Voice of America, 99-04-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO WRAP / THURSDAY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

[02] NATO-BULGARIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[03] YUGOSLAVIA VS. NATO BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[04] ALBANIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

[05] MACEDONIA REFUGEES BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BRAZDA, MACEDONIA)

[06] UNHCR KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[07] REFUGEES/TRAUMA BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BRAZDA, MACEDONIA)

[08] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[09] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L-WRAP) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[10] CLINTON-CONGRESS-KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)

[11] CLINTON KOSOVO (S-L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)

[12] JACKSON / YUGOSLAVIA (L-O) BYLINE=MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

[13] KOSOVO PENTAGON - L BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[14] NATO / KOSOVO (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[15] RUSSIA / ANNAN (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[16] RUSSIA / CHERNOMYRDIN (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[17] U-N / ANNAN / MOSCOW (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[18] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[19] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO WRAP / THURSDAY BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO IS INTENSIFYING ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AS MOSCOW ATTEMPTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REVIEWS THURSDAY'S MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BALKAN WAR.

TEXT: NATO BEGAN ITS SIXTH WEEK OF AIR BOMBARDMENTS AGAINST YUGOSLAV MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO WITH NO SIGNS THE CAMPAIGN WILL END ANYTIME SOON.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE TARGETS CONTINUE TO BE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS, FUEL DEPOTS, LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS -- INCLUDING BRIDGES -- AS WELL AS TANKS, HELICOPTERS AND SERB MILITARY FORCES.

SENIOR NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA CONFIRMED THAT AN ERRANT MISSILE FIRED FROM A NATO PLANE STRUCK A HOUSE NEAR THE BULGARIAN CAPITAL SOFIA -- ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS FROM THE YUGOSLAV BORDER.

A MISSILE WAS FIRED IN SELF DEFENSE, IN RESPONSE TO THIS THREAT FROM A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE. NATO COMMANDERS ARE REVIEWING THIS INCIDENT AND THEY WILL CONSIDER WAYS TO MINIMIZE FURTHER THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH EVENTS IN THE FUTURE.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE INCIDENT, BUT THE BULGARIAN NEWS AGENCY SAYS SOFIA WILL SEEK COMPENSATION.

WHILE NATO IS INTENSIFYING ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS -- AND THOSE EFFORTS CENTER AROUND RUSSIA.

SPECIAL RUSSIAN BALKAN EMISSARY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN MET IN BONN WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER. IN MOSCOW, U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HELD TALKS WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV. NO BREAKTHROUGHS WERE ANNOUNCED IN EITHER BONN OR MOSCOW.

AND IN BRUSSELS, U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT BRIEFED NATO OFFICIALS ON HIS RECENT TALKS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. HE TOLD REPORTERS MOSCOW HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN FINDING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO.

THE RUSSIANS HAVE SOME TOUGH CHOICES TO MAKE. THERE ARE VERY HIGH STAKES INVOLVED HERE FOR EVERYONE CONCERNED. WE WANT RUSSIA TO BE PART OF A SOLUTION THAT IN TURN MEETS WHAT WE SEE ARE THE IRREDUCIBLE REQUIREMENTS FOR PEACE.

THESE INCLUDE THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERB TROOPS FROM KOSOVO, THE SENDING OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES. MEANWHILE, YUGOSLAVIA HAS FILED A SUIT IN THE WORLD COURT IN THE HAGUE DEMANDING A HALT TO NATO BOMBINGS.

THE SUIT ASKS THE COURT TO DECLARE NATO AIR STRIKES A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TO HOLD AN EMERGENCY HEARING ON THE MATTER.

IN WASHINGTON, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN DISMISSED THE SUIT.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE PAPERS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, REGARD ANY SUCH SUIT AS AN ABSURDITY AND AN OBVIOUS EFFORT TO DIVERT ATTENTION ON ATROCITIES AND OTHER OUTRAGEOUS ACTIVITIES BEING PERPETRATED BY THE REGIME IN KOSOVO -- A REGIME WHICH HAS REPEATEDLY REJECTED ALL EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS CRISIS PEACEFULLY.

MR. RUBIN SAID ONCE THE UNITED STATES RECEIVES THE COURT PAPERS, WASHINGTON WILL DEFEND ITSELF VIGOROUSLY AGAINST WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS YUGOSLAVIA'S FRIVOLOUS COURT FILING. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PHW/JO
29-Apr-99 3:45 PM EDT (1945 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO-BULGARIA (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS CONFIRMED THAT ONE OF ITS MISSILES LANDED IN THE OUTLYING AREAS OF BULGARIA'S CAPITAL, SOFIA. VOA'S RON PEMSTEIN HAS MORE FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE ANTI-RADAR MISSILE KNOWN AS "HARM" WAS FIRED IN RESPONSE TO A YUGOSLAV ATTEMPT TO LOCK ON TO A NATO AIRCRAFT. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE MISSILE WENT OFF COURSE.

A MISSILE WAS FIRED IN SELF-DEFENSE IN RESPONSE TO THIS THREAT FROM A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE. AFTER THE GROUND RADAR WAS TURNED OFF, THE MISSILE STRAYED FROM ITS TARGET AND UNINTENTIONALLY LANDED IN BULGARIA.

MR. SHEA COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY EXPLAIN WHY THE MISSILE LANDED 50 KILOMETERS FROM THE YUGOSLAV BORDER, OR IF THE NATO AIRCRAFT VIOLATED BULGARIAN AIR SPACE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE FROM YUGOSLAVIA. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT NATO SAYS IT WILL ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE FUTURE INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS IN BULGARIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF/KL
29-Apr-99 8:18 AM EDT (1218 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] YUGOSLAVIA VS. NATO BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: YUGOSLAVIA HAS TAKEN 10 NATO COUNTRIES TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE TO GET THEM TO STOP AIRSTRIKES WHICH YUGOSLAVIA SAYS ARE ILLEGAL. LAUREN COMITEAU HAS MORE FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: YUGOSLAVIA SAYS NATO'S FIVE-WEEK BOMBING CAMPAIGN IS A CASE OF BRUTAL ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST A SOVEREIGN STATE -- ONE THAT VIOLATES THE U-N CHARTER AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.

ON THURSDAY, IT ASKED THE U-N'S HIGHEST JUDICIAL BODY TO RULE ON THOSE VIOLATIONS -- AND TO ORDER AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE BOMBING WHILE THE CASE IS BEING CONSIDERED. YUGOSLAVIA SAYS NATO HAS BREACHED CONVENTIONS BANNING THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST ANOTHER COUNTRY, HAS INTERFERED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY'S INTERNAL AFFAIR, AND THEY'RE CALLING FOR REPARATIONS FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE ATTACKS.

THE UNITED STATES IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT. AN U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HERE CALLED YUGOSLAVIA'S MOVE A CYNICAL, ABSURD, AND OBVIOUS ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE REAL ISSUE: THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED IN KOSOVO.

WHILE THE OFFICIAL SAYS HE HAS YET TO SEE THE DETAILS OF THE LAWSUIT, HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS READY TO COME OUT WITH ITS LEGAL GUNS BLAZING. YUGOSLAVIA RECOGNIZED THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT JUST THIS WEEK -- A JURISDICTION IT FOUGHT WHEN BOSNIA SUED YUGOSLAVIA FOR GENOCIDE COMMITTED DURING THE BOSNIAN WAR. THAT CASE IS STILL ON-GOING.

BUT IF THIS CASE GETS BEFORE THE WORLD COURT'S 15 JUDGES, THE UNITED STATES AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES BEING SUED WILL FIRST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE COURT'S JURISDICTION BEFORE THE ACTUAL CASE CAN PROCEED ON THE MERITS. THAT'S A PROCESS THAT COULD TAKE YEARS.

ONLY SOME 62 COUNTRIES GIVE BLANKET JURISDICTION TO THE WORLD COURT. THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONE OF THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/JO
29-Apr-99 3:31 PM EDT (1931 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] ALBANIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

INTRO: SEVERAL THOUSAND KOSOVO ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED IN ALBANIA TELLING OF NEW SERBIAN ATROCITIES. FROM TIRANA, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS REFUGEE AGENCIES ARE STRETCHED TO CAPACITY AS THEY TRY TO COPE WITH THE FLOOD OF NEW ARRIVALS.

TEXT:

SEVEN-MONTH-OLD ALTINA IS ONE OF 15 PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO A PLASTIC-SHEETED TENT IN ONE OF THE SCORES OF REFUGEE CAMPS THAT DOT THE ALBANIAN COUNTRYSIDE.

ALTINA'S MOTHER -- 29-YEAR OLD DUDIA KURTICE -- TRIES TO COMFORT HER LITTLE GIRL IN A WOODEN ROCKER PROVIDED BY A LOCAL HUMANITARIAN GROUP. SHE SAYS LIFE IN THE CAMPS IS A MATTER OF SURVIVING, DAY BY DAY.

BUT SHE ADMITS HER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE IT BETTER THAN MOST. THEY GOT OUT OF KOSOVO SAFELY. UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SPOKESWOMAN ARIANA QUINTIER SAYS A NEW WAVE OF REFUGEES HAS ARRIVED IN NORTHERN ALBANIA, WITH STORIES OF NEW ATROCITIES BY SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO.

MOST OF THEM CAME FROM DJAKOVICE. MOST OF THEM CAME BY CAR, BUT A GROUP CAME BY FOOT. THEY'RE ALL DOWN IN KUKES RIGHT NOW.

U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS SAY STORIES THE REFUGEES ARE TELLING SUGGEST BETWEEN 100 AND 200 MEN WERE ROUNDED UP AND SHOT THIS WEEK NEAR DJAKOVICE -- THE LARGEST TOWN IN SOUTHERN KOSOVO. THEY SAY, IF IT IS TRUE, IT WOULD BE RANK AMONG THE WORST MASSACRES SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN. THERE IS NO WAY TO CONFIRM THE REPORTS, BECAUSE YUGOSLAVIA HAS BARRED ACCESS TO KOSOVO.

BUT MICHEL MAISONNEUVE -- A CANADIAN ARMY GENERAL WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE'S KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION -- SAYS INTERVIEWS WITH HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES ARE REVEALING A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF TERROR.

THE PICTURE THAT DEVELOPING IN OUR MIND IS ONE OF LAWLESSNESS, ONE WHERE THE SECURITY FORCES ARE TARGETING CERTAIN PEOPLE. THEY ARE TRYING TO TERRORIZE THE LOCAL POPULATION... THE PICTURE IS ONE OF A PEOPLE BEING SPECIFICALLY TARGETED BY THE SECURITY FORCES.

IM NOT A LAWYER, BUT I'M TOLD BY LAWYERS THAT GENOCIDE IS THE PROPER WORD TO USE IN THIS CASE. AND GENOCIDE CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A HOLOCAUST TO FORCIBLE EXPULSION OF PEOPLE.

A WESTERN DIPLOMAT THURSDAY CONFIRMED REPORTS OF AN INCREASE IN WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS "SERBIAN PROVOCATIONS ALONG THE BORDER." THE DIPLOMAT -- WHO SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY -- SAID AN ESTIMATED SIX THOUSAND KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY TROOPS ARE ALSO BECOMING INCREASINGLY ACTIVE, AS THE U-S ARMY'S APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS GET READY TO MOVE INTO THE FRAY.

THE DIPLOMAT SAYS IT APPEARS BOTH NATO AND SERB FORCES GROSSLY UNDERESTIMATED EACH OTHER EARLY IN THE CONFLICT. "NOW," HE SAYS "IT'S STARTING TO GET PAINFUL", AS THE ALLIANCE BEGINS TO HIT HARDER AND DEEPER AT SERBIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
29-Apr-99 4:22 AM EDT (0822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] MACEDONIA REFUGEES BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BRAZDA, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA ARE LINING UP FOR FLIGHTS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS CONDITIONS IN OVERCROWDED CAMPS WORSEN. SOME 30 COUNTRIES HAVE SO FAR OFFERED TO TAKE THEM IN. ON WEDNESDAY, 18-HUNDRED REFUGEES LEFT FOR OTHER EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE REFUGEE CAMP IN BRAZDA THAT MORE FLIGHTS ARE BEING ADDED EVERY DAY.

TEXT: /// SOUND OF NAMES BEING CALLED OUT -- ESTABLISH AND UNDER

AS THEIR NAMES ARE CALLED, THE POTERA FAMILY OF 15 PICK UP THEIR FEW BELONGINGS AND STEP ONTO THE BUS THAT WILL TAKE THEM TO THE AIRPORT AND A FLIGHT TO BELGIUM. WHILE THEY HAVE NO FAMILY THERE, MELUDE POTERA SAYS SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT STAYING LONGER IN THE STENKOVAC (STEN KUH VEZ) CAMP.

TWO DAYS OF BRIGHT SUN HAVE DRIED UP THE MUD IN THE CAMPS, BUT THE HEAT HAS INTENSIFIED THE FOUL STENCH OF GARBAGE AND OVER-BURDENED THE TOILETS.

THE STENKOVAC CAMP WAS MEANT TO HOUSE UP TO EIGHT-THOUSAND REFUGEES. NOW IT IS HOME FOR MORE THAN 26-THOUSAND. SOME TENTS MADE TO COMFORTABLY HOLD UP ONLY FIVE OR EIGHT PEOPLE NOW HOUSE AS MANY AS 15.

FRUSTRATED U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS COMPLAIN THE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA ARE OVER-SATURATED AND THEY NEED TO BUILD MORE.

BUT BUILDING NEW CAMPS TAKES TIME, AND TIME IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS IS A VERY PRECIOUS COMMODITY THESE DAYS. AT FIRST, THE U-N-H-C-R PREFERRED TO KEEP THE REFUGEES CLOSER TO KOSOVO TO MAKE THEIR EVENTUAL RETURN EASIER. BUT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE POURED ACROSS THE BORDER ARE STRAINING THE RESOURCES BY RELIEF ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE PROPER CARE AND SHELTER. HEALTH WORKERS IN MACEDONIA FEAR THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND RISING TENSION IN THE OVERCROWDED CAMPS.

SIMONA OPITZ OF THE "INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION" SAYS MORE FLIGHTS ARE LEAVING EVERY DAY AS MORE COUNTRIES OFFER REFUGE FOR THE DISPLACED KOSOVARS. SHE ADMITS THE NUMBER DEPARTING IS STILL SMALL, BUT SHE SAYS IT WILL HELP A BIT TO EASE THE BURDEN IN MACEDONIA.

WE'RE TRYING WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT. AND IT MIGHT NOT BE TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY AT THE MOMENT, BUT IF WE CAN WORK TOWARD THAT AND WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE OUT, THEN EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TAKING OUT 12-HUNDRED A DAY, EVEN THAT IS CLEARING UP SPACES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ARRIVED, AND THAT MIGHT GIVE A TENT OVER SOMEONE'S HEAD.

AS THE REFUGEES MARCH SLOWLY TOWARD THE BUSES, HUGGING THEIR BELONGINGS, THEIR TEAR-STAINED FACES REFLECT THE EMOTIONAL STRAINS OF HAVING TO MOVE ON YET AGAIN, THIS TIME EVEN FARTHER AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO.

FOR ZEJNEBE (ZAY NEH BEH) KOSUMI, WHO ARRIVED AT THE STENKOVAC CAMP THREE WEEKS AGO FROM PRISTINA, GOING TO BRITAIN IS A MIXED BLESSING. HER BROTHER LIVES IN LONDON AND SHE IS TAKING HER MOTHER AND FATHER WITH HER. BUT HER AUNT AND UNCLE REFUSE TO LEAVE.

[06] UNHCR KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, OR U-N-H-C-R, SAYS KOSOVAR REFUGEES CONTINUE TO STREAM ACROSS BORDERS INTO NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA THAT ON WEDNESDAY ALONE, THE REFUGEE AGENCY REGISTERED 52-HUNDRED NEW ARRIVALS IN MACEDONIA AND 33-HUNDRED IN ALBANIA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE NUMBER OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS WHO HAVE FLED KOSOVO INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES SINCE MARCH 24TH WHEN NATO BEGAN ITS AIR CAMPAIGN HAS TOPPED 600-THOUSAND. IT SAYS THE SUDDEN RUSH OF REFUGEES HAS LED TO SEVERE OVERCROWDING ESPECIALLY IN MACEDONIA.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN, KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND SANITARY CONDITIONS ARE DEPLORABLE. HOWEVER, HE SAYS THE MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NOW GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, OR N-G-OS, TO CONSTRUCT A NEW CAMP WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO HOUSE 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS HE HOPES THIS WILL DEFUSE WHAT HAS BECOME A VERY VOLATILE SITUATION.

THE AUTHORITIES HAVE ALLOWED N-G-OS TO DO THE SANITATION WORK AT THE CEGRANE CAMP, WHICH IS VERY GOOD NEWS BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THE CAMP OPERATIONAL TODAY. IN FACT, ALREADY 900 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN THERE LAST NIGHT FROM THE NO-MAN'S LAND AT THE BLACE BORDER.

A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SAYS TESTIMONY FROM REFUGEES IN BOTH MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA SPEAK OF SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES IN KOSOVO. //OPT// CHRISTIANE BERTHIAUME SAYS THE AGENCY HAS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THESE STORIES SINCE THERE ARE NO AID WORKERS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. HOWEVER, SHE SAYS THE SIMILARITY AND CONSISTENCY OF THE STORIES BEING TOLD BY THE REFUGEES LEND AN "AIR OF TRUTHFULNESS" TO THEM. //END OPT// THE REFUGEES SAY MOST ALBANIAN OWNED STORES IN KOSOVO ARE EITHER CLOSED OR DESTROYED. THEY SAY SERB SHOP OWNERS REFUSE TO SELL THE ALBANIANS FOOD. //REST OPT// AND, MS. BERTHIAUME SAYS THE ALBANIANS DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR FOOD ON THE BLACK MARKET.

THOSE PEOPLE HAVE REALLY NOTHING. THEY GO ON THE STREETS AND THEY TRY TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT IN THE GARBAGE OR THEY GO DOOR-TO-DOOR AND THEY KNOCK AND BEG FOR FOOD. BUT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GIVE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGGING.

MS. BERTHIAUME SAYS THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM HAS PRE-POSITIONED LARGE STOCKS OF FOOD IN MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PEOPLE INSIDE KOSOVO. SHE SAYS AS SOON AS IT BECOMES POSSIBLE TO ENTER THE SERBIAN PROVINCE, W-F-P WILL HAVE THE MEANS TO QUICKLY FEED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HUNGRY PEOPLE THERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
29-Apr-99 9:18 AM EDT (1318 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] REFUGEES/TRAUMA BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BRAZDA, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: IN MACEDONIA, KOSOVAR REFUGEES SETTLING INTO THE CAMPS THERE ARE SLOWLY LEARNING TO COPE WITH THEIR NEW SITUATION -- SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS. MANY ARE STILL TRAUMATIZED BY THE ATROCITIES THEY HAVE WITNESSED OR EXPERIENCED. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN VISITED A REFUGEE CAMP IN BRAZDA, MACEDONIA TO SEE HOW INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TEAMS THERE ARE HELPING THE REFUGEES TO COPE.

TEXT: ///CRIES OF "MOMMY, MOMMY" -- AND FADE///

A YOUNG CHILD CRIES FOR HIS MOTHER UNTIL AN OLDER SISTER COMES TO COMFORT HIM. HIS MOTHER HAS GONE INTO A TENT SET UP BY THE ORGANIZATION "DOCTORS OF THE WORLD." INSIDE, SHE AND SEVEN OTHER WOMEN FROM THE CAMP ARE PARTICIPATING IN A GROUP THERAPY SESSION, SHARING THEIR TALES OF HORROR AND LEARNING HOW TO COPE WITH THEIR PAST AND THEIR UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

FRENCH MEDICAL WORKER VERONIQUE SAULOUP LEADS THIS SESSION AND DOZENS OF OTHERS THAT ARE BEING ORGANIZED EVERY DAY IN THE STENKOVAC (STEN KUH VEZ) CAMP.

ACROSS THE CAMP THAT IS NOW HOME TO 26-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES, DUTCH PSYCHOLOGIST KAZ DE JONG IS DEALING WITH WHAT HE CALLS ACUTE TRAUMA PATIENTS IN INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS.

WHAT WE SEE A LOT -- ESPECIALLY FOR THE ACUTE CASES -- ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE FLASHBACKS. SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AT SOME MOMENTS. SOME STAY IN THE EVENT, OR THEY ARE THERE -- THAT'S HOW THEY TALK ABOUT IT. AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE HERE. SO WE TRY TO TEACH THEM THAT THERE IS A "HERE" AND A "THERE." SO WE TRY TO BRING THEM IN TIME TO THIS PLACE.

IN THIS CAMP, IF YOU SLEEP IN A CAMP WITH 15 OR 20 OTHERS IN A CAMP THAT IS ONLY CAPABLE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS TO HOLD FIVE TO 10 PEOPLE, THEN YOU CAN IMAGINE THEY ARE OVERCROWDED. SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING REST, THEY'RE DISTURBED BY OTHERS. SO IT'S NOT AN IDEAL CONDITION.

MR. DE JONG SAYS NOT ALL HIS PATIENTS ARE SUFFERING FROM THE TRAUMA OF FLEEING THEIR HOMES OR WITNESSING KILLINGS, BEATINGS OR RAPE. MANY, HE SAYS, WERE UNDERGOING TREATMENT BACK HOME IN KOSOVO BUT HAVE RUN OUT OF THEIR MEDICATIONS AND SUFFERED EMOTIONAL SETBACKS THAT HAVE AGGRAVATED THEIR FRAGILE CONDITIONS. AND IT'S NOT JUST ADULTS WHO NEED HELP.

IT'S ALWAYS REMARKABLE HOW RESILIENT CHILDREN ARE, HOW FAST THEY HEAL, HOW FAST THEY ALSO HURT. SO WE SEE CHILDREN WHO DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK ANY MORE, CHILDREN WHO DO NOT WANT TO OPEN THEIR EYES ANY MORE, CHILDREN WHO ARE AGGRESSIVE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE WITHDRAWING FROM LIFE.

SEVERAL MEDICAL TEAMS IN THE CAMP AND THE U-N CHILDREN'S FUND ARE ORGANIZING THERAPY SESSIONS FOR THE CHILDREN TOO.

AN ISRAELI-LED MEDICAL UNIT FINDS THE BEST REMEDY IS MUSIC, DANCING AND GAMES TO LET THE CHILDREN FORGET FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE THE NIGHTMARES THEY HAVE SUFFERED.

AN ISRAELI MAN NAMED "YOAV" -- WHO THE CHILDREN JUST CALL "JOE" SAYS THE AIM OF THE PROGRAM IS TO GIVE THE REFUGEES A SENSE OF NORMALITY.

IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS QUITE TERRIBLE. MANY CHILDREN WERE NOT SMILING. NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE A NORMAL CAMP BUT IT WASN'T AT FIRST.

CHILDREN SIT ON THE GROUND AND SING SONGS FROM HOME WHILE TEENAGERS PLAY VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL ON A MAKESHIFT COURT NEARBY. ACROSS THE WAY, ISRAELI WORKERS HELP YOUNGSTERS MAKE COLORFUL PAPER CHAINS TO HANG FROM THEIR TENTS.

WE CAME A WEEK AGO WITH ONE PURPOSE -- TO BRING SMILES TO THE CHILDREN. ///OPT/// SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO. WE PLAY WITH THEM. YESTERDAY FOR EXAMPLE WE MADE A BIG BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL, WE LET THEM SING THEIR SONGS AND AFTER THE BREAK AT FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON WE DO A LITTLE SHOW. THERE IS A SMALL CINEMA FOR THE CHILDREN. ///END OPT///

YOAV SAYS SPORTS ARE ORGANIZED TO HELP THE TEENAGE KOSOVAR REFUGEES WORK OUT THEIR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND TO KEEP THEM FROM JUST SITTING AROUND ALL DAY AND GETTING DEPRESSED.

PSYCHOLOGISTS AT THE CAMP SAY THE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN ALSO HELPS THEIR WORK WITH TRAUMATIZED ADULTS. SEEING THEIR CHILDREN SMILE AGAIN, HE SAYS, IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR ANY PARENT.

[08] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S CONGRESS IS GRAPPLING AGAIN TODAY (THURSDAY) WITH FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL BACKING FOR THE WAR IN KOSOVO, A CONFLICT THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) DECLINES TO ENDORSE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: IN A MOVE WITH NO PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THE WAR BUT POSSIBLY SERIOUS POLITICAL FALLOUT, LAWMAKERS DENIED THE PRESIDENT THEIR BLESSING FOR THE AIR CAMPAIGN. A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FAILED ON A TIE VOTE (213 TO 213) AMID MUCH REPUBLICAN CRITICISM. CONGRESSMAN DOUG BEREUTER DENOUNCED WHAT HE CALLS THE STRATEGY OF BOMBING FOR PEACE.

OUR AND NATO'S INVOLVEMENT THERE IS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER. IT'S AN UGLY TRUTH AND ABOUT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT. THEY CERTAINLY KNOW AND TALK ABOUT IT IN THE PENTAGON.

THE HOUSE VOTED EARLIER TO BAR ANY USE OF GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO UNLESS CONGRESS APPROVES. CRITICS OF THAT PROPOSAL CHARGE IT WOULD TIE MR. CLINTON'S HANDS IF IT EVER BECOMES LAW.

DEMOCRAT SAM GEJDENSON WARNS THE ALLIES CAN NOT BACK AWAY FROM THE CRISIS.

THE PARTIES ARE ALSO AT ODDS OVER A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING BILL FOR THE BALKAN MISSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PT
28-Apr-99 9:39 PM EDT (0139 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L-WRAP) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) HAS TAKEN A SLAP AT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S POLICY IN KOSOVO, REFUSING TO ENDORSE THE AIR WAR AND TRYING TO CURB ANY USE OF GROUND TROOPS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS ON A DAY OF MARATHON DEBATE (WEDNESDAY).

TEXT: MR. CLINTON'S BALKAN STRATEGY AND PRESIDENTIAL POWERS ARE UNDER ATTACK. THE HOUSE VOTED (240 TO 189) TO STOP HIM FROM SENDING IN GROUND TROOPS UNLESS CONGRESS AUTHORIZES THEIR MISSION FIRST. REPUBLICAN TILLIE FOWLER, ONE OF THE MEASURE'S SPONSORS, SAYS USING THOSE FORCES WOULD ONLY COMPOUND A TRAGEDY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS IN KOSOVO RISE TO A LEVEL THAT WARRANTS THE COMMITMENT OF U-S GROUND TROOPS. MOREOVER I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT ARTICULATED AN EXIT STRATEGY.

WHILE THE BILL HAS LITTLE CHANCE TO BECOME LAW, IT PASSED OVER WHITE HOUSE OBJECTIONS, WITH MORE THAN 40 DEMOCRATS VOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN PRESIDENT. BUT MINORITY LEADER DICK GEPHARDT SAYS THE PROPOSAL SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SAY TO HIM TODAY, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE FOR GROUND TROOPS." DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT OPTION OFF THE TABLE? I DON'T THINK SO.

AS EXPECTED, THE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY TURNED DOWN TWO OTHER STEPS AN AMERICAN MILITARY WITHDRAWAL AND A FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR ON BELGRADE. THE ARGUMENTS WERE OFTEN EMOTIONAL, AS THE PRESIDENT'S OPPONENTS RAISED THE SPECTER OF VIETNAM AND HIS SUPPORTERS SPOKE OF THE GENOCIDE IN WORLD WAR TWO. DEMOCRAT SAM GEJEDENSON FORCEFULLY CALLED FOR RESOLVE.

THE OPTION BEFORE US IS WHETHER NATO, ALL 19 COUNTRIES, CONTINUE ON THIS CAMPAIGN OR WE SIT BACK AND WRING OUR HANDS ABOUT VICTIMS OF CRIME. MR. MILOSEVIC KNOWS HIS ROLE MODELS AND HISTORY. HITLER AND STALIN DID IT BIGGER AND BETTER BUT MR. MILOSEVIC HAS THE SAME GOAL. AND HE'S NOT GOING TO STOP IN KOSOVO.

MANY REPUBLICANS ARE JUST AS SCATHING IN DENOUNCING MR. CLINTON'S POLICY. ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER TOM DELAY SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CUT ITS LOSSES AND PULL OUT OF THE CONFLICT.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT IF WE DID NOTHING, THERE WOULD BE INSTABILITY IN THE REGION, THERE WOULD BE A FLOOD OF REFUGEES, KOSOVARS WOULD DIE AND THE CREDIBILITY OF NATO WOULD BE UNDERMINED. WELL, CLINTON'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN HAS CAUSED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TO EXPLODE.

THE LAWMAKERS ENDED THE DAY BY DECLINING TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING AIR RAIDS AND MISSILE STRIKES. THAT MEASURE FAILED ON A TIE VOTE (213 TO 213). THE ACTION HAS NO IMPACT ON THE WAR. BUT IT MAKES CLEAR THE DEPTH OF DIVISION IN THE HOUSE AND THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE THAT MAY LIE AHEAD FOR THE PRESIDENT AS THE FIGHTING GOES ON. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PHW/PT
28-Apr-99 9:32 PM EDT (0132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] CLINTON-CONGRESS-KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE IS DOWNPLAYING THE IMPACT OF THE LATEST CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON KOSOVO. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED WEDNESDAY ON FOUR RESOLUTIONS DEALING WITH THE YUGOSLAVIA CONFLICT. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS LAWMAKERS SENT MIXED SIGNALS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE SERIES OF VOTES IN THE HOUSE WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PRESIDENT'S KOSOVO POLICY.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS THE MESSAGE FROM THE HILL IS MUDDY, AND HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS TRYING TO SAY.

IN THE COURSE OF ONE DAY, HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED DOWN A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE WAR AND A RELATED MEASURE ORDERING THE PRESIDENT TO END THE MISSION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY APPROVED LANGUAGE REQUIRING THE WHITE HOUSE TO GET PERMISSION FROM CONGRESS BEFORE DEPLOYING GROUND TROOPS. IN A TIE VOTE, THEY REFUSED TO GIVE THEIR SUPPORT TO THE AIR CAMPAIGN.

MR. LOCKHART CALLS THE PACKAGE OF VOTES INCOMPREHENSIBLE. HE SAYS YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC SHOULD NOT TAKE COMFORT IN THE HOUSE ACTION, ADDING PRESIDENT CLINTON IS DETERMINED TO CARRY ON AND INTENSIFY THE NATO OPERATION UNTIL ITS GOAL ARE MET. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/RAE
29-Apr-99 10:30 AM EDT (1430 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] CLINTON KOSOVO (S-L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE WHITE HOUSE IS DOWNPLAYING THE IMPACT OF THE LATEST CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON KOSOVO. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS OFFICIALS SAY THE PRESIDENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE NATO OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, DESPITE SIGNS OF DISSENT ON CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS CONGRESS IS CLEARLY CONFUSED.

CONGRESS TOOK FOUR DIFFERENT VOTES YESTERDAY AND SEEMED TO COME OUT ON EVERY SIDE IMAGINABLE.

MR. LOCKHART SAYS YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT TAKE COMFORT IN EVENTS ON CAPITOL HILL.

IF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC GETS A MESSAGE FROM THIS THAT SOMEHOW THE NATO ALLIANCE, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS NOT GOING TO PERSIST UNTIL WE PREVAIL IN THIS WAR, HE IS MISTAKEN.,

THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE SAYS MORE ABOUT INTERNAL POLITICS IN THE LEGISLATURE, THAN THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES.

IF THE RESULTS OF WEDNESDAY'S VOTING IN THE HOUSE SEEMED AT ODDS, ONE POINT WAS CLEAR: LAWMAKERS ON ALL SIDES SPOKE PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FOR THIS WAS A DAY IN WHICH ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONS WERE ON DISPLAY -- FRUSTRATION, ANGER AND ANGUISH. THE FIRST FORMAL CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE SINCE THE START OF THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN WAS SPARKED BY ONE LAWMAKER WHO INVOKED A VIETNAM ERA LAW TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE MILITARY OPERATION.

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN TOM CAMPBELL SAID CONGRESS MUST EITHER DECLARE WAR OR ORDER THE TROOPS HOME. HOUSE LEADERS AT FIRST TRIED TO DISSUADE HIM FROM TAKING THE MATTER BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. BUT IN THE END, THEY BROADENED THE DEBATE.

A REPUBLICAN MEASURE GIVING CONGRESS A SAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF GROUND TROOPS WAS ADDED TO THE MIX, AS WAS A DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE AIR WAR.

THE RESULT WAS LEGISLATIVE CHAOS. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPOKESMAN SAID CONGRESS IS TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH A COMPLEX SITUATION, AND FIND CONSENSUS IN A CHAMBER FILLED WITH DIFFERENT VIEWS.

THE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR IS STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR VOICE ON THIS.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE MUST STILL VOTE ON THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR THE MISSION. THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR SIX BILLION DOLLARS. BUT SOME REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING FOR MORE THAN TWICE THAT AMOUNT TO COVER SHORTFALLS IN THE OVERALL PENTAGON BUDGET. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/PHW/JO
29-Apr-99 4:10 PM EDT (2010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] JACKSON / YUGOSLAVIA (L-O) BYLINE=MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

INTRO: U-S CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST JESSE JACKSON AND A DELEGATION WILL LEAVE WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR YUGOSLAVIA (EDS: @ 9:00 PM E-D-T). THE GROUP IS HOPING TO MEET WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, AND WITH THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS CAPTURED NEARLY A MONTH AGO NEAR THE BORDER WITH MACEDONIA. V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND HAS MORE FROM CHICAGO.

TEXT: THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON IS LEADING A DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS FROM THE CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM AND JEWISH FAITHS, AS WELL AS A U-S CONGRESSMAN, TO YUGOSLAVIA. U-S CONGRESSMAN ROD BLAGOJEVIC OF CHICAGO, THE ONLY U-S CONGRESSMAN OF SERBIAN DESCENT, SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL REVEREND JACKSON WILL BE ABLE TO WIN THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S SOLDIERS CAPTURED IN MARCH ALONG THE BORDER OF MACEDONIA AND KOSOVO.

CLEARLY, I THINK WE HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE. IF NOTHING ELSE, I THINK OUR JOURNEY IS GOING TO GIVE US ACCESS TO OUR SOLDIERS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM, CONVEY PERSONAL MESSAGES TO THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES. WE WILL GIVE THEM BIBLES AND ENCOURAGE THEM, LET THEM KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THEM AND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO WIN THEIR RELEASE.

ON WEDNESDAY, REVEREND JACKSON MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR (SANDY BERGER), WHO REMINDED THE DELEGATION THEIRS IS CONSIDERED A PRIVATE MISSION -- NOT ONE SUPPORTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE. CONGRESSMAN BLAGOJEVIC SAYS HE IS GOING ALONG FOR THE SAKE OF THE THREE U-S SOLDIERS, NOT TO REPRESENT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.

I AM NOT GOING THERE TO TALK DIPLOMACY. I AM NOT GOING THERE TO DISCUSS ANY KIND OF STRATEGY. THAT IS FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. I AM GOING THERE SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY TO DO WHAT I CAN AS AN AMERICAN TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO ARE IN CAPTIVITY.

THE GROUP IS FLYING TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN EUROPE AND WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO YUGOSLAVIA FROM THERE. A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAYS HE HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE NATO AIRSTRIKES WILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THE REVEREND JACKSON'S TRIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/JO
29-Apr-99 10:13 AM EDT (1413 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] KOSOVO PENTAGON - L BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS NATO IS INTENSIFYING ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA BY SENDING MORE BIG BOMBERS TO EUROPEAN BASES. MR. COHEN ALSO SAYS NATIONS THAT VIOLATE AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WILL FACE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THIS IS WHAT THE AIR WAR SOUNDS LIKE, FIVE KILOMETERS UP IN THE DARK YUGOSLAV SKY, AT 800 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.

IT'S THE SAME SPOT YOU HIT, IT'S JUST ON THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING. I HIT THE RIGHT END, I NEED YOU TO HIT THE LEFT END.

THE PILOTS ARE DODGING ANTI AIRCRAFT FIRE WHILE DISCUSSING THE BEST PLACE TO GUIDE THEIR 900-KILOGRAM BOMBS TO DESTROY AN ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILE SITE NEAR PRISTINIA. VIDEO OF THE ATTACK SHOWS THE S-A-6 LAUNCHER SITE DISAPPEARING IN A BLACK CLOUD.

DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THESE F-16 PILOTS WILL SOON BE JOINED BY ANOTHER 10, HUGE, B-52 BOMBERS.

WE WILL START TO ATTACK FOR MORE HOURS, MORE TARGETS, AND FROM MORE DIRECTIONS.

THE FUEL SERB FORCES NEED TO OPERATE THOSE TANKS HAS LONG BEEN A KEY NATO TARGET, WITH PLANES BLASTING OIL REFINERIES AND STORAGE FACILITIES.

NOW MR COHEN SAYS NATO MILITARY PLANNERS ARE FINISHING A PLAN TO BLOCK OIL SHIPMENTS TO YUGOSLAVIA. HE SAYS FORCE "MUST BE AN OPTION" IN THAT OPERATION, BUT NATIONS THAT DEFY THE OIL EMBARGO COULD FACE OTHER CONSEQUENCES AS WELL.

ANY THIRD COUNTRY THAT APPEARS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE E-U POSITION OR THAT OF NATO, CERTAINLY RUNS THE RISK OF ECONOMIC OR OTHER TYPES OF POLITICAL REACTION.

THE OIL EMBARGO IS DESIGNED TO STEM THE FLOW OF FUEL TO YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF SERBIA FROM SEAPORTS IN THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO.

WHILE MR. COHEN SAYS THE AIR WAR IS GOING WELL, HE COMPLAINS THAT A RECENT VOTE IN THE U-S CONGRESS THAT GAVE NO SUPPORT TO THE CAMPAIGN IS "COUNTERPRODUCTIVE." (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
29-Apr-99 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] NATO / KOSOVO (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS DEFENDED BOMBING MONTENEGRO'S CAPITAL DESPITE SYMPATHY FOR THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC'S GOVERNMENT. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: NATO AIR STRIKES HAVE CONCENTRATED ON THE AIRFIELD OF PODGORICA, THE CAPITAL OF YUGOSLAVIA'S SMALLER REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO. SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE YUGOSLAV ARMY HAS TRANSFERRED AIRCRAFT FROM AIRFIELDS IN SERBIA TO ESCAPE NATO BOMBING.

MR. SHEA SAYS NATO SEES THE YUGOSLAV AIRCRAFT IN MONTENEGRO AS A DIRECT THREAT TO NATO FORCES IN NEIGHBORING ALBANIA AS WELL AS TO NEARBY KOSOVO. LOW FLYING YUGOSLAV FIGHTERS AND HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ATTACKING ALBANIAN REBEL FORCES IN KOSOVO.

BESIDES AIRCRAFT AT PODGORICA AIRPORT, NATO ATTACKED RADAR FACILITIES, CONTROL TOWERS, AIRCRAFT HANGARS, AND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES.

WHILE NATO STILL SUPPORTS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT IN MONTENEGRO, MR. SHEA SAYS THE ALLIANCE HAS NO OTHER CHOICE IN PROTECTING ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH
29-Apr-99 5:47 AM EDT (0947 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] RUSSIA / ANNAN (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS COMPLETED A DAY OF TALKS IN MOSCOW WITH TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT THE KOSOVO CRISIS. BUT AS EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL, MR. ANNAN HAS GIVEN NO DETAILS OF HIS MEETINGS.

TEXT: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN BEGAN HIS TIGHTLY SCHEDULED ONE-DAY VISIT TO MOSCOW WITH RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN LATER TOLD REPORTERS AT A MOSCOW AIRPORT THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN NEGOTIATING AN END TO THE WAR. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN THEN DEPARTED FOR GERMANY, ITALY, AND YUGOSLAVIA WITH WHAT HE CALLED "CONCRETE PROPOSALS" FOR PEACE.

ALSO AT THE AIRPORT WAS YUGOSLAVIA'S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA WHO SAID BELGRADE WOULD ACCEPT U-N CIVILIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO -- BUT ONLY FROM RUSSIA AND OTHER NON-NATO COUNTRIES.

IN SEPARATE TALKS, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TOLD MR. ANNAN THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN SETTLING THE CONFLICT.

MR. YELTSIN SAID THAT EITHER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORDER WILL BE RESTORED OR THE WORLD WILL BE RULED BY THE VIOLENT FORCE OF ONE COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS GRATEFUL, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVES YET.

MR. ANNAN ALSO STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, WHICH HAS BEEN SIDELINED DURING THE WAR, TO PLAY A MORE CENTRAL ROLE IN FINDING A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

IT IS ALSO ENCOURAGING THAT THE LEADERS AND COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE NOW CONCLUDED THAT WHATEVER SOLUTION ONE FINDS MUST BE LEGITIMIZED THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

IN RECENT DAYS, A SERIES OF HIGH LEVEL VISITORS HAS COME TO MOSCOW FOR TALKS ABOUT THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. FOREIGN POLITICIANS ARE SEEKING TO ENLIST RUSSIA'S HELP AS THE ONLY WORLD POWER WITH GOOD ACCESS TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/JO
29-Apr-99 12:44 PM EDT (1644 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] RUSSIA / CHERNOMYRDIN (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WAVE OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY, DEPARTING MOSCOW FOR GERMANY, ITALY AND THEN YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. CHERNOMYDIN SAYS HE HAS CONCRETE PROPOSALS FOR THE WEST AND YUGOSLAVIA TO END THE WAR.

TEXT: AFTER AN EXTENDED MEETING IN MOSCOW WITH VISITING U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN DEPARTED FOR HIS TRIP TO GERMANY, ITALY AND YUGOSLAVIA.

SPEAKING AT THE AIRPORT, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN TOLD REPORTERS THE FOCUS OF HIS MISSION IS TO DETERMINE THE COMPOSITION OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO SERVE IN YUGOSLAVIA ONCE THE CONFLICT ENDS. THE SPECIAL ENVOY ALSO LAID OUT WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE THE YUGOSLAV POSITION AT PRESENT.

HE SAYS YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS AGREE ON THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, ON AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS, AND ON A BROAD AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S PRESS OFFICE SAYS AFTER MEETING WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SHROEDER IN BONN AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA IN ROME, HE WILL FLY TO BELGRADE.

IN BELGRADE, THE RUSSIAN ENVOY IS EXPECTED TO HOLD TALKS WITH BOTH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND KOSOVO ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA.

BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE, MR. CHERNOMYDIN STRESSED THE NEED FOR U-N PARTICIPATION BUT ALSO FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO NATO BOMBINGS.

HE SAYS THERE ACTUALLY IS AN UNDERSTANDING ON SEVERAL ISSUES. BUT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE, HE SAYS, WE MUST STOP THE DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHED.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HE HAS "CONCRETE PROPOSALS" ON SETTLING THE BALKAN CRISIS FOLLOWING A LONG TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN LATE WEDNESDAY.

HIS DEPARTURE COMES JUST AS MORE WESTERN DIPLOMATS ARRIVE IN MOSCOW TO ENCOURAGE THE RUSSIA TO USE ITS GOOD RELATIONS WITH BELGRADE TO BROKER A PEACE DEAL.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN BELGRADE FRIDAY MORNING. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH
29-Apr-99 5:57 AM EDT (0957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] U-N / ANNAN / MOSCOW (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT IS NOT ABLE TO ANNOUNCE ANY BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS, FOLLOWING TALKS IN MOSCOW BETWEEN RUSSIAN LEADERS AND U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.

TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS ARE RELEASING FEW DETAILS OF THE TALKS BETWEEN MR. ANNAN AND RUSSIAN LEADERS. AT MOST, THEY HAVE INDICATED THERE IS SOME HOPE FOR U-N PARTICIPATION IN A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. BUT THEY ARE NOT SAYING IF ANY REAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THAT DIRECTION.

U-N SPOKESMAN MANOEL ALMEIDA E SILVA:

I DO NOT THINK WE ARE IN ANY POSITION TO ANNOUNCE ANY MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH, IT IS A LONG PROCESS WHICH IS STARTING. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IS TALKING TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE, MANY LEADERS AND HE WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT EFFORT.

MR. ANNAN VISITED MOSCOW IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH KOSOVO. RUSSIA IS OPPOSED TO THE NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. IT HAS STRONGLY OBJECTED TO NATO'S DECISION TO CARRY OUT THE STRIKES WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING APPROVAL FROM THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL DIVISION OVER THE NATO STRIKES -- WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA ON ONE SIDE AND BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES ON THE OTHER -- HAS PREVENTED THE COUNCIL FROM TAKING ANY CONCRETE ACTION AIMED AT RESOLVING THE CRISIS. MR. ANNAN'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ARE PARTIALLY AIMED AT ESTABLISHING A BASIS FOR A CONSENSUS SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE.

DIPLOMATS SAY IF MR. ANNAN IS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS EFFORTS, THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME WILL BE AGREEMENT ON A U-N-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO, BASED ON RUSSIAN PROPOSALS. THEY SAY RUSSIA AND YUGOSLAVIA ARE UNLIKELY TO AGREE TO ANY SUCH FORCE IF IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH NATO. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PHW/PT
29-Apr-99 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[18] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE GENERALLY LOWER TODAY (THURSDAY), BUT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 10-THOUSAND-878, UP 33 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13-HUNDRED-42, DOWN EIGHT POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX WAS DOWN ALMOST ONE PERCENT.

STOCK TRADERS CONTINUED TO SHIFT MONEY FROM TECHNOLOGY SHARES AND INTO STOCKS OF LARGE INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS, OF THE TYPE THAT DOMINATE THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT COMPLEX CROSS-CURRENTS, AT A TIME WHEN THE MARKET HAS ALREADY MOVED SHARPLY HIGHER. THE LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST HAS BEEN NARROW BUT IT NOW SEEMS TO BE BROADENING.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS AMERICAN WORKERS' WAGES ROSE AT THEIR SLOWEST PACE EVER IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. ECONOMISTS SAY THAT IS ANOTHER SIGN THERE IS NO SERIOUS INFLATIONARY PRESSURE IN THE U-S ECONOMY.

SALES OF NEW HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES ROSE IN MARCH AFTER THREE STRAIGHT MONTHS OF DECLINE.

THE U-S COMMERCE DEPARTMENT HAS RULED THAT JAPAN IS ILLEGALLY DUMPING HOT-ROLLED STEEL PRODUCTS IN THE AMERICAN MARKET. THE DECISION COULD MAKE THE JAPANESE COMPANIES LIABLE FOR DUTIES OF UP TO 67 PERCENT.

M-C-I WORLDCOM, THE SECOND-LARGEST LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORTED AN ALMOST 300-PERCENT INCREASE IN QUARTERLY PROFITS, EXCEEDING WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS.

THE OXFORD HEALTH CARE COMPANY MAY BE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. OXFORD SAYS IT CUT ITS QUARTERLY LOSS BY 90 PERCENT AND MAY REPORT A PROFIT FOR THE FULL YEAR.

THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL ABANDON PLANS TO BUILD A ONE-BILLION-DOLLAR AUTO ASSEMBLY PLANT IN THE SOUTHERN BRAZILIAN STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. FORD IS ANGRY THAT THE STATE'S NEW GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED ABOUT 260-MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX BREAKS, WHICH HAD BEEN PROMISED TO FORD BY A PREVIOUS GOVERNOR. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
29-Apr-99 5:21 PM EDT (2121 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[19] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS, THE NATO AIR WAR IN THE BALKANS HAS BEEN PUSHED ASIDE IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS BY SEVERAL COMMENTARIES ABOUT THE NON-DECLARATION OF A PALESTINIAN NATION. BUT YUGOSLAVIA IS STILL DRAWING PLENTY OF COMMENT, AS IS THE SCHOOL MASSACRE IN A DENVER SUBURB, WHICH IS EVOLVING INTO A DISCUSSION OF GUN CONTROL.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: DEBT RELIEF FOR THE UNDERDEVELOPED WORLD; THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT; /// OPT /// CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE; /// END OPT /// AND THE GREAT JAZZ MASTER DUKE ELLINGTON REMEMBERED ON THIS, THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH, HERE IN WASHINGTON. NOW, HERE IS _____________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: A NUMBER OF PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE," ARE WELCOMING A DECISION BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT N O T TO DECLARE HIS TERRITORY A SOVEREIGN, PALESTINIAN NATION, MAY FIRST, WHEN THE OSLO ACCORDS EXPIRE.

VOICE: THE TIDE OF WORLD OPINION FINALLY, AND JUSTIFIABLY, IS TURNING TOWARD ENDORSING AN INDEPENDENT STATE FOR PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP. THIS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT ... BUT NOW IS NOT YET THE TIME TO MAKE THE UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD. ... THE DECLARATION ... COULD DERAIL ENTIRELY THE CREAKING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. /// OPT /// NEXT TUESDAY MARKS THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SET OUT IN THE OSLO PACT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO MARK THE END OF NEGOTIATIONS ON A PERMANENT PEACE SETTLEMENT THAT RESOLVED DISPUTES OVER JERUSALEM, FINAL BORDERS AND PALESTINIAN ... STATEHOOD. /// END OPT /// IF BOTH SIDES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, THEY MUST NOW CAREFULLY AVOID ANY ACTIONS THAT MAY THREATEN IT.

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE DELAY A "WISE DECISION BY [THE] PALESTINIANS," WHILE ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY," CALLING THE MOVE "PRAGMATIC," SAYS:

VOICE: A STATEHOOD DECLARATION WOULD HAVE PLAYED INTO THE HAND OF ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WHO HAS MADE OPPOSITION TO A DECLARATION OF PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD A CENTRAL ISSUE OF HIS CAMPAIGN. /// OPT /// HE TRAILS IN THE POLLS BEHIND THE LABOR PARTY CHALLENGER, EHUD BARAK, A PRAGMATIC CENTRIST FAR BETTER DISPOSED TOWARD RESUMPTION OF THE PEACE PROCESS. ... [MR.] ARAFAT ['S] ... WILLINGNESS TO POSTPONE ACTION ON STATEHOOD CAN BE SEEN AS A POLITICAL BOUQUET TOSSED AT [MR.] BARAK. IT'S NOT A BAD SIGN. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TURNING TO THE AIR WAR IN THE BALKANS, ON BEHALF OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS OF KOSOVO PROVINCE, TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD, "DECLARING THAT "CONGRESS SHOULD FREE, [AND] NOT LIMIT, [THE] PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY TO PURSUE THIS WAR," WARNS READERS:

VOICE: BANISH THE IDEA THAT THE NATO WAR OVER KOSOVO CAN BE QUICKLY WRAPPED UP WITHOUT CASUALTIES. WE'RE IN FOR A LONG HAUL NOW AND - - NOTWITHSTANDING CONGRESSIONAL DOUBTS AND DEBATE OVER HOW AND WHY - - WE MUST PREPARE FOR LONGTERM ENGAGEMENT. PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNALED AS MUCH WHEN HE SOUGHT SIX BILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE CONFLICT, CALLED UP EIGHT AIR FORCE RESERVE AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS AND CLEARED THE DISPATCH OF APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS - - MOVES WE SUPPORT. ... [HOWEVER] THE FORCED EXODUS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS POINTS OUT AN AIR WAR'S LIMITS. /// OPT /// DOUBTLESS THE PUNISHING ATTACKS HAVE DISRUPTED YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, THOUGH IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL - - AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM - - IN STOPPING IT. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES," REACTING TO WEDNESDAY'S VOTE IN THE HOUSE NOT TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR A GROUND WAR, SAYS:

VOICE: /// OPT /// GIVEN THE SENSITIVE MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC GROUND IN KOSOVO, THE HOUSE IS, FOR THE MOST PART, STEERING A REASONABLE IF SPENDTHRIFT COURSE THIS WEEK IN ACTING ON SEVERAL MEASURES INVOLVING THE WAR /// END OPT /// ... LAWMAKERS WERE RIGHT YESTERDAY TO INSIST THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON SEEK CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL IF HE DECIDES TO ORDER GROUND TROOPS INTO COMBAT.

TEXT: "THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE" IS APPLAUDING THAT CITY'S EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE DISPLACED KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. AS THE CITY PREPARES TO ACCEPT ABOUT 500 PEOPLE FROM THE WAR ZONE, THE PAPER WRITES:

VOICE: WHATEVER THE OUTCOME, THE REFUGEES NEED FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. SOME WILL NEED NEW HOMES ABROAD. IT IS A MARK OF PRIDE THAT HOUSTONIANS ARE RISING TO HELP MEET THESE DAUNTING CHALLENGES. ... THE HOUSTON ROCKETS [PROFESSIONAL, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TEAM] STAR HAKJEEM OLAJUWON AND [HOUSTON] MAYOR LEE BROWN ARE WORKING WITH ... UNICEF AND ITS KOSOVO EMERGENCY TASK FORCE TO ENCOURAGE AREA CHILDREN TO HELP CHILDREN IN THE STRICKEN REGION ... [HOPING] ... TO RAISE 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THIS AREA TO HELP BUY MEDICINES, VACCINES, SYRINGES, WATER-PURIFICATION TABLETS, BABY-CARE SUPPLIES, BLANKETS, TENTS, SHOES, CLOTHING, FOOD, WATER AND SANITATION NECESSITIES.

TEXT: EDITORIALS CONTINUE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE SHOOTING IN THE SUBURBAN DENVER HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE TWO STUDENTS KILLED 12 FELLOW STUDENTS, A TEACHER, AND THEN THEMSELVES LAST WEEK. THE ISSUE IS EVOLVING INTO A DEBATE ABOUT GUN CONTROL, AND "THE RALEIGH [NORTH CAROLINA] NEWS-AND-OBSERVER" SUPPORTS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL FOR STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS, CONCLUDING:

VOICE: JUST AS IT WOULD BE WRONG TO BELIEVE THAT GUN-CONTROL LAWS WOULD FOREVER PREVENT TRAGEDIES LIKE THE ONE IN LITTLETON, IT ALSO WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE GUN LOBBY TO CONTINUE TO ARGUE THAT RESPONSIBLE CURBS ON FIREARMS PURCHASE AND OWNERSHIP BY TEENAGERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THREATEN CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS. ONE MUST HOPE THAT THIS TIME, CONGRESS HAS THE GUMPTION TO STAND AGAINST GUN INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS WHO FUEL THEIR ARGUMENTS MORE WITH POLITICAL PRESSURE (AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS) THAN ... WITH LOGIC.

TEXT: BUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, "THE MANCHESTER UNION LEADER" SAYS "WHOA! LET'S NOT OVERREACT TO THE LITTLETON [COLORADO] TRAGEDY."

VOICE: SOME SOUL-SEARCHING CERTAINLY IS APPROPRIATE IN THE AFTERMATH OF LAST WEEK'S DEADLY RAMPAGE .... BUT THIS SELF-ANALYSIS, AND DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT SUCH OUTRAGES, SHOULD NOT BECOME THE OCCASION TO RUSH ... INTO ALL MANNER OF MISCHIEF WE MIGHT LATER REGRET. ... A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HOLD PARENTS CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR [OF] THEIR KIDS. ... OF COURSE PARENTS SHOULD SHOULDER SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR KIDS ... BUT LET'S GO SLOW IN CRIMINALIZING PARENTHOOD. THE SAME GOES FOR THE CURRENT HYSTERIA FOR MORE GUN-CONTROL LAWS, SUCH AS THOSE PROPOSED THIS WEEK BY PRESIDENT CLINTON ...

TEXT: TURNING TO THE ISSUE OF DEBT RELIEF FOR UNDERDEVELOPED NATIONS, "THE WASHINGTON POST," COMMENTING ON THE CURRENT MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WHERE DEBT RELIEF IS BEING DEBATED, OPINES:

VOICE THERE ARE SOUND REASONS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DEBT RELIEF. IF SHIRKING BECOMES TOO EASY, BANKS AND MULTILATERAL AID INSTITUTIONS WILL BECOME LESS WILLING TO LEND TO POOR COUNTRIES IN THE FUTURE. ... BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOUND REASONS, IN CERTAIN CASES, TO GRANT DEBT RELIEF. GOVERNMENTS IN SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES ARE NOW TRYING TO INVEST IN EDUCATION, HEALTH AND OTHER ESSENTIAL NEEDS, AND TO ATTRACT THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT THEY NEED TO GROW. BUT THEY HAVE INHERITED CRUSHING DEBT BURDENS FROM PREVIOUS REGIMES ..... [AND] THEY SIMPLY CAN'T CLIMB OUT [OF DEBT].

TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WELCOMES THE FIRST VISIT BY A JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER TO THIS COUNTRY IN A DECADE, AND HOPES FOR PROGRESS ON DEFENSE ISSUES.

VOICE: WHEN JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI LANDS IN LOS ANGELES TODAY ... HE WILL BE CARRYING ... A SET OF NEW LAWS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE SECURITY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE DEFENSE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY TOKYO REPRESENT A SMALL BUT POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN JAPAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD ITS ROLE IN THE DEFENSE OF ITS NEIGHBORHOOD. /// OPT /// [MEANWHILE] THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN ADDRESSING JAPAN'S MAIN SECURITY CONCERN, THE BELLIGERENCE OF NORTH KOREA. PYONGYANG STUNNED TOKYO LAST SUMMER WHEN IT LAUNCHED A TWO-STAGE MISSILE OVER JAPANESE TERRITORY, DEMONSTRATING THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STRIKE TARGETS VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE IN JAPAN.

TEXT: STAYING WITH ASIAN ISSUES, THERE IS MORE CONCERN FROM "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" ABOUT ALLEGED CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE AT THE LOS ALAMOS LAB AND OTHER LOCATIONS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

VOICE: NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE BY CHINESE AGENTS AT AMERICAN NUCLEAR LABORATORIES IS WIDESPREAD, PERVASIVE AND ON-GOING, ACCORDING TO CHILLING REPORTS ABOUT U-S SECURITY FAILURES. DURING THE PAST 20 YEARS, CHINA HAS STOLEN 'THE CROWN JEWELS OF OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL,' SAYS REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER COX, REPUBLICAN OF NEWPORT BEACH, CHAIRMAN OF A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THAT INVESTIGATED THE THEFTS. ... WITH THE STAKES SO HIGH, IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS RESEARCH OFF-LIMITS TO ALL SUSPECT COUNTRIES AT LEAST UNTIL WE ASSESS WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND TAKE CORRECTIVE MEASURES.

TEXT: LASTLY, SEVERAL PAPERS, INCLUDING "THE NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES TIMES," "BOSTON GLOBE" AND "THE NEW YORK POST" ARE CELEBRATING THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THIS NATION'S GREATEST MUSICIANS, JAZZ LEGEND "DUKE" ELLINGTON. HERE'S PART OF "THE NEW YORK POST" TRIBUTE:

VOICE: ... WHILE HE IS BEST KNOWN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF JAZZ MUSICIANS, ELLINGTON'S WORK TRANSCENDS THAT SOUND, WHICH HE ELEVATED INTO AMERICA'S NATIONAL MUSIC. HE STANDS SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH LEONARD BERNSTEIN, AARON COPLAND AND GEORGE GERSHWIN AS THE CENTURY'S GREATEST COMPOSERS. HE WROTE SWING, JAZZ AND GOSPEL: HIS WORK INCLUDED FILM SCORES, BROADWAY, BALLET AND OPERA. HIS SIGNATURE TUNES - - 'IT DON'T MEAN A THING IF IT AIN'T GOT THAT SWING' AND 'MOOD INDIGO' - - ARE AS DYNAMIC TODAY AS WHEN THEY WERE WRITTEN 70 YEARS AGO. ... 'ALL MUSICIANS SHOULD GET DOWN ON THEIR KNEES ONE DAY TO THANK DUKE ELLINGTON,' SAID MILES DAVIS. TODAY, AMERICA DOES JUST THAT.

TEXT: WITH THOSE GLOWING WORDS FOR A GREAT AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THIS DAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/KL
29-Apr-99 11:44 AM EDT (1544 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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