Voice of America, 99-05-11

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

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

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

[03] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[04] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

[05] COHEN-CHINA-CONGRESS (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[06] KOSOVO / DIPLOMACY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[07] TRAVEL WARNING / TOURISM (L-ONLY) BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)

[08] CHINA/KOSOVO BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

[09] CHINA / IMPACT ON LEADERS BY STEPHANIE MANN (WASHINGTON)

[10] CHINA / IMPACT OF DEMONSTRATIONS (CQ) BY STEPHANIE MANN (WASHINGTON)

[11] CHINA / PROTEST (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

[12] CHICAGO / CHINA (L-ONLY) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

[13] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (S-2ND UPDATE) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[14] WEU-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BREMEN, GERMANY)

[15] ALBANIA'S FUTURE BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

[16] HUNGARY AND KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[17] MACEDONIA'S ETHNIC TENSIONS (CORRECTED) BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

[18] YUGO WORLD COURT (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[19] RAKOVICA MONESTARY (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

[20] SERB HUMOR (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

[21] TURKISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS BY YONCA POYRAZ-DOGAN (WASHINGTON)

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

[23] THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING AFTERMATH BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

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

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

INTRO: NATO SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY YUGOSLAV TROOPS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO -- DESPITE A YUGOSLAV STATEMENT THAT A PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL HAD STARTED LATE SUNDAY. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AT THIS POINT OF ANY WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES. AND HE SAYS THAT A PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES -- IF ACHIEVED -- WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT FOR NATO.

HE SAYS THAT NATO AIR OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SAME INTENSITY UNTIL SERB FORCES LEAVE KOSOVO.

AS IF TO EMPHASIZE THE MESSAGE, NATO REPORTED ITS PLANES FLEW 623 SORTIES ON MONDAY -- BACK TO THE LEVEL OF ONE WEEK AGO.

INSIDE KOSOVO, NATO AIRCRAFT STRUCK TANKS, ARMORED VEHICLES, OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT HIDDEN IN TREES, TROOPS, ARTILLERY, MORTAR POSITIONS, AND SEVERAL ASSEMBLY AREAS. TARGETS IN THE REST OF YUGOSLAVIA INCLUDED AIRFIELDS, MILITARY BARRACKS, RADAR RELAY SITES, BRIDGES, MUNITIONS STORAGE SITES, AN EXPLOSIVES FACTORY, AND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES.

THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANY TARGETS WERE HIT IN THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL, BELGRADE. NATO SEEMS TO HAVE AVOIDED ATTACKS ON BELGRADE SINCE THE BUNGLED BOMB ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY, ALTHOUGH ALLIANCE SPOKESMEN REPEATEDLY HAVE SAID TARGETS IN BELGRADE REMAIN ON NATO'S HIT LIST.

MR. SHEA WAS ASKED ABOUT CHINA'S WARNING THAT IT WILL BLOCK A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO UNTIL NATO ENDS ITS AIR STRIKES.

HE SAYS THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND NATO HOPES CHINESE ANGER WILL SUBSIDE.

HE NOTES THAT CHINA ITSELF SAYS A DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SOLUTION IS NEEDED IN KOSOVO, AND MR. SHEA SAYS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS IS THROUGH A UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH
11-May-99 6:54 AM EDT (1054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: NATO SAYS IT HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS BEGUN HIS PROMISED WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. AND IT WARNS THAT THE AIR STRIKES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL BELGRADE MEETS ALL OF NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WAS REPORTED MONDAY TO HAVE AGREED TO A PARTIAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL, CLAIMING THAT HIS MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS WERE CONCLUDED.

BUT NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES, AND THAT THE YUGOSLAV FORCES ARE TRYING HARDER THAN EVER IN THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

HE INSISTS THAT A PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES -- IF ACHIEVED -- WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT FOR NATO, AND AIR OPERATIONS WILL KEEP UP WITH THE SAME INTENSITY UNTIL THE SERB FORCES LEAVE KOSOVO.

MR SHEA SAYS THAT NATO'S DEMAND FOR A TROOP WITHDRAWAL IS JUST ONE OF FIVE NATO CONDITIONS WHICH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MUST MEET.

LET ME MAKE A FUNDAMENTAL POINT: IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO GUESS WHAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS DOING. IT IS UP TO MILOSEVIC TO DEMONSTRATE THROUGH DEEDS AND NOT JUST WORDS THAT HE IS WILLING TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. WE'LL KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE IT. YOU CAN ALWAYS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE GENUINE ARTICLE FROM THE FAKE.

WITH NO LETUP IN ITS AIR CAMPAIGN, NATO REPORTED THAT ITS PLANES FLEW 623 SORTIES IN MONDAY'S OPERATIONS -- THAT'S BACK TO THE LEVELS OF ONE WEEK AGO.

INSIDE KOSOVO, NATO AIRCRAFT STRUCK TANKS, ARMORED VEHICLES, OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT HIDDEN IN TREES, TROOPS, ARTILLERY, MORTAR POSITIONS AND SEVERAL ASSEMBLY AREAS. //OPT// STRATEGIC TARGETS IN THE REST OF YUGOSLAVIA INCLUDED AIRFIELDS, MILITARY BARRACKS, RADAR RELAY SITES, BRIDGES, MUNITIONS STORAGE SITES, AN EXPLOSIVES PLANT AND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES. //END OPT//

CHINA HAS WARNED THAT IT WILL BLOCK A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO UNTIL NATO ENDS ITS AIR STRIKES. MR. SHEA HAS RESPONDED TO THIS, SAYING THAT THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND NATO HOPES CHINESE ANGER WILL SUBSIDE. HE SAYS THAT BOTH THE BOMBING, AND DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ARE NEEDED TO BRING THE CONFLICT TO AN END.

I BELIEVE THAT IF WE GIVE UP PREMATURELY THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, HOWEVER BRILLIANT, IS UNLIKELY TO REALLY GO DOWN VERY WELL IN BELGRADE. BECAUSE THE PRESSURE ON MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT THAT WOULD BE GONE. SO NO, I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK IN TWO TRACKS. IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF HAVE ONE, THEN GIVE IT UP AND TRY THE OTHER. GIVE THAT UP, GO BACK. NO, DIPLOMACY AND THE AIR OPERATIONS HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED IN PARALLEL, AND MUTUALLY REINFORCING EACH OTHER.

NATO HOPES THAT GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER, WHO IS VISITING BEIJING, WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP TO COOPERATE WITH THE DRAFTING OF A UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/PCF
11-May-99 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] U-N-H-C-R / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS IT MAY HAVE TO HALT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR 750-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO BECAUSE IT HAS RUN OUT OF MONEY. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT HAS SPENT ALL THE MONEY IT HAD AVAILABLE FOR THE KOSOVO EMERGENCY OPERATION.

THE AGENCY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO APPEALED FOR 143-MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR ITS KOSOVO PROGRAM THROUGH JUNE. BUT, IT SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED LESS THAN ONE-HALF THAT AMOUNT. AND, ALL OF THAT MONEY IS NOW GONE.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN JUDITH KUMIN SAYS IF NO NEW MONEY IS PROVIDED, THE AGENCY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY THE SUPPLIES WHICH THE REFUGEES NEED TO SURVIVE FROM DAY TO DAY.

AS YOU KNOW, U-N-H-C-R IS PROCURING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOOD WHICH IS HANDLED BY OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM -- TENTS, BLANKETS, MATTRESSES, COOKING SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT FOR SANITATION, FOR THE DELIVERY OF WATER, AND ON AND ON. AND IT MEANS ALSO THAT WE WON'T HAVE FUNDS TO FINANCE THE MULTITUDE OF N-G-O'S (PRIVATE GROUPS) WHOSE OPERATIONS WE ARE SUPPORTING.

MS. KUMIN SAYS N-G-O'S -- OR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS -- CARRY OUT THE U-N-H-C-R'S PROGRAMS. SHE SAYS THE REFUGEE AGENCY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THEIR SERVICES IF IT DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THEM.

ON ANOTHER MATTER, MS. KUMIN SAYS THAT IN AN EFFORT TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON OVERCROWDED CAMPS IN MACEDONIA, THE REFUGEE AGENCY ON MONDAY BUSED 139 REFUGEES TO A CAMP IN ALBANIA. SHE SAYS THE REFUGEES VOLUNTEERED TO GO.

THE U-N-H-C-R HOPES TO PERSUADE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES TO GO TO ALBANIA. MS. KUMIN SAYS THE AGENCY IS ORGANIZING VISITS TO ALBANIA BY REFUGEE LEADERS FROM THE MACEDONIAN CAMPS -- HOPING THE LEADERS WILL HELP PERSUADE OTHER REFUGEES TO GO TO ALBANIA.

WE HAVE TO TRY EVERYTHING WE CAN, OF COURSE, IN ORDER TO DECONGEST THE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA. AND, TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE MAY BE REFUGEES WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE TO ALBANIA IF THEY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS THERE, WE THINK IT'S WORTH A TRY.

MS. KUMIN SAYS ONE OF THE REASONS REFUGEES ARE RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA IS THAT THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW REFUGEES WHO ARRIVE THERE TO GO LATER TO A THIRD COUNTRY, IF THEY WISH. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
11-May-99 9:08 AM EDT (1308 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS REJECTED CHINA'S DEMAND FOR A HALT IN NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS A PEACE PLAN TO END THE YUGOSLAV WAR. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART VOWED NATO WOULD CONTINUE PROSECUTING ITS AIR CAMPAIGN UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MEETS ALL THE DEMANDS OUTLINED BY THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

THAT ALONE, MR. LOCKHART TOLD REPORTERS TUESDAY, WOULD BE THE CAUSE OF ANY SUSPENSION IN THE BOMBING.

AMONG ITS DEMANDS, NATO HAS CALLED FOR A HALT IN THE FIGHTING, THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV TROOPS FROM KOSOVO, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE TO ENSURE THE SAFE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

A DAY AFTER BELGRADE ANNOUNCED A PARTIAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO, MR. LOCKHART SAYS U-S OFFICIALS STILL HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF SUCH A PULLOUT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS -- IN HIS WORDS -- 'YOU CAN PUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TROOP WITHDRAWAL INTO THE CATEGORY OF ANOTHER LONG LIST OF PROMISES MR. MILOSEVIC HAS MADE AND NOT KEPT.' (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/LTD/KL
11-May-99 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] COHEN-CHINA-CONGRESS (L) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IT IS TIME TO COOL THE ANGRY RHETORIC THAT THREATENS TO WRECK THE VITAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING. AT A SENATE HEARING (TUESDAY), MR. COHEN SAID U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE THAT LEAD TO THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA (FRIDAY). BUT HE SAID CHINA WOULD ALSO BE MAKING A MISTAKE IN LETTING ANGER OBSCURE BEIJING'S LONG TERM INTERESTS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD A SENATE (APPROPRIATIONS SUB) COMMITTEE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS HAD BEEN DISHONEST IN SAYING FRIDAY'S ATTACK ON CHINA'S EMBASSY WAS INTENTIONAL.

WHILE APOLOGIES FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS HAVE FINALLY BEEN REPORTED BY CHINESE MEDIA, MR. COHEN IMPLIED THAT INITIAL MISINFORMATION FUELED VIOLENT PUBLIC PROTESTS AT THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING AND ELSEWHERE.

I THINK THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION AND CALCULATED EXPLOITATION. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

SOME LAWMAKERS ON THE COMMITTEE WERE ANGERED THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS REFUSED ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLED TO DISCUSS THE MISTAKEN U-S ATTACK.

SENATOR DANIEL INOUYE SAYS WASHINGTON HAS GRIEVANCES WITH CHINA AS WELL -- INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND THE APPARENT THEFT OF NUCLEAR SECRETS FROM TOP SECRET U-S FACILITIES.

I CAN'T HELP BUT RECALL THAT WHEN THE NEWS OF THE CHINESE STEALING OF OUR NUCLEAR SECRETS BECAME PUBLIC, WE DID NOT REACT BY CONDEMNING THE CHINESE. WE DID NOT URGE OUR CITIZENS TO THROW ROCKS AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY HERE.

BUT SECRETARY COHEN SAYS MORE HARSH WORDS OR HASTY ACTIONS WILL SERVE NEITHER NATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO COOL DOWN THE PASSIONS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN INFLAMED. I THINK THAT, AT THIS POINT THE CHINESE HAVE INDICATED THEIR SENSE OF OUTRAGE AT THE BOMBING OF THEIR EMBASSY.

AFTER THE EMBASSY ATTACK, CHINA DECLARED IT WOULD NOT CONSENT TO A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO UNTIL NATO STOPS BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA. CHINA IS A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, SO IT COULD VETO ANY COUNCIL ACTION.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL YUGOSLAV FORCES LEAVE KOSOVO AND A WELL ARMED FORCE -- THAT INCLUDES NATO TROOPS MAKES SURE ETHNIC ALBANIANS CAN RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO.

SECRETARY COHEN HAS SAID NATO MIGHT SUSPEND THE BOMBING IF BELGRADE AGREES TO ALL NATO CONDITIONS, AND SHOWS HARD EVIDENCE THAT ITS TROOPS ARE LEAVING THE CONTESTED YUGOSLAV PROVINCE. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/JO
11-May-99 3:38 PM EDT (1938 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO / DIPLOMACY (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT DOES NOT EXPECT CHINA TO USE ITS U-N SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE TO BLOCK A KOSOVO PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT CHINA'S ANGER OVER THE BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE HAS SOME U-S OFFICIALS CONCERNED THAT BEIJING MAY UNDERMINE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS NOW UNDERWAY WITH RUSSIA. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NATO ALLIES ARE HOPING THAT WITH RUSSIAN HELP THEY CAN WORK OUT A KOSOVO PEACE AGREEMENT THAT WILL BE ENDORSED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.

U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS IN MOSCOW DISCUSSING DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED PLAN, WHICH WAS APPROVED IN BROAD OUTLINE FORM LAST WEEK IN GERMANY.

BUT CHINESE OFFICIALS, ANGERED BY THE BOMBING OF THEIR EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, ARE SIGNALING THEY MAY BLOCK THE DEAL IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, WHERE CHINA HAS A VETO.

CHINA'S U-N AMBASSADOR SAYS A HALT TO NATO AIR STRIKES IS AN ESSENTIAL PRECONDITION BEFORE ANY AGREEMENT CAN EVEN BE DISCUSSED IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

NATO HAS RULED OUT ANY HALT TO THE AIR STRIKES UNTIL ITS CONDITIONS ARE MET. BUT, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT BELIEVE CHINA WILL EXERCISE ITS VETO.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY CHINA WILL STAND IN THE WAY OF AN AGREEMENT THAT COULD BE STRUCK BY RUSSIA.

SOME UNIDENTIFIED U-S OFFICIALS TELL THE NEW YORK TIMES THEY ARE NOT SO SURE IF CHINESE ANGER WILL GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON. THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT ANGER OVER THE EMBASSY BOMBING COULD DRAG OUT A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO, AND INFLICT LONG-TERM DAMAGE ON U-S - CHINA RELATIONS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAYS CHINESE LEADERS HAVE REFUSED EVEN TO ACCEPT TELEPHONE CALLS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON OR SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT.

WE ARE CLEARLY INDICATING OUR WILLINGNESS TO TALK TO THEM ON THE PHONE. LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT. THEY HAVE CHOSEN, OBVIOUSLY, THAT THEY ARE NOT READY TO SPEAK TO THE SECRETARY [OF STATE] OR [THAT] PRESIDENT JIANG [IS] NOT READY TO SPEAK TO PRESIDENT CLINTON. THAT IS THEIR DECISION.

PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE EMBASSY BOMBING, SAYING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY FAULTY INTELLIGENCE. MS. ALBRIGHT'S SPOKESMAN SAYS SHE IS READY TO TALK TO CHINESE LEADERS WHEN THEY ARE.

DURING HIS VISIT TO MOSCOW, U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH RUSSIA'S SPECIAL KOSOVO ENVOY, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN.

MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAS JUST WRAPPED UP TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS IN BEIJING. BECAUSE RUSSIA HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN PLAYING A DIPLOMATIC ROLE IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ASSUME MR. CHERNOMYRDIN USED HIS VISIT TO ENCOURAGE CHINESE SUPPORT FOR A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WTW
11-May-99 6:05 PM EDT (2205 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] TRAVEL WARNING / TOURISM (L-ONLY) BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)

INTRO: AMERICAN AND BRITISH CITIZENS HAVE BEEN WARNED NOT TO TRAVEL TO CHINA AMID CONTINUING PROTESTS SPARKED BY LAST WEEK'S NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA. VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS THE LOCAL TOURIST INDUSTRY IS CONCERNED ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENT IN CHINA WILL HURT TOURISM ACROSS THE REGION.

TEXT: THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION SAYS IT IS WORRIED WARNINGS AGAINST TRAVEL TO MAINLAND CHINA WILL DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM VACATIONING IN HONG KONG OR TRAVELING THROUGH THE TERRITORY TO OTHER DESTINATIONS IN ASIA. OFFICIALS SAY THE TRAVEL WARNINGS ARE OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN AT A TIME WHEN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY HERE IS TRYING TO REBOUND FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.

THE TRAVEL WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN FOLLOWED VIOLENT ANTI-AMERICAN AND WESTERN PROTESTS THROUGHOUT CHINA. THEY STEMMED FROM NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LAST FRIDAY. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT STRONGLY URGED AMERICANS TO DEFER TRIPS TO CHINA UNTIL THE SITUATION STABILIZES. SOME TOUR OPERATORS IN GERMANY, FRANCE AND JAPAN HAVE ISSUED SIMILAR WARNINGS TO THEIR CLIENTS.

BUT TUESDAY, THE STATE-RUN CHINA DAILY NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT IT WAS SAFE FOR FOREIGNERS TO TRAVEL IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT THEY WILL BE EFFECTIVELY PROTECTED. THE REPORT ALSO CRITICIZED THE UNITED STATES FOR WARNING ITS CITIZENS TO STAY AWAY.

PETER RANDALL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, SAYS DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE TRAVEL WARNINGS HAVE AFFECTED TOURISM.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO CANCEL THEIR TRIPS -- CERTAINLY NOT TO HONG KONG AND EVEN TO THE MAINLAND AND ARE TAKING A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. SO I THINK A LOT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. INEVITABLY PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THEIR GOVERNMENTS AND WILL PERHAPS DEFER OR POSTPONE VISITS. BUT WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WILL NOT BE FOR ANY LONG PERIOD.

MR. RANDALL SAYS IN MOST CASES OVERSEAS TRAVEL AGENCIES HAVE TOLD THEIR CLIENTS THAT IT IS STILL SAFE TO TRAVEL TO HONG KONG.

WHETHER THE DESTINATION IS HONG KONG OR MAINLAND CHINA, TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENCIES HERE HOPE THE LATEST WARNINGS WILL NOT SCARE TOURISTS AWAY FOR LONG, ESPECIALLY AS THE HEIGHT OF THE TRAVEL SEASON IN ASIA APPROACHES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/FC/PLM
11-May-99 5:47 AM EDT (0947 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] CHINA/KOSOVO BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA SUDDENLY PUT CHINA IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONFLICT HALF A WORLD AWAY. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THAT UP UNTIL NOW, BEIJING HAS NOT REALLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DEALING WITH ISSUES IN THE BALKANS OR ANYWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE OF ASIA.

TEXT: NATO AND U-S LEADERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS A MISTAKE. BUT ALONG WITH THEIR APOLOGIES TO CHINA, THEY ALSO SAID THAT NATO BOMBING IN YUGOSLAVIA WILL CONTINUE.

TO THE CHINESE, MIXING THESE TWO MESSAGES RANKLES. FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, INDICATED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE DO NOT ACCEPT THE EXPLANATION THAT THE NATO BOMBING WAS UNINTENDED.

THREE MISSILES HIT THE CHINESE EMBASSY FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES BY NATO. IF TO DESCRIBE IT IN THE DISMISSIVE WAY AS A MISTAKE, AND THIS CANNOT AT ALL BE CONVINCING.

CHINA SAYS IT WANTS ANOTHER, FULLER APOLOGY AND AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BOMBING OF THE EMBASSY SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE CAN BE PUNISHED. CHINESE OFFICIALS ALSO HAVE SAID BEIJING RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION.

DAVID SHAMBAUGH, THE DIRECTOR OF CHINA POLICY STUDIES AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, SAYS BEIJING WAS NOT REALLY AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S POLICIES TOWARD KOSOVO BEFORE NATO MISSILES STRUCK THE CHINESE EMBASSY. ALTHOUGH CHINA HAD CRITICIZED THE NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, PROFESSOR SHAMBAUGH SAYS BEIJING NEVER TOOK ANY CONCRETE STEPS TO SHOW ITS DISPLEASURE.

THAT WOULD SHOW A GREATER ACTIVISM IN CHINESE DIPLOMACY, BUT IT WOULD ALSO CONSTITUTE AN INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ANOTHER COUNTY. WHICH MIGHT HURT THE FEELINGS OF THAT COUNTRY, I DON'T KNOW. REALLY, ALL THEY CAN DO REALLY IS SPOUT OFF.

THAT WAS THE OLD DAYS, THOUGH. CHINA IS NOW FLEXING ITS MAIN TRUMP CARD -- WHICH IS ITS VETO POWER AS A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

CHINESE LEADERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT THE NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA MUST FIRST STOP BEFORE BEIJING WILL SUPPORT ANY U-N PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. MEANTIME, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S ANGER OVER THE BOMBING HAS BEEN GIVEN ADDED EMPHASIS BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHINESE PROTESTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/LTD/KL
11-May-99 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] CHINA / IMPACT ON LEADERS BY STEPHANIE MANN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA IS LIKELY TO HAVE AN IMPACT THAT GOES BEYOND THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND U-S / CHINA RELATIONS. AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE MANN REPORTS, AMERICAN CHINA-WATCHERS SAY THE INCIDENT MAY HAVE REPERCUSSIONS ON DOMESTIC CHINESE POLICIES.

TEXT: IN RECENT YEARS, CHINA HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A POLICY OF ECONOMIC REFORM AND OPENING TO THE WEST. PEOPLE TO PEOPLE EXCHANGES -- AMONG SCHOLARS, OFFICIALS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND TOURISTS -- HAVE EXPANDED. CHINA HAS WELCOMED EXTENSIVE FOREIGN CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN COMPANIES OPERATING JOINT VENTURES. AND BEIJING HAS BEGUN WIDE-RANGING REPORMS OF ITS STATE-RUN SECTOR TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.

CHINA SCHOLARS IN THE UNITED STATES SAY BEIJING'S REACTION TO THE EMBASSY BOMBING COULD SET BACK THOSE REFORMS AND THAT POLICY OF OPENNESS.

INDEPENDENT WRITER AND CHINA SPECIALIST ANNE THURSTON SAYS THAT EVEN BEFORE THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY THE NATO CAMPAIGN IN THE BALKANS PUT REFORM-MINDED CHINESE IN AN AWKWARD POSITION.

WHEN I WAS IN CHINA JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AS THE BOMBING WAS GOING ON, AND SPEAKING WITH MY FRIENDS WHO ARE REFORMERS AT MIDDLE LEVELS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND REALLY COMMITED TO LONG TERM PEACEFUL DEMOCRATIC REFORM, THEY WERE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SAY THAT THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA MAKES THEIR POSITION VERY VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE TO BE PUSHING FOR POLITICAL REFORM IS TO BE SEEN AS BEING PRO-AMERICAN. AND PRO-AMERICA IS JUST SIMPLY NOT THE WATCHWORD TODAY IN CHINA. AND SO, A NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PULL BACK FROM THEIR EFFORTS AND REMAIN QUIET FOR A WHILE, NOT TO MENTION VERY EMBARRASSED, BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING A HARD TIME DEFENDING WHAT THE UNITED STATES WAS DOING.

MS. THURSTON SAYS LAST WEEK'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE CAN ONLY MAKE THE REFORMERS' POSITION MORE DIFFICULT.

IN PARTICULAR, SHE POINTS TO PREMIER ZHU RONGJI, WHO HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO ECONOMIC REFORMS AND OBTAINING CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. MR. ZHU RETURNED HOME AFTER HIS RECENT U-S TRIP WITHOUT A W-T-O DEAL. MS. THURSTON SAYS THE NATO ACTIONS ARE LIKELY TO FURTHER DISCREDIT MR. ZHU AND HIS SUPPORTERS IN BEIJING.

IT ... CERTAINLY MAKES PEOPLE LIKE ZHU RONGJI'S POSITION MORE DIFFICULT. HE CAME BACK FROM THE UNITED STATES ALREADY IN A DIFFICULT POSITION, BECAUSE HE HAD FAILED TO GET AGREEMENT ON ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. BUT I THINK THE POSITION OF ANY CHINESE OFFICIAL NOW OR HIGH RANKING CHINESE OFFICIAL RIGHT NOW WHO HAS BEEN PUSHING, IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION, FOR CLOSER TIES AND FOR MORE CONCESSIONS ON THE PART OF CHINA IS GOING TO FACE DIFFICULTIES.

MS. THURSTON SAYS THE RISE IN INFLUENCE OF CONSERVATIVE, OR HARDLINE, ELEMENTS WAS NOTICEABLE IN THE WAY THE CHINESE NEWS MEDIA WERE LIMITING THE REPORTING OF THE BOMBING INCIDENT. FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS, THE OFFICIAL CHINESE MEDIA MOSTLY DID NOT REPORT U-S AND NATO APOLOGIES OR STATEMENTS THE ATTACK WAS A MISTAKE, BUT INSTEAD CARRIED OFFICIAL SPECULATION IT MAY HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE.

ANOTHER CHINA SPECIALIST, THOMAS ROBINSON, DOES NOT BELIEVE THE INCIDENT IS PROMPTING FURTHER FACTIONALISM IN CHINA'S LEADERSHIP. INSTEAD, HE SAYS IT WILL PROBABLY LESSEN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SO-CALLED HARDLINERS AND REFORMERS. MR. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN ASIAN RESEARCH ENTERPRISES, A SMALL PRIVATE INSTITUTE OUTSIDE WASHINGTON (IN VIRGINIA,) SAYS PREMIER ZHU RONGJI IS LIKELY TO JOIN WITH OTHER LEADERS IN WHAT MR. ROBINSON CALLS A MOMENT OF NATIONAL AGREEMENT.

HE SURELY WAS IN A SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE (W-T-O) NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S IN A MORE DIFFCULT POSITION NOW. ... HE, I THINK, WOULD JOIN IN THE UNITED LEADERSHIP AGAINST WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE THE AMERICAN ACTION, THE DELIBERATE NATURE OF THE AMERICAN ACTION. IN THAT SENSE, I THINK IT MAY WELL SAVE HIM FROM FURTHER DIRECT CRITICISM.

ANNE THURSTON SAYS ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME REDUCTION OF DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP, THERE ARE BOUND TO BE SOME OFFICIALS WHO STILL BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING U-S / CHINA RELATIONS. SHE SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK QUIETLY TO PUT THE RELATIONS BACK ON TRACK.

NEVERTHELESS, MS. THURSTON SAYS, PREMIER ZHU'S POSITION AS CHINA'S CHAMPION OF ECONOMIC REFORMS HAS BEEN ERODED. SHE POINTS OUT THE REFORMS -- WHICH INCLUDE BUREAUCRATIC STREAMLINING, ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING AND MANY LAYOFFS -- ARE NOT POPULAR WITH MANY OFFICIALS AND ORDINARY WORKERS. AND SHE EXPECTS THEIR IMPLEMENTATION TO BE DELAYED, GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION.

THOMAS ROBINSON AGREES THERE WILL LIKELY BE SOME SLOWDOWN IN THE PACE OF THE REFORMS, BUT HE SAYS CHINA'S LEADERS KNOW THEY CANNOT ABANDON THE REFORM PLAN.

I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE REFORMS, THE ECONOMIC REFORMS IN CHINA, MUST BE CONTINUED. NOW THEY HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN AND A SLOWDOWN IN DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT. AND MUCH OF THAT DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMES EITHER FROM THE UNITED STATES OR IS MUCH INFLUENCED BY THE UNITED STATES. AND THEREFORE, THE REGIME AT LEAST RATIONALLY CANNOT DEVIATE FROM THE CURRENT ECONOMIC PATH.

MS. THURSTON SAYS THE ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE INEVITABLE -- THE NATO BOMBINGS WILL NOT CHANGE THAT. THE ONLY QUESTIONS, SHE SAYS, ARE WHEN THE REFORMS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE AND WITH HOW MUCH DISLOCATION AND SOCIAL UPHEAVAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/SMN/KL
11-May-99 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] CHINA / IMPACT OF DEMONSTRATIONS (CQ) BY STEPHANIE MANN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: STREET DEMONSTRATIONS IN BEIJING AND OTHER CHINESE CITIES DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS MAY HAVE BEEN CALLED TO PROTEST THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. HOWEVER, SOME OBSERVERS SAY THE UNREST HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO SOMETHING ELSE. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE MANN REPORTS.

TEXT: IN LESS THAN A MONTH, CHINA WILL MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMY CRACKDOWN AGAINST THE TIANANMEN SQUARE PROTEST MOVEMENT. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO TRY TO PREVENT ANY PUBLIC COMMEMORATION OF THE EVENTS OF JUNE 4TH, 1989, WHEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DIED AS SOLDIERS CLEARED BEIJING OF PROTESTERS WHO HAD OCCUPIED TIANANMEN SQUARE FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS. DISSIDENTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN RECENT WEEKS, AND TOLD TO SIGN GUARANTEES THEY WILL NOT ENGAGE IN COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES.

CHINA SPECIALIST THOMAS ROBINSON SAYS THIS WEEK'S ANTI-U-S DEMONSTRATIONS WERE AN ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE TIANANMEN ANNIVERSARY AND CHINA'S DOMESTIC ECONOMIC TROUBLES. MR. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN ASIAN RESEARCH ENTERPRISES, A SMALL PRIVATE INSTITUTE OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, SAYS AUTHORITIES PURPOSELY WANTED TO AROUSE CHINESE NATIONALISM.

YOU CAN SEE THE COMMUNIST PARTY TAKING A DECISION ABOUT THIS, THEN INFORMING ALL THE PARTY CELLS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CONVENE MEETINGS, TO WHIP UP ANTI-FOREIGN XENOPHOBIC NATIONALISM DIRECTED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND SO FORTH. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS KIND OF NATIONALISM, BEING XENOPHOBIC, THE QUESTION IS: DOES IT ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY? OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF IT.

MR. ROBINSON SAYS HE'S NOT SURE THE DEMONSTRATIONS REALLY WILL BOOST SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

ANOTHER CHINA SCHOLAR, ANNE THURSTON, SAYS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FACES TWO BIG RISKS IN ALLOWING OR ORCHESTRATING THE ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS.

ONE DANGER WOULD BE IF THESE THINGS BECAME TOO SPONTANEOUS, AND IF PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS CONTROLLABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED. AND THERE'S ALWAYS A SEETHING UNDERTONE OF ANGER IN CHINA, AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THROW SOME ROCKS, I'M SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN BEIJING AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHO WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO THROW SOME ROCKS, REGARDLESS OF AT WHOM.

THE PROTESTS, WHICH WERE VIOLENT OVER THE WEEKEND AND MONDAY, CALMED DOWN TUESDAY, WITH NO REPORTS OF ROCK THROWING.

MS. THURSTON, WHO HAS LIVED AND STUDIED IN CHINA PERIODICALLY SINCE 1978, SAYS A SECOND RISK IS THAT THE DEMONSTRATIONS COULD TURN INTO A FORUM FOR GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST THAT DEMONSTRATIONS THAT BEGAN, FOR INSTANCE, AS ANTI-JAPANESE DEMONSTRATIONS, AFTER A FEW DAYS BEGAN TO BECOME ANTI-CHINESE GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S ANY SORT OF HOSTILITY OR UNDERLYING UNDERCURRENT OF HOSTILITY TOWARD THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT LEFT, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A DANGER IN LETTING THESE THINGS GO TOO FAR.

MS. THURSTON SAYS SHE WAS ESPECIALLY DISTRESSED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS CONTROLLING MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE BOMBING INCIDENT.

WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT TO KNOW IS, HOW MUCH DO ORDINARY CHINESE PEOPLE AND MIDDLE-LEVEL CHINESE OFFICIALS KNOW ABOUT THE NATURE OF THIS INCIDENT? YOU SORT OF FEEL AS THOUGH THE CHINESE PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN A CHANCE TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS ABOUT THIS FOR SURE.

FOR THREE DAYS, OFFICIAL CHINESE NEWSPAPERS AND BROADCASTS DID NOT CARRY U-S OR NATO STATEMENTS APOLOGIZING FOR THE ATTACK AND DECLARING IT A MISTAKE. MS. THURSTON SAYS IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS -- IN HER WORDS -- TO UNLEASH THOSE KINDS OF DEMONSTRATIONS BASED ON A FAILURE TO TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH.

BY TUESDAY, THE OFFICIAL MEDIA BEGAN CARRYING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S APOLOGY FOR WHAT HE CALLED A TRAGIC MISTAKE, BUT CHINESE NEWSPAPERS ALSO CONTINUED TO REPORT ACCUSATIONS THAT THE EMBASSY BOMBING WAS DELIBERATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SMN/KL/WTW
11-May-99 7:23 PM EDT (2323 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[11] CHINA / PROTEST (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

INTRO: CHINA SAYS THE APOLOGY FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA IS NOT ENOUGH. MEANTIME, AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, ALTHOUGH PROTESTS IN FRONT OF THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING HAVE DIED DOWN, CHINESE ANGER OVER THE INCIDENT IS STILL STRONG.

TEXT: SEVERAL DAYS AGO, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES TO CHINA FOR THE NATO BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AND SAID IT WAS A MISTAKE.

CHINESE MEDIA ONLY REPORTED THESE APOLOGIES TUESDAY -- FOUR DAYS AFTER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHINESE CONVERGED ON THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING TO VENT THEIR ANGER.

CHINA SAYS IT HAS TAKEN NOTE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENT, BUT IS DEMANDING A FULLER APOLOGY. CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO DISMISSED NATO CLAIMS THAT THE BOMBING WAS DUE TO MISINFORMATION.

IT'S AN ARGUMENT AIMED AT SHIRKING THESE CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITIES. UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE U-S SIDE TO HAVE A FULL AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER INSTEAD OF HASTILY DISMISSING THIS MATTER.

DURING THE HUGE DEMONSTRATIONS, FOREIGNERS WERE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED AND POLICE STOOD BY WHILE PROTESTERS THREW ROCKS AND FIRE BOMBS AT THE BRITISH AND U-S EMBASSIES.

THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROTESTS WERE FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. BUT HE ADDED THAT AUTHORITIES SHOULD ALSO BE ALERT FOR PEOPLE WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS INCIDENT TO DISRUPT SOCIAL ORDER WITH WHAT HE CALLED "OVER-REACTIONS."

IF THOSE OVER-REACTIONS WERE SEEN TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THAT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING, THOUGH I HAVE TO SAY THAT THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS AROUND U-S EMBASSIES WERE APPROVED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND ARE LEGAL.

BEIJING HAS BROKEN OFF TALKS WITH WASHINGTON ON MILITARY AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. BUT MR. ZHU SAID CHINA HOPES THE UNITED STATES WILL TAKE STEPS TO HONOR ITS PROMISE TO AGREE ON A DEAL UNDER WHICH BEIJING WILL JOIN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WASHINGTON HAS SUSPENDED TRAVEL BY U-S OFFICIALS TO BEIJING BECAUSE OF SUDDEN, WIDESPREAD ANTI-U-S SENTIMENT IN CHINA. THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRIP OF U-S TRADE NEGOTIATOR ROBERT CASSIDY -- WHO IS DUE TO ARRIVE SUNDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/KL
11-May-99 8:15 AM EDT (1215 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] CHICAGO / CHINA (L-ONLY) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)

INTRO: THE INCREASED DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA OVER THE U-S BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA, IS HAVING SOME EFFECT ON THE TWO COUNTRIES' ECONOMIC RELATIONS. THE MAYOR OF THE U-S CITY OF CHICAGO HAS POSTPONED A TRADE TRIP TO CHINA, SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK. VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND HAS MORE.

TEXT: MAYOR RICHARD DALEY IS OFFERING HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE FOR THE THREE DEATHS CAUSED BY THE BOMBING IN BELGRADE, BUT SAYS THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR HIS DELEGATION TO VISIT CHINA. THE MAYOR SAYS THE REACTION TO THE BOMBINGS IN CHINA HAD THE LEFT TRIP ORGANIZER UNSURE ABOUT THEIR SAFETY, OR ABILITY TO MOVE ABOUT.

THE DECISION WAS MADE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT YOU COULD BE THERE (CHINA), BUT NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE YOUR HOTEL. THINGS LIKE THAT. WILL THERE BE STATE DINNERS? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.

MORE THAN 100 CHICAGO-AREA BUSINESS AND CULTURAL LEADERS WERE TO HAVE LEFT FOR CHINA ON WEDNESDAY. AMONG THEM, BERNIE WONG OF THE CHINESE-AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE. SHE SAYS MEMBERS OF HER COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING NEWS OF THE BOMBING, AND THE REACTION IN CHINA.

I THINK THE FIRST REACTION IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAD. ANY TIME ANY CHINESE ARE KILLED OR HURT, THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES IN CHINA. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE U-S - CHINA RELATIONSHIP.

LUCINDA LEE KATZ IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE, AND A CHICAGO SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE HOPES THE INCREASED TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE BOMBING WILL BE SHORT-LIVED.

WE ARE SORT OF TWO STEPS BACKWARDS NOW AND WE NEED TO MOVE FIVE STEPS FORWARD. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES IS VERY IMPORTANT. I AM HOPING THAT THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION, THE KOSOVO SITUATION, DOES NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT IN THE LONG RUN.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THE TRADE TRIP WILL BE RESCHEDULED, AND DO NOT THINK THE DELAY WILL JEOPARDIZE ANY PENDING DEALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNED DURING THE VISIT. THE MAYOR ALSO HOPES TO USE THE TRIP AS A CHANCE TO PERSUADE CHINESE COMPANIES ESTABLISHING A PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES TO CONSIDER CHICAGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/LTD/WFR
11-May-99 3:04 PM EDT (1904 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[13] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (S-2ND UPDATE) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL FAILED TO REACH A CONSENSUS TODAY (MONDAY) ON CHINA'S DEMAND THAT IT CONDEMN NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: CHINA CALLED FOR THE CLOSED-DOOR SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING IN AN EFFORT TO GET A FORMAL COUNCIL CONDEMNATION OF NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY. THE STATEMENT PROPOSED BY CHINA DESCRIBES THE BOMBING -- WHICH NATO SAYS WAS A MISTAKE -- AS WANTON TRAMPLING OF THE U-N CHARTER. IT CALLS FOR A U-N INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT AND DEMANDS THAT THOSE FOUND RESPONSIBLE BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

AT LEAST THREE OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL -- BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES -- REJECTED PORTIONS OF THE TEXT OF THE STATEMENT. DIPLOMATS SAY THOSE COUNTRIES ARE WILLING TO APOLOGIZE AND EXPRESS REGRET, BUT WILL NOT SUPPORT CONDEMNATION OF A MISTAKE.

THE COUNCIL AGREED TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ON THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT SET A DATE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/WTW
10-May-99 8:11 PM EDT (0011 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[14] WEU-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BREMEN, GERMANY)

INTRO: FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS FROM 28 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ALL MEMBERS OF THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION OR ASSOCIATED WITH IT, HAVE AGREED TO SUPPORT NATO'S MILITARY ACTION IN YUGOSLAVIA, CALLING IT NECESSARY AND WARRANTED. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE MEETING IN BREMEN, WHERE GERMAN MINISTERS ARE WARNING AGAINST A PREMATURE END TO THE AIR STRIKES.

TEXT: AS GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER FLIES TO BEIJING TO TRY TO PERSUADE CHINA INTO SUPPORTING A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO, HIS FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS ARE WARNING THIS SETTLEMENT IS NOT IN SIGHT.

FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER SAYS SOUTHEAST EUROPE FACES A PROBLEM UNLESS ALBANIAN REFUGEES ARE ALLOWED TO GO HOME BEFORE WINTER. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER HE WARNS AGAINST A QUICK SOLUTION WITH YUGOSLAVIA THAT IGNORES THE NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES.

IF WE DON'T MANAGE THAT, WE WILL END UP WITH A HUGE PROBLEM AND I THINK WE WILL END UP WITH A PROBLEM WHICH MASSIVELY UNDERMINES OUR SECURITY. THAT IS WHY WE MUST SHOW THE NECESSARY RESOLUTION, PATIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS TO COUNTENANCE A POLITICAL SOLUTION. HOWEVER, WE MUST NOT FUDGE (AVOID) THE ISSUE AND HAVE A COMPROMISE THAT DOESN'T HOLD.

THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JUST RETURNED FROM MACEDONIA AND HE SAYS THE REFUGEES WILL ONLY GO HOME WITH THE PROTECTION OF A "ROBUST" MILITARY FORCE. //OPT// CHINA HAS SAID IT WILL NOT DISCUSS A PEACEKEEPING FORCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS UNTIL NATO'S BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA ENDS. //END OPT// HOWEVER, GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER RUDOLF SCHARPING SAYS 83 U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON THE BALKANS HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY YUGOSLAVIA SINCE 1991 EXCEPT FOR THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. MR. SCHARPING NOTES THE BOSNIA AGREEMENT HAS A ROBUST MILITARY FORCE. HE ALSO MENTIONS THAT 28 CEASEFIRES HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY YUGOSLAVIA IN THE SAME PERIOD. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, THE GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA MUST CONTINUE.

HERE WE ARE WITH MILOSEVIC. IF SOMEBODY BELIEVES THAT IN SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS MILITARY MEANS ARE CAPABLE OF PUTTING RIGHT THE PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN ACCUMULATING OVER 10 YEARS THEN I DO THINK THEY ARE TURNING THEIR FACE AWAY FROM THE UNSCRUPULOUS WAY THAT THE BELGRADE REGIME DEALS IN HUMAN LIVES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE MUST SHOW THE NECESSARY COHESION AND RESOLUTION TO TAKE THIS TO A PROPER END AND CONCLUSION IN THE INTERESTS OF CREDIBILITY AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE LONG TERM STABILITY OF EUROPE.

THE GERMAN VIEW WAS SUPPORTED BY ALL 28 COUNTRIES THAT EITHER BELONG TO THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION OR ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF/KL
11-May-99 10:23 AM EDT (1423 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[15] ALBANIA'S FUTURE BY PETER HEINLEIN (TIRANA)

INTRO: THE KOSOVO CONFLICT HAS THRUST ALBANIA, EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY, TO THE CENTER OF WORLD ATTENTION. FOR 45 YEARS, ALBANIA WAS VIRTUALLY A CLOSED SOCIETY, A ONE-PARTY STATE RULED BY A STRICT MARXIST-LENINIST DICTATORSHIP. BUT AS VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL, TIRANA, THE WAR OVER KOSOVO IS GIVING ALBANIA A CHANCE TO SHOW ITS NEW, POST-COMMUNIST FACE.

TEXT: ///SFX OF TRAFFIC NOISE, THEN UNDER TO...///

THE POTHOLED STREETS OF TIRANA ARE SWARMING WITH TRAFFIC FROM MORNING TILL NIGHT. NOT ONLY HAS ALBANIA'S POPULATION JUMPED OVERNIGHT FROM THREE AND A HALF MILLION TO FOUR MILLION WITH THE ARRIVAL OF KOSOVO REFUGEES, BUT SCORES OF INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCIES HAVE DESCENDED ON THE COUNTRY, BRINGING WITH THEM HUNDREDS OF STAFFERS AND FLEETS OF FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES.

THE TRANSFORMATION IS NOWHERE MORE EVIDENT THAN AT RINAS AIRPORT, JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY. A SLEEPY LITTLE FACILITY THAT TWO MONTHS AGO RECEIVED FOUR TO SIX FLIGHTS A WEEK NOW HANDLES MORE THAN 100 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS A DAY.

RINAS HAS BECOME ESSENTIALLY A NATO AIR BASE. IN A MOVE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE DURING THE ERA OF ALBANIA'S PARANOID COMMUNIST DICTATOR ENVER HOXHA, ALBANIA LAST MONTH TURNED OVER CONTROL OF ITS AIRSPACE FOR NATO ATTACKS AGAINST YUGOSLAV TARGETS. ITS MOST IMPORTANT DEEP-WATER HARBOR AND OTHER STRATEGIC SITES HAVE BECOME OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

ALBANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE MADE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THEY SEE THE KOSOVO CRISIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN THEIR ONCE-ISOLATED COUNTRY MORE CLOSELY WITH WESTERN INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY NATO. POLITICAL COMMENTATOR FATOS LUBONJA SAYS THIS IS A DECISIVE MOMENT FOR ALBANIA'S TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY.

HAVING THE PRESENCE OF NATO HERE, TO ME EVEN GENERALLY PEOPLE THINK IT WOULD BE A HIGHER PRESENCE OF THE WEST, WHICH MEANS A FASTER PROCESS OF BUILDING A MORE NORMAL STATE, A STATE OF RULE OF LAW HERE.

ALBANIA'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTER KASTRIOT ISLAMI SAYS THE CURRENT CONFLICT GIVES HIS COUNTRY THE CHANCE TO WIN DESPERATELY NEEDED WESTERN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO REBUILD ITS CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE TRYING TO CALCULATE THE ECONOMIC EFFECT, AND ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE WORLD BANK, THE I-M-F AND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND NOW THE PRIME MINISTER CREATED A UNIT FOR PLANNING PROJECTS WHICH CAN HELP IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALBANIA.

MR. ISLAMI SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HOPES ALBANIA'S COOPERATION WITH NATO WILL BE REWARDED WITH MASSIVE WESTERN AID ONCE THE WAR IS OVER.

I PARTICIPATED IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRESIDENT WITH VERY HIGH DELEGATIONS FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY, FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I HAVE SEEN HIGH COMMITMENT TO ASSIST ALBANIA, AND NOW THEY ARE DISCUSSING IN EUROPE AND UNITED STATES TO PREPARE A SECOND MARSHALL PLAN TO DEVELOP THE REGION.

ALBANIA'S LEADERS SAY SUCH AN INFUSION OF CASH AND OTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD GIVE EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY THE CHANCE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY DECADES OF ENFORCED ISOLATION. AS ONE YOUNG WOMAN ON THE STREETS OF TIRANA SAID THIS WEEK, "THIS WAR HAS GIVEN US THE CHANCE TO DREAM BIG DREAMS."

IT MAY BE A STRANGE TWIST OF LOGIC, BUT ALBANIANS ARE HOPING THE CURRENT CRISIS WILL BE THE KEY TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE THAT HAS EVADED THEM FOR SO LONG. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PLM
11-May-99 12:32 AM EDT (0432 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[16] HUNGARY AND KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO PLANES ARE STRIKING SERBIA FROM BASES IN HUNGARY, A NEW MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE THAT SUPPORTS THE ASSAULT -- BUT WITH SOME MISGIVINGS. ACROSS THE BORDER IN SERBIA, HUNGARIANS FORM A WORRIED MINORITY OF THE POPULATION. GIVEN ITS LOCATION, HUNGARY HAS STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS THAT DIFFER FROM THOSE OF OTHER NATO MEMBERS. CORRESPONDENT ED WARNER REPORTS SOME VIEWS OF HUNGARY'S ROLE IN THE CONFLICT.

TEXT: HUNGARY JOINED THE NATO ALLIANCE ON MARCH 12TH. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, AS PART OF NATO, IT WAS -- AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT -- AT WAR WITH SERBIA.

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS DIRECTOR OF EUROPEAN STUDIES, CHARLES KUPCHAN, SAYS HUNGARY WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE:

I THINK HUNGARY IS IN AN UNENVIABLE SITUATION. THEY JUST JOINED NATO TWO-MONTHS AGO, AND NOW THEY HAVE A MAJOR WAR GOING ON JUST OFF THEIR SOUTHERN BORDER. THEY DID NOT EXPECT THAT TO BE AN ACCOMPANIMENT OF MEMBERSHIP.

HUNGARY HAS MORE TO WORRY ABOUT. THERE ARE 350-THOUSAND HUNGARIANS WHO LIVE IN VOJVODINA PROVINCE IN NORTHERN SERBIA. SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THEIR SERBIAN NEIGHBORS, AND HAVE NOT BEEN MISTREATED. BUT WILL THAT LAST IF THE WAR CONTINUES?

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR RUDOLPH TOKES IS IN BUDAPEST:

HUNGARY IS TERRIBLY CONCERNED AND THE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE MILOSEVIC REGIME MIGHT RETALIATE AGAINST THIS MINORITY, FOR HUNGARY AGREEING TO PROVIDE ITS AIRPORTS AND FACILITIES FOR NATO AIRPLANES.

SO HUNGARIANS ARE AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE WAR, SAID PROFESSOR TOKES. THOUGH THEY DEEPLY SYMPATHIZE WITH THE PLIGHT OF THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MILOSEVIC REMOVED FROM POWER, THEY REFUSE TO BE PART OF A GROUND WAR:

THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IS PRESSING INTO SERVICE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE FROM VOJVODINA OF HUNGARIAN BACKGROUND. AND THE HUNGARIAN ARMY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HUNGARY, I THINK QUITE APPROPRIATELY, ARE OPPOSED TO USING HUNGARIAN MILITARY TO SHOOT AT FELLOW HUNGARIANS WHO HAPPEN TO BE PRESSED INTO SERVICE OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY.

PROFESSOR TOKES WONDERS IF NATO WOULD COME TO THE AID OF HUNGARY IN THE EVENT OF A SERBIAN ATTACK. HUNGARY MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE REACTION OF RUSSIA, WHICH HAS EXPRESSED ANGER AT ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE WAR.

CHARLES KUPCHAN DOES NOT THINK HUNGARY HAS TOO MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT SINCE THE PROSPECTS FOR A GROUND WAR ARE FADING:

MY GUESS IS THAT PROVIDES SOME SENSE OF RELIEF IN HUNGARY, BECAUSE PERHAPS THE EASIEST ACCESS INTO SERBIA IS THROUIGH HUNGARY. THE ROAD NETWORK IS PRETTY GOOD, AND THE TERRAIN IS FAIRLY FLAT. SO IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT USING GROUND TROOPS -- EVEN IF ONLY TO DIVERT SERB FORCES AWAY FROM KOSOVO -- THEY WOULD LIKELY FOCUS ON MASSING TROOPS IN HUNGARY ON THE BORDER. GIVEN THAT NOW LOOKS EXTREMELY REMOTE, MY GUESS IS THAT THE HUNGARIANS ARE BREATHING A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

MR. KUPCHAN THINKS HUNGARY WILL SURMOUNT THE PROBLEMS OF WAR BECAUSE IT HAS QUITE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED THE TRANSITION FROM COMMUNISM TO DEMOCRACY AND IS NOW A FORCE FOR STABILITY IN A VOLATILE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/RAE
11-May-99 12:48 PM EDT (1648 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[17] MACEDONIA'S ETHNIC TENSIONS (CORRECTED) BY JUDITH LATHAM (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE DESPERATE PLIGHT OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAS FOCUSED WORLDWIDE ATTENTION ON CONDITIONS IN MACEDONIA'S REFUGEE CAMPS. THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF NEIGHBORING ALBANIA HAVE RECEIVED THE REFUGEES WITH OVERWHELMING HOSPITALITY. BUT THEIR RECEPTION IN MACEDONIA HAS BEEN

TEXT: ONE DIFFERENCE IN THE REACTION OF THE TWO COUNTRIES TO THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS IS OBVIOUS FROM THEIR ETHNIC MAKEUP. ALBANIANS ARE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN ALBANIA. IN MACEDONIA, THEY FORM BETWEEN ONE-FOURTH AND ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION. THE REST ARE MOSTLY ETHNIC MACEDONIANS, WITH SMALL PERCENTAGES OF ETHNIC TURKS, SERBS, AND ROMA, OR GYPSIES. AFTER LAST YEAR'S ELECTION, THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT ENTERED INTO AN ETHNIC COALITION. ERAN FRAENKEL [AIR-RAHN FRAN-KEL] IS THE DIRECTOR OF SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IN MACEDONIA, A CONFLICT RESOLUTION ORGANIZATION. HE SAYS THAT MANY MACEDONIANS HELD HIGH HOPES FOR THEIR COUNTRY BEFORE NATO BOMBING BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH. TAPE A: CUT ONE -- FRAENKEL (0:47) "WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE WAR IN KOSOVO AND THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES HAS BASICALLY CREATED A SITUATION WHICH HAS BEEN MACEDONIA'S WORST-CASE SCENARIO. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 200,000 REFUGEES HERE WHO HAVE GOTTEN ALMOST NO RESOURCES AND NEED VERY IMMEDIATE AND VERY DIRECT ASSISTANCE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF FOOD, SHELTER, AND BASIC EXISTENCE. BUT I THINK MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, OR HOW MANY OF, THE KOSOVARS WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN MACEDONIA WILL BE HERE FOR ANY DURATION AND THE EFFECTS THE LONG-TERM PRESENCE OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES WILL HAVE ON MACEDONIAN SOCIETY."

TEXT: ALTHOUGH THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED IN THE WORLD PRESS FOR ITS RELUCTANCE TO RECEIVE THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES, MR. FRANKEL SAYS, THE GOVERNMENT IS STRUGGLING TO CONTEND WITH TREMENDOUS INTERNAL PRESSURES. TAPE A: CUT TWO -- FRAENKEL (1:05) "WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT MACEDONIA HAS BECOME THE FOCUS OF WORLDWIDE ATTENTION UNDER THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE SAID BEFORE, AND I WOULD REPEAT AND WOULD STRESS, THAT THERE IS NO WAY ONE CAN CONDONE OR JUSTIFY SOME OF THE TREATMENT KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE RECEIVED WHEN THEY'VE ARRIVED AT THE BORDER. BUT TO SAY THAT IT IS WRONG AND TO DESCRIBE IT THE WAY IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE WORLD PRESS IS A FAR CRY FROM SAYING THAT THIS IS A POLICY OF STATE, THAT THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT IS SOMEHOW INTENTIONALLY MAKING THE LIVES OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE. THE PEOPLES OF MACEDONIA DID NOT START THE WAR IN KOSOVO, NOR WERE THEY INFLUENTIAL IN CREATING MILOSEVIC'S OWN POLICIES, AND IN FACT MACEDONIA IS SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT WAR IN ITS OWN PARTICULAR WAY, THE SAME AS THE KOSOVARS ARE SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF THIS WAR."

TEXT: (OPT) ERAN FRAENKEL SAYS THAT MACEDONIA'S OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES HAVE ALSO FELT THE IMPACT OF THE WAR IN KOSOVO. TAPE A: CUT THREE -- FRAENKEL (1:29) "THE REFUGEES HAVE ALL BEEN TREATED AS MEMBERS OF PARTICULAR ETHNIC MINORITIES RATHER THAN AS REFUGEES FROM A PARTICULAR COUNTRY BEING RECEIVED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT COUNTRY WITH ITS OWN PLURALISTIC AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE SOCIETY. THEREFORE, THE ROMA REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BY LOCAL ROMA FAMILIES. THE SERBS WITHIN MACEDONIA HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH TORN BY HAVING TO DECIDE BETWEEN LOYALTY TO THE STATE IN WHICH THEY LIVE AS OPPOSED TO THE ETHNIC GROUP TO WHICH THEY BELONG. I THINK THAT ONE NEEDS TO TAKE A BIG STEP BACK AND REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT MACEDONIA AS A DIVERSE SOCIETY NEEDS TO DO TO SUCCESSFULLY COPE WITH THE CRISIS. THE MORE THESE KINDS OF DIVISIVE ELEMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE PRECEDENCE, THE MORE THE CHANCES ARE THAT MACEDONIA WILL IN FACT BE TORN APART. I THINK WE NEED TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THE KOSOVARS WHO ARE HERE ARE HERE INVOLUNTARILY. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THE KOSOVARS NEED TO KEEP REMINDING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY -- THAT THEIR DESIRE, AND I'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM KOSOVARS, IS TO GO HOME." (END OPT)

TEXT: ERAN FRAENKEL, DIRECTOR OF SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IN MACEDONIA.

THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA SAYS THE TREATMENT THAT KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAVE RECEIVED IN MACEDONIA IS NOTHING NEW. ARBEN XHAFERI [JAH-FAIR-EE], WHO IS ALSO A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT, CALLS IT "TRADITIONAL XENOPHOBIA TOWARD ETHNIC ALBANIANS." TAPE A: CUT FOUR -- XHAFERI (0:36) "THE REFUGEES ARE A NEW EXPERIMENT WHICH GIVE OLD RESULTS. WE HAVE A TYPICAL ETHNIC DISTANCE BETWEEN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN MACEDONIA BECAUSE WE HAVE A HERITAGE FROM THE PAST, WHICH IS XENOPHOBIC. THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIANS AND ALBANIANS IS NOT WORSE THAN BEFORE. IT'S THE SAME. WE ARE WORKING POLITICALLY TO PRESERVE STABILITY IN MACEDONIA. WE ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THIS SPHERE, AND I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE STABILITY OF THIS STATE."

TEXT: ARBEN XHAFERI SAYS ALL THE REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO WANT TO RETURN HOME AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. AND, THUS, THE DELICATE POLITICAL BALANCE IN MACEDONIA WILL NOT BE THREATENED BY LARGE NUMBERS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES SEEKING MACEDONIAN CITIZENSHIP.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT, SAVO KLIMOVSKI [SAH-VOH KLE-MOF-SKEE], IS ALSO CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF INTERETHNIC RELATIONS. ACCORDING TO MR. KLIMOVSKI, INTERETHNIC RELATIONS IN MACEDONIA HAVE IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE NEW GOVERNMENT CAME TO POWER LATE LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, HE SAYS, MACEDONIA WAS SIMPLY UNPREPARED FOR THE HUGE NUMBERS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARRIVING ON ITS NORTHERN BORDER EVERY DAY. HE SAYS ALMOST 250,000 REFUGEES ARE NOW IN MACEDONIA, AND THE WAR HAS PUT AN UNBEARABLE ECONOMIC BURDEN ON HIS COUNTRY, WHICH HE WORRIES MAY LEAD TO SOCIAL UNREST. TAPE B: CUT ONE -- KLIMOVSKI (ESTABLISH MACEDONIAN 5 SECONDS, AND FADE) TAPE A: CUT FIVE -- ENGLISH TRANSLATION (0:34) "I FEAR A SOCIAL IMPLOSION, AN INWARD COLLAPSE, BECAUSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A LARGE WAVE OF STRIKES BY WORKERS. EVERY DAY WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE FACTORIES AND LAY OFF WORKERS. AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE 250,000 EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK. THIS IS WHERE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST HELP COMPENSATE US FOR ECONOMIC DAMAGES. BECAUSE, AS SOON AS OUR WORKERS START TO ENVY THE RELATIVE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE REFUGEES IN THE CAMPS, THE SITUATION HERE CAN SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, AND THEN MACEDONIA WILL REALLY BE DESTABILIZED."

TEXT: MACEDONIA'S PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT SAVO KLIMOVSKI DENIES REPORTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS THAT THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT CLOSED ITS BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA ON MAY 6TH. HE DESCRIBED IT AS ONLY A "BRIEF DELAY" IN PROCESSING THE KOSOVARS. MR. KLIMOVSKI SAYS MACEDONIA HAS REACHED THE SATURATION POINT IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IT CAN ACCEPT, AND HE CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO TAKE THE REST.

THE FEAR OF POLITICAL DESTABILIZATION IN MACEDONIA, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, AND THE IMPORTANCE IN THE BALKANS OF ONE'S OWN ETHNIC GROUP ABOVE ACTUAL CITIZENSHIP HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE HARDSHIPS MANY KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE FACED WHEN CROSSING THE BORDER.
11-May-99 2:26 PM EDT (1826 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[18] YUGO WORLD COURT (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE 10 NATO COUNTRIES BEING SUED BY YUGOSLAVIA AT THE WORLD COURT HAVE ASKED JUDGES TO THROW OUT BELGRADE'S CASE AGAINST THEM. THE NATO MEMBERS SAY THE COURT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO RULE ON YUGOSLAVIA'S REQUEST FOR A COURT ORDER TO HALT THE BOMBING. LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: REPRESENTATIVES OF NATO COUNTRIES HAVE SPENT MONDAY AND TUESDAY TELLING JUDGES THAT THIS COURT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO HEAR YUGOSLAVIA'S CASE ON WHAT BELGRADE CALLS AN ILLEGAL USE OF FORCE. IT IS A CASE THAT COULD TAKE YEARS TO RESOLVE, AND IN THE MEANTIME, YUGOSLAVIA WANTS THE COURT TO ORDER AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE AIRSTRIKES.

NATO COUNTRIES ACCUSED BELGRADE OF ABUSING THE COURT--BRINGING THE LONGER-TERM CASE IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE BOMBINGS NOW. THEY SAY YUGOSLAVIA'S CLAIM THAT NATO IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE IS ABSURD AND WITHOUT PROOF.

U-S STATE DEPARTMENT LAWYER DAVID ANDREWS CALLED IT "CYNICISM OF ORWELLIAN PROPORTIONS" AND SAID THE AIR STRIKES WERE LEGITIMATE.

THESE NATO OPERATIONS ARE THE ONLY CURRENT CONSTRAINT ON THE ACTIONS OF FORCES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE FRY (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA) IN KOSOVO. PROVISIONAL MEASURES DIRECTED AGAINST NATO STATES COULD BE MISINTERPRETED AS RESTRICTING OR CASTING DOUBT ON THE PROPRIETY OF THOSE OPERATIONS.

MR. ANDREWS WARNED THE WORLD COURT JUDGES THAT ORDERING A HALT TO THE AIR STRIKES COULD HAVE WHAT HE CALLED UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES NAMELY, MORE ATROCITIES BY YUGOSLAVIA AND THE POSSIBLE DERAILMENT OF A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

JUDGES ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR RULING WITHIN WEEKS. BUT EVEN IF THEY DO TELL NATO TO STOP THE BOMBING, THE COURT HAS NO WAY TO ENFORCE THE RULING. IT RELIES ON COUNTRIES TO COMPLY VOLUNTARILY.

THE UNITED STATES STRESSED THAT IT DOESN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE COURT'S JURISDICTION TO HEAR THIS CASE. THAT'S BECAUSE THE GENOCIDE CONVENTION YUGOSLAVIA IS RELYING ON HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE UNITED STATES.

SHOULD NATO IGNORE A WORLD COURT ORDER TO STOP ITS CAMPAIGN, BELGRADE CAN ONLY REPORT IT TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- A BODY DOMINATED BY NATO MEMBERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/PCF
11-May-99 2:27 PM EDT (1827 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[19] RAKOVICA MONESTARY (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

INTRO: LAST FRIDAY'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE HAS LEFT NATO SCRAMBLING FOR AN EXPLANATION FOR THE UNINTENTIONAL ATTACK. MOST OF THE TARGETS HIT DURING NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN MILITARY, BUT THE ALLIANCE SAYS DURING A CONFLICT, WHAT IT CALLS "COLLATERAL DAMAGE" WILL HAPPEN. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM ONE OF THE LESSER KNOWN SITES OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE -- A MONASTERY IN BELGRADE.

TEXT: THE SMALL, 14TH CENTURY CHAPEL AT THE RAKOVICA (ROCK-O- VITZ-A) MONASTERY IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF SERB ORTHODOX RELIGIOUS ART WITH PAINTINGS OF JESUS AND THE VIRGIN MARY, GILT WORK AND SCULPTURES. TUCKED AWAY JUST OUTSIDE OF BELGRADE, IT IS A CHARMING JEWEL -- OR AT LEAST IT WAS.

THE MONASTERY IS LOCATED NEAR A SERB RADAR INSTALLATION TARGETED BY NATO. DURING ONE WEEK, THE STATION WAS HIT NIGHTLY BY NATO AIR RAIDS.

HEAD NUN EVGENIJA DESCRIBES THE BOMBING.

THE NUNS GREET AN AMERICAN VISITOR WITH WARMTH. LIKE MANY IN YUGOSLAVIA, THEY SPEAK OF A LONG HISTORY OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND AMERICA. BUT PICKING UP A LARGE FRAGMENT OF A NATO BOMB THAT LANDED IN THE YARD, THEY SADLY REMARK THAT NOW ALL BAD THINGS COME FROM AMERICA AND GERMANY.

THE NUNS LIVING AT THE RAKOVICA MONASTERY ARE CONTEMPLATIVE NUNS STAYING WITHIN THE MONASTERY WALLS, LARGELY REMOVED FROM INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DESTRUCTION IS HAPPENING.

HEAD NUN EVGENIJA SAYS, WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO LOVE EVERY NATION AND WISH EVERYONE WILL, AND WHOEVER CAME TO ASK FOR ANYTHING, WHETHER BREAD, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF HELP, WHATEVER THEIR NATIONALITY, WE HELPED THEM. WE DIDN'T CLOSE THE DOOR TO ANYONE, NOR TURNED OUR BACKS ON SOMEONE ASKING FOR HELP. SO, SHE SAYS, WE ARE BAFFLED WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO US.

LIKE MANY IN YUGOSLAVIA, THE NUNS CONTINUE TO COPE AS BEST THEY CAN. BY MID-AFTERNOON, THE NUNS ARE BUSY AT WORK PICKING WEEDS IN THE GARDEN UNDER THE SHADOW OF THEIR BOMBED-DAMAGED MONASTERY. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/GE
11-May-99 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[20] SERB HUMOR (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (BELGRADE)

INTRO: NATO BOMBERS AND MISSILES HAVE BEEN ATTACKING YUGOSLAVIA RELENTLESSLY. AS CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM BELGRADE, IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP AND FEAR THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT LOST THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR.

TEXT: /// AIR RAID SIREN ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER ///

THE NIGHTLY AIR RAID SIRENS -- A DAILY AND NOW ROUTINE BELGRADE SOUND -- PEOPLE CALL THEM THE SERB NATIONAL ORCHESTRA. IT IS PART OF THE HUMOR THAT HAS SPRUNG UP IN DEFIANCE OF NATO ATTACKS ON BELGRADE.

CONCENTRIC CIRCLES REPRESENTING TARGET SIGNS ABOUND ON HATS, T-SHIRTS, BILLBOARDS, AND EVEN THE MCDONALD'S ARCH ON A MAIN SQUARE. IT IS A REMINDER, SAY SERBS, THAT ANYONE, ANYWHERE CAN BE A TARGET.

DURING AIR RAIDS, SERB RADIO AND TELEVISION INSTRUCT PEOPLE TO WALK SLOWLY AND WITHOUT PANIC TO THE NEAREST SHELTER. TODAY, THE INSTRUCTION HAS BECOME PART OF THE CULTURAL JARGON. AN ADVERTISEMENT SHOWS A TARGET SIGN AND ORDERS PEOPLE TO WALK SLOWLY AND WITHOUT PANIC TO THIS DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT.

THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE BILLBOARDS AND BUMPER STICKERS. ONE READS, "DAMN YOUR CURIOSITY, (CHRISTOPHER) COLUMBUS," ANOTHER READS "STOP THE BOMBS -- JUST DO IT," "WE'RE DROP DEAD GORGEOUS," SAYS ANOTHER, AND IN A REFERENCE TO THE HIGH-TECH STEALTH BOMBER THAT IS HARD TO DETECT BY RADAR, "NATO, THE ONLY THING THAT IS INVISIBLE IS YOUR BRAINS."

PEOPLE JOKE THAT THE NEW MENU AT MCDONALDS IS A K-L-A MAC, FRENCH-FRIES, SPY PIE AND COFFEE ANNAN (AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL).

WHEN THE CONFLICT FIRST BEGAN, PEOPLE CROWDED INTO BOMB SHELTERS EVERY NIGHT. BUT NOW, MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN, THEY SAY THEY PREFER TO LIVE AS NORMAL A LIFE AS POSSIBLE. AND HUMOR IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE LINES OF DEFENSE.

SO IN THE EVENINGS, WHEN THE SERB NATIONAL ORCHESTRA BEGINS TO PLAY, PEOPLE FLOCK OUT ONTO THEIR BALCONIES AND PRETEND TO DIRECT THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. "A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT," THEY SAY. "A LITTLE TO THE LEFT. OH, JUST A HAIR SHORT," THEY ADD. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/GE
11-May-99 1:41 PM EDT (1741 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[21] TURKISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS BY YONCA POYRAZ-DOGAN (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TURKS AND AMERICANS MET IN WASHINGTON RECENTLY (MAY 6-8) TO DISCUSS RELATIONS BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES. THEY AGREED THAT TURKISH-AMERICAN TIES HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE STILL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ALLIES. V-O-A'S YONCA POYRAZ-DOGAN [PRON: 'YOHN-JA 'POY-RAHZ DOE-'AHN] HAS THIS BACKGROUND REPORT.

TEXT: AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL THE A-T-C -- FORMER U-S SENATOR NANCY KASSEBAUM-BAKER RECALLED THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST MEETING, IN 1982. THEN, ONLY 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED, MOSTLY FROM THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY. THIS YEAR, MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED ALL KINDS OF ISSUES, FROM TRADE AND TOURISM TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. NOW CHAIRPERSON OF THE AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL, MS. KASSEBAUM-BAKER SAID THIS SHOWS HOW FAR U-S TURKISH RELATIONS HAVE EVOLVED.

THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, MARK PARRIS, NOTED THAT TURKEY'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS PROMISING:

TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE LAST WINTER AND THIS SPRING SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT THAILAND. IT'S NOT RUSSIA OR BRAZIL. THE MELT-DOWNS THAT OCCURRED OR THREATENED THOSE MARKETS ARE NOT LIKELY TO SPREAD TO TURKEY. INSTEAD, AS THE 21ST CENTURY DAWNS, TURKEY IS LIKELY TO RETAIN ITS EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS.

THE TURKISH ECONOMY HAS GROWN MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT A YEAR IN THE 1990'S, DESPITE HIGH INFLATION AND LARGE BUDGET DEFICITS. BUT POLITICAL GRIDLOCK CONTINUES TO PREVENT NEEDED REFORM OF THE TAX SYSTEM AND SOCIAL SECURITY. PRIVATIZATION OF STATE-CONTROLLED BUSINESS IS ALSO PROCEEDING SLOWLY.

TURKEY HAS HAD A SERIES OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS SINCE ELECTIONS IN 1995, BUT NONE COULD COMMAND A WORKABLE MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY OF INTERIM PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT WON THE LARGEST SHARE OF SEATS IN LAST MONTH'S GENERAL ELECTION, AND MR. ECEVIT IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING TALKS IN AN EFFORT TO FORM A NEW COALITION. U-S AMBASSADOR PARRIS SAYS THERE IS REASON TO HOPE THAT TURKEY'S NEXT GOVERNMENT WILL BE IN OFFICE FOR YEARS, NOT MONTHS.

TURKEY'S TRADE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNITED STATES, HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND VIGOROUSLY. TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR REACHED A RECORD HIGH -- SIX-POINT-TWO-BILLION DOLLARS.

BAKI ILKIN, TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TRADE:

ECONOMIC COOPERATION IS BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY MORE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR RELATIONS. AS WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MANY YEARS, TRADE -- NOT AID -- HAS NOW BECOME THE MOTTO AND DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR ECONOMIC TIES. IN FACT, THE U-S MILITARY AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY CAME TO AN END IN 1998.

BUT AMBASSADOR ILKIN SAID TURKEY HOPES FOR MORE U-S INVESTMENT. ALTHOUGH 300 U-S COMPANIES OPERATE IN TURKEY, THE U-S SHARE OF OVERALL INVESTMENTS IS ONLY 11 PERCENT, OR TWO-POINT-SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS.

THE AMBASSADOR ADDED THAT TURKEY WOULD LIKE TO EXPORT MORE TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT HAS REACHED THE LIMIT ON TEXTILES IT CAN SELL, BECAUSE OF STRICT U-S QUOTAS.

PARTICIPANTS AT THE A-T-C CONFERENCE NOTED THE UNITED STATES REMAINS TURKEY'S MAIN WEAPONS SUPPLIER IN THE POST-COLD-WAR ERA. TURKEY HAS AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO SPEND 150-BILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS TO MODERNIZE ITS ARMY, AT A TIME WHEN MOST NATO MEMBERS ARE CUTTING BACK.

TURKEY HAS RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE UNITED STATES OVER ITS HANDLING OF THE KURDISH REBELS IN ITS SOUTHEAST, AND ARMS SALES HAVE BEEN HELD UP.

UMIT ENGINSOY, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF OF THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY, SAID TURKEY IS NOW LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR THE WEAPONS IT NEEDS:

POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND A GIVEN COUNTRY NOWADAYS PLAY A LESS IMPORTANT ROLE IN TURKEY'S SELECTION OF PARTNERS IN DEFENSE PROCUREMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, NO ONE CAN SAY THAT GERMANY IS TURKEY'S BEST FRIEND. BUT GERMAN DOCKYARDS HAVE SECURED TURKISH CONTRACTS WORTH OVER ONE-BILLION DOLLARS IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR, TO THE SURPRISE OF SOME PEOPLE. // OPT // I'M REFERRING TO THE RECENT SUBMARINE AND MINEHUNTER DEALS WITH GERMAN COMPANIES. THIS REFLECTS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH, AND TURKEY DOESN'T WANT TO LIMIT ITS OPTIONS DUE TO POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ONLY. // END OPT // TURKEY NOW MAKES PRAGMATIC DECISIONS FOR ITS DEFENSE [NEEDS].

SOME PARTICIPANTS AT THE CONFERENCE SAID SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES -- AMONG THEM LOBBYISTS FOR GREEK, ARMENIAN AND KURDISH INTERESTS -- HAVE DISRUPTED U-S / TURKISH DEFENSE ARRANGEMENTS. BUT BOTH TURKS AND AMERICANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE MEETING HERE EMPHASIZED THAT TURKISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS ARE MORE MUTUALLY REWARDING TODAY THEN EVER BEFORE, AND THEY ARE POISED TO GROW. (SIGNED)
NEB/YPD/WTW
11-May-99 6:31 PM EDT (2231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (TUESDAY) AS INFLATION WORRIES EASED. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 11 THOUSAND 26, UP 18 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 55, UP 15 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT.

I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE DOW WILL MOVE TO 13 THOUSAND OR HIGHER BEFORE WE HAVE ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT OR SUSTAINED PULLBACK.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF AMERICAN WORKERS ROSE AT A FOUR PERCENT ANNUAL RATE IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THE FIGURE EASED CONCERNS ABOUT WAGE-BASED INFLATIONARY PRESSURES SINCE HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY ALLOWS FOR WAGE INCREASES WITHOUT INFLATION.

THE STOCK OF THE AMERICA ONLINE COMPUTER SERVICE COMPANY ROSE MORE THAN EIGHT PERCENT AFTER THE FIRM ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DELIVER INTERNET SERVICE ON TELEVISIONS. THE VENTURE WOULD COMPETE WITH WEB-TV, A DIVISION OF THE MICROSOFT COMPANY.

THE MOTOROLA ELECTRONICS COMPANY MAY SELL ITS SEMICONDUCTOR BUSINESS. A GROUP OF CURRENT AND FORMER MOTOROLA EXECUTIVES ARE OFFERING ONE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE COMPUTER CHIP BUSINESS AND THERE IS A REPORT THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER BID IS POSSIBLE. WAL-MART, THE LARGEST DISCOUNT STORE CHAIN IN THE UNITED STATES, REPORTED A RECORD QUARTERLY PROFIT OF ONE POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS. IT WAS THE FIRST NON-CHRISTMAS QUARTER IN WHICH WAL-MART'S EARNINGS HAVE EXCEEDED ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

ADIDAS-SALOMON, THE GERMAN SPORTSWEAR MAKER, REPORTED ITS QUARTERLY PROFITS FELL 35 PERCENT. THE COMPANY BLAMED HIGHER MARKETING COSTS AND A SLOWDOWN IN SALES OF ITS GOLF EQUIPMENT.

THE HUNGER ON WALL STREET FOR NEW INTERNET-RELATED STOCKS CONTINUES. THE STOCK OF THE STREET DOT COM BEGAN TRADING AND QUICKLY TRIPLED IN VALUE. THE COMPANY PROVIDES BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND, LIKE MOST INTERNET-RELATED FIRMS, HAS YET TO EARN A PROFIT.

PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING AMERICAN CORPORATIONS TO INVEST IN POOR RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES. AT A WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS THE PRESIDENT SAID BUSINESSES SHOULD RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL NEW MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES AS THEY HAVE IN OTHER NATIONS.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
11-May-99 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[23] THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING AFTERMATH BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NO SINGLE EVENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BALKAN WAR AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS CAUSED AN OUTPOURING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT LIKE THE MISTAKEN ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.

WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _________ OF COMMENT FROM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS FORMALLY APOLOGIZED FOR THE MISTAKEN ATTACK LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE -- ALL CHINESE JOURNALISTS -- AND INJURED MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER CHINESE.

DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS EXPLAINED THAT AN OUTDATED MAP OF BELGRADE WAS USED TO SELECT THE TARGET, WHICH THE ALLIES THOUGHT WAS A YUGOSLAV DEFENSE PROCUREMENT HEADQUARTERS. IN CHINA, PROTESTS AGAINST U-S FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE EMBASSY IN BEIJING, HAVE DIMINISHED IN SIZE AND INTENSITY, ALTHOUGH SMALL GROUPS CONTINUE BRIEF PROTESTS. AND IN THIS COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT AND NATO, AND ESPECIALLY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, WHICH SUPPLIED THE ERRONEOUS INFORMATION FOR THE ATTACK, ARE BEING CASTIGATED. THERE IS ALSO SOME CRITICISM OF THE CHINESE, FOR OVER-REACTING. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN FLORIDA, WHERE "THE MIAMI HERALD" SAYS:

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP YESTERDAY [5/10] BY EXPRESSING THIS COUNTRY'S "DEEP SORROW" FOR THE WEEKEND BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. THE BOMBING WAS INEXCUSABLE -- AN EMBARRASSING DISPLAY OF C-I-A INCOMPETENCE THAT MUST BE ROOTED OUT, FIXED AND NOT EVER REPEATED. IN THE MEANTIME, THOUGH, THE NATO ALLIES MUST NOT ALLOW THIS UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT TO REDEFINE A NOBLE MISSION -- THE ATTEMPT TO STOP SERBIA'S CRUEL AGGRESSION IN KOSOVO -- AS SOMETHING AKIN TO A WAR CRIME.

TEXT: THAT LAST SENTIMENT IS ECHOED BY "THE NEWS AND OBSERVER" IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA:

VOICE: DESPITE THE MISTAKEN ATTACK ... THE KIND OF ERROR THAT IS INEVITABLE IN A BOMBING CAMPAIGN, THE NATO MISSION TO REVERSE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO MUST CONTINUE, IN FORCE. ... THE BOMBING CLEARLY WAS NOT INTENTIONAL, THOUGH CHINESE OFFICIALS, PERHAPS IN SEARCH OF MARTYRS AND A DIPLOMATIC ADVANTAGE, SAY THAT IT WAS.

TEXT: BOTH CHINA AND PRESIDENT CLINTON COME IN FOR A SHARE OF CRITICISM FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S "GREENSBURG TRIBUNE-REVIEW," WHICH NEVERTHELESS CALLS THE ATTACK AN "INTELLIGENCE BLUNDER" ...

VOICE: RED CHINA'S RULERS STILL DETEST LIBERTY AND ARE NOT SQUEAMISH ABOUT ITS SUPPRESSION. WITNESS THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE. FOR THIS REASON, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC IS NO FRIEND OF THE UNITED STATES. NEITHER, HOWEVER, IS IT STILL A BATTLEFIELD FOE -- THOUGH NATO'S BOMBING OF BEIJING'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE HARDLY QUALIFIED AS AN ACT OF PEACE. ... THE PRESIDENT CAN NOT LEGALLY JUSTIFY HIS EXERCISE OF WAR POWERS CONSTITUTIONALLY RESERVED TO THE CONGRESS. ... HE CANNOT CREDIBLY ARGUE THAT NATIONAL INTERESTS DICTATED INTERVENTION.

TEXT: IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS" SAYS THE CHINESE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE OUTRAGED, BUT WITHIN LIMITS.

VOICE: AS LONG AS AMERICANS IN CHINA ARE PROTECTED FROM HARM, THE UNITED STATES CAN HARDLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS THERE. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN PRESSURING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY. ... BUT THE [CHINESE] PUBLIC HAS GOOD REASON TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THE EMBASSY BOMBING. ... THE MISTAKE, THOUGH, WAS OF ASTONISHING INCOMPETENCE. IT'S NOT AS IF BELGRADE HAS BEEN A CLOSED CITY. THE CHINESE EMBASSY MOVED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

TEXT: IN NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL, HOWEVER, "THE [TRENTON] TIMES" FEELS THAT CHINA IS OVER-REACTING:

VOICE: WHY CHINA IS REACTING WITH SUCH DEEP HOSTILITY IS A MATTER OF SPECULATION. CHINA HAS BEEN OPPOSED TO NATO'S AIR WAR AGAINST SERBIA FROM THE START, AND HAS NEVER INFORMED ITS POPULACE ABOUT SERBIAN ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO. ... THE BEST GUESS IS THAT CHINA'S LEADERS BELIEVE THAT FUELING NATIONALISM AND PROMOTING ANGER AT THE UNITED STATES WILL DIVERT PUBLIC ATTENTION AWAY FROM RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER GRIEVANCES, FORESTALL ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS AS JUNE FOURTH, THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE, DRAWS NEAR, AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

TEXT: "THE DETROIT NEWS" IN (THE STATE OF) MICHIGAN, WORRIES THAT THE BOMBING MAY MEAN THAT NATO ...

VOICE: ... SEEMS TO BE RUNNING OUT OF SERIOUS MILITARY TARGETS ON WHICH IT CAN EXPEND SMART BOMBS. IF SO, COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS LIKELY TO RISE SHARPLY AS AMERICA'S APPETITE FOR INFLICTING DAMAGE ON SERBIA -- AND SEEING ITS OWN SERVICEMEN PLACED AT RISK -- DIMINISHES.

TEXT: IN TEXAS, BOTH "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" AND "THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM" HAVE SIMILIAR SENTIMENTS. HERE'S "THE STAR-TELEGRAM'S" OPENING PARAGRAPH:

VOICE: CHINA HAS AMPLE REASON TO BE AGGRIEVED ABOUT NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING ... BUT THE CHINESE PROTEST TOO MUCH.

TEXT: "WARS ARE INHERENTLY MESSY AND CHAOTIC," FLORIDA'S "ST. PETERSBURG TIMES" REMINDS READERS, ADDING:

VOICE: THE BOMBING ... WAS AN INEXCUSABLE ERROR, AND THE GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING DESERVES MORE THAN WASHINGTON'S APOLOGIES. THE CHINESE ALSO DESERVE A FULL EXPLANATION OF HOW SUCH A NIGHTMARISH MISTAKE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. ... SHORT OF BOMBING THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY, NATO HARDLY COULD HAVE MADE A WORSE MISTAKE AT A WORSE TIME.

TEXT: "THE PRICE OF REPAIRING RELATIONS WITH CHINA," WARNS THE AKRON, OHIO, "BEACON JOURNAL" ...

VOICE: ... SHOULDN'T BE THE SELLOUT OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. AS DISTURBING AS THE BOMBING ... WAS, THE ERROR WOULD BE COMPOUNDED IF NATO FOLLOWED A DIPLOMATIC ROUTE THAT LEFT [THE] KOSOVARS IN RUINS.

TEXT: LASTLY, WORDS OF CONCERN FROM AN EDITORIAL IN "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES":

VOICE: THE ... BOMBING HAS ALLOWED HARD-LINERS AMONG CHINA'S RULERS TO RIDE HIGH. NEVER COMFORTABLE WITH THE POLICY OF DEVELOPING CLOSER TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS IN THE WEST, THEY HAVE NOW BEEN HANDED THEIR STRONGEST EXCUSE IN MANY YEARS FOR INSISTING ON A TOUGHER ANTI-AMERICAN LINE AND FORCING THEIR MORE MODERATE COLLEAGUES, LIKE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN AND PRIME MINISTER ZHU RONGJI, ONTO THE DEFENSIVE. // OPT

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF U-S PRESS COMMENT ON THE ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.
NEB/ANG/WTW
11-May-99 3:36 PM EDT (1936 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: THERE ARE MORE COMMENTS ON THE ACCIDENTAL NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. MANY PAPERS ARE CRITICAL OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY FOR THE TARGETING MISTAKE, AND OTHERS CRITICAL OF THE CHINESE FOR THEIR "OVER REACTION" TO THE MISTAKE.

OTHER TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE: THE FORTHCOMING ISRAELI ELECTION; WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TORNADO VICTIMS; AND SOME THOUGHTS ON THE INTERROGATION OF POLITICIANS BY THE NEWS MEDIA. NOW, HERE IS _________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THERE IS EXTENSIVE EDITORIAL REACTION TO THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. "THE WICHITA [KANSAS] EAGLE" SAYS: "SORRY [BUT] LET THE FOCUS REMAIN ON THE KOSOVAR'S PLIGHT," REMINDING READERS:

VOICE: .... EVEN IN AN ERA OF SMART BOMBS AND COMPUTER-GUIDED CRUISE MISSILES, WAR IS AN IMPRECISE AND DEADLY PROCESS.

TEXT: ACROSS THE STATE, "THE TOPEKA CAPITOL-JOURNAL" SAYS THE BOMBING HAS PLACED SEVERAL THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, AMONG THEM:

VOICE: ... NO MATTER HOW MANY GOODS WE PURCHASE FROM CHINA, OR HOW MUCH MONEY CHINESE OFFICIALS FUNNEL INTO AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS, THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ARE STILL BITTER ADVERSARIES. /// OPT /// AND THE BOMBING HAS DEMONSTRATED HOW EASILY THE DEEP-SEATED TENSIONS UNDER THE SURFACE CAN BUBBLE TO THE TOP." /// END OPT

TEXT: PORTLAND'S "OREGONIAN'" SAYS, "THE EMBASSY BOMBING AND MINIMAL TROOP WITHDRAWALS AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO STOP [THE] WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA." BUT IN FLORIDA, "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL," CHARACTERIZING THE BOMBING AS "THE LAST THING THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES INTENDED," SUGGESTS:

VOICE: IT IS TIME TO WORK MORE AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD A PEACEFUL SOLUTION."

TEXT: "THE KANSAS CITY [MISSOURI] STAR," HOWEVER, IS UPSET AT THE CHINESE REACTION:

VOICE: ... IT IS SAD TO SEE HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN BE TAKEN IN BY THE RELENTLESS ONSLAUGHT OF OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA. CHINESE LEADERS, ALWAYS QUICK TO TAKE OFFENSE FROM ABROAD, HAVE INSULTED THE UNITED STATES WITH THEIR WILD AND UNSUPPORTED CHARGES THAT THE BOMBING ... WAS INTENTIONAL.

TEXT: "THE BEST EVIDENCE THAT THE BOMBING ... WAS ACCIDENTAL," SAYS TODAY'S "DENVER POST:"

VOICE: "... IS SIMPLY THE FACT THAT IT WAS SO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND DAMAGING TO NATO WAR AIMS. /// OPT /// NO THINKING PERSON CAN BELIEVE NATO WOULD DELIBERATELY OUTRAGE THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS NATION. /// END OPT

TEXT: "THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION" IN JACKSONVILLE SUGGESTS:

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON MUST DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO MAKE AMENDS WITH CHINA, NOT ONLY FOR STRATEGIC REASONS BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE BOMBING WAS WRONG. IT WAS A SHAMEFUL ACCIDENT IN AN UNJUST WAR LED BY AN OUT-OF-CONTROL PRESIDENT.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" IS IN LINE WITH THAT VIEW, WITH THIS EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "BILL CLINTON'S BUNGLERS: THE EMBASSY BOMBING ... AND MORE DEFENSE SECRETS LOST." THAT LAST COMMENT IS REACTION TO NEWS THAT TOP-SECRET U-S INFORMATION ON SUBMARINE-DETECTION RADAR HAS APPARENTLY BEEN SHARED WITH THE CHINESE.

TEXT: TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST" WRITES ABOUT THE CHINESE RESPONSE:

VOICE: ... CHINA HAS REACTED TO THE MISTAKEN NATO BOMBING ... LIKE A TOTALITARIAN NATION.

TEXT: BUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TUESDAY'S "MANCHESTER UNION LEADER" EXCLAIMS:

VOICE: WHAT A PLUPERFECT MESS! ... DAN QUAYLE IS RIGHT: IN 1992, GEORGE BUSH HANDED BILL CLINTON THE MOST FAVORABLE FOREIGN RELATIONS SITUATION ... THIS NATION HAD ENJOYED IN TWO GENERATIONS. MR. CLINTON HAS MANAGED TO THROW IT ALL AWAY AND MAKE A PERFECT HASH OF THINGS. ... IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE HOW ANYONE OTHER THAN BILL CLINTON COULD HAVE CONTRIVED TO MAKE A BIGGER MESS OF ALL THIS.

TEXT: HOWEVER "THE SUN" IN BALTIMORE PROPOSES:

VOICE: NATO MUST STAY THE COURSE - - EVEN WHEN THINGS TO WRONG - - BOMBING SERBIA UNTIL IT AGREES TO REVERSE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO AND RETURN ITS PEOPLE TO LIVE IN PEACE SECURE FROM TERROR.

TEXT: TURNING TO OTHER TOPICS, THERE IS THIS THOUGHT ON THE DIVISIVENESS SURFACING IN THE ISRAELI ELECTION CAMPAIGN FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

VOICE: AT A TIME WHEN ISRAELIS HAVE GENERALLY EMBRACED CONCILIATION WITH OLD ENEMIES, IT IS STARTLING THAT THE NATION IS MORE FRAGMENTED THAN EVER ON ETHNIC AND SECTARIAN LINES. COULD THE LAST CURSE BESTOWED BY THE 20TH CENTURY BE FOR JEWS TO SPLIT INTO FEUDING TRIBAL DIVISIONS, LIKE SO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES? TO HELP AVOID THAT FACE, ISRAELIS CAN USE THE CAMPAIGN TO REINFORCE THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE AND INCLUSION.

TEXT: DOMESTICALLY, THERE ARE WORDS OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OKLAHOMA'S TWO LARGEST DAILIES FOR THE HUNDREDS OF LIVES SHATTERED BY LAST WEEK'S TERRIBLE TORNADOES. "THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN" WRITES:

VOICE: BILL CLINTON, WHO SURVEYED THE DEVASTATION SATURDAY ... ADMIRED 'THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD' OF CRISIS RESPONSE, AND THE PLETHORA OF U-S FLAGS THROUGHOUT THE DEVASTATED AREA, /// OPT /// SAYING: 'THESE FLAGS, FLYING OVER WHAT TO A STRANGER WOULD LOOK LIKE RUBBLE, ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL TO ME THAN IF THEY WERE FLYING OVER A NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF PERFECTLY MANICURED LAWNS AND BIG HOUSES.' /// END OPT /// ... DANNY HARJO SAID HE POSTED HIS FLAG ON OAKWOOD STREET, IN A SCENE OF SYSTEMATIC DEVASTATION, BECAUSE, 'THE ESSENCE OF AMERICA IS HOPE AND BETTER THINGS TO COME.' THAT'S ON THE MARK. ... THE LARGEST PART OF THE REBUILDING JOB LIES AHEAD, BUT A GOOD START HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE.

TEXT: ELSEWHERE, "THE TULSA WORLD" COUNSELS "PERSEVERANCE" TO ITS READERS, /// OPT /// NOTING:

VOICE: THE TEN-THOUSAND OR SO STRUCTURES DESTROYED OR DAMAGED WERE BUILT OVER MANY YEARS; NATURE DESTROYED THEM IN MINUTES. THERE IS A LOT FOR PHILOSOPHERS AND THEOLOGIANS TO PONDER HERE, BUT THE FACT IS THAT MEN AND WOMEN WILL HAVE TO REBUILD. ... IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WILL TAKE YEARS FOR THE AREAS TO RETURN TO A LEVEL OF NORMALCY AND EVEN THEN NO ONE WHO EXPERIENCED THE ORDEAL WILL EVER BE WHOLE AGAIN, EMOTIONALLY OR FINANCIALLY.

TEXT: SPEAKING OF REBUILDING, THERE IS STILL DEVASTATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA AFTER LAST YEAR'S HURRICANE MITCH, AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS UPSET AT THE UNRELATED MATERIAL THAT SOME CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS HAVE ATTACHED TO THE AID BILL.

VOICE: THE WHITE HOUSE HAS THREATENED A VETO, AND RIGHTLY SO. THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION BY STRIPPING THE BILLS OF PROVISIONS THAT HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. .... THE HURRICANE RELIEF BILL INCLUDES COMPENSATING BUDGET CUTS - - OR 'OFFSETS - - THAT WOULD REDUCE SPENDING FOR AN ARRAY OF VALUABLE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN PROGRAMS.

TEXT: /// OPT /// BACK IN OKLAHOMA /// END OPT /// [IN ANOTHER EDITORIAL] TODAY'S "TULSA WORLD" AGREES WITH POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GEORGE W. BUSH -- NOW TEXAS GOVERNOR -- THAT PAST INDISCRETIONS IN A POLITICIAN'S LIFE SHOULD BE LEFT UNREPORTED BY THE PRESS. THE PAPER USES BILL CLINTON'S TROUBLES AS AN EXAMPLE, THEN NOTES:

VOICE: [GOVERNOR] BUSH HAS A POINT - - SEVERAL, IN FACT. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A FEW TIMES SINCE 'GOTCHA' JOURNALISM CAME INTO VOGUE WHEN NEWSHOUNDS MIGHT HAVE GONE TOO FAR. ... ON THE OTHER HAND, JOURNALISTS MUST WALK A FINE LINE IN DETERMINING WHICH STORIES TO PURSUE AND WHICH TO IGNORE. ... CERTAINLY EVERYONE HOPES THE COMING POLITICAL RACES DO NOT DEGENERATE INTO RANK RUJMORMONGERING CONTESTS.

TEXT: AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TUESDAY'S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/GE
11-May-99 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article