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Voice of America, 99-04-08Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] BELGRADE THURSDAY (L-ONLY) BY GUY DINMORE (BELGRADE)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247806 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SPYROS KYPRIANOU, THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS, HAS FLOWN TO BELGRADE HOPING TO NEGOTIATE THE RELEASE OF THREE US SERVICEMEN CAPTURED BY YUGOSLAV FORCES ON THE BORDER WITH MACEDONIA LAST WEEK. THE SUCCESS OF HIS MISSION MAY DEPEND ON WHETHER NATO LAUNCHES ANOTHER NIGHT OF AIR RAIDS ON THE YUGOSLAV CAPITAL. GUY DINMORE REPORTS TEXT: PRESIDENT KYPRIANOU ARRIVED ABOARD A GREEK MILITARY AIRCRAFT FROM ATHENS AND IS SPENDING THE NIGHT IN BELGRADE. HE HAS A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FRIDAY BUT IT IS FAR FROM CERTAIN THAT THE THREE U-S SERVICEMEN WILL BE RELEASED. DIPLOMATS IN BELGRADE WEDNESDAY EXPRESSED HOPE THAT MR MILOSEVIC WOULD FREE THE PRISONERS OF WAR AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL TO MARK ORTHODOX EASTER ON SUNDAY (4/11). BUT THAT WAS BEFORE NATO LAUNCHED ANOTHER RAID WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON CENTRAL BELGRADE -- DESTROYING AN EMPTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND DAMAGING A NEARBY HOSPITAL. DIPLOMATS NOW SPECULATE THAT SERB OFFICIALS INTEND TO USE THE PRISONERS TO PUT PRESSURE ON NATO TO HALT ITS AIR CAMPAIGN, AT LEAST FOR 24 HOURS. UNUSUALLY NO AIR RAID SIRENS HAD SOUNDED IN BELGRADE BY MID-EVENING THURSDAY. YUGOSLAVIA SAID ITS FORCES CAPTURED THE THREE MEN -- JAMES STONE, ANDREW RAMIREZ AND STEVEN GONZALES -- ON ITS SIDE OF THE BORDER WITH MACEDONIA. NATO INSISTS THE SOLDIERS, PART OF A PROPOSED PEACEKEEPING FORCE, WERE ABDUCTED FROM INSIDE MACEDONIA AND SAYS THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED UNCONDITIONALLY. WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S RAIDS WERE THE SECOND ON CENTRAL BELGRADE SINCE NATO LAUNCHED ITS AIR CAMPAIGN ON MARCH 24 IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE MR. MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT A PEACE DEAL FOR KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE RAIDS HAVE ENRAGED SERBS IN BELGRADE EVEN FURTHER. SOME HAVE VENTED THEIR ANGER ON ABANDONED WESTERN EMBASSIES IN THEIR CITY. THE STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA HAS NOT EVEN REPORTED MR KYPRIANOU'S ARRIVAL. STATE TELEVISION FOCUSED INSTEAD ON CLAIMS BY BELGRADE TO HAVE
HALTED ITS OFFENSIVE AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS IN KOSOVO, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SERBIA'S DECLARATION OF A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE TO
MARK EASTER. US OFFICIALS SAY THESE OVERTURES BY MR. MILOSEVIC
COULD BE THE FIRST SIGN THAT YUGOSLAVIA IS TRYING TO EXTRICATE
ITSELF FROM THE WAR WITH NATO. BUT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
MAINTAINS IT WILL NOT CAPITULATE TO NATO'S DEMANDS, WHICH
BELGRADE SAYS WOULD LEAD TO INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO PROVINCE.
(SIGNED)
[02] COHEN/ CAPTURED AMERICANS (S) BY JIM RANDLE (GERMANY)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247786 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///// RE-PRINTING WITH CORRECT CR-NUMBER. /////INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS NATO WILL GIVE SAFE PASSAGE TO THE GREEK PLANE EXPECTED TO BRING CAPTURED AMERICAN SOLDIERS OUT OF YUGOSLAVIA. MR. COHEN SAYS THE ALLIANCE WILL NOT PAUSE ITS AIR STRIKES ON SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY. TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY APPRECIATE EFFORTS BY THE ACTING CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO WIN THE RELEASE OF THREE CAPTURED AMERICAN SOLDIERS. BUT MR. COHEN SAYS YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THEM PRISONER IN THE FIRST PLACE. HE SAYS NATO WILL ARRANGE SAFE PASSAGE INTO YUGOSLAV AIRSPACE FOR THE GREEK TRANSPORT PLANE EXPECTED TO PICK UP THE TRIO. ///COHEN ACT///WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IF AN AIRCRAFT IS GOING IN TO CARRY THEM OUT, THAT THERE WILL BE NO THREAT TO THAT AIRCRAFT. BUT, BEYOND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW (YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC TO TRY TO MANIPULATE THAT AND EXPLOIT IT. ///END ACT////THE GREEK PLANE WILL TAKE THE AMERICANS TO CYPRUS WHERE THEY WILL BE PICKED UP BY A U-S MEDICAL EVACUATION PLANE AND FLOWN TO GERMANY. DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN IS TRAVELING ACROSS EUROPE FOR
CONSULTATIONS WITH NATO OFFICIALS AND THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF
ITALY AND GERMANY. (SIGNED)
[03] U-N-H-C-R / REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247799 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, SADAKO OGATA, IS VISITING BORDER REFUGEE FACILITIES IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA TO BETTER ASSESS WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS FORCED OUT OF KOSOVO PROVINCE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS MRS. OGATA ALSO SAYS SHE WANTS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO WERE TURNED BACK AT THE BORDER. TEXT: MRS. OGATA SAYS THE RELIEF OPERATIONS IN ALBANIA ARE IMPROVING DAILY AS EMERGENCY SUPPLIES REACH THE REMOTE BORDER AREA AND REFUGEES ARE PLACED IN CAMPS OR WITH HOST FAMILIES. /// OGATA ACT ONE ///WE HAVE TO COORDINATE THE ASSISTANCE, THE LOGISTICS. ALSO THERE ARE GOING TO BE MANY CAMPS SET UP BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE CAMPS ARE PROPERLY MANAGED, UP TO STANDARDS. IT IS REALLY PROTECTING REFUGEES IN SECURITY TERMS BUT PHYSICAL, HEALTH, EVERYTHING. /// END ACT ///BUT MRS. OGATA TOLD REPORTERS IN ALBANIA THAT U-N AND OTHER AID OFFICIALS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS WHO WERE TURNED BACK AT THE BORDER. /// OGATA ACT TWO ///WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. AND I AM VERY, VERY WORRIED BECAUSE AFTER SUCH A LARGE FLOW OF PEOPLE. AT THE PEAK FROM THIS CROSSING THERE WAS ABOUT 40-THOUSAND. AND SUDDENLY IT STOPS. IT STARTED WITH EXPULSIONS AND DEPORTATIONS. I HOPE IT WAS NOT STOPPED BY FORCE EITHER. WE ARE AGAINST FORCEFUL DEPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND AGAINST FORCEFUL STOPPING OF PEOPLE. /// END ACT ///THE U-N REFUGEE OFFICIAL TRAVELS TO MACEDONIA FRIDAY AND SAYS SHE WANTS TO TALK TO AUTHORITIES THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT REPEAT THEIR FORCED EVACUATION OF REFUGEES FROM THE BORDER AREA. /// OPT // OGATA ACT THREE ///THE HANDLING WAS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD APPROVE AND WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS AND I WILL DO THAT TOMORROW (IN MACEDONIA). /// END ACT // END OPT ///AID OFFICIALS HAD ANTICIPATED A FLOW OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO PROVINCE, BUT MRS OGATA SAYS NOBODY ANTICIPATED THE MASSIVE DEPORTATIONS. BUT SHE SAYS DONATIONS OF MONEY AND SUPPLIES SO FAR ARE ENOUGH TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS. MANY REFUGEES ENTERING ALBANIA HAVE FOUND SHELTER WITH ALBANIAN
FAMILIES. MRS OGATA SAYS SOME RELIEF SUPPLIES ARE EARMARKED FOR
ALBANIAN FAMILIES TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR REFUGEES
IN THEIR HOMES. (SIGNED)
[04] MACEDONIA/REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE,MACEDONIA)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=NEWS FEATURE NUMBER=5-43054 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES REMAIN CROWDED INTO MACEDONIAN HOLDING AREAS AND NATO REFUGEE CAMPS. VOA'S EVE CONANT IN SKOPJE, MACEDONIA REPORTS ON LIFE IN THE CAMPS, WHERE MANY REFUGEES ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND THE RELATIVES THEY'VE LOST. TEXT: FOR THE THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES AT THE NATO CAMP OF STENKOVIC, THERE ARE THREE MATERIAL THINGS VALUED ABOVE ALL ELSE: BREAD, WATER, AND ACCESS TO A TELEPHONE. ONE TELEPHONE HAS BEEN SET UP FOR REFUGEES TO CONTACT THEIR LOVED ONES, AND START THE SEARCH FOR THEIR LOST ONES. AS SOON AS THIS WOMAN HANGS UP THE TELEPHONE, SHE BREAKS INTO TEARS. PEOPLE IN THE CROWD SURROUNDING HER, ANXIOUS FOR THEIR TURN TO TALK, TOUCH HER SHOULDERS GENTLY AS SHE MAKERS HER WAY BACK TO HER BLANKET, OR HER TENT IF SHE IS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES HERE. AT THE FAR END OF THE CAMP, ANOTHER CROWD HAS FORMED. NATO SOLDIERS TRY TO HOLD BACK WHAT WILL QUICKLY GROW TO BE A LINE OF HUNDREDS, PUSHING AND SHOVING TO BE FIRST TO RECEIVE A LOAF OF WHITE BREAD. NATO SOLDIERS LOCK ARMS AND TRY TO FORM A CORRIDOR TO CREATE ORDER. /// REESTABLISH NAT SOUND SOLDIERS -- UNDER AND OUT ///THE SOLDIERS SHOUT, BUT THE CROWD STILL SWELLS AGAINST THEM. ONE BY ONE, A REFUGEE GETS THROUGH, CHARGING THROUGH THE CORRIDOR OF CAMOUFLAGE AND GUNS TO REACH THE BREAD TRUCK. ONE YOUNG BOY WHO JUST SQUEEZED PAST THE NATO OFFICERS HAS TO STOP RUNNING ONCE HE CATCHES UP TO AN OLD MAN WITH A HURT LEG WHO IS BEFORE HIM. THOSE WHO GET BREAD RETURN TO THE TENTS OR BLANKETS THEY HAVE CLAIMED AS THEIR HOME FOR NOW. //OPT// ///FAMILIES TRY TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN CALM. BUT THAT IS DIFFICULT IN THE HEAT AND THE DUST. ON THIS PATCH OF LAND, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE CRAMMED TOGETHER ON WOOLEN MATS. THEY SIT IN THEIR SOCKS, OR BAREFOOT, THEIR DUSTY SHOES LINED UP CAREFULLY AT THE EDGES OF THE BLANKETS. MANY OF THE OLDER KOSOVARS HIDE FROM THE SUN WITH FLOWERED UMBRELLAS. TEENAGE GIRLS, FASHIONABLY DRESSED, LOOK OUT OF PLACE -- BUT THEY ARE REFUGEES, LIKE THE REST. SEVERAL CHILDREN TAKE TURNS POURING A TRICKLE OF WATER OVER THEIR HEADS. THEY PASS A RED COMB BETWEEN THEM. THERE ARE NO SHOWERS HERE. //END OPT// IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS, A YOUNG ALBANIAN WOMAN HAS SET UP A TABLE. ANRITA HODJA LIVES IN MACEDONIA AND VOLUNTEERED TO HELP. NOW SHE IS TRYING TO TRANSLATE AND WRITE DOWN THE STORIES OF THE WOMEN GATHERED AROUND HER. ///HODJA ACT///LOST CHILDREN. WE ARE MAKING EVIDENCE ABOUT LOST CHILDREN. FOR EXAMPLE THESE PEOPLE -- THEY HAVE TO SAY WHEN THEY WERE LOST. HOW OLD THE CHILD IS. IN WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES THE CHILD IS LOST. ///END ACT///THE KOSOVARS IN THIS CAMP MADE IT ACROSS THE BORDER. BUT THERE
ARE OTHERS WHO WERE TURNED AWAY. A WESTERN TELEVISION CREW USED A
ZOOM LENS TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE MACEDONIAN-KOSOVO BORDER POINT.
THE PICTURES SHOW WHAT APPEAR TO BE A FAMILY OF EIGHT, BEING TOLD
BY MACEDONIAN POLICE TO TURN BACK. EACH IS CARRYING A BAG. EVEN
THE THREE CHILDREN ARE WEARING BACKPACKS. BEHIND THEM IS
MACEDONIA. IN FRONT OF THEM IS KOSOVO. ON EITHER SIDE IS BARBED
WIRE. THEY WALK SLOWLY. (SIGNED)
[05] MACEDONIA/ GOVERNMENT (L-ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247798 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT IS FACING SOME FIERCE CRITICISM FOR HASTILY CLEARING OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES FROM THE BLACE HOLDING CAMP NEAR THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO. VOA'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM SKOPJE THAT MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS DEFEND THE MOVE AS SUCCESSFUL. THEY ALSO DENY CHARGES THEY ARE TURNING ETHNIC ALBANIANS AWAY FROM THE BORDER AND BACK INTO KOSOVO. TEXT: THE MACEDONIAN HOLDING CAMP OF BLACE HAD BEEN A TEMPORARY HOME TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES. THEY WERE CRAMMED INTO WHAT BECAME A MUDDY PIT WITH NO SANITATION, WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO BE FORMALLY ACCEPTED TO REFUGEE CAMPS. BUT OVERNIGHT TUESDAY, THE REFUGEES WERE LOADED ON TO BUSES AND DRIVEN OFF, SOME TO NEARBY NATO CAMPS -- SOME TO TURKEY, MANY TO ALBANIA. HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY THE OVERNIGHT MOVE RESULTED IN BOTH THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES ... AND MASS CONFUSION. BUT MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS THURSDAY DEFENDED THEIR TREATMENT OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES. THEY SAY THERE ARE HELPING IN EVERY WAY THEY CAN, INCLUDING BY CLEARING OUT THE BLACE CAMP. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MACEDONIA'S MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, PAVLE TRAJANOV, DESCRIBED THE BLACE MISSION AS "PROMPT AND SUCCESSFUL." HE ALSO DENIES REPORTS THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR. ///ACT TRAJANOV IN MACEDONIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///MR. TRAJANOV RESPONDS TO CRITICISM FROM THE U-N REFUGEE ORGANIZATION WHICH REPORTS MANY ETHNIC ALBANIAN FAMILIES WERE SEPARATED DURING THE HASTY EXODUS. ///ACT TRAJANOV IN MACEDONIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///MACEDONIA'S MINISTER OF SOCIAL POLICY AND LABOR, BEDREDIN IBRAHIMI, DENIES SPECULATION THAT THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT IS HELPING SERBS TO TURN REFUGEES AWAY FROM THE BORDER. ///ACT IBRAHIMI IN MACEDONIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///NEB/EC/PCF 08-Apr-99 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [06] BRITAIN / KOSOVO (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247782 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN'S SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CLARE SHORT, SAYS THERE IS STILL NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY HAS TAKEN KOSOVAR REFUGEES WHO WERE TURNED BACK FROM THE MACEDONIAN AND ALBANIAN BORDERS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY SERB AUTHORITIES WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FATE OF THE REFUGEES. TEXT: BRITISH DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY CLARE SHORT SAYS NATO IS CONCERNED ABOUT A CHANGE IN SERB MILITARY TACTICS REGARDING ETHNIC ALBANIANS STILL INSIDE KOSOVO PROVINCE. /// SHORT ACT ///THEY SEEM NOW TO HAVE STARTED ROUNDING UP REFUGEES LINING UP TO LEAVE KOSOVO AND RETURNING THEM BY FORCE. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BACK TO THEIR HOMES OR ELSEWHERE WITHIN KOSOVO. THEY HAVE ALSO CLOSED THE FRONTIER CROSSING POINTS ON THE KOSOVO SIDE. THE REASON FOR THIS CHANGE IN TACTICS IS NOT YET CLEAR. /// END ACT ///MISS SHORT WARNS YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES THE FORCED MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES IS CONSIDERED A WAR CRIME AND THEY WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. EARLIER, NATO'S SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA TOLD SPANISH RADIO HE FEARS THE REFUGEES MAY BE USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS AROUND SERB MILITARY TARGETS IN KOSOVO. /// OPT ///OFFICIALS SAY THE RELIEF EFFORT IS NOT COMPROMISING NATO'S MILITARY OPERATIONS. BRITISH AIR MARSHAL JOHN DAY SAYS AIR STRIKES ARE INFLICTING SERIOUS DAMAGE ON THE SERB MILITARY. /// DAY ACT ///KEY LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS WHICH ALLOW MILOSEVIC TO REINFORCE, RESUPPLY, AND MOVE HIS FORCES AROUND IN KOSOVO HAVE BEEN SEVERELY DEGRADED. ROUTES OF ENTRY FOR FUEL INTO THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN DEGRADED. COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DEGRADED. AIR DEFENSE HAS BEEN DEGRADED. /// END ACT ///AIR MARSHAL DAY SAYS SOME SERB AIR DEFENSE UNITS ARE STILL ABLE
TO ACT AUTONOMOUSLY, BUT NOT AS EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE OF THE
DAMAGE TO COMMUNICATIONS LINKS. (SIGNED)
[07] E-U / REFUGEES (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247803 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS MET IN LUXEMBOURG THURSDAY TO DISCUSS EMERGENCY RELIEF AID FOR KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THEY APPROVED A 270-MILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE OF AID FOR THE REFUGEES AND BALKAN GOVERNMENTS CARING FOR THEM. TEXT: NEARLY HALF OF THE THE 270-MILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, AND MONTENEGRO TO HELP COVER THE COSTS OF CARING FOR THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN REFUGEES. THE MINISTERS HAD INVITED THEIR COLLEAGUES FROM SEVEN BALKAN STATES TO JOIN THE MEETING TO DISCUSS WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE REFUGEE CRISIS. THE E-U MINISTERS ISSUED A STATEMENT CALLING THE NATO ACTION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA JUST AND WARRANTED. THE TOUGH STATEMENT PUT THE BLAME FOR THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
SQUARELY ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND HIS
CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. THE E-U MINISTERS GAVE THEIR FULL
SUPPORT FOR ALL EFFORTS TO PUNISH THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY. (SIGNED)
[08] GUANTANAMO / CUBA BY MICHAEL BOWMAN (MIAMI)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43060 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CUBA APPEARS TO HAVE TACITLY ENDORSED U-S PLANS TO HOUSE UP TO 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO AT THE U-S NAVAL BASE IN GUANTANAMO BAY, ON CUBA'S SOUTHEASTERN COAST. V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS FROM MIAMI, THE ANTICIPATED REFUGEE OPERATION HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON GUANTANAMO - A U-S MILITARY OUTPOST LOCATED IN A COUNTRY WITH WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS NO FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. TEXT: EARLIER THIS WEEK, CUBA'S DEPUTY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT, RAUL TALADRID, DENOUNCED WASHINGTON'S PLANS TO TRANSPORT THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO THE GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE -- SAYING THE UNITED STATES HAS NO RIGHT TO DO THIS. BUT IN A TURNAROUND THURSDAY, CUBA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID IT SUPPORTS ALL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR THE DISPLACED KOSOVARS. WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONING U-S PLANS, THE MINISTRY SAID - FAR FROM SEEKING TO IMPEDE EFFORTS TO AID THE REFUGEES - CUBA IS EVEN READY TO COOPERATE WITH RELIEF EFFORTS. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR CUBA TO EXPLICITLY ENDORSE ANY U-S ACTION INVOLVING THE NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY, WHICH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO HAS DECRIED AS 'A DAGGER PLUNGED INTO THE HEART OF CUBAN SOIL.' THE U-S NAVAL BASE PREDATES THE CUBAN REVOLUTION BY MORE THAN 50 YEARS, BUT HAS SURVIVED UNTIL NOW DESPITE A NEAR-COMPLETE CUT-OFF OF DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND HAVANA. U-S MARINES FIRST LANDED AT GUANTANAMO BAY IN 1898, DURING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. THE VICTORY OVER SPAIN GAVE CUBA ITS INDEPENDENCE BUT PERMITTED THE UNITED STATES TO EXERT ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE ISLAND FOR DECADES. IN 1903, THE UNITED STATES SIGNED A LEASE FOR THE BASE WHICH WAS USED AT THE TIME AS A COALING STATION FOR U-S NAVAL VESSELS. WASHINGTON AND HAVANA FORMALIZED THE LEASING ARRANGEMENT IN 1934 THROUGH A TREATY THAT SPECIFIED BOTH COUNTRIES MUST GIVE THEIR CONSENT IF THE DEAL IS TO BE TERMINATED. FOR DECADES, GUANTANAMO BAY WAS A FAVORITE PORT OF CALL FOR U-S SAILORS WHO, BEFORE CUBA'S 1959 REVOLUTION, WERE FREE TO VISIT NEARBY TOWNS. THE NAVAL BASE WEATHERED THE CUBAN REVOLUTION, THE INFAMOUS 'BAY OF PIGS' INVASION IN 1961 AND THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS THE FOLLOWING YEAR. TODAY, GUANTANAMO BAY - WHICH COVERS ABOUT 115 SQUARE KILOMETERS OF TERRITORY, INCLUDING A HARBOR - HOUSES ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND U-S MILITARY PERSONNEL AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS. IT ALSO EMPLOYS SOME CUBAN NATIONALS, WHO EARN A WAGE FAR SUPERIOR TO WHAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE OUTSIDE THE BASE. MAX CASTRO, A RESEARCHER AT MIAMI'S NORTH-SOUTH CENTER, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO OBJECTS TO THE U-S MILITARY PRESENCE ON CUBAN SOIL - BUT GENERALLY DOES SO QUIETLY. // CASTRO ACT //THE OFFICIAL CUBAN POSITION IS THAT THE BASE WAS ACQUIRED BY THE UNITED STATES UNDER COERCION AT A TIME WHEN THE UNITED STATES WAS OCCUPYING CUBA. HOWEVER, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT, I THINK, ACCEPTS THE FACT THAT THE U-S HAS CONTROL OF THAT BASE - AND IN RECENT YEARS HASN'T BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN DOING ANYTHING TO CHALLENGE THAT THROUGH ANY KIND OF CONFRONTATIONAL MEANS. // END ACT //SINCE GUANTANAMO IS NO LONGER NEEDED AS A COALING STATION, QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED OVER THE NEED KEEP THE NAVAL BASE. BUT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE FACILITY IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED NEAR SEVERAL CARIBBEAN NATIONS, INCLUDING HAITI. OVER THE LAST DECADE, GUANTANAMO BAY HAS PROVIDED THE UNITED
STATES WITH A CONVENIENT, OFFSHORE LOCATION TO TEMPORARILY HOUSE
WAVES OF RAFTERS FROM BOTH CUBA AND HAITI. NOW, IT WILL PROVIDES
SHELTER FOR REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO - A PURPOSE NEVER ENVISIONED
WHEN THE BASE WAS ESTABLISHED NEARLY A CENTURY AGO. (SIGNED)
[09] GUANTANAMO / PREPARATIONS (L-O) BY MICHAEL BOWMAN (MIAMI)DATE=4/7/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247775 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE COMMANDER OF U-S MILITARY FORCES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN SAYS THE U-S NAVAL BASE IN GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, IS BEING PREPARED TO RECEIVE MANY AS 20-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. GENERAL CHARLES WILHELM SPOKE WITH REPORTERS LATE WEDNESDAY AT U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN MIAMI (FLORIDA). V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS, GENERAL WILHELM IS PLEDGING TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFUGEES' MATERIAL NEEDS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IN A MILITARY SETTING. TEXT: GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE LOCATED ON CUBA'S SOUTHEASTERN COAST - IS CURRENTLY STOCKED WITH SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES TO ACCOMMODATE 75-HUNDRED REFUGEES. THOSE SUPPLIES WILL NEARLY TRIPLE IN COMING WEEKS IN ORDER TO HOUSE,FEED AND CARE FOR THE EXPECTED NEWCOMERS FROM THE BALKANS. GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE KOSOVO REFUGEES WILL BE HOUSED IN STURDY TENTS. // WILHELM ACT //THEY WILL BE LIVING IN EXPEDITIONARY FACILITIES. WE COMMONLY REFER TO THEM AS 'HARD-BACKED TENTS.' THEY ARE VERY LIVABLE ACCOMMODATIONS - WOOD FRAMES OVER WHICH WE PLACE CANVAS TENTS. WE WILL, OF COURSE, PROVIDE SANITARY FACILITIES AND LAUNDRIES. // END ACT //GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND HAS REQUESTED THE SERVICES OF 50 LINGUISTS WHO SPEAK EITHER ALBANIAN OR SERBO-CROATIAN TO ASSIST IN THE OPERATION. IN ADDITION, SPECIAL MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL UNITS WILL BE ON HAND TO TREAT AILMENTS RANGING FROM UPPER-RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND GENERAL SAYS EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMFORT OF THE REFUGEES. THESE REFUGEES ARE, OF COURSE, NOT PRISONERS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. WE WILL RESPECT IN EVERY WAY THEIR DIGNITY AS HUMAN BEINGS. WE WILL STRIVE TO TREAT THESE PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. SO, WE'LL PROVIDE THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE CAN, CLEARLY ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT THIS CANNOT BE 'CLUB MED' (A SPA). // END ACT //GENERAL WILHELM ACKNOWLEDGES THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES TO ACCOMMODATING PEOPLE WHOSE HOMELAND LIES MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND KILOMETERS AWAY. // WILHELM ACT //HERE IN SOUTHERN COMMAND, WE'RE USED TO DEALING PRIMARILY WITH THE PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA. THIS (THE PEOPLE FROM KOSOVO) IS A CULTURE AND A LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE UNACCUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH. WE ARE HAVING PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THE CLIMATE OF THE BALKANS INTO THE CLIMATE OF THE CARIBBEAN. THAT PRESENTS SPECIAL CHALLENGES. // END ACT //////OPT //U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE KOSOVO REFUGEES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES WHILE BEING HOUSED AT GUANTANAMO BAY. THE U-S NAVAL BASE IS LOCATED ON LAND LEASED FROM CUBA - AND THEREFORE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE U-S SOIL. THE U-S IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE SAYS, EVEN IF A BABY WERE TO BE BORN TO A REFUGEE ON THE NAVAL BASE, THAT CHILD WOULD BE INELIGIBLE FOR U-S CITIZENSHIP. // REST OPT //I-N-S SPOKESMAN DAN KANE: // KANE ACT //ONCE THERE (AT GUANTANAMO BAY), THERE IS NO ELIGIBILITY FOR ANYONE TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM OR ANY OTHER BENEFIT, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON U-S TERRITORY. THEIR STATUS IS THAT THEY ARE BEING GIVEN TEMPORARY REFUGE, AND THE GOAL IS TO RETURN THEM TO THEIR HOMELAND ONCE THE CONFLICT IS RESOLVED. // END ACT //MR. KANE SAYS THERE IS ONLY ONE SCENARIO IN WHICH A KOSOVO
REFUGEE WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE U-S MAINLAND: A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
REQUIRING ATTENTION BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE STAFF AT THE
NAVAL BASE. (SIGNED)
[10] CLINTON-KOSOVO (S) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247816 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE HOPES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS WILL OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S SOLDIERS HELD BY YUGOSLAVIA. MR CLINTON IS ALSO REAFFIRMING HIS OPPOSITION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF U-S GROUND TROOPS IN THE CONFLICT. V-O-A PAULA WOLFSON REPORTSFROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW IF A CYPRIOT OFFICIAL NOW IN BELGRADE WILL BE ABLE TO FREE THE THREE AMERICANS. /////CLINTON ACT////I HOPE SO. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SERVICEMEN RELEASED BECAUSE THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN THE FIRST PLACE. ////END ACT///DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI, THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR HE WILL NOT BARTER WITH THE SERBIAN-LED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. HE CHOSE HIS WORDS CAREFULLY. ////CLINTON ACT////I WOULD BE FOR ANYTHING HONORABLE THAT WOULD SECURE THEIR RELEASE, OBVIOUSLY. /////END ACT/////THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE PART OF A PEACEKEEPING UNIT IN MACEDONIA. NO U-S GROUND TROOPS ARE IN THE REGION IN A COMBAT ROLE AND MR. CLINTON SAYS THAT WILL CONTINUE. HE SAYS THE CURRENT STRATEGY OF AIR STRIKES WILL WORK IF NATO REMAINS UNIFIED. (SIGNED)
[11] CLINTON/KOSOVO (L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247817 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE HOPES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS WILL SECURE THE RELEASE OF THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS HELD IN YUGOSLAVIA. AT THE SAME TIME, HE IS REAFFIRMING HIS OPPOSITION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF U-S GROUND TROOPS IN THE CONFLICT. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS MR. CLINTON SAYS THE CURRENT AIR-BASED STRATEGY WILL WORK. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW IF A CYPRIOT OFFICIAL NOW IN BELGRADE WILL BE ABLE TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE THREE AMERICANS CAPTURED LATE LAST MONTH ALONG MACEDONIA'S BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA. HE SIMPLY SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL. /////CLINTON ACT///I WOULD BE FOR ANYTHING HONORABLE THAT WOULD SECURE THEIR RELEASE. /////END ACT/////THESE SOLDIERS SERVE IN A NATO PEACE-KEEPING FORCE OPERATING ALONG THE BORDER. MR. CLINTON SAYS THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN THE FIRST PLACE. ////CLINTON ACT///THEY WERE IN MACEDONIA. THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OPERATIONS AGAINST SERBIA. /////END ACT/////AND MR. CLINTON CONTINUES TO STRESS NO AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS WILL ENTER THE REGION IN A COMBAT ROLE. /////CLINTON ACT///I BELIEVE OUR PRESENT STRATEGY WILL WORK IF WE CAN KEEP THE ALLIES WITH IT. /////END ACT////THAT STRATEGY IS BASED ON AIR POWER. BUT SHOULD THE ALLIES FOCUS ON THE CAPTURE AND INDICTMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AS A WAR CRIMINAL? MR. CLINTON SAYS COMPLEX LEGAL QUESTIONS ARE INVOLVED, AND THERE IS AN OPERATING WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. BUT HE LEAVES NO DOUBT HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF THE YUGOSLAV LEADER. //////CLINTON ACT/////LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT BY A DELIBERATE POLICY, HE HAS CAUSED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO BE REFUGEES. WE KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED - - DEFENSELESS, COMPLETELY DEFENSELESS PEOPLE ///////END ACT//////THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED ABOUT THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS DURING A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI. CHINA OPPOSES NATO'S MILITARY MISSION. AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAID MR. CLINTON PLANNED TO RAISE THE MATTER DURING THEIR TALKS.
(SIGNED)
[12] KOSOVO WRAP / THURSDAY (L-ONLY) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247812 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AS NATO CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST MILITARY TARGETS IN YUGOSLAVIA, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE HUMAN SUFFERING IN KOSOVO IS STAGGERING. IN THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REVIEWS THURSDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS (DURING A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI) THE HUMAN LOSS AND SUFFERING OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE IS BREATHTAKING. MR. CLINTON SAID IT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE POLICIES OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. // CLINTON ACT //NOW THE IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS, TO STOP THE KILLING, TO STOP THE EXODUS, TO SEE THE REFUGEES RETURN, TO SEE THEM SAFE, TO SEE A POLITICAL SOLUTION THAT GIVES THEM THE AUTONOMY THAT THEY WERE PROMISED, TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT WILL PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. // END ACT //// OGATA ACT //WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. AND I AM VERY, VERY WORRIED BECAUSE AFTER SUCH A LARGE FLOW OF PEOPLE. AT THE PEAK FROM THIS CROSSING THERE WAS ABOUT 40-THOUSAND AND SUDDENLY IT STOPS. IT STARTED WITH EXPULSIONS OR DEPORTATIONS. I HOPE IT WAS NOT STOPPED BY FORCE EITHER. // END ACT //// OPT //// SHEA ACT - OPT //WE FACE A SITUATION WHERE FOR MANY MONTHS, THE SERB ARMED FORCES WERE MINING THE BORDER WITH ALBANIA TO STOP PEOPLE GOING IN. NOW THEY SEEM TO BE MINING TO STOP PEOPLE GOING OUT, TO MAKE KOSOVO INTO A TOTAL NO-MAN'S LAND IN THE FULL SENSE OF THE TERM. IT IS SIMPLY GOING TO INCREASE THE COSTS TO CIVILIAN LIVES FOR YEARS TO COME AND THE COST IN FINANCIAL TERMS OF TAKING OUT ALL OF THOSE MINES IN THE FUTURE, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN BOSNIA AND ELSEWHERE. // END ACT -- END OPT //ON THE MILITARY FRONT, GOOD WEATHER OVER YUGOSLAVIA HAS ALLOWED NATO TO EXPAND ITS AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SERBIAN FORCES, COMMUNICATIONS LINES, MILITARY VEHICLES AND STAGING AREAS. PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE REDUCED YUGOSLAVIA'S STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVES BY MORE THAN 20 PERCENT. IN BELGRADE, ACTING CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SPYROS KYPRIANOU IS WORKING TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS CAPTURED LAST WEEK ALONG SERBIA'S BORDER WITH MACEDONIA. // REST OPTIONAL //PENTAGON SPOKESMAN CAPTAIN MICHAEL DOUBLEDAY TOLD REPORTERS THE MEN MUST BE RELEASED WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS. // DOUBLEDAY ACT //THE THREE SOLDIERS WERE TAKEN ILLEGALLY. WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY. WE BELIEVE ALSO THAT IT IS IMMORAL TO USE THEM AS ANY KIND OF BARGAINING CHIPS. AND WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE IN ANY WAY FOR THEIR RELEASE. // END ACT //SOON AFTER MR. KYPRIANOU ARRIVED IN BELGRADE, A SENIOR SERB
OFFICIAL (VOJISLAV SESELJ) SAID THE RELEASE OF THE SOLDIERS IS
"OUT OF THE QUESTION." (SIGNED)
[13] NATO / KOSOVO (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247796 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO IS DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED IN THE CITY CENTER OF PRISTINA, CAPITAL OF SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. THE DAMAGE WAS SEEN ON SERBIAN TELEVISION AND BLAMED ON NATO BOMBING. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN AT NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS REPORTS NATO NOW IS THREATENING SERBIAN TELEVISION. TEXT: NATO WANTS EQUAL TIME ON SERBIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION -- THREE HOURS IN THE AFTERNOON AND THREE HOURS IN THE EVENING, WITHOUT SERBIAN GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP. OTHERWISE, SAYS NATO MILITARY SPOKESMAN DAVID WILBY, THE SERBIAN MEDIA IS A TARGET FOR NATO AIR STRIKES. /// WILBY ACT ///SERB RADIO AND T-V IS AN INSTRUMENT OF PROPAGANDA AND REPRESSION. IT HAS FILLED THE AIRWAYS WITH HATE AND WITH LIES OVER THE YEARS AND ESPECIALLY NOW. IT IS THEREFORE A LEGITIMATE TARGET IN THIS CAMPAIGN. /// END ACT ///IF BY SOME CHANCE, THE GOVERNMENT-RUN MEDIA IN SERBIA DECIDES TO ACCEPT NATO'S REQUEST FOR SIX HOURS A DAY OF UNCENSORED WESTERN BROADCASTS, AIR COMMODORE WILBY SAYS SERB TELEVISION COULD BECOME WHAT HE CALLS "AN ACCEPTABLE INSTRUMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION." A NATO OFFICIAL SAYS THE MORE HOSTILE SERBIAN TELEVISION HAS BECOME, THE MORE LEGITIMATE A TARGET IT HAS BECOME FOR NATO. JUST LIKE BRIDGES AND FUEL STORAGE TANKS, NATO IS SEEING THE SERB MEDIA AS PART OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY, THE SAME MILITARY THE AIR STRIKES ARE TRYING TO DESTROY. THIS IS NOT NEW FOR NATO. IN BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC, NATO AUTHORITIES HAVE REPEATEDLY CLOSED DOWN SERBIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION TRANSMITTERS WHEN IT HAS OBJECTED TO THEIR PROGRAMING. THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CLOSED DOWN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO STATIONS IN BELGRADE. THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE WAS B-92 RADIO THAT WAS CLOSED AS SOON AS NATO AIR STRIKES BEGAN ON MARCH 24TH. AIR COMMODORE WILBY ISSUED A STRONG DENIAL THAT NATO BOMBS CAUSED THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE SEEN IN SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TELEVISION PICTURES OF KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. /// WILBY ACT ///I CAN ABSOLUTELY ASSURE YOU THAT WHILST NATO HAS ATTACKED MILITARY TARGETS AROUND PRISTINA AND ONE CAREFULLY TARGETED M-U-P (INTERIOR MINISTRY POLICE) HEADQUARTERS, WHICH WAS STRUCK VERY SUCCESSFULLY IN THE CITY AREA, NATO HAS CERTAINLY NOT CAUSED THE REPORTED WIDESPREAD AND RANDOM DAMAGE, WHICH WE BELIEVE HAS BEEN ORCHESTRATED BY SERBIAN FORCES. /// END ACT ///NATO HAS ACCUSED THE SERBS OF BURNING AND LOOTING ALBANIAN HOMES
AND SHOPS IN PRISTINA AND ELSEWHERE IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[14] KOSOVO FRENCH RADIO (L-ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247793 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FRENCH REPORTERS WHO CROSSED INTO KOSOVO THIS WEEK SAY THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN "KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY" CONTINUES TO CONDUCT WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST SERB TROOPS THERE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: AT LEAST FOUR FRENCH JOURNALISTS HAVE SENT REPORTS BACK FROM INSIDE KOSOVO WHERE THEY WERE TAKEN BY MEMBERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, THE K-L-A. ACCORDING TO THEIR REPORTS FILED TO PARIS, THE K-L-A IS CONDUCTING A GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST THE YUGOSLAV ARMY AND IS SENDING NATO INFORMATION ABOUT TARGETS THAT SHOULD BE SINGLED-OUT FOR AIR STRIKES. /// ACT OF FRENCH RADIO REPORT -- IN FULL, FADE UNDER ////ACCORDING TO NICOLAS POINCARE OF THE FRENCH STATE NEWS RADIO "FRANCE INFOS," THE SERB TROOPS CONTROL MANY OF THE THE ROADS IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, BUT THE KOSOVARS CONTROL THE COUNTRYSIDE. THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE FRENCH DAILY "LE MONDE," WHO SAYS HE HAS BEEN WITH K-L-A FORCES IN THE REGION OF RUGOVA, WESTERN KOSOVO, SAYS THE K-L-A CLAIMS TO BE ACTIVE IN ABOUT HALF OF THE PROVINCE. THE LE MONDE CORRESPONDENT REPORTS K-L-A OFFICERS SAID WEDNESDAY THAT THE YUGOSLAV ARMY HAD BETWEEN 180 AND 190 TANKS IN KOSOVO BEFORE NATO STRIKES BEGAN TWO WEEKS AGO. THE K-L-A SAYS THAT NATO AIRCRAFT HAVE DESTROYED ONLY ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THAT FORCE. IF THE REST OF SERBIAN ARTILLERY AND ARMOR IS DESTROYED -- THE NEWSPAPER QUOTES THE K-L-A OFFICERS AS SAYING -- THEN THE K-L-A CAN FIGHT ON EQUAL TERMS WITH THE SERBS, REMOVING THE NEED FOR NATO TO CONSIDER SENDING IN GROUND TROOPS. ///SECOND FRENCH RADIO ACT -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER///NICOLAS POINCARE OF THE FRANCE "INFOS RADIO" REPORTS A K-L-A COMMANDER TOLD HIM THEY WERE DESIGNATING POSSIBLE TARGETS TO NATO. HE SAYS THE COMMANDER TOLD HIM A BRIDGE IN HIS DISTRICT WAS DESTROYED 24 HOURS AFTER HE TOLD HIS SUPERIORS THAT IT SHOULD BE BOMBED. WHILE HE DID NOT SAY WHICH FRONTIER HE CROSSED TO ENTER KOSOVO, THE LE MONDE CORRESPONDENT REPORTS SOME FRONTIER POSTS ARE UNDER K-L-A CONTROL. WITH UP TO THREE METERS OF SNOW IN SOME PARTS, THE LE MONDE
ACCOUNT SAYS THE STILL WINTRY CONDITIONS AT HIGH ALTITUDES IN
KOSOVO ARE, SO FAR, STOPPING THE SERBS FROM ATTEMPTING TO MOVE
INTO THE MORE INACCESSIBLE REGIONS THAT THE K-L-A FORCES CONTROL.
(SIGNED)
[15] MONTENEGRO SIT REP (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PODGORICA)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247804 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ANTI-NATO DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE ALMOST NIGHTLY IN PODGORICA, CAPITAL OF THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO. THE PROTESTORS OPPOSE NATO'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAV MILITARY TARGETS. TIM BELAY IN PODGORICA REPORTS TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN MONTENEGRO -- AMID RUMORS OF A CRACKDOWN, EVEN A POSSIBLE COUP, BY THE FEDERAL YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR ITS CITIZENS TO FEAR A MILITARY COUP AT THE HANDS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE. COUP RUMORS HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, ABAZ DZAFIC (GAJI'-FEETZ), SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAYS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE IS THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE. /// DZAFIC ACT / TRANSLATOR ///THERE ARE SOME CALCULATIONS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE A COUP (YOU KNOW) AND WE ARE SURE THAT SUCH A THING WILL NOT HAPPEN HERE -- DEFINITELY SURE -- BECAUSE EVERYONE TRIES TO PRESERVE OUR PEACE -- CIVILIAN PEACE HERE. /// END ACT ///BUT HEIDI RINKE, AN AUSTRIAN MAGAZINE JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN REPORTING IN THIS REGION FOR THE PAST EIGHT-YEARS, SAYS SHE IS NOT SO SURE. /// RINKE ACT ///IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT THERE COULD BE A COUP DE' TAT BECAUSE MILOSEVIC NEEDS MONTENEGRO. IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO THE SEASIDE. THERE IS IMPORTANT ARMY BASES HERE. TO LOSE MONTENEGRO IS VERY EASY AND TO KEEP IT HE HAS TO MAKE A COUP DE' TAT. /// END ACT ///MS. RINKE SAYS PUBLIC SUPPORT IN MONTENEGRO FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC HAS INCREASED SINCE THE NATO BOMBING BEGAN. THE MAIN REASON, SHE SAYS, IS THE STEPPED UP ENLISTMENT OF MEN HERE INTO THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY. THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN MONTENEGRO, SRDAN (STR'-JOITN) DARMONOVIC, SAYS THE CHANCES FOR CONTINUED PEACE IN THIS REPUBLIC ARE GREATLY THREATENED BY THE CONTINUATION OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. BUT MR. DARMONOVIC ALSO SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE IS NOT PREPARED TO TAKE OVER MONTENEGRO. /// DARMONOVIC ACT ///IF HE (MILOSEVIC) DECIDES TO STRIKE, HE WILL STRIKE HERE, BUT I THINK HE WILL FAIL IN THAT SITUATION I THINK HE IS VERY OCCUPIED IN KOSOVO. IT IS A BIG TROUBLE FOR HIM NOW. HE'S UNDER NATO PRESSURE. AND THE MONTENEGRIN STATE IS NOT SO WEAK, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE BOSNIA WAS . THE MONTENEGRIN STATE AT THE MOMENT IS CAPABLE TO DEFEND ITSELF. /// END ACT ///MR. DARMONOVIC SAYS IT IS UNCERTAIN WHETHER MONTENEGRO WILL
REMAIN A PART OF WHAT IS LEFT OF YUGOSLAVIA -- ONCE THE CONFLICT
IN KOSOVO IS RESOLVED. HE SAID THAT WILL DEPEND ON
INTERNATIONAL PLANS FOR THE WHOLE REGION. (SIGNED)
[16] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247792 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E) IS URGING RUSSIA TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO BROKER A POLITICAL ACCORD FOR KOSOVO. V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS KREMLIN OFFICIALS ARE WORKING ON NEW PROPOSALS FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT. TEXT: THE O-S-C-E'S HEAD, NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KNUT VOLLEBAEK ARRIVED IN MOSCOW THURSDAY AFTER A TOUR OF REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. HE TOLD V-O-A HIS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WERE ABOUT STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO OPEN A POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN BELGRADE AND THE WEST. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT ///WE NEED TO HAVE OPEN CHANNELS TO BELGRADE. IF WE ARE GOING TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE BELGRADE IN THIS. RUSSIA HAS ALREADY TAKEN SOME IMPORTANT INITIATIVES. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD INSPIRE AND URGE RUSSIA TO CONTINUE. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV TODAY. /// END ACT ///AFTER THEIR MEETING, MR. IVANOV TOLD REPORTERS DIPLOMACY IS MAKING SOME PROGRESS. HE POINTED TO PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S CALL FOR AN URGENT MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF RUSSIA AND THE G-SEVEN, WHICH GROUPS THE WORLD'S LEADING INDUSTRIAL POWERS. /// OPT ///BUT MR. VOLLEBAEK, WHOSE COUNTRY IS A MEMBER OF NATO, SAID HE IMPRESSED UPON MR. IVANOV THAT THE KEY TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION LIES NOT WITHIN THE G-SEVEN, BUT IN BELGRADE. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT ///WE NEED A SIGNAL FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WITH REGARD TO THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE REFUGEES, WITH REGARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. WITHOUT THAT, I THINK IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT ANY KIND OF PEACE PLAN. /// END ACT ///THE NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, WHOSE COUNTRY HOLDS THE ROTATING O-S-C-E PRESIDENCY, TOLD REPORTERS HIS TALKS WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE. BUT IT WAS CLEAR SHARP DIFFERENCES REMAIN. O-S-C-E DIPLOMATS SAY THEY SEE LITTLE HOPE OF AN IMMEDIATE
BREAKTHROUGH AS A RESULT OF MR. VOLLEBAEK'S VISIT. AS ONE
EXPLAINED, "RUSSIA DOES NOT HAVE INFLUENCE OVER MR. MILOSEVIC.
THEY JUST HAVE ACCESS TO HIM." (SIGNED)
[17] RUSSIA / KOSOVO (L UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247800 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-247792 ///INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (O-S-C-E) IS URGING RUSSIA TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO BROKER A POLITICAL ACCORD FOR KOSOVO. MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN ALSO REPORTS THE KREMLIN IS HAILING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN END TO SERBIA'S OFFENSIVE IN KOSOVO AS A SIGN RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY IS WORKING. TEXT: THE O-S-C-E'S HEAD, NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KNUT VOLLEBAEK, ARRIVED IN MOSCOW THURSDAY AFTER A TOUR OF REFUGEE CAMPS IN MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. HE TOLD V-O-A HIS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WERE ABOUT STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO OPEN A POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN BELGRADE AND THE WEST. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT ///WE NEED TO HAVE OPEN CHANNELS TO BELGRADE. IF WE ARE GOING TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE BELGRADE IN THIS. RUSSIA HAS ALREADY TAKEN SOME IMPORTANT INITIATIVES. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD INSPIRE AND URGE RUSSIA TO CONTINUE. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV TODAY. /// END ACT ///MR. IVANOV TOLD REPORTERS RUSSIA IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH NEW DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES. HE POINTED TO PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S CALL FOR AN URGENT MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE G-EIGHT, WHICH GROUPS RUSSIA AND THE WORLD'S LEADING INDUSTRIAL POWERS. MR. IVANOV SAID IF THAT FAILS, RUSSIA MAY CALL FOR A SUMMIT OF WORLD LEADERS ON THE CRISIS. PRESIDENT YELTSIN LATER POINTED TO YUGOSLAVIA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A HALT IN MILITARY ACTION IN KOSOVO AS PROOF RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ARE SHOWING RESULTS. /// YELTSIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///HE SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TOOK A CONSTRUCTIVE STEP. HE DECLARED AN END TO OFFENSIVE ACTIONS AGAINST ALBANIANS." MR. YELTSIN HAILED THE MOVE AS A VICTORY FOR RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY, SAYING "THAT IS WHY RUSSIA INSISTS ON A MEETING OF THE G-EIGHT." BUT MR. VOLLEBAEK, WHOSE COUNTRY IS A MEMBER OF NATO, INDICATED YUGOSLAVIA'S LATEST OFFER WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO END THE AIR STRIKES. HE SAID HE HAD MADE IT CLEAR TO THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER THAT THE KEY TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION LIES NOT WITHIN THE G-EIGHT, BUT IN BELGRADE. /// VOLLEBAEK ACT ///WE NEED A SIGNAL FROM PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WITH REGARD TO THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE REFUGEES, WITH REGARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. WITHOUT THAT I THINK IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT ANY KIND OF PEACE PLAN. /// END ACT ////// OPT ///O-S-C-E DIPLOMATS SAY THEY SEE LITTLE HOPE OF AN IMMEDIATE
BREAKTHROUGH AS A RESULT OF MR. VOLLEBAEK'S VISIT. AS ONE
EXPLAINED, "RUSSIA DOES NOT HAVE INFLUENCE OVER MR. MILOSEVIC.
THEY JUST HAVE ACCESS TO HIM." (SIGNED)
[18] WAR CRIMES / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247807 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS UNVEILED WHAT IT SAYS IS PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF SERB ETHNIC CLEANSING IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. AS V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE EVIDENCE IS BEING SUPPLIED TO U-N WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS (AT THE TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE) LOOKING INTO REPORTS OF ALLEGED SERB ATROCITIES. TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE EVIDENCE THEY ARE SENDING TO THE HAGUE, BACKS UP THE FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. THEY DESCRIBE A BRUTAL SERB CAMPAIGN OF KILLING, LOOTING AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN DISPLAYED SOME OF THE EVIDENCE, INCLUDING AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWED ETHNIC ALBANIANS BEING ROUNDED UP BY SERB FORCES. // RUBIN ACT //THIS SHOWS LOCATIONS WHERE CIVILIANS, INTERNALLY DISPLACED CIVILIANS, WERE BEING HERDED AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VEHICLES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE. SUBSEQUENT REPORTS THAT THE CIVILIANS ARE NO LONGER THERE AND THAT THE TOWN WAS ON FIRE CONCERN US EVEN FURTHER. // END ACT //OTHER AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWED WHAT MR. RUBIN SAID WERE ETHNIC ALBANIAN VILLAGES BEFORE AND AFTER SERB MILITARY AND POLICE UNITS SWEPT THROUGH. // RUBIN ACT //THIS IS THE TOWN OF BELA CRKVA. AGAIN YOU WILL SEE A TOWN THAT IS RELATIVELY INTACT AND AFTER THE SERB FORCES GO IN YOU WILL SEE HOUSES WITH ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND DESTRUCTION OF THE VILLAGES. // END ACT //OFFICIALS SAY SPY SATELLITE PHOTOS AND IMAGES OF BURNING TOWNS WILL BE USEFUL TO WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS WHO WILL HAVE TO CAREFULLY CORROBORATE INDIVIDUAL REFUGEE ACCOUNTS OF ATROCITIES. THE IMAGES COUNTER STATEMENTS BY OFFICIALS OF THE SERB-LED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT WHO BLAME NATO BOMBING FOR DRIVING REFUGEES OUT OF KOSOVO. SERB OFFICIALS ALSO DENY ALLEGATIONS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING BY THEIR TROOPS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE ALSO TRACKING REPORTS OF SUMMARY EXECUTIONS BY SERB FORCES AND THE KILLING OF REFUGEES AND WILL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. /// REST OPT ///NEB/KBK/JO 08-Apr-99 4:44 PM EDT (2044 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [19] EDITORIAL: SERBIAN LISTENERS COMMENT ON WARDATE= 04/09/99TYPE= EDITORIAL MAILBAG NUMBER= 0-08255 CONTENT=SERVICES MAY USE THIS EDITORIAL FEATURE AS THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE. ANNCR: NEXT, SERBIAN LISTENERS COMMENT ON THE WAR IN THEIR COUNTRY. FROM ALEKSINAC, MEMBERS OF THREE FAMILIES WRITE: VOICE: "WE ARE HORRIFIED BY THE PLIGHT OF OUR INNOCENT FELLOW CITIZENS OF ALEKSINAC. WE ARE ASKING. . .NATO TO STOP THE BOMBING, WHICH IS CAUSING SUFFERING AMONG INNOCENT CIVILIANS WHILE THE HATEFUL REGIME OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC KEEPS STRENGTHENING ITS DICTATORSHIP. THE SERBIAN PEOPLE -- WASTED BY THE RULE OF COMMUNISM, POISONED BY NATIONALISM, HYPNOTIZED BY THE PAST, AND IMPRISONED BY THE REGIME'S PROPAGANDA -- CANNOT BE AWAKENED BY THE BOMBS! "FOR THE PRESIDENT OF YUGOSLAVIA WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: MR. MILOSEVIC, FOR OVER A DECADE, YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING US, THE SERBIAN PEOPLE, THE WRONG WAY, AGAINST THE WORLD, AGAINST THE PRESENT, FROM ONE DEFEAT TO ANOTHER ON THE ROAD TO HELL. BY YOUR TRIUMPHANT ABOLITION OF KOSOVO AUTONOMY, YOU CAUSED A DEEP RIFT BETWEEN THE ALBANIAN AND SERBIAN PEOPLES, A RIFT WHICH IS NOW SWALLOWING SO MANY LIVES. REPRESSION AND ATROCITIES WILL NEVER SOLVE THE KOSOVO PROBLEM. . . . YOU HAVE NO ALLIES AND NO FOLLOWERS. YOUR SICK IDEAS, YOUR DIPLOMATIC BLINDNESS, YOUR ENORMOUS ARROGANCE AND FAILED DEALINGS AND DEFIANCE REGARDING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PROVOKED NATO INTERVENTION. . . . "TRY TO REPLACE YOUR DESTRUCTIVENESS, FEAR AND CHAOS WITH REASONING. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR OBVIOUS DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF A MILITARY MIGHT THAT IS A HUNDREDFOLD STRONGER AND MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN YOURS. . . . BY DOING SO, YOU WILL SAVE MANY INNOCENT LIVES AND PREVENT GREAT MATERIAL DESTRUCTION AND YOU WILL LESSEN YOUR OWN ENORMOUS GUILT. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DO SO TODAY THAN IN A FEW WEEKS. WAKE UP, MAKE THIS COURAGEOUS DECISION; RELIEF AND SALVATION WILL INEVITABLY COME. WHEN ALL THIS IS DONE, YOUR JUDGMENT DAY WILL COME WHEN WE, THE PEOPLE, WILL BRING YOU TO JUSTICE." ANNCR: THAT WAS A COMMENT FROM A GROUP OF SERBIAN LISTENERS ON THE
WAR IN THEIR COUNTR Y. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO
EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO
COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT
(202) 619-1043.
[20] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=4/8/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247811 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (THURSDAY) WITH ALL MAJOR AVERAGES AT RECORD HIGHS. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 10 THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED 97, UP 112 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 44, UP 17 POINTS. THE NASDAQ INDEX CLOSED AT 25 HUNDRED 73, UP 28 POINTS. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK THAT ALL THREE MAJOR STOCK AVERAGES CLOSED AT RECORD HIGHS. ANALYSTS SAY BOTH ACTUAL AND EXPECTED CORPORATE EARNINGS RESULTS ARE GIVING TRADERS NEW CONFIDENCE IN STOCKS. STRONG PROFITS ARE EXPECTED TO JUSTIFY HIGHER VALUATIONS FOR MANY STOCKS. ///REST OPT///ED KEON OF THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT COMPANY IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES. ///KEON ACT///I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE QUITE A GOOD EARNINGS SEASON. IT SHOULD GIVE A BOOST TO THE MARKET. TECHNOLOGY SHOULD LEAD THE PACK WITH A MORE THAN 30 PERCENT EARNINGS GROWTH. BUT THEY WILL BE JOINED IN THE PARTY THIS TIME. TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A HUGE EARNINGS GROWTH THIS QUARTER. FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANIES HAVE HAD A NICE RUN-UP IN PRICE AND THEY ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO REPORT SOLID EARNINGS. ///END ACT///GENERAL ELECTRIC REPORTED RECORD FIRST QUARTER PROFITS AND PREDICTED THAT ITS STRONG PERFORMANCE WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. G-E NOTED THAT ITS CAPITAL SERVICES DIVISION ENJOYED EXTREMELY STRONG GROWTH REFLECTING ITS GLOBALIZATION AND DIVERSITY OF ITS BUSINESSES. YAHOO, THE INTERNET PORTAL COMPANY, REPORTED FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS OF 11 CENTS A SHARE, WELL AHEAD OF WALL STREET FORECASTS. BUT HUMANA, THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE FIRM, WARNED THAT ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS WILL FALL BELOW EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE. AMERICAN CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SPEND FREELY. MAJOR U-S RETAIL CHAINS SUCH AS WAL-MART AND TARGET STORES REPORT SOLID SALES GAINS IN MARCH. CAMPBELL, THE WORLD'S LARGEST SOUP COMPANY, WILL SELL ITS FRESH START BAKERY AS PART OF A RESTRUCTURING. FRESH START IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF HAMBURGER BUNS TO THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN. A STUDY SHOWS THE STRONG U-S ECONOMY HAS HELPED STATE GOVERNMENTS
PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE RECESSION SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THE
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES SAYS THAT LAST YEAR
STATE GOVERNMENTS RECORDED 35 BILLION DOLLARS IN SURPLUS REVENUE
FOR USE IN CASE OF AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. (SIGNED)
[21] THE KOSOVO CRISIS CONTINUES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=04/08/99TYPE=WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP NUMBER=6-11232 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= INTRO: THE CRISIS IN THE BALKANS -- WITH NATO AIR ATTACKS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA CONTINUING AND THE WAVE OF REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO PROVINCE FLOODING OVER ITS BORDERS -- IS PRE-OCCUPYING THE WORLD'S PRESS. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM ___________ WITH THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP. TEXT: IN MOST OF NATO COUNTRIES, THE DAILY PAPERS CONCEDE MANY MISTAKES IN THE WAY THE ALLIANCE HAS HANDLED THE CONFLICT, BUT MOST AGREE THAT THE AIR ATTACKS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BRING YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO HEEL. MEDIA IN THE REST OF THE WORLD ARE DEBATING A PAIR OF THEMES. ONE IS THE NATO REJECTION OF MR. MILOSEVIC'S OFFER OF A UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE, AND WHETHER THE 'WAR' OVER KOSOVO IS BEING WAGED FOR PURELY HUMANITARIAN REASONS OR TO EXPAND THE UNITED STATES HEGEMONY OVER THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE BEGIN IN THIS HEMISPHERE, IN QUEBEC WITH THE FRENCH-LANGUAGE DAILY FROM MONTREAL "LE DEVOIR" WHICH SAYS IN PART: VOICE: IN THE CURRENT SITUATION NATO BOMBINGS MUST CONTINUE. ... STOPPING NOW WOULD GIVE SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AN EASY EXIT FROM THE CRISIS. ... BUT WE MUST HOPE THAT THESE BOMBS, WHICH CAN ONLY LEAD TO A CONVOLUTED PEACE, CEASE FALLING [AS] QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE END OF THE WAR IS NOT YET MORE THAN A VAGUE IDEA. ... REALISTICALLY, THE SOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT INCLUDES THE REINSTATING FOR THE KOSOVAR 'STATE' [AUTONOMY] UNDER AN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION WHOSE PRESENCE MIGHT BE REQUIRED FOR MANY YEARS. TEXT:TO THE SOUTH, IN MONTEREY, MEXICO, "EL NORTE" HAD THIS VIEW: VOICE: THE ARCHITECT OF THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVO IS SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. BUT THIS DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE ILLEGALITY OF NATO'S ACTIONS. ... TO AVOID WORLDWIDE CRITICISM NATO OPTED FOR A STRATEGY OF LIMITED ATTACKS. THIS STRATEGY GOES AGAINST THE INEXORABLE LOGIC OF WAR, THE ONLY OBJECTIVE OF WHICH IS VICTORY. THE RESULT OF A LIMITED STRATEGY HAS BEEN LIMITED SUCCESS, WHICH MAY TURN INTO A CLEAR DEFEAT. THE LUKEWARM NATO OFFENSIVE HAS ALLOWED THE SERB [READ YUGOSLAV] PRESIDENT TOTAL FREEDOM OF ACTION IN KOSOVO AND POPULAR SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING HE DOES. THIS IS THE BEST PROOF POSSIBLE THAT ANY ACTION HAS TO BE BASED IN A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION. THE PRICE OF IGNORANCE IS VERY HIGH. TEXT: FOR A BRIEF AFRICAN REACTION, IN NIGER, "LE SAHEL" FROM NIAMEY, SAYS IN PART: VOICE: WHAT HAS PIQUED THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE UNDER NATO TO UNDERTAKE A WAR WITH AN UNCERTAIN OUTCOME AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA? ... THE REASONS [GIVEN] ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO LAUNCH NATO'S ARMADA AGAINST THE LITTLE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. ... NATO ACTION CAN WAKE THE OLD DEVILS UP, NOTABLY TO PLUNGE THE WORLD BACK IN[TO] THE COLD WAR. TEXT: TO THE MIDDLE EAST NOW, AND IN MANAMA, BAHRAIN, "AL-AYAM" RAN THIS COMMENTARY: VOICE: WHEN THE UNITED STATES' MILITARY AND POLITICAL MEANS FAIL TO CONTAIN A CRISIS, IT RESORTS TO THE DISTORTION OF THE REPUTATION AND CHARACTER OF ENEMY (THE LEADER OF THE ENEMY COUNTRY). IT GIVES HIM DESCRIPTIONS SUCH AS 'DICTATOR, EXTREMIST, MURDER OF INNOCENTS.' THIS [TACTIC] AIMS AT GENERATING HATRED TOWARD THAT ENEMY SO THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS TO HIM IS ACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE THAT WHOEVER SENDS FIGHTERS AND MISSILES AGAINST CIVILIANS IN YUGOSLAVIA CANNOT BE ANY LESS EVIL AND BARBARIC THAN MILOSEVIC. TEXT: IN CAIRO, EGYPT'S RESPECTED "AL AHRAM" WRITES: VOICE: HISTORY WILL RECORD PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COURAGEOUS AND HUMANITARIAN POSITION ON THE REFUGEES CRISIS CAUSED BY SERB CRIMINALS IN KOSOVO. THIS POSITION DID NOT RECEIVE THE DESERVED APPRECIATION. THE ISLAMIC WORLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST TO EXPRESS THIS APPRECIATION. [MR.] CLINTON SAVED PEOPLE THREATENED WITH KILLING AND HOMELESSNESS. WAS THE UNITED STATES SUPPOSED TO STAND AS A SPECTATOR IN THIS SERBIAN HUMAN SLAUGHTER AGAINST ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO? TEXT: TO THE ORIENT NOW, AND A VIEW FROM CHINA, AND BEIJING'S YOUTH DAILY: VOICE: IF THE SERBS REFUSE TO YIELD EVEN AFTER THE UNITED STATES INTENSIFIES ITS ATTACKS, THE UNITED STATES WILL LIKELY CHANGE ITS OBJECTIVES. FIRST, IT MAY CHANGE ITS GOAL FROM AN AUTONOMOUS KOSOVO TO AN INDEPENDENT KOSOVO. SECOND, IT MAY CHANGE FROM PRESERVING THE MILOSEVIC REGIME TO OVERTHROWING IT. TEXT: FOR THE VIEW FROM THE FAR SOUTH PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA'S "CANBERRA TIMES" IN THE CAPITAL RAN THIS: VOICE: AUSTRALIA USUALLY ACCEPTED PEOPLE FOR PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT, WHEREAS THE HOPE WITH THE KOSOVO CRISIS WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. THAT IS A NAIVE HOPE. MOST OF THE HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. MOREOVER, MANY REFUGEES HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS, MOSTLY FATHERS, AND WOULD HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY PICKING UP THEIR OLD LIVES. BESIDES, THE NATO MILITARY OPERATION SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF EVEN STOPPING THE EXODUS, LET ALONE REVERSING IT. THE MOST LIKELY RESULT IS THAT MANY, IF NOT MOST, OF THOSE KOSOVARS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT WILL REMAIN OUT. TEXT: IN NEW ZEALAND, AUCKLAND CITY'S "NEW ZEALAND HERALD" WORRIES ABOUT THAT SAME ISSUE; THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES. VOICE: THE PEOPLE DRIVEN OUT OF KOSOVO WANT ONLY TO GO HOME AND THAT HAS TO BE THE FIRST AIM OF ALL COUNTRIES CONCERNED FOR THEIR WELFARE. ALL COUNTRIES MUST TEMPER THEIR HUMANITARIAN IMPULSES WITH THE REALIZATION THAT TO RESETTLE REFUGEES FROM SERBIAN ATROCITIES SUITS THE SERBIAN OBJECTIVE PERFECTLY. NATO HAS ALREADY DONE ENOUGH FOR THE SERBIAN CAUSE BY INEFFECTUAL AIR STRIKES THAT SIMPLY STUNG THE SERBS TO GRATER FEROCITY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CLEAR ETHNIC ALBANIANS OUT OF KOSOVO. ... TOO LATE WE ARE REMINDED HOW MILITARY INTERVENTION CAN BACKFIRE WHEN IT IS HALF-HEARTED AND POORLY PLANNED. TEXT: WE CLOSE MUCH CLOSER TO THE ACTION, IN THE MACEDONIA CAPITOL OF SKOPJE, WHERE "NOVA MAKEDONIJA" COMMENTS: VOICE: IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STOP [MR.] MILOSEVIC IN HIS INTENTION TO CLEANSE KOSOVO ETHNICALLY, HAVE ACTUALLY MADE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING HAPPEN, AND HAS ... SUCCEEDED IN RAISING THE TENSION IN THE REGION TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL. IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE WESTERN LEADERS DID NOT FORESEE THE REFUGEE STAMPEDE TOWARD MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA. TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF THE GLOBAL
PRESS ON THE ISSUE OF THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.
[22] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=04/08/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11230 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M EST ////INTRO: THE WAR BY NATO AGAINST YUGOSLOVIA OVER TREATMENT OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO PROVINCE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS. RUNNING A CLOSE SECOND IS THE VISIT BY CHINA'S PRIME MINISTER, ZHU RONGJI, WHO MEETS TODAY WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, AND THE GENERAL TOPIC OF RELATIONS WITH CHINA. /// OPT /// OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE HEALING PROCESS IN RWANDA; THE TRADE DISPUTE OVER BANANAS; LIBYA'S RELEASE OF SUSPECTED JETLINER BOMBERS; AND THE DEBATE OVER NEW YORK CITY'S POLICE, AFTER THE SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED WEST AFRICAN MAN. /// END OPT /// NOW, HERE IS _______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME EXCERPTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: SOME PAPERS ARE EXPRESSING SATISFACTION WITH NATO'S CONTINUED UNIFIED STAND AGAINST YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, WHILE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS BEGINNING TO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIGHTING ENDS. VOICE: /// OPT /// AS SERBIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO ADVANCE ACROSS KOSOVO IN A BRUTAL CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING ... IT IS NOT TOO EARLY FOR THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO START THINKING ABOUT THE BROAD SHAPE OF AN ACCEPTABLE PEACE DEAL. ... MR. MILOSEVIC'S IDEA OF A REASONABLE RESOLUTION IS DEFORMED BUT CUNNING. /// END OPT /// IN RECENT DAYS BELGRADE HAS TRIED TO CREATE THE ILLUSION THAT THE CONFLICT IS WINDING DOWN BY SAYING THAT REFUGEES CAN RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES, THAT SERBIA CAN WORK WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PLAN FOR POLITICAL AUTONOMY IN KOSOVO ... NATO CANNOT ACCEPT ON TRUST SUCH SERBIAN ASSURANCES. IT MUST ... AIM FOR AN OUTCOME THAT EFFECTIVELY INSURES THE SECURITY OF KOSOVO ... TEXT: TODAY'S "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" WONDERS ALSO ABOUT THE "END GAME IN KOSOVO?," SUGGESTING: VOICE: ... WITH EACH PASSING DAY, [MR.] MILOSEVIC'"S ADVANTAGE SEEMS TO GROW MORE PRONOUNCED. BLOWING UP AIR DEFENSE RADARS, BRIDGES, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, FUEL DEPOTS, AS NATO HAS BEEN DOING, CAN IMPOSE COSTS ON HIS REGIME AND HIS PEOPLE. BUT HISTORY OFFERS LITTLE HOPE OF VANQUISHING AN ENEMY SOLELY THROUGH AIR POWER. /// OPT /// AND IT'S NO HELP THAT NATO WARPLANES HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO FIND AND HIT SERB FORCES, WHO HAVE PROVEN MADDENINGLY ADEPT AT LYING LOW WHEN NECESSARY TO ESCAPE DESTRUCTION. /// END OPT /// ... MAYBE NATO HAS A PLAN TO OUTMANEUVER [MR.] MILOSEVIC. BUT IT'S NOT EVIDENT YET. TEXT: TURNING TO THE VISIT OF CHINA'S PRIME MINISTER, ZHU RONGJI, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS TRADE SHOULD BE TOPIC NUMBER ONE. VOICE: OF ALL THE ISSUES AND NUMBERS PONDERED BY CHINESE AND AMERICAN DIPLOMATS ON BEIJING'S LONG MARCH TOWARD WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP, ONE COUNTS MOST: 57-BILLION DOLLARS. THAT WAS THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA LAST YEAR, AND IT'S THE NUMBER THAT POLITICALLY COLORS A LONG LIST OF ISSUES BETWEEN THE TWO GLOBAL POWERS, MATTERS LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS AND MILITARY BUILDUPS AS WELL AS THE CHINESE ECONOMY. TEXT: BUT ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS" IS CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUING ALLEGATIONS THAT THE CHINESE CONTRIBUTED ILLEGALLY TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1996 REELECTION CAMPAIGN. VOICE: /// OPT /// ADD ONE MORE DISTURBING QUESTION TO THE PILE OF VEXING ISSUES AWAITING CHINESE PREMIER ZHU ... WHEN HE ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON TODAY: DID YOU APPROVE, OR WERE YOU AWARE OF, CAMPAIGN MONEY THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT APPARENTLY FUNNELED TO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN? /// END OPT /// ... THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT THE CHIEF OF CHINESE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SECRETLY DIRECTED 300-THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARD THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN [WHICH WOULD BE] ILLEGAL. ... THE UNSAVORY IDEA THAT FOREIGN INTERESTS ASSUMED THEY COULD INFLUENCE AN AMERICAN ELECTION IS INTOLERABLE, AND [MR.] CLINTON MUST CONDEMN IT. TEXT: TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" CONCURS, CALLING THE CONTRIBUTION A "PRIORITY TOPIC WITH CHINA." BUT "THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" WARNS: "WAR IN THE BALKANS AND ANGER OVER SPYING SHOULD NOT DISTRACT U-S FROM OTHER CONCERNS [IN] DEALING WITH CHINA." TODAY'S "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" APPLAUDS RWANDA FOR ITS MOVE THIS WEEK TO FURTHER HEAL THE SCARS OF THE HUTU-TUTSI GENOCIDE OF EARLIER THIS DECADE, WHEN ABOUT HALF A MILLION TUTSIS WERE KILLED BY HUTU EXTREMISTS, MANY OF THEM NEIGHBORS. VOICE: /// OPT /// A COMPARISON WITH KOSOVO IS APT. RWANDA'S TUTSI POPULATION BEGGED FOR OUTSIDE HELP BUT THE WORLD TEMPORIZED AND EQUIVOCATED. THE UNITED STATES LOOKED AWAY ... NOW COMES KOSOVO, WHERE AN ARMADA OF NATO FORCES CHALLENGES ETHNIC CLEANSING OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS BY .. . SERBIANS. THE DECISION TO STEP IN WAS MADE AT LAST. BUT /// END OPT /// WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM RWANDA'S EXPERIENCE? ... IT WOULD BE SURPRISING IF PEACE CAME EASILY IN RWANDA. BUT A MEASURE OF GOOD HAS EMERGED. ... THE COUNTRY, BY ITSELF, IS FINDING ITS WAY FORWARD THOUGH RECRIMINATIONS AND INJUSTICE REMAIN. /// OPT ///TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS ALSO HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE AVOIDANCE BY THE UNITED STATES OF THE TRIBAL KILLING, NOTING: VOICE: ALONG AMONG THE MAJOR PLAYERS THAT FAILED TO INTERVENE, THE UNITED STATES HAS YET TO STUDY IN ANY SERIOUS WAY THE REASONS FOR ITS FAILURE AND THE LESSONS THAT MIGHT BE DRAWN. SUCH AN INQUIRY MIGHT PROVE PAINFUL. FOR SENIOR POLICYMAKERS, STARTING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. BUT WHEN EMBASSY BOMBINGS OR OTHER TERRORIST ATTACKS HAVE CLAIMED AMERICAN LIVES OVERSEAS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT HESITATED TO FORM COMMISSIONS TO AFFIX RESPONSIBILITY ... THE LOSS OF A HALF-MILLION OR MORE RWANDAN LIVES CALLS ... FOR NOTHING LESS. /// END OPT ///TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" CONSIDERS THE LATEST WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION DECISION IN FAVOR OF THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT THE BANANA DISPUTE WITH EUROPE, AS A "PYRRHIC VICTORY." VOICE: /// OPT /// THE ... DECISION ... NO DOUBT BRINGS JOY TO THE HEARTS OF FREE TRADERS. BUT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA AND MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND IN CENTRAL AMERICA, IT CALLS TO MIND THE QUOTE FROM THE AMERICAN SOLDIER IN VIETNAM WHO, WHILE STANDING AMID THE SMOLDERING RUINS OF A HAMLET HIS TROOPS HAD JUST CAPTURED, DECLARED STRAIGHT-FACED [WITHOUT SARCASTIC INTENT] THAT THEY NEEDED TO DESTROY THE VILLAGE TO SAVE IT FROM THE ENEMY. /// END OPT /// THE W-T-O'S DECISION BRINGS TO AN END ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CONTENTIOUS TRADE DISPUTES ... BUT AT WHAT COST? IN TAKING ON THE BATTLE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION RISKED ALIENATING THE NATION'S CLOSEST TRADING PARTNERS (AND ALLIES IN THE NATO WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA). THAT MIGHT BE DEFENSIBLE IF JOBS AND OTHER VITAL INTERESTS WERE AT STAKE. YET NOT A SINGLE U-S -GROWN BANANA IS INVOLVED. TEXT: TODAY'S "ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SEES A LESSON FOR OTHER NATIONS THAT SUPPORT TERRORISM, IN THIS WEEK'S RELEASE BY LIBYA OF TWO AGAINST BELIEVED FOR THE BOMB THAT CRASHED A PAN AM JETLINER OVER SCOTLAND IN 1988, KILLING 270 PEOPLE. VOICE: HERE WAS AN OBJECT LESSON FOR ATTENTIVE YUGOSLAVS AND IRAQIS. IF A GOVERNMENT WILL ONLY ABIDE BY INTERNATIONAL RULES, ITS PEOPLE NEEDN'T ENDURE THE STIFLING EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION. GRANTED, IT TOOK [COLONEL] GADHAFI AN AGONIZINGLY LONG TIME TO AGREE TO TURN OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS TO WESTERN JUSTICE, BUT HE DOESN'T DESERVE ALL THE BLAME. BOTH THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS WERE INEXPLICABLY SLOW THEMSELVES TO ACCEPT THE EVENTUAL COMPROMISE CHOICE OF A SITE FOR THE TRIAL IN THE NETHERLANDS. /// OPT ///TEXT: AND LASTLY, TO ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE WITH INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS: THE BALANCE BETWEEN POLICE ACCUSED OF BEING OVERZEALOUS AND THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK. THE DEBATE INTENSIFIES AFTER THE KILLING BY POLICE OF AN UNARMED CITIZEN OF GUINEA, SHOT BY A SPECIAL STREET CRIME UNIT WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHES. "USA TODAY," THE NATIONAL DAILY PUBLISHED IN A WASHINGTON SUBURB, SAYS BALANCING AGGRESSIVE POLICING THAT IS NEEDED TO REDUCE CRIME IS DIFFICULT. VOICE: AS NEW YORK'S GOOD FORTUNE SHOWS, ZERO-TOLERANCE (I.E. NO TOLERANCE FOR CRIMINAL MISDEEDS) POLICING CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL OF MODERN CRIME-FIGHTING. THE FLIP [OPPOSITE] SIDE IS THE DANGER OF A DEEP ALIENATION. /// OPT /// WITNESS THE SCENE LAST WEEK OUTSIDE A NEW YORK CITY COURTHOUSE WHERE FOUR WHITE POLICE OFFICERS WERE INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES FOR THE FEBRUARY KILLING OF ... AN IMMIGRANT AFRICAN STREET VENDOR ... SINCE THEN, CITY OFFICIALS HAVE SCORNED THE ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS CALLED TO PROTEST THE KILLING AND THE HAIR-TRIGGER POLICING THAT CAUSED IT. /// END OPT /// ... PLAINLY, ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICING IS EFFECTIVE. BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT IT OVERLOOKS THE INTRICATE NEEDS AND PERCEPTIONS OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES, THE EQUALLY PLAIN RESULTS ARE ANGER AND MISTRUST TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT. /// END OPT ///TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF SOME EDITORIAL COMMENT
FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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