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Voice of America, 99-05-09

Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] NATO/YUGO (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)
  • [02] NATO-YUGO UPD (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)
  • [03] CHINA / PROTESTS / L BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)
  • [04] CHINA / PROTEST / S / UPDATE BY STEPHAJIE HO (BEIJING)
  • [05] CHINA / NATIONALISM BY STEPHIE HO (BEIJING)
  • [06] RUSSIA / YUGO (S&L) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)
  • [07] KOSOVO/RUSSIANS (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CEGRANE, MACEDONIA)
  • [08] RUSSIA / VICTORY DAY BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)
  • [09] REFUGEE TRAUMA (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (KUKES, ALBANIA)
  • [10] ROMANIA/POPE (S) BY STEFAN BOS (BUCHAREST)

  • [01] NATO/YUGO (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249149
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: NATO SAYS IT CONTINUED TO MOUNT AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO AND MILITARY TARGETS IN THE REST OF SERBIA SATURDAY AND EARLY SUNDAY. NO TARGETS WERE HIT IN BELGRADE, BUT NATO SAYS IT HAS NOT ABANDONED ATTACKS ON THE SERBIAN CAPITAL, DESPITE THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

    TEXT: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA SAYS ALLIANCE AIRCRAFT ARE CONTINUING TO ATTACK STRATEGIC TARGETS IN SERBIA, AND CONTINUING TO WEAKEN SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO. HE SAYS THE AIM IS TO HAMPER THE ABILITY OF SERB FORCES TO MANEUVER, TO COMMUNICATE AND RESUPPLY, THUS REDUCING THEIR MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS.

    TARGETS HIT IN THE LATEST SERIES OF STRIKES INCLUDE AIRFIELDS, BRIDGES, A TELEVISION TRANSMITTER, RADIO RELAYS, MILITARY BARRACKS, AND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES.

    // OPT //

    MR. SHEA SAYS HE HOPES THE COMING WEEK WILL SEE PROGRESS ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, BUT NATO WILL CONTINUE ITS AIR STRIKES BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THESE ARE NECESSARY AND THEY ARE RIGHT.

    IN SUNDAY'S NEWS BRIEFING, MR. SHEA REPEATEDLY DENIED THE ALLIANCE HAS DROPPED THE SERBIAN CAPITAL FROM ITS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. HE SAID IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR 24-HOURS TO GO BY WITHOUT NATO ATTACKING ANY TARGETS IN BELGRADE. HE INSISTED THAT NATO WILL CONTINUE TO STRIKE AT ALL ESSENTIAL MILITARY TARGETS.

    MR. SHEA ECHOED THE WORDS OF NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA, WHO EARLIER WARNED THAT THERE WILL BE NO SANCTUARY INSIDE SERBIA FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN PLANNING OR CARRYING OUT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING INSIDE KOSOVO. // END OPT //

    MR. SHEA REFUSED TO GIVE ANY DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE TRAGIC ERROR WHICH LED TO THE ATTACK ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. BUT, HE REFERRED TO A STATEMENT FROM WASHINGTON BY DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND C-I-A DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET.

    THIS STATEMENT BLAMED THE TARGETING ERROR ON FAULTY INFORMATION.

    // REST OPT //

    MR. SHEA APPEALED TO CHINA, WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN ANGRY PROTESTS OUTSIDE WESTERN DIPLOMATIC BUILDINGS, TO ACCEPT THAT THE ATTACK ON ITS EMBASSY IN BELGRADE WAS A MISTAKE, AND NOTHING MORE.

    HE STRESSED THAT CHINA, AS A MEMBER OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN SPEEDING UP THE SEARCH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/JF/DW/RAE
    09-May-99 8:58 AM EDT (1258 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [02] NATO-YUGO UPD (S&L) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249154
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: NATO HAS APPEALED TO BEIJING TO FORGIVE A MISTAKEN AIRSTRIKE AGAINST THE CHINESE EMBASSY FRIDAY IN BELGRADE. BUT DESPITE THE ATTACK WHICH HAS LED TO ANGRY ANTI-WESTERN DEMONSTRATIONS IN CHINA, THE ALLIANCE SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE STRIKES AGAINST THE SERBIAN CAPITAL. FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS, JOHN FRASER HAS THIS REPORT.

    INTRO: NATO SPOKESMAN JAMIE SHEA HAS APPEALED TO THE CHINESE TO ACCEPT THAT THE HIT ON THE EMBASSY BUILDING IN BELGRADE WAS A MISTAKE AND NO MORE THAN A MISTAKE. HE NOTED THAT THE STRIKE FOLLOWED AN ERROR IN NATO'S INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, AS NATO WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY TARGET AN EMBASSY.

    MR. SHEA SAID NATO IS NOT GOING TO BE BLOWN OFF COURSE BY THE TRAGEDY, AND WILL CONTINUE ITS BASIC AIM TO LIBERATE KOSOVO FROM SERB OPPRESSION AND TO END THE ETHNIC CLEANSING THERE.

    HE STRESSED THAT CHINA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN SPEEDING UP THE SEARCH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS.

    /// REST OPT // SHEA ACT ///

    CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER OF GERMANY WILL BE VISITING BEIJING THIS WEEK. I KNOW THAT HE WILL CONVEY ON BEHALF OF THE ALLIANCE AGAIN THE EXPRESSION OF OUR REGRETS, BUT HE WILL ALSO BE MAKING THE POINT THAT THIS WAS A MISTAKE AND NO MORE THAN A MISTAKE. IT HAS NO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. AND THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, AS A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, HOPEFULLY WILL WORK WITH US, WITH RUSSIA, WITH THE ALLIES TOWARD THE ELABORATION OF A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION WHICH WILL STOP THE WAR.

    /// END ACT ///

    MR. SHEA ADDED THAT SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN, THERE HAVE BEEN AROUND NINE-THOUSAND BOMBS AND MISSILES DROPPED FROM THE AIR BY NATO AND ONLY 12 HAVE GONE ASTRAY.

    HE SUGGESTED THAT THIS AMOUNTS TO A TINY FRACTION, AND THAT, IN GENERAL, NATO ATTACKS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ACCURATE.

    NATO IS CONTINUING TO MOUNT AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB FORCES IN KOSOVO AND MILITARY TARGETS IN THE REST OF SERBIA.

    ALTHOUGH NO TARGETS WERE HIT IN BELGRADE LATE SATURDAY, NATO INSISTS THAT IT HAS NOT ABANDONED ATTACKS ON THE SERBIAN CAPITAL. IT SAYS THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO AFTER WHAT IT CALLS -- ALL LEGITIMATE TARGETS.
    NEB/JF/DW/RAE
    09-May-99 12:40 PM EDT (1640 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [03] CHINA / PROTESTS / L BY STEPHANIE HO (BEIJING)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249147
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: CHINA'S VICE-PRESIDENT HAS GONE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TO SAY THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE ANTI-NATO DEMONSTRATIONS. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS HE PLEDGED FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC COMPOUNDS WILL BE PROTECTED -- EVEN AS DEMONSTRATORS CONTINUED THROWING ROCKS AT THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES IN BEIJING.

    TEXT: CHINESE VICE-PRESIDENT HU JINTAO APPEARED ON CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION SUNDAY EVENING, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT BACKS ALL LEGAL PROTESTS AGAINST NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.

    // HU CHINESE ACTUALITY -- IN FULL, FADE UNDER //

    HOWEVER, MR. HU ISSUED A VEILED WARNING THAT ALL DEMONSTRATIONS SHOULD BE ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL. HE ALSO PROMISED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL PROTECT ALL FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC COMPOUNDS AND PERSONNEL.

    BUT -- EVEN AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT SPOKE TO THE NATION -- THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT BEGAN SATURDAY SWELLED ON SUNDAY, AND TURNED UGLY.

    // DEMO SOUND -- FADE IN, EST, FADE OUT //

    THOUSANDS OF CHINESE DEMONSTRATORS MADE THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES, WHERE MOBS CONTINUED TO HURL ROCKS AND PAVING STONES, WHILE POLICE STOOD BY. WESTERNERS HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED IN THE DIPLOMATIC AREAS WHERE THE PROTESTERS HAVE CONGREGATED.

    THE MOST-VIOLENT ACT OCCURRED LATE SATURDAY, WHEN THE U-S CONSUL-GENERAL'S HOUSE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CHINESE CITY, CHENGDU, WAS BURNED. SATURDAY NIGHT IN BEIJING, EYEWITNESSES REPORT THEY SAW DEMONSTRATORS SENDING FIRE BOMBS INTO THE U-S EMBASSY COMPOUND.

    THE PROTESTS HAVE GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. POLICE DIRECT THE DEMONSTRATORS TO STICK TO THE POSTED ROUTE. MANY STUDENTS WERE BROUGHT TO THE AREA ON BEIJING CITY BUSES.

    DIPLOMATS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING CHINESE LEADERS ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE BY STOKING PUBLIC INDIGNATION. THEY SAY THE GOVERNMENT FACES A DILEMMA ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE DEMONSTRATIONS. UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT CAN DIRECT PUBLIC FURY AT NATO, THIS ANGER MIGHT REBOUND ON THEM. HOWEVER, THERE IS THE RISK THINGS MAY SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. (SIGNED)
    NEB / HO / WD / WD
    09-May-99 7:58 AM EDT (1158 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [04] CHINA / PROTEST / S / UPDATE BY STEPHAJIE HO (BEIJING)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249144
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: CHINA'S GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IT SUPPORTS THE ANTI-NATO PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING AROUND THE COUNTRY. BUT, AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE CHINESE VICE-PRESIDENT SAYS PROTESTS MUST BE PEACEFUL AND PLEDGES ALL FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC COMPOUNDS IN CHINA WILL BE PROTECTED.

    TEXT: UP UNTIL NOW, CHINESE POLICE HAVE STOOD BY WHILE ANGRY MOBS THREW FIRE BOMBS AT THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING. ROCKS AND PAVING STONES WERE ALSO THROWN AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY.

    WESTERNERS HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED IN AND AROUND THE DIPLOMATIC AREAS WHERE THE PROTESTERS HAVE CONGREGATED.

    CHINESE VICE-PRESIDENT HU JINTAO WENT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION SUNDAY EVENING, SAYING BEIJING SUPPORTS THE PROTESTS. BUT HE ISSUED A VEILED WARNING THAT SUCH DEMONSTRATIONS SHOULD BE PEACEFUL.

    HE PLEDGES THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROTECT FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL IN CHINA -- EVEN AS THOUSANDS OF CHINESE CONTINUE THEIR ANGRY AND SOMETIMES DESTRUCTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL. (SIGNED)
    NEB / HO / WD / WD
    09-May-99 6:54 AM EDT (1054 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [05] CHINA / NATIONALISM BY STEPHIE HO (BEIJING)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
    NUMBER=5-43343
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: FOR CHINESE PEOPLE, THE DEATHS OF THEIR THREE COMPATRIOTS AT BEIJING'S EMBASSY IN BELGRADE HAS BROUGHT THE KOSOVO ISSUE HOME IN A WAY THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIAN KOSOVARS COULD NOT. V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE EMBASSY BOMBING HAS TAPPED INTO THE SENSE OF CHINESE NATIONALISM THAT WAS NEVER TOO FAR BELOW THE SURFACE.

    TEXT: WHEN THE NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA FIRST BEGAN AT THE END OF MARCH, MANY CHINESE PEOPLE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES THERE WERE.

    OFFICIAL CHINESE MEDIA STUCK CLOSELY TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT POSITION THAT NATO WAS AN AGGRESSOR. MEANTIME, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE DISCUSSION IN CHINESE MEDIA ABOUT ETHNIC CLEANSING OF ALBANIAN KOSOVARS.

    BUT -- WITH THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE SUDDENLY, THE EVENTS HALF-A-WORLD AWAY TOOK ON NEW MEANING. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS NATO HAS VIOLATED CHINA'S NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY -- AN ACCUSATION THAT RESONATES WITH THE CHINESE STUDENTS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING IN BEIJING AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

    // DEMO CHANTING SOUNDS -- FADE IN, EST, FADE OUT //

    THE DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTED "DOWN WITH AMERICAN HEGEMONY" AND "DOWN WITH NATO." IN THE SAME BREATH, THEY CHANTED "LONG LIVE CHINA" AND "RETURN OUR COMPATRIOTS." IT WAS ALSO NOT UNCOMMON TO HEAR STUDENT VOICES RAISED IN SINGING THE CHINESE NATIONAL ANTHEM. ONE 19-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DEMONSTRATOR FROM PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY REFUSED TO GIVE HER NAME, BUT SAID SHE IS MOST ANGRY ABOUT THE VIOLATION OF CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.

    // STUDENT CHINESE ACTUALITY -- IN FULL, FADE OUT //

    SHE SAID SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE REPORTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO. SHE REPEATED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S LINE THAT KOSOVO IS AN INTERNAL YUGOSLAV MATTER AND THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT INTERVENE.

    WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITED CHINA LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO, ORDINARY CHINESE PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD GUY. ON SUNDAY, THOUGH, ONE BANNER HAD A DRAWING OF PRESIDENT CLINTON WITH A HITLER MUSTACHE ON HIS FACE.

    // OPT //

    NATO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THREE OF ITS MISSILES STRUCK THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE LATE FRIDAY, BUT SAID IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

    // OPT //

    SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD DEMONSTRATOR CHEN WEIQI SAID IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO THINK THAT A NATO APOLOGY IS ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, IF NATO BOMBS HAVE KILLED PEOPLE.
    // OPTIONAL CHEN CHINESE ACTUALITY -- IN FULL, FADE OUT //

    ALTHOUGH THE ANTI-NATO DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN PEACEFULLY ON SATURDAY, BY SUNDAY, THEY HAD GROWN UGLY. CHINESE DEMONSTRATORS BURNED THE HOUSE OF THE U-S CONSUL GENERAL IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CITY, CHENGDU. IN BEIJING, THEY THREW SMALL FIRE BOMBS AT THE U-S EMBASSY SATURDAY NIGHT AND, ON SUNDAY, CONTINUED TO THROW ROCKS AT THE U-S AND BRITISH EMBASSIES -- TO THE APPLAUSE OF BYSTANDERS.

    // APPLAUSE SOUND -- FADE IN, EST, FADE OUT //

    THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE BEIJING PROTEST HAS BEEN APPROVED BY AUTHORITIES IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL. DEMONSTRATIONS ARE ALSO REPORTED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

    // DEMO SOUND -- FADE IN, EST, FADE OUT //

    TEN YEARS AGO, CHINESE STUDENTS WENT TO BEIJING'S TIANANMEN SQUARE TO CLAMOR FOR WESTERN-STYLE DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL REFORMS.

    SINCE THEN, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS SUPPRESSED POLITICAL DISSENT AND TIGHTLY CONTROLLED THE MEDIA, SO THE CHINESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING A FULL PICTURE OF EVENTS OUTSIDE OF CHINA.

    AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS USED ISSUES SUCH AS HONG KONG, TAIWAN AND TIBET TO SUCCESSFULLY WHIP UP NATIONALISM WHICH MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS THE CURRENT OUTPOURING OF ANGER IS SO SEVERE. (SIGNED)
    NEB / HO / WD / WD
    09-May-99 7:57 AM EDT (1157 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [06] RUSSIA / YUGO (S&L) BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249155
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: RUSSIA'S BALKANS ENVOY, VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN, SAYS SERIOUS NEW DEVELOPMENTS TOWARD RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CONFLICT HAVE EMERGED FROM HIS WEEKEND TALKS IN GERMANY. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

    TEXT: MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IS BACK IN RUSSIA AFTER A DAY OF PEACE TALKS IN BONN. HE SAYS SOME VERY SERIOUS NEW CIRCUMSTANCES' CAME OUT OF THE GERMAN MEETINGS.

    HE SAYS HE HAS RETURNED TO MOSCOW SO HE CAN TALK OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS WITH RUSSIAN LEADERS. HE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO BELGRADE FROM BONN.

    MR. CHERNOMYRDIN HAS NOT SAID WHAT THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE. BUT HE SAYS HE SPOKE BY TELEPHONE TO YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ABOUT THEM, AND MR. MILOSEVIC REACTED POSITIVELY.

    THE ENVOY TOLD REPORTERS HE WOULD DISCUSS THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, AND FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV.

    MR. CHERNOMYRDIN IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MEET WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT TUESDAY IN MOSCOW.

    // REST OPT //

    MR. CHERNOMYRDIN MET IN BONN WITH GERMAN PRIME MINISTER GERHARD SCHROEDER, U-N BALKANS ENVOY CARL BILDT, AND KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA.

    THE RUSSIAN ENVOY SAYS ALTHOUGH HE HAD ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM THE TALKS, AND FROM HIS TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH MR. MILOSEVIC, THERE IS STILL DIFFICULT WORK AHEAD FOR NEGOTIATORS. (SIGNED)
    NEB/CEM/RAE
    09-May-99 3:12 PM EDT (1912 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [07] KOSOVO/RUSSIANS (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CEGRANE, MACEDONIA)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249150
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE LATEST PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO ENDORSED BY RUSSIA AND THE SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS WOULD PROVIDE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSOVO. THE U-N MANDATED MISSION WOULD INCLUDE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, TOO. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM CEGRANE REFUGEE CAMP IN MACEDONIA, THAT DOES NOT MAKE MANY KOSOVAR ALBANIANS HAPPY.

    TEXT: MOST KOSOVAR REFUGEES NOW STRANDED OUTSIDE THEIR HOMELAND SAY THEY WILL NOT GO BACK WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL TROOPS TO PROTECT THEM. FOR THEM, THAT MEANS NATO SOLDIERS.

    SUGGESTIONS THAT RUSSIAN TROOPS MIGHT BE DEPLOYED IN KOSOVO MAKE THEM NERVOUS.

    /// ALBANIAN AND FADE ///

    ONE REFUGEE FROM NEAR PRISTINA SAYS HE WOULD NOT GO BACK TO AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE RUSSIAN TROOPS. HE SAYS HE WILL GO ONLY WHERE THERE ARE AMERICAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN, OR ITALIAN TROOPS FROM NATO. HIS FRIENDS NOD THEIR HEADS IN AGREEMENT.

    ANOTHER REFUGEE, RAMADAN, AGREES WITH THE OTHERS AND REFLECTS A DEEPLY ENTRENCHED ETHNIC ANIMOSITY.

    /// RAMADAN ACT ///

    WE DO NOT LIKE RUSSIAN TROOPS TO COME THERE. THEY ARE SLAVS LIKE THE SERBS. SERBS CAME 12-HUNDRED-YEARS AGO FROM RUSSIA AND TAKE OUR PLACES.

    /// END ACT ///

    THAT SENTIMENT IS REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN AMONG ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO.

    ANALYSTS AGREE THEIR POLITICAL MISTRUST ALSO PREDATES TODAY'S CRISIS. YUGOSLAVIA'S INDEPENDENT SOCIALIST POLICIES UNDER MARSHALL TITO ANTAGONIZED THE SOVIET LEADERSHIP IN MOSCOW AND LED TO AN OUTRIGHT POLITICAL SPLIT AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. HE MANAGED TO KEEP MOSCOW'S INFLUENCE OUT OF YUGOSLAVA.

    TIES BETWEEN MOSCOW AND BELGRADE STARTED WARMING AFTER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC GAINED POWER IN YUGOSLAVIA 10-YEARS AGO.

    NOW ETHNC-ALBANIAN REFUGEES SAY RUSSIA'S ROLE AS A PEACE BROKER IN THE KOSOVO CRISIS GIVES THEM MORE OF A FOOTHOLD IN SERBIA. THEY FEAR THAT ALLIANCE.

    ONE KOSOVAR REFUGEE SAYS HE MIGHT ACCEPT A SMALL NUMBER OF RUSSIAN TROOPS IN KOSOVO ONLY IF THEY WERE DEPLOYED IN THE PROVINCE'S FEW SERB ENCLAVES AND NOT NEAR ANY ETHNIC-ALBANIAN COMMUNITIES. (SIGNED)
    NEB/LK/DW/RAE
    09-May-99 9:36 AM EDT (1336 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [08] RUSSIA / VICTORY DAY BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (MOSCOW)

    DATE=5/9/99
    TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
    NUMBER=5-43345
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: RUSSIANS ARE CELEBRATING (CELEBRATED) ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL HOLIDAYS (SUNDAY). MAY NINTH IS VICTORY DAY, WHICH MARKS GERMANY'S DEFEAT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS FROM MOSCOW -- WITH A NEW WAR FESTERING IN EUROPE THE HOLIDAY HAS HAD SPECIAL MEANING FOR RUSSIANS THIS YEAR

    TEXT: // SFX PARADE SOUNDS: ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER AND HOLD //

    VICTORY DAY IS ONE OF THE FEW SOVIET HOLIDAYS STILL CELEBRATED WITH ENTHUSIASM IN RUSSIA. THE CENTERPIECE IS A GRAND MILITARY PARADE THROUGH RED SQUARE.

    PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN LOOKED ON AS REGIMENT AFTER REGIMENT MARCHED BY, AND THEN HE PLEDGED RUSSIA'S ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO THE VETERANS.

    // YELSTIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

    HE SAYS -- IT WAS YOU, OUR DEAR FIGHTERS, WHO BROUGHT A VICTORIOUS ENDING TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU.

    // PARADE SOUNDS OUT //

    LATER, MR. YELTSIN SAID NO ONE SHOULD FORGET THE LESSONS OF WAR.

    // YELTSIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

    HE SAYS -- THROUGHOUT TIME, RUSSIA KNEW NOT ONLY HOW TO FIGHT BUT MAKE PEACE, AND WE WILL NOT SPARE ANY EFFORT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE OF WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA.

    THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO WAS ON THE MINDS OF MANY THIS VICTORY DAY. DESPITE THEIR CONCERN, PEOPLE CAME IN DROVES TO MOSCOW'S VICTORY PARK TO CELEBRATE.

    // SFX MUSIC: FADE UP, HOLD, THEN ROLL UNDER //

    COUPLES YOUNG AND OLD DANCED TO THE MUSIC OF MILITARY BANDS ON THE STEPS OF THE WAR MEMORIAL. CHILDREN CLAMBERED OVER THE WORLD-WAR-TWO TANKS AND ARTILLERY LINING THE PARK'S WALKWAYS. THEY BROUGHT TULIPS AND DAFFODILS TO GIVE TO THE VETERANS STROLLING PROUDLY THROUGH THE PARK.

    THE WAR ENDED 54-YEARS AGO, BUT MANY VETERANS, LIKE DAVID DAROV, REMEMBER MAY 9TH, 1945 LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

    // DAROV ACT #1 IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

    HE SAYS -- IT WAS A DAY OF JUBILATION FOR EVERYONE, FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS. HE SAYS -- STRANGERS WERE KISSING AND HUGGING EACH OTHER LIKE KIN, BECAUSE FOR ONE-THOUSAND-435 DAYS WE WAITED FOR VICTORY, WE INVESTED A LOT IN THAT VICTORY. ABOUT 27-MILLION SOVIETS DIED DURING THE WAR -- SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS.

    ANATOLY SUNIK SAYS HE WAS A FIGHTER PILOT DURING THE WAR. HE BEARS A CHEST FULL OF MEDALS AND A FISTFUL OF FLOWERS AS HE WALKS THROUGH THE PARK WITH A FRIEND.

    // SUNIK ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

    HE SAYS, --THE HOLIDAY MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE OF EUROPE AND THE WORLD ARE FREE OF FASCISM. THAT FASCISM WAS DEFEATED - THAT IS THE JOY OF IT, THAT WE DID NOT BECOME SLAVES.

    PART OF THE POINT OF VICTORY DAY IN RUSSIA IS TO PASS THAT MESSAGE ON TO THE GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN WHO DO NOT REMEMBER THE WAR. RUSSIAN TELEVISION HAS BEEN PLAYING WAR MOVIES AND DOCUMENTARIES ALL WEEK.

    GALINA TOUBULEVA IS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER VISITING THE PARK WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN. SHE SAYS HER KINDERGARTNERS SPEND WEEKS LEARNING ABOUT VICTORY DAY.

    // TOUBULEVA ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE //

    SHE SAYS -- WHEN WE GET THEM READY, WE TELL THE KIDS THAT THIS HOLIDAY IS NOT HAPPY, IT IS RESPECTFUL AND VERY SAD BECAUSE PEOPLE DIED IN THE WAR. BUT SHE SAYS -- WHAT IS JOYFUL IS THAT MAYBE YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH SUCH SUFFERING.'

    // REST OPT //

    TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ALEXEI, WHO WOULD NOT GIVE HIS LAST NAME, BELIEVES MEMORIES OF WORLD WAR TWO HAVE BECOME PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE RUSSIAN. HE BROUGHT HIS CHILDREN TO VICTORY PARK.

    // ALEXEI ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE. //

    HE SAYS -- YOU HAVE NEVER FELT WHAT WAR IS LIKE, WHAT BOMBS OR HUNGER ARE LIKE. HE SAYS -- THIS MEMORY WILL BE PASSED ON, IT IS GENETICALLY IMPRINTED IN THEM.

    MANY BELIEVE THAT GENETIC MEMORY OF WAR IS ONE REASON RUSSIA HAS STAKED ITS REPUTATION ON ITS ABILITY TO BROKER A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. FOR MANY RUSSIANS, THE SPECTRE OF YET ANOTHER WAR IN EUROPE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO BEAR. MR. SUNIK, THE FORMER FIGHTER PILOT, SAYS HE FEARS WE ARE NOW ON THE VERGE OF WORLD WAR THREE. HE BELIEVES YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS WRONG FOR SUPPRESSING KOSOVO'S ETHNIC ALBANIANS, BUT HE SAYS WAR IS A HORRIBLE THING AND THE CRISIS MUST BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY. (SIGNED)
    NEB/CEM/RAE/RAE
    09-May-99 3:25 PM EDT (1925 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


    [09] REFUGEE TRAUMA (L ONLY) BY PETER HEINLEIN (KUKES, ALBANIA)

    DATE=5/8/99
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249141
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: THE FORCED EXODUS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO HAS LEFT 400-THOUSAND PEOPLE LIVING IN EXILE, MOST OF THEM IN SUBSISTENCE-LEVEL TENT CAMPS SPREAD ACROSS ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA. FROM THE ALBANIAN TOWN OF KUKES, VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THAT FOR MANY REFUGEES, THE INITIAL RELIEF OF HAVING SURVIVED IS GIVING WAY TO BOREDOM, FRAYED NERVES AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA.

    TEXT: AHMET KOKOLLARI AND HIS WIFE HAFEZA STAND AT THE ENTRANCE TO THEIR TENT AT THE KUKES-TWO REFUGEE CAMP, SEEMINGLY STARING INTO SPACE. WHEN A REPORTER APPROACHES AND ASKS WHY THEY LEFT THEIR HOME IN KOSOVO, MR. KOKOLLARI SLOWLY TURNS AROUND AND LIFTS UP HIS SHIRT, REVEALING A DEEP SCAR ON HIS LOWER BACK. THE 56-YEAR OLD WELDER EXPLAINS THAT HE WAS SHOT LAST MONTH BY SERB PARAMILITARY TROOPS WHO WERE GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE IN THE KOSOVO SUHAREKO REGION ORDERING ETHNIC ALBANIAN FAMILIES TO GET OUT. HE THEN TURNS TO FACE HIS VISITORS, EXPOSING A GAPING EXIT WOUND IN HIS STOMACH.

    ///KOKOLLARI ACT IN ALBANIAN, THEN FADE TO...///

    HE SAYS "THEY CAME TO OUR HOUSE, TOLD US WE HAD TO GET OUT. THEY SAID IF WE WERE STILL HERE WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY WOULD SHOOT US. A LITTLE WHILE LATER, THEY CAME BACK, AND OPENED FIRE WITH A MACHINE GUN." MR. KOKOLLARI SAYS HE AND HIS WIFE MANAGED TO HIDE FOR TWO WEEKS, TREATING HIS WOUND WITH HERBAL REMEDIES. BUT ON MAY FIRST, THE PARAMILITARY TROOPS RETURNED AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, FORCED THE COUPLE TO LEAVE.

    MR. KOKOLLARI SAYS HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AMONG THE LUCKY ONES.

    ///2ND KOKOLLARI ACT IN ALBANIAN, THEN FADE TO...///

    HE SAYS "MY WOUND IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT I'VE SEEN -- TO THE GRIEF I HAVE WITNESSED. WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY KILLED PEOPLE. I SAW THEM TAKING AWAY THE BODIES IN A TRUCK. HAFEZA KOKOLLARI SAYS THE SIGHT OF THEIR NEIGHBORS BEING SLAUGHTERED HAS LEFT DEEP EMOTIONAL SCARS.
    ///3RD KOKOLLARI ACT IN ALBANIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
    SHE SAYS "WE'VE SEEN KILLINGS. WE'VE SEEN DEAD BODIES. MASSACRED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE'VE SEEN A LOT." SHE SAYS "WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH WE HAVE BECOME ILL FROM IT".

    DR. LYNNE JONES, A PSYCHIATRIST WORKING IN THE CAMP, SAYS THE ACUTE DISTRESS AND TRAUMA OF PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IS ONE OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES FACING RELIEF WORKERS. SHE CONCEDES THERE IS LITTLE MEDICAL SCIENCE CAN DO TO HELP.

    ///JONES ACT///

    I'M THE BAND AID, YOU KNOW. AND NO AMOUNT OF PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN MAKE UP FOR WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE LOST AND SUFFERED. AND NO AMOUNT OF PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN MAKE UP FOR A SENSE OF INJUSTICE IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR FAMILY THROUGH A CRIMINAL ACT. AND LET'S BE CLEAR THAT IT'S A CRIMINAL ACT -- NOT AN ACT OF WAR.

    ///END ACT///

    DR. JONES SAYS THE EPIDEMIC OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA SWEEPING THE CAMPS WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE FIGHTING STOPS AND THE REFUGEES CAN GO HOME.

    ///2ND JONES ACT///

    WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS FOR THE SITUATION TO BE ADDRESSED. IF YOU ASK WHAT THEY WANT, THEY WANT GROUND TROOPS. THEY WANT TO GO BACK.YOU KNOW. THAT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION. THEY WANT SECURITY, THEY WANT SAFETY, THEY WANT TO GO HOME. IT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY HOW THAT SHOULD BE ACHIEVED. I'M JUST A DOCTOR -- BUT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.-

    ///END ACT///

    DOCTOR JONES SAYS SHE IS RELUCTANT TO DIAGNOSE WHAT SHE SEES IN CAMPS AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER. SHE SAYS FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT SHE SEES IS SIMPLE GRIEF, BUT ON A MASSIVE SCALE. AS SHE TURNS AWAY TO SEE HER NEXT PATIENT, SHE SAYS "WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS DEVASTATING". THEN SHE PAUSES FOR A MOMENT AND ADDS, "DEVASTATING IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD. IT'S A CATASTROPHE". (SIGNED)
    NEB/PFH/SD
    08-May-99 9:29 PM EDT (0129 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America 0DATE=5/8/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-249142
    CONTENT=
    VOICED AT:

    INTRO: POPE JOHN PAUL AND THE PATRIARCH OF ROMANIA'S ORTHODOX CHURCH HAVE INDIRECTLY CRITICIZED NATO'S AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA. STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUCHAREST WHERE BOTH CHURCH LEADERS MET EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

    /// SOUNDS OF CHANTING PRAISE FOR THE POPE ///

    TEXT: "LONG LIVE THE POPE" SHOUTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ROMANIANS FOR THE PONTIFF WHO THEY SAY DELI.VERED A MESSAGE OF PEACE IN THE HEART OF BUCHAREST.

    JUST HOURS AFTER NATO ADMITTED IT HAD MISTAKENLY BOMBED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, BOTH JOHN PAUL AND ROMANIA'S ORTHODOX PATRIARCH TEOCTIST URGED ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE YUGOSLAV CONFLICT TO CEASE HOSTILITIES.

    BOTH RELIGOUS LEADERS SAID -- "IN THE NAME OF GOD, WE URGE EVERYONE TO PUT DOWN THEIR WEAPONS." THE FACT THAT THE STATEMENT WAS MADE BY BOTH THE ORTHODOX AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS WELL RECEIVED IN ROMANIA -- THE FIRST ORTHODOX COUNTRY VISITED BUY A POPE. ELDERLY PEOPLE SAID THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE DAY THE POPE WOULD ARRIVE IN ROMANIA WHICH WAS UNDER COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS.

    THE POPE VISITED THE GRAVES OF STUDENYTS WHO A DECADE AGO DIED DURING THE BLOODY WINTER REVOLUTION THAT LED TO THE OVERTHROW OF DICTATOR NICOLAE CEAUSESCU. (SIGNED)
    NEB/SB/SD
    08-May-99 11:29 PM EDT (0329 UTC)
    NNNN
    Source: Voice of America


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