Voice of America, 99-06-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WASHINGTON)

[02] G8 / KOSOVO (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE)

[03] G8 SUMMIT/K-L-A (S-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE)

[04] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (L) BY EVE CONANT (COLOGNE)

[05] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (L) BY EVE CONANT (COLOGNE)

[06] KOSOVO /K-FOR (S&L) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[07] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[08] KOSOVO-SERB WITHDRAWAL BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

[09] KOSOVO/PULLOUT (S ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (MITROVICA, KOSOVO)

[10] NATO / KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[11] NATO / KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[01] CLINTON / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS STILL A POTENTIAL FOR DANGER IN KOSOVO, DESPITE THE WITHDRAWAL OF SERBIAN FORCES AND AN APPARENT AGREEMENT WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY - OR K-L-A. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS MR. CLINTON TALKED IN AN INTERVIEW ON AMERICAN TELEVISION ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT LIE AHEAD.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO - - PARTICULARLY THE AGREEMENT WITH THE K-L-A.

THE LEADERS OF THE K-L-A HAVE SIGNED ON TO THE COMMITMENT TO DEMILITARIZE, THEY HAVE AGREED TO PUT AWAY THEIR UNIFORMS, TO GIVE UP THEIR BIG WEAPONS - - THEIR NON-PISTOL WEAPONS.

BUT HE ADMITS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN KOSOVO ON BOTH SIDES WITH DEEP ANGER. AND HE SAYS ALL IT TAKES IS ONE DISGRUNTLED INDIVIDUAL WITH A GUN TO PUT LIVES AT RISK.

WE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT, JUST AS WE HAVE HAD TO BE VIGILANT IN BOSNIA.

MR. CLINTON SAYS REDUCING THAT SENSE OF ANGER AND THE ACCOMPANYING DRIVE FOR REVENGE MUST BE A PRIORITY.

LOOK AT THESE HIDEOUS ACCOUNTS THAT ARE JUST NOW COMING OUT - -EVEN WORSE THAN WE IMAGINED - - ABOUT THE MASS KILLINGS AND THE GRAVES AND THE UNUSUAL, ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE CRUELTY. SO IT WILL TAKE THEM SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH THAT, AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM.

THE KOSOVO SITUATION DOMINATED THE C-N-N INTERVIEW, WHICH AIRED AS THE ANNUAL SUMMIT OF THE WORLDS LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES WAS COMING TO A CLOSE IN COLOGNE, GERMANY.

MR. CLINTON WAS ASKED IF THERE IS TRUE VICTORY FOR NATO IN KOSOVO AS LONG AS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER. HIS ANSWER WAS CAREFULLY WORDED AND DIPLOMATIC, FOCUSING ON INCREASING CALLS WITHIN SERBIA FOR MR. MILOSEVIC'S RESIGNATION.

THE LEADER OF THE SERBIAN CHURCH HAS NOW CALLED ON HIM TO STEP ASIDE AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN.

AT THE SAME TIME, PRESIDENT CLINTON NOTED THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC REMAINS UNDER INDICTMENT FOR WAR CRIMES. AND HE SENT A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT NATO'S PREOCCUPATION WITH RETURNING THE REFUGEES TO KOSOVO AND STABILIZING THE REGION DOES NOT MEAN THE ALLIANCE WILL IGNORE THE CHARGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/GM
20-Jun-99 3:03 PM EDT (1903 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] G8 / KOSOVO (L-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE)

INTRO: THE G-8 SUMMIT IN COLOGNE HAS ENDED ON AN UPBEAT THEME OF COOPERATION WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN JOINING THE FINAL SESSION. A LONG LIST OF ISSUES WAS DISCUSSED AND ACTED UPON, BUT IT IS THE KOSOVO CRISIS THAT HAS DOMINATED THE MEETING. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SUMS UP WHAT THE EIGHT LEADERS HAVE PLEDGED TO DO FOR KOSOVO AND THE BALKANS.

TEXT: THE SUMMIT LEADERS HAVE PLEDGED TO AID KOSOVO REBUILD AND THE REST OF THE BALKANS TOO. THE SUMMIT HOST, GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER, SAYS THE AIM OF THAT HELP IS TO INTEGRATE SOUTHEASTERN NEIGHBORS INTO A DEMOCRATIC EUROPE. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. SCHROEDER SAYS THAT INTEGRATION COULD HELP PREVENT MORE ETHNIC OR NATIONALIST CONFLICTS FROM ERUPTING.

PEACE WILL ONLY BE POSSIBLE IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD ONCE THERE IS RAPID POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, AND THE CONDITIONS CREATED FOR THE STATES TO DO MORE WITH ONE ANOTHER -- TRADE AND SUCH -- BUT ALSO TO BRING THEM CLOSER TO THE REST OF EUROPE.

THE LEADERS IN COLOGNE PROPOSE TO HOLD A SUMMIT WITH EUROPEAN UNION AND BALKAN LEADERS TO DISCUSS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN ONE OF THE BALKAN STATES.

BUT THE PRIORITY NOW IS HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION AID FOR KOSOVO, NOW THAT NATO TROOPS ARE SECURING THE SERB PROVINCE .

FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC ECHOES HIS SUMMIT COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ENDORSED A POSITION REFUSING RECONSTRUCTION AID TO SERBIA AS LONG AS SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC REMAINS IN POWER. HE SPOKE THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.

THE POSITION THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE G-8 IS TO SAY AS TO SERBIA, SERBIA ITSELF, HUMANITARIAN AID, YES. OF COURSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO DEPRIVE THE SERBS OF HUMANITARIAN AID. BUT ECONOMIC AID -- THAT IS, DEVELOPMENT AID -- NOT SO LONG AS THE THE COUNTRY IS NOT DEMOCRATIC.

RUSSIA HAD OBJECTED TO THE TOUGH POSITION AGAINST SERBIA BUT DID ENDORSE THE FINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINING THAT CONDITION.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ARRIVED FOR THE FINAL SESSION OF THE SUMMIT AND QUICKLY DECLARED HIMSELF AMONG FRIENDS. RUSSIA'S DISPUTE OVER ITS ROLE IN KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS HAD IRRITATED HIS SUMMIT COLLEAGUES. BUT AGREEMENT WAS REACHED AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SUGGESTED THE SUMMIT SHOULD BE SEEN AS A BRIDGE TO UNDERSTANDING.

FOR HIS PART, PRIME MINISTER BLAIR STRESSED THE NEED TO SPEED UP AID FOR KOSOVO'S NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA, WHO STRAINED TO COPE WITH THE KOSOVAR REFUGEE CRISIS.

WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF OUR PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE BALKANS IS THAT WE MAKE GOOD THE PROMISE OF RECONSTRUCTION AND REGENERATION. THESE ARE COUNTRIES -- THE FRONTLINE STATES -- WHO TOOK INCREDIBLE RISKS, HUGE RISKS WITH THEIR PUBLIC OPINION, RISKS WITH THEIR ECONOMY, RISKS WITH THEIR STABILITY.

EUROPEAN LEADERS RECOGNIZE THEY WILL CARRY MOST OF THE BURDEN FOR FUNDING RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE WORLD BANK ARE COORDINATING EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS NEEDED AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST AND EVENTUALLY CHANNEL THE FUNDS TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/KL
20-Jun-99 8:47 AM EDT (1247 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] G8 SUMMIT/K-L-A (S-O) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (COLOGNE)

INTRO: THE G-8 SUMMIT DOCUMENT SAYS THE LEADERS EXPECT ALL RESIDENTS OF KOSOVO TO HELP CREATE A DEMOCRATIC, MULTI-ETHNIC KOSOVO. SUMMIT LEADERS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS THAT THE DEPARTURE OF SERB TROOPS HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE EXODUS OF KOSOVO'S SMALL SERB POPULATION. BUT THE LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY IN WHICH THE K-L-A RENOUNCES VIOLENCE AND AGREES TO HAND OVER HEAVY WEAPONS WITHIN 30 DAYS. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN COLOGNE.

TEXT: SUMMIT LEADERS SAY THE COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO AIMS FOR A MULTI-ETHNIC PEACE. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS NATO DID NOT FIGHT THE 11-WEEK CONFLICT TO SCARE AWAY EITHER SERBS OR KOSOVAR ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO.

WE FOUGHT THIS CONFLICT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT, WHETHER ALBANIANS OR SERBS, THEY COULD LIVE SIDE BY SIDE IN PEACE TOGETHER. AND WE HAD NATO IN THERE AND WE HAVE NOW THE THE DEMILITARIZATION OF THE K-L-A PRECISELY IN ORDER TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER..

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE K-L-A RENOUNCES VIOLENCE AND ACCEPTS TO HAND OVER HEAVY WEAPONS WITHIN 30 DAYS, TO REMOVE K-L-A UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIAS.AND TO SEND ALL FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS HOME.

WORD OF THE K-L-A AGREEMENT WITH NATO COMMANDERS COINCIDES WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE LAST OF THE YUGOSLAV TROOPS FROM KOSOVO.(SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/KL
20-Jun-99 10:31 AM EDT (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (L) BY EVE CONANT (COLOGNE)

INTRO: NATO PEACEKEEPERS -- KNOWN AS K-FOR -- HAVE DISCOVERED WHAT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER MASS GRAVE NEAR A SMALL CEMETERY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA. CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT REPORTS, LOCALS FROM THE NEARBY VILLAGE ZLATARE, DESCRIBE AN OFFENSIVE BY SERB SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARIES THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AT LEAST 20 DEATHS.

TEXT: BRITISH SERGEANT JOE SAINT MARK SAYS LOCALS CAME TO HIM WITH BODY PARTS AND STORIES OF MASSACRES -- STORIES WHICH LED HIS TROOPS TO THE FIELD RIGHT IN THE SUBURBS OF PRISTINA.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THERE, BECAUSE THE GRAVES VARY IN SIZE, AS YOU CAN SEE. SO, IT COULD MEAN THERE'S MORE THAN A SINGLE CORPSE IN A GRAVE. AND IT COULD GO ON AND ON. I DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE 20 LONG MOUNDS OF DIRT. EACH MOUND IS MARKED BY ONE OR TWO STICKS -- SOME WITH NAMES AND DATES SCRAWLED IN PENCIL. THE GRAVES DATE FROM LATE MARCH AND SOME GRAVES HAVE FRESH FLOWERS ON THEM. SERGEANT SAINT MARK SAYS HE HAS INFORMED HIS SUPERIORS AND THAT THEY WILL INFORM OFFICIALS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, FOR POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION.

SERGEANT SAINT MARK SAYS VILLAGERS TOLD HIM THE N-U-P -- OR SERB MILITARY POLICE -- SURROUNDED VILLAGES THEN SHOT, STABBED AND MUTILATED THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THERE.

WE FOUND THE TOP OF A SKULL BACK TWO KILOMETERS FROM HERE, AND ALSO A MAN BROUGHT US A JAW BONE PLUS TEETH, AS PROOF THAT THEY WERE BROKEN-UP OR MUTILATED PRIOR TO EITHER BEING KILLED OR IN PROCESS OF BEING KILLED.

COFFINS LIE SCATTERED ON THE GROUND NEAR THE GRAVES WHICH HE SAYS WERE USED TO CARRY THE BODIES HERE AND WERE THEN ABANDONED IN A HURRY BEFORE THE SERB ARMY -- KNOWN AS THE "V-J" -- RETURNED.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT BURIED THEM DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME. THE V-J AND THE N-U-P WERE ALL AROUND THERE, AND THEY KEPT ON COMING BACK. THEY WOULD LEAVE FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS AND THEN THEY'D RE-APPEAR, SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME. THEY HAD TO DO IT QUICKLY.

ENVER SILOVA FROM NEARBY ZLATARE DESCRIBED AN OFFENSIVE BY SERB SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARY UNITS.

[05] KOSOVO / MASS GRAVES (L) BY EVE CONANT (COLOGNE)

INTRO: NATO PEACEKEEPERS -- KNOWN AS K-FOR -- HAVE DISCOVERED WHAT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER MASS GRAVE NEAR A SMALL CEMETERY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA. CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT REPORTS, LOCALS FROM THE NEARBY VILLAGE ZLATARE, DESCRIBE AN OFFENSIVE BY SERB SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARIES THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AT LEAST 20 DEATHS.

TEXT: BRITISH SERGEANT JOE SAINT MARK SAYS LOCALS CAME TO HIM WITH BODY PARTS AND STORIES OF MASSACRES -- STORIES WHICH LED HIS TROOPS TO THE FIELD RIGHT IN THE SUBURBS OF PRISTINA.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THERE, BECAUSE THE GRAVES VARY IN SIZE, AS YOU CAN SEE. SO, IT COULD MEAN THERE'S MORE THAN A SINGLE CORPSE IN A GRAVE. AND IT COULD GO ON AND ON. I DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE 20 LONG MOUNDS OF DIRT. EACH MOUND IS MARKED BY ONE OR TWO STICKS -- SOME WITH NAMES AND DATES SCRAWLED IN PENCIL. THE GRAVES DATE FROM LATE MARCH AND SOME GRAVES HAVE FRESH FLOWERS ON THEM. SERGEANT SAINT MARK SAYS HE HAS INFORMED HIS SUPERIORS AND THAT THEY WILL INFORM OFFICIALS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, FOR POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION.

SERGEANT SAINT MARK SAYS VILLAGERS TOLD HIM THE N-U-P -- OR SERB MILITARY POLICE -- SURROUNDED VILLAGES THEN SHOT, STABBED AND MUTILATED THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS THERE.

WE FOUND THE TOP OF A SKULL BACK TWO KILOMETERS FROM HERE, AND ALSO A MAN BROUGHT US A JAW BONE PLUS TEETH, AS PROOF THAT THEY WERE BROKEN-UP OR MUTILATED PRIOR TO EITHER BEING KILLED OR IN PROCESS OF BEING KILLED.

COFFINS LIE SCATTERED ON THE GROUND NEAR THE GRAVES WHICH HE SAYS WERE USED TO CARRY THE BODIES HERE AND WERE THEN ABANDONED IN A HURRY BEFORE THE SERB ARMY -- KNOWN AS THE "V-J" -- RETURNED.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT BURIED THEM DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME. THE V-J AND THE N-U-P WERE ALL AROUND THERE, AND THEY KEPT ON COMING BACK. THEY WOULD LEAVE FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS AND THEN THEY'D RE-APPEAR, SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME. THEY HAD TO DO IT QUICKLY.

ENVER SILOVA FROM NEARBY ZLATARE DESCRIBED AN OFFENSIVE BY SERB SOLDIERS AND PARAMILITARY UNITS.

[06] KOSOVO /K-FOR (S&L) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: YUGOSLAV MILITARY FORCES COMPLETED THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WELL AHEAD OF THE SUNDAY MIDNIGHT DEADLINE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA THAT A NUMBER OF TROUBLE SPOTS STILL REMAIN THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

TEXT: HIGH ON THE LIST OF PROBLEM AREAS SUNDAY WAS THE LOOTING AND BURNING OF A VILLAGE NORTH OF PRISTINA, REPORTEDLY BY ALBANIANS. BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS ARRIVED AFTER THE INCIDENT BEGAN SUNDAY MORNING BUT THEIR COMMANDER DECIDED NOT TO INTERVENE.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE OVERALL AIM WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE, AND OF COURSE LIFE AND LIMB IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO US.

ONE OTHER BIG PROBLEM IN KOSOVO IS THE LARGE NUMBER OF LAND MINES WHICH HAVE STILL NOT BEEN LOCATED AND DISABLED. IN THE PAST WEEK THEY HAVE INJURED 30 PEOPLE AND KILLED THREE AMONG THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO HAVE IGNORED WARNINGS TO STAY PUT IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES UNTIL THE SEARCH FOR MINES AND BOOBY TRAPS IS COMPLETED.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLIFFORD SAYS NATO WILL CONTINUE TO ESCORT UNARMED YUGOSLAV FORCES FOR THESE RETURN TRIPS (FOR DISABLED EQUIPMENT) AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR THEIR PULLOUT EXPIRES. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/DW/KL
20-Jun-99 12:53 PM EDT (1653 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES CONTINUE TO IGNORE SAFETY WARNINGS AND ARE RETURNING TO KOSOVO BY THE THOUSANDS. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA THAT THE REFUGEES ARE FACING MANY PROBLEMS.

TEXT: SCARCE FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES, THE DANGER OF LAND-MINES AND BOOBY-TRAPS, AND THE WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION OF HOMES ARE MAKING THE RETURN HOME PAINFUL FOR MUCH OF KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION.

BOB REDMOND, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, SAYS OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE RETURNED TO KOSOVO IN THE PAST WEEK. MR. REDMOND SAYS THE CONDITIONS THE REFUGEES ARE FINDING VARY WIDELY.

SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO THEIR HOUSES. THEY FIND THEM RELATIVELY UNTOUCHED. THEY MIGHT FIND IT LOOTED BUT STRUCTURALLY IT MIGHT BE ALL RIGHT. OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING ARE GOING TO AREAS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF DEVASTATION. SOME VILLAGES AROUND PRIZREN HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HEAVILY DAMAGED. SOME OF OUR STAFF THIS MORNINGS VISITED ONE VILLAGE AROUND PRIZREN WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF DEAD ANIMALS THAT HAVE CONTAMINATED THE WATER SUPPLY. A LOT OF HOUSES HAVE BEEN HEAVILY DAMAGED. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE PLEASE BE PATIENT.

MR. REDMOND SAYS WHILE MOST OF KOSOVO'S URBAN AREAS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE, MANY VILLAGES ARE DAMAGED AND STILL DANGEROUS. SINCE THE REFUGEES BEGAN RETURNING, THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THIRTY INJURED BY LAND-MINES. ALL OF THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN AND AROUND VILLAGES AND RURAL AREAS.

HE SAYS WHILE THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO FEED MOST OF THE RETURNING REFUGEES, THE SITUATION IN THE CITY OF PODUJEVO, STRAIGHT NORTH OF PRISTINA, IS VERY SERIOUS.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET A PIPELINE RUNNING UP TO THERE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY HUNGRY. THE DOCTORS AT THE HOSPITAL ALSO SAID THEY HAD SEEN A FEW CASES, BUT NOT A LOT, OF MALNUTRITION AND A LOT OF VERY THIN PEOPLE UP THERE.

MR. REDMOND SAYS LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO THE CITY OF PODEJEVO, NOT FROM CAMPS ACROSS THE BORDER IN ALBANIA, BUT RATHER FROM HIDEOUTS AND VILLAGES IN THE HILLS SURROUNDING THE CITY.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY ESTIMATES NEARLY HALF THE HOUSES IN THAT AREA HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/KL
20-Jun-99 3:53 PM EDT (1953 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[08] KOSOVO-SERB WITHDRAWAL BY EVE CONANT (PRISTINA)

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM THE NATO-LED PEACEKEEPING FORCE K-FOR SAY THE SERB MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSOVO IS COMPLETE, AS K-FOR TROOPS OCCUPY THE NORTHERN REGIONS OF KOSOVO AND SMALL NUMBERS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS RETURN TO THEIR DESTROYED HOMES. CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT IN PRISTINA REPORTS.

TEXT: NEAR THE MOST NORTHERN BORDERS OF KOSOVO HELICOPTERS CIRCLE OVERHEAD WHILE FRENCH TROOPS TAKE UP THEIR POSITIONS ON THE GROUND. THEY WILL OCCUPY KOSOVO'S NORTH, NOW THAT THE SERB FORCES ARE GONE.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE WITHDRAWAL OF MORE THAN 40-THOUSAND SERB ARMY FORCES AND MILITARY POLICE WAS COMPLETED AHEAD OF THE SUNDAY MIDNIGHT DEADLINE, BUT BRITISH SERGEANT IAN SERATH ADMITS IT IS HARD TO TELL IF ALL PARAMILITARY UNITS HAVE LEFT.

CLEARLY IT'S DIFFICULT TO GIVE FULL CONFIRMATION THAT EVERYBODY HAS LEFT. THERE ARE ONE OR TWO WHO CLEARLY WILL HAVE TAKEN OFF THEIR PARAMILITARY UNIFORMS AND PROBABLY WILL WANT TO REMAIN HERE. WE CAN'T IDENTIFY THESE INDIVIDUALS AT THE MOMENT. BUT AS FAR AS THE GENERAL TREND IS CONCERNED, EVERYBODY HAS NOW LEFT.

THROUGHOUT KOSOVO IT IS NOW THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN SOLDIERS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY WHO ARE OUT IN FORCE. IN SOME OF LARGER CITIES AND IN ALMOST EVERY SMALL VILLAGE K-L-A SOLDIERS ARE STILL HEAVILY ARMED. K-FOR OFFICERS HAVE ISSUED WARNINGS FOR THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR WEAPONS OR RISK BEING ARRESTED. BUT IT IS NOT YET CLEAR IF K-FOR WILL SUCCEED IN DISARMING THE K-L-A ENTIRELY.

ALTHOUGH THE SERB ARMY IS GONE, ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO HAVE SPENT MONTHS IN REFUGEE CAMPS OR HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL STILL HAVE A TRAUMATIC HOMECOMING. EVERY STREET REVEALS DESTROYED BUILDINGS, BURNED HOMES, AND LOOTED STORES. THERE IS ALSO A SERIOUS THREAT OF LAND MINES LEFT BEHIND BY THE SERB ARMY.

IN ONE SOUTHERN VILLAGE AN OLD WOMAN USES A HAMMER TO GENTLY TAP THE STAIRS LEADING TO THE SECOND FLOOR. SHE HAS BEEN TOLD THERE ARE LAND MINES THERE. IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF TODUJEVO A MAN SHOWS A TRAIL OF BLOOD ON THE FLOOR OF WHAT WAS ONCE HIS RESTAURANT. ANOTHER WOMAN CAN BE SEEN TELLING BRITISH SOLDIERS SHE FOUND TWO BODIES HALF-BURIED IN HER GARDEN.

NO ONE BOTHERS TO ASK IF THOSE WHO COMMITTED THE CRIMES WILL EVER BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. EXPERTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ESTIMATE MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE SERB MILITARY, TERRIFIED NEWSPAPER EDITORS ARE COMING OUT OF HIDING, BUT THEIR FRONT PAGES ARE HARDLY CELEBRATORY. INSTEAD, RETURNING REFUGEES CAN READ MAPS OF WHERE MASS GRAVES HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED.

DESPITE THE NUMBER OF ATROCITIES, KOSOVAR ALBANIANS LIKE STUDENT DRITA AKALICKA SAY NOW THAT THE SERBS ARE GONE, THEY FEEL FREE.

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE. IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CAN WALK ON THE STREETS WITH NO FEAR THAT YOU WILL SEE A POLICEMAN WHO WILL STOP YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR IDENTITY CARD.

NOW IT IS THE SERB CIVILIANS WHO ARE SCARED. DESPITE EFFORTS BY K-FOR SOLDIERS TO AVOID A REVERSE REFUGEE CRISIS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERB CIVILIANS HAVE ALREADY FLED TO SERBIA. FOR THEM, THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SERB ARMY MEANS THEY ARE UNPROTECTED FROM ANGRY ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND FROM THE K-L-A.

THEY HAVE GOOD REASON TO FEAR. IN SERB VILLAGES THERE IS THE SMELL OF SMOKE AND THE SOUND OF CRACKLING FLAMES. NOW THEIR HOMES ARE BURNING.

THERE IS MUCH TALK ABROAD OF RECONSTRUCTION AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, BUT BOTH SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS HAVE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION: HOW THE WORLD AND AND NATO COULD EVER EXPECT THEM TO LIVE TOGETHER. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GM-T
20-Jun-99 4:55 PM EDT (2055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[09] KOSOVO/PULLOUT (S ONLY) BY EVE CONANT (MITROVICA, KOSOVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICERS SAY ALL SERB MILITARY UNITS HAVE NOW LEFT KOSOVO. VOA'S EVE CONANT IS WITH THE FRENCH CONTINGENT THAT IS ADVANCING ON THE CITY OF MITROVICA IN NORTHERN KOSOVO.

TEXT: THERE WERE A REPORTED 40-THOUSAND SERB MILITARY UNITS AND POLICE UNITS IN KOSOVO. ACCORDING TO NATO SOURCES, ALL OF THOSE UNITS HAVE NOW LEFT.

AS THE LAST SERB MILITARY UNITS CROSSED THE BORDER OUT OF KOSOVO, FRENCH TROOPS BEGAN OCCUPYING THE NORTHERN AREAS NEAR THE RADICA BORDER.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY ALL SERB ARMY AND POLICE HAVE LEFT KOSOVO AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR DEPARTURE WAS MIDNIGHT SUNDAY.

FRENCH SOLDIERS HERE ON THE GROUND SAY THAT SERB MILITARY UNITS HAD A STRONGHOLD ON THIS AREA JUST ONE DAY AGO.

NATO FORCES ARE NOW PLACING TROOPS ALL ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER POINTS (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/DW
20-Jun-99 11:13 AM EDT (1513 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[10] NATO / KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO ANNOUNCED SUNDAY THAT ITS WAR IN KOSOVO IS OVER. THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A REPORT FROM ALLIANCE MILITARY COMMANDERS THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FROM THE PROVINCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN IS FORMALLY TERMINATED CAME FROM NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA.

NATO AIR ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA WERE SUSPENDED ON THE 18TH OF JUNE WHEN BELGRADE AGREED TO PULL ITS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO IN LINE WITH NATO DEMANDS. THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL YUGOSLAV FORCES, INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE UNITS, WAS COMPLETED SUNDAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

MR. SOLANA PRAISED THOSE WHO CARRIED OUT NATO'S SUCCESSFUL BOMBING CAMPAIGN, AND SAID THE NATO-LED K-FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO, REGARDLESS OF ETHNIC ORIGIN.

ALTHOUGH THE AIR CAMPAIGN IS FORMALLY OVER, SOME PLANES WILL REMAIN IN THE REGION TO HELP WITH THE WORK OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE AND TO KEEP A WATCH ON SERB FORCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/DW/KL
20-Jun-99 12:35 PM EDT (1635 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[11] NATO / KOSOVO (S ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: NATO ANNOUNCED SUNDAY THAT ITS WAR IN KOSOVO IS OVER. THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A REPORT FROM ALLIANCE MILITARY COMMANDERS THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV FORCES FROM THE PROVINCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN IS FORMALLY TERMINATED CAME FROM NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA.

NATO AIR ATTACKS ON YUGOSLAVIA WERE SUSPENDED ON THE 18TH OF JUNE WHEN BELGRADE AGREED TO PULL ITS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO IN LINE WITH NATO DEMANDS. THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL YUGOSLAV FORCES, INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE UNITS, WAS COMPLETED SUNDAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

MR. SOLANA PRAISED THOSE WHO CARRIED OUT NATO'S SUCCESSFUL BOMBING CAMPAIGN, AND SAID THE NATO-LED K-FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO, REGARDLESS OF ETHNIC ORIGIN.

ALTHOUGH THE AIR CAMPAIGN IS FORMALLY OVER, SOME PLANES WILL REMAIN IN THE REGION TO HELP WITH THE WORK OF THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE AND TO KEEP A WATCH ON SERB FORCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/DW/KL
20-Jun-99 12:35 PM EDT (1635 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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