Voice of America, 99-05-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

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

[03] BELGRADE POWER/ DAY TWO (S/L) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

[04] POWER/BELGRADE COPING (S/L) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

[05] PENTAGON-KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

[06] PENTAGON-KOSOVO (S/L UPDATE) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

[07] U-S/YUGO P-O-W SWAP (S/L) BY NICK SIMEONE (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[08] ALBANIA INCURSIONS (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN/ (KROME, ALBANIA)

[09] KOSOVO EXODUS (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MORINA CROSSING POINT, ALBANIA)

[10] MACEDONIA REFUGEES (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

[11] CONGRESS-KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

[12] CLINTON-KOSOVO (L) BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

[13] RUSSIA / U-S (S/L VER) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

[14] BLAIR/MACEDONIA (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

[15] KOSOVO / BUKOSHI BY CANDACE WILLIAMS (WASHINGTON)

[16] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[17] EDITORIAL: SUPPORT FOR MILOSEVIC IS CRACKING

[18] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[19] E-U / BEEF (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

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

[21] PRISONER RELEASE COMPLICATES BALKAN WAR BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[22] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS TARGETED YUGOSLAVIA'S ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM, KNOCKING OUT 70 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY'S POWER AT ONE POINT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN IN BRUSSELS REPORTS NATO USED A NEW BOMB IN THE ATTACKS.

TEXT: THE NEW PRECISION BOMB -- USED BY NATO IN ATTACKS AGAINST FIVE OF YUGOSLAVIA'S TRANSFORMERS -- SHORT CIRCUITS THE ELECTRICITY WITH CARBON FILAMENTS THAT EXPLODE IN THE AIR. THE PARTICLES CAUSE LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFORMER STRUCTURES THEMSELVES.

SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE ATTACK DEMONSTRATES NATO'S ABILITY TO STEP UP THE PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAVIA.

THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ACROSS 70 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY I THINK SHOWS THAT NATO HAS ITS FINGER ON THE LIGHT SWITCH IN YUGOSLAVIA NOW AND WE CAN TURN THE POWER OFF WHENEVER WE NEED TO AND WHENEVER WE WANT TO AND WE CAN USE THIS TO SEVERELY DISRUPT, DEGRADE, DIMINISH THE CAPACITY OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMED FORCES TO OPERATE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME, DELAY THEIR ABILITY TO REPAIR THE ESSENTIAL POWER SYSTEMS, AND OF COURSE, BY DISRUPTING IN THIS WAY THE INTEGRATED AIR DEFENSE IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF OUR PILOTS FLYING OVER YUGOSLAVIA.

THE TRANSFORMERS ATTACKED WERE IN NOVI SAD IN THE NORTH, OBRENOVAC WEST OF BELGRADE, DRMNO, EAST OF BELGRADE, BANINA BASTA IN SOUTHWESTERN SERBIA, AND NIS, IN SOUTHEASTERN SERBIA. NIS IS THE HOME OF YUGOSLAVIA'S THIRD ARMY.

EVEN A TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION IN ELECTRICAL POWER, MR. SHEA SAYS, IS TO NATO'S BENEFIT IN ITS FIGHT WITH THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY.

IT COMPLICATES THEIR PLANNING, IT COMPLICATES THEIR LIFE. THEY HAVE TO TAKE ALL KINDS OF MEASURES TO TRY TO GET AROUND THAT. IT TIES THEM DOWN AND KEEPS THEM FOCUSED ON TRYING TO COUNTER OUR MEASURES. THE MORE THEY ARE FOCUSED ON KEEPING UP THEIR COMMAND AND CONTROL, THE LESS ABLE THEY ARE TO FOCUS ON CAUSING MAYHEM IN KOSOVO.

SERB CIVILIANS LOSE ELECTRICITY AND WATER PUMPED BY ELECTRICITY AS WELL. NATO SAYS THE ATTACKS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO INCONVENIENCE CIVILIANS BUT TO MAKE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AGREE TO NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR STOPPING THE BOMBING.

NATO INSISTS ITS ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA'S ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM ARE SO PRECISE, THEY AVOID DAMAGING THE BACK-UP ELECTRIC GENERATORS FOR HOSPITALS. OF COURSE, USE OF THE GENERATORS REQUIRES YUGOSLAVIA TO EXPEND MORE OF ITS PRECIOUS FUEL. THAT IS ANOTHER GOAL OF NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN -- TO STARVE YUGOSLAVIA OF THE FUEL NEEDED TO RUN ITS TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH
03-May-99 11:52 AM EDT (1552 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO USED A NEW BOMB TO INTERRUPT YUGOSLAVIA'S NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS.

TEXT: NATO DROPPED A PRECISION BOMB ON FIVE OF YUGOSLAVIA'S ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMERS, SHUTTING OFF ELECTRICITY AND WATER TO 70 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY.

SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE NEW BOMB DEMONSTRATES NATO'S ABILITY TO DISRUPT THE ROUTINES OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY.

THE FACT THAT LIGHTS WENT OUT ACROSS 70 PERCENT OF COUNTRY, I THINK, SHOWS THAT NATO HAS ITS FINGER ON THE LIGHT SWITCH IN YUGOSLAVIA NOW.

THE BOMB USED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YUGOSLAVIA SPRINKLES CARBON PARTICLES ON THE ELECTRIC WIRES CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. WHILE THIS INCONVENIENCES CIVILIANS, NATO HOPES TO MAKE THE YUGOSLAV ARMY SPEND ITS TIME REPAIRING THE DAMAGE RATHER THAN MAKING WAR IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/JWH/WFR
03-May-99 12:19 PM EDT (1619 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BELGRADE POWER/ DAY TWO (S/L) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

INTRO: NATO CONTINUES ITS INTENSIFIED BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM BELGRADE.

TEXT: MUCH OF YUGOSLAVIA REMAINS WITHOUT POWER AFTER NATO BOMBS HIT THE KEY OBRENOVAC POWER TRANSMITTER STATION LATE SUNDAY. THE ATTACK TOOK OUT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY'S POWER GRID.

YUGOSLAV TELEVISION REPORTS ELECTRICITY WILL BE RESTORED TO MOST OF YUGOSLAVIA BY THE END OF THE DAY.

THE POWER OUTAGE AFFECTED A VAST AREA -- FROM NIS IN THE SOUTH TO SOMBOR NEAR THE HUNGARIAN BORDER IN THE NORTH. IT IS THE WORST POWER OUTAGE IN THE 40-DAY BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

NATO SAYS THE ATTACK IS PART OF ITS STEPPED UP CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY THE YUGOSLAVIA ARMY'S ABILITY TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY

YUGOSLAVIA IS SUFFERING A SEVERE FUEL SHORTAGE CAUSED BY NATO'S EMBARGO. LAST WEEK NATO REPORTED THE SHORTAGE HAD BECOME SO ACUTE THAT SOLDIERS WERE SIPHONING GAS FROM CARS ABANDONED BY REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/LT/RAE
03-May-99 9:10 AM EDT (1310 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] POWER/BELGRADE COPING (S/L) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

INTRO: NATO BOMBS DESTROYED A KEY POWER TRANSMITTING STATION SUNDAY NIGHT LEAVING MUCH OF YUGOSLAVIA IN DARKNESS. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM BELGRADE ON HOW PEOPLE ARE COPING WITH THIS RECENT ESCALATION IN THE AIR WAR.

TEXT: CAFES WERE OPEN IN THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS IN DOWNTOWN BELGRADE MONDAY. BUT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY COFFEE WAS NOT ON THE MENU. A BOMB THAT HIT THE OBRENOVAC POWER STATION 20 KILOMETERS FROM BELGRADE SUNDAY NIGHT.

WITNESSES SAY AT AROUND 9:45 THEY SAW THE NOW-FAMILIAR RED STREAKS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE SHOOTING UP IN THE SKY. THERE WERE WHITE BLASTS TO THE SOUTHEAST OF BELGRADE AND THEN TOTAL DARKNESS.

THE ATTACK TOOK OUT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY'S POWER GRID. YUGOSLAV TELEVISION REPORTED EARLIER MONDAY THAT POWER WAS TO BE RESTORED IN MOST PLACES BY EVENING. LIGHTS HALF FLICKERED ON AND OFF THROUGH OUT THE DAY BUT, BY EVENING, FEW PLACES IN THE CAPITOL HAD FULL ELECTRICITY. THE POWER OUTAGE AFFECTED A VAST AREA -- FROM NIS IN THE SOUTH TO SOMBOR NEAR THE HUNGARIAN BORDER IN THE NORTH. IT IS THE WORST POWER OUTAGE IN THE 40- DAY BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

IN BELGRADE, DURING THE DAY, PEOPLE STILL STROLLED THE STREETS UNDER THE BRIGHT BLUE SKY, EATING ICE CREAM, TALKING WITH FRIENDS. BUT THE MOOD WAS MORE TENSE THAN IT HAD BEEN IN PREVIOUS DAYS. IN THE MARKET, LONG LINES FORMED OUTSIDE OF BAKERIES AS THE SHOPS QUICKLY SOLD OUT OF THE MEAGER SUPPLIES THEY HAD ON HAND.

RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY WILL KEEP FOOD IN THE FRIDGE FROM SPOILING, HOW LONG GENERATORS CAN WORK WHEN THERE IS SO LITTLE FUEL IN THE CITY AND HOW -- WITHOUT TELEVISION AND RADIO -- THEY WILL KEEP ABREAST OF THE NEWS.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A SENSE OF DEFIANCE. ONE MAN SAID HE HAD INTENDED ON BUYING SOME NEW CLOTHES MONDAY. MOST OF THE STORES IN DOWNTOWN BELGRADE WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE BOMBING. AND THOSE THAT WERE OPEN HAD NO LIGHTS. BUT THIS MAN SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO LET NATO STOP HIM FROM BUYING HIM A NEW OUTFIT.

AN EDITOR OF A PUBLISHING HOUSE, NADA BOJIC, SAID SHE CAN NOT PUBLISH BOOKS NOW. SO SHE SAT A TABLE IN THE MARKET STREET SELLING BOOKS. HER COMMENTS EXEMPLIFIED THE DEFIANCE FELT BY MANY IN THE STREETS OF BELGRADE.

MS. BOJIC SAYS LAST NIGHT THEY HAD A ROMANTIC CANDLELIGHT DINNER IN THE BACKYARD UNDER A BEAUTIFUL FULL MOON. SHE SAYS NATO CANNOT DEFEAT THE SERBS. AT LEAST, NOT THEIR SPIRIT AND OPTIMISM.

SHE SAYS THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THE BOOKSTORE SO THEY TOOK TABLES OUTSIDE. SHE IS PLEASED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE BOUGHT BOOKS -- EVEN BOOKS WRITTEN BY FOREIGN WRITERS. // OPT // BUT SHE SAYS SHE CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE DESCENDANTS OF SUCH GREAT WRITERS AS BALZAC AND SHAKESPEARE COULD BE BOMBING HER COUNTRY. // END OPT

NATO SAYS THE ATTACK IS PART OF ITS STEPPED UP CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY THE YUGOSLAV ARMY'S ABILITY TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY.

YUGOSLAVIA IS ALREADY SUFFERING A SEVERE FUEL SHORTAGE CAUSED BY NATO'S EMBARGO. LAST WEEK, NATO REPORTED THE SHORTAGE HAD BECOME SO ACUTE THAT SOLDIERS WERE SIPHONING OFF GAS FROM CARS ABANDONED BY REFUGEES.

[05] PENTAGON-KOSOVO (S) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THREE FORMER PRISONERS OF THE YUGOSLAV WAR ARE UNDERGOING MEDICAL TESTS AND RE-UNITING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM BELGRADE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: MILITARY DOCTORS REPORT THE U-S SOLDIERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND GOOD SPIRITS AT AN AMERICAN BASE IN GERMANY. THEY WERE FREED AFTER A PERSONAL APPEAL FROM CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER JESSE JACKSON TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC.

OFFICIALS SAY THE MEN APPEAR IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN JUST AFTER THEIR CAPTURE, WHEN TELEVISION PICTURES SHOWED THEY HAD BEEN BEATEN. OTHERWISE, THERE ARE FEW FRESH DETAILS ABOUT THEIR MONTH IN SERB CUSTODY, OR EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE TAKEN PRISONER.

THE TROOPS WERE PATROLLING THE MACEDONIAN-KOSOVAR BORDER ZONE WHEN THEY REPORTED BEING UNDER FIRE AND SURROUNDED. THE PENTAGON HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID IT BELIEVES THEY WERE ON THE MACEDONIAN SIDE OF THE LINE.

OFFICIALS HAVE MADE CLEAR THE RELEASE WILL NOT AFFECT THE ALLIED BOMBING CAMPAIGN. A NIGHT OF HEAVY AIR STRIKES (SUNDAY) KNOCKED OUT MUCH OF YUGOSLAVIA'S POWER GRID, THROWING A WIDE AREA INTO DARKNESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/LTD/RAE
03-May-99 11:17 AM EDT (1517 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] PENTAGON-KOSOVO (S/L UPDATE) BY DAVID SWAN (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE PENTAGON SAYS ALLIED PLANES ARE FLYING MORE AND MORE MISSIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - AND ARE MEETING STRONGER RESISTANCE FROM AIR DEFENSES. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: OFFICIALS SAY PILOTS HAVE FOUND BETTER WEATHER IN THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT HAVE ALSO COME UNDER HEAVIER FIRE FROM GROUND-TO-AIR MISSILES.

GENERAL CHARLES WALD OF THE MILITARY'S JOINT STAFF SAYS YUGOSLAV FORCES MAY BE FEELING PRESSURE FROM THE BOMBING.

I THINK POSSIBLY (PRESIDENT) MILOSEVIC FEELS LIKE HE HAS TO BE A LITTLE MORE DEFENSIVE. THE INTENSITY OF THE AIR CAMPAIGN HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. SO I WOULD SUSPECT IF I WERE IN THAT SITUATION I'D PROBABLY TRY TO DEFEND MYSELF A LOT MORE WITH WHATEVER I HAD.

AN AMERICAN A-TEN WARPLANE WAS DAMAGED BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE (SUNDAY NIGHT) BUT LANDED SAFELY. MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT HALF THE LATEST ATTACKS WERE AIMED AT SERB TARGETS IN KOSOVO. HOWEVER, NATO HAS ALSO TAKEN THE WAR TO A WIDE SWATH OF YUGOSLAV TERRITORY BY KNOCKING OUT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRICITY

OFFICIALS SAY THE BLOW WAS DELIVERED BY A NEW PRECISION BOMB,SIMILAR TO WEAPONS USED IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. IT FIRES CARBON FILAMENTS THAT SHORT-CIRCUIT POWER WITHOUT CAUSING MUCH DAMAGE TO TRANSFORMERS.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE POWER GRID IS A MILITARY TARGET BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE ARMY'S COMMAND SYSTEMS AND COMPUTERS. HOWEVER, HE MAKES IT CLEAR THE ALLIES ARE ALSO TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CIVILIANS.

CLEARLY IT SHOULD HAVE THE IMPACT OF ALERTING THEM TO THE FACT THAT INCONVENIENCES LIKE THIS WILL CONTINUE AS WE INTENSIFY THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND THAT THERE'S ONE EASY WAY TO STOP THEM. AND THAT IS TO MEET NATO'S DEMANDS FOR A SETTLEMENT.

[07] U-S/YUGO P-O-W SWAP (S/L) BY NICK SIMEONE (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: NOW THAT THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS HELD BY YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE BEEN RELEASED, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS NOT RULING OUT A RELEASE OF TWO YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS BEING HELD BY NATO. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE HAS THE LATEST.

TEXT: SUNDAY'S RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICANS COULD AFFECT THE FATE OF TWO YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS BEING HELD AS WAR PRISONERS BY NATO. ALTHOUGH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING IT PREMATURE TO DISCUSS THEIR RELEASE, OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON ARE NOT RULING IT OUT.

BUT THEY DO REJECT ANY SYMMETRY BETWEEN THE TWO CASES. AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN DREW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE STATUS OF THE JUST-RELEASED AMERICANS AND THE TWO YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS BEING HELD IN GERMANY.

THEY ARE COMBATANTS IN THE CONFLICT IN CONTRAST TO OUR SOLDIERS WHO SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND NEVER HAVE BEEN HELD.

IF NATO DOES HAND OVER THE TWO YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS IT HOLDS, WASHINGTON WANTS TO MAKE SURE SUCH A GESTURE IS NOT SEEN AS RECIPROCATION FOR THE RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICANS OR A SIGN TO BELGRADE THAT NATO IS WILLING TO BREAK THE DIPLOMATIC ICE AND BEGIN NEGOTIATING ISSUES LINKED TO THE WAR OVER KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/ENE/PT
03-May-99 3:47 PM EDT (1947 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] ALBANIA INCURSIONS (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN/ (KROME, ALBANIA)

INTRO: WESTERN MILITARY OBSERVERS ARE TELLING OF FRESH CROSS-BORDER INCURSIONS BY SERBIAN TROOPS INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA.

V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM THE VILLAGE OF KROME, ALONG THE KOSOVO-ALBANIA FRONTIER, WHERE THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE IS MONITORING SERB MILITARY ACTIVITY.

TEXT:

THE RADIO AT THE O-S-C-E KROME OFFICE WAS CRACKLING MONDAY WITH NEWS OF AT LEAST SIX INCIDENTS OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FIRING INTO ALBANIA. ALL TOOK PLACE AROUND KUKES, WHERE AT LEAST 100-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE CAMPED. TWO OF THE INCIDENTS INVOLVED SERB TROOPS CROSSING THE BORDER.

O-S-C-E FIELD OFFICERS IN KROME SAY TWO OF THE INCIDENTS APPEARED TO BE IN RETALIATION FOR A NATO ATTACK OVERNIGHT THAT DESTROYED A SERB GUARD POST, IN THE HILLS OVERLOOKING THE MORINA FRONTIER CROSSING POINT. THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE POURING INTO ALBANIA DAILY AT THE MORINA CHECKPOINT. IN KROME, FIVE KILOMETERS FROM THE BORDER, VIRTUALLY EVERY HOUSE IS PACKED WITH REFUGEES. THE VILLAGE'S POPULATION HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.

BUT NOT ALL THE REFUGEES IN KROME ARE KOSOVARS. MANY HAVE FLED TO KROME'S RELATIVE SAFETY FROM FRONTIER VILLAGES [IN ALBANIA] TARGETED BY SERB ARTILLERY.

THIRTY-YEAR-OLD LUTFIJE DORAKU AND HER SIX CHILDREN ARE JAMMED INTO A HOUSE IN KROME WITH 14 OTHER PEOPLE. SHE SAYS HER FAMILY FLED THEIR TINY BORDER SETTLEMENT THREE DAYS AGO AFTER A SHELL EXPLODED THREE METERS FROM HER HOME.

AN O-S-C-E FIELD OFFICER IN KROME, BERNARD HUCK, SAYS SERBS ARE FIRING ROCKETS INTO ALBANIA THAT SPREAD SMALL HAND GRENADE-LIKE BOMBLETS AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE.

OUT OF ONE ROCKET, [THERE ARE] MAYBE 80 BOMBLETS, 80 UNEXPLODED BOMBLETS. THAT'S A LOT. EIGHTY MINES, 80 LITTLE MINES, STREWN AROUND IN THE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS.

MR. HUCK SAYS HE SEES NO MILITARY REASON FOR THE SERB SHELLING. THERE ARE NO NATO FACILITIES OR PERSONNEL IN THE REGION, AND THE CONCENTRATION OF KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY FORCES IS INSIGNIFICANT. HE SAYS THE ONLY EXPLANATION HE CAN COME UP WITH IS THE FRUSTRATION OF SERB TROOPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PHW/WTW
03-May-99 6:35 PM EDT (2235 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] KOSOVO EXODUS (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MORINA CROSSING POINT, ALBANIA)

INTRO: REFUGEES POURING INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA FROM KOSOVO ARE TELLING OF AN ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN OF KILLINGS AND BRUTALITY BY SERB FORCES, BENT ON REVENGE FOR NATO ATTACKS. VOA CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN HAS SPENT THE PAST TWO DAYS LISTENING TO STORIES OF NEWLY-ARRIVED REFUGEES AT THE MORINA CROSSING POINT, WHERE THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE ARRIVING DAILY.

TEXT: THEY TELL OF MASSACRES, HOMES, AND ENTIRE VILLAGES BURNED, SLAVE LABOR, FOOD SHORTAGES. THE PICTURE IS ONE OF MASS SUFFERING, AND TERROR THROUGHOUT THE KOSOVO COUNTRYSIDE. 17-YEAR OLD ARBONA GJADA IS ARRIVING FROM DJAKOVA WITH HER TWO SISTERS AND HER PARENTS.

EVERY NIGHT THEY CAME IN OUR HOUSES. THEY SAID "GO IN ALBANIA, THERE IS YOUR TOWN, THERE IS YOUR PLACE. YOU CAN'T COME HERE. NEVER." THEY KILLED PEOPLE IN THE STREETS. THEY COME EVERY NIGHT, THE WANT FROM US GOLD, MONEY. THEY STEAL FROM US EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

MS. GJADA SAYS SERB TROOPS ARE SINGLING-OUT INTELLECTUALS AND YOUNG MEN, THEN ORDERING EVERYONE ELSE TO LEAVE.

POLICE CAME IN OUR HOUSES. AND THEY WANT JUST MEN. THEY KILL JUST MEN. AND DOCTORS. MOST OF THEM ARE DOCTORS, IMPORTANT PEOPLE. THEY KILL HIM IN THE NIGHT.

TWENTY-EIGHT YEAR OLD ARDYAN ARRIVES AT THE CHECKPOINT HOLDING HIS WIFE, WHO IS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT. HE DECLINES TO GIVE HIS LAST NAME, SAYING HE IS AFRAID. HIS RELATIVES, AFTER ALL, ARE STILL IN KOSOVO.

I HAVE FEAR, BECAUSE IT'S NORMAL. BUT THE BIGGEST FEAR WAS FOR CHILDREN AND MY PREGNANT WIFE. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST FEAR, BECAUSE THERE WERE RUMORS THAT LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS WERE MURDERED AND PREGNANT WOMEN WAS RAPED.

OTHERS ARRIVE WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN THEIR FACES AND FRESH TALES OF HORROR.

THIS WOMAN CRIES "THEY KILLED MY BROTHER AND TOOK MY FATHER AWAY." AS SHE BREAKS DOWN IN SOBS, OTHERS IN HER PARTY SAY THE POLICE CAME AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, SETTING FIRE TO THE HOUSE, AND TELLING THEM TO GET OUT OF KOSOVO.

TWO BROTHERS ARRIVING TOGETHER SAY THEY WERE AMONG 16-HUNDRED YOUNG MEN ROUNDED UP AS PART OF A SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF EXPULSION UNDERWAY IN KOSOVO'S SECOND CITY, PRIZREN. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR OLD NIKOLLE DJINI SAYS HE WAS RELEASED BECAUSE HE WAS TOO WEAK, BUT OTHERS WERE BEING FORCED INTO SERB ARMY WORK GANGS.

OVER THE PAST THREE DAYS, MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED AT MORINA CHECKPOINT, BRINGING WITH THEM EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED JUST A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY. WHILE THE STORIES CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE PICTURE EMERGING IS OF ONE OF A SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF KILLING AND DESTRUCTION THAT COULD RANK AMONG THE MOST TERRIBLE OF CRIMES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF/PLM
03-May-99 4:28 AM EDT (0828 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] MACEDONIA REFUGEES (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

INTRO: REFUGEE AGENCIES ARE LOOKING TO MOVE MORE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO ALBANIA IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS FROM THE OVERFLOW OF REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES THERE ARE MORE THAN 160-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA AND THEIR PRESENCE IS CREATING POLITICAL TENSION.

ARIANE QUENTIER (KAHN-TYR), SPOKESPERSON FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IN ALBANIA, SAYS MACEDONIAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN VERY STRAIGHT-FORWARD WITH THEIR OBJECTIONS TO BEING A DESTINATION FOR ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES..

THE MACEDONIANS HAVE NEVER MADE ANY MYSTERY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAD A VERY FRAGILE ETHNIC BALANCE AND THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED TO SEE A GREAT NUMBER OF ALBANIANS GOING INTO THEIR COUNTRY. THE AUTHORITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY... NOT WELCOMING THESE REFUGEES, ALTHOUGH THEY'VE BEEN FULFILLING THEIR DUTY, WHICH IS THEY'VE BEEN ACCEPTING THEM.

EVEN THOUGH ALBANIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS INFERIOR, THERE IS INCREASING TALK ABOUT BRINGING MORE OF THE KOSOVARS NOW IN MACEDONIA INTO ALBANIA.

THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT, INUNDATED BY CLOSE TO 400-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES, IS STILL WILLING TO ACCEPT MORE ETHNIC ALBANIANS -- WHETHER THEY ENTER DIRECTLY FROM KOSOVO, OR FROM NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA.

NATO IS NOW BUILDING CAMPS IN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN ALBANIA WHICH COULD ACCOMMODATE UP TO SIXTY-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES FROM MACEDONIA.

MS. QUENTIER SAYS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS WORKING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING TO THE SOUTHERN ALBANIAN DISTRICT OF KORCE.

THERE IS STILL AROUND SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE ARRIVING EVERY DAY IN MACEDONIA. THE NUMBER OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA HAS INCREASED TO OVER 160-THOUSAND. WE'VE GOT SIGNS FROM THE AUTHORITIES IN MACEDONIA THAT THEY ARE SERIOUSLY BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE MOVING TO ALBANIA, WHO MIGHT BE WANTING TO MOVE TO ALBANIA, WHO MAY BE PUSHED TO MOVE TO ALBANIA.

BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO THE SOUTH AS WELL. INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS SAY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO OBJECT IF LARGE POPULATIONS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES ARE RELOCATED FROM MACEDONIA TO CAMPS NEAR GREECE'S NORTHERN BORDER, WHICH IT SHARES WITH ALBANIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/JO
03-May-99 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] CONGRESS-KOSOVO OVERNIGHTER (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: JUST DAYS AFTER THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAUNCHED A DEBATE ON KOSOVO, THE SENATE FOLLOWED SUIT. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, IT IS ALL TALK AND NO ACTION. SENATORS ARE EXPECTED TO PUT THE MATTER ASIDE WHEN THEY CONVENE LATER TODAY (TUESDAY - 9:30 AM). V-O-A'SPAULA WOLFSON REPORTS.

TEXT: SENATE LEADERS HAD NO STOMACH FOR THE KIND OF CONTENTIOUS POLITICAL WRANGLING THAT SURROUNDED THE KOSOVO DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. THEY TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH. THEY SENT ONE RESOLUTION TO THE CHAMBER FOR CONSIDERATION, LIMITED THE DEBATE TIME, AND ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO INDEFINATELY POSTPONE A FINAL VOTE.

THE RESOLUTION IS THE WORK OF ARIZONA REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN. IT SAYS THE PRESIDENT SHOULD USE ALL NECESSARY FORCE TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. SENATOR MCCAIN OPENED THE DEBATE WITH A STINGING STATEMENT.

PUBLICLY AND REPEATEDLY RULING OUT GROUND TROOPS MAY BE SMART POLITICS ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT'S POLLSTERS, BUT IT IS INEXCUSABLE IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP.

HE SPOKE OF A WHITE HOUSE DRIVEN BY PUBLIC OPINION, AND A REPUBLICAN PARTY CONSUMED BY ITS DISTASTE FOR BILL CLINTON.

WE ARE DEBATING WAR. NOT BILL CLINTON'S WAR. NOT MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S WAR. AMERICA'S WAR.

MONDAY'S DEBATE HIGHLIGHTED DIFFERENCES IN THE SENATE. AND WHILE IT WAS TAME BY HOUSE STANDARDS, THERE WERE FLASHES OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION. ABOUT 20 OF THE 100 SENATORS USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE CONFLICT. DEMOCRAT PAUL WELLSTONE OF MINNESOTA SUGGESTED A BRIEF CEASEFIRE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE MAY NEED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP - - A GESTURE - - IN THE EFFORT TO BRING THESE HORRORS TO AN END.

REPUBLICAN CHUCK HAGEL TOOK AN OPPOSITE VIEW. THE NEBRASKA SENATOR SAID THE AIR WAR HAS BEEN TOO TIMID, AND AMERICA MUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE A STRONGER MILITARY STAND AGAINST A TYRANT.

THE FACT IS OUR ACTIONS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES. THE FACT IS THERE ARE OTHER MILOSEVIC'S OUT THERE.

REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS IN THE SENATE DID NOT TAKEAN ACTIVE ROLE DURING THE DEBATE, AND ONLY WENT INTO THE CHAMBER TO HANDLE PROCEDURAL MATTERS.. MINDFUL OF THE MIXED MESSAGE SENT LAST WEEK BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEY OPTED FOR CAUTION. THE HOUSE REJECTED A RESOLUTION QUESTIONING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE MILITARY OPERATION, AND THEN REFUSED ON A TIE VOTE TO SUPPORTTHE AIR CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
NEBN/PT
03-May-99 6:27 PM EDT (2227 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[12] CLINTON-KOSOVO (L) BY GIL BUTLER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS A PAUSE IN AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IS POSSIBLE IF SERB FORCES WITHDRAW, AND THE AIR WAR CAN END WHEN THERE IS A RETURN OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO PROVIDE SECURITY, AND AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE ON MR. CLINTON'S COMMENTS (TODAY/MONDAY) AT A WHITE HOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE RELEASE OF THREE AMERICAN SERVICEMEN HELD IN YUGOSLAV CUSTODY, BUT SAID A MILLION AND A HALF KOSOVARS HAVE NO HOME.

MR. CLINTON SPOKE AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI. FOR THE FIRST TIME HE SUGGESTED A BOMBING PAUSE MIGHT BE POSSIBLE -- BUT ONLY IF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ACCEPTS BASIC INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS -- THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE INCLUDING NATO TROOPS, AND SELF-RULE FOR KOSOVO.

HE SAID MR. MILOSEVIC'S WORDS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW WE HAD WORDS LAST OCTOBER AND BEFORE, WHERE MR. MILOSEVIC MADE COMMITMENTS AND THEN THEY WERE ABANDONED. WE HAVE TRIED DIPLOMACY. WE HAVE SAID THAT UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE A BOMBING PAUSE, BUT WE WOULD NEED ACCEPTANCE OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLE AND AT LEAST THE BEGINNING OF WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD CHANGE THAT POSITION.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS REPEATEDLY BALKED AT [REFUSED] AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE THAT WOULD INCLUDE NATO, BUT MR. CLINTON SAYS UNLESS THERE IS NATO AND AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT, THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WILL NOT GO HOME, AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY WILL NOT LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WTW
03-May-99 4:55 PM EDT (2055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] RUSSIA / U-S (S/L VER) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS SENT HIS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO WASHINGTON FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THE ENVOY WILL DELIVER A PERSONAL MESSAGE ABOUT THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT FROM THE RUSSIAN LEADER.

TEXT: RUSSIAN ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS THE MESSAGE FROM MR. YELTSIN CONTAINS CONCRETE PROPOSALS TO RESOLVE THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT. HE GAVE NO FURTHER DETAILS.

THE DECISION TO SEND MR. CHERNOMYRDIN TO WASHINGTON FOLLOWED A 15-MINUTE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN AND U-S PRESIDENTS ON SUNDAY.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS THAT DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF HIS TALKS IN THE UNITED STATES, HIS NEXT STEP MAY BE A MEETING WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

HE SAYS WHAT COMES AFTER DEPENDS ON CIRCUMSTANCES -- MAYBE MOSCOW, HE SAYS, OR MAYBE BELGRADE.

THE RUSSIAN ENVOY SAYS WHILE HE IS IN THE UNITED STATES, HE WILL ALSO MEET WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND TOP U-S OFFICIALS, INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAYS HE PLANS TO HEAD LATER TO LONDON AND PARIS TO DISCUSS THE RUSSIAN PROPOSALS WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH LEADERS.

THE RUSSIAN ENVOY HAS BEEN SHUTTLING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MOSCOW, BELGRADE AND OTHER EUROPEAN CAPITALS TRYING TO PRESS FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. HIS EFFORTS HAVE SO FAR MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/CM/PCF/KL
03-May-99 8:11 AM EDT (1211 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] BLAIR/MACEDONIA (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, THE MOST HAWKISH OF THE NATO LEADERS, PAID A BRIEF VISIT MONDAY TO MACEDONIA, THE MOST RELUCTANT OF THE FRONT LINE STATES, TO SHORE UP SUPPORT FOR THE BELEAGURED GOVERNMENT THERE. AS CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM SKOPJE, PRIME MINISTER BLAIR ALSO VISITED KOSOVAR REFUGEE CAMPS TO SEE FIRST-HAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP.

TEXT: /// ESTABLISH AMBIENT SOUND OF CHEERING AND FADE ///

KOSOVAR REFUGEES YOUNG AND OLD CHEERED LOUDLY AS PRIME MINISTER BLAIR ENTERED THE STENKAVAC (STEN KAH VAZ) CAMP. THE 20 MINUTE VISIT THERE GAVE HIM TIME TO CHAT WITH A FEW REFUGEES, VISIT A BRITISH AID AGENCY AND DELIVER A TOUGH MESSAGE.

THIS IS NOT A BATTLE FOR NATO. THIS IS NOT A BATTLE FOR TERRITORY. THIS IS A BATTLE FOR HUMANITY. IT IS A JUST CAUSE. IT IS A RIGHTFUL CAUSE. ///OPT /// AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES. I HOPE THAT THE NEXT TIME WE MEET GOING BACK ACROSS THE BORDER INTO KOSOVO, ALLOWING PEOPLE THE SECURITY AND PEACE WHICH IS THE RIGHT OF ANY DECENT HUMAN BEING IN THE CIVILIZED WORLD. ///END OPT///

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR HAS PROMISED MORE POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP MACEDONIA COPE WITH THE REFUGEE CRISIS. HE HAS DOUBLED BRITAIN'S AID FOR THE REFUGEE RELIEF OPERATIONS TO MORE THAN 60 MILLION DOLLARS.

WE ARE GIVING TANGIBLE EXPRESSION TO THOSE FEELINGS OF SUPPORT AND GRATITUDE BOTH BY PLEDGING MORE BILATERAL AID TO MACEDONIA AND ALSO BY DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE WE ARE GIVING FOR THE HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS HERE IN MACEDONIA.

MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE NEARLY 200-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS NOW IN MACEDONIA - EITHER IN NINE REFUGEE CAMPS OR TAKEN INTO PRIVATE HOMES BY THE COUNTRY'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMUNITY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SOCIAL STRAINS AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF THE REFUGEE CRISIS AND URGED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO MORE.

MACEDONIA'S PRIME MINISTER LJUBCO GEORGIEVSKI HAS WELCOMED BITAIN'S PROMISES OF HELP.

I MAY SAY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM MR BLAIR PROMISES FOR SERIOUS SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SECURITY OF OUR STATE, SUPPORT FOR OUR ROAD TO INTEGRATION WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH SHOULD BE KNOWN SOON AT THE DONOR'S CONFERENCE IN PARIS.

THE PARIS CONFERENCE OF DONORS NEXT WEEK WILL BE CONSIDERING A 435 MILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE FOR MACEDONIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/WFR
03-May-99 6:27 PM EDT (2227 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] KOSOVO / BUKOSHI BY CANDACE WILLIAMS (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A PROMINENT POLITICAL FIGURE IN KOSOVO'S ETHNIC-ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IS CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES TO CONTINUE BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA UNTIL THEIR OBJECTIVES ARE ACHIEVED. BUJAR BUKOSHI [PRON: BOO-'YAHR BOO-'KOE-SHE] IS A LEADING MEMBER OF THE UNOFFICIAL ADMINISTRATION THAT ETHNIC ALBANIANS SET UP IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. HE SPOKE TO REPORTERS (TODAY/MONDAY) IN WASHINGTON, WHERE HE IS MEETING WITH U-S OFFICIALS. V-O-A'S CANDACE WILLIAMS HAS MORE.

TEXT: BUJAR BUKOSHI SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL TO THE UNITED STATES AND NATO FOR THE SACRIFICES AND RISKS TAKEN ON BEHALF OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. MR. BUKOSHI SAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A DECADE, HIS PEOPLE HAVE TANGIBLE HOPE OF BEING FREED FROM WHAT HE CALLS THE TYRANNY OF SERBIAN OPPRESSION, AND THE REGIME OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

HE SAYS THE ALLIED BOMBARDMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA MUST CONTINUE, SINCE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE PROVINCE OR MURDERED BY SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES.

FIRST, NATO MUST DRIVE OUT OR DESTROY ALL THE SERBIAN MILITARY, PARAMILITARY AND POLICE FORCES. SECOND, IT MUST ENABLE ALL OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES THROUGHOUT KOSOVO. THIRD, THEY MUST DEPLOY A NATO FORCE IN KOSOVO TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE TO LIVE [IN] AND GOVERN THEMSELVES.

MR. BUKOSHI SAYS THE QUESTION OF AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO PROVINCE -- WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS -- NO LONGER APPLIES, BECAUSE ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE NO FUTURE UNDER SERBIA.

THE AUTONOMY IS OBSOLETE. IT'S DEFINITELY OBSOLETE, AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED IN KOSOVO. NO ONE COULD CONVINCE ANY ALBANIAN TO REMAIN UNDER ANY FORM OF SERBIAN CONTROL. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY SO, AND WE THINK AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED IN KOSOVO, THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE ABOUT THEIR OWN FUTURE. SO AUTONOMY AGAIN IS OBSOLETE. IT DOESN'T WORK. IT WILL NEVER WORK.

MR. BUKOSHI OPPOSES ANY AGREEMENT THAT CALLS FOR KOSOVO PROVINCE TO BE PARTITIONED BETWEEN ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS. HE SAYS PARTITIONING KOSOVO WOULD CREATE TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS, GIVEN ITS DIVERSE ETHNIC COMPOSITION. HE SAYS HE ENVISIONS KOSOVO AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WILL NOT FEEL ALIENATED OR BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUND. HE ALSO SAYS A KOSOVO THAT IS INDEPENDENT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO STABILITY AND PEACE IN THE REGION. (SIGNED) NEB/CAW/
03-May-99 5:50 PM EDT (2150 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] U-N KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, IS EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER WHAT IT CALLS A LACK OF RESPONSE FROM WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO TAKE IN MORE KOSOVO REFUGEES NOW IN MACEDONIA. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA THE NUMBER OF REFUGEE EVACUATIONS HAS DROPPED FROM AN AVERAGE 16-HUNDRED A DAY TO JUST 403 ON SUNDAY.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT IS PUZZLED AS TO WHY SO FEW KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE BEING RELOCATED TO WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN WAKE OF ITS URGENT APPEAL. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THE AGENCY URGED COUNTRIES TO SPEED UP THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON MACEDONIA.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN, KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS HE BELIEVES THE AIRLIFTS ARE BEING HELD UP BY BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE (FORMALITIES). HE SAYS RECEIVING COUNTRIES ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME SELECTING THE REFUGEES THEY WANT TO TAKE IN. HOWEVER, THE AGENCY HAS RECEIVED A BETTER RESPONSE FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.

THE LARGEST WOULD BE GOING TO THE U-S. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE QUITE INVOLVED IN ... LOGISTIC PREPARATIONS TO DO IT. I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHEN AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN (OR) WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN VIA GREECE OR FROM MACEDONIA. NONETHELESS, THEY ARE PREPARING TO DO IT.

THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA HAVE PLEDGED TO ACCEPT 35-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES MACEDONIA IS NOW HOSTING MORE THAN 193-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. THE CAMPS ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING HOPELESSLY OVERCROWDED. UNICEF, THE U-N CHILDREN'S FUND, SAYS THE OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS ARE AFFECTING ITS EFFORTS TO VACCINATE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AGAINST DISEASES SUCH AS MEASLES, POLIO AND DIPTHERIA. UNICEF'S SPOKESMAN IS PATRICK MC CORMICK.

OUR PROGRESS IN VACCINATING THE TARGET NUMBER OF NINE-THOUSAND REFUGEE CHILDREN UNDER (AGE) FIVE HAS BEEN SLOWED BY THE OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND SPACE. VACCINATIONS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAVE TO BE FAIRLY WELL-ORGANIZED AFFAIRS AND FINDING THE SPACE TO GET HUNDREDS OF UNDER-FIVES TOGETHER WITH THEIR MOTHERS HAS BEEN PROVING DIFFICULT.

MR. MC CORMICK SAYS THE LACK OF SPACE IS ALSO AFFECTING UNICEF'S SCHOOL AND PLAY GROUP PROGRAMS. HE SAYS THE AGENCY IS NOW LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ENROLLING MORE REFUGEE CHILDREN IN LOCAL SCHOOLS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
03-May-99 10:01 AM EDT (1401 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] EDITORIAL: SUPPORT FOR MILOSEVIC IS CRACKING

ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

THE FIRING OF YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VUK DRASKOVIC FOR HIS FORTHRIGHT STATEMENTS ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO WILL NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT ALL SERBS SHOULD HEED WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. "I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE NATO TROOPS STATIONED HERE [KOSOVO], BUT AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE TO ACCEPT REALITY," MR. DRASKOVIC SAID. KNOWN TO BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER, MR. DRASKOVIC FIRST EXPRESSED HIS DISSENTING OPINION IN AN INTERVIEW WITH BELGRADE'S STUDIO B. YUGOSLAV LEADERS, HE SAID, MUST "STOP LYING TO THE PEOPLE IN SERBIA, AND FINALLY TELL THEM THE TRUTH. THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE TOLD THAT NATO IS NOT FACING A BREAKDOWN, THAT RUSSIA WILL NOT HELP YUGOSLAVIA MILITARILY AND THAT WORLD PUBLIC OPINION IS AGAINST [SERBIA]."

MR. DRASKOVIC IS NOT ALONE IN HIS OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S REFUSAL TO END THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. THE DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES RECENTLY SAID THEY SHARE MR. DRASKOVIC'S VIEWS. THE HEAD OF THE BIGGEST OPPOSITION PARTY IN SERBIA AND A FORMER MINISTER IN MR. MILOSEVIC'S GOVERNMENT SAID, "I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION WHILE MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER."

WITH EACH DAY THAT PASSES, SERBIA'S INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION INCREASES. ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ANNOUNCED BY THE U.S. WILL CUT OFF ALL EXPORTS TO SERBIA, EXCEPT HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BLOCKED ALL OIL SHIPMENTS TO YUGOSLAVIA. MEANWHILE, NATO REMAINS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN UNTIL PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC CEASES HIS ATROCITIES AGAINST THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND WITHDRAWS HIS TROOPS FROM KOSOVO.

MORE SERBS ARE RECOGNIZING THAT THEIR FUTURE LIES WITH DEMOCRATS NOT DICTATORS. THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA DESERVE A LEADERSHIP THAT WILL BRING THE WAR TO AN END AND RESTORE INTERNATIONAL RESPECTABILITY TO SERBIA.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043.
03-May-99 1:34 PM EDT (1734 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[18] TURKEY POLITICS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: FORMER TURKISH PREMIER, BULENT ECEVIT, HAS BEEN ASKED TO FORM THE COUNTRY'S NEW GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING ELECTIONS LAST MONTH WHICH FAILED TO GIVE ANY PARTY A CLEAR MAJORITY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, MR. ECEVIT NEEDS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH AT LEAST TWO OTHER PARTIES IN ORDER TO FORM A GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: MR. ECEVIT'S "DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY" CAME FIRST IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD IN MID-APRIL, SO HIS APPOINTMENT BY TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL AS PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE COMES AS NO SURPRISE.

BUT ANALYSTS SAY MR. ECEVIT FACES TOUGH CHOICES IN DETERMINING JUST WHO TO TEAM-UP WITH. THEY SAY THAT GIVEN THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS IN THE 550-MEMBER TURKISH PARLIAMENT, MR. ECEVIT'S MOST OBVIOUS COALITION PARTNER IS THE ULTRA-NATIONALIST "NATIONAL ACTION PARTY," WHICH MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS SHARE OF THE VOTE AND CAME IN SECOND.

BUT IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES -- ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE DEFINITION OF SECULARISM -- COULD COMPLICATE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN MR. ECEVIT AND THE NATIONALIST GROUP KNOWN AS THE "M-H-P." THAT RIGHT-WING PARTY IS, FOR EXAMPLE. IN FAVOR OF LIFTING BANS ON THE ISLAMIC HEADSCARF IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND HAS VOWED TO PUSH THROUGH LEGISLATION TO THAT END. MR. ECEVIT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS AN ARDENT PROPONENT OF LIMITING USAGE OF THE ISLAMIC SCARF TO NON-OFFICIAL PLACES, A POSITION THAT IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BE BACKED BY TURKEY'S POWERFUL ARMED FORCES.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. ECEVIT AND HIS RIGHT-WING OPPONENTS IN THE PARLIAMENT BECAME GLARINGLY EVIDENT SUNDAY WHEN A FEMALE MEMBER ELECTED ON THE ISLAMIST "VIRTUE PARTY'S" TICKET SOUGHT TO TAKE OATH BEFORE THE BODY WEARING HER HEADSCARF. MR. ECEVIT'S GROUP STOOD ALONE IN DEMANDING THAT MERVE KAVAKCI LEAVE THE CHAMBER. THE ISLAMIST DEPUTY EVENTUALLY LEFT -- WITHOUT TAKING HER OATH.

BUT STRIKING A DEFIANT TONE, MS KAVAKCI TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY THAT EFFORTS TO KEEP HER OUT OF THE PARLIAMENT WERE "ANTI-DEMOCRATIC" AND THAT THEY DEFIED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HER AS THEIR PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE.

TURKEY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR MEANWHILE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD BE INVESTIGATING MS KAVACKI'S ACTIONS -- A SURE SIGN, ANALYSTS SAY, THAT SHE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SIT IN THE PARLIAMENT WITH HER HEAD COVERED, EVEN IF SHE SHOULD RECEIVE THE BACKING OF OTHER PARTIES REPRESENTED THERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
03-May-99 9:30 AM EDT (1330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[19] E-U / BEEF (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NEW EUROPEAN RESEARCH SAYS THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN CANCER AND THE GROWTH HORMONES USED TO TREAT BEEF CATTLE. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE REPORT WILL BE USED BY E-U OFFICIALS WHO WANT TO KEEP EUROPEAN RESTRICTIONS ON BEEF IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSION PUBLISHED A REPORT MONDAY BY EUROPE'S SCIENTIFIC VETERINARY COMMITTEE WHICH SAYS GROWTH HORMONES IN MEAT POSE A HEALTH RISK TO CONSUMERS.

THE REPORT SAYS THE SIX HORMONES WHICH WERE STUDIED INCREASE THE RISKS OF BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCER AND ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO YOUNG CHILDREN. THE SCIENTISTS SAY EXPOSURE TO EVEN SMALL LEVELS OF GROWTH HORMONE RESIDUES IN MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS CARRIES RISKS. AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH SAFE LEVELS FOR ANY OF THE SIX SUBSTANCES.

THE REPORT WILL BE USED AS AMMUNITION BY OFFICIALS IN EUROPE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP THE PRESENT E-U BAN ON TREATED BEEF. SOME E-U OFFICIALS EVEN WANT CONSUMERS TO BE WARNED OF THE RISK OF EATING BEEF WHILE TRAVELLING IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES HAS SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED THE PRESENT E-U RESTRICTIONS AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. THE EUROPEAN UNION MUST GIVE ITS RESPONSE TO THE W-T-O BY MAY 13TH.

E-U FOOD SAFETY COMMISSIONER EMMA BONINO IS EXPECTED TO LEAD CALLS TO KEEP THE EXISTING E-U BAN ON HORMONE BEEF. BUT E-U TRADE COMMISSIONER LEON BRITTAN IS EXPECTED TO ARGUE THAT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SHOULD TRY TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL WITH THE UNITED STATES.

ONE OPTION IS FOR THE FINAL CHOICE TO BE GIVEN TO CONSUMERS. EUROPE WOULD PERMIT IMPORTS OF HORMONE-TREATED BEEF, BUT THE MEAT WOULD BE LABELED SO SHOPPERS WOULD KNOWS IT CONTAINS HORMONE RESIDUES.

THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT INTENDS TO RETALIATE IF THE EUROPEAN UNION MAINTAINS ITS RESTRICTIONS ON U-S BEEF EXPORTS. U-S SANCTIONS WOULD HIT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF E-U EXPORTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH
03-May-99 10:28 AM EDT (1428 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE HIGHER TODAY (MONDAY) WITH THE DOWN JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSING ABOVE 11 THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST TIME. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 11 THOUSAND FOURTEEN, UP 225 POINTS OR MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED ABOVE 10 THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST LAST MARCH 29TH. NOW IT IS ONE THOUSAND POINTS -- 10 PERCENT HIGHER. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 54, UP 19 POINTS. BUT THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED DOWN A FRACTION OF ONE PERCENT, REFLECTING SOME WEAKNESS IN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

THERE IS CERTAINLY ENORMOUS SPECULATIVE ACTIVITY THERE. THERE WILL BE A FEW COMPANIES, I AM SURE, THAT DO VERY WELL. BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE MAJORITY OF ISSUES, AT THEIR PRESENT PRICES, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.

MR. BUFFETT SPOKE IN ADVANCE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING OF BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, HIS INVESTMENT FIRM. //END OPT///

AN INDEX DESIGNED TO MEASURE U-S MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY (NAPM) DIPPED MODESTLY IN APRIL. THAT NEWS HELPED TO CALM INFLATION FEARS ON WALL STREET, FEARS WHICH HAD BEEN TRIGGERED BY A HIGHER THAN EXPECTED RATE OF U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS AMERICAN CONSUMERS CONTINUED THEIR BUYING SPREE IN MARCH, DIPPING INTO SAVINGS TO FINANCE A FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT SPENDING INCREASE.

THE A-T AND T TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY HAS APPARENTLY WON THE BATTLE FOR MEDIA-ONE, A CABLE TELEVISION FIRM. MEDIA-ONE SAYS IT WILL TERMINATE A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT WITH THE COMCAST CORPORATION AND ACCEPT A 56 BILLION DOLLAR OFFER FROM A-T AND T. PHILIPS, THE DUTCH ELECTRONICS COMPANY, WILL PAY ONE BILLION DOLLARS FOR V-L-S-I TECHNOLOGY, THE U-S COMPUTER CHIPMAKER.

VOLKSWAGEN, THE GERMAN-BASED AUTOMAKER, SAYS IT IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES MARKET. VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS ITS U-S SALES JUMPED 50 PERCENT IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, THE GERMAN-AMERICAN COMPANY, SAYS ITS U-S SALES WERE UP TWO PERCENT IN APRIL.

GENERAL MOTORS WILL GO AHEAD WITH PLANS TO BUILD AN AUTO ASSEMBLY PLANT IN THE BRAZILIAN STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. LAST WEEK, THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CANCELED PLANS FOR A SIMILAR PLANT AFTER THE STATE GOVERNOR SUSPENDED CERTAIN FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WHICH HAD BEEN OFFERED TO BOTH FORD AND G-M.

CIRCUS CIRCUS, THE CASINO-HOTEL OPERATOR, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS WILL BEAT WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS BY MORE THAN 60 PERCENT. THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS ENJOYING HIGH OCCUPANCY RATES AT MANDALAY BAY, ITS NEWEST LAS VEGAS PROPERTY WHICH OPENED IN MARCH. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PHW/WFR
03-May-99 5:21 PM EDT (2121 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[21] PRISONER RELEASE COMPLICATES BALKAN WAR BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE SUCCESSFUL TRIP OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER REVEREND JESSE JACKSON TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S ARMY PRISONERS HELD BY YUGOSLAVIA HAS COMPLICATED THE BALKAN WAR PICTURE.

THE U-S PRESS IS HAILING THE PRISONERS' RELEASE, BUT MOST PAPERS ARE CALLING FOR A CONTINUATION OF THE BOMBING TO FORCE THE YUGOSLAVIAN LEADER, SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, TO COMPLY WITH A-L-L NATO DEMANDS. HOWEVER, SOME DAILIES SEE THE RELEASE AS THE FIRST ACT OF A POSSIBLE ENDING TO THE CONFLICT.

WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE HEADLINE OVER THE MAIN STORY IN "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL DAILY PUBLISHED IN A WASHINGTON, D-C SUBURB, READS: "U-S VOWS TO KEEP BOMBING; BUT PEACE EFFORTS INTENSIFY AFTER G-IS ARE RELEASED TO [REV] JACKSON.

THE U-S EDITORIALS ARE TAKING A CAREFUL VIEW OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. WE BEGIN WITH "USA TODAY," WHICH SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S RELEASE SUNDAY OF U-S PRISONERS OF WAR CAN BE READ TWO WAYS. VIEWED OPTIMISTICALLY, IT'S A BREAKTHROUGH THAT 'DESERVES A DIPLOMATIC RESPONSE, NOT A MILITARY RESPONSE.' ... BUT VIEWED THROUGH THE LENS OF [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S PAST BEHAVIOR, THE RELEASE, WHILE WELCOME, IS FAR LESS MOMENTOUS. IT IS, IN FACT, JUST HIS LATEST ATTEMPT TO SPLIT NATO BY PLAYING TO DESIRES FOR A QUICK END TO THE 41-DAY AIR WAR. ... NOT GOOD ENOUGH. A CEASE-FIRE WOULD ONLY PUT MORE CARDS IN [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S HANDS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE POLITICAL PRESSURE IN NATO WOULD WORK AGAINST A RESTART OF BOMBING.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" TAKES ESSENTIALLY THE SAME VIEW, WHILE WELCOMING THE MEN'S RELEASE.

VOICE: THE SAFETY OF THE THREE U-S SOLDIERS FREED FROM YUGOSLAVIA BY THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON IS A WORTHY AND WELCOME ACHIEVEMENT, BUT DOES NOT IN ITSELF, UNFORTUNATELY, SIGNAL A SHIFT IN THE ATTITUDE OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC THAT MIGHT PRODUCE MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS TO END THE WAR. /// OPT /// [REVEREND] JACKSON'S OWN APPRAISAL -- THAT THE RELEASE WAS 'A KEYHOLE TO THE REAL DOOR OF ENDING THE WAR IN KOSOVO,' CONCEDED THE MODEST POTENTIAL OF HIS OTHERWISE DRAMATIC EVENT. /// END OPT /// ... [MR.] MILOSEVIC RISKED NOTHING BY ACCEDING TO [REVEREND] JACKSON'S PILGRIMAGE ON BEHALF OF ANDREW RAMIREZ, CHRISTOPHER STONE, AND STEVEN GONZALES. HE WILL SURELY EXPLOIT THE GESTURE TO CLAIM THAT HE IS A REASONABLE AND HUMANE PERSON, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS IN N O WAY ERADICATED THE GHASTLY RECORD OF SYSTEMATIC ABUSE HEAPED ON KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. /// THE GESTURE COULD GAIN MEANING IF IT INDICATES A SHIFT IN [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD CONCESSIONS TO GAIN PEACE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE OPTIMISTIC, GIVEN HIS WILLINGNESS TO SUBJECT HIS PEOPLE TO THE PUNISHING EFFECTS OF THE AIR WAR. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EXPRESSES ITSELF THIS WAY.

VOICE: .SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S GOOD-WILL GESTURE ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT REASON TO SUSPEND THE AIR WAR. AS PRESIDENT CLINTON RIGHTLY NOTED YESTERDAY, [THE U-S TROOPS] ... ARE HEADED HOME AFTER 32 DAYS IN SERBIAN CUSTODY, BUT A MILLION ETHNIC ALBANIANS EXPELLED FROM THEIR VILLAGES CANNOT YET RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. NATO LEADERS SHOULD INTENSIFY THEIR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, BUT UNTIL MR. MILOSEVIC TAKES THE STEPS NECESSARY TO RESTORE PEACE TO KOSOVO, THERE SHOULD BE NO BOMBING PAUSE. /// OPT /// ... CLEARLY, MR. MILOSEVIC IS SIGNALING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO END THE WAR. ... BUT THE WEEKEND'S DEVELOPMENTS DO NOT CHANGE THE LARGER PICTURE. ... CERTAINLY EVERY DIPLOMATIC OPENING SHOULD BE PURSUED. BUT THE BOMBING PROVIDES THE INCENTIVE FOR MR. MILOSEVIC TO GIVE UP HIS DEADLY GAME IN KOSOVO, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE SUSPENDED UNTIL HE DOES. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: AMONG THE MOST HOPEFUL, THOUGH STILL GUARDED, OF RESPONSES, COMES FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES."

VOICE: TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF U-S SOLDIERS FROM CAPTIVITY. THE DIPLOMATIC AVENUES TOWARD PEACE APPEAR TO BE OPENING UP, THROUGH THE INCREASED INTEREST OF THE RUSSIANS AND OTHERS. AMERICANS MUST NOT FORGET, HOWEVER, THAT DIPLOMACY WAS TRIED AND FAILED FOR MANY MONTHS IN THE ABSENCE OF A MILITARY CAMPAIGN. IN THE PRESENCE OF A MILITARY CAMPAIGN, THE DIPLOMATIC APPROACH MIGHT FINALLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE INCENTIVE IT NEEDED.

TEXT: IN THE MIDWEST, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRAISES REVEREND JACKSON FOR HIS EFFORT, BUT WARNS:

VOICE: NO ONE ... SHOULD BE STARRY-EYED ABOUT THE SEEMING KIND-HEARTEDNESS OF "THE BUTCHER OF BELGRADE". SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC RELEASED THE PRISONERS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT BETTER SERVED HIS PURPOSES TO HAVE THEM GO WITH [REVEREND] JACKSON THAN REMAIN UNDER HIS LOCK AND KEY. THIS GESTURE PALES AGAINST THE YEARS OF DEATH AND CRUELTY ENGINEERED BY [MR.] MILOSEVIC. THIS DOES NOT TURN HIM INTO A HUMANITARIAN. THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE EQUATION OF HIS WAR WITH NATO.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE: "MILOSEVIC BLINKS," THEN ASKS:

VOICE: IS THIS STRONGMAN AS STRONG AS HE WAS JUST FOUR WEEKS AGO? WE VERY MUCH DOUBT IT. [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S PLAYING OF THE HOSTAGE CARD ALMOST CERTAINLY MEANS HE HAS BEEN HURT MORE THAN WE RECOGNIZE. ... THERE IS NOT THE SLIGHTEST REASON FOR HIM TO WANT TO ENDURE MORE NATO POUNDING.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THE RELEASE OVER THE WEEKEND OF THREE CAPTURED U-S SOLDIERS BY THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT AT THE URGING OF REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.
NEB/ANG/KL
03-May-99 1:41 PM EDT (1741 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[22] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: BEGINNING A NEW WORK WEEK, THE U-S EDITORIAL PAGES REFLECT THE WEEKEND DEVELOPMENT OF JESSE JACKSON'S SUCCESSFUL MISSION TO YUGOSLAVIA. THE RELEASE OF THE THREE CAPTURED U-S ARMY MEN IS A PRIME TOPIC, AS IS THE WAR IN GENERAL.

THE DECISION BY PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT TO POSTPONE DECLARING HIS LAND AN INDEPENDENT STATE IS ALSO COMING IN FOR A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: CHINESE ESPIONAGE AT U-S NUCLEAR LABS: THE WASHINGTON VISIT OF JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER; AND REFLECTIONS ON A FREE PRESS ON THIS -- WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY. NOW, HERE WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IS ______________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: JESSE JACKSON HAS PERSUADED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO RELEASE THREE CAPTURED U-S ARMY SOLDIERS DURING A WEEKEND VISIT TO BELGRADE. THE MEN ARE IN GERMANY, ENROUTE HOME, AND IN MONDAY'S U-S PRESS THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF COMMENT ABOUT THE VISIT. "USA TODAY'S" EDITORIAL HEADLINE READS: "P-O-W RELEASE SHOULDN'T FREE [MR.] MILOSEVIC FROM NATO DEMANDS" WHILE "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS IN ITS HEADLINE: "MILOSEVIC BLINKS," ASKING:

VOICE: IS THIS STRONGMAN AS STRONG AS HE WAS JUST FOUR WEEKS AGO? WE VERY MUCH DOUBT IT. [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S PLAYING OF THE HOSTAGE CARD ALMOST CERTAINLY MEANS HE HAS BEEN HURT MORE THAN WE RECOGNIZE. ... THERE IS NOT THE SLIGHTEST REASON FOR HIM TO WANT TO ENDURE MORE NATO POUNDING.

TEXT: IN THE MIDWEST, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRAISES REVEREND JACKSON FOR HIS EFFORT, BUT WARNS:

VOICE: /// OPT /// NO ONE ... SHOULD BE STARRY-EYED ABOUT THE SEEMING KIND-HEARTEDNESS OF "THE BUTCHER OF BELGRADE". SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC RELEASED THE PRISONERS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT BETTER SERVED HIS PURPOSES TO HAVE THEM GO WITH [REVEREND] JACKSON THAN REMAIN UNDER HIS LOCK AND KEY. /// END OPT /// THIS GESTURE PALES AGAINST THE YEARS OF DEATH AND CRUELTY ENGINEERED BY [MR.] MILOSEVIC. THIS DOES NOT TURN HIM INTO A HUMANITARIAN. THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE EQUATION OF HIS WAR WITH NATO.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE WAR IN GENERAL, PENNSYLVANIA'S "GREENSBURG TRIBUNE REVIEW" IS UPSET AT THE IMBALANCE IN NATO FORCES WHICH, THE PAPER SAYS, ARE BEING "CARRIED" [SUPPORTED] BY THE UNITED STATES.

VOICE: THE NATO MISSION ... WAS DESCRIBED FROM ITS OUTSET AS A "MULTINATIONAL FORCE"; SEVERAL NATIONS HAVE, INDEED, SUPPLIED PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A U-S WAR, FOUGHT IN LARGE PART WITH 22-THOUSAND U-S PERSONNEL AND ...U-S SUPPLIES. OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS IN NATO HAVE CONTRIBUTED FAR LESS. ... OUR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN NATO SHOULD BE BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT EUROPEAN FORCES WILL CARRY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE LOAD ...

TEXT: MOVING TO THE FINANCIAL STRAIN THE WAR IS PUTTING ON THE MILITARY, RESERVE OFFICERS, AND MEN BEING CALLED UP FROM CIVILIAN JOBS TO ADD TO THE NATO FORCE, "THE TOPEKA [KANSAS] CAPITOL-JOURNAL" SAYS A BETTER METHOD IS NEEDED TO COMPENSATE THESE MEN AND WOMAN FOR THEIR TIME.

VOICE: IT IS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT RESERVISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE THE PHYSICAL AND FISCAL RISKS WITHOUT ADEQUATE COMPENSATION. NOR SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE FORCED TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE [IN THEIR SALARY BETWEEN MILITARY PAY AND THEIR COMMERCIAL JOB]. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE RESERVES MAY GO BEGGING FOR RECRUITS.

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE SALUTING PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT FOR HIS DECISION NOT TO DECLARE HIS LANDS A SOVEREIGN NATION THIS WEEK, AND SO THROW THE PEACE PROCESS INTO CHAOS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ISRAELI ELECTION. OHIO'S "AKRON BEACON JOURNAL" VOICES THE OPINION OF MANY, AS IT SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD IS INEVITABLE. IT WILL NOT COME ON TUESDAY, THE TARGET DATE FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1993 OSLO PEACE ACCORD FOR THE MIDDLE EAST. BUT IT WILL COME. YASSER ARAFAT IS CERTAIN OF IT. SO CERTAIN, THE HEAD OF THE PALESTINE AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED THE WISDOM IN WAITING. ... A UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF PALESTINE'S STATEHOOD WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE.

TEXT: "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" ADDS:

VOICE: MR. ARAFAT IS NO DUMMY. HE KNOWS THAT THE SMOOTHER PATH TO PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD LIES WITH THE ISRAELI OPPOSITION. AND HE KNOWS THAT A UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD WOULD PROBABLY PROVOKE A VIOLENT REACTION FROM MR. NETANYAHU, WHO WOULD FEEL DUTY-BOUND TO PROTECT ISRAELI SETTLERS IN THE TWO TERRITORIES.

TEXT: TODAY'S "MANCHESTER [NEW HAMPSHIRE] UNION LEADER" CONTINUES TO BE OUTRAGED AT THE LATEST REVELATIONS ABOUT CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE AT SEVERAL U-S NUCLEAR LABS DURING THE PAST DECADE.

VOICE: THE THEFT OF OUR NUCLEAR WEAPONS SECRETS -- VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM -- FROM THE LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY IS THE MOST SERIOUS BREACH OF NATIONAL SECURITY SINCE THE JULIUS AND ETHEL ROSENBERG SPYING WAS UNCOVERED IN THE EARLY 1950'S. THE LOS ALAMOS THEFT WAS FAR MORE DAMAGING TO U-S SECURITY THAN THE JOHN WALKER-NAVY SPY RING OR C-I-A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE OFFICER ALDRICH AMES' TREASON. WORSE, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE IN THE FACE OF THIS NEARLY TOTAL FAILURE OF SECURITY VERGES ON -- DARE WE SAY IT? -- THE TREASONOUS. THE SCALE OF OUR LOSS HAS BEEN ALMOST INCALCULABLE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR.

TEXT: "THE ST. PETERSBURG [FLORIDA] TIMES" ADDS:

VOICE: HISTORY MAY REMEMBER PRESIDENT CLINTON AS THE MAN IN CHARGE WHEN SOME OF OUR GOVERNMENT'S MOST IMPORTANT NUCLEAR SECRETS WERE DOWNLOADED INTO CHINESE COMPUTERS. INVESTIGATORS ALREADY HAVE DETERMINED THAT HIGHLY CLASSIFIED COMPUTER CODES ... KNOWN AS 'LEGACY CODES' ARE A CULMINATION OF 50-YEARS OF NUCLEAR EXPERIMENTATION. WHEN COMBINED WITH THE WEAPONS SPECIFICATIONS THAT ALSO WERE DOWNLOADED, THEY CAN BE USED AS BLUEPRINTS FOR BUILDING THE MOST ADVANCED AND DESTRUCTIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES IN OUR COUNTRY'S ARSENAL.

TEXT: STILL WITH ORIENTAL AFFAIRS, "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" VIEWS CRITICALLY JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI'S PHILOSOPHY FOR FIXING JAPAN'S ECONOMIC ILLS AS HE BEGINS A VISIT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK. THE PAPER SUGGESTS: "JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER SHOWS A POLITICIAN'S TENDENCY TO TAKE CREDIT AND AVOID RESPONSIBILITY.'

VOICE: THE PROUD LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH [MR.] OBUCHI'S COMMENTS TO REPORTERS THAT THERE IS LITTLE MORE HIS GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO FOR ITS ECONOMY. THERE ARE LIMITS, HE SAYS, TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO NURTURE A FREE-MARKET SYSTEM. ONE SUSPECTS [MR.] OBUCHI IS JUST COVERING HIMSELF POLITICALLY HERE, BUT IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE, HIS COMMENTS ARE DISTURBING. /// END OPT /// THE IRONY OF THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY IS THAT THE FREE MARKETS THAT HAVE PROVEN SO VALUABLE DEPEND ON CONSTANT NURTURING FROM GOVERNMENT... [MR.] OBUCHI'S GOVERNMENT HAS MADE PROGRESS, BUT THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD NOT THINK THAT MEANS HIS WORK IS DONE.

TEXT: FINALLY, IN CELEBRATING "WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY", SEVERAL PAPERS, AMONG THEM "THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE," "THE BOSTON GLOBE" AND "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" ARE COMMENTING ON THE BENEFITS OF A FREE PRESS. "THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE" SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: THERE ARE TOO MANY PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE SIMPLY WRITING OR READING THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES COULD RESULT IN A PRISON TERM -- OR WORSE -- FOR BOTH THE WRITER AND THE READER. AND THUS, WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY TO REMIND US ALL OF THE DANGERS WE FACE IN A WORLD WITHOUT UNIVERSAL PRESS FREEDOM. ... A FREEDOM HOUSE STUDY HAS FOUND THAT IN 1998 PRESS FREEDOM ACTUALLY DECLINED AROUND THE WORLD ... LOOK ... AT PLACES LIKE CHINA, CUBA, IRAQ, AND OTHERS, AND CONNECTION BETWEEN A LACK OF A FREE PRESS AND REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, AND INTERNATIONAL VILLAINY IS CLEAR. ... THOSE WHO THINK FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AROUND THE WORLD IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S WORRY ARE ONLY BURYING THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND OF THEIR OWN CYNICISM.

TEXT: WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL OPINION FROM MONDAY'S U-S PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
03-May-99 10:53 AM EDT (1453 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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