Voice of America, 99-05-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[02] NATO/KOSOVO UPDATE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[03] U-S / NATO / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WASHINGTON)

[04] UKRAINE SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

[05] ALBANIA SITREP (S&L) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)

[06] MACEDONIA REFUGEES (L-O) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BLACE, MACEDONIA)

[07] THE HAGUE/PEACE BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[08] SLOVAK PRESIDENT (S&L) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

[09] RUSSIA / POLITICS BYLINE=EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[10] I-M-F / RUSSIA BY DAVID BUTLER (BANGKOK)

[01] NATO/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS WARNED THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IT WILL NOT SLOW DOWN ITS AIR OPERATIONS OVER KOSOVO -- DESPITE CLAIMS FROM BELGRADE AS MANY AS 87 KOSOVAR REFUGEES DIED IN A NATO ATTACK FRIDAY ON KORISA. NATO BELIEVES THEY WERE BEING USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS AND INSISTS THAT STRIKE WAS AGAINST A LEGITIMATE TARGET A MILITARY COMMAND POST. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: IN ITS LATEST UPDATE, ON THE 53RD DAY OF THE AIR CAMPAIGN, NATO SAYS ITS AIRCRAFT FOCUSED INTENSE ATTACKS AGAINST SERB FORCES IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN KOSOVO.

SIX TANKS AND ARTILLERY PIECES WERE STRUCK, AS WELL AS MORTARS, TROOPS, MILITARY STORAGE AND COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITIES.

THERE WERE ALSO ATTACKS ON ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMERS SUPPLYING AN IRON AND STEEL PLANT AND A COPPER SMELTER.

FURTHER TARGETS THROUGHOUT SERBIA INCLUDED HIGHWAY BRIDGES, A MILITARY RELAY SITE, BORDER POSTS, A MUNITIONS STORE, AN ARMY BARRACKS AND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES.

NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE NUMBER OF AIR SORTIES SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN, NOW STANDS AT JUST UNDER 22-THOUSAND.

HE INSISTS THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN USING HUMAN SHIELDS ON AND UNDER BRIDGES, INSIDE INDUSTRIAL PLANTS AND BY INCLUDING CIVILIAN VEHICLES IN MILITARY CONVOYS. HE SAYS PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS NO SCRUPLES ABOUT USING CIVILIANS IN THIS WAY.

BUT HE SAYS NATO WILL NEVER INTENTIONALLY TARGET CIVILIANS AND THAT ITS PILOTS TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE PRECAUTION TO AVOID HITTING CIVILIANS. TO UNDERLINE THIS POINT, MR SHEA NOTES TWO ATTACKS WERE ABORTED THURSDAY, WHEN NATO PILOTS SUSPECTED CIVILIANS WERE IN THE TARGET ZONES. HOWEVER, HE INSISTS THE USE HUMAN SHIELDS IS NOT GOING TO STOP NATO FROM CONTINUING ITS AIR CAMPAIGN. HE SAYS THIS WILL ONLY END WHEN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AGREES TO ALL FIVE KEY DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THESE INCLUDE AN END TO THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND A FULL WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO -- FOLLOWED BY THE ADMISSION OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE, WITH NATO AT ITS CORE, SO THE REFUGEES CAN RETURN IN NUMBERS (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/DW / WD
16-May-99 7:27 AM EDT (1127 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO/KOSOVO UPDATE (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO INSISTS IT WILL CONTINUE TO STEP UP ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA'S SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO PROVINCE DESPITE THE RISKS TO CIVILIANS WHO MAY BE USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS. THE ALLIANCE STILL SAYS ITS ATTACK FRIDAY ON THE TOWN OF KORISA IN SOUTHWEST KOSOVO WAS A JUSTIFIED, EVEN THOUGH YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES CLAIM SOME 88 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS

TEXT: NATO INSISTS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO END THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO IS BY STEPPING UP ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERB FORCES ON THE GROUND UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AGREES TO THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

AIR ATTACKS HAVE CONTINUED OVER THE WEEKEND DESPITE THE ADMISSION SATURDAY BY THE ALLIANCE THAT IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON KORISA.

NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THAT THE TARGET WAS A MILITARY COMMAND CENTER, SURROUNDED BY ARTILLERY. NATO BELIEVES THAT ANY CIVILIANS IN THE TARGET ZONE HAD BEEN BROUGHT THERE TO BE USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS. THEREFORE, HE SAYS, THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES -- AND NOT NATO -- MUST BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEATHS.

MR. SHEA SAYS THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY TARGETS, AND TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. BUT NATO INSISTS THAT IN A MILITARY CONFLICT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE A 100 PERCENT GUARANTEE THAT NO CIVILIANS WILL BE HIT.

ANY CONFLICT BRINGS ITS SHARE OF RISKS AND ACCIDENTS. THEREFORE IF NATO PILOTS, NATO COMMANDERS, NATO LEADERS, ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THOSE RISKS THEY WOULD NEVER USE MILITARY FORCE. NEVER. THE PILOTS WOULD STAY AT HOME, THE TROOPS WOULD STAY IN THEIR BARRACKS. APART FROM THE OCCASIONAL EXERCISE, THEY WOULD NEVER GO ANYWHERE. AND FRANKLY WHAT WE SEE IN KOSOVO WOULD CARRY ON, BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD EVER TRY TO STOP IT.

MR. SHEA POINTS OUT THAT REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE PROVINCE HAVE URGED NATO TO CARRY ON WITH ITS AIR CAMPAIGN, SAYING THAT THE RISK TO THEIR COUNTRYMEN IS A PRICE WORTH PAYING IF THE CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDS IN DRIVING SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO.

NATO CONTINUED ATTACKS OVER THE WEEKEND ON SERB TROOPS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND COMMAND POSTS INSIDE KOSOVO. ATTACKS ON BRIDGES, FACTORIES AND OTHER TARGETS ALSO PROCEEDED THROUGHOUT SERBIA (YUGOSLAVIA'S DOMINANT REPUBLIC).

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, NATO SAYS IT IS HAPPY TO SEE AID CONVOYS ENTERING KOSOVO, AND IT WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO HELP SECURE THEIR SAFETY.

BUT THE BOMBING WILL CONTINUE, AND THE ORGANIZERS OF THE CONVOYS ARE BEING URGED TO GIVE ADVANCE WARNING OF WHEN THEY WILL BE IN KOSOVO AND THE ROUTES THEY WILL BE USING. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/DW/JO
16-May-99 12:17 PM EDT (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-S / NATO / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY DEBORAH TATE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS ARE DENYING A REPORT THAT THE PENTAGON IS BLOCKING A NATO PLAN TO SEND U-S APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS INTO COMBAT IN KOSOVO BECAUSE THE LOW-FLYING CRAFT PUTS AMERICAN PILOTS AT RISK FROM SERB GROUND FORCES. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY SAYS THE DEPLOYMENT OF APACHE HELICOPTERS IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN DELAYED BY A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN TOP U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS AND NATO SUPREME COMMANDER GENERAL WESLEY CLARK.

THE NEWSPAPER SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL HENRY SHELTON, ARE RESISTING GENERAL CLARK'S PUSH TO USE THE APACHES IN COMBAT OUT OF FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF U-S PILOTS.

TWO DOZEN OF THE SOPHISTICATED AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN ALBANIA SINCE THE END OF APRIL. TWO HAVE CRASHED IN TRAINING MISSIONS IN RECENT WEEKS -- UNDERSCORING THE RISKS.

GENERAL SHELTON, IN AN INTERVIEW ON AMERICAN TELEVISION (CBS' 'FACE THE NATION') ACKNOWLEDGED THE UNITED STATES HAS YET TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE HELICOPTERS IN COMBAT -- BUT ARGUED THAT IS BECAUSE THE AIR CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN PROCEEDING WELL WITHOUT THEM.

IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN USE THEM SAFELY. WHEN WE DECIDE TO USE THEM, WE WILL HAVE REDUCED THE RISK TO A MINIMUM. RIGHT NOW WE ARE CARRYING OUT AN EFFECTIVE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE STRATEGIC TARGETS -- THOSE AROUND BELGRADE, BUT ALSO AGAINST FIELDED FORCES DOWN IN KOSOVO.

THE LOW-FLYING APACHES ARE EQUIPPED WITH LASER-GUIDED ANTI-TANK MISSILES. SOME OBSERVERS SAY USE OF THE HELICOPTER COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTAL BOMBINGS OF CIVILIAN TARGETS THAT HAS RESULTED FROM HIGH-ALTITUDE BOMBING RUNS IN YUGOSLAVIA. MEANWHILE, SECRETARY COHEN -- SPEAKING ON THE SAME PROGRAM -- SAYS EVIDENCE IS MOUNTING THAT YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS LOSING KEY SUPPORT IN HIS BATTLE OVER KOSOVO.

WE HAVE SEEN DEFECTIONS COMING OUT OF HIS MILITARY IN THE SOUTH. WE HAVE SEEN A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF RESERVES TO BE CALLED UP TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY. WE HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE OF NOT ONLY MILOSEVIC'S FINANCIAL ELITE MOVING THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF SERBIA INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPENING AMONG THE MILITARY. SO WE ARE SEEING SIGNS NOW THAT THEY ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION THE WISDOM OF WHAT MILOSEVIC HAS DONE TO THEM.

AS THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES CONTINUE THEIR AIR WAR OVER YUGOSLAVIA, THEY ARE ALSO PREPARING FOR POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS.

U-S UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS PICKERING -- ON ANOTHER AMERICAN TELEVISION PROGRAM (NBC'S 'MEET THE PRESS') -- SUGGESTED THE REBUILDING EFFORT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE WITHOUT MR. MILOSEVIC IN POWER.

HE MADE HIS COMMENTS AS HE OUTLINED THE GOALS OF A FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN:

TO PUT THAT PARTICULAR REGION FIRST IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN NEVER BE ANOTHER DANGER TO THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT, TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY. SECONDLY, WHERE ITS PEOPLE CAN ENJOY A SENSE OF PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM THAT THEY HAVE NOT ENJOYED UP UNTIL NOW. AND THIRDLY WHERE IT CAN PREPARE ITSELF TO BECOME A FULL PART OF THE UNITING EUROPE -- BOTH ECONOMICALLY, IN SECURITY TERMS, AND DEMOCRATICALLY. SERBIA (YUGOSLAVIA'S DOMINANT REPUBLIC) SHOULD PLAY A PLACE IN THAT. SERBIA UNDER MR. MILOSEVIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PLAY THAT PLACE. IF MR. MILOSEVIC IS NO LONGER THERE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA FOR THOSE PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES.

MR. PICKERING SAYS IF MR. MILOSEVIC STAYS IN POWER, NEITHER EUROPEAN NOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS WILL -- AS HE PUT IT -- PROP UP HIS REGIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/JO
16-May-99 1:28 PM EDT (1728 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] UKRAINE SUMMIT (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUDAPEST)

INTRO: THE PRESIDENTS OF NINE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES HAVE URGED THE WORLD TO WORK ON THE REBUILDING OF YUGOSLAVIA ONCE THE WAR IS OVER. BUT THE LEADERS COULD NOT AGREE WHEN NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST THAT COUNTRY SHOULD STOP. AS STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST, THE STATEMENT WAS MADE (SATURDAY) AFTER A TWO-DAY SUMMIT IN THE UKRAINIAN TOWN OF LVIV.

TEXT: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE AND HIS COUNTERPARTS OF EIGHT OTHER CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TOWARDS A POST WAR ERA IN YUGOSLAVIA.

MR. KUCHMA SAID THAT ALL LEADERS WHO ATTENDED THE TWO DAY SUMMIT IN THE WESTERN UKRAINIAN TOWN OF LVIV, BACKED A PROPOSAL TO HOLD AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON YUGOSLAVIA'S DEVELOPMENT -- ONCE THE WAR IS OVER.

HE STRESSED THE MEETING MAY ALSO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF COMPENSATION FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S NEARBY COUNTRIES SUCH AS UKRAINE, WHICH HE SAYS IS LOSING OVER ONE-MILLION DOLLARS A DAY, BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT.

MR. KUCHMA INDICATED THE CONFERENCE COULD TAKE PLACE IN AUSTRIA'S CAPITAL, VIENNA, UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS.

PRESIDENT ARPAD GONCZ OF HUNGARY, THE ONLY NATO COUNTRY BORDERING YUGOSLAVIA, SAID THAT AFTER THE CONFLICT, EUROPE WILL BE READY TO OFFER A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP TO SERBIA. AND, IN A STATEMENT, THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN LEADERS EXPRESSED THEIR SORROW FOR THE VICTIMS AND SUFFERINGS OF THE INNOCENT POPULATION OF YUGOSLAVIA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THEY CONDEMNED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE "SYSTEMATIC TERROR IN KOSOVO, MURDER AND ROBBERY, CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, RAPE AND EXPULSIONS" WHICH THEY SAID "ARE USED AS A MEANS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING."

BUT THE NINE PRESIDENTS ATTENDING THE SUMMIT REMAINED DIVIDED ON NATO'S METHODS TO STOP THE CONFLICT.

UKRAINE LED OPPOSITION TO THE AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, WHICH IT SAID COULD HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED ONLY BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

BUT OTHERS, INCLUDING THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ONE OF THE THREE NEW NATO MEMBERS, SAID THE BOMBARDMENTS COULD ACHIEVE THE ALLIANCE'S AIMS OF SECURING THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO KOSOVO AND THE GRANTING OF BROAD AUTONOMY TO ITS MAJORITY ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

DESPITE SOME DISAGREEMENTS, THE EUROPEAN LEADERS ARE LIKELY TO MEET EACH OTHER AGAIN, WITHIN A YEAR.

THEIR SIXTH ANNUAL INFORMAL SUMMIT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE LEADERS FROM AUSTRIA, BULGARIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, GERMANY, HUNGARY, POLAND, ROMANIA, SLOVENIA AND UKRAINE.

BUT OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, SUCH AS UKRAINE, HAVE WARNED FOR NEW DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE RICHER AND POORER EUROPEAN NATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/CBL/SD
15-May-99 8:44 PM EDT (0044 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] ALBANIA SITREP (S&L) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)

INTRO: OVER THE PAST DAY OR SO, THE FLOW OF REFUGEES ENTERING ALBANIA FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE HAS SLOWED TO A TRICKLE, WHILE THE EXODUS INTO NEARBY MACEDONIA HAS PICKED UP AGAIN. THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY SUSPECTS MANY PEOPLE MAY BE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE ALBANIAN BORDER BECAUSE OF INTENSIFIED NATO BOMBING. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE HAS THE LATEST FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS IS TRYING TO PERSUADE REFUGEES CAMPED ALONG THE KOSOVO BORDER TO MOVE FURTHER INTO ALBANIA AND AWAY FROM A REGION WHERE THEY ARE WITHIN RANGE OF SERB ARTILLERY. BUT MANY OF THE 100-THOUSAND OR SO REFUGEES IN THE BORDER AREA DON'T WANT TO MOVE. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN MELITA SUNJIC UNDERSTANDS THEIR DILEMMA.

WE FACE SOME DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING THESE PEOPLE OUT OF KUKES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SORT OF SETTLED NOW. THEY ARE IN TENTED CAMPS, THEY GOT USED TO THE NEW SITUATION AND REFUGEES ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE FORCED TO MOVE ONCE SO THEY ARE NOT VERY KEEN ON BEING MOVED ONCE AGAIN.

IT MAY BE LEFT TO U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO PERSUADE THEM HIMSELF. HE IS EXPECT TO VISIT REFUGEES IN THE BORDER TOWN OF KUKES ON THURSDAY.

WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT ON THIS QUESTION. THEY ALSO WANT TO GET THESE PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE KUKES JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HOUSE SO MANY PEOPLE.

THE U-N-H-C-R SUSPECTS NATO'S INTENSIFIED BOMBING OF KOSOVO MAY BE WHAT IS PREVENTING WOULD-BE REFUGEES FROM TRYING TO MAKE IT WESTWARD TOWARDS ALBANIA.

MORE THAN 50 DAYS INTO NATO'S WAR AGAINST SERB AGGRESSION, WAYS TO END THE CONFLICT AND WHAT WOULD COME NEXT WERE THE SUBJECTS OF DISCUSSION AMONG LEADERS OF FOUR FRONTLINE BALKAN NATIONS AND SIX KEY MEMBERS OF THE U-S SENATE WHO ARE ON A TWO-DAY TOUR OF THE REGION. DEMOCRATS FRANK LAUTENBERG AND TOM HARKIN LEFT ALBANIA CONVINCED NATO NEEDS MORE SUPPORT ON THE GROUND -- PERHAPS EVEN AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS -- IN ORDER TO PREVAIL MILITARILY. SENATOR LAUTENBERG SPOKE BEFORE LEAVING FOR MACEDONIA.

WE'RE COMMITTING EVER MORE TROOPS. THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE ARE NOT AIRPLANES. THEY ARE GROUND DEVICES. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BRADLEYS (TANKS), I'M TALKING ABOUT THE M-62'S. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS THERE IF NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH A MISSION. NOW NO ONE HAS YET CALLED FOR GROUND TROOPS, BUT I HAVE ALREADY INDICATED TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THAT IF THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDS, I BELIEVE DEEP IN MY HEART THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE SAYS LAWMAKERS WERE ASKING BALKAN LEADERS, WHO SUPPORT THE NATO MISSION BUT FEAR YUGOSLAV RETALIATION, HOW MANY OF THEM WOULD LIKE TO SEE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC STILL IN POWER WHEN THE WAR ENDS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/DW
16-May-99 12:56 PM EDT (1656 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] MACEDONIA REFUGEES (L-O) BY SUZANNE KELLY (BLACE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A WEEK, ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S EMBATTLED KOSOVO PROVINCE ARE CROSSING INTO MACEDONIA. AS SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM BLACE, THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES ARE LOW, BUT TENSIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING ARE HIGH.

TEXT: NEARLY ONE-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO MACEDONIA OVER THE WEEKEND -- A STARK DIFFERENCE AFTER 10 DAYS OF NO CROSSINGS AT ALL.

AID WORKERS SAY THE LATEST REFUGEES ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD CONDITION, BUT THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN WAITING IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE BORDER -- SOME WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER FOR DAYS.

TENSIONS AT THE BLACE BORDER, HOWEVER, REMAIN HIGH. OFFICIALS SAY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AID WORKERS AND MACEDONIAN BORDER POLICE IS STRAINED. THIS, AFTER THE GOVERNMENT FOR DAYS DENIED THAT THE BORDER HAD BEEN CLOSED.

JOANNA KOCHER, FROM MERCY CORPS INTERNATIONAL, SAYS THAT KEEPING TIES STRONG IS CRUCIAL TO KEEPING THE BORDER OPEN TO REFUGEES.

I THINK THE BORDER WILL REMAIN OPEN AS LONG AS ... WE CAN KEEP A BALANCE AND SOME SEMBLANCE OF ORDER OURSELVES, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR DIPLOMATIC TIES OPEN AND ALL OF US WORKING HERE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT. AND I EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE NUMBERS UP TO WHAT, I DON'T KNOW.

SOME OFFICIALS ESTIMATE AS MANY AS 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES COULD CROSS INTO MACEDONIA IN THE COMING DAYS. THE CURRENT CAMPS CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 45-THOUSAND. THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT, MEANWHILE, IS STILL RELUCTANT TO ALLOW NEW CAMPS TO BE BUILT AND IS PUSHING OTHER COUNTRIES FOR HELP AND TO TAKE IN MORE REFUGEES FROM EXISTING CAMPS.

MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS REMAIN CONCERNED THE INFLUX OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE DELICATE ETHNIC BALANCE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THE REFUGEE CRISIS IS ALSO PLACING FURTHER STRAIN ON MACEDONIA'S POOR, YOUNG ECONOMY.
NEB/SK/JO
16-May-99 2:27 PM EDT (1827 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] THE HAGUE/PEACE BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER THE FIRST HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE, SOME EIGHT-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE CONVERGED ON THAT DUTCH CITY ONCE AGAIN -- THIS TIME, TO PROMOTE A 21ST CENTURY WITHOUT WAR. NOBEL LAUREATES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND SOUTH AFRICA'S ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, HAVE SPENT THE WEEK HELPING TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGNS AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS, CHILD SOLDIERS AND SMALL ARMS. BUT AS LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE, IT'S THE PEACE ACTIVISTS WHO ARE BEING GIVEN CENTER STAGE.

TEXT: // OPENS WITH MUSIC AND UNDER/// IT'S A CARNIVAL-LIKE ATMOSPHERE IN THE HALLS OF THE HAGUE'S CONFERENCE CENTER. WORLD ATTENTION MAY BE FOCUSED ON THE CONFLICT IN YUGOSLAVIA, BUT HERE, THE FOCUS IS PEACE.

AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE, THERE WAS A SYMBOLIC GUN-BURNING -- AND A SILENT VIGIL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS.

THERE ARE CANS OF PAINT AND BRUSHES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN SIGNS. AROUND FIVE-HUNDRED DELEGATES WILL CARRY THEM BY FOOT -- FROM THE WORLD COURT IN THE HAGUE TO NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. WHATEVER THE CAUSE, THE MESSAGE IS THE SAME: NO MORE WAR.

SARAH HAS BEEN LIVING IN EXILE IN LONDON FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. SHE WANTS TO TAKE HER CHILDREN HOME TO SUDAN, BUT ONLY WHEN THERE'S PEACE IN HER COUNTRY. SARAH IS CALLING ON WESTERN GOVERNMENTS TO STOP SUPPORTING SUDAN'S ISLAMIC REGIME, WHICH SHE ACCUSES OF BUYING AND SELLING CHILDREN.

THE GOVERNMENT IS USING RELIGION AS A WEAPON OF WAR IN THE SUDAN. THAT IT'S MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN. BUT IT'S AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM. MY SISTER HERE IS MUSLIM AND I'M CHRISTIAN AND WE CAME TOGETHER TO PROTEST.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER RUSSIAN CZAR NICHOLAS THE SECOND CALLED WORLD LEADERS TO THE HAGUE TO TRY AND END WAR IN THE 20TH CENTURY, IT'S THE ACTIVISTS WHO ARE DOING THE ORGANIZING THIS TIME. THEY'RE HOPING TO DO A BETTER JOB IN THE COMING CENTURY.

DESPITE TWO WORLD WARS AND COUNTLESS VIOLENT ETHNIC CONFLICTS, THEY INSIST THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. ORGANIZERS POINT TO THE CAMPAIGN TO BAN LANDMINES AND EFFORTS TO CREATE AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AS SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF WHAT THEY CALL THE "NEW DIPLOMACY."

ONE DELEGATE, MILDRED RYERSON FROM CANADA, WHO HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR PEACE SINCE THE FIRST WORLD WAR, SAYS A HEALTHY DOSE OF OPTIMISM HAS KEPT HER GOING.

YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HOPE. THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WORKING FOR PEACE TODAY THAN THERE WERE WHEN I WAS 14. YOUNG PEOPLE BECOMING MORE INVOLVED. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE JOB.

MILDRED RYERSON HAS COME TO THE HAGUE TO CALL FOR AN END TO NATO'S BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA.

IT'S AN APPEAL THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT MADE ITSELF EARLIER THIS WEEK JUST DOWN THE STREET AT THE WORLD COURT, WHEN IT SUED TEN NATO MEMBERS TO HALT THE AIRSTRIKES.
NEB/LC/DW/PLM
16-May-99 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] SLOVAK PRESIDENT (S&L) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

INTRO: RULING COALITION CANDIDATE RUDOLF SCHUSTER HAS LED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING IN THE FIRST-EVER DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN SLOVAKIA. THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A PRESIDENT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BECAUSE OF DEEP POLITICAL SPLITS IN THE GOVERNMENT. ALENA KENCLOVA AT THE CENTRAL EUROPE BUREAU IN PRAGUE REPORTS MR. SCHUSTER WILL FACE FORMER PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MECIAR IN A RUN-OFF LATER THIS MONTH.

TEXT: THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION SAYS MR. SCHUSTER RECEIVED 47 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. MR. MECIAR CAME SECOND WITH 37 PERCENT.

NONE OF THE OTHER SEVEN CANDIDATES TOOK MORE THAN SEVEN PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE FIRST ROUND ON SATURDAY. //OPT// AMONG THEM WAS FORMER ACTRESS AND DIPLOMAT MAGDA VASARYOVA, WHO EARLY IN THE CAMPAIGN WAS SEEN AS A POSSIBLE CHALLENGER TO MR. SCHUSTER. //END OPT//

THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IS THE FIRST IN SLOVAKIA BY DIRECT BALLOT. AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST YEAR, FOUR PARTIES FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT UNITED TO FORM A COALITION -- ENDING THE FIVE-YEAR RULE OF MR. MECIAR WHICH WAS OFTEN CRITICIZED AS UNDEMOCRATIC.

MR. SCHUSTER HAS BEEN A POPULAR REGIONAL POLITICIAN IN EAST SLOVAKIA IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS. HE IS EXPECTED TO DEFEAT MR. MECIAR IN THE SECOND ROUND ON MAY 29.

ACCORDING TO PRE-ELECTION POLLS, TURNOUT ON SATURDAY WAS 74 PERCENT OF MORE THAN FOUR MILLION ELIGIBLE VOTERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AK/DW/JO
16-May-99 9:21 AM EDT (1321 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] RUSSIA / POLITICS BYLINE=EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS SURVIVED AN IMPEACHMENT ATTEMPT, BUT -- AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW -- MORE CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD IN RUSSIA'S POLITICAL SCENE.

TEXT: PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS PROVEN ONCE AGAIN HE IS DIFFICULT MAN TO DEFEAT. DESPITE RECORD-LOW POPULARITY RATINGS AND A HISTORY OF SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS, THE 68-YEAR-OLD RUSSIAN LEADER REMAINS A POLITICAL FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

BUT MANY RUSSIANS SAY THEY WORRY ABOUT THE FATE OF THEIR COUNTRY AS THE PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT OCCUPY THEMSELVES WITH POLITICS, NOT POLICY. RUSSIA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO FOUNDER AS THE POLITICAL DRAMA RAGES. THE LATEST IMPEACHMENT CRISIS MAY HAVE LED TO A HALT IN LOANS FROM SOME WESTERN LENDERS AND HAS CERTAINLY LED TO A LOSS OF AN ALREADY-MINIMAL INVESTOR CONFIDENCE.

SOON AFTER THE RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S FAILED IMPEACHMENT VOTE WERE ANNOUNCED, A SEEMINGLY-UNFAZED PRESIDENT YELTSIN SUBMITTED TO LAWMAKERS HIS CONTROVERSIAL NEW CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, SERGEI STEPASHIN. ANALYSTS SAY THE TIMING JUST FURTHER UNDERSCORED HOW FULLY PARLIAMENT HAD BEEN HUMILIATED BY THE VOTE.

ACTING PRIME MINISTER STEPASHIN IS ALREADY MEETING WITH PARLIAMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO DISCUSS HIS PLANS FOR FORMING A NEW CABINET. LAWMAKERS WILL CONSIDER HIS CANDIDACY NEXT WEDNESDAY.

AFTER SATURDAY'S VOTE MR. STEPASHIN TOLD A TELEVISION INTERVIEWER THE PRESIDENT AND LAWMAKERS ARE NOW FREE TO GET BACK TO SERIOUS WORK.

BUT FOR THOSE POLITICIANS OUTSIDE THE KREMLIN HIERARCHY, THE FAILED IMPEACHMENT VOTE SIMPLY EMPHASIZES A DANGEROUS IMBALANCE OF POWER. LEADING LIBERAL POLITICIAN GRIGORY YAVLINSKY CONDEMNS THE COMMUNISTS, BUT TOLD THEM DURING AN IMPEACHMENT DEBATE THAT HE SHARES ONE THING IN COMMON WITH THEM.

IF EVEN ONE OF THE FIVE IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAD BEEN APPROVED, MR. YELTSIN WOULD HAVE TEMPORARILY LOST HIS STRONGEST POLITICAL WEAPON, THE RIGHT TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT. AIDES SAY, WHEN RESULTS OF THE FAILED VOTE CAME IN, PRESIDENT YELTSIN RESPONDED TO THE GOOD NEWS CALMLY. HE ALSO URGED LAWMAKERS TO CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR REGULAR DUTIES. ONE OF THOSE DUTIES IS THE UPCOMING VOTE TO CONFIRM OR REJECT THE CANDIDACY OF SERGEI STEPASHIN FOR PRIME MINISTER.

IF THE OPPOSITION-LED PARLIAMENT DOES NOT APPROVE OF MR. YELTSIN'S CHOICE AFTER THREE VOTES, THEN THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT CAN DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT. HE WOULD THEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO TEMPORARILY RULE BY DECREE AND APPOINT WHOMEVER HE WANTED, AS RUSSIA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/DW
16-May-99 7:50 AM EDT (1150 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] I-M-F / RUSSIA BY DAVID BUTLER (BANGKOK)

INTRO: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND SAID SUNDAY THE FUND IS READY TO WORK WITH THE NEW RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT -- IF IT GOES AHEAD WITH REFORMS AGREED TO BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. MICHEL CAMDESSUS MADE HIS REMARKS AT A MEETING OF ASIA-PACIFIC FINANCE MINISTERS IN MALAYSIA. REPORTING FOR V-O-A, DAVID BUTLER HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE I-M-F HAS TENTATIVELY AGREED TO LEND RUSSIA FOUR AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS.

BUT THE FUND WILL NOT DISBURSE THE FIRST INSTALLMENT UNTIL THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE ON ECONOMIC POLICY AGREED TO BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT.

SPEAKING ON THE SIDELINES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF FINANCE MINISTERS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM, MR. CAMDESSUS SAID THE I-M-F'S POLICY IS CLEAR. THERE IS, HE SAYS, A CONTINUITY OF THE STATE.

HE SAYS HE TRUSTS THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES AND PARLIAMENT WILL FOLLOW THROUGH ON COMMITMENTS. HE SAYS THE I-M-F WOULD DO THE SAME. (SIGNED) NEB / DB / DWJ-T / WD
16-May-99 5:28 AM EDT (0928 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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