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Voice of America, 99-05-27Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO FIGHTING (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PADESH, ALBANIA)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249884 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FIGHTING HAS INTENSIFIED ALONG KOSOVO'S BORDER WITH ALBANIA. THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY'S DRIVE TO PUSH EAST ONTO THE PLAINS OF KOSOVO IS BEING MET WITH FIERCE RESISTANCE BY SERB INFANTRY AND AIR POWER. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PADESH, ALBANIA. TEXT: SERB INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY FORCE ARE HOLDING BACK A K-L-A DRIVE TO TAKE STRATEGIC LOWLAND POSITIONS THAT WILL CUT THE YUGOSLAV ARMY'S WESTERN COMMAND IN HALF. K-L-A OFFICERS ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY TO MAKE HEADWAY FROM A BORDER OUTPOST NAMED KOSARE WHICH WAS ACCIDENTALLY BOMBED LAST WEEK BY NATO. BUT K-L-A COMMANDERS HAVE VOWED TO PUT MORE MEN AND ARMS INTO THE BATTLE TO REESTABLISH A REBEL SUPPLY ROUTE INTO CENTRAL KOSOVO. ON THURSDAY, HEAVY WEAPONS FIRE RESOUNDED FROM INSIDE THE KOSARE POCKET AS NATO PLANES SWEPT OVERHEAD, BLASTING AT SERB POSITIONS. K-L-A SOURCES SAID SERBIAN SPECIAL FORCES HAD REINFORCED POSITIONS AROUND THE REBEL KOSARE BASE. REBEL FIGHTERS TOLD V-O-A THAT IN SOME CASES, THEY ARE FIGHTING TO WITHIN FOUR METERS OF THE SERBS. SENIOR OPERATIVES AND COMMANDERS IN THE K-L-A HAVE BOASTED THAT THEY ARE ON THE VERGE OF CUTTING IN HALF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY'S WESTERN COMMAND. BUT THEIR BOAST HAS GONE UNMATCHED WITH DEEDS FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF INTENSE NATO BOMBING INSIDE KOSOVO. ETHNIC ALBANIANS FLEEING KOSOVO SAY SERBIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO KILL UNARMED CIVILIANS AT WILL. KOSOVAR CIVILIAN SOURCES ALSO SAY THAT K-L-A FIGHTERS INSIDE THE PROVINCE HAVE CRACKED DOWN ON RIVAL REBEL FIGHTER WITH LINKS TO THE KOSOVAR GOVERNMENT HEADED BY PRESIDENT IBRAHAM RUGOVA. THE ARREST OF AN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF NAMED TOMOR HAS ANGERED RUGOVA SUPPORTERS. K-L-A COMMANDERS HAVE VOWED TO FORCE ABOUT 700 FIGHTERS LOYAL TO MR. RUGOVA OUT OF THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE. INTERNAL DISPUTES AND A LACK OF TRAINING HAVE HAMPERED THE REBELS
IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO REGAIN LOST GROUND SINCE NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN
BEGAN IN LATE MARCH. (SIGNED)
[02] MILOSEVIC WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) (CQ) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249899 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND FOUR OF HIS TOP OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER, DEPORTATION AND PERSECUTION IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED CRIMES COMMITTED IN KOSOVO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE HAS ISSUED WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARREST. LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE DUTCH CAPITAL. TEXT: CHIEF PROSECUTOR LOUISE ARBOUR CALLED THE INDICTMENT AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT. IT TOOK ONLY FIVE MONTHS, SHE SAID, TO GATHER ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE MR. MILOSEVIC -- BOTH PERSONALLY AND AS A COMMANDER -- WITH THE DEPORTATION OF 740-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND THE MURDER OF 340 OTHERS. SHE SAID SOME WILL SAY THE INDICTMENT CAME TOO LATE AND OTHERS WILL SAY IT CAME TOO SOON. BUT MRS. ARBOUR INSISTED THE TIMING IS PERFECT. IT CAME AFTER ENOUGH EVIDENCE WAS GATHERED AND BEFORE THE MEN HAD TIME TO GO INTO HIDING. MRS. ARBOUR SAYS THERE CAN BE NO LASTING PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE. SHE IS CALLING ON ALL U-N MEMBER STATES AND YUGOSLAVIA'S MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF TURN THE MEN OVER TO THE TRIBUNAL'S CUSTODY. ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, MRS. ARBOUR SAYS THE INDICTMENT SHOWS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS NOT SUITABLE TO GUARANTEE ANY KIND OF DEAL -- LET ALONE A PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT SHE ADDS: /// ARBOUR ACT ///THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RENDERED LESS SUITABLE BY THE INDICTMENT. THE INDICTMENT HAS SIMPLY EXPOSED THEIR UNSUITABILITY. ///END ACT///NOW THAT THE INDICTMENTS BEEN ISSUED, LOUISE ARBOUR SAYS, ANY KIND OF IMMUNITY DEAL FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WOULD BE ILLEGAL. SHE PRESSED GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE TURNING OVER ANY POTENTIAL EVIDENCE IN THEIR POSSESSION ON THIS MATTER, SAYING THURSDAY'S CHARGES COULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE WARS IN BOSNIA AND CROATIA. JUDGES AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAVE ISSUED ORDERS TO FREEZE
THE FOREIGN-HELD ASSETS OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND THE FOUR
OFFICIALS INDICTED WITH HIM. (SIGNED)
[03] MILOSEVIC/IMPLICATIONS BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43515 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL HAS INDICTED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND FOUR OTHER TOP YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS ON CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMMITTED IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN LOOKS AT HOW THE INDICTMENT COULD COMPLICATE NATO'S SEARCH FOR AN END TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. TEXT: THE INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MARKS THE FIRST TIME A SITTING HEAD OF STATE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES. THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SERB REPUBLIC, THE ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE MINISTER OF SERBIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS WERE ALSO CHARGED WITH CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, LOUISE ARBOUR SAYS SHE DOUBTS ANY OF THOSE INDICTED WOULD BE CREDIBLE PARTNERS IN A KOSOVO PEACE SETTLEMENT. /// ARBOUR ACT ///ALTHOUGH THE ACCUSED ARE ENTITLED TO THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE UNTIL CONVICTED, THE EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THIS INDICTMENT WAS CONFIRMED RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR SUITABILITY TO BE THE GUARANTOR OF ANY DEAL, LET ALONE A PEACE AGREEMENT. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RENDERED LESS SUITABLE BY THE INDICTMENT. THE INDICTMENT HAS SIMPLY EXPOSED THEIR UNSUITABILITY. /// END ACT ///THE PROBLEM IS NATO CANNOT AVOID DEALING WITH MR MILOSEVIC AS LONG AS HE RULES YUGOSLAVIA. NATO ALLIES INSIST THAT TALKING TO MR. MILOSEVIC ABOUT KOSOVO DOES NOT PROTECT HIM FROM LATER PROSECUTION AS A WAR CRIMINAL. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK TRIES TO PLAY DOWN THE AWKWARDNESS OF THE SITUATION. /// COOK ACT ///IF IT GOT THE REFUGEES BACK TO KOSOVO AND GOT NATO BACK TO KOSOVO, I WOULD ACCEPT A SIGNATURE FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC OR ANYBODY WHO HAS THE POWER TO DELIVER ON IMPLEMENTATION. /// END ACT ///BUT BALKANS EXPERT JOHN ALCOCK OF SCOTLAND'S BRADFORD UNIVERSITY SAYS THAT JUST TALKING TO MR. MILOSEVIC STILL GIVES HIM LEVERAGE OVER A SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO. /// ALCOCK ACT ///MILOSEVIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN ADEPT IN THE PAST AS PRESENTING HIMSELF ALTERNATELY AS PART OF THE PROBLEM AND PART OF THE SOLUTION. HE STEPPED FORWARD IN THE DAYTON ACCORDS, SAYING "I AM THE VOICE OF REASON ABLE TO EXERT SOME LEVERAGE OVER THE HOTHEADS IN BOSNIA." AND WE WERE HAPPY TO ACCEPT HIM IN THAT ROLE. /// END ACT ///IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WESTERN ALLIES HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH ACCUSED WAR CRIMINALS TO WORK OUT A PEACE SETTLEMENT. THE DAYTON NEGOTIATIONS ON BOSNIA INCLUDED SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC, WHO WAS INDICTED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. EVEN EARLIER, AFTER WORLD WAR TWO, GERMAN OFFICIALS WHO NEGOTIATED WITH THE ALLIES WERE LATER TRIED AT NUREMBURG. BUT PROFESSOR ALCOCK SAYS THIS CASE IS DIFFERENT. /// SECOND ALCOCK ACT ///THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE WERE NEGOTIATING AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND WHO ENDED UP AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNALS IN NUREMBURG AND TOKYO -- AT THE TIME THEY WERE DOING THE NEGOTIATION -- HAD NOT BEEN FINGERED ALREADY AS WAR CRIMINALS. THIS WILL BE A NOVEL SITUATION. /// END ACT ///MR ALCOCK SAYS THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INDICTMENT ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS ARE UNCLEAR AND DEPEND ON HOW MR MILOSEVIC AND THE SERB PEOPLE REACT. /// THIRD ALCOCK ACT ///IF AT THIS STAGE HE IS ALREADY INDICTED AS A WAR CRIMINAL, HE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE NOW. THERE ARE NO REAL CONSTRAINTS WHICH WOULD OPERATE ON MILOSEVIC TO MITIGATE WHAT HE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO DO. /// END ACT ///BUT MR. ALCOCK SUGGESTS THE INDICTMENT COULD ALSO UNDERMINE MR. MILOSEVIC'S POWER BASE, IF THE SERB PEOPLE GET FED UP WITH THEIR STATUS AS A PARIAH STATE. //OPT// /// FOURTH ALCOCK ACT ///I DO NOT SEE HOW THE CURRENT FEDERATION OF YUGOSLAV CAN SURVIVE MUCH BEYOND THIS. THE QUESTION THAT CONCERNS ME IS WHAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THE FORMAL RECOGNITION OF THAT. /// END ACT ///MANY ANALYSTS AND DIPLOMATS SAY NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST
YUGOSLAVIA HAS FUELED SERB HOSTILITY AND DEFIANCE. FORMER U-S
PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WARNS THAT FOCUSSING ON THE MILITARY
CAMPAIGN MAKES NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE MORE DIFFICULT. MAYBE SO,
BUT FOR NOW NATO ALLIES SAY THEIR STRATEGY WILL NOT CHANGE.
(SIGNED)
[04] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249882 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO SAYS IT IS NOT CHANGING ITS STRATEGY AS A RESULT OF THE U-N WAR CRIMES INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND FOUR OTHER YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN AT NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE ALLIANCE SAYS IT IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANY DIPLOMATIC COMPLICATIONS THAT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THE INDICTMENTS. TEXT: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MAY BE MORE RELUCTANT THAN EVER TO ACCEPT NATO'S CONDITIONS FOR STOPPING THE BOMBING NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES. BUT NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE MORE COMPLICATED DIPLOMATIC PICTURE IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR NATO. /// SHEA ACT ///AS FOR THE IMPACT ON DIPLOMACY THAT IS NOT A QUESTION FOR NATO. THAT IS A QUESTION TO PUT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ENVOYS WHO MAY VISIT BELGRADE IN THE FUTURE. IT IS FOR THEM -- NOT FOR US -- TO DECIDE WHO ARE THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES TO ACCEPT AND IMPLEMENT THE FIVE CONDITIONS. THE FIVE CONDITIONS -- AS I HAVE ALWAYS POINTED OUT -- ARE NON NEGOTIABLE. WE ARE DEALING HERE WITH ACCEPTANCE, NOT WITH A NEGOTIATION. /// END ACT ///NATO COUNTRIES DO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WITH PEOPLE AND MONEY. NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA HAVE CAPTURED 14 PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES AND TRANSPORTED MANY OF THEM TO THE HAGUE FOR TRIAL. AT THE SAME TIME, INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS RADOVAN KARADZIC AND RATKO MLADIC HAVE NOT BEEN APPREHENDED -- EVEN THOUGH THEIR LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN WIDELY KNOWN. SPOKESMAN SHEA SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE NEWLY INDICTED YUGOSLAV LEADERS WILL NOT FARE ANY BETTER THAN MR. KARADZIC. /// SHEA ACT ///INDEED I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MR. KARADZIC HAS HAD AN ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE LIFE SINCE BEING INDICTED BY THE TRIBUNAL. HE HAS LOST ALL OF HIS POWER, ALL OF HIS INFLUENCE. HE IS A HUNTED MAN EVEN BEFORE HE IS IN THE HAGUE, AND ONE DAY HE SURELY WILL BE IN THE HAGUE. AND I THINK THAT IS AN OBJECT LESSON TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED SO FAR OR WHO WILL BE INDICTED IN THE FUTURE BY THE TRIBUNAL. /// END ACT ///NATO AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN MAKING A RECORD NUMBER OF AIR STRIKES IN YUGOSLAVIA IN RECENT DAYS BECAUSE THE WEATHER HAS BEEN BETTER AND BECAUSE MORE AIRPLANES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE AIR STRIKES. NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN WALTER JERTZ SAYS YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSE HAS SET SOME RECORDS OF ITS OWN.. /// JERTZ ACT ///THE GOOD WEATHER THAT IS HELPING OUR PILOTS TO SEE THEIR TARGETS MORE EASILY IS IN TURN, OF COURSE, HELPING THEM TO DETECT OUR AIRCRAFT AND GUIDE THEIR MISSILES VISUALLY. YESTERDAY, OVER 30 MISSILES WERE FIRED AGAINST NATO AIRCRAFT AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE WAS VERY ACTIVE. .ONE OF OUR PILOTS HAD TO EVADE TWO MISSILES FIRED IN A SALVO AGAINST HIM AND ONE -- HE TOLD US YESTERDAY NIGHT -- PASSED SO CLOSE TO THE AIRCRAFT THAT HE HEARD AND FELT THE TURBULENCE AS IT PASSED AND EXPLODED NEAR HIS AIRCRAFT. /// END ACT ///GENERAL JERTZ SAYS HE BELIEVES THE YUGOSLAV AIR DEFENSE IS HOPING
TO HIT A LUCKY SHOT BECAUSE SO MANY YUGOSLAV RADARS HAVE ALREADY
BEEN DESTROYED BY NATO AIRCRAFT. (SIGNED)
[05] K-L-A MUCH STRONGER (L-O) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249904 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A TOP PENTAGON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER SAYS THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY IN STRENGTH AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AND MAY ONE DAY BE A MATCH FOR THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS CREDIT NATO AIR STRIKES AND A FLOOD OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THE GROWING STRENGTH OF THE K-L-A. TEXT: PENTAGON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER TOM WILSON SAYS THE K-L-A NOW HAS 15 TO 17 THOUSAND GUERRILLA FIGHTERS OPERATING IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. HE SAYS ANOTHER FIVE THOUSAND ARE TRAINING JUST ACROSS THE BORDER IN ALBANIA. REAR ADMIRAL WILSON SAYS THAT IS A THREE HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. /// WILSON ACT ///THEY APPEAR TO BE A RESURGENT GROUP WHICH IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NATO AIR STRIKES, GENERAL WESTERN SYMPATHY AND A GROUND SWELL OF VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS IN ALBANIA, WHO HAVE GOTTEN TO ALBANIA FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AS WELL AS IN THE CAMPS. /// END ACT ///BUT THE SERB-DOMINATED YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE ABOUT 40-THOUSAND TROOPS AND POLICE STATIONED IN OR NEAR KOSOVO. LAST YEAR, THOSE TROOPS NEARLY CRUSHED THE K-L-A, BUT ADMIRAL WILSON SAYS THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS ARE NOW STEPPING UP OFFENSIVE HARASSMENT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE LARGER, STRONGER, BETTER ARMED YUGOSLAV FORCES. /// WILSON ACT ///WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF A SIGNIFICANT OPERATION OCCURRING IN SOUTH WESTERN KOSOVO. THE NUMBER OF U-C-K [OO-CHA-KAH EDS: LOCAL NAME FOR K-L-A] PARTICIPANTS IN THIS MAY ACTUALLY BE AS LARGE AS THEIR TOTAL STRENGTH WAS AS RECENTLY AS A YEAR AGO. /// END ACT ///ADMIRAL WILSON SAYS THE K-L-A'S NEW, MORE SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED MILITARY LEADERSHIP GETS SOME OF THE CREDIT FOR THE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE. THE K-L-A IS ALSO RAISING MORE MONEY TO BUY WEAPONS AND ARE CAPTURING STILL MORE FIREPOWER FROM YUGOSLAV FORCES. MEANTIME, THE RAIN OF NATO BOMBS ACROSS SERBIA HAS HURT YUGOSLAV FORCES BY CUTTING SUPPLIES OF AMMUNITION AND FUEL, AND WRECKING SERB TANKS, BRIDGES AND AIRCRAFT. THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER SAYS SERBS MANNING TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND ARTILLERY ARE RELUCTANT TO MOVE THEM AROUND KOSOVO PROVINCE OUT OF FEAR THEY WILL BE DESTROYED BY NATO WARPLANES -- WHICH ARE NOW OPERATING DAY AND NIGHT. DESTROYING SERB HEAVY WEAPONS OR FORCING THEM TO HIDE INSTEAD OF FIGHT, IS REDUCING THE OVERWHELMING MILITARY SUPERIORITY YUGOSLAV FORCES ONCE ENJOYED. AND THE REBELS MAY SOON BE ABLE TO TAKE AND HOLD SOME TERRITORY. WHILE ADMIRAL WILSON SAYS K-L-A GUERRILLAS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED
AND GROWING STRONGER, HE SAYS THEY ARE NOT READY TO BEAT THE
SERBS IN A DIRECT 'FORCE ON FORCE' ENGAGEMENT. (SIGNED)
[06] CHICAGO / KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-O) BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)DATE=5/26/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249847 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE FIRST OF AN EVENTUAL FIVE-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES TO BE SETTLED IN THE MIDWEST U-S CITY OF CHICAGO HAS ARRIVED. THEY WERE GREETED AT THE CITY'S O'HARE AIRPORT WEDNESDAY BY RELATIVES. VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND HAS MORE. TEXT: THE LAST DOZEN PASSENGERS OFF AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 3-3-3 HAVE ARRIVED AT THEIR NEWEST HOME, CHICAGO. THEY WERE PRESENTED FLOWERS BY OFFICIALS FROM WORLD RELIEF, AN ORGANIZATION HELPING TO SETTLE ABOUT 300 REFUGEES IN THE AREA. // REFUGEE, BROTHER AND RELIEF AGENCY WORKER ACT //[ALBANIAN ACT] (BROTHER) SHE IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR US. (RELIEF AGENCY WORKER ACT) IT IS OUR PLEASURE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU IN THE FUTURE. // END ACT //THEIR FIRST TASTE OF LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS FACING THE GLARING LIGHTS OF TELEVISION CAMERAS FROM LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS. PATTY SULEJMANI IS AMONG AREA RELATIVES TAKING IN REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES. SHE TOLD REPORTERS WHAT HER NIECE AND THE FIVE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH. // SULEJMAN ACT //SHE ESCAPED FROM KOSOVO TO MACEDONIA. SHE WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THE CAMP WAS FULL. THEY SPENT NIGHTS IN THE STREET. THEY WERE TAKEN IN BY A FAMILY THERE UNTIL WE COULD GET HER. // END ACT //BLERIM PRUTHI SAYS HE LEFT KOSOVO TWO DAYS AFTER THE NATO BOMBING STARTED, AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN MACEDONIA SINCE. HE HOPES TO RETURN TO KOSOVO ONE DAY, BUT DOES NOT THINK THAT WILL BE ANYTIME SOON. // PRUTHI ACT //WE KNOW THAT EVERYTHING THERE, THERE IS NO LIFE ANYMORE. THEY (SERB FORCES) DID A LOT OF THINGS. UNDESCRIBABLE THINGS. // END ACT //MANY OF THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES WILL LIVE WITH RELATIVES IN THE
CHICAGO AREA. RELIEF AGENCIES ARE ALSO RECRUITING LOCAL FAMILIES
TO HOUSE THOSE WITH NO RELATIVES IN THE AREA. (SIGNED)
[07] BRITAIN / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249868 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES TO BUILD A NEW CAMP FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN WESTERN MACEDONIA. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE CAMP SHOULD BE READY IN THE NEXT WEEK. TEXT: BRITAIN'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER, CLARE SHORT, SAYS MACEDONIA HAS APPROVED THE NEW CAMP, WHICH WILL BE BUILT AT VRAPCISTE (VRAP CHEE STAY) NEAR THE ALBANIAN BORDER. /// SHORT ACT ONE ///THIS WILL HOUSE TEN-THOUSAND REFUGEES BUT COULD LATER BE DOUBLED IN SIZE AND SHOULD BE READY IN SEVEN TO TEN DAYS. /// END ACT ///UNTIL NOW MACEDONIA HAS REFUSED TO BUILD MORE CAMPS AND HAS COMPLAINED IT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES. AUTHORITIES HAVE TRIED TO MOVE THEM OUT TO ALBANIA OR OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, U-N OFFICIALS BLOCKED A MACEDONIAN BUS THAT TRIED TO MOVE REFUGEES FROM THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO TO ALBANIA AGAINST THEIR WILL. MISS SHORT SAYS AID OFFICIALS NOW ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SUDDEN ABSENCE OF REFUGEES AT MACEDONIA'S BORDER WITH KOSOVO AFTER THE FLOOD OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS. /// SHORT ACT TWO ///IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S A CAT AND MOUSE GAME BEING PLAYED NOW WITH DISPLACED PEOPLE INSIDE KOSOVO. FOR DAYS, NOBODY ARRIVES AT THE BORDER. THEN THERE ARE SUDDEN OUTSURGES. THE ARRIVAL OF THE MEN WHO HAD BEEN IMPRISONED AND TORTURED SUGGESTS THAT CENTRAL CONTROL IS BREAKING DOWN. PERHAPS THEIR CAPTORS REFLECTED ON THE COMING DEFEAT AND DID NOT WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WAR CRIMES. /// END ACT ///MISS SHORT SAYS AID OFFICIALS ALSO ARE WORRIED ABOUT CONDITIONS
INSIDE KOSOVO. SHE SAYS BRITAIN IS HELPING TO PAY FOR AN AIR
DROP OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO ETHNIC ALBANIANS STILL TRAPPED
INSIDE KOSOVO. SHE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS HAS MANAGED
TO SET UP AN OFFICE IN PRISTINA AND WILL SOON OFFER DETAILS ABOUT
CONDITIONS INSIDE THE PROVINCE IN PREPARATION FOR AN EVENTUAL
RETURN OF THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
[08] KOSOVO REFUGEES ABUSED (L) BY NICK SIMEONE (TIRANA)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249876 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REPORTS SOME OF THE VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO ARE ENCOUNTERING MORE ABUSE ONCE THEY BECOME REFUGEES IN ALBANIA. THIS, AS THE U-N TRIES TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE KOSOVO / ALBANIAN BORDER WHERE THERE HAS BEEN AN UPSURGE IN CROSS BORDER SHELLING. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE HAS DETAILS FROM THE ALBANIAN CAPITAL, TIRANA. TEXT: FOR A SECOND DAY, THURSDAY, SEVERAL TOWNS ALONG THE ALBANIA / KOSOVO BORDER HAVE BEEN HIT BY SERB SHELLING FROM AN AREA WHERE FIGHTING IS REPORTED WITH KOSOVAR REBELS. THE O-S-C-E, WHICH MONITORS THE BORDER, SAYS ALBANIAN BORDER POLICE HAVE BEEN FIRING BACK, ALL OF THIS FORCING UNITED NATIONS STAFF TO PULL BACK FROM THE REGION. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE REPORTED KILLED ON THE ALBANIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER WEDNESDAY AND THE O-S-C-E SAYS A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD THURSDAY. THE SHELLING UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO GET REFUGEES IN THE REGION TO MOVE FURTHER INSIDE ALBANIA'S BORDER. THE UNITED NATIONS IS NOW HEARING ABOUT WHAT IT SAYS ARE ATTEMPTS TO FORCE KOSOVAR REFUGEES TO JOIN THE K-L-A OR ORGANIZED CRIME. UNICEF SPOKESMAN ROBERT COHEN SAYS REBELS ARE INFILTRATING REFUGEE CAMPS, ATTEMPTING TO COERCE REFUGEES TO JOIN. // COHEN ACT //THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASED K-L-A PRESENCE IN THE CAMPS. AND THERE WAS ONE PLACE WHERE THE YOUTH COUNSEL WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION AND RECRUITERS CAME INTO THE CAMP AND TOOK SIX YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY. // END ACT //// OPT //BUT AWAY FROM THE CAMPS, UNICEF SPOKESMAN ROBERT COHEN SAYS KOSOVAR GIRLS LIVING WITH ALBANIAN FAMILIES ARE BEING TARGETED BY WHAT HE CALLS MAFIA-TYPE ELEMENTS. // SECOND COHEN ACT //UNICEF IS CONCERNED AT THE GROWING NUMBER OF REPORTS ABOUT ATTEMPTS TO LURE OR KIDNAP YOUNG GIRLS FOR PROSTITUTION. // END ACT //AID AGENCIES CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH TO PROTECT REFUGEES ONCE THEY
ARE TAKEN IN BY ALBANIAN FAMILIES. AT THAT POINT, IT'S UP TO
ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES WHOSE CONTROL OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL TIRANA
IS CHALLENGED BY GANGS THAT TOOK OVER MUCH OF THE COUNTRY
FOLLOWING NATIONWIDE ANARCHY TWO YEARS AGO. (SIGNED)
[09] RESETTLING REFUGEES BY MICHAEL LELAND (CHICAGO)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43519 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: MORE THAN 60-THOUSAND KOSOVO REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY LEFT MACEDONIA FOR TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT STAYS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. EVENTUALLY, 20-THOUSAND WILL MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE UNITED STATES, WHERE THEY WILL LIVE WITH EITHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR HOST FAMILIES. SOME OF THE REFUGEES WILL END UP IN THE MIDWEST U-S CITY OF CHICAGO, WHERE THEY ARE BEING RESETTLED WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS. VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND TELLS US, THOSE GROUPS HELP REFUGEES FIND HOMES, EMPLOYMENT AND, FOR SOME, LANGUAGE TRAINING. TEXT: // ROOM NOISE (ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER TEXT) // AT CHICAGO'S O'HARE AIRPORT RECENTLY, NICK ABRASHI HAD COME TO PICK UP HIS TWO COUSINS AND THEIR FAMILIES. EIGHT PEOPLE IN ALL, WHO FLED FROM KOSOVO AND ARE NOW BEGINNING NEW LIVES IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS. // ABRASHI ACT //KIND OF HARD TO DESCRIBE. IT IS VERY EXCITING AFTER ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. IT IS JUST AWESOME, AWESOME TO SEE THEM HERE AND SAFE. // END ACT //ARSIM HASANI WAS HERE TO PICK UP HIS FATHER, QEMAL. // HASANI ACT //WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH NOW, IT IS A BIG RELIEF. I AM STILL WORRIED ABOUT MY COUNTRY, MY PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN THERE (KOSOVO). CLOSE, VERY CLOSE FAMILY. BUT I AM VERY HAPPY THAT MY PARENTS MADE IT HERE. THEY ARE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSE. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY PARENTS AND SOMEBODY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND KICKED THEM OUT OF THEIR HOUSE. // END ACT //THE DOZEN OR SO KOSOVARS WHO LANDED IN CHICAGO ON THIS DAY WERE BROUGHT WITH THE HELP OF WORLD RELIEF, ONE A SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS HELPING TO RESETTLE THE CONFLICT'S REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES. REFUGEE CASE WORKER HEATHER ELEY SAYS WHILE THESE REFUGEES WERE FLOWN TO CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE RELATIVES HERE, OTHERS WILL NOT. SO, WORLD RELIEF IS LOOKING FOR HOST FAMILIES TO HELP OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF A REFUGEE'S ARRIVAL. // ELEY ACT //HOST FAMILIES REALLY HELP US IF THEY CAN HOUSE A FAMILY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE WEEK TO A MONTH, WHILE WE FINALIZE THE DETAILS OF THEIR PERMANENT HOUSING. NO FAMILY IS EXPECTED TO KEEP ANYONE (REFUGEE) FOREVER. // END ACT //WORLD RELIEF VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR JOHN BARCANIC SAYS DOZENS OF AREA FAMILIES HAVE CONTACTED HIS OFFICE, OFFERING TO HOUSE KOSOVARS. HE SAYS PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEERS ARE INTERVIEWED, THEIR HOMES INSPECTED, AND THEY GET A BRIEFING ON WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE VISITORS ARRIVE. // BARCANIC ACT //ENOUGH SPACE, THE BASICS OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE A GOOD, HEALTHY, FAMILY SITUATION. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF ORIENTATION AS FAR AS THE CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, AND WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED. // END ACT //HEATHER ELEY SAYS CULTURAL TRAINING IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE REFUGEES, MANY OF WHOM WILL FIND LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY ARE USED TO. // ELEY ACT //I WAS WITH A SOMALI COUPLE LAST WEEK. SHE HAD NEVER SEEN AN ESCALATOR BEFORE. IT WAS LEARNING TO SEE THINGS THROUGH THEIR EYES. STAIRS THAT MOVE -- THAT IS REALLY DIFFERENT. // END ACT //UNDER UNITED STATES LAW, REFUGEES ARE WELCOME TO APPLY FOR WORK PERMITS, AS WELL AS PERMANENT RESIDENCE. SEVERAL OF THE NEWLY-ARRIVED KOSOVARS HERE AT O'HARE AIRPORT, LIKE BLERIM PRUTHI, SAY THEY DO NOT PLAN TO MAKE THE UNITED STATES THEIR PERMANENT HOME. // PRUTHI ACT //OF COURSE WE HOPE THAT WE WILL GO BACK THERE AND THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE SETTLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE HOPE THAT WE WILL GO BACK SOON. // END ACT //AN ESTIMATED FIVE THOUSAND KOSOVAR REFUGEES ARE EXPECTED TO
SETTLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA DURING THE COMING MONTHS. (SIGNED)
[10] U-S / WAR CRIMES (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249897 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES SHOWS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. VOA'S DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING HIS FLORIDA VACATION, MR. CLINTON SAID INDICTMENT OF MR. MILOSEVIC WILL DETER FUTURE WAR CRIMES BY ESTABLISHING THAT THOSE WHO GIVE ORDERS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. MR. CLINTON SAYS THE INDICTMENT HANDED DOWN BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE ALSO SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE SERB PEOPLE. // CLINTON ACT //IT WILL MAKE CLEAR TO THE SERBIAN PEOPLE PRECISELY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONFLICT AND WHO IS PROLONGING IT. // END ACT //THE INDICTMENT HANDED DOWN AGAINST MR. MILOSEVIC AND OTHER TOP SERB OFFICIALS, CHARGES THEM WITH CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, INCLUDING MURDER, DURING THE KOSOVO CONFLICT. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT CALLED THE INDICTMENTS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT THAT SHOWS HOW ISOLATED THE SERB LEADERS ARE. SHE SAYS THEY UNDERSCORE THE REASONS NATO BECAME INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. // ALBRIGHT ACT //IT REALLY DOES MAKE VERY CLEAR WHY THE ALLIANCE FELT IT WAS IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE THE ACTION THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AND WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO PERSIST. // END ACT //// OPTIONAL //// AXWORTHY ACT //IT PROVIDES AGAIN A FURTHER DECLARATION THROUGH THE U-N SYSTEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IN KOSOVO. // END ACT // // END OPTIONAL //MS. ALBRIGHT SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHAT IMMEDIATE IMPACT
THE INDICTMENTS WOULD HAVE ON DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO END THE
CONFLICT. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT EXPECT ANY KIND OF IMMUNITY DEAL
FOR MR. MILOSEVIC AS PART OF AN EVENTUAL SETTLEMENT. (SIGNED)
[11] SENATE-KOSOVO(S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=5/26/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249848 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS EASILY TURNED BACK (77 TO 21) AN ATTEMPT TO CUT OFF MONEY FOR THE WAR IN KOSOVO WHEN THE GOVERNMENT'S NEXT FISCAL YEAR STARTS IN OCTOBER. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS. TEXT: THIS WAS THE LATEST OF SEVERAL EFFORTS TO BLOCK OR RESTRICT FUNDING FOR THE BALKANS - ESPECIALLY FOR ANY POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CARL LEVIN WARNS THE MEASURE WOULD SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL TO BELGRADE. // LEVIN ACT //AND IT AT THE SAME TIME TELLS (YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT) MILOSEVIC : "ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS HANG IN THERE UNTIL OCTOBER FIRST AND YOU WON'T EVEN FACE AN AIR CAMPAIGN. YOU WON'T FACE ANY KIND OF A CAMPAIGN. YOU WILL HAVE SUCCEEDED IN KOSOVO". // END ACT //THOSE WHO FAVOR THE CUTOFF SAY BOMBING HAS FAILED AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS NO OTHER STRATEGY. REPUBLICAN BOB SMITH IS ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S SHARPEST CRITICS. // SMITH ACT //AND WE DON'T NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER BEEN A STRONG MILITARY LEADER, WHO INDEED HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE MILITARY, TO SOMEHOW BE THE MACHO (STRONG) MAN HERE AND DRAG US INTO A WAR THAT WE DON'T BELONG IN. // END ACT //THOUGH THIS PROPOSAL FELL SHORT, OTHERS LIKE IT ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. (SIGNED)
[12] BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY COLIN LOVETT (WASHINGTON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249895 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF FORMER U-S OFFICIALS ARE CALLING ON NATO TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR A GROUND WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA. AS V-O-A'S COLIN LOVETT REPORTS, MEMBERS OF THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL SAY THURSDAY'S INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS LIKELY TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR NATO TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT THROUGH A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. TEXT: MEMBERS OF THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL SAY THERE MUST BE NO COMPROMISE WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ON KOSOVO'S FUTURE. THEY SAY UNLESS THE YUGOSLAV LEADER PULLS ALL OF HIS FORCES OUT OF KOSOVO PROVINCE, NATO SHOULD LAUNCH A GROUND CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE HIM OUT. THE GROUP TOLD REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON THAT UNLIKE U-S AND NATO OFFICIALS, THEY ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT AIR STRIKES WILL BE ENOUGH TO WIN. THEY ADDED THAT THE INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC FOR ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY WILL FURTHER HINDER THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. FORMER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN STEVEN SOLARZ NATO'S TERMS FOR KOSOVO -- A COMPLETE SERBIAN WITHDRAWAL, REPATRIATION OF ALL ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVARS, AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO IMPLEMENT PEACE AND AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO -- WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED BY THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. // SOLARZ ACT //FROM MR. MILOSEVIC'S POINT OF VIEW AND POINT OF VIEW OF HIS SERBIAN ASSOCIATES, THE OBJECTIVES NATO HAS SET FORTH FOR AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT ARE TANTAMOUNT TO THE RELINQUISHMENT OF SERBIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER KOSOVO. WHICH IS SOMETHING, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NO SERB LEADER COULD POSSIBLY ACCEPT. // END ACT //HE ADDED ANY FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS AT THIS POINT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE BECAUSE MR. MILOSEVIC IS NOW AN OFFICIAL WAR CRIMES SUSPECT. JEANE KIRKPATRICK, THE FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, SAYS NATO'S CREDIBILITY AND THE FUTURE STABILITY OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE ARE AT STAKE. // KIRKPATRICK ACT //WHEN WE SUCCEED, THE UNITED STATES AND NATO SUCCEED IN ACHIEVING OUR GOALS THERE, WE WILL HAVE REINFORCED THE ENVIRONMENT AS A PLACE IN WHICH DEMOCRACIES STRIKE ROOT (GROW) AND PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY AND BUILD MODERN, FREE, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES. // END ACT //THE BALKAN ACTION COUNCIL SAYS THAT ANY ENDING TO THE CONFLICT IN WHICH SERB TROOPS REMAIN IN KOSOVO WOULD CONSTITUTE A DEFEAT FOR NATO. NATO IS DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE OF DISPATCHING GROUND FORCES BUT
MILITARY PLANNERS ARE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY. PRESIDENT
CLINTON -- ONE OF THE MOST RELUCTANT NATO LEADERS TO COMMIT
TROOPS ON THE GROUND -- HAS RECENTLY SUGGESTED THAT A LAND FORCE
COULD BE CONSIDERED. IN THE MEANTIME, NATO OFFICIALS SAY THEY
ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING OUT THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
UNTIL THE SERBS MEET THEIR DEMANDS. (SIGNED)
[13] CONGRESS-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (CAPITOL HILL)DATE=5/26/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249836 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// RE-RUNNING W/CHANGE NAME IN THE SECOND ACT ///INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ARE URGING THE WHITE HOUSE TO PUSH FOR THE INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THIS MOVE COMES AMID REPORTS THAT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE IS READY TO ACT. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON HAS THE STORY FROM CAPITOL HILL. TEXT: THE FIRST REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE INDICTMENT REACHED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS GATHERED BEFORE TELEVISION CAMERAS TO READ A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON. THEY CALLED ON HIM TO HOLD SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ACCOUNTABLE FOR WAR CRIMES, AND PASS ALONG ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION TO THE TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. WHILE NONE COULD CONFIRM AN INDICTMENT IS IMMINENT, THERE WERE SIGNS OF OPTIMISM. DEMOCRAT BENJAMIN CARDIN OF MARYLAND DRAFTED THE LETTER, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY SIGNED BY MORE THAN 60 HOUSE MEMBERS. ///CARDIN ACT///THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS. WE BELIEVE THAT MR. MILOSEVIC MAY, IN FACT, BE INDICTED. THAT IS GOOD NEWS. IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR HUMANITY. ////END ACT////MEMBERS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES BACKED THE LETTER, INCLUDING MANY LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE VISITED CAMPS HOUSING REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. DEMOCRAT DAVID BONIOR OF MICHIGAN RECENTLY MADE THE TRIP. ///BONIOR ACT////THE REPORTS THAT (MR.) MILOSEVIC WILL BE INDICTED FOR HIS WAR CRIMES SUPPORT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG. (MR.) MILOSEVIC IS A WAR CRIMINAL. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN A BRUTAL CAMPAIGN OF GENOCIDE. ////END ACT////THE RESPONSE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO WORD OF A POSSIBLE
INDICTMENT WAS CAUTIOUS. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT REFUSED TO
COMMENT ON THE REPORTS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS LONG SAID THAT
SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF HIS TROOPS,
AND WAR CRIMES HAVE OCCURRED. BUT U-S OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO SAID
WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD BE INDICTED IS A MATTER FOR THE HAGUE
TRIBUNAL TO DECIDE. (SIGNED)
[14] MILOSEVIC REACT (L ONLY) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249891 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP -- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -- HAILED THE INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV LEADER SOLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TODAY (THURSDAY) AS A LONG OVERDUE MOVE TOWARD JUSTICE IN THE BALKANS. VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK: TEXT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REJECTS FEARS THAT INDICTING MR. MILOSEVIC WILL DESTROY ANY PROSPECT FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP NOTES SIMILAR ACTION MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN BOSNIA. A PEACE DEAL -- THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS -- WAS SIGNED IN 1995 EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL HAD ALREADY INDICTED KEY BOSNIAN SERBS. IN ANY CASE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BELIEVES MR. MILOSEVIC HAS FORFEITED HIS RIGHT TO ACT AS A GUARANTOR OF PEACE IN HIS COUNTRY. IT SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL -- UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES -- SHOULD EVER CONSIDER GRANTING HIM IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION TO ENTICE HIM TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. DIANE PAUL -- A BALKANS EXPERT WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -- SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC'S CRIMES CANNOT BE UNDONE: //PAUL ACT//EVEN IF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE PERMITTED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH LOSS OF LIFE, SO MUCH TRAUMATIZATION OF THE POPULATION. THE EFFECT ON THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES OF LOSING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR HAVING BEEN THROUGH TORTURE OR RAPE -- THOSE EFFECTS CAN'T BE REVERSED. //END ACT//MS. PAUL SAYS THE WORLD CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME AS LONG AS MR. MILOSEVIC STAYS IN POWER. SHE SAYS THE INDICTMENT INITIALLY MAY PROMPT MANY SERBS TO RALLY AROUND THEIR LEADER. BUT MS. PAUL SAYS THERE ARE SOME CRACKS IN MR. MILOSEVIC'S POWER BASE AND THESE, IN TIME, COULD BE HIS UNDOING: //PAUL ACT//FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE ANTI-WAR PROTESTS ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN SERBIA, WHERE IN FACT A LOT OF MOTHERS HAVE PROTESTED AGAINST THEIR SONS BEING SENT TO KOSOVO. AND THERE HAVE BEEN DESERTIONS FROM THE ARMY AS WELL. AND CERTAINLY ONE COULD HOPE THAT THE MORE MODERATE ELEMENTS IN THE SOCIETY WOULD BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT PERHAPS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THEM. //END ACT//SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE TO COME UNDER
INTERNATIONAL INDICTMENT FOR WAR CRIMES WHILE STILL IN OFFICE.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CALLS THE MOMENT HISTORIC AND A POWERFUL
WARNING TO AUTOCRATS AROUND THE WORLD. (SIGNED)
[15] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249863 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE (PENDING) WAR CRIMES INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS CAST A SHADOW OVER EFFORTS TO MEDIATE AN END TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THERE IS STILL A QUESTION ABOUT A PLANNED TRIP TO BELGRADE BY RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY. TEXT: THE TRIP IS ON, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL SOURCES IN MOSCOW. RUSSIAN ENVOY VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN'S OFFICE THURSDAY REFUTED MEDIA REPORTS THAT HE WOULD POSTPONE HIS SCHEDULED VISIT TO BELGRADE IN LIGHT OF THE (PENDING) INDICTMENT OF THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WAS CLEARLY UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE TO CANCEL WHAT WOULD BE HIS FOURTH TRIP TO BELGRADE SINCE NATO AIRSTRIKES BEGAN. U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT, AFTER A DAY-LONG MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN ENVOY WEDNESDAY, TOLD A REPORTER HE WAS NOT SURE MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WOULD GO. THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY QUOTED A SENIOR WESTERN DIPLOMATIC SOURCE IN LONDON AS SAYING THE VISIT HAD BEEN PUT OFF. AND AS THE SECOND DAY OF TALKS DRAGGED ON, A WESTERN DIPLOMAT TOLD V-O-A HE THINKS A CANCELLATION IS STILL LIKELY. BUT THROUGH IT ALL, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S OFFICE STOOD FIRM, SAYING THE ENVOY WILL GO. THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, IN A STATEMENT, CALLED THE DECISION TO BRING WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST MR. MILOSEVIC "COMPLETELY POLITICIZED." THE STATEMENT SAID THE CHARGES WOULD NOT HELP TO BRING ABOUT A PEACE SETTLEMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA. IN AN OPINION PIECE IN THURSDAY'S WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAID HE WOULD RECOMMEND A RUSSIAN PULLOUT FROM PEACE TALKS UNLESS NATO HALTS AIR STRIKES. OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW HAVE OFTEN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF CARRYING ON NEGOTIATIONS IN THE MIDST OF A BOMBING CAMPAIGN. IF HE GOES, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WILL BE TAKING WITH HIM TO BELGRADE A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN HAMMERED OUT DURING HIS TWO DAYS OF TALKS WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE TALBOTT AND THE EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVE, FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE WORD ON THE CONTENTS OF THE DOCUMENT,
WHICH IS SAID TO FORM THE BASIS OF A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. BUT
SOURCES CLOSE TO THE TALKS SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO DEVIATION FROM
NATO'S FIVE BASIC DEMANDS FOR AN END TO AIR STRIKES. (SIGNED)
[16] KOSOVO DIPLOMACY UPDATE (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249883 CONTENT= VOICED AT: //UPDATES WITH MEETINGS CONCLUDING IN MOSCOW; NEW DETAILS///INTRO: RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY IS PREPARING TO FLY TO BELGRADE FOLLOWING TWO DAYS OF INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS IN MOSCOW WITH U-S AND EUROPEAN NEGOTIATORS ON KOSOVO. BUT AS VOA MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS, THE TALKS YIELDED LITTLE, IF ANY, SIGNS OF PROGRESS. TEXT: RUSSIAN ENVOY VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL TRAVEL TO THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL FRIDAY FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE TRIP WAS POSTPONED BY ONE DAY BECAUSE THE TALKS IN MOSCOW WITH U-S AND EUROPEAN NEGOTIATORS WENT ON A FULL DAY LONGER THAN EXPECTED. IN THE MEANTIME, MR. MILOSEVIC WAS INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, BUT RUSSIAN SOURCES SAY THE INDICTMENT WILL NOT AFFECT MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S PLANS. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY THURSDAY DESCRIBED THE TRIBUNAL'S ACTION AS "POLITICALLY MOTIVATED", AND SAID THE INDICTMENT WOULD COMPLICATE EFFORTS TO END THE KOSOVO CRISIS. SOURCES CLOSE TO THE MARATHON MOSCOW TALKS DESCRIBED THEM AS DIFFICULT, SLOW MOVING, AND AT TIMES CONFRONTATIONAL. THE MAIN STICKING POINT CONTINUES TO BE THE COMPOSITION OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE THAT WOULD OVERSEE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES ONCE THE CONFLICT ENDS. NATO INSISTS ON BEING THE CORE OF ANY SUCH FORCE. RUSSIA'S POSITION IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT. RUSSIAN NEGOTIATORS ARE PUSHING FOR A STRICTLY UNITED NATIONS FORCE, WITH NO NATO PRESENCE AT ALL -- A CONCEPT THE NORTH ATLANTIC DEFENSE ALLIANCE MAINTAINS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE OTHER TWO AT THE MOSCOW TALKS -- DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT AND FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI -- LEFT IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD FOR BONN TO MEET GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER. A WESTERN DIPLOMAT SAYS ANOTHER ROUND OF TRIPARTITE TALKS COULD
TAKE PLACE WITHIN DAYS, EITHER IN MOSCOW OR IN ANOTHER EUROPEAN
CAPITAL. (SIGNED)
[17] BRITAIN/MILOSEVIC (S/L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249873 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN, FOR ONE, HAS WELCOMED THE INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND WARNED THAT ANY PEACE DEAL ON KOSOVO WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN HAS MORE IN LONDON. TEXT: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THE INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND FOUR OF HIS MINISTERS STRENGTHENS NATO'S POSITION ON KOSOVO. /// COOK ACT ///IT PLAINLY DOES REINFORCE THE VERY POWERFUL CASE WE HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION BECAUSE OF THE INTOLERABLE, INHUMANE, INDECENT BEHAVIOR OF MILOSEVIC AND HIS FORCES WITHIN KOSOVO. /// END ACT ////// COOK ACT TWO ///WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE OBJECTIVES. THAT IS WHY WE MUST RETAIN CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION TO PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. /// END ACT ///BUT MR. COOK SAYS ANY SETTLEMENT ON KOSOVO WILL NOT SPARE MR. MILOSEVIC FROM PROSECUTION AS A WAR CRIMINAL. ///OPT THE REST FOR LONG CR ///DIPLOMATS AND BALKANS EXPERTS HAVE SUGGESTED IT WOULD BE AWKWARD FOR NATO ALLIES TO SEEK A PEACE SETTLEMENT WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN FORMALLY ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES. MR. COOK SAYS NOT SO. /// COOK ACT THREE ///IF IT GOT THE REFUGEES BACK TO KOSOVO AND GOT NATO BACK TO KOSOVO, I WOULD ACCEPT A SIGNATURE FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC OR ANYBODY WHO HAS THE POWER TO DELIVER ON IMPLEMENTATION. AND THAT HAS TO BE THE KEY BOTTOM LINE FOR US. /// END ACT //THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS THE INDICTMENT SHOULD ALSO
SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THE SERB PEOPLE THAT MR. MILOSEVIC IS NO
LONGER A CREDIBLE LEADER FOR YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[18] RUSSIA / POLITICS (L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249859 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NEWLY APPOINTED RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN IS TRYING TO PUT TO REST WIDESPREAD SPECULATION THAT HE HAS LOST CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT POLICY-MAKING. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. STEPASHIN'S STATEMENTS AT A CABINET MEETING THURSDAY COME AMID POLITICAL INFIGHTING AND INCREASING CONFUSION ABOUT THE FATE OF SEVERAL MINISTERS. TEXT: PRIME MINISTER STEPASHIN USED THE GOVERNMENT MEETING TO WARN AMBITIOUS MINISTERS THAT HE IS IN CHARGE. /// STEPASHIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///MR. STEPASHIN SAYS HE WANT TO AVOID ALL POSSIBLE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE NOTES THAT RUSSIA'S CONSTITUTION SAYS THE PRIME MINISTER LEADS THE GOVERNMENT AND ANSWERS FOR ALL THAT HAPPENS TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE PEOPLE. HIS REMARK COMES AFTER NEW FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NIKOLAI AKSYONENKO TOLD A RADIO INTERVIEWER THAT HE WOULD OVERSEE THE EVERY ASPECT OF THE CABINET'S WORK. CONFUSION ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE OF RUSSIA'S FLEDGLING CABINET EXTENDS INTO OTHER MINISTRIES AS WELL. ASK MOST GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ANALYSTS, OR AVERAGE RUSSIANS WHO THEIR FINANCE MINISTER IS AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER WITH CERTAINTY. RUSSIAN MEDIA REPORTED WEDNESDAY THAT PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAD RE-APPOINTED MIKHAIL ZADORNOV AS FINANCE MINISTER. BUT ONE DAY EARLIER, THE PRESIDENT HAD APPOINTED ONE OF RUSSIA'S CHIEF DEBT NEGOTIATORS WITH THE WEST -- MIKHAIL KASYANOV -- AS FINANCE MINISTER. KREMLIN PRESS SPOKESWOMAN VERA BORISHOVA SAYS IT IS MR. KASYANOV. /// BORISHOVA ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///SHE SAYS THE LATEST DECREE SAYS MR. KASYANOV IS FINANCE MINISTER. BUT AN EXASPERATED FINANCE MINISTRY OFFICIAL TOLD V-O-A THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHO WAS IN CHARGE. POLITICAL ANALYST LILIA SHEVTSOVA OF THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION SAYS PRIME MINISTER STEPASHIN'S EFFORTS TO BUILD A CABINET OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IS FUTILE. MS. SHEVTSOVA SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S DISMISSAL OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND THE RECENT CONFUSION ARE JUST SIGNS OF MR. YELTSIN'S LONG-TERM EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN POWER. /// SHEVTSOVA ACT ///THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOBODY BELIEVES NOW THAT YELTSIN AND HIS FAMILY ARE WILLING TO BOW OUT PEACEFULLY. THE OUSTER OF PRIMAKOV SIMPLY PROVED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT ANY STABILITY OR SAFETY NET HERE. THEY SIMPLY WANT TO CONTROL THE PERIOD AFTER YELTSIN'S SECOND PRESIDENCY. /// END ACT ///THE INTRIGUE OVER JUST WHO IS IN AND WHO IS OUT DEEPENED WHEN MR. YELTSIN UNEXPECTEDLY CUT SHORT A VACATION IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA TO RETURN TO MOSCOW. LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING HE CALLED PRIME MINISTER STEPASHIN AWAY FROM A FOOTBALL MATCH TO HOLD TALKS AT A COUNTRY RESIDENCE OUTSIDE MOSCOW. DETAILS OF THE DISCUSSION WERE NOT RELEASED. MR. STEPASHIN TOLD MINISTERS THURSDAY HIS GOVERNMENT WILL BE
FULLY FORMED BY NEXT WEEK. MR. STEPASHIN IS RUSSIA'S FOURTH
PRIME MINISTER IN LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. SO FAR, NEITHER HE NOR
ANY OF THE NEW OFFICIALS HAS VOICED ANY FIRM POLICIES THAT WOULD
DIFFERENTIATE THIS GOVERNMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE. (SIGNED)
[19] CHINA / U-S (L-ONLY) BY ROGER WILKISON (BEIJING)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249861 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA HAS SHRUGGED OFF CALLS BY TOP U-S LEGISLATORS TO FREEZE NEGOTIATIONS ON BEIJING'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT SACRIFICE CHINA'S INTERESTS IN ORDER TO JOIN THE GROUP. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS, CHINA IS ALSO STEPPING UP ITS ATTACKS ON A U-S CONGRESSIONAL REPORT THAT SAYS BEIJING STOLE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY. TEXT: CHINA SEEMS TO HAVE HARDENED ITS STANCE ON W-T-O MEMBERSHIP. THE STANCE COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER PREMIER ZHU RONGJI OFFERED CONCESSIONS TO WASHINGTON, IN A BID TO JOIN THE WORLD TRADE BODY BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. CHINA APPEARS TO HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM ITS OFFER, FOLLOWING NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA EARLIER THIS MONTH. ADDING FUEL TO CHINA'S FURY OVER THE BOMBING, FOR WHICH WASHINGTON APOLOGIZED, IS A REPORT ISSUED THIS WEEK BY A SPECIAL U-S CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, ACCUSING CHINA OF PILFERING U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO --SPEAKING THURSDAY THROUGH AN INTERPRETER-- DISMISSED SUGGESTIONS BY THE CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES OVERSEEING FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THAT MR. CLINTON PUT W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA ON HOLD. MR. ZHU SAYS HIS COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WHETHER OR NOT IT IS PART OF W-T-O, AND HE INSISTS IT WILL ONLY JOIN THE GROUP ON THE TERMS GRANTED A DEVELOPING COUNTRY. MEMBERSHIP UNDER THOSE TERMS WOULD ALLOW CHINA MORE TIME TO LOWER TRADE BARRIERS. //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//AS A DEVELOPING COUNTRY, CHINA CAN ONLY UNDERTAKE OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH ITS OWN CAPABILITIES AT PRESENT. CHINA'S ENTRY INTO W-T-O IS NOT ONLY IN THE INTEREST OF CHINA. WITHOUT CHINA, THE W-T-O WILL NOT BE COMPLETE. AND CHINA'S ENTRY IS ALSO IN THE INTEREST OF W-T-O ITSELF AND WORLD TRADE. THAT IS WHY CHINA WILL NOT SACRIFICE ITS FUNDAMENTAL INTEREST TO JOIN W-T-O //END ACTUALITY//MR. ZHU AGAIN BLASTED THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE HEADED BY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER COX, THAT ACCUSED BEIJING OF SPYING ON U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABORATORIES. CHINA SAYS THE CHARGES ARE GROUNDLESS. //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//COX AND HIS LIKE DO NOT REFRAIN FROM TAKING ALL KINDS OF DESPICABLE MEANS AND EVEN GO TO EXTREMES TO CREATE RUMORS AND TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC AND TO WHIP UP ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT AND TO SPREAD THE CHINA THREAT THEORY. CHINA HAS NEVER STOLEN ANY NUCLEAR SECRETS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. //END ACTUALITY//AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER --THE CHINA YOUTH DAILY-- SUGGESTS THE
ALLEGATIONS CONTAINED IN THE COX REPORT ARE PART OF AN EFFORT BY
U-S INTELLIGENCE AND DEFENSE INDUSTRIES TO PORTRAY CHINA AS A
THREAT, SO AS TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGETS. ANOTHER NEWSPAPER
THE CHINA DAILY--FRETTED THURSDAY THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL
REPORT WILL TARNISH CHINA'S IMAGE AS A COUNTRY DESERVING SYMPATHY
BECAUSE OF THE EMBASSY BOMBING. (SIGNED)
[20] CHINA / U-S RELATIONS (L-ONLY) BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249857 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE SHARPLY DETERIORATED SINCE NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AND THE ALLEGATIONS FROM WASHINGTON ABOUT CHINESE SPYING. BUT DESPITE INCREASED TENSIONS, A LEADING PROPONENT OF SINO-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REBUILDING TIES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS HAS MORE ON THE STORY. TEXT: JOHN HOLDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U-S CHINA RELATIONS, SAYS MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD, IN ORDER TO REPAIR STRAINED TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IN A SPEECH TO THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, MR. HOLDEN SAID REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP MUST START WITH THE UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO CHINESE ANGER AT THE EMBASSY BOMBING /// HOLDEN ACT ///FIRST OF ALL THE UNITED STATES SHOULD COMPENSATE CHINA FOR THE BOMBING. CHINA SHOULD EXPECT AND DEMAND A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, BUT REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO PROVE THAT A CONSPIRACY OF SOME SORT DID NOT HAPPEN. CHINA MUST EXAMINE CAREFULLY WHETHER AN ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE SERVED AMERICAN INTEREST OR NOT. IF IT DID NOT, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE OBVIOUS, THEN CHINA SHOULD APPROVE THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION , ACCEPT AMERICA'S APOLOGIES AND MOVE FORWARD. /// END ACT ///MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA IS UNWILLING TO DO SO, IT WILL ONLY FURTHER WEAKEN WHATEVER FRAGILE TRUST REMAINS ON BOTH SIDES. BUT HE SAYS OTHER THINGS MUST BE DONE TO MEND DAMAGED SINO AMERICAN RELATIONS. /// HOLDEN ACT ///TODAY, THE MOST URGENT NEED IS FOR DAMAGE CONTROL. WHEN THIS IS FINISHED, BOTH COUNTRIES SHOULD INVENTORY THEIR SHARED INTERESTS, IDENTIFY WHERE THEIR INTERESTS DIVERGE, TAKE NOTE OF THE CONSTRAINTS, WORK HARD TO COMMUNICATE AND REBUILD TRUST BY WORKING TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER. /// END ACT ///MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES FAIL IN MEETING
THE CHALLENGES OF REBUILDING A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, THE
POSSIBILITY EXISTS OF AN ARMS RACE IN ASIA AND DIMINISHED
SECURITY. (SIGNED)
[21] PINOCHET APPEAL (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249879 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A BRITISH COURT HAS REJECTED AN APPEAL FROM FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET AIMED AT BLOCKING SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS, MR. PINOCHET WAS ARRESTED IN LONDON LAST OCTOBER AND IS CURRENTLY LIVING UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN A LONDON SUBURB. TEXT: BRITAIN'S HIGH COURT SAYS THE APPEAL ONLY DISRUPTS THE PROCEEDINGS AND UNNECESSARILY POSTPONES THEM. THE FIRST HEARING IS SET FOR JUNE FOURTH. MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS HAVE ARGUED THAT BRITAIN'S HOME SECRETARY WRONGFULLY APPROVED THE EXTRADITION CASE AGAINST THE FORMER CHILEAN GENERAL. THE HOME SECRETARY -- BRITAIN'S TOP JUDICIAL OFFICIAL -- DECIDED LAST MONTH THAT SPAIN COULD PURSUE MR PINOCHET'S EXTRADITION. A SPANISH JUDGE HAS CHARGED MR. PINOCHET WITH THE MURDER,
TORTURE, AND DISAPPEARANCE OF HUNDREDS OF CHILEANS AND OTHER
NATIONALS AFTER HE SEIZED POWER IN CHILE IN 1973. BRITAIN'S
HOUSE OF LORDS RULED IN MARCH THAT THE CASE FOR EXTRADITION CAN
BE BASED ONLY ON ALLEGED CRIMES COMMITTED AFTER 1988 WHEN BRITAIN
RATIFIED THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON TORTURE. (SIGNED)
[22] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=5/27/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249902 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN TODAY (THURSDAY) AS NEW INTEREST RATE CONCERNS FUELED A SELL OFF. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND 466, DOWN 235 POINTS -- OR MORE THAN TWO PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 12 HUNDRED 81, DOWN 23 POINTS. BUT THE NASDAQ INDEX LOST JUST A FRACTION OF ONE PERCENT, REFLECTING A REBOUND IN SOME TECHNOLOGY STOCKS. NEW INTEREST RATE FEARS HIT WALL STREET AFTER AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE SAID IT IS LIKELY THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD -- THE U-S CENTRAL BANK -- WILL SOON RAISE INTEREST RATES. IN ADDITION, MANY TRADERS DO NOT PLAN TO WORK FRIDAY IN ADVANCE OF A THREE-DAY HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED STATES AND DO NOT WANT TO HOLD STOCKS DURING THAT PERIOD. THE GOVERNMENT REVISED DOWNWARD THE RATE OF U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1999 FROM A FOUR AND ONE-HALF TO A FOUR POINT ONE PERCENT ANNUAL RATE. ///REST OPT//////PURNA ACT///IF IT WERE TO CONTINUE TO RISE AT THE RATE IT HAS BEEN GROWING FOR THE LAST FEW QUARTERS, THE "FED" (FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD) WOULD, I THINK, HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RAISE INTEREST RATES. ///END ACT///THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS SAYS IT WILL INTRODUCE A LATE TRADING SESSION OF ITS NASDAQ COMPUTERIZED STOCK MARKET WITHIN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. DETAILS ARE STILL TO BE DECIDED BUT THE ADDITIONAL TRADING SESSION WILL PROBABLY RUN FOR THREE AND ONE-HALF TO FOUR HOURS, FOUR DAYS A WEEK. STOCKHOLDERS OF THE EXXON AND MOBIL OIL COMPANIES HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A MERGER WHICH WILL CREATE THE LARGEST NON-GOVERNMENT OWNED OIL COMPANY IN THE WORLD. THE CHARTER CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY HAS ANNOUNCED ITS SECOND ACQUISITION IN AS MANY DAYS. CHARTER WILL BUY THE FANCH COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY FOR ABOUT TWO BILLION DOLLARS. ON WEDNESDAY CHARTER ANNOUNCED A THREE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLAR TAKEOVER OF THE FALCON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. THE DEALS MAKE CHARTER THE FOURTH-LARGEST CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INFINITY BROADCASTING COMPANY, A LEADING AMERICAN RADIO STATION OPERATOR, WILL BUY OUTDOOR SYSTEMS IN A DEAL WORTH MORE THAN EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS. OUTDOOR SYSTEMS IS THE LARGEST ADVERTISING BILLBOARD COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. AN AMERICAN PET FOOD COMPANY SAYS IT WILL BYPASS HUMANS AND PITCH
THEIR PRODUCT DIRECTLY TO THE FINAL CONSUMERS. THE KAL KAN
COMPANY PLANS WHAT IT CALLS A SCIENTIFICALLY-DESIGNED TELEVISION
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AIMED DIRECTLY AT CATS. KAL KAN SAYS
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 60 PERCENT OF CATS RESPOND ENTHUSIASTICALLY
TO THE COMMERCIALS FOR THE "WHISKAS" BRAND CAT FOOD. THE COMPANY
HOPES THAT, JUST AS MANY PARENTS RESPOND TO PRODUCT PLEAS FROM
THEIR CHILDREN, CAT OWNERS WILL RESPOND TO PRODUCT DEMANDS
DIRECTLY FROM THEIR PETS.(SIGNED)
[23] THURSDAY EDITORIALS BY RALPH A. ECKHARDT (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/27/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11310 TELEPHONE=619-2702 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= ///// ED'S: MATERIAL OUTDATED AFTER 10:00 P-M E-D-T /////INTRO: U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORS ARE VOICING THEIR OPINION (THURSDAY) ABOUT CHINESE SPYING, KOSOVO, AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF POLICE ACTIVITIES. NOW, HERE IS ___________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: TWO DAYS AFTER RELEASE OF A BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL REPORT SAYING CHINA HAS STOLEN INFORMATION ABOUT ALL U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS DURING THE PAST 20-YEARS, U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE CALLING FOR TIGHTER SECURITY AND A REVIEW OF RELATIONS WITH CHINA. "THE BALTIMORE SUN" SAYS A CAREFUL RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION IS NEEDED. VOICE: CHINA'S MILITARY GROWTH SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED. IT IS DESTABILIZING AND POTENTIALLY THREATENING TO TAIWAN, JAPAN, AND INDIA. ...HYSTERIA ONLY HURTS. ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING MUST BE MAINTAINED, AS IT WAS WITH MOSCOW DURING THE COLD WAR. TEXT: FROM THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, "THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL" SAYS CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE MUST PAY HEED TO THE COX REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS. VOICE: NATIONS -- WHETHER FRIENDLY OR ADVERSARIAL -- SPY ON EACH OTHER; IT IS IN THE NATURE OF THE ANIMAL. THE REAL ISSUE IS BEEFING UP OUR OWN SECURITY SYSTEMS SO THAT ESPIONAGE EFFORTS AGAINST [THE UNITED STATES] HAVE LESS CHANCE TO SUCCEED, AND AMERICANS WHO HELP OTHERS STEAL OUR SECRETS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET CAUGHT AND PUNISHED. TEXT: "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SAYS AMERICANS NEED TO RESIST THE URGE TO REACT OUT OF ANGER AND FEAR OF THE CHINESE. VOICE: CHINA'S LEAP FORWARD IN NUCLEAR KNOWHOW ALSO MAKES IT IMPERATIVE THE UNITED STATES MEND SOME FENCES ABROAD. OUR CLOSE FRIENDS IN EAST ASIA -- JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND TAIWAN ESPECIALLY -- NEED REASSURANCE WE WILL STAND STOUTLY WITH THEM IN THE EVENT THAT CHINA USES ITS NEWLY ACQUIRED TECHNICAL PROWESS AS A TOOL FOR EXTORTION. TEXT: "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD", FROM THE WEST COAST STATE OF OREGON, ALSO SAYS WE NEED TO IMPROVE TIES WITH EVERY NATION ON THE PACIFIC RIM. VOICE: [THE UNITED STATES] MUST REMAIN ENGAGED WITH CHINA... IF WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM CHINA, WE ONLY WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES OF FUTURE CONFLICT. THE THEFTS ALSO MAKE IT EVEN MORE VITAL THAT THIS NATION AND ITS PACIFIC-RIM ALLIES STRENGTHEN THEIR DEFENSES AND RECOMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF TAIWAN. WEAKNESS INVITES AGGRESSION, BUT STRENGTH DETERS IT. TEXT: LOOKING AT THE SITUATION IN THE BALKANS, NEW YORK'S "NEWSDAY" SAYS THE INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR WAR CRIMES BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE WILL MAKE IT HARDER TO END THE WAR IN KOSOVO. VOICE: WHILE SOME NATO DIPLOMATS SPECULATED THAT NAMING MILOSEVIC A WAR CRIMINAL WILL ADD MORE PRESSURE ON HIM TO AGREE TO NATO'S DEMANDS, IT IS AS LIKELY THAT BEING PUT ON THE MOST-WANTED LIST WILL ONLY CAUSE HIM TO DIG IN HIS HEELS AND PROLONG THE WAR. THE "NEW YORK POST" SAYS THE MILOSEVIC INDICTMENT MAKES GROUND TROOPS NECESSARY TO BRING A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO. VOICE: PUBLICLY BRANDING THE BUTCHER OF THE BALKANS A CRIMINAL MEANS HE CAN NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED AN ACCEPTABLE NEGOTIATING PARTNER FOR NATO... THAT MEANS MILOSEVIC HAS NO INCENTIVE TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT. [HE] STILL CAN PUT AN END TO THIS WAR -- BY AGREEING UNCONDITIONALLY TO NATO'S CONDITIONS...AND IT IS NO LONGER OPEN TO NEGOTIATIONS AND COMPROMISE. TEXT: THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK BARRED POLICE FROM ALLOWING REPORTERS AND CAMERAS TO FOLLOW OFFICERS INTO PRIVATE HOMES THAT ARE BEING RAIDED. "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AGREES WITH THE COURT'S DECISION TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO RESIDENTIAL PRIVACY GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION'S FOURTH AMENDMENT, BUT IS CONCERNED ABOUT INTERPRETATION OF THE COURT'S RULING. VOICE: ...IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THE POLICE...NOT USE [THE RULING] TO DETER SERIOUS NEWS GATHERING AND JOURNALISTIC INVESTIGATIONS. IN ANY RULING OF THIS SORT, THE DANGER IS THAT SECRETIVE OFFICIALS WILL USE IT TO CHILL REPORTING THEY DISLIKE. TEXT: MEANWHILE, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES, IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, AGREES WITH THE STRENGTHENING OF THE PERSONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY. VOICE: ...THE COURT HAS NOW REMOVED ANY REMAINING UNCERTAINTY: REPORTERS HAD BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON TO INTRUDE IN A PERSON'S HOME OR THEY BETTER NOT BE THERE. TEXT: BUT "THE MIAMI HERALD" IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH HOW THE RULING IS APPLIED BY POLICE. VOICE ...THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION IS BY NO MEANS OPEN AND SHUT. ACCURATE MEDIA COVERAGE OF POLICE ACTIVITIES SERVES AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSE. THAT CONCLUDES A SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM U-S NEWSPAPERS FOR
THURSDAY, MAY 27TH, 1999.
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