Voice of America, 99-06-17

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / CHIRAC / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (PARIS)

[02] CLINTON / CHIRAC / KOSOVO / S BY DEBORAH TATE (PARIS)

[03] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

[04] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

[05] KOSOVO / ALBANIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

[06] KOSOVO / K-FOR PROGRESS (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

[07] KOSOVO / MITROVICA (L-ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (MITROVICA, KOSOVO)

[08] KOSOVO / RUSSIANS / AIRPORT (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

[09] KOSOVO AFTERMATH BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

[10] KOSOVO REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (FERIZAJ, KOSOVO)

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

[12] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[13] RUSSIANS IN KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

[14] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

[15] U-N / COUNCIL / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[16] U-S / K-L-A (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[17] UNHCR / KOSOVO AID (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[18] YUGO CHINA BOMB (L) BY PENTAGON (JIM RANDLE)

[01] CLINTON / CHIRAC / KOSOVO (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (PARIS)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AGREE THERE SHOULD BE NO ECONOMIC AID TO (THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF) SERBIA WHILE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS STILL IN POWER. THE TWO LEADERS HELD A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE IN PARIS AFTER A MEETING THAT FOCUSED ON KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT: DURING THEIR TWO HOURS OF TALKS, MR. CLINTON AND MR. CHIRAC DISCUSSED RECONSTRUCTION IN WAR-TORN KOSOVO -- AN EFFORT TO BE FUNDED MOSTLY BY EUROPEANS.

BUT BOTH LEADERS AGREED THAT DEVELOPMENT AID TO SERBIA SHOULD BE WITHHELD UNTIL YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS NO LONGER IN OFFICE.

MR. CHIRAC SPOKE THROUGH A TRANSLATOR.

I ABSOLUTELY SHARE THE FEELINGS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON -- THAT IS, THAT THERE CAN BE NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AID TO A REGIME WHICH IS NOT DEMOCRATIC AND WHOSE PRESENT LEADER, FURTHERMORE, HAS BEEN INDICTED WITH CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES COURT.

BUT THE TWO PRESIDENTS SAY HUMANITARIAN AID TO SERBIA WOULD CONTINUE.

ON THE ISSUE OF MR. MILOSEVIC'S INDICTMENT ON WAR CRIMES, MR. CLINTON SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS UNLIKELY THE YUGOSLAV LEADER WILL BE ARRESTED WHILE HE IS IN SERBIA, AND HE ADDS THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR NATO IS THE SAFE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES.

I DO NOT BELIEVE NATO ALLIES CAN INVADE BELGRADE TO TRY TO DELIVER THE INDICTMENT, IF YOU WILL. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THIS IS NOT AN IMPORTANT THING, OR THAT THERE WILL NOT SOME DAY BE A TRIAL, BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR OBLIGATIONS, OUR FUNDAMENTAL HUMANITARIAN OBLIGATIONS TO GET THE KOSOVARS HOME AND TO CONTINUE TO UNCOVER WHATEVER EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES THERE IS IN KOSOVO AS WELL.

U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR SERGEYEV ARE MEETING FOR A SECOND DAY IN THE FINNISH CAPITAL. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND HER RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR IVANOV, ARE ALSO MEETING THERE.

MR. CLINTON DESCRIBES THE TALKS AS 'POSITIVE'. HE SAYS THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED -- ALL OF WHICH, HE SAYS, ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE UNITED STATES. BUT HE UNDERSCORED THE U-S VIEW THAT THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION MUST HAVE NATO AT ITS CORE.

WE WANT THE RUSSIANS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY. WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. BUT WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN UNITY OF COMMAND.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE ACCELERATED PACE OF RETURNING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO KOSOVO BECAUSE LANDMINES HAVE YET TO BE CLEARED AWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/LTD/KL
17-Jun-99 8:24 AM EDT (1224 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON / CHIRAC / KOSOVO / S BY DEBORAH TATE (PARIS)

INTRO: AS U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART IGOR SERGEYEV MEET FOR A SECOND DAY IN HELSINKI, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TALKS WILL RESULT IN AN AGREEMENT ON THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM PARIS, WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS TRAVELLING.

TEXT: AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC THURSDAY, MR. CLINTON DESCRIBED THE ATMOSPHERE SURROUNDING THE HELSINKI TALKS AS 'POSITIVE'.

HE SAYS THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED - ALL OF WHICH, HE SAYS, ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE UNITED STATES. BUT HE UNDERSCORED THE U-S VIEW THAT THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION MUST HAVE NATO AT ITS CORE.

WE WANT THE RUSSIANS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY. WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. BUT WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN UNITY OF COMMAND.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE ACCELERATED PACE OF RETURNING ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO KOSOVO BECAUSE LAND MINES HAVE YET TO BE CLEARED AWAY.

MR. CLINTON AND MR. CHIRAC DISCUSSED KOSOVO, INCLUDING THE REBUILDING EFFORT. EUROPEAN NATIONS WILL TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN THAT RECONSTRUCTION. (SIGNED)
NEB / DAT / WD / WD
17-Jun-99 6:42 AM EDT (1042 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS TOP U-S AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MEETING IN HELSINKI ARE MOVING TOWARD AN AGREEMENT ON THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPING IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM COLOGNE.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS 'SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS' WAS MADE THURSDAY IN THE TALKS BETWEEN U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART IGOR SERGEYEV, AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND HER RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR IVANOV:

THEY HAVE MADE PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS. I AM PLEASED. I WOULD URGE THEM TO KEEP WORKING TO BRING THIS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IN THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE, IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO WE WILL GET IT WORKED OUT.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THERE ARE ONE OR TWO ISSUES LEFT TO RESOLVE, AND HE UNDERSCORED THE NEED TO COMPLETE THE DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPERS RAPIDLY TO ENSURE THE SAFE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGES.

MR. CLINTON MADE HIS COMMENTS IN PARIS BEFORE LEAVING FOR COLOGNE, GERMANY, WHERE HE WILL ATTEND AN ECONOMIC SUMMIT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/GM
17-Jun-99 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] CLINTON / KOSOVO (S-ONITER) BY DEBORAH TATE (COLOGNE)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS TOP U-S AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MEETING IN HELSINKI ARE MOVING TOWARD AN AGREEMENT ON THE ROLE OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPING IN KOSOVO. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM COLOGNE.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS 'SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS' WAS MADE THURSDAY IN THE TALKS BETWEEN U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART IGOR SERGEYEV, AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND HER RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, IGOR IVANOV:

THEY HAVE MADE PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS. I AM PLEASED. I WOULD URGE THEM TO KEEP WORKING TO BRING THIS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IN THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE, IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO WE WILL GET IT WORKED OUT.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THERE ARE ONE OR TWO ISSUES LEFT TO RESOLVE, AND HE UNDERSCORED THE NEED TO COMPLETE THE DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPERS RAPIDLY TO ENSURE THE SAFE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGES.

MR. CLINTON MADE HIS COMMENTS IN PARIS BEFORE LEAVING FOR COLOGNE, GERMANY, WHERE HE WILL ATTEND AN ECONOMIC SUMMIT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/GM
17-Jun-99 2:42 PM EDT (1842 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] KOSOVO / ALBANIA REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (TIRANA)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS ALONG WITH INTERNATIONAL AID ORGANIZATIONS SORTED THROUGH A TRAFFIC JAM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS THURSDAY ON THE ALBANIA-KOSOVO BORDER. THE CONGESTION WAS MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TRYING TO RETURN HOME. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM TIRANA.

TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR NATO OPERATIONS HERE IN ALBANIA SAYS A BACK-UP 90 KILOMETERS LONG HAD FORMED BY EARLY IN THE DAY THURSDAY. THE TRACTORS AND CARS ARE PACKED WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO ARE EAGER TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO.

AN ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND HAVE ALREADY MADE IT ACROSS IN RECENT DAYS. WHILE THE ONSLAUGHT IS A BIG LOGISTICAL PROBLEM AT NORTHERN ALBANIA'S KUKES BORDER CROSSING, SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THOSE RETURNING TO KOSOVO ARE EVEN BIGGER. A NATO SPOKESMAN, CAPTAIN WOLFGANG GREVEN, SAYS HE HOPES THE REFUGEES CAN BE PATIENT.

THE MESSAGE ONLY CAN BE THE COUNTRY, KOSOVO, IS NOT SAFE YET. ... I MEAN, NATO JUST MOVED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. ... I MEAN WE ARE NOT IN THERE FOR A MONTH NOW. AND WHAT WE DO FOR THE MOMENT, WHAT "K-FOR" DOES, IS CLEAN UP THE PLACE. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF MINE FIELDS. // OPT // WE HAD A REPORT OF ONE ACCIDENT TODAY THAT ONE GUY WANTED TO ENTER HIS HOUSE AND HE WAS BOMBED BY GRENADES THAT WERE PUT TO HIS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. ... SO ... THE MESSAGE ONLY CAN BE, "STAY WHERE YOU ARE, BE PATIENT." // END OPT //

BY LATE THURSDAY, ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SPOKESMAN ANDREA ANGELI SAID THE LOG-JAM AT THE BORDER HAD EASED UP, THANKS TO A NEW PLAN THAT ALLOWS ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW. HE SAYS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC WERE ABLE TO MOVE EAST INTO KOSOVO THROUGHOUT THE DAY. BUT MR. ANGELI SAYS IT IS ANYBODY'S GUESS WHAT THE COMING DAYS WILL BRING.

DESPITE ALL THE WARNING, THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AND A LOT OF WILLINGNESS AMONG THE POPULATION TO GO BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO PREDICT.

MR. ANGELI SAYS EVEN THOUGH IT IS UN-SAFE FOR REFUGEES TO RETURN TO KOSOVO IN THESE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONFLICT, NO ORGANIZATION INVOLVED WITH HELPING THE KOSOVARS IS WILLING TO BLOCK THEIR RE-ENTRY ALTOGETHER. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/PCF/WTW
17-Jun-99 1:33 PM EDT (1733 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[06] KOSOVO / K-FOR PROGRESS (S&L) BY GIL BUTLER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS ARE TAKING OVER CONTROL OF KOSOVO FROM YUGOSLAV FORCES ON SCHEDULE. ALL YUGOSLAV POLICE, MILITARY AND PARA-MILITARY UNITS ARE TO BE OUT OF KOSOVO BY SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS MORE FROM (KOSOVO'S CAPITAL,) PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES -- "K-FOR" -- HAVE BEEN MOVING STEADILY FORWARD TO TAKE OVER THE SECTORS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO K-FOR SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBIN CLIFFORD, SOME BRITISH TROOPS ARE ALREADY MOVING INTO ZONE THREE, THE FINAL SECTION OF KOSOVO TO BE VACATED BY YUGOSLAV FORCES. COLONEL CLIFFORD SAYS A TOTAL OF 35-THOUSAND YUGOSLAV FORCES HAVE NOW WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY FROM KOSOVO, INCLUDING ARMY, POLICE AND PARA-MILITARY UNITS. ELEVEN-THOUSAND ARE STILL INSIDE KOSOVO.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE REST WILL HAVE CLEARED KOSOVO BY MIDNIGHT ON THE 20TH OF JUNE, WHICH IS 11 DAYS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT WHEN THEY ARE OBLIGED TO HAVE ALL LEFT.

THERE ARE NOW 15-THOUSAND K-FOR TROOPS IN KOSOVO, A NUMBER WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 50-THOUSAND.

K-FOR REPORTS THAT U-S MARINES DISARMED 116 K-L-A GUERRILLAS IN THE WEST OF KOSOVO AFTER THEY WERE CONSIDERED TO BE ACTING IN A THREATENING MANNER. THEY HAD TRIED TO MARCH INTO GILLIANE AND REFUSED TO HAND OVER THEIR WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GB/GE/WTW
17-Jun-99 1:15 PM EDT (1715 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[07] KOSOVO / MITROVICA (L-ONLY) BY GIL BUTLER (MITROVICA, KOSOVO)

INTRO: AS NATO FORCES MOVE INTO MORE AREAS OF KOSOVO, ALBANIAN REFUGEES ARE RETURNING AND MANY SERB CIVILIANS ARE LEAVING IN FEAR. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS BEEN TO THE CITY OF MITROVICA, 50 KILOMETERS NORTH OF PRISTINA, AND REPORTS ON WHAT HAPPENED AS FRENCH TROOPS ENTERED THE TOWN.

TEXT: THE FRENCH WERE GREETED WITH WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC ETHNIC ALBANIANS THROWING FLOWERS AND SHOUTING THE NOW-FAMILIAR, "NATO, NATO, NATO."

THEY WERE ALSO SHOUTING SUPPORT FOR THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR U-C-A -- AND THE RED AND BLACK ALBANIAN FLAG WAS EVERYWHERE.

THE FRENCH SOLDIERS KEPT THE CROWDS WELL BACK FROM THE ROAD WHERE CONVOYS OF SERBS WERE TRAVELING NORTH OUT OF KOSOVO. BUT THAT DIDN'T KEEP THEM FROM TOSSING DEBRIS AND JEERING AT THE SERBS, MANY OF WHOM WERE MAKING THEIR EXIT THE SAME WAY THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS DID THREE MONTHS AGO, WITH THEIR FARM TRACTORS PULLING WAGONS LOADED WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLD POSSESSIONS.

THE MOSTLY SERB CENTER OF MITROVICA WAS VERY QUIET. SOME PARA-MILITARY SERBS LOOKED OUT OF APARTMENT WINDOWS AND BALCONIES. SERB POLICE KEPT THEIR GUNS POINTED TOWARD THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN DEMONSTRATION.

SOUTH OF MITROVICA, THE ROAD WAS FILLED, KILOMETER AFTER KILOMETER, WITH SERB CARS, TRUCKS AND TRACTORS HEADING NORTH AWAY FROM THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS. THIS IS NOT WHAT NATO WANTED TO HAPPEN. LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBIN CLIFFORD SAID THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT K-FOR WILL PROTECT THEM.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN AWARE, AS I AM SURE YOU ARE, OF SOME OF THE REPORTS OF PARTS OF THE SERB POPULATION OF KOSOVO LEAVING AS THE YUGOSLAV FORCES DEPART. AND AGAIN, WE ASK THEM NOT TO GO. THERE IS NO REASON FOR ANY OF THEM TO GO. WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THEM AS WELL.

INVARIABLY YOU HEAR KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, WHEN PRESSED, SAYS SERBS WHO DID NOT COMMIT MISDEEDS CAN STAY IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/GB/GE
17-Jun-99 12:40 PM EDT (1640 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[08] KOSOVO / RUSSIANS / AIRPORT (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

INTRO: TALKS IN HELSINKI BETWEEN U-S AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MAY HELP DETERMINE THE STATUS OF RUSSIAN TROOPS WITHIN THE K-FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM PRISTINA, WHERE 200 RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE STILL BLOCKING ALL ACCESS TO PRISTINA'S AIRPORT.

TEXT: WHILE U-S AND RUSSIANS OFFICIALS HAMMER OUT DETAILS OF RUSSIA'S ROLE WITHIN K-FOR, RUSSIAN TROOPS REMAIN ON GUARD AT PRISTINA'S MAIN AIRPORT. K-FOR TROOPS INITIALLY PLANNED TO USE THE AIRPORT AS THEIR MAIN HEADQUARTERS. BUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF DEPLOYMENT, THE RUSSIAN FORCES TOOK THEM BY SURPRISE BY BARRING ALL ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT.

A RUSSIAN COMMANDER, WHO WOULD NOT GIVE HIS NAME, GUARDS THE ROAD TO THE AIRPORT. HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS WHEN ASKED HOW LONG HE PLANS TO STAY.

THE RUSSIAN COMMANDER SAYS, EVERYTHING IS FINE. WE DON'T GO OVER TO THEM AND THEY DON'T COME OVER TO US.

THE LOCAL SERB POPULATION WANTS THE RUSSIANS TO PROTECT THEM. BUT THE COMMANDER SAYS THEIR AIM IS NOT TO GIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO THE SERBS.

SERBS AND RUSSIANS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE SLAV AND ORTHODOX ALLIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
17-Jun-99 10:15 AM EDT (1415 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[09] KOSOVO AFTERMATH BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: NATO TROOPS ENTERING KOSOVO ARE UNCOVERING THE HORRORS THAT SERB FORCES ALLEGEDLY INFLICTED ON ETHNIC ALBANIANS WHO WERE UNABLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES IN THE PROVINCE IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS. MASS GRAVES AND OTHER EVIDENCE POINTING TO ATROCITIES IS AGAIN RAISING THE ISSUE OF HOW THE WORLD SHOULD DEAL WITH THE PERPETRATORS OF SUCH CRIMES. THAT'S MAKING FOR EDITORIAL COMMENT IN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. HERE WITH A SAMPLING IS ___________ WITH THURSDAY'S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE EVIDENCE LEFT IN THE WAKE OF DEPARTING SERB FORCES POINTS TO ATROCITIES SO WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC THAT THE WASHINGTON POST ARGUES A CASE CAN BE MADE TO JUSTIFY KOSOVO'S COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM SERBIA.

VOICE: AT ONE TIME, SERBIA COULD MAKE A LEGITIMATE CLAIM, BASED ON HISTORY, TO SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE INDEPENDENCE-MINDED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. BUT ASSERTING SUCH A CLAIM NOW, IN THE FACE OF FURTHER EMERGING EVIDENCE OF ITS CRIMES AGAINST KOSOVO, SEEMS ALMOST LUDICROUS. AS A PICTURE UNFOLDS OF MASS GRAVES, BURNED HOUSES, LOOTED SHOPS AND SMASHED MOSQUES, IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT ANYONE COULD SERIOUSLY PROPOSE RETURNING KOSOVO AGAINST ITS WILL TO THE CONTROL OF A GOVERNMENT THAT SOUGHT TO SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROY IT.

TEXT: AS KOSOVO REBUILDS, WAR CRIMES PROSECUTORS WILL BE THERE BUILDING A CASE AGAINST THOSE SUSPECTED OF TAKING PART IN THE MASS KILLINGS. SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS ARE EMPHASIZING THAT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS RECONSTRUCTION WILL BE THE TASK OF DOCUMENTING, AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN KOSOVO UNSEEN BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HERE'S WHAT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS TO SAY.

VOICE: THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERROR INFLICTED ON KOSOVO, FROM [YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC ON DOWN, WILL EVER BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL. THE IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KOSOVARS, TO NAME THOSE GUILTY WHEN POSSIBLE, TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE PROSECUTIONS BEFORE THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. A JUDICIAL FRAMEWORK FOR TRYING AND PUNISHING WAR CRIMES HAS LONG BEEN NEEDED. NOW IT IS A REALITY. THE RULE OF LAW IS BEING MOVED FORWARD WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED.

TEXT: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARE NOW IGNORING THE ADVICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE THREAT OF LAND MINES TO RUSH BACK TO THEIR HOMES IN KOSOVO. MANY PROBLEMS WILL OBVIOUSLY REMAIN BEFORE MOST CAN RESUME NORMAL LIVES, IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE. BUT UNLIKE OTHER NEWSPAPERS, THE NEW YORK TIMES BELIEVES IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO SEE THAT 78 DAYS OF NATO BOMBING WAS A SUCCESS.

VOICE: AS AN EXERCISE IN MILITARY AND POLITICAL COERCION, THE CAMPAIGN ACHIEVED MOST OF ITS AIMS WITH LIMITED CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, IT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES CAN ACT DECISIVELY IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND AGAINST ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN EUROPE.

TEXT: BUT THE TIMES ARGUES THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT FEEL COMPELLED IN THE WAKE OF VICTORY IN KOSOVO TO LEAP INTO OTHER CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD.

VOICE: AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, INTERVENTION SHOULD BE CONFINED TO CASES WHERE VIOLENCE IS EXTREME AND THREATENS TO ENGULF NEIGHBORING NATIONS AND WHERE DEMOCRATIC NATIONS HAVE THE MEANS, AS IN KOSOVO, TO RESPOND. THE COMBINATION WILL BE RARE OUTSIDE EUROPE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF AMERICA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN KOSOVO AND THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/WTW
17-Jun-99 11:56 AM EDT (1556 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[10] KOSOVO REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (FERIZAJ, KOSOVO)

INTRO: THROUGHOUT KOSOVO, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBS ARE PACKING UP THEIR BELONGINGS AND HEADING NORTH TO SERBIA PROPER, JUST AS ETHNIC ALBANIANS COMING FROM THE SOUTH RETURN HOME. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM FERIZAJ, 30 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF PRISTINA, WHERE K-FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCES HAVE RECENTLY ARRIVED AND ARE TRYING DESPERATELY TO BRING ORDER FROM CHAOS.

TEXT: IN THE CENTER OF FERIZAJ, AN AMERICAN SOLDIER TRIES TO BREAK UP A CROWD OF ANGRY SERBS AND ALBANIANS. IT SEEMS THE SERB FAMILY IS TRYING TO FLEE IN A TRUCK THE ALBANIANS SAY IS STOLEN.

THE SERBS EVENTUALLY ADMIT THE TRUCK IS NOT THEIRS AND ARE FORCED TO TAKE THEIR SUITCASES AND RUGS AND CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY ON FOOT. THE ALBANIANS CHEER WHEN THEY WALK AWAY.

FERIZAJ HAD BEEN A CITY OF 80-THOUSAND -- PRIMARILY ETHNIC ALBANIANS, BUT 20 PERCENT SERBS. ONE DRIVE THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AND IT IS CLEAR WHICH STORES WERE OWNED BY SERBS AND WHICH WERE ALBANIAN. THE SERB STORES ARE UNTOUCHED. THEIR WINDOW PANES SPOTLESS. THE ALBANIAN STORES ARE COVERED IN SERB GRAFFITI, IF THEY ARE NOT ALREADY BURNED TO THE GROUND.

BUT THERE ARE TWO FAMILIES IN THIS TOWN WHICH DO NOT HATE EACH OTHER. AN ALBANIAN MAN, KADRI REXHEPI, HAS RETURNED TO FIND HIS HOME JUST AS HE LEFT IT. HE SAYS HIS FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR -- A SERB -- PROTECTED IT.

DANICA JEVTIC HUGS HER ALBANIAN NEIGHBORS GOOD-BYE AND CRIES AS HER HUSBAND STARTS THE ENGINE.

NOW IT IS THE ALBANIANS' TURN TO GUARD THE SERBS' HOME, AND THEY PROMISE TO DO IT. NO ONE ASKS WHEN THE SERB FAMILY MIGHT RETURN.

AT THE NEARBY TRAIN STATION, SEVERAL HUNDRED SERBS ARE WAITING WITH THEIR BELONGINGS FOR THE NEXT TRAIN. THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS IS MOSTLY HEADED NORTH, TOWARD SERBIA PROPER.

BUT FOR THE FEW ALBANIANS OF FERIZAJ WHO HAVE RETURNED, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT LIFE MIGHT SOMEDAY RETURN TO NORMAL. A CAR DRIVES BY PLAYING LOUD MUSIC, AND THE MUSIC IS ALBANIAN. OR A SUDDEN RINGING MAKES EVERYONE JUMP.

NO ONE KNEW THE PHONES WOULD BE TURNED BACK ON SO SOON. THEY'VE BEEN OFF FOR THREE MONTHS.

IN FERIZAJ, IT IS ALL HAPPENING AT ONCE. A KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY SOLDIER RIDES A BICYCLE PAST AN AMERICAN TANK. A FAMILY OF ALBANIANS RETURNS HOME FLASHING A VICTORY SIGN, JUST AS A FAMILY OF SERB REFUGEES DRIVES AWAY IN TEARS -- ALL OF IT AGAINST A BACKDROP OF BLACKENED BUILDINGS, RUBBLE, AND BROKEN GLASS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/PCF/WTW
17-Jun-99 3:10 PM EDT (1910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (THURSDAY) AS TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY COMMENTS FROM THE HEAD OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. V-O-A BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10-THOUSAND-841, UP 56 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13-HUNDRED-39, UP NINE POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ONE PERCENT.

ANALYSTS SAY TRADERS WERE REASSURED BY COMMENTS FROM ALAN GREENSPAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S CENTRAL BANK. MR. GREENSPAN TOLD CONGRESS THAT WHILE U-S INFLATION SEEMS UNDER CONTROL AT THE MOMENT, THE TIGHT LABOR MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES COULD SPARK WAGE INFLATION. THE CHAIRMAN STRONGLY HINTED THAT THE CENTRAL BANK WILL RAISE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATES MODESTLY IN A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST INFLATION.

WHEN WE CAN BE PRE-EMPTIVE, WE SHOULD BE BECAUSE MODEST PRE-EMPTIVE ACTIONS CAN OBVIATE (ELIMINATE) THE NEED FOR MORE DRASTIC ACTIONS AT A LATER DATE AND THAT COULD DESTABILIZE THE ECONOMY.

WALL STREET ANALYSTS SAID MR. GREENSPAN'S COMMENTS SEEM TO INDICATE ONE OR TWO SMALL INTEREST RATE INCREASES BUT NOT A SERIES OF RATE HIKES WHICH COULD SERIOUSLY SLOW THE U-S ECONOMY.

MR. GREENSPAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE TIGHT JOB MARKET WERE CONFIRMED BY A GOVERNMENT REPORT WHICH SAYS THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING NEW CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DROPPED BY 28-THOUSAND LAST WEEK.

THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT WAS ALMOST UNCHANGED IN APRIL AT 18-POINT-FOUR BILLION DOLLARS. HOWEVER, THE TRADE DEFICIT WAS LOWER THAN WALL STREET ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED.

THE COMPAQ COMPUTER COMPANY ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT ITS CURRENT EARNINGS, SAYING THERE AREN'T ANY. COMPAQ EXPECTS A LOSS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER BECAUSE OF INTENSE PRICE COMPETITION IN THE PERSONAL COMPUTER INDUSTRY.

FIERCE PRICE COMPETITION IS ALSO HURTING THE BREAKFAST CEREAL BUSINESS. KELLOGG, THE LEADING U-S CEREAL MAKER, SAYS IT IS CONSIDERING CLOSING DOWN PART OF ITS MAIN PLANT IN BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN TO CUT COSTS.

CARNIVAL CORPORATION, THE OPERATOR OF SEA CRUISES, REPORTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS WELL ABOVE WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS. CARNIVAL SAID PROFITS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER WERE IT NOT FOR THE BALKANS CONFLICT WHICH HURT BOOKINGS FOR MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/GM
17-Jun-99 5:13 PM EDT (2113 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[12] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET AT THE ALLIANCE'S HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO ASSESS THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN KOSOVO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS THAT THE FOCUS IS SHIFTING FROM THE SERB TROOP WITHDRAWAL TO CONTAINING THE REBEL KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY.

TEXT: NATO IS NOW CONFIDENT THAT ALL SERB TROOPS WILL BE OUT OF KOSOVO BY THE DEADLINE, SUNDAY EVENING (LOCAL TIME). EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED BY 24 HOURS, NATO REPORTS THAT 26-THOUSAND OUT OF 41-THOUSAND SERB SOLDIERS HAVE LEFT KOSOVO ON SCHEDULE.

WHEN NATO'S FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET AT NATO HEADQUARTERS FRIDAY AFTERNOON THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN KOSOVO. THEY MUST APPROVE THE AMERICAN UNDERSTANDINGS WITH RUSSIA ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO THE NATO COMMAND.

THE EMPHASIS AT NATO IS SHIFTING TO THE NEXT STEP IN KOSOVO, THE DEMILITARIZATION OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS NATO HAS MADE ITS FIRST CONTACTS WITH THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS, BUT WANTS A FORMAL UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE HANDING-IN OF WEAPONS.

WE HOPE A FORMAL AGREEMENT WILL BE CONCLUDED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK AT THAT. WE HAVE PUT TO THE U-C-K (K-L-A) POLITICAL LEADERS A CLEAR TIMETABLE RUNNING UPWARDS OUT TO 30 DAYS FOR THEIR INITIAL DEMILITARIZATION, WHICH WOULD ASSURE THAT NATURALLY THEIR HEAVY WEAPONS WOULD BE PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF K-FOR IN SECURE STORAGE SITES.

THE SPOKESMAN ACKNOWLEDGES KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY FORCES HAVE TAKEN TEMPORARY CONTROL OF AREAS VACATED BY THE SERBS, BUT WHERE THE K-FOR PEACEKEEPERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH THEIR AUTHORITY. MR. SHEA SAYS THE NATO TROOPS WILL DO THAT SHORTLY. //OPT// HE SAYS THE PEACEKEEPERS ARE NOT TRYING TO DISARM EVERY KOSOVO ALBANIAN FIGHTER -- BUT THEY WILL DISMANTLE THEIR MILITARY STRUCTURE.

IT MEANS TAKING AWAY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, HEAVY WEAPONS THOSE THAT POSE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE PEACE, BANNING THE USE OF UNIFORMS IN PUBLIC, BANNING THE USE OF INSIGNIA, BANNING MILITARY EXERCISES FOR INSTANCE, ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE LIAISON AND MAKING SURE THAT THE WEAPONS WHICH ARE REMOVED ARE PUT IN SECURE SITES FIRMLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF K-FOR. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT AND THAT IS WHAT WE CONSIDER BOTH REALISTIC AND WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE OF ENSURING SECURITY FOR EVERYBODY IN KOSOVO.

NATO HAS AROUND 15-THOUSAND PEACEKEEPER TROOPS IN KOSOVO WITH ANOTHER 11-THOUSAND READY IN NEIGHBORING MACEDONIA. NATO ALSO EXPECTS ADDITIONAL TROOPS FROM 11 PARTNER COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THOSE OUTSIDE THE AREA SUCH AS JORDAN, IRELAND AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RDP/PCF
17-Jun-99 9:01 AM EDT (1301 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[13] RUSSIANS IN KOSOVO BY ED WARNER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: RUSSIA CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR A LARGER ROLE IN KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING FORCES, WHILE NATO IS RESISTING ANY MOVE THAT COULD LEAD TO PARTITION OF THE PROVINCE. V-O-A'S ED WARNER REPORTS THE VIEWS OF ANALYSTS, RANGING FROM ALARMIST TO COMPLACENT, ON WHAT RUSSIA MAY BE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

TEXT: RUSSIA CAUGHT NATO BY SURPRISE WHEN IT RUSHED 200 TROOPS INTO KOSOVO. IT MAY SPRING STILL ANOTHER SURPRISE, ACCORDING TO ZBIGNIEV BRZEZINSKI, A FORMER TOP U-S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER.

AT A MEETING OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (THURSDAY), MR. BRZEZINSKI SAID THIS WEEKEND NATO FORCES ARE SCHEDULED TO OCCUPY THE MOST NORTHERN ZONE OF KOSOVO:

IT IS THE ONE ZONE [IN] WHICH, CONCEIVABLY, THROUGH SERBIAN-RUSSIA COLLUSION, A LAST-MINUTE EFFORT COULD BE MADE TO SOMEHOW OR OTHER ALTER THE ARRANGEMENT BY A DE-FACTO PREEMPTION. SO THE CRITICAL TIME BOTH FOR THE PROCESS OF EVACUATING KOSOVO AND FOR RESOLVING SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA WILL BE SATURDAY-SUNDAY. IF ANY SURPRISES ARE TO DEVELOP, THAT WILL BE THE TIME WHEN THEY MIGHT DO SO.

OTHER ANALYSTS MAY NOT EXPECT ANOTHER SURPRISE, BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE RUSSIA IS FRUSTRATED AND RESENTFUL. RUTH WEDGEWOOD, A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, SAYS, "RUSSIA STILL HAS A KIND OF UNPREDICTABLE STREAK WHEN IT FEELS CORNERED."

SPEAKING AT THE C-S-I-S MEETING, KEITH BUSH, A LONG-TIME ANALYST OF RUSSIA, SAID NATO EXPANSION OUTRAGED THE RUSSIAN ELITES, BUT DID NOT RESONATE WITH THE RUSSIAN PUBLIC. THE BOMBING OF SERBIA DID. OPPOSITION TO THE NATO RAIDS WAS OVERWHELMING.

THIS ENGENDERED A FEELING OF IRRELEVANCE AND IMPOTENCE AMONG RUSSIANS THAT THEY WERE NOT ASKED. THEY WERE NOT CONSIDERED. IF YOU RECALL, PRESIDENT YELTSIN WENT ON TELEVISION SAYING, "WE CAN NOT ALLOW THIS ... ANY BOMBING TO START," AND I THINK THE NEXT DAY THE BOMBING DID START. SO THIS LATENT ANTI-WESTERN AND ANTI-AMERICAN FEELING CAME TO A HEAD DURING THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN.

MR. BUSH SAYS HE IS SURE PRESIDENT YELTSIN ORDERED THE RUSSIAN TROOPS INTO KOSOVO. THAT WAS VINTAGE YELTSIN. HE LEFT THE TIMING TO THE MILITARY, BUT WITH WINKS AND NUDGES, HE LET IT BE KNOWN: THE SOONER, THE BETTER.

RUSSIA HAS REASON TO BE AGGRIEVED, SAYS HURST HANNUM, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AT THE FLETCHER SCHOOL OF LAW AND DIPLOMACY. MOSCOW PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN NEGOTIATING AN END TO THE WAR:

YET IN THE END GAME, WHEN MAPS BEGAN TO APPEAR IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ASSIGNING LITTLE ZONES IN KOSOVO TO VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF NATO, RUSSIA WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE OF NATO TO MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS IT DID, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY IN FACT DID SEEK TO EXCLUDE RUSSIA, AND RUSSIA SIMPLY PREEMPTED THEM.

BUT MR. BUSH DOUBTS RUSSIA WILL CARRY ITS GRIEVANCE TOO FAR. SINCE IT HAS INTERVENED MILITARILY IN THE CAUCASUS, IT CAN NOT GET TOO INDIGNANT OVER U-S INTERVENTION IN SERBIA. REMEMBER, RUSSIA IS ACTING OUT OF WEAKNESS, NOTES ROBERT MANNING, DIRECTOR OF ASIAN STUDIES AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. SENDING TROOPS INTO KOSOVO IS A SIGN OF DESPERATION:

RUSSIA BARELY EXISTS AS A FUNCTIONING STATE. THEY WANTED TO PRESENT US WITH A FAIT ACCOMPLI [ACCOMPLISHED FACT]. SO OUR CHOICE IS TO GIVE THEM A ROLE OR TO GO TO WAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS OVER THIS. SO THEY INCREASED THEIR BARGAINING LEVERAGE IN WHAT THEIR ROLE WOULD BE IN KOSOVO IN THE PEACE-KEEPING ARRANGEMENT.

ANALYSTS CAUTION THAT EVEN THE WEAK MUST BE ACCOMMODATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY STILL POSSESS A FORMIDABLE NUCLEAR ARSENAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/WTW
17-Jun-99 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[14] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY NICK SIMEONE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE U-S PRESIDENTIAL RACE FOR NEXT YEAR HAS BEGUN IN EARNEST WITH THE PRESUMED DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN FRONT RUNNERS MAKING THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE RACE OFFICIAL. THAT, AS WELL AS SECURITY AT AMERICA'S NUCLEAR LABS AND WHETHER A FEW COMPANIES HAVE A MONOPOLY ON THE WORLD'S SUPPLY OF VITAMINS ARE WHAT SOME OF AMERICA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS ARE TALKING ABOUT ON THEIR EDITORIAL PAGES. HERE WITH A SAMPLING IS ___________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: VICE PRESIDENT GORE BEGAN HIS CAMPAIGN BY MAKING CLEAR EARLY ON THAT HE IN NO WAY APPROVED OF PRESIDENT CLINTON LYING TO HIM -- AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- ABOUT HIS AFFAIR WITH FORMER INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. BUT EVEN IF MR. GORE SUCCEEDS IN DISTANCING HIMSELF FROM THE BIGGEST SCANDAL OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITES HE MAY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF FROM THE CAMPAIGN THEMES BEING ARTICULATED BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GEORGE BUSH, CONSIDERED THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER.

VOICE: BUT IF THE CURRENT POLLS ARE ANY INDICATION, MR. GORE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE THAN OFFER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EIGHT MORE YEARS OF THE SAME POLICIES, PLUS MARITAL FIDELITY. HE NEEDS HIS OWN VISION OF WHAT COMES NEXT. HIS SPEECH YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) SUGGESTED THAT HIS ANSWER IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO THE ONE PROPOUNDED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY MR. BUSH. BOTH MEN ARE TALKING ABOUT MOVING BEYOND MATERIAL PROSPERITY TO BUILD IN MR. GORE'S WORDS, 'AN AMERICA THAT IS NOT ONLY BETTER OFF BUT BETTER.'

TEXT: GORE'S CHORE, IS HOW THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DESCRIBES THE TASK FACING THE VICE PRESIDENT.

VOICE: IT'S NO COINCIDENCE FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE VEEP CHOSE LAST NIGHT TO TELL A TV INTERVIEWER HE WAS PRIVATELY APPALLED AT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BEHAVIOR DURING THE LEWINSKY FIASCO. WE DON'T REMEMBER HEARING THIS AT THE TIME, OR DURING THAT NOTORIOUS POST-IMPEACHMENT PEP RALLY ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN.

TEXT: CONTRAST THAT COMMENT WITH WHAT THE BOSTON GLOBE IS SAYING ABOUT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE GEORGE W. BUSH (THE SON OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT) AND HOW IT BELIEVES THE MEDIA SHOULD REACT TO HIS ADMISSION OF WHAT HE CALLS YOUTHFUL INDISCRETIONS.

VOICE: WHATEVER BUSH DID AS A YOUNG MAN, IN ALL PROBABILITY IT SHEDS NO LIGHT ON WHETHER HE WOULD MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT. REPORTERS HAD BEST AVOID DELVING INTO BUSH'S YOUNGER DAYS UNLESS THEY CAN PROVE THAT IT IS RELEVANT TO THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN . . . VOTERS IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WOULD HAVE FOUND IT HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS CONSORTING WITH MONICA LEWINSKY A YEAR EARLIER. BUT ABSENT A LINK TO AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN, MEDIA TROLLING FOR YOUTHFUL FAILINGS IS AN EXERCISE IN SENSATIONALISM WITHOUT REDEEMING PUBLIC PURPOSE.

TEXT: ONE ISSUE THAT IS CERTAIN TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE EMERGING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS THE ON-GOING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO HOW CHINA OBTAINED NUCLEAR SECRETS FROM WEAPONS LABS RUN BY THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS IS CRITICAL OF ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON FOR SAYING HE NEEDS MORE TIME TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT THE SITES WHICH, IT TURNS OUT, WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED AGAINST SPYING FOR YEARS.

VOICE: MORE TIME? HE'S GOT TO BE KIDDING. IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN MOUNTING FOR YEARS THAT A TOTALLY NEW SECURITY SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY. WELL-PUBLICIZED SECURITY LEAKS AT THE LAB IN LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, ONLY UNDERSCORE THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION.

TEXT: THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE IS CALLING FOR EVEN MORE FAR-REACHING REFORMS.

VOICE: THE D-O-E HAS FAILED FOR YEARS TO SAFEGUARD THE COUNTRY'S MOST SENSITIVE SECRETS. IT'S TIME TO DRASTICALLY REFORM THE D-O-E, OR CREATE A NEW AGENCY THAT WILL MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS SECURITY ITS HIGHEST PRIORITY. THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH TO DO OTHERWISE.

TEXT: ON ANOTHER MATTER, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER SEVERAL COMPANIES CONSPIRED TO CONTROL MUCH OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY OF VITAMINS. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEVELED AGAINST AT LEAST TWO COMPANIES ACCUSED OF PRICE FIXING. THE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA BEE WRITES THAT MOST CONSUMERS PROBABLY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT CALLS ONE STUNNING REVELATION AFTER ANOTHER.

VOICE: WORLDWIDE, JUST THREE COMPANIES MANUFACTURE UP TO 90 PERCENT OF THE VITAMINS THAT GO INTO EVERYTHING FROM ORANGE JUICE TO PET FOOD TO SUPPLEMENT PILLS . . . MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED A CARTEL GIVEN THE ROW AFTER ROW OF COMPETING VITAMIN PRODUCTS ON STORE SHELVES. YET AT THE MANUFACTURING LEVEL OF THE CORE COMMODITIES, POWER HAD CONCENTRATED INTO A FEW FIRMS. THAT'S HOW THE VITAMINS, INC, CARTEL AFFECTED MORE THAN FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL DOMESTIC COMMERCE, ACCORDING TO A U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF U-S NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 17TH (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/GM
17-Jun-99 12:45 PM EDT (1645 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[15] U-N / COUNCIL / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK IS CONTINUING TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF ITS MISSION IN KOSOVO, WHICH INCLUDES SUPERVISION OF HUMANITARIAN WORK AND THE CREATION OF DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HELD DISCUSSIONS ON THE ISSUE TODAY (THURSDAY). CORRRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY.

TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL MET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL LOUISE FRECHETTE. MS. FRECHETTE JUST RETURNED FROM GENEVA, WHERE SHE HELD TALKS ON KOSOVO WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING NATO AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, THE O-S-C-E. SHE SAYS THE TASKS AHEAD IN KOSOVO ARE COMPLEX AND WILL REQUIRE THE COOPERATION OF ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS OBVIOUSLY, LIKE US, HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE, AS YET, DETAILED ANSWERS. THERE WERE CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE DEMILITARIZATION IN KOSOVO. THERE WERE CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE EXODUS OF LARGE NUMBERS OF SERBS FROM THE TERRITORY, AND CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND WHETHER OUR AGENCIES WERE READY TO ATTEND TO THE NEEDS OF RETURNEES.

DIPLOMATS AT THE UNITED NATIONS SAY MOST OF THESE ISSUES ARE BEING DEALT WITH AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THEY SAY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE U-N HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS BE CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS, TO ENSURE THAT RETURNING REFUGEES DO NOT FACE FURTHER DANGER.

U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS PREPARING A DETAILED REPORT ON HIS PLANS FOR THE REBUILDING OF KOSOVO. THAT REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN LATE JUNE OR EARLY JULY.

IN RELATED NEWS, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ALSO RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM A FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA, MILAN PANIC, NOW A POLITICAL OPPONENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODON MILOSEVIC. MR. PANIC LATER TOLD REPORTERS THE KEY TO REBUILDING THE REGION LIES IN REMOVING MR. MILOSEVIC FROM POWER AND ESTABLISHING STRONGER TIES TO EUROPE.

WE CANNOT BE PART OF THE WORLD AS LONG AS MILOSEVIC IS THERE. EVERYONE IS TELLING US, THE BUSINESS OF OPPOSITION IS TO CHANGE HIM. WE HAVE ORGANIZED SOME SORT OF INTERIM GOVERNMENT. HE HAS TO LEAVE.

MR. PANIC TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YUGOSLAVIA'S BEST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS TO IMMEDIATELY START BUILDING A NEW, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/GM
17-Jun-99 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[16] U-S / K-L-A (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY TO AVOID PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS WHILE DETAILS OF AN AGREEMENT ON DEMILITARIZING THE GROUP ARE BEING WORKED OUT. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS THEY EXPECT AN AGREEMENT ON DEMILITARIZING THE K-L-A TO BE WORKED OUT SOON.

TALKS WITH K-L-A REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY IN TIRANA, ALBANIA, AND UNNAMED BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THE FRAMEWORK OF A DEAL HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED.

DURING PEACE TALKS IN RAMBOUILLET, FRANCE, THE K-L-A PLEDGED IT WOULD DEMILITARIZE, AND TRANSFORM ITSELF FROM A GUERRILLA ARMY INTO A POLITICAL FORCE.

BUT ARMED K-L-A MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MOVING QUICKLY TO TAKE UP POSITIONS INSIDE KOSOVO, AND HAVE SO FAR SHOWN LITTLE INTEREST IN GIVING UP THEIR WEAPONS.

U-S MARINES DISARMED A GROUP OF ABOUT 100 K-L-A FIGHTERS IN KOSOVO WEDNESDAY, IN AN INCIDENT STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY DESCRIBED AS TROUBLING.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCIDENTS, WHICH WHEN THEY OCCUR ARE TROUBLING. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO REINFORCE OUR MESSAGE TO THE K-L-A OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN KOSOVO.

OFFICIALS POINT OUT THAT AN AGREEMENT TO DEMILITARIZE THE K-L-A DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN EVERY WEAPON WILL HAVE TO BE TURNED IN. AND SOME K-L-A FIGHTERS MAY WELL BECOME MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE THAT IS TO BE ORGANIZED BY INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVO.

UNTIL THOSE KINDS OF ARRANGEMENTS ARE SORTED OUT, OFFICIALS SAY K-FOR PEACEKEEPERS WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE MEANS TO DEAL WITH ANY SITUATION.

OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE BOUND TO BE FURTHER INCIDENTS IN THE VOLATILE SITUATION THAT EXISTS WHILE SERB FORCES COMPLETE THEIR WITHDRAWAL AND K-FOR PEACEKEEPERS TAKE FULL CONTROL OF THE PROVINCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/KK/GM
16-Jun-99 10:02 PM EDT (0202 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[17] UNHCR / KOSOVO AID (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY -- U-N-H-C-R -- IS EXPANDING ITS PRESENCE IN KOSOVO AND INCREASING ASSISTANCE TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THAT THE AGENCY SAYS THE SPONTANEOUS RETURN OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES TO THE SERBIAN PROVINCE IS COMPLICATING ITS HUMANITARIAN OPERATION.

TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS OPENING A THIRD OFFICE (THURSDAY) IN PEC IN WESTERN KOSOVO. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE AGENCY REOPENED ITS OFFICE IN THE KOSOVO CAPITAL, PRISTINA. BUT JUDITH KUMIN OF THE U-N-H-C-R SAYS THE AGENCY RAN INTO PROBLEMS WHEN IT TRIED TO SET UP ITS OPERATIONS IN THE TOWN OF PRIZREN ON WEDNESDAY.

IN PRIZREN WE COULD NOT MOVE INTO OUR OLD OFFICE BECAUSE WE FOUND IT WAS BOOBY-TRAPPED. SO WE HAD TO FIND OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS. THE PEC OFFICE IS NOT BOOBY-TRAPPED. BUT, IT'S IN VERY BAD SHAPE. IT'S BEEN LOOTED AND VANDALIZED. AND, IT WILL TAKE A DAY OR TWO TO CLEAN IT UP AND MAKE IT FIT FOR USE AGAIN.

MS. KUMIN SAYS A FIRST CONVOY OF NON-FOOD ITEMS IS GOING TO PEC ON THURSDAY. MEANWHILE, SHE SAYS THE SUPPLY PIPELINE TO PRISTINA IS CONTINUING. SHE SAYS 20 TRUCKLOADS OF RELIEF SUPPLIES CARRYING WATER, FOOD, FUEL, HYGIENIC ARTICLES, BLANKETS AND MATTRESSES IS ON ITS WAY FROM MACEDONIA. THE U-N ESTIMATES SOME 26-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA HAVE FLOODED BACK INTO KOSOVO THIS WEEK.

MS. KUMIN SAYS ABOUT 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED BY LANDMINES. SHE SAYS SHE'S AFRAID MANY MORE WILL BE INJURED OR LOSE THEIR LIVES IF THEY CONTINUE TO DISREGARD WARNINGS NOT TO RETURN HOME JUST YET. IN ADDITION TO THE DANGERS POSED BY THE LANDMINES, MS. KUMIN SAYS THE SPONTANEOUS RETURN OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES IS A COMPLICATING FACTOR FOR THE U-N'S AID DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

BECAUSE WE HAD WANTED THIS WEEK TO CONCENTRATE ON THE REESTABLISHMENT OF OUR PRESENCE AND ON LOCATING AND BRINGING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED. NOW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO WORK ON TWO TRACKS AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE TO WORK ON SETTING UP MECHANISMS TO IDENTIFY AND REACH THOSE WHO'VE RETURNED, AS WELL AS TO IDENTIFY AND REACH THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY PLANS TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS INTO FOUR MORE AREAS OF KOSOVO. BUT, MS. KUMIN SAYS THIS WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ALL YUGOSLAV SECURITY FORCES HAVE WITHDRAWN AND THE K-FOR PEACEKEEPERS ARE IN PLACE. THE LAST YUGOSLAV TROOPS ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE ON SUNDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE
17-Jun-99 9:00 AM EDT (1300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[18] YUGO CHINA BOMB (L) BY PENTAGON (JIM RANDLE)

INTRO: CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S EXPLANATION OF (LAST MONTH'S) NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE IS "UNCONVINCING." THE ACCOUNT WAS PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING BY A HIGH LEVEL U-S DELEGATION WEDNESDAY. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO MEET ALL THE CHINESE DEMANDS FOR PUNISHMENT OF THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS AND PUBLICATION OF THE DETAILS OF THE ATTACK.

TEXT: THE COMMITTEE THAT SUPERVISES INTELLIGENCE MATTERS FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY BOMBING THURSDAY, BUT THAT MEETING WAS PUT OFF FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS, A MOVE LIKELY TO DELAY A DETAILED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OF THE ATTACK.

PENTAGON OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE BOMBING GREW OUT OF A MAJOR INTELLIGENCE BLUNDER THAT HAD PILOTS DROP BOMBS WITH GREAT PRECISION -- ON THE WRONG BUILDING. BUT U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS WILL NOT SAY IN PUBLIC WHAT SORT OF WEAPONS DID THE DAMAGE OR WHAT EVEN KIND OF AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED THEM.

OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON SAY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND U-S MILITARY CONDUCTED INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND BRIEFED CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE RESULTS. BUT THOSE SESSIONS WERE CLOSED TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC. A KNOWLEDGEABLE OFFICIAL SAYS CONGRESS IS ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM TOP PENTAGON OFFICIALS.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED, BUT A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE AUGUST.

ANOTHER TOP OFFICIAL SAYS, DESPITE BEIJING'S DEMANDS, HE DOES NOT THINK THE INVESTIGATION CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IS LIKELY TO BRING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF ANY U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/ENE/GM
17-Jun-99 3:20 PM EDT (1920 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

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