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Voice of America, 99-06-13Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] EUROPE-ELECTIONS (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250600 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: VOTERS IN THE 15 COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE ELECTED A NEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS,THERE WAS A GENERALLY POOR TURNOUT AND THOSE WHO VOTED TURNED RIGHT. TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE EUROPEANS STARTED VOTING DIRECTLY FOR THEIR PARLIAMENT, THE CONSERVATIVES WILL BE THE LARGEST FACTION REPLACING THE SOCIALISTS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PROTEST VOTE SINCE 11 OF THE 15 COUNTRIES ARE RUN BY SOCIALISTS. A PROTEST BY THOSE WHO BOTHERED TO VOTE. IN MOST COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER ONES LIKE BRITAIN, FRANCE AND GERMANY, PARTICIPATION IN THE VOTE WAS SHARPLY DOWN FROM 1994,THE LAST TIME EUROPEANS VOTED FOR THEIR PARLIAMENT. GRAHAM MATHER IS A CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. DESPITE THE LOW TURNOUT IN BRITAIN MR. MATHER SEES THE VOTE AS A REFERENDUM ON PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR. ///MATHER ACT///IT'S DUE A LOT TO THE LOW TURNOUT BUT THE LOW TURNOUT IS ALSO A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T VOTED HAVE DONE SO BECAUSE THEY DON'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT'S EUROPEAN POLICY. THEY SAY TO YOU ON THE DOORSTEP, I 'M NOT GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS EURO, THE SINGLE CURRENCY, OR THEY SAY I DON'T TRUST LABOUR'S APPROACH TO EUROPE, THEY SAY ONE THING HERE AND ANOTHER THING IN BRUSSELS. ///END ACT///THE GERMANS HAVE THE LARGEST FACTION IN THE NEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WITH 99 SEATS AND THE SMALL TURNOUT OF 47 PERCENT MEANS A SHARP REBUKE TO CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER AND HIS SOCIAL DEMOCRATS. THE OPPOSITION CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS HAVE GAINED SIX SEATS WHILE THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS LOST SEVEN AND THEIR PARTNERS, THE GREENS LOST FIVE. THE FORMER COMMUNISTS, THE PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, WON SIX SEATS TO ENTER THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE PRESIDENT OF THE OUTGOING PARLIAMENT, JOSE GIL-ROBLES TELLS REPORTERS THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, VOTERS IN COUNTRIES RUN BY SOCIALISTS USED THE PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS TO CHANGE THE BALANCE. ///GIL ROBLES W/ INTERPRETER///THEY WANTED TO BALANCE OUT THE POWER IN EUROPE. THEY DID NOT WANT EUROPE DOMINATED BY A SINGLE POLITICAL POWER OR TENDENCY. ///END ACT///HERE IN BELGIUM, NATIONAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD ON THE SAME DAY AS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS. THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN WERE DOMINATED BY THE FOOD CONTAMINATION SCANDAL. THE GOVERNMENT WITHHELD EVIDENCE FOR WEEKS THAT DIOXIN WAS PRESENT IN CHICKEN AND EGGS AND IN ANIMAL FEED FED TO COWS AND PIGS. THE EMPTY GROCERY STORE SHELVES LED BELGIAN VOTERS TO PUNISH PRIME MINISTER JEAN-LUC DEHAENE, EUROPE'S LONGEST SERVING LEADER. HE ADMITS THE FOOD CRISIS MEANS THE CONSERVATIVES WILL FORM BELGIUM'S NEXT COALITION. HIS CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS LOST NINE SEATS. THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL REMAIN DOMINATED BY SOCIALIST GOVERNMENTS
BUT NOW THOSE LEADERS WILL DEAL WITH A PARLIAMENT DOMINATED FOR
THE FIRST TIME BY PARTIES ON THE RIGHT. (SIGNED)
[02] KOSOVO / ALBANIA TROOPS BY AMY BICKERS (MORINA ALBANIA)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250582 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO TROOPS HAVE CROSSED INTO KOSOVO FROM ALBANIA. AS AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM THE MORINA BORDER CROSSING, MORE K-FOR SOLDIERS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING HOURS. TEXT: GERMAN TROOPS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE NATO PEACE-KEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO, ENTERED THE PROVINCE FROM ALBANIA (SUNDAY). TWO GERMAN TANKS CROSSED THE BORDER, AND MORE SOLDIERS AND ARMED PERSONNEL CARRIERS ARE TO FOLLOW. THEIR MISSION IS TO SECURE THE ROUTE BETWEEN NORTHERN ALBANIA AND PRIZREN, THE KOSOVAR TOWN ABOUT 17-KILOMETERS AWAY. NATO SAYS THE ROAD IS NOT MINED, BUT WARNS MINES HAVE PROBABLY BEEN PLANTED BY SERB FORCES JUST ALONG SIDE THE ROAD. SERB TROOPS, INCLUDING SOME WITH SNIPER RIFLES, HAVE BEEN SEEN
WITHDRAWING FROM THE AREA. (SIGNED)
[03] KOSOVO / GERMAN CONVOY (L) BY AMY BICKERS (MORINA, ALBANIA)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250595 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMAN TROOPS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO, ENTERED THE PROVINCE FROM ALBANIA (SUNDAY). AS AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM MORINA, DOZENS OF KOSOVO REFUGEES ALSO CROSSED THE BORDER, DESPITE WARNINGS ABOUT LANDMINES AND BOOBY-TRAPS. TEXT: NATO FORCES ENTERED ALBANIA FROM KOSOVO (SUNDAY) WITH THE AIM OF SECURING THE ROAD BETWEEN NORTHERN ALBANIA AND THE KOSOVO TOWN OF PRIZREN. THE TROOPS -- WHO ARE FROM GERMANY -- ENTERED KOSOVO IN A LARGE CONVOY OF TANKS, TRUCKS, AND A PORTABLE HOSPITAL. IN PRIZREN, THEY WERE JOINED BY OTHER GERMAN FORCES WHO ENTERED KOSOVO FROM MACEDONIA. THE GERMAN TROOPS WERE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE CROSSING INTO KOSOVO FROM ALBANIA. DOZENS OF REFUGEES ALSO MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BORDER, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN DISCOURAGED FROM GOING BACK TO KOSOVO BEFORE LANDMINES AND BOOBY-TRAPS HAD BEEN LOCATED AND REMOVED. SOME REFUGEES LIKE DJEM -- A BAKER FROM PRIZREN -- DROVE TO THE BORDER IN A TAXI. HE SAYS, THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THAT HE HAS LEFT HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN ALBANIA AND WILL RETURN ONCE HE CHECKS ON THE CONDITION OF THEIR HOME AND FINDS HIS SON AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO REMAIN IN KOSOVO. // INSERT DJEM ACT (ALBANIAN WITH TRANSLATOR) //JUST TO LOOK HOW THE SITUATION IS IN PRIZREN. I HAVE LEFT MY RELATIVES THERE AND TO CHECK IF THEY ARE ALIVE OR NOT // END ACT //KURTESH IS A FARMER WHO LIVES OUTSIDE PRIZREN. HE SAYS, THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, THAT HE HOPES TO MOVE HIS FAMILY TO THEIR VILLAGE IN TWO-WEEKS ALTHOUGH HE WILL ENTER KOSOVO BY HIMSELF FIRST. // INSERT KURTESH ACT ( ALBANIAN WITH TRANSLATOR) //I LEFT MY FAMILY BACK IN KUKES AND I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO PRIZREN FIRST AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THE VILLAGE. WE KNEW THAT THE SERBS DID NOT BURN OUR VILLAGE, SO I AM VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW IF MY HOUSE IS STILL THERE. // END ACT //JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF THE ONE-HALF-MILLION ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES IN ALBANIA ARE GOING BACK INTO KOSOVO. THE U-N HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES HAS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO WARN THEM OF THE NUMEROUS DANGERS THEY FACE BY RETURNING NOW. LEAFLETS AND POSTERS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT REFUGEE CAMPS IMPLORE REFUGEES TO WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO RETURN. THEY LIST POTENTIAL HAZARDS SUCH AS MINES, BOOBY-TRAPS, UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE, DAMAGED ROADS AND BRIDGES, AND SHORTAGES OF FOOD, WATER AND ELECTRICITY. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RUBERT COLVILLE SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION IS TELLING REFUGEES TO STAY OUT OF KOSOVO FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL WEEKS. // INSERT COLVILLE ACT //WE ARE HOPING THE REFUGEES TRY TO GO BACK REAL SOON, BUT JUST IN CASE THEY DO WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER. WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW HOW BAD THE SITUATION IS WITH MINES AND UNEXPLODED SHELL BOMBS. // END ACT //INTERNATIONAL AID GROUPS SAY THAT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR AN ESTIMATED 600-THOUSAND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE INSIDE KOSOVO IS A TOP PRIORITY. AS SOON AS GERMAN TROOPS HAD SECURED THE ROAD IN FROM ALBANIA,
AID TRUCKS PACKED WITH FOOD AND MEDICINE WERE ON THEIR WAY INTO
THE PROVINCE. (SIGNED)
[04] KOSOVO /GERMAN CONVOY (S) BY AMY BICKERS (MORINA)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250588 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMAN TROOPS THAT ARE PART OF THE NATO PEACE-KEEPING FORCE FOR KOSOVO ENTERED THE PROVINCE FROM ALBANIA (SUNDAY). AS AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM THE MORINA BORDER CROSSING. THE CONVOY INCLUDES TANKS, MINE DETECTION EQUIPMENT, AND A PORTABLE MEDICAL UNIT. TEXT: A CONVOY OF GERMAN TROOPS HAS TRAVELED FROM ALBANIA INTO KOSOVO, AND IS NOW SECURING THE ROAD BETWEEN NORTHERN ALBANIA AND THE KOSOVAR CITY OF PRIZREN. THE CONVOY WAS GREETED WITH CHEERS BY THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES, WHO ARE LIVING IN CAMPS AROUND KUKES IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. THEY LINED THE SIDES OF THE ROADS TO WELCOME THE TROOPS AND DECORATED THE MILITARY VEHICLES WITH FLOWERS. THE GERMAN CONVOY FROM ALBANIA HAS BEEN JOINED IN PRIZREN BY
OTHER GERMAN TROOPS WHO CAME THROUGH MACEDONIA. TOGETHER, THEY
WILL SET-UP CHECK-POINTS ALONG THE MAIN ROADS IN SOUTHWEST KOSOVO
AND LOOK FOR MINES AND UN-EXPLODED ORDINANCE. IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS, THEY WILL BEGIN TO EVALUATE THE CONDITION OF PRIZREN AND
THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES. (SIGNED)
[05] KOSOVO SHOOTING (S-ONLY) BY AMY BICKERS (KUKES, ALBANIA)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250597 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AT LEAST ONE SERB SNIPER WAS KILLED BY GERMAN FORCES IN KOSOVO SUNDAY. AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM KUKES, ALBANIA. TEXT: AT LEAST ONE SERB SNIPER WAS KILLED IN PRIZREN LATE SUNDAY EVENING BY GERMAN FORCES. THE GERMAN TROOPS WERE RETURNING FIRE FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN WHEN THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IN BONN CONFIRMS THAT ONE GERMAN SOLDIER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THE EXCHANGE. GERMAN TROOPS ENTERED KOSOVO EARLIER SUNDAY FROM ALBANIA AND
MACEDONIA -- THEY ARE PART OF THE NATO PEACE KEEPING FORCE IN
KOSOVO. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME GERMAN TROOPS HAVE
BEEN IN COMBAT SINCE WORLD WAR II. (SIGNED)
[06] NATO/KOSOVO (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250585 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO SAYS THE DEPLOYMENT OF ITS K-FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO IS PROCEEDING TO PLAN, DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF NEARLY 300 RUSSIAN TROOPS AT PRISTINA AIRPORT. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS WARNED THE KOSOVAR REFUGEES IT IS NOT YET SAFE FOR THEM TO RETURN HOME. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HQ IN BRUSSELS TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING ON THREE FRONTS TO SORT OUT A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIANS. THE COMMANDER OF THE K-FOR FORCE BRITISH GENERAL MICHAEL JACKSON IS LIAISING WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART AT PRISTINA. THERE ARE ALSO TALKS BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIAN COMMANDERS IN MACEDONIA, AND U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS IN MOSCOW TALKING ON A POLITICAL LEVEL WITH THE KREMLIN. MR. SHEA INSISTS THERE IS NO TENSION OR STANDOFF BETWEEN THE NATO AND RUSSIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO, AND THAT BOTH SIDES ARE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER. BUT HE SAYS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT GENERAL JACKSON MAY NOT SET UP HIS HEADQUARTERS AT PRISTINA AIRPORT, AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. MR SHEA HAS WARNED IT WILL BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE KOSOVO IS SAFE FOR THE REFUGEES TO RETURN, AND FOR HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS TO BE IN PLACE TO HELP THEM. // REST OPT FOR LONG //HE SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL MINES ON MANY ROUTES, AND THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS IN SUPPLYING FOOD AND WATER. HE SAYS IT IS FEARED THAT AN INFLUX OF REFUGEES MIGHT SLOW DOWN NATO EFFORTS TO LOCATE AND HELP THE ESTIMATED 500-THOUSAND KOSOVAN ALBANIANS STILL IN KOSOVO. THEY HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MUCH HELP FOR SOME TIME, AND ARE THOUGHT TO BE IN FAR WORSE CONDITION THAN THE REFUGEES WHO REACHED THE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. MR SHEA SAYS ONE-HALF THE REFUGEES SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO WAIT
ANOTHER MONTH, WHILE ONE-QUARTER OF THEM WANT TO GO HOME AT ONCE.
ABOUT 25-PERCENT OF THE SERB FORCES HAVE PULLED OUT OF THE
PROVINCE UNDER THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, AND NATO HOPES TO HAVE
EIGHT- TO 10-THOUSAND TROOPS INSIDE KOSOVO BY MONDAY. (SIGNED)
[07] NATO/KOSOVO UPD (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250589 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE RUSSIANS MAY BE OFFERED A PERMANENT PRESENCE IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL PRISTINA, IN A DEAL WITH NATO. SENIOR ALLIANCE OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS SAID SUNDAY THIS COULD BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT AN EXODUS OF KOSOVAR SERBS FROM THE PROVINCE. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS TEXT: NATO WAS TAKEN OFF GUARD IN THE EARLY HOURS SATURDAY WHEN RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARRIVED IN PRISTINA BEFORE NATO TROOPS HAD BEGUN THEIR DEPLOYMENT INTO KOSOVO. DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY LEADERS FROM BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO SORT OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT NATO OFFICIALS INSIST THIS IS NOT ANYTHING LIKE A COLD WAR STANDOFF. THEY SAY THE RUSSIANS APPEAR TO RECOGNIZE THERE WILL BE A UNITED COMMAND, AND HAVE AGREED TO PARTICIPATE ON THAT BASIS. EARLIER, NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT 26-HUNDRED KOSOVAR SERBS HAD LEFT THEIR HOMES, MANY HEADING TOWARDS PRISTINA. HE EMPHASIZED THAT NATO WANTS THE SERBS TO STAY. NATO OFFICIALS HAVE SUGGESTED IT WOULD BE LOGICAL FOR THE RUSSIANS TO BE DEPLOYED IN PRISTINA, WHERE THERE IS A LARGE ETHNIC-SERB PRESENCE. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///BUT THE RUSSIANS WILL NOT BE ON THEIR OWN IN PRISTINA; THEY WILL WORK ALONGSIDE NATO TROOPS. RUSSIAN FORCES MAY ALSO WORK ALONG SIDE NATO FORCES IN ANOTHER OF THE FIVE ZONES BEING SET UP AROUND KOSOVO. NATO OFFICIALS POINTED OUT THAT IN BOSNIA, WHERE THERE IS ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING OPERATION, THE RUSSIANS HAVE A PARTICULAR SET OF TASKS AND A PARTICULAR SECTOR WHERE THEY PATROL. SOMETIMES THEY ARE BY THEMSELVES; SOMETIMES THEY PATROL JOINTLY WITH NATO FORCES. NATO INSISTS THAT IN KOSOVO BRITISH GENERAL MICHAEL JACKSON WILL
REMAIN IN OVERALL CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. NATO BELIEVES THE
RUSSIANS WILL DEPLOY FAR FEWER TROOPS THAN THE 10-THOUSAND THEY
ORIGINALLY MENTIONED. (SIGNED)
[08] PRISTINA SCENE (S) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA, KOSOVO)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250596 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THERE IS TENSION IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL PRISTINA, WHERE BRITISH FORCES ARE GRADUALLY TAKING OVER FROM DEPARTING YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS AND POLICE. ONE ARMED SERBIAN MAN WAS KILLED WHEN NATO SAYS HE FIRED A PISTOL AT BRITISH FORCES WHO RETURNED FIRE AFTER A WARNING. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE FROM PRISTINA. TEXT: ETHNIC ALBANIANS WERE OUT IN THE STREETS OF PRISTINA AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS WERE OPENLY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS NON-SERBS. THE REASON WAS THAT K-4 ARMORED VEHICLES HAD TAKEN UP POSITIONS IN THE CAPITAL. THERE ARE STILL MANY ARMED YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS AROUND. THEY CHEERED THEIR FELLOW SERBS AS THEY PASSED BY IN TRUCKS AND BUSES. AS THE YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS BOARDED BUSSES AT ONE OF THEIR HEADQUARTERS, THEY APPARENTLY SET FIRE TO A BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET ON THE GROUNDS OF ONE OF PRISTINA'S OLDEST MOSQUES. THERE'S A FEELING OF TENSION HERE. THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH GUNS -- NOT JUST THE NATO TROOPS. IN THE BASEMENT OF THE LARGEST HOTEL IN TOWN -- THE GRAND -- ONE
OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A GROUP OF ARMED SERB SOLDIERS GESTURED
WITH THEIR RIFLES TO INDICATE THAT NO ONE WAS ALLOWED DOWN THE
STAIRWAY. (SIGNED)
[09] PRISTINA STREET SCENE (L ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA, KOSOVO)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43639 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ON THE DAY K-FOR ARMORED UNITS TOOK UP POSITIONS IN PRISTINA, THE CAPITAL OF KOSOVO, THERE WERE STILL ARMED YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS AND POLICE CONTROLLING PARTS OF THE CITY. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER IS IN PRISTINA AND HAS A REPORT. TEXT: AS I AM WRITING THIS, A YUGOSLAV INTERIOR MINISTRY POLICEMAN ARMED WITH A KALESHNIKOV RIFLE AND AN AUTOMATIC PISTOL IS LOUNGING ON THE TRUNK LID OF MY CAR. ALL THE YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF PRISTINA WITHIN 36-HOURS. MEANWHILE, THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE CHECK POINTS OR OTHERWISE EXERT AUTHORITY. A BUILDING ON THE GROUNDS OF ONE OF PRISTINA'S OLD MOSQUES WAS BURNING FIERCELY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WHILE ACROSS THE STREET YUGOSLAV SOLDIERS LOADED A BUS. A SHORT WHILE LATER THE BUS WAS GONE AND THE FIRE HAD GUTTED THE BUILDING. MANY ETHNIC SERBS CAN BE SEEN LEAVING IN PRIVATE CARS WITH SUITCASES PILED INSIDE AND OUT. ON THE MAIN STREET, BRITISH BATTLE TANKS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS ROAR TO LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY, BUT A SHORT DRIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ONCE HOUSE THE AMERICAN MISSION SHOWED THERE IS A SERB CHECKPOINT. NEAR PRISTINA AIRPORT, YUGSOLAV SOLDIERS WITH ARMORED VEHICLES STOPPED JOURNALISTS AND DEMANDED TO SEE THEIR PASSPORTS. AFTER EXAMINATION, THE REPORTERS WERE WAVED ON, THOUGH NONE HAD VALID YUGOSLAV VISAS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLE HARASSMENT, OR A SEARCH FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS. IT APPEARS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT A FEW DAYS FROM NOW, PRISTINA
WILL BE A DIFFERENT CITY. ALBANIANS WILL START TO SHOW
THEMSELVES ON THE STREETS, AND THERE WILL BE ONLY K-FOR SOLDIERS
HERE. (SIGNED)
[10] Q&A ON PRIZREN SHOOTING BY PHILLIP SMUCKER (PRIZREN, ALBANIA)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250599 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO : VIOLENCE FLARED IN PARTS OF KOSOVO SUNDAY AS NATO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS ESTABLISHED OPERATIONS AROUND THE PROVINCE. REPORTER PHILLIP SMUCKER IS IN THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF PRIZREN. HE TELLS V-O-A'S ERIN BRUMMETT THAT HE WATCHED A SHOOTING INCIDENT INVOLVING GERMAN SOLDIERS AND SERBIAN GUNMEN. TEXT : ERIN : PHLLIP, YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN CITY OF PRIZREN, CALL YOU TELL U-S ABOUT THE INCIDENT ? SMUCKER: ABOUT 7:30 P.M. OUR TIME THERE WAS A FIRE FIGHT THAT STARED SUDDENLY WHEN WITNESSES SAID TWO MEN IN AN OLD CAR DROVE UP AND BEGAN FIRING INTO A CROWD OF PEOPLE, HITTING A GERMAN SOLDIER ON THE SHOULDER WHO WAS SITTING WITH CHILDREN ON A TANK COVERED WITH FLOWERS. AT THAT POINT THE GERMANS JUMPED OFF THE TANKS, THEIR INFANTRY RAN OUT, THEY TOOK POSITIONS BEHIND BUILDINGS, THEY FIRED AT THE CAR. THEY KILLED ONE SERB IMMEDIATELY AND THE SECOND ONE WAS RIDDLED WITH BULLETS, AS WAS THE CAR, AND HE WAS IN THE CAR WAVING. THE GERMANS WERE ALSO TAKING FIRE FROM THEIR REAR. THERE WAS A SNIPER POSITION BEHIND THEM. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A COORDINATED ATTACK. IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO JUMP INTO THE FIGHT. IN ANY CASE, IT WENT ON FOR TWENTY MINUTES -- A LOT OF SHOOTING, A LOT OF HEAVY FIRE IN FRONT OF A HOTEL. BRUMMET: WERE THERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AT THE TIME THIS FIRE FIGHT BROKE OUT ? SMUCKER: THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. I WAS JUST STROLLING AROUND BELOW THIS STREET ABOUT MAYBE TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER -- EATING A SANDWICH, RELAXING AFTER HAVING SENT A STORY -- AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING WAS CALM. AND THE CHILDREN WERE CLIMBING ON THE TANKS TALKING TO THE GERMAN SOLDIERS, EVEN ASKING THEM FOR AUTOGRAPHS AND THEN THIS I GUESS APPARENT A MADMAN DROVE UP IN A CAR AND AS WITNESSES SAID, FIRED A KALASHNIKOV (MCHINE GUN). AND THEN THEIR CAR BACKED UP AND THEN GERMANS RESPONDED. ONE OF THE GERMANS HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THE SHOULDER. BRUMMET: NOW YOU SAY THERE WAS POSSIBLY ONE SURVIVOR IN THE CAR AND YOU MENTIONED AN ALLEGED SNIPER -- WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE PEOPLE? SMUCKER: ACTUALLY, THERE WAS PRESUMED TO BE A SNIPER IN THE HILLS IN THE REAR. AS THE CAR APPROACHED FROM ONE POSITION -- FROM THE EAST -- AND THE SNIPERS WERE IN THE WEST, AND THEY WERE IN THE HILLS AND THE TANKS WERE BELOW AND THE GERMANS WERE FIRING AT THE CAR. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY TOOK OUT THE SNIPERS. WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. THEY (GERMAN TROOPS) FIRED AT THE CAR AND THEY KILLED THE MAN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IMMEDIATELY. THE MAN IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND FINALLY SURRENDERED. HE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR BY JOURNALISTS BECAUSE THE GERMANS STAYED BEHIND THE TANKS. BRUMMET: WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE GERMAN OR OTHER K-FOR PRESENCE IN PRIZREN AT THIS TIME, ASIDE FROM THE TANK INVOLVED IN THE FIRE FIGHT. SMUCKER: WELL, THE GERMAN PRESENCE WILL BE VERY STRONG, BUT THE NUMBERS WERE NOT UP TO WHAT PEOPLE HAD EXPECTED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOLD UP OF A LOT OF THE GERMAN TANKS AND ARMOR DIVISION IN THE HILLS COMING DOWN FROM KUKES, ALBANIA. THAT DIVISION WAS HUNG UP THERE THIS AFTERNOON (SUNDAY, LOCAL TIME) AND IN FACT THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 600 GERMANS, AND SO THE REINFORCEMENTS WERE NOT QUICK TO THE SCENE. THE GERMANS ARE HERE BUT IT IS A RATHER ISOLATED AREA. THE SERBS ARE PULLING OUT, THE K-L-A IS WAITING IN THE HILLS. IT IS A VERY TENSE SITUATION. BRUMMET: YOU SAY VERY TENSE, OBVIOUSLY AFTER THIS FIRE FIGHT, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE MOOD FOLLOWING THAT INCIDENT. SMUCKER: WELL, IT WAS A RATHER AMAZING SCENE WE WERE SEEING TODAY -- THE CHILDREN CLIMBING ON TANKS, PEOPLE WAVING AMERICAN, TURKISH, AND NATO FLAGS. THEY WERE SLAPPING HANDS WITH THE SOLDIERS WHO WERE COMING IN. THEY WERE ASKING EVEN FOR AUTOGRAPHS. AND SUDDENLY A CRAZY COMES OUT OF THE CROWD AND DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IMMEDIATELY THE CELEBRATORY MOOD -- THE MOOD OF LIBERATION FOR THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE -- IS SUDDENLY CHANGED NOW TO ONE OF SUSPICION THAT MAYBE IN FACT THE EXTREME SERBS WHO WOULD BE CONSIDERING LEAVING MIGHT DECIDE INSTEAD TO FIGHT BACK AND PUT A SPANNER IN THE WORKS OF THIS NATO PEACE KEEPING MISSION. (SIGNED) NEB/PS/ENE-T/PT 13-Jun-99 7:23 PM EDT (2323 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [11] RUSSIA/ KOSOVO (S&L-UPDATE) BY GUY CHAZAN (MOSCOW)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250593 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS TALKED BY TELEPHONE WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN TO DISCUSS DETAILS OF HOW RUSSIA WILL TAKE PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN KOSOVO. MEANWHILE, RUSSIAN PARATROOPS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY PRISTINA AIRPORT.AND DENY ACCESS TO NATO TROOPS. GUY CHAZAN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE TWO MEN AGREED NATO AND RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS WOULD MEET TO WORK OUT SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR RUSSIAN FORCES TO TAKE PART IN THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATION. THE TWO PRESIDENTS REPORTEDLY SAID THERE IS A NEED FOR INTENSIVE DIALOGUE TO DEFINE RUSSIA'S ROLE. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE ISSUE LATER THIS WEEK WHEN THEY MEET AT THE G-8 SUMMIT IN COLOGNE. MEANWHILE AFTER TALKS IN MOSCOW, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOT SAID, HE DID NOT EXPECT ANYMORE SURPRISE STEPS BY MOSCOW. IT IS CLEAR RUSSIA'S DEPLOYMENT OF MORE THAN 200 PARATROOPS TO KOSOVO CAUGHT NATO OFF GUARD, AS HAVE THEIR ACTIONS IN PRISTINA WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO BAR BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS FROM THE AIRPORT. BUT MOSCOW HAS NOW TOLD THE UNITED STATES IT WILL NOT SEND ANY
REINFORCEMENTS WITHOUT NATO'S AGREEMENT. THAT ASSURANCE HAS
EASED SOME OF THE TENSION OF THE PAST FEW DAYS. BUT THE KEY
STICKING POINT, RUSSIA'S DEMAND FOR A SEPARATE SECTOR IN KOSOVO
OUTSIDE OF NATO'S CONTROL -- AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH NATO HAS RULED
OUT -- REMAINS. (SIGNED)
[12] RUSSIA/KOSOVO (S) BY GUY CHAZAN (MOSCOW)DATE=6/13/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250584 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A THIRD DAY OF TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND U-S NEGOTIATORS ON RUSSIA'S PEACEKEEPING ROLE IN KOSOVO HAS ENDED WITHOUT AGREEMENT. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT SAYS HE WILL REMAIN IN MOSCOW UNTIL ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. GUY CHAZAN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TO TELEPHONE BORIS YELTSIN (LATER SUNDAY) TO DISCUSS THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE KOSOVO PEACE FORCE. TEXT: NATO HAS REJECTED THE IDEA OF A SEPARATE RUSSIAN SECTOR IN KOSOVO. BUT IT MIGHT FIND THE PROPOSAL HARDER TO DISMISS NOW THAT RUSSIA HAS EFFECTIVELY GONE AHEAD WITH IT ANYWAY. THE SURPRISE DEPLOYMENT SATURDAY OF 200 RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS TO THE KOSOVAR CAPITAL, PRISTINA, SHOWS MOSCOW IS SERIOUS ABOUT ESTABLISHING ITS OWN ZONE, AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ORDERS FROM NATO. THE ALLIANCE SAYS A SEPARATE RUSSIAN SECTOR WOULD AMOUNT TO THE DE FACTO PARTITION OF KOSOVO. BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT BOTH SIDES ARE NOW WILLING TO MAKE
CONCESSIONS. MR. TALBOTT SAYS THE U-S IS NOW CONSIDERING WHAT HE
CALLED -- AN AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY -- FOR RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS.
AND MOSCOW HAS PLEDGED THAT NO MORE TROOPS WOULD BE SENT TO
REINFORCE THE RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN PRISTINA WITHOUT NATO'S
AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
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