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Voice of America, 99-05-10Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] NATO WITHDRAWAL REACT (L/S VER) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249189 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /////INTRO: NATO REACTED CAUTIOUSLY MONDAY TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BELGRADE THAT PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS ORDERING A PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL OF SERB FORCES FROM KOSOVO. THE ALLIANCE IS STILL INSISTING THAT ONLY AFTER THERE IS A SERB COMMITMENT TO A FULL WITHDRAWAL WILL THE AIR STRIKES BE HALTED. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA GAVE A CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO THE REPORTS FROM THE OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY IN BELGRADE THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL ORDER SOME OF HIS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO, AND IS PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE THE WITHDRAWAL OF FURTHER FORCES. //OPT//HE ADDED THAT SUCH A WITHDRAWAL WOULD HAVE TO BE CREDIBILE, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VERIFIABLE. //END OPT// ///SHEA ACT///HOWEVER, IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS INDEED ORDERED A WITHDRAWAL OF HIS TROOPS, THIS WOULD BE PROOF THAT NATO'S AIR OPERATIONS ARE BITING, AND THAT BELGRADE IS FEELING THE EFFECTS. BUT I MUST STRESS THAT NATO'S FIVE CONDITIONS FOR AN END TO ITS AIR OPERATIONS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR. //OPT// "OPERATION ALLIED FORCE" WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, AND FULFILLED IN FULL. //END OPT// ///END ACT//THE NATO CONDITIONS INCLUDE THE FULL WITHDRAWAL OF SERB ARMY AND SPECIAL POLICE FORCES, THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES AND THE ADMISSION OF A WELL-ARMED INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, NATO HAS WARMLY WELCOMED AN E-U AGREEMENT TO FINALIZE A PACKAGE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, TO PUT FURTHER PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, AND IT IS NOW IN THE FINAL STAGES OF APPROVING A PACKAGE OF FURTHER SANCTIONS. THESE INCLUDE A TRAVEL BAN ON 368 PROMINENT SERBS, WHO INCLUDE PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AND HIS FAMILY. THE E-U IS ALSO TO IMPLEMENT A BAN ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS, ON EXPORT CREDITS, A FREEZE ON YUGOSLAVIAN ASSETS AND A BAN ON THE EXPORT OF EQUIPMENT WHICH COULD BE USED FOR ETHNIC CLEANSING. NATO HAS WELCOMED THIS E-U ACTION, AS A SIGN THAT EVERY POSSIBLE ECONOMIC MEASURE IS BEING USED TO UNDERPIN THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN. MEANWHILE, NATO HAS SCORNFULLY DISMISSED THE LEGAL COMPLAINT IN THE WORLD COURT WHICH WAS LODGED BY YUGOSLAVIA MONDAY. TEN NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE IN THE WAKE OF THE AIR STRIKE CAMPAIGN. MR. SHEA HAS DESCRIBED THIS CLAIM AS FRIVOLOUS AND CYNICAL, AND HE SAYS THE COURT CASE IS AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE SPOTLIGHT FROM THE ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN IN KOSOVO, CONDUCTED BY SERB FORCES. MR. SHEA ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THAT THE SERB LEADER HAS SO FAR DEFIED THREE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, AND HAS REFUSED INVESTIGATORS FROM THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ACCESS TO KOSOVO. MR. SHEA INSISTS THAT NATO IS DETERMINED TO PRESS ON WITH ITS AIR
STRIKE CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE HE SAYS EVERY NEW MASSACRE INSIDE KOSOVO
STRENGTHENS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ALLIANCE'S ACTIONS.
(SIGNED)
[02] KOSOVO / WITHDRAWAL (S) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249191 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS A PARTIAL YUGOSLAV WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO IS NOT ENOUGH TO HALT THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SERB FORCES WERE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO CAME AS SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WAS RELEASING A NEW REPORT ON ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE PROVINCE. ASKED ABOUT REPORTS THE SERBS WERE PREPARING TO PULL ABOUT ONE-HALF THEIR FORCES FROM KOSOVO, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE MEASURE DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. // ALBRIGHT ACT //IF THERE WAS EVER A DEFINITION OF A HALF MEASURE THAT IS IT. // END ACT //MS. ALBRIGHT REPEATED NATO DEMANDS THAT ALL SERB FORCES BE WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO, AND REFUGEES BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE. NATO OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS SAY ANY SERB WITHDRAWAL WOULD HAVE TO
BE CREDIBLE AND VERIFIABLE. (SIGNED)
[03] ALBANIA REFUGEE CAMPS (L ONLY) CQ BY PETER HEINLEIN (KORCE, ALBANIA)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249160 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ////INTRO: THE RUSH IS ON IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA TO BUILD ADDITIONAL TENT CITIES TO HOUSE REFUGEES BEING RELOCATED FROM MACEDONIA. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM A NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED CAMP NEAR THE ALBANIAN CITY OF KORCE (PRONOUNCED KOR-CHA). BUT THE REFUGEES ARE REFUSING TO MOVE TO THE NEW FACILITY. TEXT: CONSTRUCTION FEVER HIT HERE AFTER MACEDONIA SAID IT WANTS TO MOVE PART OF ITS CURRENT REFUGEE POPULATION OUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE. THIS CAMP, KNOWN AS QATRUM (PRONOUNCED CHOT-ROOM) IS BEING ADMINISTERED BY RELIEF INTERNATIONAL, A CALIFORNIA-BASED GROUP. BUT IT IS A MULTI-NATIONAL EFFORT. QATRUM WAS BUILT BY THE GERMAN ARMY. NEAR THE ENTRANCE, A GROUP OF YOUNG AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS IS UNLOADING A DANISH GOVERNMENT TRUCK LOADED WITH BOXES OF COOKING KITS DONATED BY JAPAN. RELIEF INTERNATIONAL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FARSHAD RASTEGAR, IS IRANIAN BY BIRTH, BUT NOW AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. HE ADMITS HIS GROUP HAS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT TAKING IN REFUGEES WHO CLEARLY DO NOT WANT TO COME HERE. /// RASTEGAR ACT ///JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE THEM. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE KNOW THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO MOVE THEM, SO WE HAVE TO BE READY AS HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES. /// END ACT ///THE QATRUM CAMP IS DESIGNED TO HOLD ABOUT 45-HUNDRED REFUGEES. THREE OTHER FACILITIES BEING ERECTED WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE COULD HOUSE 15-THOUSAND MORE. BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE KORCE OFFICE OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, IGNACIO MATTEINI OF ITALY, SAYS HE HAS NO WORD ABOUT WHEN, OR IF, THE EXPECTED INFLUX FROM MACEDONIA WILL ARRIVE. /// MATTEINI ACT ONE ///THEY WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL WISH TO COME. AND IF THIS WILL BE THROUGH U-N-H-C-R, OR WHEN THEY WILL BE FORCED TO COME, IF THIS WILL BE AGAINST THEIR WILL, WE SHALL HAVE TO SEE). SO WE CANNOT KNOW IT UNTIL THEY ARE COMING. /// END ACT ////// OPT ////// OPT ////// OPT // ISLAM ACT ///I THINK IT'S BETTER TO COME HERE THAN TO BE IN MACEDONIA LIKE IT WAS IN BLACE. I WAS THERE SEVEN DAYS. PEOPLE ARE DYING. CHILD WAS DYING. SO ITS BETTER TO COME HERE. WE HAVE AMBULANCE, WE HAVE SCHOOL. /// END ACT ////// OPT ////// MATTEINI ACT TWO ///I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU WHAT WOULD YOU DO. WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE IN A COLLECTIVE CENTER IN ITALY OR MAYBE WITH OPPORTUNITY TO GO TOMORROW TO GERMANY WHERE YOU HAVE SOME RELATIVE, OR TO STAY STUCK IN ALBANIA. /// END ACT // END OPT ///MR. MATTEINI SAYS THE RUSH TO PREPARE THE CAMPS AROUND KORCE IS
MOVING AHEAD URGENTLY, EVEN THOUGH, AS HE SAYS, THERE IS NO WAY
OF KNOWING WHETHER THEY WILL EVER BE USED. (SIGNED)
[04] MACEDONIA BORDER / REFUGEES (L) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (BLACE, MACEDONIA)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249177 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE MACEDONIAN BORDER WITH SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE REMAINS OPEN, BUT EMPTY. ONLY A FEW REFUGEES HAVE CROSSED AND THERE ARE NO LINES OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ON THE OTHER SIDE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM BLACE BORDER CROSSING THAT U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FATE OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS STILL IN KOSOVO TRYING TO GET OUT. TEXT: /// SOUND OF BIRDS - FADE UNDER ///THERE IS AN EERY SILENCE AT THE BLACE BORDER CROSSING. LAST WEEK, THE CHIRPING OF BIRDS WAS DROWNED OUT BY THE HUM OF BUSES FERRYING THOUSANDS OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO REFUGEE CAMPS FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD. LAST MONDAY, MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS CROSSED INTO MACEDONIA. THIS MONDAY, THERE IS NOBODY. AS FAR AS U-N REFUGEE OFFICIALS CAN TELL, THERE IS NOBODY WAITING ON THE SERB SIDE OF THE BORDER EITHER. /// OPT ////// OPT // GHEDINI ACT ONE ///WE HAVE SEEN A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT NOT REFUGEE MOVEMENT. WHAT IT HAS BEEN IS MAINLY PEOPLE -- WHETHER OR NOT REFUGEES -- WITH SOME FORM OF MACEDONIAN DOCUMENTATION, WHICH MEANS THAT ON THE SERB SIDE THEY ARE ONLY LETTING THESE PEOPLE OUT. THEY DID TELL US, THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO, ABOUT TRAINS THAT HAVE ARRIVED AND PEOPLE ON THE TRAINS RETURNED TO WHICHEVER PART OF KOSOVO THE TRAIN ORIGINATED FROM. /// END ACT // END OPT ///MACEDONIA CLOSED ITS BORDER LAST WEDNESDAY, COMPLAINING IT COULD NO LONGER COPE WITH MORE THAN 240-THOUSAND REFUGEES WHO HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED IN MACEDONIA. ON THURSDAY THE BORDER OPENED AGAIN BUT ONLY A FEW REFUGEES HAVE CROSSED SINCE THEN. SERB POLICE TURNED BACK A TRAINLOAD OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS THAT ARRIVED AT THE BORDER LAST THURSDAY. AMONG THE PASSENGERS WAS A LEADING MEMBER OF THE KOSOVAR ALBANIAN PEACE DELEGATION. HE WAS LATER TAKEN BY SERB POLICE. HIS BODY WAS FOUND TWO-DAYS LATER. MISS GHEDINI SAYS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS INTENSIFIED ITS EFFORTS TO EASE THE REFUGEE BURDEN FOR MACEDONIA, WHERE MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND KOSOVARS ARE CRAMMED INTO NINE OVERCROWDED CAMPS. PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO MOVE SEVERAL-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO NEW CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING ALBANIA. BUT MISS GHEDINI SAYS THE MOVE IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. /// GHEDINI ACT TWO ///AN INITIAL GROUP OF 600 WHO CAME FORWARD AND VOLUNTEERED, WHO HAD FAMILY MEMBERS IN ALBANIA AND WISHED TO BE REUNITED WITH THEM. SINCE THEN, MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN EVACUATED TO THIRD COUNTRIES AND OTHERS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS. SO THE NUMBER WE HAD TODAY WAS ACTUALLY VERY SMALL, OF 82, WHO WILL INITIALLY BE GOING TO KORCE (ALBANIA). /// END ACT ///THE VOLUNTARY AIRLIFT OF REFUGEES TO THIRD COUNTRIES HAS PICKED UP IN RECENT DAYS. AN AVERAGE OF TWO-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS ARE LEAVING EVERY DAY FOR EUROPE, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES. SO FAR, ABOUT 35-THOUSAND HAVE LEFT MACEDONIA. /// GHEDINI ACT THREE ///IF WE CAN KEEP MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CAMPS, AND WE DO HAVE LIMITED NUMBERS COMING IN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEFUSE SOME OF THE PRESSURE FROM HERE. /// END ACT ////// OPT ///A NOISY PROTEST ERUPTED IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CAMPS MONDAY TO COMPLAIN MACEDONIAN POLICE GUARDING THE CAMP HAD ROUGHED UP TWO YOUNG REFUGEES. /// END OPT /// MACEDONIA'S GOVERNMENT HAS RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO EXPAND THREE OF
THE NINE CAMPS TO EASE THE PRESSURE, BUT WILL NOT ALLOW ANY NEW
CAMPS TO BE BUILT. (SIGNED)
[05] UNHCR KOSOVO REFUGEES (L-ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249174 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, U-N-H-C-R, SAYS NEARLY 16-THOUSAND KOSOVARS FLED INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE ARRIVING REFUGEES TOLD AID WORKERS CONSISTENT STORIES OF KILLINGS, ABDUCTIONS, LOOTING AND OTHER ATROCITIES PERPETRATED BY SERB FORCES. DETAILS FROM LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA. TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE SERBS SEEM TO HAVE MOVED THEIR SO-CALLED ETHNIC "CLEANSING" OPERATION FROM PRIZREN INTO THE PEC-ISTOK AREA IN WESTERN KOSOVO. U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS PRIZREN APPEARS TO BE LARGELY EMPTIED OF ITS INHABITANTS. HE SAYS THE BULK OF THE ARRIVALS INTO NORTHERN ALBANIA IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS CAME FROM VILLAGES AROUND THE PEC-ISTOK AREA. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS MANY HAD FLED FROM THEIR HOME VILLAGES AND SPENT ANYWHERE FROM ONE WEEK TO ONE MONTH IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY SERB FORCES. HE SAYS MANY REFUGEES GAVE HARROWING STORIES OF KILLINGS, EXECUTIONS AND ABDUCTIONS OF HUNDREDS OF MEN. ///JANOWSKI ACT///THERE SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMATIC EFFORT TO SEPARATE MEN OUT AND THERE'S ALSO CONSISTENT REPORTS OF ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED IN ALL OF THESE PLACES WHERE SERBIAN FORCES OPERATE. ///END ACT/////OPT//ON ANOTHER ISSUE, MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS INVESTIGATING REPORTS THAT CRIMINALS ARE TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY FROM KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA BY PROMISING TO GET THEM A FLIGHT TO A THIRD COUNTRY. ///SECOND JANOWSKI ACT///THERE MAY BE PEOPLE IN THE CAMPS WHO ARE TRYING TO BASICALLY CHARGE FEES FOR, IN INVERTED COMMAS, "MAKING SURE" THAT THEY CAN GET ON THE FLIGHT -- PROBABLY, ACTUALLY, WITHOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO DELIVER. SO, THERE IS BASICALLY AN ATTEMPT BY SOME CRIMINAL ELEMENTS TO MAKE MONEY ON THE WHOLE HUMANITARIAN EVACUATION PROJECT. ///END ACT///MORE THAN 35-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE BEEN AIRLIFTED TO FOREIGN
COUNTRIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
TO FIND SUCH CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN A HUGE REFUGEE
POPULATION. HE SAYS THE U-N IS INVESTIGATING THE MATTER AND WILL
TRY TO STOP IT. (SIGNED)
[06] CLINTON / KOSOVO / CHINA (L) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249194 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS PUBLICLY APOLOGIZED TO CHINA FOR A MISTAKEN ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, BUT HE SAYS NATO'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN THE BALKANS WILL NOT STOP. MR. CLINTON IS MEETING WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN (LATER MONDAY), FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT SOME YUGOSLAV TROOPS MAY BE WITHDRAWING FROM KOSOVO PROVINCE. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE HAS MORE ON THE STORY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: ALTHOUGH MR. CLINTON WROTE TO CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN EXPRESSING HIS REGRET OVER THE NATO ATTACK (FRIDAY) ON CHINA'S EMBASSY, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH, AND INSISTED ON A PUBLIC APOLOGY. ON MONDAY, THEY RECEIVED IT. /// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///AGAIN I WANT TO SAY TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE AND TO THE LEADERS OF CHINA: I APOLOGIZE, I REGRET THIS. /// END ACT ///OFFICIALS SAY THE EMBASSY WAS TARGETED BY MISTAKE, BECAUSE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS WERE WORKING FROM AN OUTDATED MAP THAT DID NOT SHOW THE DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND, WHICH WAS BUILT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED THAT THE NATO ATTACK ON THE EMBASSY, AND THE WAVE OF PROTESTS IT PROMPTED IN BEIJING AND OTHER CHINESE CITIES, WILL COMPLICATE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO END THE YUGOSLAV WAR. FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE WORLD'S SEVEN MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS PLAN TO SEND THE UNITED NATIONS A PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO THEY ENDORSED LAST WEEK, BUT THEY FEAR CHINA MAY USE ITS VETO IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL. MR. CLINTON, SPEAKING AT A WHITE HOUSE EVENT, STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAWING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE ERRANT NATO STRIKE AND THE YUGOSLAV CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. /// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED TRAGIC EVENT, WHILE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO, WHICH HAS LED TO THE KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND THE RELOCATION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IS A DELIBERATE AND SYSTEMATIC CRIME. UNTIL NATO'S SIMPLE CONDITIONS ARE MET, THEREFORE, THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE. /// END ACT ///OFFICIALS SAY EVEN IF THE REPORTS ARE TRUE, A PARTIAL PULLOUT FALLS FAR SHORT OF NATO'S DEMANDS OF A TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO, THE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///I HAVE JUST HEARD A REPORT THAT HE IS GOING TO WITHDRAW HALF HIS FORCES FROM KOSOVO. IF THERE EVER WAS A DEFINITION OF A HALF- MEASURE, THAT IS IT. /// END ACT ///THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND YUGOSLAV TROOPS NOW IN KOSOVO.
(SIGNED)
[07] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L-UPDATE) BY DEBORAH TATE (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249207 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REITERATED NATO'S DEMANDS FOR A TOTAL YUGOSLAV TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO, FOLLOWING YUGOSLAVIA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PARTIAL PULLOUT FROM THE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN PROVINCE IN SOUTHERN SERBIA. BUT HE SAYS "ANY LITTLE PROGRESS" IS WELCOME. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY REPORTS OF A PARTIAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO, BUT HE ADDS NATO HAS NOT CHANGED ITS DEMANDS ON YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. /// CLINTON ACT ///ANY LITTLE DAYLIGHT, ANY LITTLE PROGRESS IS BETTER THAN IT WAS A DAY BEFORE, WE JUST HAVE TO BEAR DOWN AND KEEP WORKING, WE WILL WORK THROUGH IT. FORCES HAVE GOT TO BE WITHDRAWN. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON REITERATED THAT AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE MUST BE PRESENT IN KOSOVO TO GUARANTEE THE SAFE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ABOUT BEING ENCOURAGED BY WORD OF THE PARTIAL TROOP PULLOUT, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SUCH A WITHDRAWAL. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART: /// LOCKHART ACT ///WE WANT TO SEE ACTIONS HERE. IT IS DEEDS, NOT WORDS. /// END ACT ///OFFICIALS SAY THE EMBASSY WAS MISTAKENLY TARGETED (ON FRIDAY) BECAUSE U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS WERE USING AN OUTDATED MAP. IT DID NOT SHOW THE LOCATION OF THE DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND, WHICH WAS BUILT ONLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. (SPEAKING AT A WHITE HOUSE EVENT EARLIER MONDAY,) MR. CLINTON SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT HE CALLED "A TRAGIC MISTAKE," AND WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A DELIBERATE ACT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING CARRIED OUT BY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. /// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED, TRAGIC EVENT. WHILE THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF KOSOVO, WHICH HAS LED TO THE KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND THE RELOCATION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. IS A DELIBERATE AND SYSTEMATIC CRIME. UNTIL NATO'S SIMPLE CONDITIONS ARE MET, THEREFORE, THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE. /// END ACT ///CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD DEMANDED A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM MR. CLINTON, EVEN AFTER HE SENT PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN A LETTER EXPRESSING REGRET FOR THE NATO MISHAP. /// REST OPT ///SPOKESMAN LOCKHART SAYS MR. CLINTON IS PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE U- S INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT WITH MR. JIANG WHEN THE CHINESE PRESIDENT IS PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE CALL, AS MR. LOCKHART PUT IT. THE EMBASSY BOMBING HAS OUTRAGED CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND PROMPTED A WAVE OF ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS IN BEIJING AND OTHER CITIES AROUND CHINA. MR. CLINTON WAS BRIEFED ON NATO'S ERRANT STRIKE ON THE EMBASSY BY
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN LATE MONDAY. (SIGNED)
[08] KOSOVO-CHINA-PENTAGON (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249213 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS A SERIES OF INTELLIGENCE BLUNDERS LED TO NATO'S MISTAKEN ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE (FRIDAY). MR. COHEN SAYS HE IS ORDERING SOME CHANGES TO PREVENT SUCH DEADLY ERRORS IN THE FUTURE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: MR. COHEN SAYS NATO HAD NO INTENTION OF HITTING THE CHINESE EMBASSY. HE CALLED THE INCIDENT "A TRAGEDY," AND SAYS IT HAPPENED BECAUSE SEVERAL SYSTEMS, DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT BOMBS ARE AIMED AT THE RIGHT TARGETS, FAILED. /// COHEN ACT ///ONE OF OUR PLANES ATTACKED THE WRONG TARGET BECAUSE THE BOMBING INSTRUCTIONS WERE BASED ON AN OUTDATED MAP. THE CORRECT TARGET WAS THE FEDERAL DIRECTORATE FOR SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT, A KEY PART OF YUGOSLAVIA'S MILITARY MACHINE. /// END ACT ///MR. COHEN SAYS OFFICIALS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE MISTAKES, BUT SOME THINGS ARE ALREADY CLEAR: INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS FAILED TO PROPERLY LOCATE THE CORRECT TARGET ON A MAP, AND THE MAP DID NOT CORRECTLY SHOW THE NEW LOCATION OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY. SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY EMBASSIES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, MOSQUES, CHURCHES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES ARE ON A SO-CALLED "NO STRIKE" LIST. THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS INSTITUTING SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES, INCLUDING MAKING THE STATE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING THE CORRECT LOCATION OF ALL EMBASSIES IN THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY WHEN NEW EMBASSIES ARE BUILT OR OLD ONES ARE MOVED. HE IS ALSO ORDERING NEW PROCEDURES FOR UPDATING MAPS, AND OTHER CHANGES IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, TO PREVENT FUTURE ERRORS. MR. COHEN ADMITTED THAT ERRORS WERE MADE BY U-S INTELLIGENCE, AND THAT A U-S PLANE DROPPED THE BOMBS. HE REPEATED AMERICAN APOLOGIES FOR THE EMBASSY BOMBING, AND URGED BEIJING TO BELIEVE WASHINGTON'S ASSERTION THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE, NOT A DELIBERATE ATTACK. MR. COHEN SAYS IT WOULD BE LUNACY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO STRIKE CHINA AT A TIME WHEN WASHINGTON NEEDS BEIJING'S HELP IN SOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND A LONG LIST OF OTHER ISSUES. /// SECOND COHEN ACT ///IT DEFIES ALL LOGIC, ALL RATIONALE ON THE PART OF ANYONE TO CONCLUDE THAT WE WOULD DELIBERATELY TARGET THE CHINESE EMBASSY. WE HAVE TRIED VERY VIGOROUSLY TO PROMOTE A BETTER U-S - CHINESE RELATIONSHIP. /// END ACT ///SINCE FRIDAY'S ATTACK IN BELGRADE, CHINA HAS SUSPENDED HIGH-LEVEL MILITARY CONTACTS WITH THE UNITED STATES, AND PUT OFF CONSULTATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, AS WELL AS ARMS CONTROL AND PROLIFERATION. IN BEIJING, THOUSANDS OF ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATORS THREW ROCKS AND DEBRIS AT THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES FOR A THIRD DAY MONDAY. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT WARNED AMERICANS TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE AND AVOID THE PROTESTS. /// REST OPT ///NEB/JR/WTW 10-May-99 7:25 PM EDT (2325 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [09] CHINA / U-S RELATIONS CQ BY CHRIS SIMKINS (HONG KONG)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43346 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ////INTRO: LAST WEEK'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE BY NATO FORCES HAS BEEN A MAJOR SET BACK FOR SINO / U-S RELATIONS. TIES HAD ALREADY BEEN STRAINED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS TAKES A LOOK AT SINO / U-S RELATIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE BOMBING AND THE ANGRY REACTION BY CHINA. TEXT: SOME ANALYSTS ARE CALLING THIS THE MOST SERIOUS CRISIS THE TWO SIDES HAVE FACED SINCE U-S CHINESE RELATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1979. OBSERVERS SAY NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY HAS ACCELERATED THE DOWNWARD SLIDE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. CHINESE LEADERS HAVE ENDORSED THE ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT CHINA. ALSO IN RETALIATION, BEIJING HAS SUSPENDED ALL DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY CONTACTS WITH WASHINGTON ON THE ISSUES OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. ADDITIONALLY, HIGH LEVEL COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERS IN CHINA HAVE ORDERED AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES. IN A FRONT-PAGE ANALYSIS MONDAY, WILLY WO-LAP LAM, POLITICAL EDITOR OF HONG KONG'S SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST NEWSPAPER, SAYS SINO-U-S TIES COULD GO BACKWARD, IF WASHINGTON DOES NOT TAKE SUBSTANTIAL STEPS TO APPEASE BEIJING. AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR AND CHINA ANALYST QI XI SHENG AGREES. /// ACT OF QI IN CHINESE UP AND UNDER ///MR. QI SAYS THE BALL IS NOW IN THE U-S COURT AND THAT FUTURE RELATIONS DEPEND ON HOW THE U-S APOLOGIZES TO CHINA. HE SAYS TENSIONS COULD BE EASED IF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO STEP BACK GRACEFULLY AND RESUME NORMAL RELATIONS. OTHER ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA WILL NOT WORSEN SINO U-S RELATIONS IN THE LONG-TERM. BUT THEY SAY AN UPTURN IN TIES WILL NOT BE EASY, SINCE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ON SHAKY GROUND LATELY. THE DETERIORATION STEMS FROM U-S PRESSURE ON CHINA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS AND FROM A SERIES OF ALLEGATIONS : THAT CHINA STOLE NUCLEAR-WEAPONS SECRETS FROM THE UNITED STATES, THAT CHINA MADE IMPROPER U-S POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DONATIONS, AND THAT BEIJING IS THE SOURCE OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION, WITH SALES TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS PAKISTAN AND IRAN. YET ANOTHER IRRITANT HAS BEEN THE TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES OVER CHINA'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. ANALYSTS SAY THE BOMBING WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SET BACK EFFORTS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON CHINA'S ACCESSION TO THE W-T- O. SOME BUSINESS EXECUTIVES WORRY THE BAD POLITICAL FEELINGS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WILL NOW SPILL OVER AND DERAIL THE W-T-O TALKS ALTOGETHER. ARTHUR WALDRON, DIRECTOR OF ASIAN STUDIES AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, SAYS THE BOMBING IS A CLEAR SET BACK FOR SINO U-S RELATIONS. HE SAYS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE TENSIONS THAT HAVE LONG EXISITED IN U-S/CHINA RELATIONS. HE POINTS TO THE NATIONALISM OF THE CHINESE, WHICH HAS BOILED TO THE SURFACE AFTER THE BOMBING, AND THE AMBIVALENCE IN THE UNITED STATES TOWARDS WARMER TIES WITH CHINA. /// WALDRON ACT ///ITS FOULED UP BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME HIGHLY POLITICIZED IN A WAY THAT HAS BECOME QUITE FAMILIAR TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT CHINA / U-S POLICY. IF YOU LOOK BACK THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POWERFUL EMOTIONAL CHARGE ASSOCIATED WITH CHINA POLICY ITS ALWAYS BEEN A COMPLICATED GROUP OF ISSUES. /// END ACT ///MR. WALDRON BELIEVES U-S / SINO RELATIONS ARE BEING HURT BY POLICY DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE U-S CONGRESS. HE SAYS THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN CHINA WHERE HE SAYS THE LEADERSHIP IS NOT SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE ON THE SINO-U-S RELATIONSHIP. MR. WALDRON ADDS CHINA'S LEADERS BELIEVE IMPROVED RELATIONS WILL HELP THE COUNTRY IN THE LONG-RUN. BUT HE SAYS MANY CHINESE HARDLINERS VIEW THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO AS A NEW WAVE OF NEO-IMPERIALISM WHICH WILL EFFECT CHINESE INTERESTS SOONER OR LATER. THEY ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT NATO'S ACTIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA SET A PRECEDENT FOR WESTERN INTERFERENCE IN TIBET OR TAIWAN. WHILE SOME ANALYSTS ARE PREDICTING ONLY SHORT-TERM DAMAGE TO THE
RELATIONSHIP, FROM THE BOMBING, OTHERS BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST AS
LONG AS DISAGREEMENTS REMAIN OVER THE KOSOVO CONFLICT RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL DETERIORATE. (SIGNED)
[10] CHINA/CONSPIRACY BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43348 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ANGER IN CHINA AT THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN FUELED BY THE WIDESPREAD BELIEF AMONG CHINESE PEOPLE THAT IT WAS A DELIBERATE ACT. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS CHINESE MEDIA ARE SAYING ANY CLAIMS THAT THE STRIKE WAS A MISTAKE ARE A LIE, AND THEY ARE FOCUSING ON HOW CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY HAS BEEN VIOLATED. TEXT: NATO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT TARGETED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AND STRUCK IT WITH THREE MISSILES. BUT IT SAID IT ACTED ON ERRONEOUS INFORMATION THAT THE BUILDING WAS A WEAPONS WAREHOUSE. BUT THIS ASPECT OF THE BOMBING IS ONE THAT IS NOT GETTING COVERED BY CHINESE MEDIA -- WHICH HAVE WHIPPED UP ANTI-NATO AND ANTI-U-S PUBLIC OPINION BY CALLING IT A VIOLATION OF CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA AND PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON EXPRESSED THEIR CONDOLENCES. THESE APOLOGIES HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED BY CHINESE TELEVISION. INSTEAD, CHINESE PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE CONVINCED BY DOMESTIC NEWS REPORTS THAT NATO DELIBERATELY BOMBED THE CHINESE EMBASSY. ON MONDAY, THE BEIJING YOUTH DAILY NEWSPAPER RAN A SHORT COMMENTARY ON AN INSIDE PAGE WHICH ACTUALLY REFERRED TO THE TWO APOLOGIES. BUT THE NEWSPAPER SAID THE CHINESE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE CONFUSED BY THESE LIES AND THAT, ANYWAY, AN APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH. A REPORT BY THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY QUOTES CHINESE MISSILE EXPERTS AS SAYING THE NATO BOMBING WAS PRE-MEDITATED. IT ADDED THAT THESE SENIOR EXPERTS REFUTED WHAT IT CALLED NATO'S DECEIT WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS. ANOTHER XINHUA REPORT SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PURSUE NATO FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMES AND FOR VIOLATING CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY. ONE MIDDLE-AGED DEMONSTRATOR EXPRESSED DISBELIEF THAT THE BOMBING COULD HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE -- SAYING HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES HAS SUCH HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT. CHINESE PEOPLE ALSO SAY THAT IF IT WAS INDEED AN ACCIDENT, WHY WAS THE CHINESE EMBASSY THE ONLY FOREIGN MISSION IN BELGRADE TO BE HIT? YET ANOTHER CONSPIRACY THEORY SAYS THIS ATTACK WAS PART OF A COVERT U-S POLICY TO CONTAIN CHINA. ONE YOUNG WOMAN SOBERLY SAID ALTHOUGH SHE BELIEVED THE ATTACK WAS
DELIBERATE, SHE COULD NOT THINK OF ANY REASON FOR NATO TO
TARGET THE CHINESE EMBASSY. BUT HER QUESTION "WHY?" -- WHICH
ADDRESSES THE BASIC ISSUE OF MOTIVATION -- IS ONE THAT NOT MANY
OTHER CHINESE SEEM TO BE ASKING. (SIGNED)
[11] CHINA/PROTEST (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249170 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINESE DEMONSTRATORS BESIEGED THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING FOR A THIRD DAY TO PROTEST THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, IN ANOTHER REACTION TO THE BOMBING, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BROKEN OFF TALKS WITH THE U-S GOVERNMENT ON SEVERAL KEY ISSUES. TEXT: // DEMO SOUNDS -- IN FULL, FADE UNDER // PROTEST SIGNS CARRIED IN MONDAY'S DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY REFLECTED UNRESTRAINED FURY. SOME SAID "BEAT TO DEATH THE AMERICAN DOGS." ANOTHER COMMON PHRASE ON PROTEST BANNERS IS "BLOOD DEBTS MUST BE REPAID WITH BLOOD." // DEMO SOUNDS -- FADE UP, EST, FADE OUT //THE TONE OF THE PROTEST BANNERS HAS BEEN MATCHED BY THE ANGER OF THE DEMONSTRATORS WHO WERE STILL THROWING ROCKS AND CHUNKS OF PAVING STONE AT THE MAIN U-S EMBASSY BUILDING -- DESPITE CHINESE MEDIA REPORTS THAT EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL. THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES HAVE BEEN SPLATTERED WITH PAINT BOMBS AND ALL OF THEIR WINDOWS BROKEN BY STONES THROWN EARLIER. MORE MILITARY POLICE HAVE BEEN EVIDENT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED PROTESTERS. POLICEMEN ON THE SCENE ARE MAKING SURE DEMONSTRATORS STAY ON THE MARKED DEMONSTRATION ROUTE. CHINESE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS A DELIBERATE ACT. NATO ADMITS THAT THE BUILDING WAS TARGETED, BUT SAYS ITS DECISION WAS BASED ON MISTAKEN INFORMATION THAT THE BUILDING WAS A WEAPONS WAREHOUSE. ONE 42-YEAR-OLD AVIATION COMPANY WORKER, SURNAMED CHANG, VOICED DISBELIEF, SAYING HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES COULD HAVE MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE IT USES SUCH HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT. ON MONDAY MORNING, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS SUSPENDED MILITARY CONTACTS, HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE AND SECURITY CONSULTATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY IS REPORTING THAT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CALLED CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN TO EXPRESS HIS CONDOLENCES. MR. JIANG IS QUOTED AS TELLING MR. YELTSIN THAT -- AS HE PUT IT -- THE U-S-LED NATO SHOULD BEAR ALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. THE CHINESE PRESIDENT IS ALSO QUOTED AS TELLING HIS RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART THAT CONTINUED NATO BOMBING WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ANY PLAN TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CHINA IS A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL.
MEANTIME, CHINA HAS DOWNGRADED AND SHORTENED THE UPCOMING TRIP OF
GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER -- WHO IS DUE IN BEIJING
WEDNESDAY. MR. SCHROEDER'S CHIEF FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER, MICHAEL
STEINER, SAYS THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR WILL TRY TO WIN CHINESE
BACKING FOR A U-N PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[12] CHINA / PROTEST UPDATE (L) BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249175 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA IS DEMANDING A FORMAL APOLOGY FOR THE NATO BOMBING THAT DESTROYED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA. MEANTIME, V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE FEWER DEMONSTRATORS THAN IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN CONVERGED ON THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING MONDAY TO EXPRESS THEIR ANGER. TEXT: CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TANG JIAXUAN PRESENTED AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, JAMES SASSER, WITH A LIST OF DEMANDS. MR. TANG CALLED FOR AN OPEN AND OFFICIAL APOLOGY FROM -- IN HIS WORDS -- THE U-S-LED NATO. HE ALSO SAID CHINA WANTS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTACK, AND THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE SEVERELY PUNISHED. THIS FOLLOWS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO SUSPEND TALKS WITH WASHINGTON ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ARMS PROLIFERATION. IN FRONT OF THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING MONDAY, THE DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUED. // DEMO SOUNDS -- IN FULL, FADE UNDER //ONE OF THE PROTEST SIGNS SAID "BEAT THE AMERICAN DOGS TO DEATH." ANOTHER PROTEST BANNER SAID "BLOOD DEBTS MUST BE REPAID WITH BLOOD." // DEMO SOUNDS -- FADE UP, EST, FADE OUT //THE TONE OF THE PROTEST BANNERS WAS MATCHED BY THE ANGER OF THE DEMONSTRATORS WHO WERE THROWING ROCKS AND CHUNKS OF PAVING STONE AT THE MAIN U-S EMBASSY BUILDING -- DESPITE CHINESE MEDIA REPORTS THAT EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL. MORE MILITARY POLICE HAVE BEEN EVIDENT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED PROTESTERS. POLICEMEN ON THE SCENE ARE MAKING SURE DEMONSTRATORS STAY ON THE MARKED DEMONSTRATION ROUTE. OFFICIAL MEDIA REPORTED THAT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN CALLED CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN ON MONDAY TO EXPRESS HIS CONDOLENCES. MR. JIANG IS QUOTED AS TELLING MR. YELTSIN THAT NATO SHOULD BEAR ALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. THE CHINESE PRESIDENT IS ALSO QUOTED AS TELLING HIS RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART THAT CONTINUED NATO BOMBING WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ANY PLAN TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CHINA IS A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL.
MEANTIME, CHINA DOWNGRADED, BUT DID NOT CANCEL, THE UPCOMING
TRIP OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER -- WHO IS DUE TO
ARRIVE WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
[13] CHINA/W-T-O IMPACT (L-ONLY) BY AMY BICKERS (HONG KONG)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249159 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE COMES AT A HIGHLY SENSITIVE TIME FOR CHINA'S TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS. AMY BICKERS IN HONG KONG REPORTS ANALYSTS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THE POOR SENTIMENT WILL SET BACK NEGOTIATIONS ON CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. TEXT: A NUMBER OF ISSUES COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE NEGATIVE SENTIMENT IN CHINA, INCLUDING TALKS ON CHINA'S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. ANALYSTS SAY WITH ANTI-U-S FEELING RUNNING STRONG, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR CHINESE TRADE NEGOTIATORS TO MAKE CONCESSIONS BEING DEMANDED BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IN RETURN FOR THEIR BACKING FOR BEIJING'S W-T-O MEMBERSHIP. ALICE WAT, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT AT BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON'S HONG KONG OFFICE, SAYS CHINA'S 13-YEAR PUSH TO GET INTO THE TRADE BODY COULD BE DELAYED AS A RESULT OF THE POLITICAL FRICTION. /// WAT ACT ///IT MAY SLOW DOWN THE PROCEDURE OF THE W-T-O APPROVAL AND PREPARATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BROKEN, BUT IT IS JEOPARDIZED. IT IS GETTING A BIT TIGHT OR TENSE AT THE MOMENT. // END ACT ///THE ANTI-NATO RIOTS, ASSAULTING OF FOREIGNERS AND ATTACKS ON U-S BUSINESS PROPERTIES IN A NUMBER OF CHINESE CITIES ARE TAKING PLACE WHILE A DECISION ON CHINA'S W-T-O MEMBERSHIP IS PENDING. EVEN WITHOUT THE CURRENT WAVE OF ANGER GRIPPING CHINA, RECENT W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN WAYLAYED BY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DIFFERING OPINIONS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. LAST WEEK, EUROPEAN UNION TRADE COMMISSIONER SIR LEON BRITTAN SAID TWO DAYS OF TRADE TALKS IN BEIJING HAD ENDED WITHOUT PROGRESS. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT CHINA HAD WITHDRAWN PREVIOUS CONCESSIONS MADE TO WASHINGTON DURING PREMIER ZHU RONGJI'S APRIL VISIT TO NORTH AMERICA, ON OPENING ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BANKING SERVICES SECTORS. BUT NOT ALL CHINA-WATCHERS ARE WORRIED THAT A POTENTIAL TRADE DEAL WILL FOLD UNDER THE CURRENT POLITICAL PRESSURE. ANDREW FERNOW (PRONO: FUR-KNOW), A HONG KONG-BASED RESEARCH ANALYST AT SECURITIES HOUSE VICKERS BALLAS, PREDICTS THE TRADE TALKS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IN THE LONG TERM. /// FERNOW ACT ///I WOULD TEND TO SIDE WITH THE VIEW THAT THIS WILL CALM DOWN AFTER A TEMPORARY EMOTIONAL REACTION. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL CURTAIL OR PREVENT STRATEGIC INVESTORS FROM CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE CHINESE MARKET AND ANTICIPATETHE LIBERALIZATION OF REFORMS THAT NEED TO GO FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OR ATMOSPHERE. /// END ACT ///MR. FERNOW BELIEVES CHINESE CRITICS OF THE TRADE DEAL ARE USING THE CURRENT ANTI-US SENTIMENT TO FORTIFY THEIR POSITION. HOWEVER, HE SAYS PRIME MINSTER ZHU RONGJI REMAINS COMMITTED TO W-T-O MEMBERSHIP FOR CHINA. EVENTS IN THE COMING DAYS COULD OFFER A GLIMPSE OF WHETHER CHINA'S ECONOMIC TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATO COUNTRIES WILL BE THROWN OFF COURSE. GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER IS SET TO ATTEND A
EUROPE-CHINA SUMMIT IN BEIJING LATER THIS WEEK. IF HE CANCELS, IT
COULD HAMPER CHINA'S LONG-AWAITED W-T-O BID. (SIGNED)
[14] CHINA/W-T-O IMPACT UPDATE (L-ONLY) BY AMY BICKERS (HONG KONG)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249171 CONTENT= VOICED AT: EDS: RE-RUNNING TO UPDATE LAST TWO GRAFS ONLY, REST REMAINS THE SAME INTRO: THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE COMES AT A HIGHLY SENSITIVE TIME FOR CHINA'S TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS. AMY BICKERS IN HONG KONG REPORTS ANALYSTS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THE POOR SENTIMENT WILL SET BACK NEGOTIATIONS ON CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. TEXT: A NUMBER OF ISSUES COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE NEGATIVE SENTIMENT IN CHINA, INCLUDING TALKS ON CHINA'S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. ANALYSTS SAY WITH ANTI-U-S FEELING RUNNING STRONG, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR CHINESE TRADE NEGOTIATORS TO MAKE CONCESSIONS BEING DEMANDED BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IN RETURN FOR THEIR BACKING FOR BEIJING'S W-T-O MEMBERSHIP. ALICE WAT, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT AT BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON'S HONG KONG OFFICE, SAYS CHINA'S 13-YEAR PUSH TO GET INTO THE TRADE BODY COULD BE DELAYED AS A RESULT OF THE POLITICAL FRICTION. /// WAT ACT ///IT MAY SLOW DOWN THE PROCEDURE OF THE W-T-O APPROVAL AND PREPARATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BROKEN, BUT IT IS JEOPARDIZED. IT IS GETTING A BIT TIGHT OR TENSE AT THE MOMENT. // END ACT ///THE ANTI-NATO RIOTS, ASSAULTING OF FOREIGNERS AND ATTACKS ON U-S BUSINESS PROPERTIES IN A NUMBER OF CHINESE CITIES ARE TAKING PLACE WHILE A DECISION ON CHINA'S W-T-O MEMBERSHIP IS PENDING. EVEN WITHOUT THE CURRENT WAVE OF ANGER GRIPPING CHINA, RECENT W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN MARKED BY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DIFFERING OPINIONS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. LAST WEEK, EUROPEAN UNION TRADE COMMISSIONER SIR LEON BRITTAN SAID TWO DAYS OF TRADE TALKS IN BEIJING HAD ENDED WITHOUT PROGRESS. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT CHINA HAD WITHDRAWN PREVIOUS CONCESSIONS MADE TO WASHINGTON DURING PREMIER ZHU RONGJI'S APRIL VISIT TO NORTH AMERICA, ON OPENING ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BANKING SERVICES SECTORS . BUT NOT ALL CHINA-WATCHERS ARE WORRIED THAT A POTENTIAL TRADE DEAL WILL FOLD UNDER THE CURRENT POLITICAL PRESSURE. ANDREW FERNOW (PRONO: FUR-KNOW), A HONG KONG-BASED RESEARCH ANALYST AT SECURITIES HOUSE VICKERS BALLAS, PREDICTS THE TRADE TALKS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IN THE LONG TERM. /// FERNOW ACT ///I WOULD TEND TO SIDE WITH THE VIEW THAT THIS WILL CALM DOWN AFTER A TEMPORARY EMOTIONAL REACTION. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL CURTAIL OR PREVENT STRATEGIC INVESTORS FROM CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE CHINESE MARKET AND ANTICIPATETHE LIBERALIZATION OF REFORMS THAT NEED TO GO FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OR ATMOSPHERE. /// END ACT ///MR. FERNOW BELIEVES CHINESE CRITICS OF THE TRADE DEAL ARE USING THE CURRENT ANTI-US SENTIMENT TO FORTIFY THEIR POSITION. HOWEVER, HE SAYS PRIME MINSTER ZHU RONGJI REMAINS COMMITTED TO W-T-O MEMBERSHIP FOR CHINA. THERE IS ONE SIGN THAT ECONOMICS IS ALREADY TAKING A BACK SEAT TO
POLITICS: A VISIT TO BEIJING BY GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD
SHROEDER, AS HEAD OF A EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION, HAS BEEN
DOWNGRADED AND SHORTENED. CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER WILL STILL GO,
BUT WITHOUT A GROUP OF BUSINESS LEADERS, AS HAD BEEN PLANNED.
NOW HIS VISIT WILL FOCUS ON WINNING SUPPORT FOR WESTERN EFFORTS
TO DRAFT A UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION ON SENDING PEACE-KEEPING
TROOPS TO KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[15] E-U / CHINA TRADE (L ONLY) BY JONATHAN BRAUDE (BERLIN)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249188 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHINA HAS CANCELLED TRADE TALKS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT WERE SCHEDULED LATER THIS WEEK IN BEIJING. BUT AS JONATHAN BRAUDE REPORTS FROM BERLIN, EUROPEAN TRADE MINISTERS HAVE SAID AGAIN THAT NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE ON CHINA'S ENTRY TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. TEXT: CHINA CANCELLED THE TALKS IN THE WAKE OF NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LAST WEEK. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S TRADE COMMISSIONER, LEON BRITTAN, SAID IT IS CLEAR THE ATMOSPHERE IS NOT RIGHT FOR A MEETING ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE. CHINA'S ENTRY TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, THE W-T-O, WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MAIN FOCUS OF DISCUSSIONS . NEITHER MR. BRITTAN NOR GERMAN ECONOMICS MINISTER WERNER MUELLER WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S TRADE COUNCIL -- WERE ABLE TO SAY WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW THAT THE TALKS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. BUT THE E-U TRADE COMMISSIONER, LEON BRITTAN, SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THERE WOULD BE NO LONG-TERM AFFECT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR CHINA'S W-T-O ENTRY. /// BRITTAIN ACT ///BOTH CHINA AND EUROPE HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF CHINA'S W-T-O MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE DIVORCED FROM POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS, NOT BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS -- I MYSELF DISCUSSED HUMAN RIGHTS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF CHINA. BUT WE HAVE SAID THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE W-T-O SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY POLITICAL FACTORS. THEREFORE TRAGIC AS THE EVENT IN BELGRADE IS, AND DEEP AS ONE'S SYMPATHY IS FOR CHINA FOR WHAT HAS OCCURRED, I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS. /// END ACT ///MR. MUELLER ALSO SAID THE EUROPEAN TRADE COUNCIL HAD MADE
PROGRESS TOWARDS A COMMON EUROPEAN UNION POSITION ON NEW WORLD
TRADE TALKS SCHEDULED TO START NEXT YEAR. EUROPE, HE SAID, WOULD
PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE FURTHER LIBERALIZATION OF WORLD TRADE.
(SIGNED)
[16] RUSSIA / YUGO / CHINA (L) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249166 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN IS ON HIS WAY TO BEIJING IN HIS LATEST ROUND OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY AIMED AT RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH IN MOSCOW REPORTS MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HOPES TO SOOTHE CHINESE ANGER ABOUT NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. TEXT: THE KREMLIN SAYS PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN DECIDED TO SEND HIS ENVOY TO BEIJING AFTER MR. YELTSIN SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN. THE TWO LEADERS DISCUSSED NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY AS WELL AS OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KOSOVO CONFLICT, BUT THE KREMLIN WOULD NOT GIVE DETAILS OF THEIR TALKS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EMBASSY BOMBING, MR. CHERNOMYRDIN SAID THE INCIDENT WOULD COMPLICATE HIS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, AND IT HAS. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS MR. CHERNOMYRDIN WILL TRY TO ENLIST CHINA'S AID IN PRESSING FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S TRIP TO BEIJING APPEARS TO BE PUSHING BACK YET AGAIN A PLANNED VISIT TO BELGRADE. THE ENVOY RETURNED TO MOSCOW SUNDAY AFTER A DAY OF PEACE TALKS IN GERMANY. HE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO YUGOSLAVIA FROM BONN, BUT HE SAYS SERIOUS NEW DEVELOPMENTS CAME OUT OF THE GERMAN MEETINGS AND HE NEEDED TO TALK THEM OVER WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN STILL HAS NOT SAID WHAT THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE. BUT HE SAYS HE SPOKE BY TELEPHONE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ABOUT THEM, AND HE SAYS MR. MILOSEVIC REACTED POSITIVELY. MR. CHERNOMYRDIN GOES TO BEIJING AS A TOP U-S OFFICIAL IS ON HIS
WAY TO MOSCOW. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT IS
EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HERE TUESDAY FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
(SIGNED)
[17] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249190 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS PREPARING TO MEET LATER TODAY (MONDAY 17:15 EST) TO CONTINUE ITS DISCUSSIONS ON KOSOVO. THE MEETING COMES AMID CONCERNS NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE MAY HAVE SET BACK EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AN EARLY POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: THE CLOSED-DOOR MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED BY CHINA TO DISCUSS ITS REQUEST FOR A FORMAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO. DIPLOMATS SAY CHINA WANTS THE COUNCIL TO DENOUNCE NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE AND DEMAND AN END TO NATO AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD. /// ECKHARD ACT ///THE COUNCIL MET THROUGH THE NIGHT FROM FRIDAY TO SATURDAY AND ISSUED A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS. CHINA INDICATED IT WANTED A PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT AS WELL AND CALLED FOR CONSULTATIONS ON THAT SUBJECT TODAY. /// END ACT ///WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY IT WILL BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHINA TO SECURE THE NECESSARY UNANIMOUS COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR SUCH A STATEMENT. THEY SAY AMONG THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, ONLY RUSSIA IS LIKELY TO SUPPORT CHINA'S CALL FOR AN END TO NATO'S AIR STRIKES. BUT DIPLOMATS SAY THE MEETING COULD PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT INDICATION OF WHAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT DO NEXT CONCERNING KOSOVO. BEFORE NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LAST WEEK, THERE WAS SOME HOPE THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL COULD OVERSEE AN EARLY POLITICAL SETTLEMENT TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. SUCH A SETTLEMENT WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL. IT WOULD LIKELY INVOLVE THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN FORCES FROM KOSOVO, THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN ARMED INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN THE YUGOSLAV PROVINCE AND AN END TO NATO'S AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. LAST WEEK, RUSSIA AND THE WESTERN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR SUCH A SETTLEMENT. AT THAT TIME, CHINA HAD NOT MADE ITS POSITION ON THE ISSUE CLEAR, BEYOND ITS GENERAL DEMAND THAT NATO END ITS AIR STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE,
CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN SAID THERE COULD BE NO U-N SOLUTION
OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS AS LONG AS THE NATO BOMBING CONTINUES.
DIPLOMATS SAY THAT STATEMENT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR A POLITICAL
SETTLEMENT, AS IT WOULD APPEAR TO WORK AGAINST PROSPECTS FOR AN
EARLY SECURITY COUNCIL CONSENSUS ON THE ISSUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RAE
[18] U-N / CHINA / KOSOVO (L) -- UPDATE BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249210 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// EDS: CHANGES THROUGHOUT. ///INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS MEETING AT THIS HOUR TO DISCUSS CHINA'S REQUEST FOR A FORMAL COUNCIL RESPONSE TO NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: CHINA IS CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO ISSUE A PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S BOMBING. THE STATEMENT PROPOSED BY CHINA CONDEMNS THE BOMBING, DESCRIBES IT AS WANTON TRAMPLING OF THE U-N CHARTER, CALLS FOR A U-N INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT AND DEMANDS THAT THOSE FOUND RESPONSIBLE BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED STATEMENT REQUIRES SUPPORT FROM ALL OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS -- CHINA, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES. DIPLOMATS SAY ONLY CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED STATEMENT. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT THE STATEMENT AS PROPOSED BY CHINA. WHILE THE STATEMENT DOES NOT REPEAT CHINA'S LONG-STANDING DEMAND FOR AN END TO NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA, CHINA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, QIN HUASUN, STRESSED THAT ISSUE ON ENTERING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. /// QIN ACT ///THE CHINESE DELEGATION HAS PUT FORWARD SOME BASIC POINTS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL. WE HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL ADOPT THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE STRONGLY CALL UPON NATO TO STOP IMMEDIATELY ITS MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST THE SOVEREIGN STATE OF YUGOSLAVIA SO AS TO CREATE A CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION. ANYTHING SHORT OF THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ANY PLAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. /// END ACT ///WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY CHINA'S INSISTENCE ON THE CESSATION OF NATO STRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA MAY REPRESENT A SET-BACK IN EFFORTS TO BUILD AN INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS IN SUPPORT OF A PROPOSED POLITICAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE KOSOVO CRISIS. LAST WEEK WESTERN INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS AND RUSSIA AGREED ON THE
BASIC TERMS FOR SUCH A SETTLEMENT. YUGOSLAVIA HAS NOT REJECTED
THOSE TERMS. BUT CHINA'S SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL IF THE PROPOSED
SETTLEMENT IS TO BE ENDORSED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/PHW/PT
[19] WEST EUROPE-KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BREMEN, GERMANY)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249180 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EUROPEAN FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS ARE MEETING IN BREMEN, GERMANY TO SET POLICY FOR ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE EUROPEAN DEFENSE IDENTITY. THEY ARE MINISTERS FROM THE GROUP KNOWN AS THE W-E-U -- THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION. AND AS RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE MEETING IN BREMEN, THE KOSOVO CONFLICT DEMONSTRATES SOME OF THE WEAKNESSES EUROPE MUST ADDRESS BEFORE IT ESTABLISHES A VIABLE DEFENSE GROUP OUTSIDE OF NATO. TEXT: THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- WHO ARE NATO MEMBERS -- ARE SETTING GOALS TO GIVE EUROPE THE ABILITY TO ACT IN FUTURE CRISES WHEN NATO DOES NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED. WHETHER IT COMES TO BOMBING YUGOSLAVIA OR HELPING ALBANIAN REFUGEES ON THE YUGOSLAV BORDER, THE EUROPEANS SEE ONLY DEFICITS IN THEIR ABILITY COMPETE WITH THE UNITED STATES. GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER RUDOLF SCHARPING SAYS THE EUROPEAN DEFICITS INCLUDE AIR TRANSPORT, SATELLITE INTELLIGENCE AND A JOINT COMMAND STRUCTURE. AT A MEETING OF THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION HERE IN NORTHERN GERMANY, THE MINISTERS SET A GOAL TO HAVE THESE INDEPENDENT ASSETS IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE YEAR 2000. MINISTER SCHARPING TELLS REPORTERS, THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION WILL LIKELY DISAPPEAR AS A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION WHEN EUROPE DEVELOPS ITS JOINT FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY. /// SCHARPING ACT ///IF AND IF AT WHAT TIME THE W-E-U WILL DISAPPEAR, THAT WILL BE ANSWERED BY THE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE NEXT ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THAT CANNOT BE ANSWERED THEORETICALLY, AND THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING, WE WILL SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS BRINGING OUT. /// END ACT ///IN THE MEANTIME, THE GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE WEST EUROPEAN UNION PLAYS A KEY BRIDGING ROLE. IT BRINGS TOGETHER NATO MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- SUCH AS TURKEY AND NORWAY -- WITH E-U MEMBERS WHICH ARE NOT PART OF NATO SUCH AS SWEDEN AND AUSTRIA. THIS BRIDGE ALLOWS THE NEUTRAL COUNTRIES TO MAKE USE OF NATO
MILITARY ASSETS FOR HUMANITARIAN TASKS THAT EUROPE MIGHT PURSUE
WHEN NATO DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE. (SIGNED)
[20] NATO / WORLD COURT (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249168 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC FOR BRINGING A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST 10 NATO NATIONS BECAUSE OF THE ALLIANCE'S AIR STRIKES. AS JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS, THE WORLD COURT IN THE HAGUE OPENED HEARINGS MONDAY ON THE YUGOSLAV CASE. TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA HAS DESCRIBED THE YUGOSLAV LEGAL CASE AS -- IN HIS WORDS -- "FRIVOLOUS AND CYNICAL." HE SAYS THE COURT ACTION IS AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE SPOTLIGHT FROM THE ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN BY SERB FORCES AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. MR. SHEA SAYS IT IS IRONIC THAT THE MAN HE SAYS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORST VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN EUROPE IN ONE-HALF CENTURY SHOULD BELIEVE THAT HIS OWN HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED. MR. SHEA SAYS THAT THAT THE YUGOSLAV LEADER HAS SO FAR DEFIED THREE RECENT UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND HAS BLOCKED INVESTIGATORS FROM THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FROM GAINING ACCESS TO KOSOVO. THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES DURING THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT ARE STILL BEING PROTECTED BY SERBIA. /// REST OPT ///NATO'S AIR RAIDS AGAINST SERBIA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING WERE DOWN TO ABOUT ONE-HALF THE LEVEL OF THE SAME TIME LAST WEEK, BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER. FOR THE SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW, THERE WERE NO STRIKES AGAINST BELGRADE. MR. SHEA INSISTS THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE BUNGLED BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN IS OPERATING UNDER EXACTLY THE SAME RULES AS BEFORE. HE SAYS THERE WILL BE NO LETUP AND NO LOSS OF INTENSITY IN THE AIR CAMPAIGN. TARGETS HIT IN THE MOST RECENT NATO STRIKES INCLUDE THE AIRFIELD
AT NIS, MILITARY RELAY SITES, A PETROLEUM STORAGE SITE IN THE
KOSOVO CAPITAL, PRISTINA, TWO TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS,
MILITARY EQUIPMENT, A COMMAND POST, AND MILITARY ASSEMBLY AREAS.
(SIGNED)
[21] KOSOVO / WAR CRIMES (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249192 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCUSED SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO OF RAPING INCREASING NUMBERS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN WOMEN AS PART OF A SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: THE NEW REPORT, TITLED "ERASING HISTORY" HIGHLIGHTS WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT CALLS A VICIOUS SERB CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THEIR HOMES. THE REPORT SAYS INCIDENTS OF RAPE ARE INCREASING AND HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED AND SYSTEMATIC. IN ONE CASE, THE REPORT SAYS YOUNG ETHNIC-ALBANIAN WOMEN WERE ROUNDED UP AND HELD AT A HOTEL IN THE TOWN OF PEC, WHERE THEY WERE REPEATEDLY ASSAULTED BY SERB FORCES. THE REPORT CITES THE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF DOZENS OF ALLEGED WAR CRIMES, ATROCITIES, AND MASS EXECUTIONS ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY SERB FORCES. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THERE IS WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE OF THE SYSTEMATIC KILLING OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN MEN. // ALBRIGHT ACT //WE SEE EVERYDAY AT KOSOVO'S BORDERS THAT TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF MALES ARE MISSING. REFUGEES HAVE NAMED AND DESCRIBED SEVERAL MASS DETENTION SITES AND THEY HAVE TOLD LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF STORIES OF SUMMARY EXECUTION OF FATHERS, BROTHERS, AND SONS. // END ACT //THE REPORT SAYS SERB FORCES HAVE EXPELLED MORE THAN 90-PERCENT OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THEIR HOMES AND BURNED MORE THAN 500 RESIDENTIAL AREAS SINCE LATE MARCH. MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS THE FULL EXTENT OF THE ATROCITIES WILL PROBABLY NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL THE FIGHTING STOPS AND INVESTIGATORS ARE ALLOWED INTO THE PROVINCE. SHE SAID THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL TEAM TO EXAMINE EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS SHE FEARS THE EXTENT OF THE
ATROCITIES WILL BE WORSE THAN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN. (SIGNED)
[22] KOSOVO/WAR CRIMES BY LAURIE KASSMAN (SKOPJE, MACEDONIA)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43351 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: INVESTIGATORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ARE IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA COLLECTING EVIDENCE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN KOSOVO RANGING FROM FORCED EXPULSIONS TO BEATINGS, RAPE AND MASS EXECUTIONS. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS ON HOW HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS AND MEDICAL TEAMS ARE ALSO HELPING TO DOCUMENT THE WAR CRIMES. TEXT: KOSOVAR ALBANIAN NERIMANE KAMBERI WORKED IN PRISTINA AS A HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR FOR THE FRENCH-BASED GROUP "DOCTORS OF THE WORLD." SHE WAS EXPELLED FROM KOSOVO, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. NOW IN MACEDONIA, SHE HELPS COLLECT EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES WHICH HER ORGANIZATION WILL PASS ON TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. /// KAMBERI ACT ///AS MY ORGANIZATION IS MEDICAL ONE. I HAVE HELP OF DOCTORS WORKING ON CAMPS AND BORDER. THEY ARE THE FIRST MEETING THE REFUGEES. THROUGH THEM, I CAN MEET PEOPLE AND KNOW TO WHOM TO SPEAK ABOUT VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES. /// END ACT ///SHE IS NOT ALONE. HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS FROM THE FORMER INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER MISSION IN KOSOVO, AND GROUPS LIKE "AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL" AND "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" ARE ALSO DOCUMENTING POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES, JUST AS THEY HAVE SINCE THE KOSOVO CONFLICT ERUPTED A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO. BEN WARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH UNDERLINES THE NEED TO GET AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED. /// WARD ACT ///CORROBORATION OF INTERVIEWS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND GENERALLY WE NEED TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR STRONGLY CORROBORATING TESTIMONIES. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY CASES WHERE THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE. WE INVESTIGATED A MASSACRE LAST YEAR IN DRENICA AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE SURVIVOR AND HE WAS THE ONLY EYEWITNESS. /// END ACT ///MR. WARD HAS THE TESTIMONY FROM 19 EYEWITNESSES OF THE APRIL 27TH MASSACRE OF MORE THAN 100 MEN IN THE VILLAGE OF MEJA, NEAR THE ALBANIAN BORDER. /// OPT // //SECOND WARD ACT ///THE RECENT KILLING IN THE VILLAGE OF MEJA -- WHERE AT LEAST 100 AND PERHAPS AS MANY AS 300 MEN WERE KILLED -- DOZENS OF EYEWITNESSES DROVE PAST THE BODIES AND SAW THEM LYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. /// END OPT ///NERIMANE KAMBERI OF DOCTORS OF THE WORLD SAYS THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED SO FAR INDICATES A PATTERN OF VIOLENCE THAT DIFFERS BETWEEN TOWNS AND VILLAGES. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH MONITOR BEN WARD AGREES. /// THIRD WARD ACT ///IN THE TOWNS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED ESSENTIALLY IS FORCIBLE EXPULSION WHICH HAS BEEN COMBINED WITH ROBBERY, LOOTING AND, IN SOME CASES, ARSONS. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME KILLINGS OF CIVILIANS REPORTED BUT THEY HAVE BEEN -- I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY -- ISOLATED INCIDENTS. /// END ACT /////OPT///// FOURTH WARD ACT ///THERE HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD BURNING OF VILLAGES -- IN SOME CASES, BURNING OF ENTIRE VILLAGES, SHELLING OF VILLAGES, KILLING OF LIVESTOCK, BURNING OF CROPS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF REPORTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF THE SHELLS OF HOUSES AND YARDS BEING USED TO HIDE TANKS. AND THE FEW REMAINING HOUSES IN THE VILLAGES ARE BEING USED TO HOUSE SOLDIERS OR STORE AMMUNITION. /// END ACT ///TESTIMONIES TAKEN FROM REFUGEES CROSSING INTO ALBANIA INDICATE MORE WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE IN WESTERN KOSOVO, ESPECIALLY NEAR STRONGHOLDS OF KOSOVAR REBELS FIGHTING AGAINST THE SERB MILITARY. //END OPT//SURVIVORS SAY MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE WAS CARRIED OUT BY MASKED MEN. BUT SOME COULD RECOGNIZE THE INSIGNIAS OF PARAMILITARY GANGS ALREADY ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES IN BOSNIA. SOME ALSO HAVE RECOGNIZED THE VOICES OF FORMER NEIGHBORS. NERIMANE KAMBERI OF DOCTORS OF THE WORLD SAYS IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO CARRIED OUT THE ATROCITIES IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROSECUTING THE CASES BROUGHT TO THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. /// SECOND KAMBERI ACT ///THE AIM IS TO SEND ALL THESE REPORTS TO THE HAGUE AND WITH ALL THESE TESTIMONIES AND ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS TRY ONE DAY, AS IN BOSNIA, TO PUT THESE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE. /// END ACT //THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED FROM KOSOVAR REFUGEES WILL BE CHECKED
CAREFULLY AND VERIFIED BEFORE IT IS PASSED ON TO THE WAR CRIMES
PROSECUTOR IN THE HAGUE. MISS KAMBERI SAYS EVERYONE WANTS TO BE
ABSOLUTELY SURE THE EVIDENCE WILL HOLD UP IN A COURT OF LAW.
(SIGNED)
[23] WIESEL / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY GEORGE MEEK (RIO DE JANEIRO)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249202 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER ELIE WIESEL [A'-LEE VEE-SELL'] PREDICTS THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WILL NOT LAST MUCH LONGER. MR. WIESEL SPOKE WITH REPORTERS IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, WHERE HE IS LECTURING AND RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS. TEXT: MR. WIESEL, A ROMANIAN-BORN U-S CITIZEN WHO SURVIVED THE NAZI HOLOCAUST, SUPPORTS THE NATO MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HE PREDICTS THE CONFLICT WILL END SOON. // FIRST WIESEL ACT //IT WILL NOT LAST LONG. IT CANNOT LAST LONG NOW. WHAT (SLOBODAN) MILOSEVIC HAS DONE IS SO TERRIBLE BECAUSE NOW, MORE THAN BEFORE, THOSE WHO LIVED IN KOSOVO, AND WILL RETURN, WILL NEVER TRUST THE SERB POLICE AGAIN. // END ACT //MR. WIESEL SAYS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO HAVE FLED THE ETHNIC CLEANSING BY PEOPLE THEY KNEW, ON ORDERS OF MR. MILOSEVIC. // SECOND WIESEL ACT //HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUFFERING NOT ONLY OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS BUT ALSO OF HIS OWN PEOPLE NOW. IT'S NOT GENOCIDE. GENOCIDE MEANS THE DEATH OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BUT IT IS BAD ENOUGH, EVIL ENOUGH, FOR US TO DENOUNCE IT AND TO FIGHT IT. // END ACT //THE NOBEL LAUREATE SAYS NATO AND THE UNITED STATES WANT TO STOP THE BOMBING IN SERBIA AND ARE WAITING FOR A SIGNAL FROM MR. MILOSEVIC. // THIRD WIESEL ACT //HE HAS IN HIS HANDS THE POSSIBILITY OF STOPPING THE BOMBING AND HE SHOULD SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. // END ACT //MR. WIESEL ALSO CRITICIZED CHINA FOR WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE
ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE
INTEREST IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS. (SIGNED)
[24] POPE / ROMANIA (L-ONLY) BY STEFAN BOS (BUCHAREST, ROMANIA)DATE=5/9/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249158 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: POPE JOHN PAUL HAS LEFT ROMANIA AFTER AN HISTORIC THREE DAY TRIP TO THAT ORTHODOX COUNTRY. BEFORE LEAVING SUNDAY, THE PONTIFF ADDRESSED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ROMANIANS GATHERED IN BUCHAREST. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM THE ROMANIAN CAPITAL. //BEGINS WITH AMBIENT SOUND OF MARCHING BAND, FADE UNDER//TEXT: ACCOMPANIED BY A MILITARY BAND AND APPLAUSE OF THOUSANDS OF WELL-WISHERS, THE SEEMINGLY TIRED POPE JOHN PAUL LEFT ROMANIA SUNDAY. IT WAS THE FIRST VISIT BY A ROMAN CATHOLIC PONTIFF TO A MAINLY ORTHODOX COUNTRY SINCE THE CHURCHES SPLIT IN THE YEAR 1054. AT THE FAREWELL CEREMONY AT THE BUCHAREST AIRPORT, ROMANIAN PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU RECALLED HOW THE POPE HAD PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL IN FRONT OF THE MARBLE PALACE OF THE LATE COMMUNIST DICTATOR, NIKOLAI CEAUSESCU. //INSERT ROMANIAN ACT FADE UNDER TEXT//HE THANKED THE POPE FOR PRAYING WITH ROMANIANS ON THE SQUARE WHERE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM AND AT PLACES WHERE CHURCHES WERE DESTROYED BY THE OLD REGIME. FOR HIS PART, THE POPE URGED ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS TO RECONCILE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND TO REBUILD POST-COMMUNIST ROMANIA. BUT HE WARNED YOUNG PEOPLE NOT TO TRADE COMMUNISM FOR MATERIALISM. //INSERT POPE ACT FADE UNDER TEXT//HE SAID THIS CENTURY HAS SEEN MANY CHALLENGES TO CHRISTIANITY. BUT THE POPE TOLD YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS THE BEST ANSWER FOR THEIR PROBLEMS IN ROMANIA'S DIFFICULT TRANSITION TOWARDS A MARKET ECONOMY. YOUNG ROMANIANS SAID THEY WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE PONTIFF. TWENTY YEAR OLD ANTONIO PARTIC DESCRIBED THE POPE'S VISIT AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN ROMANIA'S RECENT HISTORY. ///PARTIC ACT///IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS SINCE THE REVOLUTION, THE VISIT OF THE POPE. //END ACT//EIGHTY PERCENT OF ROMANIA'S 22 MILLION PEOPLE CONSIDER THEMSELVES PART OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. UPON LEAVING, THE POPE SAID HE HOPES TO CONTINUE HIS EVANGELICAL
MISSION WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL DOMINATIONS. (SIGNED)
[25] MARINE PILOT SENTENCED (S) BY JIM RANDLE (PENTAGON)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249200 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-S MARINE PILOT WHO ACCIDENTALLY KILLED 20 PEOPLE IN ITALY LAST YEAR WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN PRISON AND THROWN OUT OF THE SERVICE MONDAY. THE DEATHS OCCURRED DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT THROUGH THE ITALIAN ALPS, WHEN A MARINE JET HIT PART OF A SKI LIFT. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: CAPTAIN RICHARD ASHBY COULD HAVE GOTTEN 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND CONSPIRACY. HE IS BEING PUNISHED FOR HIS ROLE IN DESTROYING A VIDEOTAPE MADE DURING THE FATAL TRAINING FLIGHT IN THE ITALIAN MOUNTAINS. THE PILOT WAS EARLIER ACQUITTED ON CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER AND DESTROYING PROPERTY, AFTER HIS MARINE JET CUT A CABLE HOLDING UP A GONDOLA FULL OF SKIERS, DROPPING 20 PEOPLE TO THEIR DEATHS. THE INCIDENT ANGERED MANY ITALIANS, AND SOME POLITICIANS IN ROME
CALLED FOR U-S FORCES TO BE DENIED ACCESS TO ITALIAN AIR BASES.
SUCH BASES ARE PLAYING A KEY ROLE NOW IN NATO'S AIR ATTACKS ON
YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED).
[26] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=5/10/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-249204 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE GENERALLY DOWN TODAY (MONDAY) ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME STRENGTH IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. VOA BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 11 THOUSAND SEVEN, DOWN 24 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 13 HUNDRED 40, DOWN FOUR POINTS. BUT THE NASDAQ INDEX GAINED ALMOST ONE PERCENT. STOCKS MOVED UP AND DOWN IN A RELATIVELY NARROW RANGE BEFORE A DEFINITE DOWNWARD BIAS TOOK HOLD LATE IN THE SESSION. ///BEGIN OPT////// GOLDMAN ACT///THE ECONOMY REMAINS IN GOOD SHAPE. WE THINK VALUATION LEVELS ARE O-K AND THE DOMINANT MOOD AMONG INVESTORS IS STILL WANTING TO BUY AND HOLD STOCKS FOR THE LONG TERM. AND, WE THINK THE RECENT RISE IN INTEREST RATES WILL BE SHORT LIVED. /// END ACT -- END OPT///IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE N-B-C TELEVISION NETWORK HAS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR REORGANIZATION OF ITS INTERNET SERVICES. THEY WILL BE MERGED WITH XOOM (ZOOM) DOT COM, A DIRECT MARKETING COMPANY AND SNAP DOT COM, A MARKETING AND INFORMATION FIRM. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE CALLED N-B-C-I. N-B-C, A UNIT OF THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, WILL HAVE CONTROLLING INTEREST IN THE NEW FIRM. /// REST OPT ///THE COMCAST CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY REPORTED A FIRST QUARTER PROFIT AGAINST A LOSS IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO. COMCAST SAYS EARNINGS WERE DRIVEN BY DEMAND FOR ITS HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE. THE MICROSOFT COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY WILL INVEST 600 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, THE WIRELESS TELEPHONE COMPANY. THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE NEXTEL'S MOVE INTO WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICES. BRITAIN'S H-S-B-C CORPORATION IS EXPANDING ITS PRESENCE IN THE U-S BANKING MARKET. H-S-B-C WILL PAY MORE THAN 10 BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE REPUBLIC BANK COMPANY OF NEW YORK. H-S-B-C PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED THE MARINE MIDLAND BANK OF NEW YORK. RUMORS CONTINUED ON WALL STREET THAT THE CHEVRON AND TEXACO OIL
COMPANIES ARE CONSIDERING A MERGER. A SPOKESMAN AT CHEVRON SAYS
ONLY THAT COMPANY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN HOLDING PRELIMINARY TALKS
WITH SEVERAL POSSIBLE PARTNERS AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING
CONSOLIDATION IN THE OIL INDUSTRY.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PHW/PT
[27] MONDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)DATE=05/10/99TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-11282 TELEPHONE=619-3335 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS CONTENT= //// EDS: MATERIAL DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-D-T ////INTRO: NATO'S ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE CONTINUES TO DRAW COMMENT IN U-S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY. OTHER TOPICS ARE THE BIRTH OF A WAR BABY AMONG REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY; THE NEXT INDIAN ELECTION; SCOTLAND AND WALES MOVE TOWARD MORE SELF GOVERNMENT; AND PANAMA'S NEW PRESIDENT. NOW, HERE IS ______________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: THE ERRONEOUS BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY LAST WEEK, FOLLOWED BY A WEEKEND OF NATO APOLOGIES, HAS PROVIDED AMPLE SUBJECT MATTER FOR EDITORIAL WRITERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" IS CRITICAL OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'S TARGETING. VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER NATO LEADERS MADE ONE OF THE BIGGEST UNDERSTATEMENTS OF THE KOSOVO CONFLICT WHEN THEY CALLED NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE A 'TRAGIC MISTAKE.' IT WAS THAT AND MORE. HOW DID THE C-I-A MANAGE TO MISTAKE A WELL-RECOGNIZED CHINESE DIPLOMATIC MISSION FOR A YUGOSLAVIAN ARMS AGENCY? COMING ON THE HEELS OF OTHER RECENT INTELLIGENCE FAILURES, THIS MAKES THE NATION'S CHIEF INTELLIGENCE SERVICE SEEM LIKE THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SPY STRAIGHT. [EDITORS: CAN'T GET ANYTHING CORRECT] TEXT: "USA TODAY" SCOFFS AT THE NATO-POSTULATED VIEW THAT ANY WAR CAN BE MANAGED DOWN TO THE FINE DETAILS. VOICE: SINCE THE CONFLICT'S BEGINNING, THE WHITE HOUSE AND NATO LEADERS HAVE INDULGED THE ILLUSION THAT THEY COULD USE THE TOOLS OF WAR SURGICALLY. THEY FIRST THOUGHT THE THREAT OF BOMBING WOULD FORCE SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO ACCEPT NATO'S TERMS. THEN THEY THOUGHT THAT ACTUAL BOMBING WOULD PREVENT HIS SLAUGHTER OF THE KOSOVARS. FINALLY, THEY EXPECTED THAT HEAVIER BOMBING WOULD FORCE HIM TO CAVE IN [EDITORS: GIVE UP] TEXT: TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL" HAS A THEORY ABOUT THE DEPTH OF THE REACTION BY CHINA'S POPULATION. VOICE: SURPRISE ALONE DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE VIRULENCE OF THE PROTESTS THAT HAVE ERUPTED IN CHINA, INCLUDING VIOLENT ASSAULTS ON U-S DIPLOMATIC BUILDINGS IN SEVERAL CITIES, SCATTERED ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS AND ANGRY DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE OTHER MISSIONS ... ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATO CAMPAIGN AGAINST [MR.] MILOSEVIC. ... FOR WEEKS NOW THE CHINESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FED A STEADY DIET OF ANTI-NATO PROPAGANDA. DESPITE THE SEEMING IRRELEVANCE TO ORDINARY CHINESE OF EVENTS IN THE BALKANS, OFFICIAL CHINESE ORGANS HAVE SEIZED UPON THE CONFLICT THERE TO HAMMER HOME A FAMILIAR THEME OF AMERICAN IMPERIALISM. TEXT: NOTING THAT "EVERY CLEANLY EXECUTED NATO AIR STRIKE IS DIMINISHED BY ANY BLUNDER THAT TAKES INNOCENT LIVES, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" SAYS IT IS "TIME FOR [A] TARGETING REVIEW." AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ADDS: VOICE: WITH LUCK, THE ANGRY CRITICISM IN MOSCOW AND THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE DANGEROUS DEMONSTRATIONS IN CHINA, WILL RECEDE. BUT THIS WAS A VERY CARELESS MISTAKE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE SEVERAL CHINESE WERE KILLED, BUT BECAUSE CHINA -- AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL -- IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF ANY NEGOTIATED SOLUTION IN KOSOVO. TEXT: TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" SEES A BRIGHT SPOT IN ONE SMALL EVENT RELATED TO THE WAR AS A KOSOVO ALBANIAN REFUGEE WOMAN HAS GIVEN BIRTH AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, TO A BABY BOY. VOICE: A BITTERSWEET TIME FOR THE PARENTS, NO DOUBT. LIKE OTHER REFUGEES, THEY ARE THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME, WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT EVER WILL BE SAFE TO RETURN. THEIR FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN AT BEST. THE FATE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS UNKNOWN. A NEW BABY, THOUGH, SYMBOLIZES NEW BEGINNINGS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES. PERHAPS THIS IS WHY THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF AN ENTIRE NATION. TEXT: TURNING TO THE ASIAN SUBCONTINENT, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PONDERS THE NEXT INDIAN ELECTION, THE THIRD IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, BUT WONDERS WHETHER IT WILL GIVE INDIANS WHAT POLLS SHOW THEY WANT MOST: STABILITY. VOICE: /// OPT /// ... NEVER HAVE THEIR LEADERS BEEN LESS ABLE TO PROVIDE IT. THE COALITION HEADED BY PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE AND HIS CONSERVATIVE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (B-J-P) WAS A FRAGILE ALLIANCE OF 16 DIFFERENT PARTIES, BROUGHT DOWN WHEN ONE OF THEM DEFECTED OVER A MINOR ISSUE AND [MR. VAJPAYEE] LOST A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE BY A SINGLE VOTE. /// END OPT /// ... THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS DEMOCRACY IS EVOLVING FROM A POLITY DOMINATED BY A SINGLE PARTY TO A MORE WIDE-OPEN AND COMPETITIVE SYSTEM. WOMEN, LOWER-CASTE INDIANS AND THE POOR ARE PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, RECASTING THE NATIONAL DEBATE. AND POWER IS MIGRATING FROM NEW DELHI TO STATE GOVERNMENTS. WHERE ALL THESE CHANGES WILL LEAD INDIA IS ANYONE'S GUESS, BUT THE JOURNEY MAY TAKE A WHILE. TEXT: THE SCOTTISH AND WELSH ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM LAST WEEK, ELECTING MEMBERS TO A PARLIAMENT IN EDINBURGH, AND AN ASSEMBLY IN CARDIFF, DRAW THIS COMMENT FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD." VOICE: /// OPT /// NOW 'DEVOLUTION', LONG-PROMISED BY THE RULING LABOR PARTY IN LONDON, HAS BECOME REALITY. STILL, THE SCOTS ONLY SUPPORTED LABOR WITH 40 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, GIVING /// END OPT /// THE INDEPENDENCE-MINDED AND SOCIALIST-LEANING SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY /// OPT /// 30 PERCENT. THOUGH S-N-P /// END OPT ///TEXT: (OPT) HERE AT HOME, THE ONGOING BATTLE OVER THE U-S BUDGET, AND HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY, DRAWS THE "WASHINGTON POST'S" ATTENTION: VOICE: THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY. THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET RESOLUTION BOTH SUGGEST THAT TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD CAN BE KEPT BENEATH CAPS OR CEILINGS THAT BOTH PARTIES UNDERSTAND TO BE UNREALISTIC. ... THE MORE MONEY THEY CONFESS THEY WILL NEED FOR APPROPRIATIONS, THE SMALLER THAT PROJECTED [BUDGET] SURPLUS BECOMES: THE TWO ARE RECIPROCALS OF ONE ANOTHER. IF THEY INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS, AS IN THE END THEY POLITICALLY MUST, HOW DO THEY FINANCE A TAX CUT OTHER THAN IN THE FORM OF A PROMISSORY NOTE? GIMMICKS ARE HOW. THE ACCOUNTING RULES ARE SUCH THAT CERTAIN TAX CUTS CAN BE MADE TO LOOK IN THE EARLY YEARS AS IF THEY RAISE REVENUE, EVEN THOUGH IN THE LONG RUN THEIR EFFECT WOULD BE GREATLY TO REDUCE IT. ... THEIR PURPOSE IS TO OBSCURE RATHER THAN TO CLARIFY THE TRUE COST OF GOVERNMENT. THAT'S THE KIND OF YEAR IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE. (END OPT) TEXT: LASTLY, EVENTS IN LATIN AMERICA, INCLUDING THE NEW PRESIDENTS IN VENEZUELA AND PANAMA, DRAW SOME COMMENT FROM "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS." VOICE: DON'T CRY FOR HUGO CHAVEZ, VENEZUELA. BASED ON HIS LATEST MACHINATIONS, THE CURRENT PRESIDENT AND EX-COUP LEADER SEEMS BENT ON AMASSING PERSONAL POWER UNDER THE GUISE OF HELPING THE POOR. JUST WHEN LATIN AMERICA SHOULD BE CONSOLIDATING ITS DEMOCRATIC ADVANCES, MR. CHAVEZ HAS BEEN GRANTED THE POWER TO RE-ENGINEER THE GOVERNMENT BY LOOKING BACKWARD. [MEANWHILE, IN PANAMA] HELLO, PRESIDENT MIREYA ELISA MOSCOSO. GOODBYE, UNCLE SAM. THE WIDOW OF THREE-TIME PRESIDENT ARNULFO ARIAS, MS. MOSCOSO, THE NEWLY ELECTED LEADER OF HER COUNTRY, IS SCHEDULED TO OVERSEE PANAMA'S INTERESTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE HANDOVER OF THE PANAMA CANAL AND WHAT'S LEFT OF THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE IN DECEMBER. ... THE ABILITY OF PANAMA TO SAFEGUARD THE SECURITY OF A CANAL THAT HANDLES OVER 14-THOUSAND SHIPS A YEAR WORRIES MANY OBSERVERS. PANAMA IS IN FACT A MINIATURE CAULDRON IN WHICH THE ISSUES OF POLITICS, SECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT OFTEN SIMMER. TEXT: ON THAT WORRISOME NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF
EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
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