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Voice of America, 99-05-25Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] MACEDONIA / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY SUZANNE KELLY (SKOPJE)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249769 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HEAVY FLOW OF REFUGEES INTO MACEDONIA HAS HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS SCRAMBLING TO FIND PLACES FOR THEM. AS SUZANNE KELLY REPORTS FROM SKOPJE, THE SITUATION IS REACHING CRISIS LEVELS. TEXT: HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS SAY MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE CROSSED INTO MACEDONIA IN THE PAST FEW DAYS ALONE, PUSHING THE REFUGEE CAMPS EVEN CLOSER TO FULL CAPACITY. AID ORGANIZATIONS EXPECTED MORE THAN EIGHT-THOUSAND TO CROSS ON TUESDAY. THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY -- THE U-N-H-C-R -- REPORTS THAT THOUSANDS MORE ARE WAITING IN NO MANS LAND, NEAR THE BLACE BORDER CROSSING. BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA. MANY OF THEM ARE SLEEPING IN HOLES DUG IN THE GROUND, WITH A PLASTIC SHEET TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE RAIN AND COLD. THESE REFUGEES ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO CROSS THE BORDER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE IS NO CLEAR REASON WHY THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES ARE INCREASING AT SUCH LEVELS. BUT THE ETHIC ALBANIANS FLEEING KOSOVO SAY SERB POLICE ARE STEPPING UP THE PROCESS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND THEY SAY CONDITIONS INSIDE OF KOSOVO CONTINUE TO GET WORSE. BUT IN MACEDONIA, IF THE FLOW OF REFUGEES CONTINUES AT SUCH HIGH
NUMBERS, HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN
EXTREME CRISIS ON THEIR HANDS BY THE END OF THE WEEK. THEY ARE
PLEADING WITH THIRD COUNTRIES TO TAKE IN MORE REFUGEES, AND ARE
ALSO WORKING WITH THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT ON PLANS TO BUILD A
NEW REFUGEE CAMP -- BUT SAY EVEN THAT OPTION WOULD TAKE AT LEAST
THREE WEEKS TO COMPLETE. (SIGNED)
[02] TIRANA HOSPITAL UNDER STRAIN (L-ONLY) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249775 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ALBANIA'S GOVERNMENT IS VOWING NOT TO CLOSE ITS DOOR TO KOSOVAR REFUGEES, SAYING IT IS PREPARED TO TAKE IN AS MANY AS ONE-MILLION PEOPLE IF NECESSARY. THAT IS PLACING AN ADDED BURDEN ON THE COUNTRY'S MEDICAL SYSTEM. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE HAS BEEN VISITING WITH DOCTORS AT ONE OF TIRANA'S MAIN HOSPITALS. TEXT: DOCTORS AT "THE MOTHER TERESA MEDICAL CENTER" ARE FEELING THE STRAIN OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS. THIS AGING GOVERNMENT-RUN FACILITY IN EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY HAS LITTLE OF THE MODERN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT COMMON ACROSS MUCH OF THE CONTINENT. DOCTORS SUCH AS ARBEN BEQIRI ARE BEING ASKED TO WORK WITH WHAT THEY HAVE TO TREAT NOT ONLY ALBANIAN PATIENTS, BUT KOSOVAR REFUGEES WHO REQUIRE THE TYPE OF MEDICAL ATTENTION WHICH DOCTORS IN REFUGEE CAMPS CAN NOT PROVIDE. // BEQIRI ACT //IN A GENERAL DAY, WE SEE MORE ALBANIANS THAN REFUGEES. BUT STILL WE SEE SOME REFUGEES WHICH NEED TREATMENT AND WE MUST TAKE THEM AS A PRIORITY. // END ACT //THAT MEANS ON AVERAGE AN ADDITIONAL 40 TO 50 PATIENTS A DAY. // SECOND BEQIRI ACT //MOST KOSOVARS, DESPITE THEIR PROBLEMS, HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED EMERGENCIES JUST BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY (HAD). SO WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REDUCE THE STRESS, BY RESOLVING THEIR PROBLEMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. // END ACT //A VISIT TO THIS HOSPITAL -- PERHAPS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY -- IS A REMINDER OF HOW LONG ALBANIA HAD BEEN KEPT ISOLATED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. EVEN ORDINARY FURNISHINGS, LIKE THE PHONE ON THE DESK OF HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR ALI ALIU DATE BACK TO WORLD WAR TWO. FOR THE MOMENT, MR. ALIU IS CONFIDENT THE STAFF HERE CAN HANDLE EVERY PATIENT NEEDING ATTENTION. // ALIU ACT, FADE TO TRANSLATOR //IF THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES COMING INCREASES, WE WILL THEN FACE SOME DIFFICULTIES. AND WE THINK WE WILL HAVE SHORTAGES OF MEDICINES, PERSONNEL, AND VEHICLES. // END ACT //BUT DR. UTZ JAMBALAI, AN ETHNIC ALBANIAN FROM KOSOVO WHO WORKS HERE TREATING PEOPLE FROM HIS HOMELAND, BELIEVES THE COUNTRY'S MEDICAL SYSTEM MAY BE CLOSE TO COLLAPSE. // JAMBALAI ACT //WE ARE MISSING INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR HOSPITALS ARE IN BAD SHAPE, ALL OF THEM. WE ARE MISSING ELECTRICITY, WE ARE MISSING WATER. HYGENE IS AT A LOW LEVEL. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT ROADS AND THE WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE IS A DISASTER AND WITHOUT THAT, EVEN WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. // END ACT //THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT IS PAYING FOR THE COSTS OF TREATING
KOSOVAR REFUGEES. BUT DR. JAMBALAI BELIEVES THIS COUNTRY COULD
NEVER HAVE PREPARED ITSELF FOR THE TIDE OF REFUGEES WASHING OVER
THE BORDER, A TIDE THAT HAS NOT STOPPED THREE-MONTHS INTO THE WAR
OVER KOSOVO'S FUTURE. (SIGNED)
[03] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249764 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS ARE APPROVING A PLAN TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS NEEDED TO ESCORT ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO HAVE 28-THOUSAND NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS ENTER KOSOVO TO MAKE SURE AN AUTONOMY PLAN WOULD BE CARRIED OUT. THE NUMBERS WERE BASED ON THE SITUATION THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE NATO AIR STRIKES THAT BEGAN MARCH 24TH. SINCE THAT TIME, MORE THAN ONE-MILLION KOSOVO ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND MANY OF THEIR HOUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED DOWN BY SERB FORCES. THOUSANDS OF LAND MINES HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN BY YUGOSLAVIA ON KOSOVO'S BORDER WITH ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA TO DISCOURAGE A GROUND INVASION BY NATO. THE ORIGINAL ASSUMPTIONS ARE OUT OF DATE. THAT IS WHY NATO'S MILITARY COMMITTEE DREW UP A NEW PLAN FOR 45-THOUSAND TO 50-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. THEY INCLUDE ENGINEERING UNITS TO RE BUILD HOUSES AND TO EXTRACT LAND MINES. NATO HAS NOT APPROVED A GROUND INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA. TO SPEED THE FORMATION OF EXTRA PEACEKEEPING FORCES, NATO AMBASSADORS USED THEIR SILENCE PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE'S PLAN. UNDER THIS PROCEDURE, MEASURES ARE APPROVED WITHOUT DEBATE UNLESS A COUNTRY OBJECTS WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE LARGER PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL SPEAK SOFTLY BUT CARRY A BIG STICK. /// SHEA ACT ONE ///WHEN WE SAY BIG STICK WE MEAN A HEAVILY ARMED FORCE ABSOLUTELY NOT SIDEARMS -- OR SIDEARMS WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS AS WELL. BUT ALREADY THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE PHILOSOPHY SINCE THE WORD GO (I.E. SINCE THE BEGINNING). IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DEPLOYED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AS PART OF THE ENABLING FORCE, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF TANKS, NOT SIMPLY LIGHT-SKINNED (I.E. THINLY-ARMORED) TANKS BUT CHALLENGERS, LEOPARD-TWO TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND ARTILLERY, AND THE REST. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA HAS APPROVED AN ADVANCED NATO FORCE OF 16-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. WHEN NATO GETS THE PRELIMINARY TROOP COMMITMENTS FROM THE ALLIES, IT WILL GO BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT IN SKOPJE TO AGREE TO THE ADDITIONAL SOLDIERS. SPOKESMAN SHEA SAYS NON-NATO COUNTRIES ARE NOW READY TO CONTRIBUTE SOLDIERS TO A NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO. /// SHEA ACT TWO ///MANY COUNTRIES HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD ONLY BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS FORCE IF IT HAS A NATO CORE BECAUSE THEY, TOO, WANT TO BENEFIT FROM THE EFFICIENCY AND THE ROBUST APPROACH THAT THEY KNOW NATO AND ONLY NATO CAN PROVIDE. /// END ACT ///YUGOSLAVIA -- AND RUSSIA -- HAVE NOT YET AGREED TO A NATO-LED
PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. THE MAJOR POWERS HAVE AGREED TO A
SECURITY FORCE BUT THE DETAILS REMAIN A KEY PART OF THE
DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS. NATO SAYS THE FORCE IS ONE OF ITS FIVE
CONDITIONS FOR STOPPING THE DAILY AND NIGHTLY AIR STRIKES ON
YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[04] NATO / KOSOVO (L UPDATE) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249766 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO AMBASSADORS HAVE APPROVED A PLAN TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS NEEDED TO ESCORT ALBANIAN REFUGEES BACK TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS. TEXT: THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO HAVE 28-THOUSAND NATO-LED PEACEKEEPERS ENTER KOSOVO TO MAKE SURE AN AUTONOMY PLAN WOULD BE CARRIED OUT. THE NUMBERS WERE BASED ON THE SITUATION THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE NATO AIR STRIKES THAT BEGAN MARCH 24TH. SINCE THAT TIME, MORE THAN ONE-MILLION KOSOVO ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND MANY OF THEIR HOUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED DOWN BY SERB FORCES. THOUSANDS OF LAND MINES HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN BY YUGOSLAVIA ON KOSOVO'S BORDER WITH ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA TO DISCOURAGE A GROUND INVASION BY NATO. THE ORIGINAL ASSUMPTIONS ARE OUT OF DATE. THAT IS WHY NATO'S MILITARY COMMITTEE DREW UP A NEW PLAN FOR 45-THOUSAND TO 50-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. THEY INCLUDE ENGINEERING UNITS TO RE BUILD HOUSES AND TO EXTRACT LAND MINES. NATO HAS NOT APPROVED A GROUND INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA. TO SPEED THE FORMATION OF EXTRA PEACEKEEPING FORCES, NATO AMBASSADORS USED THEIR SILENCE PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE'S PLAN. UNDER THIS PROCEDURE, MEASURES ARE APPROVED WITHOUT DEBATE UNLESS A COUNTRY OBJECTS WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE LARGER PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL SPEAK SOFTLY BUT CARRY A BIG STICK. /// SHEA ACT ONE ///WHEN WE SAY BIG STICK WE MEAN A HEAVILY ARMED FORCE ABSOLUTELY NOT SIDEARMS -- OR SIDEARMS WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS AS WELL. BUT ALREADY THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE PHILOSOPHY SINCE THE WORD GO (I.E. SINCE THE BEGINNING). IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DEPLOYED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AS PART OF THE ENABLING FORCE, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF TANKS, NOT SIMPLY LIGHT-SKINNED (I.E. THINLY-ARMORED) TANKS BUT CHALLENGERS, LEOPARD-TWO TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND ARTILLERY, AND THE REST. /// END ACT ///MACEDONIA HAS APPROVED AN ADVANCED NATO FORCE OF 16-THOUSAND SOLDIERS. WHEN NATO GETS THE PRELIMINARY TROOP COMMITMENTS FROM THE ALLIES, IT WILL GO BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT IN SKOPJE TO AGREE TO THE ADDITIONAL SOLDIERS. SPOKESMAN SHEA SAYS NON-NATO COUNTRIES ARE NOW READY TO CONTRIBUTE SOLDIERS TO A NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO. /// SHEA ACT TWO ///MANY COUNTRIES HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD ONLY BE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS FORCE IF IT HAS A NATO CORE BECAUSE THEY, TOO, WANT TO BENEFIT FROM THE EFFICIENCY AND THE ROBUST APPROACH THAT THEY KNOW NATO AND ONLY NATO CAN PROVIDE. /// END ACT ///YUGOSLAVIA -- AND RUSSIA -- HAVE NOT YET AGREED TO A NATO-LED
PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. THE MAJOR POWERS HAVE AGREED TO A
SECURITY FORCE BUT THE DETAILS REMAIN A KEY PART OF THE
DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS. NATO SAYS THE FORCE IS ONE OF ITS FIVE
CONDITIONS FOR STOPPING THE DAILY AND NIGHTLY AIR STRIKES ON
YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[05] KOSOVO DEBATE BY JULIE SHAW (NEW YORK)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=BACKGROUNDER NUMBER=5-43496 CONTENT= VOICED BY BRECK ARDERY INTRO: SOME LEADING U-S POLITICAL AND FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS HAVE BEEN DEBATING THE USE OF NATO GROUND TROOPS IN THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JULIE SHAW REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: HENRY KISSINGER, THE FORMER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE, AND WILLIAM KRISTOL, EDITOR OF "THE WEEKLY STANDARD" MAGAZINE, SAY THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO IS TO WIN WHAT THEY CALL "THE WAR" AGAINST THE SERBS. AND THE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS, THEY SAY, IS THROUGH THE USE OF GROUND TROOPS. THE CONTINUED NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN, MR. KISSINGER SAID AT A FORUM IN NEW YORK [ON TUESDAY 5/25], IS NOT WORKING. /// KISSINGER ACT ///IF ONE RELIES ENTIRELY ON BOMBING, ONE INVITES THE OTHER SIDE TO TEST ITS ENDURANCE, AND THERE'S NEVER A POINT AT WHICH THEY [THE SERBIANS] MUST SETTLE. AND IT ALSO INVOLVES US IN A WAR THAT I FIND EXTREMELY BOTHERSOME, POUNDING AWAY ON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION DAY AFTER DAY. I DON'T LIKE THE NEGOTIATING OPTION, BECAUSE AFTER WHAT WE HAVE SAID ABOUT [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC, AND AFTER THE GOALS WE HAVE STATED, THERE IS NO NEGOTIATED SOLUTION THAT I CAN IMAGINE THAT IS NOT A DEFEAT. /// END ACT ///MR. KRISTOL, WELL KNOWN FOR HIS CONSERVATIVE VIEWPOINT, EMPHASIZED THAT NATO NEEDS TO WIN THE WAR BECAUSE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ALLIANCE IS AT STAKE. HE BLAMED PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR NOT SHOWING LEADERSHIP. /// KRISTOL ACT ///KOSOVO MAY NOT BE OF VITAL INTEREST TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT NATO REALLY IS. THINGS CAN SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL MUCH FASTER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATES THEM DOING WHEN A MAJOR POWER STARTS TO WITHDRAW, WHEN ITS CREDIBILITY IS CHALLENGED, WHEN POWER VACUUMS OPEN UP AROUND THE WORLD. THE OBSTACLE TO WINNING THIS WAR, I'M AFRAID, IS NOT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. IT'S NOT OUR ALLIES IN NATO. IT'S NOT THE WEATHER IN THE BALKANS. IT'S BILL CLINTON. /// END ACT ///MR. KISSINGER AGREES THE USE OF GROUND TROOPS IS VITAL TO NATO CREDIBILITY. BOTH HE AND MR. KRISTOL ALSO SAY IT WILL BE THE FASTEST WAY TO END THE FIGHTING AND RETURN THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES BEFORE WINTER. ON THE OTHER HAND, SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER OF NEW YORK BELIEVES THAT GROUND TROOPS ARE NOT T HE ANSWER. SPEAKING AT THE SAME FORUM, MR. SCHUMER SAID GROUND TROOPS WILL NOT PREVENT THE FURTHER KILLING OF KOSOVARS. /// SCHUMER ACT ///THE GENERALS TELL ME THAT TO DO AN EFFECTIVE GROUND WAR, IT WOULD TAKE US, FROM THE DAY NATO VOTED FOR IT, TWO TO THREE MONTHS TO AMASS THE TROOPS ON THE BORDERS OF WHICHEVER FRIENDLY STATES WE CHOSE TO USE AS A SPRINGBOARD. WITHIN THOSE TWO, THREE MONTHS, [MR.] MILOSEVIC COULD BASICALLY DO WHATEVER HE WANTED. /// END ACT ///IN CONTRAST WITH MR. KISSINGER AND MR. KRISTOL, SENATOR SCHUMER SAYS GROUND TROOPS WOULD HURT -- NOT HELP -- NATO, SINCE SOME COUNTRIES -- GERMANY AND ITALY IN PARTICULAR -- ARE AGAINST THEIR USE. COMPARING U-S FOREIGN-POLICY OPTIONS IN KOSOVO TO A STRUGGLE
BETWEEN THE HEART AND THE HEAD, MR. SCHUMER SAYS THE HEART PUSHES
FOR SOME TYPE OF ACTION TO STOP THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES FROM
KOSOVO. BUT HE SAYS THE HEAD IS NOT CLEAR ON WHICH ACTION TO
TAKE. FOR SENATOR SCHUMER, THE PRESENT COURSE IS THE BEST
POLICY. THE U-S GOVERNMENT, HE SAYS, SHOULD CONTINUE THE BOMBING
AND TRY TO ACHIEVE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. MR. KRISTOL,
HOWEVER, PREDICTS NATO GROUND TROOPS WILL BE IN KOSOVO BY
NOVEMBER. THE FORUM ON KOSOVO WAS ORGANIZED BY THE "NEW YORK
POST" NEWSPAPER. (SIGNED)
[06] KOSOVO / U-S / GERMANY (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249788 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS THAT OIL IS BEING SMUGGLED INTO SERBIA, DESPITE NATO EFFORTS TO IMPOSE AN EMBARGO. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE SERB-LED YUGOSLAV MILITARY REMAINS A KEY NATO GOAL. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT OIL DELIVERIES ARE STILL BEING MADE BY SHIPS TRAVELING ALONG THE DANUBE RIVER. THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS IN TUESDAY'S EDITION THAT BARGE LOADS OF OIL FROM PORTS IN UKRAINE ARE SUPPLYING SERBIA WITH ALL THE OIL IT NEEDS. THE REPORT SAYS THE MONEY FOR THE OIL COMES FROM SECRET BANK ACCOUNTS IN CYPRUS. SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER, MS. ALBRIGHT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE REPORT. // ALBRIGHT ACT //WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE UKRAINE AND I WILL DO SO. THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE WHOLE VERY COOPERATIVE WITH THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ALL UNDERTAKING AND THEY WANT TO BE COOPERATIVE AND I WILL BE TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS. // END ACT //MS. ALBRIGHT SAID SHE HAD DISPATCHED A GROUP OF EXPERTS TO THE REGION TO DETERMINE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO CHOKE OFF OIL DELIVERIES TO SERBIA. DURING THEIR JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, MS. ALBRIGHT AND THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER BOTH EXPRESSED NATO'S DETERMINATION TO PREVAIL OVER YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. // REST OPT //MR. FISCHER SAID ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO MUST BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF A NATO LED FORCE. ANY OTHER OUTCOME, HE SAID, WOULD BE A DISASTER. // FISCHER ACT //IF THEY WON'T GO BACK. IF MILOSEVIC WILL WIN, THIS WOULD BE NOT ONLY A MORAL DISASTER, BUT ALSO A LONG LASTING DESTABILIZATION OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. // END ACT //MR. FISCHER SAID HE THOUGHT THE CONFLICT HAD REACHED AN IMPORTANT
STAGE. HE SAID IT IS NOW CRITICAL FOR NATO TO BE PREPARED TO ACT
QUICKLY ONCE A POLITICAL SOLUTION HAD BEEN REACHED. (SIGNED)
[07] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249751 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WILL FLY TO SWEDEN FOR TALKS WITH UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AMID INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO MEDIATE AN END TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. VOA MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL TUESDAY IS ALSO HOSTING A SERIES OF HIGH LEVEL MEETINGS ON KOSOVO. TEXT: DIPLOMATIC SOURCES SAY FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV WILL MAKE A 24-HOUR TRIP TO STOCKHOLM, WHERE THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL IS ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT. A SWEDISH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. IVANOV IS ALSO LIKELY TO MEET THE TWO U-N ENVOYS ON KOSOVO -- FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER CARL BILDT AND SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARD KUKAN. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MR. IVANOV'S HASTILY ARRANGED VISIT CAME AS U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT ARRIVED IN MOSCOW FOR TWO DAYS OF CRUCIAL MEETINGS ON KOSOVO. THE U-S OFFICIAL IS TO SEE MR. IVANOV BEFORE THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR SWEDEN. //OPT//MR. TALBOTT WILL HOLD THREE-PARTY TALKS WEDNESDAY WITH RUSSIA'S KOSOVO ENVOY VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, AND THE SPECIAL EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVE -- FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI. ON THURSDAY, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN FLIES TO BELGRADE FOR ANOTHER SESSION WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE RUSSIAN ENVOY HAS SAID HE IS HOPING PRESIDENT AHTISAARI WILL ACCOMPANY HIM TO BELGRADE. THAT, DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS SAY, WOULD BE A SIGN OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD A POLITICAL SOLUTION. //REST OPT///NEB/PFH/PCF 25-May-99 7:49 AM EDT (1149 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [08] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY UPDATE (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249782 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: UPDATES AND REWRITES THROUGHOUT ///INTRO: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS IN EFFORTS TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS ANOTHER ROUND OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IS UNDERWAY. TEXT: THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL IS A HUB OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY ON THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO. U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A WEEK. THE EUROPEAN UNION "POINT MAN" ON KOSOVO, FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI ARRIVES WEDNESDAY FOR A THREE-WAY MEETING WITH MR. TALBOTT AND RUSSIAN SPECIAL ENVOY VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN. IN THE MEANTIME, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV FLIES TO STOCKHOLM FOR TALKS WITH UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. MR. IVANOV IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MEET TWO OTHER U-N ENVOYS ON YUGOSLAVIA, AS WELL AS HIS SWEDISH COUNTERPART, ANNA LINDH. BUT ALL THE TALKING HAS SO FAR PRODUCED LITTLE IN THE WAY OF RESULTS. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAS SAID HE SPENT TWO OR THREE WEEKS JUST TRYING TO PERSUADE U-S OFFICIALS TO ALLOW A TOKEN SERB PRESENCE IN KOSOVO AFTER A HOPED-FOR PULLOUT. FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV TOLD REPORTERS TUESDAY HE COULD NOT HONESTLY SAY ANY PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. ///IVANOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- IN FULL AND UNDER ///DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE TALBOTT ARRIVED IN MOSCOW SAYING HE IS AWARE OF THE STRAINS NATO AIR STRIKES HAVE PLACED ON U-S / RUSSIAN RELATIONS, AND ON RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NATO. WHEN ASKED WHETHER THERE WAS ANY HOPE OF A BREAKTHROUGH AT THIS WEEK'S TALKS, HIS ONLY REPLY WAS "I AM EXPECTING A CONTINUATION OF THE EFFORTS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES." THE MOST OPTIMISTIC OF THE DIPLOMATIC LOT HAS BEEN THE RUSSIAN ENVOY, FORMER PRIME MINISTER CHERNOMYRDIN. HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE HOPES THE FINNISH PRESIDENT WILL ACCOMPANY HIM THURSDAY ON A PLANNED TRIP TO BELGRADE, FOR TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. MR. AHTISAARI HAS BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING SEVERAL IMPORTANT DETAILS
WILL HAVE TO BE CLARIFIED BEFORE HE WOULD AGREE TO MEET MR.
MILOSEVIC. BUT IN A SIGN THAT HE HAS NOT GIVEN UP, THE FINNISH
PRESIDENT IS SAID TO BE KEEPING HIS THURSDAY SCHEDULE OPEN, JUST
IN CASE. (SIGNED)
[09] BRITAIN / MONTENEGRO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249752 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MONTENEGRO'S REFORM-MINDED PRESIDENT, MILO DJUKANOVIC, IS MEETING IN LONDON WITH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND OTHER BRITISH OFFICIALS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE BRIEF VISIT AIMS AT SHORING UP SUPPORT FOR THE ANTI-MILOSEVIC STAND OF PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC. TEXT: PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC'S MEETINGS WITH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR AND FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK WILL FOCUS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS. MONTENEGRO'S LEADER IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HE SEES AS BELGRADE'S EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE HIS ADMINISTRATION. HE HAS COMPLAINED MOST RECENTLY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINTS ALONG MONTENEGRO'S BORDERS WITH NEIGHBORING CROATIA, ALBANIA, AND KOSOVO. THE 36-YEAR-OLD REFORMIST HAS NOT HIDDEN HIS OPPOSITION TO BELGRADE'S CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. MR. DJUKANOVIC HAS LONG DISPUTED THE POLICIES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND ACCUSED MILOSEVIC SUPPORTERS OF TRYING TO UNDERMINE HIS EFFORTS TO OPEN MONTENEGRO TO THE REST OF EUROPE. PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC HAS SOUGHT INDEPENDENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION SINCE HIS ELECTION MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. NOW HE IS TOURING EUROPEAN UNION CAPITALS AMID INCREASED ATTACKS AGAINST HIM IN THE SERB MEDIA. SOON AFTER THE NATO AIR STRIKES WERE LAUNCHED IN MARCH, EUROPEAN ALLIES STARTED WARNING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC OF SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IF HE TRIED TO OUST MONTENEGRO'S LEADERSHIP. MONTENEGRO HAS TAKEN IN MORE THAN 64-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. BUT YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS NOW MANNING BORDER CHECKPOINTS HAVE BEEN BLOCKING THE FLOW OF HUMANITARIAN AID INTO MONTENEGRO. THE INCREASED YUGOSLAV MILITARY PRESENCE COINCIDED WITH NAME-CALLING ON SERB STATE T-V, ACCUSING MONTENEGRO'S PRESIDENT OF BEING A PUPPET OF THE UNITED STATES. MR. DJUKANOVIC WAS ONCE A POLITICAL ALLY OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT
MILOSEVIC BUT NOW OPENLY OPPOSES HIM. IN RECENT INTERVIEWS HE
HAS WARNED THAT MONTENEGRO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH BELGRADE UNDER THE
YUGOSLAV FEDERATION HAS TO CHANGE. (SIGNED)
[10] EDITORIAL: MORE CRACKS IN MILOSEVIC REGIMEDATE= 05/26/99TYPE= EDITORIAL NUMBER= 0-08310 CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 05/26/99. 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: THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT THE REGIME OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE FROM THE NATO BOMBING. LAST WEEK, THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN TOOK TO THE STREETS IN SOUTHERN SERBIA. THEY WERE ANGRY BECAUSE THEIR MEN HAD BEEN DRAFTED FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN KOSOVO. AS MANY AS ONE-THOUSAND SERBIAN SOLDIERS ABANDONED THEIR POSTS IN KOSOVO TO JOIN THEIR RELATIVES IN THE VIOLENT ANTI-WAR PROTESTS. ACCORDING TO U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN, THE PROTESTS ARE "FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MILOSEVIC'S REGIME IS BEGINNING TO CRACK." THE PROTESTS ALSO SUGGEST THAT NATO AIRSTRIKES HAVE KILLED MORE SERBIAN SOLDIERS THAN MILOSEVIC HAS LET ON. DEMONSTRATIONS WERE SPARKED BY THE RETURN OF SERBIAN BODIES AND ORDERS FOR SOLDIERS ON LEAVE TO RETURN TO THE FRONT IN KOSOVO. CLEARLY, OPPOSITION TO THE AUTHORITARIAN MILOSEVIC REGIME IS MOUNTING. DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER ZORAN DJINDJIC HAS OPENLY CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. BUT FEARING FOR HIS LIFE AFTER THE REGIME ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRONT OF HIS PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS, HE HAS FLED THE COUNTRY. VUK OBRADOVIC, LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY PARTY, HAS REMAINED IN BELGRADE WHILE CALLING FOR MR. MILOSEVIC EITHER TO RESIGN OR TO CALL NEW ELECTIONS. MR. OBRADOVIC HAS HAD TO ENDURE PUBLIC THREATS. BUT HE INSISTS MR. MILOSEVIC HAS MORE TO FEAR FROM THE OPPOSITION THAN THEY DO FROM HIM. HE SAYS THAT MR. MILOSEVIC MUST GO, "NOT BECAUSE THE WEST WANTS IT, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT IT." OPPOSITION IN SERBIA TO THE WAR IN KOSOVO AND THE REGIME OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS GROWING. MILOSEVIC HAS NO OTHER CHOICE: HE MUST ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH BY NATO TO END THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. AND ULTIMATELY THERE MUST BE DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN ALL OF SERBIA, NOT JUST KOSOVO. 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.
[11] RUSSIA / POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249755 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN -- WHILE ON VACATION IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA -- CONTINUES TO REBUILD THE RUSSIAN CABINET FOLLOWING THE DISMISSAL OF HIS GOVERNMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. YELTSIN APPOINTED A PROMINENT REFORMER TO OVERSEE RUSSIA'S ECONOMY. TEXT: RUSSIA'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS PRESIDENT YELTSIN HAS RETURNED MIKHAIL ZADORNOV TO HIS POST AS FINANCE MINISTER AND HAS ALSO CONFIRMED HIM TO BE RUSSIA'S NEW FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FOR THE ECONOMY. THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MR. ZADORNOV WAS FIRST APPOINTED FINANCE MINISTER IN 1997 AND HAS SERVED UNDER THREE SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS SINCE THEN. ANALYSTS SAY HIS RE-APPOINTMENT SIGNALS A DESIRE FOR CONTINUITY OF REFORM-MINDED ECONOMIC POLICY IN RUSSIA. HIS SURPRISE PROMOTION TO BECOME DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PUTS HIM IN CHARGE OF TALKS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (I-M-F) AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL CREDITORS. RUSSIA OWES 17-POINT-FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS TO FOREIGN CREDITORS THIS YEAR. MR. ZADORNOV MUST NOW CONVINCE RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO MEET THE I-M-F'S TERMS FOR FURTHER LOANS. RUSSIA'S ECONOMY IS STILL SUFFERING FROM AN ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT BEGAN WITH THE DEVALUATION OF THE RUBLE IN AUGUST. THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, WHO HAS FINAL SAY IN THE MAKEUP OF THE GOVERNMENT, IS VACATIONING IN THE BLACK SEA RESORT OF SOCHI. HE HAS ALSO APPOINTED SEVERAL OTHER MINISTERS TO TOP POSTS TUESDAY, FILLING OUT THE CABINET EVEN MORE. SPEAKING IN MOSCOW, NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FOR THE ECONOMY ZADORNOV SAYS THERE ARE SIGNS THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IS STABILIZING AFTER THE AUGUST CRASH. /// ZADORNOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///HE SAYS IT IS CLEAR NOW THAT RUSSIA'S INFLATION IN MAY WILL BE LESS THAN THREE PERCENT. PRESIDENT YELTSIN AND HIS PRIME MINISTER MUST REBUILD THE CABINET AFTER MR. YELTSIN DISMISSED HIS FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT ON MAY 12TH. THE RUSSIAN LEADER SOON AFTER SURVIVED AN EFFORT BY OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS TO IMPEACH HIM. AFTER THE FAILED VOTE, PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION BACKED DOWN AND APPROVED HIS CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER -- SERGEI STEPASHIN. MR. STEPASHIN HAS PROMISED TO TACKLE RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS,
BUT HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS. (SIGNED)
[12] FRANCE / CORSICA (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249746 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FRENCH POLICE SAY THEY HAVE ARRESTED ALL BUT ONE OF THE CORSICAN NATIONALISTS WHO ASSASSINATED THE PREFECT OF CORSICA, THE CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ISLAND FROM THE CENTRAL FRENCH GOVERNMENT, 15 MONTHS AGO. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS POLICE SAY ONE PERSON HAS BEEN CHARGED AND OTHERS WHO HAVE CONFESSED WILL BE CHARGED SOON. TEXT: IT HAS BEEN A HECTIC MONTH FOR OFFICIALS DEALING WITH FRANCE'S MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CORSICA. THREE WEEKS AGO, THE CORSICAN PREFECT, BERNARD BONNET, WAS HIMSELF ARRESTED AND PUT UNDER INVESTIGATION -- THE FRENCH TERM DENOTING A FORMAL INDICTMENT -- FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN THE ARSON OF TWO ILLEGALLY CONSTRUCTED BEACH RESTAURANTS. THE PREFECT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY A GENERAL DISINTEREST IN CORSICA BY OFFICIALS IN PARIS, PROMPTING HIM TO TAKE THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS. AS THAT SCANDAL ERUPTED, THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION ACCUSED THE SOCIALIST-LED GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN OF MISHANDLING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF THE PREVIOUS PREFECT, CLAUDE ERIGNAC, IN FEBRUARY 1998. MR. ERIGNAC WAS SHOT WITH A STOLEN POLICE GUN ON THE STREET IN THE CORSICAN PORT OF AJACCIO AS HE WALKED, WITHOUT BODYGUARDS, TO A CONCERT. . NOW, JUST AS THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION HAS INTRODUCED A MOTION OF "NO CONFIDENCE" IN THE GOVERNMENT, THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE DETAINED FIVE OF THE SIX PEOPLE WHO PLANNED AND CARRIED OUT THE KILLING. ONLY THE MAN WHO THEY SAY ACTUALLY PULLED THE TRIGGER, NAMED AS YVAN COLONNA, THE SON OF A FORMER SOCIALIST MEMBER OF THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT, HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT. POLICE SAY HE FLED HIS HOME BEFORE THEY COULD ARREST HIM. POLICE SAY THE SUSPECTS WERE LED BY ALAIN FERRANDI, A NATIONALIST EXTREMIST WHO DOES NOT BELONG TO ANY OF THE MAIN CORSICAN SEPARATIST GROUPS. POLICE SAY MR. FERRANDI AND THREE OF HIS ACCOMPLICES CONFESSED TO THEIR ROLE IN MR. ERIGNAC'S KILLING. THE CRUCIAL EVIDENCE CAME FROM CELLPHONE TRAFFIC ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER. POLICE SAY THIS SHOWED THAT MR. FERRANDI WAS AT THE SITE OF THE KILLING. ONE OF HIS ACCOMPLICES GAVE THE SIGNAL BY CELLPHONE WHEN THE PREFECT LEFT HIS OFFICE. THE OPPOSITION SAYS THE TIMING OF THE ARRESTS, COMING JUST BEFORE THE NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE, IS SUSPECT, SUGGESTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT KNEW THE IDENTITY OF THE KILLERS FOR SOME TIME. /// REST OPT ///AFTER THE ARRESTS, OFFICIALS SAY FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER
JEAN-PIERRE CHEVENEMENT OPENED A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE TO TOAST
FRANCE'S POLICE CHIEFS. A CORSICAN WOMEN'S PEACE MOVEMENT
DESCRIBED THE MINISTER'S GESTURE, FOLLOWING THE FIRST MURDER OF A
FRENCH PREFECT SINCE WORLD WAR TWO, AS "INDECENT." (SIGNED)
[13] N-Y ECON WRAP (S&L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=5/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249798 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (TUESDAY), IN A VOLATILE SESSION. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10-THOUSAND-531, DOWN 123 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500-STOCK INDEX CLOSED AT 12-HUNDRED-84, DOWN 22 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST THREE PERCENT ALTHOUGH MOST INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS WERE WEAK ALL DAY, MANY OTHER STOCKS STARTED WITH A RECOVERY FROM MONDAY'S STRONG SELL-OFF. THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 100 POINTS BY LATE MORNING, BUT A WAVE OF SELLING HIT THE MARKET IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING. // OPT ///// MCSHERRY ACT ///I THINK PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT WE ARE NEAR HISTORIC HIGH VALUATIONS IN STOCKS AND, AS BOND YIELDS MOVE TOWARD SIX PERCENT AND POSSIBLY ABOVE, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK OF BONDS AS AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO EQUITIES [STOCKS]. /// END ACT ////// END OPT ///A MONTHLY INDEX OF U-S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS UP IN MAY, RISING FOR A RECORD SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH. ANALYSTS SAY THE STRONG U-S JOB MARKET CONTINUES TO MAKE AMERICANS CONFIDENT ABOUT SPENDING MONEY. /// REST OPT ///SALES OF EXISTING HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES DROPPED MORE THAN THREE PERCENT IN APRIL. HOWEVER, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS IT EXPECTS EXISTING HOME SALES THIS YEAR WILL BE CLOSE TO LAST YEAR'S RECORD. HOTEL STOCKS WERE WEAK AFTER THE PROMUS CORPORATION, A LEADING U-S HOTEL CHAIN, SHARPLY CUT ITS EARNINGS GROWTH PROJECTIONS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. THE ANNOUNCEMENT TOOK MANY ANALYSTS BY SURPRISE, AND SOME SAY THEY WILL RE-ASSESS THEIR EVALUATIONS OF HOTEL COMPANIES. A PRIVATE INVESTMENT GROUP WILL BUY T-N-P ENTERPRISES, AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SERVING PARTS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES OF TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO. ANALYSTS SAY THE DEAL, WORTH ABOUT ONE-BILLION DOLLARS, INDICATES INVESTORS BELIEVE THE COMPANY IS UNDER-VALUED BY THE STOCK MARKET, AND COULD SIGNAL MORE PRIVATE BUYOUTS OF U-S UTILITY COMPANIES. THE TANDY CORPORATION HAS DECLARED A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT. TANDY, WHICH OPERATES SEVEN-THOUSAND "RADIO SHACK" STORES, HAS SEEN ITS STOCK PRICE GAIN MORE THAN 80 PERCENT SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CUT PRICES OF SOME OF ITS OLDER MODEL DESK-TOP COMPUTERS BY UP TO 14 PERCENT. ALTHOUGH MANY INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS HAVE BEEN DOWN RECENTLY,
THERE IS STILL AN APPETITE ON WALL STREET FOR NEW INTERNET
ISSUES. THE STOCK OF BARNES-AND-NOBLE-DOT-COM -- AN ON-LINE BOOK
RETAILER -- ROSE ALMOST 40 PERCENT ON ITS FIRST DAY OF TRADING.
THE BARNES-AND-NOBEL INTERNET BUSINESS FACES TOUGH COMPETITION
FROM AMAZON-DOT-COM, THE PIONEER ON-LINE BOOKSELLER. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/WTW
[14] KOSOVO CONFLICT BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/25/99TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-11307 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: KOSOVO AND THE AIR CAMPAIGN OVER SERBIA CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE AMERICAN PRESS. WE HAVE SOME SAMPLES OF EDITORIAL COMMENT NOW FROM ____________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: THE "OMAHA (NEBRASKA) WORLD-HERALD" WRITES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THAT "THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO DRAGS ON WITH NO PRODUCTIVE END IN SIGHT." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS IT IS NOT TOO EARLY FOR THE WEST TO CONSIDER THE LESSONS OF THE CONFLICT. THEY OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS: VOICE: DO NOT OVERESTIMATE THE POTENTIAL OF AIR POWER. /// OPT TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF A GROUND WAR IN KOSOVO. PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE NEWSPAPER NOTES, ONCE RULED OUT USING GROUND FORCES TO DRIVE SERB TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO. NOW, THE PRESIDENT FAVORS SENDING IN AS MANY AS 50-THOUSAND TROOPS. VOICE: (PRESIDENT) CLINTON'S RELUCTANT EMBRACE OF THE GROUND FORCES OPTION CAME UNDER THE PRODDING FROM BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, WHO ALONE AMONG NATO'S POLITICAL LEADERS HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO RECOGNIZE THAT KEEPING OPEN THE THREAT OF AN INVASION ADDS CREDIBILITY TO END (MR.) MILOSEVIC'S REIGN OF TERROR IN KOSOVO AND BRING SECURITY FOR ITS PEOPLE. TEXT: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" ALSO CREDITS PRIME MINISTER BLAIR WITH MOVING THE ALLIANCE TOWARD THE POSSIBLE USE OF GROUND FORCES. VOICE: AS USUAL, EVENTS HAVE BEEN THE GREAT EDUCATOR, BUT THEY HAVE HAD A MANLY ASSIST FROM BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, THE DE FACTO LEADER OF THE ALLIANCE. HE STARTED THE GROUND TROOPS DEBATE BY ADVOCATING SENDING GROUND TROOPS INTO KOSOVO WHETHER OR NOT A SETTLEMENT IS REACHED BEFOREHAND, OR, IN OTHER WORDS, INVADING SERBIAN TERRITORY IF NECESSARY. HE ALSO HAS BEEN THE MORE OUTSPOKEN NATO LEADER ON THE NEED TO HOLD (MR.) MILOSEVIC TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CRIMES COMMITTED IN KOSOVO. /// OPT ///TEXT: FINALLY, ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN THE "OMAHA (NEBRASKA) WORLD HERALD" CONCLUDES THAT "BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA IS A DANGEROUS PLACE." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS: VOICE: COUNTRIES THAT INSIST ON KEEPING DIPLOMATS AND EMBASSIES THERE ARE IN NO POSITION TO COMPLAIN IF THEIR PEOPLE ARE ACCIDENTALLY HIT BY NATO FIRE. ... NATO AUTHORITIES HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE DAMAGE, WHICH WAS A DIPLOMATIC THING TO DO BUT BY NO MEANS NECESSARY. /// OPT /// SURELY THE LEADERS OF HUNGARY, SWEDEN AND THE OTHER NATIONS KNEW THE RISKS THEIR AMBASSADORS AND OTHER EMBASSY EMPLOYEES WERE ASSUMING WHEN THEY LEFT THEM ON THE GROUND IN BELGRADE. /// END OPT /// ... FOREIGNERS WHO REMAIN IN BELGRADE -- DIPLOMATS, TOURISTS, JOURNALISTS, ANYONE -- SHOULD KNOW BY NOW WHAT TO EXPECT. THEY SHOULD BE READY TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE. /// END OPT ///TEXT: WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
[15] TUESDAY EDITORIALS BY RALPH A. ECKHARDT (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/24/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11306 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= ///// ED'S: MATERIAL OUTDATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T /////INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPERS HAVE TURNED THEIR EDITORIAL EYE (TUESDAY) ON THE WAR IN KOSOVO, THE PERFORMANCE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO, AND ELECTION REFORM IN MEXICO. NOW, HERE IS ___________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS CHANGED HIS POLICY FROM AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE OF USING NO GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO TO SAYING NO MILITARY OPTION HAS BEEN RULED OUT. MEANWHILE, NATO IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO POSITION A FORCE OF 50-THOUSAND PEACEKEEPING TROOPS OUTSIDE YUGOSLAVIA'S BORDER. NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY" SAYS "NATO NEEDS TO START BUILDING A MILITARY FORCE TO KEEP AN EVENTUAL PEACE IN KOSOVO." VOICE: AT SOME POINT THE BOMBING WILL END AND A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION, REGARDLESS OF DETAILS WILL HINGE ON THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS. ...ASSEMBLING THE FORCE NOW MIGHT ALSO PUT PRESSURE ON (YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC TO START NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF AN EVENTUAL PEACE. ...GOOD PLANNING HAS NOT BEEN ALWAYS THE HALLMARK OF THE NATO WAR AGAINST SERBIA. AN EVENTUAL PEACE WILL DEMAND IT. TEXT: THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" ALSO SUPPORTS ASSEMBLING A GROUND FORCE. IT SAYS A PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL TAKE WEEKS TO ASSEMBLE AND NATO WOULD BE RACING AGAINST THE CALENDER TO REPATRIATE KOSOVAR REFUGEES BEFORE THE ONSET OF WINTER WEATHER. VOICE: PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS COULD BEGIN QUICKLY IF MILOSEVIC AGREES TO TERMS ACCEPTABLE TO NATO. AND IF HE DOES NOT, NATO WOULD BE AT LEAST BE FAR BETTER POSITIONED TO FIGHT ITS WAY INTO KOSOVO SHOULD ITS COMMANDERS CONCLUDE THAT IS NECESSARY. ...WHAT IS NEEDED IN NATO NOW IS THE POLITICAL WILL TO AUGMENT THESE FORCES AND TO PREPARE THEM TO MEET THE AIMS FOR WHICH NATO HAS GONE TO WAR. TEXT: THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAYS A FORCED INVASION OF SERBIA IS A POSSIBILITY AND GROUND TROOPS NECESSARY FOR PEACEKEEPING IN KOSOVO. THE NEWSPAPER CALLS FOR THE DEFEAT AND OVERTHROW OF THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE LASTING PEACE. VOICE: ..MR. CLINTON AND ALL OF NATO ARE NOW SO DEEPLY COMMITTED IN KOSOVO THERE IS NO WAY OUT BUT VICTORY. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY WAY TO SPIN DEFEAT AS VICTORY...EITHER MILOSEVIC WILL CONTROL KOSOVO OR HE WILL NOT. ...THE AIR CAMPAIGN...SURELY IS SUCCEEDING IN DEGRADING THE SERBIAN MILITARY. CONCEIVABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY IT WILL FORCE A CAPITULATION AND SURELY MAKES ANY ULTIMATE INVASION EASIER. TEXT: ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO IS COMING UNDER INCREASING CRITICISM FOR HER HANDLING OF ESPIONAGE AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING CHINA. THE "NEW YORK POST" ALSO CITES HER 1993 DECISION TO STORM THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND IN WACO, TEXAS, AND MANY UNFILLED POSTS IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THE POST ALSO SAYS SHE HELPED WHITE HOUSE LAWYERS DELAY THE MONICA LEWINSKY AND PAULA JONES CASES, AND BLAMES HER FOR WHAT IT CALLS TOTAL CHAOS IN INVESTIGATING CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS. VOICE: EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO A FEW MISTAKES IN LIFE, BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS ABUSED THE PRIVILEGE. SHE MUST RESIGN OR BE FIRED WITHOUT DELAY. ...THE CATALOUGE OF RENO'S PROFESSIONAL LAPSES IS EXTENSIVE AND LAMENTABLE. THE FASTER SHE IS DISPOSED OF THE FASTER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL GET SOME ANSWERS. TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" CITES COMMENTS FROM DEMOCRAT NEW JERSEY SENATOR ROBERT TORICELLI, WHO CALLED MS. RENO'S FAILURE TO GIVE THE F-B-I A 1997 WIRETAP IN THE CHINESE SPY CASE "AN EXTRAORDINARY LAPSE OF JUDGMENT IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT..." THE "WASHINGTON TIMES" ADDS; VOICE: IN REFUSING TO SEEK AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE CAMPAIGN-FINANCE ABUSES, MISS RENO WORKED HARD TO PROTECT HER BOSS, AT THE EXPENSE OF HER PRINCIPLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. NOW THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACTIONS OF HER DEPARTMENT HAVE CLEARLY COMPROMISED NATIONAL SECURITY. THAT IS INTOLERABLE. IF MISS RENO HAS ANY SENSE OF HONOR LEFT, SHE WILL USE IT TO RESIGN. TEXT: MEANWHILE IN MEXICO, THE INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY, KNOWN AS PRI, HAS DECIDED TO CHOOSE ITS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BY OPEN PRIMARY INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF LETTING PARTY LEADERS PICK THE CANDIDATE. THE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND "JOURNAL" SAYS BECAUSE THE PRI HAS WON EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SINCE 1929, THE PARTY'S NEW SYSTEM IS A BIG ADVANCE FOR DEMOCRACY IN MEXICO. VOICE: THIS IS A REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT IN A VIRTUALLY ONE-PARTY COUNTRY. ... THE PRI HAS ALSO ADDED TO ITS NEW RULES CAMPAIGN SPENDING LIMITS. PRI OFFICIALS...EXPECT THAT THE CONSIDERABLY DEMOCRATIC NOMINATING PROCESS WILL GAIN FRIENDS IN THE MEXICAN ELECTORATE. THIS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE THE CASE. TEXT: "THE SUN" OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SAYS MEXICO'S POLITICAL CULTURE CAN MAKE U-S CITIZENS UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE IT IS SO ALIEN. BUT IT SAYS PRI'S MOVE TO AN OPEN PRIMARY IS GOOD. VOICE: ANY GENUINE ADVANCE OF MEXICAN DEMOCRACY WOULD BE IN THE U-S NATIONAL INTEREST. AN HONESTLY DEMOCRATIC MEXICO WOULD PROPEL FEWER EMIGRANTS HERE AND BE A MORE EQUITABLE TRADING PARTNER. THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLE OF AT U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS FOR
TUESDAY, MAY 25TH.
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