Voice of America, 99-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / DOLE (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[02] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[03] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[04] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[05] RUSSIA / NATO / S-O BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

[01] KOSOVO / DOLE (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: U-S TROOPS IN KOSOVO CELEBRATED A QUIET FOURTH OF JULY, WHILE THEY ALSO PLAYED HOST TO FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: THE SOLDIERS MADE A POINT OF NOT LIGHTING ANY FIRECRACKERS FOR FEAR THE NOISE MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT IS A TENSE AND OFTEN DANGEROUS ATMOSPHERE IN KOSOVO.

BOB DOLE ENJOYED DINNER WITH SOME OF THE TROOPS AS PART OF HIS VISIT ON BEHALF OF THE "INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MISSING PERSONS". MR. DOLE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SMALL GROUP WHICH HE SAYS FOCUSES ON RECONCILIATION IN THE BALKANS..

MR. DOLE SAYS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR POLITICAL LEADERS IN KOSOVO TO AVOID EXCESSIVE INFIGHTING SO KOSOVARS CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE GOOD WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

IF WE SEE THIS DOG FIGHT, OR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT CALL IT AT THE MOMENT, CHANGE THE LEADERS IF THEY DO NOT COOPERATE OR IF THEY DO NOT MAKE THINGS MOVE FORWARD, IF I AM ANY JUDGE, IT WILL COOL OFF MANY OF THOSE DONOR COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAINLY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MR. DOLE MADE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE REGION NINE-YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE DEVELOPED AN INTENSE INTEREST IN WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/RAE-T
04-Jul-99 2:15 PM EDT (1815 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS POSTPONED THE DEPARTURE OF SOME OF ITS PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, OTHER TROOPS ARE ON THEIR WAY AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH KOSOVO BY MID-JULY.

TEXT: RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO POSTPONE THE DEPARTURE OF TWO PLANES FOR KOSOVO BECAUSE HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA CLOSED THEIR AIR SPACE TO RUSSIA.

THE TWO ILYUSHIN-76 CARGO PLANES WERE TO CARRY ARMORED VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT 100 SOLDIERS AS PART OF MOSCOW'S CONTINGENT FOR NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN KOSOVO KNOWN AS "K-FOR."

RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE UNITED STATES ASKED THESE THREE COUNTRIES NOT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AIR CORRIDORS FOR THE DISPATCHING OF RUSSIAN TROOPS. HUNGARY IS A NEW MEMBER OF NATO -- ROMANIA AND BULGARIA HOPE TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UNDER TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT REACHED IN HELSINKI, FINLAND, LAST MONTH BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, MOSCOW WILL PROVIDE 36-HUNDRED TROOPS TO "K-FOR." THEY WILL BE DISPATCHED TO SECTORS RUN BY THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, AND FRANCE. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES FOR PRISTINA'S AIRPORT -- LOCATED IN THE BRITISH SECTOR.

BUT IT APPEARS NOT EVERY DETAIL CONCERNING RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE HELSINKI AGREEMENT.

IN AN EFFORT TO IRON OUT DIFFERENCES, A RUSSIAN MILITARY DELEGATION HELD THREE-DAYS OF TALKS IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK. NATO OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS "CONSTRUCTIVE." THE DELEGATION IS IN MOSCOW FOR CONSULTATIONS AND IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO NATO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING IT IS NECESSARY FIRST TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND THEN ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS -- HENCE THE REQUEST FOR HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA TO CLOSE THEIR AIR CORRIDORS TO RUSSIAN PLANES BOUND FOR KOSOVO.

THE MOVE TOOK SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE. THE INDEPENDENT "INTERFAX" NEWS AGENCY SAYS DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS WERE STUNNED. ONE OFFICIAL TOLD "INTERFAX" WASHINGTON'S ACTION WAS, IN HIS WORDS -- A PROVOCATION -- SINCE ALL DETAILS PERTAINING TO RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN "K-FOR" WERE WORKED OUT IN HELSINKI AND DURING LAST WEEK'S TALKS IN BRUSSELS.

BUT IN A RECENT (FRIDAY) V-O-A INTERVIEW, SENIOR NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IS THE QUESTION OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

IT IS TRUE THAT ON THE FIRST DAY (MONDAY) THE RUSSIANS DID MAKE SOME PROPOSALS THAT DEVIATED SOMEWHAT FROM THE HELSINKI AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. BUT AS THE TALKS PROGRESSED ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND ON THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS. AND THE RUSSIANS ARE EXPECTED BACK AT 'SHAPE' (SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS, EUROPE) NEXT WEEK AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AGREE AND THAT WE CAN THEN OBVIOUSLY BEGIN THIS COOPERATION.

WHILE RUSSIA IS FORCED TO TEMPORARILY POSTPONE ITS DISPATCH OF TROOPS BY AIR TO KOSOVO, MOSCOW IS STILL GOING AHEAD WITH OTHER PLANS. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY FIVE SHIPS FROM RUSSIA'S BLACK-SEA FLEET ARE READY TO RECEIVE 18-HUNDRED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARRIVING IN THE AREA BY TRAIN. THESE TROOPS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE BLACK SEA PORTS BY THURSDAY AND TRAVEL BY SEA TO GREECE. THEY WILL THEN DISEMBARK, TRAVEL TO KOSOVO BY TRUCK AND ARRIVE IN THE SERB PROVINCE BY JULY 16TH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/DW/RAE
04-Jul-99 10:27 AM EDT (1427 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[03] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS POSTPONED THE DEPARTURE OF SOME OF ITS PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, OTHER TROOPS ARE ON THEIR WAY AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH KOSOVO BY MID-JULY.

TEXT: RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO POSTPONE THE DEPARTURE OF TWO PLANES FOR KOSOVO BECAUSE HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA CLOSED THEIR AIR SPACE TO RUSSIA.

THE TWO ILYUSHIN-76 CARGO PLANES WERE TO CARRY ARMORED VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT 100 SOLDIERS AS PART OF MOSCOW'S CONTINGENT FOR NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN KOSOVO KNOWN AS "K-FOR."

RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE UNITED STATES ASKED THESE THREE COUNTRIES NOT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AIR CORRIDORS FOR THE DISPATCHING OF RUSSIAN TROOPS. HUNGARY IS A NEW MEMBER OF NATO -- ROMANIA AND BULGARIA HOPE TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UNDER TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT REACHED IN HELSINKI, FINLAND, LAST MONTH BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, MOSCOW WILL PROVIDE 36-HUNDRED TROOPS TO "K-FOR." THEY WILL BE DISPATCHED TO SECTORS RUN BY THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, AND FRANCE. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES FOR PRISTINA'S AIRPORT -- LOCATED IN THE BRITISH SECTOR.

BUT IT APPEARS NOT EVERY DETAIL CONCERNING RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE HELSINKI AGREEMENT.

IN AN EFFORT TO IRON OUT DIFFERENCES, A RUSSIAN MILITARY DELEGATION HELD THREE-DAYS OF TALKS IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK. NATO OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS "CONSTRUCTIVE." THE DELEGATION IS IN MOSCOW FOR CONSULTATIONS AND IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO NATO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING IT IS NECESSARY FIRST TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND THEN ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS -- HENCE THE REQUEST FOR HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA TO CLOSE THEIR AIR CORRIDORS TO RUSSIAN PLANES BOUND FOR KOSOVO.

THE MOVE TOOK SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE. THE INDEPENDENT "INTERFAX" NEWS AGENCY SAYS DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS WERE STUNNED. ONE OFFICIAL TOLD "INTERFAX" WASHINGTON'S ACTION WAS, IN HIS WORDS -- A PROVOCATION -- SINCE ALL DETAILS PERTAINING TO RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN "K-FOR" WERE WORKED OUT IN HELSINKI AND DURING LAST WEEK'S TALKS IN BRUSSELS.

BUT IN A RECENT (FRIDAY) V-O-A INTERVIEW, SENIOR NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IS THE QUESTION OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

IT IS TRUE THAT ON THE FIRST DAY (MONDAY) THE RUSSIANS DID MAKE SOME PROPOSALS THAT DEVIATED SOMEWHAT FROM THE HELSINKI AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. BUT AS THE TALKS PROGRESSED ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND ON THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS. AND THE RUSSIANS ARE EXPECTED BACK AT 'SHAPE' (SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS, EUROPE) NEXT WEEK AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AGREE AND THAT WE CAN THEN OBVIOUSLY BEGIN THIS COOPERATION.

WHILE RUSSIA IS FORCED TO TEMPORARILY POSTPONE ITS DISPATCH OF TROOPS BY AIR TO KOSOVO, MOSCOW IS STILL GOING AHEAD WITH OTHER PLANS. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY FIVE SHIPS FROM RUSSIA'S BLACK-SEA FLEET ARE READY TO RECEIVE 18-HUNDRED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARRIVING IN THE AREA BY TRAIN. THESE TROOPS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE BLACK SEA PORTS BY THURSDAY AND TRAVEL BY SEA TO GREECE. THEY WILL THEN DISEMBARK, TRAVEL TO KOSOVO BY TRUCK AND ARRIVE IN THE SERB PROVINCE BY JULY 16TH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/DW/RAE
04-Jul-99 10:27 AM EDT (1427 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA / NATO (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS POSTPONED THE DEPARTURE OF SOME OF ITS PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, OTHER TROOPS ARE ON THEIR WAY AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH KOSOVO BY MID-JULY.

TEXT: RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO POSTPONE THE DEPARTURE OF TWO PLANES FOR KOSOVO BECAUSE HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA CLOSED THEIR AIR SPACE TO RUSSIA.

THE TWO ILYUSHIN-76 CARGO PLANES WERE TO CARRY ARMORED VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT 100 SOLDIERS AS PART OF MOSCOW'S CONTINGENT FOR NATO'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN KOSOVO KNOWN AS "K-FOR."

RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE UNITED STATES ASKED THESE THREE COUNTRIES NOT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AIR CORRIDORS FOR THE DISPATCHING OF RUSSIAN TROOPS. HUNGARY IS A NEW MEMBER OF NATO -- ROMANIA AND BULGARIA HOPE TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE WESTERN ALLIANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UNDER TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT REACHED IN HELSINKI, FINLAND, LAST MONTH BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, MOSCOW WILL PROVIDE 36-HUNDRED TROOPS TO "K-FOR." THEY WILL BE DISPATCHED TO SECTORS RUN BY THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, AND FRANCE. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES FOR PRISTINA'S AIRPORT -- LOCATED IN THE BRITISH SECTOR.

BUT IT APPEARS NOT EVERY DETAIL CONCERNING RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN KOSOVO HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE HELSINKI AGREEMENT.

IN AN EFFORT TO IRON OUT DIFFERENCES, A RUSSIAN MILITARY DELEGATION HELD THREE-DAYS OF TALKS IN BRUSSELS LAST WEEK. NATO OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS "CONSTRUCTIVE." THE DELEGATION IS IN MOSCOW FOR CONSULTATIONS AND IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO NATO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING IT IS NECESSARY FIRST TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND THEN ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS -- HENCE THE REQUEST FOR HUNGARY, BULGARIA, AND ROMANIA TO CLOSE THEIR AIR CORRIDORS TO RUSSIAN PLANES BOUND FOR KOSOVO.

THE MOVE TOOK SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE. THE INDEPENDENT "INTERFAX" NEWS AGENCY SAYS DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS WERE STUNNED. ONE OFFICIAL TOLD "INTERFAX" WASHINGTON'S ACTION WAS, IN HIS WORDS -- A PROVOCATION -- SINCE ALL DETAILS PERTAINING TO RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN "K-FOR" WERE WORKED OUT IN HELSINKI AND DURING LAST WEEK'S TALKS IN BRUSSELS.

BUT IN A RECENT (FRIDAY) V-O-A INTERVIEW, SENIOR NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IS THE QUESTION OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

IT IS TRUE THAT ON THE FIRST DAY (MONDAY) THE RUSSIANS DID MAKE SOME PROPOSALS THAT DEVIATED SOMEWHAT FROM THE HELSINKI AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. BUT AS THE TALKS PROGRESSED ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND ON THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS. AND THE RUSSIANS ARE EXPECTED BACK AT 'SHAPE' (SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS, EUROPE) NEXT WEEK AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AGREE AND THAT WE CAN THEN OBVIOUSLY BEGIN THIS COOPERATION.

WHILE RUSSIA IS FORCED TO TEMPORARILY POSTPONE ITS DISPATCH OF TROOPS BY AIR TO KOSOVO, MOSCOW IS STILL GOING AHEAD WITH OTHER PLANS. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY FIVE SHIPS FROM RUSSIA'S BLACK-SEA FLEET ARE READY TO RECEIVE 18-HUNDRED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ARRIVING IN THE AREA BY TRAIN. THESE TROOPS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE BLACK SEA PORTS BY THURSDAY AND TRAVEL BY SEA TO GREECE. THEY WILL THEN DISEMBARK, TRAVEL TO KOSOVO BY TRUCK AND ARRIVE IN THE SERB PROVINCE BY JULY 16TH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/DW/RAE
04-Jul-99 10:27 AM EDT (1427 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[05] RUSSIA / NATO / S-O BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (MOSCOW)

INTRO: RUSSIA HAS POSTPONED THE DEPARTURE OF SOME OF ITS PEACEKEEPERS TO KOSOVO FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD -- AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA IN MOSCOW.

TEXT: RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY TWO PLANES CARRYING ABOUT 100 SOLDIERS AND EQUIPMENT FOR KOSOVO WILL NOT DEPART FOR PRISTINA AIRPORT (SUNDAY) BECAUSE HUNGARY, BULGARIA AND ROMANIA HAVE CLOSED THEIR AIR SPACE TO RUSSIA.

RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE UNITED STATES ASKED THESE THREE COUNTRIES NOT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AIR CORRIDORS FOR THE DISPATCHING OF RUSSIAN TROOPS. THESE OFFICIALS SAY WASHINGTON'S DENIAL REQUEST IS BECAUSE TALKS BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA ON MOSCOW'S EXACT ROLE IN KOSOVO HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED.

A RUSSIAN MILITARY DELEGATION SPENT THREE DAYS AT NATO HEADQUARTERS, LAST WEEK, WORKING OUT DETAILS OF RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN NATO'S PEACEKEEPING EFFORT KNOWN AS "K-FOR." THE DELEGATION IS CURRENTLY HERE IN MOSCOW FOR CONSULTATIONS AND IS EXPECTED BACK IN BRUSSELS FOR MORE TALKS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. (SIGNED)
NEB / ADEN / WD / WD
04-Jul-99 3:44 AM EDT (0744 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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