Voice of America, 99-04-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO WRAP/WEDNESDAY (L ONLY) BY JIM MALONE (WASHINGTON)

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[03] MACEDONIA / NATO (L) (CQ) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

[04] MACEDONIA / NATO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

[05] U-S/KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY JIM MALONE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

[08] CONGRESS KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

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

[10] CONGRESS-KOSOVO-2ND UPDATE (S) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

[11] EDITORIAL: ALBRIGHT TO THE SERB PEOPLE

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

[13] KOSOVO WAR CRIMES O'NITER (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[14] BRITAIN / KOSOVO (S/L VER) (CQ) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

[15] ANNAN-KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY JONATHAN BRAUDE (BERLIN)

[16] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[17] RUSSIA/KOSOVO UPDATE (S/L VER) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[18] ALBANIA CONFLICT (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

[19] BALKAN ECONOMIES (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

[20] YUGOSLAVIA Q&A BY ALEX TODOROVIC (BELGRADE)

[21] THE REICHSTAG REBORN: GERMANY'S CAPITOL MOVES EAST BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[22] WORLD BANK WRAP (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

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

[24] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO WRAP/WEDNESDAY (L ONLY) BY JIM MALONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO CONTINUED TO STREAM INTO MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA WEDNESDAY, EVEN AS PRESIDENT CLINTON VOWED TO PURSUE THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA INDEFINITELY. BUT EVEN AS THE NATO ATTACKS CONTINUE, THE U-S CONGRESS IS RAISING A RED FLAG OVER THE POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS A WRAP-UP OF WEDNESDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BALKANS.

TEXT: WAVES OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES CONTINUES TO FLOOD INTO MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA, INCLUDING MORE THAN SEVEN-THOUSAND ON WEDNESDAY ALONE.

UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS THE NEW INFLUX IS STRETCHING RESOURCES TO THE BREAKING POINT.

IN MACEDONIA NOW, IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR THE PEOPLE. THE OVERCROWDING IS REACHING DANGEROUS PROPORTIONS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF DISEASE WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARMER IS GOING UP VERY MUCH. AND THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARM ALREADY.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 700-THOUSAND OUT NOW. THERE MAY BE ANOTHER 800-THOUSAND THAT WILL BE COMING. THIS IS GOING TO TAX THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM. IT IS GOING TO TAX ALL OF US.

NATO PLANES ALSO HIT A MILITARY BARRACKS IN BELGRADE AND CONTINUED TO TARGET SERBIAN FORCES OPERATING IN KOSOVO.

IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT CLINTON BRIEFED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND VOWED TO STAY THE COURSE FOR MONTHS IF NECESSARY.

HISTORICALLY, THE WEATHER IS BETTER IN MAY THAN IN APRIL, BETTER IN JUNE THAN IN MAY, BETTER IN JULY THAN IN JUNE. AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD STAY WITH AND BE VERY STRONG IN DETERMINATION TO PURSUE OUT STRATEGY AS WELL AS THE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS WE MADE AT THE NATO CONFERENCE TO INTENSIFY THE ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

MR. CLINTON IS ALSO URGING CONGRESS TO QUICKLY PASS AN EMERGENCY SPENDING BILL TO FUND ADDITIONAL MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS FOR THE KOSOVO OPERATION.

U-S LAWMAKERS MEANWHILE FIRED A SHOT OF THEIR OWN ACROSS THE PRESIDENT'S BOW ON THE ISSUE OF GROUND TROOPS. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED A RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD WITHHOLD FUNDING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF U-S GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO UNLESS CONGRESS APPROVES OF THE DEPLOYMENT IN ADVANCE. /// OPT /// THE VOTE WAS 249 IN FAVOR, 180 AGAINST. /// END OPT ///

REPUBLICAN TILLIE FOWLER OF FLORIDA WAS AMONG THOSE SPONSORING THE MEASURE.

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

DEMOCRATS LIKE SAM GEJDENSON OF CONNECTICUT OPPOSED THE RESOLUTION, ARGUING IT WOULD LIMIT THE PRESIDENT'S MILITARY OPTIONS ON KOSOVO.

WE HAVE A BRUTAL DICTATOR WHO IS MURDERING INNOCENT PEOPLE AND CHASING THE REST OFF THE LAND. HOW DO WE STOP THIS MURDER -- THAT IS OUR GOAL.

WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES YET AND I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE TO HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AS TO THE IMMEDIATE OR INSTANT SUCCESS.

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS CONFIRMED THAT AT LEAST ONE OF ITS LASER-GUIDED BOMBS WENT ASTRAY IN SOUTHERN YUGOSLAVIA, RESULTING IN THE DEATHS OF A NUMBER OF CIVILIANS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS THAT DESPITE EFFORTS TOWARD A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT, NATO IS INTENSIFYING THE MILITARY PRESSURE.

TEXT: NATO ADMITS THAT ONE OF ITS LASER-GUIDED BOMBS MAY HAVE STRAYED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF THE SOUTHERN YUGOSLAV TOWN OF SUDALICA DURING AN AIR STRIKE THAT DESTROYED AN ARMY TRAINING CENTER THERE.

NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN GIUSEPPE MARANI SAYS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN TWO ERRANT BOMBS.

WE CAN CONFIRM THAT ONE BOMB WENT ASTRAY. WE CANNOT EXCLUDE AS IS SAID THAT ANOTHER BOMB COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME CONDITION AND THEREFORE CAUSED SOME COLLATERAL DAMAGES BUT WHAT WE CAN CONFIRM IS THAT THIS ONE BOMB HIT OUTSIDE THE TARGET AREA.

YUGOSLAVIA SAYS CHILDREN WERE AMONG SOME 20 VICTIMS OF THE NATO AIR STRIKE IN SUDALICA. NATO SAYS WHILE IT DOES NOT TARGET CIVILIANS, ACCIDENTS CANNOT BE AVOIDED IN THE MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSAND STRIKES ON YUGOSLAVIA IN THE LAST FIVE WEEKS.

NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS NATO WILL NOT MEET YUGOSLAVIA HALFWAY.

WHEREAS BELGRADE HAS TO BE FLEXIBLE, NATO IS NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE ON ITS KEY CONDITIONS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO MEET YUGOSLAVIA HALFWAY ON THOSE AND FOR A VERY GOOD REASON, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE BEFORE OF COMPROMISE DEALS WORKED OUT WITH MILOSEVIC THAT PROVED UNTENABLE, THAT COLLAPSED WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS WHICH THEN TOOK US BACK TO THE STATUS QUO ANTE AND OFTEN IN WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAN WHEN WE SIGNED THOSE AGREEMENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SPOKESMAN SHEA INSISTS VOICES ARE BEING RAISED IN YUGOSLAVIA IN OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S POLICIES, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF NATO AIR STRIKES. HE CITES DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VUK DRASKOVIC AS ONE OF THOSE OPPOSITION VOICES . MINUTES LATER, CAME THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BELGRADE THAT MR. DRASKOVIC HAD BEEN DISMISSED FROM THE GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 1:23 PM EDT (1723 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] MACEDONIA / NATO (L) (CQ) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES BASED IN MACEDONIA CONTINUE TO FACE SOME HOSTILITY FROM THE LOCAL POPULATION, AMID FEARS THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE BORDER. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM SKOPJE.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN ERIC MONGNOT CONFIRMS TWO EXPLOSIVE DEVICES WERE THROWN INTO THE NATO COMPOUND NEAR THE NORTHEASTERN TOWN OF KUMANOVO. HE SAYS THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NO DAMAGE. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY.

WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS BUT THESE ARE THE ACTS OF ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, A SMALL MINORITY, AND WE STILL FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN MACEDONIA.

THE INCIDENT COMES JUST A WEEK AFTER A MOB STONED AND SET FIRE TO A NATO VEHICLE, INJURING THE FRENCH SOLDIERS DRIVING IT. ETHNIC SERBS IN MACEDONIA SYMPATHETIC TO SERBIA OFTEN STONE NATO VEHICLES AS THEY PASS THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE'LL STILL BE VIGILANT AND CAREFUL AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST NOT TO AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION.

THE NEARLY 13-THOUSAND NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES NOW STATIONED HERE ALREADY OUTNUMBER THE MACEDONIA ARMY. THEY HAVE BECOME A TARGET OF ANGER FOR MACEDONIA'S SMALL ETHNIC SERB COMMUNITY, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT TWO PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S TOTAL POPULATION OF TWO-MILLION.

MR. MONGNOT ALSO HAS HAD TO CALM FEARS FUELED BY LOUD EXPLOSIONS HEARD NEAR SKOPJE ON TUESDAY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A NATO AIRCRAFT BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS ANOTHER THREE-THOUSAND BRITISH AND GERMAN TROOPS ARE EXPECTED IN THE COUNTRY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. BUT HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT HAS SET THE LIMIT AT 16-THOUSAND. ANY CHANGES, HE SAYS, WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY MACEDONIA.

A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE FOR NATO'S SECRETARY GENERAL IS OPENING AN OFFICE IN THE MACEDONIAN CAPITAL NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 11:03 AM EDT (1503 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] MACEDONIA / NATO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)

INTRO: NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES BASED IN MACEDONIA CONTINUE TO FACE SOME HOSTILITY FROM THE LOCAL POPULATION, AMID FEARS THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE BORDER. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM SKOPJE.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN ERIC MONGNOT CONFIRMS TWO EXPLOSIVE DEVICES WERE THROWN INTO THE NATO COMPOUND NEAR THE NORTHEASTERN TOWN OF KOMANOVO. HE SAYS THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NO DAMAGE. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY.

WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS BUT THESE ARE THE ACTS OF ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, A SMALL MINORITY, AND WE STILL FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN MACEDONIA.

THE INCIDENT COMES JUST A WEEK AFTER A MOB STONED AND SET FIRE TO A NATO VEHICLE, INJURING THE FRENCH SOLDIERS DRIVING IT. ETHNIC SERBS IN MACEDONIA SYMPATHETIC TO SERBIA OFTEN STONE NATO VEHICLES AS THEY PASS THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE'LL STILL BE VIGILANT AND CAREFUL AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST NOT TO AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION.

THE NEARLY 13-THOUSAND NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES NOW STATIONED HERE ALREADY OUTNUMBER THE MACEDONIA ARMY. THEY HAVE BECOME A TARGET OF ANGER FOR MACEDONIA'S SMALL ETHNIC SERB COMMUNITY, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT TWO PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S TOTAL POPULATION OF TWO-MILLION.

MR. MONGNOT ALSO HAS HAD TO CALM FEARS FUELED BY LOUD EXPLOSIONS HEARD NEAR SKOPJE ON TUESDAY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A NATO AIRCRAFT BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER.

THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS ANOTHER THREE-THOUSAND BRITISH AND GERMAN TROOPS ARE EXPECTED IN THE COUNTRY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. BUT HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT HAS SET THE LIMIT AT 16-THOUSAND. ANY CHANGES, HE SAYS, WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY MACEDONIA.

A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE FOR NATO'S SECRETARY GENERAL IS OPENING AN OFFICE IN THE MACEDONIAN CAPITAL NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 6:55 AM EDT (1055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-S/KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY JIM MALONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE TOP U-S OFFICIAL ON INTERNATIONAL AID SAYS HIS AGENCY IS PLANNING FOR THE WORST IN DEALING WITH THE REFUGEE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. BRIAN ATWOOD, THE DIRECTOR OF THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HAS JUST RETURNED FROM MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA AND BRIEFED REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY. CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: BRIAN ATWOOD SAYS HE IS ALREADY PLANNING FOR A WORST CASE SCENARIO INVOLVING THE KOSOVO REFUGEES. SEVEN-HUNDRED THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE ALREADY FLED KOSOVO AND MR. ATWOOD SAYS THAT NUMBER COULD EASILY DOUBLE DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE WORST CASE. WE ARE PLANNING FOR AS MANY AS ONE-POINT-FIVE MILLION REFUGEES. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 700-THOUSAND OUT NOW. THERE MAY BE ANOTHER 800-THOUSAND THAT WILL BE COMING. THIS IS GOING TO TAX THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM. IT IS GOING TO TAX ALL OF US.

MR. ATWOOD IS JUST BACK FROM REFUGEE CAMPS IN BOTH MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. HE SAYS A TOP PRIORITY IS STOCKPILING FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES IN THE REGION TO DEAL WITH THE EXPECTED ADDITIONAL STREAM OF REFUGEES.

DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, U-S OFFICIALS WILL BEGIN PROCESSING ABOUT 20-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES BOUND FOR TEMPORARY RESETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. MR. ATWOOD IS CALLING FOR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS TO TAKE IN ADDITIONAL REFUGEES.

THEN I THINK WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ONCE AGAIN ASK OUR EUROPEAN COLLEAGUES, WHO HAVE DONE A LOT ALREADY IN THIS REGARD, TO FULFILL THEIR COMMITMENTS TO TAKE INDIVIDUALS. WE ALL AGREED TO TAKE IN ABOUT 120-THOUSAND PEOPLE. THUS FAR, IT HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 30 TO 40-THOUSAND TOTAL.

MR. ATWOOD WILL BRIEF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THURSDAY ABOUT HIS TRIP TO THE REFUGEE CAMPS, AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER A 13-BILLION DOLLAR EMERGENCY FUNDING BILL FOR THE BALKANS COVERING BOTH MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 12:27 PM EDT (1627 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, REPORTS MORE THAN SEVEN-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS ENTERED MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA TUESDAY, MAKING IT THE LARGEST DAILY EXODUS OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO IN MORE THAN A WEEK. THE AGENCY SAYS THE NEW REFUGEES ARE INCREASING TENSIONS IN WHAT IT CALLS "HOPELESSLY OVERCROWDED" CAMPS. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY CALLS THE SITUATION PARTICULARLY CRITICAL IN MACEDONIA. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE OVERCROWDED CAMPS ARE UNBEARABLE AND PEOPLE ARE ON THE VERGE OF RIOTING.

IN MACEDONIA NOW, IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR THE PEOPLE. THE OVERCROWDING IS REACHING DANGEROUS PROPORTIONS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF DISEASE WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARMER IS GOING UP VERY MUCH. AND THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARM ALREADY. SO, IT IS A MAJOR POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS NEW CAMPS ARE NEEDED TO EASE THE OVERCROWDING AND TO DEFUSE THIS POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION. //END OPT//

HE SAYS THE NEWLY-ARRIVED REFUGEES COME FROM LIPJAN, SOUTH OF THE KOSOVO CAPITAL PRISTINA. THEY TOLD AID WORKERS SERB PARAMILITARY FORCES SWEPT INTO THEIR VILLAGES, ATTACKING, HARASSING AND KILLING PEOPLE.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS REFUGEES WHO CROSSED INTO ALBANIA TOLD CONSISTENT STORIES OF WHAT HE BELIEVES COULD BE ONE OF THE SINGLE BIGGEST ATROCITIES IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. THE REFUGEES TOLD RELIEF OFFICIALS THAT SERBIAN AUTHORITIES WARNED THEM TO LEAVE -- OR THEY WOULD BE BURNED ALONG WITH THEIR HOUSES.

SOME VILLAGERS DID NOT WAIT FOR THE SERBS TO ARRIVE. SEEING BURNING VILLAGES, THEY PILED ONTO THEIR OWN TRACTORS AND LEFT. AS THE TRACTORS HEADED TOWARD THE BORDER, MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND MIDDLE AGE WERE SYSTEMATICALLY TAKEN OFF THE TRAILERS. WE INTERVIEWED VIRTUALLY EVERY SINGLE TRACTOR AND PROBABLY SIX OUT OF SEVEN OF THE TRACTORS SAID MEN HAD BEEN TAKEN.

THE U-N-H-C-R'S KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS PEOPLE WHO CROSSED THE BORDER FROM KOSOVO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING SAID THEY HAD ACTUALLY SEEN PILES OF BODIES DUMPED IN A DITCH ON THE EDGE OF A FIELD. HE SAYS THE REFUGEES ESTIMATE THEY SAW BETWEEN 100 AND 200 BODIES. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 8:42 AM EDT (1242 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING CONGRESS TO ACT QUICKLY ON HIS REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR THE MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, HE SAYS THE NEED IS GREAT. AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THERE ARE SIGNS HE IS TRYING TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS OVER SPENDING LEVELS.

TEXT: THE FIRST HINTS OF COMPROMISE ARE STARTING TO EMERGE.

THE PRESIDENT DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS DURING A WHITE HOUSE MEETING THAT LASTED ABOUT TWO-HOURS. WHEN HE EMERGED FROM THE OVAL OFFICE, MR. CLINTON TOOK HIS CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

LET ME STRESS THAT MY REQUEST FULLY FUNDS OUR MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN KOSOVO.

BUT REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SAY THE REQUEST FALLS SHORT. THEY SAY THE MILITARY IS STRETCHED TOO THIN. AND THEY WANT TO ADD BILLIONS MORE TO COVER SHORTFALLS IN THE OVERALL PENTAGON BUDGET.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THEIR INTENTIONS ARE GOOD, BUT BY ADDING NON- KOSOVO RELATED SPENDING TO THE BILL, THEY MAY SLOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. HE SAYS THE MONEY FOR THE BALKANS IS NEED IMMEDIATELY.

WE MUST GET A KOSOVO FUNDING MEASURE PASSED AND TO MY DESK, NOW.

LAWMAKERS WHO MET WITH THE PRESIDENT INDICATE HE IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON A FINAL FIGURE. THEY SAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY TO MEET THE REFUGEE CRISIS, AND PROVIDE AID TO THE POOR COUNTRIES SURROUNDING YUGOSLAVIA THAT HAVE INUNDATED BY THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR.

IN HIS BRIEF TELEVISED REMARKS, THE PRESIDENT FOCUSED ON THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES AND THEIR STORIES.

WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS THIS IS THE RESULT OF A METICULOUSLY PLANNED CAMPAIGN -- NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OF OUT OF CONTROL RAGE. IT IS A CAMPAIGN ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE FOR A SPECIFIC POLITICAL PURPOSE -- TO MAINTAIN ITS GRIP OVER KOSOVO BY RIDDING THE LAND OF ITS PEOPLE.

AS HE HAS REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE CRISIS, MR. CLINTON SAID THE ALLIES WILL PREVAIL. HE SAID NATO -- AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.

THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED TO DIVIDE US AND WILL NOT OUT LAST US. THE COMBINED MILITARY MIGHT AND MORAL DETERMINATION OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA WILL ENDURE.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO MADE A VEILED REFERENCE TO THE DISMISSAL OF YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VUK DRASKOVIC, WHO HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN HIS CRITICISM OF THE MILOSEVIC GOVERNMENT. MR. CLINTON SAID THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION IN BELGRADE, ADDING THE ADMINISTRATION KNOWS MORE BUT HE IS NOT IN A POSITION TO COMMENT. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] CONGRESS KOSOVO (L) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) IS HOLDING A WIDE- RANGING DAY OF DEBATE ON THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE USE OF GROUND TROOPS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, SOME MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THE PRESIDENT'S POWER TO DEPLOY THOSE FORCES.

TEXT: SKEPTICAL REPUBLICANS HOPE TO PUSH THROUGH A MEASURE THAT WOULD KEEP AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO UNLESS CONGRESS SPECIFICALLY GIVES MR. CLINTON THE AUTHORITY. THIS APPROACH HAS ALSO WON THE BACKING OF AT LEAST SOME DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN BRAD SHERMAN OF CALIFORNIA.

THEY SAY THAT OUR ENEMIES WILL TREMBLE IN FEAR IF ONE MAN, WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, CAN DEPLOY 100-THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS. WELL MR. SPEAKER, I TREMBLE IN FEAR AND THE FOUNDERS OF THIS REPUBLIC WOULD TREMBLE IN FEAR.

THE RESOLUTION REFLECTS DOUBTS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE WAR AND THE FEAR AMERICAN LIVES WILL BE LOST IF IT ESCALATES FURTHER.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE PRESIDENT HAS NO INTENTION OF SENDING IN GROUND FORCES -- AND IF THAT SITUATION EVER CHANGES, THEN CONGRESS WILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO STATE ITS VIEWS. MR. CLINTON'S SUPPORTERS, LIKE CONGRESSMAN SANDER LEVIN, ACCUSE REPUBLICANS OF UNFAIRLY POLITICIZING FOREIGN POLICY.

THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT RUSHED TO USE GROUND TROOPS AND HE SHOULD NOT. BUT THE OPPOSITION OFTEN IS NOT SURE WHETHER TO CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT FOR BEING TOO WEAK OR TOO STRONG, FOR USING TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH FORCE.

THE HOUSE WILL ALSO CONSIDER WHETHER TO APPROVE THE AIR CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS WHAT CRITICS CALL TWO EXTREME MEASURES. ONE IS AN OUTRIGHT DECLARATION OF WAR, THE OTHER AN AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL FROM THE MISSION. NEITHER IS LIKELY TO PASS. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 1:23 PM EDT (1723 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) HAS ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON OVER KOSOVO, VOTING TO CURTAIL HIS POWER TO SEND IN AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE HOUSE IS LIKELY TO REJECT OTHER STEPS -- INCLUDING AN OUTRIGHT DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST BELGRADE.

TEXT: IN THE FIRST MAJOR DEBATE ON THE BALKAN AIR WAR SINCE BOMBING BEGAN, LAWMAKERS SIGNALED THEY ARE NOT YET READY FOR THE POSSIBLE NEXT PHASE - A GROUND WAR INSIDE KOSOVO. A MEASURE APPROVED WEDNESDAY (249 TO 180) WOULD STOP THE PRESIDENT FROM SENDING IN TROOPS UNLESS THE HOUSE AND SENATE SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZE THAT MISSION.

THE RESOLUTION'S SUPPORTERS CHARGE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NO RIGHT TO ACT -- UNLESS CONGRESS AGREES - AND HAS NO IDEA HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS WAR. REPUBLICAN JOHN KASICH ARGUES THE AIR CAMPAIGN HAS ONLY PRODUCED MORE BLOODSHED INSTEAD OF STOPPING IT.

AND IN FACT TO PUT TROOPS ON THE GROUND REINFORCES A FAILED POLICY THAT IS FRANKLY A SIGN OF ARROGANCE. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? MEDIATE. WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR A THIRD PARTY THAT CAN HELP US, TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE STABILITY.

BUT THE PRESIDENT'S BACKERS CHARGE THE RESOLUTION WOULD WORSEN THE CRISIS INSTEAD. MR. KASICH'S STATEMENT BROUGHT AN IMMEDIATE, ANGRY RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRAT STENY HOYER, WHO RAISED THE SPECTER IN HISTORY OF BRITAIN'S APPEASEMENT OF HITLER.

AS KINDLY AS I CAN, LET ME SAY THAT (A FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER) NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN ROSE UP AND SAID "LET US MEDIATE." I BELIEVE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH OUR ALLIES FOR THE RIGHT REASON IN THE RIGHT WAY TO MINIMIZE RISK TO OUR PEOPLE.

THE VOTE HAS NO IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE ALLIED MISSION AND -- IN LIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT'S VETO POWER -- STANDS LITTLE CHANCE OF BECOMING LAW. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PROMISED MR. CLINTON WILL SEEK THE LAWMAKERS' SUPPORT FOR ANY GROUND DEPLOYMENT BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE HE NEEDS THEIR PERMISSION. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 4:09 PM EDT (2009 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] CONGRESS-KOSOVO-2ND UPDATE (S) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)

INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS TRYING TO LIMIT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S POWER TO BROADEN THE WAR IN KOSOVO - BUT IS ALSO REJECTING CALLS FOR AN AMERICAN PULLOUT. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: BRUSHING ASIDE THE PRESIDENT'S APPEAL FOR UNITY, LAWMAKERS VOTED (240 TO 189) TO STOP HIM FROM SENDING IN GROUND TROOPS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM CONGRESS. THE MEASURE APPEARS TO HAVE LITTLE CHANCE OF BECOMING LAW - AND THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS MR. CLINTON HAS NO INTENTION OF USING THOSE FORCES ANYWAY.

BUT REPUBLICANS AND SOME DEMOCRATS ARE SKEPTICAL. CONGRESSMAN JOHN KASICH SAYS HE IS NOT PREPARED TO ESCALATE THE AIR WAR INTO A LAND CAMPAIGN.

THE CONGRESS IS BEGINNING TO SAY WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO APPLY THE PRESSURE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR A MEDIATED SETTLEMENT OF THIS. AND THAT MEDIATED SETTLEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT.

[11] EDITORIAL: ALBRIGHT TO THE SERB PEOPLE

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:

IN A TELEVISED ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAID THAT NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN WILL END WHEN THE SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REGIME ACCEPTS THESE DEMANDS:

SERB MILITARY, PARAMILITARY, AND POLICE FORCES MUST STOP THEIR AGGRESSION AGAINST CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO AND WITHDRAW FROM THE PROVINCE. REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS MUST BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE MUST BE ALLOWED INTO KOSOVO TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS. AND THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO MUST GAIN THE DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE.

NATO AND ITS EUROPEAN PARTNER COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED THAT AS SOON AS THE FIGHTING STOPS, RECONSTRUCTION MUST BEGIN. IN KOSOVO, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND SCHOOLS, AND IN MANY CASES WHOLE VILLAGES, HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY SERB FORCES.

RECONSTRUCTION, SAID MRS. ALBRIGHT, "MUST BEGIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF SERBIA, TOO." AS SHE SAID TO THEM, "YOU ALSO HAVE SUFFERED, WHILE YOUR LEADERS CARE ONLY ABOUT THEIR OWN PRIVILEGES AND POWER." RECONSTRUCTION MUST BEGIN AS WELL FOR SERBIA'S NEIGHBORS, LIKE DEMOCRATIC MONTENEGRO, WHICH HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY REFUGEES AND DEPRIVED OF TRADE BY THE WAR.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT SERBIA'S LEADERS "WILL MAKE WISE CHOICES, AND THAT THE DAY OF PEACE WILL COME SOON." AND TO THE SERB PEOPLE, SHE SAID, "WE DO NOT SEEK TO MAKE YOU SUFFER -- INSTEAD, WE ARE EAGER FOR THE DAY THAT YOUR LEADERS ALLOW YOU TO REJOIN A EUROPE OF OPENNESS AND FREEDOM."

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.
28-Apr-99 1:17 PM EDT (1717 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE GROUP IS FLYING TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN EUROPE AND WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO YUGOSLAVIA FROM THERE. A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAYS HE HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE NATO AIRSTRIKES WILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THE REVEREND JACKSON'S TRIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/JO
28-Apr-99 3:57 PM EDT (1957 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[13] KOSOVO WAR CRIMES O'NITER (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE TOP U-N WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR WILL PRESS U-S DEFENSE AND DIPLOMATIC OFFICIALS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALLEGED WAR CRIMES IN YUGOSLAVIA THURSDAY. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: OFFICIALS AT THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT SAY LOUISE ARBOUR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR YUGOSLAVIA WILL MEET WITH THE SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE AND STATE, TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN KOSOVO.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ALLEGATIONS THAT SERB-LED YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE KILLED AND RAPED KOSOVARS AND BURNED THEIR VILLAGES ACROSS THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. REFUGEE RELIEF AGENCIES SAY MORE THAN ONE MILLION ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THE LATEST IN A LONG SERIES OF ACCUSATIONS WAS ANNOUNCED BY PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON WEDNESDAY.

WE ESTIMATE NOW THAT MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED IN KOSOVO SINCE THIS BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH BY SERB SPECIAL POLICE AND SPECIAL TROOPS. THESE ARE THE ESTIMATES FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE INTERVIEWED REFUGEES AS THEY CAME ACROSS THE BORDERS INTO MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LISTENING TO HARROWING STORIES TOLD BY REFUGEES AND PROVING ALLEGATIONS OF WAR CRIMES OR GENOCIDE IN A COURT.

MS. ARBOUR IS APPARENTLY SEEKING ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE THAT COULD BACK UP THE REFUGEES' CLAIMS THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES AT THE HANDS OF SERBS.

WHILE U-S OFFICIALS NEVER COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS, EXPERTS OUT SIDE GOVERNMENT SAY WASHINGTON USES SATELLITES, MANNED AIR CRAFT AND REMOTE-CONTROL FLYING DRONES TO TAKE PICTURES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND AND TO EAVESDROP ON RADIO AND OTHER KINDS OF COMMUNICATION.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP PROSECUTORS COLLECT INFORMATION. (SIGNED).
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28-Apr-99 5:30 PM EDT (2130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[14] BRITAIN / KOSOVO (S/L VER) (CQ) BY CHRISTINE FURNELL (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON WEDNESDAY EXPRESSED REGRET OVER CIVILIAN DEATHS CAUSED BY A STRAY NATO BOMB INTENDED FOR AN ARMY TRAINING CENTER IN SOUTHERN SERBIA. MR. ROBERTSON REITERATED NATO'S RESOLVE NOT TO TARGET CIVILIAN AREAS, BUT WARNED THE ALLIES WILL INTENSIFY THEIR AIR CAMPAIGN UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WITHDRAWS HIS FORCES UNCONDITIONALLY FROM KOSOVO. V-O-A'S CHRISTINE FURNELL REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: USING DETAILED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS AT THEIR DAILY NEWS BRIEFING, BRITISH MILITARY OFFICIALS ILLUSTRATED THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED IN IDENTIFYING INTENDED TARGETS FROM THE AIR. BUT BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY, GEORGE ROBERTSON, SAID IN MORE THAN 44-HUNDRED ATTACKS BY NATO ON SERBIAN TERRITORY, ONLY A SMALL FRACTION HAVE LED TO WHAT HE CALLED UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE THE RISK COMPLETELY. MILOSEVIC'S MILITARY, BY CONTRAST, MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. // OPT FOR SHORT // INDEED, IT IS DEFENSELESS MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN THE PRINCIPAL TARGETS OF THEIR ACTIONS DURING THIS PERIOD. // END OPT FOR SHORT //

MR. ROBERTSON SAID WHILE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH NATO DEMANDS TO WITHDRAW FROM KOSOVO AND ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO RETURN IN SAFETY, HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUING MISERY OF THE PEOPLES OF YUGOSLAVIA.

IT IS HARD TO COMPREHEND THE SCALE OF THE CRIMES GOING ON INSIDE KOSOVO. SIX-HUNDRED-THOUSAND REFUGEES ALREADY OUTSIDE, DRIVEN OUT OF KOSOVO. AT LEAST 400-THOUSAND AND POSSIBLE AS MANY AS 800-THOUSAND -- ALMOST A MILLION PEOPLE -- DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES AND STILL LIVING INSIDE KOSOVO. ... ALMOST FOUR-THOUSAND MORE REFUGEES ARRIVED IN MACEDONIA OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, SHOWING THAT THE RATE OF EXODUS IS NOT REDUCING.

NATO IS DEMANDING THAT ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO KOSOVO, THAT YUGOSLAV FORCES WITHDRAW FROM THE PROVINCE AND THAT A NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE OVERSEE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT.

THE LONDON DEFENSE BRIEFING ALSO INCLUDED A RUNDOWN OF NATO ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT. THE CHIEF OF BRITAIN'S DEFENSE STAFF, CHARLES GUTHRIE, SAID TARGETS INCLUDED SERBIAN AIR FIELDS, RADAR SITES IN MONTENEGRO, A PETROL PRODUCTION FACILITY AND HIGHWAY BRIDGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEF/PCF/RAE
28-Apr-99 10:45 AM EDT (1445 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[15] ANNAN-KOSOVO (L/S VER) BY JONATHAN BRAUDE (BERLIN)

INTRO: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, (IS ON HIS WAY TO MOSCOW/ HAS FLOWN TO MOSCOW) FOR TALKS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS, FOLLOWING A THREE-DAY VISIT TO GERMANY. BEFORE HE LEFT BERLIN, WEDNESDAY, BOTH HE AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER SOUNDED A NOTE OF CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT THE RUSSIAN VISIT MIGHT LEAD TO PROGRESS. JONATHAN BRAUDE REPORTS.

TEXT: SPEAKING AFTER TALKS WITH THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN HELD OUT SOME HOPE OF PROGRESS DURING HIS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN AND PRIME MINISTER YEVGENI PRIMAKOV.

USING THE MOST CAUTIOUS DIPLOMATIC FORMULATIONS, HE SAID THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAD PLAYED A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE. HE HOPED THAT AT THE END OF HIS DISCUSSIONS THERE, BOTH THE U-N AND MOSCOW WOULD HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHERE MATTERS STOOD NOW AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO INTENSIFY THE PROCESS.

JOSCHKA FISCHER SAID HE TOO SENSED SOME MOVEMENT IN MOSCOW FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S NATO SUMMIT. HE HOPED THE TALKS MIGHT LEAD TO AN END TO THE HOSTILITIES IN KOSOVO, AND END TO THE KILLINGS. HE HOPED A RESOLUTION COULD BE FOUND THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FROM THE PROVINCE AND ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE AND THE RETURN OF REFUGEES.

A RUSSIAN ROLE IN THAT RESOLUTION, HE SAID, WOULD CERTAINLY BE HELPFUL.

BOTH MEN SAID THEY HOPED THAT ONCE THE RUSSIANS WERE ON BOARD FOR A SOLUTION, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TOO, WHICH STEADFASTLY OPPOSED NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN SERBIA, WOULD BACK OR AT LEAST NOT OPPOSE A SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

U-N SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN'S VISIT TO MOSCOW COMES AMID A FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GERMANY, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOTH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF NATO, THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION.

U-S PEACE NEGOTIATOR STROBE TALBOTT HAS BEEN BOTH IN MOSCOW AND IN BERLIN, WHERE HE MET WITH MR ANNAN. AND RUSSIAN PEACE ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL MEET MR ANNAN IN MOSCOW, THEN TRAVEL TO GERMANY FOR TALKS.

BUT WHATEVER THE RUSSIAN EFFORTS ACHIEVE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO QUESTION WHETHER SERB LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSOVIC IS REALLY A SUITABLE INTERLOCUTOR IN ANY PEACE NEGOTIATION, AFTER ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN KOSOVO.

MR ANNAN MADE IT CLEAR THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE. HE SAYS "IT IS VERY RARE THAT ONE IS CALLED UPON TO MAKE PEACE WITH FRIENDS OR ANGELS. OFTEN ONE IS REQUIRED TO TALK TO THE AGGRESSOR TO SAVE LIVES," HE SAYS, "IN ORDER TO FORM A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION."

IT WAS A SENTIMENT ECHOED BY MR. FISCHER. MR. MILOSOVIC MIGHT HAVE WAGED WAR ON HIS OWN POPULATION WITH UNIMAGINABLE BRUTALITY, HE SAID, AND THERE WOULD BE MORE EVIDENCE ONCE PEACEKEEPING FORCES WERE IN PLACE, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE ASSESSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. BUT FOR THE MOMENT, THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TALK TO THOSE IN POWER IN BELGRADE. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 1:38 PM EDT (1738 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[16] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: TOP WESTERN DIPLOMATS AND ENVOYS ARE GATHERING IN MOSCOW TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS -- VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN -- WILL FLY TO GERMANY FOR MORE TALKS WITH WESTERN LEADERS ON THURSDAY, AND MAY ALSO SCHEDULED A STOP IN BELGRADE. DETAILS FROM VOA MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT.

TEXT: A NEW WAVE OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO CONFLICT IS UNDERWAY. ON WEDNESDAY, RUSSIAN LEADERS MEET WITH THE VISITING GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER, GEORGIOS PAPANDREOU, AND GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER RUDOLF SCHARPING.

FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH MR. CHERNOMYRDIN, THE GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WILL FLY TO BONN THURSDAY TO HOLD TALKS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER.

MR. SCHARPING ALSO TOLD REPORTERS HE HAS HOPES FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. BUT HE WARNED AGAINST OVERESTIMATING RESULTS OF TALKS WITH THE RUSSIAN ENVOY. RUSSIAN AND NATO OFFICIALS DIFFER ON SEVERAL POINTS, INCLUDING NATO'S PLANS FOR AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA IS A MAJOR PROVIDER OF OIL TO THE BALKANS.

WEDNESDAY'S MEETINGS ARE THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND WESTERN LEADERS WHO ARE ENCOURAGING MOSCOW TO USE ITS TIES TO BELGRADE TO HELP BROKER A PEACE DEAL.

U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HOLDS A TOP LEVEL MEETING THURSDAY IN MOSCOW ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WILL MEET WITH MR. ANNAN AND THE VISITING FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CANADA AND GREECE. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/PCF
28-Apr-99 10:06 AM EDT (1406 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[17] RUSSIA/KOSOVO UPDATE (S/L VER) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: TOP WESTERN DIPLOMATS AND ENVOYS ARE GATHERING IN MOSCOW TO STEP-UP EFFORTS TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS -- VIKTOR CHERNOMRYDIN -- FLIES TO GERMANY FOR MORE TALKS WITH WESTERN LEADERS THURSDAY, AND THEN GOES TO ITALY AND YUGOSLAVIA. DETAILS FROM MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT.

TEXT: A NEW WAVE OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO CONFLICT IS UNDERWAY. RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, SAYS HE WILL LEAVE MOSCOW THURSDAY FOR A NEW ROUND OF PEACE TALKS BEGINNING IN BONN WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER AND ENDING IN YUGOSLAVIA.

HE SAYS -- TOMORROW I WILL START MEETINGS FIRST IN BONN -- GERMANY, THEN IN ITALY, THEN BELGRADE. AFTER THAT, WE WILL SEE.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S MEETING WITH VISITING GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGIOS PAPANDREOU. THE NEWLY APPOINTED ENVOY TO THE BALKANS ALSO MET (WEDNESDAY) WITH GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER RUDOLF SCHARPING TO DISCUSS THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

MR. SCHARPING TOLD REPORTERS HE HAS HOPES FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. BUT HE WARNED AGAINST OVERESTIMATING TALKS WITH THE RUSSIAN ENVOY. RUSSIAN AND NATO OFFICIALS DIFFER ON SEVERAL POINTS, INCLUDING NATO'S PLANS FOR AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF OIL TO THE BALKANS.

WEDNESDAY'S MEETINGS ARE THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND WESTERN LEADERS WHO ARE ENCOURAGING MOSCOW TO USE ITS TIES TO BELGRADE TO HELP BROKER A PEACE DEAL.

U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HOLDS A TOP LEVEL MEETING THURSDAY IN MOSCOW ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WILL MEET WITH MR. ANNAN AND THE VISITING FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CANADA AND GREECE. THE BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IS ALSO DUE TO VISIT MOSCOW IN THE COMING DAYS. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[18] ALBANIA CONFLICT (L-ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

INTRO: THE CONFLICT OVER KOSOVO HAS TRANSFORMED NEIGHBORING ALBANIA INTO A COMBINATION STAGING AREA FOR NATO AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE CENTER. FROM THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS AID AGENCIES AND MILITARY STRATEGISTS ARE SETTLING IN FOR THE LONG ROAD AHEAD [A LONG STAY].

TEXT:

THE CHURNING OF HELICOPTERS AND THE THUNDER OF JETS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER TO ALBANIANS THAT OVER THE PAST MONTH, THEIR COUNTRY HAS UNDERGONE A PROFOUND AND IRREVOCABLE CHANGE.

THIS NATION OF THREE-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION PEOPLE, WHICH UNDER THE RULE OF COMMUNIST DICTATOR ENVER HOXHA WAS THE MOST ISOLATED IN EUROPE, HAS SUDDENLY BECOME A BEEHIVE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY. IT IS THE NEW HOME FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO, IT HAS ATTRACTED AID AGENCIES AND THEIR STAFFS FROM SCORES OF COUNTRIES, AND IT IS A MAJOR NATO MILITARY BASE.

APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS ARE TRAINING IN THE HILLS JUST OUTSIDE TIRANA, AND CONVOYS OF ALLIED MILITARY VEHICLES ROAM THE COUNTRYSIDE.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GARRIE DORNAN, A SPOKESMAN FOR "OPERATION HAWK," WHICH INCLUDES THE APACHE SQUADRONS, ADMITS THE SUDDEN MILITARY PRESENCE -- AND THE COMBAT TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT -- CAUSES STRAIN FOR THE CIVILIAN POPULATION.

I THINK EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL POPULATION IS SAFE FROM HARM'S WAY. THAT IS A ROUTINE PART OF DOING BUSINESS HERE. THERE'S NOTHING 100 PERCENT GUARANTEED, BUT I'LL TELL YOU EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THESE EXERCISES ARE CONDUCTED IN AREAS THAT DON'T ENDANGER CIVILIAN POPULATIONS.

THE DANGER TO CIVILIANS IS ESPECIALLY HIGH ALONG THE YUGOSLAVIA BORDER, // OPT // WHERE TWO-THOUSAND REFUGEES CROSSED INTO ALBANIA FROM KOSOVO IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, WITH THOUSANDS MORE EXPECTED. // END OPT // WITH CONDITIONS IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS WORSENING, THE OFFICE OF UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IS MOVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE REGION EACH DAY TO SAFER LOCATIONS.

ANDREA AGNELLI OF THE "ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE" MONITORS MILITARY ACTIVITY ALONG THE ALBANIA-KOSOVO BORDER. HE SAYS CROSS-BORDER SHELLING AND EVEN SKIRMISHES BETWEEN SERB TROOPS AND "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY" FORCES IS A CONSTANT THREAT TO CIVILIANS.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE LAST ... 20 DAYS ... WE HAD FOR A GOOD COUPLE OF WEEKS ALMOST REGULAR SHELLING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA -- PODERJE AND KAMENICA. THESE ARE TWO BORDER POSTS.

MR. AGNELLI SAYS THE RUSH TO MOVE REFUGEES AWAY FROM THE BORDER IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORE INTENSE MILITARY ACTIVITY WHEN THE APACHE HELICOPTERS SWING INTO ACTION, POSSIBLY WITHIN DAYS.

MR. AGNELLI, AN ITALIAN, SAYS HIS OWN GOVERNMENT HAS STRONG RESERVATIONS ABOUT MOVING THE REFUGEES OUT AND FURTHER MILITARIZING THE BORDER REGION. HE SAYS THE FURTHER THE REFUGEES GO FROM THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO, AND THE LONGER THEY STAY, THE LESS LIKELY THEY WILL RETURN, WHEN THE TIME COMES [WHEN IT BECOMES POSSIBLE TO DO SO]. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF/WTW
28-Apr-99 2:32 PM EDT (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[19] BALKAN ECONOMIES (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND SAY THE WAR IN KOSOVO IS LIKELY TO SHARPLY IMPACT THE ECONOMIES OF NEIGHBORING BALKAN STATES. CORRESPONDENT BARRY WOOD REPORTS THE BANK BELIEVES GROWTH RATES MAY SLOW BY FIVE-PERCENT.

TEXT: WORLD-BANK ECONOMISTS SAY BEYOND THE COST OF COPING WITH REFUGEES -- REDUCED EXPORTS AND HIGHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS WILL REDUCE GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE BALKANS. THE MOST AFFECTED COUNTRIES ARE BULGARIA, ROMANIA, CROATIA, MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND ALBANIA, AS WELL AS YUGOSLAVIA.

THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE BALKANS WERE DISCUSSED TUESDAY EVENING AT AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF 70 TOP OFFICIALS FROM INTERESTED COUNTRIES. BULGARIA'S AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON, PHILIP DIMITROV, OUTLINES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS BULGARIA IS FACING.

EVERY DAY BULGARIA IS LOSING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR OUR GOODS TO EUROPE ARE PRACTICALLY DOUBLED. NOT TO MENTION THE DELAYS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO YOU UNDERSTAND IT IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, AND ON THE OTHER HAND OF GRAVE ECONOMIC SERIOUSNESS TO HAVE THIS WAR FINISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE WORLD BANK SAYS BULGARIA'S 1999 GROWTH RATE MAY FALL FROM AN ANTICIPATED NEARLY FOUR-PERCENT TO BARELY MORE THAN TWO-PERCENT BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

THE WORLD BANK SAYS THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE COUNTRIES MOST AFFECTED MAY EXCEED TWO-BILLION DOLLARS. THE WORLD BANK WILL HOST AN AID MEETING ON MACEDONIA MAY 5TH IN PARIS. FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET IN BONN MAY 27TH TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC PLIGHT OF THE BALKANS AS A WHOLE. (SIGNED)
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28-Apr-99 2:38 PM EDT (1838 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[20] YUGOSLAVIA Q&A BY ALEX TODOROVIC (BELGRADE)

INTRO: ALEX TODOROVIC WAS BORN IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA OF SERBIAN PARENTS. HE GREW UP IN AMERICA BUT THIS PAST MARCH HE WENT BACK TO YUGOSLAVIA TO VISIT FAMILY MEMBERS AND FOUND HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR WAGED IN LARGE MEASURE BY THE UNITED STATES. HE SPOKE WITH V-O-A'S NEIL CURRIE IN WASHINGTON BY TELEPHONE FROM BELGRADE ON TUESDAY NIGHT , EDT (4/27). CURRIE: WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE IN BELGRADE THE PAST FEW DAYS? TODOROVIC: THERE HAS BEEN MORE TALK ABOUT REFUGEES AND OF COURSE THE NEWS THE LAST TWO DAYS IN BELGRADE HAS BEEN VUK DRASKOVIC'S (YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER) CRITICISM TOWARDS THE REGIME HERE. CURRIE: YES, WE HAVE HEARD AND SEEN THE REPORTS THAT HE HAS QUESTIONED THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE SERBIAN NEWS MEDIA AND YOU SEEM TO SUGGEST, IN AN ARTICLE YOU DID FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST", HE'S NOT ALONE IN ASKING THESE QUESTIONS. TODOROVIC: I THINK THAT IS TRUE. HE (DRASKOVIC) TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT'S USED ON STATE-RUN TELEVISION. HE GAVE AN EXAMPLE IN ASKING WHY DOES STATE RUN TELEVSION OUT OF SERIBA USE THE EXPRESSION, "THE CRIMINAL NATO AGGRESSORS?" HE SAID AGRESSION IS NEVER FRIENDLY AND THERE IS NO NEED TO ALWAYS REFER TO IT AS CRIMINAL. HE SAID MANY, MANY THINGS REGARDING RADIO-TELEVISION-SERBIA AND HE SAID THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T BEING TOLD THE TRUTH IN THIS COUNTRY (YUGOSLAVIA). IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANYONE HAD OPENLY CRITICIZED RADIO-TELEVISION-SERBIA. HE UNLEASHED A FAIRLY STINGING CRITICISM DIRECTED TOWARDS SPS AND UYL, WHICH ARE THE TWO DOMINANT PARTIES. UYL, IS THE "UNITED YUGOSLAV LEFT" CONTROLLED BY SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S WIFE AND SPS IS MILOSEVIC'S PARTY. AND HE (DRASKOVIC) SAID PEOPLE WERE BEING LIED TO. HE ALSO CRITICIZED ANTI-WAR PROFITEERING MEASURES. HE SAID THE PEOPLE WERE BEING JAILED AND GIVEN SEVERE SENTENCES FOR FAIRLY MINOR INFRACTIONS. HE SAID WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO LAWLESSNESS. TODAY'S (TUESDAY'S) PRESS CONFERENCE WAS ACTUALLY MORE TO THE POINT THAN ON SUNDAY EVENING WHEN HE FIRST BEGAN CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT. HE HAS BEEN A FAIRLY OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF MILOSEVIC SINCE 1991 AND THAT'S HOW HE GAINED HIS FAME. HE IS ABLE TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN A MUCH MORE DIRECT WAY THAN MILOSEVIC WHO IS PERCEIVED AS A MUCH MORE DISTANT LEADER WHO VERY RARELY ADDRESSES THE COUNTRY. SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR HE HAS ONLY ADDRESSED THE COUNTRY ONE TIME DIRECTLY AND HE IS JUST NOT PERCEIVED AS VERY PERSONABLE. DRASKOVIC ON THE OTHER HAND HAS BEEN ADDRESSING PEOPLE TWICE A WEEK AT LEAST AND PEOPLE VIEW HIM AS MUCH MORE A VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. HE GAINED POWER OF COURSE ONLY TWO MONTHS BEFORE WAR BROKE OUT SO HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH OF A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. BUT HERE WE SEE FOR THE FIRST TIME HE IS TAKING A NEW LEADERSHIP POSITION. CURRIE: HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR RELATIVES GETTING ALONG IN BELGRADE? IS THERE MUCH FOOD? IS THERE ANY BUSINESS BEING DONE IN BELGRADE? TODOROVIC: THERE IS A FEELING OF EVERYTHING BEING PUT ON HOLD, EVERYONE'S LIVES ARE ON HOLD. PEOPLE WHO OWN PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE STILL GOING TO WORK AND THERE IS PLENTY OF FOOD. THERE IS EVEN GAS AVAILABLE. THERE IS A DRASTIC SHORTAGE OF CIGARETTES. PEOPLE LINE UP FOR HOURS TO BUY CIGARETTES NOW. OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING CAN BE FOUND ALTHOUGH, AS I SAID, THINGS ARE FUNCTIONING AT A STANDSTILL. NOTHING IS REALLY WORKING LIKE COURTS, SCHOOLS ARE OUT, STATE-RUN BUSINESSES ARE SHUT DOWN. PEOPLE ARE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE THIS AND GET BY ANYWAY THEY CAN. CURRIE: LASTLY ALEX, HERE IS A QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED, ARE YOU NOT AFRAID YOU'LL GET IN TROUBLE TALKING WITH THE "VOICE OF AMERICA" AT A TIME LIKE THIS? TODOROVIC: NOT REALLY , ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, A HANDFUL. AS I SAID IT'S POSSIBLE (THAT HE WILL GET INTO TROUBLE).
NEB/NC/PLM
28-Apr-99 5:10 AM EDT (0910 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[21] THE REICHSTAG REBORN: GERMANY'S CAPITOL MOVES EAST BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: SOMEWHAT OVERSHADOWED BY THE FIGHTING IN THE BALKANS, ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST HISTORIC BUILDINGS WAS REOPENED LAST WEEK (APRIL 19) IN GERMANY'S NEWLY REESTABLISHED CAPITOL, BERLIN. IT IS THE REICHSTAG, THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING DESTROYED BY A FIRE EARLY IN ADOLPH HITLER'S CAMPAIGN TO ASSUME POWER IN GERMANY.

IT IS A BUILDING THAT HAS WITNESSED MORE HISTORY THAN MANY OTHERS OF ITS AGE, AND NOW IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY REBUILT AND PARTIALLY ENCLOSED IN GLASS BY A BRITISH ARCHITECT.

DESPITE THE DOMINANCE OF NATO'S KOSOVO AIR WAR, MANY U-S PAPERS ARE TAKING NOTE OF THIS SYMBOLIC STEP IN GERMANY'S QUEST TO FIND A NEW FUTURE OUT OF A DARK PAST. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ______________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: A FIRE ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED THE REICHSTAG EARLY IN 1933 AND HELPED ADOLPH HITLER TAKE CONTROL OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT. MANY HISTORIANS FEEL THE BLAZE WAS SET BY THE NAZIS, BUT BLAMED ON THE COMMUNISTS. IN THE 1940'S, AS WORLD WAR TWO PROGRESSED, THE BUILDING WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DURING THE BOMBING OF BERLIN. SINCE GERMANY BEGAN PLANNING AND THEN MOVING ITS CAPITAL. FROM BONN, BACK TO BERLIN, THE BUILDING HAS UNDERGONE AN EXTENSIVE RECONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION. THE BUILDING'S RE-OPENING, AND THE TRANSFER OF PARLIAMENT, MARKED THE OFFICIAL TRANSFER OF THE GERMAN CAPITAL, ALTHOUGH THE MOVE FROM BONN WILL NOT BE COMPLETED FOR YEARS.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, WHERE "THE SUN-SENTINEL" NOTES:

VOICE: THE MOST TANGIBLE SYMBOL OF GERMANY'S REUNIFICATION AND THE FOREMOST MONUMENT OF A DEFINITIVE BREAK WITH ITS DISASTROUS 20TH-CENTURY PAST WAS UNVEILED (MONDAY, APRIL 19TH) WHEN THE NATION'S PARLIAMENT MET IN THE BRAND-NEW BERLIN REICHSTAG. THE CEREMONIAL SESSION MARKED THE RELOCATION OF THE ONCE-DIVIDED COUNTRY'S CAPITAL FROM BONN TO BERLIN AND THE RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT LONG HAS REPRESENTED THE POWER OF GERMANY'S IMPERIAL ERA. ... MONDAY'S INAUGURAL SESSION APPROPRIATELY CELEBRATED THE REBIRTH OF GERMANY AS A 'NORMAL' COUNTRY PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EVOLUTION OF A GROWING AND MOSTLY DEMOCRATIC EUROPE. NOT EVEN THE MOST UNABASHED OPTIMIST WOULD HAVE DARED TO PREDICT SUCH A HOPEFUL OUTCOME ONLY 60 SHORT YEARS AGO.

TEXT: "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" SAYS OF THE FAMED BUILDING:

VOICE: /// OPT /// A RESTORED REICHSTAG, THE CENTER OF GRIM GERMANIA FOR HALF A CENTURY, WILL FRIGHTEN SOME PEOPLE. IT WAS THE SEAT OF BISMARK'S BLOOD-AND-IRON SPIRIT THAT WAGED WORLD WAR ONE. THE HEAVY STONE EDIFICE WAS GUTTED BY A MYSTERIOUS FIRE THAT HITLER USED TO CATAPULT HIMSELF TO POWER IN 1933. FEW BUILDINGS BEAR THE WEIGHT OF A COUNTRY'S PAST AS HEAVILY AS THE HULKING REICHSTAG.

TEXT: FOR THE VIEW FROM (THE SOUTHERN STATE OF) TENNESSEE, THERE IS THIS EDITORIAL FROM "THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL" IN MEMPHIS.

VOICE: GERMANY'S SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FORMALLY MOVED TO BERLIN ... WHEN THE CHANCELLOR AND PARLIAMENT OCCUPIED THE REICHSTAG AMID APPREHENSION ABOUT THE BUILDING'S UNHAPPY PAST. /// OPT /// THE REICHSTAG LABORS UNDER SOME UNFAIR SYMBOLISM. THE ORNATE 1894 BUILDING MAY EVOKE PRUSSIAN MILITARISM, BUT KAISER WILHELM TREATED GERMANY'S FIRST PARLIAMENT AS LITTLE MORE THAN AN ANNOYANCE. THE FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY THAT FOLLOWED, THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC, WAS WEAK AND INEFFECTUAL. ... THE NAZIS SET FIRE TO THE REICHSTAG IN 1933, AND ADOLF HITLER USED THE BLAZE AS A PRETEXT TO SUPPRESS DISSENT. THE RED ARMY TREATED THE BUILDING AS A SYMBOL OF THE THIRD REICH ... THE WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT MOVED TO BONN IN 1949. /// END OPT /// THE REICHSTAG BECAME SYMBOLIC OF A DIVIDED GERMANY, ESPECIALLY IN 1961 WHEN EAST GERMANY THREW UP THE BERLIN WALL, A GRIM BARRIER OF CONCRETE AND BARBED WIRE, JUST BEHIND IT. GERMANY IS REUNITED AND THE REICHSTAG HAS UNDERGONE A 330-MILLION DOLLAR TRANSFORMATION. FRETFUL GERMANS STILL WORRY ABOUT SYMBOLISM: AS THE PARLIAMENT MOVES IN, THE GERMAN MILITARY IS IN COMBAT, OVER SERBIA AND KOSOVO, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1945. BUT THIS TIME THE CAUSE IS SELFLESS AND HUMANITARIAN.

TEXT: LASTLY, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" MAKES THIS HISTORICAL ANALOGY BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND ITS HOME CITY.

VOICE: FOR MOST OF THE PAST CENTURY, BERLIN HAS BEEN A CENTER OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL TURMOIL, TRAGEDY, RUIN AND DESPAIR - - WORLD WAR ONE, THE DEPRESSION, THE HITLER DICTATORSHIP, CULMINATING IN THE HOLOCAUST, THEN 43-YEARS OF DIVISION AND COLD WAR THAT OFTEN THREATENED TO FLARE INTO ANOTHER WORLD DISASTER. ONE EXCEPTION STANDS OUT: 1923-33, WHEN BERLIN FLOURISHED AS A CENTER OF ART, FILM, LITERATURE, MUSIC, POLITICS, ARCHITECTURE AND ACADEMICS. THE NAZIS BRUTALLY EXTINGUISHED THIS ... PERHAPS WITH REUNIFICATION AND RECONSTRUCTION, THE CITY CAN CAST ASIDE ITS GUILTS AND FEARS ... AND SPARK A NEW RENAISSANCE OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN LIFE.

TEXT: AND ON THAT HOPEFUL NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE RE-OPENING OF THE FAMED GERMAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN BERLIN, THE REICHSTAG, AS THE GOVERNMENT FORMALLY MOVES ITS SEAT BACK TO THE CITY.
NEB/ANG/GE
28-Apr-99 3:01 PM EDT (1901 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[22] WORLD BANK WRAP (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (WASHINGTON)

TEXT: THE BANK'S DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE DISCUSSED AID FOR COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA, THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, AND DEBT FORGIVENESS. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TARRIN MIMMANAHAEMINDA OF THAILAND SAYS MANY OF THE 22 PARTICIPANTS FAVOR MORE GENEROUS DEBT RELIEF.

WE HEARD MANY MINISTERS PROPOSE THAT THE DEBT INITIATIVE SHOULD BE DEEPER, BROADER AND FASTER. THEY AGREED ON IMPORTANT NEW PRINCIPLES FOR CHANGING THE INITIATIVE.

THE WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ALREADY HAVE A LIST OF NEARLY 20 COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR DEBT RELIEF. BUT SO FAR ONLY TWO (UGANDA AND BOLIVIA) HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFITTED FROM THE INITIATIVE. THE MATTER WILL NEXT BE CONSIDERED AT THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES AND RUSSIA IN GERMANY IN JUNE.

JACK BOORMAN, THE NUMBER THREE OFFICIAL AT THE I-M-F, CAUTIONS REPORTERS TO REMEMBER THAT THE DEBT INITIATIVE IS OPEN ONLY TO COUNTRIES PURSUING SENSIBLE ECONOMIC POLICIES WITH TIGHT BUDGETARY CONTROLS.

FOR A COUNTRY TO QUALIFY THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PERIOD OF GOOD PERFORMANCE. AND THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT A CULTURE OF REFORM AND ADJUSTMENT HAS TAKEN HOLD.

OFFICIALS EXPECT AS MANY AS 20--MOSTLY AFRICAN--COUNTRIES TO BE GRANTED DEBT RELIEF BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

FINANCE MINISTERS LEAVE WASHINGTON CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. THEY EXPECT GROWTH WORLDWIDE IS SLOWLY PICKING UP. BUT THERE IS WORRY ABOUT THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIES OF EASTERN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BDW/PHW/WFR
28-Apr-99 6:39 PM EDT (2239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE MOSTLY DOWN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ALTHOUGH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH 10 THOUSAND 845, UP 13 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 50, DOWN 11 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED DOWN TWO PERCENT, REFLECTING A CONTINUED SELL-OFF OF MANY TECHNOLOGY STOCKS.

CYCLICAL STOCKS, SUCH AS THOSE OF AUTOS, OILS AND OTHER OLDER INDUSTRIAL FIRMS SEEMED TO REPLACE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES AS MARKET LEADERS.

CLEARLY THERE IS LOT OF INTERNAL ROTATION GOING ON IN THIS MARKET. THE REAL QUESTION SEEMS TO BE WHETHER TECHNOLOGY STOCKS WILL TAKE A BREATHER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR OR AT LEAST SOME PART OF IT.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS ORDERS FOR DURABLE GOODS -- PRODUCTS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE YEARS OR LONGER -- ROSE IN MARCH AFTER A SLUMP IN FEBRUARY.

THE DISASTER OF THE DAY ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE INVOLVED MCKESSON, THE PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY COMPANY. THE VALUE OF MCKESSON STOCK WAS CUT ALMOST IN HALF AFTER THE COMPANY SHARPLY LOWERED ITS EARNINGS ESTIMATES AND SAID ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS MAY RESULT IN A DOWNWARD REVISION OF LAST YEAR'S PROFITS.

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, THE WORLD'S FIFTH-LARGEST AUTO COMPANY, SAYS ITS PROFITS ROSE 23 PERCENT WITH STRONG SALES IN BOTH ITS CHRYSLER AND MERCEDES BRAND VEHICLES.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH, THE WORLD'S LARGEST BREWING COMPANY, REPORTED A 20 PERCENT QUARTERLY PROFIT RISE, AHEAD OF WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY SAID HIGHER BEER PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE NOT AFFECTED SALES OF BUDWEISER AND MICHELOB, ITS TWO MOST POPULAR BRANDS.

TRICON GLOBAL, WHICH RUNS RESTAURANT CHAINS SUCH AS K-F-C AND PIZZA HUT, SAYS ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS ROSE 96 PERCENT. THE COMPANY SAYS SALES ARE STARTING TO RECOVER IN MANY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

THE UNOCAL OIL COMPANY SAYS ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS PLUNGED 70 PERCENT BECAUSE OF DEPRESSED OIL PRICES AND LOWER PRODUCTION.

THE DUPONT CHEMICAL COMPANY SAYS IT WILL SELL ITS REMAINING 70 PERCENT OWNERSHIP OF THE CONOCO OIL COMPANY. DUPONT PLANS A STOCK-SWAP PLAN IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF CONOCO OWNERSHIP WILL PASS TO DUPONT SHAREHOLDERS.

THE NEW YORK "TIMES" HAS BANNED CIGARETTES ADVERTISING EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY. HOWEVER, THE NEWSPAPER SAYS IT WILL NOT SUFFER A LARGE FINANCIAL LOSS BECAUSE CIGARETTE ADVERTISING NOW ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE PAPER'S ANNUAL ONE BILLION DOLLARS OF ADVERTISING REVENUE.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
28-Apr-99 5:29 PM EDT (2129 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[24] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE TWIN TOPICS OF THE NATO AIR CAMPAIGN IN THE BALKANS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, PLUS THE HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE IN COLORADO, CONTINUE TO GRIP THE MAJORITY OF ATTENTION IN THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS.

OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST INCLUDE: THE FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA; THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN EAST TIMOR; YASSER ARAFAT'S BIG PENDING DECISION ON STATEHOOD; AND STIRRINGS OF A REBORN NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN CHINA. NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE BATTLE AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S POLICIES IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE DRAGS ON, AND SO DO THE EDITORIALS COMMENTING ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF IT. IN FLORIDA, "THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES" TALKS OF THE TWO CONFLICTS, MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC, AND SUGGESTS, "NATO SHOULD PURSUE PEACE IN THE BALKANS WITH AT LEAST AS MUCH VIGOR AS IT WAGES WAR. AFTER ALL, FORCE CAN BREAK SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, BUT BY THEN THERE MIGHT BE LITTLE TO SAVE." THE NEWSPAPER ADDS:

VOICE: NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN HAS DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO IMPEDE THE SERB'S RUTHLESS DEPOPULATION OF KOSOVO. IN FACT, NATO HAS FAILED TO ACHIEVE THE ORIGINAL GOALS LAID OUT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER ALLIANCE LEADERS: PREVENTING THE EXPULSION OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND PREVENTING THE DESTABILIZATION OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION.

TEXT: ONE OF THOSE GOVERNMENTS IS IN MONTENEGRO, THE DEMOCRATICALLY-LED JUNIOR PROVINCE IN THE YUGOSLAV FEDERATION, WHICH DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WAR, AND ABOUT WHICH TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" FROM BOSTON NOTES:

VOICE: THE MONTENEGRIN PUBLIC IS SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE WHOSE SYMPATHIES ARE WITH SERBIA AND [MR.] MILOSEVIC, AND THOSE WHO FAVOR THEIR PRESIDENT'S INDEPENDENT PATH. /// OPT /// ... [MR.] MILOSEVIC SEEMS INTENT ON POLITICALLY UNDERMINING, RATHER THAN FORCIBLY OVERTHROWING, MONTENEGRO'S GOVERNMENT. /// END OPT /// ... NATO ... SHOULD DO WHAT IT CAN /// OPT /// - - CONSTRAIN THE BOMBING, TREAT MONTENEGRO AS A 'FRONT-LINE' STATE WORTHY OF ITS PROTECTION, MAINTAIN DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS ... /// END OPT /// TO KEEP THIS COURAGEOUS LITTLE COUNTRY FROM TUMBLING INTO [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S CAMP.

TEXT: MEANWHILE, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SUGGESTS THE SOLUTION FOR THE CONFLICT IS "PARTITION."

VOICE: SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS SHRINKING YUGOSLAVIA GET THE NORTHERN REGION OF KOSOVO, INCLUDING ITS MANY CHERISHED SERBIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERIES, WHILE THE REST OF THE PROVINCE BECOMES A U-N-ADMINISTERED PROTECTORATE, TO BE REPOPULATED BY THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ... NOW REFUGEES ... THIS PROTECTORATE WOULD BE SAFEGUARDED BY AN INTERNATIONAL ARMED FORCE, INCLUDING NATO TROOPS. ...

TEXT: AND IN "USA TODAY," THERE IS FRUSTRATION AT THE CURRENT MOOD IN CONGRESS WHICH MAY VOTE THIS WEEK ON BILLS. THE PAPER FEELS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION WILL:

VOICE: ... MAKE A HASH OF THINGS [MAKE THINGS MUCH WORSE] AGAIN. BARRING AN UNFORESEEN COMPROMISE ON A MORE SENSIBLE APPROACH, THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) WILL VOTE ... ON BLUNDERBUSS (CLUMSY) PROPOSALS TO ORDER U-S FORCES WITHDRAWN FROM YUGOSLAVIA OR TO DECLARE WAR. /// OPT /// AND IN ... BOTH [HOUSES] ... MANY MEMBERS ARE TREATING EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO PAY FOR THE KOSOVO OPERATION AS A POLITICAL CHRISTMAS TREE [EDITORS: HERE PROBABLY "GIFT PARCEL"] FESTOONED WITH MILITARY PORK (EXCESS MONEY) AND UNRELATED SPECIAL-INTEREST BAUBLES.

TEXT: NEXT TO THE DOMESTIC CARNAGE AFTERMATH IN LITTLETON, COLORADO, THE DENVER SUBURB WHERE THE TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KILLED A DOZEN FELLOW STUDENTS AND A TEACHER AND THEN THEMSELVES LAST WEEK. /// OPT /// "THE DENVER POST" MAINTAINS A SOMBER OUTLOOK AS THE FUNERALS FOR THE VICTIMS CONTINUE:

VOICE: FUNERAL AFTER FUNERAL COMMENCED OVER RECENT DAYS, AS GRIEVING PARENTS WERE THRUST INTO THE DEEPEST DESPAIR KNOWN TO MANKIND. ... CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO BURY THEIR PARENTS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. ... PARENTS ... SEE THEIR CHILDREN AS THEIR LINK TO IMMORTALITY. THE DEATH OF THEIR CHILD SEVERS THAT LINK, THREATENING THE PARENTS WITH A SENSE OF NOT JUST DEATH, BUT OBLIVION. ...THESE PARENTS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. LIKE THE STUDENTS AND OTHERS AT COLUMBINE [HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLETON, COLORADO] ON APRIL 20TH, THEY HAVE SUFFERED INCOMPARABLE TRAUMA.

TEXT: AS FOR THE DEBATE, NOW INTENSIFYING, ON MORE GUN CONTROL LAWS IN THE MASSACRE'S WAKE, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS THIS "A GUN CONTROL MOMENT."

VOICE: /// OPT /// THE ... MASSACRE HAS GENERATED WHAT AMOUNTS TO A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT CAUSES AND CURES, RAISING ISSUES AS SIMPLE AS SCHOOL SECURITY, AS DELICATE AS PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY .... THE PUBLIC, WE SUSPECT, IS NOT DIVIDED AT ALL AT LEAST ON THE MATTER OF KEEPING GUNS AND EXPLOSIVES OUT OF THE HANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR ... VIEW IS THAT /// END OPT /// THE COLORADO TRAGEDY HAS PROVIDED THE RIGHT MOMENT TO TAKE THE ISSUE OF GUN CONTROL OFF AUTOMATIC PILOT ... AND MOVE IT FORWARD IN A DRAMATIC WAY. ... THE PUBLIC IS EAGER FOR CHANGE.

TEXT: IN OPPOSITION TO ANY CHANGES, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" NOTES:

VOICE: IF LAWMAKERS WANT TO PASS A LAW PROHIBITING YOUTHFUL FELONS FROM POSSESSING WEAPONS, THEY ARE WELCOME TO DO SO. BUT THEY SHOULD ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER ENFORCING THE LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS [EDITORS: ALREADY IN EFFECT]. ... THE IRONY IS THAT SUCH STATUTES APPARENTLY CAN WORK. IN RICHMOND [VIRGINIA], FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED WEAPONS OFFENDERS, [EDITORS: IT IS A FEDERAL CRIME TO TAKE A GUN TO SCHOOL] PUTTING THOSE CONVICTED IN PRISON FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. IT MAY BE MORE THAN COINCIDENTAL THAT VIOLENT CRIME IN RICHMOND IS DOWN SHARPLY. .... MR. CLINTON SHOULD TRY TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS BEFORE HE GIVES IN TO THE IMPULSE TO CREATE MORE.

TEXT: MOVING TO OTHER TOPICS, JACKSONVILLE'S "FLORIDA TIMES-UNION" NOTES THE WIDENING FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA:

VOICE: THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SAYS THE LAST REMAINING GRAIN RATIONS RAN OUT ABOUT APRIL 10TH - - AND LITTLE FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE VEGETABLE AND POTATO CROPS ARE HARVESTED IN JUNE. /// OPT /// DURING THE GAP ... WHICH HAS BECOME AN ANNUAL OCCURRENCE DURING NORTH KOREA'S FOUR-YEAR FAMINE, GOVERNMENT MILLS ARE CHURNING OUT A UNIQUE STAPLE - - EDIBLE ROOTS, GRASSES, SEAWEED AND CORN STALKS, OFTEN MIXED WITH CEREALS AND COOKED INTO NOODLES. W-F-P OFFICIALS SAY THE MIX IS A STOMACH FILLER WITH LITTLE NUTRITION ... AND CAUSES DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS /// END OPT /// ... WHILE IT AWAITS FOOD FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, THE PYONGYANG REGIME CONTINUES TO BANKROLL ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MILITARY FORCES AND ENGAGES IN OTHER EXCESSES - - /// OPT /// SUCH AS LAUNCHING A MISSILE DESIGNED TO BROADCAST SONGS PRAISING LEADER KIM JONG IL IN OUTER SPACE. /// END OPT /// DISGUST OVER THOSE PRIORITIES, PRESUMABLY, HAS ... A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON INTERNATIONAL CHARITY - AND THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HUNGER.

TEXT: "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE, IS HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT A PENDING PLEBISCITE IN EAST TIMOR MAY BRING PEACE TO THAT TROUBLED ISLAND.

VOICE: /// OPT /// UNDER THE AGREEMENT ... EAST TIMOR'S PEOPLE WILL DECIDE BY REFERENDUM IF THEY WANT AUTONOMY WITHIN INDONESIA. IF NOT, THEY WILL GET INDEPENDENCE. /// END OPT /// ... ALL IS NOT SMOOTH, HOWEVER. SINCE [INDONESIAN PRESIDENT B-J] ... HABIBIE SOUGHT A SETTLEMENT, PRO-JAKARTA MILITIA MEMBERS ON EAST TIMOR HAVE ATTACKED OPPONENTS. INDONESIAN ARMY COMPLICITY IS KNOWN. MR. HABIBIE MUST MAKE THE CEASE-FIRE GENUINE AND THE REFERENDUM HONEST, OR INDONESIA WILL NOT BE FREE OF EAST TIMOR.

TEXT: PALESTINIAN LEADERS ARE DEBATING WHETHER TO DECLARE A PALESTINIAN STATE, AMID SIGNS THAT A DECISION WILL NOT BE TAKEN UNTIL AFTER THE MAY 17TH ISRAELI ELECTIONS. AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE PALESTINIAN CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING IN GAZA TUESDAY, PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT INDICATED HE WILL NOT DECLARE STATEHOOD ON MAY FOURTH. MR. ARAFAT HAD BEEN SAYING THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECLARE AN INDEPENDENT STATE ON MAY FOURTH, WHEN THE INTERIM PERIOD FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL UNDER THE 1994 OSLO ACCORDS EXPIRES. THERE IS THIS RESPONSE FROM "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: IT IS INCONSEQUENTIAL WHETHER PALESTINIAN STRONGMAN YASSER ARAFAT 'BACKED DOWN,' YIELDED TO U-S AND EUROPEAN PRESSURE OR SIMPLY RECOGNIZED THE FOLLY OF UNILATERALLY DECLARING ON MAY 4 [TH] AN INDEPENDENT STATE IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, A MOVE SURE TO HAVE INFURIATED ISRAELIS AND GIVEN EMBATTLED PRESIDENT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU A PRICELESS REELECTION WEAPON. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT MR. ARAFAT HAD THE WISDOM TO POSTPONED FOR NOW THE THREAT ..... THEREBY CALMING TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE FINAL TWO WEEKS BEFORE ISRAELIS GO TO THE POLLS ... /// OPT /// FOR THE COMMON GOOD, MR. NETANYAHU SHOULD ACCEPT MR. ARAFAT'S GESTURE GRACIOUSLY AND QUELL INFLAMMATORY CAMPAIGN RHETORIC.

TEXT: THERE MAY BE A SUBTLE CHANGE IN CHINA'S POLICY TOWARD DISSENT. BEIJING ALLOWED A LARGE RELIGIOUS PROTEST IN THE CITY TO CONTINUE FOR A WHOLE DAY, WHICH LEADS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" TO EXCLAIM:

VOICE: THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED CAUTIOUSLY BECAUSE THE GROUP REPRESENTS A POPULAR SOCIAL MOVEMENT. CHINA'S LEADERS ARE HOPING TO CONTROL A PHENOMENON WHOSE ANCIENT ANTECEDENTS BROUGHT DOWN SEVERAL CHINESE DYNASTIES, AND WHICH PRESENTS A CHALLENGE OF UNCERTAIN DIMENSIONS TO COMMUNIST PARTY RULE. THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THAT BUDDHIST LAW, THE NONVIOLENT SECT THAT STAGED THE PROTEST, HAS 70 MILLION ADHERENTS IN CHINA. ... THE LEADERSHIP ... WANTS TO AVOID RESPONDING HARSHLY, WHICH COULD ALIENATE MILLIONS, AND IS TRYING TO BEFRIEND THE SECT'S LEADERS AND USE ITS SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE PARTY'S LEGITIMACY. ... WHETHER IT [THE SECT'S GROWTH] WILL BE CONSTRUCTIVE FOR CHINA REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

TEXT: LASTLY, AS REGARDS GUATEMALA, "THE DENVER POST" MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY LAST FRIDAY OF THE MURDER OF GUATEMALA'S ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP JUAN GERARDI'S, AFTER RELEASING A 14-HUNDRED PAGE REPORT ON ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE GUERRILLAS AND THE ARMY DURING THE NATION'S THREE-DECADES LONG CIVIL WAR.

VOICE: THIS SATURDAY MARKS THE START OF A FOUR-DAY VIGIL, AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CONVERGE ON WASHINGTON, D-C, TO INSIST 'NUNCAS MAS' ('NEVER AGAIN') FOR OPERATIONS OF THE NOTORIOUS SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS (S-O-A) [A SPECIAL ARMY TRAINING CENTER AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, WHICH INSTRUCTS MILITARY OFFICERS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS IN COUNTER-INSURGENCY TACTICS AND OTHER SKILLS] ... IT IS OUR SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS ... THAT HAS TRAINED MANY OF THE INSURGENTS WHO RAPE, TORTURE AND KILL INNOCENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS. ... WE URGE COLORADO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT [THE BILL] ... TO SHUT DOWN THE S-O-A IMMEDIATELY.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/ANG/GE
28-Apr-99 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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