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Voice of America, 99-04-25Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] KOSOVO WRAP (L ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/24/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248573 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA IS FORCING THE SERBIAN MILITARY TO TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES TO OBTAIN FUEL FOR MILITARY VEHICLES. MEANWHILE, A SERIOUS REFUGEE CRISIS CONTINUES IN THE BALKANS. CAROL PINEAU WRAPS UP THE DAY'S EVENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA. TEXT: NATO PLANES HIT A BRIDGE, AIR FIELDS, MOBILE RADARS, KEY OIL REFINERIES AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES DURING AIRSTRIKES SATURDAY. NATO ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS SERB FORCES ARE SUFFERING A SEVERE FUEL SHORTAGE CAUSED BY THE NATO BOMBING ATTACKS. HE SAYS SERB FUEL SUPPLIES ARE DOWN 70 PERCENT. /// SHEA ACT ///THE SERBS ARE NOW GOING AROUND TO ALL OF THE ABANDONED REFUGEE CARS, AND THERE ARE MANY OF THEM INSIDE KOSOVO, AND ARE SIPHONING THE PETROL OUT OF THE TANKS. I MEAN THEY ARE THAT DESPERATE NOW TO FIND FUEL WHEREVER THEY CAN. /// END ACT ///NEXT WEEK IN BRUSSELS TOP NATO OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO REVIEW PLANS TO ENFORCE AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. BUT RUSSIA'S BALKANS' ENVOY, VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, AT A POLITICAL PARTY MEETING IN MOSCOW, CALLED THE ALLIANCE'S PLAN TO CUT OFF FUEL SUPPLIES TO YUGOSLAVIA "A BAD IDEA." THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, IVAN IVANOV, ANNOUNCED HIS COUNTRY WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPLY OIL TO BELGRADE AS PER ITS PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS. DESPITE THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA OVER OIL SHIPMENTS, BALKANS' ENVOY CHERNOMYRDIN ADDED HE REMAINED OPTIMISTIC THAT A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT COULD STILL BE ACHIEVED. HE SAID YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS READY TO ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PRESENCE IN KOSOVO. SATURDAY WAS ALSO A DAY OF PROTESTS FOR SERBIANS AROUND THE WORLD. IN WASHINGTON SEVERAL THOUSAND SERBIAN AMERICANS GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THEY HELD A PRAYER MEETING FOR PEACE AND CHANTED PROTESTS AGAINST THE BOMBINGS IN KOSOVO AND BELGRADE. MEANWHILE, THE REFUGEE CRISIS CONTINUES TO PLAY OUT IN THE COUNTRIES SURROUNDING KOSOVO. IN MACEDONIA, INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO A SMALL MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, MALINA, WHICH HAD BECOME AN UNOFFICIAL CROSSING POINT FOR OVER SIX THOUSAND ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO. MACEDONIAN POLICE HAD PREVENTED ACCESS TO MALINA FOR FOUR DAYS. BUT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SPOKESWOMAN LINDSEY DAVIES SAYS WHEN AID WORKERS FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET INTO THE VILLAGE THEY WERE SHOCKED TO FIND ALMOST NO REFUGEES. SHE SAYS THE WORKERS ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REFUGEES' SAFETY. /// DAVIES ACT ///WHEN ASKING THE LOCAL VILLAGERS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MACEDONIAN MILITARY HAD LOADED THE REFUGEES ONTO BUSES AND TAKEN THEM TO OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL AS FORCING MANY TO WALK TO OTHER VILLAGES UP TO SIX HOURS AWAY. /// END ACT ///AID WORKERS ALSO SAY THEY ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE STILL TRAPPED IN KOSOVO. THE RED CROSS SAYS IT PLANS TO ASK YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODON MILOSEVIC FOR SECURITY GUARANTEES WHICH WOULD ALLOW AID WORKERS TO RETURN TO KOSOVO. A RED CROSS SPOKESMAN SAYS MANY PEOPLE STILL LIVING IN KOSOVO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. IN WASHINGTON AT THE NATO SUMMIT, PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS HE REMAINED OPPOSED TO SENDING IN GROUND TROOPS. HE SAID A RECENT DECISION TO SEND ADDITIONAL U-S FORCES TO ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA WAS FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS AND NOT A CHANGE OF POSITION. /// CLINTON ACT ///WE ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM MANAGE A MASSIVE REFUGEE PROBLEM, AND IN ALBANIA WE HAVE TROOPS THERE ALSO TO SECURE THE HELICOPTER OPERATION WE HAVE PUT IN THERE. /// END ACT ///THE PRESIDENT ADDED THAT NATO'S STRATEGY HAD BEEN REAFFIRMED AND
STRENGTHENED AT THE SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON. HE SAYS THE ALLIANCE
IS MOVING FORWARD AND HE BELIEVES NATO WILL SUCCEED. (SIGNED)
[02] MACEDONIA/TETOVO REFUGEES BY EVE CONANT (TETOVO, MACEDONIA)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-43223 CONTENT= VOICED AT: /////INTRO: TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES HAVE POURED INTO MACEDONIA SINCE THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO BEGAN. MANY OF THE AT LEAST 130-THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO PRIVATE HOMES. CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM THE MACEDONIAN CITY OF TETOVO -- THE FIRST OF TWO REPORTS -- WHERE THE MOSTLY-ALBANIAN POPULATION HAS MET THE REFUGEES WITH OPEN DOORS. TEXT: AT TETOVO'S LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES ARE LARGER THAN EVER. /// NAT UP AND UNDER CROWD SOUNDS KIDS ///ONE OF THESE ALBANIAN KIDS RUSHING OFF TO MATH CLASS, BESA KASARI ('BE-'SA- 'KA'-SARI) SAYS SHE WELCOMES THE REFUGEES. /// ACT KASARI ///IT IS A LITTLE BIT STRANGE BECAUSE WE ARE MORE IN OUR CLASS, BUT WE ARE HAPPY -- WE ARE NOT HAPPY THAT THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THEIR SITUATION -- BUT WE HAVE BIG HEARTS AND WE MUST ACCEPT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS. WE ARE ALL ALBANIAN. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE LIVING -- IN MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, OR KOSOVO. /// END ACT ///NOT JUST SCHOOLS, BUT PRIVATE HOMES IN TETOVO ARE CRAMMED WITH REFUGEES TAKEN IN BY LOCALS. SABIT TERZIUS ('SA'-BIT TER-'ZEU') IS A SUCCESSFUL ALBANIAN BUSINESSMAN WHO HAS INVITED SEVEN FAMILIES TO LIVE IN HIS LARGE HOUSE. THE STAIRWELLS ARE DRAPED WITH DRYING LAUNDRY, HIS DOORWAY IS BLOCKED BY 50 PAIRS OF SHOES. SOME OF THE GUESTS ARE RELATIVES, MOST OF THEM HE HAS NEVER MET BEFORE. /// ACT TERZIUS IN ALBANIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///HE SAYS -- I HAVE 13 ROOMS. THERE IS ROOM ON THE FLOOR FOR THEM TO SLEEP, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BEDS. TETOVO'S TOP ALBANIAN POLITICIAN, ARBEN XHAFERI SAYS HIS CITY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO HELP. HE SAYS MACEDONIANS RISK LOSING AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE TO THE WEST THEY ARE TRULY OPENING THEIR DOORS TO THE REFUGEES. /// ACT XHAFERI ///THE MACEDONIAN COMMUNITY HAS THIS FEAR OF REFUGEES. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT EVEN ONE REFUGEE INTO THEIR HOMES. BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, ALBANIANS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LIFE, ABOUT THEIR POSITION, AND THEY ARE READY TO ACCEPT MORE AND MORE REFUGEES INTO THEIR HOUSES. /// END ACT ///TETOVO'S ALBANIAN RESIDENTS ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT FOR HELP -- THEY HAVE TAKEN MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS. OFFICES OF THE ALBANIAN HUMANITARIAN GROUP "EL HALEIL" HAVE SPRUNG UP THROUGHOUT THE CITY. /// BRING UP NAT SOUND CROWDED ROOM ///MORE THAN 200 LOCAL ALBANIANS COME EACH DAY LOOKING FOR FAMILIES TO INVITE INTO THEIR HOMES, OR FOR EXTRA FOOD FOR THE REFUGEES THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IN. LAWYER NASER QAMILI ('NA'-SERKA-'MI'-LEY) HAS LEFT HIS DAY JOB TEMPORARILY TO VOLUNTEER HERE. /// ACT QAMILI ///WE ARE HELPING PEOPLE. WE GIVE BLANKETS AND BEDS TO PEOPLE. /// END ACT ///HE HOPES OTHER CITIES WILL FOLLOW TETOVO'S EXAMPLE. BUT FOR NOW,
THE CITY IS UNIQUE. EVEN THOUGH ITS STREETS AND HOUSES ARE
FILLED TO CAPACITY, THERE IS NO TALK OF TETOVO CLOSING ITS DOORS.
(SIGNED)
[03] RELIEF/KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY TIM BELAY (KUKES, ALBANIA)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248585 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WHILE NATO MEMBER NATIONS GATHER IN WASHINGTON, D-C TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION, NATO TROOPS ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. TIM BELAY REPORTS FROM KUKES. TEXT: THE ALBANIA FORCE, OR A-FOR IN MILITARY SHORTHAND, ARRIVED IN NORTHERN ALBANIA LAST WEEK. HELPING OUT IN THE MASSIVE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORT FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES IS A BIG CHANGE OF PACE FOR NATO, ORIGINALLY CREATED TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF POST-WORLD WAR TWO EUROPE. MAJOR HANK ADAMS IS THE COMMANDER OF THE NATO CONTINGENT WHICH IS HELPING BUILD A LANDING STRIP AND SUPPLY DEPOT NEAR KUKES FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY. HE SAYS THE MISSION IS STRICTLY HUMANITARIAN. /// ADAMS ACK ///MY END OF THE BUSINESS IS RIGHT HERE. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, BUILDING THIS CAMP AND TAKING CARE OF IT. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, NATO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTIONS OF ANY MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THIS REGION, AS FAR AS I KNOW. THIS IS ONLY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. A-FOR IS ORIENTED ONLY TOWARDS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO OTHER MISSION TO DATE. /// END ADAMS ACK ///MAJOR ADAMS SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE MISSION IS STRICTLY FOR HUMANITARIAN HELP, THE RISK IS VERY REAL. /// 2ND ADAMS ACK ///IT IS A DANGEROUS THING, BECAUSE YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF LETTING YOUR GUARD DOWN, AND YOU HAVE GOT TO CONTINUALLY REMIND YOURSELF THAT THERE IS A THREAT OUT THERE. /// END 2ND ADAMS ACK ///MAJOR ADAMS SAYS THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF
HELPING A-FOR INTEGRATE ITSELF INTO THE WORK OF THE DOZEN OR MORE
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS IN KUKES. IT IS AN EFFORT HE
SAYS TO MAKE SURE THE HEAVILY ARMED NATO SOLDIERS ARE NOT SO
FRIGHTENING IN THEIR NEW HUMANITARIAN ROLE. (SIGNED)
[04] NATO SUMMIT OVERNIGHTER (L) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/24/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248575 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE NATO SUMMIT COMES TO AN END TODAY (SUNDAY) WITH AN EXPANDED GROUP AROUND THE CONFERENCE TABLE. YUGOSLAVIA'S NEIGHBORS WILL MAKE THEIR CASE EARLY IN THE DAY. AND 23 MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WILL JOIN THE FINAL WORKING SESSION. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS. TEXT: THE REALITIES OF THE POST COLD-WAR WORLD WILL BE EVIDENT IN THE MEETING HALL. COUNTRIES THAT WERE ONCE ENEMIES WILL SIT SIDE BY SIDE AROUND THE TABLE. EAST-WEST RIVALRIES HAVE VANISHED, REPLACED BY CONCERNS ABOUT ETHNIC TENSIONS THAT HAVE FLARED INTO BLOODSHED. THE CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS HAS HUNG OVER THIS SUMMIT LIKE A SHROUD. IN THEIR FINAL HOURS TOGETHER IN WASHINGTON, THE PARTICIPANTS WILL TRY TO LOOK BEYOND THE FIGHTING, AND FOCUS ON A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE STAKES ARE HIGH. /// CLINTON ACT ///IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT THIS MOMENT OF AGGRESSION AND TO REVERSE IT AND TO SEND THE KOSOVARS BACK HOME. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE POSITIVE FUTURE. ///END ACT////////AT A SUMMIT NEWS CONFERENCE (SATURDAY) MR. CLINTON SPOKE OF HISTORIC RIVALRIES THAT THREATEN THE REGION. HE SAID THERE ARE STRONG FORCES PITTING ONE ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ANOTHER. /// CLINTON ACT ///SO WHAT WE NEED, WITH ALL THESE MAGNETS PULLING THE PEOPLE APART, WE NEED A POWERFUL SET OF MAGNETS PULLING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON ACKNOWLEDGED THESE COUNTRIES WILL NEED BOTH SECURITY
AND ECONOMIC HELP. HE SAID THEY DESERVE NOT ONLY PEACE AND
STABILITY. BUT PROSPERITY AS WELL. (SIGNED)
[05] NATO SUMMIT (L) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248591 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO HAS ASSURED THE SEVEN NATIONS BORDERING YUGOSLAVIA IT WILL RESPOND TO ANY SERB ATTACK TRIGGERED BY THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ALLIANCE'S KOSOVO AIR CAMPAIGN. FROM THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT, CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: NATO LEADERS USED THE THIRD AND FINAL DAY OF THEIR SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH HEADS OF THE SEVEN NATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD LEADERS OF THE SO-CALLED -- FRONT-LINE STATES -- THAT THEIR EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH REFUGEES AND DELIVER HUMANITARIAN AID WERE NOTHING SHORT OF HEROIC. MR. CLINTON SAID NATO IS GRATEFUL TO COUNTRIES THAT HAD HOSTED NATO TROOPS AND SAID HE IS AWARE THEIR ACTIONS RISKED CONFRONTATION WITH BELGRADE. // CLINTON ACT //IF BELGRADE CHALLENGES ITS NEIGHBORS AS A RESULT OF NATO, WE WILL RESPOND. // END ACT //THE NATO ASSURANCE TO THE FRONT LINE STATES CAME AS THE ALLIANCE USED THE FINAL DAY OF ITS SUMMIT TO TRY TO MAP A STRATEGY FOR INCREASING THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE REGION. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID NATO WOULD WORK WITH FRONT LINE STATES TO EASE THE ECONOMIC STRAINS BROUGHT ON BY THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. // CLINTON ACT TWO //WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU, AND WITH MULTI-LATERAL INSTITUTIONS TO EASE YOUR EMERGENCY NEEDS AND HELP YOU WITH YOUR DEBTS. YOU WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOUR NATIONS AND YOUR REGION, AND THERE AS WELL WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELP. // END ACT //MR. CLINTON WELCOMED A EUROPEAN UNION PROPOSAL FOR A MEETING IN
GERMANY NEXT MONTH TO LOOK FOR, WHAT HE CALLED -- IMAGINATIVE AND
AGGRESSIVE WAYS TO HELP.
SATURDAY, NATO CALLED FOR REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE NATIONS OF
THE REGION TO DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES AND REGIONAL COOPERATION.
MR. CLINTON SAID THE FIRST STEP IN PUTTING THE REGION ON THE PATH
TO STABILITY IS TO PREVAIL IN KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
[06] NATO SUMMIT UPDATE (S) BY KYLE KING (STATE DEPARTMENT)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248589 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO IS VOWING TO STEP UP SECURITY AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH THE SO-CALLED -- FRONT-LINE -- STATES THAT BORDER YUGOSLAVIA. FROM THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT, CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: NATO LEADERS USED THE THIRD-DAY OF THEIR SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH THE HEADS OF THE SEVEN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO. PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD LEADERS OF THE THE SO-CALLED -- FRONT-LINE STATES THEIR EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH REFUGEES AND DELIVER HUMANITARIAN AID WERE NOTHING SHORT OF HEROIC. MR. CLINTON SAID NATO IS GRATEFUL TO COUNTRIES THAT HAVE HOSTED NATO TROOPS AND HE SAID HE IS AWARE THEIR ACTIONS HAVE RISKED CONFRONTATION WITH BELGRADE. // CLINTON ACT //IF BELGRADE CHALLENGES ITS NEIGHBORS AS A RESULT OF THE PRESENCE OF NATO, WE WILL RESPOND. // END ACT //THE NATO ASSURANCE CAME AS THE ALLIANCE WRAPS UP A THREE-DAY SUMMIT DOMINATED BY THE KOSOVO CRISIS. SATURDAY NATO LEADERS VOWED TO PRESS ON WITH THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND
WORK TO HALT THE FLOW OF OIL TO YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED)
[07] NATO SUMMIT WRAP (L) BY KYLE KING (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248600 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO LEADERS HAVE WRAPPED UP THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, SAYING THEY ARE UNITED IN THEIR GOAL OF REVERSING SERB ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. FROM THE SUMMIT, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: NATO LEADERS USED THE FINAL DAY OF THEIR SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH THE FRONT LINE STATES THAT BORDER YUGOSLAVIA. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE ALLIANCE IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ECONOMIC AND SECURITY COOPERATION WITH NATIONS OF THE REGION. MR. CLINTON SAID NATO UNDERSTOOD THE STRAINS THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO HAS IMPOSED ON THE SO CALLED FRONT LINE STATES AND HE SAID NATO WOULD PROTECT THEM FROM ANY THREATS FROM BELGRADE. // CLINTON ACT //WE WILL STAND BY THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES THAT HAVE ACCEPTED RISKS AND HARDSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT, IF MR. MILOSEVIC THREATENS THEM FOR HELPING US, WE WILL RESPOND. // END ACT //SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA SAID THE ASSURANCE OF PROTECTION WOULD INCLUDE ANY PROBLEM THEY HAVE THAT STEMS FROM HOSTING NATO TROOPS OR ALLOWING NATO TO USE THEIR AIRSPACE. MR. SOLANA SAID ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION SHARED ALLIANCE GOALS OF REVERSING THE SERB POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. // SOLANA ACT //OUR PARTNERS ALL SHARE OUR VIEW THAT THE VIOLENCE RESULTING FROM ETHNIC STRIFE COULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE EURO-ATLANTIC AREA NOW AS WE APPROACH THE 21ST CENTURY. // END ACT //DESPITE THE DISPLAY OF UNITY, NATO OFFICIALS WERE STILL WORKING ON PLANS FOR AN OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA AS THE SUMMIT ENDED. FRANCE HAS EXPRESSED LEGAL CONCERNS ABOUT NATO STOPPING NON-ALLIANCE SHIPS ON THE HIGH SEAS. ALLIANCE OFFICIALS SAY THEIR FINISHED PLAN WILL BE READY IN THE COMING DAYS. MEANWHILE, THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOT TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS RUSSIA'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIAN EFFORTS ARE CONSTRUCTIVE AND APPRECIATED. BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET SEEN ANYTHING TO INDICATE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS READY TO ACCEPT ALLIANCE DEMANDS. NATO OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A UNIFORM SENTIMENT THAT THE
ALLIANCE MUST PREVAIL IN THE STRUGGLE WITH MR. MILOSEVIC.
(SIGNED)
[08] CLINTON / NATO / OIL (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON (WHITE HOUSE)DATE=4/24/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248576 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE DRAFTING PLANS TO CUT THE FLOW OF OIL INTO YUGOSLAVIA. ONE OPTION IS A NAVAL BLOCKADE. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE SUPPORT ANY ACTION THAT WOULD BLOCK FUEL FOR SERBIAN MILITARY FORCES. TEXT: NATO KNOWS ENFORCING AN OIL EMBARGO CARRIES RISKS. RUSSIA IS PROVIDING SERBIA WITH OIL. AND SOME NATO LEADERS CRINGE AT THE NOTION OF ALLIED TROOPS BOARDING RUSSIAN SHIPS. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE HOPES THIS SCENARIO NEVER OCCURS. BUT HE LEAVES NO DOUBT HE BELIEVES THE ALLIANCE SHOULD USE ALL NECESSARY MEANS TO BLOCK FUEL SUPPLIES BOUND FOR SERBIA /// CLINTON ACT ///IF WE WANT THIS CAMPAIGN TO SUCCEED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE AND WITH THE AIR ACTION, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERY REASONABLE MEANS TO GIVE IT THE CHANCE TO SUCCEED. /// END ACT ///MR. CLINTON SAYS NATO PILOTS HAVE BEEN RISKING THEIR LIVES IN
BOMBING MISSIONS TARGETED AT A SERBIAN OIL REFINERY AND SUPPLY
LINES. HE SAYS NATO CAN NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHILE OTHERS TRY
TO SHIP FUEL TO THE SERBS.. (SIGNED)
[09] CLINTON-YELTSIN/KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY JIM RANDLE (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248598 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SPOKE BY PHONE FOR 90 MINUTES SUNDAY, BUT MADE NO APPARENT PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. OFFICIALS SAY THE LEADERS NEVER EVEN RAISED ONE KEY ISSUE: A NATO OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE NATO SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, SANDY BERGER SAYS PRESIDENT YELTSIN USED THE PHONE CALL TO DESCRIBE RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN A TOP RUSSIAN ENVOY AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. /// BERGER ACT ///I DID NOT DISCERN ANYTHING FROM THAT CALL WHICH SUGGESTED MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF MILOSEVIC. /// END ACT ///NATO LEADERS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR AIR ATTACKS ON SERB TARGETS ACROSS YUGOSLAVIA UNTIL BELGRADE STOPS ATTACKING ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE SERB PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. THE ALLIANCE ALSO DEMANDS THAT SERB TROOPS LEAVE THE PROVINCE, AND THAT NATO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO PROTECT MORE THAN ONE MILLION DISPLACED KOSOVARS AS THEY RETURN HOME. SO FAR, PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS REFUSED THESE DEMANDS. NEVERTHELESS, U-S OFFICIALS APPLAUD THE RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS AS FAR AS THEY GO. /// BERGER ACT ///THE FACT THAT THE RUSSIANS SEEM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO FINDING A SOLUTION TO THIS CAN BE CONSTRUCTIVE, SO LONG AS THEY UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT OUR CONDITIONS ARE. NOW THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE MR. MILOSEVIC ON MORE THAN ONE ISSUE. IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET TO THE POINT WERE ARE ABLE TO SAY THAT OUR CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN MET. /// END ACT ///CURRENTLY SOME OF THOSE SHIPS ARE RUSSIAN, AND MOSCOW HAS SAID IT WILL NOT COMPLY WITH A NATO OIL EMBARGO, SETTING UP A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE ALLIANCE AND RUSSIA. SOME NATO MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY. BUT MR. BERGER SAID NEITHER PRESIDENT BROUGHT IT UP IN SUNDAY'S LENGTHY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION. DIPLOMATS SAY NATO'S FOUR WEEK BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST
YUGOSLAVIA HAS PUT SERIOUS STRAINS ON THE ALREADY TROUBLED
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW. AND RUSSIA BOYCOTTED
THE NATO SUMMIT TO PROTEST THE NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)
[10] NATO BRIEFING / RUSSIA - L BY JIM RANDLE (NATO SUMMIT)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248593 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS AND APPRECIATES RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO BROKER A PEACE AGREEMENT, EVEN THOUGH NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS THE PROPOSED DEALS FALL SHORT OF NATO DEMANDS. CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS AT LEAST THREE DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES ARE UNDERWAY AND MORE ARE EXPECTED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IS HEADED FOR MOSCOW, TRYING TO BRIDGE THE WIDE GULF BETWEEN RUSSIAN PROPOSALS AND NATO'S DEMANDS. MR. SHEA SAYS RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ENVOY ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS, FORMER PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, IS EXPECTED TO HEAD TO GERMANY FOR TALKS ON THE SAME TOPIC. /// SHEA ACT ///THIS IS GOOD. WE WANT TO WORK WITH RUSSIA. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE RUSSIA FROM THE DIPLOMACY OF SOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. /// END ACT ///MR. SHEA SAYS RUSSIA PLAYED A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN THE RAMBOULLET TALKS THAT TRIED TO DEFUSE THE KOSOVO CRISIS. HE SAYS MOSCOW IS LIKELY TO BE A KEY CONTRIBUTOR OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO ENFORCE ANY PEACE AGREEMENT IN YUGOSLAVIA. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS ALSO WORKING ON A KOSOVO PEACE PLAN, BUT NATO SAYS IT TOO FALLS SHORT. ALLIANCE LEADERS SAY WILL CONTINUE BOMBING IN YUGOSLAVIA UNTIL BELGRADE STOPS ATTACKING ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, AND ALLOWS MORE THAN ONE-MILLION DISPLACED KOSOVAR ALBANIANS TO RETURN HOME. YUGOSLAVIA MUST ALSO PULL ITS TROOPS OUT OF KOSOVO AND ALLOW AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE, ONE THAT INCLUDES NATO IN A KEY ROLE, TO PREVENT A RENEWAL OF THE VIOLENCE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT SPARKED THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY AS MORE AMERICAN APACHE HELICOPTERS ARRIVE IN ALBANIA. ALLIANCE OFFICIALS SAY THE TANK-KILLING AIR CRAFT, AND THE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE UNITS THAT ACCOMPANY THEM, SHOULD SOON BEGIN THEIR ATTACKS ON SERB ARMOR IN KOSOVO. MACEDONIA HAS ALSO AGREED TO HOST THOUSANDS MORE BRITISH AND GERMAN TROOPS. NATO OFFICIALS SAY ALBANIA AND SIX OTHER YUGOSLAV NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY STRAINED AS THE KOSOVO CRISIS PUSHES HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES OUT OF YUGOSLAVIA. SOME NATIONS ARE ALSO HOSTING NATO TROOPS OR OPENING THEIR AIR SPACE TO ALLIANCE WARPLANES. THE SEVEN SO-CALLED -- FRONTLINE STATES -- HELD A SPECIAL MEETING WITH THE NATO NATIONS AT THE SUMMIT, WHERE NATO LEADERS THANKED THEM FOR THEIR HELP. /// SHEA ACT ///THE MESSAGE OF NATO TODAY IS THAT WE APPRECIATE THE SOLIDARITY IN FACE OF DIFFICULTIES. /// END ACT ///MR. SHEA SAID YUGOSLAVIA HAS ATTACKED ALBANIA BY FIRING ARTILLERY
ACROSS THE BORDER AND HAS THREATENED OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL. HE
REPEATED NATO ASSURANCES THAT YUGOSLAV ATTACKS ON NEIGHBORING
NATIONS WILL BRING A STRONG RESPONSE FROM NATO. (SIGNED).
[11] KOSOVO / SANCTIONS (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248596 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NATO REAFFIRMED ITS POSITION ON SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA DURING 50TH ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT THIS WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON. AS CAROL PINEAU REPORTS, NATO OFFICIALS SAY THE COMBINATION OF SANCTIONS AND MILITARY AIR STRIKES HAS BEEN TAKING A SERIOUS TOLL ON THE SERBIAN MILITARY. TEXT: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS THE NATO ALLIANCE MUST ENFORCE THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIA, HOWEVER, HAS CRITICIZED THE SANCTIONS AND REFUSED TO ABIDE BY THEM. MR. BLAIR DISCUSSED THE ISSUE SUNDAY ON THE N-B-C TELEVISION PROGRAM, MEET THE PRESS. /// BLAIR ACT ///IT IS ENTIRELY SENSIBLE FOR THE NATO ALLIANCE TO DECIDE THAT IN A COMPLIMENTARY WAY TO THE AIR CAMPAIGN WE MAKE THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WE'RE TAKING AGAINST MILOSEVIC REALLY BITE. IT CANNOT BE RIGHT IF WE ARE ATTACKING THE SUPPLIES THAT SERBIA HAS INSIDE SERBIA, THAT WE ARE ALLOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF SUPPLIES TO COME INTO SERBIA. /// END ACT ///BUT RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE DELIVERING OIL TO YUGOSLAVIA ACCORDING TO COMMITMENTS MADE PRIOR TO THE WAR. BUT NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAID ON A-B-C'S "THIS WEEK" THAT NATO IS DETERMINED TO MAKE ALL COUNTRIES COMPLY WITH SANCTIONS. /// SOLANA ACT #1 ///THE EMBARGO CAN BE GUARANTEED NOT ONLY BY NATO'S FRIENDLY COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO FOR THE OTHERS. IF THERE IS AN EMBARGO IT WILL APPLY TO EVERYONE. /// END ACT ///BUT THE NATO HEAD DECLINED TO GO AS FAR AS SAYING NATO IS PREPARED TO STOP RUSSIAN TANKER PLYING THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM DELIVERING THEIR SUPPLIES TO YUGOSLAVIA. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED SEIZING SHIPS COULD BE SEEN AS AN ACT OF WAR AGAINST RUSSIA. BUT MR. SOLANA SAYS RUSSIA IS OVERSTATING ITS POSITION. /// SOLANA ACT #2 ///THE RUSSIANS EVERY NOW AND THEN GO A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHERE THEY SHOULD GO, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE WORKING FOR THE SAME AIM -- TO STOP THIS CONFLICT. /// END ACT ///NATO OFFICIALS SAY SANCTIONS ARE HAVING A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON
THE SERBIAN MILITARY. AS FUEL SHORTAGES INTENSIFY, SERB SOLDIERS
ARE REPORTEDLY SIPHONING OFF GASOLINE FROM CARS ABANDONED BY
FLEEING REFUGEES. (SIGNED)
[12] KOSOVO / TALK SHOWS (L-ONLY) BY CAROL PINEAU (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/25/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-248594 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS NATO IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE WITH ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. THE BRITISH LEADER APPEARED ON A U-S TELEVISION TALK SHOW SUNDAY -- AS WE HEAR FROM CAROL PINEAU. TEXT: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE NATO ALLIANCE WILL STAY TOGETHER FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY. APPEARING ON N-B-C'S "MEET THE PRESS," THE BRITISH LEADER ADDED YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC SHOULD HAVE REALIZED NATO COULD NOT HAVE STOOD BY AS ETHNIC CLEANSING WAS BEING CARRIED OUT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION'S DOOR STEP. MR. BLAIR WENT ON TO SAY THE NATO CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY DONE ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO SERBIAN MILITARY CAPABILITIES -- AND WILL CONTINUE. /// BLAIR ACT #1 ///WE'VE DONE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH AND WE'VE GOT TO GO ON AND HE'S GOT TO REALIZE THAT WE WILL CARRY ON UNTIL HIS TROOPS WITHDRAW, UNTIL THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE THAT ALLOWS THOSE PEOPLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOUSES. /// END ACT ///NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA REAFFIRMED THIS POSITION. HE TOLD A-B-C'S "THIS WEEK" THAT NATO WAS DETERMINED TO SEE THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN THROUGH. /// SOLANA ACT #1 ///WE CANNOT STOP THE BOMBING UNTIL WE SEE A VERY CLEAR SIGN THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS COMPLYING WITH THE FIVE POINTS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS PUT BEFORE HIM. /// END ACT ///AMONG THOSE POINTS ARE THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL SERB TROOPS FROM KOSOVO, THE DEPLOYMENT OF A NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN THE PROVINCE, AND THE RETURN OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN REFUGEES. BUT YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS VLADISLAV JOVANOVIC SAYS NATO AGGRESSION IS TO BLAME FOR THE CURRENT SITUATION. AMBASSADOR JOVANOVIC TOLD C-N-N'S LATE EDITION THAT NATO IS VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THAT THE BOMBING HAS ONLY SERVED TO WORSEN THE CURRENT CRISIS AND HARDEN THE YUGOSLAVIA'S POSITION. /// JOVANOVIC ACT ////// END ACT ///BUT IT APPEARS THERE WILL BE NO END IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS NATO
LEADERS REAFFIRMED THE ALLIANCE'S POSITION DURING THIS WEEKEND'S
SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
[13] SILK ROAD / U-S / EURASIA BY CANDACE WILLIAMS (WASHINGTON)DATE=4/24/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-248578 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A GROUP OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS IS PROMOTING LEGISLATION TO HELP NATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA BUILD ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES TO THE WEST. IN WASHINGTON SATURDAY, THE U-S EXPERTS JOINED LEADERS FROM NINE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS, ALONG WITH OFFICIALS FROM ROMANIA AND TURKEY IN VOICING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION, THE SILK ROAD STRATEGY ACT. V-O-A'S CANDACE WILLIAMS HAS MORE ON THE MEASURE NAMED AFTER THE ANCIENT TRADE ROUTE THAT LINKED THE MEDITERRANEAN AND CHINA. TEXT: FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI SAYS EX-SOVIET BLOC NATIONS HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME, THE TIME WHEN THEIR SOCIETIES WERE CLOSED TO MUCH OF THE WORLD. MR. BRZEZINSKI SAYS THAT AS THESE EMERGING DEMOCRACIES ARE OPENING TO THE WEST, STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO INTEGRATE THEM FULLY INTO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. MR. BRZEZINSKI SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE SILK ROAD ACT, BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES OF EURASIA TO BECOME MORE STABLE. //BRZEZINSKI ACT//THAT OBJECTIVE, AN INDEPENDENT, INTERCONNECTIVITY, IS ALSO A VITAL AMERICAN OBJECTIVE BECAUSE FOR OUR OWN SECURITY, FOR OUR OWN WELL BEING, WE NEED A EURASIA THAT IS STABLE, THAT IS INDEPENDENT, THAT CAN PARTAKE INCREASINGLY AND MORE AND MORE EFFECTIVELY FROM THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROCESS. //END BRZEZINSKI ACT//THE CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, SANDY BERGER, AGREES. HE SAYS THAT FOR CENTURIES, THE REGION HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN ITS POTENTIAL AS A VITAL CENTER OF WORLD COMMERCE. //BERGER ACT//WE BELIEVE THAT COOPERATION WITHIN THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA AND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND YOUR COUNTRIES SHOULD AND CAN YIELD BENEFITS FOR ALL THE COUNTRIES, ALL THE PEOPLES IN THE REGION. AS WE GO FORWARD FOR PEACE, PROSPERITY, DEMOCRACY, AND INTEGRATION, NO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND. //END BERGER ACT//SIMILAR SENTIMENTS WERE ECHOED BY FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER, AND SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK, SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE. SENATOR BROWNBACK ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIAN NATIONS ARE RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND ARE LOOKING TO THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTNER IN THEIR GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE THEY FACE PRESSURE FROM ANTI-WESTERN ELEMENTS. //BROWNBACK ACT//IT IS CLEARLY IN OUR INTEREST TO SUPPORT THEM. THEY ARE A MAJOR FORCE IN CONTAINING THE SPREAD OF TERRORISM AND ANTI-WESTERN MILITANT FUNDAMENTALISM. //END BROWNBACK ACT//BACKERS OF THE SILK ROAD ACT HOPE THAT IT WILL HELP THE NEW
NATIONS OF THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ACHIEVE THE
PROSPERITY THAT THE OLD SILK ROAD ONCE BROUGHT TO THE REGION.
(SIGNED)
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