Voice of America, 99-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO-DEMILITARIZATION (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA, KOVOSO)

[02] SERBIAN BODIES / S BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[03] SERBIA-DEATHS (L) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA, KOSOVO)

[04] TURMOIL OVER TAIWAN BY ANDREW GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO-DEMILITARIZATION (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA, KOVOSO)

INTRO: NATO NOW SAYS IT IS SATISFIED THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FIRST PHASE IN ITS AGREEMENT TO DEMILITARIZE. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: IT CAME 48 HOURS LATE, BUT AFTER THE TWO-DAY DELAY, NATO'S KOSOVO COMMANDER, GENERAL MIKE JACKSON, NOW SAYS THE K-L-A HAS TURNED IN ALL THE WEAPONS IT WAS REQUIRED TO.

THE REBEL ARMY'S LEADERSHIP REQUESTED EXTRA TIME AFTER NATO QUESTIONED THE K-L-A'S REPORTING OF THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF WEAPONS WHICH HAD BEEN TURNED IN. THE DEADLINE FOR THE K-L-A TO HAND OVER ALL HEAVY WEAPONS AND ONE-THIRD OF THEIR SMALL AUTOMATIC RIFLES PASSED ON MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY.

GENERAL JACKSON SAYS HE IS BROADLY SATISFIED THAT THE K-L-A HAS COMPLETED THE FIRST OF THREE PHASES OF DEMILITARIZATION.

THERE ARE TWO MORE DEADLINES IN THE PROCESS WHERE MORE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION WILL HAVE TO BE PUT IN STORAGE. THE FIRST COMES ONE MONTH FROM NOW. THEN THE K-L-A IS REQUIRED TO SHUT DOWN ALTOGETHER IN TWO MONTHS.

GENERAL AGIM CEKU REPRESENTS THE K-L-A IN WORKING WITH NATO TO PHASE OUT THE REBEL ARMY, AND HE SAYS THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

HE SAYS IN EVERY MEETING THE K-L-A HAS HAD WITH NATO, THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING TOWARD COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT TO DISARM. AND UNTIL NOW, HE SAYS, THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO DOUBT WHETHER THE K-L-A WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THE AGREEMENT'S FINAL GOALS.

GENERAL JACKSON SAYS NATO AND THE K-L-A STILL DON'T AGREE ON HOW MUCH AMMUNITION HAS BEEN TURNED IN -- ANOTHER REQUIREMENT FOR DEMILITARIZATION. BUT HE SAYS THE DIFFERENCES ARE SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/ALW/KL
24-Jul-99 11:38 AM EDT (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America 7/7DATE=7/24/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252089
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: FOURTEEN ETHNIC SERBIAN FARMERS WERE SHOT DEAD FRIDAY NIGHT IN A VILLAGE IN CENTRAL KOSOVO. AS TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA, THIS IS THE BLOODIEST SINGLE INCIDENT IN THE PROVINCE SINCE NATO TROOPS ARRIVED THERE IN JUNE.

TEXT: NATO SAYS BRITISH TROOPS PATROLLING NEAR A VILLAGE TEN KILOMETERS SOUTH OF PRISTINA HEARD AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE AT AROUND NINE P-M, LOCAL TIME. ONE HOUR LATER, THEY FOUND THE BODIES OF 14 ADULT MALES -- SOME LYING FACE DOWN. FORMAL IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODIES HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE, BUT THEY ARE ALL BELIEVED TO BE FROM A HEAVILY SERBIAN-POPULATED VILLAGE NEAR THE CAPITAL, PRISTINA. NOBODY HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION WITH THE KILLINGS. THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS ARE BEING GUARDED BY NATO. ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN JAN JOOSTEN SAYS HE HOPES THIS INCIDENT WILL NOT BE USED AS A CATALYST FOR FURTHER BLOODSHED. HE PROMISES NATO AND U-N POLICE WILL HUNT DOWN THOSE RESPONSIBLE. (SIGNED)
NEB / TB / AG-T / WD
24-Jul-99 2:17 AM EDT (0617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] SERBIAN BODIES / S BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS IN KOSOVO SATURDAY STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE MURDERS OF 14 ETHNIC SERBS. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM PRISTINA THAT THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO ARE VOWING TO FIND AND PROSECUTE THE KILLERS.

TEXT: ACCORDING TO NATO, THE 14 VICTIMS WERE FATALLY SHOT IN A HAYFIELD 10 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF PRISTINA AT AROUND 9:15 FRIDAY NIGHT.

BERNARD KOUCHNER HEADS UP THE U-N PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN KOSOVO.

I'M HORRIFIED BY THE MURDERS LAST NIGHT, NOT ONLY BECAUSE 14 PEOPLE WERE MASSACRED -- 14 DEFENSELESS FARMERS PEACEFULLY HARVESTING HAY... THE WORLD DID NOT INTERVENE TO MAKE KOSOVO SAFE FOR REVENGE AND INTOLERANCE, AND THE WORLD MUST CONDEMN THESE COWARDLY KILLINGS AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.

DR. KOUCHNER SAYS HE EXPECTS WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS "AN URGENT AND RELENTLESS INVESTIGATION TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE." NATO HAS NOT YET ARRESTED ANYONE FOR THE KILLINGS. GENERAL MIKE JACKSON, COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN KOSOVO, SAYS HIS TROOPS CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

AND WHAT ONE HAS TO DO IS TO GO BACK TO THE ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH THAT COULD TAKE PLACE. THAT IS AN ATMOSPHERE OF HATRED AND REVENGE IN MY VIEW, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THOSE POOR FARMERS.

GENERAL AGIM CEKU IS THE COMMANDER OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, REFERRED TO AS THE U-C-K IN THE ALBANIAN LANGUAGE. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, GENERAL CEKU SAYS HE DOES NOT THINK HIS TROOPS WERE INVOLVED IN THE DEATHS OF THE 14 ETHNIC SERBS.

THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES ARE UNDER NATO PROTECTION, AND THE BODIES OF THOSE KILLED HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PRISTINA FOR IDENTIFICATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/TB/ALW/KL
24-Jul-99 10:06 AM EDT (1406 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] SERBIA-DEATHS (L) BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA, KOSOVO)

INTRO: AS THE NATION TURNS ITS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE DEATH OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, JUNIOR, THE EVOLVING POST-WAR SCENARIO IN YUGOSLOVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE AGAIN APPEARS IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES.

SOME U-S DAILY PAPERS ARE COMMENTING ON WHAT MAY BE THE COSTS OF THE KOSOVO CAMPAIGN TO THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES. JOINING US WITH THIS EDITORIAL SAMPLE IS ___________ AND TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: NATO TROOPS CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND UNCOVER MASS GRAVES OF ALBANIANS, PRESUMABLY KILLED BY SERB FORCES DURING THE WAR. IN THE REMAINDER OF YUGOSLAVIA, AS ONE MAJOR BRIDGE WAS REBUILT, RALLIES IN SEVERAL CITIES AGAINST THE LEADERSHIP OF YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC CONTINUE. AND IN THE UNITED STATES, SOME PAPERS ARE ANALYZING THE BATTLE TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHETHER IT FURTHERED AMERICA'S GLOBAL AIMS, AND HOW MUCH MAY BE THE ULTIMATE COST.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE "THE BOSTON GLOBE" OFFERS THIS SOMEWHAT PESSIMISTIC ASSESSMENT BY PROFESSOR MARVIN ZONIS, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

VOICE: THE WAR AGAINST SERBIA WAS A SUCCESS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF U-S MILITARY TECHNOLOGY AND NATO UNITY. BUT THE MILITARY VICTORY WILL PROVE TO BE A CATASTROPHE FOR SERBIA, KOSOVO, AND THE BALKANS AS A WHOLE. THE FINAL BILL FOR THE NATO VICTORY IN KOSOVO WILL BE STAGGERING, AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE WINNERS WILL BE WILLING TO ADD TO THEIR BURDEN BY PAYING THE PRICE NECESSARY TO RECONSTRUCT KOSOVO AND YUGOSLAVIA. GIVEN THAT AID FOR RECONSTRUCTION IS NOT LIKELY TO BE FORTHCOMING IN ANY GREAT AMOUNT, THE DESTRUCTION, THE REFUGEES AND THE UNLEASHED PASSIONS ALL POINT TO MORE POLITICAL INSTABILITY. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BOMBING EXTEND TO THE REST OF THE BALKANS AS WELL. THE EUROPEANS ESTIMATE THE COST OF THE BALKAN STABILITY PACT WILL RUN TO 100-BILLION DOLLARS. THAT WILL COVER REBUILDING YUGOSLAVIA BUT WILL ALSO EXTEND MASSIVE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO ROMANIA, BULGARIA, AND MACEDONIA, WHICH GREATLY FACILITATED THE NATO ASSAULT. IN RETURN NATO GAVE THEM SECURITY GUARANTEES. BUT SECURITY GUARANTEES CANNOT PROTECT THOSE STATES FROM INTERNAL POLITICAL TURMOIL.

TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, THERE IS CRITICISM IN "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR"OF WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE GROSSLY EXAGGERATED U-S MILITARY ASSESSMENTS OF DAMAGE CAUSED TO SERBIAN FORCES IN KOSOVO AND ELSEWHERE DURING THE 78-DAY AIR WAR.

VOICE: NOW THE PENTAGON WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE THE SERB MILITARY WAS FORCED INTO SUBMISSION BY THE "ROLLING THUNDER' OF BOMBS. BUT, SORRY, THOSE FORCES REMAINED LARGELY INTACT. THE NUMBER OF TANKS DESTROYED WAS MINIMAL. AND THE QUICK EXIT OF SERB FORCES SHOWED THEY WERE STILL A FIGHTING FORCE WITH HIGH MORALE. THE REAL LESSON IS THAT STRATEGIC BOMBING OF ECONOMIC TARGETS IN SERBIA - - BRIDGES, FACTORIES, POWER PLANTS, TV STATIONS - - FORCED SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO CAPITULATE. THE WAR WAS WON NOT BY ONE MILITARY DESTROYING ANOTHER, BUT BASICALLY WHEN NATO FINALLY BEGAN TO SERIOUSLY DAMAGE SERBIA'S CIVILIAN "ASSETS.'

TEXT: WRITING IN "THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN," SYNDICATED COLUMNIST DON FEDER STRONGLY SUGGESTS THE PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR ARE WAR CRIMINALS FOR THE DAMAGE NATO INFLICTED TO NON COMBATANTS IN YUGOSLAVIA DURING THE WAR.

VOICE: WE WERE, [PRESIDENT] CLINTON INSISTED, DEGRADING [MR.] MILOSEVIC'S MILITARY CAPACITY BY BOMBING A DEFENSELESS PEOPLE FROM AN ALTITUDE OF A LITTLE MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND METERS. IN BELGRADE AND NOVI SAD, I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THE ENORMITY OF THE LIE. STROLLING THE STREETS OF THIS LOVELY CAPITAL [BELGRADE] AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE DANUBE AND SAVA [RIVERS], THE EVIDENCE ISN'T GLARING. TRUE, THERE ARE BUILDINGS WITH LARGE CHUNKS MISSING. BUT ELSEWHERE, THE RUBBLE HAS BEEN CLEARED AWAY. THE BODIES WERE BURIED; THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS REMAIN. WE DROVE TO NOVI SAD, THE NATION'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY. THIS COSMOPOLITAN PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, WITH AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION, TOOK THE BRUNT OF NATO'S WRATH. THE ALLIES BOMBED THE MORE THAN 809-THOUSAND HECTARE FRUSKA GORA NATIONAL PARK, POSSIBLY TO KEEP THE ANIMALS AND BIRDS FROM JOINING THE YUGOSLAV ARMY.

NOVI SAD'S [PETROLEUM] REFINERY WAS HIT [BOMBED] 13 TIMES. THE RESULTING FIRES BURNED 45-MILLION,359-THOUSAND KILOS OF CRUDE OIL, SENDING BILLOWING CLOUDS OF TOXINS AND CARCINOGENS INTO THE AIR, CONTAMINATING GROUND WATER. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD TAKE DECADES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THIS DELIBERATE POISONING OF WATER, SOIL AND AIR. THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SVETOZAR MARKOVIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL POINTS OUT CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION, COLLAPSED CEILINGS AND RUINED EQUIPMENT. WITHOUT WATER OR ELECTRICITY, THE SCHOOL WILL SOMEHOW TRY TO HOLD CLASSES FOR ITS 14-HUNDRED STUDENTS IN THE FALL. SOMEONE HAD SCRAWLED ON A WALL OF THE SCHOOL, 'DO YOU THINK OF YOUR CHILDREN WHILE YOU BOMB OURS?' EVEN IF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST [YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN[ MILOSEVIC WERE TRUE, DID THAT JUSTIFY THE TERROR BOMBING OF CIVILIANS? AND WHAT IF THEY WEREN'T TRUE, OR IF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AND SERBS WERE BOTH AT FAULT? THEN THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SHOULD BEGIN MAKING ARRESTS IN WASHINGTON AND LONDON.

TEXT: THAT WAS THE VIEW OF COLUMNIST DON FEDER IN THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN. FINALLY, SOME THOUGHTS FROM ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN DAILIES IN THE SOUTH, "THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL' IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. VOICE; NOW THAT SERB TROOPS HAVE LEFT KOSOVO, THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES FACE TWO RELATED CHALLENGES: HOW TO PREVENT THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY FROM COMMITTING ITS OWN BRAND OF ETHNIC HARASSMENT, AND HOW TO REBUILD THE SERBIAN TERRITORY DAMAGED BY THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. IN BOTH CASES HUMANITARIAN IMPULSES MUST BE TEMPERED BY POLITICAL REALISM. THE SCOPE OF SERBIA'S PREMEDITATED ATROCITIES IN KOSOVO IS BECOMING MORE EVIDENT, AND MORE TERRIBLE, BY THE DAY: MASS GRAVES, WRECKED VILLAGES, MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE REFUGEES. CERTAINLY YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC BEARS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE WAR CRIMES, AND HE MUST BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT IN THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. YET [MR.] MILOSEVIC AND THE FORCES AT HIS COMMAND COULD NOT HAVE COMMITTED THESE OUTRAGES WITHOUT THE BROAD SUPPORT OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE. UNTIL THE SERBIAN POPULACE AS A WHOLE ACKNOWLEDGES A DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY, AT LEAST INDIRECT, FOR THE HORRORS IN KOSOVO, THE PROSPECT OF FUTURE ABUSES UNDER A DIFFERENT SET OF LEADERS REMAINS. MEANWHILE, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF A QUEST FOR REVENGE LED TO ETHNIC ALBANIAN ASSAULTS AGAINST THE SERB RESIDENTS WHO REMAIN IN KOSOVO, PARTICULARLY IF NATO PEACEKEEPERS WERE TO BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THE POST WAR SITUATION IN KOSOVO PROVINCE AND THE REST OF YUGOSLAVIA, AND ASSESSMENTS OF HOW THE WAR DID OR DID NOT BENEFIT THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND IT ALLIES.
NEB/AG/GM
23-Jul-99 10:48 PM EDT (0248 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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