Voice of America, 99-08-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] KLA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[02] KOSOVO / THACI (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[03] CLARK-NATO-U-S BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

[04] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[05] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, UPDATE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[06] NATO-ROBERTSON (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[07] ROBERTSON - NEWSMAKER (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[08] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

[09] CYPRUS INVESTORS (L ONLY) BY CHRIS DRAKE (NICOSIA)

[10] DRASKOVIC / ITALY (L-ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

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

[12] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KLA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: A prosecutor at the U-N War Crimes Tribunal sent a warning (Wednesday) to the Kosovo Liberation Army -- the K-L-A - saying his office is investigating the murder of 14 Serb farmers to see if it is part of a deadly pattern of ethnic cleansing. From the Tribunal at the Hague, Netherlands, we get details from reporter Lauren Comiteau.

TEXT: When the 14 Serb farmers were found massacred in July, prosecutors at the War Crimes Tribunal warned they would investigate, saying it would be an outrage if some in Kosovo sought revenge while others were in the process of being brought to justice. Those seeking revenge now are Kosovo Albanians, while those who are in the early stages of being brought to justice are the five top Yugoslav officials indicted by the Tribunal -- including Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. Deputy prosecutor Graham Blewitt took those earlier warnings one step further.

[02] KOSOVO / THACI (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: The rebel-appointed leader of the Kosovo Albanians, Hasim Thaci, says he is not satisfied with the level of security in Kosovo and blames a rising tide of violence on what he calls "anarchists" intent on upsetting his government. Philip Smucker in Pristina reports Mr. Thaci's comments -- in an interview-- come amid continuing charges that his own Kosovo Liberation Army is involved in the killing of Serbs.

TEXT: The Kosovo Albanian leader, Hasim Thaci, says he is disturbed that persons he calls "anarchists" are trying to use an institutional vacuum in Kosovo to disrupt the peace. Human rights investigators in Kosovo have blamed elements of Mr. Thaci's Kosovo Liberation Army (K-L-A) for a spate of revenge attacks against some of the 30- thousand Serbs remaining in the province. But the K-L-A has formally denied the charges. And Mr. Thaci blames what he calls "rogue" elements for the attacks. Western officials -- including the chief of the United Nations mission in Kosovo -- have traveled with Mr. Thaci to the scene of some of the crimes against Serbs. In some cases, Albanian witnesses have given evidence to reporters and NATO soldiers implicating young Albanian men in the killing of Serbs and looting of their homes. Prosecutors at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday said they are investigating the killing of Serbs in Kosovo to see if it is part of a pattern of ethnic cleansing by the K-L-A. Human Rights Watch -- a U-S based rights organization released a report this week that also blamed NATO peacekeepers for not responding adequately to the attacks. More than 100 Serb civilians have been murdered since the middle of June. The Human Rights Watch report said NATO's own concern for protecting its forces and its lack of experience in civil policing had led to the breakdown of law and order in Kosovo. A United Nations police force of three-thousand officers still has fewer than 500 in the province, with many of them still in training. Mr. Thaci says the difficult security situation is predictable after a bloody war, but he says he is confident the rule of democracy and law will soon come to Kosovo. He suggested he is preparing to run for the post of Prime Minister in internationally-sponsored elections, as soon as they are organized. He cited both his own education in international affairs and his experience in the war as important qualifications for his leadership. Mr. Thaci says some allies of the K-L-A -- including the United States -- had given solid guarantees that Kosovo would be able to have a referendum on independence after a three-year interim period. The United Nations Security Council mandate for Kosovo makes no reference to such a vote. (Signed) NEB/PS/JWH/gm 04-Aug-1999 13:20 PM EDT (04-Aug-1999 1720 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLARK-NATO-U-S BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: Near the end of last month, the Pentagon forced U-S General Wesley Clark to retire from his post as NATO supreme allied commander in Europe in April of next year, three months before the end of his official tour of duty. In this report from Washington, National Security Correspondent Andre de Nesnera looks at General Clark's contributions in the Kosovo air campaign and discusses some of the reasons why the Pentagon may have decided to remove him from his senior NATO post.

TEXT: General Wesley Clark has been NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe since July 1997. In that capacity, he was responsible for conducting the western alliance's successful 78-day air campaign against Serb forces in Kosovo - NATO's only offensive military endeavor in its 50-year history. Retired Colonel David Hackworth - a decorated U-S veteran from the Korean and Vietnam wars - says General Clark has not received the necessary accolades for his Kosovo campaign.

[04] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO ambassadors are soon expected to approve the nomination of Britain's Defense Secretary, George Robertson, to succeed Javier Solana as NATO Secretary General. Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels. Text: Just as the military commander of NATO has traditionally been an American, the Secretary General of NATO has traditionally been a European. The civilian leader of NATO has sometimes come from Southern Europe -- like the current secretary general, Spain's Javier Solana. But more often, they have been Northern Europeans. In 1952,the North Atlantic Council decided its military treaty needed regular political consultations. A former British army officer, Lord Ismay, was appointed NATO'S first Secretary General. In his memoirs, Lord Ismay recalled that he asked Prime Minister Winston Churchill if it was his duty to accept the job. It is your duty to accept, Pug -- (ed's: a nickname) was the Prime Minister's immediate reply. Another British Prime Minister may have had a similar conversation 47-years later with Defense Secretary George Robertson. When Germany's Defense Minister declined the position, there were no obvious successors to Mr. Solana. The current Secretary General's term runs out at the end of the year and Mr. Solana has already accepted a position as the European Union's coordinator of Foreign and Defense policies. Mr. Robertson is well known at NATO for his passionate denunciations of Serbian ethnic cleansing during the war in Kosovo. He is also popular in France because he favors development of the separate European defense identity in future non-NATO military actions when the United States does not want to become involved. His nomination as NATO's 10th Secretary General was delayed for a few days, but not because there are other candidates or because of any opposition to Mr. Robertson personally. Prime Minister Tony Blair cleared the nomination with his fellow leaders from the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France when he met them last week in Sarajevo. But the British leader did not bother to consult with NATO's smaller countries, and for that reason some withheld their consensus when NATO ambassadors met informally on the matter Monday.

[05] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, UPDATE (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO Ambassadors have approved the nomination of Britain's Defense Secretary, George Robertson, as the successor to Javier Solana as Secretary General. Correspondent Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels on the job of NATO's Secretary General. Text: Just as the military commander of NATO has always been an American, the Secretary General of NATO has traditionally been a European. The civilian leader of NATO has sometimes come from Southern Europe, like the current Secretary General, Spain's Javier Solana. More often, they have been Northern Europeans. The current Secretary General's term runs out at the end of the year, and Mr. Solana has already accepted a new position as the European Union's coordinator of Foreign and Defense policies. No date has been set for the transition from Mr. Solana to Mr. Robertson, but it is widely expected to be in October. In a written statement, Mr. Solana says Mr. Robertson showed firm and principled leadership during the Kosovo crisis, and Mr. Solana looks forward to working with him in his new capacity at the European Union. Mr. Robertson is well known at NATO for his passionate denunciations of Serbian ethnic cleansing during the conflict in Kosovo. He is also popular in France because he favors development of the separate European defense identity in future non-NATO military actions when the United States does not want to become involved. His nomination as NATO's 10th Secretary General was delayed for two days, but not because there were other candidates or because of any opposition to Mr. Robertson personally. Prime Minister Tony Blair cleared the nomination with his fellow leaders from the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France when he met them recently in Sarajevo. The British Prime minister did not bother to consult with NATO's smaller countries and for that reason some withheld their consensus when NATO ambassadors met informally Monday. When they met again (Wednesday), approval of Mr. Robertson's nomination was unanimous As NATO's civilian leader, Mr. Robertson will be the alliance's principal spokesman to the world as well as the person who leads the effort to build consensus among the 19-members. (Signed)
NEB/RP/GE/RAE 04-Aug-1999 11:16 AM EDT (04-Aug-1999 1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] NATO-ROBERTSON (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: British Defense Secretary George Robertson has been named NATO's 10th Secretary General. In London, Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports NATO's new top official says he relishes the challenge.

TEXT: Defense Secretary Robertson says he is ready to take on what he calls the biggest and toughest jobs in the world. The Scottish politician promises to apply a good dose of pragmatism and plain common sense.

[07] ROBERTSON - NEWSMAKER (L-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: British Defense Secretary George Robertson has been named NATO's tenth Secretary General. London Correspondent Laurie Kassman profiles the Scottish politician who asserted Britain's role as a top NATO military power during the Kosovo crisis.

TEXT: When Defense Secretary George Robertson conducted his ministry's briefings during the Kosovo crisis, he was unrelenting in his defense of NATO's air strikes to stop Belgrade's repression in Kosovo province.

[08] BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY LAUREN COMITEAU (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: A former para-military leader says he is not guilty of raping and enslaving Muslim women in the southern Bosnian town of Foca. Lauren Comiteau reports Radomir Kovac was arrested by NATO peacekeepers Monday and could stand trial as early as January at the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

TEXT: The initial appearance of Radomir Kovac was swift. Two "not guilty" pleas to charges of crimes against humanity for rape and enslavement. The 38-year-old is one of eight men charged in the Foca indictment, named for the town that was overrun by Bosnian Serbs in 1992. Prosecutors say it was there that Muslim women and girls were gang raped, tortured, and kept as slaves in make-shift brothels by Serb police and paramilitaries. They say Mr. Kovac held a 15-year old girl prisoner in his own apartment for months, frequently raping her before selling her to soldiers. Prosecutors say what happened in Foca was not unique. But was just one gruesome example of what was happening all over Bosnia at the time, namely rape as a weapon of war. Deputy prosecutor Graham Bluett explains.

[09] CYPRUS INVESTORS (L ONLY) BY CHRIS DRAKE (NICOSIA)

INTRO: Stock-market fever is gripping the Mediterranean island of Cyprus as Greek Cypriots rush to buy shares. Gains since the beginning of the year top 200-percent, giving Cyprus the unexpected title of the world's most meteoric market. To cope with the growing volume of administrative work, the stock exchange will close for a few days next week to give brokers a chance to catch up. Chris Drake reports from the Cyprus capital, Nicosia.

TEXT: It is not just the financial wizards who are involved. The fast-climbing share values have resulted in families mortgaging homes, young secretaries taking out bank loans and shepherds selling goats to raise enough cash to join in too. Warnings that they could lose vast sums of money are being largely ignored, and the stock market is the main talking point in a community more accustomed to discussing the price of potatoes than the meaning of a blue-chip. Gambling is illegal in Cyprus, but the Greek Cypriots love it nevertheless and spend freely on weekly lotteries. The stock market is just another chance to make easy money. One local television station broadcasts the daily 90-minute trading sessions live - a move which is attracting far more viewers than the soap operas they replace. Behind the interest in the stock market is a re-newed sense of confidence in the island's future. There is still no sign of a settlement with the Turkish Cypriots in the north -- which 30-thousand Turkish troops have occupied since 1974. But the Greek Cypriot application to join the European Union is on course, the economy is in good shape, and there is a deep sense of relief at the decision earlier this year not to buy a Russian missile system. Financial experts insist most share prices have lost touch with company values. And the government-run Central Bank has asked commercial banks to tighten credit facilities for market speculators and gamblers. That has had little impact, and bankers say only a sudden drop in share prices is likely to cure the stock market fever. (Signed)
NEB/CD/JWH/RAE 04-Aug-1999 12:54 PM EDT (04-Aug-1999 1654 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] DRASKOVIC / ITALY (L-ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)

INTRO: The president of the Serbian Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, presented his program for democratic change in Serbia (Wednesday) to Italy's foreign minister. He also urged the international community to help reconstruction efforts in Serbia. Sabina Castelfranco has this report from Rome.

TEXT: The leader of one of Serbia's major opposition parties, Vuk Draskovic, outlined the steps that, in his view, should be taken to move his country towards pluralism and democracy. He said -- first, those who are in power now, including President Slobodan Milosevic, must understand the international community no longer trusts them and therefore should step aside.

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

INTRO: Stock prices in the United States were down today (Wednesday) as relentless selling of Internet- related stocks continued. V-O-A Business Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from New York.

TEXT: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 10 thousand-674, down two points. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index closed at 13-hundred-five, down 17 points. The NASDAQ index lost almost two percent. Since July 16th, the NASDAQ Index has lost 11 percent of its value. Heavy selling of many technology stocks continued and pressure on many internet-related issues was intense. Many analysts say they do not expect to see any quick rebound in the Internet sector, which features a large number of companies with high stock valuations and no profits. The Industrial Average would have fallen much more than it did were it not for the 25-percent rise in the stock of Union Carbide, a component of the 30-stock index. The Dow Chemical Company plans to acquire Union Carbide in a deal worth 11-point-six-billion dollars. The combined firm would be the world's second-largest chemical company, after DuPont.

[12] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: President Clinton's character and a variety of issues concerning China dominate the editorial columns of U-S papers this Wednesday. Other topics include: the deteriorating situation in Kosovo province; congressional opposition to a test ban treaty; and the latest controversy over pesticides. Now, here is ___________ with some excerpts and a closer look in today's Editorial Digest.

TEXT: President Clinton's sexual indiscretions are back in the news after Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a frank magazine interview claiming her husband's character weaknesses were caused by a troubled childhood. The latest revelations cause the "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" to exclaim:

VOICE: . She said . her husband was "barely four when he was scarred by abuse. There was a terrible conflict between his mother and grandmother.' What really overwhelms, what fatigues, what causes even the casual observer and consistent commentator to throw up his arms in surrender at this point is .the sense that this time we've gone too far. .There is something about this particular revelation that goes beyond the .accepted bounds of bad taste among our fashion-setters ... Mrs. Clinton just had to talk about her husband's emotionally abused childhood. Fine. In that case, why did not she go to her analyst and talk about it there? Why did she have to lay out this theory in public? . It is not our business. It is not anybody's business.

TEXT: In Oklahoma, "The Tulsa World" is also surprised at the comments, but feels some sympathy for Mr. Clinton.

VOICE: As much fun as it is for everyone to giggle at President Bill's misadventures with women and laugh off . claims that all of his episodes grow out of a troubled childhood, who can deny that the way we are treated as very young children does indeed have a lifelong effect? Scientists are now in the process of verifying .[that] What happens to children as their brains and emotional wiring are being developed probably determines the entire course of their lives. Text: In North Dakota, "The Grand Forks Herald" points out that only some of the president's actions can be so easily apologized away.

VOICE: . Bill Clinton did not get impeached by the House and stand trial in the Senate because he had an affair. He put himself in the dock by committing perjury and obstructing justice. That is crucial to remember.

TEXT: Turning to Asia, Chinese topics are the popular foreign affairs subject of the day. China's actions toward Taiwan are worrying "The Washington Post" which cites a series of recent provocative acts including the firing of a new ballistic missile, and jet fighter flights over the Taiwan strait, before noting:

VOICE: The Clinton administration response to all this has been, for the most part, to chide Taiwan and make soothing noises toward China. . The danger . is that China, rather than Taiwan, will misjudge U-S steadfastness. In the long run, there will be more chance of deterring war, securing peace and even fostering good relations with China if the United States opts for clarity, not ambiguity, in showing support for its true friends in the region.

TEXT: Considerably closer to the action, Hawaii's "Honolulu Star-Bulletin" adds:

VOICE: In the wake of Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's redefinition of his government's status in its dealings with Beijing as `state to state,' the U-S commitment to defend Taiwan has been questioned. .unidentified Clinton administration officials were quoted as warning Taiwan that the United States is not committed by treaty to its defense. ..[However] The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 plainly spells out a U-S determination that the future of Taiwan must be decided `by [peaceful means' and that the use of other means would be `of grave concern' to the United States. . Our view: The U-S is committed by the . Act to the island's defense.

TEXT: "The Detroit News" says the U-S policy toward China appears to be sending mixed messages, which the paper calls dangerous.

VOICE: China test-fired a long-range missile earlier this week -- meting a decisive blow to the Clinton administration's strategy of `protecting' Taiwan by appeasing Beijing. Indeed, coming in the wake of Washinton's decisions to suspend arms sales to Taiwan and cancel a high-level visit to the island, China's move is a direct slap in Washington's face. . the administration now proclaims that it will take `very seriously' any attempt by China to use force against Taiwan. . by harboring a contradictory China policy, the Clinton administration is inviting a dangerous miscalculation by Beijing.

TEXT: We turn to the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, where ethnic strife, now mainly against Serbians, in reprisal for the ethnic cleansing of Albanians during the war, is causing a new exodus of refugees. Bill Maxwell in the "St. Petersburg Times" has another concern, the apparent killing campaign against the province's' leading intellectuals, mainly in the city of Djakovica, which the United Nations calls a "world heritage' site.

VOICE: As residents bemoan the physical devastation of NATO's 78-day bombing campaign that enveloped their beautiful town, they are worrying about an even more serious crisis: the disappearance of `11-hundred of their men -- many of them the best minds in the nation. . The world is learning that [Mr.] Milosevic had a dark blueprint for Kosovo, a long-term scheme to destroy any chance of a viable future for ethnic Albanians. [Mr.] Milosevic knows that the future of any nation depends on those who impart skills and knowledge. `It appears that intellects were targeted in the towns, but we do not have a full picture' Amnesty International researcher Paul Miller . told the "Chronicle [of Higher Education".] . A major reason that [Mr.] Milosevic targeted Djakovica is that until this week, it was home to a thriving underground university, which opened in 1991, after all ethnic-Albanian professors were fired from the University of Pristina.

TEXT: A very different view comes from "The Arkansas Democrat Gazette", which talks of some good - - not - bad news from Kosovo.

VOICE: The Kosovars' guerrilla army is actually laying down its arms just as it promised, relying on NATO's word and guns to protect the security of all in Kosovo, whether Albanians or Serb or Gypsy or, God willing, just plain human beings. Not only is the guerrillas' political leader, Hasim Thraci, controlling his troops but his more moderate rival, Ibrahim Rugova, has returned to Kosovo. . Meanwhile, back in Serbia, the natives grow restive under their dictator's disastrous rule, and may yet get open and fair elections themselves.

TEXT: On Long Island, New York's "Newsday" is upset at the way the Clinton administration sacked General Wesley Clark, who oversaw the winning war for Kosovo.

VOICE: [General] Clark was imaginative and aggressive and remarkably successful. For that he got a slap in the face. What sort of signal does that send future military leaders?

TEXT: As regards the faltering peace process in Northern Ireland, "The Sun" in Baltimore notes with sadness:

VOICE: Two recent crimes have raised the specter of resumed I-R-A terrorism. They can only strengthen the resolve of Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, to deny Sinn Fein seats in a Northern Ireland executive Cabinet until the I-R-A has begun disarmament. . No one should expect Mr. Trimble to take Sinn Fein into partnership before a start of genuine `decommissioning' of arms. .Peace in Northern Ireland also requires an end to terrorism over the minority community by its self-appointed soldiers. American friends of the Irish peace process should be trying to persuade Sinn Fein of both these inescapable truths.

TEXT: Today's "Dallas Morning News" is upset at the Senate inaction on the nuclear-test-ban treaty awaiting ratification, because of one senator's obstruction.

VOICE: .one obstinate lawmaker, Jesse Helms, blocks a Senate vote on a treaty that would make the world safer by forever banning nuclear-arms tests. Without Senate ratification, the treaty takes effect in no country. One person should not be able to wield such injurious power, [including] . the powerful committee chairman who refuses to allow even a public hearing on the proposed nuclear test ban. . If Mr. Helms continues to refuse to allow hearings and a vote in his Foreign Relations Committee, then Majority Leader Trent Lott should bypass the committee and present the treaty for a vote by the full Senate. Text: And lastly, a heated debate over the latest Environmental Protection Agency move to ban two common farm pesticides. Says the "Chicago Tribune":

VOICE: Despite its reputation for hard-driving zealotry, the U-S Environmental Protection Agency works like a car with just two gears -- `Dead Slow' and `Park.' On Tuesday, the E-P-A belatedly banned some uses of two types of organophosphates, a large and notorious family of chemicals that kill insects by disrupting their nervous systems -- and which have long been known to have the same effect on humans. .If there is any comfort at all in the E-P-A's regulatory torpor, it is that yesterday's belated action was the first specifically directed to protect children's health.

TEXT: In Texas, "The Houston Chronicle" concurs:

VOICE: . banning potentially dangerous agricultural chemicals -- even if only two out of hundreds -- is a small step in the right direction.

TEXT: That concludes this sampling of editorial comment from Wednesday's U-S press.
NEB/ANG/RAE 04-Aug-1999 12:09 PM EDT (04-Aug-1999 1609 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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