Voice of America, 99-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[02] NATO / KOSOVO (S - ALTERNATE) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

[03] ALBANIA/REFUGEES (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)

[04] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[05] U-N / CHINA / NATO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[06] U-N / KOSOVO MISSION / L-O BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[07] RUSSIA/POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[08] RUSSIA/POLITICS 3RD UPDATE (S) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[09] SLOVAK PRESIDENT (L ONLY) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

[01] NATO-KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO HAS CONFIRMED BOMBING AN AREA OF KOSOVO WHERE YUGOSLAVIA SAYS SOME 80 ALBANIAN REFUGEES DIED TAKING SHELTER THERE ON THURSDAY NIGHT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS THAT NATO IS PAYING THE PRICE FOR ITS MORE AGGRESSIVE BOMBING POSTURE AGAINST SERBIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO.

TEXT: NATO HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING SLOW TO HIT SERBIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO. THE ALLIANCE IS NOW TAKING THE BLAME FOR KILLING SCORES MORE REFUGEES WHEN IT THOUGHT IT WAS ATTACKING A SERBIAN MILITARY COMMAND POST.

WHILE NOT DIRECTLY ACCUSING THE SERBS OF USING REFUGEES AS HUMAN SHIELDS TO PROTECT ARTILLERY, NATO SPOKESMAN PETER DANIEL IMPLIES THE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN MOVED INTO THE AREA AROUND KORISA FOR THAT PURPOSE.

IF THERE ARE CIVILIANS IN A TARGET THAT HAS BEEN CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS A MILITARY TARGET IT CERTAINLY WASN'T NATO THAT BROUGHT THEM THERE. WE KNOW WHO BROUGHT THEM THERE. IF THERE WERE CIVILIANS IN THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION IDENTIFIED AS A MILITARY TARGET THEY WERE BROUGHT THERE BY SOMEONE AND WHY AREN'T THOSE PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THEIR HOMES WHERE THEY SHOULD BE?

NATO REPORTS IT CONFIRMED THE SITE NEAR THE CITY OF PRIZREN AS A MILITARY TARGET AS EARLY AS APRIL AND RECONFIRMED THE IDENTIFICATION JUST BEFORE THE ATTACK ON THURSDAY NIGHT. MILITARY SPOKESMAN GENERAL WALTER JERTZ SAYS THE FIRST PILOT DROPPED TWO PRECISION BOMBS ON KORISA AND THEN INSTRUCTED THE OTHER TWO PILOTS TO MAKE FOLLOW UP ATTACKS.

FOLLOWING HIS ATTACK, HE CLEARED HIS WING MAN TO ALSO ATTACK THE SAME TARGET USING TWO MORE LASER-GUIDED BOMBS. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE THIRD AIRCRAFT ENGAGED THE TARGET WITH GRAVITY BOMBS, WITH SIX GRAVITY BOMBS. A TOTAL OF TEN BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON THE TARGET.

GENERAL JERTZ DENIES SERB CLAIMS THAT CLUSTER BOMBS WERE USED BY THE NATO AIRCRAFT IN THIS PARTICULAR ATTACK. NATO EXPRESSES REGRET THAT CIVILIANS DIED WHEN ITS PILOTS THOUGHT THEY WERE ATTACKING SERB ARTILLERY.

SINCE THE AIR STRIKES BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH, NATO HAS HAD TO APOLOGIZE FOR MISSILES GOING ASTRAY OR FOR HITTING CIVILIAN OBJECTS ON TARGETS LIKE BRIDGES. IT APOLOGIZED FOR BOMBING THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WHEN IT THOUGHT IT WAS HITTING A YUGOSLAV MINISTRY.

SPOKESMAN DANIEL SAYS NATO PILOTS HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID HITTING CIVILIANS WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING MILITARY TARGETS.

FIRST OF ALL TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY AND TARGET ONLY MILITARY OR MILITARY RELATED TARGETS AND SECONDLY TO REVALIDATE THOSE TARGETS AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO YOU TODAY TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AND WE'VE TOLD YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN THEY CAN'T BE VALIDATED THERE IS A VERY SIMPLE PROCEDURE, IT IS CALLED ABORT, AWAY WE GO HOME.

NATO INTENDS TO KEEP UP THE ATTACKS IN KOSOVO, TO MAKE LIFE UNBEARABLE FOR THE SERBIAN MILITARY. CIVILIAN CASUALTIES CONTINUE TO BE A BY-PRODUCT OF NATO'S MORE INTENSIVE CONCENTRATION ON GROUND FORCES IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/DW/GE
15-May-99 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO / KOSOVO (S - ALTERNATE) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS NOW ADMIT A NATO BOMBING RAID WENT TERRIBLY WRONG FRIDAY, KILLING PERHAPS 80 CIVILIANS IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON THAT OFFICIALS CALL THE DEATHS REGRETTABLE, BUT VOW TO INTENSIFY AIR ATTACKS ON SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA.

TEXT: U-S AIR FORCE GENERAL CHUCK WALD SAYS SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO HAVE OFTEN USED A BUILDING NEAR THE VILLAGE OF KORISA TO BASE ARTILLERY OR ANTI-AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT. HE SAYS NATO PLANNERS WORK VERY HARD TO HIT SERB SOLDIERS, NOT CIVILIANS. GENERAL WALD SAYS U-S F-16 PILOTS THOUGHT THEY WERE ATTACKING A BUSY MILITARY COMPOUND, BUT HIT KOSOVOAR REFUGEES BY SOMETHING THE MILITARY CALLS "COLLATERAL DAMAGE."

ON THE OTHER HAND, (YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC'S TARGETS ARE 100 PER CENT COLLATERAL DAMAGE.

GENERAL WALD SAYS THIS IS ONE OF A DOZEN NATO RAIDS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG, OUT OF 20-THOUSAND AIR STRIKES. TELEVISION REPORTS OF THE ATTACK'S AFTERMATH SHOW HORRIFIC PICTURES OF SMOULDERING TRACTORS AND DEAD AND INJURED PEOPLE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GE
15-May-99 3:45 PM EDT (1945 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ALBANIA/REFUGEES (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)

INTRO: ALBANIA SAYS NEARLY HALF A MILLION KOSOVAR REFUGEES HAVE ENTERED THE COUNTRY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NATO'S AIR WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. FROM TIRANA, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS AID AGENCIES ARE ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO WINTER AND HOW THEY AND EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY MAY HAVE TO COPE WITH ACCOMMODATING SO MANY PEOPLE NOW LIVING IN TENTS AND REFUGEE CAMPS.

TEXT: THE RETURN OF COLD WEATHER IN THE BALKANS IS PERHAPS NO FARTHER OFF THAN FOUR MONTHS. THAT IS PROMPTING THE UNITED NATIONS AS WELL AS THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER, WHETHER THEY ARE STILL HERE IN ALBANIA OR ARE ABLE TO RETURN TO KOSOVO.

NATO TENTS ALONE WON'T PROVIDE ENOUGH SHELTER AND ANY REFUGEES WHO DO GO BACK TO KOSOVO MAY FIND THEY'VE LOST EVERYTHING. SO THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS DONOR NATIONS TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT A PLAN FOR WINTERIZED HOUSING. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THE BEST PLAN WOULD BE FOR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT AGAINST COLD WEATHER, WHICH COULD BE BUILT FOR REFUGEES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE KOSOVO BORDER. IN FACT, THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, THE U-N-H-C-R, IS CONSIDERING JUST THAT, BUT WORRIES ABOUT FINDING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT PRE-FABRICATED HOUSING WOULD COST. THE AGENCY IS ALREADY PROJECTING A 40 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL JUST FOR THE COSTS OF CARING FOR REFUGEES THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS. STILL, ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MUSA ULQINI (PRON: OLL-CHI-NEE) SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS WILLING TO ACCEPT DOUBLE THE NUMBER THAT HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED. SUCH AN INFLUX WOULD MEAN NEARLY A QUARTER OF ALBANIA'S ENTIRE POPULATION WOULD BE MADE UP OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

THE PRIME MINISTER DECLARED THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO RECEIVE EVEN ONE MILLION. BUT I CAN DECLARE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO RECEIVE ALL THE KOSOVARS THAT MIGHT COME HERE AND ARE FORCED TO COME HERE.

ALBANIA'S GOVERNMENT, HE SAYS, CAN NOT ACT DIFFERENTLY, DESPITE THE BURDEN THAT THE REFUGEE CRISIS IS PLACING ON EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/GE
15-May-99 12:50 PM EDT (1650 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (L) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: LATE FRIDAY, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUED ITS FIRST FORMAL RESPONSE TO NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, LAST WEEK. THE STATEMENT FOLLOWS DAYS OF DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: CHINA ORIGINALLY WANTED THE STATEMENT TO STRONGLY CONDEMN NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. WASHINGTON REJECTED USE OF THE WORD "CONDEMN," SO CHINA ASKED THE COUNCIL TO "DEPLORE" THE BOMBING. BUT WASHINGTON REJECTED THAT WORD, AS WELL AS THE WORD "SHOCK," IN EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT.

AFTER DETAILED DISCUSSIONS LASTING MOST OF THE WEEK, CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES AGREED ON THE TERMS OF A STATEMENT AND OTHER SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ENDORSED IT. THE FINAL STATEMENT -- READ ALOUD BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DENIS DANGUE REWAKA OF GABON -- EXPRESSES DEEP DISTRESS AND PROFOUND REGRET OVER THE BOMBING.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES PROFOUND REGRETS OVER THE BOMBING AND DEEP SORROW FOR THE LOSS OF LIVES, INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BOMBING AND NOTES THAT REGRETS AND APOLOGIES WERE EXPRESSED FOR THIS TRAGEDY BY MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION [NATO].

THE STATEMENT ALSO STRESSES THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE NATO BOMBING.

AFTER AGREEMENT ON THE TEXT WAS REACHED, CHINA TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS IT WAS EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH AND INDIGNANT OVER THE U-S ATTITUDE.

THE STALEMATE OVER THE WORDING OF THE STATEMENT HELD UP COUNCIL PROGRESS ON SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES DURING THE WEEK. CHINA INSISTED THE COUNCIL'S FIRST FORMAL ACTION, AFTER THE BELGRADE BOMBING, BE A RESPONSE TO THAT INCIDENT AND THAT NO OTHER STATEMENTS BE ISSUED NOR RESOLUTIONS PASSED BEFORE ITS COMPLETION.

ONE OF THE ISSUES HELD UP DURING THE WEEK -- BUT APPROVED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STATEMENT ON THE BOMBING WAS RELEASED -- WAS A RESOLUTION ON THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO. THAT RESOLUTION CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE.

U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, PETER BURLEIGH, SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED.

THIS RESOLUTION FOCUSES OUR ATTENTION ON THE URGENT ISSUE AT HAND IN KOSOVO AND THE SURROUNDING REGION: THE PLIGHT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS, AND THE CRITICAL NEED TO ASSIST THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

CHINA'S U-N AMBASSADOR ALSO SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED. HE DENOUNCED NATO FOR LAUNCHING AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA WITHOUT PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVAL AND BLAMED THE NATO ACTION FOR THE OUTFLOW OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL EXCEPT CHINA AND RUSSIA, WHICH ABSTAINED.

THE COUNCIL STOOD FOR TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE DURING ITS SESSION LATE FRIDAY AND EARLY SATURDAY -- ONE MINUTE IN HONOR OF THOSE KILLED IN THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY, THE OTHER MINUTE IN HONOR OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB / UN / MPR / WD
15-May-99 1:35 AM EDT (0535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] U-N / CHINA / NATO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: CHINA TODAY (SATURDAY) REITERATED ITS CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO NATO'S AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AND DENOUNCED NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, LAST WEEK. THE STATEMENTS CAME DURING A LATE-NIGHT MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON.

TEXT: IN A FORMAL, OPEN SESSION OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, CHINESE AMBASSADOR QIN HUASUN DENOUNCED NATO FOR BYPASSING THE COUNCIL IN LAUNCHING ITS AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. QIN BLAMED NATO FOR TRIGGERING THE OUTFLOW OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. HE SAYS NO AGREEMENT ON A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS CAN BE REACHED UNTIL NATO ENDS ITS STRIKES.

NATO IS STILL SAYING THAT ITS AIR CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE. SUCH PERVERSITY BY NATO HAS OUTRAGED THE WHOLE WORLD, AND SHOULD BE STRONGLY CONDEMNED BY EVERYONE WHO HAS REASON AND CONSCIENCE. AS A VICTIM, CHINA HAS EVERY REASON, BOTH ON MORAL AND LEGAL GROUNDS, TO DEMAND THAT NATO IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY STOP THE BOMBING. ARE NOT THE BLOOD AND LOSS OF LIFE OF CHINESE DIPLOMATS TRAGIC ENOUGH TO BRING NATO BACK TO SANITY?

DURING THE OPEN SESSION, COUNCIL MEMBERS ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING DISTRESS, CONCERN AND REGRET AT THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR INCREASED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE DISPLACED PEOPLE OF KOSOVO. CHINA ABSTAINED FROM VOTING ON THAT RESOLUTION, AFTER ITS EFFORTS TO INCLUDE A SENTENCE CALLING FOR THE CESSATION OF MILITARY ACTION WAS REJECTED BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DIPLOMATS SAY THEY HOPE THE COUNCIL'S LATEST STATEMENTS ON KOSOVO WILL HELP REPAIR DIVISIONS AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH THE KOSOVO CRISIS. THEY SAY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON HELPING TO DEVELOP A POLITICAL SOLUTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE END OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO; THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THE PROVINCE; AND THE TERMINATION OF NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB / UN / MPR / WD
15-May-99 2:06 AM EDT (0606 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-N / KOSOVO MISSION / L-O BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS TEAM IS LEAVING GENEVA SATURDAY FOR THE SERBIAN CAPITAL, BELGRADE, ON THE FIRST LEG OF A 12-DAY MISSION TO ASSESS THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND OTHER PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA.YUGOSLAVIA. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN U-N AID WORKERS PERMISSION TO GO TO KOSOVO SINCE MARCH 24TH, WHEN NATO BEGAN ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

TEXT: THE TEAM OF U-N EXPERTS WILL NOT ACTUALLY HIT THE ROAD FOR KOSOVO UNTIL WEDNESDAY. BEFORE THEN, THE EXPERTS WILL MEET WITH YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES. THEY WILL ALSO VISIT SITES OUTSIDE BELGRADE WHICH HAVE BEEN BOMBED BY NATO AND ASSESS THE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF THE CIVILIANS -- MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN INJURED AND LOST THEIR HOMES. THE HEAD OF U-N EMERGENCY RELIEF, SERGIO VIERA DE MELLO, SAYS THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO GAIN ACCESS TO KOSOVO AND FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE INTERNALLY-DISPLACED ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION.

YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SPECULATIONS ABOUT THEIR NUMBERS, RANGING FROM 500 TO 700 THOUSAND PERSONS; ABOUT ALSO THE STATE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS TO CARRY OUT A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS RELATED TO THE POSSIBLE RETURN AND REINTEGRATION OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED.

MR. DE MELLO SAYS THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION FOR MORE THAN SEVEN WEEKS AND ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS IN KOSOVO SINCE INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCIES WITHDREW FROM THE SERBIAN PROVINCE IN ADVANCE OF NATO AIR STRIKES. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME UNITED NATIONS AID OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO IS SURVIVING. MR. DE MELLO SAYS YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES PROMISED THE U-N EXPERTS THEY COULD GO FREELY, WHEREVER THEY WANTED.

WE WILL BE ESCORTED BY YUGOSLAV POLICE, NOT ARMY. AND, AN AGREEMENT HAS ALSO BEEN REACHED THAT SHOULD WE WISH TO VISIT CERTAIN AREAS WITHOUT THAT ESCORT, WE COULD DO SO. OBVIOUSLY, AT OUR OWN RISKS.

THE TEAM IS COMPOSED OF 15 EXPERTS FROM NINE U-N AID AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. MR. DE MELLO SAYS NATO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE TROUP'S INTINERARY AND HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR ITS MISSION.

HE SAYS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS ALSO BEEN INFORMED. (SIGNED)
NEB / LS / WD / WD
15-May-99 6:13 AM EDT (1013 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] RUSSIA/POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS ESCAPED THE THREAT OF IMPEACHMENT. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE COUNTRY'S COMMUNIST-DOMINATED PARLIAMENT FAILED TO MUSTER THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VOTES TO BEGIN THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.

TEXT: SATURDAY'S VOTE WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ANY RUSSIAN WHO WANTED TO SEE PRESIDENT YELTSIN OUT OF OFFICE.

NOT EVEN ONE OF THE FIVE CHARGES CONSIDERED BY PARLIAMENT WON ENOUGH VOTES TO LAUNCH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS.

COMMUNIST LAWMAKER IGOR BRATISHEV SOUNDED GRIM AS HE READ OFF THE NUMBERS.

HE ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS OF THE CLOSEST VOTE -- THE CHARGE ACCUSING PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF ILLEGALLY WAGING WAR IN CHECHNYA; EVEN THAT ACCUSATION FELL SHORT OF THE NEEDED MAJORITY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR PARLIAMENT'S HISTORY, RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS HAD THE CHANCE TO VOTE OPENLY TO REMOVE A RUSSIAN LEADER FROM OFFICE. BUT MANY GAVE UP THAT CHANCE -- OF THE 440 SEATS, ONLY 348 LAWMAKERS SHOWED UP FOR THE LANDMARK VOTE.

A LOW TURNOUT INCREASED CHANCES THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE WOULD FAIL.

THE OTHER FOUR CHARGES UNDER CONSIDERATION RANGED FROM ACCUSING PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF COMMITTING "GENOCIDE" AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE WITH INEPT ECONOMIC POLICIES TO PERSONALLY CAUSING THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION. THE OTHER TWO CHARGES ACCUSED MR. YELTSIN OF DESTROYING RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES, AND VIOLENTLY CRUSHING A PARLIAMENT REBELLION IN 1993.

JUST BEFORE THE VOTE, COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZUGANOV ANGRILY CALLED FOR LAWMAKERS TO UNITE IN OPPOSITION.

HE SAYS -- ANY OF YOU WHO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT YELTSIN VOTES FOR A NEW CHECHNYA, NEW SHAME AND LAWLESSNESS.

KREMLIN OFFICIALS SAY THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT RESPONDED CALMLY TO THE NEWS AND NOW WANTS PARLIAMENT TO RETURN TO ITS USUAL DUTIES.

MOMENTS BEFORE LAWMAKERS VOTED, OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED MR. YELTSIN HAD UNDERGONE A ROUTINE MEDICAL CHECKUP. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN.

THE NEXT BATTLE BETWEEN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT COMES WEDNESDAY WHEN LAWMAKERS WILL VOTE ON PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S NEW CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER. IF LAWMAKERS FAIL TO APPROVE OF HIS CHOICE WITHIN THREE VOTES, THE PRESIDENT CAN DISSOLVE THE ASSEMBLY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EV/DW/GE
15-May-99 1:53 PM EDT (1753 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] RUSSIA/POLITICS 3RD UPDATE (S) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS SURVIVED AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE AGAINST HIM WITH THE COUNTRY'S COMMUNIST-LED LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT FAILING TO GAIN THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VOTES ON THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW HAS MORE.

TEXT: SATURDAY'S VOTE ENDED IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO SEE PRESIDENT YELTSIN OUT OF OFFICE.

NOT EVEN ONE OF THE FIVE CHARGES CONSIDERED BY RUSSIA'S LAWMAKERS WON ENOUGH VOTES TO LAUNCH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS.

THE CHARGES RANGED FROM ACCUSING PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF ILLEGALLY WAGING WAR WITH CHECHNYA IN 1994, TO VIOLENTLY CRUSHING A PARLIAMENT REBELLION IN 1993. OTHER CHARGES INCLUDED COMMITTING "GENOCIDE" AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE, DESTROYING RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES, AND PERSONALLY CAUSING THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION.

THE CLOSEST VOTE CAME ON THE MOTION CHARGING MR. YELTSIN WITH STARTING THE WAR IN CHECHNYA. EVEN THAT CHARGE FELL SHORT OF THE NEEDED MAJORITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/DW/GE
15-May-99 3:49 PM EDT (1949 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] SLOVAK PRESIDENT (L ONLY) BY ALENA KENCLOVA (PRAGUE)

INTRO: SLOVAKS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS SATURDAY (POLLS CLOSE AT 2000 UTC)) TO ELECT THEIR SECOND PRESIDENT SINCE THE BREAK-UP OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO. ALENA KENCLOVA IN PRAGUE HAS MORE.

TEXT: THE CLEAR FRONT RUNNER AMONG THE NINE CANDIDATES IS 65-YEAR-OLD RUDOLF SCHUSTER, THE MAYOR OF KOSICE IN EAST SLOVAKIA. HE WAS MADE THE OFFICIAL CANDIDATE OF A COALITION OF RIGHTIST AND LEFTIST PARTIES IN A COMPLEX DEAL ON THE DIVISION OF TOP POSTS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT SOME COALITION LEADERS SAY THEY DO NOT SUPPORT MR. SCHUSTER, WHO HAS A COMMUNIST PAST. THEY PREFER THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE RACE, MAGDA VASARYOVA, A FORMER ACTRESS AND DIPLOMAT. MRS. VASARYOVA SAYS HER ELECTION WOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT SLOVAKIA HAS REALLY MOVED TOWARD MORE DEMOCRACY AND REFORM AND WOULD THUS REGAIN ITS PLACE AMONG COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO, THE NORTH ATLANTIC DEFENSE ALLIANCE.

PRE-ELECTION POLLS PUT MRS. VASARYOVA IN THIRD PLACE, BEHIND THE CONTROVERSIAL FORMER PRIME MINISTER, VLADIMIR MECIAR, WHO IS SEEKING A POLITICAL COMEBACK AFTER STEPPING DOWN LAST YEAR. OBSERVERS SAY HIS CANDIDACY HAS AGAIN POLARIZED THE SLOVAK POLITICAL SCENE INTO MECIAR OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS.

NONE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS IS EXPECTED TO GAIN A CLEAR MAJORITY NEEDED FOR A CANDIDATE TO BE ELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND. POLLS HAVE GIVEN MR. SCHUSTER AND MR. MECIAR THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR A RUN-OFF TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

BECAUSE OF PAST POLITICAL DIVISIONS, SLOVAKIA HAS BEEN WITHOUT A HEAD OF STATE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. WHEN THE TERM OF THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT EXPIRED, THE PARTIES COULD NOT AGREE ON AN ACCEPTABLE CANDIDATE.

THE NEW FOUR-PARTY COALITION HAS SINCE PUSHED THROUGH A PARLIAMENTARY LAW ALLOWING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY DIRECT BALLOT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AK/DW
15-May-99 10:15 AM EDT (1415 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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