Voice of America, 99-09-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] K-L-A / ARMS DEADLINE BY TIM BELAY (MITROVICA)

[02] KOSOVO/PACT (L) (CQ) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[03] RUSSIA / CAUCASUS (S-L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[04] RUSSIA/DAGESTAN BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[05] EUROPE/COMMISSION (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[06] CHILE / SPAIN (L ONLY) BY JONATHAN FRANKLIN (SANTIAGO)

[01] K-L-A / ARMS DEADLINE BY TIM BELAY (MITROVICA)

INTRO: NATO forces in the northern Kosovo city of Mitrovica are bracing for possible disturbances on the eve of the deadline for the Kosovo Liberation Army to lay down its arms. Tim Belay has a report from Mitrovica, a city divided between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.

TEXT: On Saturday, supporters of the Kosovo Liberation Army celebrated throughout the province

[02] KOSOVO/PACT (L) (CQ) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo say they remain confident the Kosovo Liberation Army will meet a midnight deadline Sunday for complete disarmament. Tim Belay reports from Pristina that the assurances come as the K-L-A struggles internally over its future.

TEXT: K-L-A leaders are said to be at odds over how to transform the rebel army into a civilian corps. The plan in place right now is for members to form what is being called a Kosovo Corps. The group would help with rebuilding projects in the province and be trained to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies. In addition, some K- L-A members have already started training to be members of a new Kosovo police force. But some K-L-A leaders are reportedly unhappy with the plan for the Kosovo Corps because it very clearly points out that the corps is intended to be a civilian and not a military organization. Only two hundred members of the five-thousand-member corps would be allowed the carry weapons and some fear that may not be enough to defend the province from Yugoslav armed forces. The chief spokesman for the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is Lieutenant Colonel Robin Clifford. He says the dispute is over the future of the K-L-A - or U-C-K, in the Albanian language - which formally ceases to exist as of midnight Sunday.

[03] RUSSIA / CAUCASUS (S-L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: The Russian Air Force continues its campaign to strike at what it describes as rebel bases inside Chechnya. Meanwhile, Chechen officials say Russian troops have crossed into Chechen territory. V-O-A Moscow correspondent Eve Conant has details.

TEXT: Russian military officials say federal air strikes against guerrilla strongholds in Chechnya have intensified. They say more than one thousand gunmen have massed near the Chechen-Dagestani border in Russia's Caucasus region, and that the strikes are meant to prevent a possible incursion into Dagestan. The Interfax news agency quotes Chechen officials as saying federal motorized units had crossed into Chechen territory on Saturday. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman denied that report. Chechnya, which claims independence from Russia, has complained that federal troops are bombing civilian villages. Russian military officials say they are attacking only what they call "rebel bases" in the breakaway republic.

[04] RUSSIA/DAGESTAN BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[REPRINTING W/ CORRECT NUMBER]

INTRO: Russian warplanes are stepping up air strikes on suspected rebel positions in the breakaway Chechnya region. V-O-A Moscow correspondent Peter Heinlein reports officials estimate 140 rebel fighters have been killed in the latest attacks.

TEXT: A Russian military spokesman says fighter jets and helicopter gunships struck four suspected bases used by Islamic militants inside Chechnya. He described the attacks as preventive strikes at bases and concentrations of gunmen who had been planning a new invasion of neighboring Dagestan. Heavy rebel casualties were reported, but the figures could not be independently confirmed. In the past, government reports of casualties among the Islamic rebels have proven to be highly exaggerated. Russia's Interfax news agency quotes a Chechen government spokesman as saying the latest air strikes hit civilian population centers, not rebel camps, killing at least 20 people. Meanwhile, a heavy buildup of federal forces is reported along the Chechen border. Nabi Abdullaev, a V-O-A reporter in the Dagestani capital, Makhachkala, reports some of Russia's best-trained and equipped units are arriving in the region daily.

[05] EUROPE/COMMISSION (L-ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: The new European Commission has held its first meeting since being sworn into office on Friday. V-O- A's Ron Pemstein reports from Brussels, reform of the European bureaucracy was the first item on the Commission's agenda.

TEXT: The image of change becomes apparent in the way the new Commission wants to brief the press. Two speaker's rostrums have replaced the former table, and three European flags and a plain, light-blue background have replaced the gold stars on a dark blue background. The intention is to give the press briefing room a more "sober" posture for the television cameras. The replacement of the table by the two rostrums, according to Commission Vice President Neil Kinnock, is to make the speakers uncomfortable.

[06] CHILE / SPAIN (L ONLY) BY JONATHAN FRANKLIN (SANTIAGO)

INTRO: Relations between Chile and Spain worsened even more this week after Spanish authorities rejected a Chilean proposal to let an arbitration panel decide the fate of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Mr. Pinochet, the former military ruler of Chile, has been under arrest in London since last October, when Spain sought his extradition from Britain to put him on trail for human rights abuses committed during the years the military ruled Chile(1973-1990). From Santiago, Jonathan Franklin reports. Text: Chilean Foreign Minister Juan Gabriel Valdes called the Spanish officials involved in the Pinochet case "arrogant and pathetic" for refusing to agree to arbitration. The Chilean government has temporarily recalled (on Friday) its ambassador to Spain as a sign of its displeasure over the Spanish decision. The Chilean senate also took steps to show its displeasure. On Friday, it pushed forward new laws that would limit foreign control of the banking and electricity sectors, two areas where Spanish firms play a key role. Analysts say that, given the widespread indignation in Chile against Spain, the measures will attract a broad base of support and most likely force the Spanish companies to divest themselves of their electrical and banking interests in the country. Until several days ago, the Chileans hoped they would be able, by means of arbitration, to keep the Pinochet case out of European courtrooms. Though it is not clear which country first proposed arbitration, there were signs that both would agree to it, but these signs evaporated when Spanish socialists learned of the plan. Their protests are believed responsible for the Spanish rejection of arbitration. The poor relations between the countries could become even worse should the ailing General Pinochet die in either England or Spain. Right-wing paramilitary groups are threatening to kill leftist politicians should Pinochet die in custody. (Signed)
NEB/JF/KL 18-Sep-1999 17:27 PM LOC (18-Sep-1999 2127 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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