Voice of America, 99-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA SCENESETTER (L-ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

[02] ALBANIA/KOSOVO (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

[03] TIRANA / REFUGEES (S AND L) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

[04] MACEDONIA/REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

[05] BELGRADE SITREP / SATURDAY (L-ONLY) BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)

[06] NATO-KOSOVO (S&L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[07] NATO AIRSTRIKES BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)

[08] NATO ATTACKS / SATURDAY (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[09] BRITAIN/RUSSIA (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[01] ALBANIA SCENESETTER (L-ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

TEXT: THE SERVICES AT TIRANA'S SMALL AIRPORT HAVE BEEN STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING POINT BY ALL THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVING AND DEPARTING ALONG WITH HORDES OF JOURNALISTS AND LARGE NUMBERS OF HUMANITARIAN WORKERS. AN ALBANIAN AIRWAYS DAILY FLIGHT FROM ATHENS , A VETERAN RUSSIAN BUILT COMMUTER JET, WAS FULL AND HAD TO CIRCLE TIRANA AIRPORT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR BECAUSE OF AIR TRAFFIC.

THERE WAS CONSTANT ACTIVITY BY MILITARY AND CILIVILAN PLANES. ONE REASON FOR THIS IS THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL HERE OF AMERICAN APACHE HELICOPTERS ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPORT HELICOPTERS, TANKS AND SOLDIERS, TWO THOUSAND SUPPORT TROOPS IN ALL.

ANOTHER EIGHT THOUSAND NATO SOLDIERS ARE TO DEPLOY IN ALBANIA TO HELP THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES.

THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE TRAVELLED FROM THE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA TO THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL. THEY ARE PUT UP IN SPORTS FACILITIES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

REFUGEE CHILDREN, THE WORST OF THEIR ORDEAL BEHIND THEM, LOOK OUT FROM THE ORNATE FENCE AROUND ONE OF THE REFUGEE CENTERS. MANY ALBANIANS HAVE TAKEN THE REFUGEES INTO THEIR OWN HOMES. SOME ARE SHELTERING FOUR, SIX OR A DOZEN. IT IS A BIG REASON THAT THE REFUGEES HERE DON'T HAVE THAT ALL TOO FAMILIAR LOST, DESPERATE LOOK.

ALTHOUGH IT IS CROWDED HERE IN TIRANA, THERE IS LITTLE SENSE THAT A SHOOTING WAR IS GOING ON A SHORT DISTANT AWAY. IN ALBANIA'S BORDER TOWNS, VISITORS SAY IT IS QUITE ANOTHER STORY. (SIGNED)
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09-Apr-99 8:30 PM EDT (0030 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] ALBANIA/KOSOVO (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

INTRO: ALBANIA NOW HAS CLOSE TO 300-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO, WHERE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE CONDUCTED OPERATIONS DESIGNED, ACCORDING TO NATO, TO DRIVE THE MAJORITY ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN TIRANA, ALBANIA, AND HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO AID THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES. THE TINY AIRPORT OF TIRANA IS ALREADY CLOGGED WITH TRAFFIC AND EVEN MORE PLANE ARRIVALS ARE EXPECTED.

NATO IS PLANNING TO BUILD TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR MANY OF THE REFUGEES. OTHER KOSOVARS HAVE FOUND SHELTER IN PRIVATE HOMES AS THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE THEM IN.

ABOUT HALF OF THE ALMOST 300-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER HAVE BEEN DISPERSED TO OTHER REGIONS OF ALBANIA. MOST OF THEM ARE NOT BEING SENT ON TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

ILIR META IS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT'S CRISIS MANAGEMENT OFFICE. HE SAYS ALBANIA HAS WELCOMED THE REFUGEES AND HAS NOT ENCOURAGED THEIR SETTLEMENT IN THIRD COUNTRIES BECAUSE IT WANTS THEM TO GO HOME, TO KOSOVO.

MR. META ALSO SAYS ALBANIA FEARS IF THE REFUGEES WERE SETTLED ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE OR IN AMERICA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MIGHT FORGET THEM, AND LESSEN ITS COMMITMENT. HE CALLED THE MASSIVE PRESENCES OF KOSOVARS IN ALBANIA AN APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO PROBLEMS AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR THE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME.

THE ALBANIAN REJECTED THE PROSPECT THAT A CREATION OF A GREATER ALBANIA IS A GOAL. HE CALLED THE CONCEPT OF STATES BASED ON ETHNICITY "PRIMITIVE" AND SAID NATIONAL BORDERS IN THE BALKANS WILL BECOME LESS IMPORTANT IF THERE IS PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION AND AN END TO WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS "THE CRIMINAL WAR MACHINERY OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC." (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 12:03 PM EDT (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TIRANA / REFUGEES (S AND L) BY GIL BUTLER (TIRANA)

INTRO: MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS GOT OUT OF KOSOVO LATE FRIDAY, THE FIRST SINCE SERBIAN FORCES ABRUPTLY CLOSED THE BORDERS ON WEDNESDAY. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN TIRANA, THE CAPITAL OF ALBANIA, WHICH HAS RECEIVED ALMOST 300 THOUSAND REFUGEES. HE VISITED REFUGEES WHO HAVE TAKEN SHELTER WITH A LOCAL FAMILY AND FILED THIS REPORT.

TEXT: SIXTY-TWO YEAR OLD BARDYL DRANOVA IS A RETIRED ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN. HE AND HIS WIFE LIVE IN A MODEST APARTMENT IN TIRANA. LIKE MANY ALBANIANS HERE, WHEN THE REFUGEE INFLUX BEGAN THEY VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE SOME TO LIVE WITH THEM. ABOUT HALF OF THE 300 THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN ALBANIA HAVE DISPERSED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AFTER CROSSING THE BORDER.

MR. DRANOVA WENT TO THE SPORTS PALACE WHERE MANY OF THE REFUGEES ARE SHELTERED TO OFFER HIS APARTMENT. THERE HE FOUND TWO FAMILIES WHO ARE RELATED TO HIM...THE BROVINA'S AND THE BAKALLI'S. NOW, THE DRANOVA APARTMENT HAS EIGHT MORE RESIDENTS.

THEY TELL A STORY THAT HAS BECOME FAMILIAR SINCE THE EXODUS BEGAN--LOSING EVERYTHING TO SERB POLICE.

HE SAYS THE BROVINA FAMILY HAS LIVED IN DJAKOVA, KOSOVO FOR MANY GENERATIONS AND, LIKE OTHER REFUGEES HERE, HE HOPES SOON TO GO BACK TO KOSOVO.

AS WE TALK IN THE CLEAN AND ORDERLY LIVING ROOM OF THE DRANOVA FAMILY, A YOUNG GIRL SITS ON HER MOTHER'S LAP, LOOKING WIDE EYED AT NOTHING. ANOTHER CHILD BREAKS INTO TEARS AS SHE LISTENS TO THE ADULTS TELL ABOUT THE ORDEAL.

THEY ARE NOT FEELING VERY WELL. THEY HAVE NIGHTMARES DURING THE NIGHT BECAUSE THE RECALL ALL THEY HEARD AND SAW ON THE WAY TO ALBANIA. (ALBANIAN UP THEN UNDER)

ERMIA BAKALLI, WHO WAS A SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT UNTIL THE VIOLENCE BEGAN, BREAKS DOWN AS SHE DESCRIBES THE FEAR SHE FELT DURING THE JOURNEY TO ALBANIA.

THE BROVINA'S AND THE BAKALLI'S INSIST STRONGLY THAT THE NATO AIR WAR CONTINUE. AND THEY BECOME EVEN MORE EMOTIONAL WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND SERBS IN GENERAL. THEY SAY, AFTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN LIVE SIDE BY SIDE WITH SERBS WHEN THEY DO RETURN TO KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 3:23 PM EDT (1923 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MACEDONIA/REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS WILL SOON HAND OVER CONTROL OF SEVERAL KOSOVAR REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. INSIDE THE CAMPS, REFUGEES ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND LOST FAMILY MEMBERS AND SAY THEY DO NOT WANT NATO TO GO. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM SKPOJE, MACEDONIA.

TEXT: NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE BRAZHDA REFUGEE CAMP, NATO TROOPS HAVE SET UP TENTS FOR "SPECIAL CASE" REFUGEES. ONE OF THOSE REFUGEES IS JAHONA ALIU (YE 'HO NA AL 'YOO). SHE IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HER PARENTS ARE. JAHONA IS A TINY GIRL WITH A PIXIE HAIRCUT. SHE WEARS A PINK JUMPER AND LITTLE WHITE SNEAKERS. SHE IS SHY ABOUT TALKING, BUT DESCRIBES HER MOTHER.

MY MOTHER HAD LONG, DARK HAIR BUT THEN SHE CUT IT, SAYS JAHONA AND THEN SHE ADDS: NOW SHE HAS SHORT, CURLY HAIR.

JAHONA WAS FOUND A WEEK AGO IN BLACE, THE NO-MANS LAND BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND KOSOVO. SHE SAYS SHE STEPPED BEHIND A BUSH -- WHEN SHE CAME OUT, HER PARENTS WERE GONE. HER ONLY POSSESSION AT THE TIME WAS A PLASTIC BAG FILLED WITH DIAPERS. NOW NATO TROOPS ARE WATCHING OVER HER AND HER NEW SURROGATE MOTHER, JELANA GODACI (JEHLANAH GODATSI), A YOUNG ALBANIAN ACTRESS WHO FLED KOSOVO LIKE THE REST.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN HOW SHE CAME HERE. SHE SAYS SOME MAN TAKE HER, AND AFTER THAT, HAND BY HAND, MAYBE SOMEONE PUT HER IN A BUS, WHO KNOWS? I SLEEP WITH HER, I CARE ABOUT HER, I TELL STORIES TO HER, I'M TRYING TO DO SOME PERFORMANCES FOR HER TO MAKE HER ENJOY HERE. I'M TRYING TO BE LIKE HER MOTHER, MAYBE.

THE TWO PLAY GAMES AND SING SONGS ABOUT KOSOVO. JAHONA'S FAVORITE TOY IS A MONKEY PUPPET THE NATO SOLDIERS GAVE HER.

HER SURROGATE MOTHER IS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THIS CAMP WHO KNOWS THAT MOST OF THE NATO SOLDIERS WILL BE LEAVING THE CAMP BY TUESDAY. MS. GODACI SAYS SHE DOES NOT WANT THEM TO GO.

NATO SOLDIERS SAY MS. GODACI WILL ALSO LEAVE THE CAMP SOON AND FLY TO TURKEY. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR A SECOND SURROGATE MOTHER FOR JAHONA -- UNLESS BY SOME MIRACLE SHE IS REUNITED WITH HER TRUE PARENTS. (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 11:42 AM EDT (1542 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] BELGRADE SITREP / SATURDAY (L-ONLY) BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS URGED HIS COUNTRYMEN TO WORK HARDER AS THE BEST WAY TO DEFEAT NATO. AS SERBS PREPARE TO CELEBRATE ORTHODOX EASTER, THE YUGOSLAV ARMY HAS CALLED ON THE NATION'S CHURCHES TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE WESTERN ALLIANCE. GUY DINMORE REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC APPLAUDED WHAT HE CALLED THE HEROIC STAND OF THE COUNTRY AND TOLD HIS GOVERNMENT SATURDAY TO DRAW UP AN AID PROGRAM FOR WORKERS MADE JOBLESS BY NATO AIR STRIKES. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SAID THE BEST WAY TO RESIST NATO'S AGGRESSION WAS FOR EVERYONE TO WORK HARDER AND BETTER.

THE NATION, MR. MILOSEVIC SAID, COULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT HE CALLED AVERAGE PEACETIME RESULTS OF WORK. EIGHTEEN DAYS OF NATO AIR STRIKES HAVE INFLICTED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE ON YUGOSLAVIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, DESTROYING BRIDGES, ROADS, RAILWAYS AND FACTORIES.

COMMENTATORS IN BELGRADE SAID PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S STATEMENT COULD REFLECT A GRADUAL CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC MOOD, WHICH BEGAN TWO WEEKS AGO WITH AN OUTPOURING OF DEFIANCE AND OUTRAGE BUT HAS SLOWLY GROWN MORE SOMBER AS NATO'S AIR STRIKES HAVE INTENSIFIED.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HELP CAR WORKERS IN KRAGUJEVAC WHOSE FACTORY WAS MOSTLY DESTROYED EARLY FRIDAY, AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES OF THE SLOBODA HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES FACTORY THAT WAS DEVASTATED IN CACAK. BUT ECONOMISTS NOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS LIMITED RESOURCES AND IS AFRAID OF TRIGGERING HYPERINFLATION IF IT REPEATS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MID-1990S BY PRINTING MONEY.

IN AN INDICATION OF HOW DESPERATE THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IS BECOMING, ONE SOUTHERN TOWN, PIROT, IS PREPARING TO ISSUE RATION COUPONS FOR FLOUR, SUGAR AND OIL. MEANWHILE, GENERAL DRAGOLJUB OJDANIC, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY, URGED THE ORTHODOX CHURCH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATION'S UNITY IN THE FACE OF THE NATO ATTACK. IN A STATEMENT MARKING ORTHODOX EASTER, WHICH FALLS SUNDAY, THE GENERAL SAID THE ARMY EXPECTED THE CHURCH TO PLAY A STRONG ROLE.

IN BELGRADE'S MAIN SQUARE ICONS, CANDLES AND PRAYERS REPLACED THE DAILY DIET OF ANTI-NATO ROCK CONCERTS. BUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT AIR RAID SIRENS SOUNDED ONCE MORE, SENDING RESIDENTS DOWN INTO BASEMENTS AND SHELTERS. (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 3:43 PM EDT (1943 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO-KOSOVO (S&L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: BAD WEATHER OVER YUGOSLAVIA FORCED NATO TO CANCEL THREE OF THE FOUR WAVES OF AIR STRIKES IT PLANNED FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS THAT THERE ARE OTHER OBSTACLES FACING NATO AIR STRIKES.

TEXT: NATO SAYS YUGOSLAV TANKS IN KOSOVO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE COVER BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PREVIOUS AIR STRIKES. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF BUCANE VILLAGE IN WESTERN KOSOVO SHOWS THREE ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND TWO TANKS PARKED NEXT TO CIVILIAN BUILDINGS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR NATO TO SAFELY TARGET THE YUGOSLAV ARMOR.

NATO HAS SHOWN REPORTERS ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WESTERN KOSOVO VILLAGE OF PRILEP. MILITARY SPOKESMAN KONRAD FREYTAG DESCRIBES IT.

WHAT WE SEE FROM THAT AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IS BLOWN UP ROOFS AND ARTILLERY SHELLS WHICH HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE.

NATO DISPLAYS THIS PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE AS COLONEL FREYTAG PUTS IT, "WE WERE NOT STRIKING THAT VILLAGE." NATO ACCUSES THE SERBS OF USING THE SAME TACTICS THEY USED IN BOSNIA, BLASTING HOUSES TO PREVENT THE RETURN OF THEIR MUSLIM POPULATION.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY HAS HELPED NATO TO LOCATE AREAS OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS WHO ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES. AN ESTIMATED 80 TO 100 THOUSAND ARE IN NORTHERN KOSOVO AROUND PODUJEVO, 70 THOUSAND IN THE SOUTH NEAR MALISEVO AND 60 THOUSAND NEAR THE REGIONAL CAPITAL OF PRISTINA.

NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS NATO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE INSIDE KOSOVO.

NATO GOVERNMENTS CALCULATE THAT ABOUT 200 VILLAGES, TOWNS, CITIES IN KOSOVO HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. SO THAT SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF ACCOMMODATION OR SHELTER FOR THE 200 THOUSAND OR SO PEOPLE THAT WE BELIEVE ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED INSIDE KOSOVO. THEY ARE MOVING AROUND, THAT'S CLEAR, TRYING TO FIND SHELTER, TRYING TO FIND FOOD BUT WE NEED TO ANSWER THREE URGENT QUESTIONS, "WHERE ARE THEY? DO THEY HAVE ANY FOOD OR SHELTER? AND ARE THEY PRISONERS WITHIN THEIR OWN COUNTRY?

YUGOSLAVIA REVERSED POLICY, CLOSED ITS BORDER AND TOLD THOUSANDS OF KOSOVO ALBANIANS WAITING TO CROSS THE BORDER TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES. NATO HAS SAID THEY WOULD BE BETTER CARED FOR IN MACEDONIA OR ALBANIA WHERE REFUGEE CAMPS ARE PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM. IN KOSOVO, THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN BLOWN UP AND FOOD SUPPLIES ARE UNCERTAIN. (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 12:06 PM EDT (1606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] NATO AIRSTRIKES BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)

INTRO: THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE Q&A CONDUCTED BY V-O-A EDITOR VICTOR BEATTIE IN WASHINGTON WITH "FINANCIAL TIMES" CORRESPONDENT GUY DINMORE IN BELGRADE AT 3:00 AM, EDT , 4/10. THE SUBJECT OF THE Q&A IS THE MOST RECENT NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WHICH TOOK PLACE FRIDAY NIGHT (4/9) AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING (4/10) (YUGOSLAVIA TIME). BEATTIE: GUY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US OF THE MOST RECENT OVERNIGHT ATTACKS, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT DID NOT JUST INVOLVE NATO AIRPLANES BUT ALSO SHIP-FIRED CRUISE MISSILES. DINMORE: WELL, IN BELGRADE WE HEARD SEVERAL PLANES OVERHEAD JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT, THERE WAS ALOT OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE FROM THE WEST OF THE CITY, WE JUST SAW FLASHES IN THE SKY WHICH WAS QUITE CLOUDY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR NATO. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS TO THE SOUTH, WEST AND EAST OF BELGRADE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE JETS OR THE MISSILES. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE TARGETS WERE. BUT IT APPEARS THAT CENTRAL BELGRADE ITSELF ESCAPED DAMAGE. ALSO IN THE NORTHERN TOWN OF NOVI SAD, THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING STRIKES THERE. BUT NONE OF THIS DETERRED PEOPLE IN BELGRADE. THERE WERE LARGE CROWDS ONCE AGAIN OUT ON THE BRIDGES USING THEMSELVES AS HUMAN SHIELDS TO DETER NATO ATTACK. THEY WERE ALSO OUTSIDE THE RADIO-TELEVISION STATION OF SERBIA IN CENTRAL BELGRADE AND ON BRIDGES ACROSS THE DANUBE IN NOVI SAD. BEATTIE: YOU MENTIONED THAT THE WEATHER MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM LAST NIGHT, IS IT STILL OVERCAST AND RAINY THERE TODAY? DINMORE: YES, IN BELGRADE IT IS QUITE MISTY, VERY LOW CLOUDS, BIT OF RAIN , VERY GOOD NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE. PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THE WEATHER FORCAST ON STATE TELEVISION QUITE CLOSELY THESE DAYS. BEATTIE: I GUESS THE ALL CLEAR WAS GIVEN BY AIR RAID SIRENS ACROSS THE CITY SEVERAL HOURS AGO, ANY FURTHER ACTIVITY OR PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND? DINMORE: YES, LIFE IS SETTLING INTO A NORMAL ROUTINE. OF COURSE THIS WEEKEND IS EASTER (ORTHODOX FAITH) , SO THERE IS A LOT OF PREPARATIONS WITH FAMILY VISITS, BIG DINNERS, PEOPLE WILL CERTAINLY BE GOING TO CHURCH IN LARGE NUMBERS TOMORROW. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL WEEKEND AND THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SENSE OF OUTRAGE THAT NATO IS BOMBING THEIR COUNTRY ON THIS MOST IMPROTANT RELIGIOUS DATE ON THEIR CALENDAR. BEATTIE: THIS IS, AS YOU HAVE INDICATED , RATHER STRICTLY OBSERVED BY MANY SERBS, THIS RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY. DINMORE: THATS RIGHT, YES IT IS. I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THIS IS COUNTRY WHERE HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REGULARLY GO TO CHURCH BUT THE RELIGION IS THE UNDERPINNING OF SERBIAN IDENTITY, ITS WHERE THEIR "SERBNESS" COMES FROM IF YOU LIKE, ITS A VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION INDEED. BEATTIE: IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THE CHRCH WILL USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE NATO ATTACKS? DINMORE: WELL THE PATRIARCH OF THE CHURCH MAY WELL APPEAR AND MAKE A STATEMENT, HE IS A VERY OLD MAN , VERY RESPECTED, RECENTLY HE WAS TOURING THE BALKANS JUST BEFORE THESE AIR STRIKES BEGAN IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING ABOUT SOME PEACE BETWEEN THE FORMER REPUBLICS OF YUGOSLAVIA. HE HAS MADE STATEMENTS CONDEMNING NATO FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING. BUT ALSO INTERESTINGLY, THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH WANTS TO PROMOTE PEACE BETWEEN PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND RELIGIONS WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA. SO THERE NOT JUST AN ANTI-NATO PROPAGANDA WEAPON BY ANY MEANS. BEATTIE: WE HAVE HAD REPORTS THAT SOME REPORTERS HAVE BEEN HARASSED , HAVE YOU NOTICED AMONG YOUR FELLOW JOURNALISTS A RELATIVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT? DINMORE: NO , I WOULDN'T SAY WE HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. THE GROUND RULES APPLYING TO JOURNALISTS, IMPOSED BY THE ARMY, ARE NOT TOTALLY CLEAR. WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO, IS IF WE WANT TO MOVE AROUND WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED OR BEING DEPORTED , WE HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE ARMY, WHEREVER WE WANT TO GO OUTSIDE BELGRADE. AND QUITE OFTEN THAT PERMISSION IS FORTHCOMING BUT SOMETIMES IT ISN'T. SO, WE ARE RESTRICTED IN OUR MOVEMENTS , BUT WE ARE NOT CENSORED IN WHAT WE WRITE , BUT TELEVISION CREWS ARE HAVING THEIR FOOTAGE CENSORED BEFORE IT IS BROADCAST. BEATTIE: ARE YOU JOURNALISTS ALLOWED TO GO INTO KOSOVO AT ALL? DINMORE: AH, NOT REALLY. THERE WAS ONE BUSLOAD OF JOURNALISTS TAKEN DOWN THREE DAYS AGO TO SEE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY NATO AIRSTRIKES ON THE CENTER OF PRISTINA. BUT OTHER JORNALISTS WHO WERE NOT ON THAT BUS AND ASKED TO GO, WERE REFUSED PERMISSION TO GO DOWN SINCE. GENERALLY THE REPLY IS THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR US TO GO. BEATTIE: THAT WILL ABOUT DO IT......WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FILING LATER TODAY. THANK YOU.
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10-Apr-99 6:42 AM EDT (1042 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] NATO ATTACKS / SATURDAY (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THERE ARE NEW REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS, ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND BRIGHT FLASHES IN YUGOSLAVIA, THE RESULT OF APPARENT NATO AIRSTRIKES. U-S OFFICIALS WON'T CONFIRM DETAILS OF THE ATTACKS, BUT SAY THE AIR OPERATIONS ARE "CONTINUOUS AND SUSTAINED." V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY ANOTHER 82 U-S AIRCRAFT WILL SOON BE ON THE WAY TO JOIN THE AIR ARMADA POUNDING SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS WASHINGTON HAS ORDERED SCORES OF NEW PLANES TO JOIN THE 600 NATO AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN "OPERATION ALLIED FORCE."

THE ADDITION OF THESE AIRCRAFT WILL ALLOW US TO DO TWO THINGS, EXPAND THE NUMBER OF STRIKES OVER ANY 24-HOUR-A-DAY PERIOD, AND TWO, GIVE US MORE 'DEEP STRIKE' CAPACITY, AS NECESSARY. IT WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF THE AIR CAMPAIGN OVER KOSOVO AND YUGOSLAVIA.

ABOUT HALF OF THE NEW PLANES ARE TANKERS THAT CAN REFUEL FIGHTERS AND OTHER PLANES IN FLIGHT.

FOUR OF THE NEW PLANES ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO DESTROY ARMORED TANKS. OTHERS ARE EQUIPPED TO FOOL OR DESTROY AIR DEFENSES.

MR. BACON SAYS WITHIN A FEW DAYS, OTHER NATO ALLIES WILL ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE SENDING "DOZENS" OF ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT INTO THE FIGHT. IN FACT, BRITAIN ANNOUNCED SATURDAY NIGHT IT IS SENDING THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "INVINCIBLE" TO THE ADRIATIC. THE SHIP CAN CARRY UP TO 24 AIRCRAFT.

MR. BACON SAYS NATO BOMBS HAVE BATTERED YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSES SO ALLIANCE PLANES CAN FLY WHERE AND WHEN THEY WANT WITH MINIMUM RISK. BUT U-S OFFICIALS WILL NOT SAY HOW MANY SERB TANKS HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE EFFORT TO STOP ATTACKS ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. MEANTIME, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY SOME REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING CONGRESSWOMAN HEATHER WILSON OF NEW MEXICO.

IN SATURDAY'S REPUBLICAN RADIO ADDRESS, SHE SAID MR. CLINTON SHOULD GIVE THE NATION A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE SITUATION IN THE BALKANS, AND EXPLAIN WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO RISK THE LIVES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN THERE.

THUS FAR, OUR STRATEGY IN KOSOVO HAS FAILED TO ACHIEVE OUR POLITICAL OBJECTIVES. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SERBS TO SIGN THE PEACE TREATY. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT CAUSED IT, WE HAVE CERTAINLY ACCELERATED A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN THE BALKANS.

REPRESENTATIVE WILSON, A FORMER MILITARY OFFICER WHO GRADUATED FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, SAYS AIR POWER ALONE CANNOT STOP A DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGN OF REPRESSION.

IN RECENT POLLS, MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN -- AND SENDING GROUND TROOPS TO ATTACK KOSOVO, IF NECESSARY.

POLLSTER JOHN ZOGBY SAYS RESPONDENTS ARE MOVED BY PICTURES OF SUFFERING REFUGEES AND REPORTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND REPRESSION BY SERB FORCES. (SIGNED)
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10-Apr-99 5:52 PM EDT (2152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] BRITAIN/RUSSIA (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV HAS ASSURED BRITAIN HIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO GET INVOLVED IN THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT WILL MEET WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV NEXT TUESDAY TO HEAR THOSE ASSURANCES FIRST-HAND.

TEXT: ARMED FORCES MINISTER DOUG HENDERSON SAYS MR IVANOV ASSURED FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK IN A 45 MINUTE PHONE CALL THAT RUSSIA IS STAYING OUT OF THE CONFLICT.

THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS BEEN ASSURED BY MR IVANOV THAT RUSSIA HAS NO INTENTION OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT AND HE HAS ALSO RECEIVED AN ASSURANCE THAT RUSSIA HAS NO WISH TO SEE ANY ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT.

THE WORDS OF ASSURANCE COME AFTER A DAY OF CONFUSING SIGNALS FROM THE KREMLIN ABOUT ITS MILITARY INTENTIONS. BY LATE AFTERNOON, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS OFFICIALLY DENIED EARLIER STATEMENTS THAT RUSSIAN MISSILES WERE REPOSITIONED TO TARGET NATO STATES IN EUROPE.

WHAT WE'RE NOW LOOKING TO DO IS TO ORGANIZE AN ORDERLY TRANSITION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND RUNNING OF THE CENTERS TO THE VARIOUS N-G-O'S (NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS) UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE U-N-H-C-R (U-N REFUGEE AGENCY).

GENERAL JACKSON SAYS HIS TROOPS NEED TO BE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT. NATO ALLIES HAVE CONTINUED TO RULE OUT THE USE OF GROUND FORCES TO PUSH THE SERB MILITARY OUT OF KOSOVO. THE NATO TROOPS BASED IN MACEDONIA ARE EXPECTED TO HELP IMPLEMENT ANY PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO THAT ALSO GUARANTEES THE SAFE RETURN OF KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/DW/GE
10-Apr-99 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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