IS NOW A PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN LOS ANGELES, SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE U-S COVERAGE MIGHT APPEAR ONE-SIDED TO SOME. // 1ST SALTZMAN ACT //EMPHASIZING THE AMERICAN ANGLE. WE HAVE DONE IT IN IRAQ, WE HAVE DONE IT YUGOSLAVIA NOW, AND WE DID IT IN VIETNAM. WE DO NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. JUST ABOUT THE AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT. // END ACT //BUT MR. SALTZMAN ACKNOWLEDGES THIS CONFLICT HAS BEEN A HARD ONE FOR THE U-S MEDIA TO COVER FAIRLY. HE SAYS THE COMBINATION OF PENTAGON RETICENCE, THE VIRTUAL BLACKOUT OF NEWS FROM THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, AND THE ATTEMPT BY BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA TO CONTROL WORDS AND IMAGES HAVE LEFT THE U-S MEDIA AT A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE. ADD TO THESE FACTORS THE PRESSURE TO PROVIDE INSTANT COVERAGE AND ANALYSIS AND WHAT YOU HAVE, MR. SALTZMAN SAYS, IS A RECIPE FOR CRITICISM. // 2ND SALTZMAN ACT //THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE 24-HOUR COVERAGE RESULTS IN MUCH INACCURACIES, MUCH BIAS, AND MUCH PROPAGANDA IMMEDIATELY HITTING THE PUBLIC AIRWAVES. AND THE PUBLIC HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS. WHILE THE U-S MEDIA ALWAYS HAVE HAD THE DUTY TO BE FAIR AND
UNBIASED, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF WAR, MR. SALTZMAN SAYS THEY ALSO
HAVE A DUTY TO REMIND THEIR AUDIENCE THAT WHAT THEY SEE, READ, OR
HEAR MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE WHOLE STORY. (SIGNED)
[26] FRIDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=0/09/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11233 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EST ////INTRO: IN U-S NEWSPAPERS FRIDAY, THERE IS MORE EDITORIAL COMMENT ABOUT THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA; AND ONE PAPER WONDERS IF LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR QADDAFI WILL BE REHABILITATED AFTER TURNING OVER TWO SUSPECTED TERRORIST BOMBERS. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS ON THESE AND OTHER COMMENTARIES FROM FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS IS _________________ AND THE EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IS IN ITS THIRD WEEK. MEANWHILE, THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SADAKO OGATA, IS IN MACEDONIA, WHERE SHE VISITED A NATO-BUILT CAMP FOR ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL WRITES THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC "IS WRITING HIS DARKEST CHAPTER OF YUGOSLAV HISTORY YET WITH THE CRUEL MANIPULATION OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS: VOICE: /// OPT /// THE YUGOSLAV LEADER HAD ORDERED HIS TROOPS IN KOSOVO TO DRIVE OUT THE 90 PERCENT ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION TO ESTABLISH A FACT ON THE GROUND, THAT KOSOVO PROVINCE WOULD BECOME SERBIAN TERRITORY, NOT KOSOVAR. /// END OPT /// ... NOW, MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY, (PRESIDENT) MILOSEVIC HAS AWAKENED TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT NATO WILL SHOW LESS RELUCTANCE TO EXTEND ITS BOMBING TARGETS OVER KOSOVO PROVINCE SINCE MOST KOSOVARS HAVE GONE. THIS COULD EXPLAIN HIS SUDDEN DECISION TO BLOCK THE OUTWARD FLOW OF REFUGEES AND PERHAPS DRAW THEM BACK AS A SHIELD. IF SO, THIS IS A CRUEL STRATEGY THAT THE YUGOSLAV STRONGMAN SHOULD BE MADE TO REGRET. /// OPT /// REFUGEES HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN THE UNINTENDED VICTIMS OF WARS, FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES, OFTEN WITH THE FLAMES OF COMBAT LICKING AT THEIR HEELS. TO MANIPULATE THIS TRAGEDY FOR TACTICAL ADVANTAGE IS DISHONORABLE AND SHUNNED UNDER ALL CODES OF WAR. IF THAT IS THE AIM OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, HISTORY WILL RECORD IT IN SHAME. TEXT: THE DAILY NEWS IN NEW YORK CITY HAS THIS EDITORIAL ADVICE: VOICE: THE MIXED SIGNALS COMING FROM YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CAN'T CONFUSE NATO'S WAR AIMS TO SAVE THE BESIEGED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. FOR ALL HIS FEINTS TOWARD PEACE, (MR.) MILOSEVIC HAS NOT RELENTED ON THE ALLIANCE'S UNCONDITIONAL DEMAND: THAT HE WITHDRAW HIS SERB FORCES AND LET INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS ENTER KOSOVO TO PROTECT RETURNING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. UNTIL HE DOES, IT'S BOMBS AWAY. TEXT: USA TODAY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT ON INFORMATION RELEASED ABOUT THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT, WRITING IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "PENTAGON CLAMS UP (IS QUIET) ON KOSOVO, POSING RISKS IF COMBAT DRAGS ON." VOICE: WHILE PENTAGON AND NATO SPOKESMEN HAVE BEEN QUICK TO PROVIDE GLOWING ACCOUNTS OF THE 'DEGRADATION' AND 'DEVASTATION' OF SERB HARDWARE AND TROOPS IN THE 17 DAYS SINCE BOMBING BEGAN, THEY OFFER FEW DETAILS TO SUPPORT THOSE CLAIMS. /// OPT /// AND BAD NEWS, WHEN IT EMERGES AT ALL, COMES FROM OTHER SOURCES. INFORMATION IS SO SCARCE, IN FACT, THAT NATO'S EFFORTS TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WITH BROAD GENERALITIES ELICIT CHUCKLES IN THE BRIEFING ROOMS. /// END OPT /// BUT IT IS A MORE SERIOUS MATTER LIKELY TO HAVE DEEPENING RAMIFICATION IF COMBAT EXPANDS OR TAKES A TURN FOR THE WORSE. A PROLONGED MILITARY EFFORT IS UNSUSTAINABLE WITHOUT BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND A NATION ASKED TO BACK IT WITH BLOOD AND TREASURE WILL NOT LONG TOLERATE BEING LEFT IN THE DARK AS TO HOW WELL IT IS GOING. TEXT: TWO LIBYANS, SUSPECTED IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF A PAN AM AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, REMAIN UNDER ARREST IN THE NETHERLANDS. THEY WERE TURNED OVER BY LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR QADDAFI TO BE TRIED IN THE CASE. THE WASHINGTON POST WRITES THAT "IDEALLY, MUAMMAR QADDAFI WOULD HIMSELF BE TRIED FOR BLOWING UP PAM AM FLIGHT 103...." THE POST CONTINUES: VOICE: /// OPT /// PRACTICALLY, HOWEVER, THE HANDOVER FOR TRIAL OF TWO CRIMINAL SUSPECTS -- EVEN SUSPECTS WHO MAY REMAIN UNDER THE DISCIPLINE OF THEIR PRESIDENT -- MARKS THE PROGRESS IN THE STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. /// END OPT /// ... IT IS SATISFYING THAT THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE NOW IN THE DOCK. PRESIDENT GADDAFI DID NOT SUCCEED IN HIS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS WOULD SPARE HIM ALL HARMFUL DISCLOSURES. THE RIGORS OF SCOTTISH JUSTICE ENSURE THAT THAT A TRIAL WILL PENETRATE AT LEAST SOME PART OF THE DARK ENVELOPING THIS CASE. ... MUAMMAR GADDAFI'S REPUTATION AS A TERRORIST IS GOING TO REMAIN WITH THE PUBLIC NO MATTER HOW THE TRIAL COMES OUT. TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR WRITES IN ITS EDITORIAL ABOUT "WORKING WITH (COLONEL) QADDAFI." VOICE: (COLONEL) QADDAFI HAS, IN EFFECT, TAKEN A STEP THAT COULD REHABILITATE HIM IN THE EYES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. AFTER YEARS OF ISOLATION -- DURING WHICH HIS FIRE AS AN ARAB RADICAL AND SPONSOR OF TERRORISM SEEMED TO COOL -- HE HAS BARGAINED WITH WESTERN POWERS TO RESOLVE THIS LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE. TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM
FRIDAY'S U-S PRESS.
[27] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=4/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247866 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MIXED TODAY (FRIDAY) ALTHOUGH TWO OF THREE MAJOR AVERAGES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND 173, DOWN 23 POINTS. FOR THE WEEK, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 341 POINTS OR THREE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED FRIDAY AT A RECORD HIGH 13 HUNDRED 48, UP FOUR POINTS. THE NADSDAQ INDEX CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 25 HUNDRED 93, UP 19. THERE WAS GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE U-S INFLATION RATE. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT, DESPITE THE RECENT RISE IN OIL PRICES, OVERALL WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP A MODEST TWO-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT LAST MONTH. ///BEGIN OPT//////OPT///GOLDMAN ACT///WE HAVE A MARKET THAT IS DOMINATED BY A MOOD OF WANTING TO BUY AND HOLD, SELECTIVELY, STOCKS FOR THE LONG TERM. THAT IS THE FORMULA FOR CONTINUATION OF THIS BULL MARKET. ///END ACT///END OPT//////REST OPT///THE STOCK OF GLOBE DOT COM, AN INTERNET SITE PROVIDER, ROSE BY ALMOST 40 PERCENT AFTER THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WILL SPLIT ITS STOCK TWO-FOR-ONE. SUN HEALTHCARE, WHICH OPERATES 614 NURSING HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYS IT SUFFERED A QUARTERLY LOSS OF 762 MILLION DOLLARS. THE COMPANY SAYS A CHANGE IN THE FORMULA FOR GOVERNMENT RE-IMBURSEMENT OF NURSING HOMES IS HAVING A NEGATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY. THE STARWOOD HOTEL CORPORATION IS REPORTED IN NEGOTIATIONS TO
SELL ITS CAESARS CASINO HOTELS TO THE PARK PLACE COMPANY.
ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL COULD AMOUNT TO ALMOST THREE BILLION
DOLLARS. NEITHER COMPANY WOULD COMMENT ON THE REPORT.
ALMOST 10 THOUSAND WORKERS AT BELL CANADA, THAT NATION'S LARGEST
TELEPHONE COMPANY, HAVE GONE ON STRIKE. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS
ROUTINE TELEPHONE SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.(SIGNED)
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