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Voice of America, 99-03-23Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247045 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS APPEALED FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR U-S AND NATO MILITARY INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO -- IF THAT BECOMES NECESSARY. THE PRESIDENT SAYS SUCH ACTION WOULD BE MORALLY RIGHT, AND IN THE VITAL INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS MORE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON SPOKE (TUESDAY) IN THE WAKE OF THE APPARENT BREAKDOWN OF U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S LAST-DITCH DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ON KOSOVO, AND AFTER CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS (FROM BOTH U-S POLITICAL PARTIES) URGED HIM TO MAKE A CLEARER CASE FOR NATO INTERVENTION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IN A NATIONALLY-TELEVISED ADDRESS TO A GOVERNMENT-EMPLOYEES' UNION, MR. CLINTON LEVELED HEAVY CRITICISM AT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC -- SAYING HE HAD REFUSED TO EVEN DISCUSS WITH MR. HOLBROOKE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN-BROKERED PEACE PLAN ON KOSOVO. THE PRESIDENT SAID, IF NATO FAILS TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ITS REPEATED THREATS TO USE FORCE TO END SERB REPRESSION IN KOSOVO, IT WILL SEEN BY MR. MILOSEVIC AS A GREEN LIGHT [A SIGNAL TO GO AHEAD] FOR AN EVEN BIGGER OFFENSIVE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE PROVINCE. /// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AFTER ALL THE TO AND FRO THAT'S BEEN SAID HERE, IT WILL BE INTERPRETED BY MR. MILOSEVIC AS A LICENSE TO CONTINUE TO KILL. THERE WILL BE MORE MASSACRES, MORE REFUGEES, MORE VICTIMS, MORE PEOPLE CRYING OUT FOR REVENGE. AND THEY'LL BE SPREADING OUT TO THESE NEARBY COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ETHNIC TENSIONS. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON SAID THE CURRENT SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS A CRISIS WITH NO NATURAL BOUNDARIES, THAT COULD SPREAD REFUGEE FLOWS AND VIOLENCE TO MACEDONIA, ALBANIA -- AND COULD EVEN DRAW NATO ALLIES GREECE AND TURKEY INTO CONFLICT. HE MADE CLEAR THAT NATO AND U-S CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE IF THE ALLIANCE DOES NOT, AS HE PUT IT, LIMIT MR. MILOSEVIC'S ABILITY TO CARRY OUT ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. /// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///YOU'VE GOT TO DECIDE MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IF YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THAT AMERICA -- AS THE WORLD'S SUPERPOWER -- OUGHT TO BE STANDING UP AGAINST ETHNIC CLEANSING, IF WE HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT, AND WE HAVE ALLIES WHO WILL HELP US DO IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR INTEREST -- AFTER WHAT WE SAW IN WORLD WAR ONE, WORLD WAR TWO AND THE COLD WAR, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DIED -- IN A EUROPE THAT IS UNITED, NOT DIVIDED; DEMOCRATIC, NOT DICTATORIAL; AND SECURE AND AT PEACE, NOT WRACKED BY ETHNIC CLEANSING. /// END ACT ///IN HIS MEETING WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, JUST BEFORE THE
ADDRESS, MR. CLINTON GOT A BIPARTISAN SHOW OF SUPPORT. REPUBLICAN
SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL SAID HOLDING NATO TOGETHER AND STANDING
UP TO MR. MILOSEVIC, WHOM HE CALLED A "THUG," IS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO, AND HE WILL SUPPORT MR. CLINTON IF IT COMES TO NATO
AIRSTRIKES ON SERB TARGETS. (SIGNED)
[02] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-UPDATE) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247049 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE CLEAR NATO IS READY TO CARRY OUT ITS THREATENED AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERB TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA AFTER THE FAILURE OF U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S LAST-DITCH KOSOVO PEACE MISSION. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON WAS URGED BY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO MAKE A PUBLIC CASE FOR NATO MILITARY INTERVENTION. AND HE CHOSE A WASHINGTON LABOR UNION FOR HIS MESSAGE THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN -- DIPLOMATICALLY -- TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. HE SAID THE FAILURE OF THE ALLIES TO BACK UP THEIR THREATS OF USING FORCE IF NECESSARY WOULD BE A GREEN LIGHT FOR FURTHER REPRESSION IN KOSOVO: ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AFTER ALL THE TWO AND FRO THAT'S BEEN SAID HERE, IT WILL BE INTERPRETED BY MR. MILOSEVIC AS A LICENSE TO CONTINUE TO KILL. THERE WILL BE MORE MASSACRES, MORE REFUGEES, MORE VICTIMS. ///END ACT///THE PRESIDENT WARNED THAT UNCHECKED KOSOVO VIOLENCE COULD SPREAD
TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND EVEN DRAG NATO ALLIES GREECE AND
TURKEY IN CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
[03] CLINTON/KOSOVO WRAP (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247065 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE STAGE IS SET FOR U-S AND NATO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SERB TARGETS AFTER THE FAILURE OF SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE'S LAST DITCH DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO BELGRADE. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS EVERYTHING POSSIBLE HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS PEACEFULLY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE GOT NOWHERE IN HIS BELGRADE MEETINGS WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. AND HE SAYS NATO IS UNITED AND READY TO CARRY OUT ITS THREATS TO ACT MILITARILY TO REDUCE THE YUGOSLAV LEADERS ABILITY TO, AS HE PUT IT, "MAKE WAR" ON THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. IN A LABOR UNION ADDRESS IN WASHINGTON, MR. CLINTON SAID THE HOLBROOKE MISSION FAILED BECAUSE MR. MILOSEVIC IS STILL DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRISIS, DEFYING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND DESTROYING PEOPLES LIVES. HE SAID IF NATO FAILED TO DELIVER ON ITS REPEATED THREATS TO USE FORCE IF NECESSARY AGAINST SERB TARGETS, IT WOULD AMOUNT TO A GREEN LIGHT FOR FURTHER REPRESSION IN KOSOVO: ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AFTER ALL THE TO AND FRO THAT'S BEEN SAID HERE, IT WILL BE INTERPRETED BY MR. MILOSEVIC AS A LICENSE TO CONTINUE TO KILL. THERE WILL BE MORE MASSACRES, MORE REFUGEES, MORE VICTIMS. MORE PEOPLE CRYING OUT FOR REVENGE. AND THEY'LL BE SPREADING OUT TO THESE NEARBY COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ETHNIC TENSIONS. ///END ACT///MR. CLINTON CALLED THE KOSOVO CRISIS A CONFLICT WITH NO NATURAL BOUNDARIES WHICH COULD SPREAD INTO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO AND EVEN DRAW NATO ALLIES GREECE AND TURKEY INTO CONFLICT. THE PRESIDENT WAS URGED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC APPEAL FOR SUPPORT ON KOSOVO BY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS WHO WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THEIR SECOND CRISIS MEETING ON KOSOVO SINCE LAST FRIDAY. THE MEETING PRODUCED A BIPARTISAN SHOW OF UNITY, WITH EVEN SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S MOST PROMINENT CRITICS ON BALKANS POLICY SAYING THAT SOLIDARITY ON THE USE OF FORCE IS ESSENTIAL. REPUBLICAN SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON TOLD REPORTERS PARTISANSHIP MUST GIVE WAY WHEN MILITARY ACTION IS PENDING: ///HUTCHISON ACTUALITY///WHILE MANY PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES, I WOULD NOT WANT MR. MILOSEVIC TO GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TROOPS WOULD NOT HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT HE NEEDS IF WE HAVE TROOPS IN HARMS WAY. ///END ACT///THERE WERE SIMILAR COMMENTS FROM DEMOCRATS INCLUDING SENATOR JOSPEH LIEBERMAN. HE SAID HE CAME AWAY FROM THE MEETING BELIEVING THAT NATO STRIKES AGAINST SERB FORCES WOULD BE HEAVY, EFFECTIVE AND NOT LONG IN COMING: ///LIEBERMAN ACTUALITY///WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT HOSTILITIES ARE IMMINENT IN THE BALKANS. AND ONCE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONCLUDE THAT, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR OPINIONS HAVE BEEN UP UNTIL THAT TIME -- WHEN AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO COMBAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND A MIXED MESSAGE. ///END ACT///BUT THE UNITY DID NOT SPAN THE ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC FRONT. RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV ABRUPTLY CANCELLED A VISIT TO WASHINGTON AND ORDERED HIS PLANE TO TURN BACK OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC AFTER BEING TOLD BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE THAT AIRSTRIKES COULD NOT BE RULED OUT. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAID THE TWO POWERS AGREE ON POLITICAL BUT NOT MILITARY PRESSURE ON THE YUGOSLAV LEADER: ///LOCKHART ACTUALITY////WE HAVE BEEN IN STRONG AGREEMENT AND BEEN CONSULTING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS ON BRINGING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO SIGN ON TO THE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. WE HAVE A DISAGREEMENT ON THE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS. ///END ACT///MR. LOCKHART SAID HE EXPECTED THE MEETING OF THE JOINT COMMISSION
HEADED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MR. PRIMAKOV TO BE RE-SCHEDULED,
AND INSISTED THE ACTION BY THE PRIME MINISTER DOES NOT SIGNAL A
CRISIS IN RELATIONS. (SIGNED)
[04] SENATE / KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247043 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S SENATE REPUBLICANS APPEAR TO BE BACKING AWAY FROM A SHOWDOWN WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON OVER AIR STRIKES IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, EVEN SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE POLICY SAY CONGRESS SHOULD SUPPORT MR. CLINTON AND THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES. TEXT: THE SENATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO BLOCK MILITARY ACTION IN YUGOSLAVIA BY HOLDING BACK MONEY. BUT AFTER MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT (TUESDAY), A NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS SPOKE IN A DIFFERENT TONE. REPUBLICAN SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON SAYS THIS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR A CONFRONTATION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE. /// HUTCHISON ACT ///I DISAGREE WITH THE POLICY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN KOSOVO. BUT I THINK IT BECOMES A DIFFERENT ISSUE WHEN ACTION IS IMMINENT, AND WHEN YOU ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE TROOPS GO IN HARM'S WAY, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL [NEXT STEP]. AND I THINK MANY MEMBERS ARE NOW CONFLICTED. /// END ACT ///SOME OF THOSE WITH CONFLICTING FEELINGS ARE MEMBERS OF MR. CLINTON'S OWN PARTY, WHO DOUBT NATO AIR RAIDS WILL BRING RESULTS AND WORRY THEY COULD MEAN AMERICAN CASUALTIES. BUT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB KERREY SAYS AIR STRIKES WOULD WEAKEN THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY, AND A FAILURE TO ACT WOULD WEAKEN NATO. /// KERREY ACT ///I DON'T THINK IT RISES TO THE NATIONAL-SECURITY LEVEL THAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING. BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, I THINK WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO SUPPORT NATO'S BOMBING OF SERBIAN POSITIONS. /// END ACT ////// SMITH ACT ///STRIFE ALONG THESE LINES HAS GONE ON VIRTUALLY UNINTERRUPTED FOR A MILLENNIUM. THIS IS NO PLACE FOR AMERICA TO GET BOGGED DOWN. I BELIEVE IN AMERICA AND AMERICAN POWER, BUT THESE ARE CONFLICTS THAT AMERICA CAN NOT SOLVE. /// END ACT ///THE SENATE NOW SEEMS LIKELY TO GO ALONG [ASSENT], IF THE
PRESIDENT AND THE ALLIES DO DECIDE TO USE AIR POWER IN KOSOVO.
SENATORS MAKE CLEAR THE DEPLOYMENT OF GROUND TROOPS -- FOR COMBAT
OR PEACEKEEPING -- MAY BE ANOTHER MATTER. (SIGNED)
[05] SENATE / KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247060 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: UPDATES CR 2-247043 -- NEW THROUGHOUT ///INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS SET ASIDE A MOVE TO BLOCK AMERICAN MILITARY ACTION IN KOSOVO, BUT THE LAWMAKERS APPEAR TO BE UNCERTAIN HOW FAR TO GO IN SUPPORTING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND NATO'S PREPARATIONS FOR AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERBIA. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS ON THE DEBATE ON CAPITOL HILL. TEXT: AN EFFORT TO HOLD UP FUNDING FOR U-S OPERATIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA HAS FAILED A PROCEDURAL TEST ON THE SENATE FLOOR (TUESDAY). DEMOCRATS LINED UP AGAINST THE PROPOSAL, INCLUDING VERMONT SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY, WHO ARGUES BOMBING IS JUSTIFIED. /// LEAHY ACT ///AFTER ALL, HOW CAN WE OF THE UNITED STATES LOOK AT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING, THE GENOCIDE, THE ACTIVITIES GOING ON AND SAY "WE'RE NOT INTERESTED"? /// END ACT ///OTHER LAWMAKERS CALL IT UNWISE TO ATTACK THE PRESIDENT'S CREDIBILITY AT SUCH A CRUCIAL MOMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OF THEM ARE LESS THAN WHOLEHEARTED IN ENDORSING HIS STRATEGY. REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN, A LEADING VOICE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, SAYS IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT MR. CLINTON WILL DO IF AIR RAIDS DO NOT PUSH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT A PEACE AGREEMENT. /// MCCAIN ACT ///MILOSEVIC IS TOUGH. THE AIR DEFENSES ARE GOOD. THE WEATHER IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO SOME OF THE AIR OPERATIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AT LEAST IN RECENT DAYS. /// END ACT ///THE PRESIDENT'S STRONGEST CRITICS SAY THE BOMBING WOULD AMOUNT TO
AN ACT OF WAR AGAINST A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, THRUSTING THE UNITED
STATES INTO A CONFLICT IT HAS NO CHANCE OF SETTLING. HOWEVER,
THAT VIEW APPEARS TO BE IN THE MINORITY. SENATE LEADERS ARE
TRYING TO COME UP WITH A BIPARTISAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE
MISSION, OR AT LEAST FOR THE TROOPS. (SIGNED)
[06] PENTAGON / KOSOVO (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247058 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY NATO COULD BEGIN AIR STRIKES AT ANY TIME ON SERB TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA. THE WORD FOLLOWS UNSUCCESSFUL DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO STOP A MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST INDEPENDENCE-MINDED ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE TOP OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS WILL BE SWIFT, SEVERE AND PAINFUL TO THE SERBS. TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S STUBBORNNESS HAS BROUGHT NATO TO THE BRINK OF ATTACK. /// BACON ACT ///WE ARE MUCH CLOSER TO MILITARY ACTION NOW THAN WE WERE SEVERAL HOURS AGO. /// END ACT ///MR. BACON SAYS NATO'S GOAL IS TO BLOCK AN OFFENSIVE BY SERBIAN FORCES AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. AROUND 40-THOUSAND TROOPS OF THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV FORCES ARE ON THE MARCH, ACCOMPANIED BY MORE THAN 300 TANKS. MR. BACON SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CAN EASILY AVERT OR STOP A DEADLY NATO AERIAL POUNDING BY RESTRAINING HIS FORCES IN KOSOVO, AND BY PICKING UP THE TELEPHONE. /// BACON ACT ////// END ACT ///IF NATO LAUNCHES AIR ATTACKS, THEY WILL INVOLVE MORE THAN 350
PLANES FROM MANY NATIONS. THE FIRST WEAPONS TO STRIKE WILL
LIKELY BE CRUISE MISSILES LAUNCHED FROM U-S BOMBERS AND SHIPS, OR
PRECISION GUIDED BOMBS FROM U-S STEALTH FIGHTERS. (SIGNED)
[07] BRITAIN / KOSOVO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247036 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS NATO IS READY TO STRIKE IF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC DOES NOT HALT THE MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO AND ACCEPT A PEACE PLAN THAT KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED. FROM LONDON, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE BRITISH LEADER PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY SQUARELY ON THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR TOLD PARLIAMENT THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO NATO AIR STRIKES IF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC DOES NOT SIGN THE PEACE PLAN AND STOP WHAT MR. BLAIR CALLS THE CARNAGE IN KOSOVO. /// FIRST BLAIR ACT ///TO WALK AWAY NOW WOULD NOT MERELY DESTROY NATO'S CREDIBILITY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WOULD BE A BREACH OF FAITH WITH THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, WHOSE ONLY DESIRE IS TO LIVE IN PEACE, AND WHO TOOK US AT OUR WORD. /// END ACT ///MR. BLAIR BLAMES THE YUGOSLAV LEADER FOR VIOLATING THE OCTOBER CEASE-FIRE AND IGNORING ALL WARNINGS TO PULL HIS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO AND PREVENT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER THERE. HE URGES MR MILOSEVIC TO CHOOSE THE PATH OF PEACE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. MR. BLAIR SAYS MORE THAN 250-THOUSAND KOSOVARS -- ONE-TENTH THE POPULATION OF THE PROVINCE -- ARE NOW HOMELESS AS A RESULT OF SERB MILITARY AGGRESSION. ANOTHER 25-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES SINCE THE PEACE TALKS COLLAPSED LAST WEEK. // OPT //MR BLAIR SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST ACT NOW TO STOP THE KOSOVO CONFLICT FROM SPREADING. /// SECOND BLAIR ACT ///IF KOSOVO IS LEFT TO THE MERCY OF SERBIAN REPRESSION, THERE IS NOT MERELY A RISK, BUT A PROBABILITY OF REIGNITING UNREST IN ALBANIA, MACEDONIA DESTABILIZED, ALMOST CERTAIN KNOCK-ON EFFECTS IN BOSNIA, AND CERTAIN TENSIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY. THERE ARE STRATEGIC INTERESTS, THEREFORE, FOR THE WHOLE OF EUROPE AT STAKE. WE CAN NOT CONTEMPLATE ON THE DOORSTEP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION A DISINTEGRATION INTO CHAOS AND DISORDER. /// END ACT ///PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS NATO STRIKES WOULD TARGET YUGOSLAVIA'S
MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN AN EFFORT TO CURB SERB REPRESSION IN
KOSOVO AND GET THE SERB LEADERSHIP TO SIGN THE PEACE PLAN. MR
BLAIR ALSO WARNS THAT ANY SERB ATTACK AGAINST NATO PEACEKEEPERS
IN THE REGION WILL BRING A SWIFT AND SEVERE RESPONSE. (SIGNED)
[08] KOSOVO ATTACK EFFECTIVENESS BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-42921 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IF NATO DECIDES TO ATTACK YUGOSLAV MILITARY FACILITIES, SEVERAL EXPERTS IN AIR WARFARE SAY BOMBERS WILL OVERWHELM AND DESTROY YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSES IN A BRIEF BUT PERHAPS COSTLY CAMPAIGN. BUT SOME EXPERTS QUESTION WHETHER BOMBING ALONE WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN ENDING SERB ATTACKS ON ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVAR CIVILIANS IN THE TROUBLED YUGOSLAV PROVINCE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: EXPERTS IN AIR WARFARE SAY AIR STRIKES WILL UNFOLD IN COMPLEX WAVES, BEGINNING WITH CRUISE MISSILES AND STEALTH FIGHTERS. INITIAL ATTACKS WILL FOCUS ON RADAR, COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER KEY YUGOSLAV FACILITIES. LATER WAVES WILL DIRECTLY ATTACK YUGOSLAV GROUND FORCES IN KOSOVO. ANALYSTS SAY YUGOSLAVIA'S LARGE, COMPETENT, BUT AGING AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM MAY SHOOT DOWN SOME NATO PLANES. BUT THEY SAY THE ALLIANCE'S ORGANIZED, WELL SUPPORTED ARMADA OF 400 MODERN WARPLANES WILL OVERWHELM THE DEFENDERS. FORMER AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER DAVID OCHMANEK SAYS NATO AIR STRIKES CAN THEN MAKE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE FOR YUGOSLAV FORCES. /// OCHMANEK ACT ///AIR ATTACKS CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN DESTROYING THINGS THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE AIR. THIS INCLUDES TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY AND THE TRUCKS THAT CARRY THE FUEL, FOOD, WATER AND AMMUNITION THAT THESE THINGS USE. /// END ACT ///MR. OCHMAKEK IS NOW A MILITARY ANALYST AT THE PRIVATE RAND CORPORATION IN WASHINGTON. HE SAYS SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV FORCES CAN BE LESS VISIBLE TO BOMBERS BY SWITCHING FROM ARMORED VEHICLES TO CIVILIAN CARS, BUT THAT WILL MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO THEIR ARMED KOSOVAR ADVERSARIES. SOME EXPERTS SAY THIS IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF THE COMPLEX AND FLUID NATURE OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO -- SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT UNLIKELY THAT BOMBING ALONE WILL ACHIEVE NATO'S STATED GOAL OF ENDING THE BLOODSHED IN THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATIST KOSOVO PROVINCE. FORMER NAVAL AVIATOR EUGENE CARROLL, WHO ONCE COMMANDED AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, SAYS AIR STRIKES MIGHT EVEN MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. /// CARROLL ACT ///IT IS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THAT WE CAN CONTROL ALL ACTION ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO FROM THE AIR. WE CAN MAKE IT COSTLY, WE CAN FIND THIS UNIT OR THAT UNIT AND ATTACK THEM. WE WILL GET A TANK HERE AND AN ARTILLERY PIECE THERE. BUT BY AND LARGE THE SERBIAN UNITS ON THE GROUND WILL CONTROL THE SITUATION AND WILL CERTAINLY BE CONDUCTING VERY VIGOROUS ACTION AGAINST THE KOSOVAR CIVILIANS AND MILITARY THAT THEY CAN LOCATE. /// END ACT ///ADMIRAL CARROLL SAYS ONLY GROUND TROOPS COULD GUARANTEE AN END TO
THE KILLING IN KOSOVO. BUT NATO SAYS IT WON'T SEND SOLDIERS INTO
YUGOSLAVIA'S TROUBLED PROVINCE UNLESS THERE IS A PEACE AGREEMENT
AND ONLY TO ENFORCE SUCH A DEAL. THE CURRENT YUGOSLAV
OFFENSIVE MAKES SUCH A PACT APPEAR FURTHER AWAY THEN EVER.
(SIGNED).
[09] KOSOVO VIOLENCE (L ONLY) (PRISTINA)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247014 BYLILNE=PHILIP SMUCKER CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, WITH BOTH SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS PREPARING FOR NATO AIR STRIKES. PHILIP SMUCKER IN PRISTINA REPORTS TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE CITY IN OVERNIGHT VIOLENCE. . TEXT: MORE ATTACKS IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL KILLED TWO PEOPLE MONDAY NIGHT. THE KILLINGS MARKED A NEW ESCALATION OF URBAN VIOLENCE THAT COMES AS NATO GEARS UP FOR AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAV TARGETS. ONE CUSTOMER IN A CAFE WAS KILLED WHEN A GRENADE EXPLODED. THE SON OF THE CAFE'S OWNER WAS AMONG TWO OTHER PERSONS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. AROUND THE CORNER, A MAN WAS GUNNED DOWN OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT. THE KILLINGS MAY HAVE COME AS REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF FOUR SERBIAN POLICEMEN A NIGHT EARLIER. NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, SERBIAN FORCES ARE PRESSING THEIR OFFENSIVE IN THE CENTRAL DRENICA DISTRICT. DOZENS OF VILLAGES ARE UNDER ATTACK. THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY HAS ISSUED AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAYING THAT ITS FORCES WILL END THEIR CRACKDOWN AGAINST THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS AND RETURN TO BARRACKS AFTER NATO STOPS THREATENING AIR STRIKES AND AFTER PEOPLE IT CALLS TERRORISTS STOP PROVOKING GOVERNMENT FORCES. THOSE SAME GOVERNMENT FORCES ARE MAKING PREPARATIONS ACROSS KOSOVO TO FEND OFF NATO AIR STRIKES. MANY OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY'S MOBILE AIR DEFENSE GUNS ARE MOVING AROUND SERBIA AND KOSOVO -- MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TARGETS FOR NATO JETS. ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE PROVINCE IN ANTICIPATION OF THOSE AIR STRIKES. MANY ALBANIAN AND SERB PARENTS SAY THEY ARE WORRIED FOR THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS MAKE UP NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF THE PROVINCE'S
POPULATION. THEIR LEADERS HAVE SIGNED A NATO-BACKED PEACE
AGREEMENT BUT THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED THE DEAL.
(SIGNED)
[10] KOSOVO/SITREP BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247068 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN KOSOVO, ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS FOUGHT TO HOLD THEIR CENTRAL DRENICA HEADQUARTERS TUESDAY WHILE SERB FORCES BLASTED AWAY AT VILLAGES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA AND PANICKED REFUGEES FLED THEIR HOMES. PHILIP SMUCKER WAS IN THE EMBATTLED REBEL HEADQUARTERS OF LIKOVAC EARLIER TODAY (TUESDAY) AND HAS THIS REPORT. TEXT: ALBANIAN REBEL FIGHTERS WATCHED AS SERBIAN FORCES BATTLED CLOSER TO THE DRENICA HEADQUATERS TUESDAY. REFUGEES AND CHILDREN ASKED THIS REPORTER WHEN NATO WAS PLANNING TO INTERVENE TO STOP THE SERBIAN OFFENSIVE. FROM A HILL ATOP THE DRENICA HEADQUARTERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, OR K-L-A, SHELLS COULD BE SEEN CRASHING INTO HOMES AND SETTING THEM ABLAZE. TANKS, ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS AND RUSSIAN ROCKETS POUNDED THE REBEL-CONTROLLED HILLS. ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBEL LEADERS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED A NATO-BACKED PEACE AGREEMENT LAST WEEK THAT WOULD PUT SOME 28,000 NATO TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN KOSOVO. BUT MANY OF THE K-L-A FIGHTERS SAY THEY WILL NOT SURRENDER THEIR ARMS UNTIL THEY ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE. FAMILIES OF THE REBELS IN LIKOVAC ARE ALREADY FLEEING INTO SERB-CONTROLLED AREAS WHERE WESTERN OFFICIALS FEAR POSSIBLE MASSACRES IF THE SERB FORCES SEEK REVENGE FOR NATO AIR STRIKES. //OPT//UN REFUGEE OFFICIALS SAY THE MOST RECENT SERBIAN ONSLAUGHT HAS DRIVEN SOME 30,000 PERSONS FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE LAST WEEK. BY NIGHTFALL, THE ALBANIAN REBELS PREPARED TO ABANDON THEIR
LIKOVAC HEADQUARTERS. SOLDIERS PACKED SACKS OF FLOUR AND SUPPLIES
FROM A CAFE ONTO A TRACTOR BED. THE TRACTOR FOLLOWED DOZENS OF
OTHER TRACTORS SOUTH TOWARDS GLOGOVAC, MOVING AWAY FROM THE
SERBIAN ATTACK. (SIGNED)
[11] U-N / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247024 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES ARE APPEALING TO AUTHORITIES IN YUGOSLAVIA TO SIGN THE KOSOVO PEACE PLAN AND AVOID PLUNGING THEIR COUNTRY INTO WAR. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA IS ONE OF CONCERN THAT EVENTS IN KOSOVO ARE SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. TEXT: A U-N SPOKESWOMAN, THERESE GASTAUT, SAYS U-N SECRETARY- GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS ALARMED AT THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO AND IS DISTURBED BY THE SERIOUS DETERIORATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE. /// GASTAUT ACT - IN FRENCH - FADER UNDER ///MS GASTAUT SAYS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IS URGING YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES TO COOPERATE WITH MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED CONTACT GROUP, IN EFFORTS TO AVOID NEW CONFRONTATIONS IN KOSOVO. THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JOSHKA FISCHER, SAYS HE SHARES MR. ANNAN'S CONCERNS. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, MR. FISCHER SAYS THAT SINCE ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE SIGNED THE KOSOVO PEACE AGREEMENT, EVERYTHING NOW DEPENDS ON BELGRADE. /// FISCHER ACT / INTERPRETER ///FROM HERE, I ONCE AGAIN APPEAL TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT -- SIGN THE PEACE PLAN. IT IS NOT YET TOO LATE. YOU CAN STILL PREVENT YOUR COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE LIVING IN IT FROM BEING CATAPULTED INTO A CONFRONTATION. /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS TENSION HAS RISEN SHARPLY IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS PRISTINA IS CROWDED WITH THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES AND THERE IS A HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE ON THE STREETS. /// JANOWSKI ACT ///WE FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS A NUMBER OF AREAS IN KOSOVO BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE OF THE MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE PROVINCE. ... WE ESTIMATE THAT AS A RESULT OF THE FIGHTING LAST WEEKEND, 25,000 PEOPLE WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE SPACE OF 48 HOURS, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SINGLE WAVES OF DISPLACEMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES MORE THAN 250-THOUSAND PEOPLE
ARE DISPLACED WITHIN KOSOVO AND ANOTHER 200-THOUSAND HAVE GONE
INTO EXILE ABROAD. IN TOTAL, THE AGENCY SAYS ABOUT ONE-QUARTER
OF KOSOVO'S PRE-CONFLICT POPULATION IS NOW HOMELESS. (SIGNED)
[12] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (S & L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247054 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA SAYS IT STRONGLY OPPOSES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, AND WOULD VIEW ANY SUCH ACTION AS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. THOSE REMARKS CAME FROM CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (TUESDAY), AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT, MAX RUSTON. TEXT: AFTER A MEETING OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, CHINESE AMBASSADOR QIN HUASUN READ A STATEMENT DESCRIBING THE KOSOVO DISPUTE AS AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR YUGOSLAVIA THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH THROUGH DIALOG BETWEEN THE RELEVANT PARTIES. /// QIN ACT ///ANY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WILL BE A SEVERE VIOLATION OF THE U-N CHARTER AND ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. SUCH ACTION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. /// END ACT ///MR. QIN WAS RESPONDING TO WARNINGS THAT NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAV FORCES COULD START WITHIN HOURS, IN AN EFFORT TO STOP SERB ATTACKS ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. /// REST OPT ///IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE THE TWO STRONGEST OPPONENTS OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. IF NATO STRIKES AGAINST SERB FORCES TAKE PLACE, RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE EXPECTED TO CALL FOR A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE MOVE. ANY SUCH PROPOSAL IS LIKELY TO BE VETOED BY THE UNITED STATES OR BRITAIN. DIPLOMATS SAY RUSSIA AND CHINA WANT TO ENSURE THAT NO
PRECEDENTS ARE SET IN THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD EVER JUSTIFY COUNCIL
INTERVENTION IN THEIR OWN ETHNIC DISPUTES. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
[13] U-S EMBASSY SHUTDOWN (S ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247051 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS ORDERED THE SUSPENSION OF ITS EMBASSY OPERATIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED PROBABILITY OF NATO AIR STRIKES. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ORDERED THE IMMEDIATE SHUT DOWN OF THE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AFTER SPEAKING BY TELEPHONE WITH U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE. MR. HOLBROOKE LEFT BELGRADE EARLIER (TUESDAY) AFTER FAILING TO GET YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HALT HIS MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS U-S EMBASSY PERSONNEL WERE ORDERED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS. // RUBIN ACT //THE INCREASED VIOLENCE BEING COMMITTED BY SERBIAN AND FRY (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA) MILITARY AND SPECIAL POLICE FORCES IN KOSOVO, COUPLED BY SERBIA'S REFUSAL TO AGREE TO AN INTERIM POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR KOSOVO -- INCLUDING A NATO LED IMPLEMENTATION FORCE, HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE PROBABILITY OF MILITARY ACTION. // END ACT //U-S CITIZENS HAVE ALREADY BEEN WARNED TO LEAVE YUGOSLAVIA, AND
MOST U-S EMBASSY WORKERS WERE PULLED OUT EARLIER. (SIGNED)
[14] BRITAIN / KURDS (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247025 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN HAS SUSPENDED THE LICENSE FOR A KURDISH LANGUAGE SATELLITE T-V STATION HEADQUARTERED IN LONDON. MED-T-V BROADCASTS NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE KURDISH LANGUAGE TO KURDISH COMMUNITIES IN TURKEY AND THE REST OF EUROPE. TURKEY BANS BROADCASTS IN KURDISH LANGUAGE INSIDE THE COUNTRY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE HEAD OF THE T-V COMPANY SAYS HE WILL APPEAL THE SUSPENSION. TEXT: THE INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION SAYS MED-T-V OPERATIONS ARE SUSPENDED FOR 21 DAYS BECAUSE OF SEVERAL BROADCASTS THE COMMISSION DEEMS LIKELY TO INCITE CRIME OR DISORDER. THE COMMISSION HAD ALREADY WARNED THE T-V STATION LAST NOVEMBER ITS LICENSE COULD BE REVOKED BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSIAL REPORTS. MED T-V LEGAL ADVISOR LOUIS CHARLAMBUS SAYS THE SUSPENSION ORDER COMES AFTER MED T-V REPORTED ABOUT KURDISH PROTESTS IN EUROPE OVER THE CAPTURE AND ARREST OF KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. /// CHARLAMBUS ACT ///THE INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION'S CODE WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF AFFAIRS WHICH MED T-V REPORTS ON. THE STATION HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT TO BE THE ONLY UNCENSORED VOICE IN THE REGION. AND IN GIVING VENT TO MULTIPLICITY OF KURDISH VOICES FROM ALL PARTS OF KURDISTAN AND THE DISAPORA IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE, INEVITABLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A RANGE OF FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS FOLLOWING THE ABDUCTION OF ABDULLAH OCALAN. THAT'S BEEN THE HEART OF THE CAUSE OF THE SUSPENSION AT THE CURRENT TIMES. /// END ACT ///THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED THE KURDISH-LANGUAGE T-V OF INCITING VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE RECENT SERIES OF BOMB ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL. MED T-V MANAGING DIRECTOR HIKMET TABAK ACCUSES THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OF TRYING TO CLOSE IT DOWN. /// TABAK ACT ///EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT TURKISH STATE HAS DONE ITS BEST TO CLOSE OUR STATION DOWN. SO WE DECIDED FROM THE START WE WILL CARE WHAT KURDISH PEOPLE WANT, WHAT OUR VIEWERS WANT, NOT WHAT TURKISH STATE WANTS. /// END ACT ///MR. TABAK SAYS HIS LAWYERS HAVE FILED AN APPEAL WITH THE LICENSING COMMISSION AND ARE CONFIDENT OF RENEWING THE T-V LICENSE TO PUT MED T-V BACK ON THE AIR. THE SATELLITE T-V WAS SET UP FOUR YEARS AGO IN LONDON WITH A
STUDIO IN BRUSSELS. IT BROADCASTS IN THREE KURDISH DIALECTS AND
ARABIC TO AN ESTIMATED 35-MILLION KURDS IN EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA,
AND THE MIDDLE EAST. (SIGNED)
[15] CHINA / EUROPE / L-O BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247015 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BEIJING IS WELCOMING A DECISION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION NOT TO CENSURE CHINA FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AT THIS YEAR'S MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN GENEVA. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS CHINA AVOIDED A CRITICAL RESOLUTION AT LAST YEAR'S MEETING BY AGREEING TO HOLD HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH WESTERN GOVERNMENTS. TEXT: THE EUROPEAN DECISION NOT TO FORMALLY CRITICIZE CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AT THE ANNUAL U-N MEETING IN GENEVA ELICITED AN ALMOST-AUDIBLE SIGH OF RELIEF FROM BEIJING. FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SUN YUXI -- SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR -- SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE DECISION. // SUN / INTERPRETER ACTUALITY //THIS DECISION OF E-U IS CONDUCIVE TO STEPPING UP DIALOGUES AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD, AND WILL FURTHER FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA / E-U RELATIONS. // END ACTUALITY //HE REPEATED BEIJING'S POSITION THAT PUBLIC CONFRONTATION IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS. // SUN / INTERPRETER ACTUALITY //WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE VIEW THAT THE CORRECT WAY TO PATCH UP DIFFERENCES WITH VARIOUS COUNTRIES ON THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS TO CONDUCT DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION ON THE BASIS OF EQUALITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT. // END ACTUALITY //THE NEW YORK-BASED GROUP, HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, HAS EXPRESSED
ITS DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE E-U DECISION. A STATEMENT FROM THE
GROUP QUOTES EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR XIAO QIANG AS SAYING THE E-U'S
POSITION FAILS TO RECOGNIZE REALITY IN CHINA. HE SAYS CHINA IS
IN THE MIDST OF ITS HARSHEST HUMAN RIGHTS CRACKDOWN SINCE 1989.
(SIGNED)
[16] E-U / U-S / TRADE (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247023 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS REACTED WITH CONCERN TO THE U-S DECISION TO IMPOSE HUGE TAXES ON SOME EUROPEAN GOODS IN RETALIATION AGAINST EUROPE'S REFUSAL TO IMPORT U-S BEEF TREATED WITH GROWTH HORMONES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. TEXT: THE EUROPEAN UNION ACKNOWLEDGES THE UNITED STATES DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO PREPARE A LIST OF PROPOSED SANCTIONS AHEAD OF A MAY 13TH DATE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO JUSTIFY ITS BAN ON U-S BEEF TREATED WITH HORMONES. THE UNITED STATES HAS PROPOSED SANCTIONS WORTH 900-MILLION DOLLARS AGAINST EUROPEAN IMPORTS. THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE 520-MILLION DOLLARS THE UNITED STATES EARLIER TARGETED AGAINST EUROPE FOR ITS RESTRICTIONS ON BANANAS MARKETED BY AMERICAN COMPANIES. THE EUROPEAN UNION DRAWS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE BEEF SANCTIONS AND THE BANANA SANCTIONS. IN THE CASE OF BANANAS, E-U SPOKESMAN NIGEL GARDNER SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY TARGETED EUROPEAN PRODUCTS BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION RULES AGAINST EUROPE'S NEW BANANA IMPORT SYSTEM. /// GARDNER ACT ///THERE WAS NO W-T-O RULING AGAINST US AND INDEED IF THE UNITED STATES STILL HAD A PROBLEM OVER BANANAS, THE THING THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS CHALLENGE US IN FRONT OF THE W-T-O. THAT WASN'T WHAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE UNILATERAL SANCTIONS. WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY LIST, A LIST WHICH IS A PROCEDURAL STEP WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS ENTITLED TO TAKE. /// END ACT ///THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE LIST ON APRIL 21ST IN WHICH AMERICAN COMPANIES CAN COMMENT ABOUT POTENTIAL HARM TO THEIR BUSINESSES BY THE PROPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST EUROPE. SOME PRODUCTS WILL BE EXCLUDED AND THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF THE SANCTIONS IS LIKELY TO SHRINK. THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS THE LIST IS UNHELPFUL BUT NOT ILLEGAL ACCORDING TO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION RULES. ON MAY 13TH, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS REQUIRED TO GIVE SCIENTIFIC PROOF FOR ITS BAN ON HORMONE-TREATED BEEF. THE EUROPEANS SAY THEIR SCIENTIFIC STUDIES WILL NOT BE COMPLETED BY MAY 13TH. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE THE UNITED STATES EITHER COMPENSATION OR TO ALLOW THE BEEF TO ENTER THE EUROPEAN MARKET WITH A LABEL INDICATING IT IS HORMONE-TREATED. THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AGREES WITH THE UNITED STATES THERE
IS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT EATING HORMONE-TREATED BEEF POSES A
RISK. THE EUROPEANS IMPOSED THE BAN AFTER THEIR OWN SCARE ABOUT
MAD COW DISEASE CAUSING BRAIN DISEASE IN HUMANS. (SIGNED)
[17] FRANCE / DUMAS (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247019 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A FORMER FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER WHO IS NOW THE COUNTRY'S LEADING JUDGE, ROLAND DUMAS, SAYS HE IS TAKING TEMPORARY LEAVE BECAUSE OF A GROWING CORRUPTION SCANDAL. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: ROLAND DUMAS, WHO WAS THE FOREIGN MINISTER IN SOCIALIST GOVERNMENTS BETWEEN 1984 AND 1993, HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF A HUGE FINANCIAL SCANDAL FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. LAST APRIL, HE WAS PLACED "UNDER INVESTIGATION," THE TERM FOR A FORMAL INDICTMENT IN FRANCE, FOR INFLUENCE-PEDDLING AND BENEFITING FROM PAYMENTS FROM THE ELF-AQUITAINE OIL COMPANY. AT THE TIME OF HIS INDICTMENT, INVESTIGATORS BANNED MR. DUMAS FROM TRAVELING TO COUNTRIES LIKE SWITZERLAND WHERE BANKING SECRECY IS OBSERVED, FEARING THAT HE MIGHT USE SUCH TRIPS FOR MONEY TRANSACTIONS. THE MAIN PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT MR. DUMAS, SINCE HE LEFT GOVERNMENT, HAS BECOME PRESIDENT OF FRANCE'S CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL, IN EFFECT THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT. THE ACTION AGAINST HIM MEANT THAT FRANCE'S CHIEF JUDGE NOT ONLY FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES BUT IS BANNED FROM TRAVELING AS FREELY AS ANY NORMAL FRENCH CITIZEN. EVEN NOW, MR. DUMAS HAS NOT COMPLETELY RESIGNED FROM HIS POST, SAYING ONLY THAT HE IS STEPPING OUT OF THE JOB WHILE THE CASE AGAINST HIM PROCEEDS. MR. DUMAS IS ALLEGED TO HAVE CHANGED FRENCH POLICY ON SELLING ARMS TO TAIWAN EIGHT YEARS AGO AFTER HIS MISTRESS, CHRISTINE DEVIERS-JONCOUR, WHO WAS WORKING FOR THE ELF OIL FIRM AT THE TIME, PUT PRESSURE ON HIM. ELF STOOD TO TAKE A COMMISSION FOR HELPING A FRENCH ARMS FIRM IF FRANCE WON AN ORDER FOR FRIGATES FROM TAIWAN. FRANCE DID TAKE THE ORDER AND A FORMER ELF CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS ALREADY SERVED SIX MONTHS IN PRE-TRIAL DETENTION FOR THE AFFAIR. INVESTIGATORS HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT MRS. DEVIERS-JONCOUR BOUGHT A PARIS APARTMENT FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF 10-MILLION DOLLARS WITH MONEY FROM ELF. SHE AT FIRST DEFENDED MR. DUMAS, SAYING HE WAS NOT AWARE OF HER FINANCIAL DEALINGS. LAST YEAR, SHE PUBLISHED A BOOK WITH HER VERSION OF EVENTS, CARRYING THE TITLE "THE WHORE OF THE REPUBLIC." DURING THE PAST MONTH, HOWEVER, MRS. DEVIERS-JONCOUR HAS CHANGED HER TACTICS AND HAS OPENLY SAID THAT SHE LIED. NEW EVIDENCE SHE HAS GIVEN TO INVESTIGATORS CAUSED THEM TO RE-OPEN THE CASE AROUND MR. DUMAS LAST WEEK. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE CLAMOR CALLING FOR MR. DUMAS TO STEP DOWN
GREW IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, MEANING THAT EVEN THE CONSERVATIVE
FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC -- WHO PREVIOUSLY INSISTED THAT
MR. DUMAS DESERVED TO BENEFIT FROM THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE
WITHDREW HIS SUPPORT. (SIGNED)
[18] RUSSIA / NATO / S BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247011 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA'S PRIME MINISTER DEPARTED FOR WASHINGTON TUESDAY BUT THREATENS HE WILL INTERRUPT HIS MUCH-AWAITED TRIP, IF NATO ATTACKS KOSOVO. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. TEXT: GOVERNMENT SOURCES REPORT PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV SAYS HE WILL CUT SHORT A TRIP TO WASHINGTON IF THE UNITED STATES STAGES ANY ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA OPPOSES THE USE OF FORCE IN YUGOSLAVIA AND CONSIDERS THE SERBS TO BE ALLIES. BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE TUESDAY, MR. PRIMAKOV HELD A MEETING WITH TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. THE PRIME MINISTER IS VISITING THE UNITED STATES. TO ATTEND BILATERAL TALKS ON SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION. HE ALSO WILL HOLD TALKS WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND OFFICIALS. ALSO TUESDAY, A KREMLIN SPOKESMAN REPORTED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
BORIS YELTSIN HAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON,
OUTLINING THE U-S POSITION ON KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[19] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247063 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH GROWING CONCERN ABOUT FIRST QUARTER CORPORATE EARNINGS. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 96 HUNDRED 71, DOWN 218 POINTS OR MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 62, DOWN 34 POINTS. AND THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST THREE PERCENT. LAST WEEK'S RUN AT 10-THOUSAND ON THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE SEEMED LIKE LONG AGO AND MANY ANALYSTS SAY THE IMPORTANT SUPPORT LEVEL IS NOW 96 HUNDRED. ANALYSTS SAY THERE WERE SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SELL-OFF, CHIEF AMONG THEM CONCERN ABOUT COMING CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS. THERE WAS ALSO SOME WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES FROM HIGHER OIL PRICES AND UNEASINESS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO. ///REST OPT///ANDY BROOKS OF THE T- ROWE PRICE MUTUAL FUND COMPANY SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT STOCKS TO MOVE TOWARD THE 10 THOUSAND LEVEL UNTIL TRADERS HAVE A BETTER FEELING ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS. ///BROOKS ACT///THIS IS THAT PERIOD OF IN-BETWEEN CORPORATE EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS WHERE WE ARE GETTING TO THE END OF THE QUARTER. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO WAIT AND SEE HOW EARNINGS SHAKE OUT (THE CONTENT OF EARNINGS REPORTS). ///END ACT///CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ARE SPEAKING OUT STRONGLY AGAINST PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPOSE U-S QUOTAS ON IMPORTED STEEL. U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY AND COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY TOLD A SENATE COMMITTEE THAT QUOTAS WOULD INVITE RETALIATION BY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT MAY IMPOSE QUOTAS ON U-S PRODUCTS. A STEEL QUOTA BILL HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED BY THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE STOCK OF THE PATHOGENESIS BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANY PLUNGED MORE THAN 60 PERCENT AFTER THE COMPANY REPORTED LOWER SALES OF ITS LUNG INFECTION DRUG, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ITS ONLY SOURCE OF PRODUCT REVENUE. A U-S GOVERNMENT DRUG PANEL HAS REJECTED A NEW MEDICINE TO TREAT BRAIN TUMORS. THE PANEL DECIDED THE DRUG, DEVELOPED BY THE SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION IS NO BETTER THAN EXISTING THERAPIES. COMPANIES THAT MAKE COMPUTERS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND COMPUTER PROBLEM. IN FACT, I-B-M, THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER COMPANY, SAYS IT WILL SPEND ALMOST 600 MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN ITS OWN SYSTEMS. NIKE, THE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR COMPANY, IS RAISING WAGES FOR SOME OF ITS LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN INDONESIA. NIKE SAYS IT WILL RAISE ENTRY-LEVEL PAY BY SIX PERCENT WHICH WILL PUT THOSE SALARIES ABOVE THE INDONESIAN MINIMUM WAGE. NIKE OPERATES 12 FACTORIES IN INDONESIA. A BATTLE BETWEEN "TELETUBBIES" AND "BUBBLY CHUBBIES" IS NOW BEING
WAGED IN A U-S FEDERAL COURT. THE ITSY BITSY ENTERTAINMENT
COMPANY IS SUING THE WAL-MART DISCOUNT STORE CHAIN, CLAIMING THAT
WAL-MART VIOLATED THE COPYRIGHT ON "TELETUBBIES," THE DOLLS BASED
ON THE POPULAR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION SERIES. ITSY BITSY ARGUES
THE "BUBBLY CHUBBIES" SOLD BY WAL-MART LOOK SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE
"TELETUBBIES." SOME BIG MONEY COULD BE INVOLVED IN THE CASE.
ABOUT 800 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF "TELETUBBIE" DOLLS WERE SOLD
LAST YEAR.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/JO
[20] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=03/23/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11203 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EST ////INTRO: THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO CONTINUES TO OCCUPY A PRIME PLACE IN U-S EDITORIAL COLUMNS, AS WE SCAN TUESDAY'S PAPERS. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: ANOTHER EUROPEAN SPOT: THE DETERIORATING PEACE AGREEMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND;THE VISITING RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER; THE LATEST IN ARGENTINE POLITICS; AND THE BALLOON FEAT OF THE CENTURY. NOW, HERE IS ______________ TO PROVIDE A CLOSER LOOK, ALONG WITH SOME EXCERPTS, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: /// OPT /// IN TODAY'S "LOS ANGELES TIMES," LORD DAVID OWEN, THE FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION'S CHIEF BOSNIAN NEGOTIATOR EARLIER THIS DECADE, HAS A WARNING FOR THE WEST ABOUT THE KOSOVO SITUATION. VOICE: /// OPT /// AIRSTRIKES CAN BUTTRESS DIPLOMACY, BUT ON THEIR OWN CAN RARELY STOP FIGHTING ON THE GROUND. IN BOSNIA, I CALLED FOR NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST THE SERBS IN 1993 TO PRESSURE THEM TO ACCEPT THE VANCE-OWEN PEACE PLAN ..... TODAY, HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT, AFTER 50 YEARS OF NATO KEEPING THE PEACE IN EUROPE, ITS CREDIBILITY IS BEING PUT AT RISK OVER KOSOVO. ... WESTERN LEADERS SEEM TO THINK THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS ANALOGOUS TO THAT IN BOSNIA IN AUGUST ... 1995. IN FACT, THE SITUATIONS ARE VERY DIFFERENT. ... THE SERBS IN YUGOSLAVIA ARE UNITED OVER KOSOVO IN A WAY THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN OVER BOSNIA. NATO CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE ITS BLUFF CALLED. /// END OPT /// IN CHOOSING TO BOMB, NATO MUST NOT ASSUME THE SERBS WILL TURN ON [MR. YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC OR DEMAND THAT HE SUE FOR PEACE. ... THERE ARE SOUND REASON FOR BELIEVING THAT ONLY THE REALISTIC THREAT OF NATO TROOPS MOVING INTO KOSOVO, UNDER THE COVER OF AIR ATTACKS, WILL FORCE [MR.] MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT THE RAMBOUILLET TERMS. /// END OPT ///TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" WARNS THE WHITE HOUSE THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD MAKE THE CASE FOR BOMBING KOSOVO TO CONGRESS AND THE U-S PUBLIC, "BEFORE NATO BOMBS FALL ON SERBIA." VOICE: MOST TROUBLESOME IS WHAT TO DO IF [MR.] MILOSEVIC DOESN'T BACK DOWN AFTER THE FIRST BOMBINGS AND INSTEAD RETALIATES AGAINST THE KOSOVARS. WE KNOW, AND HE KNOWS, THAT THE SERBS CANNOT BE DEFEATED BY AN AIR CAMPAIGN ALONE. ... [PRESIDENT] CLINTON MUST TELL US HOW FAR U-S FORCES SHOULD PUSH, AND WHY. /// OPT ///TEXT: AND, IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD," AGREES, CALLING THE PROSPECT OF CONFLICT "AN UNTENABLE WAR," AND WONDERS WHETHER BOMBING FOR PEACE WILL SUCCEED. VOICE: NATO AIR STRIKES WILL GIVE THE SERBIANS A BLOODY NOSE: THEY MAY EVEN PERSUADE MR. MILOSEVIC TO RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE. BUT WITHOUT A COMMITMENT OF LARGE NUMBERS OF GROUND TROOPS, THE CHANCES OF A SETTLEMENT THAT LASTS ARE SLIM. /// END OPT ///TEXT: HOWEVER "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SUPPORTS POUNDING YUGOSLAVIAN "MILITARY ASSETS HARD" IF MR. MILOSEVIC REMAINS "DEFIANT," PROCLAIMING THAT "NATO CANNOT ALLOW ANOTHER ROUND OF ETHNIC CLEANSING." THERE IS CONCERN FOR ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT IN EUROPE, NORTHERN IRELAND, WHERE A NEGOTIATED PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT AND ROMAN CATHOLIC SIDES APPEARS TO BE IN TROUBLE, BECAUSE OF A RELUCTANCE TO DISARM. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" LEADS ITS EDITORIAL COLUMN WITH THIS ASSESSMENT. VOICE: NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE AGREEMENT IS FACING THE MOST SERIOUS CRISIS OF ITS ELEVEN MONTHS OF LIFE. DAVID TRIMBLE, THE PROTESTANT UNIONIST WHO IS FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEW ASSEMBLY, IS SET TO APPOINT A CABINET OF TEN MINISTERS, TWO OF THEM FROM THE I-R-A'S POLITICAL WING, SINN FEIN. BUT HE WILL DO SO ONLY IF THE I-R-A STARTS TO TURN OVER ITS BURIED WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES. SUCH DISARMAMENT, WHILE NOT REQUIRED NOW UNDER THE PEACE AGREEMENT, IS CLEARLY REASONABLE. THE I-R-A'S REFUSAL TO BEGIN EVEN TOKEN DISARMAMENT COULD DESTROY THE PEACE. TEXT: HERE IN WASHINGTON, THE WELCOME MAT IS OUT FOR RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, BUT "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS HE ARRIVES AS A POKER PLAYER WITH "A VERY WEAK HAND." VOICE: /// OPT /// AT THE TOP OF [MR.] PRIMAKOV'S AGENDA IS THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION'S NEED FOR MORE LOANS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. THE FORMER K-G-B OPERATIVE HAS A DIFFICULT CASE TO MAKE, HOWEVER, SINCE THE LAST TRANCHE OF FOUR-POINT-EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE I-M-F LOANED TO RUSSIA FELL VICTIM TO AN APPARENT FELONY. ... YET /// END OPT /// MANAGING RUSSIA'S DECLINE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT U-S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. ... RUSSIA IS NOW THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE, BUT IN THE LONG RUN A WORKABLE RELATIONSHIP IS VITAL TO U-S INTERESTS. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES THAT, WHILE THINGS MAY LOOK SOMEWHAT BLEAK IN RUSSIA TODAY, "THINGS COULD BE WORSE," AND IT AGREES WITH "THE GLOBE" ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A VIABLE RUSSIA, ENDING WITH THIS LAMENT. VOICE: ... BUT ... UNTIL RUSSIA MAKES PROGRESS ON REFORM, ANY DOLLARS PUT IN WILL QUICKLY FLOW OUT AGAIN. TEXT: TO THIS HEMISPHERE NOW, AND THE DRIVE TO REMAIN PRESIDENT BEING DISPLAYED BY ARGENTINA'S CARLOS MENEM, AND THESE CONCERNS FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD." VOICE: CHANGING DIRECTION MORE TIMES THAN A TANGO DANCER, ARGENTINA'S PRESIDENT ... MENEM ONCE AGAIN THREATENS TO RUN FOR A THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERM. FORGET THAT THE ARGENTINE CONSTITUTION, WHICH HE ALREADY HAD AMENDED ONCE SO THAT HE COULD RUN FOR A SECOND TERM, EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS A THIRD ONE. WHAT WAS A BAD IDEA BEFORE STILL IS. /// OPT /// ... [AND] MR. MENEM'S TO-AND-FRO ALSO FUELS OTHER MODERN 'CAUDILLO' [LOOSELY TRANSLATED 'STRONGMAN'] WANNABES. PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI VAULTED OVER HIS NATION'S CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON A THIRD TERM BY SACKING THE JUDGES WHO MIGHT STAND IN HIS WAY. ... SADLY, UNTIL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL OPPOSITIONS STRENGTHEN, THERE'S LITTLE CHECK ON POLITICIANS THAT VALUE PERSONAL POWER OVER REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. /// OPT ///TEXT: IN A SOMEWHAT BELATED COMMENT ON THE DEMISE OF GERMANY'S LEFT-OF-CENTER FINANCE MINISTER, OSKAR LAFONTAINE, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" NOTES THAT DESPITE HIS EXIT, THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF NEW CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER: VOICE: ISN'T OUT OF THE TUNNEL YET. 'IF THERE WAS A VOTE TOMORROW, THE SUPPOSITIONS ABOUT THE S-P-D WOULD SURELY BE WORSE ... BECAUSE TURBULENCE IN A PARTY NEVER HELPS THINGS,' WOLFGANG GRIMM, THE S-P-D LEADER FOR THE BAVARIAN TOWN OF SCHONAU TOLD THE WASHINGTON TIMES EDITORIAL PAGE. .... EVEN THOUGH GERMAN CHANCELLOR ... SCHROEDER HAS NOW TAKEN ON THE HOT [ROLE] OF PARTY LEADER AS WELL AS CHANCELLOR, HE ISN'T TRUSTED WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY - - OR WITHOUT. TEXT: ON THE TOPIC OF THE NEW MOVE IN CONGRESS TOWARD A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CONTINUES TO WONDER ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC FEASIBILITY OF SUCH A PROJECT, FIRST PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN IN THE 1980'S AS THE "STAR WARS" SYSTEM. THE PAPER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE REACTION FROM CHINA. VOICE: THE UNITED STATES IS PROBABLY A DECADE OR MORE AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO DEPLOY A SYSTEM IN EAST ASIA TO DEFEND ITS FORCES AND ALLIES THERE AGAINST LOW-ALTITUDE MISSILES, BUT CHINA IS ALREADY THREATENING TO TURN THAT PROSPECT INTO A SOURCE OF CONTENTION. ... LIKE ITS BIG BROTHER, [A REFERENCE TO STAR WARS] THE NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD SEEK TO DEFEND THE UNITED STATES AGAINST LIMITED LONG-RANGE MISSILE ATTACK, ... REMAINS A CONCEPT IN SEARCH OF REALIZATION. TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON RESEARCH SINCE THE EARLY 1980S HAVE YET TO PRODUCE AN INTERCEPTOR MISSILE THAT CAN KNOCK OUT AN INCOMING WARHEAD, EITHER AT HIGH OR LOW ALTITUDES. ... FOR NOW THE CHINESE REFUSE TO BE MOLLIFIED. /// END OPT ///TEXT: AND LASTLY, "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE HONORS THE SWISS AND BRITISH BALLOONISTS WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THE PAPER CALLS IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE, "A STUNNING VOYAGE," IN CIRCLING THE GLOBE WITH THEIR HIGH-TECHNOLOGY CRAFT. VOICE: THEIR 54-METER HIGH, TWO-CHAMBERED BALLOON WAS MADE OF ALUMINIZED PLASTIC AND OTHER THIN, BUT INCREDIBLY STRONG, MAN-MADE MATERIALS. THEY USED SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER AND NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMS TO TRACK WEATHER AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CONTROL BASE IN SWITZERLAND. ALSO, OXYGEN AND HEATING SYSTEMS ALLOWED THEM TO SURVIVE THE HIGH ALTITUDE FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS. MR. PICCARD AND MR. JONES DESERVE ACCOLADES. NO DOUBT OTHERS WILL CIRCLE THE GLOBE IN A BALLOON, BUT THEY WERE FIRST. TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM TUESDAY'S U-S
PRESS.
[21] BRITAIN / PINOCHET RULING (L ONITER) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247041 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS' LAW PANEL WILL RULE WEDNESDAY ON WHETHER FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET CAN BE EXTRADITED TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON. TEXT: A GROUP OF CHILEAN EXILES SPENT TUESDAY MORNING PLANTING HUNDREDS OF SMALL WHITE CROSSES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF MR. PINOCHET'S 17-YEAR RULE IN CHILE. THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE SEVEN LAW LORDS TO DECIDE ONCE AGAIN IF GENERAL PINOCHET CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN. LAST NOVEMBER, FIVE LAW LORDS RULED MR. PINOCHET WAS NOT IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION. BUT THE RULING WAS NULLIFIED AFTER ONE OF THE JUDGES WAS FOUND TO HAVE LINKS WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. A SPANISH PROSECUTOR HAS CHARGED MR. PINOCHET WITH THE MURDER, TORTURE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF CHILEANS AND OTHER NATIONALS AFTER HE SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODY COUP IN 1973. THE JUDGMENT OF THE LAW LORDS COULD OPEN THE WAY FOR THE EXTRADITION CASE TO PROCEED AGAINST THE FORMER GENERAL. THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO THE JUSTICE MINISTER, JACK STRAW, TO DECIDE IF THE CASE WARRANTS EXTRADITION TO SPAIN. MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS COULD ARGUE THAT MR. STRAW ALSO HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE CASE. HE TRAVELED TO CHILE 30 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT TO HELP BUILD HOMES FOR THE POOR. CHILE'S FORMER RULER AUGUSTO PINOCHET WAS ARRESTED IN LONDON LAST NOVEMBER WHILE RECOVERING FROM BACK SURGERY. HE HAS BEEN CONFINED TO A LUXURY MANSION IN THE LONDON SUBURBS WHILE HE AWAITS THE LAW LORDS' DECISION. A CHILEAN MILITARY PLANE IS WAITING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT TO TAKE HIM HOME IF THE LAW LORDS RULE THAT HE DOES ENJOY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND CANNOT BE PROSECUTED. IRONICALLY, EVEN IF THE 83-YEAR-OLD FORMER GENERAL WERE TRIED AND
CONVICTED BY A SPANISH COURT, HE WOULD NOT GO TO PRISON. SPAIN
DOES NOT JAIL ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 70. (SIGNED)
[22] CHILE / PINOCHET (L-ONLY) BY JONATHAN FRANKLIN (SANTIAGO, CHILE)DATE=3/23/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247040 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING IN CHILE AS ITS CITIZENS AWAIT BRITAIN'S DECISION WEDNESDAY WETHER TO ALLOW THE EXTRADITION OF FORMER DICTATOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES OF COMMITTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING HIS REGIME. FROM SANTIAGO, JONATHAN FRANKLIN REPORTS AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE CLASHES BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF THE FORMER DICTATOR. TEXT: THE CHILEAN PUBLIC IS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING WEDNESDAY'S DECISION AFTER SIX MONTHS OF RAMPANT SPECULATION OVER THE RETIRED GENERAL'S FATE. FEARS ABOUND THAT EITHER WAY THE DECISION GOES THERE WILL BE UNREST -- INCLUDING RIOTING, VANDALISM, AND CLASHES BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF GENERAL PINOCHET. TO PREVENT THIS, CHILE'S NATIONAL POLICE (EDS: CARABINEROS) WILL EFFECTIVELY PARTITION THE CITY OF SANTIAGO IN TWO WEDNESDAY -- SETTING THE EASTERN HALF ASIDE FOR PRO-PINOCHET DEMONSTRATIONS, AND THE WESTERN HALF FOR ANTI-PINOCHET PROTESTS. THESE PREPARATIONS UNDERSCORE WHAT CHILEANS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ACKNOWLEDGE -- THAT THE FORMER DICTATOR REMAINS A MAJOR POLITICAL FIGURE IN THIS SOUTH AMERICAN NATION. AND HIS FATE IS LIKELY TO HAVE A POLITICAL IMPACT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON WEDNESDAY. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER BRITISH JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES DECIDE TO LET HIM RETURN HOME OR PERMIT SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST TO PROCEED, MR. PINOCHET IS NOW FACING LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLES IN BOTH EUROPE AND CHILE. IF MR. PINOCHET IS FORCED TO FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN, THAT PROCESS ALONE COULD STRETCH FOR AS MANY AS 11 YEARS. IN CHILE, WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF MR. PINOCHET BEING HAULED INTO COURT ARE SLIM, THE LEGAL WRANGLINGS WILL CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS THE FORMER GENERAL IS ALIVE. IF MR. PINOCHET IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE ENGLAND, HIS RETURN TO CHILE IS FRAUGHT WITH LOGISTICAL AND LEGAL HURDLES. EVEN GENERAL PINOCHET'S FLIGHT PLAN MUST BE SCRUTINIZED BY LAWYERS. MANY CHILEAN POLITICAL OBSERVERS SPECULATE MR. PINOCHET MAY ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE FRACAS IN SANTIAGO AND SEEK REFUGE IN IQUIQUE, A REMOTE NORTHERN PORT THAT IS HOME TO AN ARMY DIVISION INCLUDING TANKS AND HEAVY ARTILLERY. DURING HIS TENURE AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, MR. PINOCHET FREQUENTLY
SENTENCED HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS TO INTERNAL EXILE AND SHIPPED
THEM OFF TO THE NORTHERN DESERTS. NOW, THE 83-YEAR OLD GENERAL
CAN ONLY WATCH AS RETIRMENT PLANS DISSOVLE AS HIS OPPONENTS
CONSTRUCT A LEGAL NOOSE WHICH HAS EFFECTIVELY CONVERTED MR.
PINOCHET INTO A PRISONER BOTH ABROAD AND IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.
(SIGNED)
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